After work. The stunning woman I’d seen earlier that day stopped me, pouring out a heartfelt confession. I was just a cook, covered in grease, not making much money. I just thought it was a joke. Who knew she’d show up at the restaurant every single day, waiting for me? “Leo, if you don’t agree, I’m not leaving today!” I was taken aback. “But don’t you have a partner? And aren’t you still breastfeeding?” The woman in front of me was Chloe. Just like her name, she always carried a subtle, alluring scent. But thanks to my profession, my nose was incredibly keen. Even amidst the rich aromas of the restaurant’s food, I could distinguish a faint smell of breast milk mixed in with her perfume. I looked at Chloe’s tight T-shirt, which perfectly highlighted her curvaceous figure. The cartoon bear print on it was stretched into a mighty, formidable bear. Even if I tried not to, it was hard to tear my gaze away from her prominent chest. Chloe was a classic beauty. Although she’d already given birth, she had a slender, oval face with smooth features. Her eyes were large, and her lips delicate. She was nothing like those heavily filtered beauties you saw all over social media apps. Chloe was real, a living, breathing beauty standing right in front of me. As a cook, I was often messy and greasy. Standing before her, I was afraid I’d dirty her. Besides, a woman this beautiful—her partner must be pretty protective of her. Her beauty was tempting, but I wasn’t about to stir up trouble. I brought this up, hoping to get her to back off—stop showing up at the restaurant looking for me. To my surprise, Chloe’s face flushed, and she still leaned closer. “Leo, I don’t have a partner.” After saying that, her eyes welled up. It was heartbreaking to see such a beautiful woman cry. Plus, I’d just finished work, right at the restaurant entrance. If my coworkers saw us later, they’d start all kinds of rumors about me. I gently took her arm and led her to a nearby coffee shop, where we sat down for a moment. “Is something wrong? Are you in trouble?” Chloe’s eyes grew even redder. She told me she’d been naive, moving in with her boyfriend and getting pregnant. But the baby was born prematurely and was too weak. After a few days in the hospital’s incubator, they couldn’t save him. Seeing her sob so hard she could barely catch her breath, I kindly ordered her a milkshake. “What about your boyfriend?” Chloe wiped away her tears, gritting her teeth. “That man—when he saw the huge hospital bill for the baby, he just took off. Left me high and dry.” “Now I have nothing. My landlord even kicked me out; I don’t even have a roof over my head.” Her story was really sad. Chloe looked up, carefully asking if I could help her. I hesitated, wondering why she’d chosen me. Growing up poor, I’d stayed single well into my thirties—never even had a girlfriend, let alone a wife. Then I moved to the county town, landing a job at my Uncle Frank’s restaurant. Business was good, and my cook’s salary slowly increased. But it was still just a small restaurant chef’s salary; it could only go so high. I saved every penny, slowly accumulating some money, but even now, it wasn’t much. It was all for when I finally got married; I just couldn’t afford to be generous. Chloe saw my hesitation, her cheeks flushing. “Leo,” she said softly, “it’s okay. I like you, that’s why I want to be with you.” She said she didn’t need any labels, just wanted to help with chores and laundry. She only asked for a place to crash and meals, like we were just roommates. If I ever wanted to find a proper wife, she’d simply disappear. Chloe was so beautiful, and she sounded like she was hardworking and capable. To have a caring woman keep me company at night, no strings attached. It seemed like a win-win for me—no downsides. My heart was tempted. I took her soft, smooth hand in mine. “Alright, come home with me.”

Chloe was even more capable than I’d imagined. The very first day she arrived at my run-down apartment, she immediately started cleaning like a pro. It happened to be my day off, so I sat on the couch, watching her busy herself. From the bathroom to the kitchen, then to the living room and balcony. Years of grime were scrubbed away, leaving the floors so clean you could practically see your reflection. “This place really needs regular cleaning, otherwise, come summer, it’ll be crawling with bugs.” With bags of trash piled in the corner, Chloe then headed straight for the bedroom. I stood up and wrapped my arm around her waist. Even though she’d had a baby, her waist was incredibly slender—she’d clearly bounced back well. The soft skin at her waist twitched, and watching her face, flushed from the heat, my mind started to wander. “The bedroom is where I spend most of my time; it’s clean, you don’t need to bother with it.” Chloe chuckled, her arm sliding around my neck, just as I’d intended. “Okay, I’ll listen to you, Leo.” “But can I take a look inside?” We were both adults, and we both knew exactly what “living together” really meant. The atmosphere grew increasingly intimate. Chloe lowered her head, her cheeks completely crimson. My hand moved lower to her curves, and I swept her up into my arms. “Of course.” The single metal-framed bed in the bedroom was definitely not made for two. I gently laid her on the bed, looking at her delicate, pretty face, my heart racing. The bed creaked loudly for what felt like forever. Only after we’d been intimate did I fully realize my luck. I’d hit the jackpot—finding a woman so curvy and beautiful. Chloe’s soft body pressed against mine again, her breath hot against my ear. “Leo, thank you for taking me in.” Even better, this woman seemed to have no temper at all, always going along with whatever I said. I couldn’t hold back and pulled her back into a passionate embrace. Sweat poured off us, and when I finally came back to my senses, darkness had already fallen. Chloe was incredibly obedient. Despite her fatigue, she still offered to cook for me. One thing was for sure about being with me. Cooking—that was my specialty. Besides, Chloe had been drawn to me in the first place because my cooking tasted good and suited her palate. Now was the perfect time to cater to her tastes. I puffed out my chest: “Sit down, I’ll make dinner for you.” Just a simple meal—three dishes and a soup. Nothing fancy like what I cooked at the restaurant. But the most important thing was that it was clean and fresh. I watched Chloe’s reaction: “How is it? Is it to your liking?” Chloe’s face showed hesitation. She chewed for a while before swallowing. “Leo, why does it taste a little different?” “Well, it definitely can’t be the same,” I took a bite, chewed it, and indeed, it was a bit bland. “Next time, I’ll add more seasoning.” Chloe put down her fork. “It’s not just the seasoning… I think it tasted better at the restaurant, more flavorful…” A knot formed in my stomach. Chloe was a regular at the restaurant—her palate was spoiled. If it were anyone else, it wouldn’t matter, but now—she was my girl, more or less. I reminded her. “Home cooking’s cleaner. You should eat out less from now on.” Chloe’s face brightened again with a smile. “Got it, Leo. From now on, I’ll only eat your cooking.” That first night with a woman in my place, the bedroom’s single bed was way too small for two. I had no choice but to crash on the living room couch. Before turning off the light, Chloe even gave me a sweet, fragrant kiss. “Leo, I’m sorry you have to rough it.” With that kiss? What was there to be sorry about? The lights went out, and the couch was narrow. I tossed and turned for ages, couldn’t sleep. I decided to open my phone and check my bank balance. After saving every penny for so long, I only had fifty grand. If I wanted to marry a proper, respectable girl, I probably didn’t even have enough for a ring or a down payment. I looked at the dark bedroom. Maybe Chloe and I could make a life together. It wouldn’t be so bad. As I was lost in thought, the bedroom light suddenly flickered on.

My brow furrowed, and I grew alert. After all, I wasn’t a naive kid anymore—I’d been through the wringer. I still kept my guard up around women who came on that strong out of nowhere. There was nothing valuable in the bedroom. The little cash I had at home? I’d already stashed it in the bank. If Chloe had any ulterior motives, she wouldn’t find a thing. That said, I still watched the bedroom like a hawk, wondering what she was up to. Getting up in the middle of the night usually meant needing to use the bathroom. But I waited forever, and no one came out. Instead, the faint rustling sounds grew louder. The old saying was true: the prettier the woman, the more she can deceive. I was getting annoyed. What was this restless woman up to? I stood up and directly opened the bedroom door. Just as I’d thought—Chloe was standing by the dresser, all three drawers pulled open, contents strewn across the floor. I rushed over, grabbed her arm, and pushed her onto the bed. “What are you doing?” Chloe fell onto the bed, silent. It took her a minute, like she was waking up from a daze, eyes wide. “Leo, I… I… What happened to me?” Her voice was soft, childlike—way more innocent than before. I grabbed her chin, staring her down: “You don’t know what you were just doing?” Chloe stared at me blankly, big eyes full of confusion. She raised a hand to rub her eyes, but I stopped her. “I… I don’t know.” Chloe pouted, voice all hurt and委屈. I led her to the bedside, pointing at the mess on the floor. “Why were you going through my stuff?” Chloe jumped, then immediately knelt down to start cleaning up. “I didn’t mean to—I didn’t do it on purpose.” Seeing her act so docile… did I misjudge her? The items on the bedside table weren’t anything important. They were just basic ingredient recipes Uncle Frank taught me when I first started at his restaurant. I relied on these to learn from scratch, gradually working my way up to head chef. These recipes were basic—you could buy them at any bookstore. No big secret. The real important stuff wasn’t kept at home. I pulled her up, tone softening. “Chloe, do you really not know what just happened?” Chloe bit her lip, shaking her head. “I was just sound asleep in bed, and the next thing I knew—there you were.” Then it hit me—I’d read about people like this online. Sleepwalkers. Doing weird stuff in the middle of the night was normal for them, and they’d have no memory when woken up. Chloe must’ve been uncomfortable sleeping in a new place and started sleepwalking. I bent down, planning to ask her again. But Chloe pulled her hand away, shuffling back in her slippers. “Leo, I know you don’t like me—you don’t trust me. It’s fine. Tonight… I guess I got what I wanted.” She slowly took off the new pajamas I’d bought her, turning her back to me as she pulled on her own T-shirt. “As soon as it’s light out, I’m moving out.” I froze: “But you don’t have a place to stay, no money, no job.” Chloe’s voice was tearful. “I’ll find a job with room and board… Anyway, I won’t bother you anymore, Leo.” How could that be? A beautiful young woman like her—without a man to watch her back? She’d get eaten alive out there. Besides, after spending today together… I looked at her exposed, fair skin and swallowed hard. I reached out, grabbing her, forcing her to turn around. “You’re not moving out. You’re staying here with me.” Chloe still kept her head down, looking all dejected. “What if I’m home alone, and you keep being suspicious?” She suddenly looked up at me: “Or maybe I should go out and work too?” I thought about it. I only had two days off a month. She’d definitely get bored home alone. “Okay, but no need to look elsewhere. Just come work at my restaurant.”

The restaurant was owned by my Uncle Frank Miller. Besides him, his wife Aunt Carol, and their son Jason, I was the only other employee. Meaning, it was a family business through and through—they usually didn’t let strangers in. But after I talked them into it, Chloe joined the restaurant as a dishwashing assistant. My cousin Jason Miller—only a couple years older than me—was eyeing Chloe like crazy. Luckily, he was already married, and his daughter was in elementary school. Plus, on Chloe’s first day, I pulled him aside and warned him she was my girlfriend—so he better not get any ideas. Jason knew better than to mess with Chloe. Uncle Frank, though, seemed happy. He patted my shoulder, saying I was really something. “Business is booming here—I’ve wanted to hire more help forever. But your cousin Jason’s always so cautious, never wants outsiders coming in.” My hands were burning from chopping onions, so I just gave a half-hearted answer. “Jason being careful is normal. But why doesn’t Aunt Carol help out?” Uncle Frank shook his head: “She says it’s too hard.” “See? That’s why I say you’re so capable, Leo. You found a girlfriend as gorgeous as a movie star, and she’s willing to do all this dirty kitchen work.” I glanced at Chloe—bent over the sink, scrubbing a mountain of dishes—and felt a surge of pride. “Indeed, I’ve found a gem.” Dishwashing was the hardest, dirtiest job in the whole restaurant. I purposely put Chloe on this tough task, but to my surprise—this woman actually rolled up her sleeves and started washing dishes without a word. And she washed them way cleaner than Aunt Carol ever did. Chloe did her work so well no one could find fault. Uncle Frank and Aunt Carol were really satisfied. It made me look good, and I even felt more energized while cooking. After work, Chloe’s arms were so sore she could barely lift them. She sat there blankly by the sink. I felt bad for her and helped her up. “Tired? Maybe take tomorrow off?” Chloe leaned half her body against me, shaking her head. “No, I want to stay with you.” “Even if it means washing dishes?” Chloe nodded, eyes full of determination. “Even if it means washing dishes.” After a long day, her bangs were stuck to her forehead with sweat, lips glistening. I couldn’t help but lean in and kiss her. “Why do you want to stay with me?” Chloe’s face flushed bright red, all the way down to her neck. She poked my chest. “Leo, do you really have to ask?” Seeing her shy expression, my heart felt all warm and fuzzy. After these two days, I believed her—she really liked me. Otherwise, she wouldn’t put up with such hard, tiring work just to be by my side. The next day in the kitchen, even Jason came over to give me a heads-up. “Such a delicate young woman—making her do such heavy work. You’ll scare your girlfriend off.” I paused chopping. “Then what do you think she should do?” Jason thought for a second: “Let her prep ingredients.” I told Chloe about the job change, and she jumped up excitedly. “Really?” Prepping ingredients was still tough work. With how busy our restaurant was, she’d be on her feet for over ten hours a day, non-stop. But Chloe was thrilled, throwing her arms around my neck. “Prepping ingredients is great! I can stay by your side the whole time.” Chloe moved to my side, helping out diligently. I gave her all the reference materials I’d used when I was learning. Chloe picked it up super fast, and her ingredient prep was surprisingly organized. In fact, she often prepped ingredients faster than I could cook. During the lunch rush, I was swamped—feet barely touching the ground, hands glued to the wok. The dish was almost done, but someone was still standing by my side. “Chloe, is the next dish ready yet?” “The one after that’s already done too.” “Okay, then go to the front—help Uncle Frank and Aunt Carol with the customers…” As soon as Chloe walked away, I pulled open the small compartment under the counter. “Leo, someone up front says they want to add a dish…” *Clang!* I jumped, hand shaking, and the small can fell to the floor.

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Five months into my pregnancy, I was still working. Just before signing a major contract, the new intern, Amber, handed me a cup of almond tea. I have a severe almond allergy. I went into anaphylactic shock on the spot. When I woke up, I had lost the $30 million contract and the baby I was carrying. I never imagined my husband, Damien, the CEO, would only fine the intern $300, then turn to fire me: “Celeste, Amber didn’t mean it. I’ve already fined her $300. You’ve had a miscarriage, you’re not fit for work. Go home and recover.” “Is our child only worth $300?” I sneered. Then I noticed two fresh scratch marks on Damien’s backside, and it all clicked. The moment he closed the bathroom door, I called his biggest rival, Devin. When we first started the company, we were dirt poor. I worked myself so hard back then, doctors told me it would be difficult for me to conceive. That’s why I was so careful after I got pregnant. I had planned to take maternity leave right after this $30 million deal was signed. But I never expected to miscarry. I remembered telling everyone at a company gathering about my almond allergy. Amber was there. But now, with tears in her eyes, she claimed: “I truly had no idea you were allergic to almonds.” Damien shielded her behind him. “You can’t blame her entirely. Couldn’t you tell if there were almonds in the tea yourself? A $300 fine is enough.” Amber continued to sob: “Celeste, you have such a rich husband in Damien. $300 might be nothing to you. But for me, it’s a box of my father’s medicine. I have to work three days to save that much.” With that, Amber burst into tears and ran out. My husband, of course, chased after her. I stood in the office, a bitter smile on my face. I had taken pity on her during her interview and hired her, never imagining I had fostered a viper who was now sinking its fangs into me. Just then, my phone chimed. It was a SnapChat video from Amber. The screen showed Damien tenderly kissing away her tears. “It’s just $300, don’t cry. I’ll transfer three million to you later, okay?” Amber, eyes red, playfully punched his chest. “No! What do you mean by five million? Is this payment for making me your mistress? I’m not that cheap; I don’t want to be a mistress…” Damien grabbed her hands, tossing her onto the bed before telling her: “You’re not a mistress. You’re my lover.” The screen then went black, leaving only their muffled moans. A sharp pang shot through my heart. Amber was his lover? What did that make me, his wife who’d stood by him for seven years, building his company from the ground up? When we first got married, Damien’s engagement ring was an aluminum can tab. He knelt, promising me: “Celeste, I’ll love and protect you for life. Once I’m rich, I’ll buy you the most beautiful ring.” Now, he was successful, but his vows were long forgotten. I choked back my tears, drafted the divorce papers, and signed them.

After being discharged from the hospital, I drove back to the office to pack my things and process my resignation. In my drawer, I kept a bracelet my mother wore, the only memento she left me. I pushed open the door, only to find Amber sitting happily at my desk, applying makeup—even using *my* cosmetics! Seeing me, she sneered: “Damien said this office is mine now. Some old women are just useless, can’t hold onto a baby, a man, or a job.” Her words stung, my eyes reddening. I reached out to slap her, but a large hand grabbed mine. Amber immediately pouted, tears streaming down her face. “Damien, Celeste told me to get out, said I made her seat dirty.” Damien stepped in front of her, explaining: “You’re going home anyway. Just let her have this office. Perfect, it’ll make her work hard to make up for the losses you caused last time.” I let out a cold laugh. Was this a punishment or a reward? Amber was just an intern; she had no e-commerce experience, let alone live streaming. How could she possibly take over my position? But I was too tired to argue. I just wanted to leave quickly. As soon as I opened the drawer, my mother’s necklace was gone. I asked Amber: “Where did you put the jewelry box that was in here?” She spoke dismissively: “Oh, that old box? I threw it away. It’s probably at the dump by now. Looked like it was only worth ten bucks, I’ll pay you back.” I slapped her directly across the face: “That was my mother’s only memento! No amount of money can ever replace it!” I was the one heartbroken, yet Amber ran off crying, covering her face. “It’s your fault for not keeping it safe, and now you’re blaming me? I bet you just want to drive me away. I have to pay for my dad’s medical bills, and you just want me to lose this job. You’re trying to kill me! I’ll just go kill myself now!” Amber rushed out crying. Damien’s brow furrowed, and he instinctively started to follow her. Trembling, I called out to him from behind: “You can go after her, but sign my resignation letter first.” But he didn’t stop, just glanced at me coldly. “Celeste, when did you become so petty? Are you really going to force Amber to her death? It’s just a bracelet. I’ll buy you a better one.” With that, Damien walked out without hesitation. I tightly clutched my resignation application and went to HR. The employee in charge looked troubled. “Celeste, without Mr. Damien’s signature, your resignation won’t be effective unless you pay the penalty for breach of contract.” I didn’t hesitate. I immediately called Sterling Corporation, his rival company: “You’ve been trying to poach me, haven’t you? I’ll participate in the live selling competition for you in three days. But you have to pay my termination fee.”

After I hung up, Damien had already coaxed Amber back. The termination fee from Sterling Corporation was due in three days, and then I could leave. I ignored them both, quietly returning to my office to pack my things. But no sooner had I sat down than Amber strutted in, her head held high, sweeping my belongings directly off the desk. “Celeste, I’m the streamer now, and Damien said this office belongs to me too. You’re just a junior employee in charge of samples, your spot is over there.” I followed her pointed finger. Beside the trash can was a new workstation, its desk so narrow it was hard to even rest a hand on it. Amber leaned in close to my ear, her voice dripping with provocation: “Damien said you were old and ugly, unlike me, young and beautiful. He wants to look at *me* more, to ‘cleanse his eyes’ of you.” I looked through the glass partition at Damien, my nails digging deep into my palms, yet I felt no pain. He had once specially designed these two unique offices, separated only by a transparent glass wall, just so he could glance at me more during work. He used to say I was his motivation to strive harder. Now, he was making me give even this up to someone else. I tilted my head back, refusing to let the tears fall, and uncharacteristically, didn’t object. I silently walked out. Damien, watching from next door, frowned deeply. He knew perfectly well how much I loved this office, how I’d lean on the desk and watch him after every stream. He had been prepared for me to throw a fit, but my quiet acceptance filled him with a sudden panic. For the first time during working hours, he approached me, explaining: “I’m just doing this to supervise her work, to help her pay back the $30 million as quickly as possible. That’s why I let her temporarily move into your office. Once she pays it back, I’ll make her move out. Celeste, I know you’re upset about losing the baby. How about I take you shopping to get your mind off things?” Thinking about the jewelry I still needed for the awards ceremony tomorrow, I didn’t refuse. I got into his Maybach, treating it as a convenient ride. Soon, I spotted a beautiful sapphire necklace. To my surprise, the sales associate approached me, looking apologetic, to say it had already been purchased. Disappointed, I settled for another one. But as I scrolled through my Ins feed in the car, I saw Amber’s latest post. The picture was none other than the sapphire necklace I had just admired, with the caption: “Damien has such good taste! I’ll wear this to meet our new business partners later.” Before I could react, the passenger door opened, revealing a meticulously dressed Amber. Damien glanced at me, stating matter-of-factly: “You’re Amber’s assistant now. Sit in the back. We’re going to meet the partners together.” So, his initiative was just to have me help Amber pick out a necklace. I forced a bitter smile and moved to the back seat. Then, I watched Amber expertly pull a compact from the car pocket to touch up her makeup. Inside, I vaguely glimpsed an opened box of condoms. I looked away, my heart numb. I thought I couldn’t feel pain anymore, but then, in the private dining room, Amber gave a coy smile as a business partner raised a glass to her. “Oh, I can’t drink right now.” The partner curiously asked, “Why not?” She placed a hand on her stomach, revealing a diamond bracelet on her wrist, and looked directly at Damien, making no effort to hide it. “Because I’m pregnant, and my husband bought me this diamond bracelet especially.” Seeing that bracelet, I let out a cold laugh. He had promised me an engagement ring, a bracelet – he’d bought me nothing. Now, he was so generous with his lover. No wonder he wasn’t sad when I miscarried. They already had a baby together. Amber’s face was alight with smug triumph as she watched my pale complexion, but she still wasn’t done with me. “Even though I can’t drink, Celeste can. Why don’t you let her drink on my behalf? Damien, what do you say?”

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Five years into our marriage, Clara still didn’t love me. One day, we were arguing in the car, and I didn’t notice the truck speeding towards us. Before she died, she told me, guilt clouding her eyes: “I’m sorry, Fitzgerald. I tried to love you, but I just can’t forget him. We can only be friends, never lovers.” Blood from her forehead dripped onto my face. “Fitzgerald, in our next life, please let him and me be together, okay?” When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn. Given a second chance, I decisively called off our engagement, ready to let her be with my brother. But one question kept nagging at me. My brother, he died at birth. Who exactly did Clara love? “You’re giving up your engagement?” My father looked like he thought he’d misheard me. “You’ve loved her your whole life. When you were a baby, you didn’t reach for the books your mom and I prepared for you, you reached for Clara!” I lowered my gaze. “That was just when I was little…” My dad wasn’t one to force me. He watched me for a moment, then sighed. “Alright, perhaps it’s for the best. After all, you’re not the only boy in the Miller family. Your cousin, they’re still willing to accept it.” “Dad, could we offer it to my cousin?” “You don’t have a younger cousin.” My dad’s eyes widened. “You’re the youngest of your generation.” Huh? I’d always assumed the ‘brother’ Clara mentioned was some distant relative I didn’t know. “However, there is someone younger than you.” My dad sighed again. “But, you know…” I looked down. Yes, besides the brother who died at birth, I had no other siblings. “Dad, I want to choose my own bride. For now, please don’t tell the Jenkins family I’m breaking off the engagement.” With a heavy heart, I left home and headed straight to the cemetery, my mind a mess. My brother was buried there, beside my mother. I first laid flowers for Mom. Then I placed a shaved ice, some jelly, and a bag of chips in front of the smaller tombstone. Staring at the gravestone, which didn’t even have a photo: “Good brother, can you help your big brother find the ‘brother’ Clara talks about, okay?” After spending some time with my brother, I turned to leave. Another Maybach pulled up beside my car. Clara stepped out, a bouquet of flowers in her hand. Our eyes met, and we both froze. So many words rushed to my mind, but I didn’t know where to start. I took a deep breath. I wanted to ask if she was here to see my brother. Then I noticed the carnations in her hand. It suddenly dawned on me that today was also Mother’s Day. “Are you… here to see my aunt?” She scoffed, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips. “Yes, I’m about to marry you, so of course, I have to come and tell her…” She stared at me. “…this good news.” She bit out those last words. My fists clenched, I fought back the sting in my eyes. “Don’t worry. If your loved one were still alive, I would absolutely help you both!” “Fitzgerald Miller!” Aside from my past life, this was the first time she had ever snapped at me. “Don’t talk nonsense.” My eyes red, I looked at her. “I’m serious!” “Fitzgerald Miller.” She brushed past me. “I haven’t even blamed you for taking his place, and you shouldn’t wish death upon him. “He was right, you really have become a cruel person.” I froze. Clara had already walked into the cemetery. I quietly turned and watched her kneel before my mother’s tombstone. That bowed back had once shielded me from the twisted metal of the car. “Mom, I’m getting married. Just wanted to tell you. “It’s to Fitzgerald Miller. “You always said your biggest wish was for me to marry someone I truly loved. “But, I’m going back on that. “I don’t love him. “He’s stubborn and won’t marry anyone but me. I’m afraid he might really hurt himself. “I know you liked Fitzgerald, and I don’t dislike him either, but love isn’t something I can force. “When the right person appears, one look is all it takes. “I’ll see him one last time at the investment summit in two days. This life, this is it.” Clara walked out of the cemetery. I was still standing where I was. “Clara, take me to the summit.” She paused, surprised. “Let me meet my ‘brother.’ I’ll make things clear with him.” I stared into her eyes. “Then, I’ll give you to him.”

Clara didn’t show the surprise I’d imagined. Instead, her face darkened. “You’re treating our engagement like a joke?” She took a step closer to me, looking up. “You were the one who insisted on marrying me, and now the whole world knows I’m marrying you, and you want to back out? What will people think of me?” “But…” “No ‘buts’.” Before getting into her car, she gave me a cold look. “If you really wanted to break it off, you wouldn’t have waited until today.” “I…” She didn’t wait for my explanation. The Maybach quickly disappeared from my sight. She knew me well. Backing out wasn’t my style. But all of that was before. Before I was reborn. Before I knew the fervent love she held for that ‘brother’ of mine. Clara, we were simply not meant to be. I learned that with my life. I truly wanted to help you, to repay your life-saving grace from my past. I sent her a message, begging her to give us both a chance. She didn’t reply. Only her sister relayed a message to me: “She said there will be decades together after the wedding, no need for pointless talk.” I had no choice. But two days later, a Maybach stopped at my door. Her face slowly appeared from behind the lowered window. “Get in.” I didn’t hesitate. It was a grand gala. The moment Clara and I appeared, we commanded everyone’s attention. The news of the two most powerful families in the social circle uniting had already spread far and wide. Clara stiffly accepted everyone’s congratulations. Her smile was tinged with bitterness, yet she never left my side. She was so conflicted. Loyal and passionate to her love, yet she also possessed an intense sense of responsibility towards her status. With everyone knowing she was my fiancée, She wouldn’t just abandon me here and openly seek out another man. And in my previous life, that very sense of responsibility was what I hated most. It allowed me to cling to the illusion that she might still love me. Then, when she used her life to save mine, to fulfill her wish, I vomited blood from the pain. “Clara, you don’t have to stay with me. Go meet whoever you want.” Her gaze was vacant, fixed on something ahead. “I’m going to the restroom.” With that, she left me. And she did indeed go to the restroom. No excuse to meet anyone. I recalled the direction she had been staring at. My gaze followed. A man in a black suit, his back to me, was chatting with some friends. He seemed to sense my gaze. He turned his head. Our eyes met. My breath caught. How could there be someone in this world who looked so much like me!

He froze too, for a moment. He sized me up and down. Then a dismissive, cold smirk touched his lips. He turned and walked away, his back to me. I hurried after him. “Wait! Excuse me, wait!” The man walked faster. “Wait… Ah!” My foot slipped, and I fell heavily to my knees. I tried to get up, but the entire floor was shaking. It wasn’t that I’d lost my footing. It was the building that was shaking! “Why is there a timer here!” “Oh no! It’s a bomb!” I ignored the panic around me because the man was already heading upstairs. “Wait!” I stumbled after him, my feet scrambling on the shaking floor. A creaking sound came from above. Screams erupted around me. “Don’t run! It’s going to fall on you!” “The chandelier’s broken!” But my eyes were fixed on that man. “Wait! I just want to ask you two questions!” “Fitzgerald Miller!” A massive impact threw me sideways. Clara, holding me, rolled several times across the cracking floor. The chandelier shattered exactly where I had been standing, leaving a huge crater in the granite floor. Before I could speak, the violent shaking made Clara’s nerves fray. Without a word, she dragged me out. Once we were outside the building, she collapsed to her knees. I rushed to support her. Blood dripped from her forehead. She lay in my arms, gritting her teeth. “Are you insane?” In that moment, I felt like I was back in my past life. She had knelt over me, her body so frail, yet shielding me from the twisted steel. But even then, she refused to let me touch her. “Clara…” “Fire! Put out the fire! Someone’s still inside!” The screams of survivors interrupted our conversation. Clara’s body stiffened. Ignoring her exhaustion, she pushed me away and stumbled to her feet. She frantically scanned the crowd of people who had escaped, her eyes searching back and forth. Her eyes instantly turned red. Then she turned and sprinted towards the burning building. “Clara Jenkins!” I tried to follow, but security guards held me back tightly. Clara’s figure disappeared into the inferno. I heard my own voice, almost a scream of despair. “Clara!” The crackling of construction materials in the fire threatened to consume my sanity. A security guard tried to reassure me. “We’ll stop Ms. Jenkins. The building is sealed off. She can’t get in.” “Sealed off…” My eyes were red. “Can anyone inside still get out?” “In… this situation, anyone who didn’t get out… they’re likely gone.” My legs gave out. The security guard held me firmly. That meant… that man, too… “Fitzgerald Miller!” Hearing that voice, my eyes lit up. Clara, her face streaked with ash and blood on her forehead, marched towards me. “Clara! You…” SLAP! A stinging slap landed hard on my face. It brutally cut off my “Are you okay?” “It was you, wasn’t it? You deliberately followed me here just to get him killed!” Even after five years of conflict in my previous life, She had never laid a hand on me. Nor had she ever, like now, pushed past so many security guards just to rush at me. I held my face, looking at her like she was a stranger. “How can you possibly think that?” “Hmph, your father works in specialized security. Out of everyone at the conference today, you’re the only one who could get a bomb like that!” My eyes immediately welled up. “What’s more…” She pushed past the security guard, taking sarcastic steps closer to me. “You usually get furious if I so much as speak to another man. How could you suddenly agree to meet him and offer to give up our engagement?” “Clara…” A bitter laugh escaped me. Her eyes were redder than mine. “I was so stupid. I actually thought you would help us. “I even brought you, the murderer, here myself. Ha… haha…” Her laughter grew more bitter. She slapped herself hard across the face. “Now there’s no one else between us. I’m stuck with you for life. Are you happy?” “Clara!” My eyes burned with tears. But she didn’t spare me another glance. She turned. Stumbled away. And walked further and further. Blood trickled from her sleeve, leaving a trail on the ground where she’d walked. That was from when she’d been cut by the chandelier while saving me.

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I knew my true identity: the real heiress of an elite family. So I hurried to find my parents After the DNA test, Mom and Dad immediately announced my return to the public. Even Seraphina, the adopted daughter, didn’t make things difficult for me; instead, she tried everything to help me blend into our new upscale life quickly. But I was still unsatisfied, constantly stirring up trouble and making our home uncomfortable. Finally, after I hit the nanny, Mom couldn’t hold back anymore. Her voice cracked, “What exactly do you want?!” I pointed at Mrs. Davis. “She keeps comparing me to your other daughter. Says I’m an ugly duckling.” Then, I turned my finger to Seraphina. “Since I’m back, why are you still keeping her around?” Mom and Dad exchanged glances, trying to reason with me. “It wasn’t Seraphina’s fault that the babies were switched.” Yes, it wasn’t her fault. But was it my fault? “I refuse to live with her. It’s either her or me—one of us has to go!” “Stella, you…” Mom reached out, trying to grab me, probably hoping to say something soft and smooth things over like she used to. But I batted her hand away without a second thought, glaring at her fiercely. Dad immediately scolded me. “What kind of attitude is that?” “Is that how you treat your mother? So disrespectful?” I clutched my hair, screaming hysterically. “She’s not my mom, and you’re not my dad!” “You two are Seraphina’s parents! What am I? Just some random person who popped up out of nowhere? You probably wish I’d just died out there, didn’t you?!” As I yelled, my peripheral vision caught sight of the catalyst for this outburst. A box of strawberries that looked… less than fresh. Almost rotten. I snatched the strawberries from the table and hurled them to the floor. Then, I stomped on them with my shoes, crushing them until juice splattered everywhere. “With me and your precious daughter in this house, one is a princess, and the other is a beggar!” “She wants strawberries, and the nanny gives her the freshest, the best.” “I want them, and I’m only worthy of eating ones that have been sitting for a week, already going bad.” “When have you ever treated me like your own? Why does no one here respect me?” I always knew what the nannies whispered about behind my back. But I held it in. After all, what they said was true. If I kept causing trouble, I’d probably just earn the family’s annoyance. But the more I tolerated, the more they just sneered. “Someone who’s unloved? What good things could *she* possibly get to eat?” “These strawberries cost a thousand dollars for just five or six. Even rotten, she’s lucky to have them.” That’s when I finally realized the “delicious” big strawberries I’d been happily eating. They were actually Seraphina’s leftovers, the “trash” she didn’t want because she didn’t like them anymore. Why? I was the *real* daughter of this family! I screamed and cried relentlessly. But Mom and Dad just tried to calm me. “We’ll fire her immediately. If you want strawberries, we’ll take you to buy the best, the freshest ones right now.” Seraphina bit her lower lip, her voice surprisingly calm. “I didn’t know about any of this.” “I…” She said, trying to approach me. But I pushed her away without thinking. “You thief, why are you pretending to be a good person? You stole my life for so long, and you’re still putting on airs?” Seraphina fell to the floor, her head hitting the corner of the table, and blood started gushing. I froze in shock. Seeing this, Mom collapsed to the ground, utterly weak. Dad’s face showed clear anguish. Watching that scene, my hatred surged even more. Without a second thought, I bolted towards the balcony, straddling the railing…

They pulled me back. Mom and Dad grabbed hold of me. But I kept struggling, trying to throw myself off. “Let go of me! Either I die, or she’s out!” Only one thought consumed my mind. Get rid of Seraphina. Get rid of this thief, this robber who stole everything from me. Mom was crying uncontrollably. Yet, she still wouldn’t concede, wouldn’t agree to make Seraphina move out. It was Seraphina herself, clutching her bleeding head, who walked to the balcony and slowly knelt before me. “I’m so sorry. I’ll leave right now.” “I’m so sorry for taking your place for so long.” She looked pathetic. Blood streamed down her face, making her appear utterly disheveled. It was a blatant display of misery. But I knew she wasn’t faking it. She had always wanted to move out. It was Mom and Dad who wouldn’t let her. This time, Dad didn’t try to stop her; he just sighed helplessly. And Mom and Seraphina embraced, weeping together! That very night, Seraphina vanished from the house. A huge weight lifted off my chest, and a secret thrill coursed through me. Even when the nannies looked at me with strange eyes, I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. Instead, right in front of them, I took every single strawberry from the fridge and tossed them into the trash. “Strawberries are what I hate most.” “From now on, I forbid any trace of strawberries in this house. No, not just strawberries—anything connected to Seraphina is gone!” The nannies in the mansion didn’t dare to defy me anymore. They cleared out Seraphina’s belongings at top speed. This made me feel incredibly triumphant. After all, ever since I returned to this elite family. They had always looked at me with mocking eyes. Whispering behind my back about how I wasn’t as good as Seraphina. Whatever Seraphina told them to do, they did. For me, they just brushed me off! After I got rid of Seraphina, I felt great for a while. But then I saw how unhappy Mom and Dad were, and a slow unease crept into my heart. So, I tried to imitate Seraphina’s behavior, hoping to please them. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with trying to be like Seraphina. If I had grown up in this house, those things would have been *my* duties, not hers. I thought I could replace Seraphina. And I worked tirelessly towards it. Whether it was making coffee just the way Dad liked it. Or arranging flowers, Mom’s favorite pastime. Plus, all my regular lessons. I slept less than six hours every night. But all of it was just an illusion. And what shattered that pathetic fantasy was a house purchase agreement… Ever since I returned to this elite family, I’d gained many “enemies.” Those other socialites looked down on me, constantly mocking me. Seraphina’s rival, Veronica, was the worst of them. She’d sneer, “Though I’ve always hated Seraphina’s high-and-mighty act, compared to someone as low-class as you, dragging down our standards…” “I’d rather have her as the heiress.” I’d always been furious. So, after I drove Seraphina away. When Veronica came to provoke me again, I gloated about Seraphina being gone. “No matter what, fake is fake.” “Is some illegitimate child really better than the real thing?” But she just laughed and told me another truth. My parents had bought Seraphina a luxurious penthouse apartment. And whenever they said they were busy with business trips and wouldn’t be home overnight, they were actually at that apartment, spending time with Seraphina. “Idiot, you think you drove Seraphina away?” “But all you did was give her a huge apartment for free. That place is worth tens of millions!” “Do *you* have that?” “Oh right, your parents are gone; they’ve started a new family elsewhere.”

I didn’t believe it. But reason told me it was highly likely to be true. When I found the purchase agreement in my Dad’s study, clearly marked with Seraphina’s name. My rationality completely exploded. And I immediately went to their door, like I was catching them cheating. When Seraphina opened the door, I pushed past her first, storming into the apartment. Sure enough, Mom and Dad, who had told me they were out of town on a business trip, were right there. It was so cozy. My elegant biological mother was wearing an apron, holding a steaming dish. My father was at the table, reading the news. But when they saw me, their faces instantly paled. I ground my teeth together, a grating sound. “Did I interrupt your little family get-together?” A crushing wave of injustice washed over me. “Tens of millions for a house? How generous!” “Didn’t you say she’d go back to where she belonged?” Dad coughed heavily several times, then spoke to me with a very serious expression. “We had no choice.” “You lived in that place for over a decade. You know what it was like.” “If Seraphina went back, it would be no different from falling into hell!” Hell? I sneered. “That’s because she was *born* in hell.” “Like I give a damn?” “I know you think I’m not as graceful, gentle, or kind as her.” “I’m crass, petty, selfish, and have all the flaws of someone who suddenly got rich.” “But did I ever have a chance to grow up like her?” My foster parents, Seraphina’s biological parents. They were the laziest couple in the entire village. They wouldn’t work, wouldn’t earn money. They lived entirely off their elders’ money. When their children grew up, they’d leech off them even more. At four years old, I was already learning from my older foster sister how to collect recyclables to earn money for food. When I got a bit older, I went out to work, tirelessly doing handicrafts day and night. I often had to argue bitterly with people over a few dollars. I couldn’t afford to lose even a penny. I was sixteen this year, but my height was barely five feet. Even my periods had only just started. The family doctor said I was severely malnourished, and my body was severely weakened. I probably won’t grow any taller in this lifetime. “You feel sorry for her. So why don’t you feel sorry for me? That place you call hell, I lived there for sixteen years!” Even if Seraphina were sent back, she would still have a better life than I did. After all, my parents wouldn’t just leave her with nothing. And Seraphina was already grown; she’d just have to tough it out for two more years, get into college, and then she could escape those parents. Seraphina bit her lower lip, repeatedly saying “I’m sorry” to me. Mom finally couldn’t take it anymore. “What more do you want?!” “Yes, yes, you’ve suffered. You’ve been wronged.” “But whose fault is it?” “Do you think I *wanted* my own child to suffer out there? Do you think I *wanted* to raise someone else’s child?” “God played a cruel joke, letting you come out of my womb only to suffer a harsh life. Maybe I gave birth to the wrong child back then? Maybe Seraphina was destined for a good life, and you were destined…” She trailed off, her lips trembling. And I finished her sentence, asking, “Born worthless, right?”

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A wolf is a wolf. No matter how well it disguises itself as an innocent little rabbit, one day the mask will come off. If I had known he would grow up to devour me completely, I should have hardened my heart back then and let him fend for himself. We met at the orphanage, and after that, he just stuck to me. Looking at the guy seven years younger than me, I got a headache. Maybe I should just ditch him. I had no reason to sacrifice my whole life for some kid. But Jake, sitting on the couch, seemed to read my mind. His gloomy eyes suddenly turned red. He yanked me close, wrapped his arms around my waist, buried his head in my chest, and started sobbing quietly. “Are you leaving me too?” At fifteen, Jake was already taller than me. His hands behind my waist felt like red-hot iron, burning me all over. “Jake…” This brat even rubbed against my chest a few times. A jolt of electricity shot through me, making my whole body tingle. “Fine, fine! One more mouth to feed. I’ll take care of you for three more years. Once you’re an adult, you’re on your own!” Back then, I was too busy worrying about our future to notice the sly smile on Jake’s face buried in my softness.

“Emily, why aren’t you up yet? Didn’t you say yesterday you had something early today?” Jake was already waking me up first thing in the morning. Half-asleep, I snapped my eyes open the second he opened the door, quickly wrapping myself tight in the blanket, only my head poking out as I gave him an awkward smile. “I’m about to get up. You go out first.” Jake shot me a searching look. My heart was pounding. They say women hit their prime at thirty, and it’s true. I’m thirty now, living with Jake all these years, never finding the right boyfriend. Adults have needs. Last night, I took care of things in bed. At the height of it, my panties had vanished somewhere. Right now, I was completely bare under the covers. Him staring at me like that stirred something strange inside. It hit me suddenly: Jake had grown up. He was a full-grown man. “Why’s your face red? What are you getting up so early for?” Jake’s handsome face got closer and closer. My heart hammered. I gripped the blanket edge tight and closed my eyes. Warmth touched my forehead, breath brushing my face, tickling. I opened my eyes. My gaze landed on his straight nose and thin lips. He was pressing his forehead to mine. “No fever.” He was just checking my temperature. I let out a breath, but a little disappointment crept in too. “I’ve got a blind date. You always used to say you were too young for me to date anyone. Now you’re twenty-three. It’s not too much for me to find someone, right?” Jake’s face, about to pull away, came back. His strong arms braced on either side of my pillow. I watched his Adam’s apple bob. That clean, woody cologne only he wore filled my nose. This position was exactly like the one I’d seen in a video yesterday… Just the thought sent a warm rush straight to my core. Something threatened to spill out. I squeezed my thighs together in shame, avoiding his eyes. After a long pause, his low, husky voice sounded by my ear. “Breakfast is ready.” Jake left my room. I threw off the blanket, panting from the heat. Even after getting dressed, I still couldn’t find those soaked panties from last night. No big deal. Probably stuck in some crevice. They didn’t grow legs and walk out. I did careful makeup, picked a light blue sweater dress that hugged my figure, slipped on sheer nude stockings, and fixed my loose wavy hair. In the mirror, the pretty woman struggled with her necklace. “Jake, help me.” He stepped behind me, pinning me between the sink and his body. His fingers were cool from washing his hands. They brushed my hair aside, grazed my neck, then took the necklace ends from me. The touch made me shiver. “Hold still.” He murmured near my ear, so close that one turn of my head and I could kiss those thin lips… I zoned out watching him in the mirror, focused on fastening the clasp. “Done.” His hands rested on my shoulders. We smiled at our reflection together. We were so close. Leaning against his chest, I felt his strong heartbeat. The boy who once barely reached my height had quietly become a man. Standing together, we looked like a couple in love. Staring at us, I lost myself…

“Miss Emily?” Someone pulled me out of my daydream. The guy across the table looked annoyed. “Sorry, I didn’t sleep well last night. What did you say?” “I said we’re not getting any younger. My mom wants you to marry into our family soon and give her a couple grandsons. Sure, you’re very pretty, Miss Emily, but with your background and age, you’re not likely to find anyone better. Think it over and let me know. I’ve got another date to get to. Bye.” He rambled on, then got up and left. I even paid for his coffee. What a loser. Fuming, I called my best friend. We did spa treatments, caught a movie, had a candlelit dinner. Thinking of that jerk, I snapped a few cute pics and posted on social media: [Thanks babe, heading to the bar next. Such a full, happy day! xoxo~] At the bar, we clinked glasses. She asked my plans. “What plans? Keep dating, I guess. Lately I’ve been desperate. I need a strong, fit guy!” “Strong and fit? Isn’t Jake right there? Only seven years apart. You’ve known him forever—safe choice…” She teased me about Jake, but her words rippled through my calm heart like a stone dropped in a lake. Suddenly I really wanted to see him. I ditched my friend and took a cab home. The house was dark. I tripped over shoes at the entryway and nearly fell, landing in warm, solid arms. Buzzed from drinks, I ran my hands all over Jake. Had he been working out secretly? I felt abs. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven… A low groan escaped him. He caught my wandering hands. His breathing grew heavy in my ear. Maybe my alcohol rubbed off on him, because he gripped my waist and kissed me wildly, like he wanted to swallow me whole. “Jake…” Why did I start this? I raised him! He’s young and hot-blooded. I can’t mess up. With the last of my morals, I pushed him away. But he pinned me against the door, one hand holding both of mine above my head. “Who’s your ‘babe’? Who’d you go to the bar with tonight?” In the dark, I couldn’t see his face, but anger laced his voice. He’d never spoken to me like that. A thought hit me—could Jake actually like me? Alcohol slowed my brain. I didn’t know how to handle us, so I closed my eyes and pretended to pass out. He sighed helplessly, scooped me up gently, and laid me in bed. He didn’t do anything else, but before leaving, he brushed a light kiss on my lips. My eyelids grew heavy. I drifted off and, unsurprisingly, dreamed of Jake. Little Jake always trailed me calling “Sis, sis.” Grown-up Jake only called my name in that deep, sexy voice: “Emily.” When had he stopped calling me sis?

Next morning my head throbbed. Coming out of my room, I saw Jake had breakfast ready on the table. “Up? Eat. All your favorites.” He acted so normal I wondered if last night was just my fantasy. “Our Jake’s so domestic. Some lucky girl’s gonna snag you.” I teased, testing him. He went quiet. Awkwardness filled the air. I sat and sipped oatmeal silently. “Emily, since I’m so great, how about you take me?” My heart jumped. I couldn’t look up, nearly burying my face in the bowl. “What are you saying? I’m seven years older…” “So what?” He cut me off, pulled out the chair beside me, and sat. That nice woody scent filled my nose again. “Emily, I’ve liked you for a long time. If other guys are okay, why not me?” His sudden confession left me flustered and annoyed. His gaze burned too hot, making my cheeks blaze. But I couldn’t accept this yet. We both needed space. I made an excuse about work and fled the house, staying away four whole days. After living together over ten years, Jake knew me. He gave me time, didn’t push. Those four days I went on more dates, thinking a boyfriend would make him back off. But the guys were worse than ever—ugly and full of themselves. Compared to them, I started considering Jake’s offer. At least he was handsome, young, energetic, and could satisfy me. Days were painful with bad dates. Nights were torture. Staying at my friend’s, I heard her and her husband every night through the wall. They tried to keep quiet because of me, but the muffled sounds crawled into my ears anyway. The guilty thrill of listening only made it worse… I couldn’t stay there. I had to go home. To avoid awkwardness, I picked midnight. I crept in like a thief, quietly opening and closing the door. Then a familiar voice hit me. “Oh baby, I love you so much. I’ve wanted to do this to you forever…” Jake sounded pleased yet tormented, mixed with rhythmic heavy breathing that struck my nerves. Heat flooded me. My panties soaked through. My body wanted him, but anger burned hotter. He claimed to like me, yet four days apart and he brought another woman home? Furious, I stormed barefoot to his room. The door was ajar. Through the crack, I saw him. Naked on the bed, right hand stroking himself steadily, left hand holding fabric to his nose, inhaling deep. Eyes closed, brows furrowed, face twisted in an expression I’d never seen. He kissed the cloth. In the dim light, I recognized it. My body grew even wetter. Those were the panties I lost days ago! How did Jake have them? He was… “Ah…” “Emily, I love you…” His voice rose. His hand sped up. A white arc shot through the air. He finished, panting hard, eyes opening. Our gazes locked. I should have left, stopped watching. But my legs stayed rooted. My eyes couldn’t leave his body. First time seeing a grown man’s body in real life—strong, beautiful. I imagined being held by it. Jake grabbed his robe, put it on, opened the door, and stood before me. He towered a full head over me, blocking the light. I looked up at his shadowed face. My heart pounded again. I always knew he was gorgeous. After staring at him so long, how could I settle for the losers out there? Suddenly he pulled me into a tight embrace, bending to rest his head on my shoulder and neck. Hot breath tickled me. I squirmed. He held tighter, like reclaiming lost treasure. I thought I felt wetness on my shoulder. I reached up and rubbed his hair like when he was little. “Jake, I’m home.”

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Late that night, exhausted after a surgery, I saw my phone light up with a notification. It was from my intern. “I’m getting married tomorrow. Everyone must come!” Too tired to argue, I replied. “Congratulations. Unfortunately, I have a prior commitment.” But my intern threatened me. “You dare refuse? My fiancé is a major investor in this hospital. One word from me, and your career here is over. But if you show up tomorrow and work the serving line, I might reconsider.” Then, she flooded the entire hospital staff chat with wedding photos. I froze. The groom in the photos was my husband. The man I had lifted from nothing. The man I had built a life for. And here he was, throwing a wedding for his mistress? I immediately replied in the group chat. “Sweetie, I’ll be at your wedding tomorrow, right on time. I’ve prepared a grand gift just for you!” I arrived home to an empty house. It seemed my husband, Daniel Hayes, was still busy with his wedding preparations. When we first met, he was a broke college student. The investor he’d become existed only because of my family’s money. I smirked and called Mr. Jenkins, our butler. “Freeze all assets under Daniel’s name. Cancel every credit card. And prepare a grand gift for me. Have it delivered to the hotel hosting the wedding tomorrow.” The next morning, as I was walking out the door, a text from Daniel came through. “You’ve been working so many surgeries lately, you must be exhausted, my love. I’ll bring you a gift when I return from my business trip.” He played the role of the caring husband as usual. I replied. “Sure, I’ve got a little surprise for you too.” At the wedding reception, my intern, Tiffany Miller, held court in her white gown, glowing with triumph as she held court before our hospital colleagues. “My husband is the biggest investor in our hospital. I promise he’ll give everyone a raise soon.” Someone spotted me and immediately mocked. “Well, look who finally showed up. Dr. Reed, weren’t you too busy to attend?” A nurse beside her, eager to curry favor, tittered. “Oh, I heard she came to work. As part of the serving staff for Tiffany.” I couldn’t be bothered with these pathetic clowns. But when Tiffany saw my haute couture Chanel dress, her eyes flared with jealousy. “Fake designer? This is what you should be wearing!” She threw a grease-stained server uniform at me. Before I could react, she lunged, tearing at my collar, a sneer twisting her lips. “Old hag, nobody wants to see your body anyway, why don’t you just strip and change right here in front of everyone!” My strap instantly loosened, a large patch of skin exposed to the air. Gasps filled the room, and several leering, disgusting gazes immediately latched onto me. I shoved her away, clutching my dress. Then I grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the massive gift box. A foul, rotting smell drifted from it. I opened it slowly, deliberately. Inside were rotten cucumbers, black-spotted, soft and shriveled. Tiffany’s face instantly turned ashen. “Rachel Reed!” I replied. “Don’t you love used, rotten cucumbers? Here are 365 of them. One for every day of the year. That should be plenty to satisfy you.” Tiffany erupted in a furious scream. “Rachel! What are you saying? Who wants rotten cucumbers? You came here today just to start a fight!” “You’re just an old hag dumped by a man, jealous that I’m young, beautiful, and marrying well!” “I’m telling you, my husband will be here any minute, and with one word, he can get you fired from the hospital!” Tiffany was trembling with rage, lunging at me, trying to slap my face. I sidestepped, a cold smirk playing on my lips. “We’ll see who gets fired.” Tiffany exploded. “You bitch! You lunatic!” “You’re just jealous I snagged a rich man like Mr. Hayes, so you’re resorting to these pathetic tricks just to get attention!” I rolled my eyes. Her voice was grating on my nerves. “Tiffany, let me just confirm something. Are you absolutely sure you want to marry this man?” She lifted her chin, a picture of arrogant triumph. “Obviously. My Daniel is the hospital’s primary investor. Billions. The kind of wealth a doctor like you could never earn in your lifetime. Money comes easy to him.” “Marrying him makes me the rightful Mrs. Hayes, someone all of you will have to look up to!” A chorus of eager agreement rose from her clique. “Tiffany was born for this life. Unlike some, who at her age are still gold-digging!” “Dr. Reed, after this spectacle, how do you plan to stay in the department?” “Offending the investor’s wife? Your career here is finished.”

How utterly laughable. They accuse me of gold-digging? I wonder what expressions they’d wear if they knew I was the silent capital behind Daniel’s empire. My sole dream, since I was a child, has been to heal. This hospital was my father’s graduation gift. A place built for my ideals, a sanctuary where I could practice medicine without distractions. Daniel? What kind of investor was he? He was nothing more than a stray I could kick out anytime. Tiffany, seeing my silence, thought I was scared, and her smugness grew. She pulled out her phone, dialed a number, and deliberately put it on speakerphone. “Honey, where are you? I’m being bullied, hurry up and come!” “That Rachel from our department, she came to our wedding and caused a huge scene!” Daniel’s voice on the other end immediately panicked. “What? Rachel? Baby, don’t worry, I’ll be right there! Please, don’t let there be any conflict!” After hanging up, Tiffany’s chin lifted even higher. “Did you hear that? My husband is coming right now! Rachel, you’re dead today!” “Not only will you be kicked out of the hospital, but I’ll make sure you can’t work in the entire medical field!” The colleagues started whispering and pointing at me. “Oh no, she really pissed Daniel off now.” “Dr. Reed usually seems so smart, why is she so impulsive today?” “She’s in her thirties, acting like a teenager, jealous over a guy! What makes her think she can compare to Tiffany?” Tiffany looked at me provocatively. “Rachel, I’m giving you one last chance. For the sake of our time as colleagues, get down on your knees and apologize to me right now.” “And eat these damn rotten cucumbers, and I might consider asking my husband not to kick you out of the hospital.” “Otherwise, you’ll really pay for this!” I took a step forward, looking directly into her eyes. “You want me to kneel to you?” “Do you really think you’re worthy?” The next second, I yanked the marriage license from my bag and flung it at her face. “Open your eyes. The man you call your billionaire husband, Daniel, is legally married to me.” “You, you’re nothing but a mistress!”

The document hit Tiffany’s face, then fluttered to the floor. Tiffany froze for a heartbeat, then burst into exaggerated laughter. “Hah! Rachel, are you so desperate for a man you’ve gone insane?” “You actually forged it? Pathetic!” She snatched it up, her eyes skating over the text without truly seeing. “Fantasizing about my husband? Have you no dignity.” “I’d heard rumors about unhinged female doctors at this hospital. I never imagined it was you!” “Knowing my husband is an investor, you’ve completely lost all shame! What, are you going to drop your pants and spread your legs the moment you see him in person?” She turned to the surrounding guests and colleagues. “Everyone, judge for yourselves! This woman, just because she’s a senior in the department, is forging documents and spreading rumors that my husband is hers! Isn’t that ridiculous?” A doctor who usually flattered Tiffany immediately stepped forward. “Dr. Reed, we’ve known each other for years, how did we never realize you were so vile?” “Daniel is a powerful man! How could he ever be interested in an old hag like you! I advise you to leave now! Don’t make a fool of yourself here!” A group of people immediately started pushing and shoving me. “Get out! Don’t soil Tiffany’s wedding!” “You ungrateful, cheap whore!” I stumbled from the push, my lower back directly hitting the corner of a table. The exhaustion from ten hours of high-intensity surgery made my vision swim. I leaned against the wall, barely able to stand. Tiffany turned and splashed a glass of champagne in my face. “Hurry up and kneel to admit your mistake! I’ll be merciful and let you keep the job of waiting tables here at the wedding!” Just then, an unexpected person appeared. “Rachel, what are you doing here?”

I turned around, and froze. It was my mentor, Professor Peterson, a titan in the medical field. Ignoring the champagne on my face, I rushed to greet him. “Professor, what brings you here?” My mentor was the person I respected most. He had written my recommendation letter when I went abroad for advanced studies. He was like a father and a mentor to me. Professor Peterson patted my hand and sighed. “I heard a junior colleague was celebrating her marriage. I thought I’d come to offer my congratulations.” “I never imagined…” His gaze swept over the rotten cucumbers and Tiffany, who glared with resentment, and his brow furrowed. Tiffany immediately rushed over, sobbing. “Professor, you have to help me! She’s using her seniority to bully me!” Professor Peterson was known for protecting his own, especially the younger doctors in his department. “Rachel, what’s going on? Even if there’s a conflict, you shouldn’t be causing a scene at someone’s wedding.” Before I could explain, Tiffany twisted the truth. “Professor, Rachel is a total lunatic! She’s after my husband and came here to throw a fit and cause a scene! She even sent rotten cucumbers to insult me!” The colleagues around her also echoed her, twisting the truth. Professor Peterson listened to their words, his expression filled with disappointment towards me. “Rachel, you’re a cornerstone of our department, a role model for younger doctors. How could you do something so inappropriate?” “Quickly, apologize to her and take those things away.” A chill spread through my heart. Even my most respected mentor, without knowing the full truth, chose to believe Tiffany, the one who seemed like the victim. Tiffany then stepped forward, slamming a wine bottle directly onto my head. “You’re destroying our happiness. Don’t you know that brings bad karma, Dr. Reed?” “Daniel’s baby in my belly is three months old! It’s too late for you to try and get into his bed now!” Tiffany and her colleagues forced my head down to the ground. Glass fragments from the bottle instantly cut my face. But I just burst out laughing. How utterly hilarious! Pregnant? I pulled out my phone, ignoring the pain in my face, and sent a message to Mr. Jenkins. Tiffany froze, surprised by my laughter. I seized the opportunity to push her away and get back up. My eyes swept over the assembled crowd before locking onto Tiffany’s belly. “Since you want this child so badly, and you’re so desperate to be Mrs. Hayes…” “Then I’ll give you another grand gift.” Tiffany panicked. “What are you doing? What is this?” Seconds later, the hotel’s large screen lit up. Tiffany’s face paled the instant she saw what was on it. Daniel, who had just arrived, froze, his eyes locked on the screen.

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He crashed his car and lost his memory the day he chased after the woman he’d always loved. That same day, his mother and I made a deal. She offered a billion dollars. I’d take care of him, marry him, and give him heirs. For five years, we built a happy life. So happy that I forgot it began as a transaction. I let myself believe we were truly, madly in love. Then he saw a photograph of her. And he remembered everything. The day I got the positive pregnancy test, I watched him pull that woman into his arms and kiss her with deep affection. Jade POV It was my fifth year as Julian Hayes’s wife. The moment I confirmed his memory had returned, I called my employer. “Your divorce from Julian will be finalized within a month. I’ll send you the visa paperwork along with it.” My grip tightened on the phone. “Understood, Mrs. Hayes. Thank you.” A slight hesitation from the other end. “Are you certain? You truly want to divorce him?” My eyes closed, long lashes brushing against my skin. “Our agreement was clear. I may leave once I’m carrying his child.” “Very well. Once the child is born abroad, our arrangement will be concluded in full.” Not long after the call ended, my phone buzzed with a transfer notification. A billion dollars. And it wasn’t even the final payment. It was enough for lifetimes. Suddenly, a deep voice came from behind me. “Who was that?” My heart clenched. I turned. Julian stood in the doorway of our bedroom, having entered without a sound. He was impeccably dressed in a suit, tall and handsome, exuding an air of effortless sophistication and raw power. I managed a smooth, practiced smile. “Just a friend.” His gaze dropped to my hand.. “What’s that?” “Our five-year anniversary itinerary.” I folded the positive pregnancy test I’d been clutching and held it out to him. “Want to see it?” Julian didn’t move. His eyes, fixed on mine, were a turbulent, unreadable storm. “Cancel the anniversary plans. I don’t have the time.” But just half a month ago, he’d cleared his entire schedule for it. Ten days ago, we were still sweetly planning how we’d celebrate. His phone suddenly rang. Julian saw the caller ID, and his usually sharp eyes softened, a tenderness I hadn’t seen in days blooming within them. “I have to go out for something. Don’t wait for me for dinner tonight.” With that, he answered his phone and strode out, leaving me behind. Watching his retreating back, my heart felt like it was being pricked by countless tiny needles, a suffocating, unbearable pain. Julian and I had been inseparable, a loving couple for five years. Until five days ago, when everything changed. I don’t know where he got Isabella Stone’s photo, but upon seeing her face, he recovered from his five years of amnesia, remembering his first love. I’d vaguely heard that he and Isabella were once a perfect match. But five years ago, Isabella’s family went camping with Julian’s father. They were accidentally kidnapped by an anti-social, wealth-hating extremist. To save their own lives, Isabella’s family betrayed Mr. Hayes’s identity as Emerald City’s wealthiest man, leading to him being brutally murdered and dismembered by the extremist. The Hayes family was furious, unleashing their full power to ensure the perpetrators suffered a fate ten times worse. Isabella’s parents also quietly died in prison. Only Isabella was protected by Julian. And the day Isabella was forcibly sent abroad by Mrs. Hayes, Julian frantically chased after her, ending up in a car crash. When he woke up, he’d forgotten everything. That’s when Mrs. Hayes found me, and they made their deal. At the time, I didn’t know the inside story and even laughed, thinking Mrs. Hayes was desperate for grandchildren. Mrs. Hayes had said, “You don’t understand how deeply Isabella is ingrained in Julian’s heart. Any woman can marry into the Hayes family and bear a Hayes child, except her.” Over the years, to prevent Julian from ever getting involved with Isabella again, Mrs. Hayes had acted with ruthless efficiency, not only erasing all traces of Isabella’s existence but also making it clear in their social circles. Anyone in Emerald City who dared to mention Isabella again would be crossing the Hayes family. But after five years of peace, Julian still recovered his memory. After remembering everything, he almost immediately flew abroad. Just yesterday, I found out I was pregnant and heard he was returning. I eagerly rushed to the airport to meet him, only to see him walking out of the VIP lounge hand-in-hand with a woman. I drove after them, only to discover Julian hadn’t just brought Isabella back from abroad, but had settled her in a secluded villa he owned. Seeing him carefully hide Isabella away, my heart plummeted to my stomach. Right then, I knew it was time for me to leave.

Jade POV I packed up everything Julian had given me over the past five years. Except for the designer bags and sparkling jewelry, I told Maria to throw everything else away. Maria picked up a glass jar filled with paper stars and asked, “Ms. Miller, are these to be thrown away too?” Those colorful paper stars were ones I’d taught Julian to fold when he was hospitalized after his car crash. I remembered him then, newly amnesiac, with a volatile and erratic temper, no one could get close to him. The moment I pushed open his hospital room door, he’ threw a cup at me, hitting my forehead and breaking the skin, telling me to get out. Blood streamed down my forehead, but I wasn’t angry or upset. Instead, my gaze was soft as I asked if he’d hurt his hand. With the most gentle patience, I taught him to fold paper stars, accompanied him during his physical therapy, massaged his head when he had headaches, told him stories when he couldn’t sleep, and personally cooked him nutritious meals, ensuring no two were the same for a week straight. I attended to every little detail, never once complaining, finally earning his acceptance and affection. I still remember the day he was discharged. Julian knelt before me, holding a jar full of paper stars. “I told myself I’d fold one star for every bit more I loved you. Once the jar was full, I’d propose.” “Now it’s full, Jade. Will you marry me?” His words were sincere and profound, his eyes overflowing with a tender devotion that felt boundless. Our five years of marriage had been wonderfully happy, like a dream. But now, it was time for the dream to end. I softly told Maria, “Just throw them all away.” “Alright.” The call came just as I’d settled in for the night. It was Mr. Peterson, the butler. “Mrs. Hayes’s having Mr. Hayes disciplined. Severely. Please come and intervene!” I dressed and rushed back to the Hayes estate. From Mr. Peterson, I learned that Julian had tried to sneak Isabella back, but had failed to keep it from Mrs. Hayes. She had Isabella seized. Julian had raced home to plead for her. Mrs. Hayes was furious. “How dare you bring that woman back? Do you have no respect for your father’s memory?” “It was Isabella’s parents who harmed Dad. They’ve already paid the price. Isabella is innocent.” “Innocent? The daughter of the people who killed your father? She bears some of the blame too! Protecting her like this, you’re not only disrespecting your father but also Jade, who has stood by you all these years!” Julian frowned for a moment, his expression complicated, but his words were entirely in defense of Isabella. “Isabella has suffered enough these past few years abroad. I can’t abandon her.” Mrs. Hayes’s voice was sharp, her eyes blazing. “Are you saying you intend to protect her no matter what?” “If you still refuse to let Isabella go, then let me atone for her. I’m willing to accept any punishment, I only ask that you release her and don’t trouble her further.” I never imagined he would go this far for Isabella. His words stunned me, and Mrs. Hayes nearly fainted from rage. “Don’t you know, Jade… she…” “Mom!” Just as Mrs. Hayes was about to blurt out the fact of my pregnancy, my face changed dramatically, and I quickly interrupted her. I walked over, forcing a strained smile to soothe her. “We can talk this over. Please don’t be angry. It’s not worth ruining your health.” If Julian were to find out I was pregnant, the memory-recovered Julian probably wouldn’t let this child be born. Mrs. Hayes must have realized this too. She swallowed her words and angrily demanded of Julian, “Are you truly willing to accept punishment for Isabella?” Julian’s answer was swift and unyielding. “Yes.” “Fine then, I’ll grant your wish!” The Hayes family’s punishments were severe. He endured it in near-silence, teeth gritted, breath a ragged hiss, until the blood loss dragged him into unconsciousness. Throughout the ordeal, he gritted his teeth, not uttering a single sound, until he was barely clinging to life, losing consciousness from blood loss. After, they rushed the unconscious Julian to the hospital. Despite my pregnancy, I stayed by his bedside day and night, taking care of him. The peace shattered the next afternoon. The door to his room flew open without warning. The moment I turned, a sharp, unexpected slap landed across my face. Isabella stood there, fury incarnate. “You! You’re his wife! You were there! How could you just stand there and watch? How could you let them beat him within an inch of his life without saying a word? What kind of monster are you?!”

Jade POV I barely hesitated, raising my hand and slapping her back. “If it weren’t for you, would he have been punished? What right do you have to question me for not pleading for him?” Unexpectedly, Isabella was stunned that I’d hit her back, then became even angrier. “Jade, Julian has been so good to you these past few years. Is this how you repay him?” “What do you want me to do?” I wanted to plead for him, but he willingly accepted the punishment for the daughter of the woman who killed his own father. How could I possibly utter a single word of appeal? Isabella accused me furiously. “I never realized you were so cold-blooded. You don’t deserve to be with him!” I sneered. “I don’t deserve to be with him, but you, the daughter of his enemy, do?” “Enough!” Julian had woken up at some point. Isabella’s eyes immediately welled up, and she burst into tears, throwing herself into his arms. “Julian, you’re finally awake! Do you know how much you scared me?” Julian gently patted her back, his voice soft and low. “Did my mom bother you again?” Isabella shook her head, still crying. “After you accepted the punishment, Mrs. Hayes had her people release me.” Julian let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good.” Mrs. Hayes must have released Isabella because she didn’t want to completely alienate her only son and heir for her sake. Julian allowed Isabella to cling to his battered body. The scene looked like a loving couple, while I felt like an outsider, out of place and unwelcome. A heavy, suffocating feeling settled in my chest, and I felt a piercing, burning pain from the Datura tattoo on my ankle. So I quietly turned and left the hospital room. Julian stayed in the hospital for several days, and Isabella remained by his side for all of them. I knew better than to intrude on them at the hospital. I hired a nurse and had Maria deliver his meals three times a day. Maria also updated me on his recovery. One day, while I was engrossed in my sketches, Mrs. Hayes called. Mrs. Hayes asked about the baby. “The doctor said everything’s fine, no issues.” “You need to make sure you’re getting enough nutrition. Let me know immediately if anything changes.” “Okay.” Mrs. Hayes was silent for a moment. “Julian is being discharged today. Aren’t you going to pick him up?” My gaze fell, and the tattoo on my ankle seemed to throb faintly again. I pressed my lips together. “With Isabella there, I’d just be in the way. Besides, we’re getting divorced soon.” Mrs. Hayes sighed. “Jade, I’ve seen your and Julian’s feelings for each other over these years. If you’re willing to stay by his side, I can assure you, no one will be able to touch your position as Mrs. Hayes.” But no one could guarantee that Julian’s heart wouldn’t belong to Isabella. “Mrs. Hayes, our original agreement was simply for me to bear his child, take the money, and leave. That’s all.” To the world, I called her “Mom.” In private, I maintained a wall of polite distance-she remained “Mrs. Hayes.” I used the formality as a mantra, a reminder: This began as a transaction. Don’t get lost in the role. But after five years, I had gotten lost. Profoundly so. I had begun to imagine a real life, a real future with him. No one knew that my agreement with Mrs. Hayes wasn’t just about the money. I had actually met Julian when I was very young. Many years ago, he’d taken up residence in my heart. But as it turned out, what wasn’t mine would never truly be mine. After hanging up with Mrs. Hayes, I put down my pen and drove out of the villa. I found a tattoo parlor on the side of the road. The owner looked at the tattoo on my ankle. “This flower is beautifully and carefully done. Are you sure you want to remove it?” I said flatly, “Remove it.” “Alright. It’s going to hurt a bit, so bear with it.” I looked at the tattoo on my ankle. Julian had learned the art for me, etching a black datura onto my skin himself during our first married year. He’d asked what I wanted. I’d said a black datura. Julian had looked puzzled. “Why this flower? Does it mean something to you?” I’d smiled. “No. I just like it.” He never knew its meaning: a wandering love, a desperate passion that sees its own end clearly. Just like my love for him. Now the dream was over. My love for him was fading, wilting like the datura blossom vanishing from my skin. I left the tattoo parlor, the ghost of the needle’s sting still on my arm. I hadn’t even reached my car when a Bentley glided to the curb. The door opened, and Julian stepped out. He looked quite surprised. “Jade? What are you doing here?”

Jade POV As soon as he asked, Julian seemed to remember something, and his handsome face clouded over. “Are you following me?” I was about to say no. Isabella got out of the car. “I think it’s just a coincidence. Ms. Miller wouldn’t stoop to following us.” “It is a coincidence. I’ll be going now, you two carry on.” I turned to leave, but Isabella grabbed my arm. “We haven’t formally met. Since we’ve run into each other, why don’t you join us for a meal, Ms. Miller?” She turned to the tall, imposing man beside her. “Julian, you don’t mind if I invite Ms. Miller, do you?” Julian’s eyes flickered with a complex expression for a few seconds, but ultimately, he didn’t refuse her suggestion. I was led into the restaurant. After we ordered, Isabella smiled at me. “Ms. Miller, you might not know, but Julian and I started dating in college. Many of our friends envied our relationship.” “These past few years, even though I was far away abroad due to unavoidable circumstances, I’ve heard things about you and Julian.” “Ms. Miller, I’m very grateful that you took such good care of Julian these past few years.” Seeing her openly grasp Julian’s hand, I immediately understood. Isabella had invited me to this meal to stake her claim. I noticed Julian made no move to pull his hand away. I wasn’t surprised, yet my heart still ached as if tiny ants were gnawing at it. I didn’t reply, instead making an excuse to go to the restroom. When I came out of the restroom, I saw Julian, tall and imposing, leaning against the wall. His eyes were murky. “Jade, Isabella and I-” “You don’t need to explain. I understand.” I tried to leave, but he suddenly grabbed my wrist. “I know this isn’t fair to you, but she suffered so much alone abroad these past few years. If I hadn’t brought her back, she wouldn’t have survived out there.” A bitter ache tightened in my chest, forcing my gaze up to his. “Do you truly believe the Hayes would ever accept her?” He knew the answer. The Hayes would never accept Isabella. His lips thinned. “You will remain my wife. I won’t divorce you over this. But my heart…” But his heart was no longer mine. I thought of the past five years, how he’d rejected all flirtatious advances from other women for me, openly declaring I was his one and only, both in public and private. He remembered my every preference, my annual birthday, and every single one of our anniversaries. Even things I’d forgotten myself, he would meticulously remember for me. Yet that profound, devoted love was no longer exclusively mine. I forced a smile. “Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary.” “Jade…” “Just one more anniversary with me.” One last time. Because there would never be another. Let this be our final toast to what we once were. Julian was silent for a moment, then agreed. He released my hand, and I walked out of the restroom first, returning to our table. Julian and I leaving our seats one after the other had already displeased Isabella. Isabella watched me coldly. “What did you say to Julian?” I replied coolly, “None of your business.” “Jade, can’t you see by now? Julian loves me. I should be his wife! You’re just a thief who took advantage of his amnesia to steal five years of his affection for me!” Facing Isabella’s almost twisted fury, I sneered, “A thief is still better than the daughter of his enemy, isn’t she?” “Then I’ll make you see clearly whether it’s you, the thief, who matters more to him, or me, the daughter of his enemy!” Isabella exploded. She seized my wrists and slammed my palms down onto the red-hot stove burner. I didn’t even have time to react. A white-hot, violent agony shot up my arms and seared itself into my mind. Out of the corner of my watering eyes, I saw Julian rush over. Sensing him, Isabella instantly released me. With deliberate, chilling calm, she pressed her own hand onto the burner. A sharp, theatrical scream tore from her. “Isabella!” Julian was at her side in an instant. He saw her scalded hand, scooped her into his arms, and rushed out. “Julian-” I wanted to call out to him, but he was already gone. He never once looked back at me, even though my burns were far worse. Cold sweat drenched me. The pain ripped through every nerve, and soon, I fainted.

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Accidentally Stumbling into the Cow Herd Group, My gentle and virtuous sister-in-law is actually the top S-grade cow in there! Her job is surprisingly so thrilling! And my brother has no idea, even urging her to keep taking those supplements. Seeing her milk cravings gradually intensify, I could no longer hold back… I was playing with my newborn nephew, when a friend sent me a sleazy emoji, asking if I wanted some milk. I thought maybe my buddy Zach had a good source, perfect for buying some for my nephew, so I said sure, send the link. No link came, but an invite to join a group did. A QR code for a group called “Milk Cow Herd.” I couldn’t help but wonder, is it fresh-squeezed? Out of curiosity, I joined the chat. While waiting, I asked my friend what kind of milk it was and how the quality was. “I’m buying it for my little nephew, quality has to be top-notch!” Unexpectedly, Zach burst out laughing: “No way, no way, you really can’t tell what kind of milk this is?!” I frowned: “Stop teasing, just tell me!” Zach chuckled and dodged: “You’ll know once you join the group in a bit. Don’t blame me for not warning you—better find a private spot.” Knowing Zach’s personality, I figured it wasn’t that simple. Sure enough, after joining, it blew my mind. I went back to my room, locked the door, and as soon as I entered, a few messages popped up. “A-grade milk is pretty good, fragrant and thick.” “You’re new, right? I suggest trying S-grade—that taste is extra smooth, but S-grade is the most expensive.” “How expensive?” “One cup ten grand, direct five grand? Wait, no—$1,000 a cup, direct $5,000.” “Holy crap, but if it’s as good as you say, it’s worth it.” What the hell, milk at $1,000 a cup? The most expensive formula I’ve seen is like $100 a can. $1,000 a cup—this is sky-high! Scammers! Just as I was about to leave the group and report it, a chat log was sent. The group owner @ me: “Welcome new friend, check the chat history above for cow photos and prices. Like one, DM me.” I excitedly clicked in, wanting to see what milk was worth more than gold. What caught my eye was a photo of massive breasts! Snow-white peaks with a pink pearl right in the middle, a milky white droplet oozing from the tip of the pink pearl, making your mouth water. I sharp-eyed spotted a small star-shaped tattoo in the cleavage. This woman is so wild! Tattooing right in the middle of her chest. Below the photo: “S-grade, $1,000 a cup, direct $5,000.” Scrolling down, photos labeled A, B, C, D, all kinds. They were all stunning, but none compared to the first S-grade I saw. The round, full, perky curve really made you want to grab and knead hard. Looking at these photos had my face flushing, heart pounding, swallowing saliva repeatedly. I quickly called Zach; he seemed to be waiting, picked up in a second. “What the hell are you playing at?” My voice was trembling, body getting hotter, my lower half tightening as expected. Zach let out a wicked laugh: “Hahaha, how’s that? From your voice, I know you’re satisfied.” I was about to curse him out for this messed-up stuff—getting caught would be fun in jail. Then a door-opening sound came from outside, my heart jumped to my throat, I hung up immediately. I suddenly remembered—I came home specifically to see my newborn nephew, hadn’t told my brother yet. Hope they didn’t hear? In that moment, a sucking sound came from outside, seemed like in the living room. I held my breath, cracked the door to peek.

From the crack in my door, I saw a woman on the sofa across the hall. Her body curved in a perfect S shape. She cradled my newborn nephew in her arms. His tiny mouth latched onto her pink nipple. He sucked steadily. Each pull made her full, pale breast lift and fall in a slow, hypnotic rhythm. My gaze drifted lower without permission. Lingering on the soft swell. The way her skin flushed warm under his feeding. Then recognition hit. This was my sister-in-law. Heat flooded my face. I jerked back from the door. But my ears still burned. Pulse loud in my head. Something tugged at memory. I leaned forward again. Peeked carefully. My eyes fixed on her cleavage. There it was. A small star-shaped tattoo nestled right in the center. My stomach dropped. It matched the tattoo on the S-grade cow from the group photos. Exact spot. Same delicate lines. The curve of her breasts rose identical to those pictures. Full. Firm. Perky in the same impossible way. Skin so smooth it begged to be touched. Nipple still glistening from my nephew’s mouth. A sharp ache twisted low in my gut. Desire mixed with shock. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Every gentle bounce as she shifted sent a jolt through me. While I stood frozen, my phone rang loudly. The sound shattered the quiet. My heart slammed against my ribs.It was that idiot Zach! I panicked trying to silence it, then my sister-in-law’s voice rang out. “Who is it?” I turned off the phone, cleared my throat, and shouted out. “It’s me.” “ Ethan? You came back without saying anything.” I awkwardly replied: “Too tired, came to see the little guy and fell asleep.” Opening the door, my sister-in-law had already dressed, though a few drops of liquid still lingered on her jeans, unwiped. She’d put my nephew back in his room, asked what I wanted to eat—she’d cook. She wore tight jeans outlining perfect curves, a white blouse stretched to the limit by two massive melons, like they’d burst any second. Thinking she’s the top S-grade in the cow group, I choked. Emily was my brother’s second wife, kind, gentle, virtuous—no flaws. But if she’s doing that behind his back, I’ll find evidence and make her divorce my brother! All sorts of thoughts jumbled my mind. “There is no need, I’ll go back to sleep.” She nodded without saying more. I went to my room, opened my phone—Zach had sent several voice messages. Clicked the first: Zach still laughing. “Hey hey, you shy or what? Hahaha, didn’t think you’d be so innocent.” “I warn you, don’t report it! Heard someone did before—useless, and got a leg broken.” “Anyway, I haven’t tried yet.” He muttered low. Then Zach explained: $1,000 for fresh-squeezed to drink, $5,000 definitely direct from the source. Finally, seeing no reply, teased: “Where’d you go? Couldn’t handle it and went to jerk off?” I twitched, cursed: “You jerk off!” Ignored him after, reopened the group, found that photo again. The round curve, pink tips—identical to my sister-in-law’s. To confirm if S-grade was her, I messaged Zach to book S-grade, record the squeezing process. Then gritted teeth, transferred $1,000. Free milk—Zach happily agreed! Soon Zach said booked, time tomorrow 3 PM. Evening, my brother came home. I looked gloomy, not knowing how to speak. “Darling, remember to take the supplements I bought.” My brother set the fancy bottle on the table, eyes soft on Emily. I couldn’t help the quiet task. “She probably doesn’t need more, right?” Those breasts of hers were already massive, heavy and round, straining every button on her blouse. They looked bigger than my nephew’s head. Any more growth and the fabric wouldn’t stand a chance. Truth was, my brother looked worn out. Thinner since last time. Cheeks hollow. He was the one who needed boosting. He waved me off. “You wouldn’t understand.” I let it drop. Later that night, fresh from the shower, I collapsed on the bed. Phone lit up. Video from Zach. S-grade teaser, he wrote. I hit play. Pink sheer lingerie clung to her body. Thin fabric hid nothing. Full breasts swayed with every slow twist of her hips. Nipples dark against the pale material. Hard. Begging attention. She moved closer to the camera. Breath hitching audible. One hand slid up. Fingers hooked the strap. Pulled it down. A perfect breast spilled free. Heavy. Glistening at the tip with a bead of milk. She cupped it from below. Lifted. Squeezed gently. The pearl-hard nipple pointed straight at me. Another drop formed. Swelled. Fell. Her soft moan filled my ears. She pushed the breast toward the lens. Closer. Closer. Until the screen was nothing but soft, wet skin. Video cut to black. Heat slammed through me. Cock throbbed hard against my thigh. I pictured Emily in that lingerie. Those same full tits in my hands. Milk warm on my tongue. Imagined pinning her down. Sucking until she gasped my name. Tomorrow Zach would taste her for a thousand bucks. Direct from the source. Jealousy burned hot. Mixed with raw want. My hand moved down without thinking. Gripped tight. One stroke and I knew a cold shower wouldn’t be enough tonight. I needed her. Soon.

Next day, 2 PM. I reminded Zach to record—for evidence to show brother. But this guy no reply till 2:30. Seeing sister-in-law already out, I was antsy like on hot coals. Damn! Unreliable at crucial moment! Called Zach frantically, finally connected at 2:45. Zach weakly said he couldn’t go—got hit by a car just leaving. “What the hell, such coincidence??” Clenched fist—only me then. “Alright bro, rest; I’ll visit after.” “Wait—” Hung up, vaguely heard two words before disconnect. But anxious to reach by 3, ignored. Arrived exactly 3:01 at the door. Rushed, just threw on mask and sunglasses. Hope not recognized. Nervous, rubbing hands, rang doorbell. After a while, door opened. It was sister-in-law Emily. I lowered eyes disappointed. My brother treats her well, buys expensive supplements without question. Plus, he’s a factory owner, good salary. If in trouble, tell him—why do this? But in a flash, hid emotions, stared straight at Emily. She wore last night’s pink sheer, with her gentle calm face—made you want to hurt her bad. Wearing so little—not afraid clients go further while drinking?? “Mr. Zach, not coming in?” Sister-in-law unconsciously rubbed shoulders, her two melons squeezed together by arms. Her scent filled my nose. Entered, Emily pulled a black blindfold from bag, covered eyes. Sat on bed, lifted one side, exposed full melon. “Mr. Zach, I know you don’t want face seen—I blindfolded, come quick!” “Huh?” Her actions stunned me. Isn’t $1,000 just one cup? Her pose—like ready for direct mouth. She hesitated: “Mr. Zach, your $5,000 allows direct…” Suddenly, she smirked, grabbed me to bed, flipped and straddled. “Zach, don’t be shy.” “Once, there’ll be twice.” “I’m amazing.” She cooed, leaned down. Before I spoke, mouth blocked. Felt soft skin spreading over body, instinctively gripped her slim waist, making Emily moan. The big thing in mouth kept pushing in.

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I was harassed by a stranger on the subway, almost assaulted, when he showed up. He was the guy I’d been crushing on for over two years— my best friend’s cousin. With this kind of proximity, I had the advantage, so I made my move, seducing him in every way until I finally got him into bed. “Whew… just made it!” I squeezed onto the crowded subway, panting as I sat down and reached for my phone to text my bestie. But as I glanced down, I realized something was seriously wrong. My full, pale cleavage had two obvious points sticking out! To look good for reuniting with my long-lost best friend, I’d dressed up carefully today. Wanting cute photos, I wore a low-cut halter top with nipple pasties underneath, but now somehow… The train jolted, and without any real support, they started bouncing. That’s when a sketchy guy in a face mask shuffled over from the other side and sat next to me. I quickly hunched over, trying to hide it, terrified he’d notice. But the next second, a big hand landed on my back. Then it slid down, squeezing my waist—not too hard, not too soft. “Ah…” I couldn’t hold back a soft moan. Realizing what happened, I clapped a hand over my mouth. But the guy grabbed my wrist with his rough hand and pulled it toward him. My hand was forced onto his belt buckle. “You…” I started to yell, but he covered my mouth and leaned in close to my ear, whispering slowly: “Go ahead and scream if you’re not afraid of embarrassing yourself. Better yet, let the whole train know you’re going out braless.” “You don’t want this getting filmed and posted online, do you?” He had a point. The train wasn’t empty—if things escalated and it went viral, my life would be ruined. But this was public transportation; even if he had bad intentions, he couldn’t do much. Seeing me quiet down, the creep smirked triumphantly, let go, and pulled down his mask, revealing yellowed teeth. I gagged in disgust, but that seemed to piss him off. One hand clamped the back of my neck while the other unzipped his pants! My head couldn’t resist the pressure; I was forced to bend down, inching closer to his foul-smelling crotch. That’s when it hit me—I’d been wrong from the start. Endless tolerance only gets you hurt! Better to be embarrassed than assaulted by a stranger! “Help! Help!” I screamed. As I struggled desperately, the hand on my neck suddenly went limp. Then I was yanked into a warm embrace. “Get lost now, or I’m calling the cops.” A deep, attractive male voice sounded in my ear. The pervert was all bark and no bite; hearing that, he zipped up frantically and bolted off at the next stop. “You okay?” The guy’s tone was incredibly gentle. I slowly looked up at him. The moment I saw his face, I froze. I knew him—not just knew him, he was the senior I’d crushed on for over two years in college—Michael Gao! “I-I’m fine, thank you.” I looked down, mortified, wishing the floor would swallow me. Then I felt warmth on my shoulders. He took off his jacket and draped it over me. He glanced at me thoughtfully, then held out his phone. On the screen was a photo—a selfie of me and my best friend. “Sarah Jenkins is my cousin. She mentioned her bestie was coming today—it must be you.” “I’ve been staying at her place these days. Come. Come on, let’s head back together.” The guy I’d crushed on was my best friend’s cousin! Yeah, I’d told Sarah about my crush, but never showed her his photo and always just called him “senior.” If I’d known this connection, I’d have made a move ages ago! But… it probably wasn’t too late now. I gave him a shy glance and nodded.

Besties reuniting means drinks all around. Michael drank plenty too. By the end, Sarah passed out face-down on the table. But I wasn’t drunk. I knew some things you can only pull off pretending to be wasted. So I pressed a palm to my forehead. Acted dizzy. Slumped straight into his lap. My head rested against his thigh. Warm. Firm. “You’ve had too much.” Alcohol gave me courage. I reached up. Touched his face. “You’re so handsome, Michael.” Fingers slid slow down his cheek. Over stubble. Down his throat. Felt his Adam’s apple bob. Lower still. Along collarbone. Over the hard planes of his chest. When I reached his abs, his large hand clamped mine fast. “You’re drunk.” Voice low. Rough. Sexy as sin. “Let me take you to your room.” “Okay… to the room.” I pouted. “But I can’t walk. Carry me.” He didn’t hesitate. Arms slid under me. Lifted me effortless. “Good. I’ll carry you.” Michael stared down. Desire burned open in his eyes. Dark. Hungry. My heart raced. Thought I’d won. But then his gaze cleared. Control snapped back. He carried me inside. Laid me gentle on the bed. Knelt. Slipped off my shoes one by one. Tucked the blanket over me. Stood to leave. I kicked the covers off. Whined soft. “Michael… don’t go. I’m so hot…” “These clothes… too tight. Hard to take off…” “Michael… Michael…” I sat up swaying. Grabbed his hand. Yanked hard. He wasn’t ready. Stumbled forward. Fell over me. His full weight pinned me a second. Then he caught himself on one arm. But his free hand landed perfect—right on my soft chest. Palm pressed warm through thin fabric. Nipple hardened instant under the pressure. Electricity shot everywhere. Tingles. Heat. Wet rush between my thighs. Breath caught. Body arched up into his touch without thinking. He froze. Eyes locked on mine. Pupils blown wide. I couldn’t stop now. Too far gone. My smaller hand covered his big one. Guided it. Pressed firmer. Made him squeeze. Soft flesh filled his palm. I moaned quiet. “Michael…” Voice breathy. “Does that feel good?” “Mmm, ye—” Before he finished, he pinched himself hard and jumped off me. “Sorry, I drank too much. Rest well—I’m going.” He fled the room like he was escaping. I sighed and flopped back. Was I really not attractive to him at all? Or did he prefer sweet and innocent types, not aggressive ones? If so, tomorrow morning I’d apologize! No, that would be too obvious. I’d pretend I blacked out from drinking—remember nothing. Then build a pure, sweet-girl image and slowly break down his defenses until he fell for me! Lost in thought, I heard strange noises. Listening closely, they were coming from next door—Michael’s room! I tiptoed to his door; it was ajar, a small crack open. Peeking in, my eyes widened. Michael was shirtless, leaning against the headboard, lower half covered by a gray blanket, his hand moving rhythmically under it. Guys need release sometimes—understandable. But what shocked me: as his movements lifted the blanket edge, I saw he was holding something purple. That purple was my lace thong with ties—I’d just washed it and hung it on the balcony tonight! Smiling, I gently pushed the door open.

The door slid open silently. Michael had his head thrown back in pleasure, oblivious to me entering. Seeing him like that made me itch with desire—this man was irresistible no matter what. I crept slowly toward the bed. Just as I reached the edge, he sensed something and snapped his eyes open. The second he saw me, panic hit. Michael’s face flushed; he clutched the sheet tight around his waist. He tried to stand, but the blanket was too small—if he did, his back would be fully exposed. So he stayed seated, eyes darting away, refusing to look at me. Like a kid caught misbehaving. I bent down and picked up the thong he’d dropped in his panic. “Oh! Michael, this… isn’t this mine…” I pretended to be shy, coquettishly tossing it into his lap. “You’re so bad! Stealing my panties to do naughty things! I hate you…” “Sorry, I… I…” To my surprise, Michael just apologized—no excuses. No wonder I picked him—he was a good guy! I sat on the bed and pressed a finger to his lips. “Michael, I’m not mad. I just… don’t understand.” “Understand what?” he asked. I stared intensely and leaned closer: “I just don’t get it—I’m right here. Why use my panties when you could have me?” “And if you’re using those, you need the set—can’t do without the bra, right?” As I spoke, I reached back, unclasped my bra, and slid it off my arms. Then, teasingly pinching the strap, I dangled it in front of him. If he was holding back before, he completely lost it now. His eyes burned with raw desire, ready to consume me. He flipped me onto the bed. Roughly snatching the bra, he pinned both my wrists above my head with one hand. “Michael, what are you doing?” I asked innocently. He smirked, leaning close to my ear: “You.” Then he bit my earlobe.

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Three years ago, at a product launch, I punched my ex-wife Victoria’s then-boyfriend, Blake, so hard he went deaf in one ear. I was detained. Victoria filed for divorce the next morning. From a jail cell, I learned she’d married him. My friends knew how possessive I was, and they expected me to reclaim Victoria the moment I got out. Instead, I disappeared. Until my name was called out at a bustling tourist spot. “How many skewers do you want?” I asked politely, “And do you want extra spice?” Victoria’s eyes welled up. “You…you even forgot I never eat spicy food?” … My voice remained perfectly even, a flat professional courtesy. “Apologies. We serve hundreds of people a night. Safer to ask than to assume.” For a moment, the only sound was her sharp, indrawn breath, followed by the restless shuffle of the queue behind her. “Are you going to order or not? This is the TikTok spot. Move it or lose your spot.” Victoria stared at me for a long time, her eyes aching, before she finally lowered her head and quickly ordered a few skewers. “No spice.” I offered a polite smile. “Seven to ten minutes. Please wait over there.” With that, I bent my head, focused on the grill. Every movement was precise and efficient. Victoria stared at my cracked, swollen hands, then suddenly snatched the skewer right out of them. “Alex! Stop doing this!” I snatched the skewer back, a deep frown creasing my forehead. “Ma’am, please don’t interrupt my work. There are many other customers waiting.” The customer in line behind her sounded annoyed. “Are you out of your mind? You’re stopping the owner from making a living, do you want him to starve?” Victoria looked as if she’d been stung. “What do you guys know? Alex is completely wasting his talent here! You couldn’t possibly understand his ambitions.” The customers eyed me with amusement. “What, his old flame?” “I used to have big ambitions too, but now I drive a taxi every day.” “Right? I wanted to be a billionaire, but now I’m buried under loans.” Victoria looked at these people as if they were idiots, her eyes filled with disdain. “There’s no reasoning with you people.” She turned back to me, her eyes shining with fervor. “Alex, I…I believe you’re not doing this willingly. The code and programs you developed are the most brilliant things in the world. If you wanted to, you could make millions in a snap. Why are you wasting yourself here?” Before I could answer, her eyes reddened with self-reproach. “Is it because of me?” “I know what happened back then hit you hard, but I never imagined you’d fall into such despair, to end up like this…” Her eyes were filled with pity, as if I was doing something utterly degrading. My gaze remained calm. “Ma’am, if you don’t want to eat, I can cancel your order. Please don’t interfere with my business.” Victoria froze completely, her eyes a mix of disbelief and sorrow. She sat back down, tears welling up. “Who said I’m not eating? I want to eat.” I turned and continued to finish the skewers in my hand. Victoria ate while shedding tears, her eyes frequently darting towards me, hoping I would comfort her like I used to. But I only slightly frowned, then refilled her tissue box. “Ma’am, if you need help, there’s a police station about five hundred yards away.” At my words, Victoria finally couldn’t bear my indifference. She covered her face and ran off. It wasn’t until I was about to pack up my stall. Victoria, who had been hiding in the shadows for a long time, suddenly spoke. “How long have you been doing this?” She pulled out a stack of cash and placed it in front of me. “I’m here on vacation. If you spend two hours showing me around, you’ll earn more than you do with this stall.”

My gaze landed on the thick wad of cash. Three, maybe four thousand. Enough for the doll Lily had been eyeing for weeks. The skewers were sold out. Only an idiot would walk away from honest money. “Alright, I know this place inside out.” I smiled, taking the money, not feeling any embarrassment. Victoria’s voice was unsteady. “You…you never used to care about money like this. Small money.” “There was that time…some heir tried to buy me a drink for half a million. You broke a million-dollar bottle of cognac over his head. It cost us a deal worth ten times that.” Looking at my grease-stained, cheap T-shirt, her expression was indescribable. “Your skin is sensitive. You couldn’t wear cheap polyester. You only wore tailored pure wool suits, and even a pair of plain socks cost enough to buy your entire stall.” She couldn’t understand how the once dashing, extravagant man could have changed so much. I didn’t respond, just smiled and pointed towards the building on the distant cliff, like a castle in the clouds. “That structure, built right on the cliff face, is a local landmark.” I naturally introduced the attraction to her, then turned back to ask. “Have you been up there?” Victoria had been watching me, and she shook her head blankly. “Go take a look. When you see the vast world spread out before your eyes, you’ll understand.” I once thought I could never let go of Victoria. Now, thinking back, it was truly laughable. Victoria met my honest gaze, devoid of any love, and felt a pang in her heart. “Okay.” On the way up the mountain, I acted like a dutiful guide, enthusiastically telling her about the local culture and traditions. When we passed other vendors, I’d greet them cheerfully. “Alex, moonlighting as a guide again?” “Young people certainly have stamina, working late guiding tourists up the mountain for extra cash.” Victoria looked at my slender profile and quietly asked. “Do you often work as a guide?” I answered frankly. “Sometimes I show tourists around, but none of them are as generous as you.” I flashed a wide, genuine smile. Victoria finally realized, at that moment, that I was genuinely happy about this small sum of money I would have scorned before. It wasn’t about trying to get a rise out of her. “Alex, don’t be like this.” She suddenly grabbed my hand, her voice earnest. “Even if we’re divorced, I don’t want to see you fall apart like this.” “You’re not an ordinary person. Even if you’ve been to prison, you can still make a comeback.” She pulled out her phone and quickly typed in a bank account number. “I was always afraid to contact you. I thought you were doing well, but I never expected you to…This money is what I owe you. Take it and start a new business.” Without a moment’s hesitation, she typed in the amount: five million. I just watched Victoria, silent. She thought I was silently accepting the money, but then her phone screen flashed a notification: the recipient’s bank account was closed. She was completely stunned. “Alex…do you hate me?” She looked up at me, her eyes brimming with tears. “This is the account you opened when you proposed. The number was my birthday and lucky numbers. You said you’d keep it forever, that every time you spent money, it was saving happiness for me. Don’t you want me to be happy anymore?” My gaze calmly shifted to the man behind her. “Your happiness is here.”

Victoria paused, then slowly turned her head. Blake stood quietly not far away, extending his hand to her. “Honey, I’ve been waiting for you up here.” He pulled out his phone. “I messaged you hours ago to meet at the summit. I didn’t expect you to take so long to come up. I was worried something had happened to you.” Victoria stared at me blankly, my words echoing in her mind. So brief, yet so hurtful. Seeing Victoria didn’t move, Blake walked forward and took her hand, then whispered intimately in her ear. “Who’s this?” Compared to three years ago, I had a few more lines of hardship on my face, but my looks hadn’t really changed. Blake, however, deliberately pretended not to recognize me. Victoria stiffly introduced me. “This…this is Alex.” Blake gasped dramatically, covering his mouth. “My God, Alex. What happened to you? You look…weathered.” His disgusted gaze fell on my faded T-shirt. “Adidai? Alex, really. If you can’t afford the real thing, must you try quite so hard? Wearing such an obvious counterfeit…it’s just sad.” Then he realized he’d said the wrong thing and shrank back behind Victoria, looking scared. “I’m always blunt, I didn’t mean any harm. Please don’t hit me again. Victoria spent millions getting me a cochlear implant.” Blake’s eyes were full of provocation, but I didn’t react at all. Victoria had always considered Blake’s bluntness a virtue, but now it sounded grating. “Blake, enough.” Blake rolled his eyes at me impatiently, then whined to Victoria. “Okay, my dearest wife, it’s my fault, I spoke without thinking. But Alex really has changed so much from three years ago. I was just too shocked.” Blake pulled a premium black card from his pocket. “I just heard Victoria wants to help you, but your bank account must have been frozen three years ago, right? This card has five million in it. It should be enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life.” I reached out to push the card back, but Blake sneered, then let go. The bank card slapped against the muddy ground. Blake looked at me apologetically. “Oops, my hand slipped.” “I remember you used to be a germaphobe. But I guess after selling BBQ for so long, you wouldn’t have that anymore, huh?” “I heard street food from stalls is often unsanitary and disgusting. You don’t mind selling this stuff for money, and you’re quite hardy.” The customers nearby, holding their skewers, all looked disgusted, questioning their food. My gaze instantly hardened, fixed on him. Victoria thought I was about to hit Blake, and she nervously shielded him. I picked up the mud-stained bank card and tossed it into Blake’s chest. “Every ingredient here passes inspection,” I said, my voice calm and firm. “If you have proof of wrongdoing, feel free to report it.” My response seemed to tip the scales. Customers stepped forward to defend me. “The lamb and beef skewers here are freshly cut and skewered by the owner early in the morning. We all saw it!” “He even livestreams the whole process-from buying the meat at the market to marinating it. Everything’s clean. There’s nothing unsanitary about this place!” Blake tried to say something else, but Victoria, her face hardened, pulled him back. “Blake, that’s enough.” Blake reluctantly shut his mouth, not daring to say more. Victoria looked at my eyes, devoid of any warmth, and her fingers slowly tightened. “I apologize for disturbing you today. It won’t happen again.” “You…you’ve changed so much.”

Three years ago, Victoria promised that after the product launch, she’d announce our marriage to the media. But when I changed into my clothes, I saw Victoria walk onto the stage with Blake. She not only praised him as a tech genius but also blushed and looked down when reporters asked about her love life, letting the public assume they were a couple. I wanted to suppress my anger and confront her after the press conference. But then an intimate photo of Victoria suddenly appeared on my phone. The man in it was Blake, on stage, smirking at me, as if I was already a defeated man. Back then, I was young, hot-headed, and couldn’t stand any disrespect. I stormed onto the stage and landed punch after punch on Blake’s face, beating him senseless. Victoria also recalled the scene, giving me a bitter, slightly fearful smile. “If you had been as calm then as you are now, maybe we wouldn’t have ended up this way.” As soon as she said that, Blake’s face instantly went pale. I remained silent, not responding, inwardly calculating how much time I had left. Her eyes, complex, lingered on me, then she finally sighed. “Blake’s behavior just now was inappropriate. I apologize for him.” She took the card from Blake’s hand, carefully wiped it clean, then handed it to me. “Please take it. If you don’t, I’ll feel terrible.” Blake’s eyes were red with anger, but he still pretended to be magnanimous. My gaze was calm as I looked at Victoria, then I stepped back, creating distance between us. “Since your husband is here, I won’t bother you two anymore.” “I don’t need this money.” Saying that, I pulled out a few bills from the money Victoria had just given me. “I originally planned to be your guide for two hours. It’s half an hour short, so I’m returning a quarter of the money.” I pressed the money into Victoria’s hand and turned to leave. “Alex!” She yelled at me. “Can’t you just give in a little!” “Three years ago, just because Blake went on stage before you to introduce himself, you beat him deaf and refused to apologize.” “And now, because of your pride, you’re refusing my help.” “Don’t you know you’re only hurting yourself?” “Didn’t you say you wanted to build a career, to make something of yourself? Look at you now…Your mom’s dying wish was to see you settled down with a family, have you forgotten?” Seeing the shift in my expression, Seeing the shift in my expression, Victoria pressed on. “Take this. Live a decent life. Find a wife, have a child. Consider it…my compensation.” Just as she was about to press the card into my hand, a little girl rushed into my arms. “Daddy, why aren’t you home yet? Mommy and I were so worried about you.” I broke into a wide smile, hugging my daughter and kissing her. “I’ll take you home right now.” Victoria’s expression instantly froze, and her voice trembled. “This…is this your daughter?”

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