Two months pregnant, I saw a post from Hunter, my husband, on SnapChat. The photo showed Hunter with his arm around Scarlett, his assistant, holding up a red lace bra. “My boyfriend is too passionate; he ripped my bra! Good thing he bought me a new lace one!” I silently hit the like button. Then, I systematically destroyed every single baby item we owned. The last one was burning just as Hunter’s call came in. He sounded panicked, rushing to explain: “Audrey, the company’s new lingerie design needed promotion. Scarlett and I were just acting… if you like it, I can get you one…” “No thanks,” I said, my hand instinctively caressing my still-flat belly. “Advertising, right? I get it.” After hanging up, I unearthed my long-forgotten palette. Hunter, this time, I’m truly done with you. Outside, the snow fell thick and fast. Hunter returned, and I’d already booked my abortion for two days later. Seeing I wasn’t waiting for him as usual, his face instantly soured. “Why didn’t you come to meet me?” “It’s snowing so heavily, weren’t you worried I couldn’t get back?!” He grumbled, kicking off his snow-caked shoes. Slush and mud seeped into the carpet, leaving dark stains. Normally, I’d meticulously wipe his shoes with a towel, then brew him some hot tea to ward off the cold. But now, “I just don’t feel like it!” Hunter’s expression froze. His Adam’s apple bobbed twice. “What about my coffee then?” “Forgot.” “Forgot?!” A deathly silence hung in the air. “Audrey, what’s gotten into you now?” “Is this all because of those photos?…” He moved to grab my hand, but I subtly pulled back, pretending to adjust my teacup. “New products need buzz, I told you that. I was just promoting them.” “Don’t keep using your pregnant mood swings to pressure me. I can’t handle it…” “You’re overthinking it.” I calmly cut him off, my legs, curled under the blanket, instinctively recoiling. Pellets of snow slapped against the window, reminding me of the blizzard two weeks ago. He’d worn the same frown then. “The company’s new product is launching soon. You don’t need to drag me to a prenatal check-up.” Then, he’d gently explained to Scarlett on the phone, “I notice every single one of your efforts. Don’t worry, no matter what the future holds, I’ll be there for you every step of the way.” But that day, I’d walked home alone through the raging snowstorm. Hunter pressed his fingertips to his temples, leaving a red mark. Finally, he pulled a cheaply packaged item from his briefcase. “La Perla!” “The exact same color and style!” He tossed the bra in front of me, wearing a “don’t be ungrateful” look. “Satisfied now?” I stared at the bra, nestled in the most basic plastic bag from a convenience store. The gold-foil logo was crooked, half-missing. It was starkly different from the one he’d given Scarlett. Yet, I still calmly said “Thank you,” and went back to scrolling on my phone without looking up. Hunter’s brows suddenly furrowed. He grabbed my arm. “I’ve satisfied your vanity, so why the sour face?” “Scarlett is wearing this exact line, it’s trending everywhere online right now! People are fighting to get their hands on it! And this is your attitude?” What else did he expect? “What else should I do?” “Bow down? Or just transfer the money to you?” The flowing air instantly solidified into dead silence. I didn’t want to argue anymore. I tossed the blanket aside and walked directly to the bedroom. Behind me, I heard the crash of Hunter kicking over the tea set. But I truly couldn’t think of a way to express gratitude to him. To accept a fake item as an excuse for his “promotional necessity” betrayal. Then, under the guise of “vanity,” he dismissed all my grievances and disappointment as unreasonable pregnant sensitivity. It was so incredibly pointless. I changed into clean clothes and headed for the front door. Hunter’s angry shouts followed me to the entryway. “Where are you going in this blizzard? You’re pregnant, what if something happens?” I fastened the last button of my coat, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. “So you do remember I’m pregnant, Hunter…” I slipped on my shoes. “Do you remember the last time you left me at the hospital?” “I was thinking the same thing!” “In a blizzard, and pregnant, what if something happens?!” “And what happened?” I spread my hands, then walked out the door without looking back. As the security door closed, I heard the sound of a cup shattering on the floor. But I didn’t rush back in a panic like before, to clean up the mess, or to pacify him with a forced smile. Instead, I straightened my back and stepped into the waiting taxi. The flying snow lashed against the window, and a long-forgotten lightness bloomed in my chest. Before I married Hunter, I was a well-known painter in my circle. Later, because he said “I need you,” I abandoned my cherished passion. My palette was put away, and my paint-stained brushes soaked in turpentine. But now, I could finally, uninhibitedly, chase my passion again.

The scent of turpentine hit me. The students chattered, crowding around me. The gallery owner was the first to step forward, handing me a paintbrush. “I knew it. You couldn’t stay trapped in that golden cage forever.” I took the brush and sincerely said, “Thank you!” In the three years I was married to Hunter, I truly made him my entire world. From the smallest task of managing the household to the biggest sacrifice of shielding him from life’s storms, I gave up the most vibrant passion of my life. Thankfully, I finally realized that love alone cannot be everything. After finishing my last painting, I returned home late at night. The dim light elongated Hunter’s desolate silhouette. I didn’t notice his expression, only the mess in the living room. He’d been drinking. This was the first time in three years, outside of company events, that he’d drunk alone at home. I suppressed my shock, placing my painting supplies by the door. He rushed over and grabbed me. “Where were you?” I didn’t answer, just took off my shoes. “I asked you, where were you?!” His voice unconsciously rose. He saw my paint-splattered clothes, then his face registered a sudden understanding. “Audrey, Audrey, are you serious? So intent on fighting with me that you run away, and you know oil paint is bad for the baby, you know how much I hate the smell of it, but you deliberately went to a gallery to spite me! When are you going to grow up?” I stared at his pale face, momentarily speechless. Finally, a cold scoff was all the answer I gave to his questions. “What do you mean?” He grabbed me from behind. “Is it still about that bra?” “I already explained it, it was for a new product launch. Besides, I bought you the same one. What more do you want?” Dried paint pricked uncomfortably under my fingernails. I indifferently pulled my hand free. “Yes, what more do I want?” “Are you done talking? Because I’m going to sleep.” He suddenly kicked over the shoe rack. Wooden clogs clattered against the wall. Plaster dust mixed with the turpentine scent. “Always with that deadpan face!” “You have a perfectly good life, but you insist on getting involved with those crazy artists, Audrey. What exactly does our marriage mean to you?!” His hysterical accusations were as grating as the cold wind howling outside the window. But I still said nothing. In the face of his illogical arguments, I always believed silence was my strongest weapon against his twisted logic. That night, the crisp pop of a can opening sliced through the stillness of the night. I sat on the bed, staring at my phone, listening to Hunter’s deliberately hushed voice from the living room. “When will she ever be like you?” The next day, I opened my bedroom door. Hunter was slumped over a pile of empty cans, his head drooping. A mountain of cigarette butts leaned precariously in last night’s spilled alcohol. Normally, I’d quietly clean up the mess and carefully create an escape route for both of us. Even if my heart ached with injustice, I’d use the gentlest smile and actions to paint this argument as just another ordinary part of life. But now, I walked straight past the cans and out the door. Before closing it, I heard Hunter’s low growl, “If you’re so capable, then never come back!” And that’s exactly what I intended. Since quitting my gallery job three years ago, I hadn’t picked up a brush for outdoor sketching. Now that I had the chance, I wouldn’t betray this turpentine-scented freedom. Holding Mr. Davies’s letter of recommendation, I signed up for the Perrotin Gallery exhibition, three days away. “It’s a long journey; you’ll be gone for a while. Are you really not going to discuss it with him?” Mr. Davies’s voice crackled through the phone. I traced the unfinished “Morning Mist on the Seine” on my screensaver. It was a sketch from three years ago, for my Perrotin application, a path I’d stopped walking for Hunter. But now, “No need to discuss. We’re getting divorced soon.”

When I got home, Hunter stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a tailored suit. He held an Italian handcrafted comb, meticulously smoothing back the hair at his temples. The sharp, slicked-back style enhanced his handsome, chiseled features. “I have a work dinner tonight,” he said without looking up. Then, he pulled out his phone, a smile playing on his lips, and walked out the door. That smile was identical to the one in Scarlett’s latest photos. Carefree, tender, with an undeniable doting affection in his eyes and the curve of his mouth. I remembered three years ago, he’d smiled at me that exact same way. On a snowy street, he’d wrapped my trembling shoulders in a thick coat. Then he’d wound a scarf around my neck, layer after layer, and said with a smile, “See? This way, my little painter won’t freeze into a snowman.” But now, he warmed someone else’s winter with that same smile. The starlight in his eyes no longer belonged to me. I knew he was going to see Scarlett again. Ever since Scarlett appeared, he’d often come home late or left early. I felt insecure, trying every way to hold onto him. But in the end, all I got was his exasperated, “Can you stop being so annoying?” That evening, on a whim, I opened my social media. I saw a photo Scarlett had posted. Hunter stood beside her. They both held the same bottle of champagne, smiling brightly in front of a giant champagne tower. The caption read: “Wherever you are, it’s always brilliant.” Below it was Hunter’s heart emoji. “It’s never lonely with you around.” Once, I would have cried hysterically, then screamed and demanded answers like a madwoman. “Who exactly is your wife? Have you ever considered my feelings?” But now, I quietly closed my phone and slept until dawn. In the early hours, I was jolted awake by a violent slamming door. Hunter, reeking of alcohol, ripped the covers off me. “I said I had a work dinner, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t eat anything, did I?!” “Audrey, are you so heartless and uncaring now that you can’t even bother to prepare me a late-night snack? How can you be so cold?!” His chest heaved violently, catching me off guard. In the past, whenever he went out for work, no matter how late, I would painstakingly prepare a table full of snacks. Worried about his stomach, I’d even warm milk. But each time, he’d push it away with a frown, then post photos of gourmet late-night meals shared with others on social media. I rubbed my sleepy eyes, speaking as calmly as possible. “You didn’t say you were coming back to eat. You always eat out at these work dinners. I can’t exactly chase after you asking if you’ve eaten, can I? Wouldn’t that make you seem weak? Besides, Scarlett was there.” In the past, every time I questioned him, it would provoke his impatience. He hated all my texts and questions, especially when he was with Scarlett. So, upon hearing my words, his tightly furrowed brow instantly smoothed. “That’s not what I meant. Isn’t preparing a late-night snack what you *should* do? And being with Scarlett? That’s purely for the new product launch, don’t be silly.” I nodded, a knowing expression on my face. “I’m not being silly. I just want to sleep.” With that, I pulled the covers over my head, no longer paying attention to his expression as I had before. But his intense gaze lingered on me for a long time. That night, the living room light stayed on. The next day, I woke up early. After washing up, I walked straight to the entryway to change my shoes. Hunter sat at the dining table, arms crossed. I knew he was waiting for breakfast, but I didn’t give him a chance to speak. I closed the door without looking back. The wind was biting cold. I pulled my coat tighter and walked into the hospital. A cool liquid flowed into my veins. In that moment, there was no sorrow, no sadness. Only a numb calm. As they say, a broken heart isn’t a sudden storm; it’s the slow, steady drip of countless disappointments wearing away what was once burning passion. On the way back, Hunter texted. He said the new product had successfully launched, and he was throwing a party at home. He asked me, for the sake of our marriage, not to make a scene. It was the first time he’d spoken to me in such a pleading tone, and the first time his words carried an almost imperceptible tremble. The ridiculous thing was, none of it was for me. But I still agreed. Not for Hunter, not for anyone else, but to use this opportunity to bring a definitive end to this fractured relationship. It was bad timing. The moment I opened the door, I saw Scarlett sitting in *my* spot. She was holding *my* wine glass, laughing and drinking with Hunter.

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The day Eleanor was recognized by her birth family and returned to their lavish mansion, I was packing my bags. She saw me and frowned. “Put that down. I’m only taking Ian and Mia. You can stay in the run-down part of town for now. I’ll send you five hundred a month for living expenses, and I’ll let you see Mia.” I nodded calmly. After all, I already knew she’d only take her first love and my daughter. In my previous life, I had clung to her, desperately following her to the mansion, making a scene. I thought I’d finally have a good life, but Ian, her first love, falsely accused me of theft. Then, my own daughter pushed me from the 18th floor. Before I fell, Mia screamed at me: “I don’t want a thief for a dad!” When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn. My phone buzzed with a text from a top-secret national research agency: “Alex, congratulations on your recruitment. Please note, you are not allowed to contact anyone outside for five years after joining.” I moved out of our old house and found a hidden apartment. But that very night, my front door was kicked open. Eleanor stood in the doorway, her white suit soaked through by the rain, her face dark and stormy. Behind her stood Ian, holding an umbrella, and my daughter, Mia, whom he held by the hand. Ian spoke, his voice laced with feigned indignation, “Alex, I know you’re upset, but you can’t just steal my mother’s keepsake. It’s the only thing I have left of her!” I felt like a lightning bolt had struck me, my blood running cold. I knew. This was the exact same scenario as my previous life. Trembling, I tried to stop them, but the bodyguards were already ransacking the apartment. Soon, a bodyguard pulled a necklace from the bottom of a box. Eleanor held up the necklace, the disgust in her eyes almost enough to kill me. A chill ran through me. I understood instantly. It was Ian again! Eleanor’s voice was sharp. “Caught red-handed, Alex. We were once married, so I’m giving you a chance to confess!” Confess? I looked up, a humorless laugh escaping my lips. “I’m not guilty. Confess to what?” Eleanor’s anger flared. She shouted towards the door, “Then help him confess!” Two burly men entered, gripping me tightly on either side. One of them pressed hard on the back of my neck, forcing me to bend low before Ian. “Get on your knees and confess!” Eleanor’s icy voice came from above me. I clenched my jaw, resisting with all my might. “It wasn’t me! Eleanor, I won’t confess!” But the bodyguard’s hand was like a vise, forcing my head down, slamming it into the ground. *Thud!* My forehead hit the rough concrete floor, a sharp, burning pain erupting. Eleanor commanded, “Apologize.” “I… didn’t…” I struggled to get the words out. *Thud!* Another blow. This time, the force was greater. I felt warm blood trickling down my forehead. Mia’s tearful voice piped up, “Dad, just confess, please. I’m scared…” My daughter’s plea twisted my heart in agony. She didn’t know. Every “Dad” she uttered was a thousand cuts to my broken heart. In my previous life, when she’d tricked me onto the rooftop and pushed me off, I died never understanding why my daughter, whom I’d loved for ten years, wouldn’t believe me, but instead believed a man who wasn’t even her blood relative. Eleanor’s voice was full of scorn. “See? Even your daughter is ashamed of you.” *Thud!* The third blow. My vision blurred. Blood and sweat mixed, dripping onto the cold ground. Ian feigned concern. “Eleanor, that’s enough… Alex might just be confused for a moment…” “Confused? I say he’s stubbornly unrepentant!” The bodyguard pressed my head down again. I mustered my last ounce of strength, lifting my head to glare at Ian. “I’m innocent!” Eleanor was utterly enraged. “Still talking back! Keep going! Until he confesses!”

Just then, Mia suddenly rushed forward and kicked my shoulder hard. “You’re a thief! I don’t want you as my dad anymore! Mia doesn’t like you anymore!” The kick wasn’t hard, but it froze me completely, making me forget to struggle. My own daughter, While I was being falsely accused of theft, while I was being forced to confess, she not only disbelieved me but came forward to deliver another blow. So this is what it feels like for your heart to die. Eleanor seemed startled by her daughter’s action too. She waved her hand, and the bodyguards released me. I slumped to the ground, blood continuously streaming from my forehead. She walked up to me, rain dripping from her hair. “Alex, for Mia’s sake, if you just admit your mistake and apologize to Ian, I’ll let it go.” I looked up, through my blood-blurred vision, staring intently at her, And at Ian, who stood behind her, wearing an innocent expression, and at my daughter, who looked at me with a stranger’s eyes. I smiled, blood oozing from the corner of my mouth. “I… did nothing wrong.” “And I will *never* apologize to Ian!” Those last three words, I directed at Ian, each one firm and clear. Eleanor erupted in fury. “You’re impossible! Drag him outside and make him kneel! He won’t get up until he confesses!” I was roughly dragged into the yard and thrown into the icy mud. The torrential rain poured down, washing over the wound on my forehead, a chilling, piercing pain. From behind, I heard Ian’s gently insidious voice. “Eleanor, it’s raining so hard. Maybe let Alex come inside…” And Mia’s innocent question, “Mommy, when will this thief confess?” Followed by Eleanor’s cold reply, “He brought it on himself.” A thief? Brought it on myself? The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. The voices faded, and I completely lost consciousness. The smell of disinfectant was acrid. I regained consciousness amidst a sharp pain. Above me, the hospital’s stark white ceiling. As far as my eyes could see, several expressionless bodyguards stood. They surrounded my hospital bed like immovable pillars. “Awake?” An icy voice reached me. I struggled to turn my head and saw Eleanor standing by the bed, her face so dark it looked like it could rain. She held the necklace in her hand, her eyes devoid of warmth, filled only with scrutiny and disgust. She held up the necklace. “Alex, I’m asking you one last time, where did you hide Ian’s mother’s *real* keepsake? This one is fake.” Fake? My eyes widened in shock. I understood instantly. Ian! How utterly twisted he was! He used a fake item to solidify my theft charge. Whether I confessed or not, he had a backup plan waiting for me! The real necklace was probably long hidden or disposed of. He wanted not only to ruin my reputation but also to ensure I’d never recover! I opened my mouth, my throat dry and hoarse. “I didn’t!” My heart ached as if an invisible hand was squeezing it tightly, making it impossible to breathe. Why? Why, even after being reborn, could I not escape this fate of being framed? Why must I still bear this fabricated charge? Eleanor stared at me, seemingly judging the truth of my words. Moments later, her last shred of patience snapped, replaced by deep disappointment and ruthlessness. “It seems you won’t tell the truth unless I get a little tougher with you.” She took a step back and coldly instructed the bodyguards, “A thief doesn’t deserve his hands. Since he won’t hand it over, break his fingers, one by one. He’s in the hospital anyway; he won’t die.” I violently opened my eyes, staring at her in disbelief. She was going to… break my fingers?!

No! I couldn’t let that happen! I struggled, but the bodyguards held me down firmly. I couldn’t be without my hands! The national research institute! My future! I needed these hands to operate precise instruments! Without them, everything I had would be ruined! “Eleanor! You can’t!” I screamed, hoarse. “I didn’t steal! I didn’t…” But she merely watched, impassively, as if observing a silent film that had nothing to do with her. A bodyguard stepped forward, roughly grabbed my left hand, and squeezed my index finger. “No!” *CRACK!* A crisp sound of bone shattering echoed. The agonizing pain made my vision go black; I nearly passed out. It hurt! But this pain was less than a thousandth of the agony in my heart. I looked at the woman I had poured my heart out to and loved for ten years, at her beautiful profile, Now, I only felt disgust. I hated her! I hated myself even more! Why was I so blind back then, to fall for this woman who couldn’t tell right from wrong, this cold and heartless woman! To protect her fragile pride, I had hidden my top-tier university degree, even willing to give up my career for her. Ten years of devotion, ten years of youth, all for this outcome today! I truly regretted ever loving her! *CRACK!* The second finger was broken. “Ah!” I convulsed with pain, cold sweat instantly soaking my hospital gown. Eleanor stood there, expressionless. The third. The fourth… Excruciating pain surged like a tide, wave after wave, almost consuming my consciousness. I bit down hard, absolutely refusing to admit to that fabricated charge. One, two, three… The bodyguard grabbed my right hand. My future, my dreams, shattered inch by agonizing inch before my eyes. *CRACK!* When the ninth finger was brutally snapped, I no longer had the strength to even scream. My life, too, seemed utterly broken at that moment. But my dignity was not crushed. I had not confessed to theft! Eleanor looked at my pathetic state, frowned, and her face turned pale. She suddenly turned to the doctor. “Reattach them.” With that, she almost fled in haste, without another glance back at me.

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Ten years as DINKs. Then his mistress got pregnant. “I want to be dad.” He announced. I had two choices: take a $300 million settlement and divorce, or stay Mrs. Hayes and be the child’s nominal mother. He thought I’d pick the second. He knew how much I loved him. But I chose the first without blinking. I’d been reborn. In my last life, I fought Richard’s mistress my whole life. In the end, her son still seized all our assets. This time, the money’s mine. The freedom’s mine. And maybe, a young man or two will be mine as well. In my last life, I literally worked myself to death. After discovering my husband Richard’s affair, a cold, focused fury consumed me. I spent 48 sleepless hours plotting. First, I sidelined him at Hayes Corp, seized control. Then I executed reforms so brutal our share price quintupled. Richard’s mistress, Jasmine, and her son, Kevin, were crushed under my heel. They hid abroad, too terrified to return or contact Richard. Not a single Hayes family member dared to challenge me, not even Richard. I thought I’d won. Then I hit forty-five, still not pregnant. Years of grueling IVF, constant injections, and non-stop work took their toll. My body gave out. I collapsed and died on a business trip. My body hadn’t even been buried when Jasmine returned with her son. Richard, Jasmine, and Kevin wept, hugging each other as if they were the ones who’d suffered some great injustice. My ashes and photo? Casually tossed into the trash. Watching Jasmine eagerly move in and Kevin take over my company, I finally realized I’d spent my entire life building an empire for someone else. That night, I heard Jasmine and Richard sharing sweet nothings in bed. Jasmine, teary-eyed, whispered to him, “Richard, you’ve suffered so much for me these past twenty years. You secretly got a vasectomy for me, and even deliberately set Sera up to pave the way for our son! Thank you, my love, I adore you.” Richard kissed Jasmine’s forehead. “Jasmine, I love you too. You’ve been with me since you were twenty. I’d do anything for you.” No wonder no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get pregnant later on. Richard had gotten a vasectomy ages ago. I couldn’t tell if I felt regret or fury, only that my entire life had been a cruel joke. I opened my eyes again, back to the moment Richard laid it all out for me. He’d just gotten home from a business trip, still wearing the custom suit I’d ordered for him. He sat on the sofa, radiating an undeniable charm. Richard sighed. “Sera, let’s part amicably. Jasmine’s pregnant. It was… an accident, but she’s given me everything, and I can’t abandon her.” “I’m going to marry her and keep this child. I’m afraid you’ll have to make sacrifices.” “Besides the $300 million settlement for the divorce, I’ll buy back your shares at market price. This villa we live in and the cars? They’re yours. I truly owe you for all these years.” Honestly, Richard’s terms were pretty generous. If I didn’t love him, it would’ve been a total windfall. But I’d known him since I was eighteen, married him at twenty. Richard built his empire, and I helped manage the company alongside him. Later, when his parents got older and their health declined, I stepped back to care for them. I never imagined Richard would stab me in the back. And twist the knife. That betrayal fueled a hatred so fierce, I burned the rest of that life on nothing but revenge. Now, I gazed at my thirty-year-old face in the mirror. My eyes looked tired, exhausted from cooking and managing the household for my in-laws. My clothes were dated, a testament to my frugality. I reeked of “housewife.” My heart ached. I felt a pang of pity for myself. How had I let my life become this? Why hadn’t I learned to enjoy it? As I drifted, Richard repeated his demand for divorce. He sounded impatient. Just as he was about to deliver a warning, I calmly said, “Fine.” Richard froze. “What?” “I agree to the divorce,”I repeated, my voice calm. “And to you buying back my shares at market price. Let’s end this amicably.” Stunned by my decisiveness, he could only stare for a beat. “As long as you agree,” he muttered. “My lawyer will contact yours tomorrow.” Then he left in a hurry. I took a deep breath. Turning around, I saw his parents on the second floor. They’d known about Jasmine. They’d come for a show. Seeing not a tear but cold resolve, their faces tightened with awkwardness. My mother-in-law forced a thin smile, nudged her husband, and they vanished. I was left alone in the living room, savoring the reality of my rebirth.

Richard’s assistant worked fast. Within a week, Jasmine was strutting into my house as if she owned the future. In my previous life, Richard coddled her because she was young, keeping her well-protected. I rarely dealt with her. So, facing twenty-year-old Jasmine now, a strange resentment still flared. But I fought to hide it. I knew Richard was ultimately to blame. Jasmine was just the fly attracted to the rot. She was practically revered by the Hayes family. My mother-in-law, who’d given me the cold shoulder for ten years, was smiling warmly at someone for the first time. She constantly fed Jasmine fruit, stroked her belly, looking utterly delighted. I didn’t go in to make things worse. I retreated to my car and called Richard. “Have your assistant come out. I’ll sign in the car.” “Since you gave me the villa, tell your parents to move out tomorrow. I don’t like strangers in my house.” “Transfer the money to my account first. Let’s expedite the share transfer paperwork. Once that’s done, we’ll finalize the divorce.” Richard didn’t say anything for a long moment, then let out a sarcastic chuckle. “You’re certainly quick about this.” He made it sound like I was just after his money. I didn’t bite. There was no point arguing with him now. The priority was getting everything finalized ASAP. My attitude must have provoked him, or perhaps Richard just didn’t want to upset Jasmine. Either way, a month later, I received a total compensation of nearly $800 million and my divorce certificate. The second I walked out of the courthouse, I listed the villa online, ready to sell. Richard was still trailing me. When I almost stumbled, he grabbed my arm. His expression was surprisingly remorseful. “Sera, what are you… going to do now?” I was busy calculating the villa’s value and didn’t quite hear him. “Huh? What?” “What are you planning to do?” “Me?” I looked at him strangely. “I’m going to get a haircut and buy some new clothes. Divorce is like a rebirth, after all. Gotta celebrate, right?” Richard choked on his words, his face hardening. “You’re still so stubborn.” “Even though we’re not married anymore, we’ve known each other a long time, and I want to offer some advice. When we were younger, money was tight, and we carelessly decided to be DINKs, not truly understanding what that meant.” “Now that my parents are getting older and my career is successful, I’m starting to understand how important having children is.” “I know you hate your dad for cheating and your stepmother for the abuse, so you stubbornly refused to have kids.” “But Sera, life is long. If you never have your own bloodline, you’ll be lonely and regretful when you’re old.” “I just didn’t want my parents to die without seeing grandchildren, I didn’t want to be unfilial. That’s why I chose to be responsible for Jasmine. I hope you understand.” He rambled on and on, and just then, my ride arrived. I casually pulled my hand from his, got straight into the car. As the car started to pull away, I flipped him the bird. “Richard, you cheated. Don’t try to make it sound so noble.” “You can spin it any way you want, but Jasmine is still your mistress, and that child is still illegitimate. No matter what, you can’t change that fact.” “I’m thrilled about the divorce, because I don’t have to deal with you two anymore, or clean up your mess. May you and your mistress be ‘happily ever after,’ you deserve each other. And don’t ever contact me again.”

Cursing Richard felt incredibly cathartic, and the divorce didn’t affect me in the slightest. Maybe my previous life had completely drained all my love for him. Now that we were separated, it felt like excising a rotting piece of flesh. Utterly liberating. The day after the divorce was finalized, I found a high-end salon, got a perm, and dyed my hair with highlights I’d always wanted. Then I went on a shopping spree, buying dozens of outfits and completely overhauling my wardrobe. Seeing my new, younger reflection, tears finally fell. “Sera,” I whispered. “you’re actually beautiful. You’ve worked so hard all these years.” A sum with nine zeros sat quietly in my bank account. I could live off the interest in blissful idleness. There was no more need to rush. I lounged on the sofa, then wiped out Richard, his parents, his relatives, and most of his friends from my contacts. My contact list felt so much cleaner. As I scrolled, I saw Mia’s name, a friend who owned a bar. After a moment’s thought, I called her. I’d been so wrapped up in family life before, rarely keeping in touch. So, when I suddenly called, she sounded surprised. “Hey, Mrs. Hayes, what’s up? Long time no talk!” I smiled faintly. “I’m divorced. Don’t call me Mrs. Hayes. From now on, you can call me Sera, the rich lady.” “Holy shit!” Mia shrieked. “Seriously? Where are you? I’m coming to get you right now!” Her eagerness for gossip was obvious. Half an hour later, Mia had heard the whole story. She looked at me, clearly wanting to say something but hesitating. I quickly stopped her. “Hey, don’t pity me, girl. I’m loaded now.” Mia just stared. “You’ve got a point.” She wiped her face. “So, what’s next, boss?” I pondered for a moment. “Well, ever since Richard hooked up with Jasmine, it’s been two years since I’ve, you know, been intimate with anyone.” “You know a lot of people. Any clean-cut, fit, handsome guys you could hook me up with? Maybe two?”

The moment I mentioned wanting a male escort, Mia got excited. Within half a day, several profiles landed in my hands. My eyes immediately gravitated to Leo, the one with the cleanest vibe. It wasn’t just his looks; his background was surprising – a top student from A University. How could such a brilliant guy go down this path? I raised an eyebrow and told Mia to bring him to my hotel that evening. That night, in the Grand Hotel’s Presidential Suite, I met twenty-three-year-old Leo for the first time. He was tall, with eyes and brows even more striking than in his photo. His skin was lightly tanned, and his gaze held a hint of veiled resentment. With years of interviewing experience, I could tell he was a textbook good student. Dressed in a shirt and slacks, he was stiff as a board, his face flushed with shame. Too bad I wasn’t feeling charitable. I was focused on getting what I wanted. I walked over and gently lifted his chin. “You’re Leo, right?” Leo mumbled a shy “M-hm.” His youthful awkwardness delighted me. He truly was gorgeous. Clear eyes, long, curling lashes, full, red lips – a pure, captivating temptation. IMy grip on his chin tightened, forcing those deep, wary eyes to lock onto mine. “Half a million is a lot. But I like you, so I’ll pay. Whether you get all that money…well, let’s see your performance tonight.” Leo took a shaky breath. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re satisfied.” His hands trembled violently, and he was flushed from his earlobes all the way down his neck. When he kissed me, he was so inexperienced he bit my lip with his teeth. I couldn’t help but let out a low laugh. So innocent. So pure. So utterly adorable. I reversed our positions, pinning him beneath me, and slowly unbuttoned his shirt. “You’re lucky. It’s my first time hiring an escort. I don’t have any strange kinks.” “I’m buying a good time to clear my head. After tonight, you’ll get what you came for.” Leo let out a choked moan, his hands instinctively finding my waist… The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed. Leo was still asleep. I left the card on the nightstand, kissed his cheek, then got up and left. Decisive as I was, I didn’t notice the tears streaming down his face the moment the door clicked shut.

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My life was cursed from the start. Broken leg at three. Deaf in one ear by five. Eye lost by eight. After my rich parents finally took me home, Chloe, the fake heiress, hissed a cruel threat. “Even if you’re back, I’m still the only Hayes daughter! Try anything, and I’ll break your other leg!” I stared, uncomprehending. Then, without a word, I detached both my prosthetic legs. My parents’ faces drained of color as they saw my empty pants legs. My brother Caleb’s expression darkened. He leaned in, his voice a low warning not to upset Chloe. I just pointed to my ear with an innocent look and shouted. “WHAT?! Someone beat me deaf in this ear! I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” He staggered back, looking like he’d seen a ghost. At the gala, Chloe tried to frame me, faking a fall down the stairs. In the process, she tore my dress. Just as Caleb led my parents over to confront me, they saw my body covered in scars. The world froze. My father rushed to wrap me in his arms. “What happened?! Tell me!” Seeing their horror, Chloe scrambled to her feet, desperate to distance herself. “I didn’t do it! Don’t you dare blame me!” I nodded. No, she didn’t do it. The traffickers did. I was the only child from my village to ever escape alive. I’d made a promise to the little friends I left behind. I would make the monsters pay.

“It wasn’t me.” Chloe’s voice dissolved into a perfect, trembling sob, her eyes seeking refuge in Caleb’s. Caleb understood immediately. He moved to shield her, his voice hardening into a blade of conviction. “Mom, Dad, listen to me. Aria’s just playing the victim to frame Chloe!” “You know Chloe. She could never do something so cruel. Never.” I wrapped myself in the clothes the butler, Mr. Davies, handed me, hiding the scars that covered my body. Even though I couldn’t stop trembling, I tried to smile at them. “Mom, Dad, Caleb’s right. My injuries really have nothing to do with Chloe.” “I did all of this to myself to play the victim and frame her.” During those years with the traffickers, I’d learned to be compliant to avoid another beating, to suffer a little less. Accepting charges I didn’t commit was always better than resisting and earning a fiercer beating. But to my surprise, as soon as the words left my mouth, my parents’ faces darkened. Smash. Dad slammed the glass he was holding onto the floor. His hand trembled as he pointed accusingly from Chloe to Caleb. “Look! See what you did? Aria’s not making any sense!” Chloe and Caleb stared, their faces paling. Just then, a girl in an evening dress caught Chloe’s look and stepped out. “Who hurt her earlier is one thing,” she declared, then thrust an accusing finger toward me. “But she just kicked Chloe down the stairs! In front of everyone.” Caleb jumped on it instantly. Her left foot! I saw it too!” he shouted, backing her up. All eyes were on me again. I peeked out from behind Mom, my face etched with confusion and helplessness. Under everyone’s gaze, I timidly bent down and slowly pulled up my left pant leg. It was empty. I looked up, my eyes fearful. “Mom, Dad, even though… even though my left prosthetic leg is being serviced today…” “But since Caleb and Tiffany saw me kick Chloe down the stairs, then… then it must have been me.” As I spoke, I tugged at Chloe’s dress, trying to appease her. “I’m sorry, Chloe, it was my fault. I’ll apologize to you right now.” With that, I used my one remaining prosthetic limb to support myself, hopped to the second floor, and without a second thought, leapt over the railing. Silence descended for a moment. Then, a piercing scream erupted from the crowd. “Aria!!” Mom and Dad frantically caught me. Mr. Davies stumbled and crawled to find a doctor. Caleb and Chloe stood frozen, dumbfounded. The other guests’ expressions were like they’d collectively seen a ghost. “Doctor! Get a doctor, now!!!” Excruciating pain shot through my limbs. Amidst the shouts, the light in front of me faded, and I slowly closed my eyes.

That night, Mom and Dad reviewed the surveillance footage from every corner of the house. Chloe’s entire self-orchestrated scheme played out clearly on the screen, leaving nowhere to hide. The evidence was undeniable. Facing their questions, Chloe rubbed her red, tear-stained eyes, her voice full of grievance. “I’m so sorry.I really didn’t mean to frame her.” “I was just so scared. What if she shows up and you just replace me?” Caleb was beside her in an instant. “You heard her! Chloe’s just insecure!” “She’s lived here for over a decade. Someone suddenly comes back to take everything away from her… isn’t it normal for her to be scared?” “She didn’t mean any harm, so stop being so aggressive!” As he spoke, he seemed to remember something, his brow furrowing tightly, his voice now filled with disgust. “But Aria, I think there’s something seriously wrong with her head, isn’t there?” “Who jumps from the second floor just because someone says something?” Mom and Dad shot him a harsh glare, but they still took his words into consideration. The next day, they pulled some strings and brought in a top psychologist. To everyone’s surprise, I was incredibly cooperative with the doctor’s questions. “Aria, can you tell me how you got these scars?” I thought carefully for a moment, then answered softly. “I did them to myself.” A flicker of surprise crossed Dr. Miller’s face. He pressed on, “And why would you hurt yourself?” My answer was utterly natural. “Because that way, before someone gets angry, I’ve already punished myself. When they see I’m sorry, they might calm down and won’t hit me anymore.” I still remembered that whenever I made a mistake, as long as I punished myself before those people got angry, I’d always end up with fewer injuries, fewer beatings. Dr. Miller stared at me, looking like he wanted to say more but held back. After a long pause, he tried to guide me. “But have you ever thought that hurting yourself like this doesn’t solve the problem? It only hurts those who truly love you.” I blinked, asking curiously, “What is love?” “Is it like those traffickers from before, breaking my legs but saying it was for my own good, saying it would let me live by begging for pity and charity?” “Or is it like my parents now…?” “One second they’re hugging me, crying and swearing they’d fight for me, but the next, even after seeing Chloe framing me on the surveillance footage, they just… let it slide? Instead, they thought I was the problem and brought in a therapist for me?” I leaned closer to him, speaking each word distinctly. “Dr. Miller, I used to have many friends who loved me. We got beaten together, starved together, and we promised each other we’d escape…” “But now…” I paused, then continued, “The people who loved me… they’re all dead.” The pen in Dr. Miller’s hand froze mid-air, his face instantly turning ashen. Dr. Miller relayed every word I said, verbatim, to my parents. His final diagnosis was. I had severe psychological trauma. All my compliance, and the way I hurt myself preemptively when feeling threatened, were self-preservation mechanisms forced upon me to survive in such a terrible environment. After Dr. Miller left, Mom and Dad stayed in their room all day. Until Caleb kicked open their bedroom door.

Seeing Mom and Dad’s attention completely fixated on me, Caleb couldn’t help but let out a cold, mocking laugh. “I bet she’s just putting on an act for the doctor, trying to be pathetic and gain sympathy, all to get Chloe kicked out of this family!” “She’s disgusting, so manipulative and calculating!” Chloe, however, stepped forward and linked her arm through Mom and Dad’s, her voice soft and sweet. “Mom, Dad, Caleb’s just saying that in the heat of the moment. Please don’t take it to heart.” “I was wrong before, I promise, I’ll get along with Aria from now on.” “There’s a social event in a couple of days. We’ll definitely take Aria with us, so she can meet some new friends, and it’ll also… help us sisters bond!” Mom and Dad exchanged glances, thinking it might help me integrate into their circle sooner. After a moment of consideration, they agreed. Soon, the evening of the gala arrived. I limped into the grand hall, only to be bumped by a server coming the other way. I fell to the ground, wine spilling all over me. Chloe let out a little giggle, then quickly changed her expression. “Oh my gosh… Quick, I’ll take you to the lounge to clean up!” She grabbed my wet arm without asking, half-dragging, half-pulling me away from the crowd’s view. Halfway there, she leaned in close to my ear, her voice dripping with malice. “Don’t think that just because you make yourself look pathetic, acting crazy and dumb, you’ll get Mom, Dad, and Caleb’s love! Dream on!” “They still love me! Always will!” A cruel smile twisted her lips. “Wanna make a bet? If I prove it, you’ll get out of the Hayes family and never show your face again!” As soon as she finished speaking, a huge push slammed into my back! “Splash!” The icy pool water instantly swallowed me whole. Then came another, louder splash, and a piercing scream. “Caleb! Help me!!! I’m terrified of water!!!” Caleb rushed over at the sound. Without thinking, he plunged into the water, swimming frantically towards Chloe, who was thrashing around. The moment I hit the water, my body’s memory kicked in before my conscious mind, making me choose the “safest” way to cope. Stay still, cause no trouble, just wait for it to be over. I let my body be enveloped by the pool water, slowly sinking to the bottom, bubbles escaping from my mouth and nose. Caleb didn’t pull Chloe to the edge of the pool until he heard the gasps and warnings from the surrounding guests. “There’s another one in the water! The one who isn’t moving!” He whirled around, his face instantly pale. He frantically jumped back into the water, clumsily pulling me out. I lay curled on the freezing floor, spitting out mouthfuls of pool water. Caleb ignored my trembling, grabbing my wrist with a force that felt like it would crush my bones. “Apologize to Chloe! Look how terrified you’ve made her!” I clutched my eyes tightly, my body shaking even more violently. Seeing this, he let out a cold laugh, his tone even more cutting. “Now you’re scared? Now you want to cry? I’m telling you, tears won’t help!” “Don’t even try to say you didn’t push Chloe on purpose!” “Chloe is terrified of water. If you hadn’t pushed her, how could she have…” As he spoke, he forcefully pushed my head towards the ground. My head hit the floor with a heavy thud. My hand, which had been clamped over my eyes, slipped away, revealing my empty left eye socket. When I looked up, the entire room fell silent. In the profound stillness, I cautiously looked up, forced a small smile, and whispered softly, “My… my eye fell out… I was afraid of scaring everyone…” All of Caleb’s accusations and anger froze on his face. “You…” He opened his mouth, but only one word escaped. Just then, a sharp crack echoed overhead. The rope holding the crystal chandelier snapped, sending it plummeting straight down! In a flash, I saw the image of my friend, crushed by a collapsing beam while trying to save me. My body moved faster than my brain. With a strength I didn’t know I had, I slammed into Caleb, who was still stunned. Fragments of glass grazed my cheek, leaving a trail of blood. Caleb stumbled a few steps and fell to the ground. He turned back, his pupils constricted in shock. His face registered disbelief, then, after a long moment, frustration and anger. “Aria, are you insane?! I’m supposed to protect you! I don’t need you to save me!” Though his words were harsh and cutting, he scrambled to his feet with incredible speed. As he neared me, his hand hesitated, but ultimately, he swept me up into his arms, shouting at the surrounding crowd. “What are you standing around for?! Get in the pool and get her… get my sister’s eye out!” He carried me into the lounge, snatched a blanket, and wrapped me up tightly. Then he placed the freshly cleaned prosthetic eye next to me. “The, uh, the doctor’s too slow, I’ll… I’ll go find him myself!” With that, he bolted, his footsteps frantic. Darkness and the cramped space made me feel drowsy. After I don’t know how long, a pungent, choking smell filled the air. Fire.

Chloe’s voice drifted to me, faintly. “Quick! It’s our chance now. Hurry and take her away in the chaos!” “I’ll just tell Mom and Dad there was a fire, she didn’t make it out, and she burned to death!” “Mom and Dad only need one daughter! Who asked her to come back?! She can go back to wherever she came from!” “The money’s already been wired to you, double! Be quick about it, don’t leave any traces!” Several grinning faces moved closer, chillingly familiar. I didn’t struggle or cry for help. Instead, I submissively waited for them to tie my hands. The smell of sedatives spread through my nose and mouth, and I passed out. I was slapped awake. A burning pain erupted on my cheek, and my already deaf ear rang, bleeding again. In front of me were several twisted faces. The human traffickers always disguised themselves as locals, stuffing one stolen child after another into this remote village. They shoved people into dog cages, mutilated them to appear disabled, and forced them to beg on the streets for profit. A scar-faced man fiercely yanked my hair, his eyes leering. “Damn it, you little bitch, you’re hard to kill! Almost got away for good!” “Boss, I say we just make sure she’s a permanent fixture here, no more running!” The prosthetic limbs with their embedded trackers were brutally ripped off. They tore my evening gown. I knew struggling was useless, so I could only try to buy time. I looked up, my gaze calm. “You disguise yourselves as villagers, but behind our backs, you kidnap children, commit arson, murder… Aren’t you afraid of karma for all the evil you’ve done?” As soon as the words left my mouth, they burst into triumphant laughter, as if they’d heard the funniest joke. “Hah, karma?! We are the karma around here!” My lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. “One last question, then. Who got me out of the banquet hall?” Perhaps to savor my even more desperate expression, they erupted in another round of gleeful laughter. “Your sister! The Chloe from the Hayes family!” “Didn’t expect that, did you? You didn’t die with us, but you came home, and someone there was just itching for you to die!” I feigned a look of disbelief, stubbornly shaking my head, my voice trembling. “Impossible. Chloe… she would never do that to me!” They were enraged, as expected. To prove it, they pulled out the transfer records. “Open your damn eyes and look! The sender! Chloe Hayes! See it clearly?!” With that, their last shred of patience ran out, and they reached out to strike me. Just as those disgusting hands were about to touch my body. Bang. The door was violently kicked open from the outside! Along with countless police officers who stormed in with guns drawn. And my parents and Caleb, their faces filled with shock and fury. And… Chloe, her face ashen white.

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My dad loves orchids. So, when he retired, I bought him a beautiful manor perfect for his passion. But the moment he stepped inside, the security guards brutally beat him until his head bled. “Leo, you said this place was mine. They’re calling me a scammer. A trespasser.” My dad’s voice trembled through the FaceTime call. I was about to explain when another man walked into the video frame. The guards’ attitude flipped instantly. They fell over themselves fawning, muttering to each other. “The CEO’s husband is here! Get this old con artist out of here!” It hit me like a truck. My wife was having an affair. And she’d given the manor I bought for my dad to her lover. I called the research institute immediately. “I’ll publicly release all my smart chip data and research. For free.” Let’s see if Seraphina Thorne’s company can survive without me! After authorizing the data release with the institute, I drove straight to Willow Creek Manor. I had been married to Seraphina for seven years. In that time, she rose from nothing to become the formidable CEO, all thanks to my research and data support. The world saw a self-made genius. I saw the ghostwriter standing in her shadow. As I arrived at Willow Creek Manor, I saw a frail figure lying on the ground. It was my father. Beaten. Discarded. He was covered in dirt, and his eyes were bloodshot from the beating. A crowd of staff stood around my dad, watching. No one helped. They kept kicking his body. “Hasn’t the old fraud had enough? Want more?” “This estate belongs to Seraphina Thorne’s family. Who do these losers think they are?” They jeered, slapping my dad’s face. Rage boiled within me. I shoved through the crowd and rushed to him. Seeing me, my dad let out a long sigh of relief. “Leo, explain quickly. It must be a misunderstanding.” The estate manager, Gordon, scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips. “Have you no shame? This property belongs to Ms. Thorne. And you two… what is this? A pathetic attempt at cosplay?” Gordon wasn’t done. He eyed my cheap beat-up car. “That junk can’t even buy a tire on her husband’s ride. And you dare pretend to be him?” Just then, the “CEO’s husband” they spoke of sauntered out of a luxury car. As he got closer, I realized it was Blake Harrison, Seraphina’s sweetheart. After Seraphina and I married, someone casually mentioned Blake’s, but I never cared. Now, Blake was brazenly claiming to be Seraphina’s husband. Blake met my gaze and walked towards me. “Blake, how dare you steal our Willow Creek Manor?” I confronted him. Blake showed no hint of guilt, just a smirk. “Well, well, isn’t it the pathetic leech trying to latch onto my wife?” “Still obsessed, huh? Chasing her all the way here?” “If you want to see my wife, you can. Get on your knees and kowtow a few times, and maybe I’ll be charitable enough to let you have a glimpse.” As if that wasn’t enough, Blake pointed at me, addressing the Willow Creek Manor staff loudly. “This gold-digger wants to score big, constantly hounding my wife. “Can you believe he’d even follow us to our love nest? What a psycho!” The surrounding staff looked at me with disgust after hearing Blake’s words. “A homewrecker, trying to break up someone else’s family, actually has the nerve to show up here?” “Ugh, what a disgrace. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, especially when the tree’s rotten. The old one’s a fraud, and the young one’s a complete bastard.” “Blake is truly exceptional, driving a luxury car and wearing designer watches. That’s a real success story.” Gordon, feeling emboldened, grabbed my dad’s collar, ready to throw him out. “I smelled the stench of these two low-lifes from a mile away. They actually dared to impersonate Seraphina Thorne’s husband? You’ve got a death wish. Today, I’m going to rip you father and son apart.” My dad’s whole body trembled with anger at their taunts. “You can’t distinguish right from wrong! My son bought Willow Creek Manor for me!” Blake spat at my dad. “You pathetic old man, there’s a limit to your daydreams.” “Seraphina bought this estate for my father. This is Seraphina’s gift to her father-in-law, got it?” I was speechless with fury. This woman, who only managed to establish her company by leveraging my research. Not only did she cheat on me, but she also let her ‘old flame’ seize my dad’s estate. This surreal world was utterly ridiculous. I pulled out my phone, found the purchase receipt for Willow Creek Manor, and showed it to everyone. “I bought Willow Creek Manor! I paid for it!” “Now! Apologize to my dad!”

Gordon burst out laughing. “Showing a doctored image and thinking the estate is yours? I could Photoshop a receipt for the White House and claim it’s mine too.” “You con artist just won’t give up, will you? You won’t believe it until I show you the proof, then you’ll finally scram, right?” A staff member, sensing Gordon’s mood, brought out Willow Creek Manor’s order information and projected it for everyone to see. The order clearly stated: Purchaser, Blake Harrison! My mind went blank. Every step of buying Willow Creek Manor was correct. The payment was deducted from my card. How could someone else’s name appear on the order now? Then I remembered that two nights ago, Seraphina, who was usually cold and distant, uncharacteristically urged me to rest early. Seeing my phone on the bedside table, Seraphina even deliberately put it away. Seraphina knew my payment password. Was she encouraging me to sleep early just to change the payment details? Damn it, that bitch! I grabbed my phone and called Seraphina. Her voice on the other end was filled with annoyed impatience. “I’m busy. Don’t call me if it’s not important. Not everyone is as idle as you, a jobless bum!” “Seraphina, who gave you the guts to give away my Dad’s estate? And why is Blake Harrison telling everyone he’s your husband?” Seraphina frantically hung up the call. I knew Seraphina was completely panicking. After all, without my technical support, Seraphina’s massive tech company was nothing but a house of cards. Blake clearly realized the consequences too; his face turned ashen with fear. I walked past Blake and headed straight for the luxury car behind him. I found the owner’s information inside, and Blake Harrison’s name was prominently displayed. That scumbag Seraphina truly spared no expense. She even gave Blake the Rolls-Royce I bought her when we got married. Blake saw my actions and instantly regained his confidence. “You pathetic loser, not content with trying to scam my estate, now you’re eyeing my car too?” I was so consumed by anger that I lost all sense of reason. I just wanted to clench my fists and punch him hard. Blake, seeing my intent, immediately ducked behind the estate’s security personnel. “Look, everyone, the gold-digger couldn’t scam his way in, so now he wants to resort to violence! Shameless!” Gordon immediately rallied all the security guards, surrounding us. “Damn it, I knew it! These two low-lifes are no good. Get these two bastards out of here before they dirty our estate.” Punches rained down on us from the security guards. I could only hold my dad close, shielding him. Just then, a screech of tires pierced the air. I looked up. Seraphina had parked her car and was frantically running towards us. I expected a tearful apology, filled with remorse. Instead, I was met with a torrent of scathing accusations. “Leo Sterling, you pathetic excuse for a man, how dare you cause trouble outside!”

Blake immediately pointed at me, reporting to Seraphina. “Seraphina, this gold-digger who’s always been harassing you is back.” “For money, he even brought the old fraud along. Shameless!” Seraphina looked at me with utter contempt. “Leo Sterling, I warned you long ago, I’m beyond your reach.” “Now you’re not just stalking me every day; you’ve brought your dad along to stalk me too. Can you not have some decency?” I looked at the woman I had spent seven years with, and a chill ran through me. For seven years, I’d turned down countless high-paying job offers. I had selflessly given Seraphina the smart chip data I had developed over many years, all because she said she wanted to become a successful entrepreneur. I thought we were building a beautiful future together, but I now realized I was just setting her and her lover up for success. My dad was utterly furious. Clutching his chest, he challenged Seraphina. “How can you say that? Leo paid for this estate himself! How can you talk such nonsense?” Seraphina sneered dismissively. “He paid for it? Does he even have money? A jobless bum!” “You pathetic old man, get out of the way!” “I bought this estate for my father-in-law. It has nothing to do with you or your pathetic son!” Her words pierced my heart like a sharp blade. I held my father, who was clutching his painful chest, and stared intently at Seraphina. “Seraphina, dare you repeat what you just said? Who is your father-in-law?” “Who is your husband?” Seraphina froze, clearly not expecting me to challenge her when I was so isolated and vulnerable. But she quickly recovered. This was her turf; what did she have to fear? Seraphina swiftly grabbed Blake’s arm, intertwining with him sweetly. “My father-in-law will only ever be Blake’s father.” “And my husband will always and only be Blake Harrison.” Seraphina’s eyes swept over me from head to toe, full of disdain. “As for you, you’re just a gold-digger, a perverted version of one who wants to scam people when he can’t get what he wants!” Blake beamed, pulling Seraphina into his embrace. After a loving gaze, they shared a kiss. “Honey, I’ve seen plenty of these gold-diggers wanting to latch onto wealthy people. Let’s head inside quickly; let’s not let this ruin our vacation!” As soon as Blake said that, the estate staff began to whisper amongst themselves. “So, he’s just a desperate gigolo wanting to climb up the ladder. Seriously messed up. Blake and Seraphina are a perfect match!” “This pretty boy looks decent enough, but who knew he had such a malicious heart? Constantly harassing a married couple and trying to scam their luxury car and estate?” Blake looked at me with utter contempt. “You bastard, hear that? Seraphina only has one husband, and she only loves me!” My dad gasped for air, clutching his heart. He exerted all his strength, blocking the estate gate, and loudly explained. “My son bought this for me! You won’t take it from us!” Blake’s face darkened. He grabbed a security guard’s baton nearby and swung it at my dad’s head! “You old bastard, if I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll think your buddy Blake is easy to mess with!” Seraphina stood with her arms crossed, watching indifferently as if it had nothing to do with her. I struggled against the security guards, desperate to reach my dad, but Seraphina’s bodyguards held me down firmly. The baton landed squarely on my dad’s head. Blood immediately gushed from his forehead. Blake still wasn’t satisfied. He yelled at the bodyguards around him, “Get me the taser gun!” With one shot, my dad’s body convulsed. “You old bastard, today Blake’s going to show you what’s what.” The taser gun was set to maximum power. After another shot, the surrounding skin was charred black. I struggled wildly, my eyes fixed on Seraphina. “Seraphina, he’s your father-in-law! You know he’s always had a weak heart!” Seven years! Even if she didn’t care about our marriage, didn’t years of companionship mean anything? Even a pet cat or dog wouldn’t be treated with such heartlessness! Seraphina showed no trace of compassion. She lifted the hem of her dress, stepping back, afraid my dad’s blood would stain her new outfit. “The old man constantly causes trouble. Let Blake beat him up, blow off some steam. Maybe then we’ll let you off the hook.” Blake’s confidence swelled after hearing Seraphina’s words. He ordered the bodyguards to tie my dad to the back of Seraphina’s luxury car and started driving onto the paved road. “So, the old man likes the estate, does he? I’ll have the bodyguards give you a tour of the estate.” With a roar of the engine, my father was dragged alongside the car, leaving a long trail of blood. Blake still wasn’t satisfied. “Can’t you go faster? Let this old geezer bleed a bit more.” Watching the blood stream from my dad, I felt my world sway. Then, the massive outdoor screen of the estate lit up with a national news bulletin. “BREAKING: Scientist Leo Sterling has just released his entire smart chip research database to the public, free of charge. Experts say the move will instantly revolutionize the field of AI.” Seraphina stared at me in disbelief. Her triumphant, arrogant expression instantly crumbled into ash.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “313999”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #狼人Werewolf

My name is Alara Nightfang. My cousin Lyra Shadowmane pretended to have a bloodline frenzy at the Moon Goddess Festival, secretly took aphrodisiac wolfsbane, and tearfully begged me to lend her my alpha fiancé Chandler Lakin for one night to calm her mixed-bloodline outburst. I found Corbin Ironhowl, who had always been devoted to her, for her. Lyra woke up to find that the one who marked her was not Kael and took her own life in shame and anger. Kael did not blame me for this and still treated me as before. I always felt guilty toward Lyra and took care of her family attentively after her death. However, on the day of the bonding ceremony, Kael ordered someone to poison me with wolfsbane and threw me to rogue werewolves to be violated. “Lyra endured such pain back then, so use your wretched body to atone for her.” I was violated to death under the brightest moonlight, losing both my life and my unborn child. When I opened my eyes again, I returned to the night Lyra cried and begged me to give Kael to her. …… At the Moon God Festival, Liliana pretended to lose control of her bloodline, took wolfsbane, and tearfully begged me, “Alara, please, let Kael save me, okay?” She cried while clutching the hem of my ceremonial dress. “Alara, just lend me Kael for one night, please?” I looked at Lyra, sobbing at my feet, and sighed softly. “Lyra, Kael and I are bound by a pact. If you act like this, how will you find a partner in the future?” Kael frowned and reprimanded from the side. “I am your sister’s destined partner. Your behavior is truly disgusting!” With that, he kicked Lyra aside and pulled me away. I looked at Lyra writhing in pain on the ground from the bloodline turmoil and eventually softened. I called Corbin, who had always admired her, for her. Lyra and Corbin already had an engagement, and Corbin, being upright, would never spread this matter. Having him perform a temporary marking was the best choice at the moment. However, when she woke up and found that it was Corbin who marked her, she broke down and cried on the spot. She pointed at me, angrily accusing me of ruining her, and then resolutely took her own life. This incident became an indelible shadow in my heart; I always believed it was my fault that she died. After her death, I took care of her family wholeheartedly. Kael understood my hard work and often accompanied me in taking care of them. But on the night of our bonding ceremony, he brought several rogue werewolves to violate me to death. I begged him desperately to spare me, but he looked at me with disgust. “If it weren’t for you, I would have already bonded with Lyra’s bloodline. This is all your fault!” “Lyra endured such pain back then too. She died, so use your life to atone for her.” It turns out that before forming a pact with me, he already had an affair with Lyra. I learned from the wolf-patterned scroll Lyra gave him that she was his first love. But he didn’t know that the scroll recorded everything about me. Lyra had been jealous of my pure bloodline since childhood and obsessively imitated me. From festival attire to hunting war cries, she even imitated my wolf-patterned scroll. She thought that by imitating everything about me, she could replace my position in the tribe. In my past life, I kept tolerating her because she was my cousin, but it ultimately cost me my life. In this life, I decided to let them have their way because I have more important things to do. When the familiar plot unfolded again, I left early under the pretext of changing the festival dress, leaving the stage entirely to Lyra. Sure enough, just like in the past life, she feigned a bloodline frenzy and pretended to accidentally consume wolfsbane. Afterward, she shook off Corbin and started searching everywhere for me and Kael. When she couldn’t find me, she could only kneel on the ground and beg Kael. “Please, mark me, will you?” “If you don’t save me, my hybrid bloodline will collapse.” She used life and death to force Kael. A trace of disgust flashed across Kael’s face. However, the clan servant who came to inform me reported in a low voice, “Young Master Bloodmaw said there was an urgent matter and has already left the ritual altar.” I looked at my reflection in the mirror, and the image of my tragic death in my past life surfaced in my mind, making me shudder. Fortunately, I was reborn. In this life, I will personally send them to hell! I instructed, “Go and invite Young Master Ironhowl, tell him I’m very worried about Lyra and would like him to join me in the search.” After the clan servant left, I began openly searching for Kael. Everywhere I went, I anxiously asked, “Have you seen my fiancé and cousin?” Soon, the guests at the festival ceremony all knew that Kael and Lyra had disappeared at the same time. Corbin, upon hearing this, was also extremely anxious. “Lyra is already a half-blood she-wolf. If this spreads, it will greatly affect her reputation and the tribe’s honor.” He immediately ordered his men, “Make sure to find Lyra as soon as possible!” Everyone scattered to search, almost turning the entire altar upside down. Finally, only the chamber prepared for blessings remained unchecked. Everyone stood hesitating in front of the chamber, caught in a dilemma. At that moment, I ran over anxiously. “Have you found Lyra and Kael?” Everyone remained silent. The servant said, “We’ve searched the altar and the halls, only…” Before he finished speaking, I forcefully pushed open the stone door of the chamber. “Kael, Lyra, are you there?” The next second, a woman’s scream and a man’s roar came from inside the chamber. I stood at the doorway, stunned, as everyone behind me witnessed the scene. Kael was actually sleeping with my cousin Lyra during the Moon Goddess Festival! I looked at Kael with a pale face. “You…” Before I could finish speaking, everything went black, and I fainted. Corbin quickly caught me and glared at Kael. “Your tribe must give us an explanation for this, or else…” He didn’t finish, but everyone understood what he meant. The Ironhowl tribe is now at its peak, and even though Corbin is just the second son, he’s not someone anyone can easily bully. Corbin supported me as we left the scene.

When I woke up again, it was already evening. My parents Garrick Nightfang, Elara Nightfang, Lyra’s mother Isadora Shadowmane, along with people from the Bloodmaw clan and the Ironhowl clan, were all present. Seeing me awake, Kael’s mother Selene Bloodmaw immediately stepped forward to support me. “Alara, you’re finally awake.” I avoided Selene and threw myself into Elara’s arms, crying uncontrollably. Anyone who saw me would think I was a pitiful person who had been wronged. Selene awkwardly withdrew her hand and softly said, “Alara, what’s done is done. How about letting your sister be with Kael too? Don’t worry, you’re still the Luna of the Bloodmaw clan.” After speaking, she turned to look at Kael and Lyra behind her. “What we mean is to let Lyra be Kael’s ordinary mate. This way, the dignity of the clans is preserved, and you sisters can look out for each other. What do you think?” Garrick snorted coldly in dissatisfaction after hearing this. “Your family sure has some nerve, wanting my daughter to be with Kael? Hmph! Dream on!” The Ironhowl clan members looked displeased too. Corbin’s mate was casually offered to Kael as a partner! If this gets out, the Ironhowl clan’s honor will be completely ruined. Lyra naturally refused. Seeing herself about to go from Luna to an ordinary mate, how could she agree? She had worked so hard to get close to Kael, not to become just an ordinary mate. Lyra nestled in Kael’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “Alara, as long as you can forgive Kael, I’m willing to be just an ordinary mate. I only ask you not to be angry with Kael because of me.” At this moment, Isadora was also crying beside her. “Alara, if you don’t let Lyra go, she’ll really have no choice but to be exiled from the tribe.” “Shut up! Look at the kind of daughter you raised! Mixed blood is rotten to the core. Doing such blasphemous things on the sacred altar, and you still have the nerve to cry here?” Garrick said angrily. He had always been especially tolerant of Isadora. No matter what mistakes she made, he would overlook them out of sympathy for their situation as a widow and her child. But now, Isadora actually indulged Lyra in doing such a thing! Garrick only felt that it brought shame to the tribe. Kael, seeing his beloved crying so sorrowfully, felt heartbroken and frowned as he looked at me. “I’ve already agreed to make you Luna. What more do you want? Will you only be satisfied when Lyra is left with no way out?” As soon as he finished speaking, he received a heavy slap from his father. “Shut up! This is not your place to speak!” Garrick coldly looked at the father and son and said, “There’s no need to put on this father-son act in front of me. Alara will never join your tribe.” That slap completely enraged Kael. He glared at his father. “In this life, I only acknowledge Lyra, no one else! Father, if you like Alara so much, you can bond with her yourself!” Thorn Ironhowl, Corbin’s father, who had been watching coldly from the side, couldn’t help but sneer at this moment. “Is this the upbringing of the Bloodmaw clan?” After speaking, he looked at Garrick. “In this matter, both our families are victims. How about forming an alliance through marriage between our two tribes?” Garrick stared at Thorn in disbelief. “Do you think my daughter is some tool for breeding that anyone can pick at will?” Thorn smiled and explained, “That’s not a nice way to put it. If today’s incident spreads, our tribe loses honor, but Alara is the real victim. How will she find a partner in the future?” Garrick was about to refuse when he heard me speak calmly, “What benefit do I get from allying with your tribe?”

Thorn saw me speak and immediately beamed with joy. He had long been dissatisfied with Lyra. He always felt that not only was her bloodline impure, but there was also a scheming look in her eyes. If it weren’t for Corbin liking Lyra, he wouldn’t have allowed such a she-wolf into the tribe at all. At this moment, seeing me relent, he was naturally overjoyed. He said, “Alara, I can’t promise everything, but there are a few things I can absolutely do. “First, dividing the hunting grounds. As long as you become mates, I’ll immediately go to the tribal council of elders to arrange the witnessing for the hunting grounds and territory marks at home. My two sons will each inherit 40% of the ruling rights, and the remaining 20% will be reserved for our retirement.” “Second,” Thorn drawled, casting a disdainful glance at Kael before continuing slowly, “Our Iron Howl Tribe values rules the most. Corbin would never cause a scandal of entangling with his future mate’s cousin at the Moon Goddess Festival.” “As for the last point, after becoming mates, all your territories and resources must be registered under your wolf mark.” As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present gasped. This was almost like giving the entire tribe’s assets to Alara! The Iron Howl Tribe really went all out for Corbin’s marriage! Only Kael’s family, Lyra, and Isolde looked grim. Thorn’s words were practically calling them shameless to their faces. I listened quietly and nodded. Others might not discern the truth in these words, but I knew. In the previous life, after Lyra’s death, Corbin followed the tribe’s arrangements and partnered with another woman. Although Corbin didn’t love her, he still treated her with utmost care. The family’s territory and hunting ground marks were all registered under that woman’s wolf mark, leaving nothing under his own name. If I could be with such a wolf, even if he didn’t love me, he wouldn’t harm me. What’s more, with the information advantage from my rebirth, I may not need to rely on a male to survive. It’s just that times are harsh on female wolves now. If I don’t form a bond, Garrick and Elara will be criticized and bear a bad reputation. I don’t care what happens to me, but I can’t drag them into criticism. I said, “Alright, I’ll think about it.” Hearing this, Corbin’s parents were stunned for a moment, then showed satisfied smiles. But Lyra, who had been watching from the side, couldn’t sit still anymore. She angrily looked at Thorn. “Why? That’s not what you said before! You clearly said only 30% of the hunting grounds!” “Besides, you never said you’d transfer all the territory marks under my wolf crest name!” Thorn frowned at her. “Since you made the pact with Corbin, every bloodline nourishment you received, every moonlight ceremony you attended, weren’t they all provided by our tribe?” “I made this decision because I was afraid you’d ruin the tribe! Besides, how do your bloodline and looks compare to Alara?” “I just like Alara and am willing to hand over everything. So what?” Lyra’s face turned pale with anger, and she looked at Corbin with tears in her eyes. “Are you just going to watch them bully your future mate?” Corbin looked at her coldly. “Miss Shadowmane, watch your words. I am no longer your future mate.” Lyra was at a loss for words, burying herself in Kael’s arms, sobbing. Seeing our families settle the marriage with just a few words, Kael’s face grew even more displeased. He pushed Lyra away and stormed over to me. “Alara! You are my future mate. Have you considered my feelings when you talk about bonding with someone else right in front of me?”

The night before my wedding, my fiancé took me to meet his friends. He was all over me, showering me with affection throughout the dinner. His buddies kept gushing, “Your fiancée is so pure, you really hit the jackpot!” He smirked proudly. “My future wife is the best, unlike all those sluts out there.” But when I went to the restroom mid-dinner, I overheard him bragging in a low voice outside the door: “Pure? What good is pure? She’s like a dead fish in bed. If it wasn’t for her being Stella’s twin, looking exactly alike, I wouldn’t even bother touching her.” The next day, at the wedding, Stella showed up with a baby bump. Just as I expected, he told me to “make peace” and step aside. I scoffed, ripping off my veil. I walked down the aisle and stopped in front of Julian Hayes, who was sitting in a wheelchair. “They all say you like me. Well, I’m single now. Are you brave enough to marry me?” “Hahaha, Anya has lost her mind!” “Choosing a cripple? She’s so desperate!” “What an embarrassment! She’s dragged the Reed family name through the mud!” The guests’ piercing jeers sliced through the air. Every word felt like a needle stabbing my heart. My father’s face turned scarlet, and my mother rushed onto the stage, clutching my arm tightly. “Are you insane?! Ruining your own life just to spite him?!” Below the stage, Liam Miller had an arm around Stella Reed, a smirk plastered on his face as he watched the drama unfold. “I underestimated her. She actually has guts.” Stella let out a delicate sneer. “Guts? I think she’s just lost her mind. Anya, are you really going to spend your life with a cripple?” She deliberately caressed her visibly swollen belly, her eyes filled with a mix of provocation and triumph. My heart felt like it was being brutally torn apart. I’d thought tearing off my wedding veil would bring freedom, but all it brought was deeper humiliation. Julian stood up, limping towards me. Compared to the dashing and polished Liam, he was a world apart. Suddenly, I regretted it. Impulse is a devil. Why did I choose a disabled man? Did I really have to spend my entire life with him? Julian stopped in front of me and pulled a ring from his pocket. The band was set with tiny, dull diamonds, not even a single carat. The diamond ring Liam gave Stella was a whopping three carats, sparkling brilliantly. In comparison, this ring looked pathetically meager. The laughter from the guests grew louder. “Hahaha, even the ring is so cheap!” “Anya, are you really settling for this?” Tears welled up in my eyes. Since childhood, when had I ever endured such humiliation? But then, Julian took my hand, and I froze. His hand was warm, steady. “I am.” Two words, firm and resolute. Unlike Liam’s flowery words, unlike the guests’ cold mockery. Just two simple words, but they made my heart tremble. “Are you sure? I might bring you trouble.” “I’m not afraid.” There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in his voice. The audience erupted in even louder jeers. “Two losers together!” “A cripple and a crazy woman, a perfect match!” Liam called out loudly, “Anya, don’t be childish. Come back. Stella’s baby needs a father, and you need a whole man.” A whole man? I scoffed. What kind of a “whole man” was Liam? Betrayal, deception, toying with his fiancée’s feelings—was that his version of “whole”? I looked at Julian. His leg might be broken, but his spirit wasn’t. “Yes, I do.” I held out my hand, letting him slide the dull ring onto my finger. The ring was small, but it fit perfectly, as if it had been custom-made for me. A commotion broke out among the guests.

Liam’s sneer instantly turned into a furious scowl. He strode over and grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like he wanted to crush my bones. “Anya, you’d rather choose a cripple to disgust me than beg for my forgiveness?” Before I could react, my dad rushed over. I thought he was coming to stop Liam, to protect me. Instead, he raised his hand and delivered a resounding slap. “Slap!” The crisp sound echoed through the entire wedding hall. My cheek instantly swelled red and burned with a fiery pain. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. The entire venue fell silent, then erupted into even sharper whispers. “Disgraceful daughter! You’ve shamed our family beyond belief! Get back here, right now!” There was no hint of affection in my father’s eyes, only anger and disgust. I covered my face, tears threatening to spill. Not because of the pain, but because of the chilling realization. This man was my father. Stella, at this point, feigned concern and stepped forward to mediate. “Daddy, Anya was just impulsive. Please don’t get so agitated…” As she spoke, she “accidentally” stomped her high heel onto my foot. The searing pain made me lose my balance instantly. Then she pretended to stumble, violently ramming her shoulder into me. I staggered and fell to the ground. The pristine white hem of my wedding dress was instantly stained with the blood from my mouth. The guests below began to point and whisper. “The Reed family’s upbringing…” “The elder daughter is a total lunatic, but the younger one is sensible.” “Good thing Mr. Miller chose the right one.” Stella proudly caressed her belly, her eyes filled with provocation. Julian tried to come and help me, but Liam’s friends blocked him, holding him back. “Who do you think you are? Do you even deserve to touch her?” Liam sneered. I lay on the floor, watching his anxious, yet helpless, face. A despair far deeper than my physical pain welled up inside me. Was this the man I chose? He couldn’t even protect me. Liam looked down at me, his eyes gleaming with triumph. “Anya, do you see now? This is your choice. A useless man who can’t even stand properly, how can he protect you?” He crouched down, reaching out to help me up. “Come on, be good. Come back. I can forgive everything, pretend none of this ever happened.” This man, who just last night called me a “dead fish” to his friends. Now he was putting on an act of deep affection. Disgusting. I mustered all my strength and violently slapped his hand away. “Get lost!” Liam’s face instantly darkened. “You’re ungrateful.” He stood up and kicked the hem of my wedding dress. “Since you’re so cheap, go live with your cripple. But don’t come crying to me later!” My dad, seeing this, stepped forward again. “You rebellious daughter, apologize right now!” My mom also rushed over, crying. “Anya, are you crazy? Are you going to ruin your life just to prove a point?” The guests below watched, entertained, pointing and whispering. “Anya is truly insane.” “To choose a cripple just to spite someone, she must be really messed up.” “What sin did the Reed family commit to end up with such a daughter?” Stella, at the opportune moment, walked over, prominently displaying her baby bump. “Anya, calm down. Even though we had a misunderstanding, Liam genuinely loves you. Look at Julian, he can’t even protect you. Is he really suitable to entrust your life to?” Every one of her words pierced my heart. I lay on the ground, feeling the malice coming from all directions. My parents’ disappointment. My ex-fiancé’s mockery. My sister’s provocation. The guests’ ridicule. And… the helplessness of the man I had chosen. Had I really made the wrong choice? Just then, Julian finally broke free from those who were restraining him. He limped towards me, each step difficult. He crouched down and gently helped me up. “I’m sorry, that you had to endure this.” Then he turned and looked at Liam. “You’re right, I can’t protect her.” My heart sank instantly. Was even he going to abandon me? But the next second, he added: “But at least, I won’t hurt her.” He looked at everyone in the hall. “You mock her for being crazy, you mock her for choosing me out of spite. But have you ever wondered? What truly drives a woman to make such a choice at her own wedding?” The entire hall fell silent. “It’s betrayal. It’s deception. It’s the pain inflicted by the people closest to her.” “My leg may be broken, but my heart isn’t. I may not be able to give her the best material life, but I can give her the most genuine affection.” Liam’s face was livid. “Don’t get all emotional here! What right do you, a cripple, have to speak—” “What right do I have?” Julian interrupted him. “I have the right to love her. Do you?” “Enough with the cheesy talk. Guys, get him out of here.” With that, Liam and his friends shoved Julian out of the wedding venue.

My mom finally moved. Not to help me, but to drag me up from the floor. Before I could react, Stella had already grabbed my other arm. “Mom, what are you doing!” I struggled, but their combined strength was greater than mine. “Shut up! You’ve shamed us enough already!” They dragged me, pulling and yanking, towards the back of the stage. The guests watched, some pulling out their phones to record. “Let me go! What gives you the right to lock me up?! Open the door!” From outside, Liam’s amplified voice boomed, carried by the sound system throughout the entire hall. “Ladies and gentlemen, please excuse the little interruption earlier.” “Right now, my abandoned ex-fiancée is reflecting in the little storage room backstage. What do you say, when do you think she’ll come to her senses?” The hall erupted in laughter. “Mr. Miller is so entertaining!” “This is better than watching a movie!” “That woman deserves it!” I had become the public laughingstock of this wedding. My phone vibrated. I pulled it out and saw a message from my mom. “Anya, stop making a scene. Stella’s happiness is what matters most. Kneel down and apologize to Liam, and this whole thing will blow over.” I stared at the words on the screen. Stella’s happiness is what matters most. What about me? Didn’t my happiness matter? Didn’t my dignity matter? Did I deserve to be humiliated, locked up, and made a joke of? The music outside grew louder. Liam and Stella had started dancing. The guests’ applause and cheers grew in intensity. And I, like a piece of trash, was locked in this dark corner. My phone vibrated again. This time it was from Stella. “Anya, I know you’re angry right now. But think about it, Liam is so exceptional, he deserves better. Please don’t be so stubborn, okay?” I slid down the door, collapsing into a ball on the floor. The physical pain, my family’s betrayal, my lover’s humiliation, and the departure of the man who said he’d protect me, pushed me into a bottomless abyss. I no longer had the strength to even cry. Let it be. Let them mock. Let them gloat. Anyway, I had already lost everything. Liam’s voice came from outside: “Everyone, now for the most exciting part. Let’s go see if our ex-fiancée has come to her senses yet?” Footsteps grew closer. The sound of a key turning. The door swung open, and blinding light streamed in. Liam stood at the doorway, followed by a group of guests, all holding their phones, recording. “Anya, what’s your decision? Are you ready to apologize?” I looked up, about to speak. Suddenly, the main doors of the wedding venue were violently thrown open. A group of people burst in. Julian stood at the entrance, behind him dozens of imposing bodyguards in black suits. The entire hall fell silent instantly. Everyone was stunned, including Liam. Julian took off his suit jacket and strode towards me. His leg was still limping. He draped his jacket over me, then scooped me up into his arms without a word. “What are you doing! Let her go!” Liam finally reacted. Julian didn’t even spare him a glance. In that moment, I felt alive again. “Julian, you’re a cripple. Do you think you can turn things upside down with a few guys?” Liam fumed, enraged. Just then, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit stepped forward. He held a document and threw it directly in Liam’s face. “Mr. Miller, from this moment on, 35% of Miller Group’s shares belong to Mr. Hayes. You have been removed from the board by the directors.”

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My husband told me he had met his soulmate—and demanded an open marriage. I didn’t cry or argue. I signed the divorce papers on the spot. He assumed my broken family background made me too desperate to leave. He expected me to beg. Instead, the moment I walked out, the one man he had spent years flattering, chasing, and failing to impress turned his attention to me. Now my ex-husband is on his knees in public, while the man he fears most wraps an arm around my waist and asks where I want to go next. After Brandon came back, he excitedly shared with me that he had never met someone so compatible. They went skydiving together, skiing together, and climbed to the peak of Mont Blanc… Their souls resonated; they were each other’s muse. “Ava, you should go out and see the world too, or maybe start dating. “Honestly, we got married too early, mistaking habit for love. “Why don’t we try an open marriage?” Brandon’s face was beaming with sweetness as he generously suggested. I stared at Brandon’s handsome face, tracing from his brow bone to his jaw with my eyes. Less than three years after graduation, he had already become a stranger to me. I paused for a moment, then chuckled: “No need for such trouble, let’s just get divorced. “Since you like her so much, I’ll step aside.” A flash of surprise crossed Brandon’s eyes. “Ava, you know your situation. Who else would want you if you divorce me?” I was slightly stunned, not expecting him to use this to poke at me. Yes, what was my situation? My mother ran off with someone. My father was a gambling addict who drowned in a muddy pond while drunk. Even my grandmother who raised me passed away a few years ago. I was alone, like duckweed, with no one to rely on. This was the vulnerability I had revealed to him in my fragile moments, and now it had become his leverage to manipulate me. Brandon was so sure I couldn’t leave him that he dared to flaunt his new love interest right in front of me. The promise he made when we got married – to love and care for me for a lifetime – was like a sharp knife, repeatedly twisting in my heart. I took deep breaths, hands gripping the edge of the table, staring at him steadily, my tone resolute: “I said, I want a divorce.” Brandon was stunned for a moment, a smile unconsciously appearing at the corners of his mouth. “Since you insist on divorce, I have no choice. “Ava, it’s not that I want to let you down, you’re forcing me to do this. “Don’t come back begging me later.” When I went back to the room to pack my things, I overheard Brandon’s conversation with his friend. “Brandon, are you really divorcing your wife?” “She’s trying to pressure me with divorce, so I’ll let her have her way. “Sabrina’s been clinging to me tightly, I don’t have time to deal with her petty jealousy. “She has no family here, it won’t be long before she comes crawling back begging me to remarry her.” A wave of bitterness washed over me. I directly threw our wedding photo along with the wedding ring into the trash can.

On the day of the divorce, the sun was shining brightly. I met the girl Brandon had described as his soulmate – she was sporty, with a high ponytail, full of energy. “Sis, you should go out more often. When people get old, they can’t keep up with the times and easily get eliminated.” She clung to Brandon’s arm, sitting in his passenger seat, looking at me provocatively. I was barely twenty-five, yet someone was calling me old. Someone passed by carrying a mirror, and I caught a glimpse of myself. Delicate features, long black hair, curves in all the right places, long legs – I wasn’t inferior to anyone. On the way home, I tried hard to control my emotions, but tears still kept flowing. Bang! I crashed into a Rolls-Royce in front of me. I hurriedly got out of the car to apologize. A pair of long legs stepped out of the car ahead. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, impeccably dressed in a suit, exuding nobility amidst his coldness. “It’s you.” The man broke the awkward silence first. I was confused for a moment, then suddenly realized who the man in front of me was. Brandon had mentioned him many times – Bay City’s mysterious tycoon, Damian Sinclair, the helmsman of the financial group that Mitchell Corp had always wanted to cooperate with. “I haven’t even asked for compensation yet, and you’re crying like this.” Damian Sinclair handed me a handkerchief, his tone surprisingly gentle. “No, you misunderstand. It’s entirely my fault, I’ll definitely compensate you. “I just got divorced, and I’m having trouble controlling my emotions. I’m sorry.” I hurriedly explained, afraid he might think I was trying to shirk responsibility. “Divorced?” Damian Sinclair asked again. I nodded. “That’s good.” “What?” Damian Sinclair’s lips curled into a faint smile as he slowly said: “It’s nothing. The weather is nice today, we shouldn’t waste time on such trivial matters. “Miss Bennett, would you mind exchanging contact information? We can talk more later.” I was a bit surprised and didn’t recover for a long time. Brandon had once spent hundreds of thousands but couldn’t get Damian Sinclair’s phone number or SnapChat. Now it was just lying in my phone. Several days passed, and Damian Sinclair didn’t mention anything about compensation. Even when I asked proactively, there was no reply from the other side. A tycoon is a tycoon, probably busier. Or perhaps he had five SnapChat accounts and didn’t check this one often. The next time I saw Damian Sinclair was after a company drinking party. I was a bit drunk and bumped into a figure in the hallway. Damian Sinclair gentlemanly supported me. Under the influence of alcohol, my emotions broke down again, and I cried uncontrollably. “Mr. Sinclair, this…” “I have something to attend to, we’ll talk next time.” Suddenly my feet left the ground, and I was carried by Damian Sinclair to his car. The atmosphere became somewhat ambiguous. In the confined space, the pheromones emanating from Damian Sinclair constantly stimulated my nerves. I had heard many stories about him – how he took over Sinclair Corp at a young age and won the trust of the old guard with his thunderous methods. [“Who else would want you if you divorce me.”] Brandon’s words echoed in my mind, painful to the point of suffocation. Looking at this face in front of me, more noble than Brandon’s, I couldn’t help but lean closer. “Ava, you’re drunk.” Damian Sinclair’s finger pressed against my shoulder, his voice deep. Maybe it was the alcohol clouding my judgment, or maybe it was my unwillingness to give in. I boldly shook off his hand and leaned forward. “Your lips look so soft, I wonder if they’re nice to kiss.” At that moment my mind went blank, I don’t even remember what Damian Sinclair replied. I only knew that his breath lingered on the tip of my nose, making my heartstrings tremble. His lips really were soft, yet full of aggression. “Open your mouth to breathe~” I dazedly complied. He cupped the back of my head, like crashing waves. His fingertips slid down my waist, and I couldn’t help but arch my body, pressing against his burning chest. His warm lips moved down inch by inch. In the adult world, we both knew what was about to happen. Damian Sinclair draped his suit Brandonet over my flushed face and carried me into a nearby five-star hotel.

“Brandon, isn’t that Mr. Sinclair up ahead? Our project…” Not far away, Brandon’s car was parked. “Have some sense, don’t ruin Damian Sinclair’s mood.” Brandon lazily leaned back in his seat, his expression playful. “Rumor has it he doesn’t take interest in women, seems we can’t trust everything we hear. Those you picked before were too low class, go find better ones.” “Yes, Brandon.” “I heard your ex-wife is at that store up ahead, should we…” Brandon gave a cold laugh and rolled up the window. “Don’t bother with her. “She knew I’d be passing by and deliberately tried to get my attention. “I’m tired of her tricks. “Let’s go somewhere else. “By the way, go buy that jewelry set she likes, so she won’t throw a tantrum at me again.”

I was pinned against the door by Damian Sinclair, his tall figure tightly enveloping me. As my clothes slipped off, I suddenly felt like retreating. “Scared?” Damian Sinclair’s finger slowly slid down my spine, and for a moment my mind cleared. I shook my head slightly and directly wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him back. After years of following the rules, what harm could one moment of wildness do? Moreover, the man in front of me was Damian Sinclair, whom countless people pursued. The night was deep, the moon had just peeked out, stirring the spring waters all night long. When I woke up, the sound of water came from the bathroom, and the man’s toned body was silhouetted behind the misty door. His waist was slim but powerful. Recalling last night’s frenzy, my face instantly turned red. Damian Sinclair opened the door, the towel around his waist a bit short. I couldn’t help but swallow. Even though I had seen everything last night, being so close and meeting his gaze still involuntarily drew me in. Brandon was right, I should date more. Having never tasted anything good, I had stupidly clung to him. But someone of Damian Sinclair’s background wasn’t suitable for me. “What are you thinking about?” Damian Sinclair’s fingertip touched behind my ear, leaving a gentle kiss. What followed was another surge of passion. While Damian Sinclair was in another room taking a conference call, I quietly put on my clothes and left the hotel, blocking his contact information. This incident was just a mistake. People in the clouds are out of reach. To keep myself clear-headed, I agreed to a date with a college student. In a coffee shop on the corner, I took out a mirror to touch up my makeup when someone I didn’t want to see appeared – Sabrina Harper. “Sis, what a coincidence. Are you waiting for someone?” Sabrina Harper sat down across from me uninvited. Today she was dressed provocatively sexy. I had no interest in engaging with her and picked up my bag to change seats. “The person you’re waiting for won’t come, sis. He’s my junior, I asked him to invite you. “I didn’t expect you’d be so easy to ask out, sis. Seems you’re really not popular, no one’s chasing you. “No wonder Brandon said you’re boring.” Sabrina Harper’s words made me stop in my tracks. I turned around and poured my unfinished coffee on her. “Is interfering in other people’s marriages something to be proud of? “Should I go advertise at your school, let your juniors and seniors admire you properly?” “Ava! Don’t go too far.” Brandon had just arrived and saw me bullying his precious little girlfriend. He protectively shielded her behind him. “Sis was stood up by my junior, that’s why she took her anger out on me. “It’s okay, I’m fine. Look, I’m perfectly alright.” Sabrina Harper smiled as she wiped the coffee stains off her face, enthusiastically explaining on my behalf in front of Brandon. “Junior. Heh, Ava, when did you start trying to date college boys too? “Remember what I said? After divorcing me, no one else would want you.” A thousand words stuck in my throat, my chest feeling as if pressed by a heavy weight. I looked at him and poured the remaining coffee in the cup directly onto his face. “Brandon, you’re disgusting.” After doing this, I clenched my sweaty palms and quickly left the coffee shop, dragging my tired body and mind. Back home, that eye-catching Rolls-Royce was parked in the community parking lot. After going upstairs, sure enough, Damian Sinclair was standing at my door, his eyes bloodshot with exhaustion. “Mr. Sinclair, what a coincidence.” I felt a bit awkward and guilty, not knowing what to say for a moment. “Mr. Sinclair? That night…” Damian Sinclair raised an eyebrow. I immediately nervously covered his mouth and pulled him inside after opening the door. Damian Sinclair confined me in his arms, his kisses forceful and surging. It wasn’t until I was pressed down that he looked down at me, his eyes icy cold, and asked: “Ava, do you know how many people want my contact information?

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Nerissa pushed me off a cliff in our last life, but rebirth returned me to the moment we first arrived in the beastman tribe. She thinks she can outshine me again by choosing the werewolf I once relied on. She expects me to pick someone “safe.” Instead, I claim the strongest male in the tribe—the white tiger priest and future heir. This time, I will protect him, elevate him, and weaponize him. Nerissa aims to be the chieftain’s wife, but I aim higher. In a world where females control everything, I will seize power, overturn my fate, and take revenge step by step. After being pushed off that cliff, I was reborn. I woke up on the exact day Nerissa and I first arrived in the primitive beastman tribe. As soon as I opened my eyes, I heard the elderly voice of the tribe’s chieftain. “All our unmated males are here for you two esteemed females. Choose whomever you like as your partner.” Last time, Nerissa and I were confused and overwhelmed. Thankfully, we were somehow able to understand the beastmen’s language despite being new to this world. Nerissa, ever the thrill-seeker and self-proclaimed “dating expert” back in our world, didn’t hesitate for even a second. She immediately pointed to the Seth beastman—handsome, with sharp, almost feminine features—and declared him her choice. “Two tails? I can handle it,” she whispered excitedly to me, practically bouncing with glee. To her, this tribe was paradise. As she scanned the remaining beastmen, she turned to me with a grin. “Lira, you’re too boring to handle someone flashy. If you choose someone too good-looking, another female might steal him from you. Go for someone plain and reliable.” She pointed at a few beastmen who had average appearances after taking human form. I followed her advice—not because I was afraid of losing my partner, but because one of the beastmen she pointed to was a werewolf. I’d heard that werewolves were fiercely loyal to their mates. Once bonded, they would never leave or stray. With him, I wouldn’t have to worry about Nerissa trying to take him from me. And I was right. My werewolf remained devoted to me, no matter how hard Nerissa tried to seduce him. Her frustration grew, and one day, she sneered, “Ugh, Lira, your werewolf is so stubborn. He’s too dumb to know what’s good for him.” I only smiled in response. Sure, he was single-minded when it came to his mate. But dumb? Far from it. If he were truly dumb, he wouldn’t have been able to leverage my influence in the tribe to climb all the way to the chieftain’s position. Of course, Nerissa didn’t know about the lengths my werewolf went to protect and guide me. This time, as soon as the chieftain finished speaking, Nerissa wasted no time. “I’ll take him,” she said, pointing directly at the werewolf. Hearing her words, the werewolf’s eyes lit up with surprise and joy. In the White Tiger Tribe, werewolves were considered mid-tier at best—strong, but not extraordinary. Most females overlooked them. The other beastmen, however, were clearly upset. One particularly large black bear beastman thumped his chest, saying, “Esteemed female, why would you choose a lowly werewolf when I’m right here?” The werewolf stiffened, his expression betraying a hint of self-doubt. But Nerissa walked straight up to him with a sweet smile. “I’ll take him. I trust that the mate I’ve chosen will prove to be the best.” Before leaving, she leaned toward me and whispered smugly, “Lira, this time, I’m going to be the chieftain’s wife.” I said nothing, watching as she confidently grabbed the werewolf’s hand. The werewolf, overcome with emotion, let out an excited howl. The other beastmen could only glare enviously at him before turning their attention to me. I scanned the remaining group, my gaze landing on the Seth beastman. Nerissa noticed and smirked. “Lira, you know Seths are… skilled in certain areas. You’re inexperienced, so maybe he’d be a good choice for you. Save yourself some discomfort, you know?” I chuckled lightly, shaking my head. “No thanks. You know I don’t like spineless creatures.” Then I pointed to the tall white tiger priest standing near the Seth. “I’ll take him.” The priest’s eyes widened in surprise, while the chieftain’s face lit up with approval. Nerissa, however, couldn’t hide her amusement. I knew what she was thinking. The white tiger priest wasn’t just the tribe’s spiritual leader—he was also the chieftain’s son and the heir to the White Tiger Tribe. Ordinarily, he’d be a perfect choice. But in my previous life, he’d been ambushed by a neighboring tribe while hunting and died from his injuries. His death had paved the way for my werewolf to rise to power. This time, though, I wasn’t about to let history repeat itself. I would make sure the white tiger priest survived—and I would turn him into the sharpest weapon in my arsenal. Nerissa could have her petty dream of being the chieftain’s wife. As for me? In a world where females ruled, why settle for anything less than becoming queen? This time, I would take control of my own destiny.

Once Nerissa and I had chosen our partners, we stood in front of all the beastmen of the White Tiger Tribe to officially form our contracts. In this primitive society, a female could have multiple male consorts, but only the males who had a formal contract with her were allowed to live with her. The rest—those who weren’t bound by contracts—were no better than ancient mistresses in human history. Of course, there was one key difference between this world and human society: male consorts were an openly accepted part of life here. There was no secrecy or shame, no hiding them in the shadows. That said, being kicked out by a female if she no longer found you desirable was completely normal, and no one would bat an eye. In our past life, Nerissa had taken full advantage of this system. Despite knowing how possessive and obsessive the Seth beastman could be, she still dared to flirt with other males during his hibernation. Why? Because she’d never planned to keep him around forever. Nerissa’s goal was simple: have her fun, then toss him aside with some convenient excuse. But things didn’t go as planned. In this world, female beastmen were extraordinarily rare. For the males who had fought tooth and claw for the chance to become her consorts, being discarded wasn’t something they’d accept quietly. By the time the Seth beastman emerged from hibernation, Nerissa’s actions had already come back to haunt her. The males she had flirted with surrounded him, demanding answers. Nerissa’s excuse? “The Seth doesn’t allow me to have other consorts.” When the Seth beastman learned what she had done while he was hibernating, he was livid. After a brutal fight with the other males, he dragged Nerissa back to his lair, his expression dark and stormy. That was when her nightmare began. He tormented her in every way imaginable, refusing to let her leave until she bore his children. One clutch of snake eggs turned into another, and another. Nerissa tried to escape, of course, but the Seth beastman never allowed her the chance to set foot outside his cave. Her only opportunity came on the day the werewolf was set to inherit the position of White Tiger Tribe chieftain. The entire tribe—old, young, male, female—was required to attend the ceremony. Nerissa used this as her chance, emerging with her snake offspring in tow. The ceremony was held on a cliff behind the tribe, a sacred location used for offerings to the gods. Nerissa’s jealousy boiled over when she saw me, someone she’d always thought inferior, standing proudly as the chieftain’s mate. She waited until all the beastmen were kneeling in prayer, then made her move. Charging at me with wild eyes, she screamed, “Lira! You’ve always been beneath me in everything—how dare you have a better life than me?! Go to hell!”

My family used to live next door to Nerissa’s family. Back then, we were better off than they were. But after my parents died in a car accident, everything changed. My grandmother, biased and cold-hearted, funneled everything my parents left behind to my uncle’s family. In her eyes, I was just a girl—an outsider—unworthy of inheriting my father’s estate. Nerissa’s mom, noticing my pitiful situation, stepped in and offered to financially support me. At the time, I was grateful. But later, I regretted accepting their help more times than I could count. Nerissa made sure everyone knew about it. She loved to tell people how her family had “saved” me, how I’d never have finished school without their help, and how I would’ve ended up in an orphanage if it weren’t for their generosity. From then on, I was always a step below her. If I did well in school, she hated it—so I started intentionally scoring lower just to appease her. I became her shadow, the sidekick she could outshine. Even the friends I made slowly drifted away whenever Nerissa appeared, drawn to her magnetic, self-centered charm. And when I got a boyfriend in college? Nerissa made a special trip during fall break just to steal him. “Lira, don’t be mad,” she said with a sweet smile. “I just wanted to test if he really loved you. You’re my best friend, after all, and I didn’t want to see you get hurt by some loser.” She had the audacity to add, “See? Now you know the truth. You should be thanking me.” So I forced myself to smile back and said, “Thank you, Nerissa.” Her grin widened with smug satisfaction. “Of course! That’s what best friends are for, right?” Inside, I was seething. The word best friend had been thoroughly defiled by people like her. But as much as I wanted to cut her out of my life, I couldn’t. Her mom had helped me when I needed it most. I couldn’t bear to repay that kindness with hostility or risk upsetting her family. That was my past life. The moment Nerissa shoved me off that cliff, all debts were erased. I didn’t owe her or her family a single thing anymore.

The contracts were finalized quickly. The chieftain smiled warmly at us and said, “Well, now that the contracts are complete, you may go back to your homes.” He turned to address the other males, his tone reassuring. “As for the rest of you, don’t lose heart. If you can win the favor of either one of these females, you still have a chance to become one of their consorts.” Hearing this, the other beastmen visibly relaxed. Their eyes lit up as they turned their attention back to Nerissa and me, their gazes filled with desire. Before they could act, the white tiger priest stepped forward and shielded me with his massive frame. His piercing gaze swept over the crowd as he let out a low, menacing growl. “She’s mine,” he snarled. “I won’t share her with anyone.” His voice carried a deadly edge. “If anyone dares to lay a hand on my female, I’ll rip them apart.” The room fell silent. The other beastmen exchanged uneasy glances. They knew better than to challenge him. As the tribe’s priest and strongest warrior, his strength was unmatched. Competing with him for a female was a losing battle. Nerissa, however, wasn’t as fortunate. The werewolf she’d chosen was nowhere near as powerful. Compared to the other males in the White Tiger Tribe, his strength didn’t even place him in the top 100. The rest of the beastmen quickly turned their attention to Nerissa, their gazes predatory. Their eyes flicked to the werewolf, filled with disdain and thinly veiled hostility. Males in this world valued strength above all else. The werewolf’s mediocre abilities made him an easy target. Why should someone so weak have the right to monopolize a rare and delicate female like Nerissa? The priest’s dominance made sense to them. But the werewolf? He didn’t deserve the privilege in their eyes. Nerissa, however, seemed oblivious to the danger. Instead, she reveled in the attention, a satisfied smile spreading across her face as the males argued and glared at each other. In her mind, this was exactly how things were supposed to be—males fighting over her, treating her like a prize. What she didn’t realize was that once she entered the werewolf’s den, leaving wouldn’t be so easy. I cast her a calm, uninterested glance before turning to the white tiger priest. “I’m tired,” I said softly. “I’d like to rest.” His golden eyes softened with concern, and in an instant, his massive arms—each thicker than my thighs—swept me up effortlessly. “I’ll take you back to rest right now,” he said firmly. Without another word, he carried me out of the gathering, holding me securely to his chest as he sprinted toward his stone house. In the White Tiger Tribe, the priest’s status was even higher than the chieftain’s.

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Beatrix came back and turned my marriage into a spectacle. She challenged me to a bet over Asher’s vows, and he proved her right—breaking every promise for her while keeping every distance from me. When I saw the tattoo, the bracelet he threw away, and the surveillance that exposed everything, something in me snapped. I handed him the divorce agreement he once said I could use “anytime” and left. Only when he lost me did he panic. But I was already gone, divorce certificate in hand, reclaiming the freedom he never deserved. After Beatrix came back, she challenged me—said we should see who could make Asher break his vows nine times first. I smirked and drafted the terms of the bet right then: “If you win, I’ll step aside. But if you lose, I’ll make sure you can’t stay in Beijing City.” Only I knew how unsteady I felt inside. In our three years of marriage, Asher would do anything I asked—except break his vows. Within a week, he started coming home less. Determined, I put on the new lingerie I’d bought and walked into his quiet room. I took his hand and guided it down my body… I felt his breathing grow heavier, heat rising in his eyes, something new and dangerous. But then his phone rang. He snapped out of it, pushed me away, and walked out. He didn’t return for three hours. I stood there, the warmth draining from me, unable to think. Until Beatrix showed up, waving a used strawberry-flavored item, flaunting the sticky residue inside. “Adele, this makes nine.” “I told you—Asher loves me. Why don’t you believe it?” “A bet is a bet.” Looking at her smug face, I remembered how I had just humiliated myself, begging my own husband for attention. A wave of dizziness washed over me. Why was I degrading myself like this? Before marriage, I was the prized daughter of Beijing’s elite. Why was I now fighting Beatrix for a spot in my own bed? Feigning calm, I pulled the signed divorce papers from the bedside drawer. “Take it and leave.” Beatrix arched a brow. “You confronted Asher?” I shrugged. “No. Asher said I could make the decision about divorce whenever I wanted.” “He’s just a man. If you want him, he’s yours.” But looking at Asher’s name on the papers… My chest tightened. This had been Asher’s wedding gift to me. Asher always honored his promises. He had once stopped my hands from unbuttoning his shirt, saying he needed to keep his vows for three years and asking me to wait. But if I ever grew tired… I could sign the papers anytime, and he’d accept it. Back then, I had been overjoyed, thinking he was mine for life. Now I saw how foolish I’d been. Was he giving me freedom, or giving himself an easy exit? Beatrix read the papers twice before smiling in satisfaction. “Miss Adele—still as decisive as ever.” “Everyone in Beijing City knows you pursued Asher for five years. I really thought you’d cry.” “How about this—once Asher officially breaks his vows next week, I’ll hand him these papers as a gift.” “You two won’t have to torture each other anymore.” I saw her out with a cold expression. But I had to admit—she wasn’t wrong. Keeping someone who doesn’t love you for five years—if that isn’t torture, what is? I opened my phone and found the Iceland trip I’d booked for Asher and me next week. Asher hated traveling abroad, but I insisted. When he agreed, was he thinking how troublesome I was? I canceled his ticket with a swipe. If that’s the case, then I’ll let him go. This mistake shouldn’t continue.

Not long after Beatrix left, I went to bed. Half-asleep, I felt someone slide in behind me, an arm wrapping around my waist. Annoyed, I pushed his hand away. “Why aren’t you in your quiet room? What are you doing here?” His breath warmed my neck. After a long silence, he asked, “Why did you cancel the Iceland tickets?” My irritation spiked. “Maybe I just don’t feel like going,” I snapped, pushing him away. “Stay away from me.” But when my hand pressed against his chest, Asher let out a low groan—like he was in pain. Something felt off. I lifted his shirt. My vision spun. A piercing was right over his chest. And next to it, two small letters tattooed: QZ. I didn’t know if my eyes were red—I just felt tears threatening to spill, my voice shaking uncontrollably. “What is this?” Did Asher like Beatrix so much he’d do anything for her? When Asher’s parents died and his relatives took everything—when thugs cornered him—it was me who smashed a bottle to keep him safe. He had said he wanted to become a monk. I stayed by him, loved him without asking for anything. Until he let me in and agreed to marry me. What a joke. He wouldn’t break his vows for me. But he’d let another woman mark him? Like some pet being claimed? Asher wasn’t the type who could be forced. Was this their idea of fun? Or did Beatrix want me to see how low he’d bend for her? Asher frowned and tugged down his shirt. “No need to freak out. It’s just something strung—if you don’t like it, I won’t wear it.” “As for the letters… Adele, I’ll explain later.” Then he hesitated, stood up, and walked out. “I’m going to copy scriptures. You should sleep early.” His prayer beads had been replaced with white Bodhi beads—not the rosewood ones I’d climbed a mountain to get for him. Grinding my teeth, I called the butler. “Find out where Asher went today. And who he was with.” “And find out what happened to his bracelet.” Soon, surveillance footage arrived. In the video, Asher was taking drink after drink from Beatrix, completely drunk. Friends at the table looked stunned. “I thought Asher was a devout Buddhist, doesn’t drink at all. Beatrix, how’d you pull that off?” “Back in school, Asher only cared about Beatrix. Looks like her going abroad didn’t change a thing.” “He’s married now though. I heard his wife is something else.” Beatrix laughed, holding Asher’s hand. “If I hadn’t gone abroad, how else would Adele have married him?” “I told Asher not to touch Adele—and he really didn’t. What more proof do you need?” A sharp pain stabbed my chest. What was I to him? I dragged him out of the mud—and he kept himself “pure” for the woman he liked? Beatrix tapped his cheek, waking him. “Throw that bracelet away. I bought you a new one. From now on, you only wear mine.” He hesitated. But pushed by Beatrix, he took off the bracelet and tossed it. Maybe heaven felt pity. It snapped on impact, beads scattering everywhere. Just like my heart. The butler handed me two beads. “Miss, the cleaning staff took the rest. Should I retrieve them?” I laughed bitterly. “No.” “What use are a few beads now?” Asher, like those beads. Once precious. Protected. Now dirty, discarded. Nothing.

I ordered Asher’s belongings packed and sent back to his own home. When Asher walked in with breakfast, he passed movers carrying out his incense burner, scriptures, and meditation mat. He froze. “What’s going on? Adele—are you moving?” I smiled broadly. “Yes. I’ve lived here long enough. It’s annoying now.” I glanced at the tray. Pickles. Plain porridge. A few slices of bread. Not even an egg. Asher didn’t eat meat, so I’d gone vegetarian for years too. I grabbed my bag. “Keep it for yourself.” His shocked expression didn’t matter. Nothing about Asher mattered now. That night, I met several Beijing Circle friends at a bar for a farewell. They teased me endlessly. “Adele’s drinking? What will your picky, uptight husband say?” “Yeah, the social darling has been so proper since marriage. What changed today?” I scoffed. “Being proper is for someone who deserves it.” A commotion broke out in a corner. Two people were having a drinking bet. Whoever finished twelve cocktails first got to take a woman home. My friends went to look, came back uneasy. “Adele… you might want to check. It’s Asher.” I didn’t react. I knew I should be shocked—that a man who never drank would do this for another woman. But inside, there was nothing left. As if my love had died yesterday. I even led the group over, amused. “Come on. Let’s watch.” Asher stood at the long table, stunned when he saw me. But before he could move, the bartender reminded him: “Sir, leaving means forfeiting. You sure you want to quit?” Asher looked at me, then at Beatrix, hesitating. Then he turned back. “No forfeiting.” Beatrix leaned close, voice dripping venom under the bar’s music. “Adele, maybe try talking to him? You two won’t be married much longer—you can still beg a little.” “But if he won’t listen even once… pretty pathetic, right?” I ignored her and stared at Asher. He refused to look back, eyes down, fingers nervously rolling his prayer beads. Onlookers swooned. “Drinking twelve of those will send him to the ER. This guy must really love his girlfriend.” “True love. Wishing them all the best.” A vein pulsed on Asher’s forehead. He snapped, “Shut up.” Then he turned to me and whispered, “Adele… I have my reasons. I’ll explain when we’re home.” I smiled. “Asher, you promised to keep your vows for three years. Only three days left.” “If you drink this, the whole agreement is meaningless.” His face froze. After a long silence, he nodded. “Then it’s meaningless. Let’s go home tonight. I’ll make it up to you.” I knew he meant finally consummating the marriage. I almost laughed. He chose to break his vow for me—after breaking everything else for her. I removed my wedding ring. Dropped it into his drink. And turned to leave. But with so many people crowded around, I accidentally knocked over a champagne tower. Glasses crashed everywhere. I heard Asher call my name. But when it mattered, he protected Beatrix first. Glass shattered underfoot. My vision went dark. I saw Asher running toward me. He lifted me, hands trembling. He whispered “I love you” over and over. And it made me sick. When I woke up, three days had passed. My friends said Asher had waited outside the ER the whole time, refusing treatment for his own injuries. Said he refused to leave my bedside. Didn’t even let nurses wipe my face. They said he booked a massive banquet hall filled with cornflowers—my favorite. No one knew what for. I called the butler. “Take me to the airport.” As the car pulled away, Asher’s car approached. When our cars crossed paths, I rolled up the window. Asher had been relieved—finally fulfilling the twelve wishes he owed Beatrix. The drinking contest had been the last one. He thought he could finally let her go. Finally love me fully. But when he walked into the hospital room— The bed was empty. Not a wrinkle on the sheets. His face showed confusion, doubt… and then pure panic. Beatrix handed him a document, smiling brightly. “Asher, you’re finally free!” “This is the divorce agreement Adele signed. We can finally be together again!” Asher was taken aback. He had heard Beatrix mention “freed

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “313995”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #狼人Werewolf