On our anniversary, my husband, Colonel Elias Vance, lied to me—“urgent mission,” he said. I tracked his car. It wasn’t heading to base, but to the city’s top OB-GYN clinic. I hacked the clinic’s cameras. There he was, holding a pregnant woman, eyes full of tenderness he never gave me. “Elias, have you picked a name for the baby?” she whispered, hand on her belly. “Hope. For our love,” he said. A cold dread hit me. Then I called Military CommandI put the call on speaker and said, “Colonel Elias Vance has deserted. I suspect he’s leaking classified info.” One sentence. It froze General Thompson on the phone and Elias on the screen. On my phone, General Thompson’s voice turned to ice. “Cassandra, Say again?” On the monitor, Elias’s phone rang too. His face twisted at the caller ID. He hung up frantically and immediately tried calling me. I didn’t answer. Instead, I spoke into my phone, each word measured and clear. “Reporting, General Thompson, Elias Vance left home today claiming an urgent mission, but he’s at the city’s OB-GYN clinic. His movements are suspicious, and he’s refusing to answer secure military calls. I suspect him of desertion.” My voice was low, yet it hit like a bombshell. Five seconds of dead air followed. “Cassandra Vance,” General Thompson finally said, his tone sharp and decisive. “Hold your position, secure the area, and stay safe. We are en route.” I hung up and silently watched the monitor. On screen, Elias was in a full-blown panic. He abandoned the woman, Willow Jenkins, frantically dialing my number as he rushed towards the clinic’s entrance. Willow cried out pitifully behind him, “Elias, where are you going? Our baby…” He didn’t even glance back. The tenderness and patience in his eyes had vanished, replaced by sheer terror and volatile rage. But it was too late. Less than ten minutes later, several dark green military SUVs roared to a halt, completely blocking all exits of the clinic. Heavily armed soldiers leaped from the vehicles, their movements swift and their presence intimidating. They stormed into the lobby, pinpointing their target. “Colonel Elias Vance, you’re coming with us!” The black muzzles didn’t waver. Elias raised his hands, his face turning to ash. Two soldiers forced his arms behind his back, clamped on the cuffs, and marched him out. As he passed through the main entrance, he saw me. I stood just outside the glass doors, watching him with cold indifference. His pupils shrank to pinpricks, as if seeing a ghost. “Cassandra!” The roar was pure, twisted fury. “You’re insane! What have you done?! This is a setup!” I answered with a cold sneer. Yes, I know it’s a setup. You didn’t desert. You were just with your mistress, naming your bastard child, while I planned our anniversary. You were just betraying me while I was pregnant. But why should I ever explain for you? When you lied to me and disgraced that uniform, why didn’t you see this coming? The soldiers didn’t give him a chance to protest further. They roughly shoved him into a vehicle. The woman, Willow Jenkins, was also taken away under “protective custody.” She was trembling uncontrollably. As she passed me, she suddenly lunged like a madwoman. “It’s you! You ruined Elias! You bitch!” Two female soldiers quickly intercepted her. I looked at her tear-streaked face and her slightly swollen belly. “Hope,” I whispered, just two words. Willow’s face instantly went white. “Commemorating your love, right?” I smiled, a smile that brought tears to my eyes. “What a beautiful name!” The surrounding commotion faded into irrelevance. The world before me turned to grayscale. Elias Vance, the game has begun. You destroyed my love; I will destroy everything you hold dear.

I was taken back to the military base, not as a spouse, but as a “key informant.” The one who debriefed me was General Thompson, a man nearing fifty with a naturally authoritative presence. “Mrs. Vance, relax. Walk me through everything you observed today.” I held the mug, my hands steady. “Today was my and Elias’s third wedding anniversary. This morning, he said his unit had an urgent mission and rushed out. I immediately felt something was off.” “What felt off?” General Thompson pressed. “He wasn’t in uniform, and he was driving his private car. Also, as he left, I saw a crumpled piece of paper fall from his pocket. It was an appointment slip from the local OB-GYN clinic.” I pulled a crumpled slip of paper from my pocket. Of course, this slip wasn’t his. I’d found it in the trash can in his study. He thought he’d disposed of it cleanly. But he didn’t know that from the day my sense of smell became unusually acute after I got pregnant, I’d noticed a perfume scent on him that wasn’t mine. From that day on, I ceased to be myself and became a hunter. General Thompson took the slip, his expression growing grimmer. “Why did you suspect him of desertion?” This was the core of it all. I let my gaze drop, injecting a carefully measured tremor into my voice. “His behavior has been erratic. Taking encrypted calls late at night, using a separate laptop in his study. When I asked, he said it was for classified intelligence.” “I know the rules. I shouldn’t ask what I’m not supposed to. But today… he lied about a mission to take another woman to her OB-GYN appointment.” “General, if he would lie to the service, what wouldn’t he do?” It was a masterful blend of truth and lies. He did have another laptop, but he used it to play games with his mistress. He did take calls in the middle of the night, but those were his mistress calling to complain about pregnancy sickness. I’d seen all of this clearly through the surveillance cameras at home. But I couldn’t say that. General Thompson’s brows furrowed. “Do you know that woman?” “No,” I shook my head. “But I accessed the clinic’s system. Her name is Willow Jenkins.” “You hacked their system?” General Thompson seemed surprised. “Cybersecurity was my major.” I replied, my tone even. This was my ace in the hole. Not only could I hack into the clinic’s system, but I could also recover all deleted files and chat logs from his “gaming laptop.” General Thompson fell silent. A Special Forces Major, acting clandestinely, deceiving the service, and having a close relationship with an unknown woman. And his wife, a cybersecurity expert, reported him herself. Every element was startling. “Mrs. Vance, the information you’ve provided is highly critical. We will launch an immediate investigation. In the meantime, for your safety, you’ll need to stay at the military guest house.” “I understand. I have only one request.” “I want a divorce.” My tone held no hesitation. “Regardless of the investigation’s outcome, this marriage is over.” General Thompson looked at me, his eyes complex. “Alright, the service will support your reasonable request.” Stepping out of the office, the sun was shining brightly. But I only felt cold. My phone vibrated. It was a text from an unknown number. “Cassandra, you bitch! If you dare to ruin Elias, my mom won’t let you get away with it!” It was Elias’s sister, Sierra Vance. I deleted the text with a blank expression and blocked the number. This was only the beginning. Immediately after, a call came in. It was my mother-in-law. As soon as I answered, a barrage of curses erupted. “Cassandra! What’s wrong with you?! What has Elias ever done to you to deserve this?! You jinx, I should never have agreed to your marriage!” I listened quietly. When she finally ran out of breath, I spoke calmly. “Mom, don’t rush to curse me. You should be more concerned about your unborn grandchild.” The other end of the line went completely silent. “You… what do you mean?” “Colonel Vance was at the clinic with his mistress for her prenatal checkup. The baby’s already three months along. Oh, and they’ve even picked out a name: Hope.” “To commemorate their love.” With every word, I could imagine the blood draining from my proud mother-in-law’s face on the other end of the phone. “You’re lying! Impossible! My son isn’t that kind of man!” she shrieked. “You’ll find out soon enough.” I hung up, letting out a long sigh. The knot of resentment in my chest seemed to loosen a little. Elias, you thought your family was your backing? Soon, they’ll become yet another straw to break your back. 3. I settled into the military guest house. Though called a guest house, its security level was high, with sentries guarding the entrance twenty-four hours a day. I understood. This was both protection and surveillance. Until Elias Vance’s suspicions were cleared, I, as the “primary informant,” couldn’t move freely either. This suited me perfectly. I needed an absolutely safe and quiet environment to prepare my next move. The investigation team came to see me the next day. This time, in addition to General Thompson, there were two sharp-looking middle-aged men I didn’t recognize, dressed in plain clothes. They were from internal security, specifically responsible for internal reviews. “Mrs. Vance, we’ve reviewed the clinic surveillance and conducted preliminary interrogations of Colonel Vance and Willow Jenkins. Colonel Vance insists it was merely a personal conduct issue, and he felt guilty, which is why he panicked.” One of the men spoke, his tone even, but his eyes, like a hawk’s, bore into me. “Willow Jenkins also claims she and Colonel Vance had merely a simple romantic relationship and that she knew nothing about his work.” “Really?” I raised an eyebrow slightly. “A ‘simple romantic relationship’?” I took a USB drive from my bag and placed it on the table. “This contains all the data I recovered from Colonel Vance’s ‘gaming laptop’.” “Including his chat logs with Willow from when they first met until now, every payment he made to her, and even… records of his irregular actions, like using his position to apply for ‘temporary military dependent housing’ for her.” The faces of the three men at the table instantly changed. General Thompson’s expression was one of shock and anger. The two men from internal security showed unconcealed gravity. A personal conduct issue was entirely different from using one’s authority to gain undue benefits for a lover. The former was personal moral decay; the latter was a severe disciplinary violation, a stain on the uniform! “In the chat logs, Willow repeatedly complained to Elias that she didn’t feel safe living alone, and she envied me living on the military base.” I stated calmly, as if narrating someone else’s story. “To placate her, Elias promised her a ‘special talent dependent’ housing slot, claiming she could soon move into a community near the base.” My eyes locked on the General. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but that community is exclusively for families of personnel with exceptional service records?” General Thompson’s lips were tightly pursed, and he remained silent, but a vein pulsed visibly on his forehead. The internal security officers immediately collected the drive. “We will verify this immediately.” After they left, only General Thompson and I remained in the office. “Mrs. Vance…” he sighed, his voice full of weariness. “You… you’ve been through a lot.” I shook my head. “Compared to what I’ve endured, I’m more concerned about the honor of the uniform he wore.” I spoke these words with genuine sincerity. I married Elias not only because I loved him, but also because I admired him. I admired him as a steadfast soldier, a hero defending our nation. But now, he had personally shattered all my reverence. “The service will not tolerate any misconduct and will never wrong a good person,” General Thompson assured me. I nodded and rose to leave. Just as I reached the door, I paused, as if something had suddenly occurred to me, and turned back. My face held a hint of hesitation and uncertainty. “General, there’s something… I’m not sure if I should say it.” “Speak your mind.” “That woman, Willow Jenkins. When I checked her information, I found she has a brother named Brandon Jenkins.” “This Brandon… he appears to have an overseas background. He’s not a local. And the chat logs show Willow telling Elias that her brother was persistently curious about his job. He wasn’t just asking; he was probing for operational details such as training methods, equipment specs.” I chose my words carefully, making myself appear like an ordinary person who had inadvertently stumbled upon a clue but was afraid of saying the wrong thing. “At the time, I thought it might just be family curiosity, and I didn’t pay much attention. But thinking about it now, it feels a bit off.” “I’m afraid… I’m afraid Elias might have been exploited by this woman…” My voice grew softer and softer, finally trailing off with a hint of a sob. This sob was half feigned, half genuine. For my dead love, and for my husband, whom I was about to personally push into the abyss. General Thompson shot up from his chair. The last trace of warmth vanished from his eyes, replaced by an unprecedented vigilance and sharpness. “Name and nationality of the brother. Now!” The shift in the room was instantaneous and absolute. This was no longer about misconduct. It wasn’t even about gross abuse of authority. This was now a potential national security breach. A grim smile touched my lips. Checkmate, Elias.

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The year I turned eighteen, I fell hopelessly in love with my adoptive brother. To force me to move on, he paraded a new girlfriend before me every month. He even offered me a hundred million dollars to let him go. But I swore back, “I’ll only give up when I die.” Then he brought her home, a girl with my face. After that, the other women vanished. My feelings became irrelevant. On their hundred-day anniversary,she whispered that she wanted privacy. His order to me was simple. “Get out of the car.” I died on the side of the road that same day, struck by a car. Then, I was granted a seven-day return pass to the living world. “Caleb, I’m dead.” The moment I was thrown through the air, my last thought was to him. I called him ninety-nine times. He never answered. he list of missed calls was a monument to my foolishness, a perfect summary of every year I’d wasted chasing him. When Caleb finally rushed home with Lydia, he circled my body, his face bleaching of all color. “How could you say that? You can’t just say you’re dead?” Of course, I knew. When I was a little girl, I begged to go to the amusement park. My parents, who could never deny me, had taken time off work to take me. But On the way, a truck swerved out of control. They shielded me with their own bodies and died instantly. I was the one rushed into the ICU, clinging to life. Caleb, who never believed in anything, prayed for the first time. He begged for my life. I survived, but a part of my spirit withered that day. My parents died because of me. I felt like a murderer. I stopped eating, wanting to follow them. But Caleb was stubborn. “It was an accident,” he insisted. “You die, I die.” It was a vow. When I refused food, he refused it. When I slashed my wrist, he didn’t hesitate to cut two deeper gashes into his own. “If you’re gone,” he asked me, his eyes raw, “what is left here for me?” From that day on, I never dared to speak the word “die” again. But now, I was truly dead. In this moment, a strange, quiet gratitude washed over me. At least someone would be there for Caleb, even if she was just a stand-in.. I stayed quiet. I didn’t scream or fight. Caleb could only stare, his eyes wide with pure disbelief. In my past life, every time Caleb brought a woman home, I’d throw a massive tantrum. I’d smash vases, break plates, destroy anything I could get my hands on. After the storm, I would drag my suitcase out the door. And every single time, Caleb would get in his car and track me down himself. This time, I didn’t even look at them. I turned and went back to my room. Just before I fell asleep, the door opened. Lydia walked in, wearing Caleb’s shirt, a glass of milk in her hand. She offered it to me. “So, are we trying a new strategy today? Playing hard to get?” “Stop making a scene from now on. Caleb and I are getting married.” I kept my eyes on her, but remained silent. Lydia, seeing my indifference, gently ruffled my hair. “He loves you, but he has to marry me. We’re not enemies, Chloe.” I gave a bitter laugh. “I knew that the moment I first saw you.” I turned my head, looking at our reflections in the window. We looked incredibly similar. The room remained silent. Downstairs, Caleb rushed into the house, then burst into the room. After confirming I was okay, he finally noticed Lydia, and his brows furrowed. As if afraid I might have overheard something. Caleb’s eyes held a strange, complicated emotion. “I’ve decided to marry Lydia. Nothing’s going to change that.”

“Get rid of those foolish thoughts of yours. Go to Mom and Dad’s study and reflect.” “When you understand, then you can come out.” This was Caleb’s usual tactic, his way of trying to make me see the reality of our relationship. But he probably forgot that we weren’t related by blood. I was just an orphaned girl adopted by his parents, nothing more. Just because I called him brother, did my love for him become a sin? “I won’t.” Caleb’s face instantly darkened, his eyes chillingly cold. He didn’t say a word. He just grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it made my hand ache. He dragged me towards the room, forcing me to stumble along with him. “Since you don’t want to reflect, then you can stay in here alone.” “If you can’t figure it out, then you won’t eat.” Bang! The door slammed shut in front of me. I slumped against the door, listening to his footsteps recede, growing fainter until they vanished at the end of the hallway. For the next three days, Caleb came back every few hours. He wouldn’t come in. He’d just stand outside the door for a moment, then leave. Lydia would occasionally drop by too, saying through the door, “What’s the point of fighting with him? You’re always the one who gives in first.” She was right. Caleb would always soften. He was afraid I’d be too stubborn to back down, afraid I’d starve myself, afraid something would happen to me. On the evening of the third day, I heard the lock turn. Caleb stood at the doorway, backlit, so I couldn’t make out his expression. I could only see his tall silhouette. “Come out.” His voice was softer than before, like he’d conceded. I pushed myself up against the door, my legs wobbly, my body swaying forward. Caleb instinctively reached out to steady me. The moment his fingers touched my arm, his entire body stiffened. “You…” He stared at my arm, his Adam’s apple bobbing, words catching in his throat. Finally, he pulled his hand back. “Go take a shower, then come down for dinner.” After my shower, I went downstairs. The dining table was already laden with food. In the center, a plate of blueberry muffins glowed invitingly under the light. They were my favorite treat. My parents used to love making them for me. After they left, whenever I missed them, Caleb would bake them himself. “Have you learned your lesson?” Caleb sat opposite me, taking a sip of his tea, his voice betraying no emotion. I didn’t answer. I sat down and picked up a blueberry muffin, putting it into my mouth. The soft, sweet taste melted on my tongue, spreading warmth through me. Then my stomach churned violently. Caleb put down his teacup and reached out, as if to pat my back. I clapped a hand over my mouth and rushed to the bathroom, throwing up uncontrollably into the toilet. The blueberry muffin I’d just eaten, along with the little water left in my stomach, all came out. Turns out, the dead can’t eat the food of the living. I leaned against the wall, catching my breath for a moment. When I looked up, Lydia was standing in the doorway. She walked in and knelt in front of me, a flicker of concern in her eyes. “I didn’t want to say anything…” “But Chloe, you look like… you might be pregnant.” “You can’t face this alone. Tell us, and Caleb and I can help you.” Footsteps sounded outside the door. Caleb stood at the bathroom entrance, his fingers clenching, veins popping. “You’re pregnant?” Pregnant? How could I, a dead person, be pregnant? I opened my mouth, wanting to explain, but swallowed the words back. It didn’t matter. I was going to die anyway. I wasn’t going to be with him, so let him misunderstand.

Caleb stared at me, silent for a few seconds, then suddenly spoke. “We’re going to the hospital.” My fingers curled up, my fingertips as cold as if they’d been submerged in ice water. What could a hospital possibly find? That my body temperature was zero, that my heart had long stopped beating? That I was dead? “I’m not going.” “You have to.” His voice was hard, brooking no refusal. “I said, I’m not going.” I looked up at him. He was looking back at me, his brows tightly furrowed, his eyes filled with complex emotions. Suspicion, disappointment, and something else I couldn’t quite decipher. Lydia sighed beside him. “Caleb, you need to respect Chloe’s feelings on this.” She paused, her tone softening. “She’s an adult now. Haven’t you always wanted her to move on from you?” “Now that she has her own life, you should be happy.” Caleb remained silent. The living room was terrifyingly quiet, every breath clearly audible. After a long time, he finally spoke, his voice low. “If you’re really pregnant, bring the child’s father here. Let me meet him.” I froze. He actually believed it. Believed I would sleep with another man, believed I would carry another man’s child. A dull ache suddenly swelled in my chest, as if something was tearing inside me. I knew it was fake, that a dead person couldn’t feel pain, but the sensation was so real, so real I almost clutched my chest. “I refuse.” “Chloe!” Caleb shot up, “Do you even see me as family, Chloe?” Family. There it was again, that cursed word. I looked up at him, tears welling uncontrollably, but I still smiled. I smiled, and the tears spun in my eyes. “I never wanted you to be my brother.” He opened his mouth, his Adam’s apple bobbed a few times, but in the end, nothing came out. He turned, footsteps sounding, growing more distant. The door slammed shut. For the next few days, Caleb never returned. I stayed alone in the empty house, starting to pack my things. Clothes in the closet, folded one by one, placed into bags. Photos on the desk, torn one by one. Only one photo remained. It was a picture of Caleb and me, taken when I was ten. He was so young in the photo, his eyes crinkling into a smile. I pressed the photo to my chest, imagining it would be buried with me. After packing, I pre-scheduled a text message to the funeral home. Telling them to come for my body in three days. That would be Caleb’s wedding day. I pressed send. The phone screen lit up, displaying “Scheduled message set.” This was good. The day I truly left, I wouldn’t have to attend his wedding. Wouldn’t have to watch him and Lydia exchange rings, wouldn’t have to hear him say “I do,” wouldn’t have to see them kiss in front of everyone. At least fate, in its cruel way, granted me this small, pathetic mercy.

On the wedding day, I woke up early. Six o’clock, before the sky was fully light, I got up and got ready. I put on light makeup in the mirror and changed into that cream-colored dress. I wore it when I confessed my feelings to Caleb when I was eighteen. Now, I would wear it again, sitting quietly on the sofa, waiting for death. At the wedding venue, guests gradually arrived. Caleb stood at the reception, his gaze occasionally sweeping towards the entrance. Lydia held his arm, wearing a pure white wedding dress. She followed his gaze. “Are you waiting for Chloe?” Caleb’s body stiffened slightly. “She won’t come.” “With her personality, how could she stand by and watch you marry me?” “Don’t worry, after the wedding, I’ll go with you to find her.” “Hmm,” Caleb hummed, his voice a little dry. At 9:55 AM, the wedding was about to begin. The officiant was making final preparations on stage, guests were seated, and the ceremony awaited the couple’s entrance. “Caleb, it’s time to go in,” Lydia urged. Just then, Caleb’s phone vibrated. He instinctively pulled it out and saw the caller ID- “Funeral Home.” He froze. Why would the funeral home be calling him now? “Hello?” He answered the phone. “Is this Mr. Caleb?” The voice on the other end was very formal. “I’m a staff member from City Funeral Home.” “According to our records, you are Ms. Chloe’s guardian. We are required to inform you as per protocol.” “What does that mean?” Caleb interrupted, his voice hurried. “Ms. Chloe has passed away, and her remains are currently undergoing cremation. We require your signature for confirmation.” The voice on the phone was calm, as if stating the most ordinary fact. My soul, having just floated free from my body, jolted violently. I’d actually forgotten about this. How I wished you wouldn’t know of my death. But you know, after all. You’ll probably be sad, won’t you? I’m sorry, Caleb. But this time, I’m leaving for good. Those words hit Caleb like a heavy hammer to the heart. The color instantly drained from his face, and he froze on the spot. “What did you say?” His voice trembled. “Say it again.” “Ms. Chloe has passed away. The cremation process is currently underway-” Clatter. His phone slipped from his hand, falling to the floor. Everyone around was startled by the sudden change. “Caleb, what’s wrong?” Lydia grabbed his hand, only to find it terrifyingly cold. “She’s dead.” Caleb murmured, his eyes unfocused. “She’s dead…” “What? Who’s dead?” “Chloe.”

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The night before our wedding, I left my fiancée, Chloe. Her mom needed a huge amount for surgery, so I took on a secret mission to earn the money. I fought to survive under constant gunfire every day. Three years later, after finishing the mission, I planned to come home and marry Chloe. But I found Chloe and my best friend, Dustin，rushed to the ER—their hips pressed tightly together. The next day, scandalous photos of them went viral on Instagram. Right after surgery, Chloe called me in a panic: “Baby, I don’t know who I pissed off! Someone Photoshopped explicit photos of Dustin and me and posted them online! Send me $200,000, and I’ll find the culprit.” I told her, “No need. I already know who leaked the photos.” “What? Baby, you’re back?” “Where are you now? I’ll come pick you up!” “The hospital.” Chloe on the other end suddenly went silent. After a long pause, she asked: “The hospital? Which hospital?” When I told her the hospital’s name, she didn’t know what to say next: “Baby, you didn’t actually believe what people are saying online, did you?” “You entrusted Dustin to look after me. How could he and I do anything to betray you?” “I booked you a hotel, just spend tonight there. I’m still out of town on a business trip, I’ll come back as soon as I finish up and be with you!” Before she even hung up, she’d already sent me the room number for a star-rated hotel. Then she asked me to reimburse her ten thousand dollars. Her usually sweet, innocent voice, which I used to adore, now made my stomach churn. In the past, whenever she sweet-talked me like that, I would have given her anything. But now, the cramping pain in my abdomen and gut surged to my heart, leaving me unable to tell which hurt more! I glanced down at the bandage, already stained with blood, and took a deep breath. My voice was flat: “Just kidding, I won’t be back that quickly.” Chloe, who had sounded worried moments ago, instantly raised her voice: “Leo! Are you crazy? Is that something to joke about? Do you know how much I miss you…” I took a step, wanting to storm to her hospital room door and confront her. How much could she really miss me if she was sleeping with my best friend? But in the end, I didn’t ask anything. I just hung up. She wouldn’t let me come home, and even booked me a hotel. That could only mean there was something at home she didn’t want me to see. But I’m stubborn. Even after being betrayed, I wanted to see the extent of Chloe’s deceit. I hailed a cab and quickly returned to the house. Inside, I heard a child crying. My blood instantly ran cold. Had they even had a child behind my back? Then what was the point of me risking my life for three years to earn money for her mom’s surgery? Just then, I heard Mrs. Davis’s voice, soothing the child: “Shh, Noah, don’t cry. Mommy went to the hospital to help you have a baby sister. If you still want a sister, you have to be good, okay?” “When your daddy comes back, we’ll give him a big surprise!” “Then when will Daddy come home to play with me? Mommy never plays with me, she just wants to have a sister.” A thunderclap exploded in my mind. So, she had a child, made me raise him for three years, and was now planning to have a second one, expecting me to be a complete fool? After all, Chloe wasn’t pregnant when I left. If she had been, she would have used the child to demand money from me endlessly! Rage consumed me. I instinctively entered the door code. The alarm blared, indicating an incorrect password. I froze, my fingertips chilling. When we set the password, Chloe had hooked her arms around my neck, sweet-talking me: “Baby, let’s use the day we met, okay? That way, every time I open the door, it’ll be like meeting you again.” Now, that same door shut me out. Footsteps approached from inside, followed by the sound of the lock turning. The door opened. A little boy, about three years old, looked up at me, his big eyes full of curiosity. “Who are you?” Even with my mental preparation, when I saw the boy’s face, strikingly similar to Dustin’s, a sharp pain pierced my heart. The wound in my abdomen throbbed with my emotional turmoil, and the seeping blood stained my shirt. “Noah, who is it?” Mrs. Davis’s voice grew closer. When she saw me at the door, the smile on her face froze instantly, all color draining away, as if she’d seen a ghost. “You… you’re back?”

Mrs. Davis frantically tried to close the door, but I held it firmly open with my hand. “Mom, I’m home. Aren’t you going to welcome me?” Mrs. Davis knew she couldn’t hide it any longer. She tried to block my view with her body while fumbling for her phone, her hands trembling. “Chloe! Get back here, he’s returned!” She shrieked into the phone. I pushed the door open forcefully and walked in. I scanned the apartment, the one I had poured all my savings into, the one I had decorated with so much hope as our marital home. Aside from the dusty wedding photo on the bedside table, there wasn’t a single trace of me left. Dustin’s suit, ties, and razor were scattered everywhere. Children’s toys lay strewn across the floor. The air was thick with an unfamiliar scent, the smell of another man. My home had long become someone else’s. Memories flooded back. Three years ago, at the airport. Chloe was crying, her face streaked with tears: “Baby, you must come back safe. I’ll wait for you.” “I will, don’t worry. Your mom’s surgery costs… I’ll find a way to get the money as fast as I can.” She nestled into my arms, her voice choked with emotion: “But that mission is too dangerous. Maybe you shouldn’t go? I don’t want you to risk your life for my mom. If something happens to you, how could I live?” At that time, I had nothing. Even if I sold my apartment, I couldn’t raise enough for Mrs. Davis’s surgery. There was no other way but to find a quick way to earn money. Mrs. Davis had shown me great kindness. If not for her giving me a home and sponsoring my college education after my parents died, I might have starved to death on the day I fought wild dogs for scraps. The Davis family wasn’t wealthy. Mrs. Davis raising Chloe and me alone had been incredibly tough. So, when she fell critically ill and needed urgent surgery, I accepted my boss’s overseas assignment. Every day, I walked through hell. Bullets whizzed past my ears, and artillery exploded beside me. Countless times, as I brushed with death, I clutched a photo of Chloe in my pocket. I was incredibly frugal, sending every penny I earned by risking my life back to her. Every time she received money, she would be exceptionally touched: “Baby, thank goodness for you! When you come back, we’ll get married! I miss you so much every night I can’t sleep…” Chloe returned quickly, still in her hospital gown. She rushed through the door, her face a mix of panic and guilt. “Baby! Let me explain!” Chloe stepped forward, reaching for my hand, but I sidestepped, avoiding her touch. She spoke rapidly: “Noah’s mom passed away during childbirth. Dustin was struggling to raise him alone. While you were gone these three years, he took such good care of my mom and me…” As she spoke, her eyes welled up. “We felt sorry for the child, so we helped look after him, gave him a home. If you were here, you’d do the same, right?” Just then, Noah, clutching a toy car, walked up to me and looked up with his small face: “Daddy, will you play with my car with me?” That single word, “Daddy,” struck me like lightning, making my eardrums hum. For the past three years, neither Chloe nor Dustin had ever mentioned this child to me. That made it hard for me to believe that Noah had nothing to do with Chloe. Meeting my suspicious gaze, Chloe’s face flashed with anger, then she patted Noah. “Noah, be good. Daddy just got home, let him rest for a bit, okay?” She said, then familiarized herself by pinching the soft flesh around my waist: “Baby, look how much Noah likes you. Hurry up and say something!” I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh: “I’m not interested in being a dad.” “Where’s Dustin? Weren’t you two at the hospital together?” Chloe’s eyes darted nervously. She quickly denied: “Baby, are you listening to the rumors online? Dustin and I truly have nothing going on…” She didn’t know I was right there when she and Dustin were being loaded into the ambulance, intertwined. It seemed she was afraid Dustin would show up and get beaten by me, so she told him to hide. But I had no interest in raising someone else’s wife and child. I called Dustin directly: “Come get your wife and kid. As for her mom, she’s free to stay or go.” If Mrs. Davis wanted me to support her, out of gratitude, I wouldn’t default on my debt. But I wouldn’t support Chloe and her child anymore. Chloe smashed my phone, instantly jumping up in protest: “Baby, what do you mean? I’m your fiancée, and you’re kicking me out the moment you get home?” “Chloe, if you don’t leave, do you plan to freeload in my house and let me keep being a complete fool supporting the three of you?” My eyes were cold as knives, sweeping over her pale face. My words sent a shiver down her spine. “Baby, it’s not what you think! Dustin and I really didn’t have anything… he was helping me…” “Get out.” I cut her off sharply, pointing to the door. Chloe froze, looking at me as if she were seeing me for the first time. “Leo… you’re telling me to get out?” Her eyes instantly reddened, filled with unbelievable hurt: “We’ve been apart for three years. I thought about you every day, and after finally waiting for you to come back, this is how you treat me?” “You thought about me?” I advanced on her, step by step. The pain in my abdomen brought beads of cold sweat to my forehead, but it was nothing compared to the agony in my heart.

“So much that you slept with Dustin? So much that you had a child with him? So much that you used my money to raise your kid?” “No! Noah, he…” “Shut up!” I pointed to the door, using my last ounce of strength: “Take your things and get out of my house! Now! Immediately!” Chloe looked at my determined expression, the color slowly draining from her face. She bit her lip hard, tears rolling down her cheeks. After a long moment, she snatched her bag from the couch and glared at me fiercely. “Leo! I never thought you’d be such a petty, heartless person!” “I’m leaving! See if you don’t regret this!” She grabbed Noah and Mrs. Davis, stumbling out the door. A loud slam echoed, leaving me in the dead silence of the room. I couldn’t stand, swaying a step, and leaned against the wall. The bloodstain on my abdominal bandage had spread significantly. Excruciating pain tore at my nerves. But it was nothing compared to the utter annihilation of my heart and the anguish of three years wasted. Ten minutes later, I heard a commotion outside, followed by knocking. “Hey, Unit 302, do you have any conscience? How could you kick your wife out? She’s outside with her mom and child, threatening to jump! Aren’t you going to talk her down?” I opened the door. The unfamiliar neighbor saw it was me, and her expression froze. She quickly checked the door number, then shouted into my apartment: “Is her husband home?” It turned out that for the three years I was gone, Chloe and Dustin had presented themselves as a married couple to the neighbors. No wonder the neighbor didn’t recognize me. I hadn’t spent a single day in this apartment after it was renovated, leaving it for that scumbag, Dustin. A life was at stake, and I didn’t have the energy to explain the complicated situation to the neighbor. I quickly took the elevator to the top floor. When Chloe saw me, she started crying even louder. “Baby, why won’t you believe me? You’re kicking me out, aren’t you just trying to force me to die?” “Dustin looked after my mom and me for you, and we helped him with Noah. It was just a mutual help situation, but in your eyes, it’s wrong?” “You don’t like me helping him raise his child? I’ve already sent Noah away, isn’t that enough?” She hung her head, tears falling. That image of her, so humble and downtrodden, was completely different from the spoiled girl I remembered. I stayed silent, yet to speak, when Mrs. Davis suddenly climbed onto the edge of the rooftop. “Baby, Chloe and Dustin are truly innocent. Will I have to prove their innocence with my life, then?” With that, she made to jump. I didn’t want a death on my conscience, so I quickly shouted: “Alright, I believe you.” At my affirmation, Chloe and Mrs. Davis exchanged a quick glance. I couldn’t stomach watching their drama and turned to go home. Late that night, my bedroom door creaked open. Chloe, wearing a nearly transparent black lace nightgown and reeking of perfume, slipped in. “Baby…” Her voice was syrupy sweet, and her hand explored my body. I grabbed her wrist violently, making her cry out in pain. “My wound hasn’t healed. I’m not in the mood.” I stared at her, my eyes devoid of any desire. “Get out.” Her face paled. She was about to say something else when her phone suddenly rang in her bag, cutting her off. She looked as if she’d been burned, rushing back to the guest room to grab her phone, then disappearing into the bathroom. The sound of running water masked her voice. I walked to the bathroom door and, through the crack, heard her broken whispers: “I’ll figure out the money… just wait a little longer…” Just then, my phone screen lit up. A message: bank transfer of 500,000 failed. Chloe was still trying to get money from me for Dustin! It seemed she wouldn’t stop until she’d completely drained me dry! The next morning, several of Chloe’s friends arrived, claiming they wanted to catch up after so long. But their words were all probing: “Leo, you must have made a fortune in the war zone, right? I heard the profits there are huge!” “Chloe will finally have a good life now, you should get a big villa, shouldn’t you?” I gave them vague answers, sending them away disappointed. After they left, I watched Chloe, who was pretending to be busy in the kitchen, and walked over to her. “That 500,000 last night, was that for Dustin?”

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Before the wedding, I came across my boyfriend Liam’s engagement video with his secretary Chloe online. Furious, I went to find him and overheard his conversation with a friend. “If I don’t marry Chloe, her family will force her to marry some old, ugly man!” “What about your girlfriend Mia?” his friend asked. “She’s been with me for seven years. She can’t live without me.” I sneered and walked away. Later, Liam and I got married on the very same day — but he wasn’t my groom. Our wedding cars passed each other. When he saw me — he completely lost it! “Mom, I’ve agreed to the arranged marriage.” My mom was surprised when she heard I’d agreed. “Didn’t you say you weren’t willing before? Why the sudden change of heart, Summer? Marriage isn’t a game. Whether it’s arranged or not, what matters is your happiness. You need to think carefully, don’t be impulsive.” Hearing my mom’s words, my eyes welled up. “Mom, I’ve thought it through. You can start preparing for the wedding.” Mom knew I was hurting. She paused for a moment, then quickly tried to comfort me. “You and Leo have been together for so long, and he never wanted to make things public, always delaying meeting your dad and me. Your father and I knew you two wouldn’t last.” Mom’s words felt like a thorn piercing my heart. It turns out everyone else saw it clearly; I was the only one blind. “This is the match your father and I picked for you a long time ago. Your parents would never pick anything less than the best. His character and family background are absolutely top-tier. My Summer deserves nothing but the best.” I took a deep breath. “Thank you, Mom. I trust your judgment, and Dad’s.” My mom continued, “So, should we arrange for you two to meet in the next couple of days?” “No need. Just go straight to preparing the wedding.” After I hung up, Leo appeared behind me, I don’t know when. He looked confused, asking, “What wedding? Who’s getting married?” *I am getting married.* I answered him silently in my heart, but the words never made it past my lips. I calmly shook my head. “Nothing, just a friend.” As soon as I spoke, I noticed his expression visibly relax. A bitter pang shot through my heart again. Was he that tense because he thought I was pressuring him into marriage? Or did he think I’d found out about him and Serena getting married? “I brought you your favorite cake from that bakery. Want some now?” In the past, Leo would always bring me something tasty after work. Even if many things weren’t to my taste, I still felt like I was drowning in sweetness. Because I felt the attention of being cherished and fed by the one I loved was far more important than the food itself. But now, looking at that box of cake, I felt nothing but utter mockery. Just moments ago, I’d seen Serena switch her previously private posts to public. After only a few scrolls, I couldn’t bear to look anymore. Only now did I realize how utterly ridiculous I was. That cake, it turns out, was Serena’s favorite. Not just this cake, but all the other nuts and snacks were also Serena’s favorites. Even more tragically, I discovered that Leo’s habit of bringing me food after work only started *after* Serena joined the company. So, Leo, who exactly did you take me for? Was it Summer, or Serena? I swallowed the bitterness and spoke flatly, “I don’t like sweets. They’re too rich. Don’t buy them anymore.” Leo didn’t expect such a reaction. His eyes showed a hint of surprise. “What? You always ate them before.” After all these years together, if he truly cared about me, how could he not have noticed my food preferences? Some words, repeated too many times, lose their meaning and eventually become simple compromise. I didn’t argue further, just casually shrugged. “My tastes have changed recently.”

For several days, Leo seemed incredibly busy—so busy he even forgot my birthday. But I no longer cared. By the time he remembered, my birthday would have long passed. To make it up to me, he bought tickets to my favorite musical. But on the day of the show, he didn’t show up. Instead, I saw Serena flaunting the tickets on her social media. “Just chilling at a concert, it’s so nice to have someone who’s always there to go crazy with you.” Though her face wasn’t visible, I instantly recognized Leo’s hand with the distinctive scar in the photo. He got that scar years ago, saving me. Suddenly, I felt like a clown. I was standing outside in the pouring rain, worrying if something had happened to him, while he and his secretary were in the VIP seats watching the concert. The cold raindrops hit my face, and my heart and body grew colder by the second. Just then, Mom texted me, saying the wedding was set for two weeks later, but if I felt it was too rushed, we could postpone it. I shook my head. “No, this is fine.” The downpour had paralyzed city traffic. I waited a long time but couldn’t get a cab. Leo’s call came much later. “Why aren’t you home?” My voice was calm, devoid of any emotion. “I’m at the theater.” He seemed to remember something suddenly and fell silent for a moment. “I’m sorry, I got held up with something this afternoon. Wait there, I’ll pick you up.” I didn’t refuse, but I also knew he wouldn’t come. Sure enough, the next second, Serena updated her feed again: “Afraid I’d catch a cold from the rain, my CEO husband personally made ginger tea. A man who cooks is the sexiest! I want to marry him!” The photo showed Leo’s back in the kitchen. I took one look and calmly closed the page. The heavy rain still left me with a fever. Using the excuse that I didn’t want to infect Leo, I moved into the guest room. Leo, uncharacteristically, put down his work and stayed home specifically to take care of me. But I felt uncomfortable. “It’s just a small cold. I’m an adult, I can take care of myself. You should go back to work.” He stared at me strangely for a long while. “Didn’t you used to wish I’d be by your side when you were sick? Why are you acting so unusual today?” I lowered my head, forcing a smile. “I was immature then. I’m not anymore.” Leo looked at me with concern. “Summer, are you okay?” “I’m fine. You should go.” He still felt like something was off with me but couldn’t quite pinpoint it. Finally, he just stared at me deeply, sighed, and said, “Okay, get some rest. Call me if you need anything.” After he left, I let out a long breath, lay down, and slept again. When I woke up, I saw Mom had sent me the detailed wedding plan. She also sent me over a dozen wedding dresses, asking me to choose. I casually scrolled through them, clicking on large images to examine them, so absorbed that I didn’t even notice Leo suddenly appearing. He snatched my phone, throwing it aside, his brows furrowed in displeasure. “Why are you looking at wedding dresses?” I thought he’d discovered my impending marriage and was about to explain everything. But his next words made me realize how ridiculous my assumption was. “Summer, are you trying to pressure me into marriage? I told you I’d marry you. You don’t need to play these games to hint at it. It’s disgusting.”

“You misunderstood, I’m not…” But he waved his hand, refusing to listen to my explanation. “I have to go. I advise you to stop pulling these stunts and wearing down my feelings for you.” The door slammed shut with a bang, and the entire room fell into a deathly silence. I stood there for a long time, scoffing at myself. Leo, how much feeling do you even have left for me? What’ is there to wear down? Before exiting SnapChat, I casually clicked on the red notification dot. I saw Leo, who never posted on social media, had updated his status. “You’re so wonderful, of course I’ll marry you and keep you by my side. Only then can I truly rest easy.” The post included a solo photo of Serena and their wedding invitation. In less than a minute, a mutual friend commented: “Dude, the bride just smoothly switched like that?” Immediately, Leo’s new post disappeared, but it quickly reappeared on Serena’s social media. Then Leo’s call came in. In the past, I would have already screenshotted it and called him to confront him. But this time, I let the phone ring until it stopped without answering. Perhaps I was just numb. By the time Leo got home, I was already fast asleep. He gently opened the door and walked to my bedside. “Summer, are you asleep? Why didn’t you answer my calls?” I had my back to him and vaguely replied, “I fell asleep accidentally. Didn’t hear it.” Leo breathed a sigh of relief, leaned in close, and reached out to check my forehead temperature. “Still have a fever?” As he got closer, the sickeningly sweet scent of women’s perfume on him made me feel a wave of nausea. I nearly gagged. I instinctively shifted sideways, dodging his touch. His hand froze in mid-air, full of surprise. He tentatively asked, “Summer, did you see something?” I buried myself entirely under the covers, my voice muffled. “No, I just feel awful with this cold. I want to sleep.” After sleeping through to the next day, I finally felt a bit lighter. I started packing my things, gradually erasing my presence in this house. Only then did I realize that, at first, Leo and I had shared our couple’s items. But at some point, he had thrown them all into a corner, collecting dust. There was also an album filled with photos from my travels with Leo, postcards we’d collected together, old train tickets from when we were long-distance, and letters he’d written to me. This album was full of all our memories from these past years. When Leo returned, I was throwing this album into a fire. He rushed over like a madman, snatching the burned album from the flames. Ignoring the pain of his scalded hands, he angrily demanded, “Are you crazy?! Don’t you know how important this album is to us? Why would you burn it?!” Leo rarely got angry with me; this was the first time he’d ever spoken to me so loudly. The concern in his eyes didn’t seem fake, but it was also true that he was secretly marrying someone else. Not wanting to argue with him, I casually said, “The album got moldy and buggy. I’ve backed up everything inside. I’ll just make a new one later.” Hearing that, his anger subsided. As I applied burn cream to his hand, Leo stared at me and suddenly spoke. “Summer, you seem a bit down lately. Is work stress getting to you? I booked a customized trip for you. Go out, relax, clear your head.”

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My best friend, Chloe, wanted to set me up with her good friend, Dean. I flat-out refused. But when I finally met him, I fell for him instantly. Soon after, we got married. Yet, when I was six months pregnant, Chloe suddenly dropped a bombshell: “I’ve loaned him to you for all these years. Isn’t it time you gave him back?” I was absolutely stunned. My mind just froze. Today was my OB-GYN appointment, and I was already six months along. Chloe had traveled all the way from out of state to be with me. I was even planning to ask her to be my baby’s godmother. Then she sat down and just threw that sentence at me. Every memory, every past scene, flickered before my eyes, mocking me. The truth was, the signs had always been there. I just chose to ignore them. Whenever we went out, Dean always paid extra attention to Chloe. He knew what she liked, what she hated, and he even knew her menstrual cycle details. “How do you know *everything* about her?” I’d joked. Chloe had chimed in, “We’ve known each other for ages. I’ve dated so many guys, but none of them were as thoughtful as Dean.” “The last time he took me to this awful cake place, I completely lost it right then and there. He had to treat me to dinner for a whole week before I even considered forgiving him.” “And another time, we went hiking, and he twisted his ankle. I had to practically carry him down the mountain.” Back then, I actually thought it was normal. They grew up together, so it made sense they had stories I didn’t know, and being close was fine. Turns out, it wasn’t like that at all. Chloe just dropped that line and walked out. I desperately dialed Dean’s number, hitting redial seven, eight times. He didn’t pick up. It reminded me of another time, when Chloe and I were having dinner at my place. Maybe the meat wasn’t cooked through, because we both got awful food poisoning, throwing up non-stop. I called Dean several times, but he never answered. Chloe eventually got annoyed and said, “Let *me* try!” Her call connected on the very first ring. “What’s up, Chloe? Everything okay?” Chloe complained, “Elara and I have food poisoning! Come pick us up! I called you so many times, and you didn’t answer a single one!” Dean replied so casually, “Didn’t I pick up your very first call?” At the time, I thought he just happened to see her call. It turns out, he just never missed *her* calls. I’m not one to give up easily. On my tenth attempt, Dean finally picked up. His surroundings sounded noisy, and his voice carried a faint, almost imperceptible hint of impatience. Was this how he always sounded when he answered *my* calls? “Why weren’t you picking up?” I asked. “In a meeting. Didn’t I just SnapChat you?” I deliberately said, “Chloe came to my prenatal appointment with me.” He sounded completely unaware of anything, replying naturally, “Hmm, make sure you get everything checked out. Isn’t she complaining about stomach pain lately? Can you book her an endoscopy? She’s such a wreck, completely neglecting herself.” “She didn’t tell me about any stomach pain.” “And you call yourselves best friends? You don’t care about her at all. These past few times we’ve eaten out, she’s said she can’t eat spicy food. It must be her stomach acting up again.” Oh, you truly know her so well. But do you know that *I* don’t eat spicy food either? Chloe can’t live without spice, but I can’t stand a single drop of it. Coincidentally, Dean also loves spicy food. So, I just went along with it, the minority yielding to the majority, and ate spicy meals with them. Seeing how happy they were eating, I guess I didn’t really care about how my own food tasted.

Dean came to pick me up from the hospital. I handed him my check-up report. He didn’t reach for it, just glanced at it casually, then gestured for me to hold it up. “Where’s Chloe? Wasn’t she with you?” “Oh, she said she wasn’t feeling well and went home.” Dean’s hand on the steering wheel paused, then he immediately turned the car around. “Let’s go check on her. I booked a healthy food place; I was just about to take you two. I told Chloe already, it was just a routine check-up, she didn’t need to go through all that trouble.” I stared at his profile. The concern on his face was utterly genuine. It was like he was a completely different person from just moments ago, when he’d coldly swept his gaze over my prenatal report. Things, once they start to show cracks, tend to fall apart completely. Like now. I saw everything through a different lens. I refused to believe he felt nothing for me, and I couldn’t accept even a shred of deceit from him. “Why the sudden healthy food place? I thought you hated bland food.” Dean’s face clouded with annoyance. “You really don’t care about Chloe at all, do you? She’s not feeling well, how can she eat spicy food?” “Oh, my mistake. I thought it was because *I* liked it.” Dean froze for a second, then quickly tried to recover. “Well, of course, it’s because you like it too!” Chloe, of course, didn’t come to the healthy food place. She didn’t even answer her phone. Dean drove me to her house, knocking on her door for half an hour, but no one answered. I stood in the parking lot, watching him call Chloe, then Mr. Peterson, then Mrs. Peterson. Eventually, he confirmed she was just unwell and sleeping at home. Dean finally breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to me. “That scared me to death. I thought something had happened to her.” There was a time I didn’t answer his calls either. It was our first anniversary. He had completely forgotten about it because he was in his hometown, waiting for Chloe to go back to college with him. By the time he remembered, it was the next day. He called me twice, but I didn’t pick up. Chloe, however, kept calling me. When I finally answered, I even heard Dean in the background impatiently asking her, “What could possibly be wrong with her? She’s probably just sleeping in her dorm.” Thinking about it now, it was obvious then who he loved and who he didn’t. I had just been blinded by their shared history, their “childhood friends” narrative. It was my fault for silently allowing a relationship to exist that overshadowed ours. All my fault. I’m an adult. I have to take responsibility for my choices. Elara Harrison, I had made my bet, and I would pay the price. There was one thing I still couldn’t figure out. If they liked each other so much, why didn’t they just get together? Why drag an irrelevant person like me into it? What did I ever do wrong? Looking back on these past few years, the biggest mistake I made was probably letting my delight show on my face the first time Dean appeared. After that, Dean pursued me effortlessly. Yes, he was calm and confident, because he knew he would win me over. My affection for him was obvious, and Chloe was helping us. To pursue me, he traveled over a thousand miles, two or three times a month. I always thought that was love. About six months later, I accepted his pursuit. Now, looking back, there was love, but I just don’t know who it was for. Most of our dates, it wasn’t just us two. It was *three*.

Later, giving up promotions that required travel, getting pregnant and having a baby at the peak of my career – I never thought anything of it. Because I was striding towards what I believed was a happy life. Now, I’ve decided to get a divorce. It’s nothing. What I could embrace, I could also release. My only hesitation was about the baby. My financial capacity was certainly enough to raise a child. But, did I want it to be born without a father? I hadn’t even found my own place in this web of lies; did I want my child to bear the weight of this unknown future? Only by ending this pregnancy could I truly break free from Dean, and from this sickening situation. So, was that why Chloe told me now? She didn’t want me to have this baby, did she? She thought that once I had this child, Dean and I would have an unbreakable bond. And then she and Dean could never truly be together, without lingering resentment. So, in her eyes, I was an insignificant presence in their relationship. This tiny, unborn baby was her true enemy. How laughable and absurd. Maybe my emotions had been too unstable lately. One day, while I was doing an experiment, my stomach seized with a searing pain, and cold sweat slicked my skin. My colleague freaked out and rushed me outside for some fresh air. He reminded me, “I called Dean to pick you up. You should go to the hospital. You’re almost in your third trimester, you can’t be careless.” Dean was usually very meticulous. When I brought him to company gatherings, he’d add everyone’s contact info, saying it was so he could reach me if I was in the lab. By the time Dean arrived at my company, I had already been checked out of the hospital and was walking out. “Come downstairs, Elara, I’ll take you to the hospital.” Before I could say anything, I heard my colleague’s voice on the phone. “Dean, what took you so long? I called you like two hours ago! Elara already took leave and went home.” “I was busy just now. Thanks, Mark, for looking after her. I’m heading back now.” They chatted for a few more moments, then Dean asked me, “Are you home?” “What were you busy with?” He seemed surprised by my question. He paused, then replied, “I was with Chloe.” “What’s wrong with her?” I rarely pressed him on these things, so Dean hadn’t even prepared a flimsy excuse. He countered, “Have you and Chloe been fighting lately?” That question seemed to open an emotional floodgate for him. “I knew you two have been acting weird. You’re usually so close, why haven’t you even mentioned each other?” “Did you do something to upset Chloe?” “She just has a childish temper, you just need to coax her a bit.” “Or I could buy a small gift for you to give her, as an apology, to give her an easy way out.” I thought I couldn’t get any angrier at these two, after all, I’d convinced myself they weren’t worth it. But the thought of them treating me like an idiot and fooling me for so many years made the humiliation and indignation inside me feel like a shaken soda can, ready to explode. “How about I give *you* to her?” I said that and hung up. I regretted it. I had planned to leave. But running away isn’t my style. Fighting back is. I couldn’t give them all the dignity and leave myself with all the pain.

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My boyfriend Caleb Hamilton is the target I must complete. The System stipulates that as long as he agrees to marry me before my 25th birthday, my mission is considered successful. But he doesn’t love me. Caleb only sees me as a substitute for the woman he loves, Phoebe Hunter. The position of wife in his heart is forever reserved for Phoebe. I know the whole truth, so I’m afraid of making him angry. I just casually mention marriage and don’t dare say more. Until my 25th birthday, this is my last chance. I knelt on the ground covered with roses, trembling as I handed the ring to Caleb. I begged him, “Caleb, will you marry me? Even if it’s fake, even if you’re lying to me, please marry me.” “I’m begging you. Otherwise, I’ll die.” But Caleb just sneered, then picked up a bouquet nearby and slammed it to the ground. He said, “Know your place! You’re just a stand-in, how dare you have such thoughts?” “Listen up. Phoebe is coming back today. Pack your things and get out of here.” “Even if you want to die, do it far away. Don’t let me see it.” Watching Caleb’s resolute departing figure, I slowly revealed a smile. I thought, “Alright. Then I’ll do as you wish.” The System anxiously said in my mind, “Host, hurry and chase after him. This is your last chance.” “If Caleb doesn’t accept your proposal, you really will be erased.” But I just stood there numbly, staring at the door Caleb had slammed shut. I smiled faintly and said in a hoarse voice, “Chase? What’s the point of catching up?” The System said, “But…” I interrupted it, “No buts. He won’t agree. From start to finish, his heart has only ever had Phoebe.” I know this all too well. Caleb’s phone wallpaper is a photo of Phoebe, and his lock screen is a picture of him with Phoebe. All his passwords contain Phoebe’s initials and birthday. Sometimes, even in intimate moments, Caleb holds me and murmurs the name “Phoebe.” I, the official girlfriend, live completely like a shadow. I bent down and picked up the ring buried under the rose petals. The cold touch of the ring feels just like my heart right now. Caleb must be on his way to pick up Phoebe right now. Sure enough, not long after, my phone screen lit up with a breaking news alert: [Billionaire CEO Caleb spotted at the airport, intimately picking up his first love!] Another headline read: [Caleb’s romance revealed, the two share a kiss at the airport. Caleb openly admits, “She is the love of my life!”] The news included a high-definition photo and a short video. Caleb, dressed in a sharp suit, wore a gentle smile I had never seen before, tightly holding a woman with a great figure. That woman was Phoebe. Caleb openly admitted it in front of the reporters’ cameras without any hesitation. He said, “That’s right, she is the woman I’ve loved for ten years.” “Years ago, we had to part ways due to reality. Now, I will never let go of her hand again.” Looking at their tightly held hands in the photo, the comment section completely exploded. [They are such a perfect match! Only such an outstanding woman deserves Mr. Hamilton.] [I heard Ms. Hunter is Mr. Hamilton’s true love. He stayed unmarried for so many years because of her. After waiting so long, he’s finally with her.] Some questioned: [But, how do I remember there was a woman by Mr. Hamilton’s side before, seemed like his girlfriend?] Someone immediately refuted his statement: [What nonsense are you talking about? Everyone knows Mr. Hamilton is devoted and loyal. Even if there were women, they must have been the ones pestering him. They’re disgusting.] This skeptical comment was quickly deleted amid numerous rebuttals. Looking at those harsh words and images, my heart ached deeply. I remembered before, I had cautiously asked him, “Caleb, can we post something on Instagram to let others know we’re together?” Caleb immediately frowned, his tone full of irritation. Caleb said, “Isabella, are you being childish? What’s the point of posting this? My social circle doesn’t need to know about these private matters.” Isabella Ferguson is my name. I tried to explain, “But…” Caleb interrupted me, “Alright, stop. I don’t like this. Don’t bring it up again.” Turns out, it wasn’t that he disliked making the relationship public; he just disliked the fact that the person was me. Turns out, the difference between loving someone and not loving them can be so cruel, so obvious. Caleb could stand in front of the camera without hesitation for Phoebe, declaring his love to the whole world. But he wouldn’t even spare me a tiny, insignificant corner. The System is still trying to make a final effort. It said, “Host, maybe there’s still a chance.” I closed my eyes wearily. Then I said, “Forget it. Let it be.” I thought, “I’m tired. I’m really tired.”

Caleb hosted a grand welcome dinner for Phoebe. At night, fireworks lit up the entire city, almost painting half the sky red. Next, a swarm of drones rose, forming a giant heart and the words “Phoebe, welcome back” in the sky. I thought, “What a grand scene.” “For Phoebe, Caleb really spared no expense or effort.” I quietly looked away, then turned to the small, lonely birthday cake on the table. I bought it, with a single “25” numeral candle on top. I picked up a spoon, scooped a small piece, and put it in my mouth. It tasted so sweet, overly sweet, so much that it left a bitter feeling in my heart. The System said, “Host.” Its voice sounded somewhat weak. I swallowed the bite of cake and stood up. I said, “It’s fine. I’m used to it.” I didn’t want Caleb to feel I was in the way, so I quickly started packing. Luckily, I don’t have much stuff. In this house, I’ve always felt like a temporary guest, afraid to leave too many traces of myself. I didn’t take anything Caleb bought for me, only packed a few old clothes I brought and some small items. By the time I was almost done packing, the clock on the wall had passed midnight. My twenty-fifth birthday had passed. Almost at the same moment, an indescribable weakness suddenly overwhelmed me. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the cold floor. Immediately after, a crushing pain erupted throughout my bones, as if they were being shattered. The System’s purge mechanism began. It’s a rare genetic collapse syndrome, lasting three days, with the pain intensifying each day until I finally succumb in utter agony. I clenched my teeth, trying to prop myself up, but it was useless. The pain engulfed me like a tide, and my vision began to blur. At that moment, the sound of a key turning came from the door. The next second, the door opened. Phoebe walked in, arm in arm with Caleb, smiling. Seeing me slumped on the ground, they both froze for a moment. Phoebe slightly raised her eyebrows, her tone tinged with curiosity. She asked, “Caleb, who is this?” Caleb’s smile instantly vanished, replaced by undisguised disgust and irritation. He frowned deeply, his voice as cold as ice. Caleb asked, “Isabella, why are you still here? Didn’t I tell you to pack up and leave immediately?” Before I could say anything, he immediately turned to Phoebe. The coldness on his face melted instantly, and his tone became very gentle. Caleb said, “It’s nothing. She’s just an ignorant servant. I’ll have her leave right now.” Servant? My heart felt like it was pierced by a knife, numbing even the pain in my body for a moment. I opened my mouth, wanting to explain that I didn’t stay on purpose. But the intense pain only let me make broken sounds. Seeing me like this, Caleb seemed a bit puzzled. He asked, “What’s wrong with you? Are you sick?” Maybe because I had never been this miserable, Caleb looked at me with a hint of pity in his eyes. He instinctively took half a step toward me. But the next second, Phoebe’s sudden words interrupted his movement. She said, “Are you feeling unwell and want to stay here to rest?” “Caleb, she’s feeling so awful, how can you kick her out?” Just two sentences made Caleb change his mind, thinking all this was just an act for me to stay here. He stepped back to his original spot, slowly revealing a mocking cold smile. Caleb said, “I really underestimated you. Are you acting in front of me? Who are you pretending to be pitiful for?” “You think this will make me soften and let you stay? Isabella, don’t overestimate yourself.” “I’ll count to three, and you leave willingly. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude.” The intense pain left me unable to argue, not even having the strength to shake my head, only gasping in agony. My silence and misery seemed to anger Caleb even more. He completely lost his patience and directly took out his phone to call his driver. Caleb said, “Come up here and clear out the trash in the guest room along with the person refusing to leave.” Soon, his driver came up. He glanced at me and said, “Sorry, Ms. Ferguson.” Then, he propped up my nearly immobile body with one hand, grabbed my shabby-looking suitcase with the other, and almost dragged me out the door. The suitcase landed by my feet. The door behind me slammed shut, cutting off the bright lights inside and the faint laughter of Caleb and Phoebe. I took one last look at the place I once called “home.” Then, I humbly dragged my suitcase, limping into the dark night.

That night, I tossed and turned in pain on the bed of a cheap motel, unable to sleep. Finally, I made it to dawn and practically crawled out to hail a taxi, heading straight to the hospital. However, the medical level of this world couldn’t identify the cause of genetic collapse syndrome, let alone treat it. The doctor could only prescribe me some painkillers to ease the symptoms. I carried the medicine bag to complete the hospitalization procedures. Every step felt like walking on a knife’s edge, and I looked utterly miserable. Suddenly, a mocking voice came through. “Isn’t this Ms. Ferguson?” I turned around and saw two former colleagues exchange a glance before walking toward me. I remembered them. They were two employees from the neighboring department, always holding a grudge against me. One of them asked hypocritically, “Why are you at the hospital alone? Where’s Mr. Hamilton? Didn’t he come with you?” The other sneered and said, “With her? What are you thinking? Haven’t you seen the news? Mr. Hamilton’s lover is back. Who would care about this impostor?” The first person added, “Exactly. She used connections to get into the company before. Now that her support is gone, shouldn’t she get lost?” I clenched the medicine bag in my hand, my nails almost digging into my palm. When I joined the company, I worked tirelessly to prove my abilities, and everyone could see the results I achieved. But in their eyes, I will always just be someone who “relied on a man to climb up.” On top of that, Caleb never publicly acknowledged me, which only reinforced my “unrecognized” status in their eyes. Before, out of respect for Caleb, these people only dared to talk about me behind my back. Now, they openly insult me to my face without hesitation. But the intense pain made it hard for me to even stand straight, let alone argue back. I could only lower my head and try to walk around them. One of them said, “Why aren’t you talking? Did we hit the mark?” The two of them deliberately blocked my way, speaking in an even harsher tone. The other said, “Without Mr. Hamilton, what are you? Did you really think you were somebody?” “Does she need to report to you?” Suddenly, a cold male voice interrupted. The three of us were stunned at the same time. Turning my head, I saw Caleb standing not far away, frowning tightly with a very unpleasant expression. The two colleagues instantly changed their expressions and didn’t dare to speak anymore. Caleb walked over, his gaze coldly sweeping over the two of them. He said, “Is the company’s project finished? You’re so free to come to the hospital and gossip about others? Do you need me to call your supervisor for a chat?” The two turned pale with fright, and one of them quickly said, “No need, Mr. Hamilton, we’ll leave right away.” Immediately, they almost fled. Caleb’s gaze returned to me. However, his gaze showed no hint of softness, instead filled with even more impatience. Caleb asked me, “Isabella, was I not clear enough yesterday? I told you to get lost and not appear in front of me again. What do you mean by this now?” I wanted to explain that this was just a coincidence, but my throat was so dry I couldn’t make a clear sound. His gaze shifted downward. When he caught sight of the medicine bag in my hand, he frowned deeply. Caleb asked, “What medicine are you holding? Are you really sick?” In that moment, I almost had an absurd illusion. Maybe he still cared about me a little. I struggled to lift my hand, wanting to pass him some of the painkillers I was holding. But my movement was interrupted by an urgent voice. “Caleb.” Phoebe walked out of the nearby consultation room, her face slightly pale. She was holding her chest with one hand, coughing softly twice. Seeing this, Caleb’s attention was instantly drawn completely to her. He immediately turned to her and asked with concern, “Phoebe, how are you? What did the doctor say? Are you still feeling unwell?” Phoebe said weakly, “It’s nothing. I just caught a bit of a cold.” As she spoke, she coughed weakly a few more times. However, her gaze passed over Caleb’s shoulder and landed precisely on me. Phoebe smiled ever so faintly. It was a fleeting, almost imperceptible smile, filled with extreme mockery and smugness. She seemed to be saying, “See? The one he cares about will always be me.” Caleb said with concern, “You’re coughing and still saying you’re fine? Come on. I’ll take you to the ward to rest first.” After saying that, he hurriedly left with Phoebe, without looking back at me or asking me anything. Once again, I was completely left behind, like a ridiculous backdrop. Even though I already knew what choice Caleb would make, I couldn’t help but hold onto hope every time. In the end, I deserve it.

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I, Violet Brown, have been with Albert Paterson for ten years. I said to him, “Albert, I’m pregnant.” The files in his hand dropped, and he frowned unhappily. Albert said, “Stop joking. You should know this is a critical moment for my company’s IPO. I don’t plan to have kids.” I said, “It’s okay. Your career is important.” Then, I smiled gently. Albert didn’t understand what I meant. I’m pregnant, but he’s not the father of my child. ***** Albert’s eyes no longer held their usual gentleness, only impatience remained. It’s like I’m some kind of troublesome burden. Seeing me stand still, he seemed to realize his words were a bit too harsh. He coughed and adjusted his tone. Albert said, “You know, if I don’t have a stable career, how can I give you a good life? Be reasonable. We can’t keep this child. Besides, your health isn’t great to begin with. Maybe if you jump around, run a bit, or take a cold shower, the child will be gone.” I stood there in disbelief. I knew he was heartless, but I never thought he could be this cruel. This is a life. How can it sound like trash he can throw away anytime? I asked, “Can you spare some time to go to the hospital with me?” My heart ached deeply, but I still held on to a glimmer of hope. He impatiently slammed the files on the table. Albert said, “Violet, I think I’ve made myself clear. I’m very busy. Handle this trivial matter on your own, and don’t come to me again.” Saying that, he picked up the phone on the table and transferred some money to me. Albert said, “This is for nutrition.” I stared blankly at the five-figure amount on my phone. The bag he casually bought for Esme Black cost far more than this amount. So, in his heart, my child is just this worthless. At this moment, a woman’s voice rang out. “Albert, why are you so angry?” While we were at a stalemate, Esme pushed the door open and walked in. She walked behind Albert and gently squeezed his shoulders. The two of them completely treated me, the legitimate girlfriend, as part of their flirting. All the changes started two years ago. That day, Albert was in a meeting when he suddenly took a call and left in a hurry. Later, I found out that day, Esme, whom he had always kept in his heart, returned to the country. Of course, he had to drop everything to pick her up. At first, I didn’t take it to heart until Esme became the company’s vice president. I went crazy questioning Albert about their relationship, but he just impatiently explained that they were only friends. I believed him. However, a week later, they walked into a hotel hand in hand under the pretense of a business trip. Since then, Albert rarely stayed at home. At the company, they were even more blatant, going to and leaving work together every day. Everyone at the company thought they were the real couple. I coldly said, “I didn’t expect Ms. Black’s habit of getting cozy with other men hasn’t changed.” Esme’s face instantly turned red, and tears welled up in her eyes. It was as if she had been wronged. Sure enough, Albert’s face turned grim. Albert said, “How can you talk like that? This company owes a lot to Esme’s help. Otherwise, how could you afford such a good life? Instead of thanking her, you dare to talk back to her?” I couldn’t help but laugh, thinking, “Thanks to her?” Did Albert forget how, in the early days of starting the business, I stayed with him working overtime at the company every day, running around for deals, and drinking so much at dinners that I ended up with a stomach bleed?” A deep sadness welled up in my heart as I slowly looked up at him. I asked, “Albert, who is more important, her or me?” Albert didn’t even glance at me. He said, “Since when did you become so unreasonable?” I knew there was no point in continuing the conversation, so I grabbed my bag and walked away. Behind me, Albert was still comforting Esme. He said, “Don’t take it to heart. She’s just like that. What kind of upbringing can an orphan have?” Esme wiped away her tears bravely, then smiled and shook her head. She said, “It’s okay. I know Violet just has a bit of a misunderstanding about me. I just need to work hard to get along with her. She’s your girlfriend. I don’t want to make things difficult for you.” Albert let out a long sigh. He said, “You’re just too considerate.” I really couldn’t listen anymore, so I left without looking back.

On the way home in the car, after hesitating for a long time, I still took out my phone and called my mother, Harper Brown. The international call was a bit unstable, so it took three tries before Harper answered. I said, “Mom, it’s me.” Harper on the other end clearly paused for a moment, her voice tinged with sobs. She said, “How could you be so heartless? I only stopped you from being with that poor boy back then, and you haven’t contacted me for so many years. You really broke my heart.” After I got together with Albert, my parents already didn’t think highly of him. After they investigated him, they were shocked to find out he had hidden the truth from me and that his family actually had hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. My father, Grayson Brown, immediately objected, saying that a man like him was very scheming and I was no match for him. But at that time, I was blinded by love and, despite their objections, resolutely cut off all contact with my family. To this day, Albert still thinks I’m an orphan with no parents. I stayed with him from scratch, step by step helping him pay off the debt. Later, he became a respected CEO, and I became the burden he wanted to discard. I said, “Mom, I’m pregnant.” Hearing what I said, there was a loud crash from Harper’s side, probably from falling to the ground. After a long silence, Harper finally sighed. She said, “Since you’ve decided, come back to Paris in three days. Just let me take care of you.” After hanging up the phone, I felt really upset. I thought, “In this world, being a daughter to my parents is truly the easiest.” I thought, “Albert, since you don’t cherish me, I’m leaving.” When I got home, the house was indeed still empty and cold. Albert’s last visit seemed to be half a month ago. I gave a bitter smile, then put down what I was holding. Just as I was about to freshen up, I suddenly received a message from a friend: [Esme is so shameless, posting something like that on Instagram.] Curiously, I opened Esme’s Instagram, only to be hit directly by a photo. In the photo, she was taking a selfie in the hotel mirror, almost topless. And the man facing away from the camera was holding her tightly. If they were a couple, it would at most be considered a little romance between lovers. But through the scar on the man’s shoulder, I recognized it was Albert, who was supposed to be working overtime. Back when we were in the honeymoon phase, Albert had no money. Our only entertainment was hiking the free mountain next to the cheap rental house. But once, I encountered falling rocks while hiking. At the critical moment when the rock was about to hit my head, Albert forcefully pushed me away. In the end, the rock hit him, leaving this scar. At that time, I was so moved that I cried and secretly vowed to stay with Albert forever. But I never expected a man’s heart to change so quickly. Through blurry tears, I saw the text Esme wrote: [I said this scar was ugly, and he said he’d tattoo it with my name tomorrow.] I suddenly laughed. So, it turns out that what I called love was just me deceiving myself.

The next day, I was the first to arrive at the company. It wasn’t because I loved my job, but because I needed to handle my resignation. Standing in the hallway, I took countless deep breaths to prepare myself mentally. The final step of resignation required the president, Albert, to sign. How should I come up with a reasonable excuse to get his approval? I thought and thought, but still couldn’t figure it out. After pacing around the doorway several times, the office door suddenly opened. Esme said, “This is all your fault. If you hadn’t been so rough last night, how would my back hurt?” Her voice, tinged with laughter, reached my ears. I froze, then looked in the direction of the voice. Albert had a smile on his face, one hand gently resting on Esme’s waist. The gentle expression on his face was something I had never received. However, the moment they saw me, a trace of panic flashed in both their eyes. Esme quickly coughed. She said, “Violet, don’t get the wrong idea. We played badminton together last night, and I twisted my waist.” Although she said that, the blush on her face still made people overthink. I knew she was deliberately provoking me, but I didn’t want to pay attention to them. I just handed the document to Albert. Then, I said, “Sign it.” Albert frowned and looked at me. He said, “Haven’t I already signed all the documents? What new business do you have now?” As he spoke, he was about to flip through the document. My heart instantly tensed up, and my mind was racing. I was thinking about how to answer his question later. But I didn’t expect Esme to snatch the document away the next second. Esme said, “I remember this. It seems like business that should’ve been handled long ago. It’s just that the other partner kept delaying. Now, we can finally get rid of her. Albert, go ahead and sign it.” I immediately realized she was insulting me. Yes, I should have parted ways with Albert long ago. It was always me who didn’t want to leave. Albert said, “So that’s how it is. Then I’m relieved. You’re always reliable.” At this moment, his eyes were filled with affection. He no longer wanted to delve into the contents of the document and simply signed his name. The weight in my heart suddenly lifted. I let out a deep breath. I am finally free. Seeing how relaxed I was, Albert looked a bit puzzled. He asked, “Is this document important to you? Why do you have that expression?” I looked down at the ground. Then, I said, “Of course, it’s very important.” Albert glanced again at the document in my hand. But out of trust for Esme, he didn’t ask anything. Esme clutched her waist in pain, while Albert glanced at me. He asked me tentatively, “Violet, Esme is already in pain. It shouldn’t be a problem if I massage her, right? After all, she still has to negotiate business for the company this afternoon.” I said, “Of course, no problem. You’re good partners, helping each other is the right thing to do.” I smiled very innocently. My goal was achieved. Who would still bother with him? Albert had long been prepared for me to throw a tantrum like before. So seeing me so sensible, he was actually a bit surprised. Albert asked, “Is what you said true?” I nodded generously. Then, I said, “Of course. After all, like you said, without Esme’s hard work, how could I have a good life? I should be grateful.” Albert felt something was off about my words, but he couldn’t figure it out. He just stared at me blankly. I waved my bag and said, “Take good care of Esme. I’m heading home.” Perhaps feeling he went a bit too far, Albert coughed and tried to grab my arm. He said, “I’ll come home tonight to have dinner with you.” I said, “No need. I have plans with friends tonight.” Then, I smiled and pulled my hand away. Then, under Albert’s surprised gaze, I left without looking back.

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In my past life, after my dad Derek Jansen passed away, the wealthy Archer Smith took in my mom Luna Jansen and me, Vivian Jansen. Archer’s son, Jasper Smith, hated our presence from the start and repeatedly tried to drive us out of the house. To let Luna live peacefully in the Smith Manor, I started desperately trying to please Jasper. Over time, our relationship grew closer, so close that Archer thought I would eventually become Jasper’s wife. Until that day, Luna and Archer were in a car accident while out and died on the spot. Their only wish was for Jasper to marry me. Jasper agreed but never fulfilled it. At thirty, I was still unmarried. And twenty-six-year-old Jasper never mentioned marriage. He sneered and said, “Vivian, your mom seduced my dad, and now you’re trying to seduce me. Do you really think I’d genuinely respect you?” “You and your mom are the most despicable people I’ve ever met! Get out!” I was thrown out in the pouring rain and eventually married a divorced man who pursued me. A year into the marriage, I endured domestic violence and eventually chose to end my life by jumping. When I opened my eyes again, I returned to a time before Luna’s death. She was laying out several photos, asking me who I wanted to go on a blind date with this week. This time, I didn’t refuse and randomly picked one. Under the table, a hand touched my waist. I turned my head and saw 18-year-old Jasper sitting next to me, his face gloomy. Luna asked, “Are you sure it’s this one?” Archer said, “Pretty good, he’s about the same age as Vivian and has a gentle personality.” At the table, Luna and Archer smiled as they discussed, asking me when to meet. Under the table, Jasper’s fingers wandered around my waist. I jolted as if shocked and sprang up. “Tomorrow then! I can meet after work. I’m heading upstairs now.” After speaking, I quickly walked up the stairs and glanced down at the doorway as if sensing something. Jasper was still sitting at the table, staring straight at me. His face remained indifferent, but a dark storm swirled in his eyes. I knew he was angry. Jasper never hides his emotions. I still remember when Derek had just died, and Archer brought Luna and me into the Smith Manor for the first time. Jasper stood gloomily in the center of the living room. His face was pale as he picked up a cup and angrily threw it at us. I instinctively shielded Luna. The cup flew past my cheek, leaving a bruise on my skin. Jasper wore a mocking smile. “Where did this stray dog come from, barging into someone else’s house? So impatient, huh?” Archer was furious and stepped forward to slap him. Jasper’s face turned to the side from the slap, his eyes reddening heavily. He roared, “My mom just died a year ago, and you couldn’t wait to bring these two bitches into the house.” “Aren’t you afraid my mom will crawl out of her coffin to haunt you?” “Jasper!” Archer roared. I didn’t dare to speak. The first meeting was unpleasant. Even though Luna repeatedly emphasized that she and Archer were innocent and would never get married, Jasper still didn’t believe it. He was convinced we were outsiders vying for status and used every means to force us out. He covered our room with photos of his deceased mother, insisted on offering her food before meals, and the mix of burning candles and food smells made everyone at the table look uncomfortable. Luna stood stiffly on the side, at a loss. She stayed awake night after night, crying and blaming herself for staying here, while hesitating whether to stay for my future. Watching her wipe away tears alone in the middle of the night, I silently hugged her from behind. I said, “It’s okay, Mom, I will make Jasper accept us.” From that day on, I started to please him. He insulted me as a “bastard,” and I lowered my head and accepted it. He ordered me to be a servant, cleaning up all his messes, and I did it without complaint. But our relationship never improved. Until one stormy night, only he and I were left at home. The howling wind carried the heavy rain into the house. Startled by the sudden thunder, I hurried to the balcony to gather the drying clothes. When I finally returned with the clothes and shut the window tightly, I suddenly heard those heavy breaths drowned out by the sound of the rain. I froze, slowly walking toward the source of the sound. Before I got there, the figure on the sofa suddenly grabbed the corner of my clothes. Jasper was curled up in the darkest corner of the living room, his back tense, his body trembling uncontrollably. I looked down at his hand clutching my clothes tightly, and asked, “Are you okay?” He shouted, “Get out.” Getting a response, I nodded and turned to leave. At that moment, a lightning bolt suddenly struck, and Jasper screamed, instinctively gripping tighter. I was suddenly pulled down, falling onto him, and in the darkness, I clearly saw his pale face. Fear, terror, humiliation—various emotions intertwined in his eyes, with reddened rims faintly glistening with tears. Our breaths were so close that I could hear the sound of his heartbeat. The veins on his hand bulged as he gritted his teeth, reached out to tightly hold my waist, and whispered, “Don’t go, stay with me.” From that day on, our relationship completely changed.

At that moment, the door was suddenly knocked. I opened the door, it was Jasper. At eighteen, his sharp features still carried a hint of boyish innocence. His outstretched arm, lean yet strong, pressed against the door, stopping me from closing it. He said, “The weather forecast says there will be thunder tonight.” In his youth, he was used to treating me as a sedative. His eyes held little fear, but rather a sense of longing. He asked, “Can you keep me company today too?” I looked at him quietly for a long time, then finally sighed and said, “Jasper, you’re already eighteen. You shouldn’t be afraid of thunder anymore.” “Vivian!” he abruptly interrupted me, anger rising in his eyes as he barged into my room. “What do you mean? Why are you meeting another man? Don’t you want me anymore? You’re my sister.” As he spoke, he had already pinned me against the wall, burying his face skillfully in the crook of my neck. The word “sister” was bitten out heavily by him, filled with grievance and unwillingness. I suddenly found it laughable. I thought, “If he truly had any sincerity, he wouldn’t have made me wait so many years in my past life without ever hearing him mention marriage.” I broke free, my expression cold. “I will always see you as my younger brother. Even if I get married, you will still be my brother.” He looked at me in disbelief, then stormed out angrily and embarrassed. Early the next morning, as dawn broke, I got dressed and prepared to go on a blind date, only to suddenly see a dark figure curled up in front of my door. Jasper looked up at me like a stray dog, his eyes filled with gloom. He stood up and approached me, resting his chin tenderly on my shoulder, murmuring, “Please don’t go on the blind date, okay?” He dragged out the last syllable, as if he were whining. I said, “No.” I didn’t want to say more to him and turned to leave. He knocked over the vase at the door, the crisp sound echoing sharply in the empty villa. I instinctively turned back, only to see him standing amidst the shards as if he felt no pain, tightly clutching a broken piece of porcelain in his hand. Blood dripped from the back of his hand onto the ground, glaringly red. His eyes reddened, and he let out a painful groan, staring straight at me. “I’m hurt.” Maybe he was waiting for me, as usual, to feel sorry and anxiously tend to his wound, just to please him. But now, I had no desire to care about him anymore. I turned away coldly and said, “I’ll get the maid to help you with it.” “Stop!” He finally dropped the pretense, strode forward, grabbed my wrist tightly, and pulled me into his arms. His chest was scorching, pressed against my back. He said, “Vivian, are you trying to get rid of me now? Weren’t you the one chasing after me to please me before?” “What, have you found a new man? Don’t want me anymore?” I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to break free. “Jasper, stop it. I was good to you because I saw you as a brother!” He let out a cold laugh, his eyes dark and menacing. “What brother? Vivian, what kind of sister are you to me? Your mom will never marry my dad in this lifetime, so stop dreaming.” “You’re going on a blind date, right? Then I will too. There are plenty of women like your mom trying to climb into our family, one less won’t matter!” His voice grew louder and almost out of control. I suddenly laughed, forcefully shook off his hand, and said indifferently, “Suit yourself.” Then, I left without looking back. That night when I got home, I could hear fierce arguing coming from the living room from afar. Pushing the door open, I saw Jasper leaning lazily against the wall, watching Archer scold him, “Where did you bring that woman from? And you dare bring her home? Who gave you the nerve!” Jasper caught sight of me from the corner of his eye and casually curled his lips. “Vivian has started going on blind dates, how can I not be anxious? I need to find a girlfriend too.” Archer’s face turned red with anger. Luna quietly approached me and whispered, “Jasper brought several strange women home, and Archer kicked them all out. Archer almost beat Jasper up.” I walked past expressionlessly, pretending I saw nothing. Archer saw me, his expression softened a bit, and he asked, “Vivian, you’re back? How was the blind date today?” I smiled slightly, “Not bad, we get along quite well. This weekend, we planned to go to an art exhibition together; we have similar interests.” Hearing this, Jasper’s face instantly darkened.

Late at night, as I finished washing up and returned to my room, a hand suddenly reached out from the darkness and yanked me into the stairwell. “Vivian.” Jasper’s voice was hoarse, a faint, unreadable smile on his lips as he pressed me against the cold wall with his body. In the cramped space, our breaths intertwined, warm air brushing against my neck. He asked, “Why did you suddenly start ignoring me?” He had probably been drinking, his cheeks flushed unnaturally red. His already captivating eyes were now glistening. He said, “Aren’t I your favorite? Stop going on blind dates with other men, okay?” He slowly leaned in, his lips gently brushing against my cheek. I instinctively tried to dodge, but his large hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer. “Jasper, you’re crazy!” I frantically raised my hand to hit his back. Not far away, Luna and Archer had finished packing up and were ready to say goodnight. Hearing their footsteps getting closer, I grew more anxious. “Let go of me, they’ll see us!” “Then admit our relationship.” He suddenly looked up, his gaze a bit clearer but filled with mockery and amusement. “Weren’t you looking forward to letting my dad and the others know before?” “Isn’t this good for us? Anyway, your mom will never marry my dad in this lifetime. Marrying me would fulfill your goal, isn’t that what you want?” He spoke word by word, his tone clearly smiling, yet I saw a trace of instinctive disgust in his struggling eyes. Yeah, he has always thought of me this way and never looked up to me. The stairwell was eerily silent, suffocating me. Not until I heard Luna and Archer enter their rooms did I raise my hand and slap him sharply across the face. I said, “Jasper, I was foolish before. But from now on, I am your sister, and you should show me some respect.” “Don’t worry, I’ll get married right away. My mom and I won’t be in your way anymore.” I pushed him away and walked off without hesitation. I thought I made myself clear this time. No matter how unwilling Jasper was, he should let go. But no one expected that during a family dinner, he actually said in front of everyone, “Dad, I like Vivian, and I want to marry her. You’ll agree, right?” As soon as he said that, everyone was stunned. I quickly looked at Archer. His face darkened, and he sternly shouted, “Jasper, there’s a limit to your nonsense!” Jasper’s face also darkened, no longer casual like before. “I’m not joking.” I suddenly stood up and said, “Jasper! I was just advising you not to get too close to women of unknown background, and this is how you retaliate against me?” I urgently and angrily accused Jasper, successfully making everyone stop believing his words. Archer believed me, thinking Jasper was being reckless and vengeful, and angrily slapped him. Jasper’s head turned from the slap, but he said nothing, his eyes fixed on me, never looking away. My heart was pounding as if it would burst out of my chest, and I turned and fled upstairs. In this life, I want to stay far away from Jasper and never have anything to do with him again. But that night, he barged into my room again. I woke up startled from my sleep, my mind still in a haze. He softly called my name, leaving me dazed, unable to tell if it was the past life or this one. “Sorry, Vivian, don’t marry him.” He suddenly lunged forward, holding me tightly, his voice trembling, his face streaked with tears. His eyes were tightly shut, as if trapped in an inescapable nightmare. One moment he said he wanted to marry me, the next he begged me not to marry someone else, and then he pleaded not to jump. His tears flowed endlessly, soaking the front of my nightgown. I frowned, my tone icy, and grabbed a pillow to throw at him. “Get out!” Jasper suddenly seemed to snap back to reality. He stared at me blankly, confusion in his eyes, followed by a look of struggle and pain. “Vivian?” Seeing him step forward again, I didn’t hesitate and slapped him once more. The moonlight revealed his pale, lifeless face and the cold sweat on his forehead. Tears streaked his face as he stood there dazed, staring at me, unable to snap out of it. After a long while, he murmured, “Are you alive?”

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Arabella Walker and Charles Clark are the most enviable loving couple in the entire military base’s family area. Charles is a famously cold-looking colonel, but all his tenderness is reserved for Arabella. When Arabella had her period, Charles would make her honey water. When Arabella had a high fever in the middle of the night, Charles would carry her through the snow to the hospital. Even when Arabella had a severe hemorrhage during the difficult birth of their daughter, Bonnie Clark, Charles ignored everyone’s advice and insisted the nurse take half his blood to transfuse to her. Arabella originally thought they would live happily like this forever. Until three years ago, Charles’s brother, James Clark, unexpectedly passed away, leaving behind his wife, Emilia Kelly, and their one-year-old son, Arlo Clark. Charles had a close bond with James since childhood. From then on, he took caring for Emilia and Arlo as his responsibility. At first, Charles only delivered some daily necessities and food to them from time to time. But later, at some point, the relationship between Charles, Emilia, and Arlo slowly changed. Emilia said she hadn’t worn new clothes in a long time, so Charles used all his salary to take Emilia and Arlo to the department store, buying new clothes from head to toe. Emilia mentioned that Arlo had never had a photo taken since birth, so Charles took them to a studio for a “family portrait.” Once, even when Arlo and Bonnie both caught a virus, Charles gave the hospital’s only dose of special medicine to Arlo. Arabella and Charles had argued, but every time after she lost control, Charles would hold her in his arms and repeat the explanation she had heard countless times. Charles said, “Emilia and Arlo were the people James loved most in his life. Now that James is gone, as his brother, of course, I have to take good care of them. Otherwise, how could I face James after I die?” “Don’t worry. I’ll only take care of them until Arlo becomes an adult.” “Arabella, you’re my wife. You should understand me. For my sake, can you bear with it, please?” Looking into Charles’s familiar gentle eyes, Arabella chose to trust and endure again and again. She naively thought Charles was just too responsible, which is why he treated Emilia and Arlo so well. She thought that once Arlo grew up, Charles would naturally return to being the considerate husband and father he once was. Until a month ago, Arlo suddenly had a nosebleed and was sent to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. Everyone eligible for matching was tested, but no one was a match. That night, Charles stayed alone in the study and didn’t come out all night. The next morning, Charles grabbed Arabella, who was about to make breakfast, his voice hoarse but firm. Charles said, “Arabella, I want to have another child with Emilia.” With a bang, the plate in Arabella’s hand slipped and shattered. She looked at Charles in disbelief, her voice slightly trembling. Arabella asked, “What did you say?” A hint of pain flashed in Charles’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by urgency. He said, “The doctor said that if there’s no matching donor, a sibling’s cord blood can save Arlo. James and I are brothers, sharing the same blood. So, the cord blood from a child Emilia and I have can also be used. That way, Arlo can be saved.” Arabella’s nails dug into her palms, leaving bloody marks. She struggled to steady her nearly collapsing body, her gaze slowly scanning Charles’s face, trying to find a hint of joking in his expression. But no. The urgency and seriousness in Charles’s eyes were completely genuine. Arabella staggered back two steps, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying. She never imagined her husband would suggest having a child with another woman. Arabella said, “Charles, for the past three years, you’ve left Bonnie and me time and again to be with Emilia and Arlo. I’ve endured it all because you said you’d only take care of them until Arlo came of age. “But now? You want to have a child with Emilia. “What about Bonnie and me? What do we mean to you?” By the end, Arabella’s tears were falling heavily to the ground. Seeing her tears, Charles felt a twinge of guilt, but Arlo’s frail figure and Emilia’s devastated expression kept flashing in his mind. He turned away, avoiding Arabella’s eyes, afraid he might waver. Charles said, “You and Bonnie are the ones I love most in this life. That will never change. Having a child with Emilia is only to save Arlo.” “Besides, with IVF technology now, Emilia and I can have a child without being intimate. That way, I wouldn’t be betraying you.” Arabella thought bitterly, “What does it matter if there’s no intimacy?” That child, once born, will share a blood relationship with him. At that time, should I tell Bonnie that her dad and her Aunt Emilia had a baby brother for her?” Arabella couldn’t do it. She wasn’t generous enough to tolerate her husband having a child with another woman. Arabella closed her eyes, her voice unusually calm. She asked, “Charles, what if I say I disagree?” After being refused several times, Charles was a bit angry. He didn’t understand why Arabella was unwilling. He was doing it to save Arlo, and nothing would actually happen between him and Emilia. He looked at Arabella with disappointment in his eyes. Charles said, “Arlo is James’s only descendant left in the world. No matter what, I have to save him.” These resolute words were like a sharp sword, piercing deeply into Arabella’s heart. It turned out Charles wasn’t discussing it with her; he had already made the decision and was merely informing her. Seeing Arabella unresponsive, Charles gave her a deep look. He said, “I’m going to the hospital to see Arlo. Arabella, I hope you can think it through.” After speaking, he strode away. Arabella stood there, watching Charles’s figure gradually disappear. Her eyes, always filled with love, were now only numb. She knew that from today, it was over between her and Charles. “Mom.” Bonnie’s voice pulled Arabella’s thoughts back. Bonnie asked, “Is Dad going to have a baby with Aunt Emilia? Will he no longer be just my dad?” She threw herself into Arabella’s arms, her voice trembling with sobs. Arabella hadn’t expected Bonnie to wake up and hear their conversation. Looking into Bonnie’s tear-filled eyes, Arabella couldn’t bring herself to lie to her. Arabella nodded reluctantly. Bonnie’s body stiffened for a moment, and the next second, tears streamed down her face. She asked, “Mom, is it because I did something wrong that made Dad angry, so he wants to have another child with Aunt Emilia?” Bonnie was too young to understand that Charles talked about having a child with Emilia to save Arlo. She only knew that her dad was going to have another child. Hearing Bonnie’s self-blaming cries, Arabella felt as if her heart was being stabbed. She crouched down and wiped away the tears on Bonnie’s face. Arabella said, “Bonnie, you did nothing wrong. “How about I get you a new dad? A dad who belongs only to you.” Bonnie hugged Arabella’s neck tightly and buried her head in her shoulder. She said, “Okay. Since Dad wants other kids, then I don’t want him anymore.”

The next morning, after dropping Bonnie off at kindergarten, Arabella rode her bike to the Courthouse and handed the prepared documents to the staff. Arabella said, “Hello, I want to apply for a forced divorce.” The staff member looked up at her in surprise, their tone very serious. He said, “Have you thought it through? Divorce is no small matter. Conflicts between spouses are inevitable. Don’t act impulsively.” Arabella nodded silently, her expression resolute. The thought of divorce had already taken root in her mind during these three years when Charles repeatedly “took care” of Emilia and Arlo. But thinking of young Bonnie and their past feelings, she kept persuading herself to endure. Until yesterday, when Charles suggested having a child with Emilia. This seed finally sprouted. Seeing her completely unwavering, the staff sighed. He said, “Forced divorce requires a one-month process. During this period, if you don’t withdraw the application, the marriage will be automatically dissolved.” Hearing this, Arabella felt relieved. A month later, she could leave with Bonnie. It was late at night when Charles, who hadn’t been home all day, finally returned. Arabella lay on the bed with her back to him, no longer throwing herself into his arms like before. Charles stared deeply at her back, his voice tinged with restraint and pain. “Arabella, the longer Arlo’s illness drags on, the more dangerous it becomes, so…” Arabella’s heart skipped a beat. The next second, Charles’s slow and clear voice echoed in the quiet room. He said, “Emilia and I started IVF today. In a week, the doctor can transfer the embryo into Emilia’s womb.” Even though she had decided to divorce Charles, hearing that he and Emilia had already started conceiving their child still tore Arabella’s heart apart. The man who vowed to love her for a lifetime when they married now had a child with another woman. How could she not feel heartbroken? But luckily, she had already decided to leave him. This pain will only be temporary. Arabella closed her eyes tightly, held back the ache in her chest, and nodded gently. Charles thought she would lose control like yesterday. He had his words of persuasion ready but didn’t expect her to be so calm. He looked at the unresponsive Arabella in front of him with a complicated expression. Charles asked, “Arabella, you agreed?” For some reason, knowing that Arabella agreed to him having a child with Emilia, he should have been happy, but he felt a bit uneasy. Noticing the trace of unease in his voice, Arabella gave a sarcastic smile. She said, “Even if I don’t agree, you and Emilia would still go for IVF, wouldn’t you?” Charles opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. After all, he had indeed decided to go through with IVF no matter what. He carefully observed Arabella’s reaction and only breathed a sigh of relief after noticing she showed no signs of displeasure, then gently pulled her into his arms. Charles said, “Arabella, thank you for understanding. Everything I do is just to fulfill James’s wish to take care of Emilia and Arlo.” Arabella had heard the exact same explanation from him too many times, so she no longer held any expectations for his words. “Alright. I’m going to sleep. Bonnie’s kindergarten is hosting a parent-child fair tomorrow, so I need to get up early.” Thinking of young Bonnie, Charles’s eyes showed a hint of guilt. He said, “I’ve been busy looking for a match for Arlo lately and haven’t spent much time with Bonnie. I’ll go with you tomorrow.”

The next morning, Arabella dressed Bonnie in her favorite little dress. She twirled around excitedly, holding up her skirt. Bonnie said, “Mom, today I’m going to be the prettiest kid in kindergarten.” Arabella smiled and pinched her cheek. She said, “In my eyes, you’ve always been the prettiest kid.” Bonnie shyly threw herself into her arms. Charles just came out of the bedroom and saw Arabella and Bonnie laughing, feeling very tender inside. He picked up Bonnie in one swoop, then took Arabella’s hand, his voice full of joy. Charles said, “I’ll go with you too.” Bonnie hugged Charles’s neck and tentatively asked, “Dad, are you really not going to Arlo’s place today?” Although she had said she didn’t want Charles as her dad, Bonnie was still a child and secretly hoped to attend the parent-child fair with her mom and dad. After all, for the past three years, every time there was a parent-child activity at the kindergarten, Charles would choose to accompany Arlo. Over time, some classmates teased her for not having a dad. Bonnie’s words made Arabella’s nose sting, almost bringing her to tears. Charles felt a tinge of guilt in his heart. Since James passed away, he didn’t want Arlo to be teased for not having a dad, so he attended every event with Arlo, neglecting Bonnie in the process. If Arlo weren’t hospitalized now, this fair might have been… He stopped thinking further. Anyway, he would stay with Bonnie today. That was enough. Charles said, “Of course. I’ll play with you all day today.” A simple promise made Bonnie temporarily forget yesterday’s unhappiness and excitedly hug Charles around the neck. Bonnie said, “I want to introduce Dad to all my classmates.” She wanted to tell them that she also had a dad. However, just as they arrived at the entrance of the military base’s family area, they saw Emilia’s anxious figure. Emilia said, “Charles, Arlo doesn’t want to stay in the hospital and insists on pulling out the IV to run outside. He usually listens to you the most. Can you go to the hospital and help me persuade him?” She grabbed Charles’s sleeve, her tone extremely anxious. Hearing her words, Charles immediately frowned. He said, “How can he be so reckless? Emilia, don’t worry. I’ll go to the hospital with you right now.” Hearing him agree, Arabella was almost amused with anger. He had just promised to accompany Bonnie, and now he forgot. Arabella said, “Charles, today is Bonnie’s parent-child outing. You promised to accompany her.” Charles realized it too, his face stiffened, and he looked hesitant. Emilia let go of her hand and started sobbing into her palms. She said, “Charles, it’s me and Arlo who have delayed you too much. Go accompany Bonnie. I’ll go persuade Arlo alone. If he really doesn’t listen to me, then I won’t treat his illness anymore.” Saying that, she turned and left. Charles panicked instantly, then put Bonnie down and ran after Emilia. He said, “Emilia, how could that be? Bonnie’s matter isn’t important. Arlo is the priority right now.” After speaking, he turned around, his eyes filled with a deeply familiar guilt. Charles said, “I’m sorry, Bonnie. How about letting your mom go with you today?” Arabella’s nails dug deep into her palms as she trembled with anger. She thought angrily, “Why does he make promises he can’t keep?” As a mother, she couldn’t accept her daughter’s emotions plummeting from heaven to hell. This is too cruel for a child. Arabella was about to step forward to call Charles back when a small hand tugged at her sleeve. Bonnie’s face showed a calmness beyond her age. “Mom, let’s go. Having you by my side is enough. Anyway, I’m already used to days without a dad.” Even though Bonnie spoke nonchalantly, Arabella still noticed a hint of hurt in her eyes and a trace of sobbing in her voice. Arabella hugged Bonnie tightly with a heart full of ache, trying hard to hold back the sting in her eyes. She said, “I promise you, once we leave here, I’ll find you a dad who only cares about you.”

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My name is Olivia Moore. My husband Nolan Schmidt’s father, Liam Schmidt, had a sudden heart attack and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, but as a doctor, he let the intern Camila Hayes perform the surgery. Camila stood at the operating table, flustered, unable to even hold the scalpel steadily. She blinked and said coyly, “Mr. Schmidt, I’m a little scared.” Nolan dotingly tapped her nose, completely ignoring the steadily declining vitals on the monitor, patiently comforting her for ten minutes before guiding her step by step on how to perform a thoracotomy. As a result, Camila’s hand trembled and accidentally cut the aorta. She suddenly threw herself into Nolan’s arms, crying for comfort. Nolan held her tightly, soothing her softly. Meanwhile, Liam missed the best rescue window and died on the spot. When Nolan walked out of the operating room holding the still-sobbing Camila, he just shot me a cold glance. He said, “If you want to blame someone, blame your dad’s bad luck. Before you leave, write a thank-you letter to comfort Camila. Your dad lived to a good age, that’s enough. Don’t let his death leave Camila with psychological scars.” I froze in place. After a moment of shock, I realized he had always thought the one on the operating table was my dad, Wyatt Moore. I let out a sneer, “I’m afraid you’ll have to write that thank-you letter yourself.” Nolan looked impatient. “Olivia, can you stop being so unreasonable? Acting like this will only make people dislike you!” “Didn’t you see how terrified Camila was to perform surgery on your dad?” Camila burrowed into his arms with grievance. “Mr. Schmidt, don’t say that, Olivia will get upset. If I cause any discord between you two, I’d be heartbroken.” “It’s my fault for not being capable enough to save Olivia’s father. She has every right to blame me. Even if she wants to hit or scold me now, I’ll accept it.” As she spoke, she truly began to choke up. Nolan felt heartbroken and immediately held her tighter, gently comforting, “I’m here, let’s see who dares to touch you!” “Camila, you’re just too kind. It’s not your fault her dad unfortunately got sick, so don’t blame yourself for this.” Then, he turned his head and glared at me fiercely. “Olivia, that’s enough. Look at how badly you’ve bullied her!” “Take your dad’s body away immediately! Stop being an eyesore here! And hurry up and write a thank-you letter!” Watching their intimate behavior, I just felt disgusted. When Liam was first sent to the hospital, I immediately called Nolan. I heard he canceled several emergency surgeries to come over, and I felt relieved at the time. He is the top surgeon in this hospital, saving countless critically ill patients. I thought he didn’t trust others, which is why he was so eager to take charge, but I never expected he would dare to let an inexperienced intern lead the surgery. Now the patient is dead, and the family has to comfort the doctor instead? But after all, Nolan is the one who is actually related to Liam by blood, so I can’t say much. I spoke coldly, “I have no problem, just wondering if you also think this has nothing to do with the doctor and that we should thank the doctor for saving lives despite being scared?” Nolan sneered, his eyes contemptuous, “Olivia, stop with the sarcasm. Do you think I can’t understand your words? You’re just jealous that Camila can heal and save lives.” “I’ll make myself clear today, you can record it. Even if it were my dad on the operating table, I’d still say the same thing.” “The patient’s death has nothing to do with the doctor. Having a kind doctor like Camila is a blessing for the patients, and as family members, we should be grateful!” I just found it funny and quickly recorded it as he requested. Looking at his indifferent attitude, I just felt chilled to the bone. Earlier this year, when I brought my parents for a check-up, I remembered Liam occasionally mentioning his heart felt uncomfortable. Thinking about how he usually treats me with care, I went ahead and booked a full check-up for him as well. The results showed that my parents were in good health, but Liam was diagnosed with heart disease. At that time, he looked at me pleadingly, asking me not to tell Nolan, fearing it would upset him and affect his work. So when Nolan anxiously asked who was critically ill, I lied and said it was Wyatt who was sick. After hearing that, he let out a long sigh of relief, and there was even a trace of undisguised glee in his eyes. He even told me to spend more time with my parents since Wyatt is old, and heart disease isn’t easy to treat. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but looking back, he always thought it was Wyatt who was sick. I shook the recorder in my hand, sneering inwardly but putting on a reluctant face. “Since you’ve said so, I have no objections. After all, he’s our dad.” Nolan didn’t catch the sarcasm in my words and thought I had compromised with him. He smirked slightly and arrogantly ordered, “What are you standing there for? Move aside! Can’t you see Camila’s pale from exhaustion after saving your dad? Go back and make some nutritious meals for her.” After saying that, he wrapped his arm around Camila and brushed past me, striding away. As they passed by me, Camila nestled in Nolan’s arms, looking at me with a provocative gaze full of smugness. I couldn’t be bothered with those fools. When he finds out the person who died on the operating table was actually his biological father, his reaction should be quite something. By then, I hope he can still say, “A patient’s death has nothing to do with the doctor.” Over the years after marriage, Liam has always treated me well, often secretly supporting us financially. I couldn’t bear to see him leave in such humiliation, so I decided to send him off with dignity. I went alone to handle the death procedures. The people at the hospital were all shocked. When Liam was brought in, everyone already knew. Nolan insisted on being the lead surgeon, but no one expected Liam to pass away so quickly. But now, handling the aftermath, he’s nowhere to be found. Just as I was about to complete the final procedure, Nolan suddenly barged in with Camila, threw an agreement at me, and ordered, “Sign it!”

I glanced at it and realized it was an organ donation consent form. I stared at Nolan in disbelief, fury surging instantly. “Nolan, you know his obsession! He would never allow you to treat his body like this!” Before Nolan could speak, Camila sneered from the side, “Oh please, donating organs is a contribution to medicine. He should feel honored.” I shot her a cold glare. “That must be done with respect for the deceased, got it?” Nolan instantly got angry and yelled at me, “Olivia, don’t be ungrateful! He’s already dead anyway, his organs can still be of some use to society.” “Besides, this is also doing good for him. Who knows how much sin he committed in this life? Otherwise, why could others be saved, but he had to die? Maybe this is karma!” I was trembling with anger, my fingertips shaking. “Give up on this idea. I will never agree to sign it!” Nolan grabbed my hand forcefully, his grip almost crushing my bones. He said, “Olivia, don’t be ungrateful! This is my decision, not yours to make!” I was furious, my face flushed red, and I shouted at him with teary eyes, “How dare you bully me? My parents won’t let you off if they find out!” Nolan’s gaze turned icy cold as he forcefully shoved me away. I fell hard to the ground, my back aching from the impact. He said coldly, “You’re just relying on your family’s money. Wake up, your dad’s gone, and no one has your back anymore!” I endured the sharp pain in my hand, but a chill spread from my chest to my entire body. This is the man I insisted on marrying against my parents’ objections back then—he’s nothing but a complete scumbag! Tears rolled down my cheeks as I spoke wearily, “No matter what you say, I will never sign.” In Liam’s hometown, the custom is that the body must remain intact after death to have a next life. I really can’t bring myself to do something so heartless. Nolan tried to drag me to sign, but Camila suddenly said, “Mr. Schmidt, you’re also a family member, so you have the right to sign. Let’s do her a favor.” Nolan looked at her dotingly and praised, “You’re so smart, let’s just consider this a good deed.” Before he finished speaking, he had already swiftly signed his name on the consent form. I looked at him in disappointment. “You will regret this.” He gave me a disdainful glance, ready to go with Camila to dissect the body, but a phone call interrupted him. Before leaving, he specifically reminded, “Camila, I need to handle an emergency surgery first. Don’t be afraid, just do your best.” “Anyway, it’s just a corpse, and there might not be much usable. Letting you practice is her dad’s final value.” After Nolan left, Camila, as if deliberately provoking me, showed no respect for the donor. Instead, she vented her anger by ruthlessly sawing off Liam’s limbs with a bone saw. Then, she pulled out Liam’s organs and threw them everywhere. She even pretended to sigh beside me, “Ah, his organs have all failed. They’re completely useless, donating them is meaningless.” Then she took photos from various angles and sent them to Nolan. [Mr. Schmidt, do you think I’m brave?] Nolan replied: [Amazing, our Camila is the best.] I was so disturbed by the scene that I kept gagging. Camila glanced at me and sneered, “You’re so useless. Even though your dad’s corpse isn’t much use, at least it provided some experimental material for the doctors!” Looking at her smug expression, I couldn’t hold back anymore and sent a message to Nolan: [Nolan, let’s get a divorce!]

Nolan arrived quickly and mocked as soon as he walked in, “Olivia, can’t you see the situation by now? Your dad is dead, and you think you’re still that high-and-mighty rich girl? Without me, who do you think would want you?” I looked at him, holding back my disgust. “That’s still better than being with scum like you!” He seemed to have hit a sore spot, his face twisting instantly. “Aren’t you just relying on having a slightly better family background? Ever since school, you’ve acted all high and mighty! Do you think just because your family paid for a few years of my tuition and gave me some handouts, you have the right to order me around?” “Let me tell you, everything I have today is because of myself! It has nothing to do with your family!” I let out a cold snort. Over the years, we’ve given him far more than just financial support! Even his current fame was built with a lot of effort from us. But in the end, we raised an ungrateful monster! I said, “Nolan, if it were really all on your own, you probably wouldn’t have even graduated from college! Look at your self-deceiving face right now, it’s truly disgusting.” “Two choices: divorce or see you in court.” He stared at me fiercely, his eyes venomous as if he wanted to tear me apart. He said, “You think I don’t dare to divorce?” “I’d like to see how miserable you’ll become without me!” After saying that, he took Camila’s hand and walked away. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned around and glanced at the shattered, chaotic room. He said, “Hurry up and take your dad’s filthy stuff away. Don’t taint such a sacred place as the hospital.” I originally wanted to let him say a final goodbye to Liam, but now it seems completely unnecessary. Within half a day, I arranged the crematorium, set up the mourning hall, and informed friends, family, and Nolan. I’ve done everything I could for Liam. I just stepped outside to catch my breath, and when I came back, the sight before me made my scalp tingle. Liam’s funeral portrait was vandalized with red paint, disfigured beyond recognition.。 The pastor originally invited to pray was rudely sent away, replaced by a noisy band. The most infuriating thing is that Liam’s urn was taken, and a few people nearby seemed to be making something like fireworks, almost finished. I rushed in and shouted angrily, “What are you doing!” Camila chuckled softly, “Why are you making such a fuss? We’re having a joyful funeral; it’s all the rage now.” “Mr. Schmidt even praised me for being creative!” Nolan nodded with satisfaction, looked at the ruined portrait, and said coldly, “Camila meant well, lively and cheerful, isn’t it nice?” “Your dad’s ashes have been made into fireworks. Soon, we’ll send them into the sky—consider it sending him to heaven.”

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