I’m on a family reality show with my pop-star brother, and the producers want us to “open our hearts” and resolve our deepest issues on camera. Suddenly, my brother, who’s usually a literal ray of sunshine, buries his face in his hands and starts sobbing, accusing me of being cold and distant our entire childhood. As the cameras zoom in and I can feel the tidal wave of online hate about to crash over me, I try to explain, my face a mask of pure exasperation. “You spent your days setting off firecrackers in cow pies with Jay-Jay from next door, then came home wanting to cuddle. How exactly was I supposed to get close to you?!” My brother blinks, stunned for a second. “But you gave away Snowflake, my favorite dog…” That leaves me even more speechless. “You used to French-kiss that dog! You insisted she was a girl and that you were going to marry her. What, does every female on the planet have to marry you?” Leo: “…” The A-list star beside me is doubled over with laughter. I shoot him a glare. “Don’t act like you weren’t part of it, Jay-Jay.” 1 I was in the middle of signing a multi-million dollar contract when my brother’s frantic call came through. “Vivian!” “What is it?” A nerve in my temple twitched. Anytime Leo actually called me by my name instead of some ridiculous nickname, it meant trouble. His voice turned syrupy sweet. “So, next week I’m supposed to be on this reality show about family bonds, but Mom and Dad are off on their European tour, so I was hoping my favorite big sister could fill in…” After Leo started college, he was scouted by an agency and became a pop star. I never expected the little brat who used to drive me insane would actually carve out a niche for himself in the entertainment industry with some serious talent. I gestured for my assistant to close the office door and shut him down flat. “No. I’m busy.” “Wait, wait, wait! Viv, you remember Everett, right? Everett Song?” “Everett?” “Yeah. He’s the main investor behind the show, and he’s also a special guest. They only asked me to join last minute because another guest dropped out. Come on, Viv, can’t you just spare a few days? For old times’ sake? He’s helped me out a few times in the industry, you know.” Everett Song was our neighbor when we were kids. We lost touch after he moved abroad for school, only keeping up with the occasional text. All I knew was that he was now an A-list star. Listening to Leo’s relentless pleading, I realized I wasn’t getting out of this. My eyes drifted to the file on my desk. I raised an eyebrow. “Fine, I’ll do it. On one condition. You get me Everett Song for my company’s new product launch.” “What? You want Everett to be the face of a new lipstick line?” A small smile played on my lips. “We’re not exactly close anymore. If I ask him, he could say no. So, I’m leaving it to you.” Leo went quiet for a moment before muttering under his breath, “He’d probably be more likely to say yes if you asked him…” “What was that?” “I said, ‘Consider it done!’” His voice was dripping with fake enthusiasm. “See you at the show, Viv!” After he hung up, I tapped my fingers on the tabletop. A few days on a reality show in exchange for an endorsement from an A-list star? That was a hell of a deal. 2 When the day came, I cleared my schedule and headed straight for the studio. The show was a live broadcast featuring three pairs of family members, plus Everett as a special guest. The premise was simple: play some games, do some activities, and strengthen their bonds. With an A-lister like Everett on board, the online hype was through the roof. [OMG, Everett’s first solo project as a producer! I’m so here for it!] [I heard Leo Wen is bringing his sister. Is this the one he said used to beat him up all the time? LOL.] [Evan Chen, the award-winning actor, is bringing his daughter on a show for the first time! I can’t wait!] The studio was massive, and I couldn’t find Leo anywhere. “Ms. Wen?” a sugary voice called out. I turned. Oh, Meagen Kane. Another one of the guests. Her eyes curved into a crescent shape. “I can’t believe I’m running into you here. What a coincidence.” “Hmm,” I said, sliding off my sunglasses. “My name is Vivian. And yes, quite the coincidence.” “I heard Vivida Cosmetics is looking for a new face for your latest campaign,” she said, her smile never wavering as she pulled a delicate-looking boy to her side. “This is my brother, Caleb. He’s a rising pop star too. If you have an opportunity, you should really keep us in mind.” I looked Meagen up and down, tucking my sunglasses into the collar of my blouse. The irony was almost suffocating. Three years ago, I had just spun off from my family’s corporation to launch Vivida Cosmetics. The face I wanted for my brand, more than anyone, was the up-and-coming starlet Meagen Kane. She had an innocent look, a sweet-girl-next-door vibe. Her fame wasn’t at its peak, but I believed the brand and the ambassador could grow together. To show how serious I was, I went to meet her myself, armed with a detailed brand proposal and a full set of samples. She’d taken one look at them and tossed the samples on the floor, her face twisted in a sneer. “Are you kidding me? Every no-name brand thinks they can get an endorsement now? Who knows if this junk will make my face break out. Get lost. Don’t waste my time.” Three years later, Vivida went from an unknown startup to a household name in cosmetics. Meagen Kane? Still a B-list starlet, treading water. But I had to give her credit for her nerve. A small laugh escaped me. “A no-name brand like ours couldn’t possibly afford stars of your caliber.” Meagen’s smile froze. Before I could turn to leave, she grabbed my arm, her eyes welling up. “You might have misunderstood me back then. I never meant to—” “Vivian.” A cool, magnetic voice cut her off. Everett Song was standing there in a loose white button-down, his broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist. His handsome, almost aloof features were softened by a hint of a smile. “There you are.” For a second, my mind went blank. He was so much more striking in person than on screen. I found my voice. “I just got here. I was looking for—” “Mr. Song,” Meagen interrupted, a single tear clinging to her lashes. “I’m so happy to be a part of your show. Thank you so much for this opportunity.” I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Everett glanced at her and gave a curt nod. “The dressing rooms are over there. The AC is on if you need to cool down.” “Oh?” He ignored her, his eyes finding mine again, a genuine warmth in them. “Long time no see.” 3 Everett led me to where Leo was waiting, and after a few brief pleasantries, the show began. The lineup was set: Leo and me, Meagen and Caleb Kane, and the veteran actor Evan Chen with his four-year-old daughter, Lily. And, of course, our special guest, Everett. The host kicked things off with a beaming smile. “Welcome to our first segment—‘The Unspoken Word’! This is a chance for our families to open their hearts and share things they’ve never been able to say.” “First up, let’s welcome Meagen and Caleb Kane!” It was a classic, tear-jerking setup. Meagen and Caleb held hands, gazing at each other with tear-filled eyes as they recounted their journey from a difficult childhood to their careers. One moment, the brother was talking about his sister’s sacrifices; the next, the sister was weeping over the hardships he’d endured. The sentimental background music swelled, and they broke into full-blown sobs. I propped my chin on my hand, stifling a yawn. Leo, munching on a bag of sunflower seeds beside me, whispered, “So fake.” I nodded in agreement. “They’re really laying it on thick. I bet she beat the crap out of him when they were kids.” Leo choked on a seed. The live comments, however, were a waterfall of emotion. [I’m crying. Seriously, their bond is so touching. They’ve had it so tough in this industry, always supporting each other…] [Did you see the camera pan to Vivian and Leo? Their expressions are priceless, lol.] [Forget them, has anyone noticed Everett? Why does he keep looking to his right? Who’s sitting there?] A poke on my left arm. I turned to meet Everett’s clear, light-brown eyes. “What?” A corner of his mouth lifted. He leaned in, his voice a low murmur. “I heard you want me to be the face of your new product line.” On stage, Meagen was still in the middle of a dramatic, tear-stained monologue. I blinked, caught off guard by the question. Recovering quickly, I leaned closer too. “That’s right. It’s a new lipstick collection called ‘First Love.’ I think you’d be perfect for it.” “And why is that?” He was so close I could see the natural curve of his eyelashes. “You’ve got the star power, and your public image is basically America’s sweetheart,” I said, all business. “But most importantly, you’re incredibly handsome. You’re the perfect fit.” And your fans have incredible purchasing power. He let out a soft chuckle, the sound vibrating in his chest. “Then why not ask me to be the brand ambassador for the whole company?” I was momentarily speechless. “Can’t afford you.” There were better ways to spend that kind of money, like on R&D. “I’ll give you a discount.” “What?” As I stared, stunned, his hand, all long fingers and elegant knuckles, reached for my collar. For a split second I froze, then instinctively flinched away. The stool I was on wobbled, and I felt myself tipping backward, but his hand shot out and grabbed my arm, steadying me. Everett held up the sunglasses he’d plucked from my collar. “These were about to fall.” “…” I’d forgotten they were even there. “Thanks,” I mumbled, reaching for them. “I’ll hold on to them for you,” he said, smoothly tucking them into the pocket of his shirt. “You’re up next.” “Huh?” 4 I glanced at the stage and saw Meagen and Caleb back in their seats. Leo was already up there, microphone in hand. He had just finished introducing himself and was now introducing me. “My sister is three years older than me. She runs her own company and is usually swamped with work. We actually haven’t seen each other in three months, so I’m grateful to this show for giving us a chance to finally talk.” I watched him on stage—so confident and bright, a far cry from the goofy kid I grew up with. A small smile touched my lips as I focused on what he was saying. “When we were little, our parents were always busy, so my sister and I spent most of our childhood at our grandparents’ house. We were together for eight or nine years… I really miss those days.” “I love my sister so, so much. Even if…” His voice cracked, and his eyes instantly reddened. “Even if she doesn’t love me that much, I’ll always love her.” A hush fell over the set. I was dumbfounded. I turned to Everett. “Is this… part of the show? His acting is pretty convincing.” Everett looked just as surprised. “No. This show is completely unscripted.” Me: “???” The host guided me onto the stage. By now, Leo had gone through several tissues, his eyes puffy and red. He looked like a kicked puppy. The online comments were flooded with messages of sympathy. And I just stood there, completely lost. “What is going on?” “I didn’t want to say any of this, but once that sappy music started playing…” Leo’s crying escalated into a high-pitched wail. “I just couldn’t hold it in!” “I feel like I’ve been the only one putting in any effort our whole lives! You never wanted to be close to me, and I was always chasing after you like a lost puppy, but you couldn’t stand me! You didn’t like me, you ignored me…” The host rushed over with a whole box of tissues, and Leo grabbed it, letting out a series of heart-wrenching sobs. The viewers online were in an uproar. [My heart is breaking for Leo! I wish I were his sister!] [What kind of sister is she?! If my brother were Leo Wen, I’d spoil him rotten!] [So what if she owns a company?! Just cut ties with her! A sister like that is worse than no sister at all!] I was speechless. Seriously? Leo sniffled a few more times. “But I never blamed you, Vivian. Really.” I looked at him, my expression a mixture of confusion and pity. Yep, my brother was a certified idiot. “You know, I think your memory might be a little fuzzy. Why don’t I jog it for you?” My brows knitted together in disgust. “When you were a kid, you spent all day with Jay-Jay from next door, setting off firecrackers in cow pies. Then you’d come home, not even showered, and try to hug me. How exactly was I supposed to get close to you?!” “What?” Leo’s tears stopped mid-stream. I continued without mercy. “You chased me around like a maniac every single day. Was I not allowed to run away?” The sentimental music screeched to a halt. The live chat froze. Leo, momentarily stunned, tried to defend himself. “But… you gave away Snowflake, my favorite dog! I raised her from a puppy!” That just made me even more exasperated. “You used to French-kiss that dog! And you kept insisting she was a girl and that you were going to marry her. What, does every female on the planet have to marry you?” “Snowflake would take off running the second she saw you. You didn’t just chase me; you chased the dog too.” “Have you forgotten about the three rounds of rabies shots?!” At that, Leo fell completely silent, his face blank. The memories were clearly flooding back. Meanwhile, thinking about our childhood was just making me angrier. He was nothing but trouble! Just as I was about to really let him have it, a low chuckle cut through the tension, clear as a bell. 5 I froze, my gaze snapping over to Everett. His lips were curved into a wide, unrestrained grin. I’d almost forgotten. He was the real mastermind behind all of it! He was the one who supplied my brother with firecrackers for the cow pies, acting as his military strategist. He was the one who encouraged Leo to bring home tadpoles, which turned into a house full of toads just to scare me. He’d corrupted my brother, then conveniently disappeared overseas. It took me years to beat some sense back into Leo. And now Everett had the nerve to laugh? I shot him a look, mouthing silently, “As if I wasn’t talking about you, Jay-Jay?” His smile faltered. He cleared his throat, raising a fist to his lips to cover a cough. The sound drew everyone’s attention, and a camera swiveled right to him. Everett put on his best official smile and delivered a summary. “It just goes to show, no childhood punishment is ever wasted.” The live comments exploded. [I am on my KNEES! I’m so sorry, I completely misjudged Vivian!] [LMAO, Vivian is literally me. I couldn’t stand my little brother when we were kids, and he was so clingy!] [Compared to this, the Kanes’ whole teary-eyed act feels so scripted now…] Leo and I returned to our seats, his eyes now shining with a newfound innocence. “Hehe, Viv, I really thought you hated me all this time…” “You’re an idiot.” Next up were Evan Chen and his daughter. Little Lily, in her sweet, piping voice, asked if she could watch an extra thirty minutes of cartoons every day. Evan lovingly agreed, telling her all he wanted was for her to grow up happy. The heartwarming scene melted everyone’s hearts. “And now, for our second segment—‘A Change of Heart’!” the host announced. “Each guest will draw a colored card. Those with matching colors will become a new ‘family’ for this challenge and complete a task together!” Now that sounded interesting. I drew a blue card and scanned the room to see who my partner would be. Suddenly, Leo grabbed my arm, holding up a rainbow-colored card like it was a bomb. “Vivian! Help me!” I saw Caleb Kane holding a matching rainbow card and looked back at my brother, confused. “Isn’t Caleb from your agency? You already know him. What’s the big deal?” “No, no, no,” Leo whispered frantically, shaking his head. “He’s gay.” Me: “???” 6 My eyes widened as I looked from the delicate-featured Caleb back to my goofy brother. Gay?! Leo ducked behind me, hiding his card. “You don’t follow the gossip, Viv, you wouldn’t know. He’s always trying to queerbait with me for the cameras, and I want no part of it.” “The agency sent us on a travel show together once, and it was a nightmare. He’d ‘accidentally’ fall into my arms or ‘unintentionally’ brush his hand against my butt. At first, I just thought he was being friendly…” “Then I saw the fan edits of us online.” Leo’s face contorted in disgust. “The way they cut those clips… I almost thought we were actually dating.” “The man is a menace!” I was shocked, but also a little amused. I gave Leo a long, scrutinizing look. “And you’re…?” “A hundred percent straight! I can’t be on a team with him again. My reputation will never recover!” Seeing my brother so genuinely repulsed was actually kind of hilarious. Poor guy. Leo started wheedling again. “Please, Viv, switch with me. Please, please, please…” Sighing, I gave in. “Fine, give me your card—” Before I could finish, I felt a tug on my sleeve. I looked down to see a small hand holding up a blue card. Lily Chen blinked her big, innocent eyes up at me. “Aunty, I want to be on your team. Can you please not switch with that uncle?” Leo froze, offended. “Uncle? Me? And she’s ‘Aunty’?” Lily just blinked again and hid behind me. “I just want to be with this aunty. Uncle, can you please let me?” On one hand, my own flesh and blood. On the other, a completely adorable little girl I’d just met. The choice was obvious. The adorable little girl, of course! I couldn’t hide my grin as I scooped Lily into my arms. “Of course, sweetie. I’d love to be on your team. Sorry, Leo. You’re on your own.” Leo: “???” Another card appeared in front of me, this one also blue, followed by Everett’s handsome face. He raised an eyebrow. “Looks like I drew blue too. Mind if I join?” I stared for a moment, momentarily captivated. That face was truly flawless. Everett patted Leo’s shoulder. “Good luck.” Leo turned away, his voice filled with despair. “That’s it, I’m disowning all of you.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “384480”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 I was at my cousin’s auto club for a routine service on my car. When they finished up, I told the staff, “Just put it on Ryan’s tab.” The mechanic nodded and was about to process it when a manager I’d never seen before stepped in. “We don’t run tabs here,” she said sharply. “All bills must be settled on-site.” With a flick of her wrist, she slapped the invoice down on the counter in front of me. Executive Tier Precision Diagnostic: $12,000 Acoustic Resonance Signature Enhancement: $15,000 Engine Psychosomatic Harmony Calibration: $15,000 Total: Forty-two thousand dollars. I almost laughed out loud. Since when did my cousin start running a chop shop? The manager, a woman with a severe haircut and an even more severe expression, crossed her arms and looked me up and down with undisguised contempt. “I’ve seen plenty of broke relatives like you, trying to freeload off a family name. If you can’t afford the lifestyle, don’t pretend you can.” Without another word, I pulled out my phone and dialed my cousin. “You have ten minutes to get her out of my sight,” I said, my voice low and even. “Or you can kiss this entire club goodbye.” … “Cole… is there some kind of misunderstanding?” On the other end of the line, my cousin Ryan’s voice was laced with a nervous tremor. “A misunderstanding?” My tone turned to ice. “Do I sound like someone who starts trouble for no reason? This isn’t a discussion, Ryan. It’s a notification. Handle your people. Now.” My sharp tone seemed to jolt him. “Okay, okay, don’t be mad, Cole,” he stammered, trying to placate me. “Just put Jessica on the phone. I’ll ask her what’s going on.” I let out a cold snort and handed the phone to the manager. Her name was Jessica, apparently. She rolled her eyes and snatched the phone from my hand. “I’ve told you a million times to stop hanging around these deadbeat relatives,” she hissed into the receiver. “All they do is use your name to get freebies. This one’s the worst yet—he’s trying to skip out on the bill entirely.” I could hear Ryan trying to explain something, but Jessica cut him off. “Stop it. I know you’re too soft, always worried about family feelings. You can’t bring yourself to do what’s necessary, so I’ll be the bad guy today!” She hung up, tossed the phone back at me, and tilted her chin up defiantly. “You heard him. Ryan can’t be bothered with this. Now, let’s settle up. The total is forty-two thousand, seven hundred and fifty. I’ll be generous and waive the change. Forty-two thousand flat.” “Cash, card, or wire transfer? Let’s not drag this out, or I’ll have security escort you out.” She emphasized the word “escort,” her threat hanging in the air. I was so stunned by her audacity and sheer stupidity that I actually did laugh this time. In all my years, no one had ever dared to be this brazen with me. Just then, the door to the VIP lounge swung open and Ryan rushed in, a practiced, sycophantic smile plastered on his face. “Cole, hey! What’s all this about?” he said, jogging over. “Jess is just… very by-the-book. Don’t take it personally.” Before I could respond, Jessica bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “Ryan, honey, I’m doing this for you! Do you want every lowlife off the street coming in here, dropping your name, and running this place into the ground?” She clung to his arm, shooting me a triumphant, challenging look over his shoulder. That’s when it all clicked. If I hadn’t figured it out by now, I’d be an idiot. This manager wasn’t just arrogant; she had backing. As if to confirm my suspicions, Ryan forced another smile and tried to play the family card. “Look, Cole, Jess is my girlfriend. We’re getting engaged next month. We’re all going to be family, right? Let’s just… let me pay the bill, and we can all move on.” “Not a chance,” I said, my voice flat. Ryan’s attitude was a cold slap in the face. If I hadn’t taken pity on him back in the day, remembering a kindness his mother had shown my father, he’d still be handing out résumés at job fairs. The design of this club, the business plan, the connections, even the startup capital—I had provided it all from behind the scenes. I’d stayed in the shadows to protect his ego, so he had no idea that I was the real owner. And now, for this short-sighted, venomous woman, he was ready to turn on me. Fine. No more mercy. Forty-two grand was a rounding error for me, less than what I spend on a casual Tuesday. This wasn’t about the money. It was about the betrayal from a wolf I had personally raised. “Fine,” I said. “I’ll pay.” A victorious smirk spread across Jessica’s face. Ryan let out a visible sigh of relief, clearly thinking the ordeal was over. “But…” My voice sharpened, rising in volume. “You’re going to explain this forty-two-thousand-dollar charge to me. Line by line. Item by item.” Jessica immediately produced the invoice again, reading it out in a tone dripping with condescending pride. “First, the Executive Tier Precision Diagnostic. We use a German-imported analysis machine, and the three-hour inspection is conducted by a specialist with an ‘International Artisan Certification.’ The fee is based on international standards, of course.” “Next, your exhaust system had an anomaly affecting its acoustic aesthetics. We performed an upgrade using our proprietary ‘Italian operatic tenor resonance chamber’ technique, giving the exhaust note the powerful, resonant quality of a Pavarotti aria. It’s a work of art.” I thought I’d misheard. The three business partners I’d brought with me were visibly trying not to laugh. Even Ryan had the decency to look down in embarrassment. But Jessica wasn’t done. “Finally, our technicians detected a power imbalance in your turbocharger. This is a highly complex issue requiring a Swiss vacuum-calibrated instrument, with remote guidance from our headquarters’ top experts to perform a psychosomatic recalibration, ensuring a spiritual harmony between the turbo and the engine.” “You know what that’s called?” she sneered. “It’s called unparalleled, top-tier service. Something you clearly know nothing about.” Her last words were a naked insult. One of my partners, a Mr. Davis, had heard enough. He stood up, trying to smooth things over. “Mr. Harrison, it’s getting late. Perhaps we should go? I can cover this.” I raised a hand to stop him. This was far beyond a simple matter of money now. I had brought my partners here to introduce them to Ryan, to throw him some business, and this is how I was treated. Forcing my anger down, I turned to my guests and offered a sincere apology. “Gentlemen, I am truly sorry you had to witness this absurd spectacle. To make it up to you, I’ll be booking out The Pinnacle Club this Saturday for a private dinner.” The moment the words left my mouth, their phones began to chime with booking confirmations from the club. Mr. Davis, who had just offered to pay my bill, now stared at me, his face a mixture of shock and excitement. While they were all successful businessmen, they weren’t in the truly elite circles. The Pinnacle Club was a legendary, invitation-only establishment frequented by billionaires and power brokers. You couldn’t just buy your way in. And I had secured it with a single text message. Any lingering doubt they might have had about me vanished in that instant. Their gazes were now filled with a clear and profound respect. I walked my partners to the main entrance, watching as their cars drove away. The moment their taillights disappeared, the smile dropped from my face, replaced by a glacial coldness. I turned to go back inside, ready to clean house. But Jessica was there, blocking the entrance with two burly security guards. “Stop right there!” she shrieked, pointing a finger at my nose. “You think you can just walk out of here? Not until you pay what you owe!” The guards stepped forward, flanking her menacingly. I stopped, staring at the utterly ridiculous scene. I was being held hostage at the entrance of my own property over a phantom debt. It was the joke of the century. The commotion had drawn the attention of other customers in the lobby, their curious and scornful gazes landing on me. You’d think I was a common thief trying to dine and dash. “Can you believe it? Someone trying to skip out on a bill at Apex?” “Tsk, tsk. Dressed so nicely, too. What a disgrace.” “If you can’t afford it, don’t come to Apex. So embarrassing.” The humiliation of being publicly accused like this sent a surge of fury through me. Beside them, Ryan was pale, sweat beading on his forehead. “Jess… maybe just let it go…” he pleaded, tugging at her sleeve. Jessica’s eyes went wide with fury. “Are you kidding me, Ryan? Have some backbone! The money is right there for the taking. Are you going to let a freeloader like him off the hook, or are you going to squeeze him for every last cent?” Ryan flinched and fell silent, shrinking back like a scolded dog. His spinelessness disgusted me and sealed my disappointment. My face was a cold mask as I pulled out my phone and called my assistant. “Chris, bring seventy-five thousand in cash from the car. Main entrance. Now.” A few minutes later, Chris arrived, carrying a heavy silver briefcase. I nodded for him to open it. With a soft click, the latches sprang open, revealing stacks of crisp hundred-dollar bills, packed neatly inside. A collective gasp went through the lobby. All the whispers stopped. Jessica’s eyes widened, practically bulging out of her head. She clearly never imagined that the “broke relative” she’d been mocking could produce this much cash so effortlessly. “I should have asked for a hundred and fifty grand,” she muttered under her breath, a flash of avarice in her eyes. She swallowed hard, her breathing quickening as she stared at the money. She reached out to close the case. “Finally showing some sense,” she sneered. “Forty-two thousand for the service, and the rest… we’ll call it compensation for the emotional distress and reputational damage you’ve caused our club today.” “Wait.” I placed my hand on the lid, stopping her. Her eyes narrowed. “What? Having second thoughts?” “You can have the money,” I said, my gaze sharp as a razor. “But first, you’re signing a receipt. In black and white.” Ryan jolted as if struck by lightning, finally realizing this was spiraling far beyond his control. He grabbed Jessica’s arm, his voice pleading. “Jess, don’t sign it! We can’t take this money! Just give it back to him!” “Get off me, you useless coward!” Jessica shoved him away with a look of pure disgust. “Why would I give back money that’s already in my hands? He owes us this! I’ll sign whatever he wants. A signed receipt makes it official. No take-backs.” Greed had completely consumed her. She snatched a pen and paper from a nearby staff member and, without a second thought, scrawled her name—Jessica Thorne—across the bottom, even pressing her thumb into a red ink pad for a print. “There!” She shoved the receipt at me and slammed the briefcase shut, clutching it to her chest like a life raft. “See, honey?” she cooed, linking her arm with Ryan’s. “Told you I could handle it. Seventy-five grand! This will be my little secret fund. I’ve been dying to get that limited edition Hermès bag, and now I finally can!” She was lost in a fantasy of unearned luxury, a blissful smile on her face. Just as she was pulling a dazed Ryan towards the exit, the screech of tires echoed from outside. Three black SUVs, each emblazoned with the sleek “Apex” logo, pulled up to the curb. The doors flew open and a team of seven or eight men and women in dark, immaculate suits stepped out. They moved with a calm, deliberate purpose, each wearing the discreet pin of Apex Holdings on their lapel. The man in the lead was middle-aged, with a strong jaw and sharp, piercing eyes that radiated an aura of absolute authority. This was Marcus Thorne, the Director of Internal Audits. His arrival sent a shockwave through the club’s staff. Employees who had been gawking straightened up instantly, a palpable tension filling the air. Marcus ignored everyone, his eyes scanning the room until they locked onto me. He strode through the crowd, walked directly up to me, and bowed his head slightly. “Mr. Harrison. Marcus Thorne, Apex Holdings Internal Audit. My team is here, reporting for duty.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “384479”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Gerston Croft, heir to a billion-dollar fortune, was exposed as an impostor. Now broke and disgraced, he was trying to end his life in a grimy basement. I clutched our old sugar daddy agreement, ready to tear it up and run—until a stream of text flashed before my eyes like a live chat: [Of course the side-chick’s a gold digger. Her leaving just makes way for the real heroine.] [After she leaves, she gets tortured to death by a sadistic new benefactor. If only she knew in six months the male lead will not only rebuild his empire but surpass the Crofts, becoming the youngest self-made billionaire. The irony would kill her again.] My hand shook; I tore the contract in two. I rushed into the bathroom. There he was, wrist bleeding. I grabbed his arm, sobbing without dignity. “Don’t die! Who’ll take care of me? I… I want to renew our contract!” His hollow eyes fell on the torn paper. “Really?” he whispered. 1 “You were only ever with me for the money,” he said, his voice flat. “And now you see the truth.” His eyes roamed the dank, grimy basement, a place of shadows and damp concrete. His lips, once a confident crimson, were now pale and bloodless. I pressed my hands against the cut on his wrist, but the blood still dripped, staining the floor a dark, ugly red. “I’ve been cast out by the Crofts. I’m hiding in this hellhole, a man who can’t even support himself, let alone you. So just go. I don’t blame you.” The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I had been with Gerston Croft for eight years. To the world, he was a polished, gentle heir. Only I knew the truth: he was a viper in a cashmere coat, vengeful to the core. His words were casual, forgiving, but the hand he kept hidden behind his back was clenched so tight the knuckles were white. I didn’t know if I could trust the bizarre text feed in front of my eyes, but my gut screamed at me to trust my instinct for survival. I couldn’t leave. If I did, I wouldn’t have to wait for some future sadist to kill me. Gerston would do it himself, slowly and creatively. I lunged forward, pressing my lips against his. He responded instantly, kissing me back with a desperate hunger that left me breathless. When I finally pushed him away, gasping for air, I snatched the torn contract from the floor. As he watched in stunned silence, I ripped the pieces into tiny shreds. I cupped his face in my hands, my voice earnest. “Gerston, I don’t want to be your mistress anymore.” A flicker of cold, murderous intent crossed his eyes. The comments in my vision sneered. [Wow, thought for a second she’d had a change of heart. Turns out she’s just here to twist the knife. Just you wait. When her new life turns into a nightmare, she’ll come crawling back, and the male lead won’t even give her the time of day.] [As soon as she’s gone, the heroine will burst in and save him. And so begins his epic comeback story. Cue the epic music.] I ignored the filth, my voice soft but threaded with a tension I couldn’t hide. “I know this might not be the right time, but… for the first time, I feel like we’re equals. So, Gerston Croft… will you be my boyfriend?” His eyes widened slightly. Before he could answer, the world went black. The last thing I saw was a single line of text. [Too late to change your mind. Defy the script, and you’re the one who pays the price.] A surge of anger rose in me. Follow the script? The script wanted me dead. To hell with that. In the darkness, a fire seemed to lick at my consciousness, burning me from the inside out. I ran and ran until, finally, my eyes flew open. I shot upright in a hospital bed, drenched in a cold sweat. A sharp pain radiated from my core. A groan escaped my lips. A cool hand touched my forehead, and I saw Gerston leaning over me, his face etched with fear. “Luna? Are you okay?” The pain was a constant torment. In the eight years I’d been with him, he had spoiled me rotten, shielding me from any hint of harm. I’d grown soft. The pain was too much. I started to cry. “It hurts. It hurts so much.” He stood up, panicked, and ran to find a doctor. The doctor who came back shot me an annoyed look. “If you can’t pay for the tests, you need to be discharged. You’re taking up a bed. What do you want me to do? No money, no treatment.” Gerston’s voice was a low growl. “Give her the best of everything. I have…” His voice trailed off. His proud shoulders, always so straight, slumped in defeat. He couldn’t meet my eyes. The doctor sneered. “You should probably go. You’ve got nothing left to pawn.” That’s when I noticed the silver ring he always wore was gone from his finger. Ignoring the pain, I scrambled out of bed, grabbed his hand, and pulled him toward the door, babbling nonsense to comfort him. “Honestly, it doesn’t hurt as much when I’m with you. You’re my painkiller, Gerston. You can’t get rid of me now.” A single, hot tear splashed onto our joined hands. Gerston’s voice was raw when he answered. “Okay.” A small smile touched my lips. I wasn’t lying. 2 [The male lead chose to take the side character to the hospital, so he missed his first meeting with the heroine. The plot is already off the rails.] [The plot’s punishment seems weaker, too. She shouldn’t even be able to walk right now. If she’d defied the original script this much, she’d be in a world of unimaginable pain.] [Ngl, I’m kinda starting to ship them. The fallen tycoon and his loyal canary. You don’t see that every day.] I hid the glint in my eyes, piecing together a survival plan from the fragments of information. Defying the plot brought punishment, but if Gerston chose me, consistently and without hesitation, it could derail the script. The punishment would weaken… or maybe even disappear. It all hinged on his love. I turned to look at the man who was once the prince of the city, now trailing behind me, holding my hand as if I were made of glass. I smiled. “So, you’re my boyfriend now. That means you’re going to work hard and get us back to the lifestyle we’re used to, right?” “I will,” he said, his voice firm with promise. [Is it just me, or did the male lead just go from sugar daddy to the side character’s puppy?] [Just wait until he starts working. The world will humiliate him, and that’s when the heroine will swoop in to save him. Their bond will be forged in fire. That’s the main event.] [So they missed their first meeting. Big deal. They’re fated. Side-chick should start looking for her next meal ticket now.] I didn’t stop Gerston from looking for work. The pain was a constant, gnawing presence, and sleep was my only escape. He came home exhausted every day, the knees of his once-immaculate suits covered in dust. I knew from the comments that he’d gone to an old friend from his circle, a guy named Chad. Chad despised Gerston for being an impostor but couldn’t bear to lose his genius for business. So, he took his resentment out in petty, cruel ways. The proud man I knew was now kneeling to polish another man’s shoes. He was hauling fifty-pound water coolers up twenty-six flights of stairs, replacing them in every office. He was standing for three hours in the breakroom, making coffee for the entire company. Chad even made him clean the bathrooms. I’d smelled the faint, sharp scent of bleach on him more than once. But despite it all, the first thing I saw when he came home was his smile. He’d put down the groceries he’d bought and immediately wrap me in his arms. “Feeling any better today?” I’d blink myself awake and plant a kiss on his cheek. “Much better, now that you’re holding me.” “I’m hungry.” Gerston would head to the kitchen, a natural in front of the stove now. I’d prop my head on my hand and enjoy the meltdown in the comments. [This is the same man who would take three showers if he smelled cooking oil on him. Now he’s a damn short-order cook for this girl.] [All she has to do is give him one compliment and he’s over the moon. And her whole ‘you’re my painkiller’ act is so cringe, it gives me goosebumps.] I rolled over in bed. Oh, it gets better. After dinner, he would do my laundry, clean the apartment, and then give me a full-body massage. Only after I was asleep would he start on the work he’d brought home. As long as he was here, my smallest discomfort was a national emergency. Like right now. He was kneeling by the bed, still in his apron. “Was that uncomfortable? Do you need me to help you turn over?” I put on my sweetest voice. “I need my boyfriend to kiss me.” He smiled and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. His hands, the same ones that signed billion-dollar deals, were now gently massaging my temples. The gnawing pain inside me subsided, and I closed my eyes, content. “A little lower. My shoulders.” A shrill ringtone cut through the quiet. Gerston paused before answering the phone. His brow furrowed. “There’s a problem at work, Luna,” he said, his voice full of apology. “I have to go out. Just finish dinner and leave the dishes. I’ll do them when I get back.” I watched him go. The comments exploded. [Chad’s been waiting for this. It’s not about work; it’s a setup. He’s going to break Gerston’s pride, assault him… but the heroine is on her way to save him! YES! My ship is about to sail!] [After tonight, the side-chick is officially out of the picture. Can’t wait to see the back of her whiny, manipulative ass.] 3 A jolt of adrenaline shot through me. I forced myself out of bed, ignoring the screaming pain, and chased after Gerston, determined to intercept his and the heroine’s fated night. Following the directions from the comments, I found the nightclub and slipped past the bouncer. The pounding music amplified my pain, but I pushed through the crowd toward the chaotic center of the dance floor. And then I saw him. Gerston, on the ground, being stomped on. Chad was grinding his heel into Gerston’s face, pinning him to the floor. The ground was littered with broken glass, the shards digging into Gerston’s skin. Blood and spilled liquor mixed into a sickeningly sweet miasma that made my stomach churn. “Still think you’re a prince?” Chad sneered. “You’re a fake. A nobody. If it wasn’t for me, you’d be begging on the streets right now.” “All I asked was for you to strip for us. You were willing to kneel and polish my shoes. Why the sudden high horse?” Chad’s face was twisted into a lecherous grin. He was known for being into both men and women, and tonight, he’d set his sights on Gerston. “You look tired. Just play nice, let me have some fun, and I can give you all the money and power you want.” Gerston’s chest heaved. He stared up at Chad with pure hatred. “Spit.” He spat a mouthful of blood onto Chad’s face, earning him a vicious volley of kicks. Chad furiously wiped his face. “Break his arms and legs!” he roared. “Strip him naked and hang him from the ceiling! Let’s see how long he lasts without food or water!” A bodyguard lifted a bar stool high and brought it crashing down. Gerston grunted, swallowing the scream that rose in his throat. My vision went red. Forgetting everything about the plot, about my own safety, I grabbed a fruit knife from a nearby table and charged into the circle, swinging it wildly. “Let us go!” I shrieked, my voice trembling. “Or none of us are walking out of here alive!” My crazed state made Chad take a step back. Then, a slow, dawning smile spread across his face. “Well, well. If it isn’t Gerston’s little canary, Luna. I’m surprised you’re still with him now that he’s broke. A loyal little whore, aren’t you?” His eyes raked over me. “I’ve had men, I’ve had women, but I’ve never had a matching set. This should be fun.” “Come be my girl. I’ll give you a lot more than he ever could.” The words were barely out of his mouth when Gerston, lying broken on the floor, exploded with a primal rage. He snatched the knife from my hand and lunged, plunging it deep into Chad’s eye socket. “You don’t touch her!” But he was outnumbered. Bodyguards swarmed him, pinning him down, their fists and feet raining blows on him. Chad writhed on the floor, screaming. “Get a doctor! Someone get me a doctor! And skin that bastard alive! I want him to beg for death!” I tried to shield Gerston with my own body but was kicked away, sent flying into a table. I coughed, a spray of blood leaving my lips. The fists continued to pound into Gerston, but it was as if he couldn’t feel it. His eyes were locked on me, on the blood on my lips. He struggled violently against his attackers. His eyes were blazing red. Run, he mouthed. [I knew this part was coming, but it’s still hard to watch. This incident leaves a permanent scar on him. Only the heroine’s love can heal him.] [This is Chad, the same guy who tortures Luna to death in the original plot. I wish I could jump through the screen and kill him myself.] That comment hit me like a physical blow. Rage and a desperate will to live flooded my senses. Why should I die at the hands of scum like this? Why should he get to destroy Gerston? I grabbed a jagged piece of broken glass from the floor and scrambled toward the now-unprotected Chad. As he roared in fury, I drove the shard deep into his neck. A hot spray of blood showered over me. Suddenly, a sharp, feminine voice cut through the chaos. “Stop! If anyone lays another hand on Gerston Croft, I will make them pay.” The world exploded in a flash of light. The comments went wild. [They’ve met! The male lead and the heroine have finally met! The plot is back on track!] An all-consuming pain washed over me, stealing the last of my strength. As my body went limp, I forced my head to turn, to look at Gerston one last time. And I saw it. A flicker of pure, unadulterated awe in his eyes as he looked at his savior.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “384478”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

For five years, I loved a man who couldn’t see me. Then, right before our wedding, a miracle happened: Ewing got his sight back. I stood before him, a playful smile on my face, my best friend Sophia by my side. I wanted him to guess which one of us was his fiancée. Without a moment’s hesitation, he chose Sophia. When our friends asked him why, he just blinked and then laughed. “Come on,” he said. “My Tina could never be ugly.” 1 The moment the bandages came off, the air in the room grew still, thick with anticipation. Everyone held their breath. I watched as Ewing, overwhelmed, pulled his friends into a series of tight, grateful hugs. Then, his eyes scanning the room, he asked the question I’d been dying to hear. “Where’s Tina?” A warmth spread through my chest. The first thing he wanted after regaining his sight… was me. Finally, his gaze found me by his hospital bed, tears of joy streaming down my face. As our eyes met, I took Sophia’s hand and pulled her up to stand beside me, my own tears still shimmering. Ewing had become incredibly sensitive to sounds during his blindness. Last night, Sophia and I had practiced, perfecting our vocal tones to match. The plan was simple: stand before him together, a little game to see if he could pick out the woman who had been his entire world for five long years. We spoke in unison, our voices intertwining. “Guess which one of us is your Tina?” “Guess which one of us is your Tina?” It was meant to be a harmless joke, a sweet test. After all, even though we’d only met after his accident, I had poured five years of my life into his care. We had built a love story from scratch, learning each other’s souls in the dark. Everyone, myself included, was certain he would know me in an instant. Ewing’s eyes flickered over my face. For a split second, I saw him pause, a flicker of confusion in his expression. Then, his gaze settled on Sophia, and a brilliant, confident smile—the one I knew so well—lit up his face. “Tina,” he said, his voice full of warmth as he reached for her. “Come here. Let me hold you.” 2 Ewing once told me, his words slurred with alcohol, about the accident. He’d been on his way to win back his ex-girlfriend when he crashed. A blood clot pressed against his optic nerve, plunging his world into darkness. His ex never visited. Not once. After that, Ewing had sealed himself off from the world, his personality becoming a minefield of unpredictable moods. No one dared to get close. Until me. At the time, I was in the hospital for my own reasons, my face a canvas of bruises and cuts from… an incident. Ewing’s room was right next to mine. In his world of darkness, he was the only person who couldn’t judge me for my appearance. He was quiet, a handsome statue of a man, and I turned him into my reluctant confidant, my emotional sounding board. Eventually, my constant chatter wore him down. He finally spoke to me, and one sentence turned into a conversation, a friendship, and then… love. As I helped him open his heart again, his old friends slowly trickled back into his life. Now, in this sterile white room, as he called my best friend by my name, a heavy silence fell over everyone. The air crackled with unspoken awkwardness. One of his friends, sensing the impending disaster, quickly pulled me in front of Ewing, trying desperately to salvage the situation, to protect the last shreds of my dignity. “Ewing, man, you’re just messing with her, right? Trying to scare her a little before the big surprise? That’s a risky move, dude. Not the best way to win a girl’s heart.” Ewing’s gaze fell on me again, truly looking this time. I met his eyes, a desperate hope fluttering in my chest. A slow, dismissive smile curved his lips. “You guys, stop playing around. I may have never seen Tina, but I’ve painted a picture of her in my mind a thousand times. And my Tina… she could never be ugly.” 3 Such a casual, dismissive sentence. To him, this was all just a joke. There wasn’t even a trace of anger on his face, only amused certainty. He was utterly convinced that the woman he’d loved for five years, the woman he was about to marry, had to be beautiful. And that woman, he was sure, could not possibly be me. Under the worried gazes of his friends and Sophia, the loving words I’d prepared dissolved into a lump in my throat. I forced a small, brittle smile. “You’re a sharp one, Mr. Pence,” I said, my voice surprisingly steady. “Of course, I couldn’t possibly be Tina.” Sophia started to protest, to explain, but I squeezed her wrist, silencing her. The smile stayed plastered on my face until the heavy hospital door clicked shut behind me. Only then did it shatter. From the hallway, I could hear their voices, the murmur of conversation. I could even make out Ewing’s incredulous tone. “Seriously, guys, stop messing with me. She’s not Tina? Then… did my Tina not come to see me today?” I sank to the floor in the empty corridor, my body curling into itself. I should have known. I should have seen this coming all along. 4 I’d never really been in a relationship before. Ewing was my first true boyfriend. My looks had always made me a target, a joke. I still remember the day he asked me to be his girlfriend. He was holding my hand, his thumb gently tracing circles on my skin. In front of all his friends, his unseeing eyes were fixed on me. They said a blind person’s gaze was empty, but in Ewing’s, I could have sworn I saw a universe of devotion. That, combined with his striking features, was intoxicating. “It doesn’t matter what you look like,” he’d said, his voice a low promise. “I would know you anywhere, Tina. You feel… different from anyone else.” His friends, who knew his history, weren’t so sure. One of them had quietly pulled me aside once. “Ewing’s always been about looks, Tina. If he ever gets his sight back, you should…” He trailed off, but the warning was clear. Everyone thought he was only with me because he couldn’t see me. But Ewing seemed determined to prove them wrong. He appeared to love me so deeply. Once, as a prank, his friends had another woman take his hand when I wasn’t there. He’d recoiled instantly, his face twisting in anger. I heard he’d lost it, smashing a glass table and screaming at them. “Don’t you ever pull a stunt like that again! Tina is one of a kind. She’s everything to me.” After that, his friends all apologized to me, changing their tune. “Man, even his ex showing up now wouldn’t stand a chance. He’s completely head-over-heels for you. He’s genuinely in love.” Only one of them, a man named Liam, never bought it. Every time he saw me, he’d give the same quiet advice. “Don’t waste your time on him, Tina. What he feels now isn’t real.” Liam had grown up with Ewing in the same wealthy enclave. They were close, with similar temperaments, though everyone said Liam had a shorter fuse. He was brutally honest, a trait that had apparently scared off every woman his family had ever tried to set him up with. But over the years, I’d learned he was a classic case of all bark and no bite. When the news came that Ewing’s surgery was a success, everyone else tried to hide it from me, to “manage” the situation. It was Liam who had driven straight to my apartment and brought me to the hospital. But it turned out he was right all along. Ewing’s love wasn’t for me. It was for a fantasy, a beautiful ghost he had named Tina. 5 As I left the hospital, Liam fell into step beside me. He looked like he wanted to say something comforting but couldn’t find the words, just awkwardly hovering near me. For five years, Ewing’s friends had been polite to me, but I always knew it was a performance. If Ewing hadn’t needed me, they wouldn’t have given me the time of day. We were from different worlds, our lives intersecting only by circumstance. Now that the circumstance was gone, it was only natural for our paths to diverge. A sleek, stiletto-heeled figure breezed past us before stopping short in front of Liam. “I hear Ewing can see again,” she said, her voice dripping with arrogance. The impeccably dressed woman clearly knew Liam. He shot her a sideways glance, his expression screaming, ‘Not interested.’ Losing patience, she ignored him and strode toward the hospital entrance. Liam muttered under his breath, “Disappears for five years without a single visit. The second she hears he can see, she materializes. You don’t need to be a genius to figure out what that’s about.” He glanced at me, watching for my reaction. When I just managed a weak, bitter smile, he seemed about to press his point. But I spoke first. “He’ll take her back.” My words stopped him cold. I looked at him, forcing another smile. “Don’t you think?” Liam never lied to me. He just nodded. 6 A week passed. A week of absolute silence from Ewing. Then, I saw it online: a video of him at a gala with the woman from the hospital. Under the flash of cameras, they were the picture-perfect couple, her hand tucked possessively in the crook of his arm. The only odd thing was Ewing’s expression. The man who had always smiled for me now wore a stony, unreadable mask. The internet was buzzing about the reclusive Pence heir’s sudden return to the public eye. A notification popped up at the top of my screen, obscuring Ewing’s face. It was from Liam. Library? I was applying for grad school. When Liam found out, he’d volunteered to be my tutor. I knew what he was really doing—gently guiding me back to my own life. I’d spent so many years wrapped up in Ewing’s world, even taking a year off from college to help him navigate his darkness. On my way, I typed back. As I closed the app, a call history notification caught my eye. A number so familiar it was burned into my memory. In the beginning, Ewing, bored and lonely, must have gotten my number from somewhere. He’d call me from morning till night, not to say anything important, just to whine like a child until I brought him a caramel apple from the stand near campus. This time, however, his voice wasn’t playful. It was heavy, serious in a way I’d never heard before. “Tina,” he said, his breathing ragged on the other end. “I miss you.” I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting back a fresh wave of tears. It took a moment to steady my voice. “Ewing,” I whispered, “let’s break up.” His heavy breathing filled the silence. We used to stay on the phone all night, talking until we both drifted off, neither wanting to be the first to hang up. Five years of intense, all-consuming love. Even now, as I ended it, he didn’t ask to see me. A cold certainty settled in my stomach. Deep down, he already knew. He knew the “ugly” girl from the hospital was the real Tina. He said nothing more. The silence stretched on, chilling my fingers and making my legs ache. I finally pulled the phone away from my ear. The call had been disconnected for who knows how long. 7 I hailed a cab and headed for the city library. Love might be gone, but I couldn’t let my future slip away too. Liam had scheduled our session for the afternoon, but when I arrived early, I found him already there, sitting in our usual corner spot. He waved me over. As I sat down, he pushed a warm bottle of coffee across the table toward me. “You’re early,” I said, shrugging off my coat and scarf. I watched as he methodically laid out his notes and textbooks, covering the empty table. “Figured you might be crying somewhere and needed a place to go.” He tapped a section in a textbook with his pen, a passage he’d already highlighted and annotated. “Start with this.” The page was covered in his neat, red-ink notes and detailed diagrams. “I broke up with Ewing,” I said flatly, copying his notes into my own notebook. Liam paused. Ewing always said Liam was the biggest chatterbox in their group, but with me, he was usually quiet, a listener to my endless monologues. “He won’t agree,” Liam said. “It’s just a matter of time,” I replied, my pen stopping. My nose started to burn again. “He’s just lying to himself right now. He can’t avoid me forever. The moment he truly accepts that the Tina in his head is… me… this plain, ugly girl… not the perfect fantasy he created… he’ll let go.” “You’re not ugly.” The words hung in the air between us. We both looked up at the same time. He looked incredibly uncomfortable, his lips pressed into a thin line, the corner of his eye twitching. I saw a faint blush creep up the tips of his ears. He was trying so hard to look composed, but he repeated himself anyway. “Tina, you’re not ugly. Just because other people say it doesn’t mean you have to accept it. A person’s worth, whether they’re ugly or beautiful, isn’t just about their face. I hope you get that.” His gaze was intense, unwavering. I didn’t understand what he was trying to say. In the world I’d grown up in, being told you were ugly because your appearance wasn’t pleasing to others was a simple, unchangeable fact. It was a “fact” that had brought me nothing but pain. Because I was “ugly,” my teacher believed the popular girl who copied my test answers and punished me for cheating. Classmates called me shameless. My own parents told me I was an embarrassment. He was just trying to be nice, I figured. I gave a half-hearted smile and looked back down at my book. But a bitter complaint slipped out anyway. “You people who are good-looking will never get it. No one’s ever going to point a finger at you, Liam, and call you ugly.” I peeked up at him. He had turned his head, and all I could see was the sharp line of his jaw and his thick, fan-like eyelashes. I couldn’t read his expression. Just when I thought we’d spend the rest of the afternoon in silence, he ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, messing it up. He said my name, “Tina.” I looked up, startled, and met his burning gaze. He looked… exasperated. “I said you’re not ugly! God, you’re impossible. If you argue with me one more time, I swear I’m done tutoring you.” 8 Liam’s sudden outburst left me baffled. It was as if some long-dormant, irritable part of his personality had just burst forth. Thankfully, things returned to normal after that. By the time we left the library, the sky had bruised to a dark purple, pricked with a few early stars. As we walked, Liam took a call, and I watched his brow furrow deeper and deeper. When he hung up, he explained, “My grandfather collapsed during dinner. Angina. They’ve taken him to the hospital. It sounds serious. The family wants me there now.” I remembered his grandfather, a respected old general with a stern face but a kind, cheerful smile whenever he saw me. He was always in his dress uniform, the chest heavy with medals. Liam scanned the street, a river of red taillights and blaring horns. It was rush hour in the heart of the city. Driving to the hospital would take at least an hour. “The subway,” he said decisively. “We can make it in twenty minutes.” I was a little surprised. I never imagined a guy like Liam would willingly take public transit. Ewing had once told me that people in their circle had private drivers since they were kids and were gifted sports cars on their eighteenth birthdays. He’d looked genuinely pained when I told him I took the subway and bus everywhere, vowing that I’d never have to suffer like that again now that I was with him. For me, it was just… life. It wasn’t “suffering.” I watched Liam expertly tap his phone at the turnstile. I couldn’t help but ask. “Don’t you find this… embarrassing?” “Why would I?” he shot back instantly, looking at me with genuine confusion. “The city builds this incredible system for us. Shouldn’t we appreciate it and use it? Or is it that you look down on yourself for using it?” The double meaning hit me, reminding me of our argument in the library. He let out a short, scoffing laugh and turned to watch for the train. But his next words floated back to me, clear and sharp. “Tina. Dignity is something you earn for yourself. It’s not something other people give you with their words.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “384477”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

After a month of overwork, I decided to take a break and escape to our family’s resort, Serenity Peak. The moment I stepped into the lobby, my eyes locked onto the giant screen looping a promotional video. There was my husband, Ben, kissing a woman with a killer body in a steamy private pool. The tagline read: 【Love her? Bring her for a private spa experience.】 My blood ran cold. I went straight to the front desk, where an innocent-looking girl greeted me. “Hi, when was this video filmed? Are they professional models?” She beamed, envious. “We shot it just days ago! That’s one of our employees and her boyfriend. Aren’t they perfect?” I kept my tone light. “Could you ask her to come? I’d love to compliment her—she’s so photogenic.” Unsuspecting, she made the call. “Isabelle! A guest wants to see you—she’s a fan!” Soon, a woman in a supervisor’s uniform appeared. “How can I help you?” 1 Her smile was professional and sweet, but the instant she saw my face, it froze on her lips and morphed into a flash of panic. She quickly looked down, her fingers clattering aimlessly on the keyboard. “How… how can I help you?” A slow smile spread across my face. “I’d like to book your best private suite.” The woman, Isabelle, was tall and curvy, radiating a wild, untamed allure. I suddenly remembered how Ben used to pinch my cheeks and tell me I was too thin, that there was nothing to hold onto. I’d thought he was being caring. Now I realized he just preferred more… substance. She held out a key card. I didn’t take it. Instead, I smiled. “Are you new here? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.” Another receptionist nearby recognized me and chimed in cheerfully. “Grace! It’s been too long. This is our new front desk supervisor, Isabelle. She used to be a fitness instructor. Ben actually recommended her for the job.” She then turned to Isabelle. “Isabelle, this is Ben’s wife. You should call her Grace.” Isabelle’s eyes dropped even lower, her voice barely a whisper. “Hello, G-Grace.” I almost laughed out loud. The sultry vixen from the video, the one who looked like she wanted to permanently attach herself to my husband’s body, was suddenly meek as a mouse? Pathetic. I finally took the key card she’d been holding out and glanced at the room number, my brow furrowing. “This isn’t your best suite, is it?” The color drained from her face. She bit her lip, struggling for words, before finally forcing out an explanation. “I’m sorry, Mr. Vance… he prefers the south-facing rooms. For the sunlight. I just… did it out of habit.” A cold, humorless laugh echoed in my mind. Was she trying to show me that she knew my husband’s preferences better than I did? How pathetically low-class. I was one of the original investors in this resort. I remembered Ben holding my hand, telling me gently that he didn’t like me coming to places like this alone, that he would always bring me himself if I needed to unwind. Now I knew why. He just didn’t want me to crash his party. My gaze swept over Isabelle’s flustered face, then moved down, stopping at her slender wrist. “That’s a unique watch.” Isabelle forced a dry laugh. “Oh, this? It’s just something I wear for fun.” I smiled without a word. The watch was a limited-edition Vacheron Constantin, a gift from my father to Ben when they first met. There were only three in the world. Because of its sentimental value, Ben kept it locked in the safe in his study. And here it was, on the wrist of a stranger. Just then, a notification from Ben popped up on my phone. “Grace, you’re at the resort?” I raised an eyebrow. As I looked up, I saw Isabelle hastily shoving her own phone back into her pocket. I scoffed internally and typed out a reply. “Yes, just came to relax. Should I save a room for you?” My tone must have sounded normal, because I could practically feel his relief through the screen. A voice message came back instantly. “No need, honey. You just have a good time. Love you.” I stared at the transcribed words, “Love you,” and my stomach churned. When I looked back at Isabelle, she had composed herself and was attempting to make small talk, as if nothing had happened. What an idiot. I ignored her, turned, and walked out of the lobby, dialing my father’s assistant. My dad’s company, at my urging, had just signed a massive contract with Ben’s firm two days ago. “Mr. Davis, please halt the execution of that contract. And find me the best divorce attorney you can.” “Yes, a divorce. Ben… he’s filthy.” 2 The first thing I did when I got home was march straight to the study. As expected, the safe was missing several items. This room was where we kept valuable antiques and art my father had gifted us, along with important documents. After marrying Ben, I’d been so wrapped up in our life together that I hadn’t paid much attention to material things. Ben managed everything here. At first glance, nothing seemed amiss. But on closer inspection, I realized everything that held true personal meaning to me was gone. My face grim, I pulled up the feed from the hidden security camera. And I saw it. In the very place I considered my private sanctuary, a disgusting drama had been unfolding. May 7th: Their first time in my study. Isabelle was sitting on Ben’s lap at his desk, laughing and flirting. August 29th: He canceled our anniversary trip, a trip we’d planned for months, only to spend the entire night video-chatting with her right here, whispering obscenities. October 5th: I was staying at my parents’ house. He brought her home. They’d made love on top of my priceless art collection. A violent wave of nausea hit me, and I ran to the bathroom, vomiting until I was dizzy. The recording kept playing. The next scene showed Ben opening the safe. He took out the Vacheron Constantin watch, then his eyes landed on a blue folder. My heart sank. A terrible premonition seized me. That was the deed to a plot of land my grandfather left me. It was my wedding gift from him, given on his deathbed. On the screen, I watched Ben hand it directly to Isabelle. I stumbled back to the safe and frantically sorted through the remaining papers. There was a duplicate of the deed, but this one lacked the official seal. A forgery. My complete and utter trust in him meant I’d never once thought to check. I collapsed to the floor, my body cold as I listened to Ben’s tender promise on the recording. “Don’t worry. Even if I can’t make it official right now, I’ll never let you suffer.” Isabelle put on a show of refusing. “Ben, this is too much, I can’t accept—” Then, a figure I never expected appeared in the doorway. “Oh, just take it, Isabelle! I’m the one who sent my cousin away on that stupid hike, just so Ben would have a chance to give you this surprise!” my own cousin, Zoe, chirped. “I played such a big part in this. You’d better save me a seat at the head table at your wedding!” Seeing Zoe there, my own blood, I felt the world tilt on its axis. I remembered that day clearly. Zoe had begged me, tears in her eyes, to go with her to a temple on the west side of town. I’d spent half a day climbing a mountain with her, and my legs had ached for a week. I trembled with rage. It wasn’t just my husband. My own family had conspired to betray me. In the video, Ben pulled Isabelle into his arms, his eyes full of adoration. “What’s mine is yours. Why be so formal with me?” Giving away the assets my grandfather left for me to his little mistress, and making it sound so noble. The irony was so immense it threatened to swallow me whole. In that moment, I wanted to find them and tear their faces off. Just then, a friend request popped up on my phone. The person sent an image, then quickly retracted it. But I’d already seen it. It was a photo of Isabelle, grinning, holding up the blue folder and flashing a peace sign. The caption read: “New home, secured!” The background was a landmark right next to that plot of land. Every last shred of my composure shattered. I thought of my grandfather on his deathbed, his hand trembling as he pressed that folder into mine. I had been sobbing, telling him I didn’t want anything, I only wanted him. But Ben had taken the folder for me, holding me tight as he made a solemn promise. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ll take care of Grace. I’ll never let her suffer.” Grandpa had given one last, content smile, and then he was gone. I had cried until I passed out in the cold hospital hallway. It was Ben who held me, comforting me over and over. “It’s okay, Grace. I’m here. I’ll always be here.” After he died, I was lost in grief, unable to touch anything that reminded me of him. Ben handled everything—the funeral, my grandfather’s belongings. My father had seen it all and told me Ben was a good man, someone I could truly depend on. Who could have known that this man our entire family trusted had only ever been after our money? The warning signs were there. The strange perfume on his clothes, the trendy slang he’d suddenly started using, the increasingly frequent “late nights at the office.” I had made him my only emotional support, so I chose to lie to myself. After retracting the photo, Isabelle sent another message. “Oops, wrong person.” It was followed by a few discount coupons for the resort. I stared at the pathetic, malicious performance. I didn’t reply. Instead, I clicked on her social media profile. She must have forgotten to block me. Her latest post was the exact photo she had just retracted. “Time for a new life to begin! Everyone’s invited to my housewarming party!” The post was tagged with a location. It was my plot of land. The most jarring part was the comment section. Ben had liked the post and left a comment. “Congratulations on your new chapter, baby.” I even saw a comment from my cousin Zoe. “Congrats, Isabelle! A true independent woman of the new era. So proud of you!” They all knew whose land that was, yet they could congratulate the thief on her “housewarming” with clear consciences. My face was a cold mask as I stared at the screen. I made a call, informing the land registry office that there was a dispute regarding the deed and requested an immediate freeze on the transfer of ownership. Let’s see who dares to touch my property without my signature. 3 The next day, I drove to the property. It had been developed into a high-end villa community. Isabelle’s party was being held in one of the completed model homes. I contacted the property manager, an old subordinate of my father’s, and had him transfer the highest-level access for the villa’s smart lock system to my name. Then I got back in my car and waited for the show to begin. Soon, the lawn outside the villa was decorated with flowers and balloons. A champagne tower sparkled in the sunlight. Guests began to arrive, most of them young faces I didn’t recognize. Until I saw my cousin, Zoe. She was holding a glass of champagne, her arm linked with Isabelle’s, her eyes full of fawning admiration. “Isabelle, you’re amazing! Owning a house in a place like this at your age.” She then turned to Ben. “You’d better treat our girl right, you hear me? Or her family won’t stand for it!” Isabelle lowered her head, blushing, and Ben pulled her into his embrace, promising Zoe with a solemn face that he would cherish Isabelle for the rest of his life. The lawn erupted in applause and whistles. A middle-aged woman grabbed Isabelle’s hand, her wrinkled face beaming with pride as she announced to everyone, “Our Isabelle has always been such a good girl! Look how successful she is now, with such a wonderful boyfriend!” Isabelle, her cheeks red, smiled sweetly. “It’s all because Ben is so good to me.” Others chimed in. “The Miller family has really produced a phoenix!” Another man raised his glass. “And Ben is a real man’s man! Giving her a gift this big before they’re even married. That takes guts!” A relative sighed wistfully. “God, if only my daughter could find a man like Ben. I think about my son-in-law and I could just scream!” The crowd laughed. “Keep dreaming! Do you see the kind of woman Isabelle is?” The party was in full swing. Toasts were made, compliments flew. Ben and Isabelle were at the center of it all, basking in the adoration. And I watched the whole ridiculous spectacle without a flicker of emotion. Just then, Ben pulled out a ring. In front of everyone, he dropped to one knee, his eyes locked on Isabelle with profound love. “Isabelle, in front of all our friends and family, will you marry me?” The enormous diamond glittered, painfully bright in the sun. “Say yes! Say yes!” the crowd chanted. Isabelle’s eyes filled with tears as she choked out, “I will.” They embraced tightly, surrounded by a chorus of blessings and wishes for their happiness. Until a discordant voice cut through the noise. “Mr. Vance, if I recall correctly… aren’t you already married?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “384476”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I suspected my boyfriend was being kept by a sugar mama. He was handsome enough. And poor enough. And lately, he’d been cold enough. But the real reason? That night I accidentally saw his phone: a woman saved as “Sugar Mama” had sent him twenty thousand dollars in “pocket money.” I gave his photo to a private investigator. I wanted hard evidence so I could get back the money I’d scrimped and saved to support him for the past three years. But the PI looked so terrified he almost fell to his knees. “Please, ma’am, let me off the hook. This guy… who in their right mind would dare to investigate him?” 1 Ten days into suspecting my boyfriend was cheating, I found myself in a private investigator’s office. I slid my phone across the table toward him, my lips pressed into a thin line as I tried to swallow the bitter knot in my throat. “This is all I have of their chat history. The rest… they must delete it regularly.” The PI picked up the phone and glanced at the screenshot I’d taken last night. It wasn’t much, just a single page. And it was all one-sided, from “Sugar Mama.” 【Are you done with your little tantrum?】 【I sent you twenty thousand in pocket money. Is that enough to soothe your wounded little soul?】 【You have to come see me tomorrow!】 【You heartless boy, don’t you miss me at all?】 【I must have owed you in a past life to be stuck with a troublemaker like you!】 He raised an eyebrow, a look of bored familiarity on his face. He didn’t ask any follow-up questions. “So, Ms. Miller, how can I help you?” I managed a small, brittle smile, my eyes cast downward to hide the sting of tears. My fingers twisted the hem of my skirt. “I need you to get irrefutable proof of their affair. Something that would ruin their reputations if it ever got out. He’s a nobody with nothing to lose, but a rich woman like that must care about her image.” “He wants to climb the social ladder, fine. I respect that. But I spent three years pinching every penny to support him. I want that money back.” Only with the money in hand could I allow myself to break down completely. “The next picture is of him.” The PI gave me a surprised, almost appreciative look. He swiped the screen. “Let’s see what kind of stud could hook a sugar ma— Holy shit!” The phone clattered onto the table. The color drained from the PI’s face, and he recoiled, pressing himself back into his chair as if he’d seen a ghost. He stared at me, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Are you insane? Why are you showing me a picture of him?” 2 I blinked, my first thought being that I’d sent the wrong photo. I leaned over to check. No, that was him. “What’s wrong with the picture? That’s my boyfriend.” The handsome, broke guy who had nothing left but his good looks after crashing into my scooter three years ago and breaking his leg. The accident was how we met, how we fell in love. He was the boyfriend who had lived with me in a tiny, cheap apartment for three years, the one who squeezed onto crowded subways with me and fought for discount vegetables at the grocery store. Lately, he’d been using “busy with work” as an excuse to leave early and come home late, growing distant and cold. He was always hiding his phone, a storm of secrets brewing behind his eyes. The boyfriend I suspected was now cheating on me with a sugar mama. Leo Anderson. “What?!” The PI’s expression was one of pure incredulity. His gaze shifted, becoming strange and speculative. “Lady, are you messing with me? Are you some gold digger so desperate to marry into wealth that you’ve lost your mind?” “That’s Leo Anderson! The heir to the Anderson fortune, the number one playboy in this city. You think he’s your boyfriend? The guy’s worth billions! The number of women throwing themselves at him… you couldn’t count them on two hands! He needs to ‘climb the social ladder’? Be ‘kept by a sugar mama’? What are you even thinking?” He pushed my unlocked phone back across the table, his eyes flicking to Leo’s picture with growing annoyance. “You can see yourself out. We don’t touch this guy. And I suggest you go get your head checked.” 3 Before I went to the PI, I had prepared myself for every possibility. He was bored of me and wanted to break up. He’d fallen for someone else. He was tired of being poor and wanted a richer life. For each scenario, I was ready for a clean, dignified ending. But I had never, ever considered this. The three years we’d spent struggling together felt so real. How could I have known he was a top-tier trust fund baby, a notorious playboy who ran in the most elite circles? So, after leaving the investigator’s office, I did something I rarely do. I splurged on a cab and went straight to The Sovereign, the most exclusive private club in the city. It was the place the “Sugar Mama” had demanded Leo meet her last night. I didn’t have a plan. I just wanted… to ask why. I wanted a clean break, a quick and painless end. “Leo, come on, man. Before your mother gets here, let us apologize.” “It’s not that we didn’t want to help you back then. But your old man gave strict orders to cut you off and teach you a lesson. Our hands were tied!” “But you gotta admit, you’re a sly one. Your dad cut off all your funds, but he forgot about that pretty face of yours. Who would’ve thought you’d use your looks to snag a Cinderella who’d do anything for you?” “Forget experiencing hardship. Looks to me like you’ve been living the good life these past three years!” My hand froze on the door handle. I stood there, stunned, as their voices drifted out. An icy chill crept up my spine, freezing me in place. “But seriously, it’s been a month since your dad’s three-year ban was lifted. Why are you still sulking and not coming home?” “Yeah! Your mom called all of us here today just to get you to come back. You’re not actually planning to stay in that shithole apartment instead of your family’s mansion, are you?” “What’s up? Did you actually fall for the girl? Ready to settle down? Looks like your dad’s plan actually wor—” “Bullshit,” Leo’s voice, laced with resentment, cut through the chatter. “Ava is living proof of the most humiliating three years of my life. I can’t wait to get rid of her and go back to my real life. But a poor girl like her… if she finds out who I really am, she’ll latch on and never let go. It’s better to just… fade out. I’ll give her a chunk of money when we break up, pay her back for taking care of me.” 4 The warmth drained from my body. The room was blasting heat, enough to make me sweat in my down jacket, but I had never felt so cold. A deep, bone-chilling cold. Everything I hadn’t understood was now painfully clear. The question of “why” finally had its answer. I touched my cheek and my fingers came away wet. I hadn’t even realized I was crying. “Miss? Are you looking for someone? Why are you crying?” A gentle voice asked from beside me. A woman in an elegant dress was looking at me with concern. The moment our eyes met, she gasped. “You’re… Ava?” The conversation inside the room stopped abruptly. Less than a minute later, the door was thrown open. Leo stood there, his face a mask of panic. “Ava? What are you—” His eyes fell on the woman behind me, and his frantic expression froze. The hand he’d started to reach for me stopped mid-air. After a tense moment, it retreated, clenching into a fist at his side. His voice was heavy. “You brought her here?” he asked his mother. “No, it’s a complete coincidence,” Mrs. Anderson said with a soft, gentle smile. “But I’ve known about Ava for a long time. When your son is out ‘finding himself,’ a mother is going to keep tabs. I was actually quite pleased you were in a serious relationship for these three years. I thought you were just waiting for your father and me to extend an olive branch. Turns out, you were the one who couldn’t find a way to step down gracefully.” A bitter taste filled my mouth. I looked up at the man who was both a stranger and the person I knew most intimately. I forced a smile. “You know, Mr. Anderson, you really didn’t have to go through all the trouble of freezing me out. A poor girl like me might be greedy, but I know my place. As long as the money’s right, I guarantee I’ll disappear without a fuss.” 5 I took a deep breath and wiped the tears from my face with the back of my hand. I tried to sound casual. “Let’s say, rent and living expenses for one year… fifty thousand dollars. Is that fair?” “Fifty times five is two hundred fifty thousand. So two years is two-hundred and fifty thousand.” “Two-hundred and fifty thousand times twenty-five, for three years that’s six million two hundred fifty thousand.” I paused, suddenly remembering Leo’s real estate job, where he never made a commission and only took home a three-thousand-dollar base salary each month. No wonder his sales were always at the bottom, and he was never fired, even after taking half a year off for his broken leg. He was the young heir, slumming it in the trenches of his own family’s company. “Your salary was low, but you were earning something for the last two years. So, I’ll round down. Six million. How does that sound?” Honestly, I wanted to ask for sixty million. But Leo was a liar, not an idiot. An exorbitant demand was unrealistic. The truth was, putting a price on a relationship was fucking unrealistic in the first place. So—”Cash, check, or transfer? And can we settle this now? I don’t do payment plans.” A dead silence fell over the room and the hallway. Everyone was looking at Leo. He stared back at me, his eyes dark and unreadable. After a long moment, he looked down and let out a cold, humorless laugh. It was a laugh I’d never heard before—arrogant, sophisticated, and utterly foreign. “You’re pretty good with numbers. Did your math teacher teach you how to rob people?” My heart plummeted, the pain sharp and real. But strangely, there was also a sense of release, of finality. I shrugged, a self-deprecating smile on my face. “My teacher didn’t teach me how to rob, but he did teach me one thing: it’s better to give a wrong answer than to leave it blank. Isn’t that what you’ve been doing for the past three years, Mr. Anderson?” He looked down on me. He never planned a future with me. But to make his three years of “poverty” more comfortable, he reeled me in anyway. “It’s a cold winter. A broken heart makes it even colder. I’ll need something new and warm to fill the void you’ve left. And having fun costs money. Don’t you think?” 6 I lifted my chin, forcing down the wave of nausea and pain. My nails dug into my palms as I looked at him. I was surprised to see his expression had turned ugly, his eyes dark with a stormy anger. He looked… pissed? “Oh, right,” I said, as if suddenly remembering. “Your assets probably aren’t fully unfrozen yet. In that case… Mrs. Anderson?” Mrs. Anderson raised an eyebrow and glanced at her son’s furious face. She smiled. “Are you sure you want to let such a wonderful girl go?” Leo’s jaw tightened, his throat working. A dark emotion flickered in his eyes before it was replaced by a cool, detached arrogance. “I’ve said it before. Taking over the company is my limit. Another ten years of this ‘training’ won’t change who I am. I can’t live a boring life tied to one person. It’s too dull.” A sharp pain lanced through my chest. I clenched my fists. Mrs. Anderson was still smiling, but now there was a knowing glint in her eyes. “Oh, is that so? What a shame.” She took out her checkbook and began to write. “Well, if you lack ability and character, you can always work on that. But love… that’s on you. You can screw it up however you want. As a parent, the only thing I can do…” She paused, her pen hovering over the check. Her eyes curved as she handed it to me. “…is to round up the six million you asked for to a nice, even ten. To add a little fuel to your fire this cold winter.” Ten. Million. Honestly? The moment my fingers closed around that check, I felt a whole lot warmer. 7 I don’t know what normal poor people do when they suddenly get rich. Me? I went straight to the bank and cashed the check. Then I went back to my apartment and, in a silent, furious frenzy, I smashed everything that had ever belonged to him. Finally, standing in the wreckage, I looked at the rising sun and the balance in my bank account. Then I turned and walked out the door, right back to The Sovereign. “The strongest liquor, the biggest suite, the softest bed. And the hottest male escorts.” I was back, but this time, I was a client. I looked at the line of men in front of me, took a deep breath, and picked the two most handsome ones. “You two for tonight. Get undressed and take a shower.” They both looked stunned, then awkward. The most handsome one hesitated before politely apologizing. “I’m sorry, Ms. Miller, but… we’re not that kind of escort.” His words, completely unrelated to anything, hit me like a punch to the gut. I took a long swig of liquor, my laughter slurring. I stumbled over and poked his hard chest. “What’s with the attitude? You’re selling your company, I’m buying. Who are you to be picky? If you had a problem with it, you shouldn’t have gotten involved with me in the first place…” He froze. Not because of my drunken, nonsensical rambling. But because I had started to cry. The tears just came, silent and unstoppable, hitting the floor and shattering the dam that had been holding back a day’s worth of pain. I covered my face with one hand and finally let out a heart-wrenching sob. “Leo Anderson,” I wailed. “You bastard!” 8 The next afternoon, the vibration of my phone woke me. My head throbbed with a dull hangover. I mumbled, rolled over, and nudged the person next to me. “Leo, can you get tha—” The words died in my throat. I stared at the handsome but completely unfamiliar face in front of me. Then I realized with a jolt that I was wedged between two men. The memories of last night came flooding back. Drunk, crying my eyes out in the arms of two male escorts. All night, just drinking and crying. I hadn’t wanted anything else. I just wanted to be in the softest bed, held in warm, strong arms, to get through the pain of my breakup. That’s all. The phone was still buzzing. One of the men frowned, mumbling in his sleep. I snapped out of it and answered the call, my voice raspy. “Hello?” There was a pause, then Leo’s cool voice came through the line. “You’re not home. Where are you?” I frowned, the last dregs of sleep vanishing. Oh, right. I’d deleted him on social media but forgotten to block his number. “Is there something you need, Mr. Anderson?” He paused again, his voice growing heavier, his tone stiff. “I’m coming to get my things. Come back now. Immediately.” 9 I was taken aback. He actually wanted to come back for that pile of junk? “I smashed it all. It’s gone. Just buy new stuff, Mr. Anderson. If there’s nothing else, I’m blocking you now.” I’d taken his ten million and promised not to bother him. It was my fault for not deleting his number. I needed to make my position clear. Silence again, just the faint crackle of static. Then, his voice, cold and insistent. “Where… are—” The word was cut off as my phone, which hadn’t been charged all night, died. I sighed and reflexively reached for a charging cable. But this wasn’t my apartment. There was no outlet by the bed, no charger. Just warm, solid abs. A hand grabbed my wrist, and I was pulled into a firm embrace. The escort I’d woken up was now fully awake, his arms tightening around me. His voice was a lazy, magnetic purr. “If you like to touch, sister, feel free. Don’t get someone else tonight, okay? I want to stay with you.” I snuggled into a more comfortable position in his arms and smiled. “Don’t be greedy. You have to give the other handsome guys at the club a chance.” I suddenly understood Leo a little better. When you’re just using each other with no intention of a future, sticking to just one person really is… boring. 10 I really didn’t expect this. A club this big, and they only had seven male hosts who weren’t prostitutes? At a rate of “two a night, a new pair every day,” I ran into the handsome one again on the fourth day. Our eyes met, and I was so embarrassed I could have died. But he just smiled, his eyes crinkling, and tilted his head. “My name is Kane. It’s a pleasure to serve you again, sister.” “Ah, well, can you…” I rubbed my nose awkwardly. “Go downstairs and rent me a power bank? I didn’t bring a charger.” Kane blinked, then couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course.” The door opened and closed. I stood there, my hand on the doorknob, and covered my face. Just get through today, I told myself. Then it’s over. Knock, knock. The door again. I figured Kane had forgotten something and pulled it open. But it was Leo’s face, dark and furious, that greeted me. Kane was standing behind him, his face pale as he frantically shook his head at me. Alarm bells went off in my head. I tried to slam the door shut, but Leo stuck his leg out, blocking it. His eyes were burning holes into me as he let out a cold, biting laugh. “Are the arms of a male escort warm? So warm you can sleep with eight of them in four days? Ava, are you trying to self-destruct?” The bizarre accusation left me stunned. Leo didn’t say another word. He just kicked the door open and stood there, looking down his nose at the remaining escort with icy disdain. “Are you waiting for a written invitation? Get out!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “384475”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My husband came to regret our child-free life in the twenty-fifth year of our marriage. He was forty-seven that year, a man in his prime—successful, mature, and composed. I was fifty, already stepping into menopause. He knew I wouldn’t risk a high-risk pregnancy at my age, so he asked for a divorce, offering to give me the lion’s share of our assets as compensation. I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. I just calmly accepted. Of course, he would never know that I had regretted our child-free arrangement long ago, back in the year of his first emotional affair. And in that year of regret, I had taken matters into my own hands. By the time his own regret finally bloomed, my child was already in middle school. 1. When Trevor brought up the divorce, his demeanor was cold, almost detached. I stood there, stunned, the world tilting on its axis as I struggled to quell the storm raging inside me. My first instinct was to ask him why. Our relationship had cooled in recent years, it was true, but we were getting older. I’d assumed the fiery passion of youth was meant to mellow into a quiet companionship. Hearing my question, Trevor finally looked up from his phone, his eyes darting away from mine. “Eleanor, I’m forty-seven this year. My parents are in their seventies…” He talked in circles, a long, winding speech that all boiled down to one simple, brutal point: He didn’t want his parents to die without grandchildren. He wanted a child, and now, he finally had the time and the means to raise one. To put it plainly, Trevor had changed his mind about being child-free. At forty-seven. I am three years his senior. At fifty, my health is my priority. I would never risk my life to have a baby at this age. Trevor knew me well enough to understand that. A flicker of guilt crossed his face. “Ellie, I’m sorry,” he said, before twisting the knife. “If only you were three years younger than me instead.” The same words he once used to woo me—”an older woman is a treasure”—had now become his sharpest weapon. My expression must have been grim, my silence too long. He sighed, leaving me with a final command. “Just think it over. But I don’t want to drag this out.” With that, he turned and walked out of our home. 2. Once the initial shock subsided and a cold calm settled over me, my first call was to a private investigator. It didn’t take long to uncover the real reason for Trevor’s sudden change of heart. He had a new woman. He’d been having an affair with an intern at his company for the past two years. Now, the girl was demanding a ring on her finger, and conveniently, Trevor was demanding a baby in a crib. Staring at the stack of glossy photos spread across my desk, I felt a strange numbness. This wasn’t his first time. His first betrayal was a decade into our marriage—an emotional affair. He chose to come back to me then, and I chose to forgive him. It’s true what they say: once a cheater, always a cheater. He’d learned from his mistakes. For two years, he had hidden this affair so perfectly that I hadn’t suspected a thing. I didn’t bother contacting Trevor. Instead, I focused all my energy on gathering every last piece of evidence of his infidelity. The divorce was inevitable. My only goal now was to secure the maximum benefit for myself. The company we’d built from the ground up was now a thriving enterprise. Twenty-five years of marriage had woven our lives and finances into a complex tapestry; pulling a single thread could unravel everything. No matter how deep the love once was, in the end, it always comes down to assets. It was more than two weeks before Trevor came home again. “Have you thought about it?” were the first words out of his mouth. We hadn’t spoken a word in that time. He had a new home now, a new life. He was clearly lost in it, not giving his old one a second thought. I met his gaze and calmly slid the stack of photos across the table. “The divorce is fine. Let’s talk about the division of assets.” His eyes fell on the pictures, and the color drained from his face. “Eleanor, you had me followed?” A cold laugh escaped my lips. “If I hadn’t, how long were you planning on making a fool out of me?” 3. Trevor was not a generous man. He hadn’t grown up poor, but his family was far from wealthy, and a frugal mindset was etched into his soul. His first offer was a fifty-fifty split. Absolutely not. Betrayal has a price. When I demanded 80%, he balked, his face turning a dark shade of red. “Eleanor, this company is our life’s work! You can’t just erase all my years of dedication because of this one thing.” “Just one thing?” My voice was dripping with contempt. “Need I remind you how many times this has happened, Trevor?” His hands, hanging by his sides, clenched into tight fists. But he was guilty, and he knew it. He had no defense. I decided to press my advantage. “I’ve seen the pictures. Your taste hasn’t changed a bit. She looks just like Clara.” Clara. The object of his first emotional affair. The one that got away, who had since been enshrined in his memory as his untouchable goddess. This new girl not only resembled her, but even her name was an echo. “Clara… Cara.” I fished a solo shot of the new girl from the pile and tossed it in front of him, my smile a mocking slash. “All these years, and you’re still so devoted.” He glanced at the photo, a flash of shame and anger warring on his face before he smoothed it over. “Eleanor, even if you know, what does it matter?” It mattered because I had the proof. And that proof would get me what I deserved in the divorce settlement. Trevor’s refusal didn’t worry me. I had the law on my side. “I hate this side of you—so calculating, fighting over every last penny!” He stormed out, slamming the door behind him. A cheater having a meltdown. It seemed I’d been far too easy on him over the years. As I began preparing the paperwork to file for divorce, my seventy-something mother-in-law showed up unannounced. It had been a long time since we’d seen each other. After she had defended Trevor and blamed me during his first affair, I knew exactly what kind of family I had married into. She beat around the bush for a while before finally getting to the point. “Eleanor, darling, I’ve heard about you and Trevor,” she said, sighing dramatically. “He’s at that age, you know, I can’t control him. In the end, I suppose it just wasn’t meant to be.” She rambled on, her words a thinly veiled accusation—if only I had listened to her and had a child years ago… I cut her off. “It was Trevor’s idea not to have children.” She fell silent, abandoning that line of attack and pivoting to the finances. “…You’re fifty years old now, Eleanor. What are you going to do with all that money?” The implication was clear: at my age, unable to have children, who would I even leave it to? Anyone but her scumbag son, that’s who. I’d rather throw it into a river just to hear the splash. My refusal to budge infuriated her. As she left, her cloudy eyes fixed on me with a venomous glare. “Eleanor, a woman who’s too stubborn in a marriage never ends up happy.” As if the alternative was to beg him to stay. 4. Faced with my unyielding stance on the assets, Trevor resorted to his old trick: the silent treatment. It was a conditioned response for him; whenever things didn’t go his way, he would freeze me out. But this time, it didn’t last long. His new girl, Cara, had given him an ultimatum: make her an honest woman, or she was gone. A woman in her early twenties has options, after all. Another man could provide for her just as well. Trevor couldn’t bear to lose her. He was still haunted by the loss of Clara, and Cara was a second chance, a near-perfect replica. So he came back, ready to negotiate, even trying to use our shared history to emotionally blackmail me. I held firm, my resolve like iron. When he wouldn’t let up, I finally unleashed years of pent-up rage, dressing him down with every harsh truth I had swallowed. He stood there, his face a mask of fury, but he couldn’t refute a single word. Because everything I said was true. When he ran out of arguments, he resorted to a desperate, twisted logic. “Eleanor, I never demanded fidelity from you in this marriage.” Ah. That was the line I’d been waiting for.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “384474”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

After giving birth to the Celestial Lord’s twin dragon eggs, I faked my death and fled with one of them. Three hundred years later, I had to run an errand. I gave my young son, who had just taken human form, a stern warning. “My dearest, you be a good boy and wait for Mommy at home. I’ll be right back.” He nodded obediently. The moment my back was turned, he secretly followed me to the mortal realm. When I found him, I had no choice but to bring him along. Until one day, as I was leading him home by the hand, a figure barrelled toward the entrance of our valley. “Mommy! What took you so long? I’ve been waiting for a whole month!” I froze. My son was at home? Then who was I holding hands with? 1. Truthfully, I’d noticed something was off with Kai about two weeks ago. He was the undisputed little demon king of Silvermist Valley. Everything from the mountain spirits to the birds and bugs had suffered his “tyranny” at one point or another. But on this trip to the mortal realm, he was being… unnervingly well-behaved. He’d even mastered the aura-concealing art I’d spent half a month trying to teach him. “Oh, my boy, if you’d told me you were this good at hiding your presence, I would’ve brought you out ages ago!” I exclaimed, overjoyed. I cupped his face in my hands, squishing his cheeks. Normally, he’d squawk, “Mom, stop squishing my face!” But this time, he just let me maul him, his face flushing red, his eyes wide and bright. Strange. Very strange. But I didn’t suspect a thing. I just figured my lessons had finally sunk in. And so, we spent a wonderfully “harmonious” month together in the mortal realm. 2. It wasn’t until now, staring at the two identical “Kais” in front of me, that I realized I might have made a tiny mistake. “Mommy! Who is he?!” The real Kai was far less composed than I was. He looked at my hand, still holding the other boy’s, his expression one of utter betrayal. “When… when did you give me a little brother?!” “…” Seeing his dramatic flair, the over-the-top gestures and expressions, I knew instantly. Yup. This one was mine. “Don’t be ridiculous! I was gone for a month. How could I possibly have a brother this big for you!” I gave him a light bonk on the head. Kai yelped in pain but didn’t back down. “Then why does he look exactly like me?” Well… I didn’t know the answer to that. At first, I’d thought he might be a spirit who had taken on Kai’s form. But thinking back, very few beings outside our valley had ever seen my son’s true face. What kind of spirit would possess such powerful magic that they could even fool me? I was baffled. But after a month together, I knew this boy meant no harm. I cleared my throat. “Young friend, is there a reason you’ve taken on my son’s appearance to follow me?” The “fake” Kai, who I now called “young friend,” was still reeling from the shock of seeing his double. Hearing my voice, he looked at me blankly. “I didn’t change my form. And… you were the one who called out to me first that day.” “…” A murderous glare shot at me from my other side. I gently pushed the real Kai’s face away, feeling a bit sheepish. 3. He was right. That day, I’d just left the valley and arrived in the mortal realm when I saw a child standing in front of a bun stall. He was the spitting image of Kai. My heart leaped into my throat, and I immediately ran over and grabbed him. “You little rascal! Didn’t you promise me you’d stay in the valley? Why did you follow me out here?” I was in the middle of a full-blown lecture and completely missed the look of confusion in his eyes. It was only after I finished scolding him that I heard a loud growl from his stomach. “Hungry? Wait here.” I went to the stall, bought two warm buns, and stuffed them into his hands. “Remember, don’t wander off. And hide your aura. This place is crawling with monsters that snatch children.” I chattered on, holding his hand tightly. The problem was, after he finished the buns, he never bothered to tell me I had the wrong kid. He just let me feed and care for him for a whole month. Thinking of it that way, I felt perfectly justified. The boy, on the other hand, knew he was in the wrong. He fidgeted with the corner of his shirt, head bowed. “I’m sorry. It was my fault.” “Is ‘sorry’ gonna cut it? You went and claimed my mommy as your own! Where’s your mommy, huh?!” Kai was not appeased. He stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at the other boy. The boy’s voice was a whisper. “I don’t have a mommy.” “…” Kai, who had been full of righteous fury just a moment ago, froze. His hands dropped to his sides. He shot me a look that screamed, Mom, I messed up, what do I do now? So, he was a poor, motherless child. That explained a lot. I sighed. For the moment, I forgot to wonder why this child was an exact copy of Kai. I chalked it up to the mysteries of the universe—if nature could create similar landscapes, why not similar faces? “If you’re not Kai, what’s your name?” He looked up, his eyes shining brightly. “Liam. My name is Liam!” Liam only told me his name. When I asked where he was from, he clammed up. I guessed he’d run away from home after a fight with his family. But what kind of kid runs away for a month without getting worried? With no other choice, I took Liam in temporarily, asking around to see if anyone had lost a child. 4. A few days passed. In that short time, Liam and Kai had forged a bond of profound friendship. Kai had always been a mischievous child, but I knew he was lonely. Why else would he constantly terrorize the spirits of the valley? Now that he had Liam, he had a partner… in terror. One day, I asked the twin-headed birds returning from their reconnaissance flight, “Any news? Did you find out whose child is missing?” “No, but…” one of them stammered. “But what?” “But there’s news from the Celestial Realm. One of the Lords’ young princes has gone missing. They’re sending out search parties.” It had been so long since I’d heard anything about the Celestial Realm. My heart skipped a beat. “Which Lord?” “Lord Kaelan of Mount Aerion.” “…” Damn it. I should have known. In this entire world, the only person who could look identical to Kai, besides a one-in-a-billion chance, was the other dragon egg I had given birth to. 5. I thought I would never see him again. To think… I’d just casually picked him up off the street. My other son. “Mommy!” As I was lost in thought, Kai came running over, holding Liam’s hand. I noticed his dirty little face and frowned in disgust. “Have you been rolling in the mud again?” But my complaints were just for show. I took out a handkerchief and began to gently wipe his face clean. As I did, I felt another pair of bright, expectant eyes on me. I looked down and saw Liam. “Mommy, can you wipe Liam’s face, too?” Kai piped up. I would have done it even if he hadn’t asked. I beckoned Liam over. As I cleaned his face, I took the opportunity to study him closely. He wasn’t exactly identical to Kai. Kai’s features resembled Kaelan’s, but Liam’s were more like mine. That explained it. I remembered feeling a little annoyed when Kai first hatched. Why does my child have to look like that heartbreaker? It turned out the one who looked like me was here all along. Still… I wondered how Kaelan had raised him. He was a walking iceberg himself, and now he’d raised Liam to be so serious and mature for his age. I felt a surge of anger and resentment. Just then, Liam spoke. “Thank you, Auntie Lyra. I wish my mommy was still here.” A wave of guilt washed over me. But before I could share in his sorrow, Kai slapped a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t be sad! You don’t have a mommy, but I don’t have a daddy. So from now on, we’re brothers!” “Yeah!” Liam nodded vigorously. “…” I stared blankly at the two of them, who had just formed some kind of solemn pact. If I didn’t intervene, they looked like they were about to perform a blood oath right in front of me. “Alright, alright,” I said, quickly pulling Kai away. “Stop messing around, you little rascal. I have something to tell you.” Two pairs of identical, shining eyes stared up at me. Looking at their similar faces, my heart melted. But then I remembered what the birds had told me, and I had to push down my maternal softness and become serious. “Liam, I’ve found your family.” Liam’s face fell. He was probably wondering how I’d found out his identity so quickly, but after living with me for a while, he had some idea of my capabilities. Kai’s eyes went wide. “What? Does that mean Liam has to leave?” “Yes.” “No! I don’t want him to! Mommy, I can’t bear to be without Liam! I want to stay with him!” Before I could say anything else, Kai had grabbed Liam’s hand. Both of their eyes filled with tears, looking at me with the most pitiful expressions imaginable. My heart ached, but I had to face reality. If Kaelan found out I was hiding here with Kai, I might not be able to keep either of my children. “Kai, Liam’s family is looking for him. If he doesn’t go back, think how worried they’ll be.” I tried to reason with him gently. Kai wasn’t an unreasonable child, but he’d finally found a friend. The thought of being separated so soon was overwhelming. My resolve softened. I gave them some time to say their goodbyes. At the edge of the valley, Kai was still clinging to him. Liam, though more composed, had red-rimmed eyes. “Will you come visit me?” Kai asked. “Of course. I’ll come whenever I can.” The two children bid each other a reluctant farewell. 6. Once we left Silvermist Valley, I led Liam in the direction of Mount Aerion. “Liam.” “Hm?” The little boy, still lost in his sadness, looked up at me. Looking at his face, so much like Kai’s, a thousand emotions swirled within me. I knew when I left all those years ago that I would be failing one of my children. But it was the only way I could think of to protect us. “When you get back to Mount Aerion, don’t tell anyone you’ve seen me or Kai, okay?” “Why not?” “We’re just simple spirits from Silvermist Valley. If the great Lord Kaelan found out about us, it might cause… some trouble.” If I wasn’t mistaken, Liam had also snuck out on his own. Kaelan would surely question him when he returned. I didn’t want him discovering my existence, or Kai’s. Liam understood. He nodded silently. Then, remembering his promise to Kai, he looked at me, his dark eyes filled with a mixture of hope and fear. “Does that mean I can’t go play with Kai either?” It was as if my answer held the power to shatter him. I couldn’t bring myself to say the words, “It’s for the best.” 7. Before I could answer, we arrived at the borders of Mount Aerion. I gazed at the magnificent celestial palace, shrouded in auspicious clouds and echoing with the songs of divine birds. It hasn’t changed a bit, I thought to myself. “Alright, this is as far as I go.” Liam tried to hide the disappointment in his eyes. We had just landed, about to say our final goodbyes, when a deep, cold voice cut through the air from behind us. “Liam!” “Father?” Liam’s face was a mask of shock. He stood frozen, clearly not expecting to be caught by Kaelan himself at the very gates. He wasn’t the only one. From what I remembered, Kaelan was either cultivating his power or in seclusion. He rarely set foot outside his palace, earning him the title of the “Most Reclusive Lord” in the Celestial Realm. He hadn’t changed much, though. He still had that imposing, majestic, and cold aura. And that deceptively serene face, so ascetic and pure it made you want to corrupt it, even as it warned you to stay away. I must have been out of my mind back then to become the first to pluck that “high mountain flower.” The consequences, as everyone knew, were disastrous. 8. Liam watched numbly as Kaelan approached. Kaelan’s gaze fell upon his son. “Where have you been?” The question was light, but it carried a heavy weight of authority. Kaelan explained that Liam was supposed to be in a lesson with a venerable master that day. When the time came and he didn’t show, a search revealed he was missing. A missing prince was no small matter. They had turned the palace upside down, never imagining he would be bold enough to sneak off to the mortal realm. “You’ve gotten bold, haven’t you? Who taught you such behavior?” Liam lowered his head, unable to speak. Seeing him being scolded like that, a pang of sympathy shot through my heart. Was Kaelan always this strict with him? It didn’t seem right. He was usually fair and measured. Could it be because Liam looked like me? Was he taking out his old frustrations on our son? That bastard. I shouldn’t have left him a single egg! As I was fuming, a gentle, melodious female voice floated over. “The young prince has returned.” Hearing Kaelan’s voice left me cold, but hearing Fiora’s made my eyes narrow. Three hundred years, and it seemed her status had risen considerably. The number of attendants behind her had doubled from four to eight. She carried the air of someone in charge. Fiora glided forward gracefully. Perceptive as ever, she immediately sensed the tension between father and son. She turned to Liam, bending down to speak softly. “Your Highness, you caused the Lord Emperor a great deal of worry by sneaking away. He even skipped today’s celestial assembly just to look for you.” At her words, Liam looked up at Kaelan. “I’m sorry, Father. I was wrong.” Kaelan took a slow breath. “You are confined to five hours of sword practice.” “…Yes, Father.” An attendant led Liam away. Fiora turned back to Kaelan, her voice soft again. “My Lord, now that the young prince is back, you can rest easy.” Kaelan didn’t speak, but I could see the tension in his jaw relax slightly. That was my cue to leave. I tried to slip away unnoticed, but as I turned, a sharp, cold gaze landed on me. “Wait.” I froze. 9. I had assumed his attention was entirely on Liam. I was wrong. My feet felt nailed to the ground. “Who are you?” Kaelan’s voice was deep and commanding. Fiora’s eyes followed his, landing on me. A look of scrutiny entered her gaze as if she were only just now noticing my presence. Thankfully, I had concealed my aura and my true face before arriving. I had also been practicing diligently these past few hundred years. While I couldn’t compare to these celestial beings, I could at least avoid being instantly exposed. I bowed my head, deepening my voice. “This humble spirit is but an unnamed immortal grass from the lower realms.” Fiora asked, “Was it you who brought the young prince back?” “Yes.” She stared at me, her suspicion palpable. She was sharp. Fortunately, I had prepared my story. I explained how I had stumbled upon Liam, and finding no flaws in my tale, Fiora’s expression softened into one of slight arrogance. “In that case, we thank you. Do you realize you found the son of the great Lord Kaelan?” The same old condescending attitude. I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes, keeping a humble smile on my face. “This humble one is overwhelmed.” “You may go.” Those were the words I was waiting for. I started to back away, but the man who had been silent since stopping me finally spoke. “You said you were from which mountain?” I couldn’t give him the real name, so I invented one. After I answered, he fell silent again, making my heart pound. His gaze remained fixed on me. Fiora noticed. “My Lord, is something amiss?” “…No.” Kaelan finally looked away. I couldn’t be sure, but for a fleeting moment, I thought I saw a flicker of disappointment in his eyes as he lowered his gaze. “Thank you for today,” he said coolly. “I owe you a favor. Should you ever need my assistance, you may come and find me.” The words sounded familiar. He’d said something similar to me once. Back then, I didn’t realize it was just a polite formality and had eagerly taken him up on it. Looking back, I was so naive. “I wouldn’t dare,” I said, feigning awe. Kaelan said no more and turned to leave. Fiora followed, but not before casting one last, lingering glance in my direction.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “384473”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The moment the plane’s engines sputtered and failed, the flight attendants handed out paper and pens for us to write our last words. Right in front of me, my wife, Luna, wrote down another man’s name. “Rich,” her pen whispered across the page, “it took me half a lifetime to realize… you were always my one true moon.” “If this plane goes down, and they’re lucky enough to find the wreckage, let my ashes be returned to Rich’s side.” Rich. My adoptive brother. The one who shattered my mother’s ashes. As fate would have it, the crisis was a false alarm. The plane landed with no casualties. Back home, Luna invited me to a dinner party to celebrate our survival. I handed her a set of divorce papers instead. “Sign them,” I said. “It’s time you went to find your real moon.” … Luna just stared at me, her expression blank for a second. “Alex, I’m busy right now. I don’t have time for your jokes.” “Tonight’s party is important. It’s not just for us—it’s a chance to see friends and family we haven’t connected with in ages.” Friends and family, or just Rich? She’d spent two hours in front of the mirror this morning, cycling through outfits. I hadn’t missed the engagement ring she’d prepared, tucked away in its box. The one engraved with the initials “R.V.” for Rich Vance. This party wasn’t a celebration of life. It was just an excuse to see him again. “Could you move? That table isn’t set yet,” Luna said, her voice soft but strained. I didn’t budge. My hand, holding the documents, was unyielding. “Just sign it.” Her brow furrowed. “Alex, do you really have to be like this?” “Yes.” She sighed, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Look, I know you’re still angry about what I wrote on the plane.” “But we thought we were going to die, Alex.” “I was just writing whatever came to mind. I didn’t think you’d take it so seriously…” I shrugged her hand off. “Let’s get a divorce.” Before we were together, Luna had pursued me relentlessly. She used to say my quiet, reserved nature was what drew her in, that she’d never met a man like me—cool and distant, like the moon in the sky. But after I accepted her proposal, I suddenly became boring. Stale. Five years of marriage, and my quiet nature had turned into a flaw. Countless times, I’d overheard her telling others: “I just feel like my life wasn’t supposed to be… this.” “Alex is so rigid and dull. It’s like we’re from different worlds.” “Rich is different. He’s vibrant, passionate, and so kind.” “He’s like… a ray of moonlight that brightens everything.” In those moments, my nails would dig into my palms, a dull, crushing ache spreading through my chest. She knew. She knew exactly who Rich was to me. If he hadn’t hidden that venomous snake in my mother’s trunk, she never would have crashed on the freeway. If he hadn’t intentionally caused a scene at her funeral, her urn wouldn’t have been shattered, her ashes scattered and lost. Rich and I were sworn enemies, bound by a debt of blood. And Luna had chosen his side. Guests were beginning to arrive. Not wanting to prolong the scene, she snatched the pen from my hand in a fit of pique. “Fine! You want a divorce? I’ll sign it!” Without even a glance at the contents, she flipped to the last page and scrawled her name. Then she threw the papers in my face. “There. Are you happy now?” Expressionless, I picked them up from the floor, checked the signature, and tucked the folder safely into my bag. This party might have been to celebrate our survival, but as far as I was concerned, it had nothing to do with me. I grabbed my coat to leave, but a low voice stopped me from behind. “Big brother, leaving so soon? You only just got here. Did I do something to offend you?” “Look, I even brought you a gift.” Rich stood there, a smirk playing on his lips, dressed in a sharp red suit and holding a gift-wrapped box. The sight of his perfectly innocent face made my entire body go rigid. My hands clenched into fists. An image flashed in my mind: my mother’s funeral. Rich, pretending to trip, sending her urn crashing to the floor. Then, “accidentally” knocking over a vase, soaking her ashes, rendering them unsalvageable. And through it all, his face, streaked with crocodile tears, insisting it was all an accident. The memory made me sick. I turned to walk away. A hand grabbed my arm, hard. “Alex, don’t be childish,” Luna hissed. “We’re the hosts tonight. At least have the decency to stay.” “What will it look like if you just walk out?” I shook her off, my patience snapping. The sound of my palm connecting with her cheek echoed in the sudden silence. “Luna, I’m not in the mood for your little play. And in case you forgot, today is the anniversary of my mother’s death.” I shot a venomous glare at Rich. “I find it disgusting to breathe the same air as a murderer.” “Don’t you dare use that word to describe him!” Luna shrieked, her eyes turning red as she rushed after me. “I told you, it was an accident!” I didn’t bother to respond. I made it to the parking lot, ready to drive off, but my pockets were empty. No keys. “Looking for these?” Luna stood behind me, dangling my car keys from her fingers, her smile devoid of any warmth. “Give them back.” In the next second, she tossed them, and they clattered into a storm drain. “You want to leave? Fine. After the party’s over.” “You know what they’ll say about Rich if you’re not here. The gossip will hurt him.” I stared at her, a bitter, self-mocking laugh catching in my throat. “He deserves it.” She knew full well the cloud of suspicion that had hung over Rich since my mother’s death. She just wanted me there as a prop, to create the illusion that we were all one big, happy family. But I refused to play along. I wouldn’t accommodate a killer. No keys, no car. Fine. I turned and started walking toward the main gate. This was a private estate in the hills. Just driving down the mountain took half an hour. Laughter echoed behind me. “Brother, are you really going to walk? You won’t get down until the sun comes up!” Rich called out. “Luna, darling, don’t worry about me. You should go drive him down. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to him…” In the reflection of a parked car, I saw the adoring, gentle look Luna gave him. “Forget him,” she said. “Let’s go back to the party.” I don’t know how long I walked along that winding mountain road. Blisters formed and burst on my feet. I finally took my shoes off, carrying them in my hand as I limped forward. At least it wasn’t too late. I could still make it to the cemetery for my mom. Just as my energy was completely gone, a car horn blared behind me. “Get in.” The window rolled down, revealing the sharp, elegant face of Victoria Frost. “Victoria?” I stopped, stunned. “When did you get back from overseas?” “Landed yesterday.” Yesterday. The same day my flight nearly went down. Before I could process it, Victoria was out of the car, scooping me up in her arms as if I weighed nothing. “What in the world happened to you?” she murmured, her voice a mix of warmth and concern. Inside the dimly lit car, her face was close, her voice a soothing balm. For some reason, I felt a blush creep up my neck. “Nothing. Just got divorced.” Victoria’s gaze was intense. “Divorced?” “Yeah,” I mumbled. “Decided it was time to let myself go.” We drove in silence for a while, her thoughts seemingly a million miles away. It wasn’t until we reached the bottom of the mountain that she spoke again. “Straight to the cemetery? I already have the cake.” A lump formed in my throat. Someone else remembered. I nodded. “Thank you, Victoria.” When we arrived, I carefully placed the cake on the cold stone and lit the candles. My mom had always loved sweets. I’d never missed her birthday, but this year, I’d almost been too late. As I stood up, a sharp pain shot through my stomach, making me freeze. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead. Noticing my distress, Victoria draped her jacket over my shoulders. “Stay here. I’ll go get you some medicine.” I just nodded, my head bowed. As she drove off, I watched her car disappear, a strange warmth spreading through my chest, like something had gently nudged my frozen heart. The candlelight flickered, dancing like fireflies before my mother’s grave. I was talking to her, telling her about my day, when a line of cars pulled up nearby. “Brother! I knew I’d find you here. Lucky guess.” Rich’s cloying voice drifted through the night air. I looked up, my body tensing in alarm, only to meet Luna’s disapproving glare. “This is all your fault,” she snapped. “You ruined a perfectly good party with your tantrum. It was Rich’s thoughtful idea for all of us to come and keep you company.” I ignored her, my voice dangerously low. “All of you, get out.” But they paid no attention, instead wandering around the grave, pointing and commenting. “Wow, Alex is cheaper than I thought. This plot is tiny. The feng shui must be terrible.” “They say he’s such a devoted son, but if he really cared, wouldn’t he have found the killer by now?” Rich listened to it all, a smug smile on his face. My fists clenched. I had been so close to putting him in prison, but at the last minute, Luna had secretly submitted a letter of forgiveness on my behalf, derailing the entire case. “Alex, your mother’s crash was just an accident,” she had insisted. But looking at the triumphant smirk on Rich’s face now, I knew that was a lie. I took a deep breath, about to order them out again. But before I could, Rich leaned forward and, with a playful puff, blew out all the candles on the cake. He blinked his big, innocent eyes. “That looked fun, so I did it for you, brother. You don’t mind, do you?” Without a second thought, I grabbed the cake—wax from the freshly extinguished candles and all—and shoved it squarely into his face. “How about this? Is this fun?” Rich froze for a second, then let out a theatrical wail. “Luna! I was just trying to be nice! Why is he always so mean to me?” he cried, burying his face in her shoulder. Luna frantically wiped the frosting from his face, her voice a furious roar aimed at me. “Alex, what is wrong with you? You’re a monster!” “The candles were still on the cake! You could have hurt him!” I laughed, a cold, empty sound. “He deserved it.” He came here, to my mother’s grave, to taunt me. “Rich is your brother, for God’s sake! All he did was blow out a candle. You can’t be this petty!” “Get out,” I repeated, my voice like ice. “Luna…” Rich whined, clinging to her arm, their bodies pressing together in a way that was far too intimate. Luna, for her part, seemed to be enjoying it. “See? He just doesn’t appreciate me. I only wanted to help celebrate his mom’s life… Did I do something wrong again? It’s all my fault…” My voice was terrifyingly calm. “My mother never gave me a brother.” Rich was a stray my family took in, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. At my words, his eyes filled with fresh tears. “I know you’ve never accepted me as family, brother, but you don’t have to be so cold every time you see me…” I stared him down. My gaze must have been colder than the grave itself, because he trailed off, shrinking back behind Luna like a frightened child. “Luna, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault…” “GET OUT!” I roared, my patience gone. I closed my eyes, trying to regain control. “Never in history has a murderer dared to be so arrogant in front of his victim. Rich, are you testing my limits, or are you just begging to die?” “Alex!” Luna cut me off, her patience finally snapping. “Watch your words! I’ve told you, the crash was an ACCIDENT.” “Rich is so gentle and kind he wouldn’t even step on an ant. How could he possibly harm your mother?” I sneered. “An accident?” “Then how do you explain the highly venomous snake that just happened to crawl into her trunk?” I had the surveillance footage. The dashcam video. It clearly showed Rich buying the snake and hiding it in her car in the middle of the night. But when I presented the evidence in court, it had mysteriously vanished. Wiped clean, with no backups. “Alex, your mother is dead! What’s the point of all this drama?” Rich sobbed, wiping at his eyes. “You’re such an unlovable man. What is your problem?” He then pulled a portable speaker from one of the cars and blasted cheerful, upbeat music. “I know you’re still mad about the funeral,” he said, his voice laced with false sincerity. “So I’m here to apologize.” On the anniversary of my mother’s death, he was playing “Celebration.” A white-hot rage burned through me, and the pain in my stomach intensified. “Do you want to die?” I gritted out. “What will it take for you to forgive me, brother? Should I get on my knees and beg…?” He made a show of starting to kneel, but Luna caught him before his knees could touch the ground. “You did nothing wrong. You don’t have to apologize to him.” Then, in a move that stunned me, Luna knelt before Rich on one knee and pulled out a ring box. “Rich, even the master jewelers said the gem was one of a kind. I had it recut and set for twenty million dollars. A unique gift, for a unique man.” A searing pain shot through my eyes. Even though the setting was different, I recognized it instantly. The ring was forged from my mother’s heirlooms. “Oh, Luna, thank you! You’re too good to me!” Rich exclaimed, slipping the ring on and rushing over to flaunt it in my face. “Look, brother! Isn’t it beautiful?” He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a vicious whisper. “You know what your mother said, right before she died? She said she was sorry. To you. Hahahaha, can you believe it? Dying, and still thinking of you. So touching…” That was it. I lunged, grabbing a fistful of his hair and slamming him against the cemetery wall. “Alex!” someone screamed. “Let him go!” Luna shrieked, her eyes wild with panic, her voice raw. “What do you want? Just tell me! Alex, I’ll give you anything!” I pulled a knife from my pocket. And pressed it to Rich’s throat. “Anything?” A bloody, feral grin spread across my face. I probably looked completely unhinged. The crowd of onlookers, who had been enjoying the show, scrambled backward, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire. I turned my attention back to the terrified man in my grasp. “Just because I didn’t send you to prison doesn’t mean you’re not a murderer.” “As long as I’m alive, you will never know peace.” If he’d just stayed away, he might have been safe. But he had to parade himself in front of me. If he died on my blade tonight, he’d have brought it on himself. “You… you wouldn’t dare, brother,” Rich stammered, though his eyes held a flicker of defiance. “You’re just trying to scare me…” I pushed. The blade sank into his shoulder. He let out a bloodcurdling scream. “Luna, help me! He’s a psycho! Alex is a goddamn psycho!” “Get him!” Luna commanded. She had come prepared. She shot me a look of pure loathing and kicked me hard in the chest. “Did you really think I’d let you hurt Rich again, you lunatic?” The kick was thrown with her full force. I stumbled back, landing hard on the ground, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. Rich was clutching his bleeding shoulder, but Luna was already at his side, gently supporting him. “Quick! Get the first aid kit from my trunk!” she ordered her bodyguards, her eyes filled with nothing but adoration for him. She had long since stopped hiding her true feelings. She began cleaning his wound while another guard called for an ambulance. “It’s okay, Luna, I’m fine…” Rich gasped, waving the guard away. “It’s just a scratch. The knife… it cut him too when he stabbed me.” He leaned against her, then glanced at me, a sly look in his eyes. “You know, Luna, I think brother’s gone crazy from being so lonely.” “I mean, we’re both men, I get it. You haven’t been… intimate with him in years. He’s probably desperate for a woman’s touch…” At his words, Luna stroked his cheek tenderly. “You’re always so thoughtful.” “As for Alex,” she said, her voice dripping with disgust, “I wouldn’t touch a vile, pathetic man like him with a ten-foot pole.” She pulled out a checkbook and waved a check at a group of female bodyguards. “You girls are up.” “Keep Mr. Collins here… entertained,” she instructed them. “You’ll all be well compensated.” The women’s eyes widened at the amount on the check. Greed won over professionalism. They began shrugging off their jackets, advancing on me. “Sorry about this, Mr. Collins. We’ll be sure to take good care of you…” Luna stepped back, wrapping an arm around Rich, and let out a low whistle. “Now the real show begins. Everyone get your phones out. You won’t want to miss this.” They moved to tear at my clothes, but one of the women paused, looking at the jacket Victoria had left on the ground. “Ms. Vance, this jacket… it looks like a woman’s.” “Who cares where he picked it up? Get on with it!” Luna snapped. But before another hand could touch me, the roar of a high-performance engine cut through the air. A sleek, black luxury car screeched to a halt beside us. The door opened, and a woman stepped out. The aura of power that radiated from her silenced the entire cemetery. Her voice, when she spoke, was low, calm, and terrifying.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “384472”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

It was the third year after I’d been reunited with my biological family when my adoptive sister, Sherry, showed up on our doorstep late at night. Her face was a mask of stubborn pride, but it couldn’t hide the raw wound of neglect in her eyes. “Betty said she wouldn’t mind living with me,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’ve waited for three years. Why haven’t you come to get me?” My father, a man I’d only ever known as strict and severe, felt his eyes well up with tears. My brother, Ethan, shoved past me, his shoulder knocking into mine, and wrapped the girl in a fierce hug. “Sherry! I’ll never let anyone bully you again.” They gathered around her, a flood of repressed emotion finally finding its release. My father told me to give Sherry her room back. My brother told me to stop being difficult and booked me a spot on a youth travel tour. And then, they completely forgot their promise to pick me up. While I was trapped by a landslide, they were celebrating Sherry’s birthday. After I was rescued, one of the emergency workers handed me a phone. “You should call your family,” he said gently. I shook my head, looking him in the eye. “Sir, could I possibly borrow two hundred and eight dollars?” 1 The rescuer, a kind-faced man in his forties, blinked. “Two hundred and eight?” I ticked off the numbers on my fingers for him. “The bus from here to the train station is three dollars. The train ticket is a hundred and ninety-five. And the bus from the station to my town is another ten. It adds up to exactly two hundred and eight.” A complicated expression crossed his face. “Kid, you don’t live in Northwood? After something this serious, you should wait for your family to come get you.” “I’m an adult, sir,” I said softly. “I can decide which home I want to go back to.” What I didn’t say was that some families, you could wait for forever, and they’d never come. After splitting from the tour group yesterday, I’d waited on the mountain until I fell asleep. A sudden drop in temperature woke me to a dark, rain-lashed sky. My phone was on its last one percent of battery when I managed to call my brother. “Betty?” “Are you…” almost here? “Oh! Dad and I were celebrating Sherry’s birthday this afternoon. The AC must have been too low or something because she’s running a fever now. We’re on our way to the hospital with her. Right, you were coming home today, weren’t you?” “Yes, but…” “You’ll have to get back on your own, okay?” Beep. Beep. Beep. The line went dead. The phone was off. The doors to the few small shops on the summit were locked tight. There was nowhere to charge it. Too scared to navigate the treacherous mountain path without a guide, I huddled under the flimsy cover of a vendor’s stall. The wind howled, and the darkness felt alive. Would they even notice I hadn’t come home? And if they did, would they worry about me the way they worried about Sherry? I knew the answer. Of course not. Just as they’d forgotten that today was supposed to be my birthday, not Sherry’s. But it was okay. It didn’t matter. I wrapped my arms around myself, patting my own shoulder. Just go to sleep, I told myself. If you’re asleep, you won’t be scared. When morning finally came, I caught the first bus down the mountain. The bus was nearly empty. No one expected the landslide. … But there was no need to explain all this. I didn’t care anymore, but telling the story would only make others pity me. The rescue team couldn’t change my mind, but they insisted on giving me a ride to the train station. On the way, the kind rescuer sighed, “Just a bit of bad luck. If you’d come down yesterday, you would have missed the whole thing.” Another worker chuckled. “What are you talking about? She survived a landslide without a scratch. That’s not bad luck, that’s a damn miracle!” I listened with a small smile, nodding in agreement. In the end, they transferred me five hundred dollars. I thanked them profusely, saving the sender’s information in my phone. I would pay them back. My phone, now charged, buzzed to life as I stepped into the station. A new message. I opened it. A voice note from my brother, Ethan. “Betty, the housekeeper just called and said you’re not back yet? You didn’t come straight home last night? Dad and I have been at the hospital with Sherry. She still has a fever. You know how she’s always been so delicate, sick all the time since she was a little girl…” Sherry. The name my biological family had given their adoptive daughter. I didn’t listen to the rest. I converted the 48-second message to text. Almost every word was about Sherry. My thumb hovered over the screen, unsure how to reply. These moments had been the backdrop of the last three years. At the dinner table, they’d mention how Sherry loved this or that dish. Seeing a pretty dress in a shop window, they’d wonder if Sherry had anything like it. Every holiday we spent together felt like a formality, a duty they had to perform before they could leave with sighs of relief to celebrate with their other daughter. I never minded the idea of living with her. I never minded that they loved her. Just as I could never cut my adoptive parents out of my heart, I understood that the fifteen years they’d spent raising Sherry had forged a bond deeper than blood. But they didn’t believe me. They insisted it was for my own good that they sent her away. Back then, I was consumed by guilt, convinced that I was the reason their family had been torn apart. Until the first time I met Sherry. 2 She took my hand, her smile tinged with a beautiful sadness. “Dad was always worried we wouldn’t get along. I guess he thought I was spoiled and might intimidate you. But I’ve always wanted to try and be friends.” I just nodded dumbly, trying to comfort her. Sherry seemed deeply moved. She reached for the locket around her neck. “Please, don’t say no. This was actually your birth mother’s. Back then… everyone thought you were gone. That’s why Dad gave it to me.” My hand, which had been pushing it away, froze. Sherry smiled and unclasped it. “Take it. It was always yours.” It was my mother’s. I reached out, but just as my fingers were about to touch the cool metal, Sherry’s wrist twisted. The locket slipped. I gasped, lunging to catch it, but it was too fast. The silver hit the tile floor, popping open, a tiny shard of glass from the picture cover scattering across the floor. At that exact moment, my father and brother walked in. Sherry’s eyes turned red. “It was me! It was all my fault!” she cried. “I didn’t hold it properly! It wasn’t Betty’s fault!” If I’d been older, maybe I would have known how to handle it. But I was fifteen, newly returned to a family of strangers, my heart not yet hardened by the world. All I felt was the sharp pain of my mother’s locket being broken and the rising panic that they would blame me. I frowned at Sherry. “You should have held it tighter.” Tears instantly streamed down Sherry’s face. She looked at me with an expression of infinite sorrow. “It’s my fault,” she whispered, her voice choked with sobs. “You’re right. It’s all yours. I shouldn’t have… oh…” I was at a loss. “But you…” “That’s enough!” my father’s voice cracked like a whip. I flinched. I had never seen him so angry. His eyes blazed with a fury that was aimed squarely at me. “Answer me. Did you ask for this locket?” “No, I didn’t,” I said, my voice frantic. “She told me it was Mom’s. She wanted to give it to me!” Sherry sobbed harder. “That’s right! Dad, don’t blame Betty! I wanted her to have it! It’s all my fault! Please, blame me!” “Sherry, be quiet!” Ethan snapped, then turned his icy gaze on me. “Betty, I’m asking you. Did you want this locket?” “No…” “Tell the truth!” my father roared. Their anger was a physical force, a knife twisting in my chest. All I could hear was the frantic, trapped beat of my own heart. Did I want it? Did I? Yes. It was my mother’s. Of course I wanted it… “Yes…” I whispered, trembling. SLAP. The sting on my cheek was white-hot. The world seemed to recede, the sounds around me distant and muffled, yet echoing with perfect clarity in my head. I heard my father’s voice, thick with rage. “I was wrong! I never should have let you two meet!” “I knew you’d be jealous of Sherry! I knew that jealousy would make you do something despicable! You grew up in the countryside, how could you be anything but conniving? And I still gave you the chance to hurt her!” Sherry wept. “Dad, don’t blame Betty. It’s my fault! Anything she wants, I should give her!” My brother comforted her. “It’s okay, Sherry, don’t be scared. You’re too pure, too kind. It hurts Dad and me to see you sacrifice yourself like this.” 3 I opened my mouth to explain, to tell them I wasn’t that kind of person. I grew up in a small town, but my Ma and Pa taught me to always be honest. I never lied. I was an honor roll student. My teachers always said I was such a good kid. I had so many friends back home, and even at my new school, everyone liked me. I would never do something like that. But my father had already sentenced me. His voice was cold as steel. “Let this slap be a lesson. Be an honest person. If I ever catch you lying or scheming again, I don’t care if you’re my own flesh and blood, I will punish you severely.” I felt my blood run cold. It’s true what they say—in moments of extreme fear, you can’t speak. Ethan sighed. “Stop crying. Apologize to Sherry, and then apologize to Dad.” It was only then that I realized I was crying, too. My father stood in stony silence. Sherry clutched his sleeve, peering at me from behind him. Ethan gave me a little shove. “Stop being so stubborn. Dad is only this hard on you because he loves you. That’s why he’s so angry right now. Just apologize and admit you were wrong. Don’t make him truly disappointed in you.” Does Dad love me? He must. So I couldn’t disappoint him. I relaxed my jaw, my lips nearly bleeding from how hard I’d been biting them. “I’m sorry, Sherry,” I said softly. “I was wrong.” It wasn’t so hard to say. If you just ignored your pride, ignored what was right and wrong, it didn’t hurt so much. My voice grew stronger. “Dad, I was wrong. I’ll never do it again.” I’ll never want anything that belongs to someone else again. I’ll never dare to. They took Sherry home. I sat alone in the vast, empty house, watching the sunset paint the walls gold, and then watching the dawn break. And I finally understood. They didn’t send Sherry away so they could focus on loving me. They sent her away because they were afraid my jealousy would hurt her.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “384471”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel