The day before Valentine’s Day, my fiancée, Sera Hayes – who notoriously hated water – suddenly announced she wanted to learn to swim. Right then, a chilling suspicion seized me: she’d fallen for the swimming instructor downstairs. After attending one lesson with her, I calmly informed her: either the engagement was off, or she cut ties with that instructor. Seraphina stormed out in a rage, slamming the door, and didn’t return all night. She came back the next day, her legs shaky, her back aching, swearing she’d only ever be with me. On our wedding day, the city’s elite, the who’s who of high society, gathered. As the officiant declared, “Now, the groom may kiss his bride,” Seraphina abruptly pushed me away, her voice trembling: “I’m sorry, I can’t kiss someone I don’t love.” “I thought I could force myself, but I just can’t lie to my own heart.” With that, she ran, in her pristine white gown, straight into the arms of the red-eyed swimming instructor sitting in the front row. The entire ballroom erupted in gasps, camera flashes blinding us. Overnight, I became the city’s biggest joke. The top trending news? A video of Seraphina and the male instructor kissing passionately right at our wedding. In that moment, my heart died. If you choose to betray me again, then don’t blame me for eradicating you. … Staring at her retreating back, the last shred of hope in my heart evaporated. I swept my hand, shattering the champagne tower, glass shards scattering everywhere. My voice, cold as ice, warned: “If you walk out now, the Thorne empire and the Hayes family will be sworn enemies, utterly relentless!” Seraphina faltered, her eyes instantly brimming with tears. “I’m so sorry, but I can’t betray my own heart. I’ll make it up to you later.” Within half an hour. News of the Hayes heiress running away from her wedding for love had seized every media headline. 【LOL, is this some archaic ‘alpha CEO’ monologue? He totally deserved getting dumped!】 【If he acts this arrogant in public, imagine how despicable he is behind closed doors. They should investigate the Thornes!】 【Go, Sera! Women shouldn’t be pawns in dynastic alliances!】 Instantly, the Thorne family became the laughingstock of the entire metropolis, the talk of every dinner party. Yet Seraphina Hayes, the orchestrator of it all, was being hailed by public opinion as a brave, new-age woman chasing true love. I scrolled through the screen, my face devoid of emotion. Until I saw Seraphina’s latest “apology statement”: 【This decision, though it deeply hurt Alex Thorne, I simply couldn’t accept a marriage without love, destined to drown in numbness for the rest of my life… All the fault is mine. I humbly ask everyone not to blame Alex.】 The accompanying photo showed her with swollen, red eyes. What was particularly glaring was the cheap silver band on her ring finger. It certainly wasn’t the engagement ring I’d given her. Then, Brendan Miller poured gasoline on the fire of public outrage: 【Sera has been so consumed with guilt, she’s wasted away. Love can’t be forced; we’ll still be friends.】 I actually laughed, a bitter, furious sound. If she’d just been honest before the wedding, I would have let her go, wished her well. But she didn’t. She chose this moment, in front of everyone, with the city’s elite gathered. To utterly trample the Thorne family’s dignity! Now she expected to manipulate public opinion into forgiving me? In her dreams! “Immediately issue a directive: withdraw all investments from Hayes Industries, terminate all partnerships.” “Furthermore, mobilize every resource to support Hayes Industries’ competitors.” “If I don’t drive the Hayes family into bankruptcy, then I’ll disown my own name!” My assistant, Flick, broke into a cold sweat. She carefully advised, “Mr. Thorne, public opinion is strongly against us right now. Making a move at this moment might…” I cut her off sharply: “Afraid of what?” “An ungrateful viper, biting the hand that fed them – shouldn’t they be taught a lesson?” “This is the perfect opportunity to make an example of the Hayes family. Let’s see who dares to challenge the Thornes after this!” I massaged my throbbing temples. A cascade of past events flooded my mind. Years ago, when Mr. Hayes Sr. suddenly passed, his fortune was snatched by a conniving illegitimate son, a predator lurking in the shadows. Seraphina knelt in the pouring rain for an entire day and night, just to beg me to save the Hayes family. “Mr. Thorne, if you just help Hayes Industries, I’ll do anything you ask for the rest of my life!” Moved by a moment of weakness, I proposed a marriage of convenience. She agreed without hesitation. After our engagement, I kept my promise. Not only did I help her reclaim her company and put that illegitimate son in jail, I personally mentored her in business. I elevated Hayes Industries from a fledgling startup into a formidable corporate powerhouse across the city. But gradually, things between us changed. She started resisting my closeness, rejecting my plans, yearning for what she called “pure love.” Until that swimming instructor, Brendan Miller, appeared. She poured all her passion and affection onto him, holding nothing back. Actually, half a month ago, I’d given her one last chance. “Seraphina Hayes, if you still want to get married, watch your step.” She merely smiled faintly: “We’re just instructor and student. Your mind’s just twisted, seeing dirt where there’s none.” “Mr. Thorne, you’re not cheating on me, are you? Is that why you’re so paranoid?” My voice dropped to an icy tone: “If you cross the line, I’ll reclaim everything I’ve given you.” She flinched violently, her tone finally softening: “You’ve misunderstood. There’s nothing going on between me and Brendan.” “I won’t see him again.” In that moment, I actually believed we could go back to how things were. Sadly, she ultimately betrayed my final trust.

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That year, I was ten. I begged my brother to come home for my birthday. He died in a plane crash. Not a single trace of his body was ever found. From that day on, I became a festering wound, a constant source of their agony in my parents’ eyes. They resented me, blamed me for Caleb’s death. Every year, on the anniversary of his passing, they’d drag me to the cemetery and force me to my knees before his empty grave, a grim ritual of repentance. Eight years. Eight agonizing years. I thought I’d spend the rest of my life atoning, but on my eighteenth birthday, I was stalked and murdered by a killer. Before I died, I desperately tried to message Mom for help, but her voice was sharp, full of accusation. “You just don’t want to atone for what you did to your brother, do you? You’re a pathological liar! If you hadn’t forced him to come home, my son wouldn’t have died. This is nothing but the karma you deserve!” The call was mercilessly cut short. I stared blankly at the dark screen, and suddenly, all will to live drained out of me. She was right. What face did I, a jinx, a destroyer, have to live on? But then, eight years later, my brother, who everyone thought was dead, returned. And he brought his pregnant fiancée with him. When they learned of my death, they both shattered. **Chapter 1** On my tenth birthday, I made a fatal mistake. I caused the death of my own brother. Growing up, I lived in a happy home. Loving parents, an amazing older brother. I was everyone’s darling. But all of it, everything, was irrevocably ruined by a single phone call. It was my birthday that day, and I called Caleb, wanting him to come home to celebrate with me. Instead, he lost his life. A plane crash. Not a single trace of his body. From then on, Mom and Dad hated me with a burning intensity. They said it to me more than once. “Why did you force Caleb to come back? Why wasn’t it you who died instead?” That accident didn’t just kill Caleb. It killed me too. Guilt, regret, the constant accusations from my own parents – they pushed me deeper and deeper into an abyss. I must have asked myself a thousand times why I called Caleb back, why I caused his death, why God would take him away. If I hadn’t called him that day, would he still be alive? But there are no ‘if onlys’ in this world. And no one was willing to give me an answer. From that tenth birthday, my life was reduced to two words: atonement. Every year, on the anniversary of Caleb’s death – which was also my birthday. Mom and Dad would send me to the cemetery, making me kneel before his tombstone, begging for forgiveness. This kneeling went on for eight years. Just when I thought my life couldn’t get any bleaker, I was found by The Rain Reaper, and brutally murdered. Honestly, in that moment, I fought like hell to live. I pulled out the taser Dad had given me, disguised as a cute white lamb keychain. Dad worked a dangerous job, and he’d made a lot of enemies over the years. Once, Mom and I were kidnapped. Mom, trying to save me, was dragged for dozens of yards by the kidnappers’ car. Dad, fighting for us, was stabbed in the chest. With the help of the police, we eventually got out alive. So, from then on, Dad, worried for my safety, specially gave me that keychain, which concealed a high-voltage taser. After teaching me how to use it, he told me, “Dad can’t always be by your side. You have to protect yourself.” But for some reason, when the killer grabbed me, and I desperately fumbled with the pendant, trying to activate it and stab him— It just… didn’t work. It was broken. I lost my last chance to survive. Even now, I vividly remember everything I went through. A wrench, pliers, an axe – tool after tool, mercilessly used on me. My horrified expression only seemed to fuel the man’s twisted excitement. It hurt. It hurt so much that I sobbed uncontrollably, losing control of my bladder and bowels. I never imagined the sound of bones breaking could be so loud, echoing so clearly in my ears. Flesh tearing from bone, my vision blurring crimson. I drifted into unconsciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I was a spirit. To my astonishment, I found myself in the police station. Thunder and lightning crashed outside. Dad, dressed in his work uniform, his eyes filled with a deep, weary sorrow. Several young forensic pathologists were gathered around. On the examination table, there was a bag filled with expertly cut pieces of a body. This was what Captain Miller and his team had painstakingly recovered, the only body bag not completely washed away by the relentless rain. I never thought. That my death would be discovered so swiftly. Perhaps it was heaven’s pity for my tragic life. A homeless man rummaging through a dumpster found a bag, opened it, and thinking he’d stumbled upon some free meat, saw human fingers instead. A torrential downpour had just begun to uncover the gruesome dismemberment case. Outside, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and rain poured down. Every officer, along with their K9 units, scoured the city. Captain Miller’s face was livid. He couldn’t control his emotions. The brutal dismemberment case mirrored the methods of The Rain Reaper, a serial killer from seven or eight years ago. “Dave, doesn’t this case remind you of The Rain Reaper’s methods from eight years ago?” Dad’s expression darkened. The Rain Reaper was a killer who specifically targeted rainy nights, with a particular fondness for torturing and murdering young women. He had shattered countless happy families. Back then, Dad had finally gathered enough evidence to apprehend The Rain Reaper. But the killer, sensing he was cornered, escaped first. Then, for revenge, The Rain Reaper tampered with the plane Caleb was on, killing him in that accident. Neither of their bodies had ever been found. So Captain Miller immediately thought of that madman. If he hadn’t died, he would surely return for revenge. He couldn’t help but warn Dad. “Dave, if this really is The Rain Reaper, you have to make sure Eleanor and Skylar stay indoors. Most importantly, protect Skylar. She’s often The Rain Reaper’s preferred target!” But hearing my name, Dad’s anxious face instantly cooled. He spoke in a chillingly flat voice. “She should have died a long time ago.” Hearing those words. My heart ached. He was right. I should have died a long time ago. These past eight years, they were stolen years. Captain Miller knew about what happened back then. He wanted to offer comfort but could only frown, a deep crease forming between his brows. Back then, after learning of Caleb’s death, my parents searched the mountain where the plane crashed for three days and three nights. Finally, with bloodshot eyes, they knelt by the roadside, begging heaven to return Caleb to them. The pain of losing a child in their prime was something my parents could never move past. Thinking of this, Captain Miller sighed. “Dave, don’t think about it too much. The precinct is urgent; this case is high-priority!” Dad knew his duty and began his work. He carefully took out the pieces of flesh from the bag. But in that instant, he couldn’t help but curse under his breath. “Goddamn his whole ancestry.” “Is this even human?” Some of the younger forensic pathologists, seeing such a body for the first time, turned red-eyed. But for now, the most crucial task was identifying the victim. After the officers brought back all the body fragments they could find. Dad began piecing together the body. I floated beside him, watching him spend an entire day assembling a skinless torso. I felt a strange sense of relief. I knew how gruesome my death was, and I was afraid Dad would be scared if he recognized me. I was also relieved that my life, filled with so much guilt, was finally over. Captain Miller looked at the crimson body on the table. Even after years as a police officer, his face was disturbingly pale. He asked Dad the killer’s motive: was it to hide evidence, or was it a deliberate act of a psychopath? Dad’s face was grim. After a long silence, he spoke in a hoarse voice. “It’s not about hiding evidence. Our tests show the victim was flayed alive.” He clenched his fists, trying to control himself. “This was purely for revenge!” He pointed at my body. “Look, on this body, there are even traces of salt corrosion! The killer, to torment the victim, carved her flesh off piece by piece!” As he spoke, Dad’s face was filled with unbearable pain. He choked out, his voice thick with grief. “And she was just a young girl, sixteen to twenty years old! What kind of hatred, what kind of grudge could cause this?!” I floated beside Dad, silently applauding him. He truly was the best forensic pathologist in the city, able to accurately determine how I died. Captain Miller’s eyes grew colder and colder. “That sick bastard! A soulless monster!” His chest heaved with rage. Then he asked again. “We’re currently searching for missing females aged sixteen to twenty from the past two days. We hope to find the victim’s information as soon as possible.” Hearing this, Dad seemed to recall something and spoke again. “Right, the bag where the killer stored the victim’s remains is missing the right leg bone. It’s highly probable that the victim’s leg bone has congenital or acquired scars, deformities, or surgical marks that could identify her.” “And because the victim’s face was destroyed by acid, it will take time to restore her appearance.” He sighed, taking off his gloves. Next to Dad’s hand lay the blood-stained lamb keychain. Clearly, he had forgotten this was the very tool he had given me to protect myself. Having finished his work. My dad glanced at his phone, but seeing the content, he angrily called Mom. “Did you see Skylar Hayes’s calls? That liar, how could she say such a thing? I think she’s doing it on purpose, trying to provoke us!” Dad was clearly furious. “Doesn’t she know that if she hadn’t insisted Caleb come back, he wouldn’t have been killed by The Rain Reaper? And now, Skylar Hayes claims she was being stalked!” I watched Dad’s face, red with anger, and felt a pang of sadness. Dad, I wasn’t lying. I was really dying. How could I, the one who caused Caleb’s death, intentionally provoke you? How could I do such a thing? I was utterly helpless at that moment, which is why I sent you those messages, begging for help. But Dad couldn’t see me. Neither could Mom. I heard her on the other end of the phone, sounding just as angry. “I saw her messages too. I ignored them. She must just be trying to get out of her penance. That deadbeat girl, she doesn’t care about atoning for anything!” I listened to their accusations against me. Sadly, I covered my ears. Just when I thought my death would go unnoticed by them. My best friend, Chloe Jensen, rushed into the police station. She said I had been missing for two days. But just as an officer was about to take down my name. Dad stopped them both. “No need. Skylar Hayes is my daughter. She’s not missing; she’s just trying to blackmail me and her mother…” Hearing this, the officer looked awkwardly at Chloe Jensen. He knew Dad’s rank and could only turn and leave. I watched Chloe Jensen leave the police station, her face utterly distraught, tears streaming down. I wanted to chase after her, but I was bound to Dad’s side. Watching him process my skull, following him home after work. On the dining table, without fail, were roasted lobster, garlic butter shrimp, and baked salmon. Mom remembered Caleb’s preferences but never remembered that I was allergic to seafood. Once at dinner, Dad asked me why I wasn’t eating, and I thought he finally cared. I clutched my forks, gathering courage, “Dad, I’m allergic to seafood…” Mom slammed her fork down on the table, pointing it straight at my nose, her voice a furious hiss, “What sin did I commit to give birth to such an ungrateful child! I worked so hard to make this feast, and now I’m the bad guy?” I looked helplessly at Dad, the hero who used to protect me whenever I made Mom angry when I was little. This time, my hero just put a large piece of lobster onto my plate, “Eat your food, don’t make your mother angry.” Their gazes enveloped me, as if not eating would make me a sinner. In the end, all the seafood ended up in my stomach. That day, my throat swelled so much I could barely breathe, my eyes were so puffy I couldn’t see, and my whole body was in agonizing pain and itching. “H-help… help me…” My voice was terribly hoarse. I stumbled to the door, trying to open it, but the doorknob wouldn’t turn. Panic seized me. I pounded on the door, struggling to make a sound. “Help… help me… Dad, Mom… help me… I don’t want to die…” In a daze, I heard Mom’s voice from the living room. “It’s just an allergy; no one ever died from an allergy. Good thing I locked the door, she always fakes being pathetic, it’s disgusting! Last night, Caleb came to me in a dream and said he wanted the newest gaming console. Hurry, let’s go, the mall will close soon.” No! Mom, Dad, don’t leave me! I don’t want to die, save me… The living room door slammed shut with a bang, and I was utterly abandoned. Let it be. Maybe if I died, it wouldn’t hurt so much. I curled up in the corner, waiting to die. From downstairs, I heard the laughter of a father and daughter, clear through my only working ear. “You clumsy kid, you know you’re allergic to peanuts, and you still ate them! You almost died!” “I’m sorry, Dad, I didn’t do it on purpose, please don’t tell Mom.” “Your mom already knows. She was so worried her back started hurting, and she still made a table full of your favorite dishes for you. As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters. What parents would truly hold a grudge against their child?” I felt like a sewer rat peeking at someone else’s happiness, greedy and masochistically stealing glances at a joy that wasn’t mine. In that moment, I felt utterly ashamed, with nowhere to hide. I wanted Mom and Dad to love me too, to care about my food allergies, to cook my favorite meals, to fuss over me. But I was just the bad kid who killed Caleb, unworthy of love. But Mom and Dad, I don’t want to die, I really don’t want to die… I didn’t die that day. At the last minute, I jumped out the window and was rushed to the hospital. The doctor said I was lucky to arrive in time; any later and my life would have been in danger. An aunt by the bedside, peeling an orange for her daughter, said to me, “It’s a good thing you’re alright, otherwise your parents would be so worried!” I watched enviously as the aunt fed her daughter orange segments, one by one. My lonely reflection stared back from the glass. I comforted myself, as if announcing to everyone, laughing loudly, “Yes, Mom and Dad love me very, very much.” Suddenly, the hospital room door was violently pushed open. I saw Mom and Dad rushing towards me, their faces etched with urgency. A wave of grievance spread from deep within my heart. Enduring the pain, I struggled to sit up, tears dripping down. “Dad, Mom…” I’m so scared, I’m truly terrified of dying… Will you hug me? Just for a moment, just once… Mom grabbed my collar, yanking me off the hospital bed and onto the floor. The IV needle ripped out, blood spurting. “You damn slut! Faking being pathetic, eating yourself into an allergic reaction, and then deliberately jumping out a window to make a spectacle of yourself, trying to tell everyone your dad and I mistreat you, to ruin our reputation, right? Why didn’t you just jump to your death?!” I curled up, hugging my head, my body getting kicked again and again. I wasn’t trying to hurt Mom and Dad, I just didn’t want to die… I gambled on the three-story fall and won, but I didn’t win against the depth of Mom and Dad’s hatred for me. I saw Dad leaning against the wall on the glass, watching coldly as Mom clawed at me with her nails, while the aunt in the next bed comforted her frightened daughter, soothing her gently. The crowd gathered at the hospital room door looked at me with disdain and scorn, as if I were a vicious child. The fragile illusion that Mom and Dad loved me, which I had painstakingly built up, was completely shattered in front of everyone. I lied to you. Mom and Dad don’t love me. They… they hate me the most… After that, Mom and Dad cut off my allowance, and I applied to live in the dorms. I ate plain bread rolls from the cafeteria for a dollar each, alongside free vegetable broth. I slept in a cramped, bare room with a thin mattress on a metal frame, the kind meant for double the occupancy. The hundreds of dollars for accommodation consumed all my scholarship money each semester. As I moved from middle school to high school, accommodation fees increased, forcing me to study day and night, hoping to score just a few extra points each time to win scholarships and survive. I always thought that if I became outstanding enough, Mom and Dad would eventually love me again. The reality was that when I brought home near-perfect test papers, and visiting relatives praised me, Mom retorted without thinking, “She’s as dumb as a rock, not even half as smart as Caleb. How could she score so well?” Immediately after, her arm swung wide, and she slapped me across the face. “Tell me, who did you cheat off of?” My face burned with pain, and my heart burned with it too, wishing I could disappear. Later, when my homeroom teacher called to confirm my grades, Mom just glanced at the shredded test papers in the trash can and sneered. “What’s there to brag about with such low scores? Your brother got perfect scores in every subject back then. You’re so pathetic, not even ashamed of these scores!” Along with those test papers, my heart was also shredded. Mom and Dad liked smart kids like Caleb, so I worked hard to erase myself, to become like Caleb. I studied even harder. Spring, summer, autumn, winter – prickly heat, chilblains, mosquito bites always found me relentlessly each season. When I walked out of the exam hall after my SATs, I finally had a chance to prove I was as excellent as Caleb. Mom and Dad would start loving me, right…? But I died on the eve of my SAT results being released. Until my death, I never managed to become the excellent child, loved by Mom and Dad, like Caleb. I watched Mom and Dad fill Caleb’s empty bowl with rice, silently adding food to it. This scene repeated day after day for eight years. Wasn’t I, the one who caused Caleb’s death, the reason Mom and Dad became like this? Shouldn’t I also die? A knock at the door. A familiar voice from memory. “Mom, Dad, open up! I brought your daughter-in-law home!” I saw Dad, usually so cautious, stand up and accidentally shatter a bowl. Mom, usually so energetic, collapsed into a chair, tears streaming down, repeatedly asking Dad, “Is it him? Is it really him?” Dad almost stumbled to the door, his hands trembling on the doorknob for a long time before he finally twisted it open. The wide-open door revealed a tall man standing outside. I saw him; he was Caleb, my brother, the one I had supposedly killed eight years ago… He had faked his death eight years ago to elope with the woman he loved. **Chapter 2** Dad’s voice was hoarse as he asked, “Caleb, is that really you?” Caleb nodded emphatically, his eyes welling up too. “Dad, it’s really me. I’m back!” The usually reserved Dad wrapped Caleb in a tight hug, his hands forcefully patting Caleb’s back. “He’s alive! He’s warm! Son… your mom and I have waited eight years for you. You’re finally back!”

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On my birthday, I found a hidden playlist on Liam’s phone. It was titled: “Lost.” And the cover? His ex-girlfriend’s picture. He’d lost the girl he loved most. For three years, while we were together, Liam never truly forgot her. I was just a distraction for his loneliness. A compromise. A habit. Right in front of me, Liam deleted the playlist, his voice flat. “Happy now?” I stayed silent. He dismissively ruffled my hair. “That’s enough, Chloe.” “Be a good girl. I’ll take you home to meet my parents for the holidays, okay?” But Liam, I was going home for the holidays to get married. … Seeing my stunned face, Liam’s lips curled into a playful smirk. He flicked my forehead. “What, speechless? So happy you’ve gone silly?” We’d been together for three years, and he rarely even introduced me to his friends, let alone his family. I was genuinely surprised, taking a moment to speak. “I already told my parents for the holidays, they…” They’d set me up on a blind date. “Forget it if you don’t want to go.” Liam cut me off, casually. He was always like that – uninterested in anything about me, never patient enough to hear me out. Maybe my reaction wasn’t what he expected, and it annoyed him. He mechanically wished me a happy birthday. Liam grabbed his jacket and left, not even touching the cake. “I’m heading out.” I hummed, not clinging to him or begging him to stay a little longer, like I usually would. Liam paused at the door, glancing back at me. I was already clasping my hands, eyes closed, making a wish, completely absorbed in myself. He slammed the door shut. The deafening bang was followed by an eerily stretched silence. A little empty, but surprisingly, not sad. The sky slowly darkened. I looked in the mirror at my perfectly applied makeup and the outfit I’d carefully chosen. It felt like a waste not to use them. I met Harper, my best friend, at a trendy new bar nearby. After a few rounds, she leaned in, her voice serious. “You know, Seraphina is coming back to town.” That name hit me like a hammer blow straight to my chest. Seraphina. Liam’s ex-girlfriend, the one he hadn’t forgotten in five years. All our countless fights, silent treatments, and breakups, they were all because of her. She didn’t even need to be physically present; her existence was a thorn, tearing me apart. Liam said couple avatars were childish, but he used them with Seraphina. Liam disliked public displays of affection, but his old Ins profile picture and bio were all about her. The same starry nights we shared on campus, he’d already had with her in high school. The meals he cooked for me were always her favorite flavors. He complained about picking me up from the train station, yet he used to take six extra bus stops just to walk her home. … I’d pieced together their past from every little hint, every crumb of evidence. Again and again, I’d fall into endless self-torment and doubt. Was I not good enough? Not pretty enough? Not someone he could be proud of? Was that why he treated me this way? Across the table, Harper looked at me, her eyes full of pity. “Just today, I heard Liam went to the airport to pick her up.” “My Jax wanted me to keep it from you, so you wouldn’t fight again…” My best friend and Liam’s best friend were also a couple. Their relationship was solid; they were seriously talking marriage. “Chloe, what are you going to do? Are you going to keep dragging this out?” “I told you long ago you two weren’t a match. You’re such a catch, why waste yourself on a man who doesn’t love you?” I lowered my eyes, sipping my drink. “Why else? Stubbornness, I guess.” But this time, no matter how stubborn I was, it was time to let go. There was no dramatic breakup. Just me, slowly detoxing, peeling myself away from this relationship. Turns out, real goodbyes are always quiet. 2 In the early hours of the morning, Harper’s boyfriend picked her up. “Oh, my little wild child, how did you get so drunk…? By the way, Chloe, are you okay alone? Or maybe…” I smiled, waving him off. I didn’t quite catch what he said next before my stomach lurched. I used to envy their relationship so much. Why couldn’t Liam and I be that sweet, that in love? Why? Simply because he wasn’t that into me. Liam had told me himself that he wasn’t interested in the overly affectionate, clingy type. But he still got together with me. I thought I was special, but it turns out he was just lonely. After what felt like an eternity, a familiar voice, one that shouldn’t have been there, reached my ears. I lifted my head, my vision blurred. Liam was helping an elegant woman in a trench coat and high heels. “Seraphina, wait for me a moment, I’m picking someone up.” I crouched by the roadside, quietly watching Liam carefully steady her. Then he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. The next second, my phone rang. He looked over, following the sound. His face, in the dim night, was unreadable. Our gazes locked for a long moment. I didn’t rush into his arms and act cute like I usually did when drunk. He was the one who spoke first, calling my name. “Chloe.” “Hmm?” “Do you have anything to tell me?” I thought about it. “No.” Liam walked closer, looking down at me. I finally noticed his brows were furrowed. I couldn’t tell what he was annoyed about. “Then let’s go.” Liam grabbed me, pulling me into the car without a word. He didn’t say anything else. He didn’t care why I was so drunk. And I didn’t question him about the woman beside him. The silence in the car was unsettling. Seraphina observed me through the rearview mirror. Her cheeks were flushed, a perfect hint of tipsiness. “Liam, I’m feeling a little dizzy.” Liam rolled down the window for fresh air, his voice helpless, laced with a tenderness I’d never heard before. “Always pushing yourself when you can’t even drink.” Seraphina chuckled, her words hinting at something. “Well, my mood’s good today, so a little drink won’t hurt, right?” “After all this time, why are you still so controlling?” They were high school classmates, from the same hometown. They broke up less than three months after getting together because of the long distance in college. The first time I sensed Seraphina’s presence was when I found Liam’s old QQ password was her initials. He said he hadn’t used it in a long time and forgot to change it. Initially, I didn’t think much of it. Everyone has a past, right? Just an ex-girlfriend he’d dated for three months. They had even broken up two years before he and I got together. I never thought I’d lose to her. But actually, the moment I subconsciously started comparing myself to her, I had already lost. They chatted about old times, you and I, back and forth, while I sat in the backseat like a ghost. The wind howled through the open window. Outside, the city streets, which I’d seen countless times, flew by in reverse. As we passed the shopping mall, the movie theater’s sign was still lit. Liam and I had watched our first movie there. I remembered being so sleepy in the car after the movie. My hand, hanging at my side, accidentally brushed his. Liam thought I was asleep and secretly held my hand the whole way home. My heart had pounded the entire ride. Fuzzy memories, like fragments of a dream, flashed through my mind. They were all from the暧昧期 (ambiguous period) before we made it official. When I loved Liam the most, I used to wish I had met him first. Later, when I was hurt the deepest, I wished I had never met him at all. Now, I didn’t want to think about anything. When I vaguely opened my eyes, we were at my doorstep. Seraphina was no longer in the car. Liam’s fingers, resting on the car window frame, held a cigarette, its cherry glowing faintly. “Chloe,” he asked, “was that necessary?” I sat up straight, not understanding. “I spent time with you today, didn’t I? Did you really have to pull this stunt tonight?” Liam’s voice was low and deep, suppressing an unknown anger. I didn’t know what he was mad about. After much thought, it must be because I’d interrupted his long-awaited reunion with his idealized ex. “I didn’t ask you to pick me up.” He scoffed. “Oh, so you getting this wasted, looking like a total mess, was for ghosts?” “I’m not drunk,” I said softly. “Even if you hadn’t come, someone else would have taken me home.” 3 Liam raised an eyebrow, his tone mocking. “Who? Some random guy you just met at the bar?” He eyed me up and down. “Chloe, can you stop being so childish? You’re dressed like that, out there… don’t you know what those guys are after?” “If I hadn’t come, you would’ve ended up getting ‘picked up’.” “If you want me to care about you, can you stop using such stupid methods?” I used to get myself drunk, hoping to see a flicker of concern for me in his eyes. But I wasn’t that foolish anymore. “Liam, you’re overthinking it.” Liam didn’t believe me, his frown deepening. “You know I hate it when girls drink. I don’t have time to baby you.” Maybe the alcohol numbed my nerves, making the pain less acute. Or maybe, I genuinely just didn’t care anymore. “Next time, even if Jax calls me, I’ll pretend I didn’t see it.” “Okay.” I turned, walking steadily upstairs on my own. The hangover headache kept me in bed until late morning the next day. My phone had several unread messages. None from Liam. He rarely texted me first, but every time my phone buzzed, I always hoped it was him. Eventually, I just put him on ‘do not disturb’. That way, I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Harper sent me a screenshot: Seraphina’s Ins story from last night. No ambiguous text, just a casually snapped photo of the moon. Liam, who never liked posts, instantly liked hers. And commented: “Goodnight.” The doorbell suddenly rang. I opened the door and saw Liam standing outside. For a moment, I wondered if I was still half-asleep. “What are you doing here?” Perhaps the surprise on my face was too obvious; Liam’s lips curved, and he reached out to pinch my cheek. “Here, for you.” I silently looked at the hangover medicine in the bag. He was still like this, hot and cold, impossible to figure out. Too tired to bother figuring out why, I took it and politely said thanks. “That’s it?” Liam leaned against the doorframe, his initially smiling dark eyes slowly darkening. “Is there anything else?” I asked. Breaking character, he actually explained, “I picked her up yesterday because she didn’t know anyone else in town.” I hummed, “That makes sense.” Liam stared at my face as if trying to see through me. “Chloe, she and I are over. We’re just friends now.” “You don’t need to be mad at me.” “I booked a restaurant. I’ll take you out for dinner later, to make up for your birthday yesterday.” I shook my head. “No need. It’s already passed. Nothing to make up for.” “Besides, I already have plans today.” Liam looked a little taken aback. He clearly hadn’t expected me to refuse a chance to go out with him. His face turned cold. “Whatever you want.” But I never expected such bad luck. Liam had booked a table at the same restaurant as me. Beside him, Seraphina blinked, asking softly, “Liam, isn’t that your girlfriend, eating with another guy?” Liam and my eyes met in the air, then quickly darted away. He glanced at the man across from me, impeccably dressed in a suit, seemingly unconcerned. “What’s it to me?” Seraphina laughed, a hint of subtle triumph in her voice. “Aren’t you jealous?” “Back then, if I even talked to a male classmate for too long, you’d corner him after school and warn him to stay away from me.” “I called you the king of jealousy, and you’d get so mad.” You only get jealous if you care. Liam wouldn’t even bat an eye if he saw me sharing an umbrella with a male friend. He was an unmoving mountain, never changing his stance for me. Never reacting. However, that night, that long-dormant profile picture suddenly popped up with a question mark: “?” “Is that your new guy?” “Did you really meet him at the bar?” “Chloe, you’ve got some nerve.”

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In my past life, my wife framed me as a serial killer. No matter what I did, I couldn’t prove my innocence. The victims’ families retaliated against my loved ones with the same ruthless methods. Some were brutally murdered, others were left unrecognizable, and I could do nothing but rot in prison. Then I opened my eyes again. I was back on the very day my wife went to the police station to file her report. Knowing that someone would die today, as in my past life, I tried to investigate the truth behind my wife’s accusations, only to find she had vanished into thin air. On my way home, I stumbled upon a bank being robbed. An idea sparked in my mind. “Yes, I’ll voluntarily take the pregnant woman’s place as a hostage.” … Detective Miller, the lead negotiator, froze for a few seconds. “You know those robbers inside have homemade guns, right? This could actually get you killed!” His eyes showed excitement, but mostly deep concern. He worried I didn’t understand the situation, or that I’d back out once I knew the real danger. But I just shrugged indifferently. “Doesn’t matter. If I die, just give me a Good Samaritan award or something.” I’d already died once, a death so utterly unjust. This time, I didn’t crave a heroic end. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t branded a serial killer again, and that my family wouldn’t suffer needlessly. That would be enough. “Alright, we’ll definitely make the most of this hostage exchange. Please, try not to be too nervous!” Detective Miller said earnestly, handing me a bulletproof vest. It was my first time wearing one of these things, and it felt strangely new. I almost thought I was playing some kind of military cosplay game. The police were already negotiating with the robbers inside the bank. I waited behind the line, ready for the exchange. “No! A woman should be exchanged for a woman!” “That guy clearly looks like your undercover!” The robber’s voice boomed. I rolled my eyes so hard. With my scrawny arms and legs, did I really look like a highly trained cop? “Stop messing around, watch this!” I bypassed the officers and walked directly into the center of the scene. Then, I started stripping, piece by piece. My jacket, bulletproof vest, sweater, pants, socks, even my shoes – everything came off until I was just in my boxer briefs. “Buddy, need me to take off more?” I asked, as the officers cuffed my hands behind my back. This move stunned not just the robbers, but even the police hadn’t seen anything like it. “This pregnant woman already has it hard enough. Why do you think she’s at a bank instead of a hospital? Probably because she has no one to look after her, right? She’s suffered enough, clinging on for her baby’s sake, and now you won’t even swap hostages? Are you trying to kill her?” I took two steps closer. The robber just stared, completely dumbfounded. With me looking like this, who could suspect I was up to something? “I’ve got nothing on me, and these handcuffs are on tight! If I *were* an undercover, you should be thrilled – you’d have a cop as a hostage! They’d have to be extra careful!” I continued to persuade the robber. Many onlookers were holding their breath. If even *this* didn’t work for a hostage exchange, then nothing would. Finally, a few minutes later, the robber shouted. “Walk in here with your hands up, no tricks!” Hearing that, I breathed a massive sigh of relief. I wanted to rush in immediately. In just a few hours, it would be the time “I” supposedly committed the crime in my past life, and then my loving wife, Eleanor, would go to the police station to give her false testimony. The police would find the murder weapon at my house, with my DNA on it. And there would be witnesses claiming to have seen me near the crime scene. ### 【Chapter 2】 Even surveillance cameras along the route, from when I left my house to the crime scene, would capture my face. But this time, I was going to find an alibi that would shatter all those lies! As I walked in, Sarah, the pregnant woman, was being released. She was trembling as she walked, but kept thanking me profusely. “You’re a good person, thank you!” “If you really want to thank me, help me out once this is all over.” I raised an eyebrow. Sarah looked stunned. She had no idea what I wanted her to do yet. But I was sure she’d find out soon enough. “Get in here!” The robber was cautious, always staying in a blind spot where the outside couldn’t see clearly. He dragged me inside, and the moment I entered, I felt a sharp blow to the back of my head. “You really aren’t a cop?” I could feel the cold barrel of a gun pressed against me. “Seriously, I’m not. See these handcuffs? Real enough for you?” I struggled a bit, and the cuffs only tightened. Only then did he come around to face me. He didn’t look like a vicious criminal. He scrutinized me. “Kid, aren’t you scared of dying?” the robber asked, frowning. “Scared of dying? Why? If I’m scared, I’m scared of dying unjustly. But I’m saving someone here, so this isn’t an unjust death!” I shrugged, looking at him. The robber stared blankly, then after a moment, he said, “You talk like you’ve died before. Let’s see if you’re still so tough when death is staring you in the face!” “You’re right, actually. I have died once before!” I sighed deeply. Remembering being executed as the most heinous serial killer of the century in my past life, the resentment in my heart threatened to burst. “You’re crazy, aren’t you? Get over there and sit quietly!” The robber gave me a weird look. I couldn’t be bothered to explain. All I needed was to stay here until nightfall. That way, no matter if someone died tonight, it would have nothing to do with me. Countless people could testify to my whereabouts! Time ticked by, minute by minute, and dusk began to fall. Outside, the police continued to negotiate with the robber, and the standoff intensified. “Stop your damn talking! Give me what I want, or I’ll kill one of them right now to show you I’m serious!” The robber’s emotions were clearly escalating. Even though he was alone, the three other hostages, besides me, were all women, tied together and completely helpless. “Chill out, man. You don’t seem like a bad guy. No need to go to such extremes, right?” I casually tried to dissuade him. The robber glared at me, then grabbed me and pushed me towards the bank entrance. “Listen up! I want a bulletproof SUV!” “I’m giving you five minutes to decide. One minute late, and I’ll break one of his legs!” By now, people outside were live-streaming the entire event, and a large crowd had gathered. The situation had dragged on for too long; even if the police wanted to control public opinion, it was useless. “Wait, isn’t that guy who stripped down Julian Sterling, the head of the Sterling Group?” “Holy moly, I think it really is him! I interviewed him once on the business channel!” Hearing the clamor of voices outside, I finally smiled. Come on, make sure my close-ups look good! The news spread rapidly online. The robber, too, unexpectedly learned my identity. His eyes widened in disbelief. “You, you’re the son of that huge company owner?” ### 【Chapter 3】 Along with his excitement, there was a hint of fear. While he might get a lot of money, it also meant much greater risk. I shrugged, unfazed. “Don’t worry, who I am doesn’t change anything.” At the same time, my dad got the news and rushed over, his heart pounding. His car hadn’t even fully stopped before he bolted out, trying desperately to break through the police tape. Seeing this, the officers quickly moved to stop him. “Sir, you can’t go in, it’s too dangerous!” Several officers managed to hold him back. “Our company pays so many taxes every year, contributes so much to society!” “And now you’re letting my son go in there to die? What kind of job are you doing?!” my dad roared furiously. The police understood his distress and didn’t fault him, patiently explaining the situation. “Mr. Sterling, your son volunteered to go in. He said he wanted to help others, and we’re doing our best to ensure his safety.” My dad froze at these words. He knew my personality well and couldn’t comprehend why I would make such a decision. But he didn’t dwell on it. He just grabbed a megaphone nearby and shouted into the bank. “Listen, robbers inside! Whatever amount of money you want, I’ll give it to you!” “Just please, don’t hurt my son!” “Or how about this, I’ll go in as a hostage, and you let my son out!” My eyes welled up. In my past life, he was just like this – no matter what I faced, he was always the first to step forward and shield me from the storm. In this life, I couldn’t let him suffer any harm again. I looked at the robber and said directly, “Don’t listen to him!” “Think about it, in this world, fathers save their sons, but do sons save their fathers? If you let me go, you can do whatever you want with *the old man*, and all the family fortune will be mine, won’t it?” The robbers exchanged glances, clearly stunned by my words. But after thinking it over, it seemed to make a strange kind of sense, so they didn’t agree to my dad’s exchange proposal. At this point, the robbers were even more curious, asking me why I was doing this. A rich kid like me, why not just enjoy life instead of getting mixed up in this mess? No matter how they looked at it, they couldn’t understand. “Are you really crazy?” They could only guess. Seeing their expressions, I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Nothing much, just wanted to experience a different kind of life.” “You guys probably aren’t trying to kill anyone, just after money, right? Don’t worry, I’ll cooperate, and I’ll even get you the money.” They exchanged puzzled looks. While they couldn’t grasp my motives, they didn’t say anything more. By now, many small influencers had set up their equipment and started live-streaming online. On the internet, countless people were curious why I would willingly become a hostage. Some thought I had ulterior motives, that it was a stunt or some secret agenda. But most people praised me, seeing me as a selfless hero. My mom, Mrs. Vivian Sterling, had also arrived. After learning the situation, she broke down crying, pleading with the robbers from outside. “Please, don’t hurt my son! I’ll give you any amount of money, I beg you!” Hearing my mother’s voice, a pang of sorrow hit my heart. Remembering how tragically she died in my past life because of me, I became even more determined to protect her.

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Julian Blackwood had adored Rory Vance for over twenty years. She always thought they’d naturally end up together, marry, have children, and live happily ever after. Until Julian brought home a woman and told her, “Rory, she’s your sister-in-law.” … “Professor Davies, I’ve made up my mind. I’m moving to Europe.” On the other end of the line, Professor Davies chuckled joyfully. “It’s about time! With your talent, if you’d come sooner, you’d be an internationally renowned photographer by now.” Rory offered a polite smile. “Thank you for the compliment, Professor.” “So, when can you make it? I’ve met a few fashion magazine editors in Milan recently, and they’re very interested in your photography. They’d love to meet you.” Rory thought for a moment. “About half a month, I think. I need to sort out some things here.” “That’s good. Your brother dotes on you so much; he’ll never be at ease with you traveling alone. Make sure you talk it over with him properly.” Hanging up the phone, Rory looked at the woman trying on a wedding dress not far away, and the man standing beside her, smiling as he watched. A bitter smile touched Rory’s lips. Julian truly cherished her. Even Mrs. Blackwood used to tease him. “What kind of brother clings to his sister every day? Outsiders might misunderstand.” Julian raised an eyebrow. “Misunderstand what?” “Misunderstand that you’re not siblings, but a couple!” At that moment, Rory felt a flicker of confusion and surprise, but when her eyes met Julian’s gentle, deeply affectionate gaze, her cheeks flushed slightly. Julian, just like now, had a soft smile playing on his lips, looking at her tenderly as he replied, “Then let them misunderstand.” We live for those fleeting moments. That moment became the sweetest of Rory’s entire life. She waited and waited, for Julian to finally break through that unspoken barrier. She would have nodded without hesitation, saying yes. But all she waited for was his gaze to fall upon another woman. Candace White was his secretary. Julian had brought several resumes and placed them before Rory, saying, “Rory, help me pick one.” Rory felt a bit awkward. “I don’t really understand these things. You should let a professional HR person choose.” But Julian had insisted, “My secretary might be seeing you often in the future too. Pick someone you like, someone you’ll be comfortable interacting with.” Candace was the one Rory had personally chosen to be Julian’s secretary. But what she hadn’t realized then was that she thought she was choosing a secretary, but in a cruel twist of fate, she was actually picking out her own future sister-in-law. “Rory— ” Not far away, Candace excitedly called out to her. “Come help me look, how’s this wedding dress? Your brother is so unhelpful. No matter which one I try on, he just says it looks good, with zero opinions.” Rory sighed. “It’s your wedding dress. If you think it looks good, that’s all that matters.” Candace pouted, feigning helplessness. “Rory, you know I’m from a humble background. I’m afraid my taste isn’t sophisticated enough and might embarrass your brother. But you’re different! Our family’s famous photographer, your taste must be impeccable!” “I’m just a photographer. I’m good with composition, but I really can’t choose wedding dresses.” Candace looked a bit dejected, a hint of hurt coloring her tone. “Rory, are you still not accepting me?” Rory opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but she didn’t know how. She wasn’t rejecting Candace. She just couldn’t understand why Julian, who had always doted on her and treated her like gold, would suddenly fall in love with someone else. “Julian, why don’t you go check on Rory? I think she’s still mad at me about what happened last time.” Julian said, “She won’t be.” “Last time, I wrongly accused her. How about we postpone our wedding until Rory isn’t angry anymore?” Julian frowned slightly. “How can we postpone the wedding just because she’s unhappy?” “But she’s your sister. I want her blessing.” Julian pondered for a moment, then slowly walked towards Rory. His voice was somewhat distant. “Still upset about what happened last time?” Rory turned her head away. “I’m not.” “It was normal for Candace to misunderstand when you suddenly hugged me last time. What kind of sister throws herself into her brother’s arms? Rory, you’re an adult. You should know better and have some boundaries.” Rory looked at the slight expression of reproach on his face, and her eyes immediately welled up. When Julian still cherished her, it was almost always him clinging to her. If there were outsiders present and she tried to put a little distance between them, he would dissatisfiedly pull her back to his side. She went to the countryside for inspiration, and he followed. She went to Africa to photograph animal migrations, and he followed too. It was him who said that no matter when or where, he would always stand behind her. As long as Rory turned around, she would always see him. That day, her photography project had won a gold medal in an international competition. She had instinctively hugged Julian, wanting to share her joy. But Candace had walked in without knocking, coincidentally witnessing the scene. And from that day on, Julian had been cold as ice towards her, avoiding her whenever possible. Rory took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I’m sorry. Last time, I didn’t know my place and caused your fiancée to misunderstand. I promise to be more careful with my words and actions from now on. It won’t happen again.” Julian nodded slightly. “It’s good that you realize your mistake.” She softly hummed in acknowledgment. “You two continue looking at wedding dresses. I’m feeling a bit unwell, so I’ll be leaving.” As she turned to leave the bridal shop, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. Rory roughly wiped them away with the back of her hand, then pulled out her phone and booked a flight. In half a month, she would board that plane and leave this place forever. Leave Julian. Rory stayed out until early morning before returning home. The decision to leave was made in an instant, but twenty years of past affection weren’t fake. She wasn’t strong enough to completely let go just like that. To prevent herself from regretting it, she felt it was best to avoid seeing Julian as much as possible during these two weeks. When she arrived back at the Blackwood villa, the house was completely dark. Rory didn’t turn on the lights, dragging her tired body towards her bedroom. But from the living room, a voice suddenly stopped her. “Rory.” She turned around and saw someone sitting on the sofa. “Can I help you, Miss White?” Candace was wearing a black lace camisole nightgown, seductively leaning against the armrest of the sofa, smiling slightly. “Julian bought this nightgown for me. Doesn’t it look good?” As she sat up straighter, the small red marks on her chest and waist slowly became visible. Against the black lace, they looked even more seductive and alluring. She lightly touched a red mark on her neck with her hand, letting out a pained “Ah,” and complained in a sticky voice, “Your brother’s taste in wedding dresses isn’t great, but his taste in nightgowns is pretty good. He said that when I wear this, he can’t control himself at all.” Rory stood on the stairs, looking down coldly at her performance. A mocking smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. “Candace, cut the trashy vibes.” “Trashy vibes? Why?” “Sleazy.” Candace let out a giggle. “But your brother likes sleazy! He couldn’t wait for me to change into this nightgown as soon as he got home, and then…” “You don’t need to say anything more. I don’t want to hear it.” “It doesn’t matter if you want to hear it or not, it’s the truth. He’s completely obsessed with my body. So what if you had twenty years of affection? Men, they just pick whoever’s best in bed, you know.” Rory couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words with her. She turned to leave. “Go ahead and put on your show alone. I don’t have time for your performance.” But Candace was relentless. Tugging at her nightgown, she chased after Rory. “You can’t see the marks your brother left on me from that far away, can you? Rory, don’t leave! Come here, take a closer look…” As she spoke, Candace had caught up and grabbed Rory’s arm. Rory felt a wave of nausea rise in her stomach and instinctively pulled away. “Don’t touch me!” Not far away, Julian walked out of the bedroom and asked, “What are you two talking about so late?” Rory was about to speak when she saw Candace flash her a sly smile. Then, her expression instantly turned to one of terror. “Ah— ” Candace tumbled down the stairs. “Candace!!” Julian dropped the glass of milk he was holding and rushed over, holding Candace tightly in his arms. “Are you okay?!” Candace lay weakly in his embrace, feebly saying, “I’m fine. Don’t blame Rory, she didn’t mean to.” Julian looked up at Rory, his eyes filled with disappointment. “Rory, no matter how upset you are with Candace, you shouldn’t push her down the stairs! Do you know how dangerous that is?!” When he looked back at Candace, his tone softened with doting pity. He bent down and gently picked her up. “Let’s go back to the room, so I can check if you’re hurt.” Candace’s face flushed. “Perhaps we shouldn’t be so intimate in front of Rory in the future. It’s normal for a sister to be possessive of her brother. You used to only dote on her, and now suddenly there’s me. It’ll definitely be hard for her to accept at first. We should be more considerate of Rory and give her some time to adjust.” Julian said coldly, “She’ll have to adjust sooner or later.” He carried Candace steadily back to the bedroom. As she looked back from his arms, Candace flashed Rory a victorious ‘V’ sign. Rory suddenly felt as if this world had become unrecognizable. Candace’s appearance had completely shattered her world into pieces. She couldn’t understand why Julian would fall for someone like Candace. Was it really as Candace said, that when it came to affection and desire, men would always choose worldly thrills? Rory didn’t understand. But now, she didn’t want to anymore. The next morning, Rory went to the magazine office. She had worked there for three years as a columnist photographer, and she had a great relationship with her colleagues. The editor-in-chief was surprised to receive her resignation letter. “Is it about your salary? You can tell me directly, and I’ll speak to the publisher.” Rory smiled and shook her head. “Thank you, Mr. Thorne, but it’s not about my salary.” “Then why?” “I have other plans for my life.” Mr. Thorne immediately understood and said with a smile, “So, you’re finally going to marry Julian and become Mrs. Blackwood, right? That’s good. He’s been picking you up and dropping you off every day, rain or shine, he truly cherishes you. If you marry him, it’s a wonderful thing. I won’t stop you.” Rory had wanted to explain the first half of his sentence. Julian was getting married, but the bride wasn’t her. But after hearing Mr. Thorne finish, she lost the desire to explain. The entangled mess between her, Julian, and Candace was too complicated to clarify in a few words. Now, she just wanted to quickly complete her resignation and handover, then leave this heartbreaking place in two weeks. “Oh, by the way, Rory, when is your wedding date? Make sure to send me an invitation so I can celebrate with you!” Rory offered an awkward smile. Just then, Jenny from the front desk excitedly knocked and poked her head in. “Rory! Your boyfriend is here to pick you up again! Hehehe, there’s a surprise today!” Rory stepped out of the magazine office and saw Julian leaning against his black Rolls-Royce Cullinan, lost in thought. She got a little closer before she could clearly see what Jenny’s “surprise” was. The black interior of the car was completely filled with vibrant, crimson roses. Except for the passenger seat, the back seats and the trunk were overflowing with roses. Behind her, she could hear some of her female colleagues, with whom she usually got along well, giggling and pushing each other as they peeked from behind the company sign at the entrance. In the past, when Julian came to pick her up, he sometimes brought things she liked. Small cakes, bubble tea, or all sorts of her favorite snacks. Her colleagues had seen it many times, but they would always tease her ambiguously, “Every time your boyfriend comes, the whole office gets delicious treats. We’re all just enjoying Rory’s good fortune!” Rory had always implicitly accepted it, usually just smiling at their jokes and sharing the things Julian brought with everyone. Now, everyone was probably waiting to share the roses in his car. She called out, “Julian Blackwood.” Julian looked up, but his expression wasn’t good, and his attitude was still cold. “Don’t call me by my full name anymore. You should call me ‘Brother’.” Rory froze for a moment. Then slowly nodded. “Understood, Brother.” “Last night, my words were too harsh. Don’t take it to heart.” “Hmm.” “But you’re not a child anymore. Don’t do dangerous things like pushing someone down the stairs ever again.” Rory looked up in disbelief, a bitter laugh escaping her. “So, you came to see me today just to scold me?” Julian’s face darkened. “You still don’t realize your mistake, do you?” “Julian Blackwood, you’ve known me for over twenty years! Even if I wanted to harm her, I wouldn’t be so stupid as to do it in my own home!” Rory shouted in frustration, but immediately regretted it. She was leaving anyway. More explanations would be useless. “Forget it. You should go. Don’t disturb me at work.” When Rory returned to the company entrance, her colleagues, who had been chatting and laughing, seemed to sense that something was off between them, and their expressions turned to concern. “Rory, did you two have a fight?” “Don’t be mad! He brought all those roses to make up. Give him a chance!” “Yeah, Rory, you’re so lucky and you don’t even know it. A boyfriend like that is so hard to find!” Rory’s face was blank as she softly said, “Don’t stand around here. Go back to work.” Her photography skills were outstanding, and she held considerable influence in the magazine office. The young women below were quite obedient to her, so they all shuffled back inside, heads drooping. Jenny, who was closest to her, discreetly pulled her aside and asked, “Rory, can I go ask for a rose? I just saw his car full of flowers; he even prepared vases!” Rory felt a headache coming on. “I’ll buy you different flowers. Your vase won’t be empty.” Back at her desk, she was still agitated. After reluctantly processing a few photos she had taken earlier, her phone rang. [Image] [Image] [Image] [Which of these do you like? *blushing shyly.jpg*] Candace had sent several pictures of different styles of nightgowns. More than nightgowns, they looked like provocative lingerie. What should have been covered was exposed, and what shouldn’t have been was also exposed. Soon, these messages were unsent. [Candace: Oops, sent to the wrong person!] Rory turned off her phone and tossed it into her drawer. In truth, both of them knew Candace hadn’t sent it to the wrong person. She had sent it intentionally for Rory to see. It wasn’t until closing time that she took her phone out of the drawer and turned it on. No missed calls. No texts. No SnapChat messages. Nothing. In the past, if she was unreachable for more than half an hour, Julian would call and text repeatedly, or immediately rush to the magazine office to find her. But now, he wouldn’t. Her Ins feed, however, showed that someone had updated. She clicked on it, and there it was, a familiar scene— Inside the classic black Rolls-Royce Cullinan, filled with vibrant red roses. Candace was holding a bouquet of roses, standing in front of the car, smiling blissfully. The caption read: [Thank you, darling. This is the best birthday gift I’ve ever received.] Oh. So, it was Candace’s birthday today. The things in his car were now meant for Candace. After work, Rory didn’t feel like going home. But Mrs. Blackwood called, sounding worried. “Rory, why have you been working so late these past few nights? It’s not safe for you to be out alone. I’ll have Julian pick you up.” Rory didn’t want to ride in his car anymore. Neither the passenger seat nor the roses belonged to her. “No thanks, Mrs. Blackwood. I’ll take a taxi home.” “Alright, then be careful.” Rory called a taxi. When she arrived home, Julian and Candace were both there. Candace, carrying a large suitcase, was walking out of Rory’s room. “Rory, you’re back.” Rory immediately bristled with anger. “Who gave you permission to go into my room?” Julian, hearing this, slammed his cup down. “I did. What’s the problem?” “Without my permission, how dare you go into my room and touch my things?” “Rory, this is the Blackwood home. Candace is my fiancée. She can go into any room she wants in this house.” Rory felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. Candace gently “scolded” Julian. “Julian, how can you talk to Rory like that? Rory will be hurt.” Then she turned to Rory. “Rory, I just heard the house staff saying that Julian’s clothes and shoes were always in your bedroom. Girls have so many clothes, and he was taking up half your closet, so you didn’t have enough space for yours. So, I volunteered to move all his stuff out and into *our* bedroom.” Julian used to cling to her incredibly tightly. Growing up, she had never received a single love letter, all thanks to Julian. Later, he just moved all his clothes into her bedroom, claiming it was so he could wear the outfits and ties *I’d personally picked out for him* every morning for work. She knew where every single one of his clothes and ties was in the closet better than he did. Rory quickly rushed upstairs and burst into her room. The utter chaos on the floor made her almost think the room had been robbed! Her clothes, shoes, and cosmetics were scattered everywhere, in complete disarray! Rory furiously pointed at the mess on the floor and challenged Candace, “Is *this* how you move clothes?!” Candace’s eyes immediately welled up. “I’m sorry, Rory, I just accidentally…” “Accidentally turned my room into something that looks like a hurricane passed through? Your ‘accidents’ are incredibly destructive!” Julian, hearing this, frowned and reprimanded, “Rory, watch your tone!” Rory laughed bitterly. “So, this time, I didn’t do anything, but it’s still my fault, is that it?” “Candace is your future sister-in-law. You need to respect her.” “Julian, why don’t you come up and see for yourself?” Julian slowly went upstairs. When he saw the chaotic room, he paused for a moment in surprise. But it was only for that one moment. The next second, he looked at Candace with a touch of indulgence, a wry smile on his face. “Next time, let the house staff clean our bedroom.” “But I don’t want anyone else touching my clothes, especially… my nightgowns.” She emphasized the word “nightgowns,” and a blush quickly spread across her face. Julian nodded helplessly. “Alright, then I’ll clean up from now on. You just sit back and rest, okay?” Candace playfully stuck out her tongue. “Julian, am I a bit clumsy?” “It’s fine. With me around, it’s okay to be a little clumsy.” Rory closed her eyes. She had never hated the dreaded resignation handover period so much. Otherwise, she would have already flown across the ocean, never having to endure this chaotic and sickening scene. “Rory, look. How many of your clothes and equipment did Candace damage? Give me a total, and I’ll pay you back.” Rory let out a bitter laugh. Julian was actually using money to throw at her. At her, of all people. Candace even lightly nudged her arm and whispered, “Rory, you can exaggerate the amount a little. With me here, he has to give you whatever you say.” Julian said dotingly, “Are you taking her side now? Teaming up with an outsider to drain your husband’s wallet?” Candace playfully made a face at him. “From now on, I’m Rory’s sister-in-law. An elder sister-in-law is like a mother, so of course I’ll side with Rory.” Rory scoffed coldly. Taking her side. Outsider. Yes, now *they* were the closest people. And she, an adopted daughter of the Blackwood family, was indeed just an outsider. Her phone suddenly rang. It was Professor Davies. She composed herself and answered. “Professor Davies?” Professor Davies asked, “Rory, I remember a set of bird photographs you took a while ago. They were excellent. An editor here would like to see them. Could you send me the negatives again?” “Of course, Professor. Please wait a moment.” Rory went back to her bedroom. She preferred using a film camera, and she kept all her film negatives stored in a locked drawer. She instinctively reached for the key to unlock it, but then noticed the entire cabinet was damp. “Rory, I’m so sorry! I accidentally spilled coffee earlier, and I was afraid it would stain your cabinet, so I just rinsed the whole thing with water…” The more Rory listened, the colder her heart grew. She couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on Candace. She quickly unlocked the drawer. As she pulled it open, her suspended heart finally died. Row after row of film rolls were all soaked in water. Some had unraveled, some had discolored, and many were tangled together in a messy heap, even turning the water brown. These were all the negatives of her photography work from over three years! Completely ruined! Rory trembled with anger, unable to utter a single word. Julian had walked in at some point. Seeing the scene in the drawer, he said indifferently, “Just calculate how much all these film rolls cost. I’ll pay for them, along with Candace.” Rory finally erupted. “Can she even *afford* it?! She might not know what these film rolls mean to me, but don’t *you* know?!” Julian frowned slightly. “But the film is ruined now. Getting angry won’t change anything, will it? Candace was just trying to be helpful, trying to put away my clothes. Spilling coffee was just an accident.” “An accident, and it’s all magically clean? If you accidentally hit and killed someone with your car, would a simple ‘sorry’ make it all okay?!” “Rory!” Julian’s tone became stern. “Don’t be so unreasonable! Are film rolls and human lives the same thing? If photos are gone, you can just take more. Is it really that serious?” On the phone, Professor Davies sounded worried. “Rory, are you okay? Is something happening at home?” Rory let out a heavy sigh and replied, “Professor, my negatives… I might not be able to send them to you for now. I’ll try to find an opportunity to reshoot a series of photos and send them to you soon.” “Alright, no rush. It’ll take about half a month to get your visa processed anyway.” “Okay.” Julian, however, caught a keyword. “Visa? You’re going abroad?” Rory hung up the phone. She composed herself, then silently began cleaning up the mess on the floor. “Professor Davies’s visa expired. He’s too old to travel back and forth, so he asked me to help him with it.” Julian looked suspicious. “Doesn’t Professor Davies have a daughter here? Why wouldn’t he ask her to do it?” Rory retorted, “Why don’t you call his daughter and ask?” “I’m not that idle.” “Then stop asking so many questions.” Rory spent an entire night tidying her bedroom. She decided not to take any of the clothes and shoes Candace had ruined, simply piling them in the corner of her closet. She managed to salvage a few film rolls. But the negatives had been soaked in water, severely distorted, and unusable. As for the jars and bottles of cosmetics, the liquids had mostly leaked out, and the powders were all saturated, making them useless too. [Candace: This was just a warning.] Candace sent her a SnapChat message. It stayed for two minutes. Just before the two-minute mark, it was unsent. This ensured Rory would see it, but no evidence would be left behind. But after the last incident, Rory had become cautious. The moment she received the SnapChat, she took a screenshot. She scoffed coldly and sent the screenshot to Candace. This time, Candace was silent for a long time. Rory really wanted to laugh. Did she really think her tricks would succeed over and over again, and Rory would be completely unprepared? Candace underestimated her. After about ten minutes, Candace finally replied. [Candace: What do you mean?] [Rory: Nothing. Just a warning.] After sending that, she turned off her phone. She didn’t care if Candace unsent it or not. She also didn’t care what Julian would think when he saw it. From the day she decided to leave, she shouldn’t hold any expectations for him anymore. The next morning at breakfast, Mrs. Blackwood noticed Rory’s pale face and asked with concern, “Rory, did you not sleep at all last night? You look terrible.” Rory hummed. “Didn’t sleep well, but it’s okay. A few days’ rest will fix it.” Mrs. Blackwood said, “Yes, you should get some good rest these days. You’ll be busy with Julian’s wedding.” Rory looked up. “Their wedding date is set?” “Yes, it’s next weekend. Didn’t Julian tell you? That boy, he used to tell you about every little thing, and now he doesn’t mention something as big as his wedding. Really!” Next weekend. Rory looked at the calendar. That day was exactly when she was leaving. Just then, Julian and Candace came out of the bedroom. Candace, as if nothing had happened, cheerfully greeted Rory. “Rory, Julian and I have decided! You’ll be our chief photographer at the wedding! You have to make me look extra beautiful!” Rory flatly refused. “I have plans that day. I can’t make it.” Candace pouted. “Are you still mad about yesterday? I apologize. I’m so sorry… If you’re still angry, I… I’ll get down on my knees and apologize…” As she spoke, she stooped as if to kneel. Julian quickly pulled Candace up. “She doesn’t deserve you kneeling to her.” Mrs. Blackwood, seeing this, tried to smooth things over. “Candace, you don’t need to do that. Rory values her film rolls more than anything, so she’s definitely a bit upset, but it’s not to the point of kneeling.” Candace said plaintively, “I just feel like I can’t do anything right. I truly feel awful towards Rory.” Julian comforted her. “Just be more careful next time. Let’s eat first. Didn’t you say you were hungry just now?” Candace smiled and stuck out her tongue. “Well, that’s because of you, isn’t it? If you hadn’t insisted on being so… playful this morning, I wouldn’t be so tired and hungry.” “Alright, it’s all my fault. Now, sit down and eat.” Julian pulled out a chair for her, helped Candace sit, and then personally tied a napkin around her neck. After he had settled her, he finally sat down beside Candace. While spreading jam on a slice of toast, he said, “Rory, no matter what plans you have next weekend, cancel them. You’ll be our wedding photographer. Consider it fulfilling our twenty years of sibling affection.” The doorbell suddenly rang. The house staff opened the door, but outside stood an unfamiliar person. “Who are you looking for, please?” The visitor was a very simply dressed middle-aged woman. She smiled and said, “Hello, is Miss Rory Vance here? I’m from a charity organization. She contacted me, saying she has a batch of clothes she wants to donate to impoverished people in the mountains. We arranged to pick them up today.” Rory immediately stood up. “I’m Rory Vance. The clothes are all packed. Please wait a moment.” Rory went upstairs, packed all her clothes into several large bags, and handed them to the middle-aged woman. The woman was very grateful. “Thank you for your kindness, Miss Vance. The weather has turned cold recently, and many girls in the mountains don’t have enough clothes for winter. With these clothes, you’ll help a lot of people.” “No problem. Please deliver them as quickly as possible.” “Of course, you can rest assured…” “Wait—” Julian suddenly walked over, looking confused. He looked down at the six or seven large bags of clothes on the floor, his brows furrowed. “You donated all your clothes?” Mrs. Blackwood was also surprised. “Rory, even if you want to be charitable, we can just donate money. Why did you donate all your clothes? It’s getting cold; what will you wear?” Rory looked at Julian, a faint smile on her lips. “Didn’t you say you’d compensate me for Candace’s damages? These clothes are old, and I don’t want them anymore. With the money, I’ll buy new ones. Is that not allowed?” Julian stared at her for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. How much do you want? I’ll transfer it to you now.” Rory held up one finger. Julian: “One million? Fine.” “No.” “Ten million?” Candace immediately grew anxious. “A few clothes, how could they be worth ten million?!” Rory scoffed at her, then turned to Julian. “One dollar.” These clothes were all things Julian had insisted on buying for her. Now that she had decided to leave, she didn’t want to take his things, nor his money. Just as he himself had said, this was the Blackwood home, and she was an outsider. One dollar, payment complete. Twenty years of affection, wiped clean. Julian became slightly impatient. “Rory, what exactly are you trying to do?” “Are you giving it or not? If so, transfer the money. If not, forget it.” Julian pondered for a moment, then transferred the money. He said, “My promise has been fulfilled. Consider this my compensation for Candace. Don’t ever give her attitude over this again.” Rory looked at the dollar that appeared in her bank account and smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. I never will again.” “Also, my wedding. You will be the photographer. This is Candace’s wish, and you must come.” Rory thought for a moment. Her flight was in the evening. Their wedding night. So she nodded. “Alright.” In the following days, Rory barely returned to the Blackwood house. She went to the countryside and re-shot a series of bird photographs, which she sent to Professor Davies. Professor Davies was incredibly excited after seeing them. He immediately called her via FaceTime. “Rory, your composition and colors are even more refined than before! Several magazines here are practically fighting over you. When you get here, we’ll meet them all and choose the best one!” Receiving such affirmation, Rory was also very happy. “Alright, thank you, Professor.” “Oh, by the way, have you talked to your brother? Did he agree to you developing your career in Europe?” Rory smiled. “He’s actually very supportive of me going.” “That’s great! Then you have nothing to worry about. What a surprise, I thought convincing him would be a huge hassle…” Rory asked Professor Davies for his address and shipped all her equipment there. Professor Davies would hold onto them for her until she arrived and could pick them up from his home. On the day of Julian and Candace’s wedding, she simply borrowed a camera from the wedding planning company. Candace had gotten her wish, marrying into a wealthy family, and her triumphant joy was barely concealed. Especially when Rory was taking pictures, Candace posed like a victor. Julian was chatting with guests, but Candace insisted on pulling him back to pose for photos with her. Mrs. Blackwood felt sorry for Rory and advised, “Candace, you’ve taken plenty of photos. Let Rory rest for a bit.” Candace said, “Rory is so capable; how could she get tired from just a few pictures? Right, Rory?” Mrs. Blackwood looked displeased. “I’ll have the wedding photographer take pictures of you two. Rory needs to rest.” “But how can the wedding photographer compare to Rory? Today is Julian’s and my once-in-a-lifetime big day. We absolutely need Rory to capture our happiest moments!” Rory said nothing. After taking the last photo, she handed the camera directly back to the wedding planning company. Then she turned and walked away. Mrs. Blackwood chased after her. “Rory, where are you going?” Rory smiled. “Mrs. Blackwood, from now on, Julian will have Candace to take care of him. You should also take better care of yourself.” “Oh, you silly child, you’re my daughter too. Don’t I still have you?” Rory smiled, taking Mrs. Blackwood’s hand. “Yes, I’ll always be your daughter.” Mrs. Blackwood sighed. “Rory, I once… I truly thought you would be my daughter-in-law, and call me ‘Mom’. Who knew Julian would suddenly…” “It’s alright, Mrs. Blackwood. Let’s not talk about it anymore.” “Alright, alright, no more talk.” Her phone rang. It was Professor Davies. “Rory, are you at the airport? What time do you land? My wife and I will pick you up.” “I’m about to head there now.” “Good. We’ll see you in eight hours.” “Hmm.” She hung up the phone, checked the time. It was about right. Time to go to the airport. Rory didn’t even go back to the Blackwood house; she took a taxi directly to the airport. While waiting in line to board, Candace sent her another message. [Candace: Thank you for personally taking photos of Julian and me. We both love them. From now on, remember to call me your sister-in-law.] [Candace: Sister-in-law, I hope we can get along well in the future. (victory sign emoji)] Rory scoffed and took a screenshot. This time, she sent the screenshot directly to Julian. [Rory: Brother, congratulations on your wedding. Goodbye forever.] After sending it, she blocked Julian and Candace one by one. From then on, they would be permanently erased from her world. The flight attendant smiled and greeted her, “Miss, enjoy your flight.” Rory smiled politely. “Thank you. I’m very happy.” Then, she boarded the plane without looking back. The moment the plane landed at Milan Airport, Rory finally felt a sense of relief. Professor Davies had mentioned he and his wife would pick her up. But she clearly saw another person with them. “Rory— Over here!” Rory smiled as she walked over, first hugging Mrs. Davies. “Mrs. Davies, you’re as young and beautiful as ever!” Then she waved to Professor Davies. “Professor, if you don’t take better care of yourself, you won’t be worthy of my young and beautiful Mrs. Davies anymore!” Professor Davies laughed heartily. “You little rascal! It’s been years, and you start teasing me the moment we meet!” “How is this teasing? I’m complimenting you! That big beard of yours, it clearly marks you as a seasoned photographer, worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Max Rief!” Professor Davies laughed and chided, “Go on, go on. You, you’ve been spoiled by your brother since childhood, no manners at all.” Speaking of Julian, Mrs. Davies asked, “Did you come alone? Your brother didn’t see you off?” Professor Davies looked behind her. “Did he go to get your luggage? Rory, you’re empty-handed; someone must be carrying your bags.” Rory hooked an arm through Professor Davies’s and the other through Mrs. Davies’s, pulling them along. “I’m a grown-up now; I don’t need anyone to see me off. I came by myself this trip. Professor Davies, Mrs. Davies, let’s go quickly! I’m starving…” Professor and Mrs. Davies didn’t notice anything amiss, simply accompanying her as they walked out. But the other person who had come with them hurried a few steps and said, “Um, Rory…” Professor Davies suddenly remembered, slapping his forehead. “Oh, my memory! I completely forgot about the driver!” Rory had actually noticed him the moment she stepped out of the airport. He looked around thirty years old, with broad shoulders, tall and handsome, yet his demeanor was refined and gentle. He wore a grey cardigan, exuding a kind aura. Professor Davies said, “Rory, this is Daniel Hayes, your senior. Do you remember him?” Rory racked her brain, then shook her head, confused. “I’m sorry, but… is Daniel Hayes also one of Professor Davies’s students?” Professor Davies laughed heartily. “You really don’t remember him at all?” Rory still drew a blank. Daniel Hayes’s face flushed slightly, looking a bit flustered. “Professor Davies, please don’t bring up old stories. Let me keep some dignity.” Professor Davies laughed even harder. “Alright, alright, no more talk. Or you can bring it up yourself sometime.” Daniel Hayes became even more flustered and immediately ran ahead. “I’ll go get the car. Wait for me at the entrance; I’ll be quick.” Rory looked at Daniel Hayes, still feeling a bit bewildered. It wasn’t until Mrs. Davies saw her confused expression and clarified, “Rory, do you remember when you were in college, you sent a confession letter to a guy?” Rory: !!! She remembered. That whole incident was actually a huge misunderstanding. The confession letter wasn’t from her; she was helping her roommate at the time deliver it. Her roommate had a crush on a senior but was too shy to confess. Rory, hearing this, thought, *That won’t do!* So she volunteered to be the little matchmaker. Finally, she found an opportunity. She waited below the sketch building until she saw the target guy and handed him the confession letter. She had just opened her mouth to explain the situation when some boisterous guys nearby snatched the letter from his hand and read it aloud to everyone. Originally, confession letters were usually just filled with romantic words. But she hadn’t expected her roommate, who was usually timid as a quail, to write such a bold confession. The first line was: *You forgot to zip your fly.* The second line was: *Looks quite big.* Rory had been utterly mortified on the spot. The guy being confessed to was also stunned, looking at her with a mix of embarrassment and fluster, repeatedly apologizing, then quickly chasing after his friends who had run off with the letter. The end result was that, due to the incredibly powerful content of the confession letter, Rory became quite famous at school. But this incident made Julian very unhappy. Even though Rory had explained many times that she didn’t like the guy, and she hadn’t written the letter herself—it was a complete and utter misunderstanding— Julian was furious, and the consequences were severe. Eventually, he somehow orchestrated it so that the dean sent that senior abroad, officially for a “sponsored study program,” but it was really just Julian’s way of making him disappear from my world. Because of this, Rory felt quite guilty for a while. The senior went abroad, and her roommate’s budding romance was severed completely before it even started. Her friends couldn’t end up together, and she resented Julian for a long time over it. After waiting a while at the terminal exit, Daniel Hayes drove over. He slowly pulled up, rolled down the window. “Professor Davies, Mrs. Davies, and… Rory, get in.” Professor and Mrs. Davies were a couple, and a very loving one, so they both got into the back seat almost simultaneously. That left only the passenger seat for Rory. She stood outside for a moment, not moving. Daniel Hayes asked her, “Rory, why aren’t you getting in?” Rory thought for a moment, then asked, “Daniel, do you have a girlfriend?” This question once again shocked the other three present. Mrs. Davies covered her mouth, stifling a laugh, and ambiguously winked at Professor Davies, nodding as if to say, “There’s potential here!” Professor Davies immediately understood, a knowing smile appearing on his face. Even Daniel Hayes was stunned, somewhat confused by Rory’s meaning. Rory explained, “The passenger seat holds a lot of meaning for any girl. If you have a girlfriend, I can squeeze in the back with Professor and Mrs. Davies.” Daniel Hayes immediately waved his hand. “I don’t have a girlfriend. Please, take the seat.” Only then did Rory get into the car. After the car started, Mrs. Davies gently said to Rory, “Rory, you don’t have to be so formal. You and Daniel aren’t strangers.” Rory politely replied, “Even with familiar people, as adults, you still need to know your boundaries.” That was a vivid lesson Julian had personally taught her. She would never forget it. Mrs. Davies smiled at Professor Davies. “Look at our Rory, so polite and well-mannered. Clearly a good child.” Professor Davies nodded in agreement. “Indeed. Rory’s brother truly doted on her and raised her to be so outstanding. I’m surprised, he’s still a young man, and a man at that, to be so good at raising a child.” Mrs. Davies jokingly chided, “What do you mean ‘raising a child’? You talk as if Julian is our age! Julian is still very young, Rory. I remember your brother is five years older than you, right?” Rory hummed in affirmation. “So he’d be in his early thirties, right? Does your brother have a girlfriend now?” Professor Davies quickly pulled his wife’s arm. “You, are you addicted to matchmaking? Julian is different from Rory. Can his marriage be treated lightly?” Mrs. Davies nodded repeatedly. “You’re right. With his status and position, even if it’s not a business marriage, he’d probably marry a girl from a distinguished family, wouldn’t he?” “Exactly, and Julian has high standards. We shouldn’t meddle.” Rory, however, said, “Thank you, Mrs. Davies. He… he does have a girlfriend now.” Professor and Mrs. Davies were both surprised. “When did that happen? Why didn’t you mention it?” Rory gave a bitter smile. How could she tell them? Tell them that her decision to come abroad this time was also because of this “girlfriend”? No, Candace wasn’t a girlfriend anymore. On the day she boarded the plane, Candace had married Julian. Now she should be respectfully addressed as “Mrs. Blackwood.” “I’m grown up now. He and I both have our own lives. We don’t see each other much.” Her words carried a clear sense of distance. Mrs. Davies looked worried. “Rory, then is your decision to come abroad this time also because your brother’s girlfriend couldn’t tolerate you?” “What are you talking about?” Professor Davies quickly interjected. “Rory coming abroad is definitely for better career development.” Rory took a deep breath and nodded emphatically. “That’s right.” Rory had just arrived and hadn’t found a place to live yet, so she was temporarily staying at Professor Davies’s house. Mrs. Davies had already prepared a room for her. Rory lay on the soft, large bed, looking at the moonlight outside the window. Everything felt so strange, almost unreal. That’s right, she had decided to completely bid farewell to Julian and start a new life here. … In the newlywed home, red wedding decorations were plastered everywhere. But Candace didn’t dare say a word. Rory had disappeared. Halfway through the wedding, Julian couldn’t find Rory anywhere. He directly took people out to search for her, leaving Candace alone on the stage, surrounded by guests. Candace felt wronged. She finally waited for him to come home. She had planned to complain and cry in his arms, but Julian’s face was filled with disgust. “Stay away from me.” Candace gritted her teeth in hatred, wishing she could tear Rory limb from limb! She had done it on purpose! She had to stir up trouble at her wedding, just to ruin her and Julian’s big day! “Julian,” she cautiously leaned closer, nestling into his embrace. “You’ve been busy all day. Let’s get some rest early.” As she spoke, she unbuttoned her jacket, revealing the pink lace underneath, a silent invitation. But this action instantly enraged Julian. “I told you to stay away from me! Didn’t you hear me?!” He violently pulled his arm out of Candace’s embrace, scaring her so much that her face turned pale. “Julian, I know you’re worried, but Rory is an adult. She’ll be fine.” Bringing up Rory only intensified Julian’s cold aura. Just then, he received a phone call. Julian answered. He didn’t hear what was said on the other end, only Julian erupting in fury. “If you can’t find her, then keep looking! A living person can’t just disappear! If anything happens to Rory, you all know the consequences.” After hanging up, Julian’s face was still brewing with a storm. Coincidentally, another call came in. Julian didn’t answer immediately this time. He stared at the number on the screen for a long while. Candace noticed that his expression seemed to carry a hint of panic. Even the hand holding the phone began to tremble slightly. When he finally answered, his voice was also trembling. “Officer Miller, please… have you found her?” *Clang—* The phone dropped to the floor. Julian looked as if his soul had been sucked out, completely stunned. Fortunately, the phone was well-made; the fall had directly activated the speakerphone. Officer Miller’s voice came through the phone: “…We did find a female body in the East Lake reservoir. Based on the age and clothing, there’s a high probability it’s Miss Vance…” Candace was also stunned. Rory was dead? She committed suicide? Did she love Julian that much, to kill herself on his wedding day? But the next second, Candace thought of something else— Julian’s feelings for Rory were so deep. If Rory really died because of this, he would definitely resent her, and Rory would become his eternal ‘white moonlight’! No one could conquer, no one could replace the power of a deceased ‘white moonlight’; no one could shake that! But so what? She was dead. Julian would belong to her alone. No one would fight her for him anymore. Candace’s lips curved into a slight, triumphant smile, but she knew this wasn’t the time to smile. She forcibly pinched her thigh, the pain immediately bringing tears to her eyes. She sobbed, covering her mouth, letting the tears stream down as she said, her voice choked with sobs, “Rory! How could this happen? If you had any problems you couldn’t solve, you could have told your sister-in-law! Your sister-in-law could have helped you…” “Shut up!” Julian roared. “Who told you that person is Rory?!” Candace was so startled by his shout that she stopped crying. “Didn’t Officer Miller just say there’s a high probability it’s…” “A high probability doesn’t mean it definitely is! Rory is a strong girl; she wouldn’t take her own life.” With that, Julian stood up, about to leave. Candace bit her lip, on the verge of tears, and grabbed him. “Where are you going? Tonight is our wedding night! Are you going to leave me alone in our empty bridal chamber?” Julian turned back, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “Candace, you should be clear about your own identity.” “I…” “What kind of sister-in-law are you?” He suddenly frowned, his expression tightening with suspicion. “Does Rory’s disappearance have anything to do with you?” Candace vehemently denied it. “I’m the bride today! I’ve been in my wedding dress all day, surrounded by makeup artists and bridesmaids. I barely even spoke to Rory.” Julian, eager to leave, only left her with one sentence: “If I find out Rory’s leaving has anything to do with you, Candace, you know what your fate will be.” Candace trembled, releasing his sleeve. Julian drove through the night to the East Lake reservoir Officer Miller had mentioned. He saw the body, already covered with a white sheet. Officer Miller pointed to an evidence bag, already sealed. “This was retrieved from the water. It should be her clothes. Take a look and see if it belongs to Miss Vance.” Julian didn’t even need to identify it. He recognized it at a glance— This light blue long dress was Rory’s favorite. It was the birthday gift he had given her on her eighteenth birthday. Seven years had passed. The style of the dress was old-fashioned, and the color wasn’t as soft and rich as it once was, but it was still Rory’s favorite. “Mr. Blackwood?” Julian softly hummed. “…It’s hers.” Officer Miller nodded, offering comfort. “Mr. Blackwood, please… accept my condolences. Such a young girl, gone from this world so soon. It’s truly a pity.” Julian didn’t speak for a long time. Officer Miller thought he was overcome with grief and didn’t press him, only offering solace. “I heard Miss Vance was a very talented photographer. Artistic people can sometimes be more fragile and sensitive…” “She’s not fragile.” Officer Miller paused. “I’m sorry, I spoke out of turn.” Julian shook his head. “She’s not Rory.” “But didn’t you just identify her clothes as hers?” “All her clothes have been donated.” Julian said, and then abruptly pulled back the white sheet covering the body. Everyone around them was startled. Especially Officer Miller. “Mr. Blackwood, what are you doing?!” Julian saw the girl’s face and immediately felt all strength drain from his body. “Mr. Blackwood, what’s wrong?!” Julian closed his eyes, sighing with relief. “It’s not her. It’s good that it’s not her…” “Mr. Blackwood, your phone is ringing. Do you want to answer it?” Julian looked at his phone. It was Candace. He immediately hung up. Candace called again, and he hung up again. When the phone rang for the third time, Julian had reached his limit. “What?!” The person on the other end was startled by his rage, their voice trembling slightly. “I’m sorry to bother you, Mr. Blackwood, but you have a package. Are you available to sign for it now?” A package? Julian frowned. “My package?” “Yes, I’ve delivered it to the front gate of the villa. Are you available to sign for it now?” “I’m busy right now.” “Alright, I apologize for disturbing you. I’ll contact you tomorrow then.” “Wait,” Julian suddenly remembered something. “Who sent it to me?” “It was Miss Rory Vance.” Julian abruptly stood up and sternly ordered, “I’m coming back right now. Wait for me there!” Julian drove home at the fastest speed he had ever driven in his life. He met the courier just at the main gate of the complex. But the courier was empty-handed. “Where’s my package?” Julian grabbed him. “Didn’t you say Rory sent me a package?” The courier was startled. “Mr. Blackwood? Your wife already signed for it. I just delivered it inside to her.” “I don’t have a wife?!” “Oh? You don’t? But the lady just now said she was Mrs. Blackwood…” Julian stormed into the villa. “Candace! Where is it?!” At this moment, Candace, in the bathroom, jumped with fright. She threw the item in her hand into the toilet and frantically pressed the flush button, but the next second, the bathroom door was kicked open by Julian. He snatched the box from Candace’s hand, frantically flipping through its contents. —It was full of photos. From his teenage years, gradually growing into a mature man. He was in his school uniform, basketball jersey, suit, and casual wear. Front-facing, profile, back shots, all of them. They were all photos of him. Rory had taken them. Some he knew about, some he had no idea of, all secretly taken by Rory in unguarded moments. From the initial rawness to the masterful use of light and composition, Rory’s photography skills had basically been honed by photographing him. The earlier photos, while not as refined in technique, were taken with such love that he seemed to be bathed in a golden glow. Her love, through the lens, was so full it almost overflowed. Later, through her lens, he became a tall, mature man. Sometimes he was focused on work, sometimes he was gently eating. Every single photo was of him. Julian frantically flipped through them, tears streaming down his face, then laughing through his tears. Rory liked him. She was using these photos to tell him that she liked him, had liked him since they were children. When he got to the last photo, Julian froze. It was his wedding photo. Taken by Rory herself. He was wearing a white tuxedo, and another woman’s hand was linked through his arm. His heart suddenly gave a violent lurch, a sharp, unbearable pain. He clutched his chest with one hand, but the photos slipped from his fingers. He ignored the pain, frantically trying to grab them, when he suddenly noticed there were words on the back of the photo. It was Rory’s handwriting! He picked it up, carefully deciphering it. [Julian, perhaps from today, I should truly start calling you Brother. Brother, I wish you happiness.] Julian felt as if a huge hole had ripped open in his heart, cold wind whistling through it. He frantically flipped through the back of every single photo. [Julian, you look so handsome playing basketball!] [Julian, I’m eighteen now, an adult. I want to choose who I like. I like you, did you know?] [Julian, I secretly took another picture of you! You’re actually quite scary when you’re angry, but you never get angry at me. Does that make me special?] [Julian, we’ll be together someday, right? I’m starting to feel less certain. Can you please give me a definite answer?] [Julian, that confession letter really wasn’t written by me, but seeing you get so angry for my sake means you still care about me, doesn’t it?] [Julian, do you like me, or do you just see me as your sister?] [Julian, ……] This last one was only half there, clearly torn. On the back of the photo, only the words “Julian” remained; the rest of the writing was gone. Julian went insane, grabbing Candace’s wrist. “Where’s the other half?!” “Julian, please don’t be like this, you’re scaring me…” “I asked you, where’s the other half?! Speak!!!” Candace, malice flaring, pointed at the toilet. “I tore it into pieces and flushed it away! Ah—” Julian violently flung her away. Candace fell heavily to the ground. “Julian…” Candace trembled as she explained, “Rory actually had such an inappropriate crush on you! And she sent these photos back to you! What if these photos fell into the hands of the media, it would greatly damage your reputation! I destroyed these photos for *your* sake!” “Get out!” “No, I won’t! I’m your wife, Julian. Rory’s gone. From now on, I’ll be with you… Ah!” Candace got up from the floor, trying to embrace him. But this time, Julian showed no mercy. He violently flung her to the ground again, then pointed down at her, warning, “I don’t like hitting women. Get out yourself.” “Julian…” “GET OUT!!!” Candace knew Julian was on the verge of exploding. “Then I’ll go make you dinner in the kitchen. You must be hungry, right? I’ll go right now…” Julian warned her, word by word, “Get out of my and Rory’s home.” The security guards came and threw Candace and all her belongings out. Only then did Julian feel that the house was finally much quieter. He held the box of photos, his fingers gently tracing the handwriting. Rory had come to the Blackwood home when she was little. Even her handwriting, he had taught her, holding her small hand and guiding each stroke. Rory, where are you now? Julian held the box of photos as if it were a priceless treasure. “Rory, where are you?” Rory woke up with a start from her dream. Mrs. Davies asked her, “Why do you look so pale? Did you have a nightmare?” Rory slowly came to her senses.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298608”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

Our fifth year of marriage. That’s when Julian Sterling fell madly in love with a college student. They said she was poor, but carried herself with a cool pride, refusing Julian’s black card with a defiant, “I won’t be anyone’s kept woman.” Just those words, I later learned, completely captivated him. He was utterly obsessed. His pursuit of her became the talk of the town, an open secret whispered in every corner. He chased her relentlessly, seemingly forgetting about me, the wife he’d spent ninety-nine love letters wooing and bringing home. I didn’t cry. I didn’t make a scene. Each time he hurt me for her sake, I simply burned a love letter. Ninety-nine letters. When the last one was gone, so would I be. The first letter vanished into flames on our wedding anniversary. He stood me up, choosing instead to spend the entire day at a coffee shop where she worked, just waiting for her shift to end. The thirty-sixth letter burned when he left me on a deserted highway, shivering with a 104-degree fever in a torrential downpour. He was rushing to comfort her, because she was scared of thunder. The seventy-second letter was ashes the day he took down our wedding photo from the living room, replacing it with a childish doodle she’d scribbled. All to make her smile. … The ninety-fifth letter burned during an auction. Julian was supposed to be there with me, to bid on my mother Eleanor’s cherished sapphire necklace – her last possession. But the moment the auction started, he spotted the college student, Willow Reed, working there as a caterer. She glanced at the necklace twice, and that was all it took. Julian didn’t just bid; he lit the sky with his offer, throwing out an astronomical sum, far beyond its worth, then presented it to her in front of everyone. “You liked it, so I bought it for you,” he said, his voice deep and tender. “Do you like it?” Wearing her server’s uniform, she pushed his hand away with righteous indignation. “Mr. Sterling, I’ve told you, I’m not interested in the elite, nor do I want to be your kept woman. Whatever you give me is useless. Please take the necklace back and don’t interrupt my work.” With that, she turned and walked away with an empty glass. Julian didn’t get angry. Instead, he let out a low chuckle, then abandoned everyone and chased after her. A sharp pang shot through my heart. I stood stunned for a couple of seconds before rushing out after them. On the windy yacht deck, Julian was still trying to talk to her. When she truly wouldn’t accept the necklace, he casually tossed it… The priceless sapphire necklace was thrown into the ocean with a flick of his wrist. “Since you don’t like it, I’ll find another,” he said, his voice ridiculously soft. “I’ll keep choosing until you’re satisfied.” Then, without a backward glance, he followed her away, completely oblivious… I had climbed over the railing and jumped, without hesitation, into the dark, freezing water. The moment the seawater flooded my nostrils, I suddenly remembered his proposal five years ago, on a similar yacht. He’d said, “Sera, from now on, even if you want the stars from the sky, I’ll pluck them for you.” Now, he could casually toss my mother’s last possession into the sea. It took me an entire night to crawl out of the icy water. The necklace was clutched in my hand, gleaming from the seawater, but my fingers were stiff with cold. On the way home, scrolling through my Ins feed, I saw his friends all posting the same thing… “Julian Sterling has really fallen for her this time, chasing a server and making such a fuss.” “He didn’t even make this much of a spectacle when he pursued his wife back then, did he?” My fingers paused, my heart squeezed tight by an invisible string. Yes, that was true. Back then, he wrote ninety-nine love letters and proposed ninety-nine times before I finally said yes. We’d been together since high school, from our uniforms to my wedding dress, and after we married, our life together had once been as sweet as honey, perfectly harmonious. Everyone said Julian was madly in love with me. Until our fifth year of marriage. He was in the hospital, getting an IV, when he encountered a clumsy intern. She fumbled the IV several times, leaving his hand bruised and swollen. He didn’t get angry; instead, he watched her panicked expression and smiled. Later, he showered her with money, cars, and even a house, wanting her to be his kept woman. But she, with a righteous face, refused: “Mr. Sterling, I’m not interested in the elite. Please respect yourself.” She even came to me and said, “Please control your husband, don’t let him harass me anymore.” With anyone else, Julian would have erupted. But for her, he not only wasn’t angry, but he chased her even more fiercely. When I confronted him, he casually said: “She’s interesting. I’m just playing around. When I’m tired of it, I’ll come back.” “Sera, I love you very much, but it’s too hard to love just one person your entire life. You need to allow me a little leeway, a moment to… wander.” Agony ripped through me, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave him. So, I found those ninety-nine love letters, deciding to give him ninety-nine chances… Each time he hurt me, I would burn one. The day the letters were all gone would be the day I truly let him go. Now, I lit the lighter and watched the ninety-fifth letter burn. As the flame consumed the paper, I thought, he only has four chances left. When the car arrived at the mansion, I walked through the door and saw Julian standing on the stairs, looking down at me. “You’re back? I need to talk to you.” I nodded, as I had countless times before, stepping onto the stairs without any guard. Who would have thought, as I reached him, he would suddenly extend his hand and shove me violently! “Ah…!” I tumbled down the stairs, my head hitting the steps with a sickening thud. Warm blood trickled from my temple, blurring my vision. I trembled with pain, looking at Julian in disbelief. He slowly walked down, crouched in front of me, and wiped the blood from my face. “Sera, just bear with it.” “Willow’s been looking for a nursing job recently… only if you’re injured will I have a reason to have her move in.” I never imagined Julian would go this far for Willow Reed. To pursue her, he wouldn’t hesitate to hurt his own wife. In the throbbing pain, I tried to speak, but my vision went black, and I passed out. When I next woke, a sharp pain pierced the back of my head. I struggled to open my eyes, seeing an unfamiliar ceiling, momentarily disoriented. “Mrs. Sterling, you’re awake.” A cool voice drifted over. I turned my head and saw Willow Reed standing by the bed, a medical kit in her hand. She wore a simple white T-shirt and jeans, her hair in a high ponytail, her face free of makeup, exuding a youthful freshness. “I’m your nurse, Willow Reed.” Her expression was calm, but her tone held a hint of aloofness. “Though I’ve moved in, please control Mr. Sterling. If he crosses the line again, I’ll leave immediately.” A sharp pain shot through my chest. How ironic. This young woman had moved into my home, yet she expected me, the mistress of the house, to “control my own husband.” “I want a different nurse,” I said, my voice hoarse. Willow seemed not to hear, calmly taking out a syringe. “Now I’ll give you an anti-inflammatory shot.” The first needle went in, missing the vein. The second went astray, and a small lump immediately swelled on my hand. The third time, she directly drew blood. “If you can’t do it, let someone else,” I said, my voice trembling from the pain. At that, Willow’s eyes instantly welled up. She said stubbornly, “What do you mean? Do you think I’d be here if my grandmother wasn’t seriously ill?” She reached for my hand again, and this time the needle sharply broke the skin, blood trickling down my fair wrist. I couldn’t take the pain anymore and shoved her away. “Enough! Don’t touch me!” Willow stumbled backward, knocking over the medicine tray, and glass bottles shattered on the floor. Just then, the door burst open, and Julian strode in. “What’s going on?” His gaze flitted between us, finally settling on Willow, who was sitting on the floor. His face changed instantly. “Since you don’t welcome me, I’ll leave!” Willow, her eyes red, scrambled up as if to rush out. Julian grabbed her arm. “Who said that?!” Willow struggled, shaking off his hand. “Your wife! I was kindly giving her a shot, and she pushed me! I’m just not skilled yet, wasn’t that clear from the start?” Julian immediately looked at my swollen hand. A flicker of pain clearly crossed his eyes, but it turned to compromise when he looked back at Willow. “What do you need to stay?” he asked, his voice soft and pleading. Willow lifted her chin. “I hate how superior you rich people act. I want her to apologize to me.” “Sera,” Julian turned to me, his tone brooking no argument. “Apologize.” I looked at him in disbelief. “She messed me up like this, and I have to apologize?” Julian’s eyes darkened. “If you don’t want to, think about your parents’ company.” A chill ran through me. “You’re threatening me… for her?!” “Sera, it’s just an apology,” Julian said, frowning in irritation. “It won’t kill you. Do you really want to watch your parents’ company go bankrupt?” In that moment, I felt as if a thousand arrows had pierced my heart. I bit my lower lip until I tasted blood. Seeing Julian’s expression grow colder, realizing he was serious, I had to struggle out of bed. Swallowing my humiliation, I bowed deeply to Willow. “I’m sorry.” Willow frowned. “Do you rich people apologize so quietly?” My nails dug into my palms. I bowed again, raising my voice. “I’M SORRY! Are you satisfied now?” Only when Willow reluctantly nodded did Julian’s expression soften. He carefully comforted her, leading her away to tend to her (non-existent) wounds. The moment the door closed, I couldn’t support myself anymore. I sank to the floor, weeping silently. I reached under my pillow and pulled out a yellowed love letter, trembling as I lit it. As the flame consumed the ninety-sixth letter, I remembered Julian at sixteen, writing this letter. Under the cherry blossom trees on our university campus, the young boy, his ears red, handed me the letter and said, “Sera, please be with me. I’ll be good to you my whole life.” Just as the flame was about to die out, the door suddenly opened. “What are you burning?” I clutched the remaining fragments of the letter in my hand, the lingering heat from the flames scorching my palm. “Nothing. Just burning some useless things.” Julian frowned at the remnants, finding them vaguely familiar, but before he could think deeper, Willow’s voice called from the doorway. “Mr. Sterling, are you going to the party or not? If you don’t leave now, I’m not going!” I looked up. “What party?” “I want to introduce her to my circle.” He paused. “But she said she’s your nurse, so she’ll only go if you go.” “Sera, please come with me.” My chest felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer. I gave a bitter laugh. “Julian Sterling, what exactly am I to you?” He seemed to flinch, then after a long moment, he said, “Sera, I’ve already explained. Before this, I’d never met a woman so difficult to conquer, so she interests me greatly. You don’t need to be jealous of her. Once I’ve won her over and grown tired, I’ll come back and we’ll live our lives properly.” I slowly closed my eyes. The part of my heart that used to feel pain seemed numb now. In the end, Julian dragged me to the party. In the car, Willow suddenly pulled out a few white pills from her bag. “Mrs. Sterling, these are anti-inflammatory pills. They’ll help you heal faster.” I stared at the pills, not reaching for them. “Are you sure these are anti-inflammatory pills?” Willow’s face changed. “If you don’t trust me, then I have nothing more to say.” “Sera,” Julian frowned, immediately protective of her. “Take the pills.” Under his cold gaze, a wave of exhaustion washed over me. I closed my eyes, then finally took the pills and swallowed them with water. Inside the club’s private room, Julian’s friends had been waiting for a long time. As we entered, they immediately started to cheer: “Julian Sterling finally brought Ms. Reed out!” “Is this the Ms. Reed who has Julian so captivated? She’s definitely special!” I sat in a corner, watching these people who had once cheered for Julian and me. My heart ached. “Ms. Reed, Julian truly loves you,” one of the socialites said, smiling. “Just ask, and he’ll pluck the stars from the sky for you!” Willow didn’t believe them. “Really?” She was half-sincere, half-doubting, so they egged her on to try. “Then… give him the most expensive car in your garage?” she said, pointing to one of his friends. Without a word, Julian threw the keys over, smiling. Everyone cheered. She tried a few more times, asking for watches and houses, and he indulged her every time. The atmosphere in the room reached a fever pitch: “See? Julian is serious about you. I think you should just give in and agree to be his kept woman!” Willow’s expression was stubborn. “No way! I will never be a kept woman! If you keep saying that, I’ll leave!” Afraid she would actually leave, everyone quickly changed the subject and started a game. In every round, they deliberately made Willow lose. The dares were either to sit on Julian’s lap or interlace fingers with him. The tenth time Willow lost, the dare was to kiss the person on her left for three minutes. Cheers erupted in the room. Julian was sitting directly to Willow’s left. Her expression froze instantly. She stood up abruptly. “Are you doing this on purpose? If you keep this up, I’m not playing.” “It’s just a game, don’t be so serious.” “Exactly! How could we cheat? Julian has billions, is he really that childish?” I gripped my wine glass tightly, watching the smirk on Julian’s face. How could he not be? To create opportunities for intimate contact with Willow, this man, worth billions, was stooping to such childish tricks with his friends. The last time I saw him like this was when he was pursuing me. My heart felt like it was being slowly carved with a dull knife, bleeding me dry. What made it worse was that my breathing was becoming increasingly difficult. I clutched my chest, struggling to breathe, and only then noticed the terrifying red rash that had inexplicably broken out on my arms. This was clearly an allergic reaction. But I was always so careful about what I ate. As I gasped for air, a hazy memory of the allergy pills Willow had given me flashed through my mind. Amidst the cheers, Willow quickly kissed Julian’s cheek. He was clearly not satisfied. He suddenly cupped the back of her head. “What kind of kiss is that? Let me show you what a real kiss is.” The next second, I watched in horror as their lips and tongues intertwined, his fingers tangling in her hair. He didn’t notice that the rash had spread to my neck, and my breathing was becoming more and more labored. “Julian…” I struggled to grab his arm. “Take me to the hospital… I’m having an allergic reaction…” “Stop it.” He pushed me away without looking, his other hand still gripping the back of Willow’s neck. “Please…” I tried to pull at his sleeve again, my voice already a raw whisper. This time, he simply shook me off, pressing Willow onto the sofa and deepening the kiss. The kiss grew more forceful, more addictive, more entwined. As he was engrossed in this game, my vision blurred. I stumbled and fell against a champagne tower. Amidst the sound of shattering glass, I finally heard Willow’s scream: “She’s fainted!” When I woke again, I found myself in a hospital bed. Willow’s sobs drifted from outside the door: “What do I do… I didn’t mean to mistake the anti-inflammatory pills for sleeping pills…” “If something serious happened, this would be a major medical malpractice…” Then came Julian’s gentle voice, soothing her: “Don’t be scared. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.” “Even if they pursue it, I can sign a letter of understanding as her family member.” I bit my lip hard until I tasted blood. After what felt like an eternity, the hospital room door opened, and Julian walked in. “What happened to me?” I asked, trembling. “Why did I faint?” “Low blood sugar.” Hearing those three words from his own lips, I heard my heart shatter into a thousand pieces. I remembered when we first got married, a socialite at a party deliberately forced me to drink. The next day, Julian crashed her company’s stock. When that person knelt before me, apologizing, he had wrapped his arm around my waist and said, “Sera, with me here, no one can lay a finger on you.” Now, I was almost dying because of Willow’s mistake, and he was still protecting the culprit! Julian Sterling, how could you hurt me so deeply? I trembled with pain, but Julian didn’t notice my distress. Seeing that I was alright, he eagerly stood up. “Willow has been worried sick all night because of you. I’ll take her back first, then come back to be with you later.” But in the following days, I never saw him. I only saw on Ins that Julian had taken Willow to the beach, to concerts, to all the places we had promised to go to but never did. On the day I was discharged, Julian finally appeared. He stood by the car, holding a bouquet of chrysanthemums. When he saw me, he handed me the flowers: “The company has been busy lately, so I couldn’t be with you. Today is your mother’s death anniversary; I’ll go with you.” I silently took the flowers, only then noticing Willow was also in the car. Ignoring her, I got into the back seat, watching the scenery fly by outside the window, remembering my mother’s last words: “Sera, all Mom wants is for you to find someone who truly loves you.” I touched the three remaining love letters in my bag, thinking bitterly: Mom, I think I chose the wrong person. At the cemetery, before I could even pay my respects, I heard dreadful news. “We’re so sorry, Ms. Caldwell, but due to frequent rain and severe landslides recently, all the graves in this area need to be relocated…” I clutched my bag, my knuckles white. My mother loved peace and quiet in life, and now, even in death, she couldn’t rest. Julian appeared behind me at some point. He took the documents handed by the staff and signed his name with a flourish. “Sera, you go and retrieve the ashes first. I’ll handle the relocation procedures.” I nodded and turned to walk up the hill. The rain had dampened the steps. I dragged my weak body, each step feeling like I was treading on knife points. At my mother’s tombstone, the staff had already dug up the grave. I knelt on the muddy ground and personally lifted my mother’s urn. It was a simple sandalwood box, engraved with her name… Eleanor. “Aunt Eleanor must have been very beautiful,” Willow suddenly spoke, reaching out to help. “Mrs. Sterling, let me help you carry it.” “No need.” I shifted, avoiding her, carefully carrying the urn down the hill. But just then, Willow suddenly shrieked, “Ah! A bug!” In her panic, she abruptly bumped into me. Caught off guard, I tumbled down the steps. I clung desperately to the urn, my back hitting the stone steps hard, the pain making my vision black. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to!” Willow scrambled down. “Let me pick it up for you!” She reached for the urn. Before I could stop her, Willow’s foot slipped… *Crash!* The urn hit the ground hard, shattering into pieces. The grayish-white ashes spilled everywhere, quickly soaking into the rain-drenched earth. “I’m so sorry! I—I’ll clean it up right away!” Willow fumbled, trying to scoop up the ashes, but only made a bigger mess. Washed by the rain, my mother’s ashes slowly dissolved into the mud. I trembled all over, unable to hold back any longer. I slapped her. “Enough! You did that on purpose, didn’t you?!” Willow covered her face, tears instantly streaming down. “I didn’t! I just wanted to help. I might be clumsy, but I had good intentions. How dare you hit me? I might not have money, but you can’t humiliate me like this!” “You just lost your mother’s ashes, but I lost my dignity!” Despair surged to my head. I raised my hand again, but it was caught by a strong grip. Julian appeared from nowhere, grabbing my wrist. “Sera Caldwell! What are you doing?!” Willow finally broke down, crying dramatically, “I was just kindly helping her carry the urn… and I accidentally spilled it… and she hit me…” “If you all can’t stand me, then I’ll just leave.” She took a step, but Julian pulled her into his arms. “Don’t leave. I’ll get justice for you.” Then, he coldly looked at me. “Apologize!” Rain streamed down my face, mixing with my tears. I watched Julian tenderly wipe away Willow’s tears with one hand, while with the other, he angrily told me to apologize. My heart felt as if a piece had been ripped out of me. I stared at him, my lips trembling. “Julian Sterling, did you hear me clearly? She shattered my mother’s ashes!” “That’s still no reason for you to lay a hand on her!” Julian’s voice was colder than the icy rain. He grabbed Willow’s wrist. “Don’t be afraid. Since she refuses to apologize, and she hit you, then you hit her back.” My pupils constricted. Before I could react, I saw Julian’s strong, well-defined fingers enclose Willow’s hand, bringing it down with the force of thunder. *Smack!* That slap was ten times harder than the one I’d given her! I stumbled backward, the entire world spinning. My lower back hit the hard tombstone, and my knees crashed onto the stone steps, a sharp pain exploding through every fiber of my being. But none of that compared to the pain in my heart, a tearing, suffocating anguish that split me in two. Julian didn’t even glance at me. He just bowed his head and used his thumb to wipe the rain from Willow’s face. “Do you feel better now?” Only when he heard her tearful “Yes,” did he let out a sigh of relief, wrapping his suit jacket around Willow and lifting her into his arms. As he turned, his leather shoes crushed the scattered ashes on the ground, leaving a trail of glaring footprints. I sat in the rain, my entire body trembling from the pain. I reached out a shaking hand, wanting to gather those grayish-white specks, but the rain washed them away too quickly, just like my years of feelings for Julian, impossible to hold onto. “Mom, I was wrong…” My voice choked. “I married the wrong man. I shouldn’t have married him…” After collecting the remaining ashes, I pulled out the ninety-seventh love letter from my bag and lit it with a trembling hand. As the flame consumed the paper, I remembered Julian’s promise to my sick mother that year: “Don’t worry, I will protect Sera with my life, and never let anyone bully her.” Julian Sterling, so this is how you protect me? By helping another woman hit me? I regretted it. Falling in love with you, I regretted it so deeply. I suffered a high fever all night. I dreamt I was submerged in icy water, my mother’s ashes swirling around me like snowflakes. I tried to grasp the grayish-white powder, but it slipped through my fingers. “Sera… Sera…” Someone was calling my name. I struggled to open my eyes, only to find myself not in bed, but in a speeding car. The scenery outside the window flew past. Julian gripped the steering wheel, his face terrifyingly grim. “Julian…” My throat was so dry. “Where are you taking me?” Julian didn’t look at me, only said coldly, “Willow has been kidnapped.” I froze, my muddled brain slowly clearing. “So?” “They specifically asked for you.” Julian finally turned to glance at me. “It’s Darian Thorne.” Darian Thorne. That name pierced my heart like a knife. The madman who had once relentlessly pursued me, and whom Julian had eventually driven out of town. “You… you’re going to use me to exchange for Willow Reed?” My voice trembled. Julian’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Darian used to like you. He won’t do anything to you.” I felt as if I’d fallen into an ice cave. I struggled to open the car door, only to find my hands were tied beneath the seatbelt. “Julian Sterling!” I screamed. “Are you insane?! You know what kind of person Darian is!” “Sera, calm down.” Julian’s voice was terrifyingly calm. “Once I drop Willow off, I’ll come back for you immediately.” The car stopped in front of a deserted warehouse. “I’ve brought the person,” Julian said, pushing me forward. “Where’s Willow?” Darian snapped his fingers, and two of his men brought Willow out. Her hair was disheveled, tears stained her face. Her eyes lit up when she saw Julian. “Mr. Sterling!” Julian immediately let go of me, striding forward to pull Willow into his arms. “It’s alright, don’t be scared, I’m here.” I stood rooted to the spot, a chill running through my body. I watched Julian check Willow for injuries, watched him gently wipe away her tears, watched him not spare me a single glance. “JULIAN STERLING!!!” I couldn’t hold back any longer and shrieked. Only then did Julian turn back, repeating, “Don’t worry, I’ll be back for you soon.” With that, he wrapped his arm around Willow and turned to leave, his back resolute. I tried to follow, but Darian grabbed my wrist. “Long time no see, Ms. Caldwell.” His breath on my ear made me shiver. Darian shoved me into a car and drove straight to a hotel. The moment the door closed, he threw me onto the bed. “Julian Sterling really doesn’t care,” he said, tearing off his tie. “To personally deliver a stunner like you to me.” I struggled desperately, but he easily overpowered me. He pinned me down, his fingers tracing my cheek. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted you?” “Let go of me…” My voice trembled. “Don’t touch me…” Seeing me trembling with fear, Darian suddenly smiled, his fingers caressing my face. “How about this? I’ll give you a chance. Call Julian. If he answers, I’ll let you go.” I trembled as I dialed Julian’s number. But, Once, twice, three times… Over a hundred calls, all went unanswered! “See, Sera Caldwell, to him, you’re worthless now.” “Come with me, and I’ll make you happy.” Darian leered, pressing down, tearing at my dress. Just as he was about to force himself on me, I finally snapped awake, grabbed the vase from the bedside table, and smashed it over Darian’s head. He grunted and collapsed. I seized the opportunity to escape. The night rain poured. I stumbled, soaked to the bone, with Darian’s bruises still on me, running home. The moment I pushed open the door, I saw Willow sobbing in Julian’s arms. “You really don’t care about your wife’s life, all for me?” Julian wiped her tears. “Yes, in my heart, you’re the most important.” Willow cried even harder. He helplessly cupped her face. “My little princess, didn’t I save you? Why are you still so scared?” “Anyone would be scared after being kidnapped…” Julian curved his lips. “I have a way to make you stop being scared.” “I don’t believe it…” “Want me to try?” he smiled. With that, Julian lowered his head and kissed Willow, pressing her onto the sofa. I watched this scene unfold, my chest aching as if it had been ripped open. I turned and walked away, the rain instantly drenching me again. I didn’t know how long I ran until I stood before our familiar old family house. This was where Julian and I grew up together. Our families were old friends, we were childhood sweethearts, living in adjacent mansions. Rain dripped from my hair. I walked to the old oak tree in the backyard. I remembered, when I was eighteen, Julian and I buried a time capsule here, promising to dig it up together ten years later. “Sera, in ten years, we’ll definitely be married,” young Julian had smiled brightly, placing a letter in the metal box. “I wrote a letter to my future self, telling him to love you forever.” I knelt on the muddy ground, digging up the soil by the tree roots with my bare hands. My nails broke, my fingertips bled, but I felt no pain. The metal box was rusted, but the letter inside was perfectly preserved. I trembled as I unfolded the letter, young Julian’s neat handwriting jumping off the page: *Julian Sterling, twenty-eight years old:* *If you dare not to love Sera, my eighteen-year-old self will never forgive you.* *Remember, she is your life.* Rain fell on the letter, blurring the ink. I pressed the letter to my chest, crying uncontrollably. How I missed that boy who would blush while writing me love letters, that Julian who swore to protect me forever. “He broke his promise… He broke his promise…” I cried out to the empty air, as if eighteen-year-old Julian could hear me. I sat under the tree for a long time, until the rain stopped. Then I took out the ninety-eighth love letter from my bag and lit it. “Sera!” Julian’s voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned around and saw him get out of his car, pulling me into a hug, his voice carrying a rare hint of panic: “Why didn’t you say anything after escaping Darian? And why didn’t you come home? Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?” I leaned into his embrace, smelling Willow’s perfume still clinging to him. I said softly, “Do you still care if I live or die?” “How could I not care about you?” Julian tightened his arms. “I took Willow home and came straight to find you.” I wanted to laugh, but couldn’t. I held up the damp letter. “Do you remember this? The time capsule we buried when we were eighteen.” Julian frowned. “What time capsule? Did we bury something like that?” He looked at the sky. “Alright, let’s go home. The wind’s strong, you’ll get sick, and then Willow will have to take care of you.” In that moment, I smiled. And as I smiled, tears streamed down my face. The thing I cherished so deeply, He had forgotten. Sera, do you hear? He forgot a long time ago! In the following days, I recovered at home, watching Willow’s attitude towards Julian gradually soften. The jewelry and bags he sent, she began to accept with pleasure; When he came home late, she would wait in the living room; Sometimes, I even saw Willow secretly holding Julian’s hand. A week later, the three of us attended a business reception. Julian had to go socialize. Before he left, he instructed me, “Take care of Willow.” The socialites around us whispered. “Did you see that? He’s making his wife take care of his kept woman. Julian spoils her beyond belief.” “Not just that, the mistress is dressed more expensively than the wife. He must truly adore her.” “But I heard Mr. Sterling used to love Mrs. Sterling so much? How did it come to this?” “He loved her before, but now he’s met someone he loves more. True love, it changes in an instant.” I listened to all of this silently. Until Willow, apparently bored, impatiently said to me, “I’ll just look around by myself, Mrs. Sterling. You don’t need to follow me. I won’t cause trouble.” With that, before I could respond, she disappeared into the crowd with her champagne. But less than ten minutes later, I heard a familiar scream from nearby. I rushed over and saw a rich brat gripping Willow’s wrist. “You little bitch, stop playing innocent. There isn’t a woman in this entire city I can’t touch!” “Bastard, don’t touch me!” Willow struggled, her eyes red. “I’m poor, yes, but I have dignity. I won’t let you humiliate me like this!” I was about to step forward when I saw Willow pull a small, delicate knife from her clutch bag. A flash of cold light, and blood immediately appeared on the brat’s face. The brat raged, raising his hand to hit her. But just then, a dark figure rushed in. Julian’s fist landed heavily on the man’s face. I stood rooted, watching him, like a furious lion, punch again and again until the man’s face was covered in blood. “Mr. Sterling…” the brat begged, his face bloody. “Our two companies still have a partnership!” “Not anymore,” Julian announced coldly, looking at everyone. “Remember, from now on, anyone who dares to touch Willow Reed is an enemy of my entire Sterling Group!” “And he… is their consequence!” In the dead silence, Julian ordered the half-dead playboy to be dragged away. As he turned, I instinctively took half a step back. “Sera Caldwell!” The violence hadn’t faded from his eyes. “Is this how you take care of Willow?” I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. The light from the crystal chandelier was too harsh, making my eyes ache. I watched him carefully shield Willow in his arms and walk away. I suddenly remembered that on our wedding day, someone accidentally spilled red wine on my dress, and he had reacted just as furiously. Back then, he had said, “No one gets to bully my wife.” Now he said, “No one gets to bully my Willow.” They were right. True love, indeed, changes in an instant. After the reception, the three of us returned home together. A sudden, jarring phone ring broke the silence. “What?! Okay, I’ll be right there!” Willow hung up the phone, instantly bursting into tears. “Mr. Sterling, can you take me to the hospital first… My grandma… Grandma is critically ill…” Without a word, Julian sharply turned the steering wheel, making a U-turn. Amidst the screeching of tires, my forehead hit the car window hard, but he didn’t spare me a glance, only comforting Willow, who was sobbing hysterically in the passenger seat. “Don’t be scared,” he said, gripping the steering wheel with one hand and Willow’s trembling fingers with the other. “I’m here.” When we arrived at the hospital corridor, the doctor had just come out of the operating room. “The elderly lady’s liver is failing. A transplant might give her some time, but I personally don’t recommend it. She’s very old, and a liver source is hard to find right now.” “Do it! We must do the surgery!” Willow suddenly grabbed the doctor’s white coat, her nails almost digging into the fabric. “Whatever the cost!” Julian had already pulled out his phone. “I’ll have someone find a liver source immediately.” His back, as he made the call, was as straight as a pine tree, just like when my father had a sudden heart attack years ago, and he had swiftly called in the best specialists in the city. Only now, that decisiveness was for someone else. The assistant’s call came back quickly. I stood nearby, clearly seeing Julian’s brow furrow. “Who is it?” The voice on the other end stammered, then the assistant’s voice came through clearly: “It’s… Mrs. Sterling. A perfect match.” Willow’s head snapped towards me, tears still on her face, but she lunged forward, grabbing my hand. “Mrs. Sterling, please…” Her fingers were icy cold, slick with clammy sweat. I instinctively tried to pull my hand away, but Julian pressed it down. “Sera, just donate a part,” his voice was soft, coaxing gently. “You won’t die.” I looked up at him, a terrible coldness enveloping me. I had accepted the fact that in his heart now, I was less than Willow. But now, I couldn’t even compare to Willow’s grandmother, could I? “I refuse.” I sharply pulled my hand free. “I am not a living organ bank.” With that, I turned to leave. But the next second, a sharp pain shot through the back of my neck. Julian’s hand chop was swift and brutal. I collapsed before I could even react. My last conscious thought was of him carrying me horizontally, telling the doctor, “Prepare the operating room!” When I woke again, a soul-wrenching pain radiated from my abdomen. I trembled as I lifted my hospital gown, seeing blood seeping from the bandaged wound. “You just had a liver transplant. Don’t move around.” The nurse gently restrained my attempt to sit up. I bit my lip hard until I tasted blood. He actually… For Willow’s grandmother, he had forcibly transplanted my liver! The wound beneath my hospital gown throbbed, like someone was twisting a dull knife inside my organs. But how could this pain compare to a thousandth of the pain in my heart? I traced the jagged scar on my abdomen with trembling fingers. How laughable, the deepest scar on my body was left by the man I loved most. For the next few days, I lay in bed like a puppet, listening to the cheerful laughter coming from the room next door. “The old lady is so fortunate, to have such a filial granddaughter and grandson-in-law!” “Mr. Sterling is truly a man of loyalty and righteousness, always busy caring for his wife’s grandmother…” Wife? I wanted to laugh, but I didn’t even have the strength to twitch the corner of my mouth. I spent an entire half-month in the hospital. Every day, I heard Julian’s solicitous voice in the corridor, inquiring about Willow and her grandmother, but he never once stepped into my room. On the day I was discharged, I was packing my things to leave when I accidentally overheard Willow, her voice tearful, questioning Julian in the hallway. “Mr. Sterling, why do you keep doing so much for me even though I keep refusing you? Even… even transplanting your wife’s liver to save my grandmother?” I stood rooted, listening to Julian’s deep voice: “I’ve told you many times, because I like you, and I want to be with you. My darling, do you need me to dig out my entire heart before you’ll believe me?” After what felt like an eternity, Willow seemed to finally make up her mind. “I… I can agree to be with you, but I have a condition.” Julian’s heart surged with joy. He eagerly pulled her into his arms. “Tell me,” his voice was hoarse with emotion. “Whatever you say, I’ll agree to it.” “I won’t be a kept woman.” Willow said, word by word. “I want to be with you openly and honestly… on the condition that you divorce.” A deathly silence. I counted my heartbeats, one, two… On the seventeenth beat, I finally heard Julian’s voice: “Okay.” Just that one word, a light, airy word. I slid down the wall to the floor. The wound on my abdomen burned, but compared to the pain of my heart being savagely carved out, it was nothing. Back home, I burned the very last love letter. As the flame consumed the paper, I remembered Julian when he sent that letter. The spirited young man stood below my apartment, snowflakes clinging to his eyelashes, saying, “Sera, this is the ninety-ninth love letter. Please be with me. I’ll love you for my whole life.” Now, ninety-nine love letters had turned to ash. His “whole life” was only ten years. The letters were all burned. It was time for me to leave. I opened my suitcase, folding clothes one by one. When I was tidying up the study, Julian’s computer screen was still on. His SnapChat was open, with messages popping up: [Bro, heard Willow said yes, but wants you to divorce? You seriously considering divorcing Sera?] [Bro, you really need to think this through. Willow is just a kept woman, but Sera has been your childhood sweetheart for how many years?] [And if you really divorce, how heartbroken would Sera be? She’s not easy to coax!] [@Julian Sterling, Bro, what are you thinking? Say something!] I stood there, silently watching the messages scroll by, and then, I finally saw Julian’s reply: [I want both.] [But right now, I want Willow more.] The group chat went silent for a few seconds, then erupted. [Holy crap, did I read that right? What kind of charm does Willow Reed have that she’s got you actually considering divorce?] [You better think carefully. Sera has a stubborn temper. If you suggest divorce, you guys are probably done for.] [No, I have an idea, Bro. Draft a divorce agreement, and trick Sera into thinking it’s a property transfer. She trusts you so much, she won’t even look at it and just sign.] [As long as you keep her in the dark, she won’t make a fuss or leave. Whenever you get tired of Willow, you can just revoke the divorce agreement.] The group chat was filled with approvals for this “brilliant plan.” [Wow, that’s genius! That way, Bro can have his cake and eat it too.] And Julian replied with three words: [Good idea.] I slowly closed the laptop, my fingertips icy. So, in his eyes, I didn’t even deserve to know the truth. The next morning, as I finished breakfast, Julian returned. He was impeccably dressed in a suit, holding a document, just as I expected. “Sera, sign this.” His tone was as casual as if discussing the weather. “I’m transferring the villa in the east district to you.” I quietly looked at this man who had once shielded me from drinks, fought for me, and knelt in the snow to propose to me. This was the man I had loved for over a decade. “Okay,” I said, feigning ignorance, taking the pen without a glance and signing my name on the “property agreement.” Julian visibly relaxed. “I’ll be taking Willow on a trip for a while, so I won’t be back.” As he turned to leave, I quietly said, “Julian Sterling.” “Hmm?” He turned back. “Nothing. Have a good trip.” After he left, I took the agreement straight to the courthouse. The clerk confirmed repeatedly, “Ms. Caldwell, are you sure you want to proceed with the divorce? Once it’s done, it cannot be revoked.” “Absolutely sure.” The moment the seal stamped down, my heart felt strangely calm. So this is what it feels like to truly give up: no pain, no itch, like having a dead tooth extracted. The airport lobby was bustling with people. I clutched my one-way ticket, taking one last look at my phone. On SnapChat, Julian’s friend had posted a photo of him and Willow at the airport. The caption: [Congrats to Julian Sterling for finally winning his beauty!] I turned off my phone, threw away my SIM card, and strode towards the boarding gate. Congratulations to me too. For finding my freedom, for a new beginning. News of Sterling Group’s CEO, Julian Sterling, and his kept woman traveling together frequently topped the Ins trending list. People often spotted them in various places, turning into amateur gossip reporters, snapping photos of their affectionate moments and uploading them online, sparking widespread discussions.

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I, Eleanor, made a decision Julian would never approve of. Behind his back, I sent Seraphina, the young woman he had taken in, to a top music academy abroad. Julian Sterling, a man always described as aloof and unapproachable, a picture of cool indifference, instantly snapped. He was convinced I had deliberately gotten rid of his “little rose.” In a fit of rage, he threw our five-year-old son, Leo, onto a cruise ship headed for the Arctic, demanding I bring Sera back. I watched, paralyzed, as Leo cried uncontrollably on the ship. The vessel was already moving into international waters. Then, Julian’s assistant lifted Leo, his small body dangling precariously over the side. Julian’s voice, dark and chilling, cut through the wind. “My love, you have five minutes to decide. Otherwise, our son will sink into the deep sea!” The first minute, my mind flashed back to my five years of silent adoration for Julian. I had quietly become his secret partner. He came from a prestigious pharmaceutical family, while I was from a humble background with an ordinary face. I chose to stay in the shadows, asking for no title. The second minute, his family pushed for an arranged marriage between Julian and an heiress after his graduation. Instead, he pulled me straight to the registry office and married me. The third minute, I was pregnant, but his family still refused to acknowledge me. Julian took me away from his family, cut ties, and we had Leo. The fourth minute, Julian adopted his friend’s niece. The night of her 20th birthday, I saw the raw, protective, and deeply hidden love in Julian’s eyes when he looked at her. The fifth minute, my thoughts spiraled to Julian and his “niece,” Seraphina, entangled on a bed, their bodies intertwined in a desperate embrace… Julian let go of something. The intricate silver bracelet he’d worn for nearly twenty years, the one he never let anyone touch, was gone. It was now casually clasped around Sera’s right ankle. Julian’s eyes were utterly cold, devoid of any warmth. “Eleanor, I’m asking you one last time. Where is Seraphina?” A sharp pain seared my throat, amplified by Leo’s incessant cries in my ear. “Mommy, save me…” The sea wind whipped at my face, stinging me raw. “My love, do you want our son to die?” A suffocating pain gripped my chest, making it hard to breathe. I lifted my tear-filled eyes to Julian. “Julian, Leo is your biological son! How could you threaten me with his life?” His thin lips parted to utter, “But Seraphina is my life too!” Tears streamed down my face. So, Seraphina was his life now. What about me? What about our son? “Eleanor, as long as Seraphina comes back, you’re still my wife.” I swallowed back my emotions, fighting for control. “Julian, I don’t believe you’d actually take our son’s life for Seraphina, especially since I haven’t harmed her.” Julian’s voice turned arctic. “Counting down from five. If you don’t tell me where she is, our son, Leo, will be thrown into the open sea, to feed the sharks!” “5… 4… 3…” Seeing the man actually begin to move, I couldn’t hold out any longer. “Seraphina is at the BK College of Music in the US.” I collapsed to the ground. He actually dared. He dared to abandon our own son for Seraphina. My tear-filled eyes watched Julian immediately grab his phone and make a call. He was clearly frantic. “Get a helicopter ready. I’m flying to the US.” He didn’t spare me another glance, his eyes glued to his phone. My trembling hand clutched a handful of sand. For the past ten years, I had quietly been the woman behind Julian. In every scientific breakthrough, every achievement, every single one of his projects, I had played a crucial role. He built Sterling Group from the ground up, moving away from research to become the CEO. I, on the other hand, spent 24 hours in the lab, solely dedicated to developing the medicine he desired. I succeeded. Sterling Med skyrocketed, becoming a top-tier pharmaceutical conglomerate, rivaling the old Sterling family empire. That night, Julian held me close, his kisses trailing down my neck, filled with deep affection. “Ellie, you are my rib! The kind that melts into my bones and blood!” I thought everything was finally moving in the right direction. I could prove I was worthy of standing by his side. Even his family saw my achievements, and our relationship with them had softened over the past two years. But the end result was Julian falling for a girl nine years younger than him, a girl who was blissfully naive to the world, innocently demanding, and constantly clinging and playing the innocent card. “Julian, I want you to stay with me.” “Julian, I don’t know how to do this. Help me.” “Julian, you *have* to be at Sera’s cello competition. If you’re not there, I won’t play…” “Julian, Sera likes you so much.” Begging and fawning were things I had never done for Julian. Confessing my love was also something I had never done. Right under my nose, Julian fell deeply in love with his ‘helpless’ little princess. She needed him to lift her up and spoil her, and he indulged her willingly. The helicopter arrived swiftly. Julian couldn’t wait for Leo’s ship to return. He boarded the helicopter and flew off to the US. I watched the helicopter disappear into the distance, calling Julian several times, only for him to hang up on me each time. I sent him a SnapChat message directly: [When is our son coming back?!] [Three hours, Eleanor. Seraphina is just a friend’s daughter I promised to look after. She calls me ‘Uncle Julian.’ I cannot betray that trust.] Reading his explanation, a bitter laugh escaped me. Betray that trust? Just as I was about to close my phone, another message popped up. [Eleanor, so what if I love Julian? He wants to be with me, and we’ve been entangled in desperate passion. He lost his passion for you ages ago. You’re the one who can’t let him go.] [Eleanor, Julian came to see me at school again tonight. We went to a hotel. He really liked the bunny outfit I wore today.] […] And then, the explicit video. It captured Julian’s wild abandon in vivid detail. I shut off my phone and sat numbly by the sea, waiting for Leo to return. My tears were dried by the wind. I used to believe that as long as I loved Julian, it was enough. When he cheated, I even rationalized it, thinking men sometimes just seek excitement. We had a son; we needed a complete family. But now, I knew I couldn’t do it anymore. From childhood, I had been alone, without parents’ love or family’s affection. I thought I had found true love, but now, everything was shattered. I scrolled through a contract on my phone. This was the divorce agreement I had secretly signed when Sterling Group was going public. It stipulated automatic forfeiture of all my shares in Sterling Group and the termination of my marriage. Just before the IPO, Grandpa Sterling had sought me out. “Eleanor, if you sign this, I will help Julian’s company go public. With my help, Sterling Group can rival the old Sterling empire, especially if he wants to list it in G-Port.” To reassure his family and for Julian’s sake, I had signed the agreement in secret. I had never imagined Julian would abandon me. But now, everything had changed beyond recognition. Soon after, I sent another message. [I accept. I’m joining Ocean Gate.] Ocean Gate was a world-leading marine medical research team, home to top talents from various countries. Once you entered, you had to stay underwater for 30 years before you could emerge. My only condition was to take my son, Leo, with me. Julian would never find Leo and me again! To go to a place without borders, I needed to take my unique research findings. But all those research data and samples were in the lab. The lab could only be opened with both Julian’s and my fingerprints and passwords, simultaneously. Not long after, I finally waited for Leo. His face was stained with tears, and he was sleeping fitfully. I kissed his forehead. “Leo, do you want to leave with Mommy?” Leo’s eyelashes fluttered. He looked at me, crying, “Mommy, Leo almost went into the sea.” At five years old, he already understood. It was Julian’s closest assistant who had taken Leo away. My eyes welled up with moisture. “Leo, if you come with Mommy, you won’t have Daddy anymore. Are you willing?” Leo’s small arms wrapped around my neck, and he nodded. “Wherever Mommy is, Leo is.” I took Leo to the company. My fingerprints and password allowed me access to the high-level research lab. But I still couldn’t open the door. Through the glass, I could see the computers and various experimental samples inside. One set of experimental data, entirely developed by me, was the only thing I needed to take. “Mommy, what should we do? Daddy isn’t here, you can’t open this door.” My mind replayed the memory of Julian building this lab and entering our fingerprints and passwords. He held me close, whispering in my ear, “Ellie, don’t tell me this password, and I won’t tell you mine. This lab holds the most important treasures of the company. Only when we’re both here can we open this door and see these things. This way, we’ll always be connected, never apart.” When two people are in love, this creates mutual dependence. But when love dies, it becomes the perfect way to guard against each other. Julian, did you ever imagine this day, five years ago? The lab door remained unopened. I took Leo directly to our apartment on the second floor. For years, Leo, Julian, and I lived at the company until Seraphina appeared, and we bought a villa, making it feel more like a home. Everything in this apartment was something Leo and I had made together, before Seraphina. I packed all my personal belongings – the things Julian bought me, the things I bought him, and all the matching couple’s items I had secretly cherished. Leo also packed all his things. “This is what Daddy bought, don’t want it. This is what Mommy bought, take it. This is our family photo, don’t want it.” The little guy sorted things quickly into three bags. I suppressed my tears, watching my son meticulously categorize everything. Julian, do you know how smart Leo is? He didn’t say anything, but he knew you had given up on him. Leo ran over and hugged me. His small hands wiped my tears. “Mommy, you always wanted to go to that lab, didn’t you? You said the ocean takes up three-quarters of our home, and we need to protect it. You always wanted to be a warrior protecting the ocean. Mommy is the best. You’re just going to fulfill your dream, and Leo supports you and will follow you.” I looked at a painting in the distance. Julian was a talented artist. It was an oil painting he did of Leo and me when Leo was two. I walked over, opened a paint box nearby, grabbed a brush, and slowly painted myself out of the picture. Leo immediately grabbed a small brush and, mimicking me, painted himself out of the picture too. The little guy said warmly, “Mommy, in the future, when Leo learns to paint, I’ll only paint for you. Leo is super good, definitely better than this painting.” A faint smile touched my face as I caressed my son’s cheek. Once everything was sorted, I made a phone call and had the garbage disposal service take everything away. This included the bed Julian and I shared, the sofa, the kitchenware—everything. The cozy photos I had put up on the walls, Leo’s messy scribbles—I tore them all down and discarded them. I even got new paint buckets and meticulously painted the walls over and over again. Until this 200-square-meter apartment was stripped bare, leaving only the load-bearing walls, empty and gleaming white, without a single trace of what had been. In the kitchen, the stomach medicine I always kept for Julian was gone too. It took me a day and a night to do all this. Leo had fallen asleep on the floor. I carried Leo back to the villa. Pushing open the door, I found the living room shrouded in cigarette smoke. The ashtray overflowed with a dozen cigarette butts. Julian’s usually stoic face was etched with a hint of exhaustion, his red eyes bloodshot. His voice, dark and low, filled the air. “Sera was bullied the moment she got to school, covered in bruises and lying in her dorm, without even money for medicine!” Julian had been waiting for me, his face filled with accusation, his icy gaze piercing, as if I were his enemy. I glanced at Leo, asleep in my arms. “Julian, whatever it is, don’t argue in front of our son.” Just as I was about to go upstairs, Seraphina appeared at the top of the stairs. She was wearing a white nightgown, her cascading curly hair falling to her waist. Her innocent face was etched with panic, her hands nervously clutching the fabric of her nightdress. “Aunt Eleanor, I—I promise I won’t bother Uncle Julian anymore. Please don’t send me abroad.” The girl stood not far away, deliberately calling me ‘Aunt Eleanor’ to make me sound older, like a faded, resentful woman. She looked at me pitifully. Julian had already risen from the sofa and strode towards Seraphina on the stairs. He gently pushed aside her long hair, revealing red finger marks on her fair face, as if she’d been viciously slapped. Seraphina leaned into Julian’s embrace, sobbing. “Aunt Eleanor, the people who bullied me were all from outside. They said they were paid to do this to me. You sent me to a top music academy, so it couldn’t have been you trying to hurt me.” Julian’s eyes turned utterly cold, his icy gaze fixed on me, standing on the first floor. “Eleanor, you can dislike Sera, but I told you I have to take care of her until she graduates with her master’s at 25, until her uncle returns. But my constant compromises have only led you to repeatedly bully Sera.” During their argument, I saw Leo stir awake. He tried to turn his head, but I wouldn’t let him. “Leo, close your eyes, don’t listen.” I desperately tried to compose myself. “Julian, BK College of Music is one of the top three institutions globally. If there’s bullying, you can report it to the police, or investigate it yourself, instead of accusing me here.” Seraphina continued to sob uncontrollably. “Aunt Eleanor, I was wrong, I was wrong.” She pleaded as she sank to her knees. “Please, Aunt Eleanor, I just want to study here in Northwood. I can even live in a dorm. I promise I’ll only come back once a month, no, even half a day is fine. Please don’t send me away. Those people will kill me.” Seraphina’s tears seemed to enchant Julian. He picked her up right in front of me, his eyes filled with a fierce intensity as he glared at me. “Let’s talk in the study later. I need to comfort Sera first.” I walked numbly upstairs. Leo’s childish voice, muffled against my shoulder, asked, “Mommy, can we leave Daddy soon?” I stroked his back, my heart aching. “Yes, honey. Once Mommy handles everything, Mommy will try her best.” I carried Leo down the second-floor hallway, heading towards his bedroom. As we passed Seraphina’s room, I noticed the door wasn’t fully closed. Through a tiny gap, I saw Julian pressing Seraphina down onto the bed, and his hand reaching inside her white nightgown. My body froze instantly, my eyes filled with excruciating pain. Julian, is *this* how you ‘care’ for her? Watching Julian’s betrayal with my own eyes felt like my heart was being ripped out. I carried Leo into his room and placed him gently on his small bed. I tried my best to soothe him. “Leo, three days at most. We’ll leave in three days. Please pack your little things in your room.” The little one nodded. I came out, closing the door behind me. In the hallway, Julian’s eyes were cold and dark. His voice was grim. “Study, now.” I entered the study, only to realize that somewhere along the way, Seraphina’s presence had taken over Julian’s private space. Her hair accessories, jewelry, sheet music, and various snacks littered the sofa and the carpet. For all those years before, his study had been filled with our data, our research directions, our work. Without me even noticing, it had completely transformed. I remembered when I was pregnant with Leo, too exhausted to move, I would fall asleep leaning against him. When I woke up, Julian would kiss my forehead and say, “Ellie, don’t push yourself too hard. You and our child are my future. If you two are well, I can be well.” Back then, I believed all my efforts were worth it. Julian had given me a home, given me warmth. As I stepped into the study, Julian flung a stack of documents at me. Each page was a confession, written in what appeared to be foreign characters. “Eleanor, news came from Sera’s school. These are the bullies’ confessions. Someone wired money from Northwood to their accounts, instructing them to harass Sera. And the account was ultimately traced back to you.” I said nothing. Julian’s voice was cold. “I won’t divorce you. I’ll calm Sera down this time, but I absolutely will not let her leave my side again. If you still want to be with me, to maintain our marriage, then put an end to your malicious schemes.” I didn’t even have the energy to explain. I just tried to keep myself composed. “Julian, are you free tomorrow? I need you to come to the lab with me. There’s an issue with a set of data, and I need to go in and verify it.” Hearing that there was a problem at the company, Julian’s brow furrowed slightly. “Hmm. Tomorrow morning, I need to take Sera to the hospital; her injuries can’t scar. I’ll have lunch with her, and then I’ll be at the company in the afternoon.” So, I was relegated to the very last. I hadn’t noticed before, but from this outsider’s perspective, it was glaringly obvious. For Sera’s cello competition, he abandoned me to face international partners alone in a meeting, just to watch her perform. When Sera claimed she was in pain, he left me stranded on the roadside, telling me to take a taxi home to face his family elders by myself. When Sera expressed a desire for wontons, he woke me up in the middle of the night, regardless of my working over a dozen hours, to make them for her. “Alright…” I sighed, a deep, weary sound. The next morning. I was jolted awake by a piercing scream. Julian burst into my room like a madman and dragged me off the bed. I cried out in pain, my delicate features contorted. Julian’s grip on my arm was incredibly forceful, his eyes bloodshot with fury. “Eleanor, how *dare* you treat Seraphina like this?!” Leo, beside me, was crying and hitting Julian. “Let go of Mommy, you bad Daddy!” Julian shoved Leo, sending the child tumbling to the floor. Julian’s phone slammed onto the bed. “Eleanor, those people actually dared to take *explicit* photos of Seraphina, and now they’ve posted them all online! The entire city knows!” “Ah… Mr. Sterling, Miss Seraphina has attempted suicide.” Julian immediately pushed me away and rushed across the hall. Standing there, I saw Seraphina sprawled on the bed, her wrist slashed, red blood steadily gushing out and dripping onto the floor. My face went ashen. I quickly covered Leo’s eyes. “Leo, listen to Mommy, stay in your room and don’t come out.” This elaborate scheme—Seraphina was willing to gamble with her life. I didn’t know what the cost would be. Julian cradled Seraphina and rushed to the hospital. But I was restrained by Julian’s bodyguards and forced into another car. The car sped off, heading directly to the hospital owned by Sterling Group. Julian ran in frantically, holding Seraphina. I watched, realizing in my shock that he had forgotten he himself was a brilliant surgeon. Julian had been in my room for less than thirty seconds before Seraphina cut her wrist, and Mrs. Gable just *happened* to see it. That amount of bleeding wouldn’t even be life-threatening. I was dragged to the operating room doors. Julian’s eyes were icily fixed on me. “Since you like taking pictures so much, fine!” Julian walked over, right in front of the bodyguards and the passing crowd. He roughly tore my clothes. My dress ripped, exposing my pale skin in an instant. My body trembled with cold. I tried to pull my clothes to cover myself, but Julian’s tall frame loomed over me, his large hand gripping my wrist tightly, not allowing me to struggle an inch. His eyes were glacial. “Eleanor! What you did to Sera, I will return to you a hundredfold!” My body shook, my throat constricting as if cut by razor blades. “Julian, I’m your wife, and the mother of your child! How can you do this to me in front of so many people?” But Julian brutally pushed me against the cold wall. Ignoring the growing crowd, he ripped off the rest of my clothes with a harsh tear. My clothes fell to the ground. Instantly, I saw countless camera flashes pointed at me – live streams, photos, video recordings. Julian’s lips curled into a cruel smirk. “Eleanor, you utterly ruined Sera’s reputation! I will make you a spectacle for the entire city!” My face was deathly pale. I tried to cover myself with my hands, but it was useless. Julian further pinned my wrists above my head, intentionally letting those people get a clear view of my body. The crowd’s filming grew even more frenzied. Julian Sterling – everyone knew who he was. In that moment, tears streamed down my face. My mind drifted to Julian five years ago. My skirt had just been snagged, and he immediately took off his jacket, wrapping it tightly around me. He was terribly anxious, even though nothing had been exposed. But now, the man before me, for the sake of another woman, was utterly destroying me. The moment Julian released my hands, I crumpled to the ground. My trembling hands quickly grabbed my torn clothes and put them on, desperate to leave the scene. Julian’s cold, heartless voice reached me. “Eleanor, the entire internet is flooded with your pictures now. Sera’s photos have been taken down across all platforms, but yours… hah… you deal with it!” My face twisted into a bitter smile. I clutched my chest, saying nothing, and simply walked away. My mind was filled with the first time Julian had ever made love to me. He kissed the mole over my heart, saying, “Ellie, from now on, only I can see your body. No one else is allowed to lay a finger on you.” Sitting in the car, I opened my phone and saw news headlines everywhere: [Mrs. Sterling has a red mole over her heart.] [The red-mole beauty.] [Smoking hot figure!] [Breaking!] […] I tapped on a video. It showed the entire brutal scene: Julian tearing off my dress, my reactions, his ruthlessness—all captured in clear detail. Below, the comments from netizens: “Mrs. Sterling, with her usually conservative look, always in black business suits and skirts, who knew she was such a wild one underneath?” “That body, that tiny waist. No wonder Mr. Sterling married her.” “I love her legs the most, so slender and straight. Must be a thrill to touch.” “Those curves… I’d guess D-cup.” “OMG…” The words were sickeningly explicit. My phone rang. I answered, and Julian’s icy voice came through. “Eleanor, I won’t let anyone help you with those online photos. You have only one option: use your money to buy them back, one by one.” Then I heard Julian add, “You must pay for harming Sera. I owe her uncle an explanation!” Julian hung up. My trembling fingers opened my bank account. There was only just over five million dollars—my salary from Sterling Group over the past five years. Yes, salary. I had no shares in the company; all the company’s dividends went to Julian. He had given me a black card. I found a friend, gave him the five million and the black card, asking him to buy back all my photos and videos online. But the influencers who posted the videos were asking for exorbitant prices. My five million only covered seven accounts. My friend tried using the black card. It worked for the first transaction. But for the second, the card was frozen. “Eleanor, the card is frozen, no money can be withdrawn. Those people won’t back down. Without tens of millions, you can’t buy back the videos posted on the influencers’ main pages.” I stared at the black card. Julian had given it to me on the day the company went public. He said, “Ellie, this card has no limit. I want you to never want for money. I’ll take care of you.” Tears blurred my vision, falling onto the black card. In these five years, I had lived and worked at the company, with no significant expenses. The company paid me a salary, so I had never touched this card. The only time I tried, it only worked once. My mind filled with Seraphina. Seraphina, using Julian’s secondary card, shopped everywhere. Later, Julian grew tired of Seraphina constantly going out, only to come back exhausted and complaining of sore feet. He simply waved his hand, arranging for luxury brands to visit monthly, bringing all their latest releases for Seraphina to choose from, money flowing like water. My phone chimed. A message from Julian: [Don’t use my money to buy back the photos. Eleanor, even if you sell yourself, I won’t help you with a single cent.] I wiped away my tears with my hand. “Help me sell that patent, to buy these photos and videos.” My friend was shocked. “Eleanor, are you crazy? That’s your decade of work! Absolutely not! I’ll help you, I promise I will!” My friend took out all his savings, and then frantically sold off his three properties, barely managing to buy back all the original photos and videos. As for the reposts, my friend helped me hack and delete them all. Seeing all the photos cleared, my friend’s words echoed in my mind: [Eleanor, I know that research of yours is ten years of your blood and sweat. And I know that thing absolutely cannot be sold cheaply. It just needs a little finishing touch, and the moment it’s released to the world, it will benefit humanity, worth hundreds of billions. Just remember to give me a hundred million.] My friend’s playful words were still vivid, but then I thought of Julian’s cruelty and ruthlessness. I knew that in these ten years, my biggest mistake was wasting all my time on Julian. I regretted ever loving him. I returned to the villa. The moment I walked in, I heard Leo crying. I rushed inside immediately. I saw Seraphina, a smug look in her eyes, slap Leo across the face. Instantly, I moved swiftly, grabbed Seraphina’s hand, and slapped her twice across the face, back and forth. I pulled my son into my arms, holding him tightly. But Seraphina’s cries were filled with despair. “Julian! Julian!” Julian descended the stairs. Seraphina immediately threw herself into his arms. Julian saw the slap marks on Seraphina’s face, and his eyes instantly filled with murderous rage. Seraphina sobbed, “It’s not Aunt Eleanor’s fault, she just misunderstood me. Leo was playing with blocks just now, and when Aunt Eleanor came back, she got angry and slapped Leo’s face, saying he—he looked too much like you. I tried to stop Aunt Eleanor from hitting Leo, but she slapped me twice instead.” Leo’s childish voice, choked with sobs, exclaimed, “Daddy, Seraphina hit me! She hit me! Mommy only hit her to protect me!” Julian said coldly, “Eleanor! Did you really hit Sera?” I heard Julian completely ignore the core issue and only focus on me hitting Seraphina. “Julian, have you looked at Leo’s face? Do you think I’ve ever hit him since he was born?” Panic flickered across Seraphina’s face. She immediately clutched her wrist, and the bandage instantly began to seep blood. Julian’s eyes were filled with worry. “Sera, did your wound reopen?” Seraphina nodded tearfully. When Julian looked at me again, his voice was cold. “Marcus, slap her ten times. For every hit Sera took, Eleanor will return it tenfold.” I had no chance to resist. Julian’s assistant brutally slapped me ten times, left and right. My face throbbed, blood seeping from the corners of my mouth. My hands covered Leo’s eyes, but he cried hysterically. “Daddy, it wasn’t Mommy’s fault! That woman bullied me, and Mommy just protected me! I hate you! I hate you!” I looked at my son, struggling in my arms. My hands clutched him tightly, not allowing him to move. I endured all ten slaps. My son was crying as if his heart would break. “Mommy, let’s leave Daddy! We don’t want him anymore! Leo only wants you!” Julian’s face changed drastically, filled with extreme anger. “Eleanor, is this how you teach our son? He’s only five, and you want him to disown me as his father? You’re the malicious one! Sera doesn’t understand anything. Can’t you be more generous?” I picked up my son and started to walk out. But Julian immediately had the bodyguards block our path. “Throw them, mother and son, into the stables. They need to reflect.” We were both locked in the stables. I saw the triumphant gleam in Seraphina’s eyes. She mouthed silently, “Julian is mine!” But I knew, I would never want Julian again. The night in the stables was bitterly cold. My son, in my arms, suddenly developed a high fever. I immediately tried to open the stable door. But it was locked. I called Mrs. Gable. It was Seraphina who answered. “Eleanor, enjoying your stay in the stables? You wanted to compete with me, and now you see, Julian won’t believe a word you say. He loves me even more. You and Leo had better get as far away as possible, or I’ll make sure both of you suffer.” “Seraphina, Leo has a high fever. Let Julian talk.” “Haha, isn’t that just perfect? Your son will just burn up and become an idiot. Let me tell you, Eleanor, I’m already pregnant with Julian’s baby! The one in my belly is the true heir to the entire Sterling Group. Your son might as well become an idiot.” With a ‘snap,’ Seraphina hung up. I tried calling again, but it wouldn’t connect. I watched my son’s fever worsen in my arms. My whole body trembled. I immediately called Mrs. Gable again. Mrs. Gable said nervously, “Madam, I can’t help you. Mr. Sterling issued an order: anyone who brings you or the young master a single cup of water will be fired immediately.” The phone was hung up on me again. My eyes were filled with pain. My phone only had five percent battery left. I gently put Leo down. I slammed my entire body against the wooden door. Once wasn’t enough, then twice, then three times. My whole body was screaming in pain, but I didn’t stop. After hundreds of repetitions, the door finally burst open. My fingers were too sore to lift, but I still scooped up my son and ran outside. “Leo, hold on, Mommy will get you to the hospital right away.” Leo was so feverish he wasn’t responding. Tears streamed down my face. “Leo, Mommy will take you away. I promise.” I couldn’t drive, and no one at the villa would help me. In the middle of the night, I could only plead with Julian. I ran back to the villa. Upstairs, I burst into Julian’s room, holding Leo. I found Julian tenderly comforting Seraphina. A flicker of panic crossed Julian’s eyes, but then he said coldly, “Sera had a nightmare. She just came over to my side.” Seeing their intimate scene, I felt nothing anymore. “Julian, hurry and take our son to the hospital! He has a fever!” Julian showed a flicker of conscience. He came over and saw that Leo truly had a fever. He immediately took Leo, rushing towards the hospital. But Seraphina cried out, “Aunt Eleanor, how can you be so vicious, so cruel to Leo? You deliberately make Leo sick with a fever, just to make Julian feel sorry for him, don’t you?” Julian’s face turned grim at her words. He immediately handed Leo back to me. “Eleanor, you deliberately used our son to soften me. Since you caused this, then you walk your son to the hospital.” Julian refused. My face was deathly pale. “Julian, I’ll divorce you. Please, take Leo to the hospital now. He has a high fever, he really can’t wait.” A look of surprise crossed Julian’s eyes. In his eyes, I had never been weak. I was frighteningly calm, even in his arms, aside from shyness, there was only composure. Julian was about to speak, but Seraphina cried out, clutching her stomach. “Julian, my stomach hurts so much!” Julian looked at Seraphina. His hand unhesitatingly touched her flat abdomen. “Sera, what’s wrong?” I tugged at Julian’s arm. “Julian, take Leo to the hospital, please, please! I’ll agree to anything you want—divorce, property, I don’t care about any of it. I only want Leo.” Julian grew furious when he heard me mention divorce. “I will absolutely *not* divorce you! Eleanor, you are my wife, and that will never change!” But he picked up Seraphina and left. “Since you could solve the photo incident last time, you can solve our son’s fever this time too.” I hugged Leo and ran after Julian’s car. “Julian, please, take our child, take our child to the hospital!” But all I got was Julian speeding away, unwilling to stop for even a second. Seeing Julian’s utter resolve, I let out a hollow laugh. I was wrong, so wrong. Leo, he doesn’t deserve to be your father, and he doesn’t deserve my research. I immediately called 911 from the landline. Julian, I begged you, and you wouldn’t even take our son to the hospital. There will never be another chance.

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After five years in prison, the first thing Anya did was book a sky burial. “Ms. Anya, this is for your sky burial service. After your death, your body will be sent to the Tianshan Mountains for the ceremony. You need to pay the deposit first, and the remaining balance within two weeks.” Anya nodded, pulling a plastic bag from her faded denim jeans. She carefully counted the crumpled bills and coins she’d saved up in jail, her movements clumsy, before finally handing over the deposit. She’d been diagnosed with late-stage cancer in prison, with barely a month left to live. She remembered years ago, she and Asher Hayes had promised each other they’d get married in a sacred mountain range, letting all the spirits of the Tianshan Mountains witness their unwavering love. Now, that wedding dream was impossible. Let her rest forever in that pure land; it would be some comfort. The cost of a sky burial wasn’t cheap. After leaving the agency, to settle the remaining balance, she applied for a server position at The Velvet Club. With a criminal record, she couldn’t find a legitimate job, and that place was the city’s most notorious high-end hotspot for the wealthy, offering decent pay for servers. The manager gave her a quick rundown of the rules, then handed her a uniform and told her to start that very evening. After a brief training, she carried a tray of drinks into a VIP room. The lights in the room were dim, with many wealthy elites playing games. She lowered her head,crouching beside the coffee table, carefully setting down the bottles. Just as she was about to turn and leave, that familiar, cool voice suddenly drifted over from nearby. Her body stiffened. She froze on the spot! Sure enough, there he was on the elevated sofa, Asher Hayes, surrounded by fawning admirers. His sharp, handsome features, softened by the shifting lights, made him look even more distinguished and aloof. Five years had passed, but his appearance hadn’t changed a bit. Only now, there was a chilling coolness about him that warned others to keep their distance. She couldn’t help but stare for a moment longer, then noticed a woman clinging to him. And that woman was her best friend, Celeste. They seemed to be talking about their wedding. “The wedding will be just as you like it, in a seaside chapel, with pink roses covering the beach.” “If you didn’t like the dress the designer made last time, I’ll arrange for a new one. Everything will be exactly to your taste.” Anya listened to that familiar voice, her thoughts drifting back. Five years ago, she was so close to becoming Asher Hayes’s bride. They had been childhood sweethearts, growing up together. When Anya’s parents died unexpectedly, Asher was the one who stayed by her side through those agonizing years. He’d biked her to school, stood up for her when she was bullied, and even, blushing fiercely, bought her sanitary pads the first time she got her period. Then, naturally, they fell in love, taking step after step towards the altar. Until the eve of their wedding, when she accidentally hit and killed Asher’s mother with her car! She would never forget that night. Asher’s eyes were bloodshot, crimson with rage. He cornered her against the wall like a madman, demanding to know why, if there was some hidden reason. Anya had never felt such despair. She looked up and smiled, her voice hollow. “No hidden reason. She saw me sleeping with another man and threatened to tell you. In a fit of anger, I just… ran her over.” She would never forget the look Asher gave her then. Fury, hatred, disappointment, all interwoven like an impenetrable net, trapping her, suffocating her. The story ended with Asher himself sending her to prison. During her five years in prison, she’d often wondered if, had she told the truth, she and Asher wouldn’t have ended up like this. But logic reminded her: she couldn’t. Because Mrs. Hayes had been suffering from severe depression. On the eve of their wedding, her illness flared up, leaving her disoriented. She’d mistaken her bodyguard for Mr. Hayes and had an affair. Anya, coincidentally, had gone to discuss wedding plans with Asher and stumbled upon the scene. Mrs. Hayes, lucid again, was filled with regret. She tearfully begged Anya not to reveal what she’d seen. Though conflicted, Anya eventually agreed. But to her horror, as she started her car to leave, Mrs. Hayes, unable to bear her guilt, suddenly threw herself in front of it. Asher had always been the golden boy, destined for greatness. If his mother’s scandal got out, it would bring devastating ruin to him and Hayes Enterprises. Society would look at him differently, and some might even question his parentage. So, for Asher’s sake, she had to bear the burden alone, taking the fall for everything. And now, terminally ill, there was even less need to reveal the truth. If he hated her, let him continue to hate her. That way, when she finally left, she could do so cleanly, with no lingering attachments. Her body trembling, she was about to slip away when someone behind her suddenly called out her name. “Anya? You’re out of prison!” She flinched, not daring to meet the sharp gaze she felt from the elevated sofa. Just as she moved to leave, someone extended a leg, tripping her as she passed. Unprepared, she crashed into the coffee table, falling heavily to the ground. Several bottles clattered and shattered, and her hand was cut in multiple places, bleeding freely. The room erupted in laughter. Everyone stood up, scrutinizing her disheveled, pathetic state. “Anya, it really is you! You just got out of prison and you’re already working? You’re really desperate, aren’t you?” She kept her head down, saying nothing, just pressing her hand against her bleeding wounds. The person spoke again. “What are you waiting for? You spilled wine all over the floor. Clean it up, now.” “And remember, get on your knees when you do it.” Another wave of laughter washed over her. She could only pull a rag from her apron and kneel on the floor, wiping the wine stains again and again. She didn’t look up, but she could feel Asher’s hateful gaze, cold and sharp, fixed on her. It was like a dagger, poised above her head, ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment. He hated her so much; seeing her tormented must make him happier than anyone. After quickly wiping up the wine, she tried to stand and leave, but the person wasn’t willing to let her off so easily. “Trying to leave already? Those bottles you broke are worth a fortune. How are you going to pay for them?” Anya clutched her hands, flustered, not even daring to look up. “I’m so sorry. I really didn’t mean to.” “You think an apology is enough? I doubt you can afford to pay. Tell you what, I’m not saying I won’t give you a chance. Just crawl under my legs, and we’ll call it even.” The person sneered, propping a leg on a stool, his gaze mocking her. A roar of laughter erupted from the crowd, followed by shouts of encouragement. “Crawl under! Crawl under!” She bit her lip, her cheeks burning. The mocking stares felt like daggers stabbing into her back. There was no escape. She had no money to compensate them, and this person was clearly trying to exact revenge for Asher. If she didn’t kneel, they’d find other ways to torment her. During those five years in prison, dignity had long since become worthless to her. Her vision blurred. She bit her lip so hard she tasted blood. Finally, in front of everyone, she sank to her knees before the man. Just as she bent down, preparing to crawl under his leg, the coffee table was violently kicked over. A voice, cold as ice, rang out. “Enough!” Then, a sharp pain shot through her arm. Before she could react, she was yanked out of the room. In the dim hallway, Asher slammed her against the wall, his eyes burning with hatred and cold fury. “Anya, are you really that desperate to degrade yourself?” Her back hit the cold marble, and she flinched uncontrollably. It took her a moment to turn her head. “You shouldn’t have defended me. If you do this, can your mother truly rest in peace down there?” Her words, predictably, ignited his anger. He shoved her away. “Defend you? You’re overthinking it. I pulled you out here to talk about a deal!” “You’re so desperate for money, aren’t you? Stay outside my room tonight, and I’ll pay you. From now on, you’ll follow me around. I guarantee I’ll pay you more than you’d earn serving drinks.” He finished, and without waiting for her refusal, he pulled out a stack of cash and roughly slapped her across the face. Anya’s head snapped to the side, and her cheek immediately started to bleed. She knew his demand was nothing more than an act of revenge. And he certainly achieved it. That night, standing guard outside his door, she heard him and Celeste making love. The man’s muffled grunts and the woman’s moans echoed ceaselessly. She stood there like a zombie, numb even as tears streamed down her face. The moans continued all night. It wasn’t until dawn that Asher opened the door, looking at her coldly. “Clean up the room.” She looked at the “battlefield” of used condoms scattered across the floor, her heart sinking, but she said nothing, just nodded silently. Celeste emerged from the bathroom, covered in hickeys, and paused when she saw Anya. Then, she took Asher’s arm and pleaded, “Asher, it’s all in the past. Please, let Anya go.” Asher curved his lips, but no warmth reached his eyes. “She wants money, I’m giving her money to do my bidding. It’s a fair transaction. Why would I ‘let her go’?” He then pulled Celeste closer, his voice softening. “Don’t worry. Before the wedding, I’ll make sure she completely disappears.” In the following days, wherever Asher and Celeste went, he brought Anya along. If someone proposed a toast, he’d make Anya drink on Celeste’s behalf, until Anya was dizzy and ran to the restroom to throw up repeatedly, yet he wouldn’t call a halt. During meals, he’d make her serve Celeste like a maid, peeling shrimp, deboning fish, wiping her hands, even accompanying her to the restroom. And he, in front of everyone, showered Celeste with affection. After every social engagement, he would expressionlessly take a stack of cash from his car and forcefully throw it at her. “Today’s payment.” Facing his humiliation, she never reacted, simply bending down in silence to pick up the soiled bills, carefully tucking them into her bag. Yes, she needed the money. Once she had enough, she could disappear from his world completely. A sky burial, leaving not a single bone, not a piece of flesh. As if Anya had never existed in this world. On Celeste’s birthday, Asher hosted a lavish party for her. His devotion to Celeste was evident to everyone. The entire venue was decorated according to Celeste’s preferences; it was rumored that over a million roses were used just for the flowers. Celeste’s dress that day was the very one Asher’s mother had designed for his future daughter-in-law. The two walked in hand-in-hand, instantly becoming the center of attention. Asher was as handsome and distinguished as ever, but now, the woman by his side was no longer Anya. Her mind involuntarily drifted back to their own engagement party. It had been just as grand and extravagant, their friends and family witnessing his deep love for her. They had walked hand-in-hand, believing they were stepping into a life of happiness. He had presented her with the heirloom ring, placing it on her finger, telling her that with his ring, she would forever be his, and they would never be apart. The murmurs of conversation around her snapped her out of her memories. “What was Anya thinking, anyway? Childhood sweethearts with Asher, he practically put her on a pedestal, cherished her like gold, and she still went and ran over his mom.” “Exactly! Everyone in the city knew how much Asher loved her. I can’t believe she’d do something so twisted.” “If that hadn’t happened, they’d probably have kids in elementary school by now.” “Don’t even bother. Can you understand the mind of a snake-hearted woman like her? She deserves everything she’s getting now.” “Yeah, women like her should just die!” Anya listened to the curses, her face devoid of expression. As they wished, she would soon be dead. The party ended, and Asher was still saying goodbye to guests. Anya and Celeste waited by the lake near the entrance for him to come out. It was the first time they had been alone since Anya’s release from prison. Celeste remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. “Anya, do you know? I’ve always been deeply in love with Asher. I fell for him even before you two got together.” “Back then, you two were so happy, so I’d already given up on him, prepared to bless your happiness. But why did you betray Asher?” “Do you know how much Asher suffered all these years? I finally managed to calm him down, so why did you have to show up now, upsetting him again!” Anya looked at the woman before her. She’d never imagined that her best friend, who had been by her side all these years, had secretly loved her man. But now that she’d reappeared, she had no intention of disturbing their lives. A woman who “killed” his mother, a dying woman, was destined to contend for nothing. “Celeste, I’ll be leaving soon.” Celeste looked at her coldly, her eyes glinting, clearly not believing her words. Suddenly, she took off the ring on her finger and forcefully threw it into the lake. “Anya, you threw my ring in the water. You should help me get it, right?” As Celeste’s words fell, Asher’s figure appeared, rushing over. He angrily grabbed Anya’s arm, his eyes burning with fury. “Anya, can’t you stay out of trouble for a minute? What does the ring I gave Celeste have to do with you? Why did you suddenly throw it away!” Anya looked directly into his eyes. In his furious gaze, there seemed to be a hint of expectation. Was he expecting her to have thrown Celeste’s ring out of jealousy? Her heart ached with bitterness, but she forced a smile. “Why would I throw away a trivial ring? To me, it’s not even as important as a stack of cash you give me.” Asher’s eyes instantly turned cold and merciless. He violently pushed her into the lake. There was a splash, and her startled cry, but he had already turned his back, not looking at her again. “I don’t care how you do it, but you *will* get that ring back for me.” With that, he took Celeste’s hand and hurried away without hesitation. It was winter, and a fresh snow had just fallen. The weather was bitterly cold. Sparse ice floes drifted on the lake; just looking at them made one shiver. Anya plunged into the lake. The icy water numbed her entire body, and the muddy bottom was filled with sharp debris, cutting her feet until they bled freely. She bit her lip, diving under again and again, surfacing again and again. She searched the lake mechanically for an entire night, until the blood stained a large part of the water. Finally, at the bottom of the lake, she found the ring. When she appeared before Asher, bruised and battered, looking utterly pathetic, he frowned, then coldly pulled a wad of cash from his pocket and mercilessly threw it at her feet again. Just like every time before, she picked up the money in silence and left. For the next few days, Asher unusually didn’t bother her. Until one day, she returned home from an errand. As she stepped out of the car, she saw the entire Hayes mansion enveloped in thick, rolling smoke. A surge of unease gripped her heart. Asher was in danger! The thought flashed through her mind, and she rushed towards the raging fire without hesitation. Asher always preferred quiet, so the house staff only came to clean when he wasn’t home. He’d been home these past few days, so there wouldn’t be anyone else in the house besides him! Familiar with the mansion, she quickly found Asher unconscious in his bedroom. The fire had spread incredibly fast. He must have taken sleeping pills and been resting, which was why he was trapped in the fire and overcome by smoke without any warning. She struggled to hoist him onto her back, laboriously moving towards the door. The fire grew larger, almost completely blocking their path. As she hesitated, a burning beam suddenly fell. Without thinking, she shielded Asher with her body. The hot timber crashed onto her back, and the pain nearly made her pass out. But looking at Asher, sprawled on her shoulder, his brows tightly furrowed in unconscious sleep, a fierce determination she’d never known before surged through her. She *had* to save Asher, even if it cost her life. With a desperate resolve, utterly disregarding her own safety, she somehow managed to drag the six-foot-tall man out of the blazing inferno. They collapsed onto the lawn, Anya gasping for fresh air, her entire body battered and bruised. Seeing Celeste frantically rushing towards them, Anya used her last remaining strength to push Asher into Celeste’s arms. “If he wakes up, tell him you saved him.” Celeste looked at Anya, wondering what game she was playing. She called out to Anya, who was trying to get up, and asked again. “Tell me, Anya, did you really kill Mrs. Hayes on purpose?” Anya swayed as she stood, her body stiffening at the question. After a long pause, she finally spoke. “Yes.” With that, she hurried away, not looking back. In the following days, Celeste meticulously cared for Asher. When he learned that Celeste had risked her life to save him, he became incredibly doting towards her, granting her every wish, to the envy of others. Their intimacy also grew more frequent. Anya, standing guard outside their room, distinctly heard their passionate encounters and the sweet nothings he whispered to her. She thought, perhaps now, Asher truly loved Celeste. That was good. He deserved to find his true happiness. And she, like a rat in the sewers, could only darkly glimpse at others’ joy. The wound on her back still throbbed. She could only secretly apply medicine when no one was around. One day, as usual, she was hiding in her small room, taking off her jacket to apply ointment, when the door suddenly opened. It was Asher. His gaze landed on the grotesque wound on her back, and his eyes instantly reddened. Then, he walked towards her, step by trembling step. “What are those burns?” “Were you the one who saved me that day?” Anya didn’t know why he suddenly appeared there. She reflexively sprang up and immediately put her clothes back on. Looking at Asher’s shattered eyes, she almost blurted out the truth. But reason immediately returned. She forced herself to put on a reckless smile. “Saved you? What are you talking about?” “These scars? Oh, those are from prison, from fighting with other women over men. They got jealous because the men preferred me, so they used hot water to get back at me.” Asher’s face went pale with anger at her words. The flicker of compassion in his eyes vanished. He grabbed her neck with furious strength, wanting nothing more than to choke the life out of her. “Anya, you’re heartless!” “Are you that desperate for men? Was I not enough for you? What did our relationship even mean back then?” She choked, her face turning crimson, coughing desperately. But when he finally released her, she started to laugh. “What did it mean? It meant you were devoted, it meant you were stupid.” “Asher, I truly wanted to marry you. But it’s so hard to love only one person your whole life. Honestly, those other men were just flings. If your mom hadn’t caught me cheating, I wouldn’t have had to run her over, and we wouldn’t be like this now. After all, no matter what, they could never treat me as well as you did, right?” Asher’s face fluctuated between green and white, clearly pushed to his limit. He disgustedly flung her hand away, his voice now devoid of any emotion. “Anya, you sicken me. Loving you was the biggest regret of my life.” With that, he didn’t spare her another glance, storming out and slamming the door behind him. Finally, she was alone in the room. She sank weakly to the floor, wrapping her arms around herself, leaning against the bed frame. Wasn’t this what she wanted? For him to completely despise her, to never think of her again. But why did her heart ache so much? It felt as if someone had brutally torn her heart open with a knife, then sprinkled salt on the wound. It would pass, she told herself. After she got dressed, Celeste approached her and asked Anya to drive her out to buy some things. The Hayes family had a driver, and Anya didn’t know why Celeste insisted on her driving, but she didn’t ask any questions. She got into the driver’s seat and started the car. Just as the engine roared to life, Celeste, who had been standing nearby, suddenly rushed to the front of the car and collapsed onto the ground, covered in blood. Anya froze, utterly bewildered. The car had only just started, it hadn’t even moved. Even if it had hit Celeste, it wouldn’t have been this severe. So where had all that blood come from? Before she could figure it out, Asher rushed over. He quickly helped Celeste up, his voice filled with urgency. “Celeste, are you okay?” Celeste leaned weakly into his arms, her eyes fixed on Anya with a piteous gaze. “Asher, don’t blame Anya. I’m sure she didn’t mean to.” With that, she suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. The vivid red sharply stung Asher’s eyes. He looked up, his gaze cold, at Anya, and the image of his mother being hit by a car involuntarily flashed in his mind. In that instant, he completely lost control. “Anya, you never learn, do you? Did Celeste catch you with another man again, that you’d do this to her!” He gritted his teeth, picked up Celeste, and placed her in the car, then got into the driver’s seat himself. As the engine roared, Asher’s eyes grew redder and redder. He stared at Anya, the image of his mother’s death and Celeste vomiting blood constantly overlapping, like a net, trapping him completely. His heart felt suddenly gripped by an invisible hand, hurting so much he could barely breathe. But those images and Celeste’s moans reappeared, and he finally steadied himself, slammed on the accelerator, and drove straight towards Anya. *Bang!* With a screech of brakes, Anya was flung into the air. For those few seconds she floated, her world was chaos. The moment her body hit the ground, she thought she heard her bones shattering. Then, she completely lost consciousness. She seemed to be dreaming, a dream where she was back with Asher, when they were still in love. She’d just gotten her driver’s license then, and wasn’t used to driving. Asher would sit beside her, teaching her hand-in-hand. “Anya, don’t be scared. Drive boldly. I’m here with you.” But the scene shifted. The person beside her suddenly vanished, replaced by him, his eyes red, angrily slamming the accelerator and charging towards her. Anya awoke from the dream with a start, her forehead drenched in sweat, her back soaked. She realized she was in the hospital. Her chest ached terribly. It wasn’t until a nurse came to give her an injection that she learned several of her ribs were broken. During her time in the hospital, Asher never visited her. She hadn’t expected him to; after all, he hated her so much now. When she was discharged, Asher was already busy preparing for his wedding with Celeste. He demanded that she be involved in every step. Because he wanted her to watch him marry another woman, to watch everything that was once hers be given to someone else. Anya didn’t refuse. She obediently followed behind him and Celeste, watching him pick out wedding dresses for her, accompanying her for wedding photos, and finalizing the wedding venue. She had walked this path once before. Now, walking it again, the bride was a different person. On the anniversary of Mrs. Hayes’s death, Anya bought flowers first thing in the morning and went to pay her respects. She sat beside the tombstone, resting her head against it, looking at the kind and gentle face in the photograph, talking to herself. “Mrs. Hayes, are you doing well wherever you are? Are you lonely?” “I remember how much you loved me when you were alive. You said I was like your own daughter. And in my heart, you were like my own mother.” “Don’t be afraid. I’ll be joining you soon.” In fact, before Mrs. Hayes’s death, their relationship had been very close. Anya, who had lost her mother at a young age, found the maternal love she lacked in her. They were supposed to become a true family. But fate was cruel; they ultimately lacked that last bit of destiny. Lost in thought, she suddenly heard a familiar voice. She looked up and realized it was Asher and Mr. Hayes, coming to pay their respects. Seeing her, Mr. Hayes’s face instantly darkened. “You wretched girl! Who let you come here! How dare you show your face!” With that, he stepped forward without a word and forcefully tried to push her away. Anya had just been in a car accident and had no strength to resist. She fell heavily against the tombstone, her head striking it hard, gashing her forehead. Blood streamed down her cheek, but she simply covered the wound, not saying a word. Mr. Hayes’s anger didn’t subside a bit because of her injury. A torrent of furious curses followed one after another. “You! You don’t deserve to be here!” “Murderer! You’re the one who should be dead!” “What did our Hayes family ever do to you? Asher loved you so much, and my wife cherished you like her own daughter. Why did you have to run her over?!” By the end, his voice choked, almost dissolving into sobs. Her face was pale, but she remained numbly crouched on the ground, utterly silent. Asher watched her coldly from nearby. Knowing she had just had several ribs broken from his car, he couldn’t help but step in. “Don’t dirty my mother’s tombstone. Get to the car and wait for me.” Anya struggled to her feet, stumbling out. It was only then that Mr. Hayes realized Asher had kept Anya by his side all this time. His face turned ashen, his brows furrowed deeply, tinged with a new sorrow. “Asher, tell me honestly, do you still love this woman?” Asher averted his eyes, unable to look at him, his body trembling slightly. “No, I haven’t loved her for a long time.” “My feelings for her now, apart from hatred, are nothing else.” Mr. Hayes’s tall figure, for the first time, seemed somewhat frail. He looked at Asher, his hair full of white, his eyes showing the weariness of age. “You’re my son; you can’t hide it from me.” “Asher, Anya is your mother’s killer!” “No matter how much you like her, it’s impossible between you two. How can you love your mother’s killer? How can you let your mother rest in peace knowing this?” His words completely froze Asher, leaving him almost unable to move. For days, he had been trying to numb himself, telling himself he only hated Anya, that keeping her by his side was merely to torment her. But he knew that was just a lie he told himself. He remained silent for a long time, then finally spoke. “Dad, don’t worry. I’ll marry Celeste as soon as possible.” “And Anya, I’ll make her leave, disappear from our lives forever.” In the final days before the wedding, Asher didn’t devise any more schemes to torment her. Instead, he drove her out alone. They went to “Lover’s Lock Bridge,” a place they used to frequent. The first time they came, she’d sprained her ankle halfway, and he’d carried her onto the bridge, where they’d hung a padlock symbolizing their eternal love. But this time, the once-intimate lover was a different person. Asher searched for a long time before he found their padlock. He pulled out a pair of scissors, silently snipped the lock, and then unhesitatingly threw it into the lake. Then, he took her to the Cold Mountain Temple outside the city and untied the wish ribbon they had tied together. The wishes they had written on the red ribbon were still vivid in her memory: “Asher and Anya, forever together.” But in a blink, the red ribbon was carried away by the wind, falling over the cliff, never to be seen again. Next, they went to the beach where they first fell in love, to the park where they had planted a wishing tree together… Anya knew he was systematically erasing all traces of their love. He, like her, had decided to completely cut each other out of their lives. After visiting all the necessary places, Asher leaned against the car door, smoking several cigarettes, fiercely. When the ground was littered with cigarette butts, he pulled a check from his pocket and handed it to Anya. “The money here is enough to cover the broken bottles at the club. With the rest, buy a plane ticket and never appear in front of me again.” “Don’t tell me where you’re going. And don’t let me find you.” Her palm was digging into her skin, her heart felt tightly clutched, making it hard to breathe. After a long moment, she took the check and quietly agreed. “Okay.” They looked up, their eyes meeting unexpectedly, and almost simultaneously spoke. “Anya, goodbye forever.” “Asher, goodbye forever.” Asher lowered his gaze, not looking at her again, and turned to leave with finality. Anya silently watched his retreating figure, until he disappeared completely, then she walked in the opposite direction. Three days before the wedding countdown, Anya paid the full amount for her sky burial. That same day, news of Asher and Celeste’s impending marriage hit the headlines. Their wedding would be held by the sea, attended by all the city’s tycoons. Celebrities in their circle flooded Ins with congratulations, and dozens of trending topics filled the feeds. Two days before the wedding, Anya booked a flight to the Tianshan Mountains. That day, Asher, to celebrate in advance, spent tens of millions on a grand fireworks display across the city. Under the dazzling, sky-filling fireworks, everyone congratulated him and Celeste, wishing them a happy marriage and a long, loving life together. The day before the wedding, Anya packed a box, then set it on fire, burning everything to ashes. Inside were gifts Asher had given her, all her memories with him, and the treasures she had cherished most in prison. But now, she was dying. These things held no meaning anymore. Asher, her beloved, would walk down the aisle hand-in-hand with the woman he loved. She thought, he would be happy. They would have children, and live every day sweetly, just as they had promised when they were still together. The flames danced before her eyes, silhouetting all their loving memories into fragments, gradually disappearing with the fire. That night, in the restaurant, Celeste looked at Asher’s distracted expression, feeling a sudden unease. “Asher, are you still thinking about Anya?” Asher snapped back, reaching for her hand, his voice gentle. “No.” “Celeste, I’ve completely let her go. Don’t worry, I’ll love you well from now on.” “From this moment forward, you are the most important person in my life.” Celeste finally smiled, nodding contentedly. After their meal, they planned to return to prepare for tomorrow’s wedding. But just as they stepped out, the chandelier above them suddenly fell, hitting Celeste’s head. Blood gushed out instantly, and she collapsed, unconscious. Asher’s face instantly changed. He scooped her up and ran frantically to the hospital, rushing her into the emergency room. The doctor said she was bleeding heavily and needed an immediate blood transfusion, but the RH-negative blood bank was critically low. Someone needed to donate enough blood to save her life right away. Asher became frantic. He immediately ordered Mark, his assistant, to arrange a city-wide search to find a compatible blood type for Celeste and bring them in for donation. Mark quickly searched and finally found a name in the blood bank. Anya! He rushed to Asher. “Mr. Hayes, there’s only one person with a compatible blood type for Ms. Celeste, but it’s…” Before he could finish, Asher interrupted him. “I don’t care who it is. Celeste must be saved, even if it means draining that person’s blood. At any cost, do you understand?” Mark said no more and quickly arranged for Anya to be brought to the hospital. At that moment, Anya was holding her plane ticket, preparing to head to the airport, when she was suddenly taken to the hospital and escorted into the blood donation room. Unsure what was happening, she struggled fiercely. The nurses couldn’t proceed, so they had to call Asher’s assistant. Seeing Anya, Mark’s face was filled with disgust. He had followed Asher for many years and knew everything that had happened, so he had no fondness for her whatsoever. “Ms. Anya, Mr. Hayes ordered you here. Ms. Celeste had an accident and is bleeding profusely. Only your blood type matches hers.” “Mr. Hayes said that as long as Ms. Celeste can be saved, he doesn’t care if your blood is drained dry.” “We have people everywhere, inside and out. I advise you not to struggle. Besides, you owe Mr. Hayes a life, don’t you?” As his words fell, Anya froze. Her struggles grew weaker and weaker. Yes, she did owe Asher a life. And whether she donated blood or not, she was going to die anyway. It was just a matter of dying sooner or later. Thinking this, she completely gave up resisting. The needle was forcefully plunged into her vein. She watched her blood slowly drain away, her face growing paler and paler. 400ml 600ml 800ml 1000ml … As more and more blood was drawn, the alarm on the machine began to blare, and her vision gradually blurred. She weakly closed her eyes, feeling her life disappear, little by little, with the blood. Asher, this time, it was truly goodbye… The alarm grew louder and louder, until finally, it became a flat line. Seeing this, the nurse screamed, quickly pulled out the needle, and ran down the hallway. “Her blood’s drained, she… she’s stopped breathing!” Mark, standing at the door of the blood donation room, heard the nurse’s cry, and felt as if struck by lightning. He rushed inside. His gaze fell upon Anya’s pale face. That once vibrant and moving face was now devoid of color, like a cold sculpture. The needle was still in her wrist, blood no longer flowing. The flat line on the monitor screen was a jarring sight. “Anya… is dead?” Mark murmured to himself, as if unable to believe what he was seeing. Though he wasn’t a fan of Anya’s, and even harbored deep disgust for her, at this moment, an indescribably complex emotion surged within him. He knew Anya had betrayed Asher, knew she was a fickle woman, but… he had seen Asher’s feelings for her all these years. That torment of love and hate, that unresolvable pain, he understood better than anyone. Now that Anya was dead, what would Asher’s reaction be? Mark’s mind was a mess. He instinctively shouted to the nurse, “Quick! Save her! You have to save her, no matter what!” The nurse shook her head, her voice heavy. “She’s already stopped breathing. She had cancer, and with so much blood drawn, she can’t be saved.” “Cancer?!”

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I loved Julian Hayes for seven years. When I was kidnapped, he refused to pay the ransom, all because his secretary suggested this was a perfect chance to teach me a lesson and make me *behave*. I endured hellish torment. Finally, I learned to stay away from Julian. But then, he cried, begging me for another chance. The day I walked barefoot into the city center, I made headlines. The adopted daughter of the Hayes family, kidnapped for months, returned a wreck – clothes torn, filthy, reeking, her feet bare and covered in scars, like a beaten animal scrambling back home. I watched the media flashes ignite around me, frantic to capture every second, but my heart was long dead, a stagnant pool incapable of stirring even a ripple. The old Scarlett was gone. The bright, innocent, headstrong, vibrant Scarlett had died. It was those kidnappers, and Julian Hayes, who had utterly destroyed her. Soon, a group of bodyguards in black suits carved a path through the dense crowd. Their captain, Dean Miller, I recognized him. For seven years, while I clung to Julian, it was always Dean who ‘escorted’ me out of Julian’s office and private apartment. ‘Escorted’ was a polite term; it was more like being dragged, because I’d cling relentlessly, because Julian was utterly fed up. “Miss Scarlett, Mr. Hayes is waiting in the car. Please, follow me.” Dean’s gaze lingered on me for a moment, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He clearly hadn’t expected to see me in such a horrific state. I nodded, stepping forward on my injured feet, leaving a trail of bloody prints on the pavement. The pain receptors in my nerves were long numb; this short walk was nothing compared to my escape. Dean walked behind me, unable to help himself. “Miss Scarlett…” he began. I didn’t answer. Was he pitying me? He should be grateful, really. After this ordeal, I’d never pester Julian again, and I’d never cause him any extra trouble at work. Inside the car, I saw Julian sitting, eyes closed, deep in thought. His short, dark hair was impeccably styled, his sculpted features flawless. Of course. During my absence, he must have felt an unprecedented sense of peace and relief. He looked perfectly well-rested. Hearing the faint movement, Julian slowly opened his eyes. The moment he saw me, he barely recognized me. “Scarlett?” I nodded meekly. Yes, I had learned my lesson. Before, I hadn’t cared about being the adopted daughter of the Hayes family, acting as if I were their true child, proud and defiant. But now, after the kidnapping, I knew the truth: my life was in the Hayes’ hands. If Julian didn’t pay the ransom, my life was utterly worthless to them. He frowned, a hint of displeasure in his voice. “What did you do to yourself to end up like this?” Like this? What ‘like this’? A lunatic? A beggar? I had been on the run for dozens of miles, constantly vigilant. Besides the kidnappers, I had to watch out for wild animals in the remote woods. When thirsty, I drank rainwater; when hungry, I scrounged through roadside trash heaps on the highway. I figured anyone would go mad under those circumstances. I knew he was annoyed that my disheveled appearance would cause trouble for his company, or more accurately, the Hayes family’s company, if I showed up in front of the media like this. “I’m sorry.” I’m sorry for being such a repulsive sight to Julian. Julian paused, hearing my apology, then a cruel smile tugged at his lips. “She was right. You really did learn your lesson.” I didn’t understand what Julian was talking about. Once the car door closed and the engine started, Julian suddenly reached a long arm towards me. I instinctively recoiled, shrinking into the corner, but then he stopped, his voice filled with disgust. “Scarlett, you reek.” Perhaps it was the confined space of the car, but Julian finally caught the awful stench emanating from me – a mixture of blood, sweat, the grime from rolling in dirt, and the fermented smell of trash heaps. Hearing Julian’s words, I instinctively moved away from the seat, but the car swerved slightly, and I ended up kneeling in the aisle. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I won’t soil the seats. I just… I just need to stay kneeling here.” It hurt so much. My knees, and the blood holes left by the thin steel needles the kidnappers had used. They blamed me; they said I wasn’t important to Julian, that they couldn’t get the ransom, that I had wasted their time. So, they took it out on me. I couldn’t stand up, so I simply remained kneeling in that cramped space. Julian instantly became furious. “What are you doing? Get back in your seat!” He commanded me, but he was too disgusted to help me up. I could only obey, using all my strength to push myself back onto the seat. The pain, combined with the low blood sugar from the past few days, brought involuntary tears streaming down my face. Julian had always ignored my tears, finding them annoying. But this time, for the first time ever, he unexpectedly tossed the handkerchief he had just wiped his hands with onto my lap. I clutched the clean, white cloth. Once, I would have been overjoyed, but now, that handkerchief only served to highlight my own filth and brokenness. Dean glanced at me through the rearview mirror. I kept my head down. Perhaps he had never seen me so disgraced, so pathetic.

When the car pulled up to the Hayes mansion, Julian ordered the staff to take me to the bathroom to wash up. I refused the maids’ help, only asking them to find a long dress, one that covered my ankles, from my old wardrobe. They searched for a while, finally pulling out a conservative long-sleeved dress, like a student’s uniform, from a corner amidst various fashionable outfits. No one dictates what a student should wear, but looking at myself in the mirror, I certainly looked more like a student than with my previous flamboyant style. I remembered receiving an acceptance letter to a top design academy abroad before the kidnapping. Now, three months had already passed since the reporting date. “Thank you.” The maids looked startled, clearly not expecting their young mistress to thank them. But after everything that happened, I understood perfectly well that, at my core, I was just like them. They were maids hired by the Hayes family; I was merely a daughter they had taken in. Pushing the door open, I saw Julian waiting for me at the top of the stairs. He leaned casually against the railing, his eyes lazily sweeping over me before he let out a scoff. “Scarlett, what game are you playing now? Dressed like that.” Was I plain? Julian probably thought this was another one of my childish ploys to get his attention, but all I wanted was to cover the scars on my body. I followed Julian into the dining room. A heavy silence hung in the air until Julian gestured for me to approach. Only then did I see Mr. and Mrs. Hayes sitting at the dining table, their faces etched with worry. The moment Mrs. Hayes saw me, she rose, practically rushing over. Her steps faltered, and a woman beside her, Valerie Stone, Julian’s secretary, thoughtfully supported her. “Mrs. Hayes, please don’t rush. Miss Scarlett is back, safe and sound, isn’t she? Miss Scarlett, Mrs. Hayes has been worried sick about you.” I recognized her. She was Julian’s secretary. Valerie Stone had natural black hair, and was dressed in the simplest, most unassuming high-neck sweater and jeans, yet a beautiful rose gold necklace hung around her neck. I was “safe and sound.” In contrast, Mrs. Hayes had worried herself sick. The moment Valerie spoke, I was transformed from a victim into an ungrateful daughter of the Hayes family. Mrs. Hayes clung to me, weeping, while Valerie comforted her beside us. But I couldn’t cry. I looked at Julian, and his eyes seemed to say I was heartless. Finally, Mr. Hayes spoke sternly, interrupting them. “Stop holding Scarlett. Let her come and eat.” Mrs. Hayes wiped away her tears. “My fault, my fault. My dear girl, you’ve suffered so much these past months. You must not have eaten properly. Come, I made your favorite fish chowder!” Mrs. Hayes pulled me to sit between her and Mr. Hayes. Julian sat opposite me, with Valerie next to him. It looked so much like a family. I stared at the food on my plate, a feast of color, aroma, and taste. I had almost forgotten what normal food looked like. I wanted so badly to toss my forks aside and just grab it with my hands and shove it into my mouth. The closer I got to the city highway, the stricter the sanitation management became. Gradually, I couldn’t find any trash heaps, which meant no food. So I’d been starving for almost three days, forced to eat leaves to survive. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, I forced myself to pick up the bowl and shovel rice into my mouth with my forks. Even so, I still caught Valerie’s mocking gaze. She ate daintily, a small bite at a time, showcasing her elegance. Julian, seeing this, naturally looked even more disgusted with me. Yet, at Mrs. Hayes’s prompting, he reluctantly picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork and placed it on my plate. I had thought that even the plainest white bread and rice, which I once found hard to swallow, I could now devour. But looking at the tempting sweet and sour pork, and knowing Julian had served it to me, my stomach churned with nausea. “My dear, eat! Julian knows you like sweet and sour, so he specifically asked the chef to add this dish.” Lies. Julian knew nothing about my preferences. On the contrary, I knew his tastes inside out. For example, gold – he loved rose gold the most. Seeing my hesitant grip on the forks, Mr. Hayes asked kindly, “What’s wrong, dear? Did you argue with Julian on the way back? Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him after dinner.” “Dad!” Julian exclaimed, perhaps feeling embarrassed in front of Valerie. I shook my head silently, overcoming the physiological nausea, and brought the sweet and sour pork to my mouth with my forks. But the moment I swallowed, I threw it back up. Julian’s expression was startled. I immediately stood up from the stool, clutching my head and backing into a corner. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’ll eat it, please don’t hit me!” Everyone gasped. Mrs. Hayes’s tears started flowing again, and she came to embrace me. “Did those people abuse you, dear? Tell me, did they?” Mr. Hayes and Julian also came over. Mr. Hayes looked heartbroken, gazing at me with immense pity. Julian, however, frowned, remaining silent, his face turning incredibly dark. What did that mean? Hadn’t the kidnappers threatened the Hayes family, saying if they didn’t pay the ransom, they’d let their adopted daughter experience abuse? So why were they asking me now if I had been abused? Actually, giving me a moldy bun or spoiled rice wasn’t exactly abuse, considering what I ate later was like pig slop. But I was terrified, terrified of the feeling that my life was in Julian’s hands. The kidnappers had negotiated directly with him, yet he chose to abandon me. He hated me that much. I suppose, that’s where the physiological nausea came from.

After dinner, I was called to Mr. Hayes’s study. Mr. Hayes, abandoning his usual stern business demeanor, asked me patiently and kindly, “Scarlett, you’ve loved Julian since you were a child. Do you still love him?” I immediately shook my head, so vigorously that the muscles in my face began to ache. Seven years of loving Julian, seven years of humiliation, seven years of pain. But I never learned my lesson, did I? That’s why this time, this time I went through a hellish cycle of revenge and torment. I couldn’t dare to love Julian anymore. Mr. Hayes pondered my answer for a moment, then sighed regretfully. “Ah, never mind. If you can’t be a daughter-in-law of the Hayes family, you’ll always be a daughter of this family. Scarlett, you’re so kind, so beautiful; it’s Julian who’s unlucky.” He pulled a bank card from his drawer. “This is from your parents. There’s four million dollars in it. They asked me to keep it for you, saying it’s for your dowry when you grow up.” Four million dollars. The ransom was also four million dollars. During the kidnapping, I had sometimes resented my parents, wondering why they hadn’t taken me with them, leaving me to suffer such torment. But now, I realized. They had already left me a guarantee for a good life. They loved me so much. I bit my thumb to stifle a sob, preventing myself from crying out loud. “Thank you, Uncle.” It was already eight o’clock in the evening when I left the study. I walked towards my own room, but halfway there, I ran into Julian. He seemed to understand my intention and spoke with an unexpectedly gentle tone. “Valerie is staying in your room tonight. You can use the guest room next to mine.” It was for Valerie, then. I nodded and began walking in the opposite direction. When I first moved into the Hayes mansion, Julian disliked me so much that he moved to the furthest room from mine, one at the east end, one at the west. But my room had been decorated by a top luxury designer; the guest room couldn’t compare. Still, everything in this house belonged to the Hayes. If Julian asked me to give way, I would. I hadn’t walked two steps when Julian called out to me. “Scarlett, why are you so obedient now?” I turned back to him, noticing his expression held both mockery and a hint of worry. “I… I’m sorry…” I stammered, unable to think of anything to say to Julian other than a constant stream of apologies. “This is the third time you’ve apologized to me today. You’re acting strangely.” Julian walked closer, leaning down to reach out a hand to my forehead. I recoiled as if electrocuted, bouncing away so fast that my legs went weak, and I could barely stand as I gripped the hallway railing. Julian looked at me as if I were insane, his expression growing impatient. I forced back the tremor in my voice and said, “I… I’ll move out tomorrow. I’ve already spoken with Uncle Hayes about it.” I had expected Julian to be relieved at this news, to finally let me go. But instead, he grew angry. “Move out? Why?… I just let Valerie stay in your room for a night. She’s a guest, what’s wrong with you letting her have it?” I shook my head frantically. “No, it’s not that.” Julian’s face darkened, and he strode towards me, grabbing my wrist and pulling me towards the room at the east end. “Come with me. I need to talk to you.” A tidal wave of terror engulfed my mind. With a sob, I pulled out the bank card Mr. Hayes had given me earlier. “I’m sorry, I have money. Please don’t hit me.” “I have money, please don’t hit me.” Julian looked back in astonishment. I had already collapsed to the floor, my wrist still raised, clutched in his hand. “Scarlett, what are you talking about?” My lips were now bitten purple. Watching Julian’s face grow closer, I began to recall the kidnappers’ taunts: *A dog of the Hayes family, daring to cling to its master.* “Julian… Mr. Hayes, I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll never dare again.” Julian finally seemed to realize that my mental state was off. His movements became much gentler as he put an arm around my waist, lifting me from the floor. The feeling of weightlessness made me instinctively cling to Julian’s neck. His stern expression finally softened a bit. “Scarlett, I’m not saying I don’t want you around, it’s just…” Before he could finish, the hallway door clicked open. Valerie Stone poked her head out of my room, the bright light from inside spilling into the hall. She clapped a hand over her mouth, feigning surprise. “Mr. Hayes, Miss Scarlett.” Julian looked annoyed. “I gave you the room. What else do you need?” Valerie replied, a hint of feigned hurt in her voice, “It’s a video conference with the US branch office, Mr. Hayes. They need you to attend personally.” Julian glanced at me in his arms, then reluctantly set me down. My body was rigid, unable to speak. “Wait for me in my room.” Julian left those words, then walked towards Valerie. They entered the room, and the door closed. The bright light vanished from the hallway. I felt like I had narrowly escaped disaster, cold sweat already soaking through the back of my clothes. Julian wouldn’t come back. I knew Valerie’s tactics. Countless times—on my birthday, at my graduation ceremony—he had been called away by Valerie like this. Perhaps he genuinely wanted to leave, and truly didn’t want to come back. And I had to leave quickly too, to a place where I would never see Julian. I was terrified that any further contact with him would push me to a mental breakdown, to madness.

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“$50 million. Leave the country within a week. And stay away from my son forever.” Mrs. Harrington sat opposite me, her perfectly maintained face etched with undisguised contempt. If this were years ago, my eyes would have welled up, and I’d have retorted, “I’m not with him for money.” But now, I just calmly nodded. “Okay.” Mrs. Harrington clearly paused, then sneered. “At least you know your place.” She emphasized those last words, as if highlighting the immense social chasm between her son, Rhys Harrington, and me. I lowered my gaze, took the check, and turned to leave. By the time I returned to the mansion, it was already dark. This place was too big; I often got lost. The only familiar thing was the photo on the coffee table. In it, Rhys had his arm around my waist, looking down at me with eyes so tender they could melt the deepest winter’s ice. I gently brushed over the photo, suddenly remembering that rainy night three years ago. That year, I found Rhys by the alley entrance. He was covered in blood, his eyes unfocused. “Who are you?” I asked him. “I… I don’t remember,” he murmured, shaking his head. Rain mixed with blood dripped from his hair. And just like that, I took this amnesiac man home. Our tiny, run-down apartment was cramped with the two of us. The paint peeled from the walls, the pipes leaked, and in winter, we needed three blankets just to stay warm. But it was in this most impoverished place that the purest love blossomed. We relied on each other, becoming each other’s sole world. He would wait three hours downstairs when I worked late, just to walk me home. He would stay up all night, rubbing my stomach when period pain made me break out in cold sweats. He even worked five jobs a day, secretly, just to buy me an expensive necklace I’d admired three times but never dared to buy. The only thing I couldn’t quite handle was his insistence on our intimacy every night. I’d blush and plead, and he’d nuzzle my earlobe, chuckling, “Baby, it’s because I love you too much.” During our most loving year, he even dragged me to a tattoo parlor, getting my name inked on his collarbone. The tattoo artist asked if he was scared of the pain, but he just smiled at me. “Pain is good. That way, I’ll never forget the one I love most.” I thought we’d be happy like that forever. Until he regained his memory. That’s when I learned he wasn’t some poor guy found on the street, but the scion of the powerful Harrington dynasty, practically owning half the financial world in Westwood. He’d only lost his memory in a car crash, orchestrated by a rival, and ended up on the streets. After reclaiming his identity, Rhys moved me into a sprawling mansion. Its bathroom alone was ten times the size of my old apartment. But he, too, became a different person. He wore custom-tailored designer suits whose brands I couldn’t even recognize, sported priceless watches, closed multi-million dollar deals, and spent nights away from home. I deluded myself, telling myself he was just too busy. Until the day entertainment headlines were plastered with rumors of him and the heiress, Serena Albright. In the photos, he was holding the car door open for her, wearing one of those designer suits. The way they smiled at each other stung my eyes. The comment section buzzed with “a perfect match” and “destined to be together.” In that moment, sitting alone by the window, watching the moon all night, I finally understood the truth. The Rhys who braved the wind and snow to pick me up from work, the Rhys who worked construction to buy me a necklace, the Rhys who tattooed my name on his collarbone – he had died the day his memory returned. The current Harrington scion and I were more than just worlds apart. He stood among the clouds, and I was stuck in the mud. Just like the moon can never reach the dust, someone like him was destined for someone equally brilliant. If that was the case, why humiliate myself further? It was better to let go. To let go of him, and to let go of myself. That night, the mansion remained empty. Rhys still didn’t return. I didn’t wait for him until dawn as usual. I went to bed early, and as soon as morning broke, I headed to the visa center. I used the expedited service, and my visa and passport would be ready within a week. It was noon when I left the visa center. I found a random restaurant. The moment I pushed the door open, my steps faltered slightly. By the window, Rhys was gently wiping Serena Albright’s lips with a napkin. His eyes held a tenderness that could melt the deepest winter’s ice, exactly as they had when he used to kiss me, laughing, in our old rental. I stood rooted to the spot, feeling my heart gripped by an invisible hand. I turned to leave, but accidentally knocked over a potted plant by the door. Rhys looked up at the sound. Seeing me, the warmth in his eyes vanished. He slowly walked towards me, his thin lips parting, his voice low and cold. “Are you stalking me?” Before I could even speak, he continued, “I already explained those online rumors were just about a business deal. How long are you going to keep this up?” I opened my mouth, wanting to explain, but my throat felt choked with cotton. Mrs. Harrington’s words from yesterday echoed in my ears: “Rhys and Serena’s marriage alliance was decided long ago by our families. He’s very fond of Serena himself…” A partnership? Was it that kind of partnership? “Rhys, don’t be so harsh.” Serena followed, smiling sweetly to smooth things over. “It’s fate that we ran into each other. Come, let’s sit together.” Before I could refuse, Serena pulled me directly to their table. I sat there like a puppet, placed in a chair, directly facing Rhys’s icy cold face. “Aubrey, what would you like to eat?” Serena pushed the menu towards me. “Their French cuisine is very authentic.” I stared at the French words on the menu, completely incomprehensible to me, a sense of embarrassment spreading in my chest. “I’m not hungry.” I pushed the menu back. “Then have some soup.” Serena spooned a bowl of seafood soup and placed it in front of me. “It’s very fresh.” I stared at the shrimp floating in the soup, my stomach clenching with a sharp pain. I was severely allergic to seafood. Just as I was about to politely decline, Rhys’s phone rang. He stood up to answer it, his back tall and straight. I’d seen that suit in a magazine; it cost more than my entire old neighborhood. “Go on, try it.” Serena suddenly lowered her voice. “After all, given your background, you don’t usually get to eat such expensive dishes.” I snapped my head up, meeting her smiling eyes. “You don’t really think that just because you had a fling with Rhys, you can marry into a wealthy family, do you?” Her fingertip tapped lightly on the rim of her glass. “If he hadn’t lost his memory, a low-class woman like you wouldn’t even be fit to polish his shoes.” I clenched the napkin, the fabric crumpling in my palm. I might have been poor, but I wouldn’t let anyone trample my dignity like this. “Serena, we don’t even know each other, you—” “Oh!” My words were cut short as Serena suddenly gasped, raising her hand and knocking over the bowl of seafood soup. The scalding liquid splashed onto her hand and all over mine. Rhys, hearing the sound, rushed back. His long fingers immediately clasped Serena’s hand. “What happened?” “It’s nothing…” Serena’s eyes were red. “It’s all my fault. Aubrey, as your girlfriend, seeing us having lunch together, she must have gotten angry, and it’s understandable…” Rhys instantly looked at me, a frosty frown on his brow. “Aubrey, I’ve explained countless times. Do you have to be like this?” “I didn’t, she just—” “Enough!” He cut me off. “I saw it with my own eyes. How could it be false? When did you become so unreasonable?” With that, Rhys put his arm around Serena and walked away without a backward glance. Serena, her head on his shoulder, slowly turned back and gave me a triumphant smile. I stood there, my hand trembling, red and blistered from the scald. Blisters were already forming, stinging like a thousand needles. But in Rhys’s eyes, there was only Serena’s slightly reddened skin. He left so quickly, so decisively, without even a glance my way. Yet, my Rhys, he used to be so concerned about me. Three years ago, when I burned myself cooking, he was so anxious his eyes turned red. He rushed to the pharmacy that night to buy medicine, and when he returned, he applied it to my hand, asking, “Aubrey, does it hurt?” Back then, his eyes were only for me. But the Rhys of today could no longer see me. Chapter 2 I went home alone. Once there, I found the first-aid kit in the living room and disinfected, medicated, and bandaged my own hand. A sharp, stinging pain radiated from the wound, like countless ants gnawing at my skin. As I turned to go upstairs, my gaze fell upon the grand piano in the corner of the living room. Rhys had bought it after he regained his memory, saying he’d teach me to play. But after all this time, a thick layer of dust had settled on the piano lid. Just like our relationship, it had long been covered in dust. My eyes welled up, and I quickly went to my room to pack my luggage. Clothes, documents, bank cards… I sorted each item slowly, as if bidding farewell to my past self. Halfway through, the bedroom door suddenly swung open. Rhys stood in the doorway, his suit jacket draped over his arm, his tie loose. He saw my open suitcase and frowned. “What are you doing?” “Packing.” I answered calmly, continuing to fold clothes without looking up. Rhys frowned and walked closer. A faint scent of perfume, the same one Serena had worn today, wafted from him. He grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it made me wince in pain. “Just because I had lunch with Serena today, you’re throwing a tantrum and running away? Serena didn’t even make a big deal out of you hurting her, and here you are, acting childish?” I looked up at him. The irritation in his eyes was painfully clear. “Serena and my family are old friends. Her parents asked me to look after her since she just returned. Can’t you be more understanding?” Understanding? The word pierced my heart like a knife. I clutched the clothes in my hand, the fabric crumpling in my palm. I was already preparing to exit quietly. How much more “understanding” did he want? “Speak!” Rhys suddenly raised his voice. I turned silently, resuming my packing. My silence completely enraged Rhys. “Fine. Let’s see how long you can keep this up.” With that, he slammed the door shut. The “bang” reverberated, making my chest tremble. The next morning, when I went downstairs, I saw Serena sitting in the living room, laughing and talking with Rhys. She was wearing a white dress today, her makeup flawless, looking innocent and elegant. Seeing me descend, she immediately stood up, smiling sweetly and harmlessly. “Aubrey, you’re awake? My parents insisted Rhys take me to today’s auction. Please don’t overthink it.” I glanced at Rhys. He was looking down, adjusting his cufflink, not even sparing me a glance. “I’m not overthinking it.” My voice was barely a whisper. “What you two do has nothing to do with me.” Rhys’s hand paused, his frown deepening. He was about to speak, but Serena quickly interjected. “Why don’t you come along, Aubrey? You don’t have anything else to do, anyway.” Before I could refuse, Serena affectionately linked her arm through mine. I was dragged into the car just like that. The auction house lights glittered, filled with distinguished guests. Rhys sat in the front row, his long fingers casually raising the bid paddle. One by one, pieces of jewelry and luxury watches were won by him, then casually handed to Serena by his side. Serena smiled gracefully, occasionally leaning in to whisper in his ear, their intimacy a painful sight. “Rhys, should we get something for Aubrey too?” she suggested, feigning thoughtfulness. Rhys’s tone was indifferent. “No need. She’s not used to such things.” Hearing this, Serena’s lips curled into a slight smile. In an angle Rhys couldn’t see, she shot me a victor’s smirk. I lowered my gaze, my fingertips gently tracing the auction catalog in my hand, my heart chilling. Was it that I wasn’t used to them, or that I didn’t deserve them? In his eyes, I was probably always that Cinderella from the wrong side of the tracks. Even standing beside him now, deep down, I didn’t deserve these luxurious things. But it didn’t matter. Soon, there would be no connection between us anyway. I sat quietly in the corner, watching Rhys lavish Serena with gifts, watching their open displays of affection, as if I were merely an irrelevant bystander. Until the final item was presented— A jade bracelet. My breath hitched. My fingers involuntarily clenched. It was Grandma’s heirloom! Three years ago, to buy me a birthday gift, Rhys had worked construction and ended up falling from the site, nearly losing his life. To pay for his surgery, I had no choice but to sell the only bracelet my grandma had left me. Later, when I saved enough money to buy it back, the bracelet had already been purchased by someone else. I searched every antique store in Westwood, but I never saw it again. And now, here it was, unexpectedly appearing before my eyes. A thrill of hope surged through me. Almost instinctively, I raised my bid paddle. “One million.” Serena turned to look at me in surprise, then let out a light laugh and raised her paddle. “Three million.” “Four million!” “Five million!”

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