I was Ethan’s secret lover for five years, his chief designer for five years, and all I got in the end was: “You think you deserve love?” The day he got engaged, he forced me to design the ring for his fiancée. Then my father came for his debt and put my sister in the hospital. With nowhere left to turn, I made a phone call— Julian. A one-billion-dollar bride price. He was looking for a woman with the right birth chart to marry into his family for a spiritual cure. They said Julian was crippled. Vicious. A devil crawled up from hell. But the moment I signed that agreement, I realized— At the end of hell stood my god. The day Ethan announced his engagement, Los Angeles was hit by a heavy downpour. I stood in a corner of the ballroom, nursing a glass of flat champagne. “Everyone, let me introduce you to Chloe,” Ethan’s voice, unusually gentle, echoed through the microphone. “Our engagement party will be early next month. Please honor us with your presence.” The room erupted in applause. All eyes were on the golden couple beneath the spotlight. Chloe wore a pure white haute couture gown, appearing so innocent and fragile as she leaned shyly into Ethan’s arms. And Ethan, Los Angeles’s youngest and most promising mogul, his usually cold, stern eyes had softened like water. No one looked at me. No one knew that I was Ethan’s secret lover for five years, kept hidden in the shadows. I was also the sharpest blade in his hand, his company’s chief jewelry designer, Jade. “Ms. Jade.” A mocking voice rang in my ear. A few of Ethan’s close friends, champagne glasses in hand, walked over, their eyes full of malicious amusement. “Ethan’s getting engaged. You, the big contributor who’s been with him for five years, why aren’t you going to toast them?” “Exactly, Jade. Weren’t you always sticking to Ethan? Now that his legitimate fiancée is taking over, your heart must be bleeding, right?” They chuckled, making no effort to hide their disdain for me. In their eyes, I, Jade, was nothing more than a shameless gold-digger who clawed her way into Ethan’s bed for money and status. I didn’t say a word, just tilted my head back and gulped down the bitter wine in my glass. Five years ago, my mother fell critically ill, and my father ran off with her medical funds. It was Ethan who descended like a god, handing me a card, buying out five years of my youth and talent. I accompanied him to business dinners, took the brunt of the drinks for him, and in bed, I did everything I could to please him. I thought five years would be enough to warm his heart. But a month ago, Chloe appeared. She was just a new intern at the company, clumsy and even making mistakes with simple photocopying. Yet, Ethan shielded her, and for her sake, he publicly reprimanded me for the first time. He said, “Jade, you’re too cold-blooded, too worldly. Chloe isn’t like you, she’s pure. Don’t scare her.” Pure. I mulled over those words, finding them damn ironic. I collected my thoughts, looking coldly at the rich kids in front of me. “Mr. Ethan’s engagement? Of course, I’ll prepare a grand gift. Don’t you worry about that.” With that, I turned to leave. I hadn’t taken two steps when my wrist was suddenly grabbed with immense force. I was forced to stop, colliding with a pair of deep, cold, dark eyes. Ethan had come down from the stage at some point and now stood before me. Behind him, Chloe remained by his side. “Where are you going?” Ethan stared at me, his voice tinged with displeasure. “Back to the office to work overtime.” I tried to pull my wrist free, but couldn’t. “Do you need something, Mr. Ethan?” Ethan’s eyes narrowed. He seemed utterly displeased by my business-like attitude. His grip tightened, threatening to crush my bones. “Chloe said she really likes your design style,” Ethan said, enunciating each word. “Our engagement rings will be designed by you personally.” I snapped my head up, staring at him in disbelief. He wanted me to design the engagement rings for him and another woman? Ethan, do you even have a heart? “I apologize, Mr. Ethan,” I took a deep breath, suppressing the tremor in my heart. “I’m tied up with next season’s main product line. I simply don’t have the time.” “Jade…” Chloe spoke timidly, her eyes instantly welling up. “Are you angry with me? I know you and Ethan used to… if you don’t want to, I won’t force it. We can just buy a pair.” Her act of aggrieved concession instantly ignited Ethan’s fury. “Jade, what’s with the attitude?” Ethan sneered, his gaze cutting across my face like a knife. “Don’t forget the binding contract you signed. You only have one role in company arrangements: obedience!” “I said you’re designing them, and you will draw out every single line!” The air around us seemed to freeze instantly. Everyone was watching me, enjoying the spectacle. Watching how I, the woman once so favored by Ethan, was being trampled underfoot, my dignity crushed. I looked at Ethan’s face, a face I had loved for five years, and suddenly found it utterly unfamiliar. My chest ached, as if countless needles were pricking me. But I didn’t cry. My tears, Jade’s tears, had long since dried up on that desperate, rainy night five years ago. “Fine,” I forced out a flawless professional smile. “Since Mr. Ethan has spoken, I will comply. It’s just designing a pair of rings. I’m sure Ms. Chloe will be satisfied.” Ethan’s brows furrowed even deeper. He seemed surprised I agreed so readily. In his mind, I should have been mad with jealousy, should have hysterically questioned him, or even humbly begged him not to be so cruel. But I didn’t. I was as still as a dead pond. “You’d better keep your word,” Ethan abruptly flung my hand away, coldly tossing out, “Tomorrow morning, bring your tools to my villa and take Chloe’s measurements.” With that, he wrapped an arm around Chloe’s waist and walked away without looking back. I stood rooted to the spot, rubbing my wrist, which was now marked with a red imprint, and watched their receding figures coldly. Five years. Ethan, it’s time to settle our accounts.

Coming out of the ballroom, the rain outside was even heavier. I had no umbrella, letting the cold rain pelt down on me, soaking my expensive gown. It was late when I returned to my tiny, 30-square-meter rental apartment. I rented this place myself. Ethan owned countless mansions, but I never asked to move in. I knew my place: a hidden lover, unworthy of entering his formal world. Just as I pulled out my keys, the door was suddenly yanked open from inside. A strong smell of cheap cigarettes and alcohol wafted out. My heart sank. “Oh no,” I thought. “You little brat, you finally decided to come home!” A scruffy, fleshy-faced middle-aged man grabbed my hair and violently dragged me inside. It was my father, Frank. “Where’s the money? Hand over the money now!” Frank’s eyes were bloodshot, like a madman who had lost everything gambling, as he frantically patted me down. “I don’t have any money!” I struggled desperately, my scalp screaming in pain. “Last month’s salary was already taken by you to pay off gambling debts! Where would I have any money?” “Bullshit!” Frank slapped me hard across the face. With a sharp “smack,” I staggered, falling to the floor, instantly tasting blood in my mouth. “Do you think I’m a fool? You’re with that big boss, Ethan. He wouldn’t give you less money, would he? You unfilial daughter, living it up, enjoying the good life, watching your old man being chased by loan sharks, aren’t you?!” Frank yelled, frantically ransacking the room. My design sketches, brushes, and paints were strewn across the floor, trampled to pieces. “Stop it! Don’t touch my things!” I rushed forward, my eyes red, desperately shielding the scattered designs on the floor. Those were my life’s work, sketched out over countless sleepless nights! “Get lost!” Frank kicked me hard on the shoulder. I gasped in pain, cold sweat breaking out. “I’m telling you, Jade, if you don’t come up with five hundred thousand today, I’ll sell your sister, Stella, who’s still in high school, to a club to settle my debts!” Frank threatened viciously. “You wouldn’t dare!” I snapped my head up, glaring at him. “Frank, are you even human? Stella is your own daughter!” “So what if she’s my daughter? I brought you into this world, you owe me!” Frank sneered. “Three days. I’m only giving you three days. If you don’t come up with the money, just wait to pick your sister out of a club!” With that, he slammed the door and left. The room was a mess, as if ransacked by thieves. I curled up on the cold floor, my shoulder aching as if it would split, and tears finally began to fall. Why? Why, despite my desperate efforts, could I never escape this swamp? Just then, my phone vibrated in my bag. “Ethan” flashed on the screen. I took a deep breath, wiped my face frantically, and answered the call. “Where are you?” Ethan’s voice was cold and commanding. “Home.” I tried to keep my voice steady. “Half an hour. Get over here.” “Mr. Ethan, it’s one in the morning,” I bit out. “I’m a person, not your on-call machine.” There was a two-second silence on the other end, followed by a cold scoff. “Jade, your temper’s really grown, hasn’t it? What, still upset about the engagement rings?” “No, I’m not.” “Good,” Ethan’s tone was full of condescending generosity. “Come over. Chloe can’t sleep and wants to look at your old design drafts for inspiration. Bring them over and explain them to her yourself.” My hand, gripping the phone, tightened, my nails digging deeply into my palm. He wanted me to brave the heavy rain in the middle of the night, just to explain design drafts to his fiancée? “I’m sick. I can’t go,” I refused coldly. “Jade, don’t make me angry,” Ethan’s voice darkened. “Your sister, Stella, is taking her college entrance exams next month, isn’t she? I heard she wants to get into NYU? What do you think would happen if I made a call to NYU? Would she still get in?” It was always like this. For five years, he always knew my weaknesses, forcing me to bow, to compromise. He knew Stella was my life. “I’ll be right there.” Hanging up, I numbly got up from the floor, picked up the scattered designs, and put them back in my bag. The rain continued to fall. I stood by the road, waiting half an hour before finally getting a taxi. By the time I reached Ethan’s villa in the hills, I was shivering uncontrollably, my lips blue. The villa was brightly lit, warm as spring. I pushed open the door and saw Ethan lounging on the sofa in loose pajamas. Chloe was nestled in his arms like a lost puppy, wearing a silk slip dress, a warm glass of milk in her hand. Seeing me standing at the door, drenched like a drowned rat, Chloe gasped. “Oh my god, Jade, why are you so soaked? Come in and dry off!” She made to get up, but Ethan held her down. “Don’t worry about her. She’s perfectly fine,” Ethan said, not even lifting an eyelid, his gaze sweeping coldly over me. “Did you bring the designs?” I stood in the entryway, not changing my shoes. Cold rainwater dripped from my hair, spreading a dark stain on the carpet. I took out the stack of designs, slightly soiled by Frank’s footprints, from my bag and walked over to place them on the coffee table. “They’re all here,” my voice was hoarse. Ethan glanced at the footprints on the designs, his brows instantly knitting into a tight knot. “Jade, what kind of attitude is this? Are you trying to fool me with this garbage?” He violently threw the designs at my face. The sharp edges of the paper grazed my cheek, leaving a faint scratch that bled slightly. “Ethan, don’t get angry. Jade didn’t mean it,” Chloe quickly hugged Ethan’s arm, her voice soft and coaxing. Then she turned to me, looking with those innocent eyes, “Jade, are you upset about designing my ring, that you deliberately soiled the drafts? It’s really okay, I can find someone else…” “Shut up,” I cut her off coldly. Chloe flinched, her eyes welling up again. Ethan stood up abruptly, grabbing my throat and pinning me against the cold wall. “Jade, you dare to yell at her?!” His grip was incredibly strong; I instantly struggled to breathe, my face turning crimson. “Ethan…” I choked out, forcing the words from my throat. “Five years… even if you kept a dog… it would have some affection, wouldn’t it?” “Affection?” Ethan laughed, as if he’d heard the biggest joke, his eyes full of mockery. “Jade, do you really think you’re worthy of talking about affection with me? You’re just a tool I paid for, a plaything for my amusement. Did you actually think you were special?” His words were like a blunt knife, slowly cutting open my heart. In the face of such extreme pain, I actually smiled. “Yes, I’m not worthy,” I looked at him, my eyes growing colder by the second. “Mr. Ethan is right. A tool should know its place.” “Let me go. I’ll explain the designs to Ms. Chloe.” Ethan stared at my eyes, so calm they held no ripple of emotion, and a flicker of irritation crossed his face. He suddenly released me. I slid down the wall to the floor, clutching my throat and coughing violently. “Jade, remember your place,” Ethan looked down at me. “Dare to disrespect Chloe again, and I’ll make you regret it.”

For the next two hours, I sat kneeling by the coffee table like a soulless puppet, explaining each design draft, which I once cherished, to Chloe. Chloe listened intently, occasionally offering naive and ridiculous suggestions for modifications. Ethan sat nearby, playing with Chloe’s hair, his eyes fixed on me with an oppressive gaze. He was trying to find a hint of jealousy, grievance, or even collapse on my face. But I disappointed him. My face remained expressionless the entire time, my voice so steady that not a single note wavered. “This ‘Starry Night’ piece, I think the diamond is too small, not sparkly enough. Ethan, don’t you think a ten-carat pink diamond would be better?” Chloe pointed to one of my proudest works, asking sweetly. That was the wedding ring I had designed for myself. I had once fantasized that one day Ethan would hold it, kneeling on one knee to propose to me. Now, it had become a commodity to be picked apart by someone else. “Fine, if you like it, we’ll change it,” Ethan said, dotingly pinching her nose, then turned to me, his eyes instantly turning cold. “Did you hear that? The main diamond will be a ten-carat pink diamond, surrounded by pavé diamonds, the most luxurious possible.” “A ten-carat pink diamond requires extremely high hardness and cutting precision; this setting design cannot support it,” I pointed out the technical issue in a purely business-like tone. “That’s your problem,” Ethan said coldly. “If you can’t do it, get out of the company.” I was silent for two seconds, then nodded. “Okay, I’ll modify it.” At four in the morning, the explanation finally ended. Chloe yawned, leaning softly into Ethan’s arms. “Ethan, I’m sleepy.” “Go to sleep,” Ethan kissed her forehead, then scooped her up and carried her upstairs. He never looked at me again. He didn’t ask how I would get back so late, with the heavy rain still falling outside. I gathered my design drafts alone and walked out of the villa with heavy steps. The cold wind, mixed with rain, blew against me, but I no longer felt the cold. Because my heart had long since died completely. The next morning, I arrived at the villa promptly with my toolbox. Today, I was here to take Chloe’s measurements. As I walked into the living room, I saw Ethan and Chloe eating breakfast on the sofa. The atmosphere was sickeningly cozy. “Jade, have you had breakfast? Would you like to join us?” Chloe greeted me enthusiastically. “No, thank you, I’ve eaten.” I opened my toolbox and took out the measuring tape. “Ms. Chloe, please extend your hand.” Chloe obediently held out her hand. Her hand was fair and delicate, never having done a day of hard work. Unlike my hands, which were calloused from years of drawing and polishing jewelry, and had a bruise on the back from Frank’s kick last night. I lowered my head, carefully measuring her finger and noting down the data. “Hiss—” Chloe suddenly gasped, snatching her hand back. “Jade, you hurt me!” I paused. I was clearly using a soft measuring tape; it was impossible to hurt her. “What’s wrong?” Ethan immediately put down his knife and fork, anxiously grabbing Chloe’s hand to examine it. On the back of Chloe’s hand, a tiny red mark had appeared at some point. “I’m fine, Ethan, don’t blame Jade. She definitely didn’t mean to.” Chloe bit her lip apologetically, tears welling in her eyes. Ethan’s face instantly darkened to an alarming degree. He stood up abruptly and kicked my toolbox, sending it flying. Various precise measuring tools scattered across the floor with a harsh clang. “Jade, are you looking for a death wish?!” Ethan grabbed my collar, lifting me clean off the ground. “I didn’t hurt her.” I met his furious gaze, my voice calm. “That red mark, it wasn’t from me.” “Still trying to argue?!” Ethan was enraged. “Are you taking advantage of Chloe’s kindness to deliberately vent your anger on her? I warned you, put away your petty jealousy!” Jealousy? I looked at Ethan and suddenly found him utterly ridiculous. How could he possibly think I would still be jealous? “Mr. Ethan,” I took a deep breath, fighting the suffocating grip on my neck. “If you believe I’m not suited for this job, you can easily replace me. There’s no need to make false accusations.” “Are you threatening me?” Ethan’s eyes narrowed, staring at me dangerously. “I wouldn’t dare. I’m merely stating facts.” The two of us stood locked in a standoff, the air thick with tension. Just then, my phone rang. It was the hospital. “Is this Stella’s family? Stella was injured in a fight at school and is now in the emergency room. Please come immediately!” My mind buzzed, instantly going blank. Stella! “Let me go!” I struggled violently, with surprising strength, actually prying Ethan’s hand off me. I didn’t even bother picking up my tools; I dashed out like a madwoman. “Jade, where are you going? Stop!” Ethan roared behind me. I ignored him, my mind fixated solely on Stella. When I rushed into the hospital emergency room, Stella was lying on the bed, her face covered in blood, her forehead wrapped in thick bandages, already unconscious. “Doctor, how is my sister?” I grabbed the doctor’s arm, my voice trembling uncontrollably. “You’re the family, right? The patient suffered a severe blow to the head, resulting in a mild concussion, multiple soft tissue contusions on her body, and also…” The doctor paused, his eyes looking complex. “The patient has lacerations in her lower body. We suspect she may have been sexually assaulted, and we’ve already called the police.” Sexually assaulted?! Those words struck me like a lightning bolt, splitting my very being. My legs gave out, and I collapsed directly to the floor. How could this happen? Stella was so well-behaved, so obedient. How could something like this happen to her? “Frank… it must be him!” I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my flesh, drawing blood. He had threatened me just yesterday, and today Stella was in trouble. That bastard! How dare he!

I stayed by Stella’s bedside for an entire day and night. When she woke, she saw me and recoiled into the blankets like a frightened animal, trembling violently. “Jade… Jade, I’m scared…” she cried heartbrokenly, her eyes hollow and terrifying. I held her tight, my heart twisting in agony. The police came to take her statement, confirming my suspicions. It was Frank. To pay off his gambling debts, he had actually brought the debt collectors to the school gates and dragged Stella into a van. If not for a kind passerby who called the police, Stella might not have been alive right now. “Where is Frank?” I gritted my teeth, asking the police. “He ran off. We’re actively pursuing him,” the police sighed. “Ms. Jade, your father owes three million to an underground casino. Those people are desperate. You and your sister should be extra careful recently.” Three million. I closed my eyes in despair. Where was I going to get three million? In the past five years, I had only earned a fixed salary at Ethan’s company, most of which went into Frank’s bottomless pit of debt. Ethan, though wealthy, never gave anything for free; he demanded my unconditional obedience and flattery. Now, he was busy getting engaged to Chloe. How could he care about my survival? Besides, I no longer wanted to ask him for anything. I was too tired. After settling Stella, I walked out of the ward, leaning against the cold hallway wall, and pulled out my phone. In my contacts, I couldn’t find a single person I could borrow money from. These past few years, confined by Ethan, I had cut off almost all social connections. Just as I felt I had nowhere left to turn, a news notification popped up. [New York’s Julian family is offering a massive reward for a bride! Rumors say that Julian, the family’s young master, suffers from a hidden illness, is crippled, and has a violent temper. Multiple former fiancées have been driven to madness by his torment. The Julian family is now offering an astronomical ten billion in wedding money, seeking a lucky bride whose presence would bring him healing!] Julian. A man who held immense power in New York. I heard he was a madman, a devil. No woman who fell into his hands ever emerged whole. But that was ten billion. With that money, I could completely escape Frank, take Stella out of Los Angeles, and start over somewhere no one knew us. As for whether Julian was crippled or a devil, I didn’t care. I was already in hell; what difference would another hell make? Without hesitation, I dialed the contact number listed below the news article. “Hello, my name is Jade. My birth chart indicates…” The Julian family moved quickly. Less than two hours later, a black Rolls-Royce pulled up to the hospital entrance. A middle-aged man in a tuxedo, looking like a butler, approached me, his demeanor respectful yet distant. “Ms. Jade, you and Mr. Julian are a perfect match. As soon as you sign this prenuptial agreement, the ten billion in wedding money will be immediately transferred to your account. Furthermore, the Julian family will handle all your troubles, including your father’s gambling debts and your sister’s safety.” He handed me a thick document. I didn’t even look at it, flipping directly to the last page and signing my name. “Okay, I’ll marry him.” A flicker of surprise crossed the butler’s eyes; he hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. “Ms. Jade is a decisive woman,” the butler said, collecting the agreement. “The Julian family still has affairs to settle in Los Angeles for a few days. In three days, I will send someone to pick you up for New York. During these three days, you may attend to your private matters.” “Ding.” My phone chimed with a text message notification. Ten billion, transferred. Looking at that long string of zeros, I suddenly felt incredibly ironic. I had sold myself for five years, gaining nothing but scars. Now, I sold myself to a crippled madman and instantly owned the world. I immediately contacted the best security company to provide Stella with twenty-four-hour protection. Then, I returned to my rental apartment and began to sketch, polish, and set jewelry day and night. Ethan’s engagement rings, I had to finish them before I left. This was what I owed him; once I paid it back, I could leave cleanly. After two consecutive sleepless nights, my eyes were bloodshot, and my fingers were covered in cuts from the engraving tools. Blood seeped into the pink diamond ring setting, but I didn’t even flinch, just wiped it away expressionlessly and continued working. On the evening of the third day, a pair of exquisitely luxurious pink diamond rings were finally completed. I placed them into a beautiful velvet box. Then, from the deepest part under my bed, I pulled out a dusty metal box. Opening it, a black card lay inside. Five years ago, Ethan had casually tossed it to me when he first took me to his house. “Take this. It’s my black card, unlimited credit. If you’re with me, don’t embarrass me.” In these five years, I had never once used it. I placed it with the rings, packed everything up, and dialed Mark, Ethan’s assistant. “Mark, the rings are done. Please come pick them up.” Half an hour later, Mark’s car pulled up downstairs. He looked at my pale, haggard face, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. “Ms. Jade, why bother so much?” Mark said, taking the box with a sarcastic tone. “Mr. Ethan’s completely focused on Chloe now. Even if you work yourself to death, he won’t notice. Take my advice, just humble yourself, admit your mistake. If Mr. Ethan softens, he might even keep you around as a lover.” “You misunderstand,” I said, looking at him plainly. “My task is complete once I hand this to you. Also, there’s something else in the box. Please make sure to deliver it to Mr. Ethan personally.” Mark scoffed. “Another love token? Jade, Mr. Ethan is tired of your manipulation tactics.” I ignored his mockery and turned to leave. “Jade!” Mark called out behind me. “Tomorrow night is Mr. Ethan and Ms. Chloe’s engagement party. Mr. Ethan said you must attend. He wants you to see him put the ring on Ms. Chloe’s finger with your own eyes!” My steps paused for a moment, and a mocking smile touched my lips. “Alright,” I said without looking back. “I hope they’re utterly miserable and their line end.”

Back at the hospital, I immediately arranged for Stella to be transferred. The Julian family’s efficiency was remarkable; they not only arranged a private jet but also secured a spot at New York’s top private hospital, complete with a leading medical team. Sitting in the car en route to the airport, watching the Los Angeles nightscape recede outside the window, I let out a long, heavy sigh. This city, which had trapped me for five years, which held all my humiliation and despair, I was finally leaving it. “Jade, are we really going to New York?” Stella leaned on my shoulder, her voice still weak. “That person… Mr. Julian, will he really be a good person?” “No matter who he is, as long as he can protect you, I’m not afraid of anything,” I said, stroking her hair, my eyes firm. I had nothing left to lose. The worst-case scenario was simply death. At the same time, in Los Angeles’s most luxurious five-star hotel, Ethan’s engagement party was being prepared. Ethan sat in the VIP lounge, toying with the velvet box Mark had just delivered. “She really said that?” Ethan’s face was cold, his brows furrowed as he listened to Mark’s report. “Yes, those were Jade’s exact words,” Mark said, cautiously observing Ethan’s expression. “Mr. Ethan, it seems Jade is truly determined this time. She even returned your black card.” Ethan violently opened the box. A pair of dazzling pink diamond rings lay quietly inside, next to the black card he had given her five years ago. The card was spotless, without a single scratch, as if in these five years, she had never once touched his world. A strange irritation inexplicably filled Ethan’s chest. He slammed the box shut, letting out a cold laugh. “Playing hard to get. She thinks by returning the card, I’ll beg her to come back? Dream on!” “She’ll definitely come tomorrow,” Ethan’s tone was assertive. “She loves me so much she’s thrown away her dignity. How could she possibly stand by and watch me get engaged to Chloe? She’s just trying to force me to give in this way.” “You’re right, Mr. Ethan,” Mark quickly agreed. “A woman like Jade, without you, she wouldn’t even be able to eat. How could she truly leave?” Ethan leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes, trying to suppress the strange panic in his heart. Yes, she couldn’t leave him. With just a flick of his finger, she would crawl back to him, begging, just like before. The next evening, the engagement party officially began. Almost all the prominent figures in Los Angeles were present. Chloe, in a dreamy wedding dress adorned with pavé diamonds, looked like a true princess, walking arm-in-arm with Ethan, accepting everyone’s blessings. Ethan, in a tailored suit, was exceptionally handsome. But his gaze kept sweeping towards the ballroom entrance. Time ticked by. The ballroom was filled with a glamorous atmosphere, clinking glasses, and dazzling lights, yet the familiar figure never appeared. “Ethan, what are you looking for?” A friend walked over with a drink, following Ethan’s gaze, and chuckled knowingly. “Waiting for Jade? Don’t bother. I bet she wouldn’t dare to come today. She’d only humiliate herself.” “Exactly, Ethan has a legitimate fiancée now. How could a hidden mistress have the nerve to show up at an event like this?” The surrounding crowd chimed in, their words full of contempt for Jade. Ethan said nothing, his face growing darker and darker. It was almost time for the ring exchange. Was she really not coming? How dare she not come?! “Ethan, it’s time, we should go up,” Chloe reminded softly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Once he put the ring on her finger, she would be Mrs. Ethan, officially. Ethan took a deep breath, suppressing the anxiety in his heart, and walked onto the stage with Chloe. The emcee delivered an enthusiastic speech, then announced: “Now, please, the groom-to-be will place the engagement ring, symbolizing love, on the bride-to-be’s finger!” Ethan took the velvet box from Mark and slowly opened it. Under the lights, the pink diamonds shimmered dazzlingly. He took out the women’s ring, about to slip it onto Chloe’s finger. Suddenly, his gaze froze on the inside of the ring. There, engraved in tiny letters, were two initials: G.D. Go to Death. Ethan’s pupils contracted sharply, and his face instantly turned ashen. “Ethan? What’s wrong?” Chloe, seeing his hesitation, asked with a hint of confusion. Ethan slammed the ring box shut and roughly pushed Chloe aside. “The engagement party is canceled!” He tossed out the words, then strode off the stage amidst the stunned gazes of the entire room. “Ethan! Where are you going?!” Chloe cried out frantically from the stage, tears instantly streaming down her face. Ethan ignored her. He grabbed Mark by the collar, his eyes bloodshot. “Find out! Find out where Jade is immediately! Bring her back to me!” Mark trembled in fear, quickly pulling out his phone to make calls. A few minutes later, Mark, pale-faced, rushed back to Ethan, his voice shaking. “Mr. Mr. Ethan… Jade… she’s not in Los Angeles anymore.” “What do you mean?” Ethan’s hand clamped around his throat. “She canceled her apartment lease, and the hospital said she transferred her sister… Immigration records show that she… she flew to New York last night!” New York?! Ethan was struck as if by lightning, freezing in place. She was gone. Gone completely, without a trace of lingering affection. She had even slapped him hard at his most anticipated engagement party. “Jade…” Ethan muttered her name, gritting his teeth, and a sharp pain suddenly pierced his chest. He thought everything was under his control. But only at this moment did he realize, with horror, that the string tying Jade to him had broken.

The flight to New York landed smoothly. I pushed Stella in her wheelchair out of the VIP channel. At the channel exit, a line of black-suited bodyguards stood ready. Leading them was the butler I had met at the hospital that day. “Ms. Jade, welcome to New York,” the butler bowed slightly, his demeanor more respectful than before. “Mr. Julian is already waiting for you at the manor.” Now, I had suddenly become a stranger’s wife. “Thank you,” I nodded faintly. The motorcade drove out of the airport, heading towards the winding mountain roads on the outskirts of New York. The deeper we went, the more secluded the scenery became, even taking on a hint of eerie silence. Rumor had it that the Julian family manor was built halfway up a mountain, and for miles around, it was all private Julian land; not even a fly could get in. Half an hour later, the cars drove through a massive black iron gate. The castle-like manor stood in the night, like a slumbering beast, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression. I took a deep breath, tightening my grip on Stella’s hand. “Don’t be afraid,” I whispered, reassuring her. The cars stopped in front of the main building. The butler led me through a long corridor to a heavy mahogany door. “Ms. Jade, Mr. Julian is waiting for you inside. I will arrange for someone to look after Ms. Stella; please don’t worry.” I nodded, watched Stella being led away by a maid, and then pushed open the door. The room was dim, with no main lights on; only the flickering fire in the fireplace provided illumination. The air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood mixed with herbs. I stood at the doorway, trying to adjust to the indoor light. “Come here.” A low, hoarse, yet profoundly penetrating voice came from the depths of the room. I looked towards the sound and, in the shadows by the fireplace, saw a wheelchair. A man sat in the wheelchair. Most of his body was hidden in the darkness, making his face indiscernible. But I could feel an intensely predatory gaze fixed on me. Like a hunter staring at its prey. I suppressed the tension in my heart and stepped forward. I stopped two steps in front of him. By the firelight, I finally saw his face. It was an impossibly pale, yet devilishly handsome face. His features were deep and defined, his jawline sharp as a blade, and his eyes, especially, were as black as a bottomless abyss, exuding a chilling ferocity. This was the rumored cruel and bloodthirsty young master of the Julian family, Julian. “Jade,” he parted his thin lips, slowly enunciating my name, with an indescribable tenderness. “Mr. Julian,” I slightly bowed my head, my tone calm. “Are you afraid of me?” He raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on my unconsciously clenched hands. “No,” I met his eyes directly. “Since I’ve taken the Julian family’s money and signed the agreement, I am now a member of the Julian family. Whatever Mr. Julian wishes me to do, I will cooperate.” Julian suddenly let out a low laugh. The laughter echoed in the vast room, sending shivers down my spine. “Cooperate?” He abruptly leaned forward, grabbed my wrist, and pulled hard. Caught off guard, I tumbled into his arms. His chest was hard and cold, like a stone without warmth. “Jade, did you think you married me just to be a decoration?” Julian gripped my chin, forcing me to look up, his warm breath fanning my face. “What I want is all of you, from inside out, a complete and utter surrender.” His gaze was terrifying, like a burning black fire, threatening to consume me entirely. I didn’t struggle, just looked at him quietly. “Okay,” I said softly. “As long as you can protect my sister, my life is yours.” Julian’s movements abruptly froze. He stared intensely into my eyes, as if trying to find a trace of fear or hesitation. But in my eyes, there was only dead silence. After a long moment, he released me, coldly uttering a single word: “Get out.” I stood up, straightened my disheveled clothes, and walked out of the room. The moment I closed the door, I felt all the strength drain from my body. Julian was a thousand times more dangerous than Ethan. But I had no way back. Over the next few days, I was settled in a guest room in the manor. Aside from meals delivered by a maid, I didn’t see Julian again. Stella was enrolled in New York’s best private high school, with dedicated transportation, safe and sound. I finally lived the most peaceful days I’d had in five years. No more debt calls from Frank, no more humiliation from Ethan, no more manipulative tricks from Chloe. I spent my days in the room drawing, occasionally taking walks in the garden. Until a week later, the butler suddenly knocked on my door. “Ms. Jade, Mr. Julian would like you to go to the basement.” The basement? My heart skipped a beat. Rumor had it that Julian’s basement was a living hell. But I still obediently followed the butler downstairs. The basement was vast and dimly lit. As soon as I entered, I smelled a strong scent of blood. Julian sat in his wheelchair, his back to me. Before him, a man knelt, beaten to a bloody pulp. “Jade, come see who this is,” Julian turned his wheelchair, revealing the man’s face. My pupils constricted sharply, and all the blood in my body instantly froze. It was Frank!

The man who was once so arrogant, who used to beat and kick me without hesitation, now lay sprawled on the ground like a dead dog. His face was covered in blood, and all ten of his fingers were brutally broken, twisted into grotesque shapes. Hearing footsteps, Frank laboriously lifted his head. Seeing me, an intense survival instinct erupted in his cloudy eyes, and he scrambled towards me, crawling on his hands and knees. “Jade! Jade! Save your dad! Quick, save your dad! This madman is going to kill me!” He hadn’t even touched my clothes before a bodyguard next to him kicked him down. “Stay still!” the bodyguard snapped. I stood rooted, coldly watching Frank’s pained wails on the ground, feeling not a shred of sympathy, only deep disgust. “Mr. Julian, what is the meaning of this?” I turned to Julian. Julian leaned back in his wheelchair, toying with a sharp dagger, and said nonchalantly, “Don’t you hate him? I brought him here for you to deal with. You can torment him however you wish.” He tossed the dagger to my feet, where it landed with a crisp clink. “Kill him, or cripple him, whatever makes you happy,” Julian’s eyes sparkled with bloodlust, as if watching an entertaining play. Frank was terrified, his liver and guts churning, and he desperately knelt down to me. “Jade, I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong! I’m your biological dad, you can’t kill me! When you were little, I even bought you candy, don’t you remember?!” Bought me candy? I only remembered him getting drunk and whipping me with a belt until I was covered in wounds; I only remembered him trying to sell Stella into a fire pit for gambling money. I bent down and picked up the dagger from the floor. The dagger was heavy, its blade gleaming coldly. Frank’s wails instantly ceased. He stared at me in terror, his pants instantly wet. “Jade… you… you wouldn’t dare…” I gripped the dagger and walked step by step towards him. Julian watched me from his wheelchair, a playful smile on his lips. He seemed to be anticipating the insane sight of me personally taking my father’s life. I looked down at Frank, at his face distorted by fear. “Frank, you should have died long ago,” my voice was icy, devoid of any warmth. I raised the dagger and plunged it down forcefully! “Ah—!” Frank let out a pig-like shriek, tightly closing his eyes. “Clink!” The dagger grazed his cheek, embedding itself deeply into the concrete floor beside him, sparks flying. Frank convulsed in fear, passing out cold. I released the dagger, stood up, and turned to Julian. “Mr. Julian, it’s not worth getting my hands dirty,” I said calmly. “The money he owed the underground casino, the Julian family has already repaid. From this day forward, I cut all ties with him. Throw him out. Whether he lives or dies, it has nothing to do with me.” The playfulness in Julian’s eyes gradually faded, replaced by a deep, probing look. He stared at me for a long time, then suddenly chuckled softly. “Jade, you’re even more ruthless than I imagined.” Killing a man is easy, but breaking his spirit is far more terrifying. Throwing a crippled, penniless gambler back onto the streets was a fate far worse than death. “Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Julian,” I bowed slightly. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll return to my room.” “Wait,” Julian called out to me. He maneuvered his wheelchair and slowly glided in front of me. “Over in Los Angeles, Ethan is searching for you everywhere,” Julian stared into my eyes, his voice carrying a hint of danger. “He even put out a word that anyone who dares to hide you is making an enemy of the Ethan family.” Hearing Ethan’s name, my heart skipped a beat, but my face remained impassive. “I’m already married into the Julian family. Los Angeles affairs have nothing to do with me.” “Is that so?” Julian suddenly reached out and pinched the back of my neck, pulling me closer to him. “Jade, you’d better remember what you said today. If you dare betray me, I’ll show you what true living hell feels like.” His hand was cold, wrapping around my neck like a snake. I didn’t flinch, meeting his gaze. “Mr. Julian, don’t worry. I, Jade, never go back on my word.” Los Angeles. Ethan hadn’t slept for three days. He had turned all of Los Angeles upside down, even using all his connections, legitimate and otherwise, but still couldn’t find a trace of Jade. She had vanished into thin air. “Mr. Ethan, still no news…” Mark reported, trembling. “Ms. Jade’s flight information was erased. We can’t trace where she went.” “Useless! All of you are useless!” Ethan roared, smashing the computer on his desk. “A living person can’t just sprout wings and fly away, can they?!” Chloe stood nearby, her eyes red, not daring to speak. For these three days, Ethan had been ice-cold towards her, refusing to even spare her a glance. The man who was once so compliant with her now had only one woman on his mind. “Ethan, don’t be like this…” Chloe bravely walked over, trying to embrace him. “If Jade wants to leave, let her go. You still have me…” “Get out!” Ethan violently shoved her away, his eyes terrifyingly sinister. “Who told you to touch me?” Chloe fell to the floor, staring at him in disbelief. “Ethan, I’m your fiancée! You’re doing this to me for a woman who doesn’t want you?” “Fiancée?” Ethan sneered, looking down at her. “If it weren’t for your face bearing a slight resemblance to her when she first started with me, do you think you’d be standing here?” Chloe was struck as if by lightning, her face instantly turning chalk-white. A stand-in. Her proud love was nothing more than a pathetic stand-in! Ethan no longer paid attention to the distraught Chloe. He turned to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the gray sky. Jade, do you think you can escape? Even if I have to turn this city upside down, I will find you, break your legs with my own hands, and lock you by my side forever!

My days at the Julian family manor were surprisingly peaceful. Although Julian’s temper was unpredictable, he never inflicted any substantial harm on me, aside from occasionally staring at me with that intensely predatory gaze. He spent most of his days in the study or the basement. As for me, I poured all my energy into new design sketches. I needed money. Although the Julian family had given me ten billion in wedding money, that was money to buy out my entire life. I didn’t want to depend on Julian forever; I needed my own career and my own foundation. That afternoon, I was sketching in the glass conservatory in the garden when the butler suddenly entered. “Ms. Jade, Mr. Julian would like you to go to the front hall.” “Guests?” I put down my paintbrush, a little puzzled. Julian was reclusive; hardly any outsiders ever came to the manor. “Guests from Los Angeles,” the butler said, his eyes lowered, his tone respectful yet with a hint of something unusual. Los Angeles. Those two words felt like a thorn, sharply piercing my nerves. I took a deep breath and stood up. “I understand.” When I reached the front hall, the air pressure was suffocatingly low. Julian sat in his wheelchair at the head of the table, toying with an antique signet ring, his expression inscrutable. Across from him stood a man with bloodshot eyes and a scruffy beard. Ethan. He had lost a lot of weight, his once tailored suit now looking somewhat baggy, and his entire being exuded a sense of decadent and madness. The moment he saw me, Ethan’s eyes instantly lit up. “Jade!” He rushed forward, trying to grab my hand. “Bang!” A gunshot. A bullet grazed Ethan’s foot and embedded itself in the expensive carpet, releasing a wisp of blue smoke. Julian calmly blew the smoke from the gun barrel, his eyes coldly fixed on Ethan. “Mr. Ethan, on my Julian family’s territory, touching my wife—are you tired of living?” Ethan’s steps abruptly halted. He stared intensely at me, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse and broken. “Jade, come here. Come home with me.” Home. Those words, coming from his mouth, were utterly ironic. I stood by Julian’s side, looking at him coldly. “Mr. Ethan, please show some respect. This is the Julian family residence, and I am Julian’s wife.” “Wife?” Ethan laughed, as if he’d heard the biggest joke, his voice rising sharply. “You’d rather marry a cripple, a madman, than stay by my side?!” “Ethan!” I sharply cut him off. “Shut your mouth!” I would not allow him to insult Julian. At least, Julian, in my most desperate moment, had given Stella and me a way out. While Ethan had only pushed me towards death. “You’re defending him?” Ethan looked at me in disbelief, his eyes filled with hurt and rage. “Jade, you were with me for five years! Our five years of affection mean less than this cripple’s dirty money?!” “Affection?” I let out a cold laugh, my eyes full of mockery. “Ethan, do you really think you’re worthy of talking about affection with me? When you forced me to design engagement rings for your fiancée, did you think about our affection? When you allowed Frank to almost destroy my sister, did you think about our affection?!” “I didn’t!” Ethan quickly explained. “I didn’t know Frank would do such a thing! If I had known, I would have…” “Would have what?” I cut him off coldly. “Would have acted just like before, condescendingly bestowing a little pity, and then using that as leverage to force me to continue being your obedient dog?” Ethan was left speechless, his face ashen. “Ethan, we’re long past due on settling our accounts,” I looked at him, my voice as calm as still water. “Those rings were the last thing I owed you. From now on, whether you live or die, it has nothing to do with me, Jade. Get out. Don’t ever appear before me again. You disgust me.” “I’m not leaving!” Ethan suddenly pulled out a gun and pointed it directly at Julian. “Jade, you’re coming with me today! Otherwise, I’ll kill him!” He was insane. He actually dared to point a gun at Julian on Julian family territory. The bodyguards around us instantly drew their guns; dozens of black barrels were pointed at Ethan. With a single command from Julian, Ethan would be riddled with bullets. But Julian merely smiled. He casually tossed his gun onto the table, then maneuvered his wheelchair and slowly glided right in front of Ethan’s gun barrel. “Shoot,” Julian tilted his head slightly, his eyes filled with contempt and provocation. “Ethan, let me see how much guts you have, daring to steal a woman from me, Julian.” Ethan’s hand, holding the gun, trembled violently. His veins bulged on his forehead as he stared intensely at Julian, yet he hesitated to pull the trigger. He didn’t dare. Because he knew that if he fired, the Ethan family would face devastating retaliation from the Julian family. “Useless,” Julian scoffed, then suddenly reached out and grabbed the hot gun barrel. “Crack!” A sickening crunch of bone echoed. Julian had actually broken Ethan’s wrist with his bare hand! “Ah—!” Ethan shrieked, the gun falling to the floor. Bodyguards swarmed him, pinning him to the ground. “Throw him back to Los Angeles,” Julian took out a pristine white handkerchief and calmly wiped his fingers. “Tell the Ethan family patriarch that if he can’t control his grandson, I don’t mind teaching him a lesson. But next time, it won’t just be a broken wrist.” Ethan was dragged out by the bodyguards like a dead dog. He struggled desperately, his eyes fixed on me, still desperately screaming my name. “Jade! Jade—!” His voice grew fainter, until it completely disappeared. The front hall returned to a deathly silence. I stood rooted, looking at the spot where Ethan had stood, my heart utterly calm, feeling only the satisfaction of avenging a great wrong. “Did that hurt you?” Julian’s voice suddenly sounded by my ear. I turned my head, meeting his deep, dark eyes. “No,” I said calmly. “I just found him pathetic.” Julian stared at me for a long time, then suddenly reached out and pulled me into his arms. I fell into his lap, my nostrils filled with the cool, sandalwood scent of him. “Jade,” he gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Remember what you said today. You are mine. This life, next life, you’ll never escape.” He lowered his head and kissed my lips fiercely. A kiss filled with punishment, possession, and reckless abandon. I closed my eyes, offering no resistance, submitting to his plunder. I knew that from this moment on, my life, Jade’s life, was completely bound to this man named Julian.

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Seven years of marriage. Ethan saw me as dirty, as old. He turned around and got involved with a younger college student. His reason? “You threw yourself at me when you were sixteen, like some cheap escort. Who knows how many men a manipulative woman like you has slept with since?” He held Lily Sterling close, his eyes tender. “Lily is pure and untouched. She was twenty when she lost her virginity to me. I’m her only man.” He forgot. When he was sixteen, he was the one begging me to get into his bed. Someone had drugged him with an aphrodisiac, and I gave myself to him to save his life. He’d pulled a blanket over my kiss-marked body back then and soothed, “My darling, I’ll be good to you my whole life.” Seven years together. I took blades for him, my hands stained with blood and dirtied by schemes. All I got in return was him turning to embrace his “pure” new love. This time, I didn’t make a scene. I took off my wedding ring and walked away. Ethan’s friends all bet on when I’d come back. But day after day, I remained silent. No word from me. Ethan couldn’t sit still anymore. He called me. “Amelia, you’ve caused enough trouble. Come back.” But a low chuckle came. A man’s voice. “Mr. Hayes, you take too long chasing your girl. Someone else might beat you to it.”

Amelia’s POV The New York rainy season was damp, cold, and sticky. The briny wind from New York Harbor lashed relentlessly against the floor-to-ceiling windows of our hillside mansion. I sat alone at the dining table. The Wellington steak on my plate was long cold, the fat congealed. The candles had burned out, their last embers extinguished by the wind. The dining room plunged into total darkness. Today marked seven years since Ethan Hayes and I first met. Seven years ago today, amidst the bloody turf wars of Brooklyn, I took a fatal knife wound for him. A hideous, indelible scar still marred my back. It was also that day that a penniless Ethan, kneeling in the mud, cradled my bloody face and swore that one day, he’d make me the most respected woman in all of New York. Now, Hayes Enterprises had expanded its reach to an unimaginable scale. He had become Ethan Hayes, a name whispered with fear in the business world. And I was his sharpest blade, hidden in the shadows. Amelia, the ruthless force behind Hayes Enterprises. My phone screen suddenly lit up in the darkness, stinging my eyes. It was Mark, Ethan’s assistant, his voice tinged with guilt. “Amelia… Mr. Hayes might not be able to make it back tonight. There’s an issue at the South Precinct, and Mr. Hayes is handling it.” My breath hitched, my heart seized. I hung up the phone, grabbed my car keys, and rushed out into the pouring rain. In the corridor of the South Precinct, the harsh white fluorescent lights made my head spin. I strode in on three-inch heels, dressed in a sharply tailored black business suit, trailing icy rainwater. However, the scene before me shattered all my pride and all my worry. Ethan sat on a bench in the corridor. The man who was cold and ruthless at the negotiation table, who never even furrowed a brow, was now taking off his warm, tailored suit. With gentle, almost careful movements, he draped it over a young girl. The girl wore a faded cotton dress, her blonde hair disheveled, her eyes swollen and red. She huddled in Ethan’s arms, her hands clutching the hem of his shirt as if he were her only hope in the world. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here. No one can touch you.” Ethan’s voice was deep and gentle, a tone I hadn’t heard in three whole years. I stood in the shadows a few steps away, watching the scene with cold eyes. I knew the girl. Her name was Lily Sterling. Ethan had ‘rescued’ her, a college student, from his enemies three months ago during a corporate turf war. “Ethan.” I spoke, my voice surprisingly calm, so calm that even I found it unbelievable. Ethan looked up at the sound of my voice. The moment he saw me, a flicker of irritation crossed his eyes, but he didn’t release his arm from around Lily’s shoulder. “What are you doing here?” “Have you forgotten what day it is?” I took a step forward, my gaze falling on Lily’s hands, which were desperately gripping Ethan’s clothes. The sight was so jarring it felt like it was burning my retina. “Lily was being tracked by my enemies and almost got hurt. I had to come deal with it.” Ethan’s tone was matter-of-fact, even carrying a hint of annoyance at being disturbed. “It’s just an anniversary. Tomorrow, I’ll have accounting transfer you some money. You can pick out any gift you like.” Lily timidly peeked out from Ethan’s embrace, her voice trembling, thick with tears. “I’m so sorry… it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have called Mr. Hayes for help while he was in a meeting, ruining your anniversary…” “If you knew it would ruin it, why did you call?” My gaze, sharp as a blade, pierced Lily with not a hint of warmth. “Amelia!” Ethan’s voice suddenly rose, pulling Lily tightly behind him. His eyes, when he looked at me, were full of reproach and disappointment. “She’s just an innocent college student. What does she know of corporate schemes? Don’t look at her with that calculating gaze you cast on everyone!” Innocent? Calculating? Like a poison-tipped dagger, his words plunged into my heart, twisting cruelly. Seven years ago, I was also an innocent New York beauty pageant queen, with a promising future. Who drank herself sick, to the point of a stomach hemorrhage, at a dinner party, just to help him secure his first startup capital? Who walked alone into a negotiation room in the heart of Brooklyn’s underworld to appease his enemies? All my grit, all the blood on my hands, all the schemes in my mind, were for the sole purpose of keeping him pure and untouched on his throne. But now, he found me dirty. My hands, hanging by my sides, slowly clenched. My neatly manicured nails dug deep into my palms, breaking the skin, bringing a sharp pang of pain. I fought back the coppery taste of blood in my throat, forcing a smile that was both utterly cold and strikingly beautiful. “Fine. If Mr. Hayes intends to play the hero, I won’t intrude.” I turned and walked back into the rain, my spine ramrod straight, without looking back. The cold rain lashed mercilessly against my face. I closed my eyes, letting the icy water wash over my eyelids. Seven years of companionship, ultimately no match for the pristine face of a newcomer. I should have known. Birds and fish, after all, were never meant to cross paths.

Amelia’s POV New York media has always been sharper than a vulture’s eye. Overnight, the headlines of all major entertainment and financial sections had shifted direction. Hayes Heir Plays Hero! Mysterious Pure College Student Rises, Ex-Beauty Queen Amelia’s Seven-Year High-Society Dream Shattered! The accompanying photo was from the previous night at the precinct entrance: Ethan carefully shielding Lily as she got into the car. The photo was beautifully composed. In the pouring rain, the man’s tall frame created a shelter from the wind and rain for the girl. I sat in the Vice President’s office on the top floor of Hayes Enterprises, expressionlessly tossing the newspaper into the shredder. Accompanied by the machine’s dull grinding sound, the jarring headlines turned into a pile of meaningless waste paper. The frosted glass door of my office opened, and Ethan walked in, carrying the lingering chill of the outside. He glanced at the shredder, his brow slightly furrowed. “The media is writing nonsense. I’ll have the PR department suppress the buzz. Don’t go making trouble for Lily.” My hand, as I flipped through documents, froze. I looked up, meeting the eyes of the man I had lived with for seven years, my gaze filled with absurd mockery. “Ethan, you came to my office this early just to warn me not to touch your mistress?” “Amelia, do we really have to speak to each other with such sarcastic tones?” Ethan walked to my desk, leaning his hands on the surface, looking down at me with a hint of pressure in his voice. “Lily is very sensitive. She can’t handle the dirty tactics of your circles. Last night’s incident scared her badly, so I plan to have her move into the hillside mansion for a while. It has the most robust security system.” The hillside mansion. It felt like someone had punched me hard in the chest. That was the first home Ethan and I had chosen together, furnished ourselves, after he made his first fortune. Every piece of furniture in it, even every white rose in the garden, I had personally tended to. He once held me by the mansion’s floor-to-ceiling windows, promising me that it was a safe haven meant only for the two of us, where no one else could intrude. “You’re moving her into the hillside mansion?” “She’s just staying temporarily.” Ethan avoided my overly clear gaze, turning to look out the window. “You own many properties; you can move into the spacious apartment in Long Island for a while. Lily is timid. She’ll feel uncomfortable if you’re there.” To make another woman comfortable, he was kicking me, the actual mistress of the house, out? I felt as though my body was submerged in ice water, so cold I almost trembled. I stared at the man before me. His features were still deep and handsome, but his eyes, which once held only me, were now filled with a blatant favoritism and protectiveness for another woman. “What if I don’t move?” Ethan’s face instantly darkened, his voice taking on the coldness of a superior. “Amelia, stop being childish. You weren’t this unreasonable before. Lily isn’t like you; you’re strong enough. What storms haven’t you weathered in the business world? But she can’t. She’s a blank slate; even a slight gust of wind could tear her apart. I have to protect her.” Because she was strong, I should concede; because I had weathered storms, I deserved to be stripped of my sanctuary. My heart, at that moment, was crushed into dust, inch by agonizing inch. I suddenly felt that these seven years of my youth were a colossal joke. I molded myself into a strong woman to protect him, only for that strength to become his reason to discard me. “Fine, I’ll move.” I lowered my eyelids, concealing the desolate emptiness in my eyes. “Ethan, I’ll leave the keys to the hillside mansion at the door tonight. I hope you both enjoy your stay.” That evening, I packed all my personal belongings in just an hour. There wasn’t much, actually. Over the years, I had poured all my energy into expanding Hayes Enterprises. The personal items belonging to me in the mansion were pathetically few. As I dragged my suitcase to the door, the code lock chimed. Ethan walked in with Lily. Lily wore a new pair of pink bunny slippers. Seeing my suitcase, her eyes instantly reddened. “Are you really leaving? Or maybe I should leave instead. I don’t want to ruin your relationship because of me…” “If you didn’t want to ruin it, you shouldn’t have stepped through this door in the first place.” I cut her off coldly, not bothering to spare her an extra glance. “Amelia!” Ethan roared, pulling Lily into his embrace, glaring at me. “Why are you yelling at her? I’m the one who asked her to come!” I didn’t look at them again. I placed the keys, which had absorbed my warmth for seven years, on the shoe cabinet by the door. “Ethan, I don’t want this house anymore.” I pushed open the door and walked into the dense New York night without a backward glance. It was stormy, but I didn’t carry an umbrella. Because no one would shelter me from the rain anymore.

Amelia’s POV After moving out of the hillside mansion, I threw all my energy into endless work. I tried to numb myself with hectic international meetings and high-intensity negotiations. The moment my brain stopped functioning for a second, a dull, sharp ache would throb in my heart, reminding me how ridiculous those seven years of sacrifice had been. A week later, New York’s annual top-tier charity gala was held at the Waldorf Astoria. As one of the owners of Hayes Enterprises, I walked the red carpet alone, dressed in a black velvet haute couture gown. I was still stunningly beautiful. The cool detachment in my eyes added an aura of untouchable regality. The media and socialites who had come to witness my downfall instinctively silenced themselves the moment they met my icy gaze. However, as the gala was halfway through and a graceful waltz had just begun, a hushed stir suddenly rippled through the crowd. The heavy doors of the ballroom were pushed open by a waiter. Ethan, in a tailored tuxedo, entered with a figure draped in pure white: Lily Sterling. Lily was clearly attending such a high-society event for the first time. She clung nervously to Ethan, like an ugly duckling who had stumbled into a flock of swans. But what truly made all the socialites gasp in awe, and even green with envy, was the diamond necklace around Lily’s neck. The Tears of Victoria! Three years ago, Ethan had acquired that peerless pink diamond at Sotheby’s auction house for an exorbitant price. At the time, all of New York’s media had widely reported that it was Ethan’s chosen accessory for my wedding gown. My hand, holding the champagne flute, trembled violently, nearly spilling the golden liquid. Ethan had once personally placed that necklace around my neck. It was on the eve of Hayes Enterprises’ greatest crisis. He had wrapped his arms around me from behind, pressing the cold diamonds against my collarbone, his voice hoarse as he promised: “Amelia, once we overcome this hurdle, once Hayes Enterprises rings the bell for its IPO, I’ll marry you with this necklace.” Now, Hayes Enterprises had long gone public. The grand bell-ringing ceremony was still vivid in my memory. Yet, that necklace, laden with his promise, now adorned another woman’s neck. “Amelia, Mr. Hayes is really playing favorites, isn’t he?” A rival, who had always been at odds with me, chuckled lightly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “He spent so much money on you back then, and now he’s given it to some nobody with no background. Men, you know, they still prefer innocent, pure, and easy-to-control women.” I ignored the cold taunts of others. My gaze cut through the bustling crowd, fixing directly on Ethan. Ethan seemed to sense my stare. He turned, and our eyes met across the room. A flicker of awkwardness crossed Ethan’s eyes, but he didn’t walk over. Instead, he leaned down and whispered something to Lily. Lily followed Ethan’s gaze and saw me. She bit her lip, then surprisingly, took Ethan’s hand and, weaving through the crowd, walked towards me. “Amelia.” Lily lowered her head slightly, but her hand unconsciously caressed the pink diamond around her neck, her posture timid yet radiating a hidden smug satisfaction. “This necklace… Ethan said my dress was too plain tonight, so he lent it to me. Please don’t misunderstand, I don’t mean anything by it.” Her words perfectly balanced feigned innocence with blatant showing off. Looking at her pitiful act, a wave of visceral disgust churned in my stomach. I looked at Ethan coldly, my eyes full of derision. “Mr. Hayes’ taste is certainly unique. Pairing a priceless heirloom worth millions with a simple white dress doesn’t that seem like a waste?” “Amelia, watch your tone!” Ethan’s face darkened, and he instinctively shielded Lily behind him. “Lily doesn’t understand these luxury items. I insisted she wear it. Don’t be so aggressive here just because of a necklace.” “I’m aggressive?” I let out a bitter laugh, but my eyes stung. “Ethan, do you have any idea what this necklace means to me?” “That’s all in the past.” Ethan cut me off coldly, his eyes cold and rational. “You have everything now. Shares in Hayes Enterprises, status, wealth, reputation. Why do you insist on fighting Lily over a necklace? She has nothing. She only has me.” His words struck me like a lightning bolt. I had everything? I gave up my own life, stained my hands with corporate schemes and dirt, earned myself a bad reputation, only to be dismissed with a casual “she has everything”? I looked at the man before me, the man I had cultivated with seven years of my youth, and suddenly felt utterly alienated, so much so that it terrified me. “Fine, very well.” I nodded slowly, draining the champagne in my hand. The cold liquid slid down my throat, burning like a knife. “Since Mr. Hayes is so generous, consider this necklace my welcome gift to Ms. Sterling. After all, I find things used by others… dirty.” With that, I placed the empty glass heavily on a waiter’s tray and turned, walking out of the ballroom with resolute pride. I didn’t cry. My tears had long since run dry in the countless dark nights I spent taking bullets for him.

Amelia’s POV My origins in the New York business world had always been a mystery no one dared to pry into. The media only knew that I grew up in an orphanage, won a beauty pageant with my stunning looks, and then plunged into Ethan’s business empire. But only I knew that for over two decades, I had never given up searching for my birth parents. The day after the charity gala, my long-term private investigator finally delivered a thick DNA test report and background check to my desk. The report showed that I wasn’t an abandoned orphan at all, but the daughter of the prominent Boston Sterling family, lost for twenty-two years. Yet, fate seemed to have a cruel sense of humor. Attached to the last page of the investigation report was a recent family photo of the Sterling household. In the photo, my parents were celebrating a girl’s birthday, their faces beaming with loving smiles. The girl, wearing a crown and smiling with innocent joy, was Lily Sterling. Lily Sterling, the replacement child adopted from an orphanage by the Sterling family, who were heartbroken after losing their daughter. The woman who stole my man had also brazenly occupied my rightful life. I stared at the report, my fingers trembling slightly. An indescribable sense of absurdity enveloped me. I didn’t contact the Sterling family immediately. Instead, clutching the report, I drove to Ethan’s exclusive club. Deep down, I still held a faint, fragile glimmer of hope. I wanted to tell him that I had found my family, that I was no longer the destitute orphan. I wanted to see if, upon learning the truth, he would show even a trace of emotion. The club’s corridors were thickly carpeted, my footsteps barely audible. As I reached the door of Ethan’s private VIP suite, it was slightly ajar, and Lily’s suppressed, tearful sobs drifted out. “Ethan, I’m so scared… The Sterling family is looking for their biological daughter from years ago. I heard they already have a lead. If that girl comes back, Mom and Dad won’t love me anymore. I’m just a replacement; I’ll lose everything…” I stopped, my hand frozen on the doorknob. Then came Ethan’s deep, gentle, and utterly doting voice, filled with boundless indulgence. “Don’t be afraid, Lily. With me, no one can take what’s yours.” “But what if their biological daughter tries to kick me out? What if she hates me?” Lily cried piteously. “Then I’ll make sure she can’t survive in the entire business world.” Ethan’s voice suddenly turned cold, laced with a chilling cruelty. “I don’t care whether the Sterlings agree to let their biological daughter come home. But on my turf, as long as I’m here, you are the Sterling family’s only heiress. Anyone who dares to make you suffer will pay the price. Even the Sterling’s biological daughter.” Outside the door, I felt as if plunged into an ice bath. A chill shot from the soles of my feet to the top of my head, freezing my entire body. I looked down at the crumpled DNA report in my hand, suddenly finding it incredibly laughable. I had foolishly hoped to share the joy of finding my family with him, yet he had already preemptively warned me off, his own biological daughter, for his mistress’s sake. It turned out the boundary between love and no love could be so stark. For Lily Sterling, he could relentlessly destroy anyone, including Amelia, the woman who had helped him build his career and taken a knife for him. I didn’t push the door open. I stood quietly outside, listening to the man’s tender words to another woman within. Then, slowly, I tore the DNA test report in my hand into shreds. White paper flakes drifted from my fingers, like a silent snowfall, burying my last shred of hope and weakness. I turned to leave, my spine still straight. But the heart that had loved Ethan for seven years had, at that moment, completely stopped beating. From now on, I needed no love, no family.

Amelia’s POV Two weeks later, the Sterling family officially entered the New York market, hosting a grand celebration gala at The Plaza Hotel. The Sterlings grandly announced that they had found their long-lost daughter, but to protect her privacy, her identity would remain undisclosed for now. At the same time, Daniel Sterling emphatically stated to the media that their adopted daughter, Lily Sterling, remained the Sterling family’s most beloved daughter, her status unshakeable. As an indispensable figure in the New York business world, I received an invitation. Dressed in a fiery red gown, I appeared at the gala, coolly stunning. No one knew that I was the true protagonist of this evening, the daughter deliberately hidden, even guarded against, by my own birth parents. In the hotel’s garden, the massive outdoor pool shimmered, reflecting New York’s dazzling neon lights. I stood by the poolside, holding a wine glass, trying to suppress the churning turmoil in my chest. Faint footsteps approached from behind, accompanied by a cloyingly sweet perfume. “Amelia, what a coincidence.” Lily, in a custom-made princess dress, walked up to me like a triumphant swan. The Lily of this moment no longer exhibited the timidity and innocence she showed Ethan. Her eyes held an undisguised malice and smug satisfaction. “Do you need something?” I couldn’t even bother to spare her a glance, my eyes still fixed on the distant night skyline. Lily leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper meant only for us. “Amelia, I actually saw the Sterling family’s investigation report a long time ago. I know you’re the real Sterling daughter who was lost.” My hand, holding the wine glass, paused slightly. I turned, looking at her coldly. “But so what?” Lily’s smile was vicious and unrestrained. “Mom and Dad chose not to reveal you to spare my feelings. And Ethan… he even personally warned the Sterling family that if you dared to come back and bully me, he would cut off all cooperation with them.” “Amelia, so what if you’re high-born? The man you loved for seven years is now my protector. You’re destined to be a pitiful soul no one wants.” Looking at Lily’s arrogant face, I felt no anger, only a bleak desolation in my heart. “Are you done?” My tone was indifferent, as if I were watching a clown. “If you’re finished, leave.” Lily’s eyes flashed, and a strange smile curved her lips. She suddenly lunged backward. “Ah!” With a piercing scream, Lily fell into the deep pool, splashing a huge amount of water. “Lily!” A furious roar erupted from nearby. Ethan rushed over like a madman, not even taking off his suit jacket, and unhesitatingly leaped into the pool, pulling the flailing Lily to the surface. The commotion drew all the guests, including my parents, who rushed over upon hearing the news. Ethan carried a soaking wet, shivering Lily ashore. Lily immediately clung to his neck, sobbing uncontrollably. “Ethan, I’m so scared… I just wanted to say hello to Amelia, why did she push me down…” Ethan’s head snapped up, his dark eyes burning with fury. He stared at me like an enemy. “Amelia! You’re utterly insane!” Ethan gritted his teeth. “Are you using those dirty tricks from the business world on Lily now? What did she ever do to you to deserve such malice?” “I didn’t push her.” I stood ramrod straight, my voice clear and cold, without a trace of panic. Slap! A sharp slap cracked through the night air, interrupting my defense. It wasn’t Ethan who slapped me, but a furious Mrs. Sterling, my birth mother. Mrs. Sterling trembled with rage, pointing a finger at my nose and cursing. “You evil woman! Lily is so kind, how dare you push her! I’m warning you, if anything happens to Lily, our Sterling family will not let you get away with it!” I turned my head. Five red marks rapidly appeared on my fair cheek, bringing an unbearable pang of pain. I looked at my birth mother, glaring at me, then at Ethan, who was tightly embracing Lily, his eyes filled with disgust for me. Everyone present was condemning me, insulting me. I stood alone, like a monster abandoned by the world. “Ethan,” I suddenly smiled, a beautiful, heartbreaking smile, my eyes filled with shattered despair. “In your eyes, I’m such a monster, capable of murder out of jealousy, aren’t I?” Ethan looked at my smile, then coldly turned his gaze away. “You disappoint me greatly.” “Understood, then.” I nodded, making no further attempt to defend myself. I turned, my three-inch heels clicking, walking out of the Sterling family’s gala step by step, proud and resolute. The night wind blew, and my slender silhouette seemed as if it could be swallowed whole by this cold world at any moment.

Amelia’s POV After returning from the Sterling family gala, I fell seriously ill. The high fever plunged me into nightmares night after night, filled with Ethan’s cold, disgusted gaze and my own mother’s sharp, decisive slap. The first thing I did after the fever broke was drive back to the hillside mansion. I had left something there. It was an old wooden box containing a pocket watch my foster mother had left me before she passed away. It was the only keepsake proving my identity, and for over twenty years, it had been my sole source of comfort during countless unbearable nights. Pushing open the mansion door, I saw that the interior furnishings had completely changed. The minimalist, dark-toned furniture I had carefully chosen was all replaced with a pink, French country style. My presence had been completely erased from here. Even the air was filled with an unfamiliar, sweet scent. I walked straight to the master bedroom on the second floor. Pushing open the door, I saw Lily sitting at the dressing table, toying with that very pocket watch. “Who allowed you to touch my things?” I strode over, my eyes as cold and sharp as daggers. Lily jumped in fright. Seeing me, a flicker of panic crossed her eyes, but she quickly composed herself. “Amelia, you’ve already moved out. Naturally, everything here belongs to Ethan. I thought this pocket watch was quite distinctive, so I took it out to look at it.” “Give it back to me!” I reached out, my voice chillingly cold. Just then, steady footsteps echoed from outside the door. Ethan walked in. Seeing me, his brows immediately furrowed, his voice filled with impatience. “What are you doing here? Didn’t you leave the keys?” “I came for my mother’s keepsake.” I pointed at the pocket watch in Lily’s hand, my gaze fixed on it. Ethan glanced at the worn-out watch, irritably pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’s just an old watch. If Lily likes it, let her keep it. Name your price, and I’ll compensate you double.” An old watch? Compensate? My heart felt like it was being fed into a meat grinder, the pain so intense that even my breaths tasted of blood. “Ethan, that’s the only keepsake my foster mother left me! It’s something I’ve worn since childhood!” My voice finally cracked, imbued with an undeniable sorrow and despair. “In your eyes, everything can be measured by money, everything can be given to her, is that right?!” Ethan’s tone softened slightly. “Lily has been frightened recently. She feels the pocket watch brings her peace. You have so many top-tier jewels; why bother fighting her over this?” “Ethan, since Amelia is so reluctant to part with this watch, I’ll just give it back to her.” Lily put on a wronged expression, stood up, and extended the pocket watch towards me. However, just as my fingers were about to touch the watch, Lily’s fingers suddenly loosened. A sharp clink rang out. A crisp shattering sound echoed in the quiet bedroom. The pocket watch, which had been with me for over twenty years, hit the marble floor. Its glass face shattered completely. The atmosphere instantly turned tense. “Oh! I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry! It slipped!” Lily cried out, then turned and hid in Ethan’s arms. I stood frozen, staring down at the watch on the floor. It was my only connection to the past, my only source of solace during those difficult years. Now, the watch was broken… Just like my feelings for Ethan, it was shattered into a million pieces. I slowly knelt, reaching out a trembling hand, picking up the watch fragments one by one. The sharp glass edges cut my fingers, and blood dripped onto the white floor. “Amelia…” Ethan looked at my bleeding hand, trying to reach for me. “Don’t touch me!” I fiercely swatted his hand away. I looked up. My eyes, once full of love, now held nothing but cold emptiness. “Ethan, in seven years, even if I raised a dog, I would have developed feelings for it.” I tightly clutched the blood-stained watch fragments, slowly rising to my feet. “You’re not just blind, you’re heartless. What we had, it ends here.” I didn’t spare him another glance, walking past him and out of this mansion that had buried all my youth and love.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “412426”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

On my 25th birthday, my perfect boyfriend of three years knelt before me, holding up a magnificent diamond ring, a real showstopper. Friends and family cheered, and my parents’ eyes welled up with tears. Just as I was about to nod, tears blurring my vision, a blood-red virtual panel suddenly materialized before my eyes: “Warning! Target subject detected carrying HIV and secondary syphilis!” “Danger! This diamond ring is stolen property! The owner’s armed enforcers will arrive in three minutes!” I looked at my deeply affectionate boyfriend, then at his shirt cuffs, always tightly buttoned to hide rashes. My outstretched hand froze in mid-air. No wonder he’d never initiated any real intimacy with me these past three years, always giving some romantic excuse about wanting to wait until our wedding night, wanting it to be truly special. At the same time, a countdown blared in my mind: “High alert! Enforcers’ arrival countdown: three minutes.” I smiled, took the ring, and slipped it onto my finger. Then, I turned and double-locked the front door, engaging three additional deadbolts. “Sorry, but this game of trapping the rat? It’s just getting started.”

“Summer, marry me. I’ll dedicate my life to protecting you, to making you the happiest woman in the world.” My boyfriend, Brandon Reed, knelt on the rose-petal-strewn floor, pulling a delicate velvet box from his custom-made suit pocket. The box slowly opened, revealing a magnificent diamond ring that sparkled dazzlingly under the living room’s crystal chandelier. Today was my twenty-fifth birthday. It was supposed to be just a casual family dinner. My mom had cooked a huge spread of all my favorite dishes, and my dad had opened a bottle of wine he’d been saving for years. Who would have thought that Brandon had secretly planned such a romantic proposal? My mom gasped, covering her mouth, tears welling in her eyes, constantly nudging my dad with her elbow. My dad put down his wine glass; though he tried to hide it, his slightly trembling hands betrayed his excitement. I felt a little dazed, as if I were dreaming. Brandon and I had met at a friend’s party. We’d been together for three whole years, and he’d been incredibly attentive. His never-missed, homemade breakfasts every morning, the umbrella always appearing promptly at my office building on rainy days, the warming ginger tea he’d brew for me during my period… Aside from his ordinary background and frequent business trips, he was an absolutely flawless, perfect partner. My parents, though they cared deeply for me, weren’t materialistic people. They often said that as long as a guy was a good person, hardworking, and treated me well, it didn’t matter if he was a bit poor; we could build a life together. I had always believed I’d found my destined happiness. A wave of emotion washed over me, blurring my vision with tears. I took a deep breath, ready to reach out and accept the ring, a symbol of a lifelong commitment. Just then, something unexpected happened. A blinding red light flashed across my retina, followed by a translucent, blood-red virtual panel that floated in the air above Brandon’s head. “Don’t touch it, you fool! That ring? He stole it from a wealthy woman! And her enforcers are on their way, knives out!” “This lowlife has secondary syphilis and a preliminary HIV positive! And he’s still trying to trick you into marriage, planning to turn an honest person into his free nurse and a cleanup crew for his mess!” “Look at his right cuff! Always buttoned tight, just to hide his syphilis rashes!” “Summer Hayes, run! You have three minutes until the rich woman’s enforcers break down your door!” “This guy’s just a high-class kept man, a male escort who preys on wealthy women. Now that he’s been caught red-handed, he’s trying to leave the stolen goods at your house to frame your family!” My outstretched hand froze in mid-air, my fingertips barely an inch from that diamond. I blinked hard, even secretly pinching my thigh, wondering if I was hallucinating from too much overtime work recently. But the blood-red panel didn’t vanish. Instead, it went wild, frantically scrolling with a dense stream of pop-up messages, each word like a sharp knife, plunging into my eyes. How could this be? Brandon was still looking at me with deep affection, his captivating eyes, usually filled with a gentle smile, now alight with expectation. His hand, holding the ring, trembled slightly, as if nervous about my hesitation. “Summer? What’s wrong? Are you just too excited to react?” he murmured my name, his voice like velvet. I didn’t speak. After a momentary mental freeze, my brain started working furiously. My gaze instinctively dropped to his wrist. In the three years I’d known him, whether it was summer or winter, Brandon always wore long-sleeved shirts, and his cuff buttons were always fastened tightly. I’d once asked him why he never wore short sleeves, and he’d laughed, saying he had childhood burn scars on his arm that he found ugly and didn’t want to scare me. I’d even felt pity for his sensitivity and insecurity. Now, thinking back, for all his kindness and thoughtfulness, our most intimate gestures had only ever gone as far as holding hands and hugging. Every time I tried to take things further, he would always put me off with various grand excuses, saying he wanted “to save the best for our wedding night,” or “I cherish you too much to be hasty.” I’d thought it was his respect and care for me, a rare purity in this superficial world. But if what the pop-up messages said was true… “Summer, hurry up and say yes! Don’t let Brandon kneel too long, the floor’s cold,” my mom urged from the side, breaking the silence in the living room. I ignored my mom’s urging and didn’t reach for the ring. Driven by an inexplicable impulse, I reached out and grabbed Brandon’s right wrist. With all my strength, I yanked his sleeve upwards. “Rip!” The cuff button burst open from the force, clattering softly on the wooden floor. Brandon’s face contorted, a flicker of panic in his eyes. He instinctively tried to pull his hand back. But I, with a strength I didn’t know I possessed, clamped onto his wrist, refusing to let him go even an inch. His sleeve was completely pulled up, revealing his arm, which should have been clean. However, on the inner skin of his wrist, there were several coppery-red, scaly rashes! In that instant, my blood ran cold, and a high-pitched ringing filled my ears. The pop-up messages were true! He really had syphilis! He really was a liar! Three years of tenderness, thoughtfulness, and heartfelt vows, all a meticulously planned deception!

Brandon’s affectionate expression instantly froze when I forcibly pulled up his sleeve and saw the rashes on his wrist. It was replaced by unconcealed horror. He violently yanked his hand away from mine, frantically pulling his sleeve back down to cover the disgusting spots, and then stood up from the floor. Just at this suffocatingly awkward moment, the cell phone on the coffee table vibrated like a death knell. Brandon’s eyes flickered to the caller ID on the screen. His face, which had been flushed from the proposal, instantly drained of all color, turning ashen white. He didn’t even bother to put the priceless diamond ring on my finger. He fumbled, stuffing the velvet box into his coat pocket, grabbing his phone, and heading for the door. “I’m so sorry, something urgent just came up at the company. A multi-million dollar project has a major glitch, and my boss needs me back right away!” His words came out in a rapid, trembling rush. He didn’t even dare to look at me as he turned and charged towards the front door. Meanwhile, the virtual panel before my eyes flashed again, displaying a glaring red countdown: “Alert! Victoria Sterling’s gang enforcers are 2 minutes and 50 seconds from arrival!” “Don’t let him leave! If he runs, your whole family will be in danger!” “He plans to leave the stolen goods at your house and make your family of three the scapegoats!” Shock, anger, and fear intertwined, making my whole body tremble uncontrollably. But my remaining sanity screamed a warning: I absolutely could not let him just walk away! If the pop-up warning was true, the impending danger was something my family of three could never handle. Just as Brandon’s hand was about to touch the doorknob, I lunged forward like a frantic lioness, grabbing hold of the back of his coat. “You’re not leaving!” I shrieked, my voice shrill and piercing with extreme fear and fury. Brandon stumbled, thrown off balance by my grip. He turned back, forcing a smile that looked worse than a grimace. “Summer, don’t mess around. This is a truly urgent work matter, a multi-million dollar project. If I mess it up, I’ll be fired. Be good, I’ll come right back to celebrate your birthday after I handle it.” “What project? Where are you going? Where did that diamond ring really come from? What are those red rashes on your wrist?!” I rattled off a string of questions, each hitting a vital point. My parents were utterly stunned by the sudden turn of events. They didn’t understand how a romantic proposal could, in the next second, turn into a tense standoff. “Summer, what are you doing? How can you talk to Brandon like that? A man’s career is important, work comes first, let him go,” my dad said, frowning, as he came over to try and pull me away. Seeing that my parents were still in the dark and on his side, Brandon immediately put on a wronged, helpless expression: “Mr. Hayes, this is truly a matter of life and death, I really have to go…” As he spoke, he secretly gritted his teeth, reaching out his left hand to try and pry my fingers, one by one, from his coat. He was strong, and my finger bones ached. “You’re not leaving! You have to explain yourself today!” I bit down hard, my fingernails digging into the back of his hand. No matter how hard he pulled, I wouldn’t let go. The pop-up messages on the screen were still furiously refreshing, the countdown like the Grim Reaper’s footsteps, drawing closer with every beat: “Two minutes left!” “Watch out! He’s trying to stuff the ring box into the gap in your shoe rack by the front door!” “Summer Hayes, hold onto him! Don’t let him run!” Following the pop-up’s warning, I saw Brandon’s right hand furtively reaching towards the shoe rack, seemingly trying to drop something unnoticed. I immediately blocked the shoe rack with my body, completely thwarting his plan. Brandon looked at the tightly locked front door, then at the wall clock. Cold sweat poured down his forehead like disconnected beads. The layers of tenderness and pretense in his eyes completely tore away, revealing his vicious, agitated true face underneath. “Summer Hayes, I’m warning you, let go of me right now!” He hissed, lowering his voice, like a poisonous snake cornered, grinding the words out in my ear. “I won’t! Unless you call the police right now and let them handle your ’emergency’!” I glared back at him, refusing to back down.

“Call the police? Are you insane?!” Hearing the words “call the police,” Brandon reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly exploding. But his eyes darted around, and he immediately changed tactics. His legs went weak, and he actually dropped to his knees in front of my parents, switching to a heart-wrenching sob: “I’m so sorry! It’s not about work at all… it’s my dad!” Crying, he pounded his chest: “My dad just had a sudden heart attack and was rushed to the hospital! The hospital has issued a critical condition notice; the doctors say he might not make it through the night!” “I was afraid Summer would worry, afraid of ruining her birthday, so I didn’t dare to tell the truth earlier. Please, let me go! If I’m a minute late, I might not see my dad one last time!” As he spoke, he crumpled to the floor. I watched his Oscar-worthy performance coldly, feeling nothing but a wave of nausea. But for my kind, honest parents, a dying parent at a birthday dinner was an absolute catastrophe. Sure enough, my mom burst into tears, her heart aching, and quickly tried to help him up: “Oh, you silly boy, why didn’t you say something sooner about such a big matter! Who cares about a birthday now!” My dad also panicked, rushing over to forcefully pry my hands away: “Summer! Let go! How can you be so insensitive! This is a matter of filial duty, a life-and-death situation, not a second can be wasted!” “Brandon, hurry! Do you have enough money? The hospital needs a deposit for emergency treatment, I’ll get you some!” My dad even fumbled for his phone in a rush. At that moment, in the entire living room, I felt like the only one who was clear-headed. Because before my eyes, on that blood-red panel, the pop-up messages were scrolling at an even more frantic pace: “He’s lying! His dad died ages ago, his ashes were scattered!” “He’s just trying to use your sympathy, use your family as a shield, so he can sneak away!” “The enforcers are upstairs! One minute left!” “Summer Hayes, don’t believe him! The moment he steps out that door, your whole family will be scapegoats, and those gangsters will beat you all to death!” If those enforcers were as vicious and cold-blooded as the pop-up messages said, and Brandon ran, my parents and I, old, weak, and injured, would be like fish on a cutting board, to be slaughtered at will. “He’s lying! Dad! Mom! Don’t believe him!” I shrieked, clinging to Brandon’s waist like a limpet, using my full weight to pull him down. “Get out your phone! Call your relatives! Or call the hospital’s nursing station directly! I want to hear!” “Call now! Put it on speaker! As soon as the call connects and proves your dad is really in critical condition, I’ll let you go immediately!” I cried, tears and snot streaming down my face, completely losing all composure, but I didn’t care anymore. Brandon, entangled by my desperate struggle, couldn’t move an inch. He glanced at the wall clock; with every tick of the second hand, his face grew paler, and his eyes became more frantic. “Get lost! You crazy woman!” He finally completely dropped his pretense, suddenly spun around, grabbed my hair, and with his other hand, seized my left index finger, bending it sharply backward. A chilling crack echoed. Excruciating pain, like an electric current, instantly shot through my entire body, piercing to my very core. My index finger was brutally broken! “Ah!” I screamed. The pain, ten times worse than any other, instantly sapped all my strength, and my hands involuntarily let go of his clothes. Brandon seized the chance, shoving me hard in the chest. “If you want to die, die alone! Don’t drag me down with you!” He pushed with all his might. I lost my balance, stumbling backward like a kite with a snapped string, my back slamming heavily against the front door. But instinctively, I grabbed the doorknob with my hand, enduring the searing pain, and fiercely engaged the last deadbolt. “Summer!” My mom shrieked in horror, rushing over to help me. My dad was also utterly stunned by Brandon’s sudden violence. The phone he was holding clattered to the floor. “Brandon! You animal! What are you doing! How dare you hit my daughter!” My dad’s eyes widened, and he roared, trying to rush forward and fight him. But Brandon completely ignored my dad. He frantically tried to twist the doorknob, only to find the door was locked tight. Just then, a dull thud came from outside the door, followed by the grating scrape of a metal baseball bat dragging against the wall. The sound echoed in the silent hallway, like a death knell. Then, a rough, menacing voice with a heavy accent sounded from outside the door, seeping through the thin metal: “Brandon, open the door. I know you’re in there.” “Hiding behind a woman’s skirt? What kind of man are you? Weren’t you running pretty fast a minute ago? Why stop now?” The moment Brandon heard that voice, he looked like his spine had been removed, his legs instantly going weak with terror. His earlier arrogance, the one that had just hit me and broken my finger, vanished completely. He slumped to the floor like a rag doll, his face ashen white, trembling like a leaf. “You… you bitch…” He stammered, his ashen lips cursing me in a low voice. “It’s all your fault… if it weren’t for you, you crazy woman, stopping me, I would’ve gotten away…” “You ruined everything for me… if I get caught, I’ll haunt you even in death…” I leaned against the cold front door, cradling my index finger, which was already completely deformed and swollen like a carrot. I sucked in ragged breaths, enduring the agonizing pain. Looking at this man, who just half an hour ago was in a suit and tie, kneeling and proposing to me, spouting sweet nothings, now collapsed on the floor like a stray dog, cursing me. My stomach churned with revulsion. Soon, the sound of the baseball bat hitting the wall outside stopped. On the virtual panel before my eyes, the frantically scrolling pop-up messages suddenly all disappeared, replaced by a deadly silence of stark white: “They’re here.” “Summer Hayes, cover your head, protect your parents.” The next second. Boom! A deafening crash. The front door was brutally kicked from the outside with terrifying force. The entire wall vibrated violently, and dust sifted down from the ceiling. I was thrown back from the door by the immense impact, slamming heavily onto the living room floor.

Boom! Another earth-shattering crash. The old apartment building’s front door, under the violent assault of these professional enforcers, proved incredibly fragile. With a grating sound of tearing metal, the lock mechanism completely gave way. The heavy iron door burst open, slamming violently into the entrance wall, even creating a deep dent. In a cloud of dust, several men, clad in black leather jackets and wielding steel baseball bats, stormed in menacingly. Each was burly, with scarred faces, hideous tattoos on their necks and arms, and eyes that held unconcealed brutality and savagery. “Ah!” My mom shrieked in terror, utterly terrified, instinctively shrinking into the furthest corner of the sofa, trembling uncontrollably. My dad, though his face was pale and his legs shook, gritted his teeth, spread his arms, and fiercely shielded my mom and me. He stood like a fragile yet unyielding mountain. “Who are you?! This is trespassing! If you don’t leave now, I… I’ll call the police!” My dad’s voice, though trembling, still held a stubborn edge. “Call the police?” A lazy, contemptuous, slightly hoarse female voice drifted from outside the door. Then, a woman in an expensive mink coat, click-clacking in high heels, leisurely walked in. She looked to be in her late forties, well-preserved, with exquisite heavy makeup, and a slender cigarette held between her fingers. Her gaze, directed at our family, was like looking at insignificant ants. This was the wealthy woman mentioned in the pop-up messages: Victoria. She didn’t even glance at my dad, her eyes locking directly onto Brandon, who was sprawled on the floor. “Well, Brandon, running, are we? Why aren’t you still running?” Victoria exhaled a puff of smoke, her tone chillingly calm. “Secretly embezzling funds from my company to gamble in Macau, using my black card to buy diamond rings, and even daring to infect me with that filthy disease…” “Your guts are really getting bigger and bigger, aren’t they?” Hearing Victoria’s words, Brandon trembled violently, as if he’d been electrocuted. He scrambled, trying to cling to Victoria’s leg, but was brutally kicked in the chest by one of the black-clad enforcers nearby, sending him tumbling several feet. “Ms. Sterling! Boss Victoria! I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong!” Ignoring the pain in his chest, Brandon scrambled up again, kneeling on the floor, frantically kowtowing like a pestle. His forehead quickly broke open, blood streaming down. “The ring… yes! The ring is here! I didn’t touch it! I’ll give it all back to you! Undamaged, just as you gave it to me!” He frantically pulled the velvet box, which he’d planned to propose with, from his coat pocket, holding it up high as if making an offering. A bodyguard behind Victoria stepped forward, took the box, glanced inside, and nodded at her. Victoria scoffed, not even glancing at the priceless diamond ring. “The ring is a small matter. What about the money? The five million dollars in company funds?” “The money… the money…” Brandon’s eyes darted wildly, cold sweat dripping onto the floor. Suddenly, as if grasping at a last straw, he spun around, his finger pointing accusingly at me. “The money’s all with her! It was her! This dirty woman seduced me!” Brandon shrieked hysterically, his face distorted, as if I were his sworn enemy. “Ms. Sterling, please believe me! I was tricked by her! This woman pretends to be an ordinary office worker, but she’s actually a madam, setting up schemes!” “She forced me to steal your money! She said if I didn’t get money for her, she’d find someone to expose my relationship with you, post your photos online, and ruin your reputation!” “I was only trying to protect your reputation, I was confused for a moment, and she got a hold of me!” I stared, wide-eyed in disbelief, at this man spewing such vile lies. The ugliness of human nature was on full display in that moment. To save his own skin, he could, without hesitation, pour all the blame onto a woman he had just been proposing to. “You’re talking nonsense! You’re full of it!” My dad trembled with rage, his eyes red, pointing at Brandon and cursing him: “Brandon! You utterly disgusting animal! When did our family ever ask you for a single penny?! Do you dare swear to God?!” “Old man, do you have any right to speak here?” The closest enforcer sneered, delivering a powerful backhand slap squarely across my dad’s face. Smack! With a sharp crack, my dad was sent flying sideways, crashing heavily into the coffee table. Blood immediately welled from the corner of his mouth, and one side of his face visibly swelled. “John!” My mom shrieked, rushing to him. “Dad!” My eyes burned with fury, and I shrieked, trying to rush at the enforcer to fight him, but another enforcer lifted his foot and brutally kicked me in the stomach. The immense force instantly knocked the breath out of me. I curled up on the floor in agony, like a cooked shrimp, stomach acid churning. Victoria watched all of this unfold with a cold indifference, not even a flicker of emotion in her eyes. “I don’t care who tricked who, or who seduced who. All I know is my money is gone, and today, I want blood.” She flicked ash from her cigarette, her tone as casual as discussing what to have for dinner. “Break one of his hands first. Let him learn his lesson.” Two fierce enforcers immediately stepped forward, one on each side, seizing Brandon and forcibly straightening his right arm, laying it flat on the floor. Another raised his steel baseball bat. “No! No, please! Ms. Sterling, have mercy!” Brandon let out a pig-like shriek, struggling desperately. The strength humans can summon in extreme terror is astonishing. Suddenly, with newfound force, he broke free from one of the enforcers. But he didn’t run for the door, because there were even more enforcers outside. He spun around, like a wild beast, charging directly at me, still recovering on the floor. Before I could react, a thick arm clamped around my neck, pulling me up from the floor. Then, a cold, metallic sensation pressed against my carotid artery. It was a sharp fruit knife, one my mom had used to cut fruit and left on the coffee table. “Don’t come any closer! Nobody move!” Brandon, hiding behind me, trembled violently, but the blade pressed relentlessly into the soft flesh of my neck. “If anyone comes closer, I’ll kill her!” “Ms. Sterling! Let me go! Or I’ll kill her! This is a life! There will be consequences for murder!” “If someone dies, none of you will get away with it today!” The sharp blade sliced through the delicate skin of my neck. Warm, metallic-smelling liquid instantly welled up, flowing down my neck and soaking into my white sweater, staining a large patch red. Looking at the room full of thugs, feeling the madness and malice of the man behind me, I even forgot to blink, my mind a blank. The pop-up messages on the virtual panel reappeared, filled with infinite sorrow: “This is human nature. Faced with death, he’s worse than an animal.” “Summer Hayes, don’t be afraid, don’t move. Stay alive, and you can slowly make him pay later.” “This man truly deserves a thousand cuts! To hell with him!” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. “Brandon, even if you kill me today, you won’t escape. You’ll get what’s coming to you,” I said, gritting my teeth, each word distinct. “Shut up! Just shut up!” Brandon shrieked hysterically in my ear, spit spraying onto my face. “If anyone’s dying, it’s you first! We’ll go to hell together!”

“A life?” Hearing Brandon’s threat, Victoria didn’t show fear. Instead, she let out a light laugh, as if she’d heard the funniest joke. She took a step forward in her high heels, her eyes filled with amusement and mockery. “Oh, Brandon, have you misunderstood something? What does this woman’s life have to do with me, Victoria?” “If you want to kill her, go ahead. Do it quickly. Once you’re done, I’ll save the police the trouble of catching a murderer and perhaps even get a commendation for civic bravery.” With that, she casually waved her hand. The surrounding enforcers immediately understood. Instead of backing away, they raised their baseball bats, grinning menacingly, and slowly advanced towards us. At this point, Brandon was completely flustered. He had thought he could use my life to threaten Victoria, but he hadn’t expected this woman to be even more cold-blooded than he imagined. “Don’t come any closer! Don’t force me! I really will do it!” Brandon’s hand trembled even more violently, the sharp blade uncontrollably scraping back and forth on my neck, opening a deeper wound. More blood flowed, dripping onto the floor, a horrifying sight. Seeing the enforcers closing in to within two meters, Brandon let out a desperate, frantic howl. He suddenly released his left hand from my neck, then with all his might, shoved me hard in the back with both hands. “Die! Block them for me!” The immense push sent me flying like a cannonball. What awaited me was not the enforcers catching me in their arms. It was the heavy marble coffee table in the center of the living room. In mid-air, time seemed to stretch endlessly. I saw my parents’ mouths agape in extreme terror, yet heard no sound from them; I saw the cold, evasive eyes of the enforcers; and I saw Brandon’s back as he scurried towards the door like a rat. Thump! A dull thud. My forehead struck the sharpest edge of the marble coffee table with precise, heavy impact. Excruciating pain instantly swallowed my consciousness. I collapsed heavily into a pool of blood, my body convulsing uncontrollably from nerve spasms. Warm blood gushed from my forehead, covering my eyes, turning my vision blood-red. Before consciousness completely plunged into darkness, I heard the sound of enforcers swarming. Brandon didn’t even get a few steps before several baseball bats slammed into his hamstrings. He shrieked and fell to the ground. Then came the chilling sounds of beating: the dull thuds of fists on flesh, the crisp snap of bones, and Brandon’s heart-wrenching, inhuman screams. “Ms. Sterling! Have mercy! Ms. Sterling! I was wrong!” “I’m a dog! I’m just a dog you raised! Stop hitting me! Please, stop hitting me! You’ll kill me!” The one-sided beating continued for several minutes. Brandon was beaten bloody and bruised, his face swollen, his ribs God knows how many broken. He lay on the floor like a rag doll. Then, a disgusting scene unfolded. To save his life, Brandon actually crawled on the floor like a real dog, dragging his broken legs. He left a long trail of blood across the floor, finally reaching Victoria’s feet, desperately clinging to her black-stockinged calf. “Ms. Sterling, I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong… Please give me another chance. I’ll do anything for you.” “I’m good at serving people, I have good technique, you used to love it when I served you… Please, don’t kill me. Victoria looked down at him, a disgusted frown on her face. She raised her foot, clad in a pointed high-heel. “You were pretty tough, pretty gutsy, holding a knife to that woman’s throat earlier, weren’t you?” Victoria said coldly: “Lick it clean.” Brandon froze for a second, looking at the dust and blood splattered on her shoe tip. But after only a second’s hesitation, he stuck out his tongue like a real dog. Fawningly, meticulously, and utterly without dignity, he kissed Victoria’s dust-covered shoe tip and ankle. As he licked, he slurred out disgusting, cheesy words: “Ms. Sterling is my queen… I am my queen’s most loyal dog… My queen, have mercy…” I lay on the chillingly cold floor, blood still gushing, taking away my body’s warmth. But I still pushed with all my might, struggling to keep my eyes open, staring fixedly at this scene. I wanted to engrave that ugly, repulsive face deep into my memory. The virtual panel paused for a few seconds. Then, pop-up messages scrolled at an unprecedented, frantic speed, almost covering my entire vision: “I’m going to throw up… This man, for money, for his life, truly has no bottom line, worse than an animal!” “Summer Hayes is still bleeding! She’s dying! He won’t even look at her?!” “Just moments ago, he was proposing with deep affection, and now he’s licking another woman’s shoe in front of his fiancée and future in-laws?! My worldview is shattered!” “This scumbag deserves to die! What did Summer Hayes’s family do to deserve all this?!” “Can someone save the female lead? I can’t bear to watch, it’s too tragic!” “The countdown is still flashing, too much blood loss, will Summer Hayes die?” “System alert: Vital signs rapidly declining…” Accompanied by the system’s warning, my world faded into darkness.

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Growing up, the game I hated playing most with my older sister, Chloe, was hide-and-seek. Chloe was absolutely terrible at hiding. I found it incredibly boring, no challenge at all. But one day, Chloe disappeared, and no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find her. My brother-in-law, David Miller, cried his heart out in court. “My wife and I were married for seven years, and we loved each other very much.” “She was seven months pregnant. That night, she said she was going for a walk. I never imagined she would commit suicide.” “I loved her so much, how could I kill her?” He wept so genuinely, so utterly devastated. The jury sighed with sympathy. Even my mom hugged him, crying, “David, I’m so sorry. It was my fault, I misjudged you.” Everyone in the courtroom was moved, and even the judge offered words of comfort. But in my mind, a pop-up text from our hide-and-seek games appeared: “She’s in the suitcase.” 1 “Given insufficient evidence, the declaration of death is not established. Court adjourned. Re-trial to be scheduled.” The gavel fell. David Miller stood in the defendant’s box, his shoulders still trembling. Tears clung to his chin, dropping one by one. He was an incredible actor. So good that even the judge told him, “Mr. Miller, please accept my condolences,” and the gallery was filled with soft sobs. I stood up. “Your Honor, Chloe didn’t commit suicide. I have proof.” I pulled a notebook from my bag and held it high. The cover was a soft apricot shade, Chloe’s favorite. The last sentence she wrote before she disappeared, I knew by heart. “He knows I found out. He’s going to kill me.” David Miller’s lawyer sprang to his feet to object. The judge raised a hand to stop him, instructing me to present the diary. David didn’t panic. He didn’t even glance at the diary. He just slowly pulled a document from the inside pocket of his suit jacket and handed it to the judge with both hands. “Your Honor, this is my wife Chloe’s psychiatric evaluation report from her pregnancy, indicating severe prenatal anxiety with paranoid delusions. Every word she wrote in her diary was a hallucination from her illness.” The judge took the document. He flipped through a couple of pages, then looked up at me. “Maya, this report is legitimate. Chloe’s attending physician has already signed off on it.” My hand hung in mid-air. The diary was still clutched in my grasp, but it had instantly turned into a stack of worthless papers. David gently sighed. He turned to me, his eyes still red, his voice raspy, like sandpaper: “Maya, I know this is hard for you to accept, and it’s hard for me too, but Chloe was ill. She needed help, not accusations.” Someone in the gallery whispered: “He’s such a good man.” “Is this woman crazy?” “Her own husband said that, and she’s still causing a scene.” My mom rushed from the back row. Her hand landed squarely on my face with a sharp smack that silenced the entire courtroom. “Maya! You’re coming home with me!” My face burned. I didn’t move. My mom then grabbed David’s hand: “David, our family owes you an apology. Maya’s just being difficult, don’t blame her.” My dad sat in his wheelchair, turning his face away. David shook his head, his voice as gentle as if he were soothing a child: “Don’t blame Maya. She’s still young, it’s hard for her to process.” His lawyer packed up his papers nearby, not even looking up. The bailiffs began clearing the courtroom. People in the gallery stood up and started to leave. As they passed me, some glanced my way. Their eyes held sympathy, and disgust. David was helped by his lawyer out of the defendant’s box. He paused as he passed me. He didn’t look at me, didn’t speak. But I saw it. A fleeting upward curve of his lips. The expression lasted less than a second, gone as quickly as it appeared. But I saw it. He was smiling. No one else noticed. I clutched Chloe’s diary, standing rooted to the spot. That line of text was still flashing in front of my eyes, it hadn’t disappeared since it first appeared. “Suitcase.” 2 I had to find the suitcase. The sunlight outside the courthouse stung my eyes. My mom was the first to rush out, grabbing my arm, her nails digging into my flesh. “What were you doing in court just now? Are you happy only when you’ve driven David to his grave?” My dad was pushed out in his wheelchair, turning his head away, not looking at me. Sophie stood on the steps, hesitant, her lips parted as if to speak. In the end, she only said, “Maya, David has been through enough.” “He killed Chloe.” My mom’s hand went up again. This time it didn’t land on my face; she grabbed my collar and dragged me to the corner. “I’ll say it again: Chloe left on her own! The doctor even said she had a mental illness! What has David ever done to you? He’s trying to find you a rehabilitation center, he said he doesn’t blame you, what more do you want?” The buzzing of microphones reached me from a distance. David stood on the courthouse steps, surrounded by reporters. He wore his dark suit, his hair meticulously combed, his face still streaked with tears. His voice was hoarse and low, every word trembling. “I don’t blame Maya. She’s in too much pain from losing Chloe. I’ll help her find the best therapist. Please don’t blame her.” A reporter pressed, “Mr. Miller, are you satisfied with today’s outcome?” He lowered his head, silent for three seconds. “I just want Chloe alive and back. The declaration of death was not established, so at least I still have hope.” Flashbulbs erupted in a continuous blaze. Someone applauded. His gaze swept over the crowd, landing precisely on me. Then he lowered his head again, wiping away a tear. Sophie sighed beside me: “Maya, just look at him.” I looked at the pop-up text. It was still there. “Suitcase.” I turned and walked away. Back home, I searched through every single one of Chloe’s belongings. Closet, nothing. Storage room, nothing. Under the bed, nothing. The old suitcase she used before she got married was still there, but it was empty. I squatted in Chloe’s room, staring at the pop-up text. “Suitcase.” It wouldn’t tell me more. Since childhood, it only told me where something was hidden, never how to find it. The doorbell rang. My mom stood at the door, with Sophie behind her. “Maya, David just called. The rehabilitation center is all set. Pack your bags, he’ll pick you up tomorrow.” “I’m not going.” “You have to go.” My mom walked in, saw the mess in my room, and her face darkened even more. “Look at the state you’re in! If Chloe saw you like this, would she rest in peace?” “She’s not resting in peace. She’s in the suitcase.” My mom burst into tears. Sophie hugged her, patting her back. The next day, David came. He stood downstairs from my apartment, holding a bag of fruit, with two reporters trailing him. “Maya, I brought you some strawberries. Chloe used to love them.” He handed me the fruit in front of the reporters. I didn’t take it. He didn’t get angry. He placed the fruit on the doorstep and told the reporters, “Maya is still grieving. I don’t blame her.” The reporters took their photos and left. My mom rushed out, holding David’s hand and thanking him. Passing neighbors stopped, some giving him a thumbs-up. “What a stand-up guy.” “He’s so patient, even with her acting out like this.” I stood at my second-story window, watching everything unfold below. David looked up, right at me. That night, I lay on Chloe’s bed, staring at the ceiling. The pop-up text was still there. It was like a curse nailed to my eyes. I rolled over, facing the wall. A photo of Chloe was taped to the wall, taken outside our old house. She was smiling so wide her eyes disappeared. Our old house. 3 I sat up abruptly. That was Chloe’s house before she got married. It had been empty ever since she moved out. All of Chloe’s belongings when she moved out came from there. The suitcase? Could that suitcase be in the old house? I threw on a jacket and ran out. The streets were empty at four in the morning. I hailed a cab. The driver kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror, probably thinking I was crazy. The lock on the old house hadn’t been changed. I used Chloe’s key to open it. The house was full of dust, and the air smelled damp and moldy. I stood in the living room, my heart pounding. The pop-up text disappeared. Since childhood, every time I found something hidden, the pop-up text would vanish. It only disappeared at the exact moment I found it. Chloe was here. I pulled out my phone and dialed 91

“Officer, I need to report something. I found Chloe’s body.” Detective Sergeant Evans arrived. He gave me a look I knew too well: sympathy mixed with impatience, like he was dealing with a disruptive child. “Maya, it’s you again.” “Detective Sergeant Evans, Chloe is right here.” He didn’t speak, just led his team inside. The old house wasn’t big – a small three-bedroom place. They searched room by room. Nothing. Detective Sergeant Evans came out, taking off his cap. “Maya, Chloe isn’t here.” “She is.” “We’ve searched.” “Search again.” Detective Sergeant Evans sighed. Just then, a black sedan pulled up outside. David stepped out of the car, wearing pajamas underneath a jacket. “Maya! What are you doing here again?” He walked over, his tone still that soothing, child-like cadence, “I got a call from the property manager saying someone broke in. I didn’t expect it to be you. This place is empty, it’s not safe.” He turned to Detective Sergeant Evans, sighing, “Officer, I apologize. I haven’t been able to look after her properly. Her mental state has been unstable since Chloe disappeared. I’ve already arranged for a rehabilitation center.” A cab screeched to a halt at the door. My mom got out, her face deathly pale. “Maya! Are you calling the police with false alarms again?” “Mom, Chloe is right he—” “Shut up!” My mom rushed over and slapped my shoulder. It stung. “David wants to send you to the rehabilitation center, and I’ve agreed. You can’t keep doing this.” “Look at you, running out at four in the morning! Are you trying to kill me with worry?” Detective Sergeant Evans looked at my mom, then at David. “Maya, filing a false report can lead to arrest.” David quickly waved his hands, apologizing. “Officer, please don’t pursue this. Maya didn’t mean it. She just misses Chloe too much. I’ll take her home, we won’t cause any more trouble.” He walked over and reached for my arm. My mom also walked over, gripping my other hand. Detective Sergeant Evans told his officers, “Pack it up. Take Maya back to the station for a statement. False reports need to be handled.” An officer walked over, taking out handcuffs. I struggled free. “Detective Sergeant Evans, please, just one more search. Just one.” Detective Sergeant Evans looked at me. For a long time. “Maya, I’ve already searched twice.” “We’ve taken every possible measure. There’s no sign of murder or bloodstains on the premises.” “A third time.” “There’s nothing here.” “One last time, I’m begging you.” 4 I gripped Detective Sergeant Evans’ hand, pleading desperately. Detective Sergeant Evans paused, probably thinking I’d truly gone mad. David sighed, walked over, his voice soft as if soothing an infant: “Maya, come home with me. The doctors from the rehabilitation center will be here soon to pick you up. Someone will take care of you there. Please, no more scenes, okay?” The officer approached again, this time directly reaching for my wrists with the handcuffs. Gritting my teeth, I struggled, shaking off his grip. “Please, search again. I’m begging you.” Detective Sergeant Evans’ brows furrowed. He looked at me for three seconds, then raised a hand to stop the officer. “Search one more time,” he said. The officers went back inside. Behind cabinets, under the floorboards, they even checked the walls for false compartments. More meticulously, more carefully than the previous two times. The entire house was subjected to bloodstain detection. Still nothing. When Detective Sergeant Evans came out, he took his cap off, then put it back on. He didn’t look at me, but I knew what he was thinking. He was thinking this girl was truly being unreasonable. David gently patted my shoulder: “Maya, that’s enough. You’ve put the police through enough.” He walked over to take my arm. My mom also came over, and both of them held me tight. Detective Sergeant Evans told his officers: “Pack it up. Take her in.” The officer walked over, this time without hesitation. The cold metal of the handcuffs clicked shut on my left wrist. My tears finally fell. I still hadn’t found Chloe. My mom clutched her chest nearby, scolding me furiously, while David tried to soothe her. “Chloe was such a good person, and you’ve learned nothing from her! Now you’re treating calling the police like a game!” David sighed and bowed to Detective Sergeant Evans. “Again, I apologize, Officer. She just misses Chloe too much. I apologize on her behalf.” Detective Sergeant Evans waved his hand, signaling the officer to take me away. The officer pulled on my handcuffs, dragging me towards the door. I was pulled two steps, my eyes scanning every corner of the room. Suddenly, I noticed something. I lunged fiercely in that direction. The handcuffs clanged against the doorframe, leaving a red mark on my wrist. The officer pushed me, struggling like crazy, onto the floor. “What are you doing?!” My mom shrieked. Detective Sergeant Evans yelled, “Hold it!” He wasn’t talking to me. He was talking to everyone. He stared in the direction I was looking, walked quickly over, and squatted down. A few seconds of silence. David opened his mouth to say something, saw Detective Sergeant Evans’ expression, and closed it again. Then he stood up, his face utterly changed. “Secure the scene. No one leaves. Call in the CID, forensic team, and K9 unit.” I lay on the floor, looking at that corner. Chloe, I found you.

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New Year’s Eve. Scarlett Hayes shivered, freezing in her short skirt while hiking. I casually remarked, “Maybe don’t wear a short skirt for hiking,” and her eyes immediately welled up. My boyfriend, Ethan Blackwood, instantly frowned. “Scarlett, why do you have to be so cruel?” “You’ll stay on the peak alone and reflect. You can come down when you’ve apologized to Chloe Davis.” Our friends were stunned, trying to talk him out of it. He leaned against his car door, looking at me with absolute certainty. “You’re too proud. It’s time you learned a lesson.” I looked at him and asked, “Are you sure?” He nodded, then drove off with Chloe. I stood on the peak for five minutes. Then I called my dad: “Dad, send a helicopter to pick me up.” Then I called my assistant: “Also, close the mountain. Effective immediately, no one goes up or down.” Half an hour later, the helicopter landed. Ethan’s phone calls came flooding in, but I didn’t answer. Finally, he sent a text message: “Chloe collapsed from the cold. Are you happy now?” I told my assistant, “Let them spend the rest of New Year’s Eve up there before they come down.”

New Year’s Eve, 4 AM, Skyridge Peak. The wind was fierce. I stood wrapped in my down jacket at the edge of the observation deck, watching the city lights twinkle in the distance. Chloe Davis stood beside me, shivering uncontrollably. She wore a short skirt with black stockings, topped with a thin-looking white cashmere coat. “Hiking really isn’t suitable for short skirts,” I casually remarked. It really was just a casual comment. The next second, her eyes welled up. “Scarlett, I didn’t mean to dress like this. I thought it wouldn’t be so cold on the mountain…” Her voice trembled, as if I’d been the one to upset her. Before I could even speak, Ethan started blaming me. “Scarlett Hayes, it’s her freedom to wear whatever she wants. Do you have to be so harsh?” “I was just reminding her,” I said, looking at him, my voice calm. “Reminding?” Ethan sneered. “That tone of yours was a ‘reminder’?” Chloe quickly pulled his sleeve. “Ethan, don’t blame Scarlett. I’m sure she was just concerned about me. It’s my fault for not dressing properly.” As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. Ethan’s expression grew even darker. He pulled a tissue from his pocket and handed it to Chloe, then turned to me. “Scarlett Hayes, why can’t you ever be more gentle?” I didn’t say anything. The friends around us exchanged glances. Someone tried to smooth things over. “Alright, alright, let’s not fight. The sunrise is almost here!” “Yeah, Chloe, don’t cry. Here, take my jacket.” Someone took off their waterproof jacket and draped it over Chloe. Chloe wiped her tears and thanked them, looking as sweet and innocent as could be. I just stood there, feeling like the villain. Ethan didn’t look at me again. He walked with Chloe to the other side of the observation deck, murmuring to comfort her, “Don’t take it to heart. She’s just like that, she speaks without thinking.” Twenty-three years I’d known him, and that’s how he described me. The horizon in the distance began to lighten. Someone yelled “Sunrise!” and a group of people gathered to take photos. I didn’t move. I stood still, watching them huddle together. Chloe was protected in front of Ethan. She looked up at him and asked, “Ethan, isn’t it beautiful?” Ethan looked down at her and smiled. “Beautiful.” I couldn’t tell if he meant the sunrise or her. Suddenly, I felt a little tired. The sunrise quickly ended. Everyone took photos on the observation deck, then discussed heading down for breakfast. “Let’s go, let’s go! I’m freezing! There’s a great diner at the bottom of the mountain; let’s grab some brunch!” When we reached the cars, I found Ethan’s car door locked. He leaned against the driver’s side door, looking at me, his expression indifferent. “Scarlett Hayes, you stay here.” I stopped. “What do you mean?” He raised his chin, gesturing toward the peak. “Go up there and be alone. When you’ve figured out what you did wrong, call me, and I’ll come get you.” Everyone around us was stunned. “Ethan, what are you doing?” “Stop messing around, get in the car. Scarlett, you too.” Ethan ignored them, just looking at me. His gaze was absolute, like he was watching a cat that couldn’t escape. He knew I didn’t have a car. He knew we were at the summit, and getting a ride was impossible. He knew I had no other choice but to give in to him. “Are you sure?” I asked him. “Sure,” he said. “You’re too proud; it’s time you learned a lesson.” I nodded. Then I turned and walked toward the peak. “Scarlett!” someone called after me. I didn’t look back. From behind me, I heard Ethan’s voice, “Don’t worry about her. She won’t go far, she’ll be back. She hates the cold.” Then came the sound of car engines starting. The convoy drove off into the distance. I walked back to the observation deck and found a sheltered spot to sit. I called my dad. Half an hour later, a roar came from the sky. A black helicopter slowly descended.

The sky was just beginning to lighten when the helicopter landed at the private helipad on the east side of the city. The car drove out of the helipad and through the still-sleeping city streets. I leaned back in the seat, staring out the window, lost in thought. My phone was still off. Twenty-three years. I knew Ethan too well. He’d get mad, I’d coax him. He’d push me away, I’d wait. He’d come back, I’d accept him. As if I was just supposed to stand there and wait for him. But this time. I didn’t want to wait anymore. “Scarlett, we’re here.” I snapped out of it. The car had already stopped at my house. The house was warm. Maria was bustling in the kitchen and looked surprised to see me back. “Scarlett? I thought you went to the peak to see the sunrise? Why are you back so early?” “It ended early.” I took off my jacket and sat at the dining table. “Maria, I’d love a bowl of soup.” “Coming right up, dear! It’ll be ready in a jiffy.” The steaming hot soup arrived. I took a bite, feeling the warmth spread through my stomach, making me feel a little better. Maria chattered beside me. “Oh, you poor thing, it must have been freezing up on that mountain, weren’t you?” “I’m fine.” “Where’s Ethan? Didn’t he come back with you?” I paused. “He had something to do.” Maria sighed and didn’t press the issue. After eating, I went upstairs and took a shower. The hot water streamed over me, slowly washing away the chill from the mountain. After my shower, I wrapped myself in a robe and sat on the sofa. After some hesitation, I turned on my phone. As soon as it powered on, it started vibrating wildly. 99 missed calls, 99 unread messages. I opened the messages. “Scarlett, where are you?” “The road down is blocked. They say the mountain’s closed. Was this your doing?” “Stop messing around, hurry up and get them to open the road. We’ve been freezing at the base of the mountain for almost an hour.” “Was that you, the helicopter? Did you take a helicopter?” “You’re really going too far.” “Scarlett, please stop playing games, okay? It’s really cold out here, Chloe’s shivering.” “Scarlett Hayes, you’re absolutely out of line!” “Scarlett, I’m sorry, okay?” “Chloe collapsed. We took her to the clinic at the base of the mountain. Are you happy now?” Seeing that, I raised an eyebrow. Collapsed? Such a princess? I didn’t reply, just scrolled down. The last message was: “I’m sorry.” Ethan Blackwood would say sorry? In twenty-three years, he had never once said sorry to me. When he messed up, he’d always buy gifts, take me to dinner, try to cheer me up, but he never actually said sorry. I put my phone down and lay back on the sofa. Outside, fireworks were going off. I suddenly remembered my childhood. Ethan and I were both seven or eight back then, neighbors. Once, he broke my favorite doll. My mom told him to apologize, and he just flushed beet red, then ran home. He emptied all the money from his piggy bank and brought it over to me. “Here, buy a new one,” he said. I asked him, “Aren’t you going to apologize?” He looked down, and after a long moment, mumbled, “I… I paid you back.” Eventually, I forgave him. Not because of the money, but because he’d given me a whole year’s worth of his allowance. Back then, I thought he wouldn’t say sorry, but he’d show he cared in his own way. At 3 PM, my phone rang again. Caller ID: Ethan Blackwood. On the fourth ring, I picked up. “Scarlett!” His voice was urgent. “Where are you?” I didn’t speak. “Scarlett, listen to me, this morning was my fault. I shouldn’t have left you alone on the mountain, I just…” “Ethan,” I cut him off. He paused. “How’s Chloe?” He was startled, then said, “She got some fluids at the clinic, she’s fine now. She’s back home.” “Good.” “Scarlett, you…” “I’m home,” I said. “I’m fine, not cold, nothing happened.” He fell silent. “You told me to reflect, and I have,” I said. “You said I was too proud, that I needed to be taken down a peg. I thought about it all morning, and you’re right, I am pretty proud.” “Scarlett, I didn’t mean it like that…” “Then what did you mean?” He fell silent again. “Ethan, do you know what it feels like to be abandoned on a mountain on New Year’s Eve?” “I…” “Did it ever occur to you, what if I hadn’t had a helicopter to get down? What if I’d fallen on the mountain path? What if I’d gotten hypothermia?” “Scarlett, please stop…” “You didn’t care,” I said. “You only cared if I’d given in.” The phone line was quiet for a long time. Then I heard him say, “I’m sorry.” I said, “I heard you.” “Where are you? I’m coming to find you.” “No need,” I said. “Go back and be with your family.” “Scarlett…” “Ethan,” I paused. “Do you know who owns this mountain?” He was startled. “What?” “Skyridge Peak. Hayes Industries acquired it two years ago. It’s my property. So, I don’t need to beg you.”

After hanging up with Ethan, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling for a while. My phone vibrated again. Not him. It was Chloe. A SnapChat message. A really long one. “Scarlett, I’m truly sorry about today. It’s all my fault.” “I shouldn’t have worn so little and made Ethan worry, and I shouldn’t have cried and made you misunderstand.” “Ethan was actually really worried, he waited for you at the base of the mountain for so long, his hands were red with cold. You two have so much history, please don’t let a small misunderstanding mess things up, okay?” Every sentence was an apology, but every sentence was also defending Ethan. If she sent that to Ethan, he’d probably think Chloe was so understanding and kind. But to me? I just found it laughable. I replied succinctly, “Ok.” Then I put my phone down and rolled over to sleep. I slept until six in the evening. I got up, changed my clothes, and went downstairs. My mom was drinking tea. “Well, hello sleepyhead, you’re up?” My mom glanced at me. “I heard you came back by helicopter this morning? What, the mountain wasn’t fun?” “It was alright,” I said, sitting on the sofa. “Just a bit cold.” “It’s winter, going to the peak for sunrise, of course it’s cold!” My mom handed me a hot mug of tea. “Where’s Ethan? Didn’t he come back with you?” “He’s busy.” My mom looked at me but didn’t press the issue. At 7 PM, during dinner, my dad asked me: “How’s Skyridge Peak? Is the management still up to par?” “It’s good,” I said. “But I closed the mountain.” My dad paused. “Closed the mountain?” “Yeah.” He looked at me, didn’t ask why, just nodded. “Alright, it’s your property, you call the shots.” My mom chimed in, “Closed the mountain? Why? Aren’t there still people up there?” “A few,” I said. “Let them stay up there for another day or two.” My mom was startled, then chuckled. “You, my dear, are starting to sound more and more like your father.” My dad smiled too, but didn’t reply. Around 10 PM, my phone rang again. This time, it was an unknown number. I hesitated for a moment, then answered. “Hello, Ms. Hayes? This is Chris, the administrator at Skyridge Peak!” His voice was urgent on the other end, mixed with the sound of wind. “Yes, that’s me. What’s wrong?” “Ms. Hayes, there’s a man at the base of the mountain. He’s been waiting there since this afternoon, says he needs to go up and find someone. We stopped him. He’s at the main gate now, and he won’t leave no matter what we say.” “What’s his name?” “He said his name is Ethan Blackwood.” I was silent for two seconds. “Let him wait.” “Huh?” “I said, let him wait. I’ll call you back in a bit.” Later that night, before bed. I picked up my phone, walked out onto the balcony, and called Chris. “Is he still there?” “Yes! He hasn’t moved! We told him to come warm up in the guardhouse, but he won’t. He’s just standing at the main gate, his face is pale from the cold.” “Is he alone?” “Yes, just him.” I looked at the fireworks in the distance, silent for a few seconds. “Put him on the phone.” Footsteps sounded on the other end, then Chris’s voice. “Mr. Blackwood, it’s Scarlett.” Then Ethan’s voice, a little hoarse. “Scarlett?” “Mm.” “Scarlett, I’m at the base of the mountain.” “I know.” “I just want to talk to you face-to-face.” “About what?” He paused. “To say you’re sorry?” I asked. “To say you won’t do this again? To say you actually care about me?” He didn’t speak. “Ethan,” I said softly. “How many times have you said those things before? Which time was real?” “This time it’s real.” His voice was rushed. “Scarlett, this time I truly understand I messed up. This morning, I didn’t mean to leave you on the mountain, I just… I just lost my temper for a moment, I thought you were speaking too harshly, and I wanted you to cool down.” “So you just left me alone on the peak?” He fell silent. “Ethan, when you were twenty-five, you also left me alone in a mall once. Remember?”

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My brother, Ethan Hayes, was born a total romantic. But even more so, he was the ultimate doting big brother, loving me, his sister Chloe, more than any woman. On my first day of kindergarten, I got into major trouble. Ethan immediately ditched his girlfriend, who was threatening to jump from somewhere, and rushed to school to clean up my mess. After that, Ethan was constantly busy solving my problems, leaving him no time for dating. Until one day, I got into a fight with a classmate, and our parents were called in. Ethan arrived, looking furious, but then froze when he saw the other parent. It was Eleanor Mitchell, his unattainable first love. I kept my head down, not daring to speak, terrified that their old flame would spark again. Eleanor elegantly ran a hand through her hair, speaking in a condescending tone: “It’s just two kids fighting, and I don’t think she’s too hurt. Considering our history, if Chloe apologizes, we can let it go.” The next second, Ethan’s face darkened. “Are you crazy? Who do you think you are, to even mention my sister in the same breath?”

The new transfer student introduced herself at the podium. Her voice was timid: “Hi everyone, my name is Daisy Mitchell. I hope you’ll like me.” The moment I saw her, alarm bells went off. When Ethan was younger, he was completely obsessed with a woman named Eleanor Mitchell. She’d threaten to jump from a building in the middle of the night during a breakup, and Ethan would spend all night on the rooftop with her. Turns out, she was just trying to make the guy she secretly liked jealous. That guy was an animal lover, so she suddenly wanted a cat. Ethan specifically found a gentle kitten and gave it to her. The moment she found out she was pregnant, she heartlessly abandoned the cat. Ethan brought it home, and it’s still living with us. Until I started kindergarten, I was constantly getting into trouble – small incidents every other day, major ones every third. Fighting and messing up the house became commonplace, and parents across the entire school united to complain. Ethan had to pull himself away from Eleanor and spent every day dealing with my messes. I’d seen Eleanor’s photo on Ethan’s phone, so the first time I saw the transfer student, I knew something was wrong. Especially when I heard her name was Daisy Mitchell, despair clenched my heart. Eleanor Mitchell’s daughter was named Daisy Mitchell. The homeroom teacher scanned the room, then looked at me: “Chloe Hayes, Daisy Mitchell, you can sit next to her for now.” I immediately stood up, stubbornly refusing: “Teacher, I’m usually too rowdy. It wouldn’t be good if I led the new student astray. You should pick someone else.” But the teacher, a bit impatient, waved her hand: “Just sit there for now; we’ll change seats in a couple of days.” Daisy walked over and sat down. I shuffled further away. “Slam!” “Clatter!” She took things out of her backpack and threw them onto the desk with loud thuds. I thought, How bizarre. Is this person crazy or something? I moved further away, not wanting to catch her bad mood. The next second, she suddenly slammed her backpack down, buried her face in the desk, and started crying. A classmate behind me whispered: “Hey, Chloe, did you bully the new kid?” I was stunned, still processing what was happening. Daisy suddenly lifted her head, her eyes red, glaring at me and demanding: “Do you hate me? Do you look down on me?!” I blinked: “Huh?” Daisy’s voice grew louder, shrill: “You do look down on me! You humiliated me in front of the whole class. How dare you treat me like this?” I frowned: “I said my personality was difficult and I didn’t want to affect you. Is that wrong?” If I can’t fight her, I can sure avoid her, right? Daisy cried and accused: “It’s my first day, and I made a mistake writing just now. You clearly saw I didn’t have an eraser, but you deliberately didn’t lend me one. You just wanted to see me embarrassed!” “And you intentionally rolled up your sleeve so I’d see that diamond bracelet on your wrist! Weren’t you just showing off?” “So what if your name is Chloe Hayes? Does that make you better than me?!” I was utterly shocked. When did I see she didn’t have an eraser? I hadn’t even looked at her! And my bracelet? It’s on my wrist, I can wear it how I want. What’s it to her? As for her name, if she hates it, she should ask her mom to change it! What’s it to me? Her string of accusations instantly reminded me of her mother, Eleanor Mitchell. Back then, Ethan took her to a fancy restaurant, and she claimed he was deliberately using money to humiliate her humble background. Ethan missed her call because he was working late, so she sent dozens of texts, accusing him of cheating, then blocked him. She only forgave him after he stood in the rain outside her house all night. These two, mother and daughter, were sensitive in exactly the same way. My anger shot straight to my head, and I rolled my eyes. “You’re crazy!”

Daisy froze, startled by my outburst, her shoulders shaking, crying so hard she gasped for air between sobs. It made me look like I’d just publicly bullied her. The other students couldn’t help but start whispering. “Isn’t the new student a bit sensitive? She cried just because no one offered her an eraser?” “Chloe can be hot-headed, sure… but what does that have to do with her name?” “And Chloe’s always worn that bracelet. I never even noticed if it was diamonds…” Daisy’s crying grew louder. The class monitor, seeing she couldn’t handle it, ran to the office to get the teacher. The homeroom teacher rushed in, looking at Daisy, who was on the verge of collapsing from crying, then at me, sitting there defiantly. She slapped the desk, pointing at me and yelling: “Chloe Hayes! Can’t you just be quiet for one day?” I was fuming, about to open my mouth to explain: “Teacher, it was her…” “Shut up!” The teacher completely ignored me. “Everyone in this grade knows your temper! You’re always causing trouble at school!” “Apologize to Daisy Mitchell right now!” I didn’t move. Why should I apologize to her? The teacher snapped: “You won’t apologize, huh?” “I can’t deal with you. I’m calling your parents right now!” Before, I wouldn’t have cared about calling my parents. Ethan was a regular at school; he was used to it, and so was I. But not now. I looked at Daisy’s face, so similar to Eleanor’s, and felt a surge of unease. What if Ethan saw her and remembered Eleanor again? I took a deep breath, swallowing my anger. I lowered my head and gritted out: “I’m sorry.” … Seething with anger, the moment the dismissal bell rang, I bolted out of the classroom. I sprinted out the school gates and dove into the passenger seat of Ethan’s car. Ethan jumped, nearly dropping his cigarette: “Chloe Hayes, is there a ghost chasing you?” “Drive! Drive now!” I urged frantically. Ethan looked bewildered: “What happened? Did you beat up another kid? Or did a dog chase you?” I was desperate: “Just drive, don’t ask so many questions!” Ethan frowned, still wanting to ask: “Chloe Hayes, tell me honestly…” But I didn’t answer, pretending to grab the steering wheel. Ethan, exasperated by my urging, stomped on the gas and started the car. Only after the car pulled away did I see Daisy just stepping out of the school gate. That was close. Ethan almost saw her. Ethan steered with one hand: “Alright, tell me. What kind of trouble did you get into at school today?” I guiltily looked out the window: “Can’t I just want to go home early and do my homework?” “You? Do homework? You’d rather the sky fall than do your homework.” Ethan ruffled my hair, his tone tinged with helplessness: “Chloe Hayes, when are you going to give me a break?” Back home, I was uncharacteristically quiet, neither teasing the cat nor messing up the house. Ethan was playing games on the sofa, and I pretended to reach for the remote, craning my neck to peek at his screen. Ethan noticed, flipped his phone face down, and raised an eyebrow at me: “What is it? If you need money, just say so.” I acted nonchalant: “Just checking what you’re up to.” “Busy saving up for your bail.” He retorted dryly. I walked behind the sofa, continuing my probing: “Ethan, do you have anyone you like right now?” Of course, I didn’t dare ask him directly if he still remembered Eleanor. What if he’d almost forgotten, and my question just made him think of her again? Ethan paused, then lightly flicked my head. “I’m too busy bailing you out; where would I find the time for anyone else?” I breathed a sigh of relief. As long as I kept them strictly apart, Ethan wouldn’t revert to his old self, right?

The next day, I made up my mind to stay far away from Daisy Mitchell. But she wouldn’t quit. After class, Daisy went to the water cooler for a drink. When she came back, her foot suddenly slipped. A cup of water spilled all over me. The water drenched my hair and clothes, and the books on my desk were wet too. Luckily, the school water cooler only had lukewarm water, so I wasn’t scalded. My anger shot straight to my head, and I kicked my chair back. “Are you blind?!” Daisy shrank her shoulders, looking innocent: “I just did it by accident. Why are you so mean… I know you’ve always had it in for me, but I really didn’t mean it.” I laughed in exasperation: “Not on purpose? Fine. Then I’ll throw you into the fountain downstairs and say I didn’t mean it. How about that?” Daisy froze, then squatted down and started crying: “It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have bumped into you. I’m new, I don’t know the rules, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…” The girl in the front seat tugged my sleeve. “Chloe, just let it go. She apologized, and she’s new.” “Yeah, look how she’s crying. She probably didn’t mean it.” I clenched my fists, furious. I was the one who got soaked, but now I was being called aggressive. I’ve always had a short fuse; in the past, I would have slapped her already. But now, thinking about the consequences of calling parents, I bit down hard and held back. I could only kick my desk, grit my teeth, and go back to my seat to dry my clothes. I thought if I just put up with it, things would be fine once we changed seats. But in the afternoon, the homeroom teacher walked into the classroom with a grim face. Behind her, wiping away tears, was Daisy Mitchell. The teacher’s voice was icy: “Chloe Hayes, stand up.” I was completely baffled. If Daisy was complaining about the water incident, my clothes were still wet. How could she possibly be in the right? But the teacher slammed her hand on the podium and demanded: “Daisy Mitchell’s tuition money is missing. Have you seen it?” I sneered: “Her money’s missing? Why are you asking me?” Daisy hid behind the teacher, looking as if she was afraid of me. “Teacher, I didn’t say she took it. I just said I put it in my backpack, and only my deskmate could have seen it…” She timidly glanced at me, then quickly lowered her head. I exploded on the spot: “What do you mean by that? I haven’t even looked in your backpack!” Daisy put on a pitiful act, crying and trembling: “I really didn’t say you took it. Why are you so upset?… That’s money my mom saved up for ages. Chloe Hayes, please, give it back to me.” The atmosphere around us completely changed. “Chloe Hayes is always fighting. I didn’t expect her to be a thief too.” “No wonder Daisy just spilled a little water, and Chloe looked like she wanted to kill someone. Was she feeling guilty?” “It can’t be, her family is pretty rich, right?” “Who knows? Maybe she just wanted to mess with someone.” I looked speechless: “My family needs your money? If I stole your money, are you crazy or am I?” The teacher roared: “Chloe Hayes! Fix your attitude!” Daisy cried even harder, still complaining. “Teacher, look at her. She’s been targeting me since the first day. Even now, in front of you, she dares to insult people…” A girl next to us also spoke up: “Exactly. I saw it with my own eyes just now, Chloe Hayes’s expression was terrifying, like she was about to hit someone. Everyone knows Chloe Hayes has a bad temper, deliberately bullying new students.” I was shaking with rage: “That’s bull! You were the one who deliberately bumped me and spilled water!” But the teacher’s suspicion grew, filled with disappointment. My reputation was so bad, no one believed me. I stared at Daisy, gritting my teeth and asking: “You say you brought tuition money, who saw you bring it?” “Are you just broke and trying to scam people at school for tuition?” Daisy was utterly humiliated by that comment, crying so hard she almost passed out. “You stole my money and then accused me of scamming! Are you trying to drive me to my death?!” The teacher looked at one girl crying hysterically and another seething with hostility. Our school’s tuition wasn’t a small amount. She frowned: “This amount is too large; I can’t handle it. Call your parents.”

My heart sank. Daisy Mitchell’s parent, that would be Eleanor Mitchell, wouldn’t it? If Ethan came to school, he’d run right into Eleanor. I pursed my lips, so annoyed. I said bluntly: “Teacher, no need to call my parents. I’ll pay for the money.” The teacher was stunned. “Chloe Hayes, do you know how much our school tuition is?” I said impatiently: “Isn’t it just a few tens of thousands of dollars?” “I’ll give her my allowance. Let’s just drop this.” But I immediately added: “I can cover the money, but I didn’t steal it.” This was my bottom line. I was willing to pay to end the trouble, but I wouldn’t admit to stealing. The teacher frowned, seemingly weighing her options. If I was willing to pay, it would save her trouble. But Daisy wasn’t having it; she shrieked. “Teacher! Look, she’s feeling guilty. If she didn’t steal it, why is she so eager to pay it back?” “And this is a matter of character! If there’s a thief in the class, today she steals my tuition, tomorrow will she steal more things?” She cried and called her mom. Not long after, Eleanor Mitchell arrived. She listened to the teacher’s brief explanation, then turned and grabbed Daisy’s ear, cursing: “You brat! You couldn’t even keep track of your tuition money! Don’t you know how long it took me to save that money? How many times have I told you to keep money on you? Do you have a brain?” I stood there, stunned. This was the woman Ethan had loved to death back then? The first thought that came to my mind was disappointment. Her? What was Ethan’s taste back then? Daisy covered her ear, pointing at me: “It was her, she stole it!” Eleanor turned to look at me, sizing me up. When she saw the designer labels on my clothes, her eyes changed. She looked down at me. “So you’re the one who stole the money?” “Where are your parents? Teaching their child to be a thieving brat?” I suppressed my anger: “I told you I didn’t steal the money.” “But if you need this money for tuition, I can pay for it upfront.” My words struck Eleanor Mitchell’s sensitive and fragile nerve. Eleanor exploded on the spot. “You didn’t steal it? If you didn’t steal it, why are you paying it back? Aren’t you just guilty?” “You’re a thief! So young and already learning to steal things!” Finally, she sneered, stating definitively: “It must be you who stole it; maybe the money is in your backpack right now!” With that, she snatched my backpack, spilling all its contents onto the floor with a clatter. I clenched my fists, watching my belongings get scattered, and held back. She turned it inside out, finding nothing, of course. Eleanor wouldn’t give up, narrowing her eyes at me: “You’ve hidden it on you, haven’t you?” I stepped back: “I told you, no.” She walked closer to me, disdainfully: “It’s on you, you’re just afraid I’ll find it, aren’t you?” What a joke! Of course, I wouldn’t agree! But her hand shot out, grabbing my collar, her mouth spewing obscenities. “If you don’t take it off, you’re guilty! You little brat, hurry up!” Her rough nails scraped my neck, burning. I’d never been so humiliated in my life. My temper instantly flared. To hell with old flames, to hell with enduring this. I lifted my foot and kicked her hard in the stomach. “Get lost! You crazy hag!” Eleanor looked utterly disbelieving. I fought back, scratching her. “Ah!” she cried out in pain, raising her hand and slapping me hard across the face. “You little brat! You dare hit back?” Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside the classroom. I turned and saw Ethan Hayes, his face grim. I covered my face, saying nothing, feeling deeply guilty. Ethan had still come. He had still seen Eleanor. And Eleanor, who was still grabbing my neck, suddenly released me. She instinctively ran a hand through her hair, flashing a shy smile. Ethan strode in. He radiated an oppressive aura, with several men in black suits following behind him. Eleanor’s eyes lit up when she saw Ethan. She dropped her shrewish demeanor, acting as if she were weak and helpless. Her voice was sweet and delicate: “Ethan…”

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It was the fifth year of my mate bond with Alpha Alexander Hayes. Our pack was under attack. As an enemy’s claws ripped across my abdomen, my mate, Alpha Alexander, was shielding another pregnant wolf. It was Vivian Wells, his former fated mate, who took Elder Eleanor’s money and abandoned him to move abroad. He didn’t know that moments ago, I had lost our child, and that I had already submitted an application to Elder Eleanor to leave this pack forever. A year later, on the day I finally awakened my ancient bloodline and became Luna Queen Amelia Clarke, Alexander appeared with our rings, begging me to look back at him. But I would never look back again. Amelia POV I was a wolf who couldn’t shift. I was also Alexander Hayes’ mate, bound to him in a forced alliance. I once yearned for us to have a happy life. But by the fifth year of our marriage, I no longer wished for children with Alexander, letting the nursery remain piled with clutter. I no longer waited for him for dinner, no longer dragged him to pack gatherings, and even on our anniversary this year, I just left the pack. When I was attacked and my abdomen was torn open, it wasn’t as painful as I’d imagined. It was only when the healer told me my injuries were too severe and suggested a hysterectomy. A bitter smile crossed my lips. “Amelia, don’t you want to be a mother?” I looked at the man’s reddened eyes, suppressing the turmoil within me. My face remained calm, like a still pond. Alexander seemed to be fighting some emotion. He turned to the healer and strictly instructed, “I will mobilize all resources. You must save her uterus.” As I was moved into the healer’s special treatment room, I vaguely recalled the last time I was here. It was for a miscarriage. Where was Alexander then? He was with his former fated mate, Vivian Wells, the wolf Alexander’s mother had ordered to leave. The treatment lasted nearly six hours. When I awoke, I faintly heard the healer’s assistants discussing outside the door. “Alpha Alexander is downstairs with his mate for a prenatal check-up. Even a tiny kick makes him so nervous he almost calls all the healers. That’s top-tier devotion!” These healers, who belonged to the Wolf Council, didn’t know us personally. So they easily identified who Alexander truly cared about. The door opened, and Alexander walked in, bringing with him a chill. He had clearly heard the discussion too. He opened his mouth to explain, but subconsciously glanced at me, lying on the bed. I just stared out the window, pretending I heard nothing. Alexander frowned, looking somewhat annoyed. He spoke in a cold voice to the healer’s assistant, “This is my mate, the Luna of Ironclaw Pack. The one downstairs… is a friend’s mate.” As he spoke, he kept observing my reaction. I simply kept my eyes lowered, my face showing no joy, nor any jealousy. In the past, I would always argue with him over Vivian, demanding he cut ties with her. Now, hearing his clarification, I no longer felt like showing 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 Vivian, her belly noticeably round. Her breathing was slightly rapid, and her eyes were filled with concern. “Alexander said Amelia was here too. I was worried, so I came to check.” Before I could react, Alexander quickly strode over, scooped Vivian up in his arms, and gently carried her to the sofa. “You’re in your third trimester, don’t run around so much.” The worry in his tone twisted like a silver needle, piercing deep into my heart. Alexander seemed to realize something and turned, attempting to explain, “Amelia, don’t misunderstand, Vivian, she…” But his words were cut off by my forced smile. “Vivian, carrying a child is tough. Michael is busy with work, so as a friend, it’s only right for you to be attentive.” Michael, my adoptive brother. He was also the current Alpha of my birth pack, Frostbane Pack. We used to be very close, but now I’d called Michael by his name, my tone polite yet distant. Alexander’s eyes darkened. At noon, Alexander’s order from the top-tier hotel across the street was delivered to the room precisely on time. Vivian also joined us for the meal. The table was laden with French seafood bisque, pan-seared sea bass, and garlic butter shrimp… Alexander first put a piece of fish on my plate, then another on Vivian’s. “These are all high in protein, good for your health.” I stared at the fish on my plate, my eyes blank. I’m severely allergic to seafood. Not just fish, but even touching seafood broth could send me into anaphylactic shock. Five years of living together, and he had never remembered. Vivian noticed I hadn’t touched my fork, so she stopped eating too, a look of grievance on her face. “I’m here, Amelia must be uncomfortable.” Her perfectly timed retreat made me look like the unreasonable one. She stood up, preparing to leave, but Alexander grabbed her arm, pulling her back. He put his arm around Vivian and frowned at me. “Amelia, don’t throw a fit.” But the moment he spoke, I had already dipped my spoon into the soup and took a small sip of the deadly liquid. Alexander smiled, satisfied, and explained softly, “This bisque simmered for over ten hours. This restaurant is very famous.” The next second, Vivian’s phone rang. After a few responses, she stood up and said, “My maternity photos are ready. The photographer asked me to pick them up.” Alexander rose with her, taking her hand. “I’ll drive you…” Halfway through his sentence, he turned to look at me, seemingly uneasy about leaving me alone. I could already feel my throat tightening, my breathing becoming difficult, my whole body felt like it was roasting over a fire. I wanted to tell Alexander I was allergic, that I might die. But as my gaze fell on his hand, tightly clasping Vivian’s, I finally shook my head, struggling to force out a few words: “I’m fine.” Alexander moved as if a switch had been flipped, walking swiftly to help Vivian out of the room. I heard the healer’s assistant exclaim, “Patient 26 is showing symptoms of shock! Prepare for emergency resuscitation immediately!” That was my bed number. Through the elevator doors, just before they closed, I thought I saw Alexander glance back. But the last image before my eyes closed was of him wrapping Vivian’s hand in his palm, carefully cautioning her, “It’s cold outside, be careful not to catch a chill.”

Amelia POV When I woke again, I felt a sense of surreal relief, as if I had narrowly escaped death. My mind hazy, I recalled the first time I met Alexander. He was the Alpha heir of Ironclaw Pack, and I was the adoptive daughter of Frostbane Pack’s Alpha. Everyone cheered for the alliance between the two packs. But I knew he had already found his fated mate. Only for this alliance, Alexander’s mother had sent that woman away. This mate bond tore apart two deeply loving souls, which was why he hated me. After that, he often met with various women and didn’t stop them from spreading rumors, just to make me feel humiliated. I never resisted, just quietly cleaned up the messes he left behind. Until that time I went to a bar to pick up a drunken Alexander and bring him back to pack territory. A tipsy Alexander suddenly found strength, pinning me against a cold marble wall. He slammed a fist next to my ear. “Amelia, aren’t you ashamed?” I just turned my face away, calmly saying, “You’re drunk. I’m taking you home.” His sharp features softened into a rare vulnerability, his voice hoarse and broken. “She took my mother’s check and went abroad… Amelia, no one will ever love me.” My heart ached for him. I pulled out a tissue and handed it to him, comforting him. “I won’t leave you…” Before I could finish, Alexander’s overwhelming kiss cut off my words. That kiss was like lighting a fuse, instantly consuming all of Alexander’s reason. I don’t remember how difficult that night was, only that my chin rested on his shoulder, and he repeatedly coaxed me to call his name. After that night, other women stopped appearing around Alexander. Even when he had business engagements, he would report to me. He bought a garden and filled it with roses. He said, “Amelia, my love for you is like these roses, passionate and eternal.” On the day of Michael’s formal mate ceremony, Alexander prepared a lavish gift. Mid-party, I went to the lounge to find him, only to accidentally walk in on Alexander pinning a woman down on the sofa. He roared like an aggrieved child. “Why did you abandon me to marry a cripple? Vivian, you’re truly something!” I stumbled and fell by the door, my blood instantly freezing. I was in agony and despair, yet I unexpectedly discovered I was pregnant. I started tracking his whereabouts because Vivian and Alexander were constantly arguing. As a woman, my heart was dead; but as a mother, I still wanted to keep this family together. But he always looked tired. “Stop it. We’re over. I just feel bad for Vivian, being pregnant and all.” Until the last joint hunting festival held by the two packs, when Vivian and I were both attacked by a beast. He, citing Vivian’s pregnancy, didn’t hesitate to shield her first and lead her away. And my child, before it could even fully form, was gone forever. In the hospital room, I broke down and demanded, “Didn’t you see the blood under me? Do you know…?” I hadn’t had a chance to tell him about the baby before he impatiently slammed the door shut and left. “Amelia, don’t make a fuss over your period. Do you know Vivian almost lost her baby because of you?” So… he thought I was responsible for that accidental attack? I knew no matter how much I argued, Alexander would never believe me again. Thankfully, I had no lingering affection for him either. A notification from my phone on the pillow brought me back from my memories. I slid open the screen. It was from Alexander’s mother, Eleanor. “I will agree to your departure. I can also help you break your mate bond, but it will take some time.” Normally, breaking a mate bond required Alexander to reject me. But Eleanor, as the pack’s Elder Luna, had certain privileges granted by the Moon Goddess. A clear tear slipped from the corner of my eye. Five years of mate bond, finally coming to an end.

Amelia POV Alexander had been constantly by my side lately. He would drive for hours to buy my favorite French pastries, peel oranges perfectly clean, and even feed me himself. My response to him was always a lukewarm “Thank you.” Alexander had recently bought a new villa. It was closer to Frostbane Pack. His public explanation was that it was for easier cooperation with Frostbane Pack. And: “I was worried my Luna would miss home, so I chose this house.” Outsiders praised his deep affection for me, unaware that directly opposite his study was the guest room where Vivian was temporarily staying. I wasn’t sure if he was worried about me missing home, or if he couldn’t bear to be far from Vivian next door. As soon as we returned home, the maid began to brew tea. While serving it, she accidentally spilled tea on the documents on the table. The servant apologized profusely, “I’m so sorry, Luna Amelia, I didn’t mean to.” I casually tossed the soaked documents into the trash can. “It’s nothing important, don’t worry about it.” Alexander, who was usually a neat freak, pulled it out of the trash and carefully wiped it clean. “Amelia, this is the nursery blueprint you designed yourself. I was just about to give it to the construction team. Why would you just throw it away?” I answered almost instinctively, “It’s not needed anymore.” Alexander gripped my wrist, a hint of annoyance in his voice. “Taking Vivian to New York on our anniversary was thoughtless of me, but you don’t need to be childish about the baby.” I desperately wanted to say that I wasn’t being childish, that we would soon no longer be mates, and that I wouldn’t be having children with him. But before I could, Alexander’s phone rang. That familiar, soft feminine voice came through. “Alexander, I think someone’s following me…” “Send me your location. Try to go somewhere crowded.” Watching Alexander grab his car keys and rush out in a panic, I finally swallowed my words. I pushed open the nursery door and began to clear out everything I had prepared for a new life, the tiny clothes, the toys, all to be thrown away. As I tossed the last box, the night wind, carrying snowflakes, blew across my face. The heart that once eagerly awaited that new life finally settled into silence. The moment I turned, a sack was abruptly thrown over my head! Before I could struggle, a sharp pain shot through the back of my neck. My vision went black, and I lost consciousness completely. When I woke 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, “Alpha Alexander, this is the one who hired us to kidnap Miss Vivian and threatened to kill the child in her belly.” Another person added, “That’s right, Alpha Alexander, we were just doing it for the money.” My heart instantly went cold. Alpha Alexander? Alexander? Vivian’s voice, timid and weak, spoke up. “Alexander, I’m fine, really. Maybe we should just let it go…” Alexander let out a cold laugh, his voice infused with a cruelty I had never heard before. “Let it go?” I couldn’t see, but I could imagine his expression at that moment. “He wanted your life and the baby’s. I have to get revenge for you.” “Take him to the pool downstairs. Let him learn his lesson.” As his words fell, my heart instantly trembled. Before I could resist, several men came forward, grabbed me, and dragged me like a dead dog to a pool filled with broken ice. The biting cold instantly spread from my toes throughout my body. The more I struggled, the faster I sank, the chill piercing my skin like needles. I lifted my head, trying to surface for a breath, but as soon as I took one, I was pushed back under the water again. After several repetitions, the air in my lungs dwindled, replaced by an intense feeling of suffocation. I coughed violently, water mixed with blood streaming from my lungs, until I no longer had the strength to struggle. Vivian, feigning concern, called out, “Enough! He’s going to die!” “It’s not enough,”Alexander’s voice rang out from above. Immediately after, I felt a leather shoe press down hard on my fingers, grinding them with force. “I want to make sure he can never harm anyone again.” With that, he delivered a brutal kick to my abdomen, right where I’d just had surgery. Before I could recover, my entire body slid back into the icy pool. A sharp object at the bottom of the pool tore through the sack. Through the hole, I struggled to float back up. Vivian, however, was looking directly at me, a mocking smile on her face. Then she conveniently collapsed into Alexander’s arms. “Alexander, I don’t feel so good…” Alexander immediately turned and embraced Vivian, his voice becoming incredibly gentle. “There, there. Were you scared? I’ll take you to the healer.” With that, he picked up Vivian and waved to the men behind him. “Don’t bother with that loser in the water.” Through the gap, I saw Alexander’s resolute back as he walked away. After countless attempts, I finally managed to crawl out of the pool. I rubbed the ropes against the stones at the edge of the pool until they broke, enduring the searing pain in my abdomen, and found my dropped phone in the grass. I unlocked the screen. It was a message from Alexander: “Working late tonight, get some rest.”

Amelia POV Staring at the screen, I suddenly laughed, tears streaming down my face. His so-called “work”was to get revenge for Vivian, repeatedly pushing me into icy water, almost drowning me, and then spending the entire night by Vivian’s side? Clutching my phone, I called an Uber and headed to the hospital. All the way there, the cramping in my abdomen grew more intense. I could feel blood constantly seeping out. I bit my lip, making no sound. I dragged myself into the clinic, heading towards the emergency room. No healer came for a long time. “When will the healer be here?”I grabbed a passing nurse. The nurse looked troubled. “I’m sorry, our clinic’s two best healers were just urgently called away… I heard it was Alpha Alexander, for a pregnant friend of his…” My ears buzzed. Ironclaw Pack’s Alpha, Alexander, had done all this for Vivian. “Or… perhaps you could contact your own pack’s healer?” The nurse assistant suggested. I hesitated for a moment, then picked up my phone and dialed Michael. “Michael,”I said, “can you find me a healer?” On the other end, Michael’s voice was cold. “Now you remember to call me?” He continued, “Amelia, I want you to understand. From the day you insisted on marrying Alexander, you ceased to be my sister.” The nurse took the phone, speaking urgently. “Sir! This lady’s condition is critical, she needs immediate treatment! Otherwise, her life is in danger! Are you her family? Can you…?” But Michael, after hearing it, remained utterly unmoved. “She brought this all upon herself.” The call ended with a dial tone, and my last hope died completely. At the time, to repay Frostbane Pack for adopting me, I disregarded Michael’s objections and entered into an alliance with Ironclaw Pack, consolidating our pack’s interests. On the day we officially became mates, Michael, on his way back from abroad, had an accident and was saved by Vivian. To repay Vivian, he gave her high status and wealth. But after that accident, he completely ignored me, even hated me. He believed that if I hadn’t insisted on the alliance, he wouldn’t have had the accident, so even if I died outside, it was my own fault. I don’t know how long passed. My consciousness was already blurry. The bright, blinding light of the surgical lamp finally appeared, then I fell into a deep sleep. Vaguely, I heard the healer say, “Excessive blood loss, the original uterine injury has ruptured again, a complete hysterectomy is necessary…” The surgery was done by midnight. After the anesthetic wore off, a hollow, dull ache radiated from my abdomen. That night, Eleanor sent me a new text message. “I’ve secured temporary residency for you in a pack in Switzerland. You can go there to rest for a while after you leave.” During my recovery after surgery, I became unusually quiet. My body was healing, but something inside me was permanently empty. My friend Julia Davis came to see me. After waiting for a long time and not seeing Alexander, she pulled out her phone. “Amelia, where’s that busy husband of yours?” I quickly grabbed Julia’s hand before she could dial. “He’s busy with work. This isn’t a big deal for me.” “Not a big deal?”Julia looked exasperated. “Amelia, you can never have children again. How is that not a big deal? And he still has time for work?” “Julia, I’m leaving.” Under Julia’s surprised gaze, I calmly continued, “Soon, I won’t be Ironclaw Pack’s Luna, and perhaps not even Frostbane Pack’s Alpha’s sister.” “Is he going to reject you?!”Julia seemed never to have considered such a possibility, as to outsiders, Alexander appeared to be very much in love with me. Seeing I didn’t want to elaborate, she didn’t press further and left to buy me lunch. When she returned, her breathing was ragged, clearly very angry. “Amelia, do you know what I overheard in the hallway?”She slammed the lunchbox down. “The nurses outside said Alpha Alexander has been with Vivian in the next room all week! He even booked the entire floor for her!” I smiled, my eyes glinting slightly, silently acknowledging it. Julia hugged me protectively, indignant on my behalf. “Amelia, if you’re not up to it, I’ll go deal with that Vivian for you! She’s taking advantage!” I patted her shoulder, comforting her. “It’s fine. I no longer love Alexander.” As soon as the words left my lips, the hospital room door was pushed open, and a deep male voice came from behind us. “What do you mean ‘no longer love’?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “412421”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

On my way home from work, I bought some oranges for twenty-two dollars. I was in the middle of asking the vendor if he could knock off two bucks when my boyfriend Ethan suddenly slapped me across the face. “God, you’re embarrassing. Making a scene over two dollars.” “Looks like Rena was right about you all along. You really did let her mom die just because you were short a dollar on her medication.” “If I’d known what kind of person you were, I would’ve chosen Rena when the kidnappers gave me a choice. I should’ve saved her, not you.” He grabbed the bag of oranges out of my hands and threw them on the ground. Then he walked away without looking back. I stood there watching him go. The vendor didn’t know what to do. He quickly scooped up another bag of oranges and held them out to me. I shook my head. I didn’t want the oranges. I didn’t want him either. Ethan didn’t come home all night. I sat staring at the oranges scattered across the table, feeling a hollow kind of sadness settle in my chest. The scene this afternoon had been loud enough to attract a crowd. Someone had filmed it and posted it to social media. “She’s a gold digger, plain and simple.” “Spent all his money and now she’s pinching pennies over a few oranges. Pathetic.” “Can’t blame the guy. Anyone would lose it.” The comments piled on, one after another. The video spread fast. I told myself it didn’t matter. Just gossip. It would pass. Then I saw Ethan’s account. He had liked every single comment attacking me. My heart skipped a beat. For a moment, I couldn’t process it. So that’s what he really thinks of me. Seven years together. Seven years of watching every dollar, cutting every corner. If Ethan hadn’t crashed his business and buried us in debt, I never would have haggled over two dollars in the first place. Everything I did, I did for him. And somehow, in the end, he decided I was the villain. My eyes filled with tears before I could stop them. Everything blurred. And without meaning to, my mind drifted back through all the years with Ethan. This morning he had pressed a soft kiss to my forehead before he left. At lunch he had gotten annoyed that I’d ordered cheap takeout, then turned around and cooked a proper meal and brought it to my office himself. And then, just a few hours later, he became someone I didn’t recognize. My cheek still throbbed where he’d hit me. I couldn’t make sense of it. That was when my phone rang. It was my best friend, Lily. I wiped my face fast and swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. She’d probably seen the post. And the likes. I was going to tell her I was fine. But she spoke first. “I just saw Ethan walk into a club with a woman.” “I think it’s… Rena.” The name hit me like cold water. I made her repeat it. Asked again and again, until I heard the certainty in her voice. “That can’t be right. Rena moved abroad years ago.” “And Ethan deleted all her contacts right in front of me. He even changed his phone number. He did it himself…” My voice trailed off without me noticing. I was running through every detail in my head, desperate to prove that Ethan and Rena had truly cut ties. But I couldn’t lie to myself. Lily had gone to school with Rena. She wouldn’t mistake her. When the truth finally landed, the strength went out of my legs. I slid down to the floor. Breathing became difficult. I forced myself up and stumbled toward Ethan’s home office. Ethan had always been particular about that room. From the day we moved in together, he’d made one thing clear: I was never to go inside. Looking back now, that terrified me. I didn’t care about his rules anymore. I tore through the entire room. I found it at the back of a cabinet. A box. My hands were shaking when I opened it. Inside were letters. All from Rena. Packed in so tight there was barely room for another. The dates were recent. The most recent one from just a week ago. “Ethan, I can’t take it anymore. I’m coming home.” The paper was stained with dried tears. Standing there reading it, I started to laugh. I couldn’t help it. Their love was so intense they had gone back to handwritten letters just to express it. No wonder Ethan had always been so quick to hand me his phone to check. No wonder he’d always kept me updated on his schedule without being asked. No wonder he spent entire afternoons locked in this room, then came out smiling. It all made sense now. Including the slap. We were supposed to celebrate our seven-year anniversary today. He hadn’t been upset about the oranges. He was upset because Rena had come back.

I took every letter and went to find them at the club. The moment I walked through the door, I spotted Ethan at the center of it all. He looked drunk. He’d climbed up onto a table and was holding court, talking at full volume. An occupational hazard of being a public speaker, I supposed. Rena sat below him, gazing up at him like he was the only person in the room. I had seen that exact expression on her face back in high school, the first time Ethan gave an impromptu speech on stage. Someone in the crowd decided to egg him on. “What’s your biggest regret?” Ethan’s smile disappeared. He went quiet. His brow furrowed. He turned and looked at Rena, and his eyes went soft with guilt. “Years ago, when someone put a gun to our heads and told me to choose, I couldn’t choose Rena. That’s the one thing I’ll regret for the rest of my life.” “She told me to go find help while she stayed behind. I didn’t know she was going to call the police. Because of that, she almost got seriously hurt.” “If I could go back, I would choose her. Without hesitation.” Rena burst into tears. So did I. Seven years ago, we were kidnapped together. Ethan hadn’t brought enough money for the ransom. The kidnappers said they’d release only one of us. He gripped my hand so hard I thought his fingers would break the skin. After a long silence, his voice finally cracked through. He called my name. In that moment, I forgave Ethan for everything. I made a silent promise to love him with everything I had. So I quietly contacted the police. We worked together from the inside, and the kidnappers were taken down. When I handed Ethan the recovered money afterward, something flickered behind his eyes. Anger. I hadn’t understood it then. Now I did. He blamed me. In the chaos of the police moving in, one of the kidnappers had panicked and hurt Rena. Standing in that club, I finally felt it — how ridiculous I had been. How ridiculous all of it had been. The story seemed to sober Ethan up a little. He looked at Rena with even more tenderness than before. “Rena, we can’t go back. That was my fault. All of it.” “But I want to make it up to you. Starting now.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bank card. My tears dried up instantly. That was my bank card. “Ethan, have you lost your mind?”

I pushed through the crowd and got right in front of them. My eyes were fixed on that card. But just as I was about to grab it, Ethan stepped aside. He closed his hand around the card and turned on me, his face tight with anger. “Ethan, you can’t use that card. That’s everything we have saved.” I was almost shaking. Ethan just looked at me. Calm. Unmoved. Watching me fall apart like it was entertainment. “So what? You owe Rena that much.” “Holly, how long are you going to keep up this act? From the day we got together, I handed you every paycheck from every gig for seven years. And you still nickel-and-dimed everything. The numbers never added up.” When our eyes met, he felt like a stranger. Had he forgotten? He still owed a debt. “Ethan, that money was for paying off the —” He cut me off before I could finish. Without a second’s hesitation, he shoved me aside, turned, and pressed the card into Rena’s hand. Then he stepped in front of her like a shield. He looked at me like I was a threat. “Holly, don’t forget you still owe me for the money you skimmed. I expect that back.” “Rena and I have missed enough time. I’m done wasting more.” He said it like he was reading a verdict, then turned away. The music came back up. Ethan disappeared into the crowd on the dance floor. Like nothing had happened. I was the only one still standing there, frozen. It was all my fault. I had protected him too well. Every time a creditor showed up at the door, I was the one who faced them alone. I cut back on everything, worked myself down to the bone, all to pay off his debt as fast as I could. And in the end, I had nothing left. Not even the one thing I used to be most proud of. My love.

The girl I used to be never could have imagined things ending up like this. Ethan grew up without much. He was always hungry as a kid. From the time we were in elementary school, I used to split my breakfast with him every morning. Ethan loved to talk. He would climb up on the big rock by the river and use it as his stage, while I crouched below and played audience. Then when we were fourteen, Ethan hurt his throat. He stopped showing up at the river. After a few days I started to panic. I searched for him all day before I finally found him on the roof of an abandoned building. He said he didn’t want to be alive anymore. “My voice is gone. What’s the point of any of this.” I grabbed him and dragged him straight to my father, Dr. Carter. I promised, with everything I had, that my father could fix his throat. My father was the most respected doctor in the whole area. Several months of treatment. countless bowls of medicinal soup. Ethan’s voice came back, exactly as it had been. He came back afterward with money to pay for the treatment. I shook my head and refused to take it. That day, Ethan looked at me for a long time. There was something deep in his expression I couldn’t quite name. Finally he turned toward the sun and made a vow. He would take care of me for the rest of his life. He would never stop trusting me. In high school, he kept that promise. But once Rena developed feelings for Ethan, she decided I was her enemy. Rena was a little dumber than I had given her credit for. She didn’t even bother being subtle about it. She slipped a laxative into my drink so I’d embarrass myself in PE class. She organized a “ugliest girl” poll with her crew and put my name at the top. It was anonymous, but she used the notepads she’d been showing off to everyone just days before. When Ethan found out what she’d been doing to me, he gave a small, cold laugh. “I didn’t know people this stupid still existed.” The disdain was all over his face. But the corner of his mouth had curved up. I didn’t bother retaliating, so Rena thought she was getting away with it clean. Until she made the mistake of posting by name on a school forum. “My mom was really sick. I had all the money for her prescription, but Holly refused to fill it because I was one dollar short. Because of her, my mom almost didn’t make it.” It was a lie full of holes. But somehow, a lot of people believed it. I couldn’t walk down the hall without hearing people call me a murderer. Then Ethan stepped in. He walked straight up to one of them and slapped them across the face without saying a word. He said he believed me. I was so moved that day. So moved I didn’t notice the way his jaw had tightened, just slightly, at the corner of his mouth. Maybe everything had been wrong from the very beginning. Rena never let go of her hatred. Ethan never truly trusted me. How ridiculous. I dragged myself up and stumbled toward the bathroom. I needed to splash some water on my face. Clear my head. But when I looked in the mirror, I saw Rena standing behind me. “What do you want?” She gave me a smile. Strange. A little too pleased with herself. “Holly, I just feel so insecure.” “I want to know — if he had to choose between us right now, who would he pick?” I didn’t follow her right away. A second later, Rena twisted the lock on the door and set fire to the trash can.

Within seconds, flames had spread across the entire bathroom floor. Smoke swallowed the room. I moved toward the door. But Rena was already blocking it. She didn’t move. Then Ethan’s voice came from the other side. He pounded on the door, calling Rena’s name over and over. Rena smiled. “See, Holly? I win.” “Honestly, I always thought Ethan loved me just a little bit more. You were just a distraction. A temporary one.” “You must be crushed right now. Just like I was seven years ago.” I stared at her. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I was choking on smoke. I might actually die in here. And she was standing there gloating about Ethan’s love for her. I used every ounce of strength I had and shoved her out of the way. But the door chose that exact moment to jam. Any chance of getting out on our own was gone. When the smoke finally hit Rena’s lungs, the confidence drained out of her face. “Ethan, help me! I just wanted to see who you’d choose. I didn’t mean for it to go this far.” “Of course I’d choose you, baby. Don’t be scared. I’m getting you out of there right now.” It felt like forever before Ethan finally forced the door open. He rushed in, scooped Rena up in his arms, and carried her out. He never looked at me once. At that point, I didn’t really care. I just needed to get out. What I hadn’t expected was for Ethan to turn around after stepping out, and kick the door shut behind him. The bathroom door jammed again. I couldn’t hold on much longer. Through the haze, the last image that kept surfacing was Ethan’s foot connecting with that door. So that’s how much he hates me. Enough to leave me here to die. If I could go back, I would go back to when we were fourteen. I would leave him on that rooftop. He never deserved to be saved.

When I came to, I was in a hospital room. A nurse came in to check on me. She glanced toward the door and asked, almost as an afterthought, “No family with you?” I shook my head. Ethan wasn’t coming. And I didn’t want him to. I had spent enough years squeezing every penny until it hurt. I checked myself out immediately and went home to pack. Ethan was still at the hospital with Rena. I was rolling my suitcase out the front door when Rena posted on her Instagram. “What’s meant for you always finds its way back. No one can take what’s yours.” That actually made me laugh out loud. She wasn’t wrong. What belonged to Ethan should go back to him. I pulled up a contact I had saved a long time ago and sent over Ethan’s location. Then I stopped thinking about it. I got on a train headed back to my hometown. As the scenery outside the window grew more and more familiar, something in me went quiet. Then Ethan called. “Holly, you cleaned out the whole apartment. What is wrong with you?” “Just because Rena came back, you pull this little stunt? I’m telling you, I’m not falling for your manipulation again.” The fury in his voice came through the phone like heat. I could even hear things being thrown and broken in the background. Go ahead. Everything he could throw was already his. Everything I’d bought, I’d taken with me. I waited until he ran out of steam before I said anything. “Didn’t I leave a few things behind?” “Someone will be delivering them to you shortly.” Ethan went quiet. He started to say something, but the door flew open before he could. No knocking. No warning. “Hey. You know why I’m here. Time to pay up.”

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On my birthday, my boyfriend Ethan had arranged a grand fireworks display. When everyone thought he was about to drop to one knee and propose, he simply handed me a bouquet of roses. Smiling, he said, “Zoe, I’m getting married in three days.” “This is the last birthday I’ll spend with you as your boyfriend.” I buried my face in the roses, a small smile tugging at my lips. “So sudden? But I haven’t prepared anything.” The whole room burst into laughter. Ethan laughed too and clarified: “The bride isn’t you. It’s Maya.” “She’s waited five years for me. I want to give her an answer.” In that instant, my heart seemed to stop. I stared at him with hollow eyes and asked numbly, “Why?” Maya was my best friend. Ethan was the boy I’d grown up with, my childhood sweetheart. Until that moment, I never imagined either of them could betray me. Ethan was quiet for a moment, then lowered his voice. “Because I don’t want people laughing at me for marrying someone who’s blind.” “Maya is beautiful, and she can actually help my career.” “But you — what do you have?” My breath caught. My fingers locked around my shattered phone screen. What he didn’t know was this: I was actually the long-lost daughter of the Sullivan family — the wealthiest family in the city. My biological parents were already on their way to bring me home.

The entire room fell silent. Then the noise came back louder than before, and everyone was laughing. “Oh my God, I can’t — she actually thought Ethan would marry her. She’s blind!” “The nerve. Even if she could see, she’d never be good enough for the Johnson family.” “Maybe she should look in a mirror — oh wait, sorry, I forgot she can’t.” Through the laughter, I clearly heard Ethan let out a quiet chuckle. As if he found my delusion amusing. My hands were shaking badly. I could feel all the blood in my body rushing to my head. My fingers scrambled for my white cane so I could get out of there. Maya grabbed my hand and stepped in front of me. “Alright, alright — Zoe didn’t mean anything by it. Everyone stop laughing at her.” “Today is Zoe’s birthday. Let’s all have some cake together.” The moment she finished speaking, a cake the height of a person was wheeled out. Maya gripped my wrist and pulled me toward it. The thick, sweet smell of buttercream hit me instantly. I stepped back, uncomfortable, but Maya pressed firmly against my shoulders from behind, blocking me. “Zoe, Ethan and I had this cake custom-made just for you. Do you like it?” With someone pushing against my back, I gave a stiff smile. “I used to. Not anymore.” I used to like it because Ethan liked it. Now I didn’t, because I didn’t love him anymore. But in everyone else’s ears, it sounded like petty theatrics. One of the girls standing beside Maya shoved me hard from behind, all while keeping a cheerful grin on her face. “See? She loves it — she can’t wait to dig in.” Sweet, thick frosting covered my face and clothes. I cried out in shock. My hands flew out wildly, grasping for anything to hold onto. No one reached back. Everyone just crowded closer. More and more people started throwing cake at me — smearing it on my face, my clothes, even forcing it into my mouth. “Come on, everyone help the birthday girl celebrate! She’s practically crying, she’s so touched!” “Makes sense. She lives in that basement — probably hasn’t had anyone talk to her in weeks.” “Now she’s got all of us here for her birthday. No wonder she’s emotional.” Another wave of laughter. I was shaking with rage. I wanted so badly to ask Ethan and Maya why they were doing this to me. But the moment I opened my mouth, someone shoved in a handful of frosting. Gagging, I fought through the crowd and stumbled toward the exit. Laughter trailed after me as I went, everyone jeering at how pathetic I looked. I finally found the door and shut all of it out behind me. I sank down against the wall and let myself cry quietly. Why? Why are they doing this to me? Why were the people I trusted most — the ones closest to me — the ones who turned on me? Who humiliated me in front of everyone? My chest ached like something inside it had collapsed. But worse than the pain was the shame — the kind that comes from being mocked when you’re already broken. I was still falling apart when I heard two servers gossiping nearby. “Did you see that girl from room 403? God, I feel awful for her.” “The blind one? I heard she’s been throwing herself at Mr. Johnson for months. She guilted him into putting on a whole fireworks show, and his actual girlfriend had to just stand there and watch. I mean, what did she expect? Someone had to put her in her place.” “Apparently they used to be friends too. She looks so sweet and harmless. You really never know people.” “Probably figures that since she’s blind, she can’t do better — so she latches on to whoever’s nearby.” The words cut right through the wall and straight into me. My whole body went cold. My heart beat in my hollow chest — slow, dull, and aching. So that’s how it is. Maya had sabotaged me to clear the way to becoming Ethan’s wife. But what about Ethan? What was his reason? I had given him everything. I had even lost my sight trying to protect him. So what was it — why did he hate me this much?

By the time I got back to the basement apartment, it was late at night. The air was thick with the smell of mildew and something worse. It turned my stomach. I had lived like this for seven years. I told myself I could keep enduring it. But now, all I wanted was to escape. My fingers traced over the calendar again and again. Two more days. Mom and Dad were coming to take me home. The weight in my chest lifted a little. I peeled off my ruined clothes, managed to change into something clean, and went to sleep. Early the next morning, the sound of a key turning in the lock jolted me awake. I looked instinctively toward the door. The sharp click of heels on the floor told me who it was before she said a word. Maya. “What are you doing here?” “Dropping off an invitation. Tomorrow’s my engagement party with Ethan, after all.” She pressed the envelope into my hands with a smug little smile. “Zoe, you and Ethan used to show off your relationship in front of me every single day — and look how it ended. I still took him from you.” “You know he’s already bought me over a dozen properties? Meanwhile he wouldn’t even let you move out of this tiny basement.” “And those cakes he used to buy you? Discount stuff from the clearance rack. The gift he gave me was a ruby worth millions.” “That job you worked so hard to get? He had someone destroy it on purpose. Just to keep you trapped here.” “Surprised? How does it feel, being betrayed by the person you loved? Does it hurt?” The blood drained from my body. I couldn’t even cry. My eyes stayed fixed on the direction of her voice. “Why?” “What did I ever do to either of you?” I’d been asking myself that all night and still couldn’t figure it out. Maya just laughed. There was nothing but contempt in her eyes. “Zoe, do you remember? Back in college, I was dating an older guy. Everyone was telling me to break up with him — everyone except you.” “I ran away with him. Do you have any idea what he put me through?” “He tried to use me to get to his boss. If Ethan hadn’t pulled me out of that situation, I would have been destroyed.” “Zoe, you never actually cared about me. You just couldn’t stand to see me happy.” My fingers clenched tight. I stared at her. She wasn’t wrong that I hadn’t said anything. But it wasn’t because I wanted her to suffer. It was because she had blocked and cut off every friend who tried to talk her out of it. If I pushed too hard and she shut me out too, who would she call when things went wrong? From campus to the city where she’d gone — nearly three hundred miles. A bus ticket ran about forty dollars each way. I kept three hundred dollars set aside. Enough for multiple trips. All so that if she ever called me in crisis, I could go. Bitterness spread through me slowly. After a long silence, I finally spoke. My voice came out rough. “So that’s your reason for betraying me.” “And Ethan? What’s his?”

A quiet laugh came from the corner of the room. I turned toward the sound. Ethan walked toward me. His cold fingers caught my chin and tilted it up. “Zoe, want me to remind you what you told the police — seven years ago?” I froze. My mind went back. Back then, his parents had wanted his kidney to save the family’s adopted heir — the fake son they’d been grooming as their own. I had fought to protect him. I went to the police and forced the situation into the open. In the process, I was struck from behind. I spent seven days in the ICU. I survived. But I never saw again. “You told the police my family was trying to hurt me and force me to donate my kidney.” “But the truth, Zoe — my parents never wanted that. If they hadn’t brought me home later and told me what really happened—” “I might have believed your lie for the rest of my life.” His voice rose with every word. The grip on my jaw tightened. “It’s your fault.” “If it weren’t for you, I never would have had to leave home. I wouldn’t have spent those extra years struggling.” It felt like something had torn open in the center of my chest. A cold draft poured through. I could barely breathe. Maya pulled Ethan back and leaned close to my ear, her voice almost gentle. “Zoe, I’ll be honest with you. By the third day after you lost your sight, Ethan and I were already together.” “We got an apartment. Every time he said he was working late, or on a business trip, or picking up extra shifts — he was with me.” “We’ve already met each other’s families. And I’m carrying his child.” “The only one rotting away here has always been you.” Each word landed like a blade, driving in one at a time. Despair spread from my chest out to my fingertips. I let out a raw scream. I shoved Maya away like something had snapped inside me. I grabbed whatever was closest and threw it at the two of them. In the dark, something hit Maya and she cried out. “Ethan — it hurts. My stomach—” Then a hand came out of nowhere and cracked hard across my face. Ethan shoved me to the ground. The back of my head hit the floor with a sickening thud. Warm blood began to seep from the back of my skull. The whole world seemed to press pause. Silence. I don’t know how long I was out. When I came to, I was in a hospital. An IV was in my hand. The doctor handed me a freshly printed CT scan, visibly shaken. “You’re lucky they brought you in when they did. Another fifteen minutes and you wouldn’t have made it.” “But there may be a silver lining here. The blood clot that’s been pressing on your optic nerve — it’s gone. Your sight should come back soon.” It was the first good news I’d had in longer than I could remember. My hands trembled. I was about to thank the doctor when Ethan came storming through the door, fury on his face. “Zoe, did you post that online?” He slammed his phone against my face. My cheek stung immediately. I pressed my hand to my face and kept my voice flat. “Ethan, I’m blind — or did you forget? How exactly would I be posting anything?” He paused for a split second, but held his ground. “The angle in those photos — it could only be you.” “You’ve always been clever, Zoe. Don’t tell me you couldn’t find someone to help you.” I nearly laughed. I picked up his phone and looked. My vision was still mostly white fog, but I could just barely make out a few blurred words. Affair. Mistress. Best friend. I didn’t need to read the rest. I tossed the phone back to him. My voice went cold. “It wasn’t me. If you’ve got nothing to hide, why does it matter?” Ethan’s expression flickered, but he softened his tone. “In that case, come to the engagement party tomorrow. Set the record straight on our behalf, in front of everyone.” “Zoe, after everything you’ve put us through, this is your one chance to make things right.” “If you don’t show up, I’m cutting off your monthly allowance. For good.” “Without me, who’s going to take care of you?”

I closed my eyes. I lifted one hand and pointed at the door. “Get out.” The next morning, a black sedan pulled up at the hospital entrance. Several bodyguards dragged me out of bed and pinned me between them. “Ms. Zoe, Mr. Johnson has asked us to bring you to the engagement party. If you’ll come with us.” It was phrased as a request, but their grip left no room for escape. When I was pushed through the entrance of the venue, the Johnson family was in the middle of a press interview. The moment Ethan saw me step out of the car, he rushed over and took my arm, dropping his voice. “Zoe, after everything we’ve been through — you’ll help me, right?” “I know you’re upset. Once the press conference is over, I’ll make it up to you privately.” Before I could answer, he steered me in front of the reporters. A wall of camera flashes went off all at once. The room went quiet. Everyone was waiting for me to speak. I opened my mouth and said four words. “It’s all a lie.” The room erupted. The reporters swarmed like they’d smelled blood. “Ms. Zoe, what exactly is a lie?” “Is it true that Ms. Maya interfered in your relationship with Mr. Johnson?” “What happened to your eyes?” Questions came at me from every direction. Through the crowd, I caught Ethan’s face going pale with fury as he pushed toward me. Bodyguards carved a path through the press. In full view of every camera, Ethan’s hand cracked across my face. “Enough. How long are you going to keep this up?” The room went dead silent. Ethan’s mother stepped forward with a carefully composed expression, already spinning the story. “Zoe, Ethan has been quietly supporting you for years. Is this how you repay him?” “Everyone — after Ethan came back to the family, I insisted he end things with Zoe. For years, she has been the one pursuing my son. The Johnson family has never approved of this match.” Ethan’s father stepped up beside her, holding up footage from a security camera. “When Zoe was injured in our home years ago, I was at a board meeting. My entire staff can verify that. The claim that I assaulted her and caused her blindness is completely unfounded.” Maya turned to me with tears running down her face. “Zoe, you’re my best friend. Ethan and I didn’t get together until two years after you two broke up. How can you say these things about me?” They were burying me under an avalanche of lies. Every word was another nail pinning me in place. And then, in the middle of it all — my vision came back. Not blurry. Not foggy. Clear. I could see every face in the room. Contempt. Dismissal. Indifference. Scorn. I looked straight at Ethan through the noise of it all. “You think everything they just said is true. Don’t you.” He didn’t answer. He just looked at me. His voice was tired. “Zoe, just let it go.” Just let it go. Four words. And in them, everything. Every last scrap of hope I had left — gone. I looked out at all those cold, hostile faces staring back at me. And I laughed. “Ha — hahaha!” His mother’s brow furrowed. “What is so funny?” I stopped laughing. My gaze moved slowly and steadily over everyone in the room. “I’m laughing at all of you. How naive.” I said, “You really think burying me in lies is enough to keep your hands clean?” “You think destroying the evidence means you can rewrite the truth?” “Fine. You want to destroy me? Then let everyone see exactly who you are.” I raised the shattered phone in my hand. I turned the volume all the way up. The recording played out clearly enough for every person in that room to hear.

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When my brother Ethan — the one born with a congenital heart defect — was beaten half to death by his enemies and left on my doorstep with a broken leg, something shifted inside me. I suddenly found it in my heart to forgive my husband, Nathan. Forgive him for bringing his sickly childhood sweetheart, Chloe, into our home. After all, a devoted wife should always try to understand her husband’s feelings. With tears in my eyes, I helped Ethan into the guest room, cleaned his wounds myself, and applied the medicine with the kind of gentleness you’d use on something irreplaceable. I took care of his every need with my own hands, stayed up through the night for him, and even played the piano piece Nathan loved most. I stopped caring about Nathan and Chloe’s flirting. I stopped losing my mind over their closeness. But Nathan was the one who lost his mind. He backed me into a corner, eyes bloodshot, voice trembling. “Nina, what the hell do you think you’re doing? He’s a broke, broken-down nobody!” I reached up and touched his face, smiling with all the innocence I could muster. “Honey, I’m just doing what you taught me.” “Learning how to be a good person. Someone who values the people they love.” “Or are you saying your first love gets to live under our roof, but the person who matters most to me has to sleep on the street?”

Nathan had no answer for that. That air of total control he always carried — it shattered in an instant. The tension in that corner was suffocating. The air itself seemed to stop moving. He grabbed my wrist and squeezed, hard enough to grind bone. The pain was sharp and immediate. But I didn’t struggle. I couldn’t even feel it, really. Inside, there was nothing but a cold, flat calm. He forced the words out through clenched teeth, low and barely controlled. “Say that again. The person who matters most to you?” I lifted my free hand and gently smoothed the angry crease between his brows with my fingertips. My touch was light. My tone stayed soft, stayed innocent. “Honey, you’re hurting me.” I looked into his bloodshot eyes and handed his own logic right back to him. “You always said — when a good friend gets hurt, you bring them close and take care of them. Just like you’ve been taking care of Chloe.” “Ethan has nowhere to go right now. I can’t just ignore that.” My words fed the fire in his eyes. But he couldn’t find a single thing to say back. Because every word I’d just said was something he’d once told me — his own personal gospel, used to shut me up. Then, from upstairs, came the soft sound of Chloe coughing. It wasn’t loud. But it landed like the flip of a switch. “Nathan…” Her voice pulled his attention off me like a magnet. He glared at me with pure resentment, but the grip on my wrist loosened without him even realizing it. The rage and possessiveness in his eyes — when they met my perfectly steady gaze — flickered for the first time with something he didn’t know how to handle. I understood it completely then. Nathan’s love had always been built on two things: my total submission, and the certainty that I belonged only to him. My resistance — even this imitation of his own behavior — was a betrayal he couldn’t stomach. Chloe coughed again. More urgent this time. Nathan finally let go of my wrist and spat out his parting words. “Nina, don’t push me. Get him out of this house.” Then he turned and took the stairs two at a time, back to his first love. I watched him go. Not one ounce of hurt. Just the cold, detached satisfaction of a plan’s first step falling into place. His limits? I rubbed my reddened wrist and let out a quiet, humorless laugh. What limits? That only you get to play the devoted hero, while I’m supposed to play the heartless villain? That’s not how this works. I didn’t bother with his threat. I didn’t spare a glance at the staircase. I turned and walked into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and pulled out fresh ingredients. Then, slowly and deliberately, I began making a pot of beef and vegetable soup for Ethan in the guest room. The soup bubbled and steamed, filling the kitchen with warmth. Half an hour later, Nathan came back downstairs in a fury after calming Chloe down. He probably expected me to be crying. Or raging. Or at least still standing there waiting to finish the fight. Instead, he found me walking gracefully toward the guest room with a bowl of hot soup. He opened his mouth to start in on me, but I turned around at exactly the right moment — like I had eyes in the back of my head. I gave him a flawless, picture-perfect “devoted wife” smile. “Honey, would you like a bowl too? I don’t want to disturb Chloe’s rest, so I’ll drop this off for Ethan and head to bed.”

Every word I said was airtight. He’d wound up and swung hard, and hit nothing but air. Nathan stood frozen, his face a tight mask of fury, watching helplessly as I carried that bowl of soup straight into Ethan’s room. I didn’t come back out right away. I set the bowl on the nightstand, carefully stirred it with a spoon, and waited for it to cool to just the right temperature. Then I fed it to Ethan, spoonful by spoonful — he couldn’t move much with his leg injury. Only after all of that did I step back out. Nathan was still standing exactly where I’d left him. Like a statue carved from barely contained rage. I didn’t go to bed. Instead, I walked straight to the center of the living room, toward the black grand piano. I lifted the lid, sat down, and let my fingers settle onto the cold keys. The next moment, music filled the room. It was Nathan’s favorite piece. The song that had marked the beginning of us. The melody drifted through every corner of the house — through Chloe’s room upstairs, through the guest room where Ethan lay. As I played, the memory came back to me with perfect clarity. I’d wanted to give Nathan a birthday surprise. I, who couldn’t carry a tune to save my life, had secretly taken piano lessons for months. At his birthday party, I played this piece for him alone. Back then, his eyes had been so full of love they nearly overflowed. He’d pulled me into his arms and said: “Nina, this is our song. Only ours.” Only ours. What a laughable promise. Now I sat playing the same notes, and what filled my mind had nothing to do with pleasing him. I was thinking about how to make it hurt. A dull thud came from the study upstairs. Nathan had thrown something. At first, he probably thought I was giving in — using the song to reach back toward what we’d had. But the moment he realized I was playing it to soothe the man in the guest room, jealousy and the feeling of betrayal would consume him entirely. Sure enough. Heavy footsteps on the stairs, each one louder than the last, loaded with fury. He came charging down. I was right at the peak of the piece, the music swelling — Bang. A crash. He slammed the piano lid down with both hands. A shock of pain shot through my fingertips. The music stopped dead. I looked down. Several of my fingers had been caught under the edge of the lid. They were already bright red, swelling fast. Once, he had been moved by this song. He’d called it precious. Now he’d brought the lid down with his own hands and killed it. What had been a symbol of our love had just become the instrument of my pain. I stared at my reddening fingers. Not a single tear. Just a hollow, glacial stillness. His so-called “cherished memories” had always been a form of possession. He didn’t love the memory. He loved the control over me that the memory gave him. He was breathing hard, chest heaving, voice rough with the kind of rage that burns past words. “Who said you could play that for him? Nina, have you forgotten what that song means to us?” I raised my head slowly and looked at his face — twisted with jealousy — and said quietly: “But Chloe loves hearing your stories about growing up together, doesn’t she?” “Sharing something beautiful with someone who needs comfort — isn’t that what you taught me?” Once again, I used his own logic to wall him in completely. He stared at me, something wild and anguished churning in his eyes. He hadn’t expected this kind of calm. I slowly drew back my injured hand. I stopped looking at the piano. I stopped looking at him. As if it had all been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. I stood up and said evenly, “If you don’t like it, I won’t play.” My composure threw his hysteria into sharp relief. He looked like the unreasonable one. Like a child throwing a tantrum. He went still, rattled by his own loss of control. His gaze dropped to my swollen fingers, and for just a moment, something like remorse crossed his face. And then. The guest room door opened. Ethan stood in the doorway on his crutches, his lean face drawn with worry, his eyes fixed on my hand. “Nina, your hand…” He looked up at Nathan. The gentleness in his expression went sharp.

Ethan made his way toward me, one unsteady step at a time. He walked right through the wall of hostility Nathan was radiating, as if it weren’t there at all. He came and stood beside me, then carefully cradled my injured hand in both of his, examining it closely. The knuckles had already swollen up. Dark bruising was rising under the skin — deep purple-red — and in one spot the surface had broken, a thin line of blood showing through. Ethan’s brow furrowed deeply. He looked up at Nathan. His voice was cold. “Is this how you love your wife, Mr. Harrison?” One question from an outsider landed harder than a thousand tears or accusations from me ever could. Nathan’s expression darkened instantly. Fury, the shame of being exposed, the humiliation of being called out by Ethan — it all collided on his face at once, twisting it ugly. He wanted to lash out. But his eyes swept over my bleeding fingers, and the words died in his throat. The living room went still. Three people. Three very different places. Then the housekeeper came rushing down from upstairs, her voice pitched high and tight with panic. “Sir — it’s bad! Miss Chloe says her chest hurts. She can barely breathe!” Those words were the last straw. Nathan’s whole body locked up. Every flicker of guilt or remorse — gone, in an instant. He looked at my hand. The blood on my fingers. Then he looked up toward the stairs. One second of hesitation. Just one. Then he dropped words on me like stones. “Stop being dramatic. A little scratch won’t kill you.” That sentence hit like a blade that had been kept in ice. No. My heart was already dead. It just landed in flesh that had long since stopped bleeding. He didn’t look at me again. He took the stairs at a run, straight to Chloe and her chest pain. I stood there, staring at my own hand. Then I lifted my eyes and watched the shadow of him disappear around the bend of the staircase. Whatever had still been flickering in my eyes went dark. I was done wondering. Done waiting for something different. He wasn’t confused. He wasn’t misunderstanding anything. He simply didn’t care. In his world, nothing I suffered could ever matter as much as the softest sound of pain from Chloe. Gently, one finger at a time, I drew my hand back from the warmth of Ethan’s. When I spoke, my voice was so calm it was almost frightening. “Come on, Ethan. Let’s go clean up that hand.” I paused. “No point standing here being invisible.” It was the first time I had ever used that word — invisible — to describe what I was in this house. Back in the guest room, Ethan quietly opened the first aid kit and cleaned my wounds with a cotton swab dipped in antiseptic, slowly and carefully. His hands were steady and gentle. I looked out the window at the black night beyond, and said softly: “Ethan. I’m done with this house.” The words had barely settled when my phone buzzed. The name on the screen read: Nathan’s Assistant. I answered and put it on speaker. The assistant’s voice came through tense and urgent, carrying just a trace of a tone that expected compliance. “Mrs. Harrison, Mr. Harrison asked me to reach you. Miss Chloe needs to be transferred to another hospital — it’s urgent. The VIP admission channel requires an authorized family signature, and that has to come from you. Mr. Harrison is very upset right now, so you’ll need to come in immediately…”

He wasn’t done talking. I hung up anyway. Not me — but the person I used to be, Mrs. Harrison, was expected to go and do her duty. Nathan believed that no matter how badly he hurt me, I would do what I’d always done: clean up his mess without a word. I looked at my phone calmly. After a moment, I dialed the number back. The assistant picked up immediately, voice even more strained. “Mrs. Harrison, you—” “You’ve got the wrong person.” I cut him off. My voice was flat. Unbothered. “Mr. Harrison’s girlfriend is sick. He should sign the forms himself, or contact her family.” “I’m not anyone to her. I can’t authorize anything.” It was the first time I had ever openly refused to perform the role of Mrs. Harrison — all the privileges it came with, and all the chains. Silence on the other end. He clearly hadn’t seen that coming. A few minutes later, my phone started going off again. Nathan’s personal number. I picked up. His voice came through like a wall collapsing — so loud I had to hold the phone away from my ear. “Nina! What is your problem? If anything happens to Chloe, I swear to God—” I waited until he finished. “Are you threatening me, Nathan?” I asked quietly. “I’m ordering you to get down here. This is your obligation as my wife. Don’t make me come get you myself.” Still the same tone. Still the man who believed he could control every corner of my life. I didn’t let him finish. I hung up. Then I opened his contact and pressed the button I had never once considered pressing before. Block. Silence. Real silence. Like the world exhaling. I went to the back of my vanity drawer and took out the wedding ring I had kept safe for three years. The diamond was enormous. It caught the light and threw back something cold and expensive. Once, it had been the thing I treasured most. Everything I believed in, everything I loved, in a single object. I carried it out to the living room. The piano sat there with its lid shut, like a quiet grave — the last warmth between us, buried. I set the ring on top of the lid. It made a small sound. A soft clink, barely there. I took a photo and sent it to the husband I’d just blocked. One final message. The message was simple. One picture, two sentences. “Nathan — your first love needs you. Go do right by her.” “From this moment on, I am not your wife. Which means I no longer need to learn from your example.” “This ring, and everything that came with being Mrs. Harrison — I’m giving it all back.” I sent it. Then I deleted the entire conversation. When it was done, I felt something I hadn’t felt in years. Lightness. Like the weight I’d been carrying for so long had finally cracked apart at my feet. I didn’t need to mirror him anymore to find my balance. What I wanted was something clean. A real beginning. I went back to my room. I didn’t take a single thing that belonged to Mrs. Harrison. Not the designer bags. Not the couture gowns. Not one piece of the beautiful stage dressing he’d used to make himself look good. I took only what was mine. My ID, my phone, and the one thing my mother had left me. Then I took Ethan’s arm, and we walked out together. The front door closed behind us with a soft, solid click. Like a wall going up between me and everything that had come before. I didn’t look back. At the same moment, across town, Nathan finally had a spare second to check his phone. The photo of the ring — cold, stark, abandoned on that piano — and the words beneath it drained the blood from his face. For the first time, he felt it. Real panic. He shoved past the doctors and nurses crowding around him and sprinted out of the hospital, driving home like something was chasing him.

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