I got into a car accident and landed in the hospital. Suddenly, I felt like teasing my boyfriend. “Who are you?” Watching Leo’s face freeze, I was about to burst out laughing. But Leo suddenly pointed at his best friend, Asher. “I’m your boyfriend’s friend. He is your boyfriend, Asher.” My expression stiffened. Asher, however, stepped forward. “Yes, I’m your boyfriend.” I forced a smile. “Then take me home.” Asher took me home. He said I’d been living here all along. I looked around the place, devoid of any personal touches of my own, and, playing along, nodded like a blind person. I slept in his bed for a while, then went out to get some water, only to hear voices from a FaceTime call in the living room. “Asher, do me a solid, pretend to be Aurora’s boyfriend for a bit.” “Aren’t you afraid she’ll suddenly get her memory back?” “If she gets her memory back and gets angry, I’ll just win her over. She loves me so much, she wouldn’t really leave me. It’s just… I’m a bit tired of things between us, from way back then until now. This is a good chance to catch my breath and have some fun out there.” “So, you and Camilla are really hooking up, huh? You just want to take advantage of this to be with her.” “You know me, but I definitely love Aurora more. Keep Aurora safe with you during this time, and don’t try anything with her. But between us brothers, you’re the one I trust most. You always seemed to dislike Aurora anyway.” My bare feet retreated, then I deliberately made a noise opening the bedroom door, before walking towards the living room again. Hearing the sound, Asher quickly ended the call and stood up. “The floor’s cold, why aren’t you wearing shoes?” Asher quickly came over, scooped me up, and placed me on the sofa. “I’m thirsty.” I said, still a bit disoriented, searching for where the water might be. “I’ll get it for you.” Asher walked to the water dispenser and poured me a glass. He sat beside me, looking at me. “Are you uncomfortable anywhere else?” I drank the water and shook my head. He reached up, smoothed my messy hair, and leaned in to kiss my forehead. My eyes widened slightly. I’d just heard Leo tell him not to touch me. And I’d also thought Asher hated me. But now… When he leaned in to kiss my lips. I turned my head away. He casually stroked my face. “You don’t remember, we’ll take it slow. You’ll get used to me again.” It seemed Asher was playing his brother, too. 2　　 Asher brought me to a private room, which was already buzzing with activity. A bunch of privileged guys from the city’s elite crowd, upon seeing me, fell into a synchronized silence, all looking at Leo. “Oh, Aurora’s here! Do you remember me? I’m Camilla, your college roommate!” Camilla, sitting next to Leo, greeted me. Asher led me to a seat. I looked at her and shook my head. “I’m sorry.” “It’s okay, we can just get reacquainted.” Camilla said, hooking her arm through Leo’s and leaning intimately against his shoulder. This former college roommate, now friend, thinking I had amnesia, leaned on Leo as if to declare her claim, a hidden smugness in her eyes. Leo, too, seemed to enjoy the perverse thrill of being so intimate with another woman right in front of me. “Yeah, that’s right! Both your best friends’ boyfriends are in this circle, how great is that?” “You can hang out together often. Amnesia or not, it won’t make a difference.” The other friends exchanged knowing glances and comments, as if savoring a sick thrill in watching someone get publicly humiliated. They continued with their game. Leo and Camilla played a game that involved them eating from the same snack, their faces getting closer and closer. “Kiss! Kiss!” The crowd cheered them on. In that atmosphere, Leo and Camilla shared a deep kiss. Afterward, Camilla shyly leaned into Leo’s embrace, secretly glancing at me with triumph. Leo, too, looked pleased as he held Camilla close. Then, I lost the game and faced a dare: pick someone to kiss for thirty seconds. Everyone fell silent, looking at me. Curious who I would pick? Would I still instinctively choose Leo? Leo seemed a bit nervous, avoiding my gaze. He apparently didn’t want me to have an instinctive reaction so soon. Asher, sitting beside me, also tensed. I said with a smile, “Of course, I’ll pick my boyfriend.”

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I crashed my car, breaking my leg and getting a concussion. When I woke up, Julian Blackwood, my boyfriend’s enemy, was standing by my bedside, yelling at me: “Throwing your life away for a man? Your mom might not judge you for that, but I sure as hell do.” His words annoyed me. I glared at Julian, irritated. “Who are you?” Julian frowned, staring at me in confusion for a long moment before saying, “I’m your fiancé.” My mom and Julian’s mom both thought I had amnesia. They sat by my hospital bed, chiming in, one after another, telling me all about Julian and my supposed relationship. “You used to trail after Julian, calling him your ‘future hubby’ even when you were just a little kid.” “From kindergarten to high school, you two took the same car to school every single day.” “You officially started dating in college.” “After graduating, both you and Julian returned to your family businesses.” “You loved each other deeply, a perfect couple.” My mouth twitched. I cut them off. “Then why would I try to end my life for *another* man?” They both stiffened. Mrs. Blackwood was quick-witted. She dabbed at her eyes, letting out a soft, theatrical sob. “It’s all Julian’s fault. I told him not to go drinking with his secretary, but he just had to.” I looked at Mrs. Blackwood, asking, “Did he cheat on me with his secretary?” Mrs. Blackwood froze, then quickly shook her head. “No!” My mom joined the act, dabbing at imaginary tears in the corner of her eye. “He just went drinking with his secretary, and you got upset.” Julian’s secretary was a guy. Why would I get upset? I bit back a smile and asked my mom, “So I got mad and decided to kill myself?” My mom squeezed my hand. “Chloe, promise me you won’t do anything foolish again. You scared your mother half to death.” Mrs. Blackwood also squeezed my hand. “Chloe, you and Julian need to get married soon. Don’t worry, if he dares to drink with his secretary again, I’ll break his legs.” Drinking with someone hardly warranted breaking their legs. I looked up, meeting Julian’s eyes. He’d been standing silently behind them the whole time. Didn’t he say he was my fiancé? You wanna play games? Two can play at that game. “Will you marry me?” I asked him.

Julian’s dark eyes locked onto mine, a gaze so intense it felt like it could pull me in. “As long as you’re willing, I’m willing.” He said. My heart pounded when I heard that. The two moms weren’t entirely making things up. The Miller and Blackwood families were old friends. Julian and I were born in the same month, the same year; he was only three days older than me. From the moment they knew our genders, both families practically groomed us to be a couple. From preschool to college, we attended the same schools. They even pulled strings to make sure we were always in the same class. It wasn’t until college, when we chose different majors, that we weren’t in the same classroom anymore. Julian and I were *too* close. I swear I knew him better than he knew himself. Maybe it was that familiarity, but I’d never felt that heart-fluttering sensation with him. During college, I met Ryan Hayes, a gentle guy, and *he* was the one who made my heart race. Ryan and Julian were rivals, enemies. *I* pursued Ryan. When I confessed my feelings, he didn’t reject me. We had a very sweet relationship. My parents saw there was no spark between Julian and me. After trying to convince me otherwise, they eventually gave in and approved of my relationship with Ryan. It was only after I started dating Ryan that I learned he had someone else in his heart: his first love. I told him I didn’t mind, that it was all in the past. Julian, of course, called me an idiot, and his hatred for Ryan just intensified. I’d always wanted to get married, but Ryan was hesitant. Then, one day, he suddenly proposed to me. I later found out he proposed on the same day his first love got married to another man in America. The day before our engagement, he got a call from his first love. She was crying on the phone, saying her husband had beaten her. Ryan hung up and told me he was going to America to bring her back. I looked at Ryan, my voice cold. “What do you mean, you’re going to America to bring her back? Are you trying to kidnap someone else’s wife?” Ryan frowned, displeased. “Haven’t you seen all the horror stories online about domestic violence? Serena’s all alone, miles away in America, being beaten by her husband. Do you have any idea how helpless she must be?” “Can’t she call her parents? Can’t she call the police?” I shot back at Ryan. Ryan’s tone grew angry. “Chloe, stop being so unreasonable! I’ll still get engaged to you when I get back. You’re the only woman I’ll marry.” I looked at Ryan, my expression calm. “Tomorrow is our engagement party.” Ryan came over and pulled me into his arms. “We’ll postpone the engagement. I’ll pick Serena up and we can choose a new date.” I pushed him away. “If you dare to go find her, we’re over.” Ryan still flew to America to find his first love. As I drove home after our argument, I got into a car accident. Both the Blackwood and Miller families thought I tried to end my life because of Ryan. When I woke up from the crash, my irritation with Julian and my question about who he was, they all mistook it for amnesia.

The doctor came in and examined me. Once my mom and Mrs. Blackwood knew I was out of danger, they slipped away. They said Julian would take care of me and help me regain my memories. With them gone, only Julian and I were left in the luxury VIP suite. Julian stood by my bedside, looking down at me. My left leg was in a cast, my head wrapped in bandages. I didn’t need a mirror to know how awful I looked. I licked my cracked lips. “I want some water.” Julian went to pour water and helped me drink it. After drinking water, my appetite slowly returned. I said I wanted porridge, and he made it himself. I said I wanted soup, and he cooked it himself. Watching him busy in the VIP suite’s kitchen felt like being a child again. Julian was a Blackwood heir, but he wasn’t one of those spoiled rich kids who only knew how to party. He wasn’t just handsome and smart; he was also an excellent cook. In elementary school, I loved his noodles. In middle school, I loved his braised pork. After college… I hadn’t eaten his cooking anymore. After I started dating Ryan, Julian either ignored me or just snapped at me. His eyes would turn cold whenever he looked my way. I looked at Julian. Now, I was a person with “no memory.” I deliberately teased this somewhat stiff man. “Are we really deeply in love?” Julian turned to look at me. “You have a mole on the arch of your foot, and two small hypertrophic scars on your back.” His gaze darkened, settling on my chest, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper. “You have a little red birthmark just under your right breast. So, tell me… how deep do you think our connection goes?” My cheeks flushed. The mole on my foot, fine. The scars on my back, fine. But that red birthmark on my right breast? How did he know about that? I discovered it when I was eighteen. It was in a very hidden spot; no one could see it when I wore a bra. I silently fumed. He’d definitely seen me naked, somehow! I glared at him, grinding my teeth. “Did you confess first, or did I?” Julian smirked. “I did.” I asked again, “When?” Julian truly treated me like I had amnesia. “After the exams, I gave you a card.” My mind went blank for a second. I remembered. After the exams, we walked out of the classroom together. Julian pulled me to a maple tree and asked me how I thought I did. I smiled brightly. “I feel pretty good about it.” He handed me a card. “This is for you.” I took the card. It was a photo of a famous piano master performing on stage. He knew the artist was my idol, but a week before the exam, my idol had a massive scandal, a total fall from grace. The thought of his scandal made me feel like my hands were dirty just holding the card. I looked for a trash can to toss it. Julian’s voice came from above me. “You don’t like it?” I nodded. “No, I don’t.” His voice changed subtly. “Didn’t you look at the words on the back of the card?” There were words on the back? I dutifully flipped the card over. The handwriting was elegant, with a confident flourish. [There’s a woman I can’t forget the moment I see her. A day without her, and I ache with longing.] My first reaction when I saw those words was: *Seriously? Is this plagiarized?* Julian’s voice came again. “Still don’t like it?” That piano master’s moral issues were just too severe. If I still liked him after *that*, I’d be a complete idiot. I said, “No, I don’t.” Then I threw the card away. Looking back now, I realized Julian’s face had been terrifyingly grim, with a hint of pained desolation. I stared at Julian, stunned. Was he confessing to me then? And I threw away his confession card right in front of him. Wasn’t that a blatant humiliation? No wonder he left the country right after the exams and didn’t come back until the first day of college. And no wonder his gaze was always so icy when he looked at me, always keeping his distance— I pursed my lips, stammering, “I… I didn’t know…” If I had known he was confessing to me then, I would never have said I didn’t like it. Strange. Why couldn’t he have just *said* it? Julian shook his head. “It’s normal that you don’t remember many things from before since you lost your memory. I’ll be by your side from now on, and I’ll tell you anything you want to hear.”

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On my wedding night, my heart was soaring as the veil was gently lifted. But the face looking back wasn’t Damian’s. It was Liam, the “Idiot” son of Damian’s family’s housekeeper. Laughter erupted around us, mocking and cruel. Serena, Damian’s childhood friend, smirked, her voice dripping with fake pity: “Since the veil has been lifted, by tradition, you have to spend your wedding night with the groom.” Then she turned to Damian, batting her eyelashes. “I’ll make the sacrifice, Damian darling. I’ll keep you company tonight instead.” It was only then that Damian casually strolled in. “Chill out, Cassidy. It’s just a prank. Don’t be such a sore loser.” He shrugged, a dismissive sneer on his face. “Anyway, he’s an idiot. He won’t know anything. Spending one night with him won’t kill you.” His sarcastic tone, his cruel indifference – it made me laugh. A cold, bitter laugh. “If he’s the one who lifted my veil, then one night won’t be enough, will it?” My voice was icy. “If I’m marrying him, I’m marrying him for life.”

My bridesmaids, who had been expecting a harmless prank, stared, dumbfounded. “Are you serious, Damian? You want Cassidy to spend her wedding night with… with an idiot?” Chloe burst out, disbelief etched on her face. Ashley chimed in, “It’s your wedding day! Even a joke has limits!” Damian just scoffed, raising an arrogant eyebrow. “What’s it to you? My fiancée doesn’t mind, so why are you making a big deal out of it?” He walked up to me, his voice dropping to a low, menacing tone. “Last month, you publicly humiliated Serena and docked her half a year’s bonus. Tonight, I’m getting my revenge for her.” He paused, letting his words hang in the air. “Either you sleep with this idiot for a night, or… our engagement is off!” Threatened by Damian like that, I felt less anger and more a profound sense of absurdity. Last month, Serena, who was my assistant, accompanied me to an auction. But she ignored all my instructions, bidding recklessly during the auction. Our company ended up buying an artifact for far more than our budget. Afterward, I disciplined her according to company policy, and the incident spread through the office. Naturally, it gave Serena a bad reputation. But if she hadn’t ignored my orders, I wouldn’t have wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to company rules, she should have been fired. I only docked her half a year’s bonus as a light punishment, mostly out of respect for Damian. Yet, Damian stubbornly insisted I was just finding an excuse to target Serena and make her look bad. No matter how I tried to explain, he wouldn’t listen, convinced I was cold and ruthless. He forced me to make a public apology, a statement that twisted the facts and painted me as an uncaring boss, all just to “make amends” to Serena. It cost me a lot of respect and damaged my professional standing. Only then did he reluctantly drop the issue. I thought that whole awful episode was behind us. I never imagined it would come back to haunt me like this. My heart, in that moment, turned to ice. To appease Serena, he was willing to orchestrate this ridiculous charade on our wedding day. I could already imagine the gossip, the ridicule that would follow. I’d be the laughingstock of everyone we knew. Damian’s posture screamed his certainty that I loved him too much to defy him. He was smug, convinced that even if this was an obvious trap, I’d willingly jump into it. But what he didn’t know was that even the most passionate love couldn’t endure such reckless extravagance and blatant disrespect. I let out a soft huff, tearing my gaze away from them. Instead, I knelt down on one knee in front of the man who was happily munching on wedding candy. I took his hand, looking up at him. “Liam, will you marry me?” The words had barely left my lips when Damian’s eyes widened, shocked. “Cassidy, are you insane?! I only told you to spend one night in the bridal suite with him. Are you actually going to marry this idiot?” Serena quickly grabbed his arm, whispering urgently, “Damian, calm down. Cassidy would never actually marry a fool like him. She’s just trying to provoke you, waiting for you to back down.” “If you lose your cool now, you’ll be playing right into her hands.” Hearing Serena’s words, Damian stopped, a smirk slowly spreading across his face. “Cassidy, make sure you scrub yourself clean before you come crawling back to me tomorrow. I don’t want to catch anything dirty!” When I ignored him, Damian rolled his eyes. “Well, if the bride wants to marry someone else, then we might as well make up for the bachelor/bachelorette party! Tonight, we party until we drop!” With that, he grabbed Serena and stormed out of the bridal suite without a backward glance. I remained kneeling, my hand suspended in the air, a hollow ache in my chest. Just then, a warm, soft hand gently touched my palm. I instinctively looked up, my eyes meeting Liam’s. He gazed at me, a soft smile slowly curving his lips. His voice was quiet, yet incredibly clear. “I do.”

I was taken aback. For some reason, Liam, despite his childish demeanor, had eyes that were surprisingly clear and bright when he looked at me. But the thought flickered and vanished; I didn’t dwell on it. I softened my voice, trying to coax him. “Liam, since you’ve agreed to marry me, we need to go to City Hall first to get our marriage license. Only then will it count.” I paused, looking into his eyes, and asked again, seriously. “This isn’t just playing house, Liam. Are you sure you’ve thought this through?” Liam didn’t answer. He just clapped his hands happily. Seeing his pure, joyful expression, a bittersweet smile touched my lips. I drove Liam to City Hall myself. During the process, Liam was a handful. When it was time to sign, he held the pen and scribbled wildly, finally managing to scrawl his name crookedly. When it was time for his fingerprint, he found the red ink fascinating. He not only got it all over his hands but accidentally smeared some on his cheek. Liam just giggled foolishly at his smudged, cat-like reflection in the mirror. Soon, two crisp marriage certificates were handed to us. Liam clutched his certificate, his eyes sparkling, holding it to his chest as if it were the most precious treasure. Stepping out of City Hall, I called the driver. I gently stroked Liam’s head, my voice soft. “Liam, why don’t you go back with the driver for now? I have something to take care of, but I’ll be back soon.” Liam looked at me, confused, but nodded obediently. I changed direction, heading alone to that bar. When I pushed open the private room door, only Damian and Serena were left inside. He was meticulously wiping Serena’s mouth with a damp napkin. Her shirt collar was still stained with a bit of vomit. I remembered Damian had severe germaphobia. Once, when I had a bad cold and a fever, I accidentally threw up on the sheets in the middle of the night. He woke up, his first reaction to flinch back, pinch his nose, and snap at me, “Cassidy, that’s disgusting! Can’t you go to the bathroom if you need to throw up?” In the end, I had to change the sheets myself, struggling through my sickness, and he offered no words of concern. That very night, he went to Serena’s place. Yet now, he seemed utterly oblivious to the obvious stains on Serena’s clothes. Serena, somewhat recovered, her eyes hazy with drink, grinned when she saw me. “Cassidy, didn’t you say you were going to spend your wedding night with that idiot? What, regretting it already…?” Damian’s hand didn’t stop, but he gently admonished her, “Serena, don’t say another word.” Then he finally looked at me, his voice flat. “Cassidy, you’ve learned your lesson from today, so I won’t hold it against you. I’ll make up the wedding for you in a few days. I need to take Serena home first; she’s had too much to drink.” Seeing his concern for Serena, contrasted with the cold distance he always showed me, the already frozen part of my heart felt another stab of an ice pick—a dull, sharp pain. The last ripple of emotion in my heart settled into complete stillness. I nodded, then pulled the marriage certificate from my pocket. “Suit yourself. But there’s no need to make up the wedding. Liam and I already got married.” The moment Damian saw the marriage certificate in my hand, his face instantly turned ashen. “Cassidy, are you kidding me? You actually went and married that idiot?!” “I swear, you’re crazy. How could you do something like this? What will people say? How am I supposed to show my face after this?” Even now, all he cared about was his own reputation. After all, if people found out that the daughter of the prominent Montgomery Group abandoned him to marry an idiot, how much would he be ridiculed? At that moment, Serena, still tipsy, scoffed from the side. “Cassidy, I have to admire you. You’d go this far just to spite Damian. But if you want to embarrass yourself, fine. Why drag him down with you?” Hearing her words, I found it utterly absurd. They were the ones who told me to spend the night with Liam. When I said I’d marry Liam, Damian didn’t object. Now they’re blaming me? Serena suddenly dry-heaved again. Some of the mess splattered onto Damian’s sleeve. He yelped, but didn’t push her away. Instead, he anxiously scanned the room. The tissues in the private room were gone. His gaze landed on me, and he urged, panicked, “Cassidy, where’s your handkerchief? Give it to me, fast!” I froze. The handkerchief Damian was referring to was one he had personally embroidered when we first started dating, with our initials on it. He’d told me it was a token of his love, and I should carry it every day. For years, I had treasured it, never letting it leave my side. Now, he was asking for this precious keepsake so casually, to wipe Serena’s mess. My heart shattered into a million pieces. After a moment of silence, I pulled out the handkerchief, my face devoid of emotion. I didn’t hand it to him. Instead, I simply dropped it at his feet. “Damian, we’re done.” He bent down, picked up the handkerchief, and, still busy wiping Serena, impatiently yelled at me, “It’s just a damn handkerchief! Why are you making such a big deal? If it’s dirty, I’ll just wash it. I can buy you a new one later if I have time!” I ignored his words, turning and walking straight out the door. Later… There was no later for us. Seeing I didn’t stop, Damian grew even angrier. “Go ahead and leave, Cassidy! Do you really think I care about being with you?!” “You’ll regret this, eventually. Don’t come crawling back begging me then!”

It was late when I returned to the mansion. Liam was curled up on the living room sofa, asleep, still clutching the marriage certificate tightly. Seeing this, something in my chest softened. I walked over quietly, intending to help him to the bedroom. But Liam woke up with a start, his hazy eyes brightening the moment he recognized me. “You… you’re back.” “Yeah.” I bent down and smiled. “If I come home late from now on, you don’t have to wait up for me. Go to bed when you’re tired.” After settling Liam, I returned to my study. Just then, my phone screen lit up. It was a message from Damian. [Cassidy, come back and apologize to me now, and I might consider forgiving you.] [If you want to be mad and fight with me, fine. But you can’t marry that idiot to spite me!] I stared at the screen, my mind perfectly calm. The words that once could easily sway my emotions now just seemed annoying. I didn’t reply. I simply blocked Damian’s number. The world instantly felt clearer. Early the next morning, I took Liam out. For years, he hadn’t even had his own phone. I figured it would be easier to find him if anything happened. While setting up his new phone plan, I casually saved his number in my contacts. When it came to entering his name, I paused, then deliberately typed two words: “My Husband.” Just as we were about to leave, we ran into Damian and Serena right at the mall entrance. Damian’s gaze was like a knife, cutting through our clasped hands before finally settling on my face. He was a mix of anger and disbelief. “Cassidy, are you seriously still playing house? Dragging that… thatthing around town, aren’t you afraid of embarrassing the Montgomery family?” Serena chimed in, her tone dismissive. “Cassidy, that’s enough. Damian’s anger has passed. Just apologize, and this whole thing can be over.” “Excuse me. We need to go. I’m taking my husband to pick out a wedding dress.” I cut them off directly, my voice devoid of emotion. Hearing me address Liam so intimately, Damian completely exploded. “Cassidy! Have you forgotten how you begged me to be with you? Forgotten how you said you’d only love me your whole life?!” “How long are you going to keep up this charade with that idiot? Are you seriously not going to marry me?!” I stared back at him, then calmly replied, “That’s right, Damian. I don’t want you anymore.” As his face drained of color, I shielded Liam and walked past him.

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My adopted brother, the one who had raised me for seven years, was drugged on his birthday. That night, he pinned me against the bed, taking me over and over again. I never imagined the media would capture the scene. To protect the company’s reputation, he was forced to marry me. On our wedding day, his first love found out and, in her agony, jumped into the sea, dying by suicide. Julian Ashton, in a fit of rage, set the entire ballroom ablaze, burning me alive inside. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in college. I had been reborn. This time, Julian sent me straight abroad. Five years later, he was as successful as he had been in my past life. When we met again, he was standing at the company’s annual gala, with Serena Monroe, her belly swollen with pregnancy, nestled in his arms. The moment our eyes met, he sneered, pinching my jaw. “Mia Sterling, it’s been five years. Don’t tell me you still can’t forget me?” “I’m your brother. Your twisted thoughts actually disgust me.” Just then, a clear, cool voice echoed from the phone in my hand. “Sweetheart, when are you coming home? Our son misses his mommy.” …… Five years later, I saw Julian again at the company’s annual gala. As the host, he stood elegantly under the spotlight, dressed in a custom-tailored suit. “Julian, congratulations! You’ve secured the project with the Hayes Group this year. Achieving so much at such a young age, your capabilities are truly admirable!” A man beside him chuckled, raising his glass and walking over with a deferential smile. “If you ask me, Julian has a wonderful wife. Isn’t there a saying that behind every successful man is a supportive wife?” Serena Monroe blushed at the compliments, tightening her grip on Julian’s arm. “Julian deserves everything he has today. I just feel useless, like I can’t help much.” Hearing her, Julian immediately pulled her into his embrace, his voice softening with a deliberate coaxing tone. “Serena, don’t say that. My achievements today are all thanks to you being by my side.” “If it weren’t for you, I probably would have given up a long time ago.” I stood in the corner, almost laughing out loud at Julian’s words. In my past life, I had also stayed by his side, selfless and asking for nothing, just like Serena. But in the end, he treated my love for him like trash. That night, it was clearly *him* who knocked on my door. He shoved me onto the bed without a word. Completely disregarding my feelings, he vented his desires on me. “Oh, by the way, Julian, what about your adopted sister? I remember she used to follow you everywhere. How come we haven’t seen her in the last few years?” The moment my name was mentioned, Julian’s face stiffened, but the disgust in his eyes was impossible to hide. “She went abroad.” He was silent for a moment before slowly uttering those three words. “After all, we’re not blood-related. I raised her to adulthood; I’ve done right by her.” “Besides, I’m married now and have my own child. If she had any self-respect, she should stay abroad and build her own life!” Julian’s tone was dismissive as his gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing abruptly on me. In that moment, the surroundings seemed to fall silent. The complex emotions in his eyes intertwined with mine. The people around us noticed and turned to look at me. “Mia Sterling?” “Who allowed you to come back?” Julian’s accusing words came before mine. He instinctively stepped in front of Serena. “Mia, why didn’t you tell your brother you were coming back? What if something dangerous happened? We’d be heartbroken.” Serena smiled, walking past Julian to stand before me, her hand deliberately resting on her slightly bulging belly. It was as if she was showing off to me. She was now the mistress of the Ashton household. 2. Before I could even speak, Julian strode over and slapped me across the face without a word. The stinging pain immediately made half of my cheek swell with a red mark. “Your sister-in-law is talking to you, are you deaf?” My head snapped to the side from the blow, and the business partners around us began to whisper. “Mia, you were such a good girl. How did going abroad make you lose all your basic manners?” “Serena is Julian’s beloved wife, you should at least greet her!” I clenched my fists, fighting back the rage bubbling inside. “I have my own reasons for coming back to the country…” Hearing this, he scoffed. He looked at me with a mocking expression, as if I were a joke. “Mia Sterling, you really can lie through your teeth.” “You have no parents. If I hadn’t taken you in and raised you all this time, you’d be six feet under by now!” Serena also feigned sympathy, taking my hand. “Mia, I know you don’t like me.” “After all, you’ve never been able to forget him…” “What?” At her words, a murmur of shock rippled through the room. “Can’t forget? Is it what I think it is?” “I can’t believe Mia has *those* kinds of feelings for her own brother!” “That’s disgusting. If she were my sister, I’d disown her immediately!” They pointed at me, gossiping openly, completely disregarding my feelings. They stood on their moral high ground, relentlessly tearing down my character. Julian just narrowed his eyes, watching me with a cold smirk. “Mia Sterling, five years later, you still haven’t moved past *those* feelings for me, have you?” “Julian, don’t say that. Mia’s love for you, no matter what, was sincere. Don’t hurt the girl’s feelings.” When Serena said this, she looked a little angry. But the smile at the corner of her lips couldn’t be suppressed. “Serena, you’re too kind; that’s why you’re fooled by her innocent facade! You don’t know, she’s rotten to the core!” “A year ago, I had someone clean Mia’s old bedroom, and guess what? They found a diary. It clearly detailed all her dirty, disgusting thoughts.” As everyone stared in stunned silence, Julian’s assistant pulled a pink leather-bound diary from his briefcase. My gaze fell on the cover, and I froze for a moment. That was a secret I had hidden in my heart, recorded during every sleepless night in my past life. It was the unspoken affection from five years of secretly loving Julian. The moment that diary was opened, I felt as if I had been stripped naked, exposed under everyone’s gaze. “Brother, I have a secret, one only I know.” “I think I’ve really fallen for you.” “Not a sister’s love for a brother, but a girl’s love for a boy.” Julian held the diary between two fingers, as if repulsed by it. He wished he could stand on stage, wished he could grab a microphone and brutally tear open the scabbed-over wound in my heart. 3. “Julian, can you please not date anyone?” “Can you please be with me?” “Can I… sleep with you…?” He laughed, cruelly and unrestrainedly. His eyes, when he looked at me, were devoid of any warmth. It was as if a deep hatred lay between us. My nose stung. My eyes welled up, feeling dry and raw. My heart felt like a dull knife, twisting violently inside me. I fought back the tears, desperate to leave this place. But the next second, Julian grabbed me, pulling me back. “Mia Sterling, do you even realize that what you thought was your love, to me, was nothing but a nuisance?” “Even if Serena had never appeared, I would never, ever be with you. Your twisted, filthy mind makes me genuinely sick every single moment!” He gripped my jaw, sneering as he spoke each word. “Damn it, Julian was so good to you, and you tried to get into his bed!” “Even without blood ties, he’s still your brother! He raised you for years, and you want to ruin his family!” I couldn’t retort, so I just tried to bury my head. That diary was indeed the trace of my five-year secret crush from when I was eighteen. I guess I never could have imagined. The man I once cherished. Would now, in front of everyone, use that diary to mock my twisted affection. “Mia, don’t be sad. Julian is just angry; he didn’t mean to read your diary out loud to everyone. Try to understand him, after all, he’s only ever felt a brotherly affection for you. Anyone would struggle to accept something like this…” Serena walked to my side, reaching out to pat me gently in a comforting gesture. I stood stiffly. My teeth felt like they were chattering. I didn’t understand. I had tried my best to avoid Julian. Why wouldn’t he just let me go? “Julian Ashton, I *did* like you.” “But that’s in the past. Now I just want to cut ties with you. Just as you said, I’m an adult, and I know myself better.” Hearing this, he didn’t get angry; instead, he laughed. “Mia Sterling, are you serious? You want to cut ties with me?” “You’ve eaten and drunk at the Ashton’s all these years, and now you want to pretend none of it happened? Even a dog I raised for this long would at least wag its tail for me!” Harsh and piercing accusations echoed repeatedly in my ears. Suddenly, a girl roughly my age burst out of the crowd and shoved me to the ground without a word. “You little slut! I’ll teach you for seducing Julian!”

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My brother couldn’t afford a wedding. So Gary Thompson, Brittany’s father, proposed: an exchange of wives. Brittany could marry my brother, but I would have to marry him. I refused, but my whole family conspired, drugged me, and delivered me to Gary Thompson’s bed. As I tried to escape, Gary and Brittany accidentally pushed me off a cliff, and I fell to my death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day we were supposed to go to the Thompsons’ to discuss the wedding. I woke up with a pounding headache, finding myself in Gary Thompson’s house. He lunged at me like a shriveled zombie. I ran out, screaming, as if my mind had broken. Gary Thompson and Brittany Thompson chased frantically after me. “Daisy, my dad’s already touched you! No other man will want you now! For my wedding to Jake, just make this sacrifice and be with my dad.” I felt numb, my mind a blur. I felt utterly defiled, soiled by that old, ugly, disgusting Gary Thompson. Why? Why was all of this happening? I ran desperately, finally cornered at the edge of a cliff. Gary Thompson rushed up, grabbing my hair and yanking my head back, slapping me hard across the face twice. “Why are you running? You’re mine now, old man’s property!” “Your parents and I already agreed. Brittany marries Jake, and you, as part of the exchange, marry me.” I shook my head frantically, sobbing, completely broken. “No! Absolutely not! My parents would never marry me off to you, let you abuse me!” Brittany tried to persuade me from the side. “Daisy, just accept it. They’re the ones who handed you over to my dad.” “Just be with my dad, and Jake and I will be grateful to you for the rest of our lives.” “Come on, let’s go back. It’s cold out here, you’ll catch a cold. Just go home with my dad and settle into your new life.” Gary Thompson tugged at my hair, getting ready to drag me back, and said gleefully, “Once she’s carrying a Thompson baby, she’ll settle down and be a good wife.” “She’s young, maybe she can even give me a son!” Brittany immediately chimed in, “Dad’s right! Once she has a kid, she won’t even *think* of leaving, even if we told her to!” I struggled against them with all my might, wanting to go back and get answers from my parents and Jake. Gary and Brittany worked together, determined to take me back, no matter what. In the struggle, caught between their grasping hands, I felt a sudden shove. I plummeted over the edge, smashing into the rocks below!

“Daisy! Daisy! What are you daydreaming about, you brat?!” I snapped back to reality, the anger and hatred from my previous death still surged through my veins, a burning tide. I clenched my fists without thinking. My mom said, her face heavy with worry, “Oh, your brother’s wedding is driving your dad and me crazy!” My dad sat nearby, smoking silently, and said helplessly, “Gary Thompson is demanding three hundred thousand dollars just to let Brittany marry Jake. Regular folks like us, how could we ever afford that?!” “It’s because you’re useless! You’re making it so I can’t even get married! Mom, Dad, if I can’t marry Brittany in this life, I’d rather just die!” “Oh, my precious boy! You’re going to kill your dad and me! If you die, how will we ever go on?!” “If I can’t even afford a wife, what’s the point of living?!” “How about we all go to the Thompsons’ today to formally propose, and then we can discuss the dowry?” My dad took a drag from his cigarette and sighed. In my previous life, my parents suggested going to the Thompsons’ first to discuss the wedding. Then they planned to slowly negotiate the money with Gary Thompson, hoping to reduce the amount. I was worried they’d be mocked by Gary Thompson, so I went with them. Who knew that Gary Thompson would take one look at me and propose an exchange marriage? Brittany could marry into our family for free, on the condition that I marry him. I refused to give in, even if it meant death. But that night, my whole family conspired, drugged me, and delivered me to Gary Thompson’s bed. This time, I took a few seconds to calm down and think about how to handle it. Gary Thompson wasn’t just a vile, short-tempered creep who loved to steal; he was infamous throughout the whole town. Even his first wife, Brittany’s mom, he tormented to death. So now, I sneered and said, “If Brittany really loved Jake and wanted to be with him, she’d convince her dad to lower the price herself.” Jake grew agitated. “Brittany grew up without a mom; her dad raised her all by himself. She’s a good daughter, always respects him—she wouldn’t dare go against him!” “Then that means she doesn’t love you at all and doesn’t care about you! Her dad knows we don’t have that kind of money, but he’s still demanding so much. No, I think he just wants to sell his own daughter!” “What nonsense are you spouting? Brittany and I grew up together; she truly loves me, and I’ll marry no one but her in this life!” “Forget it. Do you even have the money to marry her? She’s asking for three hundred thousand, you know!” I deliberately provoked him. “You brat! Stop spouting nonsense and upsetting your brother, or I swear I’ll beat the living daylights out of you! Are you just jealous he might get married?!” “Go get ready! We’re all going into town to buy some gifts, then we’ll head to the Thompsons’ to propose.” My mom started urging me to go. “I’m not going! Go propose what? We have no money! Everyone will laugh us out of town.” “Daisy Liu! I’ve had enough of you! I’m going to kill you today!” Jake said, getting ready to rush at me and hit me. My heart jumped, and I immediately took off running. Soon, I was out of sight. Finally, I escaped that situation. I didn’t have to go to the Thompsons’ house. Later, my parents and Jake went to the Thompsons’ by themselves and were verbally abused. Not only were all the gifts they bought thrown out, but they were also kicked out of the house. They made it clear: “Three hundred thousand dollars, not a penny less!”

I had thought that as long as I didn’t go to the Thompsons’, Gary Thompson wouldn’t set his sights on me. But late that night, I overheard my parents and Jake talking. And that’s when I finally understood why, in my previous life, they had been so heartless, drugging me and delivering me to that old, ugly, disgusting Gary Thompson’s bed. My dad: “So, Gary Thompson wanted all that money just to buy himself a young new wife.” My mom: “No wonder he was asking for three hundred thousand dollars. He’s truly selling his daughter, worse than an animal.” “Oh, my son, you should just give up on this. With our family’s finances, where would we get three hundred thousand dollars?!” My parents sighed, a heavy, desperate sound, repeatedly. Jake remained silent for a while. Then, His voice, lowered to a whisper, came through the wall. “Mom, what if we married Daisy off to him? Then he wouldn’t demand three hundred thousand for Brittany, would he? Daisy’s so pretty, and she’s even in college – Brittany’s dad would be thrilled!” “Nonsense! Daisy is your sister! How could she marry Gary Thompson, who’s even older than me?!” My dad’s words held a hint of accusation towards Jake. “What sister? She’s just a stray you picked up, not your real daughter! You’ve raised her all these years; now it’s time for her to repay you!” “Mom, Dad, don’t forget, I’m your real son. You’ll be relying on me for your old age! Once Brittany and I are married, we’ll give you beautiful grandkids to make you happy!” My mom seemed to waver. “But Daisy’s grown up now, not a child. Will she agree?” “Exactly. If she doesn’t agree, are you just going to tie her up and take her there?” “I’m telling you, forget it. Give up on marrying Brittany.” My dad poured cold water on Jake’s idea. “Mom, Dad, do you want to watch me die? If I can’t marry Brittany, I won’t live!” “I’ll be honest with you: Brittany’s pregnant!” “What? What did you say? Is that really true?!” My parents almost simultaneously exclaimed to Jake, then quickly lowered their voices, realizing they were too loud. “It’s true!” “Oh… then what should we do?” Inside, I heard my dad start smoking. “I know a type of sleeping pill. We just give it to Daisy, then take her to the Thompsons’ and she won’t be able to refuse.” “Don’t worry too much about Daisy. There are so many of us; we can handle one girl, can’t we?” Then, a dead silence filled the room. After a while, the three of them started talking again. My parents and Jake had reached an agreement. They were willing to sacrifice me for Jake’s marriage. Next, they quietly discussed the details of the plan. I pressed my ear to the wall, listening carefully, remembering every single thing. The next day, Jake called Brittany over, probably to tell her the plan. She’d go home and inform her dad beforehand. When Brittany came out, her eyes on me had changed. I could tell she was subtly pleased that her wedding to Jake finally had a chance. That day, Jake ran out and didn’t come back until late afternoon, almost dinner time. I knew he’d gone to get the knockout drops. I pretended to be my usual self, going about my day. After dinner, my mom came into my room, bringing me a bowl of chicken soup. She said I looked a bit thin lately and she’d specially made the soup to nourish me. She urged me to drink it quickly, saying it would get cold. I picked up the bowl and, right in front of her, drained it in one gulp.

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After I rejected Daniel Sterling’s divorce proposal for the third time, I did something incredibly stupid. I compiled all his SnapChat messages with his assistant, along with their hotel records, into a devastating PowerPoint presentation and posted it online. I even added all the pain, betrayal, and heartbreak I’d endured during our five-year marriage as an accusation. Just when I thought I’d finally get the sweet taste of revenge, the police showed up. That’s when I found out Daniel had reported me for invasion of privacy. And just like that, I was sentenced to the darkest five days of my life. On the third day in jail, He brought me Leo’s latest award-winning essay to read. The title was: “My Psycho Mom.” In that moment, the firm resolve in my heart shattered into a million pieces. Seeing the contempt in his eyes, I stopped fighting. My voice hoarse, I said: “Daniel, I agree to the divorce.” “Ava Thompson, you can ask for anything you want, except for Leo’s custody.” He finally got the answer he wanted. Daniel no longer acted like a man on the verge of losing it. For once, he actually looked at me with something other than anger. I felt nothing anymore. No more arguments. Just calmly stated what I wanted. “I want a million dollars.” Daniel’s face flashed with surprise. He’d probably thought I wouldn’t give up custody so easily, that I’d keep fighting him. He’d even prepared himself for how to deal with me if I tried to fight for Leo. But I was completely different from what he’d imagined. “Only a million?” He couldn’t believe it, questioning me again, “If you take this million dollars, Leo will have nothing to do with you ever again.” Facing his challenge, I calmly nodded. Daniel seemed about to say something. His mouth moved, but he didn’t continue. “Fine. We’ll go register the divorce as soon as you get out. Ava, you better not be playing games with me.” He dropped a warning, then turned and left. But after he was gone, My mom, Eleanor Thompson, who’d been living abroad and I hadn’t seen in five years, showed up with a lawyer. Soon after, she easily bailed me out. Walking out of the police station, she casually pulled a lady’s cigarette from her pocket. She lit it with a flick of her lighter. As she slowly exhaled a plume of smoke, She turned to face me, utterly exhausted. “So, are you ready to come with me now?” I’d lived for twenty-seven years. She’d asked me that question twice. The first time was when she divorced my cheating father. She asked for nothing, only wanting to take me with her. But everyone around me told me that six-year-old me would be a burden if I went with her, a woman with no money. So I didn’t follow my heart. I chose to stay with my father. When she got her answer, she didn’t force it, leaving with a resolute determination. But sometimes, I harbored a bit of resentment towards her. Resented her for heartlessly abandoning me, abandoning our home. So when I married Daniel, She came to the wedding and told me: “Ava, learn to love yourself before you love anyone else. Don’t put all your energy into others; be good to yourself.” Back then, I was incredibly naive. I thought Daniel and I had a solid ten-year relationship. He would love me consistently, just as he loved himself. With a defiant spirit, I retorted, “Do you think everyone is as selfish as you? Only thinking about how to make others love you, but never thinking about how to make yourself worthy of love.” She wasn’t angry about what I said. She just looked at me with a strange smile. Only now do I understand. Back then, I was truly foolishly naive. My throat was dry, like it was lined with razor blades. Every word I spoke was agony. Hoarsely, I replied to her, “After the divorce is finalized, I’ll go with you.”

I stayed at my mom’s hotel for one night. The next day, I put on the new clothes she’d bought me. Then I went back to the house I’d lived in for six years. When I returned, Leo, who was playing with his toys in the living room, saw me. Surprise and annoyance flashed in his eyes. He muttered softly, “Didn’t she say she’d be in there for five days? How is she back after only three?” At that moment, Daniel also came downstairs. Seeing me, surprise also flickered across his face. It was as if he hadn’t expected me to be out so quickly. But he quickly composed himself. He said calmly, “You’re back, so go wash up and rest. Don’t cause any more trouble.” I shook my head. “No need. We’re going to the registrar’s office to file for divorce now.” Hearing this, Leo’s face changed drastically. He quickly ran behind Daniel, shouting at me, “If you’re leaving, just leave! Don’t even think about taking me. I’m not going anywhere with you!” Looking at his angry face, filled with rejection towards me, I silently pulled at the corner of my mouth. Yesterday, when Daniel left, he’d left Leo’s essay. That essay. I had read it over and over again. I clearly remembered him saying: “My mom is really like a psycho. My dad works so hard, but she always argues with him, throwing things around the house like a lunatic and hitting my dad. If I could, I really wish this crazy woman wasn’t my mom.” Daniel first brought up divorce when I discovered he was cheating. I calmly took photos of the SnapChat messages and hotel records I saw on his phone. When he came home, I went through the evidence I’d captured, one by one, right in front of him. I clenched my fists, suppressing all my anger. Silently, I waited for his remorse, waiting to see him on his knees, apologizing. During that wait, I imagined all the ways he’d cry and beg for forgiveness. But he didn’t. He just looked at me calmly. There wasn’t a hint of guilt in his eyes. Instead, there was a brazen defiance, now that he’d been caught. He told me, “Ava, either delete those photos and quietly be Mrs. Sterling, or we get a divorce.” Before this, I had naively thought that if he just apologized, I could try to forgive him this once. Because when a family breaks apart, the child suffers the most. I didn’t want my child to go down the same path as me. To force a five-year-old to make the cruel choice between living with his dad or his mom. But he didn’t apologize. His defiant attitude enraged me. In my grief and anger, I grabbed everything around me. And threw it at him, repeatedly. But when I heard the nanny and Leo talking, I desperately tried to control my breakdown. I didn’t want Leo to see the ugly scene between his parents. Only, my efforts to hide it failed. Leo saw me throwing things at Daniel like a psycho. But he didn’t hear Daniel’s words from before. Now, looking at the child who treated me like a lunatic, I once again accepted this sharp sword, born of my own flesh, piercing me. “Don’t worry, I don’t want you. After the divorce, I’ll be gone.” I was remarkably calm, my face devoid of any expression. Leo didn’t believe me. He looked up at Daniel. Daniel met his gaze. He said calmly, “Since that’s the case, we’ll go register the divorce tomorrow. I’ll have someone draft the parental rights termination agreement now; you sign it, and Leo will be at peace.” Leo’s eyes, which had just been filled with suspicion, lit up when he heard Daniel’s words. His face was filled with anticipation. I pursed my lips. And answered, “Okay.”

Daniel’s lawyer was incredibly efficient. In just two hours, The parental rights termination agreement was in my hands. I didn’t hesitate; I signed my name. The moment I signed, I distinctly heard a joyful sigh beside me. Leo happily took the agreement. He laughed, “I finally don’t have a psycho mom! No one at school can make fun of me anymore!” Facing my stunned gaze, Daniel, standing beside him, showed a hint of scorn in his eyes. “Someone took photos when you were taken away from home, and they were posted online. Because of you, Leo got a lot of cold looks at school.” His words carried undisguised blame. But he forgot. The cause of everything was him. I didn’t argue with him anymore. I went along with his narrative. Let him push all the blame onto me. But when I saw the disdain in his eyes, It reminded me of the second time he brought up divorce. Back then, I was so unwilling to accept it. I went crazy, running to his company. In front of all his employees, I furiously accused him and his assistant, Rachel Miller. He stood in the crowd, completely unaffected. He watched me perform like a clown with cold eyes. And I forgot. Those employees were paid by him. They wouldn’t casually judge their boss’s private life. And they certainly wouldn’t lose their jobs for someone unrelated. Everyone watched me as if I were a joke. Their curious stares made it impossible for me to escape. I instinctively wanted to run. But then I heard someone in the crowd say: “She might be pretty, but her temperament really can’t compare to Assistant Miller. If I were the boss, I wouldn’t pick this ugly woman either.” “Right? There are plenty of cheating men in this world, especially the rich ones. Why is she so stupid? Can’t she just turn a blind eye?” “If I were her, I wouldn’t make a scene at all. Couldn’t she just take the money and live a good life at home? Why make a fuss like a psycho and become a laughingstock?” I stood amidst the crowd, Listening to the whispers around me. I suddenly remembered the year Daniel started his business. To help him secure a deal with a client, I drank myself sick, ending up with stomach ulcers in the hospital. It was Daniel Sterling who sat by my hospital bed, Holding my hand tightly, crying and choking out: “Ava, I swear I’ll never let you down in this life. I’ll give you a home and make you the Mrs. Sterling everyone envies.” I opened my mouth, wanting to retort, to tell them. It was Daniel who promised me a future. It was he who said we’d love each other until we were old. I hadn’t had a chance to speak yet. Rachel Miller came running, crying. She fell to her knees in front of me with a thud. Bowing her head, she sobbed, “Mrs. Sterling, I never intended to come between you and Mr. Sterling. If you don’t like me, I can resign immediately and never see Mr. Sterling again. But I beg you, please don’t make a scene here. If you keep this up, how will Mr. Sterling face his employees?” She acted like a devoted wife, solely concerned for Daniel’s well-being. With one sentence, she branded me an unreasonable lunatic. Daniel looked at her tear-streaked face. He tenderly walked over and helped her up. He angrily snapped, “Enough! Ava, we’re getting a divorce! I don’t want to spend another day with you! I’m sick of this suffocating life!” Leo’s essay also recorded that day. Only then did I realize that the day I went to his company to cause a scene, Leo had skipped his after-school activity to go play with Rachel at the office. And in his essay, he wrote: “My mom isn’t just a psycho, she also embarrasses me so much. I don’t understand why I have a mom like this. If Aunt Rachel were my mom, that would be so much better.”

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My boyfriend rejected my NYU scholarship offer on my behalf, giving the spot to Lily Davis, a student from a disadvantaged background. I broke up with him. But he just said: “During the last campus popularity contest, I chose you, not her, even with all the pressure. Lily’s family is so poor; she was really counting on that scholarship.” He spoke as if placating an unruly child. “Still mad? Once we’re married, you’ll have everything you desire. Why get so worked up over her?” I stared at his nonchalant face: “I said we’re breaking up. Didn’t you hear me?” He finally frowned, then quickly smiled again: “Alright, I’ll give you a week to cool down. Happy now?” He was so sure I couldn’t possibly leave him. But what he didn’t know. I had already received a full scholarship offer from Oxford University, and in five days, I would be flying to the UK. “You’re breaking up with Noah Harrison?” My best friend Chloe’s incredulous voice came through the phone. “Stella, are you insane? Noah’s dad is a top billionaire, and you’re just dumping him?” I held my phone away from my ear, leaning back against my headboard to scroll through the campus forum. The top-pinned post on the campus forum glared at me with a blazing red title: [Noah Harrison Gave Lily Davis the Scholarship to Shame Her!] The comments below were even more ‘interesting.’ “LOL, isn’t Lily always acting so virtuous and high-minded, claiming she despised the rich? How could she possibly accept this NYU scholarship spot?” “Noah must have done this for Stella.” Reading those comments, a wave of nauseating disgust washed over me. They thought Noah was standing up for me. Only I knew that this NYU scholarship slot, which I had slaved countless nights over and fought tooth and nail to secure, was just tossed aside to someone else with a casual “compensation” from Noah. “Stella, are you even listening? Say something!” Chloe was practically losing her mind on the other end. I tapped open Lily’s Ins profile; her latest post was from half an hour ago. No photo, just one line of text: “A gift that landed in my lap. And while I may scoff at it, it’s what I’m owed.” I screenshot it and sent it to Chloe. “See? That’s his ‘explanation’ to me.” Chloe went silent. After a long pause, her voice came through, dry and strained. “…So, the scholarship really was from him to Lily? But why? Didn’t he despise Lily?” “Every time Lily messed with you at school, wasn’t he always the first one to rush to your defense?” Yes, why? I used to believe he was on my side. I used to think those acts of ‘revenge’ were because he loved me, and thus hated anyone who hurt me. But the truth was, every superficial act of payback only led to a very real compensation for her. And I, the one who was deceived, was the only fool who gave genuine love. “Chloe.” I spoke softly. “Hmm?” “Noah and I, we’re really over.” “No misunderstanding.” On the other end of the line, Chloe gasped. I knew what she wanted to say—that Noah came from a prestigious family, that he was gentle with me, the perfect boyfriend everyone envied, and I shouldn’t be so impulsive. But all they saw was what he wanted them to see.

The next morning, a huge Hermès gift box was delivered to my dorm door. My roommates let out a collective gasp. “Oh my God, it’s the latest collection! Stella, Noah spoils you rotten!” “You guys are so in love! I’m totally jealous!” Inside the box was a card, inscribed with Noah’s elegant handwriting. “Countdown to cool-off period: 144 hours.” My roommates’ envious glances surrounded me. In their eyes, I was a princess held in the palm of a top heir’s hand, the absolute winner in this game of love. I only felt an endless wave of sarcasm. He thought money could buy anything, could smooth over any hurt, even my shattered dignity and trampled heart. I calmly took out my phone, snapped a photo of the bag that I hadn’t even had a chance to really touch. Then, with practiced ease, I opened a luxury resale app and started listing the item. Title: [EX’S CONSOLATION PRIZE, practically new, unboxed only. Serious offers only.] Once the listing was up, I shared the link with Chloe, asking her to keep an eye out for reliable buyers. Chloe’s call came through instantly. “Stella, are you crazy? Listing it on a resale site right after getting it? You’ll lose a fortune!” “I won’t be using it anyway.” I didn’t really care. Still on the phone, I dragged a pre-packed suitcase from the deepest corner of my closet. “Chloe, I’m flying to the UK in five days. Full scholarship to Oxford.” “What?” Chloe went completely silent. I could almost picture her jaw dropping. “When did you even—” “I applied ages ago. Just in case.” I smiled. This was probably the best decision I’d ever made for myself. After hanging up, a message from Noah popped up. “Did you get the gift? Why aren’t you replying? Don’t you like the color? I can get someone to exchange it for you if you don’t.” I couldn’t be bothered to reply, so I simply muted his chat. I started calmly packing my luggage, contacting a familiar international courier service for pickup. Just as I sealed the last box, my mom’s call came in. The moment I answered, her gentle coaxing began. “Stella, honey, are you and Noah having a spat? Noah even came to me complaining.” “Mom, we broke up.” “What nonsense are you talking?” My mom’s voice suddenly rose. “Stella, how can you be so unreasonable? For someone from our background to even get a Harrison, that’s pure luck on your part.” “Girls shouldn’t be so headstrong. Someone from Noah’s family, willing to lower himself to sweet-talk you like this, he’s already gone above and beyond. Don’t push it too far and throw away your good life!” I took a deep breath, cutting her off. “Mom, what if I don’t want this ‘good life’?” A long silence followed on the other end. Then, my dad snatched the phone. “Don’t you dare! Stella, we’ve worked our backsides off raising you all these years, not for you to be so stubborn! If you mess up this engagement, don’t even think about coming back home.” “Beep—” The line went dead with a harsh beep. Clutching my phone, standing in the middle of my chaotic dorm room, I suddenly felt incredibly light. Good. Let’s cut ties. Clean and absolute. That evening, a confirmation email from Oxford University popped up in my inbox. I stared at the lines of text for a long time, then slowly, deliberately, typed out my reply, confirming my enrollment. The moment I sent it, I let out a long breath. Finally, I was escaping.

“Stella, we’re having a family dinner tonight, and my mom specifically wants you there.” Noah called to announce. “Your parents will be there too. It’s time to put our engagement on the agenda. This is an opportunity my mom and I fought hard for, so don’t you dare look like a corpse again.” I rolled my eyes. Did he think I cared about this marriage? But then I remembered I had some important research papers still at home. This would be a good chance for my parents to bring them, and I could settle everything once and for all. “Fine.” I agreed. The Harrison family’s mansion was ablaze with lights. Noah’s parents sat at the head of the table. Their demeanor towards me was distant, almost frosty. Their words always subtly hinted that I came from an ordinary background, not good enough for their son. My parents, however, seemed utterly oblivious to the disdain, relentlessly flattering the Harrisons and plastering on forced smiles. They even went as far as to belittle me, just to curry favor. “Our Stella, she’s just been spoiled rotten by us. She has a bit of a temper, so Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, please bear with her in the future.” “It’s truly her good fortune to marry Noah.” I sat there stiffly, the judging stares making me feel like I was sitting on pins and needles. During the meal, Mrs. Harrison casually, almost artfully, brought up Lily Davis. “Noah, I heard you’ve been targeting a girl named Lily at school all these years?” A flicker of displeasure crossed her perfectly maintained face, but her gaze drifted, light as a feather, to me. As if she blamed me for dragging her son down. “Mom, don’t listen to rumors.” Noah set down his glass. “Actually, I quite admire Lily. She comes from a tough background and she’s fiercely independent. I just playfully teased her a few times, and always made it up to her later.” I pretended not to hear, numbly stuffing spoonfuls of abalone and lobster into my mouth. Halfway through the dinner, the butler ushered someone in. It was Lily. She wore a faded dress, looking utterly out of place in the opulent living room. She looked so pitiful, completely lacking her usual proud demeanor from school. Her beautiful eyes pleaded with Noah. Noah frowned, rubbing his temples, and told the butler: “Take her upstairs to change.” When Lily returned, she was like a different person. It was one of the Harrison family’s limited-edition designer dresses, and on her, it somehow evoked a fragile, almost pitiful beauty. Throughout the meal, Mrs. Harrison’s demeanor towards Lily was even warmer than it was towards me, the actual girlfriend. “Lily, isn’t it? Noah tells me you’re very hardworking and your grades are excellent. And now you’ve even secured that NYU scholarship! Such a good girl.” She took Lily’s hand, announcing she would fully sponsor her education. “If you ever face any difficulties, just tell me. Our family, the Harrisons, truly admires strong, self-made, ambitious young people like you.” Lily looked stunned by her attitude, her eyes welling up as she thanked her. I knew Mrs. Harrison was using Lily to publicly humiliate me. She was using this as a way to tell me that even a financially struggling student had more backbone and capability than I, a girl from a family with merely “some money.” I was the real nobody, vainly trying to latch onto their prestigious family. I couldn’t stand to watch my parents’ groveling, eager-to-please faces anymore. The churning nausea in my stomach threatened to erupt. I dropped my forks, stood up, and took the folder containing my research papers from my mom’s hand. “Excuse me, I’m not feeling well. I’m leaving.” Noah immediately stood up to block me. “Stella!”

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Seven years after my divorce from Julian, we met again at the school bus stop. He was dropping off his stepson for summer camp, and I was one of the teachers in charge of the event. I meticulously checked off his son’s registration details. He listened intently, like any responsible parent. It was only when I coolly addressed him as “Mr. Julian” that he seemed to flinch, a fleeting moment of lost thought. “Elara,” he said, “you’ve… changed a lot.” I focused on adjusting my microphone, offering no reply. Changed? Yes, a lot. At least, I wouldn’t waste my time waiting for him anymore. “Ms. Elara, what are you doing here? We’re just waiting for you to board!” Chloe, a girl with a high ponytail, jogged over from a distance. She was one of the students attending the summer camp, and also our class monitor. I smiled back at her. “Just finishing up with a parent. I’ll be there in a minute.” Chloe’s eyes followed my gaze, landing on Julian. A spark of admiration lit them up. “You must be Leo’s father, right? I’ve seen your pictures in financial magazines.” “They say you’re an outstanding entrepreneur in Maplewood, and you’re so good to him. We all wish we had a dad like that!” Leo was Julian’s stepson. The child he’d sworn to protect, no matter what. Julian offered a polite, strained smile, his gaze instinctively flicking to me. “He calls me Dad, so it’s only right that I’m good to him.” With the details confirmed, I neatly put the documents away. The zipper on my bag had corroded and was jammed in the fabric. I pulled out a small pair of scissors to snip it free, accidentally nicking my finger. Blood beaded and fell to the floor. Julian frowned. He grabbed my wrist, his voice tinged with a sudden worry. “Don’t move. Let me see the cut.” I glanced at him, then calmly pulled my hand away. “It’s fine. It’s not appropriate.” He paused, then said, “Wait here. I’ll go get you a band-aid.” I casually shook the blood off my finger, rejecting him flatly. “Seriously, it’s fine. I need to go.” As I turned, a single leaf spun down, landing at Julian’s feet. The bus to summer camp closed its doors with a heavy thud right in front of him. I settled into the passenger seat and took out a wet wipe, scrubbing at the spot on my wrist he’d touched. The driver, a nosy old-timer, chuckled. “That man in the suit, he looks like a big shot. Any woman who marries him would be set for life.” I smiled, completely agreeing. It had been seven years since my divorce from Julian. Seeing him again, I had managed to feel nothing. I’d resigned myself to us being parallel lines now. He chased his version of love, and I protected my peace. I’d almost forgotten. I once gave him everything. And he, in return, cost me child after child. He pushed me into the abyss with his own hands.

In the rearview mirror, the school bus stop receded into the distance. A memory flashed—this was also where Julian and I first met. Back then, he was desperately poor. He stood there, dirty, like a stray dog begging for scraps. In the biting wind, Julian hung his head, pleading bitterly. “My mom is sick. If you can just save her, I’ll do anything.” Everyone turned a blind eye, except for my dad, a doctor, who offered a helping hand. He arranged for Julian’s mother to be admitted, applied for the hospital’s benevolent fund, and even dipped into his own pockets, spending a fortune. Soon after, his mother’s condition improved. My dad took Julian in. “Elara, I found you a tutor.” Julian, six feet tall, clasped his hands nervously in front of him, his ears bright red. “I… I consistently rank in the top ten in my class. I’m pretty good at every subject.” He said that, but he was being modest. In truth, he wasn’t just good at academics. He was the kind of brilliant, all-around academic prodigy teachers raved about. Without the burden of his mother’s illness, he excelled even more. Soon, he was accepted into the top finance program at Maplewood University. And I, as my dad put it, rode on Julian’s coattails, barely scraping into Maplewood University as the last-place student. But no one could have predicted what would happen next. In Julian’s first year of college, his mother’s old illness relapsed, and she passed away. My dad, being a kind soul, felt awful about it. He said Julian had tutored me for so long, the debt of gratitude was already repaid. Now that his mother was gone, Julian wouldn’t have to carry that burden anymore. But Julian said, “Mr. Richard, this debt… it’s never fully repaid.” “You saved my mother’s life once, so I’ll take care of Elara for the rest of mine.” I traced the cut on my finger. It had stopped bleeding, but still throbbed. Looking back, I was so young then. He said that, and I believed him. I clung to Julian, shamelessly refusing to let go. We planned it all: we’d make enough money to buy a small place in Maplewood, then get married right after graduation. Live happily ever after, like most couples. But while Julian was good to me, his ambition burned brighter. That graduation year, he traveled hundreds of miles for a project. Those vows scattered like dust in the wind, all forgotten. He was so consumed by work, he was practically unreachable most days. On the rare occasion I did get through, before my joy could even settle, Julian said, “Elara, I’ve decided to stay here.” No apology. No mention of breaking up. Not even a single explanation. At that time, my elderly dad had retired from his job. He couldn’t stand seeing me cry every day. He advised, “You can’t force love. You have to let go when it’s time.” But four years of love—I couldn’t just give up. That very day, I packed my bags and boarded a train heading south. All the way there, I sent Julian messages. I poured out my heart, rambling on and on. “Julian, I’m coming to find you.” “So it’s fine if you stay, we won’t separate.” I sent him the train details, the arrival time. I wanted him to come. I wanted him to pick me up. But he didn’t. That day, it rained heavily in New Haven. I dragged my luggage, unable to find a single cab. I huddled there, crying for three hours as blood streamed down my legs. A sharp pain ripped through my stomach, and a terrifying realization dawned on me. It wasn’t my period. It was our unborn baby. It had come without me knowing and left just as silently. I looked up, panicked, desperate for help. That’s when I saw Julian approaching, shielded by an umbrella. A dark gray trench coat, gold-rimmed glasses—he looked impossibly polished, almost unreal. My legs were covered in blood, my clothes were bloody, my hands were bloody. I frantically grabbed Julian’s sleeve. “Our baby… I lost the baby.” His face was impassive, tinged with a flicker of annoyance. “Who told you to come?” Outside, the rain poured down. Julian’s face was like thunder. He asked, “Elara, who told you to follow me?”

The bus reached its destination, and I collected my thoughts, stepping off. There were dedicated staff to greet us at the summer camp, which made my job a lot easier. I was finally free to explore the area for a bit. My friend, Maya, came to pick me up, and immediately spotted Leo, who was holding a basketball. “That’s *her* son, isn’t it? You can tell just by looking at his eyes, he’s hers.” I nodded slightly, a silent confirmation. Maya, seeing my indifferent expression, got furious. Her anger simmered, then she started cursing Julian. “That scumbag is repulsive. How on earth did you ever agree to marry him?” It wasn’t really that complicated. After the miscarriage, I was admitted to the hospital. I was young then, fresh from losing my first baby, and terrified. Healing alone, a thousand miles from home, I hadn’t even dared to tell my parents. When I was at my most helpless, my most desperate for support, Julian proposed. I desperately clung to the idea, almost brainwashing myself that he wasn’t intentional. I just married him. After we got married, Julian was always busy, drowning in endless drinks and social engagements. Night after night, I’d wait, huddled over cold food, utterly drained. The constant emotional drain was agonizing. A sudden, unexpected pregnancy made my emotions incredibly volatile. I was at my breaking point. But that’s when Julian cheated. That woman was Seraphina. Not a business partner, not a socialite. Just a woman with a child, a widow. Their first meeting was anything but proper—in a private room at a club. Julian fell in love with her at first sight. It was just because she, with her 8-year-old son, had pleaded for his help, and it triggered something in him, reminding him of his own helpless past. He acted like he was possessed, bringing the child home. He lied to me, saying: “A friend’s son is sick and needs a quiet place to recover for a while.” I believed him, and I was even happy. Because of this child, he started coming home more frequently. Sometimes Seraphina would be with him. He introduced her to me: “This is Leo’s mother. Her husband was abusive, and she’d barely managed to escape with her child. Pitiful, really.” It left a bitter taste in my mouth, so I became even kinder to Leo. When he had a fever in the middle of the night, I stayed by his bedside, neglecting myself completely. If he wanted to eat something, I’d drag my heavy body out late at night to get it. But my kindness was met with cruelty. When I was seven months pregnant, Leo, upset with a meal he didn’t like, picked up a chair and smashed it into my stomach. Blood gushed out, a crimson stain spreading across the pale tiles. I frantically called Julian, but it was Seraphina’s voice I heard. She said, “Your man is sleeping with me. He’s in the shower right now.” I froze there, my heart went numb. All strength drained from my body. Leo, seeing the havoc he’d wreaked, opened the door and bolted. A passing neighbor discovered me and rushed me to the hospital. Predictably, the baby was gone. Smashed away by Seraphina’s son. And what was Julian doing then? He was sleeping with Seraphina. I’d been to hell and back. When I woke up, I was a madwoman. I smashed everything in the hospital room that I could get my hands on. I ripped out my IV, shredded my medical charts, and overturned the medicine cart. My eyes were bruised, my hair a wild mess as I frantically searched for Leo. I screamed hysterically, demanding he pay for my baby’s life. Doctors and nurses were at a loss; other patients scattered in fear. Julian appeared before me again. He grabbed my wrist, mercilessly pinning me down with all his strength. He asked, “Elara, are you done making a scene?”

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When they told me I was the real heiress, I was busy with a corpse in the basement. I smirked, reading the provocative message from the fake heiress. I was currently on the organization’s hit list anyway, so this “real heiress” identity might just come in handy. My phone rang, making me pause my work. Seeing the caller ID, I was genuinely shocked. It was the police. Had I been exposed already? This fast? “Hello, Ms. Skylar?” “Mmm,” I hummed in response. Listening to the officer on the other end, I let out a sigh of relief. It was about my background, my family. But how did the police find me? And my phone number? I hadn’t been in this country for long. Still, I agreed to the DNA test. This new identity was exactly what I needed to get out of my current predicament. I sat in the basement, wiping blood from my short blade. I’d been kidnapped as a child and raised as an assassin in a foreign country. For the right price, I’d kill anyone. But the organization had gone too far. They ordered me to kill a one-year-old girl. Their twisted reason? She was the daughter of a drug lord, a target for revenge. But even I had a bottom line. I never harmed children. So, I was unfortunately put on the organization’s kill list. That’s why I’d fled to this remote country. But I never expected them to send people after me, all the way here. I glanced at the man’s body before me, then let out a frustrated click of my tongue, carefully maneuvering him into a newly bought chest freezer. Then, I pulled out my phone, snapped a picture, and sent it to Agent A. “Stop sending people.” Agent A was my superior, the one who’d groomed me from childhood. To this day, I didn’t even know his real name. After leaving the basement, I went for the DNA test. There, I met the people who claimed to be my parents. They were dressed in opulent clothes. “My darling!” The middle-aged woman was incredibly emotional. She rushed forward, wanting to embrace me, but I instinctively recoiled. Physical intimacy wasn’t something I was used to. The woman clearly noticed my distant reaction. “It’s okay, let’s just go home first!” On the way, they talked endlessly. From my birth to how I got lost – every single detail. But then, Mr. Hayes suddenly changed the subject. “Sweetheart, you were seven when you were taken from us. We searched for you for years. When we thought you wouldn’t come back, your mother was heartbroken. So, we adopted a girl, Chloe. She’s a year younger than you.” Ah, so all that was just a preamble. This was what they were leading up to. “Your brother Leo couldn’t join us today because Chloe.” “She felt like we would kick her out once you returned, so she took an overdose of sleeping pills last night. We just had her stomach pumped.” “Leo is worried sick, so he’s staying with her at the hospital.” It was the same old, tired story. I just nodded, not saying much. As long as she didn’t bother me, I didn’t mind living under the same roof.

Back home, I finally met my so-called sister. She was pretty, with long hair cascading down to her waist, and eyes so swollen they looked like two puffy red cherries. She was still in a hospital gown, her small face ashen, making her look utterly fragile. Next to her, my brother, Leo Hayes, carefully supported her, not even sparing me a glance. My parents, upon seeing her, rushed forward, showering her with concern. Yet, moments before, they hadn’t asked me a single thing about how I’d spent all those years. I lowered my head, a bitter chuckle escaping my lips. “Chloe, why are you back so soon? You should be resting! You’re too delicate for all this stress.” Mrs. Hayes’ gaze was starkly different when she looked at Chloe compared to me. The family continued to chat amongst themselves right in front of me for what felt like ages. Just like Agent A always said, for people like us, family bonds were always a luxury. Chloe walked toward me. “Skylar, welcome home.” I simply nodded, my face unreadable. “Skylar, I’m so sorry. Your room has been mine for years, so would you mind staying on the first floor for now? I’ll move my things to the third floor as soon as I can, but I have a lot of stuff, and it’ll take a while to sort through.” Chloe’s face was etched with a look of feigned embarrassment. I looked at the maid’s room on the first floor, falling silent. Her intentions were as clear as day. She was basically calling me an outsider. “Fine. But from now on, you can just call me Skylar.” Within the organization, my codename was X. Skylar was the name he had given me back then, and all my official documents used it. Thinking about it, my memory of that man was very distant now. He was nine years older than me, an assassin from the same organization. I only knew his codename: L. He went on a solo mission once and never came back. Everyone said he was dead, but I didn’t believe it. Leo Hayes, who had been silent until now, spoke up, his gaze filled with impatience. “Since you’re back in the Hayes family, you should use our surname. You’re Skylar Hayes.” “If you don’t change your name, isn’t it just because you want to constantly remind Mom and Dad that they lost you?” I was about to speak, but he cut me off again. “If you don’t change your name back, don’t even think about inheriting the Hayes family fortune!” I raised an eyebrow. In his eyes, I was only back to claim the inheritance, just for the money, right? “Oh, well. You can call me Skylar.” With that, I grabbed my luggage and walked into the room. The truth was, I wasn’t short on money. My bounty over the years had been the highest in the entire organization. Just then, I heard a rustling sound from the window. A shadow flashed past. As I pondered what it could be. Knock, knock! A knock on the door. “Skylar, dinner’s ready.”

At the dining table. I was placed next to Chloe. “Skylar, try this! I made this braised pork just for you.” Chloe scooped a piece of braised pork onto my plate. She watched me with a look of eager anticipation. Looking at the braised pork before me, I felt a wave of nausea. When I was twenty, I secretly rescued a dog named Make. The organization forbade assassins from developing emotions for anything. Only Agent A knew Make existed. Back then, Agent A and I had a decent relationship. “You’re back. Eat up.” Agent A had put a piece of braised pork on my plate, but he didn’t touch his own food. But as I took the first bite, the taste felt off. Seeing Agent A’s expression and actions, I understood, and I spit all the meat into the trash. My stomach churned. “Why?” Agent A only said one thing. “It will become your weakness.” After that, my relationship with Agent A plunged to an all-time low. I buried Make and his toys in the backyard. And I never ate braised pork again.

“I don’t like braised pork. You can have it.” I picked up some shredded potatoes with my fork and put them in my mouth. Chloe looked a little embarrassed. “I’m so sorry, Skylar. It’s my fault. I didn’t know you hated it. Our whole family loves it, so I thought you would too.” I had to admit, Chloe always managed to layer her words with subtle digs. Leo Hayes directly snatched my plate. “Skylar, we’re not even fighting you about your name anymore, so don’t push your luck. Chloe burned her hand making that meal for you.” I glanced at Chloe’s bandaged thumb and almost burst out laughing. When the organization trained us, I sustained injuries a thousand times worse than that. I even took a bullet during a mission. “It’s okay, Leo. Skylar just doesn’t like me. I’ll just go stay somewhere else.” As she spoke, Chloe shed a few convenient tears right there, then stood up as if to leave. Mrs. Hayes finally couldn’t sit still, her eyes filled with heartache. “Chloe, it’s already dark. Where are you going?” I checked the time, took a few more bites, completely ignoring Chloe’s little act. But Leo wasn’t having it. He actually snatched my fork and slammed it onto the floor. “Skylar, it’s all your fault! If it weren’t for you, Chloe wouldn’t have taken those sleeping pills, and the atmosphere in this house wouldn’t be like this! I wish you’d never been found!” I clenched my fists, barely resisting the urge to punch him in the face. Leo continued to lecture me, his words growing crueler. “Don’t think that just because of blood ties, you can kick Chloe out. She’s my sister!” Seeing my silence, Leo assumed I was scared. “But, if you behave yourself, this family can still afford to raise another daughter.” I almost laughed at how ridiculous that was. He spoke as if I weren’t even their biological child. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes didn’t contradict him, clearly siding with Chloe. I chuckled softly, then looked up, mimicking Chloe’s expression. But I simply couldn’t cry. I could only adjust myself into a fragile, pitiful facade. “I thought finding my biological parents would give me a safe haven. It seems I was wrong. You’re a family. I understand. I’ll move out.” Feigning vulnerability? Who couldn’t? I’d learned plenty of acting skills in the organization. Mr. Hayes finally spoke, his face stern, yet with a hint of sympathy for me. “Skylar, don’t say that. You are my daughter, and this home will always have a place for you.” After he spoke, no one dared to utter another word. It seemed Mr. Hayes held the highest authority in the family. That dinner ended with no one feeling satisfied.

For the next few days, Chloe was surprisingly docile. But that changed when Mr. Hayes announced he was holding a welcome-home celebration for me. That evening, Chloe sent me a message brimming with provocation. “Don’t think your homecoming means you can get rid of me. I’m already engaged to Landon Vance. Once I marry him, I’ll be Mrs. Vance. You’ll always be an outsider. Of course, if you don’t cause trouble, this family might keep you around like a pet dog.” Chloe was far too confident. I replied with just one sentence, but it was a cut that went straight to the bone. “Would the Vance family really want a fake heiress?” “You just wait!” The Hayes and Vance families’ alliance was purely business, all about status. Mr. Hayes had always told everyone Chloe was his biological daughter, so no one knew she was the fake heiress. If they knew Chloe wasn’t the real heir, they wouldn’t even give her a second glance. I changed into the gown Mrs. Hayes had given me. It fit perfectly, making me look like a true socialite. Standing before the mirror, I felt a strange sense of unreality. If I hadn’t been kidnapped and taken to that foreign country all those years ago, would I have been like Chloe, growing up thinking only about what dress to wear or where to travel? But there were no “ifs.” I strapped my short blade to my leg. I hadn’t been without this knife for years. When I finished getting ready and stepped out of my room, the butler looked at me awkwardly. “My apologies, Miss Skylar, but your parents and the others have already left.” Just as expected. Chloe, again. “Is there a car?” The butler looked confused for a moment before he finally understood. “Yes, but you’ll have to drive yourself, Miss.” “Give me the keys.” The butler looked even more awkward. “What now?” “There’s only one motorbike left, the one Mr. Leo bought. The other cars have all been borrowed by Miss Chloe.” Chloe was truly childish, but motorbikes were my specialty. I took the keys and went to the garage. Thankfully, the gown wasn’t too long, so riding the motorbike would be perfectly fine. I put on my helmet and started the navigation. My gown fluttered behind me in the wind. When I arrived at the hotel entrance, I saw Chloe and Leo standing there, greeting guests. They both froze the moment they saw me. Many young socialites were also at the entrance. I handed the keys to the valet, then took off my helmet. Chloe stepped forward, speaking in a voice just loud enough for everyone around to hear. “Skylar, why did you ride a motorbike here by yourself? That’s so improper, especially in a dress.” “I know you’ve just returned, so you might not understand, but you could have asked me.” I turned my head to look at Chloe. “Why don’t you mention that your family left without me, leaving me only a motorbike?” “Sister, try to be less transparent with your little schemes.” The people around us immediately started whispering. “Chloe is so calculating. Compared to her, Miss Skylar looks so much more like Mrs. Hayes. And Chloe, tch, tch, could she not be their real daughter?” “By the way, the Hayes heiress is pretty cool. My car was right behind her on the road, and so many people were taking pictures.” Chloe’s face flushed with anger. She glanced at Leo, seemingly waiting for him to speak up for her. Leo was about to open his mouth when Chloe suddenly looked behind me, then ran over, blushing shyly. “Landon, you’re here.” I turned around, puzzled. The next second, my heart skipped a beat. Chloe had linked her arm with Landon. He was L, the man who had vanished years ago. How could he be here? I couldn’t help but step forward, my eyes slightly red. It was him. L. The tear mole at the corner of his eye, exactly the same. I knew it. I knew he was still alive. Chloe looked at me, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. “Skylar, this is Landon Vance, my fiancé.” “Hello, Ms. Skylar. Impressive driving skills.” He extended his hand. I took it, my entire body trembling uncontrollably. How had he become Landon Vance?

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I helped my husband Derek build his empire from the ground up. I stood by his side when we had nothing. Yet, when I was six months pregnant and needed him most, he told me he was going to a remote village for charity work. He’d always been kind-hearted, so as his wife, I understood and fully supported him. That was, until I saw a man, hailed as “the most discreet philanthropist,” appear on my best friend Maya’s livestream. Maya, flushed and coy, snuggled into his arms, thanking him for splashing a fortune on her. The man didn’t show his face, but as he gently wiped the sweat from Maya’s forehead, I saw the ring on his ring finger. It was that cheap $5 silver band we’d bought when we got married. “Honey, the signal in the mountains can be spotty, so please be careful. If you need more cash, just tell me.” I gently stroked my six-month pregnant belly, softly reminding him over the phone. Derek’s voice, tired yet content, drifted through: “Don’t worry, sweetheart. Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces when they get their supplies makes it all worth it.” “I just feel bad about leaving you alone at home while you’re pregnant.” “Don’t be silly. You’re doing good deeds. I couldn’t be prouder of you.” I hung up, a sweet warmth filling my chest. Turning, I reheated last night’s leftovers and ate them with plain rice. Derek was teaching in the mountains; I knew he must be roughing it, so I had to be frugal too. We’d been together since college, scraping by on ramen and cheap takeout in a dingy basement apartment for three years, before finally building our way up to owning a house and cars and our own company in this major city. Now that he was successful, he hadn’t forgotten his roots, choosing to help those in need. I admired him from the bottom of my heart and felt a pang of sympathy for the hardships he was enduring. After dinner, I opened Maya’s livestream, planning to send her some gifts to boost her viewership. Maya was my best friend, a moderately popular outdoor content creator. Today’s stream was being broadcast from the city’s most exclusive luxury resort. “Hey everyone, we’ve got a super special guest in the stream today!” Maya’s voice buzzed with barely contained excitement. “It’s the internet-famous ‘most discreet philanthropist,’ Mr. Miller, who anonymously donated ten million dollars to schools in remote areas!” My heart gave a sharp lurch. Miller? And a philanthropist? What an odd coincidence. The chat exploded instantly. “Wow! Is that the mystery billionaire who refused all interviews?” “Maya, you’re awesome! How did you get him on your stream?” On screen, Maya coyly linked her arm through the man’s, but he subtly turned, keeping his face out of frame. “Mr. Miller is a very private person, everyone, so let’s not overwhelm him,” Maya explained, a radiant smile on her face, but the adoration in her eyes was impossible to hide. I frowned, a strange discomfort settling in. Maya had a boyfriend. This kind of flirty behavior with another man felt totally inappropriate. “A huge shout-out to Mr. Miller! He’s covering all the gifts for tonight’s livestream!” As Maya cheered, the screen was instantly flooded with super chats and gift bombs. I watched the animations for gifts worth thousands of dollars flash by, my jaw slightly agape. This Mr. Miller certainly had deep pockets. Maya was flushed with excitement, her forehead dotted with fine sweat. Seeing this, the man beside her naturally reached up, gently wiping away the beads of perspiration with his thumb. It was that simple gesture that made my blood run cold. The ring on the man’s ring finger was plain, almost dull, with some of its cheap plating already chipped. It was the $5 silver band Derek and I bought at a night market right after we graduated. He’d said it was more precious than any diamond, a promise of a lifetime to me, and he’d never take it off. I felt a wave of icy dread wash over me, as if I’d plummeted into a frozen abyss. Still desperate, I posted a comment in the chat. “Could Mr. Miller say a few words? I really admire him!” Maya saw my comment and playfully nudged the man’s arm. “Mr. Miller, my fans want to hear your voice.” The man paused, then let out a soft chuckle. That voice, that tone, I knew it to my very core. “Hello, everyone.” Just three words, and I was utterly shattered. It was Derek! Wasn’t he supposed to be teaching in the mountains? He’d said the children there couldn’t even afford food, yet here he was, splashing a fortune to make my best friend smile! My stomach churned violently. I rushed to the bathroom, throwing up until I was dizzy and breathless. My phone chimed. A text from Derek. “Sweetheart, just finished distributing school supplies to the kids. Exhausted. It’s cold in the mountains at night, so I’m heading to bed. Don’t reply.” The message was accompanied by a photo: a pair of mud-caked, worn-out boots next to a dim, dilapidated shack. But on the livestream, Maya was standing on tiptoes, kissing “Mr. Miller’s” cheek, with a dazzling crystal chandelier from the resort sparkling in the background. “Thank you, darling. You’re the best to me.” I clutched my phone, my nails digging into my flesh. Tears blurred my vision, and a sharp, twisting pain shot through my belly. My hands trembling, I dialed Maya’s number. It rang for a long time before she finally answered, her voice languid and laced with a suggestive intimacy. “Hey, babe, what’s up? I’m a little busy right now.” Through the phone, I heard Derek’s suppressed panting. “Maya, that ‘Mr. Miller’ in your livestream…” My voice was an uncontrollable tremor. “Oh, him?” Maya chuckled, her tone triumphant. “Just a man who’s completely in love with me, that’s all.” “What, are you interested in him too?” “Well, I wouldn’t bother if I were you. He only has eyes for me.” “He said his wife is old and boring, a worn-out housewife with a burden of a child, and he’s been sick of her for ages.” Maya’s words were like venomous darts, piercing my heart one by one. I could even hear her and Derek’s unrestrained laughter and heavy breathing on the other end. I couldn’t take it anymore. I slammed the phone down. A worn-out housewife… a burden of a child… I looked down at my swollen feet, a common side effect of pregnancy, then at my haggard face in the mirror. My heart felt like it was being torn to shreds. For this family, for his career, I’d worked tirelessly for ten years. Was “old and boring” all I got in return? No, I couldn’t let myself be defeated like this. I wiped away my tears, my gaze hardening, turning icy cold. Derek, Maya, you two-timing cheats. I’ll make you pay for this. Taking a deep breath, I opened a phone app I’d long suspected but never wanted to confront. It was a home surveillance app. Derek had installed cameras all over the house, ostensibly “for your and the baby’s safety,” and linked them to his phone. But what he didn’t know was that the installer, while calibrating the system, had discreetly set up a copy on my phone as well. I opened the app, my heart pounding, and immediately tapped on the live feed from the living room camera. The screen was empty. They weren’t back yet. I stared at the screen, like a hunter waiting for their prey to fall into the trap. Suddenly, something else occurred to me, and a fresh wave of icy dread washed over me. Derek’s so-called “charity” trip had cost me a full five million dollars. That was the last of my parents’ inheritance. He’d claimed the company was facing a cash flow crisis and desperately needed the funds. I had, with tears in my eyes, given it to him. Now, it hit me. That money wasn’t for the company; it was for Maya! I couldn’t wait any longer! I sprang up, changed clothes, grabbed my car keys, and rushed out the door. I had to get to the company. Before he returned, I needed to find proof and protect my parents’ last legacy and what was rightfully mine! The night was cold, but my heart was even colder. Derek, you’d better pray I don’t find anything to use against you!

I sped all the way to the company building and used my spare key to unlock the empty office. The familiar surroundings now felt utterly alien and repulsive to me. Without hesitation, I headed straight for Derek’s office. His self-proclaimed secrets were utterly exposed to me, his wife of ten years, with whom he’d shared a bed. I walked to the massive framed calligraphy piece behind his desk, a quote that read “Fortune Favors the Bold,” and lightly pressed an inconspicuous spot on the lower right corner of the frame. The frame silently sprang open, revealing a hidden safe behind it. Derek thought I’d never know the password. He used the anniversary of his first time sleeping with Maya. How ironic. I still remembered the scent of perfume on him that night, a scent that definitely wasn’t mine. I entered the password, and the safe door clicked open. Inside, there wasn’t much cash, just a few luxury watches and a black hardcover ledger. This was my true target tonight. My hands trembling, I flipped open the ledger. The dense pages recorded far more than just the whereabouts of my five million dollars. It detailed how he’d abused his position to falsify company records, illegally transfer assets, and pay under-the-table kickbacks to various “partners.” Every single entry was enough to land him in jail for life. It turned out his so-called charity trip to the mountains was just a cunning ruse. He’d planned it all along: to bleed me dry using my five million, then run off with the assets he and Maya had secretly transferred, leaving me and our child to fend for ourselves! I pulled out my phone, turned on the video recorder, and meticulously filmed every single page of the ledger. The light from my phone screen illuminated my face, cold as ice. Derek, you want me and my child to suffer the consequences of your actions? Then tonight, I’ll personally dig your grave and show you what it means to reap what you sow! I placed the ledger back, closed the safe, restored the framed calligraphy, and wiped away every trace of my presence. After it was done, I felt utterly drained, collapsing onto the cold floor. The baby in my belly seemed to sense my despair, kicking me uneasily. I jolted, looking down and stroking my swollen belly. No, I couldn’t fall apart. For my child, I had to get back up. I wiped away the mess on my face, pulled myself off the floor, and dialed a number I knew by heart. “Mr. Davies, it’s Chloe.” The voice on the other end was steady and firm. “Ms. Dawson, it’s late. Is everything alright?” I calmly recounted everything that had happened. After listening, Mr. Davies was silent for a moment, then his tone took on a hint of approval. “Ms. Dawson, you are more composed and decisive than I imagined.” “This evidence is crucial, but it’s not enough. We need undeniable proof, something that will utterly destroy him.” “Go home now. Act as if nothing happened. Remember, from this moment on, every word you utter could be used against you in court.” After hanging up, the huge stone in my chest eased slightly. I drove home. As I pulled my car into the garage, Derek’s familiar BMW slowly drove in after me. He was back. I took a deep breath, adjusted my expression, and pushed open my car door. Derek saw me, paused, then his face broke into a tired yet doting smile. “Sweetheart, why are you still up so late? I told you to get some rest.” He walked over, opening his arms to embrace me. The scent of an expensive cologne mixed with Maya’s perfume clung to him. My stomach churned. I subtly sidestepped, clutching my waist, and frowned. “My stomach’s been a bit uncomfortable, couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d come down for a walk.” His hands froze in mid-air. A flicker of something dark, almost imperceptible, crossed his eyes, but it quickly morphed back into tenderness. “Really? Do you want to go to the hospital to get checked out?” “No need, it’s just my usual discomfort.” I looked at him, feigning concern. “You… weren’t you in the mountains? Why are you back?” “The project finished ahead of schedule, and the local leaders insisted on celebrating, so I had a few drinks and stayed at the resort overnight.” He lied without batting an eye. “I wanted to give you a surprise, you know?” A surprise? I stared at his affectionate face, finding it utterly sarcastic. He pulled a beautifully wrapped gift box from the trunk and handed it to me. “Sweetheart, look, I had someone bring you the latest designer bag from abroad. Do you like it?” I opened the box to find a six-figure Hermes Birkin bag nestled inside. I scrimped and saved, barely buying myself anything new, while he used my money to splash a fortune on the other woman, then tried to buy me off with a mere designer bag. My heart bled, yet I forced a moved smile onto my face. “I love it, honey. You’re too good to me.” “Silly girl, who else would I be good to?” He laughed, playfully nudging my nose, his actions as intimate as ever. Just then, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, his eyes instantly softening, and walked away to answer it. “Hello, darling… yeah, I just got home… she didn’t suspect anything… don’t worry, everything’s going according to plan…” His voice was hushed, but I heard every word crystal clear. I stood rooted to the spot, chilled to the bone. He hung up and walked back, the tenderness still lingering on his face. He looked at me, then suddenly sighed, pulling me into his embrace, resting his chin on my head. “Sweetheart, you’ve worked so hard all these years, following me.” His voice held a chilling, almost “farewell” tenderness I’d never heard before. “Once things settle down, we’ll sell the company and travel the world. How does that sound?” I stiffened in his arms, feeling the warmth of his chest, yet a wave of dread shot from my feet all the way to the top of my head. I finally understood what Mr. Davies meant by “undeniable proof.” The ledger could only prove his financial crimes, not his complete lack of affection for me, nor could it force him to leave empty-handed. I needed evidence that he not only didn’t love me but even wanted me dead! And now, it seemed, that opportunity had arrived. I looked up, meeting his “loving” gaze, my voice trembling with a feigned excitement. “Honey, are you serious?”

“Of course, I’m serious.” Derek stroked my hair, his eyes brimming with a tenderness that seemed to drip with honey. “I’ve already lined up a buyer. Once the company is sold, we’ll have endless money to live the life we’ve always wanted.” He paused, his hand gently covering my lower belly, his voice filled with a vision of the future. “By then, our baby will be born, and the three of us will go watch the sunset on the beaches of Santorini, soak in hot springs in the Swiss Alps, making up for everything we missed.” The future he painted was so beautiful, every scene a dream I’d once cherished. But now, coming from his lips, it sounded like a carefully spun web leading straight to hell. My heart screamed, it wept, yet my face had to maintain the facade of happiness. “Honey…” I choked, burying my face in his chest, hot tears soaking his shirt. Half of it was an act; the other half, genuine heartbreak. Derek gently patted my back, as if comforting a wronged child. “There, there. You’re about to be a mom, acting like a little girl.” The more tender he was, the more the hatred churned within me. Back home, he thoughtfully drew a bath for me and brought me a cup of warm milk. “Sweetheart, get some rest. Tomorrow I’ll have Mom come over to take care of you. Her special herbal tonic is the best for pregnancy.” Herbal tonic… My heart sank. I remembered that from my fourth month of pregnancy, my mother-in-law, Mrs. Miller, had, without fail, personally brought this special herbal tonic every single day, urging me to drink it while it was warm. She claimed it was a secret recipe she’d obtained from a renowned herbalist, after pulling countless strings, and was the best for the baby in my belly. I’d always believed it was her way of expressing a grandmother’s anticipation for her unborn grandchild. But now, thinking back, could there be a darker plot hidden behind it? “Fine,” I said, suppressing the turmoil in my heart, and gave him a compliant smile. “Thank Mom for me.” He smiled contentedly, leaned down, and kissed my forehead goodnight. “Good girl, sleep tight.” I lay in bed, listening to the sound of running water from the bathroom, feeling like I was submerged in ice water, utterly devoid of warmth. I pulled out my phone and opened the home surveillance app. I needed evidence, undeniable proof that would nail them to the pillar of shame! But, I scrolled through months of cloud recordings and found nothing useful. Derek and Maya were incredibly cunning; they never showed any intimacy at home. And Mrs. Miller’s daily tonic, I’d always drunk every drop. In the surveillance footage, she always appeared as a kind and affectionate mother-in-law. Could I be overthinking this? No. My woman’s intuition told me that tonic was definitely suspicious! But where was the proof? Without it, everything was just my speculation. I tossed and turned restlessly until the bathroom water stopped. Derek walked out, wrapped in a towel, drying his hair. Seeing me still awake, he frowned. “What’s wrong? Still uncomfortable?” “No… just having trouble settling in.” I mumbled a random excuse. He didn’t press further, walking straight to the bed, pulling back the covers, and lying down. His familiar masculine scent enveloped me, but I only felt waves of nausea. I lay with my back to him, my body stiff as a board. In the darkness, he suddenly pulled me into an embrace from behind, his warm breath on the back of my neck. “Sweetheart,” his voice was a husky, seductive whisper, “we… it’s been a while.” His hand began to roam over my body, becoming bolder. Every hair on my body instantly stood on end, a chill of revulsion shooting from my tailbone to the top of my head. My first instinct was to push him away. “No… don’t… the doctor said it’s not safe during late pregnancy,” I stammered. His movements paused, then he let out an ambiguous chuckle. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. It won’t harm the baby.” His hand, with an undeniable force, slipped beneath my nightgown. My mind went blank with a deafening roar. I struggled desperately, but my strength was nothing compared to his. In despair, my hand fumbled frantically on the nightstand, just wanting to find something to defend myself with. Suddenly, I felt my phone. A wild thought instantly flashed through my mind. I stopped struggling, my body slowly going limp, letting out a suppressed sob. Derek mistook my submission for consent, his actions growing bolder and more aggressive. I closed my eyes, letting tears of humiliation stream down my face, while my other hand, hidden beneath the covers, clutched my phone tightly, my fingers rapidly manipulating the screen. I opened Maya’s familiar livestream app. Then, with every ounce of strength I had, I turned the phone’s volume to maximum. The next second, Maya’s sweetly seductive, yet now piercingly shrill voice, echoed through the entire bedroom. “Thank you, darling. You’re the best to me!”

Maya’s sweet, simpering voice, amplified by my phone’s speaker, blared through the silent bedroom like a clap of thunder, instantly shattering the illusion of tender intimacy. “Thank you, darling. You’re the best to me!” Derek’s movements on top of me froze. I could distinctly feel every muscle in his body tense up instantly, even his breathing hitched. The air in the room was thick with a deathly silence. I slowly opened my eyes, meeting his gaze-a mixture of shock, panic, and finally, a chilling malice. “Derek,” I enunciated each word, my voice low but sharp as an ice-cold blade, “the signal in the mountains… it’s really good, isn’t it?” His face, before my very eyes, drained of color, turning sickeningly pale. “You… what are you talking about?” He tried to fight back, but his voice was riddled with unconcealed panic. I didn’t answer him. I simply raised my phone. On the screen, Maya’s livestream replay was still playing. She was coyly snuggling into “Mr. Miller’s” arms, and on that man’s ring finger, the $5 silver band glinted with an unbearable irony under the resort’s dazzling lights. Derek’s pupils contracted sharply. It was as if all the strength had been sucked out of him. He rolled off me, landing clumsily on the carpet. “You… you know everything?” “Yes, I know everything.” I slowly sat up, pulling my slipped nightgown back into place. I looked down at him with an expression of pure disgust, as if he were a piece of trash. “I know you took my parents’ five million dollar inheritance to send lavish gifts to my best friend.” “I know your so-called charity work in the mountains was just an excuse to roll around in bed with her at the city’s most expensive luxury resort.” “I know that while you were whispering sweet nothings to me, you were telling her on the phone that you were sick of me, your old and boring worn-out wife!” Every word I uttered was like a resounding slap, hitting him hard across the face. His face was a sickly combination of green and white, his lips trembling, but he couldn’t utter a single word in rebuttal. “Chloe, let me explain.” He struggled, trying to crawl over and grab my hand. “Explain?” I scoffed, then abruptly threw my phone at his face. “Explain that you’ve been with her for five years! Explain that you have more photos with her than with me! Or explain that your safe’s password is her birthday!” “Derek, you make me sick!” He was utterly stunned by my outburst, his eyes now filled only with terror. He couldn’t fathom where his foolproof plan had gone wrong. “You… you touched my safe?” He finally reacted, his voice sharp and distorted. “Not just the safe,” I looked at him, slowly, a chilling smile forming on my lips. “Also that ‘broken’ old computer in your study.” On that computer, there were videos of him and Maya intimate on our marital bed. There were recordings of him explicitly stating that after I gave birth, he’d find an excuse to divorce me and seize all our assets. That was incriminating evidence he could never erase! Derek’s face completely lost all color. He collapsed onto the floor, his eyes vacant, muttering to himself, “Impossible… impossible…” “Nothing’s impossible.” I threw back the covers and stood before him. The sharp pains in my abdomen reminded me that I couldn’t waste any more time on him. “Derek, we’re done.” “Tomorrow, my lawyer will contact you to discuss divorce and asset division. You committed marital infidelity and illegally transferred marital assets; the evidence is irrefutable. I advise you to cooperate. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to make all of this public and destroy your reputation!” “Divorce?” Derek reacted as if those words had pierced him. He suddenly looked up, his eyes blazing with a savage hatred. “Chloe, don’t even think about it!” He sprang up from the floor like a cornered beast, lunging at me! “You think you’ve won? I’m telling you, without my signature, you won’t get a single penny!” “You damn bitch! You pushed me to this!” His face was contorted in a grotesque mask, his hands tightly clasped around my neck. The sensation of suffocating instantly overwhelmed me. I struggled desperately, clawing at his hands with my nails. But the stark difference in our strength made all my resistance futile. My vision blurred, and the baby in my belly seemed to sense the danger, kicking me violently. Baby… my baby… The instinct to survive ignited a final surge of strength within me. With all my might, I raised my knee and slammed it hard into his lower abdomen! “Agh-!” Derek let out a piercing scream of pain, clutching himself and curling into a ball on the floor. I scrambled to the door, fumbling with trembling hands to open it. Just as I was about to unlock the door, Derek’s voice, like a vengeful ghost, echoed behind me. “Chloe! Stop right there!” I turned, seeing him leaning against the wall, swaying as he stood up. His handsome face, distorted by pain and fury, looked utterly monstrous. “Do you really think I haven’t prepared for this?” He spat the words through gritted teeth, a chilling, malicious smirk spreading across his face. “You want a divorce? Fine! I’ll give you one!” “But first, you’ll have to pay back the five million dollar loan shark debt you owe me!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “301643”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring