“Stella’s back.” Julian Hayes strode past without a glance. She’d saved him once. Left with trauma, fragile as glass. Every time her love life failed, she came running back. And every time, Julian blamed me. Said my place as “Mrs. Hayes” triggered her. So I’d vanish. Give up our bedroom so he could hold his broken angel. When she left, he’d call me home. Five years. No more, no less. Eighteen times. But Julian, I will never love you again. Audrey’s POV “Dad, I want a divorce.” I held the phone, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ll get the immigration paperwork done as soon as possible. I’m serious this time.” My father’s voice came through the receiver, carrying a hint of relief. “My dear, you’ve finally come to your senses. I’ll handle the rest. You’ll be out of there within a month.” I hung up and looked at my reflection in the mirror, expressionless. The doorbell rang. I opened the door. Julian Hayes stood there, his face etched with his usual thinly veiled impatience. “Stella’s back.” He strode into the entryway without even glancing at me. He walked straight to the walk-in closet and pulled out the suitcase I’d already packed. “You know her mental state. She can’t handle any stress.” Of course, I knew. Stella had once saved his life, and supposedly, it left her with severe psychological trauma and extreme emotional instability. Since then, every time she hit a wall with some awful guy, she’d come running back to Julian for shelter. Julian stubbornly insisted that my status as “Mrs. Hayes” was the biggest trigger for Stella. In his mind, as long as I stayed in this house, Stella would feel like a third party. And that would only make her condition worse. So, every time Stella returned, I had to disappear like a ghost, vacating our master bedroom so he could comfort his fragile angel. Once Stella left, he’d have me come back. In five years, no more, no less, exactly eighteen times. Today marked the nineteenth. “She’ll stay at our place first,” he said, setting the suitcase down on the living room rug. “I can’t let her have an episode out of guilt. I’ve already had my assistant, Karl, book you a suite at the Four Seasons.” I looked at the familiar suitcase, saying nothing, just silently beginning to pack my personal belongings. This unusual calm compliance seemed to surprise him more than any hysterical crying fit would have. He frowned, loosening his expensive silk tie, and stared at me suspiciously. “Audrey, why are you so cooperative today? What are you up to?” It was no wonder he was suspicious. After all, I wasn’t always willing to be his doormat. The first time, I cried and blocked his way, begging him not to make me leave. He just coldly pushed me aside. The fifth time, I shredded all his custom shirts. I threatened him that if he dared to make me leave, he wouldn’t be able to walk out of the house looking presentable. He just glanced at them coldly and had the bodyguards “escort” me out. The next day, the closet was filled with new season clothes. By the tenth time, I no longer resisted, just cried silently. He came over then, patted my head as if I were a pet, and said, “Now you’re being a good girl.” And the eighteenth time, just last month, I could even smile as I helped him pick out the suit he would wear to see Stella. I looked up at him, shaking my head calmly. “I just think… this whole situation is pointless.” Just then, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and his impatience instantly transformed into tension and tenderness. It was Stella. He didn’t avoid me, directly putting it on speaker. “Julian, this floor is so quiet. I’m all alone in the hotel. I’m scared. When are you coming to get me?” Stella’s voice trembled, pitiful as ever. “Don’t be scared. I’ll come as soon as I’m done here,” Julian cooed softly. “I had Karl order you a diamond bracelet, a welcome back gift. It’s already in your room.” Stella’s voice lifted with surprise. “Is it that Van Cleef & Arpels one we saw in Paris last time?” “Yeah.” My hands, mid-fold, stiffened in the air. Last week, I’d spread that Parisian fashion magazine in front of him, pointing to that very bracelet and joking, “It’s so beautiful.” He had chuckled then, playfully tapping my nose, saying, “Noted.” Turns out, he did note it, but not for me. Julian hung up and looked at me, his eyes full of warning. “One hour. I’m going to pick her up. You better be gone by the time I get back.” Seeing no reaction from me, he even reached out and touched my face with a hint of pity, his voice softening. “Be good. Stella never stays long. I’ll pick you up once she’s gone.” With that, he turned and strode away, without a backward glance. I sat alone in the empty living room, not moving immediately. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. The call connected, and a professional, steady voice answered from the other end. “Hello, Mrs. Hayes.” Watching the city’s bustling skyline outside the window, my voice was calm and even. “Mr. Harrison, it’s Audrey.” “Please start preparing the asset division and divorce agreement.” I didn’t go to the Four Seasons Hotel he booked. Instead, I took a taxi to a small apartment I owned before we got married. It was the only place in this city that truly felt like my sanctuary. For the next three days, Julian didn’t call once. I was glad for the peace and quiet. On the fourth night, I habitually scrolled through Instagram. A jarring photo flashed across my screen. Stella had posted it. In the picture, Stella was wearing my silk robe, sitting on the wool rug in our marital home’s living room, holding a steaming mug of latte. Julian was on the sofa behind her, looking down at some documents, his profile appearing unusually soft in the warm glow of the floor lamp. The caption read: “With you, all my anxiety disappears.” I stared at that photo for a long time. That robe was my favorite; my initials were embroidered on the cuffs. I had left it in the closet when I moved out. That woman not only occupied my home, my husband, but also casually took my personal belongings. In the comments section below, many of our mutual acquaintances had left messages. “Is this the official announcement on Instagram?” “Has Julian finally come to his senses?” Julian neither liked the post nor replied. But I knew his silence was implicit consent. I turned off my phone screen. My expressionless face reflected in the black glass.

Audrey’s POV I stayed up all night after seeing that Instagram post. These five years of hellish nightmare had taught me one thing: any hysterical questioning would only end up as amusement for them and humiliation for myself. The next afternoon, I went to a boutique affiliated with a high-end auction house. When my father was still back home, he loved collecting crystal glassware. Since I had decided to leave for good, I wanted to buy him a decent gift. As I paused at the boutique entrance, a familiar black Maybach pulled up not far away. The car door opened, and Julian stepped out, helping Stella down. Stella looked pale, appearing frail and on the verge of collapsing even in the sunlight. When she saw me, she first froze, then timidly hid behind Julian like a startled fawn. Julian immediately pulled her close, then looked up at me, his eyes filled with displeasure and wariness. “What are you doing here?” I didn’t answer, just quietly watched them. Stella’s voice was soft and gentle. “Julian, don’t blame Audrey. She surely didn’t mean to follow us.” Julian’s face darkened even more. “Audrey, I warned you, don’t harass Stella again.” I finally spoke, my voice as calm as if I were talking to a stranger. “I’m just here to buy something.” I walked past them, trying to enter the store. But Stella suddenly tugged at Julian’s sleeve, pointing at the shopping catalog I had just picked up. “Audrey, what were you looking at?” she asked curiously. Before I could answer, she took it upon herself to pick up the gift box I’d been eyeing from the display shelf-a vintage crystal whiskey decanter set. “Wow, what beautiful crystal glasses.” Stella’s eyes lit up, then she seemed to remember something, looking at Julian, her voice laced with a hint of a playful plea. “Julian, I remember your father also likes whiskey. Shall we buy this for him?” Julian’s father, the man who’d passed his family business down to him, indeed enjoyed whiskey. Julian looked at me, his tone brooking no argument. “Let Stella have this set.” I stared at him, unmoving, showing no intention of backing down. Seeing this, Stella immediately pushed the decanter set back into my hands, her eyes instantly reddening. “I’m sorry, Audrey, I didn’t know you liked it too. Julian, don’t force her. We can just look for something else… it’s all my fault.” The more “sensible” she acted, the more petty and unreasonable I appeared. Julian directly snatched the gift box from my hands and put it back into Stella’s arms. “Keep it,” he told Stella, then turned to me, his gaze cold. “Audrey, there are plenty of glasses like this. Go pick something else.” With that, he put his arm around Stella and walked away, leaving me with a resolute back. That night, Julian actually came to my apartment unprompted. He brought my favorite French dessert, and his tone was uncharacteristically gentle. “Audrey, I’m sorry about what happened today.” He launched into that familiar, nauseating explanation. “As long as we’re legally married, Stella will never be able to hold her head high around you. She always feels like a third party, and that’s very bad for her recovery.” He paused, then laid out his plan. “Let’s get a divorce. A legal one, but just on paper, just for show. Once Stella goes to Switzerland for treatment next month, we’ll remarry immediately. I promise.” I lowered my head, looking at the exquisite, expensive dessert, saying nothing. I was racking my brain for a good reason to suggest a divorce, and unexpectedly, he practically handed me the perfect escape route. I was silent for a long time. Long enough for Julian to start impatiently checking his watch. Finally, I looked up at him, my face a mask of perfect compliance. I said softly, “Okay.” “Whatever you say.”

Audrey’s POV The next morning, Julian’s private driver was waiting promptly downstairs for me. The VIP process at the courthouse went quickly. When he received the divorce certificate, Julian didn’t even glance at it, casually stuffing it into his suit pocket. He put his arm around my shoulder as usual, his voice as tender as if we had just gotten married. “We’ll remarry next month, once Stella goes abroad.” I lowered my head and softly hummed in agreement. I could feel a few glances lingering on us, probably wondering why this newly divorced couple was still so intimate. Julian seemed pleased with my attitude. We parted ways at the courthouse entrance. I took a taxi alone back to my apartment. Over the next few days, my father occasionally sent encrypted emails, concise and to the point. “Mr. Harrison has almost finished liquidating your assets back home, no need to worry.” “Offshore accounts and passport are all set. The private jet route has also been approved. You can leave anytime.” I looked at the screen, calculating a specific departure date. After dealing with these, I casually opened Instagram, and immediately, Julian and Stella’s usual public displays of affection popped up. In the morning, Julian personally cooked, making not only brunch but also plating it exquisitely. In the evening, the two went to see that contemporary art exhibition-the one I had begged him for a long time to go to, but he always claimed to be too busy. I scoffed, a self-deprecating smile on my face, and closed the app. Images that once easily pained me now left my heart completely undisturbed. Two days later, I submitted my resignation to the company. I completed all the formalities, returned my access card, cleared my computer, and bid farewell to my colleagues, whose smiles rarely reached their eyes. The moment I stepped out of the towering office building, I felt another thread connecting me to this city snap. That night, Julian sent a FaceTime request. It was the first time he had contacted me since our divorce. I looked at the name on the screen, hesitated for a few seconds, then switched to audio-only. I didn’t want to see his face next to another woman. His displeasure was immediate from the other end. “Why no video?” “Just got out of the shower, no makeup,” I casually brushed him off. Julian chuckled on the other end, his tone smug, clearly thinking I was still the meticulous woman who tried to maintain a perfect image for him. “What look of yours haven’t I seen?” His voice carried an uncomfortable familiarity. I didn’t respond. He probably found it boring, so he changed the subject and asked about my resignation. “You quit? Good. You only got that internship at the company through my connections anyway. There wasn’t much of a future there.” My impatience reached its peak. “Don’t you need to go accompany Stella?” I interrupted him, just wanting to end the conversation quickly. On the other end, Julian fell silent for a moment at my words, then let out a cold laugh. “Audrey, your temper is getting worse.” His voice was full of the arrogance and warning of a man accustomed to power. “Stella isn’t well. If you dare to say anything to upset her, you know the consequences.” I couldn’t even be bothered to argue with him anymore. I just hung up. Two days later was Julian’s birthday. In previous years, no matter how busy I was, I would personally bake him a fondant cake and prepare a table full of his favorite dishes. And he, like a perfect husband, would cancel all business engagements to spend the day only with me. This had been one of the few rituals in our marriage. This year, I hadn’t prepared anything; I had almost forgotten the date. Then my phone rang. It was Dylan, a friend from Julian’s circle. “Audrey, did you and Julian have a fight?” Dylan’s voice was boisterous. “It’s his birthday today, why aren’t you here? Stella, though, she’s here, running around the mansion like the hostess.” I held my phone, my fingertips icy cold. “Oh, really?” “You should come quick, Julian’s had a lot to drink,” Dylan continued, adding fuel to the fire. “If you don’t come soon, your husband might really be snatched away.” I let out a soft laugh, tinged with a bone-chilling coldness. “Dylan, Julian and I are already divorced.” With that, I didn’t bother waiting for his reaction and just hung up. Not long after, Stella posted a series of photos on Instagram. In the pictures, she held a custom cake, smiling sweetly and shyly. Another picture showed Stella playfully smearing cream on Julian’s face, with the caption: “Hope you’re as happy every day as you are today, @JulianHayes.” Julian replied with a simple “Okay.” I exited the social media app and took out a document from my safe. It was the title deed for a commercial property I owned in a prime downtown location. It had been gifted to me upon our marriage. I sent a message to Mr. Harrison, “Mr. Harrison, please anonymously list this asset for sale. A lower price is fine; I need cash, as quickly as possible.” Then, I pulled out the dusty box from under the bed and took out a heavy wedding photo album. In every picture in the album, I smiled so brightly. Back then, I naively thought I was the happiest woman in the world. I turned to the third page. In the photo, Julian, with a rare gentle smile, was bending down to adjust my veil. I pulled out my lighter. A pale blue flame lit up a corner of the photo. I watched it hungrily consume the image, then tore off the half-burnt piece. Ashy black scraps fluttered onto the desk. I scooped up the remnants, walked into the bathroom, and flushed them all down the toilet. I pressed the flush button. Watching the swirling water carry everything away, I closed the album and put it back in its place. I looked at my empty hands and whispered to myself, “This is it.” The day this wedding album was completely burned, everything between us would truly be over.

Audrey’s POV When my friend Chloe came to see me, she brought the latest gossip from our circle. “Did you hear? Julian and Stella had a huge fight at his birthday party. They say she scratched his face.” Chloe scrolled through her phone, gloating. “Apparently, the trigger was because you didn’t go.” I was wearing a face mask and didn’t even lift an eyelid. “They’ll always make up,” I mumbled, my voice muffled. “I’m always just a pawn in their toxic love story, aren’t I?” Chloe thought about it, decided I had a point, cursed “those two psychopaths,” and tore open a bag of chips. From then on, Julian started contacting me relentlessly. Calls, texts, they flooded in like a bombardment. At first, it was questioning. “What do you mean? Why aren’t you answering?” Later, it was commands. “Reply to my message now. Don’t make me lose my temper.” I blocked his number and didn’t answer any unknown calls. My life lately was full and busy. Shopping sprees, spa treatments, visiting the latest art exhibitions, planning global travel routes. Julian was completely shut out of my new life. One day, Chloe and I were shopping at the mall. I paused in front of a men’s coat at a luxury brand store. It was Julian’s style. For a moment, I lost myself in thought. I remembered one winter, even though I was an heiress, I foolishly stood in line for five hours outside the boutique to buy him a limited edition coat. That was when he was still an arrogant, struggling student. When he received it, he just glanced at it indifferently. Later, Stella came over and casually remarked that the coat’s color was too old-fashioned. It didn’t suit Julian. The next day, I saw that coat on his driver. I stood there, a dull, tearing pain in my chest. Now, thinking about it, my heart no longer hurt. Even that last bit of lingering warmth had completely faded. “What are you looking at? Still thinking of buying something for that jerk?” Chloe leaned in, her face wary. “No.” I pulled my gaze away, taking her hand and walking forward, my voice light. “This coat isn’t good enough for my future man.” His phone and text barrage failed, so Julian resorted to other means. He sent messages through mutual friends, saying he wanted to meet me to talk. He had Karl contact Chloe, but Chloe just cursed him out. “You tell Julian to go away! Don’t bother Audrey!” That night, Chloe answered a call, then stormed into my room, her face ashen. “Audrey, that bastard Julian, he sent people to harass your parents! He’s checking the movements of your family’s trust fund!” My face instantly darkened. My relationship with my parents had hit rock bottom because of Julian, but that didn’t mean he could cross my line. I walked onto the balcony and pulled out the second photo from the wedding album. The lighter’s flame flickered again, illuminating the night. “You don’t deserve to, and you have no right to disturb my family. Neither in the past, nor now.” I watched the photo turn to ash, my voice cold. “Julian, this is the second time.” Afterward, I took a taxi to our old university. The campus was quiet at night. I walked to the artificial lake and sat on a bench for a long time. This was where I had fallen in love with Julian at first sight. That year, during freshman orientation, he spoke on stage as an outstanding student representative, in a white shirt and black pants, aloof and radiant, showing no hint of his modest background at the time. I sat in the audience. In that instant, I was completely captivated. I took out a faded, yellowed old photograph from my wallet-one I had secretly taken back then. In the photo, Julian was holding a basketball, his forehead glistening with sweat, catching his breath. That was the best image of the boy I remembered. I looked at it for a long time. Then I tore it into countless pieces. I raised my hand and scattered all the fragments into the dark lake water. I stood up and walked away. This time, I didn’t look back.

Audrey’s POV The day before I was due to leave the country, Julian called from an unknown number. I hesitated, but answered. “Audrey.” It was his voice, sounding more tired and hoarse than I had ever heard it. My finger hovered over the hang-up button. “Don’t hang up,” he said urgently, with a hint of pleading in his voice. “Can we just meet, just once? Please?” I remained silent. “I’ve booked VIP tickets for tomorrow’s concert. Haven’t you always wanted to see that band? I’ll go with you.” His voice sounded so sincere, as if we were back in our dating days. I really did want to go. Not for him, but for myself. I wanted to witness firsthand how the last bit of my hope died. I wanted to put a definitive end to my foolish, self-destructive devotion of the past seven years. “Audrey, are you crazy?!” Chloe jumped up from the sofa after hearing my decision. “He’s got bad intentions! He just wants to reel you back in! Nineteen times, haven’t you learned your lesson?” “Chloe,” I looked at her, my eyes calm and firm. “I’m not going for him. I’m going for myself. I need this.” Chloe looked at me, finally giving in. “Fine, go,” she said through gritted teeth. “But you remember this: this is the last time! If he dares to pull any more stunts, I swear I’ll make sure someone breaks his damn legs!” I took out the wedding album, flipping to the next page; these were the last few photos. I pulled out my lighter. Chloe sat beside me, watching the flames consume the photo of her radiant smile. “I agreed to meet, not because I forgive him, but to put an end to this,” my voice was a little shaky in the flickering light. The ashes fell into the trash can, mixing with fruit peels and paper scraps. The once sacred marriage contract was now no more than trash. I called Julian back. “Okay, I agree. Tomorrow evening at six, meet me at the concert entrance.” Julian’s voice on the other end held obvious relief. He said everything was arranged, just waiting for me.

Audrey’s POV On the night of the concert, the venue was bustling with people outside. I stood alone at the VIP entrance, feeling completely out of place. I arrived fifteen minutes early. At exactly six o’clock, Julian didn’t show. At six fifteen, the concert was about to start. The crowd at the ticket gate had thinned out. He still hadn’t appeared. I wasn’t surprised, but a sliver of disappointment still crept into my heart. Originally, I had wanted to say a proper goodbye. My phone vibrated. Julian sent a voice message; the background noise was chaotic. “I’m sorry, Audrey.” His voice was full of apology. “Stella had a bit of a hyperventilation attack, she’s not feeling well, I…” The voice message cut off there. A few seconds later, a second voice message came through. “Just go in by yourself. We’ll have countless anniversaries in the future. Stella will be gone in a few days, and then I’ll accompany you no matter what you want to do, okay?” His tone was apologetic, perfectly smooth, as if I were the one who would be unreasonable if I didn’t understand. I turned off my phone. Just then, the main stage lights suddenly flared, and the headlining band’s guitar intro roared through the sky, instantly igniting the atmosphere. As the intro began, tens of thousands of people across the venue started waving their arms to the rhythm and singing loudly in unison. “In this very moment, I found love…” A tidal wave of voices swept over the crowd. I smiled. I took a photo and a lighter from my bag. It was the last group photo I had purposely torn from the album before leaving the house. I walked to a sheltered corner outside the venue and crouched down. The lighter’s flame sparked. My heart was surprisingly calm. Using the song of my favorite band to accompany his betrayal, somehow, it felt fitting. Watching the photo turn to ash, I scanned my ticket and entered the venue alone. I stood in the crowd and listened to the entire headlining set of the music festival. A complete ending for my dead youth, for my extinguished obsession. Julian Hayes, I will never love you again.

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The car accident hurt less than I’d imagined. When the doctor mentioned a hysterectomy, a bitter smile touched my lips. I raised my hand to sign. Just then, a hand snatched the pen and tore the form apart. It was Jason. “Amber, don’t you want to be a mother anymore?” I looked at his reddened eyes. My face stayed calm. He turned to the doctor, voice low. “Get every blood bank on the line. Save her uterus.” As they wheeled me in and the anesthetic flowed, I vaguely remembered the last time I was here. For a miscarriage. Where was Jason then? Beside his “first love,” Sera Thompson. 1 Amber POV In the final year of our arranged marriage, I gave up on having a child with Jason. The nursery, once filled with dreams, became just another storage room for forgotten clutter. I stopped waiting for him at dinner. Stopped dragging him out to watch meteor showers. On our anniversary this year, I even flew to New York alone. The car accident on the way didn’t hurt as much as I’d imagined. It wasn’t until the doctor said the uterine hemorrhage wouldn’t stop and suggested a hysterectomy that a bitter smile touched my lips. I raised my hand to sign the consent form. Just as the pen touched the paper, a hand snatched it away and tore the document to shreds. It was Jason. “Amber, don’t you want to be a mother anymore?” I looked at his reddened eyes, burying the turmoil inside. My face stayed frozen. Jason seemed to be holding back something fierce. He turned to the doctor, his voice stern. “I’ll mobilize every blood bank in the city. Please, do whatever it takes to save her uterus.” As I was wheeled into the operating room and the anesthetic flowed into my veins, I vaguely remembered the last time I was here. It was for a miscarriage. Where was Jason then? By the side of his “first love,” Sera Thompson. The surgery lasted nearly six hours. When I woke up, I vaguely heard nurses chatting outside the door. “Mr. Vance is downstairs with his wife for a prenatal check-up. One little kick, and he almost called in a specialist consultation. Now that’s what you call rich people spoiling their wives.” The door swung open, and Jason walked in, a chill practically radiating off him. He’d clearly heard the chatter. He opened his mouth, as if to explain, but then his gaze instinctively fell on me lying in bed. I just stared out the window, pretending I hadn’t heard a thing. Jason frowned, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. He spoke to the nurse in a cold voice. “Don’t spread rumors. My wife is right here. The lady downstairs…she’s the wife of a friend.” As he spoke, he watched for my reaction. I simply kept my eyes lowered, my face devoid of any joy or even a hint of jealousy. I used to argue with him constantly about Sera, demanding he cut ties with her. Now, hearing him clarify things, I felt no desire to show happiness. He reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from my ear, but a crisp knock on the door interrupted him. It was Sera, her belly noticeably round. Her breathing was slightly rapid, her eyes full of concern. “Jason said Amber was also hospitalized here. I was worried, so I came to check on her.” Before I could react, Jason hurried over and lifted Sera into his arms, carefully carrying her to the sofa. “You’re in your last trimester, don’t run around so much.” The worry in his tone was like a silver needle, piercing deep into my heart. Jason seemed to realize something and turned to explain. “Amber, don’t misunderstand, Sera is…” But I cut him off with a forced smile. “Sera’s pregnancy isn’t easy. Caleb’s busy with work, so as a friend, it’s only right for you to be attentive.” I called my brother by his first name, the polite distance in my voice making Jason’s eyes darken. At noon, the meal Jason ordered from the five-star hotel across the street was delivered to my room right on time. Sera was also joining us for lunch. The table was laden with French seafood bisque, pan-fried sea bass, and garlic-baked shrimp… Jason first served a piece of fish onto my plate, then another onto Sera’s. “These are all high in protein, good for your health.” I stared at the fish on my plate, my eyes blank. I have a severe seafood allergy. Not just fish, even touching seafood broth could trigger anaphylactic shock. Five years of marriage, and he still hadn’t remembered. Sera noticed I hadn’t touched my fork, so she paused as well, her face a picture of innocence. “I’m here; Amber must feel uncomfortable.” Her perfectly timed retreat made me look like I was being unreasonable. She stood up, preparing to leave, but Jason pulled her back into his arms. Clutching Sera close, he frowned at me. “Amber, don’t be childish.” But the moment he spoke, I had already dipped my spoon into the soup, taking a small sip of that fatal liquid. Jason’s lips curved in satisfaction, and he gently explained. “This bisque was simmered for over ten hours; the chef here is quite famous.” The next second, Sera’s phone rang. After a few murmured responses, she stood up. “The maternity photos are ready. The photographer asked me to pick them up.” Jason rose with her, taking her hand. “I’ll drive you…” He trailed off, turning to look at me, as if suddenly remembering I was still here. My throat tightened. It was hard to breathe. My whole body felt like it was being roasted over a fire. I wanted to tell Jason I was allergic, that I might die. But when my gaze fell on his hand, tightly clutching Sera’s, I finally shook my head, struggling to squeeze out a few words. “I’m fine.” Jason seemed to be activated by a switch, his steps light as he helped Sera out of the room. While waiting for the elevator, I heard a nurse at the station exclaim. “Bed 826 is showing symptoms of shock! Prepare for immediate resuscitation!” That was my bed number. Through the elevator doors, just as they were closing, I saw Jason seem to glance back. But the last image before I lost consciousness was of him wrapping Sera’s hand in his own, carefully cautioning, “It’s cold outside, be careful not to catch a chill.” 2 Amber POV When I woke up again, I had a hazy sense of having survived a disaster. In the fog of my consciousness, I recalled the first time I met Jason Vance. He was the heir to a powerful East Coast dynasty. I was the adopted daughter of the West Coast Harrison family. Everyone celebrated the business alliance between our two families, but I knew he was originally supposed to marry Sera, his true love. This arranged marriage tore apart that deeply in-love couple, and so, he hated me. After that, the once devoted man became a notorious playboy, seen with celebrities at night, publicly humiliating me. And I could only repeatedly contact the PR department, quietly cleaning up the messes he left behind. Until that time I went to a club, trying to prevent paparazzi from getting compromising photos of him and his latest fling. A drunken Jason suddenly found strength, pinning me against a cold marble wall, his fist slamming inches from my ear. “Amber, aren’t you ashamed?” I simply turned my face away, calmly stating, “You’re drunk. I’ll take you home.” A rare vulnerability spread across his stern brow, his voice hoarse and broken. “She took a check from my mom and went abroad… Amber, no one will ever love me.” My heart went out to him. I pulled out a tissue and offered it, comforting him. “I won’t leave you…” Before I could finish, Jason’s overwhelming kiss silenced me. That kiss ignited a fuse, instantly burning away all of Jason’s reason. I don’t remember how difficult that night was, only that my chin rested on his shoulder as he repeatedly coaxed me to call his name. After that night, Jason stopped his idle ways. Even for business dinners, he would let me know. He bought the best plot of land in the city center and filled it with roses. He said, “Amber, my love for you is like these roses, fervent and eternal.” On Caleb’s wedding day, he prepared lavish gifts and took me back to the West Coast. And it was from that day on that Jason’s possessiveness towards me became exceptionally strong. For various reasons, he forcibly moved his company headquarters to the West Coast, giving the excuse, “The North is too dry, Amber isn’t used to living there.” I felt his affections were becoming obsessive and wanted to talk to him. But I unexpectedly stumbled upon Jason pinning a woman on the sofa, howling like a wronged child. “Why did you abandon me to marry a cripple? Sera, you really are something!” I sank to the floor by the door, my blood instantly freezing. In pain and despair, I immediately wanted to contact a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement, but then I unexpectedly discovered I was pregnant. I started tracking his whereabouts because Sera and Jason were constantly fighting. As a woman, my heart was already dead; but as a mother, I still wanted to save this family. And he always looked tired. “Stop it, we’re over. I just feel sorry for Sera as a pregnant woman.” Until the last time our two families organized a ski resort trip, and Sera and I both fell down a snowy slope. He used Sera’s pregnancy as an excuse, unhesitatingly picking her up first and rushing to the ambulance. My child, before it could even take shape, left me in the freezing snow. In the hospital room, I questioned him, my voice cracking. “Didn’t you see the blood under me? Didn’t you know…” I never got the chance to tell him about the baby. He just slammed the door and left, impatient. “Amber, don’t make a scene over your period. Do you know Sera almost lost her child because of you?” So… he thought I was responsible for us falling from that snowy mountain? I knew that no matter how I argued, Jason would never believe me again. Thankfully, I no longer had any lingering attachment to him either. A notification sound from my bedside jolted me out of my memories. I swiped open the screen. It was a processing reminder from my lawyer. “Ms. Harrison, your divorce proceedings with Mr. Vance have entered the final stage. If termination is not applied for within one month, the divorce papers will be ready. Wishing you a pleasant life.” A clear tear slipped from the corner of my eye. Five years of arranged marriage were finally coming to an end. 3 Amber POV Jason canceled all his work and stayed by my side in the hospital. He would drive for hours to buy my favorite French desserts. He would peel oranges perfectly clean, even personally feeding me. And my response to him was always a lukewarm “thank you.” After being discharged, Jason and I returned to the West Coast on his private jet. Our home was right next to the Harrison family estate. At the housewarming party, he presented himself as a model husband to the media. “I was concerned my wife would feel homesick, so I chose this property.” The media lauded him as a doting husband, unaware that directly opposite his study was the guest room where Sera was temporarily staying. I wondered if he was worried about me being homesick, or if he couldn’t bear to be far from Sera next door. As soon as we got home, the house staff began brewing tea. When serving, one of them accidentally spilled tea on documents on the table. The staff member repeatedly apologized to me. “I’m so sorry, Ma’am, it wasn’t intentional.” I casually tossed the soaked documents into the trash can. “It’s nothing important, don’t worry.” But Jason, who usually had a strong aversion to messes, took them out of the bin and carefully wiped them clean. “Amber, these are the baby room design drawings you personally created. I was just about to give them to the interior design company. How could you just throw them away?” I replied almost subconsciously, “No need anymore.” Jason grabbed my wrist, a hint of annoyance in his grip. “It was thoughtless of me to accompany Sera to New York on our anniversary. You don’t need to be childish about the baby issue.” I wanted to say I wasn’t being childish, that we would soon no longer be husband and wife, and I wouldn’t be having children with him. But before I could, Jason’s phone rang. That familiar, delicate female voice came through. “Jason, I think I’m being followed…” “Send me your location. Try to go somewhere crowded.” I watched Jason grab his keys and rush out the door. In the end, I swallowed the words I wanted to say. I pushed open the nursery door and started clearing out everything I’d once prepared for a new life. The tiny clothes. The toys. All of it went into the trash. After I threw out the last box, the night wind swept bits of snow across my face. The heart that had once anticipated that new life finally fell silent. The moment I turned, a sack was violently pulled over my head! Before I could even struggle, a sharp pain shot through the back of my neck. My vision went black, and I completely lost consciousness. When I awoke again, I found myself still inside the sack, my hands tied behind my back, my mouth tightly gagged with cloth. Behind me, a man’s rough voice reported. “Mr. Vance, this is the one who hired us to abduct Ms. Thompson and threatened to kill the child in her belly.” Another man added, “Yes, Mr. Vance, we were just doing it for the money.” My heart suddenly felt empty. Mr. Vance? Was it Jason? Sera’s timid voice spoke up. “Jason, I’m alright, so how about we just let it go…” Jason sneered, his voice laced with a cruelty I had never heard before. “Let it go?” I couldn’t see him, but I could imagine his expression at that moment. “He wants your life and your child’s life. I have to get revenge for you.” “Take him downstairs to the pond. Teach him a lesson.” As his words fell, my heart suddenly trembled. Before I could resist, several men came forward, grabbed me, and dragged me like a dead weight into an ornamental pond filled with broken ice. Bone-chilling cold instantly spread from my toes to my whole body. The more I struggled, the faster I sank. The cold pierced every inch of my skin like needles. I lifted my head, trying to surface for a breath, but as soon as I took one, I was pressed back into the water. This was repeated several times. The air in my lungs dwindled, replaced by an intense feeling of suffocation. I coughed violently, water mixed with blood spraying from my lungs. Eventually, I had no strength left to struggle. Sera, standing nearby, feigned concern, calling for them to stop. “Enough, he’s barely breathing.” “That’s not enough,” Jason’s voice echoed from above. Next, I felt a leather shoe stomp heavily on my fingers. He was grinding them with force. “I want to make sure he can never harm anyone again.” With that, he kicked me hard in the stomach-exactly where I had just had surgery. Before I could recover, my whole body slipped back into the cold pond. Sharp objects at the bottom of the pond cut through the sack. Through the tear, I struggled, trying to surface. Sera, looking directly at me, flashed a fleeting, mocking smile, then conveniently collapsed into Jason’s arms. “Jason, I feel a bit unwell…” Jason immediately turned and held Sera in his arms, his voice becoming extremely gentle. “It’s alright. Are you scared? I’ll take you to the hospital.” With that, he picked up Sera and waved his hand at the men behind him. “No one bother with that worthless one in the water.” Through the torn sack, I saw Jason’s resolute back as he walked away. It took countless attempts, but I finally managed to crawl out of the pond. I dragged myself to a stone by the water’s edge and, enduring the searing pain in my abdomen, managed to saw through the ropes. I then found my phone, which had fallen in the grass nearby. I slid open the screen. It was a message from Jason: I have work tonight. Get some rest. 4 Amber POV Staring at the screen, I suddenly laughed, tears streaming down my face. His so-called “work” was to vent anger for Sera, pushing me into icy water again and again, almost drowning me, then spending the entire night by Sera’s side, caring for her? My knuckles clutching the phone turned white. Finally, I dialed 91

After the ambulance arrived at the hospital, I lay on a cold gurney, but no doctor came to see me. I clearly felt excruciating, knife-like pain in my abdomen, and my limbs gradually became cold and numb. Out of survival instinct, I grabbed a passing nurse. “When will the doctor be here?” “All the emergency doctors have been called by Mr. Vance to see Ms. Thompson. You’ll probably have to wait a while.” The nurse, seeing my pathetic state, suggested, “Or do you have any relatives? You could ask them to arrange a transfer to another hospital.” I slid through my contacts with trembling fingers, my gaze lingering on “Caleb” for a moment before I finally dialed. There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. Then I spoke first. “Caleb, can you find me a doctor?” As expected, Caleb’s tone was utterly cold. “Now you know to come to me?” Then, his clear, distant voice spoke again. “Amber, I hope you understand that from the day you insisted on marrying Jason, I no longer considered you my sister.” The nurse couldn’t bear to listen. She took the phone and tried to persuade him. “Sir, this lady is in critical condition and needs immediate surgery, otherwise her life is in danger.” But after hearing this, Caleb’s tone remained unwavering. “This is all her own doing.” The call ended with a busy signal, and my heart completely gave up hope. Back then, to repay the Harrison family for adopting me, I disregarded Caleb’s objections and entered into an arranged marriage with the Vance family, consolidating our family interests. But on my wedding day, Caleb had an accident on his way back from abroad and was saved by Sera. To repay Sera, he gave her extremely high status and wealth. However, after that accident, he completely ignored me, even hated me. He believed that if I hadn’t insisted on the arranged marriage, he wouldn’t have had that accident, so even if I died outside, it would be my own fault. I don’t know how much time passed. My consciousness was already fading. The blinding light of the operating lamp finally appeared, and then I slipped into darkness. Dimly, I heard the doctor say, “Excessive blood loss. Previous uterine damage has re-ruptured. A total hysterectomy must be performed…” The surgery finished by midnight. When the anesthesia wore off, a dull, hollow ache pulsed in my abdomen. That night, I submitted an application to a mentor at the Royal Swiss Dance Academy, enclosing my final choreography. Soon after, a reply arrived. “I have reviewed your application. We are delighted you’ve chosen to join us.” During my recovery after the surgery, I became unusually quiet. My body was healing, but something inside me had gone permanently empty. My best friend, Chloe Davis, came to visit. After waiting a long time without seeing Jason, she pulled out her phone. “Amber, where did your busy husband run off to?” I quickly stopped Chloe’s hand before she could dial. “He’s busy with work. This isn’t a big deal.” “Not a big deal?” Chloe looked at me, exasperated. “Amber, you can’t have children anymore. Isn’t that a big deal? And he still has time for work?” “Chloe, I’m leaving the country.” In Chloe’s astonished gaze, I calmly continued. “He and I are getting divorced soon.” “Divorce?!” Chloe seemed to have never imagined that word would be associated with me, as to outsiders, Jason had long seemed deeply in love with me. Seeing I didn’t want to say more, she didn’t press, leaving to buy me lunch. When she returned, her breathing was rapid, clearly very angry. “Amber, do you know what I heard in the hallway?” She angrily put down the lunchbox. “The nurses said Jason had been with Sera in the next room for a whole week! He even booked the entire floor for her!” I simply smiled, my eyes flickering slightly, a tacit admission. Chloe hugged me tightly, sticking up for me. “Amber, if it’s inconvenient for you, I’ll go deal with that Sera! She’s too much!” I patted her shoulder, comforting her. “It’s fine, Chloe. I no longer love Jason.” The words had barely left my lips when the hospital room door opened, and a deep male voice came from behind us. “No longer love me?” 5 Amber POV Chloe and I turned simultaneously, seeing Jason in a black trench coat, taking long strides towards us. Chloe, still fuming, was about to rush up and confront him. “How dare you show your face here?” I subtly pulled Chloe back, shaking my head at her, effectively cutting off the conversation. Jason subconsciously clenched his fingers, swallowed a few times, his gaze somewhat evasive. “An employee, also a friend, from the company is hospitalized. I just stopped by on my way.” He quickly composed himself, walked over, and took my hand, asking with concern, “You were perfectly fine. Why are you in the gynecology ward?” A bitter taste formed at the corner of my mouth. I desperately wanted to tell him that all these injuries were thanks to that night’s “punishment.” But I didn’t want Chloe to worry, so I held back. “My period is a bit irregular. The doctor suggested IV drip observation. I’ll be discharged this afternoon.” Jason’s tightly furrowed brow relaxed, his thin lips moving. “Then I’ll pick you up and take you home tonight.” But that night, as the moon rose high in the sky, Jason was nowhere to be seen. Instead, I found traces of him on Sera’s Instagram. There was a post showing splendid fireworks outside a floor-to-ceiling window. In the glass reflection, I could clearly see the silhouette of a man embracing her from behind. The caption read: “Even though I’ve lost a lot, there’s still someone who treasures me.” I knew this was probably an Instagram post visible only to me. But now, I just expressionlessly hit like. I took an Uber home and started packing up the items I’d carefully collected over the past five years, the couple’s mugs, the cheap gifts he’d given me, into cardboard boxes. The custom-made couple’s phone charms had long gathered dust. But when I flipped over Jason’s old phone case, I found a movie ticket stub tucked behind it. On the back, in his forceful handwriting, were the words: “Now, watching a movie with you is stolen happiness.” The date was precisely the day he had accompanied Sera to New York. That morning, I contacted a used item recycling company to pick things up. Just as I finished loading the last box onto the truck, the main door suddenly opened. I looked up, my gaze directly meeting Jason’s deep eyes. He frowned, looking at the boxes on the truck. “Is there so much trash to throw away at home?” I nodded, my voice flat. “They’re all useless things, just taking up space.” The driver, seeing the situation, took an exquisite silver box from the truck and handed it to me. “Ms. Harrison, this looks quite valuable. Did you put it in by mistake?” Before I could reply, Jason snatched the box. He opened it, and his whole body stiffened. “Isn’t this… the silver amulet you wished for by that fountain when we traveled abroad? It was for our future child.” I looked at the oxidized and blackened silver ornament. I thought for a long time, truly feeling nothing, but still politely said, “I’m sorry, I forgot.” Jason’s face instantly darkened, his voice a little rushed. “You said then that this was the most effective charm, that I absolutely had to wear it. Later, you said we should put it away for the baby…” I calmly forced out a regretful smile. “I was foolish before. I won’t believe in such superstitious things anymore.” Jason probably thought I was still angry about his missing our appointment last night. He suppressed the emotions in his eyes and pulled a velvet jewelry box from his pocket. “Amber, I was just too busy and lost track of time last night.” He opened the box, took out the pink diamond necklace inside, and, without asking, put it around my neck. “This is the style you always wanted. Don’t be angry anymore.” I glanced down at it. It was the same style Sera had posted on Instagram yesterday. Perhaps it was a free gift with purchase. He didn’t give me a chance to refuse. He then handed me a haute couture dress, his voice carrying a hint of appeasement as if giving charity. “Stop making a scene. Change your clothes. There’s a celebration tonight for Sera’s discharge from the hospital. You come too.” 6 Amber POV I didn’t want to get entangled with him, nor did I want to explain, especially since in half a month, we would be legally unrelated. At the banquet, guests in formal attire chatted and laughed, glasses clinked, creating a lively and luxurious scene. I wore the dress he had chosen, adorned with the jewelry he had “given” me, like an exquisite puppet, standing by his side. Until someone whispered behind me, just loud enough for me to hear. “Look at that pink diamond Amber is wearing. Isn’t it exactly like Sera’s? But I heard Sera’s is the main piece, and hers… looks like a bundled accessory.” Before leaving this circle, I didn’t want to cause trouble, but that didn’t mean I had to endure this humiliation. I raised my hand, tore off the necklace from my neck, and casually made to throw it into the champagne tower’s waste bin nearby. But my wrist was suddenly grabbed by Sera. Her eyes filled with tears, looking pathetic and vulnerable. “Amber, did I do something wrong to upset you? Jason specially picked this necklace for you.” Chloe was also there. She couldn’t stand it and rushed over, shielding me behind her. “It’s none of your business if she throws away trash! Are you deliberately picking a fight?” The commotion attracted many onlookers, and the chatter grew louder. Someone in the crowd quietly scoffed. “Her? I heard she was a wild child from an orphanage, only got a good life after being adopted by the Harrison family. She’s still uncultured at heart.” Chloe trembled with anger, loudly retorting, “The Harrison family may have adopted her, but my Amber finished university on a full scholarship! All her excellence was earned through her own hard work! She’s not some good-for-nothing dependent on men!” Ten years ago, Caleb was being hunted by enemies. I saved him by hiding with him in a hidden underground passage. After that, he brought me out of the foster care system. But in these years at the Harrison family, I never dared to relax, even practicing dance with a high fever, just to not disgrace the Harrison family. Yet no matter how hard I tried, people only ever remembered me by the label “Harrison family’s adopted daughter.” Caleb and Jason heard the commotion and walked over, frowning. “What’s going on?!” Sera lowered her head, looking pitiful like a frightened deer. “It’s my incompetence that has made Ms. Harrison and her friends laugh at me.” “I came from an ordinary family, so of course I can’t compare to Ms. Harrison’ nobility.” With that, she made to unfasten the necklace from her neck. “This necklace is more suitable for Ms. Harrison anyway.” Jason stepped forward and held her hand, his tone undeniable. “If it’s for you, wear it; there’s no need to take it off.” Caleb also gave me a cold glance, then turned to comfort Sera. “What nobility does she have? She’s just an orphan our family sponsored. You saved my life. I won’t allow you to be so humble in front of her.” A busybody girl nearby suggested, “I heard Ms. Harrison once won a gold medal in international ice ballet. None of us have seen it. Why don’t we ask Ms. Harrison to perform a piece to liven things up?” Hearing this, Sera shed a few more tears, further highlighting my “arrogance” and “unpopularity.” Caleb sneered, looking at me with icy eyes. “Since you’re so pure and look down on this necklace, tonight, to celebrate Sera’s discharge, you can perform some ice ballet for everyone, as an apology.” I looked at him in disbelief. This was an outdoor banquet. For aesthetic effect, an artificial ice rink had been laid in the garden, but it hadn’t been professionally polished. I wanted to refuse, wanted to turn and leave. But Caleb’s bodyguards immediately surrounded me. Caleb sternly threatened, “If you dare to leave now, I will immediately freeze all your funds in the Harrison family and make it impossible for you to move an inch in my industry.” To ensure my smooth departure from the country, and to avoid any visa issues, I endured it. I was “escorted” onto that rough, cold ice surface. Even through my dance shoes, the cold pierced my feet like needles. I was forced to dance. With every spin, every jump, the wound in my abdomen throbbed with a tearing, dull pain. The cold air choked my windpipe, carrying a metallic taste of blood. I felt like a circus animal being watched, surrounded by mocking glances. Chloe tried to rush up and pull me away, but she was firmly stopped by several bodyguards. Mid-performance, a sharp, piercing pain suddenly shot through my right toes. I staggered and looked down. Through the clear ice, I clearly saw several iron nails frozen beneath, their points facing upwards. That last step had pierced right through the ice. I fell heavily onto the ice. Blood instantly stained my skirt and merged with the icy water. Sera, at that moment, flashed a fleeting, malicious and triumphant smile at me. So, all of this was planned by her! “Ah… my stomach hurts so much…” Sera suddenly clutched her abdomen, her face contorted in pain as she collapsed into Jason’s arms. Everyone’s attention instantly shifted to Sera. No one noticed my dance shoe, already stained red with blood. The family doctor was urgently called. He nervously asked Sera, “What did you eat tonight?” Sera pointed weakly at me, still kneeling on the ice. “I only drank the juice Amber handed me…” Caleb’s face instantly darkened. His gaze toward me was murderous. “Amber, you are incorrigible! Let her kneel there! Kneel until she understands her mistake!” Jason didn’t utter a word in my defense. He bent down, picked up Sera, and left with a cold reprimand. “Amber, you disappoint me too much.” Someone pressed down on my shoulders, forcing me to kneel upright. My knees slammed heavily onto the ice. Then came the excruciating pain of more small nails piercing my flesh. I bit my lip and said nothing, watching their backs as they clustered around Sera and walked away.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “364876”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #擦边Steamy

My death came on the eve of my wedding. The first to find my suicide note was the man I’d been with for eight years, the one who was about to become my husband. Ryan. He was the man in this world who loved me most. When I was eighteen, I was diagnosed with leukemia. My parents packed up and abandoned me overnight. It was Ryan who rushed from across the country, using all his savings to pay for my hospital bills. “I don’t want the treatment anymore…” “Please, just do it for me? You’re not afraid of dying, so why are you afraid to fight for your life this one time?” Ryan knelt before me, begging me to get treatment. He took meticulous care of me every day, staying by my side. For me, he worked relentlessly to earn money. “Chloe, I won’t just make sure you live. I’ll make sure you live happily.” I guess I was lucky, and unlucky, at the same time. On the suicide note I’d prepared long ago, the first words I left for him were: 【Ryan, actually, I’ve known you were cheating for a long time.】

Ryan’s hand trembled, and the old piece of paper floated to the floor with a soft breeze. “Chloe, stop messing around.” “This isn’t funny at all.” Ryan felt a surge of panic. He looked at the text message he’d received two hours ago on his phone and dialed. The light he always left on for me was still shining. But the house was silent. He couldn’t hear a sound. On the other end of the line, there was only the repeating, mechanical tone. Ryan sighed and picked up the note from the floor. 【Was the girl named Bree?】 【The new intern at your company. She’s very cute and pretty, and she has dimples when she smiles.】 【When I brought you lunch, she was the one who helped bring it inside for you.】 【Ryan, I don’t blame you.】 【I just feel useless. Why couldn’t I make our love last a little longer?】 The handwriting was light, but the words weighed heavily on Ryan’s heart. I found out Ryan was cheating by accident. Even after I died, I still blamed myself for not being afraid of Ryan getting wet that day and going out to give him an umbrella. That day, it rained heavily. “Chloe, I have some things at the office, I need to rush back for a bit.” “You go to sleep first, don’t wait up for me. Just leave a light on.” Lately, Ryan often worked late into the night. Sometimes, a call would come, and he’d leave in the middle of the night to go back to work. I didn’t understand his business matters, I just thought he worked too hard. The rain outside grew heavier. I saw the umbrella Ryan had forgotten by the door, grabbed it, and ran out after him. “Ryan!” I called Ryan’s name in the apartment building corridor, but the wind and rain were too strong; he didn’t hear me. Seeing him about to leave the corridor, I quickened my pace, trying to catch up. But the next second, an umbrella appeared over Ryan’s head. “You big dummy, why aren’t you using an umbrella?” A girl in a yellow puffer jacket, holding an umbrella, jumped into Ryan’s arms. “When you’re seeing someone you like, you naturally brave any weather.” Ryan had said something similar to me before. Back then, I was hospitalized, and each chemotherapy treatment meant a long stay. Ryan shuttled between the hospital and the office, always arriving with urgent steps. He later told me, “When you’re seeing someone you like, walking and running feel the same.” That line used to make me smile for a long time. Now, he had someone he’d brave any weather to see. The regrettable part was, it wasn’t me anymore. Ryan pulled her into his arms, his voice laced with concern. “Aren’t you cold? I told you I’d come up myself. Why did you come down and stand in the wind?” The girl nuzzled her fluffy head against Ryan’s chest. “I just wanted to see you sooner!” Ryan lowered his head and passionately kissed the girl in his arms. In the wind and rain, they embraced and kissed, right where I stood. My hand, clutching the umbrella handle, twitched. The wind and rain seeped into my heart, every single bit of it. It was too cold. Colder than all those winters during my five years of cancer treatment, a hundred times colder. 【Ryan, you two kissed for a full three minutes.】 【In those three minutes, I wondered if you were cold. The rain outside the corridor seemed to be wetting your shoulders.】 【Ryan, I thought about breaking up with you to let you pursue your true love, but I couldn’t bear to.】 【So I pretended nothing had happened.】 【Ryan, will you laugh at me for being too blinded by love? Will you blame me for not letting go?】

Ryan’s hand stopped at the places where the ink had blurred. He knew those were my tears. “Chloe… I…” Ryan’s words caught in his throat, unable to come out. He opened the second note. 【Ryan, you’re so silly! You didn’t want to spend your birthday with me, so you lied and said you had to work overtime.】 【In that picture on your Ins, half of that girl’s face was way too obvious!】 【But it’s okay, I still pretended not to see it.】 【Oh, and next time, stop putting her things in your pockets and bringing them home.】 【I’ve already washed and packed them in that box in your study. After I die, remember to give them back to her.】 【It’s best not to let her live in this house. After all, I once lived here.】 【After I die, just take your things and move into her apartment. It’s in the building next door, quite close.】 【And don’t forget to pay the utilities. I’m always the one paying your bills for that little place!】 Reading this, Ryan’s tears dropped straight onto the floor. He stumbled into the study and found the box I’d mentioned. Inside the box were a few pairs of stockings, a red lace thong, some condoms, and a few gift receipts. All belonging to that girl. Ryan’s brows furrowed slightly, his heart feeling as if something had ripped through it. It hurt so much. He thought he’d been seamless, but I had just been pretending not to know. Ryan scrolled through my bank statements, only then realizing I had been paying the bills for his and Bree’s apartment all this time. “Chloe, you idiot!” Actually, I wasn’t an idiot. I knew Ryan didn’t love me anymore; he had betrayed me. As a modern woman, I should just walk away and end things for good with him. But I couldn’t bear to. During those five years Ryan stayed by my side through cancer, pouring his heart and soul into it, fighting with all his might, I survived because of him. He was the one who loved me most, and the one I loved most. I couldn’t let go. Ryan’s phone rang, but he glanced at it and didn’t answer. He took a deep breath and pulled out the third note. Before he could even read the words, the phone rang again. “Ryan, why aren’t you here yet? I can’t sleep alone, and the light at my place is broken again.” Ryan’s face was grim, his voice laced with annoyance. “The light isn’t broken; you probably just didn’t pay the electricity bill. I’m busy right now, don’t call me.” With that, Ryan hung up. 【Ryan, did you two arrange to meet every day at midnight?】 【Every time you answer the phone, the volume leaks, and I can hear her whining to you on the other end.】 【Sigh, if it weren’t me you ran into, who would cover for you?】 【Ryan, the way you looked at her at the annual gala today, it made me so jealous!】 【I didn’t ruin her dress at the gala, but Ryan, you didn’t even believe me.】 At the annual gala earlier this year, Ryan initially didn’t want to bring me. “You’re not well, you’ll get tired if you go.” “I want to go.” Ryan was a bit unhappy, but he had no choice but to bring me. He drove to the office to pick up Bree, and she instinctively opened the front passenger door. “Chloe, I get car sick, and I’m used to the front passenger seat… Can I sit there?”

I opened my mouth, then glanced at Ryan. He just said: “You sit in the back. It’s roomier.” I knew better than to argue and just moved to the back seat. The whole way, they talked and laughed, discussing work matters, and I couldn’t get a word in. When we arrived, Ryan didn’t even wait for me. My heart ached, but I couldn’t show it. “Is that the boss’s fiancée?” “I heard the boss was penniless back then and worked hard for five years to pay for her cancer treatment!” “The boss is such a good guy!” “What good is being a good guy? He’s still with Bree…” Smack. Someone slapped the person who’d let the words slip out. I pretended not to hear, smiling and greeting them. But my heart felt as if something was clenching it, hurting so much. “Chloe, my dress zipper seems to be stuck. Can you help me pull it up?” Bree led me to a corner. In the dim light, I tried to pull up the zipper. But Bree kept moving around so much that the zipper accidentally snapped off. “Chloe! What’s wrong with you?!” “How am I supposed to face anyone like this?!” Bree’s crying and shouting drew Ryan over. He subtly glanced at me in the corner, his eyes showing anger. I didn’t dare look up, quietly defending myself. “I didn’t do it on purpose. The light was too dim, and she kept moving, so I…” “Forget it.” Ryan cut me off, took Bree’s hand, and walked away. In the dim corner, I felt like a forgotten toy, covered in a thick layer of dust. 【Ryan, you’re so annoying!】 【I’m really mad. I’m punishing you by not making you lunch for a week.】 Those damned memories flooded Ryan’s mind. He remembered his idiotic self, and angrily punched the wall in frustration. Ryan couldn’t bear to read anymore. Those notes were like a manual of his jerk-like behavior, every word tearing at his heart. He took out his phone and called me again, but there was still no answer. “Chloe, where are you?” “I’ll come pick you up. Okay?” “It’s going to rain soon, I’m so worried about you…” He sent several voice messages, but half an hour later, there was still no reply. Ryan turned and looked at the stack of letters beside him. He couldn’t resist and opened another one. The first line made him break down. 【Ryan, last month I lied and told you I was hospitalized for pneumonia. Actually, we lost our baby.】

That baby Ryan didn’t know about. A month later, the news hit his heart like a sledgehammer. “A baby… our baby?” Chloe Smith and Ryan Brown had always wanted a child, but her body was too weak, and she always lost them. Later, Ryan mostly used protection. He said he didn’t want to burden my body further. But I knew, it was because he had Bree. That day, Ryan was secretly on the patio, on a FaceTime call with Bree, explaining he couldn’t come over because I had a fever. “I know! Stop being so paranoid. She survived because of me; if I wasn’t here, she’d die. It’s my fault, I burdened myself. But I promise you, you’re the only one who can have my child!” The patio door wasn’t soundproof enough. 【Ryan, the things you said were truly hurtful.】 【But if you don’t want my baby, then I don’t want them either. After all, my body probably couldn’t keep them anyway.】 【Ryan, actually, I really hate you.】 【If you had been honest with me, maybe I could have prepared myself to leave you?】 【Your words and actions are like soft knives, not deadly, but they’ve almost stabbed through my heart.】 【Ryan, the baby is gone, and I don’t want to live anymore.】 【Consider these notes as my belongings, left for you.】 【Oh, and under our bed is the money I left for you. I haven’t really touched the money you gave me all these years.】 【Think of it as my wedding gift to you!】 【Ryan, I don’t want to be your burden anymore. Goodbye.】 Ryan frantically flipped through the pages. The blankness that followed made his entire being halt. His hands trembling, he tried to call me again. But still, no answer. He rushed into the bedroom, found the card under the bed, and a receipt. The receipt showed Chloe had bought a bottle of sleeping pills. He looked at the sleeping pills in the bedside drawer. His suspended heart sank. “Hello? Can you help me find Chloe?” The person on the other end seemed half-asleep. After a confused sound, they checked the time. “Are you serious, Ryan?! It’s the middle of the night.” “Chloe isn’t sleeping next to you at this hour? Where would she go alone? Don’t you take her everywhere?” Ryan was trembling all over. “I, yesterday, yesterday…” “Yesterday, I left her on the hillside. I thought she’d gone home by now, but I can’t reach her.” … Yesterday was our eight-year anniversary, and also my farewell ceremony. Ryan and I hadn’t eaten alone together in a long time. I had specifically made reservations two weeks in advance, but halfway there, Bree’s phone call rang again. By then, I had developed a reactive response to that sudden ringtone. Whenever Ryan answered, he would purposefully lower his voice, always starting with, “What’s wrong?” The voice on the other end was soft, tinged with sniffles. Ryan immediately panicked, slamming on the brakes. “Chloe, something’s come up. I can’t make it.” “You get out here; I’ll send someone to pick you up and take you home.” That time, I stared at Ryan for a long, long time. I felt like I didn’t know him anymore. But in the end, I got out of the car, on a darkening evening, on the hillside. Why does love disappear? Ryan. After a long silence, the person on the other end swore a few times. “Ryan, I told you your messy business would eventually be found out by Chloe!” “Didn’t I tell you to stop… I…” Ryan’s eyes were red, his voice trembling as he cut off his friend. “I know, I know I messed up.” “Just help me first, please help me find her…” Ryan’s voice was almost pleading, heavy with emotion. Just then, a call came in. Ryan’s face lit up when he saw the caller ID. It showed my name. My Beloved Chloe. “Chloe’s calling me back, I’ll take this…” Ryan hung up and answered my call. “Chloe, where are you?” “What happened yesterday was my fault, I apologize. Tell me where you are, I’ll come pick you up…” A deep male voice interrupted Ryan’s repentance. The voice on the other end said, “Mr. Brown, this is the South City Police Department. A female body was found near Cloudview Mountain yesterday. It has been identified as Chloe Smith…”

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I was five months pregnant when an Uber driver hit me and knocked me to the ground. At the hospital, the doctors couldn’t get a hold of my family for a while. The girl who hit me cried helplessly on the phone: “I hit a pregnant woman, I’m so scared… Daniel.” That familiar name made me freeze. Half an hour later, the ward door was pushed open forcefully, and a wave of cedarwood scent filled the room. The man who appeared in the ward was none other than my husband, Daniel, who had told me he was on a business trip out of town and would bring gifts for our baby when he returned. “Does it still hurt?” Daniel stood at the doorway, his face etched with anxiety. I rubbed my eyes, and after confirming it was really Daniel, the emotions I’d held back all night burst like a dam. I didn’t have time to wonder why he was here. All I wanted was to rush into his arms and cry, pouring out all my grievances, fears, and helplessness. But the next second, all the words got stuck in my throat. I watched as Daniel walked towards the girl who had hit me. His eyes were red as he scolded her: “If this hadn’t happened, would you have never contacted me again?” “You used to get lost just going to school. What makes you think you can be an Uber driver?” “Looks like in all the years you’ve been gone, you didn’t marry a rich man, either.” Scarlett was silent for a moment, then pulled back the covers, got out of bed, and limped towards the door. As she passed, Daniel grabbed her. “You’re injured. Where are you going?” Scarlett cried in frustration, trying to pull away from him. “It’s none of your business. Even if I die, it has nothing to do with you!” Daniel’s chest heaved. Scarlett, with her leg in a cast, limped out. After only a few steps, he quickly caught up and scooped her into his arms. Scarlett hit him fiercely. Finally, she ran out of strength and quietly sat back on the bed. She lowered her head and choked, “The person I hit looks really wealthy. For wealthy people like you, retaliating against someone poor like me is as easy as crushing an ant.” “You came here today, aren’t you just here to see me fall apart?” “Do you think I wanted to drive drunk? The guys at the bar pressured me into drinking. For those two hundred dollars, I had to take a shot.” “I’m really exhausted, and my rent still isn’t paid. I don’t want to be evicted!” Scarlett burst into tears. Daniel’s voice was hoarse: “Scarlett, why won’t you let me help you?” The girl looked up in surprise and threw herself into his arms. Snot mixed with tears wiped onto his clothes. “Really?” Daniel was a germaphobe, but he didn’t flinch. After a long moment, he sighed, his voice laced with resignation: “I owe you.”

I froze, my heart clenching. Scarlett. So, she was Daniel’s legendary first love. His friends used to joke around when they were drunk. They said back in college, he’d get into fights for her. He even deliberately messed up a section on his college entrance exams just to get into the same school as her. He even broke ties with his family for her. Just as he was about to propose, she left him, complaining that life was too tough. I, too, had once asked him jealously. “If she hadn’t left, would you have accepted my confession?” He gently wiped away my tears. “Chloe, I’m sorry. I haven’t given you enough security.” And now, staring at the staggering 54 missed calls on my phone screen. My eyes suddenly stung and swelled. I stared numbly at the ceiling. Past scenes played uncontrollably in my mind. The year I met Daniel, I jumped into the ocean because of school bullying. As the freezing water filled my nose and mouth, he jumped in and pulled me out. “Do you know how painful it is to drown, with seawater filling your lungs?” Moonlight spilled onto his face, his eyes shining brightly. “Things will get better as long as you’re alive. I’ll protect you. No one will ever hurt you again.” That hug, I remembered for years. Later, he helped me report and deal with the bullies, teaching me how to protect myself. I used the money I earned from my part-time job to treat him to dinner, and emboldened by the alcohol, I took his hand: “I knew one day you’d become the most incredible lawyer.” He froze, his eyes slightly red, and he downed another drink. I followed him for four years, but I never dared to confess. After college, my parents kept pressuring me to move back home and settle down. At the train station, on the day I was leaving, he suddenly hugged me. “Chloe, stay and be with me, okay?” At that moment. The sound of the train boarding announcement, along with my racing heartbeat. From then on, I gave up the comfortable life my family had planned for me and squeezed into a tiny studio apartment with him. When we were at our poorest, we’d only eat cheap, discounted pasta. Every time, he’d give me the egg from his bowl. “Chloe, you’re too thin. Eat more.” To earn more money, he worked three jobs at once, even collapsing from exhaustion. I rushed to the hospital, crying and scolding him. “You idiot! Daniel, you’re such a fool!” “I don’t need a big house, I just need you to be safe and sound.” “If you’d just propose, I’d say yes in a heartbeat, even if we had to live in a rental forever, I’d be happy!” But he said, “Chloe, I can’t let you suffer. I can’t let you endure hardships with me. Once I’m stronger, I’ll marry you in style, the way you deserve.” Daniel kept his word. By our third year in the city, he had become a partner at a top-tier law firm, and his career soared. We also moved from a ten-square-meter basement apartment to a spacious penthouse. On the opening day of his firm, he proposed to me in front of everyone. “Chloe, will you marry me?” But now, the man who once promised to always put me first. His heart seemed to belong to someone else.

As the anesthesia wore off, a dull, pervasive ache in my lower abdomen reminded me: There was still a tiny life inside me, the culmination of our love. I hesitated for a long time, finally trembling as I opened my chat with Daniel on SnapChat. Chloe, give him, give us, one last chance. [Where are you?] Daniel picked up his phone: “Chloe, the case isn’t wrapped up yet, so I’ll be back in a couple of days. Get some good rest. I’ll take you to your prenatal check-up when I return.” His voice was as gentle as ever. Daniel had a lovely voice. I used to love listening to him coax me to sleep when I had insomnia. But now, he was using that gentle voice to lie to me. I froze. I didn’t reply until the phone screen went dark. Back then, Daniel would have immediately called me on FaceTime. He’d call again and again, asking if I was upset or felt wronged until I cheered up. But now, he naturally put down his phone and handed the porridge to Scarlett. Scarlett took a few sips and then put it down. She mumbled, her soft voice tinged with a hint of hesitation: “Are you… do you have a child?” Daniel didn’t answer. He just put the spoon back in her hand. “Finish it, then lie down and rest. Scarlett, you’re not a child, stop throwing a tantrum here.” Scarlett stubbornly lifted her head, tears welling in her eyes, looking wronged and defiant. “If it’s such a hassle, then just go back to her!” Daniel’s face darkened, his jaw clenched. During their struggle, the porridge on the table spilled. Daniel immediately reached out, shielding her with his body. The movement was practiced and natural, as if he’d done it countless times. Scarlett grabbed his scalded hand and anxiously blew on it: “I’m sorry.” The girl’s eyes reddened, and tears dripped onto the back of his hand. As if burned, Daniel instantly pulled his hand back. “Why are you crying? I’m the one who got burned, not you.” “Don’t think a few tears will make me forget everything. Scarlett, I’m not someone who forgets the pain once the wound has healed. When we broke up, I told you, ‘If you walk away, don’t ever come back. I won’t offer my heart to you a second time, just for you to trample on it!’” The Daniel before me, so out of control, was a stranger. After all, with me, he was always mature and composed. Even with the most challenging cases, he was always calm and unruffled. Scarlett was still crying. But her sobs grew softer. Daniel picked up his jacket and silently stood up. I remembered when we used to argue and give each other the silent treatment. He always insisted on debating everything logically, needing to win every argument, but he’d never just soothe me with a word. Back then, I thought he just didn’t know how to soften. But now, the figure paused at the doorway and turned back. He left, only to come back, tossing a tissue box to Scarlett. “Don’t… cry. Don’t worry about the shattered pieces on the floor; the nurse will clean it up. And I’ll have someone send some new food.” Scarlett took it, stopping her tears. “I want the seafood soup you used to make. All these years I’ve been away, I always miss that taste. Can you make it for me?” Daniel murmured an “Mhm.” It was soft, but it landed heavily on my heart.

The door closed. So, Daniel, the lawyer known for his rationality, his calm demeanor, and his refusal to ever back down. He, too, would abandon all his pride and boundaries, clumsily seeking reconciliation with someone. He, too, would willingly cook seafood soup for someone. And I had been married to him for five years, yet I didn’t even know he could cook. Tears streamed uncontrollably. I cried myself to sleep. In my dream, I was back on the beach that year, Daniel holding me, gently saying: “Chloe, I’ll protect you forever.” But the next second, the scene shattered, and Scarlett appeared. Daniel was intimately holding and kissing her hand. And I, along with the baby in my belly. Were forever abandoned in the cold ocean. My breathing grew painful, and my stomach cramped. When the pain woke me, my pillow was already soaked. I couldn’t tell if it was sweat or tears. The curtain was pulled back. A man in a suit stood by the bed next to mine. Scarlett saw me and greeted me warmly: “Miss Chloe, you’re awake! Hello, my name is Scarlett. I’m so, so sorry about yesterday. It was my fault for accidentally hitting you. It was completely careless of me to drink and drive, and you got so badly hurt, even affecting the baby. Please, can you forgive me?” She offered me a bowl of seafood soup. “My boyfriend made this for you. I haven’t seen your husband since yesterday. You’re pregnant, so you should eat something nutritious.” I didn’t take it, just asked, “Boyfriend?” Scarlett didn’t deny it, just blushed slightly, looking shy. “Well, ‘ex-boyfriend’ who I’ve loved for eight years, I suppose. Yesterday, when the accident happened, I was so scared I called him. I didn’t expect him to rush back from overseas overnight.” I symbolically took the bowl but didn’t drink. I’m allergic to seafood. Plus, during pregnancy, any strong, fishy smell already makes me nauseous. So I had no appetite. Seeing this, Scarlett bit her lip: “Miss Chloe, you won’t drink it. Does that mean you won’t forgive me? Are you still angry? I really didn’t mean it.” She was the one who hit me, causing my baby’s condition to be unstable. Yet, standing there, she showed no remorse; instead, she looked like she was the one who had suffered a grave injustice. Seeing my silence, she dropped her warm demeanor: “Miss Chloe, my ex-boyfriend is a lawyer. He insisted on helping me. Originally, I didn’t want to make things so tense, but now it looks like we’ll have to involve the lawyers.” A legal assistant nearby stepped forward and handed me a settlement agreement. “Hello, I’m an assistant to Mr. Daniel from Sterling Law Firm.” “This is a settlement agreement. If you’re willing to sign it, we can discuss the compensation terms.” I raised my hand, not even looking at it. I gently pushed it away. “I won’t sign.” Scarlett frowned, apparently finding me uncooperative. The lawyer stiffened. After a moment, he awkwardly pulled out his phone and made a call. During the long ringing. Scarlett looked at me, a flicker of triumph in her eyes. The call was answered. From the receiver, Daniel’s voice came through. “Speak.” “Mr. Daniel, the other party won’t sign. What should we do?” Daniel continued: “Tell her. If she doesn’t sign, she’ll face the consequences.” His calm, detached tone carried impatience and a warning. I sneered. My dad’s company was framed by a rival for alleged tax evasion. He was taken in for questioning and could face jail time at any moment. Back then, I was so anxious I couldn’t sleep for nights. For the first time, I begged Daniel to help my dad, to save our family. But he said. “Chloe, I know you’re going through a lot right now. But as a lawyer, my professional ethics demand that I don’t let emotions get in the way.” At that time, I chose to understand him. But now. For Scarlett, he was willing to abandon the very principles he always upheld. Scarlett took the phone, glanced at me, and raised her voice. “Daniel. She probably won’t hurt me. What? You specifically moved me to a VIP room!”

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My sister, Chloe, was a total romantic, completely obsessed with beauty standards. When she was fifteen, because her classmates said beautiful girls were tall and thin, she got bone-lengthening surgery and starved herself for a month. At twenty, her boyfriend complained that her figure wasn’t “enchanting” enough. She then stole my $70,000 in emergency medical funds for plastic surgery. Watching Chloe post on Instagram, “I’m so much prettier now. Do you want to see me?” I was furious. I just wanted fairness. But my mom, who always favored Chloe, snarled, “You’re worthless. If this money makes your sister happy, it’s the only good thing your pathetic life will ever amount to! Just die already, stop being a burden to us!” With that, she pulled off my oxygen mask. And I died, filled with resentment. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Chloe stole my money. This time, I called the police immediately. “I know the law better than I used to. Do you want to go to prison?”

“Maya, your sister just took some of your money, right? Do you have to be so petty?” When Mom Eleanor’s chilling voice rang in my ears, I realized I had been reborn. In my previous life, my love-struck sister stole my emergency funds for plastic surgery, desperate to win back her boyfriend. When I found out, Chloe scoffed, “Maya, I’m enhancing my looks, pursuing happiness! Unlike you, who’s ugly and fat and totally clueless about it!” I was so furious, I could only laugh. “You’re destroying yourself to meet beauty standards!” But Chloe shrugged it off, even cried to Mom, claiming I bullied her. Eleanor, hearing this, immediately glared at me viciously and personally signed my death warrant. “You burden! Chloe is our family’s darling, how dare you bully her? Go die!” Snapping back to reality, I met their arrogant gaze and smiled coldly. “Fine. I know the law better than I used to. Grand theft is ten years in prison! If you’re not afraid of jail time, go ahead and try it!” My words made Chloe’s face go pale. “Maya, you’re so cruel!” Her tears started flowing immediately. “Is it wrong for me to want to be beautiful? Are you just jealous that I’m younger and prettier, that’s why you’re treating me like this?” Eleanor looked at Chloe’s reddened nose and instantly felt sympathy. She pointed a finger at my face and yelled, “Maya! You vicious, venomous girl! Chloe is your own sister, don’t you care about family ties anymore? You ungrateful wretch!” She wielded the knife of ‘family love’ without hesitation, each blow aimed to kill. Looking at her familiar yet strange face, my heart ached. We were both her daughters. Why could Chloe openly enjoy her favoritism? What did I do wrong? Why did she hate me so much? My thoughts returned. I looked at Eleanor, each word torn from my soul. “Eleanor, I need money for my treatment too! I’m your daughter too! Why are you always so biased towards Chloe? Tell me, what do I have to do to earn your affection?” I wanted to find even a flicker of remorse or affection on her face. But there was nothing. Eleanor shielded Chloe, her cold eyes held only distance and indifference. “Chloe is younger, shouldn’t you, as the older sister, be more understanding?” I laughed, tears welling up. It seemed no matter how much I screamed and begged, her ability to deflect was more brutal. Perhaps she was tired from yelling. She glared at me fiercely and walked out of the hospital room. “Forget it, I don’t want to be around a heartless creature like you. You’re bad news!” The door slammed shut, echoing dully. Leaving me standing there, like a discarded clown. That afternoon, Chloe sought me out. The girl’s face had lost its earlier pitiful look, replaced by a hint of triumph. “Want to know why Mom hates you so much?” She raised an eyebrow, her tone full of provocation. “Give me seven thousand dollars. And I’ll tell you.” I gritted my teeth and paid her. After Chloe saw the transfer notification, she gave a cold laugh. “Alright, if you want the truth, just look at this photo.” She picked up a yellowed photo and shoved it into my hand. I lowered my gaze. My eyes involuntarily widened. The woman in the photo had eyes that curved into crescents, and a pair of shallow dimples appeared when she smiled. She looked almost exactly like me.

“Maya, because of your face, even looking at you makes Mom sick! Before you were born, Dad had an affair and left Mom for another woman. During that time, Mom spent her days in tears, begging Dad to come back, but Dad mercilessly hurt Mom for that other woman…” My body trembled uncontrollably. My mind went blank instantly. “So, Mom hates me because I look exactly like that other woman?” Each word felt like swallowing broken glass. Chloe nodded, her expression cold as ice. “Yes, because of you. The moment Mom sees you, she remembers endless pain. So, Maya, just die already, stop being an eyesore!” So that was it. Just because I resembled “the other woman who stole Dad,” from the moment I was born, I became a thorn in Mom’s side. My existence was a constant reminder of her broken marriage, of her painful past. It turned out, Mom’s favoritism, Mom’s cruelty, had never been rooted in anything I did, but simply because my face resembled the person she utterly despised. I looked at Chloe’s smug face and suddenly found it incredibly laughable. All these years, I had endured so much hardship, all because of a face. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. If no one loved me, if no one helped me, then I would love myself! This life, I wouldn’t tolerate it anymore. Everything they owed me, I would make them pay for it, one by one! Chloe took the money and immediately went for plastic surgery. But after her eyelid surgery, she decided her chest wasn’t big enough. She demanded that I pay for her breast augmentation. I refused. She then wept pitifully in front of Eleanor. This time, Eleanor completely lost it. She grabbed my hair and screamed, “You ungrateful wretch! I gave you life, you have to do whatever I tell you! Now I order you, give Chloe the money immediately! Or I’ll kick you out of this house! I’ll disown you!” Watching Chloe’s smugly triumphant expression from the side, I sneered inwardly. Outwardly, I deliberately feigned terror. ” Eleanor, I know I was wrong, I’ll give it to her right now…” Chloe, seemingly satisfied with my submission, walked over and patted my face. Her tone was contemptuous: “Maya, you really are a spineless coward, such a pathetic wimp!” I rubbed my scalp where Eleanor had pulled my hair, playing the role of the meek, submissive daughter. “$70,000 is a huge sum. Once you sign the contract, the money is yours, and I won’t ask for it back!” Chloe immediately nodded, afraid I’d change my mind. “Smart move! Sign it! Hurry up!” I curled my lips into a smile. I took out the contract I had prepared long ago from my bedroom drawer and handed it to her. The girl took it, didn’t even glance at the contents, grabbed a pen, and scribbled her name down. After signing, she ecstatically contacted the plastic surgeon. “Book me the most exclusive breast augmentation surgery! I want it tomorrow!” Then, she called her deadbeat boyfriend, Jake. “Honey, I’m getting my chest done even bigger tomorrow, I promise you’ll love it!” Hearing this, I almost laughed out loud. She really was a love-struck woman obsessed with her looks! But she didn’t know that what she had signed wasn’t a gift deed, but a $70,000 high-interest loan agreement. The girl was still immersed in her joy, completely oblivious to my menacing smile behind her. The next day, just after waking up, I saw Chloe’s location on her Instagram story. It was at the most exclusive plastic surgery clinic downtown. In the photo, she captioned: “I’m so much prettier now, do you want to see me?” I stared at the words and smiled. Chloe, your good days are numbered! Half a month later, Chloe’s Instagram posts stopped updating. I asked a nurse, and that’s when I found out she’d had problems at the hospital: Excessive liposuction caused skin necrosis, breast implant infection led to inflammation, and even her eyelid surgery resulted in a nasty scar due to tissue rejection. Her deadbeat boyfriend, Jake, saw her disfigured appearance. He immediately dumped her. After the breakup, Chloe was devastated. She climbed onto the rooftop, contemplating suicide. Eleanor was frantic. She immediately grabbed my arm and appeared before Chloe. “Chloe, please come down. Mom will find a way to fix your face again, okay?” Chloe was sobbing hysterically. “But, the $70,000 is all gone! Maya, where else would she get money?” Eleanor’s eyes shifted. She turned her head to look at me. Her eyes were cold. “Tomorrow, you’ll marry that old guy, and the $70,000 payment will pay for your sister’s treatment!” I was stunned. For money, she could be so ruthlessly extreme towards me! Chloe’s eyes immediately lit up.

She mumbled, “Yes, once I get the money from Maya’s marriage, I’ll get repairs! This time I’ll definitely look beautiful! Jake will definitely come back!” There was no way I would sacrifice my own happiness for Chloe. Eleanor saw my indifference and instantly blew up. She slapped me hard across the face. “Your sister is about to jump off the roof, and you’d just leave her to die? Do you have a heart of stone? Maya, I truly regret giving birth to such a cold, selfish, ungrateful daughter!” I turned my head away, a handprint quickly appearing on my cheek. The people around gasped and murmured. Seeing this, Eleanor slapped her leg and started crying and wailing loudly. “Oh, the injustice! My older daughter is driving my younger daughter to suicide, what am I supposed to do? I have never done anything wrong in my life, how did I raise such a cold-blooded, heartless creature! My younger daughter is standing on the edge of the rooftop, one step and she’s dead! But my older daughter? She won’t even bat an eye!” She cried, peeking at the gathering neighbors from the corner of her eye. Seeing more and more people gather, her wails grew louder, and she even beat her chest, as if she was on the verge of collapsing: “Why is my life so miserable! I gave birth to two daughters, the younger one is sweet and obedient, but the older one is a cold, unfeeling rock! If my younger daughter jumps, I don’t want to live either, I’ll just jump with her!” The neighbors, unaware of the full story, listened. They all started blaming me. “Ugh! Ungrateful wretch! A disgrace to society! It’d be better if such a child hadn’t been born! She’s ultimately a heartless monster!” Probing, scornful gazes assailed me, making me feel utterly suffocated. They were clearly just trying to crucify me. Cold sweat seeped down my back. I prepared to agree for now, then escape this toxic family later. Just then, several men in suits appeared. They held documents and walked up to Chloe, saying sternly: “Are you Ms. Chloe? We are from the loan company. You took out a loan of $70,000 from us, and with interest, it totals $140,000. The repayment date is today, when will you be able to pay it back?” Chloe frowned slightly. She seemed confused. Then, she scoffed, as if she’d heard the most ridiculous joke. “$140,000? You must be mistaken, right? How could I possibly take out a loan? If you want to scam people, go somewhere else, I’m not stupid!” The leading man sighed. He handed the document to her, pointing to the signature. “Ms. Chloe, please look carefully! This is the loan contract you personally signed, amounting to $140,000, and the repayment date is today. If you cannot repay it today, we will, according to the contract, seize all your assets and pursue legal action.” The girl’s smile froze on her face. She still couldn’t quite believe it, grabbing the document. She ran her finger over the signature repeatedly. After confirming it was indeed her handwriting, she was stunned. The color slowly drained from Chloe’s face… She suddenly looked up at me, urgently asking, “Maya, what is this? The contract you gave me wasn’t a $70,000 gift deed, was it? Is this all your doing!? Maya, you tricked me, didn’t you?! This isn’t a gift deed at all, it’s a trap you set for me!” I stood by, tilting my head and smirking mockingly. “Oh, I don’t understand, Chloe… Chloe, I only knew you wanted money, so I gave you a loan contract. Is there a problem with that?” Chloe’s face instantly went white. “It really was you! You bitch! How dare you trick me!” She screamed hysterically, lunging at me, trying to hit me. “You evil witch! You’re absolutely twisted! I’m going to kill you!” The leading man stopped her, saying coldly, “Ms. Chloe, please calm down. This is not the time to throw a tantrum. Either pay back the $140,000 today, or we proceed with legal action.” Chloe’s legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground, tears instantly gushing out. “$140,000? Where would I get that much money? You might as well just kill me…” Eleanor, standing nearby, also looked stunned. Her eyes hollow, she said, “It’s over, it’s all over now!”

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On graduation day, Brenda, who disowned me five years ago, suddenly called me home. I thought she regretted kicking me out, but the moment I walked in, I saw that 50-year-old bachelor from our old town. “Ashley,” Brenda said, her eyebrows knitting in impatience, “you’re not getting any younger. I called you back for your wedding. I’ve found you a good husband.” The old man, Frank, his face a mass of wrinkles, grinned and reached for my hand. I recoiled, backing away, staring at Brenda and my sister, Brittany, in disbelief. “Why are you doing this to me?” Brenda’s eyebrows shot up, her face instantly filled with annoyance. “What’s wrong? Mr. Frank is being very generous with the wedding money. Aren’t you satisfied?” It was all about money. My last shred of hope shattered. Looking at my family, eager to push me into this abyss, I swallowed my tears and forced a faint smile. “Fine,” I said. “I’ll marry him.” The Mr. Frank my mom and sister kept talking about, was Frank Donovan. He used to be married. But his drinking, gambling, and domestic abuse literally drove his wife to her death. After that, every family in town with a daughter avoided him like the plague. Yet, my mother was practically begging to marry me off to him. Frank flashed his yellow teeth at me. “So this is my little bride, huh! Look how soft her skin is! Come here, let me get a look at you.” I stood frozen, unable to process what was happening. Seeing I didn’t move, Frank got up and started walking toward me, intending to grab my hand. I backed away repeatedly, staring at Brenda and Brittany in disbelief. “Mom! Brittany! How can you do this to me!” “I thought… I thought you regretted kicking me out of the house when I was just a kid and couldn’t even survive on my own. I thought you called me back to make amends.” Brittany snickered, as if she’d heard the funniest joke. “Are you stupid from all that studying? Kicking you out was the smartest thing Mom ever did.” Brenda’s face hardened at my words, her tone icy. “What did we do to you? Haven’t we been good enough?” “You’re not getting any younger. We saw you couldn’t find a husband, so we helped you find one. And here you are, picking and choosing!” “You ungrateful brat, you haven’t given us a single dime in five years. Now you marry Mr. Frank, give us the wedding money, and we’ll be even.” Even? But I never owed this family anything. Looking at my family, eager to push me into this abyss, I swallowed my tears and forced a faint smile. “Fine,” I said. “I’ll marry him.” Growing up, Brittany always got everything good. If I wanted a piece of cake, I’d get beaten with a stick. Brenda would say, “How dare you try to take from your sister?” When it was too cold in winter, I secretly took an old jacket Brittany didn’t want, but Brenda made me kneel outside in the freezing cold as punishment. I was just the extra one, Brittany was the family’s darling. It was pathetic how I still harbored a shred of hope for this family.

“That’s right!” “Why would I hurt you? Just follow your Mr. Frank and enjoy life.” “Look at your classmates, working hard to find jobs after graduation, but you won’t have to! Mr. Frank will take care of you, how great is that! Others would kill to be in your shoes!” Brenda slapped her thigh excitedly, unable to hide her grin, as if my pain was invisible to her. Brittany spoke up smugly from beside her. “You fought so hard to go to college in the city, but now you’re still coming back to town to get married. And you caused trouble with Mom, got nothing better to do!” Frank rubbed his hands together, his gaze on me greasy and unsettling. “You don’t worry,” he said, “after we’re married, you’ll have two kids in three years!” Then he tried to grab my hand again. I subtly dodged him, and he grew visibly angry. “Bitch! You agreed to marry me, what’s wrong with a little touch? Just you wait until we’re married, I’ll teach you a lesson!” I smiled politely, my eyes cold as I watched them. Frank called his mom, asking her to come over and check me out. I just sat there quietly, listening to them haggle. “My daughter is a college graduate, young and smart! Eighteen thousand is too little! Her kids will be smart, too! It has to be two hundred eighty thousand dollars!” Brenda stood there, arms crossed, her eyes sharp, engaged in a verbal battle with Frank. Frank wouldn’t back down. “We agreed on eighteen thousand! Why are you trying to haggle now?” “You’re unreliable! You think I won’t just call off the wedding?” “There are other college graduate daughters around here, not just yours!” Brittany quickly interjected, trying to smooth things over. “Mr. Frank, please don’t!” “Just tell us, what do you think of my sister? Is she to your liking?” “If you like her, you have to pay a fair price.” Frank scanned me up and down, his smile sickeningly sticky. Finally, he relented. “Wait for my mom to get here! She’s the one with the money, whatever you can get from her is your problem.” When I went to school, my family didn’t support me. Brenda outright kicked me out and disowned me, precisely so I couldn’t ask them for a single cent. Now, it was for money again. She called me back to ruin the rest of my life. Just then, the sound of a baby crying came from the house. Brittany and Brenda were completely unfazed. I looked at them, puzzled. “Mom, what’s going on? Where did a baby come from?” Brittany, thinking of something, couldn’t hide her delight. “It’s your nephew, of course! We’re just waiting for you to get married. Once I get the money, I can finally live a good life!” So, Brenda and Brittany were selling me to Frank, using the money to fund Brittany’s wedding and raise her baby. Brenda cut Brittany off and turned to me. “Tomorrow, you’ll go to City Hall with Frank to get married.”

My heart skipped a beat. I tried to sound calm. “Mom, isn’t that a little too fast?” I subtly started massaging Brenda’s back. “Marriage is a big deal. Being so rushed isn’t good.” Seeing Brenda ignored me, I felt a pang of anxiety. “Mr. Frank, why don’t you just come to the city with me? I just found a job, and I make twenty thousand dollars a month!” Frank immediately refused, glaring at me menacingly. “No way! What if you dump me once we’re in the city?” “You’ll stay here with me in the countryside, like a good girl! You’re not allowed to go anywhere.” “If you try to run, I’ll break your legs!” He was clearly terrified I’d escape. Brenda’s eyes were practically glowing as she looked at me, reconfirming. “Is that really how much you make?” “You’re not trying to fool me, are you?” I pulled out my phone to show them. “Of course not! Look, all the terms are clearly written here.” “This company is a global public enterprise; promotions and raises won’t be an issue in the future.” Brenda snatched my phone, her eyes fixed on the “twenty thousand” salary. Her eyes lit up with greed, and she muttered to herself, “Twenty thousand a month? I only save ten thousand a year.” Then, like a fierce mother bear protecting her cub, Brenda shoved me behind her and yelled at Frank with newfound confidence. “Now you’re not good enough for my daughter! If you want to marry her, it’ll cost you at least a million dollars!” Brittany stared at me, green with envy and disbelief. “Twenty thousand a month? You, that loser? No way!” “Mom, don’t let her fool you!” “She just wants to escape back to the city; then we won’t be able to do anything about her.” Brenda looked at me skeptically, then switched off my phone and put it in her pocket. “I doubt you’d try anything funny.” Frank’s gaze on me turned vicious, his greasy facade of innocence dropping. “Her making twenty thousand is her money. If she goes to the city, will she really give it to you obediently?” “You should still marry her to me. Once she has a baby, she’ll be tied down, then you can let her go to the city to find work and support the family.” “Then we’ll be one family, and we’ll all share whatever she earns.” Brenda thought about his words for a moment, deciding he made sense. Then she started yelling at me. “I almost fell for your tricks! Dreaming of running back to the city? Never!” “You’ll marry Frank first, have a baby, and then you can go out and work.” “When you go back to the city, you’ll take me and your sister with you. We raised you for so many years; now it’s your turn to repay us.” A cold laugh bubbled in my chest. Repay them? Did they really have no idea how they “raised” me? At 15, I weighed only sixty pounds, severely malnourished, a stark contrast to Brittany. If it weren’t for my schoolteachers taking pity on me and secretly slipping me food, I doubted I would have even grown up. I continued to play along, affectionately looping my arm through Brenda’s, faking sweetness for the first time. “Okay, Mom, I’ll do whatever you say.” “I really missed you these past five years, not being able to come home.” As I said it, I felt a surge of nausea. I reached for my phone, but she slapped my hand away. “What are you doing!” “You can’t have your phone back yet. Get things settled first, so you don’t try any funny business.” I had no choice but to give up and wait to see what would happen. That night, Frank’s mom arrived. Her back was hunched, her body stooped, but her eyes were unnervingly clear.

Brittany eagerly led me to stand between Frank and Ms. Donovan. “Ms. Donovan, look, this is my sister. Isn’t she beautiful!” Ms. Donovan scrutinized me from head to toe, her expression disdainful. “She’s fine, but too thin. How can she have sons with such a small butt?” As she spoke, she reached out and pinched my butt. Just as I was about to lose it, Brenda slammed a cup on the table. “How dare you look down on my daughter? My daughter is a college graduate; is your son good enough for her? The eighteen thousand we discussed before is off the table. I want two hundred eighty thousand!” “What!” Ms. Donovan was shocked by Brenda’s outrageous demand. After all, in this town, a family that could produce eighteen thousand dollars was already considered wealthy. Let alone Brenda now demanding two hundred eighty thousand. Frank quickly stood up, went to his mom’s side, and whispered something to her. Ms. Donovan looked at me again, her expression different now. Then she took off the cheap jade bracelet from her wrist and put it on mine. I forced a smile and accepted it, feeling nauseous at the sight of these ugly faces around the table. Finally, they impatiently set the wedding for two days later. After dinner, I wanted some fresh air, so I took a stroll around town. Just because I was outside for half an hour, Brenda slapped me the moment I returned. “Were you trying to run away?” Brittany fanned the flames. “You walked out right after dinner, what else would you be doing if not trying to run?” I tried to defend myself, but Brenda didn’t listen and continued to punch and kick me. I looked up at them, my eyes filled with hatred. Brenda shivered under my gaze, then kicked me again. She then tightly bound me with rope and roughly shoved me into the room. I was locked up for a full day and two nights. During that time, I begged, I cried. They didn’t even give me a bite to eat or a drop to drink. Why did I come back to torment myself? On the morning of the supposed wedding, I was finally untied, shaking my numb hands. “You little bitch, if you dare to run again, I’ll break your legs!” Brenda’s shrill voice rang out. I didn’t respond. “I’ve already given the money to your sister. Don’t blame me for being cruel. Your sister needs that money more than you.” Brittany chimed in. “Exactly.” I ignored Brittany and turned to Brenda, unable to keep my thoughts to myself. “Why are you pretending? Didn’t you call me back just to sell me off and give all the money to Brittany for her wedding?” Brenda glared at me, righteous fury in her voice. “We’re your family! You make a fuss over us spending a little of your money? You’ll never be done complaining!” I froze, no longer willing to humor them. “If I remember correctly, five years ago, you were the one who kicked me out.” “And this time you called me back, just to sell me for a good price, so why bother with these grand words? You’re so hypocritical!” Brittany rushed toward me, snatching my bag and rummaging through it in front of me. She didn’t find a single dime, stomped her foot, and walked off. Brenda’s face was beet red, furious. “How dare you talk back? I’m your mother! I can treat you however I want!” “I’m telling you, if your sister’s wedding gets messed up, you won’t have it easy either! Hurry up and help your sister get the money!” Just then, Frank walked in, and Brenda’s tirade abruptly stopped. Brenda then dragged me into the car. Puzzled, I asked, “Aren’t we having the wedding? Where are we going?” Frank’s lecherous voice answered. “To get our marriage license, of course. We’ll be back just in time for the ceremony.” I was too weak from hunger to resist, responding coldly to his words, calmly looking out the window. This farce needed to come to an end. At City Hall, Brenda held my arm firmly, whispering a warning in my ear. “If you dare to say anything to the staff, don’t blame me…” I forced a smile and nodded, walking determinedly into City Hall. Frank was practically beaming, and Brenda gave me a satisfied smile. Then the clerk double-checked the computer, then looked at me, confused. “Ma’am, aren’t you already married?”

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Our company arranged a work retreat to India. My girlfriend’s idol, Thomason, insisted on bringing the models, dressed in mini-skirts, to ride a shady local bus. He had no idea how rampant sexual assault was in India. And watching them actively courting disaster, I didn’t say a single word. It was only because in my previous life, for everyone’s safety, I reported this to our boss, Mr. Harrison. That day, Mr. Harrison gave everyone a severe dressing-down, forcing my girlfriend and her model friends to cancel their plans to travel around India. But later, because Thomason insisted on going out, he was robbed on a shady local bus and tragically killed. My girlfriend, Leah, shifted the blame entirely to me, kidnapped me, and burned me alive. She even paid off the models to create an alibi for her. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Thomason invited the models to wear mini-skirts for a photoshoot on the bus. “Julian, stop being such a fearmonger!” “India is a country with an ancient civilization; it’s not the kind of place you describe, crawling with rapists!” “You’re always using those alarmist rumors to scare everyone, aren’t you just trying to ruin our plans to travel around India?” “I think you’re just jealous of Leah and Thomason’s good relationship, that’s why you’re trying to scare us with rapists!” Watching them put on their mini-skirts and pose, I didn’t utter a single word in retort. India has one of the highest rates of sexual assault in the world. On average, a girl is assaulted every five minutes. In a country where even ancient, sacred stones aren’t safe, going out dressed like that—the outcome was painfully obvious. After they finished changing, Leah, my girlfriend, walked in. When Thomason saw Leah, his eyes were glued to her. “Leah, you’re so sexy.” “You’re easily the most beautiful girl in the world!” “What? In your eyes, is only Leah beautiful? Are we not pretty?” The other model girls indignantly confronted Thomason. Surrounded by the models, Thomason quickly pleaded with them, “Beautiful! You’re all beautiful! Simply goddesses!” His expression was full of enjoyment. “Leah, let me ask you, between Julian and Thomason, who’s hotter?” Ruth chimed in, teasingly. When I was mentioned, Leah’s expression instantly turned to disgust. “Julian is such a clingy, annoying guy! He’s constantly trying to compete with Thomason for my attention.” “If you don’t want to come with us, then just get lost!” Since you’ve chosen to court disaster, I might as well give you a little push. “Mini-skirts are so boring. Bikinis are the real way to show off a woman’s charm.” “Only girls with truly great figures have the courage to wear bikinis in public.” “You think I wouldn’t dare?” Goaded on by me, Leah, not one to back down, immediately changed into a bikini. The other girls, confident their figures were just as good as Leah’s, also started picking out suitable sizes. Watching them excitedly choose their bikinis, I smiled coldly to myself. Let’s see if you can still laugh like that when those creeps in India get their hands on you and brutalize you.

Amidst the chatter, Mr. Harrison knocked and came in. Seeing everyone’s attire, his blood boiled. “This is India, not back home! Women covered head to toe are still at risk, and you dare to dress like this!” “Change your clothes, now!” Leah was startled at first, then ran over to Mr. Harrison, sweetly buttering him up. “Mr. Harrison, you’ve misunderstood. We just thought since we rarely get to travel, we wanted to take some promotional photos here at the hotel. Don’t worry, we absolutely won’t leave the hotel.” “Don’t you believe me? Ask them!” The rest of them all chimed in. “That’s right, Mr. Harrison, this way, we can even help promote the company’s paid international vacations!” Thomason sneered. “See how much Leah considers our company? Unlike some people, who only think of themselves and hinder others from contributing to the company.” Hearing that everyone claimed to be acting for the company’s benefit, Mr. Harrison’s face finally softened. He relaxed, but before leaving, he reiterated his warning. “I’ll say it again, you absolutely must not leave the hotel. Otherwise, whatever happens, I won’t be held responsible.” With that, he pulled me aside. “Julian, you’re always reliable. Keep an eye on them.” No sooner had Mr. Harrison walked out than the girls erupted in groans. “Everyone knows Julian is just the boss’s lapdog. How can we go out with him around?” “I was planning to post vlogs and become a huge influencer.” Someone, unwilling to give up, tugged on Thomason’s arm. “Leah, isn’t Julian your boyfriend? Go talk to him; he’ll definitely let us go.” Thomason suddenly raised his voice. “Think about it, everyone. How did Mr. Harrison show up so coincidentally? Could someone have snitched?” His meaningful gaze was fixed on me. “It has to be Julian!” Ruth shrieked. “Last month when we were partying at that bar in Thailand, he was the one who snitched!” I was speechless. Last month in Thailand, Thomason had a whim and insisted on taking the models to a bar for his birthday. But that place was a notorious hub for human traffickers operating in Southeast Asia. Local gang leaders had already noticed them. If I hadn’t told Mr. Harrison in time to bring them back, this group would probably have been sold into trafficking. I never thought they’d see it as me harming them. Incited by Thomason, they instantly grew furious, glaring at me as if they wanted to devour me. Thomason strode towards me, raising his hand to slap me. “So you’re the one with the big mouth, always running to the boss, huh?!” But I caught his incoming arm with one hand. I looked at him coldly. In my past life, I was blindly foolish, giving all my kindness to people who didn’t deserve it. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have been so good-hearted. “Get lost!” Thomason’s height and build were no match for mine. With one shove, he stumbled back two steps before falling sprawling on the ground. “Julian! You’re despicable! How dare you bully Thomason!” Leah shrieked, rushing to shield the fallen Thomason in her arms. “Julian, I know you’ve always been jealous of my good relationship with Leah, but we’re just good friends. I never intended to interfere with your relationship.” The fallen Thomason leaned into Leah’s embrace, speaking tearfully, yet provocatively rubbing his head against her ample chest. “Julian, I’ve never seen such a petty man!” “Someone like you doesn’t deserve our Leah!” Just as the models were lambasting me, Mr. Harrison knocked on the door again. They quickly shoved me into a corner, then blocked Mr. Harrison’s view at the door. Mr. Harrison frowned, surveyed the room, and warned again. “I’ll say it again: no leaving the hotel.” “The police just reported large crowds parading in the nearby streets. These people are mostly from the impoverished districts, uneducated, essentially like wild animals.” With that, he turned and left. But Leah hadn’t heard a word. She immediately started changing into bikinis with the other models. Thomason came up to me and challenged me in a low voice. “See? Leah has always liked me. She’s even willing to be my lapdog just to please me!” “You’re just a stepping stone she uses to appease me, something she can kick aside anytime!” I suddenly found it quite amusing. The models in our company were all from privileged, wealthy backgrounds. Many came from powerful and influential families. I’d like to see how these ungrateful fools would manage if something happened to them in India!

The next morning, before Mr. Harrison woke up, Leah and Thomason woke everyone up early to do their makeup and change clothes. Leah finished her makeup, wearing a sexy bikini that showcased her hot figure perfectly. Thomason held his camera, snapping countless photos of her. Glancing at me, he deliberately sneered in a sarcastic tone: “I’m so sorry, I actually wanted to take you along, but you made Leah angry, and she doesn’t want you to come.” “So you’ll just have to stay here and keep being Mr. Harrison’s lapdog.” Everyone laughed. One of the girls, Chloe, timidly raised her hand. “Isn’t this a bit too much? He’s our colleague after all.” “Too much?” Ruth slapped her across the face. “Is it not too much that he stole Leah from Thomason?” “If he hadn’t clung to her, would Leah have been forced to be his girlfriend?” Hearing her idiotic statement, I practically laughed in exasperation! It was ridiculous. Leah was a girl from a disadvantaged background, with limited education and career prospects. After joining the company, her performance was poor, she wasn’t making enough money, and she couldn’t afford food. I mentored her, teaching her the ropes, which allowed her to find her footing in the company. To win me over, she stood outside my apartment in a torrential downpour for a day and a night. Now, I was suddenly the other man? When Thomason ganged up on me to bully me, as my girlfriend, she didn’t even help. She actually enjoyed watching me get picked on by Thomason. Because she thought her male idol was fighting over her! Seeing that it was almost time, Leah waved everyone to head out. “Hurry up and get ready to leave. I can’t wait to get some amazing shots. This time, I’m sure a lot of people will like my posts.” Thomason also took out his camera. “Professional equipment is all ready.” After changing, they all swarmed towards the dilapidated old bus parked outside the door. This group of hot-figured girls instantly drew the attention of all the men nearby. Some bolder Indian men even gathered around the bus, clinging to the bus door, peering inside. But Leah didn’t see any danger; instead, she thought it was a testament to her immense charm. “I told you, India has a long and rich civilization.” “The people here are very kind; they’re not as scary as Julian made them out to be!” Ruth immediately chimed in, “Yes, Thomason is right. Julian is just a petty man, deliberately fabricating lies to scare us!” Amidst their laughter, the dilapidated bus slowly started moving. Watching them leave, I let out a cold laugh. I hoped they’d still be this happy in a little while. Not long after they left, Mr. Harrison came in. “Are your things packed? Should we head back home?” Before he finished speaking, he stopped, stunned by the empty room. “Where are they?” With reddened eyes, I regretfully told Mr. Harrison. “I’m sorry, Mr. Harrison, I couldn’t stop them. Thomason and Leah took everyone out to have fun.” “Nonsense! Which bus did they take?” Mr. Harrison’s face instantly turned livid! “Absurd!” “Absolutely lawless! I warned them repeatedly not to go out! They completely ignored my warnings!” Mr. Harrison paced frantically. “How long have they been gone?” “Almost an hour, I think.” Hearing that, his face instantly turned ashen. “This is bad! At this time, the entire state’s police force is deployed to handle the protests!” “Quickly, come with me! We’ll contact the embassy first, then report it to the local police to find them. Hurry, hurry!” I contacted a security company. I only dared to leave after the highly paid bodyguards arrived. They searched from dawn till dusk, finally finding the bus in a filthy, chaotic slum. But when they opened the bus door and saw the horrifying scene inside, everyone couldn’t help but vomit…

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Working as a sober driver at night, I accidentally picked up a Rolls-Royce ride. The owner turned out to be my ex-boyfriend from seven years ago. Anderson had one arm around a tipsy Judy, the other handing me the car keys. I tugged my baseball cap lower, nervously took the keys, and prayed they wouldn’t recognize me. The car started, and the partition between the front and back seats slowly lowered. Soon, Judy’s languid moans drifted from the backseat. Anderson’s voice was filled with doting affection: “Can’t you even wait for that?” Judy whined, “No, not here. There are no condoms in the car.” “What does it matter?” “What if I get pregnant?” Anderson paused. “Then we’ll have it.” My heart couldn’t help but throb with a dull ache. He’d said those exact words to me seven years ago. And because of that, we had a six-year-old daughter. He just didn’t know it. Even with the partition down, the soundproofing was practically useless. The sounds of their passionate lovemaking assaulted my ears. The veins on the back of my hand, gripping the steering wheel, bulged, but I dared not let my foot tremble on the accelerator. Right now, I was Sober Driver 09, not Marta. For Lester’s medical expenses, I couldn’t afford a complaint. “Anderson, slower…” Judy’s voice was sickeningly sweet. “What, you don’t like it?” Anderson’s voice, deep and raspy, held a predatory edge I’d once known intimately. Only now, that desire was for another woman. “Ugh… Oh, Anderson, the driver up front looks like a woman.” Judy’s words took an abrupt turn, and through the rearview mirror, I could feel two pairs of eyes drilling into my back. “Hm.” Anderson replied indifferently. “Driving sober at this hour, she must be really desperate for money, huh? So pathetic. Not like me, with you spoiling me.” Judy giggled, her tone dripping with superiority. “Focus.” Anderson seemed slightly impatient, or perhaps just aroused. The sounds from the backseat paused for a moment, followed by the crisp click of a lighter. The scent of tobacco drifted through the cracks. “Open the window.” Anderson ordered coldly. I mechanically pressed the window button. The biting November wind immediately rushed in, dispersing the sticky air in the car, and making my eyes sting. “It’s freezing!” Judy shrieked, “Why did you open it so wide? Trying to freeze me to death?” I quickly raised the window halfway. “Sorry.” I kept my voice low, trying to alter my tone. “Is anyone allowed to drive a Rolls-Royce these days? Her driving is awful; the way she started made me dizzy.” Judy complained, snuggling deeper into Anderson’s embrace. “Anderson, I’m so dizzy, I feel like throwing up.” “Hold it in.” Anderson’s voice betrayed no emotion. “Pull over up ahead, I want to buy a bottle of water.” Judy whined. “You can’t stop here, you’ll get a ticket.” I explained. “I’ll pay the fine. Anderson, look at her!” Judy was relentless, her tone spoiled and willful. “Listen to her.” Anderson uttered three cold words. I gritted my teeth, flicked on the turn signal, and slowly pulled over to the emergency lane. The car had barely stopped when Judy announced, “Suddenly I’m not thirsty anymore. Let’s go.” I froze for a moment, then restarted the car. “Wait.” Judy suddenly rolled down the window and poured the half-empty bottle of mineral water directly outside. “This water’s been sitting too long, it’s not fresh. Driver, get out and throw the bottle away for me.” Rain poured outside, turning the ground beyond the emergency lane into a muddy mess. I looked at her delicate but cruel face in the rearview mirror, and didn’t move. “What? Too dirty? Is a hundred bucks not enough?” Judy pulled a hundred-dollar bill from her purse, holding it between two fingers, and handed it through the partition gap. Anderson hadn’t said a word, only watching me coldly through the rearview mirror. I took a deep breath and pushed open the car door. The rain instantly soaked my clothes. I picked up the empty bottle from the ground, threw it into a distant trash can, then ran back to the car. Soaked to the bone, the warm air blasting inside the car hit me with a jarring mix of cold and heat, making me shiver. “So slow.” Judy frowned in disgust. “Turn up the AC.” I silently increased the temperature and started the car. “Anderson, doesn’t she look like a drowned rat?” Judy leaned into Anderson’s arms, cackling. Anderson didn’t laugh, only said blandly: “No.” My heart eased slightly, but then I heard him add: “Dogs are more obedient than her.”

The car finally stopped at the SKY Hill Estate. This was the most expensive wealthy neighborhood in the city. Seven years ago, I’d dreamed of living here with Anderson. “We’re here.” I turned off the engine and pulled out the keys. Anderson pushed open his door, then walked around to open Judy’s door. Judy linked his arm, like a proud peacock. I held out the keys with both hands. “Sir, your keys.” Anderson didn’t take them, his gaze fixed on my hands. From years of rough work, my hands were coarse and cracked, with hangnails around the edges. A flicker of disgust crossed his eyes as he pulled out a thick wad of bills from his wallet. It looked like over a thousand dollars, way more than the driving fee. “Take it and get lost.” The bills fluttered to the ground, landing in puddles and splashing mud. I froze. “Anderson, why are you giving her so much? People like this will just get greedy.” Judy cooed, then deliberately stomped her high heel onto the stack of bills, grinding it into the mud. “Pick it up, why are you just standing there? Not enough?” She looked at me provocatively, a malicious smile on her lips. I wanted to turn and leave, to throw the money back in their faces. But… Lester’s medical expenses for tomorrow were still unpaid. A payment reminder from the hospital for Lester was still sitting on my phone. When survival was on the line, dignity meant nothing. I slowly crouched down, reaching out to pick up the mud-soaked bills. Judy’s pointed heel remained firmly on the money, no intention of moving. “Beg me.” She looked down at me. I clenched my teeth, my voice trembling: “Please… move your foot.” “Can’t hear you.” Judy cupped her ear. “Louder, what did you say?” “Please move your foot!” I raised my voice. “Such a bad attitude.” Judy pressed down harder with her foot. “This money is so filthy, I feel disgusted just looking at it.” Anderson stood by, lighting a cigarette, watching coldly. As if none of it concerned him. He even seemed to enjoy watching me being trampled. “Mr. Anderson…” I couldn’t help but look up at him, hoping for a shred of intervention. Even if it was for old times’ sake. Anderson exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes full of mockery. “Marta, seven years. And you can’t even handle this much?” My body stiffened, and I quickly lowered my head. He’d recognized me all along. From the very beginning, this was a cat-and-mouse game. “Since I’ve recognized you,” Anderson took a step closer, his dress shoe stopping beside my hand, “let’s reminisce.” He bent down, his long fingers pinching my chin, forcing me to look up. “Seven years ago, you walked away with that million dollars so gracefully, didn’t you? How did you end up like this?” I opened my mouth, wanting to explain, but seeing the hatred in his eyes, all my words choked in my throat. “Anderson, you two know each other?” Judy dramatically covered her mouth. “Oh my god, is she… is she that ex-girlfriend who abandoned you for money?” “Ex-girlfriend?” Anderson sneered. “Hardly.” He let go, wiping his fingers in disgust. “Nothing more than a plaything.” Judy’s eyes darted, and her smile grew even brighter. “That makes things even easier. Convenient. My place needs a cleaner. Take this money, and tomorrow, come scrub my toilets.” She kicked the stack of money with her toe, sending the bills scattering. “If you don’t show up, I’ll report you for theft.” Anderson didn’t object, only watched me coldly as I picked up the money. I picked up the bills one by one from the ground, mud and rain mixing, chilling to the bone. Each one was Lester’s hope for survival. “Fine.” I lowered my head, clutching the money in my hand. “What time tomorrow?” Anderson’s face stiffened, seemingly surprised by my ready agreement. “Marta, you’re pathetic.” He threw that line at me, then wrapped an arm around Judy and walked into the villa’s main gate. The heavy gate slammed shut, sealing me outside that glamorous world. I stood in the rain for a long time, clutching that thousand-plus dollars. My phone buzzed wildly. It was the hospital. “Marta? Lester had a sudden attack and is in critical condition. We need you to come pay the outstanding fees immediately!” “I’ll be right there!” I wiped the rain from my face and rushed towards the intersection.

The next day, after ensuring Lester, who’d just been stabilized, was settled, I arrived at the SKY Hill Estate as promised. It wasn’t because I was pathetic; it was because Judy had filed a complaint against me on the sober driving platform. If I didn’t show, the platform would forfeit my entire security deposit and permanently ban my account. I couldn’t lose this job. Judy opened the door, dressed in a silk robe, her neck covered in tell-tale hickeys. “You actually came? Right on time.” She stepped aside, her eyes full of mockery. “The cleaning supplies are in the bathroom. Make sure you scrub it spotless; Anderson’s a germaphobe.” I didn’t speak, walking directly to the bathroom. The villa’s decor held faint echoes of my memories, yet it was undeniably alien. It was Anderson’s style: cold, luxurious, devoid of any warmth. The bathroom was large, but the toilet wasn’t actually dirty. Judy was clearly enjoying the humiliation. She leaned against the doorway, holding a glass of red wine, watching me put on gloves and pick up the brush. “I heard you dumped Anderson back then because he was broke, and immediately hooked up with some trust fund kid?” Judy swirled her wine glass, a smirk playing on her lips. “What happened to him? Did he dump you? Or maybe he just used you for kicks?” I scrubbed the toilet, mechanically repeating the motion. “None of your business.” “What do you mean, none of my business?” Judy walked in, her heels clicking crisply on the tile. “Anderson is mine now. Of course, I need to know all about his past.” She suddenly leaned closer, lowering her voice. “Marta, you really have the nerve to show your face? If I were you, I’d have crawled into a hole.” “I’m just here to work.” I straightened up, looking at her coldly. “Work?” Judy suddenly laughed, shaking with mirth. “Do you actually think Anderson asked you here to scrub toilets?” She suddenly splashed the red wine from her glass onto the floor. “Oops, my hand slipped.” Judy blinked innocently. “Clean this up too.” I took a deep breath and picked up the rag. Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. Anderson appeared in the doorway, wearing a dark gray loungewear set. Seeing the red wine stain on the floor, he frowned slightly. “What happened?” “Anderson~” Judy instantly changed her expression, tearfully throwing herself into his arms. “I wanted to offer Ms. Marta a drink, but she didn’t appreciate it and splashed the wine…” Her talent for twisting the truth was truly masterful. I looked at Anderson, offering no explanation. What was the point in explaining? In his mind, I was already a materialistic, lying woman. A gold-digger. As expected, Anderson didn’t even glance at me, gently stroking Judy’s hair. “Are you hurt?” “No, just startled.” Judy rubbed against him. “Marta seems to really hate me.” Anderson turned, his gaze like a blade scraping across my face. “Marta, apologize.” “I didn’t spill it.” I straightened my back, looking directly into his eyes. “I told you to apologize.” Anderson’s voice deepened, carrying an undeniable pressure. “I didn’t do it, why should I apologize?” “Hmph.” Anderson sneered, letting go of Judy and stepping closer to me. “Seven years ago, you could abandon me for money. What’s a spilled drink for spite now?” He backed me against the sink, placing his hands on either side of me, trapping me in the small space between him and the counter. The familiar scent of cedar mixed with tobacco assailed me, making me momentarily dazed. “Marta, don’t make me get physical.” There was no warmth in his eyes, only endless disgust. My heart twisted with a sharp pain. “I’m sorry.” The three words were practically squeezed through my teeth. “Couldn’t hear you.” Judy instigated from behind. “Where’s the sincerity?” Anderson stared at me, a cruel curve playing on his lips. “Kneel and wipe it clean. Then we’ll call it even.” I snapped my head up, looking at him in disbelief. “What did you say?” “What, you don’t understand English?” Anderson pointed at the red wine stain on the floor. “Kneel down, and clean it up.” The man who once swore to protect me for life was now ordering me to kneel. Tears welled in my eyes, but I fiercely held them back. For Lester, for that five thousand dollar complaint fine… I slowly bent my knees, my kneecaps slamming against the hard tile. The cold sensation spread from my knees throughout my body. I picked up the rag and meticulously wiped away the red wine. Above me, I heard Judy’s triumphant laughter and Anderson’s cold gaze. In that moment, my dignity was utterly crushed. After cleaning the floor, I was about to leave, but Judy blocked my path. “What’s the rush? You’re not done yet.” She pointed to a pile of gift boxes in the living room corner. “There’s a party here tonight. Your job is to unwrap these gifts and sort them.” I glanced at the time; it was already four in the afternoon. Lester was still in the hospital, and I’d promised to be with her tonight. “I’m sorry, I only agreed to clean. This isn’t part of my job.” “I’ll pay extra.” Anderson said from the sofa, flipping through a magazine, not looking up. “Twenty thousand.” Twenty thousand dollars. That was two months of Lester’s medication. The refusal died on my lips. “Fine.” I walked to the corner and began unwrapping the beautifully packaged gift boxes.

Time ticked by, and dusk settled. Guests, all dressed to the nines, began arriving at the villa. Music and laughter filled the grand hall. I crouched in the corner, sticking out like a sore thumb. “Isn’t that Marta over there?” A sharp female voice cut through the air. I looked up and saw several familiar faces. All old college classmates, part of Anderson’s exclusive circle. “Oh my god, it really is her! What is she wearing?” “I heard she abandoned Anderson for money back then. How did she end up looking like this?” “Karma, right? What goes around comes around.” They surrounded me, pointing and whispering, their eyes full of disdain and mockery. Judy, arm in arm with Anderson, walked over, holding a glass of champagne. “Now, now, everyone, let’s not be so harsh. Marta is earning her living honestly, she deserves respect.” She said “respect” but her eyes were brimming with malice. “Actually, Marta, since we’re all old classmates, why don’t you have a drink too?” Judy took a glass of red wine from a server’s tray and offered it to me. “I don’t drink.” I lowered my head, continuing to organize the items. “What? Not accepting?” A woman in a sequined dress next to me sneered, “Marta, do you think you’re still the beauty you were back then? Judy’s offering you a drink. That’s her being generous!” “Yeah, who are you trying to impress?” Someone took the opportunity to push me. I lost my balance and fell to the floor, my palm landing on an unwrapped brooch. The sharp pin pierced my skin, and blood immediately welled up. “Ah!” I cried out in pain. “She’s bleeding! How disgusting!” Judy dramatically stepped back. “Don’t get blood on my carpet!” Anderson stood in the center of the crowd, watching the scene coldly, with no intention of helping. “Marta, drink up, then you can leave.” He finally spoke. I suppressed the throbbing pain in my hand, trembling as I took the glass of wine. As long as I drank this glass of wine, I could get those twenty thousand dollars and leave this hell. I tilted my head back, drinking the bitter red wine in one gulp. “Cheers!” A chorus of cheers erupted around me. “Another one!” Someone else offered another glass. I stood up, swaying slightly. “Anderson, we agreed on one glass.” “Did I say you’d get the money after just one glass?” Anderson raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of mockery. “You…” Just then, my phone buzzed wildly in my pocket. My heart tightened. I ignored the pain in my hand and the mockery of the crowd, frantically pulling out my phone. As soon as I answered, the nurse’s anxious voice came through: “Marta! Lester’s heart just failed, she’s in critical condition! We need a family member to sign off immediately! Please hurry…” “I’ll be right there…” Before I could finish, a large hand suddenly reached out, snatching my phone. “Anderson! Give me back my phone!” I lunged at him like a madwoman. Anderson held the phone high, watching my frantic state coldly. “Which rich boy is calling you now? Marta, are you that desperate for a man?” “No! Give me my phone! Please!” I cried out, tears streaming down my face. That was Lester’s life-saving call! “No.” A cruel smile twisted Anderson’s lips, and his fingers loosened. Crack! The phone slammed onto the marble floor, the screen shattering, going black instantly. In that moment, my world seemed to shatter with it. “Anderson!!!” I let out a desperate shriek, lunging at him without thinking, grabbing his collar. “If anything happens to her, I swear I’ll make you pay for it with your life!” Slap! A stinging slap cracked across my face, interrupting my shriek. It wasn’t Anderson who hit me, it was Judy. “Marta, what are you doing? How dare you lay a hand on Anderson!” Judy shielded Anderson, looking outrageously righteous. My head snapped to the side from the blow, my ears ringing, and I tasted blood. But I felt no pain. My mind was fixated on the nurse’s words: “heart just failed.” Lester was waiting for my signature, Lester was waiting for me to save her life… I shoved Judy away with surprising force, sending her crashing into a nearby champagne tower. Crash! Countless glass cups shattered, wine splattered everywhere, and Judy let out a sharp shriek. “Ah! My face! Anderson, help me!” The scene descended into chaos. Anderson’s face was ashen. He grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like he would crush my bones. “Marta! You’re asking for death!” “Get off me!” I found a surge of strength, lowered my head, and bit down hard on his wrist. I didn’t let go until the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth and he cried out in pain, releasing me. I seized the chance, spun around, picked up my broken phone, and stumbled towards the door. Behind me, Anderson’s furious roar echoed: “Stop her!” Two bodyguards blocked the doorway. I grabbed a vase from the entryway, smashed it on the floor, and held a sharp shard against my carotid artery. The shard pricked my skin, and a thin line of blood ran down my neck. “Anyone who tries to stop me, I’ll die right here!” My eyes must have looked terrifying. The bodyguards were startled by my intensity and instinctively backed away. Anderson rushed up, his pupils contracting at the sight. “Marta, are you insane? Put that down!” “Anderson,” I stared at him, tears mixing with blood dripping down, “If my daughter dies, I swear I’ll make sure you all go down with me.” With that, I pushed past the bodyguards and rushed out into the dark, rainy night. I ran wildly on the highway until I flagged down a taxi. “To First Hospital! Fast! Please, hurry!” The driver, terrified by my blood-soaked appearance, floored the accelerator.

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Marcus’s wife died in my bed. To atone for my sins, my wife Russell divorced me and married Marcus instead. My company and all my shares were seized by Marcus. And I was sent to a mental institution by my family. Years later, my family drove to pick me up. Russell carefully draped a coat over my shoulders, looking at me with heartache. “Alex, it’s all in the past now.” My sister Mary comforted me too: “We’re still family from now on.” But I couldn’t hear what they were saying, couldn’t respond. The daily electric shock treatments at the mental institution had left me with tinnitus. And back then, to fabricate evidence, they’d shattered my jaw. I could barely speak clearly anymore. Now, no one knows that Marcus is the real murderer. I slowly raised my hand and wiped the filthy blood from my eyes. I didn’t make a scene or even look at them. I just turned and walked toward the edge of the crowd. “Alex?” Mary’s voice called from behind me. “Where are you going?” Russell quickly stepped forward to block my path, her brow furrowed. “Alex, we’re here to take you home. Don’t throw a tantrum.” I stopped and finally looked up at them. “Home? Which home? Mary, didn’t you already give all my assets and shares to Marcus? Do I even have a home anymore?” Mary’s face instantly stiffened. Looking at Russell, who was still gripping my hand, I continued: “Oh, I forgot to mention—congratulations to you and Marcus. Next time you get married, there’s no need to sneak around. You two had your affair right in front of me, so why bother caring what anyone thinks about a wedding?” “Alex!” Russell’s expression darkened. “Do you have to talk like this?” Mary exploded in anger, reaching out to grab me. “Alex, what kind of attitude is this! We’ve done so much for you, and this is how you repay us?” During the scuffle, a woman charged over and tried to slap me: “You bastard! How dare you treat Marcus’s sister and wife like this! I’ll beat you to death!” Turned out she was one of Marcus’s fans. Russell and Mary held back the crazed fan. Russell frowned at me, saying helplessly: “Alex, look at yourself. Do you have to escalate things like this? Can’t you just talk civilly?” Talk civilly? I looked at them and found it laughable. “I’m escalating things? What did I do wrong from start to finish? He’s the murderer! You favored him, threw me into a mental institution without asking questions, and destroyed my life! And now you expect me to forgive you murderers?” “Shut up!” Mary hissed. “Marcus is so kind-hearted, and you’re still slandering him!” “You were clearly jealous of him, which is why you killed his wife Vivian. We only sent you to the mental institution for treatment instead of prison—that was the greatest mercy we could show you!” Russell sighed. “Alex, calm down. I know you feel wronged. But my marrying Marcus was really just a temporary measure.” “He developed severe depression after Vivian’s death. I stayed by his side to take care of him, to atone for your sins!” “Once his illness is completely cured, I’ll remarry you, and then we’ll never be apart again for the rest of our lives!” Slap! I used every ounce of strength I had and struck her hard across the face. Russell’s head snapped to the side, red finger marks rapidly appearing on her cheek. She froze, seeming completely unprepared for me to hit her. After all, I used to treasure her like she was made of glass. I’d never been willing to hurt a single hair on her head. Mary was stunned too. “Alex, have you lost your mind!” I clenched my fists. “Start over?” “Russell, you disgust me.” “Go live your whole life with Marcus. You cheating scum deserve each other! I want no part of it!” Mary’s face turned iron-gray with rage, pointing her finger at my nose. “Alex, I’m giving you one last chance. Right now. Immediately. Kneel down! Apologize to Russell and Marcus! Otherwise, I won’t acknowledge you as my brother anymore! Let’s see how you survive in Detroit then!”

At that moment, a low-key luxury van quietly pulled up at the edge of the crowd. The door opened. Marcus stepped out gracefully. Cheers erupted from the scene. “Mary, Russell, don’t talk to Alex like that.” When Russell and Mary saw him, they both rushed over. “Marcus, why did you get out of the car? It’s chaotic here, get back inside quickly!” Mary said urgently. “That’s right, you’re a huge star now. It’s dirty and messy here—what if you get hurt?” Russell stretched out her hand to shield him, not letting anyone get close. The careful way they protected him stung my eyes. There was a time when I was protected like that, without hesitation. When I was cornered by some older bullies in the equipment room, Mary had grabbed a mop from the corner and charged at them—one against three—shielding me behind her back. “Don’t be afraid. I’ve got you.” Russell had quietly dealt with all the trouble, even using her family’s connections to bankrupt the other family’s business and force them to move away. Her father had used family punishment on her, leaving whip scars across her back, but she never mentioned a word of it to me. The clearer the memories, the more the present reality felt like an absurd nightmare. Seeing no one paying attention to me, the fan from before joined forces with several others and suddenly rushed at me, grabbing my hair and slamming me hard to the ground. “Rip his face off!” “Murderer, I’m ridding society of evil!” “He deserves it! Beat him to death! People like this don’t deserve to live!” Five years was enough to teach me how to take a beating. I instinctively curled up, protecting the back of my head and my heart. My vision blurred as everything shook. In the corner of my eye, Russell was looking down and saying something to Marcus, her profile showing a gentleness I’d never seen before. Mary was frowning, glancing toward me with disgust. Marcus seemed to have just noticed the violence happening here. He cried out: “Stop!” He held back several fans and reached out to help me up. “Alex, are you okay?” But he squeezed my fractured wrist hard. I groaned in pain. He jerked his hand back as if startled. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to help you up.” Mary lifted her foot and kicked hard at my side. I rolled half a turn across the ground from the force, my vision going black. “How long are you going to keep hurting Marcus?” She crouched down and grabbed a fistful of my hair. “Act! Keep acting! Marcus barely touched you and you look like you’re dying.” “Are you trying to pull the same trick again? Just like when you stole credit for saving me all those years ago, using this victim act to frame him and destroy the reputation and career he worked so hard for?” “Let me tell you, Alex—Marcus is kind-hearted and worries about these baseless rumors, but I won’t!” My scalp felt like it was being torn apart. “If you dare use those despicable tactics on Marcus again, that mental institution held you for five years, but it can hold you for life! You better remember that clearly!” “Enough!” Russell grabbed Mary’s wrist. “Alex is still your brother, after all.” “Brother? Does he deserve that title?” My sister violently shook off Russell’s hand. “From the moment he abandoned me in that ravine to save himself, running away without looking back, Mary’s only brother has been Marcus.”

Russell looked at the agitated Mary, then glanced at me, curled up on the ground, nearly unconscious. Finally, she sighed. She took off her coat, covered me with it, then turned and walked toward Marcus. “I’ll take Marcus to the hospital first for a checkup. His face is a bit pale—he might be in shock.” Marcus immediately leaned against her, his voice weak. “Russell, I’m so scared.” “I’ll take you to the hospital right away.” Russell carefully supported him. From start to finish, she never looked back at me once. Mary shot me a disgusted glance and gave orders to the assistant and bodyguards still on scene: “Clean this place up. Don’t let these random people get near Marcus’s car again.” With that, she quickly followed Russell, protecting them as they left. “See, nobody wants him after all.” The fan from earlier crouched down and patted my swollen face. “Weren’t you pretty tough just now? Go ahead and kill me too, murderer!” Another girl crouched down and violently tore off the coat covering me. “You don’t deserve to wear such nice clothes!” “Strip his clothes off—scum like him doesn’t deserve to wear clothes!” Someone shrieked the suggestion, immediately drawing excited agreement from others. My whole body was in agony. I could barely move, could only watch helplessly as several hands roughly tore at my already tattered hospital gown. I tried to struggle, my voice hoarse and weak. But I was slapped hard across the face. The fan pinched my face. “Marcus is kind and won’t hold it against you, but we’re not so forgiving!” “From now on, every word you say, I’ll slap you once.” They dragged me to a relatively secluded corner nearby, then pulled clubs and knives from their bags. “We’re doing this for justice!” My desperate struggles only earned me merciless beatings. A bodyguard nearby, unable to bear watching, picked up his phone to call Mary. “Alex is being targeted by Marcus’s fans right now. What should we—” “You’re reporting such a trivial matter to me?” Mary impatiently cut him off. “Didn’t I tell you just to keep random people away from Marcus’s car? What do other people have to do with me?” Then Russell’s tense voice came through the phone: “Why are you wasting time on irrelevant people? Marcus’s heart rate is a bit fast—go find a doctor now.” Some rustling sounds came through, then Russell’s clear voice: “Keep the scene under control. Don’t let things get too out of hand, and definitely don’t let anyone photograph anything that could hurt Marcus.” “As for the rest, as long as he doesn’t die, it’s fine.” The call was abruptly disconnected. The fans heard the conversation and laughed loudly. “Hear that? As long as he doesn’t die.” “What are we afraid of? With Mary backing us up, we can have as much fun as we want!” They exchanged glances, their mocking laughter becoming even more piercing. The crowd gradually dispersed. No one called an ambulance for me. No one helped me up. I was thrown here like trash. I braced myself against the ground, gritting my teeth, sitting up bit by bit. The last traces of affection in my heart vanished completely. Then I pulled out my phone and sent a text to a number I knew by heart: [I agree to the cooperation. Name your price. I just want them dead!]

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When news spread that Rowan, heir to Alpha Alexander, was going to marry my elder sister Amelia, she immediately ran to our father James in tears, begging him to switch our identities. Even though I was just an illegitimate daughter. “Dad, please let Chloe marry Rowan instead of me! Please help me!” James had always favored Amelia, yet he actually agreed to let me take her place and marry Rowan. But marrying Rowan was still better than staying in this suffocating house. The night before the wedding, I accidentally overheard a conversation between my father and Amelia. “Dad, is Rowan really going to lose his heir status? Does he really have erectile dysfunction?” Father let out a heavy sigh. “Of course. Why else would I give such a good marriage opportunity to Chloe?” My whole body went rigid. Then I quietly slipped away. A year later, I was sitting in the sun holding my son when Amelia burst in, furious and ready to kill me. “Bitch! Rowan was supposed to be mine! You’re nothing but a fraud!” I smiled coldly, stepped forward, and slapped her right across the face. “Insulting the future Luna? Do you have a death wish?”

The slap left Amelia completely stunned. When she recovered, she glared at me and shrieked: “Chloe—” “How dare you hit me!” I watched her fury with amusement, looking at her mockingly. “Amelia, watch your words.” “Slandering the future Luna carries a minimum sentence of three months in prison under werewolf law.” Amelia’s face twisted with rage. She raised her hand to slap me back. I didn’t retreat. Instead, I held my baby tighter and took a step forward. “You want to get physical?” “This is Rowan’s firstborn son. Rowan is the Alpha’s designated heir.” “If my pup gets hurt even a little, you’ll pay dearly! And your entire family will be punished because of you!” No matter how angry Amelia was, my words scared her enough to lower her hand, though her teeth were clenched. She stared hard at the child in my arms, her eyes full of suspicion. “Chloe, don’t try to fool me. What kind of trick did you use to deceive Rowan and Alpha Alexander? There’s no way this child could be Rowan’s!” I gently patted my baby, soothing the little one who’d been woken by the noise, and looked up at her. “Oh? Do you know what the charge is for slandering the future Luna?” A year ago, rumors had spread like wildfire that Rowan, Alpha Alexander’s heir, was about to lose his inheritance rights. Supposedly because he suffered from erectile dysfunction. So members of the Wolf Council had proposed making Rowan’s younger brother the heir instead. Of course, this matter concerned the pack’s stability and the Alpha family’s honor, so it was kept secret. And after I married Rowan and gave birth to his child, no one dared mention that gossip anymore. Even someone as stupid as Amelia wouldn’t dare expose that now. Amelia blurted out without thinking. “Because Rowan has—” She realized she couldn’t say these words and swallowed the rest. “Anyway, it’s impossible!” “You must have cheated on Rowan and had some bastard, trying to use this bastard to steal Rowan away from me!” I scoffed. “Steal? I’m the one who had a wedding ceremony with Rowan. You were once his mate, but you asked me to take your place and marry him. What, regretting it already?” Back then, when she heard Rowan was going to lose his heir position and even had erectile dysfunction, she immediately went into hiding. Who could have imagined that three years later, Rowan would still be the pack’s Alpha heir and have a child with me? “It was you who was jealous of me and used despicable means to force me to break the mate bond with Rowan!” “If I tell Rowan about this, do you think he’ll kill you on the spot, you slut?”

Amelia acted completely righteous, as if she’d suffered some great injustice and deserved compensation. “You think Rowan actually cares about you?” Before I could respond, she sneered and looked around at the surroundings. “Rowan probably got sick of you, the illegitimate daughter, a long time ago. He knows you betrayed him! That’s why he dumped you and your bastard at this remote estate, leaving you here to die!” “Chloe, you really think you can hold onto the position of Rowan’s wife? Things that don’t belong to you—you’ll never have them in this lifetime!” Amelia stood with her hands on her hips, looking at me smugly. I just pulled at the corner of my mouth, giving her a mocking smile. “Let me guess why you came here to cause trouble today.” Amelia’s face instantly froze. I continued leisurely. “I heard you still haven’t found anyone to marry you? So you’re getting desperate.” Ever since she broke off her engagement with Rowan, the men in the pack had all seen through her hypocritical facade. I heard that at one party, she tried to seduce Rowan’s younger brother, but he threw her naked body out of the room and refused to touch her. After that, her reputation got even worse. Even the Gammas she used to look down on now treated her like a joke. I continued contemptuously: “Even if I wanted to give Rowan back to you, do you think he’d still want you?” Amelia’s face went through shades of red and white. Clearly, she hadn’t expected me to know her situation so well. If I hadn’t wanted to come to this countryside villa to relax after getting pregnant, Amelia wouldn’t even have had a chance to see me. “Even if Rowan hates me, he would never want a lowly illegitimate daughter like you!” Amelia said, her eyes landing on my chest with a smirk: “I don’t think any man would want a woman as flat as a board like you!” Of course I hadn’t forgotten how Amelia had mocked me since childhood. Mocking my small breasts. Mocking my dry, dull hair. But after marriage, Rowan treated me like a treasure. I was no longer the ugly duckling who let others ridicule her. I raised my hand to slap her, but just as I lifted it, someone grabbed my wrist. “Chloe, how could you treat your elder sister like this!” I turned and saw my father, James. I laughed coldly: “Dad, you came at the perfect time. Tomorrow is your birthday, and I have a gift for you!” I signaled for my maid to bring over the box from my drawer. It was filled with photos of young male wolf warriors. I handed the photos to James: “I know you’ve been worried about finding Amelia a husband, so I put together some profiles of decent men. You two can take a look.” Amelia’s hands trembled with rage when she saw the photos: “Dad! Look at this bitch, she’s doing this on purpose! How could these lowly men possibly be worthy of me!” But James ignored her and actually started looking through them seriously. Amelia furiously tore up all the photos: “Dad! You really want me to marry trash like this? I’m your real daughter!” James felt terrible too. He never expected things would turn out this way. Otherwise, he never would have let Amelia break her mate bond with Rowan. James frantically picked up the photos from the ground, then said: “Amelia, you’re already twenty-six. You’re not young anymore. You can’t be as picky as before. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely find you a man who’ll treat you well and won’t let you suffer.” “I want to marry Rowan! I don’t want these lowly men!” Amelia grabbed James’s arm and started whining. James looked at me pleadingly, shamelessly asking: “Chloe, actually Rowan was supposed to be Amelia’s, so maybe…” I rolled my eyes and cut him off before he could finish: “Dad, since you don’t like the birthday gift I prepared for you, forget it.” I turned to the maid beside me: “Show them out! Also, from now on, no one is allowed in without my permission! My baby and I need peace and quiet.” “Yes, ma’am!” The maid immediately called two guards, who dragged Amelia and James out and threw them out the door. Amelia’s shrill voice came from outside. “Chloe, how dare you treat me like this! Just you wait!” Hearing her threat, the maid frowned and asked me worriedly. “Should we tell the master about this?” I shook my head. “Don’t bother with her.”

The next day, I was awakened by chaotic shouting. The room was engulfed in flames, and explosions went off one after another. The maid burst through the door, her face white as paper. “Ma’am, get up! The house is on fire!” I grabbed my coat and wrapped it around me, then snatched up my son who was still sound asleep in his cradle. “How did the fire start so suddenly?” The maid escorted me toward the back door. “The explosions are still going. Everyone’s searching for any remaining explosives, but no one knows why the fire spread so fast.” Just then, through the choking smoke, I caught a faint smell of gasoline. My heart sank. I held my baby tighter and discreetly activated the alarm app on my phone. The next second, a group of rogues rushed out from the shadows and blocked our path. The guards immediately stepped in front of me and shouted fiercely. “Get out of the way! If Alpha Alexander and Rowan find out you hurt her, they won’t let you off!” But the rogues weren’t afraid at all. They charged straight at us. Just then, several wolf warriors arrived and blocked the rogues, engaging them in combat. One of the warriors shielded us behind him: “Follow me! I know a safe route.” The maid and I followed close behind him, escaping the estate and ducking into the nearby forest. But the warrior leading us suddenly stopped and lunged at me. I was already on guard. I dodged sideways and shoved my crying baby into the maid’s arms. I pulled out the gun hidden in my sleeve and pressed it against his head. “Talk. Who sent you?” This man wore a wolf warrior’s uniform, but his cover was full of holes. Real wolf warriors were all skilled fighters. This guy couldn’t even handle basic combat moves. Surprisingly, with a gun to his head, he wasn’t scared. Instead, he laughed. He ripped off his mask, revealing a face I never wanted to see again in my life. “Cousin, long time no see.” It was Hunter, Amelia’s uncle’s son. Just then, a woman in a pink dress emerged from deep within the forest. “Chloe, where are you running off to?” My heart sank to the bottom. So all of this had been planned by Amelia. From the moment I smelled the gasoline, I knew this fire was deliberately set. I’d thought it was the rogues’ doing. I never expected it was Amelia. No wonder those rogues only fought with the wolf warriors and didn’t try to stop me. They’d deliberately led me here. “Amelia, do you know that conspiring with rogues to betray the pack is punishable by death?” I demanded coldly. Amelia put on an innocent look, gazing around in feigned confusion. “Betraying the pack? Chloe, are you losing your mind? When did I ever betray the pack? Obviously you fell in love with Hunter and were running away with him, and I just happened to catch you.” There was no one else in the forest except us. Looking toward the estate, the fire was almost out. So this was her real goal. Not to burn me alive, but to create evidence of my affair. Hunter beside me was staring at me with his slimy gaze, nodding eagerly in agreement. “Right, right! Chloe and I are truly in love, but we couldn’t be together. I had no choice but to take her away!”

I stared at Amelia, my gaze cold as ice. “Amelia, aren’t you afraid that if the baby gets hurt today, Rowan will tear your heart out and feed it to the dogs?” Amelia just sneered mockingly. “Baby? That’s just some bastard you had with another man! No wait, I should say—it’s Hunter’s kid.” Hunter actually had the nerve to nod along. “That’s right—I never expected you to secretly have my baby.” “If you don’t want Rowan to find out and kill you, come with me now!” He didn’t look like he was acting. He actually believed this child was his. I glanced at him, then looked at Amelia who was laughing arrogantly, and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Hunter, looks like you still don’t know—three years ago, the person you fucked until she nearly passed out was Amelia. Did you really think it was me this whole time?” On my eighteenth birthday, my father James threw me a small birthday party. Hunter came that day too. From the moment he saw me, he had twisted intentions. Amelia made a deal with Hunter that day, using me as the bargaining chip. She wanted to trade my virginity for a bracelet. The bracelet wasn’t even expensive—for her, it was just the cost of ordering a bottle at a nightclub. But for her, humiliating me was life’s greatest pleasure. At my birthday party, Amelia drugged my drink with an aphrodisiac. Then she personally led Hunter, who had willingly taken the same drug, into my room. But what she never expected was that I’d already swapped that drugged drink with hers. When she pushed Hunter into my room, the drug kicked in for her. And with Hunter already out of his mind, things happened. The two of them went at it like animals in heat in my room, even breaking my bed frame. But I never expected that to this day, Hunter still didn’t know the person he’d slept with that night was Amelia. “Shut up!” Her most disgusting secret exposed, Amelia’s face went white instantly. “Hunter, don’t listen to her lies! She just stole my position and doesn’t want to give up being Rowan’s mate!” Hunter was an idiot too—he actually believed her bullshit. “Chloe, just come with me quietly. If Rowan finds out this child isn’t his, you’re dead!” He stepped forward to grab the baby. “Let me see my son—” “Back off!” I shouted, pulling the maid back two steps to create distance. “Who said this child isn’t Rowan’s?” Hearing this, Amelia shook her head regretfully. “I didn’t expect you to still be so stubborn at this point.” “But then again, you probably don’t know.” She wore a knowing expression. “Rowan has erectile dysfunction. He can never have children.” “I don’t know what tricks you used to fool everyone, but you can’t fool me.” “Why else do you think I had you marry Rowan in my place?” Amelia sneered coldly. “You might fool everyone for now, but can you fool them forever?” She leaned close to my ear and whispered: “Who the real lover is doesn’t matter. I just need to make Rowan suspect you, hate you. What Rowan hates most is betrayal!” As soon as she finished speaking, footsteps came from the distance, along with flashlight beams sweeping toward us. Amelia paused, then smiled. “My dear sister, Rowan is here. What do you think—when he sees you with Hunter, will he believe me or you?” Before I could answer, she shoved Hunter toward me and screamed: “Rowan! Chloe is over here!” The people in the distance heard her shout and immediately ran this way. The man in front wore a black trench coat. His face was handsome as a sculpture, his eyes cold as ice. It was my mate, Rowan.

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