The day Leo Hayes was set to marry, I crashed the ceremony with a positive pregnancy test and a DNA report. I made him choose. After a frozen moment, he did. He changed the bride on the spot, taking the ring from his fiancée’s finger and sliding it onto mine. He bent close, his breath a venomous whisper against my ear. “You scheming bitch!” I didn’t care. I’d married the man I loved. I believed, in time, he’d love me back. I never expected that after the wedding, Leo would never touch me again. He treated our home like a hotel, spending his days and nights drifting through nightclubs. And on the day I went into labor, in a drunken rage, he kicked me down the stairs. “You ruined me and Willow! That bastard in your belly isn’t fit to be my heir! “Did you really think the Hayes family would ever accept a cheap whore like you?” He finally killed the last of my love. I walked away. So tell me, Leo…why did you tear the city apart looking for me after I left? My belly was so swollen I couldn’t see my own feet. That’s why I stumbled, my foot catching on Willow Reed’s gown. Leo kicked me down the stairs. “You’re a disgrace. If you can’t even walk, get the hell out of my sight.” I landed hard on my back, the full weight of my pregnancy slamming into the floor. The pain was a white-hot vise, twisting me into a humiliating curl.. “Look at Mrs. Hayes! A bloated, pathetic spectacle.” Leo and Willow’s friends pointed at me, bursting into mocking laughter. Phone flashlights glared at me, incessantly taking pictures. “Get out of here, stop pretending to be pitiful. You’re an embarrassment.” Seeing me lying still on the ground, Leo kicked my waist again. His friend smirked, winking. “Leo, she worked so hard to get pregnant with your son and become your wife. Why don’t you treat her better?” Leo exhaled a smoke ring. “She thinks carrying my child makes her my wife? Willow and I threw a bunch of condoms in the trash these past few days. Does that mean the trash can is my wife too?” Their laughter made me burn with shame. That year, I stormed into the wedding with the paternity test. Between me and Willow, Leo chose me. The Reed family severed ties with the Hayes family because of it. Overnight, the Hayes’ stock plummeted. Leo’s father suffered a stroke on the spot and passed away shortly after. I cried, explaining that I never wanted such a result. His mother had promised me that if I got pregnant, she’d drop the arranged marriage and agree to let him marry me… But Leo furiously slapped Willow’s lace lingerie across my face. “Anya, why don’t you just die!” For a moment, I thought of just ending it all. But then, the flutter of life within my belly. I could die, but my child was innocent… I spoke softly. “Leo, I was wrong. Let’s get a divorce.” My words didn’t cause even a ripple. Leo toyed with Willow’s curled hair, saying indifferently. “Fine. Get rid of that bastard in your belly, and I’ll let you go.” I trembled, looking at him in disbelief. “Leo, the baby is eight months old. It’s almost due.” “Eight months? So what? If you don’t abort the child, don’t even think about divorce! I have plenty of ways to torment you!” His tone was cruel.

Leo invited all the local socialites over for a pool party. Someone started chanting, “Kiss her! Kiss her!” Willow’s face flushed, and she kept backing away. Leo reached out, pulling her small frame into his arms and kissing her. After the kiss, she playfully slapped him. “Mrs. Hayes is watching! I don’t want people to misunderstand and think I’m a homewrecker!” Their friends chimed in. “If anyone’s a homewrecker, it should be Mrs. Hayes.” Leo massaged her slender waist, saying casually. “In my heart, you’re my true wife.” All their sneering eyes fell on me. But you were the one who pursued me in the first place, Leo. The first time I met Leo, it was at the gates of State University. I was rushing to my tutoring job, hastily got into a car by the university gates, and urged him to drive faster. Leo looked at me, stunned, then smiled and drove me to the upscale neighborhood without a word. When I reached for my wallet to pay, he chuckled. “Does my car look like an Uber?” That’s when I realized I’d gotten into the wrong car. From then on, Leo began to pursue me intensely. Once, when a student’s father was sexually assaulting me, he kicked open the door and beat the man pinning me down, sending him to the hospital. He held me, trembling, and said, “Don’t be scared, I’m here.” After we started dating, he publicly declared our relationship. His Ins and phone wallpaper were all photos of us together. Later, he looked deep into my eyes and knelt on one knee. “So, Anya, will you marry me?” I smiled and said, “I will!” Leo took me to meet his parents. His parents gave me an expensive bracelet but made a request. “The company needs a major investment now, and we must have the Reed family’s support. To secure this partnership, Leo must become engaged to Willow. But rest assured, this is strictly a business arrangement. All you need to do is wait one year. Once the deal is finalized, the engagement will be dissolved, and we will make it up to you with the grandest wedding you can imagine.” Leo apologized, looking guilty. “I’m sorry, Anya. Don’t worry, it’s just a formality. Willow is my childhood friend, and after we get engaged, she’s moving abroad permanently. It won’t affect our relationship.” I suppressed a myriad of emotions and nodded. Leo got drunk because of it, clinging to me and saying many things. “The thought of having to wait a whole year to marry you makes me miserable.” “If only you could give me a child. With you and a baby, I’d give up everything…” A week before the wedding, I found out I was pregnant. Just as I was hesitating whether to tell Leo, his mother, Rachel, sought me out. She congratulated me with a beaming smile, then told me. “Actually, Leo’s grandfather set up a fund. As long as Leo has a child, he can access this fund. Then Leo won’t have to go through with the arranged marriage.” She looked at me meaningfully. “Anya, tell Leo this good news on the wedding day.” Joy clouded my judgment. I thought I was helping Leo solve a huge problem. Happily, I changed into the wedding dress Rachel Hayes had given me and rushed into the wedding ceremony. He leaned down and said in my ear. “Anya, you’re nothing but a slut.” Willow’s figure, crying as she ran away. Overnight, I was branded online as a homewrecker and a slut. I was also forced to drop out of college.

I huddled on the floor, pulling out my phone to dial 911. The phone rang once before Jenkins, the butler, snatched it away. I pleaded. “My stomach hurts… I’m going into labor, please, take me to the hospital…” A hint of scorn flashed in Jenkins’ eyes. “Madam, using the child to play the victim won’t work on me.” He glanced at my phone screen and said. “Madam, you can stall if you like, I have all the time in the world.” “Ah!” Willow, in her swimsuit, shrieked, dodging away from me. Her eyes red, she yelled. “Mrs. Hayes, just because you dislike me doesn’t mean you can splash me with your filth! What if you have some nasty disease and infect me?!” Leo quickly strode up, shielding Willow behind him. Pointing at me, he spoke to Jenkins. “What’s the fifth rule of the Hayes family?” “Disobedience means confinement.” I shuddered, desperately crawling to his feet, pleading. “I was wrong, Leo, I was really wrong. I’m willing to be punished, for as long as you want. Please, just let me go to the hospital first… My water broke hours ago, the baby…” In his mocking eyes, I swallowed all my pleas in despair. He raised an eyebrow. “Anya, this is the treatment you deserve for trying so hard to be Mrs. Hayes.” I was dragged away by the bodyguards. As the confinement room door closed, I couldn’t stop screaming and shaking. That night, being dragged into the dark room by the student’s parent and nearly assaulted, had left me with severe claustrophobia. I pounded on the door, again and again. The only response was a deathly silence. Pain and terror overwhelmed me, and I completely passed out. When I next woke, I was lying in my room. I struggled to sit up, feeling my belly – it was flat. A massive wave of fear and despair engulfed me. I rushed out like a madwoman. Colliding head-on with Leo. “My baby? Give me my baby back!” My usual silence and endurance were gone, startling even Leo. He pushed me away, frowning. “Look at you, acting like a lunatic! Jenkins…” I knew he was about to punish me, to lock me up again. I clutched his collar, wildly raining punches on him. “Leo, I owe you nothing! My child owes you nothing! You pursued me. You promised to marry me. Your mother handed me the wedding gown, pushed me down the aisle, and told me to show you the paternity report! You already destroyed my grandmother. Isn’t that enough?” My hysterical outburst made a flicker of shock and bewilderment appear in his eyes. But quickly, he pushed me away in disgust. “Anya, you’ve been telling these lies for so long, aren’t you tired? Why would my mother do something to harm my father like that? You brought all this on yourself, who else can you blame?” He looked down at me with contempt. “I’m actually quite disappointed that bastard didn’t die. Sure enough, the offspring of a menace like you are always tough.” I understood his meaning. Finally, I released my grip, falling to the ground from his push. He strode past me. A maid came forward to help me up, whispering. “Your baby is in the room next door, too weak to cry. You should go see him quickly.” Hearing that, I ignored everything else and rushed into the adjacent storage room. A tiny bundle, casually placed on the floor. The premature baby’s face was covered in bruises, unable to even whimper. I threw myself on him, holding him close, tears streaming down my face. Thank goodness, thank goodness, my precious baby, he’s alive. The maid gently pushed open the door and came in, carefully holding a bowl of nourishing broth. “Mrs. Hayes’ grandmother sent me to look after you. I know you’re innocent.” I spun around to look at her.

She leaned in and whispered a secret about Rachel Hayes, Leo’s mother. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning, trembling uncontrollably. I choked, hugging her, barely able to utter a complete sentence. “Thank you for saving me and my baby…” That night, the baby suddenly started running a fever, his tiny face sickly pale. I stumbled downstairs, holding the child, only to find the living room filled with guests. All eyes turned to me. Leo’s face was dark. He raised a hand and called Jenkins. “Lock her up.” I walked straight to him. “Leo, I want a divorce.” Leo raised his eyebrows, looking me up and down, his gaze settling on the baby in my arms. I clutched the baby tightly, looking at him warily. “Leo, I told you I’m innocent. I can prove it to you, I really…” Leo yanked my hair, forcing my mouth open. The lit cigar in his hand seared my throat, rendering me unable to speak another word. He looked at me coldly. “Anya, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? You know tonight is the gala where Willow and I announce the partnership between the Hayes and Reed families, and you’re here to stir up trouble with the baby again?” I shook my head repeatedly, desperately trying to explain. “No.” He chuckled. “This bastard won’t last much longer, and you want to take him to the hospital, do you?” He snatched the child from me and threw me into the crowd. “These guests here are all executives from companies that cut ties with us because of the scandal you caused. If you can get them to forgive you, I’ll let you take this bastard to the hospital.” I trembled, kneeling on the ground, looking pleadingly at the people whose faces were etched with disdain. Leo’s friend scoffed. “An apology needs sincerity, right? How about she gets on her knees and crawls around like a dog? Crawling in circles isn’t enough, though. Why doesn’t she crawl under a few of the executives’ legs?” Leo scoffed, tossing a divorce agreement onto the floor, his voice laced with mockery. “Anya, if you crawl, I’ll let you and this bastard go to the hospital.” I trembled, gazing deeply at the baby clutched in Leo’s hand. I lowered my head, my raw throat squeezing out a pathetic, ugly sound. “Woof.” I numbly began crawling towards the man closest to me. Leo’s grip on the baby’s blanket gradually tightened, the baby’s faint cries tearing at my heart. I frantically sped up my crawling. “Enough.” Leo threw the blanket bundle at me. “So disgusting.” I trembled, holding the baby, and tried to walk out, but a maid blocked my way. Leo sneered. “I’ve changed my mind.” I screamed, trying to lunge forward, but the maid held me back. I could only watch, numb, as he carried Willow up the stairs. A bolder guest dared to ask, “Mr. Hayes…and your wife?” Leo drawled, “She’s all yours.” I fought, screaming, clawing at the hands that grabbed me. They just laughed, hauling me deeper into the crowd. “Cooperate, bitch, and we’ll get this bastard to a hospital. Make trouble, and we’ll put it out of its misery. Save Mr. Hayes the trouble.” I gave up all resistance in despair. I don’t know how long passed before a shrill scream cut through the noise. “Someone’s dead…”

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“Stop… It’s too deep… I can’t take it!” A handsome man had me pinned beneath him, unable to move. His voice was tender, but his movements were anything but. “Baby, I’m only halfway there.” After catching my Commander husband cheating, I started seeing a Hollywood actor. Young blood, indeed. Eight-pack abs, 8.5 inches, and moves in bed I’d never even dreamed of. The next day, a video of the actor and me having sex went viral across the entire military base. My husband, Ryder, came to find me, his eyes bloodshot. “Where did he touch you?” I smiled carelessly. “My lips, my chest, my inner thighs… every place you used to love, he touched.” A storm brewed in his eyes, veins bulging in his neck. “Get her out of my sight!” I frowned, annoyed. “You cheated with your subordinate; I fell for my lover. We’re even. What right do you have to tell me what to do?” Three months ago, I returned home early from a mission, hoping to surprise Ryder Vance. Instead, I found him pinning Sara Lee against the window, moving wildly, whispering her name, “Sara.” From that moment on, that name became my nightmare. Because my name, Sarah, sounded so similar to hers. It hit me then: whenever Ryder and I had sex before, he’d always been calling out another woman’s name. My stomach churned. I pushed him away, stumbling into the bathroom, throwing up violently. Ryder quickly followed, his voice concerned. “Sarah? What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?” I looked up, my eyes burning. “Ryder, just now… were you calling out Sara’s name, or mine?” His face instantly paled. The next moment, he kicked over a nearby chair. “Sarah! I told you, you’re the one I love, the one I chose!” He snatched up his clothes, pulling them on, and the door slammed shut with a thunderous bang. I pushed open the window and watched him stride across the yard, jumping into his military SUV. The engine idled for a long time until a distinctive ringtone cut through the silence. It was Sara Lee calling. I froze. The day he “returned” to our family, he’d supposedly deleted all her contact information right in front of me. When… when did he save it back? My cold fingertips tapped open the dashcam footage on my phone. Inside the car, Ryder stared at the blinking “Sara Lee” on the screen, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel, veins bulging. The ringing continued until the last second before he abruptly hit ‘answer.’ “Speak.” Only muffled sobs came from the other end, like a wounded animal. After a long moment, Sara’s choked voice whispered, “Ryder, I miss you so much.” Ryder’s breathing suddenly hitched. The engine roared to life, and the SUV sliced through the night like a sharp blade. The night wind howled, but it couldn’t blow away the frost in my heart. I saw my reflection in the glass, tears streaming down my face. The car soon stopped outside an officer’s apartment building. Rustling sounds came through the dashcam, followed by Sara’s whimpering moans, “It hurts…” “Bear with it, even if it hurts,” his voice was hoarse, almost unrecognizable. The woman’s broken sobs continued, “Ryder, I love you…” Then came urgent gasps and the sound of frantic kissing. Again and again, so desperate, so wild. I stood by that window all night, listening to the passionate sounds of my husband with another woman. Only when the morning light broke did I manage to move my frozen body, retrieving the divorce papers from the bottom of our safe. He had signed them that day he returned to me, under my coercion. If he ever cheated again, all his assets and properties would automatically transfer to me. But even the strictest terms couldn’t bind a straying heart. I signed my name, stroke by stroke, and headed straight to the military legal office with the papers. The lawyer carefully reviewed them, then looked up at me. “Ms. Stone, once this is filed, your marriage will be officially dissolved.” Walking back home on shaky legs, Ryder was already waiting. Seeing me, he let out a sigh of relief, his voice tinged with both fear and reproach. “Where have you been? Why haven’t you been answering your phone?” I gave a sarcastic smirk. “What, afraid I’d try to jump off a cliff again?”

His face instantly darkened, his impatience palpable. “Sarah! Stop threatening me with death! What else can you do besides torture me with these tactics?” My steps faltered, and I stared at him, stunned. When I first witnessed his affair, I couldn’t cope. Every time the image replayed in my mind, I’d throw up violently. In just seven days, I’d lost over fifteen pounds. I cursed him with the cruelest words, slapped him dozens of times, and left a permanent scar on his shoulder with a scalpel. He knelt in the hallway of the military hospital, admitting his wrongs in front of all his colleagues. But I still couldn’t sleep. After more than ten days of sleepless nights, I had a mental breakdown and accidentally fell off a cliff. I spent a week in the ICU, barely clinging to life. Since then, he’d been almost inseparable from me, enduring my anger and abuse, constantly watchful. So, in his mind, all of that was just my way of fighting for attention? Ryder looked at my bloodless face, his tone softening slightly. He turned and retrieved a takeout box from his jeep. “Your favorite strawberry pudding. I drove halfway across the city to get it.” I looked at the familiar packaging, my stomach twisting. On the dashcam footage, Sara’s soft, playful voice was still ringing in my ears: “Ryder, I’m hungry…” He had specifically driven to buy her a chocolate lava cake; the strawberry pudding was just an afterthought, an extra dessert. My voice was tired. “I don’t like that flavor anymore.” After ten years, I was already sick of it. I’d only kept eating it before so as not to waste his gesture. Just as I was about to turn away, he grabbed my wrist sharply. His voice was irritated and impatient. “Sarah! How long are you going to keep this up? I’ve already…” He didn’t finish his sentence before darkness swallowed my consciousness. When I woke again, I was in bed. Downstairs, faint voices drifted up. I leaned against the wall, slowly making my way down the stairs. By the front door, Ryder’s back was stiff. “How did you find me here?” Sara, in a white dress, looked up at Ryder with a pitiful expression. “Headquarters wouldn’t let me in, and you didn’t reply to my texts… Ryder, are you going to abandon me again?” Her fingers carefully clutched his sleeve. “Ryder, you explicitly told me you loved me.” Ryder abruptly took a half-step back, his voice incredibly low. “Please leave, Sara. Sarah is still sick, and I don’t want to upset her. Whatever it is, we can talk on the phone…” Before he could finish, Sara suddenly stood on her tiptoes and threw herself into his arms, kissing him fiercely. Ryder’s hands hovered in the air, his move to push her away hesitating when his fingers brushed her trembling shoulders. Gradually, the initially restrained kiss grew urgent, until he was breathing heavily, pinning her against the doorframe. “See?” Sara’s voice was laced with triumphant pride. “Your body is more honest than your mouth.” “You don’t love her anymore, Ryder. Staying with her out of obligation only hurts all three of us.” Ryder’s voice was filled with suppressed pain. “I can’t…” With a loud bang, I forcefully pushed open the door. Two startled gazes instantly shot my way. “Sarah!” Ryder instinctively wiped his mouth. I walked past him, directly towards Sara, grabbing her hair. I slapped her three times, hard. “You tramp! How dare you show your face here, you pathetic wretch!” Blows rained down, mixed with Sara’s cries and pleas. Until Ryder grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like my bones would shatter. “Enough!” He flung me away, and the momentum sent me crashing hard against the steel coat rack by the entrance. A warm liquid immediately welled up on my forehead. Through a blurry red haze, I saw Ryder rush over, carefully scoop Sara into his arms, and quickly carry her out. “Don’t be scared, Sara, I’m taking you to the hospital.”

I watched their figures disappear, my mind drifting back to when I was eighteen. On a snowy night during new recruit training, he snuck an armored vehicle out to show me the stars. On the frosted window, he wrote, “Ryder Vance will only ever love Sarah Stone.” I breathed on the glass, asking, “What if you break your promise?” He kissed me, cupping the back of my neck, his camo uniform brushing my cheek. “I won’t. I only want you.” I slid down the cold wall, slowly sinking to the floor, tears mingling with blood. I laughed hollowly, murmuring, “Ryder, you liar!” I woke up in the hospital. Outside my room, a crowd was gathered around the room next door, whispering and pointing. Inside, Brenda Vance, Ryder’s mother, was fuming. “I wondered why Sarah collapsed at home! You weren’t there to watch over her; turns out you were here protecting this… this woman!” She turned to the two security officers behind her. “What are you waiting for? If she wants to act like a tramp, then let her! She likes being a mistress, she likes sleeping her way up? Go! Strip her clothes off!” The security officers stepped forward, but Ryder swiftly moved to block them. His shoulder strap was askew, his eyes bloodshot. “Today, anyone who touches her will have to answer to me, Ryder!” Brenda, enraged, hurled her purse at him. A metal clasp cut his forehead, a bead of blood seeping into his thick eyebrow. Sara, who had been cowering behind Ryder, suddenly rushed out, falling to her knees on the cold tile floor with a thump. “Mrs. Vance! It’s all my fault! Punish me, please, but don’t hurt Commander Vance!” Ryder, who hadn’t flinched when he was hit, now his face instantly changed. He hastily bent down to pull Sara up. “What are you doing? Get up now.” The two of them tangled together, embracing like a pair of star-crossed lovers pushed to their limits. Through the shifting figures, Ryder’s gaze met mine. He let go of Sara as if electrocuted. “Sarah…” I pushed through the crowd, putting my hand on Brenda’s trembling arm. “Just forget it.” Those three words seemed to drain all my strength. I led Brenda, still furious and trying to hit Sara, back to my own hospital room. Ryder followed. His voice was hoarse, as if he was making an immense compromise. “Sarah, it’s my fault. I didn’t control myself.” “I’ll apply for a transfer away from her. From now on… I’ll make it up to you. Please, stop bullying her.” I was speechless. Bullying. What a ridiculous word. As if I were some villain tearing apart true lovers. No sooner had he finished speaking than a young nurse’s scream echoed from outside. “Patient in Room 302 tried to slit her wrists!” Ryder’s face instantly changed, and he turned to leave. Brenda blocked the doorway. “You try to walk out today!” He shoved her aside, rushing towards the door. I staggered, crashing into the IV pole, the needle tearing from my hand, leaving a crimson trail. Brenda quickly knelt to support me, tears streaming down her face. “Sarah…” Tears in my own eyes, I whispered, “Brenda, I’ve already submitted the divorce papers to the Department of Military Affairs.” After seeing Brenda off, I returned to my hospital bed. My phone suddenly pinged with a notification. I opened it to find Sara Lee’s secondary account had updated. She posted three photos. The first showed two hands clasped together. The second was a shot of Ryder’s gentle profile, focused on peeling a pear for her; The third showed her leaning against Ryder, looking up and kissing him. The caption read: [Military relationships are tough, but true love never fears waiting. I, this persistent gambler, have finally won back my hero. From now on, you’re mine.] Below, Ryder’s secondary account replied almost instantly: [Yes, forever yours.] I stared at that reply, feeling a strange sense of settled relief wash over me. With a light tap, I unfollowed and blocked both their secondary accounts, then uninstalled the tracking app and dashcam app I’d used to monitor Ryder’s movements. Four months after Ryder supposedly returned to our family, I finally… broke free from my obsession with him.

The next morning, I packed my things to check out of the hospital. As I was carrying my luggage downstairs, Ryder suddenly rushed up to me. His eyes were bloodshot. He grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it felt like he was going to crush my bones. “Where’s Sarah? What have you done with Sara Lee?!” I was furious and in pain, struggling to pull away. “How would I know where she is? Let go of me!” Ryder scoffed in rage. “You don’t know? Who else would target her but you?!” He abruptly pulled out his phone and played a blurry surveillance video. In the footage, Sara was stabbed in the abdomen and collapsed in a small alley, blood pooling beneath her. Ryder watched the video, his eyes brimming with anguish, his voice taking on a pleading tone. “Sarah, I’m begging you, let her go. I shouldn’t have betrayed you, but please, once I get her out, I’ll make her transfer and leave the military, I’ll never contact her again. Just tell me the address, if we wait any longer, she’ll be in danger!” The last time he had begged me like this was when I was clinging to life after falling off the cliff. Then, he held me, crying, begging the doctors to save me. Lost in thought, I shook my head expressionlessly. “It wasn’t me. I really don’t know where she is.” Ryder’s face grew cold, inch by inch. “You’re really not going to tell me?” He suddenly sneered, dragging me by the wrist towards his military SUV parked on the roadside. I desperately struggled, trying to open the car door, but he just pressed the central lock. The next second, he pulled out a military knife and slashed my arm hard. “Ah!” Excruciating pain ripped through me, and blood instantly soaked my sleeve. Ryder’s eyes were bloodshot, his voice as cold as ice. “Tell me the address!” I was trembling all over. “I told you… I don’t know…” Our eyes met, and the ruthlessness in his gaze was like a poisoned dagger, stabbing my heart again and again. Before I could react, the military knife slashed my arm a second time, then a third… “Speak! The address!” he roared, demanding an answer with every cut. Blood streamed down my arm, dripping onto the car seat, blooming into shocking red stains. I curled up in pain, my tear-blurred eyes fixed on his cold profile. “I really don’t know… Ryder, how could you do this to me…” Time ticked by, and with each passing second, Sara’s danger increased. Ryder completely lost control. He clamped his hands around my throat, the hatred in his eyes terrifying. “Are you only satisfied if she dies? Where is she?! Where have you hidden her?! Speak, Sarah!” My vision swam with black spots, my breathing grew increasingly difficult. In my blurring consciousness, I could only weep silently: “I regret it so much… how could I have ever loved you…” Just when I thought I was about to suffocate, Ryder’s military communicator suddenly rang. He abruptly let go of me, frantically answering. “Major General Vance! Lieutenant Lee has been found!” Ryder’s eyes instantly lit up. “I’m on my way!” He hung up and then brutally kicked me out of the car. Ryder looked at me through the car window, his eyes cold. “You better pray Sara is okay, or I won’t let you off the hook!” When I woke up again, I was in a VIP private room at the military hospital. Due to severe blood loss, doctors had worked for a full day and night to pull me back from the brink of death. My arm was thickly bandaged, and over a dozen scars of varying depths were faintly visible through the gauze, each one a testament to Ryder’s brutality. Just outside the door, I overheard nurses discussing Ryder’s overwhelming devotion to Sara. To save her, he had summoned all the hospital’s specialists for her treatment. While she was in surgery, he disregarded regulations, personally going to St. Jude’s Chapel to pray for her safety. While she was unconscious, he stayed by her bedside night after night without blinking, watching over her. I listened in silence, my heart completely calm, no longer stirred. I completed the discharge procedures and requested a full injury report from the hospital. Just as I reached the hospital entrance, my lawyer’s call came through. “Ms. Stone, the divorce has been finalized. According to the agreement, Commander Vance’s military housing, personal honorarium, and other assets will all be transferred to your name within a week.” I looked up at the high-hanging sun in the sky. I offered a faint, fleeting smile, then calmly said, “Please send Ryder’s divorce certificate to him, cash on delivery.” After the lawyer acknowledged, my gaze fell on my bandaged arm, and my voice chilled slightly. “Also, file a lawsuit against Ryder for aggravated assault, with no possibility of settlement.” The moment I stepped onto the plane, I expressionlessly removed my phone’s SIM card, broke it, and tossed it into the trash can. Ryder, eight years of marriage, our feelings completely severed.

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My daughter was sick, so I went to her apartment to take care of her. The moment I stepped inside, a putrid stench hit me. I offered to clean up her place. Clara’s roommates’ faces immediately soured. “What smell? There’s nothing wrong with this apartment!” “If you think this place is too rundown, then just tell Clara to move out.” Clara impatiently pushed me away too. “Mom, you came to see me, fine. But don’t be so dramatic and embarrass me, okay?” Was my sense of smell faulty? But when I went to bed that night, the odor was so strong I couldn’t sleep. Finally, I discovered the stench was coming from my daughter! I quickly brought her to the shower, scrubbing her several times, but the smell remained incredibly pungent! I had no choice. I decided to hire professional cleaners and have them disinfect the apartment from top to bottom. But Clara’s roommates felt offended and argued with me. In the chaos, I was pushed. My temple struck the sharp edge of the coffee table, and I died instantly! When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the moment I first entered the apartment, and the putrid stench assailed me once more…

The rotten stench instantly made my stomach churn! But why did none of them, including my daughter, seem to notice anything? “Mom, what are you doing here?” “My roommates have been taking great care of me. In a few more days, I’ll be able to go out for class again. You really didn’t need to come.” Lost in a daze, Clara walked over and took my luggage. Although she said I didn’t need to come, her eyes were filled with surprise and emotion. In the past, I had been too strict with Clara, which made our relationship not very close, but I knew she deeply craved my approval and love. Her roommates were also very welcoming, inviting me to join them for hotpot. I realized that as long as I didn’t mention the smell on Clara and trigger their hostility, I could get along with them. Coupled with my accidental death in the previous life’s argument, I decided to hold back for now. I would investigate the source of the stench without provoking any conflict with them. The next day, I went straight to the hospital for a check-up, and the results showed my sense of smell was perfectly fine! I even conducted multiple confirmations, ensuring that what I could smell was exactly the same as what any other normal person could smell. This meant the stench definitely existed. It was just that I could smell it, but Clara and her roommates couldn’t. Thinking this, I immediately bought strong-smelling items like perfume, durian, and stinky tofu, planning to test their sense of smell when I got back. I placed these items in different corners of the apartment. But I quickly found that the foul odor emanating from Clara had already permeated the entire room, completely masking all other scents. This test was pointless. Even if their sense of smell was fine, there was no way they could detect the things I’d hidden. Just as I was about to collect the items and put them all together, Clara suddenly rushed out of her room. “Mom, what’s that awful smell?” My heart leaped with joy. “Clara, you can smell it too?” Clara’s brow was deeply furrowed. “It’s choking me! How could I not smell it?” I immediately grabbed her hand, eager to take her to the hospital to investigate the source of the stench. But Clara quickly pushed me away, strode to the corner, pulled a box of stinky tofu from behind the curtain, and glared at me accusingly. “Mom, my roommates are really clean. Why would you secretly put stinky tofu here? Are you trying to attract rats?” Before I could respond, Clara’s roommates returned from class. The moment they walked in, they pinched their noses, looking disgusted. And within two minutes, they had found everything I’d hidden. “Ma’am, we respect you a lot. Please, could you show us some respect too?” “If you want to stay here and take care of Clara, please don’t bring such smelly things back again!” My scalp prickled. What was going on? They couldn’t smell such a strong, putrid stench, yet they could smell durian that hadn’t even been opened?

If none of us had problems with our sense of smell, then something was seriously wrong with Clara’s scent! The bizarre situation made me deeply worried about her health. The next day, I deliberately booked a luxurious dinner at a hotel, opened an expensive bottle of wine, and presented each of Clara’s roommates with an exquisite gift. Once I had won them over, I said kindly at the dinner table: “I bought those smelly things today because I found traces of rats and wanted to use them to lure the rats out and get rid of them.” “If you don’t mind, tomorrow, while you’re at class, could I have a cleaning company come in for a thorough clean? I’ll cover all the costs, and I’ll also pay for a month’s worth of groceries—” Before I could finish, one of Clara’s roommates slammed her fork down. “Ma’am, just say what you mean. There’s no need to be so hypocritical.” The other roommates’ faces gradually hardened. “She’s right, Ma’am. I know you come from a good family and you look down on this apartment, feeling like Clara is suffering by living here. But we didn’t force Clara to stay, you can move out anytime!” “Hmph, we may be poor, but we’re clean. What’s the need for a thorough cleaning?” Faced with their snide comments, Clara’s eyes reddened with embarrassment as she quickly explained. “I don’t look down on you, and I’m not planning to move out.” “Mom!” “If you dislike this place, then just leave. I’m not as dramatic as you are. I love it here, and I’m happy living with them!” I was utterly bewildered. Why were their reactions so extreme? My attitude had been good, and I’d even used gifts to soften them up. Even if I *had* shown some disdain, under normal circumstances, they shouldn’t have lashed out at me so directly, right? Moreover, I’d used rats as an excuse; I hadn’t even mentioned the stench! An inexplicable sense of unease spread through my heart. I couldn’t help but suspect that Clara and her roommates were deliberately hiding something. “Clara, why did you all react so strongly when I suggested a thorough cleaning?” “Please tell me the truth, okay?” “I’m your mother. Whatever has happened, I’ll understand and protect you.” Back in the bedroom, I prepared to have a heart-to-heart talk with Clara. In my previous life, even after Clara showered, the foul smell on her hadn’t faded at all, which was why I called for professional cleaning. The result was that they acted like maniacs and literally killed me on the spot! The experiences of both lives made me almost certain: they were hiding something in the apartment that they dared not let outsiders discover! “What do you mean?” “Mom, are you suspecting that we’re doing something bad and hiding it from you, that’s why you don’t want me to get cleaners?” Clara’s eyes were already red, brimming with angry tears. “Is it because I didn’t get into a prestigious university and disappointed you, that you’re prejudiced against me now?” “I’m not smart, but I’ve tried so hard, Mom!” “If you don’t like me, then just leave! Don’t disrupt my life! My roommates might just be ordinary university students you look down on, but I like them very much. Please, don’t make them hate me and ruin my friendships, okay?” I hadn’t expected Clara to be so emotional. Her words were like a knife, sharply piercing my heart. In the past, I had high expectations of her and was strict, which led to her personality problems. But I had already realized this and was doing my best to make amends. How could I not like her? Looking at Clara’s tear-filled, red eyes, my heart uncontrollably tightened with sorrow. I hugged her tightly. The next second. A sudden chill ran down my spine, and I cried out. “Clara, what exactly have you been through?”

I noticed a detail I had always overlooked! My daughter kept saying her roommates were good to her and that she liked them very much. But in neither the previous life nor this one had I ever seen her roommates help her, or even say a single comforting word. How could such a cold attitude signify a good relationship? Had they discovered Clara’s character flaws and manipulated her? And was the strange smell on Clara a means of their manipulation? At this thought, my body started shaking uncontrollably. I couldn’t remain calm anymore. Clara, her eyes full of tears, asked me, “Mom, what exactly are you trying to say?” I shook my head, not daring to voice my suspicions, afraid of agitating Clara’s fragile emotions. I needed to find evidence first! My sense of smell was fine, which meant the smell on Clara definitely existed. And the only reason others “couldn’t smell it” was one possibility: they were pretending! It was also possible that Clara was suffering from severe emotional manipulation, and her mind and perception were affected, making her unable to smell it herself. Proving my theory would be simple: I just needed to take Clara out! The smell on her was so strong; passersby would surely notice… “Clara, you’re almost recovered. How about I take you out for a stroll today?” “We can also buy some things for your roommates to help maintain your friendships.” The next morning, I suggested taking Clara out. As expected, she cared a lot about her roommates and happily agreed. I noticed that no matter where Clara was, the foul odor on her was particularly strong. But strangely, until we walked out of the apartment complex, no one even glanced at us. Couldn’t they smell it, or didn’t they realize the source of the stench was my daughter? I gradually felt panic and unease. I stopped a passerby who was walking past. “Young man, do you smell anything?” The young man looked at me strangely. “No, I don’t smell anything!” How was that possible? How could he not smell the stench from so close? I frantically continued walking with Clara, then stopped another person. But I asked ten people in a row, and they all said they didn’t smell anything! This was absolutely wrong! My sense of smell was fine! “Mom, what are you doing acting so frantic?” Clara couldn’t stand it. She stopped me, clearly embarrassed, and turned to walk away. I felt like I was on the verge of a breakdown! What exactly was the problem?

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New Year’s Eve. After dinner, my family and I were all chilling on the couch, watching TV. Skylar, my sister, said she was going to the bathroom. Half an hour later, she still hadn’t come back. I went to check. The bathroom was empty. I asked Mom and Dad, “When did Skylar come out?” They both froze. “What are you talking about? You’re our only child. Where would you get a sister?” My mind went blank. Were they playing some kind of twisted prank on me? A little while later, Dad clutched his stomach and rushed into the bathroom too. I glued my eyes to the bathroom door. A long time passed. No one came out. My dad was gone too. My hand trembled as I pointed at the bathroom. But Mom just started walking towards it. “Don’t go! Dad and Skylar both vanished in there!” Mom’s face instantly twisted in grief. “You don’t have a dad or a sister. Haven’t it just been the two of us for over twenty years?” I felt like I’d been struck by lightning, frantically trying to explain. But the more I talked, the more confused Mom looked. She walked straight into the bathroom, and the house fell into a terrifying silence. I was so scared I could barely speak, so I called Allison, my best friend who lived nearby, for help. But her words crushed any last hope: “You’re an orphan. Where would you get family?” I hung up, then sprinted out and hammered on the neighbors’ door.

Mrs. Peterson, our neighbor, opened the door. The sound of laughter and chatter spilled out of her home. She paused when she saw me. I fought back the sting in my eyes and asked, “Mrs. Peterson, have you seen my mom, dad, or sister?” I thought I’d finally get the answer I desperately needed from a neighbor I’d known for over a decade. But the next second, Mrs. Peterson’s face clouded with confusion. “Aurora? Haven’t you always been by yourself?” She said it gently, but I immediately understood what she meant: “Are you saying I’m an orphan?” Pity. Averting her gaze. Mrs. Peterson’s expression said it all. My legs felt like jelly, and I thought I might collapse right there. Her daughter, Mia, came wandering out and slipped some cookies into my hand. “What’s wrong with her? Why don’t you come celebrate with us?” “The more, the merrier! It’s just one more plate at the table!” Her warm invitation only made me feel colder. I don’t remember how I politely turned down Mrs. Peterson and her family. I just stumbled back home. The house, not too big, not too small, felt ordinary yet cozy. My family of four had lived here for over ten years. I’m graduating college next year. How could I possibly be an orphan? I looked around. Traces of my family were everywhere. On the dining table, the four place settings from our New Year’s dinner were still laid out. Mom, Dad, and Skylar’s rooms were full of their things, brimming with life. Even the spots where Mom and Dad had been sitting still held a faint warmth. My gaze landed on the bathroom directly opposite me. There were height marks on the wall for Skylar and me. Mom had even lovingly decorated the doorknob with a pretty ribbon. It all looked perfectly normal. I started to tremble, unsure if I should step inside. Just then, my phone vibrated wildly. Messages from Allison, my best friend, popped up one after another. [Aurora, what did you mean by all that? Is something wrong?] I didn’t reply. I’d been so panicked, I completely forgot about contacting her. I immediately tapped Mom’s profile picture and started a FaceTime call. But I tried several times, and no one answered. My heart sank further and further. Not just Mom, but Dad and Skylar’s accounts were unreachable too. What in the world was going on? I shakily sent Allison a message, letting her know I was okay. But I didn’t know how to even begin explaining this bizarre situation. The next second, there was a sudden, loud knock on the door. I peered through the peephole – it was Brett, my boyfriend! He stood outside, his face etched with worry, sweat beading on his forehead. “What are you doing here?” I asked, shocked. His house was in the next city over, a three or four-hour drive at least. That’s why I hadn’t called him first, turning to Allison instead. “Aurora, are you okay?” “You weren’t replying to my messages, I was worried something happened to you…” Brett shook his phone. There were over fifty messages. The earliest one was from the exact moment I realized Skylar was missing. I’d been too frantic to even notice then. Thinking of my family’s strange disappearance, all the pent-up emotion exploded. I clung to my boyfriend, sobbing incoherently: “What do I do? I can’t reach Mom!” “They went into the bathroom, and they’re all gone!” But Brett glanced at my phone screen. He looked like he wanted to say something but held back. “Isn’t this your burner profile?” “Why are you calling your own burner profile?” “My what?” I froze. I only have one social media account.

Brett simply picked up the tablet from the table and handed it to me. There it was, clearly logged into an account named ‘Serene Waters’. The contact list only had myself. And the messages? Just a few missed calls from my own number. My legs completely gave out, and I crumpled to the floor. Cold sweat trickled down my back. Seeing my state, Brett quickly poured me a glass of hot water. “Aurora, what’s going on?” Under his worried gaze, I recounted every strange thing that had happened tonight, plain as day. The more he listened, the deeper his frown became. I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh: “You’re not going to tell me I’m an orphan too, are you?” But he took my hand earnestly. And shook his head. “Of course not! You’ve always had a happy home.” “Didn’t we just meet both our parents last month to discuss our engagement?” “The photos we took are still on my phone.” He opened his photo album. Sure enough, there was a picture of our two families together. No one was missing. I held the phone, staring at the picture again and again. My smile was uglier than any cry. But if my family was still here, why did they disappear into that bathroom? “Your mom and dad probably just went out for something.” “Look, their shoes are by the door. They must have left.” I followed the direction of his finger. Three pairs of shoes were neatly lined up by the entrance. My heart finally settled. “But Allison said…” I tapped open my best friend’s chat again. Two voice messages popped up: “Haha, Aurora, were you scared by what I said on the phone earlier?” “I was just playing Truth or Dare!” Brett stood up. “See? I told you. There must have been some misunderstanding with your neighbor too. Don’t worry.” Finally, I started to smile through my tears. But the next second, Brett actually walked straight towards the bathroom: “I’ve been driving for hours. I need to use the restroom.” Those words made my nerves instantly tense again. I immediately blocked his way. “You can’t go in there!” Brett paused, then gently, soothingly, said, “Baby, didn’t we just clear up all the misunderstandings?” “I really gotta go. How about you come with me and check it out?” After a few seconds of hesitation, I nodded. I desperately wanted to know if there was something wrong with that bathroom. We pushed the door open. The bathroom was spotless. The bright light streamed down, making it seem perfectly normal. I knocked on all four walls – solid. The window even had security bars installed. Brett sounded like he was really holding it in, his voice exaggerated: “Can I use the bathroom now?” I hadn’t even replied before he gently pushed me out. He quickly closed the door. My heart hammered in my chest. I paced anxiously, calling out his name every few seconds. He replied each time, without annoyance. After calling out dozens of times and still hearing his voice, I let out a long sigh of relief. Looks like I was overthinking things. When Mom and Dad get back, I’m definitely going to scold them for disappearing! The sound of flushing came from inside the door. I stared at the door, waiting for my boyfriend. But the rushing water faded. The light flickered, then went out with a snap. No one walked out. I shouted Brett’s name again, loudly. But the bathroom was utterly, eerily silent. All the blood in my body instantly rushed backward. I instinctively twisted the doorknob and rushed in. Brett was standing perfectly fine in front of the sink, drying his hands, startled by my sudden entry! His eyes widened. I gasped, then complained, “Why did you turn off the light while drying your hands? You know you’d scare…” The next second, he suddenly spoke: “Who are you?” “How did you get into my girlfriend’s house!?” Seeing Brett’s unfamiliar gaze, my heart sank. “This is my house! I’m your girlfriend!” I was still trying to figure out how to explain. But Brett’s face darkened. He grabbed me and dragged me to the door. “Whoever you are, get out of my girlfriend’s house, or I’m calling 911!” I shook my head frantically. But he pulled out his phone and started dialing. As we struggled, the sound of keys unlocking the front door suddenly echoed from outside. The next second, Mom, Dad, and Skylar walked in, carrying several shopping bags.

I was so thrilled, tears welled up. I didn’t care about anything else and shouted, “Where have you been? Why didn’t you tell me anything?!” But they stood there, looking at each other. Just like Brett, they stared at me with completely unfamiliar eyes. “Who is this? How did she get into our house?” Brett frantically explained, “Mr. and Mrs. Peterson, I really don’t know her!” “She just appeared after I used the bathroom. Could she be a thief?!” At those words, everyone’s faces filled with disgust. “This is infuriating!” “Get out of my house right now, or don’t blame me for getting nasty!” My mom yelled, pointing at me. Dad also raised his voice, calling building security: “What kind of service is this? A stranger broke into my house!” “Get over here and kick her out!” Watching my familiar family hurl insults at me, I completely broke down. I pointed to my room, trying to argue. “If this isn’t my home, how can I have a room here?” But Dad started shouting at me: “You’re crazy!” “What ‘your room’? That’s clearly our storage room!” He pushed open the door. Inside, it was empty. Just a few messy items. I didn’t believe it. I pointed to the family photos on the wall. But I realized they only showed Mom, Dad, and Skylar! I was instantly bewildered. I began to unconsciously doubt my own memories. How could this not be my home? Suddenly, I remembered the photos on Brett’s phone. “He has our engagement photos on his phone! If you don’t believe me, go look!” Brett, half-skeptical, opened it. But after seeing the photos, his veins bulged, and he slapped me across the face. “Tell me! How did you hack into my phone?!” “This picture must be Photoshopped! My girlfriend doesn’t look anything like you!” Skylar also turned cold: “What’s your goal impersonating my sister?!” I collapsed onto the floor. Just then, building security arrived. I immediately clung to him like a drowning person to a life raft. Last week, I’d just paid the property fees, and he’d even given me a candy bar. “Do you remember me?” But he frowned, thinking for a moment. “I’m on duty in this building every day, I’ve never seen you before!” I was utterly desperate. Brett’s face hardened: “What else do you have to say?” With that, he and the security guard started shoving me, trying to force me out. In a panic, I suddenly remembered the necklace my grandmother had given me. I pointed to my neck, urging Mom to recognize it: “Mom! I’m your daughter, Aurora!” “Even if you don’t recognize me, you must recognize this necklace!” Mom’s face instantly changed. She blocked the security guard. “Let her go!” I immediately lunged at her. Venturing my grievances incoherently. “Mom! I really don’t know what’s going on!” “You all went to the bathroom and vanished, then came back, but you act like you don’t know me…” But the next second, Mom savagely yanked the necklace from my neck. The fierce look on her face made it seem like she wanted to devour me whole: “So you *are* a thief! How dare you steal things, that’s my mother’s heirloom!” “I’m calling the police right now to have you arrested!” With that, she used all her strength to snatch the necklace away. Leaving a bloody mark on my neck. The sharp pain and sense of suffocation instantly rendered me speechless.

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My husband, Kolt, was a renowned philanthropist, constantly “rescuing” unemployed girls. Initially, I even supported him. But gradually, he started bringing those girls home, letting them take over my bedroom, wear my pajamas, and even order me to run errands in the middle of the night to buy them condoms. In that moment, I knew the marriage I had meticulously maintained was utterly rotten. On our fifth anniversary, I asked him for a divorce. All I got was a cold, mocking laugh. “Bonnie, you’re not young anymore. You won’t find anyone better if you leave me.” I slipped off my silver ring and tossed it into the trash. “You’re right, I’m not young. That’s precisely why it’s time to cut my losses.” After tearing up the divorce papers, Kolt smoked in the living room all night. Early the next morning, he walked into the bedroom, trying to persuade me to “see things clearly.” “Skye is just staying with us for a few days. If you’re really divorcing me because of her, you don’t have to!” Meeting his venomous gaze, my heart chilled inch by agonizing inch. My thoughts scattered, always drifting back to the countless photos of different girls on his phone. Lately, though, he seemed to have settled down, becoming “devoted.” Rumors were flying around the company: he was obsessed with the ninety-ninth unemployed girl he’d “rescued,” Skye. He’d not only cleared out a lounge for her in his office but had even specially ordered a massive, custom-made king-size bed from overseas, all to cater to her “delicate body.” Everyone downstairs was betting that this naive young girl had the power to keep Kolt away from home for three months straight. She was going to be the future Mrs. Hayes. Mid-negotiation, Kolt took a call and rushed out. Before he left, he turned to me. “Bonnie, you need time to calm down. I’ll book you an appointment with a therapist.” A single tear fell, silent and unnoticed. During our toughest year, I lived with him in a tiny, cramped studio apartment, where the summer heat made you want to jump from the sixty-eighth floor. I wasn’t “sick” then. But now, after he’d achieved success and amassed billions, I was the hysterical lunatic in everyone’s eyes. My phone vibrated beside me twice, automatically displaying a string of photos. At the bottom was a provocative message. “Bonnie, don’t I look pretty in a wedding dress? Kolt said I look like a princess. He wasn’t just flattering me, was he?” In the photos, Skye was draped in a white gown, her slender arms wrapped around Kolt’s neck, her face radiating the smug satisfaction of a conqueror. My fingertips, gripping the phone, turned white. So, Kolt was busy, but not too busy to take wedding photos. He looked even more handsome in a groom’s suit than I’d imagined. In our five years of marriage, we’d never once taken wedding photos. Back then, we genuinely couldn’t afford it. Kolt had promised me. “Bonnie, once I get my first big paycheck, I’ll make you the happiest bride in the world.” “You love diamonds, right? You said they represent eternity. Someday, I’ll custom-make a diamond-encrusted wedding dress just for you.” “Okay, it’s a promise.” I’d responded with a sweet smile. Later, his business grew bigger and bigger, he often stayed out all night, and his promise of wedding photos became a distant dream. I let out a self-deprecating laugh, unable to hold back my tears anymore. Kolt, you truly broke your promises countless times.

I waited until three in the morning, and just as I expected, the door opened. Skye was helping a stinking drunk Kolt back inside. “Kolt, can you hold it in, please? There’s someone else home!” I looked up, just in time to see Kolt holding Skye, kissing her passionately, unable to pull away. Seeing my face dark with fury, Skye quickly apologized, her voice trembling. “Bonnie, I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize you’d be here.” Her words made me laugh sardonically, my voice as cold as ice. “I’m in my own home. Do I need to report my whereabouts to you?” That single sentence made Skye’s eyes redden. Kolt noticed she was crying. Unhurried, he bent down to kiss away her tears, then turned to me. “Look what you’ve done! You’ve scared this poor girl to tears. You’re really something else!” I bit my lip, forcing back the tears. “Kolt, in the future… can you please stop bringing women home?” He knew I was a stickler for fidelity. I couldn’t tolerate even a hint of disloyalty. Yet, he still did things to hurt me. Skye, who just a second ago was limply leaning in Kolt’s arms, now looked like a startled fawn. She stared at me timidly. “Bonnie, I know you hate me. I’ll leave right away.” However, before she could take a single step, Kolt pulled her back, embracing her tightly. “No! I forbid you to go.” Meeting my crestfallen gaze, Kolt’s tone became impatient. “It’s raining outside. Where do you expect her to go?” I forcefully suppressed the urge to march over and slap both of them. “Where she goes is none of my business. But one thing’s for sure: I forbid her from stepping foot in the master bedroom again. She’d just make my bed dirty.” Skye felt humiliated. She broke free from Kolt’s embrace and ran out. “Are you happy being so aggressive?” Kolt glared at me fiercely, then rushed out after her. The next day, with a heavy heart, I went to the hospital for a follow-up. The doctor told me I was pregnant. My first reaction was, “I can’t keep this child.” The doctor frowned, puzzled. “Ms. Hayes, your husband has a low sperm count. You know better than anyone how precious this baby is. How can you say you don’t want it?” Unable to resist the doctor’s pleas, I took the pregnancy test results to Kolt’s company. His assistant, Ben, dared to stop me, stammering that Kolt was meeting an important client and couldn’t see me. The next second, Skye’s ill-timed joyful cry shattered the fabricated calm. “You poor thing, standing guard for them for so long.” I gave Ben a self-deprecating smile, crumpled the pregnancy test, and pushed the door open. Seeing the disgusting scene inside, my heart clenched painfully. Both of them panicked when they saw me. Kolt, without a hint of redness in his face, calmly adjusted his clothes, reverting to his usual composed self. “I’ve been working overtime recently and my back hurts. Skye was just helping me with a massage, it’s not what you think.” I didn’t want to hear his excuses. I threw the crumpled paper ball at him. “I’m pregnant. When are you going to break things off with her? I don’t want our child to be born with you still messing around with this little hussy. It’ll seriously affect the child’s well-being.” “What? You’re pregnant?” Kolt excitedly unfurled the paper, then rushed over and hugged me. “Bonnie, thank you! My parents have been dying for me to be a father. You’re a hero to the Hayes family!” I knew Kolt loved children, so even though he had a low sperm count, I was willing to endure painful fertility injections every month. Just as I thought he would settle down and return to our family, Skye’s mocking laugh suddenly echoed from behind me. “So what if you’re pregnant? It’s no big deal.”

With that, she pulled a pregnancy test from her bag, winked playfully, and handed it to Kolt. “I wanted to surprise you, but someone ruined my plan, so I guess I have to announce it early.” “Kolt, I’m younger than Bonnie, and I have a better chance of having a boy. You’ll agree to let me have this baby, right?” Kolt was so overjoyed at that moment, he probably forgot his own name. “Of course! You and Bonnie are both women I love. Both of you pregnant at the same time, this is the best gift heaven could give me!” He said, then instinctively pushed me away, bending down to scoop up Skye, who was standing barefoot on the floor. “How many times have I told you not to walk around barefoot when the floor is cold? You little dummy, you never remember!” Skye, hooking her arms around his neck, looked directly at me, a fleeting hint of triumph in her eyes. “Bonnie, my baby is almost three months old. Barring any surprises, I’ll give Kolt a son before you do. Then your child won’t have to waste money on clothes; they can just wear my son’s hand-me-downs.” I stood there, petrified, my limbs stiff and unable to move. Kolt dotingly ruffled her nose. “Skye, you’re always so kind.” Kolt couldn’t help but reach out to stroke Skye’s pregnant belly, then turned back to me with a beaming smile. “Now you two can get pregnant together, share tips, and thanks to me, you won’t be so lonely during this time. You’ll even have company while pregnant.” He seemed quite pleased with his “masterpiece,” scoffing at all the doctors who had diagnosed him with low sperm count. He immediately pulled out his phone and posted on Ins, “To all those losers who said I couldn’t do it, guess who’s eating humble pie now? By next year, I’ll be a father of two! What can I say, I’m just too modest usually.” I hadn’t even left the company building when my phone started buzzing with congratulatory messages. The family SnapChat group was exploding. Some fawned over me, praising my “skills”: “You’re truly amazing, pregnant with twins!” Others desperately asked me for tips, all wanting to have two babies at once to save trouble. I ignored them all, my face cold as I sent a message: “Everyone seems to be mistaken. Kolt has issues in that department. I’m not capable of getting pregnant with twins. The one I have in my belly cost me hundreds of thousands to save with fertility shots at the hospital.” “However, his young mistress, being younger and perhaps more ‘capable,’ got pregnant with his seed in just three months, and she even guaranteed a boy. If you have questions, please direct them to her. She has more ‘experience’.” Kolt’s parents were honest, traditional people who valued their family’s reputation above all else. They were also grateful, knowing that without my companionship and support, Kolt would never have achieved what he had today. So, they traveled all the way from their small town and ordered Kolt to break off contact with Skye. Skye immediately burst into tears, clutching her belly and screaming in pain. Kolt’s mother, a woman who had seen it all, spat in her face and cursed. “You little hussy! Our family doesn’t recognize a loose woman like you. Get out of here with that little asshole in your belly and never come back!” Skye couldn’t bear the insult. She immediately knelt down, begging me to let her go. “Bonnie, I know you complained to your mother-in-law, but I don’t blame you. I was ignorant and foolish, even dreaming of having Kolt’s love like you. I don’t deserve it. I’ll leave now.” With that, she wiped her tears and stood up defiantly, walking away. Kolt’s eyes filled with pity. He chased after her, pulled her into the car, and comforted her for a long time before returning, unleashing his pent-up fury on me.

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Grandma Evelyn always said I was her favorite out of her seven grandchildren. Growing up, she gave me countless shoes, clothes, and books. But Grandma always claimed she couldn’t afford new things, so she’d pick up secondhand items for me instead. Mom and Dad would always say that even if they weren’t brand-new, it was the thought that counted with Grandma, so I always felt pressured to accept them graciously. Later, I graduated from college and landed an offer at a major company. The whole family threw a party to celebrate. At the party, Grandma handed me a laptop—another secondhand gift. In that moment, years of pent-up emotions suddenly hit me. I grabbed the device and smashed it hard on the floor: “Why is it always secondhand?!” My relatives immediately called me ungrateful. Grandma wiped away tears and softly said she wouldn’t come to our house anymore, so she wouldn’t embarrass me. I didn’t say a word. I turned and walked into my room, bringing out all the secondhand items she’d given me over the years, one by one. The room fell completely silent.

As soon as Grandma Evelyn walked in, she pressed a wallet into my hand and handed over a bag of treats, which Mom quickly took from her. Then she pulled another bag from her purse and gave it to me: “Sarah, Grandma got you a tablet. You can use it for work.” I took the bag, frozen for a moment. Mom gently nudged me from the side: “What are you staring at? Hurry and thank Grandma! Everything you’ve had since you were little—didn’t it all come from Grandma? Even if it’s secondhand…” Grandma Evelyn rubbed her hands together, smiling awkwardly and nervously: “Grandma doesn’t have much money, but if Sarah wants something, I want to get it for you.” I took the bag and sat aside, carefully opening the packaging. Sure enough, there was a tablet inside, with obvious signs of wear along the edges. I pressed the power button, and the screen lit up with a yellowish tint. I stared at it for a few seconds, then abruptly stuffed it back into the bag and slammed it down on the coffee table: “Are we so hard up that we can’t even afford new things? Why do I always have to get stuck with secondhand stuff?” The living room went dead silent, everyone freezing in place. Grandma Evelyn jumped to her feet, hands trembling slightly: “Oh honey, don’t you like it? Is it not working right?” I turned my head away, voice tight: “How much did this tablet cost? Please don’t waste your money on stuff like this anymore. Just give me cash, and I’ll buy something new myself.” “What on earth are you saying?!” Mom shot up. “That’s Grandma’s way of showing she cares!” “What good is this secondhand garbage?” I pushed the bag forward. “I need a proper computer for work. Don’t try to palm this off on me.” My relatives started murmuring among themselves. Uncle Mark shook his head: “Kids these days, so unappreciative.” Aunt Susan pursed her lips: “Tell me about it. When we were kids, we’d be thrilled to get a piece of candy. And she’s already starting her career, yet she’s still so clueless.” … Mom grabbed a throw pillow from the couch, ready to hurl it, but Grandma Evelyn quickly held her back. She gently took my hand, her voice very soft: “Sarah, don’t be upset. Grandma didn’t think this through… You’ve grown up now, you have your pride—you deserve new things.” Aunt Lisa chimed in from the side: “Mom, are you still coddling her? My son hasn’t even gotten any hand-me-downs from you!” Grandma Evelyn waved her off: “Alright, alright. Girls should be spoiled… I just didn’t realize Sarah’s got her pride now.” I looked at Aunt Lisa: “Then give this tablet to your son. Just give me the cash instead.” Aunt Lisa sputtered, turning red. She opened her mouth but said nothing. Mom rolled up her sleeves, ready to come at me again, but Grandma Evelyn quickly pulled her toward the kitchen: “Let’s make dinner first. Sarah must be hungry…” “Just wait till your dad gets home—he’ll straighten you out!” Mom turned and shot me a glare. Grandma Evelyn, still walking, murmured: “Grandma’ll make you ribs, your favorite when you were little…” “Don’t bother,” I cut her off. “I haven’t liked those in years.” Grandma Evelyn froze mid-step. She stood there for two seconds, then slowly walked back to the couch and sat down, a forced smile still on her face.

The relatives’ stares felt like daggers. Some shook their heads, others pressed their lips tight. Grandma Evelyn bowed her head slightly, twisting the hem of her shirt, her voice barely audible: “It’s fine, really… She’s just young.” I tuned out their muttering, sitting on the couch and playing with the wallet Grandma had given me. Feeling its weight, I suddenly noticed it was too thin. I opened it to find only a twenty-dollar bill inside. Fury flared up inside me. I stood up and threw the wallet at Grandma Evelyn’s feet: “What’s this supposed to be?” Uncle Mark immediately bent down, picked up the wallet, stood up, and snapped at me: “What’s your problem, Sarah? Is twenty bucks not enough for you?” Grandma Evelyn quickly took the wallet back from him, her trembling hand reaching into her pocket and pulling out three neatly folded twenty-dollar bills. She took out two bills, fingers shaking as she offered them to me: “Sarah, honey… Grandma only has sixty dollars on her. Will forty be okay? I still need bus fare to get home later…” I swatted the money out of her hand: “I don’t want it. You might as well give this to Aunt Lisa’s son.” Aunt Lisa suddenly stormed out of the kitchen: “Sarah, what’s your issue? I just made a comment—do you have to be so petty?” Mom also rushed over: “When did you get such an attitude!” The relatives started in with the judgment again. “So disrespectful!” “All that education and she’s still like this!” Grandma Evelyn, eyes red, slowly bent to pick up the money from the floor. Uncle Mark scoffed from the side: “You’ve coddled her too much. Now she can’t even stand forty lousy dollars!” I let out a bitter laugh: “Yeah, I can’t stand it. If you’ve got money for a wallet, why not add enough to buy something new? Who wants this used junk…” Before I could finish, a hand suddenly grabbed my collar from behind, and then a hard slap landed across my face. I staggered and fell to the floor, a metallic taste spreading in my mouth. Dad had come home at some point and was now standing over me, face crimson with rage. Grandma Evelyn immediately hobbled over with her cane, pushed Dad away, and knelt down trembling to touch my face: “Sarah… Does it hurt? Let Grandma see…” Dad was still shouting: “How could I have raised such an ungrateful kid! Don’t you remember how your grandma took care of you when you were little?” I wiped the corner of my mouth, looking up at him: “Yeah, you’re right about everything. I’m the ungrateful one. At least, that’s how you’ve always seen me.” Dad, livid, started to step forward again, but Grandma Evelyn turned and blocked him: “Okay, okay… Let’s eat first. Sarah must be starving.” The other relatives quickly jumped in to mediate: “She’s still young. Hitting her won’t fix anything…” “Talk to her calmly. Teach her right from wrong…” Grandma Evelyn gently took my hand: “Come on, let’s eat something.” I stayed quiet and pulled my hand away. She didn’t say anything else, just slowly followed behind me. When I sat down, she quietly took the seat next to mine. Grandma Evelyn slowly moved the egg drop soup, which was across the table, in front of me and said softly: “Sarah, you always loved this.” As she spoke, she used her slightly trembling hand to spoon two large servings into my rice bowl. Aunt Lisa chimed in with a sarcastic tone: “Some people have all the luck. Get everything they want and still act picky.” Dad also spoke up in a deep voice: “Alright, your grandma’s being so good to you. Let it go already.” I looked at the soup and suddenly felt my stomach twist. The next second, I stood up abruptly, unable to stop myself from dry-heaving. Then I grabbed the soup and dumped it into the nearby trash can. “I never eat this,” I said coldly. The dinner table erupted instantly. Uncle Mark slammed his hand on the table and stood up: “Sarah! I’ve had enough of your attitude! What has your grandma ever done to you to deserve this?” Grandma Evelyn also stood up, eyes red, lips trembling: “Sarah… Grandma’s dirty. Grandma collected bottles to buy you those secondhand things. It’s Grandma’s fault… I won’t come back anymore, I won’t come… You have to eat well, okay?”

My heart twinged. The words “I’m allergic to eggs” stuck in my throat. Crash! Dad suddenly threw down his fork, grabbed the barely touched bowl of soup, and stalked toward me. Dad grabbed me, then lifted the bowl and tried to force it into my mouth. I struggled frantically, soup splashing everywhere—down my chin and into my collar. Mom, Grandma Evelyn, and several relatives rushed over, pulling Dad away with all their strength. I stumbled to the floor, coughing uncontrollably, the front of my clothes soaked. Voices exploded around me. “What if she chokes?” “This kid is hopeless!” “She’s this way at her age—what’ll she be like when she’s older?” I coughed, tears streaming down my face, barely able to catch my breath. Grandma Evelyn rushed over, eyes red and tearful: “It’s Grandma’s fault… I shouldn’t have bought that tablet today. Shouldn’t have come…” I suddenly pulled my hand away from hers, gasping for air with a bitter smile: “What are you putting on an act for? You intentionally bought that used tablet, didn’t you? And the wallet—you wanted to humiliate me, right?” Aunt Lisa shrieked: “What’s wrong with that tablet? When we were kids, we would’ve been thrilled to have something like that!” Mom pulled Grandma Evelyn behind her, eyes red as she shouted at me: “I know you hate your dad and me, but Grandma practically raised you!” “Look at her leg! She broke it working construction to pay your school fees! What’s wrong with secondhand things? As long as they work, isn’t that enough?” I winced in pain, got to my feet, and brushed off my clothes: “Enough! It’s *your* job to take care of Grandma, not mine! *You* let her leg go untreated! What does that have to do with me? If secondhand stuff is so great, why don’t *you* use it? Go ahead—be my guest!” At that, Dad lunged again. Grandma Evelyn tried to stop him but couldn’t hold him back. He grabbed me and slammed me onto the coffee table. My back hit the edge with a jolt, and the pain made my vision go black. “Fine, fine!” Dad panted. “I’ll show you if this used tablet actually works!” He reached for the bag but knocked something under the coffee table—my journal. It must have fallen out when I was thrown earlier. I tried to grab it, but the pain in my body kept me from moving. Dad picked up the journal, flipped through a few pages casually, and his face instantly went pale. “What did you write in here?” His voice shook. “You said you hated Grandma… And in your diary, you wished she was dead?” Everyone froze, then crowded around to look. Grandma Evelyn stood there stunned, tears silently streaming down her face. Mom snatched the journal, glanced at it, then rushed over and slapped me twice. I tilted my head, wiped the corner of my mouth, and smiled: “Yeah, I want her dead. Why didn’t that old bag break her neck when she fell?” The other relatives started shouting: “Ungrateful little bitch!” “Heartless monster!” Grandma Evelyn wiped her tears with her sleeve, turned, and started toward the door: “I’ll go… I’ll leave right now…” “Mom!” Dad called out, voice shaking with rage. “You’re not the one leaving today.” He suddenly turned to me, eyes blazing. “If anyone’s getting out, it’s this brat!” I lifted my chin: “Fine by me. That’s what I wanted anyway. I got this job to get independent faster, to get out of this family.”

Dad snatched my journal off the coffee table, tore out a blank page furiously, and pulled a pen from his pocket: “Good! Today we’re signing a disownment paper. I’m cutting you off. As far as I’m concerned, I never had a daughter like you!” Grandma Evelyn rushed forward, trying to grab the paper: “You can’t sign that… Please, don’t…” I scoffed, looking at her: “Save the act. I’m leaving today, one way or another.” Mom still wanted to argue, but I’d already quickly signed the paper and tossed it back. Uncle Mark stamped his foot: “You little brat! What a daughter!” “I’ll pack my stuff and get out.” I turned toward my room. Grandma Evelyn stumbled, grabbing my hand, voice trembling: “My sweet girl… We’re family. You can’t do this…” I shook off her hand and looked at her coldly: “Family? I don’t have a family like you. Mom also cried, grabbing me: “You weren’t like this as a kid… Whatever you wanted, Grandma found a way to get it for you. Your dad and I didn’t have money back then, and your grandma did collect recyclables…” “But every time she brought something home, you’d hug it tight and never let go. You even called your friends to show off that Grandma bought you a new fairy tale book…” “Karen, don’t waste your breath,” Aunt Lisa scoffed from the side. “Look at her. Does she look like she’s listening?” Dad turned his face away, eyes red too. I noticed a relative filming with their phone, muttering: “Disrespectful, ungrateful. Let her company see this. How could someone like this get hired there?” I frowned, then smiled instead: “Go ahead, film all you want. Today I’ll show everyone exactly what kind of person Grandma really is!” I straightened my clothes and walked into my room, then dragged out box after box of stuff. Old clothes, old books, old toys—piled up on the floor. Everyone fell silent, stunned. Grandma Evelyn’s face went pale, voice trembling: “Sarah… What are you doing? These are all the things I gave you when you were little… Didn’t you say you’d keep them forever?” I kicked the pile: “Why would I keep this garbage?” “Wait a minute…” Aunt Lisa suddenly knelt down and picked up a faded child’s jacket. “This jacket…” Other relatives crowded around too, picking up items and examining them closely: “This doesn’t make sense…” “These things look like they’re…” Grandma Evelyn frantically tried to pull me away: “Sarah, stop making a scene…” Mom and Dad also frowned, staring at the pile of stuff on the floor. I pulled the used tablet out from under the coffee table. “Grandma,” I said, looking at her pale face, enunciating each word clearly. “You’ve hidden this for all these years, thinking I’d never find out, didn’t you? I was too young to realize before, but now I see right through you.” “So what if it’s a little old?” Dad was still arguing. “If you don’t want to be here, just leave. Stop with the drama!” I didn’t say anything. I just turned the tablet screen toward everyone. In that instant, the room went deathly quiet. Mom’s scolding expression froze on her face. Dad’s mouth hung open, no sound coming out. He just looked up suddenly, his gaze extremely complicated as he looked from Grandma to me, my face set. Everyone crowded around, and when they clearly saw the used tablet in my hand, everyone gasped.

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Six years after splitting up with my ex-boyfriend, Caleb, I ran into him at our college reunion. He publicly announced his engagement to Brianna, a younger alumna from his university. The entire private room was waiting for me—his ex-girlfriend—to cause a scene. But I didn’t argue or make a fuss. I even gave them a thousand-dollar gift. Caleb, however, lowered his voice and explained: “It’s been six years—haven’t you had enough drama? I’m just helping Brianna handle her parents; once this is over, I’ll marry you.” But later, when he found out I was already married with a child, he broke down in tears, begging desperately for me to take him back. Inside the private room, everyone stared in shock at my reaction to giving the gift. They all knew I’d been head over heels for Caleb and couldn’t stand seeing him with Brianna. Back then, even catching them having dinner together would send me into a jealous rage. But soon, the other alumni—eager for more drama—started egging us on. Some called me generous; others praised my “undying affection,” especially for shelling out a thousand bucks for an ex-boyfriend’s engagement. Egged on by their comments, Brianna smirked, a triumphant glint in her eyes. Caleb, though, frowned deeply, his expression unreadable. After a minute, he pulled me aside, his voice dropping. “Aubrey, it’s been six years—haven’t you had enough of this drama?” “Brianna and I are just going through the motions. Her parents have been pressuring her to get married…” “This is the last time I’ll help her. Once this is done, I’m all yours.” Hearing Caleb say this, I had to bite back a laugh. I’d lost track of how many times I’d heard those exact words. Back in the day, every time Caleb got close to Brianna, he’d lie to me—promising to cook for me or swearing he’d marry me someday. And I, like a fool, bought into it every single time. But now, I was done falling for his lies. Besides, we were broken up. Whether he married Brianna or not—what did it matter to me? Thinking this, I subtly pulled my hand away, my voice neutral. “Caleb, we’ve already broken up. You don’t owe me any explanations.” Caleb froze, then his expression instantly hardened. “Broken up? We’ve just been in a rough patch all these years, haven’t we?” I almost laughed. What kind of rough patch lasts six years? The truth was, six years ago, I’d already blocked and deleted him. I’d even sent him a breakup email and moved all my stuff out of our apartment. If he’d paid any attention at all, he would’ve noticed something was up. Plus, for the past six years, all our mutual friends had quietly accepted we were over. Only he was still living in denial. At that thought, I couldn’t be bothered to argue. I scoffed and turned to leave. If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve skipped the reunion altogether. I’d barely stepped out of the private room when Brianna and Caleb came rushing after me. Brianna hurried ahead, blocking my path with a fake concerned look. “Aubrey, the reunion’s going great—why leave so suddenly?” “Are you still upset about what happened six years ago? If it bothers you that much, I can apologize.” She deliberately emphasized “six years ago.” Caleb’s face immediately darkened. He instinctively pulled Brianna behind him, giving me a cold glare. “Aubrey, why are you being so petty? Can’t you let go of something so trivial after all this time?” I found that laughable. So in his eyes, my child was just some trivial “thing”? Six years ago, when I was newly pregnant and emotionally fragile, Caleb bailed on me just because Brianna said she was “feeling down and needed company.” Despite my pleas, he insisted on going to her. We got into a huge fight over the phone—he called me “immature” and “unsupportive.” In my distress, I started having severe abdominal pain and had to be rushed to the ER. I lost the baby. And when I needed him most, he was by Brianna’s side, comforting her and telling her not to “feel guilty.” I lay alone in the hospital for three days. By the time I was discharged, my heart was shattered. I calmly canceled all our wedding plans over the phone. After that, the physical and emotional trauma made me seriously ill. During all this, Caleb never visited me once. He was too busy doting on Brianna—even staying overnight to take care of “poor guilty” Brianna. She even posted cryptic Instagram stories, making me the joke of everyone we knew. That was the 99th time Caleb chose her over me. That’s when I finally gave up. I took an overseas job transfer and left the country. That was six years ago. Now Brianna was picking at those old scars, trying to get a rise out of me. Back then, I would’ve exploded. But today? She was going to be disappointed. Thinking this, I kept my voice steady. “There’s nothing to be upset about. Caleb and I ended things six years ago. Besides, I’m doing really well now.” But Brianna was sure I was seething. She put on a concerned face and explained, “Aubrey, don’t get the wrong idea. Caleb and I—our engagement’s just an act to please my parents.” “If it bothers you that much, I could still call off the engagement party…” Before she could finish, Caleb cut her off. “No, Brianna! We’ve already invited everyone—canceling last minute would humiliate you!” I almost laughed out loud. So Caleb cared about Brianna’s embarrassment if the engagement party got canceled? But he never once thought about mine? He knew my miscarriage and canceled wedding would leave me humiliated—yet he still chose her, leaving me to face the physical pain, emotional wreckage, and public shame all alone… Sensing my disgusted look, Caleb froze, his lips pressing into a tight line. He quickly softened his tone, explaining, “Aubrey, Brianna needs me. I can’t just walk away from her…” Brianna played the martyr too, dramatically sliding the engagement ring off her finger and offering it to me with fake sincerity. “Aubrey, this ring was always meant for you. Now that you’re back, I should return it to its rightful owner.” She was putting on a show of generosity, but really, she was flaunting her victory. Caleb glanced at the ring, a self-satisfied smirk tugging at his lips. “Aubrey, I had this custom-made for you, remember?” It was true he’d commissioned the ring for me—but I’d never worn it. The second Brianna mentioned liking it, he’d given her my custom ring without a second thought. And she’d worn it every day since. I scoffed and swatted the diamond ring into a nearby trash can. “I don’t want something another woman’s already worn.” With that, I turned to leave—no more energy for their games. Caleb’s expression flickered, and he lunged forward to grab my arm. “Aubrey, wait!” As he grabbed me, his hand brushed against something hard. He let go, staring in shock at the wedding ring glinting on my finger. Caleb froze, rooted to the spot. “A wedding ring? You… you’re married?”

I didn’t deny it—after all, I was married. At my silent confirmation, Caleb’s eyes went wide. He stared at me in disbelief, his intense gaze practically burning holes through me. Brianna paused, then sneered passive-aggressively, “Aubrey, that ring looks totally fake. You didn’t get scammed, did you?” “Besides, when did you even get married? Why didn’t we hear anything about it?” At her words, Caleb visibly relaxed, then smirked. “Aubrey, I knew it! Who else would ever want you besides me?” “Alright, I get it. You’re just doing this to get my attention, to make me marry you, right?” “I promise, after I help Brianna this time, we’ll get married. Deal?” I recognized this olive branch for what it was—Caleb’s typical arrogant attempt at reconciliation, like he was doing me a favor. He’d always been this way: whenever I got upset, he’d dangle false hope and empty promises to pacify me. For six years, I’d dreamed of marrying Caleb. Every birthday wish was for him to be my husband. And he knew it—so he used marriage as leverage, manipulating me into giving in, compromising, forgiving. Whenever he offered one of these “olive branches,” no matter how angry I was, I’d take it. I didn’t want to rock the boat. But now? We were broken up. Why should I care about his feelings anymore? I pretended not to hear him, not even bothering to glance his way. When I didn’t jump to respond like I used to—when I just looked completely indifferent, refusing to give him the satisfaction—Caleb’s frown turned to a scowl. He grabbed my arm, his voice sharp. “Aubrey, why are you ignoring me? I just agreed to marry you—what more do you want?” I kept my voice icy. “Do whatever you want, but don’t stop me from getting back to my husband and child. Move.” With that, I wrenched my arm free and walked away. Caleb panicked. “Aubrey, what are you talking about? Explain!” He started to chase me, but Brianna immediately clutched her head and crouched down, feigning pain as she grabbed his shirt. “Caleb, my head hurts so bad…” Caleb stopped short, rushing to Brianna’s side with a concerned look. “Brianna, what’s wrong? Did you have too much to drink earlier?” “Aubrey, Brianna’s really drunk—I’m taking her to a nearby hotel to rest…” As he spoke, Caleb shot me a guilty glance, like he was looking for my permission. I almost laughed. Was he actually explaining himself to me? Before he could finish, I cut him off sharply. “Go then. You don’t need my approval. Remember? We broke up years ago.” Caleb froze, clearly thrown by my reaction. Back in the day, finding out he’d be alone with Brianna in a room would’ve sent me into a jealous rage, begging him not to go. But that was when I loved him, when I cared. Now that I was over him? Who he hooked up with didn’t matter one bit. At my words, Caleb’s voice picked up, his breathing growing uneven. “Aubrey… Brianna and me, alone in a hotel… you’re not even worried?” I knew exactly what he wanted—for me to stop him, to beg like I used to, to lose all my pride. I’d done that before, only to be called controlling and petty, accused of having a “dirty mind.” Now that I was giving him exactly what he’d always claimed to want, why was he upset? I met Caleb’s eyes with a cold smile. “You’re my ex. Why would I care?” Caleb’s face turned pale. He opened his mouth to speak, but Brianna cut in, whining loudly about her headache. Caleb finally turned back to her, helping her stand while shooting me a bitter look. “You said it, Aubrey. Don’t come crying to me later.” “Come on, Brianna, I’m taking you to the hotel!” With that, Caleb stormed off, still fuming as he helped Brianna away. I knew his game—he was trying to get a rise out of me, just like old times. He’d act cozy with Brianna, hoping I’d get jealous and come crawling back. But this time, I turned and walked away without a second glance, heading straight to the hotel to meet my husband and daughter. I’d only gone to the reunion as an afterthought—the real reason for the trip was a family vacation with my husband and daughter. Honestly, I should thank Caleb. If he hadn’t pushed me away six years ago, I never would’ve met my husband Liam, or had our sweet daughter Lily. Liam and I met on the streets of Paris. I was hurt and heartbroken, wandering aimlessly when I accidentally bumped into him. I apologized immediately. When he heard my story, he didn’t just brush it off—he bought me a warm cup of milk tea and told me life was still worth living. We exchanged numbers, and he became my sounding board. Unlike Caleb, Liam always greeted me with a smile, gentle and thoughtful. With his support, I slowly pulled myself out of that dark place. Before long, we were dating, then engaged, then Lily came along. All these years, he and Lily have been my reason to keep going. Just thinking about seeing them soon put a spring in my step. But of course, fate had other plans—I ran into Caleb and Brianna the second I walked into the hotel. They were staying there too. Caleb froze when he saw me. “What are you doing here?” Brianna immediately started stirring the pot. “Caleb, Aubrey must’ve realized she messed up! She followed you here to apologize!” Caleb’s eyes lit up. A small smile tugged at his lips, but his tone stayed arrogant. “Aubrey, weren’t you so tough earlier? What, changed your mind already? Followed us all the way here?” “But since you’re clearly sorry, I might just forgive you—if you apologize first.” Caleb’s narcissism was honestly revolting. I scoffed. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m just staying here.” Caleb snorted, clearly not buying it. “This is a couples’ resort. You’re staying here alone? Who are you trying to kid?” I was about to answer when the door behind me opened. Liam stepped out, giving me a warm smile. “Hey honey, you’re back.”

“What? Honey? He called you honey?!” Caleb froze, his voice shaking. When he spotted the matching wedding ring on Liam’s finger, his face went ashen. “A wedding ring… Aubrey, you actually got married?!” But just as quickly, Caleb’s cold arrogance returned. He looked Liam up and down with disdain. “You’re Aubrey’s husband? You don’t look like much.” “So what if you’re married? How long have you even been together? Eighteen years of history with Aubrey—you can’t compete with that.” “Aubrey’s always loved me most. She’s just using you to pass the time.” “She left the country because we were fighting. She picked you on a rebound. You’re just the consolation prize.” “Why else would she come back? It’s obviously for me.” “Mark my words—she’ll come back to me eventually.” “I’d leave now if I were you. Save yourself the embarrassment when she dumps you.” I was at a loss for words—Caleb was truly repulsive. Liam looked at him like he was some kind of idiot. Even though he was clearly angry, he stayed calm and collected, the epitome of class. He walked over, wrapped an arm around my shoulders possessively, and smiled politely at Caleb. “Aubrey and you are history. I’m her husband now.” “And you’re just her ex. Nothing to worry about.” Liam delivered the cutting remark in the calmest tone possible. Caleb’s face turned crimson with rage. He raised his hand to hit Liam. “You’re just a placeholder! Aubrey’s always loved me most—who do you think you are?” Just as Caleb’s hand was about to connect with Liam’s face, I stepped in front of my husband and backhanded Caleb hard. “That’s enough, Caleb!” After hitting him, I immediately turned to Liam. “Honey, are you okay? Did he hurt you?” Caleb clutched his stinging cheek, staring at me in shock. When he saw me fussing over Liam instead of him, his eyes filled with tears of self-pity. “Aubrey, you hit me? You actually hit me for him?” “I waited for you all these years, and this is how you repay me? Do you even care what I’ve been through?” “I checked my phone every day, waiting for you to reach out! I couldn’t sleep at night, I missed you so much! And now you’re back, but you’re defending him?” “You promised you’d love me forever! What happened to that?” I rolled my eyes internally. The victim act was getting old. So now he knew what it felt like to be left waiting? All those nights I sat up until dawn, waiting for him to come home—only to find him with Brianna? Caleb misread my silence as doubt. His eyes lit up, and he grabbed my free hand. “Aubrey, I knew it! You’re just stringing him along—you still love me!” “We have years of history together. You can’t just throw that away.” “Here’s the deal: divorce him, and I’ll marry you. I’ll even overlook this… mistake with him.” “After we get married, we can have kids. Remember how much you always wanted children?” Kids? He had the nerve to mention kids? If he hadn’t been so cruel back then, I never would’ve lost our baby. And now he wanted to start a family? Please. Caleb took my silence for agreement. A grin spread across his face, his voice eager. “Aubrey, come back to me. We’ll have a baby, and be a happy little family…” I cut him off sharply before he could finish. “Not interested.” Caleb looked stunned. “Why not?” he pressed. I sneered, emphasizing each word. “Simple. I already have a daughter.” Caleb froze, then shook his head frantically. “No, that’s not possible. You loved me—how could you…” Before he could finish, a little girl came running out of the room and into my arms. “Mommy! Why aren’t you and Daddy coming in? I’ve been waiting forever!”

Caleb’s face went white as a sheet. “This kid… is she…” He seemed to realize, then immediately rejected the thought. “No, that can’t be! She’s not yours!” “Aubrey, this is all some kind of trick, right?” “You told me I was the only man you’d ever marry! How could you do this—marry someone else and have a kid?” Caleb stared at me, begging for denial. But I just stared back coldly. “Caleb, the second you chose Brianna over me, you lost any chance of being my husband.” Brianna, who’d been quiet, suddenly piped up with a fake smile. “Aubrey, your daughter’s already so big. When did you have her? Before you left the country?” It was obviously a lie, but Caleb ate it up. His face turned red with anger. “Aubrey, you two were together this whole time? Had a kid together?” “I knew it! That’s why you left without a word—because of *him*!” “How could you do this to me?” Hearing him insult my family made my blood boil. “This is my husband and daughter. Show some respect.” That only made him angrier. “Am I wrong? He’s just some homewrecker!” I was ready to snap, but Lily beat me to it. She wriggled out of my arms and ran at Caleb, biting his hand and hitting him. “Don’t talk about my daddy like that! He’s not a bad guy!” “I hate you! Go away!” Caleb shoved Lily to the ground, enraged. “You little brat!” He raised his hand to hit her, but I tackled him away and scooped her up. “Don’t you dare touch my daughter! You’ve crossed the line!” Caleb stumbled back, hitting his elbow on the wall hard enough to draw blood. “That’s the second time you’ve attacked me for them!” he snarled. Brianna helped him up, shooting me a dirty look. “Aubrey, your kid started it! Why aren’t you punishing her instead of hitting Caleb?” “Look at him—he’s bleeding! You should be ashamed!” Brianna’s words pushed Caleb over the edge. His eyes went bloodshot as he pointed at us. “You did this on purpose! I’m calling the cops!” He pulled out his phone, hands shaking. The police showed up fast. Caleb immediately waved his injured hand at them, practically hysterical. “Officer, they attacked me on purpose! You have to arrest them!” Caleb sobbed as he twisted the story, claiming our whole family had ganged up on him. A crowd gathered quickly, whispering and staring as they listened to his act. I could feel their judgmental eyes on us. “How could anyone hit a kid like that!” “Pushing a little girl—disgraceful!” “There’s probably more to the story…” Caleb ate up the attention, sneering at me quietly. “You made me do this, Aubrey. But if you apologize and leave him, I’ll tell the cops it was all a misunderstanding…” Manipulating me, even now? I ignored him. Caleb huffed and crossed his arms, clearly enjoying watching me squirm. The officers, having heard his side, turned to me for my version. “Ms. Aubrey, Mr. Caleb claims you assaulted him. Is that accurate?” “No. Because Liam and I are legally married.” I pulled out our marriage certificate and handed it over. Caleb froze when he saw it, then scoffed. “That could be faked! Anyone can photoshop these things now!” But the officer just shook his head. “I’m sorry, sir, but this certificate checks out. They are legally married. Now you need to explain why you pushed their child.”

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I grew up poor, financing college with student loans, while my roommate was a rich kid who’d never worked a day in his life. But from day one of freshman year, he was dead set on being my friend. He took me out, showed me a good time, and even introduced me to his inner circle—including Scarlett. Then Brandon flipped when Scarlett and I actually started seeing each other. He intentionally knocked over my meal plan tray, then claimed I’d burned him and demanded compensation. After I gave him every cent I had, he spread lies that I was a thief—specifically, that I’d stolen his Louis Vuitton wallet. The school put me on academic probation, classmates froze me out, and even Scarlett wanted out. She called me a loser with delusions of grandeur, saying I was way out of my league. I couldn’t fight back. Ostracized and broken, I dropped out and tried to drown myself when my mind finally gave out. But when I opened my eyes, I was back to the day Brandon first introduced me to Scarlett.

“Scarlett, meet Alex—my roommate and closest friend on campus. Not bad-looking, right?” The party’s loud music and Brandon’s playful nudge jolted me back to reality. This was it—the exact moment I’d first met Scarlett. She’d never given me the time of day before, and tonight was no different. She didn’t spare me a glance, just kept sipping her drink like I wasn’t even there. Brandon slung an arm around my shoulders, grinning. “What do you think of Scarlett, Alex?” “Scarlett’s family owns half the real estate downtown—total old money.” I ducked my head, forcing a bashful smile and playing the part of the flustered freshman. “She’s cool. Uh, I need to hit the restroom.” Brandon was obviously into Scarlett, so why was he pushing her at me? And Scarlett—she was just as bad, stringing me along even though she couldn’t stand me. I was just a pawn in their messed-up game. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom and took off my dorky glasses. This time, I wasn’t gonna be their toy. Who says the underdog can’t come out on top? I grabbed my bag and dipped without saying goodbye. Sure enough, I ran into Scarlett right by the door. She was alone on a bench outside, hunched over something in her lap. In my past life, I’d obsessed werewolf stories, so I’d memorized every detail of her life from Brandon’s gossip. Today was her birthday—and the anniversary of her mother’s death. Last time, everyone egged me on to toast Scarlett, but she laughed at me for confusing brandy with whiskey, leaving me standing there like a fool. I ducked my head and pulled a carton of strawberry milk from my bag. It was supposed to be my breakfast, but now it would have to do. “Here, drink this. All that alcohol can’t be good for you.” Scarlett shot me a icy look. “I don’t need your sympathy.” I didn’t rise to it. I just set it down. “If you get sick, your mom wouldn’t want that.” With that, I got up and left, ignoring the way she was staring at me. Rich kids like her and Brandon never really saw me. I was just background noise. But this time, I wasn’t just going to make her notice me. I’d make her fall for me, and then I’d sit back and watch her and Brandon tear each other apart. When Brandon got back, he bitched about me ditching without a word. I kissed up like always, agreeing with everything he said. If he skipped class, I’d sign him in. If he was too lazy to grab food, I’d bring it to him. He even whined the dorm washers were gross, so I hand-washed his clothes—every single piece. My other roommates talked trash behind my back, calling me a brown-noser trying to leech off rich kids. What’s the point, they’d say? They won’t throw you a bone. I pretended not to hear, playing the part of Brandon’s loyal gofer. Every day, besides running his errands, I had to listen to his bragging. He’d moan the dining hall food was garbage, bragging his dad should just buy the campus food service already. Sometimes Scarlett would stop by, bringing him gifts, snacks, all kinds of stuff. Once in a while, she’d even bring something for me too. And to keep up the act, whenever I brought Brandon food, I’d make sure to bring some for her too.

Brandon puffed out his chest. “Scarlett’s a total babe, right? All the guys want her. You into her?” I quickly shook my head, acting shy. “Who am I to even think about someone like her? I bet Scarlett only has eyes for you.” That went straight to Brandon’s head. He grinned, looking pleased with himself. Brandon knew Scarlett was into him, of course, but he wasn’t ready to settle down yet. Homecoming was coming up, and he was supposed to carry the banner—until he tripped over his stupid cape and twisted his ankle. Some athletic girl would end up helping him to the nurse’s office. And that day, Scarlett—jealous as hell—would end up confessing to me instead. But on Homecoming day, I made sure I twisted my ankle before he could. I gritted my teeth through the pain, limping as I brought him his hair gel and a change of clothes. Brandon didn’t bat an eye, just bitched about me being late. “What took you so long to grab a few things? Your ankle hurts? Man up! We can’t be late for the parade!” I hung my head, apologizing like I always did—acting all meek and sorry. That’s when the athletic girl came over and asked, “Hey, you okay? Want me to take you to the nurse’s office?” I felt awkward, waving her off. “No, I’m good.” But then I almost fell over. She steadied me anyway, helping me walk to the nurse’s office. Suddenly, I felt this icy stare on me. I looked up and there was Scarlett. Brandon, standing next to me, called out all excited, “Scarlett! Check out my outfit today!” Scarlett didn’t answer. She just looked at me and said, “I’ll take him.” Brandon’s face dropped. “Scarlett! I’m supposed to carry the banner into the stadium! Where are you going?” I jumped in quickly. “You don’t have to, Scarlett. This girl can take me. Don’t keep Brandon waiting.” At the nurse’s office, the nurse said my injury was pretty bad and told me to take it easy for a while. I thanked the girl who helped me—turns out her name was Chloe. Chloe was about to leave, but then she turned around at the door. “Hey, let’s swap numbers. If you need anything, just text me.” I noticed her ears were a little pink, and I was confused. Not long after I got to the nurse’s office, word came that Brandon had taken a fall. Scarlett brought him in herself. He had on his cape, looking all princely, with Scarlett by his side like some royal princess. Chloe came back with an ice pack, looking kinda shocked when she saw them. Brandon was wincing in pain. The nurse said he needed a cold compress first. He pointed at Chloe without hesitating, telling her to give him the ice pack. I kept my voice down like always. “Let Brandon use it first. I’ll get another one later.” Chloe looked annoyed but handed it over. “I’ll take you back to your dorm first, then I’ll grab you a new one.” “Alex, can’t you ask for help yourself? Do you need someone to wait on you hand and foot?” Scarlett’s face was still cold, her words sharp and unfriendly. But then she actually took the ice pack and put it on my swollen ankle herself. Brandon’s eyes went wide. “Scarlett! I haven’t even used it yet! How could you give it to him?” Scarlett ignored him, looking up at me instead. “Alex, don’t you like me? Let’s date.” I feigned surprise to hide the coldness in my eyes. Scarlett wouldn’t fall for me that easily. She was probably just trying to get back at Brandon. And I didn’t say yes right away. I stammered nervously, “I—I never said I liked you.” I left quickly, heading back to the dorm where Brandon’s attitude had completely flipped. He mocked, “Didn’t know you actually managed to score with Scarlett. You’ve got some nerve, huh? Dating her—you’re way out of your league.” I kept my head down and mumbled, “No, I’m not.” Brandon got even nastier. “Who are you kidding? There’s no way you don’t like Scarlett. I’ve seen your type before.” “All of you trying to climb the social ladder, like you even belong there. Even if Scarlett likes you, her family would never accept someone like you!” But this wasn’t enough. I wanted more than just her attention.

Scarlett actually started acting like she was chasing me. She’d walk me to class in the mornings, eat lunch with me, and ask me to walk with her in the evenings. And because of my foot injury, I stopped running Brandon’s errands. No one in the dorm talked to either of us anymore, so he moved off-campus to an apartment. Slowly, everyone started to think I was actually falling for Scarlett. I’d blush when I saw her, give her little handmade gifts, and even remember to bring her snacks after my part-time shifts. I’d text her good morning and good night, sharing little things from my day—whether she replied or not. I’d swapped my dorky glasses for contacts, fixed my hair, and even though my clothes were simple, I looked clean and put-together in the mirror. Slowly, I could feel Scarlett looking at me differently. She’d get close on purpose to make me blush, and on rainy days, her hand would brush mine under the umbrella. We were like a real couple. Until the night Brandon got wasted. He barged into the dorm and knocked over a bowl of discounted hot soup I’d bought. I dodged quick, but he ended up burning his own wrist. He shook it off right away, but there was still a red mark. He gritted his teeth, glaring at me. “Alex, I treated you like a friend, and you went after Scarlett? Have you got no decency?” I kept my innocent look. “Went after? Were you two an item or something?” Brandon clammed up. He pointed at me, spitting threats. “Just you wait. You really think Scarlett actually likes you? She’s just playing with you.” Little did he know I was playing with her too. I’d already gotten what I wanted—breaking up wouldn’t matter. Scarlett showed up to chew me out, just like I knew she would. Like last time, she dragged me into a private room with all her friends. Scarlett told me to apologize. “Be reasonable, Alex. Brandon’s never been hurt a day in his life. Now you burned him.” Brandon crossed his arms, sneering. “Apologize? I wouldn’t dream of it. He’s your boyfriend now, Scarlett.” Scarlett looked helpless, teasing him. “Are you really jealous? You’re the one who introduced us, remember?” Brandon pointed at a row of hard liquor bottles. “Here’s the deal—if you’re really sorry, drink all these and I’ll forgive you.” Scarlett didn’t object. She even picked up a glass and handed it to me. “The whole row’s too much. Just one glass.” I took the glass, then dumped the liquor on the floor with a flick of my wrist. “I’m not drinking a drop.” Last time, no matter how much I explained, all I got was mocked. They didn’t care about the truth—they just wanted to see me humiliated. I was the ugly duckling, the loser—basically, not in their league. They made me drink the whole row of shots. I couldn’t keep it down and threw up right there in front of everyone. Brandon jumped back, pinching his nose, while Scarlett looked grossed out and had someone kick me out. This time, after dumping the drink, I set the glass back on the table. The glass clinked as I put it down. I only explained once: “You got burned because you knocked over my soup on purpose. You did this to yourself.” Brandon flipped out, pointing and yelling. “Who did this to himself?! You’re usually such a wimp—now you’re finally showing your true colors? I always knew you were a two-faced jerk!” “I’m warning you—if you don’t drink all these shots and apologize today, I’ll get you kicked out tomorrow!” Scarlett frowned, looking at me like I was being unreasonable. “Alex, did you forget what I said? It’s just an apology. Why make this so hard?” I gave a small, mocking smile. “I didn’t do anything wrong, so I’m not apologizing.” Scarlett hadn’t expected me to be so stubborn. She grabbed my wrist, staring hard at me. “What if I *make* you apologize to him?” I gritted my teeth and pulled my hand away. “Then we’re done.”

Scarlett’s face dropped instantly. Brandon jumped in. “Alex, you think you’re hot stuff? Scarlett was just messing with you. If anyone’s ending this, it’s her!” But Scarlett stepped closer, moving in on me. “Break up with me? You don’t get to decide that.” “Whether I get to decide isn’t up to you.” I turned and walked out without looking back. Inside the room, everyone tried to smooth things over. “He’s just some small-town kid, Scarlett. It was just a fling—don’t sweat it.” “He’s just got a temper, that’s all. Don’t worry, he’ll be begging you to take him back in three days.” Brandon was in a better mood, offering Scarlett a drink. “You’re not really mad, are you? Alex just doesn’t know when to quit.” Scarlett smashed her glass. The loud crash shut everyone up. After a second, she spoke slowly. “It’s fine. Keep drinking.” But that night, she checked her phone a million times, waiting for my goodnight text that never came. Brandon wasn’t bluffing—he really was gonna get me expelled. And sure enough, it happened. I skipped class, hiding behind my bed curtains, and watched Brandon—who should’ve been in class—sneak into the dorm. He had that brand-new LV wallet in his hand. I pulled out my phone and recorded him putting the wallet in my locker. At noon, Brandon showed up with a group and cornered me right in the classroom. He looked all smug. “Alex, my wallet’s gone. You’re always hanging around me—did you take it?” The classroom was packed, even people in the doorway. I stayed calm. “Got any proof?” Brandon sneered. “Proof? C’mon—you’re the poorest guy here. You couldn’t resist something nice, could you?” “If you’d asked, I might’ve given it to you. But you just had to steal it. What kind of lowlife does that?” People started whispering. A bunch of students pulled out their phones to record. Theft’s a huge deal anywhere, especially on a college campus! “Fine, it’s just a wallet. I’ll pay for it.” Scarlett’s voice came from the doorway. The crowd parted for her. Looked like she was here to back me up. But I didn’t do anything. Why should I let them slander me? I stood my ground. “Brandon, you got any proof?” Scarlett frowned at me. “Alex, don’t cause a scene. Otherwise I can’t help you.” Brandon lost it. “Scarlett, you’re actually taking his side?!” “A broke loser like him—what makes him worth your time? You wouldn’t even know him if it weren’t for me!” She wasn’t taking my side. She didn’t believe me either—just trying to save face. Brandon ignored her and brought up his “evidence.” “I’m telling you—I found the wallet in his locker!” His friends jumped in. “We saw it with our own eyes in his locker.” “Alex, what do you have to say for yourself?!” “Someone who steals doesn’t belong here! You should get kicked out!” Weird, judgmental stares stabbed at me. Brandon lifted his chin, walked up, and whispered, “You’re not even in my league to compete.” But I smiled. I hooked my phone up to the classroom projector. “Let’s show everyone how that wallet ended up in my locker then.”

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My boyfriend had a low sperm count. So when he found an abandoned baby on the roadside, he begged me to give up my study abroad plans and adopt him. I agreed. We married. For thirty years, I poured my life into raising that child as my own. Then, the year our son finally settled into his own life, I was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Faced with astronomical medical bills, my husband and son sat me down. The message was clear: I should give up. “It’s terminal. Why waste the money?” “Mom, Dad’s right. I have a future to think about. Don’t be selfish.” After I died, my husband married his first love in a joyous ceremony. Our son even hugged his father’s first love and called her Mom. That was when I learned the truth: our “abandoned” son was, in fact, my husband’s child with his first love all along. When I opened my eyes, I was back on the day my boyfriend held out a baby, asking if we could keep him. I glanced at him, then slammed the door shut. “Take him to an orphanage.” Julian panicked. “How can you say that?!” I looked at Julian’s self-righteous expression and gave a bitter laugh. “Why not? I know nothing about raising a child!” Julian’s brows furrowed. “Serena, this is a life. Look how pitiful he is. We’re getting married soon anyway, wouldn’t it be nice to raise a child together ahead of time?” Julian spoke with a sincerity that I’d heard countless times in my previous life. Now, it sounded utterly repulsive, but back then, I actually believed him. My parents wanted me to study abroad and pursue my dreams, but for Julian and this child, I tore up my plane ticket. From that moment on, a long journey of sacrifice began. In the end, after I died, my husband inherited my family’s enormous wealth and lived a blissful life with his mistress and their illegitimate child. “He is indeed a life, and he’s pitiful. That’s why he should be sent to an orphanage, where professional caregivers can look after him.” “But…” Julian paused. “My mom can help you!” I scoffed internally. Help? In my last life, his mom did help for a few days. But soon after, she had a “stroke” and became paralyzed. I ended up juggling childcare and caring for my “mother-in-law.” It wasn’t until she died and I looked through her medical records that I realized she was never paralyzed! She just wanted to lie around and be waited on hand and foot! I took a deep breath. “Julian, I think I need to reconsider our relationship. You know my parents have always wanted me to study overseas.” With that, I started to close the door. Julian saw this and wedged his foot in the door, his face etched with anxiety, about to say something else. Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside. A young man ran over. “Julian! Quick, the company needs you for something!” Mark glanced at me, then at the bundle in Julian’s arms, his expression subtle. I saw it and sneered inwardly. Always the same trick. Julian had clearly planned this, using Mark as his leverage, probably hoping I’d soften and offer to take the baby while he went to work. Then he could smoothly offload the child into my home and easily get out of it. This time, I didn’t say a word. I just watched him calmly, my hands clasped behind my back, a clear gesture of refusal. Mark was still urging him. Julian finally made up his mind, abruptly turning to me, his face pleading. He shoved the swaddled baby into my arms. “Serena! Please! I’ll come back and help you with him as soon as I’m done!” The unexpected weight, carrying the faint scent of baby powder, crashed into my arms. The next second, Julian was gone, vanished from sight. The familiar yet alien sensation sent a shiver through me. Countless fragmented memories surged forward. Rushing him to the hospital late at night when he had a fever, my tears of joy when he first called me “Mom.” And then, Julian snatching away my life-saving medicine, while Leo coldly said, “Mom, stop fighting it. Just go peacefully. You’ve wasted my parents’ lives, don’t waste my son’s now.” I had given up so many opportunities, staying home to care for him. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this child grew up sucking the very lifeblood out of me. In the end, he became an ungrateful wretch. I lowered my gaze to the child, gritted my teeth, and made a decision.

The next morning, urgent knocking woke me up. My parents were startled awake too. It was Julian at the door, as expected. “Good morning.” “Julian, so early?” Even though Serena’s Mom was a bit displeased with Julian, they were still long-time neighbors, so she greeted him warmly. “Have you had breakfast? Come in, join us!” The more welcoming they were, the more uncomfortable Julian seemed. He had no appetite, his mind solely on his child. He managed a forced smile. “No, thank you. I’ve eaten. I came to see Serena… and the baby.” He spoke, his gaze sweeping past my parents to me. “Baby?” Serena’s Mom was genuinely confused this time. “Julian, what baby are you talking about? What baby?” Julian froze, his voice rising in urgency. “The little boy I brought yesterday! I gave him to Serena!” I sipped my coffee, not even lifting my eyelids. Seeing my nonchalance, Julian lunged forward, trying to grab my arm. “Serena! Where’s the baby?!” His actions were rough, and Serena’s Dad’s face immediately darkened. “Talk, don’t touch!” “I really did give her a baby!” Julian’s voice trembled with desperation. He turned to me, almost shouting, “Serena, where is the baby?!” I chuckled softly. “You’re so anxious. Could it be… the baby is yours?” The living room fell silent instantly. Julian’s expression stiffened. “What are you talking about? I found him by the roadside…” “So, I put him back on the roadside.” “Really?” I stood up, calmly. “Since he was found, of course, I sent him back to where he belongs.” Julian’s pupils contracted sharply. “Where did you send him?” “The roadside,” I said lightly. “Didn’t you pick him up from the roadside? I put him back there. What if his parents, who abandoned him, had a change of heart and came back to look for him?” “What did you say?!” Julian suddenly grabbed my wrist, his grip incredibly tight, making my bones creak. “Serena! Don’t joke with me!” Serena’s Dad immediately stepped forward, pulling at him. “Julian! Let go!” I yanked my hand free, rubbing my reddened wrist. “I don’t have time to joke with you. I still need to pack for my study abroad trip!” “Study abroad?” Julian looked bewildered. “How can you go abroad? Who will take care of the baby if you leave?” Serena’s Mom was utterly confused. “What baby? What are you two talking about? And Serena’s classes overseas start next month. We’ve had this planned for ages.” Julian took a deep breath, forcing a smile at Serena’s Mom. “I’ll explain this to you later.” He turned and grabbed my arm again, his voice pleading. “Serena, just tell me where the baby is. That’s a life!” I looked at his self-righteous, scheming face, my blood boiling. Just as I was about to raise my hand to slap him…

“Shit!” Rachel from across the street suddenly poked her head out, her face frantic. “They found an abandoned baby in our community garden this morning! His little face was burning red, and the ambulance just took him away. Poor thing!” Julian’s face drained of color. He stared at me, his eyes bloodshot. “You really threw him away?” I, too, was stunned by Rachel’s words. I had clearly left the baby at Chloe’s doorstep. How did he end up in the community garden? But before I could even process it, Julian violently grabbed me and dragged me outside. “Julian! What are you doing?!” Serena’s Dad roared. Julian ignored him completely. “To the hospital! Now!” Serena’s Mom tried to stop him but was roughly shoved aside by Julian. I was half-dragged, half-shoved into a taxi. Julian, trembling, yelled for the driver to take us to the Children’s Hospital. In the car, he kept mumbling, “He’ll be okay, he’ll be okay.” I watched his distraught state with cold eyes. In my past life, when I was curled in bed, shaking with fever and pain, begging him to take me to the hospital, he had simply looked at me and said, “Drink some hot water. You’ll be fine.” Now, for his child, he was frantic with worry. How ironic. It truly is easy to be indifferent until the pain hits you directly. At the hospital’s emergency room, Julian frantically questioned the nurses until he found the baby’s whereabouts. He dragged me, stumbling, towards the hospital room. Just as we reached the door, we heard a woman’s sobs. Pushing the door open, we saw Chloe holding the infant, whose face was flushed and breathing labored. She pressed her cheek against his forehead, tears streaming down her face. “Don’t be scared, baby, don’t be scared.” Her voice was choked with emotion. Anyone could see how worried she was about this child. Julian rushed in, his eyes instantly red. He whirled around, glaring at me, his gaze overflowing with resentment. “Serena! Are you happy now?! The baby’s burning up, pneumonia, convulsions, he almost…” His voice was hoarse. “He’s so young, how could you be so cruel?!” I looked at the fragile little life, my heart completely unmoved. In my past life, they had drained my youth and health, climbing higher and higher using my family’s resources. In the end, they watched me draw my last breath with cold indifference. His life or death held no meaning for me. “Cruel?” My gaze shifted to Chloe. “Julian, yesterday I personally placed this child at Chloe’s doorstep and even left a note. So… how is it that…” I paused, my tone laced with suspicion. “This child was left out in the cold all night, only to be found in the community garden this morning?” Chloe looked at me, her eyes wide with shock. “Serena, what are you talking about? This is the first time I’ve seen this poor child today! I’m a nurse here, transferred to pediatrics to help out. I saw this baby was so sick and unattended, so I…” She started crying again. “If… if you really left this child at my door, how could I possibly leave him outside all night?” “If I had seen this child first, I would have taken good care of him!” “The three of us grew up together. You know what kind of person I am!” I frowned at her words. I used to think Chloe was kind and innocent, which is why, after I gave up my spot at a prestigious overseas university, I had my dad pull strings to give it to her. Watching my best friend fulfill the dreams I couldn’t, I did it willingly. I just never imagined that Chloe would transform into my son’s biological mother. And Julian’s ‘moonlight goddess.’ Those years I spent sick in bed, I finally realized how foolish I had been. I watched with cold eyes. Julian watched the tears track down Chloe’s face, his own expression flickering with something complex and pained. He took a deep breath, his gaze hardening as he stepped decisively between Chloe, the baby, and me. “That’s enough, Chloe. I believe you.” Then, he pulled a document from his bag. He turned it slowly, forcing the bold, black letters of the header into my line of sight. ADOPTION CERTIFICATE. And below it, unmistakable, was my signature.

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For the eighth time, I found Keith Hayes in bed with another woman. This time, I didn’t argue. Instead, I just handed my jacket to the new girl, my voice flat. “Use the back exit.” She gave me one terrified look before scrambling out the door, clutching the jacket like a shield. Keith, propped against the headboard, watched me, a cigarette already lit. “Leave her alone, Amelia. She’s different. Actually fragile. It’s her birthday tonight, so I’ll be staying with her. Don’t wait up.” I nodded, a cold laugh catching in my throat. Because Keith didn’t know yet. His new mistress had HIV. Used condoms littered the floor. The air was thick with a stale, familiar scent. I put on a mask, opened the window wide, and did not look at him again. He blew a lazy smoke ring, watching my movements with idle curiosity. “Change of heart? Not filing for divorce today? Finally learned how the world works?” “Yes,” my voice was soft. “I’ve learned.” Keith scoffed. “Took you long enough.” He stretched, the picture of indolence, and began pulling on his clothes. “In our circles, the marriage contract is just the opening act. Once the performance is over, everyone finds their own…entertainment. It’s better you accept it. Saves us the tedious drama” I turned, silently watching him button his shirt. “You really aren’t coming back tonight?” I asked. “Nope.” He buckled his belt, glancing at me. “Why? Is today some special occasion?” I shook my head. “Just asking.” “Oh, right,” he paused at the doorway. “We’re running low on condoms. Could you pick some up when you get a chance?” “Sure.” The door clicked shut. I stood by the window a moment longer, watching his headlights cut through the night, disappearing at the end of the tree-lined drive. Then I picked up my phone and dialed a number. “He’s gone,” I said. “You can start cleaning now.” Five minutes later, three people in full hazmat suits entered the room. They efficiently gathered the scattered condoms, wiped down every surface with a special disinfectant, and stripped all the bedding, sealing it in airtight bags. The lead woman, a middle-aged professional, nodded to me. “Mrs. Hayes, it’s all handled. Rest assured, there will be no risk of infection left behind.” “Thank you,” I said. “Especially this bedroom, make sure it’s thoroughly disinfected.” “Understood.” I saw the wedding photo on the wall, defaced with a lipstick ‘X’ by one of his lovers. His affairs had cost me two pregnancies, leaving me unable to conceive again. I calmly closed the bedroom door, turned, and walked downstairs. On the living room coffee table sat a cake box. I picked up the complimentary candle, stuck it into the cake, and lit it. Keith only remembered that today was his mistress’s birthday. He forgot it was mine too. The flame danced. I stared at it for a long time, then blew it out. I had planned to ask for a divorce, but now, I didn’t want to. I wanted all his assets, all his power.

For five consecutive days, Keith didn’t come home. But his mistress, as if given silent permission, messaged and sent videos to me right on schedule. “He said I’m the kind of person he really wants.” “He said he’s been tired of a homebody like you for ages.” “He’s not coming back again tonight. Aren’t you lonely sleeping alone?” I didn’t reply to a single one. I just took my medication on time, had my regular check-ups, slept soundly, and instructed my assistant to categorize and archive all her screenshots. On the sixth night, Keith called me. I was at the hospital then, having just finished a series of tests, sitting on a bench in the hallway, waiting for the results. His voice on the phone was hoarse, tinged with the breathlessness of overindulgence. “Amelia,” he called my name. “Someone’s been snapping pictures of Chloe and me lately. There’s an interview tomorrow; I need you to come to the office and help her clear things up.” I was silent for two seconds. “Clear what up?” “Just say it was all a misunderstanding, that she’s just a student I’m sponsoring, and you were there too,” he paused. “You know, she’s young; she can’t handle all this public scrutiny.” I looked down at the needle marks on the back of my hand that hadn’t quite faded. “Okay,” I said. A clear sigh of relief came from the other end. “You’re always so understanding,” his tone softened. “How about I come home tonight and spend some time with you? It’s been a while since we…” “I’m not really available these past couple of days,” I cut him off, lowering my gaze. “My period.” The phone line went quiet for a moment. “…Alright.” He sounded a bit annoyed but quickly returned to his coaxing tone. “Well, get some sleep then, and don’t overthink things.” After hanging up, I looked at the darkened screen and suddenly felt like laughing. He thought I was saving myself for him. He had no idea I simply found him disgusting. The next day’s interview was scheduled in the lobby of the Hayes Corp. building. The media turned out in full force, a flurry of cameras and microphones aimed at us, the “model couple.” I linked my arm through Keith’s, my makeup flawless, my smile gentle and poised. When asked about the rumors, he instinctively glanced at me. I took the microphone from him. “This has all been a misunderstanding,” I said, my smile practiced and calm. “Ms. Davis is a student my husband sponsors. She’s been unwell, and he’s shown her appropriate kindness. A few photos were taken out of context and given a rather dramatic interpretation. I trust we can all now put this to rest.” Someone from the crowd pressed on, “Mrs. Hayes, are you truly not bothered at all?” I turned my head to look at Keith, my eyes full of devotion and trust. “Of course, I trust him.” At that moment, his grip on my wrist noticeably tightened. But halfway through the interview, his phone buzzed with a message. Keith’s face changed almost instantly. He stood up, not even sparing me a glance. “My apologies, something urgent just came up.” He said this to the host and was already turning to leave. I remained seated, still holding the microphone. The media erupted in a stir. Someone loudly asked, “Mr. Hayes, is it about Ms. Davis? We heard she was hospitalized?” His steps faltered for a second, then he walked out without looking back. I sat there alone, in the brightest spotlight, cleaning up his mess, continuing to play the part of the devoted wife. Afterward, Ryan, my assistant, cautiously asked, “Mrs. Hayes, are you alright?” I stood up, straightened my dress, and smiled. “I’m perfectly fine.” And I truly was. Because I knew he had just pushed me one step closer to the finish line. That night, he didn’t come home. He only sent me a message: “Her fever’s really high. I’m at the hospital. You go to sleep first.” I replied with a single word: “Okay.” Then, I thought for a moment and sent another message: “My mom isn’t feeling too well. I need to go back to my parents’ place tomorrow for about a month.” “Want me to come with you?” “It’s nothing serious, I can handle it.” “Okay.” I sent the message, set my phone aside with a quiet exhale, and turned my attention to the newly arrived report on my desk. Its conclusion was stark: Incubation period complete. The virus is now transmissible.

The next morning, I packed my bags and left the mansion. As the car drove out of the tree-lined driveway, I glanced in the rearview mirror at the house I’d lived in for four years. The morning mist hadn’t lifted yet, and a dull, gray light enveloped the entire garden. The garden was filled with red roses. He’d had them flown in from France years ago, simply because I’d once said I liked them. The golden boy of the city’s elite social scene, a true scion of wealth, had spent months planting those nine hundred and ninety-nine roses with me, by hand. Back then, to achieve maximum aesthetic appeal, he’d even stayed up late for nine nights, revising the rose layout himself. I used to tease him. “You’re such a perfectionist, even worse than me!” He’d bent down and kissed my forehead. “That’s because this is our home.” Our home. I looked away, leaned back into the seat, and closed my eyes. Now, his parade of mistresses never ended, and I was the only one left tending to the roses. Our home had become their hotel. I didn’t go to my parents’ place. Instead, I went directly to a private retreat in the suburbs. The doctor was already waiting for me. “According to current data, you show no signs of infection,” he said, flipping through reports. “But for absolute safety, it’s best if you avoid close contact with anyone for the next month.” “I understand,” I nodded. “As for Mr. Hayes…” he paused, not finishing his sentence. “Just keep observing him,” I finished for him. “Any results, let me know immediately.” I moved into a small house at the very back of the retreat. My daily life was simple and routine: follow-ups, medication, reading, walks. It felt like patiently waiting for a countdown. On the seventh night, Keith called me. It was the first time he’d contacted me since I left. When I answered, the background was noisy, like a business dinner. “Where are you?” he asked, his tone a little impatient. “My parents’ place,” I said calmly. “Why haven’t you replied to my messages? He sounded annoyed. “I haven’t been feeling well these past few days; maybe I’m just tired. When are you coming back?” “I’m not sure,” I said softly. “I still need to take care of my mother.” He was clearly displeased but kept his temper in check. “Alright, well, take care of yourself then.” Before hanging up, he added, “Oh, by the way, Chloe has been discharged. She doesn’t know anyone in the city, so I’ve let her stay here for a few days. She’s in your bedroom. So don’t be surprised when you get back, and don’t overthink it.” I hummed in acknowledgment. Of course, I wouldn’t overthink it. Because that, originally, was the perfect place I had chosen for them. Four more days passed. This time, it was his assistant who called me. Ryan’s voice on the phone was frantic. “Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Hayes is in trouble.” My fingers tightened around the phone. “What happened to him?” “He had a high fever all last night that wouldn’t break. This morning, he was rushed to the hospital. The doctors… the doctors said the situation is a bit complicated and asked for a family member to come in as soon as possible.” I was silent for two seconds. “Which hospital?” Ryan gave me the address. It was the same one Chloe had been in. “I understand,” I said. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” After hanging up, I sat on the edge of the bed, looking out at the quiet lawn. The sun was bright. Too bright for anything bad to be happening. The doctor knocked and came in. He looked at me. “Are you going out?” “Yes,” I stood up. “To see my husband.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but in the end, he only said, “Please be careful.” I smiled, putting on my mask. “Don’t worry.” I valued my life more than anyone.

As the car drove into the city, my phone lit up again. It was a message from Keith. “Where are you?” I stared at the two words for a long time before replying. “On my way.” “I don’t feel good.” “The doctor is seeing to it.” He was probably really unsettled. Whenever he’d been sick before, I was always there, by his bedside. Giving him water, medicine, staying awake all night. He was used to me always being there. But this time, he could only reach me through a screen. I didn’t reply again. The hospital’s disinfectant smell was heavy. Ryan waited for me at the entrance, his face looking worse than I’d imagined. “Mrs. Hayes,” he whispered. “The doctor has done a preliminary check on Mr. Hayes and suggested… further specialized testing.” I nodded. “I know.” When I pushed open the door to his room, Keith was propped against the headboard, receiving an IV drip. He’d lost a bit of weight, and his complexion was terrible. The moment he saw me, he clearly froze, then visibly relaxed. In that instant, the reliance in his eyes was almost primal. I walked over and placed my bag aside. “What’s wrong with you?” “I feel weak all over,” he frowned. “My head hurts too. The doctor said it might be an infection.” He said it so casually as if he were talking about a common cold. I tucked the blanket around him, my movements as gentle as always. “Don’t worry,” I said softly. “You’ll be alright.” He looked at me, then suddenly reached out and grabbed my wrist. “Amelia,” his voice was a little hoarse. “This whole time… thank you for everything.” I looked down at the hand holding mine. His fingers were long and slender, hands that had countless times led me through crowds. “We’re married,” I said. Only then did he seem to relax, his eyes slowly closing. Not long after, the doctor entered and asked to speak with me outside. He met my gaze briefly before extending the report. “Amelia, the results are back.” I took it. My eyes went straight to the decisive line. Confirmed Infection. I was perfectly calm. So calm, it even surprised me a little. “Does he know yet?” I asked. “Not yet,” the doctor said. “In cases like this, we recommend a family member informs them.” I nodded. “I’ll do it.” When I returned to the room, Keith was still asleep. Sunlight lay across his peacefully innocent face, frozen in a moment before it all began. I sat by his bedside and watched him for a long while. Then, I softly called his name. “Keith.” He opened his eyes. “Hmm?” I looked at him, my voice as gentle as it had ever been. “The doctor says you’re quite ill.” He froze. “Ill? With what?” I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I simply laid the report on the sheets before him.

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