In my last life, I was the perfect trophy wife. I swallowed every insult, endured his affairs, and even nursed his “true love” through her pregnancy. The day he finally clawed his way to the top, he served me divorce papers. The shock stopped my heart. I woke up in the year he was still living in a basement, staring at my pathetic ex-husband. I pulled my hand back from the stove, where his comfort food was simmering, and tossed him a five-year blueprint for the empire he had not yet built. “Want out of this dump? Sign this. You work for me now.” He stared, eyes lit with the raw hunger of a man who’d just seen real power. Along the way, I took over his mistresses. His dream girl Chloe needed cash? I funded her. His ex Blair wanted fame? I launched her. The starlet Harper had big dreams? I made them happen. Three years later, my ex-husband knelt, begging me to take him back. “Audrey, darling, I don’t need a title. I just want to be by your side.” Before he could finish, Blair and Chloe-now an A-list actress and a top influencer-kicked him out together. “Back off! Audrey’s ours tonight.” 1 Audrey POV “Audrey, let’s get a divorce.” “You’re amazing. You’re the perfect wife. But you’re too perfect, so perfect…it suffocates me.” Liam handed me the papers, his face a pitiful mask of anguish. As if he hadn’t used my family’s money to build his empire. As if I hadn’t spent years polishing his image and opening every door, only for him to bring his “true love” into our home while painting me as the wife who smothered him. I couldn’t breathe. My chest seized, and I fell. He had literally choked the life out of me. In my last conscious thought, I wished. If there’s a next life, I am absolutely not going to be some perfect trophy wife! “Audrey? What’s wrong?” A familiar voice rang out. I snapped my eyes open. A flickering bare bulb buzzed overhead. Peeling wallpaper, plastered over with old newspapers, clung precariously to the walls. The air was a stale mix of cheap ramen seasoning and that unique, damp basement mildew. Liam’s face, ten years younger, hovered inches from mine. At this point, he hadn’t yet donned his million-dollar bespoke suits. He wore a faded, threadbare T-shirt, a scruffy beard, and bloodshot eyes. And I wasn’t dead yet. I was back, ten years in the past. Back to that summer when Liam had failed at his startup, been kicked out of his family’s home, and was forced to live with me in this grim basement apartment. In my past life, he’d been this same half-dead mess, sitting on the edge of the bed, wallowing in self-pity. “Audrey, am I a failure? Everyone looks down on me, only you…” In my past life, I would have hugged him, my heart aching, then gone to our tiny kitchenette to make him a comforting bowl of cream of mushroom soup. I’d hold his hand and tell him, gently but firmly. “You’re just having bad luck. I know you’ll succeed.” For that promise, I sold the Cartier bracelet my mother left me, maxed out my credit cards, and choked down stale bread for three years, just to drag him out of the gutter. And the result? The first thing he did after succeeding was to dump me. Now, just looking at him made me sick to my stomach. “Audrey, I’m so hungry. Is there any food left?” Liam sniffled, his eyes watery as he stared at me, waiting for me to act like his personal, all-purpose maid. I looked at him and let out a cold laugh. My love-drunk brain from the last life had been cured by a heart attack. My tolerance for hardship was zero; my appetite, however, was strictly for money. I sat up straight, not heading for the kitchen. Instead, I turned and pulled a calculator and a notebook from my canvas bag. “Hungry?” I tapped on the calculator. “If you’re hungry, drink some cold water to fool your stomach. Because right now, you’re not just a failure, you’re a broke failure.” Liam froze, his dejected expression instantly replaced by shock. “Audrey, you… what did you say?” “I said you’re poor.” I slammed the notebook onto the rickety wooden table in front of him. “Liam, let’s talk numbers.” “Last month, you wanted to give this basement ‘startup hub vibes,’ so you maxed out my credit card on a secondhand leather sofa. That’s three thousand eight hundred dollars.” “The day before yesterday, you rented a suit for eight hundred dollars for that project that was doomed to fail anyway.” “Add that to the last two years of rent, utilities, your cigarette money, your booze money, and all the money you lost from my investments instead of making any.” I paused, and the calculator’s cold electronic voice chimed. “Zero. Total. eighty-eight thousand four hundred and twenty dollars.” I held out my hand, palm up, and looked at him. “Care to settle up?” The air was dead silent. Liam’s eyes were wide with disbelief. He opened his mouth, his face turning a furious crimson, and after a long moment, he managed to stammer, “Audrey… we’re husband and wife! Talking about money… isn’t that a bit harsh?” “You actually remember we’re husband and wife?” I scoffed, standing up to look down at this future billionaire. “Liam, I haven’t left you yet because you haven’t paid back my money. And since you’re broke, you’ll have to pay with yourself.” Liam instinctively clutched his chest, looking terrified. “Pay… pay with myself?” What beautiful fantasy is he cooking up? I rolled my eyes, pulling out a ‘Labor for Debt Agreement’ from my bag-or, to put it simply, a contract selling him to me. “Sign it.” I shoved a pen into his hand. “Starting today, I’m the capital, and you’re the labor. Every minute of your time, every idea, even you yourself, belong to me. Your salary will go towards your debt, and your dividends will be held by me.” “If I tell you to go east, you don’t go west. If I tell you to make promises, you don’t make anything else.” Liam held the pen, his hand shaking. “Audrey, what’s gotten into you? You weren’t like this before. You said I was your world, that you’d always support my dreams…” “That’s right, I support your dreams.” I leaned down, close to his ear. Looking at this stubborn rock of a man, who I couldn’t warm up no matter how hard I tried in my last life, I gave him the kind of sweetly condescending smile you’d reserve for a dim-witted child. “So, for your dreams, you can handle a little hardship, right?” “You need a killer instinct. Stop fixating on these petty struggles. If you can’t even sign these terms, how will you ever achieve greatness? How will you conquer the business world?” This was his exact line, word-for-word, that he used to manipulate me in our previous life. Now, I was serving it right back to him. Liam was dumbfounded by my ‘boss-speak.’ “Fine! I’ll sign!” He gritted his teeth, scrawled his name on the paper, then looked up, his eyes gleaming with the unmistakable awe of a man completely captivated by power. “Audrey, I’ll do whatever you say! How do we turn this around?” I looked at his signature on the paper, satisfied, and flicked the edge of the document. Turn this around? Last life, I used love to inspire you, and you treated me like a maid. This life, I’m using money to train you, and you’re treating me like a savior. “It’s simple.” I collected the agreement and smiled. “First, get dressed properly and shave that beard. Don’t sleep tonight. I’m going to outline your business plan for the next five years.” Your “good” women are still waiting in the future for me to harvest. Since I’m your boss this life, Your backup plans are naturally my company’s assets. 2 Audrey POV The night he signed the contract, I didn’t let Liam sleep. I made him practice his “gaze” in front of the mirror for three whole hours. That specific look. a blend of detached coolness, casual indifference, and the unspoken certainty of having the world at his fingertips. In our past life, it was his trademark after he became successful. This life, I made him master it ahead of time. The next morning, Liam, sporting two massive dark circles under his eyes, eagerly extended his hand to me. “Audrey, since we’re starting a big business, what about the initial capital? I returned that suit yesterday. I need some decent clothes to meet investors today, right? And a car, we can’t take the subway, can we?” I was sipping a two-dollar carton of milk, and wiped my mouth. “Clothes? A car?” I rummaged in my bag and pulled out a chipped car key, slapping it onto the table. “Your car’s been ready.” Liam’s eyes lit up. He grabbed the key, then his face instantly crumpled. “A Volkswagen? And… a vintage Jetta?” That’s right, a Jetta. It was the same car he’d pointed to in the company garage after he struck it rich in my last life, just to spite me. He’d sneered, “This car reminds me of you. Tough, reliable, a bit worn out but still usable. It’s yours.” I’d driven that beat-up car on countless frigid nights, bringing him hangover remedies. Now, it was back where it belonged. “What? Not good enough?” I raised an eyebrow. “It’s not that I look down on it, it’s just…” Liam’s face looked like he’d just bitten into a lemon. “The paint is peeling, and you have to slam the door just to close it. I’m supposed to drive this to a multi-million-dollar project meeting? Security won’t even let me past the gate!” “Shallow!” I slammed my hand on the table, making Liam jump and nearly drop his half-eaten bagel. It was time to unleash my masterclass in manipulation. “Liam, your thinking is still stuck in the gutter!” I said, “What do investors look for now? Fancy suits? Luxury cars? That screams ‘new money’! They want a story! A narrative! That ‘rising from the ashes with nothing but grit and vision’ kind of vulnerable authenticity!” I walked up to him and straightened the slightly wrinkled collar of his old shirt. “Think about it, where did Steve Jobs start his company? In a garage.” “If you roll up in a luxury car, they’ll think you’re some rich idiot who just burns money, and they’ll be on guard. But if you drive this beat-up Jetta, what does that signify?” Liam blinked. “It signifies… I’m unconventional?” “Wrong!” I snapped my fingers. “It signifies hard work! It means you’ve poured every single dollar into R&D and product development! It means you’re a pure entrepreneur, willing to sacrifice material comforts for your dream!” “What’s this called? It’s a strategic psychological advantage. It’s building an impenetrable brand narrative. Get it?” Liam’s jaw dropped, his eyes went wide as saucers. Clearly, this advanced internet jargon was a massive shock to him. He looked at the broken key in his hand, his eyes slowly shifting from disgust to reverence. “Audrey… you’re right. I used to be so superficial, I didn’t truly grasp the essence of success.” “Exactly.” I stifled a laugh and pulled a PowerPoint presentation from my bag. This PPT was actually the business plan he’d used to earn his first fortune in my previous life, one he’d bragged about in countless interviews after he succeeded. I already knew the content by heart and had even patched up a few logical loopholes. “Take this, drive your car, and go meet Mr. Henderson at the downtown office tower.” Liam took the PPT, flipped through a couple of pages, and his hands began to tremble. “This… the underlying logic, the seamless business model, the way it addresses core pain points… Audrey, you came up with this?!” “Less talk, more action.” I checked my watch. “Remember, once you’re in there, say little. Use the jargon I’ve annotated on each page. ‘Empowerment,’ ‘synergy,’ ‘disruptive innovation’-hit them with everything you’ve got.” “If you’re not embarrassed, they will be.” Liam took a deep breath, his eyes hardening with determination. He carefully tucked the broken car key into his pocket, like a warrior heading to battle. “Audrey, don’t worry! If I don’t close this deal, I don’t deserve to eat your food!” Watching him charge out of the basement with such gusto, a moment later, the decrepit Jetta roared to life outside, sounding less like a car and more like a dying tractor. I finally couldn’t hold back my laughter. You idiot. Mr. Henderson was a known sentimentalist, a total sucker for a ‘rags-to-riches’ story. In my last life, Liam had rented a luxury car to look impressive, only to be thrown out. This life, that desperate, ‘scraped-from-the-bottom’ vibe combined with the clunker Jetta? It was guaranteed to hit Mr. Henderson right in his sweet spot. With the grunt work sorted, it was time for my core assets. I pulled out a brand-new notebook and opened to the first page. Stuck there was a photo printed from an old college social media profile. The girl in the picture wore a white dress, standing under a tree, her face streaked with tears, so pure it was almost heartbreaking. Chloe. Liam’s ‘true love,’ a future viral sensation. In my past life, this was right around the time she came to him begging for money. To play the hero, Liam gave her the money I needed for rent, forcing me to beg the landlord for a week. This time… I checked the time on my phone. If the script was right, in half an hour, this ‘innocent little flower’ would arrive at this basement to put on her dramatic act. I pulled a dusty ring light from under the bed and found a secondhand phone stand, propping it up on the rickety table. “Come on, my little ATM.” I adjusted the camera angle, a capitalist’s smile playing on my lips. “Nowadays, tears shed into the ocean are just wastewater. But tears shed into a live stream… those are pure gold.” 3 Audrey POV As expected, that beat-up Jetta worked wonders. When Liam returned, the car’s sputtering noise sounded like a tractor plowing a field, audible three blocks away. But he stepped out with an unexpectedly imposing stride. “Audrey! It’s done! All of it!” He burst into the basement, excitedly waving the letter of intent. “Mr. Henderson said I have that… that ‘built-from-nothing’ kind of drive!” I took the letter and glanced at it. As expected, the first round of funding was secured. “Not bad.” I poured him a glass of cold water. “Looks like your ‘pity play’ marketing has real potential.” “What ‘pity play’? This is about narrative!” Liam chugged the water, instantly swelling with self-importance. “Since we have money now, we need to register the company right away, recruit staff! I want a new office, and I need an administrative assistant, a secretary-preferably someone with great image and temperament.” There it was. A man’s inherent flaws, like a leopard never changing its spots. The moment he had a warm meal, he started looking for trouble. In my last life, this was the stage where he used “hiring” as an excuse to bring in a string of attractive women. Back then, I’d argued with him countless times, and he’d always wear that innocent expression, saying, “It’s all for work, don’t be so unreasonable.” This life, I looked at the predatory glint in his eyes and just found it amusing. “Hire? Of course, we’ll hire.” I pulled out my pre-prepared laptop and opened an Excel spreadsheet. “Not just hire, we’ll hire the best.” Liam paused, clearly surprised by my enthusiasm. “Really? You’re not mad?” “Can anger make money?” I rolled my eyes. “Liam, we need to scale up and strengthen our business. Our thinking needs to evolve. Just being a tech company is too slow. What era are we in now? The age of traffic!” “We’re building a content empire, creating an MCN. Every single employee is going to be a walking ATM!” Liam looked utterly bewildered. “MCN? What’s that? I just wanted to hire a secretary…” “Too small! Your vision is too small!” I turned the laptop towards him, pointing at a list I’d already compiled on the screen. This list was a mental download of “his lovers’ names” from my past life. It detailed each woman’s name, special skills, and their current dire circumstances. 1. Chloe (Note. Future top influencer, current status. needs money for her mother, skilled at crying on cue) 2. Blair (Note. Future PR genius, current status. bar singer, skilled at witty insults) 3. Harper (Note. Future hit scriptwriter, current status. washed-up aspiring writer, skilled at fantastical narratives) “Look.” I pointed at the screen. “Chloe, she looks like a tragic heroine. Perfect for building a ‘most pitiful sister on the internet’ persona, attracting a large female fanbase. Blair, her name means ‘fire,’ she’s perfect for a ‘fiery queen’ vibe, attracting female fans. Harper, her name sounds sophisticated, let her write scripts and capture the mass market.” Liam’s eyes were practically bugging out as he looked at the names. “Audrey, how do you know them?” He nervously swallowed. “I swear I don’t have anything going on with them, I just… I just met them a few times…” “I know you don’t have anything going on with them.” I looked at him, a smirk playing on my lips. “But I know you want to have something going on with them.” Liam nearly fell to his knees in fright. “Audrey, I’m so sorry! I’ll block them right now! I definitely won’t hire them!” “Don’t be silly!” I grabbed his hand. “Why block them? What a waste! This is our own exclusive, God-given audience!” “Think about it. instead of letting them wander out there, getting tricked by some other shady guy, why not bring them into the company? You’re the boss, they’re the employees. Not only can they make you money, but you get to look at them every day. What’s that called? Killing two birds with one stone.” Liam was speechless. Slowly, his expression changed. From fear to gratitude, then from gratitude to a kind of unbelievable euphoria. He must have been imagining a scenario where. Audrey loves me so much, she’s even willing to help me find women and manage them right under her nose. What kind of wife does this? A truly magnanimous one! “Audrey…” Liam’s eyes welled up with tears of gratitude again. “You’re so good to me. Don’t worry, even if they join, I’ll only treat them as employees. My heart is only for you!” Duh, of course, you’ll only treat them as employees. Because this life, I’ll use contracts that would make a shark blush, turning them into my personal golden geese. As for you? You’re just a glorified figurehead. “Alright, enough with the emotional stuff.” I closed the laptop and stood up. “That Chloe woman, isn’t she coming to borrow money from you this afternoon?” Liam gasped. “How do you know that too?” “Don’t ask. Just call it a woman’s intuition.” I pulled a phone stand with a built-in ring light from my bag and shoved it into Liam’s arms. “When she gets here, don’t rush to give her money. Set this up and start a live stream.” Liam looked utterly confused. “Start a live stream for what?” I patted his shoulder and smiled. “These sweet girls are too naive, the world out there is dangerous. Don’t you dare mess with them, let me handle it.” “I’m going to give them a warm home-a ‘home’ with no days off and a fifty-million-dollar buyout clause.” “Get ready. It’s time to reel in our first batch of unsuspecting fish.” 4 Audrey POV At three in the afternoon, the girl in the white dress appeared at the basement door right on schedule. Chloe. True to her name, Chloe was delicate and utterly captivating. She wasn’t carrying the designer bag that would later make her famous, just a faded canvas tote. Standing there, she was the picture of a fragile, innocent damsel in distress. “Liam…” That emotionally charged whisper almost melted the resolve of Liam, who had just sworn to become a ‘ruthless entrepreneur.’ Liam instinctively stood up; his old, irritating hero complex kicked in. He hurried over, his face etched with concern. “Chloe, don’t cry. Is it your mother’s illness again…?” “Your mother’s medical bills are five thousand dollars short, aren’t they?” I sat on the broken sofa, fiddling with the phone stand, cutting Chloe off before she could speak. Chloe froze, her tear-filled eyes turning to me in alarm. “How do you know that?” I ignored her, merely nodding towards Liam. “What are you waiting for? Move.” Liam looked anxious. “Audrey, Chloe is really in trouble. Even though I don’t have money now, can’t we-” “Shut up.” I pushed the annoying obstacle aside and shoved the phone, already set with a beauty filter, directly in front of Chloe’s face. “Want to save your mother?” Chloe was startled by my aggressive stance, instinctively nodding, her tears falling even faster. “If you want to save your mother, listen to me.” I turned on the ring light. “Don’t cry to this broke guy, he can’t even spare five hundred dollars. If you’re going to cry, cry into this.” I pointed to the phone camera. “This is…?” Chloe was bewildered. “This is called live streaming.” I deftly changed the live stream title. “Shocking! Pure Beauty Will Do ANYTHING to Save Her Mom… Friends, Who Can Relate?!” “Come on, look at the camera. Recreate that emotion from your ‘Liam’ earlier, but change ‘Liam’ to ‘friends.’ Three, two, one, we’re live!” Chloe hadn’t even reacted, and the number of viewers in the stream began to skyrocket. After all, in an era saturated with loud, obnoxious influencers, a natural, wholesome beauty like Chloe, crying with such raw vulnerability, was pure gold. “Cry!” I mouthed silently from off-camera, shaking a wad of cash to encourage her. Chloe looked at the rapidly scrolling comments on the screen. The mix of injustice, fear, and worry for her mother’s condition erupted. “I… I just don’t know what to do anymore…” In that moment, I had to admit, some people are just naturally gifted. Chloe’s crying performance had so many layers. It wasn’t a wailing cry, but rather red-rimmed eyes, a pink nose, and tears that trembled on the verge of falling. The comments section exploded. “Her crying is literally breaking my heart!” “Who is this angel? So much better than all those filter freaks!” “Does she need money? Send me her Venmo!” In just ten minutes, the backend revenue soared from zero to fifty thousand dollars. That was more money than Liam made in a whole month in my last life! The live stream ended. I turned off the phone, looking at the string of zeros in the backend, and snapped my fingers in satisfaction. “One hundred thousand dollars.” I showed the phone screen to Chloe, who was still sobbing softly. “After platform fees and my management cut, you get fifty thousand dollars. That’s enough for your mother’s surgery.” Chloe stared blankly at the number, forgetting to cry. She looked at me, then at Liam, as if her entire worldview had just shattered. “You’re my savior!” Chloe suddenly grabbed my hand. “Can I stream again tomorrow? I can cry more! I can cry in even more creative ways!” I smiled. See, that’s human nature. In the face of absolute profit, love means nothing. I pulled out a pre-prepared ‘Exclusive Artist Management Contract’ from my bag. “Sign it.” I smiled. “From now on, I’m your manager. Forget medical bills; as long as you’re obedient, I’ll make you the number one influencer on the internet. You’ll be crying in a pile of designer bags then.” Chloe didn’t even read the terms, signing it more decisively than Liam had. Done. When Chloe left, Liam was still in a daze. He watched her retreating back, hugging the contract and grinning foolishly-the same girl who used to cling to him-and couldn’t help but run after her. “Chloe, um… don’t you have anything to say to me?” Chloe stopped, turning to look at him. Her eyes were clear, with a hint of disdain, and a touch of impatience. “Oh, Liam.” She waved her phone. “My manager says I can’t interact with anyone outside my top ten followers now. It’ll hurt my engagement.” “Besides, I need to go home and study live streaming strategies tonight. I don’t have time to chat with you.” With that, she walked off with light steps, not even looking back. Liam stood there, wind-swept and utterly bewildered, looking like a lost puppy. He turned to me, his face full of hurt. “Audrey, she’s changed. She wasn’t like this before. She used to be an angel who lived on dew drops…” “Wake up.” I patted his face, transferring my half of the commission into the company account. “Even angels need to eat. She drank dew before because she couldn’t afford a soda.” “And stop moping around. This is just the beginning.” I looked at the next name in my contacts. Blair. “Get ready. We’re going to a bar tonight. Our next core asset is still out there, getting harassed.” “Our company needs a head of security. That feisty girl with the sharp tongue would be perfect.” 5 Audrey POV With Chloe sorted, the company account now had fifty thousand dollars in liquid funds. Liam felt invincible again. That night, he specifically changed into a ridiculously flashy Hawaiian shirt, doused his hair in half a bottle of hairspray, and drove that beat-up Jetta-the one where everything rattled but the horn worked-taking me to the Nightfall Bar on the south side of town. “Audrey, Blair is singing here.” Liam explained his philosophy of seduction while backing up the car. “You don’t understand, Blair is different from Chloe. Chloe is water; Blair is fire. Her untamed wildcat nature is exactly what excites a man’s desire to conquer… Holy crap!” With a loud crash, Liam backed into a garbage can. I looked at him. “You can’t even conquer a garbage can, and you think you can tame a wildcat? Get out.” Inside the bar, heavy metal music blared, deafening. No need to search; the most chaotic corner of the bar was where Blair was. At that moment, Blair, dressed in a black studded leather jacket and combat boots, was surrounded by several drunk men. “Hey, cutie, nice singing. How about a drink with us?” If this were before, Liam would have charged right in, usually ending up with a bruised face, then Blair would tearfully tend to his wounds, and their relationship would deepen. But this time, I grabbed Liam by the back of his collar. “What’s the rush? Enjoy the show.” Blair merely sneered, her beautiful face showing no fear. She didn’t even lift a hand. She simply stood with one hand on her hip, took a deep breath. Then, a verbal barrage began. “Had a shot or two and forgot if you were born or hatched? Look at that underdeveloped brain of yours, is public lewdness some kind of evolutionary throwback? Even if you tried to get a do-over in your mother’s womb, the amniotic fluid would reject you as non-recyclable waste…” Her words came fast, logical, and overwhelmingly powerful. For a full five minutes, the drunkards were stunned into silence, their faces turning crimson, unable to get a single word in edgewise. The onlookers were amazed, some even wanting to applaud. Liam was also stunned. He swallowed, retreating slightly. “This… this is too scary. Who could ever handle her?” “I think she’s great.” This isn’t a shrew; this is an internet-savvy PR genius! What’s the biggest fear for influencers nowadays? Haters and trolls. We need someone like Blair. If anyone dares to stir up trouble in Chloe’s live stream, or badmouth our company, Blair’s mouth alone could replace a whole PR department! Just as the drunkards, red-faced with anger, were about to get physical- “Stop!” It wasn’t Liam who yelled, it was me. Of course, I wasn’t foolish enough to rush into a physical fight myself. I snapped my fingers, and two burly men I’d hired by the hour immediately stepped forward like iron towers, blocking Blair. “Company business. You randos, clear out.” I’m quite good at putting on a show. Seeing the situation, the drunkards grumbled and left. Blair tossed her red hair, looking at me warily. “Who are you? Don’t think just because you helped me, I owe you a drink.” “A drink?” I glanced at the cheap, blended liquor on the table. “Even a dog wouldn’t touch this swill.” I pulled out a newly printed business card-MCN agency founder-and handed it to her, holding it between two fingers. “Your insults were pretty good just now. Great rhythm, rich vocabulary. Interested in a different place to do your yelling?” Blair looked bewildered. “Huh?” “I run a media company.” I pointed to Liam, who was cowering behind me. “This is my number one employee. I think you’re a natural talent for verbal sparring. I’d like to hire you as our company’s PR Director and Head of Security.” Blair looked at me like I was crazy. “Are you nuts? I only sing.” “Singing is a dead end. How many singers end up as homeless people?” I hit her with the harsh truth. “But you can argue! Do you know how annoying those keyboard warriors online are these days? I need someone specifically to deal with them.” “Eight thousand dollars a month. Bonuses if you win the arguments. If you lose… I don’t think you’re capable of losing.” Blair’s wariness slowly faded, replaced by a hopeful glint in her eyes, like someone who’d found a stroke of luck. “Really?” Blair raised an eyebrow. “Can I curse out the boss?” She pointed at Liam. I glanced at Liam, who was about to try and chat her up, and smiled. “If he acts like an idiot, go nuts. It’ll count as overtime.” “Deal!” Blair gave me a firm high-five, then turned to Liam. Liam had just formulated the line, “Blair, I’ve come to rescue you.” Blair looked him up and down. “Well, well, isn’t this the loser who was hiding behind a woman earlier? So much hairspray, aren’t you afraid a spark will roast that walnut-sized brain of yours?” He looked at me for help. “Audrey, she… why is she attacking her own team?” I patted Liam’s shoulder, stifling a laugh. “Ms. Blair is undergoing her job assessment. Looks like her skills are top-notch.” “From now on, behave yourself at the company.” I walked out with my newly recruited general, Blair, leaving Liam with a cold, retreating back. “Blair has a temper. If you mess up your affairs in the future and she curses you into therapy, the company won’t be responsible for your shrink bills.” 6 Audrey POV Having lost both Chloe’s tender affection and Blair’s admiration, Liam fell into a deep depression. He huddled in a corner of the basement, sighing over his rickety old computer. “Audrey, you don’t understand.” He held a book of poetry, his eyes melancholic. “Chloe and Blair are too materialistic; they only care about money. My soul has nowhere to rest. I need someone who truly understands me, a soulmate to discuss poetry with, to watch the stars and snow…” I was busy calculating Chloe’s sales commission from last night and didn’t even look up. “Spit it out. Are you trying to go after Harper, the aspiring writer, again?” Liam choked, then straightened up indignantly. “Harper is different! She’s a writer, an intellectual! She doesn’t care about money; she’s the last pure soul in this superficial world!” “Pure soul?” I closed my ledger. “Fine. Let’s go see if this ‘pure soul’ really doesn’t need to eat.” When we found Harper, this ‘pure soul’ was squatting outside her rental apartment, gnawing on a dry bagel. That’s right, no water, just dry bread. Her landlord stood over her, hands on hips, yelling, “Don’t tell me I’m picking on you because you’re poor! These piles of scrap paper aren’t paying the rent! If you don’t fork over the cash, you and your precious manuscripts are out!” Scattered across the ground were piles of manuscripts, all full of meaningless rambling. Liam’s face twisted with anguish at the sight. His old male complex kicked in again. “Stop! How dare you insult her? Harper, don’t be afraid, I’m here…” He reached for his pocket, then remembered I’d confiscated his wallet long ago. He was even poorer than Harper. “Move.” I once again pushed aside this useless windbag and walked up to Harper. Harper looked up. Her face indeed had an artistic quality, her eyes filled with stubborn defiance. “Are you here to mock me?” She bit her lip, shielding her manuscripts on the ground. “Even if I’m poor, my words have soul…” “Can ‘soul’ pay the bills?” I bent down, picked up a manuscript, and scanned it. ‘My Star Has Vanished…’ I shook my head in disdain. “What era are we in, still writing this kind of stuff? Readers are under so much stress these days, who wants to read your self-indulgent navel-gazing? People want satisfaction!” Harper’s face flushed crimson. “What do you know! This is art! I don’t write that market-pleasing trash!” “What if writing ‘trash’ could get you a villa, a luxury car, and lobster for every meal?” I pulled out a ‘Hit Scriptwriting Contract’ from my bag. “I’m the CEO of a media company. I’ve seen your writing skills; you have potential for Alpha-CEO dramas.” “We’re going to produce vertical short dramas with a plot twist every minute, a dramatic slap every three, and the male lead on his knees begging for mercy every five. Things like ‘My Arrogant CEO Loves Me,’ ‘Rebirth as a Billionaire,’ ‘The Abandoned Heiress and Her Secret Babies’…” Harper’s eyes went wide. “You… you want me to write that meaningless garbage? I’d rather die! It’s blasphemy against literature!” Liam chimed in from the side. “Exactly! Audrey, you’re going too far. Harper writes pure literature, how can you make her write for the mass market…” “Twenty thousand dollars base salary, plus ten percent royalties for a hit.” I interrupted them, calmly laying out my offer. “Based on current market trends, a single hit script can earn a writer… this much.” I held up five fingers. “Five… five thousand dollars?” Harper tentatively asked. “Five hundred thousand dollars.” The air suddenly went silent. The half-eaten bagel in Harper’s hand clattered to the ground. In that instant, I saw the ‘soul of literature’ in her eyes furiously battling against ‘five hundred thousand dollars.’ In approximately 0.01 seconds, five hundred thousand dollars round-kicked the soul right out. Harper abruptly stood up, brushed the dirt off her pants, her eyes blazing with newfound determination. “As long as the money’s right, forget an arrogant CEO loving me-I’ll write about an arrogant CEO loving a dog!” Back at the company, I set aside a special corner for Harper, christening it the “Billionaire Scriptwriting Center.” Harper truly was a talented writer; her creative drive was like a raging river. “I’ve got the first script! It’s called ‘After 1800 Hours of Overtime and a $20,000 Deduction from My Bonus, the CEO Panicked When I Quit’! That will definitely resonate with every overworked employee!” Harper, disheveled and with her glasses reflecting an eerie glow, furiously typed away. “Excellent.” I nodded in satisfaction. “But a pain point isn’t enough; you need a character. You need a… well, a greasy, overconfident, and particularly dishonest CEO as your prototype.” Harper chewed on her pen, looking stumped. “That kind of extreme character is hard to find…” Both Harper’s and my gazes slowly, precisely, shifted towards Liam, who was quietly drinking water in the corner. Liam felt a shiver run down his spine. “What… why are you two looking at me like that?” Harper’s eyes lit up, like a hungry wolf spotting prey. “He’s perfect! Right there! That ‘detached coolness with a hint of condescending amusement’ kind of look! That ‘Woman, you’ve successfully caught my attention’ air of self-importance!” “Mr. Liam!” Harper rushed over, grabbing Liam by the collar. “Quick! Say all those lies you used to tell your employees again! I need to record them as dialogue!” “And that subtly evil expression you had earlier, do it again! I want to write it into the climax of the first episode!” Liam was so scared he pressed himself against the wall, trembling. “I’m the boss… I’m the CEO! You can’t do this to me…” “Mr. Liam, just cooperate.” I leisurely cracked open some sunflower seeds. “If Harper’s show is a hit, our company’s cash flow will be stable. Didn’t you say you’d sacrifice everything for your startup? What’s a little contribution of your likeness and reputation?” Liam was on the verge of tears. The next month, Liam entered his darkest hour. During the day, he was dragged by Chloe to be a live stream background prop, holding up signs. At noon, Blair pulled him into ‘insult training,’ serving as her punching bag. At night, Harper made him run lines, repeating cringeworthy Alpha-CEO dialogues over and over. If his emotions weren’t quite right, Harper would snap, “Your acting is terrible; you’re messing up my writing schedule!” A month later, the first short drama, ‘Rebirth. I’m the Heiress’s Nanny,’ premiered. The male lead was a complete replica of Liam, even using his favorite line, “How can you achieve greatness if you can’t even handle this little bit of hardship?” In the show, the male lead eventually went bankrupt and ended up picking garbage, only to be kicked into a trash can by the female lead. The show was a massive hit. Total views across the internet exceeded ten billion. Harper became an overnight sensation, with six-figure royalties. Watching the constantly fluctuating numbers in the company account, I patted Liam, who was thoroughly questioning his existence. “See, that’s the power of knowledge monetization.” “Don’t go looking for soulmates anymore. Your soul is too cheap. Harper charges by the word now. A single conversation with you would cost two hundred dollars. Can you afford that?” Liam looked at Harper, who was counting money so fast her hands were cramping, and silently retreated back to his corner against the wall.

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As the year ended, my husband, Mark, awarded a million-dollar bonus to his company’s top salesperson, Cassandra, taking it directly from our son’s medical fund. When I confronted him, his face was full of impatience. “What are you complaining about now? It’s just a million! That’s nothing compared to what Cassandra brings in. You contribute nothing to the company, and you dare question her bonus?” But those orders came from clients I introduced! Cassandra ran her hand up Mark’s thigh, a mocking smirk on her lips. “Mark and I are both dedicated to this company. After all, you just live off him now.” I watched them with a cold smile. Mark never knew that my parents had strongly opposed our marriage years ago. They made a deal with me: if Mark truly loved and valued me for three years, they would accept him. Clearly, I had lost. Thinking of my son in the hospital, I pulled out the divorce papers. You took my son’s lifeline. Now my parents will take yours! When Mark saw the divorce papers, he froze. “What’s this, another mind game? Trying to scare me with divorce?” Impatiently, he tore the documents to shreds and threw them in my face. A jagged edge caught my cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. My phone was flooded with their explicit photos and videos. I’d screamed and pleaded with him countless times before. His answer was always the same: “You’re always going to be Mrs. Miller. She’s just a bit of fun.” I refused to admit I’d loved the wrong man, so I waited for him to change. But he actually took our son’s medical funds to give to his mistress! He had crossed my line! “Give the money back! Leo has a matched donor organ, and his surgery can happen tomorrow!” Mark paused for a moment, then frowned. “Leo is so young; what’s a month or two more? Without Cassandra, there’s no company. You wouldn’t be living this pampered life as Mrs. Miller, you wouldn’t have that million dollars!” I stared at Mark in disbelief. Years ago, to help him gain my parents’ acceptance sooner, I worked tirelessly, pulling in clients even while heavily pregnant. That’s why Leo was born with a rare heart condition. The doctors said he needed a heart transplant before he turned three, or else… Cassandra rose from the sofa, a triumphant glint in her eyes. “Scarlett, a housewife like you probably has no idea how much revenue I bring in. That million is rightfully mine.” “Mark and I both came from nothing. How could you raise a child so spoiled, he can’t even wait two months? He’s nothing like Mark!” A year ago, Mark hired Cassandra straight out of high school. He said she had the same relentless drive he used to have. They also shared the experience of having abusive fathers. I didn’t object. I trained Cassandra and handed her my own client contacts. Later, to care for my son with his congenital heart condition, I resigned and became a full-time mother. I never imagined Cassandra would repay me by stealing my husband and stabbing me in the back. The thought made me slap her across the face. But in the next second, Mark’s palm connected with my cheek, sending me stumbling. My back slammed hard into the corner of the table, and I gasped, a cold sweat breaking out. Mark helped Cassandra up before even looking at me. “What’s gotten into you? You’re being completely unreasonable! Leo is my son too, and I care about him, but the company comes first right now. If Cassandra gets this million, she’ll create even more value for the company in the future.” He paused when he saw the slap mark on my face, then spoke, as if granting a favor. “Alright, you wouldn’t understand company matters anyway. Apologize to Cassandra, then get out.” I braced myself against the table, straightened up, and pulled another document from my bag, tossing it at his face. “Divorce!”

Seeing the divorce papers again, Mark exploded in a fit of rage. He pulled out a pen and scrawled his signature. “Fine, I agree! I’d love to see how a mere housewife manages to survive with a sick child!” I numbly collected the divorce papers, watching the sheer delight on Cassandra’s face. I’ll be back with my family in three days. Let’s see if she still holds onto that million-dollar bonus then. As I was about to leave, Mark blocked my path. “Scarlett, I’m giving you one more chance. Apologize to Cassandra, and these divorce papers mean nothing. You’ll still be my wife.” Cassandra wrapped her arm around Mark’s, then deliberately tugged her collar open, revealing a fresh hickey on her neck. “Scarlett, if you just get down on your knees and apologize to me, I’ll ask Mark to withdraw the divorce papers.” I let out a cold laugh. “I don’t have a habit of fighting over garbage.” With that, I pushed Mark aside and stormed out. Behind me, I heard his furious shout. “From this day forward, Scarlett Miller and any stray dogs are banned from this company!” Years ago, I’d left my family to start this company with Mark. I’d wanted to prove to them that I hadn’t chosen the wrong man. In the end, it was all just a joke. Walking out of the building, I dialed my father’s number. It rang for a long time, but no one answered. The tears I’d held back for so long finally broke free. My son was running out of time. I could only try to sell the jewelry and designer bags Mark had given me. But every luxury consignment shop and pawn broker in the city told me they couldn’t take them. At the last store, Mark and Cassandra were there. He looked annoyed when he saw me. “Scarlett, those were my gifts to you. Are you really just going to trash my generosity like this?” It clicked then. Mark had told all these stores not to buy my things. I lunged forward and slapped him hard. “You bastard! Do you even deserve to be Leo’s father?! The doctors said Leo won’t live long if he doesn’t get a new heart before he turns three! If it weren’t for you, he’d be fine by now!” Six months ago, the hospital found a matching donor organ. I already had the surgery funds ready. But that’s when Cassandra’s father showed up at the company, demanding money to pay off his gambling debts. Mark used that million to pay off Cassandra’s father, then used the remaining two hundred thousand to set Cassandra up in her own place. And now, he was blocking me from getting Leo’s surgery funds. The thought made me rush him, ready to hit him again. But he grabbed me, holding me tight. “What’s wrong with you?! How could you lie about our son’s condition just for attention?! Cassandra asked the doctor; waiting two more months won’t hurt him!” I shifted my gaze to Cassandra, and my eyes landed on the bracelet on her wrist. That was my eighteenth birthday gift from my parents, one of a kind in the entire world. I sold it years ago to give Mark his startup capital. He’d promised to buy it back for me, but instead, he’d given it to Cassandra. Mark only flinched for a second under my gaze. “You hit Cassandra and didn’t apologize. This bracelet is her compensation.” I blinked back the stinging tears, gritted my teeth, and walked away. My son’s surgery was tomorrow morning; I didn’t have much time. I’ll deal with you both later!

The next day, I managed to scrape together the money just before the surgery. But when I went to pay, the staff told me there wasn’t enough balance. I frantically opened my mobile banking app. The transaction history showed a two hundred thousand dollar withdrawal made fifteen minutes earlier. That’s when I remembered, Mark also had access to this card. Ignoring my fury, I quickly asked the staff to process the remaining balance. Then I begged Dr. Davies, promising that the remaining two hundred thousand would be paid in full. Seeing my desperation, and knowing the severity of Leo’s condition, which truly couldn’t wait any longer, the doctor agreed to proceed with the surgery. But just as Dr. Davies changed into his scrubs and was about to enter the operating room, Mark and Cassandra arrived with a group of people, blocking his way. “Dr. Davies, we have an elderly patient in Orthopedics needing immediate surgery. Their heart might not handle the strain, and we need your expertise.” Cassandra, tears streaming down her face, grabbed Dr. Davies’s hand. “Please, Dr. Davies, you have to save my grandmother!” After some frantic questioning, I learned Cassandra’s elderly grandmother had merely sprained her ankle. Mark had pulled strings to get every specialist in the hospital to attend to her. Seeing their relentless determination, my face went ghostly pale. I was terrified Dr. Davies would give in. But thankfully, Dr. Davies firmly refused. “I have an emergency surgery right now. You’ll have to find someone else.” Mark didn’t listen. He simply ordered his bodyguards to drag Dr. Davies away. My eyes blazed red. I clutched desperately at Mark’s sleeve. “Mark, our son is in there! Are you trying to kill him?! He’s already under anesthesia!” Mark impatiently shook me off. “Scarlett, you used to be so understanding. How did you become so selfish?” “Cassandra’s grandmother broke her leg. I couldn’t save my own grandmother when I was young, and I can’t let Cassandra go through that pain now.” “Leo is only three, he can wait. Cassandra’s grandmother can’t! Tell Leo, he’ll understand his father’s ‘difficult decision’!” I rushed forward, clinging to Dr. Davies, refusing to let go. Leo was almost three; this was his last chance. Mark stepped forward and yanked me away, flinging me with the momentum. I hit the corner of the wall, and blood immediately welled from my forehead. I watched helplessly as Dr. Davies was dragged away. Inside the operating room, the other doctors were pacing frantically. “What do we do? Only Dr. Davies can perform this surgery!” Bracing my dizzy head, I scrambled to my feet and ran after them. I hadn’t gone more than a few steps when several bodyguards blocked my way. “Sorry, Mrs. Miller, Mark ordered us not to let you leave until Ms. Cassandra’s grandmother is out of surgery.” My fists clenched so tight my nails bit into my palms. All I could do was stare with helpless fury in the direction Mark had vanished. Mark, I don’t just regret loving you. I hate you! Gathering the last of my strength, I pulled out my phone and dialed. “Save my son…” My hands went slack. I couldn’t hold on any longer. As I fell, a familiar silhouette blurred at the edge of my vision.

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It was a weekend, and I was with my wife, Chloe Peterson, at her company party, celebrating her promotion. When we arrived, her colleagues enthusiastically pulled Chloe away for photos and congratulations, leaving me feeling completely isolated in a corner. After the photos, Chloe’s boss, Mr. Sterling, walked over to me, a drink in his hand. “What’s wrong with you, kid? Are you useless? You’ve been married to Chloe for so long, and she’s still a virgin?” As he spoke, he gave Chloe’s butt a heavy pat. “Your wife is so hot, and you can’t satisfy her. What a damn shame.” I clenched my fists, trying to rein in my fury, and turned to look at Chloe, whose eyes were distant and hazy. “Chloe, did you really sleep with him?” At that moment, every single eye in the room landed on me. My wife hadn’t expected me to confront her publicly, and her face instantly dropped. “Julian, what the hell is wrong with you now? Today is my big promotion day, do you have to make a scene and embarrass everyone?” I stared her down, my gaze unwavering. “Chloe, answer my question! Did you or did you not sleep with this old man?!” My tone clearly struck a nerve. She shoved me hard. “So what if I did? Julian, we’ve been married for almost two years, and you haven’t even bought me a decent handbag!” “Look at Mr. Sterling! He just bought me a Hermès bag today.” Chloe was incredibly agitated, spittle almost flying onto my face. I suppressed the anger bubbling inside me, my eyes locked on her. “Chloe, do you even realize Mr. Sterling here is almost fifty? He’s old enough to be your father!” I thought that would embarrass her, but she didn’t care in the slightest. “So what if he’s old? It’s better than being with a loser like you!” “Mr. Sterling just promised me that as long as I stick by him, the CEO Assistant position will be mine sooner or later.” After saying that, Chloe actually leaned in and kissed her boss right in front of me. Mr. Sterling’s wrinkled face now bore a vibrant lipstick mark from my wife. “Did you bring me here today just so I could watch you cheat?” The words were barely out of my mouth when Mr. Sterling, who had been silent for a while, chuckled. “Kid, are you truly stupid or just faking it? Can’t you see such an obvious answer?” Mid-sentence, he unabashedly pulled my wife into his arms. “I told her to call you. And the purpose? It’s simple: I want you to divorce her!” I looked up at the two, their fingers intertwined, and let out a cold laugh. “From the looks of it, you two must have planned this out a long time ago, huh?” No wonder the moment I walked in, something felt off. She must have been hooking up with her company’s boss for ages. And it finally made sense why, after all this time married, Chloe never let me touch her. She was saving her first time for her boss. “Stop wasting my time. Just say if you’re divorcing me or not.” Seeing my prolonged silence, Chloe’s tone grew impatient. “Julian, I must have done something awful in a past life to end up with a loser like you.” “If someone hadn’t told me your family owned a villa back then, I wouldn’t have dated you even if you begged me!” I paused for a moment, then slowly spoke. “So you married me because my family had a villa, not because you loved me?” The moment I finished speaking, Chloe scoffed. “What else? You didn’t seriously think I’d fall for a nerd like you, did you?” Her words hit me like a physical blow. I was completely stunned. Everyone at our university knew Chloe had pursued me relentlessly for three years. I only agreed to date her on graduation day. Though I had no idea how she knew about my family’s villa, it didn’t matter now. I wouldn’t keep a woman who had cheated. “Chloe, you’re absolutely right. My family does own villas in the West End, and more than just one.” My gaze suddenly sharpened. “But I regret to inform you that, from this moment on, none of those things have anything to do with you.” My words were met with a burst of laughter from the crowd. “Knock it off, punk! Don’t you dare try to impress me. Do you even know how much a villa in the West End costs? Even our Mr. Sterling can’t afford one, and a pathetic loser like you claims to have several? Who are you trying to fool?” As the employees continued sucking up to their boss, I just offered a faint smile. “What I said is the truth. Believe it or not, it’s up to you.”

Under the amused glances of the crowd, I turned to leave. But before I could take more than a few steps, a familiar voice called out from behind me. “Julian, stop right there!” I paused, then slowly turned my head. “What, Ms. Peterson? Are you planning to invite me for dinner?” Chloe looked at me, a smirk playing on her lips, her eyes brimming with mockery. “Hey, you! Did you forget something?” I raised an eyebrow, my voice cold. “What?” Chloe pulled a divorce agreement from her bag in front of everyone, then handed it to me. “You’re not leaving until you sign this!” Chloe, still unaware of what she was about to lose, wore a triumphant expression. “Julian, as long as you agree to divorce me, you can name your price. Money or a house, I’ll give you anything.” I sighed deeply, looking at the woman before me—familiar, yet suddenly a stranger. “Chloe, are you really that eager to become someone else’s sugar baby?” Before she could respond, I suddenly chuckled. “I can divorce you, but I have one small condition.” Chloe’s eyes instantly lit up. “What condition? Just name it!” “As long as you agree to the divorce, I’ll agree to anything!” Hearing those words, the last shred of affection I had for her vanished completely. “My condition is simple: I just need to make a quick FaceTime call to your father.” “As long as David agrees to our divorce, I won’t say another word.” The moment I finished speaking, Mr. Sterling, who had been standing nearby, burst out laughing. “You really think you’re someone important, don’t you? I brought you here as a courtesy, I’m not negotiating with you.” “I don’t give a damn who you call; you’re divorcing her today, understand?!” I picked up on the thinly veiled threat in Mr. Sterling’s voice, but I couldn’t care less. My only concern was David’s stance. A significant part of why I married Chloe was because David Peterson had been my family’s chauffeur and a man I considered like an uncle. He watched me grow up, and I’d long considered him part of my family. After we got married, I kept it a secret from Chloe, mostly out of consideration for her feelings. But this woman, whose head was completely clouded by joy, naively believed I was calling her father to try and win her back. It was laughable. “Honey, let’s be magnanimous. No need to stoop to his level.” “If he wants to make a call, let him. My heart is already completely with you.” I was about to retort when Chloe quickly added: “Julian, don’t say I didn’t warn you. No matter who you call today, the outcome will be the same.” “I’m divorcing you today, and that’s final!” Seeing her arrogant expression, I almost couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Chloe, I think you’ve misunderstood me. I’ve never had any intention of trying to win you back.” “I’m only making this call to tell your father that I’ve been nothing but fair to you and your family.” I had initially thought, out of respect for our families’ long-standing ties, to let the Petersons off the hook. But some people simply didn’t appreciate it. Like this woman, Chloe, who was once the campus darling. “Oh, please!” “Julian, I’m telling you clearly, even if my father stood right here, I’d still divorce you!” Chloe was about to say more, but I quickly raised a hand to cut her off. “Enough!” “That’s all I needed to hear.” Then, in front of everyone, I dialed David’s number.

“David, it’s Julian Hayes.” On the other end, David heard my voice and immediately spoke cheerfully. “Mr. Hayes, why didn’t you let me know you were back? I would’ve brought Chloe to pick you up!” I glanced at Chloe out of the corner of my eye and spoke unhurriedly. “No need for that. I’m with your daughter at her company right now.” David sensed something was off in my tone and quickly interjected. “Mr. Hayes, has my spoiled girl been throwing another tantrum? I’ll apologize for her right away…” David hadn’t even finished speaking when Chloe snatched my phone. “Hello, Dad, it’s Chloe! I’m divorcing this loser, Julian, today!” “My boss here said that as long as I stick by him, he’ll make me CEO Assistant tomorrow!” Before David could respond, she hung up the phone. Given Chloe’s behavior, I certainly wouldn’t show her any more mercy. “Chloe, I already gave your family a chance, but you still refused to listen.” “Since that’s the case, don’t blame me.” I took the divorce agreement, signed my name without hesitation, and handed it back. Chloe saw how decisive I was, and a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. “Hey, you! What are you smiling at?” I looked up at her, my voice completely devoid of emotion. “What? Am I not allowed to be happy?” “Ms. Peterson, you don’t seriously think I’m still pining for you, do you?” “The ‘backer’ you rely on is merely a company CEO. To me, it’s nothing, honestly.” Chloe’s cheeks flushed crimson from my retort, and Mr. Sterling, standing beside her, immediately looked displeased. “You little jerk, are you trying to act tough in front of me now?” “Let me tell you something right here, right now: whatever tricks you have, bring them on! I’ll take them all.” Chloe, seeing Mr. Sterling stand up for her, straightened her back. “Exactly! You’re just a government official. How can you compare to my dear Mr. Sterling?” “Mr. Sterling’s monthly allowance is probably more than you’ll make in a lifetime!” A government official? She wasn’t wrong. All public servants could generally be called government officials. However, I wasn’t just a regular public servant. My position came with a certain… distinction. “No, no, no. I think Ms. Peterson is mistaken.” “Mistaken about what?” Chloe looked at me, self-righteous. “You’re not seriously going to say that the CEO of a publicly traded company can’t compare to a petty government official like you, are you?” I offered her a slight smile and nodded gently. “You’re right.” “In the face of absolute power, money is nothing.” The moment I finished speaking, the previously silent room erupted. “Oh my god, this guy is such a show-off! Mr. Sterling was on the Forbes list, how could he possibly be less than this guy?” “Exactly! Look at his outfit, he just looks like an intern. His salary probably isn’t even as high as mine.” “I’ve always said, people should know their place. Marry a wife who’s your equal. A poor guy like him, with no connections and no money, his wife was bound to run off with someone else sooner or later.” The people around me continued to suck up to Mr. Sterling, none of them seemingly finding anything wrong with their boss stealing someone else’s wife.

Mr. Sterling, seeing I hadn’t spoken for a while, assumed I was intimidated. He motioned for security to kick me out. I calmly waved my hand at him, my expression grim. “The Sterling Group, listed on the market late last year, with a market valuation of around one billion.” “Of that, the largest shareholder, Richard Sterling, holds thirty percent.” “These figures should be correct, wouldn’t you say, Mr. Sterling?” Hearing my words, the usually arrogant Mr. Sterling’s eyes flashed with surprise. “Kid, what do you mean? Are you investigating me?” I lowered my head, sighing softly. “Investigating? A tiny, newly public company like yours isn’t even worth my time.” Then, I let out a cold laugh. “Mr. Sterling, I’m just pondering one question right now.” “What question?” The middle-aged CEO’s forehead glistened with a bead of cold sweat. “I’m wondering if it’s better to just acquire your company directly, or let it go bankrupt.” “Perhaps you could help me answer that question, please?” Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Chloe, the moment I finished speaking, bravely stepped forward. “Honey, don’t listen to his nonsense! With our company’s influence, those figures are easily found online!” “I’ve known this loser for years, he’s a total nobody, no connections whatsoever!” “He’s only staying here because he wants to extort more money from you!” Looking at the woman who wouldn’t stop taunting me, my anger reached its boiling point. “Chloe! Do you really think you’ve found a good backer?!” I swept my gaze coldly across everyone present. “Every single employee standing here today, you’re all fired. Every last one of you!” The moment I said that, Richard Sterling’s face instantly changed. “You little jerk, are you really pushing my buttons now?” “Do you even know whose company this is? How dare you try to lecture my employees in front of me?!” “I’m giving you three minutes to get out of my sight, or don’t blame me for getting rough!” As Mr. Sterling roared, the surrounding employees also turned hostile towards me. “Are you saying this guy’s crazy? What a pathetic piece of trash, daring to fire us?” “Yeah, a loser whose own wife ran off with someone else, and he still has the nerve to talk?” “If I were him, I’d crawl into a hole and hide right now, instead of making a fool of myself here.” Looking at these insignificant pawns, one after another, oblivious to their own standing, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Alright, alright. I’m tired of playing along with you all. It’s time to show you what real power looks like.” With that, I unhurriedly took off my jacket. Then, I slowly turned, facing Mr. Sterling. “Mr. Sterling, I believe you once said that money can solve everything.” “So… now I’d like to ask you, can you solve this?” Richard Sterling’s eyes widened, fixated on something. It was my family crest?! The next second, he gasped, “How do you have that family crest?! How is that possible?!”

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The day my company went public, I got proof my fiancée was cheating. A picture of her making out with a security guard in the parking lot. Then I saw her latest Ins post:【Simple days are the best kind of happy.】 Attached was a photo: The security guard gently caressing her swollen belly in a hospital maternity ward. I glanced at the ring on my desk, the one I’d planned to propose with. I casually tossed it into my pocket. Chloe, if a simple, ordinary life is what you crave, then by all means, have it. My lavish love? You forfeited that privilege. I called the hotel and the wedding planner to cancel everything, then finally, the bank. “Freeze all bank accounts and credit cards under Chloe’s name.” Just as I hung up, Chloe pushed open my office door and walked in. “Honey, I just heard you say ‘freeze bank accounts.’ Whose accounts are you freezing?” I shrugged off her question with a vague excuse, my gaze shifting to Mike, the security guard standing behind her. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?” Chloe immediately forgot her earlier question, pulling Mike’s hand and beaming happily. “Honey, this is Mike. He’s a security guard downstairs in the parking lot.” “Mr. Anderson, it’s a pleasure!” Mike flashed a shy smile. My eyes burned, watching Chloe still clinging to Mike’s hand, refusing to let go. I’d loved Chloe for ten years, pampered her for ten years. To ensure her happiness, I built this empire from nothing, fought tooth and nail through cutthroat business deals, nearly lost everything, even my life, several times over. And all that? It meant less than some run-of-the-mill security guard. The irony was a bitter pill. “Honey, Mike’s talking to you,” Chloe reminded me, a hint of annoyance in her voice. I shot her a glance, then calmly stated, “If he’s a parking lot security guard, and it’s work hours, why isn’t he down there? What’s he doing here?” Chloe quickly interjected, “I brought him! Mike’s just been unlucky, held back by circumstances, forced into security. But I know his capabilities. Doesn’t the company still need a Business Development Manager? I think he’d be perfect for it.” I almost laughed, but it was a bitter, angry sound. She’s trying to get her lover a job here? Chloe, this isn’t your personal love nest; it’s a multi-million dollar corporation. I once told Chloe that if she ever betrayed me, I’d take everything back. I could elevate her to the highest heights, or plunge her into the lowest depths. Before I could speak, Mike eagerly said, “Please don’t worry, Mr. Anderson! I’ll absolutely fulfill the duties of a Business Development Manager, handle every task, and make this department the top one in the company!” Chloe smiled gently. “Mike, I know you can do it.” You believe him? I took a sip of my tea, then calmly spoke. “I don’t recall agreeing to make him Business Development Manager.” Chloe’s face stiffened. She turned to me, “Honey, Mike is the most suitable person. It’ll be the company’s loss if you don’t hire him. Have you heard some rumors? They’re all lies! I brought Mike here for the company’s growth. You need to think about the bigger picture.” I need to think about the bigger picture? So, I should just hand over the Business Development Manager position to your lover, turning my company into your little hideaway? My face went cold. “The company has strict hiring policies. It’s not just a matter of you saying someone is ‘suitable.’” Chloe was clearly displeased. “What policies? You’re the boss, Liam, your word is law here.” “Chloe, Mr. Anderson has a point,” Mike interjected, trying to play the good guy. He then turned to me, “Mr. Anderson, you’ve misunderstood Chloe. Honestly, I’m quite happy as a security guard. Chloe just couldn’t bear to see my potential wasted, and she insisted I come.” I nodded directly. “If you’re happy, keep doing it. You only get what you’re capable of. Taking shortcuts to the top might seem easy, but it’s also a quick way to crash and burn.” Mike’s face darkened for a split second, then he meekly replied, “Mr. Anderson, your words are a valuable lesson.” “Enough!” Chloe snapped, furious. “Liam Anderson, when did you become so passive-aggressive? If you’re not going to hire him, fine, but why humiliate him? This side of you… I hate it!” Mike chimed in again, feigning innocence. “Chloe, you shouldn’t argue with Mr. Anderson because of me. It’s all my fault.” He then looked at me, a look of utter grievance on his face. “Mr. Anderson, you truly misunderstand me. I never wanted to climb the ladder overnight; I just wanted to prove myself.”

I felt sick to my stomach. This grown man, tall and muscular, acting so innocent. And Chloe, of course, fell for it completely. She lovingly stroked Mike’s face, her voice soft. “No, it’s not your fault. This has nothing to do with you.” Then she turned to me, her face instantly cold. “Liam, I can’t believe it. The more money you make, the narrower-minded you become. Apologize to Mike, or there’s no need for us to get married.” I chuckled. “Funny you should mention that. I’ve already canceled the venue, the caterers, even the wedding planner. There won’t be a wedding.” “What did you say?” Chloe’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Chloe, Mr. Anderson is just joking,” Mike quickly said. “Mr. Anderson, you shouldn’t joke about something so important! What if Chloe takes you seriously? Apologize to her now.” I sneered, scoffing. “Who do you think you are, telling me how to run my life?” Mike’s face instantly turned a deep shade of crimson. “Liam!” Chloe was trembling with rage, staring daggers at me. “You better mean what you say. Mike, let’s go!” She was so sure I was head over heels, that I’d never actually call off the wedding. But she seemed to forget one thing: if her feelings could change, why couldn’t mine? I didn’t love her anymore. A moment later, Chloe sent me a SnapChat message. 【Mike saw a sports car he likes. Get it for him.】 I replied instantly: 【Are you out of your mind? What do Mike’s wants have to do with me?】 【It’s because you humiliated him, and he’s still sulking. Buy him that sports car as an apology. It’s making things awkward for me.】 【Your convenience? Not my problem.】 After sending it, I switched off my phone, lit a cigarette, and leaned back in my chair. Through the curling smoke, my thoughts drifted back ten years. I first met Chloe during Freshman Orientation Week in high school. She was striking in her fatigues, incredibly vibrant and confident. During the talent show, her stunning contemporary dance routine captivated the entire audience. Her tough exterior in those fatigues, melting into that graceful dance routine… it completely captivated me. After that, I pursued her. Three years of high school, four years of college, three years after graduation – my world revolved around her. I lost myself completely, my love for her a constant, humble devotion. I swore to give her the best in the world, fighting relentlessly just to see her smile. Three years of intense effort, countless hardships and struggles, yet I never showed her any of it. In front of her, I always smiled, always presented my best self. Sometimes I felt exhausted, but just thinking of her filled me with strength. I believed that loving someone meant giving your all, giving them the very best. Whatever she desired, whatever she wanted to do, I made sure it happened. But in the end, all I got was her betrayal. Her belief that a simple, ordinary life was better. It made my ten years of pampering, sacrifice, and struggle feel like a cruel joke. I should thank her. She opened my eyes to reality. When love dies, everything you do is wrong. “Mr. Anderson, the meeting is about to start.” My secretary, Sarah, pushed open the door. I extinguished my cigarette and rose from the chair. “Let’s go.” Chloe never realized that as the company grew, I no longer needed her. I had my own thriving career, and frankly, better options. The meeting didn’t end until late into the night. I declined my driver’s offer and drove home alone. The moment I walked in, I saw Chloe sitting on the sofa, only wearing a bathrobe, a face mask on. The sound of the shower was running from the bathroom. My face instantly darkened. “Is that Mike?”

Chloe nodded dismissively. “Mike gave me a ride home. I saw his clothes were dirty, and he was sweating a lot, so I told him to shower.” My face cold, I immediately called Sarah. “Send someone to gut the bathroom and re-do it entirely.” Chloe exploded. “Liam, what do you mean?” I stared straight at her. “I don’t keep things that have been dirtied.” Chloe’s eyes darted, guilt flashing for a second, then she yelled, “Liam, explain yourself! Mike just took one shower, how does that make it ‘dirty’? You shower every day, why don’t you say that’s dirty?” Just then, the bathroom door opened, and Mike walked out, wearing my pajamas. “Mr. Anderson, you’re back.” I looked at Chloe. She turned her head, refusing to meet my gaze. “Mike didn’t have pajamas, he couldn’t possibly put his dirty clothes back on after a shower, right? And you have so many, what’s the big deal with lending him one?” I nodded. “You’re right. So, I’m done with these pajamas. They’re contaminated. Feel free to toss them.” Mike’s face crumpled in a show of grievance. “Mr. Anderson, please don’t be upset. I’ll change right now and wash them clean for you.” “Don’t you dare!” Chloe grabbed him, glaring at me. “Liam, what exactly are you trying to do? What did Mike do to offend you that you’re constantly targeting him? He just used the bathroom and wore your pajamas! You keep calling things ‘dirty’! If you’re so disgusted, then leave! Don’t ever come back!” I looked at Chloe, my gaze calm. “You seem to forget, I bought this house. If anyone’s leaving, it’s him. Oh, and you.” “You’re kicking me out?” Chloe’s voice was laced with disbelief. I just watched her, silent. My meaning was clear. Chloe was shaking with anger. “Fine, fine, I’ll go!” “Liam, you better not regret begging me to come back.” Don’t worry, I never will! After they left, I called Sarah again. “Put this house on the market. It disgusts me to even be in it.” Then, I went out and checked into a random hotel. At 2 AM, Chloe called, her voice frantic. “Honey, my bank cards and credit cards are all frozen! Quickly call the bank and ask if there’s a system error!” My voice was cold. “No need to call. The bank’s system is working just fine.” “I had them frozen.”

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I came back from my business trip and found my five-year-old daughter Lily home alone, eating expired bread. My heart broke. I rushed over and pulled her into my arms. “Where’s your dad?” Lily started crying. “Daddy’s downstairs getting married to Vanessa. He told me to stay home by myself… Mom, I’m so hungry…” After I settled Lily down, I ran downstairs to the hotel banquet hall. And it was true! Ryan stood there in a full tuxedo. When he saw me, panic flashed across his face. He quickly pulled me aside. “Miranda, this isn’t what it looks like. I’m just helping Vanessa put on a show. Her mom’s been pushing her to get married. I had no choice…” I laughed bitterly. “Congratulations to you both.” Later, at my wedding to his brother Dylan, Ryan got on his knees and begged me to take him back. And I made him listen to Dylan and me having sex all night long. “Congratulations! I wish you both a lifetime of happiness!” Everyone at the wedding thought I was just a late-arriving guest. They all smiled at me warmly. Only the groom, Ryan, stared at me in disbelief. He thought I was joking. When he saw my serious expression, he reluctantly let go of Vanessa’s hand and pulled me into a corner. His brows furrowed. “Miranda, what the hell are you doing?” He had some nerve asking me that. Last week, I went on a business trip overseas. I was worried about their safety at home, so I took a shortcut to get back early. I almost died in a foreign country. And what did I come home to? My five-year-old daughter eating expired bread by herself while Ryan was busy having a wedding ceremony with his first love, Vanessa. When I walked into the hotel, I saw them kissing sweetly and making sincere vows. “Whether in poverty or wealth, in sickness or in health, through good times or bad, I promise to spend my life with Vanessa…” He looked so devoted. I could see the focus in his eyes. But when we got married, he asked the officiant to skip the vows entirely. Said it was too much trouble. Turns out it wasn’t the vows he had a problem with. It was the person he was making them to. When he greeted Vanessa’s parents, he called them “Mom and Dad” so naturally, so smoothly. Like it was the most normal thing in the world. But in our six years of marriage, he’d never once called my parents that way. If this thing with Vanessa was just an act, then what were all these years with me? My heart turned to ash. I said flatly: “I made myself perfectly clear. You two should be together. I’m bowing out.” Ryan frowned and scoffed. “Miranda, can you stop being so damn dramatic? My patience has limits.” “I already explained everything. Vanessa and I are fake married. It’s just to put her parents’ minds at ease. And you’re making this into some huge thing!” I smiled coldly. “Don’t flatter yourself. I really am done. Don’t worry, I’ll file for divorce as soon as possible. I won’t hold you back.” Ryan looked shocked, like he couldn’t believe I’d actually say that. “You…” Before he could finish, I turned to leave the hotel. But Vanessa grabbed my arm. Her eyes were red. She kept apologizing. “I’m so sorry, Miranda. Please let me explain.” “My parents have been so worried about my marriage. I didn’t want them stressed anymore, so Ryan and I staged this. We should have talked to you first. I’m really sorry.” Ryan pulled the apologizing Vanessa close. His voice was ice cold. “Why are you apologizing to her? She’s just petty and loves to throw tantrums. Let her be mad. Ignore her!” I knew from the day I married Ryan that he still carried a torch for his first love, Vanessa. I thought after we got married, I could win him over with my love. But what did he do? He took everything I gave him for granted. I was done with this one-sided relationship. If someone else wanted to keep it going, they were welcome to it. Faced with his shameless behavior, I felt nothing anymore. No anger. No excitement. I just wanted to cut ties with this man completely.

When I didn’t respond, Vanessa put on a pitiful act. “Miranda, how about this? I’ll tell all the guests the truth and apologize to you in front of everyone.” “It’s no big deal for me. I’ll just never be able to show my face in front of my family and friends again. My elderly parents will worry themselves sick. But as long as it doesn’t hurt your marriage, I’m willing to make that sacrifice.” She sounded so tragic, but all I heard was fake nonsense. Ryan ate it up though. He glared at me, about to lay into me, when Vanessa’s dad walked over. “Ryan, what’s going on? Why are you arguing with some woman at your wedding?” Ryan immediately switched to obedient mode when he saw Vanessa’s parents. “Dad, this is just a friend of mine. She was passing by and wanted to congratulate me.” He could introduce me like that without missing a beat. All for Vanessa. I guess in his mind, I was just some stranger who happened to live under the same roof. I looked at him, and for a split second, I saw panic in his eyes. Whatever. I’d let them have their moment. Facing the confused looks from Vanessa’s family and friends, I decided to play along. “That’s right. I’m just his friend. I came to say congratulations. I’m leaving now. You all have fun.” Maybe my decisiveness got to Ryan. For a moment, it looked like he wanted to chase after me. But Vanessa held him back. “Ryan, don’t go. Everyone’s waiting for us to greet them.” “After the ceremony, I’ll come with you to talk to Miranda. Once she calms down, everything will be fine.” Ryan stopped in his tracks. I walked out of the hotel without looking back. When I got home, Lily threw herself into my arms. “Mommy, you’re finally home! I don’t have to sleep alone tonight.” “Mommy, the wind was so scary at night. I was so scared hiding under the blankets by myself.” Looking at Lily’s sweet little face, my heart ached. I regretted going on that business trip and leaving her alone with her useless father. I saw that all the food I’d prepared for her was gone. I praised her: “Wow, you ate everything I made for you. Good job!” Lily pouted. “Mommy, I’m so hungry. Daddy hasn’t made me food in three days. He said he was busy with that lady…” My nose stung. Guilt washed over me. I stroked Lily’s head and pressed my cheek against hers. “Then Mommy will cook for you right now. I’ll make you something really good for lunch.” Lily jumped up and down with joy. “Yay! Mommy’s home, I can eat now!” Hearing her words made my heart ache. I turned and went into the kitchen to make something good for Lily. But when I opened the fridge, it was empty except for two eggs. Clearly, no one had cooked here in days. I had no choice but to make Lily some simple egg noodles. Even so, it made her beam with happiness. “Mommy’s the best! The egg noodles are so yummy.” Looking at Lily’s innocent smile, I felt a mix of emotions. Just then, the door clicked open. Ryan walked in with a long face, carrying a takeout container. He tossed it on the table and glared at me. “What’s this? This is all you’re feeding Lily? What kind of mother are you?”

I didn’t want to fight in front of Lily. I just gave him a warning look to back off. Seeing my expression, Ryan seemed to remember our rule about not fighting in front of Lily. He didn’t say anything more, but his eyes still looked defiant. Vanessa followed him in. She quickly inserted herself between us with a big smile and opened the takeout container. “Miranda, we had the hotel save this for you. We knew you and Lily hadn’t eaten, so we brought it up.” I glanced at it. A fish with nothing left but bones and a few chili peppers. Clearly leftovers from the banquet. Lily was allergic to fish. I was worried she’d react even being near it, so I pushed the container away. Seeing this, Ryan assumed I was deliberately trying to humiliate Vanessa. He lost it. “Vanessa, ignore them. Eat it or don’t!” I didn’t want to say another word to him, but I couldn’t help myself. “Ryan, did you forget that Lily’s allergic to seafood and fish?” Ryan’s brows furrowed slightly. He seemed to remember something. Everyone in my family breaks out in hives from fish. Lily was the same. I’d repeatedly told Ryan not to let Lily near fish, but he never took it seriously. And of course, Vanessa loved fish. Whenever they went out to eat, they’d order it. Sometimes they’d even bring Lily along. Every time they came back from those meals, Lily’s face would be covered in red hives. I’d apply medicine to her, heartbroken, and criticize him for taking Lily to eat fish. He’d just shrug it off. “A few hives, a little itching. It’s no big deal.” Until one time, Lily’s allergic reaction got so severe her throat swelled up and she couldn’t breathe. We got her to the hospital just in time. After that, Ryan seemed to learn his lesson. He stopped bringing Lily along when he went out to eat with Vanessa. But that didn’t last long. To keep eating out with Vanessa, he started leaving Lily home alone with a pile of snacks and toys to keep her occupied. Once, Lily choked on a snack while home alone. Luckily, I came home from work just in time to save her. And now he was bringing fish home for Lily again. Clearly, Lily and I both mattered less to him than a single finger of Vanessa, the woman who’d abandoned him once before. Vanessa saw Ryan’s embarrassment and quickly came to his rescue. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I was the one who packed it. I forgot Lily was allergic to fish…” Ryan looked at Vanessa gratefully. His tone softened. “Vanessa meant well, Miranda. Don’t make a big deal out of it.” “Today was my fault for not thinking things through. Tomorrow I’ll cook a big meal at home to make it up to you and Lily. That should be fine, right?” Just then, a commotion came from outside the door, followed by the sound of keys in the lock. I was confused. Who else besides Ryan and me had keys to our place? The answer came in the form of Vanessa’s parents bragging to their friends and family. “This is my baby’s new home. Over 1,400 square feet!”

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After the car accident, I saw words written by my long-deceased mother floating before my eyes. “Baby, Declan slept with another woman before he married you!” I was completely stunned. Mother’s words continued appearing before my eyes. “In your past life, he destroyed you. After you married him, you were kidnapped and nearly killed, but he was too busy celebrating Rain’s birthday with her!” “Sweetheart, this time don’t choose Declan. Choose the heir of the Pierce family – steady and loyal!” The next second, Father walked into the lounge and laid out photos of heirs from several major families in front of me, asking me to pick a husband. Without hesitation, I chose my sworn enemy, Adrian Pierce. I’d always listened to Mother. If Mother said Declan didn’t love me, then I didn’t want him anymore. My father, the Don of our mafia family, looked at me hesitantly. “Faye, you and the Harrington boy have always been at each other’s throats. Are you sure you want to marry him? Think carefully – this determines control of the entire organization. There’s no going back.” He’d established a rule: whichever family’s heir married me would gain complete control of the Giovani family’s power and resources. Mrs. Harrington was also shocked and quickly tried to dissuade me. “Faye, even though Declan lost his memory and forgot about you, didn’t you love him the most? Why won’t you wait for him? Maybe once you two are married, he’ll remember everything.” Words from Mother appeared before my eyes: “Nonsense! In your past life, that mistress Rain broke my baby’s heirloom necklace, and my child didn’t even complain much, but Declan threw her out of the family banquet. Poor thing almost got kidnapped outside!” “It was Adrian who came to put a coat over my child and took her somewhere safe to rest. Sure, his words are harsh, but his heart is good.” At those words, my heart clenched painfully. I didn’t understand why Mother kept talking about a past life, kept mentioning things that happened, but her words felt like I’d lived through them myself. They made my chest tighten, like a boulder was crushing it. Besides, Rain really was Declan’s first love. They had a deep history, and I was just the one who came later. “Father, I’ve made my choice. I want Adrian Pierce.” Father put away the photos and patted my shoulder. “Alright, I respect your decision. In two days, I’ll announce your engagement to Adrian to our world.” Words appeared before my eyes from Mother: “That’s right. This time my baby will definitely be happy.” Father went to discuss business with some senior members. I changed my clothes, wanting to go out for a walk. But I didn’t expect to find three tall young men with distinct temperaments standing outside the door. They’d all grown up with me and were candidates for my husband. Declan was there too. Only Adrian was absent. Jason walked over to me with a grin, curious. “Faye, I heard the Don wants to choose one of us to marry you. Who did you pick?” Marcus teased. “Do you even need to ask? It’s obviously Declan. Everyone in our world knows Faye is crazy about him, considers him her soulmate.” Declan glanced at me coolly. “I don’t remember what happened these past three years. I only remember that Rain is the love of my life.” “But I know that in those three years I’ve forgotten, we were together. Even though I don’t love you now, I won’t disobey orders. Once the marriage is arranged, I’ll fulfill my duty.” Words from Mother appeared before my eyes: “In your past life he used fake amnesia to openly mess around with Rain while stealing my baby’s family territory and business, until he left my child with nothing and she died! Bad man, get lost!” Looking at Declan’s indifferent expression, without Mother’s warning, I probably would have believed his lies. I really did like him. I’d even thought he liked me back. Like three years ago when he held that grand fireworks show for me. His gaze was so full of feeling, his words so touching. “Faye, I want to marry you. I want to make you the happiest woman alive.” I was so moved. I committed to him, and for three years our families grew close. But I never imagined that from the very beginning, he’d never cut ties with Rain. He just couldn’t afford to offend me, so he put on an act of loving me.

Now he probably couldn’t keep up the performance, so he simply faked amnesia and openly declared he only remembered Rain, reluctantly agreeing to marry me to get my family’s power and resources. There’s no such free lunch in this world. I wanted to argue with Declan, but seeing how confident he was that I’d chosen him, I swallowed my words. Let him be smug for two more days. When he hears Father publicly announce the truth at the banquet, I’m curious to see his reaction. Seeing my silence, Jason lightly bumped my shoulder. “Faye, so is Declan the one you chose?” I said calmly, “You’ll all find out at the family banquet in two days.” With that, I turned to leave. Behind me, Marcus clicked his tongue twice. “Declan, she definitely chose you. Let me tell you, back when your family’s business was in trouble, Faye searched everywhere for connections. When she heard there was an opportunity up north, she went alone to negotiate and almost got herself killed. She’s crazy about you.” “Is that so?” Declan laughed softly, his voice magnetic. “I had no idea she was so devoted to me.” My heart twisted painfully, but I held back my tears. My obsession with Declan was an open secret. Everyone laughed at how blind I was, but I didn’t care. I lost my birth parents young, and my adoptive parents were constantly traveling for family business. I became an easily overlooked legitimate heir in the organization. Only Declan would step up to defend me when other family heirs challenged me. I’d depended on him since childhood. When he proposed to me, I was overjoyed and swore to support him with all my family’s power. But all his protection had ulterior motives. He didn’t deserve my sincere feelings. “Faye, wait.” Someone called out behind me. I turned to see Declan. He walked up to me arrogantly. “I know you just chose me. I’ll fulfill the marriage contract, but my heart belongs only to Rain. I hope you understand and won’t interfere too much between us.” I stared at him steadily. “Aren’t you suffering from amnesia and forgot a lot of things? Why are you so sure I chose you?” Declan frowned. “Everyone says your heart beats only for me. Who else would you choose besides me?” I smiled bitterly. So Declan knew about my complete devotion to him. Did he have to trample on my sincerity like this? “Don’t worry. From now on I won’t maintain our relationship one-sidedly anymore. I’ll let you two be together.” And I figured if he knew I’d chosen Adrian, he’d probably be thrilled. Hearing my quick agreement, Declan froze for a moment. I continued walking toward the main hall. He instinctively reached out to grab me. Suddenly there was a commotion. A clumsy server rushed over with a tray, and scalding soup splashed onto my leg. I stumbled and fell, my palm scraping against the rough floor. Pain instantly swept over me. Rain’s face changed. She quickly put down what she was holding, trying to help me up. “Faye, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. Please don’t be mad at me.” Before I could speak, words from Mother appeared: “This bad girl is so awful! In your past life she did the same thing – either playing weak or making accusations, wrapping Declan around her finger. Neither of them is any good!”

Seeing Rain’s eyes turn red with distress, Declan was predictably heartbroken. “It’s okay, Rain. It’s just a small accident. With me here, no one will blame you.” He helped Rain up, then looked at me with a warning in his eyes. “You just got scalded a little. You’re strong – you won’t make a big deal out of this, right?” My leg was red and still hurting. I struggled to stand up. Rain looked at me pitifully. “Faye, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going. I’ll punish myself to apologize.” She was about to scratch her arm with her nails. Declan quickly grabbed her hand and looked at me with displeasure. “Faye, Rain didn’t do it on purpose. Can you stop using your status to bully people?” Words from Mother appeared: “Idiot! My child hasn’t said a single word, and that bad girl is putting on a show herself. Why is he saying my child is bullying her? So infuriating! Baby, stand up straight! Teach him a lesson!” At those words, I simply and decisively raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face. Then I looked at Declan. “See that? That’s what bullying looks like.” Rain froze. Declan also froze, his eyes turning cold. “Faye, you’ve gone too far…” I raised my hand and slapped him hard too. “That’s what going too far looks like.” All these years, I’d devoted myself to following him and never confronted him directly. My action shocked him completely. Declan stared at me in disbelief, his teeth clenched. “Fine. Very good. But you dared to hit me, so don’t regret it.” “Rain, let me take you to see a doctor.” Words from Mother appeared: “He won’t check on his future wife’s injury but feels sorry for another woman. Marrying someone like this is what you’d regret! My poor child, that must have hurt.” I looked down at my still-painful wound. The sourness and grievance in my heart could no longer be suppressed. In the past, whenever I got hurt and showed even a bit of pain, Declan would be frantic with worry. Maybe that concern was fake, but at least the company was real. Now he turned a blind eye to my injury and even blamed me, afraid I’d make things difficult for his precious one. What Mother said was becoming more and more real. Even if I married him, it would just be repeating the same mistakes and suffering the same consequences. I went to find a doctor to treat the scrapes on my hand. Many people around me were looking in a certain direction. I looked too. On the patio beyond a wall, I saw Rain and Declan nestled together intimately. I heard her say softly, “Declan, if Faye found out you’re only pretending to have amnesia so we can be together openly, she’d go crazy.” Declan stroked her hair. “So what if she knows? Everyone knows Faye’s heart beats only for me. Even with my ‘amnesia,’ she’ll still beg to marry me so I can get all the Giovani family’s power.” Words from Mother appeared: “In his dreams! My child didn’t choose you this time and won’t marry you. Hmph, wait until the engagement banquet when it’s announced publicly. Let’s see how smug you are then!” I laughed too, though my pale face held no trace of amusement. Not wanting to hear more, I held my treated hand and prepared to leave. Just then, terrified screams and gunshots came from outside: “Someone’s broken in! They have guns! Everyone run!” The shouts hit the crowd like a bomb. I instinctively ran with the panicked crowd, but an intruder grabbed me and raised a club, swinging it at me!

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Five years after my firefighter husband supposedly died saving me from a burning building, I accidentally walked in on him celebrating his child’s birthday party with his childhood sweetheart. Daniel froze when he saw me. His friends immediately crowded in front of him like a human shield. “Clara, don’t do anything crazy. Daniel had his reasons for faking his death.” His childhood friend Summer begged through tears: “I’m sorry, Clara. The baby needs his father. Please, just let us be together. I love him too much.” July 23rd, 2019. Seven days after the fire that supposedly killed Daniel. That day, everyone who knew us said I was the one who killed him. The fire department’s investigation report stated: Due to family member’s emotional breakdown and unauthorized entry into the fire scene, rescue team member Daniel sacrificed his life protecting her. His parents collapsed at the funeral, cursing me: “Why aren’t you dead? Why wasn’t it you instead?” I thought I truly deserved to die. So after Daniel’s funeral, I swallowed an entire bottle of sleeping pills. But my neighbor found me and called 911. As they pumped my stomach in the ER, I heard the nurses whispering: “That’s her… the one who got her husband killed…” No one knew why I suddenly ran into that fire. That day, I received a call from an unknown number saying Daniel was trapped on the second floor of the warehouse and running out of time. I rushed in like a madwoman, only to see a burning beam crash down. The fire was too intense. The fire department said nothing was left of his body. But what I didn’t know was that at that exact moment, Daniel was at the hospital with Summer for her prenatal checkup, taking this photo together. I took a glass of champagne from the server and walked straight toward the main table, meeting everyone’s shocked stares. Summer instinctively pulled the baby closer to her chest. Daniel practically jumped up to block her: “Clara, let me explain…” Those friends who once comforted me now stood up in unison, forming a wall between us. “Clara, calm down. Daniel had no choice back then. That fire was suspicious. Someone was after him… He faked his death to protect you, really!” I laughed. Did they actually think I was going to throw champagne in a baby’s face? How amusing. I casually picked an empty seat at the next table and raised my glass toward Summer and Daniel: “The baby’s adorable. I wish him a healthy life.” I downed the champagne in one gulp. The cheap alcohol burned my throat, making me cough until my eyes watered. “Enough! Clara, if you have a problem, take it up with me. Don’t make a scene here!” Daniel pushed through the people blocking him and strode over, his brows knitted tight. “Five years, and you’re still the same. Do you have to embarrass people at an event like this?” He thought I was here to cause trouble. The disgust in his eyes was practically overflowing. I didn’t know how to explain. I really had just walked into the wrong room. I was here for my company’s year-end dinner in the hall next door. I could only helplessly point at my business suit: “I was at a meeting next door. Wrong room.” But Daniel didn’t believe me. He grabbed my wrist, so hard my bones ached. “Stop being stubborn. About what happened back then… I wronged you. After the party ends, I’ll take you home.” Summer’s face went pale. She stood up holding the baby: “Daniel…” Daniel turned back, his tone softening: “Summer, I just don’t want her emotional state to affect the baby. Don’t worry.” But his grip on my hand didn’t loosen. I pulled free forcefully and stepped back, forcing an ugly smile: “That wouldn’t be appropriate, Mr. Hayes. Your wife and child are watching.” He acted like he didn’t hear me and reached for me again. I found it absurd. Five years apart, and he’d changed this much?

Memories flooded in like a broken dam, a dull pain spreading through my chest. This champagne was cheap but packed a punch. My vision started to blur. Daniel’s face split into double images. I didn’t want to stay any longer. I turned to leave but stumbled. The next second, I was airborne as he scooped me up in his arms. “Drunk like this and still acting tough!” He was actually carrying me out in front of everyone. The guests erupted in shocked murmurs. Summer’s parents shot to their feet, their faces dark. Summer’s father barked: “Daniel! Put her down! Do you realize what day this is? Have you lost your mind?” Summer’s mother started crying: “Summer just gave birth to your child, and this is how you treat her? Are you even human?” Summer held the baby, tears streaming down her face, but she bit her lip and said nothing. She just looked at Daniel with heartbroken eyes. Anyone watching would curse us as cheating scum. Daniel’s steps faltered. He looked down at Summer, something flickering in his eyes. I seized the chance to struggle: “Put me down!” He only held tighter and said to Summer’s parents: “Mom, Dad, Clara’s had too much to drink. I’ll take her home and come right back.” Summer finally broke down crying: “Daniel… you’re choosing her, aren’t you? Fine. I’ll leave. I’ll take the baby and leave…” She turned as if to rush out with the child. The scene descended into chaos. Daniel’s face went white. He called out urgently: “Summer! Don’t do this! I’m just taking her home. You’ll always be my wife!” Such familiar words. He used to say: “Summer’s just like a sister. You’ll always be the one I love most.” I closed my eyes, feeling exhausted. Home? I didn’t have a home anymore. When they shoved me into the car, my stomach churned and I started dry heaving. It was a physical revulsion, a conditioned reflex accumulated from five years of waking up screaming from nightmares. The cause of Daniel’s supposed death was that warehouse fire. That day was our third wedding anniversary. I’d made a reservation early and waited for him to get off work. But by 9 PM, he still hadn’t shown up. His phone went straight to voicemail. At 10 PM, I got a call from an unknown number. A man’s voice, breathing heavily: “Daniel’s trapped in the old warehouse on West Street. The fire’s too big. He told me to tell you… he loves you…” In the background, I could hear the crackling of flames and Daniel’s muffled shouts: “Clara, don’t come!” I rushed there like a madwoman. Fire trucks surrounded the building. Police tape blocked the perimeter. I heard someone yelling: “Daniel’s still inside!” I didn’t think. I just ran in. Through the thick smoke, I saw Daniel collapsed by some shelving. I lunged forward to pull him up when a burning beam came crashing down… He shoved me away with all his strength. The blast wave threw me backward. When I looked back, all I saw was a sea of flames. Later, the investigation report said my unauthorized entry interfered with the rescue, causing Daniel to sacrifice himself protecting me. His parents tore up our marriage certificate and threw me out of their house. My mom called, crying: “Clara, honey, I know you’re hurting. But your brother’s got a girlfriend now, and her family heard about what happened… They think it’s disturbing. Could you… maybe not come home for a while?” Even my own family didn’t want me anymore. So I started trying to kill myself. The first time, I slit my wrists in the bathtub. My landlord found me after a leak from upstairs alerted him. They rushed me to the hospital. The second time, I jumped into the river. The winter water was freezing. As I sank, an old man on his daily swim pulled me out. The third time was sleeping pills again. This time I was smarter. I went to a small motel in the suburbs. But the owner noticed something was wrong and called the cops. When they pumped my stomach, the doctor looked at me with complicated eyes: “Miss, the person who died for you would want you to live well.” But no one wanted me to live. Except Rachel.

Rachel was Summer’s cousin and my college classmate. When she found me, I was running a high fever in my rental, hadn’t eaten in three days. She didn’t lecture me. She just made me some soup, sat on the bed, and said calmly: “Clara, if I were you, I’d live well. I’d live better than everyone else and make those who wronged me watch. Show them I’m fine without them.” “Dying is easy. Living is hard. Do you dare to choose the hard way?” I looked at her and suddenly started crying. After that, Rachel visited often. She took me out to eat, forced me to leave the house, even helped me find a new job. She said: “You need to stand up, Clara. Not for anyone else. For yourself.” I thought I’d finally found a lifeline. But just as I was getting better and preparing to start a new life, something happened to Rachel. A car accident. The other driver was drunk. Hit her car head-on. She died instantly. I went to the morgue to identify the body. The police handed me a charred phone, said they found it in the car. The last message was to me, never sent. It read: “Clara, I found something wrong with Daniel’s fire. It might be connected to Sum…” The rest was never typed. I gripped the phone, my whole body turning cold. At Rachel’s funeral, Summer came too, crying so hard she nearly fainted: “Cousin… how could you just leave like this…” Daniel’s parents patted her back consolingly: “Summer, dear, stay strong. You’re still young. You have to look forward.” In that moment, I suddenly felt like there was an invisible net that had trapped me long ago. And every time I struggled, it only tightened. “You okay? Why are you throwing up so much?” Daniel handed me a bottle of water, then pulled at his expensive suit sleeve, trying to wipe the corner of my mouth. His movements were as gentle as a considerate husband. I found it bitterly ironic. He was indeed a husband. Just not mine. “Clara…” Summer had followed us out. She’d changed into comfortable postpartum clothes, her hair messy, tear stains still on her face, the baby in her arms. “What happened back then… we wronged you. You can hate me however you want. Hit me, yell at me, I’ll accept it all…” She choked up, her voice soft as cotton. “Even… if you still want to be with Daniel, I… I can step aside. I’ll raise the child myself.” I opened my mouth, wanting to say I never thought that way. Five years later, I couldn’t even muster the energy to hate anymore. But Daniel interrupted first, his tone stern: “Summer! What are you saying!” “That’s all in the past. Clara’s doing well now. Stop bringing it up. You’re only making it harder for her.” Summer looked relieved, wiped her tears, and reached for my hand with concern. “Actually, I’ve been worried about you these five years. Afraid you’d do something… I…” She stopped mid-sentence. Her gaze fixed on my wrist, where several pale white scars crisscrossed like ugly centipedes. Daniel’s breathing suddenly became heavy. He silently pulled out a cigarette pack, lit one, and took a deep drag. In the swirling smoke, no one spoke. I remembered he didn’t used to smoke. Summer said softly: “He smokes when he’s stressed. Just never let you know. It’s… a habit between us.” She looked at Daniel, her eyes tender and affectionate. Between them, there were always so many habits I could never be part of. When we got back in the car, Summer and the baby took the front, so I was squeezed into the back seat. “Sorry, Summer can’t be in a draft.” The window slowly closed. I had severe claustrophobia. Ever since that fire, enclosed spaces made me feel like I was suffocating. The car drove for a long time in deathly silence. Daniel finally spoke, trying to break the awkwardness: “How are your parents? Haven’t seen them in a while.” “Mom died of a heart attack last year. Dad moved back to his hometown. Said the city made him uncomfortable.” My voice was so calm I could’ve been talking about strangers. The car screeched to a halt. I nearly slammed into the front seat. Through the rearview mirror, I saw Daniel’s hands shaking. Cigarette ash fell onto his pants without him noticing. My parents had opposed our relationship at first, thinking firefighting was too dangerous. It was Daniel who visited repeatedly, changing light bulbs and fixing pipes for them, playing chess with my dad, massaging my mom’s shoulders. When my dad finally relented, he said: “This kid really cares about you. Fine. As long as you’re happy.” When my mom was dying, she held my hand and said: “Clara, Mom’s sorry. We shouldn’t have pressured you back then… You’re alone now. Take care of yourself.” Daniel didn’t dare ask more. Because he knew. My mom’s illness came from years of anguish, from her daughter becoming “the murderer who killed her husband,” from being unable to hold her head up among the neighbors. It killed her slowly. The air froze. Summer quickly jumped in, her voice trembling: “So… where are you living now? We’ll take you home.” “Riverside Psychiatric Hospital. Inpatient ward, third floor. Bed 307.”

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Mason broke up with me again. This time, I packed my bags and moved out in a flash. Day one: I canceled the wedding planner. Day two: I turned off the automatic payments for his mother’s treatment program. Day three: I accepted my boss’s transfer offer, ready to settle down in a new city down south. The moment the plane took off, a sudden curiosity hit me. Without me, his free, live-in housekeeper of ten years. Without me, his ever-available ATM. How would Mason Blackwood manage to care for his paralyzed mother, handle his materialistic sister, and deal with the female secretary he kept on a pedestal? Last month, I turned thirty-three. I hinted, full of hope, that I wanted a lipstick. Mason looked at me, utterly surprised, and scoffed. “At your age, no lipstick will look good on you.” But then he turned around and bought his secretary twelve different shades. Now, it was time for me to leave. As soon as I canceled the wedding planner, Mason’s message popped up. [Pick up my sister from the station tonight at 8:30 PM.] This was the first time Mason had contacted me since our cold war started. I sneered and deleted the message. That night, I arrived back at the Blackwood house. Shoes and suitcases were strewn across the floor, catching my eye immediately. Chloe Blackwood poked her head out of the bathroom and rolled her eyes at me. “Audrey, where the hell were you? Do you know how long I waited at the station? I had to take a cab back! If anything had happened to me on the way, my brother would kill you!” “I’m hungry! I want takeout! Hurry up!” I calmly looked at Chloe, my gaze falling on her feet. She was wearing a pair of two-thousand-dollar shoes—a gift I’d bought her for college. She dressed better than I usually did. I had spent so much money on her, yet I never received a shred of kindness in return. And yet, I’d endured this exact routine for ten years. I pulled out my phone in front of her and messaged Mason. “I’ve already told your brother you don’t have money for food. If you don’t mind waiting, then wait. He’s got jet lag, after all, being overseas.” Chloe stared, stunned by my words. I said nothing more and walked into the master bedroom. The next morning. I was woken by a chaotic racket outside the door. Chloe had trashed the kitchen and living room. Water had overflowed from the bathroom, making the tiled floor a slippery mess. When I emerged, Chloe not only showed no remorse but defiantly flicked soapy water onto the floor. I watched her actions in silence, neither stopping her nor, as I usually would, obediently grabbing a mop to clean up. Instead, I calmly returned to my room to finish packing my remaining items. It was pretty funny, really. This wasn’t my house anymore. Why should I rush? With my last few things packed, I wheeled my suitcase out. “Where are you going?!” Chloe blocked my path. I brushed her off casually, “Business trip for half a month. I’m taking my things to the office.” Chloe pursed her lips, crossing her arms with an arrogant expression. “Some people go abroad for academic exchanges, brilliant minds, while others are just corporate drones, slaving away on late-night business trips. You know what that means? Some people just have it rough.” “I’m meeting friends for dinner this afternoon. Transfer me some cash, or I’ll tell my brother you’re abusing me!” Her defiant, clawing gesture made her seem absolutely certain I couldn’t do anything to her. It was laughable, really. I had played the dutiful, fawning partner for Mason for ten years. For him, I had even sucked up to his family for a decade. Now that I stopped, they were furious. I suddenly burst out laughing, pointing at her and looking her up and down. “Your mom’s medical bills? I paid them. Your brother’s tuition? I covered it. Your college education? I funded it. Your entire family of three lived off me, and even the clothes you’re wearing right now? I bought them…” “Next time you want to be disrespectful, consider if you can afford to pay me back.” Chloe’s face turned scarlet. Speechless, she spun around, ran back to her room, and slammed the door shut. Back in my new apartment, a notification popped up on my phone. I opened it. It was the payment reminder for Mason’s mother’s treatment. The hospital informed me the payment was due in five days and urged me to ensure sufficient funds were in the account. After Mason and I started dating, I couldn’t bear to see him juggling work and studies while also caring for his paralyzed mother and young sister. So, I offered to help. I thought if I treated people sincerely, I’d get the same in return. Too bad I encountered an ungrateful leech. With that thought, I didn’t hesitate. I canceled the automatic payments and unlinked my card. Let someone else be the sucker. I’m out.

Late that night. Mason’s international call came as expected. The moment I picked up, his angry shout erupted, like a gunshot to my eardrums. “Chloe says you didn’t pick her up! She had to take a cab home alone, and then you didn’t even make her dinner? And you complained about her spending too much on takeout?” “Audrey, I’m not home, and this is how you treat my sister? If you don’t change your attitude, I’ll have to rethink our relationship!” At that, I simply hummed. “Then when you get back, let’s meet up and talk things out.” My unexpected reaction made Mason fall silent for a moment. “What ‘things’? Is it that wedding planner again? Why don’t you use your free time to enrich yourself instead of always thinking about getting married? Aren’t you ashamed? I’ll be back the day after tomorrow. We’ll see how well you convince me.” He softened his tone, but his words were visibly perfunctory. He’d probably forgotten. The first year we were together, he’d sworn he’d give me the grandest wedding the day he became a Ph.D. I waited seven years for him to finally achieve it. So, I had excitedly compared wedding planners. The first year, I presented him with carefully chosen plans, and he, slightly apologetic, said he was too swamped with his studies to think about marriage. The second year, he finally finished his busiest period and even agreed to try on wedding dresses with me. But that day, I waited 24 hours in a wedding dress, only to get a message that he’d overslept. The third year, I canceled the wedding planner. I took a deep breath and slowly began, “Mason, it’s not about the wedding…” Before I could finish, I heard a girl’s gasp from his end. Mason hung up without another word. I stared at my phone, not calling back. Time quickly passed to the day Mason was due back. He messaged me in advance to pick him up, but I ignored it. He called again, saying he only had time on the day he arrived. The next day, he had to go back to the lab and wouldn’t be available for days. To avoid a difficult conversation, I still went to pick him up. Traffic was heavy, and I didn’t arrive until eleven PM. The airport exterior was brightly lit at night. Through the glass, I saw Serena Hayes resting her forehead against Mason’s broad back, swaying her head from side to side, acting playful. I leaned on the horn. The two lovebirds scattered like startled pigeons. Mason saw my face, walked over, and slapped the car window, making loud thuds. “Didn’t I tell you to be here at seven? Look at the time now!” I lowered the window slightly, seeing his face pale from the cold. “Traffic.” Mason was seething, about to say more, but I cut him off. “If you don’t get in the car, your secretary is going to freeze solid.” Mason paused, no longer looking to pick a fight with me. He quickly opened the back door for Serena to get in first. Then he looked at me, silently urging me to get out and help with his luggage. I was on my phone, replying to a colleague’s message, ignoring his gaze. Inside the car, Serena peered at me through the rearview mirror. I calmly met her gaze. My eyes landed on the very familiar scarf around her neck. It was Mason’s scarf. He wore it constantly every winter. Last Christmas, Mason finally agreed to watch a movie with me. After the movie, I was shivering in the cold wind. A guy next to us wrapped his scarf around his girlfriend, telling her not to take it off. I felt a pang of envy and nudged Mason, hinting. He immediately frowned, stating bluntly that I shouldn’t even think about it. “I don’t like sharing my scarf with others.” But now, his scarf was securely wrapped around Serena’s neck. It turned out he didn’t dislike sharing with others; he just disliked sharing with me. Serena noticed my gaze and offered an embarrassed smile, her voice soft. “It was so cold waiting for the car earlier. Mason gave it to me. Audrey, please don’t get the wrong idea.” I smiled back. “It’s just a scarf, no big deal. But Mason really doesn’t know how to treat people. It’s so cold; he should have just called you a cab instead of making you wait for me. What’s the point of saving a few bucks on fare if you end up catching a cold and needing to see a doctor?” “Wouldn’t you agree, Serena?” Serena’s smile faded.

The streets were nearly empty in the dead of night, and I sped up. Following Mason’s instructions, I dropped Serena off first. In a blink, only two of us remained in the car. I glanced at the steering wheel. “Let’s talk.” Mason pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice impatient. “What’s so urgent that we have to talk now?” “I’ve been on a plane for over ten hours. Can’t you let me rest?” Unlike before, I didn’t show any sympathy. I simply refused. “No, some things are better cleared up now.” Mason scoffed. “What could you possibly want to talk about with me? It’s just that wedding stuff, isn’t it…?” Mason’s sarcastic remark was cut short by his phone ringing. He picked up, his expression changing. “Okay, wait for me!” Mason hung up and, without a word, moved to get out of the car. I called out to him. “We haven’t finished talking about us.” Mason looked at me incredulously, as if I were some cold-blooded monster. “Serena fell in the bathroom! This is a matter of life and death! I have to go see her!” I let out a breath. “If she fell, she should call a doctor. Wait for the doctor to arrive. If it’s serious, and she’s broken a bone, do you really think you’ll be more… professional than…” “Enough!” Mason roared impatiently, “You’re just jealous, aren’t you? You’re just afraid I’ll leave you! Fine, I’m saying it now: we’re breaking up! I, Mason, don’t want you anymore! Is that good enough?!” Mason finished speaking, then turned and ran towards the entrance of a nearby apartment complex. I silently watched his retreating back, forming words without a sound. “Yes, it is.” Perhaps it was losing out in love, but gaining in career. Two days later, I received news from my boss, Mr. Davies. I had been recommended to a new company to expand their market, with a significant increase in salary. It was a promotion. I didn’t think twice before accepting. I booked a flight for the next day. That evening, some close colleagues organized a farewell party for me. The venue was a well-known restaurant in the city. I walked in with the crowd. I saw Mason’s figure disappear into a private room nearby. I calmly looked away, treating him like a stranger. But later, passing by the room on my way to the restroom. I heard Mason’s arrogant voice from inside. “Marriage? When did I ever say I wanted to get married?” “I’m academically successful, with a promising future. Would I ever look twice at a woman who has no looks, no culture, and no family background?” Someone, egging him on, spoke up. “But Mason, weren’t you with Audrey for ten years? If you break up, won’t she make a scene?” Mason was silent for a moment, then laughed twice. “That’s easy, just string her along. She’s been with me so long, she’s practically used goods. She’s not getting any younger, so she’ll do whatever I say.” “Like for her birthday this year, she was practically begging me for a lipstick. I chewed her out for it, and she didn’t dare say a single peep. But later, on her birthday, I still got her a lipstick—a $7.99 knockoff of a high-end brand. She treasured it like it was something priceless, hahahaha.” Laughter and shouts of encouragement erupted from the room. The emotions I thought I’d smoothed over felt like freshly torn wounds. The pain spread, relentless. I clenched my fists tightly and turned back. After the dinner. I contacted Sarah, a colleague who had a lawyer in her family. I handed the ten years of expense records to the lawyer. She glanced at them, raised an eyebrow, and promised she’d help me get every penny back. The next morning. I boarded the plane to City B. When I landed and turned on my phone, I received a call from Mason. His accusatory voice was more urgent than ever before. “Audrey, what’s going on? You forgot to pay for my mom’s treatment! How could you forget something so important? You almost killed my mom!” “And you haven’t visited my mom this week, have you? Is that how a daughter-in-law acts? I’m giving you one more chance: renew the payment within three minutes, or we’re done!” Listening to the grating voice on the other end. At this moment, all I wanted to do was laugh out loud. It was his mother lying in that hospital bed. If he truly cared, why would he need anyone else to remind him? If he were a truly filial son, he would have paid the bill himself long ago. Why wait for me? I flagged down a taxi, taking one last look at the call screen. “Then, as you wish. We’re done.”

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The entire preschool was under lockdown, held by kidnappers. “No cops! We release children based on who pays the most!” a voice roared through a megaphone. In my previous life, I paid double the ransom, desperate for my daughter, Lily, to be the first one safe. But my husband, David, the leader of the rescue team, insisted on “fairness,” placing her last on the list. Lily died. After I was reborn, one of David’s teammates stopped me, bowing deeply. “Sarah, you’re truly selfless, agreeing to swap your child with the one at the very end of the list.” I cried, yelling, “Don’t you dare switch them!” But David slapped me hard. “As the team leader, I can’t let people think I’m playing favorites and deliberately saving my own child first!” I was on the verge of a breakdown. “What if something happens to Lily?” David remained unmoved. “Nothing will happen. Don’t be a jinx.” My body trembled with rage. “David, you don’t deserve to be Lily’s dad!” “Lily is only five! Watching all the other kids get rescued one by one, leaving her alone at the end, how terrified she must be!” “What if the kidnappers get agitated? Have you even thought about what could happen to our daughter?!” The memory of her pleading eyes just before she died in my previous life made my heart ache, stealing my breath. David was still unyielding. “I’m the rescue team leader. Lily might be my daughter, but she has to be treated fairly.” “What would people say if Lily was released first?” “David!” I tore my hand from his grip and slapped him across the face. “Our daughter’s life is hanging by a thread, and you’re still thinking about your reputation? Are you even human?” The slap echoed sharply, making David’s teammates turn their heads. That blow ignited David’s fury. He grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the ground. “You have no sense of the bigger picture!” “What about my reputation if Lily is saved first?” I froze. For the first time, I saw his true colors. Turns out, from beginning to end, in his eyes, Lily’s life was never worth as much as his ridiculous reputation! I struggled, crawling towards the other team members, my voice choked with sobs, but every word was clear. “I paid double the ransom precisely so my daughter could be out of danger sooner!” “But my husband secretly changed the list! He swapped Lily with the little boy whose family paid the least!” Everyone froze. After a brief silence, an older team member, John, spoke first, his voice filled with disappointment. “Sarah, we truly overestimated you.” “Captain David is doing this for the greater good!” Another teammate, Kevin, immediately chimed in, his brows furrowed tightly. “He’s sacrificing his own daughter for the rescue team’s reputation. How selfless is that? Why can’t you understand, Sarah?” “Exactly, Sarah,” a younger team member muttered, his tone dismissive. “If you keep making a scene, you might anger the kidnappers. Not only will Lily be in danger, but all the other kids will be affected too! How can you be so selfish?!” “Selfish?” I looked at them in disbelief, shaking with anger. “So I’m supposed to be ‘great’ enough to sacrifice my daughter’s life to uphold your reputation?!” “Enough!” David roared. “Take her to the back. Don’t let her cause trouble here and hinder the rescue!” The teammates immediately responded. Several of them surrounded me, ready to grab me.

“Get away from me!” I fought back with all my limbs. “David, you cold-blooded monster! You’ll get what’s coming to you!” The kidnappers heard the commotion. A coarse roar came through their megaphone. “What’s all that noise?! If you keep making a goddamn racket, nobody’s leaving today!” David’s face paled. He clapped a hand over my mouth. “Shut up! Do you want to kill everyone?!” Consumed by rage, I bit down hard on David’s hand. “You bitch!” David kicked me in the stomach. “Ugh! You… you actually dared to hit me!” I curled up in pain. He showed no hesitation, looking down at me. “That’s a lesson for you. If you cause trouble again, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Then, he turned towards the megaphone and yelled. “Sorry! My wife is worried about our child, she’s having a mental breakdown! I’ll handle it right away!” The kidnappers’ voice came back, full of disdain. “You better handle it quickly! If you don’t, the kids’ release will be delayed!” At those words, the surrounding parents instantly erupted. “What’s wrong with Sarah? Her child is precious, but ours aren’t?” “Exactly! Delaying our kids’ release, how selfish!” Accusations and curses, like countless sharp knives, stabbed into my heart. I fought desperately. “No, the order is wrong! My daughter is supposed to be released first—” The people around me cut me off. “The list has been announced! Whoever paid more gets their child released first, it’s not up to you!” “If you keep delaying and anger the kidnappers, what if they kill all the kids?” Just as I was about to explain, a burly man grabbed my throat. “You bitch, I’m telling you, if anything happens to my son, I’ll make sure you die a terrible death!” I couldn’t breathe, casting a pleading look at David. But he was completely unmoved. It was as if I, his wife of six years, was a stranger! Cold tears streamed down my face. The grip on my neck tightened, and I was on the verge of blacking out. I faintly heard my daughter’s voice. “Mommy, Mommy, help me!” I snapped my eyes open, seeing Lily being pushed forward. A grim-faced kidnapper held up a megaphone and shouted. “To prevent anyone from secretly calling the police, the child last on the list will now serve as our hostage!” Just like in my previous life, I could almost see the kidnapper’s sharp blade slice across my daughter’s pale throat— “No—”

I let out a desperate wail, tearing myself free from the crowd. The whispers around me started again. “Oh, so she’s the hostage’s mother. No wonder she’s so emotional!” “Pfft, whose fault is it if she wasn’t quick enough with the ransom? Just don’t drag our children into it!” “One daughter dying to save all our other kids? Worth it!” I trembled with anger, charging forward and grappling with a passerby. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my back. David, who had been watching coldly, couldn’t sit still anymore. He hit me with a stick, knocking me down, then apologized to the people around him. “I’m so sorry, everyone. My wife is being unreasonable. I’ll take her away right now!” The anger of the crowd subsided by half. “Her man really knows how to prioritize the bigger picture!” “If anything really happens to your child, we’ll all pay our respects to her.” David put on a look of profound sorrow. “If my daughter’s death can pave the way for other children to live, then her death will have meaning!” I lay on the ground, my consciousness fading, tears silently falling. “Tie her up and take her to the back room!” David stood up and instructed his teammates. They immediately complied, turning to grab some rope. I struggled frantically, flailing my arms and legs, hoarsely screaming. “Let go of me! David, you beast! You’ll get your comeuppance! Lily is your daughter!” But how could I, a powerless Sarah, possibly resist several strong team members? The rough rope cut harshly into my wrists, the pain nearly making me faint. “Take her away!” Two team members grabbed my arms, dragging me like a dead dog towards the back room. I looked at the tightly shut preschool gate, And could almost hear Lily’s heart-wrenching cries. “Lily… Mommy is so sorry…” I choked, a metallic taste rising in my throat. I was dragged into a dark room, the door slamming shut with a “bang.” My wrists were raw and bloody from the rope. I twisted my body desperately. “Let go of me! I need to save Lily! David, you animal!” The force on my wrists suddenly intensified. David himself stepped forward, Snatching an electric baton from a teammate’s hand and unhesitatingly jabbing it into my side. Current surged through my limbs, making me convulse, my bones feeling like they were being pierced by countless needles. I curled up on the ground, foaming at the mouth, but my eyes remained fixed on the closed door, In that direction, was where Lily was being held.

“Sarah, I advise you to calm down.” David’s voice was icy. “If you keep making a scene, not only will you not save Lily, but you’ll ruin the entire rescue team’s reputation.” “Reputation?” I laughed, tears streaming down my face from the effort. “Your reputation, it needs my daughter’s life to uphold it, does it?” David’s eyes turned vicious. He raised his hand and landed another brutal slap across my face. A sharp “smack,” and my cheek instantly swelled. “Hit her! Hit her until she can’t make any more trouble!” The teammates exchanged glances. Seeing me covered in blood, yet still glaring defiantly at David, some subconsciously recoiled. “Captain, if we keep hitting her, Sarah might…” “What are you waiting for?!” David snarled. “She’s a lunatic right now! I’m her husband, I’ll take responsibility if anything happens.” At his words, the teammates had no more reservations. Fists rained down on my back and legs, The pain almost made me pass out. I bit down hard on my tongue, my consciousness blurring, All I saw was Lily lying in a pool of blood in my previous life. I can’t faint! I can’t faint! If I collapse, no one else can save my daughter. I suddenly lifted my head and spat a mouthful of bloody foam onto the face of the nearest teammate. “You bunch of accomplices! If Lily dies, I’ll never forgive any of you, not even in death!” The teammates were enraged and hit me harder. Someone picked up a steel pipe from the corner and smashed it onto my knee. A soft “snap,” the sound of bone breaking. The excruciating pain made my vision go black. David walked forward and pinched my jaw. I gathered all my strength and bit off his finger. “Ah— you bitch!” David clutched his finger and kicked me away. “I’m telling you, everything you’ve done today, I will expose it to the public! I’ll make sure everyone sees that your rescue team is nothing but a bunch of beasts!” David sneered, turning to his teammates. “Get that thing out.” A teammate rummaged through a toolkit and pulled out a glass bottle. It contained a pale yellow liquid, emitting a pungent, sour odor. My pupils contracted sharply. A chill shot straight from my feet to the top of my head. “David! What are you trying to do?!” “What am I trying to do?” He sneered, stepping closer to me. “You’re so good at yelling, aren’t you? I’d like to see how you’ll spread rumors outside once your throat is ruined!” The teammates swarmed me, pinning down my arms and legs, covering my mouth. I struggled desperately, tears mixing with blood, streaming down my face. But my strength was pitifully small against these strong men.

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I rushed home at 3 AM. The moment water sprayed from the showerhead, I knew the temperature was wrong. My husband, Captain Lucas Thomas, was an instructor at the military academy. He was strong, fit, and always took cold showers. But today, the water was hot. “Finally decided to warm things up for me?” I asked him. He paused, then gave a playful salute. “Copy that, ma’am. Won’t forget again.” I smiled. As I stepped toward the shower, I saw two overlapping handprints on the glass door. On the floor lay a strand of dark, glossy hair. It was not mine. It was obvious. My husband was cheating. And he had brought her into our bathroom for…sex! I fought back nausea and sent a photo to my cousin Brooke at the academy. “Dark hair. Around five three. Find her. Fifty grand.” She replied instantly. “I’ll drag that bitch out myself!” Staring at those overlapping handprints, I could almost see them there. For five years of marriage, Lucas Thomas had been perfect. He came from a military family, was charming, and treated me like his only mission. No matter what, I never thought it would come to this. My phone chimed softly. checked it almost without thinking. It was a photo from my cousin, Brooke. Lucas stood surrounded by students, a girl crouched in front of him. She was petite, with long hair, a youthful face, and wide, round eyes. Even through the grainy photo, her radiant youth was unmistakable. She was smiling, head tilted, gazing up at Lucas with open adoration. I took a sharp breath, but the air was cold as needles, piercing my lungs and making my chest burn. Brooke’s messages kept coming. “That’s Summer Hayes. A senior in the Medical School’s surgery program. She’s in Lucas’s class this semester.” “Disgusting. Just goes to show you can’t judge a book by its cover.” I swiftly transferred the money to her. “Don’t do anything reckless. I’ll handle this myself.” By the time Lucas woke up, I had already composed my expression. He looked at the dark circles under my eyes, his face full of concern. “Didn’t sleep well last night?” How I wanted to just blurt out Summer’s name. But in the end, I just gave a slight smile. “No, jet lag’s hitting me hard.” Lucas gently pushed me back onto the bed and pressed a kiss on my forehead. “I shouldn’t have bothered you last night. Get some more sleep; I’ll call you when breakfast is ready.” Still the perfect Lucas Thomas. It wasn’t until we were sitting at the dining table that his hurried movements made me pause, and I couldn’t help but ask. “Don’t you have the day off today?” “There’s a drill at the medical department. I need to oversee it.” Lucas quickly finished his breakfast and stood up to leave. But I spoke softly. “Are you forgetting what day it is?” He froze, glanced at the date, and immediately looked remorseful. “I forgot, Ava. I’m so sorry, we said I’d go with you to visit your father’s grave.” “But the medical department drill was scheduled a long time ago…” A cold laugh echoed in my heart. “You go. I actually want to talk to my dad alone today anyway.” Lucas immediately rushed off to the academy. After quickly visiting the cemetery, I coincidentally arrived as the medical department was conducting a first-aid drill on the sports field. Lucas blew a whistle. “Alright, everyone, find a partner and practice your first-aid techniques.” Students quickly paired up, but one girl was left standing alone in the center. Teasing shouts rose from around them. “Instructor, who’s gonna give Summer CPR?” “Who else? If it were anyone else, wouldn’t the Instructor absolutely lose it?!” Amidst the laughter, Summer made a face at her classmates. “ou’re all perverts! My conscience is clear, I have nothing to hide!” “It was just a trauma assessment drill! Totally innocent, okay?!” Lucas cleared his throat. “Alright, alright, it’s just a demonstration, don’t fuss!” With that, he gestured for Summer to lie down in front of him. Then, he actually bent down and kissed her lips!

In an instant, my whole body went cold. My gaze was locked onto Lucas Thomas. He casually stood up, his hands clasped and pressed onto Summer Hayes’s chest. “After artificial respiration, you need to apply pressure rhythmically…” A mischief-maker laughed loudly. “Summer, didn’t you say CPR was pure?” “Why are you blushing so much?” Summer, lying on the ground, shot back. “You’d blush too if Lucas touched you, wouldn’t you be gutted if he hadn’t?” Amidst the uproarious laughter, Lucas didn’t defend himself. Instead, he flashed a doting smile. My fingers gripped the steering wheel, trembling uncontrollably. I waited until dinner time to finally spot Summer. She was giggling and playing around with her roommates, their laughter audible from afar. “He invited you to dinner and you didn’t go? Why are you playing innocent, Summer!” “What do you know? Summer’s just playing hard to get!” Summer coughed, transparently trying to deny it. “That’s not true! I’m not close with him, don’t spread rumors!” I couldn’t help but sneer. Not close? Not close enough to roll around in my bathroom, on my bed. If they were close, would they invite me to watch them get a room? I avoided the crowd and walked straight to a table opposite theirs. My makeup, hair, and clothing – Summer knew at a glance I wasn’t a student. A flicker of nervousness crossed her eyes, then she smiled. “Who are you? The cafeteria isn’t crowded; we don’t need to share a table, do we?” I ignored her feigned ignorance and stated directly. “Summer Hayes, you must know that Lucas Thomas is my husband, right?” Lucas was thirty. Most men his age were married, unless they were not interested in women or had a serious illness. Not to mention, our wedding photo hung above our bed. I refused to believe Summer was some innocent young girl. Her roommates instantly fell silent. Summer, however, maintained a clueless expression. “Is there something I can help you with?” Seeing that I didn’t speak, she then feigned sudden realization. “Did you perhaps see our CPR drill? You might not understand, but it was just a very legitimate exercise.” Who was she trying to mock with those words? Did she think I was a jobless, clueless housewife? I gave a soft laugh. “You’re in clinical medicine? As a senior, you must have taken ‘Surgery.’ Turn to the cardiovascular section. My name is on the editorial board..” “I’m Dr. Ava Reed. Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery.” “I look forward to the day you intern in my department.” Summer’s face paled. My gaze fell on her wrist, where a stunning bracelet, smooth and shimmering, made from a beautiful, polished stone, gleamed softly. “Nice bracelet,” I said casually. “But that’s my father’s heirloom. I’d appreciate it if you’d return it.” Summer looked up in disbelief. Her lips trembled, and her face flushed crimson. In the end, I retrieved this old item, which I had once believed lost. Four years ago, my father passed away after a serious illness. Before he left, he pressed the bracelet into my hand. “Ava, this bracelet is an ancient heirloom of our family.” “Lucas loves you enough. This bracelet is for you to pass down. Your dad will die without regret…” At the time, Lucas’s eyes were red, and he swore he would take good care of me. But I had lost this bracelet and regretted it for a whole year. I could barely eat or sleep. Lucas comforted me, promising to buy me more beautiful jewelry. I never imagined that he had already been messing around with Summer so early on. Summer liked my bracelet, and he just gave it to her! When I arrived home, I had just finished extracting the dash cam footage and was getting out of my car. Lucas stormed over, his face filled with impatience. “You went to the academy today?” “Ava Reed, why didn’t you talk to me directly? Why did you humiliate Summer in front of so many people?” “Do you think you’re acting like a normal adult?”

I didn’t back down an inch, looking up at him and saying coldly. “Oh? How interesting. So, Summer isn’t an adult?” “I recall she’s a senior, but she does look quite underage.” “Didn’t realize you liked that type. Must be thrilling to mess around, perfectly legal and all…” Lucas’s pupils contracted. He raised his hand and harshly slapped me, cutting off my unfinished words. My head snapped to the side, and the taste of blood immediately filled my mouth. “Ava!” Even though he was the one who hit me, his cry sounded incredibly heartbroken and pained. Lucas’s face was full of remorse. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, but you shouldn’t say such things to a student!” I laughed. Without another word, smack, I slapped him back. “Lucas Thomas,” I said coldly, “she’s your student, not mine.” “To me, she’s a homewrecker who interfered in my marriage, a thief who stole my father’s heirloom. Got a problem with that?” Lucas’s face instantly changed, his eyes sharp as razors. “I’m saying it again, Summer is not a mistress!” “Ava Reed, where’s your trust in me? Why have you become so disgusting!” A lump caught in my throat; I was about to tell him to get lost. But then the front door opened. Summer poked her head in, saying playfully. “Instructor, please don’t fight with Ava because of me anymore. I came to apologize.” She bowed gracefully towards me. “It was raining heavily before, and I came to Instructor’s house to change clothes. I thought that bracelet wasn’t worth anything, so I just took it casually.” “Ava, please don’t blame him. He didn’t give it to me; I apologize to you.” Lucas’s gaze softened, and he stroked her head. “It’s not your fault, Summer. I didn’t make things clear.” Watching this scene unfold before me. My face turned green, and I felt on the verge of throwing up. Taking something without permission is theft. How dare Lucas forgive her on my behalf? He roughly pushed me aside and spoke gently to Summer. “I’ll handle my own family matters, Summer. You’ve already apologized; don’t get involved.” “I’ll take you back.” Watching his car speed away, I trembled with rage. Just then, my phone chimed with a text from Brooke. “Sis, did you go see Summer yesterday?” “Everyone on the campus gossip site is trashing you right now!” I opened the two screenshots she sent, and in an instant, my blood ran cold. “BIG SCANDAL! Dr. Reed, Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at a prestigious hospital, bullying innocent female student! Word is, this woman is notorious for being harsh on interns; future junior doctors, good luck to you! Is that old hag just jealous of a young, pretty girl? Can’t keep her own man, so she takes it out on students?” The text was highly inflammatory. In just a few words, it painted me as a psychologically disturbed, menopausal old woman. Brooke’s call came immediately. “Did you see it? That little bitch Summer must be behind this!” “I know,” I interrupted her, my voice unnaturally calm. “Brooke, do me a favor. Trace the IP addresses of the posters and dig up all the dirt on Summer Hayes for me.” It was just a public opinion war. When I was pulling these kinds of tricks, Summer wasn’t even in elementary school yet!

As I expected, Summer Hayes’s internship was assigned to me. Regardless of personal feelings, I wouldn’t neglect any student when it came to teaching. During an emergency surgery I was leading, I routinely arranged for interns to observe. And I specifically assigned Summer to be the instrument assistant. “Why me?” she mumbled softly, her tone clearly resentful. “Dr. Reed, isn’t this an abuse of power?” I glanced at her through my sterile mask. “If your scholarship is based on merit, then you should prove it in practice.” The surgery reached a critical step. I gave the instruction for a 2.5mm balloon. But Summer, fumbling nervously, handed me a 3mm one! “Wrong size! Vasopressor, now!” I barked the order, immediately directing the team to compensate. After the surgery, we exited the operating room. Summer followed me, her face deathly pale. I stared at her, enunciating each word. “In cardiothoracic surgery, you are literally holding lives in your hands. Any minor mistake can lead to a major disaster.” “The carelessness and incompetence you displayed today can kill patients in a clinical setting!” Summer’s body swayed, tears instantly welling up in her eyes. “Ava Reed! Do you have to be like this?!” Lucas Thomas’s voice, laced with anger, came from the doorway. He strode in quickly, placing himself in front of Summer without a moment’s hesitation. “She’s still a student! It’s normal to be nervous and make mistakes the first time! Who hasn’t been there?” “Do you really need to use such harsh words to attack her? Are you teaching, or just using this as an excuse to make trouble?” I looked at this man, my husband, who once stood by my side. Now, he was twisting facts for another woman, challenging my professional ethics. My heart sank into an icy pond, completely numb. “Instructor Thomas,” I used his formal title. “There is no room for error in surgery. As her supervising doctor, it is my duty to point out her critical mistakes.” “Duty? I think you’re mixing business with your personal vendetta!” Lucas’s anger flared even more. He grabbed Summer’s wrist. “Summer, let’s go! We won’t stand for her abuse here!” He left furiously, with a tear-streaked Summer in tow. Several interns looked at me with a mixture of fear and dissatisfaction. Just then, my phone rang. I put it on speaker directly. Brooke’s clear voice was exceptionally audible. “Sis, the IP addresses for the posts slandering you have all been traced! The source is Summer’s dorm!” “I’ve also posted the evidence online, and it’s going viral fast. And I sent copies to the military academy’s oversight office and the faculty complaint box.” I acknowledged with a hum and hung up the phone. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Those who had just been looking at me with questioning eyes were now all staring down at their phones in shock. Soon, a commotion erupted outside. Several people stormed in angrily, led by the girl who had previously teased Summer and Lucas-Summer’s best friend. She pointed her phone camera at my face and shouted furiously. “Dr. Reed! What do you mean by this?!” “Even if Summer made a mistake, do you have to be so extreme, trying to completely ruin her? And you reported the Instructor too!” “Just because you and Instructor Thomas have issues, others aren’t allowed to silently care, to truly love? You’re just jealous!” After her passionate accusations. Several interns also became indignant. “Apologize! You falsely accused a female student of being a homewrecker, aren’t you shameless?!” “Go find Summer! Hundreds of thousands of viewers in the livestream are waiting for her to confront you face-to-face!” I gave a slight smile. “Summer? Fine, I know where she is.” I led these young people directly to a little-known fire escape staircase. The closer we got, the clearer the indecent sounds became. It was Summer’s breathless purr. “Instructor Thomas, how do I compare to that old hag Ava?” Immediately followed by Lucas Thomas’s lust-filled grunt. “She’s not even worth one of your fingers. I’ll divorce her soon!” “Summer, if you get pregnant this time, don’t get rid of it. I only want children from you…” Outside the staircase, there was dead silence. I took my time. Watching their faces turn pale, then green, completely stunned. The livestream instantly exploded!

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