I’d loved Julian Vance for ten years. I’d pulled every trick in the book, even driving away the woman he truly loved, just to marry him. Six years into our marriage, Julian had slept with pretty much every woman who crossed his path. But no matter how much he hurt me, I never thought of leaving. Not until I was huge with child, and walked in on him bringing a woman home, making love right there in our bed. I broke down, demanding answers. He just looked at me, a mocking smirk on his face. “Clara, don’t forget what you promised when we got married. You said you wouldn’t interfere with my private life, as long as you got to marry me. If you feel like you’re losing out, go find another man yourself.” He casually glanced at my swollen belly, his voice dripping with venom. “Just remember to use protection. Don’t go dirtying the Vance family’s child in your womb.” My emotions completely shattered. I lunged at him, but he coldly pushed me away. I tumbled down the stairs, losing both myself and my baby. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I caught him bringing that woman home. This time, I decided to let go of my decade-long obsession. I’d set Julian free, and finally, myself.

I’d just found out I was having a daughter. Excitedly, I rushed home with a huge bag full of pink baby items from the store, wanting to surprise Julian. And it certainly was a huge “surprise.” There was a faint, lingering scent of perfume in the house, not overpowering, but undeniably intimate. It meant another woman was here. My sense of smell was super sensitive because of the pregnancy, and perfume made me sick. I climbed the stairs, step by painful step, noticing clothes scattered along the way. Men’s ties and dress pants, women’s lingerie and a slip dress. They were entangled intimately, leading all the way to our master bedroom, the door slightly ajar. Listening to the sickening sounds coming from inside, my heart clenched in agony. I took a deep breath, my fingernails digging into my palms. Looking down, I saw the shopping bags I’d just bought had slipped from my grasp, scattered at my feet. They lay mixed with the clothes on the floor, a scene of utter devastation. The sight before me made me fully realize that I had been reborn. In my last life, I impulsively burst through that door, fought with those two disgusting people, and ultimately died, filled with bitter resentment, taking my unborn child with me. This time, I just slowly made my way downstairs, steadying myself against the wall. I sat quietly on the sofa and waited. I don’t know how long passed until Julian finally appeared, wrapped in a bathrobe, the lingering scent of their passion clinging to him. It made my stomach churn. He watched me, expressionless, as I kept gagging. “Do you have a guest over?” I wiped the corner of my mouth, my voice surprisingly calm, without a single tremor. Julian nodded nonchalantly, calmly walking towards me, step by step. I stood up, holding my belly, and took a step back, continuing, “And this guest is currently in our room?” Julian froze for a moment, probably surprised that this time, catching him red-handed, I wasn’t having a meltdown like the countless times before. But he still nodded, and just as he was about to speak, a woman descended the stairs barefoot, casually draped in my silk nightgown. I recognized her instantly: Serena Beaumont, the lead actress from the hit show I was just watching last night. She looped her arm through Julian’s, her eyes gleaming seductively. “Mr. Vance, who is this…?” As she spoke, she deliberately flaunted the visible marks of their passion on her chest. Julian reached out, wrapping an arm around Serena, and provocatively squeezed her soft curves, making the actress gasp playfully in his embrace. “Oh, she’s my wife…” Serena covered her mouth, her almond eyes wide with feigned surprise, her voice trembling dramatically. “Oh? You’re so naughty, why didn’t you tell me your wife was coming back…?” Julian kissed her neck, a lecherous grin on his face. “What’s there to be scared of? Isn’t this more exciting? Besides—” He looked at me with a sneer. “Mrs. Vance, didn’t we agree long ago that this marriage was a mutual arrangement, and we wouldn’t interfere with each other’s lives?” “These six years, you haven’t exactly lost out. I’ve been more than generous to your family.” He wasn’t wrong. If not for the two hundred million he gave us when we got engaged, my family’s business would have collapsed long ago. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly nodded. “I understand. I’m sorry, I seem to have interrupted you.” I opened the door and walked out, step by painful step. It was as if he sensed that I was walking out of his life forever. “Wait!” Julian called out, his voice shaking. I didn’t turn back. I didn’t say goodbye. Julian, I won’t wait for you anymore.

I trudged for what felt like ages with my heavy belly until I finally made it out of the gated community and flagged down a taxi. Opening the car door, I turned for one last look. This ending, perhaps, was the best for me. At least I wouldn’t end up like in my last life, throwing my life away to fight for a man who never loved me. I couldn’t go back to my parents’ house, so I headed to my small apartment, the one I owned before marriage. I threw all the bed sheets and duvet covers into the washing machine, then thoroughly cleaned the tables and floors, not missing a single corner or crevice. Finally, when everything was done, I realized it was already the middle of the night. A dull, cramping pain spread through my belly. I curled up in bed, hugging a pillow, and suddenly felt so utterly exhausted. My face felt strangely cool and damp. I reached up and realized it was wet with tears. All tears. Ten years of agonizing love, ending so abruptly. My heart ached. I wrestled with the decision of whether to keep the baby, lying awake through the night. But Julian? He was fully immersed in Serena Beaumont’s embrace, completely forgetting himself. The popular actress had been subtly flaunting their happiness on social media recently – candlelit dinners, expensive jewelry, designer bags… The backdrop of the photos and videos was all too familiar: my own marital home. One photo even showed the tall, handsome figure of a man cooking dinner, reflected in the glass window. That picture had sent her fans into a frenzy of delight. And it had left me in a daze for a long, long time. The man who once wouldn’t even pour me a glass of water when I had a high fever was now willing to cook a meal for another woman. A week later, on Monday, the day of the Vance Group board meeting. I used the opportunity to return to the villa. I quickly packed my bags, grabbed my documents, and headed downstairs. But I ran straight into Julian, who had rushed back. Seeing the things in my hands, he suddenly sneered, snatched my luggage, and threw it away. I frowned, looking at him. “What are you doing?” “Clara, I should be asking you that! Are you seriously pulling the ‘running away from home’ card now? What’s next? Are you going to throw a fit and threaten suicide like old times?” Julian’s brows were tightly furrowed, his face filled with disgust as he reprimanded me. “Why would I kill myself?” I scoffed, clutching the stair banister tightly. My past self was indeed foolish, resorting to threatening my life repeatedly to win him back. But after experiencing that last life, I understood that living was the most important thing. I never wanted to experience that kind of desperate, life-or-death feeling again. Besides, a man so heartless and devoid of loyalty like Julian was simply not worth my lingering affection. Julian sneered, his eyes filled with disdain. “What new trick is this? I’m busy. I don’t have time for your games.” “Your little stunts, they might work once or twice, but too many times and it’s just the ‘boy who cried wolf’ story.” I looked directly at Julian, explaining calmly, “You’re overthinking it. I’m here to pack my things and move out.” “Julian, let’s get a divorce.” Julian was uncharacteristically stunned, then looked at me with even greater impatience. “Divorce? You’re carrying my child, and you’re bringing up divorce now?” I didn’t answer him. I carefully walked downstairs, took out the pre-prepared divorce papers from my bag, and handed them to him. “Yes, I want a divorce.” “I don’t want anything from the Vance family. I just want to separate from you.” Julian and I had been married for six years, but apart from the upkeep of this villa, he hadn’t spent any money on me. To outsiders, I was the glamorous Mrs. Vance, but only I knew that every penny I spent came from my part-time novel writing. Since I hadn’t spent Julian’s money, I had no desire for any financial ties with him now that we were divorcing. Julian quickly scanned the document, his expression unchanged, and set it aside. A scoff escaped his throat, the sound like an ice shard piercing my heart. “Leaving with nothing? Clara, you’re thirty. Are you still this naive?” He casually tossed the divorce papers onto the coffee table, then suddenly rose and advanced on me, his shadow completely enveloping me. “Without the Vance family backing you, do you really think your father and brother have what it takes to survive in the business world?” “After a divorce, what will your family rely on to maintain your current lavish lifestyle?” I leaned back, avoiding his closeness, the swirling emotions beneath my eyelashes freezing into a cold frost. I stubbornly pressed my lips together. “Julian, even if you use my family as leverage, you can’t keep me trapped anymore.” As if stunned by the resolve in my eyes, Julian retreated, his features growing even colder. “Why?” He paused, then conceded, “Is it because I brought someone home and made you uncomfortable? I’m sorry, I was wrong this time. I promise I won’t let them appear in front of you again.” My nails dug into my palms. For the first time, I smiled openly and freely. “No need, Julian.” “For six years, I’ve had enough of your emotional torment and abuse. I’ve had enough of waiting day after day for a man whose heart was never truly with me.” I suddenly yanked off the only piece of jewelry he’d ever given me – a simple string of beads. The round beads clattered onto the carpet. “Even if it means my whole family has to bus tables and sweep streets, I will never be your puppet again.”

Julian, unable to suppress his rage, slammed the door and left. I thought a man of his pride would contact me within a few days to finalize the paperwork and kick me out. Instead, the first call I received was from my mother. She sounded delighted on the phone: “Clara, your husband just sent me a whole new season of designer clothes and bags! He bought your brother a new sports car, and even let your father develop that land in South City!” “Your father is beaming, saying you’re such a thoughtful daughter, knowing how to keep the Vance family’s golden goose happy.” “Clara, you truly are amazing. When I go out with the other wealthy ladies now, everyone compliments me on my good fortune, having such a wonderful daughter marry into the Vance family.” A wave of sorrow washed over me. It seemed my value as a “good daughter” was merely to marry into wealth and appease my unloving husband for my family’s benefit. Suppressing my anger, I told my mother, “Don’t accept anything from Julian Vance anymore. We’re getting a divorce.” I couldn’t hide the hurt as I explained that Julian didn’t love me, that he had always resented me for driving away his first love, and had been retaliating with a constant parade of women for years. But my mother was unconcerned. “Don’t throw a tantrum. Julian is a man of his stature and power; it’s perfectly normal for men like him to have a few women around.” “Be more understanding! Keeping your position as Mrs. Vance is what matters most!” “Besides, you’re pregnant now. If it’s a boy, who could possibly shake your position in the Vance family? If it’s a girl, then just try harder, get pregnant again soon.” My mother’s words reduced me to tears. I sobbed, asking her, “Mom, for the sake of the Hayes family’s prosperity, you forced me to marry Julian. Now you want me to use my child as a patch for this marriage?” “But Mom, I loved Julian for ten years! I truly can’t accept him constantly having other women!” Hanging up the phone, I went straight to Julian’s company. Seeing me, he showed no surprise. He leaned back in his leather office chair, casually twirling a pen, his dark tie making his features appear noble yet even colder. “Come to apologize?” “This time, seeing as you’re pregnant, I’ll forgive you. Don’t mention divorce again, just go home and be my dutiful Mrs. Vance.” He pulled out a card and slid it across the desk. “There’s five million in here, for your troubles.” I didn’t take the card, just looked at him calmly. “Julian Vance, you don’t love me, you even despise me. Isn’t it better if I just give up the position of Mrs. Vance now?” Julian snapped, “You don’t need to compete with those other women. I can tell you very clearly: after breaking up with Chloe, I won’t ever fall in love with anyone else, and no one can shake your position.” “You should understand that maintaining the status quo is the best outcome for both of us. You shouldn’t hope for love from me.” He paused, then added, “If you have any other demands, feel free to make them.” His pathetic act disgusted me. On one hand, he played the heartbroken romantic who couldn’t forget his first love, while on the other, he was constantly entangled with different women. Like a terrible actor, he’d kept up this charade of deep affection for so many years. I looked at Julian with cold detachment, stating calmly, “No need, Julian. I just want a divorce.” “That’s my only demand.” The air in the entire office froze. Julian’s obsidian-like eyes churned with a chilling, oppressive force. After a long moment, he picked up the divorce papers and quickly signed them. “Fine. As you wish. We’re getting a divorce.” A wave of relief washed over me. I carefully put away the signed papers. I smiled at him, genuinely. “Julian, thank you.” Thank you for making me realize that a love so fervent can twist into a blade, stabbing you right in the heart.

After leaving Vance Industries, I went straight to the hospital where I’d had my prenatal check-ups to schedule an abortion. The doctor repeatedly asked me to confirm, emphasizing that the baby was already six months old and perfectly healthy, questioning if I was absolutely certain about the procedure. My heart felt as though it was being pierced by countless tiny needles. I clenched my fingers tightly, my knuckles white from the strain. How could I not want this child? But I absolutely refused to bring a child into the world only for them to be used as a bargaining chip. Better a quick, painful end than prolonged suffering. I signed the consent form for the surgery. The next morning. I arrived at the private hospital alone for the procedure. I bumped into Julian, carefully escorting Serena Beaumont, whose stomach was still flat. Seeing me, Julian’s expression faltered for a moment, then quickly became impassive. He said faintly, “After your check-up, hurry home. You’re so far along, don’t wander around too much.” With that, he shifted his gaze and began to walk away, protecting Serena. But Serena suddenly spoke in a coy voice, “Darling, I left my daily vitamins in the car. Could you please fetch them for me?” Julian, unsuspecting, intimately stroked her hair and then turned to leave. Serena chuckled softly, then approached me. “What a coincidence, you’re also here for a prenatal check-up?” The word “also” was cleverly placed. No wonder Julian had agreed to the divorce so readily – he was giving his mistress a legitimate title. But now, I truly didn’t care. I walked past Serena, not intending to speak with her. She blocked my path, continuing her taunt, “Based on all the baby things you prepared at home, you’re having a girl, aren’t you?” “I already went to Hong Kong for a blood test. It’s a boy.” “Oh, right. Julian said the nursery you decorated at home should be for our son. You don’t mind, do you?” “And all those little girl dresses you bought, they were taking up too much space. I found them an eyesore, so I burned them all yesterday. You probably don’t need them anymore anyway—” Her sweet, mocking smile stung my eyes. Before she could finish, my palm connected with a resounding slap across her carefully made-up face. Serena stumbled, grabbing the wall for support, but her fierce glare instantly filled with tears. The next second— “Are you insane?!” Julian tore my wrist from her with immense force. I staggered backward, my back slamming hard against the fire extinguisher on the wall. The metal edges dug into my spine, sending a jolt of pain through me. The intense pain made white lights explode in my vision. My knees buckled, and I fell to the floor, clutching my belly. Julian didn’t even glance at my pathetic state. He carefully helped Serena to her feet, then turned to glare at me. “Clara, you’re the one who wanted a divorce! What are you doing, acting all jealous now?” “Serena is pregnant! If anything happens to her, I’ll make your whole family pay!” “Julian.” I tried to push myself up against the wall, but the pain made my vision swim. “Control your pampered mistress—” Serena suddenly began to cough violently, her pale fingers clutching Julian’s sleeve. “Julian, I just wanted to ask about her health…” “I’m sorry you had to go through that.” Julian picked Serena up. “Clara, you’re free. Tomorrow morning at ten, we’ll go finalize the divorce.” His voice was cold as ice, and he didn’t spare a single extra glance for me, curled up against the wall. Just then, the piercing sound of the hospital intercom blared through the corridor: “Patient Clara, operating room number 2 is ready. Please proceed immediately for surgery!” Julian naturally heard the announcement. He looked up at my name scrolling across the screen, his Adam’s apple bobbed twice, and his gaze instinctively swept towards me. But he ultimately carried Serena away, their figures disappearing down the hall. I pushed myself up and stumbled into the operating room, signing the pre-operative consent form. Lying on the operating table, the doctor confirmed with me again. “Ms. Hayes, the baby is already 6 months old. It could survive if born now. Are you sure you want to proceed with the induction?” The baby in my womb suddenly moved violently, as if protesting the impending farewell. My nose stung, and tears finally fell uncontrollably, dropping onto the cold operating table. “I’m sure.” Just as the anesthetic was about to be injected into my veins, urgent footsteps suddenly echoed from the corridor outside…

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Our new intern was lounging in the boss’s chair like she owned it, announcing she was pregnant with his baby. “From now on, cross me and you’re fired!” That was it. I’d had enough. I snatched my phone and called my boss. “Can you please take your pregnant mistress home?! She’s about to tank the company!” But my boss, currently on an overseas business trip, sounded absolutely furious. “Her being pregnant has nothing to do with me! What the hell are you talking about?!” I’d just dropped Liam off at the airport and was looking forward to a huge meal when my phone buzzed. It was Mia, a colleague, her voice low and frantic. “When are you coming back?” I stuffed a pastry into my mouth. “Probably half an hour. What’s up?” “Get back here now! Chloe’s claiming she’s pregnant with Liam’s baby!” “And she’s already trying to call the shots!” My jaw dropped so hard, the pastry in my hand clattered to the floor. “Chloe?” The intern who just started yesterday? I quickly got into my car. “Don’t panic, I’m on my way.” Honestly, Liam was really good at keeping secrets. As his executive assistant, I didn’t even know he had a girlfriend. I’d wondered how someone with Chloe’s thin resume got a foot in the door. Now, it all made perfect sense. Still, Liam could’ve given me a heads-up. Ten minutes later, I pulled into the company parking lot. Instead of the usual diligent hustle, everyone was clustered in a tight huddle inside Liam’s conference office. They stood half-bent, listening intently. A woman’s sharp, carrying voice rang out. She was acting like she owned the place more than Liam did. I hurried into the crowd. Chloe was half-reclining on the sofa, one hand protectively covering her stomach. When she saw me, her frown deepened. “Just getting back now? Do you know the entire company has been waiting for you?” “You certainly know how to make an entrance!” I quickly lowered my head, plastering on a fake smile. “Traffic was a bit backed up.” Before I could finish, she cut me off. “You’re losing this month’s performance bonus.” I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth, but in the end, I meekly apologized. The one who was practically bowing to me yesterday was now a completely different person. If I messed up and offended her, forget my bonus. I might even lose my job. I could always find another job,but never with benefits this good. I really didn’t want to leave. Seeing my submissive attitude, Chloe raised an eyebrow. “Since everyone’s here, let me explain the new rules.” A collective gasp rippled through the room, and my colleagues’ faces stiffened, looking uneasy. I was still confused when Mia tugged on my sleeve. “Her rules are totally unreasonable,” she whispered, just loud enough for me to hear. “Listen up, everyone!” Chloe’s voice cut through the tension. “I’m pregnant, and I’m carrying your boss’s precious baby.” She unconsciously stroked her belly as she spoke. “First, no more lunch breaks. No one is allowed to eat in the office.” Another collective gasp. I couldn’t help but speak up. “Chloe, everyone works really hard. If we don’t eat…” Before I could finish, a cup of scalding hot water splashed over me. “Who the hell do you think you are, using my first name?” “From now on, when you see me, you’ll call me Mrs. Miller!” My face twisted into a grimace, every nerve screaming in agony, and my body involuntarily trembled. Chloe scoffed, pointing at me. “You all saw that, right? This is what happens when you cross me.” That scene terrified my colleagues so much they didn’t dare to even breathe. “Second!” she declared, her voice rising, a haughty look on her face. “All of you are here to serve me. If I tell you to go east, you don’t go west.” “Third! All air conditioning units are to be turned off. The outdoor units give me a headache.” This time, no one dared to object, including me. The spot where the hot water had scalded me was already visibly red and swollen. “Did you all hear me?” “If you can’t do it, then get out!” She finished, glaring at me as a warning. My colleagues quickly nodded, respectfully acknowledging her words. After dismissing everyone, she kept me back alone.

“I hear you’re my husband’s executive assistant?” I offered a weak, forced smile. “I just help Liam organize documents and stuff he needs.” But she clearly wasn’t buying my answer. “Give me a shoulder massage first.” I moved behind her. “Is this pressure alright for you?” She lay back on the sofa, closing her eyes. “Actually, I’m not trying to be difficult, but my husband said…” “If I don’t lay down the law for you folks now, I’ll never have any authority around here.” “But I guess you wouldn’t dare to object, right? After all, you need this job to survive.” “And, my demands aren’t even that excessive.” She suddenly opened her eyes. “Are they excessive?” I quickly shook my head, my face plastered with a smile. “Not at all, not at all.” Watching her domineering behavior, I couldn’t help but question Liam’s taste. Was he getting old and desperate enough to settle for just anyone? All morning, I was treated like her personal assistant, running errands and catering to her every whim. She looked at the coffee I’d made with disdain, then casually tossed the cup aside. “How on earth did you even get this job?” “I asked for it warm, don’t you understand?” But at that moment, I wasn’t in the mood to listen to her. Because that cup of coffee, and wouldn’t you know it, landed right on Liam’s desk. On it lay a stack of contracts he’d already signed. My face fell. “Mrs. Miller, those contracts are due in two days.” Even with my quick reflexes, large coffee stains marred the documents. Chloe glanced at me, her tone utterly devoid of emotion. “It’s just a little dirty, who cares? Nowhere near as precious as the baby growing inside me.” She suddenly snapped at me. “From now on, you’re going to dedicate yourself fully to serving me, got it?” “You can’t even play the part of a decent assistant!” I swallowed my rising anger, my voice still trembling slightly. “Mrs. Miller, this contract is really important.” “What if I take it to get cleaned up right now?” Luckily, she nodded her approval. But the moment my fingers grazed the doorknob, she called out to me again. “Get two women in here to give me a foot massage.” I bit my lip. “Okay.” Stepping out, I immediately noticed the difference. It was hot, stiflingly hot! Colleagues who should have been engrossed in their work were all performing the same action: fanning themselves with whatever they could find. I stood frozen, then looked back at the central AC unit. It wasn’t just off; even the power cords had been removed. Everyone was groaning, their eyes pleading with me. Just as I was about to speak, Chloe emerged, holding her stomach. “Everyone, stop that!” Her sharp gaze swept over us. “I told you not to turn on the AC because the outdoor unit is too noisy.” “And what do you do?! Create a racket out there collectively!” “Are you intentionally trying to get on my nerves?!” Instantly, everyone dropped what they were holding. Their faces flushed with embarrassment, they all shook their heads, mumbling apologies. “But you’ve already made me angry!”

Chloe shot me a resentful look. “How did you even become an executive assistant? You have zero management skills.” I was about to respond when she pointed a finger, picking out random colleagues as if selecting sacrificial lambs. “You three, stand up.” “Start doing two hundred squats!” “What?” The selected colleagues looked a flicker of annoyance on their faces, but still spoke cautiously. “Mrs. Miller, we…” “Three hundred!” Seeing Chloe kept upping the ante, they didn’t dare to speak again. They immediately started their squats. She clapped her hands, then turned her gaze to me. “They’re being punished because they were fanning themselves too vigorously, making too much noise.” I followed her gaze. Those colleagues were drenched in sweat, huffing and puffing, clearly in agony. “Now, you need to do five hundred squats!” I pointed at myself, incredulous. “Me?” She curled her lip in disdain. “Who told you not to manage these people properly? You bear the greatest responsibility.” Suddenly, her face darkened. “Still not doing it?” I didn’t dare hesitate, immediately crossing my arms over my head and squatting down. She slowly addressed the other colleagues. “Hot? Is it really that hot?” “Why can’t I feel the heat?” Hearing that, I wanted to curse her entire family lineage to hell. Of course, she didn’t feel hot! She was chilling in his office with the AC blasting and wrapped in Liam’s silk throw blanket. How could she possibly feel hot? But these thoughts, I only dared to entertain in my head. Chloe pulled out a chair from the side and settled down. “The baby in my belly, our CEO’s precious heir, is hungry!” Her fingertips tapped an impatient rhythm on the armrest. “What should I eat?” “Hmm, I want a matcha latte from that artisan coffee shop across town. And truffle fries from The Diner on Elm Street.” She patted my shoulder. “You’re working so hard, Harper.” “It’s just that my baby wants to eat…” With that, she slowly re-entered the office. The moment she left, my colleagues collectively exhaled in relief. But the next second, she pulled the door open again, poking her head out. “Get me two women to massage my legs.” “No, wait, make it four. My feet need attention too.” With a bang, she slammed the door shut. All my colleagues looked at me, their faces crumpled. “Harper… what do we do now?” One of the colleagues doing squats burst into tears. “I have a contract; the client needs it this afternoon!” “What do we do?” Gasping for breath, I checked the time. Liam was on a plane right now, so calling him was out of the question. “Everyone, just hang in there a little longer. Liam’s plane lands at 4 PM.” “I’ll explain the situation to him.” After all, I was the biggest victim here!

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When Damien Thorne and I broke up, he held my fake pregnancy report and stubbed his cigarette butt right over my heart. “How dare you lie to me?” Those words cost me my decent job and left my face disfigured. The day I left the city, he announced his engagement to a wealthy heiress. I clutched my stomach and ran. Four years later, he pointed at the child in my arms, his eyes filled with a chilling certainty. “That’s my child, isn’t it?” I saw Damien again late one night at the hospital. My daughter, Lily, was nestled in my arms. She was already used to IV drips and injections, quietly enduring the entire process. Even when she saw Damien, she stayed calm, only tugging at me sleepily, a puzzled look on her face. I opened my eyes, instantly locking gazes with his cold, captivating ones. Past memories flooded back, making my heart seize. I stiffly stood up, ready to bolt, then realized my daughter was still hooked up to the IV. The moment my hand touched the IV bottle, Damien’s grip slammed down on it. “Long time no see, Elara.” “Is this your daughter?” Just a few light words, but my legs started shaking uncontrollably, turning to jelly. Lily tilted her head, asking who he was. He curled his lips into a cold smile, speaking slowly, deliberately. “An old acquaintance of your mother’s.” More than an old acquaintance, wasn’t he? Five years. Countless nights of desperate passion. But those heavy numbers, so significant to me, were nothing more than trash to the high and mighty Damien, discarded without a second thought. I buried my head, my face pale. In the silence, Damien’s friend walked over. At first, he didn’t get a clear look, playfully gesturing at Lily. “Look at you, Damien! What a lucky guy! A little stomach bug on a business trip, and your wife and daughter show up from miles away to comfort you!” Not long after I left the city, I saw news online about Serena’s pregnancy. I never imagined she’d also had a daughter. Taking a couple of steps closer, the man finally saw my face and let out a stunned, “Holy hell!” “Damn, you’re Elara, right? You’re actually still alive?” His surprised, mocking words stabbed at my heart, which had just barely begun to heal. I instinctively covered Lily’s ears, shielding her from harsher insults. “You faked a pregnancy, nearly gave old Grandpa Thorne a heart attack back then, and you still have the nerve to show your face to Damien?” “Don’t tell me you’re broke? Right, a woman who just relies on men for money, isn’t that right? You’re clearly just a gold-digger.” “And this scrawny little girl is your daughter? You’re not trying to say this is Damien’s kid, are you?!” Numb as I usually was, the last sentence made me snap my head up in shock. “No! She has absolutely no connection to Mr. Thorne!” My distant tone made both men pause. After a moment, Damien pushed his friend aside, stepping closer to me, his intimidating presence as oppressive as ever. “How old is the child?” “Three years old!” The words burst out of me almost immediately. He pressed in another step. “Your ID. Let me see it.” I stumbled back, forcing a faint smile. “My ID is at home. I forgot it.” He was about to speak, but I cut him off. “It’s late, Mr. Thorne. You should head home early, so Mrs. Thorne doesn’t worry.” Bringing up Serena seemed to make him ponder, a rare sight. A bitter laugh welled up inside me. Four years ago, I was so desperate, I knelt in the dirt, asking Damien why he didn’t believe me, why he was marrying Serena Maxwell. He’d gripped my throat, his eyes filled with disgust, icy cold. “She’s not like you. She’s pure, and she doesn’t lie.” “Besides, I love her.” I had been with him for five years, and he’d never once said he loved me. I thought someone as dignified as Damien was incapable of love. Until he said he loved Serena and wanted to give her a home. I’d always thought that love wouldn’t last. Now, it seemed, I was naive. Seizing his distraction, I swiftly pulled out the IV bottle and fled, my daughter in my arms, never looking back. I vaguely heard the man behind me say something. I didn’t catch it, and I didn’t care.

I didn’t stop until I was out of the hospital, my heart pounding fiercely. Lily touched my cold face, a puzzled expression. “Mommy, why did you lie to that uncle?” I kissed her soft, round cheek. “Mommy was protecting you.” Protecting you from being taken away. Damien now had a wife and daughter. Why would he want to snatch mine? Despite my doubts, I still took Lily to a small clinic. It was past two in the morning when we finally got home. Sleep wouldn’t come, so I opened Serena’s Ins. Every day, she posted about her lavish life and her precious, pampered princess. The comments were full of praise for her gentle beauty. It was hard to imagine that this was the woman who had personally slashed my face with a knife. Even now, no matter how hot it got, I dared not lift my thick bangs, exposing the ugly scar on my forehead. I only took half a day off for Lily. In the afternoon, I drove her to kindergarten in my old sedan. On the way home, a luxury car brazenly blocked my path. The window rolled down, and a beautiful woman peeked out. “Elara!” I froze, meeting Helena Hayes’ gaze. She looked even younger than she did back then. If we walked together, people would likely mistake us for sisters. I abandoned my car and hurried away, but she opened her car door and chased after me in her expensive leather heels. “Elara! Please, just look at me, darling!” Perhaps she ran too fast, as her voice was laced with a slight sob. I didn’t understand why she was chasing me. It was she who had cast me aside for wealth and status. It was she who, in front of everyone, had claimed I wasn’t her daughter. It was she who, to gain approval from her stepdaughter Serena, had personally forged my pregnancy report. Back then, her bright red nails had poked angry red marks all over my face. “You’re alive thanks to me! What right do you have to accuse me? If I’d known you’d obstruct my path to riches, I would have strangled you the moment you were born!” Lost in my memories, the driver, at Helena’s signal, slammed on the brakes, cutting off my escape. I was startled and fell to the ground. Helena reached out to help me up. “Elara, I just wanted to see you.” I violently pulled away from her hand, a sneer on my face. “See me? To see if I’m dead yet? Or to see if I’m still trying to steal Serena’s man?” “Don’t worry, Mrs. Hayes, I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t bother Damien and Serena’s married life, and I’ll stay far away from them and your lavish life!” Helena looked hurt by my words, her eyes reddening. “Elara, that’s not what I meant.” Her gaze fell on my custom-made phone case, adorned with a picture of Lily and me. Her tone shifted abruptly. “That child, back then…” Hearing that, my resolve crumbled. I stammered. “What child? That child was already taken care of by you, wasn’t she?” I desperately tried to hide my phone case behind me, the cold ground reminding me of the private clinic operating table four years ago. Helena’s sinister gaze had fixed on my belly. “This child must go! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. I will never allow you to have this bastard child and threaten Serena’s marriage!” To teach me a lesson, she hadn’t allowed any anesthesia. The operating room had been filled with my heart-wrenchwrenching screams. In the end, it was the compassionate surgeon who secretly helped me. Now, Lily was my everything. I didn’t want to relive the agony of nearly losing her, so I desperately insisted. “That child is truly gone! If you don’t believe me, ask the doctor. You saw the… the remains yourself, didn’t you?” “I truly don’t love Damien anymore, and I won’t go back to tempt him!” To convince her, I lifted my shirt, recklessly exposing the ten-centimeter scar on my abdomen, my voice urgent. “Look, the scar is still there. The child died ages ago, you can even feel it if you don’t believe me, it’s real!” I grabbed her hand and pressed it against the scar. The next second, she suddenly embraced me. “Elara, don’t… don’t do this…” I froze for a moment, then frantically struggled. She fell to the ground. I scrambled around her car and fled. After only a few steps, I tripped and fell hard. Ignoring the stinging pain in my knees, I scrambled to my feet and kept running. Back home, I immediately packed my important documents and money. Meeting Damien last night, then Helena today. This couldn’t be a coincidence! I submitted my resignation to the company where I’d worked for two years and called my landlord to terminate the lease. After buying train tickets, it was almost time for school to let out. I drove my old sedan to pick up Lily and complete her withdrawal from kindergarten. I planned to take her far away from here, never to return. However, at the school gate, Ms. Evans looked surprised. “Lily’s father already picked her up,” she said. Then her face paled. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I just assumed… The resemblance was so strong.”

After four years, I unblocked Damien. The moment he picked up, he chuckled softly. “I thought you were really willing to never contact me again for the rest of your life.” I stood in the cold wind, gripping my phone. “Where is Lily?” The words had barely left my lips when Lily’s innocent laughter echoed through the phone. Damien’s voice was like a snake’s hiss. “Elara, is Lily my child, or not?” I remained firm. “No, Damien. Give me back my daughter.” He scoffed. “It’s fine if you don’t admit it. I can get a DNA test. You remember what happened the last time you lied to me.” The cigarette scar he’d burned into my chest still hadn’t faded. Whenever my chest ached, it felt like that scar was throbbing, mocking me for loving a man I shouldn’t have. Thinking of it, I sank to the ground, trying to hold back the tears stinging my eyes. Damien abruptly hung up. I took a moment to compose myself, then stood up and headed towards his mansion. Four years later, I stepped onto the grounds of the Thorne family estate once more, memories flooding my mind. I remembered my first day moving in, clutching Damien’s hand and asking him, what if someone tried to kick me out? His smile was gentle, unwavering. “You’re my woman. Who would dare touch you?” Later, it was he who ordered his people to strip me of every piece of clothing he’d bought for me, driving me out of the mansion. It was snowing heavily. I walked through the snow, my body numb with cold, tears freezing on my face. He stood on the second floor, looking down as I struggled, step by painful step, out the mansion gates. To this day, photos of me naked in the snow still circulated online. The comments either condemned me as deserving, or believed I was dead, paying for my sins to Grandpa Thorne. I walked with my head down on the mansion’s path, the humiliation of the past rising up. I didn’t notice that the roses I once loved still bloomed vigorously in the garden. Damien was already waiting in the living room. Dressed in a black suit, he looked like a wolf who had planned his attack. I stood far away, controlling my anger. “Where is Lily?” “She played herself tired, she’s sleeping upstairs.” Hearing this, I rushed towards the stairs, but he swiftly grabbed my arm, pulling me into his embrace. The familiar woody scent hit me, sending shivers down my spine. “What’s the rush? We still have unfinished business.” I thought he was referring to the time I supposedly framed Serena for stealing creative work. Even though she had stolen my work. But no one believed me. In the end, I was fired from my company, all my projects met with scorn and boycott. However, years of hardship had worn away my pride. I pushed Damien away, dropping to my knees with a thud. “Mr. Thorne, I understand my mistake from back then, and I’ve paid the price. If it’s still not enough, I can even kneel and apologize to Mrs. Thorne, as long as you give me back my daughter.” My desperation did not soften him. He furrowed his brow, his voice icy. “Get up.” I didn’t move, speaking again with genuine plea. “Mr. Thorne, you can humiliate me however you want, as long as you return my child.” Damien let out a humorless laugh, crouching down to meet my gaze. “Your child? Whose child are you talking about?” I froze for a moment, then quickly replied. “My ex-husband’s.” Afraid he wouldn’t believe me, I pulled out my marriage certificate to show him. “Damien, I’m not lying. I really am married. Lily is my ex-husband’s and mine!” I was indeed married, but only to ensure Lily could have a legal identity and as a precaution. But he merely glanced at the certificate, then snatched it, tearing it to shreds. He pulled me up. “Elara, can’t you see how much this child looks like me?” I avoided his gaze, struggling to get free and run upstairs to find Lily. He grabbed me by the waist, threw me onto the couch, twisted my arms behind my back, and pinned me down, his eyes dark with menace. “I’m asking you one last time. Whose child is she?” My eyes widened, and I found myself struggling to breathe. In a haze, I remembered the memory of him aiming that gun at me after Grandpa Thorne’s death. That bone-chilling fear returned, and my tears spilled out uncontrollably. “Damien, I’m begging you, let me go! I can’t die, Lily is so young! She can’t lose me!” “She’s really not your daughter! If it makes you happy, you can do whatever you want to me, just leave me alive, just don’t take Lily away!!” He wiped a tear from my eye, his brow unfurrowing. “When did I ever say I was going to take your daughter?” I froze, a sudden thought flashing through my mind about Serena’s Ins posts. Her daughter, like her, had a congenital heart condition…

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I was the Boss Lady everyone admired. The day I caught my husband in bed with my best friend, I didn’t cry, or make a scene. “He’s trash,” I stated coldly. “Keep him.” My friends cheered my independence, praising how I’d never cling to a man. Meanwhile, my ex and my best friend rushed into marriage. Twins came the next year. His business boomed. They built a perfect, enviable life. And I? I fell apart. Depression hit me hard after the divorce. My career tanked. My relationships crumbled. I lost everything. Lost in thought, I stepped into traffic. Before I died, my best friend appeared at my bedside, her eyes gleaming with triumph. “I knew you prided yourself on being a ‘boss girl’,” she said. “That’s why I staged that scene for you to find.” I died, choking on regret and resentment. When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the scene of their betrayal. I lay in the emergency room, barely clinging to life. Just moments ago, the doctor had gravely informed me that my injuries were too severe; there was nothing more they could do. As I vaguely thought, “Well, if I’m going to die, I’ll die,” I heard the soft click of high heels, and Serena walked in. She was elegantly dressed, her skin glowing and full, looking even younger than she had eight years ago when I caught her in bed with Derek. She gazed at me with a mix of sorrow and pity. “Cassidy, I never imagined you’d end up like this.” “Fate is truly amazing, isn’t it? After all these twists and turns, it’s me who’s sending you off on your final journey… Since it’s come to this, let’s just consider this a confession session between us.” I had no idea why she was here. I wanted to turn my head away, too tired to look at her. But I couldn’t. Because I was dying. Serena sat by my bed, sighed softly, and began speaking, seemingly to herself. “I fell in love with Derek the moment I saw him.” “But for all those years, I could only watch you two date, then marry, watching you live a better life than me, buying a bracelet that cost my entire month’s salary without a second thought. I couldn’t understand it. We had similar backgrounds, similar education, similar looks. Why, just because you arrived at that coffee shop ten minutes before me, did Derek fall in love with you and not me?” “So, I decided to personally ‘adjust’ our fates.” “I managed to get into bed with Derek, but when he woke up, he was full of remorse and despair. He even offered me money to keep it from you. Later, even though he couldn’t resist and we did it a second and third time, he regretted it every single time.” She chuckled softly, “Well, that simply wouldn’t do, would it?” “I knew you always prided yourself on being the ‘boss girl,’ the one who always said if her husband cheated, she’d never cry or throw a fit like other women, but would get an immediate divorce and never look back. So, I begged Derek to be with me one last time, and… I deliberately made sure you’d catch us in the act.” I stared at her, stunned, unable to believe it. After the divorce, I quickly realized that the cool, nonchalant air of a strong independent woman was only temporary. Soon, I was overwhelmed by an emotional backlash, tormented daily by the betrayal from my most intimate confidante and the sheer social humiliation. Later, as I watched them marry, have children, and succeed in their startup, thriving in every way, I, having lost all faith in love, couldn’t continue my work as a wedding designer. I also didn’t dare start a new relationship, and my life only got worse. The contrast felt like a cruel torture, plunging me into anxiety, self-doubt, and a complete breakdown of faith. Every day felt like my heart was on fire, leaving me sleepless and consumed. I thought I was just unlucky, or weak and useless, even despising myself for not being able to bounce back. But it never once occurred to me that it was all a carefully laid trap. “Thank you, Cassidy! You certainly didn’t disappoint me. Your pride and dignity also left us with our dignity intact, which is why Derek and I were able to recover so quickly.” “Of course, I should thank myself the most. After all, I did so many things, including mimicking your tone and actions in front of Derek, paying to get you repeatedly fired, and even-” She suddenly smiled. “Going to a sperm bank abroad beforehand, picking someone who looked similar to Derek, and getting pregnant with twins…” My weak body had no strength left. But at that moment. Her words made my eyes snap wide open. After I got a swift divorce, Derek still wouldn’t let go, kneeling before me, confessing his heart only loved me, begging for another chance, and vowing on his life never to see Serena again. Until Serena said she was pregnant with his child… “Anyway, in the last few years, especially after having two adorable babies, Derek has been getting better and better to me. He really did fall in love with me, little by little!” “Cassidy, I finally got to live your life. I personally changed my own destiny, but it always felt a little regrettable that no one knew. Thank heavens, you gave me this chance to confess everything before you died. Cassidy, given how honest I’ve been with you, I hope you won’t blame me after you pass. Rest in peace.” She said, rising gracefully, her face beaming with smug satisfaction. “Oh, right, are you wondering how I ended up here?” “My favorite shortbread shop closes at nine, and my driver was worried I wouldn’t get there in time and would be disappointed, so he drove a bit fast. I hope you don’t blame him either; it was an accident. He might even develop psychological trauma because of you. Of course, I’ll compensate you fairly and legally. After all, no matter how much I pay, ha, it’s just the cost of one of my handbags.” “But…” She suddenly tilted her head, looking troubled. “You’re all alone now, with no family. Who should I pay the compensation to?” She laughed and shook her head, walking out gracefully in her high heels. I closed my eyes amidst the screaming of my soul. … When I woke up again, I found myself standing at the door of a second-floor room. Laughter and chatter from friends drifted up from downstairs. Inside the room. Two naked bodies were passionately entangled, their gasps filling the air. I froze for two seconds, then raised a hand and slapped myself. It hurt! Good, it hurt! The next second, I screamed with all my might. “You shameless Cheaters!”

Two flushed faces simultaneously turned, panting. The moment Derek saw me, his pupils constricted, his body stiffened, and in a panic, he completed his final movements. Serena let out a soft gasp for a moment, then pulled the covers over both their bodies, speaking in a hoarse whisper. “Cassidy, don’t be impulsive!” “It’s all my fault. I seduced Derek. Please don’t blame him. Hit me, curse me, just direct your fury at me alone!” I’d heard this script in my previous life. Back then, I was a wedding designer with a thriving career and a happy family. I believed that love and marriage should be flawless. A man who could be stolen was, by definition, unworthy of my energy. So I did what any self-respecting ‘boss girl’ would do. I looked down at them, my face a mask of icy disdain, and said. “He’s yours.” I didn’t even step into the room, turning and walking downstairs to leave. Now, Serena watched me, her eyes flickering, clearly anticipating my reaction. But I charged in. First, I grabbed the kettle from the table and hurled it at Derek’s face. After a “thud,” hot water cascaded over him, and he screamed, clutching his face. At the same time, nimble as a cat, I darted around to Serena’s side. My left foot swept all the clothes on the floor under the bed in one swift motion, and my right foot braced against the bed frame. With both hands, I grabbed Serena’s long hair and yanked her forcefully outwards. It was her meticulously cared-for, pride-and-joy long hair. Thick and long, perfect for a good grip and some serious tugging. This scheme was her doing. So, the retribution should start with her! I yanked a section of her hair, wrapping it around my fist, and struck her flushed face-smack, smack, smack-ten times without pause. When my hand ached, I switched and delivered ten more. The rhythm was brutal, precise, as if this violence was a native language my body had always known. Serena’s upper body dangled over the side of the bed, her seductive act vanishing. She stared at me in terror, making a desperate and deflating sound:”Pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft!” On so many bitter nights, I’d been haunted by regret.  Why did I play the noble boss lady and just walk away? Why didn’t I make them pay then and there! Why didn’t I expose their sordid affair to the world! After rehearsing it many times in my imagination, I realized nothing was as satisfying as slapping and hair-pulling to vent my rage. In short, when the people downstairs, drawn by my screams, rushed up, this is what they saw. I was tugging Serena’s long hair with all my might, like a game of tug-of-war; Serena, completely naked, clutched the blanket tightly, refusing to let go; Derek, one hand covering his face, the other instinctively pulling the other end of the blanket to cover his naked body. The three of us formed a bizarre, frozen tableau. Everyone at the doorway stared, mouths agape. Today, a group of friends had planned a weekend getaway at this Airbnb. I originally had work and intended to arrive tomorrow, but Serena called me, saying Derek had too much to drink tonight, so I changed my mind and rushed over. At this moment, Serena, dangling precariously, her face swollen like a pig’s head, let out a muffled plea. “Help me, please help me!” No one helped her. Everyone wore expressions of disgust and contempt. But last time, it hadn’t been like this. They hadn’t seen the cheating firsthand, only learned the details from our expressions and snippets of conversation. Seeing it and not seeing it were completely different. The visual impact was different. The level of disgust was different. In fact, years later, when Derek’s startup succeeded and Serena transformed into a glamorous socialite, they even exclaimed in admiration. “You two proved that true love can overcome all hardships!”

“Cassidy, please, just calm down.” Derek’s voice trembled. His head above the neck was bright red, his once handsome face covered in glistening blisters from the hot water, and his hair was still steaming slightly. He looked like a boiled lobster. Years ago, Serena and I had arranged to meet at a coffee shop. She was late. I opened my laptop, working on my senior project while I waited. Derek, sitting at the next table, smiled and asked me. “Hey, are you a design student too?” That day, Serena was ten minutes late, and Derek and I chatted so much that we only had eyes for each other. So much so that when Serena arrived, I completely missed the sparkling look in her eyes as she glanced at him. Derek was an art gallery designer. In everyone’s eyes, he was a gentle, kind, talented, and also sensitive and easily swayed person. He even remembered to carry a small bag of cat food for the stray cats on the street. But his kindness was a weakness. In my previous life, he had knelt before me, crying and confessing. He said Serena had confessed her feelings to him one night when she was drunk, crying that she had secretly loved him for years and had even remained chaste for him. She cried, saying she didn’t ask to be with him forever, only to have him once. He had refused her many times until he discovered she was trying to take her own life. Only then, out of a moment of weakness, did he agree. I was utterly disgusted at the time, wanting nothing more than to be as far away from those two wretched people as possible. Within a month, I swiftly settled the property and divorced. Now, I only hated that I had just two hands, unable to rush over and claw at his face, tearing open each blister on it. But I couldn’t be hasty. Serena only had this one chance. If she got away, there might not be another. And Derek… he had to come home with me… “How can I calm down?” I gritted my teeth, glaring at him. His face was crimson, his eyelashes fluttering, and he spoke, full of shame. “Cassidy, please let go of her first, let us both get dressed, please…” I sneered, “You want to play the hero? Fine. Serena and I swore that if either of us ever did anything to wrong the other, the wronged one could slap the other thirty times. I’ve slapped her twenty times, and now I’m tired. You can deliver the remaining ten, and then I’ll let her go.” Derek shook his head frantically, “Cassidy, I’m not trying to be a hero-” “Just do it.” Serena suddenly cried out. “It was me who seduced Derek, I drugged him, I’m the despicable and shameless one, I’m Serena, the disgraceful mistress. It has nothing to do with him. Just hit me, quickly, my stomach… my back can’t take this anymore!” Her voice was miserable and helpless. On one hand, she was playing the victim in front of Derek; on the other, she genuinely couldn’t hold on much longer. After all, she was pregnant with twins at this moment. My friends were all crowded at the doorway. They occasionally offered platitudes like, “Don’t be impulsive,” or “Let’s talk this out calmly.” But no one moved, their eyes glued to the unfolding drama. I thought Derek would hesitate. After all, he was a kind and soft-hearted man. But to my surprise, before Serena’s words had even faded, he wrapped the blanket around himself and scooted over to her side. Then, crisp sounds echoed through the room. One of the slaps was a bit light. I raised an eyebrow slightly, and Derek immediately increased the force. Serena, her nose bleeding, showed a flicker of surprise and hurt on her face. But she had planned this for a long time, her goal clear. She had gotten what she wanted. After the ten slaps were delivered, her pig-like swollen face actually managed a smile at the panting Derek. “I don’t blame you.” She spoke incoherently, looking at Derek with the eyes of a suffering couple oppressed by evil. But Derek averted his gaze. Two seconds later, he looked at me, his eyes trembling. “Cassidy, is that enough?” I was expressionless. “Of course not. You put such a disgusting cuckold’s hat on me. If I only hit the mistress and not you, people would look down on me, say I’m ‘man-loving,’ and only pick on other women.” Derek immediately nodded, closing his eyes and lifting his face, speaking in a tone of agonizing pain. “Cassidy, do it. I just want you to get this out of your system. We can talk everything else over when we get home.” I looked at the increasingly glistening blisters on his face, as if unknown fluids would splatter out with a touch. I changed my mind on the spot, lowering my gaze to Serena. “You do it.” She looked shocked, then shook her head sadly. “No, no!” Derek suddenly roared, “Just do it! Hurry! Anything is better than this!” So, Serena, in an awkward position, began to slap him mournfully. “Are you two flirting?” I asked. Derek gritted his teeth. “Harder!” When Serena pulled her hand back, I caught a glimpse of sticky residue on her palm. Finally, this ugly spectacle ended with Derek wrapped in the blanket and Serena in a bed sheet, both crawling on the floor to retrieve their clothes from under the bed. It was a small taste of vengeance, and it was sweet.

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The day Spencer and I got engaged, His childhood friend threw a huge scene at our party. She even slashed her wrists. The engagement ceremony was cancelled. And I was just… done. 0Outside the emergency room, everyone was frantic, Spencer included. Only my expression remained cold, utterly drained. “They’re coming out, they’re coming out…” The ER lights went off, the doors swung open, and a doctor in a white coat emerged. “She’s fine, we saved her.” I saw everyone sigh in relief, myself included. I took off my veil, holding it in my hand, and dragged my long dress toward a visibly relieved Spencer. He saw me approaching, took my hand, a weary smile on his face. “Thank god she’s okay.” Yeah, thank god she’s okay. If anything had really happened, not only would Spencer have been crushed, but so would I. I’m not the kind of person who would let my love push someone else to their death, am I? Spencer, at his parents’ insistence, went with Willow to her hospital room. I slumped onto a chair in the hospital corridor, leaning against the wall. Soon, four people stood before me. Willow’s mother’s eyes were red-rimmed. “Brooke, I know you’re a good girl, but you’ve seen how much Willow loves Spencer. If you two stay together, who knows? One of these times, she might not make it.” Willow’s father looked at me with hostility. “Willow and Spencer grew up together; we always assumed they’d end up together. Spencer choosing you now is just youthful folly. Once he matures, he’ll realize he belongs with Willow.” Spencer’s mother looked at me pleadingly. “I know this sounds unfair to you, but could you please do Spencer and Willow this favor? I know my son. He might seem indifferent, but deep down, he’s heartbroken. They share such a long history.” Spencer’s father was fuming, giving me a disgusted look. “I never agreed to them being together in the first place. You kept saying, ‘they’re young, they have their own choices.’ This is all your fault for spoiling him; otherwise, none of this would’ve happened today.” Their goal was unanimous: to force Spencer and me to break up. Spencer and I had been together for three years. Every time we got a little intimate, Willow would fall into a deep depression. She’d taken sleeping pills at least ten times, Gone to the rooftop seven times, and slashed her wrists five times. Each time, Spencer was consumed by guilt and self-reproach. Our relationship felt like a secret affair. Like we were working undercover. I felt like his dirty little secret. We finally managed to get engaged on the sly. And then she just showed up out of nowhere and cut her wrist. He’s not some rare gem, you know. Good guys are everywhere. But she just had to choose to try and end her life. She must be completely out of her mind. Honestly, they didn’t even need to pressure me. After today’s stunt, I was already terrified. I was afraid Willow would actually die. I’d carry that guilt forever. I was also afraid that Willow had serious mental issues. And what if Spencer, her childhood sweetheart, caught whatever she had? I couldn’t risk it. I valued my life too much. 0

But a breakup needed to happen face-to-face. “Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, you don’t need to convince me. I’ve already decided to break up with Spencer.” I pushed myself up from the floor. “Since Willow’s stable, I’m heading back. I’m truly exhausted.” Under the stunned gazes of the four adults, I calmly walked toward the exit. Back at the apartment Spencer and I shared, I went to bed without a second thought. My words today were enough to ensure those adults would pull out all the stops to keep Spencer by Willow’s side. Sure enough, Spencer didn’t come home all night, and there wasn’t a single call. We were breaking up anyway; I didn’t care if he came back or not. In college, Spencer pursued me for four whole years. He said I was his first love. After graduation, he followed me to my city. I saw how persistent he was, which is why I reluctantly agreed to be with him. If I’d known he had a childhood friend who threatened to end her life every other day, I wouldn’t have agreed to be with him even if you’d killed me. Three days later, Spencer finally returned. His face was etched with exhaustion. Seeing me, his eyes filled with a pained vulnerability. “Brooke, I’m so tired.” Seeing his weariness and longing, I felt a pang of pity. But if I stayed with him, I’d live in constant fear. A sense of utter powerlessness washed over me. Hesitation only leads to trouble. I slipped off the ring on my finger and held it out to him. “Spencer, we’re not right for each other. Let’s just end it.” The fatigue on Spencer’s face instantly froze, replaced by a bewildered disbelief, like he’d just been doused with ice water. He grabbed my hand. “Brooke? What are you saying? End what? Is it because I haven’t been back for a few days? Let me explain, Willow, she…” I yanked my hand back, the ring almost falling to the floor. “Stop. Don’t even mention Willow. Just hearing her name makes me sick to my stomach, and it makes me sick to look at you too.” I walked around him, heading straight for the walk-in closet, pulling out my largest suitcase. “This has nothing to do with your childhood friend. It’s purely because I feel like being with you is shortening my life.” He blocked the closet doorway, his tall frame casting a shadow, his eyes red-rimmed. “Shortening your life? Brooke! We were together four years in college, three years working. You’re throwing all that away just because I’ve been taking care of Willow?” He pleaded, “Don’t you know how I feel about you? I love you.” I scoffed, shoving clothes haphazardly into the suitcase. “Spencer, your love is too heavy. It comes with a ‘childhood friend’ who might bleed out any minute.” I snapped, “Your love means I have to live every day under the shadow of ‘what if she really dies and we’re the culprits?’” I shook my head, “Sorry, but I value my life. I can’t play these heart-stopping games.” I forcefully snapped the suitcase shut, the zipper grating loudly. “Here’s your ring. Let’s part on good terms. As for this apartment, live in it if you want, or sell it. Just send half the money to my account.” “I don’t agree!” he roared, grabbing the suitcase handle. “Why do you get to decide we’re over? What did I do wrong? Just because I’ve been taking care of her for the past few days? Brooke, it was a matter of life and death! Can’t you be less cold-blooded?” I almost laughed, enraged. I tried to pull the suitcase back, but he wouldn’t budge. “Fine, I’ll tell you exactly why I’m ending it. Because I’m sick of it.” I paused, staring him down. “I’m sick of your childhood friend who tries to hurt herself at the drop of a hat.” “I’m sick of you rushing off like a firefighter every time she stirs.” “I’m sick of both your families giving me those looks, treating me like I’m the other woman.” “And most of all, I’m sick of this constant dread, terrified that one day I’ll open my phone and see news of her successful suicide, and then everyone, including you, will look at me with ‘it’s all your fault’ eyes.” My voice was raw with frustration. “Spencer, your love is honey-laced poison. I’m afraid to die. I’m not taking another bite, okay?” I gave up on the suitcase, turning to grab another bag for my valuables. “Let go. Don’t make me call the cops and accuse you of unlawful detainment.” He seemed pinned to the spot by my words, his hand on the handle loosening then tightening, his gaze tormented and confused. “It’s not like that… Brooke, I love you… Willow, she’s just… she’s sick, she needs help…” “She needs a psychiatrist, not your endless indulgence and your entire family’s spineless pandering.” I grabbed my bag and laptop. “Move. I waited this long just to make things clear. I’m leaving tonight. Don’t make me say uglier things.” He finally, wearily, moved aside, like his backbone had been removed. He leaned against the doorframe, watching me drag my suitcase, walking toward the main door without a backward glance. The moment the door clicked shut, I heard a stifled, animalistic growl from inside. 0

I moved into a hotel, but the world didn’t become quiet. Spencer’s calls, SnapChats, and texts were a relentless bombardment. From initial pleas and apologies, they escalated to accusations and blame, finally transforming into a kind of obsessive persistence. He demanded an answer. “Why, Brooke? Tell me why?” His voice on the phone was hoarse and agitated. “Willow has pulled stunts before; you never cared then. I love you so much, and you love me too. What did I do wrong? Just tell me!” I leaned against the cold hotel window, watching the endless stream of car lights below. A profound weariness seeped from my bones. I cut short his frantic questioning. “Spencer, I made it very clear that day.” I stated firmly, “Love isn’t a magic shield. Your love won’t solve Willow’s problems, nor will it erase the fear her constant threats of suicide bring me. I’m tired. I don’t want to live like this anymore, always on edge. We…” Before I could finish, his other phone—the one he’d assigned Willow’s special ringtone to—suddenly blared an ear-splitting alarm. My heart sank. Sure enough, the next second, his hurried voice came through: “Brooke, wait. Willow… her mom called, she’s not doing well again, I have to go…” The call was abruptly cut, leaving only a dial tone. I held my phone, listening to the monotonous “beep-beep,” and a cold sense of absurdity washed over me. See? This was the answer. There would always be something more important, more urgent than me. There would always be a “not doing well” Willow, potentially harming herself, ready to sever his connection with me without a moment’s hesitation. Even as he was desperately asking why I didn’t love him. My heart was exhausted. More exhausted than it had ever been. A wild thought took root: Leave this city. Escape far away, let all these horrible people and things go to hell. But my finger scrolled across my phone screen, seeing the urgent project updates in my WhatsApp group chat. The impulse was immediately stifled. Give up years of hard-earned career stability for a man? Not worth it. 0

I had broken up with Spencer, and I thought I’d finally be free of them. But Spencer kept showing up at my office, trying to ambush me. Each time, I ignored him, making my resolve to end things abundantly clear. I managed to avoid Spencer, but I couldn’t avoid Willow. She showed up directly downstairs from my office, dressed in a plain white dress. “Brooke, please, will you give Spencer back to me? I really can’t live without him… Last time I cut my wrist, I truly wanted to die. I really wanted to set you two free.” Tears welled in her eyes. “But Spencer didn’t want me to die; he still loves me. So if you just give Spencer back, I can live. Please, save my life.” She grabbed my arm, her fingers icy cold and trembling nervously. A wave of intense irritation surged through me. I violently shook off her hand, stepping back to create distance. “Willow, listen carefully: First, Spencer and I are over. Completely over.” I held up a finger, “Second, he’s not an object; there’s no such thing as ‘giving him back.’ And third, your life is yours. Whether you can live or not has nothing to do with me or Spencer. If you’re sick, go see a doctor. Don’t bother me.” My coldness seemed to provoke her. She suddenly looked up, tears still clinging to her lashes, but her eyes now held a frantic glint. “You’re lying! You haven’t broken up at all. You’re definitely still seducing him, otherwise why would he keep looking for you? Why won’t he come back to me? It’s all because of you, because you’re in this city!” She stepped closer, her voice turning shrill. “Leave! You leave here! As soon as you’re gone, Spencer will give up on you and come back to me. Just go!” I almost burst out laughing, completely incredulous. “Are you out of your mind? Whether I break up or leave is my freedom. It’s not for you to dictate! I’ll say it one last time: Stay away from me.” “You won’t leave, will you?” The vulnerability on her face instantly morphed into a desperate, ruthless determination. “Fine! Fine! If you won’t leave, I’ll die right here in front of you, right outside your office! I’ll make sure everyone sees that you stole my boyfriend and then drove me to my death!” Another death threat. I annoyedly turned my face away, just wanting to get away from this crazy woman. “If you’re going to die, do it somewhere far away. Don’t contaminate my sight.” With that, I turned to walk away, dismissing her as mere theatrics. However, I underestimated her impulsiveness, or rather, her sheer madness. “Screech… Screech—” A deafening shriek and the sharp screech of tires echoed behind me. I spun around, my heart stopping cold—Willow had actually run into traffic. A black sedan skidded to a halt, almost grazing her body. The shaken driver stuck his head out, yelling obscenities. “You freaking suicidal maniac! Go off and die quietly somewhere; don’t try to frame me!” Willow was sprawled in the middle of the road, barely half a meter from the car’s bumper, her face ashen, trembling uncontrollably.

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My terminally ill boyfriend was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family in Starhaven City. And I was just a food truck vendor, selling grilled skewers on the street. Damon Blackwood was sickly and weak. When I was taking care of him, I always gave him the best of everything. But when twelve sleek black Escalades from the Blackwood family pulled up to my doorstep to take him home. He left me, taking my roommate with him instead. During an interview, a reporter pointed at me and asked him, “Who is this lady to you?” Damon replied, “Just the nanny who looked after me during this time!” Later, he became the billionaire everyone in Starhaven City looked up to, and I turned around and married his sworn rival. On our wedding night, Damon Blackwood sent people to take me away. He asked me: “Why did you marry an ugly freak?” I said, “Because he never treated me like a nanny!” The day the Blackwood family came for Damon, twelve Escalades lined up, blocking the alley I always took home. Reporters, cameras on their shoulders, swarmed the building, making it impossible to pass. My grill cart, packed up after closing, couldn’t get through, so I had to walk. My neighbor, Chloe Davis, saw me and enthusiastically linked arms with me: “Jade, you hit the jackpot! Your boyfriend is a Blackwood heir!” While I stood there, stunned, Damon Blackwood descended from the building, surrounded by a large entourage. I had never seen Damon like this. He wore a perfectly tailored dark suit, his posture straight, his aura refined and distinguished. Beside him was Serena Thorne, my roommate. When Damon looked at me, his gaze was different from before, filled with the disdain of a high-status individual. A sharp-eyed reporter asked him, “Mr. Blackwood, what’s your relationship with the lady in front of you?” Damon’s eyes shifted from me, and he replied coldly: “Just the nanny who looked after me during this time!” The neighbors gasped. They often saw me buying things for Damon, accompanying him to appointments. Everyone knew he was my boyfriend. In an instant, all sorts of gazes—sympathetic, mocking—fell upon me. I froze. I looked down at my $10 T-shirt, my $20 canvas shoes, and the exhaustion that clung to me. I did look a lot like a nanny. But I had cared for Damon for five years. Even if he’d just said I was his neighbor, I wouldn’t have felt this pathetic! I walked to the front of the lead car. Damon had just opened the door for Serena to get in when he suddenly remembered something. He turned and asked me: “You’ve taken care of me for so long. Is there anything you wish for? I can grant it, within reason!” Chloe immediately urged me, “Quick, quick, this is your chance! Make him take you with him!” But I didn’t budge. I just numbly shook the bag of medications in my hand: “Since you don’t have a terminal illness, how about you settle up the money I spent on your medicine these past few years? Oh, and living expenses!” “It all adds up to… one hundred thousand dollars!” I pulled out my phone and quickly calculated, announcing the figure. Those around me snickered, mocking my shortsightedness. Damon frowned, looking at me with a complex expression. But then he told his assistant to hand me a check. I glanced at it. It was for one hundred and two thousand dollars. He’d given me an extra two thousand! Serena, clinging to his arm, looked at me: “Jade, Damon is really generous to you. You asked for it, and he paid up. But from now on, you two are from different worlds. I hope you won’t say anything bad about Damon to anyone!” Damon also looked at me, pressing his lips together: “I don’t want anyone to know you and I were ever involved!” I understood. He was ashamed of me, afraid I’d tell the media he was my boyfriend. Don’t worry, I won’t. After all, having such a heartless jerk for a boyfriend isn’t exactly something to brag about. Damon left, and the curious crowd dispersed. Only Chloe, who was usually closest to me, seethed with indignation: “Jade, are you crazy? What can you do with $102,000? You can’t even buy a decent apartment!” I looked at her, my face pale: “But that’s all he owes me…” Loving him was my choice. Caring for him was too! I just loved the wrong person, and I’ll accept that. Chloe sighed, poking my head with her finger, calling me foolish. Back home. All of Damon’s things had been cleared out. Serena’s too. I’d worked the grill all night and then stopped by the hospital early that morning to pick up Damon’s medication. Now, I was so tired I just collapsed on the couch, not wanting to move. “Meow…” My little cat, Pumpkin, sat in front of me, tilting her head and meowing. I’d found her as a stray on the street. I dragged myself up to feed her and tidy up the house. In the evening, I went to my food truck as usual. Without Damon, my expenses were actually quite low. $102,000, at my spending level, would last me twenty years. But I wanted to buy a house, to have a place of my own. My grill cart was the busiest on the food truck street outside the university campus. Young college students loved to frequent my business. One day, a man in a sharp suit suddenly appeared in front of my stand: “Vendor, I’ll take five lamb skewers, ten lamb kidneys…”

Accustomed to serving energetic college students, this was my first time waiting on a successful businessman who clearly oozed wealth. I couldn’t help but steal a few extra glances at him. He was tall, about six feet three, with a physique like an ancient Greek statue. A silver Porsche Cayenne was parked at the end of the alley, its lights on, with a driver inside, presumably waiting for him. Having watched too many rom-coms, my mind immediately concocted a cheesy plotline: an overbearing CEO buying grilled skewers for his college-student wife. I asked him, “To go or eating here?” I guessed ‘to go,’ so I already had the takeout boxes ready. But he said, “Eating here!” Then, ignoring my surprised expression, he found a seat and sat down. He ordered about three hundred dollars worth of food. I grilled and served him skewer by skewer. By the time I finished grilling everything, dripping with sweat, he had eaten it all. “Your grilling is excellent. How are your other cooking skills?” I paused, pointing at myself: “Are you asking me?” “I’m a decent cook. I even studied culinary arts before I started this food truck!” The CEO’s eyes lit up. He immediately pulled a business card from his suit pocket and handed it to me: “Interested in becoming my private chef?” I took the card. HD Group CEO, Caleb Thorne. My expression grew strange: “Mr. Thorne, you…” “$20,000 a month!” At that salary, I didn’t hesitate. I accepted immediately. To buy a house in Starhaven City, where real estate costs a fortune, my food truck income would barely be enough even if I worked until I died! The next day, I went to the Thorne family mansion for the interview, clutching the business card. Caleb himself opened the door. The young man, dressed in a gray tracksuit, had just returned from a run. Seeing me standing at the ornate iron gate, he personally unlocked it and led me inside. The Thorne estate was huge. It took seven or eight minutes to walk from the gate to the living room. As I walked, I cautiously observed my surroundings, wary that he might have ulterior motives… Then, boom, I walked right into his broad back, hitting it so hard I saw stars. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Thorne! I… I didn’t mean to!” I apologized, clutching my throbbing nose. Caleb, exasperated, turned around and looked at me: “Do you seriously think I’d try something with you?” I looked disappointed: “You wouldn’t?” Caleb let out a sarcastic laugh. He raised a hand as if to hit me, but stopped himself, only saying: “Stop calling me ‘Mr. Thorne.’ Take a good look, who do you think I am?” I leaned in, shook my head: “Don’t recognize you!” “Tsk…” “Seriously, I don’t. I’m just a grill girl; how would I know a big shot like you? Maybe you’ve got the wrong person!” I knew it. Why would such a high-paying job just fall into my lap? Turns out the CEO was just mistaken, seeing me as someone else! Caleb gritted his teeth, a sinister smile on his face: “Jade, if you dare say you don’t know me again!” When the CEO got angry, a chill radiated from him. I instinctively hunched my shoulders, my gaze fixed on the man’s deep, handsome face. A scarred face, ravaged by fire, flashed through my mind. If those scars were removed from that face… I was startled, almost immediately recalling his identity, and then I took off running.

The next moment, my wrist was seized, yanked backward with force. My back slammed against the wall, Caleb’s face magnified before my eyes. He pinned my wrists above my head, looking down at me: “Jade, go ahead and run if you dare!” I couldn’t run. The disparity in strength between a man and a woman was too great! I was no match for him at all. Actually, before Damon, I had another boyfriend. In the summer when I was seventeen, a transfer student joined our class. His name was Caleb, and a large portion of his face was covered in scars from a fire. The other students were afraid of him, ostracizing him at every turn. No one even dared to sit with him at lunch in the cafeteria. Behind his back, everyone called him the ‘ugly freak.’ His desk partner demanded a new seat, claiming that looking at his face would give her nightmares. Our teacher, helpless, asked if anyone was willing to sit with him. His long fingers picked at the edge of the desk, betraying his inner tension. Just as everyone remained silent, not wanting to be his desk partner, I timidly raised my hand. At that moment, the class erupted in laughter: “Let Jade sit with him!” “The trash girl and the monster—they’re a perfect match!” Back then, my grandmother, who adopted me, was still alive. She raised me by collecting recyclables. And to help ease her burden, I would also collect scrap after school to sell. My classmates looked down on me, saying I smelled bad. Since freshman year, I had always sat alone at a separate desk. Our teacher knew my situation and sternly scolded the students not to mock me like that. But while a bottle can be stoppered, human hearts are not so easily sealed. Behind my back, they still called me ‘the trash girl.’ Now, ignoring their jeers, I clutched the hem of my shirt and nervously asked Caleb: “Caleb, would you mind if I was your desk partner?” I was afraid he’d also be repulsed by my smell. But Caleb nodded emphatically: “As long as you’re not scared, I’d be glad to!” Later, our interactions grew more frequent. I discovered Caleb was incredibly smart; his test scores were always the best in our grade. He tutored me. When I didn’t have money for food, he’d share half of his allowance with me. In our senior year, he suddenly confessed his feelings and asked me to apply to the same top-tier university as him. I accepted his confession and put down an Ivy League school as my first choice. But on the night the application deadline closed, I was working at a five-star hotel. I ran into Caleb and his family eating there. There was also a very beautiful girl sitting with Caleb. When both sets of parents went to the restroom, they discussed having the girl accompany Caleb abroad for treatment over the summer. And then, when they returned, they would announce their engagement. I admit I felt insecure. When I went back, I changed my university application and sent Caleb a message saying I had fallen in love with someone else and wanted to break up. Then I blocked all his contact information. No one knew which university I went to. And I never heard anything from Caleb again. “If Damon hadn’t gone home that day, and reporters hadn’t caught you on camera, I might never have known you were back in Starhaven City!” Caleb’s voice was laced with fury. “You broke up with me because of Damon?”

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I’m getting married, and my boyfriend of eight years has no clue. That’s because he recently hired a new secretary, and those two are practically inseparable, burning bright. For her birthday, Julian ordered a ten-tier cream cake. At the party, they smeared cake everywhere, utterly forgetting that I’m severely allergic to cream. After the ambulance rushed me to the ER, the moment I opened my eyes, I agreed to the marriage my family had arranged. Mom’s efficiency was truly something. Back from the hospital, I was just about to use my smart lock to enter our house when she flooded my SnapChat with a dozen wedding plans for me to choose from. “The wedding is set for three days from now. Take your time packing your things, no rush.” “Mom, you decide. I love all these designs.” Julian appeared behind me out of nowhere. Hearing the word “wedding,” he blurted out, “Wedding? What wedding?” He reached out, trying to peek at my phone screen, but I quickly pulled it away. He was about to grab it when his phone suddenly rang. I heard Chloe’s trembling voice on the other end: “Julian, I just went downstairs to grab something, and I think someone’s following me! What do I do? I’m so scared, I circled the apartment complex, but I can’t shake him!” Julian’s face instantly changed, his eyes filled with panic. “Chloe, don’t be scared! Find a well-lit area, the security office should have someone on duty. Go there and wait; I’ll be right there!” He hung up, the wedding completely forgotten. Once again, he didn’t hesitate to abandon me, turning and rushing out into the night. My expression remained utterly blank, devoid of any emotion, the entire time. After he left, I started packing, preparing to move out. It hit me then—I’d lived here for eight years. Before turning off my phone to rest, I decided I’d be out of here within three days. The next day, I planned to visit Aunt Linda before leaving. I never expected to run into Julian downstairs.

Chloe’s fragile figure trailed close behind him, both carrying groceries they’d just bought. They looked exactly like a young couple moving in together. Aunt Linda was coming down to meet me, and when she saw them, she started to open her mouth to question them, but I cut her off. “Mom’s delivery for you arrived. Remember to check the expiration dates, don’t let anything go bad.” I didn’t spare Julian a glance, but this time, he surprisingly took the initiative to explain: “Don’t get the wrong idea, it’s just that her previous apartment complex wasn’t safe, so I found her a new place. I didn’t realize Aunt Linda lived here too. Why did you buy so much stuff?” I waved my hand, directing the driver to carry my packages upstairs, while vaguely replying: “You don’t need to tell me about your work. My mom bought it; who knows when I’ll be back next, so she bought a lot.” Seeing that I hadn’t misunderstood them, Julian visibly relaxed. “No problem, Northwood isn’t far. Just let me know whenever you want to visit.” He still didn’t know I was moving back home, and I had no intention of telling him. Linda had been about to speak, but seeing Julian’s protective gestures towards Chloe, her face darkened. The four of us stood there in a tense silence for a while, until Chloe finally complained she was tired. Julian immediately spoke up, telling the driver to pause moving my things. He said his stuff was light, so he could use the elevator first. Looking at the several full bags of groceries in his hands, I stepped aside for him. A flicker of surprise crossed Julian’s eyes, and he hurried into the elevator. The moment the elevator doors closed, I thought I saw a reflection of my old self in Chloe. Back then, when Linda had just moved, he was just as eager to run errands for me, bustling around, doing everything. He moved all my belongings into his place, smiling as he declared he was welcoming the future lady of the house. Linda beside me sighed with a hint of regret: “Are you really not going to let me ask? You’ve known each other for so long, it would be such a waste if you broke up over a misunderstanding.” I shook my head. “No need. There are no misunderstandings between us. He never lets a misunderstanding linger; if there’s no explanation, that’s the answer.” Actually, Julian and Chloe hadn’t bought much; they could have moved it all in one trip. But even after I had delivered Linda’s things and said goodbye, I still didn’t see him downstairs. Out of politeness for an old friend, I pulled out my phone and messaged him, asking when he’d be back. The moment I sent it, he replied with a voice message. But when I opened it, it was Chloe’s sweet voice. “Ruby, Julian is helping me fix the wiring at my place. This apartment hasn’t been lived in, there’s so much to sort out. You should probably head back, so we don’t waste your time!” I was about to close my phone and call a cab when another message popped up from her. “Ruby, please don’t overthink it. Julian is just helping me out; he just feels sorry for me, living alone in this big city…” Thinking of my own parents, separated for years, I swallowed the words in my throat and closed the chat. After getting in the car, I was staring out the window, lost in thought, when Julian called. “Why were you so harsh with Chloe? She’s my subordinate, what’s wrong with me finding her a place to stay? The company doesn’t provide housing yet, isn’t it my duty to help out?” “Ruby, when did you become like this? At the birthday party, you were cold the whole time, saying you felt unwell and wanted to leave. I haven’t even had a chance to confront you about that, and now what are you throwing a fit about today?” Chloe’s aggrieved sobs echoed in the receiver. Her performance in front of me was a stark contrast to the innocent, naive intern Julian described. I took a deep breath, finally understanding her little game. But I was too tired to defend myself. “Yeah, no worries. My bad. I was just asking. You go back to your business. I’m already home; I didn’t wait for you.”

His unspoken accusations were choked back by my indifferent words. I hung up, and the car arrived at my apartment complex. As I got out, Julian’s company whatsapp group started blowing up with messages. When I tapped it open, the unread count was already 99+. At the very top, Chloe had posted pictures of Julian fixing her wiring and plumbing. “What kind of boss is this amazing?! I’d work my butt off for this company my whole life! I’d sign a contract for forever!” Below, all the other employees’ envious and jealous comments poured in. “I’ve never seen the boss like this. Didn’t the cleaning lady say he was a neat freak? Doesn’t look like it!” “OMG, he looks so hot without his suit! I’m totally stanning Mr. Sterling now! No one can stop me!” “That picture was posted by the future Mrs. Sterling, wake up! Work is your only way out.” Before Julian hired a secretary, I was the one helping out for free. Then he hired Chloe, and she took over my work. But I’d forgotten to leave this group chat. After reading all the replies, I deleted the history and left the group. I’d already decided to leave; seeing a preview of their life together didn’t hurt as much anymore. In a haze, I remembered back when I first joined the company after graduation, he used to post about my daily work routine in the group every day. The candid photos showed me either making coffee or writing out his schedule. Everyone in the company knew he was crazy about me. With love fueling me, even going to work became sweet. The dry work group chat buzzed with life because of his overflowing affection. But all that changed the moment Chloe appeared. She took over all my tasks. Julian started prohibiting any messages about me in the group. He openly and subtly favored his newly hired secretary. A colleague, who used to be close to me, merely commented that Chloe wasn’t as good at her job as I was, and Julian immediately docked her an entire year’s bonus. I ended up secretly transferring her $5,000 later, just so she wouldn’t impulsively quit out of anger. Back in the apartment that had been my home for eight years but still didn’t feel like mine, I quickly packed the essentials. My gaze fell upon a thick photo album, filled with pictures from the past ten years. I hugged it tightly, sitting on the edge of the bed, and flipped through it. Each photo represented a gift Julian had given me. Eight years ago, he’d promised that after giving me 9,999 surprises, we’d walk down the aisle together. He swore he’d bribe me with his sincerity, bit by bit, until I willingly became his wife. This specially customized album, meant for 9,999 pictures, now only had one blank page left. It seemed all his efforts were in vain. I carried the album downstairs to an empty spot and lit it with a lighter. I watched as the photos burned, slowly turning into ashes. And with them, my eight years of youth were incinerated. Julian returned to this scene, his face draining of color in shock. He rushed over, pushing me to the ground, trying to reach in and salvage it. But the scorching heat made it impossible to get close; his hands were red in seconds. Frustrated, he stomped on the album several times. Watching the flames rapidly devour each photo, He roared at me: “What are you burning it for? What the hell is wrong with you? Everything we saved for so long, you just ruined it all!”

I awkwardly scrambled to my feet, brushing the thick dust off my pajamas. The flames cast a warm glow on my face, but my voice was ice cold. “Nothing. I just opened it and saw some bugs crawling inside, maybe cockroaches. So I burned it.” Seeing my actions, he finally realized he’d gone too far. He took a deep breath before speaking: “Are you okay? I’m sorry, I was just too rushed. We’ve been collecting this album for ten years. Didn’t we say we’d show it at our wedding? Why did you suddenly burn it?” “If there were bugs, you could have waited for me to come home, or sent me a message. I would have figured something out.” I didn’t even want to look at him anymore. This man standing before me was no longer the boy who’d promised to protect me forever. “You haven’t been home in a while; you must be busy with work. I wouldn’t want to bother you with such a small matter.” He stood beside me, his gaze fixed on the burning pile, filled with regret and sorrow. The scene was nothing short of ironic. He was the one who destroyed our ten years of connection for another woman, and now he was playing the role of a heartbroken lover? I turned to go back inside. But he must have thought I was just being dramatic. He reached out, grabbing my arm, pulling me into his embrace. The sickeningly sweet scent of Black Opium perfume made me sneeze repeatedly. He still didn’t let go, instead growing concerned: “Are you catching a cold? I’m sorry, I admit I’ve been too busy lately and neglected your feelings. Once I’m done with work in a couple of days, how about I take you to retake all those photos? We’ll replace all the burned ones, twice as many!” If I had heard those words before, I might have forgiven him in a moment of weakness. But after being rushed to the hospital, I never wanted anything to do with him again. He could forget my life-threatening allergy for another woman; I couldn’t keep lying to myself about a relationship like that. Once he calmed down, I firmly pried his arms away. “You don’t need to apologize to me. If you really feel bad, how about you make up for it with a birthday party for me?” Because of my cream allergy, my birthday parties always lacked the main character and were never perfect. But I was leaving the day after tomorrow. I wanted to experience one last birthday celebration with him. Hearing my request was so simple, his eyes darted around anxiously. A subtle uneasiness crept into his expression. After nodding in agreement, he was about to ask something when his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and hastily explained: “Something came up at work, I need to deal with it. Don’t wait up for me tonight. I promise I’ll do what I said. Don’t overthink it.” He spoke quickly, his steps already backing away impatiently. By the time he finished his sentence, he was already dozens of feet away. I knew that was Chloe’s special ringtone. But I didn’t expose his lie to his face. The next morning, the party decorators arrived at the house. And so did Chloe. She claimed she designed the plan, so she was there to supervise. But after a full day of decorating, I realized the setup was just a simplified version of her own birthday party. In the evening, after the staff left, she walked up to me, her face full of provocation. “Ruby, everyone worked hard all day, what do you think? Is it good enough for you?” I stared at the necklace around her neck—the one I’d lost—and my voice turned icy: “Secondhand goods are all you deserve. Keep it.” The moment the words left my mouth, she glanced to the side, then suddenly picked up a crystal ornament from the cabinet and smashed it to the ground. Shards cut her foot, and she cried out in pain, a picture of false distress. Before I could react, Julian’s hand had already struck my face. “Have you caused enough trouble yet? Chloe took time off to help you decorate the party, what the hell is wrong with you?” “If you’re not satisfied, then you can decorate it yourself!” He didn’t give me a chance to explain, and after his outburst, he scooped up Chloe and rushed out. I sat alone on the sofa, watching the lively yet desolate living room, all night. When morning came, no one showed up for the party. Of course. For ten years, Julian was practically my only friend. When the birthday cake arrived, I unwrapped it and cut a small slice for myself. I lit the smallest candle, closed my eyes, and made a wish. I wished I’d never see him again for the rest of my life. Because of my allergy, I still didn’t eat the cake. When the countdown ended and my phone started buzzing wildly, I dragged my suitcase and left the place without a backward glance. On the way to the airport, I sent Julian one last message. “Let’s just end this. No need to contact each other again.” It wasn’t even a breakup, really. Just “an end,” and ten years of my youth were over. The moment I turned off my phone before boarding, he started bombing my phone with calls, like a maniac.

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I was blind. For three years, I never knew the boyfriend by my side was my worst enemy. But now, my sight is back. During my three unexpected years in darkness, I spent countless nights trying to picture the face of the man I loved. Now I know. He looks exactly like Blake, the guy who hated my guts. Blake, Serena, and I used to be best friends. That day, Serena asked me for a birthday gift idea for Blake. I suggested the trendy sneakers all the guys were raving about. Serena went to buy them. But as she stepped out of the store, box in hand, a car veered out of control and slammed into her. At the hospital, Blake’s fingers dug into my throat, his eyes blazing red as he slammed me against the operating room door. He roared, “Why did you tell Serena to buy those shoes? If it wasn’t for you, she wouldn’t have been hurt!” “You owe her your life!” Later, Serena went abroad for treatment. I never saw Blake again. All I knew was that at his command, I was forced to drop out of school. Blake’s enraged face was burned into my memory. And today, I looked up, only to meet his smiling, warm gaze. Blake set dishes on the table and called out, “Cassidy, what are you thinking about? Dinner’s ready.” I stood up, startled. My knee accidentally bumped the padded coffee table. Blake gasped, rushing toward me, his face filled with worry. “Why are you in such a hurry? What if you hurt yourself? Why didn’t you wait for me to help you?” His gentle voice and the hoarse roar that had demanded I die were like two completely different people. His warmth spread through my hand, but it felt scalding, making me snatch my hand back. Seven years ago, Blake had forced me to my knees in front of that operating room, demanding an apology from me to Serena. He’d slapped me, hard, three times, telling me to never appear before him and Serena again. Why was he now here, telling me he was Ash, telling me he loved me? Was it to play a trick on me, to deceive me, or just to see my pathetic blind state with his own eyes? I couldn’t figure it out. I just managed a stiff smile. “I forgot.” After dinner, Blake put his arm around me on the sofa. Taking advantage of my blindness, he openly chatted with his friend. “Blake, come out and hang! What’s so fun about taking care of a blind girl?” “You don’t get it,” Blake chuckled softly, “Watching her stumble around…” Blake smiled slightly. “It’s pretty fun.” My heart, which had been in my throat, dropped like a stone. My eyes felt dry and painful, making me close them involuntarily. “What’s wrong?” Ash’s-no, Blake’s-anxious voice filled my ears. “Are your eyes bothering you again?” As usual, he reached out to touch my eyes. But this time, I flinched back, dodging his hand. Blake withdrew his hand from mid-air, his eyes turning dark. A moment later, he typed on his phone. “Lucas, you’re right. Blind girls are pretty boring.” “I’ll be there in half an hour.” Then, Blake squatted in front of me, taking my hand and guiding it to trace his face. “Company dinner came up unexpectedly, I have to go. You be a good girl and go to sleep, don’t wait up for me.” I looked at my hand on his face, not resisting. This was our ritual. Every time Blake went out, he’d take my hand and make me trace his features. He said it was so I’d remember his face, so I wouldn’t mistake him for another boyfriend. But as happy as it was then, it was just as ridiculous now. I pulled my hand away. “Go on, don’t be late.” Late that night, Blake returned, smelling of alcohol. He held me tightly, murmuring softly. I leaned closer, just catching the name he whispered. “Serena.” My blood ran cold. How much longer would Blake play this game of being my loving boyfriend? I didn’t want to play anymore. The next morning, I picked up my phone and calmly said, “Ash, can you find Blake’s contact information for me, please?”

My words wiped the expression from Blake’s face. “Why?” he cut in, his voice strained, “Why would you need to contact Blake?” “I have something…” Before I could finish, Blake waved his hand in front of my eyes. Seeing my usual vacant stare, he let out a sigh of relief. His tone lightened. “I won’t help you with that. Your boyfriend’s right here, and you’re thinking about another guy? I might get jealous.” Even knowing it was all his sweet talk, my nose still stung. I forced myself to keep pushing. “I want to get Serena’s contact info from him. I want to apologize to her in person.” Only when Serena was mentioned would Blake back down. He took my phone, quickly adding his own social media account. His voice held poorly concealed delight. “Cassidy, you’ve finally come around to apologizing to Serena.” “Now that you can’t see, you understand how hard things were for Serena back then, don’t you…” Seeing Blake practically glowing with happiness, a bitter feeling twisted in my gut. I couldn’t help but interrupt him. “Ash, why are you so happy?” Blake froze, his eyes narrowing slightly as he calmed himself. He gave a perfunctory explanation. “Well, Serena was hurt because of you. You owe her.” I owe her? Three years ago, I received a hate letter. It cursed me, “Cassidy, you caused Serena’s car accident, you deserve to die, you deserve to suffer all of this instead!” Holding that letter, I felt so wronged. I’d warned Serena not to rush. But she was worried Blake’s favorite hero character merchandise would sell out, so she dragged me along right after class. Yet everyone blamed me. Serena’s family resented me for hurting their precious daughter, and my family scolded me for offending Serena’s family. Blake forced me to stand at the accident site, clutching those blood-stained sneakers, repeating over and over, “The one who should have been hit by the car was Cassidy.” That day, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I poured out everything to Ash. With tears in my eyes, I asked Ash, “Was it really my fault?” I only heard his low voice, filled with accusation, “Of course. Did you apologize to Serena?” Looking back, I should have known something was wrong then. Blake was still babbling. “Just stop talking, okay?!” I shot to my feet, unable to listen anymore. But I tripped on a lifted rug, falling forward, my forehead slamming against the coffee table. Three years of dependence made me instinctively glance back. I saw Blake frozen, not moving an inch, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. As blood trickled from my forehead, he mouthed silently: “Karma.” We lay in bed, still silent. Blake leaned against the headboard, his gaze on me. His expression was utterly flat. And sometimes, that blankness hurts more than any anger. I couldn’t help but probe again: “Ash, are you really Ash?” The air thickened with silence. Blake froze, scrutinizing me with suspicion. Finding nothing amiss, he slowly said, “Cassidy, what are you talking about? Of course I’m Ash.” “Your Ash, who loves you more than anything.” I looked him straight in the eyes, serious. “If I ever find out you’re lying to me, I won’t forgive you.” A flicker of unnatural light crossed Blake’s eyes, then he gave a confident smile. “Alright, why would I ever lie to you?” “Don’t worry, that day will never come.” He said, then rolled over me, his lips finding my forehead, then moving slowly down. I closed my eyes. A single tear slipped onto the pillow. In Blake’s eyes, searching for a response, I offered a faint smile. “I love you, Ash.” But I only loved Ash. The next day, Blake disappeared. Later, I saw a post on Ins that Serena was back in the country. In a grid of nine photos, Blake was pushing her luggage, looking over at her with a gentle, adoring smile. That evening, Blake came back with the new pastries from ‘The Sweet Spot,’ apologizing, “Cassidy, I was so busy today, I didn’t get to call you.” As he spoke, he reached out to cup my face. “I’m sorry…” I took a step back, cutting him off. “Ash, Serena’s back in town. She invited me to a party. Should I go?”

“If Serena wants you to go, then of course you should go.” Blake didn’t hesitate. I stared at him, a bitter feeling twisting in my gut, unable to hide my hurt. “But I don’t want to.” After Serena’s injury, I became an outcast among all our mutual friends. To get back at me, they forced me to apologize, pressured teachers to revoke my scholarship. They even scrawled the word ‘killer’ in blood on my desk. I didn’t want to go. But Blake’s face hardened. “Will you come with me, please?” I tugged on his sleeve, testing him. Blake, who used to hover over me, afraid I’d trip on a pebble, snatched his hand back. His eyes were dark. “Go by yourself.” I wasn’t ready to give up. “But…” “Tsk.” Blake suddenly frowned, annoyed. “Why do I have to go with you? Are you really that helpless without me? Do you think Serena would actually harm a blind girl?” My heart plummeted, shattering into a thousand pieces. A deafening hum filled my ears, making me gasp for breath. I suddenly remembered something from before. People on the street used to whisper about me. “Look, she’s blind.” “Who cares how pretty she is, she’s still blind.” Blake hated that word more than I did. He’d always clench his fists, his voice filled with barely suppressed fury. “What the hell did you just say?!” “She’s not blind! I am her eyes!” “If I ever hear those words again, I’ll kill you!” But Blake probably never imagined. That one day, he would say those very words to my face. I stared at Blake, tears streaming down my face, no longer able to control them. Blake realized his mistake. His eyes darted around in panic, trying to backtrack. “Cassidy, I mean… you, you’re so sweet, Serena wouldn’t dare hurt you.” I wiped away my tears. I had to admit – the three years I thought were so happy, were nothing but a joke. Blake pulled me into his arms, his thumb brushing beneath my eyes, his voice gentle. “There, there, sweetheart, don’t cry and hurt your eyes more.” A warm touch fell on my eyelids. But my heart felt like a broken window, letting all the warmth drain away. Time passed both quickly and slowly. It was only on the day of the party that I understood why Blake didn’t want to come with me. His fake identity as Ash? He wanted to shed it even more than I did. Blake, with his arm around Serena’s waist, finally strolled in, fashionably late. Like air, I was ignored by everyone. All I heard was them teasing and cheering for the two of them. It wasn’t until dinner began that Serena suddenly called my name. “Cassidy, why aren’t you getting any food?” she asked, too innocently. Her hand, however, brushed against my white cane. The metal cane clanged against the marble floor, a sharp, piercing sound. The private room went silent for a second. The next moment, the room erupted in laughter. My former class president’s voice was mocking. “Serena, you don’t know? Our genius student Cassidy is blind now.” “Yeah, yeah, she caused your accident, so now she’s getting her karma!” Facing everyone’s accusations, I said nothing. I just pretended to grope the floor, picking up my cane. Perhaps finding me a buzzkill, the class president suddenly snorted. “I wonder which hero was playing vigilante justice. I heard someone knocked Cassidy out cold with a stick and left her blind.” Someone slapped their thigh, laughing, “Maybe it was someone secretly crushing on Serena, standing up for her!” “Right, it must have been someone avenging Serena!” “Enough!” Blake slammed his forks down. He slowly twisted the ring on his index finger. His voice was quiet, but it cut through the noise. “If you’re not eating, get out.” Serena’s curled eyebrows straightened, the smile vanishing from her lips. Everyone thought Blake was standing up for me. But only I saw through the act. The way he kept twisting his ring was his sign of guilt.

A piece of my favorite ribs landed in my bowl. Blake’s hand clamped around mine, guiding the meat to my lips. Yet the succulent pork turned into a dry, painful lump in my throat, refusing to go down. When no one was looking, I sent a message to the private investigator. “Please re-investigate the truth behind my injury three years ago.” “Focus your investigation on Blake.” Out of the corner of my eye, Blake was laughing and joking with someone, holding a wine glass. His body unconsciously leaned towards Serena. I watched him, watching his happy expression, and decided to set him free. I opened his pinned chat, staring at the blue fish emoji next to his name, ‘Ash,’ for a very long time. Finally, I sent: “Let’s break up.” Let him go, and let myself go. Buzz! Blake’s phone screen lit up. He reached for it. “Blake!” Serena suddenly called him, pouting and demanding, “Blake, I want ribs too.” Her smile was filled with pure, pampered glee. “Alright.” Blake pulled his hand back to get her food, his voice soft with indulgence. “What else do you want? I’ll get it all for you.” Serena smiled, chewing on a rib, and turned her head to look at me. She made no effort to hide the triumph in her eyes. I pretended not to see, my gaze unfocused. Realizing I was blind, her eyes flickered, and she picked up a wine glass, walking towards me. Amidst the noise, she leaned down to my ear and asked. “Cassidy, how does it feel to be blind?” “Back then, just because your grades were better than mine, everyone said you and Blake were a perfect match. Do you know how much I hated you?” Serena gritted her teeth, then suddenly burst out laughing. “Too bad, huh? The genius girl is blind now. You’re not even worthy of tying my shoes anymore.” I dug my nails into my palms, forcing a smile onto my lips. “What’s it to you?” Serena chuckled. “Still so defiant.” Before I could react, she let out a low shriek, “Ah! Cassidy, what are you doing?” A glass of red wine was poured over her, staining her white dress. It was a classic move, and effective as hell. Blake’s brow furrowed, and he rushed over, taking two steps at a time, asking worriedly, “What happened?” He checked Serena from head to toe as he spoke. Serena’s eyes were red-rimmed. “It’s all my fault. I said something that upset Cassidy earlier, and she knocked over my wine glass.” Blake immediately turned to me, his eyes cold and sharp. He snapped. “If you can’t see, then stop moving around so recklessly!” “What if you hurt Serena? Can you afford to compensate her?” I stared blankly into space, offering no defense. Of course, I couldn’t afford it. I’d already lost my eyes; what else did Blake expect me to pay with? Perhaps my expression was too calm. Blake shot me a glance, then stormed out of the private room with Serena. I waited a few seconds, then followed them. Blake was too consumed with worry for Serena to notice me. I stood silently outside the door, peering through the crack, watching their interaction. Serena’s clothes were strategically disheveled as she pulled Blake to “talk things over.” Tugging at his tie, Serena pouted, complaining, “Why did you get Cassidy food just now? Do you feel sorry for her?” Blake quickly denied it. “Of course not! She’s just blind. How can that compare to what you went through? If I feel sorry for anyone, it’s you.” My fingers dug into the doorframe, white-knuckled, my ears ringing with a deafening hum. I was convinced I was numb, empty. Then, the truth hit me, a crushing wave I couldn’t escape. In my distress, my clothes brushed against the door, making a soft thump. “Who’s there?” Blake turned sharply. Our eyes locked.

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At a class reunion, my husband got drunk. He slumped into my best friend’s arms and called her his wife. “Jade, remember to come early tomorrow night. I bought you some new lace underwear, still your favorite red…” The private room went dead silent. Jade looked horrified, shaking her head at me. “Stella, this is a misunderstanding. Marcus is just drunk, he doesn’t know what he’s saying.” But the next second, Marcus yanked the scarf from her neck. “I’m not drunk! See? Those hickeys on your neck? I put them there. We’ve been going at it for days. And these bite marks on my arm? You did that…” My mind went blank. I had only just returned home today after a three-month business trip. Were the marks of passion on my best friend’s neck left by my husband? The humiliation burned my face, fueling my rage. I stood up and yanked Marcus away from Jade’s lap. “Marcus, what did you just say? Try saying that again?” They say alcohol loosens the tongue and reveals the truth. So a thoroughly drunk Marcus stared at me, his eyes cold and troubled. “I know you’re Stella. If you want to hear it, I’ll say it again: your measurements aren’t as good as Jade’s. You can’t satisfy me, and you’re always too busy making money to spend time with me.” Hah. Hearing that, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. If I just stayed home doing nothing, what would my family eat? How would we survive? By relying on my body to charm a man? Before I could speak, Marcus staggered back over and sat on Jade’s lap again. Jade, startled and flustered, quickly urged Marcus, “Get a grip! Stop it, get up! Stella is your wife!” But Marcus didn’t just stay put; he leaned in, bit Jade’s lips, then reached his hand into her shirt with a smirk. “See? I told you Stella’s aren’t as big as yours.” Gasps filled the air. Everyone held their breath, daring not to speak. My face burned, as if I’d been publicly slapped. The humiliation was absolute, and a sickening green washed over me as the truth hit. Everyone in the room was savvy enough to know. My beloved husband had cheated on me with my best friend. In that moment, both love and friendship had betrayed me. Jade tried to push Marcus away, but he seemed to anticipate her move. He quickly wrapped his legs around her waist, clinging to her tightly. “Marcus, get off me! Stop it, everyone’s watching us!” “But you used to be so gentle with me, Marcus. You even said Stella was a loser. What good is making money if her husband still ends up in my bed?” “Stop moving! You were always on top before. This time, I want to be on top!” I couldn’t take it anymore. I rushed forward and punched Marcus, knocking him to the floor. Jade, still entangled around his waist, fell with him. I could have bet good money that if there were no onlookers, they’d be tearing off each other’s clothes and going at it right there. “So this is how you ‘take care’ of my husband, Jade? By taking him straight to bed? Bravo, truly.” I was trembling with anger. My husband could cheat, but not with Jade. We’d grown up together. Her family was poor, but I never looked down on her. I gave her everything I had. When someone bullied her, I’d fight for her without a second thought, even getting two ribs broken once because of it. After graduation, she struggled to find work, hitting dead ends everywhere. I pulled strings to get her an opportunity at my company. And my dear husband, Marcus? I pampered him, treated him like a king. If he didn’t want to work, I let him stay home. I gave him anything he desired. And yet, after all my selfless devotion, I was repaid with their betrayal.

I pulled Marcus to his feet and splashed a glass of water onto his well-maintained face. “Are you sober now? If you want to make a complete ass of yourself, go home and do it there.” Everyone, fearing I might lose control and attack them both, rushed over to restrain me. “Stella, calm down.” “Maybe Marcus was just drunk and didn’t know what he was saying…” Hah. They thought too much of me. I never hit people. I just wanted to stop him from humiliating me further. “You’ve all been drunk. You know how people act when they’re hammered, right?” They froze, then exchanged knowing glances, falling silent. Their gazes turned to Jade. “You’re really something, too. Calling you an ungrateful snake is an understatement. You know what Stella has done for you. Why would you seduce her husband? Have you no shame, Jade? What happened to your heart?” “Exactly! If it weren’t for Stella, you’d still be looking for a job right now.” “Jade, I despise you. You’re not a good person.” Faced with universal condemnation, the panic on Jade’s face vanished, replaced by a surge of bitter resentment. This resentment seemed to have festered for years. She stood up and kicked the table over, her face contorted. “Shut the hell up, all of you! Stop feeding me that garbage about how ‘good’ Stella was to me! I’m sick of it!” “Ever since we were kids, she always outshone me in everything – academics, grades, even family background. She always had the upper hand. I don’t need anyone’s pity. Her ‘help’ only made me feel more useless, like she was rubbing my face in my own incompetence.” “What makes you so special, Stella? You’re just lucky you were born into a better family. If we’d swapped places, if I’d had your background, you’d know true suffering.” At her words, our other friends immediately burst out in anger. “Bullshit! You think everyone’s as sick and twisted as you are?” “Stella helped us too, but we never felt that way! We were grateful!” “Exactly! Because we have consciences, unlike you, you animal!” The shouting was loud. Combined with the water splashed on his face, Marcus sobered up considerably. But as soon as he cleared his head, he saw everyone taking my side, tearing Jade apart. Marcus exploded. He stood up straight, shielding Jade. “Shut up, all of you! This is between my wife, Jade, and me. It’s none of your business to lecture us outsiders!” “I was just drunk! I made a mistake, I thought Jade was…” I didn’t give Marcus a chance to waffle. I threw my phone at him. “Look at this! A video clip I just pulled from the security footage.” When Marcus saw the video of himself and Jade naked and intertwined, he didn’t show shame. Instead, he angrily smashed the phone to the floor. “Enough! Do you want to scream to the world that you, Stella Brooks, are a cuckold? Can’t we just talk about this at home?” “I wanted to interrogate you two at home! But you were the one acting like a horny dog, clinging to Jade and spilling all your dirty secrets!” I had never felt such pain and fury. My chest ached as if someone were tearing it open. Every breath was agony. I couldn’t stay there another second. I grabbed my jacket and fled like a coward. I ended up at a bar, walking down the quiet, cold street, tears brimming in my eyes. I knew our marriage was over. My best friend and my husband – I wanted neither of them anymore. It was late when I finally returned to the home that once felt so happy and warm. But seeing our wedding photo, faded memories, sharp as daggers, ambushed me, leaving me no escape. I took the wedding photo down and smashed it myself. The noise was loud. Marcus, wearing a flimsy, sheer nightshirt, rushed out. “Stella, that’s enough!”

“Now that things have come to this, you only blame me for betraying you. But what about you? Have you ever thought about your own shortcomings?!” “Where were you when I was lonely and desperate? Where were you when I was scared?” Marcus was a master at clearing his name. Even when he was clearly in the wrong, he always found a way to walk away unscathed. But not this time. My eyes were bloodshot, a sign of extreme fury. “Hah. So you wore this to have Jade beneath you, to let her pleasure you, right?” When he was drunk earlier, and in the security video, he was wearing this same disgusting, sheer outfit to satisfy himself and pleasure Jade. I was so angry my nails dug deep into my flesh, but Marcus seemed oblivious to my rage. “Oh, so you’re jealous of that, huh?” “Come on!” “I’ll make it up to you, let you have some fun too.” He shamelessly lay on the sofa, spreading his legs, looking utterly perverse, as if he wanted me to defile him. I felt an unprecedented insult. Before I could even react in anger, he yelled at me impatiently. “Go on! I’m offering myself to you now, hurry up!” To emphasize his supposed helplessness, he even reached up to tear away the flimsy fabric that barely covered him, revealing his supposedly flawless skin. But it was covered in hickeys and marks left by another woman. Far from feeling desire, I felt sick to my stomach. “Ugh!” I rushed to the bathroom and threw up into the toilet for a long time. My body trembled uncontrollably from the anger. Only then did I realize how shameless and unrestrained a pampered man could truly be. When I came out, Marcus had changed his clothes and was carrying a suitcase. “Stella, I don’t want to fight with you. Let’s separate for a while and cool down.” He didn’t wait for me to speak, just opened the door and walked out, slamming it shut behind him – a clean, swift exit. I pulled out a cigarette and stepped onto the balcony. As I lit it, I saw Marcus downstairs, sprinting towards Jade. They were locked in an embrace, clinging to each other as if they wanted to melt into one. So his idea of “cooling down” was just an excuse to spend the night at Jade’s place. By then, my heart no longer ached for him. Instead, it was terrifyingly calm. Close to dawn, Jade sent me a video clip. I tapped it open and immediately heard the foul gasps and moans of a man and a woman. Then came the sight I would forever despise: Jade had completely thrown away any pretense of friendship, openly turning against me. “See that, Stella?” “You won against me so many times, but this time, I won.” “Your beloved man is beneath me right now. How pathetic and disgusting.” “Hahaha, aren’t you furious? But what can you do? The angrier you get, the happier I am.” But my heart was as calm as still water. Where was the anger from last night? I curled my lips in a sneer. “Jade, I don’t want that man anymore. He’s yours to play with.” “And also, you don’t need to come to work tomorrow. I’m officially firing you. You’re so eager to wear my sloppy seconds, so go ahead and wear him out! A kept man like Marcus isn’t worth my love anymore.” As I was about to put down my phone, Marcus’s angry voice boomed through. “Stella, how dare you talk about me like that?! Fine, I won’t hold back either. You want a divorce, right? I’ll make sure you lose everything!”

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At my wedding, the grand screen meant for our love story video suddenly switched to a private video of me and a stranger. I called my fiancé, who hadn’t arrived yet, for help. But I heard him say coldly from the other end: “Do you like this wedding gift?” “This is payback for you killing Willow!” He then walked down the aisle with my stepsister, holding what he called the wedding of the century. Pushed to the brink, I leaped from a cliff into the ocean. But when he heard the news, he went absolutely insane with regret. To create the wedding of the century for me, Julian Thorne had invited every reporter in the city. Everyone was thrilled to witness the union of the city’s two most prominent families. The emcee excitedly shouted: “Let’s all witness the purest form of love!” The moment he finished speaking, the LED screen flickered twice. The pre-wedding video, which was supposed to play, suddenly turned into a dimly lit clip. In the video, a woman’s face was unnaturally flushed, her gasps tempting. My face instantly went ashen. Because the woman in the video was me. But the man in the video… He wasn’t my fiancé, Julian, at all. And I had absolutely no memory of this video! “Who’s that guy? I always heard Elara was promiscuous; turns out it’s true!” Scandals like this were prime fodder for headlines. Reporters swarmed forward, cameras flashing frantically. “Ms. Vance, are you proud to show a video like this at such a time?” “Ms. Vance, some say you used illicit means to get close to Mr. Thorne. Is that true?” “I didn’t…” I instinctively recoiled. The emcee’s face was chalk-white: “Uh… this might be a technical glitch…” But the reporters had no intention of letting me go. “Ms. Vance, we heard you’re a wedding planner. Was this scandal intentionally planned by you?” “Who’s the man in the video? Is he your new sugar daddy? Does Mr. Thorne know he’s marrying damaged goods?” The venue devolved into chaos, countless cameras aimed at me. They wouldn’t leave me alone. I stumbled backward, accidentally stepping on the long train of my gown. My high heel slipped, and I fell backward. With a crash, the decorative wall behind me shattered. Shards of glass sliced cruelly across my back, and a warm wetness seeped through. The crowd shrieked, but no one reached out. The cameras kept rolling, focusing on my utterly disheveled state. The emcee was terrified, trembling as he pleaded with everyone: “Uh… please maintain order… paramedics…” There were too many people surrounding me. It took a great deal of effort for the paramedics to push through. They finally managed to carry me away from the wedding venue, but blood had already stained my pristine white wedding dress a dark crimson. I sat shivering in the dressing room, bewildered. Before I could even process what had just happened, hurried footsteps burst in from outside. “You’ve completely disgraced the Hayes family!” My father slapped me across the face. “From now on, I disown you! The Hayes family no longer has a daughter like you!” “No, I don’t know…” My father shoved me away brutally. I fell hard to the ground, and more blood gushed from my wounds, making my vision swim. “I wish I had never given birth to an animal like you!” “If any of you dare to help her, you’re going against the Hayes family!” With that, my father slammed the door shut and left. After his words, no one dared to send me to the hospital. They just sighed, shook their heads, and left. Wrapped in my blood-stained wedding gown, I huddled in the corner of the dressing room. My hands still trembled; I could barely hold my phone. I dialed Julian Thorne’s number. “Julian, help…”

Before I could finish, a low chuckle came from the other end. “Help you?” Julian said softly. “Elara, do you still think all of this today is an accident?” I froze, disbelief washing over me. His laughter was deep and chilling, carrying a bone-deep coldness. “Elara, this is the price for you killing my sister.” “And this—” “Is just the beginning.” With a cruel laugh, he coldly hung up the phone. “Julian!!” I screamed his name as reporters rushed back in. Someone deliberately tore off my wedding dress. But they didn’t plan to let me go. After all, a scandal this big would surely get them front-page headlines. I even forgot how I managed to escape. But they weren’t done with me yet. Someone recognized one of the men in the private video as a rising male celebrity. In an instant, his fans erupted in fury. They felt I had tarnished their idol. So they spontaneously joined the reporters in tracking me down. After finding me, they broadcast my location far and wide. When the fans found me, they attacked me, pulling my hair and slapping my face. “You slut! You’re the one who ruined our idol’s career, aren’t you?!” I desperately protected my head, cowering in a corner, trying to find a single glimmer of hope. Amidst the chaos, a bottle of sulfuric acid was flung, burning my exposed skin with a sickening sizzle. I let out a piercing scream, but they showed no sign of stopping. Just then, the police slowly pushed the crowd back, allowing paramedics to lift me onto a stretcher. I grabbed a nearby officer’s uniform, pleading: “I want to report a crime. I didn’t do anything, I’m innocent…” The officer scoffed, saying flatly: “We advise you to keep a low profile on something like this. You’re causing too much of a stir right now, and we don’t want to draw fire ourselves.” As I was led away from the crowd, I finally got the only moment of respite I’d had in two days. I was covered in injuries, but when I called for an ambulance, the paramedics on the phone suddenly received a call. The nurse, who had been trying her best to save me, suddenly stopped and looked at me awkwardly: “Ms. Vance, we have no choice. These are Mr. Thorne’s orders, and we dare not cross him.” Hearing them mention Julian, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. In the dark alley, I was left all alone. I dialed Julian’s number. But he roared into the phone: “Elara, the moment you killed my sister, our love died! Why wasn’t it you who died in that fire?!” “I told you! That fire wasn’t me…” But the call was already disconnected. Julian had no intention of listening to my explanation. I collapsed to the ground in despair. The fire he mentioned, the one that claimed his sister’s life… That was three years ago.

Julian’s sister, Willow, and I grew up together; we were best friends, envied by everyone. Julian had a reserved and cold personality, but Willow was different; she was always smiling. One time at a party, she secretly snuck out. It was then that the villa caught fire. In the midst of the chaos, Julian searched frantically. “Willow! Where are you?!” Just then, a sharp-eyed guest suddenly pointed at the fire and screamed: “Someone’s in the fire!” In an instant, Julian’s eyes turned red, and he roared hoarsely: “It’s Willow! Willow is still inside!” When I found out, I immediately rushed in. A faint cough came from a corner. I pushed desperately towards it, finally seeing her trapped under a fallen beam. Willow’s face was streaked with ash, her eyes full of tears. She saw me and cried out: “Elara, I can’t get out!” “I came because of the note you left! Why did you try to harm me?!” “I didn’t…” Before I could explain, another burning beam crashed down. I was too slow to dodge and was hit, falling hard. Before I passed out, I thought I saw Julian rushing in… When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital bed. The doctor told me Julian had saved me. And Willow… was dead. After that day, Julian became even colder. My father, to apologize to the Thorne family, decided to have me marry Julian, as an atonement from the Hayes family to the Thorne family. Julian didn’t refuse. On the day of our engagement, I held Julian’s hand and earnestly told him: “Julian, I will find out the truth about that villa fire and get justice for Willow.” I didn’t know then that he had always misunderstood me.

I woke up in a warehouse, hearing a clamor of voices: “I heard that woman is nearby! Don’t let her get away!” “Search quickly! One photo of her is an exclusive!” I shivered with fear. Just then, my phone rang. “Ms. Vance, the video from your wedding has caused public outrage. The board has decided to terminate all partnerships with you. Please return the advance payment for the wedding dress design…” “But that video is fake… I was framed, I can clear my name…” I tried to explain. “Ms. Vance.” The other party cut me off. “We don’t care about the truth; we only care about profit. Also, please pay the penalty for breach of contract.” “Penalty?” “Yes, fifty million.” This amount was astronomical for me right now. Before I could even catch my breath, the fans and reporters, alerted by my phone ringing, gasped: “She’s there!” I ran for my life! “Don’t let her get away! That bitch needs to pay!” “Mr. Thorne said! Get her on the front page, and today’s bonus triples!” They chased me like mad. Stumbling, I fled, not even knowing where I was going. Not far ahead, a couple strolling turned around. It was Julian! And the woman beside him was my stepsister— Seraphina Hayes. Julian… how could you be with the person I hated most…

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