Five months pregnant, when I went to book my prenatal care, I discovered my CEO husband, Liam, had booked out the entire luxurious maternity retreat. Thrilled, I snapped a picture to post on Instagram. But as I raised my phone, I saw Liam tenderly leaning into Stella, his widowed sister-in-law’s swollen belly, his voice impossibly gentle. “Stella, thank you for blessing me with another child. My life is finally complete.” My heart seized, I couldn’t breathe. Back home, I hired a private detective to dig into Liam’s past. After his brother’s death, he secretly became the guardian of Stella’s child, giving her a home, all behind my back. I sat numbly all night, the pain suffocating, as I slowly slipped off my wedding ring. I couldn’t stay with a man who was unfaithful. Footsteps approached. I quickly wiped away the tears stinging my eyes. The rich scent of roses filled the air, but it couldn’t mask the unfamiliar perfume clinging to Liam. Liam wrapped his arms around me from behind, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. “My dearest Chloe, here are the passionate red roses you adore.” I took the flowers, forcing a brittle smile. “Is this the surprise you wanted to give me? I thought it was that necklace I loved from the auction.” Liam’s gaze darted away, trying to hide his guilt. “I heard that necklace was already reserved. It was impossible to snatch it away.” I sneered, a bitter laugh bubbling up as I watched Liam lie. Last week, news spread about a stunning sapphire necklace at the auction, and Liam knew how much I loved blue. He had vowed to buy it for me. But just moments ago, I’d seen him with my own eyes, fastening that very necklace around Stella’s neck. The image of Liam and Stella kissing so passionately, unable to tear themselves apart, churned my stomach. I stumbled to the trash can, violently throwing up. Liam, panicked, immediately called the family doctor. But the next second, his phone vibrated wildly. A fragile female voice echoed from the speaker. “Liam, I accidentally slipped in the bathroom…” The man who was always so calm and composed suddenly grabbed the doctor and rushed out of the apartment. I watched his frantic retreat, tears finally streaming down my face. Before Liam’s brother died unexpectedly, he had asked Liam to take good care of his wife and child. Back then, Liam’s entire focus had been on his widowed sister-in-law. When Stella grieved, drinking herself into oblivion all night, he abandoned me even as I suffered from a raging fever. When Stella collapsed from emotional distress, refusing to eat, he left me, unconscious and miscarrying in the rainy night. … I had always assumed Liam was just trying to protect their broken family, swallowing my complaints, burying my resentment deep down. But I never imagined that his sense of responsibility would morph into love for his sister-in-law. He had betrayed me, becoming another woman’s husband, another child’s father. With all my strength, I ripped off the wedding ring from my ring finger and hurled it into the trash can. The glass window reflected a woman’s pallid face, her hair disheveled, looking like a complete lunatic. My swollen pregnant finger was raw and bleeding where the ring had chafed it. Once I calmed down, I dialed the pinned contact, my voice hoarse. “Mom, I want to come home.”

Liam didn’t come home all night. I released the roses in my arms, tossing them into the trash without a second thought. A notification popped up, reminding me it was time for my prenatal check-up today. I gently stroked my growing belly. Through my skin, I felt a faint kick. Even if Liam had cheated, the baby was innocent. It was my flesh and blood, my precious treasure. I grabbed my previous check-up results and asked the housekeeper to prepare the car for the hospital. The corridor was bustling with people, every couple’s face radiating joyful smiles. I sat on a cold bench, waiting, when a familiar voice unexpectedly pierced my ears. I looked up, and my heart plummeted into an ice-cold abyss. Liam was carefully supporting Stella, the worry in his eyes undisguised. He carried her pink handbag and an assortment of breakfast items. I suddenly remembered when I first found out I was pregnant; my morning sickness had been terrible. Liam, out of concern, dropped everything to learn how to cook nutritious meals for pregnant women. I had been angry, scolding him for not knowing what was important. Liam had clawed his way up from a corporate greenhorn to CEO, pouring countless hours and effort into his career. He’d pulled all-nighters on projects, flattered clients and drank until he collapsed, and nearly suffered a heart attack from overwork… I couldn’t bear to see the man I loved ruin himself, covered in scars. I had humbly called my mom for help, begging her to support Liam. And to protect Liam’s pride, I had never mentioned it to him. I just couldn’t understand how the Liam who once stayed up all night, eyes red from exhaustion, promising me a happy future, could have cheated. The hospital loudspeaker suddenly crackled, pulling me from my thoughts. “Chloe Miller, please proceed to consultation room 103.” Not far away, Liam finally saw me. His gaze dropped, filled with guilt, then he quickly strode towards me. A warmth spread across my wrist as Liam leaned down, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from my forehead. “Why didn’t you call me to come with you?” I looked past him at Stella, suppressing the bitterness in my heart, and gave a light laugh. “I was afraid you wouldn’t have time.” Liam frowned, sighing helplessly as he explained. “After my brother passed, Stella was pregnant and had no one else to rely on.” “Don’t overthink it, Chloe. I’m just fulfilling my brother’s responsibilities.” Seeing us at a stalemate, Stella clutched her pregnant belly and rushed over, her face anxious. She shielded Liam, her eyes red, and grasped my hand. “Chloe, please don’t be angry with Liam.” “It’s all my fault for bothering him. I promise I’ll never appear before him again.” I said nothing, yet Stella was already crying, tears cascading down her face. Liam pulled her into his embrace, his eyes as dark and stormy as a brewing tempest. “Chloe, can’t you show some empathy?” “She’s my sister-in-law, she’s family!” And what about his wife? Weren’t spouses supposed to be the closest people to each other? The loudspeaker sounded again, urging me to go for my check-up. I bit the inside of my cheek, and as I turned, I quickly wiped away my tears. Of course, I didn’t miss the triumphant, challenging glint in Stella’s eyes. She deliberately exposed the ambiguous red marks on her collarbone, then wept piteously in Liam’s arms. Last night, the private detective’s photos showed Liam tenderly removing Stella’s nightgown, the two of them spending a passionate night together. And I? I had foolishly waited all night for a man who would never come home. After the check-up, Liam, to my surprise, was waiting at the door. He gripped my hand, like a devoted husband to his beloved wife. “How was it?” I subtly pulled my hand away. “The doctor said the baby’s heartbeat is a little faint and advised me to try and stay cheerful.” Liam nodded, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say more. Stella stood not far away, coughing softly. So Liam ruffled my hair. “I’ll take Stella home first, then I’ll come back to pick you up.” The tiny flicker of hope in my heart was thoroughly extinguished by a bucket of cold water. I forced out a weak smile. “Okay.” But after waiting three hours in the cold wind outside the hospital, Liam never appeared. I pulled out the voluntary waiver of assets in case of divorce that Liam had handwritten for me years ago and sent it to my lawyer.

Back home, I started packing my luggage to leave. The door slammed open with a kick. Liam stormed in, grabbing my wrist, his voice sharp with accusation. “If you have a problem, you should take it out on me!” I frowned in confusion, then Liam roughly shoved me against the wall. A torrent of curses rained down on me. “Thank God I managed to swerve away from that truck, or Stella and the baby would have been crushed!” “Chloe, you’re a cold-blooded killer.” My bracelet snapped without warning, clattering to the floor at my feet. It was the love knot bracelet Liam had braided for me himself. I winced in pain, looking directly into Liam’s eyes. “What on earth are you talking about?” A muffled shuffling sound came from the hallway. Stella, pale-faced, leaned against the doorframe, her wrist wrapped in a thick bandage. She bit her lower lip, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably. “Chloe, I know you don’t like me, but my baby is Liam’s own nephew.” “You went too far today.” An unknown fury surged within me, and I violently broke free from Liam’s grip. “I didn’t do anything! And I would never stoop to such a base method to harm you!” I angrily advanced on Stella, who retreated, tears welling up. A sharp slap echoed, and a searing pain spread across my cheek. Liam watched me with cold eyes, his large frame completely shielding Stella. I stood frozen. His gaze held anger, contempt, hatred – everything but the slightest trace of the trust he once had in me. He had promised me he would unconditionally trust me, unconditionally stand by me, no matter what. A sharp pain jolted my lower abdomen, and I leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down to the floor. But Liam didn’t even spare me a glance, disdainfully shifting his foot away. As if he feared I would contaminate him. I bit down hard, refusing to show any vulnerability. The room was filled with Stella’s fragile sobs and Liam’s soft comforts. I suddenly remembered two years ago, when our whole family went on a cruise. Stella and I accidentally fell overboard simultaneously. She was an excellent swimmer, while I was a complete non-swimmer. But Liam’s first instinct was to save Stella. Only after Stella was taken to the hospital and confirmed to be unharmed did he remember me, sinking into the depths of the ocean. I lost control, smashing the glass cup beside me. Shards of glass flew everywhere, cutting Liam’s hand. He winced in pain, but his first concern was whether Stella had been hurt. Upon seeing a tiny scratch on Stella’s finger, he anxiously scooped her into his arms, then coldly ordered the housekeeper. “Don’t let anyone send food to Chloe today. And from now on, without my permission, she is not allowed to leave and harm anyone!” The door slammed shut, the distinct click of the lock piercing my eardrums. My stomach began to ache belatedly, a sharp, violent pain. I nervously clutched my abdomen, a warm wetness spreading between my legs. My beige dress was stained with a large patch of crimson, my mind a complete blank. Amidst the intense contractions, I frantically crawled to the door, pounding on it like a madwoman. My voice trembled with fear. “Liam, I’m bleeding…” “Please, open the door! Take me to the hospital…” The footsteps outside the door paused, then grew clearer, closer. A sliver of hope ignited in my heart, and I shifted my body to make room for the door to open. The doorknob turned slightly, then I heard Liam’s cold, mocking voice. “Chloe, I’m not falling for your childish tricks anymore.” My heart instantly stopped beating, and I pounded on the bedroom door like a madwoman. “Liam, come back! I’m not lying!” “My stomach really hurts… The baby is in danger…” But only dead silence answered me. My phone wasn’t nearby, what could I do? Who could save my baby? Blood pooled on the floor, terrifying, and my stomach felt like it was being torn apart by a thousand knives. Just before losing consciousness, I finally remembered the SOS bracelet my mom had given me.

With all my remaining strength, I crawled to the bedside table, found the bracelet, and pressed the emergency button. Consciousness completely faded, and I collapsed onto the cold floor. When I next regained awareness, my nose was filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant. I immediately touched my abdomen, but it was flat. Realizing I had lost my most precious treasure, I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. The doctor stood nearby, sighing regretfully. “If she had been brought in earlier, perhaps the baby could have been saved.” This was the second time. This was the second time this had happened. Liam, you are the real murderer. A stranger by my bedside handed me a plane ticket, his voice respectful. “Miss, your mother has arranged everything for you.” “Please be at the airport in three hours to depart for home.” My tears soaked into the pillow, and my phone chimed. It was an unknown message. The photo showed Liam, his left hand holding a little boy who bore a striking resemblance to him, and his right arm around a pregnant Stella. If he weren’t my husband, the scene would have been so warm and touching. I screamed helplessly, tears streaming down my face. The Liam who had once knelt and begged me to marry him, the Liam who had always prioritized me, was truly dead. As the plane was about to take off, I dragged my weak body to complete the discharge process. Standing at the entrance of my home, I heard a woman’s cheerful laughter from inside. I froze, my legs heavy as if filled with lead. Pushing open the door, I saw Liam busy in the kitchen, wearing an apron. Stella and her son were cozily watching TV on the sofa, smiling. They looked like a happy couple, and I was the intruder, the outsider in this home. Liam didn’t notice my flat abdomen, or my pale face. He simply glanced at me indifferently. Stella smirked triumphantly, then feigned surprise, like a startled deer. Liam, afraid I would bully his darling, rushed over with a ladle in hand. “You hurt Stella, so I brought her home to take care of her, as an atonement for your sins.” I numbly nodded, all strength seemingly drained from my body. Seeing my docile expression, Liam patted my head, satisfied. “I stewed your favorite chicken soup. Go wash your hands quickly.” “Apologize properly to Stella, and we can put this whole incident behind us.” I said nothing, quietly returning to my room to collect my important documents. Liam was attentively serving soup to Stella and her son, not sparing me a single glance. I quietly walked out the door, and not a single soul noticed. Childish laughter echoed from inside the house, and I could no longer control my grief, bursting into helpless tears. The bodyguard stood not far away, silently waiting for me to finish crying, then escorted me all the way to the airport. As the plane took off, I broke my SIM card, and threw away the rings, necklaces, and everything Liam had given me. From then on, Liam and I would be strangers.

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After eighteen years in the slums, my sister’s billionaire father came to claim her. The day she left, Serena-the sister I’d never gotten along with-insisted on taking me with her to that better life. Everyone was jealous. They thought I’d finally escaped this place. But I refused. My parents stared at me, caught between fury and despair. “We’re handing you a future, and you’re throwing it away? You want to rot here forever?” Even our relatives saw a chance. “If she won’t go, just send my Chloe instead!” I didn’t budge. “I’m not going.” I knew what awaited there was danger. My repeated refusals drew a frost over Mr. Sterling’s expression. A man of his stature didn’t beg. He certainly didn’t beg a poor, unrelated girl. He crossed his arms. “Ungrateful,” he spat, the word hanging in the air like a verdict. Seeing his anger, Mrs. Davies trembled. She stepped forward and slapped my shoulder, her voice a low, furious hiss. “What is wrong with you? People would kill for this chance, and you say no? Are you insane? What is so good about this dump that you must stay?” I kept my head down, silent, as they yelled and hit me. This rundown place truly was awful. We scraped by, working through scorching summers and braving winter blizzards to tend the livestock. But I still wanted to stay. At least… Mr. Davies gritted his teeth and shoved me. “You have to go! This isn’t up to you. If you go, it’ll ease the burden on this family. Your mother and I won’t have to break our backs paying for your education anymore!” “Lily, stop being stubborn! This is for your own good.” Tears filled my eyes. I knew they meant well. They wanted a better life for me. But I still shook my head, my voice thick. “I can’t!” My aunt Rachel saw her chance. She pushed her daughter Chloe forward, her shrewd eyes darting between us. “Since Lily won’t go, why not Chloe? She’s every bit as good!” Before Mr. Sterling could respond, Serena frowned and cut in. “No! I only want Lily to come with me!” Anyone else might have seen a devoted sister. But I, shrank back into the corner, broke into a cold sweat.

Normally, Rachel would have yelled in Serena’s face for using that tone. But things were different now. Serena was the billionaire’s daughter, her status transformed. Rachel was too busy currying favor to protest. She edged closer, her voice sycophantic. “Serena, just take Chloe. She’s hardworking. She’ll look after you. Far better than that lazy Lily!” As she spoke, a look of pure disgust landed on me. I didn’t feel angry. If anything, a quiet relief settled in. Serena dismissed the idea without a second thought. “No, I only want Lily with me!” With that, she intimately linked her arm through mine. It felt like a cold, slimy snake coiling around me, suffocating me. “Lily, please come with me. It’s such an amazing chance to change your life. Why do you keep refusing me?” She blinked, a probing look in her eyes as she stared at me. I yanked my hand away as if she burned me, stumbling back a few steps before I regained my composure and spoke. “I’m not going. Find someone else, or just go by yourself.” She put on a wounded expression, her eyes welling up, looking incredibly hurt. “No, Mom and Dad always taught us to share. Now that I have a good life, I keep thinking of you, and you just keep refusing me.” “Did I do something wrong to upset you? I’m sorry, okay? Just come with me.” “You can try it for a while. If you don’t like it, you can come back, okay?” Rachel watched me, her eyes thick with an envy so potent I could taste it. She wished Serena had asked her. I cleared my throat, firm. “I’m not going. My life is here. I wouldn’t belong there.” Serena’s composure shattered. “What life?! Slaving at dawn, pinching cents for a flicker of light at night, wearing rags until they fall apart! What is worth clinging to here?” “Lily, look around! Every girl here is married off the moment she’s of age. Is that what you want? To be sold to some stranger twice your age?” Every accusation struck a deep, familiar chord. I didn’t want this life. It was a grinding, colorless struggle. But I feared the mansion more than the hardship. A gilded cage was still a cage. I would not go. I sighed, taking a long moment before speaking slowly. “I’ve said it many times. I just don’t want to go. No matter how good the life is, I don’t want to go. How many times do I have to tell you before you understand?” My parents shot me a look of furious disappointment, practically gnashing their teeth as they asked me. “Then why don’t you want to go? Tell us, what’s so special about this place that you’re so attached to it?” I rubbed my red eyes, hesitating repeatedly before swallowing the truth, knowing no one would ever believe me. I could only find another excuse to give them. “I want to stay here with you, okay? If you both leave, who will take care of you if you get sick?” Mr. Sterling’s expression finally softened, and he cleared his throat. “That’s not a problem. We can take your parents with us to live a good life. Consider it our way of repaying you for raising Serena all these years.”

His words hit me like a ton of bricks, leaving me dazed. My parents instantly grinned from ear to ear. “R-really? We can go too?” Mr. Sterling nodded, but a flicker of inexplicable disdain was hidden deep in his eyes. Seeing this, my parents slapped their hands together and turned to me, smiling. “Lily, now our whole family can go. You can rest easy now, right?” Serena unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, a genuine smile on her face, and chimed in. “So Lily was worried about this. You should have said something earlier! Taking care of Mom and Dad is my responsibility too; I would never abandon them.” But I couldn’t smile. I only wished I had found a different excuse, I’d fallen right into their trap. Serena started pulling my parents towards the car. I rushed forward to stop them. “No, you can’t go!” Serena’s smile froze on her face. She looked at me in surprise, a flicker of irritation crossing her face. “Lily, didn’t you say if Mom and Dad went, you would too?” “Why are you disagreeing now? What else do you want?” I ignored her, just grabbing my parents’ hands and pulling them back. “Don’t go, and I won’t go either. Can’t we just stay in the slums?” My parents stared, confused. “Lily, what is this? You just agreed to go if we went.” “We said yes. Now you’re stopping us?” Serena clasped her hands, tears glistening in her eyes as she approached me. Her voice trembled with hurt. “If you don’t want to go, fine. But why would you take this chance from Mom and Dad? Why are you being so selfish?” “I only want what’s best for all of us, and you’ve blocked me at every turn! Why?” I gritted my teeth, fury burning in my chest. If my parents went alone, I’d never have a moment’s peace. This was Serena’s new strategy. If I wouldn’t go, she’d take my parents instead. She had me completely cornered, certain that if my parents went, I would follow. Her act of being so devoted to my well-being made me seem ungrateful in the eyes of the other relatives. They stood by, arms crossed, loudly mocking me. “Lily was just never meant for a good life. I say she should just find a man and get married.” “I know, right? If something like this happened to me, I’d say yes in a heartbeat. She’s such an idiot.” “Serena, if she won’t go, fine, just take us! We all want a good life!” Serena ignored them, her eyes meeting mine, with a hint of scrutiny. I quickly masked the fear in my eyes, not wanting her to notice anything amiss. Mr. Davies yanked his hand from mine, gasping for breath as he angrily questioned me. “Lily, what are you doing?! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!” Mrs. Davies’ face was ashen. “Lily, my patience is wearing thin. You won’t go, and you won’t let us go. Are you crazy?!” I was furious and desperate. The truth sat bitter and heavy on my tongue, but I couldn’t force it out. All I could do was cry and repeat myself, a broken record of desperation. “I don’t want to go! And you can’t go, either!” “If we go… if we go there, it will-” “It’ll what?” Serena cut in, her smile sharp and probing. I flinched. The words shriveled in my throat. I turned my face away, sealing my lips in a tight, final line. My mother raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face, then made her final decision. “Alright, I’ve decided. Our whole family is going. Lily, stop messing around!” The tension drained from Serena’s face, and a relaxed smile appeared.

But I couldn’t just stand by and watch my parents go to the billionaire’s house. Without a word, I rushed to the balcony, swung one leg over the railing, and threatened to kill myself. “None of you are allowed to go! If you go, I’ll jump from here!” My parents were startled by my actions. But the person even more agitated than my parents was Mr. Sterling. He quickly raised a hand to stop me. “Lily, don’t be impulsive, don’t be impulsive! Let’s talk this through!” I didn’t look at him, only stared at my parents, demanding they change their minds. “Mom, Dad, promise me we won’t go, okay? If Serena wants to go, let her go by herself, okay?” My parents looked hesitant, even starting to wonder. “Is this kid possessed?” A profound sense of helplessness welled up in my heart. My voice rose to a shout. “If you don’t promise me, I’ll jump from here right now!” With that, I leaned further out, my whole body hanging precariously from the balcony. One gust of wind and I’d be gone. My parents were still deliberating, truly unable to understand why I would refuse a good life and insist on staying in this poor place. After a long time, my tears nearly dried, my parents finally nodded. “Fine, if she doesn’t want to go, then we won’t. We’re not meant for that kind of life.” My strength gave out, and I crumpled to the floor. Mr. Sterling looked at me with a complex expression for a long time before speaking. “Since she’s unwilling to go, I won’t force it. Serena, let’s go home.” Serena was the first to object. She shrieked, her voice hoarse. “No! Lily has to come with me!” Her face twisted as she rushed over to me, frantically shaking my shoulders. “Lily, why won’t you go? You don’t want a good life, are you crazy?!” Her nails dug deep into my shoulder, and I gasped from the pain. Mr. Sterling spoke up, displeased, his voice carrying a hint of authority. “Serena, that’s enough!” His words acted like a tranquilizer. She froze. A fine tremor ran through her body. She released me, her grip going slack. Her eyes were red-rimmed, still burning with defiance. “Why? Are you insane? You’re throwing away a fortune, a future.” To an outsider, it might have looked like genuine concern. My parents stepped forward, patting Serena’s shoulder soothingly, forcing a smile. “Serena, if Lily doesn’t want to go, fine. Just remember to take care of yourself when we’re not around.” Serena shoved them away, her voice rising to a shout. “Don’t tell me what to do! I offered you a way out and you threw it in my face! You’ve brought this on yourselves!” My parents opened their mouths, then closed them, the words dying into a helpless sigh. Serena stood abruptly, shot me a venomous glare, and let her new father lead her away. A wave of relief finally broke across my face. But my parents couldn’t smile. They looked at me with disappointment, before turning back to their work. The day’s turmoil left me drained. I collapsed into bed, fell into a deep sleep, only to wake up staring at the roof of a car. My eyes snapped open. My parents’ voices cut through clearly. “Thank goodness Serena had the foresight to drug her. Once Once Lily wakes up in that mansion, she’ll never want to leave. Just stubborn, that girl!”

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Five years into my marriage with Clara, my company went public. And I bought her a million-dollar sports car for her birthday. But she just tossed the car keys onto the table, eyes narrowed in accusation. “A million dollars? How could you be so reckless?” She linked her arm through Leo’s, the financially struggling university student she sponsored. “Leo survives on less than five hundred a month. Imagine the good that money could have done for him.” I frowned. “I earned every cent. You’re my wife. I wanted to give you something spectacular.” “And what?” I added, my voice dropping. “Should I sponsor every struggling student in the city? Is that my job now?” Seeing my lack of remorse, Clara lost it. She demanded I hand over all my bank cards. “We’ve been married five years, and I’ve never questioned your spending. But from this moment on, you don’t spend a single dollar without my approval.” Then, I turned and handed the car keys to Chloe, Clara’s best friend. “Your birthday’s next month. Consider this an early gift.”

Chloe froze, her eyes darting nervously toward Clara. Clara stood with her arms crossed, a statue of cold disapproval. “Why are you looking at me? If he gave it to you, it’s yours. Keep it.” Chloe hesitated, trying to gently dissuade Clara with a smile. “Liam’s just joking, Clara. You know him.” A chorus of nervous agreement rose around the table. “Come on, Clara, it’s your birthday! Let’s not let anything ruin the mood.” “The cake! Liam special-ordered it from that place you love.” Clara cut through the chatter, her tone final. “No cake. Leo has a crucial interview tomorrow. I’m taking him back to prepare.” A heavy silence fell. Every pair of eyes at the table shifted to me. They all knew how much I’d done for Clara. Five years of marriage, I worked relentlessly, all to give her a better life. So why was she still treating me like this? Did she really value Leo, that struggling student, more than me? “Clara, everyone’s here for you,” Chloe tried again. “Don’t spoil the night. Liam planned this for a month. You’re the guest of honor. You can’t leave him like this.” Clara looked at me. A flicker of hesitation passed through her eyes. She was actually hesitating. A bitter laugh tore through me. Leo smiled. “Clara, you should stay. My interview tomorrow is nothing.” “”Nothing?” Clara’s expression sharpened. “It’s your first interview. It shapes your entire future. How could I not make sure it’s perfect?” Seeing my face darken, Chloe laughed lightly. “When Clara sponsors someone, she sees it through.” See it through? Watching Clara’s undisguised worry for Leo felt like a fist squeezing my lungs. I couldn’t breathe. Leo was her charity case. Her “project.” Of course she felt responsible for him. And I? I was her husband. The man she’d vowed to build a life with. Shouldn’t she feel responsible for me? She left anyway. Just as she reached the door, she turned back.. “Oh. Hand over the keys to that new sports car. Leo needs something to drive.” I laughed then. A short, hollow sound. I shoved the keys directly into Chloe’s hand. “Sorry, I already gave the car to Chloe.” I said, my voice flat. “And if memory serves, the funds you’ve funneled to Leo over the years could have bought him a fleet of his own. He doesn’t need mine.”

Clara’s face twisted. “Leo has no money. If you don’t want to give him the car, just say so. Don’t hide behind Chloe.” “Fine,” I said. “I don’t want to give it to him. And I don’t believe he’s broke.” “You’ve sent him $30,000 a month for four years. That’s 1.44 million. You claim his rent and expenses are under $500. So, Leo…where did it all go?” Leo’s face paled. “Where did it go?” Clara’s voice was ice. “Not everyone is like you, throwing money around while forgetting their family. Every dollar I gave Leo, he sent home. He used it to build a better life for his parents and his village. He understands responsibility. He thinks of others.” “You only ever think of yourself.” Only thinks of myself? Clara’s words hit me like a punch to the chest, knocking the air from my lungs. So this was her verdict after all my years, all my sacrifices. Selfish. It was ridiculous! It was ironic! I took a deep breath, looking at the new Chanel clothes Leo was wearing, the Patek Philippe watch on his wrist, a mocking curve forming on my lips. “Is that so?” “Of course, he-” Leo quickly cut her off. “Clara, it’s your birthday today. We’ve already missed out on celebrating because of me. Please, don’t fight with Liam because of me again.” Then he looked at me. “Liam, every mistake is mine. Blame me, just please don’t be angry with Clara because of me.” “What mistake have you made?” Clara pulled Leo behind her, her gaze at me chillingly indifferent. “Liam, you really should learn more from Leo.” With that, she pulled Leo and walked away. Watching her leave, I almost lost my footing. I leaned heavily on the table to keep from falling. Chloe rushed to support me, expressing her displeasure at Clara. “Clara was out of line. How could she say such things?” “I’m going to make her apologize to you.” I stopped Chloe, who was about to chase after her, and shook my head with a bitter smile. “Forget it.” At that moment, a thought came to mind. Those who don’t love you can’t see your worth, and certainly not your efforts. I looked at Chloe and the others. “The guest of honor might be gone, but we’ll still have fun. Let’s just pretend nothing happened.” Even though I said that, the atmosphere had clearly shifted. After a strained while, everyone gradually dispersed. Since I’d had quite a bit to drink, Chloe offered to drive me home. I accepted. On the way, she said, “Liam, Clara wasn’t trying to hurt you. You’ve known her for years, you know what she’s like.” I shook my head. It was precisely because I knew Clara that my heart ached even more. She wasn’t like this before, but ever since she started sponsoring Leo, she changed. Every time we had a gathering, she would bring Leo along. And every time, Leo would say something inappropriate. “A plate of fruit costs fifty dollars? So expensive. You guys are really rich.” “This wine is too expensive. It pains me to drink it. I’ll just stick to water.” “My family is poor, I can’t afford such fancy places. Don’t make fun of me.” He always played the victim, as if we were flaunting our wealth in front of him. And every time, Clara would step forward to defend him. “Don’t pick on Leo, he’s shy.” “He said he’s not drinking, why are you forcing him? If you want to drink, I’ll drink with you.” “Leo, just be yourself. Let’s see who dares to laugh at you.” Scene after scene flashed in my mind. I leaned back wearily against the seat, slowly closing my eyes. “Sigh!” Chloe’s sigh filled the car.

Chloe dropped me off at my doorstep and handed me the car keys. “Talk things out with Clara. You’ve been married for five years, it’s not worth…” I cut her off, pressing the car keys back into her hand. “I already said it was a gift for you. How can I take it back now?” “But…” Suddenly, the door opened, and Clara walked out with a smiling Leo. Chloe’s unfinished words caught in her throat. Clara saw my hand still clasped with Chloe’s, and her smile instantly vanished. She demanded coldly, “What are you two doing?” Chloe hastily pulled her hand back. “Clara, don’t misunderstand, we…” “I wasn’t asking you. I was asking him.” Clara’s gaze was fixed on me. My attention, however, was entirely drawn to Leo beside her – specifically, the tie around his neck. It was my tie! The first gift Clara ever gave me after we started dating. A sharp pain pierced my eyes. I spoke in a hoarse voice, “That tie looks familiar. I think it’s mine.” Clara replied dismissively, “It is yours, but don’t you think it suits Leo perfectly?” I lowered my head, a self-deprecating laugh escaping me. “It certainly does!” If the tie suited him, did the person wearing it also suit her? Chloe glanced at me, then anxiously turned to Clara. “Clara, how could you give Liam’s tie to Leo? Don’t you know you shouldn’t just give away ties like that?” “What’s the big deal?” Clara shrugged. “It’s just a tie. Liam doesn’t wear it often anyway. And don’t you think Leo looks really handsome in it?” “Clara!” Chloe was about to say more, but I stopped her. I smiled at Clara. “Yes, he looks very handsome. Your taste is as good as ever.” Polished. Borrowed. A carp might glitter in borrowed scales, but it would never be a dragon. The attempt was almost pathetic! “Of course it is,” Clara said, preening. “Oh, and Liam,” she added. “I’ll be helping Leo with his final prep tonight. Don’t wait up.” I went very still. My wife, not coming home, for another man? On her birthday. The air grew thick. “You’re serious,” I said, my voice low and dangerously calm. “When am I not?” With a dismissive wave, she hooked her arm through Leo’s. “No time to waste. Let’s go.” “See you later, Liam!” Leo said over his shoulder. The glance he threw me wasn’t a smile but a trophy held aloft. I held his gaze until they were gone, my own smile not wavering. Then I turned to Chloe. “Find out which company he’s interviewing with tomorrow.” Chloe studied my face. “What are you going to do?” I smiled. “Just a quality check. Let’s see what my wife’s four-year investment has actually produced.”

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For ten years, I built my life around Julian Evans, a man six years my junior. He hated condoms, but promised he’d marry me the day I got pregnant. On Christmas Eve, I held a positive pregnancy test, planning to surprise him. Instead, I saw him wrapped around a younger girl outside a bar, kissing her passionately. His friends laughed and cheered them on. “Julian’s got good taste! Chloe is so young and hot!” “You should’ve seen it. When Julian brought up marriage, that desperate Stella practically launched herself at him.” “Even if Stella did get knocked up, she’d be nothing next to Chloe. Am I right?” I clutched the pregnancy test in my hand, my fingers digging in, my knuckles white. I could barely breathe. Julian chuckled dismissively. “Are you kidding? Who’d be stupid enough to marry his old practice girl?” “Julian’s only with that old lady because she’s loaded and does whatever he says. The age thing? That was never a factor.” “Can’t even imagine her in bed. It’s gotta be stale.” I stood rooted to the spot, the blood in my veins turning to ice. Old woman. Sugar mama. I’d never thought those words would come from Julian. Not from his mouth. “Big night, Julian! Aren’t you spending Christmas Eve with Chloe?” My phone screen lit up. A text message from Julian popped up. “Working late. Don’t wait up.” I stared at the words, a sick, cold dread tightening around my chest. My pale face stared back from the dark screen. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes tonight, I would never have believed that every “working late” was a lie. Julian pulled the girl onto his lap, his hand gripping the back of her head as he kissed her like he was drowning. “Stella’s pathetic,” someone cut in. “Just end it. Dragging it out is crueler.” Julian pulled back, lighting a cigarette. The rising smoke blurred his expression. “She loved me for ten years. She helped me build this from nothing. She gave me her youth.If I dump her now, she’ll break. Just give it a little more time.” A ringing filled my ears. I hurled the pregnancy test into the trash, grabbed a bottle, and charged at their booth. The glass exploded against Julian’s skull. Shards rained down as a dark line of blood snaked from his temple. I blinked. Then the tears came, hot and sudden, against my will. Julian went rigid. He shoved Chloe Miller off his lap as if shocked by a live wire. “Baby, what are you… what are you doing here?” Chloe glanced at me sideways, a smirk tugging at her lips. “It was just a joke, Stella. Don’t tell me you’re that petty?” Julian’s face darkened. “Shut up!” Ignoring the blood on his face, he gently wiped away my tears. His voice softened. “It was all just a game, don’t take it seriously.” “Don’t cry, I’ll take you home to celebrate Christmas Eve right now, okay?” Chloe, teary-eyed, tugged on his arm. “What about me?” “She ruined our Christmas Eve! Typical old hag, always sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong!” Julian turned his back, shrugging dismissively, his fingers flying across his phone in his guy’s SnapChat group. “Can’t help it. Older women are just petty and hot-headed.” “I’ll go back and handle her.” I turned and walked away. My chest ached, numb. My mother’s words suddenly echoed clearly in my mind. “Stella, was it really worth giving up your family fortune for a man who had nothing?” “If he truly loved you, he would have married you already. Why wait until now?” “Listen to your mom, come back and agree to the arranged marriage.” I wiped away my tears, pulled out my phone, and called my mother. “Mom, I was wrong. I’ll come back soon. The marriage… I’ll do whatever you say.”

Half an hour later, Julian found me on the rooftop. He always knew. Whenever we fought, I’d hide up here, letting the cold wind clear my head, forcing myself to calm down. He rushed over like a madman, pulling me away from the edge of the stairs. We stumbled, falling to the ground. His embrace was warm, but my heart was utterly cold. Without a word, a torrent of accusations rained down on me. “Stella, are you out of your mind?!” “It was just a joke! Did you really have to try and jump?” I froze. “What?” He reined in his anger, his voice softening. “Good thing you’re okay…” He sighed, pulling me to my feet and holding me tight. “My silly girl, how could I ever think you’re old? I’ve just been so busy lately… Once this period is over, we’ll get married.” “Besides, in my heart, you’ll always be my eighteen-year-old princess.” As he said this, his face held a rare tenderness. It was as if the humiliating scene at the bar had never happened. I suddenly couldn’t tell which side was the real him. But none of it mattered anymore. Suddenly, he pulled a cake from behind him. “Today marks ten years since we got together.” “The first year I started the company, I got taken for everything. Everyone laughed. They said I deserved it. But you never left. You believed in me when I had nothing.” “Without you, I would have given up.” “Money was so tight back then, but I always got you the cake.” “No matter how hard it got, I couldn’t let my little princess go without.” “Stella, you’re my life. Thank God…we made it.” His voice was low, hoarse, with a barely perceptible catch. So, he remembered. He remembered all those dark, cold winters in that damp basement, with me by his side, when he couldn’t see the light. He had everything now. And the first thing he wanted was to replace me. “Make a wish.” he said, his eyes bright with expectation. I met his gaze, my voice level. “Let’s break up.” Splat. The cake hit the floor. The two little frosting figures, once nestled side by side, split cleanly apart. Just like us. The tenderness in his face cracked, then fell away completely-shock flooding in, chased instantly by a scalding rage. “Stella, you better not regret this!” He turned and stormed downstairs, heading home. He trashed the apartment we’d decorated together as our future home. He ripped up our photos, smashed the clay figurines we’d made together… The final crash was him slamming the door shut as he stormed out. Thirty minutes later, Julian, who almost never posted on Ins, updated his story for the first time ever. “Clothes are best new, and so are women.” The photo showed him and Chloe locked in a passionate kiss beneath a sky full of fireworks. I forced out a cold laugh. Casually, I liked it and commented, “Congrats.” A friend request popped up on my phone. I recognized Chloe’s profile picture immediately. “Thanks for giving him back to me.” Julian called right away, his voice harsh. “What do you mean?” “Exactly what it sounds like. Congrats on getting back together.” “You’re the one who broke up with me. Don’t come crying back, begging me to return!” Julian’s voice returned to its usual nonchalant tone. He probably thought I was just playing games, and casually hung up. I had naively thought that even if the whole world turned against me, he wouldn’t. But the truth was, I had been so utterly wrong.

Looking around the house that once held so much promise, it suddenly felt foreign. This was never my home. That night, I tossed and turned in the messy apartment, unable to sleep. That year, Julian worked six jobs a day, just to get us out of that dark, dismal basement. Now, we could afford the most luxurious homes, but some things could never be bought back. For ten whole years, I’d been used to revolving my entire life around him, giving him everything I had. And now, it was time to let go. Tears streaming down my face, I burned all our photos. All the keepsakes holding our memories went into the trash too. I pulled out my phone and booked an abortion for the next day. But in the hospital hallway, I ran into Julian and Chloe. Unlike before, there was no hysteria this time. I pretended not to see them, not caring why they were there. Julian walked over, sneering. “Didn’t we agree it was over? What’s this? Stalking me now?” “You flatter yourself.” I didn’t bother to look up. “Stella, just say the word, beg me, and I’ll come back.” A cold laughter burst out of me at his nonchalant expression. Those words. He’d said the exact same thing five years ago, the day I caught him. The day I caught Julian cheating was my birthday, and also the day I had my first miscarriage. I had hidden the ultrasound photo inside a gift box. I’d booked a hotel room, decorated it with care, dreaming of a perfect surprise. But when I opened the door to our floor, I saw him with another woman, heading into the room next door. In that moment, I charged forward like a madwoman. I grabbed her hair, slapping her hard several times. Then I repeatedly punched Julian’s chest, breaking down in tears. “Why?! Why are you doing this to me?!” He frowned, pushing me away. “Enough! Acting like a lunatic, aren’t you ashamed?” “Can you stop being so dramatic?” “What successful man doesn’t have a few women on the side?” He wanted me to kneel and beg him. Looking at his cold face, I panicked completely. I was so insecure, terrified of losing him, and even more terrified of my child growing up without a father. In the end, I spoke in a hushed, pleading voice. “I’m pregnant…” “Just cut ties with her, and I can pretend none of this ever happened.” A sinister flicker crossed his eyes, quickly replaced by a gentle expression. He helped me back home, doting on me, preparing nutritious meals. But that night, without any warning, I miscarried. We both thought it was because I was too weak, compounded by extreme emotional distress. He held me tight, kneeling on the floor, crying as he apologized. “I’m so sorry, Stella, it’s all my fault…” “I’ve already ended things with her.” “I swear, I’ll only ever be good to you, never again.” I was so stupid to believe him. Thinking back, that woman was Chloe all along! For five years, they were never truly apart! The hospital announcement called my name, pulling me from my memories. I turned to leave, Julian’s disdainful voice trailing behind me. “Let’s see how long you can keep up that tough act!” I swallowed all my tears and lay on the operating table. I wondered if the baby would have looked like me. But now, there was nothing… When I walked out of the hospital, my face was utterly devoid of color. I opened my phone, and a car surveillance video popped up.

In the video, two intertwined figures were eagerly tearing at each other’s clothes. “If I got pregnant, would you drug me to miscarry, just like you did to Stella?” Chloe pressed a finger to Julian’s lips. “How could she ever compare to you? Old and boring. You’re my sweetheart.” “If it wasn’t for her status as a Hayes heiress, how could I have endured that old hag for so many years?” “Once we’re married in a few days, we’ll figure out how to completely ruin her health. Then everything from the Hayes family will be ours.” Julian eagerly pinned her hands behind her back, his movements growing more intense. Heavy breathing filled my ears, mingled with the sounds of their bodies colliding. Tears fell uncontrollably onto the phone screen. My throat felt constricted, unable to make a sound. So, my first miscarriage was never an accident. Julian didn’t just want my support; he wanted to take everything from me, to essentially inherit my family’s fortune and discard me! I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, trembling as I saved the video. Soon after, the police station called. “Miss Hayes, a vehicle registered to you is involved in an assault. We need you to come in for questioning.” I rushed to the police station. The front of my Bentley was utterly wrecked. It was my 30th birthday gift to myself, truly special. The police said the person hit was still in the hospital. Chloe, snuggled into Julian’s embrace, tearfully recounted her story to the officers. “I really didn’t mean to hit anyone. We were… in the car at the time. I panicked and accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake.” “Besides, this isn’t even my car.” All my rage exploded. I clenched my fists and lunged, slapping Chloe hard across the face. “Ah!” Her head snapped to the side, a bright red handprint blooming on her cheek. Julian ignored my pale face, immediately shielding Chloe behind him. His face grim, he grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the police station. “Stella, are you insane?! This is a police station! How dare you hit Chloe!” “What were you two doing in my car?” I stared straight at him. His eyes flickered away, but Chloe’s sobbing instantly ignited his fury. “It’s just an old car! How many years have you had it? Why are you still treating it like a treasure?” “Stella, you’re older, you should be more mature! More magnanimous!” “The girl was publicly humiliated. You’d be smart to take the fall for her, after all, it’s your car!” I raised my hand and slapped him. “Julian, you bastard!” I could barely believe those words came from his mouth. He once said, “I’ll never let you suffer even the slightest grievance.” “I’ll give you the best future, promise you the most magnificent wedding.” The vows had long rotted away. The young man who once loved me like his own life was long dead. He froze for a second, then his tone grew even colder: “I’ll get you a top lawyer. You’ll only be in jail for a few days anyway.” “Chloe isn’t like you. She’s so timid; if she went in, she wouldn’t want to live once she got out.” “Dream on!” I shrieked, my voice raw, and turned to leave. “Stop her!” “Don’t let her get away!” Julian’s bodyguards rushed over, twisted my arms behind my back, and pinned me to the cold ground. Smack! Smack! Julian’s hand came down twice, hard. The blows cracked against my cheek, and I tasted blood at the corner of my mouth. A sharp, pulling pain tore through my lower abdomen, locking my body in a violent tremble. I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, glaring at him. Julian calmly wiped my blood from his hand. “I told you not to touch her!” Before I could move, he seized my wrist, forced my thumb down, and pressed my print onto the statement. “When you get out, we’ll get married.” I watched Julian walk away with Chloe, tears and blood streaking down my face. My fists clenched until my nails bit into my own palms. I threw my head back and laughed, a raw, ugly sound ripped from my throat. It turned into a cough, and I tasted blood. A whole week crawled by before Julian finally remembered I existed. He stood outside the police station, bouquet and diamond ring in hand. He waited from dawn till dusk, but I never showed. A passing officer informed him. “Don’t you know? Miss Hayes was picked up by her fiancé days ago.” Julian froze. Then his phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with a news alert. His pupils shrank to pinpoints. For the very first time, raw, gut-wrenching fear flooded his eyes!

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I was rushing to fly overseas to close a multi-billion dollar deal with European high society, but my private jet was intercepted right as it was about to take off. A man in a suit stormed onto the plane, yelling: “Who gave you permission to touch my jet? Do you even know how much this thing costs? More than you’ll ever make!” I figured he had mistaken the hangar, so I tried to explain: “Look closely, buddy. This is Hangar #25, and this plane belongs to me.” My explanation only made him angrier. “My plane is in Hangar #25! My wife bought it for me last month, you think I’d be mistaken?” “Get your people off my plane, now, or you’ll regret it!” Seeing how unreasonable he was, I decided to have the airline staff pull up the plane’s ownership records. Just as I was confidently preparing to put this arrogant punk in his place, I heard the bombshell drop from the airline staff. “Brandon, please exit the aircraft as soon as possible. This plane actually belongs to Kamran.” “All clear, ready for takeoff!” “Hold on, we have an emergency on the ground!” Just as the pilot prepared for departure, a sudden warning came from ground control. I ordered a flight attendant to open the cabin door. I wanted to see what the hell was happening. “What are you people doing?! How can so many of you guard this hangar and let someone touch my plane?! Am I paying millions in storage fees every year for nothing?!” Through the cabin door, I saw a sharp-suited young man raging at the hangar attendant. Behind the suited man stood a group of young men and women, all looking pretty smug and mocking him. The attendant, clearly flustered from being yelled at, pointed at me in the cabin doorway and shouted: “This… this really isn’t my fault. When the plane was registered for storage, the owner was only listed as Mr. Kamran.” “That gentleman arrived and said he was the owner, and that his name was Brandon, so I opened the door for him.” Upon hearing this, the young man’s eyes were bloodshot as he stormed onto the plane and roared at us: “Who gave you permission to touch my jet?! Don’t you know how much this thing costs? More than you’ll ever make?!” My flight crew were all people I’d temporarily recruited from the flight base. Seeing the situation, they all looked at me with questioning eyes. “Brandon, this is…” I waved them off, signaling them to stay cool. I turned to size up the young man in the suit. He had a handsome face, but he reeked of alcohol. Probably just some drunk who got the wrong hangar. To avoid any unnecessary drama and keep things moving, I patiently explained: “Hey, buddy, look closely. This is Hangar #25. This plane definitely belongs to me.” “Check the hangar next to it, maybe your plane is parked there.” As soon as I said that, the group of young men and women started openly mocking the suited man: “Kamran, you’ve been bragging about bringing us to see your private jet, and this is it?” “Your claims are a bit outlandish, aren’t they? Your family might have some cash, but do you even know what a Gulfstream 700 costs? Your dad’s net worth isn’t enough for that!” “Let’s just leave. We don’t need this humiliation.” Hearing his friends’ doubts, the suited man started pacing frantically, then grabbed the hangar attendant by the collar: “You were there that day when my wife gave me the plane, right?! You need to vouch for me!” The hangar attendant looked awkward: “I… I think there was something like that, but…” Before the attendant could finish, Kamran eagerly cut him off, boasting to his friends: “See?! Didn’t I tell you I have a private jet? Didn’t I?!”

When his friends heard Kamran really had a private jet, their expressions immediately changed. “Our Kamran really hit the jackpot! He even has a private jet now. You gotta bring us along when you make it big!” “I’m finally getting to fly on a private jet today!” “Are there any wealthy older women out there who give planes as gifts without even dating first? Introduce me to one, seriously!” After hearing his friends’ flattery, Kamran became even more cocky. He grabbed the attendant’s shirt again: “I’m taking my friends to my wife’s birthday party today. Get these clueless idiots out of here, now!” “You mess this up for me, and I’ll end you!” “And check the plane thoroughly, inside and out! If there’s even a scratch, I’ll hold you responsible!” Seeing how serious he looked, I was completely thrown. I even started to doubt if I’d gotten the wrong hangar. I double-checked with my assistant, confirming I hadn’t made a mistake. Now I knew this guy wasn’t drunk and confused; he was just trying to use my plane to show off in front of his friends. And of course, this had to happen when I was already rushing to Europe for a crucial deal. Just as I was about to step forward and kick them out, the attendant walked over, looking annoyed. “Sir, illegally claiming ownership of a private jet is a serious offense. Please leave immediately, or else…” “Are you kidding me?! He says it’s his, and you just believe him?!” “This plane is clearly mine! I bought it for over a hundred million dollars from an American manufacturer last year! He just opens his mouth, and you decide the owner has changed? Are you kidding me? This airline is ridiculous!” The attendant looked wronged: “But… you both claim to be Mr. Kamran, so who is the real…” “Of course it’s me! This jet is mine!” Before the attendant could finish, Kamran jumped in, yelling. Watching this jerk constantly messing with my schedule, the anger inside me surged. “I’m warning you, there’s a limit to how much you can front. You’re consistently disrupting my travel plans. I’ll sue your ass!” “Get off my plane, now!” He arrogantly shoved me in response to my warning: “I haven’t even accused you of stealing my damn plane yet, and you’re trying to kick me off? Who gave you the guts?!” “Get your people off my plane, now, or you’ll regret it!” My assistant, seeing how disrespectful he was, stepped forward to confront him, but I stopped him. Time was short; I couldn’t waste it with this meaningless argument. So I directly asked him: “You say this plane is yours? Then tell me, what’s its tail number?” Only the owner would know the tail number. I asked this question to publicly humiliate him, to see if he’d keep up the act. My flight crew and Kamran’s friends all looked at Kamran, waiting to see if he could answer. I stood there coldly, ready to watch him make a fool of himself. But his next words completely stunned me. “Tail number B-9527, Gulfstream 700 model, priced at over one hundred million dollars. Did I get that right?” “Now get lost!” Watching Kamran’s arrogant face, my jaw dropped. Not only did he know the plane’s tail number, but he also knew its exact price. This was beyond strange. While the base model of this Gulfstream usually starts around 90 million dollars, the manufacturer customizes the interior configurations for each client, so every plane’s price is unique. How did he know the exact price of *this* plane? What was going on?

The flight crew, hearing Kamran rattle off the tail number, immediately gathered around me, looking worried. The pilot spoke first: “Brandon, is this plane really yours? Don’t get us all in trouble; this aircraft is worth hundreds of millions. If it comes to litigation, we could end up in serious trouble, even jail.” “Brandon, your offer was generous, but the risk for this charter is too high. I can’t take it.” The maintenance engineer outright demanded to quit. Realizing this was about to become a major issue, I quickly reassured everyone: “Everyone, calm down. While I don’t know how he found out my plane’s tail number, I can guarantee you, this jet is absolutely mine.” “Look, these are the emails from when I purchased the plane from Gulfstream.” The crew members looked at the emails on my phone and calmed down a bit. “I’ve already sent someone to rush the airline to pull up this plane’s ownership records to prove it’s mine.” “When they do, I’m not only kicking this guy, who’s illegally claiming my plane, off the aircraft, but I’m also pressing charges against him.” Hearing me say that, the crew members all returned to their workstations. Kamran, hearing I was getting the airline to check ownership records, burst into laughter. “You’re quite the actor, aren’t you? Checking ownership? Or are you hoping they’ll clear a path for you to bolt?” I couldn’t be bothered with this jerk. I’d deal with him harshly once the airline staff confirmed ownership. Seeing I was ignoring him, he started to ridicule the crew: “You people are so stupid! Can’t you see he’s a complete fraud, a thief?!” “He’s stealing my plane and trying to drag you all down with him! Don’t you realize that?!” His friends also chimed in to support him: “You guys are so naive! Is a Gulfstream something just anyone can own?” “Look at our Kamran; he’s wearing Armani and a Rolex. Only someone of his caliber deserves to own such a thing.” “And look at him! His clothes don’t even have a logo, clearly bargain bin finds. This guy probably couldn’t even afford a toy plane, let alone a private jet!” My assistant, unable to stand their mockery, couldn’t help but retort. “Honestly, such ignorance! You people have no idea!” “Our boss’s jacket is made of French vicuña wool, custom-tailored by the top luxury brand Loro Piana over six months. A single jacket is worth half a million dollars, and you call it a bargain bin find? With your level of taste, do you really think you deserve a private jet?!” My assistant’s retort left Kamran and his friends speechless, their faces flushed red with embarrassment. To get his pride back, Kamran pointed at me and yelled: “Who are you calling ignorant? Who doesn’t deserve a private jet?!” “When the airline staff gets here and proves this plane is mine, both of you will get on your knees and apologize to me, or you’re not leaving!” I let out a cold laugh: “We’ll see about that. It’s not set in stone who’ll be kneeling then!” Just then, the airline’s personnel finally arrived. I looked at him triumphantly: “Did you sort out the plane’s ownership?” The airline staff member nodded gravely: “Yes, it’s been confirmed.” I glanced at the arrogant Kamran and smirked: “Since it’s confirmed, then please remove these irrelevant individuals.” As I spoke, I gestured toward Kamran and his crew, signaling the staff to remove them from the plane. The staff member, however, remained still, looking at me with a sincere expression. After a moment, he said something that made my jaw drop: “Brandon, please take your people and exit the aircraft as soon as possible. The true owner of this plane is Kamran.”

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The military base housing was ablaze. Scarlett, the doctor tending to my husband, and I, were both trapped inside. I was about to scream for help when I heard Nealon’s voice from outside, sharp and commanding: “Clara is my family; she’s capable of making sacrifices for the greater good. Focus all efforts on rescuing Scarlett!” It hit me then. Nealon had been reborn too. In our last life, I told him I was two months pregnant. He hesitated, then chose to save me, leaving Scarlett to perish in the flames. He showed no reaction to her death, dedicating himself entirely to our daughter and me. Until twenty years later, when he deliberately crashed our car, taking both our lives: “Clara, saving you first was the biggest regret of my life!” Watching Nealon, eyes red-rimmed, charge into the inferno to save Scarlett, I gently touched my stomach, allowing the flames to engulf me. “Baby, this life, we don’t need a dad.” Scalding, thick smoke choked me, and I crumpled to my knees. Flames instantly encircled me. Nealon, just a wall away, spared me only a fleeting glance before turning his back, carrying Scarlett, and leaving without a second thought. In that moment, I knew for sure: he was reborn, just like me. To atone for not saving Scarlett last time, he was now choosing to abandon me and our two-month-old daughter in my belly. “Mr. Dawson! The fire’s too fierce, we can’t get in!” Chaotic shouts filtered in from outside. “Everyone, listen to my command. Retreat immediately.” Nealon’s voice was eerily calm: “The plan to rescue Dr. Scarlett is complete. As for Clara – she understands the necessity of sacrifice.” My heart lurched violently. In this life, he would rather see me burn to death! Clinging to sheer willpower, I pushed myself up from the ground. Guided by memories from my past life, I found an emergency exit already consumed by the blaze. I held my breath, enduring the searing pain in my legs, draped a damp, tattered towel over myself, and with a desperate surge of courage, dashed through. Even if it was just for my daughter, I couldn’t die this time! I don’t know how long I ran before my limbs gave out from the intense pain, and I collapsed. “Quick, rescue her! Clara is still alive!” “Water! Get some water!” Buckets of cold water cascaded over me, slowly bringing back my consciousness and sensation. “Get her on the stretcher and to the hospital, fast!” I was hastily lifted onto a stretcher and carried to a waiting vehicle. But Nealon pushed Scarlett into the car first. “Dr. Scarlett is injured.” He said, his voice flat: “Take her to the hospital first. The rest of you wait.” “But Clara’s injuries are much more severe! If Dr. Scarlett only twisted her ankle—” “Are my orders not clear enough?” Nealon brutally cut him off: “Don’t worry about her. She’s not going to die!” With that, he turned and got into the ambulance with Scarlett, leaving. Sympathetic glances from the bystanders fell on me. One kind soul, unable to stand by, offered me a ride in their old pick-up truck to the hospital. I was unconscious for three days and three nights in the hospital. Nealon never showed his face once during that time. It wasn’t until the hospital sent more than a dozen payment reminders for my medical bills that I managed to get someone to contact Nealon for payment. Only then, on the fifth day, did he deign to visit me. Scarlett was with him. Having been rescued first this time, she had no burn marks, and even her sprained ankle had fully healed. She carried several boxes of expensive supplements. And wore a new dress. I recognized that dress – a high-end item I’d always longed for but couldn’t afford, a single piece that could easily eat up half my year’s salary. “The money?” I managed to croak out. The smoke had scorched my trachea and esophagus; every breath, every bite of food, was torture. Nealon’s face instantly hardened: “What? You resent me spending money on Dr. Scarlett’s recovery? You had to make a scene to get my attention?” I weakly gripped the bedsheets. The pain from my injuries made me let out a suppressed groan. “Stop faking it. You’re not dying.” Nealon sneered. Scarlett, carrying the supplements, walked up to my bed, a triumphant smile on her face: “What a shame, these supplements were specifically bought by Nealon for *me*. They’re not suitable for you, Clara.” “But I’m moving in right next door to your house soon.” She lifted the corners of her mouth: “That’s Nealon’s idea too. It’ll be easier for me to take good care of him, and I can keep an eye on you, too.” I snapped my gaze to Nealon. He placed his hands on Scarlett’s shoulders, his eyes filled with doting affection: “It’s settled. We’ll pick a good day to move in.” On-base housing was strictly for married personnel. For Nealon to arrange for single Scarlett to live next door showed just how much effort he’d put in. He was determined to make up for the regret of losing Scarlett in our previous life. I gave a bitter laugh: “Is it to ‘take care’ of me… or to make it easier for you two to meet and date?”

Nealon froze for a second. When he recovered, he immediately pulled Scarlett behind him. “She’s my doctor!” He gnashed his teeth: “Get your twisted thoughts out of your head. Scarlett and I have nothing but a professional relationship!” In our previous life, I had believed that excuse. Naively thinking he just liked to look out for Scarlett. But he’d regretted her for twenty whole years, wishing he could trade my life for hers. Seeing my silence, Nealon, losing patience, grabbed Scarlett’s wrist and left the room, not sparing me another glance. From that day on, he never visited me again. The day I was discharged, it was snowing heavily. With no one to pick me up, I borrowed a pair of crutches and prepared to walk home. As I reached the compound gate, a soldier blocked my path: “Clara, are you being discharged today?” I nodded: “Yes.” “Mr. Dawson sent me.” He grinned: “Mr. Dawson is helping Dr. Scarlett move today. He asked me to tell you to stop by the grocery store on your way home and pick up some nice food for a party for Dr. Scarlett.” I froze. He knew I was being discharged today. But he still chose to help Scarlett move. I forced a bitter smile, leaning on my crutches, and slowly turned back. The snowstorm was too heavy; it took me a full day to walk those ten miles home. Seeing me return, Nealon’s face was grim: “Are you deliberately targeting Scarlett?” “I told you to buy groceries, but you purposely wandered around outside, making her wait all day. What were you thinking? Do you really believe I don’t know?!” “Don’t blame her.” Scarlett gently touched his arm, her eyes filled with feigned hurt: “It’s my fault for not being ready. My mistake.” “It has nothing to do with you. She’s just got a twisted mind.” My husband turned to comfort her, his eyes full of tenderness: “You won’t be disappointed today. I’ll take you out for a nice meal.” Scarlett, a smirk playing on her lips, shot me a triumphant look. Freezing cold, I had no energy to deal with her deliberate provocation. I dragged myself home, hugged my duvet tight, and drifted off to sleep. I don’t know how long I slept before hurried footsteps woke me. It was Nealon’s voice. I instinctively got up to open the door for him. He often forgot his keys, and after years of marriage, getting up at night to let him in had become ingrained in my muscle memory. I painstakingly shuffled to the door, opening it just a crack, but the scene before my eyes made my blood run cold. Nealon, clearly having had too much to drink, pulled Scarlett tightly into his embrace: “Let me hold you a little longer. I don’t want you to go.” She nestled obediently in his arms: “Look at you. We’ll see each other every day from now on. Wherever you go, I go. Always sticking by your side.” “Good. Don’t go back on your word.” Nealon left a deep kiss on her forehead, freely pouring out the suppressed longing of twenty years. I quietly closed the door. A wave of nausea swelled in my throat. I rushed to the bathroom, dry-heaving from morning sickness. “Just a little longer, baby.” I caressed my belly, comforting myself: “When Mommy feels better, I’ll take you away.”

I don’t know how much time passed before Nealon returned, smelling faintly of perfume. He noticed I hadn’t waited up for him and had gone to bed early, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. “I’ll be working late often from now on.” His voice was cold: “Don’t bother me unless it’s something important.” “But I’m pregnant, I—” “Then you just stay home and focus on your pregnancy!” Nealon’s disgust intensified: “Don’t use the child to tie me down.” A bitter taste filled my mouth. It wasn’t until I died in our last life that I learned he always hated me for revealing my pregnancy in the fire, forcing him to save me in front of so many people. He believed I had deliberately used the baby to force him to abandon her. That’s why this time, before I could even speak, he immediately ordered everyone to save Scarlett. I had no energy to care about his disdain. I quietly calculated my departure time. Five more months. In five months, I’d take the college entrance exam. In my previous life, I hadn’t performed well and only got into a mediocre university, a lifelong regret. Since fate had given me a second chance, this time I wanted to aim for the University of Mississippi. Nealon didn’t notice anything amiss. His absence from home actually made things easier; I could study and take care of myself. Five months flew by. My belly was visibly rounded, and the baby’s movements grew more frequent. Nealon, who had consistently ignored me, often staying at Scarlett’s house, suddenly returned home a week before the exam with supplements and toys. “I’ve booked an appointment with a doctor.” He pursed his thin lips: “While you have time, go for a massage; it can ease labor pains.” I was surprised. He actually remembered that in our last life, I had a difficult delivery with our daughter and almost died on the operating table. My heart ached with a bittersweet pang. Even if he didn’t love me, at least he still loved our daughter. “Okay, I’ll go.” I agreed. The next day, I arrived at the hospital early. “I heard you sold your exam spot.” While waiting in line, Mrs. Henderson from the housing compound squeezed next to me and asked: “Other places, you can sell a spot for over a thousand dollars. How much did you get?” My mind buzzed. We only had one exam spot allocated to our compound. I had worked so hard to get the top score and earn that spot; there was no way I would sell it. “I didn’t sell it. How did you know?” I panicked. Mrs. Henderson looked puzzled: “Scarlett has been bragging about going to the exam for ages. You didn’t know? We’re from the same compound; whose spot would she use if not yours?” My heart clenched. I rushed home from the hospital immediately. When I found Nealon, he was celebrating with his friends, sending Scarlett off. Seeing me, everyone’s faces turned sour. “How could you give my spot to her?!” I asked, barely suppressing my anger. “She deserves to go to college more than you do.” Nealon’s gaze fell on my swollen belly: “You just need to focus on your pregnancy and take good care of the baby, be a good mother. Going to college isn’t something you should be thinking about.” “This is the spot *I* earned. You have no right—” “I’m your husband. Of course, I have the right.” He stood up, opened the door, and forcefully pushed me out: “While I still have patience, don’t embarrass yourself any further.” The door slammed shut. Laughter and conversation resumed inside. In my previous life, even though I only attended a mediocre university, with that degree and my solid professional skills, I was favored by my superiors and my career flourished. That’s why, in this life, Nealon was willing to snatch my exam spot and give it to Scarlett. I let out a bitter laugh, and, cradling my belly, I found Mr. Davidson, my superior. “This is my divorce application.”

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After the car crash, I faked amnesia. I thought it would shake them up. Instead, my son brought another woman to my hospital room and called her “Mom.” My husband didn’t say a word to correct him. They thought I’d forgotten it all. They had no idea—I remembered every cruel word, every time he wasn’t there, every night I cried myself to sleep. So I signed the divorce papers, packed my entire life into moving trucks, and walked out without a single look back. That’s when the panic finally set in for them. After the accident, I decided to play along with the memory loss to see how my husband and son would react. “Who are you people?” I asked, keeping my voice flat. A mischievous glint flashed in my son’s eyes. He led a woman in from the hallway and announced, “Ma’am, my parents and I are just visiting.” With bandages wrapped around my head, I looked down at my five-year-old, Leo Carter, holding two adults’ hands, a smug little grin on his face. My husband, Nathan Carter, stood beside him in his impeccably tailored suit. His gaze was intense, searching my face, but he didn’t correct our son’s choice of words. The woman Leo clung to wore a soft, flowy white dress. She looked elegant and kind, but flinched slightly under my stare, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Noticing my focus on Amelia Reed, Leo quickly stepped between us, as if shielding her. If I really had amnesia, I might have bought the picture of this perfect, happy little family. Leo tugged on Nathan’s hand, whispering just loud enough for me to hear, “Dad, now that Mom can’t remember, can you finally get the divorce?” I knew his game. This was payback because yesterday I’d scolded him in front of the housekeeper. This was how Leo got his kicks—making me the punchline. But I was done playing. I’d claimed memory loss; might as well run with it. Pretend there was no son, no husband. “Excuse me… who are you again?” Leo’s jaw went slack, his cocky grin fading into shock. “You… you really don’t remember me? You can’t forget me—I’m your favorite kid…” Nathan’s brow furrowed, his icy stare turning even colder, voice dripping with annoyance. “Evelyn Reed, cut the act. The doctor said it’s a minor concussion. You can’t fake amnesia to get out of this.” Leo, his little face scrunched in a mirror of his father’s impatience, chimed in, “Yeah, stop pretending! You love us too much to ever forget us!” A headache was starting to pound behind my eyes. Before I could respond, a nurse knocked and entered. “The patient needs to rest now,” she stated firmly. “All non-family members, please step out.” Without another word, Nathan and Leo turned, with Amelia following quietly behind them. The young nurse came in, glancing back at the door. “Your husband was here earlier—he just went to get you some soup from the cafeteria.” “My… husband?” My mind stuttered. Didn’t you just escort my husband out? She blinked. “Yes, he’s very handsome. I remember him from four years ago when I worked in L&D. He was at every single one of your prenatal appointments, always waiting so patiently outside. Never on his phone. He had us all believing in love again.” She paused, then chuckled. “By the way, who were those other two? Good-looking, but they had a real ‘here to collect a debt’ vibe.” I almost laughed. Nathan hadn’t come to a single one of my fourteen prenatal appointments. The man who’d been by my side was my younger half-brother, Caleb Reed, who was only eighteen back then. I didn’t bother explaining. Soon, none of it would matter. A moment later, Caleb hurried in with a takeout bag, slightly out of breath. The sight made my empty stomach clench; I hadn’t eaten all day. Caleb carefully unpacked the containers, napkins, a bottle of water, and a spoon. “I brought some warm ginger tea and your favorite—homemade chicken soup. It’ll help. Here, I’ll get the lid off for you.” Ever since I met Caleb at fifteen, he’d been my rock. A few spoonfuls in, the gnawing emptiness finally began to ease. When I looked up, I saw his eyes were red-rimmed, his lips trembling slightly. “When I heard about the accident… I was terrified.” A bittersweet warmth spread through me. A car crash is terrifying. I’d been lucky. I’d thought pretending to lose my memory would shake Nathan and Leo up, maybe even give us something to laugh about later. But trying to get concern from a heartless person is like squeezing water from a stone.

A few days later, I was discharged. I firmly told the doctors that aside from Nathan and Leo, my memory was perfectly fine. The doctor explained to Nathan that the memory loss was temporary, a side effect of the concussion, and that my full recall would gradually return. Back at Nathan’s house, I headed upstairs, ignoring the cheerful piano duet floating from the living room. Leo and Amelia were playing, and when they finished, Amelia gave him a proud thumbs-up. “My little maestro, you were wonderful!” Leo beamed, blushing. “Only because you’re the best teacher!” A perfect picture of mother-son harmony. I continued up the stairs without a word, watching Leo’s smile vanish as he spotted me. Amelia quickly stood up. “Mrs. Carter, how are you feeling?” From the staircase, I gave a polite nod. “Much better, thank you. Please, don’t let me interrupt.” I didn’t dislike Amelia—I envied her. She wasn’t the other woman. She was Nathan’s unforgettable first love. I was the one who had married him, but the truth is, the one who isn’t loved is the real outsider. Nathan fell for her at eighteen. Last month, when Reed Corp declared bankruptcy, Amelia returned. She’d used all her savings to cover her family’s debts, and her music degree didn’t open many high-paying doors here. So, Nathan hired her as Leo’s piano teacher for $6,000 a month.

“New Mom is the best! I love my New Mom!” Leo’s voice echoed through the foyer. “Leo, I’m not—please don’t call me that,” Amelia replied, looking uncomfortable. Unhappy with her response, Leo wrapped his arms around her leg. “If you keep calling me ‘Leo,’ I’ll get mad! You have to call me ‘Lee-Lee’! You’re so much nicer than my mom—I like you best!” He shot a glance toward the stairs, making sure I was gone, then added, “Why don’t you just move in? I want to see you first thing every morning! Dad says it’s fine, and our house is huge! You could have any room you want!” Nathan had offered to let her stay to save the commute, but she’d politely declined, choosing to rent a place instead. “Leo, you should practice today’s piece,” Amelia gently reminded him. He shook his head, persistent. “Are you scared of my mom? Don’t be. Dad and I will protect you. She does whatever Dad says—she wouldn’t dare bother you.” Leo knew exactly how to twist the knife. I fastened my pearl earrings and walked downstairs slowly, deliberately. Amelia looked increasingly uneasy as I approached. “Amelia, you really should consider staying,” I said. “I know the commute is brutal. Please, don’t stand on ceremony. You’re more than welcome here.” Leo stared, completely thrown. Usually, if Nathan even mumbled Amelia’s name after a few drinks, I’d fall apart. He must have thought he’d found the ultimate weapon. But today, it just… didn’t land. “I want ice cream!” he demanded, trying a new tack. “Get me two! No—ten!” The only answer was the sound of the front door closing behind me. After days looking a mess in the hospital, I had a skincare appointment. My car was waiting. As the door clicked shut, Leo’s defiant expression finally crumbled. “Sir, your ice cream,” the housekeeper said, retrieving it from the freezer. “Who said I wanted any?!” He threw the tub to the floor, his eyes fixed on the closed door. Could Mom really not remember him?

When Nathan’s mother, Lydia Carter, found out Amelia was back and teaching Leo, she came over immediately, arms laden with luxury gift bags. She settled on the sofa next to Amelia, taking her hand affectionately. “Amelia, my dear,” she cooed. “You’ve been through so much. Oh, if only you and Nathan had ended up together from the start. He could have managed Reed Corp. You wouldn’t be in this position.” Amelia flushed. “Lydia, we shouldn’t talk about that now. It’s all in the past. I’m just grateful Nathan gave me this job.” “Why shouldn’t we?” Lydia gave her hand a pat. “With you teaching Leo, my mind is at ease. And you know Nathan is filing for divorce. You understand what that means, don’t you?” She lowered her voice. “Don’t you worry, dear. Leo adores you, and so do I. You’d fit right in. Besides, Nathan is fully intending to help get Reed Corp back on its feet.” Though Lydia knew I was home, she hadn’t announced her visit. I listened from a distance. Nathan liked Amelia, Leo liked Amelia, and clearly, so did his mother. Lydia had wanted Amelia as a daughter-in-law from day one. Amelia came from old money, the perfect match for the Carters. The moment Nathan met her, he was smitten. Lydia was thrilled, immediately starting wedding plans. The only problem was, Amelia didn’t feel the same. She turned Nathan down and left to study music abroad. Lydia, while disappointed, admired her ambition and independence. As for me, from a modest, ordinary family, I was labeled a gold-digger. Lydia was too polite to say it to my face, but her disdain was a constant presence. Sometimes, I wondered if Amelia had married Nathan from the start, maybe everyone would have been happier. A buzz from my phone snapped me from my thoughts—a notification that the insurance payout for the accident had cleared. I’d thought the crash would fade into a distant memory, but closing my eyes brought it all back, vivid and raw. It was pouring that night. Nathan and I were on the highway when his phone rang. I heard the voice on the other end clearly:

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My manager fined me six hundred thousand dollars for eating a snack bar during overtime, saying company rules mattered more than any contract I had closed. What she didn’t mention was that I had just finalized a billion-dollar renewal and hadn’t left the office for thirty hours. I signed the apology without protest, and submitted my annual leave request on the spot. By the time I walked out of the building, the company’s largest client had already suspended the contract and demanded to speak to me by name. I ate a snack bar because I was starving from working overtime, and my manager slapped me with a $600,000 fine! She pointed a finger right at my face, absolutely fuming. “Alex, don’t think you’re hot stuff just because you closed that deal!” “This is a workplace, not your kitchen! Eat your food at home!” “Company policy explicitly forbids snacking! You knew this and did it anyway, so your offense is even worse!” “Your $600,000 commission for that contract? Canceled!” I just looked at her, cool as a cucumber, and said, “Whatever.” I figured, why bother? I was already giving up, and that’s when she really lost it. Victoria was absolutely furious with my attitude. “Alex, write a public apology, you’ll deliver it at the all-staff meeting!” I looked at her face, crimson from anger, and clenched my fists. Then, calmly, I said, “Fine by me!” My colleagues all stared at me, disbelief written on their faces. Victoria spun around, high heels clicking, and went up to the 23rd floor. I stayed at my desk. A little while later, a notice popped up in the company-wide company chat group. “Sales Department’s Alex has repeatedly violated company policies. After careful consideration, it has been decided to deduct this month’s commission, totaling $600,000, and she is required to present a public apology at today’s all-staff meeting at 2 PM as a warning to others!” My colleagues looked at me in shock. Leo, at the desk opposite mine, sent me a private company chat: “Victoria’s having a total meltdown, don’t argue with her. Just suck it up, that’s $600,000!” I just smiled. Sucking it up wouldn’t do any good; she wanted to kick me to the curb after I’d served my purpose. She’d been eyeing my position for ages. When Mr. Sterling, the old chairman, headhunted me, he promised I wouldn’t have to clock in or out, I’d have complete freedom, and could eat or drink as I pleased, as long as I delivered results. I practically ran half the sales department on my own. This Monarch Corp. contract, worth billions, I handled the renewal myself, and wrapped it up in just a week. Victoria probably thought my job was too easy and was just green with envy! I company chatted back to Leo: “Just wait. This afternoon isn’t just my public shaming; someone’s also going to try and take my place.” Leo looked shocked, but I ignored him, calmly sitting at my desk, organizing and printing all my client files. Then I formatted all the data on my work phone. After doing both, I started writing my apology. Victoria came down at one point, saw me writing, and couldn’t help but flash a smug smile. At 2 PM, she arrived with some people. The all-staff meeting in the 23rd-floor conference room, with over a hundred people, was packed. Victoria’s voice was sharp and clear. “I’ll reiterate: a company is a company. Don’t think it’s your home. Despite countless warnings, some people just don’t listen!” “Don’t think you’re so special just because the chairman personally hired you. Anyone can close a deal just by schmoozing and having a fancy dinner!” “Alex, get up here and deliver your apology. Let everyone see how you messed up!” I stood up and walked to the front, under a mix of confused and secretly gloating stares. “Manager Victoria is right. I shouldn’t have eaten that snack bar in the office. From today forward, I will strictly adhere to company discipline and never cross the line again!” “Manager Victoria, I’m not much for words. If you don’t want me to eat, I won’t eat. Being a salesperson isn’t such a big deal anyway.” “Good to know! Given your repeated offenses, the senior management has decided to revoke your position as Sales Director, effective today, and demote you to a regular sales associate.” “This is our new Director, Brandon. He’s an MBA from abroad and will lead us to new heights!” A smattering of applause broke out. Victoria pulled a smarmy-looking guy forward. Leo and I exchanged glances; he was completely floored. Finally, Victoria added, “Alex, organize all your client files and hand them over. They’ll be reallocated!” I readily agreed, printed everything out, and handed it over immediately. These clients? If you can handle them, go right ahead! Seeing my cooperation, Victoria seemed a little suspicious. She checked everything carefully, ensuring nothing was missing, and finally let it go. Brandon, meanwhile, was strutting around like he owned the place. He came straight from the 23rd floor to my desk and tapped on it. “Alex, hurry up, pack all your things right now. Otherwise, if anything goes missing, you’ll be held responsible.”

I understood perfectly. As Sales Director, my desk was in the same area as everyone else, but I had a whole row to myself, with an open view, allowing me to see everyone opposite me. Now, it was different. He was eager to push me out, and my new spot was directly opposite him, by the window. Even with air conditioning in summer, we weren’t allowed to close the blinds. The scorching sun blared through the glass, not only reflecting off the computer screen but also making it unbearably hot. But none of that mattered. I quietly packed my things and was about to move my computer to the new spot when he stopped me. “Hold on. We need to check everything on your computer carefully. What if you’re taking client data with you?” “Fine, check it!” I opened my computer and let him search through everything. Mr. Sterling himself had personally headhunted me. At the time, he’d told me, “Alex, you have absolute authority in this company!” Mr. Sterling’s health had declined in recent years, and he’d gone abroad for treatment. Everything they were doing now struck me as utterly ridiculous. I knew exactly what Victoria was thinking: kicking me to the curb to cut costs. But unfortunately, costs aren’t that easy to cut. Brandon found nothing suspicious and could only wave me off. Leo sent me a message: “Don’t worry, Alex. We’re all rooting for you!” I sent back a smiling emoji. What good was their support? I didn’t believe for a second that the senior management on the 23rd floor was unaware of what Victoria was doing to me. They were tacitly approving it. That meant Mr. Sterling, far across the ocean, must also know. If that was the case, there was no point in arguing with them. I clocked out at the end of the day, just as usual. I didn’t know what their previous expectations were, but from now on, I’d strictly follow company procedures. That couldn’t be a problem, right? According to my old routine, I’d usually meet clients for tea and chats after work. But not anymore. I drove straight home, lay on my long-missed bed, and watched the sunset, feeling fantastic. Normally, I’d always be out entertaining clients, with endless social obligations. Now, I finally had time to myself. I opened my phone, searched for theater tickets, and booked one for myself. My favorite theater actor had performed hundreds of shows, but I’d never been to a single one. Now, I finally had the time. Soon after, I was added to a new sales group. Brandon was the group admin. “Attention All Staff: From now on, all sales personnel must write daily sales logs. You need to report who you met, what was discussed, and if there’s any potential interest, for my review.” “You must secure 5 potential clients each month. If you fail to meet this, your end-of-month evaluation will be reduced by 20%.” Leo messaged me privately: “Look at him! Says he came back from overseas, but he’s using all these outdated methods on us?” “Has he ever even worked in sales? Potential clients aren’t that easy to find! Five a month? The entire company only closes deals based on old clients these days!” “The economy’s rough now, it’s not that simple. And the big clients aren’t ones we can handle. For small clients, this city only has so many people. He really doesn’t want to give us any breathing room.” Seeing Leo’s rant, I just comforted him, “Take it easy. Just do whatever your boss tells you to.” “Alex, are you really just going to let him push you around? I wouldn’t stand for it! If it were me, I’d have quit ages ago! I can’t take this crap!” Leo was always outspoken. I smiled at his messages but didn’t reply. I wasn’t in a hurry. They’d find out soon enough.

The next day at work, I submitted my annual leave request. I’d been with the company for eight years and hadn’t taken a single day of annual leave. When I submitted the request, Brandon looked at me. “What’s the meaning of this, Alex? I just started, and you want to take time off? Are you deliberately trying to go against me?” “Director Brandon, you’re overreacting. Under your leadership, I’m sure we’ll turn things around. I haven’t had a break in so many years, I just can’t take it anymore. I plan to take some annual leave to truly relax and recover. My body can’t handle it.” He sized me up, his eyes full of disdain. “Right, I suppose you do have to service all those big clients. People over thirty certainly can’t keep up.” His words had a hidden meaning, I knew. He was implying I’d used improper methods to land those clients. Once people form a prejudice, it’s hard to change their minds. But for now, I wouldn’t explain myself further. Brandon still signed it. “Remember the end-of-month evaluation! If you don’t meet it, your base salary will be docked!” “Fail for three consecutive months, and you’ll be packing your bags and out the door!” “Understood. Don’t worry, I’m not leaving.” Because the ones leaving would have to be them! After completing the paperwork, I packed my things and started my vacation. First stop: the state capital. Today was the day of the show I’d been waiting for; I couldn’t miss it. Two hours later, as soon as I got off the high-speed train, Leo sent me a message: “Alex, the Luminar Group contract is finalized, and Victoria says the credit for this achievement will go to Brandon.” “By the end of the year, they’re going to push for Brandon to be the head of the sales department. That way, Victoria herself can get another promotion!” “The nerve! Are you just going to let them get away with it?” “Not yet. They can’t handle it. Just wait!” I sent that message and smiled. Renewing the Luminar contract wasn’t something you could just achieve by wining and dining. I ignored it, put my phone on silent, and sat in the auditorium, looking at the stage just a meter away. I felt incredibly excited. My emotions ebbed and flowed with the play, laughing at times, crying at others. Two hours later, I walked out of the auditorium, pulled out my phone, and saw over a hundred missed calls and countless company chat messages. The most recent one was from Victoria, sent just moments ago. “Alex, Mr. Miller from Luminar Group says there’s a problem with the contract, and they’re backing out! The direct loss is over $3 billion! You can expect to be fired!” I scoffed, and simply replied, “The contract was handed over to Brandon. If he can’t handle it, am I supposed to take the blame?” “Manager Victoria, if you want to fire me, remember to give me my severance.” After sending it, I shoved my phone back into my pocket. Even Leo couldn’t reach me. I wandered around, eating and shopping, and the constant stream of messages on my phone gave me a pretty good idea of what was happening. After I left, Brandon decided to “build rapport” with the major client and went to Luminar Group, bringing gifts. He ran into Mr. Miller, who, upon learning he was the new director, asked a few technical questions. Brandon couldn’t answer a single one. Mr. Miller felt the company was unprofessional and insisted on an on-site visit. I’d personally taken him to that site 800 times. Brandon had never been there. When they arrived, they happened to find a machine broken. Brandon told an engineer to come fix it. But no one could fix the new machine. Whenever there was a problem, I was the one who called in my contacts to repair it. Brandon used this as an excuse, claiming I had deliberately sabotaged the machine. Mr. Miller immediately declared that our company was a fraud and he wouldn’t renew the contract. Not only had Brandon botched the contract, costing the company $3 billion, but Mr. Miller also ridiculed Brandon, and it even reached Mr. Sterling, the old chairman. Just then, Leo called. “Alex, you need to come back! They’re about to call the police, saying you committed malicious fraud!”

Hearing that, I just chuckled. I knew Brandon and the others were listening, so I told him directly: “Leo, do me a favor and call the police for me. I’m an employee on annual leave, how could I possibly commit malicious fraud? I don’t have that kind of power. Let them investigate however they want!” After saying that, I hung up and company chatted him: “Don’t worry. I’m on a seven-day leave. I’ll deal with it when I get back in seven days.” Now, let’s see who can’t sleep. Back in the office, they were in a frenzy. “What’s going on? What did Alex say?” “She said she’s on seven days of annual leave and will deal with it when she gets back.” Leo stared at Victoria. “Manager Victoria, do you still want to call the police? I’ll call them right now.” Victoria glared at him. “Call them! Call them now!” “Brandon, aren’t you a mechanical engineering major? Hurry up and find someone!” Brandon readily agreed. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” Then he started calling in his contacts. Leo, seeing their desperate state, couldn’t help but chuckle to himself, giving me a live update. I looked at Brandon’s frantic expression with disdain. They only knew me as a salesperson, but they didn’t know I also had a mechanical engineering degree. And our field was very specialized. My mentor was a big shot in this area, and this very machine was his design. Naturally, only his direct students, like us, knew how to repair it. Whenever I encountered a problem, I could just make a call to the client’s CEO, who also happened to be my senior fellow student from our research group. He’d even bring me food and drinks when he came. That’s why whenever I handled things, accompanying major clients to inspect machines and factories, on-site, I could usually seal the deal. It wasn’t just because I was dedicated; it was also because my mentor and fellow students from our research group had huge influence. Connections are cash. Unfortunately, they didn’t understand that. Now, just for such a minor thing, they’d pushed me out and even withheld my $600,000 commission. Since that’s how it was, I wouldn’t be polite either. Everyone has a powerful network! I sent Leo a PayPal transfer. “Keep an eye on things and report back to me anytime. I’m going to enjoy my week-long vacation.” “Got it!” My mentor happened to be in the state capital, and I was here to visit him and catch up with my fellow students from our research group. Brandon was just a guy with a fancy degree from a diploma mill; the engineers he could call were just as amateur as he was. After arriving at the factory and seeing the machine, it didn’t take long for them to “find” the problem. “It’s just a loose screw; tightening it will fix it.” An on-site technician quickly tried to stop him. “No, the previous engineer said that screw can’t be touched. If you touch it, the entire production line will collapse.” “I know you types; you even burn incense before starting work. Don’t be so alarmist!” “If it really worked, you wouldn’t be calling me now!” His invited repairman, also his buddy, simply tightened the screw and then pressed the button. As the entire production line started to rumble and roar, Brandon looked smug. “See? That’s what capability looks like! I don’t know what kind of favors that previous guy did for you, always talking him up!” “I think…” Before he could finish, the machine started to creak and groan, then shook violently, the strange noises growing louder. Both men froze in terror! The technicians gasped, “Cut the power!” After the power was cut, the machine shuddered for several minutes before finally stopping, but not before emitting a sharp, piercing shriek. Victoria panicked. “What happened? Open it up and see!” As soon as they opened it, smoke billowed out. It was completely wrecked. Not only that, but the screw Brandon had tightened earlier had snapped, and half of it was at the bottom of the machine.

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I took care of my husband in a vegetative state for three years. On the day he woke up, he publicly identified my cousin as the one who had saved his life. I thought he had simply mistaken her for someone else. Then I heard him say, “I could never marry a mute. Someone who can’t even explain herself has no right to stand beside me.” In that moment, I understood— to him, I had only ever been a temporary substitute. So I signed the divorce papers on the spot and turned around to schedule memory-erasure surgery, removing him from my life before he could do it to me first. Lucas had been in a coma for three years. When he woke up, the first person he saw was me, but his eyes were filled with disappointment. I didn’t notice the disappointment in his eyes. Overjoyed, I helped him sit up and shared the good news in our friends’ group chat. Soon, the hospital room was crowded with people. And I, the wife who had cared for Lucas for three years, was pushed to the corner, completely ignored. Chloe arrived late, wearing a beautiful blue evening gown, looking like she had just come from a party. Lucas grabbed Chloe’s hand, his eyes red-rimmed, “Honey, you’ve suffered so much these three years.” At these words, everyone in the room was stunned, as if the air had frozen. I stood to the side, fidgeting with my clothes, unable to speak up for myself. All because of my mutism. His friend awkwardly explained, “Lucas, Emily is your wife.” Lucas’s brow instantly furrowed, his eyes turning cold as he looked at me, as if I had come between him and Chloe. I had always known he liked my cousin Chloe. They were supposed to get married, but a car accident left him in a vegetative state. My cousin didn’t want to marry a vegetable and cried to my parents. When I heard it was Lucas, I agreed to their request to marry him in my sister’s place. Little did I know that after three years of my devoted care, this would be the result. I immediately took out my phone and started typing, wanting to explain, but Chloe pressed down my phone. She looked at me with a fake smile, “Sister, Lucas just woke up. He probably can’t handle too much information right now. Why don’t you step out for a bit?” Sensing the awkward atmosphere, the others in the room made excuses to leave. As the door closed, Chloe burst into tears and threw herself into Lucas’s arms, as if she had suffered some great injustice. “Lucas, you’re finally awake. I’ve waited for you for three years…” My heart suddenly tightened, my hand trembling as I gripped the doorknob. After what seemed like an eternity, Chloe opened the door, her cheeks still wet with tears. I walked into the room suspiciously, only to have a glass shatter at my feet. “Emily, you really went to great lengths to marry me!” “Using such underhanded tactics, aren’t you ashamed?” Flying glass shards cut my leg, but the pain was nothing compared to what I felt in my heart. Lucas was my childhood friend, the only one who didn’t look down on my mutism and encouraged me to seek treatment. But after meeting Chloe, he was unconsciously drawn to her. The boy who once said he would marry me gradually turned his heart towards her. Now he even saw me as the villain who came between their love. I frantically tried to use sign language, then remembered he couldn’t understand it. I shakily took out my phone to type an explanation. Chloe looked at me challengingly, knocking the phone out of my hand. It fell to the floor, the screen instantly going black. “Sister, please, let us be together!” I stood there, stunned. Apart from sign language, my phone was my only means of communication with others. And now I couldn’t even defend myself. I shook my head desperately, but the world can be cruel, especially for someone who can’t speak.

My parents somehow got wind of the news and rushed to the hospital. I intercepted them, using sign language to ask them to explain for me. They could understand a bit of simple sign language. Mom nodded slightly, while Dad just pushed me aside and pulled Mom into the room. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Mom hesitantly spoke up, “Emily, she…” Chloe, sensing what Mom was about to say, interrupted, “Mom, my sister just likes Lucas too much. Don’t blame her.” I widened my eyes in disbelief, grabbing Chloe and frantically signing, [You’re lying! You’re lying!] She rubbed her wrist, nestling into Lucas’s arms, looking pitiful, “I’m sorry, sister. Don’t be angry, I won’t say anymore.” I desperately signed to Mom, my vision blurring with tears, [Tell him it’s not like that!] Mom avoided my gaze. A sense of helplessness spread through my body. In the three years I had cared for Lucas alone, not a single day had been more desperate than today. Dad’s face darkened, “Weren’t you the one who forced your sister to give up her place? You even said Lucas wouldn’t know anyway.” If I hadn’t heard it with my own ears, I never would have imagined my own father could twist the truth so much. These words felt like needles stabbing my heart. Originally, it was my sister who despised Lucas for becoming a vegetable and didn’t want to marry him. That’s why my parents had me marry him instead. Lucas let out a cold laugh, “Emily, it’s a good thing I woke up. Otherwise, I would have died with my eyes closed.” I bit my lip hard, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth. So this was how he saw me. Mom pulled me out of the room, her face full of guilt, “Don’t blame your father. We owe Chloe this much.” Chloe’s parents had died saving my parents. My parents took Chloe in and treated her like their own. My parents felt indebted to her, so I always had to give in to her in everything. Whenever I refused, Chloe would cry and say, “If only my parents were still here.” When I developed mutism, just when I needed companionship the most, Chloe convinced my parents to take her traveling abroad. Three years ago, Chloe’s mocking words still rang in my ears, “A mute and a vegetable are a perfect match!” Mom continued, “Now that Lucas is awake, he’ll divorce you sooner or later.” “Leaving a good impression now will only elevate your sister’s status, won’t it?” Tears fell to the ground as I pounded my chest hard, the only way to alleviate the pain in my heart. But it was my parents who owed my uncle and aunt, why did I have to pay the debt? Lucas moved quickly. He decided on divorce in the morning and had the divorce agreement drawn up by the afternoon. Afraid I might cause trouble, he had several bodyguards watch me as I signed my name. I smiled bitterly and slowly wrote my name. Lucas had saved my life, and I had watched over him for three years. From now on, we owed each other nothing.

The autumn evening breeze carried a hint of chill. As soon as my phone was fixed, I sent a message to Dr. Miller, [I’d like to try the hypnotherapy you mentioned before.] Dr. Miller quickly replied, [After hypnosis, you will lose some memories.] [Also, a family member needs to sign a consent form to ensure someone will take care of you during your recovery period.] My gaze fell on the words “family member”, and I couldn’t help but smile bitterly, unable to think of anyone who could sign the consent form for me. I kept scrolling through my contacts, my finger hovering over one profile picture, hesitating to click on it. Unexpectedly, the profile picture suddenly shook, and a message popped up, [I’m back in the country today. Would you like to have dinner?] I quickly replied, agreeing on a place to meet. Looking out at the scenery, my thoughts drifted far away. Daniel was the son of my sign language teacher. Because I often went to his house for lessons, we became quite familiar with each other. Three years ago, when he learned I was going to marry a man in a vegetative state, he angrily smashed the birthday gift he was going to give me, saying his mother teaching me sign language was a waste. I fought back using sign language, saying all sorts of nasty things. Later, he went abroad to study, and I thought we would never see each other again. I didn’t expect him to return to the country. After not seeing each other for several years, he had matured a lot, giving off an unapproachable aura when not smiling. I went straight to the point, using sign language to ask him, [Can you… pretend to be my family member and sign for me?] His expression froze. After learning the whole story, his hands clenched tightly, as if trying hard to suppress something. “Are you sure about this?” I nodded lightly. What use were these memories to me anyway? Besides, after the memories were suppressed, I would be able to speak again. “Alright.” When I returned to the Jiang family mansion, it was already evening. My things had been carelessly thrown in the hallway of the villa. Lucas glanced at me coldly, “Emily, don’t say I’m not giving you face. From now on, you’ll live in the guest room.” I nodded lightly. He hadn’t expected me to be so calm and looked me up and down. I would forget about him soon anyway, so what did it matter where I lived? Suddenly, a small dog ran out of the house. I froze, instinctively grabbing Lucas’s arm. He frowned in displeasure and shook off my hand roughly. “Emily, know your place.” His force was so strong that I hadn’t reacted in time and fell to the ground, pain shooting through my wrist. I had been afraid of dogs since childhood, and the boy who once said he would protect me for life had now let go of my hand. A flash of regret crossed his eyes, and he reached out to help me up. I pretended not to see it and struggled to my feet, ignoring the pain. Chloe came out of the room, clinging to Lucas’s arm and pouting. “Little Darling doesn’t like being confined. Can we give it a bigger room?” Lucas fondly ruffled her hair, “Alright, let’s give the newly cleaned guest room to Little Darling.” “Emily, you’ll move to the basement.” How laughable. In his eyes, I was worth less than a stray dog they had adopted. While packing my things, I suddenly smelled something strange. Following the scent, I saw a large yellow stain on a red coat. This coat was a birthday gift from Lucas. Because my birthday was on the same day as my uncle and aunt’s death anniversary, my parents didn’t allow me to celebrate. Lucas had secretly given me the coat, earnestly telling me, “Emily, I’ll be with you for every birthday from now on.” Apparently, promises only count when there’s love. I had cherished this coat so much that I never dared to wear it. It seems I’ll never get to wear it now. Lucas saw the coat, felt a twinge of emotion, and told the housekeeper to take it for dry cleaning. But I threw the coat directly into the trash bin, along with all the photos of Lucas and me from over the years. I didn’t want to have any connection with him in the future. Lucas stared at me and slowly said, “Chloe has a kind heart and adopted Little Darling. If you dare to make her unhappy, I definitely won’t let you off.” People really do laugh when they’re at their wit’s end. It seems Lucas had completely forgotten that I’m afraid of dogs. Probably on Lucas’s orders, not a single servant helped me. Ignoring the pain in my wrist, I packed until evening, finally clearing out everything related to Lucas. This was the first time I had stayed at home in three years. After Lucas became a vegetable, I had practically lived in the hospital. At first, there were visitors, but later everyone in the Jiang family gave up on him. Most of the time, it was just him and me in the hospital room. Just as I was falling into a light sleep at dawn, I was awakened by a bucket of cold water. Lucas looked down at me condescendingly, “Emily, you’ve really become lazy.” “You’re no longer the mistress of the Jiang family. How dare you sleep in?” My head was a bit fuzzy, and I nodded lightly to show I understood. I wiped the water off my face and got up to change my clothes. The servants in the villa were bustling about. The housekeeper glanced at me and told me to go polish the piano. Only then did I realize today was Chloe’s birthday. My fingers glided over the piano keys, and beautiful music flowed from my fingertips. Lucas once said my hands were born to play the piano, but now these hands were used to polish the piano. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly at the irony. Sweet words are only sincere in the moment they’re spoken. Halfway through polishing, I received a message from Dr. Miller, [Tomorrow morning at 10 AM.] I quickly replied “okay” and forwarded the message to Daniel. Thinking about being able to speak again, my mood improved considerably. I thought this party had nothing to do with me, but unexpectedly, Lucas pulled me to the dressing room. I was flattered to receive a dress. But he was full of impatience, “Hurry up and put it on. How will people talk about Chloe if you don’t attend?” So it was only to avoid gossip about Chloe. I felt the large stains on the dress, my heart already numb. I remembered Chloe’s social media post an hour ago: [It doesn’t matter if I stained the dress, Lucas will prepare two for me.] Chloe stood by the cake like an elegant princess, while I was like a clown for people’s amusement. I tried to minimize my presence, sitting in a corner. But the gossip still reached my ears. “What’s that on her dress? It’s disgusting!” “She’s so shameless, stealing her sister’s fiancé.” “I heard she’s a mute.” The mocking voices were incessant. I clenched my dress tightly. Chloe sat down at the piano, the spotlight focused on her, attracting everyone’s attention. The music suddenly stopped, and she cried out, “Ouch! How are there razor blades in the piano!” The housekeeper pointed at me in the corner, “Only Miss Emily touched the piano!” Lucas glared at me angrily, roughly pulling me to the piano and pressing my hands onto the keys. The pain in my fingers was so intense I could barely breathe. “Emily, this is the price you pay for doing wrong.” After saying this, he carried Chloe out, ignoring my bloodied hands. I clearly saw Chloe flash a smug smile at me. Later, an ambulance took me to the hospital, but all the doctors in the hospital had been called to examine Chloe. Before I fainted from blood loss, I heard a nurse shout angrily, “If her hands don’t get immediate treatment, she’ll be permanently disabled!” Tears slid from the corners of my eyes. I really wished I had never met Lucas. Meanwhile, the doctor looking at Lucas seemed familiar and greeted him. “How’s your wife? She took care of you for three years. It’s finally her time to be happy.” 5 Lucas frowned at the word “wife”, about to ask what he meant. Chloe pretended to wipe away non-existent tears, “Lucas, my hand hurts so much. Will I not be able to play the piano anymore?” Seeing her cry, Lucas immediately panicked, holding her in his arms and comforting her softly.

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My boyfriend died for his first love, and I died in a car accident as a result. After we were reborn, we stayed out of each other’s lives. That was the silent agreement. I never expected to run into him again at a nightclub— down on one knee, proposing to that same first love. When he noticed me, his eyes swept over me with open disdain. “So this is what your life has come to without me?” “Don’t pretend. You followed me here because you want me back, didn’t you?” “Beg. Maybe I’ll be generous enough to take you back.” I just stared at him, genuinely caught off guard. Then I laughed. Apparently, no one had told him yet— I was already married. I never thought I’d see Lucas again, especially not in a place like this. I got stuck in traffic and missed the reunion dinner, so I drove straight to the club where I had another commitment. To my surprise, I bumped into my old classmates—they’d moved the party here. They were lost in the music on the dance floor. Lucas, with his fair skin and tall build, stood out in the crowd. He held Olivia close, his eyes full of affection. “Lucas is a real prodigy. So young and already owns multiple Formula 1 teams,” someone commented. “Absolutely. He rented out this entire club just for Olivia tonight.” “This has to be the most expensive venue in the city. A night here must cost at least a million.” “Well, you can’t put a price on making your girl smile.” As the music faded, Olivia stood there, flushed and slightly breathless. Suddenly, the big screen lit up, playing a montage of Lucas and Olivia’s romantic moments. The crowd cheered as Olivia was guided to the stage. Lucas, holding a bouquet of roses, got down on one knee in front of her. “Olivia, will you marry me?” His voice was soft, brimming with emotion. Someone in the crowd muttered, not too quietly, “When did Lucas and Evelyn break up?” The question hung in the air, reaching everyone’s ears. Hearing my name, Lucas’s expression darkened, his smile vanishing. Olivia’s face stiffened for a second before she recovered, accepting the flowers with a polite smile. “Lucas has always been popular, but hey, who didn’t make mistakes when they were young? What matters is that it all worked out in the end.” The crowd laughed, chiming in about what a perfect match they were. I stood in the corner, watching their intertwined fingers. Was I the “mistake” she meant? But she didn’t know—in our past life, Lucas was the one who chased me. He fell for me at first sight and pursued me intensely. Back then, who could resist a handsome, brilliant man who seemed utterly devoted? So I said yes. The day we made it official, Lucas cupped my face, hesitating before a kiss. “Evelyn, is this a dream?” he whispered. “If I kiss you, will I wake up?” I laughed, brushed my fingers over his beautiful eyes, and stood on my toes to kiss him. That night, he promised, “Evelyn, I’ll spend my whole life making you happy.” I believed him. But he lied. I took a deep breath and moved toward the elevator through the dim light. A sharp-eyed former classmate spotted me. “Evelyn? What are you doing here?” “What happened to you? You look… tired.” “Don’t tell me you’re still jobless. Since Lucas is here, just ask him for a favor. I’m sure he could hook you up with something that pays at least five grand a month. For old times’ sake.” Their mockery was thinly veiled. I ignored it, politely smiling as I poured myself a glass of ice water. From the moment I walked in, Lucas’s eyes were locked on me. Seeing me take the free water, he seemed to relax a bit. “Order whatever you want,” he said casually. “It’s on me tonight.” “Thanks, but I’m good,” I replied, my tone polite but distant. Lucas’s step faltered. Half his face was shadowed, his expression unreadable. After a long moment, he let out a low, bitter laugh. “Still as proud as ever, Evelyn.” Olivia watched me with wary eyes, lacing her fingers with Lucas’s in a possessive gesture. “Evelyn, no offense, but as a woman, you could at least try to look presentable in public.” “Look at you—mismatched clothes, messy hair. What man would want you like this?” “I have tons of old clothes at home. If you want them, you can have them. Lucas buys me so much, I can’t even fit it all in two walk-in closets.” The group chuckled. I glanced at my reflection in the glass. After two straight days on set, I was exhausted and hadn’t bothered fixing up. Next to Olivia’s flawless appearance, I did look rough. “No thanks,” I said, waving her off as I reached for some chilled fruit at the bar. I was too hungry to care about manners. Lucas suddenly walked over and held out his phone. I looked up, confused. “Give me your account details. I’ll wire you three hundred thousand,” he said. “Your situation… it’s partly my fault.” “But that’s in the past. Don’t be so stubborn.” “Stop waiting around for me. Move on.” Lucas’s phone wallpaper was a picture of Olivia holding a huge bouquet. Her carefree smile made me pause. In our past life, I wasn’t even his wallpaper. My number wasn’t saved because he never needed to call me—I handled everything for him, both in life and work. Guess it’s true—you can always tell when someone’s really into you, and when they’re not. We started dating in college and married right after graduation. He dreamed of being a race car driver. I wanted to be a film director. Two completely different paths, never meant to cross. Seeing the disappointment in his eyes, I gave in. I gave up my chance to study abroad without a second thought, following him around day after day, hauling heavy toolboxes. When he didn’t have professional gear, I delivered food on my bike late at night, saving up to buy him the best racing suit. When he had no pit crew, I taught myself mechanics, doing the work of a whole team for him. But he still lost. His second-hand car, bought cheap, couldn’t compete with the latest models. And when I tried to comfort him through the slump, he pushed me away, his eyes filled with a disgust I’d never seen before: “I’m so sick of this boring life with you.” “If I’d chosen Olivia back then, I wouldn’t be stuck like this.” Those words shattered every hope I had. I didn’t even get to look back at the road we’d traveled before we both died in that crash off the cliff. I wanted to beg him to save our baby. But the words were swallowed by the flames before I could speak. Since fate gave us a second chance, we both chose to live the lives we wanted. There was no reason to stay in touch. I pushed the phone back toward him. “We’re not connected anymore. This isn’t necessary.”

Lucas frowned, his voice trembling slightly though he didn’t seem to notice. “No connection? What’s that supposed to mean? Are we strangers now?” I met his gaze evenly. “Aren’t we? Our lives don’t cross anymore. How I dress, how I live—it’s none of your business.” “If you’ve got money to burn, maybe donate to people who actually need it.” Maybe feeling I’d embarrassed him in front of everyone, Lucas’s face hardened. “Evelyn, cut the act. You came here to get my attention, didn’t you?” Olivia gently patted his arm. “Lucas, don’t be so harsh.” She turned to me, contempt barely hidden behind a gentle tone. “Evelyn, don’t mind him. He’s just concerned about an old friend.” “How about this? I opened a private clinic on South Street. We need a receptionist—$7,000 a month, plus room and board.” “If you’re interested, it’s yours.” Someone nearby exclaimed, “South Street? That’s prime real estate! Olivia, you’re amazing.” “Evelyn, you hit the jackpot! Quick, thank her!” I rolled my eyes, calmly eating my fruit. “No need. I’m happy with my job.” Seeing I wasn’t grateful, the bootlickers turned on me. “Evelyn, poverty has messed with your head. Lucas and Olivia are trying to help you, and you’re acting all high and mighty.” “We’re all old classmates here. We know what you’re worth. Don’t let your pride ruin this chance.” After he finished, Olivia pretended to stop him. “Don’t say that… Maybe Evelyn really likes her life now.” As she spoke, her eyes welled up, as if she’d been wronged. Seeing her tears, Lucas pulled her close. “Olivia, you’re too kind.” He turned to me, his voice cold. “Evelyn, I didn’t expect you to still be so selfish and fake.” “You’re beyond help. You deserve the life you’ve got.” I wondered why he’d say such things. In both lives, I’d never done anything to hurt him. Why, after all this time, was he still so cruel? I didn’t want to engage further. I stood to head to the private room upstairs, but a former classmate blocked my way. He held a drink, leering as he approached. “Evelyn, I always hated that stuck-up act of yours. Never thought I’d see the day.” “How about a drink? Five hundred bucks a glass, sound good?” “Let me hold your hand, and I’ll throw in extra.” I looked closer—barely recognizing him as the guy who’d confessed to me at graduation. Jack, I think his name was. Back then, I was focused on landing a study-abroad spot, so I turned him down flat. Guess he held a grudge. Everyone laughed. No one stepped in. I frowned. I hadn’t meant to crash their party. If not for my prior commitment, I’d have left long ago. Security was nowhere. As I was about to shove him away, Lucas—who’d been watching silently—suddenly hurled his glass at Jack. “Stay away from her,” he said, his voice icy. Jack, now drenched, spun around ready to fight but froze when he saw it was Lucas. He just shot me a vicious glare. The glass shattered on the floor. Olivia’s smug smile vanished as she stared at Lucas in disbelief. “Lucas, what are you doing?” Lucas didn’t even glance at her, his eyes fixed on me. “My event, my rules. I don’t want trouble.” I stepped back, wiping alcohol off my pants. “The security here is terrible.” Olivia glared at me, her eyes blazing. “You’re complaining?” “Do you even know where you are? This is Adrian’s place—the movie star. Without Lucas, someone like you wouldn’t get within a mile of here.” At the mention of Adrian, several women perked up. “The Adrian who’s won all those awards and been on the city’s rich list for five years straight?” “I heard he has a kid, but no one’s ever seen the wife.” Just then, the main door swung open. A little girl walked in, surrounded by bodyguards. She glanced around curiously. A butler in a suit followed closely. “Miss, please slow down. Watch your step.” The old classmates buzzed with excitement. “Someone who can just walk in here, called ‘Miss’—must be the movie star’s daughter!” “Oh my god, she looks just like Adrian!” I was about to step forward when Jack blocked my path again. He didn’t dare confront Lucas, so he took it out on me. “Evelyn, if it weren’t for Lucas, someone like you would never get to see a celebrity’s kid. How about you kneel and apologize? If I’m in a good mood, I might even marry you.” “A solid guy like me making five grand a month is a catch. You should be grateful!” I ignored him, watching as the girl got swarmed. They bombarded her with questions, some already pulling out phones to snap pictures. Olivia’s earlier arrogance was gone, replaced by a fawning smile. “Sweetie, is your daddy Adrian?” After getting a nod, Olivia’s smile widened. “What brings you here? Want some fruit? Let sister get it for you.” She reached to touch the girl’s cheek. The little girl pushed Olivia’s hand away and walked straight to me. Under everyone’s stares, she threw herself into my arms. “Mommy!” Her bright eyes filled with tears. “Mommy, Lily missed you so much!” “Why didn’t you answer Lily’s call yesterday?” I held her close, soothing her. “Mommy was rehearsing on set and didn’t check her phone. I won’t do it again. Can you forgive me?” Lily beamed and planted a loud kiss on my cheek. “Lily’s not mad. I was just worried.” I poked her cheek. “My Lily is the best.”

Everyone in the room was stunned, staring at us in disbelief. Lucas stood frozen, frowning as if about to speak. A handsome man in sunglasses rushed in. “Honey, why didn’t you text that you got off early? I would’ve picked you up. The traffic’s awful—I worry.” “The manager said your reunion was here?” He put an arm around my shoulder, took off his sunglasses, and smiled at the crowd. “Hey, everyone. I’m Evelyn’s husband, Adrian.” “Tonight’s on me. You’re Evelyn’s friends, so order anything. Hope you all have a great time.” Jack, who’d tried to get me to drink, turned pale. The women could barely contain their excitement. “Evelyn is married to Adrian?!” “Oh my god, this is like a movie! This is too perfect!” I just smiled without responding. Adrian turned, his gaze sweeping over Lucas. After a moment, he gave a faint, dismissive smile. “So you’re Evelyn’s college boyfriend?” “I should thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have met my perfect wife.” Lucas didn’t answer, his eyes fixed on me. “Evelyn, are you lying again?” “Did you hire some actors?” I sighed, taking Adrian’s hand and showing Lucas the wedding ring on my finger. “He’s my husband, Adrian.” “I don’t lie. And I have no reason to lie to you.” Lucas suddenly panicked. “But you said you’d only love me forever!” Worried Adrian might misunderstand, I quickly clarified, “I never said that. Never.” Those words drained the color from Lucas’s face. He wanted to argue but knew he had no ground. In our past life, I had vowed at our wedding to love only him. But in this second chance, he’d chosen a different path. What right did he have to hold me to a promise from a life that no longer existed? Lucas couldn’t accept it. “Even so, we loved each other once. How can you just move on? Did our past mean nothing?” Beside him, Olivia had gone pale. I glanced at the proposal photos still rolling on the big screen and sighed. “Aren’t you with Olivia now?” “Half an hour ago, you were proposing to her. Now you’re accusing me of not cherishing the past?” Lucas had organized this gathering, and almost everyone had come to butter him up. When that guy harassed me, no one lifted a finger. Now that they knew who I was married to, they turned on Lucas and Olivia. “Come on, Lucas, let it go. Evelyn’s happy. You should be happy for her.” “I mean, who wouldn’t want to be with a guy like Adrian?” Olivia couldn’t take it anymore. She reached for Lucas’s hand. “Lucas, let’s go. I’m your fiancée now. You and Evelyn are over.” But the moment she touched him, Lucas shoved her away violently. Olivia lost her balance and fell onto the broken glass. Her hands were cut in several places. Her face flushed with humiliation, and she shot me a resentful look. Adrian’s smile deepened. “Mr. Summers, you’re not having second thoughts, are you? Trying to win my wife back?” “Evelyn is incredible, but she’s not interested. Don’t overestimate yourself.” Exposed, Lucas stammered, “No… I…” I raised a hand to stop him, my tone cold. “Lucas, the past is the past.” “I have a family now, and you’re with the person you always wanted.” “Let’s not do this.” Our daughter was clearly bored. She tugged Adrian’s hand and pouted. “Daddy, I don’t wanna stay here for my birthday. I wanna go home and eat the food you and Mommy make.” Adrian asked the butler to take her to the car. Holding my hand, he gave a meaningful look to the room. “I heard someone offered five hundred dollars for my wife to drink with him?” Jack went pale, trembling as he stammered, “It was me… I was an idiot, I offended Mrs. Smith. Please… please forgive me.” He hung his head, shaking. With a glance from Adrian, bodyguards stepped forward, lifted Jack, and dragged him into a side room. Then Adrian turned to Olivia. “And I heard you offered my wife a cleaning job at your clinic?” “Funny, I own the entire block in South District. If the clinic owner is personally hiring cleaners, maybe I should rethink the lease renewal.” The threat was clear. Olivia forced a smile, hiding slightly behind Lucas. “I was just joking with your wife… Please don’t take it seriously…” Adrian’s gaze swept over the others who’d disrespected me earlier. They all looked down, not daring to breathe loudly. Finally, he turned to me and gave a playful wink. I knew what that meant—he wanted praise for standing up for me. I took his hand and we turned to leave. Just outside the door, Lucas caught up. “Evelyn!”

The late autumn wind was chilly. I instinctively hugged my arms. I motioned for Adrian to wait in the car. After a moment’s hesitation, he draped his coat over my shoulders before getting in. Even now, he chose to trust me. I held Adrian’s coat tight, watching Lucas approach unsteadily. His eyes were dark, unreadable. “Why did you marry him? Is he really better than me?” His question was absurd, but thinking back to everything before I married Adrian, I couldn’t help but smile. That year, I was a rookie director trying to break into the industry. Even new-media producers wouldn’t look at my scripts. I’d almost run through my savings chasing that dream. When I was at my lowest, Adrian picked up my script. He didn’t look down on me. Instead, he went over every detail with me, suggested actors, helped me win my first director award. The day I won, he confessed. I won’t deny I’d fallen for him during those long collaborations, but because of my past-life scars, I held back. I asked him, “If I’m with you, can I still direct?” Adrian seemed surprised. “You’re your own person. You don’t need my permission. I love you, so I’ll support whatever you want to do.” I took a deep breath. “I want kids.” Adrian smiled softly. “Me too.” I said yes, and from that day on, he became my new beginning. We married. Adrian respected my wish for a simple church wedding with just close friends and family. Then came Lily. Seeing my expression, Lucas looked as if he’d been stabbed. Eyes red, he asked again, “That girl… she’s really yours?” “Yes.” “You never wanted a child with me. Why him?” His words brought back the ultrasound photo I’d clutched until I died in that crash. That baby had a steady heartbeat but died with me in the fire. My chest ached, tears blurring my vision. Lucas kept accusing me of betrayal. Finally, I couldn’t take it. I slapped him. Lucas held his cheek, staring at me in shock. “We had a child once.” “The day you drove us off the cliff, I was going to tell you.” “I used to feel so guilty about that baby. But now I’m just relieved. At least my child didn’t have a father like you.” Lucas froze. He covered his mouth, trembling. “No… you went to the clinic that day. Olivia said she saw you go in for an abortion.” “She said you thought I was too poor to have my child.” Then I understood why he’d called me selfish all those years. “If I looked down on you, why would I have married you without hesitation?” Lucas shattered. He collapsed, mumbling, “I killed my child… I killed them.” Tears fell as I looked at him, feeling only ridicule. “I walked with you for so long, gave you so much, and you believed someone else so easily.” I turned to leave, but Lucas grabbed my wrist. “Evelyn, I was wrong. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted you.” “Please come back. I can’t live without you.” I shook my head, pulling my hand free. “Lucas, you forgot.” “‘Let’s never see each other again in this life.’ You said that.” I knew the past couldn’t be changed. Thankfully, I’d truly moved on. One night, police cars surrounded the Stevens’ private clinic. The next day, headlines blared: Oliver Stevens, Olivia’s father, arrested for illegal organ trafficking, corpse sales, and baby auctions.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “320030”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring