The wedding day, he left me there alone and disappeared. With my four-month baby bump, I called him countless times. At first, he just wouldn’t pick up. Then, his phone went straight to voicemail. Whispers started to ripple through the crowd: “First time I’ve seen a groom ditch his own wedding.” “Shotgun weddings rarely work out, and honestly, he probably had every right to bail.” I stood there in the wind, completely helpless, trying to comfort the guests who were now quietly leaving. All day, I waited like an idiot on the street corner. Even after everyone had gone home, he never showed. An older woman nearby casually remarked, “Declan, he’s like… your dad’s ex-wife’s kid. What if he’s here to get back at you?” On the drive home, that line echoed relentlessly in my mind. Lost in a daze, my car collided with a truck. My four-month-old baby and I were buried beneath the wreckage. When I opened my eyes again, I was three months in the past, on the day I found out I was pregnant. I clutched the pregnancy test, sitting on the toilet for a long time. A single beam of light streamed in from the slightly ajar window, highlighting the two stark, vivid lines on the stick. The dripping water in the bathroom echoed the dull ache in my chest, a heavy, suffocating feeling. The suffocating pain from my past life hadn’t fully faded when Declan’s voice drifted from outside the door. “What’s wrong?” His tone was as calm and composed as ever. Just half an hour ago, I was standing at our wedding, praying countless times for him to appear. In my past life, on this very day, he’d just gotten back from work, bringing me my favorite pastries. I’d excitedly rushed out to hug him, showing him the pregnancy test. Declan’s expression then was complicated. He held it, staring for a long time. “Are you sure?” The joy in my heart froze, as if I’d been doused with cold water. My smile faltered, and I cautiously asked, “You… you don’t want it?” “No, it’s not that.” He pressed his lips together, giving me a deep, searching look. “We’re not married yet…” “Can we get married now?” Declan considered it for a moment. “Okay.” Declan and I had been together for five years, and we were finally about to get married. But the thought of my humiliation and helplessness at the wedding in my past life, clutching my phone desperately under the glaring eyes of the crowd, praying for him to appear and rescue me from my predicament, made it impossible to breathe. Before my dad married my mom, he’d been married once before. I didn’t know anything about their past, nor did I realize that Declan, from the very first day he met me, had been planning to drag me into an abyss.

When Declan pushed the door open, I was huddled in the corner, my face ashen. The trash bin held the pregnancy test I’d hastily hidden. His tall frame blocked the light, and he knelt before me, his handsome brows slightly furrowed. “Feeling unwell?” He carried the scent of a long, dusty day. I knew he was busy, sometimes too busy to pay me much attention. When we first started dating, he was incredibly attentive, and I could revel in his love, doing whatever I pleased. But I didn’t know when, gradually, he had turned into this. Sharp brows, eyes that could charm anyone. But his gaze was dim, hard to read, as if it held so many unspoken things, even when he looked at me gently. I slowly reined in my temper, no longer demanding things from him out of petulance. He loved me, I knew that, but deep down, that love seemed tainted with something else, making me increasingly cautious, afraid to touch it. As he looked at me like that, was he already thinking about how, four months from now, I’d be a part of his revenge plan? Lying on a cold operating table, enduring such agony? A four-month-old baby, its placenta fully formed… they’d have to tear it, *alive*, from my body. What could my dad possibly have done to him to warrant such cruel revenge against *me*? Perhaps the memories of my past life were too unbearable. This time, I didn’t tell him about the pregnancy. I buried my head in my arms, and after a long while, whispered, “It’s nothing. Just a bad stomach. I’ll be fine after a little rest.” Declan’s hand paused, then slowly settled on my head, gently massaging my earlobe. His voice, like his fingertips, held little warmth. “Okay.”

In our five years together, Declan had once told me I was his life. One winter, it snowed for a solid two weeks, a rare sight in our city. Declan, in his dark wool coat, would wait for me at the subway station every evening after work. Then he’d take my hand, and we’d walk under the dim streetlights, our distant home glowing with warmth. Declan didn’t like snow, but he’d said, “Because Cassie likes it, I’m trying to like it too.” But when exactly did he change? Declan gradually became incredibly busy. Sometimes he wouldn’t come home for three or five days, and worse, he’d disappear for a while, barely replying to texts. Yet, every time he returned, he was back to being his gentle, attentive self. Hot meals would be on the table, my clothes washed and neatly folded. It was as if… he was trying to make up for something. The bedroom door opened, pulling me out of my past life’s memories. Declan stood in the doorway. “Cassie, I’m heading to the office.” The office again. Declan had forgotten again. Today was my birthday. In my past life, I’d grumbled, reminding him to come home early to celebrate my birthday, and he’d promised. I’d waited all night, full of hope, only for the candles to burn down into the cake, leaving twenty tiny black holes. Mocking my pathetic ignorance. If he wasn’t going to come back, why promise? This time, I didn’t want to beg him to celebrate my birthday. After a long silence, I suppressed the emotion and quietly replied, “Okay.” No movement from behind me. Oh, I remembered. Every time he left, I was supposed to give him a kiss. Was he waiting for that? I burrowed deeper into the blankets to keep warm and softly said, “I don’t feel well. I’m going back to sleep.” “Okay.” Declan never forced me. He clicked the door shut. The sound of his car driving away drifted up from downstairs. The room returned to a crushing silence. I gathered my strength, and a few minutes later, got up, dressed, and walked out the door. Truth be told, I knew nothing about Declan all these years. He owned a company, but he never let me visit, and he’d always avoided talking about meeting my parents. If that lady at the wedding in my past life hadn’t blurted it out, I’d still be in the dark, a pathetic fool, with no idea how long I’d been played. Five years had built up too much dependence on him. This time, I wanted to break that dependence with my own hands. The late autumn wind was strong, howling around me and whipping my hair. I hailed a taxi by the roadside and gave the address. “Miss, what are you doing heading to the industrial district by yourself?” It took a great effort to force out a strained smile. “Picking up my partner after work…” That was the address of Declan’s company. I’d accidentally seen it on Declan’s phone in my past life; otherwise, he wouldn’t even tell me where his office was. Back then, he often disappeared, sometimes for three or four days at a time. I thought it was because he was so busy with his startup, but was that really it? I gripped my handbag tightly, my blood pounded against my eardrums, a frantic drumbeat. The car slowly pulled over, its headlights bright. The driver lit a cigarette. “Miss, are you sure this is the place?” It wasn’t an office building, but an apartment complex. A gloomy, gray sky hung over the building. The plane trees in front stood stark in the autumn wind, making the scene feel oppressive and somber. The heater was on in the car. I sat there, watching through the glass, as Declan and another woman turned out of the alley. A sharp, tearing pain ripped through my entire body, shredding my soul. Years of waiting and hoping suddenly felt utterly worthless and cheap. The woman was young, slender, wearing Declan’s scarf, her eyes bright and captivating when she smiled. Declan had always said he loved the two dimples that appeared when I smiled. She had them too. She was carrying fresh groceries and Declan’s favorite beer. Declan walked slowly behind her, hands in his pockets, a stylish women’s bag draped over his forearm. He watched her, with a relaxed, doting expression, as she moved gracefully in his sight. His entire focus, his whole world, seemed to be her. They chatted and laughed all the way, disappearing into the building’s entrance. Just as they went inside, the woman turned, pushed him against the wall, and stood on tiptoe. A gust of wind swept by, and the closing security door blocked my view. I could only see her slightly lifted red high heels, swaying happily. The taxi’s hazard lights flashed, ticking rhythmically. The driver flicked his cigarette butt, the ash falling through the window gap… “Look, miss, try to move on. Break it off early.” I slowly clenched my hands. The next second, I suddenly flung open the car door and bolted out. “Declan! You bastard!” My voice was drowned out by the blaring horns. I stumbled, tripped over a manhole cover, and fell hard into a pile of dirty, fallen leaves, scraping my skin. After the cars sped past, the barren main road was empty. The security door swayed crookedly in the wind. The people who had been standing there were gone. It felt like I’d been slapped hard, a stinging, resounding blow. Finally, the driver helped me back into the car. He sighed. “Making a scene won’t help. You can’t force the rain to stop, or someone’s heart to stay. Some things just aren’t meant to be.” … That year, on my birthday, I turned our apartment upside down. Including Declan’s study and bedroom. I frantically searched for proof of his infidelity. I kept at it until the early hours, then collapsed on the floor, clutching my aching stomach, curled into a ball. Nothing. Clean as a whistle. Not only was there no evidence of an affair, but even traces of his own life had been completely wiped clean. His laptop had no password, like a brand new machine, with not a single search history. I had seen Declan sitting at that computer countless times, working on things, but why would he delete everything? The toothbrush, socks, and underwear I’d bought him were all neatly folded. In a hidden corner of the study, I found all the gifts I’d given Declan over the years. Most of them were unopened. It was as if he was deliberately erasing all evidence of my existence in his life… The warmth and happiness I’d painstakingly built over the years suddenly shattered like a fragile bubble. He’d faked his love for me. Behind my back, he’d become a family with another woman.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298499”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller

Twenty years ago, a day that should have been filled with joy turned into the darkest pivot point of my life. My wife, rushing back to celebrate my birthday, was tragically caught in a multi-car pile-up on the highway. Her life ended right there, in that moment. From then on, an endless wave of guilt drowned me. I always felt like my birthday was what killed her. Carrying this unspoken burden, I became a yes-man to my in-laws, doing everything they asked, as if that could somehow lessen the罪 in my heart. I handed over my publicly listed company, which I’d meticulously built over years, to my in-laws without a second thought. That was the culmination of my life’s work, but at the time, I didn’t spare a single thought for my own future. Not only that, but I also transferred every piece of real estate I owned, one after another, to them. Watching my assets slip away, I felt no hesitation. Stripped of all my income, my life instantly plunged into crisis. To make ends meet, and to pay off escalating medical bills, I had to swallow my pride and become a delivery driver. Rain or shine, I zipped through the city streets, just to earn a little more. But the constant strain eventually broke me. One day, I collapsed from exhaustion and ended up in the hospital. The doctor told me I needed urgent surgery or my life would be in danger, and the surgery would cost ten thousand dollars. For me then, it was an astronomical sum. Left with no choice, I swallowed my shame and asked my in-laws for a ten-thousand-dollar loan for my surgery. To my shock, they showed no pity. Instead, they viciously called me a “vampire,” accusing me of trying to scheme money out of them. No matter how much I begged, they remained indifferent. Finally, because I couldn’t pay, the hospital heartlessly kicked me out. I lay there, alone, on the hospital steps, watching the crowds pass by, my body wracked with pain, my heart consumed by despair. Slowly, I lost consciousness. It wasn’t until after I died, my soul hovering above, that I witnessed the heartbreaking truth. My wife hadn’t died in that car crash at all! She and the male nanny I’d hired to care for my in-laws were living it up, enjoying my money. It was then I understood: everything that had happened was a meticulously planned charade by her entire family, all designed to swindle me out of my fortune! As I was engulfed in boundless regret and fury, the world suddenly spun around me. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back twenty years, on the very day my wife was supposed to return for my birthday.

“Alex, did you see the news?” Brenda, my mother-in-law, clutched my hand, her face a mask of panic. Her thousand-dollar manicure dug into my flesh like sharp claws. “Celine was in a multi-car pile-up on her way back! I can’t reach her on FaceTime! What are we going to do?” I gazed at her face, no longer young but impeccably maintained, and a chilling realization hit me: I had been reborn. Seeing my silence, Brenda grew more frantic, tightening her grip until her nails practically pierced my skin. “Say something! My daughter was rushing back for *your* birthday!” Just then, Arthur, my father-in-law, burst into my bedroom, his voice booming. “She’s right! Go to the highway right now! Maybe you can still save her!” The familiar dialogue, identical to my previous life, sent shivers down my spine. I scrutinized the two of them. Their faces were etched with anxiety, their expressions panicked. At first glance, they genuinely looked like worried parents. But as I focused, I caught a flicker of calculation in their eyes, a subtle glint that betrayed any genuine concern for their daughter. In my past life, I was completely fooled by their deceptive act. I rushed to the highway, not even bothering to verify the truth. The result? I was severely burned by the explosion, my face practically disfigured, and I didn’t even find a trace of my wife. When I woke up in the hospital, my in-laws cried hysterically, telling me my wife had died in the crash and blaming me for not getting there sooner, which they claimed delayed the rescue. Overwhelmed by self-reproach, I believed it was all my fault. Without a moment’s hesitation, I transferred my company and all my properties to them. Because of my severe burns and grotesque face, no respectable company would hire me. To survive, I had to wear a balaclava to hide my disfigurement and become a delivery driver. I left before dawn and dragged my exhausted body home late at night, earning barely enough to cover my own medical expenses. But I never complained, always believing I owed them. It wasn’t until I met my tragic end under a bridge, my soul hovering above, that I finally saw my wife, who had been “missing” for twenty years. She was sweetly nestled in Marcus Lee’s arms, with their twenty-five-year-old daughter by their side! Marcus Lee was the male nanny my wife had recommended to look after my in-laws. It turned out she had betrayed me long ago. Doing the math, she must have gotten involved with Marcus and had their daughter the year I went abroad. Reborn, I would never let such a disgusting travesty repeat itself. “You’re still hesitating? Are you even human? I should never have let my daughter marry a loser like you!” Brenda saw I was unmoved and, furious, her nails nearly poked my eyes out. Marcus chimed in, feigning concern. “Don’t worry, Auntie. Alex isn’t like that. He loves Celine so much, he wouldn’t just ignore this. He’s probably figuring something out.” “Alex, you must be looking at routes, right? I told you about Celine’s accident half an hour ago.” I glanced at my phone. He had indeed sent me a message half an hour ago. But strangely, the accident had only happened twenty minutes ago! I put on a worried facade, my heart growing colder by the second. “Mom, Dad, after all these years of marriage, I’ve always cherished Celine. Anything she wanted, I bought it for her without a second thought. But –” I said, my face turning red with feigned urgency, “the accident happened in another state. It’ll take at least a dozen hours to drive there. For a flight, only first-class seats are available now.” “The company lost a lot of money recently, so I –” I pretended to be embarrassed to speak, “I really don’t have any money left.” Arthur gritted his teeth and declared, “I’ll buy it!” My teeth instantly clenched in fury. He was a notorious penny-pincher, usually making me pay even his phone bill. The fact that he was willing to spend over ten thousand dollars on a first-class ticket for me now showed how desperate they were to swindle my money. I didn’t want to die in an explosion like in my past life, so I tried to stall for time. “I still have so many things to arrange at the company. But don’t worry, I’ll contact the local rescue team right away. We’ll definitely find Celine.” Seeing that he couldn’t convince me, Arthur suddenly clutched his chest, his legs buckling, and he collapsed onto the floor. Brenda wailed dramatically beside him. “Oh, the horror! My daughter, she’s practically gone, and he won’t even go find her!” “My dear! You can’t be sick! Otherwise, I won’t live either!” I acted even more frantic than them, immediately pulling out my phone and dialing 911. “Dad, don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you!” Arthur immediately yelled anxiously, “An ambulance costs money! Are you crazy?” I put on an innocent face. “Dad, Celine is so filial. If she knew I didn’t save you, she’d definitely divorce me. I can’t lose her.” Brenda couldn’t hold back. “No! Celine said you have to go!” I seized on her slip of the tongue. “Celine said that? When? Is she okay?” Marcus quickly pointed out the window. “The ambulance is here!” I didn’t get a chance to press further. I had to follow my in-laws into the ambulance. Marcus didn’t come along, saying, “Alex, you go ahead. I’ll help Uncle Arthur pack some clothes.” I didn’t know what trick he was planning, but I knew it wasn’t good. However, in front of my in-laws, I couldn’t say anything. I just needed to get to the hospital – as long as I didn’t go to the highway. At the hospital, Arthur was wheeled into the emergency room. I pulled a doctor aside and spoke to them in a low voice for a while. When Brenda finally hurried over, breathless, I looked flustered, my words jumbled. “Dad is almost – no, Dad’s perfectly fine.” The doctor looked relaxed. “Your husband is fine. He just had a surge of anger. He’ll be fine after some rest.” The more he said it, the more scared Brenda became. She grabbed the doctor’s hand, urgently asking, “He’s not going to make it, is he? Tell me the truth!” I interjected, pretending to be anxious. “Doctor, my wife took them for a check-up a while ago, and she said my father-in-law has lung cancer.” In my past life, my wife used this exact trick to swindle a huge sum of money from me for Arthur’s “treatment.” I later found out that money was used to raise her and Marcus’s child! Even after I lost everything, they still used “lung cancer” as an excuse to keep demanding money from me. During that time, to earn money, I didn’t even dare to eat vegetables, subsisting on stale bread and instant ramen, sometimes even picking up leftover food from others. Meanwhile, they were living lavishly with my money, scamming me my entire life! “Doctor, no matter how much it costs, as long as you can save my father-in-law, I’m willing to pay.” Brenda’s small eyes darted around. She suddenly collapsed to the floor, sobbing dramatically. “Oh, my poor husband! How could you be so miserable? Your daughter is in a car crash, and now you’re dying too!” “And your son-in-law won’t even go save your daughter! What are we going to do!” The surrounding people instantly looked at me with disdain. I cried out, more distraught than Brenda. “Mom, don’t worry! As long as we can save Dad’s life, I’ll cooperate with the hospital even if it means open-chest surgery!” “I’ll also have someone keep an eye on Celine. Even if she really passed away, I’ll always take care of you. I’ll transfer the house you live in to your names.” Brenda’s eyes lit up. “Really?” She quickly realized her expression was wrong and, remembering my mention of open-chest surgery, asked, “What open-chest surgery?” “Lung cancer can be operated on. They just need to remove the bad part of the lung.” “Don’t worry, I’ll find the most expensive surgeon to operate on him. There definitely won’t be any problems. Even if he can’t be saved, I’ve already bought a prestigious burial plot for him.” Brenda shot up from the floor. “We’re not having surgery!” “He’s not sick! No surgery!” I insisted that Arthur was sick, even pulling out the old lung cancer report they had shown me before and handing it to the doctor. The doctor immediately opened a fast track and sent Arthur to the CT scan room. While waiting for the results, Brenda kept her back to me, texting on her phone. I didn’t need to look to know she was sending messages to Marcus. I also opened my phone and checked the surveillance cameras at the house. That villa was meant for their retirement. Fearing the old couple might not be safe living alone, I had cameras installed, but I never told them, worried they’d feel uncomfortable. Now, it had become a tool for my revenge. On the monitor, Marcus entered my bedroom. He rummaged around for a long time but found nothing. He then called Celine. Less than five minutes later, Celine appeared. She had been hiding nearby the whole time! I watched as she walked straight to the safe, punching in the code. She tried several times, but it was wrong each time. A pang of pain shot through my chest. That code was our wedding anniversary – she didn’t even remember it. Marcus had to remind her, and she went to fetch our marriage certificate. The cabinet was empty; there was nothing there. Celine angrily kicked the wall, cursing, “That bitch! If the property deeds aren’t here, where could they be? And his private seal, why can’t I find any of them?” My body trembled. She actually wanted to transfer all my company assets and properties, so even if I managed to divorce her, I’d be left with nothing, and her family could live happily ever after. Thankfully, a couple of days ago, I had used them as collateral with the bank to expand the company. Finally, Celine declared decisively, “You go to the hospital and find Mom and Dad. Make them figure out a way to get rid of Alex. I’ll think of other ways.” With that, Celine leaned in and kissed Marcus. The two of them couldn’t control themselves and started making out right there. I felt an overwhelming wave of nausea. I wanted nothing more than to rush over and beat those two senseless. But I held back. I knew it wasn’t time yet.

Ten minutes later, the two hastily ended their secret meeting. Celine turned to Marcus. “Go tidy up the bed. Alex isn’t stupid. Don’t leave any traces.” Marcus nodded. “Considering he’s been funding our daughter all these years, I won’t be too hard on him.” “But only if he’s obedient,” Celine added coldly. Hiding in the shadows, listening to their conversation, a chill ran down my spine. All these years of marriage, she always claimed she had health issues and couldn’t get pregnant. I felt sorry for her, not even wanting her to try IVF. I never imagined she had already had a child with someone else behind my back. She wasn’t infertile; she just didn’t want to have *my* child! Then, Celine urged Marcus, “You need to get to the hospital quickly. You have to handle Alex there. If all else fails, have Dad fake his death. Alex is such an idiot, he’ll believe anything.” Half an hour later, Marcus arrived at the hospital empty-handed. He asked me, his face anxious, “How’s Uncle Arthur? Auntie said he was doing really badly. Is it true?” I deliberately raised my voice to attract the attention of those around us. “My father’s still being examined! How could you curse him like that?” Marcus awkwardly glanced at Brenda, then said with a wronged expression, “Auntie, I didn’t mean it. Please put in a good word for me with Alex. My family relies entirely on my salary. If I lose this job, they’ll all starve.” Brenda’s eyes widened. She glared at me, yelling, “Alex! When you’re not home, Marcus takes care of us. He’s like my own son!” “If we’re talking about who’s closer, he’s far more important than you!” Brenda accidentally blurted out her true feelings. What surprised me even more was that Marcus even suggested transferring Arthur to another hospital. From a distance, I saw the attending doctor from that hospital already waiting at the entrance. Even though only her eyes were visible, she looked incredibly familiar. I couldn’t help but stare a little longer. It wasn’t until my gaze fell on her name tag that I understood and smiled. It was Marcus’s sister, Maria. Maria stopped us outside the examination room. She busied herself inside for a while, then had the nurses push my father-in-law into the operating room. I asked, my face full of urgency, “Doctor, why is he going straight to surgery?” “Is it serious? I know a lung cancer specialist in New York who can fly over for the surgery.” Maria looked down, avoiding my gaze. “There’s no time for that. His condition is progressing very rapidly.” “We need to operate and remove the lesion now. I suggest you, as the family, resolve his worries first, give him some hope to live.” Marcus also chimed in, sounding worried. “Alex, Uncle Arthur will definitely want to see Celine when he wakes up. You should go quickly.” I scoffed inwardly. “I’ve already arranged for a rescue team. We’ll have results in an hour. We just need to wait.” Marcus looked agitated. He subtly shot Maria a meaningful glance. Maria understood and turned to enter the operating room. To my surprise, Maria emerged just half an hour later, her face filled with sorrow. “I’m sorry, we did our best. The patient’s will to live was weak. He didn’t make it. He left with regrets.” Even at the end, she didn’t forget to cast blame on me. I asked to see Arthur one last time, but Maria refused without hesitation. “His illness is contagious. You cannot see him.” I pondered for a moment, then pulled out my phone and called the funeral home. “My father-in-law has passed away. Please send someone immediately to pick him up.” “His illness is contagious, so I need the fastest cremation and funeral plan. The burial plot should be the most prestigious. Money is not an issue.” I deliberately spoke loudly. “Even if it bankrupts me, I want him to have a grand send-off!” Brenda, who had been trying to snatch my phone, lunged at me, hitting me and cursing. I dodged her slaps and pressed the doctor again. “Is it still contagious after death? Are the organs contagious?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298498”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller

The Antarctic research team had an unofficial ‘dry spell’ ranking, and my name was a permanent fixture at the top. That’s because for eight years of marriage, my wife and I never shared a bed, never touched. Yet, I stubbornly refused to divorce her. She loathed me, saw me as pathetic and malicious, believing I’d selfishly caused the death of her beloved childhood sweetheart. I hated her for being so utterly blind, so heartlessly oblivious. I swore to cling to her for an eternity, ensuring that even in death, her tombstone would bear *my* name, and mine alone. But then the glacier collapsed. She pushed me away, burying herself alive under the ice and snow. “Ash,” she whispered, her voice fading, “if there’s a next life, I’m begging you… please, don’t love me anymore.” By the time they rescued her, she had already suffocated. Not long after, I died in a new mission. When I opened my eyes again, I chose to actively forfeit our engagement. “This research mission,” I declared, “I’ll go.”

“The engagement with Scarlett, wasn’t that something you begged for? Are you really willing to give it up, and take Brandon’s place in Antarctica?” My mother, the Director of the Research Institute, fixed me with a cold, probing gaze. Everyone in the facility knew: Brandon and I weren’t blood brothers, and certainly not by choice. There was no affection, no bond between us. Give up Scarlett, take Brandon’s place suffering under the Antarctic glaciers? Impossible! “You’re just seven days away from finally becoming Scarlett’s husband. And now you want to forfeit?” I parted my tightly pressed lips, cutting off my mother’s probing questions. “Didn’t you always say I was born three minutes before Brandon, and that as the older brother, I should always step aside for him?” Ever since I returned to this family, my mother’s biggest concern wasn’t whether I’d suffered while I was away. No, her fear was that Brandon would be upset by the arrival of an ‘outsider’ in *his* home. In my past life, if I hadn’t reminded her of my father’s dying wish, she would’ve undoubtedly thrown me into that mission in Brandon’s place without a second thought. Seeing my insistence, my mother sighed in relief. She submitted my name to the Antarctic research team and sent notice to the Vance family of the change in their long-standing engagement. The moment I stepped out of the Director’s office, Scarlett walked directly into me. In my past life, she had volunteered to go in Brandon’s stead. When my mother refused, Scarlett went on a hunger strike. I used every method imaginable to coax her into eating. I even had the institute doctors administer IV drips, practically dragging her to complete the wedding. Now, I walked past her, my gaze unwavering, but Scarlett grabbed my arm. I spoke in a cold voice, “The Antarctic expedition is urgent. It’s an order from the higher-ups.” Scarlett clenched her fists. “You know that’s a death sentence! There must be another way!” I chuckled dryly. Nations worldwide are racing to find ways to unlock breakthroughs in human genetics. If we don’t act now, our country will fall drastically behind in the global scientific race! One of us, Brandon or I, had to shoulder the responsibility of venturing deep into the Antarctic storm zone, even if it was a suicide mission. “The higher-ups demanded the Director lead by example, sending her own flesh and blood to Antarctica. No one could stand in the way.” She stared at me intently. “Then why isn’t *he* going?” Her thoughtless question made my pupils dilate almost imperceptibly. I instantly swallowed the urge to tell her the truth. “Think what you like.” “Maybe the outcome you wished for has finally arrived.” I ignored her gaze and walked away. I had intended to tell Scarlett about the change in names, but then thought better of it. Consider it my selfish desire. I couldn’t bear to see her face remain utterly indifferent when she realized *I* was the one being sent to my death. In my past life, at the moment the glacier collapsed, Scarlett pushed me onto the only life raft, burying herself alive beneath the heavy ice and snow. I thought that if I kept giving, kept sacrificing, her heart would eventually warm to me. She gave her life to save mine, and on the very same glacier that had claimed Brandon’s life, she pleaded with me not to love her in the next. So be it. This time, as I head to Antarctica, consider it me repaying the life debt I owe her.

Back in my dorm, I began searching for information on the Antarctic storm zone. It was a place of perpetual, violent storms, incredibly dangerous. In my past life, Brandon had spent six months locating the fossil, but after transmitting the signal, he was immediately engulfed by a storm, his body torn apart on the spot. Later, when the research project resumed, Scarlett was buried alive by a glacier, triggered by a storm, as she tried to save me… I meticulously recalled the storm phenomena observed in my past life, attempting to summarize patterns. After a sleepless night with no breakthroughs, I headed to the cafeteria to grab some food. The moment I sat down, my entire tray of food, soup and all, drenched me. Scarlett grabbed my collar, her dissecting scalpel, still gleaming from its last use, pointed directly at my wide, startled eyes. “Asher Hayes!” I tried to push her away, but she shoved hard, slamming me back against the chair. “Are you insane?!” I twisted her hand, redirecting the blade, but she lunged forward, plunging it towards me. “You knew going into the storm zone was a death trap, yet you still sent a congratulatory message to Brandon! How utterly disgusting are you?” “Just to make me marry you?! Have you no self-respect left?!” The spot on my back where the blade had narrowly missed felt like it had been hit by a jolt of electricity. The icy days and nights of my past life flashed before my eyes, merging with the raw hatred burning in hers. Snapping back to reality, I instantly raised my arm, elbowing the one pinning me down. The scalpel clattered to the floor. “Researcher Vance, are you going to use your life-saving scalpel to kill me?” She froze. “Are you okay? I just… I just…” I picked up the scalpel, placing it on the table, cutting her off. “No matter how dangerous the storm zone is, someone has to go. Will it be any less dangerous if I go?” “Perhaps the wedding isn’t as bad as you think. Maybe it’s something worth celebrating.” Scarlett was speechless. “Watching Brandon die, marrying you… what part of that is worth celebrating?” My limbs felt like they were on the verge of losing control. I clenched my fists and turned to leave. Scarlett, this time, everything will be worth celebrating. Deleting the approval status from my phone, I watched Scarlett, still relentlessly heading towards the Director’s office. I returned with my storm zone research materials, just in time to see Scarlett carefully wiping dust from a good luck talisman with a fine brush. Brandon saw me and asked, “What’s that? For me?” Scarlett, without looking up, replied, “It’s nothing. Just some worthless trinket. I’ll get you something better later.” My turning footsteps startled Scarlett. In her hand was… the good luck talisman my father had specially commissioned from a spiritual advisor after he learned I’d been accepted into the National Academy of Sciences. He said he was just a businessman, too preoccupied with money to truly help me with my academic path. He didn’t care how far I went, only that I stayed safe. Later, when Scarlett suffered a chemical burn during a lab experiment, I gave it to her. Despite Scarlett calling out, I didn’t turn back. Late that night, still unable to sleep, I went out for some air. The good luck talisman, hanging on my doorknob, fell to my feet. I scoffed. I just glanced at it and slammed the door shut. It wasn’t until the soft patter of rain began that I stood by the door for a long time before picking up the talisman.

At the send-off party, Brandon stood, glass in hand, soaking in the mix of colleagues’ fawning praise and barely concealed resentment. The electronic screen in the hall only read, “Farewell to Director Chen’s Son, Journeying to Antarctica,” without specifying a name. The person speaking hadn’t expected me to show up. He paused for a few seconds, then stubbornly continued, “What are you looking at? Brandon is just better than you, his older brother! I heard you grew up in the countryside, right? No wonder you’re such a coward!” Someone else chimed in, “Exactly! They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, but *this* guy is too chicken to even go to Antarctica! It’s a damn insult to Director Hayes’s and Mr. Hayes’s legacy!” Brandon strode forward, calling out to me by the entrance. “Mom said you *volunteered* for this suicide mission in Antarctica. Smart move. Scarlett loves me so much, if I died down there, would she be so heartbroken she’d live the rest of her life as my devoted widow?” “I’m being so generous, giving you this chance to make history for the Institute. But if our colleagues want to think that, what can I do…?” “I guess I’ll just have to make sure to throw a bigger party when you’re gone, to thank you for ‘looking after’ my wife all these years~” I scoffed, giving him a pointed, knowing look. “You going is certainly a suicide mission. But why would it be for me?” “You barely scraped by with your master’s and doctorate, and now you think you’re better than me—a direct recruit, top of my class at the National Academy? Mom’s been covering for you, cheating you through every assessment. Did you actually believe your scores were anywhere near mine?” Before I could finish, he suddenly staggered backward, feigning alarm. “Brother, even if I shouldn’t be so close to Scarlett, you shouldn’t…” The sound of footsteps was all it took; I knew it was Scarlett. I was about to turn. A burning slap landed across my face. Before I could even register it, another one followed on the other side. Scarlett shielded Brandon behind her like a mother hen protecting her chick, the fury in her eyes almost solid. “I truly underestimated you!” “Brandon is going to Antarctica for everyone’s sake! And at this critical moment, you target him? Are you trying to get him killed?” I shook my head. “There are security cameras here, you…” “Shut up!” Scarlett’s voice rose, her eyes like daggers. “You’ve always been a cowering coward, running from the Antarctic expedition. Fine! But your brother is going to such a dangerous place in your stead, and you not only show no gratitude, you try to harm him!” “An ungrateful snake like you! I shouldn’t have saved you back then; I should’ve just let those kids beat you to death!” “You’re nothing but a stain on Mr. Hayes’s legacy!” My body went rigid, my breath catching in my throat. I couldn’t hear anything, only saw her lips moving. But the lanyard around my neck was violently yanked, snapping me out of my daze. I raised my bloodshot eyes, staring intently at the good luck talisman Scarlett shoved into Brandon’s hand. “What are you doing?!” Brandon whined piteously, “I’m going to Antarctica anyway, Ash, can’t you just let me have this? I just wanted Dad’s blessing and protection…” My eyes never left her face, watching Scarlett’s expression intently. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what that talisman means to me!” Scarlett’s face paled. Seeing Brandon’s hurt expression, she stepped forward and grabbed my arm. “Brandon is leaving for Antarctica soon, Ash! This is about national interest! Don’t be so petty!” “We’re both Mr. Hayes’s sons. I just wanted it to protect Brandon. Mr. Hayes wouldn’t mind…” “After the wedding, I’ll buy you ten, a hundred talismans to make up for it, okay?” I shook off Scarlett’s hand, reaching for Brandon. With a sharp rip, the talisman tore into two halves. Brandon mumbled, “I didn’t mean to!” but the smug triumph in his eyes, fixed on me, was unmistakable. I was about to throw a punch when Scarlett pulled out her scalpel, pointing the tip directly at my forehead. This was the second time she’d used her lab scalpel on me. “Didn’t you hear Brandon say it was an accident?” “Do you really want me to report you for insulting a national hero?!” I let out a bitter laugh, then pulled the corrosive chemical vial from my uniform pocket and rattled it, deliberately showing her the identification number. Watching her panic, my mind flashed back to our past life, how we constantly glowered at each other, each wishing the other dead. Through my hazy vision, I almost saw the look in her eyes as she pushed me, for the very last time. Thwack! Through my tear-blurred vision, I watched the spreading crimson. Scarlett’s hand went slack, her gaze fixated on the scalpel now buried in my chest. Just like every bitter confrontation in our past life, she was always the one going for the kill, and I, always the one holding back. Clutching my chest, I tried to support myself, stumbling towards the door. But my legs gave out, and I fell back into a welcoming embrace, filled with the sweet scent of jasmine. The dampness trickling onto my neck felt unnervingly cold.

Luckily, no vital organs were hit. When my lab colleagues visited me, they mentioned that Scarlett had taken a leave of absence during my recovery to go to the mountains and pray for good luck charms. I bundled up warmly, preparing to leave. As if to help me acclimatize to the cold, it had started snowing here too. Following the fresh footprints, I looked at my door. A pile of good luck talismans hung on the doorknob, the topmost one tattered but mended with clear tape. A sticky note on the door read, “Apology.” I calmly averted my gaze and headed towards the Research Institute’s main gate, turning back for what might be my last look at it. The roar of a helicopter’s propellers filled the air. Scarlett, breathless, lunged towards me. She touched a small patch of skin on my forehead not covered by my fleece hat. “I’m useless. I couldn’t convince the Director.” “Don’t worry. Even if I marry him, my heart will only ever be yours.” She spoke earnestly, snowflakes dusting her hair. I watched her retreating back, a little surprised. Pulling my suitcase towards the helicopter, the festive crackle of firecrackers stopped me in my tracks. It was only then that I remembered: today was also Scarlett and Brandon’s wedding. Scarlett had just sent me an apology gift. Soon, she would receive mine. Reaching the helicopter, the escort personnel took my luggage. As I was about to step inside, I was tightly embraced, the sweet scent of jasmine filling my nostrils. “Are you… angry because I’m marrying Brandon?” So, all those promises were for Brandon. She continued, “I’m so sorry…” “I’ll wait for you to come back, no matter what our circumstances are then. Please, can you stop pushing me away?” She sobbed uncontrollably, as if making a difficult, pre-emptive promise. “If—if you truly don’t come back, I’ll live the rest of my life as your devoted widow…” I grabbed the ladder and silently climbed up, wishing the noise of the helicopter’s propellers was even louder. Through the densely falling snow against the window, I shifted my gaze to the ground. Scarlett, covered in goose-down flakes, looked drained of life amidst the vast whiteness. She pushed away the red wedding umbrella offered by her colleagues, tearing her heart out as she screamed into the sky: “Brandon!” Only when the helicopter’s black speck vanished into the sky did Scarlett, shoulders heavy with snow, return to the Research Institute. Her colleagues entered her room, helping her into a stunning red wedding gown and applying her makeup.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298497”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller

I was about to leave the upscale restaurant Julian owned when the manager stopped me. “Excuse me, ma’am, you haven’t paid your bill.” I looked at the unfamiliar face, figuring she was new and didn’t recognize me. So, I politely explained, “Just put it on Julian’s tab. He knows.” The female manager swept a disdainful glance over me. “Ma’am, our restaurant is a Michelin three-star. We’ve never had a policy of charging to an account.” She finished speaking, then handed me a printed bill. I glanced down, and my eyes widened. A single meal for half a million dollars. Cutlery Gleam Maintenance Fee: Thirty thousand. Exclusive Air Purification Fee: Fifty thousand. VIP Serenity Service Fee: One hundred thousand. And a bunch of other ridiculous charges. I had no idea my brother was running such a rip-off joint. I was so furious, I actually laughed. “I’m Stella Cross, Mr. Cross’s sister. Tell him to come home and talk to me if there’s a problem.” But she wouldn’t back down. “Can’t afford it, huh? Don’t pretend you’re someone important, trying to mooch off Mr. Cross.” I immediately texted my assistant: *Tell Julian. Either fire this woman, or I’m pulling all my investments.* 1 “Ma’am, don’t waste everyone’s time. Just pay the bill.” Her tone was utterly certain, cutting, as if she’d already branded me as a vain gold-digger trying to skip out on the bill. Several curious glances from other patrons were already turning our way. I frowned, not wanting to waste time on such a ridiculous matter. I pulled out my phone and dialed my brother’s number directly. However, only a cold busy signal answered, and repeated attempts yielded the same result. What the hell is that kid up to on a weekday? I put down my phone and faced the aggressive woman, enunciating each word carefully. “I’ll say it again. My name is Stella Cross. I am your boss, Julian Cross’s, older sister.” “His phone is unreachable right now, but you can check his company account. My picture and information are linked to it.” I thought this was the most direct and effective way to solve the problem. But when the female manager heard my name, instead of verifying anything, she burst into a sharp, grating laugh. She cackled, shaking with malicious glee, drawing even more attention. Then, she abruptly leaned in close to me, lowering her voice to a volume only we two could hear. “Still pretending? I’ve seen that face of yours in my husband Julian’s Ins feed countless times!” “You shameless hussy, secretly seducing my man!” “Now you have the audacity to waltz into his restaurant and try to charge everything to his account? Do you have no shame at all?” I froze for a second, then glanced at her name tag—Tiffany Reed. An overwhelming sense of exasperation washed over me. Julian’s girlfriend, the one he’d been keeping under wraps, not even a single picture he’d bothered to show me. It turned out to be this foolish, venomous woman in front of me. How could his taste be *this* bad? Suddenly, I understood. This half-million-dollar “exorbitant bill” today wasn’t a misunderstanding at all. It was a premeditated humiliation. Before I could even open my mouth, she’d completely lost her patience. “Since this woman wants to dine and dash, we’ll have to restrain her until the police arrive!” She waved her hand backward, and two burly security guards, who had been standing nearby, immediately stepped forward. One clamped his hand over my mouth, while the other wrenched my arms painfully behind my back, twisting them like rope. I struggled violently, but the sheer difference in strength between us made all my resistance futile. They ignored my furious glares and the horrified stares of the other patrons, roughly dragging me toward the back of the kitchen. Then I was thrown heavily into a storage room reeking of disinfectant mixed with stale food. The door slammed shut, cutting off all light and sound from the outside. 2 In the darkness, the female manager said nothing, but raised her high-heeled foot and brutally kicked me in the stomach. The excruciating pain instantly made me curl into a ball, my stomach churning violently. “That’s for spending my man’s money!” “That’s for trying to seduce him!” She shrieked, her voice distorted by jealousy and rage. She looked down at me, towering over me, and ordered the two brawny men: “Beat her! Beat her senseless!” The two security guards, clearly her loyal cronies, didn’t hesitate for a second. A barrage of punches and kicks rained down on me. I bit down hard, swallowing every cry of pain and groan. My bones felt like they were being shattered, my internal organs dislocated. Her shrieks continued. “What do you think you are? Nothing but a pathetic hanger-on!” “I told you I’m his sister! If you don’t believe me, ask Julian! Call him right now, I’ll tell him myself!” I struggled to explain, but the woman in front of me was deaf to my words. Only when my head was swimming and my vision blurring did she raise her hand and call a stop. Her high-heeled foot pressed onto my shoulder as she smiled, looking down at me. “You’d better pay that bill today, and then fork over another five hundred thousand.” “That’s your punishment for seducing my man and spending his money.” “I’m not afraid of things getting messy. Julian will have it all smoothed over for me.” I lay curled up in pain, weakly protesting, “That’s my own money. I told you, if you don’t believe me, ask him.” Her face twisted in anger, and she kicked me again. The two security guards immediately understood, and their fists and feet came down on me once more. I knew she wouldn’t listen to anything I said. If this continued, I might actually die here. After I coughed up a mouthful of blood, I used the last of my strength to fumble for my phone on the cold floor. “Stop… I’ll… I’ll pay.” She seemed pleased with my submission, motioning for the two security guards to stop. She knelt down and patted my swollen cheek. “See? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just do it the easy way? You had to learn the hard way, didn’t you?” “One million, not a penny less.” I lay on the cold floor, gasping for breath, my lungs burning. I ignored her and dialed my best friend Maya’s number. The call connected quickly. “Maya, bring two million to Julian’s restaurant.” “I need it now.” Maya on the other end paused, then a note of alarm crept into her voice. “Stella? What’s wrong? Your voice sounds…” “Don’t ask. Just hurry.” I cut her off and hung up. When Tiffany heard “two million,” her eyes instantly lit up, a flicker of avarice in her eyes. She probably thought I’d been beaten into submission and was voluntarily increasing the payment to beg for mercy. The smug triumph on her face was now impossible to hide. “Smart move.” 3 Maya’s speed was astonishing. Soon, the storage room door was violently pushed open from the outside. Maya stormed in, flanked by two bodyguards. When she saw the blood at the corner of my mouth, my disheveled clothes, and my pathetic form curled on the floor, she gasped in shock. She rushed forward and helped me up. I shook my head, signaling her not to speak, then took the bank card with the sticky-note password from her hand and tossed it to Tiffany. Tiffany took the card and didn’t bother me further, waving her hand dismissively. “If that’s a fake card, I have plenty of ways to find you. Now get out.” I endured the excruciating pain that pierced my bones, and with Maya’s help, I limped out of that disgusting place. Once at the entrance, I thanked Maya. “Thanks, Maya. I’ll pay you back as soon as I sort this out.” She looked at me worriedly. “Don’t worry about the money. But what happened to you?” I let out a bitter laugh. “My brother’s found himself quite the girlfriend. I’ve got a score to settle with him.” I pulled out my phone and found the number for the restaurant’s Vice President. This VP was the actual manager of the restaurant, someone I had personally headhunted, and he was fiercely loyal to me. The call connected. I didn’t waste a single word, my voice devoid of emotion. “You have ten minutes. Fire a manager named Tiffany Reed.” “Otherwise, the Cross family will withdraw all investments from the restaurant, every last penny.” The VP on the other end was scared him witless the moment he heard my voice. He must have heard the weakness and the unsettling tone in my voice, as he frantically agreed, not daring to ask a single question why. I hung up, not pausing for a second, and hailed a cab directly to the police station. Using the clearest, most logical reasoning, I explained everything that had just happened to the officer who received me. After giving a detailed statement at the police station, I went to the hospital for a medical examination. Holding that thin report, the fury of betrayal in my heart felt like it had been doused with hot oil, burning even more fiercely. I needed an explanation. I needed Julian Cross to give me an explanation himself. My assistant located Julian at his own house. My driver and bodyguards were already en route to Julian’s villa. That villa, too, was a gift from me. However, when I arrived, I was greeted by deafening heavy metal music. And the boisterous sounds of men and women emanating from the doors and windows. He was throwing a party. No wonder he hadn’t answered my calls. The villa’s front door was ajar. On a whim, I didn’t push it open immediately. Soon, I heard a familiar female voice, choked with tears. It was Tiffany. She was crying to everyone in the house, painting herself as a poor victim bullied by an arrogant mistress, who was then falsely accused. “…I just asked her to pay her bill, and she threw a million dollars in my face, and then had me fired…” “Julian, she’s too much. She has absolutely no respect for you!” “She just wants to humiliate me, she just wants to break us up!” Inside, Julian’s group of fair-weather friends all indignantly echoed her sentiments. Julian, meanwhile, was loudly comforting Tiffany in his arms, his voice full of tenderness and indulgence. “Tiffany, don’t worry, I won’t let you suffer this kind of injustice!” Then, as if to prove his resolve, he confidently promised everyone: “When I catch that woman, I’ll make her kneel and apologize to you!” Inside, the group of spoiled brats continued to champion Tiffany, shouting about how they would make me pay. “Julian, just say the word, and we’ll drag her out right now!” “Yeah! Let her know who really runs things here!” I couldn’t listen anymore. I raised my hand, and a bodyguard kicked open the villa door. The party music screeched to a halt, and the boisterous laughter instantly vanished. Dozens of stunned eyes collectively turned toward the doorway. “No need to drag me out. I’m right here. Who wants to teach me a lesson?” 4 The air seemed to solidify, leaving only the sharp click-clack of my heels on the floor. Step by step, I walked toward the embracing couple in the center of the living room.

“Ma’am, just a moment. There’s still an outstanding bill for $50,000.” I was about to leave after using the restroom when the owner of the buffet restaurant stopped me dead in my tracks. My jaw dropped at the outrageous sum she mentioned. This place was supposed to be $75 per person, tops! “$50,000? What are you talking about? I already paid for my meal.” She plastered on a sugary-sweet, fake smile. “Our premium restroom is only free for three minutes. Every minute over that costs $10,000. You were in there for twenty-one minutes, so that comes to $50,000.” I frowned, utterly bewildered. “I’ve never heard of any place with such a rule! This is extortion!” “Ma’am, our pricing and operations are perfectly legal and compliant. Our restroom is equipped with luxurious facilities and top-tier amenities. Charging a fee is completely normal.” I almost laughed at her utterly self-righteous attitude. “So, you’re saying if you don’t have money, you can’t even use your bathroom? I’m not paying a cent!” Seeing my refusal, she immediately turned on a megaphone. “Someone’s enjoying premium services and refusing to pay! Everyone, come and judge this for yourselves!” As a crowd started to gather, I quickly SnapChatted the restaurant name to my assistant. “Look up the company behind this place. Acquire it immediately!” … At Brenda’s shout, people swarmed from every direction, surrounding me. “Well, look at her, all dressed up, but won’t pay for a fancy restroom?” “Seriously, if you don’t have the money, don’t use their premium services! This place has a top-notch restroom. If you’re broke, just don’t use it!” A few words of manufactured outrage made Brenda positively gleeful. She stood in the center of the crowd, speaking with a condescending tone. “Ms. Vance, I see you’re a regular here. I’m not completely heartless.” “How about this: pay the $50,000 today, and I’ll give you our most exclusive membership. You’ll get twenty percent off all meals from now on. What do you say?” I nearly choked on my own laughter at her shameless logic. In my entire twenty-something years, I’d never been called a poor, freeloading cheapskate to my face. I took a deep breath, my voice cutting clearly through the buzzing whispers. “Ms. Stone, I will pay every cent I owe for my meal.” “But could you please tell me which law in this country states that a citizen must pay extra for using a restroom provided by a business?” “Law?” Brenda scoffed, a harsh, mocking laugh bursting from her like I’d just told the funniest joke in the world. “Everyone listen! Ms. Vance has such shallow knowledge! Our deluxe restroom package uses top-tier materials and space-grade nano-cleaning technology. Spend an hour in there, and you’ll get a year younger!” “Don’t you understand what high-tech is? Don’t you understand health investment?” Her words immediately sent the crowd into a frenzy. “What? A year younger! Owner, let me in there to try it out, I’ll pay!” “Some people are just cheap, then they blame others for being expensive. They just don’t know quality!” The mood in the room flipped instantly. Just moments ago, there were merely glances of disdain. Now, intense hostility burned in their eyes. Brenda stood on her moral high ground of “technology and health,” watching me smugly. What in the damn hell kind of cult brainwashing was this? Brenda was crazy, and the customers in this place were even crazier! “Fine!” I laughed, fueled by pure rage. “Ms. Stone, since you’re so convinced you’re operating legally and compliantly, then let’s invite the relevant authorities to make an assessment.” I pulled out my phone and called the police right in front of everyone. “Hello, 911? I’d like to report a massive extortion…” 2 Soon, two police officers parted the crowd and walked in. Brenda instantly put on a wronged expression and rushed to meet them. “Officers, thank goodness you’re here! This Ms. Vance enjoyed our premium services but refuses to pay.” “We’re a legitimate business; every single service is registered and approved by the city’s consumer protection board. You have to side with us!” She was quick to throw dirt on my name. The police, of course, wouldn’t just listen to one side. I concisely recounted the events, emphasizing the ridiculously high fee and her so-called anti-aging claims. The lead officer, a middle-aged man, frowned. He looked at the approval documents Brenda handed him, then paused for a moment. My heart sank a little. This shouldn’t be happening. Could Brenda Stone really have such powerful connections? “Ms. Vance, we understand the situation. After verification, this restaurant’s premium restroom service, its pricing standards, and relevant qualification documents… are all in order. On paper, it falls within the scope of legal operation.” Meaning, the charging procedures were all complete. As for the effectiveness of the service, that was commercial advertising and not within their jurisdiction. A louder uproar immediately erupted from the crowd. “Just pay the money, cheapskate!” “The police said there’s no problem, yet she’s still stubborn as hell, how embarrassing!” Brenda’s triumphant smile was blinding. But she still feigned a sigh. “Ms. Vance, why make such a fuss? I run a business, and honesty is the most important thing…” Integrity, my ass! I clenched my fists, barely suppressing the urge to just utterly lose it. If there wasn’t something seriously messed up behind this, I’d eat my hat! I ignored them, quickly unlocking my phone and messaging Chloe Davies, my assistant. [Find out the company behind this buffet restaurant and prepare for acquisition.] [I want the acquisition contract on my desk tomorrow!] After sending the message, I looked at the smug Brenda again. “Ms. Stone, I’ve paid for my meal, but for any illegal charges, I won’t give you a single cent!” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with this crazy woman anymore and turned to leave. Back home, the entryway light was on. Derek was actually home at this hour. Normally, he’d either be out at a work function or working late. I’d just kicked off my heels when he stormed out of the living room, clutching a few sheets of paper. “Aurora Vance! Look what you’ve done!” I glanced at the falling papers – it was a lawyer’s letter. Brenda Stone’s name was signed at the bottom. Huh, she certainly worked fast. “And this!” Derek shoved his phone screen right into my face. Trending on Ins, “Aurora Vance: The Buffet Freeloader” was number one. I tapped on it, and sure enough, there was a candid video of the scene. The comments were absolutely vile. “Freeloading AND calling the cops? This woman has some nerve!” “Girls, doxx her! Make her pay!” My name, my ID — everything had been dug up and laid bare. Brenda, that crazy witch, dared to start a whole online smear campaign! Yet, my boyfriend didn’t care about what I’d suffered. He just kept demanding to know why I’d gotten into such trouble. “Trouble? Derek Hayes, your girlfriend is being falsely accused of extortion, dragged through the mud, and cyberbullied, and all you care about is me embarrassing you?” I pointed to the lawyer’s letter on the floor. “That lunatic owner started this whole mess just because I didn’t pay $50,000 for using her restroom. Does that sound reasonable to you?” Derek’s brow furrowed into a tight knot. “But the police said it was legal, so why didn’t you just pay what you owed? It’s just $50,000, right?” “Just hurry up, record an apology video, pay the money, and this whole thing will be over.” I looked at him as if he were a stranger. “Derek Hayes, are you out of your mind? If you want to be a sucker and a spineless pushover, then go pay her yourself, but don’t drag me into it!” “Aurora Vance!” Derek’s face flushed crimson. He pointed a finger at me and yelled, “You’re utterly unreasonable! Don’t you know the company will fire you for this?” I stared at him coldly, saying nothing. The company was *mine*. If anyone was getting fired, it would be him! Seeing that I still wouldn’t budge, he violently threw his hand up. “Fine, you’re so righteous, so above it all! Let’s see how you get out of this mess!” He grabbed his jacket from the sofa, glared at me, and slammed the door as he left. I lay back on the small living room sofa and checked my SnapChat. Messages from friends popped up continuously. And on Ins, Brenda seemed to have deliberately posted an update to actively spite me. [Taught some cheapskate a lesson today! Couldn’t afford our premium restroom package and still called the cops! What a world!] The post included a smug selfie of her flipping off the camera, with the blurry sign of her pathetic restaurant visible in the background. She really had the nerve! Cyberbullying and acting so arrogant, even after breaking the law. My finger unconsciously scrolled down, curious to see if any mutual friends had commented. Then, in the likes section, I saw a familiar profile picture. It was Derek’s! 3 My mind instantly exploded, buzzing loudly. Luckily, my hand moved faster than my brain, and I immediately took a screenshot. When I refreshed Ins, that red heart ‘like’ had vanished. I clutched my phone, my fingers icy cold. How did Derek know Brenda? All this time, whenever we went to restaurants, I was the one who ordered and paid. Derek never got involved, did he? Suddenly, a hazy memory flashed into my mind. Two months ago, it was Derek who had his arm around my waist, excitedly telling me about this newly opened buffet restaurant. After trying it, I was indeed impressed by their high-quality ingredients. I even considered holding the company’s group dinners there. I stared at the screenshot on my phone, took a deep breath, and called Chloe Davies. There were some things I absolutely had to get to the bottom of. The next day at noon, just as I arrived at my office, the front desk’s internal line rang. “Ms. Vance! Someone’s causing a scene at the front desk, specifically asking for you.” Hearing the panicked tone from the front desk, I had a pretty good idea who it was. Sure enough, as I walked into the office area, I heard Brenda’s shrill, grating voice. “Where’s Aurora Vance? That freeloading bitch who didn’t pay, get out here! Too scared to show your face?” “It’s all because of that jinx! She made me lose a huge contract. So unlucky!” The employees were silent, casting complicated glances my way. “Looking for me?” I pushed past the employees blocking my way and walked toward Brenda, who was surrounded by a few of her restaurant staff. “Well, well, the coward finally dares to show her face?” She swayed her hips, her finger nearly poking my nose. “Aurora Vance, if you know what’s good for you, pay the $50,000 right now! Do you have any idea how much money you’ve cost me?” “Like I give a damn.” I raised my hand, wiped the spittle from my face, and disgustedly pushed her hand away. “It’s all you! Freeloading, then calling the police, causing me bad luck!” She suddenly shot a look to the side. “Hey, Liam, David, drag her out and make her scrub the floors to cleanse this place of her bad juju! Otherwise, business will be impossible!” Those two restaurant employees actually started moving towards me. A collective gasp went through the office. In broad daylight, on my own turf, she dared to have her people lay hands on me? A surge of pure, unadulterated rage shot through me. To hell with reason, to hell with my image! I lunged forward and slapped her hard. “Ah!!!” Brenda clutched her face, stunned for a full three seconds. “Aurora Vance, you dared to hit me!” “Yeah, I hit you! I’m hitting you, you foul-mouthed hag.” I shook my stinging palm. “I haven’t even settled the score with you for cyberbullying me, and you dare to come here and provoke me?” “You just wait!” Brenda was shaking with fury. She pulled out her phone and made a call. “Honey, your company’s employee hit me! Come quick and stand up for me! She’s completely out of control!” Honey? My heart plummeted. No, it couldn’t be that exact connection. After hanging up, Brenda’s expression changed in a flash. “Hear that? My husband is coming out right now to deal with you!” “I advise you to get on your knees and apologize immediately, otherwise, I’ll have my husband fire you!” I laughed, livid. Fire me? I’d like to see who has the guts. The elevator chimed, stopping on my floor. Everyone’s gaze turned towards it. The doors slowly opened. Derek’s anxious face appeared before everyone. Brenda instantly flung herself at Derek like a giddy schoolgirl, clutching his arm tightly. All the employees present gasped. “Honey, you’re finally here! It’s that bitch who freeloaded at my restaurant yesterday, she hit me today! Fire her, make her leave!” Brenda pointed at me, her face alight with undisguised malice and triumph. However, Derek’s face froze. He hadn’t expected such a grand spectacle. So, he didn’t even look at Brenda. His gaze was fixed, unblinking, on me. “Wife? You… why are you here at the company today? If something was wrong, couldn’t you have just told me?” The triumphant look on Brenda’s face instantly shattered. She abruptly released Derek’s arm, stumbling back a step. “You… you called her what?” I didn’t spare a glance at their pale faces. Instead, I turned to Chloe, my assistant. “Chloe, what’s the acquisition progress on The Epicurean Feast? Get the investors behind it here with the contract immediately!” Brenda seemed to snap out of her shock, bursting into loud laughter. “Aurora Vance, have you lost your mind? A broke cheapskate who can’t even afford $50,000 for a restroom, trying to acquire our restaurant? Dream on!” No sooner had she spoken than the elevator chimed again. A middle-aged man in an expensive custom suit stepped out. Brenda’s face instantly lit up with the smugness of finding her backup. “Mr. Sterling! You’re finally here. You have to stand up for me, this bitch, she…” But before she could finish, Mr. Sterling, whom she considered her savior, quickly walked up to me with an almost fawning smile. “Ms. Vance, why are you here in person? I’ve brought the acquisition contract. When would you like to sign?” 4 “Mr. Sterling, what did you call her? She… she’s just a…” The joy and triumph on Brenda’s face instantly crumbled.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298496”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller

In my past life, I endured a heart-wrenching fate. My husband, Norman Ballard, held me in utter contempt for bearing a low-class Black Dragon. Without a shred of mercy, he took the life of our innocent child. Then, he summoned a thunderstorm to end my life as well. As I lay dying, filled with rage and despair, I spat out a curse, “Drop dead right now!” With my blurry vision, I witnessed our bodies plummeting into the depths of the Dragon Pool. To my astonishment, I awoke to find myself back on the day when Norman was choosing a bride. He wasted no time in picking my sister, a Blue Dragon just one rank above the Black Dragon. The disgust in his eyes was palpable as he looked at me. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that he, too, had been reborn. In the previous life, my sister was a Blue Dragon of humble standing, while I was a Yellow Dragon, second only to the noble Golden Dragon. Back then, Norman had readily chosen me. But life took a cruel turn. My sister married a Yellow Dragon and gave birth to a high-class Golden Dragon, becoming the envy of all. Meanwhile, I gave birth to that low-class Black Dragon after tying the knot with him, and he became the butt of everyone’s jokes. This time around, Norman was convinced that choosing my sister would guarantee him a Golden Dragon offspring. But here was the thing—like begets like. How could a Black Dragon masquerading as a Golden Dragon ever give birth to the real deal? ***** Suddenly, thunder boomed across the sky. Dozens of lightning bolts ripped through the thick clouds and lunged straight at me. I was scorched and battered by the fierce lightning. As I plummeted through the air, I spotted my husband Norman standing outside the reach of the lightning. He stared at me with a cold and vicious look as I sank lower and lower. “With the blood of the Dragon Clan as a curse, I wish Norman to drop dead right now!” I murmured the curse with my last bit of strength. I watched as Norman shifted into his dragon form and fell. Eventually, we plunged into the Dragon Pool together. “Megan, what are you daydreaming about?” Someone beside me gently nudged me. I slowly opened my eyes, and it was my father, Ryan Wesley. Wasn’t I just killed by the thunderstorm? I rubbed my eyes, opened them again, and looked around. This wasn’t a dream. I was reborn, and it was the day when Norman was choosing a wife. Ryan, a high-class Yellow Dragon, asked, “Norman, which of my two daughters will you pick?” Our eyes met. I recalled that in my past life, his eyes were full of tenderness when he looked at me, and he gave me his golden scales without hesitation. But now, all I saw in his eyes was disgust. “Sure, my younger daughter, Sally, is just an ordinary middle-class Blue Dragon. But she’s kind-hearted and virtuous, and she’s got feelings for you. If you two get along, it’d be a great match.” Ryan stroked his beard. My sister Sally Wesley was shyly stealing glances at Norman. The bride-selection of a Golden Dragon was a big deal in the Dragon Clan, crucial for the bloodline. The clan elders had come to witness it. Even though Ryan said that, everyone knew that Norman, a high-class Golden Dragon, should pick me, a high-class Yellow Dragon. However, Norman gave his scales to Sally. Everyone present was shocked. Sally also looked at Norman in disbelief. At that moment, I was sure that Norman, my husband from the previous life, was also reborn. In the previous life, as expected, Norman chose me, the one with a higher rank. And Sally was arranged by Ryan to marry a high-class Yellow Dragon through his connections. At first, Norman doted on me, and we were the talk of the town in the Dragon Clan. But things took a turn after I laid a Black Dragon egg. A Golden Dragon laying a black egg was a huge laughingstock in the Dragon World. Everyone said Norman was a loser. On the contrary, Sally laid a glowing golden egg. Since then, people flocked to their door, and everyone praised her husband for his strength. The humiliated Norman became extremely bad-tempered towards me. He not only scolded me but also often rued not choosing Sally as his wife in front of me. In the Dragon World, there were four attributes—Black Dragon, Blue Dragon, Yellow Dragon, and Golden Dragon, and three ranks—low-class, middle-class, and high-class. The higher the attribute and rank, the rarer and more powerful the dragon, and the higher the family’s status. So, dragons in the clan usually chose mates with higher attributes to have offspring with better bloodlines. Of course, there were exceptions where high-class dragons gave birth to low-class ones and vice versa. Dragons in the Dragon Clan could transform into human forms after reaching adulthood. The humiliation drove Norman to the brink of madness. In a desperate bid to salvage his shattered pride, he started spreading malicious rumors. He claimed I’d had an affair with a low-class dragon, and that was the reason I’d given birth to a low-class Black Dragon egg. In a fit of rage, he punched the unhatched egg, shattering it into pieces. Then, with a wave of his power, he summoned a terrifying thunderstorm. The sky darkened, and thunder roared as if the heavens themselves were angry. Lightning flashed across the sky like fiery whips, and I knew my end was near. Before I could even expose his true identity, I was engulfed by the storm. Norman was a fraud. Beneath his false guise of a high-class Golden Dragon, he was nothing but a low-class Black Dragon.

Ryan was stunned by the outcome, whereas my mom, Emma Wesley, was overjoyed. Without hesitation, she pulled Sally close and began showering her with praise right in front of Norman. “I get you all are curious to know why I didn’t choose Megan,” Norman said, giving a little bow to the elders of the Dragon Clan. My eyelids fluttered. “I won’t marry a two-timing dragon like her,” he said, jabbing his finger at me angrily. The place erupted in a flurry of confusion. “Hey, watch your mouth!” Ryan barked. After all, I was his flesh and blood. “Chill out, sir. Let me explain. I’ve caught her fooling around with those low-class dragons more than once. That’s why I’m off the idea of marrying her,” Norman retorted. “Prove it! You’re just badmouthing me!” I feigned the innocence of my younger self, not keen on letting Norman know I’d been reborn. “Do you really think I, a noble Golden Dragon, would lie about you?” Norman sneered. Ryan eyed me warily, and Emma shot me a dirty look, thinking I’d brought shame to the family. Before I could get a word in, Norman rambled on. “She’s got a rotten moral compass. Even if she’s a high-class Yellow Dragon, her kids would be low-class. Let’s see if I’m right.” Golden Dragons could make predictions, but it took a toll on their essence and blood. Not many dragons were willing to go through with it. Once he said that, the elders and relatives started whispering and gossiping about me. “Fine, we’ll wait and see!” I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stay composed. I was biding my time for his dragon egg to hatch and expose his true colors. Sally’s wedding was a grand affair. Norman spared no expense, and it became the talk of the Dragon World. As for me, thanks to Norman’s slander, my reputation was in the gutter. Dragons who used to come knocking for marrying me stopped showing up. They were more worried about having low-class offspring than my so-called disloyalty. In the Dragon World, a Golden Dragon’s prediction was no laughing matter. With Norman stoking the fire, the rumors got wilder. People were saying I’d slept with three dragons in one night, and they painted the picture so vividly. Emma thought I was a disgrace and gave me the cold shoulder all day. Ryan was at a loss. I didn’t give a damn. I was done with the whole marriage thing after my past life. Three days after the wedding, Norman brought Sally back for a visit. When he saw me, he started taunting, “Megan, I bet no one wants to marry you now, huh?” “Thanks to you, I’m having a peaceful life,” I shot back. Norman sized me up and scoffed, “Without a mate, your mating season is gonna be a nightmare. You might end up with a wild snake and pop out some freakish thing.” “Yeah, Megan. Stop being so choosy. Just marry a Black Dragon. Otherwise, not just the Dragon World but other races will laugh their asses off at you,” Sally chimed in. It had only been a few days since she tied the knot, and she was already on Norman’s side. The two of them were like two peas in a pod. Of course, Sally and I had never seen eye to eye. Emma was Ryan’s second wife, and Sally and I were half-sisters, so there was never any real bond between us. “Don’t worry about me. Worry about having a high-quality dragon baby first. After all, like father, like son,” I said, smiling as I glanced at Sally’s belly. Norman’s eyes darkened with rage. “What are you talking about? Norman is a rare Golden Dragon. His kids will at least be Golden Dragons. You’re just jealous that Norman picked me,” Sally snapped, raising her hand as if to hit me. Just like old times, she still wanted to push me around. I stepped back, not in the mood to argue. “Good-for-nothing who can’t even lay an egg.”

From behind, Norman’s voice, as gloomy as a storm cloud, echoed through the air. He casually slung his arm around Sally’s shoulders, shouldered past me with a nonchalant air, and sauntered ahead. At the dinner table, Norman was all over Sally like a lovesick puppy. He kept piling her plate high with dishes and dabbing at her mouth with a napkin. They were the picture-perfect newlyweds, in total sync. Ryan, who’d been wary of Norman after his prophecy, seemed to have softened his stance. In the old days, Norman was only mildly considerate of me. But serving me? That was out of the question. In his eyes, I was beneath him, born to serve. Now, he was clearly rubbing it in my face. There were other Golden Dragons out there, not just him. Maybe I could find one to “borrow” sperm from. Borrow sperm! It wasn’t half-bad of an idea. No need to get married, and no one would lose out. Having a Golden Dragon baby would really stick it to Norman and make up for my past-life regret of not becoming a mother. But all the Golden Dragons I could think of were either too old or too young. Where on earth could I find a proper one? ***** “You’re looking for a young Golden Dragon?!” Carol Wilson blurted out. I quickly slapped my hand over her mouth. “Keep it down, will you?” Carol was a magical herb and my alien buddy. “Mmmph.” I let go, and she lowered her voice. “Well, I actually know about an extraordinary Golden Dragon.” “For real?” “Rumor has it that there’s a high-class Golden Dragon living in the Golden Dragon Pool on Elysian Peak. It’s a high-attribute dragon, a once-in-a-century sight in your Dragon World. Even the elders of your Dragon Clan would bow down to it.” “Is it really that amazing?” I was skeptical. Carol had a knack for exaggerating. “Absolutely! They say the golden light from that dragon is so bright it can blind other dragons. Since it went up to Elysian Peak, it’s never come down. And we can’t get up there, either. So, Elysian Peak has turned into a forbidden area.” I lowered my head, lost in thought. Come to think of it, when I was a kid, the clan elders had always warned me to stay away from that mountain. I asked, “How do you know more about this than I do, a full-fledged member of the Dragon Clan?” “I’ve lived for almost a thousand years. How could I not know?” Carol rolled her eyes at me. “Then… hypothetically, if I wanted to ‘borrow’ sperm from it, is it even possible?” “Eh? What!” Another ear-splitting exclamation. I had to clap my hand over her mouth again. “Shh! Don’t let the whole world hear.” “Did I hear you right? Not to mention it’s impossible to get up the mountain now. No one knows what’s going on there after all these years. You still want to go find that Golden Dragon and ‘borrow’ its sperm? You’re just asking for trouble!” I said, “Unless you give it a shot, you’ll never know. Maybe I’ll get lucky and find that Golden Dragon. I’ll use some aphrodisiac incense and sleep with it. By the next day, it’ll have completely forgotten about that steamy night.” Carol was so shocked by my words that her mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg. I knew the way into that mountain. In my past life, I tagged along with Norman. Desperate to conceal his true self as a Black Dragon, he went on a mad dash to collect forbidden tomes and esoteric cultivation secrets. One particular book made an indelible mark on me. It said that if one mashed up the Elysian Gilded Weed into a pulp and slathered it on one’s scales, one’s body would transform into a gorgeous, long-lasting golden sheen. Norman was hell-bent on getting his hands on that herb. He spent God knew how many hours sifting through over 10 thousand ancient scrolls just to crack the code on entering the Elysian Peak. There, at the southwest foot of the mountain, lay a rock. It was like a fortress, completely unyielding. However, there was a workaround—use high-class dragon blood as a trigger and draw a specific rune on it, and the mountain’s protective barrier would crumble. And amazingly, the image of that rune was still crystal-clear in my head. Back then, Norman took nearly half a bowl of my blood. I was crossing my fingers that he’d return with the herb, but it was a no-go. Instead, he showed up battered and bruised. When I asked him what in the world had happened, he just clammed up and kept his lips sealed. “You’re really out of your mind. That’s a high-class Golden Dragon. If it finds out a low-rank dragon like you has such crazy thoughts, it’ll swat you into pieces with one claw.” Carol waved two leaves around like claws. “What do you mean by ‘a low-rank dragon’? I’m at least a high-class Yellow Dragon.” Carol asked, “Are you serious about this?” “Dead serious.” “I’ve heard about what went down with you in the Dragon World. Considering all the fertilizer you’ve given me, this is the most I can do to help.” With that, Carol plucked the tenderest leaf from her center and held it out to me. “Actually, I’m a fertility herb. If you eat this, you’ll get pregnant on the first try, no doubt about it.” “So, that’s your real deal. You always told me eating you would boost my power and extend my lifespan.” I couldn’t help but let out a couple of chuckles. “Stop laughing at me!” “Okay, okay.” Carol said, “Please come back in one piece. I’m counting on you to fertilize me again.” “Got it.” I waved her off and started making my way towards Elysian Peak.   I followed the method and managed to break the barrier. Suddenly, Elysian Peak revealed itself in all its rawness. From the outside, it was all misty and looked like a magical wonderland. But up close, the whole peak was shrouded in an eerie black haze. The mountain path wound upwards, covered with dry leaves and broken stones. There were no signs of any spiritual animals or the slightest hint of spiritual energy. It was so quiet that even the wind seemed to have deserted the place, just dead silent. “Can’t even see the sun, so why’s it getting hotter and hotter?” I grumbled, wiping the sweat off my face. I remembered what the elders said, that Elysian Peak was full of spiritual energy and perfect for cultivation. But what I saw now was nothing like that. I decided to put off the search for that dragon for a bit. First, I needed to find some water, or I’d die of thirst right there. As soon as I stepped into the mountain, my body started to heat up. I felt dizzy, and a sense of unease crept over me. Thankfully, after a short while, I heard the sound of water. I followed it and found a small pond. I didn’t care if it was dangerous or not. I was burning up, and my mind was a mess. So, I transformed into my dragon form and plunged right in. But the cool water did little to quench the fire in me. I could feel a strange heat down there, and my body became overly sensitive. Damn it! Why did I have to go into heat at this moment? I tried to calm myself down by circulating my inner energy, but it didn’t work well. Even though I was a dragon, sexual desire was a natural thing. That was why our kind looked for mates when we reached a certain age. Otherwise, some of us might just be tortured to death. Damn it! It’d be great if there were another dragon around. I looked around in frustration. Hey! There was a cave in the pond, and it was giving off a faint golden glow. Could this be the Golden Dragon Pool? And inside the cave, was the Golden Dragon? I held my breath and swam into the cave slowly. Sure enough, there was a Golden Dragon coiled around a pillar, eyes closed. This Golden Dragon was even more dazzling than any I’d ever seen. His figure was top-notch among our clan. I didn’t dare to make a sound. I flew over to him and nervously took out the aphrodisiac incense, holding it near his nose. After seeing this Golden Dragon, my desire had become even stronger. In no time, the Golden Dragon suddenly opened his eyes and quickly slid off the pillar. With a loud crash, the pillar collapsed. I quickly flew away, but the dragon charged at me. Judging by those fierce eyes, did the aphrodisiac incense not work? I tried to run, but my body was so weak that I just fell to the ground. The Golden Dragon let out a roar, brushed past me, and flew out of the cave, stirring up the pond water like crazy. Then he rushed back into the cave. Just when I thought it was going to kill me, he said, “Finally, you’re here.” The Golden Dragon started circling around me, then lifted my body up. His body was also burning hot. Our breathing became rapid and chaotic. When our eyes met, I could see the same desire in his eyes. The Golden Dragon spread his scales and wrapped his body around me tighter and tighter. My mind was in a blur. I looked at our intertwined tails. “What? Those are so big!” Under his scales, something was stirring. My heart skipped a beat, and I swallowed hard. I suddenly wanted to run away. Even though I thought so, the heat of passion clouded my mind. I was so weak that I could only let the Golden Dragon have its way with me. This Golden Dragon knew all the tricks. He made me feel so good that I couldn’t help but wonder if the aphrodisiac incense had any effect on it at all. “Like it?” he asked in a hoarse voice, the second thing I’d heard him say. His body entangled with mine, as he took away my last bit of sanity.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398205”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #Rebirth #Dragons #Revenge #Curse

0 In the eighth year of Emperor Xander’s reign, I spent my last winter in the servant quarters of the imperial palace. “I knew it was you who stole it, you little thief! Kneel here for three hours, not a minute less!” the matron yelled as she walked past, kicking me for good measure. I instinctively wanted to dodge but forced myself to stay still and take the blow. If I avoided it this time, there would just be worse punishment later. “How dare you, you insolent wretch! From now on, you’ll kneel here every day. When you finally die kneeling, we’ll roll you up in a ragged mat and toss you in the paupers’ graveyard like your dead mother!” The snow was falling heavier, piling up on my shoulders as if trying to push me into the ground. I stared blankly at the distant snowy landscape, lost in thought. I knew this would only enrage the old hag further, but over the years I had tried every approach – meek submission, fierce resistance. None of it made any difference. They would never let me have peace. I was the daughter of a disgraced official. If my family hadn’t fallen from grace, I would have been their mistress. Once that line between mistress and servant was crossed, we became enemies. Class hatred knew no bounds. “Who’s kneeling there?” “Your Highness, it’s likely a maid being punished for some wrongdoing.” Most of the time my mind was in a fog, but on that day, breaking through the crowd of palace attendants, I looked up and met those eyes. Beautiful eyes sparkling with life, an exquisitely painted flower adorning her forehead – the only splash of red amidst the heavy snow, piercing through the bitter cold of deep winter. But those eyes merely glanced over me before moving on. I lowered my head again, counting the footsteps of the departing entourage. “Get up and come with me.” At last, I was leaving this place where human life was cheaper than dirt. The thick snow quickly covered the footprints I left behind. Little did I know then that in the vast imperial palace, the servant quarters were just one small corner of the man-eating machine. I followed the palace maid for a long while before arriving at a magnificent palace surrounded by red plum blossoms. “This will be your bed. Unless Her Highness summons you, just do some sweeping and cleaning outside the hall,” she instructed. “Yes, I understand.” I gently touched the first real bed I’d had in years. The servant quarters were far behind me now. For the next two weeks, I kept my head down and focused on my work. Eventually I learned that my new mistress was Duchess Keera, who had recently entered the palace. Though a newcomer, she was already highly favored by the Emperor. “Just look at all these plum blossoms – Her Highness clearly loves lively scenes. We must make sure the flowers bloom as vibrantly as possible,” said Luna, the maid who slept next to me. She was refreshingly warm and lively. “But with the weather so cold, surely Her Highness won’t come out to admire the blossoms?” I wondered. Luna sighed. “Even if Her Highness doesn’t come out, how else will she know we’ve taken such good care of the plum blossoms?” “Senior Flora picks plum blossoms for Her Highness every day. The flowers do make it into Her Highness’s chambers.” “You’re quite carefree about it. I wonder when I’ll get to serve inside the chambers.” It was only after leaving the servant quarters that I realized even the lowliest palace maid had clear life goals and plans to achieve them. I had always drifted through life in a numb haze, never thinking about the future. But now I just wanted to tend these plum blossoms well for Her Highness. Perhaps Luna’s constant grumbling moved the heavens. One day the weather suddenly turned fine, and we heard Duchess Keera had invited the other consorts to come admire the flowers. Luna had been inspecting every branch in the garden since dawn, even praying for the blossoms to bloom more vibrantly. She put on the new uniform she’d been saving and the hairpin she’d asked the eunuch buyer to bring back last month. “Once I get to serve inside, I’ll make sure you eat and drink well too. We’ll be able to casually eat or toss out those fancy cakes from the imperial kitchen without a second thought.” Before she could finish daydreaming, the servants preparing for the gathering told us to move further back. Though disgruntled, Luna had no choice but to retreat with me behind the crowd. “Look how arrogant they are. Palace maids really are divided into different ranks. Don’t take it lightly.” I smiled and shook my head, my gaze drifting to the distance. I had never truly seen Her Highness up close. That fleeting glimpse on that snowy day – I felt the entire garden of plum blossoms couldn’t compare to half of Her Highness’s beauty. 0

“Take them away!” I had been sleeping fitfully when I was jolted awake by the commotion outside. Opening my eyes, I saw a group of guards bursting into the room. They grabbed Luna and me, then started ransacking the place, searching for something. My heart sank. In the past, the matron would order people to grab me like this, then always manage to find her belongings in my quarters. After a while, they did indeed find what they were looking for. From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse – it was Luna’s new hairpin. We were escorted to the main hall. There, I saw Her Highness and… the Emperor for the first time. I was forcefully pressed to my knees. In front of me, a large group was already kneeling. The hall was deathly silent, the air heavy with the smell of blood and a woman’s agonized screams. The Empress Dowager set down her prayer beads and asked, “Whose hairpin is this?” I heard Luna trembling as she answered, “It… it’s this slave’s, Your Majesty.” “Forgive me, Your Majesties. I have failed in my duties. The Noble Consort has gone into premature labor. The only way to save her life now is to terminate the pregnancy, but I’m afraid she may have difficulty conceiving in the future.” “So be it. It’s fate,” the Empress Dowager sighed softly, approving the imperial doctor’s recommendation. She then turned to look at the Emperor. “Beat her to death,” he ordered. From start to finish, those were the Emperor’s only words before he left. “No… no! Your Majesty, please spare me! Empress Dowager, please have mercy! This slave knows nothing, truly nothing!” Luna struggled desperately, her eyes filled with disbelief and despair. But she was quickly dragged away by the guards. The last time I saw Luna was when she was rolled up in a grass mat and tossed onto a cart. I secretly retrieved her hairpin and placed it in her hand. The hairpin, trampled beyond recognition, had become as dull and lifeless as its owner. This place was still the servant quarters after all. Duchess Keera’s palace lost its former liveliness overnight. Though it was determined that the incident was caused by the hairpin’s scent mixing with the plum blossoms and driving the Empress’s pet parrot into a frenzy that crashed into the Noble Consort, Duchess Keera’s maid was still implicated. Now even the plum trees in the garden had been cut down. Palace dwellers always curry favor with the powerful and step on the weak. Rumors spread that Duchess Keera had offended the imperial heir as soon as she entered the palace, causing the Emperor to completely lose favor with her. With no more duties, I had time to overhear many rumors. Some said the Noble Consort threw a fit after waking up traumatized. Others claimed the Empress Dowager and Empress had been copying Buddhist scriptures for over a month to pray for the lost child’s soul. There were even whispers that the Empress had secretly copied scriptures for the executed parrot as well. But for me, not much had changed. If anything, I had more chances to see Her Highness now. Her Highness often stood at the hall entrance admiring the snow. She would stand there all afternoon, only returning inside after repeated urging from her personal maids. “Do you think Her Highness is heartbroken because His Majesty doesn’t visit anymore?” “Most likely. Our mistress has clearly fallen out of favor. The household department used to be so eager to please, but Senior Flora said she got quite an earful when she went to collect coal today.” I listened to the two young maids whispering in front of me. I had been hearing such talk for days now – surely it must have reached Her Highness’s ears as well. But Her Highness continued to admire the snow and drink tea daily as if nothing was wrong. I privately felt she wasn’t too troubled by it all. One day as I was sweeping snow in front of the hall, I heard a commotion in the distance. “Keera, you poisonous witch! Come out here!” A woman in resplendent palace robes was storming towards the hall with a large group of attendants, clearly intending to barge in. Her Highness happened to be coming out just then. I watched as the woman raised her hand. I knew my chance had come. Slap! I flew forward to block the slap aimed at Her Highness’s face. Noble Consort Liliana sneered, “So you’ve trained yourself a loyal dog!” She raised her hand to strike again. The attendants on both sides finally snapped out of their shock and moved to restrain her. Of course – Noble Consort Liliana. The one who had lost her child and had been causing trouble in the palace for over a month now. The commotion was finally stopped by the Empress, who rushed over. “Liliana, I know you’re devastated by your sudden miscarriage. But His Majesty and I have thoroughly investigated the matter. Duchess Keera was not involved at all. You shouldn’t have made such a scene today.” The Empress sat in the main seat, patiently trying to reason with Liliana. She reached out to take Liliana’s hand in a gesture of comfort. But Liliana violently pulled her hand away. “I lost my child in her palace! It was her maid who did it! How can you say she wasn’t involved at all?” “His Majesty and I personally conducted the investigation. Noble Consort Liliana, do you have any objections?” The Empress’s tone turned cold and stern, all previous gentleness gone. “To think I considered you a newcomer and showed you extra care because of my old friendship with your sister. You invited the entire harem to admire flowers, and I came despite my pregnancy. Keera! Do you have no conscience? My child was only four months along!” Liliana cried hysterically. After a while, she just kept mumbling softly, “My child never even got to call me mother… my poor child…” The Empress looked utterly exasperated. She ordered attendants to carefully escort Liliana back to her palace, then spent quite some time comforting Duchess Keera before finally departing. “Does she make such a fuss every day? Has His Majesty not intervened at all?” “There seem to be urgent matters in court. His Majesty hasn’t entered the harem for over two weeks now.” Duchess Keera nodded in understanding, then turned and asked me to raise my head. She studied me carefully for a long while. Her gaze was still as light as clouds drifting across the sky. “What’s your name?” “This slave is called Aria, Your Highness.” “That’s a good name. From tomorrow on, you’ll be called Morning Dew.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298495”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller

I became the queen of a tyrant, but I had a first love, and they looked alike. Everyone knew I resembled the late queen and was her replacement, but they didn’t know the tyrant also looked like the boy I had loved since childhood. However, his personality was completely different from the one I loved. The boy I loved was gentle and refined, while the tyrant often exuded a cruel and violent aura. One day, he killed my first love, not knowing that even a docile puppet could turn against him with sharp claws. 0 As I approached the entrance of the great hall, a body covered in white cloth was being carried out. A crowd of people knelt at the doorway. Inside, the man was heavily drunk, half-lying on an intricately carved dragon throne. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes tightly shut. Shards of porcelain cups and jade plates were scattered everywhere. As I stepped in, a blue and gold vase suddenly shattered at my feet, its fragments cutting my arm. I cried out in pain, clutching my hand as crimson blood flowed through my fingers and dripped onto the floor. The sight of blood on the ground made me dizzy. When I looked up, I saw the tyrant beckoning to me. “Aria, come here.” I was all too familiar with this name by now. I obediently walked over, and he stroked my head as if petting an animal. His palm was warm, but I didn’t dare let my guard down. For some reason, the hand resting on my head always made me uneasy. The next moment, pain shot through my scalp as I was forced to meet his cold, dark eyes. “Who gave you permission to wear Aria’s hairpin?” He yanked out the hairpin and looked at me coldly. Even after a year, facing those eyes still filled me with fear. They were the eyes of a lone wolf, a flash of red in the vast wilderness, locking onto you, hunting you. I knew he didn’t like to see me looking scared, so I skillfully put on the gentle smile I had practiced countless times. “Your Majesty must be drunk, no? Does your humble servant need permission from others to wear her own hairpin?” His eyes lowered, his long, thick lashes hiding his expression. After a long moment, he burst into laughter, wrapping an arm around my waist and burying his face in my chest. “Aria can wear whatever she wants, as long as she doesn’t leave me…” Aria… was his late queen. My name was also Ava, but my “Ava” meant distant. 0

“Have you also come to beg me to release those refugees?” He held my hand, his tone carrying a hint of indifference. I lowered my eyes submissively, “Your humble servant wouldn’t dare.” “My Aria would never say she wouldn’t dare.” I changed my words, “Your humble servant won’t.” His expression softened, showing satisfaction. He was pleased and waved his hand, ordering the servants outside to clean up the inner chamber of Aria’s Palace. I saw the head eunuch breathe a sigh of relief and give me a grateful look. Aria’s Palace was originally called the Royal Study, while the Queen’s chambers had been renamed Aria’s Tower. Back at Aria’s Tower, my father was already waiting for me. “Your Majesty, the Queen.” My father was the current Prime Minister. He used to dote on me, but since I became queen, he hadn’t called me Ava in a long time. “Father, have you come to see me because something has happened at court again?” My father stared at me steadily. In just a few days, he seemed to have aged ten years. Silver strands had appeared at his temples, and his eyes were filled with earnestness. He knelt before me, “I beg Your Majesty the Queen to save our people.” I didn’t move. This wasn’t the first time my father had knelt before me for the sake of the people, but I clearly remembered the first time he knelt before his own daughter was to make me enter the palace and become the tyrant’s queen. Just because my face was eighty percent similar to the late queen’s, he offered me to the tyrant. Not for family glory, but so that I could use my face, so similar to the late queen’s, to stop him when he became violent. He wanted me to whisper in the king’s ear. I admit he was a good official, but he wasn’t a good father. He bound me with familial ties and sent me to this cold palace. Enduring the love and torment brought by an unpredictable tyrant. Now, he didn’t even call me Ava anymore, always addressing me as “Your Majesty the Queen.” I lowered my eyelids, hiding the hurt in my eyes. “What has happened?” “There’s unrest in Westbrook. The leader has been captured and is to be executed tomorrow.” The king had imposed heavy taxes nationwide. I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole country rebelled. Without looking up, I picked up the embroidery I hadn’t finished yesterday and continued stitching plum blossoms. My tone was flat, “Westbrook is far from the capital. Even if the king issued an order today to spare his life, it would take at least two days to reach Westbrook from here. You can’t save him.” “What if that person is Marcus?” The familiar name entered my ears, and my fingers lost control of the needle, pricking my fingertip. A drop of blood fell on the plum blossom I had just embroidered. “Marcus has already been brought to the capital. If Your Majesty the Queen doesn’t persuade the king to stop, Marcus’s head will surely be hanging on the city wall tomorrow!” My heart clenched. I slowly put down the needle and stood up. Marcus… was the man I loved. 0

That year, I was only fourteen. I had gone with my mother to pray at a temple when we encountered bandits. All our guards were killed, and our carriage horses were spooked, galloping wildly towards a cliff. At the critical moment, it was Marcus who saved me. He was dressed in white, a graceful and spirited young man. With just one glance, my heart could no longer accommodate anyone else. I had never run so anxiously in the palace before. The king had loved the late queen so much that he had Aria’s Tower built very close. I ran through the winding corridors, dragging my long skirt, as if I had been running for a long time, out of breath. My skirt tripped me, but I didn’t care. I got up and hurried to the king’s side. Our country was called Aldoria, and the king’s name was Alaric. When I burst in, a man in blood-stained prisoner’s clothes was kneeling at the bottom of Aria’s Palace. Alaric sat lazily in the main seat. My appearance was very abrupt to them, and they all turned to look at me. My gaze swept over the man’s face, and I was momentarily stunned. It wasn’t until Alaric chuckled softly that I broke out in a cold sweat, hurriedly averting my gaze and running to Alaric’s side. Alaric gently stroked my head, “Aria thinks he looks similar too, doesn’t she?” I lowered my brows, “I was startled by the blood just now and didn’t see his face clearly.” Alaric laughed softly, twirling a lock of my hair around his finger. “If you didn’t see clearly, then go take a look.” I couldn’t fathom his intentions. I didn’t know why he wanted me to look, and perhaps in Marcus’s memory, there wasn’t even a person like me. Up close, his wounds were even more apparent. There were no less than ten injuries, large and small, with flesh turned outward, oozing blood. His white linen prisoner’s clothes were stained black and red, the original color indiscernible. I had heard that after the leader of Westbrook was captured, he still didn’t reveal his accomplices even after severe torture. I never imagined this leader would be Marcus. Marcus looked at me coldly, no longer the gentle and refined person he once was, only ice-cold. I couldn’t help but take a few steps back. At some point, Alaric had stood behind me, and I bumped into his chest. “Did he scare you?” Before I could speak, Alaric kicked Marcus hard in the chest. The kick was so forceful that Marcus coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood. “In my presence, you should retract your claws.” Marcus laughed coldly and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva. “A foolish and cruel person, how dare you call yourself ‘we’?” The bloody saliva just happened to land on Alaric’s shoe. Alaric’s expression remained calm, but my heart began to race. “Aria.” When he called my name, my body trembled slightly.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298494”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller

I Became the Cruel CEO’s Wife, But I Have a First Love Who Looks Just Like Him Everyone knows I bear a striking resemblance to Adrian’s late wife, Ava. They think I’m just her replacement. What they don’t realize is that Adrian himself looks uncannily like the boy I fell for years ago. The difference is, the boy I loved was gentle and refined. Adrian, on the other hand, often radiates a volatile, tyrannical aura. One day, he killed my first love. Little did he know that even a docile puppet can bare its claws. 0 I had barely reached the entrance of Adrian’s office when a body covered in a white sheet was carried out. A crowd of people knelt outside. Inside, Adrian was drunk, half-lying on an intricately carved chair. His brows were furrowed, eyes tightly shut. Shards of porcelain cups and jade plates littered the floor. As I stepped in, a blue and gold vase suddenly shattered at my feet, its fragments cutting my arm. I cried out in pain, clutching my hand as crimson blood seeped through my fingers and dripped onto the floor. The sight of blood on the ground made me dizzy. I looked up to see Adrian beckoning me. “Aria, come here.” I had grown all too familiar with that name. I obediently walked over. He stroked my head like one would pet an animal. His palm was warm, but I didn’t dare lower my guard. For some reason, the hand resting on my head always made me uneasy. The next moment, pain shot through my scalp as I was forced to meet his cold, dark eyes. “Who gave you permission to wear Ava’s hairpin?” He yanked out the pin and glared at me coldly. Even after a year, facing those eyes still filled me with fear. They were the eyes of a lone wolf – a flash of red in the vast desert, locking onto its prey. I knew he disliked seeing fear in my expression, so I skillfully put on the gentle smile I had practiced countless times. “My dear, you’ve had too much to drink. Do I need permission to wear my own accessories?” His eyes lowered, long thick lashes hiding his expression. After a long moment, he burst into laughter, wrapping an arm around my waist and burying his face in my chest. “Aria can wear whatever she likes, as long as she never leaves me…” Ava… that was his late wife’s name. My name is also Aria, but written with a different character meaning “distant.” 0

“Are you here to beg me to release those refugees too?” He held my hand, his tone casual and disinterested. I lowered my eyes submissively. “I wouldn’t dare.” “My Aria would never say she doesn’t dare.” I changed my words. “I won’t.” He looked pleased, his expression softening. Happy with my response, he waved his hand, ordering the staff outside to clean up his office. I saw the head butler breathe a sigh of relief, giving me a grateful look. Adrian had renamed his office “Ava’s Study,” while my quarters were now called “Ava’s Tower.” Back in my room, my father was already waiting. “Mrs. Blackwood.” My father is the company’s CFO. He used to dote on me, but since I became Adrian’s wife, it had been a long time since he called me Aria. “Father, have you come because something’s happened at the company again?” My father stared at me intently. In the few days since I’d last seen him, he seemed to have aged a decade. Silver strands sprouted at his temples, and his eyes held a pleading look. He knelt before me. “Please, ask your husband to help the people suffering from the layoffs.” I didn’t move. This wasn’t the first time my father had knelt before me for the sake of the employees. But I clearly remembered the first time he knelt before his own daughter – it was to persuade me to marry the cruel Adrian. Just because my face was 80% similar to Ava’s, he offered me to Adrian. Not for family honor, but so that I could use my resemblance to Ava to stop Adrian when he was about to do something cruel. He wanted me to influence Adrian’s decisions. I admit he’s a good executive, but he’s not a good father. He used our family bond to bind me, sending me to this cold, loveless marriage. Enduring the mix of adoration and torment that Adrian’s unstable moods brought me. Now, he doesn’t even call me Aria anymore. It’s always “Mrs. Blackwood” this and “Mrs. Blackwood” that. I lowered my eyelids, hiding the hurt in my eyes. “What’s happened?” “There’s unrest at the factory in Springfield. The leader’s been arrested and is scheduled for execution tomorrow.” With Adrian imposing such heavy workloads and pay cuts across the company, I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire workforce revolted. Without looking up, I picked up my unfinished embroidery and continued stitching a plum blossom pattern, my tone flat. “Springfield is far from here. Even if Adrian ordered a stay of execution today, it would take two days for the order to reach Springfield. You can’t save him.” “What if that person is Marcus?” The familiar name struck my ears. My fingers slipped, and the needle pricked my fingertip. A drop of blood fell onto the plum blossom I had just embroidered. “Marcus has already been brought to the city. If you don’t persuade Adrian to stop, Marcus’s head will be on display in the town square tomorrow!” My heart clenched. I slowly put down the needle and stood up. Marcus… was the boy I loved. 0

Years ago, when I was fourteen, I went with my mother to a temple. We were attacked by bandits who killed all our guards. The horses pulling our carriage panicked and bolted, nearly running off a cliff. In that moment of crisis, Marcus saved me. He wore white, cutting a dashing figure – a spirited young man. With just one glance, my heart was captured. I could never love anyone else. I had never run so frantically through the house before. Adrian had deliberately built my quarters close to his office out of his love for Ava. I ran through the winding corridors, dragging my long skirt, seemingly out of breath after running for a long time. My dress tripped me, but I paid no mind. I got up and hurried to Adrian’s side. When I burst in, a blood-stained prisoner was kneeling before Adrian, who sat lazily in his chair. My sudden appearance startled them both, and they turned to look at me. As my gaze swept over the prisoner’s face, I froze momentarily. It wasn’t until Adrian chuckled softly that I snapped out of it, hastily averting my eyes and scurrying to Adrian’s side. Adrian gently stroked my head. “Aria thinks he looks similar too, doesn’t she?” I kept my eyes lowered. “I was startled by the blood just now. I didn’t get a clear look at his face.” Adrian laughed softly, twirling a lock of my hair around his finger. “If you didn’t see clearly, go take a closer look.” I couldn’t fathom why he wanted me to look. Perhaps Marcus didn’t even remember someone like me. Up close, his injuries were even more apparent. There were at least ten wounds of varying sizes all over his body, flesh torn open and bleeding. His white prison uniform was stained black and red, the original color indiscernible. I had heard that after the leader of the Springfield uprising was captured, he endured severe torture without revealing his accomplices. I never imagined that leader would be Marcus. Marcus stared at me coldly, all traces of his former gentle demeanor gone, replaced by ice. I couldn’t help but take a few steps back, only to bump into Adrian’s chest. I hadn’t noticed him standing behind me. “Did he frighten you?” Before I could answer, Adrian kicked Marcus hard in the chest. The kick was so forceful that Marcus coughed up a mouthful of blood. “In my presence, you’d better keep your claws sheathed.” Marcus laughed coldly and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva. “A cruel and incompetent tyrant has no right to call himself ‘I’.” The bloody spittle landed right on Adrian’s shoe. Adrian’s expression remained calm, but my heart began to race. “Aria.” When he called my name, my body trembled slightly.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298493”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller

The night before Derek left for his business trip, he changed the password to our apartment’s smart lock. “Sweetheart,” he gently explained, “the building’s been having some security issues lately. It’s for your safety.” I smiled and nodded, then discreetly opened the lock’s app on my phone. It starkly displayed a newly added fingerprint entry: **[Sweetheart]**. That evening, the app pinged: **[“Sweetheart” entered the home at 10:05 PM.]** Calmly, I packed my bags, then deleted all my fingerprints and my access to the app. Later, Derek would be on his knees outside our door, hammering on that lock that would never open for him again, yelling like a madman. “Please, just give me access again! Let me see you…” But my new home assistant was now a much more loyal partner. As Derek left, the wheels of his suitcase echoed with a dull thud on the hardwood floor. He leaned down and kissed my forehead, his eyes overflowing with a tenderness that felt utterly fake. “Be a good girl at home. I’ll be back in a week, tops.” “I’ve changed the password, by the way. Made it our anniversary. You’re so forgetful, darling, this way you won’t mess it up.” I stood on my tiptoes, straightening his shirt collar, my smile saccharine and docile. “Got it. Drive safe.” The moment the door closed, the smile on my face shattered, cooling inch by agonizing inch. I was never forgetful. Our wedding anniversary? I remembered it far better than he did. Opening the smart lock management app, two stark entries lay silently in the backend history. **[Admin “Derek” changed password at 3:30 PM.]** **[Admin “Derek” registered new fingerprint at 3:31 PM, named: Sweetheart.]** Sweetheart. Those three words burned like white-hot needles, piercing into my eyes. Derek had never called *me* that. He liked to call me ‘baby’ or, sometimes, just Aurora. He’d always say it made us feel connected, yet strong as individuals. I sat on the sofa, waiting from dusk until deep into the night. The smart panel on the wall, which I had personally configured, shifted its soft lighting with the passing hours, bathing our home in a warm, peaceful glow. This sanctuary, this haven, I’d poured my heart and soul into building for us. At 10:05 PM, my phone screen lit up. The app’s notification was chillingly clear. **[“Sweetheart” entered the home using fingerprint at 10:05 PM.]** My heart constricted as if an unseen hand had gripped it, squeezing the air from my lungs. I could barely breathe. I didn’t cry. I didn’t break anything. I simply stood up, walked into the walk-in closet, and pulled out the suitcase we’d bought for our honeymoon. My clothes, my art supplies, my specialized tools for delicate ancient artwork, each one a precious investment. One by one, I carefully packed them into the suitcase. Finally, I stood in the center of the apartment I’d called home for five years, looking around. On the wall hung our wedding photo. Derek smiled brightly, holding me tightly in his arms. By the entryway, the subtle white tea diffuser he’d bought me, my absolute favorite scent. Everything was exactly as it had been when I walked out this morning, yet something profound had shattered into a million pieces. I opened the phone app and went into the admin settings. My fingertip hovered over **[Aurora’s Fingerprint]** for three agonizing seconds. Then, I tapped delete. Goodbye, Derek. Goodbye, my naïve and foolish five years.

Dragging my suitcase, I checked into a hotel two blocks from our building. I opened my laptop, effortlessly connected to the hotel Wi-Fi, and a complex programming interface spread across my screen. This was the highest-level admin backend I’d built into our smart home system for security. I could see real-time footage from every camera, hear every sound picked up by every smart speaker. I felt like a ghost, haunting the edges of my own life, invisible as I watched it unfold without me. On the living room screen, an unfamiliar girl was excitedly rolling around on *my* sofa. She wore *my* silk robe, the one Derek gave me for my birthday. “Wow, Derek! Your place is amazing! The lighting is so cozy!” The girl’s voice was syrupy sweet, with an almost childish, affected innocence. Derek’s voice drifted from the bathroom, muffled by steam. “You like it? From now on, this is your home.” *My* home. My fingers gripping the mouse turned bone-white from the force. Barefoot, the girl scampered around the floor, like a queen surveying her new territory. She picked up a rare, handcrafted ceramic mug I’d spent weeks searching for, which I kept on the coffee table. She held it up to the light, then scrunched her nose, casually setting it aside. From her own bag, she pulled out a cartoon-printed mug. “Better to use my own, you know, for comfort,” she muttered to herself. Then, she noticed our wedding photo on the wall. She walked up to it, tilting her head back, staring for a long time. I couldn’t see her expression clearly, but I distinctly heard her call out to the bathroom. “Derek, this picture isn’t flattering. It totally ages you!” “When you get back, let’s take new ones, okay?” Derek didn’t reply. A moment later, he walked out wrapped in a towel, his hair still dripping wet. He embraced the girl from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. “Okay, anything you want.” He didn’t even glance at that wedding photo. The one he had once held, beaming like a child when we first got the prints. At 11 PM, my phone rang. It was Derek. I watched on the laptop screen as he kissed the girl’s neck, then pressed the speakerphone button on his phone. “Hey, baby,” his voice was as gentle as ever. “Did you make it to the hotel? Everything alright?” I dug my nails into my palm, forcing my voice into a calm, even tone. “Yeah, just settled in. You?” “I’m at the hotel too, just showered, about to sleep.” He lied without a flicker of remorse. On the screen, the girl, Cassie, mouthed silently to him: “I love you.” Derek’s throat worked, a tell-tale sign of his unease, and he said into the phone, “The project here is a bit complicated, might be a few days late getting back.” “Make sure you lock the door when you’re alone, okay? Stay safe.” “I love you, baby.” The call ended, and I heard him let out a long sigh of relief. He turned to the girl and said, “Done.” Then, laughing, they tumbled onto *my* bed. I closed my laptop, my stomach churning violently. So that’s it. The word ‘love,’ coming from his mouth, could be so utterly cheap.

The next day, I woke up with my eyes aching. Opening the laptop, Derek had already “left for his business trip.” Only Cassie remained in the apartment. She seemed to genuinely believe this was her home now. She rifled through my closet, trying on my clothes one by one, posing provocatively in front of the mirror. She picked up my priciest designer bag, a classic Birkin, taking selfies and captioning them: “Hardworking girls always get lucky.” Then, she sent the photo to Derek. Soon, Derek replied with a voice message. I clicked it to play aloud. “Baby, you look good in anything, but you look best in nothing at all.” His slimy, suggestive joke made me physically recoil. Cassie giggled, tossing my clothes all over the bed, then changed into her own cheap T-shirt and jeans. It was as if she was claiming her territory, marking her victory. That afternoon, she ordered takeout: spicy curry. The pungent aroma, sickeningly familiar, wafted through the speakers and assaulted my ears. I never ate those kinds of dishes. Derek knew that. He always said I had a “delicate” stomach. But now, Cassie sat at *my* dining table, using *my* favorite delicate bone china dinnerware, devouring her pungent curry. Sauce splattered, landing on the expensive solid wood table, leaving a greasy red mark. She casually wiped it with her sleeve, uncaring. Watching that blurry oil stain on the monitor, it felt like I was seeing an indelible, greasy stain on the very fabric of my marriage. That evening, Derek returned. He was carrying a large cake. “Happy birthday, baby.” Cassie shrieked in delight, throwing herself into his arms. “Derek, you remembered!” So, yesterday was her birthday. That’s why he was so eager to bring her into *my* home, right at the start of her birthday. He had turned *my* home into a birthday gift for his mistress. They lit candles and sang “Happy Birthday.” Cassie closed her eyes and made a wish. “I hope that by this time next year, I’ll be the true lady of this house.” Derek laughed, gently flicking her nose. “You will be,” he said dotingly. He didn’t deny it. He silently consented. I stared at that unfamiliar face on the screen, and a sudden realization hit me: Derek, I don’t think I ever truly knew you. He cut the cake, offering the first slice to Cassie. Cassie scooped a large dollop of frosting and smeared it on his face. They laughed and played, getting frosting everywhere. On the sofa, on the carpet, and even on *my* easel. On my easel was a Ming Dynasty ancient painting I was almost finished restoring, a cherished piece belonging to an important client. My breath hitched. I stared, rigid, at the screen. Derek noticed the frosting on the painting, and his playfulness stopped. He frowned. Cassie saw it too, and she whispered, a hint of fear in her voice, “Derek, I didn’t mean to…” Derek picked up a tissue, trying to carefully wipe away the frosting. But the cream had already seeped into the fragile paper. His attempt to clean it only spread the stain further. Frustrated, he tossed the tissue to the floor. “Forget it, just leave it.” Cassie nervously tugged on his sleeve. “But… will Aurora be mad when she comes back?” “Her?” Derek scoffed, a cold sneer on his face. “A cold, unappreciative woman, always obsessed with her stupid paintings.” “If it’s ruined, it’s ruined. I’ll just pay for it.” “For you, it’s worth any price.” He took Cassie’s hand and led her away from my studio. As if that priceless ancient painting was truly just some “worthless old artwork.” I leaned against the hotel’s cold wall, trembling uncontrollably. Unappreciative? Derek, when your startup failed, and you were blackout drunk, I stayed by your side for three days and three nights. When your father fell ill and desperately needed money, I sold the only piece of jewelry my grandmother had ever given me to cover his surgery costs. You used to say you loved watching me quietly paint, that it was the most beautiful sight in the world.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298492”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller