Mom was critically ill. Before she died, she wanted to see me get married. I begged my girlfriend Vivienne for 27 days before she finally agreed to marry me. I waited at City Hall until dark, but she never showed up. That same day, Vivienne’s childhood friend Sebastian posted their marriage certificate on social media: “Time flies—just three more days until we’ve been married for a whole month.” That’s when I found out she had already married Sebastian. Right then, I received an apology text from Vivienne. “Logan, Sebastian’s family was forcing him to get married. I couldn’t just stand by and watch him marry some random person and throw his life away. Three more days and we’ll be divorced. After that, I’ll marry you.” Three days later, when Vivienne showed up at City Hall in her wedding dress, all she received was my message. “Vivienne, we’re done. Forever.” In the morgue, I stared at Mom’s face as tears streamed down my cheeks. Mom had raised me alone. She never asked me for anything. But I couldn’t even fulfill her final wish. When I learned Mom was seriously ill, I begged Vivienne—my girlfriend of six years—to get our marriage license. I wanted Mom to know that after she was gone, I wouldn’t be alone. I begged her for twenty-seven days. But Vivienne kept making excuses. Day one: Sebastian’s car broke down, so she rushed over to pick him up. Day two: She was helping Sebastian move and didn’t have time. … Day twenty-six: Sebastian’s stomach condition flared up, so she rushed over to take care of him. If Sebastian hadn’t posted that marriage certificate today, I’d still be completely in the dark. I had come up with ten thousand reasons to explain Vivienne’s behavior—but never once did I imagine she was already married. I knelt by Mom’s bedside until evening, when Vivienne called. On the phone, her voice was as gentle as always: “It’s so late. Why aren’t you home yet? Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.” I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak. In the past, I would have pretended to be upset so she’d coax me, then happily waited for her to come get me. But now, I could no longer say a single gentle word to her. Vivienne’s voice carried a trace of anxiety: “Logan, where are you right now?” “The hospital.” Vivienne froze, as if only now remembering I’d been taking care of Mom all this time. “I… wait for me. I’m coming to the hospital to be with you.” After she hung up, I suppressed my grief, stood up, and began handling Mom’s funeral arrangements. But ten minutes later, she sent me another message: [Logan, I have to accompany Sebastian to deal with his parents. I’ll definitely visit your mom next time!] I wasn’t surprised at all. Because over the past two years, the phrase I’d heard most from her was: [Next time for sure.] Missed our anniversary? I’ll make it up next time. Skipped meeting Mom with me? I’ll come next time. Put off getting our license? I’ll definitely be free tomorrow. She knew I’d forgive her, so she hurt me without restraint. But this time, there would be no next time. Because Mom would never have another chance. And I would never forgive her again.

That night, I didn’t go home. I stayed at the hospital all night. Vivienne Hart sent messages all night long and made countless calls. I didn’t read them. I didn’t answer. The next day, I arrived at the company early to prepare my resignation paperwork. Vivienne was the company’s founder. I was just an ordinary designer. From the days when she had nothing, I’d been by her side building the business with her. Now, my position in the company had become negligible. Even if I disappeared, Vivienne wouldn’t notice at all. Just as I was printing my resignation letter, Vivienne suddenly appeared behind me. Under her gaze, I calmly picked up the resignation letter. She looked at me, her tone gentle: “Done printing?” “Yeah.” Vivienne looked at me, seemingly oblivious to my coldness. She cleared her throat: “Logan, come with me for a moment.” The instant Vivienne called me away, my colleagues immediately started gossiping. “Did you guys know? Ms. Hart is already married.” “Really? No wonder Logan and Ms. Hart kept their relationship secret and were so hush-hush about it. Turns out he’s the other man.” “Logan always said he hated homewreckers. Talk about being a hypocrite.” My father abandoned Mom and me for another woman, making us suffer for half our lives. But now, thanks to Vivienne, I was being called a homewrecker myself. In the office, Vivienne tried to hug me. I stepped back: “Ms. Hart, this is the office.” Vivienne frowned. “Stop being angry. I’ll go see your mom with you tonight, okay?” I shook my head. “There’s no need anymore.” My mom was already dead, and I didn’t want you to see her anyway. If she knew I was being called a homewrecker because of Vivienne, she’d definitely be angry with me. Vivienne seemed to sense something was off. After a moment of silence, she spoke: “Two more days and I can divorce Sebastian. Then we can get our license.” She handed me a gift box. “This is ginseng I prepared for your mom, specially for restoring her health.” I stared at the ginseng, somewhat dazed. Her gesture came too late. My mom didn’t need it anymore. Seeing my silence, a flash of anxiety crossed Vivienne’s eyes. She was about to speak when an urgent ringtone interrupted her thoughts. Vivienne took out her phone, glanced at me, hesitated briefly, then left anyway. I knew it was Sebastian calling. After all, he was Vivienne’s legitimate husband now. My heart felt nothing. After all, I didn’t care anymore. Later, I submitted my resignation letter. Facing my sudden resignation request, Vice President Smith seemed prepared. “Logan, I’m sure Ms. Hart will take good care of you.” I bit my lip, finding it absurd. Everyone seemed convinced I was Vivienne’s kept man at the company. She had already prepared everything for me. But no one was willing to believe I was Vivienne’s actual boyfriend, and that now, heartbroken, I was leaving. As I was leaving the company, I ran into Vivienne and Sebastian at the elevator. Seeing me, Vivienne’s eyes flickered, and she instinctively tried to explain: “Don’t misunderstand. I brought Sebastian here to…” Before she could finish, Sebastian draped his arm over her shoulder: “Tour my wife’s company.” I said nothing. Then Sebastian spoke again: “Logan, you don’t mind, do you?” Sebastian looked at me provocatively. I silently stepped out of the elevator, making way for them. Vivienne looked at me, hesitation in her eyes. She wanted to say something, but in the end, Sebastian pulled her away. That afternoon, at the crematorium, I watched Mom turn to ashes. I placed her in the cemetery. Until nightfall. Vivienne didn’t appear. Not a single message. I didn’t care. Without her interference, Mom could rest more peacefully. I think Mom’s spirit wouldn’t want me entangled with her anymore either. And she definitely wouldn’t want to see me get a marriage license with her. Our six-year relationship should finally end completely.

Leaving the cemetery, I walked all the way home. I hadn’t walked at night in a long time. Before, I held Mom’s hand. Later, Vivienne held my arm. From now on, I’d walk alone. I think I’ll get used to it. It was past midnight when I finally got home. The living room light was on. Vivienne was leaning on the sofa, texting. Seeing me enter, her furrowed brow relaxed. She immediately rushed over to grab my hand: “Where did you go? You didn’t answer calls or reply to messages. I was about to call the police, you know?!” I froze, then pulled my hand from Vivienne’s grasp. “I was with Mom. I didn’t want her disturbed.” Hearing me mention Mom, Vivienne remembered what she’d said earlier that day. Her face showed some guilt. She suddenly looked at me expectantly and solemnly pulled out a box. I instinctively took it and opened it. Inside was a pair of wedding rings. I suddenly froze. Once, Vivienne had earnestly held my hand and promised we’d wear wedding rings together, hold our marriage certificate, and let Mom witness our happiness. I waited countless days, hoped countless times. But that was before. I closed the box and handed it back. Vivienne frowned slightly, as if thinking of something. She said somewhat awkwardly: “It’s already past midnight. One more day and I can divorce Sebastian.” “Don’t worry, I’ve always remembered my promise.” “Tomorrow, we’ll put the rings on each other, then go get our license.” Her sweet words didn’t move me. I just said: “Okay, got it. I’m tired. I’m going to rest.” The smile on Vivienne’s face froze. For the first time, she noticed my dismissiveness. Panic flashed in her eyes as she tried to grab my hand. Just then, Sebastian walked out of the bedroom wearing my pajamas. He looked at me with sleepy eyes, then immediately stepped forward, draping his arm over Vivienne’s shoulder and whining: “Vivienne, Logan’s back now. Let’s wash up and go to bed.” Vivienne quickly looked at me to explain: “Sebastian had a fight with his family. I let him stay in the guest room for the night.” After speaking, Vivienne stared at me intently, as if afraid I’d misunderstand. I nodded indifferently: “It’s fine. I can stay at Mom’s place for the night.” Vivienne stood frozen, seemingly not expecting me to agree so readily. But Sebastian didn’t give me a chance to change my mind. He smugly turned and rushed back to the room. When I pulled my suitcase toward the door, Vivienne still stood in the living room. She pressed her lips together, gripping my hand tightly and refusing to let go. The guilt in her eyes grew deeper and deeper. Finally, prompted by Sebastian’s urging, she spoke: “Tomorrow, after we get our license, let’s go see your mom together.”

At dawn, I packed everything and returned to the company for final handover. The moment I stepped into the office, colleagues looked at me strangely. After I walked away, they whispered and pointed behind my back. It wasn’t until I found Sebastian sitting at my desk that I understood the source of this strange atmosphere. Everyone stared at their computer screens, but their eyes kept glancing toward this dramatic scene. Seeing me arrive, Sebastian looked at me arrogantly: “I’m starting work today. I want to sit here. Go somewhere else.” I looked at him and nodded calmly. “Fine. Let me pack my things.” Our exchange was calm, but seeing my attitude, my colleagues all thought I felt guilty facing Sebastian, the legitimate spouse. But with both Sebastian and me present, no one dared say much. They just typed on their computers, expressing their disdain for me. I wanted to clear things up but didn’t know how to begin. After all, Sebastian really was Vivienne’s legally married husband. No matter how much I protested, I’d only humiliate myself. As I finished packing and prepared to leave, Vivienne walked over. Seeing me with my belongings, her expression tightened. “Where are you going?” “I’m…” Sebastian cut in: “Making room for me. I like sitting here.” Seeing I was leaving, Vivienne quickly grabbed my arm. “No. This is your seat. No one can…” Before she could finish, I interrupted: “If he likes it, let him have it.” After all, I’d already resigned. Whoever wanted to sit there had nothing to do with me. But Vivienne froze in place, her expression unreadable. Only after my figure with the box disappeared did she snap back to reality. In front of everyone, Vivienne shoved aside Sebastian, who was humming while organizing the desk, then slapped him across the face: “Did our fake marriage give you the wrong idea and make you forget your place?!” “Did you forget I warned you not to provoke Logan?” After leaving the company, I received a text from Vivienne. [Tomorrow at City Hall. I’ll wait for you.] [The specialist I hired for your mom will arrive tomorrow.] I smiled, feeling somewhat bitter. Vivienne, goodbye. I took all my luggage and headed to the airport. The next day, Vivienne stood at the entrance of City Hall, holding her freshly issued divorce certificate.

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On New Year’s Eve, my husband Vincent was still on a business trip in Europe. I decided to fly out and surprise him. When I went to book the ticket, only first class was available. I looked at the $10,000 price tag and used a year’s worth of savings to buy it. After I sat down, I could not figure out how to adjust my seat. The young woman next to me let out a scornful laugh. “Never flown first class before?” I smiled awkwardly. “No, I haven’t.” “My boss always books me first class,” she said. “Sometimes he even arranges a private jet for me.” I was taken aback. “Your boss must be very generous.” “Actually,” she said smugly, “he’s not just my boss. He’s my lover. Look, this is the ring he gave me” Looking at the diamond ring on her hand that was identical to my missing wedding ring, I froze. Wait. Wasn’t Vincent just a regular employee? When did he become a CEO? I stared at her ring finger. “But that ring…it’s a wedding band. Are you two engaged? Or married?” “This?” Lucia glanced at the diamond. “I had him take it off his wife.” I was stunned. “I wasn’t going to trouble the wife at first. But on my birthday, that woman had a miscarriage and made him rush to the hospital. I spent my birthday alone.” My hand moved to my lower abdomen. I suddenly remembered that brutal winter The road home from the market was a sheet of black ice. Vincent’s salary was pitiful-we couldn’t even afford an electric scooter. I slipped and fell hard. Our three-month-old baby became nothing but a pool of blood… That day, Vincent dropped everything. He stayed by my side for three days and three nights. But when I finally woke, my wedding ring was gone. Just like our child. Vincent held me close. “It’s okay, we’ll have another child. And the ring-I’ll buy you a new one.” I cried and shook my head. “Didn’t you say the company is doing layoffs? We need to save money. When you’re making big money later, then you can get me a new one.” That day he looked at me with reddened eyes, tears welling up. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I haven’t earned enough money. I’m sorry I haven’t given you a good life.” I shook my head. Beside me, Lucia was still admiring the diamond ring. I asked, “So you made him take his wife’s ring and give it to you?” “Yes. Actually, he refused at first. Said he’d buy me something more expensive.” Lucia examined the ring from all angles. “But that old woman is so arrogant precisely because she thinks she’s his wife, right? If I didn’t teach her a lesson, wouldn’t she just walk all over me in the future?” I clenched my teeth. “Honestly, this ring isn’t worth as much as the other things he’s bought me.” “But it is a wedding ring, after all.” Lucia smiled at me. “When a woman ends up like that old hag, she’s got no hope left in this life.” I gripped the corner of my clothes, forcing out a smile. “If your sugar daddy is so willing to spend money on you, he must be paying his wife plenty of hush money, right?” Lucia laughed. She leaned in close. “I’ll tell you-that old woman doesn’t even know he’s a CEO yet.”

“Why not?” Lucia admired her diamond-studded manicure. “Because there’s no point. That woman already spent her youth helping him build his career.” “If you were a man who got rich and then looked at your wife who’s already old and faded, would you still spend money on her? Can money bring back her youth?” The glass reflection showed my slightly haggard face. Lucia leaned toward me. “I can see that although you’re older than me, you still have some looks. Since we’re fated to meet, let me give you some advice.” “Women really should invest in medical aesthetics and beauty treatments. I can see your skin is already getting dry-your husband probably isn’t interested in you anymore, is he?” I stared at her without speaking. Her skin was flawless. I used to be like that too. In fact… I was even prettier than her. Ten years in a rental apartment, buffeted by wind and rain-when I look at my old photos now, I barely recognize myself. “Medical aesthetics… that’s expensive.” “So what?” Lucia shrugged. “My sugar daddy gives me $500,000 a month for living expenses, and he reimburses these beauty treatments too.” I looked at the small crystal on Lucia’s winged eyeliner, My hands trembled as I clutched my clothes. “How long have you been his mistress?” “Since June 12th, 2023. Why?” My grip on my clothes tightened. June 12th, 2023. The day my mother died. That day, my mother needed $500,000 for surgery. I remember clearly how Vincent begged everyone he knew and used all his own savings to scrape together $350,000 for me. That was nearly everything he had earned since he started working. In the end, despite my desperate efforts, I could only come up with $80,000. My mother still died. That day he held me tight, tears streaming down his face. “It’s my fault. I’m useless-I couldn’t even earn enough for Mom’s medical bills! You’ve suffered so much with me…” My heart felt like it was being cut by knives. I still wiped away his tears. “You managed to get $350,000 together. I’m grateful.” “Mom said you did your best. She doesn’t blame you, and neither do I… I’m the one who couldn’t come up with the remaining $150,000…” His tears fell onto the back of my hand. He gripped my hand tightly. “Nina, just wait a little longer. Please wait for me… I promise I won’t let us suffer like this anymore…” I nodded through my tears. $500,000… So he could have gotten it after all. “You know what? That woman’s mom also needed exactly $500,000 that month.” Lucia said. I looked at her. She winked her left eye at me. “Actually, he was originally going to give it to her.” My breath caught. “Did he use it for your living expenses instead?” “No, he’s so rich-giving me $500,000 still leaves him with plenty more.” “Then why didn’t he give it to his wife’s mother?” “Because…” Lucia rested her chin on her hand. “I told him that once her mother died, that woman would have no family left. Then even if he got caught keeping me on the side, she wouldn’t dare say anything.” My teeth were about to shatter from how hard I was biting down. “Plus, that month I had my eye on a new Chanel piece that cost exactly $500,000.” I stared at her intently. “Aren’t you afraid his wife will find out what you did?” “Please, I’m way too smart for that.” Lucia laughed. “I gave him the idea to take out $350,000 and pretend it was all his savings. His wife would just think her husband did his best-she’d never check if he had someone on the side!”

As she spoke, her expression shifted. “The only annoying thing is, he did it to keep the old woman from leaving him if I was ever found out.” “Tch. Lucky old hag.” SLAP! A hand struck Lucia’s face without warning. “Are you insane!” Lucia’s drink spilled everywhere. Flight attendants rushed over to help clean up. She was furious. “What’s your problem? Why are you freaking out!” “Mistresses are this brazen now?!” I was seething with rage. The flight attendants quickly pulled us apart. They moved Lucia to an empty seat farther from me and tried to calm her down. Finally, Lucia’s emotions stabilized somewhat. She wiped her hands with the towel the attendant handed her while shooting me a contemptuous glance. “I hate self-righteous people like you the most. Going on and on about mistresses-the truth is…” “Ha! You’re just old now and can’t attract men anymore, right?” “Go back to when you were young, and you probably chased them harder than anyone!” “You!” The attendant quickly stopped me from exploding. I didn’t want to cause them trouble, so I bit my tongue and sat back down. Lucia gave me a disdainful once-over. “Let me tell you the truth-you’re already old. Your husband definitely has someone on the side too.” “Don’t believe me? Go home and check his phone. Because looking like you do, no man would want to come home.” SPLASH! I threw my fresh drink right in her face. Lucia screamed. The attendants frantically positioned themselves between us. The senior purser smiled apologetically. “Ms. Sullivan, she’s one of our VIP guests. Please calm down. How about I bring you some fruit to help you cool off?” “VIP guest?” I clenched my teeth. The purser leaned down and spoke quietly. “She’s linked to Mr. Pierce, a rising star. Best to steer clear for your own good-Pierce is fiercely protective of her.” I smiled bitterly. The plane arrived at the connecting airport. Neither Lucia nor I got off. We could turn off airplane mode now. I texted Vincent. “Where are you?” He sent a photo of his desk. “Making money for my wife.” “For me, or for someone else?” No reply. I sent back a question mark. The next second, a familiar voice came from Lucia’s direction. “What? Someone spilled juice on you? Who dared to treat my Lucia like this?” “Some old hag! Hmph, it’s all your fault! If you were here, she wouldn’t have dared!” “Alright, alright. My fault.” “Deposit received: $500,000” The mechanical notification sounded from Lucia’s phone. Vincent’s voice was gentle. “Go buy yourself some little trinkets you like.” I gripped my clothes tighter. The smile on Lucia’s face vanished instantly as she pouted. “Who told you to say you missed me and wanted to spend New Year’s with me? Otherwise I wouldn’t have taken this flight and run into that crazy woman!” “No amount of money will make me happy now! Hmph!” Vincent didn’t get angry. Instead, his tone became even lighter, as if amused. “Well then, what about the new villa I bought you?” Lucia’s eyes widened slightly. “Lucia’s smiling. Are you happy now?” “I am not!” Lucia pouted again. “But… hmph, I’ll give you one chance, since I love you. Okay, honey, make it up to me properly tonight, okay?” “We’re going to have sex for three hours-not one second less! No, we can do it all night long.”

My hand gripping my clothes under my sleeve trembled even more violently. I thought back to after he was transferred to California-every time we met, we only ever hugged and kissed. Every time I initiated anything beyond that, he would sigh. “I’ve been working so long, I’m a bit tired. Can we wait until I’ve rested up?” But before he could “rest up,” he’d already be gone again. The plane was about to take off again. Lucia kissed the camera and hung up the video call. That’s when Vincent sent me a message. “Why don’t you even trust me now, honey? Are you upset I can’t spend New Year’s with you because of overtime?” “After the holidays, I’ll come home and take you to that rotating hot pot place you love, okay?” The plane took off. A flight attendant came to Lucia’s new seat carrying a black and gold gift box. “Ms. Evans, a gentleman asked us to give this to you.” “Oh my! A Prada necklace! How did he know I’ve had my eye on this one!” The attendant smiled and handed over a card. “Mr. Pierce also has a message for you.” “He hopes Ms. Evans won’t be disturbed by irrelevant noise, that you’ll bravely be yourself and treat all obstacles as nothing.” “Because Mr. Pierce will always stand behind you. He will always love you.” I looked at the message Vincent had sent me and closed my eyes. “Ms. Sullivan, this diamond is from Mr. Pierce for you.” The purser handed me a diamond. I frowned. “For me?” The purser nodded. “Mr. Pierce knows you and Ms. Evans had some unpleasantness. He says Ms. Evans has been a bit irritable lately-the doctor says she shouldn’t get upset.” “So, Ms. Sullivan, please go give Ms. Evans a sincere apology.” I looked at the diamond and laughed, a hollow sound. “An apology? Seems a bit much.” “Don’t trouble yourself over it. Mr. Pierce can make that back several times over in a day.” A six-figure diamond. Several in a day. I turned the stone over in my palm. Suddenly I laughed. So a stranger was worth more than I ever was. I nodded. “Fine. I will apologize.” “Ms. Evans! Mr. Pierce has sent her to apologize!” I gave a shallow bow. “I sincerely apologize for laying hands on you. Please forgive me, Ms. Evans.” “Alright.” Lucia stood up. “Let me slap you twice, and I’ll forgive you.” The purser smiled apologetically. “Ms. Evans, she is older than you after all. Please be magnanimous and don’t stoop to her level.” “So what?” Lucia’s laugh was mocking. “This face is already ruined anyway. Whether I hit her or not, no man will like her.” “I’m doing her a favor slapping her twice. She gets to take a diamond home-she should be thanking me.” An attendant tugged at me. “Ma’am, why don’t you just let her? Let her slap you twice and this will all be over.” “She has Mr. Pierce behind her, after all.” “Right, a six-figure diamond-we’re not really losing out.” Six figures… Right. I’d have to desperately save for ten or eight years to get six figures. This diamond in my hand could buy ten years of my life. I rolled it between my fingers. Then, I flicked it onto Lucia’s tray. It skittered across the surface and dropped to the floor. “I don’t want it.” SLAP! Her hand struck my face without warning. “I’m giving it to you,” Lucia snarled, showing no mercy. “And you refuse?”

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My husband Adrian and I were on an outdoor expedition when tragedy struck: his first love, Bella, died in an accident. That same day, Adrian left behind a suicide note and threw himself off a cliff. Only then did I realize he had never loved me. When I was reborn and returned to my college days, Adrian didn’t hesitate to abandon me and choose Bella. We met again eight years later at a banquet hosted by the wealthiest family in the city. By then, he was a rising CEO in finance. Seeing me drinking alone in a corner, he couldn’t help but frown. “Vanessa. Eight years, and you’re still chasing after me?” I glanced at him and walked straight toward my daughter, who was drinking juice nearby. But he panicked, veins bulging on his forehead. “Have you lost your mind? You married some nobody and had a child… just to spite me? You’re pathetic!” When I spotted that familiar figure in the crowd, I froze. I never imagined that Adrian Hayes and I would meet again at Hudson’s homecoming banquet. There he was, his arm draped possessively around Bella’s shoulders, working the room with practiced charm. The aloof boy I once knew was gone, polished into a stranger. “Mr. Hayes! Congratulations. To become the youngest CEO in the city’s financial sector…your future is boundless.” “Is this your wife? You two look perfect together.” Amid the flattery, Adrian offered a polite smile. “Bella is my fiancée. We’ll be holding our wedding in July, and you’re all invited.” “Absolutely,” everyone chimed in. Just then, one of Adrian’s former classmates spoke up. “Mr. Hayes, you and Bella were the famous golden couple back in college. Why did it take eight years of dating before you decided to get married?” At those words, I set down my wine glass and looked at Adrian. Actually, I wanted to know too. After all, Adrian was crazy about Bella. In my past life, when he learned of Bella’s death, he didn’t hesitate to jump off a cliff and end his own life. When I was reborn back to my college days, Adrian didn’t hesitate to dump me and chase after Bella. Who would have thought they still hadn’t gotten married after all this time? It was really strange. In the crowd, Adrian’s smile faltered for a moment, and a flash of embarrassment crossed his eyes. “Bella is my first love and the woman I love most. So all these years I’ve been working hard to give her the most spectacular wedding in the world.” As he spoke, the affection in Adrian’s eyes seemed ready to overflow. Hearing this, Bella smiled sweetly. “I’m looking forward to it, Adrian.” Watching them, I felt deeply moved. So when Adrian truly loved someone, he actually thought about them this much. It was worlds apart from how he treated me in my past life. In my past life, no matter how much I gave, he refused to marry me. In the end, it was only because I got pregnant by accident and his grandfather put pressure on him that he was forced to marry me. I didn’t want to waste any more time at this boring banquet, so I got up to leave. Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a little girl with two pigtails hiding under a nearby table, drinking one glass of juice after another. I shook my head helplessly and walked in that direction. Without paying attention, I knocked a wine glass off the table. Crash! The glass shattered into pieces, fragments everywhere. “Who are you?” “Who let you in here?” “Do you have any idea how much that glass cost!” A nearby server blocked my path, looking at me with utter contempt. Everyone’s attention immediately shifted to our direction. Seeing me, Adrian froze in place, shock flashing through his eyes. “Vanessa?” “You actually crashed the Hayes family banquet just to see me?” The people around him looked confused. “Mr. Hayes, from your tone, she’s not a guest invited by the Hayes family?” At this, Adrian frowned slightly, looking a bit uncomfortable. “I’m sorry everyone, I didn’t mean to ruin your evening. She’s my ex.”

Hearing Adrian’s words, everyone’s faces showed knowing smiles. “Mr. Hayes, you’re quite the lucky man! Both your ex and current girlfriend are beautiful!” “Wait, that’s not right. Didn’t Mr. Hayes say Miss Bella was his first love?” “Then what’s this about an ex?” Hearing everyone’s questions, Adrian’s face became somewhat stiff. Bella, nestled in his arms, looked at me with even more disgust and resentment. “Everyone’s got it wrong.” “She’s not really an ex.” “Just someone I used as a distraction when Bella and I were fighting.” After his explanation, Adrian turned to look at the server nearby. “I’ll pay for the glass.” “Have her leave.” The entire time, Adrian didn’t give me a single glance, as if I were something filthy he couldn’t bear to look at. I was speechless. But this was fine. In this life, I didn’t want any connection with him whatsoever. “Alright, hurry up and leave.” The server impatiently pushed me. “Look at yourself. Thinking you could be with a CEO like Mr. Hayes.” As the server spoke, he glanced disdainfully at my somewhat dusty athletic wear. Seeing this, I couldn’t help but frown. “Wait a moment. I need to find someone, then I’ll leave immediately.” Hearing this, the server snapped irritably. “Find someone?” “Do you think I’m an idiot?” “I’ve seen plenty of women like you. Don’t think you can keep prowling for men at this banquet.” With that, the server grabbed my arm and started dragging me toward the door. Just then, Bella suddenly called out. “Wait.” Bella walked over arm-in-arm with Adrian, her face full of smugness. “Vanessa, Adrian never loved you. Stop pestering him.” “Besides, we’re about to have our wedding. What you’re doing is no different from being a homewrecker.” “That’s right.” Adrian frowned, looking at me with complete impatience. “I never loved you. Stop harboring any delusions.” “Let alone eight years-even if you wait eighty years, I’ll never be with you.” “How about this.” Adrian pursed his lips and continued. “I’ll transfer a million dollars to you. From now on, don’t appear in front of me again.” With that, Adrian had Bella pull his phone from her purse. When he opened his messaging app, Adrian froze. “Vanessa? You actually blocked me?” Adrian’s voice suddenly rose, disbelief written all over his face. “What else was I supposed to do?” A flash of helplessness crossed my eyes. We had already cut ties. Why would I keep his contact information? Besides, that big shot at home was famous for being jealous. If he found out I still had my ex’s contact info, he’d throw a complete fit. Hearing my retort, Adrian’s face turned extremely ugly. Seeing this, Bella quickly spoke up. “Vanessa, stop using these low tactics!” “Don’t think my Adrian will soften his heart because of this!” “Stop dreaming!” As she spoke, Bella rubbed her chest against Adrian’s arm and said coquettishly. “Adrian, don’t pay attention to her anymore.” “I bet she knows you’re a CEO now, so she’s latching on!” “This type of woman just loves social climbing!” “Mm.” Adrian nodded, looking at me with a flash of disgust. Bella even looked me up and down several times with her eyes, saying disdainfully. “You graduated from a prestigious university. Instead of using this energy to chase men, why not work on your own career?” “Look at you-you’re more pathetic than a beggar on the street!” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh. Bella really had gotten full of herself, forgetting how terrible her own past was.

Bella’s family had been poor farmers for generations, all living in the mountains. Not only that, she was extremely devoted to her younger brother. After getting together with Adrian, she sold all the gifts he gave her and sent the money to her brother. The first time I met Adrian was when he was hospitalized after getting injured working to buy gifts for Bella’s brother. He had broken his leg back then, and under pressure from the Hayes family, he and Bella broke up. That was the darkest, most difficult period of his life. I was the one who stayed by his side, gradually bringing light back into his world. Adrian loved painting, so I went everywhere buying expensive tickets to art exhibitions at premium prices. I acted as both his driver and caretaker, taking him to see art exhibitions around the world. I bought him the world’s finest paper and paints. Not only that, I took care of all his food, clothing, and living expenses. All he had to do was be happy. Even Adrian’s friends said I was the epitome of a devoted girlfriend. Everyone thought I was madly in love with him, but actually, it was Adrian who first asked to be together. I didn’t expect him to confess. Because he would often log into his alternate social media account to spy on Bella’s life. So I thought he still hadn’t gotten over her. However, Adrian looked at me affectionately and said. “Vanessa, you’re my salvation. If it weren’t for you, I probably wouldn’t be in this world anymore.” “I’ve already fallen in love with you. I want to be with you every day.” I was so moved that I agreed to be with Adrian. We were together for eight whole years. Even Adrian’s parents never imagined that someone as willful as him could be so stable with me. Unfortunately, no one knew. During those eight years, I had countless times suggested wanting to have a home with Adrian, and he rejected me with various excuses every time. If I hadn’t gotten pregnant by accident and Adrian’s parents found out, Adrian wouldn’t have even wanted the child. Under strong pressure from the Hayes family, he reluctantly married me. After marriage, when he was accompanying me on an outdoor adventure, he accidentally learned about Bella’s death. He locked himself in his room for three days and nights. On the fourth day, when I forced the door open, I only found a suicide note. “Bella is my one true love in this life. If she’s not here, what meaning does my life have?” “I hope in the next life, I can give her the most spectacular wedding.” Only then did I realize that Adrian had jumped off a cliff the night before to follow Bella. My heart died in that instant. Therefore, when I was reborn back to my college days, I didn’t try to stop Adrian from going to find his first love. I only felt incredibly grateful that I could break up with him and have a fresh new future. I prepared to leave. But Bella stepped in front of me with one stride, saying arrogantly. “Vanessa, look at your athletic wear-a style that wasn’t even popular ten years ago!” “You’ve really hit rock bottom, haven’t you!” “How about I beg Adrian to arrange a server position for you here?” “Miss Bella is truly kind.” A man trying to curry favor with Adrian suddenly spoke up. He looked at me and sneered contemptuously. “This is the most luxurious banquet hall in the entire city. Working as a server here, the tips alone are two to three hundred thousand a month!” “A woman like you has probably never seen that much money in your life!” “Why don’t you kowtow and thank her!” Seeing this, a flash of impatience crossed my eyes. “I have a job. No need to trouble yourself.” However, Bella wouldn’t let it go. “You’re not lying, are you?” “What kind of work?” “Painting.” Hearing my words, Adrian, who had been silent, suddenly looked at me, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

“Painting?” Adrian murmured softly. After a moment of silence, he looked at me, his expression full of meaning. “When I said I liked painting back then, I was just making conversation. I can’t believe you took it seriously.” “Whatever. For old times’ sake, I can give you a respectable job.” Hearing this, I froze. The next second, I realized Adrian must have misunderstood. He definitely thought I chose painting because of him. But that wasn’t the case at all. When I was reborn, I discovered that all my savings had already been spent on exhibition tickets and painting supplies. To avoid wasting them, I could only look at the exhibitions and paint myself. As I painted more and more, I fell in love with this art form. Over these years, my paintings had gained some recognition in the country. Even abroad, I was occasionally invited to bring my works to exhibitions. Therefore, my current income was much higher than Adrian’s CEO salary. However, I didn’t plan to tell him this. After all, Adrian had never chosen to believe in me. And besides… I looked down at myself. This athletic wear I was wearing did look rather dirty. But there was nothing I could do-I had come straight to this banquet hall right after getting off my flight. I hadn’t had time to change out of the clothes I’d worn while gathering inspiration in the mountains abroad. But what did it matter? I looked at Adrian with complete detachment. “I really love my work. I’ll keep painting. No need to concern yourself.” Hearing this, Adrian’s face instantly darkened. “Vanessa, must you be so ungrateful?” “Forget it, Adrian. It’s not worth getting angry at this kind of woman. Let’s just ignore her.” Bella tried to persuade him. Just then, the server from earlier suddenly changed expression, pointing at me furiously. “You thief!” “Did you steal this athletic wear from another guest?” “Impossible. I bought it myself.” I frowned slightly. “You’re lying. I recognize this brand. They only do custom orders!” “A pauper like you probably can’t even afford one of their buttons!” Hearing this, Adrian looked at me with even more disgust. “Vanessa, how did you end up like this!” “Exactly. Just now she said she had a job and didn’t need help. Turns out her job is being a thief!” Bella’s eyes were full of disdain. “You have hands and feet. How can you do such sneaky things!” Feeling everyone’s pointing and whispering around me, my expression turned cold! These people really would say anything to curry favor with Adrian. I instantly lost all patience. “I told you, these are my clothes!” “If you don’t believe me, feel free to call the police!” “Otherwise, I’ll sue you for slander!” Hearing this, the server’s eyes flashed with guilt. “Why are you getting so worked up!” “If not for worrying about disturbing Mr. Hudson’s homecoming banquet because of a lowlife like you, I definitely wouldn’t let you off!” “Speaking of which, it’s strange. Why hasn’t Mr. Hudson shown up yet?” Someone in the crowd raised the question. “A big shot like Mr. Hudson should appear at the most important moment of the banquet.” Adrian said confidently. “I heard Mr. Hudson came back with his wife and child this time!” “Really? Which lucky girl ended up with Mr. Hudson?” “A man like Hudson moves in a completely different circle. We can only dream.” Amid the chatter, Bella’s face lit up with an excited smile. “Adrian, can you invite Mr. Hudson to our wedding? Wouldn’t that be incredible?” “I’ll try my best!” Adrian smiled confidently. No sooner had he spoken than the banquet coordinator approached, his expression grave, a dozen black-suited bodyguards flanking him.

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After I returned to my wealthy birth family, the fake heiress Megan took me along on ninety-nine dates with her fiancé, Lucas. Every single time, she’d cry to Lucas, “Jenna should be your fiancée, not me. I’m just a fraud.” Megan deliberately locked Lucas and me in a room together, even made me wear her dresses to test him. Every single time, Lucas firmly chose her. Megan got her satisfaction from being chosen over and over again. Until the last time, when Megan demanded Lucas propose to her on a livestream witnessed by millions of viewers. With everyone watching, Megan once again claimed she wasn’t worthy and bought a last-minute ticket to Paris. “Lucas, Jenna should be your fiancée.” She thought this time would be like all the others: Lucas would chase after her. But Lucas just wearily rubbed his temples. “Jenna Morgan, will you marry me?” I smiled as I slipped on the ten-carat pink diamond that was originally meant for Megan, becoming Lucas’s fiancée amid the blessings of guests and elders. After the guests left and only the two of us remained, Lucas looked at the string of red exclamation marks on his phone and rubbed his temples. “Jenna, I’m sorry. If you meet someone you like later, you can come to me anytime to break off the engagement.” “The family will give you reasonable compensation. We might need to attend some events together during this time. Sorry for the trouble.” Because of Megan’s constant “humility,” Lucas had been humiliated dozens of times. The family elders already had issues with him. If it weren’t for me, Lucas and his family would have become the laughingstock of their entire circle today. I nodded gracefully and appropriately. “It’s fine. Until my sister returns, I’ll do my best as your fiancée.” “Don’t blame her. She just lacks security. When she comes back, I’ll return the position of Mrs. Anderson to her.” “I’ll have to trouble you to look after me during this time, Mr. Anderson.” Lucas’s expression darkened considerably when thinking about his runaway bride, but it softened a bit when he looked at me. He transferred thirty million dollars to me as compensation. “If your parents get any news about Megan, let me know.” I nodded at him with concern, then immediately deleted the location information Megan had sent me a few hours ago. She wanted to use me to tell Lucas where she was, like before, for some grand cross-continental romance chase. But now I was Lucas’s fiancée. Did she really think I’d give back what I’d already gotten? Dream on! After Lucas left, I returned to the Morgan house. My parents were sitting on the sofa anxiously calling Megan. When their eyes fell on me, they both seemed hesitant to speak. “Jenna, Megan and Lucas grew up together. They love each other. Your engagement to Lucas today was just a temporary measure…” “Megan is kind-hearted and willing to give these things back to you, but she doesn’t owe you anything.” Megan’s mother had switched us at birth, letting Megan live as the Morgan family heiress for over twenty years, but my birth parents said she didn’t owe me anything. This itself was a form of favoritism. But I just smiled lightly. “I know. Don’t worry, Mom and Dad. Today when my sister left Lucas at the proposal, the Anderson family must have been upset. I only agreed to be Lucas’s bride to help her.” “I’ll take care of Lucas’s family for her and explain things to them. When she comes back, I’ll return to my proper place.” My parents visibly relaxed. “Good girl. When your sister comes back, we’ll definitely find you a good match.” “We’ll find someone from a lower social standing, so you can live more comfortably.” I smiled politely, then turned away. Wait for my sister to come back? By then I’d probably already be married to Lucas.

The next day, I changed into modest, dignified clothing and went to the Anderson family estate. The Anderson family had prospered for hundreds of years with deep roots. This marriage was the Morgan family marrying up. My parents could never find another family like this, which was why they insisted Megan marry into it. But why should I listen to them? I brought gifts to visit Lucas’s grandmother Emma. She was very pleased with my gentle, gracious manner. From then on, I went to the estate every day, sometimes personally cooking a dish, sometimes just keeping Emma company. I didn’t deliberately try to please Lucas, but thoughtfully integrated myself into his life. After running into me at his family home several times, Lucas invited me to attend events as his companion. At my first event of this scale, Lucas worried I wouldn’t understand high society etiquette and might make mistakes, but my performance exceeded his expectations. I conversed naturally with guests, looking like a socialite who’d grown up in wealthy circles. Lucas couldn’t help but smile slightly. In the light, his eyes showed a touch of warmth. “When did you learn all this? I remember Megan saying the family that raised you wasn’t well-off financially. You shouldn’t have had access to this kind of training.” “Not well-off” would be an understatement. I thought of the moldy walls, the drafty windows, and my abusive birth parents, yet I still managed a graceful smile. “I didn’t want to embarrass you. I hired two etiquette tutors.” “Luckily, my hard work these past few months paid off.” Lucas sounded impressed. “To learn so much in such a short time, you are very clever, Jenna Morgan.” I only smiled and said nothing. When I first returned to the Morgan family, Megan secretly mocked me for being unsophisticated, for not understanding proper manners. I still remembered our first meeting when she tearfully apologized to me while deliberately wearing designer clothes worth hundreds of thousands in front of me. Using her fair skin to contrast with my sallow complexion, using her decades of elite upbringing to highlight my rough manners. So with my first payment, I secretly hired etiquette coaches. Whatever Megan knew, I would learn. Whatever she didn’t know, I would learn too. But I wouldn’t tell Lucas any of this. “It’s what I should do.” Lucas was pleased and pulled out a black card. “We’re engaged. From now on, use this card for whatever you need.” I showed a playful smile and happily accepted it. “Thank you, Lucas.” From that day on, my relationship with Lucas grew closer. I would bring him meals during work under the pretense of his grandmother sending them, and attended various occasions with him. I always maintained a comfortable distance from him. Within two months, he’d grown accustomed to my presence. What really changed his view of me was when a French translator had an emergency during a foreign client inspection, and I helped Anderson Corp secure the deal with fluent French. That time, Lucas stared at me for a long while. I smiled at him against the light. Lucas seemed to be seeing me for the first time and was stunned. When we parted that day, his expression was complex. “Jenna, you’re completely different from what I thought. You’re truly an outstanding person.” From that day on, the way Lucas looked at me changed-the way a man looks at a woman. I pretended not to notice and maintained my relaxed attitude toward him. He started inviting me to lunch and dinner, and brought me gifts from business trips. Until one business dinner when a man deliberately tried to get me drunk and take advantage of me. Lucas immediately stepped in front of me and beat the man up. When we went to the hospital, I hugged him tightly for the first time, gripping his hand. “Lucas, please be okay. You have to be okay. It’s all my fault.” He held my hand back, resting his head on my shoulder. “Jenna, don’t worry. I’m fine.” I heard his heart pounding. As we grew closer, Megan, who’d been waiting in vain for Lucas, finally couldn’t stand it anymore. She subtly revealed her location to Lucas through friends back home.

She expected Lucas to be overjoyed and drop everything to find her immediately. But unfortunately, Lucas just stared at the address for a long time and ultimately didn’t go. Megan was furious. Around this time, she learned from my parents that on the very day she ran away, Lucas and I had gotten engaged. She thought Lucas loved her so much-he’d endured her ninety-nine tests, so his failure to come find her must be because the Anderson family elders had interfered. She’d always been spoiled and couldn’t handle the slightest grievance, so she immediately called the Anderson family to confront them. Her words were extremely vicious. “You feudal remnants with your arranged marriages-because your own marriages are unhappy, you want to torment me! I’m telling you, Lucas will only marry me!” “If you have the guts, try making him marry Jenna Morgan. He’d rather die than agree!” Emma happened to answer the call. Hearing Megan’s words, she went straight into the emergency room. Emma was nearly ninety with poor health. This attack of rage sent her into critical condition. She gripped Lucas’s hand, saying her only wish was to see Lucas married. After all, Lucas was born to her beloved youngest son and had been her precious darling since childhood. “Lucas, just marry Jenna. I must see you marry Jenna before I die.” That night, Lucas smoked half a pack of cigarettes and made many unanswered calls. The next morning, he came to me again. “Jenna, let’s get married.” Lucas’s offer was generous-not only Anderson Corp shares but also hundreds of millions in bride price. He said, “We’ve been getting along well lately. I believe you have feelings for me too. Perhaps we can try being like a normal married couple.” “Megan and I did have something in the past, but I’ll let it go. I’ll work hard to be a good husband. Will you marry me?” Lucas looked somewhat anxious. What reason did I have to refuse? This should have been mine all along. The Anderson family began preparing for the wedding. Megan still didn’t know what was happening back home. She was still in Paris waiting for her prince to break through convention, defy all the elders, and appear before her bathed in light. She didn’t know her white knight was already trying on wedding dresses with me, and still sent me provocative messages. “Jenna, I’ve already given everything back to you. Did you get Lucas and our parents’ love?” “Don’t think that just because you’re their biological daughter, you’ll have everything. I’m going to show you that you’ll never compare to me, even when I keep handing you opportunities on a silver platter.” I didn’t respond. I just calmly looked at the smiling bride in the mirror and took a beautiful photo. Megan froze for a long moment, then her phone erupted with countless abusive messages. I didn’t reply to a single one. I calmly blocked and deleted her. Megan’s specialty was the art of strategic retreat. On her first day back home, she said she wanted to return the Morgan family heiress identity to me and cut her wrist with a small knife in front of everyone. My parents panicked and spent an entire week caring for her, not speaking a word to me. The servants, seeing my parents didn’t care about me, fed me cold leftovers for a week. When she returned from the hospital, she pretended to want to give me her room and all the expensive things my parents had bought her over the years. My parents were heartbroken and labeled me as competitive and aggressive. “Jenna, you are our biological daughter, but what has Megan done wrong? She’s already so understanding. Can’t you stop targeting her?” Between us, she was always the winner, always making concessions. Every time she retreated, the distance between me and my parents grew wider. She was using this method to assert her dominance over me, to show me that my parents would only ever love her, and that her fiancé was the same. But this time, she wouldn’t win. After all, not everyone would indulge her infinitely like the parents who raised her for over twenty years. She’d used me to test Lucas hundreds of times. Even when we wore identical dresses, even when Lucas was drugged and locked in a room with me, he firmly chose her side. Then she’d squeal with joy and throw herself into Lucas’s arms, making him pick her up and spin her around. Every time that happened, I’d stand awkwardly to the side, completely reduced to a prop highlighting her charm. Countless instances of indulgence made Megan forget that the most fragile thing in this world is the human heart. I calmly prepared for the wedding with Lucas. Emma’s condition forced us to rush the wedding, but none of the grandeur was spared. The Anderson family hosted a lavish banquet that day. Every relative, friend, and business partner of note was there. The scene I had been waiting for finally unfolded. Even Emma, not yet fully recovered, had left the hospital to preside over our ceremony, sitting warmly in the front row. Below, a sea of elite guests watched the couple on stage. A round of enthusiastic applause faded. The officiant raised the microphone. “Mr. Anderson, do you take Miss Morgan to be your wife?” “I-” Just as Lucas took the mic, the doors burst open. There stood Megan, in a full wedding gown, making her grand, disastrous entrance. “Lucas Anderson, don’t you dare! I don’t consent!”

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On my way to a prenatal checkup, I got caught in a massive snowstorm. Eight months pregnant, I was trapped on the highway when my water suddenly broke. I immediately called my husband, a traffic police captain. But he barked into the phone: “Everyone’s waiting for the roads to clear. Just wait your turn.” While my baby died from oxygen deprivation in my womb and I nearly bled to death, his female friend Sienna was posting a video on social media: “Almost missed my idol’s concert and cried my eyes out! Lucky I had a cop friend to help. One siren blast and all the cars parted—so cool!” In the video, he rode his official motorcycle, driving the wrong way and running red lights, all to get Sienna to her idol. I spent three days in the emergency room before he finally showed up with a bag of discounted diapers: “Rain, stop being so dramatic. I looked it up online—water can’t break at eight months. You probably just peed yourself from being too nervous.” “If Sienna had missed that concert, it would’ve been a lifelong regret. On your due date, I’ll definitely break protocol and clear the road for you.” I looked down at my stomach that still hadn’t gone down, and laughed bitterly. That day would never come. We were done.

I didn’t say a word. Marcus just tossed the bag of diapers onto the nightstand. “Is this really worth giving me the silent treatment for three days? You wouldn’t answer my calls or texts—I had to come all the way to the hospital myself.” “Come on, stop being so dramatic. Sienna almost didn’t make it that day. She cried so hard her eyes swelled up.” “Can’t you be a little more understanding? You’re always making a big deal out of nothing.” Understanding? My abdomen cramped sharply. “She almost missed it and cried her eyes out, but I actually missed the hospital and my baby died—what should I be crying about?” Marcus’s face instantly darkened. “Rain! Are you ever going to let this go?” “Death this, death that—it’s almost New Year’s. Can you watch your mouth? What kind of lies are you willing to tell just to play the victim?” “Your stomach’s still swollen and you’re telling me the baby’s dead? You think I’m stupid enough to fall for that?” My stomach was indeed still swollen right after the induced labor. But he couldn’t be bothered to lift the blanket and look. Couldn’t be bothered to ask the doctor. Couldn’t even be bothered to glance at the medical chart by the bed. Just then, the hospital room door swung open. “Oh Marcus! I told you your wife would be fine, but you just had to rush over here. I didn’t even finish my boba tea.” Sienna barged in with her usual careless swagger. She held two cups of boba tea in one hand and a half-eaten candied hawthorn stick in the other. As soon as she saw Marcus, she shoved the sticky, sugar-covered stick right up to his mouth. “This one’s gross. Help me finish it.” Marcus opened his mouth without hesitation, didn’t even frown, and shot her an indulgent look. “Such a waste of food.” The scene made my eyes sting. Sienna wiped her hands on his shirt and sauntered over to my bedside. “I heard you peed your pants? Well, you’re pregnant, so things get loose down there. It’s normal.” “That’s exactly why I never want to have kids. Being a pampered wife sounds nice, but it’s really not. Having friends is enough for me.” She said she wasn’t making fun of me, but her eyes were full of mocking delight. “But you really are too inconsiderate.” “If it weren’t for Marcus’s driving skills, taking me on that wild ride, I would’ve missed my idol that day.” “Do you know how important that day was to me? That’s an idol I’ve loved for ten years!” The more she talked, the more worked up she got—as if my emergency call on the highway that day was some unforgivable crime. I gripped the bedsheet so hard my nails dug into my palms. “I asked him to clear the emergency lane for me. It was a life-or-death situation—not the same as you chasing after some celebrity.” Sienna froze for a second, then dramatically rolled her eyes. “Marcus, see! I told you she’s petty. Now she’s making this into some moral issue.” “Aren’t all lanes there to serve the people? I’m people too! I was in a rush to see my idol—how is that not an emergency?” Marcus looked at her with pure adoration, then turned to me with cold eyes. “Sienna’s blunt. She doesn’t think before she speaks. Why are you taking it so seriously?” “Besides, you were in the wrong that day. Everyone was waiting in line—why should you get special treatment?” “Emergency lanes are for people with real emergencies, not for people who panic over every little thing.” I looked at them both and felt nothing but bitter irony. My poor baby, on that frozen highway, slowly stopped breathing. Never moved again. And his father had escorted his female friend to a concert, clearing the way and protecting her the whole time. I closed my eyes. I couldn’t bear to look at them anymore. “Get out.”

“You’re telling me to get out?” Marcus couldn’t believe his ears. “Rain, did the hospital make you lose your mind? I’m your husband! I came here out of the goodness of my heart, even bought you stuff, and this is how you treat me?” Sienna fanned the flames. “Exactly! You’re so ungrateful.” “Marcus was worried you’d keep leaking, so he made a special trip to the supermarket to get discounted diapers. Do you know how long the line was?” “Women like you are just spoiled. You have no idea how to appreciate a man.” I spoke slowly: “Sienna, if you care about him so much, if you’re so understanding, why don’t you marry him?” The room went silent. Sienna’s expression froze, then she put on a wounded look. “Marcus… do you hear what she’s saying?” “We have a pure friendship! If I liked him, we would’ve been together ages ago. What would you have to do with it?” “How can you be so dirty-minded? Can’t men and women just have a platonic friendship?” Marcus panicked immediately. He fumbled in his pocket for tissues, trying to wipe Sienna’s tears. “Don’t cry, Sienna. She’s just not thinking straight because of the pregnancy.” Then he whipped around: “Rain! Apologize to Sienna right now!” “We’re completely innocent! Above board!” “You don’t understand—Sienna’s personality is like a guy’s. She’s always casual. She’s never even thought of me as a man.” Right. I don’t understand. I laughed coldly: “I won’t apologize.” “I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?” Sienna sniffled. “Stop fighting, okay? It’s my fault. To make it up to you, dinner’s on me tonight—let’s get Mexican food! Super spicy!” Super spicy?! I couldn’t eat spicy food right now. She was doing this on purpose! But Marcus clearly ate it up. Most of his anger melted away. “See Sienna’s big heart! Now look at yourself!” Marcus pointed at me in frustration. “She’s not even holding a grudge and she’s treating you to dinner. Aren’t you going to thank her?” I closed my eyes, exhausted. “I need to rest. You two leave.” Marcus’s face darkened again. “Rain, you really think you’re something, huh? Sienna’s being nice enough to invite you and you’re acting like this?” He grabbed Sienna’s hand. “Let’s go. If she won’t eat, I will!” Sienna smiled smugly. Before leaving, she turned back and made a face at me. “Take care, Rain. Remember to use those diapers so you don’t wet the hospital bed.” The door slammed shut. Their voices faded down the hall. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I coughed up blood, spattering the white sheets red. A nurse heard the commotion and rushed in, screaming. “Doctor! Doctor! The patient’s coughing up blood!” Before I passed out, I heard the nurse cursing angrily: “What kind of family is this?! The baby just died and they come here to upset her—do they want her dead too?!” Those words—the baby just died—slammed into my heart like a hammer. But Marcus couldn’t hear them.

I stayed in the hospital for another three days. During those three days, Marcus didn’t call or text even once. Sienna, on the other hand, kept posting on social media. Marcus carrying her on his back in the park, with the caption: “My legs are sore. It’s so nice having a big brother to carry me.” And at our house, wearing my couple pajamas while gaming: “Marcus’s wife isn’t home, so he dragged me over to keep him company. I just can’t say no to him.” I saved every screenshot as evidence. On the day I was discharged, I went home only to find the smart lock wouldn’t open. I rang the doorbell. After a long time, I heard the shuffle of slippers inside. The door opened. Sienna stood there in my silk camisole nightgown, hair messy, with a glaring red mark on her neck. When she saw it was me, she paused, then leaned against the doorframe without moving aside. “Oh, you’re back? Why didn’t you give us a heads-up? I could’ve had Marcus pick you up.” She yawned, her eyes full of provocation. I stepped around her and looked inside. The once-clean living room now looked like a garbage dump. Takeout boxes covered the coffee table. Beer cans rolled across the floor. And… the crib I’d prepared for the baby. That crib was now piled with Sienna’s bags, coats, and makeup. There were even unwashed socks just thrown on top. The comforting teddy bear I’d carefully chosen was on the floor, covered in dust and grease stains. I was furious. “Who told you to touch that crib?!” I shoved Sienna aside and rushed into the living room. Sienna stumbled from the push and shrieked: “What’s your problem, Rain?! Why are you pushing me?” “It’s just a crib! I saw it sitting empty, so I used it for storage.” “Besides, you haven’t even had the baby yet. Why put it out so early? It’s just taking up space.” Just then, Marcus came out rubbing his eyes, wearing only shorts. When he saw me, he frowned. “What are you yelling about so early in the morning? Rain, are you having another meltdown?” I pointed at the ruined crib, my voice shaking: “Marcus, this was for our baby! You let her throw dirty socks in it? Are you even human?” Marcus scratched his head impatiently and walked over to shield Sienna. “Alright, alright. It’s not that big a deal. Sienna didn’t have anywhere to put her stuff, so she borrowed it. What’s the problem?” “Besides, we’re all family. Why are you being so petty about what’s yours and what’s mine?” “And…” He paused, then said matter-of-factly: “Sienna’s been staying here to take care of me these past few days. With you gone, I couldn’t even get a hot meal or clean clothes.” “She took time off to help me out. Instead of being grateful, you’re throwing a fit.” Take care of him? Looking at the garbage everywhere, I was impressed by his ability to lie with a straight face. “She’s staying here? Where’s she sleeping?” Marcus’s eyes darted away. He wouldn’t look at me. “The guest room, of course! What are you thinking?” “The guest room?” I laughed coldly and pointed at the red mark on Sienna’s neck. “Then what’s that? A mosquito bite?” Sienna instinctively covered her neck, her face flushing, but she kept up the act: “It is a mosquito bite! Can you stop being so dirty-minded, Rain? It’s an allergic reaction! You know what that is?” Marcus was equally defensive, feeling like I’d embarrassed him. “Rain! You’ve gone too far! Sienna and I are completely innocent. I won’t let you insult our friendship!” “You’ve been gone these past few days. Sienna’s the one who’s been here for me. If it weren’t for her, I would’ve starved.” “As my wife, not only did you fail in your duties, but the second you come back, you start kicking guests out.” Sienna tugged on Marcus’s sleeve, tears appearing on cue: “Marcus, stop fighting. It’s all my fault.” “I shouldn’t have come. I shouldn’t have worried about you having no one to take care of you. If she can’t stand me being here, I’ll just leave.” She pretended to slowly pack her things, waiting for Marcus to stop her. Sure enough, Marcus grabbed her arm. “Leave? No way! This is my house and I decide who stays! If anyone’s leaving, it’s her!” “Fine.” I nodded without hesitation. “I’ll leave.” Marcus probably didn’t expect me to agree so quickly. He froze. It wasn’t until I opened the door that he snapped out of it and shouted at my back: “Rain! If you walk out that door, don’t you ever think about coming back!” I didn’t turn around. I shut the door behind me with a heavy thud.

After leaving that house, I found a small motel near the hospital. Over the next few days, I focused on two things. First, arranging cremation for the baby. Second, finding a lawyer to draft divorce papers and handle the division of assets. Marcus didn’t contact me at all during this time. He probably thought I was just throwing a tantrum and would come crawling back in tears soon enough. After all, in the past, I was always the first to back down after every fight. But not this time. I stood alone at the crematorium entrance, holding the tiny urn, looking up at the gray sky. I finally felt some sense of peace. I left the urn at the crematorium for safekeeping. According to our hometown customs, a child who dies young can’t be buried in the family plot or brought home. After handling everything, I sent Marcus a text: “Tomorrow at 9 a.m., meet me at the Civil Affairs Bureau. I’ve already signed the divorce papers.” After sending it, I turned off my phone, took two sleeping pills, and forced myself to sleep. The next day, I arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau on time. Marcus didn’t show. I waited an hour and called him more than ten times. No answer. Just as I was about to go find him, he finally called back. Marcus’s voice was slurred with alcohol and annoyance: “Rain, aren’t you done with this tantrum yet?” “What divorce? Fine, I’ll give you an out.” “Sienna’s birthday is tonight. Come pay the bill and apologize to her, and we’ll call it even.” Pay the bill? Apologize? My hand holding the phone trembled slightly. “Marcus, I’m serious. I’m waiting for you at the Civil Affairs Bureau.” “Are you insane?!” Marcus cursed. “I already gave you an out and you’re still putting on this act? Just get over here! Everyone’s waiting. Don’t embarrass me!” He hung up. I listened to the dial tone, took a deep breath. If he wouldn’t come to me, I’d go to him. I’d throw the divorce papers in his face in front of everyone. I pushed open the private room door. The laughter and chatter stopped abruptly. When they saw me, Sienna let out an exaggerated gasp: “Oh wow, Rain’s here! Marcus, I told you she couldn’t stay away from you. She came running to pay the bill.” The people around us burst into laughter. “Marcus really knows how to handle his wife!” “Rain, come sit down. It’s Sienna’s birthday today—you better be on your best behavior.” Marcus looked smug. He patted the empty seat beside him like he was calling a dog. “Sit down now that you’re here. And remember to settle the bill at the front desk later.” I didn’t sit. I didn’t say anything. I walked straight up to Marcus, pulled out the divorce papers from my bag, and slammed them on the table. “Sign them.” The smile on Marcus’s face froze. “Rain, are you here to make a scene?” “What divorce? You’re pregnant—what are you divorcing me for? You think you can threaten me with the baby? Dream on!” “The baby?” I laughed coldly. “Marcus, what baby?” Marcus froze, instinctively looking at my stomach. Between the stress of the past few days and barely eating, my stomach had gone down significantly. “What… what do you mean?” Marcus’s voice trembled. A sense of dread finally began to creep in. I pulled out another document from my bag. A death certificate and a cremation certificate. I slapped them against his chest. “Marcus, your child died seven days ago. While you were riding your motorcycle to take Sienna to her concert, he stopped breathing inside me!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “353171”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #狼人Werewolf #重生Reborn #擦边Steamy

3 AM. The pouring rain had soaked through my delivery bag. The order note had only three words: “Bring it upstairs.” This was New York’s most exclusive private club. The door to the penthouse stood wide open, reeking of the cloying mix of luxury and alcohol that saturated these elite playgrounds. Head down, I just wanted to leave the food and run. I needed to get to my next order, to scrape together enough for my mother’s dialysis next week. A polished leather shoe came down on my delivery box. “Miss Johnson. Five years, and you’ve learned to serve people?” My entire body stiffened. The blood in my veins ran cold. I knew that voice. It was Xavier Cole. Now one of New York’s new rich. Also the man I had forced to kneel in the snow five years ago during a blizzard, the man I had slapped before walking away. I trembled. Before I could even think how to beg, the system that had lain dormant in my head for five years screamed to life. “Opportunity detected. Host, throw this box of takeout in his face. Mission failure results in immediate electric shock.”

Rachel’s POV I gripped the edge of the delivery bag with white knuckles. The man in front of me had changed too much. He wore a custom-tailored black shirt, revealing a watch worth a small fortune. The boy who used to wear shirts washed until they were nearly transparent had been completely replaced by this dark, powerful figure with an oppressive presence. He looked down at me from his superior height, unconcealed mockery in his eyes, along with a trace of hatred. The air around us seemed to freeze. The people who’d been laughing and chatting in the private room had all fallen silent. There were plenty of familiar faces among them-those rich heirs who used to orbit around me. Now they all shrank back, watching the show. Everyone recognized me. Rachel Johnson, once untouchable in New York, then fallen from grace when her family went bankrupt. “What’s wrong? Don’t recognize me anymore?” Xavier pressed down harder with his shoe, grinding it against the not-particularly-sturdy delivery box. The cardboard made a sharp cracking sound. The soup and sauces inside probably spilled, seeping out from the corner of the box. I didn’t care about the box. I cared about the money they’d deduct. If this order got charged against me, tonight’s work would be for nothing. Even worse, the system alarm in my head was shrieking so loud it felt like it would pierce my eardrums, making my skull go numb. “Warning! Core plot character Xavier Cole detected!” “Mission issued. Host must immediately humiliate the male lead with the following line: ‘Someone like you doesn’t deserve to eat the food I deliver!’” “Countdown: ten seconds. Failure penalty: Level 3 electric shock. Host’s current physical state cannot withstand it. Fatality rate: ninety-nine percent.” My heart seized violently. That familiar, near-death sensation was back. It felt like a hand of thorns was squeezing my heart’s chambers. The pain was excruciating. My broken body couldn’t take another round of this torture. The pain made my eyes instantly red. Tears filled them uncontrollably, falling in large drops. To avoid dying from pain right here, I had no choice but to grit my teeth and force myself to look up. I tried to make myself look vicious and cruel, tried to summon the attitude Miss Johnson used to have. But my body was too honest. Trembling from pain, my voice came out in an unstoppable, tearful quaver. “Xavier… let go.” Xavier stared at my reddened eyes. His movements clearly paused. He probably hadn’t expected that the first time we met, I’d be this pathetic, crying mess. “Begging me?” He leaned down, his ice-cold fingers gripping my chin hard enough it felt like he’d crush my bones, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Where did that Rachel go? The one who threw money in my face and told me to get lost?” His breath hit my face, completely cold. The countdown in my head reached zero. “0!” Searing pain struck instantly, like ten thousand needles stabbing into my heart simultaneously. My mind went blank. Not wanting to die, survival instinct took over. I could only cry while shouting out that vicious line. “You… someone like you doesn’t deserve to eat the food I deliver!” Dead silence filled the room. Even the background music in the private room seemed to stop. Everyone stared at me with wide eyes, like they were looking at a lunatic. I thought I was a lunatic too. I was calling him beneath me while tears and snot ran down my face uncontrollably, falling in large drops onto his spotless leather shoes. I thought Xavier would explode with rage, would have someone throw me out, or just smash a bottle over my head. But he didn’t. He stared at my tears. His Adam’s apple bobbed. His eyes became unfathomably dark. Those pitch-black eyes churned with emotions I couldn’t read. “Beneath you?” He repeated those three words in a low voice, his fingertips roughly brushing across the corner of my eye. The calluses scraped my skin raw. “Fine. Then tonight I’ll show Miss Johnson exactly how beneath-you people do things.” The next second, he grabbed my wrist with shocking strength and dragged me into the private room. He kicked the door shut with his foot, cutting off all those spectating gazes. “Everyone out.” He barked the order without looking back. Those normally arrogant rich people didn’t dare make a sound, slinking out along the wall. Only he and I remained in the room. In the dim lighting, he threw me onto the leather sofa and pressed down over me.

Rachel’s POV The impact left me dizzy. The rainwater from my delivery uniform soaked a large patch of the expensive sofa. Before I could climb up, Xavier had already tossed a black card and a thick stack of cash onto the coffee table in front of me. The money was thick. Blindingly so. “Need money, don’t you? How much can you make delivering food?” Xavier sat on the coffee table across from me, his long legs stretched out casually, blocking my escape route. He poured himself a glass of expensive liquor, swirling the glass, his eyes fixed on me with amusement. “Dance for me. This money is yours.” I stared at that pile of money, my throat tight. Fifty thousand dollars. Exactly enough for my mom’s medical and nursing care next month. I really needed this money. For this money, forget dancing-I’d bark like a dog on my knees if he wanted. I sniffled and reached for the stack of bills. My hand hadn’t even touched the corner when that damned system in my head exploded again. “Warning! Villainous character collapse detected!” “Mission issued. Tear up the check and throw your drink in his face. Shout: ‘Keep the money for your coffin!’” “Failure penalty: Removal of pain block. Pain level ten.” My hand trembled, freezing mid-air. Level ten pain. The pain of giving birth. I would die here. I would truly die from the pain I closed my eyes in despair. Tears flowed down again without permission. Why force me like this? I just wanted to survive, wanted to save my mom. Why wouldn’t they give me even this small chance to live? Xavier watched my frozen hand and laughed coldly. “Not enough? Miss Johnson’s current value probably isn’t worth this much anymore, is it?” Every word carried barbs, each one precisely piercing my self-respect. But what self-respect did I have left? I bit my lip and shakily picked up the glass of liquor on the table. My hand trembled like a sieve. I really couldn’t bear to lose this money. And I really was afraid of pain. Xavier raised an eyebrow, watching me, seemingly waiting for my next move, his eyes full of mockery. I steeled myself and closed my eyes, about to throw it. But in that instant, my heart contracted violently. The sharp pain made my wrist go weak. The glass aimed at his face veered off course. Splash- The dark red liquid didn’t hit his face. Instead, it spilled all over the awkward area between his legs. And because my hand was shaking so badly, I couldn’t hold the glass steady. It dropped right onto his thigh, rolled around, then fell to the floor. Time seemed to freeze. Xavier looked down at his soaked crotch, at the red wine dripping down his suit pants. The vein at his temple throbbed violently twice. I was scared stupid. This was worse than throwing it in his face, wasn’t it? I’d just pulled the tiger’s whiskers and slapped it for good measure. “I… I didn’t mean to…” My face went deathly pale with fear. Instinctively I reached out to help him wipe it, but then realized that area was inappropriate and frantically pulled my hand back. The system in my head seemed to glitch for a moment, apparently never having encountered this situation either. Xavier slowly raised his head. His eyes were terrifyingly dark. He didn’t explode. Really. If this were five years ago, or if it were anyone else, he probably would have struck already. But now his ears were turning an eerie shade of red. He clamped down on my flailing wrist, the pressure so hard it felt like it would brand into my flesh. “Where exactly were you aiming?” His voice was hoarse, glaring at me through gritted teeth. “In such a hurry?” I froze. He thought I was seducing him? I opened my mouth, wanting to explain that I meant to throw it in your face to humiliate you, not throw it at your crotch to seduce you. But looking at his expression like he wanted to devour me, I didn’t dare speak. “Think the money’s dirty?” Xavier released my hand, methodically pulled out a few tissues, and wiped casually, the motion rough yet carrying an indescribable wildness. “Rachel.” He stood up. His shadow instantly engulfed me. “Since you don’t want to dance, let’s change the method of repayment.” Without allowing me to resist, he pulled me up from the sofa, completely ignoring my struggles, and dragged me toward the exit. “Come home with me.” I refused to go, desperately clutching the doorframe. “I won’t go! I have deliveries to make! They’ll dock my pay!” Xavier glanced back at me, his eyes cold as ice. “How much is that box of garbage worth? I’ll buy it.” He hoisted me up directly. Actually hoisted me. Like a sack of potatoes. My stomach pressed against his hard shoulder, nearly making me vomit up dinner. “Xavier Cole! Put me down! You lunatic!” I pounded on his back while crying. Xavier completely ignored my feeble efforts, striding through the corridor with long steps. Under everyone’s horrified gazes, he stuffed me into that limited-edition black Maybach. “Move again and I’ll take you right here in the car.” The words he dropped before closing the door successfully turned me to stone.

Rachel’s POV The car sped all the way into the top-tier luxury villa district. This was New York’s most expensive real estate, also where the Johnson family had lived before bankruptcy. Ironically, Xavier’s villa now was right next door to my family’s old address. He dragged me out of the car and pulled me all the way into the villa’s main hall. Inside was cold and lifeless. The decor was all cool tones-black, white, gray. Just like the man himself, radiating an aura of “stay away.” “Go shower.” He pointed upstairs. “Guest room has a bathroom. Wash yourself clean. You reek.” My delivery uniform was already soaked through. Now mixed with alcohol and sweat, it really did stink. But I didn’t dare move. Alone together, just a man and woman in one house-who knew how he’d take revenge on me? “Not going?” Xavier loosened his tie while watching me, his eyes dangerous. “Want me to help you wash?” I startled and bolted upstairs. The bathroom was huge. When the hot water poured down, I finally felt somewhat alive again. But I quickly discovered a desperate problem. No change of clothes. I couldn’t go out naked, and I couldn’t wear that soaked, dirty uniform again. While I was agonizing, someone knocked on the bathroom door. “Clothes are outside the door.” Xavier’s voice came through the door. After his footsteps faded, I carefully cracked the door open. A white shirt lay on the floor. Judging by the size, it was his. I reluctantly put it on. The hem was very long, covering to the top of my thighs, but this somehow made it seem even more ambiguous. I dawdled for ages before finally having to come out. When I came downstairs, Xavier was nowhere to be seen. I only heard movement from the study. I walked over as if possessed. The study door was half-open. Xavier seemed to have gone to shower. No one was inside. I was about to retreat when my gaze was suddenly drawn to something in the most prominent position on the bookshelf. It was an old, yellowed book. The cover was curled at the edges, completely out of place among all these expensive hardcovers. *Advanced Calculus*. My breath caught. That was the book I’d used to hit his spine in the snow five years ago when I drove him away. The spine had cracked from the impact. I’d watched him bend down to pick it up, brush off the snow, and limp away. He’d kept it? And put it in such a prominent place? My heart began to race, not just from shock but from fear. Inside that book’s cover lining, I’d hidden the suicide note I’d written him when I thought I’d surely die. It was a real confession letter, filled with my helplessness, my love, and all those truths I couldn’t speak aloud. If he saw it… If he knew all my cruelty back then was an act… The system would definitely judge me in violation and erase me directly. No. That book absolutely couldn’t stay here! I couldn’t care about anything else. Barefoot, I rushed into the study, standing on tiptoe to reach for that book. The shelf was too high. I struggled, my fingers just barely touching the spine when a chilling voice came from behind. “Developed a taste for thievery?” I nearly jumped out of my skin. My hand jerked and the book fell. Fortunately it didn’t fall open. I frantically crouched down to grab it, but a large hand pressed down on the book faster than me. Xavier had somehow finished showering. He wore only a bath towel, his hair still dripping. Water droplets slid down his solid chest muscles, disappearing into the loose edge of that towel. That body… was too illegal. But I wasn’t in the mood to appreciate it now. He pressed down on the book, half-crouching in front of me. That intense pheromone scent instantly surrounded me. “Why are you keeping this book?” I forced myself to stay calm, trying to seize the initiative. “The footprints on it are from me stepping on it. Doesn’t that disgust you?” Xavier stared at me. His gaze slid from my damp hair to the collar of my ill-fitting shirt, finally stopping on my panicked eyes. “Disgusting.” He said I was disgusting, but his eyes didn’t look disgusted at all. Instead, they carried a predatory aggression. “Reminding myself constantly how I was driven out like a dog.” He picked up the book, casually dusting it off without opening it. I breathed a sigh of relief. My heart had just settled when I heard him say again: “Want to take it back? Afraid I’ll remember your cruelty?” He pressed closer step by step, backing me into the corner by the bookshelf. Hard spines pressed against my back. In front was his scalding chest. “I… I just wanted to review my coursework.” I came up with the lamest excuse possible. Xavier laughed in exasperation. He braced one hand beside my ear, lowering his head until our noses nearly touched. “Review?” His voice went husky, his eyes darkening. “Why don’t we review something else instead? Like… how we used to kiss five years ago?” My brain exploded with a bang. This plot development was all wrong! I’m the villainous supporting character! You’re supposed to be getting revenge on me! Before I could react, he suddenly straightened up, casually tossed the book upward, throwing it to the very top shelf where I could never reach. “Want the book? Dream on.” He turned to leave, his back cold. “Go cook. I’m hungry.” I leaned against the bookshelf, my legs a bit weak, looking at that book with a bitter heart. This was bad. Trying to steal it back would be even harder now.

Rachel’s POV Xavier was definitely sick. He clearly had ten chefs on call at any time, but insisted on forcing me-someone who couldn’t cook-to make him food. “Can’t make it? Then forget about that fifty thousand.” For money, I endured. I struggled in the kitchen spacious enough to run laps in. I could only make oatmeal. When the oatmeal started bubbling, that annoying system voice came again. “Daily mission issued. Put something in this meal to make it inedible! And mock him with: ‘You think you deserve to eat my cooking?’” “Put something in it?” I was shocked. “Where am I supposed to get anything?” System: “The salt shaker is right beside you. Salting him to death is also a kind of poison.” I looked at the salt shaker by my hand, then at Xavier sitting at the dining table reading the newspaper outside. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, looking like a refined scoundrel, seemingly in a decent mood. My hand trembled. Pouring half a jar of salt into porridge-eating that would require kidney dialysis, wouldn’t it? But I had no choice. If I didn’t do it, before the porridge even left the kitchen, I’d collapse from heart pain first. I took a deep breath. When no one was looking, I grabbed the salt shaker and started pouring it into the bowl. Pouring while feeling guilty, my hand shook too badly. Accidentally, the lid came loose. An entire jar of salt dumped into that poor bowl of plain porridge. It piled up like a snow mountain. I was dumbfounded. This wasn’t even a question of salty or not anymore. This was a lethal dose, wasn’t it? I wanted to scoop it out, but the salt dissolved too quickly. “Done yet? Need me to come get you?” Xavier’s urging voice came through. I steeled myself and carried out that bowl of oatmeal that could poison an elephant. “Eat.” I set the bowl heavily in front of him, putting on an expression that needed a beating as the system required. “Eat until you drop dead.” Xavier raised an eyebrow, looked at the oatmeal, then at me. “What new trick is this?” He picked up the spoon. Without even stirring, he scooped a large spoonful directly into his mouth. I held my breath, watching his Adam’s apple move. In that moment, I’d even prepared to call an ambulance. “Don’t drink it! It’ll kill you!” I shouted uncontrollably, reaching out to grab his bowl. That was pure salt! But Xavier avoided my hand and swallowed that mouthful without changing expression. Didn’t even furrow his brow. I was stunned. Had he lost his sense of taste? Xavier set down the spoon, picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth, and looking at my horrified expression, actually smiled slightly. That smile was faint but made my heart ache. “I remember you always loved pulling these kinds of pranks.” He said lightly, his eyes actually holding a trace of nostalgia. “Still the same taste. Hasn’t changed at all.” “As long as you made it with your own hands, I’d drink poison too.” The last half-sentence was so quiet it was almost like talking to himself. I froze in place, my fingers curling up. My heart felt like someone had stuffed it with cotton soaked in salt water-astringent and blocked. He knew. He’d always known I did it on purpose. But he accepted it all. Just like five years ago when I tore up all his homework and threw it in the trash so he couldn’t turn it in. The next day, he’d silently pieced the scraps back together, stayed up all night rewriting it, and still brought me my favorite toast. “Why?” I asked hoarsely, my eyes reddening again. Xavier didn’t answer. He stood up and straightened his cuffs. “Done eating. Let’s go.” “Where?” “The hospital.” He glanced at me. “To see your mother.” I jerked my head up. “Don’t misunderstand,” he said with a cold laugh, reverting to that cutting manner. “I’m just going to see if I can transfer your mother to my private hospital. After all… if you’re going to serve me in this half-dead state, I find it inauspicious.”

Rachel’s POV On the way to the hospital, my heart started protesting. Probably because my emotions had fluctuated too much just now, plus I hadn’t slept well from last night’s ordeal, the aftereffects of the system’s punishment began their backlash. It was a dull-knife kind of pain, spreading from my chest to all four limbs. I bit my lip, trying not to make a sound, but cold sweat had already soaked my back. No good. I had to take medicine. I always kept strong painkillers in my bag-black market stuff specifically for nerve pain. Taking advantage of Xavier going to pay fees, I hid in the first-floor restroom. My hands shook so badly I couldn’t even unscrew the bottle cap. Finally managing to pour out two white pills, before I could put them in my mouth, the restroom door suddenly pushed open. Xavier stood in the doorway, his face terrifyingly dark. “What are you doing?” He strode over and grabbed my wrist. The pills that hadn’t reached my mouth fell to the floor. He bent down to pick up those two pills, then snatched the medicine bottle from my hand. I’d deliberately put this medicine in an ordinary vitamin bottle to avoid suspicion. “What are you taking?” He stared at the bottle, his eyes sharp as an X-ray. My heartbeat skipped. Forcing down the severe pain, I squeezed out a smile. “Vitamins. For skin care.” “Vitamins?” Xavier laughed coldly, pouring out a pill and crushing it between his fingers. “Poor as you are now, still particular about skincare? You really are-broke but still refined.” His mouth mocked, but his hand didn’t release my wrist. He probably felt my pulse racing chaotically. “Why are your hands so cold?” He frowned, reaching to touch my forehead. All cold sweat. “Does it hurt?” That one word nearly collapsed my defenses. How I wanted to throw myself into his arms and cry, tell him how much it hurt, tell him these five years I’d been living in hell every single day. But I couldn’t. The system flashed a warning red light in my mind. “Doesn’t hurt. Just hungry.” I pulled my hand back, snatched the medicine bottle back and shoved it in my pocket, pretending nonchalance. “Done paying? Then let’s go. Don’t waste time.” Xavier stared at me for a while with that gaze that made me feel stripped naked. Finally he said nothing and turned to leave. I breathed a sigh of relief, secretly picking up those two dirty pills and swallowing them. The bitter taste spread through my mouth.

Rachel’s POV My mother’s condition had stabilized. Though Xavier had a poisonous tongue, he never did things halfway. He directly transferred my mom to a VIP room and hired the best team of specialists. I owed him more and more. “There’s a class reunion tonight. You’re coming with me.” Leaving the hospital, Xavier suddenly threw that sentence at me. I instinctively refused. “I’m not going. I don’t want to see those people.” Those people-they used to orbit around me. Now they probably all couldn’t wait to watch me make a fool of myself. “You don’t get a choice.” Xavier looked at me coldly. “You can be my date or my servant. You pick.” In the end, I still went wearing the dress he’d prepared for me. It was a black velvet gown that made my skin look snow-white but also made me appear even more gaunt and haggard. The private room was already full of people. As soon as Xavier entered, everyone stood up, faces full of flattery as they crowded around calling him “Mr. Cole.” Seeing me following behind, those smiling faces instantly stiffened, then transformed into meaningful contempt. “Rachel Johnson?” The speaker was a guy who used to like me. He’d written me love letters that I rejected. Now he’d gotten fat with a beer belly. “I heard after the Johnson family went bankrupt, you started delivering food? How come today you can still follow Mr. Cole around?” “Could it be… you know?” The surrounding area erupted in knowing laughter. I kept my head down, my nails digging into my palms. Xavier said nothing, just sat down on his own, not having anyone give me a seat. I stood beside him like an unnecessary decoration, awkward. Just then, a woman in a red miniskirt walked over. Jessica Chen. Once my follower. But as soon as my family had problems, she immediately claimed not to know me. “You came too.” She held a glass of red wine, pretending to warmly take my hand while viciously tripping me with her foot. Wearing high heels, already unstable, I stumbled forward. To avoid face-planting, I instinctively grabbed the only support nearby-Xavier’s thigh. But I still ended up kneeling on the ground. My knees hit the carpet with a dull thud. Before I could get up, Jessica laughed exaggeratedly. No one helped me up. The whole room burst into laughter. Flushed with shame and anger, just about to stand, the system in my head came again. “Random mission triggered! Seize the opportunity to humiliate the male lead!” “Mission content: Point at your shoes and order Xavier to polish them! Line: ‘My shoes are dirty, Xavier. Clean them for me.’” “Penalty: Public urinary incontinence!” I’d lost my mind. System, are you a pervert? Urinary incontinence? I might as well just bash my head in and die. I looked up at Xavier. He was looking down at me kneeling by his leg, his expression indifferent, impossible to read. Tears were already pooling in my eyes. On one side was dignity. On the other was social death. I chose shamelessness. I extended my foot. Those delicate high heels had a bit of dust on the toe from when I’d fallen just now. Voice trembling, tearful, I pointed at that bit of dust. “Dirty… it’s dirty.” “Xavier, you clean it for me.” The entire room instantly fell silent. Jessica especially looked at me like I was a dead person. “Rachel, have you lost your mind? How dare you order Mr. Cole…” It was over. I closed my eyes, waiting for Xavier’s explosion, or for him to kick me away directly. However, the expected pain didn’t come. I felt a warm, large hand grip my ankle. I opened my eyes in shock. That high and mighty Xavier, the one everyone fawned over, had actually slid down from the sofa and knelt on one knee in front of me. He took out the expensive silk handkerchief from his pocket, wrapped it around his finger, and gently, carefully wiped the toe of my shoe. The motion was tender, like he was cleaning some priceless treasure. Dead silence throughout the room. You could hear a pin drop. Jessica’s wine glass crashed to the floor with a “smash.” After wiping, Xavier looked up at me, the corner of his mouth curving into a wicked smile. His voice wasn’t loud but enough for everyone to hear. “Satisfied?” He stood and patted my head, as if soothing a startled kitten. “Don’t cry. You’ll ruin your makeup.” I stared at him blankly. In that moment, I couldn’t tell if he was playing along or if this was his most thorough humiliation yet. But he had protected me. That much was real. The faces of those who’d been mocking me moments before now looked like they’d swallowed something sour. So did Xavier still love me?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “353170”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #狼人Werewolf #重生Reborn #擦边Steamy

On my third wedding anniversary to Garrett Windsor, I showed up at the hotel in the sheer bikini he’d requested. But it wasn’t Garrett waiting in the room. It was Melissa Lane, his childhood sweetheart. The room erupted in cruel, mocking laughter. Melissa poured her glass of red wine over my head. “How pathetic. You really will do anything he says, won’t you?” “A shame you’re blind. You can’t even see what a joke you look like right now.” I crouched on the floor, covering myself, enduring their humiliation. This wasn’t the first time, but Garrett always said Melissa was just joking and told me not to take it seriously. After Melissa and her friends finally got bored and left, I dragged my exhausted body home. When I arrived, Garrett draped a towel over my shoulders, his voice full of guilt. “Claire, Melissa used my phone to send you that prank message. I had no idea. I’ll make her apologize tomorrow, okay?” I nodded instinctively, then suddenly saw a flash of light before my eyes. The next second, I could vaguely make out a message from Melissa on his screen. “You promised me in bed last night I could do whatever I wanted to her today.”

This was the first time in five years I’d seen light, and it stabbed viciously into my eyes. My chest tightened, as if crushed under a heavy boot. I couldn’t breathe. My fingers trembled where they clutched the towel. II blinked hard, only for another photo from Melissa to fill my vision, captioned: “Who looks better in this sheer bikini-her or me?” The photo showed me, terrified, arms wrapped around myself. So that’s how pathetic I looked. Seeing another message from Melissa, Garrett immediately stopped drying my hair. Right in front of me, he replied to her. I even saw a slight smile curve at the corner of his mouth. “Alright, that was a bit much this time. Don’t do it again.” “But wait, didn’t I give you that sheer bikini?” Melissa quickly responded. “Because I wanted you to compare and see who has the better figure…” The rest became blurry. I reached up and felt tears overflowing from my eyes without my realizing it. I walked stiffly toward the bathroom. Only then did Garrett react, putting down his phone. He grabbed my wrist and affectionately picked up the towel that had fallen to the floor. “Wait, don’t forget the towel.” As he moved to drape it over my shoulders again, I stopped him for the first time, speaking softly. “It’s dirty. I don’t want it.” His expression shifted. He tossed the towel on the floor and pulled me into his arms with slightly forced tenderness. “Claire, don’t be angry.” “That’s just how Melissa is-headstrong. I already scolded her on the phone. She’ll come apologize tomorrow.” “She’s young and immature. You’re older than her, so don’t take this childish stuff to heart.” His warm breath hit my ear, tempting and familiar. If I hadn’t regained my sight, I might have believed him again. I might have believed Melissa was just being playful… I gently pulled away from his embrace and shook my head. “Since you say it’s just childish stuff, she doesn’t need to apologize.” I saw satisfaction flash in his cool eyes. He walked over, speaking with relief. “Claire, I knew it. You’re the kindest woman.” He leaned in as usual, ready to give me one of his perfunctory kisses.

I turned my head, dodging his kiss, forcing out a bitter smile. “I’m going to shower.” He didn’t notice anything unusual and picked up his phone again. Probably telling Melissa she didn’t need to come put on a show tomorrow. I entered the bathroom and slowly sank into the bathtub. Five years ago, there was a lab explosion. To save him, I recklessly rushed into the inferno and burned my eyes. My father, not wanting me to risk myself again, resolutely decided to rescue Garrett in my place. But he never came out of that sea of flames. My mother fell ill from grief over my father’s death and still lies in the hospital. I still remember Garrett kneeling before my mother, vowing to take care of both of us for the rest of his life. He said he would be my eyes, my mother’s son. And Garrett did fulfill his promises. He installed all kinds of safety equipment for the blind throughout the house and arranged the best hospital and doctors for my mother. Every meal, he would pick out fish bones and foods I didn’t like. He was so attentive that even my mother didn’t resent him. And whenever I used the bathroom or showered, no matter how busy he was, he’d wait outside the door. Five years, day after day. But today, when I turned around and looked through the frosted glass, the doorway was empty. At this moment, I even began to doubt whether the warmth of these five years had all been my blind imagination. When I came out of the bathroom, Garrett was still on the sofa typing on his phone. Normally, I would have thought he was just working too hard, always busy. But now, seeing the smile lingering on his face, I knew-he was chatting with Melissa. Suddenly, my phone rang. Just as I reached for it, Garrett thoughtfully handed it to me, as careful as always. “It’s your best friend Rachel. I’ve already opened it and put it on speaker for you.” I took the phone and heard Rachel’s urgent voice. “Claire! Those photos of you were posted online by Melissa!” “She even exposed your identity and address. Now people online are saying they want to buy you for a night…” Rachel’s voice echoed throughout the living room. I watched Garrett’s face turn dark instantly as he frantically began messaging Melissa. Rachel asked. “Claire, what are you going to do? If this continues, those lunatics online will track down your mother’s hospital.” Hearing that my mother might be harassed by internet trolls, my heart clenched. I immediately said: “Call the police! Rachel, please help me…” Beep beep beep. The call was disconnected. I looked at Garrett in disbelief. He had reached over and hung up my call. He held the phone, his face extremely dark. “Claire, you can’t call the police!” “Melissa is still young. A police record would ruin her reputation. How could she face society in the future?” “She’s just playing around. Calling the police will only make things worse, and that won’t be good for you either.” “I’ll make her delete the photos right now.” I bit my lip, watching him desperately protect Melissa. My nose stung with sourness. Melissa’s reputation mattered, but what happened to me was just “playing around”? Soon after, Garrett put down his phone and held my hand. “Don’t worry. I’ve already told Melissa to delete all the photos.” “And don’t listen to Rachel. Melissa didn’t post those photos-it was someone else.” Listening to his perfunctory lies, I looked down at his phone screen that hadn’t turned off yet.

Melissa: “I’m not deleting them unless you come keep me company.” Garrett: “I’ll be there in an hour. If those photos of Claire are still online when I arrive, you’ll regret it.” Melissa: “Regret? Regret not draining you dry in bed?” Garrett: “That mouth of yours-I’ll come shut it up properly…” Seeing these obscene exchanges, I laughed. Now I finally believed that he married me out of guilt. In three years of marriage, he’d always been perfunctory with me physically. I’d always thought he was being gentle, that he couldn’t bear to hurt me. Turns out I just never appealed to him at all. Garrett carefully led me to the bedroom and laid me down. “Claire, there’s a problem at the lab. I need to go. I won’t be back tonight.” I suddenly gripped his sleeve tightly. “Don’t go. Stay with me tonight.” At that moment, I could see his phone vibrating nonstop. Garrett, who will you choose-me or Melissa? My palms were sweating as I held onto his sleeve. Perhaps because I rarely made such requests, Garrett froze. Just as I was about to let go of his sleeve… He turned off his phone and slipped under the covers, holding me tight. My heart pounded violently. I couldn’t believe he would abandon Melissa for me. I heard him whisper in my ear. “Alright, I won’t go then. I’ll stay and keep you company.” In the middle of the night, I was awakened by rustling sounds. Soon after, I heard Garrett by the door, making a quiet phone call. “Didn’t I come? Claire’s in a bad mood. I need to spend more time with her.” “Yes, I don’t love her.” “But she’s still my wife. I have to care for her.” “If I could choose, I wish her father hadn’t saved me. Then I wouldn’t have had to repay this debt by throwing away my entire life.” The door closed carefully. I lay in bed with my eyes open. Recalling how many times over the years he’d been “called away” in the middle of the night. In three years, he’d never even spent one birthday with me. More and more details surfaced. I realized I truly was blind. I couldn’t even see whether the man beside me loved me or not. If that’s the case, then let’s stop torturing each other, Garrett. At dawn, I sat at the desk, eyes red, finishing the divorce papers. Just as I set down the pen, the door opened carefully. Garrett looked startled seeing me sitting at the desk. He walked over worriedly, checking my body for injuries. “Why did you get up by yourself? Did you bump into anything?” Seeing no wounds on me, he sighed with relief and held up a blueberry cake. “Are you hungry? You were sleeping so peacefully, so I went to South Street to get this for you.” He clearly remembered. Blueberry cake was my favorite. But he forgot that South Street stopped selling blueberry cake long ago… I didn’t take the cake that had already gone cold. I handed him the divorce papers instead. “Garrett, sign this…” The next second, his phone rang. His expression changed dramatically. “What? I’ll be right there!” He threw the blueberry cake on the floor and turned to leave. I grabbed him and shoved the divorce papers into his arms. “Sign this first!” Garrett rarely got angry with me, but now he snapped. “Melissa suddenly had a rare disease flare-up. I need to save her! Can you stop being so petty!” “What is it this time-another guarantee letter or apology? I don’t have time to play your games!” I remained unmoved, just clutching his sleeve tightly. Left with no choice, Garrett snatched the divorce papers and signed without even reading them. He signed while gritting his teeth. “Claire Morgan, I really misjudged you.” He threw down those harsh words and left in a hurry, stepping on the blueberry cake and crushing it. Then my phone rang. It was Rachel. “Claire, your mother’s condition is critical!”

I had no time to feel hurt by Garrett’s attitude. I hastily shoved the divorce papers into my pocket and took a cab to the hospital. Rachel was a nurse at the hospital and had been taking care of my mother all along. When she saw me, she grabbed my hand and told me: “Claire, don’t be scared. Your mother’s condition is serious, but it’s treatable.” “I heard Garrett just developed a new drug that could treat your mother’s symptoms.” “Go find Garrett quickly and get him to bring the medicine! I’ll watch over your mother in the emergency room!” I nodded frantically and was about to pull out my phone when I saw Garrett walking into a hospital room. I quickly put away my phone and ran to the room, pushing the door open. There was Melissa nestled in Garrett’s arms, their intimate posture painfully obvious. Seeing me enter, Garrett instinctively wanted to push Melissa away. But he paused, probably remembering I was blind, and pulled Melissa closer instead. His tone was impatient. “Claire? What are you doing here?” I turned my face away from that jarring scene and got straight to the point. “Garrett, give me your new drug. My mother is dying. She desperately needs it.” Garrett’s expression darkened instantly. “Claire Morgan, are you doing this on purpose?” “There’s only one dose of this drug. I specially saved it for Melissa.” “You saw she needs it, so you’re lying about your mother? You just can’t stand seeing Melissa happy, can you?” Melissa nuzzled against him. “Garrett, if I don’t use this drug, I’ll really be paralyzed. You can’t bear to see me suffer, right?” Garrett immediately softened his tone. “Don’t worry. This drug is yours.” Watching his gentle demeanor, then thinking of my mother’s life hanging by a thread, I finally broke down. “Please, I’m begging you both! Give me the medicine. My mother is really dying!” Melissa laughed lightly. “You want the drug? Fine. Get on your knees and slap yourself ten times. Then I’ll give it to you.” Garrett frowned, about to tell me not to do it. But I had already raised my hand and slapped myself hard across the face. I mechanically kowtowed, my forehead hitting the cold floor again and again. Blood soon seeped out. “Enough! Claire!” Garrett stood up to pull me away, but Melissa yanked him back by his sleeve. “Garrett, it’s not enough yet. She’s begging me-who begs this halfheartedly?” I kept slapping myself without stopping, until a familiar shout echoed in the hallway. “Claire!” I scrambled to my feet and saw Rachel stumbling in, tears streaming down her face. “Claire, your mother… she didn’t make it. She’s gone!” My whole body froze. My blood turned to ice. I gripped Rachel’s hand tightly. “Take me… take me to see my mother!” Garrett’s face went deathly pale. He shoved Melissa aside and came toward me. “Claire, you can see?” My eyes looked at him with utter despair. “Let go of me!” His face turned ashen as he pulled out the drug and pressed it into my hand. “I… I didn’t know… The drug is here. Let’s go try it on your mother…” I shoved him away. The vial fell to the ground, pills scattering everywhere. “Don’t. And you’ve lost the right to act like her son-in-law.” Panic flashed across Garrett’s face. He seized my hand, his apologies tumbling out in a rush. “I’m sorry, Claire. This is all my fault. But we’re still married…” I pulled the crumpled divorce papers from my pocket. My voice was flat, final. “Not anymore. We’re nothing.” Garrett took them, his hands trembling.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “353169”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #狼人Werewolf #重生Reborn #擦边Steamy

The day Alpha Thorne announced his engagement, the city blazed with fireworks. That same night, a fatal dose of Wolfsbane coursed through my veins as I knelt on a club floor, scrubbing. He held Vespera in his arms and stepped onto the back of my hand, the bones crunching under his polished shoe. “Look carefully, Elara. This is the woman I will marry.” “And you? You belong in the gutter, atoning.” I bit down, swallowing the coppery sweetness in my throat. I said nothing. He didn’t know these hands had already been ruined, digging through rubble for three days and nights to pull him out. He knew even less that the “me” he despised had just three months to live. Since atonement is what you want, I’ll repay you with this life. Will that suffice? To celebrate that woman’s return, , Thorne had booked out the entire penthouse lounge. The manager found me in the changing room, dry-swallowing a handful of painkillers. My stomach was on fire, pain wringing cold sweat from my skin. “Elara, hurry up! Thorne personally requested you to serve drinks tonight. Don’t you dare embarrass me.” The manager urged, yanking away the janitor’s uniform I’d just put on. She threw me an extremely revealing bunny girl outfit instead. “Wear this. Make Thorne unhappy tonight, and that vegetable brother of yours, Orion, will be out of his hospital bed by morning.” At the mention of Orion, the refusal I’d been about to voice died in my throat. I looked at myself in the mirror-pale, skeletal, barely human. I forced out a smile that looked worse than crying. Elara, what are you being so precious about? Your dignity was torn to shreds by Thorne’s own hands three years ago on that rainy night. The moment I pushed open the private room door, a wave of noise hit me. But I still spotted Thorne immediately, sitting in the seat of honor. He wore a black shirt with the collar slightly open. He swirled half a glass of red wine in his hand, his gaze cold and lazy. Nestled in his arms was Vespera in a white dress. When I walked in, the air in the room seemed to freeze for an instant. Then came the unrestrained laughter of those rich heirs. “Well, well, isn’t this the Alpha’s daughter from Frostwind Pack? How did she fall so low?” “You didn’t hear? Frostwind Pack collapsed ages ago. They even sold their crest for scrap metal.” “That’s karma for you! Back then, she nearly got Vespera killed just to climb the social ladder. A woman with such a venomous heart deserves this!” Thorne looked up lazily at the sound. His gaze landed on me, utterly devoid of warmth. “What are you standing there for? Come over here and pour Vespera a drink.” I moved stiffly forward. When I reached the coffee table, I knelt down and picked up the decanter with trembling hands. My stomach cramped violently. My hand shook, and a few drops of red wine splattered onto Vespera’s snow-white dress. “Ah!” Vespera cried out and shrank into Thorne’s embrace. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” I frantically tried to wipe it away, but Thorne kicked me hard in the chest. “Get away! Don’t touch her with your filthy hands!” The kick was brutal, showing no mercy whatsoever. I flew backward, my back slamming into the hard edge of the table. The pain made my vision go dark. The metallic taste surged up my throat. I bit down hard on my lip, terrified that if I coughed up blood, it would dirty his sight. Thorne looked down at me from above, his eyes full of disgust. “Elara, you’re revolting. You can’t even do something this simple right. You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” “Trying to get my attention with these pathetic tricks? As if you’re worthy.” I lay on the floor, taking a long time to barely prop myself up. Get his attention? Yeah. In his mind, I, Elara, was just a shameless woman who’d do anything for money. Even if I were dying right now, he’d only think I was faking illness. Vespera’s eyes reddened as she tugged at Thorne’s sleeve. “Thorne, don’t blame Elara. I’m sure she didn’t mean it… But what a shame about this dress. It was the birthday present you gave me.” Thorne patted her hand tenderly. When he turned to look at me, his expression instantly turned ice-cold. “Since you ruined Vespera’s dress, you’ll pay for it yourself.” “There are ten bottles of wine on that table. Drink them all, and I’ll forget today ever happened.” “Otherwise, crawl out of here.”

Ten bottles of wine, all filled with moongrass extract… For powerful Alphas and Betas, it was a tonic. But for someone like me in the late stages of Wolfsbane poisoning, it was lethal. The doctor had warned me long ago-drinking alcohol was equivalent to suicide. I looked up at Thorne. His expression was cold and resolute. He wasn’t joking. “Thorne, I… I can’t drink.” I begged humbly. “I’m not feeling well. Could you… give me a different punishment?” “Not feeling well?” Thorne sneered. “Elara, drop the act. When you pushed Vespera down those stairs, did you think about whether she was feeling well?” “When you took that five hundred thousand to dump me, did you think about how I felt?” Old grievances resurfaced. Every word stabbed at my heart. I opened my mouth, wanting to explain. I wanted to say that I wasn’t the one who pushed Vespera back then-she’d thrown herself down the stairs to frame me. I wanted to say that five hundred thousand was to save his life when he was in the ICU. But what was the point of explaining? For three years, I’d explained countless times. All I got in return was deeper disgust and more vicious beatings. “Won’t drink, huh?” Thorne lost patience and gestured to the security guards nearby. “Force it down her throat!” Two guards immediately stepped forward and grabbed my shoulders. Cold liquid was forced down my throat, choking me until tears streamed down my face. The burning liquid flowed down my esophagus into my stomach, instantly causing violent spasms. The pain was excruciating. I struggled desperately, but I was no match for their strength. One bottle, two bottles… By the time they’d forced down the fifth bottle, I finally couldn’t hold it in anymore. I vomited. Mixed with the vomit was a shocking amount of bright red blood. In the private room, some people looked at the blood on the floor with uncertain expressions. “Oh my God, she’s coughing up blood…” “Is it real or fake? Could she be faking it?” Thorne looked at the pool of blood, his brow furrowing slightly. A barely perceptible ripple passed through his eyes. But the next second, Vespera’s panicked voice rang out. “Oh my! Elara, did you prepare props ahead of time to trick Thorne into feeling sorry for you?” “When I was working on set before, I saw you use this trick…” With one sentence, she dispelled all of Thorne’s doubts. The wavering in his eyes vanished, replaced by even thicker mockery. “Elara, you’ve really outdone yourself. To escape punishment, you’d even resort to such filthy tricks.” “Looks like these years in prison, you didn’t learn anything useful-just got better at acting.” He stood up and walked toward me step by step. He crouched down and grabbed my chin viciously. “Since you love acting so much, I’ll give you a chance to perform to your heart’s content.” “Lick the floor clean.” I stared at him wide-eyed, unable to believe what I was hearing. The twisting pain in my stomach made my whole body tremble. Cold sweat had long since soaked through my clothes. But the pain in my heart was a hundred times worse than the physical agony. This was the man I’d loved for ten years. This was the man I’d ruined my hands to save, falling from the most promising Alpha Female to the lowest Omega. “Thorne… just kill me.” I closed my eyes in despair, tears sliding down my face. “Kill you? That would be too easy.” Thorne laughed coldly and released my face. He pulled out a wet wipe and wiped his hands with disgust. “How dare you bully Vespera? Tonight you’ll kneel here until tomorrow morning.” “Miss even one minute, and I’ll have someone turn off Orion’s respirator.” With that, he scooped Vespera into his arms and walked out of the room without looking back. That group of fair-weather friends followed him out. Before leaving, they didn’t forget to spit on me and stomp on me a few times. The private room finally fell silent. I curled up on the cold floor, coughing up blood in great mouthfuls. Bright red blood stained the white fur of the bunny girl outfit. With shaking hands, I pulled out the crumpled lab report from inside my clothes. Looking at the words “late stage,” I laughed bitterly. Thorne, you won. In this lifetime, I probably really can’t repay what I owe you. But clearly… you’re the one who owes me a life.

That night, I really did kneel in that private room all night. I lost consciousness several times and was jolted awake by the pain. Early the next morning, a cleaning lady came in to tidy up. When she saw me covered in blood, she screamed in terror. I forced myself to use my last bit of strength to crawl back to that dark, damp rental apartment. There, I kept my only spiritual anchor. It was the last album my mother had left me. I studied oil painting and was once hailed as a prodigy. Those hands were once praised by my mentor as “hands kissed by God.” But during that earthquake rescue, to dig Thorne out from under the rubble, my ten fingers suffered severe fractures and nerve damage. I could never hold a paintbrush again. And Vespera became his lifesaver simply because she handed him a bottle of water when he woke up. I fumbled to open the locked tin box. Empty. My heart sank. An ominous premonition instantly enveloped me. That was my lifeline! I frantically tore through the entire apartment. Nothing. It was nowhere to be found! Just then, my phone rang. It was a picture message. The sender was Vespera. In the photo was a burning fire pit. In the pit, that familiar album was being consumed by flames, only half of the tattered cover remaining. Then a voice message came through. Vespera’s voice was filled with undisguised malice. “Elara, I heard this was the keepsake your mom left you? I thought it was too old and moldy, so I helped you get rid of it.” “Don’t blame me. Thorne said seeing your stuff annoyed him and told me to dispose of it however I wanted.” “Oh, right. Thorne also said that a useless person like you keeping an album is an insult to art.” That was the only memento my mother left me, the source of my will to survive in desperation. Now, they’d burned it to ash. My hand trembled violently as I gripped my phone. “Vespera! I’ll kill you!” I stumbled out the door and ran toward Thorne’s family villa. In that moment, I forgot about the pain in my body, forgot about the Wolfsbane inside me. My mind held only one thought-I would take them down with me! When I burst into Thorne’s garden, Thorne was helping Vespera prune flowers. I rushed over, shoved Vespera aside, and grabbed her throat with both hands. “Why did you burn my album! Why! Give my mother back to me!” Vespera screamed and struggled desperately. “Psycho! Help! Thorne, save me!” Before I could apply pressure, a massive force struck me from behind. Thorne kicked me hard in the waist. I flew through the air and slammed heavily into the stone wall of the fountain. My waist felt like it had broken. The pain was unbearable. I lay on the ground, unable to get up for a long time. Thorne rushed forward and pulled the frightened Vespera into his arms. Then he turned his head and glared at me viciously. “Elara, you’re asking for death!” “It’s just a stupid album. So what if it’s burned? How dare you come here and assault someone!” Just a stupid album? I raised my head, face covered in tears, and looked at him. My heart turned to ash. “That was… my mom’s keepsake… the only thing I had left in this world…” Thorne looked down at me from above. “Someone like you deserves to talk about feelings?” “If your mom knew you sold your body for money and schemed to harm people to climb the ladder, she’d probably crawl out of her coffin just to die again!” “Elara, I’m warning you for the last time. If you lay another finger on Vespera, I’ll take your life!” I lay on the ground, looking at this man I’d loved for ten years. Every word he spoke was like a dull knife, cutting into my flesh. I saved him. I loved him. I gave him everything. And this was the result. “Thorne…” I called his name weakly. “If one day… you learn the truth… will you regret it?” Thorne paused, then laughed as if he’d heard the funniest joke in the world. “Regret? The biggest regret of my life was meeting a hypocrite like you!” “Guards! Throw her out! Don’t let her dirty Vespera’s eyes!” Several guards came over and dragged me like a dog. I didn’t struggle. I let my body scrape across the rough ground. But my gaze remained fixed on Vespera in the distance. She hid in Thorne’s arms, showing a victor’s smile. Just as I was being dragged out the gate, I vomited another mouthful of blood. This time, the blood stained Thorne’s family’s expensive Persian carpet. Thorne looked at the pool of blood, his brow furrowed tightly, a trace of inexplicable panic flashing in his eyes. But he quickly turned away and stopped looking at me. I was thrown on the roadside outside the villa. Rain began to fall from the sky. It was bitterly cold. I lay in the muddy water, looking up at the gray sky, and suddenly laughed. I laughed until tears mixed with the rain. Thorne, I don’t owe you anymore. In this lifetime, I’ll never owe you again.

After that incident, I lay unconscious in my rental apartment for three days. If the landlord hadn’t come to collect rent, I probably would have died on that moldy bed. When I woke up, I received a call from the hospital. Orion was failing. He needed surgery immediately. The surgery cost five hundred thousand dollars. Five hundred thousand. I couldn’t even come up with five hundred dollars right now. With no choice left, I dialed the number I’d sworn never to call again. “Speak.” It was Thorne’s voice, cold and clipped. “Thorne…I need five hundred thousand. Orion is dying…Please.” I begged, the words shaking. “Money?” A low, mocking laugh came through the line. “You can earn it. Tonight’s our engagement party. Be there to serve the drinks.” “As long as you serve every guest well, I’ll reward you with a million dollars.” “I might even consider getting the best doctors for that waste of space, Orion.” Even knowing this was humiliation, I had no choice. “Okay… I’ll be there.” The Thorne family estate. Today was Thorne and Vespera’s engagement party. All the city’s elite had come. I wore an ill-fitting maid’s uniform, carrying a tray and weaving through the crowd. Everyone who looked at me had mockery in their eyes. The once high-and-mighty daughter of Frostwind Pack had now become a servant at her ex-fiancé’s engagement party. This was undoubtedly the biggest joke of the evening. But I didn’t care. I just wanted to get the money and save Orion’s life. As long as I could endure tonight, I would take Orion and leave this place, find somewhere no one knew us, and quietly wait to die. The party reached its climax. Thorne took Vespera’s hand and walked onto the platform covered in rose petals. Under the spotlight, they looked like the perfect match. Just then, Vespera suddenly waved at me. “Elara, could you please come help me hold this bouquet? I need to exchange rings with Thorne.” All eyes turned to me. Thorne also looked over, his gaze warning me not to cause trouble. I set down my tray, lowered my head, and walked up. As I reached out to take the bouquet, Vespera suddenly leaned close to my ear. In a voice only the two of us could hear, she whispered softly: “Elara, actually, I know it was you who saved Thorne from under the rubble that year.” “And Orion’s car accident-I had someone arrange that too.” “But so what? I’m the one standing beside him now, and I’ll be the one with the Luna title in the future.” “And you? You can only watch like a dog, seething with jealousy.” “Oh, right, I forgot to tell you-I just had someone stop Orion’s medication.” “Since you’re going to die anyway, might as well let him go down to keep you company.” In that instant, all the blood in my body froze. The sounds around me became muffled. Everything before my eyes turned blood red. Orion… was dead? The only family I had left in this world, the person I’d fought desperately to protect… She’d killed him? I screamed with everything I had. Like a madwoman, I lunged at Vespera, forcing a Shift. My scarred wolf claws snatched the bouquet of roses and smashed it into her face. The thorns on the roses tore through her delicate makeup. “Vespera! I’ll kill you!” The scene erupted into chaos. Thorne reacted quickly, kicking me to the ground with one blow. Then he immediately shielded Vespera. “Elara! You’re asking for death!” He roared furiously. That kick landed squarely on my fragile chest. I shifted back to human form, a mouthful of blood spurting out. Forcing a Shift had triggered the Wolfsbane in my body. This time, the blood wouldn’t stop no matter what. I collapsed in a pool of blood, my vision beginning to blur. I watched Thorne frantically check Vespera for injuries. I watched him look at me with eyes that wished me dead. With difficulty, I pulled out the special painkiller medication from my pocket. My hand loosened, and the pill bottle rolled to Thorne’s feet. White pills scattered across the floor. I used the last shred of my strength to look at Thorne, pulling my lips into a smile of relief. “Thorne… congratulations… you’re finally… going to get me killed…” “If there’s a next life… I’d rather… have never saved you…” In the final second before darkness took me, I saw Thorne pick up the pill bottle. His pupils contracted. His whole body went rigid. He saw the label on the bottle. Treatment for Late-Stage Wolfsbane. At that exact moment, the banquet hall doors crashed open. My physician Cyrus stormed in, waving an autopsy report and a voice recorder, fury etched on his face. “Everyone stop!” “Thorne! You bastard! Look at what you’ve done!” “That fool who ruined her hands digging you out…she’s dying.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “353168”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #狼人Werewolf #重生Reborn #擦边Steamy

The day before my wedding, my fiancé got drunk. On the drive home, he mistook me for my best friend. “Claire, don’t bring the kid to the wedding tomorrow. We can’t let Rowena find out about our child yet.” I slammed on the brakes. Damian crashed against the seat, sobering up considerably. When he realized it was me, he froze for a moment before slowly speaking: “Since you heard that, the wedding’s temporarily canceled. But don’t worry—Claire doesn’t want to get married, but the child is mine and I have to take responsibility. Once the kid grows up, I’ll come back and marry you.” I stared at him, dumbfounded by his shameless demand. When I didn’t respond, he grabbed his suitcase and left as soon as we got home. I sat on the bed in a daze. My phone rang at that moment. My childhood friend’s hoarse voice came through: “Rowena, please don’t marry him.” I fell silent for a moment. “Alright.” Looking at the carefully decorated bridal suite, I found it glaring. In college, I pursued him for two years. We dated for three years. Tomorrow we were finally supposed to enter the halls of matrimony. Only to discover he’d been sleeping with my best friend Claire three years ago. Their son was already two years old. The double betrayal of my friend and boyfriend shattered my heart like a sledgehammer. I forced back the tears threatening to fall, wanting to escape this suffocating place. My phone suddenly rang. “Rowena, Claire’s been busy with the kid and hasn’t eaten yet. I haven’t eaten either. Make some food and bring it over.” The man issued his command like an order, then hung up without giving me a chance to respond. I forced a bitter smile, my heart aching. For three years, Claire’s unexpected pregnancy hadn’t been easy. I’d cared for her from early pregnancy until her son turned two. As her best friend and the child’s godmother, I’d done right by everyone. Every time she refused to mention the father, my heart broke for her. I never imagined the man who abandoned my friend was the one sharing my bed. The irony was that I always thought Claire was foolish. Turns out I was the fool all along! Only now did I realize the signs were always there. Whenever we went out, Claire dressed provocatively, “accidentally” making physical contact with Damian, flirting and playing around. It was all premeditated, right under my nose. Sometimes I’d get jealous and hint that Damian should maintain better boundaries. He thought I was making a mountain out of a molehill. “Claire’s your best friend, and I’m your man. If you can’t trust us, who can you trust?” A few dismissive words and I’d back down, even thinking he had a point. Looking back now, I was too stupid. I laughed bitterly at myself. I opened a food delivery app and deliberately chose the lowest-rated restaurant, ordering some dishes. When they arrived, I carelessly transferred them to bowls and plates, then headed out. I wanted to see how this man who never did housework would manage caring for a child. Standing outside Claire’s door, I pressed the doorbell and suddenly felt disoriented. Claire answered. She wore a tight skirt, her face flushed. In an instant I understood what she’d been doing, and my expression turned cold. Claire acted as if nothing was wrong, smiling sweetly as she pulled me inside. Seeing my silence, she spoke first: “Have a seat. Damian’s helping our son wash his face. You should’ve seen how happy father and son were playing together!” Our son. Damian. How intimate. How did I never notice before? Father and son! Not even pretending anymore! I sat down stiffly. Soon Damian emerged carrying their son. I instinctively smiled at my godson. But today the little boy didn’t rush into my arms as usual. Instead, he pointed at me and said:”Mistress.”

My smile froze on my face. A two-year-old who could barely speak clearly could now clearly point at me and say “mistress.” Claire glanced at me and pretended to scold the boy. “Lucas! How dare you talk like that! She’s your godmother! She loves you the most.” Damian quickly covered the child’s ears. “Claire, don’t yell at him. Kids say the darndest things.” “Rowena’s my wife. She won’t hold it against a child.” I smiled bitterly, sitting there like a criminal disrupting a happy family of three. How could I possibly claim to be Damian’s wife? I’d never seen a two-year-old with “innocent” words call someone a mistress. Lucas. Yearning. Only now did I understand the meaning behind the child’s name. Damian didn’t find anything wrong with the situation. He even tried to hand the child to me. I dodged smoothly. “I should go.” The man grabbed my wrist with his free hand. “Rowena, you’re free right now. Perfect time to practice caring for a kid.” I laughed coldly. “Damian, I’m naive but I’m not insane. Why would I care for you and your mistress’s child? If you three don’t find me an eyesore, I certainly find you disgusting.” Seeing the tension, Claire smiled and tried to smooth things over. “Rowena, you know I never want to get married. The baby was just an accident. If you mind, I can legally transfer him to you. It won’t affect your marriage to Damian.” As she spoke, she deliberately pushed against Damian, her chest “accidentally” brushing his shoulder. “Go home with your wife. I’ve been raising the child alone for two years anyway—I’m used to it. When Rowena wants to raise him, she can come handle the transfer paperwork anytime.” The boy in Damian’s arms seemed to sense something and suddenly burst into tears. The man instantly panicked, anxiously patting the child, coaxing him and wiping his tears with tissues. When the child finally stopped crying, he handed him to Claire before finally turning to glare at me. “Rowena, that’s enough! Because of you, our son never had a father. Now you want to separate mother and child?” “Besides, you often babysit anyway and he’s used to your care. You’d better take good care of him, or forget about marrying me.” My breath caught. I turned and quickly left. What did he mean “because of me” the child had no father? I rushed downstairs, not wanting to stay another second. I opened my car door, preparing to drive away. As I closed the door, Damian blocked it. The man frowned, preventing me from shutting the door. “Rowena, I wanted to tell you when Claire first got pregnant. I never meant to hide it.” “But she’s your best friend. I figured since she didn’t want to get married anyway, when she had the baby and didn’t want to raise it, we’d just transfer custody to you.” I stared at him in disbelief, my eyes red. “Too bad you let it slip. I might raise her child, but I’d never raise a mistress and your child.” Seeing my reddened eyes, Damian responded with mockery: “You’re the heir to Anderson Enterprises, from such a prominent family, yet you can’t accept this small thing. You’re not as strong as Claire—a girl from the slums has more backbone than you.” My nose stung. I fought to hold back tears. “I can’t argue with you, and I don’t want to anymore.” Damian pulled me from the driver’s seat and held me forcefully. “Stop crying. I promised I’d make it up to you, just not now.” I laughed miserably and struggled out of his embrace. I looked away for a long moment before speaking flatly. “Forget it. Let’s break up.”

Tears finally rolled down my cheeks. I sobbed uncontrollably. Damian froze, then cupped my face and forced me to look at him. He spoke as if granting me a favor: “I’ll come back every few days to be with you, then go take care of the child. How’s that?” Seeing my continued lack of response, the man sighed deeply. “Rowena, this is the best solution I can think of. Can you stop being unreasonable?” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stop sobbing and calm down. “That’s too troublesome. Just thinking about it exhausts me. Anyway, we’ve already broken up. You just need to stay with her and the child. How I’m doing is none of your business anymore.” He roughly grabbed my shoulder, thinking I was just throwing a tantrum. “Rowena, are you serious?” I stopped arguing and turned to get in the car. He suddenly shoved me hard. “So you’ve finally dropped the act! Now you’re throwing rich girl tantrums at me!” My head struck the car roof directly. Losing my balance, I fell heavily to the ground. Damian’s eyes filled with malice as he turned and walked away. Claire appeared from somewhere. She reproached Damian. “Rowena’s always been a pampered princess from a wealthy family. Having a little temper is normal, isn’t it? Can’t you, as a grown man, be more accommodating?” Damian laughed coldly, casually draping his arm around Claire’s waist. “I’m human too. Why should I accommodate her? She was the one who pursued me in the first place. Now she dares throw tantrums.” He glanced coldly at my disheveled state, then looked tenderly at Claire. “You’re so much better—understanding and considerate. If it had been Rowena having a baby, with that temper she’d have made a huge scene! Just thinking about it annoys me.” Their lovey-dovey display disgusted me. I didn’t want to deal with them anymore and simply drove away. The scenes from moments ago replayed in my mind. A sharp pain in my chest made breathing difficult. My phone rang at the worst moment. The caller ID showed Damian’s mother. “Rowena dear, I’ve heard everything. Damian canceled your wedding. He was wrong to keep this from all of us—having a two-year-old grandson before telling anyone.” “Here’s what I’m thinking—the child was an accident and can be legally transferred to you. As long as Damian’s heart is with you, it won’t affect your marriage.” “Besides, Claire agreed. She won’t compete with you. You’re still Damian’s choice for a wife. Worst case, I’ll raise the grandson myself. He won’t be in your way.” My throat tightened. After a moment, I spoke hoarsely: “Ma’am, Damian and I have completely broken up.” Her tone suddenly turned vicious. “Rowena, I knew you rich people would be difficult. I was already reluctant when you two got together, afraid my son would have no dignity around you. Now he only made a mistake any man might make. He’s been honest about it, and you still can’t forgive him?” My grip on the steering wheel tightened until my knuckles turned white. “Ma’am, it’s fine. Your son has his dignity now. He and Claire are perfect together. I’ve already stepped aside voluntarily. I won’t disturb them anymore.” I hung up and slammed on the brakes at the roadside. I gasped for air. For the sake of his so-called dignity, I’d gone from luxury to frugality. When Damian finally agreed to date me, he’d make snide remarks from time to time. Each time, I just smiled and nodded. I thought if I willingly became an ordinary, caring girlfriend by his side, he’d truly accept me. But at family gatherings, he was embarrassed by how plain I looked. “Didn’t you say Damian was dating a rich girl? Where is she? It can’t be that girl next to him, can it?” “That girl looks poorer than us. How could she be a rich girl? Damian probably made it up to save face.” His relatives laughed uproariously. Damian looked at me with even more disgust… I sat in the car in a daze for a while before driving home.

Not long after, Damian called. “Want to hang out? Claire’s already putting the kid to bed.” All these years he never took me shopping or spent time with me. What a generous offer today—did he finally feel guilty and want to compensate me? I had no patience for his nonsense. Just as I was about to hang up, I heard Claire’s coquettish voice. “Still coaxing your princess at this hour? Aren’t you tired? But I’m exhausted. Come give me a massage. It’s all your fault—I have to care for the child and serve you too.” Damian hastily said, “Fine, I’ll take you out another time.” The call ended abruptly. A deep bitterness welled up inside me. If only I’d firmly prevented those two from spending time together, I wouldn’t have ended up so miserable. The next day, the wedding was canceled. Damian organized a class reunion. I went, thinking of it as a final goodbye to this failed relationship. Classmates exchanged pleasantries. Seeing Claire holding her son, someone deliberately said: “Claire already has a son? When did you get married? How come we classmates didn’t know?” “Claire, who’s your son’s father? Why didn’t you bring him today for us to meet?” The crowd was malicious. Claire looked uncomfortable. Damian simply glanced coldly at me, then took their son from Claire’s arms. “I’m the child’s father.” In an instant, everyone’s eyes turned to me. People around me began whispering. “I heard Claire and Damian were together back then, but something happened and he ended up with Rowena instead. Counting the time, Claire’s son really is two years old.” “So Rowena’s the mistress?” I trembled with rage, suppressing my fury. I stood to get some water, but Claire deliberately stepped on my dress hem. Caught off guard, I fell to my knees. The room filled with malicious laughter. My knees instantly bruised. The pain prevented me from standing. “Is Rowena kneeling to confess her sins as a mistress?” Damian just glanced at me with disgust, letting everyone gossip about me. I glared at Claire through clenched teeth. Anyone paying attention would have noticed Claire stepping on my dress. My long-suppressed anger erupted. I raised my hand to slap Claire’s face, but Damian stood up and backhanded me instead. SLAP. The room fell silent. In an instant, blood seeped from my mouth corner. My ears rang. I stared coldly at Damian, then reached up and slapped him hard across the face. “Damian, we’re completely finished.”

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On New Year’s Eve, my in-laws returned from abroad to have dinner at our house. But the housekeeper only prepared two plates of cold shrimp,and this was after I’d specifically reminded her that Sophie was allergic to shellfish. The housekeeper, Victoria Young, said to me matter-of-factly: “Mrs. Pierce, you bumpkin love to take advantage. I understand that your parents are coming over to mooch a free meal during the holidays.” “But as Mr. Pierce’s most trusted housekeeper, I have the right to protect the Pierce family assets from being tainted by filthy people—not even for one dinner.” “However, I’m kind-hearted. I won’t let the two old folks go hungry. I’ve prepared shrimp. Your parents can eat and leave quickly.” “Mr. Pierce is very busy at work. I can’t have him dealing with your parents—those poor relatives—when he gets home later.” I was stunned, then realized she had mistaken Mr. Pierce’s parents for mine and was deliberately trying to humiliate me as usual. I was about to explain when Mr. Pierce’s parents turned to leave in anger, but Victoria called the security guards to stop them: “You two, I understand that you country people have questionable character, but wasting food is bad conduct.” “Since the shrimp has already been prepared, please eat before you leave.”

Mr. Pierce’s father, Marcus Pierce, had held high positions for years. No one had ever dared treat him this way. He immediately cursed in fury: “Pierce, that beast! Has he forgotten who gave him every penny he has? How dare he hire this disgusting housekeeper to insult his own father—this is outrageous!” Mr. Pierce’s mother was equally furious: “When we get back, we need to have a serious talk with Pierce. What kind of housekeeper can overstep the lady of the house like this?!” The lady of the house? I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Ever since Mr. Pierce hired Victoria Young, my life had been worse than a servant’s. After marriage, Mr. Pierce forbade me to work. I even had to submit an application to this housekeeper just to get money for sanitary pads. Based on my understanding of Victoria, she wouldn’t let this go. So I positioned myself in front of the two elders and tried to reason with her: “Ms. Young, these are Pierce’s parents. His mother is allergic to shellfish. If he finds out you fed his parents shrimp, he won’t let you off.” But Victoria just smiled contemptuously: “Mrs. Pierce, don’t think that just because you married Mr. Pierce, all your poor relatives suddenly become his relatives too.” “These two country bumpkins of yours—how dare they claim to be Mr. Pierce’s parents? Where’s your shame!” With that, Victoria’s expression darkened as she said to the guards: “What are you waiting for? Invite Mr. Pierce’s ‘parents’ to eat the shrimp I specially prepared for them!” The guards only followed Victoria’s orders. Immediately, they dragged the two elders from behind me and pressed their heads toward the shrimp. Both were in their fifties—no match for the young, strong guards. In moments, their faces were smeared with shrimp. I cried out in alarm: “Victoria Young, have you lost your mind?!” “I’ve put up with how you treat me all this time! But these are Pierce’s parents! Tell them to stop right now!” I rushed forward trying to pull the guards away, but Victoria had someone restrain me. Victoria leaned close to my ear and whispered in a voice only I could hear: “So what if you country trash married into a wealthy family? You’re still nothing but clay in my hands!” “Today I’ll let you watch how your lowly parents cry and beg for mercy!” Then she shouted at the guards again: “Are you deaf?! I said invite them to eat shrimp—have they eaten? No?!” “Force-feed them! Especially Mrs. Pierce’s dear mother. She’s allergic to shrimp? Well, I have a PhD in nutrition, and I want to see what kind of allergy can’t be cured by force-feeding!” The guards obeyed, shoving shrimp into my in-laws’ mouths like they were feeding dogs. Before they could swallow one mouthful of shrimp, another was stuffed in. Saliva and shrimp filling covered their faces! Marcus’s face turned bright red with rage, while Sophie’s breathing was clearly becoming labored.

Seeing Sophie about to lose consciousness, Marcus somehow found the strength to break free from the guard restraining him. He lunged toward Sophie, but the next moment, another guard kicked him to the ground. Victoria looked at Marcus like he was trash: “I graciously invited you to eat shrimp, and not only are you ungrateful, you dare resist? Then don’t blame me for being rude!” “Beat this old fool senseless! I want to see if his bones are harder than my rules!” The guards obeyed and immediately began punching and kicking Marcus. Soon he fell silent. Sophie’s breathing grew weaker and weaker, but she looked at Marcus, whose fate was uncertain, and tears fell from her clouded eyes. I struggled desperately to break free from the guard holding me, screaming: “Victoria Young! Stop this! Are you trying to kill someone?!” Victoria looked at me calmly, from her position of superiority: “Mrs. Pierce, so what if someone dies? Would Mr. Pierce really send me to prison over these two country bumpkin parents of yours?” My heart raced with anxiety, but I knew Victoria was speaking the truth. She was the housekeeper who enjoyed Mr. Pierce’s complete trust, while my marriage to Mr. Pierce was nothing more than an arrangement made by our grandparents. After marriage, he treated me with extreme coldness, and for ten years had allowed Victoria to humiliate me in every way. Seeing they were being beaten to death, I suddenly spotted a fruit knife in the fruit bowl on the dining table. I violently broke free from the guard restraining me and rushed to grab the knife. Before anyone could react, I pressed the knife against Victoria’s throat and shouted to the guards: “Pull the car up to the door and put the two elderly people in it. Don’t follow us!” Victoria’s face went deathly pale. She quickly said to the guards: “Do as she says!” At the same time, she didn’t forget to threaten me through gritted teeth: “Emma Hart, when Mr. Pierce finds out what you did to me, you’re dead!” With lives at stake, I ignored her. After the guards had settled the two elders as I instructed, I took Victoria hostage to the car door, shoved her away, and immediately drove toward Mr. Pierce’s hospital. The Pierce family was a wealthy family in River City. Sophie and Marcus doted on their son Pierce. They hadn’t forced Pierce to inherit the company but instead let him become a doctor as he wished. They’d even invested heavily to establish a large private hospital for him. I drove as fast as I could, racing against time to reach the hospital. As long as I got to the hospital, everything would be fine. Pierce wouldn’t refuse to save his own parents! Meanwhile, I called Pierce countless times while driving, but unsurprisingly, all the calls were declined. I hadn’t held much hope anyway. For all these years, I’d contacted Pierce through Victoria. He never answered my calls or replied to my messages. Finally, I pulled up to the emergency center entrance of the hospital, grabbed a passing nurse, and said: “I’m the wife of your Dr. Pierce! His parents—one was severely beaten and is unconscious, the other is in danger from an allergic reaction. Get someone to take them to the emergency room now!” The young nurse just rolled her eyes at me: “Ma’am, you must be joking.” “Everyone at our hospital knows Dr. Pierce’s girlfriend is Miss Victoria Young. Even if you want to cut the line for treatment, you should come up with a better story!” I was stunned, but the situation was too urgent. I didn’t bother explaining and instead grabbed the nurse: “Go find Pierce immediately. Tell him my name is Emma Hart, and tell him everything else I just said. He’ll handle it!” Seeing my anxious expression, the nurse didn’t dare delay and immediately went upstairs to find Pierce. Before long, Pierce came down with her. As soon as he saw me, he accused me coldly: “What is wrong with you?!” “Victoria just called me. She kindly invited your parents to eat shrimp, and not only were you ungrateful, you lied about your mother being allergic and even cut Victoria with a knife. You’re getting bolder and bolder!” I was dumbfounded by this slander, but I didn’t have time to explain. I pointed anxiously at the car I’d driven: “They’re not my parents—they’re YOUR parents! They’re both unconscious in the car right now. Hurry and get someone to take them to the emergency room!” But Pierce didn’t even glance at the car. He shook off my hand and turned to leave: “My parents? My parents have been living abroad permanently. They never come back. You’re lying through your teeth just to cut the line for treatment!” “Victoria has a PhD in nutrition. She said your mother just overate and has indigestion. I’m the hospital director, you’re my family member—I especially can’t help you. I can’t let you cut the line for treatment.” “Go wait in line like everyone else. Stop trying to use the Pierce family’s influence to take shortcuts all the time.”

Seeing I couldn’t count on Pierce, and having no idea how long the wait would be if I joined the queue, I decided to drive the two elders to the nearest public hospital. Just then, hospital security suddenly set up barriers around my car. I was stunned: “What are you doing?!” The guard looked at me with contempt: “Miss Young just called and said the car you drove here is hers. You drove it out without her permission—it’s stolen property.” “Until Miss Young arrives at the hospital, I can’t let you drive this car away!” My face flushed red with anger: “This is my family’s car! What right does Victoria Young have to call it stolen property!” The guard remained unmoved: “I’m sorry, but Dr. Pierce has told us that Miss Young’s orders are equivalent to his orders. Please stop making a scene.” Thinking of the two unconscious elders in the car, darkness swam before my eyes. Victoria was committing murder! I called Pierce, but this time the call showed I’d been blocked. With no other option, I called the police and briefly explained that my in-laws had been rendered unconscious by Victoria’s actions, and that hospital security was forcibly detaining my car. Soon, a police car arrived at the hospital. Just as I thought things might finally turn around, Pierce, as the hospital director, spoke with the police before I could: “My wife had a little conflict with our housekeeper. The two elderly people just have indigestion—she’s lying about an allergy to frame the housekeeper.” “And that car at the emergency entrance isn’t our family’s car. Although it used to be registered under my name, it was transferred to Miss Young long ago. My wife really did steal someone else’s car.” “I apologize on my wife’s behalf for wasting police resources. I’m truly sorry.” I was about to object when Pierce grabbed me and threatened in a voice only I could hear: “I’ll deal with you later for falsely reporting to frame Victoria!” “But if you dare say another word of nonsense, your parents won’t get any treatment at my hospital!” I didn’t care about his threats. As long as he saw who was in the car, I didn’t believe he wouldn’t provide treatment! Just then, another car suddenly pulled into the hospital. Pierce answered a phone call, his expression changed, and he hurried to the car. The next moment, he actually carried Victoria out of the car, telling the medical staff with a worried expression: “Quick, take Victoria to the emergency room!” “She was cut on the neck earlier. What if she gets tetanus!” Victoria nestled in his arms, looking at me triumphantly, then said sweetly: “Mr. Pierce, I know you’re worried about me, but I can’t break the hospital’s rules.” “I should just wait in line for treatment like everyone else.” Pierce paused, then seemed to think of something and looked at me: “How can Emma compare to you!” “She’s my family member—I can’t show favoritism. But you were injured by her just now, and as her husband, I naturally need to apologize to you on her behalf. This isn’t cutting in line—it’s completely legitimate!” Everything happened so fast. Before I could react, a stretcher had already taken Victoria to the emergency room. In the meantime, the police had left. I grabbed Pierce’s arm in fury: “Pierce! Do you have any conscience?! Those people in the car are YOUR parents!” “You won’t save your own parents, but you’ll save the person who harmed them. Are you even human?!” But Pierce shoved me to the ground and said coldly: “Emma Hart, those are YOUR parents, not mine. Besides, they just have indigestion—what’s there to save!” “I told you when we got married not to think that marrying into the Pierce family means you can abuse Pierce family resources.” “Thank goodness Victoria has been keeping an eye on you all these years. Otherwise, you’d even try to use Pierce family connections to skip the line at a hospital. Country people really are ignorant!”

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