**Chapter 1** The night before our wedding, my fiancée suddenly lost her memory. She remembered everyone else, but I was a complete blank. That day, I finally got my hands on a new medication that could potentially bring back lost memories. My heart pounding with hope, I rushed to find her. My hand had just touched the doorknob when several familiar voices echoed from inside the private room. “Vivian, how did you even come up with pretending amnesia? It was perfectly executed, absolutely brilliant! Asher Reed would never suspect a thing. So, how long are you planning to play this game before telling him the truth?” Their gleeful laughter stopped me dead in my tracks, my face frozen in disbelief. Vivian Thorne… was *faking* her amnesia?! What about all those nights I’d cried myself to sleep, agonizing over her condition? What was all that pain for? A chilling cold started from my feet, slowly spreading through my body, leaving me utterly cold. I clenched my jaw so hard it ached, listening to Vivian’s nonchalant tone. “Maybe another month. Then I’ll go back to Asher, resume my role as his devoted and faithful girlfriend.” Her friends looked at her, clearly astonished. “A month? Is that even enough time for you to ‘play’? How many guys have you been with in the past few weeks? Why don’t you just break up with him already? You’ve been dating the same boyfriend for seven years—nobody in our circle sticks with one guy that long!” “Sneaking around with guys, then having to fake amnesia just to keep Asher from getting mad—aren’t you tired of it?” Facing their teasing, the smile on Vivian’s face slowly faded. “I would never break up with Asher. He’s the only one I love. It’s just been so long, and I got a little bored. In bed, he’s too reserved, and I miss the thrill. This time, it’s just a pause button, a wild escape. After a month, I’ll go back to him and be his one and only.” “That’s easy to say, but Asher, with his unforgiving nature… if he ever found out the truth, he wouldn’t just swallow his anger. Aren’t you afraid he’d break up with you and leave?” “Yeah, remember that guy from a prominent family? He played around too much, his girlfriend left the country, and he’s still chasing after her like a madman.” Though they all spoke with serious faces, Vivian didn’t seem to care. She swirled the wine in her glass, letting out a soft chuckle. “He’ll always be mine, no matter what. As long as his name is Asher Reed, whether he leaves the country or marries someone else, I’ll drag him back and keep him by my side for life.” Hearing her confident declaration, everyone in the room cheered, “Vivian, you’re amazing!” and popped a bottle of champagne. Numb, I dragged my heavy feet, stumbling out of the bar. Outside, a heavy rain was falling. But I felt nothing of the weather, walking listlessly into the downpour. Cold raindrops pelted my body. My trembling hands couldn’t hold on any longer, and the small bottle of medicine plummeted to the ground. Watching the hard-won pills, meant to cure amnesia, wash away, long-dormant memories were suddenly reawakened. My first encounter with Vivian was at a freshman Christmas party. I made a grand entrance, playing a soulful piece on the piano that captivated everyone. Vivian fell for me at first sight. A young girl, she blocked me backstage with a huge bouquet of roses, declaring she wanted to pursue me. I’d already heard rumors about her—the campus beauty queen who’d supposedly dated over twenty boyfriends in just a month since school started, a girl full of irresistible allure. I didn’t like “players” like Vivian. And because my parents’ affair had shattered our family, I was extremely strict about relationships. I ignored her advances, keeping my distance. But she pursued me obsessively, refusing to let go no matter how many times I rejected her. She caused a school-wide blackout so I could get some rest when I was sick, she boldly declared her feelings for me in front of the entire school on the sports field, she rejected every guy who confessed to her… Day after day, she persisted for three years, but I still didn’t give in. It wasn’t until the summer after senior year that I was cornered in an alley by a group of troublemakers. Vivian fought off four or five people who were with them, taking several wounds herself, almost losing her life for me. I cried hysterically by her hospital bed, unable to comprehend how someone could risk their life for another person. In that moment, I thought, *she’s the one*. We were together for seven years, from high school sweethearts to navigating our careers. Vivian always treated me the same. Everyone said I’d found true love and finally settled down. I believed it too. Until three months before our wedding, when she was in a car accident during a business trip and diagnosed with amnesia. She remembered everyone, except me. The devastating news nearly broke me, but I held on. I tried everything, traveling far and wide for doctors and remedies, staying up late reading medical journals, all to help her recover her memory as soon as possible. But I never imagined this amnesia was nothing but a complete and utter deception. All the courage and determination that had sustained me were now washed away by the heavy rain. In a daze, I returned home, pulled out all my documents, and headed to the police station. Meeting the inquiring gaze of the officer, I spoke in a hoarse voice. “Hello, I’d like to change my name.” After reviewing the papers, the officer handed me a pen. My hand trembling, I signed both my old and new names. Looking at the new name, one no one would recognize, I managed a bitter, ugly smile. From now on, no matter where I went, or what I was doing… Vivian Thorne would never find me. **Chapter 2** By the time I finished the paperwork, it was already dark. I hailed a cab and pulled out my phone to search for plane tickets. The name change application had been submitted, but it would take a month to process. So I booked a flight to Melbourne for the first of next month and accepted the offer from the study abroad agency. Ever since graduation, I’d been preparing to study overseas for my master’s. But Vivian said she couldn’t live without me, that she didn’t want a long-distance relationship, so my plans had been put off for three years. Now that I’d decided to cancel the wedding and end this relationship, everything from the past needed to be left behind. It was time for me to think about myself and start a new life. Back home, I changed out of my wet clothes, showered, and went to bed. That night, I slept more peacefully than I had in the past month. The next morning, I woke up, ate breakfast, then gathered everything related to Vivian. Gifts she’d given me, matching couple’s clothes we’d bought, love letters from our school days… They filled five boxes. I dragged them out of the villa, one by one, and tossed them all into the dumpster. As I was busy, a limited-edition sports car suddenly pulled up to the curb. I turned at the sound and saw Vivian. She got out of the car, arm in arm with a man, walking boldly. Even when she saw me, she didn’t flinch. I knew she wasn’t avoiding me because she was sure I wouldn’t expose her actions during her “amnesia.” From the beginning, Vivian had refused to acknowledge me as her boyfriend, even having someone throw my things out of the villa. I thought I’d be homeless, but then the owner of the house next door suddenly contacted me, saying he was going abroad and offered to rent it to me at the lowest price. At the time, I thought I was lucky. Now, it was clear it was all her own orchestrated play. She was afraid I’d really leave, so she used this method to keep me close. Recalling the past month of deception, I could only feel a bitter amusement. I didn’t care what act she was putting on today. I turned, lifted the last box, and dumped it into the trash. Vivian, who happened to be walking by, glanced over. Seeing the items I was discarding, her face turned cold. “Why are you throwing all these things away?” I shot her a sidelong glance, my voice flat. “Didn’t you lose your memory? How do you remember any of this stuff?” Vivian realized she’d let something slip. She quickly adjusted her expression, feigning indifference. “Just asking, that’s all. How could I possibly remember? The past is the past, and now is now. I only like Julian Hayes now. After all, when I had my car accident in South Bay, he was the only one who came to take care of me.” Car accident? If her amnesia was faked, where was this car accident coming from? I curled my lips slightly, glancing at the man on her arm. He wore a blue and white windbreaker, broad-shouldered and slender-waisted, his eyes full of smugness. A new face. He was probably the most satisfying lover Vivian had found during this period, which was why she brought him back so openly. I didn’t want to waste any more words on her. I simply hummed in response, then turned and went inside the villa. Watching my retreating back, Vivian’s eyelid twitched. She’d brought someone back; shouldn’t Asher be crying and jealous? Why was he so calm? Vivian sensed something was off but didn’t chase after me to explain. She simply watched me disappear behind the door. At eight o’clock, the doorbell suddenly rang. I put down my takeout bag and went to open the door. It was the man Vivian had brought back earlier. He raised a hand and waved, a smile on his face that didn’t reach his eyes. “Hi, I’m Julian Hayes. I’ll be staying at my girlfriend’s place for a while. Since we’re neighbors, would it be convenient to exchange SnapChat IDs?” “No need.” I rejected him without a second thought, turning to leave. Julian snatched my phone, quickly opened SnapChat, and added himself. Seeing my face darken, he grinned as he handed the phone back, his tone flippant. “Just making friends, you know? We’ll be seeing a lot of each other from now on. Oh, by the way, do you have any condoms? I used up the whole box I bought today. Mind lending me a few?” A pallor flashed across my face, and the hand I used to take back my phone trembled slightly. “No.” Julian, however, wouldn’t give up, his mockery undisguised. “Right, my mistake. Why would you have any? Vivian doesn’t want you anymore, does she?” **Chapter 3** I knew he was deliberately provoking me. I didn’t want to engage, so I pulled the front door shut. Julian grabbed the doorknob, then dramatically collapsed to the ground, tears instantly streaming down his face. “Brother, I know you don’t want to see me, but I just came to borrow some seasoning to make dinner for Vivian. If you don’t want to lend it, fine, but why hit me?” Seeing Julian’s sudden act, my heart lurched. Before I could react, Vivian, who had entered the house without my noticing, rushed up the steps and pulled him to his feet. She looked at me coldly, her voice laced with suppressed anger. “Julian has done nothing to you, why are you making such a scene? He’s my boyfriend now, so please be more polite to him!” After spitting out those words, she didn’t even glance at my expression, turning and leaving with him. Each word echoed in my ears, making me clench my fists involuntarily. I stared fixedly at their retreating backs until they disappeared into the dusk, then expressionlessly raised my hand. *Bang!* The door slammed shut. In the dead of night, my phone on the bedside table vibrated. Waking with a start, I rubbed my eyes and instinctively pressed the answer button. The next second, the screen changed, revealing a vast expanse of pale skin covered in hickeys. Ambiguous moans filled the air, interspersed with heavy, relentless breathing. Watching the shaky camera capture those indecent images, I sobered up completely. Realizing what the person on the other end of the line was doing, I froze like a statue. A few seconds later, Vivian’s voice, thick with desire, came from the speakerphone. “From now on, you’re not allowed to bother Asher next door.” “You’ve seen right through my little tricks, so why are you still on my side? Is it because you really like my body, so you don’t want to be honest with him and want to enjoy yourself a little more, huh?” Hearing his rare burst of playful whining, Vivian groaned softly and patted his abs. “If you already know, why ask?” After a flurry of movement, the camera focused on Vivian’s face. Watching her revel in the moment, my heart turned to ice. I bit down hard on my lower lip, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth. The breathing grew more rapid. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and pressed the disconnect button. My sleep-hazy eyes were now completely filled with tears. I tilted my head back, trying to keep the tears from falling, countless images flashing through my mind. In the past, during our intimate moments, she would always be mindful of my feelings, afraid I might be uncomfortable. Too much consideration, I suppose she was never truly satisfied? Now she wouldn’t have to worry anymore, nor would she have to scheme for fleeting moments of pleasure. From now on, I would grant her freedom. For the next few days, I stayed holed up at home. It wasn’t until Liam’s wedding day that I finally pulled myself together and went out. Upon arriving at the hotel, I gave him the gift I’d prepared in advance, before the ceremony started. We chatted for a bit, and Liam, his eyes crinkled in a smile, gripped my hand. “Asher, I sent an invitation to Vivian, and she said she’d come. Go pick her up later, and talk to her a lot. Maybe she’ll remember our proposal and get her memory back.” I paused, then shook my head. Seeing the smile slowly vanish from my face, a flicker of worry crossed Liam’s eyes. “What’s wrong? Giving up already?” I was about to answer when I saw Vivian and Julian appear at the entrance, arm in arm. Liam followed my gaze. Seeing them so chummy, his face turned red with anger. He swore he was going over there to teach them a lesson. I quickly held him back, my voice weary. “Forget it. It’ll all be over soon.” Liam didn’t understand what I meant. He was about to ask for clarification when a groomsman came over. “The wedding is about to start, Liam.” After much persuasion, I finally got Liam onto the stage. Listening to the wedding march beginning in the hall, I took a deep breath and returned to the main reception area. The guests were already seated; only the spot next to Vivian remained empty. After a moment of hesitation, I walked over and sat down. Throughout the wedding, Julian constantly clung to Vivian, asking her to serve him food. She responded to his every request, pouring him drinks and blowing on his soup, utterly attentive. She even ate the dessert he’d already taken a bite of without hesitation. Seeing how intimate they were, I looked away, towards the center of the stage. I had no appetite and hadn’t touched my food. Liam’s mother, seated nearby, served me some dishes, urging me to eat more. Not wanting to refuse Mrs. Smith’s kindness, I picked up a dumpling. Vivian, who was beside me, saw this and immediately reached out and took the dumpling away. “Are you crazy? This is seafood filling, you’re allergic to it.” **Chapter 4** Watching the dumpling roll several times on the floor, I looked up and met her gaze intently. Vivian then seemed to realize what she’d done. Her expression grew unnatural as she quickly offered an explanation. “The housekeeper never buys seafood. I’ve told her many times. That’s what she told me.” After saying that, she dared not look at my face again, turning to peel a shrimp. Julian leaned close to her ear and whispered something. Whatever he said, Vivian’s eyes deepened. She put down what she was doing and pulled me out of the venue. I didn’t care where we were going. It wasn’t until the bouquet toss ceremony ended that I finally got up to use the restroom. As I approached the door, I heard continuous slapping sounds coming from inside. I stopped, holding my breath. After a few minutes of quiet, a woman’s seductive voice came from the innermost stall. “Why are you so horny? Coming to a wedding, and you wear *these* clothes, hmm?” “Don’t you like it?” A gasp, followed by a soft chuckle. “Of course, I like it.” I looked up at the sign above, my fingernails digging deeply into my palms. Footsteps echoed down the hallway, and the restroom fell silent again. I took one last look at the tightly closed stall door, my eyes red, then turned and left. At three in the afternoon, the wedding concluded. After saying goodbye to Liam, I went downstairs. Stepping out of the elevator, I saw a familiar sports car parked on the road. I pretended not to notice, about to hail a taxi, when Julian, appearing from nowhere, grabbed my arm. “Vivian had some company business, so she left her car with me. We live close by, want a ride?” I rejected him without a second thought. Julian, however, paid no mind, practically shoved me into the passenger seat, locked the doors, and sped off. He drove so fast that I could only fasten my seatbelt. All the way, Julian, under the guise of casual conversation, constantly boasted and provoked me. “You’ve known Vivian was faking amnesia all along, haven’t you? Why didn’t you call her out?” My eyes froze for a moment, my face cold. “None of your business.” “How is it none of my business? I really want to stand openly by Vivian’s side and become her fiancé. Even though she doesn’t have that in mind right now, you know she really likes my body. She’ll fall for me eventually, don’t you believe it?” I completely ignored him, turning my head to look out the window. Seeing that I wasn’t taking the bait, Julian grew exasperated and uttered a few more taunts. I simply closed my eyes, pretending he didn’t exist. This dismissive attitude infuriated Julian. He glanced at the upcoming turn, then, hardening his heart, sharply swerved the steering wheel, crashing the car. *“CRASH!”* Under the violent impact, my body lurched forward uncontrollably. I opened my eyes to a shower of glass shards, instinctively raising my arms to shield myself. Crimson blood dripped from my arm. I slammed against the side door, a searing pain shot through my head, and my vision went black. I passed out. I don’t know how much time passed. Falling endlessly in darkness, I finally regained some consciousness. Perhaps it was the anesthetic, but I couldn’t open my eyes. I could only hear some sounds around me. It was two people talking, their voices eerily familiar. “Vivian, you’ve blown this whole thing so wide open, how are you going to fix it? Asher values his hands more than his life, and you chose to save Julian first? Do you want to kill him?” “How could I want to kill Asher? He just happened to wake up. If I had agreed to save him first, wouldn’t my fake amnesia have been exposed? There are still twenty-something days left. I just wanted to play around a bit more, I won’t let anything happen to Asher.” “Nothing happened? Didn’t you hear the doctor? One more minute before he got into surgery, and Asher’s hand would have been permanently ruined! If he wakes up and finds out the truth, you and he will never have a chance again.” The person holding my hand seemed very nervous at these words, their palm growing sweaty. A few minutes later, she pressed a kiss to my forehead, her voice full of certainty. “He won’t know. I’ve made arrangements. In twenty-three days, the doctors will announce that my memory has returned, and everything will go back to how it was.” After a long sigh, someone left the room. The other person remained by my bedside, murmuring softly. “Asher, our wedding is so soon. I’ve already ordered the rings. You’ll see them the day my memory returns.” “After we get our marriage license, how about I take you to see the Northern Lights? Do you remember the wish you made under the shooting stars on our third anniversary?” “When you said you wanted to be with me forever, I was so happy. I want to grow old with you too.” The effects of the anesthetic slowly wore off. I remembered who this chattering person was. It was my fiancée, Vivian Thorne. She seemed very concerned about me, calling the doctor every half hour to check on my condition. She would also considerately feed me water, tuck me in, and stay by my side without leaving. Until I fully woke up. All the tenderness she’d showered on me receded like a tide. Watching her elusive figure leave the hospital room, a hint of sarcasm flashed in my eyes. A few minutes later, a nurse came in to check on me. I noticed the nurse carefully hiding the medical chart and spoke in a hoarse voice. “Who was taking care of me these past few days?” The nurse’s gaze darted around a few times, and she stammered in response. “I… I’m not really sure. It was probably… a nursing aide.” I just felt tired. I picked up my phone and checked the time. December 8th. I had been unconscious for three days. My inbox still only contained advertisements and phone bill notifications. I closed my eyes, silently praying that the name change process would be completed soon. For a long time after that, Vivian didn’t appear. Julian, however, sent me many messages every day. Half of them were various provocations and photos of him showing off his relationship. The other half were SnapChat videos of him and Vivian in bed, from various locations. I didn’t open a single one, immediately setting my phone to Do Not Disturb. On December 15th, I completed the discharge procedures. I threw away everything else, leaving the hospital with only my medication. As I reached the entrance, I coincidentally ran into Sarah Jenkins, a senior from university who had pursued me once. We exchanged a few pleasantries, and I was chatting happily when Vivian, who seemed to appear from nowhere, grabbed my arm. Her face was so dark it could drip water, her eyes full of gloomy resentment as she looked at me, her voice dripping with jealousy. “Who allowed you to get so close to her?” I glanced at her, used some force to pull my reddened wrist from her grasp, and spoke with sarcasm. “Didn’t you lose your memory and refuse to acknowledge me as your boyfriend? I’ll chat with whoever I want; I don’t think it’s your place to control me.” With that, I didn’t wait for her reaction, hailed a cab, and left. Vivian, speechless and choked with anger, could only watch me drive away. **Chapter 5** I don’t know how long it was, but falling endlessly in darkness, I finally regained some consciousness. Perhaps it was the anesthetic, but I couldn’t open my eyes. I could only hear some sounds around me.

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The Harrington family, a dynasty steeped in old money and tradition, had one iron-clad rule: their heir could *never* marry outside their elite circle, especially not a woman of humble origins. Yet, Liam, the sole heir, had fallen hopelessly in love with me—just a regular girl from the wrong side of the tracks. To be with me, he’d defiantly given up his inheritance, enduring ninety-nine brutal lashes, administered by his father’s personal guards, and was forced to kneel in the grand hall of their estate for three days and three nights. His tailored shirt was soaked crimson with blood, yet he still looked up at me, a faint smile on his battered lips. “Evelyn, don’t be afraid. I only want you.” The Harringtons finally conceded, reluctantly agreeing to let him leave the family with me. But there was a non-negotiable condition: he had to secure an heir for the family. From then on, the words Liam said to me most often were—”Just wait.” The first time, he asked me to wait for him to get another woman pregnant. So he slept with Seraphina thirty-three times, until she conceived his child. The second time, he asked me to wait a little longer. That baby was a girl, and the Harringtons demanded a son. So he slept with Seraphina ninety-nine more times, until she was pregnant again. Just as I thought I’d finally reached the end of my ordeal, Seraphina and Liam’s daughter, who’d just celebrated her hundred-day party, suddenly developed a high fever and started vomiting blood. Everyone immediately blamed me. Seraphina lunged at me like a madwoman, her nails clawing at my face as she screamed, “If you hate anyone, hate me! Why would you hurt my child?!” Liam’s parents were furious. “This is our first grandchild! How dare you lay a hand on her?!” When I was stripped and thrown into a freezer at twenty degrees below zero, Liam stood just outside the door. Through the frosted glass, I saw his hand tremble as he lit a cigarette. But the eyes that once overflowed with love now held nothing but chilling indifference. “I told you to wait,” he said, crushing the cigarette butt, his eyes filled with disappointment. “Why would you hurt my child?” *His child.* How wonderfully possessive. I doubled over in pain, my heart feeling like it had been ripped open. Suddenly, I remembered— He’d once knelt in the rain, swearing, “Eve, I only want you in this life.” He’d once pressed his forehead against mine, saying, “Eve, I’ll only acknowledge the child born from *your* womb.” He’d once kissed my fingertips after we made love, promising, “Eve, just wait a little longer. Soon, it’ll just be the two of us.” But now, he stood beside Seraphina, holding *their* child, looking at me as if I were a wicked stranger. When the freezer door opened again, my frozen fingers dug desperately into my palms. This time, I wouldn’t wait. I dialed Mrs. Harrington’s number. “I’m willing to leave Liam,” my voice was eerily calm. “But I have one condition: I want you to send me somewhere he’ll never find me.” A satisfied laugh crackled from Mrs. Harrington’s end. “If you’d been this sensible earlier, wouldn’t things have been easier? One trip to the freezer taught you manners, it seems. A street vendor like you, worthy of our Harrington family?” “We’ll arrange everything in half a month,” Mr. Harrington’s voice was laced with contempt. “Then, don’t ever appear before Liam again.” The call ended. I stood by the villa door, my fingertips trembling. In the living room, Liam was bouncing Lily on his knee, while Seraphina leaned on his shoulder, smiling tenderly. A perfect family of three, filled with joy. I stood there, my heart feeling like it had been violently torn out. “Miss Evelyn, you’re back?” Seraphina spotted me first. Her spine stiffened immediately. Liam, almost instinctively, passed our daughter to the nanny. “Take her upstairs.” His gaze, sharp as a blade, pierced my heart. He was afraid I’d harm his child. The man who’d once said, “I’ll only acknowledge the child born from your womb,” now guarded against me like a murderer. Once Lily was taken away, Liam walked over, reaching out as if to check me. “You’re back. In the freezer… were you hurt?” I looked at the man who’d once taken ninety-nine lashes for me, a bitter ache swelling in my chest. I turned my head, dodging his touch. He frowned, then began to explain. “Eve, last night, under those circumstances, the more I protected you, the harsher their punishment would have been.” “Besides, we’re leaving soon. I didn’t want any complications. And the child is innocent, why would you—” “I told you it wasn’t me!” My eyes suddenly welled up. Liam seemed startled by my intense reaction, pausing a moment before softening his tone. “Alright, alright, it doesn’t matter anymore.” *It doesn’t matter anymore.* Those four words felt like an ice pick driven into my heart. He still didn’t believe me. As the atmosphere grew tense, Seraphina walked over, gently touching her belly. She feigned sincerity. “Miss Evelyn, I should apologize too. I was so frantic then. You don’t have children, so perhaps you can’t understand a mother’s feelings…” She raised a hand to smooth her hair, the vintage diamond bracelet on her wrist glinting softly under the lights. My eyes narrowed. I snatched her arm. “Where did you get that bracelet?” “Seraphina liked it, so I gave it to her,” Liam said, pulling my hand away. “Consider it your apology to her.” “That’s my mother’s heirloom!” My voice trembled. “How could you give it away? You know how important it is to me!” I reached out to snatch the bracelet back, but Seraphina suddenly stumbled backward, clutching her belly and crying out in pain. “Ah… my stomach…” “Evelyn!” Liam instantly pushed me away, his eyes chillingly cold. “She’s carrying my child! Haven’t you caused enough trouble?!” His force was too great. I was thrown violently against the corner of the coffee table, my head hitting it hard. Blood instantly gushed out. But Liam didn’t even glance back. He scooped Seraphina into his arms and rushed out. “Liam…” Seraphina whimpered, leaning against him, her voice weak. “Will the baby be alright…?” “Don’t worry, I’m here,” his voice was sickeningly tender. “You’ll be fine, and the baby will be fine.”

When Liam rushed out of the villa with Seraphina in his arms, I was still slumped on the floor, blood streaming down my neck from the back of my head. I watched his retreating back, so desperate, so frantic. He didn’t look back even once. The throbbing pain in my head was unbearable. Suddenly, I remembered, he used to be just as anxious about me. Back then, I ran a small fish stall in the local market. My hair was always in a simple ponytail, and I never wore makeup. My unassuming beauty earned me a quiet nickname among the vendors: “The market’s unassuming pearl.” The first time Liam saw me, he stood by my stall for two whole hours. Finally, he pulled out a black card, holding it out to me. “Come with me. You’ll never have to touch this stuff again.” I might have been poor, but I had my pride. I paused, then pushed the card back into his hand. “No, thank you, sir. I earn my living through honest work. There’s no shame in that.” He gazed at me silently for a long time, then handed me a business card, his fingers long and clean. “My name is Liam Harrington. I’ll be back tomorrow.” I didn’t think much of it. But the next day, he indeed returned. He drove a black Maybach and stood in the reeking market in a crisp suit, completely out of place. For three months, the city’s most eligible and notoriously reserved bachelor did many outrageous things to pursue me— I refused his roses, so he had expensive, air-freighted seafood delivered to my stall every day. I avoided his luxury car, so he’d walk through the reeking, fish-scented market on foot. I told him we lived in different worlds, so he’d squat beside my fish-scaled wash basin and scale fish for me, his aristocratic hands covered in grime. He stood in my fish market for three whole months. I’d refuse him once, and he’d come back a second time, a third, a fourth… I wasn’t unmoved. I was just too aware of the gulf between us, so I couldn’t, didn’t dare, fall for him. Eventually, I finally said yes, because he took a splash of sulfuric acid meant for me, thrown by a rival vendor. It left a raw, ugly scar across his back. He was drenched in cold sweat from the pain, yet he still smiled and said to me, “Eve, remember, you owe me your life. You’ll spend a lifetime repaying it.” Tears streamed down my face, hot and scalding against his palm. After we got together, he pampered me shamelessly. I cut my finger slicing fish, and he called a private doctor in the middle of the night. I casually mentioned liking a certain cake, and he immediately bought the entire pastry shop. When I had period cramps, he’d stay up all night, gently rubbing my stomach. Once, I tripped and scraped my knee. His eyes turned red with worry, and his hands trembled the whole way to the hospital as he carried me. The doctor laughed, saying it was just a superficial scratch, but he insisted on an X-ray, terrified I’d fractured a bone. And now— I looked down at the pool of blood on the floor and suddenly laughed. As I laughed, tears started to fall. I hailed a cab to the hospital alone. After my wound was treated, I was still so dizzy I could barely stand. As I stepped out of the examination room, my wrist was suddenly grabbed fiercely! “Evelyn!” Liam’s voice was tight with anger. “Seraphina almost miscarried, and you’re still not giving up? You followed her to the hospital to cause more trouble?” I turned and saw his tightly furrowed brow and the coldness in his eyes. He was in a suit, as aloof and distinguished as ever, but the cloying scent of Seraphina’s perfume still clung to him. “I came to the hospital…” My voice was barely a whisper. “Not for her.” I slowly raised my hand, pointing to my bandaged forehead. “I was hurt too.” Liam’s expression froze. Only then did he notice my pale face and the gauze on my temple. “You said you’d take me away once she had the baby,” I looked at him, my eyes red-rimmed. “But now, can you even see me anymore?” Liam’s brows furrowed deeper. He reached out to touch my wound. “What happened?” “You pushed me,” I said calmly. “I hit the table corner.” Liam’s pupils contracted. He seemed to recall the scene then. His anger immediately dissipated. He pulled me into his arms. “Eve, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to. I was just afraid something would happen to Seraphina. She’s pregnant, and if anything went wrong, our departure would be delayed again…” I let him hold me, my eyes vacant. I’d heard these words too many times. “I understand,” I pushed him away. “Go take care of her.” I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist again. “Eve, no matter what, you have to believe I only love you. Everything I’m doing is just so we can leave sooner.” He gently stroked my bandage. “I’ll have the maid look after you. Don’t let your wound get wet.” With that, he let go of my hand and turned towards Seraphina’s hospital room. I stood there, watching his tall figure slowly disappear. I suddenly laughed, tears streaming down my face. “I don’t believe it anymore…” I whispered. “Liam, I don’t believe it at all.”

In the following days, I received provocative photos from Seraphina almost daily. In the pictures, Liam was gently coaxing Lily, his eyes soft and tender, while Seraphina leaned on his shoulder, smiling sweetly. My fingertips trembled as I scrolled through them. There were photos of him staying by Seraphina’s hospital bed late at night, of him personally feeding her soup, and of him holding their child, his eyes full of doting affection. Each image felt like a knife carving into my heart. But as the pain continued, I suddenly realized I couldn’t feel it anymore. Perhaps my heart had utterly died the moment I was locked in that freezer. I was about to block Seraphina when my phone buzzed again. It was a picture of my vintage diamond bracelet, being playfully handled by Seraphina. 【Want your mom’s heirloom? Come and get it.】 I shot up, my vision momentarily blurring. But I didn’t care. I grabbed my jacket and rushed out. In the VIP room, Seraphina was softly humming a lullaby to Lily. “Daddy loves his little baby, doesn’t he? Daddy comes to see us every day…” She looked up and saw me, her smile widening. “You’re here. Did you know? Since I’ve been hospitalized, Liam hasn’t even gone to work. He’s been here, looking after Lily and me.” My nails dug deep into my palms. I didn’t want to hear it. “The bracelet?” Seraphina slowly picked up the diamond bracelet from the bedside table and dangled it. “You mean this?” She curled her lips, her smile cruel. “How about this: you kowtow to me three times, and I’ll give it back to you.” I trembled. “Don’t push your luck.” “And what if I do?!” Seraphina’s eyes were filled with disdain. “Evelyn! You’re nothing but a lowly, despicable street vendor. I’m the heiress of Albright Corporation, the woman the Harringtons chose for Liam! What makes you think you’re in my league? Asking you to kowtow is an honor!” She made a show of loosening her grip. “I’ll count to three. If you don’t bow, I’ll smash it.” “One, two—” I bit down hard on my lip, my eyes stinging. My knees hit the floor with a thud. Three loud thumps later, my vision swam. Seraphina laughed. “You look truly pathetic, bowing like that.” She stood up, looking down at me. “But I won’t give it to you.” With that, she raised her hand— “Smash!” The diamond bracelet hit the floor, shattering into several pieces. I trembled, rushing forward to pick them up, when the door suddenly burst open! Liam, Mr. Harrington, and Mrs. Harrington stood in the doorway, their faces grim. “What are you doing?!” Mr. Harrington demanded sharply. Seraphina’s face instantly twisted. She cried and threw herself into Liam’s arms. “Liam! I don’t know what happened, she just burst in here, pinching and hitting Lily…” She pulled open Lily’s clothes, revealing several dark bruises! I was incredulous. “I didn’t!” I shook my head frantically, but Mr. Harrington was already striding towards me. “Smack!” The slap made my vision swim, my ears ring, and blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. “Vicious woman!” Mr. Harrington’s voice seemed to come from a distance. “How could you harm such a small child?!” Mrs. Harrington spoke coldly. “The last punishment was clearly too light. Guards! Drag her out and give her twenty lashes!” Liam clenched his fists, taking a step forward. “Mom—” “You’re still defending her?!” Mrs. Harrington interrupted sharply. “She hurt *your* biological daughter! Even if you eventually abandon her at the old estate and run off with Evelyn, that won’t change the fact that Lily is your flesh and blood!” I trembled, instinctively looking at Liam. He still stood there, his long fingers clenched white, knuckles pale. He looked at me, his eyes filled with such struggle, such pain… Finally, they slowly settled into a terrifying calm. He slowly turned his face away. I stared blankly at his averted face, my heart feeling like it was being violently torn apart. But the next second, my lips slowly curled upwards, and I laughed. I laughed at myself for being so foolish, for actually believing he would take me away. I laughed at myself for being so stupid, for thinking those vows could outweigh blood ties. I laughed at myself for being so naive, for still hoping he would choose me at the last minute! I was dragged to the hospital’s outdoor corridor. Bodyguards held my shoulders, forcing me to kneel. The first lash came down, and pain made my vision swim. In a daze, I remembered— The day I learned the Harringtons were desperately trying to prevent us from being together, I, with tears in my eyes, broke up with him. That night, it poured rain, and he stood outside my apartment building all night. The next day, he had a fever of 104°F, almost developing pneumonia. When I went to see him, he was delirious with fever, yet he clutched my hand and said, “Eve, remember, even if the whole world is against us, I only want you.” The second lash fell, and I bit through my lip, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth. I remembered the time he flew back from abroad overnight, just because I’d sent a text saying “Miss you” in the middle of the night. The third lash, the fourth lash… Each lash felt like it struck my heart, hurting more than the wounds on my back. By the fifteenth lash, I could almost hear his pained voice in my ear: “How did you get hurt again? Let me see…” By the nineteenth lash, I was already in a daze from the pain, my ears ringing. I vaguely heard someone calling my name, but I couldn’t tell if it was reality or hallucination. The last lash came down, and I finally couldn’t hold on. My vision went black, and I completely passed out.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299077”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #玄幻Fantasy #重生Reborn

**Chapter 1** Everyone knew Liam Henderson adored me more than life itself. He would turn down every woman who tried to get close to him. He named his new jewelry collection after me. He’d faced severe consequences from his family, nearly losing his inheritance and status, all because he feared me enduring the pain of childbirth. Yet, this man, who loved me so fiercely, ended up in bed with his best friend’s sister. After countless times he broke his promises to me for her, I decided to leave. 　　“System, I’m the daughter of Host 12138. I request to leave this world.” 　　It was a cold winter night, the fire in the fireplace roaring, casting dancing shadows on the white wall. 　　I stared at the swirling snowflakes, slowly took off the simple silver necklace from my neck, and spoke softly. 　　Moments later, a cold, mechanical voice abruptly echoed in the quiet bedroom. 　　“Received. System is processing. You will be removed from this world in 15 days.” 　　The instant the words faded, I realized the necklace in my palm had vanished into thin air. 　　At the same time, the TV began broadcasting an interview with Liam Henderson. 　　“The new jewelry collection being launched today is named ‘Love Aurora,’ Mr. Henderson. Does it have any special meaning?” 　　Hearing the host’s question, Liam, the main guest, showed an extremely gentle smile, his eyes filled with warmth. 　　“Aurora is my wife’s name. The meaning behind this collection name is simple: I will love her for a lifetime.” 　　The host, caught off guard by such a loving declaration, couldn’t hide her flirty smile. 　　“I hear from online news that you and your wife were each other’s first loves, and you got married as soon as you were old enough. Five years into your marriage, your relationship is still so stable and sweet. Do you have any relationship secrets?” 　　“Secrets? Well, perhaps it’s listening to my wife in everything, always replying to her messages instantly, preparing surprises for her every day…” 　　Liam’s series of relationship tips drew envious cheers from the studio audience. 　　“Oh my god, I wish heaven would grant me such a dominant and devoted boyfriend!” 　　“Liam Henderson is one in a million. When will it be my turn to be Mrs. Henderson!” 　　Listening to the endless exclamations below, Liam’s eyes curved into a smile, his voice soft. “Sorry, Liam Henderson belongs only to Aurora.” 　　A wave of thunderous applause erupted as the interview drew to a close. 　　Watching Liam’s figure gradually blur and recede, I turned off the TV, a sarcastic smile twisting my lips. 　　Liam Henderson belongs only to Aurora? 　　Perhaps in the past, that was true. 　　After all, we grew up together as childhood sweethearts, started dating at fifteen, and married at twenty-two. Our love story began in school and led all the way to the altar. 　　Everyone around me envied me for finding such a faithful and devoted partner. 　　He would fill his Ins feed with my photos, actively keeping his distance from all other women. 　　He spared no expense, arranging a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the entire city for our wedding, just to declare to the world that he had married the girl he loved most. 　　When I was diagnosed with kidney failure, he didn’t hesitate to donate his kidney to me, simply because if I died, he wouldn’t want to live either. 　　Seven years of dating, five years of marriage – he truly hadn’t broken the vows he made when he proposed. 　　But what did it matter now? 　　People change. 　　My father was like that, and Liam, he’s no different. 　　My father, Richard, at twenty-seven, betrayed my mother, getting involved with his secretary, causing my mother to lose heart and completely leave this world. 　　Liam, at twenty-six, similarly betrayed me, secretly taking his best friend’s sister as his mistress behind my back. 　　The exact same script, playing out again more than twenty years later. 　　And this time, I made the same choice as my mother. 　　If he betrays me, I disappear! 　　I touched my empty neck, suddenly remembering what my mother told me before she left. 　　“Aurora, Mom isn’t from this world. I came here to complete a mission, and now that it’s done, and your father has betrayed me, Mom has to go home. Before I leave, I’m giving you this necklace. Whenever you feel unhappy, use it to summon the System and leave this world forever, to be with me.” 　　Leave this world forever? 　　Just as I wished. 　　I gave a soft laugh, slowly took off my wedding ring, and tossed it into the fireplace. 　　The moment I closed the door, a soft click came from behind. 　　Liam, covered in wind and snow, pushed the door open, carrying a bouquet of vibrant red roses, a smiling gesture as he handed them to me. 　　“Aurora, I was late coming back from the meeting today. I’m sorry to make you wait so long for me.” 　　I received such beautiful flowers every day. 　　But today’s bouquet had an unusually strong scent, as if trying to conceal something. 　　I placed the flowers on the table and then caught a whiff of the strong perfume on him. 　　So, it was to cover up her scent. 　　I suppressed the pain in my chest, looked up, and saw the faint red mark on his collar. 　　My tears had already run dry, so this time, I only glanced at it before looking away, speaking calmly. 　　“It’s fine. From now on, you can come back whenever you want. Or not at all. You don’t need to worry about my feelings.” 　　Just as he didn’t need to know that I only had fifteen days left in this world. **Chapter 2** Hearing me speak those words in such a flat tone, Liam’s heart suddenly pounded. “Aurora, please don’t be angry with me. I promise I won’t come back late again. I swear, if you forgive me, I’ll do anything.” It was the smallest of matters, yet he held me, pleading and coaxing, placing my slightest feelings above all else. I didn’t understand why a man who loved me so terribly would also betray me. But I had to endure this charade for another fifteen days, so I forced down the pain in my heart. “I’m really not angry. I just think you don’t need to prioritize my emotions so much.” “How could I not prioritize them? I love you so much, Aurora. The whole world means nothing to me compared to you.” He smiled, continuing to whisper sweet nothings in my ear. I said nothing, but Liam suddenly noticed my neck was bare. “Aurora, where’s your necklace?” He knew it was something my mother had left me before she disappeared, something I cherished and always wore, never taking it off. My body stiffened slightly. I lowered my eyes, my voice barely a whisper. “It broke. I sent it in for repairs.” Seeing my expression, Liam assumed my unhappiness today was because the necklace reminded me of my mother. He quickly offered words of comfort. “It’ll be fixed, Aurora, don’t be sad. Your mother will come back to you too. Even though she vanished into thin air all these years, I’ve never given up searching for her. How could someone just disappear from this world for no reason? She must be hiding. Believe me, I’ll reunite you two.” I forced a thin smile. I would indeed be reunited with my mother very soon. “How’s my father doing lately?” Liam paused for a moment, then sighed softly. “Same as usual. He’s disoriented in the mental hospital, constantly muttering your mother’s name.” “He deserved it.” I uttered those three words, one by one. Then I looked up at the person whose face had subtly changed. “Liam, my mother and I are alike. On our wedding day, I told you: if your heart changes, I will also disappear, and you’ll never find me again…” These words, falling on Liam’s ears, made his heart pound with increasing panic. He didn’t want to hear any more, so he quickly pulled me into his arms, his tone firm. “No, Aurora, I won’t betray you, and I won’t allow you to leave like your mother did.” Hearing him make such a solemn promise again, my voice was calm. “What if that day truly comes?” “That day will never come. Even if you were to vanish without a trace, I would search every corner of this world and beyond, stake everything I have, and I would find you.” His words were like a declaration of fate, foretelling the future we were bound to confront. I closed my eyes, my voice barely audible. “I’ll be waiting for that day.” Liam hadn’t heard clearly and asked something, his voice trembling. I shook my head, broke free from his embrace, and turned into the bedroom. “Nothing.” Early the next morning, a knock on the door woke both Liam and me. Opening the door, Chloe stood outside with her suitcase, her big, teary eyes instantly pleading. “Brother Liam, there were rats in my apartment last night, and I was too scared to stay. Can I crash at your place for a few days?” Liam rejected her without thinking. “No, Aurora doesn’t like strangers staying here. Go to a hotel.” Chloe’s face immediately fell, and her eyes welled up. “You won’t help me? If you don’t let me stay, I’ll tell my brother! You promised him you’d take good care of me! Aren’t you worried about me, a young girl alone in a hotel?” Hearing this, Liam rubbed his temples. “Chloe, don’t be unreasonable!” I sat nearby, quietly watching the two of them pretending to be mere siblings. They had already done every intimate thing possible, yet they were still putting on this act in front of me. Perhaps seeing that Liam wasn’t budging, Chloe immediately looked at me with a pitiful expression: “Sister Aurora, please let me stay for a few days. I promise I won’t cause any trouble.” I looked up at her. “Fine. Make yourself at home.” Hearing that, Chloe cheered, dragging her suitcase inside. She didn’t stand on ceremony, walked right over to the dining table, and sat down, her eyes sparkling at the sandwiches on the table. “Brother Liam, did you make all these? You’re so amazing!” Liam slapped her eager hand away, moving the plate in front of me. “If you want to eat, have the maid make something. What I make is only for Aurora.” Chloe’s lips immediately drooped in a pout, and she lowered her head, walking silently into the kitchen. I glanced at the breakfast on the table but didn’t touch it. Liam noticed immediately. “Aurora, why aren’t you eating breakfast? Don’t you like what I made?” I gently shook my head, coming up with a casual excuse. “No, I just feel like having the croissants from ‘The Daily Crumb’ downtown.” Liam immediately picked up his car keys and went to the entryway to change his shoes. “I’ll go buy them right away.” Chloe, who had just come out, heard this and quickly put down her plate, skipping after him. “The food at home doesn’t suit my taste either. I want to eat out too.” Watching their backs as they left, one after the other, I forced a bitter smile. Half an hour passed, and Liam hadn’t returned. I had a premonition. I took out my phone and accessed the dashcam footage. The screen was still loading when a sultry gasp echoed in the quiet room. “Brother Liam, easy… easy…” In the cramped car, the two people who had been at odds moments ago were now naked, wrapped in each other’s arms. Liam thrust his hips wildly, his eyes red-rimmed, fingers digging into Chloe’s soft, yielding waist. “How can you be satisfied if I don’t go harder, huh? It’s bad enough you shamelessly seduced my best friend, but now you brazenly move into my home? Just to cling to me?” “I’m telling you! I don’t love you at all, you’re just a tool for my release. Aurora is my bottom line. If you dare make a scene about us in front of her, you’ll face the consequences.” **Chapter 3** The moment Liam finished speaking, Chloe’s sobbing began on the video. “Yes, I was delusional. I knew you were married and only had eyes for Sister Aurora, but I still couldn’t give up, insisting on clinging to you, letting you torment me like this every day! Do you think I want this? If I didn’t like you so much, why would I degrade myself?” Watching her cry, her face streaked with tears, Liam’s thrusting movements suddenly stiffened. Though his tone remained harsh, his actions softened slightly. “Can’t take a single word? So fragile? Where’s all that fire you had when you were trying to seduce me? Didn’t you say you only wanted my body, not my heart?” Chloe didn’t respond, instead crying even harder. Liam, exasperated, finally leaned down and kissed away her tears one by one. “Alright, be good. What gift do you want? I’ll buy it for you.” Chloe whimpered pitifully. “I… I want the necklace you bought for Sister Aurora, and the breakfast you just bought for her!” Liam’s brow furrowed. “Choose something else.” “Why not? I just want those.” Seeing her pout again and start tearing up, Liam had no choice but to give in. “Alright, you can have it. Anything you want, just don’t cry, okay? Be a good girl, let me kiss you.” Though I already knew Liam had betrayed me, seeing this scene unfold, I was still ripped apart by pain. My heart tightened, a sharp, suffocating ache that made me curl up, drenched in sweat. I bit down hard on my lip, but couldn’t stop the choked sobs rising in my throat. Liam, Oh, Liam. When we were fifteen, you stammered out a confession, saying I was the only girl who ever made your heart race. When we were twenty-two, you knelt before me with a ring, promising to give all your love to me, and only me, for a lifetime. Turns out your “lifetime” was only a few years. My sharp fingernails pierced my skin, drawing blood. But my knuckles kept pressing harder, deepening the wounds, as if only this could barely quell the bone-deep agony in my heart. I sat stunned at the dining table, motionless. Tears streamed down my face like rain. I don’t know how long passed before my phone screen returned to normal. A short while later, Liam, fully dressed, pushed open the door. “Aurora, I’m back…” His gentle voice cut off abruptly. Seeing my tear-streaked face, his heart lurched, and he rushed to my side. “Aurora, why are you crying?” I struggled to control my emotions, pulling out a tissue, my voice incredibly hoarse. “It’s nothing. I just watched a really touching TV show and cried.” Liam quickly took the tissue, gently wiping away my tears, his eyes filled with heartache. “What show? It made you cry so much.” “Do you want to see?” Liam paused, then playfully ruffled my hair. “Sure, let me see. I’ll have someone take that show off the air later. How dare it make my sweet girl cry.” As he spoke, he reached for my phone. But just as his finger was about to tap the screen, I suddenly spoke. “Where are the croissants you bought?” Liam’s movements froze for an instant, then he quickly embraced me, apologizing profusely. “I’m so sorry, Aurora. They were all sold out by the time I got there, and the shop was closed. I’ll go buy them for you tomorrow, okay?” No sooner had he spoken than Chloe walked in, carrying a bag, her face beaming with triumph as she held it up. “I bought the very last croissant, Sister Aurora! Do you want me to give it to you?” I said nothing, my gaze fixed on her neck. The pure silver necklace Chloe was wearing looked very much like the one my mother had left me. It seemed Liam had stayed up all night to find a similar one, planning to cheer me up. But Chloe had simply used a little manipulation, a little pout, and he had given it to her. Noticing my gaze, Chloe walked right up to me, pulling the necklace for me to admire, a cheerful smile on her face. “Isn’t this necklace pretty? I just bought it. Sister Aurora, do you think it suits me?” I stared at it for a long time, then laughed, tears streaming down my face. “It suits you.” With that, without looking at their expressions, I turned and went upstairs. In the evening, I ate a light meal and returned to my room. As soon as I sat down, I felt a cramping pain in my lower abdomen, as if it were filled with lead. I felt weak, slumped onto the sofa, and cold sweat slowly seeped through my clothes, soon dampening my sweater. Liam, who had followed me up, saw my pained expression. Knowing it was my period, he quickly went downstairs to make brown sugar water. After feeding it to me spoonful by spoonful, he gave me some medicine and then rubbed his hands together to warm them, gently pressing them against my stomach. He held me, wishing he could bear the pain for me, his eyes overflowing with heartache. “My sweet girl, let’s not have children, okay? I can’t stand to see you in so much pain during your period. If you were to give birth, I can’t even imagine.” I lifted my pale, paper-white face, looking at him quietly, my voice extremely weak. “No children, what will your parents think?” “I don’t care what they think! Nothing is more important than you! If they insist on forcing me, I’d rather leave the Henderson family and give up all my inheritance!” He declared, while passionately kissing my neck. “Aurora, I told you, in this life, you alone are not enough for me to spoil. You are my child, and I’ll spoil you for life.” **Chapter 4** Every word was sincere, utterly earnest. I almost believed him. But then I remembered the videos from this morning, and I felt nothing but mockery. His love for me was clearly not fake, so why could he do something so deeply hurtful to me? Tears streamed down my face. I buried half my face in the pillow, my consciousness growing hazy. Unbeknownst to me, I drifted off to sleep. When I woke up again, it was already midnight. I felt the space beside me and realized I was alone. I paused, then picked up a glass, planning to go downstairs for water. But as soon as I left the bedroom, I heard faint creaking sounds from next door. The study door was ajar. I tiptoed over and saw two figures entangled on the desk. Chloe’s skin was pale as snow under the lamp. Her face was flushed, and she was panting softly, her fingers ceaselessly clawing at the tabletop. “Brother Liam, isn’t… isn’t Sister on her period? You’re not with her, and you’re tormenting me again…” “Shut up!” Liam intentionally lowered his voice, but his movements didn’t stop. This unexpected scene hit my chest like a heavy blow, making every breath a tearing agony. Could he really not control himself? Every moment, he had to be with Chloe… I looked away, no longer thinking of getting water. I stumbled back to my room. Half an hour later, my bedroom door opened. Liam, after showering, lay down beside me and pulled me into his arms again. “Aurora, my sweet, your husband’s here. It won’t hurt anymore.” I didn’t answer him. I closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. But tears streamed down my cheeks, dampening my temples. The person behind me, thinking I was asleep, continued to gently rub my lower abdomen. I felt the burning warmth of his fingertips, and all my strength seemed to drain away, leaving only endless pain. I counted down in my mind, over and over. Only thirteen days left. Just hold on, Aurora, only thirteen days, and you’ll have nothing more to do with this man. During my period, Liam canceled all his work and stayed home with me. Once I slowly recovered, he reluctantly let go of me and went to the company to handle the piled-up affairs. After he left, I took my ID and went to the civil registry office to process the cancellation of my household registration. The clerk looked surprised. “Miss, only deceased persons can apply for this service.” I nodded. “I will be completely leaving this world in ten days. Please help me process it in advance.” The clerk thought I had cancer, gave me a sympathetic look, and eventually processed it for me. Holding the stamped documents, I sighed in relief, a smile of liberation on my face. Soon, there would be no Aurora in this world. And Liam would never find me!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299076”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #玄幻Fantasy #重生Reborn

“My child, stay, and I’ll give you a billion dollars.” “No, two billion!” At the grand Hayes Estate, Old Mr. Sterling Hayes sat hunched in a plush armchair, his gaze pleading with me. But I, sitting opposite him, simply shook my head. With a gentle push, I slid the colossal check back across the table. “Grandpa, I’m sorry. We agreed on six years, and that time is up. My debt of gratitude has been repaid. It’s time for me to leave.” My voice was soft, yet unwavering in its resolve. Seeing my mind was made up, Old Mr. Sterling Hayes could only sigh. “You’ve worked tirelessly these past years. Before you go, tell me anything you wish for.” A heavy silence stretched between us for what felt like an eternity before I finally spoke. “I want you to… approve of Asher and Serena being together.” “You asked me to approach Asher specifically to make him forget Serena. But six years have passed, and you’ve seen it for yourself. Perhaps true love truly cannot be broken apart.” Another profound sigh escaped Old Mr. Sterling Hayes, his eyes heavy with weariness and resignation. “Enough, enough. I’m old. I won’t meddle in their young lives anymore. Let them do as they please. As for the divorce, my child, you’ll have to tell Asher yourself.” I nodded, bowing respectfully to the old man, then rose and walked toward the grand entrance. Once in the car, I cast one last look at the estate. The first time I came to this sprawling mansion, it was out of gratitude. I was an orphan from a foster home, destined to drop out of school like the other children there. But fate, or perhaps luck, intervened when Old Mr. Sterling Hayes noticed me. He sponsored my education, giving me a chance at a future. I had talent, and I worked tirelessly, skipping grades until, at just 22, I had already earned my Ph.D. from an elite university, a feat that turned heads. The year I achieved academic success, I specifically sought out the Hayes Estate to thank Old Mr. Sterling Hayes in person. He sat regally, his face etched with fatigue, and made a request. “My child, the Hayes family lacks no wealth. If you wish to repay my kindness, grant me one request: starting today, and for the next six years, you will approach my heir, Asher, and bear him a child, to make him forget… his adopted sister.” It was then I learned that Asher, the heir to the Hayes Group, had fallen for Serena, his adopted sister. He was willing to throw away his entire inheritance, defying all societal norms and family expectations, just to be with her. He was their golden boy, groomed from childhood to be the perfect heir, yet he rebelled so fiercely for a woman. The entire Hayes family was in a frenzy. To quash his obsession, they even sent Serena abroad. But after that, Asher plunged into a spiral of heavy drinking, a shadow of his former self. To repay my debt, I agreed. From then on, I began to approach Asher, relentlessly pursuing him, playing the part of a woman madly in love. Finally, I succeeded in marrying him and even bore him a child. For six grueling years, I performed my duties diligently, without a single complaint. But the moment Serena returned, his suppressed affections reignited with a vengeance. Even our son was frequently taken to see Serena, developing an affection for her and, in turn, growing distant from me, his own mother. It turned out, the woman he secretly cherished, the one he never spoke of, was also the one he had never forgotten. Thankfully, from now on, none of this would concern me. The Hayes family’s claim on me was only for six years, and the child had been born. Finally, I was free to leave. My scattered thoughts snapped back into reality, my gaze darting back inside the car. In the next horrifying instant, a runaway truck barreled straight for us. Then came a series of violent impacts. “BANG!” The world tilted, and I felt a jarring lurch. My forehead slammed into the hard seat, a searing pain consuming my senses. My vision dissolved into black, and I succumbed to unconsciousness. When I next awoke, the stark white ceiling and the acrid smell of antiseptic informed me of my whereabouts. A nurse, checking on me, expressed her relief upon seeing I was awake. After asking for my basic information, she marvelled, “You’re incredibly lucky. Just a mild concussion. We had over a dozen patients from that pile-up on Bayfront Road, and you’re the only survivor.” The nurse re-checked my vitals, letting out a relieved breath. “Nothing serious. We just need a family member to sign some discharge papers, and you can go.” I struggled to sit up, still reeling from the shock of my near-death experience. It took a long moment before I nodded, picking up my phone and dialing Asher’s number. The ringing continued, unanswered. Finally, perhaps annoyed, he simply disconnected the call. One call, two, three… I called him over a dozen times, but he never picked up. My gaze dropped, and I tapped on another contact: my son, Leo’s number. Time ticked by, the call disconnected again and again. Finally, a message popped up on the screen. [Can you stop bothering me? I have important things to do. Oh, and make sure to cook some chicken soup at home.] His tone was dismissive, his command arrogant. If you didn’t know, who would guess those words came from the son I carried for nine agonizing months? Outside the hospital room, nurses walked by in the hallway, their hushed voices drifting in. “Mr. Hayes is so devoted to his wife, isn’t he? She just had a minor burn from hot water, barely a scratch, and he booked an entire floor for her! And the young master, so well-behaved, constantly running errands for her.” “You’re mistaken. That’s not Mrs. Hayes. That’s Mr. Hayes’s adopted sister, Serena.” Hearing her, the other nurse quickly corrected her, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “But you’re new to Riverview City, you wouldn’t know. Mr. Hayes apparently loves his sister. He even nearly gave up his inheritance for her before, causing a huge scandal. It was only after Ms. Serena was sent abroad that he married the current Mrs. Hayes.” In that moment, I finally understood what those two—father and son—were so busy with. I couldn’t help but smile to myself. If I had truly died in that multi-car pile-up, would there even be anyone to claim my body? I looked up at the nurse, my voice quiet. “I’m sorry, I don’t have family. Can I sign for myself?” Perhaps it was the first time she’d encountered someone completely alone. A flicker of sympathy crossed the nurse’s eyes, and she eventually made an exception, handing me the discharge papers. I handled the discharge formalities alone. As I walked past a hospital room on my way to pick up medication, familiar voices drifted out. I instinctively glanced inside and saw Asher and Leo, both at Serena’s bedside, their faces displaying a tenderness and obedience I had never seen directed at me. I watched silently, my expression betraying no emotion, as if the people inside weren’t my husband and son. After a moment, I shifted my gaze, turning to walk away. Back home, I retrieved the divorce papers from a drawer. My eyes landed on Asher’s fluid signature at the bottom, and for a fleeting moment, I saw him signing it all those years ago. His eyes had been distant, devoid of any emotion as he looked at me. “Elara Brooks, I know you’re madly in love with me, but my heart belongs to another. I only married you because my family pressed me. From now on, if you ever want a divorce, just sign here, and you’re free to leave anytime.” Now, I picked up the pen and, without a moment’s hesitation, signed my name in the section for the wife!

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After years of a fruitless relationship, today I finally decided to let go. “Ms. Carter, this is for your pre-booked death service. Your death is scheduled for Leo’s celebration party in three days, by falling into a river. Both you and the baby will be faking your deaths. Please confirm.” I gently patted the sleeping infant in my arms, then signed my name neatly on the client section of the document. Everyone in this city knew I was Julian Hayes’s most ardent admirer. I had been obsessed with Julian for eight years, relentlessly chasing him until I finally became Mrs. Hayes. But they didn’t know that when Julian was five, he gave me his mother’s diamond ring and said he’d marry me when he grew up. When Julian was fifteen, he solemnly tattooed both our initials over his heart, his voice earnest, “Anya, I want to love you every day, forever.” At eighteen, Julian risked his life to rush into a burning building to save me. A falling beam struck his head, requiring emergency surgery. The doctors warned he might suffer memory loss. Before the surgery, Julian took off the amulet he’d worn since childhood and placed it on me. “Anya, death can’t separate us, let alone a little memory loss. Wait for me, I promise I’ll remember you!” “Remember to wear this amulet and never take it off. It’s our token of recognition!” Later, Julian woke up, but he’d lost all memory from before he was sixteen. He even mistook Seraphina Reed, who secretly loved him, for his girlfriend. For eight years, I tried everything to make Julian remember. But because Julian’s mother insisted he marry me, he only grew to resent me more. He even said, when I was in labor, nearly dying, “Just tell me when she’s dead, so Seraphina can take her place as Mrs. Hayes.” That single sentence drained the last shred of affection I had for him. I held my baby and went to the fake death agency, wanting nothing more than to leave his world forever, never to see him again! Leaving the agency, I saw a large screen in the mall, looping an interview with Julian. He was holding Seraphina’s hand, his eyes soft. “Seraphina’s son, Lucas, is only three. He needs a father’s love, so we don’t plan on having children for now. I don’t want to upset him.” Julian’s answer triggered wild cheers from the onlookers. [Ugh, this ice-cold CEO ignores his own flesh and blood but treats his ex-girlfriend’s kid like a treasure? So devoted and loyal, I’m dying of envy!] [This is the woman Mr. Hayes fell for at sixteen. Even after she abandoned him when he went blind, he stayed devoted, waiting three years to win her back. Such an open-minded and passionate man is rare!] [That obsessed stalker thought taking care of the blind Mr. Hayes for three years would win his heart? Those two are true love, alright!] [Who knows how Anya Carter, that manipulative faker, got her position. She actually thought giving birth to his son would win him back. Mr. Hayes never even looked at her properly, she’s completely deluded!] [I’ve never seen such a shameless woman. Those two are beautiful and brilliant. She clearly knows Julian only has eyes for Seraphina, yet she clings to the position of Mrs. Hayes. So dark-hearted!] The cold words of the crowd pierced my heart like sharp swords, leaving it riddled with holes. The pain made it impossible to breathe. My baby’s cry broke my reverie. Ignoring everything else, I hurried into a nearby mall, searching for a nursing room to feed my child. Unfortunately, I ran into Julian again on the first floor, buying toy guns with Seraphina’s son. Julian patiently picked out toys, a rare smile gracing his usually stern face. The moment our eyes met, Julian’s smile vanished. He spoke coldly, “Can’t you do anything productive for once, instead of spending all day tracking my movements and crying for me to come home?”

“Julian, stop it. Anya is still recovering from childbirth, she’s very weak. This is when she needs care the most. If she doesn’t recover properly, she could suffer long-term health issues.” Seraphina wrapped her arm possessively around Julian’s, her smile gentle. “Since Anya came to find you, be good and go home with her today.” “Your baby is almost a month old, and you haven’t held him once as a father. It’s really not right.” “Hmph, my child? He was just a formality, a duty I had to fulfill for my family. He doesn’t deserve for me to hold him!” Julian affectionately pinched Seraphina’s cheek. “Even if he’s not my own, I feel better holding your son.” Their argument attracted a crowd of onlookers and hushed whispers. [Oh my god, isn’t that Mr. Hayes and his wife? This is Anya Carter’s child, one she almost died giving birth to. What Mr. Hayes said is a bit harsh, isn’t it?] [At least Anya Carter stayed by his side tirelessly for three years when Mr. Hayes was blind. From his tone, it sounds like he wants this woman dead.] [Yeah, Mr. Hayes is such a jerk. Women are so weak after giving birth, and she’s not getting any care from her husband. So pathetic.] People always follow the crowd, saying whatever suits the moment. In such scenes, some cursed me, others defended me. I was used to it. I looked at Julian’s disgusted face, my eyes welling up with tears. He had long forgotten how he risked his life to save me from the fire. Forgotten how he donated bone marrow for me when I had leukemia, defying everyone. Forgotten his promise that we would love each other every day, forever. The one trapped by those sweet memories wasn’t Julian. It was me. Luckily, in three days, I would leave his world completely, never to see him again! Leo’s cries grew more anxious. I felt a surge of panic, pushed past Seraphina, who was blocking my way, and rushed into the nursing room at the end of the aisle. Behind the door, I heard the sound of a woman falling and a man’s shocked, pained cry. I focused on feeding Leo, my phone ringing incessantly. It was Julian calling. I decisively turned it off. After soothing the baby, I left the nursing room to find Julian holding Seraphina, who was resting on a bench. Seraphina had a bandage on her forehead, her eyes filled with tears. “Julian, please don’t blame Anya. She was just anxious about the baby and accidentally pushed me. She definitely didn’t mean to disfigure me.” “Hmph, this woman knew you depend on your looks, yet she deliberately pushed you down. How malicious!” Julian’s face was like ice, and he snapped, “Anya Carter, get over here and apologize to her!” “No, no, it’s fine,” Seraphina demurred, though her eyes gleamed with triumph. I looked at her, devoid of emotion. I took off the amulet I always wore close to my skin and handed it to her. “I bumped into you today. Take this as my apology.” At this, Julian’s eyes flashed with confusion, and Seraphina was equally startled, feigning refusal. “Anya, you shouldn’t! This is your most cherished necklace. Keep it!” “My face is really fine, you don’t have to be so worried.” “Anya Carter, what trick are you trying to pull now?” Julian suppressed a sudden flicker of unease, frowning in displeasure. “Before, when I told you to return the amulet to Seraphina, you cried hysterically, refusing to give in even if it meant death. Why are you suddenly willing today?” “I’m not playing any tricks. I just don’t want it anymore.” My expression was indifferent as I held Leo and walked away. But Julian blocked my path. “Don’t think this reverse psychology will make me agree to go home with you. Are you so desperate for a man you’ve gone crazy? Dream on!” I placed the amulet in his hand, not sparing him a glance, and walked away. In three days, I would be completely out of his life. Why would I care about an amulet he gave me, or if he wanted to come home?

Julian vaguely felt I had changed, but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He meticulously cleaned the amulet and handed it to Seraphina. “This is my most precious amulet. It’s yours now.” “Julian, Anya seems upset. You should go back to her,” Seraphina gently advised. “Whether she’s upset or not, what does it matter to me?” Julian said. “Let’s go!” … The clock on the wall struck midnight. Julian still wasn’t home. In the past, I would have called everyone around him, asking about his whereabouts and persuading him to come home. After all, he’d had two brain surgeries and couldn’t stay up late. Now, I was busy getting rid of everything, unwilling to waste time on insignificant people. I instructed Martha to inventory all the gifts I had given Julian over the years. They filled five large boxes. There were watches worth tens of thousands of dollars, calligraphy and paintings, and 136 custom-made suits. There were also 238 love letters Julian had once written to me. I had once tried to use these passionate letters to awaken his love and memories. But I hadn’t known that my roommate, Seraphina, had secretly sabotaged me, delaying my visit to Julian in the hospital. When I rushed to the hospital with the love letters, a conscious Julian was holding Seraphina’s hand tightly. His eyes were full of deep affection. “Seraphina, I’ll be good to you my entire life!” “I’ll make you a superstar!” I was shocked and heartbroken, desperately wanting to prove my identity with the love letters and the amulet. Instead, I was met with Julian’s cold accusation, “What a scheming and manipulative woman. How dare you secretly replace my name in the love letters I wrote for Seraphina with yours?” “And you even deliberately got the same tattoo on your chest as mine and stole the amulet I gave Seraphina?” “You’re utterly despicable!” The boy who once loved me so deeply now only believed Seraphina’s fabricated lies, looking at me with nothing but disgust and disdain. No matter how his friends explained, Julian was convinced that I had painstakingly tried to steal Seraphina’s place. He even threatened to cut ties with them if they continued to speak on my behalf! Thinking about the eight years I spent chasing Julian, the hopeless waiting, and his mockery, tears blurred my vision. If he truly loved me, how could he have no physical memory of me, mistaking someone else for his girlfriend? How could he hurt me so deeply, not giving me an ounce of trust? Ultimately, Julian didn’t love me enough, which was why he so easily fell for someone else’s manipulation! I suppressed the bitterness in my heart and tossed my wedding ring into the trash. Then I doused the discarded items with gasoline. Martha, the housekeeper, retrieved the ring from the trash. “Madam, this is the lily wedding ring Mr. Hayes personally carved for you when he was sixteen. You can’t throw it away!” “And these gifts and love letters were once Mr. Hayes’s most cherished possessions. He won’t be able to bear it if you burn them.” “Please give Mr. Hayes more time. He loves you so much, he’ll definitely regain his memory!” “Whether Julian regains his memory or not, I don’t want him anymore.” I tossed the lit lighter onto the clothes. “The Julian I loved died when he was sixteen. He’s never coming back.” The soaring flames illuminated my cold eyes, filled with endless sorrow, but more so, with a hopeful anticipation for the future. In 62 hours, I would vanish completely with my son, leaving Julian with absolutely nothing!

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I was Julian, the Sterling family’s adopted son for eleven years, a fake young master in an elite household. Then, when I turned twenty-one, the real heir, Asher, returned. From that moment on, my entire adoptive family showered Asher with affection. Even Chloe, my fiancée, gazed at him with a tenderness that meant she couldn’t bear for him to suffer even a little. The contrast with me couldn’t have been starker. My adoptive father called me trash, my adoptive mother branded me an ungrateful wretch, my adoptive sister Valerie demanded I vacate my position as the Sterling family’s son for Asher, and my fiancée insisted I hand over the prestigious university placement I’d worked three years to secure. If I dared to disagree, the torment would begin. Today, I sought out Chloe precisely because I couldn’t endure the torture any longer. I decided to give in. The heavy mansion gates finally swung open, and Chloe gazed at me with an icy stare, where I’d been standing, drenched and shivering, for two agonizing hours. “Chloe, I agree. I’ll give Asher my university placement.” “It would have been so much easier if you’d just listened earlier,” she said, holding an umbrella over me as she led me inside. A rare flicker of satisfaction danced in Chloe’s usually aloof eyes. She poured me a cup of hot water, a fleeting softness on her face. “Julian, it’s good you’ve come to your senses. Your grades are exceptional; missing out on university isn’t really that important.” “Asher is different. He was stuck in a disadvantaged neighborhood for years. His education suffered, he’s behind in his studies. It’s rare for him to show this ambition, so just help him out this time.” Chloe’s tone, seemingly gentle yet utterly resolute, conveyed a certainty that I would bend to her will. I stared at the woman I loved, so close to me, and my body began to tremble uncontrollably. I felt a chill that cut deeper than any rain-soaked cold outside. This was the woman I had loved for eleven years, my girlfriend, my fiancée. It was only today that I truly understood. She wasn’t born cold-hearted. She simply… didn’t love me.

I couldn’t recall anything from my early childhood. From my earliest memories, I grew up in an orphanage. At ten, I was adopted by the Sterling family. At the time, the Sterlings were heartbroken, having lost their biological son. Even with me, the atmosphere in their home was perpetually somber. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling were strict parents. They constantly compared me to Asher, hoping I would grow into the perfect rich kid. Those years were tough. Endless lessons, countless talents to learn, and a constant stream of scolding. Chloe was the only light in those oppressive years. She was ethereal, quiet, yet handled everything with effortless grace, approaching perfection. She was like the most dazzling princess in a crowd, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away. The Sterling and Taylor families were close. They’d always spoken of an arranged marriage between our children since we were kids. When the real Asher went missing, that engagement fell to me, their adopted son. From ten years old to twenty-one, I knew she was my future fiancée. I willingly followed Chloe, my every joy and sorrow tied to her. Chloe never explicitly reciprocated, but she never rejected me either. She played the part of a suitable fiancée, walking by my side. I thought she saw the boy who quietly adored her, that she was touched by me, willing to accept my affection, and offering some care in return. But just as I believed our relationship was growing stronger, Asher returned. And from that day, everything changed.

The burning heat of the mug in my hands jolted me back to reality. I turned and headed for the bathroom, needing to wash away not just the rain, but everything else. Chloe stood rooted, watching my back. “Let’s go to the Maldives sometime soon. I’ll take you diving.” My steps faltered. She always did this—offered a sweet taste just when I thought of giving up, making me reluctant to leave. But this time, I wasn’t as happy as she expected. I turned back, my voice cold. “Chloe, I don’t swim. Diving is out of the question.” Asher was a swimming champion as a child, and enthusiastic about activities like diving and surfing. It was obvious who Chloe wanted to go to the Maldives with. Not a hint of embarrassment touched Chloe’s face. She just looked at me, completely composed, and asked, “So, where would you like to go for your vacation? I’ll handle the arrangements.” It was rare for Chloe to ask for my opinion like that. I didn’t argue further, nor did I answer. When I emerged from the bathroom, Chloe looked up from her phone and glanced at me. “Are you running a fever?” I gave a bitter laugh. In the dead of winter, she’d left me outside in the rain for two hours. Of course, I had a fever. Chloe pulled me to the bed, tucking the blankets around me. “Lie still. I’ll get some medicine.” She had barely turned when her phone rang. The next second, I heard Asher’s voice on the other end. “Chloe, my stomach hurts so bad! I think I’m dying…” “Wait there! I’m coming right now!” Hearing his plea, a rare look of panic crossed Chloe’s face. Without a moment’s hesitation, she walked out, completely forgetting about me, burning up with fever. The sprawling mansion instantly felt empty. My head throbbed, hazy with fever. In my daze, my heart ached with a dull, familiar pain. Love and indifference, they were so painfully clear. But thankfully, my biological parents had found me not long ago. I picked up the overseas call I had rejected so many times before. “About moving to the States, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll finish up my academic research here, and in two weeks, I’ll join you in America.” “That’s wonderful, sweetheart! We’ll make it up to you, darling. After all these years, we’re finally going to be a family again.” “For these next two weeks, spend some time with your adoptive parents, say your goodbyes.” Goodbyes? Would anyone truly care if I left or stayed? There was no need. In two weeks, I would pack up everything and silently leave this place!

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Behind Julian Sterling’s back, I arranged for his ‘little rose’ to study at a prestigious music conservatory in New York. Julian, who everyone always described as a detached ascetic, instantly went berserk. He was convinced I’d deliberately sent away his little rose. He marooned our five-year-old son, Leo, on a cruise ship heading for the Arctic, demanding I bring Seraphina back. I watched Leo cry in agony on the ship as it sailed further into international waters. Then, Julian’s assistant hoisted Leo, his small body dangling precariously outside the railing. Julian’s voice, chillingly low and sinister, echoed, “Eleanor, you have five minutes to decide. Otherwise, our son will sink to the bottom of the deep blue sea!” **Minute one:** I remembered the five years I’d secretly loved Julian, quietly becoming his unacknowledged partner. He came from an influential family in pharmaceuticals; I was just a girl from a humble background, with no standout looks. I’d chosen to be a secret, content without a title. **Minute two:** Sterling family had Julian set for an arranged marriage of convenience with an heiress right after graduation. But Julian pulled me straight to the courthouse and we got our marriage license. **Minute three:** I got pregnant, but the Sterling family refused to accept me. Julian took me away from his family, cut ties, and we had our son, Leo. **Minute four:** Julian adopted his friend’s niece. The night of Seraphina’s 20th birthday, I saw the raw, hidden love in Julian’s eyes when he looked at her. **Minute five:** I remembered Julian and his little niece, Seraphina, in bed, willing to die entangled in each other’s arms… Julian’s hand opened, and the personal charm he’d worn for nearly twenty years was gone. That charm, which I was never allowed to touch, was now fastened around Seraphina’s right ankle. Julian’s eyes were arctic, completely devoid of warmth. “Eleanor, I’m asking you one last time. Where is Seraphina?” A sharp pang of pain tore through my throat, and Leo’s desperate cries for “Mommy, save me!” hammered in my ears. The sea wind whipped at my face, stinging painfully. “Eleanor, do you want our son to die, is that it?” My chest ached, each breath a struggle. I lifted my tear-filled eyes to Julian. “Julian, Leo is your biological son! How could you threaten his life?” Julian’s thin lips curled as he spat, “But Seraphina is my life too!” Tears streamed down my face. So, Seraphina was his life now. What were Leo and I to him then? “Eleanor, as long as Seraphina comes back, you’ll still be my wife.” I swallowed, trying to control my emotions. “Julian, I don’t believe you’d actually sacrifice our son for Seraphina. Besides, I haven’t harmed her.” Julian’s voice turned cold. “Counting down five seconds. If you don’t tell me where she is, our son, Leo, will be thrown into international waters to feed the sharks!” “5… 4… 3…” Seeing him actually start to move, I couldn’t hold out any longer. “Seraphina is at the BK Music Academy in New York.” I crumpled to the ground. He actually dared. He dared to abandon our own son for Seraphina. My tearful eyes watched Julian immediately grab his phone and dial. He was clearly frantic. “Get a helicopter over here. I’m flying to New York.” He didn’t spare me another glance, his eyes glued to his phone. My trembling hand scooped up a handful of sand. For ten years, I’d quietly been Julian’s woman behind the scenes. Whether it was scientific breakthroughs or achievements, every single one of his projects had my help. He built Sterling Pharmaceuticals from the ground up, moving beyond pure research to become its CEO. I’d spent 24/7 in the lab, solely dedicated to developing the specific drug he wanted. I succeeded. Sterling Pharmaceuticals quickly rose to become a top-tier pharmaceutical group, rivaling the original Sterling corporation. That night, Julian held me close, kissing my neck with such tender affection. “Eleanor, you’re my other half! Woven into my very soul!” I thought everything was finally moving in the right direction. I could prove I deserved to stand by his side, the Sterling family had seen my results, and in the last two years, our relationship with them had softened. But the outcome was this: Julian had fallen in love with a girl nine years his junior. A girl who was innocently charming, who’d cling to him, constantly pouting and saying: “Julian, I want you to stay with me.” “Julian, I don’t get this problem, help me.” “Julian, you absolutely *must* come to Seraphina’s cello competition. If you don’t, I’ll forfeit…” “Julian, Seraphina really likes you.” Acting spoiled was something I’d never done with Julian. Confessing my feelings was something I’d never done with Julian. Julian, right under my nose, fell for that ‘little princess’ who was so utterly helpless she ‘could barely function on her own.’ This little princess needed him to pamper her, and he willingly took on that difficult task, treating it like sweet candy. The helicopter arrived quickly. Julian couldn’t wait for Leo’s cruise ship to return; he boarded the helicopter and flew to New York. I watched the helicopter disappear into the distance. I called Julian several times, but he hung up every time. I sent him a message directly: **[When is our son coming back?!]** His reply came: **[In three hours, Eleanor. Seraphina is just a friend’s niece I promised to look after. She even calls me ‘Uncle Julian,’ I can’t let him down.]** I managed a bitter laugh at his explanation. *Can’t let him down?* I was about to turn off my phone when another message popped up. **[Eleanor, so what if I love Julian? He wants to be with me, and we’re willing to die tangled in each other’s arms. He’s had no passion for you for ages. You’re just unwilling to let him go.]** **[Eleanor, Julian came to my school again tonight. We went to a hotel, and he really liked the bunny outfit I wore today.]** **[…]** There were also explicit videos, showing Julian’s unrestrained passion in vivid detail. I turned off my phone and sat numbly by the sea, waiting for my son to return. The sea wind had dried my tears. I once believed that my love for Julian was enough. When Julian cheated, I even thought men might just be looking for excitement; we had a son, we needed a complete family. But now, I knew I couldn’t do it anymore. I’d been alone since childhood, without parental love or family affection. I thought I’d found true love, but now everything was shattered again. I opened a contract on my phone. This was the divorce agreement I’d signed when Sterling Pharmaceuticals went public. It meant automatically forfeiting all my shares in Sterling Pharmaceuticals and waiving my claim to the marriage itself. Just before the IPO, Grandpa Sterling had found me. “Eleanor, if you sign this, I’ll help Julian’s company go public. He wants to list on NASDAQ, and with my help, Sterling Pharmaceuticals can rival the original Sterling corporation.” To reassure the Sterling family and for Julian’s sake, I secretly signed the agreement. I had never imagined Julian would leave me. Now, everything had changed. Soon after, I sent another message. **[I agree. I’m joining Ocean’s Gate.]** That was the world’s top marine medical research team, where the best minds from all over the globe gathered. The catch? You needed to be confined beneath the sea for 30 years before you could pass through that ‘Gate of Time.’ My only condition: I would take my son, Leo. Julian would never find Leo and me again! To go to a place without borders, I needed to take my unique research findings with me. But all the research data and samples were in the lab. Opening that lab required both Julian’s and my fingerprints and passwords simultaneously. Soon after, Leo finally returned. His face was stained with tears, and he was sleeping fitfully. I kissed his forehead. “Leo, do you want to leave with Mommy?” Leo’s eyelashes fluttered. He looked at me, crying, “Mommy, Leo almost went into the ocean.” A five-year-old already understood what that meant. It was Julian’s most trusted assistant who had held Leo. My eyes welled up. “Leo, if you come with Mommy, you won’t have Daddy anymore. Are you willing?” Leo wrapped his small arms around my neck and nodded. “Wherever Mommy is, Leo is.” I took Leo to the corporate building. My fingerprints and password allowed me access to the high-level research lab. But I couldn’t open that door. Through the glass, I could see the computers and various experiment samples inside. One set of experimental data, which I had developed entirely on my own, was the only thing I truly wanted to take with me. “Mommy, what should we do? Daddy’s not here, you can’t open this door.” My mind replayed Julian building this lab, recording my fingerprints and password. He’d held me, whispering in my ear, “Eleanor, don’t tell me your password, and I won’t tell you mine. This place holds the company’s most important treasures. Only when we’re here together can we open this door and see these things. This way, we’ll always be connected, never separated.” When two people are in love, it’s about mutual reliance. But when the love fades, it becomes the perfect way to guard against each other. Julian, did you ever consider this day, five years ago? I ultimately couldn’t open the lab door. I took Leo straight to our apartment on the second floor. For years, Leo and I had lived in the corporate building with Julian until Seraphina’s arrival prompted them to buy a villa, turning it into a home. Everything here was something Leo and I had put together ourselves, before Seraphina came along. I packed all my belongings: things Julian bought for me, things I bought for Julian, and all the matching couple items I’d secretly bought with hidden hopes. Leo also sorted all his things. “Daddy bought this, don’t need it. Mommy bought this, take it. This is our family photo, don’t need it.” The little guy used three bags, categorizing items quickly. I held back my tears, watching my son meticulously sort everything. Julian, do you know how smart Leo is? He didn’t say a word, but he understood you’d abandoned him. Leo ran over and hugged me tightly. His small hands wiped away my tears. “Mommy, you always wanted to go to that lab, didn’t you? You said the ocean makes up three-quarters of our home, and we have to protect it. You always wanted to be a warrior protecting the ocean. Mommy is the best. You’re just going to fulfill your dream, and Leo supports you, he’ll go with you.” I looked at a painting in the distance. Julian was a skilled painter. It was an oil painting he’d done of Leo and me when Leo was two. I walked over, opened a paint box nearby, grabbed a brush, and slowly painted over my own image. Leo immediately grabbed a small brush, mimicking me, and painted over his own image in the painting. The little guy said warmly, “Mommy, when Leo learns to paint, I’ll only paint for you. Leo is super talented, definitely better than this painting.” I smiled faintly, stroking his face. Once everything was sorted, I made a call, and the junk collection service hauled everything away. That included the bed Julian and I shared, the sofa, the kitchenware—everything. The cozy photos I’d arranged on the walls, Leo’s messy scribbles, I tore them all down and threw them away. I even bought new paint and brushed the walls over and over again. Until this 200-square-meter apartment was left with only its load-bearing walls, empty, not even a single needle left. The walls were stark white, not a trace visible. And in the kitchen, the stomach medicine I always kept for Julian? Not a single pill remained. It took me a day and a night to do all this. Leo fell asleep on the floor. I carried him back to the villa. Pushing open the door, I found the living room filled with cigarette smoke, a dozen butts overflowing in the ashtray. Julian’s usually stoic face was etched with a hint of despair, his eyes bloodshot. His voice was cold, deep, and menacing. “Seraphina was bullied the moment she got to school! She’s lying in her dorm, covered in bruises, and she doesn’t even have money for medicine!” Julian had been waiting for me, his face accusatory, his icy eyes chilling me to the bone, as if I were his enemy. I glanced at Leo sleeping in my arms. “Julian, whatever it is, don’t argue in front of our son.” I was about to head upstairs. Just then, Seraphina appeared at the top of the stairs. She was wearing a white nightgown, her cascading curly hair falling to her waist, her innocent face filled with panic. She nervously clutched the fabric of her nightgown. “Aunt Eleanor, I… I promise I won’t cling to Uncle Julian anymore. Please don’t send me abroad.” The girl stood not far away, deliberately calling me “Aunt Eleanor” to make me sound old and past my prime. She looked at me pitifully. Julian had already risen from the sofa and went straight to Seraphina on the stairs. He gently pushed back her long hair, revealing red finger marks on her fair face where she’d been slapped hard. Seraphina collapsed into Julian’s arms, weeping. “Aunt Eleanor, the students who bullied me were all from here. They said they were paid to do it. You sent me to a top music academy, so it couldn’t have been you bullying me, could it?” Julian’s eyes turned completely cold, his icy gaze fixed on me, standing downstairs. “Eleanor, you may not like Seraphina, but I told you I have to take care of her until she graduates with her master’s at 25, until her uncle returns. But my constant compromises have only led you to bully Seraphina again and again.” Their arguments were loud enough to wake Leo. He tried to turn his head, but I wouldn’t let him. “Leo, close your eyes. Don’t listen.” I struggled to compose myself. “Julian, the BK Music Academy is one of the top three institutions in the world. If there’s bullying, you can call the police, or investigate it yourself, instead of interrogating me here.” Seraphina continued to sob uncontrollably. “Aunt Eleanor, I was wrong, I was wrong.” She pleaded while kneeling on the floor. “Please, Aunt Eleanor, I just want to study here in Veridian City. I can even live on campus. I promise I’ll only come back once a month—no, even half a day is fine. Please don’t send me away. Those people will kill me.” Seraphina’s tears seemed to mesmerize Julian. He picked her up right in front of me, his eyes filled with ruthless fury as he looked at me. “We’ll talk in the study later. I need to comfort Seraphina first.” I numbly went upstairs, Leo’s childish voice saying, “Mommy, can we leave Daddy sooner?” Julian embraced Seraphina. I stroked Leo’s back, my heart aching. “Yes, honey. Once Mommy handles everything, I’ll try my best.” I carried Leo down the second-floor hallway towards his bedroom. As we passed Seraphina’s room, I noticed the door wasn’t quite closed, leaving a slight gap. Through the sliver of space, I saw Julian pinning Seraphina on the bed, his hand already disappearing beneath her white nightgown. My body instantly stiffened, my eyes filled with excruciating pain. Julian, is *this* how you’re taking care of her?

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Everyone in NYC knew Jaxson Reed, the Reed family heir, was head-over-heels for me. He’d shamelessly flaunt our relationship, talking about starting a huge family with me, and every time he did, I’d blush fiercely. To make his dreams come true, after every intimate moment, I’d secretly spend half an hour trying every old wives’ tale in the book. That was until a few days ago. Jaxson had too much to drink at a party. When I went to pick him up, one of his buddies, clearly wasted, pointed at me and slurred, “You, and Jaxson’s ex, and his ex before that—you’re all just stand-ins for his first love.” It turns out Jaxson and Seraphina Thorne were high school sweethearts. The year he loved her most, Seraphina broke up with him and moved abroad without a second thought. He got lost in the past, becoming a playboy, dating one girlfriend after another. And every single one of them, including me, carried Seraphina’s shadow. Even his refusal to inherit the family business after graduation, opting to be a race car driver instead, was because of something Seraphina had said years ago: “Race car drivers are so hot! My future husband *has* to be a race car driver.” Six years of my youth, six years of my genuine heart, all just a cruel illusion. In that moment, I made the decision to return home and accept a family arrangement. I was done with Jaxson. I wouldn’t, *couldn’t*, love him anymore. My soft voice cut through the silent night, clearer than I expected. “Liam, I’ve agreed to the family arrangement.” My brother, Liam Parker, on the other end of the line, finally breathed a sigh of relief. “So you’re finally ready to break up with that boyfriend of yours? After all these years, he wouldn’t even come home to meet Mom and Dad. I always knew you two wouldn’t last.” Hearing his confident tone, I lowered my eyes and mumbled a quiet agreement. “I was wrong before. I’ll wrap things up here as soon as possible. You can handle the wedding arrangements; just give me half a month.” “Don’t worry about the wedding, we’ll take care of everything. You just need to be back in time. This time, Mom, Dad, and I carefully selected your partner. He comes from a good family, has a great personality, and he’s handsome. He’ll definitely impress you.” “Oh, and when you come back for the wedding, remember to invite someone for me. My best buddy, Jaxson Reed. You lived with him for a while when you went to college in NYC, didn’t you? He took good care of you back then, so make sure to invite him to the wedding.” I didn’t know how to respond to that. After a long silence, I finally whispered, “He can’t make it.” Before I finished speaking, the door swung open. With a quick flick of my wrist, I hung up the phone and looked up at Jaxson, who had just returned. He raised an eyebrow, a cocky, arrogant grin spreading across his face. “I can’t make it? Can’t make it where?” *My wedding.* I answered him in my head. But on the surface, I remained calm, seemingly unaffected by anything. My voice was flat. “Nothing.” Jaxson didn’t seem to notice anything amiss, casually unbuttoning his black shirt. “Just talking to your brother?” I hummed in response, getting up to go to the bedroom, but he pulled my hand, circling me into his embrace. His hot breath brushed against my ear, and an electric tension sparked between us. “So, did you tell him what we are?” I managed a small laugh, though it didn’t reach my eyes. “Didn’t you want to keep it a secret?” “Not that I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t. Knowing your brother, if he found out his best friend was dating his precious sister, he’d probably fly to NYC tonight and beat me to a pulp.” Listening to his joking tone, my eyelashes trembled slightly, but my voice remained calm. “So, in your heart, am I your girlfriend?” Jaxson raised an eyebrow, surprised by my sudden question. “Not my girlfriend? We’ve lived together for six years! Not my girlfriend? I come home and immediately hug you? Not my girlfriend, and I do *this* to you?” As he spoke, his warm lips brushed against my neck. My body tensed instantly, and I quickly turned my head, dodging his kiss. “I… I don’t feel well today.” Jaxson mistook my discomfort for shyness and chuckled. “My little girlfriend, we’ve been together so long, why are you still so shy?” He ruffled my hair, then turned and headed to the bathroom. Listening to his receding footsteps, I finally repeated the question to myself. *Girlfriend?* *Shouldn’t it be… stand-in?* I first met Jaxson eight years ago. He and Liam were college roommates, and because they were close, Liam would occasionally bring him home to play video games. It was puppy love at first sight; I instantly fell for the cool, lazy, devastatingly handsome older brother. Later, I graduated high school, and Jaxson also graduated and returned to his hometown in NYC. Longing to be near him, I defied my family’s objections and secretly applied to a university in his city. Because I was pretty and had been harassed by bad boys in high school, Liam didn’t feel safe leaving me alone in a new city. He entrusted me to Jaxson, his best friend, and arranged for me to stay in his apartment. At first, we didn’t have much interaction. I was busy with school, and Jaxson was busy with racing, and busy with dating—he changed girlfriends almost every three days. That was until my sophomore year, when Jaxson came home completely drunk. I stumbled around, trying my best to take care of him. Late that night, looking at him seemingly asleep on the couch, I was overcome by an impulse. I reached out, wanting to smooth away the frown lines on his face. The moment my skin touched his, his tightly closed eyes suddenly opened. Jaxson lazily lifted his eyelids, his voice low and magnetic. “You like me?” Caught off guard, my face flushed, and I sprang to my feet. “N-no…” He smiled languidly. “Don’t like me? Then why does your face get so red every time you see me, little sister?” I hadn’t realized he knew about my stolen glances. Before I could figure out what to do, he chuckled, cupped the back of my head, and pressed a light kiss on my lips. I melted into that tender, lingering kiss, utterly lost. After that passionate night, my once-peaceful life changed dramatically. Jaxson, who had been a wandering spirit, seemed to settle down, focusing solely on our relationship. I repeatedly refused my parents’ and Liam’s demands for me to return home for an arranged marriage, stubbornly staying in NYC, by his side. Every time, Liam would ask me, “Who’s in NYC that makes you stay there for six years and never come back?” Each time, I wanted to reveal my relationship with Jaxson, to tell everyone that I was dating my brother’s best friend. But Jaxson always stopped me. I never understood why, until now. It was because I was merely a stand-in for his first love. He didn’t love me at all. The next day, my biological clock woke me up at seven sharp. As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Jaxson tidying his shirt in front of the mirror. His routine was usually reversed; seeing him up this early was a first in my memory. Hearing my footsteps, he turned to me and asked, “How do I look, little sis? Handsome today?” He was a natural model; even a simple black shirt usually looked great on him. Today, he’d made a special effort, and he was undeniably handsome, capable of charming any girl with just a lazy glance. I didn’t know why he was suddenly so concerned about his appearance. Normally, my heart would pound, but now I just calmly nodded. “Yeah, very handsome.” Jaxson didn’t notice my odd behavior. He curved his lips. “I have a party today. Be a good girl and stay home. I’ll bring you dessert when I get back.” With that, he turned and left. After his retreating figure disappeared, I went to pour myself a glass of water, noticing his phone left on the table. As I picked it up, I accidentally hit the power button. The screen lit up, revealing a new message. From someone saved as “Sera.” “Jax, it’s been eight years. I’m really looking forward to the party today. Are you?” My steps faltered at the sight of the message. So, his first love was back in town today. No wonder he was up so early, dressed so meticulously, with a noticeable glow about him. The next second, the front door swung open. Jaxson, who had turned back midway, suddenly returned to grab his phone. Before leaving, he glanced at the screen’s content, his steps pausing slightly, and he couldn’t help but look at me, who was eating breakfast. “Did you just look at my phone?” I looked up, my gaze calm. “No, why?” He finally smiled, as if relieved, said “Nothing,” and left again. This was the first time I felt I couldn’t read him. His heart was clearly with his first love; all his girlfriends were stand-ins for Seraphina. Logically, he shouldn’t care if I discovered the truth. So why did he care if I found out? Was he afraid of losing me? I didn’t want to delude myself into thinking he still harbored any love for me. Besides, I knew the loss was already a done deal. After breakfast, I sat down at my computer and opened my drawing software. I’m a graphic novelist, and with the wedding coming up, I probably wouldn’t be able to work for a long time. While I still had free time, I planned to finish all my remaining drafts. After a morning of work, I packed up half a day’s worth of progress and sent it to my editor, then had lunch. In the afternoon, taking advantage of the nice weather, I started decluttering. Couple’s mugs, keychains, scarves, jackets… I’d bought them little by little over the years, filling a large box. Every time I saw these items, I remembered the helpless look on Jaxson’s face when I’d gotten something new and insisted he wear or use it. “These are all just little girl’s trinkets. Do you really want your Jax to wear these out and be laughed at by his buddies?” Remembering those words, I dragged the box downstairs and tossed everything, box and all, into the trash bin. *Now it’s better. No one will laugh anymore.* Done with the swift disposal, I was about to go back inside when I turned around and bumped into a cool, firm embrace. Jaxson, who had returned without my knowing, put one arm around my shoulder and used the other to brush away my sweat-soaked bangs. “What did you throw away? Why are you all sweaty?” “Just useless trash.” I gave a casual excuse, and Jaxson didn’t suspect a thing. He pulled me upstairs. The moment the elevator doors opened, the sanitation truck rumbled by. Watching the box of items being taken away, I finally averted my gaze. *Trash. What kind of trash was that? Anyone who looked closely would have noticed, but he didn’t ask anything. It was only because he didn’t care.* A flicker of self-mockery crossed my eyes. My peripheral vision caught the unwavering smile on his face, and I paused. Jaxson had a pair of incredibly captivating eyes, and when he smiled, it was impossible to look away. Perhaps knowing this, he usually had a smile on his face. Others might think he was good-natured, but only I knew that his smile was superficial; it never reached his eyes. But today, all day long, when he smiled, his eyes held genuine happiness. Seeing Seraphina must have made him truly happy. As soon as we walked in, Jaxson noticed how empty the apartment felt. He looked around, a surprised expression on his face. “Did we get robbed? Why does it feel like so many things are missing? Where are the mugs? The throw pillows are gone too?” I was about to answer, but Jaxson’s phone buzzed several times. He glanced at the messages, quickly forgot about it, and walked into the study. Before closing the door, he instructed, “Hazel, I have something to do. You go to bed first, don’t wait up for me.” I didn’t ask anything and went to my bedroom alone. The clock on the wall struck midnight. My phone, tucked under my pillow, vibrated wildly. “Happy Birthday, Hazel!” “Happy 23rd Birthday, baby Hazel! Remember to eat cake!” Scrolling down, it was a stream of birthday wishes. My dad, mom, Liam, friends, classmates—everyone, even those thousands of miles away, had sent their blessings. Everyone except my boyfriend, who was just a few feet away, and seemed to have completely forgotten. *Because he had more important things to do.* I closed the half-watched movie on my laptop and clicked the constantly popping-up SnapChat icon in the bottom right corner. It was Jaxson chatting with Seraphina. He didn’t know his SnapChat was logged in on the laptop, and I could see all their conversations. I watched as they talked, from the past to the present, and then about the future. In the long, dense stream of messages, Jaxson never once mentioned me. *Of course. After all, I was just a stand-in, a mere comfort. Why would he mention me?* I watched the constantly refreshing dialogue and pressed the power-off button. I had no dreams that night. The next morning, I was woken by the doorbell. I rubbed my eyes as I walked into the living room and saw Jaxson, who had woken up at some point, holding a bouquet of flowers and a birthday cake. “Hazel, did you order a cake? Why the sudden craving?” A few seconds of silence filled the room before I spoke softly. “It’s my birthday. My friends probably had it delivered.” Jaxson froze. He instinctively looked at the wall calendar and realized it was July 12th. A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. He quickly put down the items and gently guided me back to the bedroom. “It’s your birthday today. Let’s go out on a date. What do you want to eat?” “No need. Let’s just celebrate at home.” I declined his suggestion. But Jaxson insisted we go out to celebrate, even pulling a dress from the closet and handing it to me. I couldn’t argue with him, so I washed up and went out with him. We went to our favorite restaurant for brunch, then watched the latest movie, and browsed around the mall. In the middle of it, I went to the restroom. When I came back, I saw him on the phone, asking someone at home to order a very expensive necklace. It was the same necklace I’d seen in a magazine half a month ago and instantly fallen in love with. Watching his eager expression, a storm of emotions brewed inside me. I didn’t quite understand what was going on in his head. He remembered a necklace I’d only glanced at, yet he completely forgot my most important birthday. Couldn’t he tell what truly mattered? On second thought, he probably could. Before Seraphina returned, he used me, his stand-in, as a substitute for his affection, paying attention to me in every way. But after Seraphina’s return, all his attention shifted to her. So, anything related to me was simply forgotten. I couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for the rest of the morning, finding little interest in anything. Jaxson noticed my distraction and ruffled my hair. “Little birthday girl, why do you seem unhappy? Aren’t you satisfied with my plans today?” Now that I thought about it, he always loved to ruffle my hair. Subconsciously, he probably always treated me more like a sister than a lover. I shook my head, about to say I was tired and wanted to go home, but Jaxson hailed a car and gave the driver the address of a mountain retreat. Seeing my surprised look, he raised an eyebrow. “Haven’t you always said you wanted to meet my friends? Everyone’s free today. I’ll take you to meet them. Will that make you happier?” This unexpected change of plans left me slightly stunned. In the past, Jaxson was unwilling to meet my family or friends, so I thought I’d try to meet his. But each time, he’d come up with various excuses to refuse. Over time, I stopped bringing it up. Now that I was about to leave NYC, he wanted to take me, probably out of a flicker of guilt. *The irony of it all, really.* I quietly watched the scenery flashing by outside the window, ultimately saying nothing. The taxi stopped halfway up the mountain. Jaxson took my hand and led me into the retreat, pushing open the heavy doors. *Bang, bang!* Confetti and streamers rained down from above. A crowd of people rushed out, shouting “Happy Birthday!” with huge grins. Seeing the commotion, Jaxson immediately pulled me into his arms, brushing the streamers from my hair while shooing away a few of his eager buddies. “Watch it, don’t scare my girl. She’s a bit…” His words trailed off abruptly. He stared at a familiar face in the crowd, his expression suddenly changing. Seraphina, however, looked completely at ease, smiling as she approached. “Jax, it’s been so many years since I moved abroad. I haven’t been to a group event in ages! This morning, I heard you were celebrating your girlfriend’s birthday, so I thought I’d join in. You don’t mind, do you?” Jaxson’s eyes scanned the room, cold and sharp. Everyone present lost the courage to meet his gaze, quickly looking away, pretending it had nothing to do with them. Just as the atmosphere threatened to turn frosty, I politely extended my hand and introduced myself. “Welcome. Nice to meet you. I’m Hazel Parker.” Seraphina stared at me for a long moment, then, as if realizing something, she smiled faintly and shook my hand. “Hello, I’m Seraphina Thorne, Jax’s… friend.” “Hazel, has anyone ever told you we look a little alike?”

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After five years in prison, the first thing I did was book a natural burial. “Ms. Vance, this is your reserved natural burial service. After you pass, your body will be taken to the Alps for a green burial. You’ll need to pay a deposit now, with the remaining balance due within two weeks.” I nodded, fumbling a worn plastic bag out of my faded jeans. I counted the bills and coins I’d saved for so long behind bars, over and over, before finally managing to hand over the full deposit. I’d been diagnosed with late-stage cancer in prison. They estimated I only had a month left to live. I remembered years ago, Julian Thorne and I had promised each other that we’d get married in the Alps, letting the eternal spirit of those majestic mountains witness our unwavering love. Now, the wedding was impossible. Let me rest forever in that pure land; it would be some small comfort. The natural burial wasn’t cheap. After leaving the agency, to settle the remaining balance, I went to apply for a waitress job at the ‘Night Feast’ club. My criminal record meant I couldn’t find any legitimate work, and this was a notorious high-end establishment in the city’s red-light district, where the wages were surprisingly good. After running through a few instructions, they handed me a uniform and told me to start that very night. After a quick training session, I carried a tray of drinks into a VIP room. The lights were dim, and many wealthy elites and socialites were playing games. I lowered my head, half-crouching by the coffee table, carefully setting down the bottles. Just as I was about to turn and leave, that familiar, cold voice suddenly drifted over from nearby. My body stiffened, and I froze instantly! Sure enough, on the high-backed sofa, Julian was seated, the undeniable center of attention. His starkly handsome features, usually so unyielding, seemed even more regal and aloof under the shifting lights. Five years later, his face hadn’t changed at all, but there was an added icy aura that warned others to keep their distance. I couldn’t help but glance at him again, and that’s when I noticed the woman he had his arm around. It was Charlotte Sterling, my best friend. They seemed to be talking about their wedding. “The wedding will be exactly how you like it, by the beach, with pink roses covering everything.” “If you didn’t like the last dress the designer made, I’ll have someone redo it. Everything will be to your taste.” Listening to that familiar voice, my thoughts drifted back, pulling me into the past. Five years ago, I was so close to becoming Julian’s bride. We had grown up together. When my parents died in an accident, Julian was there, helping me through those unbearable years. He cycled me to school, fought my bullies, and even, flushing bright red, bought me pads during my first period. Then, naturally, we fell in love, taking step after step towards the altar. Until, on the eve of our wedding, I accidentally hit Julian’s mother with my car, killing her! I’ll never forget that night. Julian’s eyes were bloodshot, crimson with fury. He cornered me against the wall, demanding to know why, if there was some hidden reason. I had never felt such despair. I looked up and laughed, “There was no reason. She caught me in bed with another man, and she swore she’d tell you everything. I just snapped, got into the car, and… that was it.” I’ll never forget the look Julian gave me then. Fury, hatred, and betrayal intertwined, a suffocating web that trapped me completely, making me feel as if I couldn’t breathe. The story ended with Julian himself sending me to prison. During my five years in prison, I replayed it endlessly: if I had told him the truth, would Julian and I have ended up like this? But my rational mind reminded me: I couldn’t. Because his mother, Victoria, had suffered from severe depression. On the eve of their wedding, she’d had a mental episode, mistaking his bodyguard for his father, and they’d ended up in bed together. I had gone there to discuss wedding plans with Julian and had accidentally witnessed the scene. Victoria, once lucid, was filled with regret. She tearfully begged me never to tell anyone. Though I was conflicted, I ultimately promised to keep her secret. But I never expected that as I got into my car to leave, Victoria, overwhelmed by despair, would throw herself in front of it. Julian had been a prodigy from a prominent family since childhood. If this scandal ever got out, it would bring ruinous damage to him and the Thorne Corporation. People in their circle would look at him differently, might even question his legitimacy within high society. So, for Julian’s sake, I could only swallow the bitter pill alone, taking responsibility for everything. Now, with my terminal illness, there was even less need to reveal the truth. If he hated me, let him continue to hate me. That way, when I left, I could do so cleanly, without any lingering ties. My body trembling, I was about to slip away when a voice from behind suddenly called my name. “Eleanor Vance? You’re out of prison!” I flinched, not daring to meet the sharp gaze from the high-backed sofa. Just as I tried to leave, someone deliberately stuck out a leg and tripped me. Unprepared, I slammed into the coffee table, falling hard to the floor. Several bottles of liquor crashed and shattered with me. My hand was cut in several places, blood welling out profusely. Laughter instantly erupted in the room. Everyone stood, scrutinizing my pathetic, disheveled state. “Eleanor Vance, it really is you! Just out of prison and already working? You’re certainly dedicated!” I kept my head down, silent, only pressing my hand against my bleeding wounds. The person spoke again. “What are you waiting for? You spilled liquor everywhere, now clean it up.” “And remember, you’ll clean it on your knees.” Another wave of laughter washed over me. I could only pull a rag from my apron and kneel, wiping the spilled liquor again and again. I didn’t look up, but I could feel Julian’s hateful gaze fixed coldly on me. It was like a sharp blade hanging over my head, ready to strike a fatal blow. He hated me so much; he must be happier than anyone to see me tormented. After quickly wiping up the liquor, I tried to stand, but the person in front of me wasn’t ready to let me off so easily. “Trying to leave already? Those bottles you broke are priceless. How do you plan to pay for them?” I wrung my hands, at a loss, not even daring to look up. “I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to.” “You think an ‘I’m sorry’ is enough? I doubt you can afford it. Tell you what, I won’t say I didn’t give you a chance. Just crawl between my legs, and we’ll call it even.” The person finished, smirking as he propped one leg on a stool, his gaze mocking me. A fresh wave of laughter spread through the room, followed by a chorus of shouts. “Crawl! Crawl!” I bit my lip, my cheeks burning. Their mocking stares felt like daggers piercing my back; there was no escape. I had no money to pay, and the person in front of me was clearly just doing Julian’s bidding. If I didn’t kneel, they’d find another way to torment me. In those five years in prison, dignity had long become meaningless to me. My vision blurred. I bit my lip until I almost tasted blood. Finally, before everyone’s eyes, with a sickening thud, I sank to my knees before the man. Just as I bent down, preparing to crawl between his legs, the coffee table was violently kicked over, and an icy voice sliced through the air. “Enough!” Then, a sharp pain shot through my arm. Before I could react, I was pulled out of the room. In the dim hallway, Julian slammed me against the wall, his eyes burning with hatred and coldness. “Eleanor Vance, is this how you degrade yourself?” My back hit the cold marble, and I shivered involuntarily. It took me a moment to turn my head. “You shouldn’t defend me. If you do, how could your mother ever rest in peace?” My words evidently infuriated him. He shoved me away. “Defend you? You’re thinking too much. I pulled you out to make a deal!” “You’re short on money, aren’t you? Spend the night guarding my room door tonight, and I’ll give you money. For the coming days, you’ll stay by my side. I promise, I’ll pay you more than you’d earn serving drinks.” He finished, and without waiting for my refusal, he took a wad of cash and savagely threw it at my face. The impact made my head snap to the side, and blood immediately seeped from my cheek. I knew his demand was nothing more than a way to get revenge. And he certainly succeeded. That night, as I stood outside his door, I heard him and Charlotte making love. The man’s muffled groans and the woman’s moans continued for a long time, never stopping. Yet, I stood there like a soulless husk, not even feeling the tears that streamed down my face. The moans lasted all night. It wasn’t until dawn that Julian finally opened his door, looking at me coldly. “Clean up the room.” I looked at the “battlefield” of condoms strewn across the floor, my heart clenching, but I said nothing, only nodding silently. Charlotte emerged from the bathroom, covered in hickeys. She paused, seeing the scene, then linked her arm through his, coaxing, “Julian, it’s all in the past. Just let Eleanor go.” Julian’s lips curled into a smirk, but no warmth reached his eyes. “She wants money, I give her money to do things for me. A fair trade. Why should I ‘let her go’?” He then turned, embracing her, and his tone softened. “Don’t worry. Before the wedding, I’ll make sure she’s out of our lives for good.” For the next few days, wherever Julian and Charlotte went, he’d drag me along. When someone offered a toast, he’d make me take the drink, letting me get completely wasted until I was throwing up endlessly in the restroom, but he wouldn’t let up. During meals, he made me serve Charlotte like a personal maid: peel her shrimp, debone her fish, wipe her hands. He even made me accompany her to the restroom. All the while, he showered Charlotte with affection, right in front of everyone. After every social engagement, he’d impassively pull a stack of cash from his car and throw it hard at me. “Your payment for today.” I never reacted to his humiliation. I’d just silently bend down, pick up the crumpled bills, and carefully tuck them into my bag. Yes, I needed the money. Once I had enough, I could disappear from his world entirely. A natural burial, leaving not a single bone, not a shred of flesh. As if I had never existed in this world at all. On Charlotte’s birthday, Julian threw her an extravagant party. His devotion to Charlotte was evident to everyone. The entire venue was decorated exactly to Charlotte’s liking; I heard they’d used a million roses for the setting alone. Charlotte’s dress that day was the very one Julian’s mother had designed for her future daughter-in-law years ago. They made their entrance, arm in arm, instantly becoming the focus of everyone’s attention. Julian was as handsome and distinguished as ever, but the woman by his side was no longer me. My mind involuntarily replayed our own engagement. That occasion, too, had been grand and elaborate. All their friends and family had witnessed his deep affection for me, as we walked hand in hand, about to enter the gates of happiness. He had presented the family heirloom ring, placing it on my finger, saying that with his ring, I was his, and we would never be apart. The murmurs around me broke my reverie. “What was Eleanor Vance thinking, anyway? She grew up with Julian; he practically spoiled her rotten, doted on her every whim. And she goes and runs over his mother.” “Exactly. Everyone in the city knew how much Julian loved her back then. I really don’t know why she did it.” “If that hadn’t happened, they’d probably have kids in elementary school by now.” “Don’t even think about it. Can you understand the mind of such a viper-hearted woman? She deserves everything she’s getting now.” “Yeah, women like her should just die!” I listened to their curses, my face devoid of emotion. As they wished, I would be dead soon enough. After the party, Julian was still bidding farewell to guests. Charlotte and I waited for him by the lakeside near the entrance. This was our first time alone since my release. Charlotte was silent for a long time before she finally spoke. “Eleanor, do you know? I’ve always been deeply in love with Julian. I fell for him even before you two got together.” “Back then, you both loved each other, and I had given up on him, preparing to bless your union. But why did you betray Julian?” “Do you know how much Julian has suffered all these years? I finally managed to comfort him, so why did you have to reappear now and stir up his feelings again?” I looked at the woman before me, never having imagined that my best friend, who had been by my side all these years, had secretly loved my man. But even now that I had reappeared, I never intended to disrupt their lives. Someone who “killed” his mother, someone on the verge of death, was destined to contend for nothing. “Lottie, I’ll be leaving soon.” Charlotte looked at me coldly, a flicker in her eyes, clearly not believing my words. Suddenly, she took off her engagement ring and forcefully threw it into the lake. “Eleanor, you threw my ring in the water, so you should help me get it back, shouldn’t you?” As her words fell, Julian’s figure appeared, swift as a shadow. He angrily grabbed my hand, his eyes burning with fury. “Eleanor Vance, can’t you go one minute without causing trouble? What does the ring I gave Charlotte have to do with you? Why would you suddenly throw it away?!” I met his gaze. His furious eyes held a flicker of something else—was it… expectation? Was he hoping I’d thrown Charlotte’s ring out of jealousy? A bitter taste filled my mouth, but I forced a smile onto my face. “Why would I throw away an insignificant ring? To me, it’s worth less than the stack of cash you toss my way.” Julian’s eyes instantly turned to ice. He shoved me hard, sending me tumbling into the freezing lake with a splash. My gasp was swallowed by the water, but he’d already turned his back, not even sparing me a glance. “I don’t care how you do it; you will get that ring back for me.” With that, he pulled Charlotte away, hurrying off without hesitation. It was the dead of winter; fresh snow had just fallen, and the air was brutally cold. Shards of ice floated on the lake’s surface, chilling me just to look at them. Submerged in that icy water, my entire entire body stiffened, and the muddy lakebed was filled with sharp debris, drawing blood from my feet. I bit my lip, diving down again and again, then surfacing again and again. I continued this mechanical search in the lake all night, until blood stained a large portion of the water. Finally, I found the ring at the bottom of the lake. When I appeared before Julian, battered and bruised, utterly pathetic, his brow furrowed briefly. Then, with a cold face, he pulled a stack of cash from his pocket and once again ruthlessly threw it at me. As always, I took the money and left in silence. For the next few days, Julian uncharacteristically didn’t bother me. Until one day, returning from an outing, I saw Julian’s entire villa engulfed in thick, rolling smoke as I stepped out of the car. A sudden premonition of dread surged through me. Julian was in danger! The thought flashed through my mind, and I instinctively rushed toward the fire. Julian always preferred quiet, so the household staff only came to clean when he wasn’t home. He’d been staying in for days, so there would be no one else in the entire house but him! Being intimately familiar with the house, I quickly found a semi-conscious Julian in the bedroom. The fire had spread incredibly fast. He must have taken a sleeping pill and been resting, which is why he was trapped so easily, suffocated by the smoke before he even knew what was happening. I strained, pulling him onto my shoulders, and slowly, laboriously, moved toward the door. The fire grew larger and larger, almost completely cutting off our escape route. As I hesitated, a burning beam suddenly crashed down. Without a thought, I threw myself over Julian, shielding him. The searing hot wood slammed into my back, and the pain nearly knocked me out. But looking at Julian, slumped against my shoulder, brows furrowed in his deep unconsciousness, I felt a determination I’d never known. I had to get Julian out, even if it cost me my life. And so, with a desperate resolve, utterly disregarding my own life, I somehow managed to drag a man over six feet tall out of the raging inferno. We collapsed onto the lawn, and I struggled to breathe the fresh air, my entire body covered in wounds. Seeing Charlotte rushing frantically toward us, I mustered my last ounce of strength and pushed Julian into her arms. “When he wakes up, tell him you were the one who saved him.” Charlotte looked at me, perplexed by my request. She called out to me as I stood to leave, asking again, “Tell me, Ellie, did you really kill Julian’s mother on purpose?” I swayed as I stood, my body stiffening at her question. After a long pause, I finally spoke. “Yes.” With that, I hurried away, never looking back. In the days that followed, Charlotte diligently cared for Julian. And when he learned that Charlotte had risked her life to save him, his devotion to her became enviable, almost doting. Their intimate encounters grew more frequent. Standing guard outside their room, I clearly heard their passionate nights and the sweet nothings he whispered to her. I thought, perhaps now, Julian truly loved Charlotte. And that was good. He deserved to find his true happiness. And I, like a rat in the sewer, could only darkly glimpse at others’ joy. The wounds on my back still throbbed. I could only secretly apply ointment when no one was around. One day, as usual, I was hiding in my small room, taking off my jacket to apply medication, when the door suddenly pushed open. It was Julian. His gaze landed on the grotesque scars on my back, and his eyes instantly reddened. Then, he walked toward me, step by trembling step, and spoke. “What are these burns from?” “Were you the one who saved me that day?”

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I really did brave the storm with him. For eight years we were together, only for me to discover he was already married to someone else. It was his first love, the same woman who abandoned him after he lost his sight. For eight years, I was by his side, tending to him, I even knelt outside a renowned doctor’s office for days, begging him to help. But my eight years of devotion meant less than a single word from her. I chuckled, a bitter, self-deprecating sound. I dialed a number. “I accept your terms.” ### Chapter One Inside the Maybach, Julian Hayes was kissing me, stealing my breath and my senses. My clothes were gone, scattered somewhere, but Julian remained impeccably dressed. The stark contrast between us made my cheeks flush crimson. Julian reached out, encircling my waist, and murmured, his voice a low chuckle, “The soundproofing is up. The driver can’t hear anything, and he wouldn’t dare to. What are you blushing about, hmm?” I watched as the usually aloof man’s movements grew more fervent. I embraced him, my eyes filled with love. Just as the wave of pleasure surged, climbing rapidly towards its peak, it was abruptly cut short by a sudden phone ring. Julian frowned, annoyed by the interruption during such an intimate moment, but he picked up when he saw the caller ID. I gasped, catching a glimpse of the contact name. It was Leo, his best friend from his inner circle. “Julian, you’re out of your mind—” Julian’s brow furrowed slightly as he cut him off in flawless Italian. “Not convenient. Speak in Italian.” There was a deep sigh on the other end. After a long pause, Leo’s voice came through in Italian. “You actually registered your marriage with Seraphina? What in God’s name are you thinking? You lost your sight saving her all those years ago! She abandoned you at your lowest point, ran off with another man, and almost ruined you! And now you’re back with her?” Those foreign words automatically converted into English in my mind. When I finally processed what he was saying, a cold dread spread through me, like plunging into an ice bath. Julian, however, didn’t notice my abnormal reaction. “If I don’t marry her, her family will force her to marry an old man. I can’t bear to see her suffer that kind of humiliation.” “What about Chloe? She was the only one with you when you lost your sight! She’s been by your side for so many years, loving you so much she almost gave you her heart! We all saw it!” Leo’s voice was filled with barely contained fury. Julian remained detached. “I’ll find a way to keep it a secret. She’ll never know.” “How long can you hide it? A lifetime? Doesn’t Chloe want to marry you?” The more Julian listened, the more irritated he became, his tone growing urgent. “You need to suppress the news of Seraphina and me registering our marriage. Don’t tell anyone. In a while, I’ll prepare a fake marriage certificate for Chloe.” With that, he hung up, unwilling to hear any more of Leo’s nonsense. When he looked down again, Julian dropped his phone and resumed his assault on me. My entire body trembled uncontrollably. As we both reached climax and began to straighten our clothes, my lips parted. I was about to speak when his phone buzzed again. It was a SnapChat notification, a special alert. Julian picked it up, glanced at the screen, and then instructed the driver to stop. “Chloe, something urgent came up at the office. Could you get off here and take a cab home?” I said nothing, just nodded silently, and opened the car door. The black Maybach sped away like a flash of lightning. I stood on the roadside, staring blankly at the bustling street, no longer able to hold back the tears that streamed down my face. No one knew that to bridge the distance between Julian and me, I had long since learned Italian. So, every word he and Leo exchanged, I understood. Each phrase echoed in my ears, like countless sharp blades piercing deep into my heart. And with the disillusionment of my love, those dusty memories all flooded back into my mind. Julian Hayes was a high-born young master, and I was the daughter of their housekeeper. That year, my mother and I stepped into the opulent Hayes family mansion. There, I saw Julian, elegantly playing the piano bathed in sunlight. I had never heard such beautiful music, nor had I ever seen such a handsome boy. With just one glance, the name Julian Hayes was etched deep into my heart. I never told anyone about the person hidden in my heart. This wasn’t just because of the huge disparity in our social classes, but also because I knew Julian’s heart already belonged to someone else. That girl was Seraphina. They had grown up together, childhood sweethearts. He never hid his affection for her, cherishing her like a precious gem, guarding her in the palm of his hand. At seventeen, Julian even lost his sight in a car accident while saving Seraphina. But from that day on, Seraphina vanished completely, never reappearing at the Hayes mansion. She even started dating someone new. The Hayes family had other grandchildren, but Julian’s parents were constantly busy with their careers, with no time to care for their son who could no longer see. Julian was sent to a remote family estate in the countryside, left alone and isolated. It was I who volunteered to be transferred to the old estate, looking after him personally for seven years. When I was twenty-three, I pleaded relentlessly for days outside a renowned doctor’s office, refusing to leave until he agreed to perform the surgery that finally restored Julian’s eyesight. He broke free from long-term stagnation, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, achieving astonishing success that made the world take notice. In just one year, Julian returned to the top, becoming the heir to Hayes Industries. I was the one who accompanied him through winter and summer, I was the one who accompanied him from deep night to dawn, I was the one who helped him endure those difficult seven years. Kissing him, embracing him, sleeping with him… it was all me. But I never imagined that the first thing he would do after regaining power was to marry Seraphina, the very woman who had abandoned him! Over the years, I pushed myself relentlessly to keep up with him. But no matter what I became, Julian’s parents always felt I wasn’t good enough for their son, trying multiple times to pay me off and make me leave. Julian always argued with his family for me, and I never wanted to disappoint him, so I never thought of leaving. Until today. I didn’t want to stay by his side anymore. So I wiped away my tears, pulled out my phone, and dialed a number. “Mrs. Hayes, I accept your offer of fifty million. I’ll leave Julian Hayes forever!” ### Chapter Two On the other end of the line, Mrs. Hayes instantly became ecstatic. “You’ve finally come to your senses? That’s wonderful. You’re just a housekeeper’s daughter; how could you possibly be worthy of my son, the heir of Hayes Industries? Where are you now? Come over quickly, we’ll sign the agreement.” I chuckled derisively as I looked at the address she impatiently sent me. I hailed a cab. Upon arriving at the café, Mrs. Hayes asked me many questions. After I answered each one, she showed a satisfied expression, then took out an agreement and pushed it towards me. “Black and white, no regrets once you sign. I’ll transfer half the money to your account immediately, and the other half will be transferred the day you leave. You must promise that once you receive the money, you’ll never appear before Julian Hayes again, understood?” My eyelashes trembled as I looked at the astronomical compensation written in the agreement. I certainly wouldn’t reappear. Not in this life, nor the next. I never wanted to see Julian Hayes again. So, without hesitation, I picked up the pen and decisively signed my name. Mrs. Hayes finally relaxed. She put away the agreement, stood up, and gave a final instruction. “I’m giving you two weeks. You can change your name or move abroad, whatever you choose. You must find a way for Julian to never see you again.” “I understand, Mrs. Hayes. You can rest assured.” After watching Mrs. Hayes leave, I returned home. Making sure Julian Hayes would never see me again was simple. The Hayes family had deep roots in the country, a powerful legacy spanning generations. It was an unspoken rule, almost a family tradition, that key members couldn’t establish permanent residence abroad. It was about preserving their power and influence, their name, their empire. If I immigrated, Julian would never be able to see me again. After spending most of the night researching overseas information, I finally decided to immigrate to Australia. Once decided, I picked up my phone to check the time, only to see a new SnapChat story notification. I opened it, and it was Seraphina’s post with nine photos. The top three were selfies of her holding roses, the middle three were marriage certificates, and the bottom three showed intertwined hands. I knew that since Julian wanted to keep the marriage a secret, he would never let Seraphina post about it. Yet she still did, and she posted it with settings to ensure only I could see it, a blatant taunt. I played along and liked the post. As soon as I exited SnapChat, I received a message from Julian. “Chloe, I’m going on a business trip. I won’t be back for a few days.” I replied with “Okay,” put down my phone, and went to wash up. The next day, I woke up early to handle my immigration paperwork. Since I was in a hurry, I specifically applied for expedited processing. The staff promised it would be done within half a month, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief. After getting in the car, I scrolled through Seraphina’s SnapChat again. This time, half of Julian’s body was visible. They were holding hands, looking at new houses, and finally settled on a villa in the exclusive Silverwood Estates. Just like yesterday, I clicked “like.” On the third day, I went to my company and resigned. After carrying my belongings home, I saw Seraphina’s SnapChat story. She was already wearing a wedding dress, a dazzling diamond ring sparkling on her ring finger. As always, I tapped the heart icon, then buried myself under my duvet. On the fourth day, I woke up to a new SnapChat update, fresh content again. This time, the camera was focused on wedding photos hanging in their new home. I stared at them for a long while before snapping back to reality. I liked the post as usual, then put on makeup and went out to have a farewell dinner with a few good friends. In the evening, I returned with several boxes and threw away everything related to Julian. All the gifts he had given me over the years, our matching toothbrushes and cups, the photos we had taken together… Nothing was left. It all went into the trash bin. By the time I finished, it was late at night. I was about to turn off the lights and rest when Julian suddenly returned. He froze as soon as he saw the empty room, his brows furrowed. “Why are so many things missing from the house?” “I didn’t like them anymore, so I threw them out. I’ll buy new ones later.” Julian nodded, took off his clothes, and tossed them onto the sofa, but his gaze was drawn to the boxes beside it. “You quit your job?” He paused, then saw the documents on the coffee table. “Why are your identification documents out all of a sudden?” “I was too tired and wanted to rest for a while, so I resigned. The identification documents are because I have some paperwork to take care of.” I explained each point, putting the documents into my bag. Seeing how calm I was, Julian didn’t think much of it. He pulled me into his embrace, his voice tender. “I’ve been busy these past few days and haven’t had time to be with you. Your birthday is in a couple of days. Shall I take you to the auction house tomorrow to pick out some gifts?” I didn’t refuse. The next day, as soon as we settled into our seats in the main hall, I saw Seraphina. She sashayed over to us and sat in the empty seat next to Julian. All evening, Julian kept his head turned towards me, talking, not sparing a glance for the woman beside him. After the auction ended, he didn’t linger, pulling me downstairs with him. Before heading home, I went to the restroom. As I came out, I saw Seraphina cornered in the stairwell by a group of arrogant trust fund kids, who were openly mocking her. “Well, well, if it isn’t Miss Seraphina. You ungratefully abandoned Julian Hayes back then, and now you’ve fallen to this. Wouldn’t you say this is karma?” “I heard your father is forcing you to marry an old man with one foot in the grave. You’re still quite beautiful. Why don’t you come with us? We’d certainly appreciate you more…” The rest of his sentence was cut short. Julian descended from upstairs, his face thunderous, and kicked the young men. ### Chapter Three Then, he pinned the leader to the ground, punching him repeatedly, relentlessly, leaving them all bloody and pleading for mercy. “We’re sorry, Mr. Hayes! We were wrong! Please, be merciful and spare us!” “Get out! If you ever dare to show your faces in front of her again, you’ll face the consequences!” His furious roar sent them scrambling away, practically tripping over themselves in fear. Many onlookers had gathered in the stairwell. Julian ignored their prying glances, helped Seraphina to her feet. “Are you hurt?” Seraphina collapsed into his arms, sobbing dramatically, tears streaming down her face. “I twisted my ankle, it hurts so much.” Julian’s eyes darkened. He scooped her up, pushed through the crowd, and quickly left. To protect the woman in his arms, he held out an arm, accidentally pushing me to the ground in the process. My head hit the hard steps, opening a gash that bled profusely, startling the onlookers. “You’re bleeding from your head! Quick, call an ambulance!” My face contorted in pain, cold sweat breaking out all over my body. Warm blood seeped from my fingers, dripping onto my eyelashes, each drop feeling impossibly heavy. I watched Julian’s retreating figure, not bothering to look back, and a bitter taste filled my mouth. Before, if I’d accidentally cut my finger while preparing soup for him, he would worry for ages, insisting on calling a doctor, terrified I’d be left with a scar. I’d find him overreacting, but he would lower his head, kiss my hand, and tenderly whisper, “Chloe, you are the person I hold most dear. If you get hurt, I hurt more than you. Now that our lives are getting better, you don’t need to do these things anymore. Your hand will soon wear the ring I give you, and a scar wouldn’t look pretty.” Now, I was hurt, and he ignored me. And the ring he promised to me was now on someone else’s hand. The ambulance took me to the hospital. I registered, saw the doctor, and picked up my medication all by myself, not getting home until late at night. That night, the pain kept me from closing my eyes, tossing and turning restlessly. Julian Hayes didn’t come home. The next morning, I dragged my exhausted body up to change my dressing and saw Seraphina’s SnapChat story. It was a video of Julian half-kneeling, rubbing and applying medicine to her foot. I watched it several times, my eyes welling up, and unknowingly fell asleep. When I woke up again, it was dark outside. My phone on the pillow vibrated incessantly. I answered the call, and Julian’s voice listed an address. “Riverside Manor, private room 703. Come over now.” I hesitated for a moment before getting out of bed. I washed up quickly and headed over. As I pushed open the private room door, the first person I saw was Seraphina. Her eyes were red, looking like a wronged little bunny, utterly pitiful. Julian gazed at her steadily, saying nothing, his face etched with a pensive, solemn expression. The room was silent for a long time. Finally, I couldn’t help but speak. “Why did you call me here?” Julian straightened up, clasping his hands together, assuming the posture of a man in charge. “Chloe, were those punks yesterday, the ones bothering Seraphina, sent by you deliberately?” I froze. I instinctively glanced at Seraphina and caught a fleeting look of triumph in her eyes. In that instant, I understood that this was all probably Seraphina’s self-directed drama. I chuckled, a self-deprecating sound. “It wasn’t me. I don’t know them, and I have no interest in doing such a thing.” Julian’s expression didn’t soften with my explanation. He lowered his gaze, his voice calm. “Chloe, the moment Seraphina decided to leave me all those years ago, I completely let her go. You’ve been with me for seven years; you should know who is in my heart now. Seraphina’s family is struggling, and anyone can take advantage of her vulnerability, but it shouldn’t be you. You don’t need to make things difficult for her for my sake.” At this, my heart lurched. I couldn’t help but recall his agonizing cries in the middle of the night, the times I ran around with him, seeking doctors and cures, his silent despair when he was misdiagnosed and told he would never see again… The favored son of fate, who lost his sight completely for a girl. But those desperate days and nights, seven whole years, were now brushed aside so lightly, as if they had never happened. Finally, I thought of the marriage certificate, sealed with an official stamp, between him and Seraphina. Tears welled up in my eyes. “Yes, seven years together. How is it that only now do I know who is truly in your heart?” Julian’s eyes narrowed at my words. “What do you mean?” I shook my head, a self-mocking smile twisting my lips. “It means, I’m just a housekeeper’s daughter. What power or connections do I have to round up a group of men to bully a young lady?” Even though I laid everything out clearly, Julian still didn’t believe me. I was tired. I took a deep breath and gave up on explaining. “Since you don’t believe me, then just tell me directly. What do you want me to do?” Julian pressed his temples. “Apologize, Chloe. When you’ve done something wrong, you should say you’re sorry.” At that moment, Seraphina, who had been looking pitiful for a long time, suddenly spoke. “No need for an apology. If you’re truly sorry, just drink all this wine.” ### Chapter Four On the table, bottles of amber whiskey were arranged. My gaze drifted up to Julian, silently asking for a definite answer. But the dim lighting obscured his expression. In the overwhelming silence, I felt a sudden lack of oxygen. I gasped for air, and many past memories flashed through my mind. When Julian first moved into the old estate, because he couldn’t see, he numbed himself with alcohol every day. Worried about his health, I constantly tried to stop him, but he never listened. Until one time, when he was drunk, he sneered, pushing several bottles of wine towards me. “Now even a housekeeper’s daughter dares to lecture me? Am I truly a fallen phoenix, worse than a chicken? Fine, you drink all this, and I’ll listen to you.” I wanted to tell him I didn’t mean it that way, I wasn’t lecturing him. I was… worried about him. So, even though I was allergic to alcohol, for his sake, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I picked up a bottle and downed it. Within minutes, I was rushed to the hospital. When I woke up, I saw him sitting by my bedside, his face dark as he said, “I was the one who was drunk, not you! You knew you were allergic to alcohol, why would you gamble with your life?” I only answered one sentence. “Because I was worried about you, Master Julian. Your eyes will see again someday. Even if they don’t, I’ll stay with you for life. So, please don’t give up, okay?” From that day on, Julian gave up drinking. For years afterward, not a single alcohol bottle could be found in the house. Thinking about it, I started to smile, but my eyes shimmered with tears. I didn’t explain further. I leaned down, picked up a packet of mustard powder nearby, and poured it into the wine glass, my voice resolute. “Just these drinks? How can that show sincerity? I’ll add a penalty to myself, is that enough?” With that, I raised the glass and tilted my head back, pouring it into my mouth, one glass after another. The pungent and bitter taste spread from my lips down, filling my stomach, reaching but never quite touching my heart. It wasn wasn’t until the seventh glass that Julian, unable to bear it any longer, finally called out. “Enough!” Looking at the dozen or so unfinished glasses, I smiled. “This is enough? So, I’ve apologized? Is that enough to please your beloved?” Hearing this, Julian abruptly stood up and grabbed my hand. His usually expressionless face was now so dark it looked like it could drip water. “You know I didn’t mean it that way! Chloe, I told you, Seraphina and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. The Hayes family won’t approve of me marrying you. If you do something so outrageous, people will seize on it, and I just don’t want you to be troubled or criticized!” Julian spoke with righteous indignation, his words sounding perfectly reasonable. But I laughed out loud. The Hayes family disapproves of me, a low-born housekeeper’s daughter. Would they approve of Seraphina, who repaid kindness with malice, marrying into the family? Yet, despite a thousand difficulties ahead, he still married her just because she said the word, didn’t he? Everything was just an excuse for not loving enough! I didn’t want to say any more pointless words. I shook off his hand and turned to leave. Just as I reached the door, my body swayed, and I passed out. “Chloe!” Julian’s heart gave a violent lurch. He rushed forward without hesitation, scooped me up, and was about to leave. Seraphina quickly grabbed his sleeve, calling out to him with a choked cry, “Julian, I feel a little dizzy.” Julian stopped. But only for a few seconds. He then strode away, leaving only a sentence behind. “I need to take Chloe to the hospital. Call an assistant to look after you.” When I woke up again, I found myself in the hospital. Julian, who hadn’t slept all night, finally relaxed when he saw my eyes open. We looked at each other for a long time, neither of us speaking. Julian poured a glass of warm water and handed it to me, tucked in my blankets, then got up to call the doctor for a recheck, patiently noting down all the precautions. He postponed several urgent meetings. Seeing his secretary waiting anxiously at the door, I finally spoke. “You should go. I can take care of myself. These things shouldn’t be your responsibility anyway.” Julian paused, his hand holding a knife, his voice slow. “Everything I do is my responsibility, Chloe. Have you forgotten? All those years ago, you took care of me just like this.” A flicker of confusion crossed my eyes. Back then, because he was blind, he was abandoned by his wealthy family like a discarded pawn. Only I would teach him Braille, which I taught myself every day, accompany him to classes, take him out to sunbathe, prepare all sorts of delicious food for him… It was as if I’d secretly claimed the moon for myself, and my once dull life became as bright as day. And those seven years that passed were the most precious, joyful times of my life. Unfortunately, the moon didn’t belong to me, and I couldn’t go back to the past. In the afternoon, the doctor took me into the examination room. Half an hour later, the nurse helped me back to my room. As I pushed open the door, Julian was holding my phone, his brows furrowed, speaking to Mrs. Hayes in an icy tone. “I told you, Chloe and I genuinely love each other. We are mutually devoted. I don’t care about her family background, and you don’t need to waste any more effort. I will marry her, and she will not leave me.” Hearing the movement, he looked up at me. The next second, he heard Mrs. Hayes’s puzzled voice from the other end. “What do you mean she won’t leave? Don’t you know? Chloe already agreed to go abroad a few days ago…”

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