“Jasper, we’ve known each other for 18 years, and been together for four. Does my presence really mean less to you than a pheromone scent?” “I’m so sorry, Rowan. It was just an accident. You’re the only one I love.” I was just an ordinary Beta, but to get stronger, I faked being an Omega at the military academy. One day, I discovered my Alpha boyfriend had marked Ashton, my true Omega roommate. I stared at Jasper. “Cheating is never a one-time thing. It’s always the first step to countless times.” “We’re over.” The day Jasper and I broke up, I underwent my second differentiation, turning into… Now, all those sarcastic remarks I’d thrown at the Alphas at school? They were about to come back to haunt me. “You said you differentiated into… what?” My best friend, Caleb, yelled, disbelief etched all over his face. Everyone in the coffee shop turned to stare. I ducked my head, wishing I could just vanish. “Lower your voice! Is it something to brag about?” Caleb winced, then leaned closer, whispering, “Did you really differentiate into an Alpha?” I nodded. He sucked in a sharp breath. “Then you and Jasper are completely impossible now, aren’t you?” I offered a bitter smile. “It was impossible anyway. He already marked Ashton. A rabbit doesn’t eat the grass around its burrow, but he betrayed someone right under his nose.” If it hadn’t been my roommate, Ashton, who Jasper got involved with, I wouldn’t have been so devastated. We’d shared a dorm for three years, and Ashton and I had always been good friends. He even used to playfully tease me about Jasper and me. Now, though, there was a fresh mark from Jasper on the back of his neck. I’d been betrayed by both my boyfriend and my roommate. I grabbed my drink from the table and took a long swig. “Alright, I’m officially saying goodbye to the past.” “Help me move out of the dorm.” Since I’d differentiated into an Alpha, I obviously couldn’t stay in the Omega dorms anymore.

I purposely chose to move when Ashton was in class. But I hadn’t expected him to take the day off. He was lying on his dorm bed, a fever-reducing patch on his forehead, and Jasper’s scent was overwhelmingly strong on him. When I was a Beta, I couldn’t smell it, but now it was crystal clear. I frowned, the instinctive repulsion of an Alpha to another Alpha’s pheromones kicking in. But Ashton seemed to misunderstand. He struggled to prop himself up. “Rowan, let me explain…” I packed the last few scattered items into a cardboard box. “Go on, I’m listening. Explain away.” After a long pause, a timid voice came from behind me. “Rowan, you have no idea how much I envied you. I used to think you were an Omega, you chose mecha piloting, and your grades were just as good as those Alphas. Plus, you had such an amazing boyfriend… Jasper really loved you. “Jasper and I, it was truly an accident. My heat came early, and if Jasper hadn’t been kind enough to help me, I would have gone into heat in a public place. The consequences would have been unthinkable… “Rowan, you’re not an Omega. You don’t know how terrifying that situation is for us Omegas.” I turned, hugging the box, and smiled at Ashton. “You’re right. I can’t understand why you’d go out without an inhibitor when your heat was approaching.” “Nor can I understand why you, knowing other students around had inhibitors, chose to throw yourself into Jasper’s arms and cling to him instead.” “But none of that matters. Since Jasper likes to go around cheating and marking others, I don’t want him anymore.” “You like him, you can have him.” I leaned down, raising an eyebrow at Ashton. “If he’s even willing, that is.”

The moment I stepped out of the dorm building, I saw Caleb and Jasper facing off. To be precise, it was Caleb relentlessly snapping at Jasper. Jasper just stood there, eyes downcast, ignoring him. He was tall, with handsome features, and his messy hair fell across his forehead. He hadn’t changed out of his training uniform yet. He stood tall and striking, with a hint of an unspoken melancholy that made the Omegas walking by steal glances at him. The instant I walked down the stairs, he seemed to have a built-in radar, snapping his head up to look at me. It had always been like that. Even when I was a Beta with no scent, he could always find me first in a crowd. The first person I’d ever babbled a name to wasn’t my parents, but this neighbor boy, a year older than me. “Rowan.” He strode towards me, reaching for the box in my hands. I dodged, stepping aside. The breeze he brought with him carried Ashton’s scent. An Alpha, when marking an Omega, is also marked by the Omega’s scent. Jasper’s hand hung in mid-air. He looked at me, hurt. His voice was hoarse. “Rowan, I’m sorry. It was just an accident. You know you’re the only one in my heart.” Suddenly, I released my own pheromones, letting them clash with his. We both winced. But then I smoothed my face into a smile. “I’ve differentiated into an Alpha too, Jasper. We’re completely impossible now.” “You can make a better choice.” I looked upstairs, and he understood what I meant. I knew that his and Ashton’s pheromone compatibility was actually very high. “My best choice is you! I only love you!” He stubbornly grabbed my arm. I yanked my hand away with force. “But I won’t be with an Alpha. I’m going to find an Omega from now on.”

After moving, I invited Caleb to dinner. He asked me, “Can you really let him go?” “I have to,” I replied. There’s no good outcome for two Alphas. I didn’t believe love could overcome pheromonal repulsion. Did Jasper love me? Of course. I never doubted his love. I was a mischievous kid. I’d try to run before I could even walk properly. I fell countless times, but whenever Jasper was there, he was always the one to cushion my fall. He had so many small scars from protecting me. I was naturally stubborn. In middle school, I differentiated into a Beta, but I was determined to get into the best military academy to study mecha operations. Jasper never complained, training with me for four full years. Then he joined the military academy with me, taking care of me everywhere. Because I found it painful, he never fully took me. Even when he was right on the verge of taking me, he’d still catch his breath and comfort me. But Jasper, who was so good to me, was different the first time he saw Ashton. Others might not have noticed, but I knew his gaze on Ashton was softer than on anyone else. He was uncontrollably drawn to Ashton. I lowered my eyes and smiled faintly. “Every time Jasper went through a rut, I used to wish I had differentiated into an Omega. Then I could ease his pain.” “Now I’ve differentiated into an Alpha too.” I shrugged. “The bond between an Alpha and an Omega is innate. He could hold back from making love to me, but he couldn’t resist marking Ashton…” I trailed off, a shaky laugh escaping me. I couldn’t bring myself to say more. I rubbed my face roughly. Caleb looked at me with sympathy. “Alright, alright, don’t overthink it. Let’s live for today!” He refilled my beer glass. I have a terrible tolerance for alcohol, but tonight, I just wanted to get completely wasted.

I blacked out. My head was pounding. The scene before my eyes sent a jolt of terror through me. A pale-skinned, long-haired man lay beside me, completely naked. His shoulders, chest, and abdomen were covered in scratches and bite marks. And I wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing either. The air hung thick with the scent of some bodily fluid, mingled with the pheromones of two Alphas. Clearly, this man was also an Alpha. I had slept with an Alpha who wasn’t Jasper? The thought left my mind utterly blank. I checked myself. No obvious discomfort down there. I was on top? Just as I thought about quietly making my escape, The man’s eyes snapped open without warning. He stretched lazily, like a regal Persian cat. The blanket slid off his body. His chest muscles were well-defined, his abs sculpted, and his V-line sharp. A vein above his lower abdomen pulsed twice. He was a muscular power bottom Alpha. My mind went blank for a second, and then I blurted out: “We’re both Alphas, I don’t need to take responsibility for you, right?” “Hmm?” The man emitted a low, lazy hum from his nose. Then he propped his head on his elbow, raising an eyebrow slightly. “Do you want to take responsibility?” As I fully took in his face, I realized he was strikingly handsome, almost aggressively so. I swallowed hard. “Can I… not?” “You can.” “Then, farewell.” I scrambled into my clothes and bolted.

Why did I pretend to be an Omega at the military academy in the first place? Because I desperately wanted to get stronger. As a plain Beta, if I tried to provoke those arrogant Alphas in the mecha department, Most people wouldn’t even give me a second glance. But an Omega? That was different. They’d get excited, eager to conquer me. So, when I first enrolled, I set myself up as a beautiful, sharp-tongued Omega. No strong Alpha from the mecha department, across three different years, had escaped my sarcastic remarks. Now, I’d differentiated into an Alpha, and my karma was here. The Alphas who had held back, thinking I was an Omega, no longer showed any mercy. Several mechas ganged up on me at once. I had only recently differentiated and hadn’t adapted yet. For a moment, I was completely overwhelmed. Until another dark blue mecha charged in, taking out the other mechas and rescuing me. It was Jasper’s mecha. In the locker room, I changed out of my training uniform, my hair soaked with sweat. Jasper walked in, watching me silently. For some reason, I thought of the long-haired man from a few days ago, and a strange, guilty feeling, like I was cheating, washed over me. But then I immediately dismissed it. We had already broken up. “Don’t help me next time.” I draped my towel over my shoulder. “I need to learn to handle everything on my own.” “Jasper, we’re done.” “Rowan!” Jasper cut me off, a rare flash of anger on his face. “Don’t be like this.” “I never agreed to break up. You’re still my partner. There won’t be anyone else.”

Jasper and I parted ways on bad terms. After leaving the training ground, I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed to a diner not far from campus to meet Caleb. “How have you been?” Caleb asked. “Same as always, I guess.” “You don’t look too cheerful.” My mind immediately flashed back to Jasper’s pained expression earlier. After so many years together, how could I not feel miserable? “So, what’s going on with you and Jasper?” I frowned, not wanting to talk about him. “Why are you asking?” Caleb sighed. “If you still like Jasper, then just be stubborn for a while, but now you’re both miserable.” “Before, you were in the Omega dorms, roommates with Ashton, and Jasper wanted to stick to you twenty-four-seven, so it was easy for him to run into Ashton. Now that you’ve moved out, they won’t have any reason to interact.” “Rowan, I hope you think this through. You and Jasper have been together for so many years; it wasn’t easy. With your terrible temper, do you really think you’ll find anyone else more tolerant than Jasper?” I fell silent, Jasper’s pained eyes replaying in my mind. Hesitation crept into my heart. I believed the decision I made was for the good of both of us. It was precisely because I loved Jasper that I couldn’t bear to see him suffer so much during his rut. Even if we loved each other, the mutually repelling pheromones between two Alphas would make even kissing painful. If we kept dragging it out, it would only erode all the good memories we had… “Can love truly conquer pheromones?” I asked Caleb. Caleb replied earnestly, “You never doubted it when you were a Beta. Why are you so hesitant now that you’ve differentiated into an Alpha?” “Ashton aside, do you lack confidence in Jasper, or in yourself?” It suddenly clicked for me. After dinner, I sent Jasper a message, asking him to meet so we could talk things through. Just as I reached the school gate, I suddenly heard someone say: “Holy crap, I heard an Omega in the Omega dorms went into heat, and an Alpha hooked up with them right in the dorm…”

The message I sent Jasper on my phone remained unanswered. Except for specialized classes that required mecha operation, he always replied to my messages instantly. Even late at night. I gripped my phone tightly, my unease growing. I followed the crowd towards the Omega dorms. The area within twenty meters of the Omega dorm building had already been completely cordoned off. Omegas were continuously being helped out. People around me muttered, “Who went into heat?” “It sounds like the campus heartthrob from Information Systems, last name… Henderson or Hernandez?” My hand, resting by my leg, clenched sharply. I mumbled, “Information Systems… Ashton.” “That’s it! That’s the name!” I forced a smile and asked, “Does anyone have an Alpha inhibitor?” “You came here without an inhibitor?! Are you crazy?” The person looked shocked. Then they kindly pulled out an inhibitor shot. “Thanks.” I took it, mumbling my thanks mechanically. I jabbed the needle directly into my arm vein, the cold liquid pushing into my body, merging with my bloodstream. The empty syringe fell to the ground. I ripped open the barrier tape and charged inside. “Whoa, dude, what are you doing?!” “Hey, student, this dorm is locked down right now!” I quickened my pace, heading for the dorm building. My legs moved faster and faster, until I was outright running. “Student! Student, stop!” The voices behind me grew distant. The moment I stepped into this familiar Omega dorm building, I was hit by the scent of an Omega. A thick, sweet strawberry candy smell. When I was a Beta, Ashton often shared strawberry candies with me. Jasper, as my boyfriend, had naturally tasted them too. But after eating one in his freshman year, he never had a second. Even that one, he’d frowned slightly after putting it in his mouth. He then leaned down and passed the candy to my mouth. “Too sweet. You eat it.” I rolled my eyes at him back then, chewing the hard candy in my mouth. The sweetness on my tongue intensified. Even then, unknowingly, he would still keep his distance. Now, I stood before the door of the dorm room I’d lived in for three years. I hadn’t even pushed open the door yet, but I already knew the answer. That Alpha was Jasper. The Omega’s heat pheromones continuously assaulted me. Even though I didn’t like Ashton, even loathed him,

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I was added to a weird group chat with the whole class. The group name: **[High-Temperature Apocalypse]**. Everyone else picked a safe house in the wilderness or a place with abundant water. I chose a high-rise apartment with no water or electricity. Chloe, the school’s queen bee, mocked me. No one wanted to team up with me, betting I’d die within three days. When it came to choosing abilities, everyone went for spatial or water-based powers. I picked reverse photosynthesis, which lets me get energy from air humidity. The group chat immediately muted me. They didn’t want to see my dying pleas for help. When the system removed the team-up and admin functions, everyone saw the group name reset: **[Heavy Rain Apocalypse]**. On that scorching summer day, my whole class and I were dragged into a strange group chat. **[Hello, 50 Hosts. Your group admin is the Apocalypse System.]** **[Survive for one week in the game, and you’ll receive a 100 million bonus.]** As if expecting skepticism, it immediately sent out a 1 million cash bonus in the chat. The students, who’d initially thought it was a prank or scam, instantly perked up. They frantically scrambled to split the bonus. “Holy crap, a week from now, I’ll be set for life!” “Quick, open it! Open it!” Only Finn, the class Vice President, seemed confused. “And if we don’t make it, do we die?” **[A total wipeout will reset the game. If there’s a winner, the game closes. Mid-game quitters must return the 1 million.]** Everyone exploded. Those who hadn’t snatched a bonus screamed even louder. “See, I knew it was a scam! I’m leaving the group!” “Go ahead, let’s see if you really have to return the 1 million.” But half an hour passed, and the number of members didn’t drop. Everyone was successfully hooked. The admin ignored the commotion and presented an option. Choose your safe house: 1. A 20th-floor apartment in a downtown city complex, no water, no electricity. 2. A countryside cabin, suitable for farming. 3. An uninhabited island, rich in food resources. 4. A city air-raid shelter, sturdy door, low temperature. 5. A food factory, abundant resource reserves. “Vice President, pick the food factory! You’re always so nosy and like managing things anyway.” “Yeah, Iris, then we can be merciful and team up with you.” Ultimately, no one chose option 1. Except me. Chloe, the school’s queen bee, gasped dramatically. “Iris, are you insane? A high-rise apartment with no water or electricity in a high-temperature apocalypse? You’ll be baked alive by the third day!” “Is it because you want to seem trendy living in the city, so you picked it without thinking it through?” “And she’s the Vice President, how dumb~” Chloe was usually everyone’s darling. As soon as she spoke, several guys agreed with her, mocking me. Even a few students who were about to pick option 1 canceled and chose something else. Five minutes passed, options closed, and the admin spoke again. **[Each Host is a temporary administrator. Hosts with the same option can choose teammates. Teammates will be allocated to the same safe house by default.]** Chloe immediately got excited. “Are there any lucky souls who chose the island like me? We can have a party there!” As soon as she said that, a dozen guys jumped out, begging to team up with her. She beamed, then mockingly @-ed me. “Oh my, so many classmates want to team up with me! Maybe I can spare a few for Iris @Iris? No one picked her, how pathetic!” Yes, everyone had teamed up. Except me.

After enduring dozens of mockery messages, Finn finally stepped in to restore order. “Hey, everyone, stop fighting! Admin, when does it start?” **[One more option: your ability for the coming week.]** 1. Infinite fresh water resources. 2. Invulnerable steel body. 3. Teleportation. 4. Infinite storage space. 5. Reverse photosynthesis. The chat instantly grew serious. Everyone started analyzing these abilities for high-temperature survival rates. Chloe got excited, giving a bunch of totally illogical advice, urging her male admirers to pick the infinite fresh water resource, claiming it would boost their survival rate. She chose infinite storage space herself: “I can help everyone store resources and avoid conflicts, after all, you’re all my good little babies~” Finn chose teleportation: “I can instantly go to your locations to save people.” In the end, no one chose option 5. Except me. I was mocked for dozens of messages again. “What kind of weird ability is that? Sounds like some random filler picked by the test setter to make themselves look smart.” “Hahahaha, what the hell did Iris pick? Doesn’t that mean she gets hungrier in the sun? Won’t she die even faster?” “Must’ve studied herself silly. Good thing we’re not in the same safe house as her!” “Some people act like Miss Perfect on her high horse, but now she’s just picking random abilities for herself. She should learn from Chloe and actually think about others!” I just took all their mockery, saying nothing. Finn, however, seemed to sense something subtly. He private messaged me. “Why are you being so foolish? You’ll be eliminated so quickly!” “Are you still mad I rejected your confession? Are you trying to make me worry this way?” I rolled my eyes and blocked him. Back in the group chat, everyone had confirmed their choices. The admin spoke again. **[Preparations complete. Game starting soon.]** **[Admin privileges will be disabled on the third day. Everyone can modify their teams before then.]** **[Deploying safe houses.]**

Day one, light rain. My apartment was calm and peaceful, with only the patter of rain outside. “Chloe: @everyone See? It’s raining! It definitely has to rain to cool things down before the heat wave, right?!” She followed up with a smug, sassy head-toss emoji. “Some people @Iris, feeling scared now? While it’s not hot enough to die today, hurry up and get a basin to collect water! Tomorrow, the moment the sun comes out, your crappy building will turn into an oven. Don’t go crying and quitting the group on the second day, that’d be so embarrassing!” The others, who had been wondering about the rain, immediately became lively, praising her intelligence. Finn’s message seemed out of place. “@Iris, how are things on your end? Did you find any supplies in your safe house?” This concerned inquiry provoked Chloe’s displeasure. “Vice President! Why are you so worried about her?!” “If you were so worried, why didn’t you team up with her back then? Feeling sorry for her now? Then go find her yourself! Humph!” Followed by a string of exaggerated emojis. Finn fell silent. The group chat also became eerily quiet for a few seconds, with only the faint sound of raindrops hitting the window. Soon, one of Chloe’s minions jumped out, directing his anger at me. “What’s wrong with the Vice President caring about everyone’s safety? Iris, you’re digging your own grave, don’t drag the Vice President into getting yelled at by Chloe!” “Exactly! Just seeing her message annoys me. Let’s mute her. That way, if she’s really dying, she won’t be whining and crying for help in the group, wasting resources and ruining everyone’s mood. Anyway, zero people want to save her!” **[Administrator ‘Mike’ has muted ‘Iris’.]** The cold system prompt popped up on my phone screen. No one said a word for me. Good. Peace and quiet. I put down my phone and started searching the apartment. The space wasn’t large, the layout was straightforward, but it was empty—not a single grain of rice. Finally, I pushed open the balcony door and took a deep breath. The scent of water molecules in the air filled my body. Reverse photosynthesis. As long as there are water molecules, I can replenish my energy. This time, I wouldn’t be troubled by any resource shortages. I felt mentally refreshed, and the faint hunger disappeared.

I sealed all windows except for the balcony, making sure the house wouldn’t get damp later, then I checked my phone. The class group chat was still flooded with messages. “Haha, the heavens sent us water! The field was just tilled, perfect for planting! I’m going to grow a whole vegetable garden in these ten days!” “Good haul, guys! Just went to sea and caught a few big fish! Fish BBQ party tonight!” Chloe also sent a photo: a beach and palm trees on an island, with a mountain of supplies in the center of the frame. Cases of bottled water, vacuum-sealed meats, canned goods, and even a few bottles of red wine. A few guys were gathered around her, their faces plastered with fawning, ‘look what I got for you’ smiles. “Oh my, I just can’t with them~” “I told them not to give me so much! Good thing my portable space is big enough, so I’ll grudgingly help everyone store it~ To be fair, if anyone needs anything, remember to register with me, okay~” Messages of envy and flattery flooded the screen. Some also grumbled about the piled-up resources. “…So much stuff, can it really all be registered and distributed? Feels like it’ll be a mess…” “Alex, what do you mean? Are you questioning Goddess Chloe?” “Chloe is doing this to prevent a free-for-all! If you’re not happy, go team up with Iris! Her crappy high-rise, not even a bottle of water there, absolutely no one will fight you for anything!” I closed the group chat, and with the sound of rain outside my window, I fell into a deep sleep.

Day two, heavy rain. It was no longer yesterday’s gentle drizzle but a torrential downpour. Water quickly accumulated in the city’s low-lying areas. The balcony of my 20th-floor apartment had become like a grotto with a cascading waterfall. I walked barefoot to the balcony door, greedily soaking up the water molecules. My whole body surged with power! I reinforced the balcony door and carved out the bottom of the railing to create a simple drainage system. Unless the balcony’s weight bearing capacity failed and it collapsed, the rainwater wouldn’t get into the house. The class group chat had already exploded. “Damn it, the rain’s too heavy! All the seeds we just sowed are ruined! The water’s almost flooding into the house!” “Help! The island’s tide is rising! Our high ground is almost submerged, and a lot of our food has been washed away!” “My ability is even water generation, completely useless now!” “@Chloe! Didn’t you say this ability was life-saving? What do we do now?!” With their interests jeopardized, many people turned their anger towards Chloe, who had been everyone’s darling just yesterday. Chloe looked aggrieved: “?? My fault?” “Did I hold a knife to your throats and force you to choose fresh water resources? You were all fawning over me, scrambling to pick it just to show off to me! And now you’re blaming me?” Finn tried to maintain order, his voice betraying a hint of imperceptible anxiety. “Everyone calm down!” “Chloe, this isn’t the time to argue. You have so many resources stored in your space, quick, take them out for everyone in this emergency!” Chloe’s voice rose even higher, laced with a tearful, spoiled tone. “Why should I?!” “I worked hard to collect those! I haven’t even finished registering them! And you want me to take them out now when the situation is unclear? What if the sun comes out tomorrow? Fifty-degree heat! That water will be life-saving!” Her words were like cold water splashed into a hot oil pan. “Chloe, are you still thinking about your registration at a time like this! Still thinking about high temperatures tomorrow? Does this rain look like it’s going to stop?” “You hoarded so many resources in your own space, aren’t you just trying to hold us hostage?” “Vice President, say something!” The group chat erupted into chaos, full of accusations and dissatisfaction directed at Chloe. Finn, overwhelmed trying to mediate, seemed to suddenly have an idea and @-ed me. “@Iris, aren’t you in a high-rise? It must be safe! Quick, tell us your address, I’ll teleport the people from the island over there to take shelter!” This move, however, triggered Chloe again. “Vice President, why are you always thinking of being with Iris! Do you like her?!” “I forbid it! Anyone who dares to go find her, I’ll never give them resources!” Finn said helplessly: “Chloe, stop messing around, lives are at stake!” “Who’s messing around? Don’t people need my space? Whoever swears not to go suck up to Iris, I’ll let them into my space for shelter!” With Chloe’s interference, I, who had just regained some attention, was once again forgotten by everyone. They went back to begging her for resources. She was once again the center of attention. I put down my phone and walked to a corner of the living room, where several unassuming cardboard boxes were stacked. Opening one, inside were neatly arranged power banks, laptops, and tablets, their indicator lights showing full charge. Another box held several thick physical books, a few board games, and even a small projector. These were the supplies I had quickly gathered in the few minutes when the system announced the rules, and everyone else was busy snatching cash bonuses and mocking me—some of the most useless items in a high-temperature apocalypse, but essential for maintaining sanity in a confined environment, “non-survival necessities.” I picked up a fully charged power bank, plugged it into my phone, and watched the heated arguments in the group chat. Day three, precipitation doubled again. If yesterday’s downpour was somewhat normal, today was a hurricane-level storm.

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Five years after we broke up, I heard Julian Albright was getting married. So, I finally felt safe enough to come home. But the moment I landed, he had me pinned against the airport wall. “Fake news. Just bait to lure you back.” “But I’m already married!” I declared, flashing my diamond ring, trying to sound tougher than I felt. He stared at the ring, then let out a low chuckle. “Then we’ll just live as three.” My jaw dropped. *What?!* Julian was getting married. When I heard the news, I was so happy I couldn’t sleep a wink. I booked a flight and was back the very next day. “Ugh, I’m finally back home!” The moment I landed, I called my best friend, practically wailing, “This foreign food was killing me! I’ve been dreaming of spicy crawfish, BBQ, hotpot, snail noodles, malatang, and bubble tea…” Just as I was excitedly telling Chloe, “This time, I’m reclaiming all my favorite foods!” a hand suddenly wrapped around mine. The next thing I knew, I was slammed against the wall. My phone clattered to the floor. I stared at the man in front of me, a head taller, radiating a cold, aristocratic aura. His bone structure was impeccable, his face so stunning it was almost ethereal. My mind went blank. Then, Chloe’s anxious voice came through the fallen phone. “Aria, stop rattling off food names! The news about Julian getting married… it’s fake! Run!” Me: … *Why didn’t you tell me before I walked into this?!*

I wanted to run, but Julian’s grip was shockingly strong. He wasn’t even using much force, yet I couldn’t break free. So, I just hunkered down, head bowed like a scared little bird, not daring to speak. I secretly peeked around, looking for an escape route. After all, when we broke up, Julian had sworn he’d kill me if he ever saw me again. I’d just managed to come back home! I hadn’t even had a bite of the food I’d been dreaming about for five years. I really didn’t want to die! “Nothing you want to say to me?” Seeing my silence, Julian gently lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. I was trapped, staring into Julian’s deep, beautiful eyes, now shimmering with unshed tears. My heart clenched, and my throat was thick with bitterness. I fought back the urge to cry, forcing the tears back, then turned my face away. My voice was cold and hard. “No.” With that, I struggled again, trying to push him away. “No?” Julian tightened his hold on me, his voice hoarse, with an almost imperceptible catch in it. “You truly are heartless.” Before I could react, he grabbed my jaw and kissed me, completely ignoring the people passing by. The moment our lips met, my eyes widened in shock. Julian’s kiss wasn’t gentle at all. It was punishing, almost vengeful, and I couldn’t break free. My tongue felt numb from the sheer intensity. In a fit of anger, I suddenly spotted someone in the distance pulling out their phone, about to record us. Almost instinctively, I bit Julian. He was unprepared, and his lip bled slightly. He looked momentarily stunned. That’s when I pushed him away and slapped him across the face. “Are you insane?!” I glared at Julian, reminding him, “You’re about to get married!” I’d put a good amount of force into that slap. Julian’s head snapped to the side. He ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek, touched his bruised face, then pressed his bitten lip. He let out a low, soft chuckle. “It was just fake news to get you back.” I was completely dumbfounded. *Fake news?! So what was all this for? Had I just walked straight into his trap?!* I was too shocked to notice the flicker of twisted satisfaction and pleasure in his eyes after I’d slapped him. Then, Julian took my hand, kissed my palm tenderly, and asked if I was hurt. Me: *What?!* I’d slapped *him*, and he was asking if *my hand* hurt?! Something felt very wrong here! But I couldn’t think about that. My mind was consumed with avoiding a repeat of what happened five years ago. In a flash, I saw the diamond ring on my left hand. I collected myself and spoke again. “But I’m married.” The air instantly froze. Julian lowered his gaze, staring intently at the diamond ring on my finger, silent. Just as a chill ran down my spine under his intense gaze, Julian suddenly let out a low chuckle. “Then we’ll just live as three,” he said calmly, as if stating a perfectly reasonable solution. I was so startled I almost bit my tongue. “Are you out of your mind?!” *What did he mean, “live as three”?! Did he even know what he was saying?!* Still reeling from the shock, Julian effortlessly scooped me up into his arms.

Julian tossed me into the back seat of his Maybach and told the driver to drive. “Julian, this is illegal detainment!” My heart pounded faster as I watched him tell the driver to raise the privacy partition. Ignoring the fact the car was moving, I fumbled with the door handle, ready to jump out and run. But Julian was too quick. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me back. The car screeched to a halt. The sudden stop sent my body lunging forward, almost hitting the partition, but Julian swiftly caught me, pulling me back into his arms. “Are you trying to kill yourself?!” Julian held me tight, his arms trembling slightly, clearly shaken. His warm, familiar embrace made me momentarily lose myself. Memories flooded back, but immediately followed by the words of Julian’s mother. I closed my eyes, suppressing all the emotions welling up. Taking a deep breath, I pushed Julian away with all my might and sat in the furthest corner from him. Then, I deliberately twisted the knife. “Don’t hold me so tight. My husband will get jealous!” With that, I deliberately displayed the diamond ring on my finger. Julian’s eyes flashed with a momentary ruthlessness when he saw the ring, but it was so fleeting, I thought I’d imagined it. “Where’s he from?” Julian took a cold beer from the car fridge, opened it, and chugged it down, as if making idle conversation. “What?” I hadn’t registered the question at first. “I asked where your husband is from.” Julian crushed the beer can in his hand as he spoke. “Oh, right.” I caught on, thought for a moment, and said, “He’s French.” “Hmm, good. How old is he?” Julian casually pulled off the beaded bracelet from his wrist, fiddling with it as he asked, seemingly offhand. “Twenty-nine.” I replied, a little absentmindedly. *Was I imagining things earlier? I swear I saw a lot of scars on Julian’s wrist.* “Is he in good shape? How tall is he, how much does he weigh?” Julian pressed on. My thoughts were pulled back. “He’s in great shape. Six feet tall, and… about 165 pounds.” I was still a bit distracted and didn’t notice the increased urgency in Julian’s tone. “How did you two meet?” Julian followed up instantly. I racked my brain, paused for a few seconds, and continued to spin my tale. “He lost his wallet, and I lent him some cash, and then…” I hadn’t finished speaking when Julian cut me off. “Who else is in his family?” “…He has a mom and dad, and a younger sister…” My answers were starting to falter. Julian’s intense interrogation was making me incredibly nervous. He asked me seven or eight more questions: What does he like to eat? Where was your first date? What movie did you watch on your first date? Where do you usually like to hang out? What are his hobbies, what’s his favorite position, and so on. His questions were getting increasingly tricky. As I grew more and more anxious, Julian asked, “How old is he?” “Twenty-eight!” I blurted out. “And his height and weight?” Julian’s voice was rapid-fire. “Six-one! One-forty pounds!” The words tumbled out. As they did, I saw Julian’s fingers, which had been fiddling with his bracelet, still. He chuckled softly, raising an eyebrow. “Hmm, sounds like he’s in great shape.” My mind raced. Wait, something wasn’t right. What was going on?! **截断点** As I struggled to figure it out, Julian gently took my hand, slipped off my ring, and with lightning speed, replaced it with a cushion-cut pink diamond—it looked like it was easily over ten carats.

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They say dreams from deceased loved ones can shield you from harm. After my mom passed away, I dreamt of her three times. The first time, she silently blocked me in my dream, refusing to let me go to work. The next day, I spiked a high fever and couldn’t go in. It was a twisted blessing in disguise; I dodged the massive fire at my company building. The second time, Mom visited my dream again, stopping me from moving into the neighboring complex. A week later, the arsonist was apprehended in that very complex. Each time Mom appeared, her form grew a little more translucent. Eventually, she stopped appearing in my dreams altogether. Until ten years later, when I found a baby in a trash pile downstairs and brought him home. That night, my almost transparent mom suddenly burst into my dream, her face contorted in pure terror. She shook me frantically, screaming with all her fading strength: “Alex, wake up!!” “Run!!!!” I gasped, clutching the duvet, my body slick with sweat, a thick layer of beads on my forehead. My wife, Chloe, stirred awake by my movements. Her voice was soft, sleepy. “What’s wrong, honey? Bad dream?” I’d dreamt of my deceased mom again. The last time I’d seen her in my dreams was ten years ago. She hadn’t visited me for an entire decade. Back in my hometown, there was an old belief that a relative’s spirit, visiting in a dream, could ward off disaster. I didn’t used to believe it, not until I dreamt of my mom twice in a row. The first time was right after I returned from studying abroad and had just started my new job. In the dream, she silently blocked me, locked my bedroom door, hid my car keys, trying every way possible to stop me from going to work. “Mom, stop messing around. I’ll be late tomorrow.” But Mom shook her head. Unlike her usual self, she was adamant, refusing to let me go to the office. I woke up with my head pounding, splitting open, my whole body burning hot. The next day, my body stubbornly gave in to a high fever. I had to go to the hospital for an IV drip, so I called Mr. Harrison, my supervisor, to ask for time off. “I’m sorry, Mr. Harrison, I think I caught a cold last night. I’m running a 102° fever.” Mr. Harrison’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Alex, taking a day off on your very first day? Your attitude… seriously?” I humbly begged for the day off, then slammed the phone down in frustration. As I lay there alone in the hospital, getting my IV drip, I thought about that bizarre dream from last night, and that strange old legend from my village when I was a kid. *Dreams from deceased loved ones can ward off disaster.* Even though my mom had left me a substantial inheritance, she never wanted me to be a slacker, living an aimless life. I knew she wanted me to find work I truly loved. Why would Mom try so hard to stop me from working in that dream? After my IV drip finished at noon, my heart felt heavy. At the subway station, I saw the train heading towards my company building, but I turned and boarded the one going in the opposite direction. I quietly reassured myself, “Well, I’ve already asked for the day off. What’s another half-day?” I murmured, “What if the legend is true?” That evening, as I was having hot pot alone at home, a news alert popped up on my phone, making my eyes widen in shock. “Massive Fire at Financial Tower in City A: Hundreds of Casualties.” The burning building, spewing black smoke, was my company’s office. The fire had just been extinguished. And the fire started on *my* floor. Currently, no one on that floor had survived! I immediately opened SnapChat to call Sarah, another new hire like me, but there was no answer. I went back to SnapChat and messaged Mr. Harrison: “Sarcastic much? I’ve got money to burn, old man! I quit!” Half an hour passed, no reply. A cold sweat instantly broke out on my back, and my hair stood on end. My colleagues were all dead in that fire! That meant if I had gone to work today, I’d probably be burned to ashes right now!

Suddenly, Mom’s dream from last night and that strange village legend swirled in my mind like a kaleidoscope. I looked at a photo on my phone, one where I was hugging Mom. I understood then: Mom had given me a second chance at life. Later, I found a new job I loved, but that day’s events left a deep scar on my heart. My new job was in design, which I loved, but I was lacking inspiration. So, I decided to move to a nice new townhouse. The complex next door was newly developed, and the prices were incredibly good. The night before I was supposed to move in, after signing the contract and finishing the renovations, Mom appeared in my dream again. In the dream, her figure was far more translucent. She looked furious, scolding me. “Alex, why are you wasting money on another house? Buying this house now is a foolish choice!” “How many times have I told you not to waste money? Isn’t that penthouse apartment I left you big enough?!” In the dream, her face was grim, her voice sharp as she pointed her finger at me. “Cancel the contract immediately! We’re not taking this townhouse!” This was a side of Mom I’d never seen. Growing up, she’d always doted on me, supported me, and provided everything I could ever want. She even said she’d disown me if I insisted on moving into the new house. I was heartbroken in the dream, waking up with tears still in the corners of my eyes. Day broke, and the moving truck I’d hired was almost here, but the dream from earlier made me hesitate. Remembering the previous dream, my palms grew sweaty. Was something else about to happen? I put my moving plans on hold and didn’t move into the new complex. A week later, the arsonist was finally caught in the neighboring complex. He was a madman seeking revenge on society, specifically targeting wealthy neighborhoods for arson and murder. This time, he had set fire to a townhouse belonging to a wealthy expat doctor living alone. The man was eventually rescued but suffered extensive burns and disfigurement. He was a trust fund kid, but no amount of money could truly compensate for the damage he’d endured. I read the news, my heart unable to calm down. The victim’s townhouse was right next to the one I’d bought. If I had moved in then… I probably would have been the victim today! Mom had saved me again. This incident solidified my belief in that old legend. I even made a special trip to the cemetery. “Mom, you’ve given me a third life.” I thought Mom would continue to protect me, but after that, she never appeared in my dreams again. Not even when I accidentally scalded my arm with boiling water, or when I broke my left leg in a car accident. Mom didn’t visit my dreams before any of those things. My faith started to waver again. Didn’t they say dreams from deceased loved ones could ward off disaster? Why wasn’t my mom sending me dreams anymore? Remembering how translucent Mom’s spirit had been the second time, I wondered: did sending these dreams cost Mom something? Until today, ten years later, when I brought a baby home, and Mom appeared in my dream once more. By now, she was almost completely transparent, but she was desperately trying to shake me awake, her expression more terrified than I’d ever seen. “Alex, wake up!!” Then, with all her fading strength, she screamed: “Run!” My wife, Chloe, poured me a glass of warm water, soothing me gently. The baby’s cries echoed from the other bedroom, but I shivered.

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I went to a clinic for breast reduction surgery, only to find the handsome doctor was the same guy I had a blind date with yesterday. Dr. Wyatt’s charming eyes twinkled, his voice deep and calm: “Please take off your top and unhook your bra.” My face burned as I underwent the examination, but then I couldn’t for the life of me hook my bra back up. Dr. Wyatt called for a nurse to help me. My brain completely short-circuited. I quickly refused, flustered: “No, it’s fine! You can just help me yourself!” The next second, Dr. Wyatt’s arms gently wrapped around me… Before I left for my blind date, my mom glared at my oversized, thick hoodie with pure disdain. “Can’t you ever bother to dress up a little? Do you really think he’ll want you looking like that?” She forced me into a slightly tighter top, then snatched my glasses off my face. “What are you doing with those glasses? What if he thinks you’re too bookish, or that you just don’t care about your appearance? What if he thinks you’re not *trying* to look good enough for him?” I habitually hunched my shoulders, mumbling defensively, “I can’t see without them.” My mom snorted. “Don’t try to fool me. That’s a mild prescription; you’re not blind! How could you not see the road?” “Are you deliberately trying to ruin this date?” “Let me tell you, this guy has amazing prospects. So many girls would kill to marry him. Don’t be so ungrateful.” I wanted to say I also had astigmatism and things looked blurry, but I just shut up. My mom’s decisions were set in stone. She only believed what she thought was right. My vision was blurry as I left the house, and because I couldn’t make out the numbers, I missed a bus. By the time I reached the downtown coffee shop, I was 10 minutes late for our appointment. I scurried into the coffee shop, squinting to find a man in a white shirt. By the window, a man in a white shirt looked up at me. It must be him, right? I hurried over, my face full of apologies. “I’m so sorry, I’m a little late.” The man seemed to freeze for a moment. “You are…?” “I’m Chloe.” “Chloe?” A smile appeared on his face, his voice sounding a little strange. “I’m… Wyatt.” His voice was deep and pleasant. Though his features were a bit blurry to me, I could tell he was good-looking. Tall and broad-shouldered. Fair-skinned with thick hair. He also had a pleasant woody cologne scent. I awkwardly lowered my gaze. My mom was right. Such a handsome blind date wouldn’t possibly be interested in just an average girl like me. Sure enough, a few minutes after I sat down, Wyatt took a call. “Excuse me, I have something to take care of. Can you wait for me here? I’ll be right back.” With that, he swiftly strode out of the coffee shop with his long legs. I let out a bitter laugh. His excuse was so lame. He probably just set an alarm to escape, right? And he didn’t even ask for my contact info. Clearly, he wasn’t interested. But I hadn’t really expected anything to come of it anyway. I knew I wasn’t good enough for him. My phone rang. It was my mom. As soon as I picked up, I was hit with a torrent of scolding. “Chloe, where did you go? The young man has been waiting for you for 20 minutes!” I quickly explained. “We just met. He wasn’t interested and he already left.” My mom’s voice grew even shriller. “What nonsense are you talking about? He just told me he’s still waiting for you and hasn’t seen a single sign of you!” My heart dropped. There were two coffee shops side by side here. In my haste, and with my blurry vision, I must have walked into the wrong one. So the guy I just met wasn’t my blind date?

After hanging up, I rushed to the coffee shop next door. There, I met my real blind date. He wore glasses, had a round face, and was a bit balding. He didn’t really look like a “young man.” I was so late, he was clearly annoyed. “We in the government sector are very strict about punctuality.” I quickly apologized. “I’m so sorry.” “It’s fine, I’ll forgive you this time. I’m quite the gentleman, you know.” I didn’t know what to say. This blind date was arranged by my mom. She said she was afraid I’d say the wrong thing and offend the guy. So she added him on SnapChat herself, chatted for a few days, and once she felt he was suitable, she pushed me out to meet him. My date pulled out his phone. “Let’s swap SnapChat info. Your mom told me all about you. I gotta say, I’m pretty happy with your appearance.” He then flashed a sleazy grin, teasing, “Your chest is huge, like a dairy cow’s. Our kids will never go hungry for milk!” As he spoke, he gestured with his hand, drawing a half-circle in the air. My face flushed crimson. “Are you out of your mind?!” Then I stormed out. Back home, I was met with my mom’s explosive fury. “Chloe, he said he was interested in you, and you just turned around and ran off! Are you trying to kill me?!” “You’re a woman over 25, almost 30! Do you even want to get married?!” I mustered my courage to retort, “That guy’s a creep! Who says someone’s chest is huge like a dairy cow’s the first time they meet them?!” I thought she’d understand. When I first started developing, she’d always told me that having a big chest was shameful for a girl and I should hide it. She’d warned me to stay away from boys who stared at my chest. So I’d gotten used to hunching my shoulders, wearing loose clothes, and trying to conceal my prominent chest. But my mom just scoffed. “He was just making a joke, and you’re overreacting! No wonder you don’t have any friends!” “Besides, a woman’s chest is for her husband and children! If you didn’t have that ‘asset,’ why would a decent guy from a stable government job even look at you?!” I was so angry I didn’t want to talk to her, so I just went back to my room. My mom kept yelling outside the door. “Chloe, your mom’s never wrong. Only your mom truly cares about you in this world!” “Women are only young for a few years! Stop being so picky! You’re no supermodel, and this guy is more than good enough for you…” Annoyed, I put on my headphones and started scrolling on my phone. I knew my mom loved me. But when it came to my relationships, she became completely unreasonable and spoke without thinking. She’d try to verbally force me to find a man and get married quickly. She’d strictly guard me in school, not even letting me talk to boys. But just a couple of years after graduation, she was demanding I go on blind dates and have children. Any old loser was a “good man” in her eyes. While I definitely wasn’t a supermodel, didn’t I deserve to marry a *normal* guy? I sighed. I accidentally clicked on an ad. Starlight Aesthetics Clinic. I was about to close it when four words caught my eye. [Breast Reduction Surgery…] I looked down at the two troublesome mounds on my chest. Memories flashed through my mind: classmates’ teasing in school, the blind date’s vulgar comments, and my own figure looking like a barrel in a sweatshirt… I was just an average girl, but these burdens always drew unwanted attention. It made me feel awkward and self-conscious, so much so that I rarely walked with my head held high. I hesitated for a moment, then dialed the consultation number.

The next day, Sunday, I made up an excuse to my mom and left the house. Coincidentally, Starlight Aesthetics Clinic was right across from the coffee shop where I had my blind date yesterday. Sitting in the consultation room, I felt a little nervous. The nurse who led me in poured me a glass of water. “Please wait a moment, ma’am. Dr. Wyatt will be in for your consultation shortly.” Perhaps seeing my tension, she tried to reassure me. “Dr. Wyatt is excellent! He guarantees beautiful results wherever you go!” Well, I don’t need *that*… just make them smaller. After waiting a bit longer, I heard footsteps outside the consultation room. A handsome guy, easily six feet one, walked in wearing a white lab coat. I was stunned. He looked incredibly handsome, making even a lab coat look like a designer trench coat. He paused when he saw me, a slight flicker of surprise in his eyes. I awkwardly stood up, my face heating up. It was the first time such a handsome man had stared at me, though his gaze was a little strange. “Dr. Wyatt, hello. I’m here to consult about… breast reduction surgery.” I said the last four words barely above a whisper. Dr. Wyatt snapped back to attention, a smile gracing his lips as he sat opposite me. I froze for a moment; his smile was truly captivating. If all my blind dates looked like him, that would be amazing. Dr. Wyatt first looked over the personal information the nurse had filled out for me, then asked: “Do you have a boyfriend?” “Huh?” I stared at him in surprise. “Does that have anything to do with the surgery?” Perhaps it was my imagination, but a hint of awkwardness flashed across Dr. Wyatt’s face. “Just casual conversation. Let’s see, your request is to reduce your cup size to an A?” I nodded, my voice a mosquito-like whisper. “No boyfriend. Yes, flat-chested would be best.” I was so envious of girls with smaller chests. Everything they wore looked so chic and sophisticated. Unlike me, I looked plump in too many clothes and trashy in too few. Dr. Wyatt looked thoughtful. “What’s your current cup size?” My face instantly flared crimson. “It might be… an E, I think… I’m not really sure…” My bras were all randomly bought online; the same size could be loose or tight. Dr. Wyatt’s charming eyes twinkled. “Would you mind if I took some measurements?” I felt myself flush from head to toe, unable to believe what I was hearing. “C-can I… have a female doctor instead?” Dr. Wyatt replied gently, “Breast reduction is a complex procedure, with high risks. If not done well, it can cause mammary gland damage. I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving it to anyone else.” I was startled. I mentally chanted, “It’s professional. It’s for my health,” and nodded in agreement. He stepped outside and called a nurse in. I secretly let out a sigh of relief. So it wasn’t just the two of us for the examination. Dr. Wyatt pulled back a curtain in the consultation room, gesturing for me to go inside. “There’s a camera there, but this area is out of its view.” My legs were trembling with nerves as I shuffled in, taking tiny steps. The nurse stayed outside the curtain and didn’t follow me in. A deep male voice resonated near my ear: “Please take off your top and unhook your bra.”

I closed my eyes and did as I was told. A sudden coolness spread across my chest. Dr. Wyatt held a stiff ruler and a soft measuring tape, moving them across my chest. My heart pounded like thunder, and I felt breathless. When he measured around, his fingers inevitably brushed against my skin. It felt like an electric shock, a current surging from my toes to my head. I awkwardly turned my head away. Out of the corner of my eye, though, I saw that Dr. Wyatt’s gaze was utterly focused and professional. Those few minutes felt like centuries. Finally, Dr. Wyatt spoke. “You can put your clothes back on now.” I fumbled to put my clothes on, but I just couldn’t hook my bra. Dr. Wyatt, turned to the side, tidying up his instruments. He hesitated, then asked, “Do you need the nurse to help you?” I quickly shook my head. “N-no… no, it’s fine. You can just help me yourself.” The moment the words left my lips, I saw Dr. Wyatt’s movements freeze. He looked stunned. I bit my tongue, wishing I could just bang my head against the wall. What a pathetic mess I was. How could I have blurted out the thought that had just flashed through my mind? Oh no. A handsome man like Dr. Wyatt, how could he possibly tolerate me saying something like that? He wouldn’t just kick me out, would he? I was sweating with anxiety, but my bra hook was stubbornly refusing to cooperate. A pleasant woody scent suddenly grew stronger. Dr. Wyatt’s face was right in front of me. He gently wrapped his arms around me, his hand reaching behind my back, and in one swift motion, he fastened my bra hook. His warm breath accidentally brushed against my earlobe. My whole body tingled. I didn’t dare to move. Afraid the man in front of me would hear my heart pounding like thunder. Dr. Wyatt’s expression remained composed. He绅士ly pulled away from me. “Alright, let’s talk at the desk.” Sitting back down, I was so nervous and embarrassed that I didn’t quite catch what Dr. Wyatt was saying. He good-naturedly repeated, “Your actual cup size is a D. It just appears much larger than other D-cup sizes because your breast shape is conical, unlike round or teardrop shapes.” “I don’t think this size should be impacting your daily life. Could you tell me your reason for wanting the surgery?” My gaze dropped, not daring to look at him. “Because they’re too prominent. They always attract attention.” Dr. Wyatt smiled. “You’re so beautiful, why are you afraid of people looking at you?” I looked up in surprise. “What?” Dr. Wyatt didn’t seem to be teasing me; his smile was utterly genuine. He stood up, leaned one hand on the desk, and bent over. His elegant, slender fingers gently removed my glasses. His voice was soft, almost caressing: “I think you look even better without your glasses.” The world suddenly turned blurry, and Dr. Wyatt’s handsome features looked like they were covered in a faint mosaic. I felt like I had seen him somewhere before. I murmured, “Wyatt?” He tilted his head. “Finally remember me?” His tone was as if… we were old friends reunited.

No one in my family had poor eyesight. I deliberately ruined my eyes. Back in school, my mom would always scold me whenever I looked at her. “Why are you staring with those big eyes? Do you think big eyes are pretty? Don’t you know you look so naive and uncultured like that, only attracting street thugs?” I was terrified of her and never dared to argue that I wasn’t staring. I could only read in the dark, writing with my face very close to the paper. Finally, I managed to develop nearsightedness and astigmatism, and I got to wear glasses as I wished. My mom picked out the most old-fashioned black frames with thick lenses for me. She finally seemed satisfied. “Now you look like a diligent, studious child.” But she was always contradictory; she never liked me wearing glasses on blind dates. That’s why it took me until now to realize that Dr. Wyatt was the same person I mistakenly thought was my blind date yesterday! How could it be such a coincidence?! I was so embarrassed I wanted to curl up and disappear. He wouldn’t think I tried to hit on him yesterday and then deliberately came here to harass him today, would he? And also, was Wyatt nearsighted too? Otherwise… otherwise, how could he say I was pretty? Wyatt picked up a large round mirror from the desk and held it in front of me. “My vision is perfect, 20/20. Don’t you ever look in the mirror?” Huh? I said what I was thinking out loud again? Today was truly mortifying. I instinctively looked at the mirror. My mom’s voice automatically echoed in my ears. “Your eyebrows are too thick, like a man’s. Your eyes are big but lifeless. Your nose is too small, your lips too thick. Your face is pale as a ghost, and your chin is too pointed, you look like you have no luck in life…” I’d heard those words for nearly twenty years. Every time I looked in the mirror, I’d think, maybe she was right. I really wasn’t good-looking. That’s why boys always teased me in school, and why so many blind dates after work never worked out. I lowered my head again. “Dr. Wyatt, I apologize for bothering you twice. Please don’t tease me.” Seeing my disbelief, Wyatt raised an eyebrow. “How about we make a bet?” I put my glasses back on, asking dumbly, “Huh? A bet… about what?” Wyatt’s handsome, thin lips opened and closed, glistening. I was mesmerized, instinctively nodding. When I came to my senses, I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. Wyatt’s slender, defined fingers tapped the desk. “Alright, if you lose… you have to grant me one wish.” “If I lose, I’ll perform your surgery for free.”

That afternoon, Wyatt took me to a high-end department store. A place I always passed but never dared to enter. He picked out two dresses for me, one black, one white, both absolutely gorgeous. I tried them on. The dresses had tight waists, making my chest look even more voluminous. The skirts flared slightly, revealing my legs, which were quite fair since I always wore long pants. Standing in front of the mirror, I barely recognized myself. I quietly said to Wyatt, “Department store mirrors are really something, huh? They have a built-in slimming effect.” Wyatt covered his forehead with a hand. “The mirrors are normal. Trust my aesthetic judgment, I am a plastic surgeon, after all.” “I think both dresses look great on you. Which one do you like?” I hesitated. I was too embarrassed to tell him I had trouble making decisions. Normally, when online shopping, I’d procrastinate until the minute before coupons expired before finally choosing. Maybe I should just pick one randomly? But the black one was more practical… the white one was more special… Which one to choose? Seeing I didn’t answer, Wyatt made the decision for me. “Let’s get both. They’re different styles anyway.” He pulled out his phone to pay, and I quickly stopped him. “I’ll pay myself.” I checked the tag—five digits. Two dresses would wipe out my savings. It hurt a little. Maybe I should just pick one? While I was still stunned, Wyatt had already paid, picked up the bags, and motioned for me to follow. It seemed treating decision-making paralysis just required money. I looked at the reflective floor of the mall, thinking hard, but couldn’t figure it out. What was Wyatt’s angle? I was so plain, so broke, so uninteresting… Was I really worth him spending so much money? Next, Wyatt took me to get my eyes checked and fitted me for daily disposable contact lenses. Silicone hydrogel, apparently, also very expensive… It was my first time wearing these, and I was clumsy. Wyatt gently caressed my cheek with his fingers, helping me put them in. The world was clearer than ever before. Except everything seemed a little bigger. I stared at the man’s Adam’s apple, swallowing hard. Wyatt looked at me with satisfaction. “Your skin is beautiful; you don’t even need makeup. You’re a natural beauty.” My face flushed again, a little thrill going through me. Maybe… I did have some good qualities?

After a busy half-day, we finally got to the main event. Wyatt and I stood at the door of a private karaoke room. He gave me a reassuring smile. “They’re all my friends inside. Don’t be nervous.” He suddenly leaned close, whispering in my ear. “If I win, don’t you dare refuse my… request.” With that, Wyatt pushed open the door to the room. Suddenly, I felt a strange anticipation for myself to lose. What request would he make? As I stepped into the room with Wyatt, under the dim lights, a dozen men and women turned to look at us. It was my first time being the center of attention in such a setting, and I nervously clutched the hem of my dress. The atmosphere froze for a second, then erupted into cheers. “The sun must be rising from the west! Dr. Wyatt actually brought a girl to a party! And she’s a beauty!” Wyatt subtly held up one finger to me. “Old Wyatt, where did you meet such a beautiful girl? You’re so lucky!” Wyatt curved his lips into a smile, holding up two fingers. “Hi, Future Sister-in-Law! You’re so pretty!” I quickly waved my hands. “We’re… just friends.” Wyatt mouthed the words: “Three.” Besides Wyatt and me, there were eight other people in the room. The bet was that if half the people complimented my looks, Wyatt would win. It wasn’t even half. He was going to lose. I knew it. Wyatt must have bad eyesight. Those three who just complimented me must have just been being polite. I lowered my head, feeling self-conscious. I didn’t see Wyatt’s face suddenly darken. A sophisticated-looking woman immediately pulled me to sit next to her. “I love sitting with pretty girls! I’m Stella, what’s your name, sweetie?” “Hi, I’m Chloe.” Wyatt won. He seemed to be in a great mood and picked a song. “Hard to forget the first time I saw you, those captivating eyes, your image in my mind… I can’t shake it…” Did Wyatt have *no* flaws? How could he even sing so beautifully?! He looked deeply into my direction. Was he looking at me?

I sat awkwardly in the corner. Wyatt’s friends were very welcoming and even pulled me into their group chat for planning get-togethers. Someone invited me to play dice. I shook my head. “Sorry, I don’t know how.” Someone asked what song I wanted to sing. I gave an embarrassed laugh. “I’ll just listen to you guys. I’m tone-deaf.” In the end, everyone else was enthusiastically enjoying themselves, while I shrank in the corner, scrolling on my phone. Just like every other friend gathering I’d ever been to. I swiped my phone screen back and forth, pretending to be busy. Someone next to me handed Stella the microphone. “The next song is a must-have for every gathering—your love duet with Wyatt!” “You two have been singing love songs together for years. When are you and Old Wyatt finally going to make it official?” Stella laughed playfully. “No rush. Old Wyatt and I have known each other for years; we understand each other perfectly.” Oh. So Wyatt wasn’t looking at me earlier. For a second, I actually thought he was singing that song to *me*. Of course, I was just deluding myself. Stella seemed like a girl a hundred times better than me. I picked up a drink from the table and gulped it down. My phone vibrated. It was my mom. I jumped in fright. If my mom found out I was at a karaoke bar, I’d be dead. Wyatt finished singing. Stella took the microphone and walked towards him, ready for their duet. I quietly ran out of the room to answer my mom’s call. “Chloe! What time is it?! Aren’t you coming home? Don’t you have work tomorrow morning?!” I timidly replied, “I’m on my way back now.” “You don’t have a boyfriend! A single girl staying out until 10 PM, people will say I raised you poorly…” I quickly hung up. Stepping out, I realized it was raining. And it was coming down pretty hard. The ride-sharing app showed 200 people ahead of me in the queue. I was about to dash into the rain when someone grabbed my arm. I turned around. Wyatt’s face was expressionless. “Was my singing that bad? Did it scare you away?” I stammered, “I-it was… really good. My mom called and told me to come home. Aren’t you supposed to sing a duet with Stella? So I didn’t say goodbye.” Wyatt raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t want to hear me sing a love song with someone else?” I lowered my head. “No…” What right did I have not to want to hear it? A large hand gently stroked the top of my head. “Why are you always so cautious? Never mind, if you don’t like these kinds of places, I’ll drive you home.”

The car was parked in the open-air lot. Wyatt told me to wait while he drove it over. I felt a little guilty enjoying the ride, so I ran with him to the parking lot. The rain was heavy, and it was windy too. By the time I struggled to reach the car, I was soaked from head to toe. Once inside, Wyatt rummaged for tissues. I couldn’t take my eyes off his drenched T-shirt. “One, two…” Two clean white tissues were offered to me. “What are you counting?” “Abs…” I answered subconsciously, then immediately realized what I’d said. Wyatt didn’t seem embarrassed at all. Instead, he leaned his arm back. His T-shirt clung to his body, clearly revealing a six-pack and two pink n*pples peeking through. A perfectly sculpted body like something out of a comic book, paired with his handsome face. I couldn’t control myself and swallowed hard. A little embarrassing. Wyatt’s lips curved into a smile. “Checking me out before you pay, is that fair?” “What?” Before I could react, Wyatt’s fingers pinched my chin, and he kissed me. At first, it was just a gentle brush, a tentative touch of lips. My hands were on Wyatt’s shoulders. I meant to push him away, but somehow, they ended up circling his neck instead. Wyatt seemed encouraged. His tongue gently parted my lips, stealing all my breath. The temperature inside the car instantly soared. The single sip of alcohol I’d had earlier seemed to spread through my entire body, making my limbs go weak. Wyatt’s kisses grew more aggressive, as if he wanted to devour me whole. I let out a soft moan of discomfort. I was suffocating. I still hadn’t learned to breathe during a kiss. After a long while, Wyatt finally took pity on me and pulled back slightly, but he didn’t get up. He leaned against my cheek, whispering in my ear: “Chloe, you really should see how beautiful you are right now.” His hot breath brushed my earlobe. His muscular chest pressed tightly against my softness. Making my body tremble from head to toe. “Wyatt…” My phone buzzed with continuous SnapChat notifications. The intimate atmosphere in the car was instantly shattered. I didn’t even need to look to know my mom was bombing me with messages and voice notes again. Wyatt pulled away from me, glanced at the screen, and asked, “Is it okay not to reply?” I clutched my phone, embarrassed and furious, and pressed the power button, turning it off. I’d been a good girl for twenty-something years. What if I let loose for one night? The feeling just now was too good. I really wanted it to continue. If Wyatt asked if I wanted him to take me home, how should I answer? Would it be too forward to say I didn’t want to go home? But I really wanted to keep kissing… Unknowingly, I started overthinking again. Wyatt chuckled softly, then leaned in once more. I closed my eyes, only to feel a cool sensation across my chest. Huh? He had pulled out my seatbelt and fastened it for me. “To my place.” It wasn’t a question. Wyatt knew what I wanted at that moment. A spacious penthouse in the city center. With floor-to-ceiling windows and an entire wall dedicated to a wine collection.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297191”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

The rescue team called me, saying my parents had ventured into the uncharted wilderness and were now calling for help. They told me to be ready for the huge rescue fees. My husband suddenly snatched my phone. “These are just scam calls, don’t believe them.” He then threw my phone, threatening to divorce me if I dared use our money for the rescue. But he had no idea that the tour package he’d booked for my parents had been stolen by *his* parents. Now, trapped in the wilderness and waiting for rescue, were *his* parents. “Ms. Miller, this is the rescue team. Your parents have entered an uncharted wilderness. We are not a volunteer service, so the cost to get them out will be approximately $150,000.” The number they quoted was huge. It sounded like a lot, but with years of savings between my husband and me, we could still manage it if we really pushed ourselves. I immediately said, “Of course, rescue them! How do I transfer the money to you…?” Before I could finish, my husband snatched my phone. He stated flatly, “Those two old people went into the wilderness on their own. We don’t need to waste our tax dollars. Thanks for your time, but no thanks.” What kind of talk was that?! I immediately tried to grab my phone back from his hand, but he just threw it on the floor and smashed it. He glared at me, his face red with fury. “Ashley, do you know what you were just saying? That’s years of our savings, just gone like that? Don’t you think that’s a waste?” I stared at him, shocked. “What are you talking about? That’s our parents! You’re always saying how hard they worked to raise you, how we needed to honor them!” I picked up my phone from the floor. Luckily, my phone case was shockproof, and with the tempered glass protector, it only shattered the screen protector when it hit the ground. Seeing the phone was okay, I sighed in relief. The rescue team’s call was still connected on the screen. I knelt on the floor and replied, “I’m willing to pay for the rescue!” My husband rushed over, snatched my phone again, and yelled into the receiver, “Rescue who, exactly?! I said no damn way! Those worthless old people had nothing better to do than wander into that wilderness. They deserved whatever they got!” With that, my husband hung up. I looked at him in disbelief. “Blake Hayes, are you even human?! Those are your parents!” He scoffed. “My parents? No, those are *your* parents. Ashley Miller, let me tell you, if you dare spend a dime to rescue them, I’m divorcing you. Don’t forget, you have no right to touch our joint assets without my consent.” After saying that, he went back into the bedroom, even locking the door to keep me out. My heart turned to ice. I sat on the floor, trying to compose myself, already thinking of ways to get around him and pay for my parents’ rescue. Suddenly, I realized something was off. What he’d just said clearly showed he thought it was *my* parents who were trapped in the wilderness. But it was *his* parents who had taken the tour tickets.

A week ago, Blake was humming a tune as he walked in. Seeing me, he pulled two tickets out of his bag. “My friend opened a travel agency, and they’re doing a promotion right now, so I bought two tickets. Aren’t your parents always talking about traveling? This is a perfect chance to send them off on a trip.” I stared at the two tickets. The price tag on them was hefty: $800 a head, flights not included. Clearly not a budget tour. Holding the tickets, something felt off. I asked, “Blake, didn’t you say before that my parents traveled too much, that it was a waste of money? Why the sudden change of heart, sending them on a trip now?” He sat on the couch, smiling. “Oh, old people have so few hobbies, right? They’ve got plenty saved up, their retirement funds are solid. It’s good for them to get out, stretch their legs, and stay active.” Hearing Blake say that, I felt genuinely happy. Looking at the two tickets to the Northwest, I immediately called my parents. After hanging up, Blake smiled at me. “Happy?” I nodded repeatedly. “Yeah, I am. How about this, we buy two more tickets and send your parents along too?” “No way. They can’t go!” he blurted out. I looked at him, confused. “Why? If you think it’s too expensive, I’ll chip in some extra money. Four old people could look out for each other on the trip.” Blake always said his parents were simple country folk, born and raised in the sticks. Besides coming to the city for our wedding, they spent most of their time in the countryside. They’d never traveled before, and this was a great opportunity. My parents, who were seasoned travelers, could take his parents along, and they could look out for each other, so nothing would go wrong. He frowned, thinking for a long time before replying, “They’re just country bumpkins, practically born with mud on their boots. They don’t deserve such a fancy trip. A little sightseeing around the city is enough for them.” “No way! There’s a first time for everything! Those two have worked hard their whole lives, what’s wrong with them enjoying themselves a little?” I opened my phone. “Send me your friend’s travel agency info; I’ll buy the tickets.” Blake stood up and put his arm around me. “Honey, their travel agency just opened, and the special tickets are all gone. How about this, next time we go on a trip, we’ll invite them along.” “Oh, and remember to book the flights for your parents. The tour tickets are redeemed in person. I’m going out of town tomorrow, so I’ll leave you to handle the arrangements. I trust you with it.” He was so adamant that I had no choice but to agree. That night, after he fell asleep, I slipped out of bed and went to the living room, taking the two travel tickets to search for the travel agency online. But after searching for a long time, I couldn’t find any information about that travel agency. “Could it be that it’s a new agency, so there’s no info yet?” I mumbled to myself. The thought of Blake sending my parents on a trip while leaving his own at home made me feel a little guilty. Finally, I found the travel agency my parents usually used and asked if they had any new packages. They quickly replied, “Of course, ma’am. Same great service, guaranteed to satisfy.” “$200 a head, flights not included.” Looking at the package they offered, the itinerary was packed, but the price was incredibly cheap. Since it was a travel agency we’d worked with for years, I immediately transferred the money. After doing all that, I returned to bed and slept soundly.

After Blake left for his business trip, I called both sets of parents and told them we’d booked a trip departing from our city. My father-in-law and mother-in-law immediately told me to book business class flights for them to come from the countryside. As soon as they walked in, my mother-in-law started grumbling, “Going out to play again, how much money have you even made to be so wasteful?” My mother-in-law was always like that—loud and incredibly stingy. After years of being married to Blake, I’d long learned to just let her nagging go in one ear and out the other. I smiled and pulled my mother-in-law into the house. “Mom, Blake said you two have never traveled before, so this is a chance to send you off! Besides, money’s meant to be spent, right?” My mother-in-law sat down, scrutinizing me. I smiled and showed her my phone. “See, this travel agency is great. My parents go there all the time. No forced sales, the guides are fantastic speakers, their descriptions of the sights are so vivid and engaging. The itinerary is well-planned, and they book five-star hotels.” My mother-in-law glanced at it, clearly tempted. She scrolled through my chat history with the travel agency for a bit, then suddenly looked displeased. “You’ve sent your parents off so many times, and we get booked on this little tour?” She looked at me and snorted dismissively. “My son makes so much money, and it all goes to your parents.” I kept a smile on my face. “If one isn’t enough, we can add more activities, go to more places, right?” As I spoke, my father-in-law suddenly stood up, picked up two travel tickets from the coffee table, glanced at them, and immediately got angry. “You booked us a $200 tour, and sent your parents on an $800 one?!” My mother-in-law snatched the tickets from his hand. After looking at them, she was so furious she stomped her foot, then plopped onto the floor, dramatically slapping her thigh. “Oh, the horror! I thought you were finally being merciful, having a change of heart and wanting to send us on a trip, but I never expected you to book us on this garbage tour!” I quickly explained, “Blake bought these to support his friend’s business. They were special discount tickets, not expensive.” With that, my mother-in-law shoved the two travel tickets into my arms. “Anyway, it’s all just travel. We want to go on the $800 one.” “This…” I hesitated. After all, the $800 tickets were bought by Blake. My mother-in-law immediately burst into a tirade. “You just don’t want us to enjoy anything good. You look down on us country folk, don’t you? Such a cheap tour, who are you trying to fool?!” Even my usually quiet father-in-law spoke with a hint of anger now. “We’ve seen videos online. Cheap tours lock old people in rooms. If you don’t buy expensive goods, they don’t give you food, water, or even let you use the bathroom. If you want to abuse us, why use such a method?!” I had no idea how to explain. I pointed to my past chat records with the travel agency. “I’ve sent my parents on this tour several times; this travel agency is really good.” My mother-in-law swatted my phone to the floor. “Hmph, I don’t care. Hurry up and book our flights. We’re going to the Northwest.” I picked up my phone, feeling helpless. Seeing my mother-in-law’s insistence, I called Blake. The first call was hung up. Just as I was about to dial again, my father-in-law spoke up. “Don’t bother him. A man’s busy with work. What are you, a woman, doing, telling him what to do?!” Having lived with my in-laws for years, I knew how to avoid their temper. “I just wanted to confirm with Blake.” My father-in-law was impatient. “Does this little thing need confirmation from the man of the house? I’ve always said a man’s place is at work, a woman’s place is at home. Women shouldn’t interfere when a man is out building his career. Hurry up and book our flights.” My mother-in-law chimed in, “Exactly! It’s normal for our Blake to ignore us for a month or two when he’s busy. Don’t you dare bother him when he’s trying to get a promotion.” Stay calm, stay calm. Mother-in-law relations have always been tricky. We only see them twice a year, so I’ll just consider this my good deed for the year. I sighed and had no choice but to open my phone to book flights. I entered their information, selected tonight’s flight, and as I was about to pay, my mother-in-law snatched my phone again. She suddenly yelled, “Why are you booking us economy class?! That’s for the common folk! Our son can afford a house in the big city; how can you make us fly economy?!” After several rounds of this, I was too tired to argue. If she wanted first class, so be it. Payment, of course, would be from my husband’s bank card. Only after the tickets were successfully purchased were they satisfied. “Then I’ll postpone the original tour I booked for you. It’s just a reservation; you can go any time within a year.” My mother-in-law wasn’t happy again. “Don’t think I don’t know, you just want to subject us to a cheap tour! We’re not going. Either refund it, or let your parents go.” Then, my mother-in-law’s eyes darted. “Oh, right, just let your parents go on the $200 tour. Let them suffer a bit, and they’ll never want to travel again!” My good intentions were completely wasted on them. Even though I was used to letting their words go in one ear and out the other, I felt a little angry now. “Fine, then my parents will go on the $200 tour.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door. I quickly opened it; it was my parents. As soon as he walked in, my dad cheerfully said, “Ashley, what kind of tour did Blake book for us?” Then he noticed the two older people in the room and quickly greeted them. “Oh, in-laws, you’re here too! Is it just the four of us older folks going off without you two young ones this time?” My mom also smiled slightly. “We travel often, so we know all the ins and outs. When we’re on the road, we’ll give you tips.” I was about to speak, but my mother-in-law cut me off. “I don’t need your tips! My darling son booked us an $800 tour, not like your daughter, who’s so cheap, only booking you a $200 one.” She cast a sideways glance at me. My mom paused. “An $800 tour? That’s pretty good.” My mother-in-law gloated, “That’s because my son has been filial since he was little. He feels bad for us old folks in the countryside, so he booked us an $800 one. Your tour is too cheap; we won’t go with you.” Then, my mother-in-law said with fake sympathy, “But dear in-laws, you need to be careful. There are a lot of cheap tours online that will make you spend money to leave. You should be careful, or maybe just don’t go.” Who couldn’t hear the underlying meaning of those fake sympathetic words? My mom was naturally gentle and kind to everyone. Even after hearing that, she didn’t show any anger towards my mother-in-law, maintaining her smile. She reached out and patted my back, comforting me slightly. “The city has many tourist attractions close by, and a two-day itinerary is plenty. This price includes two nights’ accommodation, which is a great deal. Just the other day, your dad and I were talking about booking this package. I guess mother and daughter really are on the same wavelength.” Seeing that my mom wasn’t angry at all, my mother-in-law realized her taunts were falling flat. “Hmph, you’ll know when you’ve suffered a bit. Honey, let’s go now. No need to see us off. Just take your parents on their trip.” My father-inin-law and mother-in-law turned and left. Only my parents and I remained in the house. After they were gone, I took my mom’s hand. “Mom, I really didn’t think all this through. The tour I booked for you, there were plenty of cheaper ones, but you know this travel agency’s value.” My mom shook her head. “That $800 tour was originally for us, right?” My mom had seen right through it, of course. I was about to tell her that I would rebook a trip to the Northwest for them later, but then my mom spoke. “Your in-laws have spent their whole lives in the countryside and have never traveled. It’s a rare chance for them to go, so of course they should enjoy themselves. Don’t worry, your dad and I won’t mind.” I looked at my parents with gratitude and immediately contacted the travel agency to change the passenger names.

After seeing both sets of parents off on their trips, I was alone at home. I went about my usual routine: working, coming home, cleaning the house. I also received different photos from both sets of parents. Mother-in-law: “Oh, my son is so filial! This $800 trip is just different.” Mother-in-law: “Look at this grand hotel, how luxurious! Those country folks would never get to stay in a place like this. My son is a city man now, with a car and a house, he’s amazing.” Mother-in-law: “Oh, this vast, sandy desert is truly something else. Most people wouldn’t even understand it. In a couple of days, our guide is taking us to a famous landmark. Ordinary people can’t get in there, only those with our $800 tickets can.” I looked closely at the photos my mother-in-law sent, frowning. The package clearly stated five-star hotels, but the place they were staying didn’t look like a five-star hotel at all. It looked more like a budget motel. I was about to type a message, telling my mother-in-law to ask the guide about the accommodation, but after typing a few words, I deleted them all. Better to avoid trouble. After so many years married to Blake, I already knew how to handle his relatives. If I opened my mouth and said the hotel was wrong, my mother-in-law would probably scold me. Then I looked at the messages my mom sent me, all beautiful landscape photos. As I was looking at my mom’s photos, Blake came home. “Did you send your parents on their trip?” He asked casually, changing his shoes. I nodded. “Yeah, they’re having a great time. Want to see photos?” I even purposefully held my phone out to him. But he frowned and pushed my hand away. “I just got back from a business trip, I’m a little tired. As long as they’re having fun, that’s enough.” It was normal to be tired after a five-day business trip, so I didn’t think much of it. But unexpectedly, the very next day after he returned, I received an unfamiliar call.

Now, sitting on the floor, I kept replaying everything, and suddenly, from a mess of “something’s wrong,” I finally pulled out the crucial thread. There was no “friend’s travel agency.” It was clearly a setup he orchestrated, to lure my travel-loving parents to the Northwest, then have his contacts guide them into the uncharted wilderness. My parents’ emergency contact was me. The rescue cost was too high, and no one offers free rescue. So, naturally, they contacted me to get them out. In my initial panic, I hadn’t thought much. But now, calm, I knew that regardless of whether it was my parents or his, if either pair of elderly people were in trouble in the wilderness, I would pay to rescue them. However, Blake’s words just now had completely extinguished that notion. He was so resolute, demanding no rescue. Why should I make him act like a devoted son? Thinking this, I stood up and knocked on his bedroom door. “Come out. I want a divorce.” The door opened, and Blake stared at me, utterly shocked. “Are you insane? You want to divorce for those two old geezers, willing to waste so much money? I’m not giving you the money, and now you want a divorce?” I nodded. “Divorce, and divide the assets. My parents paid the down payment on this house, and we’ve been jointly paying the mortgage. Your family paid for the renovations and appliances. So, we’ll split it equally by market value: the house goes to you, and the money comes to me.” “Our joint assets will be divided equally. Don’t worry, we had a prenuptial agreement notarized, so our pre-marital assets won’t be mixed in. “One car each.” At this moment, I was even more grateful that I had considered getting pregnant some time ago. For it, I had specifically asked experienced colleagues with children, bought folic acid and other prenatal supplements, and downloaded an app to calculate my ovulation day. But these were just preparations. Just as I was about to start, some things got in the way. I even decided I didn’t want children this lifetime. Without children, dividing assets would be incredibly easy. Seeing my resolve, Blake sneered. “You think threatening me with divorce will make me pay that money? Ashley Miller, don’t dream. Your money is also mine. You won’t get a divorce.” I looked at him, stunned. It was hard to imagine the man who used to show up under my dorm building every day, who knelt on one knee to propose and promised to treat me well for life, had turned into this. “Are you really willing to let our parents die?” I struggled to control my breathing, staring at him coldly. He sighed. “Ashley, I know it wasn’t easy for your parents to raise you for so many years, but you have to think about our future. We’re both only children; we already have four elderly parents to support. If we have two kids too, can we afford it?” I said grimly, “My parents have their retirement funds; we don’t need to worry about their retirement.” He looked at me coldly, his eyes even showing clear dissatisfaction. “But now we’re talking about $150,000 for one rescue, and there’s no guarantee they’ll even make it out alive! Wouldn’t that $150,000 just be wasted? How many years will it take us, with our salaries, to save up that much?!” Hearing this, I felt utterly sick to my stomach. Perhaps it was psychosomatic, but I clutched my stomach and gagged. Seeing my action, Blake’s eyes suddenly lit up. “If you won’t consider us, at least consider our child, right?” Pregnant? How could I be pregnant? He moved to hug me. “Honey, you’re pregnant, you’re tired, don’t stress over these things. Don’t worry, after this is over, I’ll contact a search and rescue team to try and retrieve your parents’ bodies.” “I remember your parents should have a few insurance policies, and you’re the beneficiary. Once the money comes in, we can move my mom to the city. She can live in your parents’ house. That way, everyone in our village will say you’re a filial daughter-in-law.” “Once the baby is born, we can pool our money to buy him a house. Wouldn’t that be amazing later?” Oh, he’d already planned everything, even for the money after my parents died, and the house we were living in now. When did Blake start having these thoughts? I dodged his embrace. “Are you sure you don’t want a divorce?” Blake nodded. “No divorce, no divorce. You’re pregnant now, why would I divorce? Think about it, wouldn’t it be better to spend that $150,000 on our child than on rescuing two elderly people with slim chances of survival?” I took a long, hard look at Blake, hoping he wouldn’t regret his decision today. After that, Blake became incredibly attentive, even specifically telling me not to be too upset, and to remember to think more about our child if I felt overwhelmed.

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It was the third year with Landon when I overheard his buddy ask him: “Landon, you had your brother pretend to be you? Dating and even kissing your little naive boyfriend? He seriously won’t figure it out?” Landon exhaled a puff of smoke, utterly unconcerned. “We look practically identical. Julian’s simple-minded; he won’t notice a thing.” “Besides, my brother is totally homophobic. And he doesn’t do used goods, so he’d never actually sleep with him.” I lowered my gaze, pretending I didn’t know. For three years, the one I’d been dating, holding hands with, kissing – it was all Landon’s brother. The one who gripped my waist every night, whispering for me to call him ‘Husband’ – that was him too. 0 Landon’s supposedly homophobic brother was now holding me in the bathtub, gently murmuring. “Just let me clean you up, sweetheart. You’ll get sick.” I turned my face away, feeling drained. His expression remained unchanged. He could talk dirty and still look like a perfect gentleman. Who knew his kinks ran that deep? While I was silently fuming, a phone chimed. I watched Jasper subtly angle his phone screen away. I knew immediately it was Landon on the other end. Sure enough, he kissed my forehead. “I’ll just step out for a call. If the water gets cold, let me know.” I stood up, following him silently. *Click.* The sound of a lighter sparked from the balcony first. “Bro, is he with you right now?” “Hm.” Jasper lowered his head, loosely gripping the cigarette between his teeth. A moment of silence passed on the other end. “You really don’t need to go to such lengths. Just string him along normally. Why let him stay over… I went to his dorm tonight, couldn’t find him.” “Didn’t you tell me to pretend to be you and keep him placated?” Jasper exhaled a thin stream of smoke, unhurried. “What, changed your mind? You’re not chasing girls anymore, and now you want to date a guy?” “How could I?” Landon’s voice instantly filled with disgust. “He’s nowhere near Stella. At most, I’d just take pity on him and sleep with him a few times, that’s it.” Laughter and jeers erupted from the phone, and Landon’s voice grew even more contemptuous. “A real relationship? He’s not worthy.” I stood behind the door, listening silently, my throat tightening. “Landon, are you really okay with just tossing him to your brother like that? Julian is way prettier than a lot of the girls at school.” They were probably at a bar; Landon’s voice slurred with drunkenness. “No matter how pretty, he’s still just a guy. Can’t even get pregnant.” “Damn, you’re getting me all worked up!” “—Last time Julian kissed you, his lips were so red. Jasper, tell him, wasn’t that just so damn tempting?” “Knock it off! You know my brother’s homophobic. Kissing a guy is his limit. Right, bro?” Jasper slowly toyed with the lighter in his hand, not answering. The air suddenly went still. “Bro?” In the almost eerie silence, Landon’s voice grew noticeably tense. I quietly peeked at the man standing in the night. After our intimate moments, Jasper still looked perfectly put-together, not a hair out of place. He leaned against the railing, slowly exhaling smoke. After a long moment, he finally stubbed out the cigarette, speaking faintly. “Mm.” 0

“And you guys, don’t think I don’t know you’ve all been secretly eyeing Julian. Fine, crack all the jokes you want, but don’t you dare lay a hand on him. I’m not sharing my leftovers.” “Hey, aren’t you almost done reeling in the campus queen? Why are you still playing Julian? Honestly, Julian’s pretty innocent; he just got turned gay by you because the campus queen likes you—” “Who said he was turned gay by me?” On the phone, Landon let out a short, lazy laugh. “He secretly hid a photo under his pillow. He’d been crushing on me for ages.” At the mention of the photo, my breathing hitched. Then I heard him slowly utter the last few words: “He’s just inherently wired to be used by men.” “Holy shit, Landon, you’re a legend!” The call ended abruptly. I gently exhaled. That dull ache had long since passed, but there were always these tiny cuts. Fine, fragmented, like ants gnawing at me. … I don’t know how long I’d stood outside in the breeze, but when Jasper wrapped his arms around me from behind, there wasn’t a trace of cigarette smoke left on him. I instinctively melted into his embrace. But I really hate being deceived. So, when he cupped my chin and kissed me, I mumbled in protest, “Landon…” The hand exploring my waist paused, his voice husky. “Call me Husband.” I squeezed my eyes shut, silently resisting. Jasper didn’t get angry. He slowly lifted me. My waist dipped into a breathtaking arch. He coaxed softly, “Come on, call me Husband, okay?” … I finally couldn’t hold back a choked sob. But the man behind me had already cast aside his gentle facade. “Husband, Husband—!” Remembering Jasper’s dominance, I quickly twisted around, rubbing my face against his hand. Coaxing, “Husband, it hurts.” “Hurts?” The one who had been silent finally spoke. “Why didn’t you say so sooner?” His long fingers brushed away the damp hair from my forehead. “Let Husband see.” “…You’re really crying hard.” His tone was loving, yet his gaze was clearly one of appreciation. My limbs felt weak as I buried my face in his chest. I couldn’t help but curse, “You jerk.” “Jerk?” he repeated, then smiled meaningfully. “You always did like jerks.” … 0

Compared to Jasper, Landon really was more of a jerk. I discovered this relationship was just a game of conquest. It was the second week after we got together, when Landon took me to meet his friends. Having crushed on him for two years, I knew he only liked girls before. I was terrified his friends wouldn’t approve. So, regardless of whether their intentions were malicious, or what kind of alcohol it was—red or white— I accepted every drink they offered, pouring it all down my throat. Finally, when I was too drunk to keep my eyes open, slumping softly into Landon’s arms, he finally spoke, lazily. “Enough. Can’t you see he’s already passed out?” “Tsk.” Someone’s hand brushed my face. “Damn, that face is really something.” Then a pinch on my waist. “Holy shit, his waist is tiny too.” “If you don’t like guys, Landon, why don’t you give him to me?” A puff of smoke was playfully blown into my face. “I love guys like this.” What was he saying…? I lay uncomfortably on Landon’s lap, coughing tears from the smoke. “Oh, can’t stand smoke?” The guy suddenly got excited. “Then imagine smoking while doing him—wouldn’t that be the best? Haha…” What on earth were they talking about?! My remaining consciousness waited for Landon to scold them. But no matter how long I waited, he remained silent. “So it’s settled.” “Kyle, wanna join tonight? The hotel downstairs has everything, it’ll be epic…” “Enough.” Landon pushed the guy away, his voice low. “Don’t even think about him.” “No way, Landon.” The guy laughed exaggeratedly. “Do you want to taste what a guy feels like, or are you getting soft on him?” “Come on, this is the guy the campus queen likes, he’s your rival. How can you be soft on him?” “Damn it, are you deaf?” Landon slammed his lighter on the table, his voice impatient. “I told you I’d hand him over to my brother. Once I get Stella, I’ll just find an excuse to dump him. If I hand him over to you, you’ll try to kill him? I don’t want a murder on my hands.” “As for getting soft,” Landon sneered. “The thought of being intimate with a guy makes me sick.” …No wonder. No wonder every time I tried to kiss him, he’d turn away with a dark look. I thought I was being too eager. Turns out, he just found me disgusting. …Good thing my face was down. I struggled to keep from throwing up, trying to find some bitter amusement in the situation. Otherwise, a grown man crying with snot and tears everywhere would look pretty bad, right? 0

“This is truly absurd.” When he placed me in the passenger seat, I distinctly felt him wearily rub his brow. “Landon, how could you come up with something so ridiculous?” “I don’t want my crush to like someone else, bro. I know you’re homophobic, and this is a huge sacrifice, but just help me out this one time, okay?” “I promise, I won’t touch a race car for at least a month afterward.” “That’s not the same thing.” Jasper’s tone was firm. “When will you ever grow up…” “Ugh.” My stomach churned from all the alcohol, and I couldn’t help but turn over. I met the gaze of the person leaning over to buckle my seatbelt. …They really did look alike. Even the mole at the corner of their eyes was identical. Yet, despite having the same face, Landon was ostentatious, wanting the whole world to fall in love with him. This man, however, meticulously buttoned his shirt to the very top, his sleeves rolled up only a tiny bit, revealing his wrist-watch. It gave him an almost unapproachable, ascetic air, combined with an undeniable hint of raw desire. His gaze lingered briefly on my lips for a few seconds before subtly shifting away. His long fingers tapped the steering wheel. “Fine, just this once.” … Later, everything proceeded smoothly according to Landon’s wishes. The two of them took turns holding my hand, going on dates with me. Every day, I received two hefty allowances and two sets of gifts. With one exception. Jasper would take me to bed. In stark contrast to his reserved and self-possessed exterior, his desires were intense, and his repertoire varied. Every time, with his back covered in scratch marks, he’d casually kiss my trembling inner thigh while calmly responding to Landon’s calls: “No, he’s been very well-behaved.” “Hmm, didn’t notice a thing.” Then he’d pull my groggy body into his arms. “Come on, sleep a little before school, okay?” … By routine, yesterday should have been Landon’s turn. But perhaps things with Stella had finally progressed, so he couldn’t even bother to pretend. He just turned off his phone and went sea fishing with his beauty. By the time he remembered me that evening, Jasper and I had already had several rounds in bed. 0

The next morning, Landon was waiting downstairs early. “Sit in the back. The front passenger seat is Stella’s spot.” Perhaps he thought I was an idiot, but Landon never bothered to hide his disdain for me. Or his unique special treatment for Stella. It seemed things were indeed getting serious. After just one day, the car’s decorations and air freshener had changed to styles Stella liked. I paused, hand on the door, and didn’t say anything, dutifully getting into the back. “Wait.” In the rearview mirror, Landon’s half-lidded eyes narrowed. “What’s that on your collarbone?” I followed his gaze and touched my skin,愣了一瞬. It was a tooth mark. Jasper, that jerk. “Probably a mosquito bite.” I cursed Jasper silently, then nonchalantly pulled up my collar. “A mosquito could do that?” Landon frowned. When he leaned closer, as if to inspect it, I suddenly felt a surge of weariness. So I curved my lips slightly. “Wasn’t it you, Husband?” “When the hell did I—” Landon suddenly fell silent. “Can we not go on for so long tonight? I’m really tired.” I yawned, fanning the flames. “…Okay.” Landon gritted his teeth, his face thunderous, dark enough to curdle milk. Sure enough, not long after I got out of the car, I heard him questioning Jasper’s voice. “Bro, did you touch Julian?” I don’t know what Jasper said, but Landon suddenly kicked the front of the car violently. “He’s my boyfriend! How could you touch him?” I walked back a couple of steps and heard the unhurried rustle of Jasper flipping through papers. “Aren’t you about to win Stella over? It’s the perfect time to break up with him.” Then a pause. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for Julian.” “I…” Landon irritably tugged at his collar. “Even if I don’t like him, he’s still my boyfriend. No one else touches him but me, damn it.” “I’ve been unfair to him these past three years. Once I sort things out with Stella, I’ll consider forcing myself to try with him.” “Aren’t you afraid he’ll leave you once he finds out the truth?” “No.” Landon’s brow instantly relaxed a little. “He loves me a lot.” “Sorry, bro, I shouldn’t have suspected you like that. You two definitely don’t have anything going on. Once I handle things here… No, I’ll take him to meet everyone around me tonight. It’ll be compensation.” “From now on, Julian won’t be bothering you, bro. You’ve worked hard these past few years.” Jasper turned another page. “No trouble at all.” 0

For the next few days, Landon truly seemed to have settled down, dutifully staying on campus. Several times, I intentionally made movements to get close to him, just like before, and he surprisingly didn’t resist at all. In fact, his reactions were quite intense. The next time I evaded his pursuing lips, Landon finally couldn’t hold back. He forcefully pressed me down beneath him. Panting, he commanded, “Open your mouth.” “I’m a bit tired today.” I innocently repeated his old excuse. “And a little unaccustomed to it.” Landon’s breath hitched for a moment, and he slowly released me. He lowered his gaze, muttering to himself, “It’s okay, after tonight…” I didn’t know what he had planned. But I tilted my head and thought. Whether it was with Landon or Jasper, it was time for this game to end. So I obediently nodded. “Okay.” 0

I didn’t expect Landon to be off his game even before evening. “I’m going out to take a call.” After dodging five consecutive calls, he finally couldn’t hold back, grabbing his phone and rushing out. As soon as he stepped out of the dorm building, a girl threw herself into his arms. “You said you liked me, so why did you suddenly stop coming to see me?” The girl sobbed, complaining indignantly. The one who had been constantly saying he needed to sort things out with Stella let her wrap her arms around his waist. His hands hesitated for a few seconds before finally resting on her shoulders, holding her tight. … “Ah!” Stella suddenly shrieked. I instinctively tried to step back, but someone wrapped an arm around my waist, kissing my neck with a low chuckle. Landon finally looked up, his eyes landing on me. “It’s not what you think!” He abruptly pushed the girl away, trying to walk over and explain. But he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the person beside me. “…Bro?” I pulled my hand from Jasper’s grasp, about to speak. Then I heard Jasper calmly respond, “Hm.” “I haven’t introduced you two yet.” Just like someone introducing their partner to family, Jasper calmly gestured towards Landon. “This is my brother, Landon. And as for Julian,” He didn’t bat an eye, taking my hand and intertwining our fingers once more, a smile playing on his lips. “This is your sister-in-law.” 0

“…What are you talking about?” It wasn’t just me; Landon’s face also went momentarily blank. I hadn’t expected Jasper to still be pretending to be his brother at this point. Seeing Jasper calmly pull me closer, Landon’s eyelid twitched. “When did he become your—!” “Are you asking when we got together?” Jasper’s lips curved slightly, but there wasn’t a hint of a smile in his light eyes; instead, there was a cold, cruel glint. “But are you sure,” “You want Julian to hear what I’m about to say?” “You bastard!” Landon quickly strode over, grabbing Jasper’s collar and slamming him against the wall like a furious lion, his eyes bloodshot. “He’s my—!” “Address me properly.” Even in such a disheveled state, Jasper met his gaze with an unnerving calm. Landon’s fury slowly dissipated under that steady stare. “…Sister-in-law.” He glared at Jasper, gritting his teeth. “Happy now?” Jasper nodded slightly, but he wasn’t done. “Didn’t you say you were introducing your girlfriend to everyone tonight? Julian isn’t an outsider; he can witness it too.” “Going, sweetheart?” Both men looked at me. Our eyes met, and I suddenly felt a sense of relief. For Stella, Landon had concocted this ridiculous rotation game. Now that he saw I wasn’t clinging to him anymore, he must be thrilled. So I smiled and leaned into Jasper’s embrace. “Of course, I’ll go. Landon’s brother is my brother, after all.” 0

Perhaps they’d already been briefed, but when we walked into the private room, everyone enthusiastically stood up. A chorus of “Sister-in-law” was on the verge of escaping their lips when they saw Jasper behind me. Their expressions immediately became a sight to behold. “Uh, L-Landon?” They took a few seconds to react, perhaps thinking Landon had suddenly changed his mind again. So they all pretended to be familiar and clapped Jasper on the shoulder. Then, the real Landon walked in, a dark scowl on his face. “Holy shit.” Someone finally couldn’t help but blurt out a curse. “Why are you looking at me? Order the food.” Landon, still fuming, sat down next to me. “Aren’t you going to introduce everyone first?” Jasper, while naturally sanitizing my forks, smoothly steered the conversation. “This is Stella,” Landon gritted his back teeth. “My girlfriend.” Stella shyly leaned against him. Landon immediately looked at me nervously. Seeing my lack of reaction, his face grew even darker. He finally ignored everyone’s winks and nudges, silently peeling a shrimp for me. “Eat shrimp.” Before I could even reach for it, the person on the other side snatched it with his forks. “You f**king done with your—” Landon slammed his forks on the table. Before he could unleash his anger, he heard Jasper casually say, “He’s allergic to shrimp.” Landon’s rage immediately died down. “I didn’t know.” He looked uncharacteristically flustered. Ignoring how bizarre it was for him to serve me, he eagerly picked up a piece of chicken. “You can eat this, right?” “Thanks, I can eat it.” I gave him a slight smile, and as his face relaxed in relief, I promptly put it into Jasper’s bowl. “But I don’t like it.” The smile on Landon’s face completely vanished. “Wanna step out for a smoke?” As if he couldn’t hold back his fury any longer, he stood up and tapped twice on Jasper’s chair back. It was boring to stare at a bunch of guys who enjoyed humiliating me, and I also wanted to know what Jasper’s game plan was. So I found an excuse and followed them out. Sure enough, around a corner, I heard Landon’s vicious voice: “Bro, what the hell is your deal? Are you addicted to pretending to be me, or did you seriously fall for your own brother’s boyfriend?” “It’s perfectly natural for me to get him food,” He let out a short, neurotic laugh. “But what right do you have to care what he’s allergic to?” “I don’t have the right.” Jasper held a cigarette in one hand, bringing it nonchalantly to his lips. Then he casually stubbed it out. “But I will soon.” Landon exploded, grabbing Jasper’s collar and slamming him against the wall, his eyes bloodshot: “Jasper! Are you really stealing your brother’s boyfriend?!” “What’s the rush?” Under Landon’s furious glare, Jasper remained outwardly calm and relaxed. His long legs, encased in tailored trousers, were sprawled lazily. “If I hadn’t pushed you like this, would you ever have seen your true feelings?” “What do you mean?” Landon narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “If I hadn’t forced your hand tonight, would you still be wavering between Stella and Julian?” “No matter how much Julian loves you, there’ll always come a day when he loses heart.” Jasper freed his collar from Landon’s grip. Like a dependable older brother, he patiently guided him: “Now do you know what to do?” Though still half-skeptical, Landon finally relaxed his hold on his brother, who he’d trusted for over twenty years. He snorted. “Alright, let’s switch roles back then. And book me a room.” “Condoms and stuff are basic, but get a few more varieties of kinks.” He carefully watched Jasper’s expression. “Something this simple, surely nothing else could go wrong, right?” “Of course.” Jasper’s expression was as usual. … When they re-entered the private room, the two had indeed switched seats. “Can we sleep out tonight?” Landon, now in different clothes, lightly bit my earlobe. A disagreeable stickiness immediately washed over me. I instinctively flinched away, my hand accidentally brushing against Jasper’s thigh. Just as I was about to move it back, my pinky finger was gently hooked. I looked up to see Jasper calmly sipping tea, his face devoid of expression. Noticing my gaze, he even raised an eyebrow, puzzled. “What’s wrong?” “…Nothing.” So, under everyone’s watchful eyes, right next to his own brother, Jasper subtly intertwined his fingers with mine, his ‘brother’s boyfriend,’ beneath the tablecloth. Slowly. So slowly. Then he squeezed tight. “I’ve booked a room.” Seeing I didn’t respond, Landon thought I was shy, and he cleared his throat awkwardly. “I—it’s my first time too, but I’ll make sure you’re comfortable. Okay?” My fingertips were gently caressed by another, and my heart couldn’t help but quicken a few beats. But I carefully held back my answer. Because I knew Landon wasn’t the only one waiting for my reply. Landon was doing this for Stella. But what about Jasper? Was simply humoring his brother reason enough to sacrifice himself and sleep with a man? I’d even secretly wondered if he liked me. But then why had he lied to me for three years, never revealing his true identity? Yet, recalling the brothers’ interaction just now, I finally spoke with a smile. “Okay.” Since Jasper had gone to such lengths, even booking us a room. How could I possibly disappoint his efforts?

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My fiancé, Declan, married me because it was what his family wanted. I actually thought he’d finally given up on Chloe, the girl who held his heart. But for three years after we got married, he was barely ever home, always out and about with her. I couldn’t be bothered to catch them red-handed, so I just got bored and started an online relationship. Then, to my shock, I found out my online boyfriend was none other than Julian, Declan’s best friend. I just couldn’t reconcile the sweet, clingy guy who begged for hugs every day online with the intimidating Julian I knew in real life. I freaked out and broke up with him. But Julian burst into my apartment, crying and begging me to forgive him, not to leave him. As he was pleading, Declan suddenly walked in. Panicked, I shoved Julian into the closet. Declan hugged me, whispering, “It’s over with her. From now on, I’ll focus on you. Let’s have a baby.” Julian, furious, kicked open the closet door. “No way! I don’t agree!” *** Declan threw a lavish birthday party for Chloe on a cruise ship. My best friend, Taylor, couldn’t stand it and insisted on dragging me along to catch them and humiliate the other woman. I was about to refuse, but then I remembered my online boyfriend had sent me his location, and it was somewhere nearby. So, hoping I might bump into him, I went along. But as soon as we arrived, the birthday party was already over. We didn’t even catch a glimpse of Declan or Chloe. Taylor was so mad she started swearing like a sailor. I let her rant for half an hour before I finally managed to calm her down. “Let me take you home. I told you, don’t bother trying to catch them.” Even if we did, what would be the point? After dropping Taylor off, I walked alone down the street, glancing back at the bar behind me, and then stepped inside. I ordered a glass of red wine at the bar, but it tasted bitter, so I only took one sip. My online boyfriend sent me another message. **[My friends moved to a new spot, a bar, but don’t worry, babe, I won’t have any contact with anyone else.]** A thought flashed through my mind. Could it be the very bar I was in right now? I typed a reply. **[What’s the bar called? Do you have a room number?]** He actually sent me the address and the room number. And a teasing remark, too. **[Missing me, babe? It’s too late now. Next time you want to see your husband, let’s pick a proper time. Our first meeting has to be special.]** A smile played on my lips. What I didn’t say was, we might just meet tonight. I hurried upstairs. The corridors were a maze, but I finally found the room number he’d given me. The door wasn’t fully closed; it was slightly ajar. They seemed to be playing a game inside, and I heard Chloe’s voice. A surge of alarm went through me. Had I gone to the wrong room? I glanced back, realizing I hadn’t made a mistake at all. This was definitely the room number my online boyfriend had given me. “Julian! Your turn. Truth or Dare?” From my angle, I couldn’t see Julian’s face, only his back. His shoulders were broad, and he had a great physique. He was Declan’s best friend, closer than brothers since they were kids. Julian lazily drawled, “Truth.” “Who were you just texting, smiling so happily?” Chloe casually asked. Julian glanced at Declan, who was sitting beside him, and said, “Aubrey. My girlfriend.” The room fell silent for a moment. Chloe gave a dry laugh. “What a coincidence.” She quickly looked at Declan, who seemed oblivious, and instantly breathed a sigh of relief. My heart lurched. That was my name, and my online username. It couldn’t be such a coincidence… But the very next second, my heart sank. Julian’s phone screen was projected onto the big monitor. And there, glaringly obvious, was my chat window. “Whoa, Julian, you’re into online dating? And she’s older?” Julian frowned, smacking the person next to him. “Give me my phone back.” He snatched his phone, his expression faltering slightly, and started to walk out of the room. I was terrified and immediately fled the scene. As soon as I reached the stairwell, my phone vibrated in my pocket. In my panic, I just hit hang up. **[Babe, why aren’t you answering? Do you not like me anymore?]** The messages that followed were a rapid-fire flood of pathetic, adorable emojis. Seeing those messages, I took a deep breath. How could Julian, with his unapproachable face, say such things to me? And he’s actually older than me, yet he pretended to be some younger college guy! **Chapter 2** I sprinted all the way home, my back drenched in sweat. My phone now had several new photos of abs. The muscles were perfectly defined, very eye-catching. But I was in no mood to appreciate them. **[Don’t be mad, babe. I’m coming home now. I’ll never go to shady places again.]** **[Babe, please talk to me…]** I sent a voice message. “Sorry, my husband’s home. Don’t text me today.” There was a pause on the other end. Soon, another message came through. **[Babe, didn’t you say your husband was never home?]** I replied without batting an eye. **[He came back today.]** **[Okay, babe. I know I’m not supposed to be seen.]** I knew Julian understood I was lying, but he couldn’t call me out. I had never hidden the fact that I was married, and he also knew my husband was Declan. When we first got together, he said he didn’t care, that he could wait for me to get divorced. Before that, we could be platonic, just a spiritual connection. But I never thought he’d hide his identity. His age and even his name were all fake. And the big question: Did Declan know what Julian was up to? Hooking up with his best friend’s wife behind his back. I slapped my face, annoyed. It was all my fault for not insisting he send me a photo. My fault for trusting a stranger online so completely. I ignored Julian for a few days, planning to ice him out until he got the hint. I didn’t think he’d dare to just show up and expose everything. Julian had to have some shame, right? But Julian, shamelessly, kept sending me messages. Constantly asking, *Is your husband gone? Is your husband gone?* I typed a single word. **[No.]** Not long after, I saw Declan and Chloe trending on Ins. The two of them were shouting declarations from a hot air balloon. “Chloe! I love you!” “Declan! I love you too!” It had gone viral just because the hot air balloon cost a staggering fifty million dollars. Netizens were gushing with envy, joking that they were just NPCs in a grand romance, witnessing another fairytale billionaire love story. All I felt was awkwardness. Didn’t they think shouting from the sky was totally ridiculous? What if a bird pooped on them? Not long after, the trending topic was completely scrubbed clean. My mother-in-law called me. “Aubrey, Declan’s just having a bit of fun. Don’t make a fuss, dear. He’s very busy with work, it’s normal for him to unwind. A man, well, who doesn’t have a few people around them? The Maxwell family only recognizes you as their daughter-in-law.” My voice was flat. “Don’t worry, Mom. I won’t make a fuss.” Hearing that, my mother-in-law quickly hung up. They were being so public about it that people had forgotten I was the original wife. What good would a fuss do now? Honestly, before the marriage, I actually did make a fuss. Declan and Chloe were childhood sweethearts, while Declan and I met later. Strictly speaking, I was the latecomer. My father was Declan’s father’s army buddy. After my dad was killed in action, Declan’s father adopted me. I was sixteen then, and my looks had blossomed; I was quite pretty. Declan was smitten at first sight and made a grand show of pursuing me. Declan’s father thought it was a great idea and decided to arrange our engagement. But Declan’s mother didn’t like me. She thought I was from a common background and wasn’t good enough for her perfect son. Not long after the engagement, Declan changed his mind. He said his feelings for me were just a passing fancy, and the one he truly loved was Chloe, his childhood sweetheart! I was furious and constantly at odds with Chloe. We competed in academics, in dancing, in talents. But other than academics, I was inferior to Chloe in everything. I’d never had any exposure to classical arts. Declan and his friends often mocked me, calling me an unsophisticated country bumpkin. Yet, whenever I scored better than Chloe on a test, Declan would accuse me of being too competitive and not as gentle and lovely as Chloe. Right after high school, I poured every ounce of my effort into my exams and became the top student. While I was basking in joy, I heard Declan scornfully say, “She only knows how to bury her head in books. What good is that? She’s not worthy of being my wife.” **Chapter 3** My heart instantly sank. I had actually thought Declan still had some feelings for me. Turns out, he’d always looked down on me.

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My childhood friend and I were about to leave after dinner when someone suddenly blocked our way, insisting I pay for another table. I flat out refused to acknowledge her, saying I didn’t know them, but the woman blew her top. “Damn it, I’m doing you a favor by letting *this lady* pay! You dare disrespect the Sterling Group in Veridian City? You looking for trouble?” Before I could even speak, she got even more arrogant. “Do you even know who I am? I’m Leo Sterling, the CEO of Sterling Group’s wife! Scared now?” I froze for a second, then called Leo Sterling directly. “Heard you have another wife at the company?” … The second I hung up, the woman absolutely lost it. She snatched my phone and smashed it on the floor. “Still calling people, huh? I’m telling you, you won’t walk out of this restaurant tonight!” “Stop it!” My childhood friend, Riley Blackwood, instantly pulled me behind her. “Is this all the Sterling Group’s people have for manners? Randomly stopping people from paying, and then getting physical?” Riley’s words made the woman’s face flush crimson. “Manners? In Veridian City, the name Sterling Group *is* manners!” “I’m telling you to pay, I’m giving you a golden opportunity, got it?” “You want to talk rules with me? My word *is* the rule!” A humorless laugh escaped my lips. I looked up at Vanessa Reed. “No matter how big the Sterling Group is, I’m pretty sure they didn’t teach you to block people and extort money, did they?” Vanessa sneered, hands on her hips, looking like a total menace. “I’m letting you pay because I’m giving you a chance to social climb! Plenty of people are lined up, begging to pay my bill, and I wouldn’t even look twice at them!” “A chance to social climb,” huh? Since when did my Kingston family need to social climb off anyone in Veridian City? I glanced at my friend, her face darkening. She, a high-society heiress from Capitol City, never imagined she’d be bullied like this by some minor Sterling Group VP in Veridian City. Vanessa scoffed, waving a hand towards the door. “Let me tell you, in Veridian City, I, Vanessa Reed, *am* the rule! Get these two idiots who have no idea who they’re messing with and hold them down!” The words barely left her mouth when seven or eight bodyguards in black suits swarmed in, instantly surrounding us. Riley instinctively pulled me further behind her, her eyes blazing. But there were too many of them. Before she could even make a move, two bodyguards had her arms pinned down. “Riley!” I started to rush forward, but then felt a sharp blow to the back of my neck. My vision instantly went black. Through a haze, I saw Riley struggling, cursing, “Bastard!” before someone landed a punch on her cheek. Blood immediately welled up at the corner of her mouth. I was held down on the ground, forced to watch as Vanessa raised her foot and kicked Riley in the stomach, all while cursing. “You dare meddle in my business? Today, you’ll learn that the Sterling Group is not to be messed with!” The bodyguards’ fists rained down on me, dull pain spreading through my body in waves. Riley had only come here to visit, and now she was caught up in this inexplicable mess. I hoarsely yelled, “Vanessa Reed, I am Chloe Kingston, Leo Sterling’s legal wife!” I pointed to Riley, who was still pinned down beside me. “And she’s Riley Blackwood, from the Blackwood family in Capitol City! Let us go now, and this can still be over!” At that, Vanessa’s foot froze mid-air, then she burst out laughing. “Leo Sterling’s wife? Blackwood family? Are you two out of your damn minds from being hit too hard?” The people at her table behind her also started laughing. “Who doesn’t know Mr. Sterling’s wife is VP Reed?” “This person really has the nerve to show off, saying whatever she wants.” “Blackwood family? Capitol City? I’ve never heard of them. She probably just made it up to scare us.” Vanessa leaned down, grabbing a handful of my hair, her eyes vicious. “You say you’re his wife one more time, and I’ll rip your mouth apart. I’m going to show you what’s real and what’s fake. Only *I* can call him Leo, and only *I* am his woman.” Riley, pinned to the ground by bodyguards, blood still trickling from her mouth, spoke with a mocking tone, “Chloe Kingston, Chloe Kingston, so you got married for nothing, huh? She’s openly claiming him right in front of you, and you, the actual wife, are here looking like a walking joke?” Her words caught me off guard for a moment, then I smiled too, but my laugh carried a hint of malice. Vanessa was still yanking my hair. Suddenly, I violently turned my head and bit down hard on her wrist. She shrieked in pain, her grip loosening instantly. Using that momentum, I slammed my knee into the groin of the bodyguard behind me. While he doubled over in pain, I grabbed a nearby beer bottle and smashed it over the head of another bodyguard. By the time Vanessa reacted, I had lunged at her, my balled fist striking her face. She was stunned by the sudden counterattack, stumbling back two steps, nose instantly gushing blood. “You dare hit me?!” Vanessa was both shocked and enraged. She reached out to claw at my face, but I grabbed her arm and slammed her to the ground. I straddled her, raining down punch after punch. The few Sterling Group employees were desperate, drunkenly rushing forward to pull me off. “You dare hit VP Reed? You have a death wish!” Riley, I don’t know when, had also broken free from the bodyguards. She kicked away an approaching employee and yelled at me, “Damn it, beat her to death! I’ve never been so humiliated in my life!” In the chaos, someone grabbed a chair and smashed it onto my back. I grunted, but didn’t stop. Vanessa screamed, trying frantically to grab my hair. “Sterling’s people, kill her! I’ll take responsibility for anything that happens, triple bonus!” The employees swarmed like mad, some pulling my arms, some grabbing my waist, others secretly kicking at my legs. Vanessa, seizing the moment I was being pulled, suddenly kicked me in the stomach. I stumbled back two steps, just about to charge again, when I heard voices from the restaurant entrance. “Everybody stop!” Two people in police uniforms pushed their way in. Seeing the mess, their brows furrowed. But when their eyes fell on Vanessa Reed, battered and bruised on the floor, their faces instantly changed. “VP Reed? What are you doing here? What happened?” One of the heavier officers quickly stepped forward, his tone clearly fawning, reaching out to help Vanessa up. Vanessa, seeing the police, acted as if she’d found her salvation. She pointed at Riley and me, wailing. “Officer Jenkins! These two out-of-towners are crazy! Not only did they refuse to pay the bill, but they also assaulted people! Look at me, and my employees, they’re all injured because of them!” Officer Jenkins glanced at our injuries, clearly dismissing them, and instead sternly yelled at us. “What do you two think you’re doing? Brawling in broad daylight, and daring to hurt Sterling Group’s people? You’ve got some nerve!” “She was the one who stopped us from paying first, and she hit us.” Riley, clutching her mouth, spat. “Nonsense!” Vanessa immediately interrupted. “I was kindly letting them get a little connection with Sterling Group by paying my bill, but they turned hostile and refused to acknowledge me, and even impersonated my husband’s wife and someone from Capitol City’s Blackwood family.” Officer Jenkins clearly believed her, pointing to the broken beer bottles and overturned tables and chairs. “Regardless, you beat people up like this and ruined the restaurant’s property, so it’s definitely your fault! Let me tell you, in Veridian City, who doesn’t give the Sterling Group some respect? VP Reed is Mr. Sterling’s person. If you touch her, you’re disrespecting Sterling Group, you’re messing with the rules of the entire Veridian City!” The other, thinner officer had already pulled out handcuffs and rattled them. “Less talk, let’s go back to the station with us first! Oh, and by the way, the bill for VP Reed’s table, plus the restaurant’s renovation fees, medical expenses, and emotional distress damages – you two will cover all of it. If you then kneel down and apologize to VP Reed, maybe this can still be settled privately.” “Why should we?” I was so angry I laughed. “She was the one who started the trouble, and you’re just convicting us without even knowing the facts?” “Why? Because you’re out-of-towners!” Officer Jenkins impatiently waved his hand. “Here, you follow the rules here! VP Reed letting you pay was her giving you a break, don’t bite the hand that feeds you!” Riley scoffed. “I’d like to see if Veridian City’s rules are above the law of the land.” “Hey, still talking tough, huh!” Officer Hayes stepped forward, trying to cuff me. “Looks like you haven’t learned your lesson!” I sidestepped, dodging him. He instantly got mad, suddenly pulling out a stun gun and flicking the switch. “You want to play hardball, huh?” He jabbed the stun gun at me. “Looks like you want to end up in jail!” A jolt of electricity instantly shot through my limbs. My whole body went numb, and I almost collapsed. Riley quickly grabbed me, yelling at the officer, “You dare abuse your authority?!” “Abuse my authority? I’m performing my duty.” Officer Jenkins also pulled out his stun gun, pointing it at Riley. “In Veridian City, Sterling Group’s business is big business. You two, who don’t know your place, need to be taught a good lesson in rules!” Riley grunted as she was zapped, and a burnt smell filled the air. “You power-tripping pieces of trash… you’ll regret this one day…” “Regret?” Officer Jenkins laughed even harder, using his stun gun to lift Riley’s chin. “You two can regret it slowly when you’re locked up and getting beaten every day!” He turned and smiled obsequiously at Vanessa Reed. “VP Reed, do you think this is enough? I can add more juice if you like!” Vanessa watched from the side, looking smug. “Give them more juice, make them know who’s in charge here!” Officer Jenkins kicked me, then bowed again to Vanessa Reed. “VP Reed, could you give us a heads-up? When’s your due date roughly? My partner and I will definitely prepare a generous gift to congratulate you and Mr. Sterling.” Officer Hayes also nodded, bending at the waist. “Exactly, exactly. You have to give us the honor then, let us share in the good news. Maybe with this opportunity, Mr. Sterling can even give us a leg up.” Mentioning this, Vanessa smiled. “About four or five months, I had someone check, it’s a boy.” Vanessa… was pregnant…

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The day I was released from prison, my guys took me to a bar for a welcome back party. But the table next to us was playing a game, and suddenly they wanted me to foot the entire bill for the bar. I politely declined. The guy actually kicked my chair out from under me, grabbed me by the collar, and started screaming. “I’m *the* man, Valentina’s husband! The King of the Emerald City’s underworld! Asking you to pay is doing you a favor, so try saying no again, I dare you!” It wasn’t just me; even my guys behind me were stunned. “Boss, you covered for her for three years. How could she dare to get a new husband outside?” “Has she forgotten what you’re capable of?” … The joy of my release instantly faded. I lowered my head and texted Valentina to demand an explanation. Seeing this, the man flew into a rage, snatched my phone, and tossed it straight into an ice bucket. “Thinking of calling the cops? I’m telling you, the whole Emerald City is my territory. No one can save you!” A nameless rage flared in my chest. I slammed my fist on the table. Behind me, over a dozen of my guys sprang up, rushing forward to form a protective circle around me. “Let go of Jaxson if you don’t wanna die!” The man, instead of getting angry, scoffed and mimicked my gesture, slapping his own table. The bar’s chaotic music suddenly cut out, and the dazzling lights went dark. In the sudden silence, half the people in the venue quickly converged on us. “Ever since our boss, Victor, married Valentina, we haven’t had a troublemaker like this in Emerald City for three years.” “Daring to cause trouble in our man Victor’s place? Today, we’ll show you what real power looks like!” My guys, who had voluntarily stuck by me through three years in prison, stared in disbelief. “Our boss, Jaxson, went to jail for that woman, Valentina, for three years. What the hell happened in those three years?” It wasn’t just them; my mind was reeling too. Three years ago, Valentina hit someone with her car. She was just pregnant then, and she cried and begged me to take the fall for her, promising to look after the crew and raise our child. I didn’t hesitate for a second. But now, everything happening before my eyes made me seriously doubt the past. I slightly lowered my head. Victor thought I was scared and reached out to pat my shoulder. Using the moment he extended his arm, I slammed a beer bottle on the table, shattering it. In a flash, before he could even react, I twisted his arm and body, pressing the sharp, broken edge of the bottle directly against his vulnerable throat. “You say Valentina is your wife. What does that mean?” Victor, who had been so arrogant just moments ago, was scared stiff. His whole body trembled uncontrollably. “What else could it mean? We were in love, I married her, so of course she’s my wife.” When he spoke of Valentina, Victor seemed to regain his confidence. “I’m warning you, don’t touch me. Everyone in Emerald City knows Valentina is crazy in love with me! For my birthday, she booked giant billboards all over the city for three days and three nights to declare her love, and she bought me a downtown high-rise as a wedding anniversary gift! If you dare touch me, my wife won’t let you off the hook!” My scalp tingled with disbelief. I turned my head, signaling my guys to check things out. Taking advantage of my distraction, Victor shoved me hard. The crowd that had been standing behind him instantly swarmed me! I was on my own turf and completely unprepared. I took several hard punches to the chest, almost throwing up blood. Seeing me humiliated, my guys roared and plunged into the brawl. I kicked away the guy pinning me down and, my first priority, stopped my crew. “Don’t fight! You just got out; I can’t have you going back in for me.” Then I jumped onto a table, crossed the chaotic crowd in a few quick steps, and grabbed Victor, who was trying to hide. “Listen up, clearly! My name is Jaxson, and I’m legally married to Valentina!” Victor, seized by me, was flustered at first, then burst out laughing. “I knew it! Who in Emerald City would dare to touch me? Turns out it’s just a lunatic!” Cheers erupted in agreement with his words. “Valentina is madly in love with our man Victor. She sends him luxury cars and mansions every other week. Who are you, some random outsider, to even utter our Sister Valentina’s name?” “Our man Victor and Sister Valentina are a model couple. Who the hell are you, showing up with a few low-level thugs to cause trouble, do you really think we’re scared of you?!” I gritted my teeth, my whole body trembling. I never dreamed that the woman I gave up everything to protect would become a model couple with someone else! My guys around me were fuming, gritting their teeth just like me. “Boss, it’s been three whole years! We can’t just let them get away with this!” “You abandoned everything for that woman at the peak of your power. We have to make her pay for her betrayal!” I took a deep breath, steadying myself. I couldn’t just listen to one side of the story. Valentina depended on me so much back then. Could she really have changed so drastically in just three years? No, I had to get to the bottom of this! My phone was ruined by the water. I rattled off my number and told one of my guys to dial. Hearing the digits I spoke, Victor’s face changed. “You actually got my wife’s private number?!” I reluctantly pressed my lips together. “I told you, I’m Valentina’s husband, legally.” As soon as the words left my mouth, the crowd around Victor surged toward me! “Plenty of white-collar types have coveted our Sister Valentina over the years, but no one has ever dared to challenge our man Victor like you did! Today, we’ll show you what real trouble looks like!” They rushed at me ferociously. I took down a few in quick succession, but then countless more swarmed me. I was outnumbered, and I took some cheap shots, my face stinging from several hard hits, blood trickling from my lip. My guys, seeing this, couldn’t hold back any longer. They grabbed chairs and lunged into the fray, turning the bar into a chaotic mess. These guys were my top enforcers back in the day, skilled fighters, but even a tiger is no match for a pack of wolves. For every one of them that went down, three more stepped up. Before long, everyone was exhausted, protecting me in the center, backs to each other. “Boss, what the hell is going on? Valentina clearly had a lavish wedding ceremony with you back then. When did you two get divorced? How come none of us, your closest guys, knew?!” My teeth felt like they were about to shatter. “Don’t even get me started! I didn’t even know, damn it! Stop fighting for now, preserve your strength, and run!” Knowing we couldn’t win, it was no shame in retreating to regroup. My guys protected me, fighting and withdrawing. Victor watched me fleeing in disarray and burst into laughter. “The woman I, a tiger, protect wouldn’t look twice at a stray dog like you! Chase them!” I’d been in prison for three years, but I still remembered the bar’s underground passage. I took a shortcut to the parking garage, thinking I could shake them off, but somehow, they came down from somewhere and were even faster than me! The front exit of the underground garage was completely blocked, and Victor’s men had locked down the back entrance. A group of them, armed with baseball bats and machetes, swaggered closer, faces full of smug satisfaction. My palms were sweating buckets. I, Jaxson, started from nothing at fifteen, and by twenty, I was the boss of the Emerald City’s underground. I can’t believe that after three years away, I’d come out of prison today only to go down in a gutter! My guys, seeing there was no way out, stood defiantly in front of me. “Boss, we’ll get you out of here, but once you’re out, you have to get a clear explanation from Valentina. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair to us, your brothers, for the three years we spent in prison with you!” With that, they roared, ready to fight to the death. At the crucial moment, I pulled them back. “Don’t panic, there are cops!” I never thought in my life I’d be calling on the police for backup. My guys looked a bit lost. “Are you sure about this, Jaxson? We just got out…” I sighed helplessly, but no matter what, better to bend than break, right? A smart man knows when to adapt. I jogged closer, seeing two traffic cops who were slacking off in the bar’s underground garage, supposedly doing a DUI check. I casually offered them a cigarette, plastering on a slightly ingratiating smile. “Officers, my friends and I were having a party, and they not only told me to pay the entire bill but also started hitting me and my friends. Now they’ve surrounded the bar and won’t let us leave. What do you think about this, sirs…?” The two cops lit their cigarettes off my lighter, giving me a smirk that didn’t reach their eyes. “You mean, they hit you?” I nodded repeatedly. To my surprise, the next second, those two cops flicked their cigarettes, sending the lit ends directly onto my shirt, then stomped them out with a kick. “He’s Sister Valentina’s husband, hitting you is doing you a favor!” “Our man Victor told you to pay the bill for the whole bar, that’s your blessing. You didn’t do it and tried to run, so you deserve to be hit!” My heart lurched. It seemed everything they said earlier was true. Valentina really had betrayed me after I went to prison. Otherwise, why would even these traffic cops show Victor such deference?! Victor and his crew had seen me talking to the cops and deliberately held back, only approaching gleefully when they saw the officers twisting the truth. “If our man Victor hadn’t been making good karma for our pregnant Sister Valentina, do you think you’d even be standing here today?” “Our Sister Valentina is due any day now. It’s her first child, precious beyond measure. Victor swore before Buddha he wouldn’t take any lives to pray for the baby’s blessings. You remember this: it’s Victor and Sister Valentina’s son who saved your pathetic life!” “First child?!” I was astonished. I grabbed Victor, who was standing in front of me. “Are you saying Valentina got rid of my baby?!” Victor went ballistic. He swung a punch at my temple. “Are you really crazy or just playing dumb? Who the hell are you, spewing such disgusting lies about my Valentina?!” My last hope shattered. Three years, all for nothing, a complete joke. My mind was spiraling. I threw caution to the wind and lunged at Victor, fighting him with everything I had, every punch connecting, making him howl in pain. Both sides of the guys were terrified and rushed to pull us apart. “Boss, we just got out, don’t send yourself back inside for that awful woman!” My hand movements suddenly paused. The traffic cops seized the opportunity, pulled tactical flashlights from their car, and shone them directly into my eyes. I was blinded instantly, everything went stark white. They quickly pulled the swollen Victor away. Then, taking advantage of my blindness, they swarmed me, punching and kicking. I gritted my teeth, covering my eyes, while frantically swinging my other arm to ward them off. But Victor, having lost all face, was now completely insane. When I finally blinked my eyes open, I saw him lunging at me with a wicked-looking blade! For a split second, someone screamed, someone cheered. My guys bravely threw themselves forward, trying to shield me. My mind went blank, but then I seemed to hear Valentina’s voice. “What are you doing here?!” The blade, with its blood groove, stopped mere inches from my eyes. Victor turned back in surprise, the fury on his face instantly vanishing, replaced by a wide smile. “Valentina, why are you out here? You should be resting!” “This stray dog dared to badmouth you right in front of me. I was just about to teach him a lesson, planning to cut out his tongue!” I ignored the hands trying to help me up, my gaze fixed on Valentina’s rounded belly. “Valentina, care to explain?” Victor kicked me hard in the face. “Still daring to question my wife? You really have a death wish!” A huge black boot print marred my face. My guys, seeing this, glared furiously at Valentina. “Sister-in-law, our boss Jaxson spent three years in prison for you! He had so many chances to get out early, but to atone for you and the child, he served the full three years! Now that you’re doing well, you just let others humiliate him like this?!” “Don’t you have any conscience, woman?! Even if there’s no love left, don’t you have any gratitude? Did our boss Jaxson waste the prime of his youth for you for nothing?!” I stared fixedly at Valentina, my nails digging into my palms until they bled, but I didn’t even notice. Yet, Valentina lowered her eyes, looked at me, and actually let out a disdainful laugh. Yes, she laughed, as if she had seen something utterly ridiculous. “Jaxson? There’s only one ‘Boss’ in Emerald City now, and that’s Victor.” “Jaxson, you don’t need to hold it over me, bringing up how you went to jail for me. You were enjoying your ‘break’ inside all those years, leaving me to struggle to keep things afloat out here. Victor was there for me through my toughest days.” “If you want money as compensation, just say so. There’s no need to cause trouble on Victor’s turf. So childish!” A suffocating pressure built in my chest, making it hard to breathe. “Valentina…” Before I could finish, the smile vanished from Valentina’s face, replaced by a look of malice. “I’m not finished yet, you don’t get to interrupt!” “I can give you what I owe, but you touched my man, so you’re leaving an arm behind today as an apology to Victor!” Immediately, someone with a knife approached me. I looked at Valentina’s resolute expression, my heart aching to the extreme. “Are you trying to make an example of me, just like I used to do for you, to boost your new man’s reputation?”

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