I had two cats. Then one day, out of nowhere, I understood every word they said. My British Shorthair, Lucky, scoffed. “Ugh, this disgusting woman, always touching me! I much prefer Chloe! I wish I could just lie on Chloe’s lap forever!” My Maine Coon, Obsidian, murmured. “She smells so good! I want to buy the best bed in the world and make love to her for three days and three nights!” Their voices… One was exactly like my boyfriend’s. The other was identical to my cold and intimidating CEO. It was 10 PM when I finally got home from work. I opened the door to my apartment, and a chaotic scene greeted me. Shattered glass, shredded paper, an overturned potted plant… a total mess. The culprit, Lucky, was sprawled comfortably on my roommate Chloe’s lap, being stroked by her. Before I could even speak, Chloe quickly tried to soothe me. “Nova, don’t blame Lucky. It looked like there was a mouse, and he just messed up the place trying to catch it.” Lucky was the name of the British Shorthair in her arms, a stray I’d rescued six months ago. When I found him, he was skin and bones. Now, he was plump as a ball, fluffy and adorable. As Chloe defended him, I swore I saw a smug expression on the cat’s face. I rubbed my eyes, then looked again. Lucky’s smugness hadn’t faded; he even curled one side of his mouth, a hint of defiance in his gaze. It was like he was telling me. Yeah, I did it. What are you gonna do about it? What the hell? Is this cat… sentient? “Nova, what’s wrong?” Chloe asked, seeing me staring strangely at the cat. “Nothing…” I shook my head, walked over to them, and bent down, reaching out to pet Lucky. “Lucky, good boy. If you were just chasing a mouse, I won’t be mad.” It was odd. This was a high-end, clean apartment in the city center. How could there possibly be a mouse? But as a devoted cat owner, I decided not to push it, hoping to melt Lucky’s heart with love. As usual, Lucky reacted swiftly, leaping up. He darted behind Chloe, peering out at me and hissing. His fangs were bared, his eyes full of warning. It was as if he’d fight me to the death if I dared touch him. “Ugh…” I sighed deeply. For some reason, this cat never wanted to be near me. My boyfriend, Daniel, once explained that everyone has a different scent, and cats have sensitive noses. Maybe my scent just wasn’t to his liking. I bought into it. Even though he didn’t like me, my kind heart still led me to adopt this blue cat, abandoned by his previous owner and nearly starved to death as a stray. I got up to start tidying the messy living room. Suddenly, a familiar voice erupted in my ear. “This disgusting woman, always wanting to touch me! What right does she have to touch me! I love sweet Chloe; she smells so good. I must keep my body and soul pure for her!” I whipped my head around to stare at Lucky. He was back in Chloe’s arms, being happily petted and stroked. “Nova, what’s wrong?” Chloe asked. “Nothing…” I patted my ear. I wondered if I was just too tired, hearing things. A cat talking, and in my boyfriend’s voice? I continued to clean the living room. Chloe didn’t offer to help; instead, she unwrapped a cat treat and fed it to Lucky, who was clinging to her. “Chloe is so good to me; she’s feeding me treats again!” The voice came again. I gasped, turning to stare at Lucky. “Once Chloe’s stable in her job and gets a foothold in this city, I’m ditching that repulsive woman!” My grip tightened sharply on a glass shard I’d just picked up. The sharp pain in my palm told me this wasn’t a dream. I could hear the cat talking, and this cat… seemed to be my boyfriend. Why would my boyfriend turn into a cat? Baffled, I decided to call Daniel to confirm. But first, I needed to deal with my hand. “Nova, why are you so clumsy!” Seeing my bleeding hand, Chloe rushed over, Lucky still cradled in her arms, looking genuinely concerned. “It’s nothing, just a minor cut.” A minor cut that hardly compares to the feeling of an arrow piercing my heart, the endless ache and fury. I focused on dressing my wound, trying hard to maintain a calm expression. Lucky. “Serves her right!”

After bandaging my hand, I immediately called my boyfriend. The call went through, but no one answered. I tried three times, still nothing. Chloe was sitting next to me and knew I was calling Daniel. She said, “My cousin Daniel seems really busy lately. He goes to bed at nine and keeps his phone on silent.” She seemed to know more about my boyfriend than I did. I gave up on calling and decided to confront Daniel in person tomorrow to find out what was going on. Just then, Lucky spoke again. “Ugh..Busy with work? My company gets off at six sharp every day, no overtime ever!” “It’s because a week ago, I got struck by lightning. Every night at nine, my soul possesses this cat, and it can’t return to my body until six in the morning.” “Cats live up to twenty years at most. Am I going to have to live like this for twenty years? And if the cat dies, will I die too?” So that’s what happened… Well, then, there was no need to see him in person. It must be fate, helping me hear all this. I silently gritted my teeth, tidying the living room without a word. In my mind, I was already plotting how to get revenge on that despicable pair! Chloe got up and sat on the sofa, asking sweetly, “Nova, how’s the job hunt going? When can I start at your company?” At that, I paused. Chloe. Daniel introduced her as his cousin a week ago. He even called his mother right then, saying he’d picked up his cousin and would arrange a place for her to stay. Now it seemed his “mother” on the phone might not have been his mother at all. It was all a charade they played for me. Daniel pawned off this supposed cousin on me, asking me to look after her for a while and help her find a job. Because I had some extra cash, and being naive, I agreed without hesitation. I truly loved Daniel and was serious about him, seeing a future with marriage. I thought, since we’re family, we should help each other out. That very day, we found this two-bedroom, well-furnished apartment, and moved in together. Who would’ve thought… I turned to look at Chloe. She was indeed very pretty. Big, round eyes, the sweet, delicate type that easily charmed people. I smiled at this seemingly harmless, delicate woman. “Don’t rush. The company is having layoffs right now. Once they’re done, I’ll introduce you right away.” “Nova! I knew you were the best!” Chloe beamed at me.

After cleaning the living room, I went to my room. I switched on the light, and a massive Maine Coon, Obsidian, jumped off my bed, rubbing against my legs. My terrible mood instantly lifted. I scooped him up and showered his face with kisses. “Smooch smooch smooch!” “Obsidian, thank goodness I have you. You’re my precious baby!” Obsidian was the other stray cat I adopted. I’d taken such good care of him. His fur grew shiny, soft, and he looked like a majestic lion. Unlike Lucky, who never let me get close, Obsidian was profoundly clingy. He followed me everywhere, constantly demanded cuddles, and even slept pressed against me at night. Obsidian’s size advantage as a Maine Coon made his fights with Lucky brutally one-sided. After finding Lucky covered in scratches one too many times, I had to start keeping Obsidian in my room. “You’re so heavy, my love! Wait for me on the bed, I’ll be out after my shower!” I placed the cat on the bed, pulled a towel from my closet, and headed to the bathroom. When I emerged from the bathroom, Obsidian was sitting on the bed, facing the door, his eyes bright and fixed on me. I couldn’t resist walking over and kissing his forehead. I blow-dried my hair, put on my pajamas, and got into bed. I cuddled Obsidian and drifted off to sleep. Obsidian purred in my arms. “She smells so good, I want to sleep with her! I want to buy the best bed in the world and make love to her for three days and three nights!” I shot up, electrified, reaching out to switch on the bedside lamp, my eyes wide with disbelief as I stared at Obsidian. “Huh? What’s wrong with her?” Obsidian, confused, walked over, wanting to snuggle again. I quickly got out of bed, rejecting his advances. “Obsidian, I’m not feeling well lately. I don’t want to get you sick, so can you sleep in the living room tonight?” It sounded like a suggestion, but I picked him up and tossed him out of the room. I locked the door and pressed a hand to my chest, my heart pounding. Obsidian’s voice… It was exactly like Vincent Sterling’s, my cold as ice, intense CEO! Had he been struck by lightning too and possessed a cat? “Meow-ow-ow-ow!” Outside, Lucky’s agonizing shriek echoed. “That despicable woman! Why did she let this cursed cat out!” “Help me!” Obsidian, meanwhile, was roaring. “You filthy scumbag! Die!” “You tried to use my Nova as a stepping stone, planning to throw her away after you were done! You beast! Die, die, die!” Wait? How did Obsidian know Daniel wanted to use me? Did he hear their plans at home? No, that’s not right. If they were both possessing cats at the same time, they wouldn’t have heard each other’s conversations. It was probably Chloe who accidentally let it slip at home. Good for you, Obsidian! Scratch him to death! I silently cheered Obsidian on, a thrill of satisfaction washing over me. “Oh no! Obsidian! Stop it!” Chloe, hearing the commotion, rushed out of her room. Obsidian scoffed. “You wicked woman! I’ll kill you too!” Chloe shrieked in pain. “Ahhh! Help me! Nova! Help me!” Afraid of disturbing the neighbors, I had to go out and stop Obsidian’s one-sided assault. Chloe and Lucky both had over a dozen deep red scratches, which looked incredibly painful. “Nova, it hurts so much! Am I going to get cat scratch disease? Will I have scars?” Chloe cried, tears streaming down her face. If she hadn’t protected her face so fiercely, it would surely have been injured. Lucky looked pathetic, licking his wounds, his internal thoughts vicious. “Damn it all! Tomorrow, when that wicked woman is out, I’m coming back to kill this black cat, then I’ll lie and say he ran away!” Hmph, you want to kill my cat? No way! I cast a cold glance at them. “It’s too late; the pet store is definitely closed. There’s disinfectant in the first-aid kit under the coffee table. You can clean yourself and Lucky. See a vet tomorrow. I’m going to bed.” “Nova…” I turned to re-enter my room, but Chloe stood up and called my name. Her face was full of pathetic pleading, wanting me to act like a doting mother and take care of them. My expression remained unchanged. “I have to work tomorrow. You wouldn’t want me to get fired for being late at this crucial time, hurting both myself and your chances of getting a job, right?” Chloe instantly fell silent. I walked into my room and closed the door. Obsidian murmured. “This woman… she finally smartened up today?” Yes. Without understanding cats, I’d still treat them like family. Now I know: Being good makes you a target. Being naive makes you a fool.

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To surprise my wife, I secretly went to her concert. But backstage, I stumbled upon her and a famous male star, Jax Peterson, in a passionate embrace in the green room. Jax grinned wickedly, “Between me and that useless husband of yours at home, who do you like better?” Chloe Miller, fawning, kissed him, “He’s not even in your league, Jax.” Through the slightly ajar door, I tore the new album signing contract she’d always dreamed of into shreds. Chloe Miller returned home at two in the morning. She walked into the bedroom, reeking of alcohol, and I was already in bed, pretending to sleep. Chloe whined playfully, “Honey, I drank too much at the celebration party, my head hurts so bad…” Usually, no matter how late she came home, I’d wait up for her and make her a hangover remedy. But this time, I didn’t even open my eyes. Chloe thought I was asleep. She let out an impatient hmph by the bed before taking her pajamas to the bathroom. Then, her phone on the pillow vibrated. A message from Jax popped up on the screen. “Baby, it’s only been a few minutes, and I already miss you.” Chloe finished her shower and quietly slipped into bed beside me. Her back was to me, her phone screen still glowing. Every now and then, I could hear her barely suppressed giggles. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. The next morning, among the pile of dirty clothes in the bathroom, I immediately spotted her black lace underwear with some unspeakable stains. As I stared, lost in thought, Chloe came up behind me and frantically snatched the underwear away. “This is a bit dirty; I’ll wash it myself.” She didn’t know that when she was flustered, her eyes would blink rapidly. I didn’t expose her, merely mumbling a faint “Oh.” Not long after, her assistant delivered a large bag of fresh groceries. Chloe said she was off today and wanted to cook lunch for me herself. She was busy in the kitchen all morning, and the table gradually filled with all my favorite dishes. This warm scene sharply contrasted with the gloom in my heart. If I hadn’t witnessed her and Jax’s affair firsthand yesterday, I never would have believed that Chloe, who once swore to love me forever, would betray me just six months into our marriage.

After only a couple of bites, Chloe hesitated before speaking, “Honey, tomorrow’s my birthday…” I put down my forks. “And?” “I invited some artists from the company over for a birthday party…” I understood what she meant. “I’ll make myself scarce.” Because of her career, we had kept our marriage a secret. Aside from a few executives at her entertainment company, almost no one knew she was married. Getting the answer she wanted, Chloe visibly relaxed. Just as she was about to say something, her phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she glanced at me guiltily and took her phone to the balcony. She returned shortly, looking apologetic, “Honey, I forgot I have an important gig today…” I nodded. “Go ahead.” After Chloe left, I threw all the untouched food on the table into the trash. When I first met Chloe, she was just a small-time influencer live-streaming her singing on the street. I was captivated by her looks and voice and actively asked for her contact information. Soon, we started dating. Chloe was driven, ambitious, and talented. After learning about her dreams, I recommended her for a popular talent show. I leveraged my connections and meticulously planned everything, helping her stand out overnight and become a star under the spotlight. During one of our dates, I joked, “You’re famous now; you must have a lot of guys chasing you.” But she looked at me with deep affection, “You’re the only one I love.” Chloe’s New Year’s wish last year was to marry me. I was so touched that I lost my head. Ignoring my family’s objections, I eloped with her that very day. To better support Chloe, I quit my job and willingly became a stay-at-home husband. I just never expected that my trust and devotion would be repaid with her betrayal and heartbreak.

On Chloe’s birthday, I left early. I stayed at the library all day, only returning home when it closed. Faint light seeped from the apartment windows, suggesting Chloe’s birthday party had ended. Forgetting my keys, I rang the doorbell. Chloe opened the door. Seeing it was me, her face instantly changed. She lowered her voice, displeased, “Didn’t I message you to come back later?” My phone had died and shut off that afternoon. Just then, a man’s voice came from the bathroom, “Chloe, who is it?” Jax Peterson… Chloe frantically replied, “No one, just some random guy from the building.” With that, she shot me a look and slammed the door shut. Along with the door, my last shred of affection for Chloe was also shut out. I sat on a stone bench in the complex for a long time, until my legs went numb, before I saw Jax Peterson, heavily disguised, emerge from the apartment building and get into a BMW. Heh, what birthday party? Turns out it was just a party for the two of them. Chloe found me when I was dozing off at the stone table. She looked somewhat guilty. “Honey, given the situation earlier, I had to lie… please understand…” I ignored her and walked upstairs. Chloe continued to babble behind me, “Good thing I had a quick wit earlier.” “You know I’m in the prime of my career right now; if it ever got out that I’m married, it would be over.” I suddenly remembered soon after we got married, we were almost caught by paparazzi on our way home. At the time, I was still shaken. “Good thing we weren’t found out, otherwise your career would be ruined.” But Chloe looked nonchalant. “Let it be exposed. I wish the whole world knew you were my husband.” It turns out a person’s heart can change so quickly.

The room was a mess. Trash was everywhere, cake frosting smeared on surfaces, and there were even two half-eaten steaks on the dining table. It seemed they had quite a “party.” In the bathroom, the scent of shower gel mixed with an odor familiar to adults lingered in the humid air. I instinctively glanced at the trash can. Sure enough, nestled among the crumpled tissues was a used condom. Chloe, however, never noticed anything amiss with me. She even asked in a coquettish tone, “Honey, where’s my birthday present?” Birthday present? I had indeed prepared a nice birthday gift for her a while ago. It was the new album signing contract she had always dreamed of. The entertainment company only planned to heavily promote one artist in the second half of the year, and this contract was the key to securing that spot. But that invaluable birthday gift had been torn to shreds by me in her backstage room the night of her concert. Seeing my lack of reaction, Chloe looked disappointed. “Did you forget? You haven’t been paying much attention to me these past couple of days…” Looking at her sad expression, memories of our past happiness flickered in my mind. A flicker of doubt stirred within me. “Which artists came over today?” If she would just admit it… “All my close friends, of course…” She rattled off a string of artist names without a blush, conspicuously omitting Jax Peterson. At that moment, my last shred of hope for her shattered. I took a document from the nightstand and handed it to her. Chloe’s eyes lit up. “Wow, you said you didn’t get me a gift, but you were planning a surprise after all?” I chuckled softly. If she thought this was a birthday gift, then so be it. Sure enough, when Chloe saw the words on the document, her smile froze. “Liam, what is the meaning of this?”

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My mercenary husband Jax spent a night in the jungle with his drugged teammate Selene. Seven times, he claimed, he had to be with her to “burn the poison out.” When he returned, carrying her half-naked body, he knelt before me. “Iris, Selene was poisoned trying to save me. I have to help her!” After that, every time Selene was “drugged,” my husband would run to her. Six months later, he came to me with the ultimate plea. “Iris, Selene is pregnant with my child! You know you can’t have kids. So once it’s born, I’ll bring it to you. You can raise it as your own.” Agony twisted my heart. I swallowed back the tears and forced out a calm, “Okay.” The crumpled pregnancy test report I’d hidden in my hand was tossed into the fire pit. Flames danced, and Selene coughed twice from the smoke. Jax immediately pulled her into his embrace, frowning at me. “Iris, Selene has promised me she’ll hand the baby over to you once it’s born. You don’t need to threaten her. She won’t come between us.” I poked at the ashes in the basin, letting the smoke sting my eyes, a convenient cover for the redness already there. I spoke calmly. “Jax, let’s get a divorce.” Jax reached out anxiously, trying to pull me closer, pleading again. “Iris, don’t make a scene, okay? Selene took a bullet for me, and then she was forced to take a toxic injection to save me. I owe her my life. Giving her a child in return isn’t asking too much!” His tone was humble, but every word defended Selene. Seeing my expression, the others couldn’t stay silent either. Jax’s brothers also began to plead with me. “Yeah, Selene is pregnant. The only right thing for Jax to do now is marry her!” “Iris, you’re a homemaker. You don’t understand how dangerous it was for Selene to save Jax from under a gun. We all saw her sacrifices for him.” “If you ask me, Jax should just marry Selene!” “Shut up!” Jax roared, cutting them off. “Iris will always be my only wife! As for Selene, I’ll compensate her.” He looked down at the pregnant woman in his arms, a look of involuntary tenderness and concern on his face. A bitter taste rose in my throat. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. The others might not know, but Jax did. I, too, once fought by his side. I even took a knife for him. That time, I was in a coma for three months. When I woke up, he knelt by my hospital bed, his eyes red, begging me to resign my commission and never risk my life again. He promised he’d protect me forever. Now, he was kneeling before me again, but it was to protect another woman. I turned and walked away in silence. Jax quickly followed. “It’s cold out, don’t catch a chill.” He gently draped his coat over my shoulders, then tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His warm scent on the coat instantly enveloped me. I touched my lower abdomen, almost telling him I was pregnant too, but his words cut me off. “Iris, Selene gets cold easily. Let her have the climate-controlled villa in the suburbs. You can go rest on the island for a while.” My words were stuck in my throat, swallowed back down. He’d built that climate-controlled villa specifically for me after I took the knife for him, leaving me with chronic issues. Living there felt like spring all year round. But the island villa was exposed to sea winds from all sides; my body couldn’t handle it. We’d only stayed there for a few days during our honeymoon. We never went back, and it had been abandoned for ages. He used to offer me all the best things. Now he wanted me to give them to Selene. His heart was no longer with me. I lowered my eyes and murmured, “Okay.” Jax happily kissed my forehead. “Iris, you’re always so understanding.”

I lay alone on the operating table. The doctor held my hand, comforting me. “Mrs. Black, your body is too weak. I’m afraid we couldn’t save the baby.” The first time I saw that tiny embryo on the ultrasound report, my heart had instantly softened. No matter how much the doctors urged me to terminate the pregnancy, I was unswayed. This was the culmination of my love with Jax. If I could trade my life for my child’s, it would be worth it. But now, there was no need. Cold instruments churned in my abdomen. I gripped the bedsheet, tears silently streaming down my face. My phone suddenly rang. The nurse pressed the answer button and held it to my ear. Jax’s enraged voice boomed through the receiver. “Iris Black, you’ve utterly shattered my trust! How could you do something like this to Selene?!” “What are you talking about?” I was completely bewildered, my voice hoarse as I asked him. “Selene has been kidnapped! The address they sent is that island I gave you!” Jax screamed hysterically into the phone. “Only the two of us know where that island is. Who else could it be but you?!” The pain was so intense I couldn’t speak, only shook my head desperately, forgetting Jax couldn’t see me. Getting no reply, he snarled, “If anything happens to Selene, I’ll make you pay a thousand times over!” The phone only offered the mechanical beeping of a disconnected call. The nurse’s face was flushed with embarrassment as she put the phone down. I closed my eyes in despair, my heart filled with desolation. When the surgery was over, the doctor wheeled me out of the operating room. But Jax’s brothers suddenly appeared, dragging me from the hospital bed. They bound my hands and feet with cold iron chains. “Jax said to take you to the island too. If they won’t let Selene go, we’ll use you to pay the price!” “Are you insane?! Stop it! She just had surgery!” The doctor ran up in a panic to intervene, but Jax’s brothers shoved him to the ground. I was forcibly thrown into a car. The brutal movements sent searing pain through my abdomen. I soon passed out from the agony. I don’t know how much time passed before I was roused by a splash of ice water. I jolted awake, my eyes fluttering open in a daze. Jax furiously slammed the water basin onto the boat deck. He reached out and gripped my neck. “Iris, have I been too good to you all these years? Is that why you’ve become so cruel and selfish, to the point you can’t even spare an unborn child?” My entire body was cold, my lips trembling, unable to form a complete sentence. “I… I didn’t… It wasn’t me who… did it…” But Jax didn’t believe me. His eyes red, he violently dragged me off the boat. Selene, heavily pregnant, was tied to the lighthouse, crying piteously. “Jax, it’s too dangerous, don’t come closer!” Seeing me, she cried out, “Iris, if you can’t stand me, I can leave! Why would you hurt my baby?” I frantically shook my head. “It wasn’t me! I didn’t do any of this!” “Jax, the person’s gone, must have run off.” Rook and the others had checked for any dangers around, then quickly untied Selene. Jax pulled her into his arms, his face a mask of agonizing worry.

Rook spat at me in disgust. “Ugh! We called you our sister-in-law, but you’re disgusting!” “Seriously, you’re so vicious, you’re not even fit to touch a hair on Selene’s head!” “Enough.” Jax coldly cut them off, then bent down to me. “Iris, you’ve gone too far this time. You’ll stay here and reflect.” He held Selene and turned to leave. I collapsed helplessly onto the sand. From a distance, I saw Selene turn her head and flash me a triumphant smile. Three days later, my body was numb from the sea wind, my lips cracked and painful, my eyes burning and constantly tearing up. Just as I thought I was going to die there, a blurred figure slowly approached me. “Help… help me…” I used all my strength, but only a faint whisper escaped my lips. Before losing consciousness, I heard a soft sigh. “Iris, what am I going to do with you?” When I woke up, I was lying on the basement floor. Opening my eyes, I met Jax’s complicated gaze. “You’re awake?” He brought a glass of warm water to my lips, but I instinctively turned my head away. He slammed the glass heavily onto the table. “Have you caused enough trouble?” His gaze was filled with disgust. “I’m not even holding you accountable for kidnapping Selene, and you’re still throwing a tantrum? Can’t you be less spiteful?” I scoffed. He hadn’t even investigated, yet he was convinced I was the culprit. If I truly wanted to deal with Selene, I could have done it half a year ago. Why wait until now? “Jax.” Selene’s fragile voice echoed. She slowly walked in, clutching her belly. “Why are you here?” Jax immediately went to her, carefully pulling her into his embrace. “I was worried about Iris, so I came to check. Is she okay?” Selene asked timidly, shrinking back in fear when our eyes met. “Don’t mind her. She won’t die.” Jax swept a disgusted glance at me, then said to me expressionlessly, “You’ll stay here for the next few months until Selene safely gives birth.” As they left, the basement door slowly closed. I struggled to crawl up from the floor and quickly drank the water on the table. A warm current spread through my body. I propped myself up and found a box in the corner of the basement. Taking out an encrypted phone, I dialed a number. “What you asked for, I agree.” “Really? You’re not kidding? That’s great… Where are you now? I’ll come get you.” “I have some things to deal with first. Wait for me.” “Okay, no matter how long, I’ll wait for you.”

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The package arrived on our seventh wedding anniversary. Inside, I found a customized USB drive from my wife, Seraphina. “Most cherished memories with my beloved,” the label read. A warm smile touched my lips. I was touched, thinking she had compiled moments from our life together. But when I plugged it into the projector, the screen filled with a horrifying scene: Seraphina tangling with her young assistant, Jax Sterling, in her office. My blood ran cold. Just then, my phone buzzed with a message from Seraphina. “Honey, I sent a business document home by mistake. Please don’t open it. I’m sending Jax to pick it up right away!” My breath hitched, and the world spun. A sliver of hope, a desperate wish that I was wrong, had clung to me. Seraphina’s text message, was a nail in the coffin, confirming the brutal reality of what I’d just witnessed on screen. I didn’t reply instantly, as I usually would. Moments later, Seraphina’s FaceTime call came through. “Hey, hubby! Your sweet wife sent you a message, why aren’t you replying?” “Spill it, are you secretly planning some anniversary surprise behind my back?” Seraphina’s voice was light, playfully teasing, and her smile was as radiant as ever. She looked completely normal, utterly unchanged. But inside me, my blood was slowly turning to ice. I had no idea how to face this woman I had loved deeply for over a decade. “Honey, you look a little pale. Have you been working too much lately?” Her tone softened, her eyes full of what looked like genuine concern. “Just relax at home today. As soon as I finish my meetings, I’ll fly home and we’ll have a sweet evening, just the two of us!” “Oh, and Jax will be by to pick up that package later. Remember to let him in.” With a few exaggerated blowing kisses to the camera, she hung up. I hadn’t uttered a single word throughout the entire call. My throat felt choked with cotton, my chest a searing agony of pain and bitterness. I couldn’t fathom it. How could Seraphina, of all people, be cheating? We were childhood sweethearts. Our families had been close for generations, and everyone always assumed we’d end up together. After sharing all our precious firsts, she would melt into my arms, her face flushed with bliss, and whisper as she kissed my lips. “Ryan, you are my true love. I want to spend forever with you.” For that single declaration of love, I was willing to give her everything. Even when Hayes Group was on the brink of bankruptcy seven years ago, I went against everyone’s advice, pulling them back from the edge. Amidst the envious gazes of countless people, I threw Seraphina a lavish, talked-about wedding, bringing her home as my esteemed wife. After we married, Seraphina worried having children would affect her health and beauty, so I agreed to a child-free lifestyle. No matter how unreasonable her demands, I would move heaven and earth to fulfill them. Everyone said I spoiled Seraphina rotten, more than any parent would spoil their own child. I’d just smile faintly, a proud glint in my eyes. “My wife deserves to be cherished, spoiled rotten. That way, she’d never look at anyone else.” Seraphina would always snuggle into my arms, telling me I was the only one who loved her unconditionally, that she would never let anyone come between us. Yet, on that projector screen, she was writhing under another man. In her passion, she even screamed his name, calling him “hubby.” When Jax Sterling first interviewed at the company, I immediately saw his fierce ambition. His eyes held a predatory glint, and he showed me no respect, just a flicker of veiled defiance. Seraphina insisted the company needed someone like him-innovative, capable of driving change. She later confessed to me, in hushed tones, that Jax had that devil-may-care charm she found attractive, reminiscent of an actor she once liked. I didn’t feel jealous or angry then. I just shook my head, chuckling, wondering when my ‘fragile’ wife would finally grow up. After more than a decade of shared history, I never once imagined Seraphina would betray me. It took the brutal truth of her infidelity, starkly displayed before me, for me to realize that I was the naive, foolish one all along. Just as my mind was reeling, a loud knock echoed through the house. “Mr. Blackwood, open up! I’m here for the package!”

Jax Sterling stood at my door, dressed in a trendy designer suit, his hair slicked back with gel, one hand casually tucked into his pocket. He looked like he’d just stepped out of a nightclub. To anyone who didn’t know, he could easily be mistaken for a sketchy club promoter. And it was this untrustworthy man who had stolen Seraphina from me. For a split second, I wanted nothing more than to smash my fist into his smug, pretty-boy face, to see him groveling at my feet. Marriage wasn’t a game, especially not ours. It involved the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people across both our families’ companies. I handed the sealed package to Jax. Just as he turned to leave, I spoke, my voice deceptively calm. “Wait.” Jax paused, a fleeting flicker of guilt in his eyes as he turned to me. “What’s up?” I vaguely pointed to his open collar, my gaze steady. “That red mark there. Mosquito bite?” Anyone with even a shred of experience in dating or relationships would know exactly what that mark, in that position, of that shape, meant. But Jax, unfazed, went along with it, a smirk playing on his lips. “Yeah, the mosquitoes at the office are real sticky, can’t shake ’em off.” My heart felt like it had been violently ripped open, a pain so sharp it made my jaw clench, almost betraying the carefully constructed calm on my face. After Jax left, I changed into an unremarkable gray hoodie and sweatpants, then got in my car and followed him. His car took several winding turns, but it didn’t head towards Seraphina’s office. Instead, it pulled into a secluded but beautiful villa community on the outskirts of the city. It wasn’t until I saw the familiar scenery that I realized with a jolt: years ago, when this development first opened, I had brought Seraphina here to look at a house, planning to buy one for our retirement. Seraphina had laughed then, calling me an old man, wondering why I was thinking about retirement in the prime of my life. She’d dragged me away after a quick tour. Jax’s car stopped in front of a rose-covered garden villa. My pupils dilated in shock. I recognized it instantly-it was the very same house I had shown Seraphina all those years ago! As I stood there, stunned, a familiar figure ran out of the house, throwing herself into Jax’s arms. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, I recognized Seraphina in an instant. She clung to Jax, demanding one long, lingering kiss after another, before finally speaking in a soft, sweet voice. “So, did he find out? I’ve been so worried!” Jax shook his head, scoffing disdainfully. “That guy’s always been too arrogant. Even if the evidence was staring him in the face, he wouldn’t believe anyone would dare to cheat on him!” He was right. It wasn’t arrogance. It was trust. My unwavering trust in Seraphina. She had spent seven years with me. Seven years where we faced everything together.

Watching them walk hand-in-hand back into the villa, I merely twitched an eyelid and made a call. “Dave, you have contacts in the Bayview Villas, right? I need a favor.” Initially, I was reluctant to say what was happening. But once Dave Miller realized I needed help to catch a cheating spouse, he immediately insisted on coming himself. “No, seriously, what the hell happened?” Dave arrived, looking disheveled from his rush. Before he got here, he’d already arranged for the villa community’s security to send me the surveillance footage. After watching it, I realized that every time Seraphina said she was “working late,” she was actually here, meeting Jax Sterling. Dave was silent after seeing the footage. After a long while, he finally spoke. “I really can’t believe Seraphina is this kind of person. If you don’t want to show your face today, I can handle it for you.” Dave sighed heavily. He had watched Seraphina and me from the moment we met until our wedding day. But I just shook my head. “No, it’s fine. I have to face it sooner or later. I’ll handle it myself.” I was now in the villa directly opposite theirs. I could see them, intertwined and sweet, in the villa garden. Seraphina’s genuine, unrestrained laughter broke something inside me. She hadn’t smiled at me like that in years. “Seraphina, when are you going to tell that idiot husband of yours?” Jax held Seraphina from behind. Seraphina hesitated for a moment, but it was just that-a moment. “No rush. I’ll tell him after his birthday.” “Hayes Group doesn’t need Blackwood Industries’ support anymore. I’m a free woman. I’ll do whatever I want, and no one can stop me from pursuing my freedom!” Seraphina revealed a rare, untamed side of herself. To outsiders, and to me, she had always been rational, sensible, never impulsive. No wonder when she hired Jax, she said the company needed someone ambitious, imaginative, and daring. Perhaps that’s when she fell for him. Immediately after, I called Seraphina. She glanced at her phone and hung up. “Baby, I’m busy. I’ll make it up to you tonight when I get home,” she quickly texted. But in reality, she was kissing Jax, doing things in the garden that would make anyone blush. I didn’t reply. Instead, I posted an update on Ins about looking at houses in the Bayview Villas. The photo accompanying it was of the very villa Seraphina was in, and the caption read: “Really wish I could see inside. Wonder who bought the house I always loved most.” Seraphina had special notifications set up for me, so she saw the post almost immediately. “Jax, let’s go back inside.” “What’s wrong, Seraphina? It’s not our first time in the garden, and the house next door is empty. What are you worried about?” Jax lifted her chin. But Seraphina’s eyes kept darting towards the garden gate. She pushed Jax away, who was getting aroused. “I have something to do. We’ll talk later.”

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The night my boyfriend proposed, I was in a car accident. Lying unconscious in the hospital bed, I overheard my boyfriend, Julian, talking to his friend. “You went too far this time. Scarlett’s legs are practically ruined. If you didn’t want to marry her, why bother with the fake proposal? You arranged for a car to hit her, and then you threw a birthday party for your assistant…” “I just don’t want to get married so early. I’ll still marry Scarlett eventually! Her broken legs are actually perfect; I can have my fun for a while, and I’ll make it up to her after we’re married.” “But you can’t arrange for a car to hit her and throw a birthday party for your assistant at the same time!” “I’m a little addicted to this assistant right now. I’m planning to have her move in! Scarlett can’t walk anyway. Just slip some sleeping pills into her milk, and once she’s deeply asleep, we can party all we want.” My heart squeezed so tight it felt like I couldn’t breathe. Seven years of love, and this is the kind of man he truly was. Fine. If you want a thrilling life, I’ll give you exactly what you wish for!

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Scarlett has a unique constitution. Large doses of sleeping pills could seriously harm her. You really need to think this through.” Julian’s friend, Marcus, looked serious as he tried to warn him, hoping he would know when to stop. “Just a little harm won’t kill her. Even if she ends up crippled or can’t have children, she’ll still be my wife, Julian’s wife. I won’t abandon her; you can rest assured about that.” Marcus stared, stunned. He never imagined Julian cared so little about my health. As long as I was alive, even if plagued by illness later, he wouldn’t mind. “Alright, just don’t regret it later.” “Don’t end up like Ryan, who’s now running all over the world searching for his wife, crying his eyes out every day, experiencing his own desperate scramble to win her back.” The hospital room was warm, but Julian’s words sent a chill straight to my bones. “If she runs off, I can just have fun with Brittany every day. I won’t marry Brittany, so I’ll just be with her while Scarlett is injured.” “Scarlett loves me so much; she won’t go crazy and run off like Ryan’s wife. I’m very sure about that.” So, he always knew how deeply I loved him, yet he betrayed my sincerity and trampled on my self-respect. He saw me as disposable, convinced I couldn’t live without him. Scarlett, you gave your heart to the wrong person. It’s time to wake up. Just then, his assistant, Brittany, pushed open the door. Marcus saw her and quickly left the VIP suite. As soon as he was gone, Brittany, with her alluring figure, melted into Julian’s arms. “Jules, how could you just leave without a word? Leaving me alone at the party… you’re so naughty.” Brittany purred, her hand exploring Julian’s chest, sparking his desire. “Honey, I threw you a birthday party; what more do you want?” He then punished her with a kiss, crushing his lips against hers. Right there, in my hospital room, they started to get intimate. I deliberately let out a soft cough, startling the two of them mid-embrace. “What are you two doing?”

Julian flinched at the sound of my voice, instinctively pushing Brittany away. He quickly straightened his collar, his eyes wide with panic as he visibly tried to rein in his raw desire. He walked toward me, putting on a worried expression. “Scarlett, you’re finally awake.” He hugged me tightly, speaking in the same loving tone he used to. “You scared me half to death, you know? I was still at the proposal ceremony when I heard about your accident. I went crazy, rushing to the hospital, tripping and stumbling several times. Brittany just came over to help me check my scratches.” Brittany also stepped forward, her voice dripping with sweetness. “Yes, Mr. Julian almost lost his own life when he heard what happened to you. Ms. Scarlett, us singles are so envious of you!” I watched as they exchanged secret glances, their faces betraying no guilt as they spun their web of lies. I had no intention of calling them out. Instead, I suggested that I wanted to recover at home, unable to stand the smell of hospital disinfectant. Julian agreed, taking me back to our shared apartment. Since I couldn’t walk, Julian carried me the entire way. “Scarlett, don’t be sad. I’ll hire the best doctors to heal your legs.” “Even if they can’t be healed, I’ll be your legs from now on. Wherever you want to go, I’ll carry you. We’ll never be apart, always together.” He finished speaking and kissed my cheek. If I hadn’t overheard the cruel truth with my own ears, I would have been foolishly happy and content right now. Looking at the man I had loved for so many years, I swallowed all the bitterness. Outside the door, Brittany’s expression turned grim as she listened to Julian’s heartfelt words. I lay down in bed, feigning exhaustion and a desire to rest, precisely because I didn’t want to drink the overdose of sleeping pills and harm my body. But Brittany still brought in the milk, handing it to Julian. “Scarlett, drink some milk before you sleep.” I looked with despair at the milk in his hand. Was he so eager to play his games with Brittany, so indifferent to my fate? You already had my legs injured; why can’t you leave my body alone? “Jules, I don’t want to drink it. Can I not?” Julian hesitated, clearly conflicted. Brittany, however, grew impatient. She smiled and said, “You two chat! It’s getting late, I need to head back!” She deliberately emphasized “head back,” a clear warning to Julian not to waste time. Julian got the message and no longer hesitated. He brought the milk to my lips, coaxing me like a child. “Come on, be a good girl.” “You sleep so poorly; only with milk can you get a good night’s rest.” I gave a cold laugh, closed my eyes, drank the milk, and pulled the covers over myself. Julian let out a sigh of relief, smiling as he kissed my forehead. “Sleep tight, goodnight!” Then he left with Brittany, closing the door behind them. Once they were gone, I sat up, grabbed my crutches, and limped to the bathroom, where I spat out the milk. Clutching my crutches, I painfully made my way upstairs. As I reached the door of our shared bedroom, I heard Julian’s sensual moans from within.

My hand trembled as I gently pushed open the slightly ajar door. What I saw—Julian and Brittany, naked, wrapped tightly around each other—stole my breath. Their passionate moans and gasps echoed in my ears, a stabbing pain. “Jules, who makes you feel better, me or Scarlett?” Julian let out a scoff. “Of course, it’s you, my little wildcat. Scarlett’s too reserved, not like you, who knows how to make a man lose himself.” “Then… why don’t you just break up with her and be with me?” Brittany leaned in, nibbling his ear, her voice a seductive whisper. “I’ve thought about it. Who wouldn’t get bored with the same flavor, the same routine, after all this time?” At that moment, my nails dug into my palms. I watched Julian, lost in a haze of lust. He, who once knelt at my family’s door, begging Evelyn to allow us to be together! What promises had he made to Evelyn then? He’d sworn he would never betray or abandon me, and if he broke that vow, he’d suffer for the rest of his life. Yet, in just a few short years, he had forgotten his vows completely. To avoid marrying me, he orchestrated a car accident to break my legs. To steal intimate moments, he slipped large doses of sleeping pills into my milk. Julian, Julian, if you no longer loved me, you could have just told me. I would have let go, never clinging to you. But you can’t use such cruel methods to punish me. This is more agonizing than killing me. Tears blurred my vision, and I stumbled away in a desperate escape. I had made excuses for him on the way here, but it was all just self-deception. Clutching my crutches, I walked like a zombie, mindlessly, until I lost my footing and fell down the stairs. The pain from my injury was so intense I nearly fainted. Perhaps the commotion was loud, as the couple upstairs stopped their activities simultaneously. I heard the hurried sounds of them getting dressed. Soon after, Julian emerged, his eyes still flushed with lust, but a worried expression quickly replaced it. Seeing me sprawled at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes flashed with guilt and alarm as he rushed down. “Scarlett, are you okay?” “You should be sleeping, why are you out here?” Faced with his frantic questions, I moved my lips, a bitter, self-deprecating smile. His neck was covered in hickeys, big and small, and he hadn’t even bothered to cover them before rushing out. Julian saw me staring at his neck without speaking. The next second, his gaze darted away, and he grabbed his robe to cover his neck. Just then, Brittany emerged from the room, fully dressed. Julian’s face stiffened, and he scrambled for excuses. “Scarlett, it’s not what you think. Brittany and I were discussing work matters. You know, as my assistant, she has to be at my beck and call at all times. And my neck… it’s because I ate peanuts today and had an allergic reaction.” “But you, why didn’t you call me when you came out?” He was really wondering why the sleeping pills hadn’t worked, why I wasn’t deeply asleep. Brittany chimed in, “Ms. Scarlett, don’t overthink it. Nothing happened between us. We were just working overtime in the same room.” As she said “working overtime,” she gave Julian a sweet, suggestive look, and they exchanged secretive glances. They were treating me like an idiot. Working overtime in a room in the middle of the night? What a ridiculous excuse. “I don’t know what happened tonight. After drinking the milk, my stomach felt very unwell, so I threw it all up. While I was looking for you, I accidentally fell.” Julian lied, so I lied back. Lies were the first cracks, shattering the foundation of our love. Hearing my words, Julian secretly let out a sigh of relief. He picked me up, feigning tenderness as he kissed my face. “It’s all my fault for not taking better care of you!” The thought of his lips having just kissed Brittany made me want to throw up. As he carried me away, he glanced back at Brittany. Back in the room, Julian changed my blood-stained bandages, then said he had more work to do and left. Once he was gone, I pulled out my phone and called Aunt Evelyn. “Evelyn, I want to go home. I don’t want Julian anymore!” “Scarlett, what’s wrong? Did Julian hurt you?” “Evelyn, I’ll tell you when I get home. My legs are injured, and I can’t walk. Please send someone to pick me up.” After exchanging a few more concerned questions with Evelyn, I hung up. Just then, Julian, who had returned, pushed open the door. “Who did you just say you were having picked up?”

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Vivian Thorne, the new coach at my gym, claimed she could offer “painless body sculpting.” Just lie down, and the weight would melt off. She blew up overnight. Countless celebrities and influencers flocked to the gym, her private sessions skyrocketing to hundreds of thousands of dollars each. But with every one of her private lessons, my own weight inexplicably ballooned. My friends mocked me. My boyfriend dumped me. Even worse, the insatiable cravings many of her clients experienced began to plague me too. I’d wake up in the middle of the night, desperate for high-calorie foods. A day without a sugary boba tea felt like torture. I stormed into the gym, demanding answers. Everyone just brushed me off, assuming I’d failed at my diet and was just lashing out at the celebrity coach. Facing my furious accusations, Vivian simply continued guiding a famous actress through some stretches. “Ma’am, please don’t interrupt my work. I’m about to take my VIP client to the Victoria’s Secret model casting. There’s no room for error.” As her team stunned the crowd at the casting, I suddenly collapsed. Overweight and suffering from heart and lung failure, I died on the spot. When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back to Vivian Thorne’s first day at the gym.

“Cassie, look! The new coach, her body is absolutely insane!” My best friend, Chloe Miller, tugged my arm, her eyes gleaming as she stared at the entrance. I followed her gaze, and my heart plummeted. It was her! Vivian Thorne. She wore a perfectly tailored, blush-pink activewear set that hugged her flawless curves, not an ounce of fat in sight. Her high ponytail swayed gently with her movements, and a confident, approachable smile played on her lips as she chatted with Mr. Jenkins, the gym owner. She was a magnet, instantly drawing every eye in the gym. But all I saw was a demon cloaked in beauty. Of course, I remembered her. I remembered her smiling as she told me, “Obesity is simply a sign of weak willpower.” I remembered how she’d emerged from Derek Stone’s car, coolly handing me a flyer with her picture on it, just after he’d dumped me. And most vividly, I remembered seeing her on TV, basking in the spotlight of an interview, through the blurry window of the ambulance, right before I died. Now, that monster was back— No, *I* was back. I had been reborn. “Cassie, what are you staring at? Your eyes are practically bugging out.” Chloe nudged me. “I heard she’s a celebrity coach from overseas, specializing in painless body sculpting. You just lie there and get slim! I need to book a trial session, fast!” “Don’t!” I grabbed her arm, my voice trembling. “Listen to me, stay away from her. She’s not right!” Chloe paused, then yanked her hand away, a frown creasing her brow. “What’s gotten into you today? She just got here, and you’re already saying she’s ‘not right’? Are you just jealous because she’s so beautiful?” Jealous? A chill snaked up my spine. In my previous life, Chloe had been one of Vivian’s most loyal clients. Vivian had turned Chloe into her walking advertisement, while I had become her personal fat dumping ground, a sacrificial lamb. “I’m not!” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. “Her methods are definitely flawed. They’re bad for your body!” “Bad? All I see is her perfect body and a stack of success stories!” Chloe was clearly annoyed. “If I can’t book her class, are you going to make me thin?” She didn’t believe me. Not a word. I spun around and marched toward the owner’s office. Mr. Jenkins was all smiles, pouring tea for Vivian Thorne. “Mr. Jenkins!” I burst in. “That new coach, you can’t use her! She’s a problem!” Mr. Jenkins’s smile froze. He looked at me, then at Vivian, his expression a mix of embarrassment and displeasure. “Cassie, don’t be ridiculous. Coach Thorne is my star hire, I paid a fortune for her. Her resume and expertise are top-notch.” Vivian picked up her teacup, gently blowing on it, not even glancing my way, as if I were thin air. That feeling of being utterly ignored was identical to my past life. “Her training methods aren’t scientific!” I insisted, my voice urgent. “It’s not fitness; it’s dangerous!” “Dangerous?” Mr. Jenkins scoffed as if I’d told the funniest joke. He gestured at Vivian. “Cassie, just look at Coach Thorne. She’s her own best advertisement. Are you just stressed from your diet? Have you lost your mind?” Vivian finally lifted her head, her gaze landing on me, a faint, unsettling smile playing on her lips. “Have we met before, miss? Your hostility… it seems rather sudden.” My blood ran cold. “Your good times are numbered.” I said no more, leaving that chilling remark as I turned and walked out. Behind me, I heard Mr. Jenkins’s profuse apologies and Vivian’s calm, soft laughter.

Vivian Thorne’s trial classes were fully booked. The gym’s main studio was packed. Chloe, having secured a spot in the front row, waved at me excitedly. I stood at the back of the crowd, watching everything with a cold stare. Vivian didn’t have anyone doing strenuous exercises. She simply guided them through some gentle stretches, coupled with what she called “specialized breathwork.” “Relax. Imagine all the excess, bothersome fat in your body, being expelled with every exhale.” Her voice was gentle yet hypnotic, carrying a seductive power. The clients closed their eyes, looking utterly blissful. What a ridiculous scene. If I hadn’t experienced it firsthand, I too might have fallen for her deceptive spiel. I fixated on Vivian Thorne. I could feel an unseen, viscous energy spreading from her, enveloping the entire studio. That web began to tighten, drawing something from each client. Finally, all the threads converged in my direction. It was here. That invasive, unnatural feeling, like something foreign being forced into me, returned. My body grew heavy. Breathing became difficult, as if invisible cement was being poured into my veins, weighing down my every limb. I couldn’t just stand there and let it happen. “Don’t believe her, everyone!” I burst forward, pointing at Vivian. “This isn’t fitness! She’s harming you! Your fat isn’t disappearing; it’s being transferred!” My shout startled everyone awake. They stared at me, bewildered. Chloe’s face flushed crimson. She rushed over, trying to clap her hand over my mouth. “Cassie, you’re crazy! Stop it!” Vivian Thorne’s composure cracked for the first time, but only for a fleeting second. She quickly regained her poise, walking toward me with a hurt, yet understanding, expression. “Miss, I completely understand that many traditional fitness coaches might question my new methods.” She turned to the crowd. “But the results don’t lie. Everyone, please step onto the body fat scales now.” The clients, still wary, did as she asked. The next second, gasps of astonishment erupted. “Oh my god! I lost three pounds! Just from lying here for an hour?” “My body fat percentage dropped by a full point! How is that even possible?” “This is insane! Pure magic!” Chloe also stepped onto a scale. When she saw the numbers on the screen, she shrieked with excitement. She turned back to me, her eyes filled with disappointment and anger. “Cassie! Did you see that? Is *this* the scammer you were talking about?” I felt utterly cold. Of course, they had gotten thinner. Because their fat was, at this very moment, inside my body. My hands trembling, I walked to an empty body fat scale. On the screen, the numbers spun wildly, finally settling on a figure a full five and a half pounds heavier than I had been that morning. “Everyone, look,” Vivian’s voice rang out above me, laced with a feigned pity. “This young lady’s weight… actually increased. I suppose some people are just like that. If they can’t achieve something themselves, they can’t stand to see others succeed.” “You…” I was shaking with rage. “How rude, ruining things just because she can’t stick to her own diet.” “Exactly. Look at her, she probably just overeats all the time.” “So pathetic, and yet so annoying.” The whispers and judgments stung me deeply. I looked at Chloe, hoping she would stand up for me, say something. But she just turned her head away, pulling her new ‘newly-slimmed friends’ with her, excitedly discussing where they should go to celebrate. Amidst everyone’s laughter and accusations, Vivian walked over to me. She leaned in close, whispering in my ear: “Garbage belongs in the garbage can.”

Vivian Thorne became an overnight sensation. “Painless body sculpting” was the hottest topic in the city’s elite circles. The gym’s classes were completely booked, and Mr. Jenkins was grinning from ear to ear, though he now looked at me as if I were a persistent nuisance. Vivian’s private sessions fetched a six-figure price tag, yet securing a spot was still nearly impossible. I, meanwhile, had become the sole punchline of this grand celebration. My weight began to skyrocket at an alarming rate. In just one week, I gained fifteen pounds. The reflection in the mirror was grotesquely swollen. My face was round, my beautiful collarbones long gone, replaced by a thick double chin. Even more terrifying were the desires that had appeared out of nowhere. I developed a frantic obsession with sweets and fried foods. I’d wake up starving in the middle of the night, my mind consumed by a single thought: *eat*. I couldn’t control myself. I’d open my DoorDash app and order everything at the top of the fried chicken, burger, and milkshake categories. When the food arrived, I’d ravenously stuff it into my mouth until a sharp, agonizing pain flared in my stomach, only then would I pause slightly. Afterward, came a deeper wave of self-loathing and panic. Derek chose that moment to break up with me. He asked to meet at our usual coffee shop. His gaze was cold, filled with an unsettling blend of unfamiliarity and disdain. “Cassie, we need to end this.” He just blurted it out. My fingers tightened around my water glass. My heart felt as if a giant hand had seized it. “Why?” Despite having already braced myself for it, I couldn’t help but ask. “Just look at you.” He didn’t bother to hide his contempt. “I can’t even take you out in public. My friends would laugh at me for dating someone who let herself go.” His words sliced through me like knives. I looked at him, the man I’d loved for three years. I remembered him taking such meticulous care of me when I was sick. I remembered him swearing he’d love me no matter what I became. Turns out, vows were cheap. “Derek, what if I told you someone *did* this to me? Would you believe me?” I made one last, desperate plea. He scoffed, his eyes full of the contempt one reserves for a lunatic. “Cassie, stop making excuses. Just admit it, you can’t control yourself.” Just then, a sleek, fiery red Porsche pulled up outside the coffee shop. The car door opened, and a woman, exquisitely dressed and stunningly beautiful, stepped out. It was Vivian Thorne. She strode directly to our table, casually looping her arm through Derek’s. She flashed me a triumphant smile. “Cassie, what a coincidence. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Derek’s new girlfriend.” Derek didn’t pull away. Instead, he gazed at her with a doting expression. I understood. Everything became clear. Even after a new life, some things were just destined to repeat. “Cassie,” Vivian pulled a business card from her purse, elegantly sliding it across the table toward me. “This is my card. For Derek’s sake, I can offer you a twenty percent discount. Though, given your current condition, you’ll probably need double the sessions.” It was a clear, calculated insult. I shot to my feet, knocking my coffee cup over, sending a splash of dark liquid cascading down her pristine white dress. “Ah!” Vivian shrieked. A large, ugly stain bloomed on her expensive gown. Derek immediately jumped up, frantically dabbing at the stain with a napkin, while glaring at me. “Cassie, what are you doing! Apologize to Vivian, now!” Apologize? I wanted to rip that smug, fake smile off her face. I snatched the water glass from the table and *splashed* it straight into her face. Ignoring Derek’s furious roar and Vivian’s outraged shriek, I turned and stormed out of the coffee shop. I couldn’t wait any longer. I *had* to uncover her secret, or she’d drain me dry, literally, one way or another.

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At my wedding, the officiant asked me: “Willow Vance, what’s your biggest wish after getting married?” Amidst the cheerful chatter about a long and happy life, and maybe some grandkids, I calmly replied: “Divorce.” The officiant looked stunned. Being a seasoned professional, he quickly chuckled, “Our bride has quite the sense of humor!” “I’m not joking.” Seeing my serious expression, the officiant froze. All the guests present stared in disbelief. Then, everyone’s gaze shifted to my husband, Liam Caldwell, standing beside me. A flicker of panic crossed Liam’s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. “Willow, don’t be so dramatic.” My husband gently brushed a strand of hair from my face. “Since I chose you, you’re mine. Forever.” My father-in-law, Arthur Caldwell, who stood behind Liam, smiled. He addressed the crowd, “Outsiders might think Willow isn’t a match for my son, but I, Arthur Caldwell, am not an unreasonable man. As long as my son is happy, that’s all that matters.” Everyone immediately seemed to relax, exchanging sympathetic smiles. [Willow must be totally dizzy from this sudden stroke of luck. She hasn’t even fully woken up yet.] [Right? Ever since Vance Industries crumbled, they’ve been nothing. It’s truly unbelievable that Mr. Caldwell would marry Willow.] [So many women were chasing Liam, all prettier than Willow, and many with similar backgrounds. Who would’ve thought the Caldwells would choose Willow in the end?] [I heard Liam actually pursued her first.] “Let’s continue.” Prompted by my father-in-law, the officiant snapped out of his daze and resumed the ceremony. After the wedding, my answer to the officiant went viral. It wasn’t surprising; the Caldwell Group was the most influential powerhouse in the entire city. The Caldwell family taking in a daughter-in-law was already a hot topic; such a dramatic moment was bound to break the internet. Despite my father-in-law and husband’s explanations, and the guests’ outward understanding, online, the skepticism exploded: “This marriage is messed up,” “there’s definitely something fishy going on,” “the Caldwells are actually shady,” and so on. Rumors spread like wildfire, engulfing the whole city. The Caldwell Group’s stock price began to fluctuate.

My father-in-law panicked. He publicly clarified the situation on television. After reiterating that my words stemmed from insecurity, he added an objective reason. “My daughter-in-law was running a high fever on our wedding day, which caused her to speak incoherently. In fact, she doesn’t even remember what she said afterward.” With that, he produced a diagnostic report with my name on it, showing a fever of 103.1°F. But netizens weren’t convinced; the negative comments continued. My father-in-law called me to his study. “Willow, you started this, and you need to put an end to it.” “No problem, Arthur.” I readily agreed. In the video, I spoke earnestly. “My father-in-law asked me to post a video clarifying what I said at the wedding, claiming I was delirious from a high fever. I think I really should respond. My answer is no. While most people get married hoping to stay together for life, I’m different…” My “explanation” only made things worse; netizens immediately blew up, demanding to know what had really happened. I didn’t respond. Before I even logged off, a flood of direct messages poured in. I only replied to one independent investigative reporter. I warned him, “You should stay out of my business; it could hurt you. If you’re not afraid for your safety, then go ahead. Think carefully.” He chuckled dismissively. “Ms. Vance, what I need is a breaking news story.” Then, he earnestly asked for my opinion, “You’re the breakthrough I need for my investigation. It might cause some trouble in your personal life. Do you mind?” “I don’t mind.” Days later, the reporter posted online with the headline: — *Saying ‘Divorce’ at the Wedding: A Complex Truth Behind the Scenes.* “Chairman Arthur Caldwell risked his entire fortune to make a last-ditch effort to save Vance Industries, but ultimately failed.” “After Richard Vance and his wife tragically passed away, Arthur Caldwell was so grief-stricken he didn’t eat for three days.” “Liam Caldwell and Willow Vance had an engagement contract long ago. After the Vance family fell, Arthur Caldwell honored his promise and had his son marry Willow.”

The content might have been brief, but it was impactful. [Wow, so the Caldwells and Vances have known each other for years!] [Arthur Caldwell is a man of his word, truly admirable!] [A rare gem of a man!] Everyone now understood why I had said those words. [No wonder she felt so insecure. So that’s what happened.] [She was already prepared for divorce.] [At least she’s sensible.] The positive impact was immediate; the Caldwell Group’s stock price soared. But my father-in-law was furious when he saw the report. “Who’s investigating this? That damn fool!” “Arthur, you should be happy. After all, this is good news.” Hearing me say this, my father-in-law suddenly realized he’d lost his temper. He quickly softened his expression and said, “I’ve always disliked drawing attention to myself.” As I turned to leave, I heard my father-in-law quietly order his son, “Find out who’s behind this, and shut it down immediately.” After that, my father-in-law’s family became exceptionally kind to me, showering me with meticulous care, as if I were a precious treasure they’d brought into their home. A few days later, the reporter posted online again. “To marry Willow Vance, the Caldwell family turned down many wealthy alliances, offending numerous business peers.” “To prevent Liam’s admirers from seeking revenge on Willow for not getting Liam, Chairman Caldwell specifically arranged bodyguards for Willow.” “The bodyguards are inseparable from Willow; Chairman Caldwell is incredibly devoted to his daughter-in-law.” Netizens were once again stunned, saying I, Willow Vance, was incredibly lucky to marry into the Caldwell family. They understood my wedding day comment even more. My father-in-law’s face grew increasingly dark. He chided his son for his inefficiency, “Didn’t you already find out who it was? Why didn’t you stop them?” My husband, looking distressed, said, “That reporter is very persistent. He said he’d already gotten Willow’s permission, so he refuses to give up.” My father-in-law gave me a sum of money to offer the reporter, hoping he’d drop the investigation. When I found the reporter with the money, he smiled, “I was just short on clues, and here they come.” I pretended not to understand him. “What do you mean?” The reporter stared into my eyes and said softly, “It clearly benefits your father-in-law, yet he doesn’t want the investigation to continue. That tells me he’s afraid of something.” I secretly nodded to myself. I hadn’t chosen the wrong person. But I warned him again, “You need to think this through. It’s not too late to stop now.” “Thank you for the warning, Ms. Vance. But I have to uphold my profession. And I owe it to the public.” A few more days passed. Another post from the reporter appeared online. “The Vance family’s bankruptcy was due to Richard Vance and his wife mistakenly signing a $3 billion contract, leading to their downfall.” “The Vance family was likely set up.” “The tip of the iceberg has been revealed. I intend to uncover everything. Please, netizens, be patient; the truth will soon come to light.” It was late, and the light in the study was still on. Through the crack in the door, I saw my husband angrily tell my father-in-law, “He took the money and still didn’t stop. He’s asking for trouble.” My father-in-law’s face was distorted in a menacing grimace, his voice barely a whisper, “I’ll tell you what to do…” Days later, I didn’t see any new posts from the reporter, but I heard about his death. My best friend told me. “Willow, did you hear? That reporter investigating you died. He was hit by a car.” “They say the driver was drunk and fled the scene overnight. The police have issued a warrant.” My heart felt as if it had been brutally stabbed with a knife. “Are you sure he’s dead?” “Yes. Your father-in-law demanded that the police absolutely catch the hit-and-run driver and punish him severely. He said after reading the reporter’s posts, he realized his dear friends’ deaths might have had a hidden motive.” “Your father-in-law said he had planned to investigate with the reporter, but now the lead is suddenly cut off…”

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My best friend was using my intimate photos to catfish guys online. My body plus her face? No man could resist. For months, she bathed in the attention. Until the day she accidentally hit on her own boyfriend’s secret Ins account. Just as she was about to take things further, the message came to me instead. Tyler, her boyfriend, texted me,”Aria, your body is fucking hot!” The first time I caught my best friend using my private photos to catfish men online, she already had a boyfriend. She even laughed and told me, “You know that mole on your inner thigh? Tyler noticed it was gone. I told him I had it lasered off.” I stared at her, confused. She smiled like it was nothing. “Oh, forgot to mention. When I first met Tyler, I meant to send my photos but accidentally sent yours. You don’t mind, right?” What shattered me wasn’t just that incident, but learning she’d done this with countless men before him. I’ve never liked taking photos. Growing up, I was bullied for having curves. She convinced me I was wrong. “Beautiful things deserve to be preserved,” she told me. So I took a bunch of boudoir photos with her. I never imagined they’d become one of her tools to please men. With her face, she was always the pretty one. But she’s skinny. She once told me, “My face plus your body would be a killer combo.” That bothered me a little. I told her right away, “You should delete all my photos from your phone. What if you accidentally send the wrong ones again?” She waved it off dismissively. “Won’t need to. I’m really into Tyler. Not planning to switch guys anytime soon.” That’s when it hit me. She only used my photos when she wanted to hook someone. Meaning this wasn’t a one-time thing. And definitely not an accident. From then on, I kept my guard up around her. Until one day, I suddenly got a DM from Tyler on social media. He sent me a photo of myself in lingerie. Tyler said. This is my burner account, don’t tell Becca! I accepted the request. Then he sent over a bunch more of my private photos. I saw there was even a video of me changing clothes that had been secretly filmed. Then he wrote. “These are all you, right? Now I get why my buddies broke up with her. Total false advertising.” I asked him, “Where’d you get that video?” Tyler sent me screenshots of his chat with Becca. “You kept saying Aria has a nice body too, right? Give me 500 bucks and I’ll show you.” Tyler transferred five hundred without hesitation. Becca immediately sent him the video. Becca also said. “Pretty average, right? Plus she’s got scars all over her body, just in places you can’t see. She wouldn’t even qualify to be a hooker.”

Becca and I weren’t what you’d call fake friends. At least not from where I stood. We were neighbors. Grew up together. We both got out of our dead-end small town together. Came to the city for college together. I thought we were each other’s most trustworthy person in this world. I never imagined she’d talk about me like that behind my back. All those memories of us living side by side felt so vivid, but these screenshots had turned everything unrecognizable. Fighting back my emotions, I typed. “Who else did she send them to?” “All my buddies, man. We paid her good money. She didn’t split it with you? Are you two running this scam together or what?” This was disgusting. I’d always thought Becca was genuinely popular. From the day we started college, she’d been cycling through boyfriends. I didn’t agree with her approach to relationships, but sometimes I felt insecure watching her get all that attention. This time with Tyler, she’d even made a big deal of taking me out to dinner. She told me repeatedly how much she liked him, how she wanted to be serious with him. I’d been happy for her, thinking she’d found someone she truly cared about. I never expected the truth to be this ugly and raw. Maybe seeing I was taking a while to respond, Tyler sent another long message. “To be honest, I’ve always been obsessed with girls like you. If Becca hadn’t slid into my DMs first, I’d have never looked twice at her.” “What do you say? We’ve run into each other a few times now. What do you think of me?” “Becca told me you’re pretty strapped for cash. She must’ve mentioned my situation, right? I’m doing well financially. Not some broke college kid.” I replied with “Drop dead” and blocked him. After that, I kept hearing Becca complain about fighting with Tyler. I didn’t engage. Just listened to her vent. “Do you think Tyler’s got problems? He hasn’t asked me out in forever. This relationship is so boring.” “He sends cash gifts, but way less than before. Men are so shallow, you know? When they’re into you, they’ll give you anything. Once they cool off, it’s night and day.” While complaining, she kept texting on her phone. She even showed me her screen. “Look, this guy sends me a cash gift for every message, trying to get me to talk to him. Two hundred each. Suddenly dating seems pointless.” I asked, “Did you send him photos?” She glanced up at me and smiled. “Relax, didn’t use your photos. You don’t actually think you’re irresistible, do you? When guys say you have a nice body, they’re just being polite. Don’t take it too seriously.” Then she added, like she was comforting me, “Of course, for a regular person, you’re pretty good. I booked a boudoir shoot. Let’s go together sometime.” Looking at her face, I felt like this person had become a stranger, and it terrified me. I made an excuse to decline. To my surprise, her expression changed. “Why are you always so busy? You don’t even have time for a quick photoshoot?” I shook my head. “Working part-time. Haven’t earned next semester’s tuition yet.” She rolled her eyes. “That’s why I told you to work at that club, but you wouldn’t. Two hundred an hour. If you meet a generous guy, you’d make your tuition back in a week.” Beauty is a weapon. Once you start selling it, it becomes worthless scrap metal. She’d understand that eventually.

That day, Becca came back to the dorm all excited. She called out to me while I was doing laundry, “I’m meeting someone new. He’s picking me up downstairs for dinner. Want to come?” I asked her, “What about Tyler?” She waved dismissively. “Haven’t talked to him in forever. He’s probably dead for all I care.” Seeing my thoughtful expression, she suddenly smiled strangely. “Don’t tell me you’re into him? I’ll be honest, he’s got money, but everything else? Total disappointment. After a couple times, the novelty wore off.” She smacked her lips in summary. “Not great. Honeymoon phase too short. Plus he’s not into your type anyway.” A moment later, her phone kept buzzing with messages. She glanced at them and told me, “He’s downstairs. Let him wait. Men are always so impatient.” But this guy didn’t seem patient at all. He sent a voice message, and that familiar voice said, “Aria, what game are you playing now?” Both Becca and I froze. I reacted faster. I immediately got up and snatched her phone. “You’re catfishing with my photos again?” But she turned it around on me instantly. “You’re flirting with my boyfriend?” Right then, someone knocked on the dorm door. It was Tyler. “Aria, open up. I’m not getting played twice.” I shoved the phone back into Becca’s hands and walked over to open the door. When Tyler saw us both there, he didn’t look embarrassed. He just winked at me. “I didn’t want to make a scene like this, but you forced my hand.” I said coldly, “How did I force you?” He showed me the chat history. “You blocked me on your main account, but kept sending me sexy photos from your burner. I played along for fun. I’ve sent you five figures in cash gifts. You think I’m stupid? Your hard-to-get game is pretty pathetic.” I didn’t answer him. I turned to look at Becca without saying a word. She was gripping her phone tightly, head down, completely silent. Tyler added from the side, “Why are you looking at her? We broke up. I told her back then-if we don’t talk for three days, we’re done by default.” Finally, he picked up on the weird tension in this silent standoff. He asked Becca, “What’s going on?” Becca still didn’t speak. He turned to me. “If she won’t talk, you tell me.” I shrugged, took his phone, deleted all the photos from the chat history, and said, “No idea what’s going on. Maybe after you guys broke up, you ran into each other again while surfing the net. One of those beautiful love story coincidences.” I heard Tyler curse under his breath. Then he got angry and defensive. “Are you two running a scam together?” Maybe because falling for the same trick twice was too humiliating to keep arguing about, Tyler glared at us both before storming off. Becca finally spoke her first words. “I had no choice.”

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To boost her online presence and craft a benevolent image, that obnoxious influencer tenant of mine offered my apartment to homeless people for free, claiming she wanted to give them a warm winter. She earned millions of praises, her follower count skyrocketed, ad deals piled up, and she hit financial freedom. But my home was turned into a reeking mess by mentally unwell homeless individuals. They didn’t just relieve themselves anywhere; they smeared their filthy waste all over the place. When I found out, I was absolutely furious. I confronted the influencer tenant, only to be met with her mockery. “I rented your apartment, so it’s mine now. What right do you have to speak up?” “Everyone, look! This woman here doesn’t want you to stay. She says you’re dirty and smelly, and she wants to throw you out to freeze to death!” Driven into a frenzy, the homeless man stabbed me over twenty times. I was torn apart, bleeding out until I died. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day the influencer tenant planned to take in the mentally ill homeless individuals.

“Hey, my darlings, those homeless folks on the street are just so pitiful! It’s getting colder and colder, and I just can’t stand to see them freezing. So, I’ve decided to let them stay in one of my vacant apartments for free, to give them a warmth they’ve never felt before this winter.” “Tomorrow at 10 AM, I’ll be live-streaming the entire thing! Remember to tune in, sweethearts. Let’s all do our part to help the homeless find a home this winter and contribute to a good cause.” Watching Seraphina Stone, the influencer, giggling and filming her video across the street, my hands clenched into tight fists. Sacrificing my life and my home for her own gain – she had absolutely no boundaries. Seraphina finished her video, and her face instantly dropped. She tossed her phone to Leo, her assistant, with a disgusted look. “Just thinking about having to interact with those dirty, smelly homeless people tomorrow makes me sick. If this stunt wasn’t going to bring in massive traffic, I wouldn’t want to see these air-polluting individuals at all.” Leo handed her a hand warmer and chimed in. “Seraphina, we just gotta tough it out for the money. We can’t miss out on this insane viral buzz. It’s not like it’s *your* apartment anyway.” “I heard a few of the homeless folks around here have mental health issues; they often relieve themselves right on the street. Imagine if they do that inside the apartment! We can pretend to be all understanding, and boom, another wave of insane traffic, right?” “Easy money like this? We can’t pass it up!” So, they’d known all along what could happen. They just wanted to use me as a complete patsy. I was livid. Looking at the video recorded on my phone, a plan slowly began to brew in my mind. Seraphina was beaming. “Heh, the title of top streamer will be all mine… Oh, by the way, how are things with the rental? What time are we signing the contract? We need to make sure everything’s locked down.” Leo replied casually. “Don’t worry, that naive woman is desperate for cash to study abroad. She’ll definitely rent it out. Perfect, since she’ll be out of the country, it’ll make our plan even easier. Plus, the location’s perfect, right where a bunch of homeless folks hang out, which is great for our live stream. It’s like divine intervention!” Just two hours ago, I’d settled the terms with Leo on a social media app. We’d planned to sign the contract at 4 PM. Good thing the contract wasn’t signed yet. In the afternoon, right before the scheduled signing, I picked up my phone and sent Leo a voice message. “Hey, about the house, I actually can’t rent it out to you right now. My friend just moved to the city and plans to settle down here, so I’m going to rent the place to him instead. No need for you to come over this afternoon. Sorry about that!”

Leo’s reply came in almost immediately, but it was Seraphina texting. Her message was sharp. “What?! I was clearly first! No, you have to save it for me!” I didn’t reply. Seraphina, frantic, called me directly. I feigned reluctance. “But my friend offered me twenty grand a month, and he’s a buddy. He wouldn’t use my place for any weird stuff, so I’d feel more comfortable renting to him. Besides, we haven’t even signed a contract yet, right? Everything’s still fair game.” Seraphina hesitated for a few seconds, a hint of guilt in her voice, then clicked her tongue impatiently. “Alright, fine. I’ll give you twenty-five grand a month. Rent it to me.” I stayed silent, pretending to consider. “Well…” Seraphina raised her offer again. “Forty grand! Rent it to me!” “It’s not that I don’t want to rent it to you, but I’ve already signed the contract with my friend. I can’t rent it to you anymore.” “What?!” “My tenant’s right here, just finished signing the lease. Don’t believe me? Listen.” My “friend” immediately played along, his booming, rough voice echoing through the phone. “That’s right, the place is mine now. First one to sign gets the place, so don’t even think about causing trouble. If you keep pushing, my hand doesn’t care if you’re a man or a woman.” I’d specifically hired a professional actor from a gig website. He was 6’6″ and easily 330 pounds. He was all muscle, his face bore a nasty scar from an old fight, making him look seriously intimidating. Seraphina was enraged. “Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?! What’s your problem? Trying to snatch what’s mine, are we? Do you know who I am? I’m a huge influencer, one you absolutely don’t want to cross!” Diesel spat. “I don’t care who you are. If you got a problem, come and find me.” I could faintly hear Seraphina’s team talking in the background. “Seraphina, what do we do? Pre-booked viewers for tomorrow’s live stream have already soared past eighty million! It’s never been this big! We absolutely *have* to seize this opportunity!” “Maybe we can just find any apartment for now, just to get through tomorrow’s stream?” Seraphina sounded utterly frustrated. “You make it sound so easy! A decent, run-of-the-mill house isn’t easy to just pull out of nowhere, and a dump won’t fit my image as a top influencer… Alright, fine, we’ll use one of *your* apartments for now. You can kick the homeless people out right after the live stream.” The person she’d pointed to quickly denied. “No, no way! My wife and kids are home…” “I can’t either, my parents are visiting lately…” I heard the sound of Seraphina violently smashing a cup on the other end of the phone. “This is no, that is no! I pay you guys to actually *do* something, not just sit around collecting a paycheck! You idiots!” I knew the time was right. I nodded at Diesel, signaling him to start his act. “Chloe, I’m heading back to D-City tomorrow to sort out some paperwork. My flight’s at 8 PM, so I’ll be gone for a few days. Make sure the place stays spotless, okay? You know how I am about germs.”

Seconds after Diesel started talking, the phone line instantly went quiet. I knew they were definitely listening in, so I held my phone closer to Diesel’s mouth, making sure they heard every word. “Yeah, yeah, don’t worry. Oh, right, the house code is 267893. Remember that, okay? When you get back, you can just walk right in.” As my words faded, the call disconnected. That same evening, Seraphina posted another live stream teaser video. It featured six exterior shots of the apartment complex and interior photos of my apartment. The caption read: “The ‘Homeless Haven’ charity event is about to launch! Which of my amazing fans can guess which complex this is?” I immediately recognized it as my complex. Those four interior photos were the ones I’d sent to Seraphina as rental references. It looked like Seraphina had really fallen for it! I raised an eyebrow, quickly pulling strings and contacting the B-City Public Welfare Foundation, the B-City Police Department, and every official organization I could think of. I expressed my enthusiastic support for Seraphina’s event. The next morning at 10 AM, the live stream started right on time. In less than ten minutes, the viewer count had already climbed to ten million. The chat was exploding with comments, clearly boosted by bots. “That’s my Queen! So beautiful, so kind! The first influencer to rally the whole internet for the homeless! I believe with Seraphina leading the way, society will only get better. Everyone, hit that follow and like button for our Queen!” “Compared to all those fake influencers, Seraphina is a breath of fresh air. She deserves all the success!” “My darlings, if you have gifts, send them to Seraphina! All money from this stream goes straight to the ‘Homeless Haven’ project!” Seraphina appeared on camera in a slinky gown, draped in a fur stole, with a full face of glam makeup. “Hello, hello! My amazing fans are just too enthusiastic! Thank you all for your warm response; it’s truly warmed my heart this winter.” Suddenly, Leo whispered something in Seraphina’s ear. Seraphina’s face stiffened for a second, but her professional influencer persona kicked in instantly, her smile snapped back into place as she greeted the camera with feigned delight. “Wow! I just got the news! Major official organizations have all joined the live stream! This is truly an honor! I won’t let you down!” I’d never seen someone try so hard to smile, only to make their face look utterly grotesque. “Alright, time’s almost up. Please follow my camera as we go to help these poor homeless individuals.” The camera flipped. It panned to a middle-aged man, his skin grimy, his hair long and matted, reaching his waist. At that moment, the man’s eyes were darting around, full of suspicion, as Seraphina’s live stream team surrounded him. The moment I saw him, my blood ran cold. In my past life, it was this man who’d stabbed me over twenty times. As he plunged the knife into me, he kept accusing me of deceiving him. And if Seraphina hadn’t kept the door tightly controlled from the outside, I might not have died such a gruesome death. But this time, she’d have to face the consequences herself.

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Chloe had poured her entire youth into loving Julian, only to overhear him, in German, confess that his marriage certificate with someone else was real. All her desperate efforts, all her unwavering devotion, had merely been his desperate last resort. When the truth, like an icy blade, pierced her heart, she chose to take the money and vanish. Later, he would beg for her forgiveness on global live television, but she would only whisper under the warm sun of a foreign land, “I wish you happiness.” Chloe pov Inside the private screening room, Julian’s kisses left me breathless, gasping for air. My skirt was pushed up to my waist, the intense heat of his body pressing against me, even through the fabric. Julian, however, hadn’t even loosened his tie. This feeling of being utterly dominated made my cheeks flush, and an irresistible urge to escape bubbled up. But before I could even move, he pulled me closer, lifting me to sit on his lap. He even leaned in, a wicked chuckle rumbling against my ear. “The soundproofing is military-grade. What are you scared of, hmm?” I met the churning desire in his eyes, feeling a primal urge to wrap my arms around his neck. Just as I was about to reach my peak, an abrupt FaceTime request shattered the moment. Julian frowned, annoyed at the interruption, but seeing the caller’s name, he still put on his Bluetooth earpiece. I lay on the sofa, panting, and from my angle, I could clearly see the face on his laptop screen. It was his best friend, Lucas. “Julian, have you lost your mind…?” Julian glanced at me, then retorted in German, his voice sharp. “Switch channels.” Lucas on the other end paused, immediately understanding his meaning, and switched to German as well. He thought I wouldn’t understand. But I just watched in silent horror as the AI live-translated subtitles scrolled across the bottom of the screen. Each word was like a cold, sharp knife, carving itself into my vision. “Julian, are you really insane? Is that marriage certificate real?!” “Have you forgotten that Seraphina betrayed you and left with someone else after your leg broke?” Seraphina? His first love! The woman he’d always pined for! My mind exploded, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. Julian didn’t look at me, his German reply fluent and chillingly detached. “If I didn’t help her, her family would utterly destroy her. I couldn’t just stand by.” I watched the subtitles scroll, a terrible chill settling over me. “What about Chloe? She’s been with you for years, her entire heart devoted to you. Do you think we’re all blind?” Listening to Lucas’s barely suppressed anger, Julian merely chuckled. “Chloe won’t hear a word about this.” “How can you keep something like this a secret? You know how desperately she wants to marry you, don’t you?” Julian’s patience wore thin, his words quickening. “You suppress the news. Not a single word. As for Chloe, I’ll find another arrangement for her.” With that, he abruptly ended the call. He pulled off his earpiece, tossed the laptop aside, and reached for me, eager to continue. But I, now armed with the agonizing truth, trembled uncontrollably, lying beneath him like a frozen butterfly. When it was over, as I dressed, I longed to ask him about everything I’d just heard. But before I could speak, his wristwatch emitted a short, sharp alarm. It was a special medical alert. Julian glanced at it, immediately rose, and stopped the driver. “Chloe, there’s an urgent matter at the company. You get out here and take a cab home.” I said nothing, merely nodded in silence, and opened the car door. The black Bentley swiftly disappeared into the stream of traffic. I stood on the roadside, staring blankly at the streetlights, tears streaming down my face. I had taught myself German years ago, hoping to delve deeper into his world. No one knew this about me. I understood every word of their conversation, even without the subtitles. Their words were like relentless insects, gnawing at my heart. I was just the chauffeur’s daughter, while Julian was the most powerful man in this city. That year, I first stepped into the Harrington family estate with my father and saw Julian sitting alone in a wheelchair under the moonlight. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen, even though he always looked so melancholic. I fell deeply in love with him then. I never told anyone about this humble, secret crush. Not only because our social statuses were vastly different, but also because his heart already belonged to someone else. That girl was Seraphina, the neighbor he grew up with. He never hid his love for her, cherishing her like a precious jewel. He even suffered a comminuted fracture in his right leg in a plane crash at eighteen, saving Seraphina, completely destroying his dream of becoming a pilot. But from that day on, Seraphina vanished, even quickly getting engaged to someone else. The Harrington family had many children. Julian’s parents were busy with their commercial empire and had no time for their injured son. Julian was sent to a remote estate, as if abandoned by his own family. I voluntarily asked my father to let me go to the estate and took care of him for five full years. When I was twenty-five, I used my own design patent to secure an opportunity for that world-renowned orthopedic specialist to perform surgery on Julian. That patent was originally something I was preparing to submit for an award. But now, it was all gone. Still, Julian got back on his feet. He took only a year to reclaim the pinnacle of power, becoming the family’s undisputed heir. I accompanied him through rehabilitation, and I stood by him through those long five years. We kissed, we hugged, we held each other close… I never imagined that the first thing he would do after recovering was marry Seraphina, the woman who had abandoned him! Over the years, to keep up with him, I had studied relentlessly. I was no longer the timid little girl I once was. But no matter how much I transformed, Julian’s parents always saw me as a stain, trying many times to pay me off and make me leave him. Julian always fought his family for me, and I believed he loved me, so I never thought of leaving. Until today, when I heard all of it. I didn’t want to stay anymore. I wiped away my tears, pulled out my phone, and dialed a number. My voice was calm. “Mrs. Harrington, I accept your terms. Transfer the money to my account, and I will vanish completely from his world.”

Chloe pov After I spoke, Eleanor Harrington’s voice on the other end of the line was filled with undisguised excitement. “You’ve finally come to your senses? That’s right. A chauffeur’s daughter, how could you possibly be worthy of my son, the Harrington heir? Where are you now? Come immediately to sign the agreement.” I looked at the address she quickly sent me and hailed a cab. At the café, Eleanor pulled out a pre-drafted agreement. “Black and white, no backing out once you sign. I’ll transfer half the money after you sign, and the other half once you’ve completely disappeared. You have to promise never to appear before Julian again in this lifetime.” I glanced at the astronomically high penalty clause in the agreement and smiled faintly. Of course, I wouldn’t appear again. Because in this lifetime, and the next, I never wanted to see Julian again. Without hesitation, I picked up the pen and swiftly signed my name. Eleanor put away the agreement, satisfied. “I want to see your departure record within this month, Chloe. Don’t play any tricks; you know what the Harringtons are capable of.” “I understand. Don’t worry.” I saw Eleanor off and returned home. Making Julian never find me would be simple. The Harrington family’s influence was so extensive, their core members faced unusual travel restrictions. If I immigrated, a vast distance would separate us. I researched all night, finally deciding on New Zealand. After making my decision, I picked up my phone and saw a financial news alert on SnapChat. 【SHOCKING! Harrington Heir Julian Suspected to be with Old Flame, Mysterious Girlfriend Seraphina Surfaces.】 I tapped on it, revealing nine high-resolution photos. Three were selfies of Seraphina holding blue roses, three middle ones showed wedding preparations, and the bottom three were two pairs of hands tightly clasped. I knew that if Julian wanted to hide something, these photos would never have leaked. Seraphina must have intentionally released them to the media, flaunting them in front of me. But I wasn’t angry. I simply clicked ‘like’ on the news story. As I exited, I received a message from Julian. “Chloe, I have to go to another city for a few days. I won’t be back.” I replied with a casual “Okay” and put my phone down to get ready for bed. On Monday, I woke up early to handle the immigration procedures. I printed all the necessary documents and even applied for expedited processing. After getting into the car, I scrolled through a new alert. 【EXCLUSIVE! Julian Spotted with Mysterious Girlfriend Seraphina at Cloudscape Villa Estate, Suspected to Be Living Together!】 In the accompanying photo, Julian’s profile was clearly visible. Like yesterday, I clicked ‘like’ again. Although I tried hard to appear calm, my heart still ached terribly. It’s okay, a new life is about to begin. The next day, I went to the company and handed in my resignation. When I got home, the news alerts showed Seraphina already wearing a custom-made wedding gown, a massive diamond ring sparkling on her ring finger. I continued to ‘like’ the posts, then buried myself under my duvet. The following days brought new, increasingly dramatic alerts. This time, even more exciting: cameras aimed directly at newly hung wedding photos in the marital home. I liked those as usual, then put on makeup and went out for a farewell dinner with friends. That evening, I dragged home several large boxes and purged everything related to Julian. The gifts he gave me, our couple’s trinkets, our shared photos… Nothing remained. Everything went into the community donation bin. I was just about to rest after finishing, when Julian suddenly returned. He saw the mostly empty room and was clearly displeased. “Why are so many things missing from the house?” “I got tired of them, so I threw them out.” Julian casually pulled off his tie, his gaze sweeping over the half-empty room before landing on the suitcase nearby. “Where are your things?” he asked, then noticed the airline tag on the suitcase. “Are you planning a long trip?” “You resigned?” I remained silent. Then he spotted my passport on the coffee table. “Why did you suddenly take out your passport?” “Work’s been too exhausting; I want to take a break. My passport’s just about to expire, so I’m going to renew my visa.” I quickly explained, then stuffed my passport into my bag, fearing he’d ask more questions. Julian didn’t give my explanation another thought. He simply pulled me into his arms, his voice tender. “I’ve neglected you these past few days. It’s your birthday soon. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to a charity gala, and we can pick out some jewelry you like?” I didn’t refuse.

Chloe pov At the gala, everyone was toasting. Julian and I had just taken our seats when I saw Seraphina. She walked directly over and sat in the empty seat next to Julian. All evening, Julian leaned in, whispering to Seraphina, not sparing me a single glance. When the gala ended, he pulled me up, ready to leave. I excused myself to the restroom midway. As I stepped out, I saw Seraphina cornered in the hallway by a group of sleazy men, who were harassing her. “Well, well, isn’t it Seraphina? After what you did to Julian, you have the nerve to show your face back here?” “Heard your family’s almost bankrupt, and your dad’s trying to sell you off to some old geezer? Why not come with us boys? We promise we’ll treat you better than any old man ever could…” Before they could finish, I saw a figure dash down the stairs. Julian’s face was terrifyingly grim. He landed a furious kick on the man closest to Seraphina, then pinned him to the ground, punching him relentlessly, without mercy. “Get lost! If I ever see you near her again, I’ll make sure you vanish from this city!” His terrifying warning sent the men scrambling. The hallway filled with onlookers. Julian helped Seraphina up, his gaze filled with concern. “Are you hurt?” Seraphina threw herself into his arms, crying pitifully. “My ankle feels twisted. It hurts so much.” Julian’s expression darkened. He bent down, lifted her into his arms, and swiftly left. He shielded Seraphina completely, protecting her. I stood right beside him, yet he didn’t even look at me. His heavy wristwatch even cruelly grazed my temple. The blow made me stumble, my head hitting the hard, decorative corner of the wall behind me with a sickening thud. A line of blood immediately streamed down my forehead. “Oh my God, she’s bleeding! Call an ambulance!” My vision blurred, the searing pain making cold sweat trickle down my back. I watched Julian’s retreating back, his stride unwavering, and my mouth filled with a bitter taste. Years ago, when I pricked my finger during drug trials for him, he would be anxious for half an hour. He once held my hand and said, “This place is too lonely. Once I’m powerful enough, I’ll fill it with a unique star just for you.” Now, my head was bleeding profusely, and he pretended not to see. My “star” gift, too, had been given to someone else. I was loaded into an ambulance and quickly taken to the hospital. I registered, had my wound cleaned, and stitches put in, all by myself, returning home late that night. I was in too much pain to sleep. Julian didn’t come home all night. The next morning, I dragged my exhausted body out of bed to change my dressing, only to see new socialite news. It was a short video: Julian, half-kneeling, was carefully applying medicine to Seraphina’s ankle. I had never seen such tenderness in his eyes. I watched it several times, until tears streamed down my face, then fell back asleep. When I woke again, it was dark outside. My phone vibrated incessantly. As soon as I answered, I heard Julian rattle off an address. “The Phoenix Lounge, VIP room. Get here now.” I thought about it for a moment, then chose to get up. When I arrived, pushing open the door, I saw Seraphina, her eyes red, sitting there like a startled, pitiable rabbit. Julian looked at me, his expression grim, saying nothing. “You called me here. What’s wrong?” I spoke first. Julian sat up straight, his hands clasped, a posture he used at the negotiating table. “Chloe, were those men yesterday, were they arranged by you?” I froze. I instinctively looked at Seraphina, catching a fleeting flicker of triumph in her eyes. I understood instantly. I shook my head. “It wasn’t me.” Julian’s expression didn’t soften. He lowered his gaze, his voice calm. “Stop stirring up trouble. Seraphina is a thing of the past. The person standing by my side now is you, and that will never change. Her family is down and out; anyone can kick them while they’re down, but it shouldn’t be you. You don’t need to use such methods for my sake.” When I heard those words, my heart lurched violently. Five years of my companionship, dismissed by his casual “a thing of the past.” I thought of the wedding photos one last time and couldn’t help but cry. “Yes, we’ve been together for five years. How am I only just finding out who’s truly in your heart now?” Julian froze at my words. “What do you mean?” I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping me. “What I mean is, as a chauffeur’s daughter, where would I get the connections or the power to bully a former heiress?” Even when I spelled it out clearly, Julian still didn’t believe me. I was tired, too tired to explain anymore. “Since you don’t believe me, what do you want me to do?” Julian pressed his fingers to his temples. “Apologize.” At that moment, Seraphina, sitting beside him, suddenly spoke, her voice pitiful. “No need for an apology. If you truly feel sorry for me, then eat all these sea urchins on the table.”

Chloe pov On the table, there was a spread of golden, enticingly fresh sea urchins, already shelled. I looked at Julian, waiting for his answer. The light was dim, I couldn’t see his expression clearly. I felt a little breathless. Back when I first went to the estate, Julian, due to his injury, was irritable and refused all treatment, even starving himself. I was desperate, trying every method to persuade him. Until one day, he pointed to the table laden with premium seafood and sneered, “A chauffeur’s daughter dares to tell me what to do? Fine, you eat all these sea urchins, and I’ll cooperate with the treatment.” I wanted to tell him that I wasn’t telling him what to do; I was… heartbroken for him. So, even though I was severely allergic to seafood, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I picked up a fork and ate it. Within minutes, I went into anaphylactic shock and was rushed to the hospital. When I woke up, he was sitting by my bedside, his face grim. “You knew you were allergic. Why would you risk your life?” I only replied, “Because I didn’t want to see you give up. Master Julian, your leg will get better. Even if it doesn’t, I’ll be your legs for life, so please, stop tormenting yourself, okay?” From that day on, Julian broke all his bad habits and actively cooperated with treatment. For the next five years, sea urchins never appeared on our dinner table again. Thinking of this, I smiled, and tears fell. I didn’t explain further. I picked up a fork, scooped a lobe of sea urchin, and put it into my mouth. “Just eating them isn’t enough to show sincerity, is it?” I said, picking up a glass of wine. With the burning liquid, I swallowed a mouthful of sea urchin, glass after glass. The sweet and spicy flavors mingled in my stomach, making me numb with discomfort. It wasn’t until my seventh glass that Julian finally roared, “Enough!” I looked at the half-eaten plate of sea urchins and smiled. “Is this enough? Have I truly apologized? Is it enough to satisfy your beloved?” At that, Julian sprang to his feet, seizing my hand. His usually stern face was now so dark it looked like it could drip water. “You know perfectly well I didn’t mean it that way! Chloe, I told you, Seraphina and I are over! My family won’t accept you, and if you pull stunts like this, people will find reasons to gossip. I just don’t want you to be the subject of rumors!” Julian’s words sounded so righteous. But I just laughed. If the Harringtons wouldn’t accept me, would they accept Seraphina, who had betrayed him? But with just one word from Seraphina, didn’t he still marry her? Everything was just an excuse for not loving me enough. I didn’t want to say anything more. I shook him off and turned to leave. Just as I reached the door, my vision blurred, and I collapsed to the ground. “Chloe!” In a daze, I heard Julian’s frantic call of my name. Seraphina, however, was weeping beside him. “Julian, I feel a little dizzy.” But this time, Julian refused her. “I’ll take her to the hospital first. Get my assistant to pick you up.”

Chloe pov I dragged my unsteady steps forward, snatched my phone back, and hung up. Julian looked at me in surprise, not understanding my intense reaction. “What’s wrong?” I sighed, doing my best to make my voice sound calm. “Nothing. I just don’t want you two fighting over me anymore.” Hearing this, Julian didn’t suspect anything further and instead asked about my test results. “The doctor said there’s nothing serious, I can be discharged.” The next few days at home, Julian canceled all his engagements and stayed with me. I preferred sitting by the bed, lost in thought, unwilling to engage with him. When Julian tried to hug me, I simply got up and retreated to the bedroom. “I’m not feeling well, I want to lie down for a bit.” He thought I was still angry about the previous incident, so he had his assistant arrange a surprise. On my birthday, he hosted a grand charity gala in my name, under the guise of the Harrington Arts Foundation. Out of respect for Julian, all the city’s elite were in attendance. They were polite enough to me in his presence. But the moment he turned his back, their disdainful whispers began, undisguised. “If it weren’t for Julian, I’d never show up to a chauffeur’s daughter’s birthday party. It’s too humiliating!” “I have no idea what Julian sees in her. She reaks of poverty; it’s sickening!” “Julian is too soft-hearted. If it were me, I’d just pay her off. Actually marrying her? Now that would be a joke!” I sighed, unwilling to dwell on it. At seven o’clock sharp, a stir rippled through the ballroom entrance. All the guests turned in unison, their expressions of disdain instantly morphing into fawning smiles. Everyone in elite circles knew Julian had fought for Seraphina. Seeing her now, they rushed to curry favor. “Julian, you left earlier to personally pick up Seraphina? How sweet!” “Of course! They’re true childhood sweethearts. Only Seraphina’s elegance can truly match Julian’s stature.” Amidst the chorus of praise, I watched Seraphina enter, arm-in-arm with Julian, and frowned. She wore a magnificent custom-made gown, sparkling jewelry accentuating her noble grace. Her exquisite face radiated the proud confidence that money cultivates. After Julian’s leg healed, he once drew a sketch without facial features. When I asked him then, he said it was just practice, and I only thought the figure in the drawing was beautiful, not thinking much of it. But… the person in that drawing was clearly Seraphina! His heart, it turned out, had never truly made space for me. I turned to leave, but Seraphina called out to me. “Chloe, I hear it’s your birthday today. I came uninvited; I hope you don’t mind? I even brought you a very special gift!” With that, she gestured for a waiter to present an antique music box. “It’s called ‘Oblivion.’ A beautiful name, don’t you think?” I saw the oddly shaped music box and recoiled in shock. “Please take it away, I…”

Chloe pov Hearing my words, Seraphina’s face immediately fell. “Julian, is Chloe still mad at me? Maybe I should just leave so I don’t upset anyone.” At this, Julian quickly grabbed her arm, stopping her from leaving, and frowned at me. “Seraphina means well, Chloe. Don’t you love antique collectibles? Just accept it.” I could only turn to his secretary. “Mr. Davis, my hands aren’t free. Would you mind accepting it for me?” The people around me began to snicker again, mocking me for being difficult and intentionally trying to make a scene. Julian, too, thought I was trying to humiliate Seraphina. His face darkened, and he led Seraphina further into the hall. The area quickly cleared out, leaving only me. I poured myself a glass of water, slowly trying to calm the bone-deep terror that had seized me. I used to enjoy collecting antiques. But five years ago, on a stormy, thunderous night, Julian had a high fever that wouldn’t break. When I went out to find a doctor, I got trapped in the old, decrepit elevator of the estate. In that narrow, dark, constantly leaking space, the only light came from a malfunctioning phone. It endlessly looped a corrupted audio clip—the very same strange, distorted melody from that music box. I developed severe claustrophobia from that incident and could never bear to hear that tune again. I had never told Julian about it. So he didn’t understand my pain. During the party’s celebration, everyone instinctively gathered around Seraphina, as if she were the guest of honor. Julian’s anger seemed to have subsided a little, and he finally called me over to cut the cake. I was just about to make a wish when I heard Seraphina exclaim in surprise. “Oh, what a coincidence! This music box’s creation anniversary is also today! Why don’t we let it celebrate with us?” At her words, a wave of stifled snickers rippled through the crowd. She was clearly provoking me! I took a sharp breath, my voice icy. “If that’s the case, then let ‘Oblivion’ make a wish. I won’t disturb you.” With that, I turned to leave. Julian’s temple throbbed, and he called out to me. “Chloe! This is your birthday party! What kind of behavior is that?” He grabbed my arm, leaning close to my ear to whisper, “Chloe, don’t embarrass me. My parents are right over there. Give them a reason to accept you.” Accept our relationship? But hadn’t he already married someone else…? Birthday songs echoed around me, but all I felt was annoyance. Until someone, perhaps intentionally, opened the music box and thrust it into my arms. I didn’t want this thing! I stumbled back violently, a sharp pain shooting through me as I collided with an ice bucket! The ice bucket, filled with ice and champagne, toppled over, crashing directly towards me and Seraphina. Screams erupted throughout the venue. I watched in slow motion as Julian instinctively pulled Seraphina into his arms, shielding her and moving her out of the danger zone. Then, I saw countless ice cubes and liquid crash down upon me. A long gash opened on my shoulder, carved by a sharp ice shard. I cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground. Hearing my cry, Julian turned, saw my injury, and started to come back, but Seraphina shrieked beside him. “Ah! Julian, my wrist feels like it was hit by an ice cube! Could it be fractured?!” Looking at the tiny red mark on her wrist, Julian hesitated for a moment, then only instructed his secretary, “You take Chloe to the hospital to get her wound treated.” With that, he picked up Seraphina and hurried away. The guests quickly dispersed, not forgetting to mock me as they left. “Oblivion, Chloe… Seraphina really knows how to name things! Look at her, she looks just like forgotten trash, doesn’t she?” I heard their words clearly. My nose stung, and tears finally fell. My twenty-third birthday ended in such a bleak, desolate way.

Chloe pov It wasn’t until midnight that I dragged my weary body back home. I turned on the light, and my phone buzzed. It was a picture from Seraphina. The photo showed Julian intently applying an ice pack to her wrist. The caption read: “He said my hands are for painting and shouldn’t be harmed. He also said our wedding is set for the Maldives; that starry sky is a dream we shared since childhood.” “Oh, and thank you, truly. If it weren’t for you, Julian’s leg wouldn’t have healed. Thank you for taking care of my husband for five whole years.” I looked at her arrogant taunts, too exhausted to even feel angry. I went back to my bedroom and lay down, falling into a deep sleep. Julian still didn’t return that night, only sending a message. 【Chloe, I’m tied up. Is your injury serious? If it hurts, tell me, and I’ll come back immediately.】 I replied after a long pause. 【No need.】 Julian, from now on, I no longer need you. After the bleeding from my shoulder wound stopped, I took a day off specifically to drive to the secluded estate. I didn’t go into the house but instead went to the small observatory in the backyard. That was something Julian and I built together, piece by piece, from discarded parts when his leg injury was at its worst. At the center of the observatory was a planetarium we had handcrafted and polished. I turned on the power, and the ceiling immediately projected a dazzling galaxy of stars. Among them were two of the brightest constellations, which we had each designed. I clicked on the one I designed, and the note beneath the star map, written in my own hand, appeared: “May Julian soar again, like Aquila the Eagle.” My every wish had been for him. The next second, I clicked on the constellation he had designed. A line of elegant handwriting popped up: “To Seraphina the Princess, my love, forever.” Seraphina. It was Seraphina again. It turned out that every single thing he had ever done for me, his heart had always been thinking of someone else. I deleted the star map I had designed, then removed the necklace from my neck. It was a small meteorite, a gift Julian bought me with his first earnings after rejoining the Harrington family. He once held me and said: “Chloe, they say the more powerful you become, the lonelier you get, but as long as I have you, I have the courage to reach the top. Everything I possess from now on, including myself, is yours.” I buried this star, along with everything related to our past, beneath the observatory.

Chloe pov After filling the pit, I turned to go home. But as I reached the door, I ran into Julian and Seraphina. Seeing me there, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. “Chloe, what are you doing here?” I didn’t answer, instead asking, “What about you? What are you and Seraphina doing here?” Before Julian could speak, Seraphina smiled and chimed in, “I haven’t seen Julian paint in ages. He said his old art supplies were at the estate, so we came back to get them. Chloe, you know your way around here, could you show us?” With that, she pulled me inside. The moment I pushed open the door to the art studio, I froze. The room’s furnishings were exactly as they had been when we left. A ripple of excitement, then pain, went through me. Julian, too, seemed touched, turning to look at me. “Chloe, do you remember when we…” “I don’t remember.” My voice was so soft it was barely audible. Julian paused, then pointed to an unfinished oil painting in the corner. “Didn’t we keep this painting in the study? Why was it moved here?” I didn’t look. “You weren’t well back then. Many of your memories are jumbled.” Just like I thought he loved me. But in reality, it was just dependence born of desperation. Once he recovered, my kindness became irrelevant. Julian’s expression was troubled. He wanted to ask me what was wrong, but I didn’t speak, walking over to the window. “The art supplies are on the top shelf of the cabinet. You can get them yourselves.” Listening to the rummaging sounds behind me, I slowly closed my eyes. Before long, it suddenly started to rain outside. I got up and returned to the living room, where I saw Julian had already set up his easel. Seraphina sat opposite him, striking a pose. Through the glass door, Julian picked up his paintbrush, his gaze focused and deeply affectionate. Even after five years apart, his familiarity with her was etched into his very bones. It turned out Julian loved Seraphina so much that, even after being abandoned for five years, he never forgot her. Yes, they belonged to the same world. And I was just a chauffeur’s daughter. Why should I fantasize about owning a sun that didn’t belong to me? When he finished painting, Seraphina rose and walked behind him, her hand resting on his shoulder, then sliding down. Through the glass, Seraphina leaned in and kissed his lips. “Julian, I know you still love me…” At that moment, I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned and ran out into the pouring rain.

hloe pov When I got home, I pulled out my suitcase and started packing my last few belongings. I worked until dawn, and Julian still hadn’t returned. But it didn’t matter anymore. The next day, I went to the immigration office and retrieved all my documents. On the way back, I booked a flight for that afternoon. When the car stopped at the gate, I saw his Bentley parked in the driveway; he was back. Sure enough, as soon as I entered the bedroom, I saw Julian standing by my suitcase, trying to open it. I panicked. “Weren’t you with Seraphina? Why are you back?” Julian froze. He slowly turned around, and the moment he lifted his head, his eyes flared with anger. He walked up to me, his voice filled with deep exasperation. “Chloe, what are you imagining now? I told you, Seraphina and I will never have anything to do with each other again.” Never again have anything to do with each other? But you married her for her. I smiled through my tears, but still didn’t expose him. “Then I misunderstood.” Julian breathed a sigh of relief. “There’s a family dinner at the Harringtons tonight. My parents have agreed for you to attend as my fiancée.” Hearing this, I was stunned. They agreed? Julian ruffled my hair, then handed me a black card. “Chloe, don’t worry, one day I’ll make them accept you, let you stand proudly by my side. I’m a little tired right now and want to rest for a bit. My secretary can take you to pick out some dresses, okay?” I stared at the card for a long moment, then took it. “You rest. I’ll go by myself.” I placed the newly retrieved documents into my bag. Julian lay on the bed, falling into a deep sleep. Looking at his handsome sleeping face, I was slightly lost in thought. He turned over, clutching my hand tighter, muttering in his sleep, “…Don’t leave.” I raised my hand one last time, wanting to gently touch his brow. But his next words shattered my heart completely. He murmured: Seraphina… I pulled my hand back and smiled. As expected, he was still in love with another woman. I picked up my luggage and went downstairs. On the way to the airport, I set all my social media accounts to permanent deletion. I also deleted all of Julian’s contact information. The airport was bustling. I calmly completed all the procedures and walked towards the security checkpoint with my suitcase. I stopped only after passing through the heavy glass doors, leaving the noisy departure hall completely behind me. Through the glass wall, I took one last look at the land I had lived on for so many years. I knew. From this moment on, I was free. I walked to a nearby seating area and pulled out my brand-new phone. I inserted the unused SIM card and dialed Eleanor Harrington’s number. “Mrs. Harrington, I’ve already passed security. You can proceed with the transfer.” Only Eleanor’s cold, crisp two words came from the other end: “Understood.” Then, the call was abruptly cut off. “Don’t worry,” I said softly, a slight curve to my lips as I looked out at the plane about to take off, “I’ll enjoy spending this money.” After hanging up, I didn’t throw away the phone, nor did I break the SIM card. I simply pulled the card out and tucked it into a travel book I carried with me. After all, everything behind me finally had nothing to do with me anymore. I walked towards the boarding gate. My new life was about to begin.

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