Eighteen years old, I accidentally killed a privileged jerk to protect Vanessa Thorne. But she took a bribe from his family and gave false testimony in court. My self-defense became intentional murder… I was sentenced to death. After I died, she went to my mother, knelt, and swore she was sorry. She begged my mom to adopt her as a goddaughter, promising to take care of her in her old age. In the end, she conned my family out of all our assets and ran off with some guy. And my mom? Because I was a death row inmate, she lived a life of discrimination, looked down upon, poor, sick, and died heartbroken. Then I opened my eyes again— I was back to that evening, the day she invited me to the small alley on South Street. “Alex Reed, are you coming or not?” Vanessa Thorne’s voice drifted into my ears. Clear and sweet. I fought hard to control the rage boiling inside me. How *dare* this conniving bitch show her face to me again? Wait, what?! Where was I? School? Besides Vanessa’s voice, I heard the noisy laughter and shouts of my classmates. The sound of reading from the next classroom, echoing clearly. The setting sun, a cascade of golden light, spilled across the school windows. I double-checked, triple-checked. I was back. Reborn to my senior year, the blackboard at the back of the classroom read: “99 days left until college entrance exams.” Back to square one, like a reset button on my life! “Alex Reed, if you don’t come, I’ll just ask Cole Miller instead,” Vanessa said, a hint of challenge in her gaze, pouting. Her unzipped school uniform revealed a tight top that clung to her curves, a clear invitation for hungry eyes. In my past life, I was absolutely obsessed with her, just like this. Now, in my eyes, she was nothing more than a piece of rotten, decaying flesh. “I’m not going,” I stated, my voice firm. As I spoke, I stuffed my remaining textbooks into my backpack. I glanced at the classroom, both strangely unfamiliar and intimately known, then turned to leave. Vanessa blocked my way again. “Alex Reed, what’s your deal?” she demanded loudly. “I got bullied, and you’re just going to ignore it? “I’m telling you, if you don’t come today, we’re breaking up.” I stopped, my face cold. “We never even started, so what are you breaking up from?” Vanessa’s mom and my mom were classmates, best friends… In my past life, I naturally believed that too. But after I died, what Vanessa and her mom did made me realize I’d completely misplaced my trust. And my mom had simply picked a fake bestie. Vanessa, knowing I was infatuated with her, manipulated me again and again. Cole Miller was the school bully, and he’d harassed Vanessa several times. I’d been furious about it. But Vanessa didn’t see it that way. She even told me that a guy liking her meant she was desirable. “Vanessa Thorne, whether you ask Cole Miller or any other guy, it has nothing to do with me.” With that, I walked around her and headed out of the classroom. The sky was blue, the air fresh. Freedom. It felt so good. “Coward!” Vanessa’s sneering voice came from behind me. “Alex Reed, I dare you to never step foot in my house again!” “Fine!” I turned, my voice calm and icy.

As I wheeled my bike out of the bike shed, I saw Cole Miller with his arm around Vanessa’s waist. He was with a couple of his buddies, bouncing his leg as he spoke to me. “Alex Reed, from now on, Vanessa’s my girl. You spineless loser, stay away from her. Otherwise, I’ll beat you up every time I see you.” I scoffed internally. Let’s see if Cole Miller even makes it back from that South Street alley tonight. Then we can talk about “from now on.” In my past life, at eighteen, I was just a hot-headed kid, full of reckless youth. I didn’t understand anything. It wasn’t until I accidentally killed Brandon Hayes, the rich kid, that I learned Vanessa had been deeply entangled with him from Westridge High. She’d spent tens of thousands of his money, all on eating out and having fun. For a high school student, that was a hefty sum. Brandon wanted to take things further, but she actually told him she had a boyfriend. And I was that unlucky “boyfriend” she mentioned. She played both of us, infuriating Brandon and making me mad too. So, in my past life, in that South Street alley, I accidentally killed Brandon. This life, let her take Cole Miller there. “Cole, don’t worry, I’ll stay far, far away from her from now on,” I said with a smile. “And please, keep a close eye on her. Don’t let her bother me. “Also, maybe ask her if she has any *other* boyfriends?” As expected, the moment I said that, Vanessa completely blew up. She pointed at my face and yelled, “Alex Reed, what is that supposed to mean?! “It’s bad enough you’re a coward, but now you’re slandering me? “I only hung out with you because we grew up together. “And you? Cole Miller tries to ask me out, and you throw a tantrum, even threatening to take back our house?! “Are you trying to make it obvious that my family’s broke and we’re renting your place? “Are you serious with this?” With that, she squatted on the ground, sobbing pitifully. Right. I had indeed once said I’d tell my mom to take back the house we rented to Vanessa’s family. After all, they’d lived there for five years without paying a dime of rent. And they’d privately torn down a wall, a load-bearing wall, without my family’s permission. The HOA had complained to my mom multiple times. Given all that, I’d once suggested to my mom, “Maybe we should take the house back. “We don’t need to rent it out anymore. Anyway, the Thornes never paid rent.” Now, in Vanessa’s mouth, this had become my excuse to manipulate her? Cole saw her crying and immediately looked pained. He rushed to help her up, loudly announcing, “My sweet Vanessa, I’ll rent you another place myself…” I couldn’t care less about what happened next. I pushed my bike and left.

That evening, I heard that a massive fight had broken out between guys from Westridge High and Central High in the small alley on South Street. A guy from Central High, Cole Miller, had used a switchblade and stabbed Brandon Hayes in the abdomen. Just like in my past life. The knife was Vanessa’s; she had given it to Cole. What was slightly different from my past life was that after it happened, Vanessa grabbed Cole and tried to run. But Cole, who’d been fighting his whole life, knew better. He didn’t run. He immediately called 911, then emergency services. The next morning when I got to school, everyone was talking about it. Cole wasn’t in class, and neither was Vanessa. I heard they were both at the police station. I didn’t pay too much attention, just focused on my practice problems. In my past life, during college entrance exams, I was in prison. My first trial verdict had already come down—death sentence. I was terrified. My mom sold our house and company to appeal. Days in prison felt like years. When I saw the news about the college entrance exams on TV, I cried… That afternoon after class, I was putting away my English textbook to return it to the teacher’s office. I accidentally noticed student files on Ms. Albright’s desk. I quickly flipped to Cole Miller’s and saw his birth date. Cole was two months younger than me. Also, the biggest change this life was that Brandon Hayes hadn’t died. I suddenly realized that by refusing Vanessa’s invitation to the South Street alley, the butterfly effect had taken hold, and things were unfolding differently than I’d expected. Brandon not dying meant he’d keep bothering Vanessa. After all, he’d spent tens of thousands on a girl. Now, the girl had gotten someone to stab him? Anyone would be pissed. Cole Miller wasn’t me. I was just a regular student, educated, sensible, and though I admired Vanessa, I respected her. But Cole Miller was the school bully. When he said he admired Vanessa, most likely, he was just after one thing. Now, he’d stabbed Brandon because of her? Vanessa surely had to show some appreciation, right? I settled in, ready for the drama to unfold. But I never in my wildest dreams imagined that after school, Vanessa would stop me right at the school gates. “Something wrong?” I asked calmly. “Alex Reed, lend me one hundred and fifty thousand dollars,” Vanessa stated directly. Seeing I didn’t respond, she seemed to make a desperate decision. “Your mom’s not home tonight, is she? I’ll come to your place.” “You don’t know what you’re saying,” I shook my head. “You’re a grown woman now, what are you doing coming to my place this late, especially when my mom’s not home?” Vanessa stomped her foot. She was still just a student, and a bit shy. But she still said, “Alex Reed, do you really want me to spell it out? Do you need me to write it down? “Lend me one hundred and fifty thousand, and tonight… I’ll be yours.”

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Chloe and I fell in love. She was gentle and caring, incredibly devoted to me. Soon, we moved in together. One night, I was deep in sleep when a faint sound of running water woke me. I turned over and saw the bathroom light on in our bedroom. *Must be her*, I thought, and drifted back to sleep. But quickly, a cold sweat drenched me. *Why would a blind person turn on the light to use the bathroom at night…?* I lay still, my back to the bathroom, deliberately slowing my breathing. My heart hammered faster and faster. “Click.” It was the sound of the light switch. I felt her slide back into bed, wrapping her arms around me from behind. Her light breath brushed my neck, chillingly cold. The next morning, I was still reeling from the strange incident last night. She sat across from me, eating breakfast. There was no way she could see. I had seen her eyes before; they were like an ink wash painting, the black swirled within the iris as if bleeding in water, incredibly surreal. But why did she turn on the light last night? My mind heavy with worry, I needed to get out and clear my head. I wolfed down a few bites of toast, and even though it was early, I muttered something about being late and headed for the door. Just as I turned to leave, I thought I saw her glance up towards the wall clock. *A blind person… needs to check the time?* A day of frantic work left me exhausted, body and mind. After much thought, I figured I was just overthinking things. Maybe I was still getting used to living with a blind girl. Things would surely get better after we’d lived together for a while. I drove to Chloe’s workplace to pick her up. It was a music studio, where she taught the pipa. She was already packed up, waiting for me by the door. I walked over, took her hand, and she smiled knowingly. No words were needed between us; we understood each other. I took her bag, helped her into the back seat, placed her bag next to her, and carefully buckled her seatbelt. She always sat in the back; the spaciousness made it easier for her. The car passed an intersection when a child on a bike suddenly darted out. I slammed on the brakes, swerving the steering wheel hard. The car spun in a circle on the road. Thankfully, I didn’t hit the mischievous kid. She asked what happened. I said it was nothing, just a kid who popped out at the intersection. It was fine now. As we continued driving home, I saw her through the rearview mirror bending down. She picked up a small hair clip and put it into her bag. It must have fallen out when I braked suddenly. *But how did she know the hair clip had fallen out?* After dinner, I took her hand, and we walked to the park downstairs. This was something she loved to do, something she loved doing with me by her side. The park was lively, with many kids practicing rollerblading and elderly people dancing. She didn’t talk much, and I quietly held her hand. Her long, waterfall-like black hair gave off a faint, sweet scent. Ahead, a little girl on rollerblades stumbled and plunged headfirst into the roadside bushes, only her small legs flailing wildly. I was about to tell Chloe about the comical sight, but when I turned to face her, I saw a faint smile on her face. Not her usual gentle smile, but the kind of suppressed amusement when someone sees something truly funny. A growing unease settled in. Was this gentle, beautiful woman truly blind? Everything felt so strange, so illogical. Should I ask her directly? But would that make her think I was crazy? Girls like her often lacked a sense of security; would it hurt her? During lunch break, I told Liam, my best friend, about some of the strange things that had been happening. Liam found it hard to believe too. “If what you’re saying is true, she’s definitely got issues,” Liam said. “But why would she pretend to be blind and get close to me?” I asked. “First, we need solid proof that she’s faking, not truly blind,” Liam stated, confident in his words. “That’s hard. I don’t want to hurt her. What should I do?” I was caught in a dilemma. Finally, Liam offered a plan: First, I’d tell Chloe I had something to do that evening and couldn’t pick her up, so she should take a cab home. Later, Liam and I would go home together. Liam would go inside, and I’d wait outside. If she was truly blind, she’d just assume it was me coming home. Liam wouldn’t speak, so she wouldn’t notice anything unusual. If everything was normal, Liam would quietly slip out, and I’d go in, acting as if nothing happened. But if she was faking, and saw a strange man in the house, she’d surely be startled, revealing her deception. Then I’d rush in and demand the truth. “That’s a masterstroke, absolutely brilliant!” I exclaimed. The sky had already darkened, a blue shroud covering the earth. Liam and I exchanged glances in the hallway. Liam took out the keys, unlocked the door, and entered my apartment. The hallway was eerily silent. After the motion-sensor lights flickered off, only the dim blue light from outside the window illuminated everything before me. I anxiously clutched my phone, waiting for the results of the test. Three minutes later, the door opened, and Liam stepped out. “No one’s home,” Liam said. I quickly grabbed my phone and called Chloe. Chloe said it was too boring at home by herself, so she was sitting in the small park downstairs, getting some fresh air and waiting for me to get off work. My heart warmed. I deeply understood how important I was to this seemingly blind girl. Since I had chosen to be with her, it was natural that I would be her lifelong support. Liam and I went downstairs together. In the small park, we saw Chloe sitting on a bench, her simple white dress strikingly bright in the dim night. I said goodbye to Liam and walked over to sit beside Chloe. Hearing my voice, she naturally leaned her head on my shoulder. I squeezed her hand tightly. How could anyone not adore a girl like her? After sitting in the park for a while, I took her hand, and we walked back home. As we walked on the gravel path in the complex, a figure suddenly darted out of the greenery ahead. In the dim light, I couldn’t make out their face. As we got a little closer, I realized it was Liam! He hadn’t left after all. He gave me a shushing gesture, signaling me not to show any alarm. I said nothing more, just continued walking forward, holding Chloe’s hand. Liam stood directly in Chloe’s path ahead. If she didn’t dodge, she would collide right into him. Under the cover of night, our footsteps were remarkably clear. The early autumn breeze was refreshing, but it couldn’t wipe away the fine sweat on my forehead. Just as Chloe was about to collide with Liam, he swiftly stepped aside. Nothing happened. I dared not show any reaction, only glancing back. Liam made a phone gesture at me, then turned and left. After we got home, I made a simple dinner. Our life together was peaceful yet happy. She lay sleeping soundly on my arm, her soft snores carrying a hint of a woman’s unique charm. I remembered Liam’s departure and picked up my phone. The faint glow of the screen was a bit harsh. I opened the message Liam had sent; it only had two words: *Something’s wrong.* *What’s wrong?* I texted back. Soon, Liam’s reply came: *Can’t explain it. Talk tomorrow. Stay safe.* With that, Liam’s profile picture turned gray. He was offline. I put my phone down, and suddenly realized: Chloe’s soft snores in my arms had stopped. The phone’s light vanishing left me briefly blind in the darkness. I couldn’t make out Chloe’s face, wondering if, in the pitch black, she was now watching me… Soon, my eyes adjusted. Her eyes were tightly closed, and she was no longer snoring, her breathing even, her face serene. The next day, I arrived at work early. Liam was already waiting at my desk. “You said something was wrong last night. What was it?” I asked. Liam explained that he had lived with his grandmother in a senior community for a while, and many residents there, including his grandmother, were blind. He knew what it felt like to be around blind people—it was a deep, intuitive understanding that permeated every detail of life, almost like a subtle energy field. But yesterday, with Chloe, he hadn’t felt that sense, even though she genuinely appeared to be blind. I couldn’t quite grasp what he meant. I just chuckled and said maybe young people were different from old people. Liam didn’t seem convinced. He suggested inviting Chloe and me out for dinner, so he could observe her more closely. I agreed, but reminded him, “Don’t hurt her, and don’t go too far.” All day, I couldn’t focus on work. All sorts of thoughts swirled in my mind. Was she truly blind or not? If not, how could I explain her strange actions? If she was, why would she pretend to be blind? Did she see the message on my phone last night? But she hadn’t harmed me. What did she want? Liam had reserved a table at a boat restaurant on Lake Serenity. Such a fancy place was beyond my expectations. As I led Chloe onto the boat, the slight rocking of the gangplank on the water made her nervous. Once aboard, she clung tightly to my hand. I instinctively put my arm around her, comforting her softly. Entering the main hall, elegant orchestral music echoed around us. The hall was lively; this restaurant was packed every night. I inquired about our table with the hostess. As I turned, I noticed Chloe, standing beside me, was facing directly towards Liam’s table. *Had she recognized Liam? Recognized him as the one who tried to test her in the apartment complex?* Liam, however, showed no signs of alarm. Throughout dinner, his humorous conversation kept Chloe giggling. The harmonious atmosphere made me relax quite a bit. A server brought over three drinks. Liam thoughtfully took them and placed them in front of each of us. Chloe fumbled to pick up her glass, taking a small sip.

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On the day of my wedding to Dominic Thorne, he called the police and personally sent me to prison. Three years later, he personally came to pick me up. He stood before me, his voice coiling around my ears like a malevolent ghost: “Anya Vance, how was your time inside?” My whole body trembled, and I didn’t dare look up. Until he slowly crept closer, his body brushing mine like a phantom: “Don’t rush. It’s not over yet!” Later, I endured his endless torment until I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, collapsing in a pool of blood, taking my last breath. But Dominic, the man who had sought to destroy me, clung to me like a madman, sobbing, “Anya, I was wrong. Can you please look at me again?” The day I was released, a heavy snow fell across the city. The moment the iron gate creaked open, a bone-chilling wind howled, and I wrapped my arms tightly around myself, the warmth quickly stolen from my body. I stumbled out, my steps unsteady, the surroundings utterly silent, save for the soft whisper of falling snowflakes. Standing by the gate, all I saw was a blanket of pristine white. Behind me, the prison guard’s voice faded in and out, barely audible, only Dominic Thorne’s name reaching my ears in a blur. Dominic Thorne… Dominic Thorne… I mumbled his name under my breath, my steps faltering as I instinctively veered to the right. And then, I unexpectedly collided with a cold, hard chest. A dull ache flared on my forehead. I tapped it, then looked up, instantly meeting a familiar face. It was too clear, and my mind went blank for a second. I rubbed my eyes, but he was still there. The guard’s words, spoken just moments ago, suddenly pieced together in my mind. “Anya Vance, just stay by the gate and don’t leave. Mr. Dominic Thorne will come to pick you up.” Dominic Thorne. It was him! The man who had personally sent me to prison three years ago now stood before me again. My body trembled. I dared not make another move. I was terrified he would kick me to the ground like he did three years ago, then drag me straight back to hell. The prison was behind me. I couldn’t go back inside. Dominic seemed satisfied with my terrified reaction. I stood in the snow, dressed in a thin jacket, frozen stiff. Dominic had been staring at me for so long that my limbs were numb and my entire body was shaking. But I still didn’t dare move. After a long silence, Dominic seemed to lose his patience and finally spoke. “Anya Vance, how was your time inside?” He stood before me, his voice, like a malevolent spirit, coiled around my ears. My whole body trembled, and I didn’t dare look up. For three years, that voice had haunted my nightmares every single day, impossible to shake off. I tried my best to curl myself up, to minimize my presence in front of Dominic, hoping he would lose interest and just let me go. Until he slowly crept closer, his body brushing mine like a phantom: “Don’t rush. It’s not over yet!” That single, airy sentence almost made me collapse onto the ground.

Like a puppet, I was lifted by Dominic into the car and taken back to his mansion. I had thought about hiding, about escaping, but looking into Dominic’s terrifying eyes, and remembering my three years inside, I knew that no matter how deep I hid or how far I ran, I probably couldn’t escape his grasp. Besides, I still had my family. Dominic was ruthless. If I truly escaped, my family would suffer the consequences. Numbly, I followed Dominic into the Thorne residence. It was a place I once knew so intimately, but now it made me flinch and hang back. All the maids and housekeepers at the Thorne residence were new faces. Of course. After what happened three years ago, they had stood by me and spoken up for me. Dominic, incandescent with rage, had fired them all long ago. Clutching the corner of my jacket, I cowered by the entrance, like a starving beggar. Dominic paused while changing his shoes, scrutinizing me with a peculiar gaze. As if remembering something, he suddenly pulled me close. “Anya Vance, get my shoes.” I recalled saying those very words to him once. But back then, our relationship was good. Mostly, I’d tease, and he’d just smile. I didn’t dare disobey. I bent down, half-kneeling on the floor, took out his slippers, and put them on him. Dominic scoffed softly, then paid me no mind, going straight to the living room sofa. I hesitated for a few seconds, then changed into the housekeeper’s slippers and followed him in. An older maid came forward to ask him how he wanted me arranged. Dominic shot a disdainful glance my way. “Whatever.” It was like casually discarding a trifle he didn’t care about. I clenched my fists, but still gathered my courage, stuttering, “Mr. Dominic… when can I leave here?” As if he’d heard a joke, Dominic suddenly stood up, looking down on me. “You want to leave?” “I told you, don’t rush!” “Anya Vance, you don’t actually think I’m joking, do you?” I looked up, meeting his cold eyes. For a moment, I suddenly wanted to explain what happened three years ago all over again. The words I was about to say were abruptly cut off by a sweet, gentle female voice. “Dominic, you’re back.”

That voice was too familiar. I said nothing more, looking up towards the stairs. Willow Shaw now looked radiant with happiness, a stark contrast to the timid girl she used to be. I watched her, carefully holding the banister as she stepped slowly, one step at a time, towards Dominic. As if she were the lady of the house, she feigned surprise: “Dominic, who is this?” Though her tone was soft, her eyes stared at me like a venomous snake. A wave of terror washed over me, and I stood frozen to the spot, chilled to the bone. After Dominic sent me to prison three years ago, she would come to visit me. Each time she left, I would face even harsher retaliation. I was kicked so hard that three of my ribs broke. As I lay on the ground, bloody and barely clinging to life, the triumphant voices of those thugs echoed in my ears: “You deserve to die, you bitch! How dare you steal from others?!” “Pah! Look at yourself, you trash!” Later, Dominic had those people send another message. “Stay there and reflect. Don’t make it easy for her.” Those painful memories felt like yesterday; the scabs on my body throbbed faintly. I tugged hard at my sleeve, and cold sweat beaded on my forehead. Dominic’s gaze was entirely on Willow, his voice gentle and considerate as he asked, “Why are you down here? Shouldn’t you rest a bit longer?” They were too intimate in front of me. I had expected to care, to feel pain, but after three years, I no longer craved Dominic’s attention. I cowered to the side, my mind a blur. The maid came over to ask Dominic about me. She glanced at Dominic and Willow, then cautiously asked, “Mr. Thorne, everything is ready. This young lady…” My face was ghostly pale. I almost collapsed, but the maid beside me steadied me. Dominic’s face instantly darkened, his tone angry: “Take her. No special treatment!” Dominic emphasized those last few words heavily. I forced myself to stay upright, circled around him, and followed the maid out. Willow seemed to be waiting deliberately, staring at me with a hateful gaze. “Anya Vance, how dare you show your face here!” I never understood why she harbored such intense animosity towards me. Our relationship hadn’t been that bad before. Until she approached me in the darkness and threatened: “You’d better behave yourself and not get any ideas. Otherwise, I don’t know what worse things Dominic will do to you because of our child!”

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My father was a grifter. Out of 365 days a year, I was lucky to see him for 65. The rest of the time, he was darting between casinos. During the rare times we spent together, my father taught me a lot about the art of cheating. I learned quickly and mastered the techniques, but he always warned me: I could learn all the tricks, but I could never use them. If he ever found out I stepped foot in a casino, he’d break my legs. Life went on like that. Until that night. A frantic knock at the door startled me awake. When I opened it, the first thing I smelled was blood. Several burly men dragged a man covered in blood, dumping him at our doorstep. The man, drenched in crimson, his right hand severed, was my father! 0I couldn’t reconcile the man before me, covered in blood, his face swollen beyond recognition, with my once dashing and charming father. I froze, feeling as if all strength had been drained from my body by an unseen hand. My mother had passed away early, and in my father’s absence, it had always been just my younger brother, Finn, and me, relying on each other. Now, seeing our father drenched in blood, Finn and I were both completely panicked. My father was rushed into the ER. The doctor, stone-faced, presented the bill and told me to pay. “Three thousand dollars for the surgery, not a penny less, or we can’t proceed. If you want him to live, pay up.” But where was I supposed to find three thousand dollars? Mom was gone… if Dad died too, our family would fall apart. I glanced at Finn. He’d just stumbled at a crucial point in his life, unsure of his future. Expecting him to produce that much money was absurd. I stood by the hospital window, feeling desperate and helpless. Through the glass, I saw a bright neon sign hanging on the building across the street. It read: Card Room. Those two words felt like a mystic master, pointing the way. As if they were telling me, *Come on in.* *Step inside, and you’ll have the money to save your father.* The words “Card Room” seemed to possess an immense magic, pulling me in, as if all I had to do was walk through the door… and I’d have the cash to save Dad. I handed Finn my savings book, which held a few hundred dollars, and told him to handle things at the hospital for now. “I’ll figure out the rest of the money. If the doctors ask, tell them I’ll have it by tomorrow morning.” Clutching the last few hundred dollars I had, I quickly walked into that card room. Inside, cigarette smoke hung thick in the air. People sat at card tables like zombies, their eyes hollow, as if their souls had been sucked out. “A haze of smoke and raw despair” was the perfect description for this place. I stood near the door, observing carefully, finally settling my gaze on a table in the corner. They were two players short, needing a third for a fast-paced card game. The minimum bet was fifty dollars, the maximum two hundred. This was within my budget. I pulled up a chair and sat between the two players. I looked them over: one with a round face, the other with messy, instant-noodle hair. Both had dark circles under their sunken eyes. They were clearly seasoned gamblers, regulars here. I nonchalantly pulled out a cigarette and put it in my mouth, feigning ease. Rocky, the round-faced one, was the dealer. Spike, with the messy hair, was my downstream player. I was caught in the middle, like prey between two predators. We started placing our bets. The first hand began. We each held sixteen cards. The first one out took all the money from the last one remaining. The second one out broke even. So, whoever was last lost the most. 0

Three gamblers, including myself, sat around the cramped card table. Since we were playing a fast-paced game, two Kings, three 2s, and one Ace were removed from the deck. Each player received sixteen cards. The card combinations included singles, pairs, three-of-a-kind with a kicker, four-of-a-kind with two kickers, straights (like a “plane with wings”), and four-card bombs. Among all cards, three Aces were the highest, able to beat any combination. Among single cards, the 2 was the highest. Among four-card sets, the King was the highest. Whoever held the 3 of Spades led the first hand. While drawing cards, I meticulously watched Rocky’s hands. I was absolutely certain he’d get the lead. As he shuffled, he’d subtly hooked a card with his pinky finger. Though he was quick, it didn’t escape my notice. Sure enough, Rocky chuckled. He tossed out a 3 of Spades. I was next. I played a 5. Then it was Spike’s turn. He did something completely unexpected: he slammed down a King. I noticed Rocky’s brow furrow. He couldn’t help but curse. “A 5, and you waste a King on it? What a needless sacrifice of a strong card!” With that King played, no one could top it. The lead passed to Spike. In that brief hand, I saw it: Spike and Rocky were putting on a show for me. The more they acted, the more I felt something was off. My father once told me that in this world, whether it’s Pai Gow, Mahjong, or Poker, Ultimately, you’re playing against people. For a grifter, technique always comes second. First is reading people. But you can’t truly see into a person’s heart; you can only rely on your gut. When you feel like the people at the table are trying to trick you, Trust your instincts. I glanced at my hand; my cards weren’t great. That’s why I needed to seize the lead, to buy myself time to think. I had to find a way to prolong this hand. The longer it lasted, the more likely Rocky and Spike were to slip up. In this world, no cheating technique is foolproof. If you cheat, you will eventually be found out. The only way not to lose is not to gamble at all. From the moment I sat down at that table, Rocky and I, only one of us was walking out of this card room intact. So, when Spike threw out a pair of 5s, I slammed down a pair of Kings. Rocky hissed, like he had a toothache. He licked his dry lips and squeezed out a single phrase from between his teeth: “Can’t beat it.” Spike also shook his head, letting me lead. After gaining the lead, I immediately played a pair of 5s, discarding my weak cards. Rocky then played a pair of 7s. Spike waved his hand, couldn’t beat it. I played a pair of 10s. While Rocky was thinking, I quickly started recalling the cards still in play. No Aces. No 2s. Now, I was certain Rocky and Spike were working together to cheat. That meant 80% of the high cards were in Rocky’s hand. When he dealt the cards, he must have swapped them. In grifter’s slang, that’s called “card-switching” or “palming”—stealing crucial cards during the deal, then restoring the deck. This technique only works in small card rooms like this. In larger casinos, with hidden cameras and surveillance everywhere, such methods are impossible to pull off. If the hidden cameras caught you in a big casino, they’d chop you to bits. Breaking such a cheat isn’t impossible, though. I needed to take a gamble… But if I lost… I might end up just like my father. 0

The best way to counter a cheat is to crush them with a superior technique. I pretended to pick up my lighter and light the cigarette in my mouth. While I was taking a drag, I watched Rocky. During that time, he made no small movements, just impatiently tapped the table, urging me to play faster. My role right now was the prey. I needed to wait for Rocky, the hunter, to make a mistake, then devour him whole, leaving not a single bone. It looked like a simple card game, but the fate of all three of us was tied to this table. I couldn’t afford to be careless, not for a second. After gaining the lead, I thought for a full thirty seconds, then threw out a three-of-a-kind with a pair. Seeing me play such a hand, Spike couldn’t help but make a clicking sound, seemingly displeased with my move. I leaned back in my chair, the nearly burnt-out cigarette dangling from my lips, and mimicking Rocky, tapped the table, signaling him to make a decision quickly. “Can’t beat it. Your turn.” I instinctively touched my nose, then played a seven-card straight (3-4-5-6-7-8-9). Now I had five cards left: two 6s, two Js, and a single 5. Rocky shook his head, didn’t play, passing the lead to Spike. I knew Rocky was intentionally letting me play. He hadn’t intended to take the lead in this hand; he wanted to lure me deeper. He would make me believe his hand was weak, then, when I had only one card left, he’d sweep the whole game. A true grifter plays the long game, baiting big fish, letting you nibble at the hook bit by bit until you’re deeply ensnared and can’t escape. Of course, a grifter must never be greedy; no greed, no mistakes. I wasn’t greedy, and neither was Rocky. He was a tough opponent. One wrong move, and I’d be utterly crushed. Compared to him, Spike seemed very one-dimensional. He was more like an automated machine. Looking at it that way, the situation became clear. Rocky was the brain; Spike was the hand. They were teaming up to fleece me like a fat pig. The cards in the deck, Rocky and Spike could manipulate through their methods, turning them into any card they desired. This was the grifter’s craft. With a teammate’s cooperation, it was almost unstoppable. If they continued working together, I would definitely lose. But I couldn’t lose!

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In my last life, my parents gave me a choice: pick a husband from the city’s three most powerful families for a strategic alliance. Without a moment’s hesitation, I chose Liam Sterling, the man I believed I loved most. But on our wedding day, he died in a car crash on the way to pick me up. The Sterlings were shattered, crying their hearts out. They never dared to say anything to my family, but I was consumed by guilt. I unconditionally transferred all my assets and shares to them. It wasn’t until twenty years later, during a business trip abroad, that I saw him. He was passionately kissing my former bridesmaid, Chloe Miller, right there on the street. The heirs from the other two powerful families, Brandon Hayes and Noah Collins, were there too, looking on with envy. “Twenty years of faking his death, and he found his one true love. Not a bad deal,” Brandon chuckled. “And that tired old hag, Aria Thorne, actually stayed loyal to him for twenty years. What a joke!” Noah added, laughing. I lunged forward in a rage to confront them, but Liam had eight men grab me and drag me into a pickup truck, where I was humiliated. He smirked, his face twisted in a cruel grin. “You just *had* to choose me back then, didn’t you? It led to Chloe getting drunk and being assaulted by eight men!” “Since you came looking for trouble, I’ll make sure you get a taste of what it’s like to wish you were dead!” When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my parents told me to pick a husband. I pointed to the tall figure standing quietly in the corner, the nanny’s son. “Him,” I declared.

My parents froze for a moment, then stood up, their faces etched with disbelief. “Aria, what kind of joke is this?!” I calmly replied, “No joke at all. I want Julian Vance.” My gaze settled on the tall, handsome man in the corner, and my heart inexplicably skipped a beat. In my previous life, after Liam’s fake death left me utterly heartbroken, it was Julian who slowly helped me pick myself back up. He stayed by my side my entire life, until the moment I died. Through a blurry haze, I saw him holding me, sobbing uncontrollably. It was only then that I realized he had loved me all those years. “Aria!” My father urged, his voice hushed and urgent. “Didn’t you always say you liked Liam Sterling the most? And even if not him, there’s always the Hayes and Collins families!” “You grew up with all three of them; you know each other inside and out.” “Besides, Julian Vance is just a nanny’s son. What can he offer you?” My mother was almost in tears. “You’re my only daughter! How can I stand by and watch you marry someone like that and struggle?” I smiled, leaned in, and whispered a few words into their ears. Their expressions instantly solidified. My father’s voice trembled slightly. “Is that… really true?” I nodded firmly. My parents exchanged a look, finally sighing in relief. “Alright then, in three days, your wedding will be hosted by the Thorne family.” Once that was settled, I turned, took Julian Vance’s wrist, and pulled him along. “Come on, let’s get you some suits.” He looked confused but just smiled foolishly, letting me drag him. The moment we stepped into an upscale boutique, I immediately spotted the three men circling Chloe Miller. Liam was helping her try on a diamond necklace, Brandon was kneeling to tie her shoelace, and Noah was holding a huge bouquet of roses. The instant Chloe saw me, she feigned panic, quickly hiding behind Liam. Her voice was soft and innocent, tears welling in her eyes. “Oh, Miss Thorne, please don’t misunderstand. I really didn’t intentionally try to keep Mr. Sterling from going home and marrying you.” Liam pulled her into his arms, then looked up at me, his voice cold. “Aria Thorne, I’ve already told my family I won’t be marrying you.” “In this life, I only love Chloe.” Brandon and Noah also rushed to shield her. “You’re the city’s richest heiress, you can have any man you want. Why do you have to fight Chloe for them?” “Exactly. A spoiled heiress like you, all you care about is yourself. You can’t compare to innocent Chloe.” I couldn’t help but laugh, furious. Chloe Miller was just a poor college student I’d sponsored. I’d sympathized with her past, brought her to the city to live, and genuinely cared for her, even inviting her to be my bridesmaid. But I never expected that she had been secretly seducing my three childhood friends all along. No matter. Reborn, I finally see things clearly. Before I could even retort, Julian, his face dark, cut them off. “Since the Sterling family refused, what about the Hayes and Collins families?” Brandon and Noah immediately scoffed. “Even if we can’t have Chloe, we’d never marry Aria Thorne and break Chloe’s heart.” “She considers us good friends; how could we betray her?” Liam eyed me warily. “As long as Chloe is fine in this life, I have no regrets.” I looked at Liam, a flicker of surprise hitting me. In my last life, he hadn’t been so quick to refuse the alliance, nor had he so openly declared his love for Chloe. Could he have been reborn too? Seeing my silence, Liam impatiently grabbed my wrist. “You’re just so set on marrying me, aren’t you? All for the business interests between the Sterling and Thorne families?” “If you kneel and apologize to Chloe right now, and promise me that our marriage would just be a formality—” “And after the wedding, we live separate lives, you can’t object to me and Chloe sleeping in our marital home, and you ensure Chloe never foolishly hurts herself again—then I’ll agree.” This time, before I could open my mouth, Julian swung his fist straight at Liam’s face. “What status, what position does your Sterling family hold?! How dare you speak to Miss Thorne like that!” That’s right, the Thorne family is the richest in the city. How *dare* they?!

Julian’s punch packed a lot of force; Liam was sent sprawling to the ground. He recovered, scrambling to his feet, and pointed a finger at Julian’s nose, cursing, “A nanny’s son! How dare you hit me!” Chloe started to cry, gently touching Liam’s face, then turned to me, whining, “Miss Thorne, if you’re angry, take it out on me! How could you let him hit Mr. Sterling?” The words had barely left her mouth when I couldn’t resist. I slapped her. “I’ll hit him, and I’ll hit you too!” Chloe clutched her face, tears instantly gushing out. Brandon quickly shoved me away. “Aria Thorne! Even if you’re the richest heiress, you can’t behave like this!” “No wonder Liam wouldn’t even look at you all these years. You’re just too vicious!” I turned to them, sneering, “Have you forgotten that your family businesses all depend on *our* Thorne family to thrive?” “Even Julian, who’s not even part of your elite circles, understands that, so why don’t you?!” At my words, Brandon instantly clamped his mouth shut. Noah also looked away, stammering, “So what? Does that mean you can force us to marry you?” I scoffed disdainfully. “I never said I wanted to marry any of you three losers.” Liam’s head shot up at my words. “Aria Thorne, what game are you playing now?!” Chloe nestled into his arms, her eyes red, saying, “It seems Miss Thorne is still angry with me. I shouldn’t have told you I was in a bad mood today…” Hearing this, Liam anxiously wiped away her tears. “It’s not your fault. Aria Thorne has been clinging to us three for years; everyone knows she can’t live without us and wouldn’t dare do anything serious.” “I just can’t stand her always bullying you. She just needs a lesson.” I was speechless. If they didn’t believe me, then I wouldn’t bother explaining. I turned to link my arm through Julian’s, ready to leave, but Liam grabbed my arm, stopping me. His gaze fell on our intertwined arms. “Since when are you so close to a nanny’s son?!” I slapped his hand away, enunciating each word. “What nanny’s son? Julian Vance is my fiancé.” “He’s the man I’m going to marry.” At this declaration, everyone stared at me in unison. Especially Liam. He widened his eyes, pointing at Julian, and roared, “You’d say you’re marrying a nanny’s son just to humiliate me?! Are you out of your mind?!” I felt Julian’s arm tense; clearly, he was also startled by my words. Brandon and Noah snapped out of their shock, stepping forward to mock me. “Aria, you really aren’t picky, are you? You’d even stoop to a nanny’s son!” I pointed at Chloe and retorted with a smile, “Well, you haven’t exactly picked well yourselves.” Chloe instantly swayed, choking out, “Miss Thorne, don’t say such things carelessly.” “While the three young masters have been kind to me, I haven’t done anything to offend you. You don’t need to be so sarcastic.” She paused, then looked at Liam with a contrite expression. “It’s Miss Thorne who knows what she’s done.” “Actually, I’ve long noticed your nanny’s son often going in and out of your room…” “It’s all my fault. I protected you before and didn’t tell Liam…” I used to consider her my best friend, even let her be my only bridesmaid. And she just spouted such nonsense? Liam snorted, pulling her back. “Chloe, you’re still too naive. You’re even covering for Aria Thorne!” “I think she’s just jealous of how good we are to you, so she’s trying every trick to get our attention.” “A dirty, stinking nanny’s son like him? We wouldn’t even give him a second glance.” I nodded, perfectly satisfied. “If that’s the case, then I won’t disturb your little ‘harem’ then.” With that, I pulled Julian into the upscale boutique next door. I pointed to the most expensive suits on display. “Get all of these down. My fiancé needs to try them on.” Julian snapped out of his daze and looked at me. “Miss Thorne, a joke is a joke.” I looked at him, amused, and smiled. “I’m serious. Don’t you want to?”

“How could I not want to…” He was about to speak when Liam’s voice cut in from the doorway. “Buy out the entire store!” His voice was laced with unconcealed rage. “I’ll give them to beggars!” A sales assistant, holding the suits I’d picked for Julian, looked at Liam hesitantly. “These have already been bought by Miss Thorne…” Liam sneered, “She hasn’t paid yet, has she?!” With that, he pulled out his black card and waved it in front of the assistant. “I’ll pay first, then they’re mine!” I chuckled, taking the suits from the sales assistant. “Just deduct it from my prepaid card.” The assistant breathed a sigh of relief and quickly went to swipe the card. As I left, Liam shouted behind me, “Aria Thorne, stop pretending!” “Aren’t you just playing hard to get with us?! Your tricks are too childish!” I ignored him, quickening my pace. On the way home, Julian held my hand tightly, his eyes filled with earnestness. “Aria, don’t worry. If you marry me, I’ll never let you suffer any injustice.” I couldn’t help but smile, seeing his serious expression. Suffer injustice? How could I? He still thought I didn’t know who he really was. The next day, I took Julian to our new home to arrange it, but what I saw shocked me. The grand villa, which my Thorne family had paid for, was completely filled with Chloe Miller’s favorite pink Hello Kitty décor. Even the master bedroom’s accent wall prominently displayed wedding photos of Liam and Chloe. The butler stammered, “Mr. Sterling insisted he was your fiancé, and said you’d agreed to the décor for the wedding home…” Just as he finished, Liam called me. His voice was dripping with smugness. “Our wedding is the day after tomorrow. Don’t be so picky.” “After we’re married, Chloe and I will sleep in the master bedroom. If you like, you can occasionally join us there.”

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The night before my crucial athletic scholarship tryout, a gang broke into the stadium. They beat me and humiliated me. The next day, my ex-girlfriend, Amber, spread rumors all over social media, claiming I cheated and was only after my family’s money. Back in our quiet town, my parents were suffocated by the whispers and rumors. Overwhelmed by the crushing despair, they tragically took their own lives. I promptly broke up with Amber and reported everything to the police, armed with evidence. The hospital report came back: my spine was damaged, making it impossible for me to stand for long periods, let alone run long distances. My appeals were rejected, one after another. That’s when Eleanor Vance, a powerhouse attorney, found me. She fought my case day and night. The day we won, she proposed to me. We were together for three years. My legs were useless, and I relied on a wheelchair, but she never left my side. Until today. I wheeled myself to her office to pick her up, only to overhear her tenderly coaxing her foster brother: “You said you envied his running skills? Well, he can’t run anymore.” “You admired his tall, strong build? I tampered with his medical records, making it seem like his leg nerves were damaged, so he’d be forever dependent on a wheelchair.” “Now you’re saying you envy his amber eyes? I can’t exactly gouge them out and make amber cufflinks for you, can I?”

“Why not, sis? Ever since Mom and Dad died, I only have you. You promised them you’d give me everything I wanted. Are you going back on your word?” Damian, her foster brother, wrapped his arms around Eleanor’s arm, his voice laced with a hint of grievance. Eleanor looked down, her fingertips gently tapping his nose. It was a comforting gesture. “Tonight is our three-year anniversary. All I have to do is sweet-talk him, and he’d give me anything, not just his eyes, but his very life.” Eleanor’s legal assistant, standing nearby, couldn’t stand it anymore. “Mr. Alex has suffered enough these past years, Ms. Eleanor. Mr. Damian, you already got what you wanted: first place in the tryouts, a strong physique, and Amber’s attention. Why keep tormenting Mr. Alex?” Amber! Those two words pierced my heart like ice. Wasn’t that my ex-girlfriend’s name? Damian laughed, a bit too loudly. He reached out and pushed the assistant’s shoulder. “I’m getting together with Amber next month, but the damn thing is, she still has that cripple’s photos on her phone.” “Even in her sleep, she’d gaze at his eyes, claiming she’d always admired how focused and profound Alex’s eyes were.” He changed the subject, turning his head to Eleanor. “Sis, tell me, are that cripple’s eyes really that beautiful?” Eleanor raised an eyebrow, looking nonchalant. “His eyes?” “How would I know? My gaze never lingered on trash like that. All I care about is my precious little brother being happy.” The early spring evening wind was still chilly. My hands, gripping the wheels of my chair, were stiff with cold. So love really can be faked. Was the salvation I once believed in just another abyss? I scoffed at my own foolishness, furiously pushing the wheels, desperate to escape. But my wheelchair got stuck in a pothole. I pushed frantically, my hands already raw and bloody. With a violent shove, the chair made a loud noise, a part seemed to come loose. I tumbled out of my wheelchair. The commotion caught Eleanor’s attention at the company entrance. She rushed towards me, kneeling down and shielding me with her body.

Seeing the scrapes on her arm, my heart lurched. “Alex, what are you doing here? It’s windy out, and you’re always so frail. What if something happened to you? How would I live alone?” The love in her eyes seemed to overflow. She looked at my bloody hands, her face filled with anguish. For a moment, I was disoriented, unable to tell which version of her was acting. It wasn’t until her tears fell onto my wounds, stinging, that my mind cleared. “Alex, why aren’t you speaking? Are you scared? It’s okay, I’ll take you home. Don’t be afraid.” She had said those same words three years ago, the day she confessed her feelings to me. She told me we were both people with no one to rely on, and she wanted to be my rock. I believed her. But at that moment, I realized it was all a joke. It was she who had turned me into someone with no one to rely on. Damian, unable to hold back, strode towards me. “Brother-in-law, I’m here for you too. Don’t worry, even if you’re not as mobile now, we won’t ever look down on you.” “From now on, just tell me if you need to go out. I’ll go with you. It’ll be safer that way.” On most days, Damian was cheerful and handsome. Living under the same roof, we’d never even had a single argument. When I fell down the stairs that year, he was the first to find me and rush me to the hospital. The conversation between the siblings at the company entrance echoed in my ears. As I thought about it, my chest tightened, and my whole body went numb. So that oily spill that caused my fall down the stairs that year was all his doing. And my legs, which could have recovered, were made worse by Eleanor’s fake medical records, making me miss the optimal treatment time, forever losing the ability to walk normally. I shoved Eleanor away from me, my eyes wide with horror. She froze for a second, a flicker of displeasure crossing her face. As if she had no more patience to console me. She shot a look at her assistant. “Get him in the car. I rented a yacht. Tonight’s anniversary has to be perfect.” I lifted my gaze in terror, meeting Damian’s eyes. He was staring at my eyes with a knowing, significant smile. My eyes inexplicably stung, and I remembered Eleanor saying she’d gouge my eyes out for Damian’s cufflinks. My stomach churned with nausea. The usually impartial, sharp, and capable legal elite was secretly involved in so many unspeakable deeds. I was forcibly helped into the car, sitting in the back seat with Eleanor, trembling uncontrollably. The assistant stepped on the gas, and the car headed towards the coast. I clung to a sliver of hope, looking at Eleanor. Her expression remained unchanged as she scrolled through her phone. The screen showed her chat with Damian. “Damian, don’t worry. I’ll give you whatever you want. Don’t be mad, it’s not good for your health if you get angry.” “Sis, you don’t worry either. I’ll be fine for you. You’re always the one I love most. If it weren’t for society’s views, I’d definitely choose to be with you.” Eleanor’s lips curved into an unstoppable smile as she read Damian’s messages. Sensing my gaze, she blacked out her phone screen and placed it face down on her lap. Her face remained calm, and she even reached out to caress my hair. “Alex, you once said you loved watching the sea.” “Tonight, you can watch as much as you want before we head back.” She shifted her gaze to my eyes, her hand slowly moving to my cheek. Her thumb caressed my eyelids: “I never noticed before, but Alex, your eyes are so beautiful.” I was trembling like a leaf, yet I dared not provoke her. “Watch as much as I want?” “Are we never going to the beach again?” “Or is it that my eyes are having problems too?”

Eleanor’s hand froze. A moment later, her gaze darted away, and she withdrew her hand. “Nonsense. If you want, we could buy a house by the sea. Then, you could every single day…” Watch the sea? She left those two words unsaid, and a dead silence filled the car. The assistant driving jolted their hand, swerving the steering wheel. I slammed into Eleanor’s shoulder. Eleanor immediately pulled me into her embrace, gently stroking my hair. “It’s okay. Get some sleep. I’ll wake you when we get there.” Looking at the face I had loved for three years, I couldn’t bear it and closed my eyes. After a long while, Eleanor seemed to think I was asleep. She let out a cold laugh and called her assistant’s name. “I’m warning you, if you dare to spill anything to Alex, your family will share the consequences with you.” The assistant stammered, their voice trembling. “Don’t worry, I won’t say a word.” Eleanor finally relaxed, sighing. “Blame him for getting in Damian’s way. Tonight, bring those thugs from before. I’ll get him drunk tonight, and you make sure they’re ready. Have them destroy his eyes. Even if it gets investigated, it’ll have nothing to do with us.” “If it goes to court, we’ll just say… it was those men retaliating against Alex after they got out of prison.” The assistant hesitated. “But Ms. Eleanor, Mr. Alex has a deep trauma from those men. He trembles just seeing strangers, let alone anyone besides you.” “If Mr. Alex is too traumatized, the consequences could be dire!” Eleanor reached back and gripped her assistant’s shoulder, her voice filled with cruelty. “So what? The worst that could happen is he goes insane. We’ll just keep him in the basement. I have plenty of money to support him anyway. He can live comfortably without ever working. He should be grateful.” “Unless you have feelings for my husband? Is that why you keep spouting such nonsense!” The assistant, cowed by Eleanor’s aura, could only squeeze out a few words of pleading. The car came to a smooth stop on the beach. I opened my eyes, clenching my fists as I looked at the turbulent sea. In this life, I had endured too much. I couldn’t bear this inhuman torment for another moment. Tonight, to be buried in the sea I loved most. Perhaps it was my best option. But before I die, Eleanor. I will make you pay for your actions! Eleanor thoughtfully prepared a new wheelchair for me, and she was now pushing me towards the yacht. The aroma of the early prepared dinner was inviting, but I had no mind to savor it. As she positioned my wheelchair, I slipped a sleeping pill into her drink. As we clinked glasses, Eleanor’s face flushed pink. Her movements became increasingly sluggish. My phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my pocket; it was a message from a reporter. “We heard about your experience and hope to speak out for you. Although you declined our invitation last time, I’d like to try again.” “As a rising star in the sports world back then, you were highly anticipated. But due to an assault by thugs and betrayal by your ex-girlfriend spreading rumors, your career and life plummeted.” “Although you won the lawsuit back then, the arrested individuals were hired. The real mastermind is still at large. Do you truly not want to uncover the truth of what happened that year?” My grip on the phone tightened. The hatred in my heart grew deeper. Eleanor, who was now slurring her words, looked up at me. “Alex, who are you texting? Didn’t I tell you?” “There are too many bad people in this world. It’s my fault for protecting you too well, making you so unguarded.” “You shouldn’t talk to outsiders. Be a good boy, give me your phone.”

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When I woke up in the hospital, I suddenly realized I could see a number floating above everyone’s head. The number above my best friend Tiffany’s head was 206. My boyfriend Jason’s number was 34. After a passionate night with Jason when I returned home from the hospital, his number changed to 33. I realized the numbers represented how many times a person had had sex. Just as I was thinking this superpower wasn’t very useful, I attended Jason’s grandfather’s birthday party. Jason took my drunk friend Tiffany upstairs to rest. When they came back down, their numbers had changed to 205 and 32. I turned my head and saw Jason’s uncle Ethan coming down the stairs. The number above his head was… 1683. “Aria, are you okay?” Jason instinctively tried to cover up the red mark Tiffany had “accidentally” left on his neck. I glanced coldly at the “32” floating above his head, my eyes filled with disdain. They say men hit their sexual peak at 25, but it seems Jason was determined to prove that wrong. “It’s nothing,” I replied dismissively, turning my gaze to the glowing four-digit number above Ethan’s head. My interest was piqued. “How old is your uncle?” “He’ll be thirty after his next birthday.” Ah, thirty years old. The prime of his life, it seems. Noticing my odd expression, Jason wrapped his arm around my waist and whispered in my ear, trying to appease me: “My uncle’s having a birthday party next week. Want to come?” “Sure,” I replied without hesitation. Jason glanced at Ethan, who stood a short distance away in an impeccable suit. With his sharp features, Ethan was the type to command attention wherever he went. Jason let out a small huff, jealousy evident in his eyes. “Aria, you’re not interested in my uncle, are you?” “Of course not. I can barely handle you, let alone anyone else,” I said, pinching Jason’s cheek and wriggling out of his embrace. I started walking towards Ethan. Jason was about to follow when Tiffany, who had just come downstairs, suddenly twisted her ankle. With a cry of surprise, Jason immediately turned to play the hero. I grabbed a drink and approached Ethan. “Uncle Ethan?” Ethan turned, frowning slightly when he saw me. “I’m Jason’s girlfriend, Aria.” “Aria?” Ethan’s deep, pleasant voice repeated my name. My heart fluttered as I heard him ask, “Which Aria?” “The one meaning ‘song’,” I replied with a smile, gazing into his eyes. Suddenly, a waiter appeared behind me and bumped into me. I stumbled forward, falling against Ethan’s chest. He politely steadied me by the shoulders, but the drink in my hand spilled all over him. “I’m so sorry, Uncle Ethan!” I exclaimed in panic, grabbing his wrist. “Let me help you clean up!” Somehow, Ethan found himself being pulled by me to the empty bathroom. I frantically dabbed at his clothes with paper towels, my face flushed bright red. “I’m so sorry, Uncle Ethan. I’m such a klutz. Is there any way to fix this?” I bent over to wipe his clothes, looking up at him with red-rimmed eyes. He looked down at me, our positions incredibly intimate as we stood there, until he finally cleared his throat. “There are spare suits upstairs. I can just change.” Ethan turned to leave but suddenly heard a soft sob from behind him. “I’m so useless. Jason will be so angry with me… Uncle Ethan, please don’t tell him, okay?” Ethan turned back to look at me, confused. “It’s just clothes.” I leaned against the edge of the sink, looking at him with teary eyes. “But I can tell Jason doesn’t like me as much anymore. He and Tiffany…” I bit my lip in shame, my lips trembling. Ethan sighed lightly, remembering Jason’s irresponsible behavior. “I won’t tell him.” My face lit up with a smile. “Thank you, Uncle Ethan!” Ethan’s expression froze for a moment. He said nothing more and left the bathroom. Only after he was gone did the smile slowly fade from my face.

After returning home, while Jason was in the shower, I grabbed his phone and quickly found Ethan’s contact information. I searched for the number on my own phone and sent a friend request. I was about to turn off Jason’s phone and put it back when it suddenly lit up with a new message. “You were so sweet today. Make sure to hide the gift I left for you well – don’t let Aria see it.” It was a message from Tiffany. I raised an eyebrow, putting the phone down without reacting. The next morning, Jason had already left for work by the time I woke up. He was interning at his family’s company, with Ethan as his direct supervisor. He didn’t dare be even a minute late. I had the day off from the hospital, so after getting up I went to the supermarket to buy groceries. I spent the morning cooking and prepared two lunch boxes. Then I drove to Jason’s office. Before leaving, I took a photo of the lunch boxes and sent it to Tiffany. “Tiffany, I spent all morning making lunch for Jason. What do you think?” Tiffany replied quickly. “That lucky guy! He must be over the moon!” I smirked, closed my phone, and drove off to the office. One of those lunch boxes was indeed for Jason, but it wasn’t made specially for him. On the contrary, I needed Tiffany to help distract Jason, my little stumbling block. Sure enough, when I arrived at the office, Jason’s desk was empty. His computer was still warm – he’d left recently. A helpful coworker nearby said, “Aria, Jason often goes to play games in Mr. Jiang’s office. Why don’t you check if he’s there?” Perfect. I smiled and nodded, then knocked on Ethan’s office door. “Come in.” Ethan didn’t look up until he sensed the person at the door seemed hesitant. Then he raised his head to look at me. “Aria?” “Uncle Ethan.” I called out timidly, glancing around the office. “Is Jason not here?” So she’s looking for Jason. Ethan lowered his eyes nonchalantly. “No.” “Can I wait for him here?” I asked carefully. “You may.” I entered the office with the lunch boxes. “Uncle Ethan, have you eaten yet?” Ethan continued writing, giving a soft “Mm” in response. “I made lunch. I prepared a portion for you too, to apologize for my rudeness yesterday.” I placed one of the lunch boxes on the desk and turned to look at Ethan. “Do you have any foods you don’t eat, Uncle Ethan? I cut the carrots into little dog shapes. They’re really cute.” Ethan put away his documents and moved to sit on the couch. I opened the lunch box and pushed it in front of him. “Try some.” Ethan took a few bites. Seeing me staring at him expectantly, he had no choice but to comment, “It tastes good.” “Thank you, Uncle Ethan. I’m glad you like it.” My gaze met his eyes. His eyes were very dark, with slightly downturned outer corners. As I looked at him, I glanced at the number above his head in my peripheral vision. It was still steadfastly at 1683. My heart began to pound like a drum. “Uncle Ethan, your eyes are so beautiful.”

Just as I finished speaking, the office door suddenly opened and Jason walked in. “Uncle Ethan…” Jason’s voice abruptly stopped. I quickly averted my gaze, lowering my head in embarrassment as my ears slowly turned red. “Aria, why are you here?” The strange atmosphere made Jason sense something was off. His tone was somewhat accusatory. “Why didn’t you wait for me outside?” “I told her to come in and wait for you,” Ethan said, putting down the lunch box and turning to look at Jason with a cold expression. “Where were you during work hours?” “I… I went to the bathroom,” Jason mumbled vaguely. He looked at the half-eaten lunch box on Ethan’s desk, and that inexplicable anger inside him rose up. For once, he gave his uncle a cold look. “Uncle Ethan, you ate my lunch.” “No, yours is right here.” I took out the other lunch box and handed it to Jason. Jason opened it and saw that his carrots were cut into heart shapes, while Ethan’s were just dog shapes. He let out a satisfied little huff. “Aria, let’s not disturb Uncle Ethan’s lunch.” With that, Jason took my hand and led me out of Ethan’s office. After we left, Ethan picked up his chopsticks again and looked down at the little dog-shaped carrots in the lunch box. The more he looked, the more annoyed he felt. He ended up throwing them in the trash. Outside the office, Tiffany came to greet us. “Jason, you’re so lucky! Why don’t I ever get to eat Aria’s homemade lunches?” Tiffany said teasingly. I coldly observed the number 204 above Tiffany’s head and the 31 above Jason’s, inwardly sneering. At some point, Tiffany had started calling Jason by his first name instead of “that guy.” Now I realized I’d noticed too late – they’d been hooking up for a while. Tiffany had gotten her job at the company through my recommendation. It seems I’d invited the wolf into our home. “The lunch isn’t a big deal. Soon enough, you might be eating at our wedding,” I said happily, looking at Jason. Jason’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Aria, you’ve agreed to marry me?” “We’ll see how you behave,” I said lightly. “I have to get back to the hospital for work, so I can’t stay for lunch. Tiffany can keep you company.” With that, I turned and left, ignoring Jason’s elated expression and Tiffany’s pale face behind me. The show was just beginning. I couldn’t bear to end it so quickly. That evening, Jason came home two hours later than usual. I sat on the couch reviewing some medical files while waiting for him. I heard him open the door. “Honey, I’m exhausted…” Jason looked refreshed but acted worn out as he collapsed into my arms, hugging me and mumbling complaints. I gently stroked his hair, glancing at the number above his head out of the corner of my eye.

It seems Tiffany was even more impatient than I’d imagined. I looked down at Jason’s handsome, sunny face and the dark circles slowly forming under his eyes. With a mix of pity and mockery, I lightly caressed his cheek before pushing him away. “Did you work overtime today?” “Yeah,” Jason lied smoothly. “Uncle Ethan gave me so many tasks. I’m exhausted, baby. Give me a kiss…” I ruthlessly pushed away his approaching face and stood up to turn off my computer. Jason’s eyes filled with hurt. “Aren’t we getting married soon? Why are you being so cold, honey? Don’t tell me you can resist my perfect body when it’s right in front of you?” “How could I?” I answered absent-mindedly. “Of course we’ll get married, but have you proposed yet?” Jason’s eyes immediately lit up again. “I will! Of course I will!” I smiled and patted his cheek lightly. “Wash up before you come to bed.” Then I got up and went to the bedroom to sleep. … Jason moved quickly. He was the type to wag his tail and beg for praise after doing even a small good deed. Although he hadn’t told me the date of the proposal, I’d already guessed based on his behavior. Of course, I shouldn’t be the only one who knew about this. While out shopping, I “accidentally” told Tiffany about Jason’s upcoming proposal. “He’s so silly, preparing everything in secret and thinking I don’t know anything. But there are so many holes in his plan.” I smiled happily, pulling Tiffany close and “sincerely” sharing my joy with her. “Tiffany, I feel like he’s the one for me. You can see how much Jason loves me, right?” “Right,” Tiffany nodded absent-mindedly, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes. On the day of the proposal, Jason tricked me into going to the venue under the pretense of meeting friends. I carefully chose a white dress and opened my chat with Ethan, which so far only contained greetings. “Uncle Ethan, I think Jason is going to propose to me today. I’m so happy!” Ethan didn’t reply, but that didn’t stop me from sharing my joy. I sent him photos of the decorated venue, along with a smiling emoji. As I expected, I waited until after 8 PM but Jason never showed up. His phone was turned off. Heartbroken, I sat alone at the venue drinking a lot of alcohol. As I was preparing to leave, I accidentally twisted my ankle. Crying, I called Jason. He finally answered. “I’m so sorry, Aria. I had an urgent matter come up and couldn’t make it. I promise I’ll make it up to you when I’m done!” “Jason, I’ve twisted my ankle… I can’t move…” Flashes of lightning crossed the summer night sky, and the rain started pouring down unexpectedly. “Aria, find somewhere to take shelter from the rain. I’ll send someone to pick you up!!” The call was hurriedly ended. I stared at the black screen of my phone, my expression gradually turning cold. After sitting in the rain for a long time, headlights finally flashed nearby. A car stopped not far away, and Ethan got out with an umbrella, stopping in front of me to shield me from the rain. “Jason asked me to take you home.” “Uncle Ethan…” I started crying pitifully. “It hurts so much…” Ethan frowned and bent down to check my ankle. The rain was getting heavier, so he had no choice but to pick me up and carry me to a nearby hotel to get a room first. In the air-conditioned elevator, our two rain-soaked bodies were pressed tightly together. Ethan’s burning body temperature enveloped me, and my face turned red and hot. I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or desire affecting me. After entering the room, Ethan set me down on the couch and got a towel to dry my hair. My head softly leaned against his waist, and I was almost falling over on the couch. He bent down and caught me in one smooth motion. I opened my eyes and looked at him hazily. His face was very close to mine, so close that I could hear his breathing. “Uncle Ethan, thank you…” I drowsily moved closer. “I like you so much…” My cold lips slowly pressed against his. They were so hot and soft. My fingers trembled as I involuntarily grasped his hand. Ethan’s previously restrained hand somehow relaxed, interlacing our fingers… In the heat of the moment, his hand unconsciously gripped my waist tightly. I cried out in pain. “Honey, be gentle…” Ethan’s eyes darkened, his voice hoarse: “What did you call me?”

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On my first day as a postpartum nanny, the client’s mother-in-law dragged me into the kitchen. “These are our family rules. You must memorize them backwards and forwards. When you’re in our house, you follow our rules,” she hissed. I took the papers she thrust at me and flipped through page after page… There were over 800 rules crammed onto those sheets: “The mother is forbidden from contacting the baby. The baby is forbidden from contacting female babies. The new mother is forbidden from eating her fill…” “Rule 1: The mother is forbidden from contacting the baby. This will cultivate the baby’s independence from an early age. Less contact with mom prevents the baby from becoming a mama’s boy.” “Rule 2: The baby is forbidden from contacting female babies. Our family’s precious heir can’t be corrupted by outside influences too early.” “Rule 3: The new mother is forbidden from eating her fill. As the baby’s mother, she must always be vigilant and can’t live too comfortably.” “Rule 4: It’s forbidden to teach the baby to talk. The later a child speaks, the smarter they are. Newton didn’t start talking until he was 4.” “Rule 5: It’s forbidden to put diapers on the baby…” The list went on and on. I nearly fainted. Was I hired to be a nanny for the royal family or something? Barbara was still rambling on, her voice growing hoarse from reciting so many rules. Finally, she shoved the stack of papers at me and told me to read them myself. After chugging several glasses of water, she started complaining again: “I told Lucy not to stay at that fancy postpartum center. What a waste of $5,000 for a month! And now they’ve hired you. Do you know how hard my David works for his money?” “Be honest with me, you must make at least $800 a month, right?” I looked at the old woman’s fierce expression and kept quiet. I was afraid if I told her I made $1,800 a month, she might have a heart attack. I peeked into the bedroom – thankfully Lucy was still asleep and hadn’t heard any of this. Drawing on my professional ethics, I put on my best smile and said: “Ma’am, I’m afraid these rules won’t work. Modern childcare is based on science. Many old practices are actually harmful to the mother and baby’s health!”

Barbara’s face darkened. “Bullshit! Your so-called science is the outdated nonsense. This is how my mother raised me, and my precious grandson deserves even better care.” “Besides, who do you think you are? Just a nanny trying to act smart? Don’t make me fire you right now!” She was really on a power trip. Too bad for her, as a postpartum nanny with 15 years of experience, I’d seen plenty of difficult characters like her before. I kept smiling politely and nodded. “Of course, you’re absolutely right.” Seeing my submissive attitude, a smug look spread across Barbara’s face. I added: “However, if you fire me now, the $300 deposit is non-refundable.” Barbara’s lips trembled. “What? $300? You’ve only been here one day and you’re keeping the deposit? Is there no justice? Why don’t you just rob us outright!” She cursed my entire ancestry, then demanded to speak to my manager. I calmly handed her my manager’s business card from my bag. The manager is actually my son-in-law. He’s very understanding and knows I’m professional and dedicated. Whenever he gets a complaint about me, we end up cursing out the complainant together. Barbara seemed to do some mental calculations and decided firing me wasn’t worth it. She opened her mouth, then closed it without saying anything more. I smiled again and said: “Mrs. Quinn is my client. Ensuring her and the baby’s physical and mental health is my responsibility.” “If you have any issues with me, you’re welcome to file a complaint. You can even request a replacement if you’d like!” Honestly, when dealing with difficult mother-in-laws like her, I’d be more than happy to leave. Barbara’s face grew even darker. Just then, we heard the sound of the door code being entered. David walked in carrying a pack of diapers.

I took the diapers from him, praising him effusively: “Wow, great job picking out the perfect diapers on your first try! You’re clearly a natural at taking care of the baby. Keep up the good work!” “These days, many fathers are even more skilled than mothers at childcare. I’m sure you’ll be amazing too!” David grinned sheepishly and scratched his head. “Sorry Jane, we weren’t prepared before.” Barbara stepped forward and violently snatched the diapers from my hands, flinging them aside. “Didn’t we agree not to use diapers and use cloth nappies instead? Who’s in charge in this house, me or her?” “My friend Susan’s grandson used diapers and ended up with bowed legs! You’ll see what happens if you dare use these!” “This is your first child. I have way more experience than you – just listen to me and you can’t go wrong!” Lucy heard the commotion and came out of the bedroom. “Mom, let’s use the diapers. All the childcare experts say the benefits outweigh any drawbacks. They won’t cause bowed legs, they’re breathable and comfortable, and they prevent diaper rash better than cloth nappies.” “Besides, people used cloth before because that’s all they had. Now that we can afford better options, why not use them? It’s more convenient for everyone.” Barbara snorted. “What do you know? You’ve all been brainwashed by the diaper companies!” David tried to reason with her too: “Mom, we already bought the diapers. Let’s just use them!” Seeing she was losing the argument, Barbara’s beady eyes darted around. Then she dramatically plopped herself on the floor and started wailing. “Your father died so young, leaving me to raise you three kids all alone, working my fingers to the bone… And now that you’re all grown up with your own wings, none of you listen to me anymore…” “Each of those diapers costs at least a dollar. Don’t you know how hard David works for his money?” I could see this circular argument wasn’t going anywhere. I quickly tried to smooth things over. “We can use cloth nappies too. We’ll just need to wash them thoroughly and change them frequently. Babies have such delicate skin – we don’t want them getting diaper rash.” Lucy and I went into the bedroom to discuss our strategy. We agreed that no matter what ended up in the cloth nappy, we’d immediately toss it in the trash. Within half a day, we’d thrown out all the cloth nappies.

I was just about to have David open the new pack of diapers when Barbara stormed in carrying a pile of ancient undershirts and long johns. She angrily cut them into cloth nappy squares and thrust them at me. “Let’s see who dares throw away my things again!” she snarled. I calmly accepted them, but continued with our previous plan. As soon as one got dirty, I’d change it and toss it. By evening, Barbara exploded when she found all the nappies in the trash. “Are you all deaf? Why the hell did you throw them away again?” Most nannies would have quit by now. But she was dealing with me. The only one getting angry would be Barbara. I calmly explained: “Ma’am, even washed cloth nappies can harbor bacteria. It’s safer for the baby to use fresh ones each time!” Barbara fished all the soiled nappies out of the trash. “I washed these squeaky clean. There’s no damn bacteria! You’re talking nonsense!” I replied: “Well, if you’ve washed them so thoroughly, I’ll leave that task to you then!” After just two days, not only did the whole house reek of urine and feces, but Barbara’s hands were red and raw from constant washing. Seeing Lucy come out of the bedroom for some water, Barbara dramatically tossed aside the nappy she was scrubbing: “Back in our day, we’d be out working the fields right after giving birth. Not like you young people nowadays, eating and sleeping all day long. You have it so easy – you can’t even be bothered to wash a few nappies!” She pointedly glared at Lucy as she said this. I had to admit, this mother-in-law was a real piece of work. She insisted on using cloth nappies and washing them herself, but after just two days she was already complaining. Now she was turning her venom on Lucy.

I pulled David aside. “Your wife needs plenty of rest during this postpartum period. She absolutely can’t do any chores. Overexertion now can lead to lifelong health issues.” “For example, she mustn’t cry or get her hands wet with cold water during this time…” David nodded obediently. But when he turned around, he found Lucy in the bathroom washing nappies with cold water. Her hands were already red and chapped. David quickly grabbed Lucy’s hands: “Honey, let me do that! You need to rest!” Lucy wiped away her tears. “It’s okay, I don’t want Mom to work so hard. I’m young, I can handle it. Mom said that back in her day, women would be out working right after giving birth. I feel bad seeing her do all the work…” Hearing his wife say this, David became furious. It was clear his mother had been guilt-tripping Lucy. He stormed over to confront Barbara, who was scrolling through TikTok on the couch: “Mom, why are you making Lucy wash nappies? She just gave birth!” Barbara didn’t even look up. “Oh please, we’ve all been through childbirth. Besides, she doesn’t even have to take care of the baby. Finding some chores to do is good for her!” Her unreasonable attitude made David explode. He grabbed all the cloth nappies and furiously stuffed them into a garbage bag, then tossed the whole thing into the dumpster outside. Seeing her son truly angry, Barbara didn’t dare say anything. As David passed by the master bedroom, he noticed the air conditioning was on and set to cool. Barbara let out an outraged shriek and glared daggers at me. “Are you deaf AND blind? Didn’t I tell you not to use the AC? If my precious grandson catches a cold, will you take responsibility?” Seeing her losing it, I calmly said: “Well, if we can’t use the AC in the bedroom, we should turn off the living room AC too. Otherwise, the cold air might seep into the bedroom and the baby could catch a draft.” Before Barbara could react, I dashed to the living room and switched off the AC. Barbara muttered something under her breath that I couldn’t catch. After that, whenever I saw her, she was either fanning herself while watching TV or scrolling on her phone while sweating profusely. Well, nobody enjoys 86°F weather without AC. But the next day, angry red rashes appeared all over the baby’s face. Lucy anxiously examined the rashes while asking me: “Jane, are the rashes serious? Will they leave scars?” I had just taken out some rash cream from my suitcase when Barbara burst in. “Didn’t I say the mother shouldn’t have contact with the baby? Are you deliberately trying to defy me?”

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The Elder had spoken, his voice echoing a chilling prophecy: a week from now, a devastating apocalypse would descend upon us. Everyone was convinced it would be a zombie apocalypse. Harper, with her formidable combat skills, was instantly elevated to the status of a living savior. As for me, with my water-based power, I was labeled a useless freak. “I believe your power is water, isn’t it? You lame-ass, with that pathetic ability of yours. What, are you planning to go spray the zombies awake?” Harper, my arch-nemesis, sneered. “Tell you what, why don’t you get on your knees, grovel a bit, then sleep with that homeless guy over there, and finally transfer eight hundred thousand to me? Then I’ll consider protecting you, no hard feelings. What do you say?” But soon after, the sun fractured, splitting into three. It turned out to be a scorching heat apocalypse. And there I was, riding my husky, Mochi, like a deity incarnate. “You pathetic losers, kneel before your Queen!” **1** On the day the nine stars aligned, the most revered Oracle in the sanctuary delivered a chilling prophecy: a week from then, a devastating apocalypse would arrive. After uttering his prediction, the Oracle departed from this world. From then on, no one knew what kind of apocalypse it would be. As for me, upon hearing the news, I was so excited I tumbled down the stairs and injured my leg. I was left hobbling around on a crutch, limping out the door. Only… I’d barely taken a few steps outside when Mochi, my husky, came trotting out. The little jerk immediately started mimicking my limp. Right behind him, a Corgi, a Golden Retriever, and a Shiba Inu quickly followed, copying Mochi’s absurd walk. Seriously? What is wrong with you guys? Fuming, I raised my crutch, ready to whack them. Just then, a startled cry came from nearby: “Look at those dogs! Their walk is so weird. What if they’ve caught the zombie virus?” “The Oracle’s apocalypse prediction… it couldn’t be a zombie apocalypse, could it?” My lips twitched. Without a word, I swung my crutch right at Mochi’s butt. He yelped, then bolted, charging toward the chatting group with an even more bizarre limp. Seeing this, the group looked even more terrified, running several blocks with Mochi hot on their heels. The news of a zombie apocalypse spread like wildfire. **2** As soon as the news broke, Harper, possessing the most powerful combat ability, was instantly hailed as the savior, poised to rescue the world. Unfortunately, Harper and I had a bit of history. It was nothing original—just the cliché scenario where her crush confessed his feelings to me. Even though I turned him down, for some reason, she was hell-bent on labeling me a shameless bitch. “Looking to buy instant noodles? Fine, get on your knees and beg me nicely, and I *might* consider selling them to you.” I’d just picked up a pack of instant noodles when an unwelcome guest appeared. Harper, chin haughtily raised, arrogantly kicked me – crutch and all – sending me flying. I gasped, a sharp sting shooting through me. Combat powers were no joke; she really knew how to make it hurt. I scrambled back up, rubbing my bruised arm. “Do these instant noodles have your name on them? Do I need your permission to buy them?” At that, Harper burst into what sounded like the biggest joke ever. “Oh, everyone, listen up! Is this little bitch dreaming? Did she hit her head when she fell? I’m dying laughing. Does she even know what my status is now?” The people around us immediately chimed in: “Yeah, do you even know what kind of apocalypse is coming? A zombie apocalypse! Harper’s power is the strongest for fighting in this sanctuary. She’s a hero who’s going to save the world!” “Let me tell you, Harper’s a huge deal now. Forget a single store; if she wanted the entire bank vault, all she’d have to do is snap her fingers.” “No exaggeration, forget instant noodles. Even if a penny fell from the sky right now, it would belong to Harper. Got it?” “The apocalypse is in a few days. Without her, we’d all be dead. Forget about eating instant noodles.” Listening to their endless sucking up, Harper smiled smugly. “Hear that? Zombie apocalypse. If you want my protection, you’d better behave. Otherwise… oh, I remember your power is water, right? Just that pathetic ability. What, are you planning on giving the zombies a refreshing shower?” Waves of laughter erupted around us. I just smiled slowly, unhurriedly, blinking my eyes. “But I remember the Oracle’s prophecy didn’t specify what kind of apocalypse it would be, did it? Who said it’s definitely a zombie apocalypse? What if it’s a heat apocalypse?” **3** At my words, everyone froze, seemingly pondering what I’d said. Seeing their resolve waver, Harper quickly jumped in: “Heat apocalypse? It’s been raining constantly for months! How could it be a heat apocalypse? I think you’re just jealous that I can save everyone!” “Don’t listen to this little bitch spreading dangerous lies! Everyone saw it that day; that dog clearly mutated! Yesterday it was a dog, tomorrow it could be people! What else could it be but a zombie apocalypse?” I let out a cold laugh. “I’ve heard of people hiding behind a dog’s bark, but never a human *relying* on one.” Especially when it was *my* dog. The nerve! Harper’s eyes blazed with fury, and she raised her hand, ready to slap me. “What did you say? Did you just insult me?” Just then, Mochi, who had gone out for a stroll, came running back. I casually grabbed a hot dog from a shelf and dangled it in front of him. He immediately flopped down, drooling and grinning. I raised an eyebrow. “Besides, mutated? Zombie dog? With this level of stupidity?” The crowd whispered again, “He doesn’t look *that* abnormal…” “What do you mean not abnormal? Look, would a normal dog drool non-stop and get this fat? Isn’t that abnormal?” Before Harper could finish, Mochi snarled and barked furiously at her. Harper jumped, but quickly regained her composure, her expression certain. “See? Barking for no reason! That’s a sign of zombie virus infection! Because the mutation started with Blair’s dog, she’s afraid everyone will blame her, so she’s trying to confuse you all. If you believe her and get infected when the apocalypse hits, don’t come crying to me to save you!” Mochi barked even louder. I rolled my eyes, utterly speechless. Seriously? Someone calls you fat and abnormal, and you don’t even object? And then you blame my dog for barking. You’re literally worse than a dog. I dug in my ear, then whispered to Mochi, “They won’t let me buy you food, and they’re calling you abnormal. Can you really stand for that?” Then, I loosened my grip. Sure enough, the next second, he charged at Harper, boiling with rage. Harper was afraid of dogs. Seeing Mochi charging, she shrieked, forgetting all about her own power, and bolted. But two human legs were no match for four dog legs. Just as Mochi was about to catch Harper, a furious roar came from behind. “Stop it!” **4** I followed the sound and saw Aiden. The man who had confessed to me, and Harper’s crush. Tall, with broad shoulders, a lean build, and a physique that just screamed ‘hot’ in those gray pants. I rubbed my chin. I had to admit, Harper had good taste. Aiden seemed to realize that telling a dog to “stop it” was a bit pointless. He turned to me, furious. “Blair, get your dog to stop right now! I know you can’t accept the news about Harper and me, and jealousy is a natural human emotion, I get that. But do you have any idea how many people you’ll get killed by seeking revenge like this? How can you be so malicious?” When people are truly speechless, they just laugh. Any fleeting good impression I had of him instantly vanished. “Oh, *you’re* not malicious, so why don’t *you* go save her?” I raised an eyebrow. “Or are you scared of being bitten by a dog too?” Aiden’s face flushed red as his secret was exposed. He retorted angrily, “How could I be? I’m being cautious! Do you even know what my power is? Healing! How many people are depending on my power to survive the zombie apocalypse? If something happened to me, could you take responsibility?” As he spoke, he became more and more self-righteous, as if he truly believed himself to be a white knight saving lives. I couldn’t help but chuckle. We hadn’t even figured out what kind of apocalypse it was yet, and he was already this high on himself? What a character. “Oh my God, a healing power! That’s definitely going to be a huge help in a zombie apocalypse! We’re saved!” “Perfectly complements Harper’s combat power. I’m shipping it! I approve this marriage!” “Absolutely! Only a divine figure like Harper deserves to be with Mr. Aiden. How could Blair, with her useless water power, even dream of him?” The surrounding chatter grew louder. I frowned. Before I could say anything, he cleared his throat and continued, “Although you were the one who originally tried to seduce me, wearing that short dress and skirt, I admit, I was fooled and charmed by you for a while. But now it’s the apocalypse, and your water power is simply too useless. I can’t tolerate being with a nobody. So, I’m sorry, we’re not a good match. My heart now belongs only to Harper.”

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Adrian and Olivia had been together for three years, but she still couldn’t forget her first love. There was a locked room in her house, a promise she kept for her first love. If he ever came back, there would always be a place for him in her home. For his sake, she abandoned Adrian time and time again. The last time, Adrian left only a breakup message before vanishing without a trace. But she seemed to go mad, searching for him everywhere. Finally, at the cemetery, she discovered the truth behind everything. Red-eyed, she pointed at the black and white photo of a woman who looked strikingly similar to her and demanded: “Adrian, tell me—” “Who were you really thinking of every time you looked at me?” On Olivia’s birthday, Adrian brought a few of her close friends back to their place to prepare a surprise party for her. At the height of the celebration, everyone started chanting for them to kiss: “Olivia, you need to cherish such a thoughtful boyfriend!” Olivia gazed at Adrian, her eyes shining brightly, as she slowly leaned in. Adrian lowered his head to meet her, and just as their lips were about to touch amidst the cheers of their friends— The door suddenly burst open. A man drenched from the rain stood in the doorway. Olivia froze in place. Adrian turned to look and saw a face that bore a striking resemblance to his own. “Olivia…” the man called out softly. His tone intimate and familiar. Olivia seemed dazed for a moment before her expression changed: “Why are you soaked? Quickly go change into some dry clothes.” The friends around them reacted faster than Adrian, greeting the newcomer naturally: “Ethan, you’re suddenly back? Done with your wandering?” The man stood stunned in the doorway, a faint smile appearing on his face: “It’s been a while.” Olivia’s gaze remained fixed on him, not sparing Adrian a single glance. Adrian wanted to ask who he was. Before he could speak, Ethan walked straight upstairs. Towards that room in Olivia’s house that was always locked, the one she had repeatedly emphasized to Adrian was absolutely off-limits. Ethan skillfully pulled out a key and unlocked the door with ease.

When Ethan came back down, he had changed into dry clothes and casually took an empty seat at the dining table. The friends, tipsy from drinking, naturally draped an arm over Ethan’s shoulder. “Ethan, stay longer this time. Olivia will always keep a room for you anyway.” “How nice, to always have someone as your solid backup.” “I say, you two might as well get marr—” Olivia cleared her throat lightly. She moved closer to Adrian, trying to break the awkward atmosphere: “Adrian, thank you again for helping celebrate my birthday today.” The scent of lily of the valley enveloped him, but Adrian felt a chill run through his body. Adrian had always known that Olivia had a deeply meaningful first love – Ethan. When Olivia’s company was just starting out, Ethan had quit his high-paying job at a foreign firm without hesitation to support her. Even now, years after Ethan had left, Olivia’s friends were still so close with him. They laughed and joked together, reminiscing about old times. Adrian picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of food. But he couldn’t taste anything.

This celebration that belonged to them continued until 10 PM. As everyone was leaving, it started pouring rain. In the end, only the three of them remained in the house. Olivia’s face was flushed from alcohol as she leaned her head on Ethan’s shoulder, looking small and delicate. I, her actual boyfriend, felt like thin air at that moment. “I’ll take you to a hotel,” I said. “I’m not leaving,” Ethan replied coldly. “That room is mine.” “You promised,” he continued. “No matter what, there will always be a room for me in your home.” I felt like an insignificant backdrop, ignored by them both. Olivia was at a loss for words. She looked to me pleadingly: “Let him stay.” “The rain is getting heavier outside.” “Just for one night, okay?” Olivia gazed at me, her eyes flickering with a hint of apology on her face. “Adrian, I’m sorry.” I pressed my lips together and walked past them to go upstairs.

I didn’t sleep well that night. The storm raged on, and a loud clap of thunder woke me with a start in the middle of the night. I instinctively reached out to hold the person beside me. But my hand fell on empty space. I only felt cold sheets. A sliver of light seeped in through the crack in the door. I opened it slightly to peek outside. The living room lights were on bright. Ethan, wearing an apron, brought out a bowl of noodles and set it on the coffee table. Wisps of steam rose from it. He looked every bit the man of the house. I saw his lips curve into an indulgent smile as he spoke softly: “You’re still the same as always.” “Scared by thunder and needing someone by your side to feel safe.” Olivia stood nearby, a smile on her face. Ethan hugged her from behind. I clearly saw Olivia’s body stiffen for a moment. But she didn’t push him away. The warm glow of the living room lights fell on them, inadvertently revealing an air of intimacy. They looked like a couple that no outsider could ever come between.

I met Olivia when I was 22. I had just graduated and started working at her company. My desk was right in front of her office. When her office door wasn’t fully closed, I would peek through that tiny gap to look at her. To gaze at that face that looked 70% similar to the one that had appeared countless times in my dreams. They really looked so alike, especially the dimples that appeared when they smiled. Later, my colleague Sam caught me looking. He pressed an iced coffee against my face, startling me. I turned to meet his eyes as he said, “Adrian.” He smiled and handed me the coffee, his tone light as if joking: “Don’t go falling for Ms. Olivia.” “She’s got someone in her heart already.” I blinked at him. He leaned in to gossip: “Ms. Olivia has a first love she can’t forget.” “Not sure exactly how long they were together, but I think they knew each other since they were students.” “When the company was just starting out, they were still together. He’d come by sometimes to bring her lunch.” “Once during a meeting, she got a call saying he was sick. She immediately left everything behind to go to him.” “Can you believe it? Such a workaholic, dropping everything for her boyfriend.” “Pretty romantic, huh?” I held the coffee and asked softly: “What happened after that?” “They broke up later.” “I don’t know the details, but I think Ms. Olivia still has feelings for him.” “She even keeps his photo on her desk.” Sam shrugged and smiled, “I guess her first love probably hasn’t let go either.” “Loving each other but unable to be together – it’s like a bittersweet ending straight out of a novel.” I was stunned for a moment hearing this. Just then, Olivia’s office door suddenly opened and her secretary came out: “Adrian, Ms. Olivia is calling for you.” When I went in, Olivia was looking over some documents. Seeing me enter, she looked up with a smile. Two small dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth. My gaze fell on a framed photo standing on her desk. I stared at it, my mind full of Sam’s wistful expression from earlier. “…Adrian, will you be my boyfriend?” Olivia suddenly asked. Caught off guard, I answered reflexively: “Okay.”

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