I was the most privileged heiress of the city’s elite. Caleb Thorne, on the other hand, was the poor student I’d supported for three years. He hated my overbearing nature, my unbearably entitled ways, yet he was powerless to escape. Until later, when he got into a top-tier university in the US for his PhD, stepping onto the highest award platform. I wired him a final, staggering sum, then turned around and announced my engagement. Before the wedding, I saw a news report where a reporter interviewed Caleb. “At this moment, what do you most want to say?” Caleb looked at the camera, his voice calm and cold: “I won’t be returning to this city. And, I wish her a happy marriage.” He truly had never loved me; it was only today that I was forced to admit it. 1 When Caleb pushed open the private lounge door, the man beside me was eagerly offering me a sip of his drink. The moment he appeared, the lounge went silent. The man feeding me wine looked a bit flustered, trying to set down his glass. But I pressed down on his hand. The cool liquid slid down my throat, and I squinted, a little hazy, before finally looking towards the door. Caleb was still in his white shirt and black trousers, a backpack slung over one shoulder, an academic vibe clinging to him. What was different from usual, though, was his expression. His eyes were frigid, carrying a world-weary detachment. His lips were tightly pressed, forming a thin line. “Blaire Harrison.” He called my name softly. No warmth, no emotional rise or fall. Yet, for some reason, I felt a flicker of fear. I had been slumped softly on the couch, but now I unconsciously straightened up a little. And instinctively closed my legs, tugging at my skirt. 2 “Caleb Thorne, congrats! A PhD from a TOP 1 university in the US, you’ve really shot to stardom, haven’t you?” “Yeah, Caleb, remember three years ago when we first met? You were so broke you couldn’t even afford a decent meal.” “After only three years under my wing, people would think you’re some rich heir now, wouldn’t they?” The words were unpleasant, almost grating. This crowd had never dared to speak like this before, because I fiercely protected those close to me. The last guy who dared to trash-talk him when drunk? He hasn’t set foot back in this city since. But tonight was different. Caleb had clearly fallen out of favor. I didn’t want him anymore. Those who’d always looked down on him naturally seized the chance to kick him while he was down. But Caleb seemed not to hear them at all. He walked through the crowd with a blank expression, heading straight for me. I sat there, looking up at him. “We’re celebrating you tonight, why are you so late?” “You owe us three shots then.” I lowered my eyes, signaling for someone to pour the drinks. But Caleb leaned over and directly grabbed my wrist: “Come outside with me.” “Caleb…” “Blaire Harrison, now. Come outside with me.” His tone remained calm, but the grip on my hand tightened. I saw his tense jaw, and the eyes under his fringe, cold as a deep freeze. I suddenly wanted to laugh. See? Three years, and he was still this cold to me. Still hated me this much. 3 “Playing the jealous type?” I deliberately flashed him a malicious smile. “Doesn’t really fit your ‘Big Shot PhD’ persona, does it?” He seemed too bothered to humor me. He simply pulled me up from the couch. I was too tipsy to stand steady, and stumbled awkwardly into his arms. Furious, I kicked him. My sharp high heel hit his hard shin bone. It only hurt me more. My heart felt like it was burning with a fire, threatening to turn me to ashes. But Caleb always just watched, detached. I held my breath, wanting to violently shake him off. But he gripped me tighter, his face grim, dragging me outside. I stumbled along, barely keeping pace with him. Until we were out of the lounge, reaching the end of the deserted corridor. Only then did he stop, drop his backpack, and press me against the wall. “What does this mean, Blaire Harrison?” “What do you mean, ‘what does this mean’?” “Those men, what did they mean?” “Exactly what you saw.” “Blaire Harrison, three years ago, we agreed. I wouldn’t have other women, and you wouldn’t find other men.” “I made the rules. Whether I keep them is up to me.” I lifted my face to him, reached up, grabbed his shirt collar, and pulled him closer. Those words had been swirling in my mind for so long, too proud to ever say them, but now I couldn’t hold back. “You and that junior colleague of yours, you’ve been ambiguous for a while, haven’t you? She followed you to study in the US, wanting to build a life together…” I lightly patted his cheek. “You wouldn’t think I’d cling to a man who’d been soiled, would you?” With that, I pushed him away hard, turning to leave: “Get lost. And stay lost. Don’t come back, don’t let me see you!” “I didn’t.” My steps faltered, but I didn’t turn back. “I never broke my promise to you, Blaire Harrison.” I lifted my chin, forcing back the tears. I used to believe that if I wanted something, I could have anything, even if I had to force it. But later, I understood: things you force to happen… they never truly last. It’s pointless. “It must have been hard for you these past three years.” I turned around, leaning against the wall, smiling at him. “I’m sorry. Sorry that you had to be with someone you didn’t like for so long.” Caleb walked towards me, step by step. “I don’t like owing anyone anything.” He gently took my shoulders, looking down at me intently. “Three years, just like we agreed. Three years.” “Blaire Harrison… if you want to find someone new, fine. After we’re done.” Then, before I could even speak, he lowered his head and kissed me. 4 That was the first time Caleb had ever initiated a kiss with me. If I remembered correctly. It was also the only time in our three years together. The only time we spent an entire night in the same bed. The only time I ever pleaded with him to stop. The only time I fell asleep in his arms. 5 Three-year countdown: Day 7. Caleb left the country to participate in an important international competition. As expected, his team won the gold medal. I watched him stand on the podium, radiant and full of confidence. What I thought was, *Good. Good that he didn’t become self-destructive or succumb to pleasure because of me.* *Good that he remained strong and upward-striving, still shining brightly.* Three-year countdown: Day

I called my assistant, Drew, and had him wire a sum of money to Caleb’s account. The amount was quite astonishing; even Drew was surprised. I changed my clothes and went downstairs. I told my father, who was reading the newspaper in the living room, “I’ve reviewed the candidates you mentioned. I’ll go with Sawyer Hayes.” The eldest grandson of the Hayes family, the legitimate heiress of the Harrison family. A perfect match of status and wealth. My father put down his newspaper. “No more rebellion?” I smiled. “No more rebellion.” Five years ago, my elder brother, Leo, and his wife, Clara, died in a tragic car accident on a trip abroad. They died instantly, leaving only my two-year-old nephew, Arthur, who miraculously survived. My mother couldn’t bear such a blow; she fell ill and couldn’t recover. Only when little Arthur cried by her bedside did she finally pull herself together. Three months ago, Arthur was kidnapped on his way home from school. When he was rescued, he was deeply shaken and withdrawn, almost catatonic. This time, my mother completely collapsed. Her bloodline now consisted only of me and my nephew. Yet my half-siblings were all successful and accomplished adults. My father had built his empire on the foundation of my mother’s family fortune. I couldn’t let this family business fall into their hands. “Then the Hayes family it is,” my father nodded, satisfied. Half a day later, the news of my engagement to Sawyer Hayes spread like wildfire across the city. The wedding date was set for six months later. 6 The day Sawyer accompanied me to try on wedding dresses and jewelry. The news was playing on the TV at home. I happened to look up and saw Caleb.

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Her Wedding Day, My Last Breath I heard my wife’s junior colleague was dying. His one and only wish was to have a wedding ceremony with my wife, Seraphina. The moment she agreed, I told the System, “Help me leave this world.” Seraphina asked me for a divorce twice. Both times, I couldn’t make it to the courthouse as planned. Not until I was lying on the operating table, a terminally ill patient. She, the lead surgeon, looked at me, horrified and desperate, “How can it be you?” What shattered her even more was this: I would, as per the System’s design, die by her hands. Leaving her with eternal guilt. Seraphina was a surgeon, the hospital’s renowned “golden hand.” She was incredibly busy. So busy that she only notified me of our divorce via SnapChat. “Find some time to finalize the divorce.” “Julian’s emotions are unstable; he can’t wait.” I stared at the table, laden with cold food, the edges of the cream cake melting. Just like our relationship – ten years, from our school days to wedding vows, all crumbling in an instant. I called her several times; she finally picked up on the fourth ring. Her voice was distant. “Something wrong? I was busy.” I instinctively wanted to apologize, thinking she was in surgery. Doctors, after all, always have to be responsible for their patients. But then, I heard a man’s soft chuckle in the background. “Clothes are off, come quickly.” Blood rushed to my head. “Seraphina, we’re still married, aren’t we?” She explained, her tone cool and collected. “You misunderstood. I was bathing Julian’s dog.” I closed my eyes, my nails digging into my palms. “Seraphina, if we divorce, I will disappear.” This was the System’s original setting; no one could change it. She didn’t reply. I heard movement on her end. She must have moved to a different spot to talk. She lowered her voice. “Liam, I’ve explained it many times. It’s just a ceremony.” “After I fulfill his wish, we’ll get back together.” “Why do you always use ‘disappearing’ to pressure me?” When she used my full name, it usually meant she was angry. Seeing that I didn’t answer, Seraphina’s breathing grew heavy. Because she’d once said she hated it when I was silent and unresponsive. “Liam, be rational.” I scoffed. “You’re at Julian’s place late at night, telling me to be rational? Don’t you think that’s funny?” Legally, she was still my wife, after all. There was a long sigh on the other end. Then, her indifferent words pierced my heart, one by one. “Liam, Friday morning. Let’s get the divorce done.”

I scooped a bite of cream into my mouth, a bitter taste spreading on my tongue. It was laughable. She remembered bathing Julian’s dog, but forgot it was my birthday today. Maybe her heart had wandered, and her memories had gone with it. “System, can you sing ‘Happy Birthday’?” “No, I only sing dirges.” I chuckled. “Then don’t bother. Save it for when I die.” “Help me leave this world.” If I left here, I could return to my original world. In that world, though I didn’t have a healthy body, I had a loving family and friends. I missed the rice noodle rolls from downstairs and the beef soup from the old street market. And of course, my dad’s warm, hearty porridge. Here, I only cooked for Seraphina. Because she was a doctor. Her hands were vital to her patients, and to her. But when I saw Julian’s Ins post, I completely broke down. Her slender, well-protected fingers, those hands I cherished, were patiently peeling crawfish for him. The caption read: “My golden hands only peel shrimp for me.” It made all my past efforts seem like a joke. “Host, won’t you try harder?” “No.” My heart was dead. The moment she decided to divorce, the mission was doomed to fail. It was just a matter of when I would die. Why not end it sooner? The System sighed faintly. “Self-termination will be a bit painful.” “Good news is, you get to choose how you die.” I thought about it seriously. A faint smile touched my lips. “Seraphina never believed I would disappear.” “Then I’ll die by her golden hands.” I bet her expression would be priceless then.

I couldn’t make it to the courthouse to finalize the divorce that Friday. After the termination protocol started, my body quickly showed signs of decay, my immune system severely weakened. I had a fever. My lips were dry and cracked. Subconsciously, I called out, “Seraphina, water.” Usually, whenever she was home, I would always have perfectly temperate water. I liked and was used to her accommodating me in small things. But opening my eyes, I remembered she’d moved out long ago. The day she agreed to marry Julian. “He’s my teacher’s son. For my teacher’s sake, I have to take care of him.” “He’s practically dying; it’s just a wedding ceremony. Can’t you be the bigger person?” That day, I stared at her blankly. “If it’s just a ceremony, why bother getting divorced?” She lowered her eyes, her fair, beautiful face tinged with frost. “We can’t have him known as the other man, can we?” Right, legally, we weren’t divorced, so he would be the “other man.” She was really going all out for this act. I looked at her indifferently. “Seraphina, if we divorce, I can’t ever get back together with you.” She froze for a second, dropping her suitcase. She gripped my arm tightly. “What did you say?” “You won’t be with me? Who will you be with?” “You said you were an orphan in this world; you have no family except me.” Perhaps she hurt me physically, and it also stung my heart. I patiently pushed her away. “Let go. You were the one who didn’t want me first.” But she ignored me and threw herself into my arms. Remembering our ten years together, my eyes welled up. “Don’t be sad, Liam. If you’re sad, I’ll be even sadder.” “How could I not want you?” She awkwardly tried to comfort me. Her kisses trailed from my lips down to my Adam’s apple. She said she was an orphan and her teacher had taken care of her so much since she was little. She said Julian was just like a younger brother. I believed her. After all, he had a rare, terminal illness and was dying, wasn’t he? The System said if we restored our marital relationship within three months, the mission wouldn’t be a failure. It wasn’t until a week later, when I went to the hospital to bring her some nutrient soup. Passing by the outdoor parking lot, Julian was in the driver’s seat, car windows fully open. She stood outside the car, hands in the pockets of her white coat, looking stunningly elegant. The next second, she bent down and kissed her “little brother.” It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head. I watched numbly as she reached out a fair, slender finger and playfully ruffled his hair. “Be good, go home and rest.” He seemed to mumble something, then put on his sunglasses and drove off. All of this felt so familiar. She used to do all that for me. She wanted to fulfill his wish to marry her, and a chilling realization dawned on me. Was it merely sympathy and a sense of responsibility? Perhaps, her heart had already wandered? Wandered to another man, all while trying not to violate the vows of our relationship. No wonder she was so eager to divorce and get married to him. That day, I threw the nutrient soup into the trash. And along with it, the heart I once gave her so completely, so unconditionally.

In a feverish haze, my phone rang repeatedly. I struggled to reach for it and answered. Seraphina’s voice, tinged with annoyance, came through. “Do you have any sense of time? I’ve been waiting for you for half an hour.” Oh, I was burning up and forgot about the divorce today. I said weakly, “I have a fever. Can we reschedule?” I was so weak, I couldn’t even get out of bed. How was I supposed to go? She chuckled on the other end. “You forgot I’m a doctor? With your strong-as-an-ox physique, how could you possibly have a fever?” “You’re 28, not a little boy like Julian. Stop being dramatic.” I actually laughed, angered. “You might not know, but the ‘little boy’ you speak of is only two years younger than me.” She used to call me ‘little boy’ too. Maybe she was just tired of it now. It didn’t matter. I had no expectations of her anymore.

I missed the second divorce appointment too. On my way out, I had a bit of an accident. At a crosswalk, a two-year-old girl in a cheerful, cartoon-print overall dress, with her short legs, rushed out to find her dad. A car turning the corner lost control due to speeding. Without thinking, I pushed her forcefully to a safe zone. *Bang!* I felt like I was being shattered. The hit-and-run driver didn’t stop for a second, speeding away. I turned my head and saw the license plate – it looked familiar. In a flash of lightning, I remembered Julian’s car in the hospital parking lot. It was him. The girl was picked up by her frantic family, crying inconsolably. “Uncle, Uncle is hurt.” All I felt was pain, the kind that made my organs feel crushed. But there was no blood, as I’d expected. “System, am I dying?” It didn’t go as planned, a bit regrettable. But to save a cute little kid before I died, I felt no regrets. The System paused for a few seconds, then replied calmly. “Congratulations, Host. Before your designated death date, you temporarily cannot die.” “All the symptoms of the car accident will only manifest on the day you leave.” The System then sheepishly added, “This is a perk I managed to get for you.” 小·虎bot文件防·盗印，找丶书·机器人选小·虎，稳·定靠谱，不踩·坑！ I found the System unexpectedly endearing. I smiled. “Good. Then Seraphina can see what her new husband did to me.” Lily’s dad and grandmother surrounded me. Lily’s dad said with red eyes, “You saved my baby, you saved our whole family.” They almost knelt down to me. I repeatedly insisted I was fine, but they still enthusiastically urged me into their car and took me to the hospital. “How can you be fine? The car’s bumper was completely caved in.” “You’re telling me a person is tougher than a car?” Left with no choice, I called Seraphina in advance. “I was in a car accident. Can we reschedule?”

I never expected them to take me to Seraphina’s hospital. “Let me see the report.” A familiar voice sounded from above my head. Seraphina burst in like a whirlwind, her forehead glistening with sweat. As if she had just rushed back from somewhere. The other doctor patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Dr. Seraphina, he’s fine.” Before the System-assigned death date, no instrument could detect any issues with my body. Seraphina meticulously read every paper report. When she looked up again, her eyes held an unfamiliar sharpness. “No external or internal injuries. What kind of car accident is this?” “Liam, you’ve stood me up twice now. What’s your game?” I folded my hands. “A car accident, that’s what. Oh, and it was your new husband who hit me. He fled the scene too.” She didn’t even think, frowning as she retorted, “Impossible. Julian is a good guy; he wouldn’t do something like that.” “So you’re saying I’m not a good guy, that I’d lie?” Both of us froze after I said that. A flicker of awkwardness crossed her eyes. Because she, too, realized that she trusted Julian more than me. I asked the System in my mind, “Will he get caught?” The System replied definitively, “Yes. This world is still a society governed by law.” Oh, good, then I felt relieved. Let the law judge her ‘good guy.’ If it weren’t for the System protecting me, that massive impact should have killed me instantly. He was a hit-and-run driver. I raised my hand to check my watch. “Seraphina, let’s go. To the courthouse, now.” “Otherwise, I’m out of time.” Her hands were in her pockets, her tone flat. “What do you mean, ‘out of time’?” “I’m dying.” Three days from now, at 4 PM. I once asked the System, “Is there anything special about that time?” “Ten years ago, at 4 PM, was when you two first met.” Oh, full circle. Seraphina glanced indifferently out the window, her tone impatient. “Liam, you should see a psychologist.” I laughed, angered. “Seraphina, you’re the one who’s sick, wanting to have your cake and eat it too, you manipulative…!” I turned to leave, but she grabbed my wrist. “Haven’t been eating properly lately? You’ve lost weight.” “None of your business.” “Eat something first, Liam.” Just as I was about to refuse, her phone vibrated. I saw Julian’s name on the screen. Seraphina instinctively let go of my hand. He was whining on the phone, saying he had a nightmare and was scared. Seraphina softly soothed him for a few moments. She glanced at me, then replied to him, “Yes, I’ll be back soon.” When she ended the call, a flicker of hesitation crossed her eyes. “Liam, you go eat first—” I scoffed internally. A nightmare? Or was he scared and guilty from hitting someone? Perfect. By choosing him again, Seraphina missed our last meal together. When she thought back on it later, would she regret it? The final countdown of my life. I lay on the cold operating table. Waves of stomach-churning, organ-shattering pain washed over me. It’s okay, just bear with it.

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I heard Dr. Julian Hayes’s junior was dying. Her only wish was to have a wedding with him. The moment he agreed. I messaged the System, “Help me leave this world.” Julian had rushed me to get a divorce twice. Both times, I couldn’t make it to the divorce court as planned. Not until I, a terminally ill patient, lay on the operating table. He, my lead surgeon, looked at me with horror and despair, “How can it be you?” What shattered him even more was this: According to the System’s setup, I would die by his hand. Leaving him consumed by eternal guilt. Dr. Julian Hayes was a surgeon, the hospital’s renowned “magic hands.” He was incredibly busy. So busy that he only notified me about the divorce on SnapChat. “Find some time to finalize the divorce.” “Scarlett’s emotions are unstable, she can’t wait.” I stared at the table laden with cold food, the frosting on the cream cake melting at the edges. It was like our relationship, a decade-long journey from high school sweethearts to husband and wife, crumbling in an instant. I called him several times; he finally picked up on the fourth try. His voice was flat, “Something wrong? I was busy.” My first instinct was to apologize, assuming he was in surgery. Doctors, after all, are always responsible for their patients. But then, a playful female voice chirped in the background, “Clothes are off, hurry up.” My blood ran cold. “Julian Hayes, we’re still married, you know?” He explained it away with an unsettling nonchalance. “You misunderstood. I was giving Scarlett’s dog a bath.” I closed my eyes, my fingernails digging tightly into my palms. “Julian, if we divorce, I’ll disappear.” That was the System’s original setting. No one could change it. He didn’t reply. I heard movement on his end. He probably moved to another spot to take the call. He lowered his voice. “Audrey Hayes, I’ve explained it countless times. It’s just a ceremony.” “We’ll remarry after I fulfill her wish.” “Why do you always use this ‘disappearing’ as leverage?” Usually, when he called me by my full name, it meant he was angry. Seeing I didn’t answer, Julian’s breathing grew heavy. He had often said he hated it when I stayed silent and didn’t respond. “Audrey Hayes, be rational.” I scoffed, “You’re at Scarlett Reid’s house late at night, telling me to be rational? Don’t you find that laughable?” After all, legally, he was still my husband. There was a long sigh from his end. Then, his indifferent words, one by one, pierced my heart. “Audrey Hayes, Friday morning, let’s get the divorce done.”

I dug a spoonful of cream cake into my mouth, a bitter taste dissolving on my tongue. It was ironic. He remembered bathing Scarlett Reid’s dog but forgot it was my birthday. Perhaps his heart wasn’t in it anymore, and neither was his memory of me. “System, do you sing birthday songs?” “No, I only sing funeral dirges.” I chuckled, “Then no need for now. Save it for when I die.” “Help me leave this world.” If I left this world, I could return to my original one. In my original world, though I didn’t have a healthy body. I had loving family and friends. I missed the classic diner breakfast downstairs, and the hearty chicken noodle soup from the old market. And of course, my mom’s warm, comforting homemade stew. Here, I only ever cooked for Julian. Because he was a doctor. His hands were vital for his patients, and for him. But when I saw Scarlett Reid’s Ins post, I instantly broke down. His perfectly sculpted hands, the ones I’d always protected, were patiently peeling shrimp for her. The caption read, “My magic hands only peel shrimp for me.” It made all my past efforts feel like a cruel joke. “Host, won’t you try a little harder?” “No.” My heart was dead. The moment he decided to divorce, my mission was doomed to fail. It was just a matter of when I’d die. Why not end it sooner? The System sighed softly, “Self-initiated departure will be a bit painful.” “Good news is, you can choose how you die.” I thought about it seriously. And let out a faint laugh. “Julian never believed I’d disappear.” “So, I’ll die by his ‘magic hands’ then.” I guessed his expression would be priceless.

I couldn’t make it to the divorce court on Friday as planned. After the departure program initiated. My body quickly started showing signs of decay, my immunity critically low. I had a fever. My lips were so chapped they felt like sandpaper. I subconsciously called out, “Darling, water.” Before, whenever he was home, I always had water at just the right temperature. I loved, and had grown accustomed to, his pampering me in small ways. But opening my eyes, I remembered he’d moved out long ago. The day he agreed to marry Scarlett Reid. “She’s my mentor’s daughter. Out of respect for my mentor, I have to take care of her.” “She’s dying. It’s just a wedding ceremony. Be a little more understanding.” I stared at him blankly that day. “If it’s just a ceremony, why bother getting a divorce?” He lowered his gaze, his fair, refined face tinged with coldness. “I can’t let her be his mistress, can I?” Right, if we weren’t legally divorced, she’d be the other woman. So he was really committing to the act. I looked at him indifferently. “Julian Hayes, if we divorce, there’s no way I’ll ever remarry you.” He froze for a second, then dropped his suitcase. He grabbed my arm tightly. “What did you say?” “If not with me, then who would you be with?” “You told me you’re an orphan in this world, with no family except me.” Maybe he was gripping me too hard. Tears welled up in my eyes. I clenched my fists and hit him, “Let go, you jerk! You’re the one who gave up on me first!” But he pulled me into a tight embrace. My tears stained the collar of his white shirt. “Don’t cry, Audrey. Your tears hurt me.” “How could I ever give up on you?” He awkwardly wiped my tears away. Kissing me all the way from my forehead to my lips. He said he was an orphan, and his mentor’s wife had looked after him since he was young. He said Scarlett was just like a sister. I believed him. After all, she had a rare, terminal illness and was dying, wasn’t she? The System said if we restored our marital relationship within three months, the mission wouldn’t be a failure. A week later, I went to the hospital to bring him some nourishing soup. Passing by the outdoor parking lot. Scarlett Reid sat in the driver’s seat, all windows down. He stood outside the car, hands in his white lab coat pockets, his figure tall and imposing. The next moment, he bent down and kissed the “sister” he had spoken of. It felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over my head. I numbly watched him extend a pale, slender finger and dotingly ruffle her hair. “Be a good girl, go home and rest.” She seemed to playfully say something, then put on her sunglasses and drove off. It was all so familiar. He used to do all that for me. The thought of him wanting to fulfill her wedding wish suddenly filled me with dread. Was it merely sympathy and responsibility? Or had his heart already strayed? Strayed to another girl, but in a way that didn’t technically violate our vows. No wonder he was so eager to divorce me and marry her. That day, I tossed the nourishing soup into the trash. And with it, the heart that had once loved him so completely.

In my feverish haze, the phone rang repeatedly. I struggled to reach for it and answered. Julian’s voice, laced with annoyance, came through the line. “Can you please have some sense of time? I’ve been waiting for you for half an hour.” Oh, I was burning up and had forgotten about the divorce today. I said weakly, “I have a fever. Can we reschedule?” I was so weak, I couldn’t even get up. How was I supposed to go? He chuckled on the other end, “You forgot I’m a doctor? With your strong as an ox physique, how could you possibly have a fever?” “You’re 28, not a little girl like Scarlett. Don’t be so dramatic.” I was genuinely amused. “You might not know, but the ‘little girl’ you’re talking about is only two years younger than me.” He used to call me ‘little girl’ once too. Maybe he just got tired of it. Whatever. I had no expectations left for him.

I missed the second divorce appointment too. On my way out, I had a little accident. At the intersection, a two-year-old boy in a cartoon T-shirt, with his short legs, dashed out to find his mom. A car, speeding around the corner, lost control. I didn’t think twice, pushing him with all my strength into the safety zone. *Bang!* I felt like I was being smashed to pieces. The hit-and-run driver didn’t stop for a second, speeding off with a roar. I turned my head and saw the license plate. It looked familiar. In a flash of insight, I remembered Scarlett Reid’s car in the hospital parking lot. It was her. The boy was scooped up by his panicked family, crying hysterically. “Auntie, Auntie is hurt!” I only felt pain, the kind of pain that felt like my insides were being torn apart. But there was no blood as I had expected. “System, am I dying?” It didn’t go as planned, which was a little regretful. But saving a sweet kid right before I died made it feel worth it. The System paused for a few seconds, then replied nonchalantly. “Congratulations. You temporarily won’t die before your scheduled death date, Host.” “The symptoms of the car accident will only fully manifest on the day you depart.” The System then added a little sheepishly, “This is a perk I fought for you.” I found the System strangely endearing. I smiled, “Good. Then Julian can see what his new wife did to me.” The boy’s parents and grandmother surrounded me. The boy’s mother, with red eyes, said, “You saved our baby, you saved our whole family!” They almost knelt down to me. I repeatedly insisted I was fine, but they still warmly insisted on putting me in their car and taking me to the hospital. “How can you be fine? The car’s bumper is completely dented.” “Is a person harder than a car?” Left with no choice, I called Julian ahead of time. “I was in a car accident. Let’s reschedule again.”

I hadn’t expected them to bring me to Julian’s hospital. “Let me see the report results.” A familiar voice sounded from above me. Julian burst in like a whirlwind, thin sweat beading on his forehead. He looked like he had just rushed back from somewhere. The other doctor patted his shoulder, “Don’t worry, Dr. Hayes, she’s fine.” Before the System’s programmed death date. No instrument could detect any issues with my body. Julian meticulously reviewed every paper report. When he looked up again, his eyes held a unfamiliar, sharp intensity. “No external or internal injuries. What kind of car accident is this?” “Audrey, what kind of drama are you trying to pull, missing appointments like this, twice?” I clasped my hands together. “A car accident, actually. Oh, and it was your new wife who hit me and then fled the scene.” He immediately frowned and retorted, without thinking. “That’s impossible. Scarlett is very innocent, she wouldn’t do something like that.” “So you’re saying I’m not innocent, and I’m lying?” We both froze then. A flicker of awkwardness crossed his eyes. Because he, too, realized he trusted Scarlett more than he trusted me. In my mind, I asked the System, “Will she be caught?” The System replied unequivocally, “Yes, this is a society with laws.” Oh, good, then I felt relieved. Let her “innocence” be judged by the law. If it weren’t for the System protecting me, that massive impact would have killed me instantly. She was a hit-and-run driver. I raised my hand to check the time. “Julian, let’s go. To the divorce court. Now.” “Otherwise, I’m running out of time.” He shoved his hands into his pockets, his tone flat. “What do you mean, running out of time?” “I’m dying.” Three days from now, at 4 PM. I had once asked the System, “Is there anything special about that time?” “Ten years ago, at 4 PM, was when you two first met.” Ah, a full circle. Julian looked out the window indifferently, his tone a bit impatient. “Audrey, you should really see a therapist.” I laughed in exasperation, “Julian, you’re the one who’s sick, wanting both… you cheat.” I turned to leave, but he gripped my wrist. “Haven’t you been eating well lately? You’ve lost weight.” “None of your business.” “Eat first, Audrey.” I was about to refuse when his phone vibrated. I saw Scarlett Reid’s name on the screen. Julian subconsciously let go of my hand. She was sobbing on the phone, saying she had a nightmare and was scared. Julian softly comforted her for a few moments. He glanced at me, then told her, “Yes, I’ll be back soon.” When he hung up, a flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes. “Audrey, you go eat first…” I sneered inwardly. A nightmare? Or was it fear and guilt because she’d hit someone? Good. Julian, by choosing her again, missed our last meal together. Would he regret it later, when he remembered?

The final countdown of my life. I lay on the cold operating table. Waves of agonizing pain, like my insides were being torn apart, washed over me. It was okay. Just bear with it. Soon, I could go home and have my mom’s homemade stew. Julian’s violent voice message still echoed in my ears. “Audrey Hayes, do you really think I don’t have a temper?” “Scarlett is dying, can you just be understanding, for God’s sake?!” All because I missed our third appointment. But I had told him, hadn’t I? I was running out of time. I was dying. He just didn’t believe me. Ten minutes later, Julian, dressed in surgical scrubs, entered the operating room with a blank expression. This surgery wasn’t originally his. But the System had set it up so that no matter who the surgeon was, it would ultimately be him. “System, what’s my terminal illness?” “A tumor surgery. Julian Hayes’s golden specialty.” The System almost sounded gleeful. The anesthetic had been administered. Julian was ready. His assistant couldn’t help but quietly ask, “Dr. Hayes, are you okay?” The assistant knew about me. They had even secretly admired him. “Dr. Hayes truly has an iron will.” “Only a ruthless person could operate on his own wife.” But Julian himself, for now, had no idea. Lying under the surgical drapes was the wife he had angrily scolded just an hour ago. He took the scalpel handed to him by the assistant. And with practiced ease, made a sixteen-centimeter incision on my abdomen. Compared to the surgeries he usually performed, this tumor operation wasn’t particularly special. Even if it failed, it would be within a reasonable scope. After all, the surgical difficulty was high, and the success rate extremely low. But thanks to his years of professional experience, the surgery was well within his control. However, the word “accident” is the one thing humans can never control. For instance, Julian unexpectedly discovered a faint pink scar on the skin near the incision. His hand immediately froze mid-air. The assistants were all a bit surprised. This had never happened before. Especially with the patient’s flesh already cut open. Dr. Hayes looked dazed. Only I, in the entire room, knew why.

That scar was all too familiar to Julian. How many nights, wrapped in loving intimacy, had he traced it, kissed it? “Audrey, this is your scar, but it’s my lifelong mark.” Because it was a mark from when I shielded him from a knife. When he was doing his residency, I brought him food. A patient, crazed after a failed surgery, was wildly brandishing a knife. He was just a fresh-faced young doctor then, and it had nothing to do with him. But as he was helping another fallen, innocent patient, The knife swung towards his abdomen. “Watch out!” I pushed him away, and in the chaos, the knife plunged into my lower abdomen. Julian immediately covered my wound. Blood seeped between his fingers, covering his hands. His face was ashen as he scooped me up and stumbled towards the emergency room. It wasn’t until my wound was treated that the hollow look in his eyes began to clear. He looked at me with red-rimmed eyes, burying his head in my neck. “Audrey, seeing you bleed… I hurt so much, I’d rather die myself.” I smiled and patted him, “Then will you promise to be good to me from now on?” He kissed my earlobe. “I’d give my life for you.” That day, he held me, carefully avoiding my wound. And said, with utmost seriousness, “Audrey, you’re too kind.” “Please, from now on, think more about yourself, okay?” He was the one who once told me to think more about myself. Now, he was the one calling Scarlett “innocent” and telling me to be “more understanding.” The assistant quietly prompted, “Dr. Hayes, is something wrong?” Julian paid no attention, quickly taking two steps. Suddenly, he pulled back the surgical drape covering my face. His pupils instantly constricted. His face contorted with horror and despair, “How can it be you?” At that moment, I couldn’t respond. I was under anesthesia, my eyes closed in a heavy haze. My face was pale, cold sweat beading on my forehead. It was the final stage of the departure process. It truly hurt. But it would be over soon. Julian’s throat bobbed several times, his voice trembling uncontrollably. “Audrey, you can’t be hurt. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He wanted to touch me, but couldn’t, fearing bacterial infection. The assistants were somewhat surprised. Didn’t Dr. Hayes know that the person under his scalpel was his own wife? But their professional training quickly brought them back to normal. They refocused on the operating table. The System said coolly in my mind, “This is probably Julian Hayes’s most agonizing surgery.” After all, this surgery had only a 5% success rate. Anyone would be nervous, right? He picked up the scalpel again, his fingers trembling slightly. But quickly, he controlled the tremor with astonishing willpower. Years of professional training took over. The surgery continued systematically. “More anesthetic.” “The tumor has spread, partly free-floating. There’s significant bleeding.” “Use embolization to block the blood vessels.” “Continue adhesion dissection, remove the diseased tissue.” Julian Hayes was indeed the hospital’s most renowned, youngest “magic hands.” Everything was as he said; he could control it. The assistant’s voice came through, slightly excited, “Success!” They were quietly cheering. But I wasn’t surprised at all. The surgery was temporarily successful, of course. Because my departure deadline hadn’t arrived yet. Only two hours left.

Post-surgery, according to protocol, I needed to stay in the observation room for an hour. Seeing that all my vital signs were good. Julian’s composed expression returned. The entire space was left with just him and me. Aside from the brief conversation at the hospital clinic after the car accident. We hadn’t been together for more than an hour in a very long time. He whispered in my ear, “I never thought these hands would one day perform surgery on you, Audrey.” My anesthetic wore off quickly. That was thanks to the System’s settings. I opened my eyes and mocked him. “I never thought your hands would one day peel shrimp for someone else.” In this world, I was an orphan, just like him. I earned my tuition bit by bit. I remembered when we first graduated. We were so poor we couldn’t even afford a washing machine. Southern winters were damp and bitingly cold. Every time I washed clothes, my fingers would turn bright red from the cold, but I never let him touch the water. “No need for you here. Your hands are for holding scalpels, for saving more lives and families.” “Audrey, do you have a filter for doctors or something?” “Yes.” In my original world, doctors had saved my life too. “Okay, I promise I won’t let your admiration down, Audrey.” The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Julian seemed to be choked by my words. After a long while, he sighed softly. “Audrey, Scarlett is dying. Can you please, not hold a grudge against her?” I chuckled, “I’m dying too. Why shouldn’t I hold a grudge against her?” Julian’s eyes instantly darkened. “You won’t die. Don’t you trust my skills?” Perhaps realizing I was now also a patient. His voice softened a bit. “When did you get this illness?” “The day you asked for a divorce, and didn’t believe I would disappear.” He was choked up again, so he changed the subject. “I know you care about your looks, so I stitched the incision beautifully. The scar will be very light.” I didn’t respond. The silence in the air became so thick it made him uncomfortable. He wanted to say something else. Chloe, the nurse, came in. “Dr. Hayes, your phone has been ringing off the hook.” “Audrey, I need to take this call.” After a while, Julian returned, his expression somewhat awkward. “Audrey, I have an urgent matter to attend to. I’ll have the nurse take good care of you.” Of course, I knew what he was going to do. His original plan was to divorce me this morning. And then, in the afternoon, have a garden wedding with Scarlett Reid. Dr. Hayes, truly quite the time management expert, he was busy. “Julian Hayes, I have less than two hours left in this world.” “Are you sure you don’t want to say your final goodbyes to me?” Honestly, I didn’t want to spend much more time with him either. But if he stayed. It would be his last small gesture of sincerity towards our years of shared feelings and marriage. Then I, too, would have been more understanding. Easing his guilt just a little. But he didn’t want to. Julian stood up, and even after three hours of intense surgery, he still looked energetic and graceful. The frantic emotion he’d shown when he realized I was his patient had vanished completely. “Audrey, after you recover, I’ll personally schedule you for a therapy session.” That composed, non-negotiable tone. Honestly, I really disliked it. I let out a cold laugh, “Dr. Hayes, I hope you don’t regret this.” Julian’s expression was calm, as if he thought I was just acting out. He glanced at me, a slight smile playing on his lips, “I won’t.” “Audrey, you need to rest now.” With that, he disappeared through the door. Because his phone, in his pocket, had been ringing with urgent calls for him. By now, his wedding should be bustling with guests. Scarlett Reid probably couldn’t wait any longer. I felt a sense of release. Julian Hayes, this was your choice.

After Julian left, the System sighed in my mind. “Alas, he missed his last chance.” I was surprised that the System would feel regret. “Host, you’re a kind-hearted girl. I secretly fought for an opportunity for you to live well in this world.” “If he had chosen you today, the surgery’s success would have become reality.” I chuckled, “System, did you forget? Even if he stayed today, I wouldn’t live.” “Because Scarlett Reid already ran me over and killed me.” The System was silent for a moment. “Yes, I know.” “Host, do you want to know why Scarlett Reid was speeding that day?” “Because she was rushing to the airport to pick up Julian Hayes.” That was right. That day was when Julian returned from his business trip. She was rushing to pick him up. Because Julian needed to rush to divorce me. The causal link was eerily clear. I sighed softly. “Even if I hadn’t been in a car accident, and the surgery was successful, I still wouldn’t want him.” “You don’t love him anymore?” The System had witnessed our decade together. “No.” “Why?” the System pressed. “Aren’t you the System? How could you not know?” “Ahem, the System isn’t all-knowing, there might be occasional oversights.” I smiled, “Scarlett Reid doesn’t have a dog.” Julian himself had told me that long ago. His mentor’s wife and his junior were both allergic to animal fur. “How could someone allergic to animal fur keep a dog?” The System was stunned for a long while. “So that night, they couldn’t have been bathing a dog?” That line on the phone, “Clothes are off, hurry up,” was enough to explain everything. He had strayed, both physically and emotionally. And yet, he had calmly and confidently lied to me. “System, he’s tainted. I can’t want him anymore.” The System, unusually, swore. “Damn it! What a scumbag. Let him drown in guilt!”

“No, the patient is hemorrhaging, tissue infection!” “Dr. Hayes’s surgery has a massive complication!” “Heart stopped! Put her on artificial heart-lung machine! ECMO ready!” “How did the patient’s liver, heart, and lungs rupture?” I had already completed the detachment. My soul floated above, watching my life slowly ebb away. “Why can’t we reach Dr. Hayes?” “Got through to one, but it was hung up.” I asked the System, “Do you know who hung up?” “Oh, this is good. It was Scarlett Reid.” The System sounded like it was enjoying the show. “Come on, Host, the System will take you to a wedding.” The System was getting cuter and cuter. Before leaving, I glanced at my body on the operating table. The car accident injuries had fully manifested. So, it was that serious? My entire body was shattered, my arm and left leg twisted at odd angles. Probably broken. How pitiful. I was glad I pushed that little boy away. He was so adorable, so sweet. I’m glad he was okay.

Watching someone else’s wedding was surprisingly interesting. Flowers piled high, balloons floating in a riot of colors. It was the picture of happiness. Except, it was stolen. “System, that cake on the long table looks delicious.” “Host, you seem… happy?” “Should I remind you, this is your… husband’s wedding?” I crinkled my nose. “Because I’m going home soon, of course I’m happy.” As for Julian, he couldn’t affect my emotions anymore. When I first found out he was straying. I was heartbroken, resentful. I even doubted myself. I cried myself to sleep night after night, losing clumps of hair. Closing my eyes, my mind replayed endless loops: him and her, hands intertwined; them laughing and kissing; even embracing in bed. The world I had once protected collapsed. Later, I realized such behavior was foolish. I couldn’t punish my kind self for a man who had changed his heart. What I needed to do was find opportunities to live in the sunshine again. “Host, look, there’s the scumbag.” Julian, in a black suit, appeared at the end of the lawn. Handsome, elegant, with an exceptional demeanor. The bride, well, she was beautiful too, her makeup impeccable. At least there wasn’t a hint of the panic of someone who had hit and run three days ago. I slowly floated over to Julian. I heard him quietly ask Scarlett, “Where’s my phone?” Scarlett’s eyes darted away for a moment, “In the dressing room. I put it away for you.” A phone stuffed into a perfectly tailored groom’s suit certainly wouldn’t look good. “Did I get any calls?” “I think there was one.” Scarlett paused, “Do you want to go get it? But… the wedding is about to start.” Julian hesitated, “No need.” He gazed calmly ahead. I wondered if he remembered our wedding. We were so poor we could only afford silver rings, but we were so happy. “Audrey, do you regret marrying a poor guy like me?” “No, Dr. Hayes is a rising star.” Indeed, he later had the means to buy me a huge diamond ring. But I no longer had that same joy. “Audrey, my junior is sick, she’s dying. Can I fulfill one of her wishes?” “She’s only 26, so pitiful. Julian, go quickly.” “Audrey, her wish is to marry me.” I froze instantly. “Julian Hayes, that wish is unreasonable.” “But she’s dying.” “Even if she’s dying, she can’t just steal someone else’s husband, someone else’s relationship.” “Darling, that wish is immoral.” That day, he stood on the balcony, smoking for a long time. Finally, he flicked the ash, and said, with profound coldness: “Audrey, you’ve changed. You’re not as kind as you used to be.” He left me with a room full of silence. “Julian Hayes, did you forget, I’m most afraid of being alone?” I sat in the empty living room, turning on every light, one by one, but still felt something was missing. Finally, I buried my face in my arms, curling into a ball. It wasn’t me who changed. Julian Hayes, it was you. When he was with Scarlett Reid, I called him. “My stomach hurts.” “Julian Hayes, my stomach hurts.” That day, he was with Scarlett at the very top of the Ferris wheel. Legend said that kissing there symbolized love and eternity. I didn’t actually have a stomachache. I was standing below the Ferris wheel, watching them sit intimately together. My heart hurt. Julian, of course, knew my body well. His tone on the phone was distant and cold, “Audrey, I’m a surgeon, not a gastroenterologist.” In that moment, I felt like I was going to die from the pain. When someone can’t tolerate your occasional whims. That’s probably when they’ve stopped loving you. Love and indifference are always starkly different.

“System, is it almost time for the ring exchange?” “That diamond ring is so sparkly, must have cost a fortune, huh?” The System was almost exasperated by me. “Host, shouldn’t you be concerned about when the police will arrive?” “What’s the rush?” Let them be “happy” for a little longer. That way, when the truth comes out, it’ll hurt even more. Scarlett Reid gazed shyly at Julian. “Julian, I’ve actually liked you for a long time.” “Today, that wish finally came true.” Julian’s expression was a bit unnatural. He lowered his eyes, slightly distracted. Perhaps he was thinking back to when we got married. He had said those very same words to me. “Audrey, marrying you, that wish finally came true.” The irony was, today he left me at the hospital to fulfill someone else’s wish. He had probably just taken off our wedding ring. There was still a faint imprint of the ring on his ring finger. But I had no such mark. The women’s ring I once cherished. The day he agreed to marry Scarlett Reid, I threw it in the trash, never wanting it again. At this moment, Julian’s elegant fingertips picked up the diamond ring, preparing to place it on Scarlett Reid’s finger. At the entrance arch, several uniformed police officers suddenly entered. The System’s voice was slightly excited. “Oh, the show’s beginning.” “What, need some popcorn?” “Ahem, Host, you forgot, I’m working right now.” I almost burst out laughing at the System. “Scarlett Reid, we have a public complaint alleging hit-and-run.” Scarlett’s lips trembled, like a drowning person, her hand gripping Julian’s arm tightly. “I… I didn’t.” The police were used to people who refuse to admit anything. They spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, “Surveillance footage shows that on the 11th of this month, at 2:10 PM, the car you were driving, license plate number XXX, was speeding on Oceanview Road, hit a person, and then fled the scene.” “The victim was a young woman.” At this, I saw Julian’s fingers twitch. He was so smart, he must have realized that at that time, the person Scarlett was supposed to pick up was him. Julian’s face turned grim as he pulled his arm away, taking two steps back. He glared fiercely at Scarlett. “You drove a different car to pick me up that day because your original car hit someone?” Scarlett was trembling uncontrollably. He couldn’t help but violently grip her neck. “Did you hit Audrey?” Scarlett stammered incoherently. “It hurts, let go! I don’t know, it’s impossible, there were no cameras there!” The police calmly informed her, “There were cameras. They were just installed the day before.” Scarlett’s body swayed forward. “Madam, we also need to inform you that you are suspected of purchasing falsified medical records and need to cooperate with our investigation.” Scarlett’s face instantly turned ashen. She didn’t even have the strength to argue. Finally, she collapsed like a rag doll and was led away by the police. Criminal prosecution awaited her. Among the guests, murmurs of indignation began. “What an embarrassment, getting arrested on your wedding day!” “She always seemed so sweet and innocent, but she hit someone and ran? How heartless can you be?” “She wasn’t even sick? Faking a terminal illness to gain sympathy? That’s really messed up.” “Isn’t the groom a very skilled doctor? Didn’t he notice anything?” Julian couldn’t have missed it. At that moment, he looked as if he’d been slapped hard across the face. “Host, did Julian really not notice?” I smiled, “Perhaps, he just didn’t want to notice.” He wanted to be the dragon-slaying prince saving the princess. But he never realized he was the dragon himself. The System indignantly spat, “Pfft, what a new breed of scumbag.” Julian finally got his phone from the dressing room. Unfortunately, it was dead, the screen black. He then turned and ran quickly towards the parking lot.

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My CEO husband, Victor Thorne, loved bringing his buddies home for dinner, claiming it made us feel more like a family. Watching me serve a table piled high with dishes, one of his friends grinned. “You’re always such a gracious hostess, Elara! Truly the queen of this castle.” My expression didn’t change as I asked, half-jokingly, “Oh? Is there some other, less… *generous* lady of the house I should know about?” His friends froze, a flicker of panic in their eyes. Victor chuckled, pulling me into a hug. “Listen to them babbling nonsense. Besides you, who else in this world is worthy of being my wife?” Watching his nonchalant act, I smiled. But the moment I turned away, I dialed a number. “Julian, Victor Thorne is cheating on me. Make sure he rots in prison.” My brother on the other end of the line was silent for three seconds. “Elara, are you sure you’re not mistaken? Victor, he…” I pulled off the wedding ring from my left hand, the diamond digging painfully into my palm. “We’ve been married for ten years. Every single one of his cufflinks, I’ve had custom-made in Italy.” “But today, he’s wearing a cheap, plastic flower pin. Julian, do you really think I’m mistaken?” “You know I won’t tolerate injustice. Expose all the dirty deeds he’s done over the years. And while you’re at it, get me the best lawyer. I want a divorce.” Julian’s anger flared. “Consider it done.” Half an hour later, my phone pinged with an encrypted file. I clicked open the first picture: an innocent-looking girl in a white shirt, beaming as she held a man’s arm. Her wrist, peeking out from her sleeve, bore a wolf-head tattoo identical to Victor’s. Without hesitation, I drove straight to his company. Minutes later, a girl with long, straight black hair and a white dress hurried out. I glanced at her employee ID: Serena Vance. The moment she saw me, her face went white with fright. She instinctively hid her hand behind her back. But I still caught sight of it: a Swiss custom-made watch. Last year, on my birthday, I received a notification of a Swiss purchase. A three-million-dollar watch, a fifty-thousand-dollar necklace. The necklace was carefully kept at home. The watch was on *her* wrist. I scoffed, cutting straight to the chase. “Ms. Vance, your husband seems to have remarkably similar taste to mine. Even his custom-made watch has the exact same design.” Serena trembled at my words, her red lips parting and closing several times before she stammered, “Y-yes… I guess all men have similar aesthetics.” Her fingers, clutching the hem of her dress, were bone-white. “Enough with the act,” I said flatly. “You’re the ‘little lady’ they’ve been calling, aren’t you?” Seeing that I’d directly confronted her, Serena trembled even harder, a panicked mess. “Please don’t misunderstand, it’s just that Mr. Thorne had another low blood sugar faint, and I simply looked after him once.” “Mr. Thorne’s friends thought I was very attentive, and they were just joking around.” “I’m truly sorry if I caused any misunderstanding.” With that, she even dramatically folded over in a ninety-degree bow towards me. She looked like a pathetic, wronged damsel. If I hadn’t seen her tactics for seducing Victor, I might have actually fallen for it. Half a month ago, she posted a video on TikTok. A man was swiping his card at a luxury car dealership, next to a Porsche. Her caption read: *Where a man’s money goes, his love follows.* At that time, I was at home, burning with a fever, almost unconscious. I called Victor, asking him to take me to the hospital. He panicked for a second, but then his voice turned hoarse, like he was suppressing something. “Darling, I’ll have the housekeeper take you. I have something urgent I can’t get away from.” An hour later, I was fighting for my life in the hospital with pneumonia. Meanwhile, she posted a photo lying in a car, a man’s chiseled abs dotted with suggestive red marks. Caption: *New car and you, forever marked as mine.* When Victor finally arrived, his shirt still half-unbuttoned. He threw himself by my bedside, his eyes red-rimmed. Then, I naively thought he was worried about me. But it turns out, it was just guilt from his illicit affair. A wave of nausea washed over me. And *this* is the caliber of woman Victor betrayed me for? Truly pathetic. Too disgusted to watch her pathetic act any longer, I turned and left. But the moment I got into my car, Victor called. The instant I answered, his voice was laced with panic. “Why did you suddenly decide to come to the company?”

“Why?” I started the car, asking coolly, “Just happened to have a contract to discuss. Is there something you’re afraid I’ll find out?” Victor seemed completely thrown by my question. His breathing hitched. After a few seconds of silence, his voice softened, adopting his usual coaxing tone. “Darling, what are you talking about?” “There’s nothing I’m hiding from you. It’s just that my office is a mess; I’d have had someone clean it up if I knew you were coming.” “Besides, how could I ever betray you? Feel free to check anything.” Hearing that, I felt a flicker of confusion. Serena hadn’t told him I’d confronted her. I scrolled through the evidence, listening to his excuses. Three gigabytes of files, every single day connected to Victor. Last Valentine’s Day, he claimed to be on a business trip abroad and couldn’t call. In reality, he was in the Arctic watching the Northern Lights with Serena. My father was gravely ill, I called him over thirty times, and he didn’t answer a single one. Turns out, he was celebrating Serena’s birthday. “I believe you, but what about that watch?” Seeing that I brought it up, Victor seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He leaned closer to the phone, his voice laced with a deliberately cultivated intimacy. “That watch… I fainted suddenly at the office, and Serena happened to be passing by. She helped me to the hospital.” He paused, then continued, “She stayed by my side all night, so I bought her the watch as a thank you. I just forgot to tell you.” Forgot, huh? He must be quite forgetful then. Not only did he forget to tell me about that, but he also conveniently forgot about the three days and three nights they spent in a penthouse suite at a hotel. I sneered inwardly. “She’s incredibly attentive, isn’t she? Even the black shirt you wore when you fainted, she washed, ironed, and returned it to you perfectly the next day.” Victor clearly faltered on the other end, his breath catching for a split second, before he quickly recovered with a laugh. “Isn’t she though? The young lady is so thoughtful.” “See? You’re always so suspicious. You’re the only one in my heart, darling.” His voice was close to the receiver, dripping with forced affection. “Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll take you to the Maldives for a make-up vacation, just the two of us. How does that sound?” That tender tone used to melt my heart. Now, it just made me sick. “Sounds lovely,” I said, gazing out at the passing city lights, my voice as calm as if I were discussing the weather. “But you focus on your important business first. Don’t let me distract you.” “Nothing is more important than spending time with you, darling.” Victor’s voice was filled with urgent appeasement, but my heart grew colder and colder. It wasn’t just Victor’s betrayal that shocked me, but the realization that they had been playing this charade right under my nose for so long. My grip on the steering wheel tightened. I fought back the urge to confront Victor right then and there. No. I wanted him to confess his relationship with Serena in front of everyone, and then I would utterly ruin both of them. I mumbled a few dismissive words and hung up the phone. Just then, Serena’s social media updated again. The screen showed her in an intricately designed, diamond-encrusted wedding gown, her eyes sparkling with joy. “Another mistress tried to cause trouble today, wanting to take my place, but Mr. Thorne is making it up to me. He’s finally going to marry me!” “I just mentioned wanting a castle wedding, and he bought an entire castle for me!” She curved her lips, the camera casually sweeping over a property deed. “And these wineries? He actually wants me to manage them!” “How could a little dummy like me do that? Good thing Mr. Thorne promised to come with me to assert my authority, so those people won’t dare to bully me because of my age!” Seeing my French name printed on the property deed in the video, a surge of pure rage coursed through me. Those wineries were a coming-of-age gift from my brother. And Victor Thorne was using them to impress his mistress! Fine. They wanted to assert their authority, did they? I’d like to see how they’ll ‘establish their authority’ in front of the *real* owner of the winery!

I bought a plane ticket that night and flew to France. At the winery, Mr. Abernathy, the old butler, looked surprised to see me. “Ms. Sterling, what brings you here? Didn’t you say you were lending the estate to Mr. Thorne for an event today? And that all the family members were to be cleared out?” Hearing that, I felt my anger flare. Just as I was about to reply, Victor’s call came through. “Darling, I’m in a cross-border meeting. I’ll fly back to you as soon as I’m done.” Before I could answer, a syrupy sweet female voice faintly echoed from the other end. “Victor, does this look good on me?” The next second, Victor muffled the phone and walked away. “Can’t talk now, meeting’s starting.” Almost simultaneously, the winery’s ornate gates swung open, and over a dozen luxury cars pulled up in sequence at the fountain plaza. Countless unfamiliar faces were ushered to their seats. I found a secluded spot and sat down. Once everything was set, Serena Vance made her entrance in a fiery red haute couture gown, oozing the smug confidence of someone who’d just risen above her station. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Serena Vance, the new owner of this winery.” “Mr. Thorne said that from now on, all the wine here, the castle, even every grape in the vineyard, is under my management!” “To celebrate, all wines are seventy percent off, consider it a welcome gift!” Seventy percent off? She was certainly generous. The cheapest wines here cost at least a million a bottle. Some were such rare vintage collector’s items that even the British Royal Family would have to think twice before I’d consider selling to them! Mr. Abernathy, who had watched me grow up, was seething with rage. “When did this winery become hers?!” “And how dare Victor Thorne cheat on Ms. Sterling with a mistress?! Does he have a death wish?!” Seeing the butler about to storm out, I quickly shook my head. Now wasn’t the time to expose her. I wanted Victor to personally admit his relationship with Serena, and then I would utterly ruin both of them. Just then, the ornate gates opened again, and Victor Thorne strode in, impeccably dressed in a custom suit. Serena immediately rushed into his arms, giggling as she shook his arm. “Victor, I always said this brand suits you best.” Victor’s eyes visibly stiffened, but he nodded impassively. My internal fury, however, was about to erupt. The founder of that brand is our sworn enemy. My father was driven to his grave, heartbroken and defeated, by their ruthless schemes. Victor knew this. Yet, he was publicly slapping me in the face. Just as I could no longer hold back and was about to storm out, Victor’s friends surrounded him. “Victor, look at your ‘little lady,’ so vibrant and full of life!” “‘Little lady,’ our Victor just bought you a winery worth hundreds of millions! Where else can you find such a great man?!” “From now on, this winery will be called the ‘Vance Estate,’ so how are you going to thank our Victor?” Amidst their boisterous laughter, Serena lowered her head, blushing. Just then, Mr. Dubois, the winery manager, who was bringing over wine, spoke up, confused. “Called the ‘Vance Estate’? Didn’t you just borrow this from our young mistress, Ms. Sterling?” At his words, the guests exchanged bewildered glances, whispering among themselves. “What’s going on?” “I only heard this winery belonged to Mrs. Thorne, but isn’t Mrs. Thorne’s maiden name Sterling?” “Huh? Then if she’s a Vance, could she be some kind of imposter?” The manager’s face was already alight with fury. “Mr. Thorne, how could you do such a thing behind Ms. Sterling’s back?!” As he spoke, he reached for his phone to call me. The next second, Victor’s bodyguards swarmed forward, pressing the manager to his knees. Victor’s gaze swept coldly over the gathered crowd. “Rip his mouth out. Make him pay for running his mouth.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried the ruthless chill of someone accustomed to high power. The banquet hall fell silent instantly. Victor didn’t even lift an eyelid, his fingers casually caressing Serena’s face. “Serena is the true young mistress of the Thorne family! Elara Sterling is merely a housekeeper we employed.” A housekeeper? I was almost laughing from pure indignation. It seemed Victor had truly forgotten who had, step by step, propelled him to his current position of power. If it weren’t for me, he’d still be a nobody on the streets, getting kicked around, barely surviving! I struggled alongside him for ten years, even taking two knives to the chest for him, and had my brother secretly help him. When I was teetering on the edge of life and death, all I thought about was how to pave the way for him. Yet, in the end, he called me a “housekeeper.” No one present dared to cross Victor, and they all quickly chimed in. “So that’s it! Mrs. Thorne is too generous, letting a mere housekeeper use the Thorne family name to swagger around and cheat people.” Some even advised Serena. “Mrs. Thorne, a housekeeper like that might try to seduce Mr. Thorne at any time.” “You need to be careful. I think you should just fire her!” “With such malicious intentions, she should be thrown into the ocean to feed the fish!” The triumphant smile on Serena’s face was impossible to suppress. The manager’s face was ashen, but he struggled desperately before being dragged away. “I want to see Ms. Elara Sterling! She is the true Mrs. Thorne!” The guests’ faces showed disdain. “That housekeeper is truly cunning, even the winery manager has been fooled by her!” “Mr. Thorne, you really can’t keep such an ungrateful snake around.” Victor’s cold gaze swept over the crowd, his thin lips parting slightly. “I’ll say it again: I only have Serena Vance as my wife. From now on, anyone who dares to disrespect her will face my wrath.” The banquet hall fell silent. Only I slowly began to clap, the sound drawing everyone’s attention. I took off my baseball cap, looking at them coldly. “Then tell me, if she’s Mrs. Thorne, who exactly am I?” Victor and Serena’s smiles instantly froze.

The air in the banquet hall seemed to instantly solidify. The guests’ gazes uniformly slammed into me. From initial bewilderment, to seeing my face, they all gasped sharply. Serena’s triumphant smile instantly froze. She instinctively shrank behind Victor, her fingers, gripping his sleeve, trembling uncontrollably, her voice shaking. “You… how are you here?” I ignored her, my eyes fixed on Victor. His pupils abruptly constricted, a flicker of panic in his eyes, but it was quickly masked by his usual ruthlessness. He released Serena’s waist, walked towards me, his voice carrying an almost imperceptible tremor of alarm. “Elara? Why are you here? Didn’t I tell you to wait for me at home?” “Wait for you at home?” I repeated those words, smiling as I looked up at his familiar face, then spoke softly, “Wait for you to give my winery away to someone else, or wait for you to announce to the world that I’m merely your family’s housekeeper?” Victor’s face instantly darkened. After a moment, he seemed to have suppressed his emotions. He lowered his head, his voice deliberately hushed, attempting to plead, “There are too many ears here; this isn’t the place to talk.” “Elara, come home with me first.” “We’ll discuss everything at home; I’ll explain everything slowly later.” He tried to reach for my wrist, his movements as familiar as the countless times he’d placated me over the past decade. But looking at the cheap plastic flower pin on his cuff, smelling the perfume on him that wasn’t mine, I felt my stomach churn. I sharply recoiled, avoiding his touch. “Explain?” I laughed, the sound jarringly loud in the silent banquet hall. “Explain why you’re wearing the brand of our sworn enemy?” “Explain why you gave the winery my brother gifted me as a present to your mistress?” “Or explain how smug you felt when you just called me a housekeeper?” Victor’s face went from green to pale. He likely hadn’t expected me to publicly slap him in the face like this, and the panic in his eyes was undeniable. He gritted his teeth, his voice dropping even lower, almost a whisper against my ear. “Elara Sterling, don’t make a scene!” “Do you really want to humiliate me in front of everyone? Just come with me now, I’m begging you.” “Please?” He tried to soften me with his past intimate tone, but I found it utterly sarcastic. Years ago, when he was being chased and beaten in the streets, I was the one who carried him on my back for three blocks to find a doctor. When he was stabbed by a rival and lay on the operating table, I signed the critical condition notice and waited outside the operating room for three days and three nights. “Victor Thorne,” I looked up at him, my gaze as cold as tempered steel, “Do you really think there’s a ‘later’ for us anymore?” Victor’s face completely lost all color. He probably hadn’t expected me to be so merciless. “Elara, do you really have to be like this?” He practically gritted his teeth as he spoke, “Our ten years together, can’t you give me a chance to explain?” “Years together?” I pulled a stack of documents from my bag and flung them hard at his face. Papers scattered across the floor, the top one a record of his and Serena’s stay in a hotel penthouse suite. “When you were tangled up with her while I was burning with fever and unconscious, why didn’t you think about our ‘years together’?” Victor’s head snapped back from the impact of the files, veins bulging in his neck. The next second, he whirled around fiercely, his eyes filled with a hatred I couldn’t comprehend. “Elara Sterling, then don’t blame me.” Victor abruptly turned, his voice sharp. “Everyone, look closely! This woman is no Mrs. Thorne! She’s just a housekeeper employed by my family!” “Her family was so poor they couldn’t make ends meet back then. I kindly took her in, gave her food and clothes, and let her work as a housekeeper in my home!” He pointed at my nose, the ruthlessness in his eyes almost overflowing. “I never expected her to be such an ungrateful snake, seeing my success and daring to try and worm her way into my bed, even forging an identity to flaunt around and deceive people!” Serena immediately played along, her eyes reddening, sobbing behind him. “Victor, don’t say that… Ms. Sterling was just confused for a moment…” As she spoke, she secretly glanced up to gauge the guests’ reactions, a hint of triumph in her eyes. Several of Victor’s friends immediately stepped forward to back him up. “That’s right! We all know!” “This woman is just a housekeeper, using her long stay in the Thorne household to try and climb the social ladder!” “Victor has been more than benevolent to her, yet she still dares to cause trouble here. Shameless!” The guests’ murmurs grew louder, their gazes at me filled with disdain and disgust. Some pointed fingers at me, and one even muttered, “Turns out she’s a fraud. Looks decent on the outside, but her heart is utterly foul.” Victor watched the scene, a twisted smile on his face. He took a step forward, closing in on me, and threatened in a voice only we could hear, “Elara Sterling, if you know what’s good for you, get out now, or I’ll ruin you here and ensure you have no future left!” I looked at his distorted face, finding it utterly ridiculous. Mr. Abernathy, the old butler, was trembling with rage, shakily pointing at Victor. “You… you ungrateful snake!” “If Ms. Sterling hadn’t begged her father to pull strings and save you, you’d have rotted in prison long ago!” “Ms. Sterling broke ties with her family for you, even taking a knife for you and almost dying! Is this how you repay her?!” Victor’s face went from green to pale, clearly not expecting the old butler to expose his past in public. The ruthlessness in his eyes was almost overflowing. Just then, Serena Vance, who had been hiding behind him and feigning pitifulness, suddenly looked up, a sinister glint in her eyes. She clutched Victor’s sleeve, her voice timid, yet her words were venomous. “Victor… I, I know this might not be good to say… but if Ms. Sterling keeps pestering you like this, won’t it… won’t it jeopardize your plans?” She paused, as if summoning courage, then looked around at the guests, her voice trembling but clear. “I heard the others say before that people with malicious intentions, ungrateful snakes like her… they should be… they should be thrown into the ocean to feed the fish…” At her words, the hall fell into a terrifying silence. Even Victor’s friends were stunned, clearly not expecting this woman, who usually acted so sweet and innocent, to utter such cruel words. Victor’s pupils constricted sharply. He instinctively looked at me, a complex flicker in his eyes.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298540”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

Ashton Vance and I had been locked in a vicious dance for six long years. He drove my mother to a fall that left her paralyzed, and I leaked classified info, watching his empire crumble. Everyone believed we were destined to torment each other for an eternity. When we met again, he had already risen from the ashes, effortlessly fielding questions from reporters. “Remember back in college, we all said we’d find love by 18, marry by 25, and have a kid before 28? Ashton, which step are you on now?” “I’m almost engaged.” “Wow, you’re the fastest one here then!” I twirled the ring on my left hand. Actually, I’d completed all three steps. The girl who walked in was Ashton’s fiancée. She was young, beautiful, and incredibly polite. After nodding to each of us, she settled into the seat beside Ashton. He didn’t spare her a glance, his eyes fixated on me instead. I could feel the probing gazes from everyone around us. A few years back, the drama between Ashton and me had been public knowledge. I picked up my bag, ready to leave. The two people beside me, though, clearly thought I was about to storm the stage and claw that girl’s face off. They instinctively held me back. I raised an eyebrow at them. “Uh, haha, Anya, where are you going?” “Restroom.” “Oh, haha, okay.” They forced out awkward laughs and sat back down. As I left, I could still hear their hushed whispers. “Two years, and Anya’s mellowed out a lot.” “Seriously, she almost scared me to death. With her old temper, she would’ve totally scratched his little fiancée’s face, right?” “Still can’t get over it after two years, huh? Saw his fiancée and had to bolt.” “Since there’s no trouble, tell them to dismiss the security guards.” It wasn’t until I stepped outside that I saw the two rows of bodyguards standing at the door. They looked a little tense when they saw me. The one in charge touched his earpiece, then led the others away. I sat on the outdoor lawn, calling my daughter. She was telling me a new story she’d learned that day. Ashton’s interview also moved outside. We always found each other in a crowd, instantly. “Mr. Vance, what would you like to say to the person who caused your bankruptcy back then?” He let out a light chuckle, looking at the camera. “I saw her today. Her eyes are still as beautiful as ever. If I get the chance, I’d love to personally gouge them out and make them into a necklace for my fiancée.” Everyone present was shocked by his words. It was just another brutal jab, barely a ripple in the ocean of hatred we’d swam in for six years. “Did you take any revenge back then?” “Does crippling her mother count?” I swirled my wine glass, watching a children’s story on my phone, calmly coaxing my daughter. My indifferent attitude clearly infuriated Ashton. Or perhaps, between us, no reason was needed; we simply wished each other dead. Ashton sat beside me, one finger pressing down on my phone. He glanced at it and snickered. “Maybe some zen meditation music would suit you better.” Ashton turned to the person behind him, introducing her. “Willow, this is Anya, our class president from college.” Willow Reed smiled sweetly, extending her hand to me. “Anya, it’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Willow Reed, Ashton’s fiancée.” Just as they were all expecting a dramatic scene from me, I simply said, light as a feather, “Hello.”

Ashton narrowed his eyes, as if trying to see straight through me. Then he sneered dismissively, thinking I was overacting. Ashton went off for his interview, and Willow took my hand. “You’re so beautiful, Anya. I heard Ashton’s ex-girlfriend of six years is here today too. Do you know who it is?” I didn’t bother to guess if she was being genuine or not. I pulled my hand away, wiping it on a napkin with a hint of my usual fastidiousness. “Sorry, I’m a bit of a germaphobe.” Willow lowered her head, her face flushing with embarrassment. “Anya, who are you trying to fool? You’ve been trash since college, and two years later, you’re still putting on the same act.” Zachary Vance sprawled carelessly in the seat opposite me. “Zachary, don’t say that. Anya isn’t that kind of person.” “Willow, you’ve only met her once, and she’s already fooled you. I’ve known her for six years! If it wasn’t for her, how would my brother have gone bankrupt?” “What do you mean?” “Willow, you still don’t get it? She’s my brother’s trashy ex-girlfriend.” Zachary provocatively blew a bubble of gum in my direction. I blocked it with my bag, then stood up and slammed the bag into Zachary’s face. “Anya! What the hell was that for! Do you think I’m like you? I’m Zachary Vance, the second young master of the Vance family! Who are you to lay a hand on me? Believe it or not, my brother will chop off your fingers!” “Your Vance family means nothing to me. If I can make him go bankrupt once, I can make him go bankrupt twice.” The sudden confrontation completely derailed their interview. Ashton rushed back. I looked down at the gum stain on my white bag. I have a germaphobia. I held up the bag, looking at the person in front of me. “One hundred thousand.” “You’re still asking my brother for such a small amount of money? Are you doing this on purpose? Looks like you haven’t been doing so well these past two years, but your flirting skills have definitely improved.” I picked up the bag to hit him again, but Ashton grabbed my wrist. “What was the last thing you said?” “One hundred thousand.” “The one before that.” I thought for a moment. I wasn’t sure if that was the line he wanted. But since he wanted to hear it, fine. “If I can make him go bankrupt once, I can make him go bankrupt twice.” Ashton smiled. It was the first genuine smile he’d shown all evening. “I like you better when you’re not pretending.” I yanked my hand free, my arm frozen mid-swing. But he actually leaned his face closer. “If that hand lands, I’ll make sure your mother is paralyzed from the waist up too.” I found it disgusting and hadn’t intended to hit him, but as soon as he said that, my palm connected firmly with his face. Zachary charged forward first. “You actually hit him! Are you f*cking insane?” He squeezed my neck, and I yanked his hair. A clear glass stool smashed against Zachary, blood streaming from his head. I picked up a glass shard and slashed Ashton’s arm. Ashton, with sheer brute force, shoved me into the pool. We fought, disgracefully, in a tangled mess. “I heard you’ve been taking care of your mother these past two years. Must be tough, right? How about I help you stage an accident? That way, you won’t have to be tired anymore.” “Your eyes are truly beautiful. Gouging them out to propose to Willow would be magnificent.” I didn’t have as much to say as him. My gaze fixed on his chest, and I plunged the knife in. I wanted to see him squirm, to stubbornly try and act tough. Then tremble and beg me to push harder. But the imagined scene didn’t happen. Willow stepped in front of him. Blood bloomed on her white dress. “Vent your rage on me if you’re crazy, but why hurt her! Don’t you know she has a bleeding disorder?” I twisted the knife harder. “Now I do.” “Anya! Don’t you dare involve family!” “Oh, so my mother deserved to be paralyzed?”

I mercilessly shoved Willow into the pool. Then I wiped the blood from the knife onto Ashton’s shirt. The sudden turn of events stunned everyone; no one dared to intervene. Ashton called me a lunatic, but in his eyes, there was clearly more than just anger—there was a flicker of excitement. “Crazy?” “Isn’t this what you wanted?” From the moment I stepped into this gathering, he had been provoking me. Ashton and I had been fighting for so long, I’d even forgotten what it was like when we loved each other. On the day Ashton proposed, I sold his company’s confidential documents. On the day I agreed to marry him, he had someone disconnect my mother’s oxygen tank. On the day of the car accident, when he was being flown overseas for treatment. He was hooked up to countless tubes. Seeing me arrive, he tore off his oxygen mask and savagely bit my lips. “Anya, if I die, in our next life, will you marry me? Let’s not torture each other anymore, okay?” He slowly collapsed from lack of oxygen, and I watched his hopeful eyes as I shook my head. “There is no next life for us.” At the hospital, Ashton rolled up his sleeves. “Our blood types match. Take mine. If it’s not enough, take it all.” By the time he emerged from the blood donation room, he was swaying. He pressed on my shoulders, desperate to prove himself. “Anya, did you see? I know how to love someone.” “Bro, you’ve given too much blood, you’re not thinking straight. Bro, let me help you.” Ashton pushed Zachary away. “Get lost!” “I’m perfectly clear-headed.” He looked at me again. “Did you see? I’ve learned how to love. I can pick anyone and love them deeply! Don’t you understand?” Red and blue police lights flashed across our faces. I pushed him towards Zachary. I’m a germaphobe, so I patted down the spot where he’d touched me. “The police are here. Time for statements. I’ll pay for her medical expenses.” “Anya, I’m begging you first. Let’s just let each other go.” I didn’t answer him. I had already let him go two years ago. At the police station, we were put in separate interrogation rooms. After giving my statement, I just sat there. The murmuring from the room next door grew louder. “Bro, you can fool others, but you can’t fool me, right? This is another one of your new tricks, isn’t it? You know she won’t marry you, so you insist on marrying her just to spite her.” “What about Willow then? Oh, right, Willow is so obedient, she’d be willing to be your mistress.” “I’m serious. But until she agrees, I won’t break up with Willow. She’s young; telling her suddenly would be too much for her to handle.” “Bro, what if Anya hears us?” After a long silence, Ashton’s voice finally came through. “If she heard, she’d storm in and slap each of us without hesitation. Since she hasn’t, it means she can’t hear.” I found it amusing. I lowered my head and made a call. “Hey, come pick me up.” Within ten minutes, a police officer called my name. “Anya, your family is here to pick you up.” “Okay, thank you.” “You can leave after signing these.” I walked out of the room, passing theirs. Zachary chuckled and asked, “Family? Doesn’t she only have her mother? And isn’t her mother paralyzed?” “Must be a friend.” Zachary suddenly couldn’t resist, opening the door with a laugh. “Officer, who came to pick up Anya just now?”

“What’s it to you? Get back in.” “Oh, come on, Officer, don’t be like that~” Zachary stood on his tiptoes, peering around the corridor corner. “Huh, I don’t see Anya, but I do see a kid.” “Bro, Dad’s here to pick us up. Should we go out and take a look?” “Besides friends, what other family does she have in this city? Let’s just go home. We have a meeting with the Hayes family tomorrow about a collaboration.” Leaving the police station, Dominic Hayes opened the car door for me. “How did a gathering turn into a trip to the police station?” My daughter, in the backseat, flailed her arms excitedly. “Fighting bad guys, of course! Ha! Mommy is super awesome!” I reached back and ruffled her hair. “I’ll tell you all about it when we get home.” Dominic glanced at me. “I knew you couldn’t keep your temper in check. I should have gone with you.” “It’s fine.” Dominic suddenly remembered something. “Will Ashton be at the Hayes family dinner tomorrow?” “Probably. Didn’t Jocelyn say you have a project to discuss?” Dominic tapped his control panel and called Jocelyn Day. “Mr. Hayes.” “Is the Hayes family collaborating with the Vance family?” “Yes, Ashton Vance’s main purpose for returning to the country this time was to connect with the Hayes family. It was a small project, so I didn’t report it to you.” “From now on, I want all updates on Ashton Vance immediately. And reschedule my appointments for tomorrow to the dinner.” “Understood, Mr. Hayes.” I sighed. “You focus on your work.” “He’s still an ex-boyfriend, after all. I’m actually quite interested in meeting him.” “Alright. Did you see the message I sent you earlier?” “Yes. I had Jocelyn contact the hospital for the bill, but the person has already been discharged.” “Discharged?” I knew how deep that knife went. Even on an adult man, it would have been severe. Let alone a frail young girl. But it was her choice; no one could stop her. I didn’t dwell on it. Dominic also handled the news scandal from the daytime. I slept soundly that night. The next day, Jocelyn picked up Daisy for a photoshoot. Dominic had an emergency at the office. I stayed home, changing clothes. These past two years, to manage my emotions, I’d been doing calming activities at home. Like painting, flower arranging, brewing tea. Or playing piano, doing some design work. So I rarely went out. If Dominic was coming today, it would be our first public outing together. So I dressed a little more elegantly. I wore a bright red mermaid-style dress. Upon arriving at the venue, Dominic Hayes’ imposing bodyguards finally reacted. “Madam.” “Tell Mr. Hayes to find me when he arrives.” “Yes, Madam. Please watch your step.” The moment I entered, I attracted a lot of attention. “Who is that? What a grand entrance. Even Old Mr. Thompson’s bodyguards wouldn’t bat an eye when he arrived at the Hayes mansion, so why are they holding an umbrella and opening doors for *her*?” “I’m always in the wives’ circle, and she’s certainly pretty, but I’ve never seen her before.” “Look, not a single drop of rain on her, and I’m wearing ten-centimeter heels and my feet are soaked.” “Looks like Dominic’s security plays favorites based on appearances!” It was raining quite heavily outside. The wives and gentlemen all watched me, complaining with dissatisfaction. They didn’t know that if even a single drop touched my dress, they would face severe consequences. “Ms. Anya, Mr. Vance requests your presence.” I glanced at Ashton Vance in the corner table; he raised his glass to me. Several bodyguards, hands clasped behind their backs, stood before me, blocking my path. They didn’t know that this simple act of blocking the door nearly triggered a level-one security alert. I gave a reassuring look to the bodyguard captains on the second floor. Then I sat on the sofa opposite Ashton. “You look beautiful today.” Willow Reed was beside him. She’d been discharged from the hospital, still looking pale and sickly. “What an entrance you made. To be here, it seems I underestimated you these past two years.” “Do I really need your approval?” He smiled, pouring me a drink. “Dressing so beautifully and heading straight to the second floor… what, trying to land a big fish? The second floor… let me guess your target: The Thompsons? The Montgomerys?” Ashton was sharp, quick to read the room. “Neither? Tsk. Then it must be the Hayes family, right?” When I remained silent, he overfilled the glass, spilling wine. Willow winced in pain, raising her hand to take the bottle from him, reminding him, “Ashton.” Ashton slammed the bottle heavily onto the table. “How many lives do you have to try and catch such a big fish? Forget the Hayes family; just one of The Thompsons could kill you nine times over. If you don’t have an access pass, going up there could end very badly for you.” “There’s an access pass?” Ashton chuckled contemptuously. “I advise you to stay put and not try anything suicidal in this place.” I crooked a finger at a bodyguard. “Do I need a card to go to the second floor?” The section of bodyguards I pointed at instantly tensed, then bowed in unison towards me. “Wherever you wish to go, no one will dare to stop you.” I waved my hand, motioning for them to return to their duties. I turned back to Ashton’s darkened face. “What exactly is your identity?” “Someone will tell you soon enough.” I picked up my bag and headed to the second floor. As soon as I got upstairs, various executives came forward to toast me. I casually picked up a cup of tea. “My apologies, everyone. I’m not feeling well today, so I can only toast with tea.”

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When Julian Davies’ assistant, Chloe, caused a scene with my parents again, I couldn’t hold back. I slapped her. I expected Julian to do what he always did—lock me, with my claustrophobia, in the basement crawling with bugs and rats. But this time, he didn’t punish me. He just watched me, nonchalantly. “Disobedient people deserve a harsh lesson, don’t they?” My heart pounded. I thought eight years of groveling had finally softened him. But the very next day, my intimate photos were circulating throughout the city’s elite for a measly $9.99. My parents were forced to kneel in a hall, watching my videos being auctioned off, utterly humiliated. Meanwhile, the culprit was in a private booth, wrapped in Chloe’s arms. Seeing the divorce papers in my hand, Julian scoffed. “Audrey, if you actually divorced me, I might even respect you. But playing your games doesn’t work on me. Why don’t you get down on your knees and beg Chloe for forgiveness? Then I might consider keeping you around.” Everyone around me laughed, seeing me as a pathetic fool. But countless tears had already drained all the emotion from me. This time, I was truly leaving.

My heart shattered completely when I saw the men in the private booth taking turns handing Julian cash. Those men, clutching my photos, stood together, boasting loudly, their eyes on me leering and sticky. “Audrey’s really wild in bed, isn’t she? I can practically smell it through the photos. Man, I’ve slept with all kinds of women, but this is the first time I’ve gotten off on a piece of paper.” “Tell me about it! She looks so innocent on the outside, but underneath, she’s a total slut. Who knew she knew so many positions?” “Probably because she’s a dancer. They’re the most fun to play with.” Their disgusting words buzzed in my ears. I bit down hard on my lower lip, trembling as I looked at Julian. He sat there, perfectly at ease, his arm around his new lover, Chloe. Our eyes met. “What’s wrong, Mrs. Davies? Why the sour face? Are you unhappy?” A faint smile played on his lips. He turned to the dozen men. “Hey, you rascals! Mrs. Davies is a little sensitive about public displays. Keep it down, don’t scare her off, okay?” As he spoke, he gestured, flicking the money he’d just collected onto the table in front of me. “Consider this an apology from my friends. See? This is all money you earned yourself. Much more glorious than the money you used to just ask for.” Everyone erupted in laughter. “Julian’s got his head on straight, alright! But some women, who are just gold-diggers to their core, never get it. Didn’t Audrey use every trick in the book to marry into the Davies family, just hoping to marry into wealth and live a life of luxury without lifting a finger?” “Yeah, Julian’s really unlucky, isn’t he? Stuck with a leech like her. Probably can’t shake her off for life.” If this were before, I would have endured their cruel words for Julian’s sake. But this time, I picked up a ten-dollar bill from the floor, walked over to Julian, and said, “Thank you for going to such lengths to teach me this lesson. As a token of my gratitude, I’ll give you ten bucks. Consider it the processing fee for our divorce papers.” Julian paused, then let out a sneering laugh. “Audrey, have I been too lenient with you lately? Are you getting brave enough to threaten me with divorce?” “Do you really think I let you in here to watch you play these cheap tricks?” His voice was laced with disgust, his eyes filled with deep mockery. I clenched my fingers, my heart aching with a thousand tiny pricks. Of course, I knew why he let me in. He wanted to see my dignity stripped away, to see me bow down and apologize to Chloe. He hated me. So he used every method to get revenge, to humiliate me. All because I accepted twenty million dollars from his parents years ago, when my family faced an emergency. He believed I was a manipulative woman, who used every trick to marry him, just to pay off my parents’ debts. But Julian didn’t know that I had already repaid that money. As for the stubborn love I once held for him in my youth, it was now completely buried.

Laughter rippled around me. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, watching me like a clown. They, like Julian, thought I was just playing games with the divorce. I took a deep breath, and amidst their mocking expressions, pulled the divorce papers from my bag and handed them to Julian. “Here are the divorce papers. I’ve already signed them.” Instantly, the room fell silent. Everyone looked at Julian. He casually took the papers, flipped through them a few times, and sneered, “Audrey, you’ve really gone to a lot of trouble to put on this act. You even brought props.” He lit a cigarette, letting the ash fall onto the divorce papers. His eyes half-closed, he continued coldly, “But what makes you think these manipulative tactics would work on me? Are you overestimating yourself?” The paper was burned with several holes from the ash. My emotions burned away with it, leaving only disappointment. The bond we once promised to cherish forever had finally withered, leaving only torment. The Julian who swore he’d be good to me for life had died a long time ago. I closed my eyes, weary. Just as I was about to explain, Chloe spoke up. “Audrey, as a woman, I understand your jealousy of not being loved. But isn’t threatening divorce a bit too extreme? You’re just making Julian uncomfortable.” Julian chuckled softly at her words, pulling Chloe tightly into his embrace. His tone, when he spoke to her, was starkly gentle, a complete contrast to how he spoke to me. “What do you think Audrey is? She’s not even worth my attention. But if she wants to play, I’ll play along one more time.” Julian’s tone shifted. He tossed the divorce papers into the trash, his eyes on me cold and dismissive. “You want a divorce? Fine. But you’ll leave with nothing.” He leaned back casually on the sofa, his eyes filled with certainty. Certain that a money-loving woman like me would, as always, humble myself, apologize, and cry, begging him not to divorce me. But the next second, I agreed without hesitation. Julian froze slightly, narrowing his eyes, scrutinizing me. He seemed to be trying to see how long I could keep up the act. But I was tired of fighting him. I simply said, “Draft up new divorce papers and send them to me,” and turned to leave. However, Julian gave a signal, and two or three men blocked the exit. He said in a low voice, “Who said you could leave? If you’re going to act so high and mighty, then don’t drag it out. Everything you’re wearing, I bought. If you have so much integrity, then take it all off. Once you’re naked, you can go.” I froze, staring at Julian in disbelief. He watched me mockingly, playing with his lighter. “What? Regretting it now?” “Fine. Just get down on your knees and beg my sweet little darling for forgiveness. Once she’s happy, I might be merciful and let bygones be bygones.” He leaned over and kissed Chloe’s lips, a doting, gentle coaxing. My nails dug into my palms. I stood there, eyes downcast, biting my lower lip until I tasted blood. Seeing my hesitation, the men around Julian started nudging each other, yelling at me. “Don’t you want a divorce? Then stop playing coy, just strip! We’ve already seen everything anyway.” “She’d never actually do it! She’s just being stubborn, trying to force Julian to break up with Chloe. But she clearly overestimated herself and screwed up. Now, she’s got no choice but to beg.” “Serves her right! Audrey, if you can’t let go of Julian’s money, just apologize already. You’re wasting our time.” A metallic taste filled my mouth. I clenched my fists, looked up at Julian, and said each word distinctly, “Fine. I’ll strip.”

The atmosphere stiffened. Julian’s face darkened. Before anyone could react, I had already taken off my coat. Underneath, I was wearing only a slip dress. As my trembling hands tugged at the straps to slide it down, the lewd, excited stares of the men around me glued themselves to my body. It made me sick to my stomach. Everyone was eagerly watching the show, but Julian’s gaze grew colder and colder. Soon, I was down to just my bra and underwear. My fingers clutched the straps tightly, and I stopped for a long moment, making no further move. Julian watched, then finally let out a laugh, as if to say, *I knew it*. “What? Not stripping anymore? If I’m not mistaken, even the lingerie you’re wearing, I paid for it.” My heart felt heavy and bitter. I couldn’t believe he was truly pushing me this far. But when a person is at rock bottom, they often develop a “nothing left to lose” mentality. I gently closed my eyes, as if making a decision, and unfastened one of my bra straps. As the strap slid down, a glass flew through the air, hitting my shoulder with a sharp thud! I let out a soft cry. A red welt quickly appeared on my fair skin, and the drink from the glass spilled onto my bra. Julian’s eyes, dark as ink, fixed on me. He spoke coldly. “Audrey, you are truly shameless.” “What? Did I help you discover a new side of yourself, and now you’re so desperate, you can’t wait to seduce men?” Maybe it was my imagination, but even though Julian didn’t look angry, I heard a hint of suppressed fury in his voice. But he should have known that I had lost all shame eight years ago. In all our years of marriage, he had brought different women home every month, just to humiliate me. He did everything imaginable right in front of me, the sounds of their passion echoing in my ears 1086 times. But I still routinely prepared the bed for him, and cleaned up the glaring mess left behind. Because I felt I owed him, felt that reaching this point was my fault. So I foolishly tried to compensate and win back that brief love with my repeated appeasements and concessions. And now, for Chloe, he had sold my intimate photos. I had no face left to lose. I fought back tears, my voice hoarse. “Are you satisfied now? Can we get divorced?” I stared at Julian stubbornly, but he didn’t answer. “Audrey, I’m out of patience for your act. Your clumsy performance is truly sickening.” I felt a weariness in my heart. Julian still didn’t believe me. I sighed, forced to emphasize again, “Julian, I’m not lying to you. I really want to divorce you.” But Julian looked at me as if he’d heard the funniest joke, a sinister, malicious smile playing on his lips. “Do you really dare to divorce me?” “Once you leave with nothing, your father, who’s buried under a mountain of debt, will have his fingers chopped off. And can you afford the medical bills for your mother, who’s barely clinging to life with medication?” “Or perhaps our seemingly filial Audrey is planning to let them both die, so she can live it up on their life insurance?” My heart trembled. The twenty million dollars borrowed from the Davies family was actually only a third of what was needed to pay off our debts. So I chose to invest it to grow the money. And just yesterday, I had paid off all of the Miller family’s debts, and even had thirty million more to return to the Davies family. But Julian never paid attention to any of this. He stubbornly clung to the belief that I had taken the Davies family’s money. I had intended to tell him this good news, but now, I saw no point. Seeing my silence, Julian assumed I was feeling guilty. This only fueled his interest. “Oh, right. I think I’ve been too far-sighted with my considerations. What you should be worrying about right now is how you’ll get them out of here alive without my help.” Them? I froze, still trying to process what Julian meant, when the bodyguard pulled back the room’s curtains. With just one glance, through the glass, I saw a small auction happening in the center of the downstairs floor. And my white-haired parents were being shamefully held down in their seats by a group of bodyguards, forced to watch my private videos displayed as auction items on the stage! The shameful videos played on a loop, over and over again. I saw my parents’ faces, streaming with tears. In that moment, I felt like I was walking on thin ice, my every breath trembling.

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Everyone knew A-list actor Liam and rising star Scarlett were smitten with each other. He spent her birthdays with her, showered her with gifts, and protected her career in Hollywood. Their romance was an open secret, just waiting for them to make it official. Until my private blog was dug up, filled with my sweet daily life with Liam. In an instant, the internet exploded with insults: “Where did this wild hen come from? Not famous, just chasing clout.” “Delusional fangirl, back off! Get lost!” But then Liam commented on my post: “Willow, please come back. Can we start over?” I can’t go back, Liam. I’m already dead. [June 24, 2024, Sunny. Liam, I don’t like the gift you gave me for our tenth wedding anniversary. I’m still mad. It’ll take ten kisses to make it up to me.] It was a necklace, from one of my favorite niche designers. I loved her philosophy. She said things weren’t meaningful unless they were one-of-a-kind. So she only ever made one of each piece, just one, absolutely irreplaceable. I’d always wanted a piece of her work. I once showed Liam a bracelet, telling him how much I loved it. He rested his chin in his hand, gazing at me tenderly. “Your husband will buy it for you. Whatever my Willow desires, I’ll get it for her.” The memory was still so vivid, yet today, he’d given me a necklace. Not the bracelet I’d been dreaming of. Disappointment gnawed at my already upset stomach, and the pain made me irritable. I put down the necklace, looked into his eyes, and asked, “Why isn’t it the bracelet?” His expression faltered for a second, but he quickly covered it. “I’m sorry, Willow,” he said with a regretful tone. “I got there too late. That bracelet was already sold.” “This necklace is beautiful too. You’ll look especially stunning wearing it.” I stared into his feigned calm eyes, and a bitter smile touched my lips. Liam. Liam. I never wear necklaces. Had he forgotten? After everything that happened, how could I ever dare to wear a necklace? That night, Liam held me in bed. He softly kissed the back of my neck, as if showering me with endless affection. “Willow, happy tenth wedding anniversary.” In the darkness, I gave a mocking smirk. Liam, today isn’t our tenth wedding anniversary. Yesterday was.

I knew where that bracelet went. A photo of its owner wearing it was sitting quietly in my phone. The sender had no name, but I knew exactly who she was. Scarlett, the popular rising star, my husband’s on-screen ‘ship’. They’d played a couple in a TV drama that went viral, making them incredibly famous. Now they were filming a movie together again. She’d added me on SnapChat a year ago and had been sending me messages ever since. Showing me just how good my husband was to her. He’d patiently explain every line to her when she struggled, staying up late to rehearse scenes. At networking events, he’d always step in, ensuring she was never pressured to drink. He connected her with acclaimed directors, helping her climb from an unknown indie actress to the trending starlet she is today. She never missed an opportunity to share every sweet detail between them, sending me everything, no matter how small. Until yesterday. Yesterday was my and Liam’s tenth wedding anniversary, and also Scarlett’s birthday. Liam didn’t come home. He went to celebrate with her. That night, I received another message from her. It was a photo. A bracelet with an antique, distinctive design hung on her slender wrist, unforgettable. It was the very bracelet Liam had promised to get for me. [Sister, don’t you think this bracelet is beautiful?] [Liam gave it to me.] [I just mentioned it casually, and he gave it to me without a second thought.] [I don’t know what to do with him, he’s going to spoil me rotten if he keeps spoiling me like this.] I didn’t reply. I never replied to her messages, but she kept sending them religiously for a year. Maybe she was certain I’d see them. And I always did. I watched my own husband grow closer to another woman, showering her with care and pouring his heart into her. I used to brush off Scarlett’s messages. Did she know what Liam and I had been through? We’d been married for ten years, our lives intertwined, shaping each other’s existence. He pulled me out of a bleak childhood, promising to love me forever. I thought Liam and I would stay strong, no matter what. After all, in this vast world, we had only each other. I never imagined that after only ten years, his affections would begin to drift. He started noticing other paths, other companions.

[August 19, 2024, Cloudy. Liam sent me a dress – a super dramatic, backless style. He said he wanted me to wear it for him. He’s such a tease.] Liam had his assistant send me the dress. It was very sexy, showing a huge expanse of my back, completely impractical for everyday wear. Though the characters I played were often the “brawny but brainless,” seductive vixen types, that wasn’t my personal style. Liam called me, patiently coaxing, “Come on, Willow, sweetie, I miss you. Please wear it and come see me, okay?” He pestered me for ages, and I still couldn’t bring myself to refuse. I agreed. He said he’d be finished with filming late, so I should meet him at Hotel Room 1407 at midnight. His excited instructions reminded me of when we were eighteen. We’d just started college, and we’d only been dating for a year. He was always hugging and kissing me, rambling about when we’d turn legal, how he was about to explode from holding back. I could feel it – his words, his actions, his gaze, even his very soul, yearned for me. I thrived on that yearning. It made me feel like my existence had meaning. It was my reason for living. Liam was Willow’s reason for living, from eighteen to thirty-two. Always. At midnight, I wore the dress and knocked on the door of 1407. Instead of Liam, the door was opened by Director Miller, a strange, older man. We stared at each other for a beat. Then, his gaze turned overtly lecherous, scanning me up and down. Liam appeared from behind me, pulling me to his side as he spoke to Director Miller. “My apologies, Director, my assistant must have gotten the room number wrong.” Back in Liam’s room, he held me through the night, our embrace intimate and desperate. Half-asleep, I heard his faint whisper: “I’m sorry, Willow.” Soon, I understood where that apology came from. The older man in 1407 was the director of their movie. The night before, he’d called Scarlett to his room under the pretense of “discussing scenes,” attempting to take advantage of her. But an unknown paparazzo had secretly snapped photos of her entering the room.

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My Vicious Daughter Pushed Me To My Death. Now, I’m Back. I was pushed into the water by my daughter. In sheer terror, I desperately clutched at the weeds along the bank. But my daughter stomped on my hands and sneered, “Idiot, I only want Dad. You’re just a tool.” I was drowned alive. My soul floated in the air, My daughter, arm in arm with my ex-husband, was all smiles at a banquet, completely oblivious to my twenty years of raising her. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of my divorce! “Daughter, pull Mom up!” I pleaded with Tiffany, half my body submerged in the water. She crouched down, a mocking look on her face. “Who’s your daughter? All you do is control me, never caring about my feelings. I’d be relieved if you just died!” I was thunderstruck. For Tiffany’s future, I had poured my heart and soul into it, sacrificing everything… Under my tireless and painstaking guidance, Tiffany got into a top-tier university. At her graduation party, she told me she had a surprise and asked me to wait for her by the lake. As I waited eagerly, she suddenly pushed me in. I struggled for my life. She stomped on my arm with her sharp heel. “Go to hell!” I plunged heavily into the water. River water surged into my nostrils. In the last moments of fading consciousness, through the murky water, I saw my daughter standing meekly beside my ex-husband, watching coldly as my breathing stopped. I regretted it. I gave up everything, and all my sacrifices had been for nothing. If I could do it over, I would never allow myself to be humiliated again.

“Sign it now!” Opening my eyes again, I was back on the day David Parker asked me for a divorce. I had married David when he had nothing. It was thanks to me that he climbed the corporate ladder. At home, I handled everything, so he didn’t have to worry about a thing. After Tiffany was born, I poured all my energy into her. I dedicated myself to her studies, never daring to relax for a moment. With my efforts, Tiffany made it into a prestigious high school. But then, David asked me for a divorce. That’s when I found out he’d been cheating for years. The other woman was heavily pregnant, and David only thought to divorce me then, to make space for her. In my previous life, I had resolutely given up all my assets, only asking for Tiffany’s custody. After that, I focused even more intensely on guiding Tiffany, just so she could make me proud. Who knew, Tiffany sneered at my efforts; she was fed up with my strictness. After she got into a top university, she didn’t hesitate to poison me. Thinking about that, a fire ignited in my heart. I looked at David coldly and said, “A divorce is fine, but the house goes to me, and the child goes to you.” David froze at my words. He had planned to threaten me with Tiffany’s custody, expecting me to give up the house due to my devotion to her. “No way!” David immediately rejected it. I said calmly, “Custody can go to me too, but this house still has to be mine. Don’t worry, I won’t ask for any child support, and the house will be transferred to my name immediately.” David was still hesitant, so I kindly reminded him, “Have you made up your mind? Your woman outside is due in two or three months, right? I heard it’s the son you’ve always wanted. Can you really bear for your son to be born a bastard?” David gritted his teeth and made up his mind. “Fine.”

David and I smoothly signed the divorce papers. After David left, I opened the door and saw Tiffany staring blankly at her homework. Seeing me push the door open, she moved her eyes away in disgust. “I’ll study, just don’t come in and bother me.” In my last life, Tiffany had always had this attitude, but I never cared about her harsh tone, still selflessly dedicating myself to her. This life, I absolutely refuse to do such a thankless task. I said calmly, “I came in to tell you that your father and I are divorced, and you’re coming with me.” Tiffany’s face showed even more disdain. “Why do you want me? Why can’t I go with Dad? You only ever control me, oppress me!” I smiled faintly. “Your father would rather give up this house than have your custody.” “You’re lying!” Tiffany glared at me furiously. I yawned. “Believe it or not, but don’t worry, from today on, I won’t be controlling you. Do whatever you want.” “Really?” Tiffany said suspiciously. I ignored her, and she excitedly threw her books into the air. “Screw studying!” I returned to my room, savoring the joy of surviving and starting to plan my future. I would no longer waste my youth and money on Tiffany, that ungrateful viper. This life, I would live only for myself.

“Tiffany Hayes’ mother, we’ve noticed Tiffany has been hanging out with a dropout boy recently, often skipping classes and staying out all night. Could you please come to the school when you’re free?” The homeroom teacher’s call came in a hurry. I knew that hooligan. He was uneducated, only knew how to play online games, a real bad boy. In my last life, Tiffany was attracted to him and even tried to elope with him. I went to great lengths to get her back, firmly prevented them from meeting, and sought help from various departments to barely cut off their connection. That thug held a grudge against me and retaliated against me behind my back more than once. Now, I had no desire to meddle. “Okay, Ms. Goldberg, I’ll have a good talk with her.” I casually brushed her off. Ms. Goldberg was stunned for a while. She couldn’t understand why I, who usually doted on my daughter, now seemed so indifferent. “Tiffany’s grades have dropped significantly. She was a promising student for a top-tier university. You parents really need to pay more attention.” Ms. Goldberg was still trying to persuade me earnestly. She was a very responsible and good teacher, but in my last life, her concern and intervention caused Tiffany and the thug to resent her. Later, the thug cut her brake lines, and she almost died in a car crash. “Ms. Goldberg, please don’t get involved in this. She’ll be an adult soon; I can’t control her.” I also tried to persuade her. “You… sigh.” Seeing that I wouldn’t interfere, Ms. Goldberg helplessly hung up the phone. I drove to my yoga class and happened to see Tiffany, who had skipped school, sitting on the back of the thug’s blaring motorcycle. Seeing me, Tiffany’s eyes were full of ridicule. “Why are you here? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t bother me anymore? You’re still so hypocritical and annoying!” I rolled my eyes at her. “You’re overthinking it. I’m going to yoga class. You can hang out with whoever you want, it’s none of my business.” “Good, you’d better stick to your word!” Tiffany made a rude face at me and sped off with the thug.

A couple of months later, my good-for-nothing ex-husband showed up again. “Alice Miller, how are you raising your daughter? Tiffany’s pregnant!” David roared at me. I just said, “Oh.” “So, what do you suggest we do?” David angrily pointed at me. “Go take her to get an abortion right now! She’s not even an adult, hasn’t even gotten into college, and she’s pregnant! How can you be a mother?” I retorted, sticking out my neck. “She’s your daughter too, why are you blaming everything on me?” In the midst of our argument, Tiffany came home. She glared at me, then linked her arm through David’s. “Dad, are you here to pick me up?” David’s face was very unnatural. He immediately started scolding Tiffany. “You rotten girl! How dare you get pregnant at such a young age! Go to the hospital with your mother and get rid of it!” Tiffany’s resentful eyes shot to me. I immediately raised my hands. “I have no objections!” “You!” David glared at me, gritting his teeth. Tiffany pulled David’s sleeve, looking pitiful. “Dad, please take me away. This old woman is driving me crazy! You don’t know, Jax Riley is the boss’s son! He said as long as I have the baby, he’ll give me five million dollars!” “How much?” David’s eyes lit up. Tiffany continued to boast proudly. “Yes, Dad! Jax said his dad making him suffer was a test. As long as I have the baby, his rich dad will give me whatever I want! Unlike some vicious old women who only control me. She can just wait to die alone at home.” The father and daughter mocked me without hesitation. I sneered inwardly: only an idiot would believe such a clumsy lie. In my last life, a couple of days after Tiffany got into college, Jax Riley was exposed as a con artist and thrown into jail. “In that case, I won’t hinder your path to riches. Please leave.” I gave them the boot. David squinted at me. “Alice Miller, don’t you dare regret this. When you’re crying and begging me, I won’t give you a single penny. Tiffany, let’s go with Dad.” “Okay, Dad, don’t mind this bad woman.” After sending off that pair of dreamers, I started working on my project transfer application. In my previous life, to spend more time with Tiffany, I had given up many opportunities for promotion. Now, I would fight for my own glorious future.

Without David and Tiffany bothering me, my life was going very smoothly. Because of her pregnancy, Tiffany was expelled from her prestigious high school. She didn’t care at all and simply moved in with Jax Riley at David’s and his new wife’s house. David’s new wife, Ashley, was naturally not happy about it. Tiffany and Ashley fought constantly. The worst time, Tiffany actually pushed the heavily pregnant Ashley down the stairs. David was in a panic. After rushing Ashley to the hospital, the fully formed baby boy had no heartbeat. David’s dream of a son was shattered. Furious, he hit Tiffany. Jax Riley, seeing his girlfriend get hit, naturally wouldn’t stand for it. He and David got into a brawl at the hospital, completely disregarding the onlookers. Eventually, Tiffany promised to give David and Ashley a million dollars in compensation after the baby was born. Only then did the confrontation grudgingly end. Listening to the gossip from an acquaintance, I felt utterly refreshed. What could be more satisfying than seeing your enemies suffer? I thought their lives would continue in such a chaotic fashion. But then, a change occurred. “Mom, please help me!” I was on a business trip when Tiffany’s call came in, a rare occurrence. “What’s wrong?” I responded indifferently. Tiffany’s voice on the other end of the line was panicked: “Last night, a group of police officers suddenly came to our house. They said Jax Riley is a con artist who swindled hundreds of thousands of dollars! That’s when I found out that ‘boss’s son’ and ‘five million dollars’ were all lies! My dad and that hateful mistress went crazy and beat me. I’ve run away, Mom, please save me.”

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My boyfriend’s sister tied me to a rag doll with an empathic link. She deliberately dunked the doll in water, making me feel like I’d been drenched, then spread rumors that I had a messy private life, ruining my reputation. Next, she threw the doll into a bathtub full of water. Instantly, I felt myself dragged underwater, gasping for breath, my chest heavy, like I was about to explode. Because of her twisted games, I lost a third important client. I confronted my boyfriend, begging him to rein in his sister, who he spoiled rotten. But he just scoffed, shaking his head. “You’re telling me you can feel a toy’s pain? Are you losing your mind?” Then, right in front of me, he lit the doll on fire. He stared at me, his face full of mockery. “It’s burned to ashes. How are you still standing here? What kind of pathetic act is this?” The pain was so intense, my nails dug into my palms, and one snapped clean off. But deep down, I felt a strange relief—she hadn’t won. I was still alive. Yet, in the dead of night, that familiar suffocating feeling returned. In my dream, I was choked to death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to that day—the exact moment the empathic link began. This time, I’d strike first. Clutching a knife, I headed straight for that malicious sister. If I was going to die either way, I might as well drag her to hell with me.

“Chloe, Chloe!” My colleague’s shout snapped me awake. My head still felt fuzzy. I looked up and realized I was slumped over my desk. I… I was back? In my past life, I somehow, unknowingly, became bound to that rag doll Jake had given to his sister, Luna, through an “empathic link” system. That girl, banking on her fragile mental state, would take out all her frustrations on the doll whenever things didn’t go her way. She’d pinch it, throw it, dunk it, cut its hair—anything you could imagine. But all that pain? I was the one who suffered it. Random aches and pains were a constant. Worse, sometimes I had no idea what she was doing, then suddenly felt wet—my dress would have mysterious damp spots. My deals kept collapsing, one after another, and clients started calling me unprofessional. Someone even posted on the company’s internal forum, claiming my private life was a mess and I couldn’t control myself. When Jake heard the rumors, he stormed up to me, demanding answers. I tried to steady my breathing, desperate to explain the whole empathic link situation. But he wouldn’t listen. He snatched the doll, which Luna always kept close, and tossed it straight into the fireplace. “Chloe, I know you’re jealous of how much I care for Luna. I get it. But you can’t make up such a ridiculous story to hurt her.” “You say you have a connection with the doll? Well, it’s burned to ashes now. How are you still standing here, perfectly fine?” I was in too much pain to speak, my entire body feeling as if it had been set on fire. But deep down, I felt a strange relief—finally, finally free. That night, though, that familiar feeling returned. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the past. It was the very day Luna ruined my first important collaboration. I silently pulled open my drawer, my gaze hardening as I looked at the proposal I’d spent several sleepless nights perfecting. “Ms. Miller, when are the clients expected to arrive?” My colleague glanced at the time and held up two fingers. “Four o’clock, so about two hours.” I nodded, quickly reviewed the proposal, and told her, “If I’m not back in two hours, don’t wait for me. Just start the meeting.” With that, I grabbed my bag and left. These two hours were my chance at salvation. To figure out what Luna was up to, I went to a grocery store and bought a fruit knife. On the way, I SnapChatted Jake: “Are you with Luna right now?” He replied with a “Yep,” and I hailed a cab, heading straight for his place. If I could get the truth, great. If not… then I wouldn’t go to hell alone. About a mile from Jake’s house, that familiar torment began to surface again. I glanced down at my phone, my heart sinking. Something was wrong. It wasn’t even three o’clock yet. Why… It shouldn’t be happening this early.

A familiar dampness spread across my lap, making me feel sticky and incredibly uncomfortable. The cab driver peered at me in the rearview mirror, his lips twisting into an unsettling smirk. “Looks like you’re in a hurry, sweetheart. Rushing to see your boyfriend, are we?” The moment he said that, my heart lurched, and I almost stopped breathing. All those nasty rumors from my past life echoed in my ears. More than the inexplicable empathic link, it was the slut-shaming rumors—the baseless accusations—that truly broke me. Even the man I loved most had questioned me, his face twisted in rage, demanding if I’d betrayed him. How could I describe the feeling of being abandoned by the entire world? The moment I stepped out of the cab, the dampness suddenly vanished. Before I could even sigh in relief, my stomach clenched violently, and a sharp pain ripped through me. It felt like someone was twisting my intestines, wringing them out in agonizing waves. Gritting my teeth, I staggered to Jake’s front door and pounded on it. Luna opened it, her head bowed, clutching a rag doll tightly. She was twisting the doll’s head and feet in opposite directions, like wringing out a wet towel. Sweat beaded on my forehead from the pain. I lunged forward, snatched the doll, and forced its limbs back into place. My body instantly relaxed, and the pain slowly receded. “What are you doing?!” Jake suddenly appeared from the corner, his face grim. He glared at me fiercely, then quickly pulled the distraught Luna into his arms, comforting her. “There, there, Luna, don’t be scared. Big brother will get your doll back.” He reached out to grab the doll from my hands. When I wouldn’t let go, he suddenly raised his hand and slapped me across the face. My cheek stung, but I ignored it. Clutching the doll tightly, my voice trembled. “Jake, please… make Luna stop. Please, let her stop hurting me…” “If she keeps doing this, I’m really going to die…” “I can’t take it anymore…” I cried out, but he remained completely unmoved. Jake first frowned at the trembling Luna in his arms, then chuckled. “Chloe, how long are you going to keep this up?” “I get it, you don’t like me looking after Luna. But she’s my own sister!” “I can find another girlfriend, but I only have one sister!” He finished speaking, roughly pried my fingers open, took the doll, and gently placed it back in Luna’s arms. “Don’t worry, Luna. Your big brother won’t believe a crazy woman like her.” I clearly saw Luna’s lips subtly curl upwards, a cold, sinister smile flickering across her face. She stared at me, then suddenly lifted the doll high and slammed it hard onto the floor. My body instantly felt like it had plummeted from a great height, my internal organs jarring out of place. An agonizing crushing pain shot through my limbs, yet my skin remained perfectly intact. I forced my eyes open and saw her forcefully stomping on the doll’s arms and legs. “Luna… stop… please…” The pain was so intense I couldn’t speak a full sentence, only managing disjointed pleas. But hearing me, she seemed to grow even more excited. Perhaps tired of playing, she picked up the doll and dangled it in front of me, swaying it back and forth. “What’s my dear future sister-in-law mumbling about? I can’t quite catch that, sweetie.” “Could it be… you’re jealous of how good my brother is to me?” She stared at my pained expression like a predator fixated on its prey. “Sometimes, I actually envy you. You suffer so much, and yet you’re still alive.” She leaned in close to my ear, whispering. I shivered, almost blacking out. She… she knew everything! I scrambled backward in terror, accidentally bumping my backpack. The fruit knife inside clattered onto the floor. Luna and I both froze, our eyes simultaneously fixed on the blade. I reached for it— But she was faster. She bit down hard on the doll’s arm. A sharp pain flared in my right arm, and I flinched. In that split second, she snatched the knife.

Slowly, she moved the knife back and forth across my face, as if sizing up her prey. That feeling of being utterly scrutinized sent cold sweat trickling down my spine. Before I could even react, Jake was already there. His face was etched with worry. He stepped over my fallen body, heading straight for Luna. He cooed to her softly for a few moments before gently taking the fruit knife from her hand. “What if you cut yourself! This is a real knife, so dangerous!” He spoke, tenderly pulling Luna into his embrace, without even a glance at me. And there I lay on the floor, gasping for breath, while he actually chuckled. “Chloe, didn’t you always say this doll was you?” “If Luna tore this doll to shreds, would you go down with it?” They were both insane, one more twisted than the other. Listening to them laughing together, I bit down hard on my teeth and began to crawl, inch by inch, towards the door. There was still some time before my last death. I refused to believe I couldn’t find a way to break this curse! By the time I reached the office, it was already four in the afternoon. The moment Ms. Miller saw me, she rushed over and grabbed my hand. “Chloe! Your proposal was brilliant! The client signed on the spot and specifically requested you to lead the project!” “Everyone has seen your hard work these past few days. The boss even said you’re getting a promotion and a raise!” Hearing that the deal was done, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. Truth be told, from the day I was reborn, I’d been planning my escape. On one hand, I was probing Luna, trying to understand how that connection worked; on the other, I had proactively pushed the project forward. Sure enough, with Luna’s attention diverted, the project landed successfully. The moment I followed Ms. Miller into the office, confetti cannons burst overhead. “Congratulations, Chloe, on landing such a massive deal!” “Congratulations, Chloe—” But my colleagues’ congratulations were cut short when someone gasped, staring at my skirt hem. “Chloe, why is your skirt wet? Where did you get that water?” My heart clenched. I looked down, and the hem of my skirt was already soaked. Then, that familiar icy, damp sensation rapidly spread through my entire body. I had no time to explain. I grabbed my bag and bolted for the restroom. I remembered clearly: Luna would soon use the excuse of bathing the doll to dunk it underwater. That suffocating feeling had once made me completely lose control in front of clients, leaving me paralyzed and utterly humiliated. At the time, my colleagues thought something was wrong and rushed me to the hospital, but all the tests came back normal. Sure enough, the moment I locked the stall door, the sensation of drowning swept over me like a tide. I felt like a leaf adrift in water, clinging desperately to the doorknob. It was as if only by doing so could I grasp a tiny bit of support. I truly felt like that doll, icy water gushing into my mouth and nose, piercing my throat like needles. My lungs felt like they were being squeezed by a powerful hand, constantly compressing, threatening to crush them to powder. Just as my consciousness began to fade, the doll was finally pulled out of the water. I gasped, sucking in a huge breath, coming back to life. As I was still panting, my phone suddenly rang. It was Luna. I hung up immediately, but my head felt like it was being shoved underwater again, the suffocation returning, then instantly vanishing. The phone rang again. My eyes red, I stared intensely at the vibrating name on the screen, finally pressing answer. “Future sister-in-law~” Her voice was chilling, like it was coming from underground. “Did your afternoon project go well?”

She was convinced I’d made a complete fool of myself this time. Just looking at the phone screen, I could feel her barely contained glee. I pretended to fall for it, playing along with Luna’s question. “Are you really so set on hating me? What do you even gain by making things like this?” “If I sign this big contract, I’ll have money to help you get treatment. Wouldn’t that be better?” She scoffed, her tone sinister. “Why are you so much like me? And you stole my favorite brother… As long as you…” Perhaps she was too smug; she’d said too much. Realizing she’d slipped up, she immediately smashed the doll into the water on the other end of the line. “If you don’t end up disgraced, how can you ever make up for all the suffering I’ve endured these past years?” The splashing water was the last sound I heard. Then, it was as if someone had choked me, my breath cut off, and I sank into darkness. When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed, my colleagues gathered around. Facing their worried gazes, I swallowed, struggling to say, “I’m fine, just really tired.” The doctor stood by, nodding. “All tests are normal. You probably just passed out from exhaustion.” Right, what else could I say? I couldn’t exactly tell them I’d drowned with a doll and actually felt myself die, could I? After my colleagues left, I lay in bed, lost in thought. Then, Jake’s call came in. The moment I answered, he unleashed a torrent of shouts. “Chloe! Where are you? Get over here right now!” “Luna told me everything! You provoked her, that’s why her condition worsened!” “I must have been blind, to think you were this kind of person! Just wait, I’m going to let everyone know how fake you are!” I didn’t get a word in before he hung up. A few minutes later, a colleague forwarded a post to me. The title was suggestive, the content insinuating, asking in every line what kind of scandalous things I’d been up to. Even my manager called, urging me to step away from my current project and take some time to recover. I took a few deep breaths, my fingers trembling as I clicked on the post. It was Jake, of course, posted anonymously. In his words, I was a scheming, jealous, insidious character. Even the collaborative project I’d fought tooth and nail to secure was twisted into something obtained by improper means. To be stabbed in the back by the person I trusted most—that pain cut deeper than any knife. All the grievances from my past and present lives welled up, and for the first time, I felt utterly useless. Tears streamed down my face, wetting my pillow. In that moment, I truly considered just ending it all. Anything would be better than being Luna’s toy. I reached for the razor blade I’d hidden under my pillow, about to act. Suddenly, my mind reeled, as if struck by lightning. I understood! Everything became clear! How Luna had created that empathic link between me and her doll! I furiously threw the blade into the trash, vowing never to waste another second on these rotten people. I immediately called a car to take me to a specific place. When I emerged from there, a cold smile touched my lips. Luna, it was exactly as I suspected. I could distinctly feel that the strange connection had been severed. I felt like a massive weight had been lifted, completely refreshed. Just then, Jake’s FaceTime call popped up. I let it ring, ignoring it. When enough time had passed, I slowly, deliberately answered. “What do you want?” “Chloe!” He roared as if he would explode. “What did you do?! Luna suddenly started throwing up blood!” I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Jake, you’re not making any sense. I’m not a god; how could I make Luna suddenly throw up blood?” “When you take her to the hospital, you should get your head checked too.”

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My wife, Seraphina—a woman who commanded respect, a true queenpin in her own right—always insisted on having her “sisters” over for dinner. “That’s what makes a family,” she’d always say. Watching me serve a table piled high with food, one of her friends grinned. “Our Arthur is just *so* perfect, isn’t he? Always so attentive, always holding down the fort like a true patriarch.” My expression remained unchanged, but I casually shot back, half-joking. “Oh? What, is there some stingy ‘kept man’ out there I don’t know about?” Her friends froze, a flicker of panic in their eyes. But Seraphina just laughed, looping her arm through mine and nuzzling me playfully. “Don’t listen to their nonsense, darling. Besides you, who else in this world could ever be my husband?” Seeing her act so nonchalant, I smiled. But as I turned away, I dialed a number. “Dad, Seraphina Caldwell is cheating. Make sure she rots in a prison cell.” My father on the other end of the line was silent for three seconds. “Arthur, are you sure? Seraphina, she…” I pulled the wedding ring from my left hand. The diamond dug into my palm, a painful, biting reminder. “We’ve been married for ten years. Every brooch she owns was custom-made for her in Italy by me.” “But the one she’s wearing today is a cheap plastic flower. Dad, do you really think I’m mistaken?” “You know I won’t tolerate any disrespect. Send over all the evidence of her smuggling and money laundering over the years. And while you’re at it, get me the best lawyer. I want a divorce.” My father’s voice hardened with anger. “Alright.” Half an hour later, an encrypted file landed on my phone. I clicked open the first picture: a fresh-faced boy in a crisp white shirt, his arm around a woman’s shoulder, smiling shyly. On the wrist peeking from his sleeve was a wolf head tattoo, identical to Seraphina’s. Without a moment’s hesitation, I drove straight to the company. Minutes later, a young man with faded, well-worn jeans and dark hair ran out. I glanced at his work badge: Julian Hayes. The moment he saw me, his face went white with fear. He instinctively hid his hand behind his back. But I’d already seen it: a Swiss custom-made watch. Last year, on my birthday, I received a Swiss credit card statement. One watch worth three million, one necklace worth fifty thousand. The necklace was mine. The watch was on his wrist. I scoffed, getting straight to the point. “Mr. Hayes, your wife has similar taste to mine, it seems. Even the custom-made watch designs are identical.” Julian trembled at my words, his lips parting and closing for a full minute before he stammered out. “It… it’s… it’s true… maybe all women have similar taste.” His fingers, clutching at the hem of his shirt, were turning white. “Alright, drop the act.” “You’re her ‘kept man,’ aren’t you?” Seeing me lay it all bare, Julian trembled even harder, a panicked mess. “Please don’t misunderstand, it was just… Ms. Caldwell fainted from low blood sugar again, and I just helped her out once.” “Ms. Caldwell’s friends thought I was very attentive, so they were just joking around.” “I’m truly sorry if I caused any misunderstanding.” With that, he even exaggeratedly bowed ninety degrees to me. He looked like a poor, wronged college student. If I hadn’t seen the manipulative ways he’d charmed Seraphina, I might have actually fallen for it. Half a month ago, he posted a video on social media. A woman was swiping her card at a car dealership, next to a Porsche. His caption: [Wanted a new car, and my lady came through with her card.] At that very moment, I was home, burning up with a fever until I passed out. I called Seraphina, asking her to take me to the hospital. She panicked for a split second, but then her voice turned hoarse, as if she was suppressing something. “Honey, I’ll send the housekeeper to take you. I have something urgent here I can’t leave.” An hour later, my fever had spiraled into pneumonia, and I was in the ER, fighting for my life. Meanwhile, he posted a photo lying in the car. The tattoo on the woman’s collarbone—my initials—was adorned with suggestive red marks. Caption: [Not only does my sugar mama treat me right, but she’s got a soft touch where it counts.] When Seraphina finally rushed to the hospital, her shirt buttons were still undone. She threw herself by my bedside, her eyes red-rimmed. Back then, I naively thought she was worried about me. But now, I knew it was nothing more than the phantom guilt of a woman fresh from her illicit affair. A wave of nausea washed over me. This man? This slimy kept man was worth Seraphina betraying me for? Too disgusted to watch his pitiful act any longer, I turned and walked away. But just as I got into my car, Seraphina called. The moment I answered, her voice was frantic. “Why did you suddenly decide to come to the office?”

“Why?” I started the car, perfectly composed, and shot back. “Just happened to have a contract to discuss, that’s all. Do you have something you’re afraid I’ll find out?” Seraphina seemed taken aback by my question. Her breath hitched. After a few seconds of silence, her voice suddenly softened, adopting her usual coaxing tone. “Honey, what are you talking about?” “I have nothing to hide from you. It’s just that my office is a mess, and if you were coming, I’d have someone clean up first.” “Besides, how could I ever betray you? You can check anything you want.” Hearing her, I felt a flicker of confusion. Julian hadn’t told her that I’d confronted him. I flipped through the evidence, listening to her flimsy excuses. Three gigabytes of data, every single day tied to Seraphina. Last Valentine’s Day, she claimed she was abroad on a business trip and couldn’t call. In reality, she was in the Arctic watching the aurora with Julian. When my mother was gravely ill, I called Seraphina over thirty times. She didn’t answer a single one. At that very moment, she was celebrating Julian’s birthday. “I believe you. But what about that watch?” Seeing me bring up the subject, Seraphina actually sounded relieved. Her voice leaned into the phone, deliberately making it sound intimate. “That watch? I fainted at the office, and Julian happened to be passing by. He helped me get to the hospital.” She paused, then continued. “He stayed with me all night, so I just gave him a watch as a thank-you. I forgot to tell you about it.” Forgot? She had quite the selective memory. Not only did she forget to tell me about the watch, she also conveniently forgot that they went to the hotel’s top-floor suite that very night. And stayed for three days and three nights. A cold laugh echoed in my mind. “He’s certainly attentive, isn’t he? Even washed and perfectly ironed the clothes you wore when you fainted, and returned them the next day.” Seraphina clearly faltered on the other end, her breath catching. Then she laughed it off again. “Oh, he really is! So meticulous, truly. Pays attention to every little thing.” “See? You’re always so suspicious, darling. My heart belongs only to you.” Her voice purred into the receiver, laced with a practiced tenderness. “Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll take you to the Maldives for a makeup vacation, just the two of us, okay?” That soft, gentle tone used to melt my heart. Now, it only made my stomach churn. “Sounds good.” I gazed out at the passing neon lights, my voice as calm as if I were discussing the weather. “But you focus on your important business first. Don’t let me get in the way.” “Nothing is more important than being with you, darling.” Seraphina’s voice was tinged with eager flattery, but my heart grew colder and colder. It wasn’t just Seraphina’s betrayal that chilled me. It was the realization that they had been playing me for so long, right under my nose. My grip on the steering wheel tightened. I fought down the urge to confront Seraphina immediately. After a few perfunctory words, I hung up. Just then, Julian Hayes updated his social media again. The picture showed him in an intricately designed suit studded with diamonds, his eyes alight with triumph. “Another kept man came to cause trouble today, trying to climb his way up! But my lady, to make it up to me, is finally going to marry me!” “I just mentioned wanting a castle wedding, and she bought me an entire castle!” He smirked, the camera casually sweeping over a property deed. “And all these vineyards? She wants *me* to manage them!” “How could a humble person like me possibly manage them well! Luckily, my lady promised to come with me to stake my claim, so those old-timers won’t look down on me!” Seeing the property deed in the video, bearing my French name, pure rage surged through me. Those vineyards were my father’s gift to me for my coming-of-age. Seraphina was using *my* property to appease her kept man! Fine. They want to stake their claim? Then I’d be damned if I didn’t show up in person, the *real* owner of the vineyards, and see how they planned to do it!

I bought a ticket to France that very night. At the vineyard, old Alfred, the butler, looked surprised to see me. “Master Arthur, what brings you here? Didn’t you say you were lending the estate to Madam Seraphina for an event today? You even had all the family staff cleared out.” Hearing that, I felt my anger flare. Just as I was about to reply, Seraphina’s call came through. “Honey, I’m in a cross-country meeting right now. I’ll fly back to you as soon as I’m done.” Before I could respond, I faintly heard a sickly sweet male voice from her end. “Seraphina, do I look good in this?” The next second, Seraphina covered the phone and moved away. “Gotta go now, meeting’s starting.” Almost simultaneously, the vineyard’s ornate gates swung open. A dozen luxury cars pulled up to the fountain plaza. Countless unfamiliar guests were seated, and I found a discreet spot to sit as well. Once everything was ready, Julian Hayes emerged, dressed in a custom-tailored suit, beaming with an obnoxious, self-important swagger. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Julian Hayes, the new owner of this vineyard.” “My lady said that from now on, everything here—the wine, the castle, even every single grape in the vineyard—is mine to command!” “To celebrate, all wines are seventy percent off! Consider it a welcome gift from me!” Seventy percent off? He was certainly generous. The cheapest wine here cost over a million a bottle. Some were rare vintages that I’d think twice about selling, even to the British royal family! Old Alfred, who had watched me grow up, was seething with rage. “When did this vineyard become *his*?” “And Seraphina! She’s cheating on you, Master Arthur! Is she out of her mind?” Seeing Alfred about to storm out, I quickly shook my head. This wasn’t the time to expose them. I needed to wait for Seraphina to personally admit her relationship with Julian, then I would utterly ruin both of those despicable cheaters. Just then, the ornate gates opened again, and Seraphina walked in, dressed in a designer suit. Julian immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulder, grinning as he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Seraphina, I told you this brand suited you best.” Seraphina’s eyes visibly stiffened, but she nodded, her face impassive. My rage, however, was about to ignite. The founder of that brand was a sworn enemy of my family. My grandfather had been framed by their schemes and had literally died of anger. Seraphina knew all about it. Yet now, she was publicly slapping me in the face. Just as I could no longer hold back and was about to storm out, Seraphina’s friends all swarmed around her. “Julian, our Seraphina just gifted you a vineyard worth hundreds of millions! Where else could you find such an amazing woman?” “From now on, this vineyard will belong to the Hayes family! How are you going to thank our Seraphina?” Amidst their laughter, Julian tightened his arm around Seraphina’s shoulder, his face radiating smug triumph. “Of course, I’ll thank my lady properly in bed~” His words were sickeningly suggestive. Seraphina, her face flushed, cast a coquettish glance at him. Pure fury consumed me. Just as I was about to say something, Mr. Davies, the vineyard manager, approached to serve wine and spoke, looking confused. “Belong to the Hayes family? Didn’t Madam Seraphina just borrow this estate from my young master?” At his words, the guests exchanged bewildered glances, whispering amongst themselves. “What’s going on?” “I only heard this vineyard belonged to Mrs. Caldwell’s husband, but isn’t her husband’s last name Lockhart?” “Wait, then who is this Mr. Hayes? Is he some kind of fake?” Mr. Davies’s face was already alight with anger. “Madam Seraphina, how could you do such a thing behind the young master’s back?” With that, he reached for his phone, intending to call me. The next second, Seraphina’s bodyguards swarmed forward, shoving Mr. Davies to his knees. Seraphina’s gaze swept coldly over the stunned crowd. “Shut his mouth. Let him learn the cost of reckless talk.” Her voice was low, yet it carried the brutal authority of a mob boss. The banquet hall fell silent in an instant. Seraphina didn’t even bat an eye, her fingertips idly tracing Julian’s face. “Julian is my *true* husband! Arthur Lockhart is nothing more than a servant in my household!” A servant? I nearly laughed at the sheer audacity. It seemed Seraphina had truly forgotten who had painstakingly elevated her to the position of a mob boss. If it hadn’t been for me, she’d still be being bullied and scavenging for scraps on the streets! I had toiled with her for ten years. I’d even taken two bullets to the chest for her. And my father helped her behind the scenes countless times. On the brink of death, all I could think about was how to pave the way for her. And in the end, in her mouth, I was just a “servant.” No one dared to challenge Seraphina, and they all quickly chimed in. “Oh, so that’s it! Mr. Caldwell’s husband is really too generous, letting a security guard use the Caldwell name to parade around, swindling people.” Someone even advised Julian. “Mr. Hayes, a security guard like that might try to seduce Mrs. Caldwell at any moment.” “You need to be careful! I think you should just fire him!” “With such evil intentions, he should be thrown into the sea to feed the fish!” Julian’s smug expression was impossible to hide. The manager’s face was ashen. As he was dragged away, he struggled desperately. “I want to see Mr. Arthur Lockhart! He’s Mrs. Caldwell’s real husband!” The guests’ faces contorted with disdain. “This security guard is truly cunning. Even the vineyard manager was fooled by him!” “Mrs. Caldwell, you can’t keep an ungrateful snake like that around.” Seraphina’s cold gaze swept over the crowd, her thin lips parting. “I’ll say it one more time. Julian Hayes is my *only* husband. If any of you dare to disrespect him from now on, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” The room fell silent. Only I slowly began to clap, the sound drawing everyone’s attention. I took off my baseball cap and looked at them coldly. “Then tell me, if *he’s* your husband, who am I?” Seraphina and Julian’s smiles instantly froze. The air in the banquet hall seemed to solidify instantly. All eyes in the room snapped to me. From initial bewilderment to dawning recognition, guests gasped in unison.

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