My sister, Chloe, got pregnant before she was married. She gave birth to a boy in a small, private clinic and then just vanished. The doctor from that clinic showed up at our door, following the address she’d left, and thrust the baby into my arms. My parents pleaded with me, practically on their knees, begging me to raise the child. I had no choice. A single woman, never married, I had to grit my teeth and raise the baby. Life was a constant struggle. Every penny for food, clothes, and a roof over our heads came solely from me. I finally managed to raise the child, but that’s when Chloe reappeared. She showed up with a rich guy, loaded with a chunky gold chain around his neck. The moment she stepped through the door, she grabbed my son and started crying, claiming I was petty and jealous, that I’d stolen her child and caused their mother-son separation for years. My son, influenced by her words, immediately cut ties with me and acknowledged her as his real mother. My parents also cursed me for being nosy and kicked me out of the house. Our neighbors gossiped, spreading rumors that I’d abducted the child and was a wicked-hearted sister. No one believed me. Filled with utter despair, I ended it all, jumping from the rooftop. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day my sister gave birth.

It was still dark, just before dawn, when a frantic pounding echoed from our front door. I jolted awake, my heart hammering like it wanted to burst from my chest. Last time, it was at this exact hour. That shady clinic doctor had stormed our house, banging so loudly he woke up everyone in the entire block. He’d publicly shoved the baby into my arms, pointing his finger right in my face and yelling that I’d abandoned my child without a second thought, that I was heartless. Only later did I find out it was my sister, Chloe’s, baby. My parents had pleaded with me, practically on their knees, saying that since I wasn’t planning on getting married anyway, I should just keep the child. I, fool that I was, had softened and agreed. The result? That child ruined my entire life. I was filled with burning resentment. Now, hearing the knocking again, my scalp tingled with dread. I scrambled out of bed, rushing to the door in three strides. The moment I opened it, that face appeared again – the old Dr. Miller from the clinic. “Aria Scott, you abandoned your child after giving birth. Do you know that’s a crime?” The neighbors were already peering out, some even stepping out in their slippers to gawk. I glared at him, not even thinking, and instantly threw my slipper right at his face! “You disgusting old man, trying to frame me? Do you believe I can flatten you right here?” “Me? I haven’t even been on a proper date, how could I have a kid? Have you ever seen a woman who just gave birth capable of beating someone up like this?” “Look at me! Do I look like I’ve ever been pregnant?” My barrage of questions and insults made him stumble backward, his face turning green. That’s when Aunt Carol from across the street spoke up: “Yeah, Aria goes to work on time every day. Who here ever saw her belly swell up?” “Could he have made a mistake?” “Isn’t that the doctor from that small clinic on the corner? I heard he doesn’t even have a proper license!” I put my hands on my hips, raising my voice even higher: “You old fossil, running an unregistered clinic and still daring to frame me? I’m calling the police right now!” At the mention of police, he immediately panicked: “I… I’ll leave, alright?!” I lunged forward, grabbing the hair at the back of his head: “Trying to run? No way!” I pulled out my phone and dialed: “Hello, 911? There’s someone selling babies here!” “Don’t lie!” He stomped his foot in desperation. I glared at him: “When the police get here, if you don’t explain everything clearly, I’ll tear down your pathetic clinic!” Heaven gave me a second chance. All the humiliation I endured in my previous life, I was going to settle it all today! When the police arrived, Dr. Miller’s face was bruised, and he was holding a newborn baby whose umbilical cord hadn’t even been fully cut. I stood there in my pajamas, one slipper still clutched in my hand, my eyes red. All the neighbors were gathered at the door, chattering and explaining what happened. The police examined the child, confirmed it was a newborn, and frowned at the doctor: “Alright, explain yourself. What’s going on?” “This… this is the patient’s information. The address listed is hers, and the name matches,” the doctor stammered, pulling out a medical record. The officer glanced at it. It indeed showed my address and the name “Aria Scott.” I scoffed, crossing my arms: “I don’t even know this person. Someone used my name to give birth and now wants me to take the fall?” As soon as I finished speaking, my parents pushed their way through the crowd. “Aria, dear, since you’re not getting married anyway… why don’t you… just keep the child?” I turned to them, my voice as cold as ice: “Dad, Mom, what you’re saying is truly chilling. A child of unknown origin, how can I just take him in?” “Who knows what his biological parents did? What if they were drug addicts or criminals, and the child carries diseases or addiction issues? Me, raise him? And raise an enemy?” My parents were stunned into silence by my retort. The doctor’s face turned ashen, and he directly shoved the baby into my arms: “Your family’s problems are for your family to solve! This child is Chloe’s, let her raise him herself! If I’d known your family was this troublesome, I would’ve rather died than come to this door!” The entire scene instantly went silent. Everyone’s eyes widened. Turns out, this baby was my sister, Chloe’s!

“You’re lying! Just now you said the child was mine, and now you’re saying it’s Chloe’s? Can you prove it? You want to shove a child into our family without any evidence? Officer, I suspect this man is involved in child trafficking!” With that, I pushed the baby straight back into his arms, then turned and crossed my arms, looking like it had nothing to do with me. My mom, standing nearby, gasped in alarm: “Aria! What are you doing?!” “Dad, Mom, don’t be so naive. There are so many scammers out there, specializing in these kinds of tricks!” Aunt Carol also stepped forward: “Old Mr. and Mrs. Evans, you can’t just talk nonsense. The doctor clearly said the child was Aria’s at first, and now he’s saying it’s Chloe’s. Isn’t that contradictory?” “Exactly! Who can guarantee this child isn’t just some random kid he picked up from somewhere?” The doctor panicked, suddenly standing up: “I, Dr. Miller, have been practicing medicine for years, and I’ve never lied! What would I gain from deceiving you?” “Just last night, your sister Chloe herself came to my clinic, begging me to deliver her baby!” “She even left her cell phone with me as collateral!” Saying that, he pulled a phone from his bag. I focused my eyes – it really was Chloe’s. My parents were both stunned. The evidence was right in front of them; the child was indeed Chloe’s, no mistake about it. The surrounding neighbors erupted in chatter: “Oh my, Chloe gave birth at such a young age? Whose is it?” “Who knows, she’s always appearing and disappearing mysteriously, wearing baggy clothes. Who would’ve thought she was already pregnant!” “Probably got tangled up with some shady guy, and this is the fallout!” “You all shut up! My daughter is pure and innocent!” My mom, furious this time, yelled at the crowd, “Whoever spreads rumors again, I’m not done with them!” Dr. Miller sneered: “Hmph, Chloe herself instructed me. After giving birth, she wanted me to deliver the baby to your house, for her sister to raise. Officer, I even have a handwritten note from her here!” He pulled out another letter, revealing it to everyone. But in my previous life, there was no such letter. Back then, when Chloe returned and cursed me, Dr. Miller had even added fuel to the fire, insisting I’d stolen her child, driving me to desperation until I died an unjust death. This man was utterly wicked! Dr. Miller grunted: “I knew I shouldn’t have gotten involved in this mess. Cursed my luck!” The police officer looked at the situation, sighing: “This is a family dispute; it’s hard for us to intervene too much.” I grabbed the officer’s arm: “Officer, this isn’t just a family matter! Can you really conclude that my sister gave birth and then ran off, just based on a cell phone and a letter?” “What if she’s been dead in your clinic all this time? And you’re just trying to brush it off?” The officer listened, thought it made sense, and immediately took Dr. Miller with him, heading straight to the clinic for investigation. My parents also followed. I took the opportunity to quickly pack my luggage. I was never staying in this house again. Just as I stepped out, a neighbor saw me: “Aria, where are you going?” “I’m moving out. I can’t stay here. What if they really dump that kid on my parents, and then I’d end up raising him anyway?” “Why should I take the fall for a child Chloe made herself? I’m not even married yet. If my future partner’s family finds out, they’ll think I’m promiscuous. My reputation would be ruined beyond repair!” Everyone nodded in agreement: “That makes sense! Aria, think of yourself, hurry and go!” “Oh, Chloe, she’s too bold. She gave birth, and now she’s gone!” “Maybe that doctor did something shady, and she’s been gone for a while!” “It can’t be that bad…” I couldn’t be bothered to listen to their gossip. I grabbed my bag and left. By the time my parents returned home, I was already settled in my company’s dorm. Not long after, my mom’s call came through. I answered the phone, and her anxious voice came from the other end: “Aria! Where did you run off to?!” In the background, a baby was wailing. I calmly said: “I’ve moved out.” “How could you leave? What about this child if you’re gone?!”

It seems my mom and dad went to the clinic and confirmed that the child was indeed Chloe’s, and Dr. Miller really did help Chloe with the delivery. But I just couldn’t understand why they kept bothering me. “Mom, what does this child have to do with me? I didn’t give birth to him!” “Right now, the most important thing is to find the child’s biological father. Anyway, I have to go to work, gotta hang up!” After hanging up, I went to work as usual. As soon as I sat down, Brenda from the office secretly came over and whispered: “Aria, do you have a boyfriend? Want me to set you up with someone?” I was about to decline, but then I had a change of heart. “Sure, Brenda, who are you setting me up with?” “My nephew. He’s three years older than you, was in the military, and after he retired, he opened a small restaurant. He’s honest and hardworking!” “How about we all have lunch together and you meet him?” I immediately agreed. Brenda was so happy she couldn’t stop smiling and quickly pulled out her phone to call her nephew. In my previous life, raising the child alone had exhausted me. Brenda saw it and helped me find a lot of side jobs, always urging me to find a dependable man. But back then, I was afraid the child would suffer if I dated, so I never dared. Looking back now, I was truly foolish. At lunch, I met Leo. We chatted during the meal, and I felt good about him. We added each other on SnapChat and decided to see how things went for a while. Brenda came back and asked how it went. I nodded: “He seems nice. We’ll try it out.” She clapped her hands in delight: “I knew it! If it works out, he’ll definitely treat you well! I’ve watched that boy grow up, he’s hardworking and has a good heart!” I felt a little embarrassed, my face flushing, which only made Brenda even more excited. From then on, Leo and I started dating. Half a month later, my parents hadn’t contacted me, and I hadn’t gone home either. Unexpectedly, my mom actually showed up directly at my company. I was busy that day when the security guard suddenly called: “Aria, come down quick! Your mom just dumped a kid in our guard booth! He’s screaming his head off, come get him!” My mind went blank: “What kid? I’m not married, where would I get a child? Don’t talk nonsense!” I deliberately spoke loudly so the entire office could hear me. The security guard helplessly said: “How should I know? Just come down and see for yourself!” As soon as he hung up, everyone stared at me. “Aria, what’s wrong?” “Not sure. The security guard said someone pretending to be my mom dropped a baby at the entrance!” Brenda gasped in surprise: “There’s such a thing? That’s ridiculous! Come on, let’s go see together!” “Yeah, is someone trying to extort you or what?” “Aria has a kid? I never saw her pregnant!” “Could she have secretly had a baby years ago? Who knows what these young people do nowadays!” Hearing these words, even Brenda started looking at me strangely. I feigned a clueless expression, pretending I knew nothing, and she couldn’t spot any flaws. At the guard booth, everyone was stunned when they saw the infant. Brenda breathed a sigh of relief: “How is this possible! Aria gave birth to this? This baby isn’t even a month old!” “Exactly! If he were any older, Aria would be tainted forever!” “This is just plain immoral, trying to frame someone?” “This is ruining someone’s reputation!” I scoffed internally. The security guard also shook his head: “That person said she was your mom; how dare I stop her!” I immediately said: “Check the surveillance cameras! I want to see who did this!” Looking at the footage, I didn’t recognize the person who brought the child. I immediately made up my mind: “Call the police! That’s not my mom at all, and I don’t know that woman either!” Everyone was still a bit hesitant, so I spread my hands: “This is an abandoned infant! I work in sales; I’ve handed out hundreds of business cards. Who knows who might impersonate my family? I don’t want to take the blame for raising someone else’s child!” At that, everyone agreed, and the police were called. When the police arrived, they took the child. I even specifically asked: “Where will this child go?” “Where else? If we can’t find the biological parents, he’ll have to go to the foster care.” Hearing that, a huge weight lifted from my heart. In this life, I would absolutely never again raise a child for that ungrateful wretch!

No sooner had the police left than my mom’s SnapChat message arrived. “Aria, your sister has contacted us. She says she’s working out of town. We’re too old to take care of him, so please, just raise him as your own.” I immediately replied: “Mom, what are you talking about? I have a boyfriend now, and when I get married, I’ll have my own children. I absolutely won’t take this child!” I didn’t mention what happened today, and she didn’t ask, so I just pretended it never occurred. Leo was truly good to me. Six months later, we got engaged. On our wedding day, my parents and relatives all came. Afterward, we applied for a transfer to a branch company, and his restaurant moved with us. From then on, except for holidays, I rarely went back to my hometown. Even when I did go back, I’d visit briefly and leave quickly. Later, I gave birth to a daughter, and two years after that, a son, making our family complete. My son, Ryan, was brilliant from a young age. At fifteen, he was accepted into an accelerated program at a prestigious Ivy League university. The news delighted our entire family. Leo was especially proud. He decided to bring the whole family back to our hometown to host a celebratory banquet. All our relatives and friends came, even my parents rushed over. Ryan, though only fifteen, was tall and looked like an adult, about the same height as my daughter. My parents, however, mistakenly thought this child was Chloe’s. My mom grabbed his hand and patted it: “If Chloe knew her son was so accomplished, how happy she’d be!” “Mom, it’s such a happy day, why bring up Chloe? Has she come back?” My mom’s eyes immediately darted away: “No! She hasn’t!” “Oh, she hasn’t come back to see you two for so many years. Has something happened to her? I heard that once a person goes missing, they’re usually never found.” Over the years, the neighbors had talked a lot about Chloe. I also spread the word when I was out, telling everyone that Chloe had abandoned her child and never even came back for the holidays. Everyone had long assumed she had disappeared. But only I knew that my parents had been secretly in touch with her all along. Now, hearing me say this, my mom’s face instantly changed, her voice sharp: “What nonsense are you talking about! Chloe is alive and well!” The entire room suddenly fell silent, everyone looking over. My mom’s face flushed, utterly embarrassed. I chuckled, taking over the conversation: “So, Mom, you actually still have contact with her? Then why doesn’t she come to see her own son?” “Well, abandoning your own flesh and blood, she’s probably not doing well. Forget it, it’s a joyous day, I won’t mention her anymore.” My mom visibly relaxed when she heard that. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but finally closed it. The last flicker of hope in my heart completely died. In my previous life, when the child she had raised became successful, Chloe came back. This time, I knew she would come too. As for when, I no longer cared. Because my son was accepted into the accelerated program, a teacher from the university was there, and reporters were present. Everyone’s eyes were focused on our table. Ryan, as the guest of honor, was invited to the stage. When he stood up, my parents didn’t even realize – this child was only fifteen. And the “illegitimate child” they constantly mentioned, the one Chloe had abandoned, if he were alive, he’d be almost eighteen this year. They completely missed this point, instead constantly checking their phones, waiting for news. I smirked, gripping Leo’s hand tightly. We exchanged a knowing glance. On stage, Ryan spoke loudly: “I owe my acceptance into this prestigious university primarily to my mom. Without her support and companionship, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” “Mom, come up here!” My son waved at me. I smoothed my dress, just about to walk forward, when suddenly a sharp shriek cut through the air: “She’s not your mom at all! She has no right to stand there!” As soon as those words came out, the entire room fell silent. Everyone turned in unison towards the source of the voice. I, however, felt a wave of relief – she’s finally here.

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Two months into college, my daughter got pregnant. For her future, I persuaded her to have an abortion. Afterward, she smoothly graduated and landed a high-paying job, becoming the pride of our small community. Yet, at the peak of her success, she brutally pushed me into a deep, abandoned quarry, leaving me to drown. That’s when I realized the child she’d carried was from a wealthy heir. All these years, she’d blamed me for every hardship in her life and career, resenting me for destroying her chance at a rich wife’s life. Now, I’m back to the day Delilah confessed her pregnancy to me. This time, I agreed to let her keep the baby. If she’s not willing to be her own person, then she can be a lapdog, hidden in the shadows. “Mom, I need to tell you something.” Watching my daughter standing there, so meek and hesitant, it hit me – I’d been reborn. It was hard to reconcile the sweet, obedient girl in front of me with the vicious monster who pushed me into that well. The suffocating terror of the water, it felt like it was just seconds ago, still clinging to me. I struggled to control my emotions. “I’m pregnant.” Delilah spoke, cautiously watching my expression. When I didn’t react too strongly, she let out a quiet breath of relief. “It’s up to you if you want to keep it or not.” “Really?” My answer made Delilah look up in surprise, a flicker of almost imperceptible joy in her eyes. “You’re an adult now. It’s time to take responsibility for your own life.” Though I felt a pang of regret for the daughter I’d meticulously raised for over a decade, I had no use for someone utterly devoid of gratitude. In my previous life, Delilah knelt before me, tears streaming down her face, telling me she was pregnant. The news hit me like a bolt from the blue. But I quickly calmed myself and asked if it was consensual. She stammered, unable to give a clear answer, making me think she’d been assaulted. Only when I threatened to call the police did she admit she had a boyfriend and it was consensual. Seeing her eyes brimming with tears, ready to spill, I couldn’t bear to scold her. I told her it wasn’t the right time to have a baby, that she should finish her studies first, then consider what came next. Under my persuasion, Delilah had the abortion. Afterward, she excelled in her studies, found a high-paying job right after graduation, and became a powerful career woman, with both fame and fortune at her fingertips. But later, she blamed all her life and career setbacks on me. If I hadn’t made her get rid of the baby, she’d be a rich wife now, free from all these injustices, she’d claimed. Finally, after just one critique from her boss, she drove almost two hundred miles back home and, without hesitation, pushed me into the well and drowned me.

“I want to keep this baby.” Delilah looked at me with newfound determination. “If you’ve decided, then that’s that.” In my previous life, after learning about Delilah’s pregnancy, I investigated the man. His scandalous reputation was already public knowledge, no investigation needed. The trust fund baby was named Blake Kingston, an utterly unwelcome illegitimate child. Years ago, the CEO of Kingston Holdings had donated his genetic material. Blake’s mother, desperate, found a way to acquire it and successfully became pregnant. She wanted to use this method to get money from the Kingston family. But the Kingstons weren’t so easily fooled; they immediately called the police. Yet, Blake’s mother, her ambition unwavering, her greed still burning, went live on social media, condemning the Kingston family. The Kingstons immediately released evidence, and Blake’s mother was subjected to a massive wave of cyberbullying. Even under such circumstances, Blake’s mother insisted on giving birth to him, believing an opportunity would eventually come. But she never imagined the opportunity would arrive so quickly. When Blake was three, the head of the Kingston family died in a car accident, and Blake, as the only male descendant, was brought back to the Kingston estate. Perhaps it was his inherent malice. Even with meticulous upbringing, Blake remained an incorrigible playboy, wild and reckless. He left a trail of broken hearts everywhere, and Delilah was just one of them. I knew he wouldn’t take responsibility for Delilah, especially given the vast social chasm between them. Since Delilah wanted to try her luck with a man who radiated pure malice, then as her mother, I had to support her. Watching Delilah still harboring hopes for happiness, I felt a pang of pity. “If you change your mind about this baby, I’ll take you to have an abortion.” This was the biggest concession I’d offer, her last chance. “I won’t abort him.” Delilah refused me flatly. Although I had expected this answer, I couldn’t help but feel my heart grow cold.

“So, what’s your plan now?” I cut off Delilah’s blissful musings. “I’m going to find my boyfriend first. We’ll get engaged, and after the baby is born and can walk, we’ll get married.” “Then the baby can even attend Mommy and Daddy’s wedding! It sounds so perfect.” Delilah imagined their future life, a genuine smile spreading across her face. Watching her, I calmly saved the audio recording. With my apparent approval, Delilah impatiently rushed off to find Blake Kingston. After she left, I took a few days to rest. After all, you need to be well-rested to truly enjoy the show! Sure enough, just a few days later, Delilah’s tearful call came in. “Mom, he doesn’t want this baby!” Before I could even speak, her sobbing, choked voice poured through the phone. I subtly twitched the corner of my mouth, fighting hard to keep my emotions in check. “Come home.” When Delilah returned, she recounted the events of the past few days. It turned out that when Delilah went to find Blake, he didn’t even remember who she was. Delilah desperately tried to prove she was his girlfriend but was humiliated and then thrown out by security. Yet, she didn’t give up, staking out every place Blake might pass through daily. Finally, she irritated the ruthless man. He immediately tried to force her to the hospital for an abortion. But they underestimated Delilah’s determination to climb up the social ladder. She fiercely struggled free from those who were trying to drag her away and fled to her rental apartment, not daring to leave for days. After spending the last of her meager money, she finally thought of me, her mother, and called. Delilah, her voice tearful and broken, recounted her ordeal of the past few days. Her eyes, still wet, held a mixture of hurt and bewilderment. Perhaps my calm reaction disappointed her; she looked at me with questioning disbelief. Realizing my response was too flat, I quickly adjusted my expression, forcing out a sympathetic wince. “Mom, what should I do?” Seeing the emotion she desired appear on my face, she continued. “You found your own boyfriend, you chose to sleep with him, and you chose to have this baby. These are your choices.” I looked at Delilah’s pathetic, half-dead expression and felt nothing but annoyance. What sin had I committed in my last life to have a daughter like this? “I’ll give you two choices: either you get rid of this child, or I give you five hundred thousand, and from this day forward, you are no longer my daughter.” Five hundred thousand was the most I could afford, but it would also serve as a good buffer against any future threats from her. “I want the five hundred thousand.” Not a moment of hesitation. “Good.” “I’ll find a lawyer in a few days to finalize the agreement.” “Mom, I’m so sorry. I have to do this for my baby.” That face, desperately trying to look sad, didn’t shed a single tear. All I saw was a crumpled, ugly grimace.

With the help of my lawyer friend, Mr. Miller, I successfully severed ties with Delilah. Oh, I can’t call her daughter anymore. I should call her Delilah. All these years, to better care for Delilah, I had been forced to give up the work I loved. Now, I finally had time to pursue my true passion. I immersed myself in the fulfillment my work brought me. I loved this life. I’d rather be an inconspicuous little sapling than a clinging, parasitic vine. I thought my upbringing would make my child such a person, but I never imagined she aspired to a different life entirely. Now, she was off chasing her life, and I would pick up mine. I reopened my design studio. The sketches I’d made in my spare time before, I brought them to life. What I hadn’t expected was how popular these designs would be. I posted my work on social media platforms and they quickly gained traction. I even felt a surge of uncontrollable excitement; I thought after all these years, I had lost my passion for these things. I was ecstatic, yet filled with gratitude. Just as I was basking in this newfound satisfaction, my former good daughter, Delilah, came knocking. “Eleanor, isn’t this your daughter?” My colleague, Maya, forwarded a video to me. In the video, Delilah was rambling on, introducing her relationship with me. The comment section was filled with nothing but praise. “No wonder they’re mother and daughter, both so talented.” “The little lady’s mom’s work is seriously amazing.” “Like mother, like daughter.” … I forced myself to watch the entire video, suppressing a wave of unease, then immediately called Delilah. Half an hour later, Delilah arrived at my studio. I no longer bothered to hide my emotions; my displeasure was plain on my face. “Ms. Delilah, I believe we’ve already severed our relationship, haven’t we?” I glanced at Delilah’s slightly swollen belly. “Besides, if anything were to happen to your child while you’re here, I wouldn’t be able to bear the responsibility.” Delilah probably hadn’t expected the mother who once doted on her to be so heartless. Her eyes quickly welled up with tears.

“Mom, are you really going to disown me? I’m your only child. Who will take care of you when you’re old if you don’t acknowledge me?” Did she really think I cared? Big deal if I ended up dying alone on the street someday; it would scare others, not me. “I must ask Ms. Delilah to delete the video immediately and apologize to me personally.” I warned Delilah sternly. Without a doubt, her misdeeds would soon spread, and this would definitely impact my brand. The sooner I distanced myself from her, the better it would be for me and my studio. Delilah probably hadn’t expected me to be so resolute. She looked on the verge of tears. But I knew that Delilah’s appearance was not what it seemed. “Ms. Delilah, you have three days to resolve this matter. Otherwise, I will file a lawsuit against you.” Seeing my unyielding stance, and knowing she was in the wrong, Delilah finally left in a fit of rage. Delilah deleted the video as I demanded, but she didn’t apologize. Out of consideration for our more than ten years of mother-daughter history, I didn’t pursue legal action. But this nearly ruined my studio. After Delilah left, I finally had a few more peaceful months. I calculated the time; Delilah was probably due to give birth soon. With the continuous growth of my studio, I also bought myself a car and a house. Just as everything was moving in a positive direction, Delilah delivered a swift kick to the gut.

After Delilah gave birth, she began staking out the Kingston Holdings building daily, even before she was barely recovered from childbirth. She would yell to anyone who passed by: “Blake Kingston of Kingston Holdings, abandoning his child and their mother!” “Blake Kingston of Kingston Holdings, abandoning his child and their mother!” … This behavior quickly spread across social media platforms, causing quite a stir. Kingston Holdings’ stock plummeted. Out of desperation, they had no choice but to call the police. But Delilah remained unfazed. After multiple police warnings, she changed her strategy. She stopped appearing outside the Kingston building and instead started live streaming online. She thought this would make Blake Kingston back down, but she greatly underestimated his ruthlessness. Although he was also an unwelcome illegitimate child, this didn’t evoke any sympathy from Blake; instead, it reminded him of his own shameful past. Blake’s name used to be different, but even after being brought into the Kingston family, he was still looked down upon. When it came to any interests or benefits, he was always the one sacrificed, which is why he was given a name that reflected being ‘abandoned’ or ‘forgotten’. Over the years, anyone who dared to look down on Blake had been quietly dealt with. Delilah’s current actions were just like his mother’s years ago. Some internet users even found videos of Blake’s mother from over twenty years ago. The shadow of being scorned had hung over him for years. Delilah’s actions successfully infuriated him. To deal with a woman like her, Blake had countless methods; after all, countless girls came looking for him downstairs at the company every day. But I never imagined that I, too, would become a target of his revenge. I arrived home from my studio to find Delilah kneeling at my doorstep, drawing stares and whispers from passersby. I avoided her gaze, walked straight to my door, and started to open it. Just as I was about to close it, she violently slammed her hand against the doorframe.

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My college-aged sister, Skylar, got pregnant out of wedlock, and she refused to name the father, insisting on keeping their “love child.” My heart ached for her, so young and already with a swollen belly. I brought her home, spoiling her with good food and endless care. It wasn’t until the day she was about to give birth that Skylar finally broke down in tears, confessing to everyone that the baby belonged to her and my husband, Brandon. What a massive scene that caused. Turns out, my entire family had just been using me as a free live-in maid. “Say that again. Whose baby is it?” Even in a sterile hospital gown, Skylar’s beautiful face couldn’t be hidden. She defiantly held her head high, tenderly stroking her heavily pregnant belly. Her voice choked as she pleaded with me to accept the child. She claimed the baby couldn’t be born without a father, and if I was truly her sister, I should put myself in her shoes and consider her feelings. “If news got out that the baby had no father, imagine how many people would gossip about me and the child behind our backs,” she whined. “You can’t be so heartless.” I stood there, silently listening to all her accusations, as if I were the one who had committed such a disgraceful act. A bitter ache twisted in my gut, leaving me frozen. For a moment, I had no idea how to react to the scene unfolding before me. My eyes desperately darted to my parents, who stood by the hospital bed, pleading for them to step in and set things right. But to my disbelief, even after Skylar pulled such a disgusting stunt, my parents’ first reaction was to tell *me*, the elder sister, to be more understanding. “Don’t stoop to her level,” they said. “There’s no hurdle you can’t overcome,” they insisted. “Just forgive your sister’s youthful ignorance.” Then they added, “Your mother and I are getting old. Skylar needs someone by her side. As her older sister, you need to take good care of her during her postpartum recovery, making sure she didn’t develop any lasting health issues. Those kind of recovery illnesses are a real pain to get rid of.” Their biased words pierced me like countless tiny needles, an insidious ache spreading through my chest. Because “the older sister always has to give in to the younger,” Skylar always managed to snatch everything I had without any effort, simply because she wanted it. When we were kids, our family was poor. We lived on humble meals like cabbage and tofu stew. Only once a month, when Dad got his paycheck, could we afford a roast chicken to improve our diet. But whenever it was time to divide the chicken, I always ended up with the dry, scrawny chicken head and the fatty tail piece. “Skylar is still young and growing, so the legs and wings are hers,” they’d say. “And your parents do manual labor every day, so the meatiest part of the body is for us to replenish our strength.” Even if Skylar couldn’t finish her portion, Mom never even thought about giving me a single bite. Instead, she’d meticulously debone the chicken, shred the meat, and mix it into Skylar’s rice for the next day. Even now, if there’s anything good to eat, Skylar is always the first one they think of. They always doted on Skylar, pampering her endlessly, while I was met with nothing but strictness. If Skylar struggled with her studies, our parents would spare no expense enrolling her in expensive tutoring classes. If I fell behind, I’d get yelled at, and sometimes even beaten with a belt, leaving me in so much pain I couldn’t sleep all night. Mom said girls needed to dress up from a young age, so she bought Skylar countless pretty dresses, changing them daily. When it was my turn, I was told to wear worn-out hand-me-downs from relatives’ kids. In my teens, I wanted to look good, so I begged a friend to do my makeup, and my parents would call me a tramp for it. I even wondered if Mom had somehow swapped us at the hospital. But it wasn’t until I was an adult that I learned my mother gave birth to me outside, not even making it to the hospital. It felt like my very birth condemned me to be inferior to my sister. Yet, they never admitted they played favorites. Whenever I asked them why they only loved Skylar and not me, they’d grab whatever was at hand and hit or curse at me. “Stop causing trouble!” they’d shout. “Have I done something wrong raising you? How could I have raised such an ungrateful wretch?” “When will you ever learn to be sensible? How old do you need to be to stop competing with your sister for attention?” Skylar stole my parents’ affection, she stole everything that should have been mine. But I never imagined she’d try to steal my place now. This time, I refused to endure it any longer. This rule, “the older must yield to the younger”—who the hell decided that?!

As I thought this, a fierce glint slowly appeared in my eyes. Skylar, seeing that I hadn’t come to coax her and wasn’t making any moves, peeked at me from the corner of her eye, trying to gauge my reaction. After all, ever since we were children, whenever our opinions differed, I was always the one to humble myself, coax her, and agree to all her unreasonable demands. She clearly thought I hadn’t heard her properly, so she slowly raised her voice and repeated, “Aria, you’re not still clinging to those old-fashioned, outdated ideas, are you? Only the unloved one is the third party! *You* should be the one to leave!” “You’re not worthy of my Brandon!” Honestly, right then, I really wanted to crack open her little head and see what kind of sludge was sloshing around in there. I never thought the phrase “What the hell is this?” would actually come out of my mouth. I lunged forward, grabbing handfuls of Skylar’s long, dark hair and tugging with all my might. No matter who tried to pull me off, they couldn’t separate me from her. Skylar probably never expected me to snap so violently; she hadn’t put up any defenses, leaving her completely blindsided. She could only let me unleash all the pent-up anguish of the past few days on her. I sat up, tears welling in my eyes, and yelled at her, “From childhood until now, tell me, what have I ever done to wrong you? I always let you have the best food, the best toys first.” “Do you know how terrified I was when I got that call from your college at three-thirty in the morning, telling me you were pregnant?!” “I took the earliest flight that very night to pick you up, barely sleeping a wink. I was so afraid you’d be too upset, so I climbed countless flights of stairs just to get your leave of absence sorted!” “I worried about you getting tired, so while you were nesting at my house, I wouldn’t let you lift a finger. All you had to do was lie in bed, extend your hand for food, open your mouth to eat, and enjoy everything I did for you!” “I daresay I’ve done more for you than your own parents, haven’t I? How dare you do this to me!” It was only then that a hint of panic appeared on Skylar’s delicate face. Seeing that I was genuinely furious, she started cursing at the onlookers, shouting, “What are you all staring at?! Pull this crazy woman off me! Why are you just standing there?! She’s insane!” Everyone around tried to tell me, “It’s not worth it, it’s not worth it,” but they were too afraid of getting hurt themselves to get close. It wasn’t until a familiar figure appeared in my line of sight that I slowly loosened my grip, giving Skylar a chance to scramble out of my grasp. I smoothed down my wild hair, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity, forcing a stiff smile. “Mom, what are you doing here? I–” But before I could finish, Mrs. Stone’s hand swung, landing squarely across my face. The force of the slap made me stagger before I managed to regain my balance. I clutched my stinging, swollen cheek, staring in disbelief at Skylar, who had taken refuge behind Mrs. Stone. My voice trembled uncontrollably. “Mom, you knew about this all along too?” Mrs. Stone’s face lit up with a smile. She tenderly brushed a few strands of sweat-soaked hair from Skylar’s forehead, gently asking if I had scared her. Then, clearing her throat, she placed her hands on her hips and spoke to me with an air of superiority. “It’s your fault for not being able to keep your man in check. He just made a mistake that all men make! If you won’t have children, there are plenty of women eager to bear a child for my son.” “You’ve been married to Brandon for three years, and you couldn’t even give him a child. Whose fault is that? Let me tell you, a barren hen like you has no right to hog my Brandon’s nest!” “This is outrageous! What kind of woman is as heartless as you? You just don’t want my Brandon’s family to thrive! Are you wishing my son would be the end of our family line?!” Mrs. Stone made no effort to hide the disdain in her eyes. Her face, swollen with anger, was a mass of jiggling flesh, and not a drop of her spittle was wasted; it all landed on my face. But I was in no mood to wipe it off. Brandon and I had been married for three years, and Mrs. Stone had tormented me for just as long. I knew from the start that she never approved of me. After all, I had neither a degree nor exceptional looks. Not just Mrs. Stone, but everyone around us said I was punching above my weight with Brandon. So, I walked on eggshells in that house, terrified that any wrong move would displease her. But even so, my inability to give Brandon a child in our three years of marriage remained Mrs. Stone’s biggest grievance, and she’d pick fights with me every other day. Yet, no matter what indignity I suffered at their hands, I endured it in silence. I was terrified of putting my husband in a difficult position between his mother and me. But now, I didn’t know what all my sacrifices for this family had been for. I felt utterly pathetic, still trembling in fear after Mrs. Stone’s dismissive words.

“Stop filming! What are you all looking at?!” “Wife, are you okay?” My husband, Brandon, impatiently pushed through the crowd of gawkers blocking the doorway, slamming the hospital room door shut behind him. He must have rushed here straight from work, not even taking a moment to catch his breath, desperate to defend me. Skylar, seeing Brandon arrive, simpered and clung to him. But to her surprise, my husband showed her no pity, shoving her straight to the floor. Seeing Brandon, I felt like I finally had support. All the strength drained from me as I leaned against his shoulder, which I had yearned for. My husband pulled me into his embrace, silently calming my agitated emotions. But the imagined moment of tenderness didn’t last long. Mrs. Stone’s and Skylar’s cries and wails erupted from below. Mrs. Stone was also on the floor, throwing a fit, rolling around and wailing as she accused my husband, “You got a wife and forgot your mother! You won’t even let me have my way in such a small matter!” “Do you know how hard it was for me, a single woman, to raise you? I suffered ten times more than any man! And what was it all for? You’re useless! Sons are just raised for other people!” Mrs. Stone seemed to feel that mere crying wasn’t enough. She scrambled up from the floor and sprinted towards the hospital’s load-bearing wall, chanting like a spell, “Oh, my dear departed husband! I’m coming to join you now! We’ll be together down there. But I hate that I’ll leave without even seeing my grandchild once!” But a hospital was no place for such chaotic antics. The commotion drew security guards, who quickly intervened and separated Mrs. Stone. I looked at my husband with immense relief, a blissful thought crossing my mind: “With a husband who protects and loves me like this, I have no regrets in life.” For a moment, I felt confident I could defeat anyone who dared covet my marriage. But in this game, it turned out I was the only one who was truly invested. After hearing Mrs. Stone’s words, tears welled up in Brandon’s eyes. His face, crimson, contorted as he yanked his hand from my tight grip. He snarled at me, begging me not to make things difficult for him. “My mother raised me; it wasn’t easy! All she wants is a grandchild to dote on in her old age! She hasn’t done anything wrong!” I stared at the face of the man I had known for four years and loved for eight. His features blurred with the memory of the shy boy who had once asked me to marry him, promising to cherish me forever. It was then I realized I didn’t truly know him, or perhaps, I had never truly seen him. Yet, years of shared history still held a sliver of hope in my heart. My voice, however, couldn’t hide the disappointment as I asked him, “What about me? What did *I* do wrong?” “Please, just tell me. I’ll change.” I had always presented a strong front to my husband; this was the first time I had shown him my vulnerability. He hesitated, visibly. But then, hearing that Skylar’s water had broken and she was about to give birth, he turned and left without a second thought. If before, I could have rationalized his actions as filial piety, now it was clear to anyone with eyes: he cared for that child. Outside the delivery room, everyone anxiously awaited the new arrival. But I tore up the gifts I had already prepared, crumpling them in a unnoticed corner, wishing no one would ever discover this secret.

“Congratulations! It’s a healthy baby boy, over nine pounds! What a blessing! He’s the first boy born here today!” Everyone rushed forward, eager to hold the baby, utterly smitten. Skylar, pale and exhausted, was wheeled out, but no one paid her any mind. She weakly raised a hand, then slowly let it fall. A baby weighing nearly nine pounds was delivered naturally by petite Skylar, simply because Mrs. Stone insisted that naturally born babies are smarter than C-section babies. Skylar, eager to please her, actually gritted her teeth and went through with it. Now, she must have been utterly drained. After Skylar was moved to a regular room, unable to get out of bed, Mom and Mrs. Stone agreed to take turns looking after her. But within a few days, the cracks began to show in their seemingly solid alliance. Mom resented Skylar constantly ordering her around, harboring a simmering anger. Mrs. Stone found Skylar too high-maintenance, insisting on having three different colored basins for washing her bottom, her feet, and her underwear. “Who needs all that fuss?” she’d complain. “A basin is a basin! What’s the point of just looking good if you can’t manage a household? Such a spendthrift!” Soon, everyone found excuses not to come. Even with her strong pride, Skylar was helpless against the postpartum discharge, letting them handle her as they pleased. Brandon didn’t come to see her either. All she could do was watch the loving, happy couple in the bed next to her, silently weeping. New mothers are naturally prone to emotional fluctuations, and with the baby crying every night, Skylar’s once delicate features were gone. Her proud, waist-length hair was falling out in handfuls during the nightly ordeal. Watching this, I couldn’t help but find it amusing. So, this was the “happiness” Skylar had embraced by betraying me. But perhaps Mom also realized that leaving Skylar alone in the hospital room wasn’t a good idea. She called me, her voice sharp with command: “Your sister’s in the hospital. Go stay with her, now! Don’t make me angry! I’m only telling you once!” Silence. A long, drawn-out silence. The person on the other end of the line, hearing no response from me, grew increasingly agitated. “Are you deaf?! Your mother is talking to you! Don’t you know how to answer when you’re spoken to? Who taught you such bad manners?” “Both of you are giving me so much trouble! Did I make a mistake raising you? Did I raise enemies instead?” “I’m your mother! No matter how much you dislike it, you have to listen to me!” I put my phone on speaker and tossed it aside, ignoring the furious rant from the other end. I was happily lying back in a beauty salon, enjoying the most expensive treatments.

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Asher King was cheating for the 78th time, and I was lying right beside him. His secretary, Chloe, breathed huskily into my ear, “Making so much noise, aren’t you afraid of waking your deaf little wife?” He scoffed, “Her? She’s just my deaf-mute pet. So docile.” “You know what? I bet even if I hit her right now, she’d just stare at me with those innocent eyes.” No sooner had he spoken than he actually slapped my back. A searing pain shot through me, and I looked at him. Chloe giggled mockingly, “See? No reaction at all.” I touched my ear, watching them, and a sudden smile spread across my face. “I’ve been waiting for that slap for a long time.” Asher King’s smile instantly froze. “Your hearing’s back?” I stared coldly at the two of them, saying nothing. The woman beneath Asher scrambled to pull her clothes over the passion marks on her skin. A thick, cloying scent of their illicit affair hung heavy in the air. I stroked the hearing aid on my ear, my gaze calm as I swept over the couple on the bed. Chloe, clutching her chest, dropped to her knees on the floor with a thump. “Miss Miller! Miss Miller! I’m so sorry! I truly am!” “It’s all my fault! I lost my head! I shamelessly seduced Mr. King!” “I couldn’t control my feelings! It has nothing to do with Mr. King! He was just confused for a moment!” Tears streamed down her young, beautiful face, making her look utterly pitiful. I didn’t utter a word, but Asher spoke first. He wore a half-tied robe, kicking over the bedside trash can, shielding Chloe behind him. “Hazel Miller, have you made enough of a scene?! Staying up all night just to spy on me with another woman?” “Chloe has already apologized. What more do you want? Do you have to embarrass everyone like this?” I looked at his impatient expression and curled my lips into a bitter smile. “Asher King, is that all you have to say to me right now?” He froze, standing still. I pulled a brown envelope from the nightstand drawer and opened it. I dumped its contents onto the bed, and countless photos scattered everywhere. Pictures of him entering hotels with different women, photos of him canoodling with models in his sports car, pictures of Chloe entangled with him in various outfits—in his office, in his study… Asher’s face turned ashen as he looked at the photos. I simply said, “Asher King, I’ll grant you your freedom.” “We’re getting a divorce.” Chloe’s sobs abruptly ceased, and a flicker of glee crossed her eyes. I turned and walked away. Asher chased after me, grabbing my wrist. “Hazel Miller! Divorce? Who gave you permission to even mention divorce?” “You’ve been pretending to be deaf and dumb all these years just to take my pictures and threaten me? What a manipulative schemer you are!” “I’m telling you,” he yanked me closer, forcing me to look up at him, “You want a divorce? No chance in hell! You think you can use these things to take half of my family’s assets? Dream on!” “Without me, which of these men out there would ever take you seriously? With just your family’s status, who would genuinely care about you?”

I pried Asher King’s fingers off mine, one by one, gritting my teeth, and slapped him across the face. Five years of marriage, we had argued and fought, but he had never used my hearing impairment to mock me. And today, I’d heard it twice, all for another woman. “Asher King, do you remember? You were the one who pledged solemnly to my father, on bended knee, that my hearing didn’t matter, that you’d love and protect me for a lifetime.” “Of course, you don’t remember.” “You also don’t remember leaving me stranded in the snow during my prenatal check-up, just so you could celebrate Chloe’s birthday.” “You didn’t see me lying in the snow, the blood pooling beneath me, nor did you see that tiny, formed life, how it slowly, painfully, left my body…” Asher King’s lips turned pale, and his body instinctively reeled back. “Hazel…” “Asher King, how could I ever forgive you?” Asher was about to say more, but Chloe’s sobbing interrupted him. “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault! I shouldn’t… shouldn’t have been around Mr. King! I ruined everything for you two! If you want to hit me or scold me, just do it!” Chloe cried, inching closer to me, her posture weak, taking all the blame upon herself, perfectly absolving Asher. Asher deserved to die, and so did she. A wave of pent-up fury surged through me. I walked over to Chloe, bent down, and grabbed her hair. Under her terrified gaze, I smashed her head against the floor, again and again, until blood started seeping from her forehead. Asher King’s roar erupted, “Hazel Miller! Are you out of your mind?!” He forcefully pulled me away from Chloe, shoving my shoulder. I stumbled, my back hitting the edge of the dressing table. The pain multiplied, and cold sweat broke out. Asher shielded Chloe as if she were a priceless gem, his eyes fixed on me with undisguised disgust. “Apologize to Chloe!” “Never.” Seeing them stand together, disheveled, I felt nothing but utter revulsion. I pulled out the divorce papers from my bag and threw them in front of Asher. “Sign it.” Asher picked up the agreement, sneered, and with both hands, tore it into tiny pieces. Five years of marriage, and all I wanted was a peaceful separation, but he wouldn’t even grant me that. I stood there quietly, watching Asher King’s face contorted with rage. “Asher King. If you don’t sign, we’ll settle this in court.” I didn’t look back until the car drove away from the mansion. I checked into a suite at a top hotel in the city center for a few days. Sitting on the sofa, my body still trembled uncontrollably. I took out my phone and called my father. “Hazel?” “Dad, I’m divorcing Asher.” My father on the other end was silent for a few seconds, then roared, “I knew that kid wasn’t any good! Did he do something to hurt you?!” “Don’t be afraid, Hazel! Dad’s here! The Millers aren’t down and out yet, he won’t get away with bullying us!” “This divorce *has* to happen! Whatever you want, your dad will give it to you!” I sniffled, my eyes suddenly red, tears streaming down my face. After I composed myself, my father said, “Declan is on a business trip near you right now. I’ll have him contact you. You can ask him for help if you need anything. He… he’s always cared about you.” “I understand, Dad.”

After hanging up, my fingers unconsciously swiped across the screen, finally stopping on Declan Hayes’s SnapChat profile picture. Ever since I called off my engagement to the Hayes family, all that remained between us were holiday greetings. His words from the last time we met faintly echoed in my ears. “Asher King may not be the one who can truly accept and understand you…” “Marriage isn’t child’s play. I hope you’ll think it through. Whatever your decision, I respect it.” Declan, your words became a cruel prophecy. It’s just a shame I’m only now understanding it. My phone vibrated, and a red notification dot appeared on Declan Hayes’s message icon. “Hazel, I’m at the door.” I took a deep breath, opened the door, and Declan Hayes stood outside, dusty and disheveled from his travels, carrying luggage. He said living together would make things easier to handle. I didn’t play coy; I simply offered him the guest room. During the day, he handled his company matters, and in the evenings, he helped me contact lawyers to revise the divorce agreement. This routine continued for a week. I habitually picked up my phone, and Chloe Reed’s name was prominently displayed at the top of my Ins feed. Just a few minutes ago, she had updated a set of photos. In the pictures, she sat on the sofa I had carefully chosen. Two cups of coffee sat on the small wooden table, and the corner of a dark gray robe peeked out from the edge of the table. [Late-night wine can’t beat morning coffee~] I stared at the post for a long moment. Declan handed me a glass of warm water, his gaze calmly sweeping over my phone. “She’s just a pathetic wannabe.” I softly hummed in agreement, clutching the glass. The stability I’d sought for years in my marriage couldn’t even compare to the simple warmth of the cup in my hands. At ten in the morning, I returned to the mansion. I figured I’d take advantage of working hours to retrieve all my wedding heirlooms. I walked into the bedroom, found the safe, and entered the password. [Incorrect password!] [Incorrect password!] My heart sank. The password had been changed. I turned to look for a key, only to bump head-on into Asher King. He held a folder, seemingly just coming out of his study. He clearly hadn’t expected me to return at this hour. He froze for a moment, then a look of wild joy flashed across his face. “Hazel!” Asher strode quickly towards me, opening his arms as if to embrace me. “You’re back! I knew you couldn’t stay away!” His tone suggested I had just thrown a small tantrum and had finally come to my senses and returned home. A sweet, cloying scent of cheap perfume hit me, and I frowned in disgust, stepping back. “Don’t touch me!” Asher’s movements stiffened, and a flash of irritation crossed his face. I couldn’t be bothered with small talk and coldly asked, “What’s the password for the safe?” Asher King’s throat bobbed, his eyes darting. “Password? Why are you asking that?” “My wedding jewelry and heirlooms are stored in the safe. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask for the password, isn’t it?” “I’ve kept those things for you. I just changed the password for security reasons.” “Ash?” A soft voice drifted up from downstairs.

I followed the sound, and Chloe Reed, dressed in a business suit, stood at the corner. Around her neck was the all-diamond necklace that was part of my wedding settlement. The last flicker of hope in my heart extinguished. My husband, days after I left, brought another woman into our home and paraded her in my own wedding jewelry, literally handing over my most precious belongings. “Hmph…” I sneered. “Is that what you call ‘security reasons’ and ‘keeping them safe’?” “Asher King, do you take me for dead?” “That jewelry was left to me by my mother! It’s my family’s heirloom! And you just brazenly take it to win your little mistress’s favor?” Asher’s face darkened. “Hazel Miller! What nonsense are you talking about?” “Don’t be so harsh! Chloe… she just liked this necklace and wanted to borrow it! “You have so many necklaces, what’s wrong with lending one? Is it worth making such a fuss? Anyway, those things of yours just collect dust in the safe!” Chloe clutched her neck, her eyes instantly red, as if I were the unreasonable villain. “I’m so sorry, Miss Miller, I didn’t know… this was your wedding heirloom… I just thought it was so beautiful and matched my outfit today…” Asher shielded Chloe, scolding me, “Enough! Are you done yet? Can’t you have some decorum as a high-society wife?! Always nitpicking, it’s utterly embarrassing!” I ignored Asher King’s accusations, my gaze drawn to Chloe’s hand covering her neck. My eyes fixed on it, and I felt all the blood rush to my head, blurring my vision. Asher had given her *that* ring too—the one I had made from a tiny lock of my baby’s hair, a memento of the child I lost too soon. That ring had always been hidden away, even Asher rarely saw it, and now it was on Chloe Reed’s finger. I lunged at Chloe, grabbing the ring on her hand. She screamed in terror as my nails scraped her face. “Take it off! Get it off right now!” Asher was stunned by the sudden turn of events. When he reacted, he furiously pulled me away. “Hazel Miller! You’re a damn lunatic!” “Lunatic? Yes, I am a lunatic! A lunatic forced to listen to you and your secretary hooking up! A lunatic called ‘too much trouble’ when I miscarried!” I pointed at Chloe, her face covered in scratches and blood. “Do you know what ring she’s wearing? That’s my child’s hair! It’s the only thing she left me!” “How could you defile me like this? Asher King, you’re not even human!” Chloe finally realized she was wearing something forbidden. She trembled as she slipped off the ring and placed it in front of me. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I truly didn’t know…” I grabbed a porcelain object nearby and threw it at them. Asher grunted, still not forgetting to shield Chloe. He spoke calmly, “You’ve screamed, you’ve made a scene. Can you settle down now?” “What kind of fuss is this over a baby that was barely formed? What good does keeping that ring do, other than tormenting yourself? If you just behave, we can always have another child.” Listen to that. That’s what my husband said to me and our child. I curled my lips into a mocking smile, walked to the bar, and grabbed a bottle of vodka. Under Asher King’s gaze, I violently hurled it at our wedding photo hanging on the wall. The liquor mixed with glass shards splattered everywhere. In the photo, I wore a wedding dress, my smile shy, my expression full of hopes for the future. I emotionlessly cut the photo of us together, throwing my part into the fireplace. The flames instantly devoured the picture, leaving a pile of ashes. Chloe was utterly terrified, clutching the wound splashed with liquor, shrinking behind Asher with a pained expression. “Asher King, in five years of marriage, you’ve given me countless things. Bags, houses, cars… But those were either leftovers your mistresses didn’t want, or merely necessities to adorn your ‘wife.’ “Only this,” I tapped my ear, “was something you truly gave me. And perhaps even this was just so I could better hear your commands.” I watched Asher still wanting to approach, then ripped off my hearing aid and threw it at him. “Now, I’m giving it back to you.” He stopped, his gaze fixed on the hearing aid lying on the floor. He didn’t move. Dead silence filled my ears. I could only speak from habit. “Asher King, we’re done.” “As for what’s left, I’ll have my lawyer handle the inventory. Enjoy your final moments of marital bliss.” “I will collect every single bit of what you owe me, with interest.” Pushing open the mansion door, Declan Hayes stood there quietly, his eyes deep and somber as he looked at me.

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I am the most noble princess of the fox clan. In my past life, I chose the seemingly noble Damien as my husband. But our child was born as the lowest-ranked fox. Enraged, he killed our baby and threw me, still weak from childbirth, into a vat of boiling oil before leaving me to die in the wilderness. Meanwhile, my sister Ivy married a low-ranking fox, yet gave birth to a rare purple fox. They became the new rulers of our clan. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day Damien chose me. This time, he decisively picked Ivy instead. I knew he had been reborn too. But how could a husband who relied on stolen magic to maintain his appearance possibly father a high-ranking fox child? The fox clan was divided into seven ranks, from highest to lowest: obsidian, white, purple, emerald, silver, azure, and the lowest – mixed fur foxes. Obsidian foxes hadn’t been born in thousands of years and were now considered mythical. White foxes appeared once a century at most. My father, the clan leader, was currently the only white fox. He longed for me to marry the highest-ranking male fox to produce the next pride of our clan. That’s why today’s mate selection ceremony was held. The most noble young male fox was Damien, my husband in my past life. When I opened my eyes, I found him looking at me with contempt. My father had just chosen him for me. “Princess Aria’s noble status makes her a perfect match for you. I’ve taken the liberty of arranging your marriage,” my father declared. Damien bowed slightly to my father. “Your Majesty, I refuse to marry Princess Aria. I request to marry your second daughter, Ivy, instead.” The hall fell silent instantly. Everyone’s eyes widened in shock. Ivy was stunned for a moment before her face lit up with joy. She gave me a smug look. I had pure royal blood as the child of the fox king and his queen consort. All eyes were on me. Ivy was the daughter of a commoner my father had favored. Despite having royal blood, she was only a silver fox. Noble families looked down on her, while she scorned commoners. My other sisters were already married with children, but Ivy remained unwed. Damien’s public refusal of my father was a blatant disrespect to his authority. My father’s anger flared, his aura surging before he forcefully suppressed it. “Princess Aria is the highest-ranking and your best match. As the pride of our clan, how can you only think of romance? Your duty is to produce a purple fox! Moreover, my daughter Aria has the noblest bloodline among all females. Why do you look down on her?” Though my father claimed this mate selection was for all his daughters, it was truly only for me. He was furious, his eyes reddening as magic gathered at his fingertips. “Your Majesty, it’s not that I don’t want to choose Aria. She deliberately concealed the truth and deceived everyone. She’s not a noble purple fox, but a mixed fur fox!” His words shocked everyone! I gritted my teeth. I knew he would reveal this. A nearby building suddenly collapsed as my father’s rage swept over us. Everyone knelt on the ground. “Damien, do you know the punishment for slandering a princess?” My father was used to his high position. The fact that he hadn’t immediately executed Damien for this public humiliation showed extreme restraint. Damien remained fearless, glancing at me contemptuously. “If Princess Aria reveals her true form, the rumors will be disproven.” My maid grew anxious. “Princess, quickly show your true form! How could you possibly be a mixed fur fox?” I watched Damien’s confident and arrogant demeanor, my fists clenched tight. In my past life, after our child was born, he saw that the purple fox he had longed for was actually a mixed fur fox. He then used all his magic to destroy my core, forcing me to reveal my true form. He plucked all my fur and threw me into a vat of boiling oil. In the end, my corpse was fed to wild dogs. My father glared at me with disappointed eyes. “What are you waiting for? Show your true form! Don’t you care about my face?” My father was a rare white fox. No matter who he mated with, the child shouldn’t be a low-ranking mixed fur fox. Damien’s words were questioning whether my bloodline was truly pure. My father’s eyes were blood-red as he angrily pressured me. “Aria, what are you waiting for?” My father and mother had been deeply in love. My mother had died giving birth to me, so my father treasured me above all else. My mother’s last words declaring me a purple fox had never been questioned. I lowered my head and remained silent before slowly uttering a few words. “I’m indeed not a purple fox.” My father suppressed his anger. “Very well then. I’ll arrange the marriage between Damien and Ivy. If there’s nothing else, you’re all dismissed!” Damien left with an expression of anticipation for the show to come. In the end, only my father and I remained. He coughed up a mouthful of blood. “Princess Aria’s crimes are unforgivable. Throw her into the dungeon!” I wanted to explain that although I wasn’t a purple fox, I definitely wasn’t an ordinary mixed fur fox either. My fur color was special – white interspersed with red, as if my entire body was surrounded by flames. But from start to finish, he never gave me a chance to explain. He didn’t trust me, or even the words of his beloved wife who had died giving birth to his child. I had to do something for myself. I knelt on the ground. “Your child has erred. I request to be sent to the Frozen Lands as an offering to the Fox God.” The fox clan had declined over the centuries, with fewer and fewer high-ranking foxes born. To continue the bloodline, every hundred years they would offer young maidens to the Fox God, seeking blessings and protection. My situation was dire. This was my last hope. My mother had left me a message that appeared and then vanished on my coming of age day. “Your identity is special. If necessary, you can go to the Frozen Lands to seek the Fox God. Your destiny lies there.” In my past life, I had been infatuated with Damien and never took my mother’s words to heart. This time, I had to take a chance. My father glared at me fiercely when he heard my request. In the end, Ivy whispered in his ear, delighted at my apparent self-destruction. He finally agreed. I returned to my chambers with my maid to pack. Ivy couldn’t wait to come gloat. She wore luxurious clothes she had never worn before, her face caked with makeup. Now she was basking in glory. “I never imagined the high and mighty Princess Aria would turn out to be a mixed fur fox that even common clan members despise. Even if you go as an offering, why would the Fox God favor you?” Even with all that powder, the wrinkles on her face couldn’t be hidden. “Unlike me, now chosen by Damien – every fox maiden’s dream man. Little sister, your jealousy is useless.” My maid stepped forward. “Princess Ivy, just days ago you were begging my mistress to help find you a good match. How quickly you’ve changed!” Ivy’s expression changed. She immediately slapped my maid hard across the face. I was about to retaliate when I suddenly felt a force knock me to the ground. Damien was standing in the doorway watching me. “Ivy bears the responsibility of our clan’s future. She’ll bear white fox children with me. You mixed fur trash should just go die!” At that moment, another powerful force hit me. I coughed up a mouthful of blood. I saw my father glaring at me from afar, his face displeased. The mighty Fox King actually believed these two mongrels could produce the future hope of our clan. I laughed out loud. “Then I wish you both the birth of a white fox!” They couldn’t produce one. A silver fox and a mixed fur fox could only produce another mixed fur! Moreover, Damien’s magic was depleted from maintaining his appearance. He likely couldn’t father a child at all. Ivy, you’ll slowly taste all the pain I suffered in my past life! I left the palace amid everyone’s mockery. Even the clan members on the road to the Frozen Lands constantly humiliated me. “You’re of such lowly status. If you anger the Fox God, we’ll beat you to death, understand?” My magic had been sealed by my father. I could only endure their abuse. Fortunately, half a month later, I successfully arrived. On the first night, everyone eagerly awaited the Fox God’s arrival. At midnight, a filthy man with a lame left leg stumbled in. Everyone was frightened at first and chased him away. Only I noticed that despite his limp, he still moved with agility. He was no ordinary person. So I ran out during the commotion and called out to the man. He turned back with a slight smile, and I lost consciousness.

When I woke up the next day, my whole body ached and there was a strange mark on my wrist. Everyone in the temple had vanished. I could only return to the palace based on my memory. Everyone was in a panic. Throughout history, no one had ever returned from there. My father had even sent search parties, but those sent as offerings had vanished without a trace. My return was either a great blessing or a great curse. The royal clan members cursed me as a fugitive who disregarded the clan’s safety. No matter how I tried to explain, it was useless. They finally came up with a solution – to burn me at the stake in front of the temple as a show of respect to the Fox God. “Father, I don’t know what happened. I really didn’t sneak away!” I cried, begging them to spare me. I didn’t want to repeat the tragedy of my past life. “Look at how many things you’ve done to shame me!” he roared. Ivy was pregnant. Damien supported her as they watched my misfortune from the side. Flames suddenly ignited around me. I was so frightened I nearly fainted. But after a long while, I realized the flames couldn’t harm me at all. Only the mark on my wrist glowed faintly. “What’s going on? Aria, what trick have you pulled now? How can you be so devious!” Ivy cried out when she saw I was unharmed. Everyone came to their senses. The high priest stepped forward, putting on airs. “Perhaps Aria is too lowly and the Fox God finds her repulsive. That’s why this is happening. The Fox God is merciful, so let’s spare her.” The high priest called for a doctor to examine me. Suddenly, another shocking secret was revealed. “Aria, she’s… she’s pregnant!” My father’s gloomy face grew even more vicious. Everyone was astonished, looking at me in disbelief. “Aria, kneel down! You’ve repeatedly offended the Fox God. Today I’ll rid our clan of this scourge!” Damien finally saw his chance, but despite using all his power, he couldn’t harm me. Ivy also rushed forward eagerly, but she didn’t use magic. She simply slapped me across the face. “How can you be so shameless? An unwed princess consorting with others!” I noticed that Ivy’s slap carried no magical power at all. It seemed Damien had chosen the same path as before. “There are many strange creatures in the Frozen Lands. The princess may not even know what she’s carrying.” I was reviled by everyone. All sorts of insults were hurled at me. Some even tried to harass me in front of my father. In the end, everyone was at a loss. I was sent back to the palace and confined. But a few days later, someone actually proposed marriage to me, the universally despised princess. Ivy rushed to my palace, grinning from ear to ear. “Who would have thought, little sister, that someone would pick up this mess even with your ruined reputation. But I heard he’s an ugly cripple, haha!” “A cripple, and an ugly one at that? A perfect match for the princess indeed!” Her maids chimed in. When they saw I wasn’t reacting, they started pushing and shoving me. “Did you hear me? I’m talking to you!” I kept my face expressionless and smiled as I replied. “Thank you for telling me, sister. I think even a cripple is far better than Damien.” Sure enough, that raggedly dressed man who walked with a limp was the same one I had seen outside the temple that night.

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When another girl showed up with a pregnancy test, I knew my husband had cheated again. This time, it was a girl my father had sponsored through college, who then became practically an adopted sister, Luna. I mechanically pushed a pre-signed settlement check towards her, already reaching for my phone to book her an appointment for termination. Tears welled in Luna’s eyes, and she choked out, “I’m not like the others!” “Believe me, if I get rid of this baby, Mr. Sterling and Liam will hate you for it!” Her words left me completely unmoved. After all, every girl who’d come to me over the years had said the exact same thing. But this time, my father looked at the pregnancy test and furiously slapped my face. And my husband tossed signed divorce papers in front of me. “A child needs a father. I’m going to give Luna a complete family.” In that moment, I finally realized Luna hadn’t been wrong. If this baby was aborted, Dad and Liam would really hate me. “Elara Sterling, where did you send Luna? Which hospital?” “Tell me now, or don’t blame me if I disown you.” A searing pain blossomed across my cheek, and my father’s furious shouts echoed in my ears. I stared in disbelief at the two people closest to me, feeling only a bitter, absurd irony. I lowered my eyes, a wry smile on my lips. “I didn’t book her termination, and I have no idea where she went.” Dad shook his head, disappointment and anger warring across his face. Liam threw a termination appointment slip at me, grabbing my arm tight. “The appointment slip is right here! Don’t tell me it wasn’t you. Would Luna just abandon her own child?” “I don’t care what you do to other people, but why would you force Luna?!” “She’s lived so carefully all these years she’s been with our family.” “If it wasn’t for you, why would she disappear?!” Liam’s voice grew louder, the chill emanating from him becoming more palpable. I saw his eyes, bloodshot and ringed with dark circles. Liam, usually so composed and elegant, had frantically searched for Luna all night. My chest felt like it had been punched hard, a heavy ache spreading through me. My voice came out laced with helplessness. “I really don’t know where she is. I didn’t book the surgery. If you don’t believe me, you can check.” Liam thought I was still being stubborn, and his gaze shifted to Dad. “She won’t tell the truth.” “Dad, we can’t wait any longer. If we do, Luna and the baby will be in danger.” Dad’s brows furrowed, his voice low. “Elara, this is your last chance. Tell me which hospital Luna is at.” “Just tell me, and we’ll pretend today never happened.” “I’ll also persuade Luna not to hate you. You’ll still be my good daughter.” I looked at the father who used to lift me onto his shoulders to play when I was a child. Now, his eyes were as cold as frost. In that moment, he’d forgotten his promise to my mother, and he’d forgotten that I was his biological daughter. My eyes welled up, my voice bitter. “But I really don’t know.” Seeing my stubbornness, he completely lost his patience. He loudly called out to the bodyguards waiting outside. “Take her to the basement.” “If you’ve done something wrong, don’t blame me for using our family’s disciplinary measures.” Instant terror seized me. That basement was tiny and pitch-black, a nightmare for my claustrophobia. Dad knew my condition, yet he still chose to lock me in there. I looked at him, begging, but met only eyes filled with hatred. My heart plummeted into an icy abyss. In the basement, I shivered uncontrollably, my breathing growing shallow. Dad’s cane rained down on my body, blow after blow. I cried, pleading for him to stop, but he seemed not to hear. Just as I thought I was about to die, a frantic knocking sounded at the basement door. “Mr. Sterling, we’ve found Miss Luna!” In that moment, I felt like a condemned criminal who’d been pardoned. The blows finally stopped. I was covered in blood, which had even soaked through my clothes. Dad and Liam instantly lit up with joy at the news, eager to rush to her side. At the door, Liam suddenly stopped, turned, and threw the divorce papers at my feet. “Sign these today.” “That way, I can give Luna a home.” “I won’t let Luna be bullied by you anymore.” With that, he walked away without a backward glance. They didn’t spare another look at my injured body. I stared at the divorce papers on the floor, Liam’s signature already there. The papers seemed to silently mock all my devotion and humiliation. Cheers from upstairs announced Luna’s return. My tears streamed down, unstoppable. Just then, my phone vibrated, the screen lighting up. “Elara, I still can’t let you go.” “What I said back then still stands. Will you give me a chance?”

I sat there, numb and rigid, until I finally snapped back to reality. Picking up the pen, I signed my name on the divorce papers. All these years, I’d poured my everything into protecting this love, only for it to end like this. Turns out, when you’re not loved, even groveling in the dust is useless. I stifled a groan and pushed myself up, opening the basement door and heading upstairs. The household staff looked at me, covered in blood, their faces filled with shock and pity. Seeing me head towards the master bedroom, they couldn’t help but speak up. “Miss, perhaps you should rest somewhere else.” I was about to ask why when I heard Luna’s sultry moans from inside the bedroom. “Liam, be careful. I have a baby, you know.” My heart sank, and I froze in place. All these years, no matter how reckless he was, he’d never brought anyone into *our* bedroom. Now, he’d brought Luna to our marital home. Mr. Davies, the butler, kindly urged me. “Miss, perhaps you shouldn’t go up there.” The moans from inside grew louder, and the staff huddled together, whispering. “Miss Luna is pregnant, and Mr. Liam can’t even wait? In the master’s marital bedroom…” “The poor Miss Elara. She’d be better off divorced.” I pushed past Mr. Davies woodenly, slowly making my way to the bedroom door. Embarrassing gasps filled the air, one after another. Through the crack in the door, I glimpsed the scandalous scene unfolding within. My heart felt pierced by a thousand needles. When I first met Liam, he treated me so well. No matter how difficult the request, he’d do it for me. Even though he had a terrible fear of heights, he’d still jump out of planes with me, just because I loved skydiving. Back then, I thought no one in the world could love me more than him. But less than a year into our marriage, he started bringing different people in and out of hotels. To make him change his mind, I’d beg and plead, even get on my knees, or threaten to end my life. He’d only tiredly rub his temples. “Elara Sterling, don’t think too highly of me.” “Hearts are fickle by nature.” “Life is long. I won’t only love one person.” But I stubbornly believed he was just chasing a new thrill, never imagining this time was serious. I took a deep breath and pushed open the bedroom door. The room was a mess. Our wedding photo, sitting on our bedside table, was now shattered on the floor. The two people in the picture were sliced by the broken glass. Liam glanced at me, his face still flushed with desire. He calmly continued to kiss Luna’s lips. He only stopped when the girl in his arms began to breathe erratically. He smoothed her hair, then spoke mockingly. “Elara Sterling, do you have a fetish for watching other people’s intimate moments?” Seeing his indifferent attitude, my palms involuntarily clenched. I struggled to stay calm, but my voice trembled. “This is our marital home.” “Do you hate me so much that you have to humiliate me like this?” At my words, a flicker of discomfort crossed Liam’s eyes, and he felt an inexplicable irritation. He released his arm from around Luna, grabbing his shirt and pulling it on carelessly. But the hickey marks all over him were impossible to hide. It was sickening to see. I turned my back, my voice laced with bitterness. “I want to talk to you alone.” Luna, standing beside him, spoke plaintively. “Elara, do you not want to see me?” Hearing her, Liam immediately pulled her into his embrace, his face darkening. “Enough. You’re still bullying Luna.” “There are no secrets between us.” “Besides, there’s nothing left for us to talk about except divorce.” The man who usually cared for no one was now fiercely protective of Luna. He wouldn’t even grant me that last shred of dignity. I turned around with a bitter smile, handing him the divorce papers. “It’s signed.” He looked at me in surprise, snatched the papers, and repeatedly scanned the name. Confirming it was my signature, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Even though we’re divorced, Luna is also Dad’s daughter, so we’re still family.” “You’d better not try to harm Luna again, or don’t blame me for cutting all ties.” With that, he didn’t spare me another glance, taking Luna’s hand and leaving, as if afraid I’d change my mind. I knelt down, looking at the shattered wedding photo. Our sweet smiles from back then now seemed to mock me.

I turned and went to the guest room, exhausted, and collapsed onto the bed. I pulled out my phone, staring at the message I hadn’t yet replied to. After a long hesitation, I slowly typed out a single word. “Okay.” The sender was Julian, my childhood friend. I knew he used to like me. But at the time, my eyes were only on Liam, and Julian had moved abroad the day we got married. Though we no longer kept in touch, he’d send me a birthday gift every year. I never imagined that while I was miserably clinging to someone else, someone was quietly waiting for me. I then messaged my lawyer, asking him to handle my divorce and asset matters. After I finished, just as I was about to apply some antiseptic to my wounds, the door was kicked open. Before I could react, Dad’s bodyguards grabbed me and dragged me out the door. No matter how many times I asked on the way, they remained silent. The car stopped at the hospital, and I was pulled to the emergency room entrance. Dad and Liam were both there. Before I could even speak, Dad’s hand lashed out, slapping me again. He gritted his teeth, saying, “Elara Sterling, will you only be satisfied when Luna is dead?!” “Is this how I taught you to be?” My head spun, and blood instantly seeped from the corner of my mouth. Before I could recover, Liam rushed forward and grabbed my throat. “Was it you who hired someone to hit Luna with a car? I was only gone for a moment, and she got into an accident.” “Are you really so merciless towards her?” I looked at Liam’s bloodshot eyes. His gaze wanted to kill me. Dad was so enraged his voice trembled. “Elara, Luna has lived so cautiously all these years.” “Why can’t you just leave her alone?” “And she’s pregnant! Are you trying to kill two lives at once?” He clutched his chest, his breathing growing heavy. “I raised you wrong. Dad can’t let you continue like this.” They didn’t give me a chance to explain, immediately assuming I wanted to kill Luna. In their hearts, I was a ruthless demon, and Luna, their innocent angel. He picked up his phone and called the police, demanding that I be taught a lesson, locked away. I cried, begging them. “It wasn’t me, it really wasn’t me.” “If you don’t believe me, check. I was home the whole time.” But they remained unmoved. The prison inmates, instructed by Liam, tormented me in various ways. They shoved my head into the toilet, spat in my food. Any slight resistance was met with kicks and punches. The cane wounds on my body hadn’t healed, and now, with this repeated torture, I was on the verge of dying. When Liam came to the prison, he saw my injuries but remained cold. “Just admit you harmed Luna, and you won’t have to suffer like this.” My voice was almost too weak to hear. “Why should I admit to something I didn’t do?” “You claim it was me, but you have no proof.” “If I admit it, I’ll truly never get out.” Liam grew even more enraged. “Elara Sterling, you’re hopeless.” Watching his retreating back, tears streamed down my face. If I had known this, I never would have been so persistent. Love forced, indeed, proves fatal. I don’t know how long I was locked up, but the torment never stopped for a single day. Just as I lost consciousness, a prison guard appeared. “Elara Sterling, you can go.” “Your family is here to pick you up.” I was helped out of the prison, my body covered in countless wounds. Outside the prison gates, Liam stood waiting. Seeing me, a flicker of joy crossed his face.

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I spent ten years trying to win over Jasper Kingston. All he had to do was say “I do” at our wedding, and I could finally go back to my own world. But at the last possible second, his adopted sister, Stella Kingston, made a call. That one phone call was enough for him to abandon our wedding, leaving me stranded. I stood there on the stage, mortified, when Jasper’s uncle, Dominic Kingston, reached out to me. “Riley,” he said, his voice a steady anchor, “I’ll take you away from here.” That single sentence was enough. I decisively switched my mission target. I thought I’d succeed quickly. But five years with Dominic, and he’d give me anything but marriage. Then I saw it with my own eyes: Dominic pulling a ring, hidden deep at the bottom of his dresser, and giving it to Stella. A single tear slid down my cheek. They never loved me. Not from the beginning. Later, I had no will to live, and I took a leap. So why were they sobbing, begging me for just one more look? … “Stella, my biggest regret in this life is not marrying you.” “Seeing you with your own child now, I don’t regret a single thing—not even confessing my feelings to you for your sake and ditching Riley.” Dominic took a sparkling diamond ring, strung it on a necklace, and placed it around Stella’s neck, who had just given birth. “This way, it’s like I married you.” My boyfriend was professing his undying love to another woman right in front of me, while the System’s conquest value kept plummeting in my ear. My hands and feet turned to ice, frozen to the spot. [Host, mission failed. Initiating erasure.] My last target failed too. Tears finally spilled, uncontrollable. Fifteen years ago, a car accident somehow transported me to this world. The System told me if I could successfully complete my mission, I could go back, whole and alive. At first, I targeted Jasper Kingston, Dominic’s nephew. But he only ever loved his adopted sister, Stella. Later, the System allowed me to change targets, and I chose Dominic, the man who’d pulled me from my lowest point. But no matter how much I gave, it never measured up to a single word from Stella in their eyes. I closed my eyes. The past swarmed like ants, gnawing at my heart, a thousand tiny stings. The System, in its cold way, “kindly” reminded me that automatic erasure was too painful. It suggested I end myself. Like a robot, I walked out of the maternity ward and went back to the mansion. One by one, I tossed all the gifts Dominic had given me into the fireplace. If I was leaving, I’d leave nothing behind. But then, I accidentally set the curtains on fire. I frantically tried to get water to put it out, when suddenly, someone grabbed my arm, yanking me back with brute force. “Riley, are you insane?! Are you trying to burn yourself alive?” Red marks bloomed on my forearm, a searing pain spreading up my arm. I stared blankly at Jasper Kingston, his chest heaving right in front of me. He was the first person I’d been intimate with in this strange new world. My very first target. When I met him, I didn’t know he was the elder Kingston heir. Back then, he was broke, and I stayed by his side, helping him build his empire from scratch. The day Jasper’s company went public, the System told me my conquest value was at 90%. But then, at our wedding, Stella’s single phone call made Jasper abandon me, still in my wedding dress. Now, I didn’t argue with him. I just headed for the bathroom to get water to douse the flames. “Don’t worry, Jasper. Even if I die, I won’t drag anyone else down.” Jasper’s face darkened. Suddenly, something clicked for him, and he sneered. “Riley, do you have any conscience saying that?” He jabbed his finger repeatedly into my chest, pain blooming instantly. “Right, what conscience could someone like you possibly have?” At the wedding, Stella had said just one thing on that call: “Brother, Riley told me to die. She said my existence was getting in the way of your happiness.” Because of Stella’s single sentence, Jasper dismissed everything good I’d ever done. He looked at me with profound disappointment, speaking in a chilling tone: “Riley, why can’t you just leave Stella alone? You’re just… evil to the core.” I’d explained countless times that I never told Stella to die, but Jasper always remained silent, looking at me with pure disgust. The System said Jasper’s conquest value had dropped into the negative, with no chance of ever rising again. But now, he, who should have been by Stella’s side after she’d just given birth, was here. Was there, for just a fleeting second, a moment he remembered my kindness to him? “Jasper, are you worried about me?” I looked up, my eyes filled with a desperate hope. 2 But the very next second, Jasper’s words froze my heart solid. “Who’d worry about a malicious woman like you?” “I just came back to get clothes for the baby.” The disgust in his eyes pierced me deeply. Of course. His entire world revolved around Stella. Why would he believe me, even if I was about to die? I only learned after Jasper fled our wedding that he hadn’t actually been kicked out of the Kingston family. He’d left on his own accord, determined to marry his adopted sister. Being penniless wasn’t the consequence; it was part of his defiance. And I, who’d sacrificed everything for him, had simply become the testing ground for his love with Stella. I couldn’t bear to see his cold, indifferent face anymore. I turned to walk away. Just then, Jasper’s phone rang. We were standing too close. I heard Stella’s weeping voice clearly: “Jasper, our baby is gone!” “It’s Riley! Riley was at the hospital today. She must have taken our baby!” My eyes widened. Before I could even begin to explain, Jasper’s hand shot out, clamping around my neck. His voice was cold and deep. “Riley, hand over my son.” “You’ve been with my uncle for five years, why can’t you just leave Stella alone?!” The air was squeezed out of my lungs, little by little. Suffocation made me cough in ragged gasps, but I didn’t struggle. Just dying like this… would be a release. The next second, Jasper’s hand suddenly loosened. “Riley, you…” His voice trembled ever so slightly. I lunged at him, hitting and kicking, a storm of desperate rage. “Why?! Why didn’t you just choke me to death?!” The fleeting hint of reluctance in Jasper’s eyes instantly hardened into grim resolve. “You think if you die, I won’t find my son?!” I opened my mouth, wanting to explain that I hadn’t stolen his child, but Jasper never listened to my explanations. He violently dragged me out the door. “Jasper, I didn’t do it!” I struggled, but couldn’t break free. He practically threw me into his car. The car sped off, a blur of motion, stopping abruptly at the hospital entrance. Jasper forced me to my knees in front of Stella. “Riley, give us our child, or you know what I’m capable of!” I looked at Jasper’s harsh, cold face, my heart heavy with bitter sorrow. After he’d achieved success, he’d aggressively took over the elder Mr. Kingston’s company, pushing them out of any real power, all just to marry Stella. Was he going to use those same ruthless tactics on me now? “Riley, please, give me back my baby.” “As long as you give me back the child, I… I’ll do whatever you say…” Stella’s eyes were brimming with tears, her body trembling, making me look even more like a vicious female villain. Jasper kicked me hard in the chest. I instantly coughed up a mouthful of blood. It was always like this. The moment Stella cried, it was automatically my fault. I was so tired. Too tired to even explain. I just wanted this tedious mission to end. Even if it meant being utterly destroyed, my soul scattered to the winds. When I was first trying to win over Jasper, even though I was the “conqueror,” the System gave me no special advantages. I’m allergic to alcohol, but for him, I drank with clients until my stomach cramped and I ended up in the emergency room. That’s how we got our first, and most crucial, order. Without it, Jasper would have had to go home empty-handed. But no matter how much I did, it was never worth a single tear from Stella. The sound of crying and accusations hammered in my head, making my temples throB. My gaze drifted, finally landing on a fruit knife next to an apple. Before anyone could react, I sprang up, snatching the fruit knife. Jasper’s face went deadly pale. Just as I aimed for the major artery in my neck, Jasper’s fist struck, knocking the knife away. “Riley, you’re insane! Are you still trying to hurt Stella?!” Afraid I might still pose a threat to Stella, Jasper landed a fierce punch across my face. A searing pain shot through my eye socket. My right eye immediately swelled shut. A mocking smile twisted my lips. “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt Stella.” “Since all of you find me so unbearable, I’ll just die…” With that, I used my remaining open eye to grope for the fruit knife. It hurt so much. I just wanted to be free. But Jasper extinguished my hope once again. He slammed his foot onto my arm, grinding it in. “You think I’ll believe anything you say now?” Pain brought cold sweat to my forehead. “I… I don’t love you anymore. I have no motive to harm Stella…” Jasper’s foot loosened slightly. He seemed to recall that, over the years, I really hadn’t appeared in front of him much. Just as Jasper was about to lift his foot, the door burst open. Dominic Kingston stood there, looking down at me, his dark eyes radiating a cold light. “Riley, you saw it, didn’t you?” 3 I weakly lifted my head, seeing the sharp line of his jaw, devoid of any warmth. Dominic was my second conquest target, and my last. I once believed that he, the man who had taken me away from that chaotic wedding, was my salvation. But I was nothing but a forgotten detail, a mere speck of dust on Stella’s perfect story. Dominic crouched down, grabbing my face, forcing me to look at him. “Riley, I checked the security footage. You saw everything outside the door today, didn’t you?” “You stood outside, muttering to yourself. Were you giving instructions to someone through your Bluetooth earpiece, telling them to steal Stella’s baby?!” A mocking smile played on my lips. In my second year with Dominic, a rival company, desperate and bankrupt, tried to ram his car. I was the one who pushed him out of the way. Dominic was unharmed, but I spent six months in the hospital before I could walk again. Back then, Dominic held me tight, promising he’d never let me get hurt again. Yet now, it was him, shattering my heart into a thousand pieces. Seeing my silence, Dominic’s face grew even darker. “Riley, Stella is already married. There’s no future for me and her.” “Even now, you won’t let her go?” Jasper also watched me, his eyes cold and unwavering. I paused, then suddenly, a bitter laugh escaped me. So, Jasper knew all along that his uncle also loved Stella. “Yes, it was me. Just kill me.” There was no point in explaining; they wouldn’t believe me anyway. I closed my eyes, yearning for immediate release. Just then, Stella suddenly lunged beside me, gripping my hand tightly. “Miss Riley, I’ll give you anything you want. I’ll divorce Jasper right now, please, don’t hurt my baby.” But where no one else could see, Stella leaned close and whispered in my ear; “Riley, I hid the baby myself. Just die already!” “You think Dominic is your savior? Let me tell you, it was Dominic who orchestrated your family’s bankruptcy, and it was Dominic who drove your parents to their deaths—” I snapped my head up, meeting Stella’s eyes, which were filled with pure malice. The next second, she suddenly recoiled, clutching her head, and stumbled backward. “Riley, don’t hit me…” “Thump—!” Dominic kicked me hard, sending me flying towards the window. A tear slid down my cheek. My entire life had been a mistake. My parents in this world were the best to me. Even though my dad didn’t like Jasper, he still invested in his company for my sake. When Jasper abandoned me at the wedding, Dad was so furious he wanted to confront him. Mom would gently stroke my hair, saying I’d grown into a young woman, and quietly shed tears when I wore my wedding dress, telling me I’d always be their child, even after marriage. But these wonderful people suffered a tragic fate because of me. My hand rested on the window ledge. The dark, empty window behind me felt like a swirling vortex, endlessly tempting me. I closed my eyes for a moment, asking the System in my mind what their conquest values were. [Jasper Kingston: -38, Dominic Kingston: -5.] My heart felt like it had been ripped open, leaving only a hollow ache. I couldn’t hear the accusations around me, only their mouths moving, opening and closing. I was so tired. I just wanted to be free. I turned, climbed onto the window sill, and in front of Jasper and Dominic, without a hint of hesitation, I leaped. The last thing I saw was their frantic, rushing figures. 4 The biting wind lashed against my face, but I felt no pain. My past, the years I spent on this mission, flashed rapidly before my eyes.

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My brother got his wild girlfriend pregnant, and after she gave birth to a boy at a dodgy clinic, they both just vanished. The doctor, using the address Jax had given, showed up on my doorstep, baby in hand. My parents literally *knelt* and begged me to adopt him. Just like that, I, a single woman, began the daunting task of raising a child all on my own. Years later, just as I finally thought I’d raised him, my brother came back. He wept, clutching my son, claiming I’d stolen the child out of jealousy, tearing their family apart. My son, my pride and joy, abandoned me on the spot, running straight into her arms. My parents kicked me out. The whispers and condemnations from the neighbors became my personal hell. In utter despair, I jumped from the rooftop of my apartment building. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my brother’s baby was born. The moment the sky began to lighten, a frantic knocking pounded on the front door. I jolted awake, my heart hammering like it was trying to escape my chest. Last time, it was at this exact hour that the doctor from that clinic had shown up, pounding on our door, baby in tow, waking up the entire neighborhood. He’d thrust the baby into my arms right in front of everyone, screaming at me, claiming I’d given birth and then just dumped the baby, that I was heartless. Later, I found out it was my brother, Jax, who had gotten his girlfriend pregnant. My parents had begged me on their knees, saying since I wasn’t planning to marry anyway, I might as well keep the child. My heart softened, and I agreed. And that decision ruined my entire life, filling me with utter loathing. Now, hearing that knocking again, my stomach lurched. I practically sprang out of bed, covering the distance to the door in two strides. The moment I opened it, that familiar face appeared – Dr. Reed, from the clinic. “Skylar, you dumped your baby after giving birth! Do you know that’s illegal?” The neighbors were already peeking out, some rushing over in their slippers to gawk. I stared at him, my mind barely processing, then I *snapped*. I raised my hand and smacked my slipper right across his face! “You disgusting old man, how *dare* you try to scam me? I’ll knock you flat! Me? I haven’t even had a serious boyfriend! Where would I get a baby from? Have you ever seen a woman who just gave birth hit someone this hard? Look at me! Do I look like I’ve ever been pregnant?” I reeled off a string of insults, forcing him to stumble backward, his face turning green. That’s when Aunt Carol from across the street spoke up: “She’s right! Skylar goes to work on time every day. Who’s ever seen her with a big belly?” “Could he have the wrong person?” “Isn’t that the doctor from that shady clinic on the corner? I heard he doesn’t even have a proper license!” I put my hands on my hips, raising my voice even louder: “You old fraud! Running a dodgy clinic and trying to frame me? I’m calling the police right now!” At the mention of police, he immediately panicked. “I… I’ll go, alright!” I lunged forward, grabbing the hair at the back of his head. “Trying to run? No way!” I pulled out my phone and dialed: “Hello, 911? I’d like to report a potential child trafficking case here!” “Don’t you dare lie!” he stomped his foot in frustration. I glared at him. “When the police get here, if you don’t explain everything, I’ll tear down your pathetic clinic!” The universe gave me a second chance. All the humiliation, all the pain from my last life? Today, it’s payback time! When the police arrived, Dr. Reed was nursing a bruised and swollen face, still clutching the newborn baby, its umbilical cord not even cleanly cut. I stood there in my pajamas, one hand holding a slipper, my eyes red-rimmed. The entire neighborhood was gathered at the door, everyone chattering about what had happened. The police inspected the baby, confirmed it was a newborn, and frowned at the doctor. “Alright, what’s going on?” “This… these are the patient’s records. The address is hers, and the name matches.” Dr. Reed nervously pulled out a medical record. The officer looked at it. It indeed had my address and the name “Skylar.” I sneered, crossing my arms. “I don’t even know this person. Someone used my name to have a baby, and now they want me to take the blame?” Just as I finished speaking, my parents pushed their way through the crowd. “Skylar, since you’re not getting married anyway, why don’t you… just keep the baby?” I turned to them, my voice like ice. “Mom, Dad, what you’re saying is heartbreaking. A kid from God knows where, and you expect me to just take him in? Who knows what his real parents were into? What if they were drug addicts? Or criminals? What if he’s carrying diseases, or worse, has drugs in his system? Am I supposed to raise someone who might just turn on me?” My parents were speechless, choked by my words. Dr. Reed’s face turned ashen. He practically shoved the baby into my arms. “Your family business is your problem! This baby was born to Jax’s girlfriend! Let him raise it himself! If I’d known you people were impossible, I would never have come here!” The entire street went dead silent. Everyone’s eyes widened. So, this baby was Jax’s doing!

“You’re full of it! You just said the baby was mine, and now you’re saying it’s Jax’s? Do you have any proof? You just expect us to take in a random baby without a shred of evidence? Officer, I suspect this man is involved in child trafficking!” With that, I pushed the baby right back into his arms, then turned and crossed my arms, looking completely unconcerned. My mom gasped beside me. “Skylar! What are you doing?!” “Mom, Dad, don’t be foolish. There are so many scammers out there, pulling these kinds of stunts!” Aunt Carol also stepped forward. “Mr. Thompson, you can’t just make things up. The doctor clearly said the baby was Skylar’s at first, and now he’s saying it’s Jax’s. Isn’t that contradictory?” “Exactly! How do we even know this kid isn’t just some random baby he picked up off the street?” Dr. Reed panicked, shooting to his feet. “I, Dr. Reed, have been a doctor for years, and I’ve never lied once! What do I have to gain by lying to you? Just last night, your brother, Jax, came to my clinic with his girlfriend, begging me to help her deliver the baby! He even left his phone with me as collateral!” He pulled a phone from his bag. I looked closely – it really was Jax’s. My parents were completely dumbfounded. Now the evidence was right there, undeniable. The baby truly was Jax’s and his girlfriend’s. The neighbors erupted in whispers. “Oh my god, Jax is so young, and he already got his girlfriend pregnant? That’s so irresponsible!” “Who knows? He’s always been flaky, hanging out with the wrong crowd. Who would have thought he’d do something like this?” “He’s probably too scared to take responsibility, that’s why he made the doctor bring the baby home!” “You all shut up! My son isn’t like that!” My mom finally snapped, yelling at the crowd. “Anyone who says another word, I’ll make them regret it!” Dr. Reed sneered. “Hmph. Jax told me himself to bring the baby to your house after it was born, and have his sister raise it. Officer, I even have a handwritten note from him here!” He pulled out a letter and showed it to everyone. But in my last life, there was no such letter. Back then, when Jax returned and cursed me, Dr. Reed even added fuel to the fire, insisting I’d stolen his baby, driving me to desperation until I died with a grievance. This man was truly a monster! Dr. Reed scoffed. “I wish I’d never gotten involved in this mess. This is the worst luck I’ve ever had!” The police officer surveyed the scene and sighed. “This falls under family dispute. There’s not much we can do.” I grabbed the officer’s arm. “Officer, this isn’t just a family matter! Can you really determine that my brother got his girlfriend pregnant and then ran off, based solely on a phone and a letter? What if his girlfriend died in your clinic? Are you just going to casually dismiss that?” The officer paused, seeing the logic in my words. He immediately took Dr. Reed to the clinic for further investigation. My parents followed them. I took the opportunity to swiftly pack my bags. I wasn’t staying in this house another moment. Just as I stepped out, a neighbor saw me. “Skylar, where are you going?” “I’m moving out. I can’t stay here. If that baby really gets dumped on my parents, I’ll be stuck raising him, won’t I? Jax’s own kid, why should I take the blame? I’m not even married yet. If my future partner’s family found out, they’d think I had a messy past. I’d never be able to clear my name!” Everyone listened and nodded. “She’s right! Skylar, you need to think about yourself. Go quickly!” “Sigh, Jax too. He’s got some nerve, getting a girl pregnant and then running off!” “Maybe that doctor did something shady, and the girl’s already gone.” “Couldn’t be, right?” I couldn’t be bothered to listen to their gossip. I grabbed my bag and left. By the time my parents returned home, I was already settled in my company dorm. Not long after, my mom called. I answered, hearing her anxious voice from the other end. “Skylar! Where did you go?!” In the background, a baby was wailing. I calmly said, “I moved out.” “How could you leave? What about the baby?!”

It seemed my mom and dad had gone to the clinic and confirmed that the baby was indeed Jax’s and his girlfriend’s, and that Dr. Reed had indeed helped deliver it. But I still didn’t understand why they kept hounding me. “Mom, what does this baby have to do with me? I didn’t give birth to him!” “The most important thing right now is to find the baby’s real parents. Anyway, I have to go to work. Bye!” I hung up and went to the office as usual. As soon as I sat down, Linda from the office stealthily came over and whispered, “Skylar, do you have a boyfriend? Want me to set you up with someone?” I initially wanted to decline, but then I changed my mind. “Sure, Linda, who are you thinking of?” “My nephew. He’s three years older than you, was in the military, and after he retired, he opened a small restaurant. He’s honest and hardworking!” “Want to have lunch together and meet him today?” I immediately agreed. Linda beamed, pulling out her phone to call her nephew. In my last life, I raised the child alone and was utterly exhausted. Linda saw it and helped me find a lot of side jobs, and she constantly urged me to find a reliable man. But back then, I was afraid the child would suffer, so I never dared to date. Looking back now, I was so incredibly foolish. At noon, Liam and I met. We chatted over lunch, and it felt pretty good. We exchanged SnapChat info, agreeing to see how things went. Linda returned and asked about it. I nodded. “He seems alright. I’ll give it a try.” She clapped her hands with delight. “I knew it! If it works out, he’ll definitely treat you well! I’ve watched him grow up; he’s hardworking and has a good heart!” I felt a little embarrassed, my face flushing, which only made Linda more excited. From then on, Liam and I started dating. After half a month, my parents hadn’t contacted me, and I hadn’t gone home. Unexpectedly, my mom actually showed up at my company. That day, I was busy when the security guard suddenly called. “Skylar, you need to come down! Your mom just dumped a kid at our security booth! The baby’s wailing its head off, come get it!” My mind went blank. “What baby? I’m not married. Where would I get a baby from? Don’t talk nonsense!” I deliberately raised my voice, making sure the entire office heard me. The security guard sighed. “I don’t know. Just come down and see for yourself!” As soon as I hung up, everyone was staring at me. “Skylar, what happened?” “I’m not sure. The security guard said someone pretending to be my mom dropped a baby at the entrance!” Linda gasped. “Something like that? That’s outrageous! Come on, let’s go take a look!” “Yeah, is someone trying to scam her or what?” “Skylar has a baby? I never saw her pregnant!” “Could she have secretly had it years ago? Who knows what these young people do nowadays!” Hearing those comments, even Linda started looking at me strangely. I played completely dumb, pretending I knew nothing, and she couldn’t find any flaws in my act. When we got to the security booth, everyone froze when they saw the infant. Linda breathed a sigh of relief. “How is this possible?! Skylar’s baby? This baby isn’t even a month old!” “Exactly! If it were any older, Skylar would never be able to clear her name!” “This is so despicable, trying to frame someone like this?” “This is ruining her reputation!” I sneered inwardly. The security guard shook his head. “The person said she was your mom; how could I stop her?!” I immediately said, “Pull up the surveillance footage! I want to see who did this!” Watching the video, I didn’t recognize the woman who dropped off the baby at all. I quickly made up my mind. “I’m calling the police! That wasn’t my mom at all, and I have no idea who that woman was! This is an abandoned infant!” Everyone hesitated a bit, but I simply spread my hands. “This is an abandoned baby! I work in sales, I’ve given out hundreds of business cards. Who knows who might be impersonating my family? I’m not taking the fall for someone else’s child!” When I said that, everyone agreed it made sense, so we called the police. When the police arrived, they took the baby away. I even specifically asked, “Where will the baby go?” “Where else? If we can’t find the biological parents, it will go to an orphanage.” Hearing that, the huge weight on my chest finally lifted. In this life, I would never raise that ungrateful jerk’s child again!

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My husband, Liam Hayes, was a celebrity photographer. He’d always end up sleeping with his models during intimate photo shoots. He called it his “art.” But it was his art that led my police officer father to get injured saving him years ago. And it was Liam who got down on his knees, begging my mother for my hand in marriage. Now, as the 99th model entered the studio, I was ordered to kneel on the floor, holding her discarded clothes. The next second, a heavy metal stand crashed down on my head, hard. “Three years, and you still can’t even catch a simple piece of clothing?” “I have you here to watch, to learn how to be a good clothes hanger, not to be a damn tripping hazard!” I wiped the blood from my forehead, then obediently bowed my head in submission. Everyone thought I was just a nobody by his side, broken down completely, leaving nothing but a shell. But then I disappeared completely from his lens. Liam, the man who never stayed with any woman, searched for me for seven long years. … Liam stared at me, his eyes burning, as I knelt on the floor, silent and still. The spot he’d just rubbed with his cuff bled anew, a fresh red stain spreading. Suddenly, a foot kicked my side. I curled into a ball, drenched in a cold sweat from the pain. “Are you mute?” “Playing the silent game with me, huh? You think I can’t see through you? No matter how deep you hide your intentions, I’ll rip them out!” His boot twisted again, grinding into my bones. My vision swam with black spots. I struggled to get up, to fight back. But he leaned close, his voice a chilling threat in my ear. “Your father’s still lying in the hospital. If no one taught you manners, I will.” A shiver ran through me. I swallowed my rage, lowered my head, and continued to kneel. The shoot resumed. Two figures intertwined before me, the sounds of their heavy breathing and moans crashed into my ears. He’d enacted countless intimate scenes with other women right in front of me. Once, he even made me kneel by the bed, forcing me to count how many times they had sex that night. I don’t know how much time passed. My knees were numb, and my lower abdomen ached so badly I couldn’t hold the kneeling position any longer. I slowly crawled to my feet. Someone saw me stand, and a voice from the side whistled, mocking, “Trying to sneak away already? Not waiting for Liam to finish?” Usually, I’d have to stay on my knees until he was done. But not this time. I couldn’t. Liam, breathing heavily, spoke in a cold voice. “Let her go. What’s with the act of defiance? This pathetic lapdog, you think she’d dare not come back?” At his words, everyone present erupted in loud laughter, placing bets right in front of me. They bet that even if I left now, I’d be begging Liam to open the door for me by nightfall. Watching Liam and Skylar grow more and more exposed in front of everyone, my heart felt like it was bleeding. I knew that due to the nature of Liam’s photography, these scenes might be considered “normal” in the industry. But I simply couldn’t accept it – watching one beautiful, young woman after another, getting intimate with my husband right before my eyes. The eyes of the surrounding crowd darted back and forth between us. After it was over, Liam looked up and instructed me. “Skylar’s feeling a bit run down. Go home and make a soothing herbal broth for her.” Liam held Skylar close, the thin blanket over them barely hiding the flushed marks they’d left on each other. My heart trembled as I struggled to speak, “I can do it, but the cost of the ingredients…” Before I could finish, Skylar gasped from Liam’s arms. “Seriously, Anya? Liam doesn’t lack money for food or drink. Why do you have to be so picky about such a small amount?” “You live in Liam’s house, you eat, drink, and use his money for everything. Now, he’s just asking you to make some soup, and you’re already haggling over money with him? Do you think Liam’s place is some kind of market where you can bargain?” She snuggled deeper into Liam’s embrace, her fingertips tracing his collarbone. “Besides, you’re always complaining about headaches or stomach aches every few days. Liam hasn’t kicked you out yet, and you dare to ask for money? Are you saving up to run away?” She deliberately sat up, puffing out her chest. As the blanket slipped down, Liam tenderly kissed her chest. She was truly a top-tier model, the kind you see on every major runway – her features and figure simply dazzling. Then I looked at myself. A faded, worn-out T-shirt, so thin I was practically skin and bones. My face was sallow, completely lacking any vitality. In Liam’s eyes, I was probably worse than a maid, just a pathetic dog trailing behind him. 2 To outsiders, I was Anya Miller, the wife of celebrity photographer Liam Hayes. He came from a prominent family, one of the wealthiest in their circle, and personally held countless awards. Netizens always envied me, saying Liam’s wife must have earned immense good karma in her past life to snag such a catch. They’d say I’d hit the marital jackpot. But very few knew that my life was worse than trash. The glamorous facade, the blessings – they were all just an illusion. The reality was a miserable, humiliating existence. He confiscated all my documents. My phone? I got it every few days, for ten minutes tops. For three years, I had no money, no time of my own, and I hadn’t even had a proper conversation with anyone other than Liam. “Bitch, you really want to run, don’t you?” Liam looked at me with pure disgust, pulling a few bills from his wallet and flicking them at me. The crisp paper currency whipped my face, leaving a stinging mark, and slicing through my dignity once more. My father was still unconscious, needing medication daily to maintain his vital functions. All of it was paid for by Liam. What was my dignity compared to that? I crouched down, picking up the bills one by one. I stood up, turned calmly, and as I was about to walk out the door, I felt his burning gaze on my back. He called out to me. “Leave the good luck charm necklace,” he said, his voice cold. “Skylar hasn’t been sleeping well lately.” That necklace was the last thing my mother left me. My eyes instantly welled up. I stared at him in disbelief, but Liam remained cold. “How much? Name your price.” I clenched the necklace tight. He knew. He knew perfectly well where that necklace came from. He knew how important it was to me. He knew it was my only keepsake. But I also knew that six months ago, on a hike, just because I hadn’t carried Skylar’s bag, he’d had his bodyguards hold my head to the ground and made me lick her shoes. My hands trembling, I took off the good luck charm necklace, my nose stinging, and placed it into Skylar’s hand. I choked out, “I hope you take good care of it. And I hope you have good dreams every night.” Hearing that, Liam actually showed a rare hint of a pleasant expression. Skylar took the necklace, but not long after, she let out a shriek. A large red rash had appeared on her arm. Liam picked her up, shoved past me, and headed out, ordering me to drive them to the hospital. On the way, the pain in my lower abdomen grew worse, cold sweat beading on my forehead. It felt like it was getting more and more severe. Liam sat in the back seat, cradling Skylar. He murmured soft words of comfort, and I saw Skylar’s smug smile reflected in the rearview mirror. At the hospital, after a series of examinations, the doctor said the necklace had been coated with a substance Skylar was allergic to. Luckily, they’d gotten there in time, or she could have gone into anaphylactic shock. As soon as the doctor finished speaking, Liam slapped me without warning. “What the hell is wrong with you? How did you become so malicious?!” “Skylar never did anything to you! How dare you try to kill her?!” He grabbed my wrist, twisting it with crushing force. “If anything happens to her, I’ll skin you alive!” Watching the concern in his eyes for another woman, even breathing felt painful. Three years ago, Liam, with his prominent family background, suddenly shot to fame as a top-tier photographer. But his blunt personality had offended many. During an outing, he was kidnapped in an act of revenge, even intended to be sold overseas. My father, then a lead detective on the case, was shot while trying to save Liam’s life. In the beginning, he wasn’t as cold as the rumors suggested. When my father was in surgery, Liam paid for all his medical expenses, and even now, though my father lived as a vegetable, I was still grateful. I remember that afternoon, he rushed to my house, got down on his knees, and begged my mother for my hand. My mother smiled, placed my hand in his, and said reassuringly, “Anya’s father owes you so much. She has a difficult temper, please be more tolerant with her in the future.” But just like that, on the third day of our marriage, on our way back from visiting my parents, my mother was hit by a car while out shopping and died instantly. 3 After that, Liam seemed to revert to the man the industry rumors described. During several rough nights, he’d choke my neck, whispering warnings in my ear: “Anya Miller, you’ll never leave me. Never…” Those words became a chilling prophecy, trapping me. How could I forget? Liam, a ruthless player in the cutthroat world of fame and power, was more obsessed with control and violence than with tenderness or care. How could I forget that even when he cloaked himself in gentleness, it couldn’t hide the cold cruelty in his bones? Our ill-fated connection, with its clearly defined stages, should have been severed from the very beginning. After the hospital results, they didn’t wait for me. They went straight back to the villa in the suburbs. By the time I, enduring the heavy ache in my lower abdomen, stumbled back home step by painful step, it was already early the next morning. Sounds of pleasure still echoed from the master bedroom. My palm, gripping the doorknob, was slick with sweat. I looked at the only wedding photo of Liam and me in the living room. My throat felt raw. I stared at it for a long time, then took it down and cut it into tiny pieces with scissors. I searched for a painkiller, only to find them tossed into the trash can, mixed with leftover soup. I curled up silently next to the garbage bin. My pants leg slowly soaked with blood. My consciousness blurred, and I passed out. I was jolted awake by a bucket of ice water. Still groggy, I felt a figure pressing down on me. Before I could fully regain my senses, I heard a surprised female voice from the doorway. “Anya, Liam was looking for you all night! You were hiding in this room all along. If you came back, you could have just told him. You made us search for so long, and look at you…” It was then I realized I’d been stripped naked, my entire body aching. The man on top of me had one arm wrapped around me and the other gripping my breast. Everywhere I looked, my skin was covered in red marks. This room was originally the maid’s room. A year ago, the maids, seeing which way the wind blew, had kicked me out and made me move in here. It was tiny and stuffy. I frantically pushed the man off me, my body trembling uncontrollably. Liam strode in, furiously grabbing the man by his hair and punching him. “You sick bastard, you dared to touch *my* woman? You’ve got a death wish!” “You’re asking for it.” Another punch landed. The man was instantly bruised and swollen, covering his mouth as he seized the chance to escape. Liam turned to me, his face red with rage, veins bulging in his neck. He roared at me, “Anya Miller, you really know how to degrade yourself. You’re unbelievable.” I thought he would hit me, but instead, his raised fist slammed into the wall. Then he stormed out. Skylar leaned against the doorway, sneering, “Anya Miller, how was it? Enjoy yourself?” “I’m Liam’s wife. Aren’t you afraid of what happens if he finds out the truth about what you’ve done to me?” Skylar scoffed, walking up to me and poking my lower abdomen with her finger. “Wife? Anya Miller, you must be in too much pain to think straight. Do you really think Liam sees you as his wife?” She suddenly leaned close, her words venomous whispers in my ear. “Do you know? The medicine on your lucky charm necklace didn’t just give me a rash. It also made your uterus bleed heavily.” “The doctor said you’ll never have children, Hahaha!” My body stiffened. No wonder. No wonder my lower abdomen had been aching so much yesterday. It was all thanks to her. All Skylar! No, this whole nightmare started because I met Liam. Father, if only you hadn’t led that team to rescue Liam, none of this would be happening now. I raised my hand, wiping away tears, and lunged forward in fury, but she easily dodged. My lower back slammed into the corner of a nearby table, and my vision went black from the pain. 4 Skylar covered her mouth and stepped back, a look of excitement on her face. “Liam wants a child more than anything. What do you think he’ll do when he finds out you can’t give him one? Will he keep a useless dog like you around?” I glared at her, my teeth chattering, a silent rage building inside me. Liam and I weren’t without children before. But I’d gotten pregnant twice, and both times ended in sudden miscarriages, with no explanation. After that, his attitude changed drastically, and he never touched me again. From then on, he’d stage all sorts of scandalous shoots with various models, always making sure I was there to watch. Just then, a cat meowed from the living room. It was Pumpkin, the orange tabby Liam and I had adopted when we first got married. It was the only living thing in this villa that would rub against my hand. But now its cries were incredibly mournful. I struggled and ran out. I saw Skylar’s assistant holding Pumpkin down, a needle plunging into its neck. “What are you doing?!” I shrieked, trying to stop her, but Skylar grabbed me. I watched as the assistant transferred Pumpkin’s blood into a nearby Ragdoll cat. Skylar, behind me, said slowly, “My Snowflake is sick. The vet said she needs a blood transfusion, and this little cat’s blood type matches perfectly. Look how lively Snowflake is; what’s wrong with donating a little blood?” “It’s too small! Drawing blood like that, you’ll kill it!” I watched helplessly as Pumpkin’s cries grew weaker and weaker. It lay on the ground, losing strength, no longer needing to be held down. Its once bright eyes slowly lost their luster, the fur on its neck soaked with blood. When the assistant pulled out the needle, Pumpkin was already silent, its tiny body curled into a ball, its limbs still twitching faintly. “Oh dear, how did it die?” Skylar feigned regret. “If I’d known it was so weak, I would’ve found another cat. Anya Miller, don’t blame me. Blame it for being just unlucky.” The housekeepers, standing nearby, chimed in, trying to curry favor. “Miss Skylar, we were tired of this stray cat anyway. It was always scratching things, so annoying.” “Yes, yes! Your cat looks so regal! Look how shiny its fur is!” Skylar suddenly released me. I rushed over and picked up Pumpkin’s cold body. Tears streamed down my face. Pumpkin hadn’t even had a chance to grow up, and now its life was gone. Now, my hope for a child was gone, and even my little cat had been killed by them. “What’s all this noise?” Liam’s voice came from the doorway. His tie was loose around his neck, and he smelled of alcohol. Skylar immediately reddened her eyes and threw herself into his arms, sobbing. “Liam, I heard you loved Pumpkin so much. I just brought my sick Snowflake over to play today, but Anya suddenly wanted Pumpkin to give Snowflake a blood transfusion. I told her the pet hospital has blood, but she wouldn’t listen. I couldn’t stop her, Liam, it’s so sad. Pumpkin was just bled to death.” As soon as Liam heard that Pumpkin had been “killed by me,” the alcohol fumes instantly vanished from him. I wanted to explain, but he suddenly smiled at me, his expression turning stone cold. He pulled out his phone, his thumb hovering over the call button as he stared right at me. “Stop the care at that place today.” Then he snatched Pumpkin from my arms and walked out. A jolt went through me. A dark premonition. Just then, Skylar appeared from somewhere and handed me my phone. The moment I took it, the phone rang. It was my father’s attending doctor. My fingers trembled. I answered with trepidation, and a voice that stole my breath came through the receiver. “Mrs. Miller, your father… has just stopped breathing. He passed away… Please accept my condolences.” *Buzz*. All other sounds around me vanished. My heart skipped a beat, then another. I stared blankly ahead, unable to shed a single tear. Skylar and her crew walked away, their laughter echoing in the sudden silence. Only I was left in the villa… “Ah…” That night, a news report flashed: “Early this morning, a woman in our city reportedly jumped off a bridge with an urn, ending her life. Police have launched an investigation.” 5 People thought it was just another tragic suicide story, but no one knew it would trigger a massive chain reaction. Liam didn’t see the news until the evening of the next day.

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It was the first day back home for summer break, and the house felt strangely empty. Then my mom’s texts flooded into the family group chat. “Your dad and I are taking Blake on a trip. You’re home alone. I’ll give you five bucks a day for living expenses.” “If it’s an emergency, I can add five more, but you need to submit a request three days in advance.” “Getting a summer job is humiliating. Our family doesn’t allow it.” They wouldn’t give me money, and they wouldn’t let me earn it either. I texted back, “You guys are spending tens of thousands on a trip, can’t you just give me a little more allowance?” The next second, my mom lowered it from five dollars to three. “You’re so stubborn. You won’t starve to death with a little less.” I scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping me. If three bucks is their standard, then the million dollars I brought back this time has absolutely nothing to do with them! I’m a college student, and every summer I lug a mountain of luggage back home. This summer, I texted my mom three days in advance to let her know when I’d arrive. She read it but didn’t reply, and I didn’t think much of it until I walked through the front door and found the whole house deserted. The “Miller Family Chat” group hadn’t had any activity for over a week. I tapped my phone, sending the first message. “Where are you guys? I’m home.” Half a minute later, my mom’s replies started pouring in. “So you’re back, why bother texting? Your dad and I took your brother on a trip. There’s still leftover rice from two days ago in the pot. Heat it up and eat it. And don’t forget to scrub the pot clean for me.” “I left your allowance in the living room. Be careful with it.” “If it’s an emergency, I can temporarily transfer you five bucks, but you need to submit a request three days in advance. I’ll only approve it if the reason is reasonable.” At first, I didn’t realize the importance of that last sentence. Not until I followed my mom’s instructions and found a stack of cash on the coffee table in the living room. All crisp dollar bills. One… two… Exactly thirty bills. I almost admired my mom for specially going to the bank to get this stack of five-dollar bills. I quietly asked in the group chat, “150 dollars, for how many days of living expenses?” My mom instantly replied, “Days? That’s for the whole month, of course.” My head was spinning with questions. “That little? Do you want me to get a summer job to support myself?” But my mom kept on lecturing. “No summer jobs! It’s so humiliating, people will think we’re abusing you.” “Five dollars a day isn’t enough? When I was your age, I was already working to support a whole family. Not like you, always begging for money from your parents and being so greedy.” “Do you know how hard your dad and I work out there?” “When you’re not home, we’re practically living on ramen and tap water. Not like you, so extravagant, complaining about five bucks a day.” I stared at my phone, fuming. Because I’d just seen my brother’s latest Ins post: a photo dump of their trip to a fancy resort town. They were staying in a grand hotel, dining at restaurants where meals cost hundreds of dollars per person. Even the sunglasses my brother casually bought while shopping had a price tag of $1399 on the receipt. … I sent a text, cutting off her lecture. “You guys are willing to spend tens of thousands on a trip, but you only give me five bucks a day? Can’t you increase my allowance a little?” My mom didn’t text back. She called directly and started yelling the moment I answered, “You little brat, you dare complain? You should be grateful you even got anything! It’s perfectly fine if I don’t give you a dime. You’re twenty-two, still shamelessly begging for money and full of complaints!” She rattled on and on, not giving me a chance to speak. Until she finished with, “From now on, your allowance is three bucks a day. You’re so stubborn, you won’t starve to death anyway. When I get back, I expect to see you’ve saved sixty dollars, or I’ll beat you black and blue.” … She hung up without letting me say a single word. I stood there, seething. I turned around and saw the family photo on the table: my dad, my brother, and my mom, all hugging sweetly. I picked up my phone and dialed. “Please help me deposit a million dollars into an investment account. I don’t need it right now.” I had originally brought a sum of money back to give them a surprise. But they… They don’t deserve it.

Unknown to my parents, I’d already had two years of work experience, and my game studio had been running for almost a year. While other college students were enjoying their university life, I’d been washing dishes and tutoring since freshman year. That’s because my parents, in an era where the average living expense was fifteen hundred dollars, only gave me five hundred a month. I still remember what my mom said when she gave me my first allowance in freshman year: “You’re grown up now, you need to learn to be filial to your family. You can’t spend all this money at once; you have to buy gifts for your family on holidays.” Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays… Eventually, even for Halloween or Easter, she’d demand I buy things for home. If a gift was under two hundred dollars, I’d get chewed out something fierce. So I had no choice but to work part-time. That’s how I met Lucas Scott, an upperclassman from my department. Lucas was two years my senior but had already inherited his family’s major corporation, becoming a famous young CEO in City A. Initially, I worked as his assistant at his company. Later, a project I tried developing myself caught the eye of the higher-ups. After winning a few hundred thousand dollars in prize money, I quit directly to start my own business. When my studio created its first game, Lucas and I also made our relationship official. I had originally planned to tell my parents about my company today and bring Lucas home tomorrow. But now— Forget it. I’d rather go back to the studio and work more. Lucas and I had been out enjoying ourselves quite a bit this past month. On the same day I went back home from City A to get my stuff, my parents also returned. The moment my mom walked in, she started yelling, “Harper, get out here and help me unpack!” I slowly walked to the living room and saw they were loaded with shopping bags. “Bought so much? Did your tour group rip you off with all this?” My dad immediately rolled his eyes. “You don’t know squat! This is thousand-year-old ginseng! Even the richest CEO’s wife can’t get this quality. It was only 6,888 dollars. How is that being ripped off?” Besides the ginseng root, I also saw lingzhi mushrooms, silk blankets, frozen seafood, and more. “Right, right, I’m just ignorant. You guys know best.” “You little brat, what’s with that attitude?” My mom glared at me, then walked up to me and held out her hand. “Where’s the rest of your allowance? The sixty dollars?” I shrugged. “Spent it all.” “How can you be so wasteful with money? What expenses could you possibly have at home? You didn’t save a single cent of the hundred and fifty!” My mom kept criticizing, but I just silently pulled out a water bill receipt and put it in front of her. Exactly one hundred and fifty. I thought she’d stop there, but I didn’t expect her to retort, “Who told you to be so nosy?” Me: ? “Is paying the water bill your job? Since you love paying so much, from now on, the electricity and water bills will be deducted from your allowance.” “Also, you’re graduating next year. It’s time to prepare for marriage.” I told her with a straight face, “I’m definitely working after I graduate. I’m not in a hurry to get married.” Who knew she’d just shove a photo at me? “This is a guy your Aunt Carol introduced. His name is Chester Blackwood. His family is very well-off. You’ll meet him in a few days.” Looking at the photo of the greasy, heavy-set guy with a puffy face, I clenched my fists. “This guy’s at least forty, isn’t he? Are you insane to set me up with him?” My mom glared at me, then slapped me hard. “He’s only thirty-one!” “You little brat, watch your tone! I raised you all these years, not for you to defy me!”

I emphasized it many times, “I have a boyfriend. Don’t set me up on blind dates.” But the next morning, as soon as I woke up, I saw a living room full of people. Chester, the guy from the photo, was wearing a wrinkled white shirt, grinning foolishly in my direction. “Is this my wife? She’s so pretty!” I practically shrieked, “Mom!” “What are you screaming for?” My mom walked up beside me. “What good-for-nothing boyfriend did you find in college? Chester’s family owns a factory, two houses, and he’s their only child. Won’t all their assets be yours?” Before I could say anything, my brother eagerly called out, “Brother-in-law! I just saw a new skin in my game, can you buy it for me?” “Of course, no problem!” A whole noisy crowd swarmed me, touching my waist and even my butt. They had absolutely no respect, constantly talking about me having babies and how many sons I’d deliver. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I rushed back into my room and slammed the door shut, ignoring the chatter outside, and buried my head in my phone, texting Lucas. “I’m going back to City A. Can you help me tidy up my place?” Once I heard the people outside gradually disperse, I came out of my room again. I still stressed to my mom, “I haven’t even graduated college yet. Don’t even think about selling me off for some ‘marriage payment.’ I won’t ever obey you.” “You little brat, why are you so arrogant? If it weren’t for your dad and me, would you even be in this world? You ungrateful wretch!” My brother was casually playing his game nearby and blurted out, “Sis, just go with it. This brother-in-law is so generous, he just bought me two thousand dollars worth of skins.” “Exactly, what’s so bad about getting married early?” “Harper, you wasted so much money going to college. We’re setting you up for life, and you’re so ungrateful.” I nodded, trying to calm my anger. “Fine, there’s no talking to you.” I turned and pulled my suitcase. “I have something I need to go back to school for. We can talk about this later.” But before I could take two steps, my dad grabbed my suitcase. “You’re not going anywhere! I already promised Chester you’d go out with him. If you run off now, how am I supposed to explain?” I turned to my dad. “You mean you want me to go out alone with Chester?” I sighed. “What if he abuses me?” My mom immediately chimed in, “That would be wonderful!” She looked smug. “If you can get pregnant with Chester’s baby early, you can become a rich lady sooner, and our family’s living conditions will improve too.”

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