I was kidnapped. The abductors demanded four million dollars from my mom. I scoffed. Four million? Chump change. But my mom? She wouldn’t spare a single dime, completely cutting ties with me. “Your mom’s a real piece of work!” the abductor growled, grinding their teeth. I nodded. “Tell me about it!” Three months later, the father I’d never known called. “Don’t worry, son, Dad’s coming to save you!” My abductor glanced at me, then barked into the phone, “Get lost! He’s mine now!” In a run-down, dingy room, I was tied to a chair, a woman with a dangerously alluring figure standing beside me. She held a sharp blade against my neck, and the phone in front of me already had a number dialed in. “You know what to say and what not to say, right?” “Uh-huh, uh-huh!” The cold blade sent shivers down my spine. The woman grunted softly, then hit the call button. “Hello, your son is with me, you—” “Mom, help me…” Beep, beep, beep! Before either of us could even finish, my mom had decisively hung up the phone. “Damn it!” The woman cursed, dialing the number again. “I don’t have this son. Don’t bother me!” The phone was hung up again, and after that, no one bothered to call back. The air in the room thickened instantly. Everyone was staring at me. “Your mom’s a real piece of work!” “I know, right?” A moment of awkward silence filled the space. “Chloe, what do we do now?” This woman, with her sharp looks and even sharper attitude, actually had a pretty nice name. Chloe blew a puff of smoke into my face, her voice ice-cold. “Kill him.” Oh, crap! I take back what I just said. Her name is awful! Wait, she’s ugly too!

At that moment, the blade was barely a millimeter from my eyebrow, but in just a few minutes, the woman holding it would be completely smitten with me. Because I’d decided to tell a lie, though I’ve told countless lies in my life. “Actually, I…” *SMACK!* Okay, fine. This awful woman wasn’t smitten; she just slapped me. “The blade’s practically on your face, and you’re still winking at me? You’re asking for it!” Chloe turned and walked away. I was left hanging upside down from the ceiling, swinging back and forth. Like a giant pendulum, I felt incredibly dizzy! “Chloe, I’m getting hypnotized by this guy.” One of the other women rubbed her forehead, whining playfully to Chloe. Chloe barely spared me a glance, then pushed her stack of cards across the table. “Stop making excuses. Full house, pay up.” There were a few scattered bills on the table; they weren’t playing for high stakes. “What are you looking at? Stare any longer and I’ll gouge your eyes out!” Chloe glared at me, then plunged her knife into the poker table. It nearly made me cry. She’s so scary! The others looked at me, whispering amongst themselves. “Chloe, he’s got such soft skin. Are you sure he won’t get hurt hanging there?” “Don’t those pretty boys in the industry usually throw a fit and demand an ER visit for just a tiny scratch?” Pretty boy? Those delicate men whose wounds would heal if they didn’t get to the hospital immediately? I’m a tough guy, alright! Chloe looked at me and sneered. My body gave an involuntary shudder. It wasn’t that I was scared; it was just that this woman felt more terrifying than a wild animal. “So concerned about him? Want me to arrange a wedding for you two?” “Uh, cough, c-can you?” That sister gave me a surprised glance, her eyes shining. “Don’t you want your money back? Are you just here to find dates now, huh?” Chloe snapped, and everyone else immediately fell silent. But my ears started ringing. Yeah, being hung upside down for this long was really getting to me. *SMACK!* Chloe slammed her hand on the table, stood up, and declared, “I’m done playing. Time to eat.” She started to leave. “I, I want to eat too…” Chloe paused, then turned back and glared at me. She then told the people around her, “Get him down. He’s annoying to look at.” … Damn it, who was it that hung me up in the first place?

All my life, I’d never experienced being hung upside down like that. After all, my mom was a so-called corporate tycoon in the entertainment industry. Four million dollars in ransom was pocket change to her. My name is Asher. My mom’s a tycoon, and my dad’s a hottie. Yeah, that’s right. Actually, I don’t even know who my dad is, because my mom has had so many boyfriends, but without exception, they were all good-looking. Since I couldn’t find my dad, I grew up living with my mom. Even though I never lacked money, I was the slowest kid in the family, so I had the lowest status and had to do everything. I once asked my mom where my dad went. She said he could go wherever he wanted, as long as he didn’t bother her. When my mom was in a bad mood, she liked to take it out on me because I was the most obedient and easy-going. I was always walking on eggshells, watching every word, worried I’d make her mad enough to kick me out. Who knew? She hadn’t even kicked me out yet when I got kidnapped. My hard times were about to begin.

When I finally recovered, I saw Chloe walking into the room carrying a plate of food. The aroma was incredible – my favorite comfort foods: Sticky BBQ ribs and sweet chili chicken wings! How could the food be this good in this godforsaken place? I stared, my mouth watering. She glanced at me. “What, you want some?” I nodded like crazy, my stomach rumbling. Yes, I wanted some! So badly! “Then just keep wanting.” Chloe looked at me provocatively, then picked up a rib and bit into it. That tender meat, that sauce! My tears of hunger ran down my chin. “Your mom owes me four million dollars. And you still want to eat?” “Yes.” I swallowed hard, answering cautiously. “Screw you!” Chloe was so annoyed she pointed a fork at me. “Don’t think just because you’re handsome and you look at me with those puppy-dog eyes, I’ll go soft. That doesn’t work on me!” She said I was handsome, ha-ha-ha! “What are you giggling about?” Chloe frowned at me, her expression like she was looking at an idiot. I didn’t dare say another word, standing quietly by her side. This woman was too ruthless, with astonishing strength. I couldn’t beat her. I vaguely heard someone say she’d been trained in self-defense from a young age… After a couple of bites, Chloe frowned and muttered, “Just looking at you makes me lose my appetite.” Then, she tossed her fork aside, picked up her phone, and walked out. Women are so strange; their moods change in an instant. The food smelled so delicious; how could anyone lose their appetite? Chloe was on the phone, but suddenly turned back and glanced at me, making me so startled I dropped the chicken bone I was holding. Luckily, she quickly turned away again, as if she hadn’t noticed me. Looking at the tempting food in the bowl, my hunger completely replaced my rationality. Who cares! Better to die full than starve to death! I devoured it, I devoured it fast! When Chloe returned, all that was left was untouched rice, a table full of bones, and me sucking my fingers. She twirled her small knife, staring at me coldly. “Uh, what if I told you I didn’t eat it? Would you believe me?” I chuckled nervously, backing away a few steps. “Not you?” Chloe’s face darkened as she advanced on me, step by step. I closed my eyes in fear. Something soft covered my mouth, carrying a fresh scent. I opened my eyes to see a tissue! “Can’t even wipe your mouth after sneaking food. You’re such an idiot.” Chloe sat down in a chair, lit a cigarette, and looked at me through the smoke. So embarrassing! Could the floor just swallow me whole? “Alright, let’s talk. What about the money your mom owes me?” “You should ask her for it.” “Ask her for what? She’s already fled the country.” Chloe took a deep drag from her cigarette, then coughed repeatedly, choking. I wanted to laugh, but I didn’t dare. “Then, how about you wait until I’m older, and I’ll pay you back?” I tentatively suggested. Chloe eyed me up and down, frowning. “A four-hundred-dollar male escort is better than you. How are *you* going to pay me back?” “I…” I was instantly indignant, feeling insulted, but as soon as I met her gaze, my anger fizzled out. “If you’re useless, then get lost. You’re an eyesore!” Chloe dropped the words and walked out without looking back. This woman is so weird; she kidnapped me, and now she finds me annoying. No wonder people say women are so hard to figure out. If I could leave, of course I would! Anywhere was better than being stuck with this terrifying woman who always carried a knife. So I ran out, not caring where I was going. Less than half an hour later, I scurried back.

This place was pitch black after dark. I could even hear the howls of coyotes or wolves coming from some distant mountain. It was absolutely terrifying! “What, you’ve got Stockholm Syndrome now?” Chloe leaned casually against the doorframe, watching me with amusement. “What… what syndrome?” I shook my head, trembling uncontrollably. “It’s raining hard, it’s too dark, and I can’t find my way. And I think there are wolves…” “How interesting. Aren’t you like a lamb to the slaughter right now?” A mocking smile played on her lips. I shook my head, saying nothing. Even if Chloe was a wolf, she was better than being eaten alive by those wild ones outside. Besides, I had a feeling she wasn’t as bad as she seemed? “Heh.” Chloe chuckled, continuing to size me up. “Do you know what a wolf means?” “Huh?” I was a bit confused. A wolf is just a wolf, right? Chloe slowly unhooked her tank top strap with her slender fingers, squinting at me. “Did your parents ever tell you that boys need to protect themselves when they’re out?” I looked at her exposed, sexy collarbone and pale shoulder, feeling instantly dizzy, and a warm rush surged into my nose. I was having a nosebleed! “You…” She sighed, rubbing her forehead, re-hooking her strap, then pulled out a pack of tissues and pressed them to my nose. “You can’t even handle that? How old are you, little brother?” Chloe asked, her voice exasperated. I held my nose for a while before the bleeding stopped, then quietly answered, “I, I just turned eighteen.” “Eighteen?” Chloe burst out laughing. “I’m ten years older than you, but you should still call me ‘sister.’” Ten years older, so yeah, ‘auntie’ probably wasn’t appropriate. Besides, this woman looked really pretty, not like the other women I saw on the street. “So, want to share a bed with sister tonight?” My body jolted, and I felt that warm rush in my nose again. “C-can I sleep on the sofa?” Chloe rolled her eyes at me, tossing me the pack of tissues. “Just messing with you. Look how scared you are.” “First thing tomorrow morning, you get out of my sight.” I scratched my head and said, “Oh.” Chloe seemed a bit unhappy. Women’s emotions really are unpredictable.

I’ve never had trouble sleeping, ever since I was a kid. I could fall asleep anywhere. The sofa here, though not big, was incredibly soft. I woke up already the next day, around noon. I woke up to the loud sound of chopping bones coming from the kitchen. Chloe had her hair tied up with a single chopstick, wielding a cleaver up and down. She actually hadn’t woken me up and kicked me out? “Still here?” She seemed to sense me behind her; her chopping paused slightly. “This place is too remote. I don’t know the way out, and I don’t have money for the bus fare home.” My heart trembled with each chopped bone, but I still forced myself to voice my thoughts. Last night, I almost got lost here. She slowly turned to look at me, a hint of sarcasm in her smile. “Then don’t leave. Anyway, the other girls like you.” My body tensed. I didn’t say anything. She ignored me again, continuing to chop the bones with force, as if that pig was her sworn enemy. Seeing me standing there, staring the whole time, she finally lost her patience. “Can you, you little punk, get your priorities straight?” “Your mom owes me millions, you’re the hostage I took, and you want me to give you bus fare home?” “Are you out of your mind?” I was so startled I nodded blankly, then shook my head. Then I followed closely behind her, arriving at the poker table downstairs. “I swear to God, I can’t take it anymore! Just take the money and get out!” Chloe dug a few bills out of her pocket and threw them at me, then sat down and lit a cigarette. I clutched the money, standing there, hesitant. “Still not leaving?” “Can you drive me down the mountain? I feel like the road is a bit far…” Chloe’s eyes widened, so angry she almost coughed up blood. “You took my money, and you still want me to drive you down the mountain? You’ve got some nerve!” “Get out, or I’ll chop you up too!” My heart jumped, but I still didn’t move. “Sister, I don’t think you’d chop me up.” “Damn it!” Chloe pulled a scythe from somewhere, and I ran off in terror, disappearing in an instant. This woman is definitely not a good person! I fled in tears, thinking I was finally leaving this scary place. Two hours later, I was back.

After finally making my way down the mountain, I found the town’s bus station. The old man at the gate was watching a video on his phone, and it happened to be a news report about my mom. Her company was under investigation after being reported, its funds frozen, and she owed a lot of money. She’d left the country with all my siblings—everyone but me. I stood beside the old man, stunned for a long time. Went out for a trip, and my home got stolen? It wasn’t until the old man, feeling a bit uncomfortable, nudged me that I snapped out of it. So I borrowed his phone and called my grandma. “Whatever you do, don’t come back! Right now, your mom’s creditors are staking out both the house and your school. You come back, and you’re dead!” How did I become a stray? If it weren’t for that damned Chloe kidnapping me, I’d probably be overseas with my mom right now! Thinking that, I actually found myself back at Chloe’s place. She slammed her cards aside, her face dark, and threw a few bills onto the table. “No wonder my luck’s been so bad today. It’s because you, you little punk, came back.” Chloe turned to look at me, a murderous expression on her face. “I have nowhere else to go.” “Oh, and?” Chloe lit a cigarette, watching me with a sneer. “So, can I stay here for a while?” “Are you crazy? Why would I take you in?” Chloe suddenly stood up, glaring at me. “Get out. I’m not joking.” “My mom will definitely contact me. Just let me wait a little longer…” I said, feeling a bit guilty, my voice barely a whisper. “Who ever heard of someone being kidnapped and then refusing to leave?” “Your mom owes me money, and now I have to raise her son, too, is that it?” “You…” I didn’t hear what she cursed about after that because everything went black, and I passed out. When I woke up again, I was lying on a long bench. Walking up and down the mountain the whole time, my blood sugar had dropped, and I’d actually fainted. Not far away, the chattering sounds of the card game continued. “Chloe, I think this little brother is pretty innocent.” “He was kidnapped, and his mom wouldn’t even pay the ransom. She just took her money and the other kids and ran off to another country.” “Yeah, what did he do wrong? He’s so pitiful!” … “He’s a capitalist’s kid! Are you all suddenly sympathizing with capitalists?” “Don’t you want your money anymore?!” Chloe rapped on the poker table with a card, sounding annoyed. “I think his mom is his mom, and he’s just a naive kid who hasn’t seen the world yet.” Right, right, that’s exactly it! “Look at his innocent, clueless face. He’s never suffered a day in his life, has he?” “Chloe, don’t you like these soft, sweet puppy types?” You guys… “If you like him, take him! I’m not taking care of him!” “Go, go, go!” When Chloe blew up, everyone scattered like birds. Silence fell, and then I heard Chloe’s calm voice. “If you’re awake, then get out!”

I awkwardly stood up and walked over to her. “Uh, please let me stay. I won’t let you lose out.” “Oh?” Chloe crossed her arms, giving me a flirty look. It made me pull my shirt collar up higher. “I mean, I can do your laundry, cook, serve you drinks, stuff like that.” “Look how messy your place is; it could use someone to tidy up…” Chloe’s place was indeed a mess. Her clothes and belongings were scattered everywhere, and the dishes in the sink looked like they hadn’t been washed in ages. When I was at home, because I wasn’t favored, I learned to cook and do housework from a young age. Just so my mom wouldn’t find me annoying. “Once my mom is done with this whole thing, she’ll definitely look for me, and I’ll make her pay you back!” I tried my best to give her a sincere look, but Chloe just put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. “What makes you think she’ll still care about you?” “Uh, she used to be very fond of me when I was little…” “Get out!” Even though Chloe told me to leave, this time she didn’t threaten me with a knife, and she turned and walked back into the house. Her tone had softened a bit, too. In that case, I’ll take it as her agreeing to let me stay!

Three months flew by, and my damn mom still hadn’t contacted me. Did she really not care about her handsome son anymore? Didn’t she know how hard I worked every day, sleeping on the couch, sweeping floors, and cooking? Okay, she probably knew and wouldn’t care anyway. After all this time, it seemed Chloe wasn’t really a bad person. At least she wasn’t like other kidnappers who threatened to cut off fingers at the drop of a hat. But I was homeless. Where was I supposed to go from here? Lost in thought while cooking, I was startled by Chloe, who suddenly appeared beside me, her hair a wild mess. Water from the soaking pork intestines splashed all over me. “Ugh, you stink!” Chloe pinched her nose, taking two steps back. “Go take a shower, now!” “Why did you suddenly appear? You scared me.” “You were spacing out, and you’re blaming me? Go, go, go!” She yelled at me, then started tidying up the kitchen herself. The bathroom wasn’t soundproof, so I heard a few people arrive outside. “Chloe, want to play cards? What are you doing?” “If you make another sound, you can help me clean.” “Where’s Asher? Usually, he’s always eager to help, isn’t he?” “He went to take a shower.” Silence fell again. I even stopped applying my body wash. “Ew~” “Chloe, you guys actually…” “It’s been a while since I had someone to spar with. My hands are getting itchy…” Silence descended once more, and I could even hear their sharp intakes of breath. Given the situation, I didn’t dare come out, so I just kept rinsing off. “Have you found his mom yet?” Chloe’s voice dropped, becoming serious. “We only heard she went abroad; there’s been no news since.” “And you still have time to play cards? Don’t you want your money back? Get out, all of you!” Chloe, furious, chased everyone out of the house. I only dared to come out when I heard the door close. Our eyes met. “Can’t you reach my mom?” “You can’t even reach your own mom. What makes you think I can?” Chloe exploded. “You said your mom would look for you! It’s been three months! Are you planning to freeload off me forever?” “Uh, c-can I?” “Can you my ass!”

“How much do you already owe me? I’ll make your mom pay me back with interest!” Chloe was really fierce, and she kept track of everything. In the three months I’d been here, every item I’d used, every meal I’d eaten, was recorded in her ledger. I opened the small notebook I carried, filled with densely packed notes—nearly half a book of bills. “Including the new towel and clothes from last night, it’s 3,427.5 dollars.” Chloe immediately smacked me on the head. She looked at me with a pained expression. “Over three thousand dollars? Kids these days have no idea about the cost of living. I’m practically single and still paying for everything!” “Is that a lot?” I rubbed my head, pondering. “At my house, clothes were usually at least a few thousand dollars an item, and a meal could cost tens of thousands.” Chloe glared at me, her expression a mixture of exasperation and disbelief. “Right, right, a meal costs tens of thousands, but you won’t pay me back four million!” Still fuming, she raised her hand and smacked me on the head again. “Wait, my money is my money. Why should I spend it on you?” “Anyone would think I’m supporting a sugar baby!” Chloe gave my body an annoyed look, muttering softly, “He does have soft skin, but he’s really too young…” “Not too young, not too young!” I rubbed my head, quickly saying, “Sister, can I be your boyfriend?” Chloe froze for a moment, then her eyes sparkled, and she couldn’t help but laugh. My face instantly flushed, and I asked, forcing myself, “Wh-what are you doing?” “I’m almost thirty, and you just turned eighteen. Do you really want to be a sugar baby?” “I’m not a sugar baby! I can go out and earn money!” Chloe laughed again. “Then go earn money! What are you doing, leeching off me here?” I suddenly felt awkward. I’d never worried about money my whole life, so of course, I didn’t know how to earn it. All I had to do every day was go to school, cook, and shop. Besides, I couldn’t even go out now; my mom’s creditors were everywhere, looking for me. “If you keep me here, my mom will definitely pay you back when she finds me.” “If I go out and get caught by other creditors, she might not prioritize paying you back.” After thinking for a long time, I came up with this relatively reasonable answer. No wonder they always said I was slow, not quick enough on the uptake. Chloe stared at me, dumbfounded. “Are you… threatening me?” I nodded, then, feeling it was wrong, shook my head. Chloe sneered, stepping closer and closer to me, her warm breath caressing my face. “You little punk, right after your shower, you really are full of that youthful, hormonal energy.” “I…” Faced with Chloe’s teasing, I backed away repeatedly, then slipped on a wet patch on the floor! *THUD!* Chloe had tried to grab me, but she also slipped, leading to a dramatic scene. I landed on the floor, and she almost kissed me, then our eyes met, and our cheeks flushed… No, there was a murderous glint in her eyes. “Asher, are you trying to die?” “Purely accidental…” Why wasn’t this like those late-night romantic dramas? After getting a slap, she pulled me up, then turned to leave the house. “Chloe!” “What?” Chloe turned back, looking at me coldly. “My head hurts.” I clutched my head, my body trembling slightly. “Why are you so much trouble?” Chloe sighed, walking towards me with a helpless expression. “Sit on the couch. Let me see.” I obediently sat down, and she gently brushed my hair aside. “Oh, you bumped your head and it’s swelling.” After saying that, she went back to her room, got a bottle of medicine, and applied it with a cotton swab. She stood in front of me, roughly pushing my head down, and only then was she satisfied as she applied the medicine. But why did my face feel so hot, like I was incredibly shy? “Ouch.” “You big baby, what’s a little pain? Deal with it!” After applying the medicine, she pushed me away. Though it was a bit rough, my heart felt warm. Because ever since I was little, when I got hurt, no one ever cared, let alone put medicine on me like this. “I’ve decided!” “Decided to leave?” Chloe looked at me with a calm expression, a faint smile still on her face. I shook my head, saying earnestly, “From now on, I’ll work for you, and the pay will count towards what I owe you.” “What can you do for me?” I counted on my fingers. “For example, sweeping for one hundred, cooking for two hundred, tidying the house for three hundred…” Chloe’s eyes widened, and her voice held a hint of disbelief. “Are you trying to rob me?”

“You could just rob me directly, but you’re still offering me services. You’re quite generous, aren’t you?” “Right?!” I laughed along with her. Then I got another smack on the head. “Right your head!” Chloe stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at me. “One meal you cook costs more than someone else’s food budget for days!” Then she added, “And I buy the groceries!” If we can’t agree, we can’t agree. Why get so angry… I muttered softly, “When I was little, that’s how we earned our allowance at home. We used to fight over chores.” Who knew that hearing this made Chloe even angrier. “Do you think I’m your mom? I can’t afford that!” I stood rooted to the spot, not daring to breathe. It seemed this repayment plan wouldn’t work. Seeing my silence, Chloe stood up and started to leave. She casually tossed out, “Then just write it down. I’d like to see how long it takes you to pay it all back.” My eyes lit up. Did she agree? It looks like my path to paying her back is moving forward! “Thank you, Sister!” I quickly chased after her, following close behind. “What do you want?” Chloe frowned, looking at me. “Of course, to stay by your side and help you whenever you need it!” Isn’t that how it is in movies? A boss with a subordinate doing everything. Then every task could be added to the ledger! “Do you even know what I’m going to do before you follow me?” “No matter what you do, I can help!” I blinked enthusiastically. Chloe frowned, rubbing her temples, then smiled sweetly. “Are you sure?” Even though something felt off, I nodded firmly. Rather than staying home every day, agonizing over why I was abandoned, it was better to do more things and pay off the debt sooner. “Let’s go.” I followed Chloe out, and we eventually arrived at a vineyard. Apparently, it was Chloe’s own vineyard, where she worked with her friends, harvesting grapes and making wine. When we arrived, I was a bit stunned. Chloe, this tough-as-nails woman, was a winemaker? They all looked a bit surprised to see me. “Isn’t that little Asher? Here to see Sister Chloe?” The speaker was Jasmine, whom I always saw during card nights at Chloe’s house. She was quite bold and liked to joke around with me in ways that left me unsure how to respond. “Jasmine, you dare to steal Chloe’s man? Aren’t you afraid you haven’t picked enough grapes?” “Careful, Chloe might make you go online and pull one of those ‘sick grandpa needs help selling his organic produce’ scams…” … “If you keep babbling, I’ll turn you into compost!” When Chloe spoke, no one dared to say another word. “Exactly, exactly! Get back to work!” Jasmine handed me a shiny apple. “Little Asher, I just picked this from the orchard next door.” I was about to take it, but Chloe stepped forward. “Are you done picking today’s grapes, that you’re off picking apples?” Jasmine scratched her head, chuckling nervously, then left. “What is it?” Chloe looked at me, annoyed. I paused, then said, “Chloe, are you always so fierce? They’re all so scared of you.” Chloe’s cold eyes gazed at me, a faint smile playing on her lips. “What, are you feeling sorry for them?”

I scratched my head, thinking for a moment. “I guess being yelled at *does* make you feel sorry.” “Then go ahead and feel sorry!” Chloe tossed out the words and turned to leave, leaving me standing there, unsure what to do. Later, Jasmine quietly doubled back and led me to a shaded area. She handed me the apple and asked what I was doing there. I said I wanted to help, so she taught me how to pick grapes. Her temper was much better than Chloe’s. “Actually, Chloe is a really good person. She once signed with a management company, hoping to promote local wines via social media.” “But the company swindled a lot of people’s money, so she came back to the vineyard to help, and she’s supported a lot of us.” Jasmine told me this while we picked grapes. I muttered guiltily, “Could it have been my mom’s company?” Jasmine pinched my cheek, smiling. “Don’t overthink it. Whatever your mom did, it has nothing to do with you.” “That money was very important to us, so out of desperation, we resorted to this plan, intending to use you to get it back. But we never intended to really harm you.” I shook my head, filled with remorse. “I’m sorry, it really was my mom’s fault.” “You silly boy, stop blaming yourself. Chloe herself covered a lot of the money for us and gave us good-paying jobs.” “That’s why we’re all willing to follow her.” I looked unexpectedly at Chloe’s busy figure. She was willing to live in a simple cottage in the mountains, yet she’d take her own money to compensate the people who followed her. All of this was caused by my mom. Suddenly, my heart was overwhelmed with guilt. Jasmine taught me a lot about wine, things I only knew from novels where wine was used to describe wicked female characters. The other women would also gather around me to chat after finishing their work. The air here was fresh, filled with laughter, and I quickly adapted, staying for two weeks straight. Looking at the densely packed entries in my notebook, the money kept climbing, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Every time you write in that silly notebook, you smile like an idiot.” Chloe often teased me when she saw me diligently writing in my notebook. “Who isn’t happy when they’re making money, right?” I looked up, still beaming. Chloe raised her hand and smacked me on the head. “You and your mom are happy, making money off me, just trying to bleed me dry?” “Chloe, I’m sorry.” I felt incredibly guilty about this, but I didn’t know what else to do. If I could contact my mom, I’d make her pay, no matter what. But would I ever see her again in this life? “Why are you calling the others ‘sister’ so sweetly at the vineyard, but you’re using my first name here?” I looked at Chloe, confused. Her focus was so strange. “They’re all older than me. Isn’t it right for me to call them ‘sister’?” I asked cautiously. “Aren’t I older than you?” “Then I’ll call you ‘Sister’ too!” “Who cares! Go make me a bowl of beef noodles!” “No beef left. Is braised beef noodle okay?” “Get out!” …

Although the road ahead was uncertain, life here was calm and fulfilling. But this afternoon, uninvited guests arrived, shattering the peace. Outside the vineyard, a black SUV pulled up, and several menacing-looking men stepped out. They came specifically asking for me. Jasmine and the others gathered around me protectively, while Chloe, holding a sharp knife, walked up to the men. “What is it?” Chloe’s voice remained cold and steady. The man in charge looked under thirty, with a neck tattoo that made him look like trouble. He took off his sunglasses, sizing up Chloe for a long time. “I’m looking for the punk named Asher. Who are you, interfering?” As he spoke, a few men behind him pulled out collapsible batons and swung them a few times. Even though I was terrified, at that moment, I wanted to rush forward and stand in front of her, but Jasmine and the others held me back tightly. Chloe glanced back at me, then said to the man, “He’s *my* person. Why can’t I interfere?” At her words, all the women looked at me. I was Chloe’s person? “Oh?” The tattooed man’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me, a sneer curling his lips. “Didn’t realize you liked to rob the cradle.” “If he’s your person, then you can pay the money he owes us!” *The money *I* owe?* They were my mom’s creditors! They actually tracked me down here! Chloe glanced back at me, showing no sign of backing down. “He doesn’t owe the money. You’ve got the wrong person.” “A mother’s debt is her child’s responsibility, it’s just how it is!” The tattooed man was clearly impatient and tried to walk towards me directly. “Since we can’t find his mom, I’ll just take him!” I instinctively retreated, backing up. This was the first time I felt so “in demand.” But these two kidnappings definitely weren’t the same. If *they* took me, I might actually end up missing an arm or a leg. “Wait!” Chloe reached out and stopped them, the knife in her hand flashing with a cold, silver gleam. My heart skipped a beat. Chloe was protecting me? She was actually sticking up for me? “If you’re going by that logic, I’m also his creditor. You’re not taking him until I get my money back.” Chloe’s voice was firm, as cold as my heart felt right then. *Of course.* She was only keeping me for the money. The tattooed man stared at Chloe for a while, then said in a threatening tone, “Are you sure you want to stop me?” As he spoke, several men behind him also stepped forward. The pressure was intense. Chloe took a deep breath, calmly stating, “You want to compare numbers?” I glanced at the women around me, feeling confused. Soon, I heard the sound of motorcycles approaching, seven or eight bikes finally pulling up, each with two riders. They held butcher knives, and some even had bloodstains on their clothes, looking like a real rough crowd. They surrounded the men in suits, staring at them menacingly. Jasmine told me these were all Chloe’s friends, who ran a cattle and sheep slaughterhouse business. No wonder they had such an intense, almost murderous aura. You’d think they’d killed people. “Leave now, and I’ll pretend you were never here. Otherwise…” Chloe’s words made the tattooed man’s face darken. He looked around at the menacing group, then finally showed a look of suppressed anger. “I’m not going to argue with a woman. You just wait!” After dropping a final threat, he turned and got into his car, speeding away. That night, Chloe and I ate beef noodles at home, silent. I hesitated, then spoke. “I’m sorry. I caused you trouble.” I hadn’t expected those creditors to find me here. Chloe must be so angry. Chloe shook her head, saying nothing. I pulled something from my pocket and placed it in front of her. She looked at it, confused. “Jasmine and the others said it’s your birthday today.” Chloe didn’t care about birthdays; her friends always remembered and gave her gifts. “You know how to braid bracelets?” Chloe asked, a little amused, but her hands were already playfully fiddling with it. Jasmine and the others had taught me how to braid this bracelet out of dried grapevines. It took me half a day to get it right. “Of course! I’m very handy!”

Chloe stared at me for a moment, then smiled faintly. “Do you drink?” I froze, then nodded. My mom always said one thing: if you can’t drink, you can forget about getting investments. She’d told this to the celebrities and influencers at her company. Chloe took a bottle of liquor and two glasses from the cabinet, filling the glasses with ice. “Happy Birthday.” Our glasses clinked, a crisp sound. I downed the contents of my glass in one go, then the bitter taste made me cough uncontrollably, my face flushing red. Chloe burst out laughing beside me. It was the first time I’d seen her so happy. “That’s *your* idea of drinking? Who drinks like that?” I wiped my mouth, tears in my eyes. “That’s how I saw them drink at my mom’s corporate events.” At that, Chloe’s smile faded, replaced by a trace of worry. “Asher, aren’t you supposed to be applying for college soon?” My heart sank. Was she trying to get rid of me? “Yeah,” I mumbled. “I’ll find you a school. Don’t mess up your college entrance exams.” Chloe looked at me seriously, not joking. I shook my head. “I don’t want to.” “Why?” “I don’t want to leave you.” Chloe’s eyes showed a hint of surprise, and perhaps some delight. “Are you drunk?” She pinched my cheek. My face felt even hotter. I looked at my empty glass again, then smiled foolishly, shaking my head. I don’t know where the courage came from, but I asked, “Chloe, are you only keeping me here to get money from my mom?” Chloe chuckled, taking a sip of her drink. “Keeping you won’t make your mom pay.” “Then you…” Chloe leaned her face closer. She seemed to be swaying, no, everything around me was swaying. “Didn’t you hear it clearly today?” “You’re *my* person.” Huh? I didn’t react for a moment; the change was too sudden. “What, you don’t want to be?” Chloe looked at me sideways, her eyes twinkling with amusement. My heart started beating uncontrollably fast. “Chloe, I think I’ve fallen for you.” “Since when?” Chloe didn’t seem surprised, just asked calmly. “I don’t know.” I shook my head. “Maybe when you took such good care of me when I had a fever in the middle of the night, or when you stood up for me today, or perhaps just in some random moment we spent together…” “Don’t you think I’m a bad person?” Chloe continued to ask. A bad person? Compared to the people I usually saw at parties, Chloe didn’t seem like a bad person at all. She only ever yelled at me; she never hurt me. “I think if you weren’t so fierce, you’d probably be a good person,” I said with a silly grin. “Ungrateful brat!” Chloe rolled her eyes, but her voice was much softer. And then. I seemed to hear Chloe say something, and then my mind went blank, losing consciousness. When I woke up again, I smelled a faint, familiar scent beside me. This wasn’t the sofa I usually slept on, and the blanket smelled like a girl’s room. But Chloe was gone. On the table was a bowl of beef noodles, without cilantro. Where had she gone? As I was eating my noodles, Jasmine pushed the door open and came in front of me. “Little Asher, your dad’s here to pick you up!” I froze. My long-lost dad? “I don’t want the money; I want to keep him.” Chloe, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. — I followed Jasmine to the wooden cabin at the vineyard, where Chloe was sitting opposite a middle-aged man.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298622”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

In the darkest year of his life, Alexander Thorne was forced to abandon his first love and marry me in a strategic alliance. For seven years, we fought. For seven years, he despised me. He would often curse, “Why don’t you just die already, you wicked woman?” As he wished, I was finally dying. It was the start of winter when a terrible headache sent me to the hospital. The results came back, but the doctor held the papers tight, refusing to hand them over. Inside the office, the middle-aged head doctor, dressed in a white coat, spoke again, his expression complex and troubled. “Miss, it’s best if you bring a family member.” I wasn’t stupid. My fingers tangled together, and for a fleeting moment, a chill spread through my limbs. But I pushed through it, my voice steady. “My family can’t make it right now.” “Doctor, please, just tell me. I can handle it.” A flicker of pity passed through the doctor’s eyes behind his glasses. After a brief, heavy silence, he repeated, “Still, it’s better if a family member comes.” It seemed my psychological fortitude, no matter how strong, wouldn’t be enough for this. I glanced at the stack of suppressed test results. Behind me, outside the door, other patients waited. I had no choice but to stand up and step out to make a call. Nearly half an hour later, he finally answered. Alex’s voice, cold and impatient, crackled through the phone. “What kind of stunt are you pulling now?”

My fingers, clutching the phone, tightened for a second, stiff and cold. I forced a smile, a light laugh bubbling out. “I have some good news. Meet me at the city hospital, and I’ll tell you.” He muttered, “Crazy,” and was about to hang up. My voice sharpened with urgency. “I’m not lying. The doctor asked me to call a family member.” Alex seemed to find it amusing. “What, a terminal illness? Scarlett Hayes, has fate finally decided to claim you?” A sharp pang, sudden and brutal, pierced through my heart. Seven years of arguing with Alex, and I still hadn’t learned to be numb to his words. I truly had no other choice but to soften my voice. “Why don’t you just come? After all these years as husband and wife…” He cut me off, his voice laced with utter disgust. “Scarlett Hayes, don’t you dare try to disgust me!” Standing in the biting wind outside the clinic building, a sudden chill enveloped my entire body. He hung up after throwing out, “Call me when you’re dead, I’ll send a hearse.” I waited until five in the afternoon, but Alex, predictably, never showed. I had no one else to call. My mom wasn’t well. She’d been rushed to the ER a few days ago and only discharged yesterday. After racking my brain, I found a young woman online, doing odd jobs, just before the hospital closed. I asked her to pretend to be my sister and retrieve the test results from the doctor. When she finally emerged with the papers, her eyes were red. Her voice thick with tears, she choked out, “Sis, maybe you really should get a family member to come.” I took the papers from her, a wry smile touching my lips. “Then why do you think I called you?” Her tears spilled over, tracing paths down her cheeks. I paid her, then spent a long time comforting her before finally sending her off. It was only after she left that the realization truly hit me. The brain cancer diagnosis on the paper, “less than six months to live,” was about me. Human emotions are strange. Slow to arrive, yet overwhelmingly intense. On the taxi ride home, I sat in the backseat. Through the window, I watched the yellow leaves swirl and drift across the ground. Tears suddenly streamed down my face. With less than six months left to live, I was only just realizing. How incredibly wasteful these seven years spent on Alex had been.

I took a taxi home, fumbling in the dark for the light switch. Just as I’d settled on the couch with a bowl of instant noodles, the front door creaked open. I froze, surprised, and looked towards the entrance. Genevieve had finally returned after seven years abroad, and I’d assumed Alex wouldn’t bother coming home tonight. But quickly, the surprise faded from my face. Alex strode in, his expression dark and thunderous. Clutching his hand, her fingers intertwined with his, was Genevieve, her face streaked with tears, looking utterly heartbroken. I eyed his clearly accusatory stance and wracked my brain. I was certain I hadn’t done anything to upset his beloved childhood sweetheart. The moment Genevieve saw me, she burst into fresh tears, looking even more wronged. “Scarlett, I know you don’t like me, but my sister is innocent.” I had no idea what she was talking about. I stirred my noodles, about to pick up my forks. Alex, still holding Genevieve’s hand, took a few steps forward, snatched the bowl from me, and tossed it straight into the nearby trash can. His face was contorted with fury. “Genevieve is talking to you! Are you deaf?” I shot up, furious, forcing down a searing pain in my head. “You two are insane! Get help!” Alex let out a few cold, mocking laughs. “Couldn’t trick me into coming, so you went after Genevieve’s sister? You can even invent a terminal illness. Scarlett Hayes, don’t you ever get tired?” My head throbbed fiercely, making my reactions sluggish. But I still understood. The young woman I’d casually hired for a part-time job that afternoon was Genevieve’s sister. An unbelievably cruel coincidence. I wasn’t sure if it was extreme anger or sheer hunger, but a sudden spell hit me. My vision blurred, and cold sweat beaded on my back. My body felt unwell, and my emotions surged with sudden irritation. So I decided to just give up, letting out a sneer. “No, not tired at all.” “As long as I can make you and Genevieve miserable, nothing’s too much effort.” A vein pulsed visibly on Alex’s forehead. He flung the terminal illness diagnosis sheet, brought back from the hospital, right in front of my face. His voice was a low, guttural snarl. “A despicable woman like you truly deserves a terminal illness! You should just die already!” The edge of the paper grazed my cheek, leaving a sharp sting. Alex tightened his grip on Genevieve’s hand and turned to leave. I watched the diagnostic sheet flutter past my eyes, then slowly drift to the floor. A violent dizziness hit me without warning. My body swayed, and I crashed to the ground. My instincts made me reach out for something, anything, but I only managed to knock a delicate porcelain set off the coffee table. The ceramics shattered, leaving a mess across the floor. Alex paused at the doorway, turning back. Perhaps the sight of me collapsing from being hit by an A4 paper was just too comically fake. His eyes full of revulsion, he spat out “Disgusting,” then slammed the door shut, taking his first love with him. I watched his retreating figure vanish outside the door, without a single flicker of hesitation or regret. I slipped into unconsciousness, my awareness completely fading.

Alex and I were, to put it simply, an arranged marriage. Seven years ago, he came to my family with his father, asking for my hand. I’d been secretly in love with him since childhood. That day, seeing the deep affection in his eyes as he said he loved me, it felt like a dream. We were happy for about six months after the wedding. Then, on his birthday, six months later. I’d painstakingly prepared a table full of his favorite dishes, waiting for him to come home. I waited until deep into the night. He finally stumbled in, drunk. His expression was one of despair and profound sorrow, a look I’d never seen on him before. He staggered over, then, with a sweep of his arm, violently knocked all the dishes onto the floor. I stood frozen by the table, my face aghast. It wasn’t until Alex, in a drunken daze, his face contorted, reached out and grabbed my neck. His voice was full of hatred and resentment. “I married you! Why did you still force Genevieve to go abroad?!” “Why aren’t you satisfied? Why aren’t any of you satisfied?!” I stared at the man who had always been so gentle, now behaving like a madman. My expression was blank. “Alex, what are you talking about?” His face was tormented, his eyes, brimming with hatred, seemed to want to flay me alive. “You conspired with my family to kick me out of Thorne Industries, caused my mom to suffer a heart attack and be hospitalized!” “Then you cut off all our cards, just to make me abandon Genevieve and marry you, didn’t you?!” I didn’t understand a single word, yet I felt like I understood everything. “So, Genevieve is the one you love?” Alex tightened his grip on my throat, not uttering another word. My burning love, little by little, plunged into an icy abyss. I looked at the man before me, my voice trembling uncontrollably. “So, you never loved me, and you never wanted to marry me?” Alex stared at me. Under the stark white light, he spoke, word by agonizing word. “Love you? No. I wish you were dead. I wish all of you were dead!” It felt like a lightning bolt had struck me. After a long while, I slowly calmed down, accepting the absurd truth. I looked at him, then, after a long pause, spoke calmly. “Alex, I wouldn’t stoop to such things.” “And my mother, she would never.” I did love him. I had loved him for so many years. But I wasn’t stupid. I wouldn’t demean myself. My mother had taught me since childhood that you can’t force love. Alex violently shoved me away, then stormed out, slamming the door. After that, we never knew peace again.

When I woke from unconsciousness, I was already in a hospital bed. Outside, the sky was bright. My mom, Evelyn, sat by my bed, her eyes red and swollen, with dark circles beneath them. She’d always been a powerful businesswoman. Her usually meticulously sharp makeup was now smudged and worn. Seeing me awake, she gripped my hand tightly. “Scarlett, did Alex hurt you?” My eyes welled up instantly, but I forced a smile and shook my head. “No, Mom, of course not.” My mom’s expression was agitated and furious. “You’re still lying to me.” “If I hadn’t gone to your place yesterday, no one would have known you collapsed. The cups were shattered everywhere. Were you two fighting?” I remembered the scene from last night, and the diagnostic sheet lying on the floor. My heart suddenly sank, overwhelmed with panic. My mom and I had only each other for so many years. If she knew about my illness, she wouldn’t be able to bear it. But I quickly calmed down. From her appearance, it seemed she’d rushed me to the hospital last night and hadn’t noticed the paper. My soaring anxiety subtly eased. I forced another smile. “Mom, I really just had a bad cold and a headache.” “I got dizzy when I got back and accidentally knocked over the tea set myself.” As I spoke, I pulled out my phone and showed her old cold diagnosis reports. My mom glanced at them, then stared at my face for a long time in silence. My conscience pricked, and I had to force myself to maintain a calm facade. Time ticked by, second by second. I had a bad feeling, sensing my mom had discovered something. But then, her phone rang. It seemed to be something urgent. My mom stood up after the call, her expression anxious. “Something’s come up at the company, Scarlett, you here…” She’d managed the company alone for so many years, constantly busy, it wasn’t easy for her. I immediately spoke up. “Mom, go. I’m not critically ill, and there are doctors and nurses here to look after me.” My mom hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll come back to see you later, then. Call me if anything happens.” I watched my mom leave in a hurry. For some reason, I just felt like something wasn’t right. My brain cancer was already advanced. How much longer I had to live, no one could say. After much thought, it seemed many things needed to be planned for sooner rather than later. I pulled out my phone and called Julian Vance, my childhood friend, asking him to help me draft my will. He was a lawyer, after all, and more professional in these matters. Less than half an hour later, he arrived at my hospital room, looking disheveled. The moment he stepped in and saw me in the hospital bed, his expression froze. His voice was filled with shock. “Scarlett, what… what happened to you?”

I knew I’d lost a lot of weight recently. In just half a month, I must have dropped over ten pounds. Julian sat down by my bed, sighing. “Scarlett, why do you put yourself through this? Staying with him, you’re only hurting yourself.” He knew about the discord in my marriage with Alex. His expression was filled with pity. “Get a divorce. I’ll represent you.” This time, I didn’t refuse. I nodded. “Okay.” Julian’s face froze. He hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. He was right. I used to deliberately drag things out. Alex and I had long lost any affection for each other, and neither of us wanted to continue. But it was a matter of pride; neither wanted to be the first to suggest divorce or concede. We’d discussed it during our worst arguments. But Alex had always claimed it was my wicked schemes that tore him and his first love apart. Therefore, I should walk away with nothing. All the business dealings between Thorne Industries and Hayes Corp. should also end with Hayes Corp. bearing all the losses. I could never agree to that. I, on the other hand, believed he should leave empty-handed. He should return all the advantages he gained by marrying me. Including his position as CEO of Thorne Industries. Then he could go live a romantic but hard life with his first love. Naturally, our arguments never reached a consensus. So for all these years, we’d both been dragging each other down. But now, I didn’t want to die still carrying the title of “Mrs. Thorne.” It was frankly sickening. I told Julian my thoughts. “Thorne Industries is a huge corporation. It’ll be hard for me to gain much by suing Alex.” “But Alex’s father and grandfather are reasonable enough.” “So I’d like your help to gather evidence of Alex’s infidelity.” Julian nodded. “With that evidence, you’ll have a stronger case for fighting for assets.” I agreed. “I don’t really care about the assets.” “My mom already has plenty of assets; she wouldn’t even be able to spend more money if she had it.” “I just want the Thornes to know that Alex is at fault.” “So they won’t make trouble for my mom in the future.” Julian frowned. “Your mom might not need the assets, but you do, Scarlett. You’re still young, you have a long life ahead of you. Can you really have too much money?” I gave a bitter laugh. My lips were cracked, and I tasted blood. “I won’t be around to spend it,” I whispered. “I don’t have that kind of luck.” Seven years of constant conflict. Now, I just wanted a clean break from Alex.

I didn’t want to keep it from Julian. The divorce and the will, I was entrusting to him. My illness, naturally, I had to tell him. I pulled out my phone and showed him the photo of my diagnostic report. “I have late-stage brain cancer.” “So I want to finalize the divorce and the will as quickly as possible.” Julian took my phone. As he saw the photo, his hand trembled violently, and the phone clattered to the floor. After a long moment, when he finally picked up the phone, I saw his face turn ashen. He even had tears in his eyes. To be honest, his reaction scared me. He was a grown man; the last time he’d cried was probably when he was four or five. His lips trembled. “You’re only in your twenties, how is this possible?” I handed him a tissue, a little tearful and bewildered. “Don’t be like that. I haven’t even cried yet.” Julian’s throat was tight with emotion. He couldn’t compose himself for a long time. Seeing him cry, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad myself. I sighed. “I’m actually okay. I just feel bad for my mom.” “She raised me alone for so many years, it wasn’t easy. I always hoped I’d take good care of her and give her some grandkids.” Alex, of course, would never have children with me. Because Julian was so emotional, we spent the entire morning on the will and discussing the divorce. Before he left, I cautiously reminded him again. “The most important thing is still finding proof of Alex’s relationship with Genevieve.” “The more intimate, the better. I’ll take it to Arthur and Silas Thorne then.” Julian’s face was dark, his eyes still red. He poured me warm water and bought me some food. Seemingly on the verge of breaking down, he left the items, called a nurse, and then departed. I ate a small portion of the food in front of him. But as soon as he left, I put down my forks. My head hurt, and my stomach was upset; I really couldn’t eat. The food I’d forced down made me nauseous, and I ended up throwing it all back up. I think I even cried while throwing up. Completely drained, I lay back, trying to catch my breath. The moment my back touched the bed, I heard a loud, sudden crash. It was followed by a scream from the nurse who had just come in to watch over me, startled. Alex burst through the door, pushing it open with furious force. His face was murderous. He stormed over, grabbed my arm, and yanked me up from the bed. Every word he uttered was laced with raging hatred. “Scarlett Hayes, are you really going to force my hand?!”

I was forced to sit up. My vision blurred, and my stomach churned violently. I managed to hold it in, barely avoiding throwing up on Alex. Alex seemed to have gone mad with rage. He sent the nurse away, his grip on my arm painfully tight. “You sent your mother to make a scene at my house! Aren’t you just upset Genevieve came back?” “I don’t love you. After all these years, this is the first time I wanted Genevieve to come back and see her. Is that so wrong?!” My heart plummeted. My mom had found out, as expected. She would never let me suffer. I desperately tried to push Alex away, wanting to rush to the Thornes’ house to find my mom. But Alex held me tightly, refusing to let go. His eyes looked like they wanted to devour me whole. “Genevieve has been abroad for seven years.” “Are you so evil that you demand I never see her again?” A sharp, piercing pain started in my head. The pain intensified rapidly, as if my skull were being torn apart. I was trembling uncontrollably, my voice shaky. “Let go. I need to find my mom.” Alex’s grip didn’t soften in the slightest. He sneered. “What, you think your mom didn’t make a big enough scene? Scarlett Hayes, you didn’t marry me for love back then either.” “All these years, haven’t you and your mother gotten everything you wanted? Why won’t you let me go?!” I froze for a second, not understanding his words. He, Alex Thorne, could marry me without loving me. But I, if I hadn’t loved him, would never have married him. He met my gaze, then suddenly, viciously, threw a stack of photos in front of me. “Do you really think I’m a fool?” “Less than six months into our marriage, you were already consulting Julian Vance about how to divorce me and take a share of the Thorne family assets.” I looked, disbelievingly, at the photos scattered across the bed. They chronicled almost every interaction Julian and I had shared over the past seven years. The earliest of those photos were, just as Alex said, from less than six months into our marriage. I racked my brain for a long moment, finally managing to recall that incident.

It was over six years ago. Julian and I did discuss divorce that day. But it wasn’t my divorce. It was Julian who wanted to divorce his wife. At the time, Julian’s law firm was in trouble, and he didn’t want to burden his wife. He planned to divorce her and give her what little assets he had. But his wife wouldn’t accept it. So, at the coffee shop, he told me he wanted to create evidence of the husband’s infidelity to ensure his wife received a larger share of assets, while he, the husband, would legally walk away with nothing. This way, his wife wouldn’t feel guilty. I felt a degree of sympathy for Julian’s predicament. So, after our conversation, I handed him a bank card, offering it as a temporary loan. It was only afterward that I realized I’d given him the wrong card – Alex’s paycheck card. Alex had given it to me on our wedding night. After intimacies and a few drinks, a half-drunk Alex had held me and said, “My money should be with my wife.” He was the CEO of his family’s company, but he still received a monthly salary. After giving me the card, many of his other income streams, like investments, would also be directed by his assistant straight to the card I held. After realizing my mistake, I contacted Julian the next day and swapped the cards back. Now, looking back, it occurred to me that Alex might have known everything – our conversation in the coffee shop, and perhaps even the card I’d handed over. Because Julian’s wife was an actress, they had kept their marriage secret. Alex, unaware Julian was married, had completely misunderstood. For a moment, I even had the absurd thought that Alex, speaking of those things with such fury, and tracking my interactions with Julian for seven years… Could it be that he loved me a little, that he cared? But then, the man before me spoke, shattering my utterly ridiculous fantasy. Alex’s voice was laced with sarcasm. “Scarlett Hayes, before you go to all that trouble digging up dirt on me and Genevieve.” “Maybe you should think about how you’ll explain yourself if these photos go public.” My heart plummeted instantly. So, it was a threat. I wanted to explain, but then I thought, what’s the point? It was laughable. He wouldn’t care about the so-called truth anyway. The words died on my lips, replaced by a cold sneer. I said flatly, “Think what you want.” Alex looked down at me, then suddenly reached out, harshly wiping his thumb across my lower eyelid. He snarled, almost gnashing his teeth, “You only cry in front of him. Scarlett Hayes, you disgust me.” After Alex stormed off in a rage, I immediately rushed to the Thorne family estate to find my mom. When I arrived, Alex had just pulled up too. He held Genevieve’s hand tightly, cast a cold glance at me, then entered the house, with me following closely behind.

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While Julian was with the woman he always loved, at her prenatal check-up. I was scheduling my own abortion, alone. Our eyes met. I forced a small smile. “What a coincidence.” Later, I wished them a long and happy life together, but he wasn’t pleased. “Julian!” The familiar name caught my breath, and I looked up sharply. A man and a woman stood facing each other a short distance away. The woman was delicately pretty, with a subtle curve to her belly. The man was tall and handsome… It was my husband, just a month after we got married. My mind went completely blank at the sight. I quickly ducked around the corner, and by the time my brain started functioning again, I couldn’t hear their voices. She was pregnant. The woman Julian loved was pregnant. He was there with her for her prenatal check-up, and the scene was so perfectly harmonious, so beautiful. A baby should be born into the eager anticipation of its parents. I gently stroked my own abdomen, then after a long moment, I walked to another part of the clinic. The nurse mentioned needing a family member to sign off on the procedure, but I was firm. “No, thank you. I can be responsible for my own body, and I have the right to decide whether or not to have a child.” I signed my name and went out to wait. Serena’s voice drifted closer. “Not at all, I haven’t had any morning sickness. Maybe the baby’s just a little angel, a blessing.” I turned my head. Julian and Serena were walking side-by-side. Julian held a bag in his hand; it must have been Serena’s. Our eyes met. He paused, looking surprised, as if he hadn’t expected to see me there. I stood up, forcing a small smile. “What a coincidence.” Julian’s expression quickly returned to normal. “What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice low and casual, with a hint of indifference. I just smiled, retorting, “You?” Julian: “Just picking something up. Are you done?” “I still have to wait a bit.” “Then I’ll get going.” Julian said, then walked past me and left. Serena gave me a small nod and a gentle smile, then followed Julian’s pace. I sat back down. The plastic chair felt cold. Finally, I was on the operating table, the surgical light bright above me. I closed my eyes, and hot tears streamed down my face. It was dark by the time I left the hospital. I called an Uber home to our new house. Mrs. Gable told me Julian had been back for a while, waiting for me for dinner. I had no appetite; all I wanted to do was sleep. I told Mrs. Gable I wouldn’t be eating and headed up the stairs. Mrs. Gable quickly followed me. “Mrs. Davies, you look very pale. Are you ill? I’ll call Dr. Evans right away.” I forced a smile. “I’m fine, just a little tired. A good night’s sleep will fix it.” “Mrs. Davies, if you’re not feeling well, you must tell me. I’ll get Dr. Evans,” Mrs. Gable insisted from behind me. “Mhm.” I mumbled, then went upstairs to our room. I washed my face and brushed my teeth, skipping a shower and even my skincare routine. I was out of the bathroom quickly. Julian opened the door and came in. He walked over, studying my face. “Not feeling well? I’ll call Dr. Evans.” “No need, a good night’s sleep is all I need.” I walked to the bed and pulled back the covers. Julian followed, watching me silently for a moment. Then he smiled and asked, “What were you doing at the hospital today?” I honestly hadn’t expected him to ask and was unsure how to answer. But then I realized, he probably wasn’t genuinely curious about why I was there. I looked at him. A smile still played on his lips, eternally cynical and distant. I lowered my head, shaking it gently. “I wasn’t following you.” “I know,” he said, reaching up to gently stroke my cheek. “You’re always so well-behaved. I personally chose you, so you wouldn’t disappoint me.”

I was indeed Julian’s personal choice. Countless families wanted to form an alliance with him, but mine had the least advantage. In our circle, they called our company a small one, with a market value of only a couple of hundred million. But Julian still chose me because I was “well-behaved” – I had no temper and wouldn’t dare to control him. Even after marriage, he was as free as ever. To him, this marriage was just a formality to appease his family. To me, it was the last lifeline for our family company. I needed Julian. To be precise, my parents, our family company, needed Julian. Our family got everything we wanted. Now, it seemed Julian was quite satisfied with me too. “I’m going to sleep now,” I said, forcing a smile, and got into bed. A moment later, I heard Julian’s quiet footsteps as he left the room. I closed my eyes and curled up, feeling a bit cold. Gradually, my eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted into a hazy sleep. Suddenly, I felt someone wrap their arms around me. A slightly cool hand rested on my stomach, slowly tracing upwards, a shiver ran through me. It was Julian. I instantly woke up, instinctively grabbing his hand. “I don’t feel well today.” “What’s wrong?” His voice was husky, his warm lips brushing my neck. I couldn’t help but flinch. The image of him and Serena standing together flashed through my mind, Serena with her growing belly. A surge of revulsion washed over me. “I’m really not feeling well. Not tonight.” I pleaded. Julian’s hand remained on my stomach. He held me quietly, and after a moment, he tightened his arm. “Go to sleep.” After we got married, whenever he stayed home for the night, he would always hold me as we slept. At first, I clung to a sliver of hope, telling myself it was his way of showing affection. But no matter how naive I was, the moment I saw him with Serena at the hospital today, I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. I just didn’t understand. If he loved Serena so much, why did he marry me? If he loved Serena so much, why did he hold me every night? I fell asleep. When I opened my eyes again, the room was still pitch black, and Julian was no longer beside me. I picked up my phone and saw it was already past nine. I went to the bathroom for a hot shower, dried myself quickly, put on warmer clothes, and went downstairs. Mrs. Gable wasn’t there, only Chloe, the house staff, was cleaning. She stopped what she was doing and looked at me. “You’re awake. Would you like something to eat now?” I nodded. In the open-plan kitchen, Chloe busied herself for a bit, then called out, “Dinner’s ready!” I ate quickly at the kitchen island, then got ready to go back to my room and rest. Just as I stood up, there was a *ding*, and the elevator doors opened, revealing Julian’s tall figure. I looked over. His expression was icy, his gaze locked onto me as he walked toward me. The oppressive presence of the tall man made my breath catch. I looked up to meet his eyes, wanting to ask what was wrong, but no sound came out. “What’s wrong with you?” Julian suddenly asked. In that instant, I understood. He had gone to the hospital. He knew everything. “Amelia Miller, you have some nerve,” Julian’s voice was a low rumble, chilling me to the bone. I lowered my head, unsure what to say. I didn’t even understand why he was so angry. Did he want me to have this baby? I wouldn’t allow my child to be born into a family devoid of warmth or affection. Julian grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up into his eyes. His usually charming eyes held no trace of their former playfulness, only a cold ruthlessness. His thin lips parted, each word a hammer blow. “Amelia Miller, you aborted my child.”

***CUTOFF POINT*** “Do you have anything to say?” Julian asked, his voice chilling. I opened my mouth, my dry throat struggling to form two words: “No, nothing.” “Good.” Julian released me, his icy gaze lingering for a moment before he turned and left. I heard Chloe gasp. I turned my head slightly, and she immediately looked away. I went upstairs to my room, standing at the doorway of the huge bedroom in silence. Then I went into the walk-in closet and started packing. There weren’t many things that were truly mine. Everything I used here, Julian had bought. He didn’t even have to buy them himself. Every day, deliveries arrived—clothes, shoes, jewelry. Just the title of “Mrs. Davies” made major brands clamor to send things over. I packed the few things I had brought with me into my suitcase. It was pathetically little, leaving half the suitcase empty. I sat on the couch, staring blankly at the suitcase. I knew I’d stirred up trouble. Maybe I should call my dad and tell him I probably wouldn’t be able to help our family company out of its difficulties. Mom and Dad would be so upset, so heartbroken. I don’t know how much time passed, but then I heard Mrs. Davies’ gentle voice from outside. “Amy!” I quickly went out. When Mrs. Davies saw me, she immediately came over, took my hand, and asked with concern, “What happened? You aborted the baby?” I hadn’t expected Julian to act so fast. “Mom, I’m sorry.” Mrs. Davies’ brows drew together. “How could this happen? Amy, why? Why didn’t you say anything about something so big? You went to the hospital by yourself? Don’t you know any surgery has risks? What if something happened to you, how would I explain it to your parents?” “Mom, I’m sorry.” Besides that, I didn’t know what else to say. Mrs. Davies sighed, pulling me back into the room. “You need to lie down right away. This is a critical time for your recovery. You must take care of yourself properly, or it could cause problems later. Stay home for the next couple of weeks; I’ll have the chef prepare nourishing meals.” Mrs. Davies’ attitude toward me hadn’t changed at all. She even wanted me to stay and recover. I was a little surprised and hesitated before asking, “Mom, what did Julian say?” “He didn’t answer my calls. I haven’t even seen him yet.” Mrs. Davies sighed repeatedly. “Is something wrong between you two? It’s only been a month since you got married…” “Mom, Julian didn’t tell you?” Mrs. Davies paused. “Chloe told me.” So that’s how it was. I was even more confused about Julian’s attitude. “Amy, tell me, is something wrong between you and Julian? Is it him…” Mrs. Davies sighed again at that point. “He likes to play around, I thought he’d settle down after marriage, that scoundrel! Amy, don’t worry, I’ll teach him a lesson for you. You just focus on recovering, don’t overthink anything.” I nodded. “Okay, thank you, Mom.” Mrs. Davies stayed with me until dark. She called Julian, urging him to come home, then left after hanging up. Before she left, she told me not to get angry, not to argue with Julian, and to call her if anything happened. Mrs. Davies must have been very sad too. But I couldn’t have the baby just because she was kind to me, because I was grateful to her. A knock sounded at the door. Before I could speak, Chloe came in, carrying a tray. “This is chicken soup. Have some. I’ll leave it here for you.” I didn’t say anything. Chloe placed the chicken soup on the nightstand, glanced at me, pursed her lips, and left. From the day I arrived here, I knew Chloe didn’t like me, even looked down on me. I didn’t care. Ultimately, she was just an outsider. All I cared about was Julian’s attitude towards me, but now, I should let go of that obsession. Some things aren’t mine. No matter how hard I try, I’ll never get them. So, I’ll let go. Let go of Julian, and let go of myself.

After finishing the chicken soup, I took the bowl downstairs. Mrs. Gable immediately came over. “Mrs. Davies, why are you down here? You should be resting and recuperating.” Mrs. Gable took the bowl from my hand. “Dinner will be ready soon, Mrs. Davies. You should go upstairs and put on another layer.” Chloe was cleaning, glanced at me, and continued her work. I looked away and gave Mrs. Gable a small smile. “I’m not cold.” Mrs. Gable looked down at my feet. “Mrs. Davies, please put on your socks. Don’t catch a cold.” “Okay.” I paused. “Is Julian coming back for dinner?” “I just called him. Young Master said for you to eat first, no need to wait for him.” Mrs. Gable finished, then sighed. “Mrs. Davies, this is normal, Young Master is just upset right now, but he still cares about you.” Actually, I didn’t understand why Julian was so angry. Someone was already having his child, wasn’t she? Did he really like children that much? I went back upstairs, put on socks, and came down. Mrs. Gable had already set dinner on the kitchen island. I ate quietly alone. I heard the elevator ding, Julian must be back. “Young Master!” Mrs. Gable’s voice was warm. “You’re back! Perfect, Mrs. Davies just started eating.” “I’m not eating.” Julian said coldly, then went upstairs. I heard Mrs. Gable sigh again. She pitied me, felt sorry for me. I must have looked truly pathetic. After dinner, I went upstairs to my room. Julian wasn’t there. I didn’t look for him; I just washed up and got into bed. Julian didn’t come in all night. The next morning, when I went downstairs, he was sitting on the couch, looking at his phone. He didn’t even look up when Mrs. Gable spoke to me. He didn’t say a word during breakfast either, and left as soon as he was done. Shortly after he left, Mrs. Davies and Audrey, Julian’s sister, arrived. Audrey was already four months pregnant. Her husband was away on a business trip, so she’d been staying with her mom recently. But how could she come? “Mom, you told Audrey?” Audrey pursed her lips and playfully chided me, “I’m not that superstitious. But you, making such a big decision all by yourself, you’re becoming quite something.” Her words were reproachful, but her tone was full of concern. I lowered my head. “Audrey, you shouldn’t have come.” I had just had a procedure. Even though I wasn’t superstitious, there were traditions. My not caring didn’t mean others wouldn’t. Audrey looked around. “Where’s Julian? Not home?” “He just left.” “That rascal!” Audrey pulled out her phone. I quickly raised my hand to stop her. “Audrey, he’s busy. Besides, Mrs. Gable is here.” Mrs. Davies sat on my other side. “Amelia, did you tell your parents about this?” I paused, then shook my head. Mrs. Davies said, “I think you should tell your parents.” Audrey also nodded in agreement. I replied, “I’ll call my parents later.” After chatting for a while, I urged Audrey to leave quickly and come back after my recovery period. Once Mrs. Davies and Audrey left, I went back to my room and called my mom. Her reaction was as I expected. Over the phone, she complained about me being too headstrong and what if something had gone wrong. She quickly hung up. Less than an hour later, she and Dad arrived. “Why would you do this?” My mom was angry and heartbroken, her eyes glistening with tears. My dad sat quietly to the side. My mom sat on the bed, holding my hand. “Amelia, tell me the truth, are you being mistreated here?” “No,” I said, forcing a smile. “I knew it!” Mom’s tears fell. She wiped them away, choking back sobs. “It’s all for the family, making you suffer so much.” Dad sighed heavily from the side. Actually, I wasn’t hurt at all. In fact, when I found out I could marry Julian, I was overjoyed, feeling like the happiest person in the world. I liked Julian. I had liked him since middle school.

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My wife, Chloe Miller, was a dance teacher. Sweet-faced, with a figure that could kill. To make her mine, I agreed to three cohabitation demands during our first meeting. For the dowry, her mother didn’t mince words: two houses and two million dollars in cash! Back then, I was head-over-heels in love. My family was well-off, so I agreed without a second thought. After we married, I spoiled her rotten, treating her like a little princess. She didn’t have to worry about anything, inside or outside the house. I always let her have her way. When she said she didn’t want kids, I nodded, even convinced my parents to go along with it. I admit, at first, I was a total pushover around her. But I really did love her. Her gentleness, her innocence. Later, I learned that her gentleness and innocence were just a mask. I’d just gotten home after a three-month business trip. The project had kept me away, and the moment I walked through the door, Chloe threw herself at me, radiating passion. That night, she didn’t want me to use protection. That surprised me, because normally, she’d never let me go in without it. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? I didn’t think much of it. Not long after, she was pregnant. When I saw those two red lines on the pregnancy test, I nearly cried tears of joy. Truth be told, I’d always longed for a child. My parents had been subtly pushing for grandkids, but Chloe had always refused. I was so overwhelmed, I could barely string a sentence together. I asked her several times if she was *really* pregnant. Chloe, however, didn’t seem thrilled about the pregnancy. She snapped impatiently: “Are you done? Of course it’s real. Do you think I’d fake something like this?” I chalked it up to pregnancy hormones and gently coaxed her: “Honey, since you’re pregnant, let’s keep it. Don’t worry, you just carry the baby. I’ll take care of everything once it’s born.” I expected her to refuse, but to my surprise, she sighed and said: “Fine. But remember, you’re raising it. I’m not doing anything.” I was so happy, I kissed her several times. She pushed me away, looking disgusted: “Gross, your spit stinks.” Then, she went to the bathroom to wash her face. I knew she was a germaphobe, so I didn’t take it personally. I immediately called my parents to share the good news. They were ecstatic and booked flights from out of town that very night. As soon as they arrived, they gave Chloe a generous cash gift. It was a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills, a full ten thousand dollars! My parents cheerfully said it was for her prenatal care, so she could focus on keeping healthy. They promised that once the baby was born, boy or girl, they’d directly reward her with a house. Chloe’s face, which had been overcast, finally brightened. She wasn’t as resistant to the pregnancy anymore. From that moment on, Chloe became the queen of our house. Even though we had a housekeeper, my mom still cooked for Chloe every day, preparing all sorts of delicious dishes. I canceled all my work to stay home and be by her side. But as time went on, her temper grew worse. She’d snap at me constantly. She said having too many people in the house made her irritable. To keep her happy, I had to ask my parents to temporarily go back home. Then she told me to go back to work, saying my idling around the house bothered her even more. I reluctantly agreed, but I didn’t realize it was all just an excuse to get rid of me and my family. It was so no one would be watching her, and she could go out and party again. Two months into her pregnancy, she went clubbing and nearly lost the baby! 2 She called me from the hospital, and I rushed over. The doctor said Chloe was pregnant with triplets and showed signs of miscarriage. When I heard that, my heart nearly leaped into my throat. She stayed in the hospital for a month to stabilize the pregnancy. During that time, Chloe wouldn’t let me tell my parents, saying she didn’t want them to worry. She had her mom come to take care of her instead. By the time she was discharged, her belly was significantly larger. A three-month pregnant belly looked like she was six months along. I thought it was a bit strange, but figured it was probably due to carrying triplets, so I didn’t dwell on it. After leaving the hospital, she moved straight back to her mother’s house, claiming it was easier for her mom to look after her. Her temper was explosive. I walked on eggshells every day, trying to manage her moods. She was still irritable and prone to fits of rage, complaining that I’d made her pregnant, making her body swollen and ugly. When she got emotional, she’d grab whatever was nearby and throw it. One time, she threw a glass at me, splitting my head open. Afterward, she didn’t even apologize or offer a word of comfort. Eventually, my mother-in-law, tired of me being around, told me to go to work and stop hovering. I had no choice but to leave, but I visited her every day. Still, her attitude towards me was incredibly cold. Sometimes when I spoke to her, she wouldn’t even glance my way. I told myself that she was carrying triplets for me, so it was understandable that her emotions were out of whack. After all, she was so vain; pregnancy had made her body bloated and changed, so she must have blamed me, the culprit. To cheer her up, I gave her gifts every day: designer handbags, lipsticks, jewelry—anything she liked, I bought. After that, when I visited, she finally had a smile for me and a hint of her old tenderness. I told her I had to go on a business trip to close a big deal and would probably be gone for a month or two. She seemed unusually happy, telling me to go and not worry about her. I then said I missed her and wanted to stay the night. She flatly refused, saying her belly was too big and I’d press on the babies. Frustrated, I went home alone. I’ve always been a faithful man. Since Chloe got pregnant, I’d handled my needs myself. But I never imagined that Chloe was finding *other* ways to handle hers. What happened next completely unmasked her true colors. I wished I could slap myself silly. I hated myself, hated myself for bringing such a disgusting person into my home. I was away on business when I suddenly received a call from Chloe’s best friend, Mia. She said Chloe had gone into early labor and told me to rush back. Without a word, I booked the first flight home and immediately headed to the hospital where Chloe was delivering.

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For the sake of the kingdom and its people, the Crown Prince sent his heavily pregnant wife to the enemy. And I was his wife. Two lives gone, in one cruel sweep. My body, merely a discarded battlefield casualty. That very day, he returned to the capital with the transmigrator woman, ascending happily to the throne. When I opened my eyes again, I woke up in the body of a palace maid. He stared at me. “I feel like you resemble someone I once knew.” When we marched off to war, I was already three months pregnant. The King was advanced in years then, already hinting at abdication. The political currents were turbulent in court. My parents were caught in the crossfire, both thrown into the royal dungeons. My mother gripped my hand, her eyes swimming with tears. “Elara, the royal family knows no mercy, my dear. Don’t get too deeply entangled.” To serve a King is like walking with a tiger. We had long foreseen such an outcome. I comforted my mother. “Mother, Dorian will soon ascend to the throne. When he does, I’ll have you released from the dungeons.” Dorian – my childhood sweetheart, the Crown Prince, and the future King. My mother couldn’t speak, just wept incessantly. My status had become sensitive. When Dorian led his troops to war, he took me with him to protect me. He comforted me. “Don’t be afraid, Elara. Just stay in the camp, and be careful not to overexert yourself and harm the baby.” I nodded, not refusing. If all went as planned, after this war, our return to the capital would be the day the King abdicated. As the Crown Princess, I was naturally the future Queen. Then, I’d find some reason to clear my parents’ names, and our family could be reunited. I believed this without a shadow of a doubt. It wasn’t until we reached the battlefield, seeing the armies clash, that I realized things weren’t as simple as I’d imagined. Heavily pregnant, I could do nothing. And in the camp, besides me, there was another woman. Her name was Skylar, a field medic traveling with the army. Every day, she would leave with Dorian and return with him. Whispers began to circulate in the camp behind my back. They said the Crown Prince was about to take a new woman. I understood the look in Skylar’s eyes when she gazed at Dorian. She liked him. Her medical skills were astonishing, almost miraculous. She was different from me; she said she came from another world, a transmigrator. I didn’t understand what she was talking about, but every time she spoke, Dorian would listen intently. A focus in his eyes I hadn’t seen in a long, long time. Skylar was free-spirited and unconventional; she claimed everyone was equal. So, she dismissed the maids who attended me. She declared that women are just as capable as men. And so, heavily pregnant, I found myself standing on the battlefield. That was the day the enemy general saw my face. My beauty was famed across the kingdoms, my dances legendary, my beauty unmatched – a true siren, rare in this world. The enemy army was strong and well-equipped, pushing us back relentlessly, causing heavy casualties. Dorian was forced to surrender. The enemy general, wanting to humiliate him, demanded me from Dorian. I sat on the plush divan, despair washing over me, my tears long since dried. I understood the look in Dorian’s eyes. He wanted to agree. That day, I looked at him, my eyes filled with utter disappointment. He gripped my hand, promising solemnly: “Elara, be good. It’s just a feigned surrender. I’ll lead the troops back to rescue you immediately!” Skylar also urged me. “Your Royal Highness, for the sake of the kingdom, please consider the bigger picture.” If I didn’t go, the city would fall, all its people would die, and so would our soldiers. They piled on the pressure, painting me as the kingdom’s only hope. I had no choice but to agree. And so, heavily pregnant, I was lifted into a sedan chair and carried into the enemy camp. That day, I was forced to dance barefoot on a mosaic of broken pottery. My soles were pierced, blood flowing freely. Several times, I nearly fainted, but I forced myself to stay conscious. I couldn’t collapse, couldn’t harm the baby in my belly. Dorian promised he would come for me. Inside me, our child was still alive. When I returned to the city, my parents were waiting for me to rescue them. I ignored the enemy soldiers’ taunts. Dorian said he would come to save me soon. Clinging to that hope, I danced until past midnight, but Dorian never came. The enemy general grabbed my arm, dragging me onto the divan. His voice was laced with mockery. “Waiting for someone to save you, perhaps? “Your husband has already returned to his capital with his little beauty.” It was then that I truly despaired. I had been abandoned. That night, I didn’t survive. All I knew was the numb agony, blood staining the divan crimson, and the child in my belly dissolving into a pool of blood, gone from me forever. Two lives gone, in one cruel sweep. Dorian returned to the capital with that transmigrator woman. On the very day my body was discarded, he donned his King’s robes and held his coronation. The new King, devoted to his realm, had sacrificed his wife for peace and prosperity. Skylar, with her miraculous healing, had earned great merit. And I? I was merely a footnote in their tale of glory, an insignificant detail. My parents, unable to await my return, died in the royal dungeons. All my despair gradually transformed into hatred. I opened my eyes, unwilling to accept my fate, only to see Skylar now dressed in fine silks and luxurious robes. The woman who once preached equality now had an army of maids at her beck and call. And I had become one of them. She stepped on my head, forcing me to gnaw on the leftover bones she had discarded on the floor. “You’re just an illegitimate daughter. Eating my leftovers is already a privilege for you.” My hair was disheveled, and I knelt on the floor, saying nothing. Skylar lounged on her plush chaise lounge, laughing hysterically, pointing at me and chattering with Gemma, her head maid.

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My sister has always been a liar, always setting me up since we were kids. She stole money, got caught, and said I took it. She accidentally tumbled down the stairs, but claimed I pushed her. She ran off with strangers who turned out to be traffickers, just for a cellphone. When she was rescued, she swore I’d abducted and sold her. My brothers called me a born evil. My parents’ brutal beatings became a daily occurrence. Until one day, I heard my sister’s inner thoughts: “Hahahaha, a bunch of idiots! Hurry up and drive Alice to her death. Next, it’s the brothers’ turn. Watching you turn on each other is going to be so satisfying, serves you right!” Everyone stared at my sister, disbelief etched on their faces. She was so screwed. When my sister, Willow, was in her senior year of high school, she faked being sick for a whole week, all for a cellphone. She’d hide under her covers, playing games all night. One time, she was cursing out her teammates so loudly that Mom caught her. In a fit of rage, Mom confiscated her phone. Willow immediately threw a massive tantrum, battling our entire family. After her inevitable defeat, she stormed out of the house. It was snowing that day, and our whole family split up to find her. Mom and Dad called almost everyone in their contact list, asking all our relatives, teachers, and classmates. They came up empty-handed. Finally, I found Willow at a downtown spot. She was about to get into a stranger’s car. I ran over and pulled her, trying to get her to come home with me. But then, two burly men got out of the car, claiming to be Willow’s friends. They roughly pushed me to the ground, telling me to mind my own business. Willow stood behind them, a phone in her hand, a smug look on her face as she told me, “See? Anyone is better to me than Mom and Dad. I don’t want to spend another minute in this messed-up home. I’m cutting ties with all of you and going to live a good life.” With that, she willingly got into the car and drove off without a care. Later, I found out Willow had been abducted and taken to a remote, isolated compound. When we finally found her, she was in a dilapidated shack, forced to care for an old, disabled man. The moment she saw us, she burst into uncontrollable sobs, throwing herself into Mom’s arms. Mom took one look at the surroundings and, completely overwhelmed, hugged Willow and cried herself unconscious. Dad leaned against the wall, slapping himself repeatedly, consumed by regret. My brothers watched the scene in silence. Over the years, our family had searched high and low for my sister. Through countless sleepless nights, Mom and Dad were heartbroken with guilt, even imagining the worst possible outcome. What we saw now, though unbearable, was still our greatest comfort: Willow was alive, safe and sound, standing right in front of us.

That night Willow returned, she whispered threats in my ear. “Alice, your good days are over. I’m going to take everything precious from you.” My smile froze, and I stared blankly at Willow, wondering if I’d misheard. Because just moments ago, she had told Mom and Dad that all these years she was gone, I was the one she missed most. “What? Scared? I’ve got even scarier things to show you, want to see?” Before I could react, Willow grabbed my hand and slapped herself hard across the face. My palm went numb. Her lip was busted, her cheek swelled rapidly, and her mouth was full of blood. I snatched my hand back in a panic, staring at her in disbelief. “Willow, what are you doing?” The smile was gone from Willow’s face. She suddenly looked at me in terror, backing away as if she’d seen a ghost. “Sister, why did you hit me? All I wanted was to come back to Mom and Dad. Was I wrong? Why can’t you stand me?” Willow’s voice was loud enough to alert the whole family. Dad came out of his study. Seeing Willow’s terrified look, he quickly shielded her behind him and asked me what was going on. Liam and Noah, my brothers, rushed out of their bedrooms. They grabbed my arms, roughly pulling me into a corner, creating distance between me and Willow. Mom, who was in the kitchen, stormed out with a wooden spoon in her hand. Everyone watched Willow tremble as she hid in Dad’s arms. She looked at me with horror, as if I were a monster, continuously pleading, “Sister, I’m sorry, please don’t hit me, Sister, please don’t hit me.” I was utterly speechless. I knew Willow had always been dishonest and loved to lie since she was little. But before, she’d only lie and make me the scapegoat when she got into trouble and was afraid of the consequences. This was more than just lying, though. She was clearly making trouble, intentionally framing me. Sure enough, everyone fell for Willow’s performance. Mom’s chest heaved with anger. Without a word, she rushed over and slapped me across the face. The blow was so hard that half my face went numb. They stared at me, their faces etched with disappointment, as if I were a death row inmate. A flash of triumph flickered in Willow’s eyes. As expected, she had won again. She tugged at Mom’s sleeve, putting on the most pitiful, vulnerable act. “Mommy, am I really unwanted? Did Alice really trick me into getting into the trafficker’s car all those years ago? She told me you had enough with just one daughter, and I was redundant…” Willow was lying again. But her words successfully sent shockwaves through each of us.

Everyone stared at me. Their gazes were filled with disappointment, but mostly with rage. Willow had loved causing trouble since she was little. She’d broken dishes in the kitchen, snapped Mom’s lipstick, killed the fish in the tank, stolen the neighbor’s packages… whatever she did wrong, when the truth came to light, she’d always lie and make me take the blame. I was never good with words, so I became the bad kid in Mom and Dad’s eyes, the born evil in my brothers’ words. Being beaten was a daily occurrence for me. In the years Willow was gone, I’d finally had a moment of peace. But now, I was terrified. I glared at her, retorting, “Willow, I never said anything like that! I tried to stop you back then, but I couldn’t. *You* were the one who said you were cutting ties with us.” “Alice, of course, wouldn’t admit it.” Willow was a weeping mess. She cut me off, feigning weakness and understanding. “It’s all in the past now. Those nightmarish years are over. I don’t blame Alice. I just beg you, Sister, for the sake of being my blood sister, please don’t try to hurt me again, okay?” I frantically explained, “I didn’t! I really didn’t!” Willow nodded. “Right, right, you didn’t. Such a big deal, let’s just say I framed you. After all, murderers never admit their crimes, do they?” Mom hugged Willow tightly, her whole body trembling with anger. Dad clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fury. He stepped forward, grabbed my collar, and cursed at me. “You ungrateful daughter! I always knew you were competitive, always wanting to win against your sister, but I never imagined you could be so evil!” Liam and Noah just stood by. Like countless times before when Dad had disciplined me, they watched coldly, letting Dad beat me without saying a word. A storm of blows rained down on me. I convulsed with pain, crying until my voice was hoarse, repeatedly explaining, “I didn’t! It wasn’t me!” But my words were too weak, and no one believed them. They even thought I was lying, calling me unrepentant, just like countless times in my childhood when faced with Willow’s undeniable accusations that I refused to admit. Mom, like a hen protecting her chick, screamed at me with pure hatred. “You’re a born evil! Might as well kill you! How dare you abduct and sell your own sister? I won’t find peace until I break every bone in your body!” When I was covered in injuries, Dad finally grew tired of hitting me. He pressed his hard leather shoe onto my ankle and cursed, “You’re worse than an animal! Willow just shared her gifts with you, calling you her only sister, she’s so kind, yet you try to destroy her like this.” Liam frowned, looking at me. “Alice, you’re utterly heartless. Why wasn’t it *you* who got abducted by traffickers?” Noah’s eyes were also filled with disappointment. “Alice, when you do something wrong, there’s a price to pay.” Everyone, without knowing right from wrong, shielded Willow. Their regret and anger, as if finally finding an outlet, turned into violence unleashed upon me. I coughed up blood. Even breathing hurt. I could only open my mouth, feebly and weakly arguing, “I didn’t… I really didn’t…” Willow cried even harder. She had become the family’s favorite. In a few words, she had completely ruined my reputation. Just as I closed my eyes in despair, I suddenly heard Willow’s voice. “Crushing it, hahahaha! Alice, that loser, is still as stupid as ever. A few simple tricks and I’ve got her utterly defeated.” “Hahahaha, what a bunch of idiots! Hurry up and drive Alice to her death, then I’ll be the sole favorite. Next, it’s the two brothers’ turn. Watching you turn on each other is going to be so satisfying, serves you right!” “Everyone can just die, not a single good person among you. After you’re all gone, I’ll inherit everything.” I looked up in terror. Willow was quietly cowering in Mom’s arms, timid as a frightened kitten. Her mouth hadn’t moved at all. What was going on? Why could I hear her voice? Just as I wondered if I was hallucinating, I noticed everyone’s gazes had shifted from me to Willow. Their eyes were still filled with raging fury. But this time, it wasn’t directed at me.

Willow didn’t seem to notice anything unusual. In her mind, she was still thinking: “I’m so badly hurt, Mom and Dad must be heartbroken. If only Alice could just die! Why should she enjoy life here when I suffered so much out there? Unless I chop her into a thousand pieces, I won’t appease my hatred.” “What’s with them? Why are they all staring at me? Are they retarded? Well, yeah, if they weren’t idiots, they wouldn’t have confiscated my phone back then and gotten me abducted to the countryside, making me suffer so much. It’s all your fault, I hope you all die a terrible death.” “Mom’s slap on Alice was too light. Was it really that hard to knock out all her teeth with two slaps? Dad was more effective, though. Looks like my trick of feigning injury worked. Ouch, it hurts so much. If I’d known it would hurt this much, I wouldn’t have been so hard on myself.” The house was deadly silent. Willow’s mental curses against our entire family echoed exceptionally loud. Mom stared at Willow in disbelief, still unsure if those vicious inner thoughts had truly come from her. Dad’s eyes were red-rimmed with anger. Both my brothers looked at me, their faces full of shame and guilt. I was expressionless. The pain throughout my body made me feel utterly hopeless. Dad still seemed to think he was hallucinating. He asked Willow, uncertainly, “Willow, was it really your sister who abducted and sold you all those years ago?” Willow quickly nodded. But after glancing at me, she shook her head in feigned terror. “No, I don’t blame Alice. It must have been something I did wrong for Alice to sell me. It must have been my fault…” Her words undeniably sealed my fate. Dad’s anger, which had finally extinguished, flared up again. He seemed to think my beating just now was not undeserved. But soon, I heard Willow’s thoughts again: “Hmph! I’m not stupid. How could I tell them I basically sold myself for a crappy phone? It’s all Alice’s fault for not stopping me back then, she’s useless. Today, I’ll make sure she takes the blame fully.” “But Alice, that idiot, is quite pretty. Maybe I’ll find a chance to sell her to some rural area. Butch, that pig, still needs a wife. Just thinking about him defiling Alice, hahahaha, it’s so satisfying!” Mom let out a shout of anger. “You wouldn’t dare!” Dad stared at Willow with a complex expression, and my two brothers quickly rushed to help me up. Everyone came to my side, shielding me. The hatred and resentment they had felt towards me moments ago were now replaced with guilt and self-reproach. I shook them off and walked to my bedroom without a word, my heart cold and desperate. “Alice,” Dad called out to me, his voice soft. “We’re a family. There’s no misunderstanding that can’t be cleared up. I’ll take you both to the hospital first. We can talk about everything else later.” On the way to the hospital, our entire family’s faces were grim. Mom sat between Willow and me. She looked at me, then turned to glance at Willow. After a moment’s hesitation, she finally reached out and pulled Willow into her arms. But to my surprise, Willow was ranting wildly in her mind. “So fake! Why didn’t they just kill Alice? What’s the point of going to the hospital? Was that beating for nothing?” “Ugh, my stomach hurts so bad. Mom’s cooking is still as disgusting as ever, like pig slop. A family of taste-blind idiots, how can they swallow this? To be stuck with a mom like this, what a total downer!” “Dad’s gifts are ugly too. And the bedroom my brothers decorated, pink? Seriously? I’m the Queen of Revenge, are they treating me like a three-year-old? Annoying!” Willow continued her mental rant. Mom’s face was grim. She released Willow and turned to look at me. I angrily turned my face away, refusing to look at her. No one had expected that all their painstaking efforts to make amends to Willow were, in her eyes, completely fake and worthless. The doctor examined my injuries, and Mom immediately arranged for my hospitalization. In the hospital room, Mom hugged me with tenderness, apologizing. “I’m so sorry, Alice. I never thought Willow would use such a method to frame you. Our whole family was used by her. I’m so sorry, sweetie.”

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The scion of a powerful family, Caleb, was pushed down the stairs by his sister and fell into a coma. Caleb’s parents demanded that his sister marry into their family and take care of Caleb for the rest of his life. His sister, dreaming of becoming the lady of a prominent household, eagerly agreed. Little did she know, she’d be tormented so relentlessly, she’d wish she were dead. In my past life, I enjoyed Mom and Dad’s doting affection, got into the State University, and after graduation, became an executive at a leading tech company, earning a multi-million dollar salary. My sister, consumed by jealousy, killed me. She sent me back to the day Caleb fell down the stairs. This time, she pointed a finger at me, accusing me of pushing Caleb. “She’s the one who hurt Caleb! Make her marry him!” She thought she had cleverly swapped our fates, unaware of who truly pulled the strings. My sister stood at the top of the stairs, her finger pointed viciously at me. “She’s the one who pushed Caleb! Make her take care of him and pay for her sins!” Before anyone else could speak, Scarlett lunged into Mom’s arms, tears welling up as she promised, “Mom, I’ll get into the State University, I’ll earn so much money, I’ll take care of you and Dad, I’ll make sure Blair honors you both.” Eleanor shot me a glare, then spoke the words Scarlett had been longing to hear. “Blair hurt my son, so she’ll marry my son and take care of him for the rest of his life. Otherwise, you’ll all face a lawsuit.” Mom broke down, sobbing, and nodded. Just then, the ambulance arrived, rushing Caleb to the hospital. Outside the operating room, Mom clutched my hand, tears streaming down her face. “Blair, even though you made a mistake, you’ll always be my child. Remember that Mom will always be thinking of you, even when you’re in the Lin household.” I nodded, meeting Scarlett’s triumphant gaze. She believed she had chosen the right path, but she had no idea a bottomless abyss awaited her.

The Lin family was incredibly wealthy; they certainly didn’t lack housekeepers. In my previous life, the Lin family tried to groom Scarlett as an heiress, but she was utterly incapable. Despite pouring endless resources into her, she never improved. Eventually, the Lin family gave up on her, making her serve them like a mere servant. Just then, Caleb woke up. Learning he’d never walk again, his personality completely transformed. He relentlessly tormented Scarlett, the sister who had caused his injuries. Caleb’s parents turned a blind eye, never interfering. Meanwhile, I enjoyed Mom and Dad’s affection, consistently ranked first in my class, received scholarships, and secured a spot at the State University. After graduation, I was hired as an executive at a leading tech company, earning a multi-million dollar salary. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to enjoy my wealth for long before Scarlett killed me. Reborn into this life, Scarlett didn’t hesitate to make me take the fall. She might not have had jewels, luxury goods, or a massive allowance, but she had Mom and Dad’s love, and a future full of hope. She leaned in, whispering with a smirk, “Sister, this time, it’s my turn to enjoy everything.”

Mrs. Eleanor, just like in my previous life, held high expectations for her future daughter-in-law. She scheduled me for grueling classes, hired countless top tutors, and packed every single minute of my day. “As a daughter-in-law of the Lin family, this is your duty.” Mrs. Eleanor’s strictness and displeasure were barely veiled. I simply nodded, accepting her arrangements. A flicker of surprise crossed Mrs. Eleanor’s eyes, as if she hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. But her surprise quickly turned to disgust. “Your teachers will report your progress to me. Don’t even think about pretending to comply while secretly undermining me.” Why would I ever do that? I wished I could split myself in two, devouring every bit of knowledge, determined to forge a beautiful future with my own hands. I didn’t even waste my breaks, either buried in a book or grinding on exercises. Scarlett, arm in arm with her boyfriend, Dylan, sauntered over to taunt me. “Hard work, isn’t it, sis?” she purred. “Your precious youth, all wasted on these dull, boring things. No time to relax, no chance for fun. But me? I have a boyfriend who adores me, parents who spoil me, and a brilliant future ahead.” I looked up and met Dylan’s eyes. I recognized him instantly. He was the same Dylan from my past life. He had pursued me back then, but I’d turned him down. Later, I learned he’d borrowed a ton of high-interest loans to fund his lavish lifestyle, constantly dating rich girls to find a sugar mama to pay off his debts. Back then, Scarlett was trapped in the Lin household, cut off from the outside world, so she naturally wouldn’t have known. I had no intention of telling her. Consider it a thank you for making me take the fall. “Congratulations, Scarlett, on getting everything you wished for.” Their love was fervent and thrilling. Dylan would sneak into the school radio room and declare his love for Scarlett over the loudspeaker. Scarlett would skip class, climb over the school wall, and buy Dylan his favorite snacks. They would share cigarettes on the rooftop, passionately kiss with no regard for anyone else. They would go to bars, get wasted, and couldn’t wait to be intimate. They documented it all, posting every moment on SnapChat. Scarlett, fearing I wouldn’t have time to check SnapChat, shoved her phone in my face, smugly telling me, “Look, this is what living your youth to the fullest looks like. Too bad you’ll never get to experience it again.”

As she said, I really didn’t have the chance to experience it. Because I had secured a spot in the provincial math competition by ranking first in the entire school, and I needed to focus entirely on preparing. This opportunity was mine in the previous life too; I even placed third in the provincial competition and successfully advanced to the national level. So, Scarlett rushed up to me, utterly bewildered, demanding, “Why? That opportunity should have been mine! Why are you stealing what belongs to me?” I paused my problem-solving, speaking calmly, “This was the school’s decision. If you think I stole it from you, feel free to try and take it back.” Scarlett confronted the school principal, intending to make a scene. Unexpectedly, the principal gave her a past competition paper, promising her the spot if she could score ninety points. Scarlett couldn’t solve a single problem. She just guessed on a few multiple-choice questions, then slunk away. For several days, Scarlett didn’t come to school. Rumors about her only grew, with whispers that she was now living with Dylan. I just felt a lot more peace. My hard work paid off; I achieved first place in the math competition. Victor and Eleanor were so delighted, they specially came home to celebrate with me. After dinner, Eleanor excitedly told me, “Blair, it’s time to set a date for your wedding with Caleb. We plan to hold the engagement party next week and announce your marriage.” I nodded obediently. “Thank you, Aunt Eleanor.” In my previous life, Scarlett had been with the Lin family for years, yet Victor and Eleanor never publicly acknowledged her as their daughter-in-law. This time, with the Lin family’s resources behind me, I would go much further. Victor and Eleanor booked the largest hotel in the city, hired a designer to remodel the venue, and invited all the prominent families in the area, along with many media reporters for coverage. I wore a custom-made gown, exquisite makeup, and confidently socialized beside Eleanor. After the banquet, I instantly dominated every headline. Yet, my life didn’t change at all; it was still endless classes and grinding on practice problems. A classmate, seeing my dedication, sighed, “No wonder Blair is so lucky to have the Lin family’s approval. She’s just so hardworking and exceptional.” Scarlett swaggered over to me, a smug look on her face, and touched her stomach. “No matter how hard you work, how obedient you are, the Lin family will only ever see you as Caleb’s stepping stone, his punching bag. But I have Dylan’s devoted love, and his baby. I’m going to marry him and live the pampered life of a powerful family’s young madam.” I couldn’t help but let a slight smile curl my lips. Well, congratulations to you. If I hadn’t subtly fed information to Dylan’s creditors, they wouldn’t have hounded him so quickly, and he wouldn’t have gotten her pregnant so soon. I fought to suppress my smile, forcing a calm expression. “So, your wedding with Dylan, is that on the agenda now?” Scarlett’s smile stretched almost to her ears as she proudly bragged, “Dylan said I’m newly pregnant and shouldn’t be stressed. All the tiresome things like wedding photoshoots and engagement parties can wait until after I’ve had the baby. He’s going to plan a grand,世纪 wedding for me, so I can marry him in style.” I feigned concern. “Dylan truly loves you; he can’t bear for you to suffer even a little.” Scarlett beamed, casually replying, “Of course he does.” I pressed the record button on my voice recorder and went back to my practice problems. After school that afternoon, Dylan personally came to pick up Scarlett. They walked out of class, arm in arm. At the school gates, I sat in the Lin family’s luxury car, watching through the window as Dylan and Scarlett were shoved into a minivan. The van swiftly disappeared into traffic.

In my previous life, before the Lin family gave up on her, Scarlett didn’t hesitate to bully me, leveraging their influence. She ordered her little crew to drag me into the bathroom, forced me to drink from the toilet, smeared glue on my chair, and tore up the practice books I’d saved money for ages to buy… She once told me directly, “Sister, why are you living so well while I suffer in the Lin family? Shouldn’t we, as sisters, share our joys and sorrows?” So, this time, I prepared a generous thank-you gift for her. That evening, I received a call from Mom. Crying, she said Scarlett and her boyfriend had been kidnapped, and the kidnappers demanded five million dollars, or they’d kill them. She hoped I could lend her some money, promising Dylan would pay me back when he returned. I didn’t give her money, but I pointed her in the right direction, advising her to seek help from Dylan’s family. Mom must have been quite surprised when she saw the tiny “Dylan’s family mansion,” built of mud and straw. Sure enough, around ten o’clock that night, Mom and Dad called me from a dark, remote village, complaining and demanding I send the Lin family’s driver to pick them up. “Blair, that con artist Dylan isn’t a powerful family heir at all! His house is practically falling apart, the windows and doors are rotting, and it’s colder inside than out! Your sister was completely fooled by him!” I feigned surprise. “Oh? Really? He was so generous with Scarlett; his family shouldn’t be like that, should it?” Mom kept complaining into the phone. I put my phone aside and continued grinding on my practice problems. Mom talked for a long time until Dad impatiently cut her off, grumbling, “Shut up already. Let’s just get Blair to send a car to pick us up first.” Mom finally reacted, urging me to send the Lin family’s driver. I put on a crying voice, sounding wronged and helpless. “Mom, Victor and Eleanor are out, probably at some banquet. All the family drivers went with them to pick up guests. They told me to study hard at home and didn’t take me.” “Mom, Dad, I miss you. Can you pay the Lin family some medical expenses and take me home?” Mom’s attitude immediately did a complete one-eighty. Her voice turned harsh and cold. “You good-for-nothing! Your father and I worked so hard to raise you for over a decade, and before you could even earn money to honor us, you became someone else’s property. Now you want money from us? Do you think we’re a printing press? I’m telling you, right now, immediately send a driver to pick us up, or when I get back, I’ll skin you alive!” I sneered. She finally couldn’t hide her true colors. In my previous life, after Scarlett went to the Lin household, Mom and Dad started living like royalty, quitting their jobs and idling around at home. They dumped all the housework on me, and I barely squeezed in time to do my homework. I scavenged cardboard and empty bottles from their drinks and alcohol, selling them to buy my practice books. A few times, they found out, snatched all the money, accused me of stealing, and tied me to a pillar, whipping me with a belt for ages until they were tired. Later, Scarlett struggled in the Lin family, unable to give them money or the life they wanted. But I won third prize in the provincial math competition. Neighbors who used to gossip about Mom and Dad now came to congratulate them. Mom and Dad found new jobs, feigned being loving parents, and started doting on me. Later, I certainly didn’t disappoint their expectations, becoming a multi-million dollar executive. Mom and Dad never showed their true colors to Scarlett. I guessed it was because of Dylan, her “powerful family boyfriend.” Now that their dream was shattered, could they still keep up the act?

A week later, Scarlett and Dylan returned, battered and bruised. I heard they’d managed to escape when their creditors weren’t paying attention. Scarlett, upon learning that Dylan was not only from a powerful family but also heavily in debt, came to confront me. “Blair, you b*tch, did you know all along that Dylan’s family was broke and he was drowning in debt? You deliberately pushed me into this hellhole, didn’t you?!” “I’ll kill you, you b*tch!” Scarlett’s palm hadn’t even landed on my face before the Lin family’s bodyguards had her pinned down. I spoke, feigning kindness, “Be gentle, please. My sister is pregnant; don’t hurt the baby.” I leaned in close, whispering in her ear, “Scarlett, I know it’s hard to believe, but you’re already carrying his child. You two need to figure out how to pay off the debt and be responsible for the baby.” Scarlett was dragged away by the bodyguards. No sooner had she left than Eleanor sent someone to say she was waiting for me in her upstairs room. Eleanor was as poised and elegant as ever. “You need to give me an explanation.” I understood. She was referring to Scarlett’s situation. My little manipulations might have fooled Scarlett and Mom and Dad, but not her. I explained that Scarlett used to bully me and even blamed me for pushing Caleb down the stairs. I was simply returning the favor. “I don’t want to interfere in your personal affairs, but you need to understand what’s truly important.” I nodded. Of course I understood. I wouldn’t let anything stand in my way. Most of my time was still spent in classes, grinding on practice problems, preparing for the national competition. Half a month later, Scarlett appeared before me, looking exhausted. She seemed to have lost weight, and her gaze towards me was fierce and unsettlingly familiar. In my previous life, she always looked at me that way. “Blair! Tell me, why has everything turned out like this?!” “Dylan extorted a huge sum of money from me before he let me go. Mom and Dad are like completely different people; they hit and curse at me, order me around, and all the chores are piled on me. I remember it wasn’t like this in the last life, why is all this happening!?” I stared at her with innocent, wide eyes. “You and Dylan broke up, so your child will be born without a father.” Scarlett gritted her teeth. “There’s no way I’m keeping that bastard child. I already had an abortion.” I took Scarlett’s hand, speaking gently and kindly. “Scarlett, Mom and Dad are just angry. They thought you were about to marry into a powerful family and live a life of luxury, only to find out you were tricked. You’re still young and beautiful; don’t waste it.” A flicker of light appeared in Scarlett’s eyes. By my calculations, my fiancé would be waking up soon. Don’t disappoint me, you two. Sure enough, Scarlett appeared at school the next day, meticulously dressed. She pretended to study diligently, as if she were determined to turn over a new leaf. She even made a point of asking me for help with problems. Of course, I couldn’t dampen her ambition, but I had to visit my fiancé at the hospital. So, I just had to trouble Scarlett to come with me. Coincidentally, Caleb woke up. Scarlett’s eyes welled with tears, and she covered her mouth, softly sobbing, whispering, “Caleb, you’re finally awake.” I made an excuse about asking the doctor about Caleb’s condition and quickly left the room, giving them space alone. Before his accident, Caleb and Scarlett had already been a couple. That day, it was because they had an argument that Scarlett accidentally pushed him down the stairs. Now that Scarlett had faced Mom and Dad’s cold shoulder, would she choose to rekindle things with Caleb, and continue her dream of being the lady of a powerful family? I was rather looking forward to it. In the days that followed, Scarlett often came to me with questions, but every time I explained something, her mind seemed elsewhere. I knew her heart wasn’t in her studies, but on Caleb. I decided to grant her wish. “Scarlett, I’m preparing for the national competition now, so I probably won’t be able to pay much attention to you. You can go ask Caleb to explain problems to you. You can also keep him company for me, so he doesn’t get bored alone in the hospital.” Scarlett hesitated for a while before reluctantly agreeing. She certainly didn’t disappoint my expectations. She visited the hospital more and more often, even taking time off school to be with Caleb during his check-ups. Through my daily efforts, I achieved first place in the national competition, securing guaranteed admission to the State University. When I brought fruit to visit Caleb at the hospital, I happened to see Scarlett nestled in his arms, looking up and passionately kissing him. I pulled out my phone and snapped several pictures, then silently handed the fruit to the nurse and left the hospital. Victor proactively brought me into the company to learn from him. Eleanor stopped many of my classes, giving me time to study at the company. At school, Scarlett, beaming, approached me, a triumphant look on her face. “Sister, you just keep learning from Victor. Later, you’ll work for the Lin family, helping Caleb and me manage the company. The lady of the Lin family can only be me. No matter how capable you are, Caleb doesn’t like you.” I nodded, feigning an appearance of knowing when to retreat. “Scarlett, you’re right. Caleb doesn’t love me, and forced love never lasts. I’ll make sure to tell Victor and Eleanor and step aside for you.” Would Victor and Eleanor choose the capable me, or the incompetent Scarlett? There was no need to even ponder it.

That evening, I showed Victor and Eleanor the photos of Scarlett and Caleb embracing, kissing, and being intimate. “Uncle Victor, Aunt Eleanor, Caleb has someone he loves. I think I should step aside.” Eleanor’s breathing quickened with anger. It took her a while to compose herself. “Blair, in a family like ours, feelings are the least important thing. The daughter-in-law of the Lin family can only be you. I’ll make Caleb break up with her.” I stopped Eleanor. “Aunt Eleanor, Caleb loves Scarlett. His body hasn’t fully recovered yet. If you suddenly separate them, it might upset Caleb, which isn’t good for his recovery. A gentle reminder should suffice.” After all, Scarlett still had a big task to accomplish; she couldn’t withdraw so easily. The next day, Scarlett stormed up to me, yelling, even raising her hand to hit me. I caught her wrist, then slapped her back. The sharp smack drew the attention of all our classmates, and a glaring red handprint appeared on Scarlett’s fair face. “Caleb and I are engaged. You, a mistress, dare to challenge me? You clearly don’t know your place.” Scarlett clutched her face, glaring at me, unable to squeeze out a single word for a long moment. Finally, she burst into tears and ran away. Within a minute, I received an angry call from Caleb. “Whoever I love will be the daughter-in-law of the Lin family. What right do you have to hit my sister? Apologize to her immediately, or I’ll sue you for assault. You pushed me down the stairs and caused severe injury; that’s enough to send you away for years.” I retorted calmly, “Caleb, aren’t you clear on who actually pushed you down the stairs? If you want your beloved to pay for hurting you, then go ahead.” Caleb hung up, fuming. The doctor told me Caleb demanded to be discharged and return to school. Not because he loved learning, but because he wanted to protect Scarlett. What surprised me was that this time, his legs could recover completely, just like a normal person’s. But this was even better for my plan. Victor and Eleanor were naturally overjoyed to hear their son wanted to go to school, thinking their precious boy had finally come to his senses and was willing to improve. Caleb knitted scarves during class, and during breaks, he and Scarlett were all over each other, hugging and kissing. During lunch, they went to the rooftop to make out. Scarlett taught Caleb how to smoke and drink with her, experiencing a passionate and thrilling youth. On the first day of school, Victor and Eleanor personally went to pick Caleb up, but they waited until the very end and Caleb never showed. Victor and Eleanor searched anxiously for a long time but couldn’t find him. It wasn’t until past midnight that Caleb finally returned home, thoroughly drunk. The next day, Caleb eagerly rushed back to school to see Scarlett. Soon, Victor and Eleanor learned of Caleb and Scarlett’s scandalous behavior at school and immediately had bodyguards forcibly bring Caleb home. “Caleb, I’m telling you, break up with Scarlett immediately, study hard, and after graduation, you’ll start training at the company.” Caleb violently stood up and protested, “What right do you have to control my life? I’m not a puppet you can manipulate at will! You can’t control me!” Victor threatened coldly that if Caleb didn’t agree, he would cut off his allowance. In the end, Caleb couldn’t stand up to Victor and Eleanor. Eleanor arranged many classes for Caleb, but he didn’t attend a single one. He secretly climbed over the school wall and disappeared. It wasn’t until past ten at night that he irritably called, saying he was out with friends for a party and it was too late, so he’d just stay at a hotel. But I knew that the so-called party was just him and Scarlett. Because Scarlett sent me several pictures in the middle of the night of her and Caleb lying in bed, wearing pajamas. I immediately saved the pictures and screenshotted the chat history. Just as I finished, Scarlett recalled the message and sent a new one: Sorry, sent it to the wrong person. I pretended not to see it and didn’t reply. Scarlett, you really need to step up your game. Don’t disappoint my expectations.

Victor and Eleanor stormed the school, personally tied Caleb up, and dragged him home. They even ordered someone to whip him a few times, but Caleb stubbornly refused to back down, insisting on being with Scarlett. When Scarlett found out, she was moved to tears, yet also incredibly smug. I sternly reprimanded Scarlett, then specifically chose a time when Victor and Eleanor were home to advise Caleb to break up with Scarlett. This precisely triggered Caleb’s rebellious streak. He adamantly stated that he would not only refuse to break up with Scarlett but also wouldn’t study hard and certainly wouldn’t take over the company in the future. News of Caleb’s falling out with his family over a woman quickly spread. This wasn’t my doing, as I knew Victor and Eleanor cared too much about appearances; they dreaded family scandals becoming public. It was Scarlett, eagerly wanting everyone to know Caleb’s favoritism towards her, who frantically spread the rumors. I heard Eleanor specifically went to the school to inquire about Scarlett’s grades and behavior. After she returned, she never again mentioned arranging classes for Caleb. Instead, she urged me to study hard and manage the company. After these incidents, Scarlett and Caleb’s relationship seemed to grow even stronger. Every time I saw them at school, they were joined at the hip, constantly intimate without a care in the world. Scarlett even seemed to have bribed Mom and Dad. Mom specifically called to lecture me, saying I was useless, and that the position of the Lin family’s young madam would eventually be Scarlett’s. She told me to defer to Scarlett and help her, otherwise, Scarlett wouldn’t make my life easy after marrying Caleb. Scarlett, emboldened by Caleb’s love and Mom and Dad’s support, started to provoke me. “Sister, Caleb told me he hates boring bookworms like you most of all. He likes me; I’m passionate and wild, and I bring excitement to his life.” I picked up the hot water on the table and splashed it in her face. “What are you being so arrogant about? Victor and Eleanor will always be on my side. Once I have a Lin family child, you’ll completely lose any threat to my position.” Scarlett seemed to realize something, throwing herself into Caleb’s arms for comfort. This time, however, Caleb didn’t come to bother me. He simply took Scarlett to a hotel room to comfort her. Aside from classes, most of my time was spent learning the business of the Lin Group. A little over a month later, Scarlett, predictably, bounced back into my life. Caleb said he had something important to discuss with everyone and summoned Victor, Eleanor, and me. Caleb wrapped his arm around Scarlett, placed a paternity test report in front of Victor and Eleanor, and solemnly announced, “Scarlett is pregnant. I’m breaking off my engagement with Blair and getting engaged to Scarlett.” Eleanor stated flatly, “Impossible.” I grabbed Eleanor’s hand, speaking gently and gracefully. “Aunt Eleanor, it is the Lin family’s child, after all. Your own grandchild.” She pulled me up to her second-floor bedroom, asking me with a hint of guilt, if I was truly willing to accept this child.

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“That red dress looks *so* good on you.” For three days straight, I kept getting these creepy texts from an unknown number. But I *never* wear red dresses! Just now, I felt a puff of air on my neck. I snapped my eyes open, and suddenly, there was breathing, right next to my ear… **Chapter 1** In the dark, there was a faint dripping sound, and what felt like light breathing right next to my ear. I forced my eyes open. The breathing stopped. The room was dead quiet. I flicked on the light and scanned around. Nothing. But the window next to my bed was open. I distinctly remember closing it before I fell asleep! I walked around the room, checking every corner. Nothing. So what was that breathing sound just now? I’m an atheist, so my mind didn’t jump to ghosts. Ghosts don’t have body heat, but my ear had felt distinctly warm, almost burning. It wasn’t my imagination; someone was definitely in my room! Suddenly, in my peripheral vision, I caught sight of something near the window – a footprint. It was only half a print, but by its size, it looked like a man’s! My heart immediately leaped into my throat, and every pore on my body felt like it was oozing ice. One thought screamed in my mind: *Someone got in!* The atmosphere instantly grew heavy with tension. *Ding-ding.* I jumped, my heart threatening to burst out of my chest. I grabbed my phone. It was another unknown number, and the message made my skin crawl. It was a photo. A photo of me walking around my room. This person knew I was searching for them, and even took a picture! They were hiding in the shadows, watching me! “Your scented candle smells incredible. I wish I could wake up to that every single day.” A chill ran through me, despite the summer breeze. I pulled out my phone and called security, asking them to check the surveillance cameras for my building to see if anyone had climbed in through my window. Their reply was that the cameras were down and hadn’t been fixed yet. What are the odds? I summoned my courage and walked to the window, peering out. Outside was a patch of greenery. Aside from that half-footprint on the windowsill, there was nothing. I called the security office again, asking them to come up and search with me. A security guard arrived quickly. He was tall, maybe 5’9″, wearing a mask that only revealed his eyes. “Hi, I’m the new guard.” I couldn’t help but stare for a moment. A new guard? I hadn’t heard anything about it. “Are you sure someone got into your room?” His question made my heart skip a beat. I changed what I was about to say: “I’m not sure, which is why I was hoping you could help me check things out.” “Alright.” “It’s really not safe for a single woman to be living alone. Don’t you have a boyfriend who could stay with you?” He was rummaging through my room, chatting casually. His questions made me uncomfortable. But out of politeness, I answered him. “No.” “Oh.” It was just a one-bedroom apartment; if someone was hiding, they couldn’t stay hidden for long. But there was definitely no one there. After searching, the guard left. I couldn’t sleep no matter what, constantly feeling like he might pop out from somewhere. I decided to go stay at Chloe’s for the night and find someone to install security cameras tomorrow. But as soon as I opened my door, Mr. Henderson was standing there. He was the night shift security guard. He looked apologetic. “I was in the restroom earlier, missed your call. I saw you called twice and worried something happened, so I came by. Is everything alright?” “Didn’t your security office get a new guy? Didn’t you run into him when you went out?” Mr. Henderson looked confused and said something that filled me with dread: “Our security office hasn’t hired anyone new.” No one new? Then who was the person who just came in?! Could the guy I’d just let into my apartment be the same person who was texting me and got into my room?! I asked Mr. Henderson to check the main surveillance footage at the security office, but he told me it was still broken and would take a few days to fix. I was still wondering how this could all be such a coincidence when I felt someone touch my hand. I looked up to see Mr. Henderson’s wrinkled face, staring at me with a leering, unpleasant look. His greasy, lecherous eyes scared me, and I quickly recoiled, backing away from him. **Chapter 2** I slammed the door shut, my heart pounding. I heard him curse loudly outside my door before he grumbled and left. Mr. Henderson had been harassing me, subtly, ever since I moved in. Usually, I’d avoid him whenever possible. But today, I was so shaken that I let my guard down for a moment. I rushed to the bathroom and scrubbed the back of my hand where he’d touched me, rubbing until it was raw and red before I stopped. After Mr. Henderson left, I double-locked all the doors and windows. I didn’t dare go out, fearing the person might still be hiding outside. I didn’t sleep a wink that night, too terrified to close my eyes, staying awake until dawn. I considered moving out. But I’d just paid six months of rent, and having only recently started my job, I had no savings. My finances simply wouldn’t allow me to find another place. As soon as it was light, I called the police. Two officers arrived quickly. The first one in was an older officer, Detective Miller, followed by a younger officer, Officer Ben Carter, with a notebook and pen. “You said someone got into your apartment last night, took your photo, and sent you harassing texts?” “Yes.” I handed them my phone, showing them the texts and photos, my heart still racing with lingering fear. “About a week ago, I felt like someone was following me, but I never saw anyone. Then last night, they somehow got my number and sent me that photo of me searching my room.” “I immediately called security, but the person who came up was a tall man, about 5’9″, wearing a mask. He claimed to be a new guard. I strongly suspect he’s the one who’s been stalking me!” My voice was shaking, my fists clenched, fear still etched on my face. Detective Miller looked at the photos and texts, his brow furrowed. “This person knows a lot about you… To know where you live, they must have been watching you for a long time. And judging by the angle of the photo…” He stood up, still holding my phone, and walked around the room, finally stopping at my bedroom door. What he said next made my blood run cold. “That person took the photo from right here.” He was pointing at my bedroom door, directly facing my bed! I sat on the couch, my face ashen. I slowly stood up, my legs trembling, and pushed open the door. If he was standing there last night when I woke up, I would have seen him. It was impossible not to. My hand on the doorknob shook uncontrollably, my teeth chattering. “But last night, when I woke up, I didn’t see anyone standing here.” Detective Miller took a quick glance around the room, then focused on the door itself, specifically the lock. It was a solid mahogany door with a standard lock. I moved aside, and the officer knelt down, examining the lock closely. “Do you have a star-shaped screwdriver?” “Yes! I’ll get it.” I brought him a small screwdriver. I watched as he unscrewed the lock, taking off the inner cover from my side of the door, revealing… a tiny camera! One of the small screws on the lock was missing, and that pinhole camera was perfectly wedged into its place. And from that position, it could capture me holding my phone and searching the room last night. When did that camera get installed?! “It seems this person had a plan. Who else has keys to your apartment?” “Besides me, only my landlord.” I called my landlord, talked for a moment, and then hung up. “My landlord said that before me, the apartment was rented by a girl, but she only stayed for three months before leaving.” “We’ll need to take the camera for evidence. That person might come back for you. It’s best you don’t stay here until we catch them.” I nodded. I had already planned to stay at Chloe’s for a few days. I’d asked Chloe to pick me up even before I called the police. I left them my number. They said they’d call me when they had results. **Chapter 3** I didn’t start packing until the police left. Suddenly, my phone rang, making me jump. It was Chloe. As soon as I answered, her loud voice burst through. “Stella! I just saw two cops leaving your place! What the hell happened?” I explained everything to her. She sounded shaken. “Thank God you were okay last night. Those sick, twisted freaks! I’m coming up in the elevator now!” The next second, she screamed, and before I could ask what was wrong, the call disconnected. My nerves instantly frayed. I dialed her back frantically. It rang twice before she answered. “What happened? Why did you scream?” “Oh, I just bumped into some old guy coming out of the elevator, dropped my phone by accident and hung up.” An old guy? For some reason, Mr. Henderson was the first person who came to mind. I knew it wasn’t right to speculate behind someone’s back, but every time I thought of the way he looked at me, the idea just popped into my head. “I’m at your door. Are you ready?” “Yeah, I’m ready.” Chloe’s interruption broke my train of thought, and I quickly grabbed my bag and headed out. As I stepped out, I saw Mr. Henderson again. He was directing people to fix the surveillance cameras. He greeted me, but I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze. I walked quite a distance with my head down, still feeling his greasy, burning stare on me. Chloe shot him a fierce glare, then put her arm around my shoulders, fuming. “He’s the one who bumped into me in the elevator! I thought he was just old and clumsy, but the way he ogled pretty girls was absolutely disgusting!” I said worriedly, “Don’t go near him. He’s not a good person.” “Don’t worry, I’m not stupid. If he even *tries* anything, I’ll kick him so hard he won’t be having kids ever again!” I let out a shaky laugh and, linking arms with her, we left. I stayed at Chloe’s for a week. Then, the police called to say they’d caught the person—it was Mr. Henderson. I remembered that one time I lost my keys and found them at the security office. He must have secretly made a copy then! I couldn’t believe how disgusting he was! In the end, Mr. Henderson was arrested, fined a thousand dollars, and spent a few days in lockup. The security company also fired him. I moved out of Chloe’s place. The whole ordeal had terrified me. I bought two pinhole cameras and installed them in my apartment, and had all the locks changed before I finally felt safe again. Just when I thought everything was okay… That day, I came home from work as usual. But when I turned the doorknob— Something was wrong

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The night of the celebration party. My family SnapChat group suddenly buzzed with a new message. An unfamiliar cartoon avatar @Marcus. “Dad, spot me some cash, I want to buy a game console.” I froze. I double-checked, confirming it was indeed my husband’s immediate family group chat. Marcus and I had been married for years, and we only had one daughter, Lily. When did a new kid just pop up? The message was quickly deleted. But I couldn’t just pretend it hadn’t happened. Before I could react, Marcus called me. “Hey, can you believe it? Some distant relative’s kid mistook me for their dad. Isn’t that wild?” I feigned understanding, saying kids can be clumsy. But as soon as the celebration ended, I walked to the parking lot. And on the way, I told my private investigator to look into the owner of that account. The neon lights flashed endlessly outside the car window. My thoughts were constantly pulled back to that message. I’m a naturally suspicious and perceptive person. I live by the creed: “Better to overreact than to overlook.” On his Ins feed, Marcus had just updated his status: “Family time, helping Lily with her homework.” There was also a photo. In the photo, the living room lights were bright. Lily sat with a blank expression, staring at the camera. Suddenly, I impulsively zoomed in on the photo. I actually saw a reflection in my daughter’s pupils—a mother and child. I’d never seen this mother and child before. Two hours later, I finally arrived at his parents’ house. It was the weekend. Around this time, Marcus always brought Lily to see George and Martha. When I arrived, an unfamiliar woman opened the door for me. Her smile froze. Just by her reaction, I knew my guess was right. The woman was so nervous she could barely speak. “I-I-I’m Maya, I came to visit Uncle George and Aunt Martha.” I didn’t respond, pushing past her and walking straight in. Marcus’s voice came from the living room, “Maya, who is it?” Maya, of course, didn’t dare to speak. After a long silence, Marcus walked out. He instantly saw me, looking disheveled from my journey. Suddenly, the air seemed to solidify, so heavy it was suffocating. I pushed past Marcus and entered the living room. In the living room, George and Martha had been gathered around a little boy. Seeing me, they both abruptly stood up. Martha’s knee hit the coffee table leg with a loud thud. But she still tried to force a smile, making her face look incredibly stiff and unnatural. “You’re here? Didn’t Marcus say you had work tonight?” “Oh, I finished.” I replied dismissively. Then, my gaze landed on Lily. My daughter sat isolated in the corner of the sofa. Seeing me, her eyes immediately welled up, and she ran over. “Mommy, you’re finally here.” I hugged my daughter, my heart aching. Lily had always been strong; she rarely got so outwardly emotional. I wondered what grief she had endured while I was away? Maya naturally stood by Marcus’s side, looking at me with a pained, teary expression. Marcus patted her shoulder reassuringly, then looked at me. “Have you eaten? Do you want me to warm something up for you?” “No.” I was in no mood to eat right now. Martha’s eyes darted around, and she tugged on George’s sleeve. George cleared his throat, put on a stern face, and lectured me. “Look at you, coming home with such a grim face, as if we elders owe you something.” I suddenly smiled. My gaze finally settled on Maya. She was watching me too, constantly twisting the hem of her dress with her hands. She wore light makeup, a plain long dress, and a knitted cardigan. Her outfit was clearly trying to look like the perfect wife-to-be. A stark contrast to my own style. Marcus subtly blocked my view, reaching out to take the bag from my hand. “Go wash your face first, I’ll warm up some milk for you.” I didn’t move, just looked down at Lily. And Lily continued to cling to my waist, not letting go. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she whispered to me, “Mommy, I want to go home.” “What’s wrong? Did someone bully you?” I stroked her head, my heart full of concern. “I… I don’t like Leo.” Lily’s voice was muffled. The little boy, who had been playing a game console until now, suddenly looked up at us. That glance sent a shiver down my spine. He was truly too similar. His features, so much like Marcus. “This child…” My voice was calm, as if I still knew nothing. “He’s chubby-faced and lively.” The little boy looked about seven or eight years old. His narrow eyes stared straight at me, then he suddenly yelled. “Dad, who’s this lady? What’s she doing at our house?”

Marcus’s face instantly went pale. Maya quickly clapped her hand over the boy’s mouth. Her fingertips were trembling. “Kids don’t know any better, kids don’t know any better… this child always gets people mixed up.” “Really? But I think that ‘Dad’ sounded very natural.” I led Lily by the hand and sat down on the sofa. Martha immediately stepped in to smooth things over. “Oh, dear, children are just thoughtless. Just the other day, Mr. Miller from downstairs came over, and he chased after him, calling him ‘Dad’ too.” Saying this, Martha handed me a freshly peeled tangerine. “Quick, have some fruit to quench your thirst. You must be tired from the journey, right?” I took it, and politely said thank you. Seeing that I wasn’t dwelling on the matter, Marcus visibly relaxed. He walked around behind me, as if to give me a shoulder massage like he usually did. I sidestepped, dodging his hand. Marcus’s hand froze in mid-air, and he forced a dry laugh. “This is Maya, a distant relative. Something happened back in her hometown, so she’s staying with us for a few days…” “Relative?” I brought the peeled tangerine to Lily’s mouth. I suddenly smiled again. Marcus was a classic rags-to-riches story, a golden boy who’d escaped his poor village upbringing. After getting into college, he cut ties with all his poor relatives in the village. What kind of relative was this? Thinking this, I also asked aloud, “How come I never knew you had a distant relative named Maya? Didn’t all your family ties get cut off ages ago?” He choked on my words, his gaze flickering evasively. “Just a distant relative… the kind of distant relative that’s so far removed, they’re practically strangers. From my grandmother’s side.” I nodded thoughtfully. Indeed… a very “distant” relative. George and Martha exchanged glances, their eyes filled with calculation. Maya suddenly pulled Leo in front of me, her voice thick with tears. “Scarlett, I know I shouldn’t bother you, but I really have no choice. Leo is sick and needs money, so I could only come to Marcus…” “Come to him? To borrow money?” I glanced at her. “No, no, we just… we’ll pay it back.” Maya was incoherent. Marcus couldn’t stand to see Maya so humble and pleading. His face tightened. “That’s enough, who upset you today?” I smiled without speaking, reaching out to stroke Lily’s head. Years ago, when I gave birth to Lily, I had a massive hemorrhage, and Marcus’s face went white with fear. He said he would only ever cherish Lily and me… Sure enough, vows are only true the moment they’re spoken. Marcus pulled Maya aside: “You take Leo to the guest room for now.” “Oh, no.” I stopped them, my gaze falling on Leo’s wrist. He was wearing a gold bracelet. It looked strikingly similar to the one I gave Lily for her birthday last year. Lily’s bracelet had gone missing a long time ago. Now I finally knew where it went. Maya subconsciously pulled down Leo’s sleeve to cover it. Her hurried action was a dead giveaway. “That bracelet is so much like Lily’s, what a coincidence,” I said mockingly. Lily shrank further into my arms. But Leo suddenly broke free from Maya’s hand, pointing at me: “You wicked woman who stole my dad, the bracelet is mine, everything in this house is mine, I won’t give it to you.” “Leo!” Maya shrieked, rushing to cover his mouth. Marcus’s forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat. George suddenly slapped the table with a loud *smack*. “Scarlett! Stop with the passive-aggressive comments! It’s just a bracelet, do you have to be so aggressive?” “All these years, my son has kept you in comfort and luxury, what more do you want?” “Do us old folks not even have the right to decide what to do with a gold bracelet?”

That night, I didn’t continue to argue with them. I didn’t want to scare Lily. Marcus drove me home, and we were both silent the entire way. He knew I wasn’t easily fooled. As soon as the car stopped, Marcus was eager to explain. His tone carried a deliberate attempt to appease me: “Honey, I didn’t handle things well today. My parents are getting old, please don’t take it to heart, they’re just soft-hearted and can’t bear to see a child suffer.” “Mhm.” I replied calmly. This reaction made Marcus pause. He hadn’t expected me to be so composed. But in the end, he relaxed. In a corner I couldn’t see, he secretly sent a message to Maya: [Don’t worry, she won’t find out. Don’t fret, Leo is my child, I won’t treat him badly.] I checked the surveillance footage in the middle of the night and saw his sneaky move. So self-important, wasn’t he? Before falling asleep, Lily told me. “Mommy, these past few times, after Dad dropped me off at Grandma and Grandpa’s, he and Leo went out for a long time.” “Really?” My heart felt a sharp tug. “Yes, Leo… he just transferred to our class, and he keeps bullying me.” My daughter grumbled. Only then did I realize that my daughter was being bullied by a classmate at school. She said Leo and other classmates told her she was stealing someone else’s dad, and that she was shameless. She tried desperately to explain, but her classmates didn’t believe her. She had told Marcus about it. But Marcus only told her that Leo was a good kid and wouldn’t possibly bully her. Because of this, Lily’s personality had become quieter and less communicative. Since I was constantly traveling for business, I’d been home very little in the past few months. Plus, with the time difference when I was abroad, Lily and I barely had a chance to communicate. I hugged my daughter tightly, filled with self-reproach. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. It won’t happen again.” I always thought that by working hard to earn money and give Lily a head start, I was doing what was best for her. But I had neglected her emotional well-being. At that moment, my private investigator’s message came through. [I found out. Maya is the wife Marcus married in his village ten years ago…] The more I read, the more my heart pounded. So, I’d been the other woman all along? The private investigator’s last message was a reminder: [I also found that your husband has frequently been going in and out of banks and real estate companies recently. You should pay attention.] “Okay, thank you for your hard work.” I held Lily closer. In the darkness, my pupils narrowed. I could understand human hearts changing. But I couldn’t accept anyone daring to scheme against my daughter and me. While Lily was asleep, I got up and sent a text to my lawyer. “I want to divorce Marcus. I want him to leave with absolutely nothing…” Two days later, Lily’s school held an art performance. I asked for leave for her and sent her to my parents’ house. Marcus secretly breathed a sigh of relief, smiling as he said, “It’s good for Lily to rest a bit. Oh, by the way, I have something to do later and won’t be back until very late. You don’t need to save dinner for me.” “Okay.” I gave him a meaningful glance. As soon as Marcus left, I followed closely behind. He indeed turned towards the school. Hatred surged through me. He used to use “no time” as an excuse and never attended Lily’s school events. Now, he was going to a school event for Leo. The hall was packed with parents. I put on a mask and casually picked a seat. Soon after, I saw Maya holding Leo’s hand, sitting diagonally across from me. She was staring intently at Marcus, who was speaking on stage as the parent representative. The principal smiled at Marcus: “Mr. Marcus, please share some educational experience. Leo just transferred this semester and has made rapid progress. Could you tell us about it?” A sarcastic smirk played on my lips. What a ‘Leo’s Dad’! Marcus smiled and raised the microphone. He first uttered a few polite pleasantries. Then, he looked at Leo in the audience, his eyes filled with pride and satisfaction. “Actually, it’s not my credit. Mainly, this child is very smart, just a bit mischievous. I’m usually busy, but whenever I have time, I try to spend it with him…” The surrounding parents all nodded in agreement. But then, a student suddenly shouted out. “Whose dad are you, really?”

The hall fell silent for a moment. Marcus’s smile froze on his face. The plump kid ignored his parents’ attempts to quiet him, standing up: “A few days ago, Lily showed me your picture and said you were her dad.” Instantly, everyone’s eyes widened. The plump kid’s parents quickly clapped their hands over his mouth, forced a dry laugh, and said their child was thoughtless. The principal stepped in to smooth things over: “Are Lily and Leo perhaps siblings?” Marcus was about to say yes. Leo suddenly shouted in dissatisfaction. “No! That selfish brat and I are not siblings! Dad is mine, she’s stealing my dad!” As soon as these words came out, the hall erupted. Whispers and discussions rose one after another. “What’s going on? Is Lily’s mom the other woman?” “How awful, he’s actually leading a double life…” I dreaded to think what would happen if Lily heard this? Luckily, Lily wasn’t here. Marcus suddenly waved at Maya and Leo, signaling them to come over. Maya brought Leo onto the stage. The three of them stood together. Looking every bit like a real family. Marcus put on an expression of deep remorse. “Teachers, parents, this matter… I feel somewhat ashamed to speak of it.” “Scarlett and I, Lily’s mother, actually divorced a long time ago. For our daughter’s sake, we just kept up appearances, living under the same roof.” I sat in the crowd, my knuckles whitening as I clenched my fists. Marcus wrapped a sympathetic arm around Maya. “And Maya was my sweetheart from my youth.” As he spoke, their eyes met, sparking with emotion. If I wasn’t directly involved, I might even be rooting for them. At this, Marcus spoke with a slight catch in his throat. “Back then, when I went away to study, she stayed home and helped me take care of my parents. I’ve always been so grateful to her.” “It was only later, when I got the scholarship to study abroad, that I lost contact with her. I thought she had long since married someone else.” “But it wasn’t until half a year ago that I found out she had been waiting for me all this time, never marrying, and even had a son.” Maya remained silent, simply shedding tears. The murmurs around me gradually shifted in tone. “So that’s how it is, then. That’s really tough for you two.” “Marcus didn’t do anything wrong, did he? If he’s already divorced from Lily’s mom, then there’s nothing wrong with rekindling an old flame with his first love.” Maya, sensing the moment, teared up even more, her voice choked. “Marcus, don’t say anymore. If Leo hadn’t gotten sick, I wouldn’t have come to bother you all.” “As a woman, I understand other women. Scarlett, even if you’re divorced, wouldn’t want me to be too close to you. She’ll blame me…” She spoke with such apparent restraint. Leo, somewhat understanding, shouted at Marcus. “Dad, don’t be with that wicked woman anymore! She secretly cursed Mom the other day, saying we were poor relatives trying to freeload.” “Leo, don’t talk nonsense!” Maya frantically tried to pull Leo. But her actions only made everyone else misunderstand me further. Marcus’s heart ached for her. He repeatedly promised that he wouldn’t let Maya and Leo suffer any more grievances. I watched this perfectly synchronized act of “star-crossed lovers” on stage, my stomach churned. Marcus, back then, had never mentioned Maya in order to marry me. Now that he was successful, he suddenly remembered his ‘true love’? A parent whispered. “Lily’s mom always seems so overbearing. I can’t believe she’s so excessive she even tries to control her ex-husband? Utterly out of line.” “Right? They’re just rekindling an old flame, and he didn’t even cheat while married. Why is she meddling?” Just then, my phone received a message from my lawyer. [It’s all handled. Don’t worry, Marcus’s illegal transfer of assets has been frozen, and your divorce petition…] I smiled and switched off my phone. Marcus was working on a huge project right now, planning to invest hundreds of millions into it. If the funds were frozen, the project couldn’t proceed. The show was about to begin. Amidst the clamor of voices, I took out the miniature megaphone I had prepared. “How is it that I didn’t know I was divorced?”

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I spent twenty years married to David Miller, ten of those caring for his bedridden mother, and helped him climb from a struggling local teacher to a renowned professor. Everyone praised me as the epitome of a devoted wife and loving mother, the unsung hero of the Miller family. On her deathbed, my mother-in-law, Eleanor, held my hand, saying she hoped I’d be her daughter-in-law again in another life. David hugged me, expressing his gratitude. “Scarlett, you’ve worked so hard all these years. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” I thought my suffering was finally over, that happiness was within reach. But before her body was even cold, he handed me divorce papers and embraced Chloe, my best friend since childhood. He looked at me, his voice devoid of emotion. “Scarlett Stone, I’ve tolerated you for twenty years. Finally, I’m free.” “Chloe is the only woman I’ve ever loved.” I left with nothing, ended up on the streets, and a car accident took my miserable life. Then, I opened my eyes, finding myself twenty years in the past, right back at my blind date. Aunt Carol, the matchmaker, was practically gushing about David: “This young man is a real catch, truly good-hearted, devoted to his family. Any woman would be lucky to marry him!” I looked at the man across from me, appearing refined and sincere, and smiled. Then I tossed the blind date profile I was holding into the trash. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’re a good fit.”

David’s smile froze. He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his voice still gentle. “Miss Stone, is there something I’ve done to mislead you?” “We can take our time getting to know each other. There’s no need to jump to conclusions.” Aunt Carol panicked, grabbing my arm. “Scarlett, dear, what are you doing? A promising young man like David is a rare find! Don’t be foolish!” I gently pulled my hand away, my gaze calm as it rested on David. In my previous life, it was this gentle, elegant demeanor that fooled me for an entire lifetime. I believed his humble background was temporary, that his character was beyond reproach. So, I took out all my savings, gave up the chance to study at a prestigious art college, and rooted myself in that small town with him. I managed our home, networked with his superiors, and slowly, meticulously, paved his way to a brilliant career. And what did I get in return? Once he achieved fame and success, the first thing he did was kick me aside like a useless stepping stone. I curved my lips into a slight smile. “Mr. Miller, it’s not a misunderstanding. You’re a great person; I’m simply not worthy of you.” With that, I stood up, grabbed my bag, and turned to leave. “Scarlett!” David grabbed my wrist. I turned back, looking at him coldly. He seemed to realize his lapse in decorum and loosened his grip. “Miss Stone, I just feel it’s such a pity.” “I promised my mother I’d find a gentle and virtuous wife just like you.” “I…” “Then keep looking.” I cut him off, forcefully shaking his hand away. “Mr. Miller, please stop following me. It’s embarrassing.” I walked out of the noisy cafe without looking back. The early summer breeze kissed my face with a gentle warmth, and I let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief. It felt so good; everything was still salvageable. Just then, my best friend Chloe called. I answered, and her sweet, concerned voice immediately filled my ear. “Scarlett, how was the blind date?” “I heard Aunt Carol say that David is a really great guy. Did you meet him?” I leaned against a maple tree by the road, watching the dappled shadows, and chuckled softly. “I did.” “That’s wonderful! What’s he like? Is he everything Aunt Carol said?” “Yeah, he’s a guy with potential,” I replied, my voice flat. Chloe seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, her voice bubbling with delight. “I knew it! Scarlett, you have to seize this opportunity! For a woman, finding a good man is everything! Don’t worry, once you and David are married, I’ll be there for him, like a sister!” In my previous life, she said the exact same thing. Then, when I was overwhelmed caring for his mother, she’d be wearing the dress *I’d* bought, comforting David in my place. While I was scrambling to secure funding for his research, she played the role of his empathetic confidante, accompanying him to academic conferences. In the end, she wrapped her arm around my husband and told me, “Scarlett, I’m so sorry, love is beyond our control.” I closed my eyes, suppressing the searing hatred that pierced through me. “Chloe, if you think he’s so great, why don’t *you* have him?” Chloe’s breath hitched.

“Scarlett, you… what are you talking about?” Chloe’s voice suddenly grew flustered. “We’re best friends; how could I ever…” “Friends should share good things, shouldn’t they?” I cut her off smoothly. “Didn’t you always say you wanted a driven, family-oriented man who would treat you well? David perfectly fits all your criteria.” “But, but he was *your* blind date!” “I already rejected him.” I watched the bustling street, feeling like the whole world had brightened. “So, he’s a free man now.” “You have Aunt Carol’s number, right? Better act fast. A real catch like him won’t stay available for long.” With that, I hung up before she could react. I could just imagine the look on Chloe’s face right now – a mixture of shock and secret delight. In my previous life, she’d spoken endless praises for David, subtly nudging me to settle down quickly. All she wanted was for me to clear the path, navigate the thorns, and once I’d helped David rise, she’d swoop in and enjoy the fruits of my labor. This time, I’d make sure she got her wish. I wanted to see how, without my family’s resources and savings as his initial capital, without my connections and sacrifices paving his way, Chloe would manage to live the ‘good life’ with her beloved ‘catch’. Back home, my mom was waiting for me on the sofa. As soon as I walked in, she asked eagerly, “Well? How was it? Was David okay?” My dad also poked his head out of his study. My parents were working-class, a bit traditional, always believing that a stable home was the most important thing for a girl. In my previous life, they were incredibly pleased with their educated son-in-law, David. I sat down next to them, speaking calmly. “Dad, Mom, I didn’t like him.” “Oh?” My mom looked disappointed. “Why not? Aunt Carol said he was…” “He said his mother isn’t well and takes medication constantly,” I explained. “And he has a younger brother in college, all dependent on his single salary.” I stripped away David’s carefully crafted image of devotion and responsibility, revealing the raw truth. My mom’s face clearly changed. “That’s… quite a heavy burden, isn’t it?” “Yeah,” I nodded. “And, I don’t want to get married so early.” “Dad, Mom, I want to pick up my paintbrushes again. I want to apply for grad school at the art academy.” This was a dream I’d kept hidden for twenty years. In my previous life, I gave up direct admission to grad school for David. He had sworn to me, “Scarlett, once I’m settled, I’ll definitely support you in continuing your studies.” Later, when he was settled and a professor, he told me, “You’re almost forty, what’s the point of all this fuss? Isn’t it better to just be content at home?” My dad listened, silent for a moment, then finally nodded. “Alright, if you want to apply, go for it. Don’t worry about things at home.” My dad had always been more open-minded than my mom. My eyes burned, and I nodded emphatically. The next day, I was at a bookstore, looking for grad school materials, when David suddenly appeared, blocking my path. “Miss Stone, I know this is presumptuous, but I still wanted to try again.” I closed my book and looked at him. “Mr. Miller, I think I’ve made myself quite clear.” “I know,” he said with a bitter smile, his voice tinged with a plea. “My mom, she found out you didn’t like me yesterday, and she couldn’t sleep all night. She fell ill this morning.” A cold laugh flickered in my heart. In my previous life, I was too soft-hearted. After his mother fell ill, I went to visit, only to be morally blackmailed by his entire family. Eventually, I half-heartedly agreed to the marriage. I looked him straight in the eyes, speaking each word distinctly. “Mr. Miller, if your mother is ill, you should take her to the hospital and find a doctor.” “You shouldn’t come to me, a stranger you’ve only just met. I’m not a doctor; I can’t cure her.”

David’s face instantly darkened. He took a deep breath, his voice heavy. “Scarlett, I just want to ask you to go see her. She really likes you, she keeps talking about you, saying you’re exactly the daughter-in-law she always imagined. Just… have some pity for an old woman, and go see her, okay?” His voice trembled slightly, and his eyes were glistening. I placed the book back on the shelf and turned to leave. “Scarlett Stone!” David’s voice suddenly rose sharply. “Are you really so heartless?!” People around us started to stare. I stopped, meeting his slightly displeased gaze with a calm stare. “Mr. Miller, please watch your words.” “Between us, there’s nothing but a failed blind date. You’re causing a disturbance in public, and it’s making me uncomfortable.” His chest heaved violently; he was clearly furious. “Fine, fine, fine,” he repeated three times, a dark, brooding look in his eyes. “Scarlett Stone, I won’t forget this.” With that, he turned and walked away quickly, his back view showing a touch of humiliation. That evening, I received a call from an unfamiliar number. On the other end, a frail, elderly female voice asked, “Is this… Miss Stone?” I immediately recognized it as Eleanor Miller, David’s mother. “Hello, Mrs. Miller,” I replied politely but distantly. “Oh, Scarlett,” Eleanor sighed dramatically over the phone. “I know, it’s our David who doesn’t have the good fortune to be worthy of such a wonderful girl like you.” “But, but I just want to see you, to say a few words to you in person. Otherwise, my heart feels so heavy… I’m afraid I won’t… I won’t get over this.” As she spoke, her voice started to break with tears. I held the phone, silent. In my previous life, she was always like this. Whenever David wanted something from me, she would conveniently get sick, heartbroken, or couldn’t go on. And I, time and again, softened, time and again, compromised. “Scarlett, dear, I’m not asking for anything else, just for you to come to the hospital and see this old woman, please?” “Just… have pity on me.” Her voice was full of pleading, as if I had no choice but to agree. I took a deep breath, knowing that if I didn’t deal with this once and for all, they’d stick to me like a bad rash. “Alright,” I agreed. “Send me the address. I’ll be there tomorrow afternoon.” After hanging up, I looked out at the dark night sky, my eyes growing colder by the second. David, since you and your mother insist on putting on this show, I’ll gladly play along. This time, however, I’ll be writing the script. The next afternoon, I arrived at the city hospital as planned. As I reached the entrance of the inpatient department, I saw Chloe waiting there. She was wearing a simple white dress and light makeup. Seeing me, she immediately came forward, her face full of concern. “Scarlett, you’re finally here! Mrs. Miller… she hasn’t eaten since this morning, she’s been constantly asking for you.” She naturally linked her arm through mine, as if we were still inseparable best friends. “Really?” I gently pulled my hand away. “Then let’s go in quickly. We shouldn’t keep her waiting.” Chloe’s eyes flickered, but she quickly resumed her gentle, kind demeanor, leading me towards the病房 (hospital room). As she pushed open the door, a strong smell of medicine wafted out. Eleanor was lying weakly in the hospital bed, and David sat beside her, feeding her water. Seeing me enter, Eleanor’s eyes immediately lit up, and she struggled to sit up. “Scarlett, Scarlett, you’re here…”

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