The hospital’s new intern, Anna Ramos, claimed to be a medical prodigy who could perform any examination without anesthesia, ensuring patients felt no pain. But in reality, she was transferring all the pain patients should have experienced directly to me. After Anna’s medical skills gained fame, massive crowds of patients flooded the hospital, with surgical slots becoming so coveted they had to be auctioned off. Meanwhile, I was in agony from her repeated surgeries, unable to work properly. Patient complaints poured in, and I was eventually fired from the hospital. Worse still, I discovered that the post-treatment side effects were gradually manifesting in my body. My hair began falling out, my body wasted away to skin and bones, and every step felt like walking on razor blades. I confronted Anna at the hospital, but everyone believed I’d gone crazy from jealousy. Seeing my frantic, out-of-control state, Anna calmly put on her gloves. She said, “Layla, stop making a scene here. I’m about to perform brain tissue removal surgery on Samuel Hill’s daughter, Hannah Hill. I don’t have time for your nonsense.” My name is Layla Morris. As it turned out, Anna had been in the operating room for barely five minutes when I suddenly suffered a brain hemorrhage and died on the spot. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day Anna’s medical skills first gained recognition. This time, I used all my savings to bid on Anna’s treatment slot and told her, “Anna, I’d like to try your painless surgery too.” ***** Anna looked me up and down with disdain. She said, “Layla, what kind of joke is this?” Anna’s gaze sent chills down my spine, but I forced myself to stay calm and meet her eyes. I said, “I have stomach problems too. I want to try your so-called ‘painless endoscopy.’ Is that not allowed?” On Anna’s first day at the hospital, she claimed she could perform painless examinations and surgeries. That very day, she performed a bone marrow biopsy on a patient right there on the spot. However, Anna used no anesthesia whatsoever, and her technique was completely wrong. I watched with growing anxiety, but surprisingly, the patient showed no signs of pain. The examination was completed quickly. Then my right leg bone suddenly began aching. I collapsed instantly, completely unable to move. All my scheduled surgeries that day were taken over by Anna. From that day forward, Anna’s medical reputation soared. She was promoted from intern to attending physician at breakneck speed. But that day, I was in excruciating pain in my hospital bed. First my leg hurt, then my heart felt like it was being stabbed with needles, and finally I developed a perforated stomach with bleeding. I had always been one of the hospital’s core physicians. When Director Thomas Kelly heard about my condition, he immediately came to examine me personally. However, the test results showed nothing wrong with my body. Thomas’s expression instantly turned cold. He said, “Layla, I know the hospital has been assigning you more work lately because we value you. But now you’re faking illness and blaming an intern? You’ve really disappointed me.” I tried to explain, but my throat was in severe pain. I glanced at the surgery schedule and noticed that at this exact time, Anna was examining a patient with laryngitis. What are the odds of such a coincidence? It was hard not to connect “my sore throat” with “Anna examining a laryngitis patient.” But in my previous life, no matter how I explained, neither colleagues nor patients believed me. Thinking of this, a cold glint flashed in my eyes. This time, I couldn’t alert Anna prematurely. I had to uncover the truth and avoid repeating the death and suffering of my previous life. Sure enough, just as I expected, Anna refused to perform the endoscopy on me. She sneered, “Layla, whether you want an examination or you’re trying to steal my techniques, we both know the truth. If you keep pestering me like this, I’ll waste time here with you. When that happens, all the delays for other patients will be on your head.” Hearing her words, the other patients who had also bid for treatment slots immediately expressed their displeasure. A female patient said, “You’re a doctor too. When you examine us, you always say to just bear with it if it hurts. Why can’t you endure it when it’s your turn?” A male patient said, “You make decent money, don’t you? You can get a capsule endoscopy. Why do you have to waste our time?” Suddenly, a middle-aged woman rushed forward and slapped me across the face. She said, “My son has had chest pain all afternoon. If something happens to him, I’ll make you pay with your life.” With this woman taking the lead, other patients swarmed me, hitting and kicking. Taking advantage of this chaos, Anna had already taken the first patient into the operating room. Soon after, my chest began experiencing severe pain, as if it were being stabbed repeatedly with forceps. I collapsed instantly, my head hitting a chair uncontrollably, immediately drawing blood. Seeing this scene, the patients who had just attacked me quickly scattered. A male patient said, “This doctor is actually creating injuries to frame us. She has no medical ethics!” A female patient said, “We only hit you a few times, we didn’t punch your chest. Don’t blame everything on us.” Just as I was about to pass out from the pain, a little boy’s voice rang in my ears. He said, “Mom, Dr. Ramos is amazing! I didn’t feel anything during the treatment. I’m not in pain anymore.”

Hearing the little boy’s words, everyone immediately gathered around Anna, leaving me standing alone. As patient after patient entered the operating room, every part of my body began to ache. Finally, I collapsed completely. When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed. My best friend Chloe Cook sat beside me, looking at me with concern. Without thinking about anything else, I quickly asked Chloe to get her phone. Since Chloe was also one of the patients who had entered Anna’s treatment room. I had anticipated that Anna wouldn’t let me personally observe her treatment process, so I had Chloe bring a hidden camera beforehand. The surveillance footage on the phone shocked me. Chloe didn’t have any serious condition—she had just sprained her ankle a few days ago. But Anna didn’t even do a bone examination or take X-rays. She went straight to giving Chloe acupuncture treatment. She quickly grabbed a suture needle and started poking it into Chloe’s foot, which completely stunned me. Suture needles aren’t meant for acupuncture at all, and her technique was completely haphazard. I struggled to sit up but found that my right ankle had no strength left. The slightest movement sent blood rushing to my head, and my entire leg went numb. I grabbed Chloe’s hand and asked, “How did you feel during the acupuncture? Does your foot still hurt now?” Chloe sighed and said, “I was just about to tell you about this. Such thick needles piercing into my flesh, yet I couldn’t feel any pain in my foot—no discomfort whatsoever. “I could see she didn’t even hit the spots where I was actually hurting, but strangely enough, my foot is completely fine now.” Lying in bed, feeling terrible all over, I could barely muster the energy to organize the information I had gathered. Anna seemed able to transfer patients’ pain and surgical complications onto me. And the injuries I sustained couldn’t be detected by any medical equipment. I was the “transfer target” for pain, which is why Anna couldn’t examine or operate on me—that’s why she kept refusing me. My mind was in chaos. How could such bizarre things exist in this world? Suddenly, I thought of a crucial point and immediately went to find Thomas to submit my resignation. Looking at the resignation letter on his desk, Thomas tapped the table lightly with his finger, remaining silent for a long time. After a while, he looked at me with furrowed brows, his eyes full of disappointment. He said, “Is this because I said you were faking illness that day? Or is it like Anna said—her rapid promotion threatens your position, so you’re using resignation to threaten me?” After saying this, Thomas stamped the resignation letter without hesitation and told me to leave. Meanwhile, the hospital’s social media account published an article congratulating Anna on becoming associate director. The post was flooded with comments from patients praising Anna while putting me down. Someone even posted the video of me falling on social media. The caption read: [How can there be such a doctor in this world? She’ll stop at nothing to steal patients and delays others’ treatment!] Instantly, everyone was attacking me. They said I had no medical ethics, that I was incompetent and only knew how to be jealous of others. Even worse, people found my phone number and home address, sending me razor blades and funeral photos. I had no choice but to temporarily move in with Chloe. At this point, I couldn’t care about my reputation anymore. Looking at the surgery schedule Chloe had brought me, I was so nervous that my palms were sweating. Anna was scheduled to perform gastric suture surgery on a patient tomorrow. Now that I had resigned and was no longer at the hospital. I wanted to see if she could still transfer the pain to me.

The next day, Chloe turned on the camera right on schedule. I sat on the bed, waiting for the 10 AM alarm to go off. When the alarm rang, I found that I felt no pain whatsoever. Tears instantly welled up in my eyes. I thought I had finally discovered the key condition for the pain transfer—I had to stay in the hospital. But just five minutes later, I suddenly began convulsing. My stomach felt like it was being roasted over hot coals, burning with searing pain. Cold sweat the size of soybeans broke out on my forehead, and the pain was so intense I didn’t even have the strength to cry out. Before long, blood surged into my throat, and I couldn’t help but vomit it out. Chloe placed her phone on a stand and immediately came over to support me. She also shoved painkillers into my mouth. But the painkillers had no effect whatsoever. It wasn’t until 30 minutes later that the pain in my body finally began to subside slightly. However, I could no longer eat anything. The constant nausea and acid reflux made me feel absolutely miserable. Just then, my phone received a local news notification. I clicked to check it, and the headline read: [Patient Can Eat Same Day as Gastric Suture Surgery! Medical Genius Arrives to Benefit the Masses!] In the news, the middle-aged man who had just undergone gastric suture surgery showed no signs of distress and looked completely energetic. He even drank two bottles of hard liquor in front of the reporters. Finally, he laughed with a flushed face and said: “Dr. Ramos is truly a miracle doctor. When she sutured me, she didn’t use any anesthesia at all, yet I felt nothing. “Other hospitals told me to rest my stomach, but Dr. Ramos said even if my stomach was ruined, she could heal it, and it would be just as painless. “Now that’s a good doctor!” After reading the news, a chill crept up my spine. Despair enveloped my entire being. I thought: “Why? I’m no longer in the hospital, so why can Anna still transfer the pain to me?” Since my body was completely immobilized, I had Chloe help me give the surveillance footage to reporter Olivia Allen. Through a video call, Olivia looked at my pale complexion. She frowned and asked: “You’re saying you suspect Anna is using some special method to transfer patients’ pain to you, then building her image as a ‘medical genius’?” Olivia was a reporter I had carefully selected. A few years ago, to investigate a child trafficking case, she had infiltrated a criminal gang’s hideout for several years. To uncover the truth and uphold justice, she had even deliberately gotten herself admitted to a psychiatric hospital. After repeatedly watching the video of my episodes, Olivia finally nodded. She said: “I can’t tolerate anything that harms others’ interests, but that doesn’t mean I’m automatically on your side right now. “I can help you search for the truth, but I also have the right to suspect this might be a trap you’ve set.” As long as she was willing to help me, I was already satisfied. Because in half a month, it would be the day Anna performed brain tissue removal surgery on Hannah. If we hadn’t found the truth by then, I would just die again like in my previous life. Large tears slid down my face, and fear made me tremble uncontrollably. Seeing me in this state, a flash of sympathy crossed Olivia’s eyes. But she said nothing and hung up the video call directly. Soon it was the day before Hannah’s brain tissue removal surgery. Through her undercover investigation over the past few days, Olivia had come to completely believe me. She found an informant to go to the hospital and pay a high price for one of Anna’s surgery slots. Then she stayed at Chloe’s house to watch me. Sure enough, as soon as the informant’s surgery began, I felt excruciating pain. The informant’s surgery was suturing a laceration, and needle marks appeared out of nowhere on my arm. But even knowing all this, we still couldn’t find the key condition for Anna’s pain transfer, unable to break the current situation. Hearing me pessimistically ask Chloe to help me buy a burial plot tomorrow, Olivia suddenly became resolute. The next day, Olivia carried a camera to the hospital for a live broadcast. She said to Anna: “Dr. Ramos, good medical skills should benefit everyone. If you monopolize this technique, how many people will lose their chance for treatment?” Actually, other doctors and patients in the hospital had long been dissatisfied with Anna. Patients all wanted Anna to perform their surgeries, so now even specialists had no patients. But Anna’s surgery slots had to be auctioned off, only wealthy people could get them. Everyone complained privately, but no one had dared to speak up. Now that Olivia had taken the lead, others began protesting as well. A female doctor said: “Exactly! This is a public hospital, meant to help ordinary people. How can you be so selfish?” A male patient asked: “The billionaire’s daughter’s life matters, but doesn’t my grandfather’s life matter too? What do you mean by this?” Anna was surrounded by everyone and couldn’t refuse, glaring at Olivia with venomous eyes. But with so many people around and Samuel watching from the side, she couldn’t show her displeasure. She could only smile reluctantly and say: “This technique was taught to me by my mentor. I don’t know how to teach it to others either.” “Then we can record your surgery process and let other doctors learn on their own.” Olivia smiled as she interrupted her. At that moment, everyone was staring at Anna. Even Samuel said: “Right, Dr. Ramos. It’s better to let such good techniques benefit everyone.” Anna gritted her teeth and nodded. When Olivia said she wanted to record an instructional video, she actually started a live broadcast directly after placing the camera in the operating room. Thomas and Samuel watched as Anna in the video didn’t even sterilize her scalpel, and couldn’t help but widen their eyes. Next, Anna’s actions shocked everyone even more. She actually cut directly into Hannah’s head. I also began experiencing head pain so severe it felt like it would explode, staring intently at Anna’s hand movements in the video. Just as Anna picked up the excision knife, I finally discovered that overlooked detail. I knew how she was transferring the pain.

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On the day I moved into the dorms, my roommate Harper White gave me a crystal bracelet as a gift. But I immediately put that bracelet on her mother Grace White’s wrist instead. In my previous life, Harper wanted to become the campus social queen and was determined to date 100 boyfriends during college. But no matter how chaotic her private life was, she never got pregnant. Meanwhile, I, who remained single the whole time, kept getting pregnant over and over again, only to miscarry repeatedly. I was mocked by the entire school – students and faculty alike – who said I was promiscuous, shameless, and that my private life was a mess because I couldn’t say no to any man. It wasn’t until my 66th miscarriage that I died on the operating table from massive bleeding. Only after death did I learn that the crystal bracelet Harper had given me had bound us to a “uterus exchange system.” When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on move-in day. Harper smiled as she pressed an exquisite crystal bracelet into my hand, saying enthusiastically, “We’re going to be roommates from now on. I’m giving you this crystal bracelet as a gift – wearing it will bring you good luck.” Looking at the familiar crystal bracelet before me, I realized I had been reborn. I said to Harper, “Thank you for the thought, but this crystal bracelet looks expensive. We just met, and it’s not appropriate for you to give such an expensive gift. I can’t accept it.” With that, I pushed the crystal bracelet back toward her. Harper and Grace were dressed very plainly and didn’t look wealthy. Plus, there were four people in the dorm room, but Harper was only giving me a gift – something was obviously wrong. Just then, Carter Green pressed down on my hand and said, “Since Harper is giving it to you, just accept it. You’re going to be living together for four years – don’t you have any manners?” Harper chimed in, “Yeah, if you don’t accept it, you’re not giving me any respect.” I smiled. Carter was a friend I’d grown up with, and I had applied to this school because of him. But what I hadn’t expected was that before school even started, he was already together with Harper in the freshman group chat, and he specifically told me to keep my distance from him. I grabbed Carter’s hand and said, “I think this bracelet would look good on you too. Why don’t you wear it?” Carter was so scared he immediately shook off my hand and backed away several steps. “Harper gave this to you – how can you put it on me? That would be wasting her thoughtfulness!” Sure enough, Carter knew about the bracelet’s special effects. I then put the bracelet away and stopped talking. While Harper and Carter had their backs turned, I suddenly put the bracelet on Grace’s wrist. Seeing the crystal bracelet emit a strange glow, I knew the “uterus exchange system” had successfully bound. Grace touched the bracelet and smiled with satisfaction, saying, “You’re very sensible. My daughter insisted on giving you such an expensive bracelet, but I couldn’t bear to part with it.” Then she said to me, “You’re so young yet you dress so flashily – I suppose you’re planning to seduce men? Don’t lead my daughter astray in the future. I’ll just take this bracelet back, and don’t tell Harper about it so she won’t throw a tantrum with me.” I smiled and said, “Grace, don’t worry, I definitely won’t tell her.” In my previous life, after I put on this crystal bracelet, I was forced to bind with Harper’s “uterus exchange system.” She was determined to become the school’s social queen and date a full 100 boyfriends. Harper often didn’t return to the dorm at night, going on dates with different boyfriends to various places. But no matter how chaotic Harper’s private life was, she never got pregnant. Instead, I, who remained single, kept getting mysteriously pregnant and then miscarrying. Before long, news of my frequent pregnancies and miscarriages spread throughout the entire school. Almost everyone who saw me would call me “shameless.” Even my classmates openly mocked me, calling me “a woman who can’t say no to any man.” No matter how I tried to explain, no one believed me. Even the doctors at the hospital would shake their heads when they saw me. One said, “Young girls these days don’t take care of their bodies at all. You don’t even use protection. Are you treating your body like a joke?” Finally, during my 66th miscarriage, I hemorrhaged and died on the operating table. This time, I won’t let Harper’s scheme succeed. Let Grace bear the consequences of her daughter’s mistakes.

After completing the enrollment procedures, Harper volunteered to treat our entire dorm to dinner. At the dinner table, Harper lifted her head and proudly announced, “My goal is to become the most famous socialite on campus and date 100 boyfriends. Someone as charming as me should fully showcase my appeal throughout the university.” My two other roommates and I all frowned. My roommate Luna Edwards, who had a very straightforward personality, asked, “What? That doesn’t seem right. You’re treating relationships like a game. And Carter is your boyfriend—doesn’t he mind you saying this right in front of him?” Before Harper could respond, Carter quickly defended her: “What do you know? This is called being open and free! I love Harper’s carefree personality—it’s absolutely captivating. Besides, I’m Harper’s steady boyfriend; everyone else is just passing through. As long as Harper has me in her heart, what’s there for me to mind?” After saying this, they held hands, gazed into each other’s eyes, and smiled sweetly. My two other roommates and I exchanged glances and smiled too. However, we found these two people ridiculous. I shook my head. Carter had been smart and kind in high school—how had he become like this? I really didn’t know why I had ever liked him. Afterward, Harper excitedly continued discussing her “master plan.” She said, “Our school has 8 departments, so I can date 10 guys from each department, then allocate some spots to people from off-campus. If I could get involved with a few professors, that would be even better. How’s that? My distribution is pretty fair, right? This way everyone gets a chance to be with me.” I knew there was no point in trying to talk her out of it, so I just kept nodding and praised her decision as “brilliant.” Luna couldn’t help but remind her: “If you’re going to date so many guys, you need to take proper precautions. If you accidentally get pregnant, that would be trouble, and abortion would be even more harmful to your body.” Harper said dismissively, “I never use protection—skin-to-skin contact feels the best. Don’t worry, I won’t get pregnant.” I pretended to be shocked and asked, “Why not? Do you have some kind of condition that prevents pregnancy?” Harper glared at me and said, “Don’t talk nonsense! As long as I don’t want to get pregnant, I won’t. If I want to get pregnant, I naturally will. Because I have a secret weapon.” As she spoke, her eyes glanced toward my wrist. Seeing the “crystal bracelet” on my wrist, she revealed a smug smile. However, what Harper didn’t know was that the bracelet on my wrist was a similar-looking one I’d bought at the school gate. The real bracelet she had originally given me was now on Grace’s wrist. That night, Harper didn’t return to the dorm, and neither did Carter. The three of us remaining in the room had an unspoken understanding not to cover for her. When the teacher came for room checks, we didn’t help conceal her absence either. At midnight, Harper posted a message in the freshman group chat: [The beds at the hotel near school are too hard—made my back and legs all sore.] She also sent a photo of herself in a bathrobe, half-reclining on the bed with one shoulder exposed. Seeing this message, many guys started replying to her. [Are you posting photos like this at night because you don’t want us to sleep?] [Are you really sore just because the bed is hard?] Once she’d gotten enough of a reaction, Harper sent another message: [Anyone who wants to date me can DM me directly.]

Harper got a warning from the school for not returning to the dorm at night. But Carter blamed me for not covering for Harper. He said to me: “You’re roommates. What’s wrong with helping her out? You’re not jealous because I chose her over you, are you? “Take a look at yourself in the mirror. What do you have that’s better than Harper? What right do you have to be upset?” I ignored Carter, rolled my eyes, and went back to the dorm. Just one week into school, Harper had already gone through three boyfriends. Every day when I came back from the library, I’d see her kissing different guys downstairs at the dorm building. Our classmates noticed this too. Some privately called her “shameless,” while others praised her as “cool.” A well-meaning girl in our class kindly reminded Harper: “This could make you sick easily. Girls need to take care of their bodies.” Harper replied carelessly: “My body’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” After hearing that, everyone kept quiet. She really wouldn’t get sick. In my past life, all those gynecological diseases she got were transferred to me instead. I was constantly running to the hospital for treatment. In this life, I wonder if her dear mother Grace can handle those diseases. Over the next two weeks, Harper changed boyfriends every three days. She rarely spent nights in the dorm. Until one afternoon, Harper suddenly called me: “Charlotte, my mom’s sick. Can you come to the hospital?” Charlotte Kim is my name. I figured this couldn’t be an ordinary illness, so I had to go see. When I arrived at the hospital, both Harper and Carter looked extremely nervous. The first thing they did when they saw me was check if the crystal bracelet was still on my wrist. Only after seeing it securely on my hand did they breathe a sigh of relief. I pretended not to notice their strange behavior and asked: “What’s wrong with Grace?” Harper sighed: “The doctor says my mom is two weeks pregnant, and she also has serious gynecological problems. The doctor said it’s caused by too frequent sexual activity and poor hygiene. “When my dad heard about this, he yelled at my mom and stormed off angrily. Whether this baby can be saved still needs more tests.” I glanced at Grace on the hospital bed. She was happily stroking her belly, delighted about this new life. Harper seemed to suddenly think of something and nervously grabbed my arm. She asked: “Charlotte, have you been feeling unwell lately?” I nodded: “Actually, yes. I feel like I’ve gained quite a bit of weight recently, and my period has been delayed for a long time. “Since I’m at the hospital anyway, I’ll get some medicine later.” After hearing my words, Harper’s shoulders visibly relaxed. I secretly smiled to myself. I had indeed gained weight recently, but that was because the small restaurants around campus were too delicious. My period wasn’t delayed either—it was just that after spending so much time with Luna, my cycle gradually shifted from the end of the month to the middle. In the end, Grace couldn’t keep the baby. She was already of advanced maternal age, making pregnancy very risky. The doctor advised her to pay attention to hygiene and take protective measures, or it could lead to more serious consequences. But clearly, neither Harper nor Grace took the doctor’s words to heart. Harper maintained her routine of switching boyfriends every three days. Since she rarely returned to the dorm, we barely crossed paths. Three months later, Harper sent a message in our group chat: [Is it really possible for someone to be pregnant with two babies at the same time – one three months old and one one month old?] Less than a minute after sending it, Harper deleted the message. Everyone who saw it thought Harper was joking and didn’t take it seriously. But I knew it was real. Because both babies in Grace’s belly had been transferred from Harper’s. I knew the show was about to begin. The next day, Harper called me furiously, demanding I come to the hospital. Before I even pushed open the hospital room door, I could hear heated arguing inside. A rough male voice filled with rage: “I’ve been away on business trips for months. Whose bastards are those two in your belly? You’re pregnant with two kids at once – how could you do this to me?” This man was Harper’s father, Jayden White. Grace defended herself through tears: “I didn’t! I don’t know why this happened! These past few months, I haven’t even touched another man’s hand. I really didn’t cheat!” When she saw me enter, Harper pulled me aside and demanded: “Charlotte, tell me honestly – have you experienced anything unusual with your body these past few months?” I acted surprised: “How did you know I wasn’t feeling well? I came to the hospital secretly. Don’t ask me anymore – I really can’t talk about such private matters.” After hearing my words, much of the suspicion in Harper’s eyes faded, and she lowered her head in thought. Just then, the doctor’s frustrated and helpless voice came from the room: “I already warned you last time to take proper precautions. Having an abortion would cause severe damage to her body. Moreover, the patient’s health is already poor – there’s a real risk of losing both mother and babies!” Upon hearing this, Harper’s legs went weak and she nearly collapsed. I quickly steadied her: “Don’t worry too much. Maybe the doctor made a mistake. If Grace didn’t have relations with anyone else, how could she be pregnant? It doesn’t make scientific sense. Why don’t you try another hospital for a second opinion?” Harper nodded, as if trying to convince herself: “Right! The doctor must have misdiagnosed! We need to change hospitals! We absolutely must change hospitals!” She then looked at me and asked: “By the way, you’re still wearing that crystal bracelet I gave you, right? That was my gift to you – you can’t take it off. I spent a lot of money on that bracelet, so you better appreciate it.” I smiled: “Harper, you’re so thoughtful. We barely know each other, yet you gave me such an expensive crystal bracelet. I heard crystals have special powers – people who don’t know better might think you’re trying to harm me.” Harper’s expression instantly froze, and she quickly said: “How could that be? This bracelet brings you peace and protection.” I raised my right hand, showing the fake bracelet on my wrist: “But why didn’t you tell me earlier that this bracelet shouldn’t be worn by others? That day, Grace said the bracelet was too valuable, so she took it back. Now, that bracelet should still be on her wrist. I was afraid you’d be upset, so I bought a fake one.” Harper trembled with rage and stormed into the hospital room. She yanked off Grace’s blanket and saw that Grace was indeed wearing the real crystal bracelet. Harper’s hands shook uncontrollably. Ignoring everyone’s stares, she ripped the crystal bracelet off Grace’s wrist. Then she turned and shouted at me: “This is the crystal bracelet I gave you. Why did you let my mom wear it? Why?” I acted confused: “Does this bracelet have some special function? Grace said it was too valuable and insisted on taking it back. She also said she was afraid you’d throw a tantrum, so she told me not to tell you.” Harper froze, realizing her reaction was too extreme, then smiled awkwardly. She said: “That’s not what I meant. I just think this bracelet suits you perfectly. From now on, wear it properly. No matter who asks for it, don’t give it to anyone else, okay?” With that, Harper grabbed my hand and put the real bracelet back on my wrist. The crystal bracelet flashed with an almost invisible light. I was stunned. This bracelet actually had a secondary binding function!

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Five Christmases after my death, my doctor husband Nathan Morgan once again wanted me to take responsibility for his first love Maria Price’s medical malpractice. He stormed into my old apartment with a forged agreement, only to find a room full of dust. In his panic, Nathan grabbed Adam Davis, the convenience store owner downstairs, demanding to know where I was. But Adam told him, “Caroline? She died five Christmases ago.” Caroline Walker was my name. After a pause, Adam added, “I heard it was because the family from that medical dispute wouldn’t let it go. They cornered her in the alley at midnight and stabbed her over a dozen times.” Nathan didn’t believe it, convinced that Adam must have been paid by me to lie for me. He let out a cold laugh. He said, “I only suspended her for two Christmases. And she’s still throwing a tantrum? “Please tell her that if she doesn’t show up within three days, I’ll stop paying for her sister Liliana Walker’s cancer treatment.” With that, Nathan cursed under his breath and stormed out. Watching Nathan’s retreating figure, Adam shook his head and sighed. He said, “Liliana? Liliana died long ago because she couldn’t afford treatment.” ***** In the hallway, the security door rattled as keys turned in the lock. My soul floated near the ceiling, watching Nathan burst into my old apartment clutching the forged agreement. He covered his nose, waving away the dust in the air, his shoes making urgent sounds against the floor. Nathan shouted, “Caroline, get out here! Maria’s about to lose her medical license, and you’re still hiding?” I laughed bitterly behind him. After that medical dispute five Christmases ago, I had cut all contact with Nathan. I never expected that this time he was looking for me to take responsibility for Maria’s new medical malpractice. I had to admire how deep his feelings for Maria truly were. Nathan circled the room twice, his gaze sweeping over the dust-covered sofa and spider-webbed windowsill. He said, “What’s with this act of suddenly disappearing? Where could someone who got fired from the hospital possibly hide? “Maria just texted that the police have started investigating. You want her to go to prison, don’t you? “I’m giving you ten seconds. Get out here now.” Looking at his impatient face, I thought to myself that after five Christmases, he still had that attitude of expecting everything to go his way. But no matter how many “ten seconds” he gave me, I would never obediently appear before him like I used to. Because I was already dead. Nathan shouted again, “Caroline, did you hear me? I’m just asking you to help out. Why do you keep making excuses?” He suddenly turned and kicked the bedroom door, the door panel making a dull thud. But the bedroom remained empty. Nathan clicked his tongue impatiently and searched the place again, still finding no one. Only then did he finally realize that there really was nobody there. He stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The convenience store door was yanked open as Nathan grabbed Adam, who was ringing up a customer. He asked, “Have you seen Caroline? She’s the woman who lives on the third floor.” Adam paused, wiping the dust off his hands. He said, “Caroline? She died five Christmases ago.” I saw Nathan’s movements freeze for a moment. Then he laughed coldly and said, “Who are you trying to fool? How could someone like her possibly die?” “I’m not lying to you.” Adam pointed toward the alley entrance. “Five Christmases ago, she was cornered in that alley by the family from a medical dispute and stabbed over a dozen times. She died on the way to the hospital. What’s your relationship to her?” Adam’s answer was so matter-of-fact that a flash of surprise crossed Nathan’s eyes. He frowned, and his expression actually showed a hint of pain that I couldn’t understand. But soon, his attention was drawn to a message on his phone. The message was from Maria: [Forget it, Nathan. Caroline must still resent me and will find excuses to refuse. Don’t trouble yourself for me anymore. I can go to prison. Without me, you need to take care of yourself.] This message convinced Nathan that “my death” was just an excuse for me to refuse to help them. His fingers trembled as he replied. [What right does she have to refuse? Back then, I gave her such a large sum of money. Now, when I need her, she has to show up. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely drag her back to take the blame for you. I absolutely won’t let anything happen to you.] The message sent successfully. Nathan glared at Adam and said, “Stop acting with me. She’s definitely hiding somewhere. Did she pay you off?” Adam sighed and said, “How could anyone joke about something like this? At the time, the news reported on it.” Nathan unconsciously raised his voice, saying, “Can news reports be trusted?” Taking a step forward, his eyes were full of threats. He said, “Please tell her that if she doesn’t show up within three days, I’ll stop paying for her sister Liliana’s cancer treatment.” Adam opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but Nathan cut him off with a sharp wave of his hand. Nathan said, “Don’t give me any nonsense. She either gets out here, or she can wait to collect Liliana’s body.” With that, Nathan turned and left. The convenience store door slammed shut with a bang. Adam watched his retreating figure, shook his head, and sighed into the empty air. He said, “Liliana? Liliana died long ago because she couldn’t afford treatment.” I floated nearby, looking at the water bottle that had been kicked aside on the floor, my soul feeling as if it had been soaked through by that icy liquid. Back then, that money never reached my hands. While Liliana lay in her hospital bed waiting for money to save her life, Maria was using that money to buy imported medical equipment. And while I was stabbed and left bleeding in the alley, Nathan was accompanying Maria to a medical conference. Now, he was actually using a dead person’s name to threaten another person who had long since left this world.

My soul seemed trapped beside Nathan, forced to follow him home. The moment Nathan pushed open the door, Maria rushed forward, her face full of anticipation. “Nathan, how did it go? Did you find Caroline?” Nathan shook his head, looking dazed. “No. And they said Caroline is already dead.” “Dead?” Maria’s eyes widened as she staggered back half a step, instinctively grabbing Nathan’s arm. “How is that possible? Is she deliberately hiding from us, making up lies to fool you?” Nathan frowned without saying a word. Seeing this, Maria quickly forced a bitter smile. “That must be it! Caroline definitely still holds a grudge about what happened five years ago, so she doesn’t want to help me and made up this lie. Nathan, maybe we should just forget it? Let’s not make things difficult for her anymore. I can turn myself in.” Nathan remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded. “You’re right. She must be hiding somewhere. But this matter can’t end like this. Even if I have to dig up the entire ground, I’ll find her and help clear your name.” Maria’s eyes reddened with emotion, her voice choking up: “Nathan, you’re so good to me…” Just then, Nathan suddenly interrupted her, his tone hesitant. “But since Caroline can come up with this kind of excuse, it seems she’s really furious. Maria, this is the last time. After she takes the fall for you and gets out of prison, we should go our separate ways.” Standing nearby, I was so shocked I almost forgot I was dead. Nathan actually brought up separating from Maria on his own? I still remembered that Christmas when he and I had a huge fight over Maria. We’d been married less than a year when Maria returned to the country and specifically transferred to our hospital. From then on, the two of them carried on their ambiguous relationship right under my nose. The moment I questioned it, Nathan would scold me for being narrow-minded and baselessly suspicious of them. But now, he was actually suggesting ending this relationship himself? Nathan didn’t notice the stiff expression on Maria’s face. Turning away, his voice softened slightly. “I need to return to my family eventually. Last time, I did give her money. But these past few years, I’ve really been unfair to her. Thinking about it, I actually feel quite guilty.” Hearing this, Maria looked at him in disbelief. “Nathan, you don’t want me anymore?” Nathan’s eyes darted away as he frowned deeply: “I don’t know. It’s just that ever since leaving Caroline’s house, I’ve been feeling really anxious, like something terrible is about to happen.” After a pause, his tone became resolute. “But regarding this matter, I’ll definitely help you. I won’t let you go to prison. I’m going to find her right now. Wait for me.” With that, Nathan turned and left, his retreating figure showing determination and decisiveness. Maria stood there motionless. But when she looked at Nathan’s departing figure, all traces of her pitiful act vanished. I saw clearly that Maria’s gaze was like a poisoned blade—vicious and venomous. The name she ground out through clenched teeth was actually mine.

Nathan was desperate to find me, so the first place he thought of was Liliana’s. I followed his car straight to Central Hospital. I knew this route particularly well. I used to make this daily commute between the hospital and home. All these years, I’d never changed. I watched Nathan floor the gas pedal. He’d been frowning deeply ever since getting in the car. I didn’t need to think twice to know he was worrying about Maria again. Nathan didn’t even wait for the car to come to a complete stop before rushing into the inpatient ward and grabbing a nurse at the station. He said, “Can you look up Liliana’s room number for me?” The nurse was startled for a moment, then responded, “Of course.” She then looked down and began searching through the admission records. Just then, a cold laugh came from nearby. Someone said, “Well, if it isn’t Dr. Morgan? What brings you to slum it in our little corner?” Nathan turned to look, and his expression immediately darkened. The speaker was Waylon Robinson, an attending physician who used to work in the same department as him. From what I knew, their conflict went way back. But later, for some reason, after I took responsibility for Maria’s medical malpractice, Waylon also resigned and left the hospital. Now, with enemies meeting face to face, both were particularly furious. Nathan looked Waylon up and down, then said, “Where I go is none of your business.” Waylon crossed his arms and laughed mockingly. He said, “You’re right, it’s none of my business. I’m just curious how you can be so cold-blooded. When they were critically ill, you didn’t come. Now that they’re both gone, you finally think to look for them?” Nathan furrowed his brow and asked, “Critically ill? What do you mean critically ill?” He looked completely confused, as if he had no idea what Waylon was talking about. But I knew Waylon was referring to what happened to Liliana and me. When I was stabbed multiple times in that alley, I was already barely hanging on in the ambulance. The medical staff called Nathan, wanting him as my family member to see me one last time. But he was with Maria at the time, didn’t want to be disturbed during their romantic time together, so he hung up without even answering. When the medical staff tried calling him again later, he even blocked their number. Liliana’s situation was the same. When she couldn’t afford treatment and the hospital issued a critical condition notice, everyone tried to contact Nathan, but he was off traveling with Maria. As a result, when Liliana died, there wasn’t a single person by her side. She left this world completely alone. Seeing Nathan’s confused expression, Waylon stared at him for a few seconds before suddenly letting out a scornful laugh. He said, “You’re quite the actor. Whatever. I really don’t know what’s so special about you that she was willing to sacrifice so much for you.” Waylon didn’t say anything more and headed back to his office. Nathan stood there, his fingers slowly and unconsciously clenching into fists. This was a nervous habit he had when he was scared. But what was he afraid of? Just then, the nurse’s voice brought him back to reality: “Dr. Morgan?” The nurse hesitated for a moment, then continued, “The patient you’re looking for, Liliana, passed away three years ago.” Upon hearing this, Nathan’s eyes widened, and his entire body froze like he’d been nailed to the spot.

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Asher needed a corneal transplant after a terrible accident that damaged his eyes. I worked around the clock, doing makeup for the deceased, just to scrape enough money together for the surgery. But then, the donor resources were snatched away, just like that. Seeing Asher utterly broken and losing all hope, I suddenly made a decision. I gave him my cornea. Yet, the moment he regained his sight, he went straight to Celeste, his ex-girlfriend who’d dumped him years ago. It wasn’t long before I learned that his injury itself had been because of her. I pulled out my phone and called my dad, someone I hadn’t spoken to in years. “Dad, I lost! I want to come home.” I listened, disbelief creeping into my mind, to Asher’s voice from the hospital bed next to mine. He was on the phone. “Celeste, my surgery was a success! I can see again! I’m coming to you right now!” It was the fifth day after his operation, the day Asher was supposed to get his stitches out. I thought the first thing he’d do when he woke up was look for me. I didn’t want him to wait, so I specifically asked the nurse to put me in the same room as him. Only a thin curtain separated our beds. A long moment passed before I finally reacted, my hand fumbling helplessly on the bed. “Asher? Asher?~ Ah!” My hand missed, and I crashed hard onto the floor. The sharp pain brought tears to my eyes. “Ms. Sterling, how did you fall… and Mr. Asher, where is he?” The nurse on rounds rushed in and helped me up. I thanked her, offering a bitter smile and shaking my head. I knew exactly where Asher had gone. He’d gone to find his ex. Asher and I started dating just before we graduated college. It’s been five years now. A few months ago, he was in a car accident and injured his eyes. After I finally managed to raise the money for his surgery, the doctor told me that the cornea allocated for Asher had been taken by someone else. I couldn’t bring myself to tell Asher. I knew he wouldn’t be able to handle it. So, I decided to donate my own cornea to him. He still doesn’t know. Before we started dating, Asher was the campus heartthrob, naturally adored by many girls. When I first knew him, he had a girlfriend named Celeste. She was the campus queen of our department, and they were the most famous couple on campus. But a month before Asher and I got together, she went abroad for advanced studies, unilaterally breaking up with him. The day Asher was drowning his sorrows at a bar, I confessed my feelings to him. I never expected him to say yes. I just felt that if I didn’t say it before graduation, it would be a lifelong regret. He just stared at me, dazed, for a few minutes before leaning in and kissing me. Things just happened between us that night. The next day, he suggested we start dating. I was overjoyed, so much so that I didn’t notice the faint indifference in his eyes. I don’t know when they reconnected. Out of trust, I never checked Asher’s phone. The nurse helped me find my phone and placed it in my hand. I hesitated for a moment but decided to call Asher anyway. “Alexa, call Asher.” “Hello, Chloe?” “Asher, where are you?” His voice on the other end was hesitant, and then I caught the faint whisper of a woman’s voice. “Asher, it’s a left turn here.” “Chloe, I’ve had my stitches out, the surgery was successful. I’ll be home soon, don’t worry.” Before I could say anything, he hung up… I gripped the phone tightly, my vision dark, feeling large tears splattering onto the back of my hand. Moments later, I picked up my cane, and the nurse helped me out of the hospital. I could feel her pitying gaze, piercing me like needles.

During my days in the hospital, I’d learned how to use a cane, though I wasn’t very skilled yet. Finally, I made it home and let out a sigh of relief, sitting on the couch and carefully pulling up my pant leg. I’d fallen twice on the way back. The first fall was pretty hard; I touched the injured spot with my hand, and it felt sticky and warm. It must have been bleeding. This was actually a relatively few falls. On the first day after surgery, I fell a full ten times. Finally, the nurse couldn’t stand it anymore and helped me, slowly teaching me how to use the cane, which made things a bit better. Asher didn’t come home until evening. I had lied to him about having urgent cases at the crematorium as an excuse not to be at the hospital during his surgery days. “Chloe, your eyes?” When he saw me, he instantly understood how the cornea for his eyes had been sourced. His voice was filled with disbelief. “Are you crazy? The resource was taken, but I could have waited. You—” “It’s fine, I can wait for another cornea, too.” That’s what I said, but who knew how long that wait would be? I reached out, my hand finding his. “It’s just that you’ll have to work a bit harder these days. I probably can’t go to work for a while.” Asher pulled me into a tight hug. “Don’t be silly. It’s my job to take care of you.” I knew I was avoiding the issue. I didn’t ask him why he only got home in the evening when his stitches were removed in the morning, nor did I ask about the woman’s voice on the phone. Asher wasn’t from this city; he came from a small town. His family wasn’t well-off, and he studied computer science. After graduation, he struggled for a long time to find his current job. During that anxious period, I swore I’d take care of him, no matter what, thumping my chest like a defiant child. I didn’t pursue a job related to my major, because back then, we were so broke we could barely afford rent. I heard that working as a mortuary cosmetologist paid well and quickly, so I didn’t hesitate. I found a master at a crematorium and started learning. Since I was a girl and already knew how to do makeup, I picked it up fast. In the beginning, seeing the deceased kept me awake all night. But Asher was endlessly patient, holding me, gently soothing me from dusk till dawn. So, when I decided to give my cornea to Asher, I had no regrets. I believed he wouldn’t let me down. That night, Asher held me, comforting me to sleep as he always did. If my eyes hadn’t started aching in the middle of the night, waking me up, I wouldn’t have realized he’d left my side. I felt the bedding next to me; it was still warm, meaning he hadn’t been gone long. “Alexa, what time is it?” “Master, it’s 2:25 AM.” I slowly sat up, wrapping my arms around my knees, a knot of unease tightening in my stomach. Where had Asher gone? And when did he leave?

I sat there, waiting, for what felt like an eternity. Then I heard the door open, followed by his familiar footsteps. “Chloe, why are you up?” “Asher, where did you go?” “Oh, I was afraid you might be hungry, so I went out and bought you your favorite wontons. Here, let me feed you.” I numbly chewed the wontons in my mouth, the acidity at the back of my nose slowly building. The wontons had seaweed in them. But Asher knew I hated seaweed in my wontons; he never added it before… This meant these wontons weren’t bought for me at all… And that faint, unfamiliar perfume scent clinging to him… Everything pointed to him having left me alone in the middle of the night to meet someone else. Tears fell without my permission, and I choked, coughing violently. “What’s wrong?” I wiped the wetness from my eyes, forcing a laugh. “Nothing, these wontons are just too delicious.” “Silly, if you like them so much, I’ll buy them for you every day from now on.” That night, even with Asher holding me, I didn’t sleep again. The darkness before my eyes didn’t scare me, but that lingering scent on him that wasn’t mine kept me awake… The next morning, before Asher left for work, he was still fussing, worried about leaving me alone at home. “Chloe, remember to call me immediately if anything happens, and I’ll rush right back.” “Alright, I know!” As the door closed, the entire space became eerily quiet. I wondered if I should get a dog. It could keep me company and be a guide dog. After making up my mind, I contacted a local professional agency. They said they could bring a dog over tomorrow. The silence was unsettling. I turned on the TV, just for some background noise. I lay on the sofa and drifted off to sleep, waking up to find traces of dried tears on my face. When Asher and I first started dating, I told my parents. In my memory, they had always been very open-minded, but that time, Mom and Dad were surprisingly against it. We had the biggest fight of our lives. My dad, for the first time, said harsh words to me. “If you insist on being with him, then don’t ever call us your parents again.” “Fine, then I won’t.” From then on, my parents cut off my bank card and stopped contacting me. I couldn’t understand why they were so opposed. In my eyes, Asher was so wonderful. The years that followed proved my judgment wasn’t wrong. He was very good to me. When Asher came home that night, I told him about the dog. He paused for a moment but didn’t say anything. The next morning, the agency delivered a Golden Retriever. Its name was Buddy. After I gave it a few simple commands, Buddy performed them perfectly, so I kept him. Buddy was very well-behaved. With him, things became much easier for me, and I could go to many places by myself. That day, I heard the rain outside was heavy. I suddenly remembered Asher hadn’t taken an umbrella when he left that morning. After a moment’s hesitation, I took Buddy and an umbrella and left the house.

I finally made it to Asher’s company building just before he got off work. I pulled out my phone from my pocket, ready to call him, when I suddenly heard two people standing next to me speak up. “Did you see? Asher, the one with the eye injury, is back at work again.” “I know, right? Didn’t he come back a few days ago? Lucky guy, and quite the ladies’ man too…” “How so?” “That gorgeous woman sitting over there, see her? This is her third visit. They always look so close…” My hand tightened on Buddy’s leash. I spoke softly, “Excuse me, how many Ashers work at your company?” “Just one.” I bit hard on my lip. I couldn’t see if the woman waiting for Asher was his former campus queen ex-girlfriend. Just as I dialed Asher’s number, I heard the voice from that phone call a few days ago, not far away. Maybe it was because I couldn’t see, but I was especially sensitive to sounds now. “Asher, over here!” The call connected. I heard Asher’s low, familiar voice. “Chloe, I’m working late. I might be home a bit late. Order some takeout for yourself, okay? Bye.” “But…” My words were cut off as he hung up. I stood there for a long time, until my legs felt stiff. Buddy sensed my distress and whined, circling my feet, nudging my leg. I knelt down and stroked his head. “Buddy, let’s go home.” Back home, I changed my wet clothes, then fumbled around to dry Buddy’s fur. By ten o’clock that night, Asher still hadn’t returned. Instead, I received a call from an unfamiliar number. “Ms. Sterling, I’m Celeste. You probably know who I am. Thank you for taking care of Asher all these years.” “I know you gave your cornea to Asher, but you can’t use that to tie him down, can you? That’s just emotional blackmail. All you’re doing is making him miserable.” “I advise you to have some self-awareness. Asher has always loved me. Even his eye injury this time was to protect me. And he’s with me right now…” The phone slipped from my grasp, hitting my foot. I couldn’t hear anything else, collapsing weakly to the floor… Was this the real reason Asher had never told me about his injury? In that instant, it felt like someone had choked me, I couldn’t make a sound, my mind completely blank… Buddy anxiously circled my feet, licking my face, trying to comfort me. I hugged Buddy and burst into uncontrollable sobs. When Asher came home, I heard the rustle of him taking off his clothes. A moment later, he slowly put his arms around me from behind. “Asher, will you marry me?” I felt his body stiffen for a second, and his hands slowly loosen from my waist. “Chloe, why aren’t you asleep yet?” “Will you marry me?” I gripped his hand, my empty eyes looking at him. “Why are you asking this all of a sudden…?” A moment later, I let go of his hand, closing my unfocused eyes. The moment he hesitated, I already knew his answer. I forced a smile. “It’s nothing. Go to sleep.” That night, Asher and I slept back-to-back for the first time… I thought perhaps it was time for me to leave… to save myself some dignity, instead of waiting to be forced out. But I never imagined that the day I truly left, I would lose Buddy forever. A few days later, the door opened. Asher was home from work, but he wasn’t alone. “Chloe, I have to go out of town for a few days. I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone, so I asked a friend to help take care of you.” “Hi, Chloe, I’m Celeste. You can call me Cel. Asher talks about you so much…”

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I became mute saving Chloe, my childhood sweetheart. When I discovered I could speak again, a surge of pure joy hit me. I suppressed my excitement, planning to surprise her on our wedding day. But on the eve of our wedding, she was going wild with some college guy in our marital home. Through the crack in the door, I saw her, flushed and breathless, sprawled across his toned abs. When she spoke of me, her voice dripped with utter contempt. “He’s just a mute. All he does is gesture with his hands all day. What right does he have to marry me?” She promised him, “I’m only doing this to keep up appearances for our families. You’re the one I love. I’d never leave you.” Yet later, at the wedding, Chloe frantically demanded they find me, insisting she had to marry me. But this time, I was truly going to leave her. I slammed the door shut, blocking out the sickening sight of their passionate encounter. After realizing I could speak, I’d practiced for days. I wanted to recite my wedding vows, to give Chloe the surprise of a lifetime. Now, it seemed I was the real clown. Chloe had said she wanted the most unique wedding in the world, so I’d worked day and night at the venue, overseeing every single detail, leaving nothing to chance. Returning to the chaotic wedding hall, I smashed everything I’d personally prepared. Then I went home and collapsed into a deep sleep. I woke up rested, my phone buzzing with a flood of messages and missed calls from Chloe. [Liam, the hotel told me you trashed the wedding venue. What the hell are you doing?!] [Why aren’t you answering my calls? What kind of tantrum are you throwing?!] [Do you even want to get married or not? If not, then forget it!] … [Liam, are you still mad at me? I really didn’t mean to stand you up…] Perhaps this was Chloe’s true face. First, she’d hit you hard, leaving you reeling, then when she felt like it, she’d offer a sweet little treat to lull you back. Keeping you firmly in the palm of her hand. Yesterday, she’d asked me to dinner, but I waited until the restaurant closed, and she never showed. No calls, no texts. Worried something had happened, I searched everywhere she might be. I never expected to find her in our marital home, listening to that wild, intimate act. She was used to having me wrapped around her little finger, always doing her bidding. But I got tired too. I glanced at the messages but didn’t reply. The front door burst open, and Chloe rushed in, her heels clicking urgently. Seeing me, she glared. “You were home! Why didn’t you reply to my messages? You made me look like an idiot, sending so many!” Watching her face flush with anger, I almost laughed. Was she finally experiencing the frustration of sending a pile of messages with no reply? I’d lived through that for eight years. Lived through her disappearing. I signed coldly, [I was asleep. Didn’t hear anything.] Chloe stepped forward, swatting my hands away, her anger flaring. “I told you to stop with the gesturing! I can’t understand you!” In the eight years I’d been mute, my parents and friends had learned to understand at least some simple sign language. But Chloe, the one I saved, never bothered. Whenever I tried to communicate with her through signs, she’d get annoyed and give me dirty looks. To this day, she couldn’t even understand the simplest sign for “thank you.” I wasn’t in the mood to sign, nor did I want to tell her I could speak again. Chloe slammed her bag onto the table and crossed her arms. “We’re getting married in a week. Why did you ruin the wedding venue?” Simple. I just didn’t want to marry her anymore. I was tired. Exhausted. Fed up. I typed a message on my phone, [Just wasn’t happy with how I decorated it.] Seeing my reply, Chloe’s tense expression softened. She linked her arm through mine, leaning gently on my shoulder. “You must be tired. Let’s just hand the wedding over to a planning company.” Her phone suddenly rang. She instantly pulled away from me, discreetly taking the call in another room. Through the thin door, her words were crystal clear. “I know you miss me, baby. I’ll still stay with you tonight.” “Him? Just thinking about sleeping with him after we get married makes me sick. He can’t even say a word. How could he compare to you?” “That dish you liked last time? I’ll get him to make it for you again.” The call ended with Chloe blowing a kiss into the air. She walked out of the room. I couldn’t help but recall Chloe’s behavior these past few days. She’d been coming home late for ages, and I’d only hear her heavy footsteps and the loud slam of the door late at night after I’d fallen asleep. I was mute, but I wasn’t deaf. Each time I was woken up, I found it hard to fall back asleep. I’d asked Chloe what kept her so busy, coming home so late every day. She’d always answer impatiently, “Work, obviously! Meeting clients, writing proposals, what else?” When I’d make her a hangover soup, she’d grumble behind my back. “He can’t even hold down a job himself, but he’s all up in my business.” Most of the time, I pretended not to hear. Turns out, her recent strange behavior was because she had another man, someone she was deeply invested in. Leaving me to be with someone else. “Make some food, I need to take it with me.” Then she added, “That same dish you brought to the office last time. Make it extra spicy.” So, the nourishing, carefully prepared meals I made for her had all gone into another man’s mouth. She had a sensitive stomach, and even though I used to love spicy food, I’d willingly switched to a bland diet for her. Now, she was catering to someone else’s taste, using *my* cooking to please *him*. It was laughable. I didn’t cook for Chloe. Instead, I went back to my parents’ house.

“Mom, Dad, I don’t want to marry Chloe anymore.” When they heard me speak, their eyes instantly welled up. My mother hugged me, sobbing, asking again and again if I’d truly recovered completely. My parents had never wanted me to follow Chloe around, let alone marry her, so they readily agreed to my request. Though I’d practiced for a long time, my voice was still hoarse and strained. My parents immediately contacted doctors abroad. I nodded. “Once I’ve handled everything here, I’ll go abroad for treatment in a week.” Back then, to save her, the enraged kidnappers had nearly choked me to death in a dilapidated warehouse. When I woke up, I couldn’t make a sound. Chloe was sobbing beside me, tears streaming down onto the hospital bed, soaking the sheets. After years of fruitless treatment, Chloe became disheartened. Unwilling to see her stressed and exhausted from all the traveling, I simply gave up. Chloe had said, “Liam, don’t be afraid. I won’t ever look down on you.” When I got home, Chloe was nowhere to be found. It seemed she’d wasted no time leaving the moment I did. My friend, Dylan, sent me a message with a video attached. [Liam, is this Chloe?] [Why is she hugging and kissing some guy at a bar? Aren’t you two getting married soon?] [That guy looks familiar. I think he’s Tyler, the new intern at the company.] In the dazzling, hazy lights of the bar, it was the same young college guy from last night. Chloe was grinding against him on the dance floor, passionately kissing him. Her slender arms were wrapped around his shoulders, intimately draped around his neck. Before, she wouldn’t even deign to give me a kiss. At our engagement party, I only had the right to kiss the back of her hand. She told me she liked to take things slow, that we should wait until after the wedding to kiss. But they’d only known each other a short time, and they were already hugging, kissing, and sleeping together. I was such a complete and utter fool. Chloe never liked me, not for a single moment. Back in school, she was the adored princess, completely oblivious to my feelings for her. It was only after I got hurt saving her that she even gave me a glance. Just as she’d said, she was willing to marry me only to keep up appearances. She just didn’t want to be known for being ungrateful. I contacted Dylan, setting up a meeting with the stock transfer agreement. He looked at me, bewildered. “Liam, isn’t this what you were planning to give Chloe as a wedding gift?” The three of us had started the company. Dylan and I each owned 33% of the shares, while Chloe held 34%. I’d always intended to transfer my 33% of the shares to Chloe for free when we got married, as a token of my sincerity. But now, I didn’t need to. After a moment of thought, I spoke, “She doesn’t need it anymore. I’ll transfer these shares to you at the lowest price. From now on, you’ll have veto power and won’t be controlled by her.” Dylan stared at my moving mouth, frozen in shock. It took him a long moment to process it. His voice was choked with emotion, tears of joy welling up. “Y-you’re… you’re better? Liam, you can speak!” I nodded, signing my name on the stock transfer agreement. Dylan was my best friend. I felt completely at ease leaving the company in his hands. Before, because I loved Chloe, I always overlooked her unreasonable business decisions and ignored Dylan’s concerns and complaints. Never again. The company would definitely thrive under Dylan’s leadership.

The next day, Chloe came home and angrily threw her expensive bag at my face. “Why did you fire Tyler?” My cheek stung, but I didn’t move as I rubbed it. Yesterday, I’d told Dylan to fire that college guy. He certainly worked fast. Chloe panicked. “He’s just an intern, he doesn’t earn much. How’s he going to survive if you fire him?” Every word, every phrase, she made no effort to hide her obvious favoritism and affection for Tyler. [Do you care about him that much?] Seeing my words, Chloe paused for a moment before speaking again, “No, I just… I just pity him. His family is struggling.” I said nothing more. Seeing my grim expression, Chloe patiently tried to appease me. “There are only a few days left until the wedding. Can we please not fight? You always listen to me, don’t you?” Fight? I hadn’t even said a harsh word. This wasn’t a fight, it was her unilateral outburst. I did listen to her. I listened until I ended up wearing a cuckold’s crown. [I checked his resume. His major doesn’t match, he’s not suitable for our company.] Chloe completely snapped, her sharp voice echoing through the room. “I have 34% of the company’s shares! I have absolute authority! What right do *you*, a mute, have to judge him?!” *You, a mute.* Her words brutally pierced my heart. Did I *want* to be mute? Did I *choose* to be mute? For all these years, I’d endured countless slights and disdain, yet I always acted as if I didn’t notice. Chloe’s words had always been this sharp and venomous. Why was it only now that I truly saw her? She called HR, demanding they keep Tyler’s job, but was regretfully informed that it was ordered by President Dylan. I took out the stock transfer agreement I’d signed with Dylan and showed it to her. One look, and she understood everything. “Why did you transfer the shares to him?! I’ve been talking about the shares for so long, and you never agreed to give them to me!” Her voice was tinged with tears. I just watched her, unmoved. [Chloe, if you despise me for being mute, we don’t have to get married. I’m not forcing you.] Chloe saw the words I’d typed, snatched the phone, and threw it to the floor. “How am I supposed to explain it if we don’t get married?! Liam, you don’t really love me!” I loved her, but did she love me? She was so utterly disregardful of my feelings and dignity, brazenly saying “explain” to humiliate me. Chloe was still crying when she received a call from Tyler. Over the phone, I heard Tyler’s pitiful voice, “Sister, my stomach hurts so much.” Tyler sounded like he’d been drinking with clients at a bar and was forced to down several bottles. Chloe’s heart ached for him. She completely ignored me, panicked, and rushed out the door. It made me feel even more like a clown. I used to always put Chloe first, everything revolved around her. In school, when she was bullied, I stepped in for her and ended up with a broken shin. But the very next day, she was laughing and talking with the boy who had bullied her. I tried to warn her to stay away from bad guys like him. She stubbornly refused, blaming me for messing up the face of the guy she had a crush on during the fight. I’ll never forget Chloe’s cold face, her watery eyes glaring at me, calling me a busybody. Thinking about my past foolish self, I just felt utterly ridiculous. How could I have endured so much, clinging to her despite her endless humiliations? Had I lost my damn mind back then? Shaking off those memories, I calmly entrusted the expensive wedding house to a real estate agent to sell at a low price. I never wanted to step foot in that house again. It was supposed to be my dream wedding home, chosen in the best location, with every detail of the renovation personally supervised. Every piece of furniture, every pot and pan, even every flower was something I’d carefully picked out and brought in myself. But now, it no longer mattered. I wanted to sell it, and along with it, cast out all the dirty memories it held from my life. Three days before the wedding, Chloe came to see me. “I won’t argue with you about the shares. You can ask Dylan to give them back after we get married.” Before I could say anything, she linked her arm through mine intimately, blinking her eyes. “The wedding venue is all set up! Want to go see it?” I was curious to see how the wedding venue I’d trashed could be restored so quickly. Stepping into the familiar wedding hall again, everything felt… unfamiliar. Chloe, however, seemed very pleased. She’d brought a man with her. “Liam, Tyler personally decorated our wedding venue. Look at his hands!” I lowered my gaze, seeing his bloodied fingers. “He got his hands completely pricked by thorns, all for this flower sea.” Tyler ruffled his hair, smiling brightly, like a dog trying to please. “As long as Sister Chloe and Brother Liam are happy, I don’t care what happens to me.” Chloe looked at Tyler’s hands, her heart aching, and couldn’t help but gently take them. I thought of my own hands. During the wedding preparations, Chloe had never once visited, so she naturally hadn’t seen my battered hands, scarred from wood splinters, pricked by thorns, healing and then getting injured again, a mess. Yet, when I’d taken Chloe’s hand, she’d recoiled in disgust. She’d scornfully looked at my scarred hands, complaining they felt rough against her delicate skin. Tyler was young, sunny, and knew how to charm. Seeing Chloe’s sympathy, he pouted and whined, sweetly calling her “Sister.” Chloe told me to rest while she went to discuss the wedding flow with the planner. She probably figured, since I was mute anyway, there was no need for me to go. Watching Tyler and Chloe walk into the same hotel floor, one after the other, I let out a cold laugh. In the hallway, urgent gasps echoed. Before they even entered the room, their lips were already passionately entangled. Chloe was pinned against the wall by Tyler, her eyes hazy from his kisses. I heard Tyler say, “Sister, it really breaks my heart that you’re marrying him.” “Decorating your wedding venue nearly killed me, Sister. Do you want to kill me?” Chloe wrapped her arms around his neck and chuckled, “I’ll only kill you in bed.” They entered the room, and intimate sounds poured out. Going downstairs, I called the police and reported prostitution at the hotel. The police arrived. Chloe claimed they were boyfriend and girlfriend. After some proof, the police left. Seeing Chloe’s flushed face, I walked over. She panicked. “Liam… how did you get up here?”

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An accident stole three years of my memory. When it finally rushed back, everything I knew was gone. He, who should have been a stranger, had become my husband. And I, who should have been his wife, had been relegated to a live-in maid, catering to ‘them’ for three years. I was a trophy wife, My sole purpose: to be his devoted doormat. But I, was no longer *me*. I stood on the bustling street, watching the endless stream of people pass by. For the first time, I felt utterly lost. Just ten minutes ago, an out-of-control motorcycle, clearly speeding, had swerved directly towards me. The moment it was about to hit, I was yanked away. In that instant, everything came flooding back. I had lost my memory, three years ago, after an accident. Following my parents’ advice, I’d married Ryan, my childhood friend. After the wedding, I obediently quit my high-powered career to focus on serving my mother-in-law, Barbara, becoming a full-time housewife. Thinking of those three years, I looked down at the groceries in my hand and my faded, worn-out clothes. The sheer absurdity of it all made my stomach churn. I had married a stranger, given up a lucrative six-figure job, and become a ‘dutiful wife and mother.’ I was even forced to buy the cheapest, off-brand feminine hygiene products. All because Barbara said we needed to save money for kids. Thankfully, Ryan had a low sperm count. Even though we never used protection these past three years, I hadn’t gotten pregnant. My eyes darkened at the thought. A year into our marriage, I still hadn’t conceived. Barbara constantly called me a barren hen, accusing me of being some cheap tramp who’d had too many abortions to get pregnant. But when I married Ryan, I was a naive girl who’d never even dated. On our wedding night, Barbara even burst into our room to place a white sheet on our bed, a blatant test of my virginity. Only after seeing a stain the next morning did she treat me with any decency. Later, she forced me to get checked at the hospital. The doctor said I was perfectly healthy and fertile, suggesting Ryan get tested. That’s how we discovered Ryan had a low sperm count.

Back home, the moment I stepped through the door, Barbara’s voice screeched. “Look what time it is! Where were you, on some man’s bed after buying groceries?” “Don’t just stand there, go cook! Are you trying to starve us all?” Barbara sat on the couch, glaring at me with disgust. “Mom, don’t get angry. She’s not worth your breath.” Ryan’s ‘sister’, Ashley, was nestled sweetly beside Barbara, playing the dutiful step-daughter. “Still standing there? Go cook, now! Are you waiting to die?” Seeing I hadn’t moved, Barbara made to strike me. I dropped the grocery bags, crossed my arms, and looked at the ‘loving’ mother and daughter with disdain. “Old hag, watch your mouth.” Barbara’s face turned scarlet. She lunged at me. I wasn’t backing down. I fought back, grabbing handfuls of hair, slapping them both with it. Ashley rushed to help, but I just yanked them both around, pulling Barbara’s hair down hard. They clearly hadn’t expected me to fight back. I tossed them both onto the floor like helpless little chicks. I dusted off my hands and walked away. Entering the room Ryan and I shared, I began searching for my ID, property deeds, marriage certificate – anything I might need later. I had to get my hands on them now, before they could use them against me. Thinking of Ryan, based on our three years together, the man was cold, selfish, insidious, and utterly disgusting.

When I came out, the old hag and Ashley were still wailing on the floor, waiting for their precious son to come home so they could tattle. I glanced at them with pure contempt. Disgusting. After leaving, I went to my small apartment. Thank god I’d somehow bought this place quietly before losing my memory and forgotten about it. It had saved me from using it to subsidize their household. Sitting on the floor of the apartment, I still couldn’t quite process the situation. I had been on the verge of a promotion, about to move abroad, finally escaping my toxic family. My bright future had been right there, in front of me. How had it all turned into this? I curled up, burying my face in my knees, and sobbed. My hands, once soft, were now calloused and rough from three years of endless chores. I’d been so stupid that I even scoured obscure websites for expired feminine hygiene products, just to save a few bucks. And I did everyone’s laundry every single day. Waking up at six AM to prepare breakfast and packed lunches for Ryan and Ashley, then mopping and cleaning, waiting until Barbara left the house before I even thought about myself. My phone rang, a grating sound. It was Ryan. I answered. “Where are you? I don’t care who you’re screwing around with, get back here right now, you hear me? *Now!*” Listening to his furious voice, all I felt was a bizarre sense of absurdity. This was my husband? I hung up. There was nothing to say to this stranger. I lay on the apartment couch all night, afraid to sleep. Afraid that I’d wake up the next day, forget everything again, and become their live-in maid once more.

I was going to get a divorce. But not before they paid for every ounce of pain I’d endured. I returned to the house. Ryan hadn’t gone to work; he was home, tending to Barbara and Ashley. The moment she saw me, Barbara started screaming again, telling me to drop dead. Ryan looked like he hadn’t slept all night, dark circles under his eyes. “Where were you yesterday?” he demanded. “None of your damn business.” I calmly sat on the couch, watching them all lose their minds. My gaze met Ryan’s. Looking at this man, whose eyes were as cold and predatory as a snake’s, I found it hard to believe I’d been so madly in love with him when I had lost my memory. Memories flooded my mind. I stood at the bedroom door, watching my new husband, Ryan, and Ashley cuddling intimately on our wedding bed. Ashley looked up at me. “Chloe, Ryan and I have always loved lying on the same bed since we were kids. You don’t mind, do you?” Ryan frowned, feigning calmness. “Ashley gets scared at night. I just let her come over to talk. Don’t be unreasonable.” At first, I actually believed their lies, and treated Ashley like my own sister. Whatever she wanted, whatever she wished to buy, I would fulfill it. “Chloe, book a restaurant for me. Tonight is Ryan and my 15th anniversary. We’re having a candlelight dinner.” “Chloe, write this proposal for me. It’s due tomorrow. If you don’t get it done, you’re dead.” “Chloe, you can’t even do laundry right. What *can* you do?” “Chloe, I’m sleeping with Ryan tonight. You can stay in the study.” … Later, they grew bolder, no longer bothering to hide their sordid affair. They even had sex right under my nose, then expected me to clean up their mess. “Chloe! Is this how you fulfill your duties as a wife? My mom just said one thing to you, and you have to hurt her like this?” Ryan pointed at Barbara, roaring. I looked at him calmly. “Ryan, let’s get a divorce.” Suddenly, the house fell silent. Barbara and Ashley stopped their dramatics. “What did you say?! I don’t agree! If you divorce, who’ll take care of my mom?” “And besides, we paid a bride price when we got married. Your family basically sold you to us!”

That day ended in a furious deadlock. Ryan’s family feared losing me, their ever-willing workhorse, and I never expected them to agree easily. I cleaned the apartment. Three years of neglect had left a thick layer of dust. I picked up an envelope addressed to ‘Chloe.’ I opened it. “Hello, I am Chloe.” “I am the Chloe who lost her memory. Strictly speaking, my codename is 036.” The first sentence left me stunned. A massive shock washed over me. “First, I want to apologize to you. I received a mission to enter this world, inhabiting your body. To complete my task, I did many incomprehensible things over the past three years.” “Ryan was my target. I had to be his doormat, selfless and utterly devoted, my persona only caring about his happiness.” “When I stumbled upon this small apartment, I hesitated, wondering if I should give it to Ryan as a gift to please him. But after I arrived, I saw your hopes, all the love you poured into this apartment, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it.” “By the time you read this letter, I will have left, but my mission is not yet complete.” “My original task was to complete the mission after four years of marriage, but I could only stay in this world for three years.” “So, I must ask you, can you endure this last year? In return, I’ve collected evidence of Ryan’s crimes.” “After one year, this evidence will automatically be submitted. By then, Ryan will face justice. And you will be free.” “At the very least, please, for the sake of me leaving you this apartment, don’t let my mission fail.” “Otherwise, my consciousness will be erased. Please.” Reading the letter carefully, a huge weight lifted from my heart. “So, I didn’t betray myself after all.” I squatted down, hugging my knees, and wept. Tears streamed down my face and into my mouth, but I didn’t notice. It was so long that the streetlights had already turned off. I lifted my head, fiercely wiping away the tears from my eyes. “One last year, huh? If I complete your mission, I can go back to a normal life.” It sounded like a kind offer.

“Failure to complete the mission means being erased?” I murmured, staring at the envelope. And she wants me to be grateful she left me *my own* apartment? “If you hadn’t suddenly taken over my body, how would I have ended up in this mess?!” This ‘strategist’ 036 only left me the apartment because she realized she still needed my help to complete the final step, a way to manipulate me. “Since you want to complete your mission so badly, why would I grant your wish?” Looking at the new scars on my body from these past few years, my hatred seethed. I would make Ryan’s family pay the price they deserved. And 036, your mission will never be completed. Ashley’s birthday was in two days. Every year, she threw a lavish party to show off how much she was ‘loved.’ I sneered. A story about being ‘loved’ by your brother, even in bed, would certainly grab attention. That day, Ryan called me. “I don’t care what you’re thinking right now, but it’s Ashley’s birthday, and you *must* be there.” His commanding voice came through the phone. Ryan was a highly sophisticated egoist. He wouldn’t tolerate any stains on his reputation. Highly educated, good-looking, polite and generous in public, doting on his wife, never adding female contacts on SnapChat. That was his public persona. “I’ll be there.” I’m going there to expose the true faces of you two despicable scumbags. When I arrived, the party had already started.

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The day my sight returned, I found a set of women’s lingerie in the bathroom that wasn’t mine. I kept it a secret, determined to figure out what was going on. In the middle of the day, Blake Caldwell came home again to cook for me. As usual, he played music while I ate. “Stella,” he said softly, “I know it hurts that you can’t see, and I hope the music brings you more joy.” But this time, through the deafening music, I saw a woman sitting on Blake Caldwell’s lap. His hands roughly tore at her strap, leaving angry red marks on her pale skin. His face, contorted with raw desire, was a horrifying mask – and it was pointed right at me. As I always did, I fumbled my way upstairs and dialed a number I hadn’t called in ages: “Julian Caldwell, I agree to be your white moonlight stand-in.” “But you owe me a favor.” On the other end of the line, the man’s deep voice answered without a hint of hesitation. “Alright.” I hung up and slowly made my way back downstairs. If I listened closely, I could make out the faint, frantic cries of a woman mingled with the chaotic music. Blake Caldwell had always told me it was just part of the music’s sound effects. So, when I reached the bottom of the stairs, I walked straight to the speaker and turned it off. Suddenly, the vast villa was filled only with the woman’s desperate pleas. I turned to face Blake Caldwell. My usually calm, expressionless eyes now reflected the panic blooming on his face. Blake Caldwell immediately clapped a hand over the woman’s mouth, shoved her aside, and then quietly got up, circling around behind me. He even stomped on the stairs a few times, pretending he had just come down. “Stella, are you full?” “Why did you turn off the music? Is it time for your nap?” His long arms wrapped around me from behind, his unbuttoned shirt exposing half of his chest, pressing tightly against my back. Warm and sickening.

I could even distinctly smell the scent of his arousal on him. “Yeah, I’m full. Feeling a little sleepy.” I lowered my gaze slightly, trying to keep my expression and voice natural. Because that woman was staring at me. Her eyes were filled with jealousy, and she rubbed her arm furiously where Blake Caldwell had pushed her. Among the scattered clothes on the floor, I noticed a doctor’s coat from St. Anne’s Hospital. A name tag was pinned to the collar, reading “Neurosurgeon Serena White.” I remembered that one of the doctors who examined my cranial hematoma back then had a surname similar to White. “Okay, then I’ll take my Stella to bed, alright?” Blake Caldwell gently wrapped an arm around my waist, guiding me slowly upstairs. As we ascended, he spoke softly, like he was coaxing a child: “Careful with the steps, one, two, three…” “Stella is so good. I’ll come home early tonight to make you something delicious as a reward.” I curved my lips into a silent, bitter smile. Three years ago, I’d taken a severe blow to the head from an assailant while saving Blake Caldwell. The cranial hematoma had pressed against my optic nerve, causing immediate blindness. During that time, Blake Caldwell, the CEO of a major corporation, had personally seen to my daily care. Three years had flown by, and he still maintained that habit. Gradually, everyone forgot I was Blake Caldwell’s savior. They only remembered how incredibly well he treated me. He was handsome, successful, and known as a devoted, loving, gentle man. Everyone envied me, and even I was deeply immersed in it, believing I was the happiest woman alive. If my sight hadn’t suddenly returned, I might still be lost in his sweet lies. He helped me to the bed, letting me recline against the headboard, while his other hand was busy texting on his phone. He didn’t know I could see again, so he didn’t bother hiding anything. I could clearly make out the conversation on the screen. The contact was saved with a pink heart emoji, and the profile picture was the face of the woman from downstairs.

【Blake, why aren’t you coming down yet?】 【I can’t take it anymore! If you don’t come down and help me out, I’m coming up to find you!】 Blake Caldwell’s fingers moved incredibly fast, his practiced motions showing no difficulty despite being semi-reclined on the bed with one hand pinned. 【Stella needs to sleep. You are not allowed to disturb her. Don’t test my limits. If you upset her, you’ll never step foot in this house again.】 The other side immediately fell silent, clearly understanding Blake Caldwell meant business. But Blake Caldwell, if you truly didn’t want her to disturb me, if I truly was your bottom line… Why did you bring her to our home? Why did you let her appear in our relationship? Which was real, which was fake? I couldn’t tell anymore. And I couldn’t trust anything either. Five minutes later, Blake Caldwell gently pinched my cheek. “Stella, it’s time for your nap. I’m going to the third-floor study to work.” I lowered my eyes and nodded. Pretending I hadn’t seen the latest message he’d sent Serena White on his phone. 【Go wait for me in the third-floor study. Be quiet.】 Blake Caldwell helped me lie down, placing his large hand over my head to prevent me from bumping the headboard. Before he left, he tucked me in and placed a light kiss on my forehead. “Good afternoon, Stella.” His movements were smooth and practiced, perfectly fitting his persona as a gentle, attentive boyfriend. I rolled over, turning my back to him. Once I heard the bedroom door click shut, tears finally streamed down my face, unstoppable. For the past three years, after helping me settle for my nap, he usually stayed in the third-floor study to work instead of going to the office. I once believed he did it to spend more time with me. But now, standing outside the third-floor study, all I heard were incredibly sultry gasps.

“Blake, can’t I carry our baby? Why does it have to be your and Stella’s fertilized embryo that goes into my womb?” His voice was laced with a ragged breath, yet his words cut through the air, chillingly firm. “My child can only be Stella’s. Don’t ask that question again.” “As long as you safely give birth to the baby, you’ll always be my woman. After all, I don’t want my child to be born by a blind woman.” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. I suddenly remembered that before I lost my sight, we’d decided to put off having kids for Blake’s career. I’d even gone to freeze my eggs. So now, the baby in Serena White’s belly was, in essence, my child from before I went blind. My gut immediately twisted into knots. I hadn’t eaten much earlier, and now, back in my room, I was hunched over the toilet, throwing up until I was dizzy. It felt as if only physical agony could ease the torment in my heart. Blake Caldwell, you’ve deceived me so cruelly. “Stella, Stella?” The bathroom door was kicked open. Standing outside was Blake Caldwell, who had come downstairs at some point. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” His voice was filled with frantic concern. But I suddenly remembered him calling another woman’s name in a hazy voice outside the study. Unable to stomach it, I threw up again, this time on Blake Caldwell, who had knelt down to pick me up. The foul, bitter liquid from my stomach splattered all over Blake Caldwell’s pristine white shirt. But he acted as if he didn’t see it, still holding me and rubbing my back. Yet, through the reflection in the glass, I saw his other hand pull out his phone and snap a photo – a messy me and a perfectly composed him. After a quick rinse, he carried me back to bed, then meticulously sat beside me, blowing on the medicine he had just prepared to cool it for me. “Stella, the medicine’s cooled. Drink some.” Blake Caldwell brought the small spoon to my lips. I didn’t open my mouth immediately. I stared blankly in his direction, then let out a sudden laugh. “Blake, what if I told you… I can see again? Would you be happy?”

The spoon trembled, spilling medicine onto the pink bedspread. Blake Caldwell’s face flickered with panic for a split second, but he quickly composed himself, feigning delight. “Really? Stella?” “Fake.” I dropped the single word, still staring at him, my eyes utterly vacant. Three years of blindness had taught me how to perfectly feign it. Blake Caldwell nervously scrutinized my eyes, as if trying to confirm something. After a long moment, he finally seemed to let out a sigh of relief, speaking softly: “Don’t worry, Stella. I’ll find the best doctors to cure you.” He was about to continue feeding me the medicine when his phone vibrated continuously with incoming messages. Blake Caldwell still didn’t try to hide it from me. One was from his assistant. 【Mr. Caldwell, your youngest uncle from the main Caldwell family suddenly announced his wedding tonight.】 The other few were from Serena White. 【Blake, you won’t take Stella to the wedding, will you? She’s blind, what if she embarrasses you at the Caldwell family event?】 【How about you take me? The baby and I promise not to embarrass you.】 Blake Caldwell’s hand hovered in the air for three seconds before he finally placed the cup on the bedside table. “Stella, something came up at the office. I might not be back tonight.” “When I return, I’ll bring you a gift. I’ll have Mrs. Davis come over to take care of you, don’t worry.” His phone was still vibrating, and Blake Caldwell’s movements quickened. He even forgot to wait for my response before leaving the room completely. As soon as he left, I pulled out the phone I’d hidden under the blanket. A new message had just popped up. 【The wedding is set for tonight. I’m coming to pick you up now.】 Julian Caldwell arrived quickly. So quickly, in fact, that as I sat in the passenger seat, we passed Blake Caldwell driving in the opposite direction. He had a smile on his face and wasn’t looking our way. In his passenger seat sat Serena White, holding a large bouquet of roses.

She was smiling brightly, radiant and sunny, just like I used to be. But now, my eyes were vacant, lifeless. A strong hand suddenly gently gripped my chin, forcing my gaze to turn in another direction. Julian Caldwell’s expression was grim, but his thin lips uttered something flippant: “Don’t look at him. Look at me.” I just glared at him, yanking my chin free. Silence returned to the car as it sped towards a private custom bridal shop. It wasn’t until I put on the wedding dress and appeared before Julian Caldwell that the man, usually so composed, felt his pupils tremble slightly, uncontrollably. He looked down at me, his eyes filled with an unreadable, tender emotion. “Beautiful. This is the one.” I nodded, acting like a mere prop, following the instructions. After all, in my eyes, this was just a transaction. I would be Julian Caldwell’s white moonlight stand-in. He would help me deal with Blake Caldwell. After all, I couldn’t pretend to be blind forever. Blake Caldwell would find out I’d recovered eventually. Even if he now had another woman by his side, he would never let me go easily. I was crucial to his image, just like he would ignore my vomit and post a heartfelt photo of us online, only to make himself look good. He reveled in everyone’s praise, but I refused to be his stepping stone any longer. Just before the wedding began, I looked down from the private transparent box on the second floor of the banquet hall. The main Caldwell family’s influence was immense. Even with short notice, many guests had rushed to attend. Even though Blake Caldwell carried the Caldwell name, he was merely a distant cousin, far removed from the main branch. His small business couldn’t compare to most of the people present, so he and Serena White sat at a table in the corner. He pulled out his phone and called me. “Stella, I’m in a big meeting with various investors. I’m secretly calling to check in.”

He deliberately held the phone up and turned it around, as if to let me hear the noisy background. “Listen, isn’t it crowded?” “Alright, I have to get back to work. Stella, take care of yourself.” Blake Caldwell was clever. He knew exactly what I wanted. He gave me tenderness, companionship, and a sense of security. But he forgot to give me sincerity. I opened my mouth to call his name, stopping him from hanging up immediately. I watched his side profile, which naturally curved into a smile as he spoke to me, and asked, as if possessed: “Blake Caldwell, are you truly in a meeting?” He blurted out “Yes,” then hesitantly asked: “What’s wrong, Stella?” I didn’t answer him, only said to myself: “Blake Caldwell, I’m getting married.” He didn’t seem to understand what I meant, only thinking I was pressuring him to propose. The day of the attack, we had been trying on wedding dresses, preparing for our engagement. Later, when I was hospitalized, he said we’d get engaged once I was discharged. When I was discharged, he said we’d get engaged once his company was more stable. Every time this topic came up, he always found a flawless excuse to put it off. It was the same now. “Blake Caldwell, let’s break up.” I hung up the phone directly and turned to walk towards Julian Caldwell, who had been waiting for me at the door. The lights in the entire hall suddenly dimmed, obscuring Blake Caldwell, who was momentarily stunned by my words. I linked my arm with Julian Caldwell’s and slowly descended the stairs. The host’s voice echoed through the banquet hall: “Welcome everyone to the wedding of Mr. Julian Caldwell and Ms. Stella Caldwell.” A spotlight abruptly fell, illuminating Julian Caldwell and me standing on the spiral staircase. My peripheral vision also caught Blake Caldwell’s shocked face in the corner. I looked at him, my eyes curving into a smile. He seemed flustered, rising to walk towards me. “Stella, you can see?” “How are you my uncle’s bride?” Julian Caldwell didn’t give Blake Caldwell a chance to approach me. A few men, dressed as waiters but exceptionally burly, appeared and firmly blocked Blake Caldwell from our path.

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Three years ago, as my boyfriend was about to be hit by a car, I instinctively pushed him out of the way. When I woke up, I was blind. He promised to take care of me for the rest of my life. Three years flew by, and then, a high fever unexpectedly brought my vision back. Excited, I rushed home. But through the crack in the door, I saw my boyfriend and another woman in the living room, engaged in a very private, very physical ‘workout’. In that moment, my world crumbled. The moment Brandon’s eyes met mine, he instantly panicked, shoving the woman off him, his face a mask of tension. “Ser… Serena, you’re back.” He seemed to suddenly remember I was blind, couldn’t possibly see. A soft sigh escaped him. “Just my own nerves playing tricks,” he murmured to himself. The woman sat up casually, her bare arms snaking around his naked chest once more, her voice a seductive whisper. “Brandon, let’s pick up where we left off.” Brandon, his arm already around her waist, leaned in and kissed her back. “Just a second.” I stood at the doorway, my nails digging deep into my palms, yet I felt no pain, only numbness. All I could think was, *Why? Why would he betray me?* Didn’t he promise to take care of me for the rest of my life? “Serena, weren’t you resting at the hospital? Why are you back so suddenly? And alone!” Brandon, his upper body covered in faint marks, wearing only tight boxers, walked over, his brows furrowed in concern. “You can’t see, and you’re just wandering around? What if something happened? What would I do?” His tone oozed worry. If I were still the blind girl from before, hearing those words of concern, I would have been overjoyed. But now, having seen him detach himself from another woman, repeating those same caring words he used to say to me, I felt a chilling shiver run down my spine. My face pale, I stared at this seemingly concerned Brandon, a torrent of questions bubbling inside me, but the words wouldn’t come out. Brandon reached out to steady me, guiding me further into the house. “Bran…” The woman tried to speak boldly, but one look from Brandon immediately silenced her. I noticed her eyes, when she looked at me, filled with a deep, bottomless blend of mockery, provocation, and contempt. I stood frozen, staring at the scene, utterly lost for a moment. Brandon’s movements were swift and practiced. He led me straight to the bedroom and onto the bed. “Serena, I have some things to handle. You rest in here for now. I’ll come back to you once I’m done.” No sooner had he finished speaking than he pressed a light kiss to my forehead and hurried out. After Brandon left, lying on the bed, my nose stung. My eyes instantly welled up, and tears silently, involuntarily streamed down my face. Like a glutton for punishment, I crept out, needing to confirm if Brandon really was going back to his illicit ‘session’ with that woman after rushing me back to the room. As I reached the stairwell, I heard the sounds of heavy breathing and conversations too explicit to repeat. “Brandon~~” “Veronica, you’re driving me absolutely wild~” “Who feels better? Her or me?” I gritted my teeth, a sharp pang of pain echoing in my chest. Brandon breathed heavily. “That’s obvious, isn’t it? You, of course! Why else would I be with you?” “Serena? She’s the type you marry for a quiet home life, a devoted wife and mother. But honestly, with her eyes… she’s not even fit for *that* anymore.” No wonder his parents had pushed for our marriage countless times, but he’d always remained completely indifferent. He despised me for being blind. My heart withered and died on the spot, accompanied by Veronica’s mocking laughter. Collapsing, I clapped my hands over my ears and fled the scene.

Just days ago, we were the couple everyone envied. That day, I’d stayed out a bit too long playing in the snow and came down with a high fever that night. Brandon rushed me to the hospital. Seeing my fever wouldn’t break, he dragged every doctor in the hospital to examine me. To ensure I could rest peacefully, he even booked an entire floor, guaranteeing a quiet environment. The female doctors and nurses in the hospital all envied me for having such a thoughtful boyfriend. But today, having witnessed him in bed with another woman, I felt like a fool, my love a cruel joke. The most painful part was that he had always despised me for being blind. But had he forgotten? I became blind because I saved him. I cried until my eyes were swollen, eventually losing consciousness in my tears. When I woke again, I felt someone holding me tightly. Brandon, mistaking my distress for a nightmare, gently patted my back, soothing me softly, “Don’t be scared, Serena, I’m here.” I couldn’t help but ask him, my voice thick with tears, “Brandon, will you ever betray me?” Brandon stroked my cheek, his eyes resolute as he promised: “Serena, anyone else might betray you in this life, but I never will.” “Have you forgotten? You saved my life.” Hearing this, tears welled up in my eyes again, spilling down my face. *Brandon, if that’s true, then why did you betray me…?* He watched my tear-streaked face and ragged breathing, a flicker of impatience crossing his features. “Serena, what’s wrong with you?” My tears blurred his face, but I still clutched his shirt collar, managing to choke out a few words: “Why… why…” Brandon looked confused, letting out a deep sigh. Suddenly, he pressed his forehead against mine. “Serena, I swear to you, if I ever betray you, may I be struck down by lightning and die a horrible death.” I lifted my tear-filled eyes, looking directly into his. “I… I don’t want that.” Brandon frowned. “Then what do you want me to do?” “I don’t want anything. If that day truly comes, I’ll choose to leave you forever.” Brandon paused, then laughed. “You’d leave me? Are you sure you could?” “Don’t forget, you can’t see. How will you live on your own without me?” I clenched my hands. “Brandon, I’m serious.” Brandon seemed to find it incredibly amusing, laughing uncontrollably. “Alright, alright, whatever you say.” Suddenly, he stopped laughing, reaching out to wave a hand in front of my eyes. Seeing no reaction from me, he subtly let out a sigh of relief. “Alright, it’s getting late. Can you go to sleep now, like a good girl?” I nodded, slowly closing my eyes. About fifteen minutes later, there was a soft knock on the bedroom door. I felt a gaze on me. Brandon, thinking I was asleep, cautiously opened the door, keeping his voice low. “Veronica, what are you doing here?” Veronica’s voice held a whining, seductive tone. “Brandon, I want you to stay with me tonight~” I slightly opened my eyes, peering through the gap to see Veronica in a sheer nightdress, her arm linked with Brandon’s, her body almost pressed against his. She said in a tempting voice, “Come on~~ Don’t you like this? Don’t you want me?” Brandon’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. “You really are a tormenting little devil. I just finished with you this evening, and you’re already craving more!” Veronica feigned resistance but then actively enticed him, taking a few steps away before throwing him a provocative glance. “Are you coming or not~?” Brandon was instantly drawn in, following her. He even forgot to close the bedroom door.

Five minutes later, I quietly slipped out and took photos and videos of Brandon’s infidelity. Just as I was about to leave, I noticed Veronica’s gaze suddenly land on me. First, a flicker of surprise, then her eyes quickly filled with defiance and smug satisfaction. I intended to turn and walk away immediately, but then I heard her say, “Brandon, my birthday is the day after tomorrow. Could you give me a wedding?” Brandon, though still busy with her, seemed to maintain a certain degree of self-control. “No.” Veronica tightly wrapped her arms around his neck, pleading, “Even if it’s just a nominal wedding, we don’t need to get a marriage license…” Brandon refused without hesitation. Veronica seemed very displeased. She violently pushed him away from her, refusing his closeness. Seeing Brandon, still consumed by desire, he immediately softened and began to coax Veronica. I turned and left, no longer needing to hear more. I woke up early the next morning to see Brandon dressed in a crisp suit, adjusting himself in front of the mirror. He noticed I was awake, walked over to me with his tie, and held it out. “Serena, can you tie my tie?” I froze. Before I could react, he mumbled to himself, “Oh, how foolish of me. I forgot you can’t see.” He stood before me, tied his tie in a flash, then ruffled my hair. “Serena, I have to work overtime at the company later, so I won’t be able to stay with you today.” With that, he leaned down, intending to kiss my lips. But the images of him and Veronica flashed in my mind, and I involuntarily turned my head away. Brandon frowned slightly, calling my name with a hint of suspicion. “Serena?” I calmly responded, “Hmm? What is it?” Brandon gave me a questioning look, then glanced down at his watch. “Nothing, I’m off.” I replied blandly, “Okay.” After he left, I washed up and went downstairs, only to find Veronica still there. She walked straight towards me, waving her hand in front of my face. I maintained my act of blindness, my gaze vacant. Veronica chuckled softly: “Serena, Brandon’s not here, so why are you still pretending?” “I saw you peeking at our door last night.” “Since you already know about Brandon and me, you should leave him sooner rather than later.” “You don’t know yet, do you? I’m already pregnant with his child.” “You heard it last night. He’s going to give me a wedding. He’s going to marry me.” I had intended to continue my act of blindness, to see what Brandon would do when he thought I couldn’t see. But now, being provoked by Brandon’s mistress like this, I had no patience left to keep up the charade. I was about to retort when I heard Brandon’s voice from the entryway. “Serena, did you fall coming downstairs?” I slowly turned around and gently shook my head. “No, thankfully Ms. Veronica helped me down.” “But, when did Ms. Veronica arrive at our house?” Brandon glared at Veronica, then quickly walked over to help me, explaining, “She… she’s the nanny I hired to look after you.” I put on a facade of realization. “Oh, so she’s the nanny.” Veronica immediately bristled, about to retort, “Who’s the…” Brandon swiftly let go of me, clapped a hand over her mouth, and whispered close to her ear, “Shut up.” I tilted my head, feigning confusion. “Brandon, is something wrong?” Brandon mumbled vaguely, “Nothing…” I raised my hands, preparing to take a few steps forward. Brandon hastily pushed Veronica away, anxiously gripping my hand. “Serena, be careful.” I smiled. “Brandon, didn’t you say you were going to the company to work overtime? Why are you back?” Brandon casually lied, “I just came back to grab a few things.” But I noticed him subtly signal Veronica to leave first. He then helped me to the sofa. “You sit for a bit. I’ll be right back.” Next, he pulled Veronica aside and quietly told her, “You leave first.” Veronica shot me a contemptuous glance, then stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around Brandon’s neck, and fiercely kissed his lips. After a steamy ten seconds, the two slowly separated. Veronica gave me a cunning smile, then turned to leave. As she walked out, I heard her tell Brandon, “I’ll wait for you outside.” My tightly clenched hand relaxed, and I slowly stood up, my gaze falling on Brandon. I called him softly, “Brandon.” Brandon was clearly startled, his brow furrowing slightly. “What is it?” “Nothing, just wanted to know if you were still here.” Brandon walked over to me and gently ruffled my hair. “Of course I’m here. I’ve already got my things. You be careful by yourself at home.” I feigned a hint of confusion in my voice. “Hmm? By myself? Didn’t you hire a nanny to look after me?” I deliberately raised my voice. “Ms. Veronica? Ms. Veronica?” Brandon froze, a flicker of exasperation crossing his face. “Oh, Ms. Veronica just told me she had something to do and took the day off.” Such a flimsy excuse. Did he really think I couldn’t tell? However, I had no intention of exposing him. I feigned ignorance, saying with a hint of regret, “Well, that’s truly a shame.”

After he left, I booked a flight abroad for myself. It was set for tomorrow. Next, I called a home cleaning service to thoroughly clean the entire house. Meanwhile, I began to sort through all my belongings in this house, each item holding a memory. Suppressing the pain in my heart, I discarded what needed to be discarded and donated what could be donated, as if severing ties with pieces of my past self. Finally, my gaze slowly fell on the ring on my middle finger—our old promise, now a cruel mockery. Three years ago, I woke up after the car accident to find myself blind. In that moment, my world crumbled. The fear and despair washed over me like a tide, making it almost impossible to breathe. At that time, I was heartbroken and didn’t want to see anyone. But Brandon, despite everything, came to the hospital day after day, waiting for me. His worry and care were like a ray of winter sunshine, warming my frozen heart again. However, because of my blindness, I felt I no longer deserved him and consistently refused to see him. Until Brandon, holding a ring, knelt before my wheelchair, his voice choked with emotion, saying: “Serena, I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault you became like this. From now on, let me protect you, be your eyes, okay?” They say a man’s tears are a rare sight. That day, his tears fell for me. Brandon truly used to be good. When someone mocked me for being blind, he always stepped forward without hesitation to protect me. When someone called me a burden, he would tightly hold my hand and firmly tell those people that I was his lucky star, and without me, he wouldn’t be where he was today. He didn’t care about the gossip, always holding my hand and promising to take care of me for the rest of his life. Yet now, he seemed to have forgotten those initial vows. My nose still stung a little, but I told myself, *It’s over.* I lost my sight for three years saving him. And he, too, took diligent care of me for three years. Now that my eyes were healed, we were even. The next day. Brandon hadn’t returned home all night. I learned from a message Veronica sent me that they were celebrating their impending child. It turned out Brandon wasn’t working overtime at the company yesterday. He was accompanying Veronica for a hospital check-up. Veronica’s ultrasound photos, clearly saved in my phone’s gallery, served as a stark reminder of the truth. Just as I was picking up my luggage, preparing to leave, Brandon’s call came in. “Serena, I’ve sent someone to pick you up. Can you come to a certain place?” Veronica’s message from last night immediately flashed in my mind: [Serena, Brandon and I are getting married tomorrow. After tomorrow, Brandon will completely abandon you.] I looked back at the place I had lived for three years. It was time to say a proper goodbye to Brandon. “Okay, send the address.” For some reason, Brandon felt a strange unease. But Veronica was urging him, so he suppressed the odd feeling welling up in his chest. “I’ve already sent someone to pick you up. They should be arriving soon.” I couldn’t help but sneer. *He’s already sent someone, and he’s still asking for my opinion.* “Fine.” Upon arriving at the hotel, Brandon, dressed in a sharp groom’s suit, was waiting at the entrance for me. As soon as he saw me, he anxiously said, “Serena, this is a friend’s wedding. Just sit quietly for a bit, and I’ll come find you.” I continued to feign blindness, nodding and letting him lead me into what I knew was his and Veronica’s wedding venue. The red carpet was covered in rose petals, and both sides were adorned with photos of their ‘loving’ moments. Many people who knew me were there, and they all cast sympathetic glances my way. The wedding proceeded smoothly. Brandon on the stage kept sneaking glances my way, while Veronica occasionally shot me triumphant yet jealous looks. I calmly ate the delicious food at the wedding banquet. Honestly, even if there were only a few tables, the food was excellent. Suddenly, Veronica, perhaps unable to bear my calm demeanor any longer, grabbed the microphone and announced loudly: “Serena, why are you still pretending to be blind?! You can clearly see! Aren’t you furious to see Brandon marrying me?!” Brandon’s heart lurched. He stared at Veronica in disbelief. “What did you say? Serena can see?” Brandon nervously grabbed Veronica’s shoulders, demanding an answer. Veronica flashed a seductive smile:

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I’d loved Victoria Hayes for five years, and she became my fiancée. But when my Grandpa was on his deathbed, Victoria didn’t lift a finger to help. All because Julian Sterling, the adopted son of the Sterling family, suggested to her that this was an opportunity to break me down, hoping it would make me stronger. Grandpa died helpless. And just as she wanted, I lost my rough edges, became tougher, and stopped clinging to her. Of course, I stopped loving her too. When I limped back into the city, I was the laughingstock of the elite circles. They all said the Sterling family’s long-lost heir, who’d been living away from the family since he was a kid, wasn’t capable but had a massive temper. He dared to openly argue with Julian, who was already working at the company, even threatened his parents, and ended up running away from home completely broke, needing to borrow even a few thousand dollars. Those entitled jerks who’d humiliated me before somehow got wind of my location. They swaggered into the city with a whole posse, openly pulling out their phones to snap pictures of me. I didn’t even bother raising my hand to shield my face or protect my dignity. After all, every last shred of my dignity had been chipped away by those loan sharks, little by little. Ever since they forced me to my knees and made me slap myself, my heart no longer stirred for such a thing as “face.” The old Leo Sterling, prickly and quick to anger, who used his sharp edges to hide his deep insecurity, was gone. The Sterling family and Victoria Hayes, they had suffocated him with their own hands. Suddenly, a few black luxury SUVs drove up, completely ignoring everyone else. When the spoiled rich kids saw the license plates, they immediately scattered. The lead car was understated and sleek, but I knew exactly who was inside. Victoria Hayes, the head of the Hayes family, and my fiancée. I watched the car, instinctively stopping. I was about to turn and find another route. The car door opened, and a woman in a suit stepped out. She walked up to me, and when she saw my face and my pitiful state, a flicker of surprise crossed her features. I knew I looked a mess. I was still wearing the crumpled white shirt from Grandpa’s funeral, with several distinct shoe prints on it. My face was swollen and red from being slapped the day before, my fingernails were packed with black dirt, and my fingers still trembled slightly. One foot wore a shoe I’d found in a trash can; the other was bare, frozen a raw red. Victoria’s secretary lowered her gaze, hiding the astonishment in her eyes. She made a polite gesture. “Mr. Sterling, Ms. Hayes would like to see you.” I lowered my head and stepped back, my voice hoarse and raw. Every word made my throat ache. “No, thanks. I need to get back to the Sterling residence.” With that, I tried to walk around her and leave. The secretary looked stunned. Victoria had been my salvation, my reason for everything. I’d followed her around for five years, and even when she always gave me the cold shoulder, I’d rack my brain for excuses to get closer to her. But now, I saw her as something terrifying, like a monster. My sudden avoidance clearly surprised the secretary, who was used to my relentless pursuit. “Leo Sterling!” Her cool, clear voice made me instinctively stop. The secretary saw my tightly pressed lips, hesitated for a moment, then repeated her inviting gesture. I tried to straighten my back, ignoring the discomfort in my left leg and the secretary’s hesitant glance, and slowly got into the car. Victoria was sitting inside. She looked up from her documents, saw my disheveled state, and instead of showing any concern, her brows furrowed tightly. Her tone was deeply displeased. “Are you cosplaying a beggar? You’re a mess. Aren’t you embarrassed?” My heart didn’t sting at her harsh words, not like it used to. Nor did I feel disappointed that she didn’t notice my injuries. I just lowered my head and mumbled a reply. “My apologies.” But I didn’t want any of this. I didn’t want to be tricked into taking out high-interest loans because I couldn’t afford a funeral. I didn’t want to be thrown to the ground and beaten by those loan sharks. I didn’t want to be forced to slap myself. I didn’t want to be chained to a wall like a dog, or forced to lick food off the floor. But most of all, I didn’t want Grandpa’s coffin to be dug up from his grave, robbing him of peace even in death. Her hand paused mid-action. She glanced at me, and her voice actually held a hint of approval. “Julian was right. A bit of hardship, a little suffering, and you’ve finally changed your ways. You’ve learned to be strong.” Before I was brought back to the Sterling family, Julian had been living there in my place. And I, the Sterling family’s true son, had been living with Julian’s biological grandfather. My mind was sluggish; I didn’t think about why Victoria mentioned Julian. Perhaps Victoria thought I had met her expectations. As a reward, she condescendingly waved me closer. “Sit closer.” I was sitting in the farthest seat from Victoria, staring at the floor mat ever since I got in. I hadn’t looked at her once. Hearing that contemptuous tone, like she was barking orders at a pet, my eyes were filled with resistance. I didn’t move.

Victoria saw my hesitation and raised her voice. “I told you to come over here.” I didn’t respond, my spine stiff and straight, as if trying to salvage what little fragile dignity I had left. Even though my dignity had vanished the moment I was beaten by the loan sharks until I begged for mercy. Without my reply, the car fell silent. Perhaps Victoria wasn’t used to this atmosphere, or maybe she was just impatient. She reached out toward me. As her hand neared my arm, my back tensed. But I was pressed against the car window, nowhere to escape. The moment she touched me, I caught a faint scent of perfume. It was her usual perfume, the one Julian had given her. It was that very bottle of perfume that had triggered a conflict between me and Julian, making me feel provoked. After my parents cut off my bank cards, I took the little cash I had and went back to my old home. Grandpa’s kidneys had already failed then. We couldn’t afford a hospital, so he hadn’t gone. I took Grandpa to the hospital, but I didn’t have money for the surgery. I tried calling my parents, but no one answered. Later, those spoiled rich kids I always clashed with showed up in T City, grinning at me. “Heard Mr. Sterling is really short on cash, huh?” “How about this, bro? We’re not unreasonable. Just crawl under our legs, and we’ll give you the money. What do you say?” Without hesitation, I knelt down, bowed my back, and on my knees, step by step, I crawled under each of them. Grandpa had raised me since childhood. If there was even the slightest chance to save him, I wouldn’t miss it. The private room was silent, so quiet I could hear my clothes rubbing against the floor. They held up their phones, filming my humiliation, then threw three red bills on the ground with a laugh and walked out, arms slung over each other’s shoulders. “Leo Sterling, look at yourself, you pathetic dog. You think you’re good enough for Ms. Hayes?” “Your true feelings for Victoria were only worth this much.” That’s why, desperate and cornered, I was tricked by those people into taking out high-interest loans. But Grandpa died because his treatment was delayed. After I finished Grandpa’s funeral and it was time to repay the debt, I called Victoria to borrow money. She impatiently told me to go back and apologize, then hung up. These memories made my breath catch. The arm Victoria touched broke out in goosebumps, thick and numerous, as if a snake was coiling around it. A wave of coldness washed over me. My head swam. Nausea swelled, and I felt like throwing up. I yanked Victoria’s hand away, hunched over, grabbing the front seat with one hand and covering my mouth with the other, dry-heaving violently in the car. I hadn’t eaten much these past few days, so nothing came up. A faint sour smell filled the car. Victoria covered her nose with a tissue and called my name, her voice full of disgust. “Leo Sterling!” I couldn’t hear anything in my ears, just kept dry-heaving until the urge to vomit passed. Victoria didn’t speak, just stared at me coldly. I knew her well; she was on the verge of exploding. I didn’t play dumb or try to brush it off like I used to. Because I knew I had no leverage to cause a scene. My body was shaky from weakness. My head hung low, and the hand gripping the front seat’s backrest tightened. “My apologies… I’ll help you wash the car when we get to the Sterling residence.” “I can get out and walk. I’m really sorry for messing up your car seats.” Victoria paused, giving me a suspicious look. After a moment of stalemate, she suddenly reached out, intending to feel my forehead. Watching her hand get closer, my entire body tensed. I knew I shouldn’t flinch. After all, what I used to crave most was Victoria reciprocating my love. But she was always so dominant and looked down on me. If I ever made her uncomfortable, she’d tear me down completely, leaving me humiliated and heartbroken. I remained stiff in my seat, constantly telling myself not to dodge, not to anger her. But the moment her cool fingers brushed my skin, that sickening feeling of being coiled by a snake returned. I couldn’t help but turn my head, avoiding her touch. Victoria’s hand hung in mid-air, unmoving. When her eyes met mine, I felt her anger and impatience. The dizzy spell returned to my head. I shook my head, and Victoria’s face vanished from my sight, replaced by Grandpa lying in his hospital bed. Because of them, I’d lost the only person who was ever truly good to me. I blinked, and a single tear rolled down my cheek.

Victoria’s words, poised to scold me, suddenly caught in her throat. She looked at my tear-streaked face and, in the end, said nothing. She just coldly urged the driver to speed up. I roughly wiped my tears with my sleeve, shrinking quietly into my corner, trying to make myself invisible. The scenery outside was a blur. I stared blankly at the changing landscape, suddenly wondering. If Victoria had extended a helping hand back then, would Grandpa have been saved? And I wouldn’t have borrowed from loan sharks, nor would any of this have happened. But in life, there are no ‘ifs.’ When the car stopped, due to inertia, my forehead bumped against the seatback. Victoria, surprisingly, asked me a question. “Are you okay?” I covered my forehead, shook my head, and didn’t speak. She didn’t press, got straight out of the car, ignored me, and walked into the Sterling residence. Once upstairs, I quickly took a shower. I pulled off my dirty suit pants, revealing my injured left leg. There were several gaping wounds on my left knee, the blood coagulated and black, looking horrifying. They had done this. They ignored my pain, driving nails into my knee. As they watched me writhe on the ground in agony, they laughed hysterically. Then, they demanded I pull out those nails myself before they’d give me a few scraps of food. It was a nightmare! After changing into clean clothes and cleaning my wounds, I finally went downstairs. It was dinnertime. Mom spotted me right away. She seemed a little disbelieving, waved me over, and her voice held a hint of complaint. “You finally decided to come back, huh? You’ve been gone so long, couldn’t even make a phone call.” Suddenly, I felt a surge of injustice, wanting to vent. But just as I opened my mouth to utter a sound, I was interrupted. “Mom, Mrs. Chen from the Chen family made a tea reservation with you this afternoon. Don’t be late again.” Julian Sterling, dressed in a crisp suit, walked in from the entrance, his tone casual. Mom’s attention was drawn to him, and her gaze shifted away from me. “Oh, right, I almost forgot. Good thing Julian reminded me.” Julian sat on the sofa and smirked at me. “Leo, what made you finally decide to come back? Stop being mad at Mom and Dad. You should learn to be mature and independent.” Everyone’s attention followed his words and landed on me. My heart pounded fiercely as I met Julian’s mocking eyes, but I didn’t lose my temper like I used to. Mom didn’t refute Julian. She just gave him a quick glance, then immediately said with concern. “Julian, have you not been eating well these past few days? Look at you, you’ve lost so much weight.” “No matter what, your health is more important than work. Besides, your Dad is still at the company.” Hearing her words, I quietly put my exposed hands behind my back. I was so close to Mom, yet she didn’t notice my bruised hands or my awkward limp. But when it came to Julian, she meticulously noticed whether he’d eaten well. Julian smiled. “Leo already gives Mom and Dad enough to worry about. I need to be more sensible.” Mom looked at me, caught between words, and sighed. At the dinner table, Mom kept actively putting food on my plate. I changed my previous behavior, politely lowering my gaze and thanking her. Instead of being relieved, she sighed worriedly. She didn’t lecture me again, but instead placed the bank card she had taken from me into my hand. “Leo, you running away really worried Mom and Dad.” “From now on, we won’t restrict you. This card is yours again, and your dad put some more money in it.” I tightened my grip on the card, then loosened it. Too late. This card came too late. Julian’s knuckles, holding his forks, turned white. He kept watching me until I met his gaze. Only then did he put his smile back on and say to Victoria, who was sitting beside him. “Victoria, you’re getting more amazing every day. I couldn’t even compete with you at the auction.” Victoria took out a gift box, her tone softening. “This is for your birthday. I was at a conference abroad a few days ago and didn’t have time.” Julian teased her. “I thought you, the busy Ms. Hayes, had forgotten about me.” He opened the gift box. Inside, a dark green watch lay quietly. My hand, holding my fork, paused. I had seen that watch in the auction catalog. I’d fallen for it at first sight, but I didn’t have an invitation to the auction. Victoria had noticed my gaze lingering on it and had coolly said that as long as I didn’t cause trouble, she’d buy it for my birthday. But now, she was giving it to Julian. Victoria didn’t offer any explanation, but I knew it was meant as punishment for me. After I finished eating, I excused myself and left. On the second-floor landing, I ran into Victoria. She stood there in high heels, looking dominant yet alluring. If it were the old me, I would have rushed over immediately. But now, I no longer felt that familiar flutter in my heart. She didn’t notice my change. “Leo, you’ve changed.” Victoria took a step forward, her high heels clicking loudly. I lowered my gaze, not looking at her. I only heard her speak, her tone almost like a condescending offering. “I know you really liked that watch, but you caused too much trouble these past two weeks.” “So, as punishment, you won’t get a birthday gift.” “However, you were very well-behaved today, and I’m pleased. I can grant you one wish, as long as it’s not too much.”

I looked up at her face, trying to find a trace of the memories I held of her. The first time I met Victoria was at a banquet. The spoiled rich kids there had been lectured by their families to be nice to me, the awkward, unpolished me. Because of my clothes, they ridiculed me at the banquet. Back then, I was incredibly insecure and didn’t know how to argue back. I couldn’t even speak loudly. It was Victoria who came to my rescue. She slapped one of them across the face and, looking down at them imperiously, cursed them for being useless. Those kids slunk away. She had frowned at me then and said, “You’re the Sterling family’s heir. You don’t need to be timid. They’re the ones who should be trying to please you. Show some backbone.” “I… I’m afraid they’ll dislike me.” “Dislike? Remember this: As long as your last name is Sterling, even if you slap them across the face, they can only praise you for doing it well. Understand?” I remembered that advice for over five years. But later, it was Victoria who publicly scolded me, calling me crazy, saying I’d explode at the slightest provocation. But they were the ones who provoked me first. Victoria’s face no longer held the protectiveness she once showed me. She urged me impatiently. “Have you thought about it? Don’t be greedy.” “I’m in a hurry.” I leaned against the wall, a dull ache in my left leg keeping my mind sharp. Because of her, I endured such abuse. When I begged for mercy, I had given my name and Victoria’s phone number, a string of digits I knew by heart. What a blow that was to me. She grew increasingly impatient. “What kind of trick are you pulling now?” “You spend all your time with those trust-fund brats. I don’t see any ambition in you.” “The Sterling family doesn’t need a good-for-nothing like you.” Her scolding brought back memories. Before, she had scolded those loan sharks too, enraging them. They took out their anger on me, forcing me to slap myself until my cheeks were so swollen my gums ached. Only then did they stop. Because my face was swollen, eating was difficult. The steamed buns were too hard for me to chew, so they’d use their feet to stomp them into a dirty, black pulp and shove them into my mouth. Thinking of this, my stomach began to churn with nausea again. I fought back the urge to vomit. “Sorry, I don’t want anything.” Victoria frowned, eyeing me suspiciously, her face full of warning. “I gave you a chance. You didn’t take it. Don’t come crying to me later.” “I don’t have that kind of patience.” I softly “hmm-ed,” just wanting her to leave quickly. “I won’t.” Victoria didn’t force me to ask for anything. Perhaps she never really wanted to give me a gift anyway. “That’s good to hear.” After a few steps, she stopped, her back to me. “Don’t bother Julian anymore. There’s nothing going on between him and me.” Before I could reply, she left.

I waited until midnight for Dad to finally come home from the office. I dragged my suitcase to find him. The suitcase held only a few rough, outdated clothes—the ones Grandpa had packed for me the day before the Sterling family found me. I wiped my tears, zipped it up, and left the suitcase by the door before going to Dad’s study. After getting Dad’s permission, I twisted the doorknob and entered. “Dad.” I stood meekly to the side. Dad looked me up and down for a moment. Seeing the scars covering my exposed skin, his lips trembled. “Leo, Dad knows everything.” “It’s Mom and Dad’s fault. If only we hadn’t taken your card back then, you wouldn’t have…” I didn’t want to hear about those nightmarish experiences again. For the first time, I interrupted Dad, losing my composure. “Dad, I want to move out.” Dad slumped back in his chair, defeated. “Leo, you’re still mad at us.” “But you have every right to be. It’s all our fault for not protecting you.” “It’s just that your Mom will miss you terribly.” I lowered my eyes, my voice filled with self-mockery. “Julian’s still here at home.” “What about Victoria, then? Don’t you like her the most? Can you really bear to leave her?” I fell silent for a moment. It was true, everyone knew about my feelings for Victoria. After she rescued me that one time, I couldn’t help but follow in her footsteps. Everyone in our circles joked that I was Victoria’s devoted simp, her loyal follower. But they wouldn’t know that when I stubbornly tried to emulate Julian, only to accidentally lose the company tens of millions, Victoria was the only one who stood firmly and gently by my side, telling me that in business, you win some and lose some. When someone mocked me, and I lashed out, Victoria was the only one by my side, contentedly saying I did well. We would go out to eat together. She would accept the flowers I gave her. She would remember my birthday. But ever since Julian came back from abroad, she changed. It was she who told me that a rose’s thorns were for self-protection. She said that people needed to be sharp to avoid being bullied, and as the Sterling family’s heir, I had the right to be sharp. Later, however, she was also the one who found my thorns too sharp and wanted to pluck them all out, to tame me. “My engagement to Victoria Hayes ends here.” I looked up at Dad, telling him, and telling myself. “I won’t bother Ms. Hayes anymore.” Dad sighed deeply, understanding my meaning. He slipped a bank card into my hand. “Come back and see us often.” I unconsciously gripped the card, bowing to him. “Thank you.” “Dad will transfer money to you regularly from now on. If you don’t want to live at home, then so be it.” “You’ll always be Mom and Dad’s child. Come back whenever you want.” I didn’t respond to his belated concern, turning resolutely. “Want me to drive you?” I shook my head. I knew clearly that as long as I stayed in the Sterling household, as long as I was near Victoria, my psychological wounds would never heal. I needed to forget the past to start anew. And Dad knew that after this incident, a rift had formed between me and them. To prevent me from hating them, he could only let me go. As for Victoria’s reaction, that was no longer something I cared about. I rented a house in the suburbs, far from the city’s hustle and bustle, allowing me to find peace and clear my head. I ordered takeout and asked the delivery person to leave it at the door. Listening to their footsteps fade away, I let out a long breath and stepped out to retrieve my food.

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The night Chloe didn’t come home, I vanished. She went to see Aiden, her first love, the one who got away, and she ignored all my calls. I desperately texted her: **”Don’t do anything reckless, or I swear I’ll die!”** She just logged into all my gaming accounts and deleted them, then threatened me: **”Still sulking? If you don’t come back now, I’m throwing out your precious husky too.”** I was frantic, but utterly helpless. Because the Soulmate Quest failed, the System had already wiped me out completely, leaving absolutely nothing behind. 0 My wife’s first love had returned to the country, and I tried my best to keep her from seeing the news. But she still found out and went to see him behind my back, leaving me a message to reassure me: **”He and I are just friends now, don’t get the wrong idea.”** I paced back and forth in the living room, a knot of anxiety twisting in my gut. A dull ache settled in my chest, heavy and suffocating. “One life, one love, one fated pair”—that was the mission the System had given me. If Chloe betrayed our marriage, I would be completely erased. For now, I chose to trust her… After all, I had so much faith in our relationship. Midway, I couldn’t resist calling her. She sounded soft and sweet, even a little bit flirty with the alcohol: “Honey…” “No need to pick me up, I know my way home. Don’t worry, I’ll be good. See you in a bit.” I didn’t know where they were having dinner, so I got in my car and started driving around, searching for her. I called countless times, but she kept rejecting them, until eventually, her phone went straight to voicemail. At that moment, my mind was a chaotic mess. Okay, I was panicking. I kept sending her desperate texts: **”If you truly can’t let him go, we can get a divorce.”** **”Please, don’t do anything that would betray me. I’ll die, I really will die!”** … The city lights blazed bright, a kaleidoscope of colors. My car pulled into a deserted alley. That’s when the System’s cold, robotic voice echoed in my head: **[Host, it is with regret that we inform you, your Soulmate Quest in this world has failed.]** My mind went blank. I clenched my fists, slamming them against the steering wheel again and again. The last thread of hope in my chest snapped. But I was so incredibly unwilling. The System’s voice remained mechanical, but this time, it seemed to stutter: **[Your wife has already… with him…** **[Based on the penalty mechanism, you will be annihilated before dawn.]** ### Cut-off point But I never expected her to return in the dead of night. What truly shocked me was that her first love had brought her back. 0

The door creaked open. Aiden King had his arm wrapped around Chloe Bennett’s waist, his voice dripping with intimacy: “You must be tired, Chloe. Get inside and get some sleep.” My heart violently twisted, rage threatening to consume me. I shot up from the sofa, flicked on the living room lights, and cut straight to the chase: “Chloe Bennett. “Haven’t you had enough sleep already? What more sleep do you need?” She froze, straightened up, her face chilling: “Liam Harris, what are you yelling about? I drank too much tonight, that’s why I asked Aiden to bring me home.” He drove you? Even if he drove around the entire city, it wouldn’t take three hours. Besides, arguing with her was pointless now. She noticed the strange look on my face and, instead, got angry, demanding: “When did you become so possessive, to even suspect your own wife?” Aiden leaned lazily against the doorframe, his eyes narrowed, enjoying our argument. I grabbed the vase from the table and hurled it towards her: “He abandoned you first and went abroad back then, don’t you remember? You’ve been married to me for so many years, have you forgotten that too?” But I couldn’t bring myself to hurt her. The vase flew wide, shattering on the floor near her. The exploding glass shards seemed to clear her eyes. She stammered out: “I really did drink too much tonight, and Aiden came back specifically to say goodbye to me. He’s staying abroad for good now. “Besides, he and I have both moved on. If you were so bothered by our past, why did you marry me in the first place?! What are you raging about?” I listened, then let out a soft, mocking laugh. I pulled a cigarette to my lips, self-deprecatingly: “Stop pretending. Own up to what you did.” The smoke drifted across Chloe’s face. She frowned: “Own up to what? Aiden suffered so much drifting alone overseas, what did he do wrong? Can you please stop bothering him now? I’m begging you!” I shrugged: “I won’t. You won’t be seeing me around anyway.” Aiden snickered, a sneer twisting his lips. “You two chat. I’m out.” The door clicked shut. Chloe’s expression softened. She took a step closer, wrapped her arms around my neck, and stood on tiptoes to touch my nose with hers: “Honey, still jealous? “Don’t worry, you’re the only one I love.” I swept her soft body into my arms. Her warm breath tickled my neck, igniting a familiar heat within me. But then I thought of what she’d done with her first love just hours ago, and I abruptly let go. She landed on the floor with a painful thud. I disgustedly wiped the spot on my face where she’d touched me: “You’re disgusting.” I even spat on the floor. She froze, too stunned by the pain to cry. After a long moment, she slowly got up, then stormed out, slamming the door behind her: “Liam Harris, you dare humiliate me like this today, you’d better not regret it! “If it weren’t for you paying Aiden to leave the country and stay away, I would have married him years ago! I never would have chosen you!” 0

Back then, my wife, Chloe Bennett, was the dream goddess of every guy on campus. Her exquisite, stunning face needed no makeup whatsoever. Any elective Chloe chose, the classes would be packed, with people even spilling out into the hallways. I was one of them. And everyone knew that besides Aiden King, she wouldn’t say a single extra word to any other man. “You like her too?” Aiden had approached me back then, handing me a card. “Give me enough money to study abroad, and I’ll hand her over to you.” My rival, yet he offered her up. Without a second thought, I transferred the money, sending off my biggest competitor. The System quest notification appeared the moment I fell in love with Chloe at first sight. Initially, the mission was just to marry her. I felt no pressure at all, I was even excited. Because I truly loved her. After Aiden left, I finally won her over with my persistent efforts. When Chloe agreed to marry me, she said: “When there’s a rainbow in the sky, I want to capture it for you. When I hear a beautiful song, I want to sing it to you. When I’m sad, I want you to understand me. I want to share every beautiful thing with you, and if you’re slow to reply, I’ll worry you don’t care about me anymore. I hate unstable relationships, so Liam, let’s get married.” I’ll never forget the rapid beat of my heart that day. And, of course, the sweet chime that signaled the completion of the quest. But I never expected there to be a second quest: **[One Life, One Love, One Fated Pair.]** **[If your partner betrays you, you will be annihilated by the System.]** At first, I thought the System was just testing me. After all, there were so many temptations in the world. Until I saw Aiden King’s chat pinned to the top of my wife’s SnapChat friend list. I panicked. She always calmed me down with her actions. Dark clouds rolled outside, thunder rumbling. Her eyes were hazy in my arms, and the air around us crackled with a charged intimacy. I told her seriously and sincerely: “If you ever stop loving me and want a divorce, I’ll agree. “But please, never betray me. Otherwise, I’ll die.” She laughed, confidently: “Honey, I’m not that kind of person.” Now, it all seemed like a cruel joke. Did I regret it? Yes, I should have divorced her the day I found out she still had feelings for Aiden! I should’ve married anyone, even someone I didn’t love, and I’d still be alive! My carefully built company, all those savings in the bank. My buddies I gamed with. Even the limited edition action figures, signed basketballs, and rare sneakers I’d spent millions collecting. The moment dawn broke, they would all be gone forever! My phone rang. It was an unknown number. “Liam Harris, it’s Aiden. “Heh, she came looking for me again. You’re really pathetic, can’t even hold onto what was given to you.” 0

“Take me to a hotel, please.” Aiden deliberately didn’t hang up the phone. Chloe had gotten into his car. “Chloe, why the long face? Didn’t you say you definitely wanted to go home earlier?” “He’s like a rabid dog. I don’t want to talk about him. I’m tired, and I don’t want to see him for a while.” Aiden chuckled: “But you were so determined when you emailed me saying you were marrying him. “Now that you regret it, maybe you could consider someone new? “After all, I’m your first love. After all these years, didn’t you miss me?” Chloe’s voice softened: “Alright, Aiden, stop it…” The call ended. My head slumped. The ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts. I’d be gone soon. I pulled out my phone and called my closest friend, Caleb. He picked up, his voice heavy with sleep: “What time is it? Waking up this early makes me feel like my soul’s being ripped from my body!” He’d been my best friend since childhood. Our bond was stronger than gold. I intended to tell him my last wishes, but hearing his voice somehow steadied my emotions. “Chloe cheated on me. I’m going to die.” He didn’t understand, even raising his voice: “She cheated? No way, she would never cheat! She wouldn’t even look at another man besides you!” “Aiden’s back.” “Good, divorce her! Divorce her immediately! You have money, you have looks, there’s no woman you can’t get! As long as you don’t love her, she’s absolutely nothing!” I fell silent, not replying, and began reciting my bank card passwords to him… Before we got married, Chloe, to prove she wasn’t marrying me for money, had signed a prenuptial agreement. That worked out. Now that I was gone, I’d rather donate the money than let her get a cent. Caleb seemed scared, his voice frantic: “Liam Harris, are you out of your mind? “Don’t be like this. I’m coming over right now to drink with you, drink till we drop! There’s no hurdle in life you can’t get over! “It’s just a woman, right? Divorce her, torment her, make her regret it! Isn’t ‘the ex-lover’s desperate chase’ the hot trend now?! “Hang in there, man. I’m telling you, I rode my bike all day today, my crotch was chafed, I can’t even take a shower. Isn’t that hilarious? “Think about your bank account! You can go to the Maldives and stare at the sea, feed pigeons in London Square, go diving in Australia, travel the world to heal. How happy is that? If I got dumped, all I could say is, ‘Ugh, I’m tired, guess I’ll just screw it and live.’ You’re living in paradise and don’t even know it!” As he spoke, he started crying. Because he knew I would never joke about something like this. But only Chloe didn’t know. Even though I’d told her again and again. I gambled and lost. I deserved it. I printed out the divorce papers, signed them, and prepared to give them to Chloe. My last wish was to divorce her. She wasn’t asleep yet and quickly replied: **”Liam Harris, are you serious about this?”** The sunlight streamed through the window, so faint. My body began to turn transparent, light, floating upward… So this is what death felt like. Chloe. If I hadn’t been erased by the System, I would never have let you off easy.

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