I never thought my wife’s business failure and massive debt would lead to such a devastating chain of events. Despite my cancer diagnosis, I worked tirelessly to ease her financial burden. One day, I accepted an urgent delivery job for a large family portrait, hoping to earn enough to buy my wife a new dress and my daughter some art supplies. But when I arrived at the birthday party venue, I was shocked to see a happy family of three posing together – a man with a woman on each arm, beaming with joy. Guests whispered enviously: “The Johnsons are so wealthy. They spent millions just for her husband’s birthday.” “Their daughter is loaded too. She inherited a fortune in company shares and even ordered this family portrait for her dad today.” I froze, unable to move. The two women weren’t strangers – they were my supposedly bankrupt wife and beloved daughter. 0 With a loud crash, the massive family portrait slipped from my hands, shattering into pieces. All eyes turned to me as I stood there, feeling sick to my stomach. The party planner berated me harshly: “What kind of delivery guy are you? You broke Miss Johnson’s custom portrait! You broke delivery guy, how are you going to pay for this?” I stared blankly at the shards on the floor, piecing together the man’s face – a perfect match for the guy in the designer suit on stage. In our line of work, there’s a rule against peeking at customers’ orders. I had no idea the man in the portrait was Nathan Pierce, my wife’s childhood friend. At that moment, he stood there looking blissful, holding hands with my wife and daughter on either side. They looked like a real family of three. A glass of water hit my forehead, snapping me back to reality as warm liquid trickled down my face. The pain confirmed this wasn’t just a bad dream. Nathan’s eyes flashed with malice for a split second, too quick to catch. He started to reach for me in a show of concern, but suddenly I was kicked from behind, sprawling face-first onto the floor. I turned to see my daughter Emily glaring at me, her little face scrunched up in anger. “You ruined my daddy’s portrait! I’m going to report you!” I instinctively pulled my face mask tighter, realizing she didn’t recognize the father who had sung her lullabies just last night. Olivia’s voice rang out, accompanied by the click of high heels. She narrowed her eyes at me haughtily. “Since it’s my husband’s birthday, I’ll let this slide. Take this money and get out of here.” She carelessly tossed a wad of cash at me. I stared at the money on the floor, trembling uncontrollably. The medical bills I couldn’t afford for my cancer treatment were nothing but loose change to them. My chest ached as if I couldn’t breathe, and my stomach cramped painfully. I clutched my abdomen, reaching out to grab Olivia’s arm. But Emily snatched an expensive bottle of wine from the table and smashed it over my head without hesitation. The little girl glared at me fiercely. “You keep trying to ruin things for my mom and dad. Don’t blame me for not being nice!” The room fell silent. No one dared stop a child, simply because her mother was Olivia Johnson – rich and powerful. I watched helplessly as mother and daughter tenderly presented birthday gifts to Nathan. My vision blurred as I lost consciousness. When I came to, I found myself in a hospital bed. A nurse noticed I was awake and exclaimed happily: “Remember when you were diagnosed with stage 3 stomach cancer here a few months ago? The head doctor says it was a misdiagnosis – you don’t have cancer after all! That diagnosis report was fake!” Her smile faded as she added worriedly: “But your body is severely malnourished and overworked. You’ll collapse if you keep this up.” I clutched the fake cancer report tightly, unsure whether to laugh or cry. I had been surviving on one pack of ramen a day, working myself to the bone even as my stomach bled. In what I thought were my final weeks of life, I pushed myself relentlessly so my wife and daughter could have a slightly better life after I was gone. My sweet daughter never complained or asked for expensive things like her classmates. Just last night, my wife had curled up in my arms, saying she’d washed dishes as a housekeeper that day to buy me new clothes. I had felt so guilty then, hating myself for failing as a man and forcing them to live in such hardship. But now I knew the truth – Olivia’s casual birthday gift to Nathan was an entire public company. Even my daughter’s present was an exquisite emerald watch. I looked down at my patched-up, faded clothes. Tears streamed down my face unbidden. I clenched the fake cancer report in my fist. If the man they wanted wasn’t me, then I would disappear from their lives for good. The nurse left to get medication, and I received a video message on my phone. The clip showed Olivia and Nathan kissing passionately in front of a volcano. Emily stood nearby, happily snapping photos of the moment. Nathan teased: “Olivia, you’re spending all your money on me. What about your husband?” Olivia scoffed dismissively. “You’re the one who saved my grandfather’s life. He insisted I marry that penniless nobody instead. Why else would I have married him?” An awkward silence fell after her words. Emily’s sweet voice piped up: “Uncle Nathan, you’re the best daddy ever! I don’t want some poor loser as my dad!” In that moment, my heart shattered completely. But confusion mingled with the pain. Five years ago, Olivia’s grandfather had nearly drowned. I was the one who dove in to save him without hesitation. To this day, my leg still aches in rainy weather from the injury. Sadly, we couldn’t revive her grandfather, but on his deathbed he had made Olivia promise to treat me well. So why did Olivia believe Nathan was her grandfather’s savior? A memory flashed through my mind – I had lost my mother’s heirloom necklace while rescuing her grandfather. It took me ages to find it again afterwards. But today, I saw an identical necklace around Nathan’s neck. My own necklace was safely stored away in a small box. I had been saving it in case I really did pass away suddenly, hoping to leave Olivia and Emily with something valuable to sell. As the pieces fell into place, my mind reeled. Olivia had mistaken Nathan for the real hero, so she orchestrated this elaborate bankruptcy charade to string me along. Even my own daughter wasn’t on my side. What did all my years of sacrifice mean to them? I yanked out my IV and headed to my delivery company’s headquarters. Thanks to Emily’s stunt, I had received over a thousand negative reviews today. My boss fired me on the spot. After collecting my final paycheck, I mechanically made my way back to our tiny rented room. The dark, damp space was home to rats and roaches – and us. My lips twisted in a bitter smile. I had to admire how well mother and daughter had played their roles all this time. I had barely finished packing a small bag when Olivia walked in with Emily. They had changed into shabby, worn-out clothes. Emily hugged my leg like a sticky rice ball, her little face full of adoration. “Daddy, look at the drawing I made for your birthday!” My daughter was incredibly talented at art, especially portraits. But I could tell at a glance this wasn’t her work – probably just a cheap sketch bought from a street vendor to appease me. My wife had already tied on an apron and was setting out a bowl of noodles with a gentle smile. “Jack, I made you longevity noodles for your birthday. Thank you for always standing by us through thick and thin.” She must have been too careless in her act, forgetting I was severely allergic to the seaweed she had added to the dish. If I hadn’t witnessed how they celebrated another man’s birthday with my own eyes, I might have still been fooled by this mother-daughter duo. Noticing I wasn’t smiling like usual, Olivia spoke up nervously: “Honey, do you think the noodles I made are too plain?” Emily’s face scrunched up, looking on the verge of tears. “Daddy, do you not like me anymore? You don’t want my gift?” I looked up, noticing the obvious bite mark behind Olivia’s ear and the gold bracelet peeking out of Emily’s pocket. Just moments ago, Nathan had posted an update on social media. The photo showed an opulent mansion, with Olivia and Emily in designer dresses presenting another birthday cake to him. Nathan stood between them like a precious treasure being pampered. The caption read: “Money buys love. You two are the best birthday gifts ever!” Tears welled up in my eyes, but suddenly I felt like laughing. These two had really gone all out to deceive me. They didn’t even notice the injury on my forehead that they had caused themselves. My throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, choking me. I used to be a volunteer teacher before marrying Olivia. After our wedding, I quit to take on multiple part-time jobs. Once, a young girl was going to be forced into an arranged marriage for money. I frantically called Olivia, asking if she had any extra cash so I could help save the girl. But my calls went unanswered. With no money of my own, I couldn’t do anything to stop it. Reality had dealt me a cruel blow. Wasn’t I just like that helpless young girl? The person I loved most had been lying to me all along. For their sakes, I had worked my body to the bone, never eating a full meal or getting a good night’s sleep. But now I knew the truth. They had been deceiving me this whole time. Before I could speak, Olivia took a call behind my back. After hanging up, she looked at me apologetically. “Honey, I’m so sorry. My boss just called me in to do some laundry. It pays $100 per load.” She quickly changed out of the apron and planted a soft kiss on my cheek. “Once I pay off our debts, I promise I’ll give you a proper birthday celebration.” She grabbed Emily’s hand and hurried out into the night, seeming eager to leave. If I hadn’t overheard Emily’s excited whisper as they changed clothes, I might never have known: “Mommy, are we going to see Daddy now? This place stinks, I can’t stand being here another second!” I didn’t try to stop them. There was no point in holding onto people who wanted to leave. My mind was in chaos as I stumbled out, clutching our marriage certificate. Somehow I ended up at the registry office. Deep down, I knew I wanted a divorce. I didn’t want Olivia or Emily anymore. “Mr. Wilson, after careful examination, we’ve found your marriage certificate to be fraudulent. The official seal is forged,” the clerk informed me matter-of-factly.

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My brother always hated me. He once told me to my face that he wished I would just die. So I granted his wish and got stomach cancer. But he regretted it. I still died anyway. With a smile on my face, right in front of him. Jake’s call came just as I arrived home. The diagnosis report in my bag was already crumpled into a ball. He never used to call me on his own initiative before. “It was Dad’s birthday two days ago,” he said, his voice cold as ice. As always. “Why didn’t you come back…” “Because I didn’t want to,” I cut him off. “You went back, didn’t you? That’s enough.” “Tina came back from abroad at the beginning of the month.” Tina was my uncle’s daughter who had lived with us since childhood. “If she was there, that’s fine. After all, you only treat her like a sister anyway.” The person on the other end seemed to suddenly flare up in anger, calling my name in a low voice: “Mia!” I hung up. The last bit of sunset glow fell into the room. I sat at the desk, tearing the diagnosis report into tiny pieces. As the shreds of paper fluttered down onto the table, my phone screen suddenly lit up. Jake: Mom’s death anniversary is coming up soon.

Jake was my brother. He had always hated me. Because I was the culprit who took away his mother. Over twenty years ago, my mother died in childbirth. As I was born, she lost her life forever on the operating table. It was a murder disguised as new life. No one welcomed my arrival. Because of me, Dad lost his beloved wife. And Jake lost his mother. This long-standing resentment began from the day I was born and has continued until now. I didn’t intentionally skip Dad’s birthday. It’s just that day, the abdominal pain was so severe I nearly passed out. That’s when I first realized something was wrong. But actually, if I didn’t go, he would probably be more at ease.

Jake didn’t contact me again. I was standing outside the company building when I took a deep breath. After graduation, I had joined his company. Working my way up from the bottom, but no one ever discovered our connection. The number of times I met with him was even fewer than his meetings with ordinary employees. Last week, a senior executive left, and this Monday they were to announce the successor. Everyone said the position was mine for sure. At least before I got the diagnosis report, I had thought so too. In the hallway, I ran into a colleague who greeted me and then excitedly came closer: “Mia, don’t forget to treat us to a big dinner when you get promoted.” I smiled and looked down: “It’s not certain yet.” “It’s definitely going to be you,” she linked arms with me, “You’re the best out of everyone here.” When we entered the conference room, Jake was there. I happened to meet his gaze for a moment before we both looked away like strangers. “Good morning, Mr. Jiang.” He didn’t look at me, just nodded slightly. As indifferent as if our argument that night had never happened. People gradually filled up the conference room. Jake cleared his throat, and my colleague immediately gave me a meaningful look. I lowered my eyes to avoid her gaze. The next second, I heard a familiar name. “Tina Tang.” A familiar figure entered from outside. Slender and graceful, Tina smiled as warmly as ever. Jake stood beside her, introducing her to everyone: “Miss Tang has just returned from abroad and will be taking over the deputy manager position.” Some people instinctively glanced at me. I avoided their eyes and looked at the beaming Tina on the stage. The atmosphere in the room seemed to stagnate for a moment. Invisible undercurrents stirred. I smiled and applauded. Scattered applause broke the slightly awkward atmosphere in the conference room. Tina met my eyes, her expression warm and friendly.

The coffee smell in the break room was so strong it seemed about to overflow. I stirred it with a spoon, took a sip, and felt some acid reflux as I swallowed. My colleague stared angrily, fuming with indignation. “How is this fair? She just parachutes in and steals your position? Is this blatant nepotism?” “Mia, aren’t you angry?” “This position was meant for you. You worked so hard, even almost ended up in the hospital from overworking last time.” Her gaze fell on the dark circles under my eyes: “Mia, I’m telling you, there’s no need to work yourself to death like this. Cut back on the coffee.” The warmth of the coffee seeped through the ceramic mug into my hands as I thanked her softly: “Mr. Jiang must have his reasons.” The girl’s eyes widened as she was about to complain in a low voice when a phone rang abruptly. Jake’s voice was crystal clear in the small break room, tinged with barely suppressed anger: “Mia, come to my office.” My hand shook, spilling a few drops of coffee on my white shirt. The heat seeped through the fabric, scalding my skin. I responded quietly: “Okay.”

The moment Jake’s office door opened, I saw Tina sitting on the sofa, her head slightly bowed. She was clutching a piece of paper in her hand. And Jake, sitting there with a cold expression, suppressing his anger. People used to say that even though Jake and I came from the same womb, only our eyes looked alike. Upturned at the corners, when not smiling, they naturally carried a cold aura that kept people at a distance. Unfortunately, neither of us liked to smile. And Jake had never smiled at me. “Although Tina is new, she has the qualifications for this position.” “Mia.” Jake frowned deeply as he called my name. “If you have complaints, say them directly. Gossiping behind people’s backs, ganging up with colleagues to isolate Tina – Mia, is your viciousness ingrained in your bones?” In just half a day. I glanced sideways at Tina. She happened to look up and meet my eyes. Her face, in her early twenties, was full of collagen. Her eyes were slightly red, with tears reflecting tiny flecks of light. Then she quickly lowered her head again. All the actors in this farce were in place, just waiting for me to play my part. But I really had no interest in acting out their drama. “What other people say with their own mouths has nothing to do with me.” “Besides-” “Everyone’s not stupid.” A sob and the sound of something falling to the ground rang out simultaneously. The expensive pen that had been on the desk was now shattered into pieces. Black ink spread by my feet. “Mia! You…” A light piece of paper fell on his desk. Jake’s words were cut off. When he saw the text clearly, his anger immediately resurged: “Mia!” “Are you still a child?” “Are you throwing a tantrum?” The crisp new resignation letter was crumpled into a ball and thrown back at my feet like trash. It’s not a tantrum at all. I’ve known for a long time. I don’t have the right to throw tantrums. Only children who are coddled have that privilege. And I don’t. “I’ll go to HR myself.” As I closed the door, his roar was shut out along with it. But I hadn’t walked far before Tina caught up with me. “Mia.” Her voice still had a nasal quality, and she carefully reached for my hand. “Mia, don’t be angry. I don’t want this position. I’ll go talk to Jake. Don’t be upset.” “If I had known, I wouldn’t have come back. Mia, don’t let me ruin the relationship between you and your brother.” There was no one in the hallway. I stopped and looked at her. Tina’s eyes naturally carried an air of innocence and pitifulness. Combined with her slightly reddened eyes and nose tip, she could easily win others’ favor. She looked just like she did over ten years ago, when she first came to our home. “Tina.” I moved closer to her, gripping her chin, “This trick never fails-” “Does it?” Tina’s face instantly turned pale. The elevator arrival chime sounded. I let go of her and walked towards the elevator. She seemed not to have recovered, standing rooted to the spot. I smiled at her: “You know very well, there was never any sibling affection between him and me.” “Come to think of it, you’re more like his sister.”

As the elevator doors closed, I saw my expressionless face reflected in them. My abdomen cramped with pain. Actually, in the beginning, my relationship with Jake wasn’t as bad as this. When we were young, although he didn’t like me, he never did or said anything too extreme. Compared to Dad who treated me like I was invisible, Jake as a brother was the only person I felt close to. Back then I thought, even if Jake didn’t like me, we were still family. That’s what blood ties meant. Until middle school, when Tina came to live with us. That’s when I realized. Brothers could actually be so nice to others. Not always wearing a cold expression, not telling her to “get lost,” not mocking her with sarcasm. That was how a brother should really treat a sister. But Tina wasn’t satisfied. On the fifth day after she transferred to my middle school, when I came home from school, Jake slapped me hard across the face. I held my cheek and stared at him in shock. He was saying things I couldn’t understand. Bullying. Evil. Vicious. Apologize. But when I saw Tina standing behind him, head bowed and clutching his shirt, These scattered words suddenly pieced together into a complete lie in my mind. I tried to explain. But he didn’t believe me. The argument that erupted that day and the obvious favoritism suddenly shattered the naive and foolish thoughts I once had. Jake wasn’t stupid enough to be unable to tell right from wrong. It was simply that he chose not to. I seemed to belatedly realize on that day. My brother truly harbored genuine hatred towards me. My relationship with Jake deteriorated rapidly. Unfortunately, in my foolishness and immaturity at the time, I only thought that rather than having him treat me like a stranger like Dad did, I might as well antagonize him. At least then, Jake would see me. The tense relationship between us continued until I was eighteen. At eighteen, I was dragged into hell. After eighteen, my relationship with Jake suddenly became that of strangers. Like a war that abruptly ceased. We no longer argued, no longer lashed out hysterically, no longer confronted each other. Just cold indifference, as if we didn’t know each other at all.

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I told the school’s notorious bad boy that I was Briar’s real boyfriend. I pulled out all the stops to keep them apart. After graduation, Briar found out the truth and broke down, crying. She hated me for destroying her love story. Even on the day I died, she was still cursing me, calling me selfish, a despicable jerk, worse than a dog. As a twisted form of revenge, she deliberately didn’t tell my family about my critical condition. I never got to say goodbye to them. I died with my eyes wide open, consumed by bitterness. After I was reborn, I chose to let go. She finally got her wish, pregnant with the bad boy’s baby. The valedictorian and the school’s bad boy were an item. Our entire senior year was buzzing with this gossip, everyone’s faces alight with barely contained excitement. I sat at my desk, quietly working on practice problems, completely oblivious to the chatter in the hallway. It wasn’t a surprise to me. Yesterday, Jax wrote Briar’s name on the blackboard, confessing his feelings to her in front of everyone. The whole class saw that cheesy, copy-pasted love confession from the internet. Briar, far from being angry, completely fell for it. Her face flushed crimson, but her eyes and brows, though, sparkled with an irrepressible delight. She pretty much gave him her silent approval. Just like that, they became the main characters of some high school romance drama. It had only been one night, and their social media profiles already sported matching couple avatars, openly declaring their relationship on SnapChat. They couldn’t wait to scream their love to the world. The old Briar would never have done something like that. But she’d changed. Ever since she met Jax, she wasn’t the Briar I knew anymore. “Ugh, how could a straight-A student like her fall for that punk? He’s always getting into trouble outside of school. Who knows if he’ll even get into college.” Leo, my best friend, sighed behind me, poking my arm with his pen. “If you ask me, Jax is miles below you.” “Should’ve known Briar liked wild types. You shouldn’t have been such a doormat for her.” I stopped writing, saying seriously, “I haven’t liked her for a long time.” Yeah, I liked her in my last life. Not this one. I still remembered her face at my hospital bed, eyes filled with such visceral hatred. She cursed me over and over, her gaze practically spat daggers at me. “Asher, you deserve this! You’re going straight to hell when you die!” “Do you know how much Jax meant to me? How dare you make decisions for me back then?!” “Karma’s a real b*tch, Asher. You don’t deserve to live.” As she ranted, tears streamed down her face, her voice choked. “Do you know he was the one I loved most…?” When she saw my life slipping away, watching the heart monitor flatline, She didn’t show an ounce of pity. She even deliberately didn’t inform my family. Leaving me to die alone. Her last words before I faded away were: “Asher, now you know what regret feels like, don’t you?” Yeah, I do. Given a second chance, I’ll be a silent shadow. I won’t get in your way and Jax’s ever again. The bell for class rang, pulling my memories back to reality. Jax swaggered in, his rebellious face practically oozing pride and arrogance. Briar followed close behind him, clutching her sleeve tightly. Her lips, redder than the ripest cherries, looked like they’d just been thoroughly kissed. I watched them calmly. It reminded me of Briar and my marriage, a long time ago. That was the first time I ever saw that kind of shy, maidenly expression on her face.

Our families tried to set Briar and me up. I never thought she’d agree. After all, we were like oil and water back then. She’d even glare at me just for walking past. After high school, Briar got into one of the country’s most prestigious universities, and I became her schoolmate. The day I received my acceptance letter, I told Briar about Jax’s crush on her. Part of it was selfish, yes. But mostly, I didn’t want romance to mess with Briar’s studies. Everyone knew what kind of person Jax truly was. He’d only been at our school for a year, but he’d already racked up a ton of disciplinary actions, constantly breaking school rules and getting into fights off campus. Not only did he smoke and drink, but he’d also gone through more girlfriends than red marks on his report card. He only saw Briar as a game. But Briar, for some reason, liked guys like him. With that charming, yet absolutely toxic, look of his, he’d sit in the back row, humming love songs all day. He’d fold his textbooks into paper airplanes and casually toss them out the window. We’d been childhood friends for so many years; I knew Briar better than anyone. If she knew Jax was planning to confess to her, she’d agree without a second thought. Then she’d fall deep and never pull herself out. “Jax, I know what you’re up to. I suggest you don’t do it, or you’ll regret it big time.” That afternoon, Jax was excitedly grabbing chalk to write on the blackboard, taking advantage of the empty classroom after school. I stood at the back door, my voice cold, cutting him off. “Why not?” He raised an annoyed eyebrow. “Because I’m Briar’s boyfriend.” “You—” The name ‘Briar’ instantly changed his expression. He knew we’d been best friends since kindergarten, in the same class since then, and our parents were even neighbors in the same building. He thought our friendship was purely platonic. “You don’t want her to reject you in front of everyone, do you? You’d lose all face at Northwood High.” I continued, showing him the hair tie on my wrist, silently asserting my claim. It was the same kind Briar wore. Jax’s clenched fist tightened, then loosened. “Oh, and by the way, we’ve been together longer than you’ve even known her.” As I left, I didn’t forget to twist the knife, making sure Jax completely gave up. I lied to Jax. But the hair ties really were from Briar. She was always losing things, so she just gave me a whole box of them. She’d just hold out her hand for one when she needed it. Soon after, Jax shifted his attention to other girls, and we had a peaceful senior year. Later, Briar went crazy trying to chase him, hoping to make up for that missed love. She found out Jax had already moved abroad. They were worlds apart. “Asher, I hate you…” She pounded my chest repeatedly, her tears flowing like a broken dam. For a moment, I hesitated. Should I have just let them be? But then I saw Briar, standing tall, going straight from her undergraduate to her PhD, becoming a dazzling female executive in the finance world, securing a future everyone envied. I still felt it was worth it. After thirty, I was still single, and so was she. Our elders started getting anxious. “Fine,” Just as I was about to refuse, Briar nodded, agreeing to the marriage. It completely blew my mind. She smiled at me, her eyes holding a tenderness I’d never seen before. Suddenly, an unrealistic fantasy sparked within me. After all these years, Briar had finally let go of Jax and was willing to look back at me. I loved her. It was the deepest secret buried in my heart. I don’t think any guy could resist a lively girl with sweet dimples who was always by his side. Her soft, long hair brushed my fingertips, sending an uncontrollable tremor through my heart. But a fantasy is just that, a fantasy. She could nonchalantly pick out a wedding dress, do a photo shoot, finalize wedding arrangements. But she would never actually say she loved me. Jax was her one true love, her ‘what if’ dream. So, she ran away on our wedding day. I was completely humiliated in front of all our guests. The video went viral, and someone even posted a breakdown of the whole story. Netizens mocked me, calling me a pathetic doormat who ended up losing everything. That manipulative snake who ruined true love deserved to be abandoned. Briar had successfully completed her long-planned revenge.

“Briar, your grades slipped by dozens of ranks in the last monthly exam. You really need to take this seriously.” Mr. Harrison, our class teacher, said earnestly, holding her report card. He glanced at Briar, then at Jax waiting outside his office, shaking his head with a sigh. “It’s normal to have crushes at your age, but you need to keep your eyes open and make smart choices. Classmates should push each other to improve, not just think about having fun all the time.” “I think Asher is doing great. He ranked first in the entire grade this time. He’s a role model for the boys…” “Mr. Harrison.” Briar cut him off, seeing Jax’s annoyed expression. “I’ll handle my own affairs. You don’t need to worry about me.” Briar snatched the report card from his hand and walked off towards Jax without a backward glance. Jax brazenly blew a whistle, practically preening, then threw his arm around Briar’s shoulders, completely ignoring everyone else, and swaggered off. No one at this school could control Jax. His parents were prominent entrepreneurs. The new school building being constructed was a donation from their family. Mr. Harrison stared at their retreating backs, a pang of heartache hitting him. He never imagined his best student would turn out this way. I was on my way to turn in homework when I ran into Briar and Jax. “Asher…” Briar was about to greet me, but swallowed her words. Jax had her hand clutched tight. I felt his hostile glare. Briar was quick to obey him, immediately averting her gaze. She walked past me like a stranger. Jax was jealous of me; I knew Briar must be thrilled about that, loving every minute of it. She thought possessiveness was a sign of love. That was fine. Time to draw a line in the sand. We’d go our separate ways.

Mr. Thompson asked me why I hadn’t been walking home with Briar lately. I hesitated for a long time but still didn’t tell him about her early relationship. Though, I figured her parents would find out soon enough. With Jax by her side, no matter how late she stayed out, Briar always made it home safely. After school, you could often see them running hand in hand down the street. Their laughter and playful teasing drifted to my ears, sounding as distant as if from another world. Some classmates even spotted them at night in the small grove at the park. Under the dark, windy sky, Jax had Briar pinned against a tree, kissing passionately. Their reputation instantly flipped. From rebellious, passionate lovers, they became the shameless, scandalous couple everyone whispered about. Briar was angry at first, but then she just stopped caring, letting them say whatever they wanted. She continued to spend every waking moment with Jax. Jax had money and bought Briar many designer lipsticks, so Briar learned how to do her makeup and dress up. She started looking down on girls who showed up to school barefaced every day, disdaining to stand next to them. She also looked down on guys who only bought a single boba for dates, secretly calling them poor. She didn’t understand that in student days, a girl’s most beautiful face was her unadorned one. Youth was them, not them transforming into youth. Even a cheap boba could leave a lasting impression for many. The last time Briar spoke to me first was when she threw a small note to Jax during class, accidentally tossing it onto my desk. “Nerd, pass it over, quick.” Briar urged impatiently, afraid I might peek. She no longer called me Asher with a cheerful smile, but adopted Jax’s habit of giving people nicknames. The next second, the math teacher stood in front of my seat, his face stern as he confiscated the note. I heard Jax click his tongue in annoyance, kicking his desk leg. Then he stood up and slammed the door as he walked out. Briar glared at me, her eyes spitting venom. She blamed me for getting them caught. Our math teacher was famously strict. After reading the inappropriate content, he immediately called both sets of parents after class. Jax’s parents, of course, didn’t show up. They let their son run wild. Rumor had it, as long as Jax didn’t get anyone pregnant, his parents didn’t care how many girls he dated. Mr. Thompson, getting the news, rushed back from the construction site, still clutching his hard hat, sweat mixed with dirt caked on his tanned skin. He finally understood why Briar had changed so much lately; it was because she was always with the school bad boy. He was utterly disappointed in his precious daughter. Mr. Thompson hit her for the first time. Briar clutched her face in disbelief, immediately protesting vehemently. You could hear the furious argument from the other end of the hallway, even sitting in the classroom. It lasted a whole afternoon.

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I had just left the biggest tech summit in the world when my mentor, who I considered a mother, called me. She’d arranged a marriage for me, with Charlotte Thorne, the daughter of her good friend. Charlotte was one of the most brilliant business minds in this city. I’d licensed several of my patents to her company, and they were currently the core technology for their new products. I finished up my lab work, slipped into a carefully chosen suit, and headed to the engagement party. But Charlotte Thorne’s male assistant, Leo Stone, blocked me right at the entrance of the ballroom. He was wearing a sharply tailored, luxury suit, looking meticulously groomed, more like the groom than I did. “If you know what’s good for you, just scram. An orphan with no connections, do you really think you’re good enough for our Ms. Thorne?” I shot back, “Does Charlotte Thorne know you’re acting so high and mighty?” Leo Stone sneered, a dismissive chuckle escaping him. “A pretty boy who only climbs high because of his mentor’s name, how could you ever understand how important I am to Ms. Thorne?” As he spoke, a trace of obsession and smugness actually flickered in his eyes. I watched him for a moment, then pulled out my phone and called Charlotte Thorne. “If your hospitality means keeping your fiancé blocked at the door, then I suppose I could just let you see the contract for my patents, and then sell them to your rival company?”

I was an orphan. The only reason I finished school and got into the top research lab in the country was all thanks to my mentor’s guidance. She’d given me so much care, almost like my own mother. So, when she chose an engagement for me, I was willing to be patient. If Charlotte Thorne could handle this properly and give me a decent explanation, I was ready to give her another chance. “Asher Vance? What is it?” The other end of the line was noisy, with guests seemingly talking around her. She first responded to her guests, then casually brought the phone to her ear, as if she hadn’t been listening to me at all. “Come pick me up and let me into the venue, your assistant…” Before I could finish, she let out a disdainful “Tch,” cutting me off impatiently. “Do you have some kind of prince syndrome? Can’t walk on your own two legs?” “I have guests to entertain. How would I have time to pick you up? Just come in yourself.” A busy signal buzzed in my ear. Leo Stone clapped a hand over his mouth, letting out a suppressed giggle, his eyes alight with undisguised mockery. “I’m just following Ms. Thorne’s orders. If you want to go in, go ahead. I definitely won’t stop you now.” I could calmly complete even the most difficult experiments. But talking to someone so utterly unreasonable? All I felt was a throbbing in my temples. “Mr. Stone, do you think your position as an assistant is very secure? Harassing your CEO’s fiancé at the ballroom entrance – is that part of your career plan?” “Oh, too bad. Compared to a professional elite like me, the CEO despises a useless kept man like you even more.” I lifted my gaze, staring at him with a cold intensity. “Professional elite? The kind of elite who harbors inappropriate fantasies about his female boss?” “Does Charlotte Thorne even know her assistant acts like a lapdog, wagging his tail and begging at her feet every single day?” Leo Stone instantly flew into a rage. He raised his hand, lashing out with a sudden swing towards me. I took two steps back, dodging it. “Lost your cool and resorted to violence? So when you have a business deal go south, do you just slap your partners too? What an ‘elite’ move.” “You! Hold him down!” His thoughts exposed, Leo Stone’s shrill voice cracked. He gasped, staring intently at me, his finger trembling as he pointed. The nearby security guards, who had been watching the show, started walking towards me at his command. “Leo Stone’s being an idiot, but are you all going to follow suit? Do you realize the person you’re about to use force on is Charlotte Thorne’s fiancé?” I tried to appeal to their reason. The security guards exchanged glances. The lead guard spoke, feigning apology, but his eyes held clear derision. “Mr. Vance, we’re just following orders. Please understand.” “Mr. Stone is the CEO’s right-hand man, while you’re just a pawn in an arranged marriage with no connections.” “If your dead parents suddenly came back to life with some earth-shshattering background, then we’d definitely apologize to you.” To attend the engagement, I was dressed in a perfectly fitted suit, with expensive leather shoes on my feet. After dodging a couple of attempts, I was quickly grabbed by two security guards, my arms pinned, half-pressed and held in front of Leo Stone. He stared at my face with a dark expression, then suddenly stretched his lips into a smile. He raised his hand, his designer watch glinting coldly, about to slap me. I squeezed my eyes shut. “Stop!” A clear, cold voice, laced with anger, rang out. Leo Stone’s hand froze in mid-air.

Charlotte Thorne walked towards me. Tall and slender, her face strikingly beautiful, even more captivating than in her photos. She scanned me with a look of disdain, her gaze sweeping over my face, pausing for a fraction of a second. “It’s our engagement party today. What disgraceful scene are you making here?” I broke free from the security guards’ grip, straightened up, and adjusted the collar of my suit, letting out a cold scoff. “Can’t you see what’s happening?” “Charlotte Thorne, I’d like to ask you, is having your security guards assault me at the ballroom entrance your idea of hospitality?” “Do you know what your assistant just—” Before I could finish, Charlotte Thorne cut me off with a frown. “Enough! You’re late for the engagement party and instead of coming in, you’re causing trouble at the door. If my security guards didn’t stop you, were they supposed to just let you run inside and disturb the guests?” “My time is precious, and you’ve just wasted it. “You’re a worthless orphan, and foolish. I really don’t know why my mother wants me to get engaged to you.” The guests who had followed her out to watch the drama discreetly looked my way, whispering amongst themselves. Those condescending stares made me feel like a clown. I felt my time was wasted too. I’d spent so much effort preparing, even taking a special day off. With that time, I could have updated the data for my new experiment. “What a coincidence, I also feel my time has been wasted.” “Since we clearly can’t stand each other, why don’t we just call off the engagement?” Charlotte Thorne froze, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Are you threatening me?” “Causing trouble in front of me isn’t enough, now you’re trying to use breaking off the engagement as leverage? Do you really think that will make me bend to your will?” I looked at Charlotte Thorne’s expression and suddenly felt speechless, a sense of talking to a brick wall. Beside her, Leo Stone stood respectfully, yet his voice held a hint of familiarity and grievance. “Ms. Thorne, he’s causing such a scene at the engagement party. What’ll happen when you’re married? Will he turn everything upside down?” “And just now, he saw that I’m your capable assistant and thought I was stealing his thunder, so he got angry and tried to hit me.” “If those security guards hadn’t protected me, he definitely would have gotten away with it.” Charlotte Thorne looked at me with disbelief. “Leo has been my assistant for two years. He’s handled countless things for me. Do you think he’s some useless freeloader who got his position through connections, like you? What do you have to be jealous of?” I tugged at the corner of my lips, but there wasn’t a shred of a smile in my eyes. “Though I’m curious why you think I’m useless.” “But you just believe your assistant’s words like that?” “It was your assistant—” Charlotte Thorne interrupted me again. “If I don’t believe my assistant, should I believe a lunatic like you?” Leo Stone raised a hand to cover his rising smile, then blinked, and tears welled up in his eyes. “Ms. Thorne, my heart aches for you.” “You’re already one of the most powerful people in this city, yet you’re still constrained by your mother and forced into an arranged marriage with a lunatic.” Charlotte Thorne had only taken over Thorne Corp. two years ago, and Mrs. Eleanor Thorne still interfered with the company’s affairs. She had accumulated a lot of anger due to her mother’s meddling. After Leo Stone’s words, the atmosphere around her immediately became heavy. “Asher Vance, you’d better apologize to me properly, and compensate me.” “Otherwise, not even my mother can save you.”

I finally understood. Leo Stone wasn’t so much a capable right-hand man as a fawning sycophant. He knew exactly how to twist his words to get into Charlotte Thorne’s head. This perception of me as “useless” definitely stemmed from him whispering in her ear. Charlotte Thorne was used to being flattered. Playing along with her seemed the easiest way to solve the problem. I glanced at her, feeling a surge of weariness. “What kind of compensation do you want?” She scoffed. “I want you to personally call my mother and tell her that you’re the one who wants to break off the engagement.” I nodded sharply. “Fine.” With that, I pulled out my phone and opened my contacts. Charlotte Thorne looked at me in surprise, pursing her lips. “Think carefully. Once you make that call, all the prestige and wealth of Thorne Corp. will have nothing to do with you.” I didn’t reply. I just found Mrs. Eleanor Thorne’s contact and pressed the call button. “Not only that, I want him to kneel down and apologize to me in front of everyone!” Leo Stone’s tearful, exaggerated voice cut in. “Ms. Thorne, I’ve worked for Thorne Corp. for so long. Everything I’ve achieved is based on my work ability.” “To be bullied and insulted like that just now, I really can’t bear it.” “Unless he apologizes to me, I will absolutely not forgive him.” I actually laughed. Those security guards were still standing there. Who was bullying whom, exactly? “Leo Stone, you just casually twist the truth, do you think everyone’s an idiot?” “You instigated the security guards to restrain me, and you even tried to hit me. Now you’re saying I bullied you?” Charlotte Thorne stepped in front of Leo Stone. “You must have provoked Mr. Stone first. He was just trying to protect himself.” “If you have any basic human dignity, then apologize to Mr. Stone.” “Otherwise, I’ll have to force you to apologize.” She glanced around, and the security guards received the unspoken instruction, eyeing me menacingly. “Asher certainly has dignity. I, on the other hand, think you and your male assistant have completely lost all shame.” A clear voice echoed from behind Charlotte Thorne. It was Seraphina Hayes, CEO of Hayes Industries. She walked gracefully, the beauty mark beneath her phoenix eyes gleaming. Hayes Industries was Thorne Corp.’s rival, with many overlapping business areas. Seraphina Hayes had taken over her family’s business early on, and her company was thriving. She and Charlotte Thorne had always been like two queens who avoided each other’s direct sight. However, thanks to my patent technology, Thorne Corp.’s recent product upgrades had subtly put them ahead of Hayes Industries. Charlotte Thorne was quite surprised that Seraphina Hayes had come to the engagement party at all. “Ms. Hayes, you must be quite闲, to not only attend a rival’s engagement party but also interfere in my private affairs?” Charlotte Thorne said, displeased. I, too, was a bit surprised to see Seraphina Hayes shielding me. I’d discussed collaborations with her before, and our interactions had been pleasant enough. I just hadn’t expected that halfway through our dealings, she would actually try to use her charm on me, which scared me into fleeing back to my lab overnight. It was the same with this patent. Since my mentor and Mrs. Eleanor Thorne had been good friends for years, I had licensed the patent to Thorne Corp. I hadn’t expected Seraphina to actually step forward and help me.

“Asher, dear? How’s the engagement going? Are you happy with the venue?” Mrs. Eleanor Thorne’s gentle voice came through the phone. “I’m calling to tell you that I’m breaking off the engagement.” “Ms. Thorne’s assistant blocked me and wouldn’t let me into the venue, and he even had the security guards lay hands on me.” “And Ms. Thorne came out, didn’t bother to get the full story, and then demanded I kneel and apologize to her assistant.” “Your family’s standards are too high. I won’t be coming in.” Silence hung on the other end of the line for a moment. “What?!” “That little punk always causes trouble for me… I’ll be right over to deal with her…” Mrs. Eleanor Thorne muttered, followed by the sound of a car engine starting. “Mrs. Thorne, don’t listen to this conniving little man! He’s just a freeloader trying to take advantage of your generosity!” Leo Stone snatched my phone, his face twisted with feigned grievance. “I was properly greeting Mr. Vance at the door, but he refused to come in and just caused trouble there instead.” “I’ve worked tirelessly for Thorne Corp. for so many years. Can’t I even get a simple apology?” Mrs. Eleanor Thorne’s voice turned chilling. “Mr. Stone, is it?” “You’re fired. Go to HR and process your resignation.” Leo Stone’s face froze. “My daughter’s engagement – what business is it of yours to meddle?” “Do you think those lies can fool me?” I hadn’t expected Mrs. Eleanor Thorne to believe me. Leo Stone’s face twitched, his hand tightening around the phone. He squeezed his eyes, then looked at Charlotte Thorne, feigning tears. “Ms. Thorne, if Mrs. Thorne doesn’t care about her own daughter, can’t I care?” “Just to gain favor with a professor, you forced Ms. Thorne to get engaged to an orphan with no connections. Are you treating Ms. Thorne as just a tool for an arranged marriage?” Silence fell on the other end of the line again. After a long pause, Mrs. Eleanor Thorne sighed, her voice suddenly sounding much older. “Charlotte, do you… do you feel the same way?” “Do you think… it’s my fault? So you did all this, unwilling to get engaged to Asher?” Charlotte Thorne glanced at me, then averted her eyes. “As long as Asher Vance is willing to apologize properly to my assistant, I’m still willing to go through with the engagement.” A scratching sound came from my phone case as I looked over. Leo Stone’s face was contorted. “This… Asher… what do you say?” The other end of the phone seemed to be waiting with bated breath. Waiting for what? For me to apologize to Leo Stone? All my previous patent collaborations had been with Mrs. Eleanor Thorne, and I’d always found her to be a fair person. I trusted her family’s upbringing, which was why when my mentor said my fiancée was Charlotte Thorne, I’d come with an open mind. But in the end, a businesswoman is still a businesswoman. To achieve her goal, even knowing the truth, she was willing to sacrifice me. I was curious, did she really think I had no other options besides Charlotte Thorne? I suddenly felt a surge of amusement. I lightly tapped the shoulder of the person in front of me. Seraphina Hayes’ body trembled slightly. She had been furious from Mrs. Eleanor Thorne’s words, about to retort with a sarcastic jab, but I had interrupted her. She softened her expression and looked at me, tilting her head slightly, blinking, and signaling for me to speak. “Seraphina Hayes, I’m planning to find a new engagement partner.” “Are you volunteering?”

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When I took the kids for their routine pre-school check-up, I unexpectedly found out that my stepson, Liam, had leukemia. I immediately contacted the bank, desperate to get a loan for a bone marrow transplant. But my daughter, Bella, suddenly piped up, “Dad, when we go in, just say *I* have leukemia.” The moment we walked through the door, Bella dropped to her knees in front of my wife, tears streaming down her face. “Mom, I want to live. Please, save me.” I knew this was Bella’s test, and my eyes were glued to Eleanor’s reaction. If she said *anything* about treating Bella, I’d sell everything I owned to cure Liam. But if Eleanor couldn’t stand by me through this hardship, then I’d have no choice but to watch Liam’s illness with cold indifference. Eleanor helped Bella up, but I caught a flash of resentment in her eyes. She sighed, looking at me with a weighty tone. “I already know about Bella’s leukemia. You know our financial situation… maybe we should just… let it go.” I quickly cut in, “The child calls you Mom, after all! How can we just let it go?” Liam, who was engrossed in his game, impatiently interjected. “So what if she calls her Mom? She’s not her *real* daughter.” His utter lack of concern sent a chill down my spine. After we remarried, I was so worried he wouldn’t adjust that I gave him everything, the very best. I never imagined he wouldn’t just fail to protect his sister, but would say something so heartless. I was shaking with rage, standing up and pointing at him, demanding, “Bella is your sister! Just because she’s not biological, she doesn’t deserve to be saved?” Eleanor, clearly annoyed, pulled me back. “Enough! Why are you yelling at Liam? Forget the astronomical cost of a bone marrow transplant, even a single round of radiation therapy costs tens of thousands. This is a bottomless pit with no end in sight.” She glanced at Bella, whose tears were still wet on her cheeks, and spoke coldly. “Blame Bella for her bad luck, I guess. I know you like having a girl, but if it comes down to it, we can just have another one.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I spoke, my voice laced with urgency. “Leukemia isn’t as terrifying as you think. Early treatment can be covered by insurance. Are you just going to stand there and watch the child…?” She crossed her arms, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Your child is a child, but Liam and I are outsiders? We’re just living together, you know. Don’t be so selfish, okay? If it were Liam who was sick, I would absolutely divorce you and bear the responsibility alone. I would never drag you down.” “Besides, you’d sell the house and car to treat this money pit, and she’ll just get married off eventually anyway, right? How much can you get back from a dowry?” She looked at Bella with disdain, letting out a scornful scoff. “But you can’t just…” Before I could finish, Liam violently slammed his phone screen onto the couch and roared. “Ugh! So annoying!” “I’ve said it a hundred times, she’s not getting treated! You’ve completely messed up my character in the game! If you bother me again while I’m playing, I’ll pull your oxygen tube when you’re old!” Liam was like a furious little beast, his eyes wide, looking at me as if I were his enemy. Suddenly, I felt Eleanor had a point. If I risked everything—selling the house and car—to save Liam, and then had to worry about him not taking care of me in old age, would saving him really be worth it? Lost in thought, Eleanor handed me divorce papers. “What’s the meaning of this?” My heart sank. Only an hour or two had passed since the test results came out, and she already had the divorce papers ready! “Leukemia treatment is astronomically expensive. I don’t want my child to live a life of hardship with you. Sign this, and let’s go to the registry office to get divorced.” Just one glance sent a shiver down my spine. She not only demanded that I leave with absolutely nothing, but also that I pay monthly child support for Liam. I lightly tapped my finger on the table, my eyes fixed on Eleanor. “Why should I walk away with nothing?” Eleanor’s expression was one of complete righteousness. “All these years, I’ve been a stay-at-home mom, taking care of the child. I’ve lost my ability to work. Isn’t it only right that you compensate my son and me?” I spread my hands. “After the divorce, you won’t have to take care of the child? Won’t you still need to find a job?” A look of urgency flashed across her face: “Jobs are so hard to find these days. Until I find one, don’t you think you should give me some financial security? Otherwise, how will a single mother and her child survive?” “Didn’t I give you your ‘financial security’ before we even got married? Now that we’re talking divorce, why should I care how you survive?” I genuinely couldn’t fathom how she could say such things. The wedding gifts given before marriage were security, the pre-marriage jewelry was security. Now, if I were the one at fault, she’d seize my property as security. And if a child got sick, she’d take the security and continue her life. As a family, shouldn’t we share risks? Why was a human life worth less than a so-called comfortable life? When she heard I wouldn’t leave penniless, Eleanor started acting hurt again, wiping away tears and sobbing. “Children cost a lot of money, and I don’t have any other income. How are a single mother and her child supposed to survive? After all these years as husband and wife, shouldn’t you take full responsibility?” Wasn’t I responsible enough? The moment I found out about Liam’s illness, I contacted the bank to apply for a loan, ready to sell everything to pay for his treatment! Now, the tables were turned. I just wanted to hear her say *one word* about saving my daughter, just one word! But her? One moment she was calling my daughter a worthless money pit, the next she was demanding I leave with nothing. Was that *my* lack of responsibility? Seeing that I wouldn’t budge, Eleanor sat next to me, took my arm, and softened her voice.

“I treat her like my own daughter too. I don’t mind you treating her as long as it doesn’t cost *our* family’s money. But what if? What if we spend all that money and she doesn’t make it? We need to think about our future, right?” “Divorce is a last resort. Just hand over all the property to me for safekeeping first. Bella isn’t my biological daughter, so after the divorce, I won’t have any obligation to care for her. Even if she really doesn’t make it, you can declare personal bankruptcy, and then we can remarry. That way, your future will be secure, won’t it?” I scoffed internally. The moment she learned my daughter was sick, she was in a frantic rush to divorce me and split the assets. But she *did* remind me of something. Right now, I have a parental obligation to Liam. After a divorce, no matter what, I wouldn’t have to bear any responsibility for him. I looked at the divorce papers. If Eleanor was determined to let Bella go untreated, then I wouldn’t reveal that *her* son was the one who was sick. “I’m not one to fight over a bit of property. We’ve been through so much these years, don’t you trust me?” Seeing my silence, Eleanor raised her voice, asking incredulously. “It’s only been two hours since the medical report came out, and you already have the divorce papers ready. How can I trust you?” Hearing me say that, she instantly exploded. “Honey, honestly, how have I treated Bella all these years? Now she’s become a burden on the family, and isn’t what I’m doing for *our* future?” Each word, “burden,” made my face turn ashen. I pointed at Eleanor, my voice stern. “She’s a living, breathing person, not a burden!” Seeing me on the verge of exploding, Liam forcefully pushed Bella. My already frail daughter was knocked hard to the ground, crying out in pain. “You old man, if you yell at my mom again, I’ll kill her! She’s just a waste of money living anyway!” Liam shrieked at me hysterically, his eyes filled with a ferocity I’d never seen before. I’d never seen such a vicious side to Liam. Turns out, his previous obedience was all an act. He was nothing but an ungrateful monster! Liam pointed at my nose and cursed. “What? You wanna lay a hand on me? Go on, try it! Domestic abuse can make you lose everything, you know!” My fists clenched, wanting nothing more than to slap him across the face. I’d been better to him than my own daughter for four years, and I even thought about getting a loan for his bone marrow transplant! “Come on, hit me here! Do it!” He patted his own face, acting crazed. “Liam, how have I taught you? Kneel!” Eleanor’s stern voice rang out. She turned to me, her voice softening. “My son is being unruly. I’ll make him apologize to his sister right now.” The moment before so arrogant, Liam gnashed his teeth and knelt in front of Bella, deliberately turning his head away, his face full of resentment. Eleanor squatted in front of Bella, gently smoothing the stray hairs from her temples. “Bella, your brother was just impulsive. I’m making him apologize to you. We’re a family, we should be understanding of each other, right? I know what just happened makes you feel wronged, but Mommy feels wronged too!” “A minor illness is one thing, but this is leukemia! Do you want to make Daddy, Mommy, and your brother live a life of hardship with you, or do you want to become a star in the sky, watching us be happy every day?” “But… as long as our family is together, I’ll be happy,” Bella said with innocent sweetness. “Bella, you’re still little, you don’t understand,” Eleanor sighed deeply, shaking her head. “We’re just an ordinary family, we simply don’t have the money to treat you! Didn’t Dad always say not to bother others? I’m not your real mother! Why should I suffer with you?” “Think about it, during treatment, you’ll be hooked up to tubes, in pain and discomfort. Our family’s entire savings will be spent on you alone. Daddy and Mommy will be busy to death every day, and your brother will be mocked at school for not being able to afford designer brands. Is that what you want?” I glared at Eleanor through gritted teeth. She truly was a woman with a viper’s heart. Knowing she couldn’t convince me, she turned to manipulate my daughter. When I found out Liam was sick, I was willing to take out a loan to save him. But when it came to my daughter, she was actually convincing her to die! “Thump!”

The next second, Eleanor, her face haggard, dropped straight to her knees in front of Bella, weeping uncontrollably. “Please, honey, Mom is begging you. Our family really doesn’t have that much money. Can we just not treat it? We’ll make sure you’re happy for the time you have left. I’m still young, I don’t want to beg on the streets!” “Yeah, sis, I just accidentally pushed you earlier, and I apologized. Can you just die without dragging me down?” Liam, still kneeling beside them, added. “But what if? What if I get better, can things go back to how they were?” Bella looked at Eleanor, still hopeful and innocent. Eleanor grew impatient, her voice sharp as she massaged her forehead and retorted, “How many ‘what ifs’ are there? Even if you get better, can the money spent on you be brought back?” That simple sentence extinguished the last flicker of hope I had for saving Liam. “We’re just ordinary people, we only get one chance to gamble. If we lose, our lives will be ruined because of you alone. When you said ‘face it together,’ weren’t you just trying to drag us down with you?” “Mommy and your brother are people too. We don’t ask for great wealth, just a stable life. Can’t you be considerate of Mommy?” With that, she even managed to squeeze out a few fake tears. Liam quickly handed her a tissue, then stood up and glared at me. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Both of them are selfish, they don’t consider our feelings at all!” “Mom, you two should get divorced immediately. I don’t want to go to hell with these two selfish people!” Watching them, I couldn’t help but reflect on their words. Yes, why should I gamble my entire future and Bella’s future for a slim chance at saving *her* son? Seeing that Bella couldn’t be swayed either, Eleanor stood up and looked at me coldly, speaking her true thoughts. “There’s only one illness in this world: poverty. I’m terrified of being poor. I’m just looking out for my own best interests.” I looked at her假惺惺 (hypocritical/feigned) demeanor with a bitter smile, shaking my head helplessly. As for the truth about Liam’s illness? If she was going to look out for her own interests, why couldn’t I? “You’re right. I don’t need you to bear any of this.” Hearing me say that, a glimmer of delight flickered in Eleanor’s eyes. She quickly handed over the divorce papers, striking while the iron was hot. “It’s best if you understand. We’re both thinking of the children, so there’s no need to blame each other.” Just then, my phone rang. It was the bank. “Mr. David, we’ve reviewed your credit score and spending history. Your approved loan amount is fifty thousand dollars.” Hearing the call, Liam’s face changed. “You took out a loan? Why didn’t you discuss something this big with my mom?” Eleanor’s face contorted. “Oh, I see now. I finally understand you. You never considered Liam and me family at all! Confess honestly, were you planning to use that loan to treat that worthless money pit and make *me* share the debt with you?” “I can’t believe you’re this kind of person. We’re getting divorced anyway, can’t we just be civil to each other?” I looked at her helplessly. “We’re getting divorced anyway, what’s wrong with me taking out a loan to treat my child on my own?” Eleanor stared at me, her neck stiff, and shouted. “What’s wrong? If you take out a loan for her treatment now, it becomes shared debt, and *we* have to bear it too!” Liam wasn’t to be outdone, threatening, “You old man, if you make my mom take on that debt, I’ll strangle that b*tch! I’m underage, so I won’t even go to jail!” I turned to look at him, a chill running through me at the venom in his eyes. This little devil would say *anything* to avoid debt! Eleanor patted my shoulder. “I don’t care if you want to take out a loan for treatment, but don’t make me share the debt, okay?” With words like that, I truly felt that all my efforts for them over the years were worthless. If Bella hadn’t had the foresight to test them, I would probably have been completely fooled. I sighed. “Alright then, let’s get divorced now. I’m in a hurry to get the money for treatment. This house goes to me, and the rest of the assets go to you, how about that?” Hearing me say this, Eleanor, barely concealing her smile, modified the agreement and watched intently as I signed the divorce papers. I pulled out the notarized prenuptial agreement from the cabinet and handed it to her. Eleanor looked at the pre-marriage property notarization, and her smile slowly froze. “What is the meaning of this?”

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In the first year of the apocalypse, Liam grew tired of me. He began favoring my sister, Rowan, his combat partner. Everyone in the team silently agreed they were the perfect match, leaving me feeling like an outcast. Before the apocalypse, I was his light, his savior. After, I became nothing but a dead weight, dragging our team down. Later, after he and my sister finally confessed their feelings during a battle, he allowed the rest of the team to bully me. To save the one he truly loved, he even pushed me into the arms of another man. Until, I truly fell for someone else. He suddenly remembered me, the girl who took him in, battered and broken, back when we first met. **1** I huddled with the Normals, curled up in a corner in the dead of night. I quickly ducked my head, took a stealthy bite of the last cookie, holding it in my mouth to muffle any sound. My stomach churned with acid, protesting the long hours of hunger. The cookie was a little moldy. I’d secretly stashed it away earlier when we were scavenging for supplies. It was the second year of the apocalypse. We still hadn’t reached the Northern Base, and our team had grown from five to twelve members. Seven Ability Users and five Normals. I was one of the Normals, never having awakened an ability. Not far away, a group held up lights, studying a map. Their voices drifted faintly. “Newport City has fallen. We’ll have to skirt around it, cutting through the mountains to reach the town on the other side. Fewer zombies there. Rowan, what do you think?” A cool, detached female voice replied, “Hmm. That works.” I looked up when I heard his voice. The man holding the lamp had messy hair, but his eyes held a surprising gentleness. “We should reach the Northern Base in about a month. I heard order is slowly being restored there.” Liam and I hadn’t spoken in a long time, even though he was my boyfriend. I finished the last crumb of my cookie, my gaze falling on the woman in leather, exuding an icy coolness. Thank goodness, only a month left. Once we reach the Northern Base, everything will be fine. I’d heard even Normals could live decent lives there. Then, I could finally end things. My fingers instinctively brushed against the zombie crystal core I’d secretly stashed in my pocket. They said if a Normal swallowed a pure crystal, there was a chance they’d awaken an ability. Ability Users could absorb it to grow stronger, but for a Normal, it meant a gruesome, explosive death. Yet, holding it, a fragile spark of hope flickered within me. While the Ability User squad cleared out the zombies outside, our Normal squad searched the convenience store for any remaining supplies. I wore a pack nearly half my height and climbed through a small window into a convenience store. It looked like it had already been picked clean. Only a few daily necessities and some dried peanuts were left. I stuffed everything into my bag, then my sharp eyes spotted a box of coconut candies under the table. I crouched down and tucked them into my sleeve. It was deep summer outside, but thick winter clothing enveloped my skeletal frame. I slowed my breathing, trying to minimize my presence. I handed over everything I found to Hank, the man in charge of supplies. Hank’s gaze lingered on me, laced with ill intent. That predatory look had been following me for a long time now. He took my bag, his clammy fingers brushing my hand. Hank grinned. “Elara, you’re dressed so heavily, but your hands are still freezing.” I pulled my hand back and scurried behind Liam, linking my arm through his. Liam frowned, looking at me, but I just tilted my head back and gave him a sweet, innocent smile, pretending not to notice his stiff posture. Rowan glanced at us, her eyes flashing with a hint of mockery as she saw our linked arms. “Before the apocalypse, she relied on her parents. After, she relies on men…” I pressed my lips together, offering no defense. She seemed to find it uninteresting, turning away, her neat ponytail whipping through the air. Liam watched her disappear into the vehicle, then turned to me, his gaze laced with clear disapproval. “Elara, you know your sister gets upset when she sees you. Why do you always have to appear in front of her?” The impatience in his eyes was almost palpable. I stared, stunned, biting my lip, trying to look lost and helpless. “I’m sorry, but I was scared. Hank just touched me.” Liam’s expression became uncomfortable, but he didn’t pull his hand away. This was the man I’d been with since high school. I’d found him in a dark, damp alley. Ribs showed through his emaciated frame, covered in wounds, passed out in dirty water. Pity compelled me to rescue him. I scrounged and saved every penny to get him treated, even shared my meager meals daily when he had nothing to eat. Back then, Liam’s mother had passed away, and his father was an alcoholic who beat him senseless when drunk. He only managed to stay in school because his grades were exceptional, earning him a scholarship. Slowly, the dark, brooding boy I knew began to heal, his eyes and heart holding only me. We naturally fell in love. He even gave up a scholarship opportunity to attend the same university as me. But on our wedding day, the apocalypse hit. A guest mutated, tearing into another, plunging the reception into utter chaos. My parents, in a desperate act to save us, locked Rowan and me behind an iron gate. They used their own bodies as a shield, buying us precious moments to escape. Then, right before our eyes, they turned, becoming mindless zombies. Rowan was my older sister, three years my senior, and she’d despised me since we were kids. From childhood, I was sickly; a simple cold could nearly kill me. Until I was thirteen, I was practically on medication every day. While other kids chased and played, I could only watch from indoors. Even when my health improved, my parents still worried endlessly about me. I was always so docile and well-behaved, they never spoke a harsh word to me. Rowan always believed my presence stole her parents’ love, feeling they played favorites. During her teenage years, she was as prickly as a hedgehog, and we argued constantly, every other day. She later went to a university far from home and only returned when I was about to get married. That day, her hatred seemed to climax. She grabbed my arm, relentlessly questioning, “Why you, Elara? Why aren’t you dead? If you hadn’t gotten married, none of this would’ve happened! Mom and Dad wouldn’t be dead! You’re a curse, a jinx! They gave you all their love, and even in their last moments, they told me to take care of you! Why, Elara? Why don’t you just die?!” In our small team, Rowan and Liam were the first to awaken their abilities. Ability Users were physically superior to Normals in every way, their strength and endurance far exceeding ours. Rowan had ice powers, Liam awakened fire powers. The other two were Liam’s college roommates, who awakened water and wood abilities respectively. With the apocalypse came earthquakes and floods, ravaging human homes. Nearly all water sources were contaminated, and cities plunged into darkness. Later, we heard there was a survivor’s base up north, so our group set off on the journey. Initially, everyone was friendly to me, but that changed when they realized I hadn’t awakened an ability. Resentment started to fester within the team. If I hadn’t been Liam’s girlfriend and Rowan’s sister, they would have said something. But instead, their occasional impatience and disgust revealed their inner disdain. They probably forgot that, in the beginning, before they awakened their abilities, when buildings were being destroyed by thousands of zombies, it was *me* who squeezed into collapsed ruins to find food. When their abilities were slow to improve, I was also the first to discover that some zombies had crystal cores in their heads. I watched as, over this past year, Liam’s heart was slowly, undeniably, turning towards Rowan. Her ice, his fire – a devastating combination that made quick work of any zombie horde. They were the most in-sync partners, a truly formidable duo. Maybe he felt a kinship with Rowan, a shared sense of tragedy. The more he learned about her past, comparing it to my own carefree nature, the more he seemed to ache for her strength and independence. During food shortages, I even overheard them debating whether to abandon me. They were combat partners, fighting side-by-side. I was nothing but a dead weight, dragging them down. Other Normals, even without abilities, could manage against zombies in groups. But I was weak, frail. I was only useful for my small size, able to squeeze into tight spots to find food. Nothing more than a burden. Later, Hank and his group joined. Hank was a Strength Ability User, and the man with him, George, had a rare healing ability. When did I realize he no longer loved me? Perhaps it was his silence when others mocked me. Or perhaps it was the day I went to get into the car, and my usual seat was piled high with a large duffel bag, packed with all the food I’d found. And Liam’s hesitant eyes when he looked at me. “This car is for Ability Users only. Elara, I’m the leader. I can’t show you favoritism just because you’re my girlfriend. Can you understand that, Elara?” I nodded and went to the back, to the minivan with the rest of the Normals. The Normals in the team were all like me. Any food we found had to be given to the Ability Users. Normals were given only tiny portions of water and food each day, just enough to sustain life. Everyone in the van was silent, eyes closed, conserving energy. That’s when everyone knew: Liam didn’t consider me special anymore. If I hadn’t been Liam’s girlfriend, Hank would have made his move on me long ago. And Liam seemed oblivious to Hank’s blatant, predatory gaze. He just dismissed it, telling me I was overthinking things. “Liam, we’re almost at the Northern Base.” I whispered, lowering my eyes. He paused, as if he hadn’t understood my meaning. I sighed internally. Once we reached the Northern Base, no one would have to pretend anymore. We’d all be free. **2** After a day of rest, the team set off on foot into the mountains. Newport City had long since become a zombie-infested ruin. We planned to enter through a small town at the foot of the mountains. I followed the team. This area used to be a tourist attraction, with man-made paths, so the mountain trail wasn’t too treacherous. The mountain forest was strangely quiet. Behind me, a Normal collapsed. The prolonged hunger had made it impossible for him to keep walking, but everyone else simply ignored him, as if he didn’t exist, continuing forward. I followed, the weight of my backpack reminding me that supplies were low. As I passed him, two coconut candies tumbled from my sleeve. When I looked up after doing that, my eyes met Rowan’s cold gaze. “I think someone needs to carry the pack.” I kept my head down and walked forward, pretending not to hear her. But then the strap of my backpack was yanked. “I said, someone needs to carry it. Are you deaf?!” The people in front stopped. All eyes were on Rowan and me. Rowan suddenly grabbed my arm and yanked up my thick winter sleeve. A bag of coconut candies and two compressed biscuits fell out. “Because someone’s being selfish and hoarding food.” “In the apocalypse, the first to die are the bleeding hearts. You’re damn lucky you’ve made it this far.” Her tone was mocking, her eyes filled with disdain. She picked up the biscuits from the ground and threw them at the collapsed Normal. “Eat up and hurry along.” Then she glared at me. “Don’t let me find anything else missing from the bag.” “I understand,” I mumbled, not a hint of embarrassment for being caught hoarding food. Most of the supplies in the apocalypse had already been scavenged. The majority of the food in our team’s possession was found by me, tucked away in dangerous, narrow crevices. I had to face the constant threat of zombies while navigating crumbling, precarious buildings. And since I found most of our team’s food, I didn’t feel I owed them anything, even if I hadn’t awakened an ability. The supplies they rationed to Normals were pitifully small. What I hid, I believed, was rightfully mine. But I said nothing. Speaking up would only make them think I was ungrateful. The team stopped at a mountain lodge halfway up the slope. Night had fallen. The place seemed to have been ransacked already; anything useful was gone. I set down my heavy pack. Clearly, they had no intention of sharing food with the Normals tonight. I went upstairs, searching every room, trying to find some forgotten scrap of food, but found nothing. No one noticed me. I quickly popped the last coconut candy I’d hidden in my chest into my mouth, then went downstairs and curled up in a corner to try and sleep. A group not far away seemed to be discussing something. Finally, they all left. They returned in the middle of the night. Liam was carrying Rowan, his face etched with worry. She was pale, leaning against him, her entire shoulder soaked with blood. I could vaguely see the raw flesh underneath. If she didn’t get treatment soon, Rowan would turn into a mindless zombie. The two groups seemed to be arguing, the atmosphere tense and volatile. I hid behind the crowd, vaguely understanding what had happened. Rowan had sensed a high-tier zombie in these mountains. Everyone else’s abilities had been leveling up, but hers had stagnated for too long. She was fiercely competitive, incapable of accepting that she was standing still. After sensing the high-tier zombie, she was desperate to get its crystal core. To get this crystal, everyone in the team had taken hits, but Rowan was clearly the most gravely wounded. Hank and George, the healing ability user behind him, along with a Lightning Ability User, stood opposite Liam. Liam’s eyes were bloodshot, and a fiery ball gathered in his palm, ready to strike at any second. “Make your man save Rowan! Besides this Fourth-Tier crystal, I’ll give you anything you want, *anything*.” “Anything I want?” Hank’s ill-intentioned gaze fell on me, then he grinned. “I want you to break up with Elara.” Liam turned and looked at me, standing outside the circle. My lips trembled, and my face instantly went pale. If I lost my status as an Ability User’s girlfriend, as a Normal without an awakened power, my fate was easy to imagine. Hank’s voice continued, “Anyone with eyes can see you’re Elara’s boyfriend, yet you’re obviously into Rowan too. We only have a few women in this team, and you’re hogging the two prettiest ones. That’s not fair, is it? Let go of Elara, and I promise to treat her well. Besides, she’s just a Normal, no ability — being with me would be her goddamn good fortune.” They laughed and debated, nobody caring about what I wanted. They simply decided my future with ease. Liam turned back to me. I instinctively grabbed his hand, tears welling in my eyes. “No, Liam, I don’t want to break up.” Only a month left until the Northern Base! Just one month! Liam looked down at me. He carefully put Rowan down, then gripped my hand and pulled me away. “Liam, you promised you wouldn’t leave me.” I flung myself into his arms, my tears blurring my vision. “Liam, Liam, don’t break up…” I pleaded in a low voice. Breaking up would send a dangerous signal to everyone else. Then, I’d just be a slab of meat on the chopping block, to be devoured not just by Hank, but by the other Ability Users in the team too. In the apocalypse, order had crumbled, and humanity’s depravity was on full display. I’d seen what happened to other Normals, both men and women, who hadn’t awakened abilities. The weak weren’t their kin; they were just resources, to be traded or consumed. I didn’t want to become that. We were so close, just one more month. “Elara, I’m sorry…” Liam’s expression was cold, devoid of the pity he once held for me. “Elara, your sister, she’s always had such a hard life. She was neglected since she was a child, always so strong-willed. I always thought I only felt a comradeship for her, but today, seeing her on the verge of death, I can’t lie to myself anymore. I’ve fallen for her.” “Do you know what will happen to me if we break up?” He fell silent, then spoke, “Hank is a Fourth-Tier Strength user, just as powerful as me. For you, he’s a decent option.” He analyzed it calmly, his eyes devoid of the tenderness they once held. The man who, in the early days of the apocalypse, had shielded me with his body, nearly dying at the hands of the Infected, now looked like a demon. “Besides, Elara, she’s your sister. When did you become so selfish? Do you know when I started to fall for your sister? She pretends not to care about the Normals, but when facing zombies, she’s always the first to charge in. But you? You only think of yourself, even when your own sister’s life hangs in the balance.” As he spoke, a cruel sneer twisted his lips. Rowan’s ‘tough exterior, soft heart’ act was only for others. We were sisters, yet she hated me so fiercely. As a child, she could have softened her tone a little to mend her relationship with our parents, but she always chose the sharpest thorns to face our family. When she insisted on going to a university far from home, our parents, unable to stop her, agonized over it, their hair turning gray with worry. The expenses there were huge. They sent her a hefty sum every month, even selling our family home and downsizing to afford it. No one ever owed her anything. All this way, because of Liam and Rowan’s subtle dislike for me, I had been isolated by everyone. Despite there being so many Normals in the team, I was the only one they routinely mocked and called useless. I wiped my tears, looking at the man before me, knowing it was hopeless. I turned and walked towards the door, a faint glow of dawn visible in the sky, illuminating a path through the mountains. Liam’s voice drifted from behind me, eerily quiet. “There are still some zombies in the mountains. We’ve been here so long, they’ve probably caught our scent. They should be nearby. If you think you can get down the mountain safely by yourself, then go ahead.” “Elara, how did you become so selfish?” I turned back to him. He seemed certain I wouldn’t dare go alone. Liam’s gaze was a mixture of disappointment and relief—as if he was finally seeing me for who I truly was, and was glad of it. To ensure safety, everyone stayed together. I huddled with the Normals, curled up in a corner, knees drawn to my chest. It was an excruciatingly uncomfortable position, but I’d grown used to it. An hour later, everyone rested in place. Sunlight streamed into the room, dimly illuminating the scene. A pair of hands pulled me up. I screamed, but a hand clamped over my mouth and nose. The room was silent. I struggled, kicking over a table and chairs in the living room. I saw the sofa where Liam had been sleeping shift, then settle back into stillness. The man’s foul stench filled my nostrils. His hands, like steel clamps, cinched my waist, dragging me into a room. Everyone else pretended to be oblivious. I gritted my teeth, fumbling for the small knife in my pocket. With a swift movement, I sliced open my palm, drawing blood. When everyone else awakened their abilities, even a tiny scratch on me would draw countless zombies. Born frail, then cursed by the apocalypse, even the ability I’d instinctively awakened was a useless, dangerous curse that seemed intent on killing me. I closed my eyes. If no one wanted me alive, then let everyone die. The hand covering my mouth and nose loosened. He started tearing at my clothes. The blade in my palm sank halfway into my flesh, and blood dripped onto the bedsheets. Outside the window, pale, decaying zombies smashed through the window, lunging into the room and shattering the quiet. Hank scrambled to his feet. I lay limp on the bed, my thick winter coat ripped open, revealing the short-sleeved top underneath. Liam pushed open the door, practically unable to look me in the eyes. They finished off the zombies. Hank pried open a zombie head, found no crystal core, then spat in disgust and left the room, his interest gone. Liam looked back at me. After a long moment, he closed the door. I looked at the scattered zombie corpses on the floor, walked over, and slowly reached out my hand. Just as it was about to touch the rotting flesh, I yanked it back. I couldn’t die. After all the mockery, scorn, and bullying in the apocalypse, enduring so much—wasn’t it all just to survive? **3** The next day, the team continued their trek. The mountain path stretched endlessly, growing steeper and more treacherous the further we went. Besides a few zombies in hiking gear, there were no other signs of life.

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My best friend, Isabelle, and I were unexpectedly transported to a post-apocalyptic world where women were incredibly scarce. Here, the men gave us the best food and protected us with all their might. Slowly, Isabelle grew reluctant to return to our original world. “This,” she’d say, “is paradise.” But watching the men who constantly guarded us, I felt a chilling fear instead. I knew there was no such thing as kindness without reason. The primal instinct of males, above all else, is reproduction. By the time I realized this, the security officers had already silently entered the quarters Isabelle and I shared. There were eight of them. Dressed in black uniforms, they stood in the dim light. Young, lethal, and cold. They stood in silence for a moment, then two of them headed towards Isabelle’s room and mine, respectively. I nervously pretended to be asleep, hoping they were just on a routine patrol. But a nagging feeling told me they were here for Isabelle and me to get pregnant. This morning, during my medical examination, I’d overheard the doctors talking: “Their physical conditions are exceptional. The base hasn’t seen bodies this good in twenty years. “We’ve also screened eight men with high genetic compatibility. “If all goes well, there will be new lives this time next year. “Heaven, after all, has finally shown us mercy.” There were a few other women undergoing examinations with me that day, so I didn’t immediately realize they were talking about Isabelle and and me. After the check-up, we were sent to this high tower—the only place in the base with a view of the outside world. On the table, besides our daily beef, milk, and bread, there were two rare apples. These were luxuries reserved for the base’s upper echelons. Commoners struggled to survive on meager grains like corn and sweet potatoes. Isabelle and I, though classified as commoners after our arrival, frequently received these precious foods. I knew the base strictly enforced its post-apocalyptic distribution system: you got what you put in. If we received something precious, we would surely have to give something precious in return. Isabelle and I had nothing. Only our bodies. Isabelle, as usual, picked up her milk, standing by the window, gazing at the vast, desolate landscape outside. She stood in the sunlight, her skin fair, gentle, and lovely, as pure as an angel. I, meanwhile, stared at the food, my stomach churning with unease. Isabelle looked at me, puzzled. “What’s wrong?” I told her what the doctors had said. “This place is too strange. We need to find a way back to our original world, fast.” She fell silent. After a long moment, she softly asked, “Chloe, isn’t this place good?” I was baffled. What was good about it? The apocalypse had lasted for a century, the ecology was imbalanced, the climate extreme, food was scarce, and the walking dead roamed everywhere… This place was a living hell. But she continued, “Here, we don’t worry about food or clothes, we don’t worry about finding work, no mortgages to pay, no one bullies us, everyone cares for us and looks after us. “For me, this place… is paradise.” I shook my head. “There’s no kindness without a root or a price. “Women are scarce here. Our price might be our bodies, our fertility.” Isabelle gathered her wind-blown hair. “But Chloe, in our old world, we still had to dedicate our bodies and fertility, didn’t we?”

The man entered my room and stopped at the foot of my bed. I knew him. His name was Caleb. Son of the former base commander. The most cold-blooded and ruthless security officer. Rumor had it, he’d personally killed his parents when he was just ten. The first time I saw him, I was struck by his appearance. But the next second, his gun was aimed straight at my head. Isabelle and I had been transported here while at an amusement park. The ground had suddenly caved in, and we’d fallen. I was still wearing grey-blue contact lenses then. Grey-blue eyes were the mark of the infected. Caleb had mistaken me for one. Though the misunderstanding was later cleared, he had always loathed me. He hated that I, a human, would adorn my eyes with the color of the infected. Yet, the base had assigned him to oversee Isabelle’s and my safety. He was an absolute enforcer; even with his disgust, he had to follow orders. But I didn’t like him either. Many people at the base disliked him. They said the security officers were the lapdogs of the elite, and Caleb was the most loyal and vicious among them. Caleb stood still by my bed. I heard the metallic buckle of his belt unfasten. I’d guessed right. He was indeed here to carry out the breeding assignment. I stopped pretending to sleep, sat up, and pressed a small knife I’d prepared against my throat, speaking each word slowly: “Get out, or I’ll die right here in front of you.” I’d sharpened the knife considerably. My hand trembled slightly, and the blade cut into my skin. Warm blood trickled down my neck. I was gambling. Gambling that he wouldn’t dare, couldn’t allow me to die. Sure enough, Caleb froze. A flicker of surprise crossed his face. It seemed I wasn’t supposed to be awake. I immediately thought of the milk from today. I hadn’t drunk it. Isabelle, not wanting to waste it, had drunk mine. That’s why she’d fallen asleep so early. They had drugged the milk. Now, another man had already entered Isabelle’s room. I continued to threaten Caleb with death. “I said get out, and take those men with you.” But the next second, he snatched the knife away, and his hand clamped tightly over my mouth. I tried to struggle, but I couldn’t move at all. For the first time, I clearly and desperately realized the massive strength disparity between women and men. Especially when I was facing the strongest man in the base. My tears fell uncontrollably. I didn’t want to be forced into breeding. So I bit down hard on Caleb’s hand, and my mouth was soon filled with the taste of blood. Caleb remained unmoved. But he didn’t make any further moves either. A voice came through his comms unit: “Major Caleb, what’s your situation over there?” Caleb glanced at me. “She’s awake, uncooperative, and self-harming.” The voice simply said, “Oh.” Then, “Then terminate the mission for now. Don’t let her harm herself.” Caleb responded, “Understood.” He released me. I pushed him away and jumped off the bed. I had to go save Isabelle. But Caleb threw me back onto the bed. I thought he was going to continue and sneered, “What, is a lapdog like you going to defy your master’s orders?” He lowered his gaze, said nothing, then unbuckled his belt, tied my hands to the headboard, and gagged my mouth with a piece of cloth. Then, he sat down on a chair, facing me.

In the silent darkness, the creaking of Isabelle’s iron bed in the next room was painfully distinct. And her soft moans. She should have been deep in sleep. But now, she was immersed in physical pleasure. It seemed the milk contained more than just a sedative. And there were six other men outside. The doctors had said these were our compatible matches. I didn’t know if all of them were meant to participate. I blamed myself for not preparing Isabelle for this. After a long, agonizing time, the sounds from Isabelle’s room finally ceased. Someone said something to the man, and he led Isabelle away. Panic seized me. When Caleb finally unbound me, I asked him, “Where are you taking Isabelle?” Caleb didn’t answer directly, only saying, “Your current state will affect her. You’ll meet again when the time is right.” I asked others, but no one answered me either. Two months after we’d been transported here, Isabelle and I lost contact for the first time. I was isolated. Caleb, who had always been glued to my side, didn’t appear. The door was locked. I picked up a chair and smashed it against the window, only to discover that the window was made of specialized glass, impenetrable to my strength.

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My girlfriend became an A-list actress. The very first night she hit the big time, she stabbed me seventeen times. I bled out and died. But after killing me, she took her own life. In her hand, as she died, was a voice recorder. Engraved on it: “To Liam.” Inside, it was filled with a raw, agonizing mix of adoration and longing. Liam was her idealized crush, the one she’d yearned for three years. He’d died in a car accident before she ever got the chance to confess her feelings. On the recording, she sobbed, her voice tearing through her, “It’s all because of you! You made me lose my love!” When I opened my eyes again, I watched her run toward the surging traffic. I didn’t stop her. Instead, I poured every ounce of my being into saving *her* love. Seeing her hold him close, like she’d found the most precious treasure, I let out a bitter, mocking smile. This time, Chloe, I set you free. Just don’t come crawling back. “Alex, thank you for supporting me all these years. I’m truly grateful.” The woman before me smiled, radiant as a blooming flower. But my legs gave out beneath me, and I could only cling to the tablecloth as I crashed heavily to the floor. Plates and bowls clattered and shattered around me. I watched, my stunned gaze fixed on the beautiful woman as she slowly, deliberately pulled a sharp knife from within her clothes. A chilling glint of satisfaction danced in her eyes as she approached. In my dazed state, she plunged the blade deep into my flesh. A scream tore at my throat, but no sound escaped. The pain was excruciating. I wanted to demand, *Why?* Her heavily made-up face twisted into a grotesque mask. “It’s all your fault Liam died! Why wasn’t it *you* who died instead?!” “This is what you owe Liam! You deserve to die! Because of you, I never even got the chance to confess to him!” It hurt. So much. But I couldn’t open my mouth. I could only helplessly widen my eyes, watching her plunge the knife into me again and again. I guess I died. Killed by a woman, by the girlfriend I’d pampered for seven years. What a pathetic way to go. After I died, my soul floated above, watching Chloe frantically stab my corpse. My body was riddled with holes, blood pouring out relentlessly, making the scene a horrific, foul-smelling mess. She seemed to finally believe I was dead. Her hands trembling, she pulled out an old high school uniform and crammed herself into it. The clothes were ridiculously ill-fitting, and with her heavy makeup, she looked like a grotesque clown. My eyes widened in disbelief. The next second, the sharp blade pierced her own heart. A faint smile on her face, Chloe slowly collapsed to the ground, whispering faintly, “Liam, I finally got revenge for you. Just wait for me down there, I’ll be right there with you!” I watched her bleed out. I watched her take her last breath. *Liam*, I thought. *Who the hell is Liam?* I floated there for two hours, waiting for the housekeeper to arrive and call the police, waiting for the fully armed officers to sweep into the scene. Finally, deep from the recesses of my memory, I dredged up some long-forgotten past. Liam was Chloe’s high school sweetheart. He’d died seven years ago. And Chloe had only agreed to date me the month after Liam died. At the time, I thought she’d lost her love and desperately needed a relationship to heal herself. I poured everything into pleasing her, treating her like a fragile porcelain doll, coddling and spoiling her. Throughout our entire relationship, she never had to lift a finger at home. I thought, after all my effort, after seven whole years by her side, even a block of ice would have melted. But it hadn’t. Suddenly, a woman’s voice cut through the silence, sobbing, her voice tearing through her. I snapped back to attention. A police officer had pulled a voice recorder from Chloe’s grasp, his finger still on the play button. “Alex Cooper, you forced me to stay by your side, making me waste seven whole years of my youth!” “Yes, I killed you. I want you to feel how painful death is, so you can know how much pain I suffered! This is all your fault! If it weren’t for you, I would have never lost Liam!” The recording ended with her saying, “Alex Cooper, I hate you! I want you to go to hell and atone to Liam!” I, along with the police, listened to that recording five times. The scene was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. I was utterly speechless. Suddenly, my death felt so meaningless. What on earth did I ever love about that lunatic?

But her craziness didn’t stop there. The day after Chloe took her own life, the audio from the voice recorder was posted on her Ins account. It was a scheduled post. Seems like she’d set it up before she died. The recording, combined with a lengthy, emotionally manipulative caption, was enough to utterly ruin my reputation. That day, her fanatical followers flooded my DMs with messages too vile to even glance at. Even though I was already dead, even though I couldn’t reply or defend myself, they remained obsessed, and negative headlines spread like wildfire. Chloe truly lived up to her “A-list actress” title; she’d even orchestrated our deaths for her own narrative. Her fans didn’t see her as a murderer. Instead, they believed she’d endured and schemed for years, all to make me pay for what I’d done out of love. I, the victim, was painted as the ultimate villain, the one who tore a perfect couple apart, the one who caused such a talented actress, in the prime of her life, to die. My entire life story was dug up and aired for public consumption online. My tombstone became a twisted landmark for her crazed fans, who found sick joy in defacing it. If the staff hadn’t stopped them, they probably would have dug up my ashes and scattered them to the winds. The Cooper Group’s stock crashed. Even worse, the rival company mysteriously got their hands on the Cooper Group’s confidential core data. In just a few days, my family’s company was facing bankruptcy. My name, my career, my life—Chloe had utterly destroyed everything. Even my very existence was taken by her hand. Never had I realized so clearly that the woman who’d slept by my side for so many nights had only ever wanted me dead. That’s when it finally hit me why Chloe hated me. Seven years ago, I’d blocked Chloe from rushing into oncoming traffic. Because of that, Liam was hit and killed by an out-of-control car. It turned out, from that moment on, Chloe had blamed everything on me. She said I made her miss the chance to confess to Liam, the idealized crush she’d worshipped from afar for three years. It made no sense. Even if I hadn’t confessed to her that day, she wouldn’t have confessed to Liam anyway. I was just unlucky. Unlucky not only to confess to Chloe the day Liam died, but to fall in love with that lunatic. I thought, *This time, I truly regret it.* The next moment, a piercing shriek dragged me back to reality. A figure slammed into me, pushing me hard, then sprinted toward the surging traffic. “Alex Cooper, get out of my way! If anything happens to Liam, I’ll make you pay for it with your life!” I watched her hold Liam close, like she’d found the most precious treasure. I let out a bitter, mocking smile and tossed the bouquet in my hand into a nearby trash can. *Pay for it with my life?* *Does Liam even deserve that?* By the time I died, I’d already figured it out. There are so many women in the world. Why was I so hung up on *this one*? She was a beautiful but poisonous poppy, demanding my very life. What was the point?

My current situation was crystal clear. A bouquet, a confession, and a car accident. Chloe looked at me with pure disgust in her eyes. She appeared so innocent and young. This couldn’t be the Chloe I’d spent seven years with, the one who’d been steeped in the entertainment industry and learned to mask every emotion. This Chloe couldn’t hide a thing. Only one possibility remained. I had been reborn. And the woman in front of me was Chloe, seven years ago. I immediately turned to walk away, desperate to put eight hundred miles between myself and that lunatic. But she suddenly called out to me. “Alex Cooper, what are you doing?! Can’t you see Liam’s hurt? Aren’t you going to help?!” I glanced over. He was indeed badly hurt. Though Liam hadn’t been dragged under the car like in my previous life, he hadn’t managed to fully escape either. His legs limply collapsed, like raw spaghetti, blood soaking through his pants. Oh. He’d probably be a cripple. A perverse satisfaction swelled in my chest. *Help? Get my hands dirty? No way.* Out of a sense of humanitarian duty, I dialed 911. “The ambulance will be here any minute. Before I go, there’s something I want to tell you.” The girl looked at me, her expression growing even more haughty. She seemed afraid I’d grab her, unconsciously hugging Liam even tighter. “If it’s a confession, don’t bother. I—” I chuckled, cutting her off. “Not a confession. Just a blessing.” The ambulance sirens wailed in the distance. I met the girl’s stunned gaze and offered a smile. “Chloe Jenkins, I wish you and Liam Anderson all the happiness in the world.” *Hopefully, you’ll stay together forever.* Chloe’s face darkened. Without waiting for her to speak, I turned and left. I needed to go home and figure out exactly what point in time I was in, and what I could do about it. Now, I was sitting back in a classroom. It felt like another lifetime. The droning lecture on trigonometry was a lullaby to most of my classmates, who were slumped asleep, but my eyes were wide awake and bright. “Alex Cooper is doing great today, full of energy! Everyone should learn from him!” The teacher praised me, a rare occurrence. But there were no approving murmurs. Instead, I could hear two guys next to me, deliberately loud, sneering. “Learn what? How to simp for a goddess? Or how to keep last place in the class?” “Everyone knows what he’s like. He just has a bit of dirty money, that’s all. Why’s he acting so smug? Probably just waiting for Chloe to come back so he can fawn all over her again!” I said nothing, just smiled. They weren’t wrong. I did have a bit of dirty money, and I’d consistently held the last place in class for years. Those weren’t my weaknesses. The stupidest thing I’d ever done in this class was fall for Chloe. Now, she was tied up with the hospital, unable to return. I glanced down at my phone. The media swarmed her like blood-sucking locusts. She would undoubtedly be tied up for a while. I was enjoying my newfound freedom. Unfortunately, I soon realized that those good days were coming to an end. Just as class was in session, someone knocked on the classroom door. I looked up and met the gaze of the person standing at the front. Her eyes still held that familiar haughty stare. *Ugh.* Chloe had managed to get away so quickly and was back in class. Just my luck. I thought she’d at least be a little wary of me. But then, Chloe pointed across the room from the front of the class. “I want to sit next to Alex Cooper.” My smile faltered. I froze in my tracks. Chloe sat down next to me, but I still couldn’t understand her motive. “Surprised to see me?” She slid a note across to me.

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My wife, Tori, locked our son in her car in scorching heat while she was busy helping her male assistant pick out a new car. Leo ended up suffering a severe heatstroke. I rushed with my security detail to rescue our son and got him to the hospital, where he was immediately admitted to the emergency room. Barely holding back my rage, I called Tori. “You left our son locked in your car for two hours just for an assistant? He’s in the ER right now, fighting heatstroke!” To my disbelief, Tori actually laughed. “Oh, my bad. I just didn’t realize a kid would get heatstroke after two hours in a car.” Moments later, that male assistant, Lucas Miller, sent a provocative photo dump, flaunting his new car. His caption was pure smugness: *“My powerful boss’s generous favors… even if it means neglecting her own kid, I still get the best.”* My blood ran cold. I immediately sent my men to grab that bastard. We dragged him straight to the biggest, hottest room in the company’s old boiler house. He was about to get a taste of exactly what my son went through.

My bodyguards and I kicked open the door to Tori Hayes’ office. Lucas Miller was on his knees by her feet, his clothes a mess. The scene reeked of something intimate, but I ignored it. I roared, “Tie him up!” My bodyguards immediately gagged Lucas and dragged him out. Behind me, Tori’s piercing shriek followed, “Alex Thorne! Where are you taking Lucas?!” In the center of the old boiler room, the massive heating unit was already roaring, churning out waves of scorching heat. The temperature was horrifying. I pointed at the monstrous heater. “Throw him in!” My bodyguards ignored Lucas’s desperate struggles, shoved him into the chamber, and quickly retreated. Even they couldn’t stand the blistering heat and steam. I watched coldly as the chamber shook violently, Lucas trapped inside, his struggles futile. Tori rushed in on her heels, screaming into her phone. “Alex Thorne! Let Lucas go, or I’m calling the police!” “All the evidence is here! Don’t you dare forget this is a society of laws!” I grabbed her chin and slapped her hard. “Our son is still in critical care because of him! Now, it’s his turn to feel his body temperature spike, to slowly get cooked alive by the despair!” Tori froze, then lunged at me like a madwoman. “So what if our son got a little heatstroke? A bit of heat is good for building immunity!” “And didn’t you say boys should be raised tough?!” I stared into her shifting eyes. “I’m going to be with our son now. Lucas *will* stay in that room for two hours! If you dare release him, I’ll pull all my investments and bankrupt Hayes Industries immediately!” I shoved her away and drove to the hospital. My car had barely stopped when my assistant called. The moment I left, Tori had ordered the heat to be turned off. Lucas, red all over from the heat, was sent to the hospital. And she even put it on the company’s tab. I scoffed and texted Arthur, my executive assistant, to withdraw all my funds from Hayes Industries. Less than half an hour later, Tori was calling me like a madwoman.

The moment I answered, Tori’s accusations came flying at me like a barrage. “Alex Thorne! What the hell is wrong with you? Unfreeze my accounts right now! Don’t you know Lucas is waiting for surgery?!” I sneered, “Lucas? You call him so intimately. Did you forget you have a husband and a child?” “Our son ended up in the emergency room because of him, so he won’t get off easy either!” “As for you, for now, it’s just a withdrawal of funds. But I’m certainly not opposed to bankrupting Hayes Industries entirely!” Tori’s aggression instantly vanished. She stammered, asking to visit. Soon after, Tori appeared in front of the emergency room. Her eyes welled up with tears. “Honey, I really had no idea two hours in the car would send our son to the ER.” “He’s my flesh and blood; how could I not feel heartbroken?” She took my hand. “After all these years of marriage, don’t you trust me?” For Leo’s sake, I decided to give her one more chance. Seeing my expression soften, Tori quickly spoke. “Lucas is seriously injured. You froze Hayes Industries’ accounts. Without funds, you’re practically forcing him to die.” “Just give me the money first, so I can pay for his surgery.” I laughed in disbelief. “So you came here just for him! You want me to save him? Dream on?!” Tori’s face shifted drastically. She forced a smile and pouted, “We’re family, and you have so much money. What’s wrong with helping him out a little?” I stated firmly, “I won’t!” Her face completely darkened. She yanked her hand away and pointed a finger at me. “How can you be so cruel? You have so much money; what’s wrong with taking out a little?! “You’re going to let someone die right in front of your son’s surgery room. Aren’t you afraid your son will face retribution and die on the operating table?” She stormed off in a huff. Soon, Arthur reported that Tori had mortgaged some fixed assets under Hayes Industries. At my direction, she only managed to get out a couple hundred thousand dollars in cash. She hesitated for only a moment before transferring the entire sum to Lucas’s account. My heart turned to ice. “Prepare the divorce papers. Send all of Lucas’s dirt to Tori’s email. If she doesn’t act by noon tomorrow, she’ll leave with nothing!” Arthur nodded. The next afternoon, news of Lucas’s plagiarism and fake graduation experiments became a top trending topic. His university immediately announced the revocation of his diploma and degree. Lucas Miller, once an academic elite, instantly became public enemy number one. A photo of Lucas, hunched over and spitting blood in the hospital parking lot, landed in my inbox. My eyes were cold. Filth! After my son recovered, I arranged for him to go on vacation with a professional psychological support team to his grandparents overseas. My parents were furious when they learned what their precious grandson had endured; they almost had heart attacks. Years ago, Hayes Industries was on the brink of bankruptcy, and Tori’s father committed suicide. Tori and her mother were like headless chickens, trying to manage everything. I, out of old school ties, lent her a hand. She clung to me like a drowning person to a last straw, crying and begging to marry me. My parents disagreed, but I overruled their objections, using every means possible to marry her. I used my family’s resources to revive Hayes Industries, even helping them achieve their dream of going public. But now, for her lover, she abandoned her ailing mother, harmed her own son, and forgot the Thorne family’s kindness. I couldn’t show a shred of weakness to such an ungrateful woman!

My company assistant called me: “Mr. Thorne, it’s bad! Mrs. Hayes found out Arthur was behind exposing Lucas’s academic fraud. She’s gone mad, she’s got a knife and is threatening to dismember Arthur!” “Arthur can’t lay a hand on Mrs. Hayes, he can only run!” My face instantly darkened. Arthur had been with me every step of the way, shielding me from countless open and hidden attacks. How dare she touch him? “Withdraw all investments from Hayes Industries immediately. I want to see news of Hayes Industries’ bankruptcy within five minutes!” By the time I floored the gas pedal and arrived. The office building was in chaos. Tori, like a madwoman, held a fruit knife, glaring at me and screaming. “Alex Thorne, Lucas is still locked in that hot room, covered in burns! Why won’t you let him go?!” “I married you, I didn’t sell myself to you!” “If you won’t let me have peace, I’ll make you taste what it’s like to lose your most trusted confidant!” With that, she aimed the knife at Arthur’s wrist and lunged. I grabbed her hair, pulled her back, and kicked the knife out of her hand. I said coldly, “Are you done making a scene?” The door suddenly opened, and Lucas, looking weak, stumbled in. He tenderly rubbed Tori’s wrist. “Ms. Hayes, it’s not worth it for me!” He turned to me and immediately knelt. “Mr. Thorne, Tori and I have a purely professional relationship. If you want to blame someone, blame me. I was the shameless one who seduced her.” “As long as you forgive Tori, I’ll leave immediately and never appear before you or her again.” He spoke with such apparent sincerity. I nodded. “You *are* shameless!” But Tori instantly went berserk, pointing at me and cursing, “Alex Thorne! Enough is enough! You’ve already made Lucas spit blood, and now you want to ruin his education and career?!” “Catching cheaters requires proof! Where’s your evidence? How dare you bully a newcomer to the workplace?!” “Your dog bites its mistress, and you still protect it! Lucas is *my* man! Touch him again, and I’ll make your life hell!” I sneered and slapped her again. “You’re so busy scolding him, you forgot about yourself. He’s shameless, are you trying to be too?” Tori choked. The next second, her phone rang like a death knell. “It’s bad, Ms. Hayes! Several clients suddenly backed out and canceled their collaborations.” Then a photo appeared on her phone: Hayes Industries’ stock, which had been soaring that morning, suddenly plummeted in the afternoon, hitting rock bottom. The green screen reflected on Tori’s distorted face. Tori thought she had Hayes Industries completely under control these past few years, but she didn’t know that I had been secretly protecting it all along. “I advise you to think things through carefully.” I left her with that warning and walked out with Arthur.

After I pulled my shares, I also withdrew the technical support and sales teams. Seeing this, other shareholders quickly followed suit, pulling their investments. Hayes Industries’ stock instantly crashed. The shadow of bankruptcy loomed, and the Hayes Industries office building became eerily silent. Tori stood where her father had jumped years ago, her expression one of utter despair. I was waiting for the show to begin when I suddenly received a call from Leo’s caregiver. “Mr. Thorne, it’s bad! Mrs. Hayes forced her way into the hospital and took the young master!” Enraged, I dialed Tori’s number. “Where’s my son?!” Tori’s laughter was maniacal. “He’s on the Ferris wheel.” “As long as you stabilize the stock price and reinvest, he’ll come home safe. Otherwise…” Her voice was laced with poison. “If the Ferris wheel has an accident and the child falls to his death, it’s only right that I, a heartbroken mother, sue for compensation!” I roared, “You’re crazy! If anything happens to Leo, I’ll make you and your mother wish you were dead!” Tori shrieked, “Threats are useless! Alex Thorne! I married you and had a child only to save Hayes Industries! Now you want to destroy it over a small matter, so I’ll destroy what you care about most!” With that, Tori hung up. My mind went blank for a moment. I sped towards the amusement park like a madman. Finally, when I reached the base of the Ferris wheel, my blood ran cold. The Ferris wheel’s window had been pried open, and Tori was holding our son, suspended high in the air with one hand. Half of Leo’s body dangled outside, his face pale. Tori called me. “I know you’re watching. Transfer two billion to Hayes Industries’ account immediately, then bring the tech team back, or I’ll push him out!” “Fine! I’ll transfer it now!” My hands trembled as I made the transfer, my eyes fixed on the dizzying height. The moment the money hit her account, Tori’s lips curled into a smirk, and then she abruptly let go. Leo still had a smile on his face as he plummeted towards the ground. My eyes widened in terror. I instinctively lunged forward. “No—!” My son was left dangling in mid-air, swaying back and forth, a thin rope suspending my last breath. The next second, she placed a knife against the rope. “If you kneel and beg me, I’ll pull our son back up. Otherwise…” Leo was turning blue from the rope constricting him, crying out “Daddy” repeatedly. I knelt on the ground without hesitation. Tori held up her phone, laughing maniacally. “Thanks to Lucas’s idea, I get to see the high and mighty Mr. Thorne looking as pathetic as a dog!” “Weren’t you so tough with me yesterday? How come you’re on your knees now?” Tori laughed as she pulled the rope up. The moment she descended from the Ferris wheel, the people I had arranged for rushed out of the shadows and immediately pinned her to the ground. I tenderly held my son in my arms, my gaze sharp as I looked at the wildly struggling Tori. I had originally shown her mercy, not wanting to destroy everything she had, considering she bore me a child. But she actually dangled our son from a Ferris wheel for an assistant. In that case, she shouldn’t blame me for destroying everything she holds dear! I had arranged everything the moment I received that call. Coming alone was merely to buy Arthur more time.

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I was born with a fiery passion, sometimes needing to release it three times a day. But our marriage was a business arrangement. So even when it came to *satisfying* me, Dax would only symbolically use toys. His movements were precise, devoid of warmth, never a personal touch. Every time we finished, he’d politely ask, “Are you done?” As if it were a chore completely unrelated to him. But after my unexpected death, I saw this man I’d always shunned like the plague go utterly insane for me. He was like a silent, lone wolf, personally eliminating everyone who had harmed me, both openly and secretly. He kissed my stiff forehead, his voice humbled to dust: “Elara, if there’s a next life, please love me properly, just once, okay?” He held my cold body, then detonated explosives, taking down my enemies with him. The moment his soul scattered, I finally saw all the hidden depth of his love, beneath that icy facade. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn to the first year of our marriage. Overwhelmed with joy, tears blurred my vision. This time, I swore to love him properly. But he was a changed man. He was obsessed with Seraphina, the pole dancer from the club, going completely wild for her. He even wanted to harvest my heart and liver, to concoct medicine for her. I yelled, my voice raw, “You loved me so much in the last life! Why suddenly not anymore?” In my past life, he clearly loved me to his core, loving me enough to be utterly destroyed just for a chance at my love in the next. How could this be? He turned back, his voice chillingly cold: “It was just an arranged marriage. When did I ever love you?” Utterly disheartened, I called my parents. “I want to divorce this heartless man.”

The printer spit out the final page of the divorce agreement. I stared at it for a long time, a few tears escaping. I never imagined the love in this life would dissipate so quickly. I put the papers away, opened my phone, and saw an Ins video notification. It was Seraphina, the dancer, and it already had thousands of likes. In the video, Dax embraced her from behind, his chin resting intimately on her shoulder as he pointed at a limited edition Iron Man model, explaining something in a low voice. The video title read: “My Alpha CEO’s Secret Toy Collection, Worth $10 Million, And Only I’m Allowed In!” My breath hitched. I remembered that global limited edition model; he and I had pulled three all-nighters to assemble it. The moment we finished, we were as happy as kids with candy. He took my hand and gently placed it on the Iron Man’s metal palm. “Elara, this room, and everything in it, is our private fortress. The key is only for you.” A heavy knot formed in my chest at the thought. In my past life, he had broken countless rules for me. He’d canceled multi-billion dollar international meetings just to watch a midnight animated film with me. He hated animal fur and noise, yet he silently allowed me to keep that shedding, yappy Corgi. He never believed in ghosts or gods, but when I was sick, he knelt outside a sacred shrine for a day and a night, praying for my recovery. I gripped the divorce papers tightly and walked straight to that collection room. I didn’t need permission; I had supreme access. He’d promised me that himself. The door wasn’t locked. The moment I pushed it open, languid music washed over me. I froze. In the center of the room, a long pole had been erected at some point. And Dax, sitting on the very couch we had chosen together, was watching that dancer sway on the pole. With a shriek, Seraphina slipped hard from the pole, falling onto the carpet. Her short skirt flew up, revealing she wore absolutely nothing underneath. A glaring red mark had appeared on the inner side of her pale thigh. Dax, without a second thought, knelt down, sucking on the wound. His movements were incredibly gentle. I let out a bitter laugh. When he satisfied me, he’d only use those cold toys, like a cold, unfeeling surgeon. But for her, he could kneel so devotedly, kissing her with his own lips.

I pushed the door open completely and walked in. At the sound, he glared at me, annoyed. “Why didn’t you knock?” I didn’t understand his question. I flung the divorce papers at his feet. “Sign it.” He was perhaps eager to return to their interrupted spectacle. He snatched the pen without even looking at the document. He scribbled his name carelessly. His hormones were clearly dictating his actions. I picked up the agreement and turned to leave, without a single shred of regret. Half an hour later, I had just stepped out of the villa’s front door. A Rolls-Royce pulled up directly in front of me, blocking my path. The window rolled down. Seraphina, the dancer, sat in the back, greeting me. “Elara, where are you going? Dax is taking me to the ‘Black Orchid’ private auction tonight to bid on a dance outfit. Want to come along?” “No.” My voice was cold. Seraphina’s eyes instantly welled up: “Elara, do you hate me?!” “Elara,” Dax’s voice was icy, devoid of any emotion. “Seraphina is kindly inviting you. Don’t be ungrateful.” In the end, I was shoved into the back seat of that car. The auction house was set up in a private estate. Dax was incredibly generous, bidding on a performance outfit worn by the famous star Lady Gaga for Seraphina, drawing gasps of admiration from the crowd. The auctioneer cleared his throat, his voice carrying a hint of mystery: “The next item up for bid is somewhat special. It’s an original, never-before-seen copy of a video. The protagonist is a rising star in the dance world. Starting bid, five million.” A highly intimate video of Seraphina and her ex-boyfriend flashed across the large screen. The entire room erupted in uproar! The high-definition footage, amplified gasps, made every explicit detail excruciatingly clear. “What a figure, truly explosive…” “Those twin peaks, I’d love to play with them. Must feel great.” Lewd laughter from men, mixed with women’s gasps and disdain, instantly exploded into chaos. Seraphina’s face went ashen. She pointed at the screen, trembling uncontrollably: “It’s not me! That’s not me!” Suddenly, she spun towards me, tears streaming down her face: “Elara! Can you really not tolerate me?! Did you have to use such a low-down trick to ruin me?!” With that, she sobbed, covered her face, and ran out. Dax’s eyes darkened. He stood up, his voice low, yet it made the entire room dead silent. “This video, and all its backups, sent to my office within an hour. One second late,” He scanned the room, “I promise you, no one in this room will see the sun tomorrow.” Then, he turned and stared at me: “Elara, you’d better pray this has nothing to do with you.”

My mind was a blank, a chill seeping into my bones as I returned to the villa. I stared at the ceiling. How did it come to this? I sat there numbly all night until, at dawn, the front door was kicked open with a bang! Dax stormed in, radiating cold fury, his eyes bloodshot. “Do you know Seraphina tried to cut her wrists?!” His voice was a raw roar. “If she hadn’t been found in time, she would be dead!” “How could this happen? I didn’t do this!” I couldn’t hold back any longer and stood up from the couch. He sneered, pressing closer: “Not you? She’d just try to kill herself for no reason?” “You must have forced her! Don’t push your luck!” I knew I was innocent, and further explanations were useless if he was determined to believe otherwise. “I’m tired, Dax.” I shook my head. “I don’t want to explain anymore.” He seized my wrist, his grip making me wince in pain. “You’re tired?” “Elara, you ruined her, and now you say you’re tired?!” My heart twisted violently, a sharp, suffocating pain gripping my chest, stealing my breath. I clutched my chest tightly. My vision began to spin. In my previous life, he knew I had a congenital heart condition and couldn’t handle stress. My vision went black, and I collapsed straight down. In a haze, I felt myself fall into an embrace. He caught my falling body, his face etched with terror. I heard him scoop me up, racing out like a madman. “Elara! Hold on! I’m taking you to the hospital!”

When I woke up again, I was in the hospital. Dax’s grim face was hovering close by, looking down at me. “Elara, you certainly know how to pick your moments to get sick,” he slowly began. “Seeing Seraphina try to cut her wrists, you decided to use your illness to stage a bigger drama, hoping to guilt-trip me?” He let out a cold laugh, leaning closer. “Cut the act. Our marriage is just a contract. I don’t have time for your melodramatic performances, and I certainly won’t pity you.” My heart felt utterly cold. Sure enough, the look of panic I’d seen on him before I passed out was just a hallucination brought on by my sudden cardiac arrest. The day I was discharged, I pushed open the door to a scene I wish I hadn’t witnessed. Seraphina was wearing my silk robe, curled up in Dax’s arms on our matrimonial bed. When he saw me return, he pulled Seraphina even tighter into his embrace and said to me: “Seraphina just got out of the hospital. The doctor said she has severe depressive tendencies and needs 24-hour care.” “All of this is your fault. At my home, at least I can ensure she won’t do anything foolish again.” He seemed afraid that I might act on impulse and hurt her further. But I had no strength left to argue: “Whatever.” Anyway, the divorce agreement was signed. Soon, this wouldn’t be my home anymore. Just as I was about to speak, Seraphina tugged at his sleeve, her voice weak: “Dax, it’s time for my medicine.” She lowered her gaze, but her eyes, at the very edge, darted a defiant look at me, “The doctor said to take it with 104-degree Fahrenheit warm water; it’s good for recovery… Elara, could you get me a cup?” Dax turned to me and snarled, “Didn’t you hear her? Go pour it.” I walked towards the bar counter in the living room, which was covered in Dax’s various business trophies. “Is the water not ready yet?” Seraphina’s voice came from behind me. I ignored her. Suddenly, she ran over and violently smashed one of the crystal trophies onto the floor! After a sharp, shattering sound, she lunged, grabbing my hand and violently pressing it against the razor-sharp crystal base! “Ah—!” I shrieked. Excruciating pain shot through my entire body like an electric current, and blood instantly gushed out. When I pulled my hand away, my palm was mangled and bloody, the bone clearly visible. Seraphina quickly picked up a small shard and lightly grazed her forearm with it. Then she stumbled and fell to the floor, her eyes immediately welling up. “What’s going on?” Dax rushed in at the sound. Seraphina immediately started crying: “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have asked Elara to get me water… otherwise, she wouldn’t have gotten angry, deliberately smashed your trophy, and then used the pieces to cut me…” Dax’s face instantly hardened. He strode over to me, seizing my injured wrist. “Are you out of your mind?!” I was shaking uncontrollably from the pain. I held up my mangled, bloody, and horrifying hand. “Dax! She did this herself!” I stared at Dax intensely. “The living room is covered in surveillance cameras… One look at the footage would prove it!” “No need to check.” He cut me off coldly. “I believe Seraphina.” I felt as if my heart had been hit by a large truck, shattered into a thousand pieces. “Elara, you truly are beyond redemption.” Dax’s voice was laced with icy venom. His eyes swept over me, then he grabbed my other, uninjured hand, holding it in a vise-like grip! “No—! Dax! You’ll regret this!!” My scream was swallowed by the sickening scrape of flesh against crystal. The intense burning pain made my vision go black.

When consciousness returned, both my hands were wrapped in thick, white bandages. The pain had dulled to a throb. Mr. Henderson, our old butler, was standing by the bed, his eyes filled with sorrow. “Madam, you’re finally awake. I’ll go inform the master.” “No need.” I managed a weak smile, my voice hoarse as if sandpaper had scraped it. “These hands, he destroyed them.” Mr. Henderson’s body stiffened, his face etched with incredulity. “How could… the master used to not even let you clip your own nails, fearing the scissors would harm you…” Tears finally streamed uncontrollably from my eyes. Yes, the whole world knew he once cherished me. But why, after being reborn, was that deep affection completely gone? It didn’t matter now, anyway. The agreement was signed; soon, I’d be completely free of him. Thinking that I would leave soon, I had to say goodbye to Grandpa Arthur, no matter what. As soon as I entered, I saw him leaning on the couch, looking unwell. “Grandpa, Dax and I… are separating.” Noticing the pain in my voice, Grandpa Arthur sighed deeply and patted my hand: “Never mind, that boy doesn’t have the good fortune. Even if I die, I’ll never let that kind of woman into my family’s home!” My nose stung. In my past life, Grandpa Arthur protected me just the same way. “Grandpa, it’s time for your blood pressure medicine.” I stood up. “I’ll get it from the next room for you.” When I returned with the medicine, I was about to knock, but heard a muffled groan from inside through the door crack. Pushing the door open, I saw Seraphina standing in front of Grandpa Arthur, a pillow on the floor. The old man’s wizened hands hung limply, he was close to suffocating. “Let him go!” I pushed her away like a madwoman. Grandpa Arthur was breathing weakly, his eyes rolled back. “Help! Call a doctor, fast!” My scream drew everyone’s attention. Dax’s face changed instantly at the sight: “Grandpa!” He roughly pushed me aside and rushed out, carrying Grandpa. Inside the recovery room, Dax looked at us, his face grim. “Tell me, what happened?” “It was Elara!” Seraphina shrieked, pointing at me. “I saw her smother Grandpa with a pillow!” “She… she was trying to harm Grandpa! I tried to stop her, but she tried to attack me too…” Dax’s gaze was like ice: “Grandpa treated you like his own granddaughter. How could you do such a thing?”

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