At the family banquet, my mother ordered the guards to drag me to the center of the hall. “She’s a fraud,” she said calmly. “Strip her of any claim to this family and apologize to your sister.” My brothers stood beside her, watching as my adopted cousin wore my gown, took my seat, and accepted the congratulations meant for me. They accused me of stealing her identity, her engagement, even her place in this family. In my past life, I was cast out as a disgrace that night and died alone. This time, as their voices rose in accusation again, I smiled. They didn’t know—I remembered everything. When my brothers let their foster sister live my life, they thought I’d just accept it. Given another chance, I’d make sure she faced every consequence. When I was eight, the family seer declared my fate was “too fragile” for the capital. So, they sent me away to live in seclusion at Solitude Peak, a place rich with ancient energies. I was supposed to stay until I turned eighteen. But when I finally returned to the family estate, I discovered the truth: For ten years, my so-called loving brothers had let their adopted foster sister, Mirabelle, live in my place, pretending to be me. At the birthday gala of my fiancé, she had the gall to push it even further. Mirabelle snatched the token of our engagement—a gift from my uncle, the King himself—and held it up for the room to see. Pointing at me, she announced, her voice dripping with false sympathy: “Lord Theron, I’m so sorry for this scene. Our… ward here doesn’t know her place. She dared to steal the engagement token the King gifted to us. She even tried to use it to impersonate me and deceive you. Don’t worry, once we’re home, my brothers will see to it she learns proper manners.” If this had been my previous life, I would’ve swallowed the humiliation, desperate to win a shred of approval from my brothers and their darling “sister.” But not this time. Because this time… I had been reborn. I stepped forward, snatched the engagement token from her hand, and threw it to the marble floor with a sharp crack. Then, I slapped her across the face. The sound was so crisp the room fell dead silent. “Mirabelle,” I said, my voice cold and clear in the sudden quiet, “you dare take what’s mine? You must be tired of your comfortable little life.” Everyone froze, stunned by my actions. The silence was thick with shock as people exchanged uneasy glances. Mirabelle, however, was completely thrown. She stumbled back, landing hard on the floor. For a split second, raw, venomous anger flashed in her eyes, but it vanished instantly, replaced by her usual wounded-doe act. She clutched her reddening cheek as tears pooled in her eyes. “Elara,” she whimpered, her voice trembling perfectly, “I know you’ve… admired Lord Theron from afar, but you and he… you’re from different worlds. Please, don’t humiliate yourself like this.” “Different worlds?” I echoed, taking another step forward. My gaze pinned her as I looked down at her carefully arranged misery on the floor. A cold smirk touched my lips. “My mother was a princess of the royal bloodline. My father is Alistair Blackwood, the Duke of Ravenswood, a man whose victories on the battlefield are legendary. My uncle is the King of this realm. I am the trueborn heiress of House Blackwood. And Theron?” I scoffed. “He’s the son of a minor baron. You’re right, Mirabelle—we are worlds apart.” “Elara! How dare you twist the truth like that!” The voice belonged to my youngest brother, Leo, who rushed over, his face a mask of panic. Close behind was my third brother, Marcus, who immediately bent to help Mirabelle up. “Mirabelle, are you alright?” Leo asked, his voice oozing concern as he cupped her face. His brows were knitted with worry, his tone soft as if she were spun glass. Mirabelle gave a weak shake of her head, tears brimming beautifully. She looked up at him with an expression so pitiful it could melt stone. Marcus, meanwhile, turned to Lord Theron with a composed yet stern look. “Lord Theron,” he said, his voice steady and authoritative, “Elara was a charity case in the Blackwood household. My father, out of mercy, took her in as a foster daughter. Clearly, she’s forgotten her place. She’s delusional enough to believe she could pass for a noblewoman—let alone your future wife. Allow me to summon my elder brothers. We’ll handle this matter according to family law.” At his gesture, a servant hurried off to fetch my eldest brothers, Edmund and Julian. The crowd, already buzzing, erupted into louder whispers, their words sharp and cruel. “She’s an imposter! Claiming to be the Duke’s daughter? The nerve!” “I heard the late Duchess loved her true daughter so much she traveled the kingdom, healing and praying for her. Can you imagine her fury seeing this fraud?” “And the Duke himself—he’ll be livid when he hears his real daughter was mistreated. He’ll make that girl regret the day she was born.” “Not to mention the four Blackwood brothers. They dote on Lady Mirabelle. They won’t let this slide.” “If I were her, I’d be groveling at Mirabelle’s feet right now, begging forgiveness.” “Just a country bumpkin trying to play dress-up. A crow in peacock’s feathers. Disgusting.” I let out a soft, humorless laugh, amused by the ridiculous gossip. They weren’t entirely wrong, though. When my parents returned and learned the truth, neither Mirabelle nor my so-called brothers would escape the fallout. Theron stepped forward then, aligning himself with Mirabelle and my brothers, his expression one of smug self-righteousness. “Of course, I take your word, Marcus,” he said, his tone eager to please. “Mirabelle is the very picture of grace and kindness. Someone like her,” he jerked his chin dismissively at me, “could never be the real thing.” He turned to Mirabelle, his gaze softening as he checked her over. Satisfied she wasn’t seriously hurt, he turned his disdain back on me. “And you,” Theron said, contempt dripping from every word, “just two nights ago, you came to me with that token, spinning tales of being the true heiress. Did you honestly think I’d believe you? I’ve known Mirabelle for years—her gentle heart, her noble bearing. And you?” He scoffed, his lip curling. “You’ve been playing a role for so long you’ve forgotten you’re nothing but a stray dressed up for the ball.” Perfect. Everything was unfolding exactly as I’d planned. Theron, oh Theron, if you hadn’t taken the bait and insulted me so thoroughly, how else was I to shatter this pathetic engagement?

When the old Baron Wynthor died and Theron’s family fortunes dwindled under his uninspired leadership, the once-proud House Wynthor grew desperate. That’s when they latched onto the might of House Blackwood, hoping to salvage their crumbling status through a marital alliance. In my previous life, Theron petitioned my uncle, the King, relentlessly for our betrothal decree. His performance of devotion fooled my uncle into granting his consent, gifting us a pair of matching signet rings as a symbol. At the time, I was far away, training in isolation at Solitude Peak. When the rings arrived, I was shocked. But my uncle had a good eye for character, and Theron’s reputation as a handsome, competent young lord was widespread. Imagine my devastation when I returned home to find Theron wrapped around Mirabelle, my so-called foster sister, showering her with affection. For the first time, I ignored my brothers’ warnings and secretly revealed my true identity to Theron, hoping he’d set things right. But he flew into a rage. He ran straight to my brothers, who, terrified Mirabelle’s deception—and their own complicity—would be exposed before our parents returned, decided on a permanent solution. They beat me to death with cudgels beyond the city walls. My body was left unburied, torn apart by scavengers by morning. After my death, the King was furious. Theron, ever the actor, knelt before the throne with tears on his face, swearing he’d always loved me, that he’d been deceived by villains. Such a man… a liar and a coward. Not the husband my uncle had envisioned. Mirabelle, the fool, thought marrying into the Barony meant endless wealth and status, blind to the fact Theron’s house was already on the brink of collapse. What a joke. Now, in this life, the crowd stood firmly on Mirabelle’s side. She shot me a fleeting, triumphant glance before demurely lowering her gaze. Her voice, sweet and soft, carried just the right note of heartbreak: “Elara, I’ve always thought of you as a sister. How could you betray me like this? Pretending to be me just to marry Theron… Don’t you care how much this hurts?” She pressed a trembling hand to her chest, her face a masterpiece of betrayed innocence. Her act was so convincing a wave of sympathetic murmurs swept the room. “Sister?” I sneered, my voice icy. “You think you’ve earned that title?” I stepped forward, my gaze sharp as a honed blade. “From the day you were brought into this house as a foster daughter, you’ve coveted everything that belonged to me. And every time, I let you have it. My dresses, my jewels, my books—whatever you wanted, I gave it. Even when you mistreated the staff, I covered for you, afraid my brothers would send you away if they knew. “And how do you repay me, Mirabelle? By stealing my betrothed?” I laughed coldly, the sound cutting through the whispers. “Your greed has no bottom.” Tears welled in Mirabelle’s eyes. She bit her lip, trembling like a leaf in a storm. The sight made the spectators’ hearts soften further. “Mirabelle, you’re too kind for your own good,” Leo said soothingly, patting her shoulder. “That’s why vipers like her think they can take advantage.” Three pairs of furious eyes locked onto me, their combined anger a palpable force. Theron, emboldened by their support, stepped forward and declared, his voice ringing out bold and clear: “I, Theron of House Wynthor, would never stoop to marry a creature like her! I swear, my heart belongs only to Mirabelle, and I will never take another woman as my wife—not now, not ever!” His words drew gasps of admiration. “Such devotion!” “Lord Theron is a man of principle! A true love story!” “And that shameless girl dared to interfere? Ridiculous!” I let out a soft, mocking chuckle, my eyes fixed on Theron’s face. “Are you sure?” I asked, my tone light, almost teasing. “You’re choosing her? Over me?” Theron shot me a look of pure disgust, as if my presence soiled the air. “You? A low-born wretch like you dares to ask? Even the stable boys at Wynthor Manor are above you. Marry you? Don’t make me laugh.” Laughter erupted around us, the crowd pointing and jeering. “Good,” I said quietly, my smile widening. “Your choice is made. No regrets?” “None,” he spat, his voice firm. “Perfect.” At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed. My eldest two brothers, Edmund and Julian, arrived, completing the cast. The sight of them brought back the memory of my previous life, of the day they stood over me, faces cold as they condemned me to death. ‘You dare defy us and expose Mirabelle? You thought you could steal her fiancé? You’ve gone too far!’ ‘Nothing but trouble since we took her in. Cut out her tongue.’ ‘The tongue isn’t enough. She can write. Better to finish it. Let the dogs have her. We’ll tell Father and Mother she ran away.’ ‘Yes. With her gone, Mirabelle can truly be the only daughter of House Blackwood.’ The memory sent a chill down my spine, but I clenched my fists, forcing calm. Now, everyone was here. And it was time to end this charade for good.

“Edmund! Julian!” The moment Mirabelle saw them enter, her eyes welled up on command. She looked utterly pathetic, the perfect victim. Julian, my second brother, shot me a venomous glare before turning to Mirabelle, his voice softening into syrup. “Mirabelle, don’t be afraid. Tell me everything. I’ll make sure justice is served.” “It’s… it’s nothing, really,” she replied with a weak, forgiving smile, her voice trembling slightly. “Elara’s just… jealous. She wanted to pretend to be the Duke’s daughter, but I understand. She’s naive, her head filled with silly dreams.” “She dares impersonate you?” Julian’s voice turned hard as he glared my way. Edmund’s brow was furrowed, his tone glacial. “We have one sister. That’s Mirabelle. Elara is a servant in this household, nothing more.” The moment those words left his mouth, I saw the same murderous intent I remembered from my past life. With his declaration, the crowd’s disdain for me solidified. Then a girl stepped from the crowd—Chloe, daughter of a minor lordling and one of Mirabelle’s most devoted followers. She crossed her arms, radiating righteous outrage. “This wretch even laid hands on Lady Mirabelle!” Chloe exclaimed. “I saw it myself last night! Poor Mirabelle’s back is covered in awful bruises!” “Chloe, please…” Mirabelle bit her lip, teary eyes glistening as she looked up. “Mirabelle, did she really hurt you?” Julian’s face darkened as he stepped closer, voice tight with anger. “I’m sure Elara didn’t mean it,” Mirabelle murmured, magnanimous in her martyrdom. “Please, don’t blame her because of me.” Her words, sounding like mercy, confirmed the story for the crowd. To them, she was the blameless victim, I the vicious aggressor. Mirabelle’s frail figure, trembling just so, deepened the crowd’s sympathy. My brothers stared at me like wolves eyeing prey. “Elara!” they barked in unison, eyes blazing. I arched a brow, turning to Chloe first. “The daughter of a fourth-tier court functionary presumes to address me so? Perhaps you should fetch your father before speaking further.” As her face flushed, I turned my cold smile on Mirabelle. “You claim I struck you? That you bear injuries? Fine. Let them be examined.” The words made both their expressions shift. Chloe’s face contorted with rage. “You filthy gutter-rat! You’re not fit to clean my boots! Mirabelle’s word is proof enough! Who else could have done it?” “Who knows?” I shrugged. “Perhaps you did it yourselves.” Chloe spluttered. Mirabelle’s lips quivered, tears falling like scattered pearls. She threw herself against Julian, sobbing. “To examine the marks… I’d have to undress! She wants to shame me, to ruin my reputation! How could I bear it?” Her words were fuel to fire. Theron, who’d been watching, jumped to his feet. “Elara, how dare you!” he roared. “Mirabelle is my future wife! I won’t allow her to be humiliated!” “Touch her and you answer to us!” Leo snarled, anger boiling over. “So malicious, Elara,” Marcus spat. “We should’ve gotten rid of you long ago.” I didn’t bother with their threats. I waved to a servant. “Bring a privacy screen. Let’s settle this properly.” Smack! The sound of a sharp slap echoed. A sting bloomed on my cheek. Mirabelle’s lips twitched with suppressed satisfaction, though her eyes couldn’t hide her triumph. “Well done, Edmund!” Leo cheered, clapping while the others smirked. Edmund glared, eyes cold with anger. “You dared hurt Mirabelle? That was mercy. Kneel. Apologize. Maybe we’ll spare you.” Smack! Before he finished, I struck him across the face. He stared, eyes wide, stunned silent. “Elara, you—” Smack! I hit him again. “You—” Smack! Three slaps total. Edmund’s face flamed crimson, blood trickling from his lip. He looked like a bull ready to charge. “Feel better now?” I asked calmly, voice empty. The room fell silent. The crowd was stunned. Edmund, heir to the Dukedom of Ravenswood, had been slapped—three times—in public. “Elara! Kneel and apologize to him now!” Leo bellowed. I let out a cold laugh. “Him? A Duke? That’s a joke. You’ve all forgotten where you came from. Shall I remind you?” My voice dripped contempt as I continued, “Father and Mother have one trueborn child. Me. The four of you? Orphans, taken in from the gutter after your wastrel father died in a brothel. You’re lucky to bear the Blackwood name.” Their faces paled, hands trembling. “Enough talk!” Julian growled. He handed Mirabelle to Theron, drew a dagger from his belt. “If you won’t kneel, I’ll take your hands. See how stubborn you are then.” “No need for that,” Edmund said coldly. He grabbed the dagger and plunged it toward my chest. The crowd gasped. “Die!” he hissed, eyes red with rage. Theron shielded Mirabelle’s eyes. “Don’t look, my love. It’s too ugly.” But there was no spray of blood. Just a metallic clang. Edmund stared, terror dawning, at the unyielding blade. “W-what…?” “Such a shame,” I said, smirking as I pulled my cloak aside, revealing the glint of golden scales beneath my gown. “A gift from the King. An enchanted breastplate. Quite impenetrable.” The dagger clattered as he stumbled back. Then a deep, thunderous voice cut through the tension: “You wretched fools! How dare you raise a hand to my daughter!” My father, the Iron Duke Alistair Blackwood, stood in the doorway, just returned from the border wars. The massive, blood-streaked greatsword on his back and the cold, battle-hardened look in his eyes made the boldest nobles shrink back. “The Duke… his presence is terrifying.”

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My wife was a master of the silent treatment. A flicker of unhappiness, a slammed door, and she’d be gone for ten days, sometimes half a month. I’d grown used to it, used to adjusting my emotions, smiling, and taking care of our son. Until the day I was helping Leo with his homework and saw his wish. “I wish Dad would disappear.” “He’s so scary when he loses it with Mom.” From that moment on, I finally woke up. Sunday nights were always the hardest to stomach. My procrastinating son was bawling his eyes out, trying to finish tomorrow’s homework, while Scarlett, the queen of the silent treatment, had her headphones on, lost in her game, probably having the time of her life. No one wanted anything to do with me. Leo, after being scolded by me, glared at me with resentment. Scarlett, annoyed, pretended I didn’t exist. I stood by the dining table, clearing the dinner mess, silently convincing myself it was all my own doing. But my heart ached unbearably. Late that night, Scarlett retreated to the study, Leo finally fell asleep with tears still clinging to his eyelashes, and I stood in the bathroom, staring at my exhausted reflection. This was the third month Scarlett and I had been locked in this silent battle. Three full months, long enough for me to almost forget what started it. Under the same roof, she hadn’t said a word to me, and I stubbornly held my ground, silently declaring war right back. She was in the wrong; I wouldn’t apologize, but I couldn’t sleep. I walked into Leo’s bedroom to pack his school bag. I looked down, and then I saw the new notebook I’d bought him lying on his desk. In the ‘Wishes & Rewards’ section, written in his childish handwriting: “I wish Dad would disappear.” I rubbed my eyes, my first thought being that I’d misread it. Clutching the notebook, I walked into the living room. I read the line again. “I wish Dad would disappear.” “He’s so scary when he loses it with Mom, he drove Mom away.” I collapsed onto the couch, feeling a hollow ache I’d never known before, a pain so deep it turned into numbness. The study light flickered on, and Scarlett emerged, a radiant smile on her face – that spring-breeze glow she usually reserved for others. The moment her eyes landed on me, it vanished, replaced by her usual glacial stare. She said nothing, picked up her car keys from the coffee table. As she walked past me, I caught the faint scent of her perfume. Gardenia. I’d picked it out for her in college when we were dating. Back then, she was just a girl who wore black-framed glasses and T-shirts with jeans, never bothering with makeup. I slowly helped her discover a new style, and chose my favorite perfume for her. “Wearing perfume to meet people always leaves a good impression.” She’d said she’d cherish everything I chose for her. And she’d been using it ever since. The familiar scent slowly prised open my heart, and sweet memories of our past flooded my mind. I thought of our ridiculous war, of my deeply loved son. The pain Leo brought me made me desperately search for a point of leverage. I was about to give in to Scarlett again. I couldn’t stop myself from standing up, grabbing her arm tightly. “Scarlett, let’s talk, properly.” She shook off my hand. I saw her phone screen lit up, showing an active call. It was late. Who was she talking to this late, and why had she specifically put on perfume to meet them? “Scarlett, are you heading out? I’m waiting downstairs. Seriously craving some BBQ.” A young man’s voice came through the phone. His clear, youthful voice instantly reminded me of what started this silent treatment. I quickly turned to walk away, but Scarlett grabbed me back. A slight smirk played on her lips, her eyebrow arching. “Beg me, and I’ll stay with you and Leo.” She always loved seeing me broken, begging for her mercy, especially now, with another young man vying for her attention. Her staying would be a mere condescending charity.

A bitter laugh escaped me. “Beg you? Was Leo born solely from me? Aren’t you his mother?” “Is caring for our child my responsibility alone? Don’t you have any?” “Do you even realize how messed up our son’s mind is right now?” Scarlett frowned again, pressing her lips together. She looked at me like I was insane, snatched her coat, and slammed the door shut behind her. Leo’s notebook, with his wish for me to disappear, was still on the couch. Scarlett had left the study light on. It was always like this. Whenever there was a problem to solve, she’d either lightly fan the flames, watching me lose my mind, or she’d simply ignore everything, turn around, and slam the door. The slamming door woke Leo. He padded out of his room barefoot, standing at the doorway, staring in the direction his mom had left. He walked over to me, picking up the notebook I’d tossed on the couch. He didn’t seem worried that I’d seen what was inside, only frowned and accused me. “Dad, why did you make Mom angry again?” I ignored him. Downstairs, a car engine rumbled to life. After a few powerful revs, a black car peeled out, disappearing into the night. Tomorrow, I’d have to bike Leo to school again. I looked at the notebook clutched in Leo’s hand. And those eyes, so much like his mother’s. For the first time, I profoundly realized how trapped I’d been by her all this time. I dragged myself into the bedroom, collapsing onto the bed. I closed my eyes, and “Dad disappear” appeared before me in bold letters. Honestly, I’d never once lost my temper or yelled at Leo. To avoid conflict, I’d even gone to great lengths, sacrificing my dignity to appease Scarlett. I’d begged Scarlett to come home, begged her to hug our son. I couldn’t sleep. My phone screen lit up on the nightstand. A SnapChat message from my neighbor, Mark Sullivan. “Heard your wife slammed the door and left again. You two fighting? You okay?” Mark and I had met when I was selling my handmade items on eBay. Back then, Scarlett was giving me the silent treatment, cutting off my allowance to force me to give in. I had no income and had to pick up odd jobs to make ends meet. As it turned out, we were neighbors. He even bought my stuff, supported my small business, and checked in on me. I heard Leo close his bedroom door. I replied: “Thanks, Mark, I’m fine.” I woke up the next morning feeling utterly drained. My eyes were swollen almost shut. Scarlett was back, the lingering gardenia scent now completely drowned out by the heavy smell of alcohol. She noticed me, her gaze lingering on my face for only a second before darting away. This wasn’t the silent treatment; she frowned, walked into the bathroom, making thinly veiled jabs. “Seriously, who are you trying to scare looking like that?” I knew she was waiting for me to snap back, to watch me lose it, and then she’d leave again, indifferent. But I was tired. I said nothing. She looked at me, a flicker of something I couldn’t quite place in her eyes. Then, with an overly affectionate smile, she went into Leo’s bedroom. “Come on, sweetheart, Mom’s taking you to school today.” Two completely different attitudes, as if she were two different people. They walked out hand-in-hand, chatting intimately. No one cared about me. It felt like two sharp blades piercing my heart.

When I opened the door to take out the trash, I ran into Mark. He saw me and practically pulled me inside his apartment. He handed me an ice pack wrapped in a towel, his eyes filled with concern, his brow furrowed. “You doing okay?” His concern reminded me of Scarlett when we first got married. Back then, Scarlett and I were broke. In a city like NYC, where every square foot cost a fortune, all we could afford was a tiny, rundown basement apartment. We squeezed onto a small bed, and the bathroom and kitchen were shared, quite a distance from our room. One day, I’d just finished cooking and was carrying the dishes to our room when I collided with someone rushing past. I instinctively angled the hot dish toward myself, and a large patch of skin on the back of my hand was badly scalded. When Scarlett came home from work, I was afraid she’d worry, so I wore gloves. But she still noticed. I quickly pulled my hand back, smiling, saying it didn’t hurt at all. Scarlett looked at my hand, fumbling to apply ointment. Back then, her eyes were red too, tears flowing endlessly. She cried, rubbing her eyes, “Daniel Miller, I promise I’ll give you the best life in the world someday!” That night, she held me, talking softly all through the night. “Daniel, I won’t let you get hurt again.” Even now, I believe she truly loved me then. But when did she change? Now, she and I were like two ticking time bombs, strapped together. The smallest friction, and we could explode at any moment. Of course, Scarlett was the silent type of bomb, a dud that didn’t explode with a bang but rather released a terrifying, suffocating smoke that seeped into every corner of my life. It made me gasp for air, made me want to scream until my throat was raw. When I got home, they were already gone. The kitchen was cold, and on the wet bathroom floor lay Leo’s discarded clothes. There were several dirty shoe prints in the living room. I sat on the couch and opened my laptop. I started drafting the divorce papers. My education was just as good as Scarlett’s. Before becoming a stay-at-home dad, I graduated from a prestigious university, passed the bar exam, got my license, and worked as a practicing attorney for two years. I used to pull in a six-figure income, won many cases for my clients, and was a rising star in my field. The turning point came after Scarlett got pregnant. She was at the most crucial, high-stakes phase of her career, with a brand-new, incredibly demanding project landed squarely on her shoulders. That meant frequent business trips, endless meetings, and being on call constantly. One late night, she came home, dragging her tired body, and held me in silence for a long time. Then she said, “Daniel, I’ve done the math. My income is going to grow fast, and the project bonuses are substantial. But if both of us are pushing ourselves this hard, what happens when the baby comes? Leave them with a nanny? Can you really do that?” She looked into my eyes, her voice gentle yet firm. “I know this isn’t fair to you. But a reliable nanny outside would cost almost as much as your current after-tax salary. And… who could be as dedicated as a biological dad?” I wavered. She seized the moment, taking my hand. “Just a few years. Once this project stabilizes and I’ve established myself, we can hire a professional household assistant. Then you can go back to work. With your abilities, I know you’ll be fine. For now, let’s consider this a strategic division of labor for our future, okay?” She gently placed my hand on her swollen belly. “See? The baby needs their dad too.” That one sentence shattered all my defenses. I was overwhelmed by a sense of being intensely needed, even “sanctified.” I envisioned myself as the indispensable, powerful father providing security for our child. When I submitted my resignation, my mentor sadly patted my shoulder. “Daniel, think carefully. Once you leave this legal world, it’s incredibly tough to get back in.” I just smiled, my heart full of anticipation for my new role. Looking back, Scarlett’s silent treatment began subtly around that time. Perhaps when I truly shed my professional identity and spent my days revolving around bottles and diapers, the “sharpness” she once admired in me faded. I slowly transformed from a “partner in arms” to merely an “appendage dependent on her income.” And her change in attitude was like a dull knife slowly carving away at me, little by little, eroding my sense of self-worth.

It was almost evening by the time I finished drafting the divorce papers. Scarlett hadn’t brought Leo home yet. Out of habit, I started worrying about Leo’s homework, then I raised my hand and slapped myself hard. “Even as a dad, I need to be tough. Like his mom.” Then Scarlett called. But the voice on the other end was Caleb’s. “Daniel, it’s me. Scarlett’s had too much to drink and can’t get home by herself. Can you come pick her up?” “You take her home, you two seem pretty close, don’t you?” I glanced at the divorce papers on the table, then changed my mind. “Forget it, I’ll go get her.” I hung up and rushed to the party room as fast as I could. Inside, it was a chaotic mix of people. Besides Caleb, who had called me, everyone else was a stranger. But they all stared at me, their eyes filled with accusation, as if blaming me for not being a good stay-at-home dad. Scarlett was sitting at the head of the table, her face flushed, still raising an empty glass to drink. Leo was next to her, his schoolbag tossed on the floor. Caleb, looking trendy as always, had Leo perched on his lap, chatting away with him. So this was how she took care of our son. No wonder my years of slogging away at home, raising Leo, couldn’t hold a candle to her occasional ‘fun’ outings. I hadn’t even stepped fully inside when Leo shrieked. “Mom, I’m not going home with Dad! Dad’s just going to make me do homework again!” Leo started screaming, dodging around like I was a monster, which finally prompted Scarlett to pretend to open her eyes. “Don’t worry, sweetie, Mom’s here.” Then, someone else in the room started lecturing me with earnest advice. “Daniel, don’t hold a grudge with Scarlett. She’s been crashing at my place for nearly two months now because of you.” “Mine too! Scarlett’s been staying at my house for almost a month, my husband’s even started complaining.” Caleb, who was still by Scarlett’s side, stepped forward. “Daniel, when Scarlett and I talk, she often mentions you and Leo. She really does care about you guys.” That’s when I realized this call wasn’t really for me to pick up Scarlett. They wanted me to break down, get on my knees, apologize to Scarlett, and beg her to come home. I scoffed. “Always with these ‘poor me’ stories. Can’t she just come home herself? Doesn’t she have legs?” “I work my ass off taking care of our son at home, but that’s not ‘suffering.’ She throws a fit and slams the door, and that’s suffering?” “If living it up outside is ‘suffering,’ then maybe you and I should switch places, Scarlett. Stop pretending to be drunk.” “Do you want me to talk about what you’ve done in private, or right here, in front of everyone?” Caleb, who was still beside her, instantly paled. “Daniel, those were all misunderstandings.” Misunderstandings? Fooling around and almost cheating on me while drunk, and when I confronted her, she couldn’t answer, so she gave me the silent treatment instead. Scarlett’s face turned cold again, and she said nothing. She shot Leo a dark look, and he instantly slumped, dragging his feet towards me. As he walked, he kept looking back longingly at Scarlett, hoping she’d call him back. That way, he could keep playing and wouldn’t have to do schoolwork. It was her subtle way of telling me to get lost, taking Leo with me. She wanted to stay here and enjoy herself. Why was it always like this? I was completely fed up. I stood my ground, pulling out the divorce papers.

“Scarlett, we’re getting a divorce.” The noisy room instantly fell silent. Scarlett Hayes finally looked up at me. Her eyes were predictably clear and sharp. Seven years of marriage, no matter how bad our fights got, I had never once mentioned divorce. Scarlett knew my personality: once I decided on something, there was no turning back. She rose from the leather couch in a panic, covering the distance between us in a few steps. “Are you serious?” She was finally willing to look me in the eye and speak normally. She looked down at Leo, then scoffed, “Daniel, if you want a divorce, you’re not getting Leo. He’d rather be with me anyway.” “Stop messing around.” Scarlett was convinced I’d fight for Leo. She wasn’t blind; she knew how much I’d endured and suffered for him over the years. Leo clung tightly to his mother, glaring at me with resentment, as if terrified I’d snatch him away. “Dad, I don’t want you. I want Mom.” Caleb also walked over, a knowing smirk on his face as he advised me. “Daniel, at your age, without a house or a job, you won’t get custody of Leo.” “Just take Leo home. There’s no point staying mad at each other overnight.” I clenched my jaw, my knuckles white on the divorce papers. I knew what I’d face when I came here, but seeing everyone’s disdain and disapproval still made me falter. But no. I pinched myself hard. I reminded myself: Daniel, you have to be ruthless. Softness is a weakness to those who love you, but to those who don’t, it’s just a joke. “Scarlett, don’t worry.” “When we divorce, I don’t want Leo, and I don’t want the house.”

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Three years ago, he saved me from a burning wreck. After that, he became the only light in my world. Until I heard him laugh to his best friend. “Her?” he said, his voice dripping with contempt. “Just a compliant little puppet.” Now I knew. Even our fated meeting was a lie. In my arms, I held his iPad. It hummed with every guarded secret of his empire. He used to whisper that the private videos were keepsakes of our love. Now I knew the truth. They were his special gift for my brother’s IPO day. He came home late one rainy night, tipsy, his eyes drifting to the date circled in red on the calendar. “Baby,” he smiled, a familiar, cruel amusement in his eyes. “I was just thinking about the unforgettable surprise I have planned for you that day.” I looked up and smiled back. “What a coincidence. I’ve prepared quite the surprise for you, too.” Vivian’s POV “Maxwell, level with us. You never actually fell for Vivian, did you?” A low, mocking chuckle drifted from inside the room. Outside the door, my hand froze in mid-air. The motion of knocking died instantly. Then came that familiar voice-lazy, smooth, and utterly cold. “Fall for her? Vincent is the biggest rival I’ll ever have. I live to watch him burn.” He paused, as if remarking on the weather. “His sister was merely a convenient pawn.” A deafening buzz exploded in my head. My blood ran hot, then ice-cold in an instant. I clutched Maxwell’s iPad to my chest – a device he never let leave his side. It held the very lifeblood of the entire Maxwell Corporation. Tonight’s meeting was critical. I’d been so worried he might forget this vital thing that I’d rushed here from the yacht, just to deliver it. My every thought had been for him. For Maxwell. But now, I was the punchline to a cosmic joke. The chatter and laughter from inside the room continued, every humiliating word twisting like a knife in my chest. “Ha! I knew it. So the plan’s still a go? You’re really releasing those videos when Vincent’s company rings the bell?” “Of course.” Maxwell’s voice carried a note of grim satisfaction. I’m just deciding on the perfect delivery method. That day is the gift. I think he’s going to love it.” Videos… My mind reeled back again. One hour earlier. The master suite of the private yacht was bathed in a soft, intimate light. My hair, a wild tangle, was splayed across his sculpted chest. My voice came out raw, spent. “Please, stop filming.” How did Maxwell respond then? His chest shook with a quiet laugh. Leaning in, his hot breath brushed my ear, the cold light of the phone screen washing over my flushed skin. “Good girl.It’s just for me. A keepsake, for when I’m away and missing you.” He always knew how to make refusal impossible. I had believed it was the ultimate intimacy. Now I knew it was a “special gift,” meticulously wrapped for my brother and me. Three years of tenderness. Starting from that perfectly staged ‘rescue,’ to every promise breathed into my ear-it was all an elaborate lie. “You have to admit, Maxwell, it was brilliant. That ‘out-of-control’ race car crash three years ago. Without that masterful performance, do you think Vivian-that pampered little heiress-would have ever let you play her for three whole years?” Three years ago, a race car spun out of control. He pulled me from the burning wreck like a guardian angel. He was my hero. The only light in my world. Even that meeting had been a lie. The iPad in my hand weighed a ton. I was the pathetic clown in this twisted tragedy. Just an hour earlier, Maxwell had kissed my forehead, that familiar gesture. “I have an important meeting. The captain will take you home. I’ll be there as soon as it’s over.” I’d nodded, believing I was the happiest woman alive. Happy? “Miss?” The waiter’s voice pulled me back. I shoved the iPad into his hands, my own trembling violently. “Give this to Maxwell. Please. Just…say you found it. Don’t tell him I was here.” Before he could reply, I turned and ran, as if escaping, rushing into the elevator.

Vivian’s POV I don’t even know how I got back to the villa. The villa was pitch black. This was supposed to be Maxwell’s and my safe haven. Our matching couple’s slippers were still in the entryway. Photos from our trip to Europe hung on the wall, and his suit jacket, which he’d casually tossed aside that morning, lay on the sofa. Every single thing, at this moment, felt like it was mocking my stupidity. My phone vibrated in my pocket, jarringly loud in the dead silence. I mechanically pulled it out. The screen lit up – Vincent. I answered. Before I could speak, tears streamed down my face. No sound, just uncontrollable sobs. “Viv, what’s wrong? Are you crying?” Vincent’s voice was always so gentle, always the first to sense when something was amiss with me. “Vin…” I only managed one syllable. My throat felt choked with cotton, unable to form words. “Did that jerk Maxwell hurt you?” Vincent’s voice instantly turned icy. He never liked Maxwell, enduring him only because I did. I bit down hard on my lip, swallowing my sobs. I couldn’t tell him. I knew my brother too well; he’d rush over without a second thought, even if it meant risking the entire Vincent family fortune. That was exactly what Maxwell wanted. He’d spent three years setting this trap. I couldn’t let my brother fall into it because of me. I took a deep breath, forcing calm into my voice. “No, we… we just had an arrangement.” “Vin, I’m tired. I want to come home.” Silence hung on the line for a few seconds. “Then come home.” His voice held a solid, unwavering strength. “Don’t think about a thing. I’ll take care of everything.” “I’ll find you a fiancé who actually deserves you.” “Break it off. Handle what you need to, and come back. Now.” “Okay.” I nodded, the rain mixing with the salt of my tears, a bitter taste on my lips. “I’m sorry, Vincent. For all these years of making you worry. I’m coming home. I’ll listen to you now.” After hanging up, my legs gave out, and I couldn’t stand anymore. I rushed into the bathroom, turned the water to its hottest, and scrubbed myself fiercely from head to toe. My skin turned crimson, as if I were trying to rub off a layer. Dressed in clean clothes, I sat at my desk and opened a new diary. The rain beat down outside. My hand, holding the pen, hadn’t quite stopped trembling. One: Get rid of all his things. Two: Resign from the dance company. Three: Say goodbye to everyone in this city. Four: Delete the videos from his phone. I took out my calendar and found the date of Vincent’s company’s IPO – Wall Street’s bell-ringing ceremony. I circled it heavily with a red marker. Downstairs, the sound of a key turning in the lock. “Circling the date so you won’t forget?” A voice, lazy and laced with the scent of whiskey, came from the doorway. My body stiffened, the pen scratching a jagged line across the paper. Maxwell leaned against the doorframe, the first two buttons of his shirt undone. His eyes were glazed, a slow, knowing smile on his lips. “Baby, I was just thinking about the unforgettable surprise I have planned for you that day.” I closed the diary, lifted my head to meet his gaze, and forced out a stiff smile, “Oh really? What a coincidence. I’ve prepared quite the surprise for you, too.”

Vivian’s POV Maxwell seemed intrigued by my words. He walked over and embraced me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder. A wave of nausea washed over me. I fought hard against the urge to push him away. “Oh?” His breath warmed my ear. “What surprise has my darling prepared for me?” My heart pounded, but I feigned composure, my nails digging deeper into my palms. I turned my head slightly, maintaining that stiff smile. “What kind of surprise would it be if I told you now?” I paused, then lowered my voice even further, “By the way, Maxwell, should we invite my brother that day?” Maxwell’s body visibly stiffened. The arm around me tightened instinctively, causing a pang of pain. Then, he let out a low chuckle. “Sure,” his voice returned to its usual lazy tone. “Let him see whose man his most cherished sister belongs to now.” “Bowing to love, it’s embarrassing, but for you, I’ll accept it.” His words were filled with tender affection, but to my ears, they sounded only incredibly ironic and sickening. Every word reminded me of the cruel truths I had just overheard. I lowered my eyelashes, hiding the coldness in my eyes. I had to delete those videos. I turned around and deliberately wrapped my arms around his waist, tilting my face up with a fragile, dependent expression. This was what I had become most adept at over the past three years. “We just fought, and I’m so sad.” My voice had a slight nasal quality, making it sound like I was pouting. “I messaged you, but you didn’t reply.” I stood on my tiptoes, reaching for the phone in his suit pocket. “Let me see, are you chatting with other girls again?” This was a familiar game between us. Before, Maxwell would always laugh and let me play the jealous girlfriend, even actively unlocking his phone and handing it to me for inspection. He said his phone was always open to me. Today, however, he easily sidestepped me, caught my outstretched hand, and kissed it, his eyes hazy with drink yet terrifyingly clear. “Easy, baby, don’t fuss.” His voice was still gentle. “I just finished talking business. My phone is full of company secrets; it’s not convenient for you to look.” My heart sank. This man was incredibly wary. He might not suspect I knew anything, but his inherent suspicion meant he never relaxed his guard. Especially not after he had just finished discussing that conspiracy with his associates. It seemed I would have to find another way. I didn’t press further, obediently retracting my hand, a hint of appropriate disappointment on my face. “Okay.” I turned and walked to the bathroom. When I came out after a shower, Maxwell was already lying in bed, seemingly asleep. His phone lay on the bedside table, screen down, just inches from him. I moved quietly, inching closer. The man on the bed suddenly rolled over. My outstretched hand froze in mid-air. This man, even in his sleep, was incredibly vigilant. It seemed I really had to wait for another opportunity.

Vivian’s POV From that day on, I was like a different person. The next morning, Maxwell was still asleep when I started clearing out my walk-in closet. Everything he’d given me, or things we’d bought together as a couple, I packed into trash bags. Maxwell woke up, frowned at the chaotic scene on the floor. “What are you doing so early?” I didn’t look at him, just said flatly, “These things are old. I don’t like them anymore.” “If you don’t like them, throw them out. I’ll buy you more,” Maxwell said dismissively, yawning. “Are you still going to the dance company today?” “No,” I tossed the last designer bag into a sack. “I’ve already quit.” Maxwell was fully awake now. He grabbed my wrist, his brows deeply furrowed. “Quit? Why? Don’t you love dancing more than anything?” I looked up, meeting his gaze with calm eyes. “I’ve been dancing for so many years; I’m tired. I want to rest.” Maxwell stared into my eyes for a long time, as if trying to discern something, but my gaze was as still as stagnant water. Finally, he relented, pulling me into his arms and ruffling my hair. “Alright, dancing is too exhausting. I’ll take care of you from now on. You can do whatever you want.” His fingers slid down my spine, carrying a strong suggestive undertone. “Besides, baby, I don’t want any other man seeing your soft waist.” My body stiffened. I pulled away, pretending to be busy. “You should get to the office. I still have to finish tidying up.” After Maxwell left, I immediately called housekeepers to haul out all those dozens of trash bags, leaving everything sparkling clean. As soon as I finished, breathing a sigh of relief, my phone rang. It was a text from an unknown number, the message outrageously arrogant. “Vivian, tonight at seven, the New York Charity Gala. Dare to come and I’ll show you who the real mistress is. I’m Maxwell’s fiancée, Chloe.” Fiancée? I stared at those three words and just found it laughable. Turns out, I wasn’t even a girlfriend, just one of his many pawns. That evening, I arrived at the charity gala in a simple white gown and instantly became the center of attention. Soon, a woman in a fiery red dress, covered in glittering jewelry, approached me with a glass in hand. It was Chloe. “You’re Vivian?” Chloe sized me up, her eyes dismissive. “I thought you were some beauty queen. You’re nothing special. Maxwell told me he’s breaking up with you soon. If you’re smart, you’ll disappear now. Don’t wait to be publicly kicked out; it’d be too embarrassing.” I didn’t even bother to lift an eyelid, just responded with a flat, “Oh.” Whatever fiancée he might have, it no longer stirred a single ripple in my heart. My indifference infuriated her. Clearly, she had never been ignored in her life. “What is that attitude?!” she shrieked, then raised her hand and violently splashed the red wine in her glass all over me! The cold liquid instantly soaked my pristine white gown, leaving a large, glaring stain across my chest. A collective gasp swept through the crowd. Chloe, far from satisfied, took another menacing step and shoved me hard toward a decorative staircase. “How dare a mistress wear white? Have you no shame?” Caught off guard, I fell hard, my body twisting awkwardly before impact. A sickening crack echoed as my forehead slammed into the sharp edge of a marble step. White-hot pain exploded behind my eyes, and my world went black. The hall plunged into chaos. Chloe was winding up for another kick when a voice, cold as a blade, rang out from the entrance. “Chloe. Do you have a death wish?”

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The year I turned ten, my mother remarried, and we moved into the Hayes estate. My stepbrother, Asher Hayes, called me a parasite. Once, he pushed me down the stairs. He just stood there, his eyes glacial, watching me bleed on the floor. “Don’t get it twisted. Your home-wrecker mother marrying my father doesn’t make you family. I’ll make sure you’re gone. One way or another.” He shredded my homework. He ruined my school skirts with permanent ink. The humiliation never stopped. No matter how hard I tried to please him, his cruelty was a constant. Then, in college, his best friend Finn Miller told me he had feelings for me. Miraculously, from that day on, Asher left me alone. I let Finn into my bed. I saw him as my salvation. The very next day, I overheard them talking. Asher’s voice was pure venom. “Did you get it on tape? Her first time?” Finn laughed, the sound cruel and satisfied. “Of Course！She was like a dead fish in bed.” I sobbed silently. My salvation was just another layer of Asher’s revenge. He had no idea I’d just submitted my application to study abroad. I was never coming back.

Asher took a slow drag from his cigarette. “We ruin her reputation. Then we’ll see how long she dares to keep freeloading.” “What if she can’t take it and…does something drastic?” Asher shot him a look, a cold scoff escaping his lips. “You sound worried. Don’t tell me you actually fell for her.” Finn’s denial was instant. “Never! She was just a game.” “Chloe’s coming back. You think I have time to waste on Blair?” I stood frozen outside the door, my heart turning to ice. Chloe Davis was their childhood friend, practically family, and Finn’s first love. I knew Asher hated me. In his mind, my mother’s affair drove his mother to jump. So his grief hardened into rage, and I was its new target. Even after I started dating Finn, Asher’s disdain never faded. But the outright torment stopped. I thought he was finally starting to accept me. I thought I was finally getting a brother, that I could pour all my hope into something normal with Asher. I never imagined it was a setup, worse than anything he’d done before. He and Finn were best friends. How could I have been so naive to think Finn actually liked me? I had overestimated myself. A hard lump rose in my throat, bitterness flooding my mouth. I turned and fled the house like a woman possessed. It was pouring outside. I was soaked. The moment I got home, I fumbled for my phone and texted Professor Sterling. “Professor, I’m in. I’ll join the project abroad.” He’d been my mentor through the international circuit, a heavyweight in smart technology. used to kill myself trying to be the best-all for a shred of recognition from my family. But no one ever noticed. Not my mother. And certainly not Asher. The project was highly classified, meaning I’d be locked in a lab for three years. I’d turned it down without a second thought. None of that mattered now. Still shivering from the rain, I curled into a tight ball and fell into a feverish sleep. I woke from a nightmare, my skin burning. As I tried to push myself up for medicine, my bedroom door slammed open. Before I could speak, my mother stood there, her face twisted with rage. She hurled a stack of photos directly at me. “Blair! How could you? Are you so desperate you’d sleep with anyone?” Finn had taken those photos after I blacked out. My vision went white. A cold, hollow despair bloomed in my chest. They hadn’t wasted a single night. By morning, copies of those photos were everywhere. Just two days before, Finn had been swearing on his life. “I’ll take care of you. We’ll get married right after graduation.” He’d plied me with so much alcohol, and eventually, I caved under his constant pressure. He’d pulled me back to bed repeatedly, and I’d let myself get lost in the moment, caught up in what I thought was love. Seeing my silence, my mother kept pressing. “Say something! Who did this? If these get out, Mr. Hayes and I will be a laughingstock!” She never cared about me, only about herself. But when I choked out Finn’s name, my mother fell silent. Then the accusations began. “Finn Miller? His family is untouchable. Do you have any idea what you’ve dragged us into?” “And you were together, weren’t you? Even with proof, what can we possibly do? You should have known better than to let it get this far.” I stared at her, my eyes widening in pure disbelief. She avoided my gaze. “The photos have been taken down. People will forget soon enough.” Finn’s family had power and wealth the Hayes couldn’t challenge. The door clicked shut. I looked up and saw Asher standing at the top of the stairs, a cold smirk on his lips, his gaze gleaming with undisguised triumph. He’d expected this all along. The truth was irrelevant. A wave of helplessness crashed over me, pulling me under. I slumped against the wall, sobbing uncontrollably.

My phone lit up and wouldn’t stop. One notification after another, each a new harassing message. Their words were vile, turning my stomach. My hands trembled as I blocked every single number. My mother said she’d arranged a long leave of absence from school for me. I wouldn’t have to go back. I didn’t want her to know about my plans to go abroad, so I’d have to go back to school myself to handle the paperwork. She was always too busy to care about me; she probably wouldn’t even notice I was gone. Even though the photos had been deleted, almost everyone around me knew what had happened. Their gazes were filled with scrutiny and mockery, accompanied by whispers. “She always seemed so innocent, but underneath it all, she’s apparently a total slut. Who knows how many guys she’s been with?” “Who knows, maybe she’s got some kind of STD. Stay away from her.” A tidal wave of shame and terror crashed over me. My heart tightened painfully, and I somehow managed to leave the university. Walking in a daze, I was suddenly blocked by a group of men. The leader pulled out his phone, showing my intimate photos, his eyes raking over me in a sickening way. “That’s you in these photos, right? Nice body.” “So you like to get wild, huh? What’s your rate per night?” “Come hang out with us, dollface. I want a taste of Finn Miller’s girl.” My body stiffened, and I instinctively took a half-step back. “What do you want?” They exchanged disgusting grins, and without a word, overpowered my struggles, dragging me into the dark alley. They snarled, pressing down on me. “Get off me! Don’t touch me!” But my hands and feet were pinned, leaving me powerless to fight. All I could do was watch as their filthy hands reached for my body. The sound of tearing fabric filled my ears. “Don’t struggle. No one’s coming to save you. If you make it enjoyable for us, maybe we’ll go easy on you.” I bit down hard on my lip, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. Taking advantage of the moment they started to undress, I quickly pulled out the small pocket knife hidden in my bag. My hand trembled as I held the blade. “Don’t you dare come any closer!” The first time I was harassed, my mother told me it was my fault for “dressing provocatively,” and that I shouldn’t wear skirts anymore. But I was wearing my school uniform. If Asher hadn’t shown up then, I would have been completely lost. Ever since then, I’d always carried a small pocket knife. The fear in my heart reached its peak. But they just smirked, unfazed, even trying to snatch the knife from my hand. In the struggle, the blade sank into my chest. The leader’s eyes widened in panic, as if afraid of a murder charge. He let go of me. I collapsed to the ground, blood soaking my clothes. My vision blurred, darkness closing in. But I could still hear them whispering as someone made a call. “Asher, we’ve got a problem. She just stabbed herself.” Asher’s voice came through the phone. “Is she dead?” Then Finn’s voice. “Asher, you’re a real psycho. You actually hired goons to jump her.” Asher scoffed. “I just wanted to scare the shit out of her. If she’s suicidal, that’s on her, not me.” “If she’s not dead, just dump her at the hospital. Make sure she never finds out who sent those guys.” My heart felt like it was being brutally squeezed, the pain almost suffocating. So… he really wanted to destroy me. Then, the words I’d accidentally overheard him say resurfaced in my mind, chilling me to the bone. “I know my mom’s death wasn’t her fault, not really. But I still refuse to let her have any peace.” “My dad might feel guilty towards them, but I sure as hell don’t.” Tears streamed down my face, unstoppable. I finally lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, I was in a hospital bed. Finn was sitting beside me. When he saw me open my eyes, he immediately leaned closer, concern etched on his face. “Blair, baby, you’re finally awake! I’ve been worried sick.” When I didn’t respond, his gaze flickered nervously. “I saw those photos, Blair. I’m so sorry. I was out drinking, got totally wasted, and someone must have grabbed my phone by mistake and posted them.” “Don’t worry, I made sure they were all taken down. And don’t give it another thought. I don’t care about any of that.” I watched him, my heart a dead, empty space. He was the real culprit, yet he was playing the savior. If he hadn’t relentlessly pursued me when I was at my most vulnerable, Finn and I would never have been together. But before I could speak, his phone rang. He murmured softly into the phone, then turned and walked out, not even sparing me a glance. Finn had barely left when Asher walked in. He looked at my miserable state, a sneer twisting his lips as he spoke. “Guess where he’s running off to? Chloe’s back in town, and she’s apparently having trouble sleeping. He’s gone to comfort her, probably put her to bed. He’s not going to protect you anymore, so don’t get any ideas.” At his words, my body trembled uncontrollably. Chloe Davis was their childhood friend, practically family, and Finn’s first love. Asher’s mom used to say Chloe looked just like her, so Asher had always spoiled Chloe rotten, giving her whatever she wanted. I cherished Asher, truly wanted him as my brother, and always tried to do right by him. But it never mattered. One word from Chloe and I was forgotten. I closed my eyes, a self-mocking smile twisting my lips. Only now did I truly see it: neither Finn nor Asher ever truly cared about me. Normally, I’d be scrambling to apologize, trying to win him over. But I just turned my head away, my voice flat. “Got it. It won’t happen again.” Asher paused, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “Finn’s not here, Blair. Who are you trying to play pitiful for?” He stormed out. My injuries were severe, so I stayed in the hospital for a full week. My mother heard about it, sent me some money for the hospital bill, then left on a business trip with Mr. Hayes. She never even came to see me. I was alone even on the day I was discharged. I took advantage of their absence to start packing. There wasn’t much to take, really. Most of the things I once held dear were just Asher’s handouts, things he’d given me out of pity. Now, they meant nothing. The only thing that mattered was the bracelet my grandmother had left for me. My grandmother raised me until she passed away; that’s when I moved in with my mother. My grandmother had personally placed the bracelet on my wrist before she died, wishing me a safe and smooth life. But when I opened the box, the bracelet was gone. Vanished. I searched the entire room but couldn’t find it. It wasn’t until I checked the security footage that I saw Asher had taken it. But he wouldn’t answer my calls. When I finally found him, he and Finn were in a private room, throwing a birthday party for Chloe. Someone from the group chuckled, “Finn, you broke up with your smarty-pants girlfriend. Why don’t you send her my way?” Finn just glanced at him, saying nothing. Asher, though, flicked his cigarette butt into an ashtray, his voice cuttingly cold. “Why ruin Chloe’s birthday by talking about her? Don’t even mention her name, it’s a buzzkill.” My fists clenched. The moment I pushed open the door, everyone inside fell silent. I met Asher’s chillingly indifferent gaze, and cut straight to the chase. “Give me my bracelet back.” Before he could open his mouth, Chloe lifted her wrist, a delicate bracelet glinting. “You’re not talking about this, are you? Asher gave it to me…” One glance, and my heart clenched. It was Grandma’s bracelet. “That bracelet is mine. It’s incredibly important to me. Please give it back.” Asher scoffed, his voice like poison. “So what if it is? You live under my roof. Everything here belongs to me. I can take whatever I damn well please.” My nails dug into my palms, crescent moons blooming in my flesh, but I felt nothing, just a cold numbness. “You can take anything else, but not this. That was my grandmother’s…” Just then, Finn cut me off. “It’s just a damn bracelet, Blair. I’ll get you a new one, okay? Chloe loves this one, so let’s just call it your birthday gift to her.”

With a few dismissive words, he’d sealed the bracelet’s fate. A flash of smug triumph crossed Chloe’s eyes. “That’s right! I really love this bracelet. Just name your price. I’ll pay whatever you want.” But I stubbornly shook my head. “I don’t want money. I just want my bracelet back.” Asher glared, his voice sharp. “Give you an inch, and you’ll take a mile, won’t you? If you’re not going to take the money, then get out!” Chloe grabbed his hand, her voice soft and placating. “Asher, don’t be mad. I’ll talk to her.” She walked closer, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “Don’t think that just because I was gone, you could play sweet for Asher, or hook up with Finn to be his girlfriend, and replace me. I’m always going to be the most important person to them.” “You want the bracelet? Fine. If you genuinely get down on your knees and beg me, I might consider giving it back.” My breath hitched, a silent gasp caught in my throat. It was the only thing my grandmother had left me. Thinking of her kind, gentle face, my heart felt like it was being brutally squeezed by an invisible hand. Slowly, deliberately, I bent my knees, and knelt down right there, in front of everyone. “Please, give it back to me.” Asher and Finn just sat on the couch, watching with cold indifference, making no move to stop me. “You really are pathetic, aren’t you? You think getting on your knees and playing the victim will work? Who are you trying to emotionally manipulate here?” Chloe tilted her head, her eyes glinting with a chilling malice. “Okay then. Here.” The words had barely left her lips when she released her grip. “Oops. My bad. Slipped.” She’d done it on purpose. Absolutely. My chest heaved, my vision blurring with rage, and I slapped her so hard my palm stung. The next second, I was brutally shoved, sent sprawling right onto the scattered pieces. Finn scooped Chloe into his arms, comforting her, gently blowing on her reddening cheek. Asher’s face was thunderous. “Blair! How dare you hit her in front of me? Apologize to Chloe, right now!” His words were like a thousand knives, slicing my heart to ribbons. When I stayed silent, he continued to mock me. “Do you actually think that pathetic bracelet from a dead person is worth all this? How much longer are you going to be a psycho about it?” My whole body trembled, and then, unable to take another second of it, I slapped him. “Asher! It’s not a worthless piece of junk! It’s the most important thing I have, and you had absolutely no right to give it away!” “She deliberately shattered it. I’m not apologizing.” Asher, his face a mask of fury, stomped right on the scattered pieces. “I actually felt a shred of pity for you. You really know how to push my buttons, don’t you? So invested in this damn bracelet, huh?” “Hold her down! Make her press her forehead to these broken pieces! She’s not leaving until she’s done it ninety-nine times!” Someone quickly pinned me down, forcing my head to repeatedly hit the sharp shards. A sharp, agonizing pain radiated from my forehead, but it was nothing compared to the searing pain in my heart. In moments, warm blood trickled down my cheeks, splattering onto the floor. My face was a mess of blood, and I was barely conscious through the pain. Asher felt an inexplicable tightness clawing at his chest. “Do you finally get it?” I didn’t utter a sound. He scoffed. “Keep going. Until she understands her place.” Finn suddenly spoke. “Asher, she’s going to get seriously hurt if this keeps up.” Asher just casually waved his hand. “What, Finn? Feeling sorry for her? Don’t forget who took those photos.” Just then, Chloe suddenly slumped, collapsing dramatically. Finn scooped her up without a second thought, not even sparing me a glance as he turned and walked out. His face was etched with a panic I’d never seen him display, not once, for me. Asher looked at me, a flicker of irritation in his eyes. “See? Finn never cared about you. Don’t dream about what isn’t yours. You don’t deserve it.” “You lay a finger on Chloe, and you’ll answer to all of us. She’s family.” After they left, I dragged myself to the hospital to get patched up. I was just stepping back out onto the street when Professor Sterling called. “Blair, we might have to leave earlier than planned.” Back at the hospital, Asher found himself feeling an odd, unsettling restlessness. Back at the hospital, an odd, gnawing unease had settled in Asher’s gut. He shook the feeling off and walked into Chloe’s room, only to find her beaming, phone in hand. “I still can’t believe it! ” she chirped. “Asher, Finn…you actually made Blair disappear. All for me.” The instant the words left her mouth, both men’s expressions hardened.

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The storm raged outside. I’d just settled into my first-class seat when a flight attendant approached, her expression apologetic. “Ms. Sterling, I’m terribly sorry. Due to overbooking and the captain’s request, we need you to take the next flight out.” My eyes darted to my seat. There, wrapped in my husband Blake Harrison’s pilot jacket, sat Chloe Davis, his childhood sweetheart. She was curled up, her face half-buried in the uniform collar. “Ava, I’m so sorry…It’s just so stormy, and I’m so scared…” I ignored her, pushing past the flight attendant and heading straight for the cockpit door. Blake emerged from his seat. His gaze was cold, final. “Ava, Chloe’s always been timid. She only feels safe when I’m flying the plane. As my wife, you should understand. Let her have the seat.” “So you do remember I’m your wife?” I let out a dry laugh. “Three years ago, when my appendix nearly burst and I begged you to fly me home for surgery, what was your excuse?” Blake’s frown deepened, his annoyance plain at being challenged in front of so many people. He closed the distance between us, his voice dropping into the cold, condescending register he used on junior staff. “Regulations prohibit transporting an unstable patient. It was a policy call.” My gaze shifted past him to Chloe. Her phone screen glowed in her lap, the lock screen showing a brazen selfie taken from inside a cockpit, her cheek pressed against Blake’s in the pilot’s seat. A fresh wave of fury crested in me. “And you must know the regulations prohibit taking passengers into the cockpit for photos?” Blake stiffened, a flush of anger creeping up his neck. “Chloe was curious. I let her look for one minute. That’s all.” Just then, Chloe let out a sharp yelp. The paper cup in her hand “slipped,” sending a splash of scalding water across her own skin. “Oh! That hurts so much!” Blake’s head snapped toward a flight attendant. “What are you waiting for? Get a burn kit. Now!” Then he turned to me and ordered the flight attendant to escort me off the plane. A staff member stood awkwardly beside me, holding my carry-on. I snatched it from his hands and stepped back into the relentless rain, soaked through in seconds. I stood there, watching the plane bearing my family’s crest taxi toward the runway. Finally, I pulled out my phone and made a call.

I spent the night in the VIP lounge. Early the next morning, a SnapChat from Blake appeared: a screenshot of a $5,000 transfer. A voice message followed seconds later, his tone dripping with condescending reassurance. “Last night was an emergency. Sorry for the inconvenience. Use this to book another first-class ticket, or buy yourself a bag to cheer up. Chloe’s young and fragile. Don’t pick fights with her.” I didn’t reply. I just blocked him. The house was silent when I returned. On the table sat a neatly wrapped gift bag-Blake’s “apology,” delivered after he landed the night before. I opened it. Inside lay a bottle of perfume, a generic staple from the duty-free shop. The irony was almost physical: it was the exact “man-magnet” fragrance Chloe had raved about on her social media. Before I could even move to throw it away, the front door slammed open. Blake was back. He still hadn’t grasped the gravity of anything, walking in with a couple of his co-pilots, their laughter and casual banter filling the silent house. Chloe followed close behind him, clinging to his arm like a trophy. When he saw me on the sofa, Blake’s smile wavered for a second. He walked over and gave my shoulder a patronizing pat. “Why are you ignoring my messages? Still in a mood?” “My friends are here. Chloe even bought groceries to cook as her way of apologizing. Be the bigger person.” His co-pilots joined in, their voices a chorus of false diplomacy. “Blake does care, Ava. He bought you that perfume.” “Come on, Chloe’s not as strong as you. Just let it go.” I sat perfectly still, watching them. Watching them systematically dismantle my feelings and expect me to smile through it. Then I rose slowly, my eyes locked on the hand he still had on my shoulder. “Take it off.” Blake froze. “Ava, are you serious? I told you it was a special situation! Can you stop being so unreasonable?” I picked up the freshly printed documents from the table and slapped them against his face. “All I know is you abused your authority. You illegally kicked me out of first class and took my seat. That’s a serious violation of passenger rights!” One of the papers drifted to Chloe’s feet. It was a high-resolution security footage screenshot of her entering the cockpit. Blake’s face instantly went ashen. He snapped his head towards me, his voice trembling. “You… you pulled the security footage? Are you crazy? That’s classified company information!” “Oh, so now it’s classified?” I sneered, taking a step closer. “Furthermore, you brought an unauthorized person into the cockpit. You know the charges for that under aviation law, don’t you?”

The tension was suffocating. Chloe, seeing things turning bad, burst into tears. She suddenly clutched her stomach, collapsing into Blake’s arms with a pained gasp. “Blake… my stomach hurts so bad…” “Our baby… please tell me our baby will be okay!” Her words hit like a bombshell, exploding in the living room. The co-pilots exchanged stunned glances, their faces a mix of shock and embarrassment. Blake looked as if he’d found a lifeline. His initial panic instantly transformed into pure elation as he tightly embraced Chloe. “Baby? Are you saying… you’re pregnant?” Chloe blushed, giving me a timid glance before nodding. Blake sharply looked up at me, the alarm in his eyes replaced by self-righteous confidence. “Ava, did you hear that?” “Chloe is carrying my child! That’s why I was so concerned about her, why I insisted she take that seat! We’ve been married for seven years, and you couldn’t give me a child. My mother has been hounding us for years! Now Chloe has my baby, how dare you be jealous?” The more he spoke, the more justified he felt, his back straightening with arrogance. “For the sake of the child, let’s forget about this. Go ahead and destroy those documents, then call the company and make sure this whole thing is swept under the rug.” “If you’re obedient, once the baby is born, you can be the godmother. I won’t divorce you. The Mrs. Harrison title will still be yours.” I looked at his despicable face, my stomach churning with disgust. Even a dog I’d raised for seven years would show more loyalty. Yet, the man I’d adored for seven years was now using the cruelest words to attack my deepest wound. I said nothing, merely turned and walked to the foyer, opening the front door. “Ava! Did you hear me?!” Blake assumed I’d caved. He started to walk towards the bedroom with Chloe in his arms. “Go make the bed for Chloe; she needs to rest.” I watched him with a mocking smile. Seeing me unmoving, his brows furrowed deeply. He stopped, turned around, and spoke in a tone so entitled it was almost a command. “What are you standing there for? Didn’t you hear Chloe say she’s in pain? The master bedroom mattress is custom Italian, good for the back. Go change the sheets, get fresh ones. Don’t use the ones you’ve slept on; that’s just gross.” The air in the living room solidified. The co-pilots, who had been watching the spectacle unfold, suddenly found their phones fascinating. To ask me, a woman worth billions, to change sheets and make a bed for his mistress. Only Blake would have the nerve. I stood rooted to the spot, my nails biting into my palms, yet a cold laugh escaped me. “Blake, have you forgotten? This mansion is mine. The master bedroom is my room. And that bed? I paid for that, too.” In his arms, Chloe shrank back at just the right moment, her eyes reddening, her voice dropping to a faint, trembling whisper. “Blake… please don’t fight with Ava over me. It’s okay if I don’t sleep in the master bedroom. Even though the doctor said I have signs of a potential miscarriage and can’t endure a hard mattress, I can manage…” She bit her lip, putting on a heartbroken, understanding look, yet every word she uttered was designed to throw me under the bus. As expected, Blake’s fury ignited. He carefully placed Chloe on the sofa and strode towards me. That overbearing presence, which I’d once cherished as security in our marriage, now felt like a knife twisting in my gut. “Ava, when did you become so malicious? Is a human life less important to you than a bed?” He seized my wrist with shocking force, dragging me towards the stairs. “If you won’t move, I’ll make you move!”

“Blake! Let me go!” I fought wildly, stumbling as he hauled me up the stairs. At the master bedroom door, he wrenched it open and shoved me inside. He swept a hand toward my scattered belongings, his gaze pure ice. “This room is Chloe’s now. All your perfumes, your makeup, this whole pile of useless junk…I want it gone!” Then he grabbed the frame from my dresser, the one with our third anniversary photo, and smashed it on the floor. CRASH! Glass shards scattered. The smiling faces in the photo, once so tender, were now fractured and sliced apart by the fragments. “No!” The cry tore from my throat as I lunged instinctively. Beneath it lay a cherished family photo of my parents and me, my most precious keepsake. “What do you think you’re doing?!” Blake didn’t give me a chance to react. Eager to assert his dominance in front of his friends and mistress, and perhaps to cover up his own guilt, his actions grew more brutal. He grabbed a crystal ornament from my bedside table, a limited edition coming-of-age gift my father had given me before he passed away. “What is this garbage doing here, taking up space?!” He raised his hand, ready to hurl it into the hallway. “Blake! That was from my father!” I threw myself forward, a woman possessed, clawing to get it back. During our struggle, a flicker of impatient brutality crossed Blake’s eyes. “Get out of my way! Don’t push your luck!” He swung his arm, shoving me hard. Wearing high heels, my balance was already precarious. I lost control, falling backward. A searing pain exploded in my lower back as I slammed into the sharp corner of a wooden dresser, and my vision blurred. But what I couldn’t avoid was the shattered glass on the floor. My hand slammed onto the fragments. “Agh-” Blood instantly gushed out, staining the expensive hand-knotted rug and soaking the shattered family photo. Pain. Excruciating pain. I slumped to the floor, clutching my bleeding hand, my face ashen as I stared at the man I had loved for seven years. Blake’s eyes visibly flashed with alarm when he saw the blood. But he quickly straightened his back, looking down at me, his voice devoid of guilt, instead filled with blame. “You brought this on yourself by trying to grab it. Whose fault is that but your own?” “Ava, look at you, acting like some kind of raging lunatic. Where’s your elegant upbringing? No wonder you can’t keep a man.” Chloe heard the commotion downstairs and leaned over the stairwell. She covered her mouth, her face a mask of feigned terror. “My god! So much blood. Blake, is Ava hurting herself just to manipulate you? How pathetic.” Her words extinguished the last trace of hesitation in Blake’s eyes. He stepped over my bleeding hand as if it were a piece of trash on the floor. “If you love this mess so much, you can sleep with it in the guest room. And if I hear one more sound from you that upsets Chloe…” He crouched, his hand gripping my chin and forcing my head up. His fingers dug in with a pressure that threatened to crack bone. “Ava, don’t make me hit a woman.” “Apologize to Chloe. And get out!” At that moment- BANG! The front door downstairs exploded inward with a deafening crash. A voice, old but ringing with absolute authority, echoed through the mansion. “Let’s see who dares to lay a finger on Ms. Sterling!”

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A week before the wedding, my fiancée, Seraphina Thorne, declared she had to marry her ex-boyfriend first before she could marry me. Her ex, Caleb Reed’s mother, Mrs. Evelyn Reed, was critically ill, with not long left to live. Her last wish was to see her son married and with a child. “Mrs. Reed has always hoped Caleb would have his own family, a child. I’m just trying to fulfill a mother’s dying wish, don’t overthink it, Leo.” But my company had already tied our “True Love Collection” jewelry launch to the date of our extravagant wedding. She frowned, “It’s just a few billion dollars, can it compare to a mother’s last wish? If you’re so desperate for that money, go find someone else to marry!” Her cold words left me with a bitter understanding. I turned and dialed my brother, Adam Vance. “Adam, find me a new bride.” My brother sounded utterly disbelieving. “You’re calling off your wedding?!” “No, she’s marrying someone else.” I forced a wry smile. To be with Seraphina, I had defied immense pressure from my family. I even convinced the board to link our multi-billion dollar ‘True Love Collection’ project to our wedding date, making it a commercial testament to our love. But now, it was all for nothing. Adam was silent for a long moment. Then he said, “Then it has to be Blair Sterling. Her family is pushing hard, and she’s also looking for a husband lately.” My brow furrowed. Blair Sterling, my arch-rival. On the day of my engagement, she’d even mocked that my marriage wouldn’t last. I never expected her words to become a chilling prophecy. Time was short. I could only say, “Alright, she’s the one. See what she thinks. If not, I’ll figure something else out.” Adam blurted out, “No need to ask, she’ll definitely agree.” “What?” I wanted to ask more, but a group of people suddenly surrounded me. “You must be Sera’s fiancé, you’re so handsome!” “Are you here to pick up Sera from work? She’ll be right down. You two are just adorable.” I gripped the steering wheel, my gaze dropping to hide the self-mockery in my eyes. Seraphina had introduced me to her colleagues and friends early on. In everyone’s eyes, we were the envied model couple. But no one could have imagined she was about to marry another man. After bidding goodbye to the others, Seraphina got in the car and handed me a watch. “Caleb asked me to give you this. Yesterday at the hospital, you said those things in front of his mother, it made him look really bad. Apologize to him when you get a chance.” The watch was clearly a freebie with a full-priced purchase; I’d seen it in Seraphina’s online cart just a couple days ago. I said flatly, “I don’t want it.” Seraphina frowned. “What are you trying to pull now? You barged into the hospital room and said I wasn’t his fiancée, embarrassing him. He isn’t even holding a grudge, he even thought to bring you a gift, and you’re being so ungrateful?” The Seraphina who used to defend me was gone. Now, she cherished someone else. Seraphina irritably rolled down the window, letting the wind blow through. After a long silence, seeing that I wasn’t going to humor or coax her as usual, she finally said, “Fine, whatever. Today we have a fitting for the wedding dress, I’m not going to argue with you.” It was the first time she’d backed down all year. At the bridal boutique, a sales assistant greeted us. “Miss Thorne, Mr. Vance, your twenty custom-made suits and wedding dresses are ready.” Seraphina’s attention wasn’t on the clothes. She was staring down at her phone, a hint of urgency on her face. Catching my eye, she quickly put her phone away, a flicker of apology in her expression. “Leo, something’s come up with Caleb, I need to rush over right away. You try on the suits yourself, and pick a wedding dress for me, I trust your taste.” With that, she hastily hailed a taxi and left, leaving me standing there alone. The sales assistant quickly approached, tentatively asking, “Mr. Vance, would you like to personally select the wedding dress?” I withdrew my gaze and nodded. Of course I would select the wedding dress. Just not for Seraphina. After all, the bride had changed. I got in my car and drove home, expecting Seraphina not to return all night. Instead, I saw her before dinner. She walked purposefully towards me, holding a gift box. “I practically scoured the entire city to get these for you, your favorite artisanal chocolates from that one shop.” I looked at the box of chocolates. There were three fewer than usual, and one of them had a tooth mark, clearly bitten into. Half an hour ago, I’d seen Caleb post on his SnapChat story. The picture was of the exact same chocolates in my hand. “My amazing wife, always thinking of me, even late at night! Love you!” I set the box of chocolates down with a bitter laugh. My appetite was gone. “I don’t feel like eating them. Throw them away.” Seraphina instantly glared at me with displeasure but held back her anger. She sat beside me and began to complain. “You have no idea how pathetic Caleb was today. My parents went to his house and told him his family was poor, couldn’t even afford decent gifts. He literally cried.” “Caleb just got back to the country, he doesn’t have much savings. I was hoping we could divert the assets you prepared for our wedding to him first.” Her unquestionable tone filled me with disgust. I looked at her with a sneer. “So, I’m supposed to pay for your husband to marry you?”

I used to care about Seraphina. If she asked, I’d give her anything, do anything for her. But now, she had personally woken me up. Thinking back, ever since Caleb returned, everything she did was for him. She had forgotten that I was the one meant to spend the rest of my life with her. My answer enraged Seraphina. “What is that supposed to mean? You’re refusing? You better get this straight, Caleb is my most important friend, and you better keep him happy, otherwise, I won’t marry you!” With that, she slammed the door and left. Feeling restless, I went downstairs to the park for a run. After just one lap, I received a call from Blair Sterling. Thinking of the usually stone-faced Blair, I hesitated for two seconds before answering. “Once you’re on my boat, you’re mine. Try to run, and I’ll drag you back!” Blair’s first sentence was a punch to the gut. I remained silent, and she continued: “First, give me your identification. We’re going to get married at the registry office.” “I’m afraid you’ll back out.” Blair, something’s definitely off with you. I’d already conjured a million scenarios in my head of her using our marriage to torment me. In the end, all I could manage was, “See you at the wedding, Miss Sterling.” The moment I hung up, Seraphina appeared behind me, I don’t know when. “You’re inviting Blair to our wedding? No way!” Her eyes narrowed, glaring at me like I was the enemy. “Leo, I told you not to associate with Blair! Her intentions towards you aren’t pure. If you insist on inviting her to our wedding, don’t blame me for cutting ties!” I hadn’t even said a word, and she was already throwing down ultimatums. Seraphina had always disliked Blair, always harboring some inexplicable hostility. When we first started dating, she even got intensely jealous because Blair and I often clashed at business forums. Later, I gradually reduced my public contact with Blair. But she actually said… Blair’s intentions towards me weren’t pure? I was about to press her when Caleb suddenly stumbled, turning to embrace Seraphina. “Sera, you’re hurting my hand…” It was then I realized they had been strolling, fingers intertwined. Seraphina coughed uncomfortably a couple of times but made no move to pull her hand away. Caleb looked at Seraphina with a soft gaze, then feigned helplessness as he apologized to me. “Leo, I’m sorry, Sera and I were just getting familiar with the wedding flow in advance. Please don’t mind us.” “And about you threatening me and harassing my mother, I won’t say anything, but please, don’t hurt Sera. True feelings can’t withstand such tests.” I couldn’t stand this charade any longer. I turned to leave. “Since you’re so excited, then I’ll ‘satisfy’ you tonight.” Slap! Seraphina slapped me hard across the face. “Leo, how could you be so cruel?!” Her face was pale with anger, her chest heaving. Me, cruel? She believed a simple rumor from someone else, but five years of our relationship couldn’t earn me an ounce of trust. A surge of anger suddenly flared within me, and I wanted to confront Seraphina. But Caleb stepped in front of her. “Leo, please, as soon as the wedding is over, I’ll give Sera back to you.” “Please, be merciful, don’t hurt those around me, and don’t hurt Sera anymore.” He began to bow to me. Seraphina quickly grabbed his arm, stopping him from lowering his head, and glared at me. “Leo, don’t play your rich boy bullying tactics!” “You know I hate that most. If you still want to marry me, stop acting out!” With that, she warned me not to show my face in front of them again until the wedding. But the next day, Seraphina actually contacted me. She started with a barrage of scolding. “Leo, you actually harassed Mrs. Reed?! I never thought you’d be this kind of person!” Full of doubt, I immediately called my assistant to investigate, only to uncover something truly shocking. Caleb’s mother… was perfectly fine.

No wonder Caleb could be so unscrupulous, using his mother’s supposed illness to frame me. The critical illness was a complete lie. I sent Seraphina a text: “Caleb’s mother is fine. The truth is in the email I just sent you.” Whether she read it or not was no longer my concern. My flight was booked for three days later, personally arranged by Blair Sterling. When Seraphina returned, she found me packing. Half my clothes were being discarded, a small portion shipped to San Francisco. “Why are you packing?” Seraphina’s expression was hesitant. I vaguely replied, “Moving.” She paused for a moment, not catching on, and continued, talking to herself. “The Vance family’s headquarters are in San Francisco. We’re supposed to settle there after we’re married, so it makes sense to start packing early.” Then, her gaze turned stern as she looked directly at me. “About Caleb’s mother, apologize as soon as possible, don’t make things difficult for me. How about at the wedding? What do you think?” She finished speaking and tossed her phone aside to look for her ID—today was the day she and Caleb were going to the city hall to register their marriage. She didn’t come back until evening. I opened my phone, and Caleb’s message popped up. The picture showed Seraphina and him in matching outfits, sharing a bed. I closed my eyes, but my heart still throbbed with a sharp pang. I suppressed the emotion, turning off my phone. Late that night, the phone by my pillow vibrated every hour. Each vibration meant Caleb had sent another video of him and Seraphina, a naked provocation. Until the next morning, when Blair Sterling sent me a message. “Mr. Vance, the flower has bloomed. You can come back now.” The accompanying image showed two marriage certificates and a pot with a vibrant Queen of the Night cactus flower in full bloom. I hadn’t realized that the tiny plant I’d casually given her years ago, she had meticulously cared for until now. An inexplicable, strange emotion swelled in my chest. I replied with one word: “Okay.” I put down my phone and began to pack my laptop and work documents. I didn’t know when Seraphina had returned. She was packing her everyday luggage. “I’m moving in with Caleb for a few days, he can’t manage preparing for the wedding alone. Remember to be at the wedding on time the day after tomorrow, don’t be late.” After saying that, she went on a long explanation, mostly about how she was just helping out normally and that I shouldn’t cause any more trouble. “Mmhmm, I won’t be there.” I said, my eyes lowered. After last night, the last shred of affection I had for her was completely gone. Seraphina looked at my calm demeanor, an unnamed dread washing over her. She suddenly hesitated. But recalling Caleb’s insistent dependence, her grip on her phone loosened. Leo Vance loves her so much, what could possibly go wrong? Thinking this, she breathed a sigh of relief, no longer bothering me, and vanished from my sight. I watched her retreating back and made a call. That same evening, a helicopter landed in the plaza. A staff member approached. “Mr. Vance, your helicopter has arrived. You’ll be safely transported to South City in half an hour.” I nodded, then handed him a file. “Deliver this to the wedding venue tomorrow. It’s my wedding gift for the happy couple.”

The next day, I sent Seraphina a message right on schedule: “Happy wedding!” At the wedding venue, Seraphina was anxiously looking towards the entrance, asking her assistant, Alex: “Why isn’t Leo here yet? He said he’d publicly apologize to Mrs. Reed today.” Alex scrolled through the news, his brows tightly furrowed. “He probably won’t make it. He’s… busy with his own wedding right now.” Upon hearing this, Seraphina stood in the center of the ballroom, completely stunned. The wedding venue was decorated with Caleb’s favorite champagne roses, adorning the entire hall in a dreamy, ethereal glow. Below the stage, guests clinked glasses and chatted. Everything seemed perfect. However, Seraphina clutched her phone tightly, staring intently at the screen at the news headline: [Vance CEO Weds, “True Love Collection” Shines Simultaneously]. Cold sweat broke out on her palms. She frantically dialed the number etched into her memory, but only heard the tone indicating no one was picking up. “How could this be?” Caleb rushed over to her, taking her hand. “Sera, what’s wrong? Your hand is so cold?” Seraphina gripped his hand back. “Leo… he’s… he’s marrying someone else!” Caleb took her phone, glanced at it, frowned, then smiled. “How could that be? Leo loves you so much, this must be some kind of business strategy. These businessmen, they’ll do anything for profit, even fake a marriage.” “Fake marriage?” Seraphina’s panicked expression eased slightly. “Alright, Sera, the wedding is about to begin. Let’s go up.” The emcee stood on stage hosting the wedding. Seraphina forced a smile back onto her face, exchanged rings with Caleb, and they kissed each other. Just as everything seemed perfectly concluded, the banquet hall doors burst open with a loud bang. A group of formally dressed, solemn-faced individuals marched in in an orderly fashion. Seraphina instinctively thought it was Leo coming to make a scene. Just as she was about to speak, her expression suddenly froze. Because it wasn’t Leo who entered, but a group of uniformed police officers. She immediately panicked, asking, “Officers, we are all law-abiding citizens, this is…?” The lead officer ignored her, directly presenting a document. “Mr. Leo has filed a complaint accusing Caleb of illegal appropriation of another’s property. The evidence is conclusive. Please come with us.” Seraphina was utterly distraught. “Officer, what illegal appropriation? That was prepared for me by Leo! I legally transferred it to Caleb for emergency use!” The officer frowned. “What you consider a legal transfer is not recognized by the rights holder, Mr. Leo. Relevant evidence has also been submitted.” Seraphina vehemently argued, “That’s Leo’s tactic! He’s doing this to ruin my and Caleb’s wedding!” The officer looked at her sternly. “Madam, please do not obstruct justice. Take him away!” Caleb was led away, and the wedding instantly erupted into chaos. Caleb’s relatives loudly whispered, saying how all those seemingly respectable things were actually taken from someone else, truly shameful. Seraphina’s parents’ faces were as dark as thunderclouds, pointing at her forehead and scolding. “You, you, what foolish things have you done!” “You threw away a perfectly good golden boy, insisting on finding dead weight! Now look, everything’s gone!” Seraphina managed to calm down. “Mom, this is Leo’s way of forcing me to come back. I’m going to find him right now, get him to withdraw the charges, and get Caleb out.” She was about to step forward when a well-dressed man, who looked like an assistant, blocked her path. “Miss Thorne, this is Mr. Vance’s wedding gift for you.”

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My husband’s ex-girlfriend was in a vegetative state, unconscious, and he was the one taking care of her. “Vivian became a vegetable because I married you, Zara. We both owe her. It’s my responsibility to take care of her.” For three whole years, I couldn’t show even a hint of displeasure. Otherwise, I’d be labeled heartless, unable to tolerate even someone in her state. Guilt-tripped for so long, I was brainwashed, feeling a sense of guilt towards Vivian. Until one day, by chance, while visiting Vivian. I found a pregnancy test stick under her hospital bed. Can a person in a vegetative state get pregnant? ### Blake’s face instantly changed. He snatched the pregnancy test and threw it into the trash. “It must have been dropped by the nurse! How incredibly careless!” The atmosphere in the car on the way home was heavy. I scrolled through my phone, the screen paused on Blake’s credit card’s supplementary card spending records. “Blake, I see you’ve bought quite a few things for Vivian lately.” “Chanel No. 5 perfume, a Hermès bag, a Cartier bracelet… It all adds up to over three hundred thousand dollars.” “Does a patient in a vegetative state really need these things?” Blake’s face darkened immediately, his tone laced with annoyance at being questioned. “The doctor said that if Vivian is exposed to things she used to love, it might stimulate her to wake up.” “Vivian always loved luxury items, but she couldn’t afford them back then.” “Zara, how can you be so petty about a sick person? Can’t you be a little more generous?” “We all owe her! Forget spending hundreds of thousands on bags for her, if she could just wake up, I’d lose everything I have, and I’d do it happily!” He finished, then drove in silence, running three red lights along the way. My heart ached with a suffocating pain. Vivian becoming a vegetable was certainly tragic. But what had I done wrong? When we got home, I went to freshen up, still in a gloomy mood. Blake, however, quickly reverted to his role as the attentive husband. He came to me with a bowl of nutritional supplements. “Darling, I was out of line earlier. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.” “I’m just so stressed. Seeing Vivian in that state… it just breaks my heart.” “But you’re not wrong. This is all my fault, my past mistakes. You shouldn’t have to suffer with me.” He put an arm around my shoulder, bringing the nutritional drink to my lips. “Drink this tonic to boost your health. Mom even called yesterday, nagging us about having a baby.” The nutritional drink had a strong, peculiar smell. My husband claimed he’d specially learned to make this herbal tonic. Normally, I would have been touched by his thoughtfulness, overlooking his earlier coldness. But now, the pregnancy test was like a sharp thorn, plunged deep into my heart. “Just leave it there. I don’t have an appetite.” I pushed the drink away. That night, I had a series of bizarre, unsettling dreams. The next morning, I was supposed to drive to the office, but for some inexplicable reason, I went to that private sanatorium again. I didn’t notify Blake. Avoiding the nurses’ station, I quietly slipped into the private suite where Vivian was staying. And then I saw a scene that made my blood run cold. Behind the floor-to-ceiling windows, it was no longer a cold hospital room. Instead, it was a lavishly decorated living room. Vivian, the patient who was supposedly lying motionless in bed. Was now standing in a custom-made dress, perfectly made-up, and haughtily glaring at the aide. “Slap!” She slapped the young aide hard across the face. “Useless! You can’t even make a decent cup of coffee! Do you even want this job?!” Vivian’s voice was sharp and surprisingly strong. There was no sign of illness about her. And what was most glaringly obvious was her slightly swollen belly. She was pregnant! I stood frozen, my hands and feet turning icy cold, a sudden, chilling realization dawning on me. Blake’s “devotion”! Vivian’s “suicide attempt”! My ridiculous guilt! It was all a carefully woven lie! ###

Half an hour later, the young aide who had been slapped walked out, her eyes red-rimmed. It looked like she was going to take out the trash. I stopped her in a secluded spot. “I saw what just happened.” “You’re just an aide, not her slave. What right did that woman have to hit you?” I offered her a tissue, keeping my voice as gentle as possible. She jumped, looking at me warily, hesitant to take the tissue. The aide, of course, knew who I was. I took a thick wad of cash from my bag, about five thousand dollars, and pressed it into her hand. “Don’t be scared. I just want to know the truth. What’s going on with Vivian?” “How long has she been awake? Whose baby is it?” “If you tell me the truth, I’ll give you more money and help you find a good job.” The young aide looked at the money in her hand, then hesitated before speaking. “Ms. Chen, even if you didn’t give me money, I’d still tell you. Because that vile pair is truly despicable!” “Vivian was never in a coma. She was never a vegetable!” “Your husband bribed the doctors and nurses here to put on a show for you.” “The baby must be your husband’s. As soon as Mr. Blake arrives, they lock the door and do shameless things.” “That woman’s screams make the stray cats outside restless.” “They’re even plotting against you.” “Plotting what?” I forced down my rage and continued to ask. “They said once you died, all your family’s assets would be theirs… and that they were going to drug you…” Drug me? I immediately thought of the nutritional supplements I drank every night. It wasn’t just betrayal; this scoundrel was trying to murder me for my money! I composed myself, then transferred another thirty thousand dollars to the aide’s phone. “Wait here. I’m going to buy some hidden cameras.” “When I get back, you’ll install them in Vivian’s room.” “From now on, you’re my insider!” After arranging for my spy, I went to the hospital for a comprehensive medical check-up. A few days later, I received some candid videos from my insider. Vivian, in a nearly transparent silk nightgown, was coiled around Blake like a seductive vine. “When is that wretched woman Zara going to die already? My belly is getting bigger by the day, I can’t wait much longer.” “I don’t want my child to be a bastard. I’m sick of pretending to be a vegetable; I want to go hit up clubs and dance.” Blake chuckled lewdly, caressing Vivian’s stomach to comfort her. “Don’t rush, sweetheart. She’s been drinking the tonic; the poison will slowly kill her. It’s just taking time.” “We have to take it slow, can’t use too much poison, or there might be suspicious symptoms after she dies.” “Slowly killing her won’t leave any traces. Otherwise, if the bitch dies, and we get caught and thrown in jail, it would all be for nothing, wouldn’t it?” “Just be patient, everything at home will be ours sooner or later!” Vivian seemed convinced but continued to playfully complain. “But you’re not allowed to sleep with her! And you’re definitely not allowed to get her pregnant!” “Hahaha, darling! Don’t be angry!” “You’re the only one I truly love. Everything with Zara is just an act. To me, she’s not even a bed partner; she’s just an inflatable doll.” “The tonic I give her isn’t just slow-acting poison, it’s also a contraceptive!” Vivian looked even happier. “Hehe, that’s good!” “Honey, we haven’t been intimate in days. I want you.” “I’ve noticed since I got pregnant, my desires are even stronger.” She said, reaching out to flirt, but Blake stopped her with a hand. “The doctor said the first three months are unstable; we can’t actually do anything.” “Hehe, I have other ways…” I didn’t need to watch the rest of the video. Rage erupted like a volcano, scorching my insides. But I remained calm. Anger solves nothing; revenge is the top priority! At that moment, my hospital check-up report from a few days ago also came back. Sure enough, it detected traces of slow-acting poison. However, the dosage was small and hadn’t caused any substantial harm. I saved the video, then drove to the most expensive cemetery in the city, Sunset Ridge. Others wanted comfortable burial plots. But I only asked if there were any uncomfortable ones. “Something that won’t let the deceased’s soul rest in peace, even after death?” The cemetery manager naturally said no. “All our plots here are peaceful. Why would we have something like that?” I handed him a fifty thousand dollar tip, and suddenly, he found one. “Ms. Chen, plot number 863 was previously a restroom and even a slaughterhouse. It’s the most ominous of them all.” “Can it fit three people?” “It can!” After signing the contract, I felt refreshed. Blake! Vivian! And that illegitimate child you conceived through deceit and betrayal! I’ve even chosen your final resting place for you. ###

That evening, Blake came home. Again, his face showed exhaustion and melancholy. This was the clever part of Vivian pretending to be a vegetable. Other men had to sneak around to meet their mistresses. But Blake could go openly, spend my money openly, and then come home and emotionally blackmail me with it. “Sigh, Vivian still shows no sign of consciousness.” “Anyway, let’s not talk about sad things. I’ll warm up your nutritional drink.” “Blake, don’t bother.” I called out to him, my voice filled with a strange cheerfulness. “Sit down. I have a gift for you.” He looked a little confused but sat down next to me. “A gift? Suddenly?” I looked at his face, once capable of making my heart flutter, now only filled with revulsion. I thought back to our past. When the Chen family fell on hard times, my parents, out of respect for our long-standing family friendship, not only didn’t break off our engagement but treated him like their own son. They even hired him as the general manager of Chen Corporation. I never imagined that our Chen family, after offering so much help, would raise such an ungrateful viper! “It’s for you.” I handed him the cemetery contract. His face instantly changed when he saw it. “A cemetery plot? Darling, are you crazy? Sending me this is so unlucky!” “It’s an investment.” “I heard that investing in plots is more lucrative than real estate nowadays. This plot is in a good location; it’s sure to appreciate. Look, it’s big enough for three people, what a bargain, right?” Blake was skeptical but a flicker of greed appeared in his eyes when he heard it could appreciate. “Oh, my dearest, you always have such vision, such business acumen.” “To find such an obscure investment opportunity, you’re truly brilliant!” He was buttering me up. I watched his money-grubbing face, a cold sneer forming in my heart. Idiot! Of course, you think it’s brilliant, I picked it for *you*! “There’s something else,” Striking while the iron was hot, I mentioned my second arrangement. “The company is preparing to go public, right? We need some positive publicity to build momentum and boost our brand image and investor confidence. I’ve contacted several major media outlets and influencers to arrange an exclusive interview for you.” “An interview about what?” He looked even more bewildered. “About your touching story of selflessly caring for your ex-girlfriend, who is in a vegetative state, for so many years?” “Think about it: an entrepreneur with deep affection, who keeps promises, is responsible, and has a strong sense of duty—what a positive image! How much more it will move the market and investors!” “This is more persuasive than spending tens of millions on advertising!” I persuaded him. “This… this isn’t quite right, is it?” He looked troubled. “Vivian needs peace and quiet; I don’t want to be high-profile. I’m taking care of Vivian out of conscience, not for publicity—” I immediately cut him off, my tone brooking no argument. “What’s wrong with it?” “This is a great opportunity to build your personal brand and enhance the company’s image! It’s crucial for the company’s IPO!” “I’ve already arranged with the media. The interview will be held at Vivian’s sanatorium. The authentic setting will be even more moving.” “Blake, for the company, for our future, you *must* cooperate!” Blake couldn’t find any more excuses and reluctantly agreed. The next day, he indeed secretly went to the sanatorium to find Vivian and warn her. “You have to play along perfectly, don’t blow our cover!” “If Chen Corporation successfully goes public, it will only benefit us!” “If I establish my image as a good man this time, and it becomes a widespread public perception, then even if Zara dies later, no one will suspect me!”

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Times were rough. My husband’s salary plummeted from ten thousand dollars to two thousand dollars. That was right after our daughter, Lily, was diagnosed with a severe heart condition. To cover the exorbitant medical bills, I took out loans to fund his startup, only for him to lose every single penny. “Grace, I’m so sorry!” He stood on the edge of the rooftop, utterly desperate. I sobbed, clinging to him. “It’s okay, we’ll get through this together!” We spent seven grueling years struggling in a cramped studio apartment. Because we couldn’t afford the fifty thousand dollar per dose specialty medication, Lily eventually died in my arms. Then, I ran into his former colleague, Leo. “Congratulations! Did you know Hymen’s company is now worth hundreds of billions of dollars?” I clutched Lily’s urn, my face ashen. Leo didn’t notice my strange expression and kept talking: “His first love, Stella, is divorced with a critically ill daughter. For the past seven years, he’s been transferring a hundred thousand dollars to her every single month. He even spent a billion dollars developing a special medicine…” 1 I stumbled my way to the pharmaceutical company Hymen had founded. “Mr. Hymen, Ms. Stella’s monthly salary is already twenty thousand dollars. Are you sure you still want to give her a raise? Also, your wife really needs our specialty medication right now…” Brenda, his secretary, was cut off by Hymen before she could finish. “Stella’s salary must be increased every month! The specialty medication production is low right now. My daughter’s heart condition has dragged on this long, it’s not like it’s gotten any worse. Give the specialty medication to Stella’s daughter instead.” My hand, gripping the doorknob, trembled uncontrollably. A chilling dread froze my heart. Years ago, to raise money for his startup, I had begged every relative and friend. For the past seven years, I understood how tough it was for him, so I carried every burden myself. The meager salary he brought home each month wasn’t even enough to cover basic medical expenses. Not wanting to add to his stress, I kept my daily living expenses to five dollars, even resorting to picking up discarded, wilting vegetables from the supermarket floor. Just then, Hymen’s cold voice echoed from the office again. “I founded this pharmaceutical company for Stella. So, until the specialty medication is mass-produced, no one is to compete with Stella for it. Not even my own daughter!” My heart felt like it was ripped open. I flung the door open. “Grace?!” Hymen gasped in shock, his expression shifting from surprise to panic, then to guilt. He motioned for Brenda to leave, then composed himself and walked towards me, putting on a remorseful face. “When did you get here? I was just about to come to this company to beg for a dose of the specialty medication for our daughter. Unfortunately, they’re not being flexible. I’m so sorry.” I shoved him away forcefully, tearing off his mask of pretense without mercy. “Hymen, stop pretending! I heard everything you just said. Do you have any idea that our daughter is dead?!” My撕心裂肺的尖叫 tore through the air, and tears streamed down my face like a broken dam. Hymen was stunned speechless by my words, his lips trembling. “Lily’s dead?” Before I could speak. The sound of papers dropping to the floor suddenly came from the doorway. Stella gasped, covering her mouth, silently weeping. “Hymen, you’re actually the boss of this company? So, the one who anonymously transferred me a hundred thousand dollars every month, arranged my job, and got me the specialty medication… that was all you?” Stella’s face went pale as she stumbled backward, mortified with shame. “Stella, it’s not your fault. I did it because I wanted to!” Watching her cry, her face drenched in tears, Hymen’s heart ached for her, an unbearable pain. It was then that I noticed the Audi car keys in her hand. They looked familiar—they were mine! Seven years ago, I had sold that car and our house to fund his startup. I never imagined he would give it all to his first love. I absolutely saw red. 2 “Hymen, you told me my car and our house were forcibly repossessed by the court. How are they in her hands?” Hymen was speechless, unable to retort. Stella, completely humiliated, quickly bowed and apologized to me. “I’m so sorry, I had no idea. I’ll return the car keys to you right now, and I promise to move out of your house immediately.” With that, she shoved the car keys into my hand and, turning to Hymen, said firmly: “Hymen, thank you for your silent support these past few years, but I really don’t want to ruin your marriage. Starting today, I’m officially resigning, and please don’t transfer me any more money.” She left him with those words, gave him a tearful glance, then turned and ran out. “Stella!” Hymen panicked, instinctively chasing a few steps before suddenly stopping. He turned back to me. “Grace, is Lily really dead?” I let out a bitter laugh, tears welling up. “Do you think I’d lie to you?” “Grace, I…” He opened his mouth, his face pale. To make amends, he decided to choose a good burial plot for Lily. I remembered how Lily had craved his presence more than anything when she was alive. In the end, I agreed to let him attend her funeral. Hymen’s eyes suddenly reddened, and he stared at me with a complex expression before quickly standing and leaving. On the day of the funeral, I sat before Lily’s tombstone. I pulled out my phone, intending to call him to ask if he’d retrieved the urn, but instead, I saw Stella had posted something new. “I heard bone ash can be used as a special ingredient in heart medicine. I wonder if he’d be willing to… ” My heart plummeted. I was enveloped by a terrible premonition. I rushed to the crematorium’s urn storage to inquire. Mr. Clark, the manager, looked at me curiously. “Your husband picked it up twenty minutes ago. You didn’t know?” My breathing became rapid. I frantically called him, but no one answered. A fine layer of cold sweat emerged on my body. My first thought was to hail a cab and rush to Stella’s house. Through the iron gate, I saw that Lily’s urn was empty. And Stella was smiling as she fed the last bit of a liquid medicine into her daughter, Chloe’s, mouth. After telling Chloe to go back to her room to rest, she turned to Hymen, her eyes full of gratitude. “Hymen, thank you. I’ll never be able to repay your kindness.” “You took your daughter’s bone ash for my daughter. What if your wife gets angry? Will it affect your marriage?” Hymen frowned, then dismissed it with an indifferent smile. “Don’t worry. Who else does Grace have to rely on now besides me? She wouldn’t dare make a scene.” Rage surging, I burst in, out of control, and slapped him across the face. “Hymen, are you even human?! You had the specialty medication but wouldn’t give it to Lily. Now that she’s dead, you won’t even leave her ashes alone. You’re an animal!” “And you, Stella, you’re a manipulative bitch feigning innocence!” Hymen was slapped senseless, unable to react. “Grace, what are you doing here?” Stella’s face went white with fright, and she cowered behind him, not daring to look at me. I desperately clawed at his face. Enraged and humiliated, Hymen kicked me hard in the chest. “Enough! It’s just a little bone ash! You’re a medical student, you should know that keeping the ashes won’t bring Lily back!” I never thought he would say something so utterly inhumane. The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. I struggled to get up. “You’ll both get your comeuppance! I’m calling the police to expose you!” With that, I pulled out my phone, ready to dial 91

Stella cried out in terror, covering her face. “Hymen, please don’t let her call the police. My daughter and I would be completely ruined. We might as well just die now!” 3 Hymen’s face suddenly changed. In a moment of desperation, he didn’t even think. He grabbed a garden hatchet from the ground and swung it towards my arm. “Ah!” The excruciating pain felt like my arm was almost severed. Blood splattered onto both our faces. As my consciousness faded, I thought I saw his panicked expression. When I woke up, I found myself locked in the attic of the house. The bone-deep wound on my arm was still gushing blood. Weakly, I crawled to the attic door and retrieved my phone. The moment I turned it on, a news headline popped up, trending: “Philanthropic Entrepreneur Hymen, A Man of Integrity and Heart.” My trembling fingers tapped on it. It turned out someone had leaked the news of Hymen’s anonymous support for Stella. Now, they were on site, being interviewed live. Staring at the screen, at their intimate, picture-perfect image of a happy family of three, I violently smashed my phone. He probably didn’t even know my daughter was dead, or that Stella’s daughter wouldn’t live much longer either. I escaped by smashing the window glass. Picking up Lily’s empty urn, which had been abandoned in the yard, I rushed straight to the live broadcast event. Hymen was about to receive a government award, being honored as one of the Top Ten Outstanding Entrepreneurs of the Year. Stella and Chloe, dressed to the nines, stood beside him, as proud as two peacocks. Covered in blood, I pushed through the crowd, holding up Lily’s empty urn, and exposed everything: how Hymen had deceived me, indirectly causing our daughter’s death. “I’m Grace, Hymen’s wife! I’m here to report that Hymen is a hypocritical liar who teamed up with Stella to kill my daughter!” “My daughter needed that specialty medication too, but Hymen was too stingy to give her even one dose. The doctors said that even just one dose would have saved her life!” By this point, my voice was choked and broken. The entire audience was in an uproar. Unanimously, they cast doubting glances towards Stella and Hymen on the stage. “Nonsense!” Hymen quickly stepped off the stage and pulled me aside into a corner. He hissed in a low voice: “Grace, stop making a scene! Let’s talk about this at home. I was just…” But when his gaze fell upon my swollen eyes and the bone-deep wound on my arm. A flicker of remorse crossed his eyes, and he swallowed the harsh words he was about to unleash. Stella suddenly ran down, her eyes red, and knelt before me. “Grace, I swear I never intended to ruin your relationship. If you mind Hymen helping me, I can leave him and go far away. Please, have mercy on me. I can’t take this anymore. I’ll just take my daughter and die right now!” Everyone gasped. Stella stood up, pulled Chloe, and ran towards the balcony of the banquet hall. “Stella!” Hymen’s face was horrified as he rushed over and pulled her into a tight embrace. After comforting Stella, Hymen came back to me and slapped me across the face more than ten times. “Grace, you crazy woman, you’re so consumed by jealousy! You couldn’t take care of your own daughter, so you can’t stand to see Stella’s daughter do well.” “What bone ash? If you dare to spout such nonsense again, I won’t hesitate to send you to a mental hospital!” At his words, the way people looked at me changed. I was dizzy from the blows but still desperately tried to explain. “Please believe me, I’m not crazy! He really gave my daughter’s bone ash to her daughter!” I didn’t expect the onlookers to point and whisper about my sorry state, their faces full of mockery. “Is this woman really insane?” “Mr. Hymen is such an honorable man. Why would he use his own daughter’s bone ash?” Clutching Lily’s urn, I was pushed to the ground, utterly helpless. Someone stepped on the gash on my arm, and the pain made me sweat profusely, almost fainting. Hymen watched, coldly indifferent, not moving a muscle. Suddenly, Stella’s terrified scream erupted from the edge of the crowd. “Hymen, my daughter is throwing up blood!” Hymen whipped his head around, seeing the girl, Chloe, lying on the ground, barely alive, with blood continuously spilling from her mouth. He instantly panicked. “How could this happen?!” Hearing this, my gaze slowly fell to the empty urn in my hand. I let out a slow, knowing smile. Now, your comeuppance has arrived.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “319478”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

My CEO boyfriend of five years suspected my loyalty. He demanded I collect 10,000 messages of goodwill from strangers before he’d even consider marrying me. Yet, his ex, Seraphina—who had dumped him three times—just had to ask him during a game of truth or dare if he’d marry her, and he immediately plastered their official announcement all over the city’s giant screens. My mom, who had just arrived in the city to meet her future son-in-law, saw the announcement and was so enraged she suffered a heart attack and collapsed, ending up in the hospital. I rushed to the public announcement site, fell to my knees, begging Julian to give me back my savings for her medical bills. But he frowned, claiming that once my money was given to him, it was his. He had no obligation to fund my family’s problems and told me to figure it out myself. Then, he turned around and used my savings to order a luxury car for Seraphina. Because I couldn’t pay the medical fees on time, Mom missed her crucial treatment window and tragically passed away in the hospital morgue. With tears in my eyes, I arranged her simple burial, then accepted a job offer from a big overseas tech company and applied for my resignation. Julian, though, just thought I was playing games. He nonchalantly said:”At your age, where else would you go without me? Stop playing hard to get. Later, I’ll take your mom out for a couple of days, just doing my duty as a son-in-law.” But then, when he saw me at the airport, why did his eyes turn red, begging me on his knees for forgiveness?

After my visa was approved, I went home to pack. The moment I opened my closet door, Julian Sterling, my boyfriend, jumped out, startling me. “Ava! I’m the hunter, and I’ve caught my prey!” He was beaming, his cheeks flushed, laughing heartily. I knew he’d been using a “business trip” as an excuse these past two days, but he was actually traveling with Seraphina Hayes to avoid me. The old me would have greeted him with a smile, doting on him and asking how he was doing. Now, I just shoved him aside and started rummaging for my clothes. Julian stood there, looking a bit helpless. After a moment, he said: “Ava, what’s wrong? Are you still mad about me not lending you money that day? I was trying to complete Seraphina’s dare; we’re friends, after all, and she was about to fail in fifteen minutes. I didn’t have time to transfer money. Didn’t I eventually relent and ask HR to approve your salary advance?” I let out a self-deprecating laugh, fighting back the sting in my nose as I continued to stuff clothes into my suitcase. That day, Mom had just arrived in the city when she saw her future son-in-law on a giant billboard, holding another woman’s hand and making their relationship official. She collapsed on the spot. I rushed to the scene, falling to my knees in front of Julian, begging him to return my savings for Mom’s medical bills. It would have taken less than three seconds to pull out my bank card from my bag. But he shoved me away with an indifferent look, telling me to figure it out myself. Then, he drained my account and bought Seraphina a luxury car. Later, when I went to HR for the advance, Brenda, the HR rep, rolled her eyes at me: “Ava, you think you’re Cinderella trying to snatch a prince? Seraphina and Julian Sterling are the perfect couple.” She deliberately dragged out the process. I ran around the company, completing eighteen different procedures, spending three grueling hours just to get a $200 advance. Brenda just shrugged, saying it was Julian’s instruction and there was nothing they could do. By the time I rushed to the hospital, Mom had already passed away. Julian saw I wasn’t speaking, snatched the clothes from my hands, and threw them onto the bed: “So what if I spent some of your money? Do you have to get so angry and pack your bags?” “That’s what I hate about people from your background, so provincial. You hand over a few hundred thousand, and then you’re constantly trying to claw it back. Honestly, buying Seraphina that sports car was to make sure you stop thinking my money is yours!” My heart felt like it was squeezed hard. I took a deep breath. I thought if I was just sincere enough, if I gave him all my salary, Julian would eventually let go of his suspicions. But I never expected he’d still think I was a gold-digger. Seraphina and he had an on-again, off-again relationship three times. Every single time, he’d win her back with luxury cars and mansions. Why was it suddenly my fault for being “provincial” when it came to me? I finished packing, grabbed my suitcase, and forced a sarcastic smile: “You won’t have to worry about that anymore. You can keep all your money for Seraphina.” Julian’s eyes widened. He grabbed my arm. Crash! A storage box was knocked over, and countless slips of paper with messages of goodwill fluttered to the ground, like a sudden snowfall. These were all the blessings I had begged endlessly for, stopping people on the street one by one. He had told me he’d suffered too much heartbreak, and unless I collected 10,000 messages of goodwill from strangers to prove my sincerity, he wouldn’t marry me. The ten-thousandth blessing was from my mom. She’d asked a fellow passenger on the train coming to the city to write it. When she handed it to me, she wished Julian and me a long and happy marriage, filled with enduring love. But Julian still went public with Seraphina just because of a single word from her. All my boundaries, all my expectations, were a joke. Julian picked up a slip of paper, his handsome eyebrows relaxing as he sighed: “Alright, Ava, stop throwing a fit. I’ll give you another three hundred. Take your mom to get some nice new clothes and buy some good food. Then I’ll take her on a trip later, fulfill my filial duty as a son-in-law.” The old me would have gladly accepted his apology and praised him for being a good husband. But now, my heart was heavy with resentment, and I couldn’t swallow my anger. I placed my hand over his payment transfer screen and said coldly: “No need. You’re not her son-in-law. We’re breaking up.” My words were swallowed by the sound of a key turning in the lock. “Julian, I’m here to pick you up. Weren’t we going out to dinner to celebrate?” Seraphina walked in and looked surprised: “Ava, what are you doing at Julian’s place?” Julian coughed and pulled away from me: “Ava’s mom needed some money, so she just asked if she could get an advance on her salary.” We had been in a secret relationship for five years, and he always kept me at arm’s length. I couldn’t even post about him on Ins. I thought he just disliked office romances. Turns out, hiding it from everyone was just to hide it from one person. Seraphina put on a righteous face and sharply scolded me: “Ava, don’t be so excessive! I didn’t say anything when you caused a scene at the announcement, but you have hands and feet. Just because Julian is kind, you can’t treat him like a cash cow and demand money!” Julian frowned, about to speak. I forced a smile. “You’re right, that’s exactly what I think. So I’m leaving now.” With that, I picked up my suitcase and walked past Julian, heading downstairs. He took a step as if to follow, glanced at Seraphina, then casually said: “Be careful on your way.” As I stepped out of the building, Julian sent me a SnapChat message: “Ava, don’t worry. This is the last time I’m helping Seraphina out. In a couple of days, I’ll make time to take your mom on that trip, and we can discuss our wedding plans and fast-track the ceremony.” I scoffed, opening the chat window with William, the HR from the overseas company: “William, my visa is approved. Flight’s tomorrow afternoon. See you then.”

I hailed a cab to the company to pick up my files, but Brenda, the HR rep, looked completely annoyed: “Julian has been deliberately delaying your resignation application. Come back next Monday to ask again.” I tried calling Julian, but it just went straight to voicemail. It was always like this whenever he was with Seraphina. I should have made him approve my resignation before I left. Frustrated, I frowned and left the company. Behind me, a burst of mocking laughter erupted: “When Seraphina and Julian made it official, she was there singing and dancing, then she kneeled and begged Julian for money! So embarrassing!” “You should have seen her face just now when Julian didn’t pick up his call! If I were him, I’d block such a clingy nuisance too!” I was already used to these taunts. My phone chimed with a notification. It was Seraphina, sending a message to gloat. The photo showed the slips of paper, meant for goodwill, stuffed into a filthy garbage can filled with slop. “One word from me, and Julian threw away your 10,000 blessings. I heard you spent a year collecting them; how tragic. So much effort for nothing.” “What good was five years of dating? The moment I came back, you were swept aside. He’s with me eating dinner right now, peeling shrimp for me. His hands are covered in sauce; you’ve never seen him do that, have you? If you’re curious, come to the restaurant’s private room. You can watch all you want.” My grip tightened on my phone. Ever since she returned to the country, I’d seen plenty of messages like this—Julian, who was such a clean freak and so arrogant, would now wash her clothes, cook for her, wash her feet, and make her bed. Usually, I dreaded Seraphina’s messages, yet I’d morbidly watch Julian’s special treatment of her. I even tried to tell myself it was all Photoshopped, that she was just trying to stir up trouble, and that by not seeing the truth, I could continue to delude myself. This time, I went. Not out of jealousy, but only to make Julian sign my resignation so I could finally be rid of him. Half an hour later, I arrived at the restaurant, only to hear Julian arguing with someone by the staircase. I instinctively hid around the corner. “Julian, are you insane? Seraphina dumped you three times, each time worse than the last. She even tricked you into going to a cliff and almost got you crippled! How could you go public with her? Ava was with you for five years, and you never gave her a title. Don’t forget, she almost died saving you once!” It was Leo, Julian’s closest friend. I touched the uneven scar on my forehead. A year ago, Julian and I were in a car accident during a business trip. To protect him, I was impaled by shards of windshield glass. I had more than a dozen steel plates implanted in my body, and a scar above my left eyebrow disfigured me, turning my previously gentle eyes into something fiercer. Colleagues secretly whispered “Scarface” behind my back, avoiding me and even spreading rumors that I was beaten by creditors. Julian, however, never bothered to set the record straight, always too worried about appearances. The next second, Julian’s reply hit me like a lightning bolt: “It’s because she had that car accident, and the scar near her eye… she doesn’t look like Seraphina anymore.” Leo was furious: “So you were still using her as a stand-in! No wonder when she proposed, you set an impossible task for her. Ten thousand blessings? Even if you asked thirty people a day, it would take a year! If you didn’t want to marry her, you didn’t have to play games with her! What kind of spell has that rotten Seraphina cast on you?” “Enough!” Julian barked. “Don’t you dare slander Seraphina like that! She said she’s turned over a new leaf. I’m just making up for past regrets. Give me two more days, and I’ll break it off with her.” Leo was speechless: “Aren’t you afraid Ava will truly give up?” Julian sounded completely confident: “I got Ava her job, she lives in my apartment, she has nothing without me. I’ll take responsibility for her. We’ve been out too long; Seraphina will get anxious. Let’s go back.” Watching their retreating backs. I stood there for a long time, then collapsed to the ground, hugging myself. When my mom first fell ill, I brought her to the city for treatment. Desperate because we had no money, Julian was the one who approached me, inviting me to work at his company. He was gentle and compassionate, like a god, and I fell for him completely. Looking back now, I remember wearing a face mask at the time, only my eyes visible. And his eyes, they were filled with the joy of finding something lost and finally recovered. Whenever he spoke of his ex, Julian always spoke through gritted teeth, a mix of love and hate. Then he would bury his face against my chest, sighing how grateful he was to have me. After Seraphina returned, he would deliberately “bump into” her several times, confronting her, but it was just an excuse to argue and subtly express his longing. No wonder Julian suddenly grew distant after the car accident. I, foolishly, thought it was because Seraphina was back and he was torn. Turns out, the original had returned, and I, the stand-in, was no longer needed, so he came up with the impossible task of 10,000 blessings as an elaborate excuse to turn me down. After a while, I took a deep breath and pushed open the private room door. Inside, everyone was already tipsy, clapping and cheering: “A dramatic reunion! An epic romance! I’m totally shipping them! Julian, you have to kiss Seraphina!” Julian kissed Seraphina’s lips openly. His long lashes fluttered, betraying a flicker of emotion. After an unknown amount of time, he realized the cheering had stopped and opened his eyes in confusion. He saw me standing behind Seraphina, my face utterly blank. He jolted upright, his face pale: “Ava, I can explain everything! It’s not what you think!” His clumsy attempt to cover it up made it all the more ridiculously absurd to me. “Julian, let’s break up.”

The next second, I pulled out my resignation letter: “Also, please sign this so I can resign.” Julian stood there, dumbfounded. Everyone present had a mix of shock and amusement on their faces; some hesitated, wanting to intervene. But then, Splash! Seraphina swept the wine and fruit platter off the table, as if she’d been utterly humiliated: “You two are a couple?!” “Julian, I told you, the love I want is one where your eyes are only for me! If you have a girlfriend, just say so! There’s no need to try and get revenge on me like this!” She stormed out of the room. Julian snapped back to reality, then, losing all composure, slapped me across the face: “Who told you to cause a scene in front of Seraphina?! Why did you expose our relationship? Don’t you know she’s too sensitive to handle this kind of shock?” My head was flung sideways, my eyes cold and empty. The burning rage in his eyes suddenly died down, replaced by a flicker of pain. The hand that had struck me trembled violently. He turned his head away and said sharply: “You just want to force me to marry you, but your plan failed. I’d like to see how you’re going to cause trouble for Seraphina without the job I gave you!” He snatched my resignation letter and signed it. The next second, he shouted “Seraphina!” and sprinted after her. I traced the crumpled paper, then, with a sense of relief, walked out amidst the bewildered stares of the crowd. Now, only one thing remained. After Mom’s death, I decided to take her away, so I’d only arranged a simple funeral and a symbolic tomb. Tomorrow, I needed to go to the hospital to pick up her ashes and belongings. The next morning, I arrived at the hospital right on schedule, planning to grab Mom’s things and head straight to the airport. As I passed a medical room, I heard a doctor call out Julian’s name. “You young people are crazy for love. Now your chest skin is inflamed, ulcerated, and bleeding. It could easily get infected internally! You can’t keep doing this!” I involuntarily slowed my steps. Then I heard Seraphina’s sugary voice: “Julian, I was just saying yesterday, out of spite, that I’d only forgive you when your heart was completely full of me. How could you actually tattoo my name all over your chest?” Julian’s voice was full of devotion: “For you, it’s nothing.” I turned my head and saw Julian’s open collar. His chest skin was red and festering, and I could faintly make out Seraphina’s name tattooed densely across it, each letter seeping with blood. But before, when I had just bought a pair of matching couple’s rings, he had reamed me out, saying I was deliberately trying to claim him and tie him down, restrict his freedom. Turns out, when it came to love, everyone was equally pathetic. I continued towards the morgue. Seraphina had already spotted me and deliberately picked a fight: “Ava, Julian said you’re just a persistent stalker. What do you want now?” Julian, however, didn’t seem annoyed at all. He quickly buttoned his collar, smoothed his hair, and a slight smile played on his lips: “Ava, I know you came to find me on purpose. As long as you promise not to overstep again, I can still let you come back to the company. I heard your mom is in our city recently. I can be generous and take her on a trip.” My eyes were full of sarcasm. What exactly counted as “not overstepping”? Continue to be his secret lover, smilingly bless him and Seraphina, then wait until he’d had his fill and settled down, gratefully marrying him? He still didn’t know that Mom had died long ago, and her last words were for me to find someone who truly loved me. The nurse, however, couldn’t wait. She rushed out to find me, handing me Mom’s ashes and belongings: “Ava, I have other families to attend to. Just sign here, and you can take your mother’s ashes.”

Julian’s smug expression froze: “What ashes?” The nurse shot him a puzzled look: “Ava’s mother passed away two days ago because she couldn’t afford the medical bills.” Julian was speechless, finding his voice only after a long moment: “How could this be? Ava, didn’t you use the money I gave you for your mom?” I lowered my head to sign the ash claim form. Seraphina frowned, then suddenly spoke: “Julian, I suddenly feel a bit unwell. Could you ask the doctor to check me? Ava and I are both women, maybe I can comfort her properly.” Julian hesitated, then finally called out to me: “Ava, stay right here! Wait for me to get the doctor, then we can talk properly!” The moment he left, Seraphina’s eyes filled with malice. She swept her hand across the table, knocking over my mother’s urn. She whispered mockingly: “Ava, you really are a persistent ghost. It was me who deliberately told HR not to give you the funds. Your mom died because you didn’t know your place. And Julian said he’s going to give your old position to me. If you’re smart, you’ll get lost!” My pupils constricted. So, my mom’s death was her doing! Filled with fury, I didn’t hesitate to slap her. She immediately crumpled to the floor, shrinking into the corner, groaning in pain, begging repeatedly: “Ava, don’t kill me! I’m so sad your mom died too!” Bystanders, unaware of the full story, all assumed I was just venting my anger. They had all seen Julian and Seraphina’s public announcement video, and now they were indignant: “Her own mom died, and she’s taking it out on another patient? Where’s security? Get this person out of the hospital!” “Don’t you know that’s Mr. Sterling’s fiancée? The Sterling family is loaded; you’ve messed with the wrong person! It’s not too late to get on your knees and apologize now!” My face was numb as I knelt to pick up the shattered ceramic pieces of my mother’s urn. The sharp edges of the fragments cut my fingers, leaving streaks of blood, but I felt no pain. As everyone condemned me, Julian finally rushed back with the doctor. They spoke over each other, trying to take credit: “Julian, your fiancée is being bullied! Aren’t you going to stand up for her?” Seraphina, looking smug, weakly cried out: “Julian, I’m fine. Ava didn’t mean to hit me. I was just kindly helping Ava with her mom’s ashes, and I accidentally dropped them. She didn’t intentionally push me or slap me. I’m okay; I probably didn’t break anything.” Julian took three steps and was suddenly in front of me. I didn’t even lift my head, just gathered my mother’s ashes. He’d probably just say a few words to me, nothing more. But to my surprise, the next second, he knelt directly in front of me, carefully cradling my hands and asking: “Does it hurt?”

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My husband, Julian Sterling, is a genius painter, but he suffers from a severe emotional disorder. Even when I fell down the stairs, pregnant, and pleaded for his help, he just asked indifferently, “Why are you always crying?” I used to think this was just how geniuses were – unique and detached. That was until I saw his studio, filled with nude portraits of another woman. I confronted him in anger, but he remained cold, retorting, “She’s my muse! A housewife like you wouldn’t understand art!” Finally, I agreed to his divorce request. “Go live your life with your muse, then.” On the divorce papers, I asked for nothing else. Only one thing: Julian had to continue paying my mother’s medical bills. After the divorce was finalized, Julian’s expression remained as cold as ever. “What will you do now?” I knew it was just a polite formality, not genuine concern for my future. Julian had always been heartless and emotionless towards me. I gave a vague answer. “Travel.” He didn’t ask anything further. Chloe Davis linked her arm through his, smiling at me. “Thank you for setting Julian free.” I instinctively looked at Julian. He suddenly spoke. “Traveling costs money. I’ll transfer some to you.” His tone was still flat, indifferent, as if he were speaking to a stranger. I didn’t get much money from this divorce. Julian and I had signed a prenuptial agreement from the start, so I couldn’t claim any of his assets. Our elder son, Leo, had health issues and was a high-needs child. I had quit my job years ago to focus entirely on caring for him. So, this divorce meant I was practically walking away with next to nothing. Chloe pursed her lips, cutting him off. “Julian, Audrey must have her own savings. Aren’t you looking down on her by saying that? Besides, our exhibition is about to open, and we need the money.” Julian turned to look at her, his gaze softening. “You’re right.” Chloe smiled at me. “Audrey, where are you going to travel? Won’t it be unsafe for you alone?” Julian frowned. “What could possibly be unsafe?” I was used to his nonchalant attitude. Julian had an emotional disorder. Over a decade ago, at his grandfather’s funeral, Julian didn’t shed a single tear. Everyone called him a monster. Fearing he might be upset, I covered his ears and tried to comfort him. “Julian, they’re not telling the truth. You just aren’t good at expressing your feelings.” But Julian looked at me seriously and said, “Why should I be sad? Everyone in this world has to leave one day, don’t they?” I was stunned. A young me didn’t understand why Julian would say something like that. Later, Julian’s condition worsened, to the point of self-harm—he didn’t love anyone, including himself. But only when he saw me did his condition seem to improve. The Sterling family, desperate to save him, offered to cover my mother’s medical bills if I married Julian. Julian even pleaded with me with eyes like a wounded puppy. “Audrey, you said you’d always stay with me, didn’t you?” I was moved by him. We even had a period of relative affection. During that brief time, I became pregnant with our elder son. With our son’s birth, my life gradually revolved around him. Without realizing it, Julian and I drifted further apart. Julian was the most renowned genius painter, with a large fan base. Many fans, upon learning I was just a housewife, declared online that I wasn’t worthy of him. 【How can a genius painter’s wife be just a housewife?】 【Heard it was a marriage of convenience. The poor genius painter.】 I broke down crying, seeking his comfort. But Julian looked at me with a strange expression. “Why bother with them? You’re really odd. And they’re not wrong, you are a housewife.” Should I blame him? Everyone told me Julian was just sick; he was simply incapable of love. As his wife, I should be understanding. Countless times after that, I used that excuse to console myself. Our son’s health was fragile. One moment of inattention, and he’d have a high fever that wouldn’t break. I couldn’t sleep all night, watching over his bedside, even while carrying our second child. Meanwhile, Julian, as his father, remained completely absorbed in his paintings. I confronted him, distraught, asking why he didn’t care about our child. He looked up at me. “I’m not a doctor.” In my overwhelming grief, I fell down the stairs. A large pool of blood gushed out beneath me. —I miscarried.

I pleaded for his help. Julian simply asked, “Why are you always crying?” Then, he stepped over me with his long legs and strode away. In that moment, for the first time, I truly felt that “Julian was a monster.” He was utterly indifferent to me. But with his assistant, Chloe Davis, it was different. In front of Chloe, he was like a normal person, a person with flesh and blood. Julian once said at a press conference that Chloe made his barren soul bloom with life. —”Her presence made me feel the sun’s warmth, the captivating scent of flowers.” That day I went home, I smashed everything in the house like a madwoman. I asked him, “Do you know what you’re doing? Are you cheating on me?” Julian’s expression didn’t change. “Cheating? You shouldn’t use conventional standards to define my relationship with Chloe.” With that, he continued working on his painting. His studio was filled with sketches—all portraits of Chloe. There were even nude portraits of Chloe… Every brushstroke seemed to pour out all his tenderness and devotion. As I pushed the door open to leave, Julian suddenly spoke. “Audrey Stone, you and the children have always been mere passing guests in my life. Chloe, however, is my source of inspiration, the core of my artistic creation.” I suddenly stopped all thoughts of arguing with him, feeling only extreme exhaustion and helplessness. It turned out Julian wasn’t emotionally incapable with everyone. I thought my life was already desperate enough. But I never expected that later, Even my son, for whom I would have sacrificed everything, wanted Chloe to be his mother. My son, mimicking his father, fawned over and flattered Chloe endlessly. “Chloe, you’re so beautiful. I wish you were really my mom. My mom is just a common housewife.” … I snapped back from my memories, smiled, and turned to leave. “Goodbye, Mr. Sterling.” If I could, I never wanted to see Julian again in my life. But my wrist was grabbed with force. Julian stared at me, his eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment. “Let go.” I tried to pull free but was powerless against him. Chloe glanced at me, then softly coaxed Julian. “Julian, could you please let go of her?” Julian, however, seemed not to hear, his brows furrowed even deeper. When he spoke again, his words were still clumsy. “Is it because of the miscarriage last time? But I… didn’t I already give you a child?” I laughed bitterly, pulled my hand away, and looked at Julian coldly. “Stay away from me.” Julian had never been treated this way by me before. He stiffened slightly, seemingly unaccustomed to it. Chloe linked her arm through Julian’s, looking a little helpless. “Audrey, don’t be angry. Julian just has an emotional disorder; he doesn’t know how to express himself.” Julian nodded, clearly agreeing with Chloe. I let out a laugh. How utterly boring. “Julian, goodbye.” I waved my hand and walked away, my steps firm. Julian stood rooted to the spot, his fingers trembling unconsciously. Chloe, oblivious, tugged at his arm. “Come on, my great painter.”

Many people came to talk to me after they heard about our divorce. Even Mrs. Sterling, usually so proud, came to find me with Leo. At the time, I was packing my luggage. Mrs. Sterling grabbed my hand, a smile in her eyes. “You don’t need to move out. You’ve been a housewife for so many years without working; how will you support yourself if you move out?” Mrs. Sterling pulled my hand, leading me to sit on the sofa. Leo, standing nearby, pouted at me, muttering under his breath. “She’s just petty. She’s just jealous we like Chloe more.” Mrs. Sterling feigned anger and scolded Leo for a few moments, then continued holding my hand and speaking. “I know you’re upset. You know Julian; he doesn’t mean any harm. He just has an emotional disorder.” I pulled my hand away. “Didn’t you want him to divorce me all along?” Mrs. Sterling let out a few dry laughs. “How could I possibly want you two to divorce?” She seemed earnest, as if she truly hated to see me go. But I hadn’t forgotten that not long ago, after my miscarriage, she had visited me and casually tossed out, “How useless, can’t even keep a child.” Privately, she often told people, “Audrey Stone doesn’t deserve my son at all.” I gave Mrs. Sterling a cold glance. Sure enough, the next second, I heard her say: “Julian’s career is on the rise right now. If news of your divorce gets out at this time, what will people think of him?” With that, Mrs. Sterling’s tone shifted, hardening slightly. “So, for now, please don’t publicly announce the divorce. Can you do that?” Before I could reply, Leo pushed me. “Hey, hurry up and agree! Chloe was right; you’re just selfish, always only thinking about yourself.” Leo’s words were like a sharp knife, piercing my heart precisely. I stared at him, stunned. The old Leo used to cling to me the most, repeating over and over, “Mommy is the best person in the world, I love Mommy the most.” But… he had Julian’s blood flowing in his veins after all. He was just like Julian, able to abandon me and side with Chloe so easily. My face grew cold. “Leo!” Leo jutted out his neck, not thinking he had done anything wrong. Just then, the door opened. Chloe and Julian walked in side-by-side. Leo’s eyes instantly reddened, and he ran to Chloe. “Chloe, I hate that woman! She yelled at me. Can you help me kick her out?” Chloe crouched down, gently comforting Leo. Only then did she look up at me, her eyes filled with disapproval. “Audrey, you’re going too far. A mother who abuses her child like this should have her parental rights revoked.” Julian stood beside her, his displeased gaze falling on my face. “Audrey, why are you becoming so unreasonable?” I rolled my eyes at him and slammed the door as I left. As I got into the elevator, Chloe chased after me. She clutched her stomach, looking at me provocatively. “Audrey, you won’t be coming back, will you? I’m pregnant. It’s Julian’s baby.” I gave a bitter smile. Everything was as I expected. How could she truly just be a muse? In that studio, he certainly wasn’t just painting her nude portraits. Chloe coughed awkwardly. “Julian just hopes my genes can be passed on…” “It has nothing to do with me. Julian and I are divorced.” My expression remained unchanged. Chloe leaned closer, lowering her voice to provoke me further. “He also said that only with me did he truly experience passion between a man and a woman. With you, it was utterly boring.”

With that, she slowly backed away, giving me a sinister smile. Then, she stumbled backward. The next second, I was knocked over by a force. I saw Julian rush over like a madman, trying to grab Chloe. But it was no use. “Bang!” Chloe fell down the steps, the blood gushing from below her waist stinging my eyes. My whole body trembled. Not long ago, I had just experienced something similar. Behind me, Leo’s heartbreaking scream suddenly rang out, “Chloe!” “Chloe, you can’t be hurt, you can’t be hurt…” Julian roared in despair. He knelt in the pool of blood, helplessly holding Chloe, his voice almost cracking. “Don’t be scared, I’ll take you to the hospital. You’ll be alright.” Julian lifted Chloe into his arms, struggling to press the elevator button. It took him several tries to succeed—his hands were trembling violently. Before getting into the elevator, Julian suddenly looked back, his eyes filled with hatred. “Audrey, I won’t let you get away with this.” Leo quickly chased after them, turning back to glare at me fiercely. “Bad woman, you hurt Chloe! I don’t want you anymore!” The moment the elevator doors fully closed, I clearly saw Julian press his forehead against Chloe’s. That deep, bone-marrow level of cherish and pity was something I had never received in the nearly thirty years I’d known him. Julian’s retaliation came swiftly. That night, I received news from the hospital. My mother’s medical payments had been cut off. “Ms. Stone, you must understand that a VIP room costs a hundred thousand a month. If you can’t pay, we’ll have no choice but to…” My hand trembled as I held the phone. A hundred thousand a month for medical bills was an astronomical sum for me now. I had no choice but to beg Julian. I rushed to the hospital. In the corridor, Julian leaned against the wall, a cigarette held between his fingers. Amidst the swirling smoke, his expression grew even colder. “Want to beg me to save your mother?” “Yes. According to the divorce agreement, you should continue to pay for my mother’s medical expenses.” My voice was tight. He scoffed, offering no reply. I explained, almost groveling, “I didn’t push her. If you don’t believe me, you can check the surveillance. There’s a camera at that spot…” I was somewhat incoherent. Julian stubbed out his cigarette, approaching me step by step, his tall figure casting a shadow over me. His tone was utterly cold. “Does it matter?” “What?” “Does it matter if you pushed her?” Julian looked down at me, with a superior, judgmental gaze. “No matter the truth, she lost her baby because of you.” I stared at him, stunned, the last string in my mind snapping. I screamed in despair, “So, you’re going to watch my mother die? That’s a human life!” “Using your mother’s life to pay for the life of Chloe’s unborn child. Sounds fair to me.” Julian’s lips curled into a nearly cruel smile. I felt as if I had plunged into an ice abyss. I had no other option; I knelt before him, bowing my head. “Please, I beg you, for the sake of our past, let my mother go. I’ll even die to atone for it, I’m willing to die…” Julian’s expression didn’t soften in the slightest. He looked at me as if I were a lunatic. “Audrey, you’re just like a dog wagging its tail, begging for scraps.” … That night, no matter what I did, I couldn’t change Julian’s mind. My mother’s respirator was unplugged that very evening. Before dawn, the hospital called. “Ms. Stone, please accept our condolences. Your mother has passed away.” Boom— My world plunged into utter darkness. I arranged my mother’s funeral simply, then walked to the ocean with her ashes… Meanwhile, Julian was at the hospital with Chloe. Chloe looked at his worried face and suddenly asked. “Are you worried about her?” Julian shook his head. Chloe linked her arm through his, coaxing gently. “Don’t worry, nothing bad will happen. That was just Audrey’s way of faking it for sympathy. Her mother’s illness was already cured; she just wanted attention.” Julian hummed softly, but his heart still felt unsettled. Until Mrs. Sterling burst into the hospital room, speaking incoherently. “Julian, quickly, go… go clear things up! Say Audrey Stone’s death has nothing to do with you, that you didn’t force her to die.”

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