Chloe, my husband Xavier’s assistant, made an important client wait in the freezing wind for four hours. As the director, I salvaged the situation for her. I simply reminded her in the meeting not to let it happen again. But Chloe burst into tears and accused me instead: “How dare you twist the facts and steal my credit? You were the one too lazy to get out of bed. If I hadn’t begged the client on my knees, the deal would’ve fallen apart already.” Xavier knew the truth, but instead of defending me, he gave her an unprecedented promotion to vice president and forced me to hand the project over to her. I didn’t cry or make a scene. I signed the project transfer agreement. Xavier thought I’d given in. What he didn’t know was that the client’s project manager was my former classmate. The only reason he’d agreed to work with us despite what happened was because he valued my abilities. Now that the company had invested all its capital into the project, Xavier’s breach of contract in changing the project manager wouldn’t just cause the investment to go down the drain—it would also result in massive compensation penalties.

“Valerie, you think just handing over the project makes everything go away? Not a chance!” “According to company policy, you must forfeit your year-end bonus and bear the corresponding financial responsibility!” After turning the tables on me, Chloe still wasn’t satisfied. She was determined to step on me to recover the face she’d lost at the meeting. Everyone knew the truth, but they didn’t dare take sides. All eyes fell on Xavier. Seeing I wouldn’t admit fault, Chloe raised an eyebrow and smirked: “What? You’re mediocre to begin with—can’t handle people saying it?” I turned and glanced at Xavier. We’d been married for ten years, but he’d always refused to make our relationship public. This time, he’d given this important project to Chloe to build her credentials. Who knew she’d oversleep and leave the client waiting in the cold wind for four hours? The client had stormed off in anger. But this project was crucial to the company’s IPO. We couldn’t afford any mistakes. So Xavier came to negotiate with me. If I could salvage the deal and bring the client back, he’d publicly acknowledge our relationship at the meeting. I was thrilled. I worked my heart out to make amends and finally regained the client’s trust. Today, I thought Xavier would keep his promise. I’d even bought a new dress for the occasion and tucked a watch I’d saved half a year’s salary to buy into my pocket for him. But I never imagined Xavier would go back on his word and allow Chloe to twist the facts, steal my credit, and take my project. Seeing me look at Xavier, Chloe bit her lip with an aggrieved expression: “What are you staring at? If Xavier didn’t respect your seniority, he would’ve fired you ages ago!” Xavier glanced at me apologetically, then responded sternly: “We’ll skip the financial responsibility, but your entire year-end bonus is forfeit. Valerie, be more careful next time. Don’t make such amateur mistakes again.” He seemed to be protecting me, but he was actually pinning this dirty label firmly on my head. Well, of course—he was the boss. Without his tacit approval, how would Chloe, a newcomer, dare to challenge me? Listening to my colleagues’ gleeful mockery around me, I didn’t get angry. Instead, I smiled and took off my employee badge on the spot: “No need for all that trouble. I quit right now.” Xavier looked at me with displeasure: “Stop being ridiculous! If you quit, what happens to all your projects?” I shrugged calmly: “Chloe is so talented—I’m sure she’ll do better than me.” At those words, everyone’s expressions changed. They all knew the company had gotten where it was today entirely because of me alone. If I left, all my projects would fall apart, and they wouldn’t be able to collect their commissions anymore. Colleagues who’d sided with Chloe earlier now rushed to persuade me: “Valerie, Xavier was just joking. The company can’t function without you.” Chloe, seeing the spotlight stolen from her, snapped at me irritably: “Valerie, do you have to drag everyone down and prevent them from meeting their targets? Don’t be so selfish!” Xavier frowned, about to stop Chloe from continuing. But suddenly Chloe clutched her chest and crouched down, her face pale: “Xavier, Valerie’s making my chest hurt. Quick, call an ambulance…” Xavier panicked immediately: “Valerie, are you a block of wood? Hurry up and help!” I glanced over. Chloe’s face was rosy, and she kept blinking at me provocatively. She was obviously faking it again. Xavier didn’t notice. He called everyone to help Chloe into the car. I turned to leave, but Xavier, despite being so busy, called out to me: “You made Chloe sick—where do you think you’re going? Get in the car right now and come with me to take her to the hospital.” I didn’t want to go, but I also didn’t want Chloe to extort money from me afterward, so I got in the car. In the back seat, Chloe leaned on Xavier’s shoulder, whimpering softly about her pain: “Xavier, Valerie’s going to be the death of me…” Xavier’s heart ached terribly. He scolded me irritably: “Don’t you know she has heart problems? Can’t you just speak nicely to her?” Seeing him like this, I was long used to it. I’d fought with Xavier, argued with him, even thrown things because of Chloe. But no matter what I did, I couldn’t change the fact that Xavier was biased toward her. Even this time, it was clearly Chloe who’d stolen my credit and project, who’d mocked me in front of everyone. I just didn’t want to be exploited anymore and chose to resign, but he thought I was causing trouble. If it were my old temperament, I would’ve already gotten into an argument with him. But ever since Chloe appeared this past year, she’d stolen Xavier’s attention, stolen my project commissions, and now even my reputation. I wondered if in a few days, she’d even come for my position as his wife. Life had become like this. I was truly exhausted. I nodded and replied perfunctorily: “Mm-hmm. Won’t happen again.” Because there wouldn’t be a next time for us. Xavier looked at me in surprise, satisfied with my compromise. He rarely explained: “I know you’re not bad-hearted. You just have a sharp tongue.” “Chloe has a bad heart. I’m worried about her getting upset, so I go along with her.” “Besides, she’s your… protégé. Don’t you want to see her go far?” That’s right! Chloe was a financially struggling student I’d personally sponsored. I paid for her college education and her medical bills. When she couldn’t find work after graduation, I arranged for her to work as an assistant. But she wasn’t satisfied being a small-time assistant for life and begged me to teach her. I squeezed out three hours of rest time every day to teach her hands-on. I knew she had heart problems, so I asked Xavier to take extra care of her. But I never expected Xavier to take such good care of her—too good, in fact. That day, I went to discuss work with Xavier, only to find the two of them sharing a dessert in his office. Seeing that scene, I was instantly furious and rushed over to confront them. That was the first time Chloe faked being sick, and the first time in all our married years that Xavier gave me the cold shoulder in front of others. He anxiously took Chloe to the hospital and stayed by her side to care for her. Watching my own husband tenderly care for someone else made me feel awful. In ten years of marriage, he’d never taken care of me like that. Once, when I had acute gastroenteritis and was in terrible pain, I begged him to take me to the hospital. He just tossed me a box of medicine with an icy tone: “If you want to slack off, just say so. Stop faking it. I hate people who fake being sick!” Later, I called a car myself and checked into the hospital. Even after learning about my condition, he was still disdainful: “It’s just gastroenteritis. Everyone gets it. Stop acting like you have a terminal illness, okay?” I thought he just had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, but he really never came to the hospital to see me. Not once. I used to think he was just that kind of cold, heartless man. But when I turned around, I saw Xavier—who had severe germaphobia—using his pristine white sleeve to wipe Chloe’s sweat. He urgently pressed the driver to go faster, as if Chloe were his wife. I smiled bitterly, and the obsession in my heart dissipated in that moment. Actually, I should’ve understood long ago. All his behavior told me he truly cherished Chloe. Very, very much. And I was just a passerby in his life. I quietly sent my former classmate a message, telling him I’d been kicked out of the project. He sent back a shocked emoji: “Valerie, come work with me.” I’d refused him countless times before. This time, I replied with a single word: “Okay.” To be with Xavier, I’d given up my own future. It wasn’t too late to turn back now. I needed to take a chance for myself. The rest of the ride passed in silence. We took Chloe to the hospital. Her condition was fine. Getting the news, I turned to leave. Xavier breathed a sigh of relief: “Valerie, wait. I’ll go home with you.” He was about to reach for my hand when Chloe started faking illness again, clutching her chest and crying out in pain. Xavier sighed and transferred me five hundred dollars as compensation: “You go home first. After the project succeeds, I’ll give you the rest of the commission.” “Once the company goes public, you can stay home and do whatever you want. I won’t go back on what I promised you.” I responded vaguely with an “mm-hmm.” I turned and left, not accepting his money. I didn’t plan to continue this relationship with him. My former classmate was preparing materials to sue him. Not only would the contract be terminated, but he’d also face enormous compensation penalties.

On the way back, I received provocative texts and videos from Chloe. “Valerie, so what if you have the title of his wife? He can catch my vomit with his bare hands. Have you ever gotten that kind of treatment?” Indeed not. When I was sick, forget about taking care of me—he wouldn’t even pour me a glass of water. “Valerie, is five hundred enough for you? If not, I’ll transfer you some more. Xavier felt so bad for me being so sick that he transferred me five hundred thousand.” I looked at the transfer records she sent. Xavier really did feel bad for her. When apologizing to me, he was so stingy, yet he’d transferred her over ten million dollars in spending money bit by bit. I didn’t respond to her provocation. I just quietly saved the evidence. When I got home, I casually cooked some instant noodles, ate, and went to sleep. Late at night, Xavier suddenly came home and shook me awake: “Don’t sleep yet. Chloe’s sick. I’m having her move in for a few days so I can take care of her.” “Go clean up the guest room right now and change the sheets and comforter.” Annoyed at being woken up, I turned over and went back to sleep: “Do it yourself. I’m not available.” Hearing this, Chloe frowned and rushed in to accuse me: “Xavier was planning to stay at my place, but he came back here to save face for you as his wife.” “I’ve already agreed to live under someone else’s roof, and Xavier’s asked you nicely. Don’t push your luck.” Xavier shook his head in disappointment: “Usually you’re so energetic doing things. Are you deliberately targeting Chloe?” “She even told me she wouldn’t hold it against you for making her sick. How can you be less considerate than your own protégé?” I laughed coldly, too lazy to explain: “Right, right, right. It’s all my fault. Go stay at Chloe’s place—you can take even better care of her there.” Xavier’s rebuke caught in his throat. His eyes turned red with anger: “Valerie! What kind of wife pushes her husband to stay at another woman’s house?” He glared at me furiously for a few moments, then ran out. After he left, Chloe leisurely walked in and flashed me a triumphant smile: “Well, well, teacher. I didn’t expect you to learn my tricks and play dirty too. But you’ll never be able to outplay me. Just you wait.” I didn’t listen carefully. I buried my head and fell back asleep. The next morning, I woke up refreshed. As soon as I walked into the living room, I smelled a rich aroma. The dining table was set with a lavish breakfast. Xavier, wearing an apron, seemed to have forgotten about last night. He pressed me into a chair and placed a fried egg in my bowl. “Here, here, try this fried egg.” How strange. Xavier never cooked. Had the sun risen in the west today? Just as I was about to take a bite, I heard him muttering: “Chloe’s so picky. She won’t eat it if it’s even slightly overcooked, and she won’t eat it if it’s too soft either. Help me taste it…” I immediately put down my fork. I’d been presumptuous. How could he possibly make breakfast for me? This meal was all thanks to Chloe’s presence. Life had become so pathetic. I turned and went into the bedroom, taking out the divorce agreement I’d prepared and handing it to him. Xavier was busy with what he was doing and didn’t even look: “There’s still soup simmering on the stove. I’ll sign it later.” I stopped him: “It’s rather urgent. Sign it first—it won’t delay you.” Xavier sighed and quickly signed it with a pen. Suddenly remembering something, he asked casually as if it were an afterthought: “Is this a new project you’re negotiating? I want Chloe to join your team.” “Don’t worry, she won’t take any money. Just leave her name on it.” I put the document away. Xavier’s love for Chloe ran truly deep. He never forgot to ask for benefits for her. Only this time, he was destined to be disappointed. “This isn’t a project. It’s a divorce agreement.”

Xavier froze. He thought I was joking. He leaned over to look and realized it was real. Only then did his expression change: “What do you mean? I’m just letting Chloe stay for a few days! What’s this nonsense about divorce!” As he spoke, he reached out to snatch it. I quickly hid it and looked at him: “Xavier, wouldn’t it be good if I just let you two be together?” Xavier exploded in anger: “Your mind is so filthy! I only see her as a sister—nothing else!” At this point, he was still making excuses. I tugged at the corner of my mouth: “Is that so? There are so many financially struggling students out there. Why do you only acknowledge one sister?” “How about I gather everyone together and you can all recognize each other as relatives?” My words completely enraged Xavier. His face turned shades of green and purple as he fumed: “Fine! Let’s divorce then!” Chloe was awakened by the argument. She came out of the guest room wearing my pajamas, pretending to mediate: “Stop fighting, both of you. If I’m affecting your relationship, I’ll just die outside and never bother Xavier again.” Xavier couldn’t care about being angry anymore. He glared at me several times: “Are you a block of wood? Hurry up and say you didn’t mean it.” “As long as you apologize to Chloe, I can let today’s matter slide.” He thought my divorce talk was just angry words. Little did he know, this was a carefully considered decision. I nodded: “Chloe, your understanding is very accurate. That’s exactly what I mean.” Chloe hadn’t expected me to actually stand up to her. Unable to save face, she angrily stormed out, even forgetting to change her shoes. Xavier’s expression darkened. He swept the entire breakfast off the table. The sandwich I’d just taken from the refrigerator was also snatched from my hand and thrown into the trash. “Didn’t you want a divorce? Everything in this house was bought with my money. You don’t deserve to eat it!” After cursing at me, he rushed out to chase after Chloe. Looking at the mess on the floor, I was too lazy to clean it up. I was about to go out to eat when my former classmate called to invite me out. I immediately changed clothes and met him at a breakfast shop. “Valerie, how did your resignation go?” Just as I was about to say Xavier wouldn’t let me go, a notification suddenly popped up on my phone that my resignation had been approved: “It’s all done.” My classmate couldn’t even bother drinking his porridge. He pulled out an employment contract: “Sign it quick. I’m afraid you’ll change your mind, so I even brought the boss’s stamp.” Seeing him like this, I smiled. Without disappointing him, I scanned the contract and signed it. He carefully put away the contract and looked at me: “Are you free today? Come with me to your company.” I happened to have nothing else to do, so I didn’t refuse. After eating, I took him there. As soon as I stepped into the company, I heard Chloe’s sarcastic voice: “Well, well! If it isn’t Valerie, who was making such a fuss about resigning? How come you changed your mind right after your resignation was approved?” Xavier was startled by the commotion. He turned to look at me and snorted coldly: “Chloe, you don’t understand. Valerie’s old now. Nobody wants her anymore. She can only swallow her pride and come back begging us. Otherwise, she can’t even afford to eat.” The company was currently celebrating Chloe’s promotion. There was a large cake on the workstations. Chloe cut a piece of cake, but instead of offering it to me to eat, she smashed it on the floor in front of me: “Valerie, for old times’ sake as my senior, if you lick the cake off the floor clean, I’ll let you come back to the company and continue as director.” The colleagues joined in mocking me: “No way! You can become a director just by eating some cake? Chloe, why don’t you give us such a sweet deal? You really do favor your teacher after all.” Chloe laughed heartily and sneered: “Of course. My teacher taught me with such dedication. It wasn’t easy. As her student, I should repay her, shouldn’t I?” Xavier stood to the side, watching me be humiliated and mocked. He didn’t defend me—he even stepped on the cake himself. He pointed at the cream now marked with a shoe print and said to me: “Valerie, you probably don’t know yet, but the company has already invested all its money into this project’s production line.” “As long as you eat it, I’ll let you share in the project profits. That money would be enough for you to spend your whole life.” “Let’s see whether you choose money or dignity.” Looking at Xavier’s twisted expression, I smiled: “Is that so? Are you sure the partnership can continue?” Xavier raised an eyebrow, thinking I was bluffing. He snorted coldly: “You’re old and arrogant. I’ve put up with you for a long time.” “This time, Chloe has already negotiated with the client’s project manager. They’re very satisfied. The company doesn’t need you anymore.” Chloe also stepped forward triumphantly: “Teacher, you’re old. I’m stronger than you. Hurry up and get lost. Don’t be an eyesore at our celebration!” No wonder Xavier had been blocking my resignation before but suddenly agreed to it. It turned out he thought Chloe had already learned all my skills. I suddenly laughed and asked: “Is what they’re saying true?” My former classmate, who’d witnessed the entire farce, stepped out from behind me. He took off his sunglasses and said angrily: “Absolute nonsense! When did I ever meet with you?” Only then did everyone realize he was actually the client’s project manager! Chloe’s lie was exposed. Her face instantly turned deathly pale. Xavier hadn’t expected my relationship with the client to be so close either. But he’d already made his bold claims. Now he could only stubbornly push forward: “Valerie, so what if you have a good relationship with the client? The contract’s already signed. Breach of contract requires high compensation penalties. I don’t believe he’d lose money just to help you!” Before I could speak, my classmate sneered and pulled out the contract to show Xavier: “Look carefully. You changed the project manager without authorization. You’re the one in breach of contract!” “Get ready to pay five hundred million dollars. We’ll see you in court!”

The room erupted in an uproar. No one had expected such a dramatic reversal. My good relationship with the client had already shocked them. Now my classmate’s declaration that the contract was void left them stunned. “Impossible! How could I not know about this clause?” “You must have altered it. Chloe, quick, go get our copy of the contract!” Xavier’s hands were shaking, but he was still trying to hold on. I laughed coldly and said nothing, waiting for them to find the contract. Xavier had been too eager to hand the project over to Chloe. He hadn’t even noticed the clause about not being able to change project managers midway before rashly kicking me out. Chloe panicked too. She rummaged through the office and finally found the contract. Xavier couldn’t care about gentlemanly behavior anymore. He snatched the contract and rapidly flipped through it. Everyone held their breath. The usually noisy office now only echoed with the sound of Xavier flipping pages. When he turned to that page and saw the clause with his own eyes, his heart sank completely. Seeing Xavier’s desperate expression, everyone understood that my classmate and I were telling the truth. Such a major project had just fallen through? Chloe, who’d been celebrating in advance, experienced the feeling of gaining and losing in an instant. Her eyes turned red with anger. She pointed at me and opened her mouth furiously: “Valerie! So that’s it! I was wondering why you’d hand over the project so obediently. You were digging a pit here waiting for Xavier and me to jump in!” “Xavier and I have been so good to you. How can you have the nerve to betray us?” I rolled my eyes: “Wasn’t this the project you negotiated? Why didn’t you read the terms before signing?” Chloe was left speechless by my retort. Her eyes turned red with anger. Xavier completely panicked. He even forgot to defend Chloe. He muttered “It’s over” and slumped to the floor. The other employees quickly reacted too, wailing and crying: “It’s over. I invested my entire fortune.” “Yeah, what do I do now? I saved for ten years, thinking this was a sure thing. I even borrowed from all my relatives. How am I supposed to live?” Hearing their lamentations, I was stunned. The market had been bad lately, and the company’s funds were tight. Xavier had wanted to use this project to soar to new heights. I only knew Xavier had thrown all the company’s account money into it. I hadn’t expected him to make employees chip in and invest too. No wonder they’d all been on Xavier’s side earlier. They were a community of shared interests. Seeing the room full of wailing people, my classmate and I turned to leave. Xavier wiped his face and stood up, looking at me with disappointment: “Valerie, everyone’s worked together for ten years. I wronged you, but your colleagues didn’t offend you. Why did you pull this stunt and make it so nobody gets paid?” With him saying this, the angry colleagues immediately turned their anger on me. They didn’t think about how if Xavier hadn’t changed the project manager, or if they’d stopped things when it happened, it wouldn’t have come to this. But they didn’t. They’d only thought at the time that Chloe was close to Xavier and they needed to curry favor with the boss. Ending up like this was their own doing. Hearing their curses, I didn’t care. Chloe angrily blocked my path: “Valerie, you’re as selfish and childish as ever. Do you think you’ve won by pulling this stunt today?” “We lost money, but you backstabbed your former company. Your reputation in the industry is ruined. From now on, no company will ever hire you!” Hearing her defiant words, I shook my head with a cold laugh. But my classmate smiled: “That’s not your concern. Valerie’s already joined our company. You should worry more about yourself.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “366536”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn

My husband, Ethan Whitmore, was obsessed with “fishing trips” with his female coworker. We fought about it every single day. By the fourth year, I was too exhausted to fight anymore. So I picked up my own fishing rod and tackle box and started leaving early and coming home late, just like him. At first, Ethan didn’t care. Until one night when he came home at midnight and found I still wasn’t back. That’s when he panicked. He begged me, promising he’d never go fishing again and would stay home with me like a proper husband. But I wasn’t interested anymore. After all, the catch I’d reeled in was the city’s newly arrived eligible bachelor—the golden single man everyone was talking about. Adrian Castellan, the wealthiest man in town. I’m a lazy person. Because I was too lazy to look for a boyfriend, I married my childhood friend Ethan Whitmore. After the wedding, we got along pretty well. Until his parents arranged a job for him. There was a girl in his department named Sarah Smith who always invited him out. At first it was dinners and drinks at bars. Then somehow they got obsessed with late-night fishing, even staying out all night. Night after night I slept alone in an empty bed. How was I supposed to handle that? I fought with Ethan about it. He said I was being dramatic. His coworker Sarah even fanned the flames from the sidelines: “Seriously, Ethan, just go home. Looks like she can’t survive without a man for five minutes.” A few single male coworkers stood nearby, laughing mockingly. I couldn’t be bothered with these people. I grabbed Ethan’s arm, trying to get him to come home. He shook me off so hard I nearly fell to the ground. “Are you done yet? Can’t I have a single hobby of my own?” “I work myself to death all day to earn money. I even help you with housework.” “I’ve been nothing but accommodating to you. The only thing I ask is a little personal space to enjoy myself. Why do you have to pick a fight with me over it?” I felt inexplicably hurt. “You call this ‘a little while’? You haven’t been home for a whole week.” His expression turned cold. “What do you mean I haven’t been home? I come back to sleep every night.” “That’s at three in the morning! And you leave for work the next day. On weekends you go out with them too. We haven’t even had a proper conversation.” “That’s because you don’t have any friends. That’s not my problem.” His face was stern, clearly annoyed. “Jenna Ashford, let me tell you something—we’re married, but that doesn’t mean I have to listen to everything you say.” Ethan had always been gentle since childhood and had never lost his temper with me. That’s why I felt safe marrying him. But it had only been—what, how long since the wedding?—and he’d already learned to fight with me. Furious, I turned and left. From that point on, our interactions became tense and hostile. We ended up sleeping in separate rooms and wouldn’t speak when we saw each other. The spacious house felt like an ice cellar. My heart felt blocked and heavy, so I had no motivation to take care of myself. Over three years, I gained a lot of weight and my face constantly wore an expression of infinite resentment. Until one day my longtime friend Bella, who was in town on a business trip, met me for dinner and got a terrible shock when she saw me. “Jenna, what happened to you? How did you end up like this?” Me: “Like what?” “See for yourself!” She pulled out a compact mirror. In it, I saw a bitter woman with a sallow complexion and lifeless eyes. I was so startled I threw the mirror down on the table with a clatter. “Shit, how did I get so ugly?” I immediately told Bella everything about Ethan. She pressed her lips together and looked at me for a long time, as if she didn’t know what to say. I was anxious and kept poking her. “Say something! What’s with the silent treatment?” Bella sighed. “I just feel like… after you got married, it’s like your brain got kicked by a donkey.” She began analyzing: “Look, that Sarah is obviously trying to seduce your husband! And your husband has probably already cheated on you.” Bella continued: “If that’s the case, you might as well find yourself another man.” I clenched my fists in anger. “Right! I can find a new boyfriend too!” She sighed again. “Look, I’m not telling you this to encourage you to cheat. I just want you to understand that you need to love yourself, no matter what.”

After parting with Bella, I went home. The spacious house was filled with cluttered junk. All of it was cheap stuff I’d bought over three years of marriage to ease my misery. Secondhand shop bargains for ten or twenty bucks each, filling up our hundred-square-meter apartment. Fortunately, though Ethan ignored me, he still had one good point—he gave me household money. Out of his eight-thousand-dollar monthly salary, he’d give me three thousand as spending money. It was because of this that I kept enduring, even though I felt terrible. After talking with Bella, I realized this wasn’t right. My precious youth shouldn’t be wasted on a loveless marriage. Looking at my bloated reflection in the mirror—greasy hair, oversized t-shirt—I took a long, deep breath. I pulled my long hair up into a bun, grabbed an enormous garbage bag, and started throwing things away. I threw things out from noon until evening. Eight bags total. The house was half-empty. The high-calorie foods in the cabinets—I threw them all out. The cheap clothes in the closet, the bargain cosmetics on my dresser, and even my wedding photo with Ethan—everything went into the trash. After finishing all that, I boiled two sweet potatoes for myself. I’d barely eaten a few bites when I heard the front door. Ethan pushed the door open and walked in, followed by the polished and glamorous Sarah Smith. When she saw me, her expression didn’t change. She smiled and said, “Oh, you’re home, Jenna.” I made a sound of acknowledgment. “Yeah. Why are you here?” “Ethan said his new fishing rod is really good. I came to borrow it and try it out.” Ethan didn’t even look at me. He walked straight into the room. Sarah sat down next to me, staring at the sweet potatoes in front of me. “Why are you eating this cheap stuff, Jenna? Are you trying to lose weight?” Me: “Yeah, I’m too fat. Thought I’d slim down a bit.” She giggled. “Oh, I don’t mean to be rude, but body type is really about genetics, you know?” “Some people are just born to be heavy. Starving yourself won’t work—you won’t be able to lose it.” “You should just give up, Jenna. Do you have any instant noodles in the house? Let me go cook you a bowl.” She stood up to head toward the kitchen but I stopped her. “Don’t bother. I threw everything away.” “Why?” “I’m not eating it anymore. Would’ve been a waste to keep it.” Sarah’s eyes flickered. Finally she just smiled. “Okay then. If you’re dead set on losing weight, we’ll just wait and see how it goes.” She looked up and saw Ethan walking out. Without asking, she went over and took the fishing rod from his hands. “Wow, Ethan, this rod really is nice—thin and light.” “Come on, tonight I’ll rent out that fishing pond on the south side of town. Let’s catch a few fish and try it out.” As she talked, she glanced back at me with false guilt. “Oh, I forgot you were here. Is it okay if I go with Ethan?” The current version of Ethan didn’t consider me at all anymore. He smirked mockingly. “Why are you asking her? What she says doesn’t matter anyway.” Over three years, Ethan hadn’t changed at all. In fact, as he’d gotten older, he’d become more mature and masculine. Combined with his well-maintained physique and respectable job, it wasn’t just Sarah—plenty of other women threw themselves at him. He was no longer as innocent as when we first got married. Now when he looked at Sarah, there was a predatory edge to his gaze. I stared, hating myself even more for living like a ghost for three years because of someone like him. I’d been such a fool. Ethan looked up at me with a perfunctory expression. “I’m leaving. I won’t be back for dinner. Eat by yourself.” Me: “Okay.” He was about to leave, then turned back. “Oh, by the way, I’m transferring you four thousand dollars this month. The company gave out quarterly bonuses.” “Okay.”

With the balance in my card, I went to the gym downstairs. Fortunately, my in-laws had bought property in a good location—everything was nearby. After getting a seasonal membership, I still had $2,900 left. Looking at my messy hair in the mirror, I steeled myself and cut it all off. For the next three months, I put all my focus into working out. Ethan was gone every few days. I barely noticed. After losing over forty pounds, none of my old clothes fit anymore. I wanted to ask Ethan for money to buy a few new outfits, but he wasn’t as generous as usual. He scolded me for wasting money and buying random things. After lecturing me for ages, he transferred me five hundred dollars. I accepted it through gritted teeth. Just then, a man named Lucas Reed approached me. He looked refined and scholarly. He invited me to dinner. Seeing the Rolex watch on his wrist, I had a sudden flash of insight. Right—”marry for food and shelter,” as they say. If there was nothing I wanted from this person, why would I be with him? Right. I should find myself a new match. So that evening, I went with Lucas to a private estate to fish. It was a remote location, but everyone who came and went looked wealthy. I didn’t like Lucas. He wasn’t attractive, and his eyes were sleazy. After chatting for just a few minutes, he kept steering the conversation toward sex. This guy was way too eager—definitely not a good person. I shouldn’t get too involved with him. I lost patience and stood up to leave. But Lucas got agitated and grabbed me. “Where do you think you’re going? You got in my car—leaving isn’t that easy.” I found his words absurd. “What are you going to do, stab me?” Lucas wouldn’t let go. “I’m not going to stab you. But I’ve got plenty of ways to make you cry.” Psycho. He’s sick! I lifted my leg to kick him. Lucas dodged. I went to grab his hair instead, and we made quite a commotion. The estate owner heard the noise and came over. Seeing the situation, he quickly pulled us apart and dragged Lucas aside. “Can you chill out today? I’ve got a client here.” Lucas tugged at his collar indignantly. “What kind of VIP client tells me I can’t hit on a girl?” “The chairman of Zenith Holdings. Just arrived. You know his background—he doesn’t like people making a scene.” Lucas’s expression shifted. “Zenith? Adrian Castellan?” “Yes, him!” “I heard his wife died a few years ago. He moved the company to a new city to avoid being reminded of her. Why would a widower come out to the wilderness?” “The way you talk—the man just wants to relax and enjoy nature. You think everyone’s like you?” I stood to the side listening as their voices got quieter and quieter, like mosquitoes. Annoyed, I tried to sneak away. After a few steps, I got lost. Then I ran into a man dressed in casual clothes. The moment our eyes met, we both froze.

I don’t know why he froze. I froze because… I’d never seen such a handsome man. To be fair, Ethan was already quite good-looking. Compared to the man in front of me, he didn’t even measure up to a third. It was mainly the aura. The difference was too great. This man, just standing there with his profile showing, made my heart race. I unconsciously licked my lips. “Um…” Adrian Castellan looked at me. “Yes?” “I’m lost. Can you help me?” Maybe it had been too long since I’d seen a handsome man. The sudden stimulation scrambled my brain like mush. Adrian’s distant gaze swept over me. Finally, he pointed to the right. “That way. You can get out.” “Oh. Thank you.” I walked quite a distance before I realized—I shouldn’t have just left like that. The estate Lucas had brought me to was in a remote location. Walking on foot, I’d probably break my legs before getting out of here. But if I turned back, I couldn’t find the way. And what if I ran into Lucas? That would be even more troublesome. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place when I heard a car horn behind me. A Bentley slowly pulled up in front of me. Through the window was the man from just now. Adrian didn’t know why he was being so charitable, but seeing the woman clutching her jacket closed in front of him, he opened the door anyway. “Get in. I’ll take you back.” I obediently climbed into the passenger seat and said honestly, “Thank you.” Adrian’s eyes darkened, but he said nothing. On the drive back, he drove quietly. I looked down at my phone. Ten o’clock at night. Ethan hadn’t sent me a single message. On social media, Sarah had posted more photos of their gathering. Ethan was sitting very close to her. If someone didn’t know better, they might think they were a couple. I sighed deeply, not understanding if this kind of marriage was even worth continuing. Unable to figure it out myself, I looked at the calm and composed man beside me. My brain short-circuited and I asked the question out loud. Adrian raised an eyebrow. “You’re asking a complete stranger about marriage?” Me: “Maybe sometimes strangers see things more clearly.” He smiled noncommittally. After a long pause, he finally said, “If you’re asking me, I’d say you haven’t figured out what you want from your life.” I froze instantly. This man was really, truly ruthless.

I really didn’t know what I wanted. My parents were busy with business and also had a younger son. Because I was a daughter, my parents left me with my grandparents from a young age. No one cared about me or paid attention to me. They all wished I wouldn’t bother them. After my grandparents died, my parents didn’t bring me back home. Instead, they bought me an apartment in Southridge and told me to live there. The major I studied was randomly chosen. The husband I married was randomly picked. Because no one ever told me how life should be lived. Now someone had torn away the pretense and, with just a few words, seen through my empty life. My nose inexplicably stung. I asked in a nasal voice, “Then… what do you think I should do?” Perhaps my tearful tone was too obvious. Adrian glanced at me several more times. He said, “If you’re not afraid I’m a bad person, then buy yourself some fishing gear and a rod. Come back here tomorrow.” As he spoke, the car had already arrived downstairs at my building. Before we parted, he gave me his phone number. After adding him as a contact, I saw his profile name had a simple “A” for Adrian. His social media was nearly empty—just one photo of the ocean. The caption read: Ten years of life and death apart. Even without thinking of you, how could I forget? He seemed quite lonely too. Grateful to him, I immediately ran out the next day to buy equipment. After riding the bus for over an hour, I went back to the estate. He must have given them a heads-up, because as soon as I arrived, someone came to greet me. They led me for quite a while before I saw Adrian fishing again. He’d changed into a black casual outfit. Sitting among the wild grass, he made even the vegetation look refined. I tiptoed over carefully, making Adrian frown slightly. “Jenna Ashford.” “Yes!” “Straighten your back! You’re obviously a beautiful woman—why are you so insecure?” Seeing his stern gaze, I instinctively straightened my posture. “I’m sorry, Mr. Castellan.” “My name is Adrian Castellan.” “I’m sorry, Adrian.” Adrian sighed, pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, and gestured with his chin toward a chair nearby. “You. Sit over there. Set up your fishing rod.” Me: … Heaven help me, I thought Adrian had invited me here to teach me some profound truth about life. Or maybe, that he was attracted to me and wanted to flirt. But for an entire week, I rode the bus for an hour each day to the estate, fished for five hours, then rode the bus back home for another hour. All I did was fish in the spot he rented. Most of the time, I was alone. Adrian didn’t sit with me. Much of the time, he was in his cabin working or sleeping. I sat alone staring at the calm lake surface, my thoughts sprouting like weeds in my mind. And because he said I could exchange each fish for a hundred dollars, I didn’t dare mess around on my phone. I could only stare blankly at the fishing line, waiting for a fish to bite. I was fishing so intently that one day I lost track of time and didn’t even notice it had gotten dark. Even more absurd—Ethan and Sarah appeared across from me. They were cuddling on chairs, kissing passionately. They made such a huge commotion they scared away my fish. Annoyed, I looked up—and realized my husband was cheating on me.

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In the fifth year of my marriage to Hudson Hope, I was still commuting two hours to save a few dollars. Until the day I transferred to Mary Hospital in New York, I received a VIP patient, the wife of billionaire heir Hudson. The nurse smiled and showed me their wedding photo. “Mr. Hope is famous for doting on his wife.” I gripped my stethoscope, my knuckles turning white. That woman had personally slashed my right hand three years ago. And that man was supposed to be my husband. I stared at the woman’s pregnant belly. Just then, Hudson’s call came through on speakerphone, his voice filled with a tenderness he’d never shown me. “Cecilia, I bought you a mansion to make it up to you.” It turned out I was the other woman all along. Sylvia’s POV In the fifth year of my marriage to Hudson, I was still pinching pennies, saving every cent. On my first day at the new hospital, I was assigned a VIP patient. The nurse said it was the wife of Hudson Hope, the richest man in the city. Hudson Hope? That was my husband’s name. After transferring to New York, my very first patient was Cecilia, who’d been entangled with my husband for five years. I double-checked the medical records, even questioning the intake nurse. “Are you sure there’s no mistake? The patient’s name is Cecilia, and her husband is Hudson?” The nurse laughed. “Dr. Winters, I could mix up anyone but not Mr. Hope. He’s the billionaire heir of New York, famous for how much he spoils his wife. To make sure she has a safe delivery, he specifically reserved our hospital’s best VIP suite for her.” The nurse pulled up photos of Hudson and Cecilia’s wedding on her phone to show me. The cruel truth was right there in front of me. I felt like I’d been plunged into ice water. Another doctor said enviously, “Dr. Winters, you’re new to New York so you don’t know. Mr. Hope and Miss Cecilia have broken up and gotten back together countless times over these five years. It’s more dramatic than a TV show! In the end, Mr. Hope swallowed his pride and chased her for ages before they finally got their happy ending!” My ears were buzzing. The nurse gently nudged me. “What’s wrong? Do you know Mr. Hope and Miss Cecilia?” I snapped back to reality, forcibly suppressing the tidal wave of emotions in my chest. Know them? I knew them all too well. The name Cecilia was like a poisoned needle, stabbing straight into my heart. Five years ago at my wedding with Hudson, Cecilia had stormed the stage like a madwoman, screaming that Hudson was hers. Four years ago, I got anonymous photos of Cecilia standing naked in front of Hudson. Hudson had immediately called the police, saying she was harassing him. And three years ago… I unconsciously touched the hideous, ugly scar on my right arm. That day, Cecilia had rushed into the hospital where I worked with a knife and, in front of everyone, slashed at my right hand like a maniac. She screamed at the top of her lungs. “That’s what you get for stealing my Hudson! I’ll ruin your hand so you can never be a doctor and seduce him again!” The top hospital had used all their best resources and barely managed to save my arm. But this scar would remain on my skin forever. At the time, Hudson had roared that he would kill Cecilia. I’d desperately held him back to prevent him from making a terrible mistake. Later, Hudson said he’d sent Cecilia to a psychiatric hospital. He would torment her daily, make her wish she were dead, make her spend the rest of her life atoning for what she did to my hand. But now, Cecilia was sitting there perfectly fine, and she’d become Hudson’s wife in New York, pregnant with his child. I closed my eyes. Absurd. It was too absurd. My husband of five years, who made twenty thousand dollars a month, was actually New York’s wealthiest man-and someone else’s husband. I forced myself to look at Cecilia in the hospital room, dressed head to toe in designer clothes, clutching her belly with a blissful expression on her face. Then I looked down at my own cheap clothes worth only a few dozen dollars that I wore to save money. I felt like a complete and utter fool. For five years, I’d thought I was happy enough. My husband was considerate and gentle. Apart from him working in New York and us being apart often, our marriage had virtually no conflicts. Last month, to have a baby soon and to surprise Hudson, I’d quietly submitted my application to transfer to Mary Hospital in New York as an obstetrician. I never imagined that on my first day, fate would play such a cruel joke on me.

Sylvia’s POV I put on my mask, struggling to maintain my professional composure. Walking into the room, I gently placed my stethoscope on Cecilia’s swollen belly. The fetal heartbeat was clear and strong, each beat like a hammer pounding on my heart. Cecilia unconsciously stroked the enormous pink diamond ring on her ring finger. I recognized it. The news had once reported that this pink diamond was the finale piece at an auction, purchased by a certain tycoon at an astronomical price. At the time, I didn’t know the “Mr. Hope” in the news was my husband. I’d even joked with him about it. “Other people’s Mr. Hope can spend astronomical sums with a wave of his hand. Too bad my Mr. Hope is just an ordinary office worker. What he earns isn’t even enough for household expenses.” How had Hudson responded? His hands had explored me with burning heat, his kisses falling like urgent rain. “Hm? Who are you saying can’t measure up? Is your Mr. Hope better, or are other men better?” I couldn’t resist in his embrace and could only beg for mercy. “It’s you! Of course you’re better!” “Dr. Winters, your technique is so gentle. It doesn’t hurt at all.” Cecilia’s voice pulled me back to reality. “Hudson always says I’m too delicate.” The nurse beside her immediately flattered her. “Mrs. Hope, you’re so blessed. Mr. Hope treasures you. I heard this VIP suite was specially renovated for you-even the air purification system is top-of-the-line.” I couldn’t imagine that Hudson had such a gentle and considerate side with someone else. Seeing that I seemed distracted, Cecilia raised her eyebrows smugly. “He’s just too nervous. I said I could just rest at home, but he insisted this place has the best medical facilities and reserved an entire floor for me. Tell me, isn’t he making too big a deal of this?” I forced myself to focus on the examination. But each fetal heartbeat felt like torture to what remained of my sanity. I didn’t even notice my mask had slipped down. Cecilia’s sharp cry jolted me awake. “Ah! Sylvia!” I instinctively stepped back. Her pitying gaze swept over me inch by inch, finally landing on my scarred right hand. “How did Dr. Winters end up in New York? Can your hand still hold a scalpel?” “You don’t know, do you? I’m pregnant with Hudson’s child. Back then he almost imprisoned me because of you, but now he loves me to death.” Her smugness was particularly glaring, especially when she looked provocatively at my injured hand. Anger and humiliation nearly overwhelmed me. Hudson. The man who would calculate the exact time to remind me to eat when I worked night shifts, who would prepare surprises when I complained about being tired. He’d actually married the woman who nearly destroyed my career. To save money, I couldn’t even afford to take cabs to work, commuting over two hours each day. Yet for Cecilia, he could reserve an entire VIP floor. How ridiculous! How ironic! Every moment of the past five years now turned into swords, piercing my heart, the pain so intense I could barely stand. “Miss Cecilia,” I struggled to stay calm. “The fetal development indicators are currently normal.” Just then, Hudson’s call came through. Cecilia raised her eyebrows and put it on speakerphone. Hudson’s voice came through the phone. “Cici, I’m sorry. I was busy with meetings today and couldn’t accompany you to your checkup. To make it up to you, I bought you a mansion. I know you’ll love it.” “How could I be angry?” Cecilia watched my expression. “You’re the one who can’t go back on your word.” The tone on the phone was filled with a tenderness I’d never heard before. I stiffly left the hospital room, didn’t even change clothes, and took a cab directly to Hudson’s company. I needed answers! But just as I reached the door and was about to push it open, I heard the conversation inside. “Mr. Hope, you’re so lucky!” “The gentle Cici in New York is pregnant with your child, and in London you have a dutiful wife keeping your little nest warm for you. You’re a real winner in life!” Everyone chuckled in agreement. Someone asked, “Hudson, aren’t you afraid Sylvia will find out you have a family in New York?” Hudson’s voice was cold, devoid of any warmth. “She’ll never know.” “That she got to be with me for five years, even if it’s a fake marriage, is Sylvia’s good fortune.” My whole body went numb with cold. I don’t even remember how I left. As soon as I got downstairs, I received a call from a friend. “Sylvia, how are things in New York? I heard the work there is very demanding.” He paused, then asked tentatively, “It’s been five years-are you still unwilling to come develop your career in Australia?” If this were before, I definitely would have refused. Compared to my career, I wanted a stable, happy family more. But at this moment, I heard my own voice, unusually clear. “Gabriel, in seven days, I’ll see you in Australia.” “I’m willing to sign a permanent contract with your hospital, on the condition that you help me erase all my identity information domestically.”

Sylvia’s POV After submitting my immigration documents, I returned to my small rented apartment. It was already late. Hudson was sitting on the sofa, looking like he’d been waiting for a long time. “Sylvia, why didn’t you tell me about transferring to Mary Hospital in New York? You wouldn’t answer my calls, so I had to call your former colleagues to find out you’d transferred.” His eyes were slightly red, filled with panic. “I waited at home for three whole hours, terrified something had happened to you.” The worry and heartache in those eyes didn’t seem fake. He was such a good actor. My heart ached so much I could barely breathe. The scenes I’d witnessed in the VIP suite wrapped around my nerves like vines. I wanted to ask him, but I felt that at this point, asking anything was meaningless. Suppressing the stinging in my eyes, I smiled when I looked up again. “Yeah, the salary here is higher.” “After work I wanted to walk around, and I got lost.” Hudson pulled me into his embrace. “Next time take me with you-I can carry your bags.” “Today is our fifth wedding anniversary. I bought you a gift-want to open it?” His chin rested on top of my head, his posture intimate, as if we were still that loving couple. Five years together weren’t fake. I truly had loved Hudson. But behind my back, he’d married the woman who hurt me. I couldn’t understand it. This tender moment lasted only a few seconds before Hudson’s phone rang. The ringtone was the same as Cecilia’s. The man immediately released me, turned and walked to the balcony, completely shutting me out. A few minutes later, he said he had to go out. “Sylvia, there’s an urgent matter at the company. I need to go handle it right away.” As soon as the words left his mouth, I could no longer see him. In the cramped apartment, everything was in plain view. I walked to the desk and opened the gift box. Inside was a mug with the word “Forever” written on it. A cheap style, priced under five dollars. It formed a stark contrast with Cecilia’s astronomical diamond ring and estate. Such blatant favoritism made me gasp with pain. How did Hudson suddenly become so rotten? Where did the man from five years ago go-the one who promised to love me and treat me well for a lifetime? After showering, I walked back to the desk, wanting to get my documents to close my accounts. As I walked over, I noticed the computer screen was lit. Hudson had left in such a hurry he hadn’t even shut down his computer. I hesitated, then tapped my fingers on the keyboard. A password input box popped up on the screen. I tried my birthday. Wrong. Our wedding anniversary. Wrong. Hudson’s birthday. Wrong. Finally, I remembered Cecilia’s birthdate from her medical records and entered it. Unlock successful. The computer instantly woke up, the desktop displayed before me. In the desktop photo, Cecilia nestled in Hudson’s arms, her smile bright and piercing. I forced down my discomfort and opened several folders. The light from the screen illuminated my gradually paling face. Photos, videos, and sweet chat records of Hudson and Cecilia were all carefully backed up by him. All of this pierced the happiness I’d believed in, leaving it full of holes. It turned out that on all those days he claimed to be on business trips and working overtime, Hudson had been with Cecilia. They traveled the world together, kissing on private yachts. They attended elite social events together, Cecilia holding his arm, her smile radiant. There was even a video, shot in the wedding home I’d personally decorated: Cecilia, scantily clad, looked at Hudson with seductive eyes. “Hudson, can you really make love to me while Sylvia is working the night shift? What if she comes back?” “I think you’re just hoping she’ll suddenly come back.” Hudson tore off her clothes. She spread her arms and embraced him with a show of triumph. “Hudson, you’re so bad. This is so exciting-this is your wedding home.” Hudson silenced her mouth with a flurry of kisses. My stomach churned violently. With trembling hands, I clicked on a folder marked “Important.” Inside was Hudson and Cecilia’s marriage certificate registered in New York. The date was the day after Cecilia slashed my right hand. A silent thunderclap exploded in my mind. What daily torment, what living hell-it was all lies! Hudson not only let go of the criminal who destroyed my career, but immediately gave her legal status and let her get pregnant with his child! What did he take me for? Five years! A whole five years! I’d been like a fool, guarding this illusory marriage, carefully budgeting every penny, feeling sorry that he was “struggling” in New York. Meanwhile, my husband was in another city, using astronomical pink diamonds, top-tier VIP suites, even legally recognized marriage to cherish another woman to the utmost! I laughed softly, but tears fell on the keyboard. I slammed the computer shut and looked at the cheap mug. I grabbed the cup, raised it high, and with all my strength smashed it against the wall!

Sylvia’s POV Hudson didn’t come home all night. I sat on the sofa all night without closing my eyes. I didn’t know if I was waiting for him to come home. But as soon as dawn broke, I submitted my resignation to Mary Hospital. My colleagues were all very regretful. My supervisor, Mr. Cooper, tried to keep me. “You just transferred here-why leave already? Stay one more day and say goodbye to everyone properly.” I knew the department had many patients today, so I nodded in agreement. In the VIP suite, when Cecilia saw me enter, a flash of coldness crossed her eyes. “Dr. Winters, we meet again.” Her voice was sickeningly sweet. “Hudson went to pick out the newest limited edition handbag for me today. He said it’s a reward for carrying his baby.” I didn’t acknowledge her. Cecilia sneered. “Speaking of which, you and Hudson have been married five years-how come there’s no movement in your belly at all?” “Could it be that Hudson doesn’t want you to get pregnant?” I put on gloves and took out the fetal heart monitor. “Lie down properly. This is a routine examination.” I applied coupling gel to her swollen abdomen, my movements professional and calm. Cecilia pouted. “Hey, Hudson treats me so well, and you’re not angry at all?” “Hudson is so bad. All these years he wouldn’t let me appear in front of you. But I’m his legal wife. Our wedding was much grander than yours.” “Tell me, if I told him you wanted me to miscarry, what would he do?” The fetal heart monitor emitted a regular, strong “thump thump” sound, showing the fetus was perfectly normal. I quickly recorded the data, just wanting to finish as soon as possible. But just as I was about to complete the examination, Cecilia suddenly let out a terrible scream. She clutched her stomach desperately, screaming in terror. “It hurts! My belly! My baby!” I was startled. Cecilia’s eyes held cold laughter and triumph, her voice particularly piercing in the hospital room. “Help! The doctor is trying to kill me!” The room door burst open as medical staff rushed in at the sound. Cecilia curled up in agony. “Mrs. Hope, what’s wrong?” A nurse hurried forward. “She deliberately pressed hard on my belly! She’s trying to kill my baby-call my husband quickly!” Cecilia cried heart-wrenchingly, her accusations clear and vicious. I tried to explain. “I didn’t. I was just doing a routine examination.” Mr. Cooper spoke up for me. “Dr. Winters is an excellent obstetrician with extensive clinical experience. She would never make a mistake during a routine examination.” But no one listened to our explanations. Cecilia quickly dialed Hudson’s number, tears streaming down her face. “Hudson, come quickly! The attending physician pressed so hard on my belly, it hurts so much! She’s trying to kill our baby, I’m so scared!” Hudson’s voice came through the phone, cold as ice. “Don’t be afraid, Cici. I’ll be right there. Where are the bodyguards? You’re just going to stand there and watch my wife get bullied?!” Several burly bodyguards exchanged glances. The next second, they grabbed me and dragged me out. “Let go of me!” I struggled desperately, but the difference in strength was too great. The bodyguards dragged me all the way and threw me hard to the ground. “Mr. Hope’s orders are for us to ‘take good care of’ Dr. Winters and help his wife vent her anger.” The lead bodyguard looked at me with sinister eyes. “Pretty face, but too bad you offended the wrong person.” My heart sank, cold creeping up from the soles of my feet. “What do you want to do?” “What?” Another bodyguard showed a disgusting smile. “Mr. Hope only said ‘punish.’ He didn’t say how. Such a pretty woman, it’d be a waste just to beat her up.” “We can’t touch Mr. Hope’s woman, but we can play with this doctor, right? Consider it venting for Mrs. Hope!” Terror instantly seized my heart. I looked at the men closing in, my eyes filled with despair. “Get away! Don’t touch me!” I grabbed debris from the ground and swung it desperately, trying to resist. But my resistance was meaningless. One bodyguard easily knocked away what I was holding, while another violently tore at my white coat and shirt. I screamed, humiliation and terror making my whole body tremble. I desperately tried to protect myself, rolling on the filthy floor to dodge. Just at this moment of despair, a sharp stabbing pain suddenly shot through my lower abdomen! The pain came so fiercely, like a knife twisting inside, instantly draining all my strength. I moaned in agony. “Stop pretending!” A bodyguard impatiently kicked me in the stomach. But the next second, everyone froze. Deep red blood spread from beneath me, staining the grimy floor, the bloodstain growing larger and larger, a horrifying sight.

Sylvia’s POV “Blood!” The bodyguard backed away in terror. “Why is she bleeding?” Another one panicked too. “We didn’t even touch her.” I was also dazed. The severe pain made my consciousness blur. I looked blankly at the rapidly expanding pool of blood beneath me. A huge, ominous premonition enveloped me. With trembling hands, I touched my lower abdomen. The wet, sticky sensation made my whole body go cold. I… I was pregnant? I was actually pregnant? I was an experienced obstetrician, yet in the daily mental torture, I’d overlooked my own physical condition. At this most unbearable, most desperate moment, the life I’d desperately wanted to surprise Hudson with, the life we were supposed to nurture together, had quietly arrived and just as quietly left me. Immense grief and physical agony intertwined, making me cry out in pain. “What do we do? With this much blood, will she die?” The bodyguards completely panicked. They’d only wanted to “play around”-they hadn’t expected to cause a death. The lead bodyguard’s face went pale as he dialed Hudson’s number. “Mr. Hope, something’s wrong. That Dr…. the attending physician is bleeding heavily, there’s blood everywhere, she looks like she’s dying!” Hudson’s tone was cold, even annoyed. “She’s just a doctor. If she dies, she dies. What’s all the fuss about? New York has plenty of good doctors-we won’t miss her. Clean it up and don’t dirty the hospital. Bad luck!” Hudson’s words stabbed into what remained of my consciousness. My child with him… In his words, didn’t even qualify as “bad luck.” The bodyguards looked at the pool of blood still expanding beneath me. None of them dared touch me again. Finally, they threw me into the emergency stairwell like garbage and quickly fled. The heavy smell of blood filled my nostrils. My body felt hollowed out with pain and weakness. The blood kept flowing. I kept passing out from pain and waking up again. But I couldn’t die here. I used every last bit of strength to drag my heavy body out of the emergency stairwell, crawling inch by inch. Blood left a long, glaring trail behind me. I didn’t know where I was going. Every step felt like walking on knife points. Every breath pulled at the severe pain in my abdomen. Just as I was about to collapse, my phone rang. The name that once made my heart flutter appeared on the screen-Hudson. I answered with my blood-stained hand, trembling as I held it to my ear. I wanted to ask him: Hudson, why are you bullying me? Didn’t you say you’d treat me well for life? I wanted to tell him: Hudson, our baby is gone. I’d really been looking forward to it for so long. I really wanted to have a child who looked like you. But the words I wanted to say stuck in my throat after Hudson spoke. “Sylvia, where are you? Come to Mary Hospital VIP suite immediately to take care of Cecilia. She’s been frightened and needs someone with her.” “You graduated from a top medical school and you’re an experienced doctor-you know how to comfort pregnant women.” Realizing his tone was too harsh, Hudson explained. “When Cecilia was in the psychiatric hospital, she was… violated by another patient and got pregnant.” “That was my mistake. I need to take responsibility.” “She’s emotionally unstable right now. You come take care of her-consider it helping me repay my debt.” I felt my mind go completely blank. All the blood in my body rushed to my head, then instantly froze to ice. So that’s it… Even for the child in Cecilia’s belly, he could fabricate such a disgusting yet “devoted” lie to cover it up. Severe pain and blood loss made my mind fuzzy. My vision went dark, and I passed out.

Sylvia’s POV When I woke up again, three days had passed. Mr. Cooper saw me wake up and quickly used a cotton swab dipped in water to moisten my lips. “Feeling better?” “I…” “You had a miscarriage,” Mr. Cooper looked at me with heartache. “You were unconscious for three days.” I closed my eyes. As expected. “During these three days… did anyone look for me?” Mr. Cooper looked at me sympathetically. “Your husband called you. As soon as I answered, he started yelling at me. I couldn’t hear what he said clearly, but… he was very angry.” I smiled bitterly. “Didn’t he ask what happened to me?” “…No.” I nodded. When I opened my eyes again, they held only resolve. “I understand. Thank you.” “Take good care of yourself.” Four more days. I lay there for two more days. Other than occasionally receiving process notification texts from immigration, my phone was as quiet as death. For the first time, I was certain-Hudson truly didn’t love me anymore. After lunch, I got out of bed to move around. Without realizing it, I walked to the VIP suite and happened to see Hudson bringing food to Cecilia. Cecilia was propped up in bed, taking small sips of the nutritional supplement Hudson fed her. “Honey, you’re so good to me. For my sake, you were even willing to drug Sylvia so she couldn’t get pregnant. I heard that drug is very toxic. Even if she miraculously got pregnant, she wouldn’t be able to carry it to term.” “You even married me in New York, making me the legitimate Mrs. Hope.” Hudson’s hand paused. The expression on his face showed a hint of struggle. After a long silence, he finally responded with a sound of acknowledgment. Outside the door, I was thunderstruck. My whole body trembled. My palms were punctured by my nails, drawing blood. Why? Why would you treat me this way? No wonder I couldn’t get pregnant in five years of marriage, no matter how actively we tried to conceive. No wonder when I finally got pregnant this time I didn’t feel anything. The fetus was probably too weak. Inside the room, Hudson put down the nutritional supplement in his hand. “This is what I owe you.” “Five years ago, I didn’t want to reveal my identity, so I just complained that the wedding was too extravagant. You made a scene at the wedding for my sake, forcing the family to agree to let me hide my identity.” “Three years ago when Sylvia was going abroad for advanced studies, I told you I couldn’t bear to part with her, so you took a knife and slashed her hand.” “And also, because her mother discovered my relationship with you, you drove and killed her. Just to protect my reputation, you implicated yourself in a hit-and-run and still can’t return to the mainland.” Guilt and gratitude flickered in Hudson’s eyes. “Although I can’t give you one hundred percent of my feelings, I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me. Cecilia, everything I’ve done for you is what you deserve.” A flash of disappointment crossed Cecilia’s eyes, but she quickly recovered and nestled against his shoulder. “What if Sylvia finds out? She’s so proud. If she knew everything you’ve done…” Hudson held her and patted her gently. “Her mother’s ashes are kept in the Hope family cemetery.” The implication was clear. I wouldn’t dare resist. Outside the hospital room, I couldn’t stop trembling. It turned out all the dark moments in my life hadn’t come from fate. At the root, they were nothing more than Hudson’s complaints and reluctance! It was him, quietly guiding that mad dog Cecilia from behind, making her attack me again and again. Destroying my family, tearing apart my dreams, trampling me viciously underfoot! Even my mother’s death wasn’t an accident-it was murder! A murder instigated by my husband Hudson and carried out by my rival Cecilia! And even after Mother’s death, he used her ashes as leverage to control me. I pushed open the door with shaking hands. The two people inside hadn’t expected anyone to enter. As soon as I walked in, Cecilia screamed in fright. The nutritional supplement crashed to the floor. Hudson whipped around. The moment he saw me, his pupils constricted sharply. He instinctively stood up to explain, but then seemed to think of something and forcibly held back. “What are you doing here?” he asked quietly. He moved toward the door, but Cecilia reached out and grabbed his sleeve. “Hudson, I’m scared.” Hudson’s expression darkened. He stood still and looked at me. “A few days ago I told you to come take care of Cici. Why didn’t you come?” I looked at this man who felt like a stranger to me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “366534”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

I was Preston Kingsley’s caged mistress, a tool he used to humiliate his ex. For his first love, Vivienne, he cut off my father’s ICU funding and forced me to kneel in the snow, searching for a ring that never existed. Later, I became exactly what he wanted. Docile. Obedient. Silent. Even when I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, I never said a word. I simply signed the divorce papers and vanished from his world. Preston searched the globe like a madman, only to find a box of ashes. They say that day, New York’s most distinguished man cried like a dog who’d lost its home. Lynn’s POV The smell of disinfectant was sharp in my nose. The doctor stared at the report in his hands, his brow furrowed. He looked up at me. “Didn’t your family come with you?” My fingers tightened on the hem of my shirt. “He’s busy. I can handle it myself.” The doctor sighed and handed me the paper. “You’re six weeks pregnant, but your uterine wall is very thin. Combined with your chronic malnutrition, this pregnancy… will be difficult to maintain. If you insist on keeping it, there’s a risk of severe hemorrhaging.” My mind went blank. Pregnant? At this moment, when my relationship with Preston had hit rock bottom. My phone screen lit up with a push notification. A news headline. The photo showed Preston at the airport. Even in a candid shot, the man looked refined and aloof, his black trench coat accentuating his tall frame. And in his arms was a petite woman. Vivienne was back. The woman Preston couldn’t forget. The woman whose single sentence, “I don’t like other women around you,” had subjected me to three years of cold violence.. The headline was painfully blunt: “Preston Kingsley’s Late-Night Airport Pickup, Old Flames Rekindled? Sweet, Loving Gaze.” I turned off my phone, my fingertips trembling with cold. “Doctor, this baby… let me think about it.” When I walked out of the hospital, New York’s first snow of winter was falling. The wind cut across my face like knives. I pulled my thin coat tighter, but it couldn’t block the cold seeping into my bones. When I reached the house, I saw that familiar Maybach parked in the driveway. Preston was home. I pushed open the door. The warmth inside hit my face, mixed with an unfamiliar perfume. Sweet. A cloying floral-fruit scent. Vivienne’s favorite. Preston sat on the sofa, legs crossed, fingers holding an unlit cigarette, his expression dark and unreadable. Hearing me enter, he lifted his eyelids and gave me a cold glance. “Where were you?” His voice was low, carrying an oppressive weight that made it hard to breathe. I paused while changing my shoes, instinctively tucking the ultrasound report deeper into my bag. “I wasn’t feeling well. Went to the pharmacy.” “Not feeling well?” Preston laughed coldly and stood, walking toward me. He looked down at me, his long fingers gripping my chin with bruising force. “Lynn, did you go to the pharmacy, or did you go tip off that deadbeat father of yours?” My heart lurched. I jerked my head up to look at him. “What do you mean?” “What do I mean?” Preston released my face and grabbed a document from the coffee table, throwing it at me. The sharp edge of the paper sliced across my cheek, leaving a red mark. “After your father went bankrupt, his mess got worse. He owes another three hundred thousand in loan shark debts. The creditors came to me, saying they’re looking for Mrs. Kingsley’s father, and I should pay up.” Preston’s eyes were full of disgust and mockery. “Lynn, how many holes have I filled for your family these three years? Do you think I’m an idiot, or do you think…” He paused, his tone turning crueler. “Do you think your broken body is worth that price?”

Lynn’s POV That ultrasound report ended up crumpled in my bag. Three hundred thousand. To Preston, that was barely the cost of a watch-not even enough for one of Vivienne’s handbags. But for my family now, it was the final straw. My father was still lying in the ICU, medical bills draining away like water every day. If those loan sharks didn’t get their money, they’d really pull his oxygen tube. I took a deep breath, forcing down the stinging in my eyes, and bent to pick up the documents from the floor. “I’m sorry. I’ll figure something out.” “Figure something out?” Preston sounded like he’d heard a joke. He moved closer, step by step, until he’d backed me against the wall. “Where will you figure it out? Sell yourself? Or go beg that useless ex of yours?” At the mention of Simon, my heart clenched painfully. He was a thorn in Preston’s mind and his excuse to torment me. The truth was, Simon and I had no relationship. We’d simply talked a bit more than usual at a class reunion, and Preston had held it against me ever since. “I didn’t…” I tried weakly to defend myself. But Preston didn’t want to hear it. He reached up to loosen his tie, his eyes cold and predatory. “Since you need to pay back money, show some sincerity.” “Please me. Until I’m satisfied.” That night, Preston was like a man possessed. No foreplay, no tenderness-only endless venting and punishment. I bit my lip hard, refusing to make a sound, even as the pain made my whole body tremble. Because I knew. If I cried out in pain or resisted, it would only make his treatment more brutal. And there was my father’s ventilator, which could be shut off at any moment. When it was over, he stood by the window in a bathrobe, smoking. Through the curling smoke, his silhouette looked especially cold. I curled up under the covers, sharp pains radiating from my lower abdomen, making my heart race with fear. The baby… “Tomorrow night there’s a charity gala. You’re coming with me.” Preston suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse. I froze. Since our marriage, he’d never taken me to any public event. In his circle, everyone knew he’d married a fallen heiress-a doormat who’d endure anything for money. Taking me out would only embarrass him. “What? Don’t want to go?” Seeing my silence, Preston turned around, his brow furrowing. “No, it’s not that…” My throat was painfully hoarse. “I’ll go.” Preston nodded with satisfaction and stubbed out his cigarette. “Vivienne will be there tomorrow too. She just got back to the country and needs an assistant. Since you’re free anyway, go help her out.” So that was it. He wasn’t taking me to see the world, nor was he acknowledging my identity. It was just that his mistress needed a servant. And I, the nominal Mrs. Kingsley, was the cheapest, most convenient option. “Okay.” I heard my own calm voice. Really, as long as he paid, as long as I could save my father, I’d do anything. Even if it meant carving out my heart to pave the way for these two lovers.

Lynn’s POV The gala was held at New York’s largest hotel. I wore a last-season dress Preston had carelessly thrown at me, following three steps behind him. Like a shadow that couldn’t see the light. Vivienne wore a custom white mermaid gown, looking like a noble princess surrounded by admirers. When she saw Preston, her eyes lit up. She lifted her skirt and ran over, naturally linking her arm through his. “Preston, you’re finally here. I’ve been waiting forever.” Preston’s usually hard features softened the moment he saw her. “Traffic.” He lied. We’d arrived early. He’d just sat in the car smoking two cigarettes before leisurely coming up. Vivienne smiled sweetly, her gaze sweeping around before she seemed to notice me for the first time, covering her mouth in surprise. “Oh my, Ms. Lynn is here too? This dress… isn’t this from two years ago? Preston, really, you should have gotten her something new.” Her words sounded reproachful, but her eyes were full of smugness and contempt. People around us cast meaningful glances. Some mocking, some pitying, most just watching the show. Preston gave me a brief glance, his tone casual. “She doesn’t like being extravagant. Old clothes work fine.” I lowered my eyes, my nails digging into my palms. Doesn’t like being extravagant? Before the Lynn family went bankrupt, I only wore haute couture. Who was it that broke my wings and ground me into the dirt, only to turn around and despise me for being covered in mud? “Vivienne, didn’t you say you wanted champagne?” Preston turned to look at Vivienne, his tone gentle. Vivienne pouted playfully. “But the champagne here isn’t cold enough. I want the kind with hand-carved ice balls, and only seven-tenths full.” Preston nodded, then turned his gaze to me, instantly freezing over. “You heard that? Go do it.” I stood there, surrounded by stares that felt like needles piercing my skin. I was Mrs. Kingsley, yet at this event, I was being treated like a server, fetching drinks for the other woman. “What? Don’t want to?” Preston raised an eyebrow, lowering his voice. “That three hundred thousand…” “I’ll go.” I cut him off and turned toward the bar. In that moment, I felt every shred of my dignity being crushed. The ice was hard, the carving pick slippery. My hands were shaking, and the dropping sensation in my abdomen grew stronger. The sharp ice pick slipped and stabbed hard into my left index finger. Blood immediately gushed out. I frantically looked for tissues to stop the bleeding. Behind me came Vivienne’s sweet voice. “Oh my, Ms. Lynn, how careless can you be? You got blood on the ice-how can anyone drink this now?” Preston walked over. Seeing my bleeding finger, he frowned deeply. But his first words weren’t concern. They were blame. “Can’t even handle something this simple. Clumsy idiot. Stop embarrassing yourself here.” He took Vivienne’s hand. “Come on, I’ll take you upstairs for better drinks.” The two walked away arm in arm, leaving me alone by the bar, my blood dripping onto the floor. Just like my heart, riddled with holes.

Lynn’s POV While I was rinsing my wound in the restroom, the hospital called. “Ms. Lynn, your father’s condition has worsened. He needs surgery immediately. If you don’t pay the full amount, we can’t proceed…” The doctor’s voice on the other end was full of helplessness. “How much?” My voice trembled. “Including what you owe plus this surgery, at least five hundred thousand. It must be paid by midnight tonight.” After hanging up, I looked at my ghost-pale face in the mirror. Five hundred thousand. For me now, it was an astronomical sum. Preston had frozen all my cards. I’d already sold all my jewelry. The only option left was to beg him. I left the restroom and stumbled toward the second-floor private room. The door was slightly ajar, laughter spilling out from inside. “Preston, this necklace is beautiful. I love it.” Vivienne’s voice was soft and sweet. “If you like it, keep it. I bought it at auction for you anyway.” Preston’s voice carried a smile. Through the gap in the door, I saw Preston fastening an expensive necklace around Vivienne’s neck. That necklace… My whole body went rigid. That was my mother’s heirloom! When the Lynn family went bankrupt, all our assets were auctioned off, including this necklace. I’d begged Preston for so long to buy it back for me, to keep as a memento. What had he said then? “A broken piece of junk, and you beg me for that?” Now he’d bought it and put it on another woman. Rage, despair, grief all twisted together until I could barely breathe. But I couldn’t lash out. My father was waiting for money to save his life. I took a deep breath and pushed open the door. The laughter inside stopped abruptly. Everyone looked at me. The smile vanished from Preston’s face, replaced by darkness. “Who told you to come in?” I ignored the stares and walked straight to Preston, dropping to my knees. My knees hit the floor with a dull thud. Preston froze. Vivienne gasped and shrank into his arms. “Lynn, what the hell are you doing?” Preston spoke through clenched teeth, clearly feeling I’d embarrassed him. I looked up at him. “Preston, please. Lend me five hundred thousand. My father needs surgery. He desperately needs this money.” “Lend?” Preston laughed coldly, swirling the wine glass in his hand. “What will you use to pay me back? Your bankrupt family, or your broken body?” “As long as you give me the money, I’ll do anything.” Preston stared at me. Vivienne suddenly spoke up beside him. “Preston, Ms. Lynn is pretty pitiful. Why don’t you help her out?” She sounded kind, but then her tone shifted. “But since Ms. Lynn is so filial, you must be able to hold your liquor, right? If you can finish all the alcohol on this table, I’ll have Preston give you the money. How’s that?” On the table sat more than a dozen bottles of hard liquor. Vodka, whiskey, brandy, all mixed together. Forget a pregnant woman. Even a healthy person would need a stomach pump after drinking that much. She wanted me dead. I looked at Preston, hoping for even a trace of mercy. But he simply glanced at the bottles on the table and said one word. “Drink.” My heart died completely. I picked up a bottle of vodka and tilted my head back, pouring it down. The burning liquid flowed down my throat into my stomach, scorching like fire. One bottle, two bottles… My vision began to blur. My stomach churned violently. The dropping pain in my abdomen became excruciating. Something warm trickled down my thighs.

Lynn’s POV “Enough!” Just as I reached for the fifth bottle, Preston suddenly knocked it out of my hand. Glass shattered across the floor, alcohol splashing onto my dress. His face was livid as he stared at my pale face, his voice filled with suppressed rage. “Lynn, are you dead inside? Don’t you know when to stop?” I swayed, seeing only doubles, barely managing an uglier-than-crying smile. “Mr. Kingsley… I haven’t finished yet… the money…” “Transfer the money to her!” Preston shouted at his assistant, then grabbed me up from the floor. “Now. Immediately. Get out of my sight!” I got the money. I’d traded my dignity and the unformed life in my womb for it. I refused the assistant’s offer to take me to the hospital. Using my last bit of consciousness, I transferred the money to the hospital. Then, in the snow by the roadside, I finally couldn’t hold on anymore and collapsed. When I woke again, I was in a hospital room. No Preston. Only the doctor who’d examined me before. He looked at me with complicated eyes. “You lost the baby.” Though I’d expected this outcome, hearing it aloud still felt like my heart had been hollowed out. “You were brought in hemorrhaging. Fortunately a passerby called 911 in time, or you’d have lost your life too.” The doctor sighed. “Your body is extremely weak now. In the future… it will be very difficult for you to conceive again.” I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Very difficult to conceive again. This meant the only bond between Preston and me was also severed. Good. Really good. I stayed in the hospital for three days. During those three days, Preston never came once. He didn’t even call. But Vivienne sent me a photo. In it, Preston was in the kitchen making porridge, his profile gentle and focused. The caption read: “My stomach’s bothering me. Preston specially made me oatmeal porridge. So warm.” I looked at that photo with a heart like still water. Once, I’d had stomach pain too. Preston had just coldly tossed me a box of medicine and said: “Stop being dramatic. Take your pills and go to sleep. Don’t bother me.” So he wasn’t incapable of caring for someone. He just didn’t want to care for me. I closed my phone and pulled out the IV needle. I handled my own discharge paperwork. When I returned to that so-called “home,” Preston wasn’t back yet. I walked into the bedroom, pulled out my suitcase, and started packing. I didn’t have much. Besides a few changes of clothes, there was only one photo of him and me together. Our wedding photo. In it, my smile was stiff. He looked completely indifferent. I tore the photo into pieces and threw it in the trash. Then I sat at the desk and pulled out the divorce agreement I’d prepared long ago. The moment I signed my name, I felt an unprecedented sense of relief. The sound of the door lock turning came from outside. Preston was home. He brought the cold with him. Seeing the suitcase in the living room, he paused. “Are you going on a business trip?” His tone was casual, as if the humiliation and hurt from days ago had never happened. I turned to look at him. “Preston, let’s get divorced.” Preston froze for a moment, then laughed as if he’d heard a joke. “Lynn, is this your new game?” He walked over, casually tossing his car keys on the coffee table and unbuttoning his coat. “Stop messing around. I’m tired. Vivienne wasn’t feeling well-I stayed at the hospital with her for three days. Go run me a bath.” While I was in the hospital hemorrhaging from a miscarriage, he was keeping another woman company. How ironic. I didn’t move. I just pushed the divorce agreement in front of him. “I’m not messing around. I’ve already signed it. Look it over and see if there are any issues. If you think the asset division is unfair, I can leave with nothing.” Preston finally sensed something was wrong. He stared at me for a while, then his gaze fell on the agreement. His expression darkened instantly. “Lynn, you’re serious?” “Yes.” “Why?” “I’m tired of it.” I used the same words he’d once used to humiliate me, throwing them back at him. “Preston, these three years have exhausted me. I don’t want to serve you anymore. Don’t you love Vivienne? I’m setting you free.” “Setting me free?” Preston suddenly grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it felt like he’d crush my bones. “Lynn, what right do you have to talk about setting me free? Don’t forget-your father is still alive on my money! If we divorce, what will you use to save him?” I looked at his furious face, my heart completely calm. “I’ll pay back that five hundred thousand slowly. As for the future, I won’t trouble Mr. Kingsley anymore.” My father’s surgery had been successful. The doctor said with proper rest, he’d recover. I’d already sold the family’s old house. Though the price was depressed, it was enough to repay Preston and cover future medical expenses. “Fine!” Preston laughed bitterly and released me with a shove. “Lynn, this is your choice! Once you walk out that door, don’t come crawling back on your knees!” “I won’t.” I picked up my suitcase and looked at him one last time. This glance held no attachment. Only farewell. “Preston, goodbye. Or rather, may we never meet again.” I turned toward the door. Behind me came the sound of a vase shattering and Preston’s furious roar. “Get out! Everyone get out!” I didn’t look back. I opened the door. Outside, the snow had stopped. Though it was still cold, I could see the long-absent sunlight. Finally, I was free.

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My husband, Derek Whitmore, was working late when I received a notification about my hotel membership tier upgrade. “Thank you for your 99th purchase of a couple’s room. Your membership has been upgraded to Black Gold status.” “Additionally, you have been gifted one complimentary night in our Presidential Suite, valued at $8,000.” I sat in the room for a long moment before calling him. “You’ve been using my card to book hotel rooms, haven’t you?” On the other end of the line, I heard the sound of running water from a shower. “Yeah, I’ve been working late today. I’m not coming home—just staying at a hotel near the office.” I hung up and scrolled through the booking history on that card with trembling hands. Every single reservation was for various themed couple’s rooms. There was a Bunny Cave room, a room with an adult swing set. Soon after, Derek sent me a text: “I’ve been working a lot of overtime lately. I’ll make it up to you when I get home, you little temptress.” I replied: “When you get back, we’re getting divorced.”

“Lynn Smith, what’s that supposed to mean?” Derek was silent for a long while before responding. Then came a barrage of messages. “You’re still pregnant. Don’t get upset. I know I’ve been working too much overtime lately—that’s on me. Once this busy period is over, I’ll spend quality time with you. How about we go on a trip?” “If you don’t like me staying in these kinds of rooms, I can just crash at an internet cafe for the night. It’s the same thing. Lynn, please don’t scare me with messages like that, okay?” I gripped my phone tightly and closed my eyes. Then I replied: “No need, Derek. You don’t have to say any of this. We’re definitely getting divorced.” He quickly sent a voice message: “Honey, are you under too much stress from the pregnancy? I know you used to be childfree, and deciding to have a baby for me took a lot of courage…” Before I could finish listening to the voice message, a video call came through. After I hung up on him several times, Derek finally lost control, his tone tinged with anger. “Lynn! Even if I’ve been working overtime and neglecting your feelings, that’s no reason to talk about divorce!” “We’ve been together for years! If you have issues with me, you can tell me. We can talk it through. Why would you hurt me like this?” “Please, just answer my call, okay?” I looked at his words and couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. I slowly typed out a few words. “No reason?” “There’s plenty of reason, Derek.” After seeing those words, Derek’s next voice message had a colder tone. “I’m doing all of this for you and the baby so we can have a better life. Do you really have to pick a fight with me?” “Don’t bother. I don’t care. Neither does the baby.” While talking to him, I had already logged into his shopping account. Sure enough, there were many gifts that didn’t belong to me. From designer handbags, jewelry, and skincare products to more discreet adult items. He’d even used a secondary account to buy these things, afraid I’d catch him. I took a deep breath, forcing down my trembling. Part of me wanted to scream and fight, but when I thought about it, there really was no point. For two people to reach this ending—it was enough. We were adults now. Hysteria would be too ugly. I absently touched my belly, feeling sorry for this child. My phone kept buzzing, but Derek didn’t come home all night. The next day, as soon as I arrived at the office, I saw Derek in the reception room at the front desk. When he saw my red, swollen eyes, he froze, then showed obvious heartache. He walked over quickly, took my hand, his voice hoarse and reeking of cigarettes. “Lynn, what’s going on?” It was clear he’d been smoking all night. But I knew his night had probably been quite exciting and stimulating. After all, it was a couple’s suite—over eight hundred dollars a night. I calmly pulled my hand away and turned to leave. Derek quickly blocked my path. “You can’t just refuse to communicate, Lynn. I’m begging you—I didn’t sleep all night.” Since he insisted on discussing our private matters at my workplace, I looked him straight in the eye and spoke concisely. “We’re getting divorced. Which part don’t you understand?”

At the same time, our argument drew subtle glances from my coworkers. “Isn’t that the guy grabbing Lynn… a senior executive from Vanstar next door? I think he’s even a director.” “Yeah, I saw him when I was negotiating a contract. Super handsome—really memorable. What did he just say? Divorce?” “Lynn’s been married for years, right? I had no idea her husband was him. Why would she divorce such a handsome husband?” Hearing the whispers around us, Derek stepped closer and spoke in a low voice. “Even if we’re getting divorced, you at least owe me a reason.” I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, my expression was calm. “We don’t have feelings for each other anymore. Isn’t that enough?” Derek froze, his eyes immediately reddening, completely unable to accept it. “Lynn, you can fool other people with that line, but can you really fool yourself?” “I just worked late on a project and found a place nearby to rest. Why are you doing this?” “If it bothers you, I can adjust my work schedule going forward. Everything will revolve around you—I’m willing to do anything.” He looked at me with such deep affection, creating the illusion that he loved me so much and I was the unreasonable one. I stared at his face, remembering countless moments between us. The person I loved seemed rotten from the bones out. After he said this, my coworkers looked at me differently, thinking I was being harsh. It seemed no one understood why I would give up such a handsome husband just because he didn’t come home one night. But I really didn’t want to explain. Just then, another woman walked through the company’s front door. She wore a sharp business suit that accentuated her curvy figure. It was my best friend, Rachel Brown. She rushed in anxiously, and when she saw me, her face filled with concern as she hurried over. “Lynn, what’s going on?” She and Derek exchanged a glance, then both looked at me with concern. Seeing that I wasn’t responding, Rachel pulled me aside. “If you’re feeling wronged, just tell me. I’ll help you deal with him!” “But isn’t divorce over working late a bit hasty? Lynn, I was unemployed before, and you were the one who recommended me to Derek’s company.” “I promised I’d help you keep an eye on him, and I’ve kept my word. He’s never done anything to betray you—I can vouch for that!” Derek also looked at me, his eyes full of hurt and disappointment at being doubted. Listening to Rachel’s endless chatter and looking at Derek, I felt nothing but mockery in my heart. “No need. I just don’t want to live with him anymore. There’s no other reason.” I cut off Rachel’s words, not wanting to spare another glance at either of them, and turned to leave. Seeing that there would be no resolution through discussion, Derek simply followed me and suddenly dropped to his knees. “Lynn! Even if you’re in a rush to divorce me to get the family assets to buy your brother a house, you could at least discuss it with me!” “I’m willing to help pay for Carter’s college and his future housing—just please don’t divorce me, okay?” His words caused an uproar, and the gossip spread like wildfire. “What’s going on? Is Lynn a brother-obsessed woman? I never noticed.” “Who knows? These types are the hardest to spot.” “Her husband has already said this much—if she still wants a divorce, she’s really terrible!” I was completely stunned and turned back to meet his eyes in shock. “…What did you just say?!”

As the surrounding chatter intensified, I shouted out loud in anger. “Derek! What does my divorce from you have to do with my brother? I never wanted a cent of your money!” “After all these years together, is this how you see me? What do you take me for?!” But Derek just looked at me with tears in his eyes, as if in extreme pain. “…Then what’s your reason? Lynn, I can’t accept that it’s because you don’t love me!” Seeing that my earlier words hadn’t won over my coworkers and instead made them look at me with even more contempt, I just wanted to end this farce as quickly as possible. “Get up now! Haven’t you embarrassed me enough at my workplace?! I don’t want this to get any uglier! Get up!” But my inability to provide any other legitimate reason only made people more suspicious. As if I was divorcing him purely for money. I didn’t bother explaining further and just tried to make him leave. “Leave my office immediately! I have work to do! Can you please stop causing me trouble?!” Derek, being pushed away by me, let his tears fall. Then, looking utterly pitiful, he pulled out a bank card and choked out: “Lynn, I’m giving you all my money! All of it, okay? I’m begging you, don’t divorce me…” I took the bank card and threw it right out the front door, shouting angrily. “Get out! I don’t want it!” Rachel seemed to have never seen me this angry in all these years. She stammered before speaking. “Lynn…” I was so angry that the veins on my forehead were throbbing. I pointed toward the door, suppressing my rage. “Rachel, if you still consider me a friend, take him away right now! Isn’t this embarrassing enough?!” After Rachel led the dejected Derek away, the entire office lobby fell silent. I pressed my throbbing temples, feeling utterly exhausted. Although my coworkers returned to their desks, their eyes still occasionally fell on me. Not long after I sat back down, my manager came over. “I heard about what happened at the front desk today. Lynn, I’ve always trusted your work over the years. Why did you bring your personal problems here this time?” I knew he was both reminding me and unable to resist gossiping. “It’s nothing—just an argument. I’m sorry, Mr. Lee. This won’t happen again.” I responded flatly and returned to my desk, but my work was affected all afternoon, leaving me somewhat distracted. When I finished work and headed home with the divorce papers I’d printed at the office, ready to wait for Derek to sign them, Derek still hadn’t returned. Just as I was about to go to his office, Rachel called. Her voice was urgent and anxious. “Lynn, where are you?! Get to the rooftop of Derek’s office building now—something’s wrong!” I frowned, about to ask what happened. The next moment, her words hit me like a thunderbolt. “Derek can’t accept divorcing you and went up to the company rooftop! I’m afraid he might do something drastic—I’m trying to talk him down!” “What?!” I nearly choked and immediately drove to the Vanstar building. By now, the building was surrounded by layers of onlookers. The fire department was there. The police were there. And Derek’s mother, the moment she saw me, slapped me across the face, crying and cursing. “This is all because of you! Lynn, if anything happens to my son, I’ll never forgive you!” My head snapped to the side from the blow, and I looked up to see Derek on the rooftop. Derek’s father was also cursing nearby. “How could my son marry such a heartless woman?! How could you treat him like this?!” At the same time, my parents and brother arrived after being notified by the police. When my mom saw the handprint on my face, she became furious and confronted Derek’s mother. “I’ve never laid a hand on my daughter, not once in her entire life! What gives you the right?!” My dad and my brother, who had just finished his college entrance exams, stood protectively in front of me. “Lynn…” My brother looked at me with concern, worried there might be more to the story. I shook my head, holding back tears. “Mom! Don’t hit Lynn! I’m only doing this because I want to know the reason!” Derek, seeing me get slapped, quickly tried to stop his mother. I looked up at him and spoke into the megaphone. “Derek, I’m here now. Come down.” Derek’s face lit up with joy. The next moment, I spoke directly. “Come down and sign the divorce papers. We’re getting divorced.”

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I starved myself on nearly expired bread for a whole month to save money and buy medicine for my “sick” mom. Before I collapsed, I sent her a message: “Mom, I got the medicine. I’m so tired. Going to sleep for a bit.” That sleep became permanent. Only after death did I discover that my entire life had been an all-surveillance “Truman Show.” My billionaire parents sat in their massive control room watching me suffer from stomach cramps. Mom held her wine glass, frowning as she critiqued: “Poor physical constitution. Deduct 10 points.” Dad recorded coldly: “Willpower is acceptable, but doesn’t know how to utilize resources. Deduct 20 points.” They were selecting the sole heir to the family fortune. And I, for “dying too easily,” was judged: Failed. My corpse still lay on the cold floor of my rental apartment, curled in a fetal position. My phone screen glowed with that unread text message. “Mom, I got the medicine. I’m so tired. Going to sleep for a bit.” My soul floated in midair as I stared at that emaciated body. My stomach still twitched faintly—the final memory before starving to death. One month. To scrape together money for that astronomically expensive imported medicine for my mom’s “stomach cancer diagnosis,” I’d cut my only meat dish. I ate only two nearly expired pieces of bread each day. Even my water came from the office cooler. I thought my sacrifice would move heaven itself and bring my mother’s recovery. Instead, I moved myself to death. When I opened my eyes again, I’d been reborn. I floated into an extremely luxurious semicircular hall. Hundreds of high-definition screens covered the walls. The largest one in the center displayed my corpse. I tried to scream, but no sound came out. Two people sat on the leather sofa. The man wore an expensive suit, the woman dripped with jewels. They were my “poverty-stricken,” “terminally ill” parents. At that moment, Mom swirled a glass of blood-red wine in her hand. She looked at my pale face on the screen, her brow deeply furrowed. No tears, no sorrow. Only disgust. “Poor physical constitution. Died after just one month of hunger. [Heir Selection Test – Physical Constitution Dimension] deduct 10 points.” She took a sip of wine, her tone like she was critiquing defective merchandise. Dad held a diamond-encrusted pen, making a mark on a thick evaluation form. “Willpower is acceptable, but doesn’t know how to utilize resources.” “Clearly attractive enough, yet didn’t know to leverage her looks for money. Foolish.” “[Heir Selection Test – Resource Utilization Dimension] deduct 20 points.” I floated above their heads, trembling all over. These were the parents I’d risked my life to save? These were the parents I’d starved for, going without even sanitary pads to support? “Enough, stop watching. Bad luck.” Mom set down her wine glass and pressed the remote. The screen went dark. My corpse disappeared into blackness. “Notify the logistics department to collect the body. Clean it up properly. Don’t let the media find out.” Dad closed the folder and casually tossed it into the trash. “This one’s a write-off. Initiate Plan B.” “Bring Rachel back from abroad. Hopefully she’s smarter than this idiot.” I stared at the folder in the trash. The cover read: “Heir Selection Test: Subject 001—Morgan.” Below it, a red summary line: [Assessment Result: Failed. Total deductions 30 points, zero bonus points. Disposal method: Destroy.]

So I was just a test subject. The star of a reality show called “Heir Selection.” The “destitute home” was a set. The “terminal cancer” was a script. The “devoted relationship” was an act. My twenty years of life had been an absolute joke. A young woman in business attire walked in. It was Natalie, my “distant cousin.” She used to come to my place with such a superior air to “bring warmth,” tossing me a few old clothes. Now she stood respectfully before my parents. “Morgan’s funeral arrangements…” “Don’t mention her again!” Mom cut her off sharply. “A defective product—why bring her up?” “Just find any crematorium, burn her, scatter the ashes in the ocean. Save the space.” Natalie bowed her head. “Yes.” “Oh, that Julian performed well.” Dad suddenly spoke. “He did an excellent job inducing Morgan to save money for medicine. Give him a two hundred thousand dollar bonus.” My eyes flew wide open. Julian. My boyfriend. The man who always held me gently, saying “Morgan, your mother’s illness comes first. We can endure hardship.” The man who watched me eat bread while secretly eating fried chicken in the bathroom. He was an actor too. An “NPC” they’d hired specifically to drain my last drop of blood. “Julian asked if he could participate in Rachel’s test?” Natalie asked carefully. Mom gave a contemptuous laugh. “That kind of pretty boy who only knows how to deceive idiots? Only someone as brainless as Morgan would fall for him.” “Tell him to get lost.” “The White family heir doesn’t need such low-level emotional tests.” I stared at them intently. Hatred surged through my chest like molten lava. Why? Just because you’re rich, you can toy with my life at will? Just because I’m your daughter, I deserve to be your guinea pig for heir selection? I hate them. I hate them so much! If I could do it all again, I would never be that obedient daughter waiting to be slaughtered. I would return every bit of suffering from these twenty years to them—a thousand, ten thousand times over! A violent tearing sensation came from deep within my soul. Everything went black. When I opened my eyes again, I heard familiar coughing. “Cough, cough… Morgan, my stomach condition seems to be getting worse…”

Moldy peeling walls, dim lighting. The air reeked of cheap ointment and old wood. I sat at the paint-chipped wooden table. Half a piece of cold, hard bread sat before me. My phone vibrated. A message from Julian. “Morgan, I heard from the doctor that if your mom doesn’t get that imported medicine, she probably won’t make it past next month.” “I know that medicine is expensive—fifty thousand dollars.” “We’ll save together. I’ll quit smoking, you skip a few lunches. We can scrape it together.” Looking at these familiar words. I laughed. Laughed until tears streamed down my face. I’m back. I’m really back. Back to the day I decided to begin my “hellish economizing.” In my previous life, this message became my death warrant. I looked at that half piece of bread, nausea churning in my stomach. Not from hunger. From disgust. I grabbed the bread and hurled it into the trash. “Morgan? What’s wrong?” From the shabby bedroom came that woman’s weak voice. That was my “good mother,” Betty. The chairwoman of White Group. Right now she was lying on that creaking wooden plank bed, playing the role of a dying peasant woman. I stood up and walked to the door. Through the crack, I saw her quickly stuffing something into her mouth when she thought I wasn’t looking. A piece of imported chocolate. When she noticed me coming in, she moved lightning-fast to shove the chocolate under her pillow. Then switched to an expression of agony. “Morgan, I’m fine… just hurts terribly…” “Don’t worry about me. Better if I just die, stop being a burden to you…” Such great acting. You deserve an Oscar. In my previous life, seeing this scene broke my heart. I would kneel by the bed, crying and swearing to save her, then immediately go sell my blood. But now I leaned against the doorframe, watching her performance with zero expression. “Mom, if it hurts that much, don’t hold it in.” Betty froze. Seemingly unprepared for my calm reaction. “Morgan, the medicine is too expensive… we can’t afford it…” “Can’t afford it?” I curved my lips, my eyes ice-cold. “If we can’t afford medicine, we’ll find another way.” “Mom, didn’t you always teach me that people need to know how to utilize resources?” A flash of confusion crossed Betty’s eyes. This was her critique as an “examiner”—something I shouldn’t know about. But I didn’t give her time to think. “If you’re going to die anyway, why care about dignity?” “Mom, just wait.” “I’m going to get you money.” I turned and left. Behind me came Betty’s slightly panicked voice: “Morgan, where are you going? Don’t do anything rash!” Anything rash? Ridiculous. I just wanted to make this “Truman Show” a bit more exciting.

I walked out of that suffocating rental apartment. The sunlight outside stung my eyes. I felt my pockets. Fifteen dollars total. That was everything I owned. In my previous life, I used those fifteen dollars to buy ten pieces of bread that lasted me a week. This life, I walked straight into a lottery shop. Not to buy lottery tickets, but to borrow a charging cable and mooch some WiFi. I opened my phone and downloaded a streaming app. Registered an account. Name: [Terminal Mother and Devoted Daughter’s Final 30 Days]. The description dripped with pathos: “Destitute home, mother with terminal stomach cancer, no money for medicine.” “To save my mother, I’ll do whatever it takes.” “Please follow and witness a life’s miracle.” I knew my phone was monitored. My every move transmitted in real-time to that massive control room. Right now, my billionaire parents were probably frowning at their screens. “What’s she trying to do?” “Online begging? Too lowbrow. [Heir Selection Test – Strategic Sophistication Dimension] deduct 5 points.” The clear commentary from my previous life floating in the control room hadn’t disappeared with my rebirth. I turned on the camera, pointing it at my face—pale and gaunt from chronic malnutrition. I had to admit, this pitiful appearance was natural clickbait. I didn’t speak. Just quietly let tears fall. Tears dropped one by one onto the screen. That sense of despair, helplessness, brokenness—I portrayed it vividly. After all, I was someone who’d truly died once. This despair didn’t need acting. Soon, viewers entered the stream. “Poor girl.” “Oh my god, that complexion. She’s clearly been starving for a long time.” “Terminal stomach cancer? Real or fake?” “Probably a scammer.” Doubts followed quickly. I wiped my tears, my voice hoarse. “I know everyone doesn’t believe me.” “That’s okay.” “I’ll take you to see my mother right now.” “See where we live, see her writhing in pain on the bed.” “If I’m lying about anything, may I get hit by a car when I leave.” I held up my phone and walked back step by step. Passing a barbecue restaurant. That tempting aroma drilled into my nostrils. I stopped, my throat moving. The viewer count began to skyrocket. “She wants to eat.” “She must be starving.” “Send her money! Let her eat!” Someone sent a gift. I watched the special effects, the corner of my mouth curving imperceptibly. Facing the camera, I shook my head. “No, I can’t eat.” “This money is to save my mother’s life.” “I can still endure.” With that, I resolutely turned and walked away. My retreating figure looked determined yet desolate. The stream exploded. “This is torture!” “That willpower!” “Following! We have to help her!” In the control room. Dad’s pen paused. “Using online public opinion to gain sympathy?” “The method is lowbrow, but the effect is decent.” “This maneuver, [Heir Selection Test – Resource Acquisition Efficiency Dimension] barely earns 5 points.” Bonus points? Dad, you’re too naive. I’m not seeking sympathy. I’m putting you in an impossible position. Back at the rental. I violently pushed open the door. Shoved the camera right into Betty’s face. She was sitting cross-legged, holding that half-eaten chocolate. Seeing me enter with my phone, she froze completely. “Mom!” I let out a piercing wail and rushed over. “Are you delirious from hunger?” “That’s trash you picked up—you can’t eat that!” I snatched the chocolate from her hand and threw it hard on the floor. Then embraced her, sobbing hysterically. “It’s all my fault for being useless! Making you so hungry you’re eating garbage!” “Mom! I’ve failed you!” Betty was stunned. She looked at the imported chocolate on the floor, then at my streaming phone. Her expression instantly became uglier than if she’d eaten excrement. The stream erupted. “What’s that black thing?” “Looks like chocolate?” “Picked from trash? That’s horrible!” “Her mom’s so hungry she’s lost her mind!” “Send money fast! Don’t let them starve to death!” Gift effects filled the screen. I buried myself in Betty’s arms, my whole body shaking with sobs. Only I knew I was actually laughing. Mom, how did that “garbage” imported chocolate taste? Are you satisfied?

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On the day my wife gave birth to a child for her terminally ill first love, her parents hired ten bodyguards to stand guard outside the delivery room. My mother-in-law held my wife’s hand and sighed. “Vivian, don’t worry. We absolutely won’t let your husband get anywhere near you.” Vivian nodded weakly, her face pale. Seeing that I hadn’t come to cause a scene, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn’t understand why I couldn’t be more understanding—it was just helping her first love have a child. Watching the nurse cradle the wailing infant, she smiled with relief. She was even willing to let me be the child’s father. But what she didn’t know was that I had just submitted my report to the United Nations. In seven days, I would renounce my citizenship, become a doctor without borders, and never return. The day Vivian was discharged from the hospital, I had just finished the handover procedures at work. As I reached the door, I heard cheerful laughter from inside. “This baby is so beautiful. Those big eyes are just like his father’s.” My mother-in-law cooed at the infant in her arms while Marcus emerged from the kitchen carrying a steaming bowl of chicken soup. “I made this soup myself. You’re still weak, you need to nourish yourself.” He sat by the bed, feeding Vivian with a gentle expression. The scene looked like a harmonious family. My father-in-law held a rattle, grinning from ear to ear. “This child is so lovable, just like his father. Thank goodness he’s not Anderson’s—having a doctor for a father would be such a headache.” My hand tightened on the doorknob. I remembered the first time I met my father-in-law, when he patted my shoulder and said being a doctor was good, that saving lives was an honor for the whole family. He even said he used to be a doctor himself, and if not for injuring his hand during a medical dispute, he wouldn’t have retired early. But now, he was saying doctors didn’t deserve families. I had only been away for advanced training for one year, and this home had already completely shut me out. I lowered my head and smiled bitterly. Vivian and I had been married for three years. She said she was childfree, and I understood how painful childbirth was for women, so I didn’t force her to have children. I still remembered the day I left for overseas training—her eyes were red from crying as she said she couldn’t bear to be apart from me. Throughout that year, we video-called every day to share our lives. Even my colleagues teased us, saying that despite being married for three years, we still acted like young lovers in the honeymoon phase. But just a month ago, I finally managed to request leave and came home. Even after an eight-hour flight, I didn’t complain about being tired. I rushed home, only to find Vivian heavily pregnant, standing beside her first love. My thoughts were pulled back by Marcus’s voice. “Anderson, when did you get back? Why are you standing at the door?” Hearing his words, the others in the room turned to look toward the entrance. When my father-in-law saw the resignation letter in my hand, he frowned deeply. “Why did I ever entrust my daughter to someone like you? What terrible luck. Now you’re quitting your job—are you planning to have us support you?” “Is this how you act as a husband?” My mother-in-law joined in condemning me. “You quit? You couldn’t even handle such a stable job. What else can you do?” “Vivian’s body is precious now. She and the baby need money for everything. If you don’t work, are the three of you supposed to starve?” Hearing this, I found it almost laughable. “Whoever’s wife and child should be supported by him.” “Anderson, what are you saying? How can you be so irresponsible?” Vivian couldn’t hold back anymore. With red-rimmed eyes, she shouted at me. Perhaps from emotional agitation, she clutched her chest and coughed violently. “Three years ago, if Marcus hadn’t saved me from that car accident, I might have died. His parents are gone, and now he’s been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Soon, there won’t be anyone left in this world who remembers him.” “Why do you always have to target him? Do you really think I’m that kind of filthy, disgusting woman?” Marcus helped her catch her breath while turning to look at me. “Anderson, you should say less. I know this is all my fault. I promise I won’t appear in your lives anymore, but don’t let me affect your marriage, okay?” I looked at the four people before me, already united as one front, and felt increasingly ridiculous. So this was what a real family looked like. Just then, Vivian suddenly spoke: “Anderson, my patience has limits. If you dare target Marcus again, don’t bother coming home!” “If you still want to continue this marriage, then settle down. At next week’s party, I can announce in front of our relatives and friends that you’re the child’s father.” Next week? I glanced at the baby already asleep in the stroller. Next week, I would be boarding a plane overseas. But before leaving, I didn’t mind giving them an unforgettable surprise. I nodded without changing expression. “Fine.”

After speaking, without waiting for their reaction, I turned and went to the bedroom to pack. Since I’d decided to leave completely, I didn’t want to leave any trace here. The laughter from the living room seeped through the door. My hands paused slightly as I folded clothes. “Marcus, I want to use your surname for this child. That way, even if he calls someone else ‘dad’ in the future, he’ll always remember you’re his real father.” Even without seeing it, I could imagine the deep affection on Vivian’s face as she said this. My heart had long been torn to shreds by her. I suddenly remembered last month when I rushed home, holding a souvenir I’d bought for Vivian from abroad. But at the doorstep, I saw Vivian and Marcus returning hand-in-hand from a walk. Unlike Vivian’s panicked expression, Marcus looked at me with puzzled eyes and questioned whether I’d come to the wrong door. I said nothing, my gaze fixed on Vivian’s pregnant belly. After eleven months away, my wife was pregnant. No matter what, I couldn’t deceive myself into believing this child was mine. Until Vivian frantically positioned herself in front of Marcus and introduced me. “This is my husband, Anderson.” I thought hearing this would make Marcus back off, but instead, like the man of the house, he invited me to come in and sit. As we passed each other, he spoke in a voice only we could hear. “I heard you’re quite a bit older than me? Then I’ll call you ‘bro.’ After all, your wife is carrying my child.” My chest burned with rage. I couldn’t hold back anymore and punched him hard in the face. I completely lost my rationality. The eleven months of missing Vivian transformed into fury. If there’d been a knife nearby, I might have actually killed this pair of adulterers. A neighbor heard the commotion and called the police. We were all taken to the station, but since it involved domestic matters, the police couldn’t intervene much and just sent us home. As soon as we got home, my in-laws, who’d rushed over, didn’t ask anything—they just berated me. They cursed me for causing such a scene as soon as I returned, making the neighbors laugh at us. They also cursed me for wasting all those years of education, actually resorting to violence, and said they’d never forgive me if something serious happened. Turns out they’d known all along about Vivian and Marcus being together, and even fully supported them. In just one year, Marcus had become the perfect son-in-law in their hearts. Only I had been kept in the dark. My mouth tasted bitter. I felt terrible. Vivian trembled as she walked to my side, trying to take my hand and persuade me. “I never meant to betray you. Marcus isn’t well. The doctor said he has at most six months to live. I couldn’t bear to see him die without even having a child.” “I wanted to discuss it with you before, but you were abroad, and I was afraid you’d worry too much and it would interfere with your studies. I planned to tell you when you came back.” “If you’re willing, can we raise this child together?” Having children—such a major decision—yet she made it sound so trivial. I placed the last piece of clothing in my suitcase. Just then, my mother-in-law pushed the door open. Seeing the suitcase by my feet, she wore an expression that said I was finally being sensible. “Since you haven’t been back, I let Marcus sleep in your room. The study has been converted into a nursery too, so tonight you’ll have to make do on the couch. Or you could go stay in a hotel?” I was truly exhausted and had no energy to go find a hotel. I nodded, planning to make do on the sofa for the night. But deep into the night, the baby’s cries kept coming from the bedroom. I rolled over, about to put in earplugs, when I heard Vivian’s complaining voice. “Can’t you do something about the baby? He keeps crying.” “You’re my baby. Taking care of you is enough. Crying is good for a baby’s lung capacity.” Vivian laughed softly and said “you’re terrible,” followed by a shameless giggle. I pulled the blanket over my head, trying hard to ignore those obscene sounds. But when I closed my eyes, Vivian’s face appeared—how she looked the first time she confessed to me.

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The day I tried on my wedding dress, a strange woman burst into the VIP room and stabbed me without warning. “Stealing my husband and still planning a wedding?” She tore my veil to shreds, her face twisted with a grotesque smile as she splashed acid toward me. The cold blade pierced my shoulder. I collapsed in front of the mirror, crying out in pain. But she grabbed my throat, forcing me to look up: “Ethan Cross is my husband. Who the hell do you think you are? Homewrecker!” Blood stained the pristine white dress. That’s when it hit me. My perfect boyfriend of three years, the man I’d been engaged to, was already married. “What are you staring at? Even if I kill you right now, no one can touch me!” I grabbed my phone with blood-soaked hands and called my sister. “Pick me up at the bridal shop. And tell the Cross family—the wedding’s off.” I was in so much pain I could barely hold my phone. The strapless wedding dress had become a burden. “You crazy bitch, do you even know who I am?” She let out a shrill laugh, her eyes wild with madness: “What, homewreckers think they’re entitled now?” Then she opened a livestream, shoving the camera right into my bloodied face. “Come on, let the whole internet see what a homewrecker looks like! See if you dare steal someone’s man again!” She changed the stream title maliciously to— “Wife Teaches Homewrecker a Lesson Live—Watch Her Get What She Deserves!” In the frame, I slumped helplessly against the shattered mirror. The expensive wedding dress was ruined with blood and filth. My exposed wounds looked horrific. The viewer count skyrocketed. The chat exploded: 【Good! Beat her harder! Homewreckers deserve to die!】 【That woman’s badly injured. Is someone gonna die?】 【Serves her right! You steal someone’s husband, you pay the price!】 I pressed my hand desperately against my shoulder, but blood kept seeping through my fingers. The strapless gown kept sliding down. I had to use my other hand to clutch the neckline, barely keeping myself covered on camera. Behind Vivian White stood two burly men, arms crossed, sneering coldly. I really regretted not bringing bodyguards today. “Help me, please! Someone call the police!” I reached toward the employees huddled by the door. But they just clustered together, pointing and whispering with expressions that said they were enjoying the show. Not one of them dared step forward. The wound hurt so badly my vision went dark, but I bit down hard, refusing to pass out. I forced myself to lift my head and stare into Vivian’s twisted face. “I’m the second daughter of the Sullivan family from New York. If you dare touch me, the Sullivans will never let you go!” Vivian looked like she’d heard the funniest joke in the world. She lifted her foot and kicked viciously at my bleeding wound. “The New York Sullivans? Ha! Never heard of them. Some nobodies!” She ground her heel into the wound. I nearly blacked out from the pain. “My husband is Ethan! The most powerful man in New York. What the hell is your Sullivan family?” She grabbed my hair, pulling the camera close to my pain-whitened face. “You all hear that? This homewrecker’s making up stories to scare people! What Sullivan heiress—laughable!” I curled up on the floor, my wound screaming where she stepped on it. Ethan had been a scholarship student my family sponsored years ago. I thought he was honest and decent. Three years ago, I got engaged to him. We were supposed to get married this year. Instead, I came to try on a wedding dress and discovered his betrayal. Blood and tears mixed together. I laughed. Laughed at myself for being blind enough to raise a venomous snake as my partner. Enduring the burning pain across my face, I used my last ounce of strength to shout at Vivian: “Get me to a hospital right now, and tell Ethan to get his ass here and see me!” Vivian clearly froze for a moment, but quickly turned vicious again. She grabbed my hair in a fist: “Who the hell do you think you are to demand my husband come see you?” “If I die here today,” I gasped through the pain but stared her down, “The first person buried with me will be you! Ethan won’t escape either!” As if provoked, she laughed maniacally: “So what if I kill you? The Cross family can afford to pay for it!” With that, she grabbed the half-empty bottle of acid from the table and splashed it toward my face. The door burst open with a loud BANG! “I’d like to see who dares touch my sister!”

A familiar voice rang out. Relief washed through me as I rasped to Vivian: “My sister’s here. You’re finished!” My sister Madison rushed in. The moment she saw me covered in blood, her face went deathly pale. She rushed over and pulled me into her arms, her voice trembling: “Riley! Don’t be scared. I’m here.” She carefully avoided my wounds, her fingers gently touching where the acid had splashed my face. Her eyes instantly reddened: “I’m sorry. I came too late.” The next second, she jerked her head up, her gaze cutting toward Vivian like a blade, her voice cold enough to freeze: “You’re the one who touched my sister? You’re asking for death!” Vivian burst into exaggerated laughter, as if she’d heard the world’s greatest joke: “Oh my! A whole family of sluts, each one with a bigger mouth than the last! What, planning to teach me a lesson?” She waved the acid bottle arrogantly: “Today I’ll teach you sisters a lesson you’ll never forget!” With that, Vivian hurled the acid at us! Fortunately, my sister’s bodyguard reacted instantly, flashing in front of us. His heavy suit jacket hissed as the acid ate through it. The bodyguards from both sides immediately clashed. The VIP room descended into chaos. But Vivian clearly had more people. Our side gradually lost ground. Frantic, I grabbed my sister’s sleeve: “Madison, is this all the people you brought?” My sister held me tightly, but her voice remained eerily calm: “Don’t worry. Dad’s security team is almost here.” She swept her cold gaze over the arrogant Vivian and her thugs, enunciating each word clearly: “I’d like to see who dares lay a finger on us Sullivan sisters today.” Vivian’s bodyguards had numbers, but they were all show. The few my sister brought were elite special forces veterans—fast and ruthless. In moments, they’d laid out all those burly thugs. Seeing her people sprawled on the floor, Vivian finally panicked. She fumbled for her phone and deliberately put it on speaker. “Honey!” She called out with a sob in her voice, “Some crazy woman’s bullying me! She insists she’s your fiancée and wants to kill me!” After a few seconds of silence, Ethan’s familiar, hypocritical voice came through: “Baby, don’t be scared. What fiancée? You’re the only one I love.” His voice suddenly turned cold: “Stay where you are. I’m on my way. I want to see who’s foolish enough to impersonate Ethan’s fiancée!” I heard every single word crystal clear through the phone. That was definitely Ethan’s voice. I couldn’t be mistaken. Yet he firmly denied having a fiancée, calling that crazy woman “baby” and claiming she was the one he loved most. My heart sank completely. So Vivian had been telling the truth. They’d probably been married behind my back all along. I leaned against my sister, my wound throbbing, but it couldn’t compare to even a fraction of the chill in my heart. Fine. Perfect. I’d wait right here. Wait for Ethan to show up in person and see what lies he could spin. The Sullivan family would never forgive this ungrateful snake. With Ethan’s promise, Vivian’s courage returned. She pointed at me and my sister, shouting to the onlookers: “My husband’s coming! He said himself he doesn’t know any Sullivan second daughter and never got engaged!” She lifted her chin proudly, holding up her phone: “I’m Ethan’s legally married wife! Whoever teaches these shameless sisters a lesson gets a hundred grand from me right now!” Under such a reward, someone’s eyes turned red with greed. A muscular bystander grabbed a chair and swung it at us! “Watch out!” My sister cried out, shielding me with her body. The heavy wooden chair slammed into her head. Blood instantly poured from her temple. She went limp and collapsed into my arms. “Madison!” Looking at her pale face, all the blood in my body rushed to my head. Three years of betrayal, the fury of my sister being injured for me—it all erupted like a volcano. I jerked my hand up and bit down hard, yanking the knife still embedded in my shoulder! The searing pain made my vision go black, but I didn’t care. I charged at Vivian. In her terrified gaze, I drove that blood-soaked knife deep into her stomach!

Vivian let out a pig-like squeal, her whole body arching in pain. I gripped the handle with both hands, using every ounce of strength to push it down, even viciously twisting the blade! “You worthless trash, how dare you hurt me!” Her face went deathly pale, veins bulging on her forehead, but she suddenly kicked me hard in the chest. I’d already lost so much blood. That kick landed with full force, sending me flying backward to slam into the wall. Something sweet rose in my throat, and I spat out blood. Vivian clutched her bleeding stomach, her face contorted as she shrieked: “I’ll add five hundred grand! Whoever kills this bitch gets the money!” Before she finished speaking, a bodyguard charged at me. The same chair that had hit my sister now came crashing down toward my head. “Don’t touch my sister!” My sister found strength from somewhere and lunged forward, wrapping her body around his legs. “Get off!” The bodyguard roared, his elbow slamming down hard on the back of her head. A dull thud. My sister’s body shuddered. She coughed up blood and collapsed, motionless. I threw myself at my sister’s side like a madwoman, holding her body tight, calling out again and again: “Madison! Wake up! Madison!” Two bodyguards rushed up and pinned down my arms. I struggled desperately, my wound tearing open, staining the wedding dress even redder with blood. Vivian staggered over clutching her stomach and ripped open the acid-burned fabric on my shoulder! “Ahhh——!” My whole body convulsed in pain. The rotting flesh was torn away forcefully, blood and tissue fluid streaming down. “Can’t take it already?” Vivian sneered, digging her nails into my wound. “When you were crawling into someone else’s husband’s bed, didn’t you think this day would come?” “Don’t worry, I’ve prepared a special gift for you two!” Vivian’s high heels rained down on me like hail, each kick landing on my most painful wounds. My vision went black. I lost consciousness completely. When I came to, blinding lights made it impossible to open my eyes. I found myself bound to a cold marble table alongside my sister, hands and feet locked in iron chains. Our bodies were covered in sticky raw fish slices, the fishy stench overwhelming. My sister lay beside me, still unconscious, her face bloodless. I struggled desperately, but the chains wouldn’t budge. Gritting through the pain, I shouted my sister’s name: “Madison, you have to hold on. Dad will be here soon. Please don’t fall asleep.” Then I twisted my head and glared at Vivian: “If anything happens to my sister, I will never let you go!” Vivian crossed her legs leisurely and sneered: “Don’t worry. She won’t die.” She suddenly waved her hand. A bodyguard beside her grabbed a huge bucket of ice water and hurled it at my sister! The bone-chilling water mixed with ice chunks slammed into my sister. Her face instantly went deathly pale. She woke with violent trembling. My sister weakly lifted her head, but her gaze remained razor-sharp: “Vivian, do you know who you’re messing with?” Vivian shrieked back, “I don’t care who!” “Wait until my husband gets here. You’ll see who really runs New York!” She sneered, pointing at the raw fish covering us: “But right now, enjoy the gift I prepared for you.”

Vivian yanked open the curtain in front of us. Blinding lights instantly illuminated us. That’s when I realized—we’d been bound in some kind of club, with guests packed in below. “Honored guests!” Vivian announced into a microphone, “Tonight’s grand finale—the Sullivan sisters!” She roughly tore open my ruined wedding dress, exposing my scarred skin: The crowd below erupted in jeering laughter and wolf whistles. Several men wearing gold chains rushed onto the stage first. I twisted desperately. The chains scraped my wrists raw and bloody. “Don’t touch my sister!” I screamed hoarsely, but a yellow-toothed man grabbed my chin. “Scream! The louder the better!” His foul-smelling saliva sprayed on my face as his fingers traced my collarbone. My sister suddenly spoke coldly: “Every inch of skin you touch will become evidence for the Sullivan family to hunt you down.” Just then, my phone rang. Vivian snatched it and triumphantly hit speakerphone. Ethan’s anxious voice immediately came through: “Riley! If you dare touch a hair on Vivian’s head, I’ll never forgive you!” Hearing Ethan defend Vivian on the phone, my heart felt drenched in ice water. This was the man I’d loved with all my heart for three years. The Sullivan family paid for his education, helped build his career. He trampled our sincerity underfoot. In the end, I meant less to him than a stranger. All these years of the Sullivan family’s support—we’d raised a white-eyed wolf. I bit down hard. Blood and tears flowed into my mouth. Fine. Perfect. Since he showed no loyalty, don’t blame me for showing none either. From today on, Riley Sullivan and Ethan—it’s war to the death. “Honey, where are you?” Vivian asked eagerly into the phone. Before she could gloat, Ethan’s terrified voice came through: “Wait! Why do you have Riley’s phone?” “I caught her and taught her a lesson!” Vivian said righteously. “Are you insane?!” Ethan’s voice cracked, “She’s the second daughter of the Sullivan family! Are you trying to destroy me? Let her go right now!” Hearing this, Vivian got angry. She shouted into the phone: “I don’t care about any Sullivan second daughter! You’re the most powerful person to me. Who could be more capable than you? Today I’m teaching her a lesson no matter what!” Furious, she hung up and smashed the phone on the floor. She pulled out a bucket from under the table. As Vivian unscrewed the lid, she rambled on: “Men cheat—it’s normal. Once you’re dead, Ethan will settle down. We can go back to how things were before.” The pungent smell of gasoline instantly filled the air. I shouted in terror: “Vivian, you’re insane! Murder is a capital crime!” “Capital crime?” “Ethan has plenty of money. He’ll clean this up for me. In New York, the Cross family IS the law!” Watching gasoline pour down over us, I forced down my fear and softened my voice: “Vivian, let me and my sister go. We’ll pretend today never happened. I’ll break up with Ethan immediately and never bother you again.” But Vivian wouldn’t listen. She pulled out a lighter, her face twisted with a maniacal smile: “Women’s mouths are full of lies! I’ll only believe it when I watch you die with my own eyes.” The lighter in her hand flicked open with a sharp click, sparking a flame. Just as the flame was about to fall, the club doors crashed open! Through the billowing smoke, my father’s thunderous roar shook the entire venue: “I’d like to see who dares touch my daughters!”

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On a stormy day, I was stuck at school, waiting for Megan to pick me up. Two hours later, she still hadn’t arrived. I couldn’t wait any longer and walked out, only to overhear Megan on the phone around the corner: “I know, I’ll bring him back!” “It’s not like I asked his dad to save me back then. I don’t owe him anything! Why should he emotionally blackmail me like this!” My heart ached. If I could choose, I’d rather my dad hadn’t saved her that day. That way, I wouldn’t have to live under someone else’s roof. That night, I submitted my application to teach in a remote district, determined to leave Megan behind for good. An hour after I got back, Megan’s car finally pulled into the driveway. She stormed upstairs, furious. “Liam, why didn’t you wait for me tonight!” Megan’s voice came from outside my door. I put away my dad’s photo and replied flatly, “I waited two hours.” Megan stood in the doorway, a flash of impatience crossing her face. “The rain caused traffic. Couldn’t you have waited a bit longer!” “What’s so great about that school anyway? Just come work at our family company!” I didn’t agree. “Got it.” I wasn’t ready to tell her about my plans to teach in the countryside yet. “It’s late. I’m going to bed. If there’s nothing else, please go back to your room.” I got up and gently pushed her out. Megan’s face darkened as she grabbed the doorframe. “Liam, there’s a class reunion the day after tomorrow. Come with me!” Thinking of that group of high school classmates made my stomach turn. Before I could refuse, she’d already typed my name into her phone. “I signed you up.” “I’m not going.” For the first time, I refused clearly, grabbing her phone and deleting my name. “Megan, I won’t go. Those are your friends, your circle. They have nothing to do with me! My life doesn’t need you to arrange it!” Megan froze, then laughed coldly. “Fine! I shouldn’t have bothered!” “You don’t need to!” I took a deep breath. “And you don’t need to worry about me anymore. I’m not your burden or your responsibility!” She responded by slamming the door. Looking at my dad’s photo on the desk, complex emotions welled up inside me. When I was six, Megan fell into the water. A flash flood had erupted while her family was camping by the river, and they couldn’t escape in time. Megan was swept into the current. My dad happened to pass by and jumped in without hesitation to save her, but he was pulled under by the rushing water from exhaustion. When they found him, his body was swollen beyond recognition from being submerged for so long. That’s how I lost my father. When the Langley family learned I’d become an orphan, they took me in. Megan took care of me constantly. We grew up together, inseparable. Even her friends joked that I was her shadow. Now she was saying I was emotionally blackmailing her. If I could choose, I’d rather it had been someone else who died in that flood instead of my dad. That way, I wouldn’t have to fall asleep every night looking at his photo. As for the class reunion she mentioned, I’d already seen it in the group chat. Those people had spread rumors in school, saying my dad knew his family was poor and used his sacrifice to give me a chance to latch onto the Langleys. I’d fought one of them over it, and we both got hurt. I was so upset that I refused to apologize even when facing suspension. Megan got the security footage to prove what really happened, and the person who spread the rumors was forced to apologize. But I never forgave them. Because that person was Megan’s good friend, and when they said those things, Megan probably agreed deep down. I left the group chat and looked over my teaching application materials again and again before hitting send. My mentor called right away. “Liam, you’ve decided? Does Megan know?” My mentor had met Megan before. I smiled. “She’s not the one who decides my life. I can make my own choices. It’s fine.” A soft sigh came through the phone. “Alright. Good luck with everything. See you the day after tomorrow.” “Yeah, thanks.” After hanging up, I surveyed my room and started packing. Since I’d decided to leave, I had no intention of coming back. Some things I couldn’t take with me, I’d just throw away. That night I slept restlessly, my dreams chaotic. When I woke, dawn was breaking. Unable to fall back asleep, I got up and went downstairs. Helen Langley was already in the kitchen.

“Liam, you’re up early. Do you have plans today?” “Yeah, going to school. My teaching practicum is almost over.” Helen set a bowl of oatmeal in front of me, her tone gentle. “What are your plans after graduation? You and Megan are the same age, and you’ve been in school all these years. When you enter society, make more friends so you won’t be lonely.” I understood her underlying meaning—she hoped I wouldn’t cling too much to Megan. Robert Langley had indicated more than once that he hoped I’d help Megan in the future, maybe even become part of the family. But Helen didn’t agree. Robert had gotten angry about it, calling her “ungrateful.” I’d once overheard their argument outside the study. I understood what Helen meant, and it stung at the time. The secret dependence and feelings beyond family affection I’d harbored in my youth—others could probably see them too. Not just because my dad saved her, but because back then, Megan really had given the lonely me so much warmth. But now I understood. In her eyes, the Langleys had raised me all these years, and that debt was more or less repaid. There was no need to be bound together like real family anymore. But I never needed them to repay any debt. I just wanted my dad back. If they hadn’t ignored the warnings and insisted on camping in that spot, Megan wouldn’t have been swept away. I smiled and said, “Helen, I’ve actually been wanting to tell you this for a while.” “The Langleys have raised me all these years, and I’m already an adult. I want to move out.” Helen paused. “Liam, you…” “My dad used to say that ultimately, people can only rely on themselves. The Langleys took me in for so many years—you and Robert gave so much. I can’t keep being a burden. It’s time I lived independently.” “I wanted to talk to Megan about this last night, but she was upset. I’m only telling you, and I’d appreciate it if you’d keep it between us. I’m leaving the day after tomorrow.” Helen looked shocked. “So soon!” She didn’t offer any polite words of persuasion, just that one “so soon,” which already revealed her true feelings. Probably realizing how she sounded, she quickly added, “I mean, isn’t it too rushed? You still have so many things to sort out. If Megan finds out, she’ll probably throw a fit.” “I’ll leave it to you to explain it to her, then. Tell her after I’m gone.” Helen’s expression softened. “Alright, Liam. You’ve always been sensible. Have you found a job? Where will you live?” “I found one. I’m going to be a teacher. I report the day after tomorrow. Haven’t found a place yet.” “That’s good, very good.” Helen’s tone clearly lightened. She turned and went upstairs, quickly returning with some documents. “This apartment is downtown, right by the subway station. Very convenient. Take it, Liam. When you’re living alone, stay safe. Don’t rent a place with strangers.” I accepted it. My dad’s life was worth all those years of support from them, plus this apartment. Teaching in a remote area would be tough, and I’d need money in the future. With this apartment, I’d at least have a place to stay when I came back. No need to be precious about it.

After breakfast, Helen took me to transfer the property deed. Looking at my name on the document, I felt relieved. I went back to continue packing. My eyes swept over the small trinkets on the bookshelf—all gifts Megan had given me over the years. I gathered them one by one, sealed them in a box, and prepared to take them to the storage room. As soon as I stepped out, I ran into Megan. “What’s that?” She frowned at the box. “Some old things I don’t need anymore. Taking them to storage.” “Let me help.” She took the box without waiting for an answer and walked off. I had no choice but to follow. “Liam, why won’t you go to the reunion? Are you still hung up on what those people said? That was so long ago! Leo’s back in town. Let’s all just hang out.” Hearing Leo’s name made me pause. So he was back. “I said I’m not going.” My voice was calm. “Megan, who you want to be close to is your business. Don’t use me as an excuse. We don’t have that kind of relationship anymore, and there’s no emotional blackmail. When it comes down to it, you don’t owe me anything either.” Megan’s face turned livid. “You!” I took the box back and put it in the storage room, then turned to leave. Behind me, I heard her kick a cardboard box. For the next two days, I sorted through my old things. Megan didn’t come home, and Robert was on a business trip. Helen helped me pack quite a bit, and I shipped it all away. The day I left, Helen looked up at the second floor, reluctance on her face. “That girl is so busy all the time… Never mind. Liam, she’s busy with work. Let’s not disturb her. Take care of yourself.” I wheeled my luggage out and sent Megan one final message: “Megan, goodbye.” No response. I headed straight for the station and began my long journey. That night, on the sleeper train, I was added back to that class group chat. As soon as I entered, I saw photos Leo had posted from the reunion—him and Megan sitting very close, his arm casually draped over the back of her chair. “After all this time, we meet again! Everyone’s still the same!” The group was full of congratulations and teasing. “Are you two together? Congrats!” “You’re perfect for each other. When’s the wedding?” “Liam didn’t come today. Is he upset? If you two get together, what about Liam?” Someone tagged Megan. After a long pause, Megan finally replied: “What about him? What does it have to do with me?” I stared at the screen, almost able to see her impatient face. I remembered high school, when she’d stand up for me and chase away troublemakers, then ruffle my hair and say, “Liam, you’re family. I’ll always take care of you.” “Liam, you’ve lived with us for so long. Just stay forever, okay?” I’d naively said back then, “I can’t stay forever. I’ll need my own place eventually.” But she’d stubbornly grabbed my wrist. “No! Everyone says you have to repay a life-saving debt. I have to take responsibility for you. We’ll… we’ll always be family.” Those words had made my heart race. I’d thought it was a promise. Looking back now, it was probably just a passing whim. Only I took it seriously. Messages kept flooding the group. Someone mentioned me again, and Megan brushed it off: “Stop bringing him up. He lived with my family for all those years. Any debt was paid off long ago.” Leo chimed in: “Exactly. Megan has her own life. She can’t be tied down by the past forever.” I laughed coldly and typed in the message box: “I could have lived without depending on anyone. It was you, Megan, who made me lose my only family. If I could turn back time, I would hold my dad back and stop him from saving you.” Send. Leave group. Block everyone. Megan, goodbye forever.

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New Year’s Eve, two in the morning, I rushed home through the snow. The moment I pulled back the covers, a strong scent of perfume hit me in the face. This wasn’t my perfume. Then I felt something sticky on the bed, and beside the pillow lay a long strand of blonde hair. I stared at my sleeping husband, Warren. He suddenly jerked awake, stammering: “You… how did you get back early?” I forced down my nausea and didn’t lose my temper. Instead, I sent a message to that college girl I’d been supporting for four years, who was currently sleeping in the guest room: [Are you asleep? I prepared a New Year’s gift for you—fifty thousand in cash] My phone vibrated. Mia’s message popped up immediately. [Thank you! I just woke up, Happy New Year!] Just woke up? Two minutes ago, I clearly heard sounds of someone getting dressed and coughing from the guest room next door. For fifty thousand dollars, she wouldn’t even bother pretending. I left the bedroom. Warren sprang up instantly, reaching out to grab me: “Honey, where are you going this late?” His palm was covered in cold sweat. The feeling reminded me of the bed sheets I’d just touched. “To give Mia her gift.” I avoided his hand and grabbed a stack of cash from the nightstand. “It’s New Year’s. Of course I should give a gift.” Warren’s face turned pale, his eyes darting toward the door: “You could give it to her tomorrow… she must be sleeping…” “She’s awake. She just replied to my message.” I ignored his attempt to stop me and pulled open the door. Walking through the hallway, I found the guest room door slightly ajar. I pushed it open. A wave of cheap perfume hit me, mixed with the smell of bodily fluids after sex. Mia was wearing a silk nightgown I’d bought last year, sitting cross-legged on the bed. Seeing me come in, there was no shame on her face. Instead, a trace of a smile appeared: “Hey, why are you back so late?” The sheets were rumpled, there was an indentation on the pillow, and a half-full glass of water sat on the nightstand. I walked to the bedside, looking at this girl we’d been supporting for four years. Her face was indeed young, with an innocence that hadn’t been beaten down by society yet. “Take it.” I raised my hand and threw the fifty thousand dollars right at her face. Bills flew through the air, landing on her hair, her shoulders, falling into her low-cut neckline. Mia froze. The next second, she crawled on the bed, picking up the money piece by piece and clutching it to her chest, her face all smiles: “Thank you so much. You’re so good to me.” As she bent down, her neckline slipped, revealing a small red mark on her chest. I forced down the urge to tear these two apart. “You’re welcome. After all, some money isn’t easy to earn—you have to trade your body for it.” Mia’s movements paused. She looked up, her eyes venomous but quickly switching to innocent: “What are you talking about? I’m using knowledge to change my destiny.” “Is that so?” I glanced at the bed sheets. “I think what you’re learning isn’t knowledge—it’s positions.” With that, I turned and left without looking at her expression. Back in the master bedroom, Warren stood by the window. He’d already rolled up the electric blanket into a ball. “Honey, this blanket’s a bit old. I just saw some dirty stuff on it. Let’s get a new one tomorrow.” “Dirty stuff? It is pretty filthy.” I walked to the bed and yanked down the sheets, duvet cover, and pillow cores in one motion. “Throw it all away. I don’t like things other people have touched. Disgusting.” Warren didn’t dare argue. He carried the pile of bedding out of the room. Watching his back, I pulled out my phone and opened an app. It was for the miniature cameras I’d installed earlier to observe the cleaning lady’s work. They happened to cover the blind spots in the living room and hallway. On the screen, two people were tangled together, rolling from the living room into the master bedroom. I expressionlessly saved the video.

The next morning, firecrackers sounded outside the window. Warren got up unusually early. The dining table was set with pizza and roast chicken. “Honey, eat while it’s hot.” Warren was wearing an apron. “You worked hard last night. Just rest at home today.” Mia sat across from him, wearing a turtleneck sweater that covered her neck. Seeing me come out, she got up and ladled a bowl of soup, placing it in front of me: “Try this soup. Warren went specially to a restaurant to buy it.” I didn’t touch the utensils, looking at Warren instead: “Rest? You’re supposed to come with me to my parents’ place today. Did you forget?” Warren’s smile stiffened. Then he clutched his stomach: “Oh no, honey, I was fine until you mentioned it, but now my stomach’s cramping.” “I probably caught a chill waiting up for you until midnight last night.” What a performance! If I hadn’t seen the video of him naked and tangled with Mia, I might have believed him. “That’s right.” Mia immediately chimed in. “Warren’s health has never been good. It’s snowing so hard outside—what if it gets worse?” “Why don’t… you go by yourself? I’ll stay home and take care of him.” What a harmonious duet. So this is what they were waiting for. “Fine.” I picked up the car keys. “Since your stomach hurts, stay home and rest. Remember to take your medicine. Don’t die at home—that would be unlucky.” Warren breathed a sigh of relief: “Drive carefully, honey. Come back early.” I walked out. The moment I closed the security door, I heard Mia’s laughter from inside: “Finally she’s gone, that old hag…” I got in the car but didn’t start the engine. Instead, I pulled out my phone and connected to the surveillance feed. On the screen, the second I left, Warren pulled Mia into his arms: “Baby, you scared me. I thought she’d discovered something.” Mia pushed him, then leaned into his embrace: “So what if she discovers it? You already said once we get the money, we’ll run away together.” Warren chuckled, his hand sliding under her clothes: “Just be patient a little longer. The equity transfer agreement for her company can be signed next month.” “When that happens, this whole family will be ours.” Mia pushed Warren away and walked into the master bedroom. A few minutes later, she came out. She was wearing my brand-new haute couture cashmere coat that I’d just brought home, along with my diamond necklace. She spun in front of the hallway mirror: “Warren, do I look good in this?” “This coat is wasted on that old woman. Only I’m worthy of wearing it.” Warren hugged her from behind: “Beautiful, so beautiful! All of this will be yours soon—even this house.” Mia stroked the coat’s collar: “Of course. Oh, that fifty thousand she gave me—can I use it to buy a bag?” “Buy it! Whatever you want!” The two started unbuttoning each other in front of the mirror. I turned off the surveillance and took a deep breath. I hadn’t even cut the tags off that coat yet. I started the car and floored the gas pedal. But I didn’t go to the cemetery. Instead, I circled the neighborhood and parked back downstairs. Since you two are so eager, I’ll grant your wish. Five minutes later, I stood at my front door and took out my keys. I turned the lock directly. The soft “click” echoed through the living room. The door opened. In the living room, two tangled figures sprang apart instantly. Mia was wearing my coat, the buttons half undone, with her sweater pushed up underneath. Warren’s belt was unbuckled, his pants hanging on his hips. Seeing me, both their faces went deathly pale. Warren nearly fell to his knees, stuttering: “H-honey? How… how did you come back?” I ignored him, staring at my coat on Mia’s body, and strode over. I backhanded her across the face. “Take it off.” Mia was stunned, covering her face without reacting. I physically tore it off her. “You think you’re worthy of wearing my clothes?” I looked into her eyes. “Look at yourself. You really think putting on phoenix feathers makes you a divine bird?”

I’d stripped Mia down to just her turtleneck sweater. She huddled in the corner of the couch, crying. “I… I didn’t mean to… Warren said the coat looked nice and told me to try it on…” Warren finally snapped out of it and rushed over to push me away, standing in front of Mia: “Claire! What’s wrong with you?” “It’s just a coat! Mia is a student you’re supporting—she’s like our daughter!” “Daughter?” I pointed at the two disheveled people. “What kind of father rolls around on the couch with his so-called daughter?” “Warren, did you leave your brain in the bedsheets, or do you think I’m blind?” Warren’s face turned red: “We… we were just playing around. You’re thinking dirty thoughts—your mind is filthy!” Just then, the doorbell rang. “Warren! Open up! We came to visit you!” Hearing the voices, Mia’s eyes lit up. She immediately wiped away her tears, fixed her hair and clothes, and rushed over to open the door. “Happy New Year, everyone!” Mia took the local specialties from various aunts and relatives, her face full of smiles. If you ignored her swollen face, you’d really think she was the lady of the house. “Oh my, this must be Mia! What a pretty girl!” “This girl is so thoughtful, up early doing housework. Not like some people who travel for work on New Year’s and don’t care about family at all.” Aunt Grace pursed her lips, her eyes cutting toward me. These relatives had always looked down on me because I didn’t give them money and hadn’t had children. Mia poured tea for everyone and arranged strawberries in the most prominent spot: “Everyone, please try these. These are organic strawberries that Claire specially bought—over a hundred dollars per pound.” “Usually Claire won’t even let me eat them, but today you all get to enjoy them.” Aunt Grace ate while talking: “Of course—she’s a CEO. How could she care about us poor relatives?” “Only Mia is kind-hearted. Warren, you need to think clearly about some things. You should marry someone who cares about family, not someone who only has eyes for money.” Warren smiled apologetically, but his eyes kept drifting to Mia. I leaned against the cabinet, watching this farce. “Aunt Grace is right.” I suddenly spoke, a fake smile on my face. “Mia really is capable. Since she loves doing housework so much, tonight’s dinner is all hers to prepare.” Mia’s smile froze. “Also.” I pointed at the bathroom. “The toilet’s a bit clogged. The cleaning lady is on vacation. Since Mia is so thoughtful, why don’t you scrub it while you’re at it?” Mia looked to Warren for help. Warren was about to speak when I cut him off: “What? Does it hurt your feelings? Didn’t you say she’s like our daughter? Shouldn’t a daughter help out around the house?” In front of the relatives, Warren could only grit his teeth: “Mia, then… help Claire out.” Mia went into the kitchen with red-rimmed eyes. Watching her cough from the cooking fumes, I felt slightly better. I sat on the couch cracking sunflower seeds, listening to Aunt Grace and the others criticize me. Until a bratty kid suddenly pulled something out of Mia’s bag. “Mommy! Look how pretty this is!” It was a limited edition lipstick I’d lost last month. The living room went silent. Aunt Grace looked embarrassed: “This… maybe Mia accidentally took it by mistake…” “Accidentally?” I took the lipstick and looked at Mia, who had just brought out a dish. “This lipstick hasn’t even been opened. What, my things grew legs and walked into your bag?” Mia’s face turned pale, the plate trembling in her hands. Warren immediately jumped in: “I gave it to Mia. I saw you didn’t use that shade much, so I gave it to her.” Mia’s tears came on command: “You gave it to me… don’t you remember?” Magnificent. I tossed the lipstick back into her knockoff bag and wiped my hands. “Fine. Since I gave it to you, I’ll see it through.” Under the table, I sent a message to my lawyer: [Is the agreement ready? I need it tonight.]

The dinner table was covered with food. Mia was exhausted, her makeup smudged, her hair greasy. She forced herself to sit next to Warren and put a piece of pizza on my plate: “Try my cooking.” The sauce looked blackish. I didn’t touch it, just swirled my wine glass. Suddenly, Mia covered her mouth and rushed into the bathroom with a “gag.” Retching sounds came from inside. Aunt Grace’s eyes lit up: “Oh my! That sound… could she be pregnant?” Warren’s chopsticks shook. He gulped down some liquor, his face darkening. Mia came out supporting herself against the wall, her eyes red. “Warren… I…” “It’s okay, I’m here!” Warren pulled Mia onto his lap. “Claire, since we’re already talking about this, I won’t hide it anymore.” “Mia is pregnant. It’s my child.” Aunt Grace glanced at me. “Claire, don’t blame Warren.” “You’ve been married four years and your belly still hasn’t moved.” Aunt Susan chimed in: “Exactly! What man doesn’t want a child?” “Mia is young with a healthy body. Since she’s pregnant, it’s heaven’s will.” “As a wife, you should be magnanimous and let her have the child.” Warren raised his voice: “Mia doesn’t need a title. As long as the child can be born and recognized by the family.” “You’ll still be the lady of the house. The child will even call you Mom.” “You want me to raise a mistress’s child?” I lifted my wine glass and swirled it. “Warren, has your brain short-circuited? You can actually dream this up?” Warren slammed the table. “Claire! Don’t be ungrateful!” “If I hadn’t taken care of you these past years, could you have focused on your career?” “Now I just want a child, and you want to kill us all? You’re so vicious.” Mia huddled in his arms crying: “Claire, I don’t want anything. I just want to repay Warren for his kindness…” “If you really can’t accept me, I’ll leave right now, even if I end up on the streets…” “Leave? Where to?” Aunt Grace stood up and blocked the door. “You’re carrying our family’s child. Who dares let you leave!” “Repayment, huh?” I put down my wine glass. The glass made a crisp sound hitting the table. “Since everyone is so righteous, I have a video of Mia’s repayment here.” “Let’s watch it while we eat. It’ll liven up the evening.” I picked up the remote and pressed the cast button. On the TV screen, Warren and Mia were naked and tangled on the couch. Mia’s voice came through: “Warren, your poor relatives are so annoying, especially that Aunt Grace.” “She wanted me to date her son? She should look in a mirror.” Warren laughed between heavy breaths: “Bear with it, baby. They’re just a bunch of old leeches.” “Once Claire dies and we get the money…” “The first thing I’ll do is cut ties with these poor bastards so they stop clinging to us.” On screen, Mia’s finger traced circles on Warren’s chest: “So… that accident insurance, did you buy it?” “The brake pads on her car—you tampered with them and it really can’t be detected?” Warren’s voice echoed through the living room: “Don’t worry, I’ve arranged everything.” “As long as something happens to her, that’s tens of millions in compensation, plus this house and the company shares…” “Then we’ll take the money and go abroad. Who cares if these poor relatives live or die?” Only the laughter of the two people on screen echoed through the room. Aunt Grace trembled all over, pointing at Warren: “You… what did you say? You want to cut ties? And you want to… murder someone?” Mia had lost all color in her face, collapsing limply to the floor. Warren stared at the screen, his lips trembling, unable to speak. I took a sip of red wine. “This is the New Year’s gift Miss Mia prepared for you all. How about it? Surprised?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “366182”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic