I supported my husband’s startup for 10 years, but when his company went public and threw a celebration banquet, he refused to bring me. Before leaving, he reassured me: “You stay home and take care of the kids. Once I’m done with all this, I’ll take you and the kids on a trip to Greece.” I sat there surrounded by LEGO pieces and picture books scattered across the floor, feeling hollow inside. My three-year-old daughter suddenly came running over, holding up a black phone: “Mommy! Daddy forgot his phone!” I froze. This wasn’t his usual phone. The moment I opened it, a text message popped up: “Honey, I picked out the perfect gown for the banquet. $30,000. Waiting for you to swipe the card~” The sender was saved as: “Baby Vivian.” My breath stopped. Blood rushed to my eardrums, buzzing loudly. My fingers moved across the screen without conscious thought. Either Matthew was too confident, or he trusted me too much. The phone had no password. I opened the chat with “Baby Vivian.” The earliest message was from three years ago, August: “Matthew, I revised the proposal and sent it to your email.” On his birthday, she sent him a photo of herself in lingerie. On Christmas, he arranged to meet her at a hot spring resort. Kelly was hugging her Barbie doll and humming, sunlight falling on her soft blonde hair in a gentle golden glow. My daughter. Three years old. And my husband’s mistress had been by his side for three years. I kept scrolling up. The last message from yesterday— “Honey, I think I’m pregnant.” “Really?! I’ll take you to get checked tomorrow. If it’s true, I’ll come clean with my wife.” My world completely collapsed in that moment. So he’d been planning the divorce all along? The door lock turned. Matthew pushed the door open, his eyes scanning the living room: “I left a black work phone at home. Have you seen it?” “Kelly found it.” I walked over and pulled out the phone. “How could you forget something so important?” He snatched it away, quickly pressed the screen dark, and stuffed it into his suit pocket. The whole process took less than three seconds. “Work’s been crazy. I was careless.” He cleared his throat. He paused, then ruffled my hair: “I might be home very late tonight. Get some rest early.” The door closed. I leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to the floor. The spires of the LEGO castle blurred and twisted in my vision.

A week later, I sat down next to him with the household budget book. “Kelly’s enrichment classes raised their fees.” I opened the book. “The joint account balance is running low. Is the company doing okay financially?” “The company’s fine.” He barely glanced at it. “The banquet budget was approved ages ago. If there’s not enough money, just use the credit card. I’ll deposit more next month.” “The banquet… it’s at the Imperial Hotel?” “Yeah, the Starlight Hall.” His eyes flickered. “How did you know?” “I saw the promotion when I passed by last time.” I lowered my eyes. “I heard it’s expensive.” “It’s the company’s tenth anniversary. We need to do it right.” He put his arm around my shoulders. “When I’m done with all this, I’ll take you and Kelly to Greece.” Another promise. “By the way,” I looked up, “Can I see the banquet schedule? I don’t even know what my own company’s event looks like.” After a few seconds of silence, he said: “Sure, I’ll send it to your phone.” A minute later, the digital schedule and seating chart arrived. “Just take a look. Don’t forward it to anyone.” “Got it.” He got up to shower. I opened my phone and found the woman’s name in the administrative department. I took screenshots, uploaded them to the cloud, and backed them up to an encrypted hard drive. Passing the study, the door was slightly ajar. His old laptop sat on the desk, the indicator light glowing. I pushed the door open. The computer had no password. The files were disorganized. I clicked on “Work Backup – 2021.” As I was exiting, my peripheral vision caught a strangely named folder: “V.” Double-clicked. It required a password. I tried his birthday, my birthday, the company founding date. All wrong. I entered “Vivian” in pinyin. The folder opened. Inside were photos of him and Vivian in intimate poses. I inserted a USB drive and copied all the photos. Just then, he appeared in the doorway, hair dripping, eyes scanning the computer: “What are you doing in the study?” I lied: “Looking for Kelly’s vaccination record. The kindergarten needs it tomorrow.” I waved the little blue booklet. “Your old computer was still on. Such a waste of electricity.” “I forgot to turn it off.” He walked over and pressed the power button. “Don’t touch my computer from now on. There’s confidential business information.” “Yes, sir, Mr. Hughes.” I smiled and playfully punched him, then walked out of the study. A few days later, I met with lawyer Quinn Reed to handle my divorce case. Afterwards, I went to a digital store on the west side. The owner, Derek Mason, was my college classmate. “Here’s what you wanted.” He handed me a black velvet box. Inside was a rose brooch and a lipstick. Both were hidden cameras. Derek’s expression was complicated. “Be careful.” I smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m not the one who needs to be careful.” That night, Matthew came home at 2 AM, reeking of alcohol. I helped him to bed, wiped his face, took off his shoes. In his daze, he grabbed my hand: “Vivian… stop teasing…” In the darkness, I opened my phone. Vivian’s social media had been updated. In the photo, she wore a Cartier bracelet, holding up a wine glass. I took Matthew’s phone and liked the post. A minute later, Vivian sent a private message: “Matthew? Why did you like it? Didn’t you say we shouldn’t go public yet?” I replied in Matthew’s tone: “Couldn’t help it. Missing you.” She sent a shy emoji: “I miss you too. I tried on the gown. It’s gorgeous. Will you announce our relationship at the banquet?” I continued: “Of course. Giving you the best.”

Three days before the banquet, I went to the Imperial Hotel under the pretense of checking out a wedding venue for a friend. The hall was being set up. “This setup is really impressive,” my friend marveled. “Which company is willing to spend this much?” “Right?” I said softly. A woman walked in through the side door. Champagne-colored high heels, beige suit dress, long hair loosely pinned up. She held a tablet, confirming details with the staff. It was Vivian. She was younger than in her photos, with flawless skin and upright posture. Meanwhile, I had loose skin and stretch marks on my belly after having Kelly, fine lines around my eyes, and dark circles I covered with concealer. So this was what he meant by “how could she compare to you.” “Brighten the lights by another 30%. Mr. Hughes said he wants every shot to be crystal clear that day.” Vivian’s voice was crisp. The staff nodded. “Don’t worry, Ms. Cross.” My friend whispered: “Who’s that? She’s got quite the presence.” I didn’t answer. Vivian turned around, her gaze sweeping over us. It paused for half a second, then her lips curved into a professional smile: “May I help you?” “We’re here to look at wedding venues.” My friend said. “You’re having… a banquet?” “Yes, our company’s tenth anniversary celebration.” Vivian walked over, her gaze lingering on my face for an extra moment. “And you are?” “Just call me Ms. Morgan.” “Ms. Morgan.” She nodded. “This venue is perfect for weddings, but we’ve booked it exclusively. If you need it, I can recommend other halls.” “No need, but thank you.” I smiled. “This venue is beautiful. Your husband really put thought into it.” Vivian’s smile stiffened slightly. Very subtly, but I caught it. “It’s Mr. Hughes who put thought into it.” She corrected, her tone gentle. “I’m just helping with execution.” “Mr. Hughes? Is he single? He booked such a large venue and set up double main seats. I thought it was prepared for his wife.” The air went quiet for a few seconds. Vivian looked at me, her eyes churning with curiosity, wariness, and perhaps a trace of barely detectable triumph. “I don’t know much about Mr. Hughes’s personal matters.” She looked away, speaking to the staff, “I’m going to confirm the menu. You all continue.” She turned and left, her heels clicking crisply. My friend tugged my sleeve: “Morgan, why were you asking those questions? That was weird.” “Just curious.” I withdrew my gaze. “Let’s go. Let’s check out the other halls.” We headed toward the elevator. Before the doors closed, I looked back. Vivian stood in the center of the stage, looking down at her tablet. Dome lights fell on her, enveloping her in an ethereal glow. She looked up, glancing toward the elevator. Our gazes met one last time through the closing gap. She smiled. It was a victor’s smile, full of pity. The elevator descended. “Do you know her?” my friend asked. “No.” I watched the numbers changing. “But I will soon.” That evening, Matthew came home early for once, looking irritated. “What’s wrong?” I served him soup. “Nothing.” He rubbed his temples. “Just a small issue at the company. It’ll be resolved soon.” “That’s good.” I pushed the soup bowl toward him. “By the way, I went to the Imperial Hotel today.” His movements paused. “What were you doing there?” “Helping Jade look at wedding venues.” My tone was natural. “I saw the Starlight Hall being set up. That’s your banquet, right?” “…Yeah.” “The double main seat design is really thoughtful.” I looked at him. “Was that your idea?” Matthew put down his spoon: “It was the event planning company’s proposal. Don’t overthink it.” “I’m not overthinking anything.” I smiled. “I just thought, if we ever renew our vows, we could reference this kind of design.” His expression softened a bit, and he held my hand: “Once the company goes public, I’ll definitely give you the grandest vow renewal ceremony.” Another promise. I held his hand back, palm warm, fingertips ice cold. “Oh, I was organizing the study yesterday and saw some photos on your old computer.” I said casually, “It looked like a team-building event? There was a girl who looked familiar. Is she the one who came to the house to deliver documents last time?” Matthew’s hand tightened: “Which girl?” “The one with long hair, big eyes, looks pretty capable.” I blinked. “I think her last name is Cross?” Silence. Long silence. He released my hand, his tone returning to gentle: “She’s from the administrative department. She is quite capable. Why the sudden interest in her?” “I just thought she was pretty.” I stood up to clear the dishes, turning my back to him. “I’m glad you have such capable employees. Puts my mind at ease.” He said nothing more. I carried the dishes into the kitchen and turned on the faucet. Water rushed, drowning out my rapid heartbeat. That night, Matthew slept deeply. I got up and retrieved the brooch camera from its hidden compartment, pinning it to the inside of the black coat I planned to wear tomorrow.

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My mom, Brenda, has kleptomania. She just can’t resist stealing. But she’s terrified of getting caught, so she’s always used me as her scapegoat. When I was little, she’d stuff candies from the grocery store into my pockets. When the clerk caught us, she’d immediately turn on me: “Are you that greedy? I’ll stitch your mouth shut when we get home!” When I was older, Mom took me to a friend’s house. She quietly pocketed my friend’s iPhone. Once it was discovered, she burst into tears, screaming, “How could you steal again?! How did I end up with a daughter like you!” At my wedding, Mom stole my mother-in-law’s gold necklace. When it was found, she declared she was disowning me on the spot: “Your husband gave you a million dollars for a wedding gift, and you still stole a gold necklace?! You’ve disappointed me so much!” The video of that scene went viral, and everyone online called me a thief. In utter despair, I jumped into a river. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the moment Mom first accused me of stealing candy. I blinked my innocent, big eyes and said in a tiny voice, “Mommy, you were the one who put the candy in my pocket. Why do you insist I put it there myself?”

At my words, Mom’s face instantly flushed crimson. Without thinking, she clapped her hand over my mouth. “You naughty child! Can’t even admit when you’ve done something wrong!” she muttered angrily. I stared at her face, twisted with guilt, and a bitter mix of hatred and fury surged within me. That face, in my past life, had utterly destroyed everything I had. I knew why she had kleptomania. She always felt Grandpa and Grandma were unfair when she was a kid, giving everything that should have been hers to her younger sister, Sarah. But I remembered clearly: from childhood, Sarah always wore Brenda’s hand-me-downs and played with her discarded toys. Even so, this baseless sense of being deprived clung to Mom like a poisonous vine her entire life. After she got married, she started shopping uncontrollably, piling up mountains of credit card debt she couldn’t repay. After my dad left, things got even worse. She could only find a twisted, pathetic thrill in stealing. I used to feel sorry for her. I naively believed that if I grew up, earned money, and gave her the best things in the world, I could cure her. But I was wrong. Every time she was caught, she never hesitated to throw me under the bus. From a simple green onion at the farmer’s market to my mother-in-law’s gold necklace at my wedding, she built her clean escape on the ruins of my reputation and life. I was universally condemned, called a gold-digger, rejected by everyone, and finally, I leaped into the icy river in despair. Not this life. I wouldn’t be her scapegoat again. I couldn’t save her, but I absolutely had to save myself. My memories flooded back, and the stares from everyone around the checkout felt like needles pricking my skin. I forcibly pried Mom’s hand away, using all my strength to shout in my little voice, “My kindergarten teacher said that in the store, little hands can’t touch things randomly! You have to wait for the cashier to ‘beep’ it, and for Mommy and Daddy to pay, only then can you touch it, or else it’s stealing!” “Mommy, you’re so grown-up, why aren’t you listening to the teacher? And why are you still stealing? Look, Lily is much more well-behaved than you!” “Mommy, the teacher said if you steal, the police officer will catch you! Please put the candy back quickly, what if the police officer comes?” I deliberately spoke quickly and with fear, letting tears well up in my eyes at just the right moment, perfectly portraying a good child terrified by an ill-behaved adult.

I gave her one last chance. If she admitted her mistake now, even a hint of remorse, maybe there’d be a tiny sliver of hope left for our relationship. But Mom reacted like a cornered cat, her voice skyrocketing. “How did you learn to lie like this, child? Everyone, judge for yourselves! I’m a grown woman, I’ve seen it all. Would I really steal a lollipop?” As she spoke, she poked my forehead with that look of intense disappointment, as if frustrated with my failure. “Have I starved you or deprived you of anything? To make you embarrass me like this in public!” I didn’t give her another chance to perform, nor did I soften. I spoke clearly, my voice not loud, but enough for everyone around, craning their necks to watch the drama, to hear every word. “Mommy, that little green onion in your pocket? You secretly added a more expensive garlic to the bag after it was weighed.” Mom’s face stiffened. I then pointed to the hair clip on her head: “And that hair clip you’re wearing? You took it from the shelf, ripped off the price tag when no one was looking, and just put it on.” A suppressed gasp rippled through the onlookers. Mom’s lips trembled, unable to utter a single word. In a fit of rage, she raised her hand and slapped me. Smack! The crisp sound echoed, and my cheek stung with a fiery pain. That entire corner of the grocery store fell silent. “Oh, my goodness! How can you, a mother, hit a child?!” An older neighbor, with permed hair, couldn’t stand it. She immediately pulled me behind her. “If a child says something wrong, you can teach them, but hitting them? What kind of behavior is that?” “Exactly! We all saw it. This child is speaking facts, with solid reasons. You’re hitting her because you’re guilty, aren’t you?” The cashier’s face darkened, and she directly pressed the call button. “Manager, security, we have someone here stealing and hitting a child. Please come handle this!” Mom completely panicked. Seeing the disdainful looks from everyone and the security guards approaching, she could only grit her teeth, pay for all the items, and was slapped with a hefty fine. After that incident, Mom’s facade of an honest, hardworking woman completely crumbled among the neighbors. She had to behave for a while, even specially buying imported baby formula through a proxy shopper for me, putting on a show of a loving mother, terrified I’d blurt out more truths. But late at night, when all was quiet, Mom would pierce me with eyes burning with venom, as if I were her mortal enemy. Her suppressed rage finally found an outlet at Aunt Sarah’s wedding. This time, she went big. At the wedding, I wore a beautiful princess dress, carrying the ring box as a flower girl. But just before we were to walk down the aisle, I opened the velvet box, and it was empty. The rings were gone. Before I could even panic, Mom’s shrill wail echoed through the entire backstage area. “Oh my God! Lily! You… how could you steal your Aunt Sarah’s rings!” She snatched the empty box from my hands, rushed to the front of everyone, tears flowing instantly, beating her chest dramatically. “You’ve completely disgraced your mother! How dare you lay hands on something so valuable?!”

Sarah instinctively pulled me behind her, frowning at Mom. “Brenda, don’t scare the child.” Sarah and Mom’s relationship was complicated. Grandpa and Grandma did play favorites, but they favored Mom. Sarah grew up wearing Mom’s hand-me-downs and playing with Mom’s old toys. Yet, Mom mistakenly believed she was the one who was deprived, which showed just how subtle Grandpa and Grandma’s favoritism was. As adults, Sarah let bygones be bygones and tried to mend their sisterly bond. But Mom not only refused to appreciate it, she constantly targeted Sarah with snide, passive-aggressive remarks. Especially after Sarah married well and Mark gave her a lavish wedding after their son Leo was born, it pricked Mom’s sensitive, fragile nerves. She was consumed with jealousy, almost driven mad. So, how could she behave herself at Sarah’s wedding? In my past life, because of that grocery store incident, Sarah developed a bad impression of me, thinking I had poor character. Ultimately, she exchanged a coveted spot at a top-tier elementary school for me, for a favor that got Mom a comfortable job as a dorm manager at the school. Mom, with that easy job, lived quite comfortably. This life, the grocery store storm had passed. I absolutely couldn’t let Sarah misunderstand me again. I lowered my head, looking aggrieved, and mumbled, “I didn’t steal the rings… I might have accidentally lost them. But… but why did Mommy’s first thought assume I stole them?” I said this specifically for Sarah to hear. Mom realized she had been too hasty and started to panic. But in front of so many relatives, especially at the wedding of the sister she most envied, if the theft of the wedding rings were exposed, how would she ever hold her head up in the family again? She had to vehemently insist I did it. It would get her off the hook and punish me for my ‘disrespect’ at the grocery store. Mom immediately put on a heartbroken and indignant expression, crying to Sarah, “Sarah, I’m not wrongly accusing her! Lily has been light-fingered since she was little. She stole erasers from classmates at school, and candy from the grocery store. When I said something, she even talked back! It’s all my fault, I didn’t raise her well!” She performed a tearful act, looking like a single mother who had toiled hard but was heartbroken by her ungrateful daughter. She instantly stole the bride’s thunder. The relatives immediately began to whisper. “Oh, it’s really hard raising a child alone, there’s not much time to teach them.” “This child is really something, daring to cause trouble at such a big event. She must be rotten to the core.” “So young and already greedy for wealth, stealing such valuable rings. What will she be like when she grows up? Who would ever marry her?” The tide of opinion turned instantly. Sarah looked at Mom’s pitiful act, and the scales in her heart began to tip. A trace of guilt appeared on her face as she softly comforted Mom, “Brenda, the child is still young. We can teach her slowly.” Seeing Sarah about to be convinced, I grew anxious. I tugged at her wedding dress and said loudly, “Aunt Sarah, you can’t misunderstand Lily, Lily is so sad!” “Last time at the grocery store, Mommy was the one who stole something, but she insisted I did! Teacher said that’s called slander!” I straightened my tiny frame. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask the neighbor ladies in our apartment complex!” My certainty made Sarah’s wavering eyes grow more pronounced; she seemed to feel a fresh wave of sympathy for me. Mom saw the situation turning bad and immediately pulled out her ultimate tantrum move. She flopped onto the ground, slapped her knees, and wailed loudly, “My life is so miserable! When I was little, I was bullied by Mom, Dad, and my sister, and now that I’m grown, I’m still bullied by my own daughter!” She pointed at Sarah, tears and snot streaming down her face. “Sarah! You deliberately invited me here today to make a fool of me, didn’t you?!” “I told you not to let Lily be the flower girl, I was afraid she’d cause trouble for you, but you wouldn’t listen! It’s always been like this since we were kids, everything had to go your way, and Mom and Dad always told me to give in to you! I’m the older sister!” “And now, my child stole something, and she’s full of lies, pinning the blame on me, and you’re even taking her side!” “You spoil her rotten every day, and now she doesn’t even respect me, her own mother! I have to swallow my anger, even if my teeth are broken! Today is your big day, and I don’t want to make things difficult for you! Fine! You say it was me? Then it was me! I stole the rings, I’ll pay you back! Won’t that suffice?!”

Sarah’s face was filled with guilt. She seemed to think Mom hadn’t really done anything unforgivable in her life, and her current wailing words were dripping with anguish. Her wavering heart instantly tilted towards Mom. I knew Sarah was soft-hearted, and Mom was a master manipulator. Coupled with the unbreakable bond of sisterhood they’d shared for so many years, Sarah being convinced was only a matter of time. But I still couldn’t help the ache in my heart; in this whole drama, I was completely alone and helpless. As I thought about it, real tears began to fall. I pursed my lips and whimpered, “Aunt Sarah, Mommy said she wanted to check the ring box, so I gave it to her. When I got it back, the rings were gone.” I thought that a six-year-old’s tears would at least elicit some pity. But I didn’t receive Sarah’s comfort. Instead, her gaze turned suddenly cold. “Lily, who taught you to say such a long speech?” Sarah’s voice was devoid of warmth. “Your mother wouldn’t harm you. You, on the other hand, for such a young child, are slick-tongued and quite skilled at twisting the truth!” “If it weren’t for my many years of sisterhood with your mom, I really would have been fooled by you today!” Mark, holding my cousin Leo who was still sucking his thumb, chimed in with a sarcastic undertone, “We really need to raise our kids well in the future. Brenda, you’re raising a child alone, it must be so hard. We haven’t been as supportive as we should.” His words, seemingly comforting Mom, were like another stab to my heart. Even Grandpa and Grandma, who were usually kind, were now shaking their heads and sighing at me. “This child, so young and already learning to steal, and full of lies. What will she be like when she grows up?” “What a disgrace to the family!” The relatives also began to point and whisper about me. Seeing this, Mom stopped crying, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips. She had successfully pushed me out to be universally condemned, and also deepened Sarah’s family’s guilt towards her. My heart sank. I decided to go all in. “No, Aunt Sarah! Why would I take your rings? It was Mommy! She’s jealous of you and Mark’s loving marriage, so she wanted to steal the rings to ruin your wedding!” Before the words fully left my mouth, Sarah’s face completely darkened. She looked at me with deep disappointment, stating each word deliberately, “That spot at the top-tier elementary school next year? Forget about it. If I introduced you, and you stole things at school, where would I put my face?” Grandpa and Grandma immediately pulled Leo’s little hand, speaking softly to him, “See, your Mommy is so good to you, and you know to be grateful, such a good boy. Your sister is six years old, how can she still be so naughty.” Mom leaned on Sarah’s shoulder, still sniffling softly, but a barely perceptible smirk curled at her lips. I looked at their cold, accusing faces, feeling my blood practically freeze. In that suffocating silence, Leo, who had been quiet in Mark’s arms, suddenly stretched out his chubby little hand, pointing to the round security camera on the ceiling in the corner of the reception hall, and stammered, “Lily didn’t steal… Look at the camera! Camera knows!”

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This year, Liam and I planned to get engaged, so on New Year’s Eve, I went home with him. Many relatives and friends came for dinner. At the table, one of Liam’s good friends suddenly greeted me. “Hey, aren’t you the number 18 masseuse from Intoxicated Dreams? Do you remember me? You even gave me a private massage.” My brain froze on the spot. I’d never seen this friend of his before, and Intoxicated Dreams didn’t sound like any legitimate establishment. Everyone’s eyes fell on me. Liam’s friend kept staring at me. “You’re not doing it anymore? What a shame. I still can’t forget your figure.” My whole body trembled as I finally grasped what he meant. The Hayes family relatives started whispering among themselves. “Intoxicated Dreams? I heard that place isn’t a legitimate massage parlor—they do all sorts of dirty business there.” “A distant relative of mine used to work the front desk there. She told me the masseuses there are actually prostitutes.” “My God, Liam’s fiancée used to do that kind of work? Doesn’t that mean Liam’s been deceived? That boy is just too honest.” Liam also frowned at me, his eyes full of questions. “Harper, is what Ethan said true?” He actually suspected me? We’d been together for so long. Didn’t he know what kind of person I was? After graduating from college, I went straight into the company. I clocked in and out on time every day. On weekends, I either went on dates with him or went home to keep my parents company. I’d never been to any improper establishments. How could he doubt me because of someone else’s single remark? The overwhelming sense of injustice nearly made me lose control. I raised my head to look at Liam. “Of course what he said is false! Liam, don’t you know everything about me? How could I possibly work as a masseuse? He’s making this up!” Seeing I wouldn’t admit it, Ethan was about to say more when the friend sitting next to him quietly tugged his arm and gave him a subtle look. Ethan paused, then changed his tune with a wave of his hand. “Oh, maybe I got the wrong person. I’ve had a bit too much to drink today, my head’s not too clear. Just pretend I didn’t say any of that.” He spoke lightly, as if it were merely a drunken slip of the tongue. But that ambiguous attitude—where was even half an apology? He was clearly stopping deliberately, wanting to deepen everyone’s suspicions of me! I couldn’t swallow this! And this was at the Hayes family’s New Year’s Eve dinner, with all the relatives present. If I didn’t clear this up completely today, how could I establish myself in the Hayes family in the future? No, I had to make this clear, make Ethan admit publicly that he was slandering me, and clear my name! With that thought, I took a deep breath, stood up, and walked straight to Ethan. “You said you saw me at Intoxicated Dreams? Then tell me, when exactly was this? What month, what date?” Ethan hadn’t expected me to be so direct, to actually dare confront him publicly. He froze for a moment, a flash of panic in his eyes, then quickly recovered his nonchalant expression. “It was in May of last year. I can’t remember the exact date, but it was definitely May.” Last May? I sneered inwardly. He sure could spin a story! Last May, I’d been sent on a business trip out of town for an entire month, with daily work records. I wasn’t even in the city. How could I have been at Intoxicated Dreams?

“Ethan, are you sure it was last May? Last May I was on a business trip, away for an entire month. Your lie is way too unprofessional!” I thought revealing this would make Ethan panic. But unexpectedly, he just laughed dismissively. “Oh, then maybe I got the time wrong. Anyway, I just got the wrong person, okay? I admitted my mistake, isn’t that enough? Stop being so uptight. It’s pointless.” He still wouldn’t admit he was slandering me. This perfunctory attitude made my serious self-defense seem utterly ridiculous. I was about to continue arguing with him when a hand suddenly grabbed my arm. It was Liam. I turned to look at him. His expression was terrible. “That’s enough, Harper. You want to make this into an even bigger scene?” “Ethan already said he got the wrong person. We can talk about this tonight when we get back. The relatives are all here now. Stop making a fuss and let’s continue eating.” “Making a fuss?” I looked at him in disbelief, the hurt welling up inside me. “Liam, he’s slandering me in front of your family. He’s also disrespecting you. How can you say I’m making a fuss? It’s bad enough you won’t help me, but you’re actually stopping me?” My words left Liam speechless, but Ethan behind him wasn’t having it. He suddenly stood up and slammed the table. “How am I making things up? I’m only holding back out of respect for Liam. You know exactly what kind of work you’ve done! Stop putting on this act. What’s the point?” I was completely enraged. I shook off Liam’s hand and pointed at Ethan. “Ethan, if you dare slander my personal life again, I’m calling the police!” Ethan suddenly burst into laughter, laughing so hard he doubled over. “You’re calling the police? That’s hilarious! I should be the one calling the police to report you for marriage fraud against my brother!” At this point, Mr. Hayes, who had been silent all along, finally spoke. “Ethan, you keep saying Harper used to be a masseuse. Do you have any evidence? You need evidence to make such claims.” Ethan seemed to have been waiting for this question. He immediately revealed a confident smile. “Since you’re asking, Uncle, I won’t beat around the bush! I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t have proof!” With that, he pulled out his phone, found a photo, walked up to Mr. Hayes, and handed him the phone. “Uncle, look. This is the photo I took when I ran into her before.” Mr. Hayes frowned and carefully examined the phone. After just one glance, his expression darkened completely. Mrs. Hayes saw this and quickly moved closer to look. After just one glance, her face turned deathly pale, her body swayed, and she nearly fainted. The surrounding relatives also crowded over curiously, passing the phone around. Each person’s expression changed from curious to shocked, making clicking sounds of disapproval. The phone finally reached my hands. Liam stood beside me as we looked together. The content left me frozen in place. There were several photos of me. In the photos, I wore revealing clothing with a number 18 badge on my chest. The first two showed me massaging feet and pounding legs. The later ones were even more explicit—my clothes had been removed, and Ethan lay beside me. Ethan took his phone back from me and spoke disdainfully. “Is this evidence enough? I didn’t want to make things this ugly, but you’re the one who forced me to tell the truth! Are you satisfied now?”

The relatives started discussing loudly. “My God, the person in these photos really is Harper.” “Young women these days have no self-respect. Her family situation isn’t even bad—how could she do this kind of work? What a waste.” “Maybe it’s a personal hobby. Poor Liam, kept in the dark for so long.” I didn’t hear a word they said. My mind kept replaying those photos, my body trembling uncontrollably. What were those photos about? Why were there photos of things I never did? Were they composites? As soon as the thought occurred to me, I blurted it out. “These photos must be composites! They’re fake!” Ethan sneered and handed the phone to Liam. “Whether they’re composites or not, let Liam check and we’ll know.” Liam was a photographer—he had the most authority on whether photos were real or fake. If he said they weren’t composites, then they definitely weren’t. Everyone’s eyes focused on Liam, including mine. Liam took the phone with a dark expression, examining each photo carefully. His frown deepened, his expression growing worse and worse. Finally, Liam finished looking at all the photos. He violently threw the phone on the floor and roared at me in fury. “These photos aren’t composites at all! They’re all real!” I stared at him wide-eyed, my mind going blank. How was that possible? The photos were real? But I had no memory of this whatsoever. Had I lost my memory? Or had something happened that I didn’t know about? When Mrs. Hayes heard Liam say the photos were real, she couldn’t hold back anymore. She pushed aside the relatives next to her and rushed up to me. Before I could react, a slap landed across my face. “Smack!” The blow turned my head to the side, immediately leaving a handprint on my face. “A slut like you dared to ask our family for $180,000 in bride price? You probably don’t even know how many men you’ve slept with! You’ve truly defiled our family’s doorstep!” The surrounding relatives also looked at me with disgust. At this moment, not a single person believed me. But I couldn’t just accept this. I couldn’t let my reputation be destroyed like this. I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone to call the police. Just as I was about to press the dial button, Liam suddenly rushed over and snatched my phone away. “Enough! Harper, haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?” “I really misjudged you. Now take your things and get out of my house! Our engagement is canceled!” I stared at Liam in a daze, unable to believe my ears. He was breaking up with me? Just because of a few inexplicable photos, he was negating our entire relationship and canceling our engagement? Ethan walked over and patted Liam’s shoulder. “Brother, don’t waste words on this kind of woman. I really didn’t expect you to find a masseuse for a wife. We’ve been brothers since childhood—I can’t just watch you get deceived.” He was still fanning the flames! Distorting the truth! I trembled with anger, pointing at Ethan to curse him. Ethan suddenly looked at me, his lips curling into a sleazy smile. “That little mole on your waist—I still remember it vividly.” This sentence froze me in place, my whole body turning cold. The mole on my waist? That was an extremely private mark on my body. Only my parents and Liam knew about it. How did Ethan know? When Mrs. Hayes heard Ethan’s words, the fire in her eyes burned even brighter. She lunged at me, reaching to lift my shirt. “You shameless woman! Today I’m going to see for myself whether you have that mole on your waist or not!”

I instinctively clutched my clothes, not letting her succeed. The relatives kept fanning the flames from the side. “Just let her lift your shirt and we’ll know. Truth or lie, we’ll see at a glance.” “Exactly. If you don’t have that mole, won’t that prove you’ve been wrongly accused? The fact that you’re resisting so much means you have a guilty conscience.” “I think what Ethan said must be true.” Mrs. Hayes tugged at my clothes for a long time without success. Frustrated, she turned and shouted at the relatives: “Come help me!” As soon as she finished speaking, everyone immediately responded. Seven or eight hands reached toward me simultaneously. I was pinned in place, unable to move, could only struggle desperately. In desperation, I looked up at Liam, hoping he would help me. “Liam! Make them stop! I’ve been falsely accused!” But he just frowned slightly, with no intention of helping at all. “Stop shouting. At this point, is there any point in you still arguing?” This sentence completely shattered my last hope. The relatives’ strength grew greater and greater. I could feel my shirt being lifted bit by bit. Finally, my shirt was completely lifted, my waist fully exposed to everyone’s view. That mole appeared before their eyes. “Ah! There really is a mole!” “What Ethan said is all true! And she still wanted to call the police—talk about a thief crying thief!” “I told you, there’s no smoke without fire. How could Ethan slander her for no reason?” Mrs. Hayes released my clothes with disgust, as if she’d touched something filthy, vigorously wiping her hands. I pulled down my clothes as fast as possible and curled up on the floor, trembling. My face had turned red from shame and anger. Ethan walked up to me triumphantly, looking down at me from above. “See, you kept denying it. Now you can’t argue anymore, can you! I told you I wouldn’t mistake you for someone else.” I collapsed on the floor, my brain racing. Recalling everything that had happened today. Vaguely, I seemed to grasp something that didn’t add up. A thought suddenly flashed through my mind, instantly connecting all the events. I think I knew why Ethan was slandering me like this. Seeing that I hadn’t gotten up, Liam walked up to me with a frown. “Get lost. You disgust me.” I used my hands to support myself on the floor, slowly standing up. Though my body still trembled slightly, my eyes were exceptionally firm. I stared into his eyes and said word by word: “Liam, who’s the disgusting one between us? Today’s events—you orchestrated all of this, didn’t you?” The moment the words fell, Liam’s expression changed dramatically. “Harper, what are you saying? You did those shameful things yourself and won’t admit it. Now you’re trying to throw dirt on me? Have you no shame?” Mrs. Hayes immediately defended her son. “Exactly! You shameless woman, you dare slander my son! I think you’ve lost your mind!” I ignored Mrs. Hayes’ shouting, my eyes moving back and forth between Liam and Ethan. “Things I’ve actually done, I’ll definitely admit. But things I haven’t done—no one can force me to confess!” I took a step forward, closing in on Liam. “Everything Ethan said—you taught him to say it, didn’t you! And those so-called evidence photos, you personally composited them, didn’t you?” As soon as these words came out, the Hayes family relatives were stunned, all focusing their eyes on me, Liam, and Ethan.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “353163”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #狼人Werewolf #重生Reborn #擦边Steamy

At my engagement party, my best friend and my fiancé Preston were playing strip poker. When I walked into the cabin, my best friend had stripped down to just a thin camisole, sitting brazenly on Preston’s lap. I frowned and confronted them, but Preston seemed completely unfazed. “Regular card games are boring. Just wanted to try something new.” Claire smiled sweetly, her eyes flirty. “We’re just playing regular Texas Hold’em. Besides the usual bets, whoever loses has to take off an article of clothing. It’s just the rules—you don’t mind, do you?” I was about to speak when Preston’s expression turned cold. “We aren’t even married yet, and you’re already trying to control me?” So I nodded and sat down at the card table under everyone’s gaze. “Oh, it’s just a card game. I might as well join—I’ve got nothing better to do anyway.” Preston frowned and glanced over at me. I looked away. “Since I’m already here, I might as well play.” The cabin fell silent as everyone’s eyes turned to me. Preston gave me a soft smile. “This kind of game isn’t for you. Go back to bed early. Tomorrow when the yacht docks, I’ll buy you that handbag you wanted.” In the past, when Preston spoke to me so gently, I would have been completely charmed, forgetting everything, foolishly doing whatever he asked. But today I just smiled faintly and stayed put. The atmosphere grew awkward for a moment. Claire batted her eyes. “If you don’t like this game, we can play something else instead.” But even as she said it, she made no move to get off Preston’s lap. Preston let out a cold laugh, looking at me with a rather unpleasant expression. “Mara, the engagement party isn’t even over, and you’re already giving me attitude and trying to control me? Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself?” Everyone said Preston was a playboy, but I was the only one he’d publicly acknowledged. I thought once he got tired of playing around, he’d settle down. I’d followed him faithfully, finally waiting for this proper engagement party, yet he was still openly humiliating me on an occasion like this. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly, but still met his gaze calmly, pretending nothing was wrong. “Since you said it’s just a game, I’m not someone who can’t join in.” Claire spoke to me in a chummy tone. “Exactly! It’s all just for fun anyway. You’re usually too much of a goody-two-shoes. Preston always says I’ll be a bad influence on you.” I scoffed inwardly. Claire’s family, the Hayes, was just a minor family to begin with, but she had no shame, was sweet-tongued, and knew how to work a room. Little by little, she’d managed to weasel her way into the upper-class socialite circle. Even a dog needs to be fed bones now and then, and over the years she’d been my sidekick, I hadn’t treated her badly. But I never expected her appetite to be so big that she’d dare set her sights on Preston. I gave her a soft smile, still using our usual fake-friends tone as I laughed. “Of course not, you’re overthinking it.” The onlookers finally snapped out of it and quickly tried to smooth things over. “Exactly! The night is young—it’d be a shame not to play a few rounds.” The speaker was Preston’s good friend Kyle. He quickly glanced at me. “Mara, we never knew you even knew how to play Texas Hold’em. Lucky for you, Preston’s a pro at the card table.” As he spoke, he shot Preston a meaningful look. “Tonight you two can team up—just don’t destroy us too badly.” But Preston didn’t give him any face at all. He kept his arm around Claire’s waist, giving me a cold laugh. “At the card table, it’s every man for himself. Either go back to bed now, or don’t cry when you lose later.” My heart ached, but I forced a smile. Claire seemed emboldened. She exchanged a suggestive glance with Preston. “How about we raise the stakes? Besides betting and stripping, the biggest winner of each round can make anyone at the table do one thing.” “But fair warning—Mara’s new at this, so go easy on her. Don’t pick on her.” The cabin immediately got lively as everyone started talking at once. “That sounds awesome! If I win, I’ll make Preston give me that westside property.” “Come on, no one who can beat Preston has been born yet.” “Then if I win, can I have a night with Mara? Hahaha.” Amidst the chatter, I slowly sat up straight, pulled out a stack of chips from beside me, and tossed them onto the table. “Deal the cards.”

The atmosphere in the cabin turned awkward and tense. Kyle glanced nervously between us and forced a smile. “I’ll be the dealer for now, guys.” With that, he pushed all the chips into the center of the table. “Betting starts now.” Preston’s cards lay on the table. He didn’t even lift a finger, slouched lazily in his chair as he casually tossed out another chip. “Raise.” Claire giggled flirtatiously as she called, practically melting into Preston’s arms. I pinched the corner of my cards and peeked. It was a mediocre hand. When my turn came, I didn’t hesitate and pushed out matching chips. “Whoa, Mara’s playing for keeps today?” Someone nearby egged us on. I tugged at the corner of my mouth and smiled faintly. “Just playing the game.” The first three community cards were dealt. The board looked unimpressive. After a few betting rounds, chips started piling up on the table. Preston seemed bored, and his raises got bigger, with an arrogant, bullying edge. Claire followed his lead closely, looking at me provocatively. “You gonna call or not? If you can’t handle it, just fold early and save yourself.” I gripped those two cards in my hand, my knuckles whitening slightly. I knew my hand was already behind. Preston most likely had a solid made hand. He was waiting for me to back down, waiting for me to show weakness in front of him, then forgive my overreaction with his usual fake magnanimity. My heart turned ice cold. I looked at the cozy couple across from me. Preston’s hand was even resting casually on Claire’s bare thigh. “Call.” I heard my own calm voice as I pushed another stack of chips forward. Preston raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat surprised. The fourth community card was dealt. Nothing changed. My heart sank. “All in.” Preston said casually, pushing all his remaining chips to the center of the table. The huge pile of chips drew gasps from everyone. The pressure immediately fell on me. I had very few chips left. Calling meant betting everything I had. Claire covered her mouth and giggled softly. “Just fold. Preston’s being nice—he doesn’t want to see you lose too badly.” Everyone’s eyes were on me. Whispers filled my ears. “What’s Mara even thinking? Why is she trying to embarrass Preston?” “Oh please, everyone knows Mara’s head over heels for Preston. She’s usually too scared to even speak up. Now that they’re engaged, she thinks she can play the wife.” “Yeah right, like Preston would ever settle down.” My right hand balled into a fist without thinking. Ever since I was fourteen, when Preston saved me from those street thugs, I’d been following in his footsteps. I didn’t care about the teasing or the jokes. I only wanted Preston. But tonight of all nights, our engagement party, why did I suddenly not want to play this game anymore? “I call.” I pushed all my remaining chips forward. Showdown. Preston revealed two pair. And I had nothing but garbage cards. “Heh.” He let out a faint scoff, hard to read. Claire laughed sweetly. “My luck’s not bad—I’ve got a baby straight.” “A bet’s a bet.” Claire whistled at me. “Take something off.” The cabin went quiet, leaving only the sound of waves and the engine’s hum. Preston gave me a cool look but didn’t say a word. My face went a little pale. Without a word, I slipped off my jacket. Kyle let out a relieved breath and quickly said, “C’mon, let’s keep going.” “Wait.” Claire spoke up suddenly. “If I remember right, I won this hand.” She dragged out her words, like a cat playing with a mouse. “According to the rules, I can make anyone do anything, right?” No one said a word. The vibe got weird. “Then I’ll pick Mara…”

Claire’s voice wasn’t loud, but everyone in the cabin heard it clearly. “Earlier Vincent said he wanted to get to know Mara, so I pick Mara to kiss Vincent.” She extended her finger and pointed lightly at an unfamiliar man sitting in the corner. He was a known player in our circle who’d hit on me plenty of times before, but out of respect for Preston, never dared to be too obvious about it. I snapped my head up, instinctively looking at Preston. His face was red with anger, but he didn’t say a word. The cabin went dead silent. Even Vincent looked totally confused. Kyle frantically tried to signal Claire with his eyes. “Haha, the drinks are hitting hard tonight.” But Claire ignored him, just smiling mockingly. “What’s wrong? This is how we always play. You’re usually such a goody-goody. You’re engaged now—what can’t you handle?” The atmosphere froze again, until Preston spoke up. “Rules are rules. Mara, a bet’s a bet.” That casual comment was like a poisoned dagger, piercing straight through my heart. So he could let Claire sit on his lap. So he could watch coldly as I took off my clothes one by one. So he could now, with his own words, push me into another man’s arms to endure this humiliation. A wave of absurdity and icy cold washed over me. I looked at his handsome but cold face and suddenly found it completely unfamiliar. I walked numbly toward Vincent, like a puppet on strings. Under everyone’s eyes, I bent down and gave his oily cheek a quick peck. The cabin was so quiet you could hear the waves hitting the hull. I stood up, my eyes stinging with tears I couldn’t hold back. “Is that enough?” Claire paused, then smiled sweetly. “Of course.” Kyle quickly said, “Alright, Mara, you must be tired. Why don’t you head to bed early?” I took a deep breath, but under everyone’s gaze, I sat back down at the card table. “No. I want to keep playing.” I stood there, my gaze moving past Preston and finally settling on Claire. I never thought the lapdog I’d kept would have such ambition. Always so eager to please, so well-behaved and sensible. Turns out the quiet ones are the ones you have to watch. “That last round—Claire won as dealer and had the right to make someone do something, right?” I spoke slowly. “So next, do you dare play a few big rounds with me? Just the two of us?” Claire froze, then laughed like she’d heard something funny. “Mara, you want to play against me? Play what?” “Texas Hold’em. But we can make the stakes even higher.” “You’ve always wanted that beauty spa I own, right? If you win, I’ll sign it over to you.” I paused, looking at her, enunciating each word. “If you lose, you take off all your clothes. And… you leave this table. Get off Preston’s lap. Now.” The cabin exploded. Claire’s face instantly soured. She looked to Preston for help. Preston’s brow furrowed deeply. He finally looked at me properly, his tone warning. “Mara, cut it out!” Provoked by me, Claire immediately took the bait. “Fine! I’ll bet with you! But just leaving the table is boring. If I lose, I won’t go near Preston for the rest of the night—not within three feet. But if you lose, you transfer the spa immediately, and…” “You personally pour my drinks and apologize.” “Deal.” I agreed without hesitation. Kyle tried to talk us down, but seeing how heated we were, he reluctantly dealt the cards. Only Claire and I remained in this round. Preston sat off to the side, scowling, not playing. Three community cards were dealt. The board looked uneventful. Claire looked at me with growing disdain. Her usual careful act was gone. She acted like she already won, not taking me seriously at all. After the fourth community card, she went all in. “Mara, you gonna call or not? If not, admit defeat and start pouring!” Preston spoke up too, with the last of his patience. “Mara—” “I call.” I cut him off calmly, pushing all my chips forward. Showdown. Claire showed her cards—a pair of Kings, making three of a kind with the community cards. A triumphant smile already spread across her face. Kyle flipped my cards over, looking sorry for me. “Mara, your Ace and Queen…” “Just random cards…”

The mocking laughter around me got louder. “Mara’s totally lost it. If I embarrassed myself this bad, I’d die of shame.” “First time I’ve seen someone try to act like the girlfriend only to crash and burn.” Claire covered her red lips with her hand, looking victorious. “Gambling should be fun. Getting this worked up is bad luck at the tables.” With that, she kicked a wine bottle on the table with her high heel. The insult in that gesture was crystal clear. “We’ve known each other so long, but this is the first time I’ll drink wine poured by Mara herself.” I took a deep breath. “I get it. A bet’s a bet.” I stood up under everyone’s watchful eyes and poured her glass after glass of wine. Preston, quiet for so long, finally spoke up, sounding annoyed. “Mara, haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?” For the rest of the night, just about everyone on the yacht knew that Mara had been totally humiliated on her engagement night. Someone who’d never played Texas Hold’em before acted like a stubborn gambler, losing until she was completely beaten. Almost everyone at the table had taken off several pieces of clothing. I was down to my last piece of clothing—a tight red dress. Tonight was my engagement party. This red dress represented my most shy, girlish hopes. I’d wanted Preston to take it off me personally on this happiest of nights. But that day would probably never come now. My hand holding the wine glass shook a little. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced them not to fall. From age fourteen until now, a whole ten years. Thanks for using the cruelest, most humiliating way to end our story once and for all. “Preston.” “I don’t think the earlier games were exciting enough. Since we’re in international waters, why not play for something bigger?” Preston frowned. “What are you up to now?” I met his eyes. “I only have this one piece of clothing left, so I want to bet one final round with all of you.” “I’m betting all the assets in my name.” When I said that, everyone was shocked. Preston’s eyes sharpened immediately. He sat up straight. “Mara, do you even know what you’re saying?” I gave him a faint smile. “Don’t worry. I know exactly what I’m doing.” “If I win, I want you to agree to one thing. And you and her—” I pointed at Claire, then looked toward the deck, at the calm ocean. “Jump off my yacht and swim back yourselves.” Total silence. The yacht had been sailing all night. No one knew what would happen to someone jumping into the ocean now. Claire’s face changed. “Are you out of your mind?” But I stayed calm. “You too scared? That’s more money than you’ll ever see in your life.” Claire swallowed hard. The huge temptation was right in front of her. Preston laughed coldly. “I’ll match whatever you put up. If you lose, you swim back alone. Mara, I’ve given you too many chances. You’re the one pushing this.” The dealer started dealing cards. This time, neither Preston nor I moved. Neither of us looked at our cards, just kept raising the bets. After three rounds, Claire couldn’t take the pressure and folded, bowing out. Only Preston and I were left at the table. Kyle’s voice sounded dry as he announced the final river card. The board was complete. Preston’s eyes locked on mine. “Mara, admit defeat now, and I can pretend you were just drunk tonight, acting out.” “Forget the ocean jump. I can manage those assets for you.” I said nothing, just slowly lifted my two hole cards that had been face down on the table. Ten of Diamonds. Jack of Diamonds. And the community cards on the table were: Ace of Diamonds, King of Diamonds, Queen of Hearts, Eight of Spades, and that final, deciding Queen of Diamonds. When that last card was revealed, Kyle gasped, his eyes widening. The smile on Preston’s face froze instantly. He jumped to his feet. “This can’t be!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “353162”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #狼人Werewolf #重生Reborn #擦边Steamy

New Year’s Eve, my husband drove me—eight months pregnant—back to his hometown. When we hit traffic, he suddenly pulled the car over to the side of the road. “Get out!” I didn’t process what he said. “What?” He stared straight ahead, eyes fixed on the road. “Melissa’s cat is missing. I need to go help her find it.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. His phone rang urgently again. Losing patience, my husband opened the car door and roughly pulled me out from the back seat. “She can’t wait any longer. I’ll send someone to pick you up—they’ll be here in half an hour!” I watched Logan’s car speed away into the distance. My heart sank to rock bottom. Pulling my coat tighter, I tried my best to protect my belly. But the dull, throbbing pain made cold sweat break out all over my body. A car pulled up beside me and the window rolled down. The female driver’s eyes showed a trace of concern. “Are you okay?” My trembling hand clenched into a fist as I forced out a few words with difficulty. “I think… I’m going into labor.” The driver cursed under her breath and hurried to help me into her car. Seeing my face turn increasingly pale, she asked anxiously, “Where’s your husband!” I had no answer to that question. Here I was, carrying Logan’s child, near delivery, yet I mattered less than his widowed sister-in-law’s missing cat. He didn’t even show as much concern as this stranger on the road. The pain suddenly hit me. I frantically took a deep breath. Waiting for the contraction to pass, I pulled out my phone and dialed Logan’s number. He hung up without hesitation. Once, twice, three times… It wasn’t until the sixteenth call that he finally answered, irritation clear in his voice. “What do you want now!” The line was quiet, but within two seconds, I heard Melissa’s voice. “Logan, I think I see Whiskers!” Hearing this, Logan had no patience to listen to me further. He left me with a single sentence: “My buddy from traffic patrol is on his way—just wait a bit longer!” Then he hung up. The words “I’m in labor” stuck in my throat. A warm liquid flowed down between my legs. My heart dropped. Seeing this, the driver frantically tried to move the car to the shoulder. But at that moment, every lane was completely jammed. Some drivers, desperate to get home, had even blocked the emergency lane. She pounded her hand heavily on the steering wheel and cursed. But she still turned back to comfort me, “Don’t be scared. You’ll be fine!” Then she stuck her head out the window, shouting frantically, “Please move! I have a pregnant woman in labor here!” But the endlessly backed-up vehicles couldn’t hear her cries. Nothing moved. I tried to calm myself down and hastily called Logan’s buddy from the traffic patrol unit. If they could get here in time to clear a path, my baby and I would be saved! “Mrs. Stewart? What’s wrong?” The sound of horns on the other end nearly drowned out his voice. The pain hit me again. I bit down hard on my teeth, forcing myself through the agony to explain frantically. “I’m in labor, but we’re stuck on the highway. Can you—” Before I could finish, I heard a scoff from the other end. “Mrs. Stewart, if Logan hadn’t specifically warned us about your… dramatics, we might’ve actually believed you.” “You’re only eight months along. It’s way too early for labor. We’ll get there as soon as we can—just sit tight and wait!” The call was ruthlessly ended. The pain tormented me until I could barely hold onto my phone. Seeing this, the driver jumped out of the car and went door to door, knocking on the windows of cars in the emergency lane. “Please move! There’s a pregnant woman about to give birth in my car!” “This is life or death—please, help save them!” I collapsed back on the seat, struggling to dial Logan’s number. This was my last hope. But— Turned off. I tried again. Still turned off.

Just as I neared despair, a chorus of car horns suddenly sounded outside. Windows rolled down as drivers stuck their heads out, shouting forward: “Cars ahead, clear the lane! Someone’s about to give birth!” The emergency lane opened up. The driver’s car flew forward. But just five minutes from the highway exit, we got blocked again. She’d pressed the horn so hard it was practically smoking, but the cars ahead still wouldn’t budge. The pain in my abdomen came faster and more intense. Amniotic fluid mixed with blood dripped onto the car floor. Cold sweat soaked my entire body. I couldn’t tell anymore when I was conscious and when I’d blacked out from the pain. When I came to again, the driver was outside arguing with someone. “The emergency lane is for saving lives! Blocking it like this could kill someone!” The driver spat on the ground, looking completely dismissive. “We’re not the only ones stuck here. If you want to yell at someone, go yell at the cars up front!” “Stop making a scene at me, or don’t blame my fist for not having eyes!” Seeing the man actually about to hit the driver, I forced myself through the pain to open the car door and pull her behind me. “I… I really am in labor. Please, I’m begging you, just move aside…” This effort took every ounce of strength I had. I stumbled and couldn’t support myself, collapsing to my knees on the ground. Blood stained the snow red beneath me. The man hurriedly got back in his car and slammed the door shut. “I didn’t cause this—don’t try to scam me!” Perhaps because the scene was so obviously dire, many people got out of their cars and ran toward the vehicles ahead. They knocked on windows one by one, desperately trying to explain. “There’s a pregnant woman who can’t hold on much longer!” “We all have wives and children—please, save them!” The pain struck again. Just as my consciousness was fading, the cars ahead moved in perfect unison, clearing the emergency lane. Some cars even pressed tight against neighboring vehicles, willing to risk scratches, just to make the path wider. The driver and people nearby quickly lifted me into the car. “Don’t be scared—we’ll be at the hospital soon!” The car started moving again. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. “Thank you!” The driver smiled. “We’re saving you, but we’re also saving any of us who might face danger in the future.” But we’d barely driven two minutes when traffic patrol cars blocked our path. Logan’s buddy, Marcus, stepped out of the car with a frown. “So you’re the ones disrupting traffic and causing multiple collisions on the highway?” The driver tried to explain. But Marcus cut her off directly. “You women drivers are all the same—causing chaos. They should ban you from the roads entirely!” The driver’s face flushed red with anger. Before she could get her rebuttal out, she heard my scream. She rushed back into the car to wipe the cold sweat from my forehead. “Hang in there—five minutes at most and we’ll be at the hospital!” Marcus stepped forward. Seeing it was me, a flicker of suspicion crossed his eyes. “Mrs. Stewart, what are you doing here?” I bit down hard on my finger, forcing myself to stay conscious. “I’m in labor. You need to—” Halfway through my sentence, Marcus’s phone rang. “What’s up, Logan?” “Your wife? Yeah, we found her. But…” He looked at me with confusion. “She seems like she’s actually in labor!” Logan’s mocking laugh came through the phone. “How is that possible? She’s still a month away from her due date.” “Just to compete for attention with Melissa, she’d make up any lie.” “Don’t worry about her! I left her on the highway on purpose today to teach her a lesson about her attitude!” My head spun violently. The pain felt like it was tearing my body apart. After one piercing scream, my vision went black and I passed out completely.

When I woke up again, I was already in the hospital. From the nurses’ conversation nearby, I learned I’d been in emergency surgery for an entire day. I lay on the bed, utterly deflated. My belly, which hadn’t yet gone down, ached sharply. I knew—the baby was gone. Before I could even process my grief, Logan walked in. Behind him was Melissa, holding her cat. Logan casually tossed a pack of diapers onto the nearby couch. “Willow, you really do love making trouble out of nothing. Didn’t you say you were in labor? Where’s the baby!” Seeing his completely indifferent expression, I laughed bitterly to myself and said nothing. Melissa stroked her cat’s fur a couple times and glanced at me dismissively. “Melissa, there’s really no need for this. Logan and I are completely innocent. To target me, you deliberately made such a huge scene—aren’t you embarrassed?” Embarrassed? I gripped the bedsheet so hard my nails nearly dug into my flesh. “If giving birth to my own husband’s child is embarrassing, then what about you—begging someone else’s husband to find your cat? Isn’t that even more shameless!” Her eyes immediately reddened. “I know having a baby is the most important thing, but Whiskers may be a cat, but she’s still a living creature!” “If Logan hadn’t arrived in time, I might never have seen Whiskers again!” Right. The cat was still alive. Logan had arrived in time, so her cat survived. But… I couldn’t hold back my grief and fury anymore. I grabbed the water glass from the bedside table and hurled it at them. “But my child is gone! I’ll never see him again!” Logan’s face instantly darkened. “What do you mean the child is gone? Saying things like that on New Year’s Eve—aren’t you ashamed! You’re not fit to be a mother!” If only he’d asked the nurse one question when he arrived. Or if he’d shown even a moment of concern for my condition, he would know what actually happened. But he did nothing—just blamed me without reason. “Whiskers is the only thing my brother left for Melissa. Since I promised him I’d take care of her, I can’t let her lose that connection and be heartbroken!” “Besides, you lied and made a scene just to compete for attention, getting the entire traffic patrol unit mobilized. You may have no shame, but I do!” I found it laughable and pathetic. My poor child. He should have been born with everyone’s anticipation, welcomed into the warmth of this world. But instead, because of a cat, he died on that cold highway. He never even got a chance to see this world. My heart turned to ash as I closed my eyes, my trembling finger pointing at the door. “Get out!” Logan looked at me in disbelief. “You’re telling me to get out?” He stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. “You really think being pregnant means you can do whatever you want, don’t you! I heard you were in labor and rushed here overnight, and this is the attitude I get?!” He was too agitated. As he spoke, his collar trembled slightly. Just enough to reveal the red marks on his neck. The sight stabbed at my eyes.

Melissa tugged at Logan’s sleeve from behind. “Logan, don’t be like this. No matter what, she’s still carrying your child. She deserves to be treated preciously.” Logan, usually so quick-tempered, softened a bit at her words. Though when he looked at me, his eyes still held disdain. “If you could be even half as considerate as Melissa, we wouldn’t be in this situation!” Exhausted in body and spirit, I had no energy left to argue with them. Just as I was about to lie down and rest, Melissa approached me with her cat. She bent down close to me. “Willow, I know…” Midway through her sentence, the cat in her arms suddenly jumped onto my belly. A piercing pain made me bolt upright. Startled, the cat began jumping frantically around the hospital room. “Whiskers!” Melissa panicked, desperately trying to catch the cat. The room descended into chaos. I clutched my belly, face pale, leaning against the pillow. In her attempt to catch the cat, Melissa lunged toward my belly again. The violent cramping forced me to push her away. Melissa stumbled backward and fell to the ground. She hit the cabinet beside her hard, and a lump immediately swelled on her forehead. Logan rushed to help her up. “Melissa, are you okay!” His eyes were only on Melissa. He didn’t even notice I was in too much pain to make a sound. I laughed bitterly to myself. If the baby were still here, Melissa and her cat’s double assault would have been enough to cause complications during delivery. Melissa sniffled and wiped away her tears pitifully. “Logan, I’m fine. Just help me catch Whiskers!” The cat, which had been in the room just moments ago, suddenly jumped onto the windowsill, then leaped out and disappeared. Melissa screamed and rushed to the window. “Whiskers! My Whiskers!” Logan’s heart ached for her. Just as he opened his mouth to comfort her, Melissa suddenly charged at me. “Willow, why are you so vicious!” “I only asked Logan to help find Whiskers, but you got so jealous you deliberately made her jump out of my arms! Don’t you know you could kill her!” “You cat murderer!” She grabbed my arm and shook me violently. Her hand also secretly pinched hard into my arm. I winced in pain, wanting to shake her off, but I had no strength left. I could only grit my teeth and look at her. “I didn’t do anything.” Melissa pulled the same trick again, her body suddenly falling backward. Fortunately, Logan reacted in time and caught her waist, preventing her from falling. Melissa leaned into his embrace, tears falling at will. “Logan, I can’t live without Whiskers!” Logan gently comforted her with a few words. After helping her sit down, he turned to me with a face like iron and yanked me down from the bed. My body hit the ground hard. But he just kept dragging me toward Melissa. “Willow, apologize to Melis—” Halfway through his sentence, he noticed something wrong and whipped his head around. Only then did he realize my heavily pregnant belly had deflated by half. His face instantly turned pale, his voice trembling. “Your… your belly? What happened? The baby… where’s the baby!” At that moment, the hospital room door was kicked open. The driver rushed in, quickly helping me up from the floor, glaring furiously at Logan. “The baby is gone! Died on the highway where you abandoned her!”

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At the welcome-home banquet for his first love, Ashton made me drink an entire glass of liquor just to make her happy. I was pregnant, and the pain in my abdomen was unbearable. Blood stained my white dress. But he was too busy hand-feeding caviar to his first love while his friends egged him on. As I lost consciousness, I heard his contemptuous laugh. “Don’t worry about her. She’s just a plaything. She can’t survive without me.” When I woke up in the hospital, I touched my now-flat stomach and wanted to send him the miscarriage report. But I found that he’d changed his profile picture to a side-view photo of his first love and had blocked me for the ninety-ninth time. This time, though, I didn’t act cute and beg for forgiveness like before. Instead, I booked a flight out of the country for three days later. I had just gotten home when I heard a loud crash. Serena stood among the broken porcelain pieces. When she saw me, her eyes immediately reddened. She threw herself into Ashton’s arms, crying. “I just accidentally dropped it. Why does Elena look so scary, like an old witch…” “She frightened me.” What she’d broken was the first gift Ashton had ever given me. A ceramic doll that the prince of the elite social circle had made for me with his own hands. Ashton gently stroked Serena’s hair, his eyes full of tenderness. I could even see traces of how he used to dote on me. “Don’t be scared. It’s just a doll. I’ll smash it with you.” He bent down, picked up the doll’s head, and threw it hard on the floor. The pieces shattered into even smaller fragments. Beyond repair. Serena perked up, clapping and laughing. But my hand holding my bag trembled slightly. Years ago, Ashton had grabbed my face dominantly, his eyes wild and carefree. “This is the first time I’ve made something like this for a woman.” “If you dare break this doll, I really won’t keep you anymore!” But this time, he’d smashed the doll with his own hands. Then again, for the sake of making Serena smile, he didn’t even want our child. I gave a self-mocking laugh, picked up a broom, and started cleaning up the pieces. Suddenly, Serena coughed. Ashton asked nervously, “Are you okay? Did you cry so much your throat is hoarse?” “Elena, Serena cried because of you! Go make her favorite mango juice right now.” I paused, disbelieving. “Did you forget I’m allergic to mangoes?” Ashton’s expression stiffened. He looked away guiltily. He started flirting with the beauty in his arms instead. I cleaned up the pieces and threw them in the trash along with the last bit of attachment I had left in my heart. Just then, I heard Serena’s coquettish voice again. “I’m leaving now. Meet me at the hotel tomorrow—the same one as last night~” Ashton instinctively looked at me. His expression was unnatural as he explained. “Serena and I go way back. I’m just catching up with her. Don’t overthink it.” I didn’t bother exposing his lies. I just pretended not to see the suggestive bite mark on his neck. Serena shyly waved goodbye to Ashton. I didn’t watch their sweet farewell. I turned and went to the master bedroom to pack for my trip abroad. But when I pushed open the door, I saw that our couple’s photo that used to hang in the center of the wall was gone. In its place was one of Serena’s paintings. So during all those years Serena was abroad, Ashton had never let her go for even a moment. But that had nothing to do with me anymore. I opened my phone and set a countdown for my flight in three days. Suddenly, my phone auto-pushed a trending topic. “Elite Circle Prince Makes High-Profile Appearance on Dating Show, Wedding Bells Soon for Him and Serena Morrison” In the video, Ashton and Serena were passionately kissing, the sweetness off the charts. No wonder he hadn’t asked a single question during the entire day I was hospitalized for the miscarriage. He was too busy showing off his relationship with Serena. I remembered last year when paparazzi photographed us on vacation together. To avoid suspicion, he blocked me and gave me the cold shoulder for a month. I never imagined that someone so low-key and cautious would go on a variety show for his first love. Just then, Ashton pushed the door open and interrupted my thoughts. His first words were reproachful. “Our Elena is so delicate.” “A mango allergy won’t kill you. Serena just got back to the country—why did you have to upset her?”

Even when talking to me, Ashton’s eyes never left his phone. His fingers kept typing, and his eyes occasionally flashed with laughter. Some fragments flashed through my mind. On our first anniversary, Ashton had bought a mango cake. Not wanting to waste his thoughtfulness, I tried a small bite. But I still had an allergic reaction and passed out. When I woke up, he was crying like a child, holding my hand and trembling. “Elena, I’ll never let you touch a mango again, and I’ll never let you suffer even a little bit!” My thoughts returned to the present. I opened my bag to find the medical report. “I had a miscarriage.” Only then did he spare me a glance. His tone was displeased. “I just asked you to drink one glass of alcohol. There’s a limit to jealousy—don’t joke about the child.” So last night, when I was in so much pain I wanted to die, feeling helpless and desperate, in his eyes I was just being jealous and putting on an act. I lowered my eyes and handed him the miscarriage report I’d just found. “The baby’s really gone.” “And our relationship ends here too.” I didn’t even dare say “break up.” Five years ago, when my parents’ company went bankrupt, I accepted Ashton’s credit card to pay off debts. From then on, I became his plaything. Living together for five years, even having a child, but never having a title. Ashton looked at the miscarriage report, his eyes full of disbelief. After a moment, his gaze swept over my flat abdomen, and he pulled me into his arms. His voice carried guilt. “Don’t be sad. Get your body healthy, and I’ll get you pregnant again.” His eyes were full of sympathy as he gently patted my back. We seemed to have returned to our former intimacy. But only if you ignored the gardenia scent that belonged uniquely to Serena on his body. My chest felt uncomfortable. I pushed him away, fighting nausea. “Mr. Ashton, I’m serious.” When Ashton heard me use such a formal way of addressing him, his expression quickly turned cold. “Making a scene again! Do you still think you’re the pampered heiress you used to be? Who else can take care of you if you leave me?” Yes, I was no longer the little princess everyone cherished. But I clearly remembered. In intimate moments, he would kiss my neck tenderly, his eyes overflowing with deep affection. He would promise over and over again. “Elena, even if your family has fallen on hard times, you’re still the noblest little princess in my heart.” I clenched my fingers tightly, my lips trembling, but I couldn’t say a word. Ashton finally realized his words were too harsh. A flash of panic crossed his face. “Don’t misunderstand. Serena and I are just putting on a show. I won’t abandon you.” He quickly pulled out his phone. “What happened at the banquet was my fault. I’ll unblock you right now, and I’ll never block you again.” Then he pulled out an exquisite gift box from his suit pocket. Inside was a sparkling diamond ring. I froze. Countless times when shopping, I couldn’t help but look at rings whenever we passed a jewelry counter. And he would pull me away without mercy. His voice mocking. “Elena, I’m good enough to you. People should know when to be satisfied.” The implication was that I was just his plaything. He could pamper me, but we would never have a future together. But now… Looking at the ring, my body stiffened. I let him forcefully grab my hand and slide the ring onto my middle finger. Ashton suddenly smiled, with a victor’s attitude. “See, Elena? I told you that you can’t leave me.” Before I could speak, my phone rang. It was Serena calling me. “Elena, Ashton’s taste is really terrible!” “He had a fifty-million-dollar diamond ring custom-made for me, but that huge rock on it is so tacky…” “Your five-thousand-dollar freebie looks better!”

So… it was a freebie. Serena’s intentions were obvious. I didn’t respond. I just hung up. Putting down my phone, I started looking for various documents. At some point, Ashton was standing behind me. “Why are you getting your passport?” I instinctively flinched, then lied with a straight face. “I’m going abroad with you next month to negotiate business. Just checking what I need to bring in advance.” Every time Ashton went abroad, he would make me go with him. But this time, he hesitated. “Next month… Serena will be going with me.” Seeing my cold expression, he quickly added. “But next month, I’ll arrange for you to relax in Europe. Let’s both cool down.” No wonder he suddenly wanted to send me away. He was afraid I’d interfere with his romantic time with Serena. In the past, I would have cried and made a scene, insisting he say he loved me most before I’d let it go. But this time, I just nodded and took the opportunity to put the documents in my bag. Ashton finally realized something was wrong. “You always kept our photos in your bag. Why are they gone now?” This relationship was about to end. Of course, I didn’t need to carry our photos with me all the time anymore. But I didn’t answer. I just subtly changed the subject. “I need to rest. Is there anything else?” Only then did he remember why he’d come to find me. “Where’s the honey water on the table?” Ashton had stomach problems, and the doctor recommended he eat more honey. So I would heat water and mix honey every hour, then let it cool in a glass cup. This ensured he could drink warm honey water anytime. It was very troublesome, but I’d persisted for five years. I casually brushed him off. “I just got out of the hospital. I don’t feel well.” This was actually true. Perhaps because I’d only rested in the hospital for one day after the miscarriage, and then felt depressed after coming home, my lower abdomen was cramping now. My face was too pale. Ashton panicked. He carried me to bed. “You too—you couldn’t even protect our child, and you have the nerve to make a fuss with me!” “Forget it. I’ll take care of you tonight.” Just then, a ringtone sounded. I instinctively looked at Ashton’s phone screen. His contact name for the caller was “Serena Baby.” He answered the call, and Serena’s sobbing voice came through. “Ashton, I hurt my hand. Can you come see me? Sob sob sob…” “I’m so stupid, I don’t even know how to register at the hospital.” Ashton didn’t speak immediately. Instead, he looked at me with difficulty. I was clutching my lower abdomen tightly, cold sweat beading on my forehead. I managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth. “You should go.” His expression was conflicted, but he still made his choice. “Sorry, Elena. Serena just got back to the country. I’m still worried about her.” “Let me call a doctor for you. I’ll be back in a bit.” A few seconds later, I heard the loud sound of the door closing. I curled my body into a ball, my heart numb. This wasn’t the first time he’d abandoned me for Serena. I was used to it by now. Soon after, the family doctor came to the door. His eyes were full of contempt, but under Ashton’s orders, he reluctantly examined me. “Your family is about to go bankrupt. Miss Serena and Mr. Ashton are a match made in heaven. If you had any shame at all, you’d leave on your own.”

The doctor didn’t want to stay a moment longer. He left the medicine and walked out. The gap between Ashton and me was too great. Everyone around him looked down on me. But after all, I was his most pampered plaything. Without Serena’s hints and Ashton’s tacit approval, how would a doctor dare to be so presumptuous? I quietly took the medicine, and the pain gradually eased. Then I took out my phone to thank the doctor. But I saw that Serena had updated her social media. “Even a strawberry-patterned Band-Aid can’t compare to your sweet affection.” In the picture, Serena had a cute Band-Aid on her fingertip. Ashton was kissing her finger, the tenderness in his eyes seeming to overflow from the screen. I suddenly remembered Ashton’s first birthday with me. I’d never lifted a finger to do housework, but to please him, I personally cooked a whole table of dishes. My hands were red and swollen from the hot oil. But Ashton just ate a few bites half-heartedly and didn’t even stay the night at my place. I never understood why, until I accidentally overheard his phone call with a friend. “I pamper Elena because she’s pretty enough and obedient, fun like a little cat.” “But today her hands were covered in blisters—it was disgusting to look at!” Suddenly, Ashton called me. Using a commanding tone. “It’s Serena’s first time going abroad with me next month. She doesn’t know anything. Help her prepare the materials.” Immediately after, Serena’s saccharine voice came through the phone. “I don’t know anything, but I have Ashton to pamper me~” “Elena, I’m impatient. Please have everything organized by tonight.” Ashton tried to stop her. “Elena isn’t feeling well tonight. Don’t rush her so much…” “Okay.” But I agreed directly. Five years ago, forced by circumstances, I could only work as a server at Heaven on Earth nightclub. If Ashton hadn’t spent lavishly, I probably would have had a hard time escaping unscathed from all those sleazy executives. Once I finished organizing these materials, I wouldn’t owe him anything anymore. I slowly got out of bed, endured my physical discomfort, opened my computer, and started working. I stayed up all night and finally completed Ashton’s order. In the morning, I took the documents to Ashton Industries. The receptionist knew about my relationship with Ashton and had always greeted me warmly before. But this time she was obviously flustered, blocking my way. “Miss Elena, Mr. Ashton isn’t here. Let me take you to the lounge first.” Along the way, I heard employees whispering. “Mr. Ashton felt bad that Miss Serena had to wear high heels, so he carried her straight from the car into his office. So romantic!” The receptionist looked embarrassed and wanted to explain. But seeing my unchanged expression, she ultimately said nothing. A moment later, Ashton called and asked me to bring the materials to his office. As soon as I pushed open the door, I saw Serena sitting on Ashton’s lap, their eyes locked. Serena smiled and took the materials, then picked up the porridge on the desk. “Thank you for your hard work, Elena. Try this—Ashton made this porridge for me himself.” I looked at Ashton in surprise. Living together for five years, thanks to Serena, I only now learned he could cook. I reached out to take it. But Serena let go, and the bowl fell to the floor. The scalding porridge splashed on my calves. I couldn’t help but gasp from the pain. “Ashton, Elena must resent me. That’s why she deliberately burned me. Please don’t be angry with her…” She cried pitifully. Ashton quickly pulled her into his arms and carefully checked her over. After confirming she’d only gotten her shoes dirty, his eyes were still cold. “Elena, apologize to Serena right now and clean her shoes!”

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I’m the illegitimate daughter the Sullivan family keeps hidden—a dirty secret whose only value is to marry into the Garrett family in my sister’s place, to that man rumored to be violent and wheelchair-bound. At the wedding, when the priest asked if I was willing, I grabbed the microphone in front of all the city’s elite. “I’m not willing.” The entire venue erupted. My father was shaking with rage, pointing at my nose and calling me insane. But they didn’t know—there was a voice in my head. [Congratulations on rejecting this arranged marriage. The Single Life Extension System is now activated！Day 1 of being single: reward of one million dollars, Vitality +1.] “Clara! You dare say that again!” My father Harrison Sullivan’s roar nearly lifted the cathedral roof. Beside me, my sister Vivian, dressed in her bridesmaid gown, hissed under her breath. “Are you insane? If you ruin this marriage, Mom and Dad will kill you!” I looked at her calmly, then at the shocked guests below, and finally at the man in the wheelchair—Damien Garrett. A powerful business elite in New York. Six months ago, an accident left his legs paralyzed and his temperament dark and ruthless. Everyone said the Sullivans were throwing me, the bastard daughter, into a pit of fire. But what they didn’t know was that my parents had begged on their knees for the privilege of connecting with the Garrett family. Damien’s face showed no expression. His deep eyes fixed on me from several meters away, as if watching a farce that had nothing to do with him. Behind him, his assistant’s face had turned iron-gray, already preparing to handle this unexpected situation. “I’m not willing.” I repeated, my voice not loud, but clear enough to echo through the entire cathedral. Suddenly a sharp slap landed on my face. My mother. She rushed onto the stage, her whole body trembling as she pointed at me. “You bastard! You’ve really lost your mind! You’ve humiliated the entire Sullivan family! Apologize to Mr. Garrett right now!” I licked the taste of blood from my lip and smiled. “Why should I apologize? It’s my marriage. If I don’t want it, do I need someone to force me?” My father’s lips trembled with rage. “You… you wretched thing! Today you’ll marry whether you want to or not!” He moved to grab me. “Enough.” Damien controlled his electric wheelchair, slowly approaching the stage, his gaze calm as he looked at me. “Give me a reason.” I looked at him—this supposedly brutal man. At this moment, his eyes held no anger, only curiosity. I took a deep breath and said what I’d prepared. “I don’t like you. And I definitely don’t want to marry… a disabled man.” The words were poison, harsh even to my own ears. Sure enough, the entire venue gasped. Harrison’s face went completely white. He nearly fainted. Vivian looked at me like I was already dead. Damien’s eyes finally darkened. His assistant, Owen, stepped forward coldly. “Miss Sullivan, the Garrett family is not yours to insult.” The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing. But in my mind, I was silently counting. “System, pay me.” [Ding! Day 1 of being single: reward of one million dollars, Vitality +1. Cash has been deposited into your anonymous account.] The cold mechanical voice in my head was my only comfort right now. With money and life, what did I have to fear? I straightened my spine and met Damien’s icy gaze. “I’m telling the truth. Mr. Garrett, I won’t marry you!” With that, I lifted the hem of my wedding dress and, under everyone’s disbelieving stares, turned to leave. But I didn’t make it out of the cathedral. Two bodyguards in black suits blocked my path. My father Harrison said in a trembling voice to Damien, “Mr. Garrett, please don’t be angry. This girl’s not right in the head. I’ll tie her up and deliver her to you right now…” “Dad!” Vivian quickly grabbed him, though her eyes darted toward Damien. “Mr. Garrett, my sister doesn’t know any better. Please don’t hold it against her.” Damien ignored their father-daughter performance, only looking at me with unreadable eyes. “Miss Sullivan, you agreed to this wedding yourself. Now you’re backing out publicly, playing games with me?” I clenched my fists. “I’m not playing games. I just came to my senses. I don’t want my life depending on anyone.” “Is that so?” Damien laughed softly, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Miss Sullivan’s pursuit of independence—I admire that. However, everything has a price.” As soon as he finished speaking, Owen stepped forward and said to Harrison, “Mr. Sullivan, according to the agreement, if the marriage alliance fails, Sullivan Corporation must pay Garrett Corporation one billion dollars in breach of contract penalties. Additionally, Garrett Corporation will withdraw all investments and project collaborations with Sullivan Corporation.”

“One billion!” Harrison’s eyes rolled back. He nearly collapsed. Vivian’s face went white too. The Sullivan family’s total assets added up to only two or three hundred million. This one billion would drive them to ruin! Harrison dropped to his knees with a thud, facing Damien’s direction. “Mr. Garrett, please show mercy! It’s all this bastard’s fault. Punish her if you want, but it has nothing to do with the Sullivan family!” I watched his performance coldly, feeling nothing but disgust. This was my father—for profit, he could throw me under the bus without hesitation. My mother wailed dramatically. “Mr. Garrett, we’ll send her back to the room right now. Tonight she’ll be yours. Please spare us!” I watched this family’s ugly display, my stomach churning. I turned to Damien. “This was my decision. I’ll bear the consequences alone. Let my parents and the Sullivan family go.” Damien raised an eyebrow, seeming amused. “You’ll bear it? With what? Can you even pay back one billion?” “I will pay it back.” I said with complete confidence. The entire venue erupted in mocking laughter. An illegitimate daughter abandoned by her family—how could she repay one billion? It was fantasy. Vivian sneered sharply. “Clara, what will you use to pay it back? Your life?” I ignored her, only looking steadily at Damien. “Give me three years.” Damien looked at me deeply, then suddenly smiled. “Fine. I’ll give you three years.” He waved his hand, signaling the bodyguards to let me pass. “From today, you owe me, Damien Garrett, one billion dollars. As for interest, we’ll use the bank’s highest standard rate.” He paused, adding, “Don’t think about running. You know my methods.” With that, he controlled his wheelchair and left the cathedral without looking back. My parents collapsed on the floor, looking at me like they wanted to devour me alive. “You bastard! You bastard! You’re going to destroy the Sullivan family!” I didn’t look at them again. I lifted the expensive wedding dress and walked out of that cage-like cathedral. The sunlight was blinding, but I felt freer than ever before. The system in my head came online. [Ding! You have successfully escaped your family. Reward: luxury apartment, Vitality +5.] I stood on the street in my wedding dress, looking like a joke. Passersby stared and pointed. I didn’t care. My phone vibrated. A bank text: one million dollars deposited. I smiled. Having money felt good. Then another message came in from an unknown number. [Platinum Estates, Tower A, Unit 3201. Password is your birthday. -Owen] Damien’s assistant. I was somewhat surprised he’d actually given me an apartment. Was he afraid I’d run? Using this to monitor me? Whatever. Having a place to live was better than being homeless. I hailed a cab and gave the address. The driver kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror, wanting to say something but holding back. When I arrived at Platinum Estates, I discovered it was one of New York’s famous wealthy districts with extremely tight security. My wedding dress made me incredibly conspicuous. Security stopped me. I gave the unit number and my name. After verification, the guard let me through respectfully. When I opened the door to 3201, I was stunned by what I saw. Massive floor-to-ceiling windows, minimalist modern decor, furniture and appliances all top luxury brands. The walk-in closet even had this season’s new clothing and accessories, tags still attached. The refrigerator was stocked with fresh ingredients and imported fruits. On the table sat a black card and a new phone. A note read: [Behave yourself—Damien Garrett] This didn’t seem like something prepared for someone who owed a billion dollars. More like he wanted to be my sugar daddy. What was Damien trying to do? I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away. The priority was to shower, change clothes, and get a good meal.

I soaked comfortably in the bathtub as the system voice rang in my head again. [Day 2 of being single: reward of one million dollars, Vitality +1.] [Current Vitality: 7 points.] [Current account balance: two million dollars.] I looked at my pale face in the mirror, a smile curving my lips. Before the wedding, I’d suffered acute heart failure. The doctor said I had less than a month to live. Then this [Single Life Extension System] suddenly appeared, giving me hope to survive. As long as I stayed single, I could live and gain enormous wealth. Chase men? I’d rather make money and extend my life, living my ideal life on my own terms. Just then, the doorbell rang. I was puzzled. Who would come looking for me here? I wrapped myself in a bathrobe and looked through the peephole. It was actually Vivian. How did she know I was here? I opened the door. Vivian stood there with an arrogant expression. She looked me up and down, her eyes landing on my bathrobe, filled with jealousy and contempt. “Clara, you’re really something! You reject the marriage and still end up living in a place like this. Which old man are you latching onto now?” I leaned against the doorframe, looking at her lazily. “What do you want?” Vivian was infuriated by my indifferent attitude. “Mom and Dad are about to die from anger! The company’s going bankrupt! And here you are, living the high life!” She tried to push her way in. I blocked her with my arm. “This is my home. You’re not welcome.” “Your home?” Vivian acted like she’d heard the biggest joke. “Clara, don’t forget—you’ve got Sullivan blood! You destroyed the Sullivan family. You need to take responsibility!” “How should I take responsibility? Go back and marry Damien in your place?” I laughed coldly. “Vivian, you were the one who refused to marry him. Now you’re blaming me?” Originally, the marriage between the Sullivan and Garrett families specified the eldest Sullivan daughter—Vivian. She was the one who despised Damien for being disabled. That’s when Mom and Dad set their sights on me, the illegitimate daughter. They promised me that if I obediently married him, they’d give my mother a large sum of money so she could live comfortably. For my mother’s sake, I agreed. But the week before the wedding, my mother died suddenly of a heart attack. And I was diagnosed with the same heart condition around that time. Not a single member of the Sullivan family came to see me. They only cared whether I could show up at the wedding on time. From that moment, I was completely done with the Sullivan family. “You… you’re talking nonsense!” Vivian’s eyes shifted. “I just… I already had someone I liked!” She became more agitated, her voice rising. “Clara, I’m warning you—you’d better go apologize to Mr. Garrett right now and beg him to spare the Sullivan family! Otherwise, I’ll make sure you can’t stay in New York!” “Oh? Really?” I raised an eyebrow. “I’d like to see how you’ll make that happen.” With that, I shut the door directly in her face. Vivian’s cursing echoed from outside. I pretended not to hear. Wasting even one word on someone like her was wasting my Vitality. The next morning, my name was trending. #Sullivan Bastard Daughter Publicly Rejects Marriage, Humiliates Disabled Tycoon# #Ungrateful Clara# #Sullivan Corporation on Brink of Bankruptcy# I clicked in. All the comments were attacking me. They said I was materialistic and shallow, that I rejected Damien because of his disability, that I was a gold-digger through and through. There were even “insider sources” claiming my private life was messy, that I’d already hooked up with other men. Below were several blurry photos showing a girl with a similar build to mine being intimate with different men. I recognized her immediately. Vivian. She was truly vicious—to destroy me, she’d even release her own scandals and pin them on me. The comment section was full of attacks. “This kind of woman should be fed to sharks!” “I feel sorry for Mr. Garrett, being deceived by this bitch.” “The Sullivan family must have terrible karma to raise such an ungrateful wretch.” I read these comments without anger. I actually found them somewhat funny. This generation of internet users was so easily manipulated. I ignored the online storm and leisurely made myself a lavish breakfast.

Just after I finished eating, my phone rang. An unknown number. I answered. An arrogant female voice came through. “Is this Clara? I’m Fiona Lee.” Fiona Lee? I thought for a moment—Vivian’s rich friend. “What do you want?” “Clara, you dared offend Mr. Garrett. Now the Sullivan family is finished. Are you satisfied?” Fiona’s tone was full of schadenfreude. I was too lazy to waste words with her and was about to hang up when she spoke again. “But I’m in a good mood today. I can show you a way out.” “What way?” “Tonight at eight, Mr. Smith is hosting a party at Empire Club. Mr. Smith loves girls like you—pure but with a wild edge. If you serve him well, forget one billion, he’d give you two billion.” Mr. Smith was a man in his fifties who loved young women’s bodies. Vivian and Fiona were trying to push me into the fire. “You don’t dare come?” Fiona goaded. “If you want to survive in New York, you’d better show up. Otherwise, face the consequences.” She hung up. I looked at my phone, my eyes going cold. Did they think I was still the Clara who could be manipulated at will? I hadn’t planned to pay attention to them, but they kept provoking me. Did they really think I was made of clay? That night at eight, Empire Club. I changed into a black cocktail dress, applied delicate makeup, and showed up on time. Just outside the private room, I heard Fiona’s voice inside. “Don’t worry, Mr. Smith. That little bitch will definitely come. She’s desperate now. If she doesn’t latch onto you, what else can she do?” A sleazy male voice responded. “You really understand things, Fiona. When this is done, you’ll get your reward.” “Thank you in advance, Mr. Smith.” I pushed open the door and walked in. The private room was filled with smoke. Besides Fiona and Mr. Smith, there were several scantily dressed men and women. Vivian was there too. She looked surprised to see me. “You actually came?” Fiona said sarcastically. “Quick, come toast Mr. Smith.” Mr. Smith’s lecherous eyes roamed all over my body, making my skin crawl. “Not bad, not bad. Even prettier than the photos.” He rubbed his hands together, grinning obscenely. I didn’t move, just looked at them coldly. “Clara, what are you standing there for? Hurry up!” Vivian urged, afraid I’d ruin her scheme. I picked up a glass of red wine from the table and slowly walked toward Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith thought I was going to toast him. He smiled and raised his glass. Just as he was about to clink glasses with me, I flicked my wrist. The full glass of red wine splashed all over his greasy face. “Ah!” Mr. Smith screamed. The entire room went silent. Everyone stared at me in shock. Fiona was the first to react, shrieking, “Clara! Are you crazy!” Vivian’s face went pale with fright. “What… what are you doing!” Mr. Smith wiped his face, trembling with rage. “You bitch! You dare splash me! Grab her! I’m going to destroy you tonight!” Several men immediately closed in on me. I was prepared. I grabbed an empty wine bottle from the table and smashed it hard against the edge. “Bang!” The bottle shattered. I gripped the remaining half, the sharp glass edge pointed at the man in front. “Who dares come closer?” I said coldly. Those men were intimidated by my aura and didn’t dare advance. Mr. Smith screamed furiously, “Useless! All of you! Get her! I’ll take responsibility if anything happens!” Just then, the private room door was suddenly kicked open from outside. “I’d like to see who dares touch her.” A cold voice came through. I looked toward the voice and froze completely. Damien? Why was he here? He was still in that custom wheelchair, followed by the expressionless Owen and several bodyguards in black. His appearance instantly dropped the room’s pressure to zero.

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Everyone in our circle knew I was a professional gold digger. I married Holt Sterling purely for his money. He treated me like a substitute for his true love, and I treated him like an ATM. Then Holt’s first love—his stepsister—came back from overseas. Just when I should’ve gracefully bowed out, I suddenly realized I couldn’t let go. After all, good-looking, generous sugar daddies are hard to come by. While I was figuring out how to cling on shamelessly, I caught Holt prying the gemstone from my mom’s ring to impress Zara Young. That ring was her only memento. Holt watched my face go pale and impatiently pulled out his checkbook: “Name your price. I’ll double it.” Looking into his cold eyes, I sobered up fast. People should waste less time on pointless emotions and more on good old-fashioned cash. I immediately looked up with a big smile: “Triple. What do you say?” Holt froze. Then, like he’d expected this all along, he scoffed and shook his head. His pen slashed across the checkbook with a bigger number. With a sharp rip, he tore it off and held the check out to me. “Half a million dollars.” “That old ring is worth fifty grand tops. I’m giving you ten times that. Satisfied?” I’d only seen that many zeros back in Chengdu. When I took it, my eyes crinkled into crescents: “More than satisfied! Way more!” Seeing how happy I looked, Zara squeezed the newly pried gemstone, looking both pleased and irritated. She’d come today just to put me down. She’d intentionally mentioned how nice the main stone on my vanity ring looked, sure Holt would pry it out for her. When I walked in and caught them red-handed, I was supposed to break down and make a scene like some scorned wife. Then she could play the scared little innocent, making Holt hate me even more—maybe even kick me out. But Zara never expected I’d be this cheap to buy off. Fuming, she couldn’t help snapping at me: “Sandra, are you really this materialistic?” “Mrs. Lily said that ring was your mom’s only keepsake. If you’re this heartless toward your own family, how could you possibly care about Holt? And this lousy stone… here, take it back!” “Touching things from people like you makes me feel dirty!” The gemstone hit the floor by my feet, rolling a few times and picking up tiny scratches. Holt watched Zara’s over-the-top reaction with a barely noticeable frown. But I wasn’t even mad. Instead, I bent down to pick it up, blew off the dust, and said slowly: “Zara, there’s something Mrs. Lily probably didn’t tell you.” “My mom was a human trafficker. The first kid she sold was me. Later, when she saw I’d made something of myself, she tried to weasel back into my life. So she splurged on this ring as a gift, claiming she wanted to make amends.” “I said no and turned her in. She got the death penalty. She’s been gone for years.” I stuffed the gemstone in my pocket and gave Zara a huge grin: “So trading this little trinket for half a million? Total steal! But since you hate it so much, Zara, I’ll just keep the cash windfall.” “Thanks a bunch, Zara!” Zara was left tongue-tied, her anger caught in her throat. I was loving every second of her frustration, channeling my inner trophy wife to twist the knife: “You must be exhausted after your trip, Zara. Mrs. Lily prepared the guest room for you. You should get some rest.” Then I gave Holt a suggestive look and purred: “Well… honey, I’ll head up to the bedroom first.” “I’ll be waiting for you in our room.” As I walked away, I could practically hear Zara grinding her teeth behind me. Sigh. I’m a pro at this gold-digging thing. Don’t mess with my career when this is just your little hobby. Back in our bedroom, the ring setting Holt had pried apart was still on the vanity. I pulled the gemstone from my pocket and set it next to the pieces. With a quiet sigh, I hunted for glue to try putting it back together. My mom sold me to a childless couple. Forty thousand yuan. Since I was a girl, she settled for thirty thousand and dumped me cheap. I was six—old enough to remember everything and start working. Funny thing, that couple had their own son a few years later. My adoptive parents turned around and sold me again. Twenty-three thousand six hundred yuan. Sold to some old drunk who said he’d raise me to be his wife. Two years later, the drunkard drowned after getting wasted. Finally, no more being passed around. I scraped by and grew up on my own. My birth mom sold me for cash. My adoptive mom did the same. So don’t call me materialistic. I probably never even knew what “love” felt like growing up. I’ve spent my whole life worrying about money, not love—that’s been my constant. All that lovey-dovey stuff? A few days of real work will cure you of that fantasy. Luckily, I love money, and money loves me right back. I was lost in these messy memories when Holt’s voice suddenly came from behind: “I’m sorry.” “I didn’t know… that was your mom’s keepsake.” I turned around, shook my head, and gave him my professional smile. “It’s fine. You compensated me, right?” “With this much cash, I could buy a whole jewelry store.” Holt glanced at the glue in my hand and didn’t look convinced. He probably thought I was just being stubborn. His eyes dropped, and his expression got complicated for a second. Seeing him go quiet, I paused and picked up my phone to keep going: “Oh, right. There’s actually something I needed to tell you…” Before I could finish, Zara’s panicked scream suddenly came from the guest bedroom down the hall: “Holt! Hurry—” Holt’s face darkened instantly. Without hesitating, he turned and ran out. My hand holding the phone froze midair, the screen showing an electronic prenatal test result: [6 weeks pregnant]. I watched Holt’s hurried back view as the screen dimmed, and the smile slowly faded from my lips. See? Money’s the only thing that never lets you down.

I couldn’t sleep, so I spent the whole night messing with that cheap glue. I finally stopped when morning light slanted through the window onto the vanity. I’d glued it into a rough shape, but cracks crisscrossed everywhere—like an ugly face covered in tear tracks. I picked it up and held it to the light. I really should just throw it away. I sighed, walked straight to the trash can by the desk, and dropped it in. I stood up to leave, then doubled back with a self-deprecating laugh. I fished it out and pried off the valuable gemstone. Forget it. I can’t afford to have issues with anyone, least of all money. I checked the time. Holt should be at the office by now. I tidied up and got ready to go cash the check. After all, with Zara back, I needed to be ready to get kicked out anytime. Walking past the first-floor dining room, Zara immediately put down her silverware when she heard me coming. She gave me a mocking little smile: “Sandra, finally up?” “You look awful. Did you toss and turn all night without Holt there?” She drawled the words and pointedly adjusted her bathrobe collar. Revealing several fresh, suggestive red marks on her collarbone. Only after she was sure I’d seen them did she continue, smirking: “Sorry, but when I can’t sleep from jet lag, Holt always… stays with me like this to help me adjust. You don’t… mind, do you?” “After all, Holt and I go way back. You can’t compete with that.” I took a deep breath, feeling a sharp, sour pain in my chest. But lucky for me, I’ve been toughing out pain since I was a kid. I tilted my head and calmly reminded Zara: “Oh, right—Holt and I are getting married at the end of the month, and we’re getting our marriage license early next month.” That comment hit a nerve with Zara. She shot up from her chair, yelling at me: “What are you so proud of!” “If his mom hadn’t been dead set against us back then, we would’ve been together already. I never would’ve had to leave the country!” “Now I’m back. Do you really think you can stay with Holt?” Watching her lose it, I just raised an eyebrow and repeated, deadpan: “Oh, right—Holt and I are getting married at the end of the month, and we’re getting our marriage license early next month.” Zara was shaking with rage, screaming like a maniac: “Bitch! Still dreaming about a wedding! Let me tell you, you’ll never marry Holt!” “I’m going to kick you out of here!” Watching Zara practically lose her mind, I stayed calm. I even took my time adjusting my cuffs and replied casually: “Oh, right—Holt and I are getting married at the end of the month, and we’re getting our marriage license early next month.” “Enjoy your breakfast. I’m going wedding dress shopping.” With that, I walked out the door without looking back. Behind me, Zara was so mad she went into full-on table-flipping mode, screaming as she swept all the dishes off the dining table. Plates shattered everywhere. See? Even enemies can’t stand being ignored. After leaving, I rushed to deposit the check into my bank account. Staring at that long string of reassuring numbers, I finally let myself smile—a real, relaxed smile. I detoured to a mid-range apartment complex on the west side of town, where I’d bought a small unit for myself. It was all mine, a place where no one could ever kick me out. Having money really is the best. After resting most of the day, when I got back to the villa, I immediately sensed something was off. The living room lights were on. Holt, “who should’ve been at the office working,” was sitting on the couch with Zara in his arms, still sobbing as he comforted her gently. The sound of me opening the door made them jump. Holt looked over at me. His mouth opened like he wanted to say something, but nothing came out. Until Zara in his arms tugged his sleeve, sobbing harder. That seemed to make up Holt’s mind. “Sandra, let’s call off the wedding.”

I stood there, taking a couple seconds to process. No big reaction. Just a sharper pain in my chest and a stinging in my nose. My whole body felt that same cold as when I was twelve, when that old drunk took his anger out on me—beat me half to death, then held my head under the well water. It’s okay, Sandra. You’ve always been good at toughing it out. I sniffled twice and nodded: “Alright.” Zara, seeing how calm I was, lifted her head from Holt’s chest to look at me. Her red, tear-streaked eyes were full of victory. I knew exactly what she was flaunting. A few tears and Holt cancels the wedding. His first love really does have that kind of power. I’m not stupid. I wasn’t about to compete with her. She’s the moon in the sky; I’m just dirt on the ground. I glanced at Holt, thinking that honestly, getting this far was pretty good. Anything more would be greedy. I said nothing and headed upstairs. “Wait!” I stopped, but didn’t turn around. “Sterling Jewelry just got a new shipment of gold. I’ll have my assistant send over two gold bars.” I lit up immediately. All those sappy thoughts from a minute ago felt ridiculous now. Love? Keep it. Just give me the money. I spun around, giving Holt my signature sweet smile: “Thank you! I’ll head up then. You two should get some rest too.” Sure enough, before I was even out of earshot, Zara was already complaining about the “gold bar compensation.” She buried her face in Holt’s chest again, sobbing dramatically. Holt looked helplessness with her reaction, bending down to comfort her. I could hear bits and pieces—probably things like “don’t cry,” “it’s not worth it,” “just be patient.” Without looking up, he called to me: "You don’t have to wait up for me tonight.” “Zara’s not doing well. I need to stay with her.” I gave a quick acknowledgment, not slowing down as I rounded the corner. I really didn’t have time to be upset. My mind was totally focused on those two gold bars. How big? How heavy? How many grams? What’s the resale value? After my shower, I grabbed my phone right away, eager to check the current gold price per gram. But just as I tapped the screen a couple times, texts from an unknown number started flooding in. It was Zara, of course. [Sandra, have you no self-respect? Holt already called off the wedding, and you still have the nerve to stay here?] [Bitch! You’re a gold-digging bitch! Take those two gold bars and get lost. Everything in the Sterling family will be mine. You’re stealing what’s mine!] [I won’t put up with you anymore. Just wait. I’ll make sure you’re thrown out of the Sterling house for good!] I read them blankly, then scrolled back up. First time I didn’t leave, I got half a million. The second time I didn’t leave, I got two gold bars. So what if I’m shameless? What’s dignity worth anyway? But right after that, there was a bloodcurdling scream and chaotic footsteps. The maid yelled in a panic: “Emergency! Someone call 911!” “Zara… she cut her wrists!”

Before the maid even finished screaming, Holt had kicked open the bathroom door. He carried the barely conscious Zara and ran for the door. “Allen, get the car! We need to get to the hospital now!” I suddenly got what Zara meant in her texts about kicking me out. That was a pretty smart move, I’ll give her that. If she’d tried manipulating or scheming, there was a chance of getting caught. But self-harm? That… meant I needed to pack my bags. I went back to my room, pulled out my suitcase, and methodically packed my valuables. For the bigger items, I paid extra for movers to come overnight. Another night without sleep. By the time I closed the suitcase, it was already 9:30. I instinctively touched my stomach. This baby… couldn’t stay. After a long sigh, I picked up my phone and scheduled an abortion for tomorrow afternoon. When I finished, I was about to go downstairs to get something to eat when— Click. Holt was home. He looked exhausted, his voice thick with fatigue: “Sandra, Zara’s really emotionally fragile right now. The doctor says we need to avoid upsetting her.” “You can’t stay in this villa anymore.” After speaking, Holt automatically reached for his checkbook in his pocket. “I’ll give you some money. Just move out for a while. Later…” “No need.” It was the first time I’d ever turned down Holt’s money. His hand froze mid-air. He looked up at me confused, then frowned impatiently and upped the offer: “Not enough?” “I’ll add another two hundred thousand. Just be reasonable and don’t…” I reached out and pressed his hand down before he could write another check. “No.” “Holt, what I mean is—let’s end this.” “End this?” For the first time, Holt looked at me with a strange expression, like he was mocking my overconfidence. He scoffed: “You can actually walk away? Give up this lifestyle?” “Enough with the games. You want something new? A car, a house, a bag, jewelry—just behave and I’ll…” Before he could finish, I grabbed my suitcase. For the first time, I met Holt’s eyes directly: “I know my good life exists because I look like Zara. Now the real thing’s back, and she’s dramatic enough to threaten suicide. I can’t… actually let her get hurt, can I?” “More importantly, Holt, I don’t want to be your property anymore.” “I want to be my own person.” As I finished, I pulled my suitcase toward the door. Holt had probably never been talked back to like this. His voice turned icy with anger: “Sandra, you dare defy me? Who do you think you are?” “Do you know how many women would beg for this life? I’m giving you one last chance. Come back! Take the check like you always do. I’ll pretend you never said that nonsense.” “Don’t make me repeat myself.” I stopped but ignored his hostile tone. Instead, I smiled: “Holt, thanks for these years. I really do like the name you gave me.” “I hope… you find what you’re looking for. Goodbye.” With that, I walked out of the villa and didn’t look back. Holt didn’t try to stop me. Instead, he went straight back to the hospital, still fuming. In the hospital room, Zara was propped up on the bed, clearly pleased that I’d “wisely” ended things. But seeing Holt looking distracted, she frowned with dissatisfaction. She was about to complain about pain to get his attention back. Just then— Knock, knock, knock. The hospital room door opened, and an unfamiliar doctor stepped in. He looked eager to please, smiling ingratiatingly at Holt: “Mr. Sterling, I’m the chief of obstetrics here.” “Sandra had a prenatal appointment scheduled that she missed. Since you’re here, I thought I’d ask if you’d like me to reschedule it. We can arrange the best obstetricians in the city!” Holt froze, like he couldn’t process what he was hearing. He asked without thinking: “What?” The doctor finally caught on, quickly switching to a congratulatory smile: “Oh! My mistake—I didn’t realize it was supposed to be a surprise. What wonderful news! During her last visit, Sandra found out she’s pregnant and scheduled a full prenatal exam. Everything looks great, don’t worry.” “Congratulations, Mr. Sterling—you’re going to be a father!” “The baby is already six weeks along!”

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I stopped by my brother’s company to drop off some documents, only to get stopped at the entrance by a woman I didn’t recognize. “I’m here to see Cameron White. I’m his sister,” I explained calmly. She scoffed. “Since when does he have a sister? Are you some kind of gold digger?” “Let me make this clear—Cameron is MY boyfriend! I’ve dealt with plenty of shameless women trying to hit on him at the office. Beat it before I call security to drag you out!” I immediately texted my assistant: Tell Cameron White to get his butt down here ASAP. What no one realized was that everything in our family—this company included—actually belonged to me, including that idiot brother of mine. “Quit loitering around,” Yasmin Perez snapped, her tone dripping with venom, clearly pegging me as some desperate social climber. “Get lost or I’m calling security.” Several employees had already started stealing glances our way. I frowned, not about to waste time on this nonsense, and pulled out my phone to call my brother directly. But all I got was his voicemail saying he was unavailable. Same result when I tried again. What the hell was that moron doing during work hours? I put my phone away and squared off with the hostile woman, enunciating each word clearly: “Let me clarify. My name is Serena White, and I’m Cameron White’s sister—the CEO’s sister.” “He’s not picking up right now. Feel free to check with anyone in the company or look me up in the directory.” I figured that would settle things quickly. But upon hearing my name, the receptionist didn’t bother verifying a thing. Instead, she let out a shrill, mocking laugh. She laughed so hard she doubled over, drawing even more curious stares from passersby. Then she suddenly leaned in, dropping her voice to a conspiratorial whisper: “Still playing pretend? I’ve seen your face on Cameron’s phone!” “You homewrecker! Sneaking around trying to hit on my man!” “And now you have the nerve to show up at his company? Don’t you have any self-respect?” I froze for a second, glanced at the name tag on her chest—Yasmin Perez—and just shook my head in disbelief. So this was Cameron’s mysterious girlfriend—the one he’d refused to show me even a picture of. Turned out she was just some petty, catty woman. How could he have such terrible taste? I realized then this whole confrontation wasn’t an accident—it was intentional harassment. Before I could respond, she’d already lost her patience entirely. “Since this woman won’t leave and is disrupting our workplace, I won’t be held responsible for what happens next!” She waved her hand, and two burly security guards standing nearby immediately stepped forward. One clamped a hand over my mouth while the other roughly twisted my arms behind my back. I struggled violently, but the strength difference was too great—my resistance was useless. They ignored my angry glare and the shocked looks from employees as they dragged me away from the lobby toward a back storage room. I was thrown roughly into a dusty corner cluttered with boxes, the air thick with stale, suffocating air. The door slammed shut, cutting off all light and sound from outside.

In the darkness, the receptionist didn’t say a word before raising her high-heeled shoe and kicking me hard in the stomach. The sharp pain made me double over instantly, my stomach heaving. That’s for being a homewrecker!” “That’s for hitting on him!” She screamed, her voice distorted with jealousy and rage. She looked down at me and ordered the two men: “Teach her a lesson! Make sure she regrets this!” The guards were clearly in her pocket. Without hesitation, they rained blows down on me. I bit my lip, holding back the cries of pain. I felt like my bones were breaking and my insides were being torn apart. Her shrill voice continued: “Who do you think you are? Some desperate skank trying to steal my boyfriend!” “I told you I’m his sister! If you don’t believe me, call Cameron right now! I’ll talk to him myself!” I tried to explain, but she wouldn’t listen. She only called them off when I started to lose consciousness. She planted her high-heeled shoe on my shoulder, then picked up the torn envelope from the floor, grinding the papers under her heel as she smiled at me: “You better apologize right now and admit you were wrong. Write a note promising never to bother my boyfriend again.” “This is what happens when you try to steal my man and then have the nerve to show up here.” “I’m not scared of what might happen. Cameron will take care of everything for me.” I curled up in pain, barely able to speak: “Those documents were important…” Her expression darkened, and she kicked me again. The guards immediately resumed their beating. I realized nothing I said would matter. If this kept up, I might actually die here. After coughing up blood from another blow, I used my last strength to fumble for my phone on the floor. “Stop… I’ll… I’ll write it.” She looked satisfied with my surrender, signaling the guards to stop. She crouched down and patted my swollen cheek. “Wouldn’t this have been easier from the start? Did you really need to get beaten up first?” “You’re not just writing it—you’re recording a video apology. Admit you tried to seduce him and promise to stay away forever!” I lay on the cold floor, gasping for air, my lungs burning with pain. I ignored her and used my shaking hands to unlock my phone and call my best friend, Melanie Lin. The call connected quickly. “Melanie, get to my brother’s company fast… storage room… bring help…” “I’m on my way.” Melanie hesitated for a second, then realized something was wrong. “Serena? What’s going on? You sound…” “Don’t ask, just hurry.” I cut her off and hung up. When Yasmin heard me call for help, she didn’t look worried at all. Instead, she scoffed: “Calling for backup? Fine, bring whoever you want. No one’s saving you today!” The smug look on her face was impossible to hide.

Melanie showed up at an astonishing speed. Before long, the storage room door was abruptly pushed open from outside. Melanie rushed in with two bodyguards. When she saw the blood at the corner of my mouth, my disheveled clothes, and me curled up on the floor, she was horrified. She quickly stepped forward to help me up. I shook my head, signaling her not to speak. When Yasmin saw the bodyguards, her expression changed, but she still tried to act tough: “Who are you people? This is company business—you need to leave!” Melanie ignored her completely, helping me walk out with the bodyguards surrounding us. “Stop! Who do you think you are?” Yasmin tried to block us but backed off when Melanie’s bodyguard gave her a death stare. Enduring severe pain, I limped out of that disgusting place with Melanie’s support. When we got to the entrance, I thanked Melanie: “Thanks.” She looked worried: “What the hell happened? How did this happen?” I laughed bitterly, wincing at the pain in my lip: “Cameron found himself quite a girlfriend. I need to have a talk with him.” I took out my phone and called the Executive Vice President who actually runs the design company. I’d placed him there to keep an eye on my brother, and he was extremely loyal to me. He answered right away, and I got straight to the point, my voice cold. “You have ten minutes to fire a receptionist named Yasmin Perez.” “Otherwise, the White family will pull all funding and support from the company—every last cent.” The Executive VP on the other end panicked as soon as he heard my voice. He must have noticed the strain in my voice because he agreed immediately, too afraid to ask questions. I hung up and told Melanie: “Take me to South Hills Manor.” In the car, I gritted through the pain and made another call from a different phone. “Victor, get your team to Cameron White’s villa. Now. Right away.” When we arrived at South Hills Manor, my private doctor treated my injuries immediately. After being patched up, the anger inside me only grew stronger—like adding fuel to a fire. I needed answers. I needed Cameron White to explain himself in person. My team tracked him down—he was throwing a party at his villa. I had the driver take me there after sending Melanie home to rest. That villa was another gift from me, by the way. When I got there, though, all I heard was loud heavy metal music blaring from inside. And the sound of people partying—clearly having a good time. He was throwing a party? No wonder he didn’t answer my calls earlier. The front door was slightly open. For some reason, I hesitated before going in. Then I heard a familiar female voice—she was crying. It was Yasmin Perez. She was sobbing to everyone there, painting herself as the victim—claiming some crazy woman had bullied her and gotten her fired for no reason. “I was just doing my job, not letting some random woman in, and she had her goons beat me up! Then she got me fired for no reason…” “Cameron, she’s out of control—she doesn’t care about you at all!” “She just wants to humiliate me and break us up!” Inside, Cameron’s friends all started agreeing, acting outraged on her behalf. Cameron pulled her into his arms, comforting her loudly with a voice full of fake concern. “Don’t worry, I won’t let her get away with this!” Then, trying to look tough, he announced to everyone: “When I find that woman, I’ll make her beg for your forgiveness!” Inside, the rich kids kept egging her on, talking about how they’d make me pay. “Cameron, just say the word—we’ll go find her right now!” “Yeah! Show her who’s boss!” I’d heard enough. I gave a small signal, and my bodyguard kicked the door open. The music stopped suddenly, and the laughter died instantly. Dozens of shocked faces turned toward the door. “No need to find me. I’m right here. Who wants to teach me a lesson?”

The room went silent—only the sound of my heels clicking on the floor echoed through the room. I walked slowly toward the couple hugging in the middle of the living room. Cameron’s face was priceless. First shock, then pure terror—his face turned white as a sheet. He instinctively pushed Yasmin away, like he was going to stand up. But when he saw Yasmin’s teary face, he hesitated, looking conflicted. Finally, his fear turned into some stupid, fake toughness. He stayed seated, just staring at me like that would hide how scared he was. As for Yasmin, when she recognized me, her eyes went wide. But she quickly got her composure back, realizing she was at Cameron’s place with all his friends around. She snuggled deeper into Cameron’s arms and started crying even harder. “It’s her… she’s the one who hurt me…” She cried while looking at me with hate and pride in her eyes. Like she was saying, See? He’s still protecting me. I ignored her, keeping my eyes on Cameron. “Cameron, I have a question for you.” “Didn’t you just say you’d make me beg your girlfriend for forgiveness?” Cameron swallowed hard, his lips shaking, but no words came out. He was scared of me. Always had been, ever since we were kids. He knew who really ran things in this family. His friends looked at each other, clearly confused about what was happening. Some blonde rich kid—probably trying to impress Yasmin—stepped forward. “Who the hell are you? You can’t talk to Cameron like that!” “You better apologize to Yasmin right now, or else…” He didn’t get to finish that sentence. My bodyguard stepped in front of me, expressionless, cutting him off. The blonde kid immediately shut up under the bodyguard’s intimidating stare. I walked around the bodyguard, stood in front of Cameron, and looked down at him. “I guess you’re not going to explain anything.” Cameron finally got up, his neck stiff with tension. He pulled me aside, his voice low and urgent, half-pleading and half-annoyed. “Serena, what do you want?” “Do you have to humiliate me in front of my friends?” “Yasmin didn’t mean any harm—she’s just straightforward. Can’t you just drop it?” Looking at him, I suddenly thought it was all ridiculous. Drop it? After she had me beaten half to death, destroyed important documents, and locked me in a storage room, he wanted me to drop it? “Cameron.” I used his first name sharply. “Are you kidding me?” “I…” He couldn’t finish, avoiding my eyes. Just then, car doors slammed outside, followed by heavy footsteps approaching the villa. Everyone in the living room turned toward the door, confused. Victor walked in with several serious-looking men. They ignored the stares and went straight to me. Victor nodded respectfully: “Ma’am.” I looked at Yasmin and tilted my chin toward her: “Take her out.” Yasmin’s screams got louder: “Cameron! Who are these people?! What are you doing! Help! Somebody help!” Cameron turned white as a sheet and tried to rush forward: “Why did you bring people! Let her go!” Victor’s men moved quickly, grabbing Yasmin by the arms and dragging her out despite her kicking and screaming.

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My wife’s male best friend lost a game and was dared to choose a woman present to grind against face-to-face for ten seconds. Without hesitation, he chose my wife. “We’re most familiar with this position, aren’t we?” I froze, thinking he was joking. Just as I was about to speak, Colton had already pushed my wife down. Seeing my face turn ashen, he explained nonchalantly: “Oh, the night before you two got married, she got blackout drunk and was acting wild. I helped her out.” “Don’t worry, it was just some rubbing. Nothing actually happened, otherwise you wouldn’t have been able to marry her the next day.” I let out a cold laugh. “Of course.” And punched him right in the face. “You should have told me sooner. Otherwise I wouldn’t have married a used-up slut!” The private room fell instantly silent. Sophia’s hands, which had been involuntarily wrapped around his waist, suddenly jerked back. She pulled him into her arms protectively, looking at me furiously: “James, are you insane!” “Colton already explained! It was an emergency and she had no choice but to ask him for help. What right do you have to be angry!” “Besides, I went to him purely out of friendship. That’s better than going to some random guy, right? Instead of being grateful, you dare to hit him!” With that, she gently stroked Colton’s face, her eyes full of heartache. And I stood to the side, my heart growing colder bit by bit. Three years of marriage, and whenever she mentioned Colton, her most common phrase was that he was her best friend regardless of gender. Eating from the same bowl—best friends. Sleeping in the same bed—best friends. And now even “sleeping together” was just best friends. I looked up, carefully examining Colton with his eight-pack abs and six-foot-two frame. Nothing about him looked remotely like a “woman.” Thinking about it carefully, it was just an excuse she made to placate me. I laughed coldly, saying expressionlessly: “You call this friends helping each other out?” “Fine, then find someone else here right now and show me how they can ‘help’ you!” Sophia’s face instantly paled. “What are you implying! Are you suspecting us?!” “James, I’ve told you a thousand times that Colton and I grew up together. If there was anything between us, we would’ve been together long ago. You wouldn’t have had a chance!” “Everyone rarely gets together like this to celebrate our wedding anniversary, and you insist on making such a scene and embarrassing everyone!” She frowned, looking at me with barely concealed disgust. But she was the one who did something wrong. Yet somehow I was the one being unreasonable. I smiled bitterly, staring hard at Sophia: “So you do know Colton is a man.” “I thought you didn’t realize.” Sophia froze, instinctively blurting out: “Of course I know…” Halfway through her sentence, she caught herself. “I’m warning you, don’t try to change the subject. You must apologize to Colton today!” I looked up in disbelief, the bitterness in my heart suffocating me. Suddenly finding it all pointless, I got up and headed for the door. Just as I reached it, I was yanked back hard. “James, I’ll say it one more time—apologize!” My groin slammed hard into the corner of the table, pain shooting through me in cold sweats. But I still gritted my teeth, raising my head and enunciating clearly: “Never!” The atmosphere instantly froze. Seeing this, people around started trying to mediate. “Come on, Sophia, James didn’t mean it.” “Right, right, don’t be so angry.” But no matter what others said, Sophia continued gripping my arm tightly, her eyes cold in a way I’d never seen before. Until Colton walked over and hooked her palm. “Sophia, what have I always taught you? You need to be patient with your husband. You’re not being gentle at all!” Then he looked at me: “James, let me apologize on her behalf. My friend is great in every way, except she can’t stand seeing me bullied since childhood, so that’s why she lost her temper with you.” “Don’t worry, I’ll educate her properly when we get back.” As soon as he finished speaking, Sophia released her grip. All the malice in her eyes vanished completely. In three years of marriage, I’d never seen her eyes turn red. Even during our honeymoon when I got into a fight with someone, afterward she just casually had the other person apologize. I always thought she was naturally cold, but now I finally understood—she did have someone she cared for deeply. Unfortunately… That person wasn’t me… In my daze, Colton picked up a wine glass and walked over to me. “James, this drink is for you. Let’s just put this behind us.” He shoved the glass into my hand. I found it disgusting and resisted, but in the struggle, he suddenly let go. Red wine spilled all over his clothes, and the glass shattered on the floor. Sophia immediately became angry. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you!” With that, she shoved me to the ground. Glass shards embedded themselves in my arm. Blood flowed down my arm. Sophia froze, instinctively wanting to help me up. But Colton behind her suddenly sneezed. “I’m a bit cold~” Without a word, Sophia took off her jacket and draped it over him. She turned to look at me as if I’d committed some heinous crime. “Are you satisfied now that things have gotten this far?” With that, she put her arm around Colton and headed for the door. Suppressing the pain, I said trembling: “Sophia, if you dare walk out that door today, we’re done.” She paused, but ultimately didn’t look back.

I gritted my teeth and pushed myself up from the floor. Some of Sophia’s friends asked guiltily: “James, should we take you to the hospital? Sophia, she…” Before they could finish, I glanced at my bleeding arm and laughed. Now even a stranger knew to care about me. But my wife had walked away with someone else without looking back. I shook my head: “No need, I can manage.” With that, I limped out and took a cab to the hospital. During the bandaging, each touch made my whole body shudder from the pain. Then my phone buzzed. I opened it—Colton had just updated his Ins. [Gift from my best friend to make it up to me. Look how happy we are!] In the photo, a Maltese dog sat in the middle, with Sophia and Colton smiling happily behind it. They really did look like a happy family. I casually liked the post. The next second, Sophia’s call came through. “James, what’s your problem? I just bought Colton a puppy and you’re being sarcastic!” I didn’t respond. She continued: “By the way, Colton’s shirt got wet, so I’m taking him home to change. Don’t forget this is all your fault!” Before I could answer, she hung up with a sharp click. I laughed self-deprecatingly and contacted a lawyer about divorce proceedings. Just after I sent the message, a doctor recognized me. He said the results from mine and Sophia’s checkup were ready. I followed him to the office, but the next moment, what the doctor said shocked me. “By the way, your wife is pregnant. Congratulations!” I couldn’t believe it, thinking I was hallucinating, staring hard at the test results. Since my parents died, I’d always longed to have a child of my own. But it had to happen now… After much hesitation, I recalled the email I’d just sent. I thought I’d give Sophia one more chance. And give the baby in her belly one more chance. Because the hospital was crowded, by the time I finished treating my wound and got home, it was late at night. Before I even opened the door, I heard playful laughter from inside. Sophia’s face was covered in foam, and even her body was splattered with it. But she had severe OCD. Once when I accidentally splashed a drop of oil on her while eating, she found me disgusting for an entire week. But now, because it was Colton, she showed no anger despite being covered in foam. Seeing me return, Sophia immediately breathed a sigh of relief, snatching the hair dye from Colton’s hands: “Leave this kind of service work to my husband. You’re so clumsy, I really don’t know what woman would dare marry you!” Colton protested indignantly, grabbing a nearby pillow and throwing it at her. “Mind your own business! It’s not like it’s you anyway!” Sophia was amused by his antics, but worried he’d fall, she defended herself while protecting his body. And I just stood in the entryway, watching their intimate interaction as if I weren’t there, feeling only tightness in my chest. I didn’t take the hair dye as I normally would. Instead, I went straight to the bedroom to change out of my dirty clothes. When I came back out, Sophia was wearing headphones, keeping Colton company while he played games. I walked over and handed her the test results. Hearing movement, Sophia reluctantly turned from the computer. “What’s this?” Just as she finished speaking, Colton screamed. “Save me! I’m about to be killed by the enemy!” “And… and the ice cream in my mouth is dripping. Quick, wipe it for me…” Sophia said with disgust, “Gross!” But her hands didn’t stop moving. She grabbed the nearby test results and wrapped up the half-melted ice cream, casually tossing it into the trash. At that moment, standing to the side, I didn’t even have the desire to speak anymore.

In the early morning hours, a pair of hands embraced me from behind. A familiar scent whispered softly in my ear: “Honey, happy anniversary.” One sentence suddenly brought dead memories flooding back. Sophia and I met at a college dance. She fell for me at first sight and pursued me relentlessly for three years. Back then, she would remember every preference I casually mentioned, every habit of mine. And after every time she made me angry, she’d try everything to make it up to me. She said my feelings mattered most. Senior year, when my parents died, it was Sophia who stayed with me through those darkest days. Her gentleness and consideration made me fall completely. But when did she start to change? Probably after Colton returned from abroad. I still remember the first time we met, he put his arm around Sophia’s shoulder: “Sophia, long time no see! I missed you!” Sophia smiled and punched him back: “Get lost, who needs you missing them.” I stood awkwardly to the side. Only then did Sophia remember to introduce me: “My husband, James.” Colton extended his hand with a grin. “Nice to meet you, James!” “We’ve been like this since we were kids, don’t take it personally.” I forced a smile and shook his hand. Sophia also explained from the side: “Colton has been my friend since childhood. We’re really close, don’t overthink it.” I nodded, trying to get used to their intimacy. But later, Colton appeared more and more frequently. He always called Sophia away under the pretext of “friends gathering,” and even insisted on a bachelor party the day before our wedding. And every time before leaving, Sophia would emphasize again and again, “We’re just friends.” But today, one sentence from Colton completely woke me up… Thinking of this, I suppressed the nausea in my stomach and pushed Sophia away, not holding her like I usually would. The next morning, I was woken by a dog barking. Getting up and going downstairs, I saw the side hall where my parents’ memorial photos were kept—a complete mess. My parents’ photos had been thrown on the floor, covered in muddy footprints. And Colton’s pet dog was chewing on the photos. At that moment, I felt all the blood in my body flowing backward. All reason instantly evaporated. Like a madman, I grabbed a nearby vase and hurled it at the dog. The porcelain shattered. The dog whimpered continuously. Colton’s expression changed instantly. He ran over and scooped up the dog, tears of panic in his eyes. “James, can’t you even tolerate a dog?!” I ignored him, raising my hand and slapping him hard across the face. Sophia was coming downstairs and saw this exact scene. She rushed over and shoved me aside: “James! Will you ever stop! How long are you going to bully him!” My whole body shook as I forced myself to speak: “Can’t you see! My parents’ memorial photos are lying on the floor!” But Sophia glanced at them indifferently and said: “That’s still no reason to hit someone!” Then Colton spoke up too: “James, I know you hate me, but the puppy is innocent. Why did you have to be so cruel…” “Is it because you resent me staying at your place? Then I’ll leave right now…” Sophia instantly flew into a rage, dragging me in front of Colton. “Apologize!” I laughed coldly, turning to pick up the photos from the floor. My attitude completely enraged Sophia. She viciously kicked my lower back. I crashed heavily onto the stairs. Instantly, excruciating pain exploded from my groin. I looked down to see a palm-sized sharp object embedded in my groin. “Hospital… get me to a hospital…” Before I could finish, Colton had already thrown himself into Sophia’s arms: “Sophia, our baby is hurt. It’s still so young…” Without a word, Sophia picked up the dog and rushed out the door without looking back. And I curled up on the floor, my heart shattered to pieces. As my consciousness blurred, I dialed a number. That person rushed over in a hurry and sent me to the hospital. Before surgery, the nurse helped me call Sophia. Before I could speak, Colton’s voice came through. “I bet you regret marrying James.” In an instant, I felt my heartbeat stop. After a long pause, that voice I knew so well spoke: “I do.” At that moment, something in my heart seemed to collapse with a thunderous crash. “Proceed with the surgery.” With that, I closed my eyes. What dissipated along with consciousness was the last thread of affection between Sophia and me.

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