My sixty-year-old husband took his first love on a thrill-seeking adventure, and they both had heart attacks while bungee jumping. As a lady of means, I’d never witnessed such a chaotic scene. All I could do was call my children for advice: “Your father and Susan are having medical emergencies right now. You need to tell me what to do!” My daughter snapped back: “Dad’s the Chief of Medical Staff! He wouldn’t have a heart attack even if *you* dropped dead!” My son scoffed at me: “I’m taking Jessica, Susan’s daughter, to a specialist out of state for a consultation right now. Don’t you dare cause more trouble.” I stared at the two old people, still tightly embracing each other even in unconsciousness, and dialed 91 The dispatcher, however, said they were too busy and would send someone as soon as possible. I openly wiped away tears in front of the park staff. If that old jerk dies, how am I ever going to spend this immense fortune all by myself? 1 Before Robert left, I reminded him he was getting on in years and shouldn’t push himself when out and about. But just to spite me, he took his first love, also in her sixties, bungee jumping. Watching the two old people still clinging together even after passing out, my heart shattered: “Robert, didn’t you say the hospital was busy with meetings? What in the world is going on here?” Robert grit his teeth, unable to utter a single word. I wiped the tears from my cheeks and looked around. The staff member was visibly trembling: “Ma’am, it’s like this. We tried to dissuade these two seniors, but they insisted they had some promise from their youth to fulfill, and kept talking about an ‘anti-establishment spirit’…” That explained everything. My old man, back in his youth, was smitten with Susan, who lived in the next town over. But his family was poor, and Susan’s family looked down on him. They forced Susan to marry a wealthy man. At the time, Robert had a certain pride, insisting he and Susan should jump off a cliff together to swear their eternal love. But in the end, neither of them dared to jump. And then, Robert met me. He told me that the moment he saw me, he no longer wanted to die. He wanted to live a good, long life with me. Though living with him was exhausting – he often called me stingy. And complained I was too overbearing. Yet we argued and bickered for decades, and both of us lived perfectly fine lives! How could he, in his old age, suddenly remember that “anti-establishment spirit”? It made no sense. Honestly, all my advice to him came from a place of care: “Robert, come home early after your meetings. You have so many pre-existing conditions; don’t go playing on dangerous rides like those young kids at amusement parks.” Oh, it’s all my fault. Perhaps it was my recent refusal to buy Susan a house for her retirement that sparked his rebellious streak. Robert’s face was ashen now, his jaw clenched tight. Gone was the arrogant smirk he’d wear when arguing with me. My gaze shifted to Susan beside Robert, and I sighed again. After living most of my life, I never expected to have a love rival at sixty. At my son’s engagement party, my two children excitedly ushered Susan in, everyone acting as if they were old friends. My good-for-nothing old man, Robert, even readily agreed to give her ten million dollars, plus two villas. Normally, if I bought a new dress, he’d complain for ages about my extravagance. How could he suddenly be so generous now? I sat on a mountain of wealth, yet felt like a useless old woman, so I secretly hired someone to investigate. Guess what I found. Not only did Susan know my children, but she was also having dinner and shopping with Robert every few days. I was furious. I flat-out refused to give them any money. I even drafted divorce papers to separate from Robert and take the fortune I’d built myself. But my children ripped the divorce papers to shreds: “Aunt Susan sees money as meaningless! You’re this old, and your mind is still fixated on that filthy lucre? Are you going to take it to your grave?” “Why can’t you be more like Aunt Susan? Other families discuss things together, but you dared to keep something as big as divorce from us. Don’t ever act unilaterally again!” The thought twisted my heart even more. I quickly pulled away the staff member who was trying to help: “Besides his heart condition, my husband also has high blood pressure, diabetes, and a whole host of other complications. Don’t touch him; it’s not safe for you.” The first responder immediately stepped back two paces. Their gaze, full of gratitude and tears, met mine: “Ma’am, you’re such a kind person. So, what do we do now?” What do we do? My children won’t let me make decisions on my own, so I guess I’ll have to consult them first. 2 I sighed and called my daughter, Chloe: “Chloe, your dad and Aunt Susan…” Before I could finish, my daughter interrupted with a sigh of her own: “What about Dad and Aunt Susan *now*? They weren’t together back then, is it a crime for them to have dinner and walk in the park together these days?” “Mom, I’m not trying to be rude, but how old are you? Why do you have to obsess over every little thing?” I went through so much pain giving birth to Chloe. When she was born, she was all wrinkled, her little face purple. Because I loved her so much, I used my meager savings to buy rare imported formula, while I drank vegetable broth, just hoping she’d grow up healthy and safe. As I wished, my daughter not only grew up but also became sharp-witted. But I never imagined she’d known about Robert and Susan all along. She even knew that on my birthday, during the national holiday, they were going out to the park together to reminisce and re-enact their “cliff-jumping” dream. Listening to my daughter’s sharp accusations, watching Robert and Susan’s faces gradually turn blue, I couldn’t help but interrupt her: “Um, Chloe, your dad and Aunt Susan had an accident while playing on the rides at the park. What do we do now? Should we send them to the hospital?” My daughter burst out laughing: “You’re almost sixty, can you stop playing these games? Are you trying to trick me into some kind of public spectacle to catch them in the act?” “Why don’t you think about Dad’s age? Even if he wanted to, what could he possibly *do*?” “They’re just reminiscing about their pure youth. You’re the one with the filthy mind…” I hung up before she could finish, under the strange stares of the staff. I stood there, weeping in the wind, my heart torn to shreds. I wanted to call an ambulance directly, but as a helpless old woman who had just been scolded by my daughter, I truly didn’t dare make the decision myself. I shook my head and called my son, Daniel: “Daniel, your dad and Aunt Susan…” Before Daniel could speak, a woman’s voice shouted from the other end: “Daniel, I can’t breathe!” “My chest hurts, and my head hurts too. Can you check on me, what’s wrong with me?” The phone clattered loudly, seemingly dropped. Then came Daniel’s panicked voice: “Jessica, are you still mad at my mom about the money?” “Don’t worry, ten million means ten million. I’ll make sure Mom pays it, not a cent less!” Then it was Jessica’s voice: “Why is your mother calling you now?” Daniel’s explanation was rushed and frantic: “It’s just Mom throwing a tantrum because Dad and your mom went out together for the national holiday. I swear, why can’t my mom be as graceful as yours?” “Aunt Susan is so much better – not only does she look great, but she handles everything so calmly. She’s never stingy like my mom, I really don’t know what goes on in her head.” “Dad’s lived his whole life, and now in his old age, he still has to be controlled by her. What kind of life is that?” As he was talking, my son seemed to realize the call hadn’t ended and quickly hung up. Listening to the dial tone, I felt the world spin. Someone helped me sit on the ground, and I slapped my thighs in despair: “My children don’t care about my husband! What am I going to do?” The staff, feeling sorry for me, came closer to offer suggestions: “Ma’am, how about this? Let’s just call an ambulance for them first?” My eyes lit up. I casually pulled a stack of hundred-dollar bills from my bag to thank them, then dialed the emergency line for Robert’s own hospital. Even though it meant the whole hospital would see their esteemed Chief of Medical Staff, Robert, and the famous retired artist, Susan, embracing each other. But dignity is nothing compared to life itself! Calling an ambulance for this old couple, surely that counts as a good deed, right? As I dialed, I pulled out more money, stuffing it into the hands of the surrounding staff: “My children hate it when I make decisions. I’m only calling emergency services because I’m desperate. If they cause a fuss, you all have to vouch for me…” The staff, counting the large bills in their hands, looked at me with immense pity: “Ma’am, you’ve been through so much. We’ll all stand by you!” With that, they all pulled out their phones to record my “beautiful life,” and I finally felt a sense of relief.

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The second year after marrying Damien Knight, the notorious mob boss, I ran into Julian Vance again. He was on the same island, having splurged on buying out a pearl shop for his wife. The moment he saw me, his expression froze. “There was a reason for what happened back then.” “You know, if I didn’t save your stepsister, she would have died…” He was talking about that life-or-death moment years ago when the kidnappers forced him to choose between me and Amelia Sterling. He’d chosen Amelia without a moment’s hesitation. And I? I was taken by those kidnappers and, well, defiled. I simply smiled faintly. “It’s all in the past.” I turned to leave, but he grabbed my hand, his eyes suddenly red. “Did those men… do anything to you back then? I’m so sorry. I won’t judge you. I’m willing to take care of you from now on…” I pulled my hand free and flashed the massive diamond ring on my ring finger. “You’re overthinking things. My husband and I are very happy.” Julian froze. The pity in his eyes deepened. “Summer, you don’t have to pretend to be strong in front of me.” “So many media outlets captured it all back then, how you were… humiliated like that. I know you even suffered from depression.” Julian’s eyes were red at the corners, his lips trembling slightly. “It’s my fault these past two years. I was so focused on taking care of Amelia that I didn’t get a chance to find you—” “But it’s not too late now!” “If you don’t mind, I can keep you close, take care of you just like I take care of Amelia…” Amelia. The very same stepsister, Amelia Sterling, who mixed my mother’s ashes into flour and baked them into a pizza. A sarcastic smile touched my lips. “No thanks. I’m doing perfectly fine.” After three years apart, Julian probably felt awkward too, trying hard to find a topic of conversation. Just then, the waitress called my number. I went in, picked up my steak, and sat at a table outside the restaurant to eat. So many years had passed, but I still only loved this flavor. It was all because the owner of this restaurant made food that tasted almost exactly like my mom’s. Maybe he added a little too much seasoning; it made my eyes water. “Summer—” Julian called out my name. Only then did I notice he hadn’t left, standing there like a statue, staring at me. He approached, his gaze falling on the bowl in front of me. The pity in his eyes was overflowing. “You’re eating *this*? Such a pathetic, cheap meal?” He then looked at my clothes with the same pity, and I finally realized he thought I was living a terrible life. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have betrayed you back then.” His eyes were filled with guilt. “But it’s no use saying anything now… I know you’ve had a bad couple of years. From now on, I’ll take responsibility for you. Will you come back with me?” Julian even excitedly reached out to grab my hand. I stiffly avoided him. “No need. You know Amelia Sterling and I have too much animosity between us. There’s no way we could live under the same roof.” Julian froze, his hand suspended in mid-air. He knew better than anyone the deep-seated hatred between Amelia Sterling and me. Without Amelia and her mother meddling, my mom wouldn’t have died in that engineered car accident. Without Amelia’s repeated false accusations, I wouldn’t have been kicked out of my own home. Even now, my back bears jagged scars. Those were from the glass shards Amelia deliberately hid in my bedding. “Summer, I…” Just then, his phone rang. Amelia Sterling’s saccharine voice came through the phone. “Honey, why aren’t you back yet? Did you manage to buy out that pearl shop for me?” “I’ll be there in 5 minutes, come pick me up quickly.” Julian hung up, wanting to say something, but then silently looked at me. Before he left, he slipped a business card into my hand. “Summer, I truly wronged you three years ago.” “If you change your mind, you can call me. I have an apartment in the suburbs that I can let you—” “Without Amelia knowing.” I was about to speak, but he vanished. How interesting. Was he trying to make me his mistress? Daring to suggest that Damien Knight’s wife be his mistress? Julian has a death wish, doesn’t he? I shook my head, casually tossed the business card into the trash, and continued eating. The restaurant owner came out, smiling as he took off his apron. “Mrs. Knight, do you know that young man who was just here?” I smiled, pondering how to answer. The owner suddenly leaned in and whispered a warning. “Don’t get too close to him, you know. I saw it earlier—he has the slave mark from ‘The Abyss’ on him.” “What does that mean? It means he was born a slave. To have survived this long, he must be ruthlessly cunning.” I put down my forks and chuckled, looking down. “Yes.” “He used to be my slave for five years.” I had saved him time and time again. He’d promised to only be good to me his whole life, to even give me his life. Yet, when forced to choose, he’d chosen my enemy without hesitation. And left *me* to the kidnappers.

The restaurant owner’s interest was immediately piqued. He even ignored his business, grabbed a small stool and sat down by the door to chat with me. “Mrs. Knight, you were only 18 five years ago, weren’t you? You were so brave back then, daring to go to ‘The Abyss’?” “That’s the most famous and terrifying black market in the city. How did you dare go there at such a young age? Weren’t you afraid?” Of course, I was scared. But apart from that path, I had no other choice. Five years ago, to find the murderer who killed my mother, I went to the black market. I heard that 100,000 dollars could buy a single lead. More valuable information would, of course, cost more. I wanted to investigate if there was anything suspicious about the car accident that my father had so quickly covered up. I didn’t find any leads, but I found Julian Vance. Back then, he was an unwanted orphan. A small slave, shoved around by everyone. The chains in the basement had chafed his ankles raw, and the arrogant buyers laughed as they watched him fight three wild dogs to the death. He was covered in bite marks, yet his gaze was still like that of a wolf. It instantly captivated me. That day, I spent 100,000 dollars and bought him. The dealer took the money and handed him to me, still holding the chain. “He’s stubborn and vicious. Give him a few months before you take off the chains, or he might just bite.” After we left “The Abyss,” Julian stared at me warily. Seeing the fear and distrust in his eyes, I felt a pang of sympathy, remembering my own predicament. I immediately unfastened his chains. “What’s your name?” “Ju… Julian Vance.” His voice was hoarse, his Adam’s apple bobbed. “Master.” “Don’t call me Master. My name is Summer Hayes.” I threw him a piece of bread. “From today on, you follow me. I’ll ensure your survival and help you live a decent life.” He devoured the bread, a spark slowly igniting in his eyes. For the next three years, I bought him a gold watch. Sent him to business school. I even handed over half the assets my grandfather had entrusted to me for him to manage. And like all cliché novel stories, we fell in love. I watched him display an astonishing business acumen, every investment yielding tenfold, even hundredfold profits. I saw my assets multiply, branch companies opening one after another. By day, we were the perfect partners, dominating the business world. By night, he transformed into a hungry wolf, devouring me whole, passionately. Countless times, he held me tight, whispering in my ear. “Summer, once I’m stable, I’ll marry you.” I believed him. Until the kidnappers threw me into an abandoned warehouse, a cold gun pressed against my temple. They demanded Julian pay 10 million to ransom me. Julian arrived, panicked, carrying a briefcase full of money. “Let her go!” The kidnappers laughed, pointing to Amelia Sterling, who was cowering in a corner. She wore a white dress similar to mine, tears streaming down her face. “Julian, please save me…” “Mr. Vance, choose one.” A kidnapper patted my face. “Choose her, and this little beauty, Amelia Sterling, goes to ‘The Abyss.’ The big shots there love innocent types!” “But if you choose Amelia Sterling, your little girlfriend here belongs to us!” Julian’s gaze flickered between Amelia and me. Amelia suddenly cried out, “Julian, save me! Sister is so strong, she can definitely escape on her own!” I looked at Julian. He had once said my eyes were like stars, and he would never let those stars extinguish. I thought the answer was obvious. But Julian hesitated for only a moment before blurting out, “I choose Amelia Sterling.” The kidnappers whistled, then untied Amelia Sterling. She lunged into Julian’s arms, then turned back and made a triumphant face at me. He held Amelia Sterling by the waist, ready to leave. I stood rigid, unable to even comprehend when he and Amelia had started their affair. “Julian, don’t go…” I tugged at his pants, begging him. Julian’s steps faltered. He looked back at me, his eyes filled with sorrow. “Summer, I’m sorry, I have to choose this way.” “Amelia, she’s so innocent and kind. Going to a place like ‘The Abyss’ would be her death.” “Wait for me. I’ll arrange for her and then come back to save you!” But he wouldn’t get the chance. Just after he left, Damien Knight, the terrifying mob boss, arrived. He lifted my chin. “Still haven’t figured it out?” “Summer, I told you he wasn’t a reliable choice.” He simply waved his hand, and his bodyguards handed him a stack of photos. “If you don’t believe me, see for yourself. These are all proof of his betrayal.” The photos flashed before my eyes, stabbing fiercely at my heart. Damien Knight’s voice continued, relentless. “While he was swearing to be devoted to you, he was already sleeping with your enemy, Amelia Sterling.” “He said he loved you, that he could spend millions on a necklace for you, but he never spent two months writing a hundred love letters for you.” “But Amelia Sterling got them.” “Not just a hundred love letters, but birthday gifts for every year from age 1 to 23. She has them all.” “Even when you were asleep, he would get up in the middle of the night and sneak into your sister’s room.” “And now, in a moment of danger, he decisively chose Amelia Sterling and abandoned you.” “Summer, can’t you see it?” I remained unresponsive, tears streaming down my face. Damien Knight gently kissed away my tears. “You should choose me.” By the time the story reached this point, my meal was finished. The restaurant owner stared at me, utterly shocked. “That Julian Vance is a business prodigy in the city, but he’s so heartless? What happened next?” I looked up at him, a half-smile playing on my lips. “If you ask any more questions, Damien Knight will shut down your shop and kick you off this island.” As I spoke, I glanced behind him. A tall, well-dressed man, in a sharp suit, was walking toward us, extending a hand to me. “Gossiping about my wife’s business, are we?”

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During the New Year’s Eve performance, to stop my husband’s assistant from ruining the show, I had to suggest she needed a few more years of practice. Little did I know, she stubbornly acted out of spite, going on stage without permission to perform a sawing a person in half magic trick. She botched it, resulting in a tourist’s death. Jade pointed at me, sobbing, “You ruined my life!” That very night, she jumped to her death. My husband, Damian, covered my eyes, soothing me gently. “It’s not your fault, don’t be scared.” But later, during his next tour, he invited me as a guest to experience a water torture escape trick. As I stepped into the tank, his usually gentle eyes turned icy cold: “Seraphina, I don’t blame you.” “But you still owe Jade an apology.” The next second, countless piranhas devoured me alive, the agony unbearable, until my blood stained the water in the tank crimson. When I opened my eyes again, I was back before the first tour. But Damian stopped me first. I spoke decisively: “Interested… in playing some more thrilling magic games?”

A wave of dizziness washed over me. The organizer’s furious shouts poured into my ears. “Do you even have a brain in that skull of yours? How can you mess up such a simple thing? Are you even Master Damian’s assistant?” “Don’t tell me you’re an undercover agent sent by a competitor?” Jade’s eyes welled with tears, but she didn’t utter a single word. Then, she saw me. Her look of innocent victimhood instantly morphed into angry defiance, and she defiantly snapped back at Mr. Harrison: “I just accidentally picked up the wrong prop, and besides, it didn’t affect the performance! Master won’t blame me!” “You’re deliberately targeting me, I’m going to tell Master!” With that, she turned to enter the backstage area. Mr. Harrison gasped, practically choking on his anger, and pointed at Jade, shouting. “Where is everyone?! Someone! Get her out of here!” The familiar scene, the familiar words, brought my mind into sharp focus, yet I couldn’t help but shiver. I quickly spoke up: “Stop!” When Mr. Harrison saw it was me, his expression softened slightly, but his tone still held undeniable fury. “Miss Seraphina, just look at this… Ugh!” “Mr. Damian still has several magic shows. If things go wrong again like before, affecting the audience’s experience, I won’t be able to invite Mr. Damian to my future galas.” Every word was a thinly veiled hint directed at me. My gaze sharpened as I looked at both of them. In my previous life, to appease Mr. Harrison, And to avoid impacting my husband Damian’s career, I could only pretend to be angry. I fired Jade from her assistant position and spoke harshly to her. A scolding from me, Damian’s wife, was far better than being kicked out of the venue by the organizer and ridiculed by everyone. But I never imagined that Jade wouldn’t appreciate it; instead, when no one was looking, she went on stage without permission and caused a catastrophe. She killed someone herself, then turned around and blamed me for ruining her. Ultimately, if it weren’t for her, how would I have died such a miserable death! Thinking this, I clenched my fists. After a moment of thought, I didn’t scold her as I had in my previous life. Instead, I said assertively: “She didn’t make a mistake. She simply created that commotion deliberately for the show’s effect. Jade is the assistant to a genius magician, how could she mess up a performance?” “Look how much the audience is enjoying it. Mr. Harrison, you can’t just make wild guesses and hurt my husband and his talented assistant’s feelings for no reason.” I shook my head as I spoke. Mr. Harrison started to doubt himself, hesitating, “Really?” Perhaps my tone was too certain. He pondered for a few seconds, then let out a slow sigh of relief, no longer pursuing the matter. Just then, Jade scoffed. “I don’t need your fake kindness! Did I ask you to speak for me?” She was always like that. She held an inexplicable hostility towards me. When I invited her to dinner, she’d pass out after eating and wake up claiming I poisoned her. When I gave her high-end cosmetics as a gift, she’d break out in a full-body rash and say I was jealous of her youth and beauty. When I took her on a trip abroad, she’d disappear that very night. The next day, she’d throw herself into Damian’s arms, claiming I deliberately abandoned her in a foreign country, attempting to kill her. Later, I simply stopped interacting with her. I only took care of Damian’s daily life, and she’d tell others I was a useless woman who only revolved around men. When I complained to Damian, he would just chuckle softly, “She’s young and doesn’t know any better. Why are you getting angry with her? She’ll grow out of it in a few years.” “You’re Damian’s wife, show her some grace.” Before I could say anything more, Damian stared intently at me: “Seraphina, you know.” “I love your thoughtfulness and understanding most of all.” So, I deserved to be bullied by her? Mr. Harrison’s brows furrowed again, and the anger he’d just suppressed spilled out. “Did your mother never teach you not to speak with a mouthful of sewage? Huh? Maybe I’ll just find a scrap yard and sell you off.” I was about to speak. But someone was faster than me, “Jade, don’t listen to Seraphina!” 2. Damian’s voice attracted everyone’s attention. He jogged over, his eyes filled with shock, regret, and relief. Watching Damian’s completely different reaction from my previous life, a terrifying thought formed in my mind. He, too, had been reborn! Damian and I had been in love for seven years. He once shielded me with his body during a car accident, blocking four deadly steel bars, almost losing the career he loved. He also bravely signed up as a volunteer during a pandemic that killed countless people, just to be closer to me, who had already been infected with the virus. I couldn’t believe he had become a madman because of Jade’s death. The bone-chillingly cold water, the tearing of countless sharp teeth. The pain was so intense I bit off my own tongue in agony. Thinking of the suffering before my death, my palms instantly dug into my skin, covered in crescent-shaped indents. In this life, he’d have to chew down and swallow all the suffering I endured for it to be fair. Just then, Damian snapped back to reality. He glanced at me, his gaze growing cold: “Jade, don’t you dare listen to her nonsense.” “To me, you are the best assistant, and my most outstanding partner.” “I’ve always believed in you.” His sincere and earnest tone would move anyone who heard it. Jade was no exception. She smiled, somewhat flattered, “Really, Master?” Damian nodded. They exchanged a smile, as if the entire world consisted only of them. I didn’t interrupt him, but a faint curve played on my lips. Just as I expected. The next second, Jade straightened her back, full of confidence. “Master, let me handle the performance later by myself. If you’re willing, why not be a guest and assist me?” “I believe it will be an unparalleled, spectacular performance!” I couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter. Then, I nodded repeatedly in agreement. “Yes, Jade is the best assistant. It’s just a magic performance, it won’t be difficult for her.” “Damian, you should agree to her request.” The scene of Jade accidentally killing someone in my previous life still flashed before me. If the innocent tourist were replaced by Damian, how could that not be a good thing? On the other side. Damian’s face instantly fell; he clearly remembered the scene of the tourist’s tragic death. He asked cautiously: “Jade, there’s only one more show left. Changing the magician at the last minute would affect the audience’s experience. Next time, I’ll definitely plan a magic show exclusively for you.” “You will be the sole star.” Seeing Jade lower her head, looking hesitant, I immediately stepped in front of her and began to criticize Damian. “Honey, Jade finally wants to prove herself, why won’t you agree? Do you want her to be an assistant her whole life?” “Future plans are for the future; whether they even happen is another story.” I subtly nudged her, “Jade, don’t miss this opportunity!” Suddenly, Damian’s gaze locked onto me. His eyes subtly changed, and he asked, feigning casualness. “Seraphina, haven’t you always disliked Jade? Why the sudden change in personality today?” Having known each other for years, I naturally understood his probing. But I couldn’t let him know my secret of rebirth so soon. I linked my arm through his as usual and slowly said: “Damian, didn’t you say it? To be nicer to her.” “Just like you, treat her like a little sister.” As I said this, the smile on my face grew even brighter. Damian stared for a long moment, then said flatly. “Let’s hope so.” Hearing my words, Jade’s initial thoughts of backing down reignited. She pouted, somewhat annoyed. “Master, next time’s plan is fine, but this time… I want to perform too. Don’t you believe in me?” As she spoke, tears welled in the corners of her eyes. But Damian, remembering the tragedy of the previous life, still didn’t give in. He tried to persuade Jade patiently, but she pushed his hand away. “Master! You’ve disappointed me so much!” Just then, Mr. Harrison was urging the staff to get ready for the stage. Damian could only watch Jade run off, planning to coax her properly after the show. He decisively turned and walked to the dressing room. At this moment, someone suddenly called Jade’s name. “Where is she? She was just here, how did she vanish in an instant? Where are the props for the stage?” “Every day, why do I keep running into idiots!” My heart skipped a beat. I quickly walked backstage and, sure enough, saw Jade had changed into her costume and was pushing the props, about to go on stage. This time, Jade going on stage without permission had nothing to do with me. What would he do for her now? Unexpectedly, in the very last minute before Jade was about to go on stage, Damian appeared. He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from backstage. His voice was laced with uncontrollable panic and fear. “Jade! I told you I’d prepare an exclusive show for you next time, why won’t you listen?!” But Jade refused to give up, retorting: “Why won’t you let me on for *this* show?! You just don’t believe in me!” She covered her ears, refusing to listen to his explanation, and they pushed and pulled for about ten seconds. I leaned back, watching their argument with keen interest. Jade got so furious, she simply turned to leave, but accidentally tripped over a cable. Damian reacted quickly. He reached out and grabbed her, using his body as a cushion. The next second, he kissed Jade. Damian’s eyes melted into a tender gaze, and Jade froze too. After standing up. He looked at her, saying softly: “Just wait until my performance is over, okay?” Jade’s face flushed crimson, she no longer cared about any performance, and whispered a tiny “Mm.” I lowered my eyes, a flicker of self-mockery crossing them. The wedding ring on my ring finger felt strangely hot, burning me with a sense of unease. Without Jade’s interference, the New Year’s Eve magic show successfully concluded. Mr. Harrison immediately invited everyone to a celebration banquet, and the staff cheered excitedly. After stepping off stage, Damian didn’t take his eyes off Jade for a second. He ushered her into the car, completely unaware of me behind him. Mr. Harrison cleared his throat, “Miss Seraphina, why don’t you ride with me?” I nodded. In the car, Mr. Harrison chatted with me. Halfway through, he suddenly asked me. “Miss Seraphina, you’re so capable, why waste yourself on one man?”

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The day my fiancé got engaged to the true heiress, I wanted to drive my car straight into the ceremony, to die with them. But just as that insane thought consumed me, my phone started ringing relentlessly. I answered. It was the hospital. “Ms. Sera, you’re pregnant…” The car engine died, and I froze in place. Half an hour later, cheerful music drifted from the chapel. I started my car, turned around, and headed to the airport. From then on, the fake heiress of the Sterling family, as everyone wished, disappeared from New York. I went a thousand miles away to a small, quiet town, clinging to life, and gave birth to my blood-related daughter. I never contacted any of them again. Until four years later, when one by one, they reappeared before me. Four years later, I saw Liam again at the kindergarten entrance. I was picking up Lily when a mom next to me suddenly leaned in: “Lily’s mom, look at that guy across the street. He looks just like that singer… what’s his name again…?” I followed her gaze and saw him. “Liam!” The mom snapped her fingers, “Right, Liam!” I pulled my gaze away. “Don’t know him.” She looked a bit surprised. “You don’t listen to music? Liam! He’s the hottest singer-songwriter these past few years! Won so many awards! “Oh, and honestly, his face, it’s a bit like yours, you’re both so good-looking…” I smiled and shook my head, continuing to walk forward, holding Lily’s hand. “Sera Sterling.” Suddenly, his voice came from behind me. I ignored him, just kept walking. “Sera Sterling!” Lily looked up. “Mommy, is that uncle calling you? Why does he call you Sera Sterling?” I shook my head, smiling. “He’s mistaken.” But as we reached the parking lot, just as I was about to open the car door, someone suddenly grabbed my arm. I turned around, and it was a breathless Liam. “Sera, you… you’re actually alive?!” His words were as sharp and venomous as ever. Perhaps he’d run too fast, his eyes were faintly red around the edges.

I dropped Lily off at the neighbor’s house. Walking back downstairs, Liam stood with his hands in his pockets. “Why are you living in this dump? Where’s your place? I’m coming up to see.” I shook my head. “There’s no need for that.” Four years ago, he himself had said that his only sister was Celeste. He’d also said that calling someone like me a sibling only disgusted him. When I was expelled from the Sterling family, abandoned by Julian Blackwood, and had nowhere to go, I even thought of finding him, my biological brother. One snowy night, I stood outside his company building all night, nearly frozen solid. But in the end, all I got was him saying his biggest wish was that I had never been his sister. “If you hadn’t been born, Celeste wouldn’t have been swapped, and wouldn’t have suffered so much. “Sister? That’s laughable. The Sterlings don’t want you, and now you’re trying to cash in on our blood ties? “I’d never acknowledge someone like you as my sister.” Only then did I realize that no matter how kind I was to him, he hated me because of Celeste. Now, he still eyed me with a scrutinizing gaze, frowning. “That child of yours, is she Julian’s? Did you run away just to have his baby?” I was silent for a moment. “She’s my child alone.” He scoffed, a corner of his mouth twisting. “Sera, that kid is a spitting image of him. Do you take me for blind? “You wouldn’t actually think that if you secretly had his child, you could win him back? Are you sick or something… “How pathetic, what an idiot…” “I said, she’s my child alone.” I cut him off. “I never thought of going back to New York, nor did I ever think of using my child to compete with your sister for Julian. You can rest assured, and you don’t need to be so nasty. “Just like you said back then, apart from blood relation, we’re strangers. I’m not interested in your life now, and I ask you not to meddle in mine.” He froze. “If you have nothing else, please leave.” I turned. “Wait.” To my surprise, he suddenly grabbed me. He opened his mouth, then closed it. “You, you…” I frowned. “What?” “Why… why did you leave back then…?” I looked at him quietly. “You were a pampered heiress who couldn’t do anything. Were a few harsh words really enough to make you play the ‘run away with a baby’ card? “If I hadn’t run into you, how much longer would you have lived this kind of miserable life? And these four years…” He paused. “How… how did you survive?”

I watched his eyes, which were once again turning red at the corners. It was probably out of anger. He likely couldn’t believe I was alive, and my existence was a threat to Celeste’s happiness. How did I survive? Someone else gave their life so I could live. But I had no need to tell him. The old Sera Sterling couldn’t do anything, like a delicate hothouse flower. The current Sera Blackwood had long since stopped crying for help or relying on others. Seeing my silence, he grew anxious. “No, why has your personality become so wishy-washy? Could it be that the massive earthquake in that remote town years ago rattled your brain? “Running off to such a secluded place, it serves you right to face an earthquake.” At that moment, a neighbor walked past and greeted me, “Hey, Sera, not dinner time yet?” I smiled. “Almost.” Liam froze. “You should leave.” I said. But he gripped my arm tightly. “Why did you change your name? Blackwood?! Did you get married? No, whose name is that?” “Whose name it is, is none of your business.” I brushed his hand away, enunciating each word. “What my name is, how I’m living, Liam, has nothing to do with you.”

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“Could you perform liposuction on me?” I was on duty at the hospital when a shy patient approached me. She pointed at her chest, and her request caught me off guard. “Why liposuction? Your breast shape is beautiful; many women seek implants to achieve this look.” The patient grew even shyer. “It’s my husband.” “He loves them too much. Every time he sees them, he loses control. I thought if they were a bit smaller after liposuction, it might help him be more restrained.” I suddenly remembered my own husband, Julian, who never tired of complimenting me. “Clara, your figure is amazing. It’d be even better if your breasts were a little bigger.” It seemed all men were the same. I was about to advise her to calm down when a man walked in. “Good thing I got here in time. Otherwise, were you planning to secretly have the surgery behind my back?” That voice… I almost lost it. The man gently wrapping his arm around the woman’s waist and speaking softly to her was none other than my husband, Julian.

I was too stunned to react. But the conversation in my ear continued. “Chloe, I love you just the way you are. You don’t need to change anything for me.” Chloe giggled shyly, nestling into his arms. “But, darling, I don’t want you to exhaust yourself for me…” “We have a long life ahead of us. I want to take things slow.” Julian chuckled softly. “With my little firecracker by my side,” “We could go on forever… until the end of time.” They continued their flirtation, oblivious to anyone else. My body went cold, my blood turning to ice. Chloe suddenly let out a startled cry. “Oh, darling, the doctor is still here. Don’t let her see us making a spectacle.” Julian looked up. His expression froze when he met my pale face. But only for a second. He quickly composed himself. “Doctors have professional ethics, of course. They won’t listen or watch too closely.” “Dr. Lin, wouldn’t you agree?” I stared intently at the man before me, saying nothing. Julian leaned closer, his voice a low threat meant only for my ears. “Clara, have you forgotten? Your dream is to become the director of a hospital, and I can make that happen.” “—As long as you’re a good girl and do as you’re told.” I clenched my fists, then slowly released them. I was an aesthetic doctor, working at a cosmetic clinic. But Julian had made me a promise. If I was obedient and a good wife, in three months, he would invest in me to open my own cosmetic hospital. I took a deep breath, trying to force my emotions back down. Unexpectedly, the woman next to me yanked my arm hard. “Stay away from my husband!” Chloe glared at me, possessive, like a territorial cat. “Darling, do you know this woman?” Julian cleared his throat, his hand instinctively going to his mouth to hide a knowing smirk. “Just a doctor.” “A friend’s wife recommended her after getting some aesthetic work done.” Chloe murmured “Oh,” but her suspicious gaze remained fixed on me. “Why were you standing so close to my husband just now? Are you trying to seduce him?” Her voice was too loud, drawing strange looks from everyone around. I scoffed, instantly fed up. I pulled out the photo of my marriage certificate from my phone’s album. “Look closely. Who exactly is his husband?” “I am his legal wife, married with a certificate. You’re nothing but a shameful mistress.” Chloe’s face drained of color, inch by inch. She was utterly enraged and lunged at me, tearing at my hair. “You bitch! Don’t you have any professional ethics?!” “That photo must be Photoshopped!” “I’ve been to your clinic several times, and my husband always picks me up. You must have seen how handsome and rich he is and gotten some twisted ideas!” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her, so I forcefully pushed her away. Chloe stumbled backward, losing her balance. Julian, quick as a flash, caught her, then glared coldly at me: “Who gave you permission to lay a hand on my wife?” “It seems you’re looking to be fired!” It was the first time Julian had ever looked so grim toward me. Turning back, he gently soothed Chloe. “There, there, you know I never bother with those scheming women out there.” Before leaving, he shot me a chilling look. And told the director, “Fire Clara Lin.” My body went rigid. I never imagined Julian would go this far for another woman, knowing how much I loved this job. “What are you staring at?! You pathetic woman no man wants, staring blankly at someone else’s husband, how shameless!” Chloe shoved me viciously. I lost my footing, falling backward, my head hitting a sharp corner with a sickening thud. A nurse shrieked: “Dr. Lin, are you okay?!” “So much blood…” She frantically helped me up. As my consciousness blurred, I watched Julian walk away, his arm still around Chloe. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. From beginning to end. Julian hadn’t even turned his head once when he heard I was injured. I was rushed into the operating room. When I opened my eyes, I heard the attending physician talking to the nurse: “She’s out of danger, and instrument scans show the bruise on her occipital lobe seems to have been cleared by this impact…” The doctor paused, lowering his voice. “Dr. Lin had amnesia before, didn’t she? This time, she might remember everything.”

The attending physician was right. I remembered everything. I remembered the six months of my missing memory. I remembered that in five years of marriage, Julian had kept 99 mistresses. 99 times of his outrageous behavior, and I forgave him. But the 100th time, I’d gathered enough disappointment and left. When he heard I was gone, Julian wasn’t panicked at all. He called me. “Clara, be a good girl. Do you really want to divorce me?” “After all, I’m the man you chose to marry, even if it meant abandoning your parents.” He sounded so confident when he said that. I could hear another woman’s soft, playful voice in the background. Five years of marriage. He was certain I couldn’t leave him. So, time and time again, he carelessly twisted the knife in my heart. But I had already decided I no longer wanted him. “Julian, once we’re truly over, please just let me go.” Even when he had the butler and maids lock me in the villa, not allowing me to leave, I still jumped out the window and ran. But then, I got into a terrible car accident on the road. I fell unconscious and was brought back by Julian. I had amnesia, forgetting who Julian was, forgetting his 100 betrayals. Julian stayed by my side, coaxing me with gentle words. “Clara, you had a car accident on your way to buy clothes for me. We’re very much in love.” “Clara, we’ve been married for five years, a model couple everyone envies.” “Don’t you remember? You even cut ties with your family to marry me. You said you’d be my little sunshine forever…” “And I loved you just as much. The house decor was all your design, and the passenger seat is filled with your presence.” I was moved by his seemingly deep affection. He took advantage of my amnesia, skillfully manipulating me like an idiot. But now, I remembered everything, and the hand wearing my wedding ring trembled violently. Julian came home around eight that evening. He hugged me from behind. “Are you angry?” My body stiffened, and I avoided his touch. Julian chuckled softly, looking at me as if I were a pet throwing a tantrum. He leaned in, carefully examining the injury on the back of my head. “I had no choice today. I had to put on an act.” “Chloe Monroe is the daughter of the Monroe Group’s CEO. If I can keep her happy, I can secure the contract her father is holding.” I remained silent. Julian still didn’t know I’d already regained my memory. All these years, he always had various excuses to justify or embellish his relationships with those mistresses. I had been a good wife for five years. Helping him manage everything. Compromising for him, time and again. But this time, I refused to yield anymore. I pulled out a divorce agreement. “Julian, let’s get a divorce.” Julian rubbed the papers in his hand, a smirk playing on his lips. “Clara.” “I advise you to calm down.” “If we actually divorce, you’ll regret it.” He claimed I had used every means to marry him. He also said I’d hit my head and forgotten everything, forgotten how much I loved him. To placate me, he bit my ear, whispering seductively. “Clara, good girl.” “She’s just for my… urges. There’s no real affection. She’s not like you. You’re my family.” Family? I scoffed. Was family just someone you could easily fool? Yet his mistresses outside got whatever they wished for. “Then did you hear? Chloe caused a scene at my workplace today, threatening my boss to fire me.” “Julian, I’m in trouble now. Shouldn’t you, my ‘family,’ do something?” I stared into Julian’s eyes. He sighed slightly, brushing my eyelashes. “That job of yours was too tiring anyway. This is a good chance for you to rest.” “Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll open a truly *your own* aesthetic hospital for you.” After saying that, Julian took off his jacket and went to shower. He thought I was so easily appeased. That he could dangle a carrot occasionally, and I’d be eternally grateful. I was inexplicably drawn to the safe, the one he usually never let me touch or go near. I hesitated for a few seconds. Then I entered my birthday. “Ding—” The safe door opened.

Inside were Julian’s company secrets, including equity documents, that he had never allowed me to access. Six months ago, I had given up and left, but I had only harmed myself. This time, I would put myself in a position of power. I wanted. To make Julian beg me on his knees. The next day, Julian took me to a banquet. Chloe was there too, even proudly proclaiming herself Mrs. Hayes. She boasted in the crowd about how favored she was. And how much her husband loved her. I sat quietly in a corner, sipping tea, only for them to approach me and taunt me. “Well, well, isn’t this the Dr. Lin who tried to seduce my husband the other day?” “You’re really persistent. Any trash can show up at this banquet, huh?” “Clara Lin, now that you’ve lost your job, have you resorted to seducing men to support yourself?” I scoffed, grabbing a wine glass from the table and splashing it onto her face. “I’ve handled countless mistresses for Julian, and I’ve never seen one as shameless as you.” Chloe shrieked. The surrounding crowd was stunned by the sudden turn of events. “What’s going on? Chloe, aren’t you Julian’s wife? Why is she saying you’re his mistress?” Chloe’s face was a mask of humiliation, her eyes fixed on me. “Clara Lin, you bitch! Wasn’t my husband’s lesson last time enough for you?!” I gave a cold smile. “If you truly believed you had no relation to my husband, why would you proactively provoke me?” “Did you perhaps see my name saved in Julian’s phone?” “Or… did you hear him call my name in his sleep?” With each word I spoke, Chloe’s face grew paler and paler. “You’re lying!” But whether I was lying or not was already self-evident. “Chloe!” Julian arrived, his first reaction to shield her. Chloe, her face stained with tears, threw herself into his arms. “Darling, tell everyone, who is your real wife?” “This woman just threw wine on me!” “And she… she said she’s your wife, is that true?” I looked up, silently staring at Julian. He glanced at me, frowned, then his gaze softened instantly. I remembered how, in those five years, some of his 99 mistresses also thought they could replace me. They would humiliate me in front of others, believing they would earn Julian’s favoritism. But without exception, all they got was Julian’s wrath. “Dare to bully Clara? You must have a death wish.” Within two hours, all those mistresses were banished from the city by Julian, never to be seen again. However, at this moment, Julian withdrew his gaze from me. “I have no connection to Clara Lin. She’s always tried to seduce me, but unfortunately,” “I am devoted to my wife.” Snickers erupted from the crowd. “I’ve never seen such a shameless woman! Trying to pretend she’s someone’s wife, only to show up in front of the real one.” “I thought she was Mr. Hayes’s mistress, but turns out she doesn’t even have that title. He didn’t even want her, how dare she come here to cause a scene?” “Honestly, women these days, they’ll do anything to climb into a man’s bed, they have no shame…” I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood, watching Julian lift Chloe into his arms. “She ruined your dress. I’ll take you to get a new one, how about that latest couture gown?” Chloe’s eyes widened with surprise. “But that’s worth millions…” “You’re worth it.” Julian strode away, carrying her. “Julian, after five years of marriage, are you really going to humiliate me like this?” Julian stopped in his tracks. “Clara Lin, you shouldn’t bully my wife in front of so many people.” He signaled his bodyguards to throw me out. But Chloe stopped him. “Wait.” “Darling, she spread rumors at the banquet and made me lose face in front of everyone. How can this just end easily?” Julian looked at her patiently. “Tell me, sweetie, what do you want to do to calm down?” Chloe waved her hand, and someone handed her a whip as thick as a finger. “Just have someone give her thirty lashes, and we’ll call it even.” Julian gently stroked her hair and looked at his bodyguards. “Didn’t you hear what my wife said?” Julian didn’t spare me another glance. Bodyguards rushed over, pinned my arms, and forced me to my knees. I tried to struggle. I tried to speak, but the whip landed heavily on me. I was whipped until my flesh was torn and bleeding, my blood staining my clothes like crimson blossoms blooming on fresh snow. Even the other guests watching gasped. “That’s too harsh, isn’t it?” The voices around me became muffled, and a sharp pain shot through my abdomen. I clutched Julian’s jacket. “Julian, save our baby!” I was pregnant. Julian’s body stiffened, and his steps faltered. But he didn’t turn back. “Ms. Lin, please show some self-respect. My wife is right here in my arms.” “If she misunderstands something and gets upset with me, you won’t be able to bear the consequences.”

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I was in a car accident with Dylan, my wife’s childhood sweetheart, on our trip to the shooting competition. When I woke up, my eyes were bandaged. My wife Scarlett, who happen to be my attending doctor, told me my left eye was severely injured and I would be permanently blind. Meanwhile, Dylan won the gold medal at that shooting competition. At the celebration dinner, slurring his words, he confessed, “If Scarlett hadn’t transplanted Liam’s cornea to me, I would have gone blind. I’d never have made it to that podium.” Scarlett hugged him tight, “Liam lost one eye, I can spend the rest of my life making it up to him. All I want is for you to be well, standing in the spotlight.” That’s when I realized my blindness wasn’t a cruel twist of fate. It was a deliberate, human evil. A dull ache still pulsed behind my left eye, the wound not yet healed. Yet the conversation flowed around me. Dylan raised his glass to Scarlett, “I’ve known I was an orphan since I was a kid. Scarlett grew up with me, she always looked out for me, giving me the best of everything.” “I never thought that in such a crucial moment before the competition, when my eye got injured, she’d be so generous as to transplant Liam’s cornea to me.” “Scarlett, without you, my future would be nothing.” Scarlett, tears welling in her eyes, downed the wine in Dylan’s glass and said, “Silly boy, who else would I help if not you?” “I was Liam’s attending doctor. I had to assess the situation at the time. If your eye hadn’t received a cornea transplant then, you wouldn’t have been able to compete.” “You trained so hard. How could I let your career be ruined?” The family and friends inside murmured with admiration, “Your relationship is truly special. Scarlett is amazing to Dylan.” “Exactly. But Liam was also supposed to compete, wasn’t he? I can’t believe he was willing to donate his cornea to Dylan. That’s unexpected.” “He practically gave Dylan his future.” Scarlett scoffed, “Liam’s scores were nowhere near Dylan’s. It was better to ensure Dylan’s success. See? It just proves my decision was the right one.” Outside the door, I clenched my fists, a hollow, icy dread filling me. It felt like the dead of winter. I remembered before we left for the pre-competition training, Dylan, who had just gotten his driver’s license, insisted on driving. I disagreed. Scarlett said, “You don’t trust Dylan? I do. He does everything perfectly. If you’re scared, just take a cab yourself. Dylan, let’s go.” My wife pulled Dylan into the car. I had no choice but to get in with them. Dylan, trying to show off for Scarlett, kept speeding and doing drifting maneuvers. Finally, at a sharp curve, we collided with a freight truck. I was knocked unconscious. When I woke up, it was a few days later. Scarlett, wearing her white coat, sat by my bedside. My left eye was covered in thick bandages. Before I could speak, Scarlett said with a pained expression, “Honey, don’t worry. We were in a car accident, and both you and Dylan were injured. Your left eye… it’s gone blind.” Scarlett hugged me, comforting me, “Honey, don’t be scared. No matter what you become, I’ll always be by your side.” At the time, even though I was devastated by the blindness, I felt a twisted sense of relief to have such a ‘good’ wife. It never once crossed my mind that my blindness wasn’t caused by the accident, but by human malice. Scarlett’s dad’s booming voice filled the room, “Liam is such a clueless simpleton. His shooting scores are nowhere near as good as Dylan’s. I never approved of him pursuing Scarlett. If Dylan hadn’t been abroad back then, I would have preferred my daughter marry Dylan.” Scarlett blushed, “Dad, stop talking.” Dylan chimed in, “Sir, if you give me the chance, I promise I’ll treat Scarlett well. I have the ability to give her happiness now. Liam is blind in one eye; how can he possibly take care of Scarlett?” Scarlett whined playfully, “What are you saying? Liam and I aren’t divorced yet.”

In front of our relatives and friends, Dylan loudly declared, “I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes. I will wait for you, marry you, and give you happiness.” Amidst the cheers and teasing, the two actually embraced. Dylan was an orphan, two years younger than Scarlett. When they first met, Scarlett’s family treated him like their own son. Her dad always said I was no match for Dylan and that his daughter was unlucky to marry me. But Scarlett would always stop him from badmouthing me, then she’d reassure me, “My dad treats Dylan like a son, don’t take it to heart. You’re the one I love. I only see Dylan as a younger brother.” Yet, every single time something involved Dylan, Scarlett’s priority was always him. When we first got married, I also believed they had a simple brother-sister bond. But as time went on, I realized their feelings had long crossed that line. Still, I loved Scarlett, and I kept wanting to give her one last chance to salvage our marriage. But I never would have imagined that when my life hung in the balance, Scarlett would leave me to fend for myself, even willfully taking my cornea and giving it to Dylan. This kind of marriage? Good riddance. I stepped back, silently leaving the hotel’s celebration banquet. I went to the hospital. Since I was Scarlett’s husband, the doctors there recognized me. I had no trouble finding the ophthalmologist who performed our surgeries. The doctor looked at me with a sigh, “I never thought you and your wife would go to such lengths for Dylan.” “You’re also a marksman, and your eyes were perfectly fine. Donating your cornea to Dylan was completely unnecessary. In fact, his eyes could have recovered naturally within a year or two.” “But Dr. Scarlett insisted that Dylan needed to compete and couldn’t wait that long. And since you were unconscious, and she was your wife, she had the right to sign the donation consent form on your behalf.” My hand trembled, my heart plummeted to rock bottom. I gritted my teeth, forcing the words out, “So, Scarlett signed the donation form for me while I was unconscious, donating my cornea?” The doctor nodded, “Yes. This normally requires your personal consent, but Dr. Scarlett claimed you had a moment of lucidity, and she asked you, and you vehemently insisted on donating it yourself.” “You supposedly said your scores weren’t as good as Dylan’s, and you were willing to donate your cornea to him so he could achieve good results for the team.” “She was your wife, and she insisted so strongly, there was nothing we could do.” “What? Are you regretting it now?” I couldn’t utter another word. Ha, I vehemently insisted? She took advantage of my unconscious state, spinning a web of lies to manipulate everyone, and transplanted my cornea to Dylan. I sat on the hospital curb, my left eye throbbing faintly. My phone rang. The special ringtone was one I had specifically set for Scarlett’s calls. “Honey, where are you? Dylan’s celebration is almost over, and you’re still not here.” “Remember that watch I mentioned Dylan liked last time? Make sure you buy it as a gift for him. You know, he’s famous now; he needs some status symbols.” “That watch perfectly suits his style. Buy it, then come over, and on your way in, settle the bill for our room first.” Ha. I hadn’t attended the celebration, and she didn’t ask if I was feeling unwell. She only demanded I buy a gift and pay the bill. That watch cost over half a million dollars. Scarlett saw it and said it should be for Dylan. In the past, with my old temperament, I would have bought it without a second thought at Scarlett’s request. But now, I wouldn’t pay another cent for them. I said coldly, “I’m busy; I can’t make it. You two can pay for it yourselves.” Scarlett was momentarily stunned, then immediately exploded, “You’re not coming? If you don’t come, who’s going to pay? Tonight’s celebration, we used the best wines, and the seafood was all air-shipped today. You *have* to pay this hundred-thousand-dollar bill!”

“If you can’t come, just transfer the money to me.” I chuckled, “Scarlett, my eye hurts, I’m not feeling well. Besides, it’s Dylan’s celebration. Doesn’t he have a million-dollar prize? How can he not afford the bill for such an expensive meal?” Scarlett sounded frantic on the other end, “Dylan’s prize money is for something else; he needs to buy a house! As your brother-in-law, what’s wrong with buying him a watch and a meal?” “Liam, why have you become so petty?” Dylan interjected from his end, “Scarlett, don’t pressure Liam. He might be upset because I won the medal.” “If it’s really that difficult, I won’t buy a house for now. I’ll pay the bill first. And I don’t need the watch.” “I was actually thinking of using the prize money for a down payment on that house you liked. I was going to buy it for you, I want to be able to give you a home, protect you from the elements.” Scarlett’s voice choked with emotion, “Silly boy, how can I let you pay for this? I’m the one who suggested the celebration. I’ll pay. If Liam won’t, I will.” After she finished speaking, she said coldly into the phone, “Liam, just hoard your money. Don’t think everyone is as obsessed with money as you are.” “What do you have now besides money? Don’t forget, you’re blind in one eye, and only I’m here, sticking by your side. I thought my sincerity would be rewarded, but I never expected you to be such a narrow-minded person.” With that, she slammed the phone down. I then called the bank and froze all the secondary cards associated with my accounts. The reason Scarlett could constantly bankroll Dylan was because she always used my secondary cards to buy him various designer brands, curating his image as a successful, well-to-do young man. But outsiders didn’t know that every single thing he wore and used, every cent, came from my money. After all, the shooting club only provided basic stipends each month, barely enough for Dylan to splurge on a team dinner. Under Scarlett’s indulgence, he squandered money recklessly. They had long forgotten that everything they possessed was given by me. Less than ten minutes later, Scarlett’s call came in, “Liam, what’s the meaning of this? Why did you freeze my card?” I said coldly, “I didn’t freeze your card. I only froze *my* cards. Scarlett, the secondary card is still *my* card, remember?” “Isn’t your own card with you? If you want to pay Dylan’s bill, use your salary card. We’ve been married for years; haven’t you touched a single cent of your salary? Paying this hundred thousand should be easy for you.” Scarlett shrieked, “Use my salary card? I have no money! Liam, why have you become like this? You’re so petty about money! You were injured, hospitalized, had surgery, lost an eye… who stayed by your side through thick and thin? How can you be so heartless?” I cut her off, “Scarlett, was my eye really blinded in a car accident?” Scarlett went silent on the other end, then said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Your eye was injured in the accident. I tried my best to get you treatment. This is the best outcome.” “Don’t be absurd. Unfreeze my card immediately.” “Scarlett, there’s nothing left between us. My lawyer will contact you. Let’s get a divorce. I’m making way for you and Dylan.” After saying that, I hung up. No matter how many times she called me afterward, I didn’t answer. I went home, packed my bags, and moved to a hotel. Scarlett couldn’t reach me by phone and kept sending me messages, but I ignored them all. But I never expected her to find out my follow-up appointment time from the hospital and intercept me there.

She slapped a bill onto my chest, “The celebration bill, a total of one hundred and ten thousand dollars. You pay me back immediately. Do you know how humiliated I was to scrape together that money to pay it?” “You’re my husband, half of your money is mine. What right do you have to stop me from using it?” “I stuck by your side through thick and thin; how can you treat me like this? Where’s your conscience?” I let the bill fall to the ground, looking at her, “I told you I want a divorce. Didn’t you hear me clearly? The divorce papers have already been sent to your address.” She looked at me disdainfully, “Playing games? Do you think that will scare me? Liam, don’t say things you don’t mean. You said no matter what I did, you would never leave me.” “You’ll keep your word, won’t you?” I looked at her with utter disappointment, “So, you felt you could do whatever you please? Scarlett, how did my eye go blind? Can you tell me?” Scarlett turned her head away, “Your eye was severely injured in the car accident; that’s how you went blind.” I said softly, “Is that so? But why did I hear that my cornea was forcibly removed and donated to Dylan?” “And the person who signed the consent was you, Scarlett. You deliberately took my cornea and gave it to Dylan. You are the reason I can no longer see.” “The doctor said his eyes could have recovered. Why would you do this to me!” Scarlett suddenly became agitated, “What do you mean ‘could recover’? That would take two years! Dylan couldn’t wait that long.” “He’s in his prime right now. You couldn’t win the competition anyway, so it was better to donate your cornea to him. See, it proves my decision was right, he won the competition.” “I promise you, even if you’re blind, I’ll still be by your side, I won’t leave you. I’ll spend my entire life making it up to you.” I laughed mockingly, “Not leave me? Aren’t you staying because you need my money to support your family and Dylan?” “Without me, where would you get the money to buy all those luxury goods for your precious Dylan?” Scarlett’s face flushed crimson. She shouted, “When did I ever use your money to buy Dylan luxury goods? I used my own salary!” “Besides, I treat Dylan like my own brother. What’s wrong with buying my brother a few things?” “As his brother-in–aw, shouldn’t you buy him something too?” I laughed in exasperation, “Scarlett, you know in your heart whether you really treat him as a brother. No one goes this far for a brother.” “No matter what you say, I won’t spend another cent on you or your ‘good brother’.” With that, I turned and walked away. Scarlett yelled behind me, “Liam, who else will want you now? You’ll regret this!” I ignored her. Before leaving her, I had many things to do. The first thing I did was go to the shooting club and process my withdrawal from training. As I left the club, I ran into media interviewing Dylan. He was surrounded by reporters and various streamers and influencers chasing trending topics. “What do you have to say about winning the gold medal this time?” Dylan’s face softened as he looked at Scarlett by his side, “This time, I especially want to thank someone who has always been by my side – my best sister, my best confidante, Scarlett.” “She’s also a doctor at the Central Hospital. I was in a car accident before the competition, and she saved me. She selflessly allowed me to regain my sight.” The reporters murmured with admiration, microphones pointed at Scarlett, “Dr. Scarlett, we also heard that your husband went blind in the car accident. He’s also a marksman, isn’t he?” Scarlett’s face showed a hint of sadness, “Yes, I’m very upset about it. I’ve been staying by his side, taking care of him, hoping for his swift recovery.” “Although his scores are far worse than Dylan’s, he’s still heartbroken about losing the chance to compete. I hope everyone won’t bother him.” A reporter asked, “Excuse me, was your husband’s eye blinded in the car accident? Since Dylan had the opportunity for a cornea transplant, Dr. Scarlett, why didn’t you keep that opportunity for your husband?” Scarlett’s face turned grim. She stammered awkwardly, unsure how to respond. “Because, Dylan’s cornea, is mine.”

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After I fell down the snowy mountain, no one in my family even noticed I was missing. I tried to reach my brother on the walkie-talkie, but he just snapped impatiently. “Do you have to make a scene right now? Luna lost one of her gloves. We need to take her back. Stop trying to play the victim!” Luna. My sister-in-law. I connected to my fiancé, Daniel. His voice was even colder than Alex’s. “Luna lost a glove. I’m not in the mood to deal with your jealousy. “I bet you stole her glove, didn’t you? “If anything happens to her, you and I will be enemies for life!” With my last ounce of strength, I tried to reach Mom and Dad. My parents’ answer was to hurl the walkie-talkie into the abyss. The line went dead forever. A month later, they finally remembered me. “Luna’s fine, she doesn’t need to be so jealous. Tell Summer to come back quickly.” “Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, Miss Summer’s body has been recovered from the snowy mountain. “She didn’t make it, as she gave her own warm gear to Miss Luna. “She carved this final plea into the ice:” “ In the next life, never be a Harrison.” …

“She’d give her gloves to Luna?” Alex snorted coldly. “If she’d even thought about it, even if she hadn’t actually done it, I wouldn’t feel like I wasted my time being her brother!” “It’s true, Mr. Alex! Miss Summer not only gave up her gloves, but she also swapped her down jacket with Miss Thorne! That’s why Miss Summer didn’t make it!” “Enough!” A ceramic cup shattered at Mr. Peterson’s feet. Dad fumed with indignation. “If she just didn’t try to bully my foster daughter, that would be a miracle. How could she swap gear with Luna? Doesn’t she always complain that we only give good things to Luna and not her?” “We gave her the best equipment for this trip. What more could she be unhappy about?” My soul rushed forward, trying to shield Mr. Peterson from the flying shards. But the pieces passed right through me, cutting the back of his hand. Tears welled in my eyes instantly. “Mr. Peterson speaks the truth! Luna said her glove had a hole, so I offered to swap with her! Don’t take this out on him! He’s the one who helped raise your own children!” My sister-in-law Luna’s eyes reddened. “Mr. Peterson, I know Summer’s gloves are the warmest. How could I let her swap them with me?” Luna sighed as she spoke. “I know Summer likes to be jealous, but stealing my gloves on the snowy mountain was really too much.” “You’re lying!” I gritted my teeth so hard they ached. But I was just a ghost. My anguish couldn’t reach anyone’s ears. “But as her sister-in-law, I won’t really blame her. She shouldn’t be playing with her own life like that! “Mr. Peterson, stop getting worked up with her.” “Tell her to come back immediately, I’ll apologize to her.” A voice interrupted her. “Why should you apologize to her?” My soul looked at my fiancé, Daniel Hayes. He stared coldly at Mr. Peterson. “She’d scheme for Luna’s gloves even in minus fifty-degree weather, and now she’s playing the victim? Tell her, we’re not falling for her tricks. If she doesn’t come back today, she should never come back!” I stared at him, stunned, a tear tracing a path down my face. Daniel…even you? Mr. Peterson’s wrinkled face was filled with helplessness. “But… Sir, Ma’am… she is still your daughter. Your sister. Your fiancée.” Mom sneered. “I don’t have a sweet daughter who’s out partying it up while I’m on my deathbed.” “Exactly,” my father cut in. “When my wife was fighting for her life, all she wanted was one last look at her girl. And Where was Summer? It was Luna who stayed by my wife’s side!” Dad added. Alex also snorted. “We raised an ungrateful wretch for all these years!” No… That’s not true! I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. Mom, I didn’t know you were in critical condition that day! Luna used Alex’s phone to text me, saying you were perfectly healthy! That’s why I went to celebrate my best friend’s birthday! With a sorrowful sigh, Luna wiped the corner of her eye. “Summer hates me, I know. I won’t stay at home anymore, let her come back. Don’t worry, with her around, I’ll never appear to annoy her.” “Wait!” Mom stopped Luna. She turned to Mr. Peterson. “Daniel is right. In this family, our foster daughter is much more important than our biological daughter. If she can’t come back today, she’ll never be a Harrison again!” My heart seized with a painful spasm. I clutched my hollow chest, gritting my teeth. Don’t worry. I didn’t want to be one anyway. Hadn’t I written it in my own blood before I died? “In the next life, never be a Harrison.”

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In my past life, Liam’s beloved Maya died because of me. Liam was utterly devastated. He pretended to enter an arranged marriage with me, then ruthlessly dismantled my family’s empire, driving us into ruin. He tortured me into a deep, suffocating depression, until I had no choice but to leap from a building. In my final moments, Liam stood coldly before me, reaching out to cover my eyes. “Chloe,” he said, his voice devoid of warmth, “if there is another life… if you ever meet me and Maya again… do us all a favor and stay away.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back seven years in the past, standing on the familiar school path I walked every day. In the distance, Liam and Maya were walking towards me. Maya, with her sharp eyes, spotted me first and waved enthusiastically. “Chloe! We’re over here!” My mind, still reeling, jolted in shock. Like I’d seen a ghost, I hurled my backpack at them with all my strength, then turned and ran! “Chloe Davies! Class is starting! Where are you going?” I ignored my classmates’ shouts, weaving against the stream of students in their school uniforms. The passing breeze caught the sunlight, piercing through my chest, again and again. It felt so good! Being alive felt so good! Those oppressive shadows that had permeated my thoughts and body, tormenting me to the point of unbearable pain… they were gone. Now, I was seventeen-year-old Chloe Davies. Healthy, lively, radiant. Our families, the Davies and the Hayes, had been close for generations. Liam was a year older than me and had always been especially doting. From a simple candy when I was little, to a fancy princess dress in my youth, to a dazzling sapphire necklace for my sixteenth birthday, his kindness had filled a third of my life. Many girls liked him, but his side was always reserved for me. He was like an older brother to me, and also the boy I had secretly fallen for, I wasn’t even sure when. Then, during the school’s freshman sports meet, I suddenly fainted on the field. It was Maya who took me to the infirmary. From then on, Maya became a constant presence between Liam and me. They shared the same hobbies, both were brilliant students with impeccable reputations, and when they were together, they always had endless things to talk about. I slowly became their constant shadow. In my past life, the story of Maya being abused by her stepfather spread throughout the entire campus. Before she jumped, her hair was disheveled, and she stared at me with venomous hatred. “Chloe Davies, remember this! It’s your fault I’m doing this!” Then, with a resolute leap, she didn’t even give anyone a chance to stop her. She didn’t even give me a chance to explain. Liam went wild when he saw the note she left behind. He gripped my shoulder so tightly, his bloodshot eyes burning with a hatred that made my heart seize up. “Chloe! Why? Why would you do this?” “This… only you knew about this!” “I…” My throat constricted, dry and raw, but I managed to endure the sharp pain in my shoulder, forcing out a few broken words- “I didn’t.” “It wasn’t me.” But no one believed me. Maya’s unwavering certainty in her dying accusation, spoken in front of everyone, had already branded me a murderer. Any defense, when faced with the victim’s direct accusation, seemed pale and powerless. As a result, I faced an unprecedented wave of bullying and isolation. Everyone looked at me as if I were a killer; every student’s eyes in school held a sharp knife when they looked my way. Especially Liam. Four years later, the Hayes family proposed an arranged marriage with mine, and he agreed. It was as if he had forgotten all about Maya, returning to the way he used to be, showering me with kindness. I thought, finally, Liam believed me. Because he ruffled my hair, just like he had countless times growing up, his eyes warm and gentle. “Chloe, let’s get married.” The Liam in my memories had always been so gentle and doting. I thought my old Liam was back. Until the Davies family’s confidential information fell into Liam’s hands. He ruthlessly crushed my family’s businesses, my parents were forced to leave Westlake, and I was kept a virtual prisoner in my own home. Hatred, cold indifference, and silent cruelty filled every moment of my existence. Liam stopped pretending. His eyes were cold and distant when he looked at me. “Chloe, every bit of suffering Maya endured, you deserve to experience it too.” “Chloe, why don’t you just die? If you die, perhaps… I can forgive you.” As Liam wished, seven years later, Chloe Davies, like Maya, jumped to her death in despair. … I stood dazedly on the street, the school bell still echoing in my ears. The agonizing pain of a fractured skull, the soul tearing itself away from my body, and Liam’s cold, heartless whisper in my dying moments finally began to fade from my mind. “Chloe, if our paths cross again in another life – mine and Maya’s – do yourself a favor and stay far, far away from us.” I let out a long, shaky breath. This time, I would definitely stay far, far away from Liam and Maya. Then I turned and ran swiftly towards home.

“Chloe? Shouldn’t you be in class right now?” As I burst through the door, my mom was sitting in the backyard, leisurely sipping coffee. She looked surprised to see me. My eyes welled up, and I rushed to hug her tightly. In my past life, their life’s work was destroyed, and they were forced out of Westlake by Liam, a boy they had watched grow up. Before I died, I didn’t even get to see them one last time. “You’re so grown up and still clinging to your mom. What will you do when you get married?” My mom’s gentle, complaining voice drifted down from above. But that word, “married,” sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. I hugged her even tighter. “I’m not getting married. I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here with you and Dad, looking after the family business, and being a carefree heiress with no ambition beyond enjoying my family’s wealth…” Mom feigned helplessness but her smile deepened. “Oh, is that so? I suppose we’re stuck with our little moocher for life, then.” After a night of trying to compose myself, I went back to school normally the next day. Our driver, Mr. Clark, dropped me off at the school gate. As I got out, I caught a glimpse of Liam and Maya standing at the intersection nearby, laughing and talking. That was our usual meeting spot; they were waiting for me. Fearing they would spot me, I quickly buried my head, clutched my backpack, and hurried into school. The school path, the three of us walking together. My eyes were on Liam, but Liam’s eyes were always on Maya. This unspoken crush, it should have ended long ago. But in my naive youth, I always secretly rejoiced that I could steal another glance at Liam on this path. After school, I dawdled, slowly making my way out. Liam and Maya were waiting at the school gate. There was no escaping them, so I had no choice but to push through. Maya didn’t ask about me running away the day before; she still linked her arm through mine, as affectionate as ever. “Chloe! We waited for you so long at the intersection today, why didn’t you come?” I tried my best to resist, but couldn’t. I subtly pulled my arm away from hers. Maya’s expression froze for a second, but she quickly recovered, her smile unwavering. “It’s my birthday today, Chloe. Aren’t you going to celebrate with me?” My heart suddenly trembled. In my past life, it was on Maya’s birthday night that she got drunk, and with teary eyes, we confided in each other. She unintentionally told me about being abused by her stepfather when she was young. This time, how could I dare to listen to her secrets? I avoided looking at Liam, who stood beside her, and stammered, looking down. “I… I have something at home. I can’t go. Happy birthday.” Then, without waiting for Maya’s eyes to instantly redden, I turned and walked away quickly. Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed behind me. “Chloe Davies.” It was Liam. My heart seized up, and I hurried even faster, head still down. Liam caught up to me in a few strides, blocking my path entirely, his shadow instantly falling over me. “Why are you running?” Finally, for the first time, I lifted my head to look at the just-turned-eighteen Liam. He was wearing the familiar school uniform, his face sharp and chiseled, but the deep, distant look in his eyes, unbefitting his age, was identical to the Liam of my past life. Suddenly, I realized that the eighteen-year-old Liam wouldn’t look at me like that. I was startled, instinctively stepping back a few paces, almost losing my balance. But the Liam before me stepped closer, his shadow following mine. “Chloe, you seem… afraid of me?”

The next second, Liam’s expression softened. He reached out to ruffle my hair, just as he always had. “Chloe, are you feeling unwell? Why are you hiding from Maya and me?” “It’s Maya’s birthday today. She’ll be really sad if you don’t come. How about we go celebrate with her, okay?” Liam was smiling, but I detected a hint of suspicion. It made sense; since yesterday, I had been acting completely out of character, avoiding them whenever possible, and not showing Liam the same eagerness as in my past life. If… Liam wasn’t the eighteen-year-old Liam, he would definitely suspect if I was truly the seventeen-year-old Chloe. After three years of marriage, my feelings for Liam had long vanished, replaced by all the mental torment. Now, I both hated and feared Liam. “I… I…” I managed a strained smile, but Liam had already spoken first, addressing Mr. Clark, who was waiting by the road to pick me up: “Mr. Clark, it’s a friend’s birthday today. I’ll take Chloe to celebrate for a bit and then bring her home.” Mr. Clark, aware of the Davies and Hayes families’ close ties, smiled and nodded before driving off. I could only follow silently behind them. In the past, when the three of us were together, I mostly watched Liam and Maya talk and laugh with perfect synchronicity, my heart aching. But now, I simply watched them, my emotions flat. I was even calculating what excuse I could use to leave midway.

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I was locked in the trunk, the scorching air burning my throat. Every breath felt like swallowing a ball of fire, stifling and painful. I regretted it. I shouldn’t have put that blanket on Leo. I pounded on the trunk lid, my palms hitting the burning metal, producing dull thuds and searing pain. “Dad! Mom! I’m sorry! Let me out!” “I’m so hot… Mia knows she was wrong… I’ll never do it again…” But my voice was completely muffled. I remembered when Dad bought the car, he’d proudly shown me: “Look, Mia, the soundproofing on this trunk is amazing. When I drive, your music back here won’t bother me at all!” Back then, I clapped my hands and laughed, thinking Dad was so clever. Now, that proud feature had become my living hell. I screamed and pounded until my palms were raw and my throat hoarse, but I got no response. The car was moving. I could feel the bumps as the tires rolled over gravel, Each jolt sending my head slamming against the cold, hard inner wall. I don’t know how much time passed before the car suddenly stopped. A flicker of hope ignited in my heart. Had Dad finally cooled down? Was he going to let me out? I strained my ears, trying to catch any sound from outside. “Wow, the scenery here is beautiful. Arthur, quick, take some pictures of Leo!” It was Mom’s voice, full of excitement and joy. “Alright, come on, Leo, look at me, smile!” “That’s it, my good boy, you’re so photogenic!” Dad’s voice followed, dripping with affection. I heard the camera’s “click-clack” shutter, and Leo’s happy giggles as they played with him. They hadn’t stopped for me. Only because the roadside scenery was nice. My heart sank, bit by bit. No, they wouldn’t abandon me. They’re just still angry. I pounded harder on the trunk, my nails scratching against the inner wall with an awful screech. In the chaos, my hand brushed against a teddy bear tucked into a corner. It was a birthday gift from Mom, and if you pressed its belly, it would play a recording of my voice. “Mommy, I love you, Mommy is the best mommy in the world!” My clear child’s voice echoed in the cramped space. They must hear it outside! Mom would surely soften if she heard it! Clutching this last hope, I pressed the bear’s belly again and again. Sure enough, Dad’s impatient roar came from outside. “What’s all that noise?! Can’t you even behave in there?!” “Keep it up, and I’ll throw you into these mountains for the wolves to eat! That’ll teach you!” Dad’s voice was like ice water, drenching me from head to toe, extinguishing all my hope. Fear and the heat wave engulfed me, making me dizzy. The car was like a giant oven. My skin was searing, and sweat soaked my dress. My consciousness faded, and hallucinations flickered before my eyes. I saw myself as a tiny girl, Dad lifting me high above his head, through a crowded street. Brilliant fireworks exploded in the night sky, and he pointed to the brightest one, telling me: “Mia, you are my brightest star in the night sky, my most precious treasure.” Dad, your treasure is about to be cooked alive. When will you finally turn around and look at me? When I “opened” my eyes again, I found myself floating outside the trunk. The afternoon sun was dazzling. I looked down at myself; my body was semi-transparent. Am I dead? Not far away, Dad and Mom were walking back from a mountain path with Leo. They looked like they’d had a wonderful time. Dad fanned Mom with his hand, and Mom blew a small fan at Leo. Both were sweating profusely, but their faces were beaming with contented smiles. “Mom!” I rushed towards Mom, wanting to hug her like I used to. But my body passed right through her arm. I couldn’t touch anything. They couldn’t see me, couldn’t hear me. Mom walked to the car, opened the door to get some water, and gulped it down. She wiped her mouth, her gaze briefly sweeping over the trunk, and hesitated before speaking: “Arthur, Mia has been in the trunk for so long. What if something happens? It’s so hot…” My heart leaped with joy. Mom remembered me! She still cared about me! I floated beside Mom, looking at her eagerly, silently screaming: Open the trunk! Save me! Dad was wiping sweat from Leo, and at Mom’s words, his face instantly darkened. He snapped: “You feel sorry for her? Have you forgotten Leo almost died because of her?! I think she deserves this lesson!” He glanced at the trunk with disgust: “Let her stew in there! It’ll teach her a lesson! She’ll live. It’s a lesson she needs.” “It’ll stop her from getting any more twisted ideas about harming my son! So young and already trying to hurt my son. I’m being merciful by not breaking her legs!” “Say one more word, and you can join her in there!” Dad’s tone was full of disgust and icy coldness, as if I weren’t his daughter, but some sworn enemy. Mom trembled with fright, immediately shutting her mouth, not daring to utter another word. She just cast another worried glance at the trunk, then turned her head to continue doting on Leo in her arms. They got back in the car, started the engine, and drove towards the mountain villa. Soon, the car stopped at the villa’s entrance. Brenda Evans, my aunt, was already waiting there. As soon as they got out, she greeted them with a wide smile. “Oh, my sweet big nephew,Brenda has missed you so much!” Brenda took Leo from Mom’s arms and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. Then, she squinted at the car and said sarcastically: “Where’s that little troublemaker? You didn’t bring her along, did you?” “Arthur, I’m telling you, you should have gotten rid of that wasteful girl ages ago, she’s nothing but bad luck for our precious Leo!” I knew she was talking about me. From a young age, Aunt Brenda had never given me a kind look. She’d always say, “Girls are just a temporary expense, a placeholder until they marry out. But a son? A son carries on the name, he’s the family’s future, its true legacy.” Dad listened to Brenda and actually laughed, his voice full of agreement: “Leo is so well-behaved. Unlike some ungrateful brats, who after all these years, only harbor jealousy and can’t stand their own brother.” Mom also forced a smile, not daring to refute a single word. “Arthur, Eleanor, come inside quickly, dinner’s ready.” Dad nodded, about to walk towards the trunk, but Brenda grabbed his arm. “Oh, Arthur, it’s so hot outside, you can get the stuff later!” “I’ve made chicken soup, it’s getting cold. Hurry and bring my precious nephew in for soup!” Mom also chimed in: “Yes, Arthur, let’s eat first. We’re all hungry.” Dad looked at Leo, who was giggling in Brenda’s arms and smiling at him, his face filled with doting affection. “Alright, you’re right. Dinner first.” Without looking back, he casually pressed the car key. “Beep-beep,” the car lights flashed, and the doors locked. Dad didn’t spare the car another glance. He, Mom, and Brenda, crowded around Leo, walking happily into the villa as a family. They chatted about the day’s fun, planned tomorrow’s activities, their laughter echoing without end. After dinner, they sat in the living room watching TV. Leo was cuddling with Mom, and Dad was peeling an apple nearby. I floated by the cold car, watching the warm light stream from the door, feeling like a joke abandoned by the whole world. It turned out, without me, they were still a complete family.

That night, I floated into their bedroom. Dad was already fast asleep, even snoring softly. Mom tucked Leo in, kissing his forehead. As she stood up, her gaze instinctively drifted towards the window, towards where the car was parked. My heart leaped into my throat. Mom, did you remember me? But she only stood for a second before reaching out to pull the curtains shut, blocking out all the darkness and cold from outside. All night, I stood by their bed, watching their peaceful sleeping faces. Dad and Mom slept so soundly, as if they had completely forgotten me. The next day, the sun rose as usual. Dad walked into the yard, stretched, and prepared for his morning exercise. Passing by the car, he frowned, sniffing the air. “What’s that smell? So awful. A dead rat?” He muttered in disgust, walked around the car, showing no desire to investigate further. To celebrate Leo’s “recovery,” Brenda and Mom had prepared a lavish lunch. In the living room, Dad and Brenda were chatting on the sofa. “Arthur, I swear, you’re too soft-hearted. For a girl like that, you need tough love!” Brenda proudly shared her wisdom with Dad. “You did the right thing this time. You need to discipline her severely, so she knows who’s in charge in this house. Otherwise, what will happen?” “She’ll think she can run wild in this house!” Dad’s face showed his agreement. “If Leo hadn’t been so lucky this time, I would have broken her legs!” Seeing this, Brenda became even more animated, bringing up things from my childhood. “Exactly! Don’t you remember how she ‘accidentally’ pushed Leo’s bottle off the table when he was little?” “How she ‘accidentally’ put salt in Leo’s porridge?” “I always said, she’s rotten to the core, naturally jealous of our Leo!” In her mouth, I became a malicious older sister, constantly plotting to harm my brother. “I told you before, that girl is cunning, but you wouldn’t believe me.” “See? Now her true colors are showing!” “Thank goodness we found out early, otherwise my precious nephew would have suffered even more!” Dad’s face grew darker and darker. He gripped his wine glass, gritting his teeth as he said: “That ungrateful brat!” “I should have listened to you back then and sent her away! Keeping her around is nothing but trouble!” Mom was sweating profusely in the kitchen, bringing dishes to the table one by one. Dad saw that all the dishes were ready and called out to the kitchen: “Eleanor, stop working, come and eat with us.” Mom came out with the last plate of braised pork, a hint of hesitation on her face. She glanced at the dining table, then towards the door, and whispered: “Arthur… Mia… she hasn’t eaten since yesterday, will she be…?” My heart leaped. Mom, you still remember me, right? “Clack!” Brenda slammed her fork down on the table, cutting Mom off. “Eleanor, what foolishness are you talking about?! She almost killed Leo, and you still feel sorry for her?!” “If we don’t teach her a lesson now, make her feel the pain, she’ll never learn to protect her brother!” “Skipping a few meals won’t kill her! Let her reflect properly!” Brenda turned to Dad, her tone becoming earnest: “Arthur, don’t go soft now. Leo is the only one that matters, the one who’ll carry on the Miller name, your legacy. Mia? She’s just a girl, she’ll marry off and be someone else’s problem. You need to show her who’s boss now, or she’ll ruin Leo, everything you’ve worked for!” Dad glared fiercely at Mom, angrily scolding her: “You’re always making trouble! Always too soft-hearted!” “If you feel sorry for her, then get out there and stay with her now!” “I’d like to see how long your mother-daughter bond lasts!” “If you dare to say one more word for that ungrateful brat, you can leave this house too!” Mom’s face turned ashen, and her hand, holding the bowl, began to tremble. She immediately placed the dish on the table, forcing a smile that was worse than a cry, and dared not mention my name again. Dad and Brenda were drinking and chatting jovially. Mom continuously served food to Leo. They started planning their afternoon activity: a BBQ at a charming local spot. Leo clapped his hands with delight. Dad and Brenda laughed, and Mom joined in their laughter. No one mentioned me again, as if I had never existed. As they prepared to leave for the BBQ, an indescribable, faint stench of decay wafted out the moment the car door opened. Dad frowned deeply, cursing in disgust: “That rotten girl, she must have peed in there! What a nuisance, so dirty and smelly!” He said, opening all the car windows, hoping to air out the smell. The wind rushed through the windows, blowing through my semi-transparent body. How I wished this wind could also carry away my despair and pain. Dad stood outside the car for a while. When he thought the smell had dissipated enough, he got into the driver’s seat. He never opened the trunk again, never even glanced at it. Soon, Mom, holding Leo, and Brenda, carrying snacks, got into the car, chatting and laughing. “Oh, what’s that smell? Don’t let it stink up my precious little one!” Brenda exaggeratedly pinched her nose. “Arthur, whatever you do, don’t open the trunk! If that smell gets out, we won’t be able to enjoy dinner tonight!” “Don’t worry,” Dad impatiently started the car, “I couldn’t care less about her.” And so, the family drove off, taking my lifeless body wit

The third day was the day of my piano recital, which I had looked forward to for half a year. For this recital, I practiced three hours every day after school, my fingertips developing thin calluses. Dad had promised me that if I performed well, he would take the whole family to the mountain villa for a vacation after the recital. Now, we were on vacation, but I had missed the stage forever. At ten in the morning, the recital was about to begin, but I had still not appeared. Ms. Carter, my teacher, called my mother’s phone again and again. Finally, the call connected. “Hello, Mia’s mom? This is Mia’s piano teacher.” On the other end of the line, the background was noisy with the clatter of poker chips and Brenda’s laughter. Mom’s voice carried an unnatural hesitation: “Ms. Carter… is, is something wrong?” Ms. Carter asked anxiously: “Mia’s mom! The recital is about to start! Mia isn’t here yet! We’re waiting for her! Where is she?” Mom paused, then her tone became impatient: “Oh, her? She’s throwing a tantrum, locked herself in her room and won’t come out.” “This child is getting more and more disobedient, we don’t know what to do!” I floated in the living room, watching Mom deal poker chips while lying on the phone, my heart tearing. Just then, Brenda snatched the phone from Mom and yelled into the receiver: “What’s this about a recital? What’s the point of a girl learning all these fancy things? Can she eat it?” “She’s just going to get married and have kids anyway! Our Mia isn’t coming! She won’t be coming anymore! You can just cancel the lessons!” With that, Brenda abruptly hung up the phone. On the other end, Ms. Carter stood frozen, clutching her phone. She felt something was terribly wrong. She knew how much I valued this recital. I could practice a complex musical phrase all afternoon without eating or drinking. How could I possibly be “throwing a tantrum” at the last minute? The more Ms. Carter thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. She immediately opened Mom’s social media. She found the name of the villa community and its location. She then clicked on Dad’s social media. Two days ago, Dad had posted a series of scenic photos with the caption: “Mountain air is good, brought Leo out for some fresh air.” Ms. Carter scrolled through the photos, and when she saw the last one, her heart plummeted. Ms. Carter didn’t delay any further. She decisively called the police. “Hello, 911? I need to report something. I suspect a child might be illegally detained in the trunk of a private car!” Upon receiving the report, the police swiftly mobilized. Following the location provided by Ms. Carter, they quickly found Dad’s family playing cards in the villa community’s game room. Facing the sudden appearance of the police, Dad still looked arrogant and dismissive. “Officers, have you made a mistake? Our family is just here playing cards, what law have we broken?” A police officer sternly showed his ID: “We received a report that you might be illegally detaining your daughter. Please, where is your daughter, Mia?” Dad scoffed, disdainfully throwing his poker chips onto the table. “Is it a crime to discipline my own daughter?” He pointed upstairs, saying indifferently: “She’s in her room upstairs, reflecting on her actions!” “Kids throw tantrums, they’re disobedient. You have to ground them for a couple of days, or they’ll get out of control!” Mom sat beside him, her face ashen, clutching the hem of her clothes, not daring to say a single word.

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When the emergency call came in, the dorm manager, Mrs. Peterson, blocked my way. “A man? In the girls’ dorm? Over my dead body!” I was anxious, “In front of medical staff, there’s no distinction between men and women.” I ran as fast as I could and finally saved the girl. But then she tried to extort me. “This unethical doctor didn’t rescue me in time, which is why I have these complications.” “And when he was saving me, his hands weren’t honest; he touched me inappropriately.” Throughout the holidays, my family and I were cyberbullied because of this. Unable to bear the pressure, I jumped from the building. When I opened my eyes again, I saw Mrs. Peterson. This time, I wasn’t in a hurry. After all, the person lying upstairs was Mrs. Peterson’s daughter! “I said no, and that’s final. How can a man go up there?” Mrs. Peterson stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, refusing to open it. “You’re all thinking with your dicks, every last one of you! Letting you in would be like letting a creep through the door” I looked at Mrs. Peterson, masking the regret and surprise churning inside me. “Dr. Stone, please think of something! The patient is suffering from respiratory alkalosis,” Chloe, the nurse behind me, urged anxiously. I snapped back to reality. “She won’t let us in. What can we do?” Chloe looked at me, completely taken aback. I knew why she was surprised. This was completely unlike my usual behavior. In my previous life, I had stormed that door with the others, smashed it open, and rushed upstairs to save the girl. I’d snatched the patient back from the jaws of death, but then she’d tried to extort me, leading to my tragic end. Back again, I was determined to avoid that outcome. However, thinking of this family’s true colors, I quietly whispered to Chloe, “Get out your phone, and discreetly record this.” Watching her open her camera, I stepped forward to negotiate. “If we miss the optimal window for rescue, this girl could very likely suffer permanent complications.” Mrs. Peterson looked at me with disdain. “You can talk all you want, but I’m still not letting you into the girls’ dorm!” She scanned us, then pointed at me, spitting, “You don’t look like a good person! Are you some shifty-eyed fraud pretending to be medical staff?” I bit back a sarcastic remark, but my face showed only anxiety. “If we miss the rescue window, can you take responsibility for that?” She said smugly, “That’s just according to school regulations. Her life or death is her own destiny.” Chloe couldn’t take it anymore and shouted, “You’re just a glorified doorman! Not letting us up there is practically killing someone!” How could Mrs. Peterson tolerate her authority being challenged? Her eyes narrowed. “Are you his side piece or something, getting all worked up?” “And you look down on me? You’re just a servant yourself!” Our nurses were all new young women, no match for Mrs. Peterson. Hearing her words, Chloe’s eyes immediately welled up. I stepped in front of Chloe. “What ‘side piece’ are you talking about? Just because you’re that kind of person doesn’t mean everyone else is. Let us in, a student upstairs needs urgent care.” Mrs. Peterson’s face turned red, and she started spewing insults. “I’m not letting you up! Do you want to save a student, or just ogle the female students? You’re shameless!” I raised my hands to calm her. “Don’t get excited, just calm down.” Chloe quietly reminded me, “Dr. Stone, time is running out.” I sighed, putting on a conciliatory look. “What exactly will it take for you to let us in?” Mrs. Peterson puffed up her shoulders, munching on sunflower seeds. “You can call the principal. If he agrees, then I will.” I tried to reason. “Then give us the principal’s number.” She simply stopped talking. Chloe and I started contacting everyone we knew, and finally found the number. “Dr. Stone, it’s not going through.” Mrs. Peterson said triumphantly, “Can’t get through, can you? Well, there’s one more way.” I didn’t speak. Chloe urged, “Just tell us!” She pointed at me: “Make this man kneel down and beg me.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to save someone? What’s kneeling down for a life?” Mrs. Peterson pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds and started cracking them. I said in a low voice, “The student upstairs is a fresh, young life.” Chloe was indignant. “You wait. I’m going to report you.” I was secretly pleased; this was a godsend. People like Mrs. Peterson, once they hear “report,” would explode like a powder keg. Sure enough, Mrs. Peterson directly flung sunflower seed shells onto our faces. “I don’t need him to kneel. You kneel for me, and I’ll let you up.” Chloe’s face turned beet red with anger. “You’re just a filthy lowlife!” Mrs. Peterson stomped her foot, sneering, “Aren’t you supposed to be an angel in white? Well, someone’s waiting for you to save them, so why aren’t you doing it? You’re just faking it!” Chloe looked at me helplessly. I subtly shook my head. Mrs. Peterson mocked, “I think all this talk about saving lives is fake. You just want to show off in front of this man.” I was about to say something when a frantic voice interrupted me. A student came flying down the stairs, panting heavily, and stumbled in front of Mrs. Peterson. “Peterson, she’s really not doing well.” Mrs. Peterson pulled her arm away. “Even so, we have to follow the rules.” The student stomped her foot anxiously. “Peterson, the one who’s sick is…” Mrs. Peterson put on a business-like face. “Even if it were my own parents, we’d still have to follow the rules.” The student looked at me with pleading eyes, then rushed to the door. “Doctor, please come in! My roommate is really bad. I’ll open the door for you.” With that, she lunged at the door to open it. Mrs. Peterson grabbed her, gave her a shove, and the young girl’s body hit the ground like a ragdoll. We all gasped. “My hand hurts so much,” the girl’s face was contorted in pain. “Can’t you keep your hands off men? Wanting to open the door for him, you’re truly shameless!” Seeing the pained expression on the student’s face, I felt a pang of pity. The female student struggled to her feet. “Peterson, the one upstairs waiting to be rescued is Hai…” Before she could finish, Mrs. Peterson interrupted her again. “Get back to your room, or I’ll give you a major disciplinary warning!” I couldn’t stand it anymore and shot back, “What authority do you have to give out disciplinary warnings? You’re just a dorm supervisor!” Hearing me, the student plucked up her courage. “Exactly! I’ll tell my parents you pushed me like this! And, the one waiting upstairs is Hailey Peterson!” Mrs. Peterson’s face flushed with anger when she heard the student mention telling her parents. But when she heard that the one needing rescue was Hailey, her face instantly went ashen. “What? Hailey is sick? You silly girl! Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” No more nonsense this time. She immediately flung open the door, glaring fiercely at me. “You’re entering the girls’ dorm, so keep your eyes to yourself. Don’t even think about looking around, or I’ll call the police!” “If Hailey doesn’t make it, I won’t let you get away with it!” There was no elevator in the dorm building, so we had to climb. Mrs. Peterson kept ranting behind us, “Can’t you go any faster?” “You’re a man, and you’re running so slowly? Are you even a man?” I scoffed, “If you hadn’t blocked us, we’d have been treating her already. This is all on you.” “If you really wanted to save her, you would have knelt for me already. You’re not genuinely trying to save anyone, and you still have the nerve to call yourselves doctors and nurses!” The dorm was on the seventh floor. I was already out of breath and didn’t have the energy to deal with someone like her. Good thing her every word and action had been recorded. This time, let’s see how she tries to manipulate public opinion and cyberbully me! The dorm room door was wide open. I quietly reminded Chloe, “Keep the camera rolling.” The girl lying on the ground was still conscious. Hearing the sound, she weakly fluttered her eyes open and looked at me. “Why is it a male doctor? I want a lady doctor.” Chloe tried to reassure her. “Sweetie, your situation is very serious right now.” I said in a deep voice, “In our eyes, there are only patients, not genders.” “But I don’t even have a boyfriend yet! How can a male doctor touch me?” Mrs. Peterson said anxiously, “Oh, daughter, stop talking!” She shoved me. “What are you standing there for? Do something!”

Even knowing what this mother and daughter were like, I was a doctor; I couldn’t just stand by and let a patient die. After a quick examination, I turned to Chloe and said, “Alright, let’s get her onto the ambulance.” Mrs. Peterson trailed right on my heels. “Is Hailey okay? You’ve treated her, so why go to the hospital? You’re not just trying to milk us for money, are you?” I stopped walking. “She’s out of immediate danger, but she needs further observation.” She muttered quietly, “I know your type. You just want us to spend more money.” At the hospital, after further checks, it was confirmed by noon that Hailey Peterson was fine. Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. “It was a bumpy road, but at least we saved her.” Mrs. Peterson was not happy. “Hailey was fine already! You insisted on dragging her to the hospital just to make us spend more money!” “I’m discharging her!” I subtly signaled to Chloe to keep recording. Only after she nodded did I speak. “Keeping the patient hospitalized is to ensure she’s completely out of danger. If you want to discharge her now, you’ll need to sign a liability waiver for us.” As soon as Mrs. Peterson heard “liability waiver,” she refused point-blank. “A waiver? I’m not signing it!” I was all business. “Then she needs to remain under observation in the hospital for another week.” Mrs. Peterson immediately threw herself onto the floor, wailing loudly, “This hospital is bullying people!” Soon, a crowd gathered. Seeing people arrive, Mrs. Peterson put even more effort into her performance! “This hospital is trying to extort money! Hailey wants to leave, but they won’t let her!” Was I going to let her twist the facts? I looked around and said loudly, “According to regulations, she needs to stay for a full week. This is for the patient’s own good.” Mrs. Peterson scrambled to her feet, lowered her head, and bumped into me. “Bullshit rules! You just want to make money!” I let her bump me, but I didn’t reach out. “You can be discharged, just sign the liability waiver.” The people around us also chimed in, “Yeah, you have to follow the rules! If you don’t sign the waiver and something happens, who’s responsible?” I held the waiver out to Mrs. Peterson, enunciating each word. “Ma’am, aren’t you the one who values rules the most? Sign it.” Mrs. Peterson glared at me, gritting her teeth. She snatched it, tore it into pieces in a flash, and tossed them into the air. “I’m not signing!” With the drama over, the crowd started to disperse. After Chloe sent me the video, she asked worriedly, “Dr. Stone, do you think Mrs. Peterson will pull another stunt?” I smirked sarcastically. “Just wait.” Sure enough, the next day, Chloe rushed to find me. “Dr. Stone, that dorm manager ran off with her daughter!” Nothing these two could do would surprise me. “Were the fees paid?” Chloe checked and said indignantly, “She still owes $500.” I immediately transferred $500. “I’ll cover it for her.” After Chloe completed the transaction, she said sincerely, “Dr. Stone, you’re too kind.” I just smiled faintly and said nothing. It wasn’t that I was stupidly rich; that $500, along with those videos, would all come in handy later! After waiting a few days, this good-for-nothing mother and daughter didn’t show up again. I even thought they wouldn’t reappear. Just as I was lamenting that my prepared videos would go to waste, Chloe rushed in, panting. “Dr. Stone, you need to come out! That dorm manager is causing a scene!” I put down the patient’s chart and ran out, only to see the main lobby packed with people. Mrs. Peterson’s voice could carry for miles. “Hailey was treated by this quack doctor, and now she has complications!”

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