My husband, Brandon, wanted us to be child-free for life. Ten years later, he brought home a pair of children he’d adopted, expecting me to raise them into successful adults. I agreed. When the kids turned eighteen, they both got into Ivy League universities. At their coming-of-age celebration, Brandon handed me a property transfer deed, demanding I sign over all my assets to the children. I agreed again. Just as I reached for the pen to sign, my mother pulled me aside, her face etched with worry. “Eleanor, these children’s background is shady. You absolutely cannot give them all your fortune.” I replied calmly, “Mom, I trust my instincts.” After I signed, Brandon burst into a satisfied laugh. Then, he embraced a woman and shoved a divorce agreement into my hands. “Eleanor, thank you for looking after *our* children all this time. It’s time to give them back to Veronica.” I smiled. “Alright!” Eighteen years ago, Brandon, who swore he wanted a child-free life with me forever, suddenly brought home a pair of children. The boy and girl were tiny and thin, but undeniably cute. Brandon said they were adopted from an orphanage and asked me to raise them. From that day on, I became a mom, changing their diapers, feeding them, and watching them grow. Eighteen years later, they had both gotten into Ivy League schools. At their coming-of-age celebration, when I was about to transfer my assets to the children, it became the talk of the town. My parents and all our friends and relatives tried to dissuade me. But I ignored all their pleas and transferred the property to the two kids. The moment he got the transfer documents, Brandon couldn’t hold back his excitement, laughing out loud. Then, he pulled a woman from the crowd and walked towards me. They handed me a divorce agreement, demanding I leave empty-handed. My mind reeled. I stared at him in disbelief. Back then, to be child-free with him, I had even undergone a hysterectomy. For years, I was known as the perfect wife in this city. Now, looking at that divorce agreement, I shouted at them. “Brandon, so you and Veronica have been secretly involved all this time!” Veronica was an employee at my company, manipulative and utterly despicable. She had risen to director. Veronica smiled calmly. “Eleanor, there’s no need to be angry. If you truly love Brandon, you should be willing to sacrifice for his happiness.” Brandon snapped impatiently. “Just sign it already, what are you waiting for?” Brandon and I were college sweethearts. He came from a dirt-poor rural family, barely had money for food, often hiding in his dorm room just munching on stale bread. Due to a lack of nutrition, he was pale, gaunt, with lifeless hair, and a perpetually hunched posture back then. The day he fainted on the track, I rushed him to the campus clinic and learned about his predicament. I generously paid for all his living expenses, and soon after, we fell for each other and started dating. Veronica was Brandon’s high school classmate. They grew up together as childhood sweethearts but had long drifted apart. I never expected them to secretly get together again. “Poor Ms. Davis, isn’t she? The moment she transfers her assets to the kids, he drops the act and demands a divorce.” “I heard they agreed to be child-free for life, but then Mr. Davis adopted two kids. They got into Ivy League, which is what this celebration is for.” “I bet those kids are his illegitimate children with that woman.” “Do you even need to doubt it? It’s obvious! Otherwise, why would he make Ms. Davis transfer her property to them?” “Ms. Davis is so unlucky, she was completely played.” The guests at the celebration murmured amongst themselves, stunned by the sudden turn of events. My mom cried, tears streaming down her face. “Eleanor, see? You fell right into their trap. Your father and I warned you long ago that this man had dark intentions, a real schemer. He only befriended you and treated you well for your money. We even mentioned that those two children’s background was shady and advised you to be careful, but you just wouldn’t listen!” My dad said angrily. “How could a Davis be so foolish? For a man, you just hand over your entire fortune!” Amidst the commotion, I looked down at the divorce agreement. No one noticed the faint, knowing smile playing on my lips. “Eleanor, you don’t need to blame me. I’m a normal man. You don’t have a uterus, you can’t have children, so I had to find someone else to have them with.” Brandon tried to explain, seeking some justification for his infidelity. I smiled. “It was *your* idea for me to have a hysterectomy and be child-free with you forever, saying we’d never regret it! I made such a huge sacrifice for you.”

“That was then. The reality is you can’t have children, and I want my own kids, so I had no choice but to find Veronica…” Veronica nodded. “That’s right. If a woman can’t have children, and she earns such a huge fortune, who will she leave it to in the future?” In the banquet hall, everyone silently nodded. My mom remembered the past and sobbed to Brandon. “You came from a poor rural village, dirt poor, couldn’t even pay tuition, and constantly hid in your dorm eating bread. Your mother was critically ill and couldn’t afford medical care. If we hadn’t supported you, you and your mom would have died long ago!” “When you two got married, you had no money. Your brother-in-law was unemployed for years, and Eleanor’s dad gave him a manager position with an annual salary of over a million.” At that moment, the three of us were lost in our memories. Mom murmured. “Our family has been good to you. I can’t believe you’d repay our kindness with betrayal and try to take the Davis family’s fortune.” After a moment of silence, Brandon chuckled. “What’s the point of bringing that up now?” He looked at me. “Alright, Eleanor, how much longer are you going to stare at this agreement?” “Even if you don’t sign, it’s useless. After all, you’ve already transferred the property to the children’s names. Our joint assets only amount to a few tens of thousands left. I’ll leave that for your retirement.” Hearing this, a smug grin stretched across Brandon’s face, almost reaching his ears. *Slap!* Suddenly, my dad rushed forward and slapped him across the face! “You monster!” “Someone, grab that old man! Beat him up!” Brandon couldn’t afford to lose face. With a wave of his hand, several security guards rushed forward, menacingly surrounding my dad. The security guards were intimidated by my dad’s presence and hesitated to advance. But Veronica charged forward and slapped my dad across the face. My dad froze on the spot. He was a man of great prestige, a former president of the Business Guild, socializing only with influential figures. Now, to be treated with such contempt by Veronica was a grave insult! My dad was about to explode in anger, but I pulled him back. The surrounding crowd immediately erupted. “This is going too far, isn’t it? Hitting even old Mr. Davis!” “Mr. Davis is a renowned philanthropist, often donating to underprivileged students, struggling families, and building schools for the elderly. Now he’s being bullied like this!” “You can only blame his daughter for being a total letdown!” “If I had a daughter like Eleanor, I’d disown her on the spot!” “Shut up!” Brandon yelled at the crowd. Then he looked at me. “Eleanor, are you going to sign or not?” “I’ll sign.” I picked up the pen and swiftly signed my name. Brandon took it, glanced at it, and with his heart finally at ease, sneered. “Good, Eleanor, thank you for delivering billions in assets to our family!” Veronica triumphantly raised a glass. “Cheers!” I smiled, thinking, *Is that so? I hope you can keep smiling until the end!* My dad looked at them, then suddenly collapsed to the floor. “Dad!” “Mr. Davis!” My mom and I, along with many relatives, rushed over. Brandon looked at a man busily helping out and exclaimed in surprise. “Marcus, what are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re interested in this failure, Eleanor?” The two of them were childhood friends, both from rural backgrounds. Brandon often mocked Marcus for being a fool. Marcus smiled faintly, but didn’t reply. Just then, my dad woke up. He asked. “Where are those two kids of theirs?” “They went to pick up their university acceptance letters.” Marcus replied. Soon, two high school students in school uniforms appeared at the entrance.

Both were a little chubby, walking in with cheerful faces. When they saw me, they turned away in disgust and went straight to Brandon. Chloe, the daughter, whined. “Dad, Aunt Veronica, we got our acceptance letters!” Brandon pulled the two children to sit beside him, smiling. “From now on, you should call Aunt Veronica, ‘Mom’.” My heart ached, hearing the children I had raised call someone else “Mom.” Veronica smiled. “Good children. Now I won’t have to secretly go to your school to see you anymore.” My mom was furious. She pointed at them and yelled. “Chloe, Daniel, your mother meticulously cared for you for eighteen years, and this is how you treat her?” “Daniel, you were always frail and often caught colds and fevers. Once, in the middle of the night, you had a 104-degree fever, and your mom braved the pouring rain to take you to the doctor.” “Chloe, when you were in high school, you fell in with the wrong crowd. That day, you went out with them and were drugged by some hoodlums. If your mother hadn’t arrived with people in time, you would have been ruined. But she protected you and even got stabbed herself!” The two children fell silent. Indeed, I had taken excellent care of them. After a moment, Chloe pouted. “Alright, don’t bring that up. No matter how well she did, she’s not my biological mom.” Daniel chimed in. “Exactly. And she should take a look in the mirror. Eleanor, you’re just not fit to be my mother.” Then, he shoved a paternity test report at me. Everyone expected me to make a scene, but instead, I pulled out a sever-ties agreement. “Chloe, Daniel, then let’s cut all ties.” Chloe giggled. “Ms. Davis, I couldn’t be more thrilled.” They signed without hesitation, then sat next to Brandon and Veronica. The four of them exchanged knowing smiles. “Excellent.” I smiled. I gave them a chance. If they had even a shred of conscience, I might have considered leaving them a way out. Unfortunately, some people’s true colors are truly ugly. Everyone probably couldn’t fathom why I, a shrewd and capable businesswoman managing billions, would willingly step into this trap, raising someone else’s kids. “Ms. Davis, this coming-of-age celebration has nothing to do with you. You can leave. Also, please make sure you and your parents move out today, because the villa is already in my children’s names.” Brandon started to kick me out. “No rush.” I gave a knowing smile and addressed everyone. “Today is my children’s coming-of-age celebration. The party hasn’t even started yet, how can the guest of honor leave? Children, come in.” To everyone’s stunned gazes, two figures walked in from outside.

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When Ronnie Miller’s mistress showed up pregnant for the third time, I remained strangely calm. I even had the leisure to admire the wedding photos they’d taken behind my back. Ronnie frowned, his expression cold, subtly shielding Briar Stone. “I know I promised you I wouldn’t have children with anyone else.” “But Briar has been with me for so many years. Her body is already fragile after two abortions. This child *has* to stay. If anything happens to her, I won’t hold back.” After speaking, he stepped back a few paces. He probably expected me to lash out like a madwoman, just like before. But not this time. Three days ago, I’d already accepted his proposal. I raised an eyebrow, glancing at Briar’s hands, clutching the wedding photos so tightly her knuckles were white. “Nice wedding photos, but that dress doesn’t really suit you.” If she hadn’t deliberately sent me the ultrasound, I wouldn’t have even known she was pregnant again. Over the years, I’d grown used to her provocations. The first time she confronted me, I felt like I’d been thrown into sub-zero water. My entire being felt torn in half, my heart spasming with pain. My eyes bloodshot, I’d shattered an ashtray over Ronnie’s head. He merely licked the blood from his lip, looking at me with an exasperated yet protective gaze directed at her. “Honey, you’re a real firecracker, aren’t you? So quick to ignite.” “But I truly care for her. Don’t lay a hand on her, and everything will be fine. Was one hit not enough? Want to hit me twice to blow off some steam?” Back then, my world crumbled. I lost handfuls of hair, suffered sleepless nights, tormenting myself until I looked like a ghost. But now, I felt nothing at all. Ronnie paused, then stared at me with a half-smile. “Honey, new tactic?” “But you know, even if you try to stop me, it won’t end well for you.” He was right. I agreed wholeheartedly, nodding. “I won’t stop you. Do whatever you want.” Seeing my lack of tears or drama, Ronnie finally let out a sigh of relief. A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. “Whatever you want to buy, just use my card.” With that, he walked off, cradling Briar in his arms, as if worried she might tire. Watching their retreating figures, I felt a strange sense of unreality. After I first discovered his cheating, I exposed him, laying it all bare for our friends and family to see. I wanted him to back down, to come back to me. But to my shock, the very next day, he doubled down, openly introducing Briar to everyone. Someone spoke ill of Briar, and he knocked out their teeth. Someone else mocked Briar, calling her a homewrecker, and he broke their leg. Everyone instantly stopped disrespecting Briar. I screamed, utterly devastated. “Ronnie, what am I to you?! You swore you’d love me forever!” “Let’s get a divorce!” Ronnie chuckled, then kissed my lips. “Honey, can you really bear to leave me?” “I didn’t say I don’t love you anymore. It’s just been a while, and things get a little… stale. Just be a good girl, okay?” “Divorce? Where would you even go?” All my words caught in my throat. It wasn’t until I learned Briar was pregnant that I completely lost it. Before Ronnie was officially recognized by the Miller family, he was just a street kid, running with gangs. When he was sixteen, he got into a fight, and I stepped in front of him, taking a knife wound that damaged my uterus. I was told I’d likely never have children. After we married, his mother used to verbally abuse me, calling me a barren chicken. To protect me, and spare me further pain, Ronnie got a vasectomy. So, when I found out Briar was pregnant, I tracked her down, slapped her twice, dragged her to the hospital, and forced an abortion. When Ronnie found out, he had people desecrate my grandmother’s grave. In that moment, I felt like I died. My heart felt pierced by countless needles, each beat bleeding. My face was ashen, like a ghost, as I asked him if he was insane. When he was at his lowest, hadn’t my grandmother given him food? Would he even be alive today without her? Before she passed, my grandmother treated him like her own grandson. She split her life savings, half for me, and half to help him start his business. She believed he would make sure I had a good life. But she never imagined that ten years later, Ronnie would bring people to dig up her grave. I laughed, a sharp, bitter sound, coughing up blood. Ronnie remained unmoved, casually smoking on the sofa. “Honey, you’re the one who laid hands on her first.” “I warned you, but you just wouldn’t listen.” After that day, Ronnie never came home again. He spent weeks by Briar’s side, doting on her. I withered away at home, like a dying flower. Watching the news report that Ronnie had rented out an entire auction house for Briar, I slit my wrists. Life drained from me, little by little, the sounds around me slowly fading. A bone-chilling cold consumed me. I felt only relief, and slowly closed my eyes.

But I didn’t die. When I opened my eyes again, Ronnie was beside my bed, his eyes bloodshot. He clutched me tightly, swearing to me. “Honey, you scared me to death.” “I won’t get anyone pregnant again, I promise you.” But people, once they break a promise the first time, will break countless promises for the rest of their lives. The second time Briar got pregnant, Ronnie smoked all night. I knew he was torn. He felt for Briar, but he was also bound by his promise to me. Briar came knocking on our door. Before I could say anything, she collapsed. The baby was gone. That was the first time I saw Ronnie in a fit of uncontrolled rage. He grabbed my throat, demanding I pay with my life. “I already promised you! I was going to make her get rid of it! Why couldn’t you just leave her alone?!” That was the second time I faced death. My lungs burned as if they would explode, air slowly stripped away. Just as I thought I was going to die, I was flung aside like a broken doll. Seeing the undisguised disgust in his eyes, all my explanations caught in my throat, stuck there, making me sick and wretched. Ronnie moved out of the home we’d lovingly decorated together. After that, whenever I needed to reach him, I had to get Briar’s permission before he would answer my calls. Two months later, I found out I was pregnant. The doctor called it a miracle, likely my only chance to ever have a child. I texted Ronnie, but Briar showed up instead. Briar came to our house to corner me. “Do you really think this baby will make Ronnie come back to you?” “Don’t be naive. Do you know what Ronnie said on my bed last night? He said just seeing your old hag face made him sick. If you hadn’t saved him back then, he would have kicked you to the curb ages ago.” Before she left, when I wasn’t looking, she poured hand soap onto the bathroom floor. I slipped when I went to the bathroom, and the gush of blood on the floor stained my vision red. I called Ronnie, but his line was constantly busy. On the tenth call, he only replied with four words: *Briar won’t let me.* The ambulance was slow to arrive. The blood was already cold. The baby was gone. I lay in the hospital bed, staring numbly at the ceiling, unable to understand how Ronnie and I had come to this. I thought, *this is it*. Maybe the baby knew it shouldn’t come into this world. It would only face constantly fighting parents. This is better. Let it be. From that day on, I think I stopped loving Ronnie. Even now, seeing their backs together, there wasn’t a ripple in my heart. The ringtone of *his* special song broke my reverie. I answered the call. “Yes, the divorce papers are ready. I’ll give them to him tomorrow.” “You can pick me up the day after tomorrow.”

I cleared out the old belongings in the house, throwing all the unimportant items into the trash. That night, Ronnie finally came home. In the end, the divorce papers I’d drafted weren’t needed. Ronnie beat me to it, handing me his own divorce papers first. “Honey, Briar feels insecure. She doesn’t want our child to be born a bastard.” “Let’s get divorced first, then after she gives birth, we’ll remarry.” No wonder. An hour ago, Briar had texted me, telling me to expect a surprise. She was trying to provoke me, to make me fight with Ronnie again. Unfortunately, I no longer loved him. Even arguing felt like a waste of energy. I calmly scanned the terms of the agreement. It was generous, and fair. Almost all of Ronnie’s assets were split equally with me. Without hesitation, I signed my name. After signing, I drank the lukewarm water on the table and prepared to go back to my room. Ronnie hadn’t expected me to be so decisive. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He stood up, instinctively grabbing my wrist. “What’s wrong?” I turned, my gaze distant and cold. “What’s wrong? Is there anything else?” Ronnie glanced uneasily at my bedroom, pondered for a moment, then walked in. He collected all the sharp knives and objects from my room. He then prepared to call the nanny from his family estate. He was afraid I would try to kill myself. I chuckled. “No need to go to all that trouble. I won’t kill myself.” His phone rang. It was Briar, urging him to come home. He nodded dismissively at me, then rushed out the door. Early the next morning, Ronnie urged me downstairs to go to the civil affairs office for our divorce certificate. His car was covered in stickers he used to deem childish. It was Briar’s aesthetic. I sensibly went to the back seat. He paused, then instinctively asked. “Why aren’t you sitting in front?” I gazed out at the rapidly receding scenery, answering distractedly. “Isn’t that Briar’s designated seat?” Ronnie fell silent. Several times, he tried to catch my eye in the rearview mirror, opening his mouth repeatedly without speaking. After registering our information, the staff told us we could come back to finalize the divorce after the cooling-off period. I breathed a sigh of relief. Ronnie stood rooted to the spot, his expression complex, emotions I couldn’t decipher swirling in his eyes. “I’ll drive you home.” I was about to refuse. Briar appeared out of nowhere, jumping to kiss Ronnie’s cheek. Ronnie hastily steadied her. “Careful with the baby!” The moment Briar appeared, all his attention was on her. He didn’t even notice when I left.

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To clear my girlfriend’s debts, Mom and I worked ourselves to the bone. It cost Mom her life – she got lung cancer. When I rushed to the hospital with the money to pay for her treatment, I found her gone. She’d taken her own life, leaving only a single letter: “Kolt, don’t waste money treating me. Use it to pay off Scarlett’s debts. She loves you. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.” Clutching Mom’s ashes, I handed Scarlett the sixty thousand dollars Mom had left. Back at the office, I walked in on her talking to a few creditors. It wasn’t what I expected. “Scarlett, Kolt has passed all your tests. What’s next on your agenda?” Scarlett’s assistant, Brandon, suddenly spoke up: “Scarlett, he might be able to tough it out with you, but we still need to see if he can handle prosperity.” Scarlett pursed her lips: “Next, I need to know if he’s truly sincere. If he doesn’t covet my money once he knows who I really am, I’ll marry him.” I looked at Mom’s ashes, dissolving into a weeping mess. My girlfriend’s pre-wedding ‘test’ cost my mother her life. And I? I swear, you’ll all pay for this!

Leaving Su Corp. I sat on the curb, clutching Mom’s urn. Mom had asked for her ashes to be placed in the simplest, most unadorned container, just to save every last penny for Scarlett’s debts. Suddenly, Scarlett’s face appeared on the giant screen in the plaza. The news anchor reported: “Just moments ago, Scarlett, the CEO of Su Corp, who had mysteriously disappeared for three years, attended a gala with her fiancé, Brandon.” I stared at the screen, at Scarlett, radiant with confidence. Tears streamed down my face. So all those years Mom and I poured our hearts and souls into working, just to pay off her debts… It was all just a lie. I sat there for what felt like ages, until Scarlett called that evening. Her voice was just as soft and gentle as always: “It’s so late. Why aren’t you home yet? Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.” I instinctively opened my mouth, but no words came out. Just silence. Before, I would’ve probably been a little annoyed, complaining that she was interrupting my work again. But now, that intimate tone… I couldn’t bear it. Scarlett’s voice held a hint of urgency: “Kolt, where are you right now?” “Working.” Scarlett froze, as if just remembering that I’d been working tirelessly until late every night, all to pay off her debts. She’d promised to marry me once the debts were cleared. And to settle down, build a real life with me. Just as Mom had hoped. Today, she was supposed to reveal her true identity to me. “I… I have something to tell you. I’m actually the heir to Su Corp.” “I… I’m coming to pick you up right now…” I hung up, hailed a cab, and left. I had no expectations left for Scarlett. When I finally snapped back to reality, my own tears were reflected in the car window. On my phone, Scarlett’s messages popped up, one after another. I didn’t look. I didn’t want to. Today was supposed to be the start of our new life together. But her lies had turned my mother’s suicide into a cruel joke. Five years of struggle, all for a ridiculous truth. Scarlett, I’m not marrying you.

That night, I didn’t go home. I checked into a hotel. Scarlett messaged me all night, called countless times. I didn’t check. I didn’t answer. The next morning, I arrived at the company early. To prepare my resignation letter. The company was a subsidiary of Su Corp. And I was just an ordinary accountant. Five years ago, I first met Scarlett when she joined the company too. After we started dating, I introduced her to Mom. Mom approved of our marriage. As we were planning the reception, Scarlett told me she was deep in debt and had been fired from her job. To help her pay it off, I took on every side gig I could find. Mom also worked herself to the bone. Her already worn face grew even older, etched with more lines. I never imagined this company… it was *hers*. I let out a bitter laugh, mocking myself. Just then, Scarlett walked in. I calmly pulled out the resignation agreement I’d already printed. Scarlett came to stand beside me. Under her watchful gaze, I calmly signed the resignation agreement. She looked at me, her voice gentle: “Are you done?” “I’m done.” Scarlett bit her lip slightly, seemingly unaware of the change in me. She cleared her throat. “Kolt, could you come with me for a moment?” The moment Scarlett called me away, my colleagues immediately started whispering. “Oh my God, have you guys seen the news? Scarlett is the CEO of Su Corp!” “Kolt’s practically the CEO’s husband now, but his expression…” “You don’t get it. It’s just a lovers’ quarrel, they’ll patch things up.” Everyone thought I was about to become the CEO’s husband. But they didn’t know I just wanted to leave, forever. In the office, Scarlett reached out as if to grab me. I took a step back. “Ms. Scarlett.” Scarlett frowned. “Why didn’t you come home last night? Are you still mad at me?” I shook my head. “I went to see Mom.” I didn’t go back because I didn’t want Mom to ever see her again. She could have lived if she’d just gotten treatment. But she chose to end her own life, just so she wouldn’t be a burden. Scarlett seemed to sense a strange shift in me. After a moment of silence, she spoke: “Tonight, let’s go see your mom together.” As she spoke, she seemed to remember something, and her gaze became hesitant. She slowly handed me a card. “There’s a hundred thousand dollars on it. Get your mom some new clothes, consider it…” I stared at the bank card, but I didn’t take it. What she owed us couldn’t be repaid with money. Seeing my silence, a flicker of panic crossed Scarlett’s eyes. She was about to speak when a ringtone interrupted her thoughts. Scarlett pulled out her phone, glanced at me, hesitated for a moment, then left. I knew this was probably another one of her ‘tests’ for me. Testing my sincerity, testing if I was after her money. But I no longer cared. After that, I submitted my resignation. Mr. Davies didn’t seem surprised by my sudden resignation request. “Kolt, you’re leaving? Did Ms. Scarlett make other arrangements for you?” I bit my lip, feeling a surge of bitter irony. Everyone thought I was about to become the CEO’s husband, stepping into high society. They all envied my ‘luck’. They had no idea I’d lost my mother forever because of it. If I had a choice, I’d rather have never met Scarlett. As I was leaving the company, I saw Scarlett with her assistant, Brandon. Catching my eye, Scarlett instinctively began to explain; “This is Brandon, he’s my…” Before she could finish, Brandon wrapped an arm around her. “Fiancé.” I stayed silent. Then, Brandon spoke again: “Excuse me. Could you move aside?” A glint of challenge flashed in Brandon’s eyes. I silently took a step back, clearing the way. Scarlett looked at me, hesitation in her eyes, as if she wanted to say something. But Brandon pulled her away before she could. That evening, I went to church to pray for Mom. I stayed until my prayers were done. Scarlett never showed up. She never even asked. I didn’t care. Whether she knew about Mom’s death or not, it didn’t matter anymore. I figured Mom, in heaven, if she knew the truth, wouldn’t want to see her either. Five years of misplaced trust. It all ended right here, right now.

In the early hours, I returned home. Scarlett wasn’t back. I didn’t care. As I was packing my bags, the news was reporting on the Su Corp CEO, Scarlett, attending a gala with her fiancé, Brandon. I watched the ‘perfect’ couple, feeling nothing. Bags packed, I was about to leave. The door opened, and Scarlett appeared. The moment she saw me, Scarlett rushed over, grabbing my hand. “Where were you last night? Why didn’t you answer my calls?” I stiffened, then pulled my hand free from Scarlett’s grip. “Last night, I was with Mom. I didn’t want to disturb her rest, so I turned off my phone.” At the mention of Mom, Scarlett remembered what she’d said that day, and a look of guilt crossed her face. “I’ll arrange for the best doctors to take care of your mom.” Then, she pulled out a box and pressed it into my hand. “This is what I promised to give your mom.” I opened it instinctively. Inside was a bracelet. It was the genuine version of the bracelet Mom had cherished so carefully. I froze. Once, Scarlett had held Mom’s hand, and promised with utmost sincerity that one day, she’d give her the priceless original. Mom’s eyes had been full of laughter then. She didn’t care if the bracelet was real or fake. As long as it came from Scarlett, from the daughter-in-law she approved of. She would be happy. But I thought, *that was before*. I closed the box and handed it back. “If you get the chance, give it to her yourself.” Scarlett frowned slightly. Every time, I used to make the choice she expected, the one she hoped for. But my politeness now felt alien to her. A flicker of unease crossed her face. She grabbed my hand, squeezing it slightly. “Your mom’s health…” Just then, Brandon appeared, wrapping an arm around Scarlett’s shoulder. “Scarlett, I want to stay in this room!” She was pointing at *my* room. “This room is taken.” Scarlett said, then quickly explained to me: “He’s a friend. He’s just staying for a bit because of work.” As she spoke, Scarlett stared intently at me, as if expecting me to refuse. But I just nodded, agreeing without a second thought. “Let him have the room. I need to go stay with Mom.” Scarlett froze for a moment. Brandon, not giving me a chance to reconsider, immediately rushed into the room. Only then did she notice the luggage in my hand. She bit her lip, holding my hand tightly, refusing to let go. The guilt in her eyes deepened. Finally, urged on by Brandon, she spoke: “Tomorrow, I’ll go see your mom.”

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After our driver’s daughter moved in, Blake-my already resentful adoptive brother-grew to hate me even more. She looked like him. That, in his mind, was proof enough: I was the impostor, and she was the real heiress. Frankly, I couldn’t be bothered to argue. Then came my eighteenth birthday. Blake showed up with the driver’s daughter to stake her claim. He turned to our parents, expecting a standing ovation. “Mom, Dad, this is your real daughter, my real sister! Avery’s the fake.” Then he threw a DNA report in my face. “You’ve stolen my sister’s life for eighteen years. Get out of this house!” Behind him, Sierra’s eyes welled up with practiced tears. “I only want…my real family.” A collective gasp tore through the room. Mom and Dad stood frozen. But as I stared at the report that confirmed they were siblings, a cold, sudden laugh rose in my chest. “What if… you’re the fake son?” I’m Avery Maxwell, the heiress to the powerful Maxwell family. Tonight was my eighteenth birthday. My parents had booked the grandest ballroom in the city and filled it with every important person they knew. I stood at the center of it all, radiant in a custom gown, the undisputed star of the evening. What I never expected was for my brother, Blake, to try to burn the whole party down. “Avery is a fraud! She has no right to be here!” Blake marched into the center of the room, dragging our driver’s daughter, Sierra, behind him. He looked at me with pure contempt, as if I were something he’d scraped off his shoe. Sierra shrank behind him, her eyes already glistening with unshed tears. My parents stared, completely bewildered. My mother gestured subtly for him to stop. My father’s voice was low and stern. “Blake, you’re late to your sister’s birthday, and now you make a spectacle? Explain yourself.” “Blake, sweetheart,” my mother tried, her voice pleading. “You and Avery quarrel, but tonight is her night. Please, have some respect.” Blake ignored them. He raised a finger and pointed straight at me, his voice hard. “Avery is not a Maxwell. She was switched at birth. A fake. The real Maxwell daughter is Sierra!” He pushed Sierra forward, presenting her to our parents like a winning trophy. “Mom, Dad, this is your real daughter. My real sister. Look at her. She even looks like me. That’s all the proof you need.” Blake’s words detonated in the room, shredding the polite chatter to pieces. Eyes darted between the three of us. Whispers spread like a current. “You know…the Maxwell siblings never did look alike.” “But Blake and that girl… they look like twins.” “Do you think it’s true?” “Well, this party just got interesting.” Mom and Dad exchanged a shocked glance, muttering, “Blake and Sierra do look alike…” Blake soaked in the whispers and pointed fingers directed at me, his eyes gleaming with hatred and triumph. I just watched him, my expression unreadable. “Blake, have you been binging too many ‘swapped at birth’ stories? You say I’m fake, and that makes it true?” I knew Blake had hated me since we were kids. Maybe it was because I was the older sister, and I’d stolen half of Mom and Dad’s affection. Or maybe because I outshone him in everything, always stealing his thunder… Whatever the reason, he always looked for ways to put me down, wishing I wasn’t his sister. After he got hooked on those ‘fake heiress’ web novels, he became absolutely convinced that I was swapped at birth and that Jim’s daughter, who looked like him, was the true Maxwell heiress. So, Blake pulling this stunt today? Honestly, it wasn’t much of a surprise.

Blake, seeing I wasn’t at all scared of being thrown out, became agitated. He sneered, “Avery, you’ve got some nerve! Let me tell you, you’re not leeching off my family any longer. If you know what’s good for you, just pack your bags and leave!” Before I could even respond, my parents, who had finally recovered from their shock, spoke up. Dad sternly reprimanded Blake, his voice harsher than I’d ever heard it. “Blake! Where are your manners? Avery is your sister! How can you say something so incredibly disrespectful?!” Mom quickly agreed. “That’s right, Blake. You and Avery can bicker all you want on a normal day, but this is Avery’s big moment. Show some decency!” But Blake seemed not to hear them. Instead, he yelled back at Mom and Dad. “Avery isn’t my sister! Sierra is my sister! You should be worried about all the suffering Sierra endured these eighteen years, not fussing over Avery, the imposter!” As Blake finished, Sierra nervously twisted her dress hem, her shoulders trembling with quiet sobs, her voice barely a choked whisper. “I just want to come home… If you don’t like me, I can leave…” She said, timidly glancing up at Mom and Dad, then quickly dropping her gaze as tears streamed down her face, looking utterly heartbroken and wronged. Mom couldn’t stand it. She tried to comfort her. “Sweetie, we haven’t figured things out yet-” But before Mom could finish, Sierra’s tears intensified, and her sobs grew louder. Seeing Sierra’s pitiful, wounded display, Blake’s heart twisted with sympathy. He pulled Sierra behind him, declaring with a fierce protectiveness, “Don’t worry, Sierra. I, Blake Maxwell, only recognize you as my sister. You belong to the Maxwell family!” The crowd erupted again, even more agitated. They started pitying Sierra, and their gazes, once admiring, now held a flicker of disdain for me. “That poor girl, her real parents are right there, yet she has to endure this.” “The Maxwells are so biased, how can they favor the swapped child over their own flesh and blood for eighteen years?” “Avery is truly wicked, enjoying someone else’s wealth for eighteen years and now refusing to give it up!” Mom and Dad’s faces flushed from white to red under the weight of these whispered judgments. And me? Listening to them champion Sierra’s supposed injustice, I just found it laughable. I coolly scanned the room, then let out a sarcastic laugh. “Nothing’s been confirmed yet. Don’t be so quick to show your true colors!” Before this ‘fake heiress’ drama began, they’d all fawned over me, the Maxwell heiress. Now, without a single piece of hard proof, they were already scrambling to cozy up to the ‘real’ one. They were sharp. They heard the ice in my voice. Their smiles tightened, but out of respect for the Maxwell name, they held their tongues. Then I turned to Blake, my voice sharp. “Blake, you’re making a spectacle of the Maxwell name and our parents over nothing but a passing resemblance. Show me the proof. Or you and your friend can leave!” Blake had been chastised by me countless times growing up, and he already harbored resentment. Now, being lectured in front of so many people, his face turned beet red with fury. Blake glared at me, then yanked a document from his pocket and slapped it against my cheek with a sharp crack. “Avery, open your goddamn eyes, you leech! You’re the one who needs to get out!” It was a DNA paternity report. “I was going to let you keep some dignity. Clearly, you don’t deserve it.” At the same moment, the report flashed onto the giant LCD screen behind us. Test result: Sample 1 (Blake Maxwell) and Sample 2 (Sierra Jim) confirmed sibling relationship.

“See for yourselves!” Blake waved the report overhead. “My DNA test with Sierra proves we’re siblings!” He paused, his gaze deliberately finding me before he drove the point home. “The evidence is right here. Sierra is the real Maxwell heiress. Avery…she has no blood tie to this family at all” He was shouting now, as if I were standing across a field. My parents stood frozen, their eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Dad’s brow furrowed. “This report… Blake and Sierra are truly siblings?!” Mom’s voice trembled. “How can this be…?” The room erupted. The whispers now were louder than before. “The results are in! Avery really is the fake!” “The Maxwells must be sick. Their own daughter suffered for eighteen years while they spoiled a stranger.” “Did you see how high and mighty Avery was acting? Talk about karma.” “Exactly. Prancing around in a stolen life. Let’s see her talk her way out of this.” … I went from being the pampered heiress of a wealthy family to a fake heiress everyone could scorn. Blake lifted his chin smugly and gave me my marching orders. “Avery, nothing to say now, huh? Get out, quickly!” Sierra tugged on Blake’s sleeve, timidly saying, “Blake, maybe… maybe we should just let it go. After all, Mom and Dad did raise Avery for eighteen years.” Her ‘kind and magnanimous’ act only made me seem like a monstrous villain. I watched their little performance quietly, with no intention of leaving. “Blake, the Maxwell family isn’t yours to command!” Blake scowled, then directly signaled the bodyguards to drag me out. “You’re out of line, Avery Maxwell! Today, I’m going to make you realize who the true owner of this family is! A common nobody doesn’t deserve designer clothes-strip her of that dress and throw her out!” Several bodyguards moved to grab me, but before their hands could even touch me, Dad’s cold voice stopped them. “Stop! Who dares lay a hand on my daughter?!” Dad’s voice carried an unquestionable authority, and Mom quickly stepped forward, shielding me. The bodyguards froze instantly, exchanging nervous glances, not daring to advance. Seeing this, Blake’s eyes turned red. He couldn’t believe that even with the DNA report right in front of them, Mom and Dad were still protecting me, an outsider. He lost control, roaring at Mom and Dad. “Dad! Mom! Have you gone senile?!” “Sierra and I are the real Maxwells! How can you ignore your own flesh and blood and pour your hearts out to Avery, this imposter?!” Mom and Dad’s expressions were complex. After a long moment, they simply said, “Avery is a Maxwell.” Their voices weren’t loud, but they carried an unshakeable resolve. In that moment, a warmth spread through my chest. No matter what happened, Mom and Dad would always be my shield.

Blake, however, was like a lit firecracker, his face contorted with resentment and fury. Sierra, too, began to sob dramatically, her cries heartbreaking, as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice. “It’s all my fault… If I hadn’t shown up, I wouldn’t have made Mom and Dad so difficult, wouldn’t have made Blake so miserable… I really shouldn’t have come back…” She spoke, then stumbled, as if about to run out, embodying a martyr. Blake immediately grabbed her, comforting her. “Sierra, don’t run! This is your home, Avery is the one who should leave!” Sierra looked at Blake through tear-filled eyes, then timidly gazed at Mom and Dad. “I truly don’t want to cause you trouble. I just want to return to my real mom and dad. Why is it so hard?!” Just then, Jim, the driver, pushed through the outer edges of the crowd. As soon as he entered, he knelt down with a thud before Mom and Dad. “Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell, both children… we truly wronged you! That year at the hospital, my wife, in a moment of confusion, swapped the two babies!” Jim wept, his old eyes flooding with tears, his remorse complete. “Now I have only one wish: for Sierra to come back to her real family. Avery has taken eighteen years of her life. Our conscience can’t bear it any longer. Sierra is a good girl. Please, I beg you, give her the chance to come home. As for Avery…she will come home with me.” Hearing this, Mom and Dad looked at each other. Their faces grew even more solemn. “Jim, is what you’re telling us about that year the complete truth?” Jim nodded vigorously. “Every word of it, Mrs. Maxwell! My wife…she’s lived with the guilt every single day. We never would have had the courage to come forward if Sierra hadn’t started looking so much like Blake. It’s all on us-please, blame me. Just don’t take it out on Sierra.” Jim’s words corroborated Sierra’s claim, making Blake even more arrogant. He stepped forward, pointing at my nose, his spit almost flying onto my face. “Did you hear that, Avery?! Even Jim admitted it himself! You were maliciously swapped at birth!” “With witnesses and evidence right here, you imposter, get out of the Maxwell mansion, now!” Jim stood up, reaching for me, but I swiftly dodged his hand. Sierra, fearing I wouldn’t leave, frantically urged me. “Avery, I know this is sudden for you, but our intertwined lives are a fact. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Mom and Dad in the Maxwell house. You can come back anytime you want. The Maxwell mansion will always be your second home.” Her voice was still choked with tears, but a hint of barely perceptible triumph laced it. I shot her a cold glance, my malice undisguised. “Who do you think you are, to talk about taking care of my parents for me? My parents have me, they don’t need you telling them what to do!” My obstinate attitude once again drew a fresh wave of condemnation from the guests. “How ill-mannered! Her biological father comes to pick her up, and she refuses to go.” “Eighteen years of someone else’s wealth isn’t enough for her? Her skin is thicker than a fortress wall!” “The Maxwells wasted eighteen years raising such an ungrateful wretch!” Then Blake slapped me hard across the face. “Avery, you shameless bitch! Who gave you the right to talk to my sister Sierra like that? A fake heiress should know her place! Don’t push your luck.” My head snapped to the side, my cheek burning. Mom and Dad moved to step forward, but I gently pressed their arms and stopped them. I bent down, picked up the scattered DNA report from the floor, and found the line confirming their sibling relationship. I smiled. “What if, Blake, you’re the fake son? What if you are the one who needs to get out?”

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On his deathbed, Grandpa George left behind a billion-dollar fortune and three matches. “You two sister may each choose only one thing. Anya, as the elder, you choose first.” I didn’t hesitate. I chose the billion dollars. My adopted sister, Scarlett, was left with three ordinary-looking matches. What I never imagined was that those matches held a prophetic power. Light one, make a wish, and it would come true. Scarlett, who had always resented our parents for favoring me, struck the first match. Her wish was for them to die horrible deaths. Then, Dad collapsed from a sudden heart attack. Mom, rushing to the hospital, was hit by a truck. Both were gone. I grabbed a knife and went to confront her. “I promised I’d share the inheritance with you when you came of age! Our parents took you in! How could you repay them like this?” Greed twisted Scarlett’s face. “I don’t want your scraps. With all of you dead, every penny will be mine.” Then she struck the second match. “I wish for Anya to be kidnapped, sold into the mountains, and die in childbirth…after bearing eight sons.” Horrified, I liquidated everything I owned and hired a small army of bodyguards. For months, I was untouchable. Then, one night, every last guard was found unconscious. I was taken, dragged into a remote village, and reduced to a breeding machine. I lost count of the time before I finally drew my last, agonizing breath. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the inheritance distribution. 1 When Grandpa George, trembling, produced the three matches, the room fell into bewildered silence. “Has he lost his mind? Leaving three matches as an inheritance? Is this a cruel joke aimed at the adopted girl? This is too much!” Grandpa’s voice was a frail rasp. “You may each choose only one thing: the fortune, or the matches. Anya, as the eldest, you choose first.” A chill shot through me. I remembered. I had been reborn. The memory of my family’s fate in my last life hit me like a physical blow. My eyes flew to my parents, standing beside me. Alive. Well. Smiling at me with encouragement. My vision blurred with tears. In my previous life, I chose the billions. I never imagined Scarlett would use those matches to wish us all into our graves-my parents dead, and me ending my days as a broken breeding machine in a mountain village. The phantom pain of that death still ached in my bones. Not this time. This time, I chose the three matches without hesitation. The room went utterly still. “Is Anya out of her mind? These are just three ordinary matches, not made of gold or anything!” “That’s billions! Are you really going to leave it all to an adopted girl? Anya wants to be a saint, but look at the situation!” My parents grabbed my sleeves, their faces etched with panic. “Anya, did you choose by mistake?” “The IPO drained us, and your mother’s treatments…that money is a lifeline.” “Come on, sweetheart. I know you’ve got a good heart and you’re always thinking of your sister. But if you’d just take the money, you could give her half! There’s no need to go this far.” My parents pleaded with me earnestly, but I didn’t waver. “I want these three matches. Scarlett lost her parents young. She’s had it harder than I ever did. I don’t want a single cent of that billions. She can have it all.” Scarlett looked ready to leap out of her skin with joy. She signed the inheritance papers with a smug grin, all while offering me the most hypocritical thanks. “Thank you for your generosity, Anya! Don’t worry, when you’re poor and begging on the streets someday, I’ll make sure to buy you a couple loaves of bread!” My parents were left speechless with fury. When Grandpa George was bedridden, I diligently cared for him for three years. But Scarlett complained about him “smelling like an old man” and only visited when she needed money. That’s why, in the previous life, he gave me the first choice of inheritance. I didn’t respond to their ridicule. They didn’t know the secret these matches held-the power to fulfill wishes. 2 That night, I heard Mom and Dad tossing and turning in their bedroom. “What on earth was Anya thinking?” “We raised her for over twenty years, and we’ve raised a fool!” “The creditors will be here tomorrow. If we can’t pay them back, we’ll lose the house!” Grandpa George had been very strict with my father, always insisting his descendants be self-reliant. Dad’s startup company wasn’t doing well, and he owed a lot to loan sharks. He had hoped I would use Grandpa’s inheritance to help him through the tough times, but I chose the three matches. After getting the inheritance, Scarlett immediately went out to party and squander her money. Asking her to pay off Mom and Dad’s debt was a pipe dream. Seeing Mom and Dad sleepless all night, I felt a pang of guilt. I quietly struck the first match. “I wish Mom and Dad become incredibly rich overnight!” After making the wish, I lay in bed, feeling content. But the next morning, I was jolted awake by Mom’s piercing scream. “It’s over! Everything’s gone!” “The company suddenly caught fire! Everything’s burned to ashes!” “The fire spread to the neighboring shops, and now we owe them tens of millions in compensation!” Dad was squatting on the floor, clutching his head, trembling uncontrollably. I clutched the burnt matchstick tightly, my body turning cold. How could this happen?! Mom was frantic, and seeing me just standing there dumbfounded, her pent-up emotions exploded. “It’s all your fault for choosing those worthless matches!” “Matches…fire… it’s all fate!” “If you had chosen the billions, none of this would have happened!” Mom sobbed uncontrollably. Dad silently pulled Mom into his embrace, closing his eyes wearily, saying nothing. My head spun. How could this be? I clearly wished for Mom and Dad to get rich, so why did they suddenly go bankrupt? Could it be the changes brought about by my rebirth? Were the wishes in this life coming true in reverse? Thinking this, I rushed back to my bedroom and pulled out the second match. But before I could make a wish, the front door was kicked open with a bang. “Well, look at you! While we’re busting our asses chasing debts, you’re just chilling at home!” “This is your final warning! If you don’t pay us back by tomorrow, we’ll chop off your hands!” “Heard your older daughter’s pretty. Maybe we can take her as collateral, let us have some fun!” Then, they grabbed their bats and smashed our house to bits. The high-interest loans were still unpaid, and the sudden fire had burdened Mom and Dad with tens of millions in compensation. Helpless, Mom and Dad had no choice but to call Scarlett. After ten calls, Scarlett finally picked up, leisurely. “Honey, your mom and dad are in trouble now. Grandpa left you billions. We’re not asking for much, just thirty million, okay?” “If we can’t pay back the debt, the creditors are going to chop off your mom and dad’s hands…” On Scarlett’s Ins, her new emerald necklace was worth five million. But faced with Mom and Dad’s plea, Scarlett feigned a helpless sigh. “Mom, Dad, it’s not that I don’t want to help. But this inheritance was Grandpa’s specific gift to me. I wouldn’t dare use it carelessly. Blame Anya for choosing nothing but three matches!” 3 My parents tried to say more, but Scarlett abruptly hung up. Not long after, Scarlett posted another update on Ins. The photo showed her holding a small dog, its head adorned with a tiny crown of pure gold. The caption read: “Money should be spent on those who are worthy.” Mom and Dad trembled with rage. To gather enough for tomorrow’s payment, I sold all my trading cards and signed celebrity memorabilia I had collected since childhood. I even sold my phone and bought a cheap second-hand one. Mom sold her jewelry, and Dad sold his car. After much effort, we finally scraped together a few million dollars, and the tension in Dad’s brow eased slightly. “This should be enough to get through tomorrow’s payment to loan shark.” Mom had finally calmed down and spoke to me with sincere remorse. “Anya, I lost my temper this morning and shouted at you. I know none of this was your fault. I’m sorry, honey. I truly am.” My nose stung, and I fought back tears. “Maybe…maybe I really did make the wrong choice…” Dad gently patted my shoulder. “It’s alright, what’s done is done. At least this whole inheritance mess showed us Scarlett’s true colors, and that’s something! Who would’ve thought? We took pity on an orphan, brought her into our home, and ended up raising such a thankless viper.” Dinner was just bread, but a sense of warmth spread among the three of us. Dad started talking about his plans for the future, the light returning to his eyes. “As long as we don’t give up, I’ll make a comeback. I promise!” That night, I gritted my teeth and lit the second match. “II wish for Mom and Dad to become crippled and live in poverty forever!” Since the first wish had backfired, I would reverse my wish this time! My true hope was for them to be safe and prosperous. I clutched the charred matchstick tightly, not daring to close my eyes. I was terrified that, just like the night before, I would wake to another piece of devastating news. I didn’t ask for immense wealth; I just wanted Mom and Dad to be healthy and happy for the rest of their lives. Just before five in the morning, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion slammed into me. My body swayed, and my consciousness blurred. When I woke up again, everything was silent. My heart pounded. I secretly crept to Mom and Dad’s bedroom door and peeked inside. They were sleeping peacefully. I breathed a sigh of relief. But just as I was about to go back to my bedroom, two piercing screams simultaneously erupted from Mom and Dad’s room! I yanked open the door, nearly fainting from shock. Mom and Dad, who had been perfectly fine moments ago, now had all their toes turned black. Mom and Dad clutched their toes, wailing incessantly. My scalp prickled. I quickly dialed 91

When the paramedics arrived, the black area on Mom and Dad’s bodies had already spread from their toes to their entire lower bodies! The doctor’s face was grim. “The condition is worsening too fast. Prepare for immediate amputation!” I was utterly distraught. Remembering the second wish I made, I wanted to slap myself senseless. The money we had just painstakingly gathered was now all going towards surgery fees. “Why are my Mom and Dad like this?” Looking at me, crying uncontrollably, the doctor shook his head and sighed. “We don’t know the exact cause… I’ve never seen a case like this, not even my mentor has!” I almost cried myself into a coma. 3 The next day, the loan sharks came knocking. “Damn it! We’ve been looking for you all over! Don’t think you’re safe just because you’re hiding in the hospital!” “Today, no matter what, I’m chopping off your hands!” I fell to my knees in front of the loan shark. He impatiently kicked me away. But when they walked into the hospital room and saw Mom and Dad’s horrific state, they immediately froze. Their previous arrogance was completely replaced by pity. “This…” “Fine, just pay us back whenever you have the money…” Before leaving, they even threw me two hundred dollars, telling me to buy something to eat. As I put the money in my pocket, I suddenly touched the third match. The first time, I wished for something good, but it turned bad. The second time, I made an opposite wish, hoping a bad outcome would turn good, but the bad outcome actually came true! This wasn’t a match that fulfilled wishes; it was a key to Pandora’s Box. But not making a wish was already a dead end. The third match was the only chance for Mom, Dad, and me to turn things around. But what kind of wish should I make with the third match? My mind was a chaotic mess. Mom and Dad still needed my care, so I had to temporarily put the match incident aside. Mom and Dad, after their sudden amputations, were depressed and morose, tormented by phantom limb pain. But even though they were in so much pain they couldn’t sleep all night, they still tried their best to comfort me. “Anya, Mom and Dad aren’t hurting. Don’t be too sad. Maybe these are just tests from above. As long as we can endure, everything will clear up!” I held back my tears, forcing myself to be strong. To provide my parents with nutrition, I went to work as a laborer on a construction site. After finally saving a few dozen dollars, I bought a good cut of beef for Mom and Dad. All the way, I imagined the smiles that would bloom on their faces. But as soon as I reached the hospital room door, Mom picked up a water cup and violently threw it at my head. “Get out! Get out of my sight!” I froze. I turned my head and saw Scarlett, who had been missing for days, standing beside my parents. She smugly shook her phone at me before hugging Mom and Dad tightly. “Mom, Dad, you all thought I was out partying, but I was actually keeping a secret watch on Anya. I noticed she was acting strange a while ago, so I used a drone to record this. The footage is one hundred percent real! Anya may seem sweet, but her heart is pure poison.” In the video, I was clutching a match, my expression devout as I made my wish. “I wish for Mom and Dad to become crippled and live in poverty forever!” 4 The rage in my parents’ eyes was explosive. “No wonder your father and I have been so unlucky lately! You’ve been cursing us all along!” I panicked and rushed to explain the entire truth. “Mom and Dad, listen to me! The matches Grandpa left me have wish-granting powers. Because the first time I wished for you to get rich, you went bankrupt, that’s why the second time I made the opposite wish…” A flicker of hesitation crossed Mom and Dad’s eyes. But Scarlett walked over and slapped me hard. “According to you, then the matches Grandpa left you will bring disaster no matter what wish you make?” “Nonsense! That was your own grandpa; how could he leave you something like that?” Mom and Dad thought her words made sense, and their eyes turned cold again. “From now on, Scarlett is our only daughter! You jinx, get out and stay out!” I completely broke down. Why did it turn out like this? Scarlett threw all my belongings out. I seized the opportunity to confront her. “This is all your doing, isn’t it? Don’t you already have billions? Why do you still want to steal Mom and Dad from me?” Scarlett rolled her eyes. “No reason. Just because I can’t stand you!” With a bang, the door slammed shut. Inside, three people were laughing joyfully. People came and went in the hospital corridor, and I stood at the door like a clown. In the previous life, Scarlett had hated Mom and Dad. This time, she actively approached Mom and Dad; she definitely had ulterior motives. I had to find out the truth quickly, or the tragedy of my previous life would repeat itself! My first suspicion was that Scarlett had swapped the matches in my hand. The original wish-granting matches had been replaced by her with evil objects that brought misfortune. I sold all my belongings and borrowed a lot of money to hire Detective Miller. But Detective Miller’s investigation results left me incredibly disappointed- These three matches were indeed left to me by Grandpa George. Scarlett hadn’t even touched them, let alone swapped them. I wanted to ask Detective Miller to investigate further, but he flat out refused. “You borrowed money to hire me just to investigate three matches?” “Are you crazy? I’m not taking this job. I’m afraid you’ll try to scam me!” Because of my strange behavior, I was blacklisted by the entire detective community. Since science couldn’t explain it, I could only turn to the supernatural. I posted a few times online, causing a stir. A revered priest, Father Michael, voluntarily offered to help me for free. I was overjoyed and rushed to him that very night. After listening to my story, Father Michael’s eyes welled up with tears, and he promised he would help me. But Father Michael examined the matches over and over for a long time, unable to find anything wrong with them. In the end, he just comforted me with words like, “Evil people will get their comeuppance.” The matches weren’t the problem, so was I the problem? But I had just had a full physical examination a few weeks ago, and I was perfectly healthy, both physically and mentally. Just when I was at my wits’ end, I suddenly received a picture from Scarlett. “Anya, Mom and Dad gave your room to me, you know!” “And this looks like your favorite teddy bear from when we were kids. Oops, I accidentally cut it up. You’re not mad, are you?” I gripped my phone tightly. That teddy bear was the only keepsake my beloved grandma had left me! A wave of rage crashed over me. I wanted to tear Scarlett apart. Then, suddenly, a detail in the photo caught my eye. Connecting it with what Father Michael had just told me, a realization struck. I finally understood why, in this life, none of my wishes had come true. And at last, I knew what to wish for with the final match!

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That eight-million-dollar deal I’d bled to secure? My husband’s assistant completely messed it up. But Asher, my husband and also my boss, publicly reprimanded me in front of the entire office. “If you can’t handle the job, Harper, do us all a favor and stay home playing housewife. At least there, your incompetence would be free!” When we got home, he adopted a chillingly business-like demeanor. “You were in charge of this project, so you have to take responsibility for ruining it. Even if I’m your husband, I have to handle this fairly! Understand?” Before I could even respond, his assistant, Chloe, sent me a text. “Harper, it’s all my fault. Asher bought me a cupcake to cheer me up, it was really good! Should I order one for you too?” A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I glared at Asher. “Oh, you’re so fair and unbiased!” That night, I called my long-time rival. “You wanted to be my boyfriend, didn’t you?” One moment, I was submitting my resignation to HR. The next, I was summoned into Asher’s office. The instant I walked in, a cup of coffee was flung directly at me. The force of the splash felt like a harsh slap across my face. It stung. Beside him, on the plush leather sofa, Chloe sat with red-rimmed eyes, the picture of pitiful misery. “Asher, don’t blame Harper. It’s my fault. The deal fell apart on my watch. If anyone should leave, it’s me.” Asher’s voice trembled with a fury he rarely showed. And it was always because of Chloe. “Are you so upset about yesterday that you’d storm into HR just to pressure Chloe?” “As her superior, the failure is your responsibility. How dare you try to pin it all on her?!” “Do you have any idea what they’re saying about her out there? That you couldn’t stand the ‘disruptive intern’ and were forced out. Get back out there and set the record straight. Now.” I’d thought he was distraught because he was losing me, his girlfriend of seven years. But no, he was just worried that after I left, people would look down on Chloe and give her a hard time. Chloe continued to sob, pulling out a tissue to blow her nose, then casually tossing the snotty wad onto the other end of the sofa. Asher’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Three seconds later, he walked over, picked up the tissue, and dropped it into the trash can. I froze, my heart clenching, a dense ache spreading through my chest. In the second year of dating Asher, we watched a romantic movie at home. There was a scene that wrecked me. I cried so hard I couldn’t stop, tears and snot streaming down my face. He pushed me out of his embrace in disgust. “Sorry, I’m a germaphobe. Please clean yourself up.” Then he walked into the bathroom. I could hear the water running as he scrubbed himself from head to toe, three times over. As if he’d just touched something vile. A cold laugh escaped me. So his germaphobia was selective. I met Asher’s gaze, unwavering. “I’m resigning because I no longer wish to work here. That’s all.” Asher didn’t buy it. “Then why not sooner, or later? Why today? It’s obviously about the deal.” “Harper, drop the mind games with Chloe. Or I might just forget we ever had a past.” I sighed. The old urge to argue with him, to defend myself, was gone. Facing Asher, I felt nothing but a hollow emptiness. There was nothing left to fight with. He was there when the deal collapsed. We were on the brink of closing. The client had verbally agreed. Then Chloe barged in, insisting on toasting the CEO. The CEO was already visibly annoyed. She chose not to see it. A brand-new intern, pressuring a CEO to drink. I still don’t know where she found the nerve. The CEO’s anger was instant. I pulled Chloe back, forcing a smile, my apologies already flowing. I told her to apologize properly and fix this. Instead, she burst into tears, louder and more dramatic than anyone in the room. “Harper, why are you so hard on her? Why do you always force me to do things I don’t want to do?” His face had been thunderous that day, murderous. I’d thought it was over the lost deal, a contract that had been within our grasp. Turns out, it was because I’d made Chloe apologize. Because I’d held her accountable. I was truly tired. “This isn’t a scene, Asher. We’re done.” Ignoring the storm gathering on his face, I gathered the last of my things and walked out of the company. Back home, I started packing my suitcases again. Breaking up is such a tedious chore. There’s always too much stuff, and it never fits back the way it came. My hand stilled. Inside the drawer, I found a pair of red stockings that weren’t mine. They were torn to shreds-evidence of a frantic encounter. I tossed them in the trash, snapped a photo, and sent it to Asher. His texts were still flooding my phone with excuses. I didn’t reply. Instead, I dialed a different number. “That offer to be my boyfriend. I accept.”

On the other end of the line, I could practically hear Jax’s grin. He offered to help me move, but I refused. If Asher saw him, Jax would probably put him in the hospital. I didn’t need the extra drama. I still had the apartment on the west side. Once this month’s bonus cleared, the final mortgage payment would be gone. I’d finally have a home of my own. The thought lifted a weight I hadn’t fully acknowledged. The doorbell rang. Assuming it was the movers, I opened the door. It was Asher. I was startled for a moment, wondering if I was imagining things. Last year, my appendicitis flared up. I was home alone, pain so sharp I nearly blacked out. I called him, voice trembling, begging him to take me to the hospital. His tone was ice. “I’m at work, Harper. You’re an adult. Figure it out. Call 911.” But last week, when Chloe at the office yelped after spilling warm water on her leg, he scooped her up in front of everyone and drove her to the ER himself. He never left work early, unless it was for Chloe. She was the only one who could break his rules. I never thought I’d be lucky enough to make him break his rule for me. He scanned my packed luggage, a hint of something resembling panic escaping in his voice. “What are you doing?! What’s this all about? Are you deliberately saying ‘break up’ to force me to back down?” “Didn’t I text you an explanation? Those are Chloe’s. She accidentally left them at our place. She got caught in a downpour that day, and I told her to come up for a hot tea. Her stockings happened to get torn, so she changed into fresh clothes at our place before she left.” I narrowed my eyes, replaying his words in my mind. That was the week before last when I was on a business trip. I was abroad for a deal, and on my way back, I ran into a massive storm. I asked Asher to pick me up. He said he was working late at the office and was too busy, telling me to take a taxi home. When I got back, I saw the unfinished ginger tea on the coffee table. I’d thought he’d prepared it specially for me. Turns out, I was just getting leftovers. Perhaps recalling that incident, Asher’s face looked a little uneasy. “Don’t overthink it.” I shook my head, my expression calm. “I’m not overthinking anything. It doesn’t matter anymore.” Asher looked at me strangely, staring for a long time. After a moment, his voice was hoarse, tinged with a testing quality. “Why aren’t you angry?” So, he knew I’d been angry before. But he never cared. Instead, he always scolded me, called me petty, said I saw dirt everywhere. I was about to tell him I was moving out. Then Asher’s phone rang. Chloe was on the other end, sniffling and crying, claiming someone had bullied her. Asher glared at me, his eyes blazing, and sneered. “So this is what you were waiting for. Harper, you’re quite cunning.” Before I could even process what was happening, Asher grabbed my wrist with a strong grip and practically dragged me into the car. Inside the car, there was a faint scent of women’s perfume. It was similar to Chloe’s. A plush bunny charm hung from the rearview mirror-just like Chloe’s SnapChat avatar. After I started working at Asher’s company, I never rode in his car again. He said he was afraid people at work would gossip, which was also why we kept our relationship under wraps. The areas I was no longer allowed to tread had long since been occupied by someone else. There was no longer that familiar ache in my heart, just a grim sense of “I knew it.” As soon as we arrived at the company, Asher roughly pulled me out of the car. My heel caught, and I stumbled to the ground. He acted as if he didn’t even see it, letting out a scoff. “What are you trying to pull?” He grabbed the back of my collar with one hand and dragged me into the company like a piece of trash.

He dragged me all the way to my old desk. My wrists and knees were already raw, bleeding. I huddled on the floor, feeling like a beaten dog. Asher pulled Chloe into his arms, protecting her, and warned in a low voice. “I don’t care who ordered you to bully an intern, but this company isn’t Harper’s to run anymore.” “If you want to stay, show some respect.” Brenda’s face was pale, and she didn’t dare move an inch. On the way here, Brenda had already texted me. After I left, Chloe worked under her. What could a lazy, conniving intern accomplish? Brenda had only said a few words to Chloe when she messed up a client’s lunch order. Chloe immediately ran straight to Asher to complain. Chloe buried her head in Asher’s chest, openly affectionate and ignoring everyone else. “Asher, I don’t know what I did… I just thought that client looked like they’d appreciate a healthier option, so I ordered them a diet meal, and Brenda just started yelling at me…” Asher stroked her head and promised to make things right for her. He swept his cold gaze across everyone in the office. “I know Harper had good relationships with all of you, and you want to stand up for her because she resigned. But this was her own work error, and she had no face to stay in the company. It has nothing to do with Chloe.” “I’ll say it again: if you want to stay, show me your attitude, or get out, all of you.” Everyone’s face turned white. They all understood Asher’s hidden threat. Maya, whom I had personally mentored, walked up to me. She squeezed her eyes shut, whispered a soft “I’m sorry,” and then swung her hand, slapping me across the face. Asher stood there impassively, only saying, “What about the rest of you?” Then the others came forward, one after another, jostling to take their turn, a slap after a slap landed on my face. There were those I’d helped, those who’d helped me… Blood trickled from the corner of my lips. My head throbbed, my eardrums buzzed, and my consciousness began to blur. Chloe let out a small giggle. “Asher, look at her. She looks so pathetic, like a swollen pig.” Asher’s eyes were like ice, and his words were even more merciless. “People like her, with deep schemes and only good at backstabbing, don’t deserve to be in this company.” “Her resignation application is rejected. She’s fired. And this year’s bonus will be revoked and given to Chloe instead.” My eyes widened in disbelief. Anger, like a spiderweb, spread layer by layer, constricting my entire heart. “Asher! That’s what I earned! How dare you?!” It was company policy to determine the bonus amount based on the projects each person secured. From negotiating deals to drafting proposals, finalizing contracts, and haggling with clients, I did it all myself. To secure an extra percentage point, I drank late into the night. That bonus was meant to pay off my mortgage… When I was little, my parents divorced, and no one wanted me. I was shuttled back and forth like a package no one wanted. I was thrown into my uncle’s house, where my aunt made it clear I wasn’t welcome. She often threatened to kick me out if I didn’t behave. Because of this, even as an adult, I was terrified of having nowhere to go. After I got together with Asher, I clung to him desperately. I was afraid he’d kick me out. No matter where he went, I had to keep tabs on his every move. But even the most burning love can fade. I started to pin my hopes on money, to buy a place of my own, so that if Asher and I ever broke up, if I was kicked out, I wouldn’t be homeless. I worked like a madwoman, finally saving enough for a down payment. All these years, I’d scrimped and saved every penny, making loan payments. The pressure was immense. I was losing hair and going gray prematurely from stress. Asher saw all of this. He knew how much I valued this bonus. But now, his tone was mocking. “Because this company is mine. And because you bullied Chloe, you owe her compensation!” My throat closed up, choking off any words I might have said. A wave of nausea churned in my stomach, threatening to make me sick. Thirty thousand dollars in bonuses, he casually handed to an intern who had done nothing. I gritted my teeth, enduring the dizziness, as the security guards Asher called threw me out of the company. Just outside the office, Asher texted me. “Today’s events were your fault to begin with.” Perhaps because I didn’t reply, he sent another message. “Okay, maybe I went too far. But you showed Chloe zero respect. She’s still my assistant. I saw red when I heard you had people bullying her.” “I’m flying to Paris for business tomorrow. Coincidentally, that limited edition bag you wanted is dropping there. I’ll get it for you. A peace offering.” He had no idea Chloe had already bragged about it on her Ins a full minute earlier. “Because I wanted to see the Eiffel Tower, someone invented a ‘business trip’ just to take me. My little puppy is so obedient.” I casually blocked both of them. A week later, Asher returned from his business trip, a new designer bag in his hand and a pang of guilt in his heart. He was only supposed to be gone for three days, but Chloe kept dragging him to shop and sightsee. He’d even forgotten to text me that he’d be late. Coming home today, he wanted to surprise me. Flushed with warmth at the thought of me waiting, Asher quickened his steps. When he pushed open the front door, Asher called my name twice. No answer. The suitcases I had packed last time were gone. All of my belongings in the house were gone too. Asher’s breath hitched, his face turning ashen as a terrifying thought clawed at his mind.

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My editor wife managed the millions I earned from my novels. Then she transferred every cent of my royalties to a rising male author. “You gave it to him? What about Mia!? She’s been kidnapped! They could kill her!” She just shrugged. “Call the police. I sent you ten bucks. And need I remind you? The publishing contract is in my name.” I stared at the ending I’d already written. Then I picked up my keyboard. And I rewrote everyone’s fate. Thanks to its newly signed deal with a famed director, this novel was about to expose her to massive financial liabilities. “Liam, get it together. The press is on their way. Make sure you properly thank Blake for all his inspiration.” I frowned. “The inspiration was mine. He’s a rookie who shouldn’t even be at this event. Why would I thank him?” Smack! A sharp slap landed squarely on my face. “You think you got here on your own? I’ve seen Blake’s talent. If he hadn’t stepped aside, you’d be nowhere.” Blake drifted past, the picture of wounded grace. “Liam, I know my work isn’t like yours. If you think I don’t deserve the support…I can give the money back.” I swallowed my words. Chloe, however, was incensed. “Liam, Blake put his own book on hold to promote yours! All you do is travel and slack off. And now you’re bullying the one person actually trying to help you?” I looked at Chloe’s impatient face, feeling like I was seeing her for the first time. She was my editor. She was my wife. And yet, she never noticed the days I skipped meals, the nights I traded sleep for words, all for the sake of the story. To make my worlds real, I ventured into treacherous places, all to bring back the grand, breathtaking vistas I had pledged to my readers. It cost me my health. Chloe never saw them. To her, writing a novel that moved millions was a simple gift. The real work was in the promotion she managed. My phone buzzed. A text. A photo loaded: my sister Mia, bound and gagged. Below it, a demand: “$100,000 in one hour. Wire it here. Or you’ll never see your sister again.” I was still trying to decide if this was some sick AI scam when a video started to play. “Liam, please, help me! I’m so scared.” Mia’s voice was raw, muffled by the blindfold. The dark cloth around her eyes was already soaked through with tears. I called her number. Again and again. Nothing but silence. Panic seized me. Looking at the few thousand dollars left in my bank account, I turned to Chloe, desperation in my eyes. “Mia’s been kidnapped.I need a hundred thousand. Now. Can you help me?” Chloe rolled her eyes. “Call the police. Where would an editor get that kind of cash?” “You transferred millions in royalties. My royalties. Don’t tell me you don’t have it.” Chloe was about to say something, but Blake cut in. “Chloe, he seems desperate. Even if it’s not for his sister…just let him have his fun. What’s the harm?” Without another word, Chloe transferred the money. My phone vibrated the instant it cleared. A storm of cold, hard clarity washed over me. To her, Mia’s life wasn’t even worth a single word from Blake. And the money I was begging for was my own, hard-earned cash. I quickly pulled out my phone, ready to transfer the money to the kidnappers’ account. But after entering the password, I was told there wasn’t enough balance. Suspicious, I opened my transaction history. That’s when I discovered Chloe hadn’t transferred $100,000 at all. It was ten measly dollars. My hand, gripping the phone, trembled slightly, but I didn’t explode. I lowered my voice again, almost begging. “Chloe, did you make a mistake? I only received ten dollars.” Chloe looked utterly annoyed. “Who knows if that’s just an excuse you made up to get money? Just take the ten bucks and be grateful. Don’t go blowing it all on parties behind my back.” Chloe was about to pull Blake away, but I had no other choice. If I didn’t transfer the money soon, Mia’s situation would become even more dangerous. I called out to Chloe. “What do I have to do for you to give me the money? I’ll do anything you say.” She looked at me with disgust. “Are you really going to make such a spectacle of yourself out here?” She loathed my current pathetic state, afraid someone might recognize me as her husband. Chloe couldn’t be bothered to say more and turned to leave. But Blake seemed intrigued. “Liam, I can help you, if you promise me one thing.” Thinking of Mia, whose life hung by a thread, I nodded. Blake watched my desperation, the smile on his face completely unrestrained. “As long as you tell the reporters that you’re a dog, and then bark three times, I’ll transfer the money.” I gritted my teeth, my fists clenched so tight. Despite the raging fury inside me, I couldn’t bring myself to throw a punch. “Fine, I agree. But you have to transfer $50,000 to me first.” Blake readily agreed. Seeing the $50,000 indeed land in my account, I walked towards the reporters. The cameras were still rolling. The reporter spotted me and was about to begin the interview when I cut him off. “I’m a dog.” Then, I barked three times into the camera. “Woof, woof, woof.” Each bark was laced with humiliation. People around me stared, even the reporter looked utterly shocked. I ignored the whispers of the other renowned authors nearby and rushed over to Blake. He wore a mocking smile and promptly transferred the rest of the money to me.

I furiously transferred the money to the kidnapper. Two seconds later, I heard Blake’s phone ping. “Surprise! Did you like the surprise I sent you?” I gasped, utterly disbelieving. “Blake?” “Liam, you’re not mad, are you? I just wanted to play a prank on you.” I said, my voice heavy. “Do you think this is funny?” “Liam, don’t throw a fit here. It was just a prank, wasn’t it?” Chloe had come over at some point, instantly jumping to Blake’s defense. I gasped for air, the scene before me blurring. Finally, I felt my body give out and passed out. When I woke up again, I was in a hospital. I slowly sat up and saw a familiar figure slumped asleep by the bed. “Mia?” Mia looked up. Seeing I was awake, tears of joy streamed down her face. “Liam, you’re finally awake! You’ve been asleep for a whole day.” Mia’s tears wouldn’t stop. My heart aching, I pulled her into a tight embrace. “I’m so sorry, Mia. I’ve caused you so much trouble.” “What are you talking about? I’m just glad you’re okay. I… I called Chloe, and she… she told me not to put on an act for her…” Mia stuttered, afraid her words would damage my relationship with Chloe. I looked at Mia, my heart full of tenderness. “I’ll handle it.” Ever since our parents passed away, Mia and I had depended on each other. For Chloe’s sake, I had neglected Mia, pouring all my efforts into Chloe. I even gave her ownership of all my novels, accumulated over decades, fearing she wouldn’t have financial security. Now, it had become her leverage to do whatever she pleased. I quickly checked out of the hospital and went home. I opened my laptop and revised the final chapter, which was scheduled for a timely update. It was late into the night when I finally clicked “submit,” having completely derailed the protagonist’s character and the story’s logic. This novel, because of its incredible data and ever-increasing online readership, had attracted the attention of numerous directors. Even before it was finished, many had privately messaged me, inquiring about the film adaptation rights. Eventually, it was signed by a nationally renowned director. He had only one requirement: there must be no major collapse of character design or plot. The penalty for breach of contract was double the signing fee. It wouldn’t have been an issue unless done intentionally. I had just finished packing my bags when I heard a commotion in the living room. “Liam is still in the hospital, aren’t you going to check on him?” I recognized Blake’s voice. Chloe scoffed. “Who knows if he’s faking it? Just some little trick to make me feel guilty.” Chloe, my nominal wife, even thought my illness was an act. Before long, suggestive sounds drifted from outside. Suppressing my nausea, I opened the door. The two were caught in a passionate kiss, their hands exploring each other’s bodies. Hearing the door open, they stopped their movements and instinctively turned. Seeing it was me, Chloe hastily pushed Blake away. Instead of fear at being caught cheating, she was enraged. “Why didn’t you say you were coming back? Who are you trying to scare here?” I looked at her coldly. “Is that your reaction to being caught cheating?” Chloe put on a righteous face. “I was just discussing work with Blake. Your mind is dirty, so everything you think is dirty.” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her any further. I stated calmly, “Tomorrow, we’re filing for divorce.” “Divorce? You want me to care about you? Just write your novels for me, and that’s enough. Otherwise, when you regret it and beg me to get back together, I won’t agree.” “If you don’t agree to the divorce, then I’ll have to pursue legal action.” I didn’t bother listening to her response. I grabbed my suitcase and left that foul-smelling place, heading alone to a convenience store. I only had the ten dollars Chloe had transferred me, barely enough for a meager meal. Mia was at college and didn’t have much money either. Now, I didn’t even have enough money for my next meal. Thinking of myself, toiling away at my computer every day, I found it utterly pathetic. To make her happy, I’d developed a host of health problems from sitting for long hours. In the end, all my efforts yielded no reward.

Because I was broke, I asked the cashier if the convenience store was hiring. “Sorry, we’re fully staffed right now. You can leave your number, and we’ll contact you if a position opens up.” I thanked her and was about to leave when someone suddenly called my name. “Liam?” I turned towards the voice. Scarlett looked at me with surprise, seemingly amazed to see me there. I understood her surprise. She was an editor from another novel platform. She’d seen my talent and approached me many times, wanting me to switch platforms, even offering me benefits no other author received. This store was near her company, making it easy to run into her. When I went home, I used to pass by this way. To put Chloe at ease, I’d even taken a detour to avoid this area before. Now, it seemed she only cared about the value my novels brought her. Scarlett had overheard my conversation with the cashier. She asked, “Why are you applying for a job here? Aren’t you writing novels anymore?” “No, I’m divorcing Chloe. Those novels were published under her name, so the ownership isn’t mine. Now I’m broke, so I have to find a job to get by.” Scarlett was initially shocked, then looked at me with expectation. “So, you’re not with that platform anymore? If you don’t mind, why don’t you come to us? The previous conditions still stand.” Unlike before, I didn’t coldly refuse. I was incredibly grateful to have run into Scarlett here. I nodded. “If you’ll have me, I’d be honored.” Scarlett excitedly sent messages to someone. “Absolutely! I’ll talk to our boss. I’ll send you an account shortly; you can start posting your work then.” Before leaving, Scarlett added me on SnapChat and, without a word, transferred $10,000 to me. Afraid I would refuse, she explained, “You’re broke right now, right? This is from our boss. Use it for now; I’ll be your editor, and you can pay it back when your work takes off.” I didn’t refuse. I thanked her and accepted the money. I rented a small apartment and returned to my old routine, adopting a new pen name. I started typing away day and night at my computer. Lost in my novel, I felt like I’d entered another world, completely free from fatigue. This time, I wasn’t writing for anyone else; I was writing for myself. This sense of liberation gave me even more motivation. Just as I was getting into my stride, a knock came from the door. Thinking it was my food delivery, I opened the door. “Liam, I finally found you. I’ve missed you so much these past few days.” She spoke stiffly, clearly hoping I wouldn’t notice her words weren’t sincere. I was about to close the door, but she quickly slipped inside. “Chloe, if you don’t want me to call the cops, get out now.” She surveyed my rented apartment, her disdain evident. “You really think you can live a good life without me? Are you regretting leaving me now that you’re stuck in this dump?” A dump? When Chloe and I first got together, we lived in a place just like this. We only moved to a bigger house thanks to the earnings from my novels. Now that I was back at square one, she suddenly found it despicable. Seeing I didn’t reply, she sat down on the couch uninvited. Her eyes landed on my computer screen, and she suddenly remembered something. “I knew you were just too shy to ask. Hurry up and give me what you’ve written. Fans are already hounding me because of the several days of missed updates.” After I’d revised the ending, I’d saved two versions of the continuation on separate flash drives. I’d wanted to give Chloe a chance, but after opening the door and seeing them tangled together, I’d regretted it. Now, she was demanding the rest of my novel as if it were her absolute right. “Honey, it’s been so long. Your anger must have subsided. As long as you give me the rest, we can go back to how things were. Wouldn’t that be great, being so loving and affectionate?” “What affection did we have? You never appreciated any of my efforts for you. In the end, you made enough money, what more could you possibly be dissatisfied with?” “Your novel sells well, and the company earns a lot, so you naturally won’t be treated unfairly. I only earned a small portion.” “That was a test for you. If you give it to me now, I’ll definitely split a lot of money with you…” I recognized her familiar empty promises and cut her off. “Just leave. I’m not giving it to you.” Chloe was enraged by my words. She grabbed the glass off the table and flung the water full in my face. “Do you have any idea who Blake is, Liam? Why do you think he’d joke about your sister?” All pretense of caution was gone from her expression. “He’s connected. Underground. Taking your sister wouldn’t even be a challenge for him.” Then, her eyes blazing, she hurled the empty glass to the floor. Bang! The crash echoed in the room, and with it, my resolve shattered. Mia was still at school. Even with security, if anything happened to her, I would never forgive myself. Finally, I relented. “Fine, Take it. But if you lay a finger on my sister, I swear you will pay.” “Now you’re being reasonable.” A cold smile touched my lips. I hoped she was prepared for the storm that ending would unleash.

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After I finally woke up, my wife and son, who always favored my childhood friend, came to regret it. It was my birthday, but my wife, Ava, and our son, Leo, had made a brand-new robot model for her childhood friend, Ryan. He even posted it on Ins. I casually liked the post, and a moment later, I got a text from Ava, filled with accusation: “We gave you one too, didn’t we? Leo even baked you a cake himself! What more could you possibly be upset about?” But Ryan’s robot was clearly the latest model, and even the cake Leo made for him was a little bigger than mine. They loved me, sure, but they loved Ryan more. Maybe it was time I tried to let go, to love them a little less. Ava and Leo came home just as the clock struck midnight, ticking over to the next day. The birthday cake on the table was untouched. The little sign on it read: “Happy Birthday, Dad.” “Why aren’t you eating the cake? Were you waiting for us to eat it together?” Ava forced a smile, and she and Leo lit the candles and sang “Happy Birthday” to me. But all I felt was a surge of irritation. I waved my hand. “I don’t have an appetite. You two eat it.” Ava’s face immediately fell. “I know you’re still mad about Ryan, but can’t you try to understand him? He has no family here. He had a rough day at work today, so Leo and I just went to comfort him. It was nothing more than that, don’t overthink it.” Leo chimed in, “Yeah, Dad, Uncle Ryan has it tough. Can’t you be a little more understanding?” Watching the two of them tag-team me, my heart felt colder than a frozen wasteland. It was my birthday, and they had abandoned me for an outsider. Every time I got upset or lashed out because they ignored me for Ryan, they would use the same excuse. It always made me feel like the unreasonable villain. Every time, they’d leave me silently crying in the dead of night, only to smooth things over the next morning with a kind word or a small gift. They’d sweet-talk me, and I’d eagerly go back to being their loyal housekeeper. This time, they clearly thought they could manipulate me the same way. But I was tired of these obedience tests. “Right, right, you’re absolutely right. You go spend time with him. I’ll just celebrate my birthday with my buddies.” With that, I grabbed my bag and headed for the door. They clearly hadn’t expected this attitude from me; they were frozen, unable to speak for a long moment. Seeing that I was actually going to leave, Ava rushed over and grabbed my arm. “You’re forty years old. Can you stop throwing tantrums? My company is so busy, and Leo is swamped with school. We have to make time to appease you, and it’s exhausting, okay?” Exhausting? I looked at them, my gaze cold. They didn’t feel exhausted making Ryan the latest robot. They didn’t feel exhausted baking him a cake the size of a mixing bowl. Yet for me, it was just an outdated home assistant robot and a small cake made from scraps, and suddenly they were “exhausted”? “You’re overthinking it. I’m not angry. I just want to celebrate my birthday with my friends. It’s been years since I’ve celebrated with them.” “Dad! Haven’t you had enough?!” Leo suddenly exploded, knocking the cake off the table. The candles nearly set the tablecloth on fire. He’d been under a lot of pressure from school lately and was always emotionally volatile. Usually, when he acted out, I’d patiently try to calm him down. But this time, I didn’t move. Seeing that I wasn’t coming to comfort him, Leo’s anger intensified. He started hitting and smashing the furniture. “What do you want to finally leave Mom and me alone? Haven’t you been emotionally controlling us enough all these years? Are you going to keep pushing until we both go crazy?!” Watching Leo’s hysterical outburst, a wave of sadness washed over me. All these years, I’d worked tirelessly, pouring my heart out for Ava and Leo. Yet, on my fortieth birthday, all I wanted was a little favoritism from them, and I was branded a control freak. How pathetic had my life become? I gave a self-deprecating laugh, then saw Ava comforting Leo, her face stern as she chastised me. “Look what you’ve done to Leo! Do you even deserve to be a father? If you really can’t stand it anymore, then let’s get a divorce.” Every time I lost my temper, Ava would coldly say those words. And every time, fear would make me back down. Only this time, I didn’t care anymore. They might love me, but they loved Ryan more. And I, too, should try to love them less. “Fine.” With that, I ignored their stunned faces and walked straight out the door.

It was late, but when I called my buddies, they still eagerly came out. We grabbed some beers and late-night street food, and they grumbled that ever since I got married, I’d been so wrapped up in my wife and kid that I’d practically forgotten them. The alcohol dulled my brain, and the days of chatting with my friends in the college dorm felt like yesterday. Thinking back, I’d given up so much for Ava and Leo. It really wasn’t worth it. After saying goodbye to my friends, I checked my phone. There were countless missed calls and messages. I was about to dismiss them, but among Ava’s many messages, I saw one from Ryan. “I’m so sorry, Liam. Ava and I really don’t have that kind of relationship. I was just feeling down yesterday and wanted Ava and Leo to cheer me up. I completely forgot it was your birthday. I’m truly sorry!” I’d had too much to drink. Maybe it was that text that disgusted me, because I stumbled to the roadside and started violently throwing up. After a while, I replied, “It’s fine. I don’t care.” It showed ‘typing,’ but no new message appeared for a long time, so I headed home. The house was a mess, even worse than when I’d left. I pretended not to notice and was about to go into the bathroom to wash up when Ava walked out. Seeing me reeking of alcohol, she frowned. “Finally decided to come back? Why did you drink so much? Clean this up, then go shower and sleep.” “Whoever made the mess should clean it up.” I collapsed onto the sofa, feeling drowsy. Suddenly, something poked my butt. It was Ava’s phone, unlocked, displaying her chat history with Ryan. “Ava, you and Leo spending time with me upset Liam. It’s all my fault for being so thoughtless. Maybe we should see each other less from now on.” “Don’t say that. He’s just narrow-minded and can’t stand it. Birthdays come every year; we can always celebrate it again later, right? Who knew he’d throw such a fit? He’s just getting worse with age.” “Ava, don’t talk like that. Liam has every right to be angry. Don’t let it bother you too much; you’ll make yourself sick.” “Hmm, thanks for your concern. If only Liam were half as understanding as you.” Ava rushed over and snatched the phone back, yelling furiously, “Why do you always snoop through other people’s privacy? I told you, there’s nothing going on between us!” “Whatever. I’m going to rest.” My demeanor left her speechless. She opened her mouth as if to say something but held back. Suddenly, she remembered the robot she’d given me and exclaimed, “Perfect! This guy can come in handy. Let me show you how to use it.” Hearing that, I opened my eyes and stared at Ava coldly. She prattled on, introducing how to turn the robot on and off, completely oblivious to the shift in my gaze. “Ava, have you forgotten? This model of robot? I was part of its development team.” That sentence froze Ava in her tracks. Then, she glanced at the model number on the robot’s back and gave me an awkward smile. “Oh, right. Well, then I don’t need to teach you. That’s good.” Ava and I had both been R&D staff at the same tech company. But no one could help us with childcare, so I quit my job to stay home and raise Leo. Now, I regretted every single thing I’d given up for my family. We sat in silence, the only sound in the room the whirring of the robot vacuum. “You should go to bed. I’ll just sleep on the couch.” With that, I closed my eyes. “Oh, I’m working late tomorrow night, so I won’t be back…” “Got it,” I replied, a hint of impatience in my voice.

Ava hesitated for a moment, then returned to the bedroom. I didn’t sleep long before I was awakened by a shove. Opening my eyes, I saw Leo already dressed in his school uniform, standing in front of me with an unhappy expression. “Why didn’t you wake me up? I’m going to be late! And breakfast? You didn’t make that either?” Every day, I’d wake Leo up on time, prepare a hearty, warm breakfast for him, sacrificing my own sleep. Because of the lack of sleep, I had heavy dark circles under my eyes, and my skin was sallow and dull. At forty, I looked fifty. “From now on, you’ll set your own alarm. And you can grab breakfast outside. Do you have money? I can transfer some.” Leo’s eyes widened. He clearly hadn’t expected his formerly devoted father to become this “irresponsible.” “I don’t need your money. Uncle Ryan wouldn’t be as lazy as you…” He mumbled the last part, but I heard it. Yet, my heart didn’t stir an inch. Leo stormed out, slamming the door. A small toy fell from the shoe cabinet in the entryway. I walked over and picked it up. It was a toy car, one I’d customized. It could transform into a robot and play various cartoon theme songs. Leo had been sickly after he was born, always gloomy when he was ill. But when he saw this little car, he’d giggle with delight. Seeing his happy face, I’d submitted a proposal to my company: to produce more toy robots that could provide emotional value. However, Ava had opposed the idea. She believed robots should serve humans with practical functions, not be mere “vases” that just transformed or played songs. Later, the proposal was shelved. My Leo also grew older, and he’d long since disdained this childish toy. I picked up the robot and pressed the button. It still worked perfectly. A thought suddenly struck me, and I took it over to the neighbor’s child. The child’s nickname was Finn. His parents were divorced and had left him with his grandmother. He had no friends and always played silently by himself in the sandbox downstairs. When he received the little toy, he examined it from all angles, his small face beaming with joy, playing with it enthusiastically. Seeing him like this, I couldn’t help but think of Leo when he was small, and that proposal from years ago. Almost instinctively, I picked up my phone and called my old boss. Realizing what I was doing, I tried to hang up, but he’d already answered. “Liam? Why the sudden call?” “Ah? Nothing… just wondering, are you still hiring?” I nervously rubbed my nose. A stay-at-home dad who had been out of the workforce for nearly a decade trying to return to a high-tech industry was surely a pipe dream. But to my surprise, Mr. Harrison was delighted. “Really? It’s wonderful that you’ve changed your mind. My new company needs exactly your kind of talent. However, you’ve been out of the industry for a long time, so you’d have to start from the ground up.” “I can do it! I’ll prove my worth!” Hanging up the phone, I was so happy I almost jumped. I played with Finn until evening. “Uncle Liam, you’re so nice. I wish you were my dad.” Finn blinked at me, his eyes full of longing. I didn’t know what to say, so I just stroked his head. Just then, the front door was kicked open, and a drunken man stumbled in. “Who are you? Where’s my mom?” The man had barely finished speaking when Finn’s grandmother rushed out, shouting warily at him: “What are you doing back? I’m not giving you another dime!” “Damn it! You’re my mother! Whose money do you think it is if not mine? If you don’t hand it over, I swear I’ll make this little brat regret ever being born!” With that, the man pulled out a knife and lunged at Finn. In that split second, I could only throw myself in front of Finn, taking the blade for him. Instantly, blood streamed onto the floor.

The man was restrained by neighbors, and I was rushed into an ambulance. The knife had carved a huge gash in my shoulder, and the pain made me break out in a cold sweat. It all happened so suddenly that I was still trembling, submerged in fear. At that moment, I desperately needed some comfort, even just a little. So, I called Ava. “Ava, I’m at the hospital. Please come quickly.” “What happened? I’m working late right now.” Ava’s tone was clearly impatient, and her background noise was too loud, sounding more like a restaurant than an office. “I was stabbed. I’m covered in blood, and it hurts so much. Please come.” Hearing Ava’s voice, tears suddenly streamed down my face, pouring out all the grievances I’d suffered. But in the next second, Ava’s words plunged me into an abyss. “Liam, can you stop joking around? You’re perfectly fine at home, how could someone suddenly stab you? You’re forty years old; can you stop being so childish?” “I’m not joking! I really was stabbed, and I’m at the hospital right now!” My voice became rushed and agitated, my volume significantly higher. But to Ava, I sounded just like my old “unreasonable” self. “I know you’re still mad about us not spending your birthday with you, but you don’t have to make up such a lie, do you? I’ve been really tired lately. If you keep this up, we might really have to get a divorce.” “Forget it. I shouldn’t have said anything. I still have to work. You get some rest.” With that, Ava hung up. I stood there frozen for a moment, then called Leo. “Leo, Dad’s at the hospital. Can you…” Before I could finish, Leo’s impatient voice cut me off. “Oh, great. Mom said you lied about being stabbed, and I didn’t believe it, but I guess you really can pull off such a crazy lie. Dad, please just leave us alone, okay?” “What do you mean? You’re with your mom? Isn’t she supposed to be working late?” Before I could ask more, Leo hung up. At that moment, I felt as helpless as a leaf adrift in a vast ocean. Suddenly, something clicked. I frantically opened Ryan’s Ins profile. Sure enough, he’d posted a video. He was smiling at the camera, with a luxuriously decorated upscale restaurant in the background. The caption read: “Striving alone in a strange city, glad to have you all by my side.” I knew that upscale restaurant well; it was where Ava and I had our first date. But after we got married, whenever I wanted to revisit it, Ava would always refuse, citing the high prices. In the video, although only Ryan was visible, I still heard Leo’s voice. It was a fleeting sound, but I heard it clearly. I couldn’t possibly mishear it, because it was a word I knew all too well: “Dad.” My phone slipped from my grasp. Ava, with whom I had shared thick and thin, and Leo, whom I had painstakingly raised, had now given their devotion to someone else. Though I tried not to care, the pain in my heart was uncontrollable. My breath hitched. “Uncle, aren’t Auntie and Leo coming?” Finn, who had been quietly watching over me, asked cautiously. “No, but it doesn’t matter anymore. Will you stay by my side?” I gently stroked his head and asked. He nodded like a woodpecker, eagerly promising: “I will! I’m just afraid you’ll blame me since it was my dad who did it.” His little head slowly drooped, and I felt a pang of sympathy. “No, it’s not your fault. You did nothing wrong, and neither did I.” I hugged him, both of us seeking comfort in each other. Years of love couldn’t be completely severed in this moment. But from now on, they would no longer be my top priority. There were more people and more things in the world worth loving.

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My brother, Trevor, and I transmigrated together to a primitive beast-shifter tribe. In this primitive world, males were rare and highly valued, leading to a system where men could have multiple female partners. The tribe’s Chief told us to choose our mates first. Trevor, his face flushed with excitement, eagerly picked the exceptionally gifted Snake-shifter. I chose the fiercely loyal Wolf-shifter. In my past life, while the Snake-shifter was hibernating, Trevor opened his “harem,” taking several other partners, dreaming of a life surrounded by beautiful women. But the Snake-shifter was possessive and obsessive. When she found out, she locked Trevor in a cold, damp underground cave, forcing him to provide sperm, making her conceive clutch after clutch of eggs. Meanwhile, the Wolf-shifter pampered me, eventually inheriting the position of tribe Chief. On the day of the inheritance ceremony, Trevor, consumed by jealousy, suddenly rushed forward and pushed me off a cliff. When I opened my eyes again, we were back on the day we chose our mates. This time, Trevor snatched the Wolf-shifter first. “Alex, this time, I’m going to be the Chief’s consort.” I smiled, pointing at the White Tiger Priestess. “I choose her.” What was so great about being the Chief’s consort? Since this primitive tribe revered males, wouldn’t it be perfectly reasonable for me to become a beast-shifter emperor?

After my brother pushed me off the cliff, I was reborn. Reborn to the exact day in my previous life when we had first transmigrated to the primitive beast-shifter tribe. The moment I opened my eyes, the White Tiger tribe’s Chief’s ancient voice echoed in my ears. “All the unmated females of our White Tiger tribe are here. You two precious males, choose whoever you like.” In my past life, when we first arrived, we were pretty confused. But somehow, miraculously, we could understand what these shifters were saying. Back in our world, Trevor was a total playboy, always chasing thrills. As soon as he understood the Chief’s words, he practically leaped to choose the beautiful, elegant Snake-shifter as his mate. “Heh, this is gonna be interesting,” he whispered excitedly to me after making his choice. For him, this shifter tribe was practically paradise. He then scanned the line of shifters and suggested to me, “Alex, you’re too quiet. If you pick someone too pretty and she gets snatched by another guy, you’d be screwed. I think those few who look ‘steady’ would be good.” The ones he pointed to were all powerful and imposing shifters in their human forms. But I still took his advice. Not because I was genuinely afraid of my mate being poached, but because among the shifters he pointed out, there was a Wolf-shifter. It was said that Wolf-shifters were fiercely loyal to their mates, taking only one for life. If I chose her, I wouldn’t have to worry about Trevor trying to steal her away. And sure enough, in my last life, that Wolf-shifter proved utterly devoted to me. No matter how Trevor tried to poach her, she remained unmoved. Trevor was incredibly frustrated by this. He’d sneer sarcastically, “Alex, your Wolf-shifter mate is too stubbornly devoted, isn’t she? So foolish, she can’t even tell good from bad.” I just offered a faint smile, noncommittal. I agreed that the Wolf-shifter was single-minded when it came to her mate. But to call her foolish? That was a massive misconception. If she were truly foolish, she wouldn’t have cleverly leveraged my presence to secure her own standing, making one achievement after another, ultimately maneuvering her way into the Chief’s position. However, the Wolf-shifter kept me under strict watch, so Trevor remained completely ignorant of all this. This time, the Chief’s words had barely finished when Trevor, without hesitation, pointed at the Wolf-shifter and declared, “I want her as my mate.” Hearing his words, the Wolf-shifter’s eyes instantly gleamed with surprise and joy. In the White Tiger tribe, Wolf-shifters were, at best, of middle-to-lower strength. Typically, males wouldn’t even consider a Wolf-shifter. The other shifters, seeing Trevor choose the Wolf-shifter, looked on with visible resentment. “Noble male, how could she, a low-ranking Wolf-shifter, be worthy of you?” A large Bear-shifter thumped his muscular chest, indignantly. The Wolf-shifter’s expression immediately became tense, tinged with a hint of insecurity. But Trevor just smiled faintly, walking straight towards the Wolf-shifter. “I want her. I believe the female I choose will be the best.” Before leaving, he quickly leaned in and whispered to me, “Alex, this time, I’m going to be the Chief’s consort.” I just said nothing, watching him actively take the Wolf-shifter’s hand. The Wolf-shifter gazed at him, deeply moved, then let out an excited howl directed at the sky. Seeing this, the other shifters glared enviously and jealously at the lucky Wolf-shifter, then turned their eager gazes towards me. I slowly scanned over them, finally letting my eyes settle on the Snake-shifter. Trevor, noticing my gaze, shifted his eyes and said, “Alex, the Snake-shifter is incredibly skilled in… that area. You’re inexperienced, so why not choose her? It might spare you some discomfort in bed.” Hearing Trevor’s suggestion, I politely declined with a faint smile. “No, thanks. You know I don’t like spineless creatures.” Then, I pointed to the tall, agile White Tiger Priestess standing beside the Snake-shifter. “I choose her.” At my words, a hint of joy appeared on the faces of both the White Tiger Priestess and Chief Kaelen. Trevor, however, couldn’t help but show a look of schadenfreude. I knew exactly what he was thinking. The White Tiger Priestess I chose was not only the tribe’s Priestess but also Chief Kaelen’s daughter. Under normal circumstances, she was destined to inherit leadership of the White Tiger tribe. But in my past life, the Lion-shifter tribe had ambushed her with all their able-bodied females while she was hunting. The fierce and formidable White Tiger Priestess was severely wounded, developed an infection, and died. It was only because of this that I had the opportunity to strategize and secure the Chief’s position for the Wolf-shifter. This time, however, I wouldn’t let the White Tiger Priestess meet such a tragic end. I wanted her to be the sharpest blade in my hand. What was so great about the Chief’s consort position Trevor cared so much about? Since this primitive tribe revered males, wouldn’t it be perfectly reasonable for me to become a beast-shifter emperor in this world? This life, I only wanted to control my own destiny.

After Trevor and I had each chosen our mates, we began to forge our bonds in front of all the White Tiger tribe’s shifters. In the primitive tribe, a male could have multiple secondary partners, but only the female who had truly bonded with him had the right to live in his dwelling. As for secondary partners, they were no different from mistresses in modern society. Of course, unlike human society, these secondary partners in the primitive shifter tribe were openly accepted and legitimate, not like secret lovers hidden away. But if a secondary partner lost the male’s favor and was cast aside, it was considered a completely normal occurrence. In my past life, Trevor had leveraged this fact, daring to openly flirt with other shifters while the possessive and obsessive Snake-shifter was in hibernation. He had always intended to just have his fun and then find an excuse to dump his secondary partners. Unfortunately, he totally screwed up. Males were already incredibly scarce in this world, so how could those shifters, who had finally gotten a chance to be his secondary partners, give up so easily? So, when the Snake-shifter emerged from her cave after hibernation, she was immediately surrounded by the shifters Trevor had flirted with, all demanding answers. Trevor’s excuse for rejecting them was that the Snake-shifter wouldn’t allow him to have secondary partners. When the Snake-shifter learned that Trevor had been flirting with so many shifters while she was hibernating, she exploded. After a brutal fight with these secondary partners, she dragged Trevor back to her snake cave, her face grim. Then, she completely cut off his contact with other shifters. When she entered her breeding cycle, she forced Trevor to cooperate, successfully conceiving and laying clutch after clutch of snake eggs. Trevor had tried to escape and call for help, but the Snake-shifter never gave him a chance to leave. It wasn’t until the day of the ceremony for the Wolf-shifter to inherit the White Tiger tribe leadership, which required every old, weak, woman, and child in the tribe to attend, that Trevor finally had a chance to leave the cave. Because the Chief’s inheritance ceremony involved a ritualistic offering to the Sky Spirits, the location chosen was the cliff behind the tribe. He saw me, who had always been second best to him, become the Chief’s consort, and he was consumed by jealousy. Then, while all the shifters were kneeling to worship the Sky Spirits, he rushed at me and violently pushed me off the cliff. “Alex, you’ve always been second best to me since we were kids! Why do you get to live a better life than me? Go to hell!”

My family and Trevor’s used to be neighbors. In the past, my family’s financial situation was even better than theirs. But after my parents died in a car accident, my biased grandmother took everything and gave it to my uncle’s family. Trevor’s uncle, seeing my pitiful state, sponsored me. Later, I regretted countless times accepting their sponsorship. Because Trevor would tell anyone who’d listen that his family funded my education, that I’d be in an orphanage without them. Because of that, I always felt like I owed him, always a step beneath Trevor. He didn’t like it when I excelled in exams, so I’d deliberately do poorly, becoming his convenient contrast. And my friends gradually drifted away after Trevor arrived. Even my college girlfriend was deliberately poached by Trevor, who came all the way to visit during our extended holiday break. “Alex, don’t be mad. I just wanted to test if she truly loved you. You’re my best friend, and I was worried you’d get hurt by a manipulative woman.” “See? I proved it, didn’t I? You really should thank me.” I just gave him a grateful smile. “Yeah, thanks, Trevor.” Trevor grinned triumphantly. “No problem, what are best friends for?” I just sneered internally. The word “friend” was defiled by people like him! But the fact remained that the Fu family had shown me kindness. I couldn’t afford to have a complete fallout with Trevor and upset his uncle. However, that was all in the past now. From the moment Trevor pushed me off that cliff, I no longer owed his family anything.

The bonding was completed quickly. Chief Kaelen then smiled at us. “Alright, now that the bonds are formed, you may each return to your dwellings.” “The other females shouldn’t be discouraged. If you can win the favor of these two males, there’s always a chance you could become their secondary partners.” Hearing Chief Kaelen’s words, the other shifters’ expressions relaxed, and their eyes blazed with desire, fixing on Trevor and me. Anya, the White Tiger Priestess, narrowed her eyes, instantly shielding me with her body. Then she snarled at the other shifters, “He’s mine! I’m not sharing him with any of you!” “Anyone who dares to covet my male, I’ll tear her to shreds.” Seeing the White Tiger Priestess’s declaration, the other shifters’ faces showed regret. They knew the Priestess’s power all too well. To contend with the Priestess for a male, they probably had no hope at all. But dealing with that Wolf-shifter would be much simpler. In an instant, all the remaining shifters in the clearing fixed their gazes on Trevor. Their looks towards the Wolf-shifter, however, were filled with murderous intent. A shifter’s strength was paramount, and the Wolf-shifter’s power didn’t even rank in the top hundred of their entire White Tiger tribe. How could she possibly be worthy of bonding with such a precious male? They could understand the Priestess monopolizing a male, after all, she was the strongest female in their White Tiger tribe. But the Wolf-shifter? She was completely unworthy of monopolizing a precious male! Trevor, watching the shifters vie for his attention, a faint smile played on his lips. As if this was the treatment he deserved. But he had no idea that once he entered the wolf’s den, getting out wouldn’t be so easy. I gave him a fleeting glance and then said to Anya, “I’m tired, I want to go back and rest.” Hearing my words, Anya’s face instantly showed a look of concern. The next moment, her arm, thicker than my thigh, easily scooped me up. “I’ll take you back to sleep right away,” Anya said, her voice deep. Then she swiftly carried me securely in her arms and sprinted towards her stone dwelling.

The Priestess’s status in the tribe was actually higher than the Chief’s. Because the Priestess was not only responsible for rituals and divination, and the tribe’s secret knowledge, but also for healing injured shifters. After all, medical systems in primitive societies were extremely scarce; whether a shifter survived an injury depended entirely on the Priestess, the sole inheritor of medicinal knowledge in the tribe. Anya carried me back to her stone dwelling, then carefully placed my body on the stone bed covered with animal hides. Her brilliant golden eyes watched me intently. “You sit for a bit, I’ll get you a blanket.” I nodded at her. Soon, she returned from a wooden chest with a large animal hide blanket. But to my surprise, she wasn’t getting the blanket to cover me; instead, she spread it over the stone bed again. After neatly laying out the blanket, she gazed directly at my exposed skin. “Your skin looks very delicate. I’ll put an extra layer of blanket for you, so the stone bed won’t be rough.” It wasn’t that no males in the tribe had shown her affection or made advances. But she had always shown little interest in the tribe’s males. Today, meeting me, she realized that she actually liked strong and resolute males like me. Moreover, my scent was truly wonderful, intoxicating her to the point where she couldn’t bear to be far from me.

I hadn’t expected Anya, who looked so fierce and strong, to be so thoughtful. “Yeah, thank you. By the way, what’s your name? I’m Alex.” “I’m Anya. If there’s anything you need, just tell me,” Anya said. I nodded again. “Okay, I got it. I’m going to sleep now.” Trevor and I had mysteriously stumbled into this unrecorded primitive tribe while hiking. Before being discovered by the White Tiger shifters and brought back to the tribe, we had already hiked for almost two hours. So, I was truly exhausted now. Seeing me lie down, Anya lowered her voice. “Then I won’t disturb your rest. I’ll go find you something to eat. What do you want for dinner?” Thinking of the primitive tribe’s eating habits, I shivered, quickly saying, “Some berries, and boil some meat soup. The meat needs to be cut very finely, otherwise, I can’t chew it.” Shifters in this primitive tribe could transform between their animal and human forms. When they were in their animal forms, eating raw prey was perfectly normal. However, most of the time, they maintained human form, only shifting to animal form during combat. And shifters in human form rarely ate raw meat; they usually cooked meat into soup or roasted it. But because shifters were so massive, they would cut food into large chunks when cooking for easy gnawing. Each bone was longer than my forearm. Gnawing on massive bones might be easy for them, but for human teeth, it was an immense challenge. Because the animal meat in primitive society was generally tough and hard to chew, even cooked meat was incredibly difficult to bite. In my past life, because I couldn’t get used to the food here, I could only fill my stomach with berries every day. Because of this, I fell severely ill after a summer rain and almost didn’t make it. Fortunately, Anya, as the Priestess, had some real skill. After she gave me some black, gooey paste dissolved in water, I recovered. Anya listened to my words, stared at my face for a moment, then nodded seriously. “I understand. Go to sleep now.” “Mhm.” Then, I closed my eyes. Because I was so utterly exhausted, I soon genuinely fell asleep. When I woke up again, the sky had already darkened. I abruptly sat up from the stone bed. “Alex, you’re awake? You must be hungry, get up and eat something.” Anya’s low voice sounded in my ear. I rubbed my empty stomach and got out of bed. On the wooden table in the dwelling, two stone bowls were already set. One held meat soup, and the other, unknown berries. “Did you eat?” I asked, sitting at the wooden table. Anya grunted in affirmation, her golden eyes fixed on my face, her shining desire direct and scorching. “I’ve already eaten. You hurry and eat.” “Okay.” I tightened my grip on the spoon, knowing she wouldn’t let me off the hook tonight. Then I slowly sipped the meat soup. Anya was indeed much more capable than the Wolf-shifter. I only mentioned it once, and she cut the meat into thin strips and stewed it until it was tender. Although it only had salt, it tasted truly delicious. Before I knew it, I had eaten more than half a bowl. But because this bowl of meat soup was simply too much, I couldn’t eat the rest. “I’m full,” I said, putting down my spoon. Anya glanced at my stomach, as if confirming I was truly full. Then her eyes gazed intensely at me, her voice hoarse. “I’ll clear the bowls. We have mountain hot spring water channeled into the dwelling; you can go to the bath pool to wash.” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but feel a little surprised. Anya’s stone dwelling actually had a hot spring? Then I wouldn’t have to worry about bathing in the future. Most shifters lived rough, bathing directly in the river, but I wouldn’t dare. After Anya took the stone bowls out, I walked towards the place Anya mentioned, guided by the dim light. Looking at the swirling steam, I took off my clothes and stepped in. Before I could even finish washing, Anya walked in, holding a torch. After sticking the torch into the wall, Anya approached me step by step. Her scorching gaze seemed to want to melt my body. My body trembled involuntarily. The Wolf-shifter’s physique was nowhere near as powerful as Anya’s. Last life, I suffered so much, almost losing half my life. With Anya, I was afraid I might die in bed. Just as I was worrying, Anya’s dominant and powerful arms embraced me. Her body temperature, hotter than the hot spring water, made me go limp all over.

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The year I turned seven, my dad died in a car accident. My mom married her first love, and I became an orphan in my own home. At our first dinner together, my stepfather, Richard, laid down the new rule. “From tonight on,” he said, “everything in this house is fifty-fifty.” I had one spare rib. Then he looked at me, all of seven years old, and told me I owed him three hundred dollars for the meal. I glanced at my stepsister, Tiffany, who was happily gnawing on her ribs. “Tiffany ate ribs too. Why doesn’t she have to pay?” “Because Tiffany is my own flesh and blood,” Richard stated, his voice calm. “I love her. She has the privilege of being my real daughter.” My eyes flicked to my mother. He went on without missing a beat. “Your mother is my wife. I love her, so she also enjoys certain privileges.” “You share no blood with me. We have no bond. I have no obligation to feed you.” To enforce Richard’s family ‘go Dutch’ system, everything in the house was tagged with a price. A price list was taped to the refrigerator door. Apples: $1.00 each. Milk: $2.00 per carton. Leftovers: $0.50 per serving. … My mom and Tiffany had special privileges. They could open the fridge whenever they wanted. I wanted to open the fridge, but I had no money to pay. Richard’s voice was cold. “No money, and you still expect to eat?” I stood there,mute. He pretended to relent. “Fine. We’ll put it on your account for now. Then you and Eleanor will sign a personal loan agreement.” “Interest will be charged at a high-risk rate-one-tenth of a percent per day, compounded until you turn eighteen. Once you’re an adult with an income, you’ll repay every cent.” So I was billed for every watt of electricity, every grain of rice. Even for the vacations Richard and Mom took Tiffany on… Because of that family ‘go Dutch’ system, I owed over six hundred thousand dollars I’d even grown up. To keep the debt from skyrocketing, I lived simply. I even picked through the trash for Tiffany’s old clothes and shoes. Sometimes, I resorted to begging for food on the streets. One winter, the flu was rampant. I came down with a fever. The thermometer read almost 104 degrees Fahrenheit. I was burning up, feeling like a literal lump of coal. Of course, the first thing Richard and Mom did was pull out their ledger. After furiously calculating with a calculator, they printed out a new loan contract. “Chloe, you can go to the hospital. But you need to understand that medical expenses are a bottomless pit. Registration, blood tests, IV drips-it would easily cost over a thousand dollars.” “Chloe, you and your parents agreed. Family expenses are split. Personal unexpected expenses, like Chloe getting sick with a fever, are self-pay.” But I couldn’t afford to pay for myself. So, I signed another loan agreement with Richard and Mom. … Richard and Mom didn’t take me to the hospital in the end. Going to the ER was too expensive, Richard said. A waste of resources. He drove to the local drugstore and bought a box of fever reducers and some cheap anti-inflammatories. Total cost: fifteen dollars. Richard walked into my room with the pills, Mom hovering behind him. “Chloe, even though you’re not my blood, that doesn’t mean I don’t care. I fronted the cash for this. Plus a five-dollar ‘service fee’ for my time. Total’s fifty.” He set the medicine on my nightstand. Then he held out a piece of paper and a pen. “Sign the loan agreement first. Once it’s signed, you can have the pills.” But I was burning up, my eyes too heavy to open. “Mom…” My voice was a ragged whisper. She turned her face away. “Just sign it, Chloe. Sign it and take the medicine. You’ll feel better.” I fought back the discomfort of the fever, my hand trembling. I scrawled my name illegibly on the loan agreement. But the second I finished signing, Tiffany’s voice rang out from outside the door. “Dad! Mom! I cut my finger! It hurts so much!” Mom sprang up like a coiled spring, rushing to Tiffany in the kitchen. Her voice was filled with frantic worry and tenderness. “What happened, my sweetie?” “Oh no, let Mom see! Is it bleeding? Richard, let’s go. Take our sweet baby to the hospital to get it bandaged, get her a tetanus shot! This kind of cut can be minor or serious, we can’t risk infection!” Listening to the sound of Richard hurriedly starting the car outside, I lay in bed, tears streaming down my face. I didn’t understand. Why was I burning up with a 104-degree fever, given only fifty dollars’ worth of pills, and forced to sign a loan to pay for them? While Tiffany,with just a shallow cut on her finger, got a free trip to the ER for a tetanus shot? Tiffany, the family favorite, saw the question in my eyes. She grinned. “Because I’m Dad’s real daughter. He loves me.” “And your mom loves my dad. So, by extension, she loves me the most!”

Because Tiffany was Richard’s real daughter, she received love from both of them. I was only Mom’s blood. So as I grew, what I accumulated wasn’t memories-it was debt, snowballing and cold. I had no time for friends at school. Even with the SATs looming, I spent every lunch break collecting cans, running errands for classmates, and doing homework for the failing kids behind the gym-five dollars per thousand words. But I never expected Tiffany and her friends to corner me against the brick wall while I was picking up plastic bottles. Tiffany pulled a folded paper from her uniform pocket. It was the loan agreement I’d signed for Richard two days earlier-the one for next month’s pads. “See? I told you. Every word’s true. Chloe has to borrow from my dad and sign an IOU just to buy pads.” “She’s already six hundred thousand in debt to our family-and she’s not even eighteen.” “A total money pit. Doesn’t earn a cent but spends like it’s nothing. Who knows what else she blows cash on?” “I’m serious. Hang around her, and your wallet might go missing.” Tiffany had been feeding me to her friends as gossip. Whispers circled around me. My face burned. With every secret laid bare, Tiffany made me want to vanish on the spot. My eyes burned. I reached for the IOU. But Tiffany held it higher. Later, she didn’t just show it around. She taped it to the school’s main bulletin board. “Let everyone see who our top student really is. What good are perfect grades? She’s six hundred thousand in debt already! Trash from the inside out.” That afternoon, I became the school’s joke. “Pad-borrower” became my name. My teacher called Tiffany and me into her office. She was a decent person. She scolded Tiffany firmly for the disrespect, then called our parents. Richard and Mom both came. Richard, in a crisp suit, looked every bit the polished gentleman. He apologized to the teacher the moment he entered. But when the teacher gently brought up “protecting a girl’s privacy” and “providing for her basic needs,” Richard adjusted his glasses and smiled. “I think you misunderstand, Miss. This is part of our family’s financial literacy curriculum. Chloe has always struggled with fiscal responsibility. The shared-cost system, the personal loan-it’s all designed to teach her self-reliance. To prepare her for the real world.” The teacher was left speechless. Outside the office, in a deserted corner of the hallway, Richard and Mom’s polite smiles dropped. Richard checked his phone. Mom understood immediately and turned on me. “Chloe, because of your little scene at school, Richard and I had to leave work. Richard bills at five hundred an hour. I bill at three hundred. Plus fifty for gas. That’s eight hundred fifty dollars you owe.” Mom scribbled the numbers down quickly. “This is on you. You’ve incurred an unnecessary time cost for both your father and me.” And so, my debt increased again. On the way home, Tiffany happily held Richard and Mom’s hands. Only I was left behind. Tiffany suddenly turned her head and stuck out her tongue at me, grinning.

That evening at dinner, Mom suddenly covered her mouth, then rushed to the bathroom. Richard froze. Then his eyes lit up, his forks clattering to the table. “Eleanor!” He rushed to the bathroom door, knocking. “What’s wrong? Could it be…” That guess was soon confirmed at the hospital. Mom, at forty-two, was pregnant. She was pregnant with Richard’s child. Mom stroked her belly, her face flushed with happiness. The arrival of their love child put Richard and Mom in high spirits. Richard looked at me. “To ensure our new family member has the best start, we need to reallocate our resources.” “So, Chloe, your room can be used as a nursery for your future brother.” My heart sank. “Then… where will I live?” Richard tapped the table, pointing to the balcony. “Eleanor and I discussed it. We’ll enclose that corner of the balcony and put a folding bed for you there.” The balcony? That was a place that leaked wind in winter and was exposed to the scorching sun in summer, without even a proper cover. When I started crying, Richard and Mom remained unyielding. Their words were full of demands for me to be understanding, their tone completely non-negotiable. “With a new family member coming, our household expenses need to tighten. Chloe, you’re almost graduating high school. You’re fully capable of working as an adult.” “After you graduate high school next year, forget about college. You’ll work to pay off your dad and me.” No! I had to go to school! My teachers said that an education was my only way out. I argued vehemently, but Mom angrily slapped me. Richard and Mom threw the black leather ledger and a stack of loan contracts with my signature on them in front of me. “Get this straight, you’re not Richard’s child. We, as a family, have no obligation to raise you until adulthood, especially after all these years of our AA system. Don’t you know how much debt you owe us? You’re already a massive liability, a total loss-making project!” I covered my swollen face, my gaze drifting to Mom, who was lost in the joy of her pregnancy. Mom. Did you forget? I might not be Richard’s child, But I’m your daughter. But Mom just looked down, stroking her pregnant belly, absorbed in the happiness of carrying Richard’s child. After a long silence, Mom, uncomfortable under my resentful gaze, finally looked up, as if having made a decision. “Chloe, don’t blame your dad and me. Raising a child costs too much. Your brother needs formula money and an education fund even before he’s born. You’re old enough now; you should be sensible and help out. Besides, you already owe us a huge amount of money…” My eyes welled up. I looked at Mom in disbelief. I finally understood. In this house, I was just a indebted outsider. Silently, I turned to pack my belongings.

Mom’s and Richard’s child hadn’t even been born yet. But to show just how much they treasured their “own flesh and blood,” they decided to prepare the nursery early. So, they moved me out to the balcony ahead of schedule. My first night out there, I fell ill again with fever. Even with the windows latched, the wind and rain found their way in from every crack. It was like sleeping in a damp, drafty icebox. Every night, I had to wrap myself in two blankets to sleep. One night, I woke up thirsty, wanting to get a glass of hot water from the living room. As I walked into the living room, I saw an unfinished box of cherries on the coffee table. They were large, deep purple, and exuded an inviting sweetness. Beside them was a note from Richard. “Honey, these organic cherries are for energy and glow, especially for our little one’s vitamins. They’re forty dollars a pound, so make sure no outsiders touch them.” That “outsider,” of course, referred to me. I looked at that box of cherries. A cold laugh echoed in my mind. Just then, a whisper came from the master bedroom. “Water… get me some water…” Richard was away on a business trip. Tiffany, as usual, was sleeping over at a friend’s. Neither of them was home tonight. I pushed open the door. Mom lay in bed, her face pale, her forehead shiny with cold sweat. The pregnancy was hard on her. Her legs had cramped in the dark, and she was both thirsty and in pain. When she saw me, she spoke as if it were her birthright. “Chloe, are you deaf? I’ve been calling you forever! Can’t you see I was suffering? Massage my legs. Now. The cramp hurts.” I stood silently by the bed. “Mom, it’s three in the morning.” I looked coldly at my weak mom. “This is off-duty. Night care service fees are doubled.” Mom’s eyes widened, as if she didn’t recognize me. “What are you talking about?” Because I had never defied Richard and Mom, and never used such a cold tone with them. In that moment, Mom found me utterly foreign. “Chloe, I’m your mother! And I’m carrying your sibling! All I’m asking is for you to rub my legs. How can you even say such things?” “Even mothers and daughters should keep accounts clear. You don’t get ‘motherly privilege’ from me. That’s exactly what you and Richard taught me.” I started calculating like they did-everything reduced to a number. Everything had a price. “Fetching water: ten dollars. A fifteen-minute leg massage: starts at fifty. Since it’s after hours, a thirty-dollar surcharge applies. That’s ninety dollars total.” Furious, Mom grabbed a pillow and hurled it at me. I sidestepped coldly. It thudded to the floor. “Of course, if you want me to pick that up, Mom, that’ll be an extra five.” I made another notation, my face blank. The obedient child was long gone. “Mom, you’re free to refuse. It’s your pain, after all. And it’s Richard’s child in your belly that will pay for it.” With that, I turned to leave. “Wait!” Mom shrieked, a hand flying to her stomach as if to shield the baby. Sweat beaded on her forehead from the pain. “Fine! Get the water! Massage my legs! Just…just put it on my account.” A cold smile touched my lips. “Sorry, Mom. You’ve quit your job. I can’t extend credit to someone with no income. My margins are too thin, and I don’t do charity. Payment first. Then I work.” Faced with my sudden change, Mom trembled with rage. But the agony in her legs was real. It forced her hand. I took the payment. Then, as agreed, I fetched the water. I walked over, pulled back the covers, and began to work on her calves. My heart was a still pond. Not a single ripple of feeling remained. From now on, in this house,  there was no mother. There was no daughter. There was only a client. And a service provider. I no longer craved the privileges Richard and Mom enjoyed. Since they had turned the balcony into my “room,” I started calculating-down to the last detail. I claimed exclusive rights to the space. No one could enter without my permission, and nothing of theirs could be stored there. Richard and Mom called me an ungrateful wretch. I didn’t care.

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