The year I started elementary school, a new teacher joined our small-town school. During the first class, my sister made me draw our mom in my notebook, chained up. The next day, squad cars with flashing lights swarmed our place. They restrained my yelling dad and smashed open the rusty padlock on my mom’s bedroom door. I watched Mom take Melanie’s hand and rush towards the impeccably dressed man, a smile on her face I’d never seen before. Dad lay in a pool of blood, eyes closed. I begged Mom to save him. But she just shoved me away. “Don’t call me! If it weren’t for Melanie, why would I have ever given birth to you, you little monster!” I froze. Melanie, didn’t you say if I gave the drawing to the teacher, Mom would finally hug me? Nothing in front of me matched my fantasies. The incredibly distinguished man, whom Mom clutched tightly, stared at me with intense fury. He kicked my unconscious dad several times before turning to me. A large hand shadowed the sunlight, and I quickly shut my eyes in fear. “Don’t…” It was Mom’s voice. She tugged on the man’s sleeve, giving me a complicated look. My heart fluttered with a tiny spark of hope. So Melanie hadn’t lied. Giving the drawing to the teacher would make Mom like me. My sister, Melanie, wriggled out of Mom’s embrace and pointed at me, sobbing. “Mom, it was her! The kidnapper loved her the most!” “He always gave her the best food first, and called her his little treasure!” “Her kidnapper dad made us suffer so much, why shouldn’t we teach her a lesson?” Mom’s body stiffened, and her eyes, fixed on me, hardened instantly. The man, whom Mom was holding back, seemed provoked. His gaze on me was filled with murderous intent. Bang! He kicked me, sending me sprawling to the ground. The hard sole of his shoe slammed into my chest, making me feel like my insides had been scrambled. “Mommy… Mommy…” I cried out for Mom, but she just kept holding Melanie, never once looking back at me. For some reason, hearing me call her Mom seemed to enrage the man even more. He relentlessly punched and kicked my curled-up body. The pain choked me, and my vision blurred. Mom, didn’t you just like me a moment ago? Why don’t you like me anymore? Officers in uniform finally pulled the man away, and I was saved. My dad, covered in blood, was handcuffed and taken away in a squad car with flashing lights. As he passed me, he actually smiled faintly, muttering something I couldn’t quite hear. I knew that those who were handcuffed never came back. Mom and Melanie were also preparing to leave. I screamed and cried, grabbing Mom’s leg, falling to my knees and begging her. “Mom, please don’t leave me. I’ll be good. I promise.” Mom hesitated, but then Melanie started crying. “Mommy, I’m scared. I don’t want to see her again.” Even though Mom and Robert didn’t want to take me, the officers insisted, and they reluctantly brought me into the car. The car seats were soft, but I didn’t dare move, afraid my dirty clothes would stain them, and they’d abandon me again. I gradually felt dizzy, and on a sharp turn, I couldn’t hold it in anymore and bumped into Melanie. Melanie burst into tears. “You bullied me enough before, and now you’re bullying me again! I hate you! I never want to see you!” In the end, they found a thick rope. One end was tied to my wrist, the other fastened to the back of the car. I was dragged along behind their car like trash. By the time the car stopped, I was a bloody mess.

I was confined to the hospital for a full month. Each time the doctor came for rounds, his eyes held deep pity for me. Mom never once appeared. Only Melanie came a few times. Each time, she wore a beautiful frilly dress I’d never seen before, holding delicate snacks. She sat by my hospital bed, eating chips and boasting about her new life. “Lily, Dad bought me a huge toy castle, much bigger than our old house in the village.” “Mom took me to eat French food. The snails were so delicious, I bet you’ve never had them, right?” Her words pierced my heart a little. But I remained silent, just watching her quietly. After my injuries healed, I was brought home. It was called a home, but my room was in the attic, small and stuffy, with only a tiny skylight. They didn’t allow me to step out of the room, let alone go to school. Every day after school, Melanie would come by my room, in her pretty school uniform and cute backpack, just to show off. “Lily, today in art class, our teacher taught us how to draw, it was so much fun.” “Lily, my classmates invited me to the amusement park this weekend, and Mom already said yes.” I really wanted to go to school too, but from bits and pieces of the nanny’s conversations, I vaguely learned about my background. Until one day, Melanie took my hand and led me out of the attic, to Mom. “Mom, let Lily go to school too.” “Those things were all the kidnapper’s fault, they have nothing to do with Lily. We shouldn’t take it out on her.” After Melanie’s repeated pleas, Mom actually relented. “Go if you want, just don’t cause trouble.” Mom didn’t even look at me, coldly dropped those words, and left. Even though Mom still didn’t like me, I could finally go to school. I was transferred into Melanie’s elite private school, and I thought this was the start of a new life. But on my first day, my desk was drenched in black ink. My new textbooks were torn to shreds, paper scraps scattered everywhere. I didn’t dare speak up, silently cleaning it up alone. During break, a group of rich kids cornered me in the restroom. “Small-town hick! Do you even know how to use a proper restroom?” “Look at her clothes, so tacky!” “I heard her dad’s a kidnapper, trash’s kids should just die!” A chubby girl suddenly grabbed my hair and shoved my head into the toilet bowl. I struggled desperately, but I was too weak and choked on mouthfuls of disgusting water. Just then, Melanie appeared. She frowned and yelled, “Don’t you dare bully my sister!” She pulled me out of the toilet. “My sister just came from a small town, she doesn’t know how to use a toilet, don’t laugh at her.” “She was brought back by my mom and dad, even though… even though she doesn’t really look like she belongs in our family, but for my sake, please don’t bully her, okay?” But after she finished, she suddenly covered her nose, looking at me with disgust. “Ugh, what’s that smell? Didn’t you take a shower?” After her “defense,” the group laughed even more wildly. “So she’s Melanie’s charity case!” “Don’t worry, for your sake, we’ll take good ‘care’ of her!” After school, I returned home, filthy. Mom saw my condition and frowned in disgust. “She’s a lowlife, alright. Only good for causing trouble outside.” I said nothing, dragging my exhausted body back to the attic. Closing the door, I took out the paper and pen I’d hidden under my bed. I’d scavenged them from the trash. Lying on the floor, I drew a little girl on the paper. The girl stood on the edge of a cliff, and behind her, countless unseen hands were pushing her into the abyss.

I quickly learned the survival rules of that school. No matter how they insulted me, how they pranked me, I remained expressionless. They didn’t let me study, so I pretended not to listen to anything in class. Then, in the evening, back in the attic, I’d study little by little. Until one day, Melanie tore all my notes to shreds. “Lily, Mom won’t give you money for college anyway. This junk is taking up too much space. I cleared it out for you, no need to thank me.” In that moment, something inside me just snapped. I used all my strength and shoved her hard to the ground. She hadn’t expected me to fight back and fell heavily, hitting her forehead on the corner of a table. Blood started to seep out. “Ah!” Mom and the household staff immediately rushed up. Melanie cried and threw herself into Mom’s arms: “Mommy, Lily hit me! She said I’m a bad person and she wants to kick me out of this house!” Mom looked at the cut on Melanie’s forehead, then at me, her eyes turning instantly vicious. “You ungrateful snake! Melanie has been so good to you, and you dare lay a hand on her!” Her hand came down before I could move. The sting spread across my face, sharp and hot. Robert also rushed over. “You dare hurt Melanie? You’ll pay for this!!” He grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the wall. My scalp screamed with searing pain. Melanie hid behind Mom, revealing a pair of red-rimmed eyes, “Dad, don’t blame Lily, it’s my fault, I shouldn’t have ruined her things…” “What things does she have? A lowlife, eating my food, living in my house, and daring to bully my daughter!” He looked around, then grabbed a leather belt from the wall. The cold gleam of the belt flashed, but Mom’s eyes showed no ripples, instead, she hugged Melanie even tighter. Crack! The belt landed heavily on my back. My clothes instantly ripped, and the burning pain made me curl into a ball. “It wasn’t me…” I could barely speak through the pain, but I still used all my strength to argue, “It was her… she tore up my notes…” “Still talking back! Still slandering Melanie!” Crack! Crack! Crack! The belt struck again and again. My back, my legs, everywhere burned with tearing pain. I looked up at Mom by the door, casting her a final plea. She finally spoke, but it wasn’t the plea I’d hoped for. “Just like your kidnapper father, full of lies, a born bad seed, rotten to the core.” Robert threw down the belt and started kicking my body with the tip of his shoe. My chest, my abdomen, my back… each kick made me feel like my insides were being torn apart. The taste of blood filled my mouth, and my vision began to blur. Before closing my eyes, I saw Melanie peek out from Mom’s embrace, a barely perceptible smirk curling at the corner of her lips.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299372”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring

My parents were renowned music professors. After having my twin sister and me, they poured all their hopes into nurturing us. I was a prodigy, picking up anything instantly. My sister, Seraphina, on the other hand, struggled with everything. The day I won the National Youth Cello Competition, Seraphina couldn’t handle it. She left a diary and jumped into the sea, supposedly taking her own life. Every single word in that diary was a chilling accusation of my supposed sins. Dad lost it. He smashed my trophy into my mouth. Shards cut deep as he forced me to kneel. Mom, her eyes blazing red, stomped on my hands, breaking all ten of my fingers. Then she shoved me into a cello case, demanding I atone for Seraphina. My throat burned. I couldn’t breathe between sobs, as blood seeped out of the case, staining the floor. But all I got in return was: “If it weren’t for you, you wicked child, always trying to steal the spotlight, your sister wouldn’t have died! Your selfishness pushed her to her death. Now you’ll stay in there and truly repent, apologize to her!” Seven days later, Seraphina returned, lively and well, at her own funeral. Mom and Dad were overjoyed, embracing her, crying and laughing. They decided to end my punishment. But when they opened the case, they went completely insane.

“Bang!” Dad kicked open the door, grabbed my hair, and threw me to the floor. “You murderer! You killed your sister! How could I have raised something so cruel?” Mom, her hair disheveled, clutched Seraphina’s diary, sobbing hysterically. That’s when I learned that Seraphina had filled the diary with accusations against me, from childhood up. She wrote that I, her gifted younger sister, always loved to show off in front of her, subtly mocking her as worthless. She claimed I humiliated her, saying she didn’t deserve to be a sister, and cursed her for not getting Mom and Dad’s love. So, she didn’t want to compete anymore. She wanted to leave. I froze on the spot. Why would she lie? All my life, Mom and Dad had clearly favored her, cared more for her, simply because she knew how to read their moods and charm them. I, on the other hand, could only gain a little more attention by constantly practicing my cello. Fearing she’d be sad due to her lack of talent, Mom and Dad would practically move mountains to give her the best of everything. To spare her feelings, they missed every one of my competitions, always staying with Seraphina. Today’s finals were crucial for my future, and after much pleading, they finally agreed to attend. But after I won, they went crazy upon hearing Seraphina had jumped into the sea, abandoning me and rushing out. Now, their eyes held nothing but disgust and hatred for me. “Last night, Seraphina told me, ‘Mom, I might never catch up to Elara. My life is a joke’… How did I not realize what she meant!” Mom suddenly crouched down, her nails digging deep into my chin. “She’s your own sister! Is this how you belittled her, drove her to her death?!” Pain made tears well in my eyes. I struggled to speak, “Mom, no, I didn’t…” Before I could finish, Dad, his face a storm cloud, snatched up my crystal trophy and slammed it hard into my mouth. “Still trying to argue after all this?! You used this mouth to force Seraphina to suicide, didn’t you?!” Blow after blow, the heavy trophy slammed into me. My vision blurred, a warm gush erupted from my nose. Bang! The trophy finally shattered against my lips. Several sharp fragments pierced my mouth, and I nearly passed out from the pain. Blood dripped onto my white dress, blooming red where it touched. As if that wasn’t enough, Dad pressed me down, forcing me to kneel on the shards. My knees screamed in agony, the fragments felt like they were piercing my bones. I wailed. The next second, Dad stormed into my room, dragged out all my awards and certificates, and tore them to shreds in front of me. Even the clay sculpture of our family of four that I’d handmade for his birthday was smashed at his feet. No! Dad, why don’t you believe me…? Tears streaming down my face, I lunged to pick up the pieces, but Mom’s foot came down hard on my hand. “You murderer, give me back my Seraphina! Why wasn’t it you who died instead?!” She was hysterical, her high heel slamming down onto my fingers, one by one. “Ah!” The excruciating pain of breaking bones was too much. I couldn’t hold on, and everything went black.

When I woke again, I found myself lying on a soft bed. My face and hands were bandaged. Mom came in, holding a bowl of chicken soup. She blew on each spoonful, then fed it to me. This was the first time in eighteen years she’d been so gentle with me. My nose stung, and tears fell. “Mom, I really didn’t say those things to Seraphina. Please, believe me?” She mumbled a distracted “Mmm,” told me to rest, and left. I quickly drifted into a hazy sleep, but dimly heard someone talking to Mom and Dad: “Time’s almost up. Lock her away now!” My body was lifted and placed into a confined space. The familiar scent of pine wood brought me back to awareness. I struggled to open my eyes and discovered that Mom and Dad had crammed me into my cello case! Behind them stood a man dressed in flowing robes, looking like some kind of spiritual medium. Seeing the fear in my eyes as I tried to struggle, Dad shoved me back into the case with a vicious glare. “Stay there and atone for your sister! The Seer said Seraphina’s spirit can’t find its way back because you drove it away!” Mom, her hands pressed together, murmured, “Don’t be afraid, Seraphina. Your mom and dad have locked this wicked child away to pay for what she did. Please calm down, come back to us soon, just a visit. Tell us where your body drifted off to…” Julian, the medium, waved a hand, signaling them to seal the lid. “The deceased’s spirit will definitely visit in a dream within seven days. After that, you can let her out!” “No, Mom! I hurt so much, please don’t lock me in!” I struggled in terror, but Mom held me down tightly. Dad, with a grim look, snapped the latches shut. The world plunged into darkness. I desperately heard the cello case being locked. “If it weren’t for you—always showing off, always stealing her light—she’d still be alive.” Mom’s cold voice filtered in. Dad’s voice was full of disgust, “It’s just a few days in the cello case as punishment. Is that really more painful than Seraphina being lost to the sea?” My throat burned. I couldn’t breathe between sobs. The wounds on my fingers tore open again, and blood seeped out of the case, soaking the floor. “No… please, I’ll really die in here…” “Hmph! There are air holes in the cello case, and we gave you enough nutrients to last seven days. Don’t you dare try to threaten us with death!” “If only your death, you evil spawn, could bring Seraphina back, how wonderful that would be!” Hearing those last words, I completely gave up struggling. Tears streamed out, stinging the injuries on my face. I started to develop a high fever, my consciousness gradually blurring. I don’t know how much time passed, but then the door to the room where they’d set up Seraphina’s memorial opened. Instantly, my will to survive reignited. Mom, Dad, please save me, I feel terrible… Mom’s anxious voice reached my ears. “The Seer said, as long as we fulfill Seraphina’s wishes from her diary, she’ll definitely visit us in a dream!” “Right, let’s start doing them one by one now!” Dad urged her, and they left again. The door to the memorial room slammed shut with a *bang*. My only hope shattered once more. My body grew colder and colder. My vision began to blur. In the darkness, I seemed to return to my childhood, to a birthday celebration Mom and Dad threw for us. Mom carried a cake glittering with candles, and Dad smiled, clapping his hands. “Happy Birthday to our two adorable little birthday girls!” He smiled, holding out two gifts. “Elara, this is your new sheet music. Seraphina, this is the Barbie doll you wanted…” I smiled, reaching out to take the gift, but their faces instantly twisted. Mom slammed the cake onto the floor. Dad tore the sheet music in his hand to shreds. “You deliberately mocked your sister, forced her to suicide, didn’t you? You murderer!” I cried, shaking my head, “No! I just wanted to tell her, even if she couldn’t follow the path of music, there were so many other possibilities for her future…” “Liar! You killed her! You’ll pay for her life!” I cried, struggled, as if trapped in a long nightmare. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself no longer in that cramped, locked cello case. Instead, I was floating in the air above the memorial room.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299371”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring

I died on my wedding anniversary. My sister-in-law, Chloe, sent three AI-generated intimate photos of me with a homeless man to our family SnapChat group. “Hey, everyone! Look at these pics. Cassidy must love this stuff” “Check out these juicy pics, everyone! Cassidy loves this kind of thing!” My husband, Liam, called me, his voice frantic: “Cassidy, I know it’s fake! I’m coming home right now!” A piercing screech of brakes ripped through the phone, followed by a sickening thud. He died horribly, crushed under a massive truck. My mother-in-law, Eleanor, stormed into the hospital and slapped me hard. “You evil jinx! You cursed my son to death!” My father-in-law, Richard, watched with cold eyes. “Good riddance. This worthless cuckold wasn’t fit to be my son.” What chilled me even more was my own mother, Sarah, sobbing as she said, “Cassidy, just accept it. We can’t let one person ruin both our families’ reputations.” My father, Robert, angrily shook off my hand. “We don’t have a daughter like you! You’re a disgrace!” On the rooftop, the wind was biting cold. Chloe cheered from below, “Jump! Go join my brother in hell!” I plunged down, the last thing I saw was my husband’s sweet, trusting smile. Then, I opened my eyes. I was back the day before the photos were sent.

My sister-in-law, Chloe, was proudly showing off her edited photo. “Hey, check this out! Not bad, right?” This time, I smiled and complimented her skills. “Cassidy, are you awake? Come on, try the warm milk I just made for you, I even added honey!” Chloe’s sickly sweet voice buzzed in my ear. She held out a cup of milk, her smile innocent and harmless. “Cassidy? Why aren’t you saying anything? You’re not really mad at me, are you?” She leaned closer, her tone disgustingly affectionate. “I just thought you were too stressed last night, so I played a joke on you. Who knew you’d get so scared you’d smash your phone?” Last night, while I was showering, she secretly used my phone to post a message in my class SnapChat group: [After being married for so long, I just found out Liam is completely useless in bed. This life of celibacy is killing me. Is there any real man out there who can keep me company?] Followed by a few suggestive emojis! By the time I found out, the message couldn’t be unsent. The group instantly blew up, relatives’ messages flooding the screen. My mother-in-law immediately called, yelling and calling me shameless. My father also texted, accusing me of being disgraceful. I was speechless, unable to defend myself, and in my panic, I dropped and smashed my phone. And Chloe, watching my pathetic state, laughed wildly, saying, “Cassidy, I was just joking! Why are you taking it so seriously?” “Why don’t you just go explain it in the group yourself? Hahahaha…” In my previous life, it was her so-called jokes that slowly pushed me to my breaking point! I took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to strangle her right then and there. “Of course not,” I forced a stiff smile, taking the milk. “Chloe’s jokes… why would I be angry?” “Good!” She immediately beamed, plopping down on my bed and affectionately linking her arm through mine. “Sister-in-law, my AI face-swapping skills are super advanced lately!” “I could not only put your face on a homeless man, but I could even swap you with any guy in an adult video, and no one would know the difference!” She giggled, covering her mouth, a cruel glint in her eyes. “Imagine if my brother saw it—he’d totally freak out. Do you think he’d actually believe it?” “Hahaha, that quiet bore would totally lose his mind, right? That scene would be so funny!” Funny? I looked at her twisted smile, my stomach churning. In my previous life, it was this “funny joke” that led to Liam’s tragic death and forced me to jump. “Chloe,” I tried to make my voice sound worried, “let’s not joke like that. Liam… he’s sensitive, he might take it seriously. Plus, Mom and Dad wouldn’t approve.” She laughed, sharp and mean.”Liam ? That boring loser?” “Mom and Dad don’t care about him anyway! He’s like our family’s ATM—except he doesn’t even charge fees!” “My mother said Liam is a loser, so spineless he barely makes a peep. If he couldn’t make money, they would’ve kicked him out years ago! Not like me, I’m their sweet little angel.” As she spoke, she flashed a new, expensive bracelet on her wrist. “Look, Mom made him Venmo me his whole bonus so I could buy this bracelet! Isn’t it pretty? Don’t feel bad for him; he makes money for us to spend!” Then, as if a brilliant idea struck her, her eyes lit up. “Oh, by the way, Cassidy, I found this super cool place today! I’ll take you there this afternoon, okay? It’ll totally blow your mind!” Here it comes. In my last life, she used the excuse of cheering me up to trick me into going near that underpass where the homeless people gathered. That’s where she took the staged photo that would become the base for her AI mischief. My heart pounded, but I kept my face impassive. “What kind of place? I’m a bit tired today, and your brother is coming home for dinner tonight…” “Come on, come on!” She grabbed my arm and shook it, her voice whiny yet forceful. “So what if my brother comes home? Just leave him a note! A guy like him won’t die from missing one meal!” “You’ve been cooped up at home for days! I promise, this place is so… so ‘full of life’! You’ll find it really interesting!” I looked at her, knowing that if I refused, she would only find some other, more extreme way. Better to play along. “…Okay.” I feigned helplessness. “Then wait for me to change.” “Yay!” She jumped up excitedly. “Hurry up, Cassidy! I’ll wait downstairs!” Watching her cheerful back, my eyes turned icy cold. I walked to the vanity table and took out a tiny, high-definition camera disguised as a button, fastening it to the inside of my collar.

That afternoon, Chloe did indeed take me to the place that had haunted my nightmares in my previous life: the dilapidated West Side district, earmarked for future development. The air stank of rot. A few homeless men crouched under the bridge, just shadows in the dark. “Cassidy, look, these homeless people are so pathetic!” Chloe held up her phone, seemingly taking pictures of the scenery, but her lens kept drifting towards me. “They’re all homeless. We should help them, shouldn’t we?” “Mmm,” I replied absently, my gaze vigilantly scanning our surroundings. I knew the homeless man she’d bribed would appear soon. Sure enough, we hadn’t walked far when a disheveled middle-aged man reeking of body odor shambled toward us. His eyes were cloudy, but his target was clear. “Oops!” Chloe suddenly “slipped,” crying out as she lunged directly into me! In my previous life, it was this bump that threw me off balance, making me fall towards the homeless man. She then seized the chance to snap that staged photo of me seemingly falling into his arms. But this time, I was ready. The moment she lurched at me, I subtly shifted my body, deftly avoiding the main force of her push. At the same time, I flicked my wrist, aiming the camera in my collar directly at her. “Chloe! Watch out!” I gasped, reaching out to grab her, but my fingertips just happened to hook onto the phone charm hanging from her chest. “Ah!” she shrieked. To steady herself, her hand instinctively pushed against the homeless man who had just approached us! “Click!” “Click!” I clearly heard her phone rapidly taking pictures. From her angle, the photos would definitely look like *she* was actively falling into the homeless man! And my button camera perfectly recorded everything—including how Chloe accidentally bumped into me, and how she unexpectedly pushed the homeless man. “Get off me! You stink!” After Chloe steadied herself, she immediately shoved the still-dazed homeless man away with disgust, frantically checking her phone. When she saw the photos on the screen, a look of satisfaction spread across her face. She didn’t notice at all that she was the real star of that little accident. “Cassidy, are you okay? You scared me just now!” She put away her phone and immediately adopted a concerned expression. “This place is too chaotic. Let’s go quickly!” “Okay.” I lowered my head, hiding the cold sneer at the corner of my lips. The evidence was in my hands.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299370”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring

In my past life, my twin sister, Lily, saved a mob boss’ life. In return, he became obsessed with claiming her. Terrified of his violent world, she pushed me, her twin sister, into her place. My biased parents also forced me to comply. “Have you forgotten that your sister donated her bone marrow to save you when you were sick? What’s the big deal about stepping in for her now? You owe her this!” “You can’t be so selfish, thinking everyone should revolve around you. You need to give back!” It was true Lily had given me her bone marrow, and for years, I’d been repaying her, an endless cycle. I was sick and tired of that life. Looking at their cold faces, I nodded. Later, the mob boss went straight for me, establishing a legitimate business empire. I became the glamorous wife of a billionaire. Meanwhile, Lily was scammed out of money and herself by some street punks. In a fit of rage, she plunged a knife into my chest. “You stole the life that should have been mine! If you die, I can take your place and have a good life!” I didn’t struggle. Because what she didn’t know was that the mob boss had a serious obsession, twisted and insane. As for me, I had been tortured to the point where I no longer wanted to live. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day before the mob boss was supposed to pick up his bride.

“My poor darling girl, Mom doesn’t want you to be taken by someone like that, but he’s from the underworld, and he’s foreign. He kills people without batting an eye. What are we going to do?” “Lily, if only you hadn’t saved him, it’s your good heart that caused all this trouble. Your life is ruined.” Hearing Mom and Dad’s worried voices, I realized I had been reborn. In my past life, at this very moment, Lily was sobbing dramatically, her eyes intentionally glancing at me. “Why is my fate so cruel? Is being kind my fault? I wouldn’t ignore even a stray animal on the street, and I donated my bone marrow to my sister without a second thought when she was sick. Why do good deeds go unrewarded?” At her ‘reminder,’ Mom and Dad finally noticed me zoning out on the couch. Their eyes immediately lit up. Dad was the first to suggest, “Rose, you and Lily are twins. I sometimes get you confused. Do you think that boss might not be able to tell the difference? After all, he’s only met you once.” Mom understood his meaning. “Are you saying… we should let Rose marry him in Lily’s place?” I immediately refused. “No way!” I had just gotten into my dream university and had my life all planned out. I didn’t want it derailed by one of Lily’s schemes. Lily’s crying suddenly intensified. “Mom, Dad, that’s not fair to Rose. Just blame my bad luck!” Mom frowned. “And that’s fair to you?” Then, she glared at me fiercely. “Have you forgotten that your sister donated her bone marrow to save you when you were sick? What’s the big deal about stepping in for her now? You owe her this!” Dad chimed in, “You can’t be so selfish, thinking everyone should revolve around you. You need to give back!” I was speechless. Yes, Lily donating her bone marrow to me was a fact. But all these years, I’d been repaying her, and it felt like it would never end. Anything I owned, if Lily wanted it, she would simply take it. This included, but wasn’t limited to, a limited-edition doll, a dress, and even a boy I had a crush on when I was first discovering love. Whenever I expressed dissatisfaction, she would use the bone marrow incident against me. My parents would side with her, constantly accusing me of being insensible, only knowing how to take and never give back. For years, I’d been suffocated by their expectations. Finally, even my entire life was being thrown away. I knew Mom and Dad’s favoritism stemmed from Lily’s lively and outgoing personality, while I was quiet, withdrawn, and didn’t know how to please anyone. So, to end it all, I eventually agreed to sacrifice myself. The ironic part was, I ended up dying by Lily’s hand. But in this life, I wouldn’t obediently comply again. I was about to speak, but unexpectedly, Lily suddenly declared loudly, “It’s fine! I’m willing to marry him! I believe he’ll go straight for me and live a normal life!” Meeting her determined gaze, I realized she had also been reborn, though I didn’t know how she died. Perfect, it saved me the trouble. I curved my lips into a slight smile. “Well, congratulations, Lily. No more suffering through school. You’ll marry the boss early and reach the pinnacle of life in one step.”

Lily rolled her eyes at me. “Cut the passive-aggressive act. So what if you’re good at studying and got into a good university? After graduation, you’ll probably make three thousand a month, while I’ll be married to the boss with more money than I can spend. It’s normal for you to be jealous.” Me, jealous? Oh, I was so jealous. I hoped she could still smile after she learned about Lucian’s obsessions. Mom and Dad were bewildered by her sudden change in attitude. “Sweetheart, didn’t you say you didn’t want to marry him? You cried for days, your eyes were swollen. Why the sudden change of heart?” Lily quickly put on a show of being understanding. “Mom, Dad, I’m not like Rose, who’s so good at her studies. If I really let her go in my place, her whole life would be ruined. I can’t be that selfish. Even if… even if my life is over, at least Rose can take care of you in your old age.” Mom and Dad were completely swept away by her ‘sacrifice’, the three of them hugging and crying endlessly, making isolated me feel like an outsider. Though I was used to it, this scene still stung my heart. Even if Lily herself was willing to marry him this time, Mom and Dad still couldn’t help but feel resentment towards me. Even though I hadn’t said a word this lifetime, they still blamed me for not actively shielding Lily from this fate. Instead, Lily’s ‘sacrifice’ for the ‘greater good’ filled them with guilt. In my past life, on the day the boss came to pick up his bride, Lily, terrified of being recognized, hid in her room and didn’t show her face. Mom and Dad also lied, claiming they only had one daughter. This time, Lily began to groom herself before dawn, eagerly anticipating a life where the mob boss would cherish her above all else. Unaware of her true feelings, Mom and Dad hadn’t slept a wink, worried about her leaving. In the morning, Lily came to my room and warned me fiercely, “I’ve already told Mom and Dad to keep quiet, saying we only have one daughter. Don’t get any stupid ideas. Don’t you dare come downstairs and be an eyesore later!” I was more than happy to comply. After everything in my past life, I never wanted to see that man again. “I know. I won’t go out.” But Lily still wasn’t reassured. She stubbornly tied me to a chair. Soon, there was a stir downstairs. He had arrived. My dad ran a small business, and while we weren’t poor, we certainly weren’t wealthy. This townhouse was his big splurge, and to save money on renovations, the soundproofing was… well, let’s just say ‘barely there’. I could hear the conversation downstairs clearly. I thought that after being reborn, I wouldn’t tremble at the sound of his voice again, but when he spoke, I still held my breath. “Miss Henderson, it seems you’re ready.” His voice was deep, laced with an authority that sent shivers down my spine. It wasn’t directed at me, but at Lily, yet it echoed the nightmares of my past life, and I couldn’t help but tremble slightly. “Yes, let’s go!” Lily’s voice was jubilant, probably captivated by his appearance. In my past life, it was after she saw Lucian that her hatred and jealousy towards me reached its peak, making her determined to kill me. Lucian, though born and raised abroad, with mixed heritage, was a perfect blend of Eastern and Western features. He was tall and lean, with fair skin and sharp, deep-set features-the dream of countless young women. Just like in my past life, Lucian left Mom and Dad a hefty sum of money for their retirement, enough to astound my small-town dad, who was easily impressed. I prayed for them to leave quickly, to banish the nightmare of my past life far away from me. Suddenly, Lucian asked, “Is she your only daughter?” I froze. Had he asked that question in my past life?

Searching my memories, I found no answer. I wasn’t sure. Lucian couldn’t possibly have been reborn too, could he? A man so careful with his life, so powerful and wealthy-I couldn’t imagine anyone being able to kill him. Mom, Dad, and Lily all said in unison, “Of course. We only have one daughter, and she’s the one who saved you.” “Is that so… Then let’s go.” Lucian’s tone was unreadable. Hearing them leave, I let out a long breath. Soon after, Mom came to untie me. She excitedly told me, “He gave us a check for a hundred million, and it’s US dollars! Can you imagine how much that is in local currency?! Your dad and I can relax for the rest of our lives!” Yet, she had been crying and reluctant to let go of her precious daughter just before Lucian walked in. In my past life, they could have also retired comfortably with this money they got from ‘selling’ me. But Lily, uneducated and irresponsible, got carried away with the money. She spent her days in nightclubs, drinking and partying, and fell in with a group of punks who claimed to be trust fund kids. Whether they were actually rich, I don’t know. But in the end, she was scammed out of money and herself, dragging Mom and Dad back to square one overnight. I forced a smile. “Congratulations.” Mom paused, then changed her tone. “Congratulations for what? Congratulations that your sister was snatched away by a gangster and will never come back? This money is the payment for your sister’s life. Do you even have a heart?” Do I have a heart? I wasn’t the one smiling happily while holding the money. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. Anyway, once I started university, I planned to live on campus. I’d walk my own path from then on, wanting no more ties to them. Four years flew by. My university life was unexpectedly smooth and peaceful. I thought I had completely escaped the shadows of my past life, but then, news came that Lily was returning. Lucian had indeed gone straight for her, moving his businesses domestically, but I knew the suffering she had endured behind the scenes. On the day she came home, she made a grand entrance, escorted by luxury cars, covered in designer brands. I knew her; no matter how miserable she was behind closed doors, she always had to appear superior in public. So Mom and Dad didn’t notice anything amiss. They even called to warn me, “Your sister’s back. Don’t come home for a while. We told our son-in-law we only have one daughter, we can’t let him find out.” I laughed. “Mom, I haven’t been home in two years.” The last time was when Mom accidentally broke her leg and called me back to care for her. My words silenced Mom for a moment. Then, she grumbled, “You’re truly useless. In the future, your dad and I will have to rely on your sister and our good son-in-law.” She hung up after that. I shook my head helplessly. I hoped so too. That evening, I had just gotten back to my rental apartment from work when Mom called again. “Come home. Your sister wants to see you.” It was a command, and she hung up before I could refuse. I didn’t want to listen to her, but considering Lily had also been reborn, if she wanted to see me, she would definitely find me. It was better to humor her and see what drama she was planning.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299369”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring

My mom nearly didn’t make it when I was born, which is why I remained my dad’s only child. So, eighteen years ago, he adopted a poor young boy, raising him as his heir. He wanted someone truly trustworthy by my side in the future, someone who could help safeguard the family business and look out for me. But then, at the peak of his career, my dad suddenly died. I couldn’t handle the shock. I fell terribly ill and spent a whole year recovering abroad. When I returned, I found that the owner of the auction house was now Victor Sterling. All of my dad’s treasured collections had been sold off by him, at rock-bottom prices, to overseas dealers. What he didn’t know, though, was this: My dad adopted more than just him. Victor Sterling twirled a pen between his fingers, his gaze cold and distant, devoid of the tenderness I remembered. “Who said you could come in?” He spoke, the coldness in his voice piercing my eardrums. I took two steps forward, glaring at him. “Victor, this is my dad’s auction house.” He scoffed, leaning back in his chair. Chloe, her bright crimson nails gleaming, lifted her head from his embrace and playfully tugged at his tie. “Cassidy, get it through your thick skull. This auction house is Victor’s now.” She leaned closer to Victor’s ear, purposely raising her voice. “Some people just don’t know when to quit, do they? Couldn’t hold onto what was theirs, and now they’re crawling back, shamelessly begging.” Victor didn’t push her away. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist, his eyes turning even colder as he looked at me. Seeing them like this, I felt like a vice was squeezing my heart. “Victor, have you forgotten what you promised my dad on his deathbed?” “You said you’d protect the Preston legacy, that you’d treat it like your own business!” “Have you forgotten who entrusted you with all the Preston collections? Who believed in you and made you the head of the auction house?” Victor idly twirled a strand of Chloe’s hair around his finger, not even bothering to lift his gaze. “Cassidy, your sentimental games? I’m so over them.” “Those collections, those promises, they were just your dad’s wishful thinking,” Chloe added, her voice dripping with mockery. “Did you really think Victor would hold onto that ‘sentiment’?” I searched Victor’s eyes, hoping to find a hint of the man I once knew. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. “It was a setup from the start, wasn’t it?” “You got close to me, close to the Preston family, all for this auction house, for our collections?” My voice trembled, but I forced the words out. Victor finally looked up at me, his lips twisted into a cruel smirk. He didn’t answer directly. He reached out and pinched Chloe’s cheek. “See? She’s only just figured it out. Isn’t that a little stupid?” Chloe shook with laughter, a sickening, theatrical sound. I started coughing, the taste of blood rising in my throat. Every word I spoke dripped with hatred. “You owe the Prestons, you owe my dad, and I swear, I’ll make you pay back every single cent, twice over!” But Victor just chuckled as if I’d told a joke. He stood up and walked toward me. He loomed over me, his eyes full of disdain. “Pay back double? Cassidy, you have nothing left. What are you going to fight me with?” “This auction house? I call the shots now.” He then reached out and brushed his knuckles against my cheek, a gesture so dismissive and insulting it made my skin crawl. “I advise you, be smart and leave Starhaven City. Find some quiet place to live your life.” “Otherwise.” “If I can take your dad’s auction house, I can make sure you have no place to stand in Starhaven City at all!” The pain in my chest intensified, yet I started to laugh. “Victor, do you really think you can take all of this?”

The words barely left my mouth when my wrist was suddenly seized. The next second, Victor’s hand clamped down hard on my jaw. The sharp pain in my bones made me wince. “Cassidy, I’ll say it again.” His eyes were menacing, his grip tightening relentlessly. “This auction house is mine now!” “If you dare make another scene here, I won’t hesitate to have you dragged out.” People around us started to gather, their whispers like needles pricking my ears. “Is that Professor Preston’s daughter? I heard she squandered all the family collections.” “She sure did. Now she’s making a fuss here, acting like a total lunatic.” “Mr. Sterling was kind enough to take over the auction house and clean up her mess. And she’s so ungrateful.” I wrenched my hand free from Victor’s grip. “Squandered the collections? Victor, do you dare deny that you sold my dad’s priceless antique books and paintings to overseas dealers?” Those ancient texts were my dad’s life’s work! Victor scoffed, stepping back and pulling Chloe closer by the shoulder. “Easy there, Cassidy. You can’t just throw accusations around.” “You were the one desperate for cash, secretly selling off the collections. Your dad was so furious, it triggered his illness.” “Now, all of Starhaven City knows that Cassidy Preston is an unfilial daughter.” His tone was calm, but every word he uttered was a dagger straight to my heart. At the same time, Chloe pulled a blue-bound notebook from her bag and waved it in front of me. It was my dad’s Personal Appraisal Log, the culmination of thirty years of his painstaking work! “Your dad treated this log like gold. He never let anyone outside the family even glance at it.” “And what did it get him? He raised an ungrateful daughter like you, who couldn’t even protect the family fortune.” “Give it back!” My eyes blazing, I struggled to snatch it. But Victor suddenly stepped forward and kicked me hard in the knee. My balance instantly gave out, and I fell heavily to the floor. My back slammed into a nearby display stand, making a jarring crash. Bang! A delicate antique vase on the stand wobbled, then crashed straight to the ground. Shards flew everywhere, and a sharp piece of porcelain sliced my arm. Blood instantly welled up. Ignoring the pain, I tried to push myself up. But Victor crouched down, pulled a document from his suit pocket, and tossed it in front of me. “This is the collection custody agreement you signed and fingerprinted.” The signature and fingerprint on it were undeniably mine. But I had never signed anything like this! “This is fake!” I crumpled the paper in my hand, my voice filled with despair. Victor raised an eyebrow, looking at the people around us. “Everyone, take a look. Aren’t these Ms. Preston’s signature and fingerprint?” “Looks like it, I’ve seen Ms. Preston’s signature before.” “Maybe she willingly gave them up and now wants to back out?” “How can Professor Preston’s daughter be so shameless?” Accusations rose in a chorus, like a net, trapping me tightly. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. The bitter taste of being utterly speechless, with no way to defend myself, stung more than the cut on my arm. “Cassidy, what do you have to say for yourself now?”

“Do you have any conscience at all?” “My dad treated you like his own son, raised you as his heir. Is this how you repay him?” Back then, my dad saw he was alone and not only put him through school but also personally taught him how to appraise collections. He even entrusted him with the core operations of the auction house without reservation. Victor scoffed, tugging at his tie. “His own son? Cassidy, don’t you forget.” “When you secretly sold off collections to pay debts, who helped you keep it from your dad?” “And that time you were cornered in an alley by creditors, who got you out of there?” “It was me!” He emphasized the words, as if taking credit. “But you? You turned around and forgot all my kindness, and now you’re here slandering me!” These twisted lies made my blood run cold, then boiled with fury. Then, I abruptly pushed past the bodyguard next to me and lunged at Chloe. “Give me back my dad’s things!” But Chloe seemed prepared. As I charged, she suddenly recoiled, raising her hand high. Rip. The crisp tearing sound was like a knife plunging straight into my heart. The blue-bound log was torn clean in two. Paper scraps fluttered to the ground, my dad’s thirty years of painstaking work, destroyed just like that. Immediately after, Chloe’s legs gave out, and she clutched her stomach, collapsing to the floor. “Ah! Victor, my stomach hurts…” Victor, quick as a flash, caught her. His eyes, when they turned to me, were instantly filled with murderous rage. “Cassidy! You dare push her?” “I’m telling you, from today onward, I’ll make sure you can’t even get a meal in Starhaven City!” I stared at the shredded fragments of the log on the ground, my mind blank. The surrounding clamor faded, leaving only the sound of my own heavy breathing. My dad’s image, bent over his desk, writing in that log, still flashed vividly before my eyes. He used to say, every word in this log was the root of our Preston family. But now, the root was gone. A wave of pure rage surged from deep within me. I bent down, snatched a ceramic shard from the floor, and lunged toward Chloe. “I’ll kill you!” But after just two steps, security guards rushed up from behind, pinning my arms tightly. I struggled desperately, the ceramic shard in my hand digging deeper into my palm. Its sharp edges bit into my flesh. Blood streamed from between my fingers, dripping onto the floor, blooming into blinding crimson flowers. Victor set Chloe down and slowly walked toward me. His dress shoes crunched on the blood droplets I’d shed, making a sickening, sticky sound. “Do you really think those collections can be recovered?” He leaned down, whispering into my ear, his voice laced with venomous amusement. “I’ve already turned them into luxury cars and mansions, bought jewelry for Chloe.” “Your dad’s life’s work? Now it’s just capital for me to spoil Chloe.” I trembled with rage. “Victor, you ungrateful snake! You beast!” “My dad never should have saved you, never should have pulled you out of that gutter!” “You’ll get your comeuppance! You will!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299368”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring

I was watching a show on my husband’s laptop in his office when an AI assistant notification suddenly popped up. “Hey there, handsome boss! Stop working so hard, you need your rest. We’ve got a big night ahead, you know?” I stared at the cutesy font and the screen full of pink hearts, utterly stunned. Clutching the screenshot, I stormed up to him while he was meeting a client. “Are you seeing someone else?” He paused, then chuckled, pinching my cheek. “Silly. That’s just an AI virtual girlfriend our company developed. I’m just personally testing it.” I calmly nodded, then turned and asked someone to investigate. After getting the IP address behind this virtual girlfriend, I immediately posted it in the company SnapChat group. “Come clean now, and I might just spare you some public humiliation.” Taking my money, treating me like a fool – you should be prepared for your life to be utterly destroyed! The bustling company SnapChat group instantly fell silent. Five minutes later, Alex burst through the door, his forehead beaded with sweat, breath ragged, a desperate look on his face. “Tori, it’s really just program testing, you have to believe me!” Several core senior employees followed him in, all rushing to explain. “Ms. Sterling, it’s just a beta version. There’s absolutely no real person operating it.” “The dialogue content is pre-scripted. It doesn’t mean what you think it means.” Mr. Henderson, the Technical Director, pulled out the meeting minutes and handed them to me. “These dialogue templates were designed by the team together. The goal is to boost user engagement and loyalty.” “Mr.Thorne was personally testing it for our team’s project. If you misunderstand him, we’ll all feel terrible.” Their words were earnest, all of them defending Alex. Alex took my hand, his eyes full of sincerity. “Tori, I’m so sorry I upset you. If you don’t like me using this, I’ll never touch it again.” He knew his sincerity always swayed me. Back when he was dirt poor, I saw something in his character and wholeheartedly backed his startup. To achieve success, he worked overtime for half a month straight, not coming home at night. I never doubted him, instead keeping our home perfectly organized, waiting for his return. When he needed funding, I secured investment from my father, agreeing that he’d have full control over the profits for the first five years. In the end, when the business didn’t take off, I didn’t blame him. Instead, I used his “rich experience” as a reason to recommend him for a position at the corporation my father founded. The day he became CEO, at his celebration banquet, he proposed to me a second time. He told me his love for me would always be as pure and passionate as when we first fell in love, and he would only ever love me. Every wedding anniversary after that, he would propose to me again. To prove he stayed true to his original vows. His loyalty to me, by all accounts, should have been unwavering. I wearily pinched the bridge of my nose, waving them off. “I understand. I won’t pursue this any further.” They left the office, relieved. Alex also visibly relaxed and started to walk over to embrace me. I pushed him away. I had already seen Alex’s chat logs with the AI assistant. It messaged him every few dozen minutes. While most of the content was weather alerts or schedule reminders, the language was always ambiguous, even suggestive. There were also custom, faceless emojis, and it was clear they were all from the same person. Even with all my trust in him, I couldn’t help but feel suspicious. I had to get to the bottom of this. I still had contacts among the corporation’s technical staff. I excused myself to the restroom and sent the IP address to them. The response came quickly. The user was inside our corporation building. Cross-referencing with HR records, I found her name. Chloe Miller. A new intern in Operations Department Two. My heart suddenly clenched. They kept insisting there was no real person behind it, didn’t they? Now I even had her name and profile. I took the elevator straight downstairs, spotting her the moment I stepped out. Everyone else was engrossed in their work, but her screen was streaming a reality show full-screen. Her desk was cluttered with expensive hand creams and snacks, and a personal humidifier just for her. I walked into the office. She saw me from the corner of her eye, seemingly sensing my presence, and quickly reached out and flipped over a framed photo of them together on her desk.

She slowly paused the show only when I was right beside her desk. My hands clenched discreetly. I wondered if Alex had given her such immense privileges. “Excuse me, but are you watching a show during work hours? Is all your work done?” Chloe Miller glanced at me dismissively. “I’m tired from working, so what if I take a break? Are you here to pick up recycling? Breakroom’s just around the corner.” The employees nearby looked like they didn’t want to get involved, but one still quietly reminded her, “This is Ms. Sterling, the daughter of our corporation’s founder, and Mr. Thorne’s wife.” Chloe Miller looked at me with an innocent expression. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I always imagined the President’s wife would be incredibly elegant and beautiful, so I didn’t recognize you. My apologies.” A surge of anger shot through me. Just as I was about to reprimand her, Chloe Miller glanced elsewhere, and her eyes instantly welled up. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Sterling.I’ll go back to work right away.” “What’s going on?” Alex’s stern voice cut in from behind me. Several employees immediately crowded around, all talking over each other. “Ms. Sterling accused Chloe of not working hard, and the poor intern was crying because of Ms. Sterling.” “Chloe’s work is excellent; her team lead specifically allowed her a break. Ms. Sterling is being too strict.” I was surprised. Just moments ago, these people had been silent, fearful of getting caught in an argument between me and Chloe Miller. But the moment Alex appeared, they suddenly knew which way the wind blew and started defending Chloe Miller relentlessly. “Enough.” Alex pointed at Chloe Miller. “You, come to my office tomorrow to report on your work. I’ll personally review your workload.” Chloe Miller lowered her head and agreed, but a subtle smirk played on her lips. My heart suddenly twisted in pain, a sour, churning feeling in my chest. Was he trying to warn her, or was he just creating an excuse to be alone with her at the office? I composed myself, raising my voice. “I’m not here to supervise. I’m here to announce that the corporation will be upgrading equipment. Starting with your department, all computers will be replaced.” At this news, the employees brightened with surprise. Only Chloe Miller pouted, clearly displeased. “Why so sudden? I’m used to my computer. Can’t I keep it?” “No.” Alex directly rejected her protest, then turned to me with a soft smile. “My wife represents me. All of you will follow her plan!” Chloe Miller looked at him in disbelief, her face flushed red, stifling her annoyance. I couldn’t stand her theatrics anymore. I said a quick goodbye to Alex and went home. Not long after, Alex came home early, looking a bit disheveled as if he’d rushed. He had my favorite cake in his left hand and the bag I’d eyed a few days ago in his right, an apologetic look on his face. “Tori, I’m so sorry. The AI virtual girlfriend testing has been handed over to someone else. I absolutely won’t touch anything that makes you feel neglected ever again.” I took his gifts, calmly saying, “For work, I understand.” He sighed, pulling me into a hug, his voice full of tenderness. “I know I’ve neglected you, I’m sorry. My phone password is your birthday. If you’re worried, you can check it anytime.” I nodded, saying nothing more. That evening, while Alex was showering, I unlocked his phone. It was clean, no suspicious activity at all. Suddenly, a text message popped up. “Your hot drink delivery for a female recipient has arrived.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299367”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring

I was introducing my girlfriend of three years, Chloe, to my parents when she shattered the dinner-table peace. “Leo,” Chloe asked, voice deceptively light, “if your mom and I both were drowning, who would you save?” I froze, caught off guard. It felt completely out of place to ask something like that in front of my parents. But then my mom, Eleanor, leaned forward, her expression serious. “I’d like to hear your answer, too, son.” The air instantly thickened, turning tense. Feeling annoyed and cornered, I blurted out without thinking, “You only have one mom, you can always find another girlfriend. I choose Mom!” Chloe’s face didn’t just fall – it collapsed. Regret surged in me, and I moved to comfort her. But before I could, she grabbed a fruit knife from the table and, without a moment’s hesitation, plunged it into her own heart. Blood erupted in a terrifying gush, splattering across my face. Chloe died right there, in front of us. That horrific moment became a relentless nightmare in my mind. After Chloe’s funeral, I stumbled back home, numb and exhausted. My mom suddenly turned to my dad,her gaze oddly intense. “Richard, I’ve always wanted to know…” she began, her voice soft and deadly. “If your mom and I fell into the water, who would you save?” …

The day Chloe was buried, the sky wept with a dreary drizzle. I stood by her grave, watching her parents clutch her tombstone, their wails tearing through the air. My mind was a complete blank. The police had closed Chloe’s case as an accidental death. I staggered back home, a ghost of myself, collapsing onto the sofa, my brain still trying to process the brutal reality of her sudden demise. Dad came over, patting my shoulder, telling me to try and move on, that it was just an accident. But then Mom sat beside me, her eyes fixed on Dad with an unsettling intensity. “Honey, actually, I’ve always wanted to know…” “If your mom and I fell into the water, who would you save?” I shot up, my blood turning to ice. The image of Chloe stabbing herself flashed relentlessly in my mind, painting my vision crimson. “Mom! What… what are you asking this for?!” My throat constricted, and my scalp prickled with dread. Dad looked horrified too, his eyes wide. “Why are you asking that out of nowhere? It’s creepy!” But Mom’s gaze remained locked on Dad, an empty, lurking something in her eyes. “Quick, tell me, who would you save?” she urged, her voice sharp. My heart hammered against my ribs, lodged in my throat. I couldn’t even breathe. This scene, especially Mom’s tone, the pauses in her words, her unnervingly serious expression… It was an exact replica of what happened before Chloe died! “Oh, come on, why ask such a boring question?” Dad said, a hint of impatience in his voice. “My mom passed away years ago. What’s the point of asking that now?” Mom ignored him, her stare unwavering, her words deliberate. “Just pick!” As far as I remembered, Mom and my grandma had a wonderful relationship when Grandma was alive. My grandma was incredibly kind to Mom, and Mom was very devoted to her. Mom had never been the unreasonable, badgering type. This was the first time she’d ever cornered Dad like this, demanding an answer. I couldn’t understand. Why had Mom changed so much after Chloe died? Dad didn’t want to answer, but Mom wouldn’t let it go. Her expression grew increasingly agitated, almost ferocious, as if someone was chasing her for an answer. Seeing Mom’s emotions spiraling, Dad finally relented, answering patiently. “You’re my wife, of course, I’d choose you!” I thought that would be the end of it, but the next second, Mom shrieked like a maniac. “You’re lying!” “You’re only choosing me because your mom is dead!” she screamed hysterically. Before Dad and I could react, Mom burst out of the house. We chased after her in a panic, only to see her grab a bottle of pesticide and chug it down. “Mom!” I yelled in terror. The next second, foam frothed from her mouth, and a strong, acrid smell filled the air. She writhed, her body curling, eyes rolling back, convulsing in agony on the ground. Dad was paralyzed with fear, his face ghostly white, as he lunged towards her. “Call 911!” I fumbled for my phone, but it slipped from my trembling hand and clattered to the floor. Then I heard Dad’s heart-wrenching wails. Mom was gone. I collapsed onto the ground, my ears ringing with the last words Chloe and Mom had spoken. “If your mom and I both fell into the water, who would you save?”

By the time Mom reached the hospital, she was gone. I stood there, numb, the lingering warmth of her body still on my trembling hands. Dad lay sprawled over her, sobbing uncontrollably. My best friend, Noah Miller, rushed over as soon as he heard. He patted my shoulder, his face grim, and sat with me, offering what comfort he could. When he heard about the bizarre behavior of both Chloe and Mom just before they died, his eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re saying both Chloe and Aunt Eleanor asked the exact same question before they died?” His voice was filled with incredulity. “How could that be such a coincidence?” “Isn’t that just the classic ‘mom or wife’ dilemma? It doesn’t usually end with people dying, does it?” I slumped to the floor, tearing at my hair, shaking my head frantically. The horrific images of Mom and Chloe dying replayed constantly. I was losing my mind. “I don’t know!” “They just suddenly asked that question, demanding that my dad and I choose who to save.” “I chose my mom, and Chloe died. My dad didn’t choose his mom, he chose my mom, and my mom died too!” Noah looked utterly perplexed. “But why? It’s not like… like that question carries a curse, right?” I froze, my mind a terrifying blank. In just two days, I had lost two of the most important people in my life. A sharp pain tore through my chest, and tears streamed down my face. Noah watched my agony, his own eyes welling up, and he wrapped me in a silent hug. Just then, my uncle, Walter Shaw, called, his voice a desperate, frantic plea. “Leo, you have to come to my place! Your aunt Joyce, she’s gone mad!” We hadn’t even had time to tell our relatives about Mom’s death yet. I was confused by Uncle Walter’s panicked call. But before I could ask for details, he let out a terrified scream, and the call abruptly ended. A chilling sense of dread surged through me. Noah, seeing my grim expression, immediately offered to come with me. “Did your uncle say what happened to Aunt Joyce?” Noah asked on the way. My head throbbed, and I felt dizzy and disoriented. “He just said Aunt Joyce went crazy. I have no idea what’s going on.” My uncle and aunt had visited me just two days ago after Chloe’s death. Aunt Joyce had seemed perfectly fine then. What could have possibly happened to them? Why did Uncle Walter say she was mad? The car quickly pulled into my uncle’s driveway. As we reached the door, Uncle Walter burst out, his hands covered in blood, his face a mask of terror. He saw me as if I were his savior. “Leo, help me!” He scrambled behind me, gasping for breath, his eyes wide with fear. “Your aunt, she’s trying to kill me!” Noah and I stared, stunned. “Why?” we asked urgently. But before Uncle Walter could answer, his pupils constricted, and he trembled, pointing ahead. It was Aunt Joyce! Her hair was disheveled, and she was covered in blood, emerging from the house like a phantom, slowly, holding a pair of scissors. Her gaze was chilling, her expression twisted. One sentence from her made my blood run cold. “Walter, I’m asking you one last time!” “If your mom and I both fell into the water, who would you save…?”

My pupils dilated in terror, and I instinctively recoiled, staring at Aunt Joyce in horror. “Aunt… Aunt Joyce, why are you asking that question too?!” My voice trembled. Noah was equally stunned. He tugged my sleeve, whispering urgently in my ear, “Leo, something’s seriously wrong!” Uncle Walter, still hiding behind me, flushed crimson and cursed angrily, “Are you insane?! Why are you forcing me to choose?!” He gestured with his arm, which was bleeding profusely from a slash wound. “Look what you did to me! You almost crippled me, you crazy woman!” “You… you’re trying to murder your own husband!” Aunt Joyce’s lips curved into a chilling, eerie smile. “Just choose!” “Don’t choose!” I almost screamed. I spun around, frantically looking at Uncle Walter, shouting in a panic, “Uncle Walter, you can’t choose!” “My mom, and my girlfriend… they both died because my dad and I answered that question!” “Please, don’t choose!” Uncle Walter stared at me as if I were a ghost. “What are you talking about? Your mom was fine earlier today!” Thinking of Mom, my heart ached, and my eyes instantly welled up. “It’s true, Uncle Walter, Mom died. You can’t choose.” “If you choose, Aunt Joyce will die too!” I thought Uncle Walter would calm down after hearing my words. But as soon as I finished, he exploded like a firecracker. “Then let her die!” he roared, shoving me aside. He then launched into a furious tirade at Aunt Joyce. “Joyce, just die already!” “I’ve had enough! You want me to choose? I choose my mom! You hear me? I choose my mom!” My heart leaped into my throat in terror, and I instinctively tried to cover Uncle Walter’s mouth. But he angrily slapped my hand away, spewing his rage uncontrollably. “My mom isn’t like you, trying to murder her husband! Why would I save you?!” “If you want to die, just do it already! I don’t want to be with you, you lunatic! Just die, don’t say I didn’t choose…” “Uncle Walter, stop talking!” I turned back in horror, only to witness a sight that made my blood run cold! Aunt Joyce, a few feet away, her eyes were filled with utter brokenness. Her pupils fluttered, and tears streamed down her cheeks, but they were blood-red. “I’m going to die!” “No!” An alarm blared in my mind, and I screamed, lunging towards her. But it was too late. Right in front of us, Aunt Joyce raised the scissors in her hand and plunged them into her own neck without hesitation. Pffft! Blood sprayed in an arc. She clutched her throat, stumbled back two steps, blood continuously oozing between her fingers. The next second, with a muffled thud, Aunt Joyce collapsed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Noah and I were both frozen in horror. Uncle Walter was so terrified he crumpled to the ground on the spot. “Ahh!” he wailed, scrambling on his hands and knees towards her. “Honey, what are you doing?!” He stared helplessly at Aunt Joyce lying in a pool of blood, then knelt to check for her breath. The next second, all color drained from his face. He slammed a hand on his thigh, then sank back, cradling Aunt Joyce in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “Honey, why did you kill yourself?!” “I… I didn’t mean what I said!” Everything before my eyes felt like a nightmare, choking me. My mind was a chaotic mess, threatening to explode. “How… how could this happen?!” Uncle Walter cried out, his voice hoarse, looking at me with helpless eyes. I stumbled backward in a daze, tripped over the doorstep, and fell heavily. In a blur, I saw two familiar figures walking towards me. It was Mom, and my deceased girlfriend, Chloe. Their expressions were sinister as they slowly knelt down. “Leo…” Their voices merged into an eerie overlap, grinning as they whispered. “If your mom and I both fell into the water, who would you save?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299366”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring

The day after I left the special forces, the wealthy Thorne family “recognized” me as their long-lost daughter. My cloying stepsister, Seraphina Thorne, cut me off. Her gaze traveled slowly from my head to my toes, taking in every inch of my desert-toughened skin. She wrinkled her nose, her voice a soft, almost pitying murmur. “Sister, your tactical physique isn’t quite the standard for beauty here.. From today on, I’ll join you at the gym.” “A slender figure is essential for pretty gowns. Otherwise, how will you ever find a husband?” I raised an eyebrow. Were the fitness standards in high society this insane? My 18% body fat, which I maintained as a special forces operative, was considered “fat”? Seraphina remained oblivious, cheerfully handing me a “sweat-it-out” weight loss class schedule. A thirty-kilogram weighted cross-country run, five hundred push-ups, an hour of combat training, three hours of high-intensity workouts daily. I couldn’t help but snort. Wasn’t this just the absolute minimum for recovery training? …

“What’s so funny?” Seraphina whined delicately, about to press me for an answer. That’s when our father, Richard Thorne, descended the grand staircase, immaculate in his suit. “Father.” Richard Thorne’s brows immediately furrowed when he saw me. “Crude behavior is one thing, but you don’t even have a pretty face…” He sized me up, his disapproval undisguised. “Announcing your identity now would only bring shame upon our family name.” I met his gaze, my mind a blank slate. Honestly, his manufactured gravitas was less than a tenth of what my drill sergeant commanded back in basic training. Ignoring the lengthy lecture he was clearly preparing to deliver, I looked him straight in the eye. My voice was crisp and clear. “Understood. Eight AM tomorrow. I’ll be there on time for training.” My absolute obedience clearly caught them off guard. Richard Thorne’s prepared tirade of admonishments instantly choked in his throat, neither coming out nor going back down. Seraphina’s triumphant smile on her perfectly sculpted face also froze. She pouted, letting out a dismissive huff. “Such an act!” At the dinner table, the atmosphere grew even stranger. The long table was laden with an extravagant spread, yet Seraphina’s plate held only a few sad-looking pieces of salad. She chewed daintily, her posture impeccable. “Most accomplished young women know how to maintain their figure these days, sister,” she subtly jabbed, her voice dripping with passive aggression. I paid her no mind, accurately calculating calories as per my military habit. I piled my plate with ample portions of steak, seafood, and rice. Muscle was critical for survival on the battlefield. Without enough protein and carbs, the body was nothing more than an engine running on fumes. “Oh my goodness!” Seraphina gasped dramatically. “Sister, you’re eating that much? No wonder…” She trailed off, but her pointed gaze said it all. Father’s frown deepened. He set down his fork and knife with a displeased clatter. “No decorum whatsoever for a young lady! What an outrage!” I didn’t respond, continuing to eat. Inwardly, though, I decided I’d start cooking my own meals tomorrow. While the food here was exquisite, it was far too oily and salty for my standards. I needed fuel, not baggage. Less than five minutes later, I finished the last bite on my plate, wiping my mouth with a napkin. “I’m done.” I rose from the table, preparing to leave the dining room. Richard Thorne’s cold voice stopped me. “Hold it right there.” I paused, turning back to him. “Tomorrow’s training will be monitored by the butler. If you dare to slack off or try any tricks…” I calmly cut him off. “Don’t worry. I’ve never resorted to such deceitful tactics.” With that, I turned and walked away, ignoring the stunned expressions on both their faces. The next day, I arrived punctually at the opulent private club. The polished marble floors reflected my image, and the crystal chandeliers sparkled with brilliant light. Looking around, I was reminded of crawling through mud and forced marches under the scorching desert sun, burdened with heavy gear. To me, this place was practically a five-star spa. Inside the club, Seraphina had already been waiting for a long time. She wore a meticulously tailored Pilates outfit that perfectly accentuated her slender figure. “Sister, you’re finally here. The coach has been waiting for ages; he’s notoriously strict.” I nodded. “Good.” The stricter, the better. After all, a lenient general never forges a fierce army. The coach soon made his entrance. A towering, muscular man, over six feet tall, with a bronze complexion scarred and tattooed. He introduced himself as a retired Marine. Then, he swept his gaze over me, a hint of disdain in his eyes, before announcing today’s training regimen. Thirty kilograms weighted run, at a speed above 15. Five hundred standard push-ups, to be completed within a time limit. One hour of freestyle combat. With each item he announced, Seraphina’s eyes lit up a little more. The combined intensity of these exercises was enough to make even a regularly fit adult man pass out on the spot. She was clearly eager to see me collapse to the ground, crying and wailing in utter disarray. She leaned in close, whispering conspiratorially, a smirk on her face. “Sister, there are cameras everywhere, you know. Father will be watching your performance.” I raised an eyebrow, a subtle smile playing on my lips. I turned to the muscular coach, extending my hand. “Thank you for your hard work.” “I appreciate having such professional facilities and supervision.”

The coach paused, then gave my hand a perfunctory shake. I didn’t bother to explain further, simply started warming up my wrists and ankles. A series of crisp clicks and pops echoed from my joints. The training began. For the thirty-kilogram weighted cross-country run, I pushed the treadmill to a speed that made its system error out. For the five hundred push-ups, I completed them with one hand, my other hand even charging my phone. For the hour of combat training, I disarmed and pinned the former Marine coach to the ground in just three minutes. The coach lay on the floor, drenched in sweat, his face a mask of disbelief. I stood up, not a single bead of perspiration on me. “Is the warm-up finished?” “When does the real training begin?” Hearing this, Seraphina, who had been secretly touching up her makeup in front of the mirror, let out a sharp gasp as her powder compact slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor. She spun around, staring at my completely unruffled appearance, stammering. “Sister… were you in the Italian Mafia or something?” The coach shakily picked himself up from the floor. He looked at me as if I were some kind of deity. “It’s already… it’s already over…” I sighed in disappointment, shaking my head. I walked to the nearby lounge area, tore off a club promotional flyer, and flipped it to the back. I quickly scribbled down an application. “Application. Double training intensity, extend duration to six hours.” “Reason. Current program insufficient to activate muscles.” “Applicant. Alexandria Thorne.” I finished writing, preparing to hand the paper to the coach. Just then, the gym door was pushed open by a young man in a sharp suit. Seeing the newcomer, Seraphina’s lips curved into a pout. Her body seemed to lose all strength, and she crumpled dramatically into Julian Maxwell’s arms. “Julian… Brother Julian…” She was on the verge of tears, her voice laced with a sob, “Sister forced me to train with her… I really can’t take it… it’s so hard…” Julian Maxwell’s brows furrowed exactly as expected. He steadied Seraphina, his eyes filled with reproach as he looked at me. “Alexandria Thorne, isn’t it? I know you might have some resentment, but Seraphina is a victim too! She’s frail; what if something happens to her? Would you take responsibility?” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with such illogical nonsense. I walked forward without a word. I reached out and grabbed Seraphina by the back of her collar. Like lifting a kitten, I plucked her out of Julian Maxwell’s arms and casually set her aside. I rolled my eyes at her. “Those superficial moves you were doing? You call that training? Stop blocking the way.” Then, I handed the promotional flyer with my application to Julian Maxwell. “Please pass this training adjustment plan to my father.” By now, the coach had finally recovered from his immense shock. He rushed over, speaking excitedly to Julian Maxwell. “Mr. Maxwell, you’ve misunderstood! You’ve completely misunderstood!” “Ms. Thorne is a military prodigy! I’m not fit to be her coach; she should be teaching me combat!” Julian Maxwell frowned, instinctively glancing down at the flyer. His eyes widened in sudden astonishment. When he looked up again, the disdain was gone, replaced by a profound curiosity. Seraphina, standing nearby, watched this scene unfold, her face alternating between green and white. The hatred in her eyes was almost palpable. She stomped her foot angrily, then burst into tears and ran out of the club.

That night, Seraphina came to my room. “What exactly do you want?” she asked, her voice choked with tears. I looked up, realizing her eyes were red and swollen from crying, making her look utterly vulnerable. “Close the door.” Seraphina paused, probably not expecting that reaction. She sniffled but obediently closed the door. “Alexandria, please, I beg you, don’t take Julian from me, okay?” She began to sob. “He’s the only one I have… I never had a mother, and while Father cares for me, he cares more about family interests. Only Julian is kind to me…” I felt a pang of exasperation, first closing my laptop which still contained classified information. “I don’t go for weaklings.” Seraphina looked bewildered for a moment, not understanding my words. I quirked a corner of my mouth, offering a smile that was far from friendly. “Seraphina, what exactly is going on in your head?” “A man like Julian Maxwell? I could knock out a dozen of his type with one punch. Marry him? Am I insane?” Seraphina recoiled, shocked by my words. “Your language is so crude! And girls aren’t supposed to be that strong… Don’t you understand anything?!” The image of a true vs. fake heiress in her mind involved fighting to the death over a man, not me directly expressing utter disdain for him based on his physical prowess. I stood up, taking deliberate steps toward her. I was half a head taller than her, and the aura from years of intense training made her feel uncontrollably afraid. “You think you’re pitiful for being dependent and having no one to rely on, but your most pitiful aspect isn’t your lack of support.” My voice was cold, each word distinct. “It’s that you’ve made fragility your only weapon, and you attempt to survive on the pity of others.” “Do you really think everyone falls for that?” Her face turned ashen, her lips trembling uncontrollably. Yet, she still tried to retort, her chin jutted out defiantly. “What do you know! Men like delicate girls! No one will ever like someone who’s all about fighting like you!” A surge of irritation rose within me, and I was about to simply throw her out. But then, the piercing fire alarm blared through the entire mansion without warning. My expression changed. After a split second of shock, I instantly calmed. Professional instinct drove me straight to the door. I yanked it open. A wave of scorching heat, mixed with thick smoke, slammed into my face! The hallway outside was already engulfed in raging flames! Dense smoke was rapidly spreading upwards from downstairs, reducing visibility to almost zero. My brain kicked into overdrive, running calculations in 0.1 seconds, plotting the optimal escape route. Seraphina, seeing the inferno, let out a piercing shriek. “Shut up!” I roared at Seraphina, who was still screaming. She flinched at my intensity, instantly falling silent, leaving only her trembling body. “If you want to live, follow me!” My brain had already analyzed the situation. The fire originated downstairs and was spreading upwards. The smoke was toxic; we had to evacuate immediately via the emergency exit in the opposite direction. Without a moment’s hesitation, I spun to the window and tore down the heavy velvet curtains. I rushed into the bathroom and thoroughly soaked the curtains in the bathtub. “Cover your nose and mouth!” I threw a wet piece of cloth at her. Seraphina was still trembling, but the instinct for survival made her catch the wet cloth and hastily press it to her face. I draped a larger wet cloth over myself, ready to pull her along. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the delicate lace stockings on her feet. “Take them off!” I commanded sharply. “You… why are you so mean…” she whimpered, frightened, but her body obediently started to shiveringly pull off her stockings. Nylon and synthetic fibers melt rapidly under high heat, adhering to the skin and causing severe burns. This was basic survival knowledge. Unfortunately, she didn’t know it. I grabbed her hand, crouching low, and rushed toward what I remembered as the emergency exit. The hallway was filled with rolling smoke, and the temperature was terrifyingly high. Seraphina, in her exquisite silk nightgown and soft slippers, ran less than twenty feet before she started panting, her strength failing. “I… I can’t run anymore…” Her legs gave out. Low blood sugar combined with extreme shock made her collapse to the ground, almost fainting. “Do they starve you in this ‘elite’ family?” I muttered under my breath. Time was critical; no time for pointless talk. Without hesitation, I bent down and hoisted her onto my shoulder. She was incredibly light, probably weighing less than ninety pounds. To me, it was no different than carrying a field ration pack. “Ahhh, Sister… are you even a woman?!” Seraphina shrieked, utterly shocked. “If you don’t want to die, shut up!” I held her tight, my steps steady as I pushed through the inferno. It was like a simple weighted cross-country run on the training ground. The seldom-used back door was long piled high with clutter. I swiftly kicked aside the debris and slammed my body against the locked back door. In just three or four impacts, the lock was completely violently destroyed. I kicked open the tightly shut back door, and a rush of fresh, cold air flooded in. “Alright, we’re safe.” I set Seraphina down outside the mansion, frowning as I looked back at the smoke-billowing house. I wondered if there were any other victims who hadn’t escaped. With that thought, I was about to rush back into the fire to save people, but Seraphina grabbed the hem of my shirt first. “Alex, don’t leave me alone…”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299365”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring

After Liam and I got married, he treated me like a queen, envied by everyone. Anything I wanted, he’d go to any lengths, even promise to pluck the stars from the sky for me. But when my water broke, in my desperate scramble to dial 911, my shaking hands accidentally swiped away an incoming call. It was Chloe, Liam’s best friend since childhood, calling from the airport. The slap cracked through the room. First time he’d ever hit me. His eyes held a rage I’d never seen. “I’d give you my last breath,” he snarled, “so why can’t you give me a little trust?” “Chloe is sensitive. I don’t want your selfish jealousy to embarrass her.” With that, he grabbed my arm and forcibly shoved me into the trunk. His voice was chillingly cold. “Calm down and reflect. Once I pick up Chloe, apologize to her, and I’ll let you out.” I curled up in the cramped trunk, intense contractions racking my body until I was almost unconscious. I hammered on the inside, screaming for help, but Liam didn’t even flinch. He just dialed his phone again. “Chloe, I’m on my way. Stay right there. Just wait for me.”

The car sped onto the highway. Every sudden brake slammed me uncontrollably against the trunk door. I shielded my pregnant belly, trying to let other parts of my body take the brutal impact. My water had already soaked the entire trunk, and now, blood was mixing with it. “Liam! Liam! Get me to the hospital, I’m bleeding!” My voice was weak, and cold sweat drenched me. But Liam wouldn’t even glance at me. He just pressed harder on the accelerator. “Chloe landed half an hour ago! If you hadn’t hung up, would she have to wait this long for me at the airport? And now you expect me to take *you* to the hospital first?” I painfully clawed at the back of the seat, struggling to lift myself enough to beg him to look at me. “Liam, please, I’m dying. If we don’t go to the hospital now, both the baby and I will die.” Liam slammed on the brakes, stopping the car abruptly on the emergency shoulder. Ignoring the speeding traffic on the highway, he got out, walked to the back, and opened the trunk. The moment it opened, a foul stench overwhelmed him. Liam frowned deeply and covered his nose. “God, you’re disgusting! You’re a grown woman, can’t you control your bodily functions?” Tears and sweat streamed down my face. I desperately crawled towards Liam, whispering my plea. “Liam, I’m in labor, I’m in so much pain. Please, can you take me to the hospital?” Liam looked down at me, a cold sneer on his face. “You’re in labor, but you still have the energy to be jealous and hang up on Chloe? You seem perfectly fine to me. Stop putting on this pathetic act!” Seeing him about to close the trunk again, I desperately grabbed his jacket, clutching onto one last sliver of hope. “I really didn’t mean to. Please, it’s *your* baby in my belly. You can’t do this to me.” My words made Liam hesitate for a moment, but then his phone rang again. “Liam, what’s taking you so long? I’ve been freezing out here, I think I’m catching a cold.” It was Chloe. “I’m so sorry, Chloe. Ten more minutes, I’ll be there soon. Find somewhere warm, don’t catch a cold.” With that, Liam ignored my pleas, slammed the trunk shut, and sped off towards the airport. Pain and terror enveloped me, slowly suffocating me. Soon after, the car stopped. Liam got out, and the door slammed shut. He must have reached the airport. Liam will pick up Chloe, then he’ll take me to the hospital, right? I just have to get through this, make it to the hospital, and the baby and I will both survive. I silently cheered myself on, completely unaware of the growing pool of blood beneath me.

I don’t know how much time passed. Then, footsteps approached, and the car door opened. I opened my mouth to call out to Liam, but realized I was too weak, I couldn’t even speak. All I could do was reach out, desperately grasping forward, but Liam didn’t see me. He had only returned to the car to grab something. a large bouquet of pure white roses. He said they represented his and Chloe’s twenty-five years of pure friendship. He took the flowers, slammed the car door shut, locked it, and walked away without a backward glance. “Liam, two years, and you look even better than before. Your wife must really take good care of you.” I heard Chloe’s voice from outside the car. She even mentioned me. “Oh, don’t even bring her up. Alice? That woman can’t take care of anyone! Not like you, Chloe. You’ve always understood me, ever since we were kids. Do you remember when we were little…” Their voices faded into the distance, and my own consciousness began to blur. In a haze, memories of Liam and I flashed before my eyes like a carousel. He put a ring on my finger, vowing to love me for all eternity. On my birthday, he held a cake he’d baked himself, his eyes seeing only me. When we got that ultrasound, his eyes were red as he touched my belly, promising he’d never let our child or me suffer a single hardship. But when I accidentally hung up the phone, he slapped me, his face twisted in fury. “How dare you hang up on Chloe? I’ve spoiled you too much, made you forget your place!” I felt the other little life inside me slipping away. Everything around me began to spin, to blur. I wanted to lift my hand, to touch that once vibrant bump one last time, but my fingers only twitched weakly. Endless darkness gathered from all directions, like a gentle shroud, or a cold tomb. Then the car door opened again. Liam got in, and Chloe sat in the passenger seat. I instinctively tried to reach for Liam, but I couldn’t touch him. I was in the same space as them, yet I was like a ghost, able only to observe, without form. Chloe frowned as she got in, fanning her hand under her nose. “What’s that smell? It’s so stale and foul. Liam, how long has it been since you washed this car?” Liam looked a bit awkward and brushed it off quickly. “Oh, probably just a rodent that died in the engine a few days ago. The smell hasn’t completely gone away yet.” Chloe nodded, no longer complaining. She simply flipped open the vanity mirror above her head and started fixing her hair, quite at ease. Liam watched her as he drove, unconsciously chuckling. “You’re still the same, you never get carsick in my car.” Chloe smiled sweetly, playfully patting Liam’s hand on the gear shift. “Yes, it’s always been you, Liam. All these years abroad, every time I took a car, I wished you were driving. It’s been so long, hasn’t it?” They chatted away, oblivious to the other presence in the car. I stared at them, my heart slowly cracking. It hurt, yet I felt numb. “I heard your wife was pregnant. Did she give birth yet? Boy or girl?” Chloe suddenly asked. At the mention of me, Liam glanced in the rearview mirror, then snorted coldly. “Don’t know, don’t care. She’s throwing a fit today, just because I said I was coming to pick you up. Who raised her to be so spoiled!” “She’s still lying in the trunk, no need to bother with her.” Chloe gasped, covering her mouth in surprise, then straightened up to look behind her. “No one’s there… Besides, your wife is pregnant. Isn’t it bad to lock her in the trunk?” “Alice? Alice?” Liam called a few times. When there was no answer, he grew angry. He pushed Chloe back into her seat, then glared into the rearview mirror, as if I could see him. “Forget her. Let her play dead if she wants. Better yet, if she really died, I’d be glad to pick up her corpse!” My eyes felt hot, but no tears would fall. Chloe looked at Liam with a troubled expression, pursed her lips, but said nothing more.

The car continued driving, stopping in front of a French restaurant. This was the restaurant where Liam proposed to me. He had told me he’d researched for ages, that the view from the window seat at 10 PM was the most beautiful. I was so touched, I put on that heavy shackles without a second thought. Before getting out of the car, Chloe glanced back at the trunk again. It was pitch black inside without the light. “Liam, is your wife really in the trunk? Do you want to check on her?” Liam pulled her hand, giving her an impatient look, then quickly averted his gaze. “That’s just how she is. She thinks if she gives me the silent treatment, I’ll always cave. I can’t be bothered! Come on, let’s go eat! Do you remember this restaurant? We used to come here for milkshakes after high school.” I froze as if struck by lightning. All that talk about “romantic spots” and “best night views” – it was just a trick he used to string me along. It was all his and Chloe’s shared memories. I was the interloper. Chloe waved her hand and smiled. In a daze, I saw a reflection of someone in her. My reflection. Or rather, I had Chloe’s reflection. We were similar in height and build, even the dimples that appeared when we smiled were so similar. I heard she went to Canada for college after graduating, and that was the year I happened to meet Liam. Liam’s pursuit of me was relentless from the start. We only dated for six months before getting married. I wasn’t unaware that he had a best friend studying abroad, but I never imagined I was a substitute for that person. Inside the restaurant, Liam was engrossed in conversation and eating with Chloe. I floated by the door, silently watching. He ordered Chloe a mango milkshake, and her face lit up with surprise. I remembered the cake Liam made for my birthday last year, piled high with mangoes. “I remember you love mangoes,” he’d said. I shook my head then, telling him I was allergic to mangoes – something discovered during our premarital check-up. Liam’s expression had been a little awkward. He scratched his head, saying he’d mixed it up, and I just smiled it off. Now I knew. The one who loved mangoes was someone else entirely. I touched my belly, still nine months pregnant. Only, the little life inside me had already been buried with me, in that cramped trunk. “Baby, I’m so sorry.” I murmured, watching Liam toast with Chloe. Chloe glanced at the ring on Liam’s ring finger and suddenly spoke. “Speaking of which, I haven’t even met your wife. When are you going to introduce me?” Liam paused, uncomfortably twisting the ring. “What’s there to see? Two eyes, one nose, one mouth – she just looks like a person.” I floated in front of him, reaching out to pinch and rub his face, but he couldn’t feel it. “But I think your wife must be a really good person. You seem to have changed a lot.” I looked at Chloe in surprise. Was she actually defending me?

She cupped her face, smiling as she looked at Liam. “You used to hate wearing any jewelry, and you’d complain for ages about how suffocating a hat felt.” “But from just now until this moment, you’ve touched your wedding ring at least ten times.” Chloe pointed to Liam’s ring finger. “You must really love your wife. It’s a subconscious reaction.” Liam, loved me? I tilted my head, staring at Liam. His eyes began to fluster. “No way? It’s just a habit. Plus, my finger feels a bit itchy…” Chloe smiled, then encouraged him to call me. Liam couldn’t argue with her, so he pulled out his phone and dialed my number. My heart jumped. I instinctively reached for the phone in my pocket, but found nothing. Oh, I forgot I was already dead. The phone vibrated in the trunk. Liam had silenced it earlier because he found my ringtone too noisy. Several calls went unanswered, and Liam hung up. “Just because I said a few harsh words, she has to give me the silent treatment for this long?” He slammed his phone on the table in frustration. Chloe’s smile faded. She looked out the window. “You just told me you locked your wife in the trunk. That was a joke, right? The car doesn’t feel like there’s anyone in it.” Liam felt an inexplicable panic. He glanced at the several unanswered calls on his phone, then took a deep breath. “Maybe she opened the door and ran off. Ugh, what could possibly happen!” Liam didn’t know if he was trying to reassure himself or what. He took off his ring directly, acting like “out of sight, out of mind.” “Forget about that. You’re only back once in a blue moon. How about I show you around here? It’s changed so much in two years!” I stood by the car, and suddenly felt a dampness on the back of my hand. Was it raining? I looked up, seeing the same boundless starry sky. I wiped my face again, only to find tears streaming down like broken pearls. It wasn’t the earth that was sad. It was me crying. Because Liam really didn’t love me. He didn’t care if I existed, or about his baby and me. The two of them left the restaurant, walked past the car, and headed straight up the hill. I wished he would glance at the trunk. Just one look, and I would forgive everything he had done to me. But no, he had completely forgotten that I was lying alone in the trunk. I wanted to curse him. “Liam! May you die a terrible death!” But the words caught in my throat. I swallowed them back. Liam was a heartless man, but I still wished him happiness, even if it wasn’t with me. I rubbed my stinging nose, wiped away my tears, and shamelessly continued to follow behind them. They walked and talked about old times, reaching the hilltop before they knew it. The evening breeze rustled Chloe’s dress. Liam thoughtfully took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, his eyes fixed on the distant city lights. I wondered if, at any moment, he would remember that among those countless lights, there was a home for him and me. Suddenly, a phone rang abruptly. Liam answered, and his expression instantly changed.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299364”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring

The Poisoned Truth The stray cat I brought home hated my husband. Every time David handed me a warm glass of milk, Mittens would leap up and knock it over. After a few times, David told me to get rid of the cat. So, I had no choice but to drop it off at my best friend Chloe’s place. That night, just as I was about to drink my milk, Chloe called. “Sarah! This cat is incredible! It knocks over anything if it gets near mercury, that chemical poison, and it arches its back and hisses!” I froze, my gaze darting to David, who was staring at me from across the room… 0 “What’s wrong, sweetheart? Is the milk too hot?” David fixed his gaze on me, slowly closing the distance. I’d been having trouble sleeping, and he made me a cup of warm milk every night. If what Chloe said was true, then… My hand, holding the mug, trembled slightly. I forced myself to calm down. “It does feel a bit hot. Maybe you can check the temperature for me?” I extended the mug right under his nose. David’s smile froze on his face. Then, a sudden realization hit me: I’d been on speakerphone when Chloe called. The air seemed to solidify in an instant. We just stared at each other, motionless. Suddenly, the mug slipped from my hand and shattered on the floor. “So clumsy. Now you can’t even have any, even if you wanted to.” David managed a strained smile, a hint of accusation in his voice. But I heard a distinct sigh of relief in his tone. The moment he turned to fetch a broom, A wave of bitter realization washed over me. However passionate our love once was, The pain I felt now was just as real, just as piercing. 0

The next morning, I suddenly heard a few meows from the living room. Before I could even wonder, my bedroom door swung open. A fluffy body pounced on me. It was Mittens! The stray cat I’d rescued! How was it back in the house? “Sarah, I got an emergency notice for a week-long business trip. I had no choice but to bring Mittens back to you. I’ll pick her up in a week!” Chloe’s figure appeared in the doorway. She looked rushed, clearly in a hurry to leave. I got up, hugging Mittens, and instinctively glanced at David. His back was to me; I couldn’t see his expression. But when he turned around, he was beaming. “Of course, she can stay! Honestly, Sarah regretted giving her away right after, and so did I!” “Oh?” A flicker of suspicion crossed Chloe’s face. I’d told her how much David hated this cat. She must have been as surprised as I was by his sudden change of heart. “Perfect then. I have to go now. You two take care!” Chloe said, her tone heavy with unspoken meaning, and then opened the door and left. As she vanished, David’s smile slowly faded. He took Mittens from my arms, his face dark with menace, staring at me. Every hair on my body stood on end. 0

That night, I was plagued by a recurring nightmare. I dreamt David grabbed Mittens by the leg, slamming her head against the ground. Finally, he brought his foot down, crushing her… “No!” I screamed, waking up in a cold sweat. And then, I actually heard a few desperate cat meows echoing in my ears. “Mittens…” I stumbled out of the bedroom, searching the entire house, but there was no sign of Mittens. David’s room was also empty. An icy wave of dread washed over me. I suddenly realized those pained meows. They seemed to be coming from outside the front door. I tiptoed to the door and flung it open. What I saw shocked me to my core: David was clutching Mittens by the leg, swinging his arm, and brutally smashing her against the ground. Mittens, after rolling and twitching for a moment, lay still. I was paralyzed with shock by the sudden horrifying sight. When I finally snapped out of it, I rushed over and scooped up Mittens. But she was already lifeless. “Mittens suddenly went crazy just now and scratched Brittany several times, so I threw her once. I didn’t expect her to die just like that!” David gave me a cold look, explaining calmly. Only then did I notice a woman standing behind him.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299363”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring