Reborn, the first thing I did was resign from my position as Chief Art Restorer at Sterling Antiques, earning the scandalous label of an industry pariah. In fact, when Sterling Antiques was raided and sealed off for fraud, I couldn’t help but gloat. Because in my previous life, Serena Hayes, the woman Julian Sterling had always pined for, had met an untimely end. And I, bound by a debt to the Sterling family for clearing my adoptive father’s name, married Julian as Serena’s stand-in, becoming Mrs. Sterling. For three years, I stood by him through thick and thin, expanding Sterling Antiques into a thriving empire. My innovative restoration techniques allowed a near-bankrupt Sterling Antiques to dominate the authentication market, becoming an official partner of the government’s heritage preservation bureau. I genuinely believed that our shared dedication would eventually earn his heart. But at the celebration party on the penthouse floor, he publicly played a video, accusing me of swapping Serena Hayes’s restoration report. “Stella Sterling, you didn’t just switch Serena’s report, you stole her entire life!” My own apprentice, Amber Evans, even held up an evidence bag, her voice sharp with accusation: “Professor Sterling, fragments of Serena’s report were found right in your office!” In the chaos, I was shoved, lost my footing, and plummeted to my death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day the Sterling family was deciding on my engagement. Grandpa Sterling excitedly announced. “Stella, my dear, you and Julian have the best rapport. I think this marriage is settled.”

I looked up at Julian Sterling, his gaze as cold as winter frost. In that instant, I realized he had been reborn too. Since his heart only held Serena Hayes, I would grant them their wish and, in turn, save myself some dignity. The Sterling family had an unspoken rule: only the Chief Restorer of Sterling Antiques could marry the family heir. I calmly rose, sweeping my gaze across the room filled with Sterling relatives, then bowed deeply and steadily to Grandpa Sterling. “Grandpa Sterling, I’m deeply grateful for your kindness.” “However, I’m just an orphan, brought up by the Sterling family. With my background, how could I possibly be worthy of the Chief Restorer title?” Julian Sterling’s expression shifted as he stared at me. He must have thought I’d still be meek and subservient, collapsing in gratitude for any scrap of kindness, ready to go to hell and back for the Sterling family? How laughable. I curled my lips into a smile, looking at Julian Sterling. “I have someone I’d like to recommend.” “Serena Hayes is incredibly talented at a young age in the restoration field. If she could be posthumously appointed Chief Restorer of Sterling Auction House, it would be a huge asset to the Sterling name.” Julian Sterling’s face drained of all color. The next second, he abruptly slammed down the water glass on the conference table, throwing all etiquette to the wind, and stormed out. I knew exactly where he was going. In the previous life, Serena Hayes had gone overseas to auction artifacts but died tragically there, becoming a lifelong nightmare of regret for Julian Sterling. At this moment, Julian Sterling must have believed he could stop that tragedy. “Nonsense, Stella, what are you blabbering about!” Grandpa Sterling’s face flushed crimson with rage, and his teacup smashed to pieces. “Sterling Antiques invested in you for ten years, and you dare to decline the Chief position in front of everyone, publicly handing such a critical role to an unknown?” “Is this how you repay the Sterling family’s generosity?” I walked up to Grandpa Sterling, handing him the resignation I had prepared long ago. My voice was calm: “Grandpa Sterling, I’ve never forgotten the opportunity Sterling Antiques gave me, but a century-old legacy shouldn’t rest on a foundation of one-sided gratitude. Serena Hayes has risked her life tracking down black market artifacts for years; she undoubtedly deserves the title of Sterling’s Chief.” Grandpa Sterling was visibly shaken by my words. I bowed my head, then turned and left the room. Stepping out of the conference hall, I headed back to the lab I had personally built. I opened the safe and took out the evidence I’d gathered overseas of Serena Hayes’s artifact smuggling. In my previous life, I had risked my life to protect that crucial Renaissance ceramic restoration report, only for Julian Sterling to turn on me, accusing me of plagiarizing Serena Hayes’s work and tampering with her report! My fingertip traced the broken fragments, and I murmured: “Julian Sterling, in this life, I will not give another ounce of my effort to the Sterling family!” The next morning, the area outside the building was buzzing with people. Sterling Antiques officially announced Serena Hayes as the Chief Restorer, stating she had defended cultural heritage and protected national treasures with her life. Julian Sterling helped Serena Hayes, whose demeanor was cool and detached, wearing a forced smile. Media swarmed in, and I listened to the applause outside, my eyes calm and indifferent. In the afternoon, the frantic click of high heels echoed from outside the lab building. I walked over and pulled the door open, only to see Julian Sterling bringing Serena Hayes, heading straight for the boardroom. Soon after, barely suppressed shouting erupted from the main hall. “Father! You clearly promised that Sterling Antiques’ Chief would lead the artifact repatriation and major restoration projects! This order belongs to Serena!”

“No! This is a collaboration with the National Heritage Foundation. A last-minute change will only cause problems!” Grandpa Sterling’s voice boomed through the conference room. I paused at the doorway for a few seconds, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open. Since they want it, I’ll give them everything. I carried a file box and, under everyone’s watchful eyes, placed it in front of Grandpa Sterling. “Mr. Sterling, these are the Sterling Arts Foundation’s generational restoration reports and core documents concerning the priceless Renaissance ceramic piece.” I instinctively straightened my back, my voice unwavering: “Since the board has decided that Ms. Hayes will lead the upcoming projects, these materials naturally should be transferred.” Grandpa Sterling pressed down on the file box, opening it to quickly flip through the contents. Hundreds of high-resolution detailed comparison reports, each bearing my handwritten signature. The board members seated around us remained silent, no one attempting to ease the suffocating tension. Grandpa Sterling looked at me, his expression unreadable: “My dear, I’ve put you through too much. Julian can be so stubborn; I can’t talk any sense into him.” I forced a self-mocking smile. “Grandpa Sterling, you overstate it. I am an art restorer for Sterling Antiques; fulfilling my duties is simply part of my job.” Before I finished speaking, I glanced at Julian Sterling. His face was resolute, though I couldn’t discern his emotions. “Thank you.” I pulled my gaze away, then took an encrypted USB drive from my pocket. “There’s one more thing.” “This contains all the core customs data for the priceless cultural artifacts I’ve handled during my ten years in office. Please keep it safe yourself, Mr. Sterling.” Serena Hayes’s expression shifted subtly, her hands twitching with eagerness. Seeing this, Grandpa Sterling immediately took the USB drive, his brows furrowed, but he said nothing. “Since all restoration reports and techniques have been transferred, my work here is concluded.” I nodded to Grandpa Sterling, then to Julian Sterling, and walked straight out of the place where I had poured my heart and soul for ten years. Suddenly, someone called out behind me. “Stella Sterling, wait.” Julian Sterling’s voice was cold. He stood up from his chair. “Since you are no longer the restorer, you no longer have the right to enter the lab.” “Security, immediately revoke all of Stella’s access.” Grandpa Sterling suddenly exploded in anger, questioning: “You ungrateful brat, what are you doing?! Stella dedicated herself to Sterling Antiques for ten years. Is she someone you can just drive out?!” Julian Sterling’s face remained expressionless: “Father, I’ve said what needs to be said. Now that Serena is leading the project team, Stella’s presence here will only cause unnecessary misunderstandings.” The conference room fell into a suffocating silence. I looked around. The shareholders who used to curry favor with me now all lowered their heads, refusing to meet my gaze. The air in the room was stifling. I offered a faint smile, my voice calm: “Since Mr. Sterling has made his decision, I will comply and leave.” Just as I pulled open the conference room door, a familiar voice abruptly rang out. “Professor Sterling, please wait.” My apprentice, Amber Evans, was already standing by the door, two security guards behind her, her face grim. She stepped forward, her voice dripping with sarcasm: “Professor Sterling, please return all Sterling Antiques’ issued restoration tools, and the smart grinding equipment you signed for – they are all company property.” She pointed to my ID badge on my chest, then looked at the tool bag in my hand, her expression meticulous. “According to protocol, personal items can be taken, but company property must be registered and returned.” Serena Hayes stood by, a slight smirk playing on her lips: “Stella, you need to leave everything that belongs to Sterling Antiques, including the clothes on your back. Otherwise, if any artifacts go missing later, you’ll have a hard time explaining yourself.” Grandpa Sterling said coldly: “These tools are Stella’s personal property! I gave them to her myself years ago! Who dares to touch them?!”

I stared at Julian Sterling, my ID badge clicking in my hand. “Do you really think so too?” Julian Sterling merely nodded, offering no explanation. “Let’s wipe the slate clean, and then we go our separate ways.” It felt like a jagged knife had ripped through my chest, and my throat tasted of rust. “The Sterling family plays a good hand.” “The international art dealer’s Renaissance ceramic fraud case, the stolen ancient manuscripts switching case… I personally exposed the fakes and recovered the smuggled artifacts. Each and every one brought honor to Sterling Antiques, didn’t it?” “Not to mention the ‘Jade and Porcelain Masterpiece’ at that international auction, which put the auction house into the global top three. Over the years, when did the benefits ever fall to someone else?” Grandpa Sterling leaned on his cane, his expression complex. But Julian Sterling’s face remained indifferent. “You’ve come this far because you used the Sterling family’s platform, and you used Sterling Antiques’ resources.” “That was your duty.” I scoffed. “So that’s how it is. What a Sterling family indeed.” “Then you all listen up. From today on, I have no ties with the Sterling family.” In front of everyone, I raised my hands and removed everything I wore that was associated with Sterling Antiques. Finally, I took off the last remaining shirt on my body, my voice steady: “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you all these years.” Julian Sterling’s expression suddenly changed. He strode forward, as if to grab me. But I stepped back, my eyes like chips of ice. “Mr. Sterling, are you satisfied now?” Someone gasped. Some even secretly started recording with their phones. I ignored them and walked towards the main door. Countless eyes were fixed on my back. I heard someone scoff loudly: “What good is great skill if you’re just a stray dog fed by the Sterling family?” As soon as I stepped out, Sterling Antiques employees began to whisper, some snickering: “Look, that’s her! The once highly sought-after Professor Sterling, she’s in real trouble now, tsk tsk.” “I heard she stole artifacts from the company and was stripped and kicked out!” “Ungrateful wretch, she deserves it! She really thought she was something special. Let’s see who recognizes her once she leaves Sterling Antiques?” Before the words fully faded. Serena Hayes rushed forward, shouting loudly for all to hear: “This woman has always been scheming, trying to seduce my fiancé! I caught her red-handed!” “What’s worse, she stole confidential data from Sterling Antiques, attempting to sell it to other auction houses! Now with undeniable evidence, everyone, judge for yourselves!” A low murmur immediately spread through the crowd, some pointing fingers at me. “What’s going on? How could she do something like this?” “Sterling Antiques treated her well, but she turned her back on them and even dared to bite the hand that fed her?”

Reporters swarmed in. I coldly observed the gathered crowd, my voice hoarse: “Believe what you want. I did nothing wrong. The truth will come out eventually.” As soon as the words left my lips, a cup of scalding hot coffee was instantly poured over my head. My body involuntarily trembled, and I nearly slipped to the ground. “Stella Sterling, how dare you pretend to be innocent here!” Amber Evans held up her phone, live-streaming, the camera shoved directly into my face: “Stella Sterling, don’t you feel any shame? You seduced Mr. Sterling for money, and even stole Serena’s hard-earned latest research!” Her live stream chat was flooded with comments like “slut” and “get out of Sterling Antiques.” Before I could react, a male reporter next to me swung his tripod, hitting my forehead. A wave of dizziness washed over me. “Stella Sterling, people like you should be expelled from the restoration industry!” “No integrity! Still dreaming of Julian Sterling? He doesn’t even want you, wake up!” “Plagiarist, deceiver, someone who climbed by using men!” In an instant, all the curses rained down on me. The ridiculous part was that among these people was an intern I had mentored. She cried theatrically into the camera: “Professor Sterling, she made me forge restoration documents before. She said she’d ruin my future if I didn’t comply…” My secretary, whom I had saved from being laid off during company cuts, also clenched her fists and shouted: “How can someone with such bad character be called a master? She doesn’t deserve to work anywhere!” On the live stream, someone had mass-sent a photo of Julian Sterling and me attending an international exhibition, with headlines like “How Stella Sterling Seduced Mr. Sterling and Rose to High Society?” My shoes were lost in the crushing crowd, and I stood barefoot in the rain, utterly humiliated. Yet, my mind was terrifyingly clear. When Amber Evans first started, her family faced a sudden crisis. I personally sponsored her tuition and living expenses, and I taught her every word of those professional papers myself. The intern tearfully accusing me? I rushed to be with her at 3 AM to care for her until dawn. I used to believe kindness would always be rewarded, but I never imagined today it would become the very knife stabbing me. Amber Evans leaned in close, a vicious sneer on her lips: “Stella Sterling, all those artifacts you worked so hard to restore, in the end, only Serena Hayes’s name was on them. Your hard work only brought others fame and success. What’s left to hold onto?” My gaze was vacant as I stared at Sterling Antiques Tower. Through the revolving doors, Julian Sterling’s expression was utterly devoid of emotion. I stood numbly, letting the onlookers shove their live-stream cameras into my face. Suddenly, from behind the crowd, came the screech of tires. A Rolls-Royce sped through the heavy rain, pulling to a halt right in front of me. A middle-aged man quickly got out, removed his sunglasses, and bowed: “Excuse me, are you Ms. Stella Sterling?” “My boss wishes to speak with you.” I stood barefoot on the pavement as the crowd’s chatter died instantly, everyone staring dumbfounded at the car, unable to believe their eyes. Serena Hayes blocked my path, her face twisted.

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I was a ‘strategist,’ sent from another world. My mission? To make Serena, the second female lead of this story, fall in love with me – even though her heart already belonged to someone else. Nine years. I poured every ounce of myself into our relationship, but she never truly loved me – not for a single moment. It wasn’t until I saw her, with my own eyes, snatching away my daughter’s ransom money just to save Julian’s son first, that my heart turned to ash. Any will to live simply drained from me. I calmly accepted the System’s erasure. But why was she losing her mind, the woman who never loved me? “BOOM!” A deafening explosion ripped through the air, followed by a pillar of fire shooting skyward. My daughter’s tiny body was quickly engulfed by the inferno. “No!” I shrieked, a gut-wrenching sound tearing from my throat. When the firefighters finally pulled Lily out, there wasn’t a single piece of her skin left intact. She was a horrific sight, disfigured beyond recognition. I crumpled to the ground, large, heavy tears streaming down my face. Just moments before the kidnapper realized the police were there and detonated the bomb, Lily had been desperately screaming in his arms, “Mommy, don’t you want Lily anymore? Please, save me…!” But Serena, her own mother, remained stone-faced. She simply turned her back, scooped up Julian’s son, and walked away. My hands trembling, I fumbled for my phone and called Serena. It rang three times before she finally picked up. Before I could even speak, her impatient voice snapped, “What is it? Spit it out, I’m busy taking care of Noah.” The thought of our daughter lying dead while she coddled another man’s child ignited a firestorm of rage within me. I roared into the phone, “The kidnapper and Lily are dead! Our Lily is gone! She’s dead!” “How dare you use *my* ransom money to save Julian’s son? Are you even Lily’s mother?!” I had never spoken to Serena with such venom. The line went silent for a long moment before her voice returned. “Leo! How dare you yell at me?! I already called the police, Lily couldn’t possibly be in trouble. Don’t use such ridiculous excuses just to get me to come home!” “Now, stop wasting time and bring a bowl of chicken soup to the downtown hospital. Noah was startled, he needs something good to recover.” Then, she hung up on me. I scoffed, a bitter, self-deprecating laugh escaping my lips. My desperate pleas for her to see reason, my furious accusations – they fell on deaf ears. There was no reflection, no remorse. Anything connected to Julian and his son, and Serena would drop everything. I was a ‘strategist’ from another world, sent here to complete a mission: to make Serena, the story’s second female lead, fall in love with me. According to the original plot, she was destined to love Julian, the male lead, her entire life. Julian would marry her after returning to the country with the female lead’s child, but once the female lead came back, he’d be in for a brutal battle to win her back. Like most romance novels, the male and female leads would eventually live happily ever after. Serena, however, was fated to be hit and killed by a large truck on her way to win Julian back. I had changed the plot, marrying Serena while Julian was abroad. The System never declared my mission a success. After Lily was born, it went into a long hibernation. It wasn’t until a year ago, when Julian returned, that the long-dormant System chimed back to life. It warned me: if Serena didn’t love me by the end of this final year, I would be erased. I couldn’t help but feel how utterly I had failed. All these years, Serena had never loved me. After cremating Lily’s body alone, I cradled the urn and made my way to the hospital. I pushed open the door to find Serena fussing over Noah, meticulously wiping him down, then sitting by his bedside, peeling a pear. That tender, doting expression was something Lily and I had longed for, day and night, but never received. I walked closer, taking in Noah’s condition. Just a minor scrape. Serena turned, saw me, and her gentle demeanor vanished instantly. She shielded Noah like a protective mother bear, her eyes sharp and wary. That small gesture sent a chill, colder than any winter, through my heart. She snapped at me, “Are you deaf? I told you to bring a thermos with chicken soup. What are you doing carrying a box?” Lily’s death had drained every ounce of strength from me. I couldn’t fight anymore. I just choked out, “Serena, let’s find a burial plot for Lily together, and lay her to rest properly.” “Clang!” Serena’s hand trembled, and the small knife clattered to the floor.

Serena’s eyes widened. She took a step back, her face a mask of disbelief. Her hands shook as she reached for the urn, but the next second, she regained her composure, scoffing at me. “Leo, your tricks are getting more elaborate, even bringing props now. I can’t believe a grown man, a father even, is so childish, acting out of jealousy to this extent.” I grabbed her wrist, my voice deadly serious. “If you don’t believe me, come home with me and see for yourself if Lily is still there.” Her eyes openly conveyed disgust and contempt, as if I were nothing more than a pathetic, clingy nuisance. Julian, standing nearby, sighed. “Leo, Noah’s mother isn’t here. Serena was just being kind. You’re a grown man, you should understand, there’s no need to be so petty.” “If you’re really so bothered, you could have just told me directly. I would have convinced Serena to go home. But Lily… how could you curse your own daughter with death? She’s innocent!” His last words were undoubtedly meant to fan the flames, but Serena, to my utter despair, looked at him with eyes brimming with tenderness and gratitude. A wave of bitter envy washed over me. How I wished she would look at *me* that way. I clenched my fists, my knuckles cracking, and couldn’t help but snarl at Julian, “Stop trying to stir up trouble!” Serena’s temper flared. She shoved me with all her might. “Leo, are you done?! Julian is telling the truth! How long are you going to keep being so unreasonable?!” I stumbled backward, hitting the table behind me. The urn slipped from my grasp, and Lily’s ashes scattered across the floor. In an instant, the entire hospital room fell into a deathly silence. Serena saw the ashes on the floor, her lips moving silently a few times, but she stubbornly insisted, “You’re really committed to this act. You should become an actor.” I ignored her sarcasm. I dropped to my knees, frantically trying to scoop up the scattered ashes. Torrents of tears poured from my eyes. “Lily, I’m so sorry. Daddy messed up. Daddy didn’t hold you tight enough. Did you get hurt, my darling?” Serena had never seen me cry so miserably. A flicker of emotion finally crossed her face. She opened her mouth as if to speak. But then, Noah whined from the bed, calling out for help. Serena reacted like a reflex, rushing to him instantly. “There, there, Noah. Auntie Serena is here. Don’t be scared.” Julian stroked Noah’s head, comforting him. “Noah’s okay. Auntie Serena and Daddy already chased the bad guys away.” I watched the warm scene unfolding before me, a picture of a perfect family of three. It felt like a thousand tiny needles piercing my heart, making it impossible to breathe. Even if Serena didn’t believe Lily was dead, she hadn’t shown a single ounce of concern for our daughter. No worry about whether she was hurt. She was perfectly content doting on another man’s son. I closed my eyes, clinging to a final sliver of hope, and slowly spoke. “What if I told you… I’m dying?” Serena frowned. Julian put on a sympathetic front, cutting in before she could speak. “Serena, you should go home. I can take care of Noah by myself. It’s my fault today, I’ve affected your relationship with your husband.” He finished, then gave Noah a subtle look. Noah immediately understood, shaking Serena’s arm. “Auntie Serena, don’t leave. Noah needs you.” As expected, Serena took the bait instantly. She pointed a finger at me, unleashing a torrent of abuse. “When Julian went abroad, you took advantage of him and married me. Then you used a child to get some attention from me. Now you’re using lies to gain my sympathy.” “Leo, you are truly despicable!” Despicable? A bitter smile twisted my lips. So, that’s what she thought of me all along. “If you want to die, then go die! Bringing an urn into a hospital is just bad luck!” Her words held no trace of fondness for our relationship, only a pervasive annoyance. Tears eventually run dry, just as hope eventually crumbles away. I nodded. “I understand. I won’t bother you anymore, then.” As I closed the door, a fleeting, almost imperceptible smile crossed Julian’s lips. I had no energy to decipher its meaning. Dragging my exhausted body, I left.

I didn’t go home. I drove to the cemetery. After burying Lily, the System’s voice echoed in my mind. It sounded urgent. “Host, you have three hours until erasure. Aren’t you going to fight for it?” I shook my head, calmly accepting my fate. Unconsciously, nine years had passed since I arrived in this world. Nine years. I was so tired of living. I couldn’t count how many times Serena had pierced my heart. Last month, on our ninth wedding anniversary, she actually agreed to celebrate with me for the first time. Lily was thrilled, clapping and cheering. I was so excited I couldn’t sleep all night. The next day, I woke up early and prepared roses, candles, a necklace, and a table full of all her favorite dishes. I truly believed that our little family of three would finally have a happy meal together. But then, she suddenly received a SnapChat message about Julian having a stomachache. In a panic, she rushed out to bring him medicine. Before she left, she condescendingly tossed me a, “Happy anniversary.” As always, I swallowed my resentment. I didn’t stop her. I didn’t want to argue in front of Lily. Sensing my disappointment, Lily decisively FaceTimed Serena. She sweetly asked, “Mommy, Daddy seems a little unwell. Can you come back and keep him company?” Serena roared at her, “Did your dad tell you to say that?! You’re so young, and you’re already learning to lie and trick people with your dad!” “I don’t have time for him right now! Don’t bother me!” Lily quickly covered the microphone, afraid I’d hear and be sad. Even though her mom had just yelled at her and she felt a little wronged, she acted like a tiny adult, comforting me. “It’s okay, Daddy. Don’t be sad. Lily is here to keep Daddy company.” My eyes stung, and I fought back tears. “With Lily here, Daddy isn’t sad.” Countless incidents like this had left my heart shattered and riddled with holes. It was only Lily’s love that had kept me going. Now that Lily was gone, I truly couldn’t bear it anymore. Before I died, I FaceTimed my friend Caleb to tell him I was leaving this world. I gave him the cemetery address, asking him to bury me next to Lily. Father and daughter, side by side, neither of us alone. “I never truly belonged in this world. Leaving… isn’t it a kind of release?” “Is it because of Serena?” I didn’t confirm or deny it. He quickly understood, his voice husky with emotion. “You brat, don’t you dare forget me, even when you’re gone.” “If, and I mean *if*, Serena ever asks about me, just tell her to come to Lily’s and my grave.” The System and I had agreed: after my death, I would lose my physical body and become a wisp of a soul, able to float around Serena. Perhaps it was out of stubbornness, but I desperately wanted to know Serena’s reaction when she learned the truth. Would she repent? Would she admit her mistakes? Or would she remain indifferent, unbothered? After hanging up, I received a SnapChat message from Serena. “Where are you? Come pick me up at the hospital, now.” “I’m coming home, alright?” Her imperious tone made it sound like her willingness to return was some colossal act of grace. Out of spite, I typed out one last message: “When you get home, don’t open the closet in Lily’s room. I’m afraid you’ll regret it when you see what’s inside.” She replied quickly. “What are you rambling about? What is there for me to regret?” Serena kept messaging me, urging me to pick her up, but she never got another reply. By the time she FaceTimed me, I was already dead. That feeling of being ripped from my physical body… it was truly unbearable. I floated over to Serena. To my surprise, she hadn’t stayed at the hospital to care for Noah. She actually intended to go home. After waiting for my call to go unanswered, she reluctantly called a cab. As soon as she got in, she received a call from Lily’s school teacher. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Serena, I know you’re busy, but Lily’s father’s phone has been unreachable, so I had no choice but to call you.” “We teachers are all very saddened by Lily’s passing. Please accept our condolences. When do you have time to come to the school to pack up her belongings?” Serena’s eyes glazed over, her mouth agape. She couldn’t utter a single word for a long moment. “Hello? Mrs. Serena, can you hear me?”

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I was struck down by Julian’s kept woman, leaving me paralyzed and stuck in a perpetual twilight. Julian, seemingly consumed by guilt, visited my hospital room daily to massage me. His apparent kindness moved me, and I fought against the agony, hoping to surprise him with my recovery. But one day, while feigning sleep, I overheard my attending doctor ask him: “Mr. Hayes, the muscle tissue samples from your wife are too frequent. At this rate, she’ll be permanently disabled.” Julian’s voice was cool, detached. “Tiffany’s Immortal Bloom is dying. Scarlett has longevity genes; her flesh and blood can bring the flower back to life.” Only then did the chilling truth dawn on me. His gentle massages weren’t acts of care. They were him, meticulously carving off the freshest flesh from my numb legs, slice by agonizing slice. But he didn’t know. The secret to my longevity was this: my blood carried a deadly poison. I lay in the hospital bed, tubes snaking into my body, every breath feeling like a dull blade scraping my throat. After the car crash, Dr. Reed said my spinal cord was damaged. The paralysis was temporary, and with consistent physical therapy, I might walk again. But Julian didn’t care about any of that. He sat by my bed, gently stroking my numb legs, his voice soft, like he was comforting a child. “Scarlett, don’t be scared. The pain will be gone soon.” I tried desperately to wiggle my toes, but they were nailed to the bed, utterly motionless. Dr. Reed stood by, frowning as he flipped through my medical chart. “Mr. Hayes, she just experienced a major hemorrhage. The risk of amputation right now is too great; it could lead to…” “To her death?” Julian chuckled softly, his fingertips tracing my knee, as if measuring something. “It’s fine. I trust your medical skills.” The doctor paused, then couldn’t help but ask, “Why does it have to be now?” Julian lifted his gaze, the tenderness in his eyes vanishing instantly, replaced by cold calculation. “Tiffany’s Immortal Bloom is dying.” The Immortal Bloom. My heart lurched. That was the flowerpot I’d accidentally shattered when I walked in on him and Tiffany. He’d gripped my throat then, his words slow and deliberate. “Do you know how precious this flower is? If it dies, you’ll pay for it.” So, this was what he meant by “pay.” Using my flesh and blood to nurture a flower Tiffany had cultivated! “Don’t worry. As soon as the flower comes back to life, I’ll bring her home.” He leaned in, whispering into my ear as if sharing a secret endearment, “Be a good girl, Scarlett. Just bear with it a little longer.” I struggled to open my mouth, wanting to scream, to ask him why he was so cruel to me! But at that moment, I couldn’t even summon the strength to cry. Julian suddenly noticed my gaze and froze slightly. “Scarlett, are you awake? Do you still recognize me?” I stared at him, unable to utter a sound. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly put on that mask of deep affection, urging Dr. Reed to examine me. The doctor pulled open my eyelids, and a blinding white light seared into my eyes. I held my nerves taut, forcing my eyes to remain still, suppressing even the slightest twitch. Dr. Reed frowned, putting down his penlight, his voice flat. “No pupil reaction. Just physiological eye-opening. Her consciousness hasn’t returned.” Julian’s tense shoulders subtly relaxed. Then, he leaned down and pulled me into his arms. His chest pressed against mine, his heartbeat a calm rhythm, his breath warm and steady. He seemed genuinely worried. Seemed. But I knew this deep, loving embrace was laced with deadly poison. Julian held me, his voice trembling, even squeezing out a single tear. “Scarlett, Dr. Reed said your leg is deteriorating rapidly. If we don’t amputate soon, you might not even make it…” Liar! I shook my head violently, but my body felt nailed down, only managing weak tremors. He choked back a sob, his thumb gently stroking my face, as if comforting a foolish child. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here. I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life.” Then, feigning reluctance, he turned to Dr. Reed and nodded. “Go ahead.” I was forcibly wheeled into the operating room. The moment the surgical knife cut through my skin, my pain receptors felt sluggish, delayed. But I could hear. I could hear the grinding sound of the saw cutting through bone. I could hear Julian standing nearby, quietly telling the doctor. “Take the freshest segment. Tiffany’s flower can’t wait.” I lay there, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling, remembering the first time he kissed me, when he’d smiled and said. “Scarlett, is your blood sweet? Why am I so addicted to it?” Yes, Julian. My blood is sweet. Sweet enough… to kill you.

The anesthetic washed over me like a tide, pulling me into a chaotic dream. In the dream, Julian waited for me in the rain. I ran to him, holding my umbrella, tilting it towards him on tiptoe, letting half my body get soaked. He frowned, pushing my hand away, “Don’t stand so close. Annoying, isn’t it?” That night, I had a fever of 102 degrees, but he didn’t even offer a word of concern. Later, I found out he was on endless calls with Tiffany, from late night until early morning. I always thought it was my fault, that I pushed too hard, that I wasn’t understanding enough. Only now did I realize. In his eyes, I was worth less than one of Tiffany’s flowers. … *Bang!* The hospital room door burst open, and I struggled to pull my consciousness from the swamp of anesthesia. “Tiffany, are you sure you want to be in here?” Julian’s voice was syrupy sweet, sickly cloying. “What if she suddenly wakes up?” “What’s there to be afraid of?” Tiffany chuckled softly, her footsteps nearing my bed. “Dr. Reed said she’ll be unconscious for at least three days.” The mattress dipped slightly as someone sat down. Tiffany whined playfully, “But I’m still scared, you know? The last time I hit her, there was so much blood. It was disgusting, gave me nightmares for a whole week!” My blood ran cold. Tiffany was the one who drove the car that hit me?! Julian’s tone was impatient: “Don’t bring that up.” “What, feeling sorry for her?” Tiffany snorted. “If she hadn’t suddenly rushed out, I wouldn’t have had to slam on the brakes.” “But speaking of which, the baby in her belly was incredibly stubborn. So much blood, and it still didn’t come out completely. You were the one who signed for the forced D&C in the end.” “Do you think she’ll be mad at you if she finds out?” A baby?! A bolt of lightning struck me, and my heart nearly seized. I… was pregnant? And my own husband had personally killed his own child! “What if she knows,” Julian sneered. “She loves me so much, how could she ever blame me?” Tiffany giggled. “True. By the way, we’ve tried her bedroom, her shower… We haven’t tried it right in front of her yet.” “And you said you were scared?” Julian’s breathing hitched. “She’s asleep all day anyway, she won’t know.” Tiffany’s nails scraped across my bedsheets, arousing and seductive. “Since we’re seeking thrills, let’s go all the way, shall we?” The bed frame began to shake. I bit down hard on my tongue, my soul ripped apart. One half screamed, roared, bled tears! The other half lay like a corpse, unable to even twitch an eyelash. Julian, how could you?! The agonizing pain and despair tore at my nerves, and I finally plunged back into darkness. When I woke again, Julian was sitting by the bed, peeling an apple. Seeing my eyes open, he immediately put on a surprised expression: “Scarlett? You’re finally awake!” His acting was flawless. So flawless, it made me want to vomit. I wanted to scream, to rip apart his hypocritical face, but only fragmented gasps escaped my throat. “Don’t rush, Dr. Reed said you need to recover slowly.” He gently took my hand, his thumb stroking the needle marks on my wrist. “Tiffany came to see you. She’s been feeling really guilty.” Guilty?! My pupils constricted sharply. Julian misunderstood my reaction and sighed softly. “She didn’t mean to hit you. The brakes failed that day. Can you forgive her, please?” I stared at him, wishing my gaze could morph into blades, tearing his flesh, piece by agonizing piece! But he just smiled, ruffled my hair, and then turned to the door. “Tiffany, come in.” Tiffany timidly walked in, holding a bouquet of pure white lilies. “Scarlett, I’m so sorry.” Her eyes were red-rimmed, as if she’d been crying for a long time. “I really didn’t mean to hit you.” I stared at her perfectly manicured nails. It was *those* hands that gripped the steering wheel and sent my baby flying! But Julian said, “Scarlett didn’t object, so she’s forgiven you.” The look of guilt instantly vanished from Tiffany’s face, and she smiled sweetly at him. Julian stroked her head, then turned to me. “Oh, by the way, Tiffany’s on vacation recently. How about I have her take care of you?” Take care? More like monitor me! Of course, I didn’t want that, but Julian wouldn’t even let me refuse, forcibly deciding for me. Sunlight filtered coldly through a gap in the curtains, spilling onto my pillow. There, my phone screen silently lit up. A small red dot in the top left corner pulsed, a steady rhythm in the darkness.

Julian gently tucked a strand of hair behind Tiffany’s ear. “Tiffany, Scarlett is counting on you.” Tiffany nodded obediently: “Don’t worry, Julian, I’ll take good care of Scarlett, I won’t let you worry at all.” She deliberately emphasized “take care,” then casually picked up a fruit knife from the bedside table. My back instantly tensed. Tiffany slowly, deliberately, brought the fruit knife closer. The sharp blade glinted coldly in the sunlight. “Scarlett, let me peel an apple for you. Julian said you love apples the most.” She smiled sweetly, but the knife tip tilted subtly towards me. I wanted to escape, but I was utterly trapped. The blade slid slowly along the apple skin, each movement feeling like it grazed my own flesh. “Oh, I forgot.” Tiffany suddenly stopped, feigning surprise as she covered her mouth. “Scarlett can’t eat anything right now.” She then threw the perfectly peeled apple into the trash can, right in front of me. Just then, the hospital room door opened, and a middle-aged woman in an expensive suit walked in. It was Julian’s mother, Eleanor. “Tiffany! What are you doing?!” Eleanor snatched the knife from Tiffany’s hand, then tenderly gripped her fingers. “You’re pregnant, how can you be doing such rough work?” Tiffany shyly lowered her head: “Mrs. Hayes, I’m fine. I just felt so bad seeing Scarlett like this.” Eleanor swept a disgusted glance over me. “She deserves it! Crossing the road without looking, couldn’t even keep a baby. If she dies, it’s her own fault!” So that’s it. Tiffany was pregnant, that’s why they were so tolerant of her. Julian must have written a letter of forgiveness for me, allowing her to parade around in front of me like this. But she had a child. What about me?! Who would champion my baby, forcibly scraped away from me! Eleanor affectionately embraced Tiffany. “Come on, Tiffany. Come stay at my house. This unlucky place is bad for the baby, you should come less.” Then she cast a cold glance at me. “Some people, even paralyzed, cling on desperately. If she were sensible, she’d just end it herself, instead of dragging others down.” Tiffany’s lips imperceptibly curled into a faint smile at that. Eleanor then asked, “By the way, how’s the flower you’re cultivating? Has it been saved?” Tiffany frowned, a worried expression on her face. “Not too well. Not enough fertilizer.” Her gaze meaningfully landed on me. Julian followed her line of sight and casually said, “Then just plant Hope in the flowerpot as fertilizer.” Hope?! That was the name I’d chosen for my future child! I mustered every ounce of my strength, forcing out two raspy words from my throat. “H-Hope…” Julian paused, then walked over to stroke my face, but his words sent me plummeting into an icy abyss. “Don’t worry, it’s just the placenta. It’s a waste to throw it away, so it’s perfect for the Immortal Bloom.” I tried to speak again, but those two words had drained all my energy. Tiffany feigned concern, pulling at his sleeve. “Julian, won’t Scarlett be sad?” “This is her compensation for your flower.” Julian comforted her, patting her hand, then turned to me. “Scarlett is the most understanding, right?” I glared at them, wishing I could flay that despicable pair alive. Tiffany suddenly gasped, “Oh no, I forgot to water the Immortal Bloom! It’ll wither if I’m late!” Julian followed her without hesitation, not even sparing me a glance as he left. Eleanor lingered, looking down at me from above. “See? If you have any conscience left, you’d pull out your own oxygen tube. Don’t get in the way of their happy family of three.” The moment the door closed, a single tear finally slipped from the corner of my eye. I slowly raised my trembling hand, little by little, clenching it into a fist. Julian would never know that my office windowsill was once filled with potted plants. Every single one was a gift from him. And every single one, I had secretly watered with my own blood. They would grow wildly within months, blooming into eerie flowers, only to wither, rot, and turn into a pool of putrid blood at their most vibrant moment.

Laughter occasionally drifted from the hallway, carried by the orderlies. “That paralyzed woman in Room 302, I heard her husband and his mistress are getting married, and she’s still clinging to life in the hospital.” “Her mother-in-law comes here every day to curse at her. If it were me, I’d have jumped off a building already.” Their discussions were low enough to be discreet, yet loud enough for me to hear. At noon, Tiffany pushed the door open: “Scarlett, I’m here to see you!” Her eyes were curved in a sweet smile, but right in front of me, she unplugged my oxygen tube and plugged in her phone to charge. “Oops, I forgot you needed to breathe.” She feigned surprise, but made no move to plug it back in. “Just bear with it, my phone’s only at 10%.” My chest heaved violently, and my vision swam with black spots. She, however, smiled, pulled out her tablet, and played a video. It was our wedding home. Julian had Tiffany pressed against the bed, his tie hanging loosely around his neck. “Julian, who’s better, me or Scarlett?” Tiffany’s voice in the video was soft and seductive. Julian chuckled softly, “Of course, you are.” “Then when will you make me the real Mrs. Hayes?” “What’s the rush?” His voice was full of satisfied laziness. “Once her blood is drained, I’ll marry you.” The video cut off abruptly. Tiffany tilted her head, looking at me: “Scarlett, your face looks so pale. Are you too touched?” I trembled all over, desperately pressing the call button. When Julian and Dr. Reed burst in, Tiffany suddenly shrieked, stumbling backward! “Ah! My stomach!” She clutched her abdomen, her eyes watery as she looked at Julian. “I was just so happy Scarlett could move, I wanted to help her up, but she shoved me hard!” Dr. Reed immediately rushed to check her condition, and Julian’s gaze instantly turned icy. “Scarlett!” He grabbed my throat. “You knew Tiffany was pregnant and you still pushed her!” I wanted to protest, but the lack of oxygen made breathing difficult, let alone speaking. Tiffany, hiding behind Julian, sobbed: “Scarlett, you also lost a child, how could you be so vicious…?” Julian’s face darkened further. He said coldly to me, “From today on, all your medical expenses are cut off. When you realize your mistake, then we’ll resume payments!” After they left, I clutched my throat, gasping for air. Listening to the faint beeping of the monitor, I silently made a resolution. … Three days later, Julian received a call from Dr. Reed. “Mr. Hayes, it’s terrible! Your wife, along with her leg, is completely gone!” When Julian rushed to the hospital, the entire cold storage unit was empty. Inside the cabinet where my severed leg should have been, there was only a pool of dark red blood, slowly dripping through the cracks. “How could this happen?!” At that very moment, across the city. The night wind howled as I stood on the edge of a tall building, looking down at the entire city. My phone screen lit up, Julian’s messages popping up one after another. “Scarlett, where are you?” “Stop messing around, come back!” “What happened to your leg?!” I let out a soft chuckle, my finger tapping lightly on the screen, replying: “Julian, haven’t you always wanted to know why my blood is sweet?” At the hospital. Julian furiously kicked open the door to my room, only to find the bed empty. “Where is she?!” He grabbed the night orderly by the collar. “Where is my wife?!” The orderly trembled in fear: “Ms. Evans left by herself last night. She said she was going home.”

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Julian always said his love was eternal, a vow meant to last until death. So when another girl and I fell into the water, he chose to save her first. By the time they pulled me out, I was almost gone. Later, someone sent me flowers, and he completely lost it in front of me. What? Didn’t he say he didn’t love me anymore? Why is he now on his knees, tearing up, like his heart’s been ripped out? The moment I saw Julian, I couldn’t stop myself from following him. I just told myself: *Just one look, Chloe. See what his new girlfriend looks like.* “Julian, your new lady is stunning!” I followed the speaker’s gaze and spotted a girl among a crowd of men in tailored suits. Her long hair cascaded down her back, and her fair skin glowed. A form-fitting, dusty rose long dress highlighted her elegant, almost regal, demeanor. Julian offered a reserved smile, silently acknowledging her as his girlfriend. Memories surged through my mind like a restless tide, and in the next second, our eyes locked. The moment his gaze met mine, my heart clenched. Those eyes, once so tender they could drown me in their depths, were now distant, indifferent. Under the sunlight, Julian’s handsome face seemed to radiate a chill. He exchanged a few polite words with those around him, then started walking towards me. “What are you doing here?” Julian’s voice always had a deep, calm quality, but this time, his question carried an edge of impatience. Right. What was I even doing here? I just wanted a quick peek, then I was supposed to leave. I wanted to ask him why he’d found a new girlfriend the very next day after we broke up. Didn’t I deserve an explanation? But the words caught in my throat, my eyes burned with tears, and my voice felt like it was ripping apart. I didn’t know why. Just a week ago, we were madly in love, and now we were strangers. Seeing me like this, Julian, usually the most patient person, completely lost his composure. He turned his face away, frowning. “I hate it when women cry, and I can’t stand it when they cling. Go home. I don’t want my fiancée to see you.” I snapped my head up. The word “fiancée” hit me like a hammer, shattering my last line of defense. “You had a fiancée all along? What was I, then? Your mistress? Your dirty little secret?” Over his shoulder, I saw Julian’s fiancée walking toward us, the warm sunlight glinting off the ring on her ring finger. I looked down at Julian’s ring finger—sure enough, an identical ring. Before the tears could fall, I quickly turned away, trying my best to walk calmly and with dignity. I touched the ring on my left ring finger, the one Julian had given me almost a year ago. It was easy to put on, but impossible to take off, as if it had grown into my flesh. Removing it now would tear me apart. I walked, wiping away tears, and then threw that ring into the grass by the roadside. “He’s just a guy. I’ll find another one. It’s not like I can’t live without him,” I muttered to myself, trying to console my shattered heart, but the overwhelming tears wouldn’t stop. There was no bus stop near this club, and the wind on the road quickly dried my face. A car slowly pulled up beside me. It was Julian’s driver. “Miss Chloe, Mr. Julian asked me to pick you up and take you somewhere. He said he has the answers you’re looking for.” More like a final farewell than an answer.

“You shouldn’t have come looking for me today.” Julian’s voice was clean and low, yet it carried a chilling edge—the kind of coldness reserved for women he was done with. We sat across from each other, a table separating us. But it wasn’t just a table; it was a chasm of class. Julian came from a powerful, old-money family, deeply entrenched in politics and business. The only reason I, a grad student at a prestigious university, even knew a man from such an elite background was because I’d worked so hard to get where I was. I thought my excellent grades and looks made me special to him. After all, he’d been so good to me this past year. That ring was the best proof. But I’d overestimated myself. A man giving you a ring doesn’t mean anything. I looked at him with a hint of mockery. “Does your fiancée know you’ve been dating me all this time?” I pushed. “I’m really curious, Julian. When you bought me that ring and made all those promises, did you ever think about how you’d explain it away today?” My eyes were still red, and I tried to keep my voice steady. “May the deceitful choke on a thousand thorns!” If he’d had a fiancée all along, then this entire year—our dates, our hugs, our kisses, our passionate nights—they were all just a sordid affair? Julian’s gaze involuntarily darkened, and he simply mumbled, “I’m sorry.” “You suddenly disappeared because you were afraid I’d cling to you, right? You shouldn’t underestimate me, and you certainly shouldn’t overestimate yourself. I just needed a formal breakup. There’s no need to imagine me as some desperate woman clinging to you.” I fought hard to hold back the tears. If even one fell now, I’d truly be defeated. Just then, a little girl selling flowers came by with a basket full of roses. “Mister, buy a flower for your girlfriend! She looks like she’s about to cry.” Julian’s distant gaze flickered slightly, and he finally uttered, “She’s not my girlfriend.” The little flower girl shook her head, not believing him. Her voice was soft. “You’re lying! Last time you two were here, you bought a whole basket of flowers from me for this lady! You guys must have had a fight, right?” She continued, “My mom says lovers should learn to apologize.” Last summer, Julian had indeed bought a bouquet from that little girl and given it to me. At the time, it felt like nothing special, but today, it felt like a sharp blade piercing my heart. The flower girl left. Before Julian walked away, he took a call. His voice wasn’t too loud or too soft; I could hear it perfectly. His fiancée was playfully whining on the phone. “Julian, when you come home, remember to buy me flowers. You promised that no matter how much we fought, you’d always be the one to apologize and comfort me.” “Okay, I’ll apologize first and comfort you. Are tulips okay?” Julian’s tone was so gentle. Even during our sweetest moments, he had never spoken to me with such tenderness. I momentarily zoned out, then caught my reflection in the store’s decorative mirror behind him. My face was filled with pure envy. I looked just like a discarded doll, still longing to be picked up by its owner. I instantly pulled my gaze from his phone, trying to keep my face calm and my dignity intact. It wasn’t until he was gone that I realized my face was completely soaked with tears. Before Julian left, I, as if possessed, asked, “You don’t want me anymore, do you?” He was in a hurry to go buy flowers for his fiancée and simply dropped, “Yes, I don’t,” before walking away.

My story with Julian began last summer. Julian was three years older than me. My cat, Pumpkin, had snuck into his car. Julian was resting with his eyes closed inside. His features were exquisite, yet not effeminate. Every line of his eyes and brows exuded an air of good breeding and upbringing. When I found Pumpkin, she was comfortably curled up in his arms, acting like a shameless, flirty cat utterly charmed by a handsome face. We connected because of the cat and exchanged contact information. Every step of our beginning was initiated by him. That year, a typhoon hit, and the authorities warned citizens to stay indoors. Unfortunately, I got appendicitis and was in agonizing pain. Julian was at a conference in another city at the time. I don’t know how he managed to rush back. Dark clouds hung low over the city, and the rain poured relentlessly. Julian drove through flooded streets, his car splashing through one pool of water after another. At one point, his car skidded and crashed into a roadside barrier. When I woke up after surgery, Julian was asleep on the hospital bed next to mine, half his face buried in the pillow, the other half exposed. He slept soundly. He was tall, and only half of him fit on the bed. His white shirt stretched taut across his broad shoulders, and his belt cinched his waist, making his legs look incredibly long. I was lost in admiration when he suddenly opened his eyes, propped himself up from the bed, and asked in a hoarse voice, “You’re awake.” “Thank you,” I said, blushing. I vaguely remembered calling him when the pain was unbearable last night. Afterward, to show my gratitude, I invited him to my apartment for dinner. My parents had rented this apartment for me after I got into grad school. Our family was comfortable, solidly middle-class, but we were still far behind the wealthy families in Silverwood City. Our relationship was always in an ambiguous stage; it never progressed further. So, I thought it was time for me to take the first step. One day, as we were walking home after buying groceries, a drunkard was banging on my door. I recognized him: Blake, a senior from my grad program who had been relentlessly pursuing me. I had a terrible impression of him, and I had no idea how he’d gotten my address. Blake glanced at me, then at Julian beside me, sizing him up from head to toe. He immediately sneered, “No wonder you rejected me. You found yourself a rich playboy. Women really are materialistic, aren’t they? How much did he pay you to sleep with him?” I was furious, but Julian remained calm. He comforted me, telling me to go inside and he’d handle things out here. I slipped into my apartment, leaving the door slightly ajar. I watched as the previously gentle and well-mannered Julian kicked Blake straight into the fire escape, followed by Blake’s screams. After that, Blake never called the police. Instead, the apartment building suddenly had more security guards, and the property manager called me several times to check in, saying someone had specifically requested it. Julian and I were comfortable together, but we never defined our relationship. Perhaps we both enjoyed the ambiguity, testing the waters, waiting for one of us to make the first move. One rainy evening, Julian came over for dinner as usual. I had a little red wine, and feeling playful, I played a violin piece. Then I intentionally hit a wrong note. I looked at him with a mischievous glint in my eyes. “What do I do? I messed up.” Julian sat on the couch, legs splayed, arms crossed. After a low chuckle, he stood up and pulled me into a hug. “It’s okay. I like you. I like you even when you mess up.” Our relationship finally clicked open because of a single wrong note on the violin. I officially became Julian’s girlfriend. From that day on, we finally acted like a normal couple, sharing hugs, kisses, and intimate moments deep into the night. …But the dream ended too quickly. Julian was going to marry someone else. Just as I was lost in thought, a car swerved and hit me. The driver was a girl. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to! Are you okay? You’re not going to die, are you? W-what am I going to do? I don’t want to go to jail! I’m getting married! My kids will have a criminal record… ” I felt like she was crying more than I was. “I’m not going to die. I think it’s just a broken bone,” I sighed inwardly. I was actually comforting *her*. The girl was still panicked. She made a quick call to someone she knew, her voice choked with tears. “Julian, I hit someone…” My heart sank. *No way. It can’t be that much of a coincidence.* I looked closely at the girl’s face, then at the engagement ring on her hand. It was the same girl I’d seen at the club.

Julian and his fiancée, Stella, ended up taking me to the hospital. Julian and I, by unspoken agreement, pretended not to know each other. At the hospital, Stella was incredibly concerned about me. From her demeanor and cheerful personality, it was clear she came from a privileged background, a truly sheltered princess. The car she drove was worth a fortune. She and Julian were clearly a perfect match, a union of two prominent families. “Turns out we go to the same university! That’s great! I’ll pick you up for classes while you’re recovering.” Stella’s voice was genuinely caring. A bitter feeling welled up inside me. If Julian’s fiancée had been some demanding, unreasonable woman, I could at least tell myself he deserved whatever bad karma he got for leaving me. But this girl was a sweet but naive beauty. *Any man would fall for her, wouldn’t they?* “No, it’s just a minor fracture. I can manage on my own.” Stella grabbed Julian’s arm and shook it gently, her voice intimately close. “Julian, please, you have to convince her! I feel so guilty, I won’t be able to sleep tonight!” Julian indulged her completely. “I know you feel guilty, but we have to respect… ” He paused imperceptibly, then continued, “Miss Chloe’s wishes.” I managed a bitter smile. “I have a boyfriend. He’ll take care of me. You don’t need to worry too much.” Stella’s guilt visibly eased. She leaned in, gossiping, “You’re so pretty, your boyfriend must be super handsome! Since we’ve met through this accident, let’s exchange SnapChat info! We can hang out sometime!” I turned my head to look at Julian. His lips slowly tightened, and his eyes held a coldness. I wanted to ask him if hearing about my boyfriend made him uncomfortable. *You have no right to question me now, Julian,* I thought. But that expression only lasted a few seconds. *Hmph, I was just imagining things. Why would he care about an ex when he has someone new?*

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Julian’s young niece had been stalked, brutally violated, and died a horrific death. And he made me strip bare, forcing me to my knees in front of her memorial service, demanding I beg for forgiveness. My arms instinctively crossed over my chest, trying desperately to cover myself, but Julian just gave a chilling smirk. His cold, heartless voice shattered the last shred of my hope. “Harper, why wasn’t it *you* who died?” He shoved me hard, sending me sprawling to the floor. My hand instinctively flew to my stomach. But the next moment, his mocking voice, devoid of all mercy, pierced my ears. “Harper, look at you. You look utterly pathetic, don’t you?” With that, he sneered, his eyes filled with disgust, then gave a subtle nod to a few tough-looking guys lingering by the door. Panic instantly seized me. My eyes pleaded with him, but he just ignored me. He only looked at the photo on the altar, a tender expression on his face, and softly said, “Chloe, I’ve avenged you.” That very day, I was violated by those thugs right there in the memorial service. My unborn baby. Gone. I finally gave up. The love I had forced simply wasn’t meant for me.

One by one, the thugs finally pulled away from me. I lay on the ground, like a shattered doll, covered in angry bruises, a spreading pool of blood beneath me. My eyes were dead, lifelessly rolling. I heard the thugs’ jeers and crude jokes. “This chick’s got real soft skin, huh? Pretty fun.” “Tell me about it. Can’t believe that guy actually gave us his own wife to mess around with.” Listening to the stream of insults, my face remained blank. But when I heard Julian’s name again, my heart still gave a violent lurch. I simply closed my eyes, trying to shut it all out. But then, the thugs suddenly pulled out a camera. The click of the shutter jolted me awake. I could only curl into myself, a desperate, helpless wreck. “Bossman, we can’t take pictures like this. Maybe… maybe we should just forget it?” One of the thugs seemed to have a flicker of conscience, a moment of hesitation in his eyes. A sliver of hope sparked within me, and my curled body relaxed for a second. The next moment, Julian’s cold voice rang out. “Keep taking pictures. Otherwise, you won’t get a single cent of that ten grand.” The thugs, hearing this, quickly obeyed, not daring to hesitate again. “Julian, please don’t do this.” My eyes no longer held the deep love they once did, only a desperate plea. Julian’s lips tightened, and his tall frame stiffened slightly. *Harper… why was she looking at him like that? No, it’s fine. Everything will be fine once Harper atones.* Julian could only silently reassure himself. And the thugs, seeing me curled up, simply reached out and yanked at me. Two of them pulled my arms wide apart, while another violently spread my legs. In this utterly humiliating position, I was forced to face Julian. He remained impassive, his expression flat. His eyes even held a hint of disgust and impatience. “Hurry up. We have other things to do.” He glanced at me, bored, and walked straight towards Chloe’s framed photo on the altar. I clearly saw the deep pain and helplessness buried in his eyes. And the name Chloe, whispered like a broken prayer. All of it stabbed deep into my heart. But I was his wife, wasn’t I? Then, one of the thugs called out, “Mr. Julian, everything’s done. Take a look.” Julian looked at me, trembling on the ground, his eyes complex. Then he took the camera and quickly scrolled through the images. His gaze suddenly froze, and pain resurfaced in his eyes. I thought he was feeling sorry for me. But then he blurted out, “Chloe, how much pain you must have been in that night. It’s all my fault.” His face contorted, like a trapped animal fighting for breath, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at my photos. Only then did I realize he was thinking of Chloe again. Julian quickly flipped through them, then threw the camera back to the thugs. In an instant, his gaze turned to me, sharp as an ice blade, cutting right through me. “Harper, I want you to feel every bit of that pain too.”

Julian strode towards me, grabbed me, and dragged me out the door. My skin scraped against the rough ground, quickly leaving me covered in blood. Some patches of skin were completely torn away. I let out continuous gasps of pain, but Julian ignored me. He looked at me with disgust, his voice hoarse, filled with deep sorrow. “So you know what pain is, don’t you? But my Chloe was only eighteen this year. How could you be so cruel, seeing her in trouble and doing nothing, ruining her life?” Listening to Julian’s harsh accusations, I shook my head repeatedly. “Julian, I was going to get help! I didn’t think Chloe would…” Julian cut me off. His large hand shot out, clamping around my neck, strangling me. His eyes were bloodshot, and the strength in his grip steadily increased. “Harper, if it wasn’t for you, how could my Chloe have died?!” He wouldn’t listen to my explanations, his expression one of pure hatred, as if he wanted to kill me. Only when my eyes rolled back into my head, my vision blurred as I gasped for air, did he violently shove me into the car. I slammed into the window, and in an instant, streaks of blood appeared on the glass. A flicker of guilt immediately crossed Julian’s eyes, but it vanished just as quickly. He repeatedly told himself that the person in front of him was a murderer. Chloe was someone he had raised himself. How could she be so heartless? In an instant, a renewed resolve flashed in Julian’s eyes. *Harper should pay for her mistakes. I’m just helping her.* When the car door opened again, I was terrified to see that it was *that* alley again. Julian saw the fear in my eyes and simply stroked my hair, trying to soothe me. “Just stay here one night, and I’ll forgive you, okay?” Since Chloe’s incident, it was the first time I’d heard Julian use such a gentle tone. But I shook my head, biting my dry, peeling lips, my voice hoarse. “Julian, I really didn’t do it. Please, believe me?” My heart was filled with despair. I couldn’t think of any other way but to beg Julian. Julian’s body stiffened for a moment. After a pause, he spoke again in that gentle voice, “Harper, I believe you. If you stay here for one night, I won’t pursue this any further.” My joy hadn’t even had a chance to bloom before the latter half of his sentence plunged me into hell. My heart was heavy with disappointment. Julian still wouldn’t believe me. Seeing that I remained silent, Julian’s patience ran out. He tugged at his tie, his expression annoyed as he stared intently at me. After a while, someone reminded him that things were about to start. He looked at me with hesitation. After a long moment, he closed his eyes, and when they opened, only grim determination remained. He yanked me out of the car. I lost my footing and fell to the ground. The rough pebbles on the asphalt once again bit into my skin. Julian watched, unblinking, his fingers clenching and then relaxing. “Harper, I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning.” With that, he heartlessly left me, tossing only a thin jacket to cover myself. I watched in despair as his car drove further and further away. That jacket was one Chloe had picked out for him. Chloe was the child of a family friend he had adopted. Every time something related to Chloe happened, Julian would lose control. I thought he just loved kids. But then, that night in his study, I discovered he harbored such disturbing intentions!

Chloe’s father and Julian were close family friends. Fifteen years ago, Chloe’s parents died together in a car accident. Before they passed, they entrusted Chloe to him. My mind replayed all of it. But just then, I heard the sound of footsteps. I turned back, terrified, to see it was the same men who had violated Chloe that night. I tried to stand, but my legs had no strength. I could only lie on the ground, inching forward, crawling with my body. Just as car lights appeared in front, I didn’t even have time to scream for help. I was dragged into the alley. In despair, I furiously clawed at the ground, but it was useless. I could only watch, helpless, as one man after another assaulted me again. My lower body started bleeding again. After the last man left his mark on me, a large crowd suddenly swarmed in. They immediately started snapping pictures with their cameras. Reporters. Frantically, I grabbed the tattered jacket from the ground to cover myself, but it was too damaged to conceal my whole body. “Stop! Please, stop taking pictures!” The reporters’ eyes showed a flicker of sympathy, but their hands didn’t stop. And then, Julian finally arrived, late. His face was cold. He immediately ordered the four men to be apprehended. Then he slowly crouched down and lifted me into his arms. As he walked past the reporters, admiring glances fell upon me, and envious whispers floated in the air: “How lucky she is! Even after all this, Mr. Julian came to rescue his wife himself.” Those voices clearly articulated the bitterness in my heart. But who knew all this pain was Julian’s doing? Until Julian carried me back to the car, I didn’t say another word. He looked at me silently, then made a call. “It’s handled. Thanks for the idea.” The person on the phone was my own brother – Leo. “No problem, brother-in-law. Harper made such a mistake; she should pay the price.” I understood. So, the idea to send me to that alley tonight was Leo’s. Leo, whom I had practically raised myself! Just because he liked Chloe, he would destroy me like this? I listened to their conversation in a daze. Even after Julian hung up, I remained lost in my own world. Julian’s hand unexpectedly landed on my shoulder. I reacted violently, shaking it off. Anger immediately flared in his eyes, but seeing my terrified expression, he reined it in. “Harper, you should be happy. I finally caught those four men.” He paused, then forcibly gripped my shoulders, turning my face to him, his expression matter-of-fact. “Harper, this time you’ve finally done something for Chloe. I’m sure her spirit won’t resent you anymore.” With that, Julian waited for me to embrace him as usual. But he waited a long time. Not only did I not reach out, my body began to tremble violently, my lips quivering. “Harper, what’s wrong?” My vision suddenly plunged into darkness. In the moment before I passed out, I saw genuine concern in Julian’s eyes. But I didn’t need him anymore. Five days later, When I woke up, I found myself not in a hospital, but at home. My entire body ached, as if my ribs had been ripped out, and I couldn’t help but groan. Julian glanced at me and explained, “You weren’t well enough for the hospital, so I brought you home. I gave you some medicine.”

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A month before I was supposed to marry Caleb Grayson, I got an anonymous email. It held a video of him and his assistant, Chloe, in a steamy embrace. The boy who swore he’d love me forever was covered in kiss marks, his eyes hazy. He looked straight into the camera, his voice cold. “Audrey Hayes? Ten years? I’m so over her.” I smashed the carefully chosen gifts. Then I jumped in my sports car, needing to blow off steam. But I crashed into a guardrail. Hard. As I lay in the hospital, I saw Caleb standing outside my room, his face etched with pain. I was about to rip into him. But then, a few lines of text floated before my eyes. [System, you jerk! You said staying away from the side character would keep her safe, but she still got hurt!] It hurt. A searing pain tore through my whole body. I curled up into a tight ball, my nails digging deep into my palms. “Audrey, Audrey, I’m so sorry, please… just be okay.” Someone knelt by the bed, their fingers trembling as they brushed my sweat-soaked hair. I tried hard to open my eyes, but my eyelids felt like lead. Warm liquid dropped onto my cheek. Through a hazy blur, I saw Caleb’s face. His expressive eyes, usually twinkling with humor, were now bloodshot, looking like they were about to bleed. Tears streamed down his face. I wanted to tell him to get lost, to stop pretending. But in the end, before I could even speak, I slipped back into unconsciousness. When I woke up again, it was two days later. Caleb sat by my bed, his suit crumpled like an old rag. His collar was loose, revealing a fresh scratch on his collarbone. My nails. I’d done that. “Stop playing dead.” My voice was hoarse. “Had enough of your little act, Mr. Grayson?” He snapped his head up, his eyes a stark, painful red. I wanted to scoff, but then I saw a line of glowing text float above his head: [Male lead’s heart pain value is at 99%! System warning: If he keeps crying, it will trigger forced hibernation!] “What…?” Before I could even process it, a torrent of messages flooded my vision: [System, you jerk! You said staying away from the side character would keep her safe, but she still got hurt!] [The male lead and his assistant are innocent! He hasn’t even held her hand! That video was AI-generated to fool her!] [Sweetheart, look at the male lead’s phone! His screen saver is your 18th birthday photo!] What system? What side character? What the hell were these pop-ups in front of me? I looked up at Caleb, wondering if he could see this bizarre display. Caleb was watching me too, his eyes swirling with an emotion I couldn’t understand. [Sweetheart, the male lead truly loves you so much! He’s like this because of this damn system.] [The assistant is a system-controlled “conqueror.” Her mission is to marry the male lead.] [If the male lead marries you, sweetheart, you’ll be erased on your wedding day. That’s why he put on this act, to make you give up.] [Waaaaah, my poor OTP! You worthless system, come out and get what’s coming to you!!!] The messages suddenly scrolled wildly, and my eyes widened in shock. Oh my God, what was going on? Had I hit my head in the crash and gone crazy? “Ca-Caleb, can you see that?” I stared intently at the endlessly scrolling messages above his head, my voice trembling with tension. “See what, Audrey? What’s wrong with you?” Caleb reached out to touch my forehead but froze midway. The messages suddenly exploded into a blood-red warning: [Sweetheart, you are the villainous side character, but the male lead defied the main plot and fell in love with you!] [Every time he gets close to you, one year will be taken from both your lives.] [Sweetheart, quickly pretend you hate the male lead. That’s the only way to fool the system’s monitor.]

I violently turned my head away. That simple movement extinguished the light in Caleb’s eyes. He slowly withdrew his hand, his knuckles white. “Audrey, you… you need to rest.” “Rest? Have you and your little assistant had enough rest?” I forced a sarcastic smile, my gaze sweeping over his red eyes. “Mr. Grayson, your acting is truly superb. You can even shed tears on command.” Caleb’s face instantly went pale. “Audrey, if I told you…” “Mr. Grayson!” Alex’s voice suddenly called from outside the door. “Ms. Chloe said you promised to go wedding dress shopping with her today.” Caleb’s body tensed instantly. He lowered his head. “Audrey, I’m sorry. I… I’m marrying Chloe Thompson. Our wedding is off.” His words felt like a dull knife twisting in my chest. I bit my lower lip, forcing out an even more cutting smile: “Mr. Grayson is certainly decisive. What are you waiting for? Go accompany your bride to try on dresses.” Alex’s voice chimed in perfectly from outside: “Mr. Grayson, Ms. Chloe said if you don’t go now, the bridal shop will close.” Caleb’s shoulders trembled. He slowly turned, his silhouette long in the light streaming through the door. “Audrey, take care of yourself.” The messages started scrolling frantically again. [Too heartbreaking, too heartbreaking. I can’t watch this. Why is the system breaking up my sweet couple?] [Waaah, at least the male lead and our girl’s lives are safe. I believe there must be another way!] [Yes! Our girl’s love now depends on us!] I lifted a hand to wipe away the tears I hadn’t realized were falling. My thoughts drifted back to the first time Caleb confessed to me. It was a beautiful spring day. The grass was green, the hills inviting. Fireworks burst in the night sky over the city, dazzling and dreamlike. Seventeen-year-old Caleb held a bouquet of blue roses, carefully. His beautiful, expressive eyes were deep and dark. When he turned his head, I noticed his ear tips were flushed pink. “Audrey, we’ve been childhood sweethearts, growing up together. I truly like you. Will you… will you be with me?” “I swear I’ll love you forever, protect you, and never let you be sad. Please… give me a chance.” My heart suddenly pounded, “thump-thump” echoing in my ears. I could clearly feel Caleb’s sincerity. He truly loved me. I stood on my tiptoes and hugged him back with all my strength. Caleb’s breath caressed my ear, bringing with it the scent of roses. “I will.”

“Audrey, my darling daughter, how could you have gotten into a car accident? You scared your mom to death, boohoohoo…” Before I could fully register what was happening, I was enveloped in a warm embrace. It was my mother, Susan. Usually so poised and composed, her hair was disheveled, and her eyes were filled with worry. Immediately after, my father, David, rushed to the bedside. His voice held a hint of责备: “Don’t hug her so tight! Audrey just woke up, and the doctor said she’s still very weak. Be gentle, don’t hurt her.” Seeing my parents’ concerned faces, my heart softened instantly. I shook my head, pushing aside the annoying pop-ups and the system. “Dad, Mom, I’m fine, don’t worry.” “You still say that! Do you have any idea how critical your condition was? If you hadn’t gotten emergency treatment in time, you might never have woken up.” Dad’s face was ashen, his fists clenched. “That heartless jerk, Caleb Grayson! How did he promise us when he asked for your hand? Where is he now, the scoundrel?” Mom also frowned. “Exactly. I know he’s busy with work. But Audrey, something so serious happened to you. How could Caleb not be by your side?” I lowered my eyes, concealing my complex emotions. Mom and Dad didn’t know Caleb had already broken off our engagement. How was I going to explain it to them? According to the messages, the system could erase me directly. Could it also hurt my parents…? Just as I was wrestling with this dilemma, the hospital room door suddenly swung open. A delicately dressed, charming woman entered. It was Chloe Thompson. “Who are you?” Mom frowned, her face full of vigilance. Chloe walked directly to my bedside. Her eyes were red, her voice choked with sobs. “Audrey, I’m here to apologize to you. If Caleb hadn’t fallen in love with me and broken off his engagement with you, you wouldn’t have been so heartbroken and gone racing, getting into such a serious car accident.” As she spoke, she gently wiped away her tears. The messages immediately started scrolling wildly again. [Oh my God, I can’t watch this. Chloe is doing this on purpose, just to provoke our girl and her parents.] [System, are you crazy? This manipulative snake can be the female lead?] [Damn conqueror, relying on the system to break up my pure love couple!] My parents stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief. Mom was the first to react, her voice trembling. “You… are you serious?” Dad’s face turned even paler with rage. He suddenly stood up, pointing at Chloe and yelling: “What is going on here? Who are you? Where’s Caleb? Tell him to get his butt over here and explain himself right now!”

Caleb arrived quickly. He first glanced at me, his eyes dark, filled with an unbearable sorrow. When he saw me looking at him, Caleb turned his head, avoiding my gaze. He walked straight to Chloe, frowning impatiently. “Who told you to come here? Didn’t I tell you not to bother Audrey?” Chloe sniffled and said: “Caleb, I… I just felt so bad for Audrey, I wanted to apologize.” Mom couldn’t hold back anymore. She rushed to Caleb, tears welling in her eyes. “Caleb, what did you promise us back then? You said you’d be good to Audrey your whole life, that you’d take care of her, cherish her. And now? You changed your mind so quickly?” Dad grabbed Caleb’s collar, yelling: “You need to give us, and Audrey, an explanation today, or this isn’t over! We treated you like our own son, and this is how you repay us?” I watched the chaotic scene before me, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside. I knew Caleb was being manipulated by the system, but I couldn’t defend him. Why… why were they doing this to us? Caleb lowered his head, his lips moved, but he didn’t say a word. Chloe spoke, looking utterly pitiful. “Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have come. Please don’t blame Caleb.” Dad’s anger completely erupted. He raised his hand and slapped Caleb hard, twice. “SLAP! SLAP!” The sharp sounds echoed through the hospital room. Caleb’s face instantly swelled, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. Chloe shrieked at the sight. “Ah! How dare you hit him? Don’t you know that’s against the law! Caleb!” “Shut up.” Caleb suddenly roared. His furious shout stunned everyone. A flicker of panic crossed Chloe’s eyes, but she quickly reverted to her pitiful demeanor. Tears hung precariously on her eyelashes. “You… you yelled at me?” Caleb ignored her. He slowly turned his head, his gaze filled with agony as he looked at me. “I owe Audrey everything. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, I’m sorry.” “Caleb, look at me!” Mom’s trembling hand reached out to touch his swollen face. “Have you forgotten what you said on your engagement day? You said you’d do everything you could to make Audrey happy…” Caleb’s body trembled slightly. His previously lowered head slowly rose. His eyes were bloodshot, hiding countless unspoken hardships. “I haven’t forgotten… but some things, I can’t control…” His words caught in his throat, unable to continue. “You can’t control them? Is there anything in this world more important than making Audrey happy? What about your vows? Did they mean nothing?” Dad’s hands clenched into tight fists, his knuckles white from the strain. “Caleb Grayson, if you don’t explain yourself today, you won’t leave this room! We treated you like our own son, and this is how you repay us?” Watching this scene, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, making it hard to breathe. A wave of helplessness washed over me, threatening to drown me. Caleb, I know you must be in even more pain than I am, right? “Dad, Mom, please don’t push him…” I couldn’t help but speak, my voice laced with a plea.

Mom clutched my IV hand, warm tears dripping onto my skin. “Silly child, he treated you like this, and you still want to speak up for him?” She suddenly turned to Chloe. “What spell did you cast on him?” Chloe let out a soft laugh, her finger tracing Caleb’s suit tie. It was the silver-grey one with subtle patterns, the one I had personally chosen for him. “Mrs. Hayes, Caleb merely… discovered someone more worth cherishing.” Dad suddenly exploded, grabbing Caleb’s collar. “I’ll ask you one last time! Are you sure you’re calling off the engagement with Audrey to marry this… this shameless woman?” Caleb’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently. Chloe collapsed into Caleb’s arms, her voice tearful. “Caleb, they’re saying such things about me! You promised me you wouldn’t let me suffer any injustice.” I propped my shaking body up against the headboard. Under Caleb’s perfectly tailored suit, his shoulder blades trembled subtly. His throat worked three times before he squeezed out the words: “Yes… I… I have to marry Chloe Thompson.” [CRASH.] Mom picked up a glass and violently hurled it at them. “Do you Graysons treat marriage like a child’s game?” Hot tea splashed onto Chloe’s high heels, making her gasp and take half a step back.

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My daughter suffered from severe heat sensitivity, where even slightly high temperatures caused her entire body to swell, and in extreme cases, lead to suffocation. So, I had always meticulously kept our home’s AC strictly controlled at 78 degrees Fahrenheit. But on my daughter’s birthday, my husband Liam’s female secretary, Chloe, used the excuse of feeling cold to blast the AC up to 86 degrees Fahrenheit while I was out. My daughter’s entire body quickly turned red and swollen. Ultimately, her throat swelled shut, and she suffocated to death. I gathered the evidence, intending to call the police, but Liam locked me in the walk-in freezer instead. He wrapped his arm around Chloe, then spoke to me with a solemn, lecturing tone: “Chloe just turned up the AC a little. You don’t need to ruin her life over it.” “What happened to Sarah was just an accident. Just pretend it never happened. If you’re willing to drop the charges, I’ll let you out.” Chloe, putting on an act, feigned distress and whined, “Sister-in-law, I was only trying to help you! Giving birth to that… freak was only dragging Liam down.” I froze. It seemed that in the years Liam had been living off my family, he had completely forgotten who he was. I let out a cold laugh, then directly sent a message to my dad: [Dad, please come pick me up in Silverwood. I’m going to make Liam vanish forever!]

After sending the text, I looked at Liam and said, “Liam, I advise you to let me out now, or you’ll regret it.” I glanced at the freezer’s temperature. Liam had cranked it down to minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit. I was shivering uncontrollably in my thin clothes. My skin was already turning purple. If this continued, I would freeze to death. Hearing my words, Chloe covered her mouth, a cruel giggle escaping. “Sister-in-law, at a time like this, are you still trying to threaten Liam?” She poked Liam’s chest with her finger, feigning concern for him: “Liam, I really feel sorry for you. She’s just a house-wife who relies on you. What right does she have to threaten you?” A flicker of guilt flashed in Liam’s eyes, but when he saw me glaring at him, he scoffed coldly. “Alice, hand over the evidence, and I’ll let you out immediately.” My eyes widened, and I slammed my fist against the freezer door. “Evidence? Why should I hand over the evidence? She knew Sarah had severe heat sensitivity! She killed our daughter! Sarah suffocated to death, choked by her own body!” “As Sarah’s father, are you actually protecting a murderer?!” Liam’s eyes darted away, but he still spoke with cold indifference, “Don’t bring Sarah’s illness into this. If it weren’t for your faulty genes, would Sarah have turned into such a freak?” My eyes burned with fury as I stared at him, unable to believe that our daughter, whom I’d loved for years, was now called a freak by her own father! “Besides, you lost your daughter, but if you accuse Chloe, her mother will lose her too.” “Pah!” I spat, cutting Liam off before he could finish. “Stop feeding me this garbage! There’s nothing wrong with my genes! She murdered my daughter, and she will pay for it with her life!” Liam looked at me with a face full of disappointment. “Alice, when did you become so selfish and terrifying?” He shook his head, then picked up a covered box next to him and unveiled it. “If you continue to be so stubborn, don’t blame me if I toss our daughter’s ashes. And I had someone look into it, they said it’s bad luck for a child to die at home. Her ashes are supposed to be disposed of.” As he finished speaking, I finally realized the box he was holding was Sarah’s urn! I stared at him in shock, as if this husband I had lived with for eight years was a complete stranger: “For this woman, you’re threatening me with our daughter’s ashes?!” As I looked at Liam, my eyes were already filled with nothing but disappointment. He had been a penniless guy back then. To be with him, I defied my father’s wishes and resolutely followed him to Silverwood to build our lives together. I leveraged every connection and resource I had to elevate his company to where it was today. After our lives stabilized, we decided to have a child. To have Sarah, I endured countless hardships, forcing down bitter medicines without a second thought. After Sarah was born, and we learned about her heat sensitivity, Liam had tenderly held me and Sarah, promising: He would protect me and our daughter forever. Yet, those vows gradually crumbled after Chloe joined the company. Liam, who used to come home after work every day to be with me and Sarah, started having more ‘business engagements’ and often didn’t come home at night. One time, I was running a scorching fever and wanted him to come home to take care of me and Sarah. But Chloe called him, saying she couldn’t get a cab, and he immediately left to take her home. And now, he knew Chloe was the one who killed our daughter, yet he still chose to protect her!

“Liam, if you don’t let me out now, we’re getting a divorce!” Hearing the word “divorce,” a triumphant glint sparked in Chloe’s eyes. She snatched the urn from Liam’s hands and looked at me with malicious intent. “Sister-in-law, stop threatening Liam with such words. Besides, I already had someone check. Sarah’s condition is a genetic issue. You say your genes are fine, and Liam’s genes are fine, so…” She covered her mouth, feigning discovery of a shocking secret: “Could Sarah be the child of you and some other man?” “Bullshit!” I shouted back, instinctively glancing at Liam. To my horror, I saw a flicker of doubt rise in Liam’s eyes after hearing Chloe’s words. My heart plummeted, and I demanded loudly, “Liam, we’ve been married for eight years! Do you still not trust me?!” Liam looked at me, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes. Before he could speak, Chloe burst into loud tears. “Forget it! Liam, it’s all my fault! I killed Sarah, so just let Sister-in-law take me away!” “I worked so hard to get into university, and I never expected my future to be ruined by something like this. This must be my fate.” Her face was streaked with tears, evoking Liam’s overwhelming pity. He quickly pulled her into a hug, comforting her softly, “Nonsense! This is clearly not your fault. Don’t worry, I won’t let you go to jail!” He turned his head to me. “Chloe’s right. Neither of our genes has problems, so Sarah can’t be my daughter! Alice, you really don’t need to quarrel with me over a bastard. Hand over the evidence now, or I’ll feed Sarah’s ashes to the dogs!” By this point, I had been in the freezer for an hour. My hands and feet were so stiff they felt immovable. Hearing Liam’s words, I found some unknown strength and slammed against the icy wall, screaming, “You wouldn’t dare! If you lay a hand on Sarah’s ashes, I’ll make sure you both have nothing left, not even a grave!” My words made Liam’s eyes show a hint of retreat, but Chloe seized the opportunity. She deliberately smashed our daughter’s urn to the ground, then said with an apologetic look: “Oh dear, Sister-in-law, my hand slipped.” Just as Sarah’s ashes spilled out, a large black dog rushed in from outside. Without a moment’s hesitation, it began greedily devouring Sarah’s ashes. “No! Don’t!” I screamed, my eyes bloodshot, but I couldn’t stop any of it. I could only watch helplessly as all of Sarah’s ashes were swallowed by the black dog. My vision went black. Before completely losing consciousness, I gritted my teeth and glared at the two of them. “Liam, you’ll never get the evidence from me. I will never rest until you both pay!”

When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital bed. The pain in my body confirmed that everything that had just happened was real. The thought of everything my daughter had endured made my eyes burn, hot with tears. But I knew I couldn’t collapse. I had to get justice for my daughter! I struggled to climb out of bed, clutching the evidence in my hand, ready to call the police. But before I could even leave the room, Chloe blocked the doorway with several men. “Sister-in-law, where are you going? You’re not still trying to report me, are you?” Seeing Chloe’s nose in the air, I said coldly, “Get out of my way!” Chloe scoffed. The bodyguards behind her immediately grabbed me and threw me back onto the bed. I couldn’t fight them off and could only scream, “Let me go! Let me go!” “Sister-in-law, how about I show you something?” Chloe pulled out a tablet. On the screen was the surveillance footage from my house. My daughter’s room, her sanctuary, had been turned into the black dog’s new kennel. All of Sarah’s belongings were piled in the yard and set ablaze. Watching my daughter’s last remaining possessions in the world being destroyed, I ignored my injuries and struggled wildly on the bed: “Bitch! Who allowed you to do this?!” Chloe pouted, her face a picture of innocence. “Why, Liam, of course! This little black dog is a stray I just found today, but seeing as it ate that bastard’s ashes, Liam agreed to let it use Sarah’s room as its kennel.” She leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Sister-in-law, you’re very angry, aren’t you? You’re right, I intentionally caused Sarah’s death, but so what? Your daughter is dead, but your husband only protects me.” She stood up and looked down at me. “You’re nothing but an aging woman clinging to Liam, losing your looks. Liam even said the pleasure I give him in bed is far more intense than anything you ever could.” I stared in shock, never imagining they had been secretly having an affair behind my back for so long. I shouted, “Everything Liam has today, I gave him. What do you think he’d be without me?! I’m warning you, let me go right now!” Chloe sneered. “You still think you can threaten me now? I’ve already dealt with your daughter. Once I deal with you, I’ll be Mrs. Gu Corporation.” Her face twisted in malice. “Tell me, what do you think Liam will say if he sees you being intimate with a group of strangers?” Hearing Chloe’s words, my face twisted in horror: “What exactly do you want to do?!”

A grotesque grin stretched across Chloe’s face. She clapped her hands, and seven or eight ragged, foul-smelling vagrants rushed into the hospital room from outside. The stench made me gag repeatedly. “Liam said, since you’re so fond of ‘cheating,’ then you should ‘enjoy’ this.” She had a bodyguard set up a camera, then said with a laugh, “Film this carefully. I want to make sure she can never show her face in public again!” A flicker of madness flashed in Chloe’s eyes. Hearing her, the vagrants all lunged at me. I recoiled in terror. “Get away! All of you, get away!” The vagrants’ hands touched my body, and the pain and revulsion made me tremble uncontrollably. Just as a vagrant pulled down my pants, Liam appeared at the doorway. Like I was seeing my savior, I stretched out my hand to him: “Liam, save me! I truly haven’t cheated! Sarah really is your daughter!” I had thought that after eight years of marriage, Liam, no matter what, wouldn’t stand by and watch me be humiliated by these vagrants. But he merely glanced at me, then looked away in disgust. He wrapped his arm around Chloe and said softly, “How can I let you do these disgusting things yourself?” “Don’t look, it’s sickening.” I froze in shock, momentarily forgetting to struggle. Eight years of marriage! He was the one who, back then, held me and personally promised to love me forever, to cherish me for a lifetime! Now, in his eyes, I was something dirty! A surge of pure hatred ignited every fiber of my being. I grabbed a fruit knife from the bedside table and screamed, “Don’t come any closer! If you do, I’ll kill you!” The vagrants exchanged nervous glances. Seeing my desperate, reckless demeanor, they actually didn’t dare to move forward. A flicker of malice crossed Chloe’s eyes. She huddled against Liam’s chest, feigning fear. “Liam, I’m so scared! Is Sister-in-law challenging your authority like this? Never mind, don’t let me cause trouble between you two. Liam, as long as you’re happy, just send me to jail.” Her words, feigning noble self-sacrifice, moved Liam deeply. The next second, he actually grabbed a nearby stool and brutally swung it at me. I was hit in the head, and the knife immediately dropped to the floor. “What are you waiting for? She might be a bit old, but I guarantee you’ve never tasted a woman like her in your life! What are you waiting for, go!” Hearing him, the vagrants swarmed me. My hands and feet were grabbed and held down. Wearing light summer clothes, it took less than a minute for my clothes and pants to be ripped off. I was left in just my underwear, exposed in a humiliating position before everyone. The vagrants’ thick lips roamed over my body, and their foul stench filled my nostrils. I screamed, “Liam, if you dare do this to me, my dad will never let you get away with it!” Liam scoffed coldly. “Your dad? Didn’t your dad die years ago?” He sighed, feigning generosity. “Alice, I told you before. If you just hand over the evidence now and kneel and kowtow 99 times to Chloe, how about I let you go? You don’t want your compromising photos all over Silverwood tomorrow, do you?” My skin was torn by the vagrants’ teeth. I endured the excruciating pain and screamed, “You wish! I’ll never let you get away with this! Never!” Liam, enraged, bellowed, “Are you just going to stand there talking?! Each of you, get on with it! I’d like to see who will protect an orphan like you besides me!” A bolder vagrant immediately dropped his pants and climbed onto me. Just as he was about to make his move, a gunshot echoed, and the vagrant’s skull shattered, sending him tumbling off the bed. Everyone was startled by the sudden turn of events. The next moment, the thunderous roar of helicopters filled the air outside the window. Liam looked over in fear, only to see dozens of sleek, all-black helicopters hovering just outside the hospital room. Then, a squad of highly-trained bodyguards stormed into the room. “I’d like to see who dares lay a hand on my daughter!” A furious roar erupted from outside. Hearing that familiar voice, tears welled up in my eyes. Seeing my dad rush in, I cried, “Dad!” My dad saw my miserable state and instantly rushed over in anguish, but Chloe immediately stepped in front of him:

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My first time getting sucked into a novel, and I woke up right in a psycho’s bed! But the villain… didn’t even flinch. That’s enough! Seriously, *enough*! Don’t you dare insult my body! 0 My name is Elara. I might be the only person in transmigration history to cross over because I literally *ate myself to death*. Alright, fine. Waking up inside a novel, I can deal with that. Becoming the villainess? I can deal with that too. But waking up in the villain’s bed, completely naked? How the hell am I supposed to deal with *that*? Nobody understands. The moment I opened my eyes, I felt something cold on my face. I focused, and holy hell, it was a blade pressed against my skin! “Dude, can we just talk this out?” My lips were trembling. Naked or not, at least I was alive. Better than being dead. “You’re not Elara,” he said, grabbing my chin, his gaze icy. This incredibly hot guy wore an ornate circlet, crimson earrings dangled from his lobes, and a distinctive mark was etched near his eye. Huh, he looked… familiar. Valerius? The one who seemed gentle and refined on the surface, but was actually a deranged psycho? “Ding-dong! Host’s system awareness has activated. You will now receive your quest.” What?! I have a system? Is this one of those villainess comeback stories? I’m totally familiar with those. “What’s the quest?” I thought, communicating with the system. “Host’s quest is to trigger hatred points. Incite hatred from all characters connected to you in this novel. Make everyone resent you.” *Trigger hatred points*? I hadn’t even dealt with the psycho in front of me yet. I’d probably be dead before I even started. Forget it, forget it. “If I’m not Elara, then who do you think I am?” I tried to dispel the villain’s suspicion first. “I don’t care who you are. You’re definitely here to break in this blade for me.” I felt the knife press in a little further, and I was about to be disfigured. Dammit, what do I do? I need to make him hate me, but I also need to save myself. A wild, crazy thought flashed through my mind. I grabbed his hand and shoved the blade towards *him*. If I was going to die, I might as well take him with me. We were incredibly close. Valerius didn’t resist, and the blade in his hand plunged right into his shoulder. Seriously? Is this psycho out of his mind? He didn’t even try to stop me?! I looked up at him. His face was filled with a terrifying excitement. He used his other hand to grip mine, pushing the blade even deeper. His blood stained my hand. I was completely numb! Thinking about killing someone and actually *doing* it are two totally different concepts! I wrapped myself in the blanket, leaped off the bed, grabbed some clothes from the changing screen, threw them on, and yanked open the door, bolting outside. I swear I’ve never sprinted so fast in my life. But after running a few steps, I pulled open the door and was frozen by what I saw. The ground was covered in poisonous scorpions! Between being killed and being bitten by poisonous bugs, I chose the former. I dashed back inside, slumped down by the door. Whatever. I was already exhausted. A soft chuckle echoed. I looked up. Valerius’s clothes were soaked with blood, but a gentle smile played on his lips. Why did he look so unnerving? I forced the most gentle smile of my life and said, “Valerius, how about we go outside first? The scorpions are about to crawl in.” “Come here.” His voice was deep and soft, but it sent a chill down my spine. In the original book, he always did the most vicious things with the gentlest expression. I walked over resignedly, my eyes filled with determination. My body wasn’t even warm yet, so if I died, I died. “How strange. Why is it that when *you* hurt me, I actually feel it?” It would be stranger if it *didn’t* hurt, I thought, rolling my eyes as I turned my head. “Stab me again, and I’ll take you outside.” Valerius placed the blade back in my hand, his eyes practically overflowing with anticipation. 0

You just can’t reason with a psycho. I gripped the blade, my hand shaking uncontrollably. Before, it was a crisis, so I acted without thinking twice. But now, in a normal situation, I couldn’t bring myself to do it! “Tsk, how boring.” I couldn’t bring myself to strike. Valerius seemed to lose interest. He simply scooped me up, opened the window, and jumped out. I swear to god, I just free-fell like I was flying, and I almost puked. I clung to his neck for dear life, terrified of being splattered into a pancake. Once we landed, I was even more speechless, because there was a whole group of people waiting to kill Valerius! My mind raced, and I finally remembered this plot point: Valerius’s disguise had been torn away, and the righteous heroes were attacking him. After he pulled me from his arms, my legs were shaking so badly I thought I’d collapse. My face must have looked utterly horrified, like I’d just seen a ghost. He took one look at my expression and burst out laughing. “Detecting a decrease in the villain’s hatred points. Currently at 60%.” Me: Can you *please* get it straight? I’m about to die! Who gives a damn about some stupid ‘points’? System: “Host, you will still need to complete the quest even if you die.” Me: … I took a good look around and realized: This guy *planned* this. No wonder he didn’t fight back earlier. He was setting me up! He deliberately led me straight into this trap. Damn it, I should have stayed upstairs. “So scared? How about I just kill you now, make it quick and painless.” Valerius leaned close, speaking gently. Painless, my ass! I forced a trembling smile. “No thanks, I think I’ll stick around a little longer. If I’m going down, you’re coming with me.” His expression suddenly turned cold. He pulled me with one hand and drew his own sword with the other. “Who says you’re going to die soon?” There were at least twenty opponents. A dark and stormy night – perfect for a massacre. I should’ve never stabbed him earlier. What if he couldn’t fight them off? “Valerius, you monster! Prepare to die!” They charged forward with their swords. I couldn’t see the faces of our attackers, only heard the clash of blades, and felt myself being yanked around so violently I felt like my last meal was about to make a reappearance. I squeezed my eyes shut, terrified a head might roll to my feet. The sounds of fighting gradually faded, but I still didn’t dare open my eyes. “Don’t want your eyes anymore? I can dig them out for you.” Valerius’s voice entered my ear, and I immediately snapped my eyes open in terror. A pile of corpses lay before me. No joke, it was really a *pile*! I’ve never met anyone so utterly insane. Why would he pile them up like that after killing them?! Just to make sure I saw it was a *pile*? What the hell is wrong with his brain? “My brain is perfectly fine. I just thought they were all about the same height, so piling them up might make them look neater.” Valerius’s smiling voice rang out. 0

This guy is insane!!! Before I could even process what happened, he grabbed my waist again and leaped into the air. This time, it was even more thrilling, because he wouldn’t let me cling to his neck. The wind whistled past my ears, occasionally slapping a few leaves onto my face. I didn’t dare open my eyes. “Still don’t want your eyes?” Valerius suddenly spoke again, making me jump. I opened my eyes and saw we were at an inn. He walked right in, and I quickly followed. He ordered two dishes: one cabbage and one… green vegetable! I swear… Seriously, dude, do you have to be so cheap? “It’s not me being cheap. You’re not doing any work, why should you eat well?” He looked at me, a smirk playing on his lips. How did he know what I was thinking again? He was definitely cheap, and he was trying to justify it. “Detecting an increase in the villain’s hatred points. Currently at 70%.” Hearing the system’s electronic voice, I was even more speechless. Why were the hatred points randomly increasing? Did he want me to eat a full meal before I died? But first, let me actually *eat* a full meal. This wouldn’t even fill a tooth cavity, it’s a joke! I still ate the bowl of rice. Lying in bed in the middle of the night, I recalled the plot. I remembered the original villainess died tonight. So now that I haven’t died, will it change the story? “Host, the main plot will not change. Other details are unknown.” The system’s sudden voice startled me. I immediately asked, “You mean Valerius will still die by suicide, just like in the original book?” When I first read the book, I was surprised that Valerius ended up committing suicide. “Unknown. The main plot revolves around the male and female leads’ romance. Valerius is merely a supporting character.” My mind raced. I suddenly remembered that something was supposed to happen tonight. I pulled on my shoes and socks and bolted out the door. When I opened Valerius’s room door, the candle was still burning, but no one was inside. I whispered, “Valerius?” No one answered. Had the story shifted? I was about to turn away when suddenly, the back of my head throbbed. 0

When I woke up again, I sat bolt upright, finding myself in a bed, naked again. Dammit, this scene was way too familiar. I remembered that before I passed out, I was trying to warn Valerius that someone was coming to kill him tonight. So what happened after that? Where was Valerius? “Oh, you’re awake.” I looked up to see someone standing by the bed. It was Valerius. “Explain yourself. Why are you and I back here again?” Valerius’s eyes were filled with murderous intent. “Detecting the villain’s current hatred points at 90%.” What did he mean, “again”? I clutched my neck. If I was going to die, could he at least not slice my throat? The spraying blood would be really ugly. “Uh, Host, you died before. Someone struck you down with a single palm, so the story restarted.” “Then why does Valerius remember what happened before?” “System has crashed…” Hearing the system playing dead, I… “Dude, honey, bestie, let’s just talk this out, okay? Yeah, so, that’s how it happened, and this is the result…” I couldn’t even finish. I rolled my eyes and continued, “Fine, just strike me down.” “Hahaha…” Valerius laughed, a genuine, joyful laugh. “Detecting the villain’s hatred points at 60%.” I was speechless. Utterly speechless. He tossed me a piece of clothing and told me to put it on. Same as before, he scooped me up and jumped out the window. This time, I was a little more used to it. I didn’t almost puke. After he set me down, I saw clearly that there were only two people on the ground. I felt a little relieved. “Host, detecting the male and female leads have appeared.” I hadn’t even enjoyed my relief for a minute before the system poured cold water on me. Those two across from us were the main characters! Oh, seriously? Should I just reset again? “Host, you no longer have the chance to restart the story. If you die this time, you are truly dead.” “Valerius, so this is the kind of person you are.” Seraphina, the female lead, spoke, her voice laced with regret and a hint of heartache. “Seraphina, he’s heartless, he’s cold. He’s simply not worth your love.” Darius, the male lead’s words, made me want to laugh. And I actually did laugh out loud. The air froze. And I was embarrassed again. “Elara, you’re helping a villain. You’ve truly disappointed me,” Darius spat again. “Your disappointment means nothing to me. It was my own blindness that made me like you before. Now, I’m a freak, and liking you would make me an idiot.” I retorted without hesitation. The night was quiet and clear, so I couldn’t clearly see his expression. “Heh.” Valerius chuckled again. Damn it, why did he laugh so much? Was it really that funny? “Draw your swords. I’ll even let you have a hand.” Valerius’s smile vanished as he gripped his sword and drew it. “Such big words.” I stood off to the side, listening to a flurry of clashes. This time, I hadn’t stabbed Valerius, so he should be able to win, right? “Danger! Danger! The male and female leads are about to die! Please protect the male and female leads!” Is this ever going to end? I need to make them hate me, but I also have to protect them? “Host, if the male and female leads die, you will also cease to exist.” Dammit! I immediately rushed over, wrapped my arms around Valerius’s waist, and clung to him. “Now, get lost!” I yelled, unleashing a barrage of insults at the main characters. Valerius didn’t say anything. The main characters left. I felt like I was probably still going to die. Oh well, in this life, whether I die now or later, death is inevitable. Valerius grabbed my hand, looking at me with an unreadable gaze. “Are you… propositioning me?” 04 Propositioning what?! Seriously?! I jumped off him, shaking my head. I said directly, “No, I just didn’t want you to kill them. Don’t you think it’s strange? Why would they appear here this time? Maybe this is the key to why we’re back here.”

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Elara and I, we were inseparable, the deadliest duo our special ops team had ever seen. Until one mission, I drew the short straw to pose as her husband. But then someone sabotaged us, and our staged marriage became frighteningly real. She blamed me for stealing the role of husband, a title meant for the man she truly loved. I blamed her for marrying me out of pure spite, when she clearly didn’t love me. For five years, we were at each other’s throats, practically wishing for the other’s demise. Until our old enemy, Ms. Obsidian, came seeking revenge. She cornered me on a luxury yacht, holding a gun to my head. “You die, or he dies, Elara. Your choice.” The moment the shot rang out, Elara lunged forward. She threw herself in front of me, tackling Ms. Obsidian, dragging her into the raging sea with her, taking her down with her. As they plunged, I heard her last words: “If there’s a next life, let’s just be partners, okay? No more being husband and wife.” I watched, numb, as the sea churned with crimson ripples, then swallowed them whole. The next second, the bomb beneath my seat reached zero. When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back to the day we drew lots. I was a step ahead this time. I snatched the two mission slips. “No need to draw. I’ll go undercover alone.” This time, I’d make sure she got her happy ending. I wouldn’t be a roadblock to their love anymore.

Holding both slips, I felt a jolt of surprise. I looked up at Commander Thorne. Her eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place. After a moment, she looked at me, a complex expression on her face. “Falcon, this mission is extremely dangerous. Are you sure you want to go undercover?” In my past life, Leo had drawn the long slip and gone undercover. I, on the other hand, had been paired with Elara, pretending to be husband and wife. Back then, my heart had been pounding with excitement at the thought of faking a marriage with Elara. I hadn’t suspected for a second that Commander Thorne, who always favored me, had tampered with the slips. What she didn’t know was that her ‘favoritism’ had condemned Elara and me to five years of pure torment. I looked at her, gratitude welling up inside me. “Leo’s too impulsive. It’s better if I go undercover.” Seeing my insistence, she finally nodded. If one person went undercover, the other would automatically be paired with Elara to pose as a couple and provide backup. Just as we stepped out of the room, Elara rushed in, looking anxious. Leo’s face lit up. “Elara!” Her expression was cold, but her eyes were fixed on him. They stared at each other, and Leo’s ears turned crimson as he finally looked away. The tenderness in their eyes twisted a knot in my gut. The next second, she pulled me aside. Behind her, Leo’s face fell, a hint of jealousy in his eyes as he watched us. “I won’t agree to this plan.” “Ms. Obsidian is a sharp woman. The undercover agent will be found out.” “Leo doesn’t have much experience. I won’t agree to put him in danger.” She had protested just as fiercely in my last life when she found out Leo was going undercover. But in the end, every single one of her suggestions was shot down. I just calmly waited for the mission day, took her hand, and practically dragged her to City Hall to get our marriage license. A bitter taste filled my mouth. “You know someone has to go undercover. It’s either Leo or me.” Her cold face was emotionless, her voice cool but confident. “Just give the organization a little more time, and I’ll find Ms. Obsidian’s weakness. Going undercover isn’t the only way.” I gave a faint smile. The reason it had to be either Leo or me was because the enemy’s intelligence indicated that our special ops team was all women. So Leo and I were the most suitable candidates for the undercover role. “Elara! We’re out of time!” “No matter what you say, the mission has been set. Come to the team meeting or don’t, I don’t care!” With that, I ignored Elara’s stunned expression and walked away. I wasn’t going to tell her that I was the undercover agent this time. After all, the news that ‘Falcon’ was the groom would be much more surprising coming from the source. Elara, this time, I’d trade our partnership for a quiet drink at my grave.

That night, I kept replaying the events of my rebirth, still finding it hard to believe it was real. A knock at my door. I opened it to find Commander Thorne. She was carrying two cans of beer and a bag of skewers. “I don’t drink before missions,” I said, confused. She nodded. “I know. So I’ll drink, you eat the skewers.” I smiled genuinely. She drank silently, and I ate silently. After a long while, I couldn’t help but ask the question on my mind, “Why?” She knew I was asking about the slip-tampering and raised an eyebrow. “I was shipping you guys.” My jaw almost dropped. But her presence somehow calmed the turmoil in my heart. The next morning, before I was even fully awake, Elara was knocking on my dorm door. I rubbed my eyes as I opened it, and she strode straight in. Her cold eyes were bloodshot, narrowed into dangerous slits, the outer corners turned up. When she was on a mission, she’d draw a scorpion at the corner of her eye. Coupled with her ruthless expression, those in the underworld called her ‘The Scorpion’. Now, her eyes were bare, but her gaze was like daggers, ready to tear me apart. “Falcon, you’re despicable!” “Why did you conspire with Commander Thorne to tamper with the slips?!” “I thought, I really thought all of this was fate.” Her hands were around my throat, and she mumbled to herself. I struggled, my voice hoarse. “Elara, let go. It hurts!” “You feel pain? Doesn’t Leo feel pain?” “Doesn’t it hurt to die undercover?” “You don’t know, in my last life…” She stopped abruptly as if remembering something. When she looked at me again, her eyes were filled with disappointment. “Why do you insist on tearing us apart? Why do you insist on sending Leo undercover?” Her grip tightened. I hadn’t been expecting it, but I reacted instinctively, twisting my arm. We fought in the cramped space of my dorm. “Elara, are you crazy?” “Going undercover is the organization’s decision. It’s not something we can decide!” Her eyes were bloodshot as she roared, “You’re lying! Both slips were long! Leo said he drew the long slip to go undercover!” “We all know about your little trick with Commander Thorne!” Knowing her weakness, I used my strength to pin her down. “I’ll say it again: everything is the organization’s arrangement.” “As for what you want, the organization will consider that too!” She laughed, a bitter, desolate sound. “What I want, I can never have, all because of you.” Only when I felt her resistance drain did I slowly release my grip. Freed, she remained on her knees, slamming her fists repeatedly against the floor. After a long while, she recomposed herself, becoming that cold, aloof person once more, as if her earlier outburst hadn’t happened. She stood up, mumbling “I’m sorry,” but I didn’t respond. Only Leo could make her lose her composure like that. In our past life, when we were pretending to be married, she accidentally ingested a powerful drug. The situation was critical. To save her, I had no choice but to… Even then, in bed, she remained aloof and self-possessed. Not a trace of passion. Only after the drug wore off, as she stood up, did she say: “You will take responsibility for this.” After Leo’s death, the mission was terminated, but we never divorced. We continued our marriage, but she became even colder towards me. We used to be perfectly in-sync, partners in life and death. Later, we became mere acquaintances, a couple in name only. I thought this time, with me going undercover, we would remain true partners. I never expected such a rift to form between us. But perhaps it was for the best. If this mission failed, my death wouldn’t cause her too much pain.

I had spent three years researching Ms. Obsidian’s organization; the intel was crystal clear. Our team discussed the mission procedures and plans in an orderly fashion. Because he would be posing as Elara’s husband, Leo’s smiles became more frequent. After a meeting one day, he pulled a small yellow amulet from his pocket and, with a shy smile, handed it to Elara. “Elara, I got this at the temple yesterday.” Elara was an atheist; she detested anything to do with gods or prayers. When she was seven, her father died, and her mother, claiming enlightenment, gave away all their family wealth and became a nun. Elara was left to fend for herself, growing up with little support and a lot of judgment. Once, on a mission, I simply said, “May the heavens protect us,” and she glared at me fiercely. “Say that again, and you’re out of my team!” Watching Leo pull out the amulet, everyone in the team gasped. But the next second, everyone’s eyes widened as Elara smiled, took the amulet, immediately hung it around her neck, and then pulled out a jade pendant in the shape of a Bodhisattva from her own shirt. I recognized that jade pendant. It was something her mother had left behind before she abandoned them. Elara was a stubborn one; she hated her mother but still kept these things as mementos. In my past life, after we were married, I accidentally knocked the pendant off, and it fell to the floor. The pendant was fine, but she slammed me to the ground with an over-the-shoulder throw. Gus, our team observer, recovered first and started to tease. “Is our frosty Elara finally getting a heart?” I twisted open my water bottle and took a swallow. For some reason, the water today tasted bitter, even more so than my usual black coffee. The other two also chuckled. “Our Leo’s got real charm! He even melted Elara! If he goes undercover, he’ll have Ms. Obsidian, that old woman, wrapped around his finger. This mission is a sure thing!” Hearing that, I looked up, stunned, at Leo. His eyes darted away. I understood. He hadn’t told them. I couldn’t fathom why. Gus chimed in, “Leo, you’re so good-looking, make sure to protect yourself when you go undercover.” I watched Elara’s hands clench tightly. The next second, she slammed her fist on the table and said coldly, “Shut up!” Everyone fell silent, not daring to joke anymore. After the meeting, Leo pulled me into the shadows. “Falcon, I… I didn’t mean to say I was the undercover agent. Elara asked me about it.” His face flushed as he spoke. “Elara told me to protect myself and gave me lots of details and tips about going undercover in private.” “I didn’t have time to tell her.” Looking at him, I understood. I shook my head. “It’s fine. Elara’s just worried about you. Learn everything you can from her.” After all, Leo would be her partner now. I told myself this, trying to feel better. I don’t know how I got back to my dorm that day. The next morning, at the early meeting. I was a few minutes late. There were six people inside; I was the seventh. As soon as I entered the conference room, the atmosphere inside was heavy. Everyone was standing. Elara’s face was grim. Seeing me, she slowly spoke. “The first day you joined my team, I laid down three rules. Gus, recite them.” Gus hesitated, looking at me, then at Elara, before quietly speaking. “First, ensure your own survival. Second, ensure your teammates’ survival. Third, no infighting within the team.” Elara looked at another teammate and asked, “What’s the punishment for breaking a rule?” “Breaking the third rule means 3000 push-ups, a 10km weighted run, and a public apology.” She scanned the room, then turned her gaze to me. “Falcon, get ready for push-ups!”

I was utterly bewildered. “Why?!” I demanded. Gus leaned close to me, his face serious. “Falcon, seriously, you went too far this time. You need to apologize to Leo properly.” The other two nodded in agreement. I looked at Leo, who stood opposite me, his head bowed. “Why would you threaten him? You made a mistake and refuse to admit it!” She said, pulling a tissue from her pocket and spreading it open in front of me, her eyes burning. “That jade pendant was a gift I gave Leo for good luck.” “Why did you snatch it and smash it?!” I looked up, utterly shocked, and instinctively tried to explain to the others, “No, I didn’t!” “Leo, tell them what happened!” He shook his head, biting his lip, his voice choked with tears. “Falcon, I didn’t mean to tell on you, but Elara saw it. If I didn’t tell the truth, I’d be the one getting punished.” “Falcon, we know you like the Commander, but this is too much. She just gave Leo a jade pendant for good luck.” “After all, the undercover mission is so dangerous.” The others chimed in, accusing me. I looked at Leo, disbelief written all over my face. I couldn’t understand how someone could fabricate such lies out of thin air. “Leo, look at me. Was it really me?!” I stared at him, my voice trembling. The next second, he burst into tears. “Elara, Falcon didn’t mean to!” “Enough, Falcon!” “I am truly disappointed in you.” “With all these incidents, you don’t deserve to be my teammate.” “Confess and accept your punishment, and we might still accept you back on this team. Otherwise, I will report to headquarters that you are unfit to be a special agent.” I shook my head, my eyes burning. We had been on so many missions together. She knew what kind of person I was, but just because Leo shed a few tears, I suddenly became an unqualified agent in her eyes? “Are you going to apologize or not?!” She barked at me sternly. I bit my lip, staring fiercely at Leo. After a long moment, I spoke coldly, “I’m sorry!” “Louder!” “I’M SORRY!” “Get ready for push-ups!” I performed the push-ups without a word. Three thousand was no small number. My hands began to tremble, and the frequency of my reps slowed. When the 3000 push-ups were done, I picked up the weighted pack and turned to leave the room. Gus tried to intercede for me, but Elara silenced him with a cold glare. I ran lap after lap around the training ground. Until my legs were shaking. Towards the end, I stumbled and fell to the ground. A shadow fell over me, and a faint scent of perfume wafted into my nostrils. “Falcon, tsk tsk, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to test Elara’s feelings for you.” “Seems it wasn’t much after all!” He grinned triumphantly. I looked up, staring at him coldly. “Why?!” “Why does everyone, one by one, want me to go undercover?!” “Knowing it’s a death sentence, Commander Thorne too, and Elara too? She’s been training me daily, isn’t it all for you?” “To keep you safe, so they can sacrifice me?” I shook my head, finding it ridiculous. “It’s not like that, Leo.” “Not like that? Don’t think I don’t know just because you snatched the slips. And what if you and Elara were partners? As long as I’m the one by her side from now on, I’ll replace you eventually.” I said bitterly, “I’m sure you will.” Her heart has always been with you, that’s undeniable. But my sincere words were perceived as mockery and provocation in his eyes. He said fiercely, “Don’t get cocky.” As he spoke, he grabbed my hand and brought a pill to my mouth. “Falcon, I need you to do me a small favor!” The next second, he put the pill in my hand, then grabbed my hand and shoved *it* into his own mouth. He clutched his throat. “Falcon, why would you do this to me?”

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My Twin Brother Stole My Life. Now, I’m Back. My twin brother shoved aside Dr. Elena Petrova, the world’s leading skin repair specialist, whom Sienna Maxwell, the heiress from one of the most powerful and influential families in the city, had brought in. “This scar is part of me! If you see me as your brother, then stop trying to fix it!” The scar on his arm was gruesome, but his eyes blazed with fierce arrogance. “Sienna Maxwell, if it bothers you so much, just get lost!” Standing nearby, I gently touched the half of my face disfigured by the fire. What my brother dismissed so contemptuously was something I dreamed of begging for. I tugged at the female doctor’s sleeve, pleading with her to look at my face. My brother glared at me, his eyes filled with disgust. “Asher Reed, do you have no backbone?! Will you do anything for a superficial appearance?” Sienna Maxwell shot me a cold glance. “How could Landon have such a useless brother like you?” Yet, she still agreed to introduce me to the doctor. The condition was that I, a computer genius, would work for her for free for three years. One night, after too much to drink, things happened between us. After that, she seemed to treat me a little differently. Until I overheard her talking to a friend: “Asher Reed? He’s just a distraction when I’m bored. Nothing serious, just a bit of fun.”

“What about Landon Reed? I don’t see him reciprocating your feelings.” “He’s different.” Sienna’s voice turned serious. “He’s pure, untainted. Unlike anyone else. He’s worth waiting for.” A bitter ache spread from my heart through every part of my body. So, I was just a pastime. Fine by me. I turned and quietly walked away. My brother, Landon Reed, and I joined Sienna Maxwell’s company at the same time. He was headhunted with a high salary, basking in glory. I was just an accessory to a deal. My brother always prided himself on never taking the easy way out. More than once, he’d say in front of everyone, “I’m nothing like those men who climb their way up by relying on women.” Every time he said that, all eyes would fall on me. Sienna Maxwell’s admiration for my brother was an open secret. She pursued him, sending expensive watches, sports cars, and rare collectibles. But my brother always maintained that aloof, arrogant demeanor, keeping her at arm’s length. This only made Sienna Maxwell more captivated. And I? I was just a tool for her to pass the time. That night, with alcohol blurring my senses, we somehow ended up entangled. Afterward, she leaned against the headboard, a slender lady’s cigarette between her fingers, smoke curling around her. Suddenly, she stubbed out the cigarette, turned her head, and gently brushed the hair from my eyes. Her fingertips were cool, but her touch held a rare tenderness. “Your eyes are beautiful.” She gazed at me, her expression soft. A distant memory resurfaced. Amidst towering flames, thick smoke choked me, almost stealing my breath. I shielded a little girl with my small body. In the chaos, our eyes met. She said, “Your eyes are really beautiful.” Sienna Maxwell’s face in front of me slowly merged with the face of that girl from my memory. I’d always known Sienna Maxwell was searching for the boy who saved her from a fire. But I never dared to imagine it was me. I was insecure and quiet, while she was a golden girl, a child of privilege. We were from two different worlds. But at that moment, the focus in her eyes gave me a sliver of daring hope. I clutched the blanket, my voice trembling. “Sienna Maxwell, that fire… the boy who saved you, that was me.” The tenderness in her eyes instantly froze, replaced by disgust. “Asher Reed, you’d stoop to such lies just to cling to me!” I froze, my heart sinking bit by bit. “I’m not lying…” “Shut up!” She roughly cut me off. “I already checked! The one who saved me was Landon! The scar on his arm is proof!” I completely stiffened. My brother’s scar? That was from when he fell out of a tree trying to steal mangoes when he was a kid! He was never at that abandoned factory! “No, it was me who went into the fire, my brother he…” “Enough!” Sienna Maxwell stood up impatiently. “You’re not even fit to be compared to your brother!” With that, she slammed the door shut and left. I curled up on the bed, feeling utterly cold.

From childhood, everyone always preferred my brother. He was handsome and lively, like the sun. Because of the scar on my face, I was always dust hiding in the shadows. From that day on, I stopped mentioning the fire, and I stopped arguing. I became Sienna Maxwell’s secret bedmate. Unable to win my brother’s affection, she unleashed all her desires on me. Only, every time, she would cover my face with her hand or a pillow. She only wanted to look at my eyes. She said those eyes were very similar to Landon’s. I became my brother’s substitute. But after each time, she would hold me for a long while, silently, yet with a hint of dependence. That rare tenderness she occasionally offered gave me a false hope. A mistaken belief that I might actually have her. It wasn’t until today, with that single word “distraction,” that I fully woke up. I mocked my own foolish infatuation. The next day, as soon as I sat at my desk, Landon Reed walked up to me. He stopped in front of me and placed a document on my table. “Asher, I’m taking over the ‘Luna’ project from now on. Here are the handover documents, just sign them.” I snapped my head up, staring at him intently. “What did you say?” “Luna” was my brainchild, a project I’d poured my heart and soul into. For three years, I’d handled countless tasks for Sienna Maxwell. From technical support to system maintenance, but I never gave up on my own expertise. Programming was my only passion, the only light I could cling to in my dark life. As soon as I plunged into the world of code, I could temporarily forget all the disdain and ridicule. If the project succeeded, it would be the company’s core competitive advantage for the next decade. And I was the lead architect of this project. Sienna Maxwell once said in front of everyone, “Only Asher Reed can handle this project.” At that time, the appreciation in her eyes was my only comfort. But now, even this last comfort was being taken away. Landon gave a slight smile. “I know it’s hard for you to accept, but this is the company’s decision. You’re always so quiet and withdrawn; your personality isn’t suited to lead such an important project.” He paused, then reached out to straighten my collar, his action intimate, but his words like knives. “Leave it to me; I’ll make it even better. Don’t worry, I’ll lead everyone to success.” He turned his head, flashing a confident smile at the surrounding colleagues. “If anyone has any questions from now on, you can come directly to me.” I watched his posturing, feeling a wave of nausea. He turned back, lowering his voice to my ear: “Asher Reed, you’ve always been like this, unrefined. How come you haven’t improved at all? You’re a complete lost cause.” My chest tightened as if squeezed, a sharp, continuous pain. Just then, a commotion broke out at the office door. Sienna Maxwell had arrived. I looked at her, pleading. “Sienna Maxwell…” My gaze was so fervent, so full of desperate hope. The moment her eyes met mine, she seemed to pause, a flicker of complex emotion in her gaze. But that emotion was quickly suppressed, replaced by an indifferent expression. Sienna Maxwell frowned, “Giving the project to Landon was my decision.” Her words were like daggers to my heart. “Landon is right, you really do need more experience.” “Don’t you know my capabilities?” I asked, my voice hoarse, clinging to a last sliver of defiance. In these three years, she knew better than anyone how many technical problems I’d solved for the company, how much core code I’d written. My question seemed to annoy her. Her voice was full of impatience: “Asher Reed, why do you always have to compete with your brother?” “Let me tell you, you’re just not as capable as he is, and nowhere near as likable!” She leaned close to my ear, whispering a warning: “Don’t think that just because you got into my bed, you can forget your place!” I knew it deep down, but my heart still throbbed uncontrollably. I lowered my head, no longer looking at her. I picked up the pen and meticulously signed my name on the handover document. Done, I walked out of the office without looking back.

In the emergency stairwell. I leaned against the cold wall, my body shaking uncontrollably. I strained my neck, trying to force back the tears. Just then, Sienna Maxwell appeared. In the confined space, only our strained breathing filled the air. She silently walked towards me, watching my hands, my knuckles white from clenching them so tight. With a surprisingly gentle touch, she pried my fingers open, one by one. Her palm was warm, a warmth I couldn’t understand. She raised a hand and gently wiped away the tears that had finally escaped my eyes. “Don’t cry.” Her voice was low. “I know you’re upset.” My heart gave a sharp jolt. “Landon can be blunt sometimes, and his words aren’t always kind, but he doesn’t mean any harm. Please, don’t compete with your brother anymore, okay?” My breathing suddenly became ragged. I closed my eyes, and the tears finally fell. The next day, I submitted my resignation to HR. The HR manager seemed a bit surprised but quietly processed the paperwork. The moment I stepped out of the Maxwell Group building, I let out a long, slow breath. The sunlight was blinding, but it carried a sense of new beginning, a warm embrace. The three years were up; I was finally free. My phone vibrated. It was a text from Sienna Maxwell. [You MUST come to the company anniversary gala tonight.] It was an order, as always. I almost deleted it, but then I had a thought. Consider it closure with the past. When I arrived at the gala, I found a quiet corner and stayed there, feeling completely out of place amidst the glitz and glamour. All eyes were on Landon Reed. He wore a bespoke designer suit Sienna Maxwell had bought for him, looking dashing and charming. After he took over the Luna project, with Sienna Maxwell’s full support and promotion, he had become the industry’s rising star. People praised him for his talent and good looks, calling him Sienna Maxwell’s most capable right-hand man. And I? I was nothing more than an insignificant stepping stone on his path to success. Suddenly, the large screen in the center of the banquet hall lit up. The company’s promotional video, which had been playing on a loop, abruptly switched to a series of scandalous photos. The photos clearly showed me and Sienna Maxwell entangled on a hotel bed! The entire hall erupted in gasps. Whispers and murmurs surged toward me like a tidal wave. “Oh my God, isn’t that Asher Reed?” “His brother is so refined; how could he have such a shameless brother!” My body went numb with cold, as if plunged into an icy abyss. I instinctively looked at Landon Reed; he was standing in the crowd, a smug smile playing on his lips. In my panic, Sienna Maxwell pushed through the crowd, striding towards me, her face contorted with fury. Her complexion was stormy. “Asher Reed, you really outdid yourself!” She spat, “Using such vile, underhanded tactics just to climb your way up? You truly disgust me!” I looked at her, and a laugh inexplicably escaped me. “I didn’t do it.” I said calmly. “Still dare to lie!” Sienna Maxwell roared. “Landon Reed did it.” I raised my eyes, meeting her gaze directly. “Do you believe me?” Landon Reed walked closer, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Brother, I’ve always despised such despicable methods. But I never thought you were this kind of person.” He put on his high-and-mighty act again. Sienna Maxwell scoffed, “I believe you? Who else would have these photos if not you?” “I didn’t!” The next second, she raised her hand and slapped my face. The blow made me stumble, reeling back a few steps, crashing hard into the champagne tower behind me. The sound of shattering glass, accompanied by the guests’ screams, was jarring and chaotic. Countless glass shards flew everywhere, slicing my arms and cheek. Blood instantly welled up. But I felt no pain. The ache in my heart had already overshadowed everything else. Sienna Maxwell, however, didn’t even look at me. She turned, supporting Landon Reed, comforting him softly. “Landon, don’t be scared, I’m right here.” Then, she embraced him and walked out of the banquet hall without a backward glance. Leaving me alone amidst the wreckage and chaos. I don’t remember how I left the gala. I only recall Mr. Davies, our butler, rushing to my side and taking me to the hospital. Wounds cleaned, bandaged, stitched. The doctor said I was lucky the glass fragments didn’t hit my eyes. But the old scar on my face now had new injuries, making it even harder to treat. I lay in the hospital bed, sleepless through the night.

At dawn, I received an email from Dr. Elena Petrova, the internationally renowned plastic surgeon, from three years ago. She said there was a new research project abroad that might help with my face. She asked if I wanted to go abroad with her for treatment. I replied without hesitation. [I accept.] Just as I was about to complete my discharge procedures, my phone rang again. It was Sienna Maxwell. I hung up immediately. She called several more times, persistently, but I ignored them all. Soon after, a text message popped up. [Tonight at 8 PM, come to Starlight Bay. If you come, I’ll forgive you for everything that happened. I can even grant you one wish.] Starlight Bay was the place she took me after our first time. It had a beautiful private beach. She said she loved the stars there. Like my eyes… But ultimately, she was from a different social class than me. Looking at that text, she was still the same imperious heiress. I looked at the message, smiled faintly, and then deleted it. And blocked her contact permanently. I didn’t go to Starlight Bay. Instead, I went straight to the airport and boarded a flight to Switzerland. The moment the plane took off, I looked out the window at the city growing smaller and smaller, a profound sense of peace in my heart. At 8 PM that night, Sienna Maxwell sat alone on the terrace at Starlight Bay. The sea breeze was cool, carrying a salty, damp scent. She glanced at her phone; the screen still showed the message she’d sent, with no reply. She frowned, a surge of inexplicable irritation rising within her. Asher Reed should have come. She had acted impulsively at the gala, but she had given him an out. If he came, if he just softened a little, she could overlook it. She could even compensate him. Time ticked by, minute after minute, but Asher Reed never appeared. Sienna Maxwell’s patience finally wore thin. She picked up her phone and dialed the number she knew by heart. But the only response was the message that the phone was turned off. Sienna Maxwell’s heart plummeted, and a strong sense of unease gripped her. This wasn’t right. Asher Reed had always been so compliant; even when angry, he never dared to defy her so completely. She forced herself to remain calm, trying to find a reasonable explanation for his actions. He must still be angry about the project. Sienna Maxwell’s thoughts drifted back to that day. When she saw Asher Reed, looking so fragile and on the verge of breaking in front of Landon. Her heart felt a sharp prick, a discomforting sensation. So, after she left the office, she immediately followed him. In the emergency stairwell, she saw him like a small animal abandoned by the whole world. She, inexplicably, walked up to him and tried to comfort him. But when he finally pulled his hand away, his beautiful eyes held nothing but lifeless despair. She returned to her office, where Landon Reed proudly held the handover document, his smile glaring. Sienna Maxwell’s expression instantly turned cold. “Who told you to touch his project?” Landon Reed was startled by her icy tone, and he said, aggrieved, “Sienna, I just wanted to help you out… this project is very important to me…” Sienna Maxwell had no idea Landon Reed had done these things behind her back. But defending Landon Reed had become her automatic response. She was used to protecting the seemingly pure and innocent brother, used to sacrificing the always silent older brother. But seeing the light extinguished in Asher Reed’s eyes, she regretted it. So, she looked at Landon Reed and warned, “I don’t want this to happen a second time.” Sienna Maxwell rubbed her temples in frustration. She had already warned Landon; Asher Reed’s anger should have subsided. But why was the feeling of unease growing stronger and stronger? She couldn’t sit still anymore. She picked up her phone and called her secretary. “Immediately find out where Asher Reed is!” “Ms. Maxwell…” The secretary’s voice was hesitant. “Mr. Reed… completed his resignation procedures this morning.” “What did you say?!” Sienna Maxwell shot up from her chair, her blood instantly turning to ice. Resigned? How dared he, without her permission! She frantically dialed every number she could think of to reach him, sent people to his apartment, to his parents’ house…

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