My step-brother Julian hates my guts. But I always cling to him. He paid me twenty thousand bucks to stop walking home with him after school, and two hundred thousand to transfer out of our class. But every single time, I found my way back to him. After college entrance exams, he wired a huge sum of money to my card, his voice ice-cold: “Here’s five million. Go study abroad. Just don’t ever show up at my house again.” My eyes welled up. I lowered my head and said, “Okay.” YES! He finally fell for it. **1** I caught Julian nearly kissing Chloe, a scholarship student. It was in a dimly lit private room. He was slumped wearily against the corner sofa, eyes closed, his elegant profile obscured by shadow. Chloe, in a white dress, stood beside him, hands braced on either side of his body, tentatively leaning in, getting closer. I suddenly pushed the door open. She jumped, spinning around frantically to face me. Her eyes were wide and watery, like a startled deer’s. “Daisy, I…” I walked past her, toward Julian. “The driver’s here for me. Mr. Evans told me to bring you home too, since I was heading out.” He grabbed the jacket beside him, slung it on, and followed me out. It was late, and the hallway was quiet. He pulled the door shut but didn’t leave. He leaned against it, standing there casually. “She almost kissed me.” “…” I didn’t say anything. His voice took on a hint of annoyance. “She’s really timid. It took a lot for her to even try that.” I unlocked my phone, showed him the time, and the message my stepfather had sent me, explaining softly. “Mr. Evans really did tell me to pick you up on my way.” He glanced at it, grunting dismissively. “Oh.” “I’m an adult now. College entrance exams are over. He can’t control me anymore. Complaining won’t do anything.” The shifting, garish lights from inside the room swept over him, illuminating his brows and eyes. His cheeks were a little flushed. He was drunk. I clutched my sleeve, my voice barely a whisper. “But…” He cut me off abruptly. “Go home by yourself.” “And –” His fingers tapped on his phone a few times. “Here’s five million. Go study abroad. Don’t ever show up at my house again.” “Let’s not see each other ever again.” “Daisy, I really hate you.” He never wanted to see me again. My eyes instantly filled with tears. I lowered my head, holding back a sob. “Okay.” ***PAYWALL*** Julian turned and walked back into the room, slamming the door shut with a thud. I double-checked the numbers on my mobile banking app. Finally, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I squatted down, clapped my hand over my mouth, and let out muffled giggles. YES! He finally fell for it. **2** Julian had hated me for a long time. He thought my mom and I were only after the Evans family’s money. Well, he was pretty smart then. When he was fourteen, he put two geckos on my bed, trying to scare me into leaving his house. I burst into tears. To comfort me, Mr. Evans gave me extra allowance. Seeing the money, I cheered right up. When I was sixteen, Julian and I were assigned to the same high school. He didn’t want to be in the same class as me. And he didn’t want Mr. Evans to scold him and then comfort me again. So, he skipped all the usual steps. “Two hundred thousand.” “Transfer out of this class.” In freshman year, I left. In sophomore year, I went right back. He never specified a time limit. When I walked back into the classroom with my backpack, Julian’s face was dark. The guy in front of him chuckled. “Julian, your sister is really persistent.” Julian said coldly, “She’s not my sister.” Everyone exchanged knowing glances and chuckled. Julian looked at me, frowning. “What will it take for you to finally disappear from my sight?” My eyes reddened, “Do you really hate me that much?” He gestured with his hand, showing a number. I bit my lip. “Oops, sorry, I guess I came to the wrong class today.” **3** I realized I’d found a business opportunity. Julian was seriously loaded. His mom, who lived abroad, had paved every path for him. He’d play golf, and I’d be there, part of the “atmosphere crew,” bringing him water and his jacket. He confronted me about it. I looked up at him, my eyes sparkling. “I just admire my step-brother, is that not allowed?” He’d SnapChat me money. “If you have nothing to do, go shopping. Stop bothering me.” Well, I happily accepted. I stuck to Julian for over a year. Everyone knew he had this step-sister, and they even joked about us, saying they’d visit him at the orthopedic hospital next time. Eventually, Julian was too lazy to explain anymore. He just kept telling me to take the money and leave. But I wasn’t leaving my personal ATM. On Julian’s eighteenth birthday, he drank quite a bit. When he came home from the hotel, I held a bowl of hangover soup in one hand and helped him with the other. I hoped he’d be so drunk he’d see double and add an extra zero to the transfer. He squinted, looking down at me, and suddenly said. “Daisy, you’re truly cunning and manipulative.” There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice. My foot paused on the step. Getting insulted cost extra. He unexpectedly grabbed my waist, turned off the lights, and pressed me against the railing of the spiral staircase, kissing me. My vision instantly went dark. Only his magnified face was visible. His breathing was wild, like a storm. I pushed him away in shock. The bowl in my hand crashed to the floor, rolling down the stairs. Mr. Evans called from upstairs, “Daisy, what’s wrong?” I forced my voice steady, crying out plaintively as usual, “Julian’s drunk and throwing a tantrum, he broke my bowl.” Julian lowered his head, leaning against the railing, silent in the dim light. Mr. Evans sighed. “He’s like that. Gets crazy when he’s drunk. Don’t worry about him, go rest. I’ll help him.” I escaped back to my room. At 3 AM. Julian sent me a SnapChat. [I’m sorry.] [Didn’t see clearly, thought you were someone else.] It was the first time he ever apologized to me. But it felt like an insult. He attached a transfer. I didn’t accept it, and I didn’t reply. **4** I found out who that person was later. One of Julian’s admirers. Chloe Li, the scholarship student, who was consistently in the top ten of our grade. She was insecure and timid, only daring to look up at him from afar. But Julian, for some reason, noticed her. He said, “She’s like Daisy, always looking pitiful.” “Who are they trying to fool?” He hated me, yet he seemed to enjoy seeing Chloe act like that. After school, I was sitting in the car waiting for him. But then I saw a girl in a school uniform following him. The car door opened. He didn’t get in. He was holding her backpack, raising an eyebrow at me casually. “Get out.” I froze for a moment. Chloe carefully raised her hand, grabbing his arm and shaking it gently, her voice very soft. “It’s okay, Julian.” “I can go home myself.” Julian didn’t back down, his voice growing colder. “I’m taking her home.” “I’ve transferred the money to you. Get a cab yourself.” Why didn’t he give me enough to buy my own car to go home? Whatever. Don’t push your luck. I nodded awkwardly, biting my lip, clutching my backpack straps, and obediently got out of the car. It was dusk, and the crowds were dispersing. I stood alone by the roadside, staring at my shoelaces, tears falling one by one. Only after that car drove off in the opposite direction did I wipe away my tears and open Julian’s message. 20,000? Good thing I didn’t check the message in front of him. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to cry so convincingly. **5** Julian’s five million came too late. I hadn’t prepared for the IELTS in advance, so I had to cancel most of my travel plans and gatherings, cooped up in my room memorizing vocabulary. Julian was downstairs, throwing a party with his friends. The music was blasting. I took off my headphones and walked downstairs. “Can you turn the volume down a bit?” One of Julian’s friends patted the empty seat beside him, smiling. “Daisy, you’re home? Why don’t you come join us?” I smiled, a little embarrassed. “I was upstairs memorizing words.” “Memorizing words?” Someone finally turned off the music, listening carefully to me. “I thought people who got ahead like that only existed online.” “Chloe’s here to party, you should too.” Julian didn’t look up the entire time. Chloe sat next to him, smiling sweetly at me. Then she looked as if she wanted to say something but held back. “Daisy, you’re not planning to re-take the exams, are you?” Chloe and I weren’t close. Her calling me so intimately meant things were getting serious between her and Julian. She continued, “It’s okay if you didn’t do well.” “Mr. Evans is so rich, you must have plenty of options.” Sensing the tension between us, everyone quieted down. I said softly, “Yes, my family is rich. It doesn’t matter how I score.” “Chloe, are you worried about not doing well?” Her face turned pale. Julian finally looked up, patting her hand reassuringly. “Daisy, don’t be so excessive with your words.” I nodded. “Okay.” “I’m going back to study. Please keep your voices down.” I put my headphones back on and walked up the stairs. A few gazes from behind felt like daggers in my back.

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Vivian had used me for seven years. Then she just said she was bored, and turned to a younger, more handsome college guy. This time, I didn’t argue. I tossed the diamond ring I’d bought for her, and shredded the wedding dress I’d picked out. Late that night, I boarded a plane, leaving the city behind. Her friends were all placing bets on how long it would take for me to grovel and beg her to take me back. Vivian just laughed, arrogant as ever: “Alex will come crawling back to me like a lost puppy, mark my words. It won’t even be a day.” But day after day passed, and I remained completely off the grid. She couldn’t sit still anymore. She called my phone: “Alex, you’ve had enough fun, now come back…” A soft, shy female voice cut her off: “Ms. Jiang, you should apologize sooner rather than later, or someone else will snatch him up.” Vivian gripped her phone, her voice trembling: “Who are you? Put Alex on the phone!” Chloe leaned down and lightly kissed me: “He can’t talk right now. He needs his rest. If it’s really important, I can kiss him awake for you.”

It was the seventh year of being with Vivian. I’d bought a diamond ring and the wedding dress she loved, mustering all my courage to finally propose. But, as luck would have it, I arrived a few minutes late to the party that day. Just in time to overhear her chatting with her friends. “Alex? Oh, him. He’s pretty vanilla, I’ve already grown tired of him.” Vivian sipped her red wine, a haughty smile playing on her lips: “Seven years. Wouldn’t you get bored?” The others chuckled, agreeing: “You’ve got a point. Seven years. Even the hottest guys lose their spark after a while.” “But Alex really is handsome.” “And his body is insane. For Vivian’s birthday last time, he wore that black suit, looked even better than those movie stars!” “Seriously, Vivian, you used to be so into him. Are you really just letting him go?” Vivian’s voice was flat: “Have I ever lied?” Her friend immediately changed tack: “Then… if I pursued Alex, you wouldn’t mind, right?” “Go for it,” Vivian said, taking another slow sip of her drink. “As long as *you* don’t feel disgusted by it.” “Seriously? Aren’t you embarrassed? You’re really going to take her sloppy seconds, someone Vivian is already bored with?” Another round of laughter erupted. That night, I didn’t step into the private room. I made up some excuse and went home early. Vivian didn’t ask a single follow-up question, just hung up the phone. It was probably that night my once fiery heart finally, completely extinguished.

Not two days later, word got around fast in our social circle. Vivian was pursuing a college sophomore. Perhaps he hadn’t seen much of the world, easily swayed by money and vanity. He was hooked in a couple of days. At a friends’ gathering, Vivian brought him along. The moment they walked in, everyone went silent. A few good friends looked at me with concern. I just smiled. “Why’s everyone so quiet? What are you looking at me for?” Vivian draped an arm around the guy, then sat down, finally looking me dead in the eye: “Alex, tonight’s a good opportunity. Let’s just lay it all out.” “Okay, go ahead.” “These on-again, off-again years have been pointless. The feelings faded long ago.” I clenched my hand tight, the diamond ring I’d hidden in my palm digging painfully into my skin. But I barely felt it. “You’re not as young as him, and you don’t have his bright, positive vibe. I truly like him.” Vivian held the guy’s hand, her eyes full of affection. I nodded slightly: “Yeah, I get it.” “We can still be friends. If you need anything, you can always come to me.” “Nah, let’s not.” I gave a small, sarcastic laugh and stood up: “Since we’re breaking up, let’s make it a clean break. Avoid any misunderstandings.” Vivian raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. A moment later, she said, “Fair enough.” “Then you guys carry on. I’m heading back.” “Want me to walk you out?” “No thanks, I’ll just grab a ride-share.” As I walked out of the room, casually closing the door behind me, I heard someone ask, “How long do you think Alex will last this time?” “Two days?” “He seems genuinely upset this time. I’ll bet five days.” Vivian glanced at the door, which wasn’t fully closed, and smirked: “Give it three days. Alex will come crawling back like a lost puppy. He always does.” “It’s been like this for years, hasn’t it?” The people inside all agreed: “True, how could Alex ever leave you? Everyone knows he’s crazy in love with you…” I let out a self-deprecating laugh, picking up my pace towards the elevator.

Back at my apartment, I pulled out the wedding dress she’d wanted for ages. And simply shredded it. After all, keeping it here would only be an eyesore for Vivian. When I finally left, I thought about it, and still left her a note. This apartment and everything in it was hers to dispose of as she pleased. She didn’t need to ask me. I booked a red-eye flight, leaving the city far behind, returning to a familiar place.

My buddies heard the news and threw a get-together that night. It was all old classmates and friends. A few rounds in, the door opened again. A few of the guys’ eyes lit up instantly: “Chloe? You’re a sight for sore eyes!” “Yeah, gorgeous Chloe, what brings you here tonight?” Chloe’s cheeks were flushed: “I was just talking business next door. Heard about the old classmates’ reunion, so I thought I’d crash the party.” As she spoke, her gaze lingered on me for a moment before slowly moving away. My buddy nudged me quietly: “Alex, Chloe’s here for you, right?” I propped myself up, looking at her. She was even taller than Vivian, and had a better figure. I squinted for a moment, then looked away, shaking my head: “No way. We haven’t been in touch for years.” But my buddy ignored me, calling out to Chloe directly: “Hey, Chloe, our campus queen, could you give Alex a ride home later?” “We’ve all been drinking, and we’re worried he’ll get ripped off by a ride-share.” Chloe’s gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on my face. After about two seconds, I saw her nod: “Okay.” “Thanks a million, campus queen!” My buddy sat back down, grinning, and whispered to me: “Alex, why should Vivian get to mess around and play the field, but you can’t start a new chapter?” “Besides, Chloe’s a stunning woman like this, it’s a no-brainer.” “How do you know she’d be interested in me?” My buddy gave a sly grin: “She was practically devouring you with her eyes just now!” “Trust my experience, man.” 4 When the party broke up, Chloe drove me back to my hotel. As we pulled up to the hotel entrance, I unbuckled my seatbelt. “Thanks for the ride tonight,” I said. Chloe turned her head to look at me: “No problem.” I pushed the car door open, about to get out, when I suddenly remembered what Vivian had said that day. On a strange whim, I asked, “Want to come up for a drink?” Chloe’s cheeks flushed, but she silently got out of the car. As I opened the hotel room door, I looked at Chloe again: “Chloe, aren’t you scared?” Chloe bit her lip, but her eyes were stubborn and determined: “Alex, I’m not scared.” She kissed me in the elevator. I was startled for a moment, but seeing her face, hot and flushed, I leaned down and met her kiss. As I swiped the key card to open the room, Chloe suddenly stopped me: “Alex, if you regret this, it’s not too late…” “Regret what?” I looked at her, my eyes slightly blurred with alcohol, and chuckled: “Why didn’t you ask when you were just kissing me?” Chloe stared at me, dumbfounded: “Alex, are you serious?” For some reason, the nervousness, the sadness, and the desperate resolve in her eyes suddenly made my heart ache. I didn’t say anything else, just gently hugged her. “I’m very serious, Chloe. Just give me a little more time.”

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My ex-wife got into a car crash and lost her memory. She turned into a twenty-year-old girl, her memories perfectly frozen at the time she loved me the most. “Declan Davies, so ten years from now, you’re my husband!” Chloe Hayes jumped off the hospital bed, her face alight with shock and joy. She rushed over, wrapping her arms around me in a tight embrace. “I’m not dreaming, am I? Oh my god, my secret crush actually came true!!” I stood there, stunned by her embrace, but my heart was filled with nothing but desolation. “Chloe,” I said softly, “You forgot. We divorced last month.” “And,” I added, my voice cold, “you cheated.” 0 During a time when everyone else was buzzing with holiday cheer, I was the biggest sucker, waiting bitterly outside City Hall. I waited all day. I waited until the staff went home, but my ex-wife never showed. Damn it. She was the one who proposed the divorce, the contracts were signed, and now she was playing hide-and-seek with the final paperwork? Seriously? My eyes blazed with fury as I furiously dialed her number. But her phone was off. By the time it was dark and City Hall closed, there was no way I was getting divorced today. I trudged into the parking lot, ready to drive away. Just as I started the car, my phone rang. “Hello, are you Ms. Chloe Hayes’s family? We’re from General Hospital. Ms. Hayes was in a car accident…” 0

Great. Couldn’t even get divorced, and now I was getting a scam call. Without a second thought, I spat, “Yes, I’m Chloe Hayes’s husband. Is she dying? Don’t waste medical resources, just let her go!” “Yes, I said it. I’ll take full responsibility. Just wheel her straight to the morgue!” The person on the other end was clearly taken aback. “Ms. Hayes just has a fractured leg…” The doctor sounded young, clearly not used to dealing with frantic family members. His voice was a bit shaky. “We’ve already put a cast on her leg and set the bone. Would it be convenient for you to come down?” His words were vague. I frowned, a strange feeling stirring in my gut, but I politely waved it off. “No need. A fracture isn’t a big deal. I’m very busy, so I won’t be coming.” “Oh…” He sounded a little disappointed, but still asked, “Also, Ms. Hayes was in the car accident with Mr. Brandon Lee. We can’t reach Mr. Lee’s family. Do you know him?” At the mention of that name, I instantly perked up. “I know him. What happened to him?” “He’s severely injured, with extensive contusions all over his body. His hand might be permanently disabled, and he’ll have large scars…” “I’ll be right there!!!” I was overjoyed, practically bursting with delight as I yelled, “General Hospital, right? Which floor, which room? I’ll be there in twenty minutes!!!” Doctor: “We’re in the West Wing, fifth floor…” I hung up immediately, slamming my foot on the gas. My black SUV shot out like a shark, cutting forcefully into the bustling traffic. After that call, the gloom that had hung over me instantly dispersed. Yeah, my ex-wife broke her leg in a crash, who cares about her? But— That pretty boy getting disfigured, potentially left with a lifelong disability? That kind of good news doesn’t come around often. How could I miss a show like that?! 0

When it came to Chloe Hayes, I was completely indifferent. But hearing Brandon Lee was disfigured, I raced there, even impatient for the hospital elevator, practically scrambling up five flights of stairs. I was genuinely anxious, terrified I’d miss it. The doctors couldn’t believe how fast I arrived. With a beaming face and overflowing excitement, I burst into the ward. “Where’s Brandon Lee? How’s his hand disabled? How big are the scars? Let me see! Let me see!” Everyone in the room stared at me, their faces awkward. I wasn’t awkward at all. I just felt a surge of pure joy. “Where is he? Where is he??” But the next second, the curtain around the bed opened. Chloe Hayes, one leg in a full cast, looked at me with a bewildered, uncertain expression. My face instantly darkened. Yet, she gazed at me, her voice trembling, and confused. “Are you… are you Declan Davies’s… brother?” Me: “?!” I scoffed. “I’m your father!” That comment seemed to hit something in Chloe. She clutched her head, a pained expression on her face, and collapsed back onto the bed. The doctor pulled me out of the room and explained, “Ms. Hayes has a concussion, and her memory is scrambled. She answers general knowledge questions fine, but when we ask her age, she says she’s twenty…” I wasn’t listening properly. The doctor seemed to catch on. “Mr. Lee’s room is on the sixth floor. He’s still not entirely out of critical condition. You can see him through the glass.” Without a word, I sprinted off. Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. When I finally reached the sixth floor and saw Brandon Lee… I personally saw this pretty boy, who had destroyed my marriage, and who had been strutting around like a peacock just days ago. Now he lay there, covered in bandages, his right hand strangely curled into a deformed claw. His once handsome face was a mess of injuries. Out of common decency, I almost felt a pang of pity. But then I thought of what he’d done to me, and my sense of decency vanished instantly. I was no longer a decent person. 0

When I returned to the fifth floor, I immediately pulled out the cash from my wallet, ready to hand out bonuses to everyone present. Yes. I wanted everyone to share in my happiness. And they certainly did. The doctor’s hand trembled slightly as he took the money. “Mr. Davies, the patient’s condition is a bit complex, and our medical facilities here are limited…” I waved my hand dismissively, feeling utterly generous. “She thinks she’s twenty? Then she’s twenty. Doesn’t matter.” “I think you guys are great! Treat her. If she dies or gets worse, I won’t make a fuss!” A heavy silence fell, everyone speechless. They had nothing to say. In the room were doctors, nurses, and huddled in a corner, Chloe’s secretary and lawyer. They were so desperate not to be seen by me, they squeezed themselves into a corner, trying to disappear. I smirked. “I can’t speak for Chloe’s treatment.” Finally, I admitted to the doctor, “Although we haven’t completed the legal procedures, we’ve already signed the divorce agreement. I can no longer act on her behalf.” “These are her assistant and lawyer.” I pointed to the corner. The people I pointed at visibly flinched. They were too ashamed to face me, shrinking further away. “You should consult with them,” I said. The secretary and lawyer were just meekly nodding. Seeing that, I found it hilarious. “You guys helped with the divorce, but you’re just employees.” I pulled out a cigarette, placed it between my lips, but didn’t light it. I gave them a smile. “No need to be afraid of me. I’m not a bad guy.” The secretary stood there awkwardly, utterly mortified. And the lawyer, who seemed young and a bit stiff, actually blushed at my smile. Her pretty, scholarly face, even with her wire-rimmed glasses, couldn’t maintain its professional composure. “Mr. Davies,” the lawyer’s face was flushed. She told me, “You didn’t have to come…” “Hmm.” I was in a good mood, and quite nonchalant. “I’m actually about to leave now.” At those words, the curtain around the bed was suddenly pulled open. Chloe had just endured another headache and was now lucid. The secretary rushed to her side. But Chloe, with her twenty-year-old memory, looked around, completely ignoring her own trusted confidantes. She stared at me, her expression bewildered, hazy. “Declan… how did you become like this?” “You look… a little older.” I touched my face. Right. It had been ten years, after all. Who wouldn’t age? I didn’t bother arguing with this potentially insane woman, nor did I feel like responding. I simply turned and walked away. But then, a loud thud sounded behind me. It was Chloe, dragging her broken, cast-clad leg off the bed. She’d lost her balance and fallen. She lay on the floor, frantically scrambling towards me, like a madwoman. “Declan, don’t go!” The secretary rushed to help her up, but Chloe pushed her away. This CEO, with the memory of a twenty-year-old, no longer recognized her own key personnel. Her face was a mix of confusion, disbelief, and urgent desperation. “I don’t even know you!” “Leave me alone!!” “Declan, wait for me, take me with you!” She lay on the ground, shouting towards the door, feeling utterly abandoned, desperately calling out for her only lifeline. “Don’t leave me behind!” 0

I had already stepped out of the ward door. Hearing the commotion, I was genuinely startled and turned to look. Chloe Hayes was a scorching hot tech new blood. She had started from scratch, gained fame young, and by twenty-five or twenty-six, she was a renowned female CEO. Everyone respectfully called her “Little CEO Hayes.” Along with her fame came her reputation for being strict, cold, hard to get along with, and keeping people at arm’s length. Now, she was sprawled on the floor, completely losing her composure, frantically crawling towards me— I suddenly walked back, knelt in front of her, and asked, “Do you really only recognize me?” “Who am I?” Chloe reached out and grabbed my arm without any hesitation. She was clearly terrified I’d run off again. Chloe answered without missing a beat: “You’re Declan Davies, you live next door to me. Your dad is Mr. Davies, your mom is a high school teacher, and you’re severely allergic to peanuts and seafood. Just a tiny bit and your whole body swells up.” That… that was all perfectly accurate. My mouth twitched. “You… you think you’re twenty, right?” “Then think about it, when we were twenty, we were sophomores in college. Look at your face now, do you look like a college student?” Chloe touched her face, then looked at me. For some reason, her face actually turned red. Me: “…” “I, I heard the doctor call you.” Chloe, dragging her broken leg, sat on the floor. Her expression was very serious, but her gaze started to drift back and forth. “I know I’m not twenty. The moment I saw you, I knew. I must have hit my head and forgotten these past few years.” She squeezed my arm, and finally said, “You… you’re my husband now.” I didn’t say anything. At that moment, I felt exhausted. After all, before coming here, I had already spent a grueling day waiting at City Hall, witnessing countless couples marry, and countless others part in bitterness. There, I had told myself that when Chloe and I finally separated, I wouldn’t be consumed by such love, hate, and anger. At the very end, I wanted to maintain my composure. I was a man who valued his dignity. But I never expected this stupid Chloe, who apparently didn’t value her life, to recklessly swerve at high speed and crash into a barrier with that pretty boy. So I stood up then— Because Chloe was clutching my arm, refusing to let go. I had no choice but to pull her up with me. With one leg in a cast, Chloe had to stand on one foot. She watched the secretary and lawyer warily, like an injured animal separated from its pack. To get away, I pulled the secretary over and told her, “You are Chloe Hayes, thirty years old.” “You are currently the founder and CEO of Longview Tech. This is your secretary and company legal counsel. You can trust them.” Chloe looked at them, frowning. I smiled at her. “Even if you don’t remember, congratulations. Chloe, at thirty, you’ve truly made it big.” But she just stared at me blankly. She said, “How many years have we been married?” I was very patient. “Five years.” Chloe mentally calculated the time, her eyes starting to drift again. “We ended up together right after college graduation, so… do we have any children?” I paused. “Yes,” I said calmly. “But at four months, we couldn’t keep the baby.” Chloe took a step back. Those words seemed to stab her like a needle. She instinctively released my arm, and her body began to tremble. But she herself didn’t know where this sudden reaction came from. She stood there blankly, shaking violently. A sudden pain assaulted her, tearing at her heart, even making her lose control. “I…” She clutched her head again, pain wracking her as she said, “Declan, our… I…” I watched with cold eyes, unaffected. Until Chloe, still clutching her head, collapsed again. With my hands in my pockets, I watched her tremble as she fell back onto the hospital bed, her features contorted, her head clutched in her hands, tears streaming down her face. Doctors and nurses rushed to her side, everyone else caught off guard. In the midst of the chaos, I told the secretary, “Please reschedule. Book an appointment at City Hall. We’ll finalize the paperwork next Wednesday.” The secretary looked at me in a panic. She hesitated, unsure what to say. But I had already turned and left. 0

I got married when I was twenty-five. The timing was neither too early nor too late, right when we were at our poorest. Back then, I couldn’t even scrounge up a hundred bucks. So I bought a fifty-eight-dollar strawberry cake, lit candles, and proposed to Chloe with it. It wasn’t just simple. It was downright shabby. Most couples who achieve their happily-ever-after have flowers, diamond rings, and romantic dinners. We only had that cake. We squeezed into a rented apartment, eating cake, getting it all over our faces. After the cake, we were still hungry, so I went into the tiny kitchen and cooked instant noodles. The kitchen was cramped, the whole room filled with steaming vapor from the pot. Chloe suddenly walked in and said, “How about we get married?” I paused, then said, “Okay.” Just like that, we finished our noodles, and the next day we went to City Hall, got our license, and became legally wed. We had been neighbors since childhood, childhood sweethearts. My heart mirrored hers, from naive youth all the way to thirty, when we were supposed to be established. No lost loves, no sneaky rivals, no sudden interlopers. We were soulmates, fighting side by side. Finally, at thirty, my company secured several projects through its technology, and investments poured in like a tidal wave. We rode that wave, reversing our fortunes directly to become city new money. But at thirty-one, I caught Chloe and her male secretary, Brandon, in the act. Our marriage shattered instantly. At that very moment, it was in my own home. Chloe lay on the bed, still hungover, unaware of what was happening when we burst in. I grabbed a bottle of mineral water and splashed it directly on her face. Meanwhile, Brandon Lee, wrapped in a towel, was cornered in the bathroom by my friends. With so many of my friends backing me up, he was utterly panicked, practically wanting to grovel. “It… it was Ms. Hayes who asked me to stay with her!” He stammered, “As an intern, how could I refuse my boss…?” Is that all? My friends immediately started rolling up their sleeves, ready to throw punches. “If I’d known you had this kind of talent, I would’ve transferred you to the marketing department,” I smiled at him, a chilling smile. “Our client, Mr. Thompson, likes young guys. Since you can’t refuse people, why not take advantage of the situation and close that deal? Your year-end bonus would be more than a hundred grand!” Brandon hadn’t expected my mind to work in such mysterious ways. For a moment, he was speechless. Seeing that I was actually planning to exploit him, Brandon could only cling to the single towel that covered him, weakly trying to argue. “I’m sincere about Chloe.” How low-level was this kept man? How stupid could one person be? At the time, I even laughed at his foolishness, but my laughter quickly died. Because Chloe wiped the water from her face, got dressed, and calmly rose from the bed, proposing divorce to me. Yes. She was ready to divorce me. Disregarding the loss of shared assets, ignoring the company’s business operations— She was determined, resolved to take the wedding ring off my finger within three months—she even packed her things that very night and moved out of our home. I raged, I cursed, I even trashed the company office. But our marriage was already in ruins. This severely impacted my mental state, leading to me getting stabbed in the back by her trusted secretary during the divorce negotiations. In the divorce agreement, the company was no longer mine, and I would only get a third of our shared assets; even the house my parents paid for, our marital home, Chloe wanted half of. I couldn’t believe it. But it was too late, the damage was done. Just as I finally accepted reality and agreed to the divorce, that foolish woman, Chloe, got into a car accident and lost her memory. 0

Chloe truly remembered nothing. Years of experience had vanished instantly. With one car accident, she had literally achieved the impossible: “After years in the cutthroat world, she was back to being an innocent girl.” Company operations, business dealings, all that complicated stuff—she understood none of it. Chloe, with her memory frozen at twenty, could only solve college-level math problems; she couldn’t manage a company. She sat there, looking at the documents Sarah brought, her mind a complete blank. But—she still remembered me. I couldn’t even recall what I looked like at twenty. But twenty-year-old Chloe was so vibrant and lovely, it was hard to pretend not to see her. Especially since I was the only person she recognized. 0

To be honest, the one thing that truly surprised me after all these years was Chloe’s trusted secretary, Sarah, and her unbelievable nerve. After all, when Chloe and I were going through our messy divorce, that woman had screwed me over big time. This trusted secretary had secretly helped Chloe transfer company shares, then used the board of directors to kick me out of the game. She stripped me of my management and control over the company, and a lot of my equity. It cost me at least fifty million dollars. Out of all our marital assets, I only got a third. That last time at the hospital, I was just being polite, putting on a bit of a show. But what I never expected was that she’d take my politeness literally. That trusted secretary actually brought Chloe directly to my house to corner me. Because Chloe wanted to see me. Sarah used me as bait, fooling the extremely immature CEO into acting like a proper executive and attending an important meeting. Then, she fulfilled her promise and brought Chloe to find me. 0

When they arrived, I was in the middle of moving. The day I caught Chloe cheating, she moved directly out of our shared house. With the divorce looming, I naturally couldn’t live there anymore either. My friend had found me an apartment, and I’d completed the purchase last month. Most things were already set up, but I couldn’t bear to leave the good furniture behind. I figured I might as well take it. After all, none of these belongings were cheap, and that house was about to get a new male occupant to enjoy them. So, it was better if I just moved out. Therefore, the atmosphere when we met was… delicate. Sarah was incredibly awkward, seeing as she’d cost me so much money. And I felt a bit guilty too, given that I was secretly moving our marital assets. This time, Sarah decided to strike first. She proactively said to me, “Declan, you know, I’m just an employee. Each to their own boss, right?” “Ms. Hayes gave me my big break, so I couldn’t afford to be confused on such an important matter.” I rolled my eyes at her. Right, right. A big break, so she’d die for her boss. So I was just supposed to take it? She only lost her boss, but I lost a solid fifty million dollars! The two of us were muttering to each other on the balcony, while Chloe had already explored the entire house. When she saw Sarah and me whispering intimately, she instantly looked unsettled. She walked over and pulled us apart. She pointed at the packed moving boxes and asked, “Is this going to be our new home? I thought this house was perfectly fine. Why are we moving out now?” “Or are we moving to a bigger, grander place?” I looked at her. “I’m moving out. You’re still living here.” Chloe didn’t understand. I said coldly, “Because we finalized our divorce last month. The reason was your infidelity.”

I was completely unprepared for Chloe’s reaction. When she heard my words, she first froze, then burst into laughter, as if she’d heard the most absurd joke in existence. She clutched her stomach, her laughter hearty and clear. “Don’t joke like that,” twenty-year-old Chloe said, still laughing. “Why would I ever divorce you?” I looked at her, my expression calm. “There’s no endless feast, even you and I will eventually part ways.” “Impossible,” she declared, cutting me off. Her words shot out without thought. “If you said we never got together, fine. But since we’re married, there’s no way I’d ever leave you.” Her words made me want to laugh. Because she truly had forgotten so much. She’d forgotten the cruel, even harsh, and incredibly unfavorable property division that I had to endure; She’d forgotten the cold, still, numb expression on her face when she placed that divorce agreement in front of me. She’d forgotten saying to me herself, “Let’s just end it. We’ll both be free.” That’s how Chloe was, with her memory stuck at twenty. She remembered nothing, knew nothing, blindly believing that our future together was destined, that we’d be forever united, never to be separated. So, at that moment, malice churned in my heart. Why was it always me, the man, who got hurt or victimized? No. I wanted to hurt her too. I wanted to make her suffer. So, I asked her in return, “Why?” “Why do you think we won’t part ways?” Chloe looked at me. At that moment, the twenty-year-old and thirty-year-old versions of her seemed to merge, converging into one. But her gaze was so focused, so earnest. She looked at me intently and said, “Because I’ve liked you for so many years.” “After finally getting you, how could I ever let go?”

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Five years ago, I stormed off in a huff, leaving Asher. Later, he won the Best Actor award, but at the Starfall Awards Gala, he held up my photo, searching for me. “My beloved has been missing for a month. Please, help me find her.” Yet, news of my gruesome death had exploded countless times back in 2018. But Asher, traumatized, had developed amnesia, blocking out everything after my death. The day his manager announced Asher was stepping away from the spotlight indefinitely, the news of Asher’s suicide sent shockwaves. Asher’s name and mine were trending again. It all started when Asher, then 32, won the coveted Best Actor award at the Starfall Awards Gala for his film “Daylight Revelry.” After a heartfelt speech about his arduous journey, Asher, in front of the entire world, pulled out a faded, yellowed photograph. In the video, Asher looked directly at the camera, his flawless face etched with a hint of helplessness. “Folks, my beloved stormed off in a huff about a month ago. Please, help me find her. Her name is Chloe Nelson.” Asher’s voice was steady, almost as if he was indulging a playful child. Or, in another sense, it was a ridiculously enviable display of affection. But the guests at the awards ceremony were dumbfounded. Because everyone knew that in 2018, a brutal stabbing incident occurred at the city’s main airport. The killer was a sociopath, and I, protecting a child separated from their family, was killed instantly. Afterward, my name was on the trending topics for a month. Naturally, so was Asher’s. They unearthed that Asher and I had been together for 25 years. Our families were neighbors since we were kids, making us childhood sweethearts. They even found adorable clips of our romance in Asher’s Ins vlogs. After my death, everyone remembered Chloe Nelson. Time always quietly washes things away, making them blurry. Five years had passed, and everyone thought Asher was fine. Though he’d lost a staggering thirty pounds a month after my death, and developed severe depression six months after, and David had found him after six suicide attempts— Still, he seemed to recover. In the second year, when spring bloomed, Asher finally logged back onto Ins after a year. He posted a selfie and typed out sixteen words in half an hour. [I’m Asher, David tells me healing means facing the light again.] Asher’s fans flooded the comments. [Brother, you’re finally back.] [So brother, you’ll eat well and gain some weight today, right?] [Texas BBQ is seriously delicious!] Among them, there were rival fan accounts trying to rain on his parade. [Is the big movie star broke?] [What about Chloe Nelson? Mr. Deeply Devoted, do you still remember her?] In a blink, that comment was buried under angry comments, countless people fiercely condemning it. But to everyone’s shock, Asher saw it. He replied: [Why wouldn’t I remember Chloe?] Sometimes, text can seem devoid of emotion, unable to truly convey a person’s thoughts or actions. At first glance, his reply seemed powerful. But in reality, on the other side of the screen, Asher’s gaze was as lost as a child’s. He asked David the same question. David’s throat tightened. As always, he found a way to lie: “Just some crazy haters, no bottom line, they’ll make up anything.” His therapist had told him that Asher’s depression hadn’t truly healed. He had symptoms like a form of trauma-induced amnesia, subconsciously forgetting things he wanted to forget. Over the past year, through depression and self-harm, he had, by a cruel twist of fate, developed a self-defense mechanism when he was unhappy. This meant Asher would sometimes be normal, and other times he would forget. Right now, he was in a state of extreme sorrow. David had worked with Asher for years. He genuinely sympathized with this man who had grown up through such hardship but loved so fiercely. So, he had sincerely asked the therapist, “Then how can I make him happier?” The answer he got was to let him do what he was good at— Acting. David had initially worried about this, but later found his worries were unnecessary. The moment Asher stepped onto a new set and received his script, he would automatically immerse himself in the role, professional and dedicated. Only two accidents had occurred in these past few years. One was three years ago when Asher played a professional assassin. Facing a diligently trembling young actor, he suddenly burst into tears. Everyone on set panicked. Sweat poured down his face, and he looked anxious, just like the day I had died. Asher’s face was pale, and he bit his lips until they bled. David couldn’t alleviate his pain, only stay with him. About three hours passed. In the dimly lit room, Asher suddenly reached out to touch the faint rays of light. David thought he would forget again and then asked him about me. But Asher asked a different question: “David, is the child Chloe saved that day doing okay?” David had met the child. The child’s parents had also wanted to see Asher. He didn’t intend to hide it: “He’s doing great. The kid’s in middle school now.” Asher lowered his gaze and nodded, his voice hoarse: “That’s good.” David could only sigh and pat his shoulder. The next moment, the man, who had been feigning strength, suddenly let down all his guard, becoming as fragile as grass. Tears blurred his vision and slid down his face, looking utterly broken. “But what about my Chloe?” “My,” Asher’s throat bobbed, “my Chloe?” But I could only watch, even more helpless than him.

The second incident was at the awards ceremony. On Ins, there were over a dozen trending topics about Asher and me, all exploding. I remember Asher’s twelve years as an actor. From the moment he debuted, he publicly announced my name on Ins. David, who discovered him, advised him to consider his career and keep his relationship private, but Asher stubbornly refused. In his second year, he starred in a low-budget show that blew up overnight. His follower count exploded by hundreds of thousands overnight, and fans quickly noticed Asher’s pinned Ins post. It read: [My beloved, Chloe Nelson.] This deterred many new fans. I, too, had selfishly worried about Asher’s career, so I felt awkward and decided to break up with him. But as soon as I finished my breakup speech to Asher on SnapChat, tears streaming down my face, a total mess, Asher came into the room with his camera, taking pictures of me. He happily kept snapping unflattering photos of me. Too furious to stand it, I chased him in my sneakers. “You’re crazy! Why are you taking pictures of me?!” I chased him until I collapsed, exhausted. Asher would annoyingly flop down beside me, saying seriously, “My dear Ms. Nelson, you don’t need to cry about how special you are to me. I’m successful because I’m dedicated and talented, not because I’m single.” I called him narcissistic and full of himself, but the very next day, Asher updated his pinned post. Late at night, he wrote a full ten thousand words. It detailed our love story, saying we had known each other for twenty years. When Asher was little, he was abused, and on his way to the police station to report it, he fainted. It was me, timidly following him, who happened to save him. Afterward, Asher’s parents, Frank and Martha Miller, were convicted of domestic violence and sentenced to prison. His grandfather, who never liked him, saw my parents’ kindness and sent him to live with us. So, he became part of our family. My parents raised him until he grew up. For twenty years, my heart was as pure as water, but Asher secretly developed feelings for me. The day college entrance exams ended was Asher’s birthday. My parents were away on a business trip, and I carefully prepared all the birthday decorations for Asher. But as soon as the lights went out, Asher confessed his feelings to me. I still remember that scene. The dim, warm light, the faint scent of cake, and the pale-skinned boy with his eyes closed, making a solemn wish. Asher had been handsome since he was a child. So, for a moment, I was mesmerized. Then he blew out the candles and opened his eyes, and our gazes met. My pounding heart became deafening. “Did you make a wish?” I snapped back to reality, instinctively blinking and asking him. “Yeah, I did.” Actually, I never usually asked, but I was at a loss for words and subconsciously asked him what he wished for. That night, I was as innocent as a lamb being led to slaughter. Asher’s throat bobbed, wanting his wish to come true. His teenage crush seemed irrepressible, and he gazed at me with stubborn devotion: “Chloe, can we be together?” “…” Clearly, I was too young and confused, so I refused. After getting into college, we specifically chose different schools, thinking we’d go our separate ways for good. Then, the second year, Asher was in a car accident and got injured. During the New Year’s holiday, my parents were busy with social engagements out of town, so taking care of the injured Asher fell to me and a nurse. Asher was silent, and I ignored him. Then, on New Year’s Eve, the nurse went home for the holiday. That night, fireworks lit up the sky. Thrilled, I helped Asher to the balcony. Before we could even ring in the new year, his faint voice came from behind me. “Why won’t you let me watch the fireworks?” His tone carried a hint of sadness. I stupidly mumbled, “Huh?” The next second, huge fireworks burst across the sky. I was practically jumping with excitement watching them, but Asher was only secretly watching me. When the fireworks stopped, I noticed. Feeling awkward, I just rubbed my nose and looked at the ground, scuffing my sneakers on the pavement, wishing the ground would just swallow me whole. But then he tilted my chin up. Under the night sky, Asher seemed dim and hurt, his voice slightly hoarse: “Chloe Nelson, am I really that annoying?” I’m usually warm-hearted, so I quickly rushed to say, “No, no, of course not!” hastily explaining that I was just awkward, not that I disliked him. Asher pursed his lips in thought: “But you never said yes to me.” At that, I just wanted the ground to swallow me whole even more. The next time we met was in our junior year. My roommates were all eagerly pairing off, leaving me as the only single one. In true “wing-woman” fashion, they started parading their brothers’ profiles like treasures, and one even made a whole presentation for me. It was my social anxiety nightmare. I was stressing about it during Thanksgiving break when Asher coincidentally brought me some homemade cookies my mom had made. So, I pulled him over, grinning, and introduced him to my roommates: “See? This is my boyfriend, alright?” I gave him a quick pinch, a silent warning not to blow our cover. Asher, a born actor, played along perfectly. His smile was practically bursting, and he even offered to treat everyone to a fun three-day visit to the Drama Academy during the break. My roommates immediately ditched their boyfriends to come see the handsome couple. And Asher and I played temporary lovers for three days. On the last day, Asher treated everyone to dinner. That night, after a hearty meal, I was the only one completely sober, because Asher had shown ultra-possessiveness and wouldn’t let me drink. After I saw off my dear roommates one by one, Asher, seemingly drunk, collapsed onto me, conveniently dropping his apartment keys. I told him he was totally taking advantage of me. His eyes were beautiful, and when they turned red from the alcohol, his trembling lashes were even more captivating. “So, are you just going to leave me for dead?” Okay, completely smitten. The next year, Asher and I officially became a couple. After graduation, Asher frequently auditioned and acted. I remember in his third year, he landed a background role with five lines. We celebrated all night. I told him his future was so bright. In his fourth year, David discovered him, and by a stroke of luck, he starred in a low-budget, independent film that blew up overnight. So, at the very end of his long post, he wrote: [I won’t abandon the shoes that fit me best just because I’ve walked a long way, or forget the mud she’s cleaned off countless times. And I won’t lose my original intention just because I want fame. My original intention is Chloe Nelson. I’ve loved her for so many years.] That’s why Asher was hailed as the ultimate ‘relationship goals’ celebrity. I read his statement, my eyes welling up with tears, and jokingly posted on my social media: [Well written, but who exactly was your ‘shoe’ again?] Asher replied helplessly: [Me.] For all these years, Asher steadfastly kept his promise. He loved filming and often turned our lives into vlogs for his fans to watch. I was even dubbed the most envied girlfriend in the industry, people saying we were both one of a kind. Some even binge-watched our entire relationship history overnight and commented: [Girl, if you two ever break up, I’ll never believe in love again.]

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My wife and I were getting married tomorrow. At her bachelorette party, she hugged her old flame. She said it was to leave her youth without regrets. I immediately called off the wedding. She didn’t understand and cried, asking: “We just had dinner, why are you overreacting like this?” I said: “Since you can’t let go of your youth, I wish you two a lifetime of happiness. Now, you’re free.” 01 The day before the wedding, I was triple-checking all the details. “Use only roses for the petals, absolutely no lilies or bellflowers – Olivia is allergic to those.” “Make sure there’s a spare pair of the custom insoles in the car. Olivia will be greeting guests for hours tomorrow, I’m worried her feet will hurt.” “Are the mini cupcakes ready? I heard brides barely get to eat on their wedding day, so I want her to have something while she’s getting her makeup done… They’re made with dairy cream, right? Vegetable cream is harder to digest.” … After getting affirmative responses to everything, I let out a heavy sigh of relief. I closed the door, lay down on the bed, and stared at the window with the big red “double happiness” character pasted on it, feeling both excited and nervous. I was getting married tomorrow. I wondered what Olivia was doing right now. I took out my phone and sent her a SnapChat message. She didn’t reply. While scrolling through my feed, I saw that her bridesmaid had posted a set of nine selfies. “Last night of freedom before the bestie gets hitched tomorrow! No regrets for our youth!” The first eight photos were just Olivia goofing around with her bridesmaids. I smiled, thinking she’d probably still be half asleep when I carried her out the door tomorrow morning. Then I swiped to the last photo and my world went black. It felt like someone had hit me over the head with a sledgehammer. I couldn’t breathe for a moment. It was an intimate photo of a man and woman. Olivia was leaning back, one hand propped on a table, her eyes hazy and lips parted. Less than an inch from her face was the profile of a man. He was staring at her intently, returning her passionate gaze. Their faces were so close they were practically breathing the same air, lips barely an inch apart. In the photo, the man’s hands were tightly gripping Olivia’s waist. Under the red lighting, it looked incredibly sultry. Just like a promo poster for some trashy romance drama. 02 I didn’t recognize the man, but I knew who he was. Ethan. Olivia’s first love that she had pined after for five years. From high school through college. We had shared our romantic histories before. Olivia had only vaguely mentioned having a crush on an older classmate, without going into details. So I hadn’t thought much of it, assuming it was just a fleeting infatuation from her school days. What did I care about her first love when I was the one by her side now? But this photo felt like a bullet through my chest. My heart clenched painfully. Olivia’s face slowly distorted before my eyes. My palm stung and I realized the metal edge of my phone case had cut into my skin at some point. I snapped out of my daze and looked back at the post, but it had already been deleted. I quickly called Olivia but there was no answer. I tried her bridesmaid instead. She picked up and I got straight to the point: “Where are you guys?” “We’re having dinner.” She hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. “Is something wrong?” “Give me the address.” I said. “That guy is still there, right?” Silence on the other end. Then I heard Olivia’s voice: “It’s your turn to drink! Who are you on the phone with?” “Just work stuff,” the bridesmaid said in a low voice. “I gotta go, my phone’s about to die.” “$1000,” I said. “What are you doing? What do you take me for?” “$3000, plus all the info on that guy.” “Well… you can’t say I told you.” I grunted in agreement. Soon, my phone was blowing up with notifications. 03 She had sent me Olivia’s secret Twitter account. I clicked through and saw she posted very frequently. Every meal, outing, and book she read warranted a post. And Ethan commented on every single one. Olivia: “It’s getting cold, time to knit a scarf for your loved one!” Ethan: “I got the scarf, but she’s at home so I can’t pick it up.” Olivia: “Hmph, forget it then.” It was a blue scarf – the birthday gift Olivia had given me last year. She claimed it took her two months to knit and I was so touched. I quickly dug out the scarf and sure enough, next to my name I saw some unraveled stitches. I could just make out the character for “Ethan”. And here I thought it was just due to her lack of skill. Turns out Ethan didn’t want it, so it got passed on to me. Olivia: “Made a wish at the temple today. Bless me!” Ethan: “What did you wish for? Tell me!” Olivia: “The thing you want to do most. (sticks out tongue)” Ethan: “See the stars in the Sahara Desert?” Olivia: “So smart, I’ll give you a kiss as a reward.” My mind flashed back to our third anniversary. We had gone to a temple to make wishes and hang prayer cards. I wrote that I would love the girl beside me with all my heart, asking all the gods to bear witness. She wrote: “I want to go see the stars in the Sahara Desert with the one I love.” I had invited her to go several times after that. But she always said she was too tired. Turns out it wasn’t that she didn’t want to go. I just wasn’t worthy. Is that right? 04 Valentine’s Day 202 I was stuck in a hotel due to COVID restrictions. Unable to spend the holiday with Olivia. She was mad at me for a long time. It took me a week to make it up to her. But I found her post from that day. A selfie of her and Ethan kissing in front of a mirror. The background was our bedroom. Caption: Love is always reckless. God damn it.

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My boyfriend Caleb Watson and I went on a graduation trip together, but we were kidnapped in the middle of nowhere. The kidnappers had ill intentions toward me, and to save Caleb, I actively negotiated with them. I successfully helped Caleb escape. He called the police and brought rescue personnel to save me. However, after my rescue, a video of me being assaulted surfaced online. Everyone pointed fingers at me. One man said, “Is this the woman who had relations with two men in the wilderness?” A woman said, “She was so proactive even after being kidnapped. Her private life is such a mess.” Another woman said, “How does someone like that still have the nerve to live? She has no shame!” I pressed Caleb about where the video came from, but he wouldn’t answer my questions and even wanted to break up with me. He said, “I’m about to start working at a major company. I can’t have a girlfriend with a ruined reputation. You’re too dirty.” In my despair, someone pushed me off a rooftop. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day we were kidnapped. ***** Caleb whispered, “Sienna, there’s no one else here, and the tent is already set up. It’s safe.” Sienna Grant is my name. He embraced me intimately from behind, his tone suggestive as he reached to undress me. My heart jolted as I turned to look into his eyes. The fear of death swirled in my mind, but that fear couldn’t compare to my hatred for the man before me. In my previous life, Caleb had seduced me the same way, saying no one would see us in the wilderness and nothing would happen. I had agreed, never expecting two criminals to pass by and kidnap us. Seeing my clothes half-open, they developed evil intentions and wanted to assault me. They held gleaming knives, and I had no choice but to pretend to comply with them. That’s when Caleb ran away. Taking advantage of the guards’ relaxed vigilance, he quietly escaped from the tent. To cover for Caleb, I had no choice but to actively cater to those criminals. By the time Caleb reported to the police and returned with officers, I had been tortured nearly to death. Someone had posted about this incident online. Soon, news of our kidnapping spread everywhere. Caleb became the clever, brave man who was deeply devoted to me. Everyone praised him, saying he risked danger to save me. But I was labeled as lacking self-respect, promiscuous, and unfaithful. Anyone who saw me would spit at me. Even stranger, what happened that night was somehow recorded on video. Netizens were extremely excited, and messages flooded out like a torrent. One part of these messages was true, nine parts were false. I became a tool for marketing accounts to make money. My social media accounts were exposed, and I received various comments and private messages daily. 【You shameless b*tch! Since you’re so desperate for men, go sell your body!】 【How much do you charge per night? Is it free? We’re in the same city, I can hook up with you.】 【Since you’re so wild, those kidnappers were probably attracted by you, weren’t they? Your boyfriend is so unlucky.】 I deleted my accounts and threw away my phone, but I still had nightmares every night. The kidnappers’ vicious faces and the online abuse alternated in my dreams, and I couldn’t find a way out. I went to find Caleb and asked him why what happened that day was recorded. I thought he might say he didn’t know, or suspect the kidnappers had recorded it. The one thing I never expected was for him to dodge my questions without answering, his eyes shifty and evasive. I demanded, “Do you know where that video came from?” Caleb didn’t answer. Instead, he said, “Sienna, let’s break up. I’m about to start working at a major company. I can’t have a girlfriend with a ruined reputation. You’re too dirty.” I wondered if I had heard wrong. I demanded again, “What did you say? I was humiliated trying to save you, and you’re calling me dirty?” Caleb remained silent, and as I desperately tried to continue questioning him, a pair of hands reached out. Those hands pushed me off the rooftop. In the last second, I saw Eliza Duncan standing at the edge of the roof, her hand still extended from pushing me, her face full of satisfaction. Caleb stood beside her, saying nothing. Eliza was the daughter of his company’s boss, who often came to hang out with us under the guise of friendship. In that instant, I suddenly understood that Caleb had long since latched onto someone wealthier and more powerful. Fortunately, God didn’t let me die with injustice, but gave me a chance to start over. This time, I will never again sacrifice myself for others!

Caleb tried to get closer to me, and I instinctively swung my hand and slapped him hard. I roared, “Don’t touch me!” The images from before my death were still vivid in my mind, and I used every ounce of strength to suppress the hatred burning inside me. Caleb was startled by my reaction and quickly came over to comfort me. He said, “Sienna, don’t be angry. If you don’t want to, we won’t do it.” Caleb gave up so easily, but I had no time to dwell on that. The most urgent thing now was to get out of here. Based on my calculations, those thugs would arrive in less than two hours. I turned around and started packing. After putting on my jacket, I grabbed my phone and headed for the tent exit. Caleb grabbed me, asking anxiously, “Where are you going?” I sensed something was off about him and deliberately said, “That’s none of your business. Don’t stop me.” But Caleb wouldn’t let go, saying, “It’s getting dark. Why do you want to go out? Didn’t you just say you wanted to sleep?” I stared at him for a long time. Just as he was about to speak, I said, “I’m just going to get some water.” There was leftover water from dinner outside the tent. I poured myself a cup and took a big gulp. Caleb actually followed me out and stood at the tent entrance, watching me. Why was he keeping such a close eye on me, as if he was afraid I’d run away? A terrible suspicion began forming in my mind, but I quickly pushed the thought away. I glanced at him calmly and quietly dropped a few sleeping pills into the water cup. I had trouble sleeping and always brought sleeping pills when traveling, but I never expected to use them here. The pills dissolved quickly. I walked over casually and handed the water to Caleb. I said, “I can’t finish this. You drink it.” Caleb didn’t suspect anything and drank it all. Then he said, “Sienna, let’s go to sleep.” I didn’t refuse and went into the tent. Caleb fell asleep within minutes. I took rope and tied his hands and feet tightly, then stripped off all his clothes. If those kidnappers ignored him, that would be his good luck. If those kidnappers really went after him, it would be his sacrifice for saving me! In this life, I was going to make Caleb experience all the suffering I had endured. After finishing this, I grabbed my backpack, took my power bank and phone, and prepared to leave. Seeing Caleb’s phone, something occurred to me. I picked it up and unlocked it with his fingerprint. But I never expected that before I could do anything, I’d see evidence proving his guilt. His phone screen was still on his chat with Eliza. Eliza: [Did you guys make it there?] Caleb: [We’re here. Baby, we’ve finished dinner and are getting ready to sleep. You’re sure those two guys won’t hurt me, right?] Eliza: [They won’t. They’re people I found. Don’t you trust me? Plus, I paid them a lot of money. As long as they film a video humiliating Sienna and post it online, her reputation will be completely ruined!] Caleb: [Okay. How much longer until they arrive?] Eliza: [It’ll take them at most two hours to get there now.] Eliza: [You’re not allowed to do anything with her. You promised me you’d break up with Sienna and be with me, which is why I’m helping you like this!] Looking at these chat records, I froze completely. No wonder the kidnappers had captured us but never mentioned ransom. No wonder Caleb had been able to escape so easily. No wonder there had been a video circulating later. No wonder he was so nervous tonight, afraid I’d leave. Even until my death, I never imagined that even those thugs were hired by them working together! Looking at Caleb’s figure, I really wanted to stab him to death.

This wasn’t some spur-of-the-moment crime by thugs—it was premeditated. If I hadn’t seen those chat records, even if I had escaped, they would have hunted me down. What should I do? I immediately grabbed Caleb’s phone and sent a message to Eliza. 【Have you seen those two men? What do they look like?】 Eliza replied instantly: 【I’ve never seen them. Why would I meet them? That would get me in trouble. I only told them to deal with that woman around you.】 Perfect. This meant those two thugs couldn’t tell me and Eliza apart. Caleb: 【Where are you? I miss you.】 Eliza: 【I’m nearby. After this is over, you still need to keep me company.】 Caleb: 【How about right now? Come over quickly. I tied Sienna up while she was sleeping. I’m coming out to find you now.】 Eliza: 【Okay, I’m coming over right now!】 I sneered at the phone screen. Since you all want to harm me, then face the consequences yourselves. I found the recording equipment Caleb had hidden in the corner and connected it to his phone. This essentially created remote surveillance. Caleb was still sleeping soundly under the influence of the sleeping pills, his expression peaceful. He used to be very popular at school. Many people envied me for being his girlfriend. Who could have imagined his heart had turned so rotten? Just to break up with me and ruin my reputation, he was willing to conspire with others in this charade, watching me get violated. I kicked him hard, and a red mark immediately appeared on his skin. The two thugs Eliza found both had criminal records and had been in prison multiple times. Even if they came in and didn’t see Eliza, seeing Caleb in this state—wouldn’t they be tempted? There was less than an hour left. I immediately ran outside. I had never run so fast in my life, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. I kept running until the tent became a tiny dot in my vision, then I stopped, gasping for air. I hid behind a large rock, then took out my phone to check the surveillance inside the tent. After a while, two hoarse male voices came through the phone. I knew those two thugs had arrived. Sure enough, the closer they got to the tent, the clearer their conversation became. It was definitely those two men’s voices. One of them said: “It’s pitch black inside. Are they all asleep already? Should we go in, grab the person, then throw the guy out?” The other said viciously: “Why would we do that? The employer said we need to have our way with that woman right in front of the man.” “These rich people sure are ruthless when they want revenge.” “Cut the chatter. Let’s go straight in, finish the job, and get out of here.” I didn’t have time to think more. The next moment, a man pulled open the tent flap and walked in. He had a long scar on his face, extending from his nose all the way to his jaw. I recognized him immediately. He was one of the men who had violated me in my previous life—George Martin. As soon as George entered the tent, he pounced on the blanket, then realized the numbers were wrong. He cursed under his breath: “Damn it! Why is there only one person here?” Then he turned on the flashlight he was carrying. Caleb was lying on the blanket completely naked, wearing nothing at all. Even though he hadn’t found me, George was startled by this scene. Caleb was awakened by the commotion. The sleeping pills’ effects were gradually wearing off. The moment he opened his eyes and saw a burly man on top of him, he nearly screamed in terror. George reacted quickly, immediately covering his mouth. Then George randomly grabbed a sock and stuffed it into Caleb’s mouth, threatening: “Don’t make a sound!” The other thug, who had been guarding the entrance, heard the commotion and walked in too. He asked: “What’s wrong?” Seeing Caleb in this state, he was momentarily speechless, unable to look away. He said: “Damn! Why is this guy so slutty? He’s actually sleeping naked. George, how about we rape him too?” George still remembered their mission, so he shoved the man away. Then he said: “I don’t know where that woman went. You guard the entrance and grab her if you see her.” As he spoke, he began touching Caleb. Caleb struggled desperately, and George slapped his butt. He said: “Stay still! You stripped yourself this clean—weren’t you waiting for me to fuck you? What are you pretending for?” Just then, Caleb’s phone received a message. Eliza: 【Where are you? I’m near your tent. Why can’t I find you?】 I took a deep breath and typed back. 【I’m in the tent. Those two men haven’t arrived yet. Come over first.】 I smiled, thinking: “Go ahead. They’re waiting for you. This is the show you carefully orchestrated. Now the tent is missing a female actress. You’ll have to take the stage yourself!” I believed there should be absolutely no mercy for people like this. Eliza didn’t suspect anything. In fact, when she saw the tent flap was open, she thought Caleb was specifically waiting for her. But George heard her footsteps first and turned off the flashlight. The two men quietly waited in the tent, listening as Eliza approached. Eliza hadn’t taken more than a few steps before complaining loudly: “Caleb, why didn’t you come out to meet me? I’m exhausted.”

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Returning to the 1980s, watching my sister Emily Ortiz constantly complaining about hardships yet insisting on marrying the beggar at our door, I knew she had been reborn too. In my previous life, Walker Clark, son of General Nolan Clark who admired me, came to propose marriage. Emily, jealous of my engagement, secretly drugged Walker, forcing him into a relationship with her and making him marry her instead. I endured the heartbreak and attended Emily’s wedding, only to encounter Adrian Allen at the restaurant entrance, nearly starving to death. Emily covered her nose and told him to leave quickly, not to bring bad luck to her wedding day. But I pitied him as a human life, not only housing him in the village’s unused barn to recover his health, but also saving my own food to feed him daily. After Adrian regained his strength, he proposed going south to find his relatives. When Emily heard I had given him all my savings for travel expenses, she laughed at my foolishness. However, none of us expected that within just half a month, Adrian would return as the son of the wealthiest man, bringing an enormous dowry to marry me. Meanwhile, Emily was separated from Walker, who was stationed at the frontier on duty. Over three years, unable to bear the loneliness, she frequented dance halls and became pregnant with another man’s child. When Walker’s parents, Nolan and Alice Clark, discovered this, they sent her back home. My parents, Hudson Ortiz and Freya Ortiz, fearing others would mock Emily, sent her south to find me. Forgetting past grievances, I kindly arranged work for her. But seeing my manor villa, she demanded an outrageous $30 million in support money. I firmly refused, but Emily flew into a rage and strangled me with a rope she had prepared. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day the engagement was arranged. ***** Freya said regretfully, “I never imagined Nolan’s son would choose Hannah.” Hannah Ortiz is my name. She slapped her thigh in disappointment, feeling sorry that the Clark family didn’t favor her beloved eldest daughter Emily. Emily, however, leisurely picked up the southern fruits the Clark family had brought and took a big bite. She said, “I don’t care about the Clark family. Soldiers are everywhere. What’s so special about Walker?” Hudson and Freya were stunned, and Freya asked, “Emily, do you have someone better in mind?” Emily raised her eyebrows and smiled, “Dad, Mom, just wait and see. When we have so much money we can’t even count it all, don’t complain about being tired.” I was dumbfounded, thinking, “What does this mean? Is she not planning to compete with me anymore?” Previously, to steal my captain fiancé, Emily had even resorted to drugging. On the night Walker and I got engaged, Emily convinced Hudson and Freya to call the entire village to our family’s barn. The neighbors, seeing the unconscious Walker and Emily with her shoulder exposed, all assumed they were truly in love. I was devastated but had no choice but to give up the engagement, allowing Emily to become part of the Clark family. But this time, Emily never mentioned Walker. On my wedding day, she dressed up carefully, wearing a fashionable outfit I’d never seen before. I feared Emily would cause trouble again, until I saw her flirting with the beggar at the restaurant entrance, and only then did I relax. So she had been reborn too, and had set her sights on the beggar husband I had taken in during my previous life. Emily bent down, her chest half-exposed, and said coquettishly to the beggar, “Are you hungry? Come home with me. I have lots of delicious food at home.” Who could have imagined that their beloved daughter would seduce a beggar? Freya trembled with rage and shouted on the spot, “Emily, what are you doing?” Not only did Emily feel no shame, but she said confidently, “I’m looking for a boyfriend, of course. I’m definitely going to marry this beggar.” Hearing this, Hudson’s eyes turned red with anger, and he reached out to pull her away while scolding her. But Emily hugged the filthy beggar tightly, pressing her chest against the beggar’s face so hard that his features became somewhat distorted. I stood aside in my wedding dress, watching coldly. The beggar, however, seemed enraged and said, “Get lost!” For a moment, Hudson, Freya, and Emily were all stunned. Looking at his familiar expression, I straightened up.

In my previous life, I kindly took in Adrian when he was begging on the streets. My family was very poor with little food, but seeing his pitiful state, I gave him the food I saved even though I starved myself to the point of developing stomach problems. Adrian was homeless, so I secretly hid him in an abandoned barn in the village to help him recover. In the end, I softened and gave him all the savings I had earned from sewing clothes for others as travel money. Half a month later, Adrian came back with a generous dowry and married me. I thought he was repaying my kindness. Until one day when he got drunk and let something slip: “Hannah, do you know why I married you? Because I’ve never played around with a village woman like you before.” My whole body gradually turned cold as I discovered that Adrian had a messy private life, just well-hidden. He always had mistresses around him. When I confronted him with evidence wanting a divorce, he said: “What are you pretending for? I’m already being good to you by not making you raise my mistresses’ children.” But later, he still brought his illegitimate children home. When I refused to raise them, he held a knife to my throat and forced me. The manor villa housed Adrian’s three illegitimate children. Emily came to me asking for money. Forget about 30 million dollars – Adrian would question me even if I spent a single cent. I was just a nanny raising his children, not the lady of the house. I thought: “Emily, since you want this kind of life so badly, you can have it.” Seeing Adrian’s arrogant attitude, Hudson rolled up his sleeves ready to hit him, but Adrian fainted from physical exhaustion. Emily pulled Hudson and Freya aside, taking out a missing person notice from her handbag. She whispered: “Dad, Mom, he’s the son of Christian, the richest man in Florida. His family has great influence. Though he’s down and out now, once he returns to his family in half a month, he’ll be very powerful.” The three of them got extremely excited, preparing to carry Adrian home. I reminded Hudson and Freya that my wedding was about to start and they needed to hurry inside. Emily snorted coldly: “What’s so great about marrying some broke captain? I’m going to marry the richest man’s son. You better get lost and stop interfering with my good fortune.” It didn’t matter that Emily wouldn’t attend my wedding. But Freya also chimed in: “How could your business be more important than Emily’s? Just attend your own wedding. Don’t waste our time.” With that, they abandoned me and left without looking back. Tears streamed down my face as I thought: “Are they really this biased?” The more I thought about it, the sadder I became. Suddenly, a warm, large hand wrapped around my waist. I spun around to see Walker pulling me into his arms like a protective puppy guarding his food. His strong chest muscles stirred feelings of affection in my heart. Looking into his deep eyes, my heart skipped a beat. No wonder everyone said Walker was the most handsome man in the military district. There was really no arguing with that. I turned to see Alice approaching as well. She patted my back and said angrily: “I’ve long seen how biased your parents are. From now on, you’ll be my daughter. I’ll cherish you.” The wedding was grand. With Walker’s parents and Walker backing me up, no one dared mock me. Instead, when I returned home that day, I heard Emily’s scandal spreading throughout the village as soon as I entered. The villagers were all saying that Emily had picked up a beggar from the street. Not only did she bring him home, but she also slept with him that very night. Moreover, Emily kept telling everyone that the beggar was her man and that no one was allowed to compete with her for him. Looking at my family’s front gate, I noticed that despite it being daytime, it was tightly shut. This was definitely because Hudson and Freya were too ashamed to face the villagers’ criticism. However, the scene inside the house made me want to gouge out my eyes. To marry the richest man’s son, Emily was truly shameless.

Emily was wearing a camisole, getting intimate with Adrian in the courtyard. Only after seeing Walker and me did she casually throw on a light jacket. Emily sneered, “You just brought back two bottles of cheap wine? I thought the General’s family could come up with something better.” Though this wine couldn’t compare to the treasures in the richest family’s wine cellar, it was still military-exclusive stock that outsiders couldn’t even buy. Hearing Emily’s words, Walker frowned, clearly displeased. Adrian had his shirt collar unbuttoned, staring at me lecherously. Emily unhappily blocked his view, afraid I might steal her beggar husband: “Why are you dressed so nicely? Who are you trying to seduce? Go inside and take those clothes off for me. What makes you think you deserve to wear such expensive clothes?” Walker frowned: “I gave those to her…” I quickly covered his mouth: “I’ll take them off right now. If you like them, I’ll give them to you.” With that, I pulled Walker into the inner room. He shook off my hand in frustration, clearly dissatisfied with my compliance. I chuckled softly. This was nothing—Emily had taken so many good things from me since childhood. Besides, she wouldn’t be smug for much longer. Freya came into the room and pulled me aside, whispering her complaints: “Don’t just buy wine next time—just give money directly.” Then she yanked the gold necklace from my neck and handed it to Emily. She whispered, “Emily, is the travel money enough now? When is this beggar going to Florida to find his relatives?” Emily said impatiently, “Isn’t it great that he likes being with me? The better we treat him, the deeper his feelings for me will be. Then we can ask for more bride price when the time comes. Don’t you get it?” That’s when I noticed the old yellow cow from our barn was gone. Emily’s dresses, which she always loved, had also disappeared from her wardrobe. Hudson and Freya had obviously lost weight, looking like they hadn’t had many full meals, staring at the cake I’d casually bought and swallowing constantly. Instead, Adrian was covered in designer brands, completely different from how he looked at the restaurant entrance a few days ago. His cheeks were no longer sunken, and he’d filled out considerably. Looking at the empty kitchen, I was stunned. To scrape together his travel money, they’d sold everything valuable in the house? Moreover, all those bride gifts the Clark family had given me were gone too. Hudson and Freya were usually stingy, but to get Emily married to the richest man’s son, they were willing to sacrifice everything. Freya had everyone sit down for dinner, and Emily had Adrian sit in the head seat of the house. That spot had always been Hudson’s. He coughed in dissatisfaction but got elbowed by Freya. She said, “Think long-term—imagine that three-story mansion.” Walker and I had nowhere to sit, so we could only stand beside the dining table. Adrian cleared his throat, and Hudson and Freya both straightened up. Then Adrian said, “Hudson, I’ve been in the village for quite a few days now. It’s time I head south to look for my birth parents.” Hearing this, Hudson and Freya were thrilled, almost moved to tears with excitement. Freya said, “Good, Adrian. When you find your birth parents, don’t forget about us.” Emily looked reluctant as she acted coquettish: “Adrian, I’m your lifesaver. You have to remember to come back and marry me.” A flash of disgust crossed Adrian’s expression. Soon, Adrian nodded: “Alright.” Then he eagerly grabbed his bundle. Hearing his answer, Emily became incredibly smug. She looked as if Adrian would return with a hefty bride price to marry her the very next second. Emily arrogantly waved at me: “Didn’t Walker drive here? You two can take us to the station—Adrian needs to ride in a luxury car.” Today’s events had made Walker furious: “No way. You bully my wife, and I’m supposed to help you escort your lover? What do you take me for?” Emily blurted out, “We still have use for you now, so you should be happy. You think you can stay in the city much longer? Once you get deployed to the frontier, you won’t be able to act so arrogant.” Walker was stunned. I glanced at Emily and dragged the still-dazed Walker to the car: “We’re not taking you.” Emily pounded on the car door, saying angrily, “Hannah, you’ve gone too far. Well, let’s see what happens—in half a month, you won’t be able to act so high and mighty.” That sentence kept echoing in my mind until half a month later, when our home phone rang. I picked up and heard Freya’s voice through the receiver: “Hannah, come back quickly. That beggar…”

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I’ve returned to Christmas 1975. I went to the black market and sold off all the jewelry and new clothes my fiancé Edward Gray had given me at bargain prices. I deliberately made myself look dirty and disheveled, like a beggar. In my previous life, my family had finally managed to secure me a spot to return to the city. I was overjoyed and, following Edward’s instructions, put on the clothes he had sent me. But I never expected that Olivia Murray, a poor female student who had been sent to the countryside with me, would steal my identity and board the city-bound vehicle ahead of me. When I chased after her to confront her, she pointed at my new clothes and accused me of improper conduct, claiming there was no way I could be the daughter of the upright Dean Albert Murray. They threw me off the vehicle, forcing me to continue working in the countryside. Three years later, I finally made it back to the city. I witnessed Edward walking past me with his arm around Olivia. That’s when I realized they had been together all along. My inability to return home had been part of their scheme. Not only that, but they also told my father Albert and mother Emilia Murray that I had been with other men in the countryside and didn’t want to come back. Albert, as the dean, was so enraged that he suffered a stroke and died. Emilia cried every day and also passed away the following year. Olivia smugly flaunted in front of me: “Matilda, thank you for having them take such good care of me before. The property your two foolish parents left behind all went to Edward and me.” I was so furious I coughed up blood. Edward, who had been promoted to associate dean, sent me to the hospital and injected me with an overdose of medication, killing me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day I was preparing to go home. ***** When I emerged from my room wearing tattered clothes, everyone around me was stunned. A man asked: “Matilda, didn’t your fiancé send you lots of things? Why are you dressed like this?” Matilda Murray is my name. A woman said: “Yeah, even if he truly cares about you and has been waiting for you to return for two years, you should still pay attention to your appearance.” Their faces were full of confusion. After all, we were going home – why was I wearing these drab work clothes and mud-stained rubber boots? Who would dress like this to meet their beloved? I smiled without saying anything, my eyes filled with complex emotions. In my previous life, I had also believed Edward truly cared about me. Albert and Emilia had finally secured me a spot to return to the city. When I received the things Edward had sent and learned he was coming to pick me up, I happily put on the new clothes and even wore the most fashionable hair accessories of the time. I had thought I could let my beloved see me at my most beautiful, but when I hurried to catch the city-bound vehicle, I discovered Olivia sitting in my seat. Olivia insisted she was Albert’s daughter and spoke about my family’s affairs in great detail. She also pointed at my new clothes and angrily said: “You all know my father is very frugal. How could his daughter possibly dress so glamorously? “This kind of extravagant style would only anger my father if he saw it.” The others believed her words. No matter how I tried to explain, it was useless. I was thrown off the vehicle and forced to return to the countryside. The letters I sent home and to Edward mysteriously went unanswered. It wasn’t until three years later that things changed. I returned to the city with others. As soon as I got off the vehicle, I saw Olivia in a dress with her arm linked through Edward’s. They were very intimate. It turned out they had been together all along. I was shocked and rushed forward to grab Edward’s sleeve, but he shook me off forcefully. Edward said: “Matilda, I really didn’t expect you’d actually make it back.” Before I could understand what he meant, Olivia cleared up my confusion. She smiled and said: “Matilda, Edward and I fell for each other years ago. I really have to thank you for your spot – it let me come back early and marry Edward. “Oh, by the way, you don’t know yet, do you? Albert thought you were with some old man in the countryside and died of a stroke from rage. Your mother also died last year. All that property went to Edward and me. “You have nothing left now. How pitiful.” I was so angry I coughed up blood, while Edward looked at me coldly and forcibly took me to the hospital under the pretense of medical treatment. He said: “Matilda, don’t blame me. “You could have stayed quietly in the countryside and married some rural man. But you came back. “For the sake of my bright future, you need to die.” Edward used his position without hesitation to inject me with an overdose of medication, leaving me to die in despair on that hospital bed. But in this lifetime, none of that has happened yet. This time, I absolutely won’t let them succeed.

I boarded the vehicle with my packed belongings, and the bespectacled man sitting by the door frowned at me. He said, “All seats are taken. Who are you? Go back where you came from.” I feigned ignorance, covering my mouth in surprise as I said, “All seats taken? How is that possible? I have a reserved spot. Who’s taken my place?” The man’s expression darkened. He turned to scan the area, as if trying to determine whether my words held any truth. I pointed at Olivia, who sat there looking somewhat nervous, and confronted her: “Olivia, why are you sitting in my seat?” She immediately shot back, “Your seat? This seat is mine.” The man chimed in, “That’s right. Do you know who she is? This is the daughter of hospital director Mr. Albert Murray and General Carter Simpson. Don’t you dare falsely accuse her.” “The daughter of Mr. Albert Murray and Ms. Simpson? You mean her?” I asked, my gaze cutting toward Olivia like a blade. Olivia’s body stiffened for a moment, a flash of guilt crossing her eyes, but she still straightened her spine. She said, “Yes, that’s me. I am Mr. Albert Murray’s daughter. This opportunity to return home is mine.” Olivia was about to use my attire to suggest I was improper, but after looking me up and down, she froze completely. I wasn’t wearing a single decent piece of clothing or jewelry. Where had all those things Edward gave me gone? I could see Olivia’s confusion, so I flashed her a meaningful smile. Olivia was stunned. She knew very well that if she couldn’t get me off this vehicle, both she and Edward would be finished. Olivia’s gaze fell on my shabby appearance, her eyes flickering several times. She said, “Edward has already prepared a welcome banquet for me in the city. You’re dressed like a beggar—how could you possibly attend a welcome banquet? “Matilda, I know you desperately want to return to the city, but you can’t just try to steal someone else’s spot. You should focus your energy on legitimate pursuits.” Olivia’s words were filled with righteousness. Compared to the timid demeanor she had when she first arrived at our house, her boldness had certainly grown considerably. My gaze fell on the dress Olivia was wearing—the one Albert and Emilia had sent together—and my eyes grew profound. Olivia was the daughter of our family’s housekeeper, Ella Murray. Her biological father was a gambler who had already been arrested by the police, with no connection whatsoever to Albert. She simply happened to share the same surname as us. Initially, seeing that she was about the same age as me at Christmas and had such a pitiful background, Albert and Emilia agreed to let Ella keep her close, allowing her to grow up alongside me as a companion. I was delighted to have another sister in the house, so I shared almost everything good with her, treating her like my own sister. Olivia also appeared very well-behaved and sensible. When the family was deeply worried about my being assigned to work and live in the countryside, she even volunteered to accompany me. I was so moved that I immediately begged Albert and Emilia to adopt her as their goddaughter. However, in my previous life, just before I died, Edward mercifully revealed the truth to me. He said, “Accompany you to work and live in the countryside? Olivia’s name was on the list too. She simply had no choice but to go to the countryside.” Olivia was nothing but an ungrateful, thankless person. Just as I was about to publicly expose Olivia’s true identity, the man suddenly spoke again: “Exactly, stop making things up here. If she’s not Mr. Albert Murray’s daughter, then are you supposed to be? She has the Murray family heirloom and a personal letter from her fiancé Dr. Gray as proof. “Mr. Albert Murray is away, but he specifically wrote to ask Dr. Gray to host a welcome banquet for her.” A family heirloom? A handwritten letter? I was furious beyond words, wanting nothing more than to strangle Olivia and Edward. The Murray family heirloom was a ruby pendant. When Edward and I got engaged, Albert had given it to Edward as a special gesture to show how much he valued him. But I never expected it to be in Olivia’s hands now. Not to mention Edward’s handwritten letter. No wonder in my past life, even when I explained that I was Albert’s daughter, no one believed me. Olivia had lost her initial panic and now wore a smug expression, looking at me provocatively. She said, “It’s okay. She’s probably just homesick and didn’t get a spot, so she resorted to this. Since it’s still early, you should get off and head back. Don’t waste everyone’s time.” Olivia’s words sounded magnanimous and considerate. The people on the bus from other places didn’t know the truth and began treating her as Albert’s daughter, gathering around to curry favor with her. A man said, “Miss Olivia, you’re so generous. If some lowlife tried to steal my spot, I’d definitely call the police and have her arrested.” A woman chimed in, “Exactly. I’ve long heard that Mr. Albert is upright and famously professional throughout the medical field. Miss Olivia is truly forgiving to pardon even someone like this.” I watched all this coldly and said, “Olivia, you’d better not regret this.” My warning was clear enough, but Olivia was basking in the feeling of being adored by everyone. Hearing my words, she just gave me a disdainful glance and didn’t take it to heart at all. Before the man with glasses could kick me off like he did in my previous life, I grabbed my bundle and stepped off the bus myself. The man sneered, “At least you have some self-awareness. You’ve crossed Mr. Albert’s daughter—aren’t you afraid of what’ll happen when someone in your family gets sick?” He scoffed and slammed the door shut. The bus drove away right in front of me, kicking up dust all over me. My already dirty work clothes now looked even worse. I took a deep breath and used the money from selling my belongings to rent a car. So what if that bus wouldn’t take me? As long as I had money, couldn’t I still get there? I was determined to see exactly what kind of welcome banquet Edward had prepared.

The car bumped along the entire way. By the time I made it back to the city, it was already evening. My two-story house was brightly lit, with many people moving around inside, looking quite lively. I immediately understood—this was the “welcome party” they had mentioned. Without hesitation, I walked straight in. Everyone was busy chatting, and hardly anyone noticed me. I was about to head upstairs when someone suddenly grabbed me. A woman in a floral shirt pushed me away with disgust, her eyes full of contempt. She said, “What kind of beggar are you? Is this a place you should be? Planning to steal something? I’m telling you, get out of here before I call the police.” I figured she had mistaken me for some thief trying to steal. Just as I was about to explain, a familiar voice rang out: “Mrs. Jones, what’s happening here?” Freya Jones, who had just treated me so rudely, immediately put on a respectful expression. She said, “Mrs. Emilia Murray, some beggar broke in. I don’t know if she’s here to steal. I was worried it might disrupt Ms. Olivia Murray’s welcome party, so I wanted to throw her out.” “Mrs. Emilia Murray” sighed after hearing this. Then she said, “This poor soul. If she wasn’t truly desperate, who would swallow their pride and beg from others? Let her come in and have something to eat. Just keep an eye on her and don’t let her wander around.” Freya said flatteringly, “You’re so kind. You and your husband Mr. Albert Murray are truly a perfect match.” “Mrs. Emilia Murray” looked quite pleased with the praise, nodding slightly, really looking like a wealthy person. However, when she caught sight of my face from the corner of her eye, her expression instantly froze. She asked, “Ms. Murray… Matilda, how did you get back?” This “Mrs. Emilia Murray” that Freya was flattering was actually Ella, Olivia’s nanny mother. I remembered she used to always keep her head down and seemed very honest, so our whole family trusted her completely. When I went to work in the countryside and Albert went away for research, only Emilia was left at home. Since Emilia didn’t like socializing and rarely appeared in public, we specifically asked Ella to take good care of Emilia. But I never expected she would have the audacity to assume Emilia’s identity. My gaze swept over Ella several times. The jewelry around her neck and on her hands all originally belonged to Emilia. In my previous life, I hadn’t been able to return at this time. When I came back three years later, both Albert and Emilia had already passed away. I had no idea how much Emilia had suffered at home. Perhaps all that talk about Emilia crying every day and dying of depression was just lies. Suppressing my rage, I walked toward Ella step by step, asking coldly, “What? Ella, am I not allowed to come back?” Ella trembled with fear and said, “That’s not what I meant.” Her tone was clearly frightened. Freya, standing nearby, looked surprised after hearing this. Freya asked, “Mrs. Emilia Murray, who is this beggar? Why are you being so polite to her?” Ella didn’t know how to respond. I lost my patience, worried that Emilia was being framed by them, and headed straight upstairs, only to run into Olivia and Edward coming down hand in hand. The moment Edward saw me, a flash of panic crossed his eyes, and he instinctively let go of Olivia’s hand. Edward asked, “Matilda, how did you get back?”

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On the day of my wedding, my parents suddenly show up at my house with my fiancé, Yoseph Caldwell. They say they’ve decided the bride is going to change. “Your sister’s terminally ill, and her only wish is to marry Yoseph. You’re her younger sister, so be generous and help her out.” Yoseph chimes in calmly, “Don’t worry. It’s just a ceremony. Once she passes, you and I can still get the marriage certificate.” When I refuse, my parents tie me up. “We’ll let you out once the wedding’s over.” But not long after they leave, an intruder breaks in and brutally murders me. By the time they finally remember me, all that’s left is my rotting corpse.

At 19, Liam promised me forever. At 26, he held Scarlett’s hand and slapped me across the face in front of everyone. I was forced to drink until I was wasted for him, used and abused by his business partners. But he just watched, cold and indifferent, even believing a twisted, life-for-a-life prophecy from a mystic. He let our son die, all so Scarlett could give birth to a child. I clutched my son’s lifeless body, gripping the confirmation of my pregnancy, and wept until I had no tears left. Later, I ended the pregnancy and fled far away. But Liam’s eyes burned with accusation. “You don’t want *our* child?” The laughter from behind the screen was like poisoned needles, pricking my eardrums. “Mr. Liam, what great fortune you have! Isabelle’s still in the hospital, right? And now you’ve got double the good news! Scarlett, you’re going to give Liam a big, healthy boy!” “Isabelle? That vain and opportunistic woman? She saw Liam losing his influence and immediately slept with one of his partners.” A man chuckled softly, his voice so lazy it sounded like he was discussing the weather, utterly trivial. “Isabelle? She probably died ages ago, didn’t she?” His laughter pierced my heart like a blade. My fingertips turned white as I dug them into my palms. Three days ago, when Liam’s business partners dragged me into an alley and brutalized me, he had laughed like that too. Those animals tore my clothes, beating me mercilessly. He just stood at the alley entrance, embracing a pregnant Scarlett, watching with cold eyes. My son, Leo, was kicked to the ground by Liam, screaming and sobbing, “Dad, why are you doing this to Mom?!” Leo’s convulsing body, my own humiliation—it suddenly shattered the last sliver of my composure. I shoved the screen aside with a jolt, my voice echoing, silencing the room. “Liam, what exactly did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this?” A bitter taste filled my mouth. I didn’t understand how this man, who I’d loved for seven years, had become this monster. Liam’s hand rested on Scarlett’s prominently swollen belly. His eyes narrowed when he saw me, then he sneered. “Still alive, huh? Had enough fun with your little fling?” My lips trembled, a dense, aching pain spreading through my chest. “Let’s get a divorce. Leo stays with me. You’re the one at fault, so we split everything 50/50.” “At fault?” His face twisted, his eyes inexplicably reddening as he stared at me with an unreadable expression. Suddenly, a powerful slap landed on my face, making my head spin. As the world reeled, I saw his lips move, spitting out cruel words. “I was merciful enough not to kill that bastard Leo. And you have the nerve to talk about divorce.” A thunderclap exploded in front of my eyes. I stared at the man I loved, utterly incredulous. Seeing my shock, Scarlett feigned timidity, shrinking into his embrace and handing him a piece of paper. “Sister, this is the paternity test. Leo really isn’t Liam’s…” The paper fluttered to the ground. Large red letters declared: “NO BLOOD RELATIONSHIP CONFIRMED.” It pierced my heart.

I suddenly laughed, but tears streamed down my face. “Liam, I ended up in the hospital because I was trying to save you.” “Nothing happened with those clients. Don’t you even believe me?” Liam scoffed, then furiously smashed a glass against my forehead, grabbing my throat and pinning me to the floor. Amidst the shattering glass, he leaned close to my ear and whispered: “You’d say anything to protect Leo’s real father. You’re disgusting, Isabelle.” Warm liquid flowed down my cheek, and I thought of Liam when he was 19. He had cut the chains an old widower used to imprison me, carrying me through mountain paths ravaged by mudslides. We huddled in a rented room with our meager savings, the scent of cheap shampoo mingling with our breaths. He said: *Isabelle, I’ll love you my whole life. We’ll work hard, live in a big house, and have a bunch of healthy babies.* From then on, I did everything—waitressing, reception, hospitality, logistics. I took any job I could find. When he landed his first big deal and earned his first million, we smiled at each other, joking that we were each other’s good luck charms. A year ago, on a rainy night, he was set up and embroiled in a financial scandal. Risking prison, I gritted my teeth and navigated business dealings with a group of older men, playing along with their charades. A man’s fleshy, greasy hand caressed my thigh, and I subtly pushed it away. They laughed loudly, toasting me glass after glass. “There are three more bottles of hard liquor here. If you finish them, our deal is done.” Without a word, I picked up the bottles and drank them one by one. The liquor burned like fire in my stomach, but I didn’t even flinch. In the end, the deal was done, Liam escaped the lawsuit, and I ended up in the emergency room. I never expected that when I woke up, I wouldn’t be greeted by Liam’s warm embrace, but by his furious accusations. “Why didn’t that old widower just kill you? Getting yourself hospitalized from being used like that.” He grabbed Brooke’s hand and left without a backward glance, as if even another glance at me disgusted him. Amidst the wreckage scattered on the floor, I lay there like a crushed stray dog, letting my tears stream freely. Suddenly, a phone call shattered the silence. My child’s voice, choked with sobs, was heartbreaking. “Mommy, I’m scared. Daddy brought a woman home, and he told me to get out…”

I endured the dizziness, hurrying home in a panic. The moment I pushed the door open, Leo flung himself into my arms, his soft, rosy face covered in purple bruises. Tears streamed down his small cheeks, scalding my heart. I hugged Leo tightly, looking at the man and woman before me, grief and fury surging within me. “Liam, how could you do this to your own son! You’re a monster!” Liam scoffed, looking at me as if I were the unforgivable villain. “Get out, you and that bastard! I won’t give you two a single cent!” Scarlett smirked triumphantly, her eyes darting around slyly as her seemingly delicate hand caressed Liam’s shoulder. “Liam, honey, I heard a mystic say there’s a way to trade a life for a life. If one boy is gone, another can be born.” “Leo isn’t even your child anyway, and I’m ready to have a baby now. Should we try it?” At her words, my entire body trembled. I stood up, raising my hand to slap Scarlett. But Liam’s grip clamped down on my hand. He kicked Leo, sending him sprawling to the floor, where he curled up in pain. My eyes turned bloodshot, and even my fingertips trembled. “Liam, you can’t do this! Leo is your biological son!” But he only sneered, then summoned his bodyguards to throw Leo and me out like stray dogs. The biting autumn wind was bone-chilling. Leo, dressed in thin clothes, shivered from the cold. His small face was red, filled with sorrow. “Mommy, did Leo do something wrong? Is that why Daddy doesn’t like me and Mommy anymore…?” My nose stung. I knelt down and hugged his small body. “Leo, Mommy and Daddy are getting divorced. Will you stay with Mommy?” Sadness clouded his face, but to comfort me, he forced a smile and nodded. “Okay, Leo likes being with Mommy.” Listening to my five-year-old son’s words, too mature for his age, my fingertips turned white. A wave of crushing disappointment washed over me. *Liam, you said you’d love and protect me my whole life.* I held his small hand, walking slowly along the road, unsure where we were going. Suddenly, turning a corner, we saw a group of menacing men, staring straight at Leo. My heart seized with fear. I scooped Leo into my arms and ran for my life. The next second, the men grabbed my arm.

They ignored my screams, dragging Leo and me into an alley. Leo was slammed onto the ground, letting out a sharp, desperate cry. “Please, I beg you, don’t touch Leo! Do whatever you want to me!” I cried, begging and struggling to stop them. But they snickered, roughly shoving me away, and then punched Leo again. I watched helplessly as Leo’s small body twisted at unnatural angles, blood oozing from his soft lips. “Leo… Leo…” Tears blurred my vision, my heart tearing with agony. He was just laughing a moment ago, saying he loved Mommy… and now he was bleeding… Warm, sticky blood flowed from between my legs. Sweat beaded on my forehead, and a foul odor assaulted my senses. “Alright, alright, he’s probably gone.” “Wonder if the life-for-a-life ritual works. Hope Miss Scarlett gives birth to a healthy boy and marries into a rich family!” A mouthful of blood sprayed everywhere, yet I felt nothing. As I lost consciousness, I kept thinking, over and over: *Leo’s birthday is in a few days. I need to buy him a big cake, and that toy car he wanted…* The pungent smell of disinfectant stung my nostrils. I struggled, waking from the nightmare. Looking at the unfamiliar ceiling, I shifted, and sharp pain shot through my lower body. “Miss Isabelle, please don’t move. You’ve just suffered a violent assault. Thankfully, you have a strong constitution, and the baby inside you is fine. You need to rest properly…” “My Leo?” I managed to ask, the only thing that mattered to me. The doctor’s expression shifted to one of sorrow and pity. That was all I needed to understand everything—it wasn’t a nightmare, it was real! “He’s in the morgue. Our efforts were in vain. Please accept our deepest condolences.” Dragging my weak body, I ran and crawled to the morgue. Among the white sheets, I found a small body. I pressed a hand hard against my chest, bending over, gasping for air. I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak. Large, heavy tears streamed down my face. When Liam entered, he saw me kneeling on the floor, consumed by grief. For a moment, his face contorted with a complex mix of emotions. He reached out to help me up, but I pushed his hand away. “Liam, my Leo is dead. I wish you would die too.”

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