After five years of supporting my girlfriend’s acting career, she was in debt again. The first time, I sold the house my mom left me to pay off her three hundred million. The second time, I worked non-stop for a year, taking countless low-budget, terrible gigs. My fans ripped into me, calling me a sellout, a desperate guy chasing quick bucks. I paid off three billion for her. The third time, I heard her faint sobs through the phone. I stood outside my billionaire dad’s mansion, hesitating whether to knock. But that very night, I accidentally overheard her bragging to her friends in a private room. “Scarlett really knows how to play the game. So many people would pay tens of millions just to have dinner with Liam Stone, and he’s willing to be her little puppy.” “You’re telling me! So, Scarlett, how much debt are you planning to rack up this time?” “Nearly a hundred billion. Otherwise, Liam would just pay it off too easily. Where’s the fun in that?” I tore up the signed contract for degrading content and turned to knock on my billionaire dad’s mansion door. “Dad, I’m ready to come back and take over the family business. I’ll marry Seraphina Sterling.” “Good. The wedding is set for three days from now.”

When I got back from my billionaire dad’s place, Scarlett was in the study, on the phone with a friend. Her friend on the other end was excitedly suggesting, “Scarlett, I heard Liam Stone is even going to sell himself off for you! Is he filming explicit content, or just literally selling himself?” “Nearly a hundred billion? Filming isn’t enough for that. But a hot guy like him must be worth tens of millions a night, right?” “The men Scarlett plays with always taste good. Let me go first when you’re done.” Their vulgar words pierced my ears, one after another. I stood at the study door, clutching the marriage certificate I’d just signed with Seraphina Sterling so tightly my knuckles turned white. I’d been with Scarlett for five years, and I’d paid off her debts twice. The first time, she said the company’s funds had dried up. I sold the house my mom left me to help her. Scarlett knelt before me, tears streaming down her face, promising, “Liam, I swear I’ll marry you.” But then, as I worked non-stop for her, took on terrible roles and got ripped apart by fans, or drank with investors until I landed in the hospital, she came to me again. She claimed the company had been scammed and needed three hundred million to get it back. I didn’t blame her. I just worked even harder to help. She hugged me, touched, and said she’d love me forever. I just never imagined she’d been lying to me the entire time. “Alright, this drama is definitely going to be epic.” Scarlett hung up the phone, laughing as she walked out. When she saw my pale face, a flicker of panic crossed her eyes. “Honey, why are you back so early?” “What’s that in your hand?” I shoved the marriage certificate into my bag, trying to be casual, and forced a smile. “Nothing, just a little trinket from a fan.” Scarlett didn’t seem suspicious. She grabbed my hand, looking apologetic. “Honey, you’ve been through so much because of me. This nearly hundred billion debt… I just don’t know what to do.” “Maybe… maybe you should leave me. Don’t let me drag you down.” She even teared up, putting on an act of thinking only of me. In the past, I would have immediately told her, “Everything’s going to be okay. I’ll handle it.” “I’ll face it with her.” But now, I just stared blankly at the brooch on her dress. That brooch was a unique, limited edition. Not long ago, the mysterious tycoon who lavished billions on his secretary just to make her smile wore the exact same one. She was willing to blow billions for a smile, yet couldn’t pay off a hundred billion debt. And I, with nothing, was about to sell myself for her. It turns out my sincerity meant absolutely nothing to her. Seeing my prolonged silence, Scarlett pulled her hand away, a hurt expression on her face. “Liam, I know I have nothing right now. It’s normal that you don’t want to help me.” “I love you. I don’t want to burden you, but I was just about to…” She paused, pulling a ring from her pocket. “I was even ready to marry you.” It was the same old pity play. Because I loved her, she only needed one trick to fool me. “Liam, I promise this is the last time. Once this debt is paid off, we’ll get married, okay?” I looked at her seemingly earnest expression and suddenly remembered Seraphina Sterling’s shy smile from that afternoon when we signed the papers, and the snacks she’d thoughtfully prepared for me, knowing I hadn’t had lunch. Suddenly, I felt like none of it mattered anymore. If, at first, I had wanted to confront her and ask questions. Now, I just felt exhausted. All I wanted to do was pack my things and leave. I calmly pushed her hand away. “But Scarlett, I’m out of money.”

Scarlett froze, clearly not expecting that. After all, in her imagination, I should have been holding her, comforting her with every last ounce of my being, willing to do anything to pay off her debt. Instantly, her face twisted with fury. “Liam Stone, I really misjudged you.” “Have you been in this industry too long? Do you think I’m not as good as those people who can just hand you tens of millions? Is this how you hurt my sincere heart?” With that, she shot me a hateful glare, turned, and slammed the door as she left. No elevator sounds followed for a long time. I knew she was trying to force me to give in. But not only did I not call her back, I blocked all her contact information. I looked at the company share transfer contract she’d left on the floor – no official seal, no signature. How ridiculous was I, to have been fooled by something like this twice? I gave a bitter laugh and sent a message to my agent. 【Brenda, I’m planning to quit the industry. Help me draft a statement.】 I’d only entered this business to pay off Scarlett’s debts. For her, I’d forced myself to drink with repulsive, pot-bellied investors, enduring their creepy hands, and stayed silent when I was slapped on set. Now, I didn’t want her anymore. There was no reason to stay in this industry. My phone screen lit up. It was a message from Seraphina Sterling. I never would have expected someone who looked so cold and aloof to send me over a dozen wedding dress photos and bouquet styles, each with her thoughtful notes. A warmth spread through my chest. After all these years with Scarlett, she had never been so thoughtful towards me. I’m allergic to mangoes, but she kept buying me mango cake, just because that shop was on her way home. I hate noisy environments, but she dragged me to clubs to party with her friends, even after I hadn’t slept for three days, claiming it was to “boost her image.” She never actively gave me gifts. The only time was when she bought me a bottle of perfume for a mere hundred bucks. I was so happy I cried then. She just laughed, hugging me, saying how easy I was to fool. A little bit of kindness would make me incredibly grateful. I thought she was being sweet to me then. Now, it seems she truly thought I was a fool. I sent her all the money I earned from filming and gigs, keeping only two hundred for emergencies. She said, “Liam Stone is hopelessly stupid.” When our boat hit rough waters, I gave her my only life vest. She turned around and boasted to her friends, “That dumb guy was willing to die for me.” Even when I was hospitalized from exhaustion while paying off her debt, she’d take photos of my weak and pale face and send them to friends. “Liam Stone is so idiotic, he’s almost dying, but he’s still thinking about paying my debt…” Even through the door, I could imagine Scarlett’s triumphant, disdainful expression as she said those words. But it didn’t matter anymore. I was leaving her soon. Nothing about her concerned me anymore. I opened my suitcase and started packing. But in that massive room, my belongings were pitifully few. The closet was filled with Scarlett’s dresses. Back then, I foolishly thought she needed to look good for business, not shabby. So, every time I got paid, I spent it on her. Later, I just got used to it. I tried to put my clothes in the closet, but there wasn’t even a spot left. Scarlett had told me that once her company grew, she’d get us a bigger house and give me a grand wedding. I believed every one of her promises, then silently sacrificed for her, foolishly waiting for her to marry me. But now, it seems I never had a place in her heart at all. Just then, my agent called. “Liam, I can’t make the decision for you to quit. You need to talk to the boss yourself.” The next morning, I arrived at the company promptly to wait for the boss. On the luxurious top floor, through the blinds, I saw Scarlett. She was in a designer power suit, standing by the huge floor-to-ceiling window, on the phone. Then, a man in a dress shirt wrapped his arms around her from behind. Scarlett smiled softly and turned to melt into his embrace. They hugged intimately, but my heart went numb. Two weeks ago, the man who forced me to sign that degrading contract was the very same man. Back then, I was cornered in the dressing room. Several hulking men held me down, forcing me to my knees. The man in front of me slapped me without mercy. He said if I didn’t agree to film explicit content, they would seize Scarlett’s company, burden her with massive debts, and make her lose everything. Scarlett knew perfectly well that I would agree for her sake. So she deliberately tormented me, watching me get twisted around her little finger. After my fans found out I was going to film explicit content, they blocked the entrance, cursing me as a shameless jerk who only cared about money. Some even snuck into my dressing room and put thumbtacks in my shoes. My feet bled profusely from the punctures, but when I got home, I still felt guilty towards Scarlett. That day, when she hugged me as I sobbed uncontrollably, comforting me with tenderness, was she also thinking, *How pathetic is he, willing to do anything for me?* Thinking about it, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. When my agent arrived, I had already wiped away my tears. She looked at me, puzzled. “Why aren’t you going in? The big boss is waiting.” My voice trembled. I looked at my agent, incredulous. “Scarlett…” “Is she really the company’s owner?”

My agent looked confused. “You didn’t know? General Manager Sterling owns half the industry! Every movie, every TV show you’ve ever filmed was produced by a company under her.” I stared at Scarlett behind the blinds, the anger and indignation welling up in my chest becoming uncontrollable. Tears streamed down my face. I never imagined that the person who forced me into endless networking, made me endure the creepy hands of slimy investors, pushed me into all sorts of terrible projects, and subjected me to workplace bullying was Scarlett herself. The worst time, I simply bought the director the wrong brand of coffee. He slapped me on the spot and demanded I kneel and apologize. When I refused, unable to bear the humiliation, they dumped me in the middle of nowhere. Five years in this industry, being bullied and verbally abused had become routine. But I never mentioned it to Scarlett. I didn’t want to burden her. This one time, though, I was truly terrified, especially with the faint sound of wolves howling in the distance. I cried as I called her, too scared to form coherent sentences. I begged her, “Scarlett, I’m so scared, please come save me, I’m so, so scared.” Scarlett knew the truth, but she remained silent, telling me the crew wouldn’t abandon me and that I shouldn’t throw a tantrum or go against the director. Alone, using the faint light of my phone, I walked for an entire day and night before finally finding a main road. By the time I emerged, I was completely drained. But even then, I never hated Scarlett. I only regretted being useless, unable to bear all her burdens. But now, the truth was right in front of me. Scarlett was my boss. She knew I was stranded in the mountains. She could have saved me with a single word, but she didn’t. My agent was flustered by the torrent of tears on my face. “What’s wrong with you?” “Liam, you…” Before she could finish, I pushed her aside and ran out of the company, still crying. I hailed a cab and told the driver to take me to Seraphina Sterling’s mansion. In the car, my hands trembled as I called her. “Please come pick me up now…” “Okay.” With her answer, I leaned weakly against the seat back. I never thought that after twenty years, the person I could rely on would be the woman my father arranged for me to marry. ······ Meanwhile, Scarlett and her secretary were emerging from her office. She agitatedly pulled out her phone again, but there were still no messages from me. In the past, whenever we argued, I would constantly call her, apologize, and beg for her forgiveness. But this time… Scarlett felt an ominous premonition stirring within her. “General Manager Sterling, I want to try that new French restaurant. Will you come with me tonight?” The young secretary clung to her arm, whining, but Scarlett impatiently pushed him away, a hint of annoyance in her voice. “Go by yourself.” Seeing Scarlett’s phone screen still stuck on our chat, he said sourly, “Oh, but General Manager Sterling…” “What kind of waves can a man like Liam Stone possibly stir up? He’s like a dog, how could he bear to leave you?” Scarlett’s eyes flashed with anger, her voice turning serious. “How dare you speak about Liam Stone like that!” Just as she spoke, my agent, who had been waiting nearby, immediately approached. “General Manager Sterling, you know Liam Stone?” “That’s odd. Why didn’t he just talk to you about terminating his contract? Why was he waiting outside?” Scarlett frowned deeply, almost blurting out, “How could Liam Stone possibly terminate his contract!” My agent gave her an awkward smile, trying to be accommodating, completely unaware of the significance of his words. “Liam said he’s tired and wants to quit the industry to get married.” “I heard he signed the papers three days ago.” Scarlett’s eyes widened instantly. She lunged forward, grabbing my agent by the collar, her expression vicious. “What did you say? Married? Who’s getting married?” My agent’s face turned pale at Scarlett’s furious expression, and he stammered, repeating. “It… it’s Liam Stone!”

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My innocent face was exactly why the Thorne family picked me to marry Landon Thorne. The moment the engagement news broke, Landon Thorne publicly vowed he’d torture me to death if I didn’t call it off. I raised an eyebrow, gave his physique a dismissive once-over, and scoffed, “If you don’t manage to kill me, it just means you’re not man enough!” The day after our engagement was announced, Landon saw me take down countless burly men. His cheeks flushed crimson, and his eyes practically glowed as he stared at me. “Hey, goody-two-shoes, those moves were awesome! Teach me, won’t ya?” I pulled a cigarette from my pocket and lit it. “I don’t teach guys who aren’t man enough.” By the third day of our engagement, Landon was practically bouncing, eager to prove he was indeed ‘man enough,’ and came looking for me. Just as he was about to leave his house, he saw me coming to break off the engagement. “I’m the fake heiress. The new real heiress is super sweet, perfect for Landon Thorne.” With that, I turned and walked away with a flourish. Landon practically skipped after me, insisting he only wanted to marry me. I, utterly disgusted, kicked him away and walked off like he was yesterday’s trash. His ‘precious wife’ was actually ditching him, even trying to hand him over to someone else! No way! He vowed to win her back and prove to her that he *was* man enough!

After calling off the engagement, I returned to the Davis family home. The moment I walked through the door, I saw a scene of joyful family harmony in the living room. “Is the engagement called off? You know everything you have now belongs to Chloe. If she weren’t so kind, you’d be out on the streets already!” My father gently served the girl beside him, speaking without even looking up. “It’s off. I know.” Just as I was about to head upstairs, he called out to me again. I thought he’d ask me to join them for dinner. After all, I hadn’t eaten anything all morning; they’d rushed me to go tell the Thornes that I was the fake heiress. “Chloe needs your room. You’ll just have to crash with Buster for a couple of days until the nanny’s room is cleaned out, then you can move there.” I took a deep breath, forced a bitter smile, and nodded. Sure enough, twenty-something years of supposed love, and it still couldn’t compete with the bond of blood. I turned and walked in the opposite direction, toward Buster’s little mansion. Buster is my German Shepherd. Because I loved him so much, I specifically built him a dog mansion. I never thought that spur-of-the-moment decision would lead to *me* living in a dog mansion. Buster and I lay on the same bed, looking at the piles of luggage nearby, a bitter feeling spreading through my chest. The tenderness and attentiveness my father showed that girl were something I’d never seen from him. With me, he was always so stern. He always told me, ‘You’re a Davis, you should contribute to the Davis family.’ Recalling the scene I’d just witnessed, a sharp ache in my chest made it hard to breathe. So, they *could* care about their daughter, *could* be gentle and protective! Maybe it was because we weren’t bound by blood that they had no qualms about seeing me as a commodity, to be sold to whoever offered the highest price. Lost in thought, a call from my colleague pulled me back to reality. “Captain Hayes, suspect spotted at 99 Green River Road.” “Copy that.” I hung up, sprang to my feet, and ran out. Usually, I’d climb over the wall to avoid questions at this hour. But now that I wasn’t their daughter, they wouldn’t care when I left anymore. My colleague had spotted the suspect inside an upscale bar on Green River Road. The music inside the bar was deafening. To hear anything, we had to lean in close to talk. As my colleague was briefing me, Landon Thorne stormed over. He inexplicably shoved my colleague away and swung his fist toward his face. Just then, my phone vibrated twice. Another colleague had sent the signal. I waved my hand, signaling my team to move. Landon, seeing this, burst into a furious rage. Fearing he’d alert our target, I delivered a swift chop to his neck, knocking him out cold. Before he passed out, I heard his heartbroken murmur, “Harper Hayes, you’re breaking off our engagement for *him*, aren’t you?!” With Landon unconscious, I dragged him into a private room next to the suspect’s. After the suspect was apprehended and taken away, I returned to the room and hoisted Landon over my shoulder. “Typical Captain Hayes, always so tough! Is that your fiancé? He looks a bit weak!” a nearby colleague teased. I shot them a glance, my lips pressed thin. “Don’t talk nonsense. He’s not my fiancé anymore. And hand me a cigarette, I’m out.” My colleague seemed to remember something and slipped a pack into my pocket. “Captain Hayes, some things are better left behind. And try to smoke less.” After saying goodbye to my colleague, I found a nearby hotel and settled Landon there. With my hands free, I lit a cigarette. As I exhaled a cloud of smoke, I remembered how he became my fiancé.

The news of an engagement with a major player from the city’s elite circles had completely blindsided me. Everyone in our circle knew Landon Thorne suffered from severe rage issues. Not long ago, he’d beaten some rich kid into the ICU just because the guy rolled his eyes at him. The guy was still there, barely clinging to life. And I, well, I was pretty much his match. But my parents were lightning fast with their PR, terrified that my true reputation would get out and lower my market value. So, the outside world thought I was a timid, cowardly, easily controlled goody-two-shoes. They say two powerhouses couldn’t coexist. With our personalities, either I’d end up killing him, or he’d end up killing me! But the Thorne family offered so much, my parents didn’t hesitate to push me forward. The day the engagement news spread, my parents lectured me all morning. To make me change my ‘bad habits’ and become a lady, they not only confiscated my treasured possessions and cigarettes but also put a limit on my bank card. I wasn’t the only one unhappy with this engagement. The Thorne heir was even *more* displeased than I was. While I was being driven mad by our etiquette teacher, he was smashing everything in his house over the engagement. I heard five or six house staff were injured, and he didn’t even spare his own father. When I saw that news, I bared my teeth and let out a laugh. The moment I laughed, the etiquette teacher’s ruler smacked my hand. “What kind of laugh was that? You should never show your teeth when you laugh.” I immediately wiped the smile off my face, adopting the prim and proper look of a good girl. My father, watching from the side, looked pleased. He dismissed the etiquette teacher and walked over to me. “Keep that obedient look. The Thorne family chose you because you’re ‘obedient.’” I nodded dismissively. “Go, take these gifts to young Master Thorne. Make a good impression on him. The future of the Davis family completely rests on you.” Make a good impression? Oh, I’d definitely make a ‘good impression’! To get it over with, I promptly sold the expensive gifts my father bought to Landon Thorne’s buddy at a tenth of the price, then had him take me to Landon. He led me to a private room in a bar. The noisy music of the bar couldn’t drown out Landon’s furious shouts. “That old man’s addicted to matchmaking! It’s not enough that he’s meddling in my brother’s marriage, now he’s meddling in mine! Saying he’s found me some ‘goody-two-shoes’ for a wife! Doesn’t he realize I might just play her to death?!” “Tsk, he wants me to go through with this engagement? Fine! Let’s see if I don’t torture her to death!” I pulled open the door to the room and stepped inside, carefully sizing up Landon Thorne. Just a skinny guy, and he thinks he can kill me? “Alright. If you don’t manage to kill me, it means you’re not man enough!” Landon, hearing the challenge to his manliness, grabbed a bottle and lunged to smash it over my head. I sidestepped, picked up a bottle myself, and swung it fiercely towards his forehead. “That’s not a very nice way to say hello!” *CRACK!* Just as the bottle was about to connect with his forehead, it swerved, smashing against the floor instead. Landon clenched his jaw. This was the first time in his life someone had provoked him like this. He raised his fist, ready to strike. The moment he clearly saw my face, his hand froze mid-air. “Is that… you?” Landon’s neck and ears flushed crimson. The man who’d been so violent and ferocious moments ago had transformed in the blink of an eye. “Oops, my bad! Are you okay? Did the bottle hurt your hand? Next time, don’t hit me with a bottle. What if it shatters and cuts you? If you want to hit me, just say the word, and I’ll stand still and let you do whatever you want.” He examined me meticulously from head to toe. Seeing no injuries on me, he let out a sigh of relief. His buddies stared blankly at Landon’s sudden personality shift, then one meekly spoke up. “Uh, Landon, didn’t you just say you were going to play her to death…?” “I was going to play *who* to death? …Wait, is she my fiancée?!” All his buddies nodded. “This is *perfect*! And I never said anything about playing anyone to death! Don’t slander me!” I blinked, momentarily unable to process what was happening. He knew me? And what kind of personality flip was this? He wasn’t going to kill me if I married him? What was going on? Remembering all this, a smile tugged at the corner of my lips. His face changed faster than a chameleon, almost like he’d studied method acting. It was… entertaining. The way he’d desperately tried to avoid our engagement was still so clear in my mind. Now, it seemed he was getting exactly what he wished for. After settling him in, I stood up to leave. But a burning hot hand gripped my arm tightly.

“Please, don’t go!” A whimpering sound, like a small, distressed animal, came from Landon. Trapped in a nightmare, he mumbled incoherently. He looked exactly like Buster did when he was a puppy. I instinctively patted Landon’s head, trying to make him settle down. Only after I did it did I remember he wasn’t a dog. Good thing he was still unconscious, or with his temper, he’d probably throw a fit. Suddenly, a strong pull on my wrist sent me tumbling onto the bed, caught off guard. Landon let out a muffled grunt as I landed on him. His eyelashes fluttered. I lay sprawled on top of him, and where our skin touched, there was an intense, burning heat. Perhaps it was nervousness, or maybe guilt, but my heart started beating inexplicably fast. Something hard pressed against my hip, jolting me out of my daze. “What’s that?” I muttered, reaching down to move whatever was digging into my left hip. The moment my hand touched it, the person beneath me went incredibly rigid, and the heat beneath my palm was astonishing. When I realized what I had touched, I instinctively recoiled, a flush of heat rushing straight up to my ears. “Harper, I told you I was man enough! Are you… satisfied with what you touched…?” Landon had woken up at some point, and his warm breath caressed my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I sprang to my feet, backing away several steps, my words stumbling out in embarrassment. “You, you, you… when did you wake up?” At my question, Landon clearly looked uncomfortable. His face was beet red, practically dripping blood. The man who’d been speaking so smoothly just moments ago was now stammering. “Just, just now… yeah, just now, when you landed on me!” Normally, I could see through his lies in a second, but at that moment, I had no mind to try and read the micro-expressions on his face. “Oh, I see. Well, um, sorry, I didn’t mean to. Anyway, I have something to do, so I’m heading out.” I admit, running away might be shameful, but I was afraid if I stayed another second, he’d ask something else. To be safe, it was better to retreat. Landon watched my retreating back, a part of his heart sinking. He pulled out his phone and opened his photo album. The woman’s silhouette in the album overlapped with the person who had just left. He’d taken that photo in a desolate wilderness in the Mojave Desert. His companions had deliberately abandoned him, driving away and leaving him alone on an empty road. He didn’t know how long he’d walked. The sky had turned pitch black, and sand swirled violently ahead. He thought he would die there. In his despair, a hand reached out to him. “Hey, get in. It’s not safe out here.” The woman’s melodious yet serious voice descended upon his world like a savior. He stared blankly as she pulled him into the vehicle. The SUV sped across the desolate highway, only the woman’s stern admonishments filling his ears. “Who gave you the guts to cross the Mojave Desert without permission? Are you thrill-seekers trying to get yourselves killed?!” “Do you have any idea that if I’d been a minute later, that tornado up ahead would’ve taken your life…?” The woman said a lot, and though he didn’t hear a single word, her voice and face were deeply etched into his mind. For the first time in over twenty years, his heart pounded violently for a girl. He was taken to a remote ranger station in the desert. After getting out of the car, he was left behind by the woman. It was then that he took that photo. He still remembered what everyone there called her: “Officer Hayes.” After that mission, I moved out of the Davis family home. As the Davis family watched me pull my suitcase away, my father off-handedly remarked,

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It was the third year of my marriage to my arch-nemesis, Leo Maxwell, when a new intern accidentally spilled water all over our marriage certificate on his desk. Panicked, I rushed to the County Clerk’s Office to get a replacement. But the staff told me the certificate was fake. I went back to the office, ready to confront Leo. That’s when I saw him, pinning the intern, Felicity Reed, against the door for a passionate kiss. “We’ve been fighting for five years, but I’ve been secretly in love with you for ten,” he whispered to her. “Our real marriage certificate? I’ve had it safely stored in my personal safe all along.” Even when Felicity pushed me down the stairs, leaving me bleeding and bruised, Leo just stood there, watching coldly. He cradled Felicity in his arms, murmuring comforting words. “Don’t look, you’re afraid of blood.” Later, due to delayed emergency treatment, I suffered a cognitive impairment. When I finally opened my eyes again, My memory was stuck on the year I hated him the most.

Two days after my surgery, Leo Maxwell finally showed up. I was sitting on my hospital bed, chatting and laughing with Chloe, the nurse. The moment I saw him walk in, my face froze. “What are you doing here?” Leo’s gaze lingered on my forehead for a moment. He scoffed, “Felicity has been worried about you for two days. Are you just faking it here?” Before I could even process his words, Leo strode forward. He reached out, yanking hard on my IV tube. The needle was pulled out unexpectedly, and I gasped in pain. Blood splattered, and the nurse beside me screamed, rushing to stop the bleeding. But I reacted faster, slapping Leo hard across the face. “Seriously, what’s your deal? You’re practically radiating bad karma from a past life.” “Are you blind? Can’t you see the bandage on the back of my head?” When I first joined the company, it was the worst year for me and Leo. He’d call me stiff and boring. I’d curse him, saying he was worse than a dog. The first thing we’d do when meeting was tear into each other’s families. Leo turned his head from the blow, looking utterly shocked. He was speechless for a long time, but I wasn’t done with him. Once the bleeding on my hand stopped, I glared at Leo. I was about to call someone to kick him out. But a nurse rushing over stopped me dead in my tracks. “Mr. Maxwell, please sign here under Ms. Anya’s family member section.” The words had barely left her mouth when, before Leo could react, I snatched the form from her. “Sign what? What kind of family member is he?” I froze, staring at the form before I could finish my sentence. In the spouse section, Leo Maxwell’s name was starkly there. Seeing my reaction, Leo rubbed his temples. “I know you’re mad at Felicity, but her mother is sick, and her last wish is to see her get married.” “Felicity and I are childhood sweethearts. I was the most suitable person. Later, I’ll divorce her.” My movements were stiff, and it took me a while to react and open my phone. The top contact, labeled ‘Husband,’ was Leo Maxwell’s eternally unchanging profile picture. And in the company SnapChat group, Felicity Reed, the intern who had just spoken, had matching profile pictures with him. [Getting married next month, everyone’s welcome to our wedding!] The picture below was deleted within seconds, but I was quick as lightning and saved it. It was a wedding photo, with Leo looking at her, his eyes full of tenderness. The group chat was already buzzing with shocked messages, but I had no desire to keep reading. My photo album? There wasn’t a single picture of me and Leo. The doctor told me that the severe impact had left me with after-effects. That’s why I lost five years of my memory. Now, I hadn’t even processed the fact that I was possibly married to my arch-nemesis. And here I was, seeing his wedding photo with someone else. Just then, a message popped up. It was from Maya, my friend who worked at the County Clerk’s Office. “You asked me to look up Leo Maxwell last time, he registered his marriage a year ago.” “In the spouse column, it’s Felicity Reed.” “That fake certificate you brought in didn’t have a stamp, so it’s not legally recognized.” Reading that last sentence, my heart felt like it was pierced by a knife. My head spun, throbbing faintly. All those lingering emotions surged up, stinging my eyes. I stayed silent for a long time, and Leo probably took it as my silent agreement. He frowned, stepping closer, wanting to touch me. “You…” Leo looked confused, unsure how to explain himself to me. Right, we’d argued for so long, always clashing whenever we met. So the idea that I would fall for him was utterly absurd. I let out a breath, and when I looked up again, my face was calm. “Don’t you know office romances aren’t allowed?”

Our last conversation ended with Felicity calling. Leo was about to explain things to me when her crying drew him away. He quickly left with a hurried “Wait for me.” He never came back. I discharged myself and packed my belongings alone. Chloe, the nurse, couldn’t stand watching and helped me, grumbling as she did. “He admitted he was your family, but then he wasn’t there when it mattered.” She was indignant, but I just felt indifferent. Luckily, I don’t like changing passwords, so my phone worked fine. I found the address of my new place in my notes and hailed a cab. After packing up and heading downstairs, the bakery owner called out to me, “The usual, miss?” Like I was possessed, I mumbled a “Yes.” When I came to my senses, I was holding two pastries. Cabbage-filled. I don’t even like them. The moment I stepped into the company building, a colleague walked up, teasing, “Bringing pastries for Mr. Maxwell again?” As soon as he finished speaking, the pastry was snatched from my hand. Felicity’s face lit up with joy. “Anya, I love the cabbage pastries from this place the most!” Hearing her overly sweet, affected tone, I frowned. I snatched the pastry back and handed it to the colleague next to me, raising an eyebrow. “They’re for you. Be careful not to get any green tea on them.” The colleague froze, before they could even react, Leo walked over. He first pulled the red-eyed Felicity behind him. Then he looked down at me. “Just because Felicity and I have the same taste, you can’t stand her?” The colleagues who had gathered to watch the drama quieted down at his words. Their expressions were strange as they darted their eyes back and forth between the three of us. After all, the two main protagonists of this dispute had already been the talk of the town yesterday. I stayed silent for too long, and someone, unable to bear it, stepped forward to speak up for me. But before she could even open her mouth, Felicity’s sobs started. Tears flowed artfully down her face, making her look utterly heartbroken. “I didn’t know you liked this flavor after I left, Anya.” “When I saw the familiar packaging, I thought Anya had brought it for me.” Leo shot me a warning look, then turned away to gently wipe her tears. I stared intently at the watch on his wrist. I’d seen an identical one on my bedside table at home, though it was a woman’s version. When I snapped back to reality, Felicity had already uttered the words: “If you mind, Anya, I can apologize.” She was pure green tea. It reminded me of the manipulative female antagonist I’d cursed for three days straight in a novel. I blinked and said, “Then apologize.” Felicity choked on my words, her tears abruptly stopping. I, however, smoothed my brow, pointing to the ID badge on my chest. “Are you, an intern, really going to go against me, a department manager?” “I know you’re straightforward, but you don’t have to talk so much crap.” I emphasized the word “manager.” According to company policy, Felicity should have been fired. It was Leo who took the responsibility, using his own demotion to protect her. I sighed, somewhat confused as to why he was so foolish. Last night, I’d stayed up all night reviewing all our chat records. Only then did I realize I’d been forced into a secret relationship with him for three years. Leo had never publicly acknowledged me. Now seeing him protect Felicity like this, my feelings were incredibly complicated. But I showed no emotion on my face. Instead, I picked up a box with a good-natured expression and handed it to Leo. “Maxwell, darling, hurry up and move to your new desk.” I had no intention of quitting. After all, I wasn’t the one at fault, so why should I leave? But when I was leaving work, Leo stopped me.

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**Chapter One** “Breathing so heavily, aren’t we? How many dicks have you taken?” Julian Vance gripped Elara Thorne’s chin, his body pressing into her, a cruel force. His eyes were dark, simmering with fury. Just a curtain separated us. Outside, the college reunion buzzed with laughter and teasing. “Classic Julian, playing it rough! This girl sounds hot, mind if a few of us have a turn later?” Others chimed in, egging him on. Julian’s voice was lazy, dripping with mockery as he stared at me. “No way. I’m not done with her yet.” “Unless, of course, I get bored.” I bit my lower lip, a scorching wave of hatred washing over me. Julian’s fiancée, Anya Petrova, had drowned herself. He’d sworn I was the one who drove her to it. After that, he’d forced me to marry him, demanding I replace the wife I’d supposedly taken from him. Years into our marriage, Julian had never once acknowledged our relationship publicly. But the ways he found to torment me? They changed all the time. He’d humiliate me without a thought for my well-being, all to avenge his dead saint, Anya. I’d resisted sleeping with him once, and he locked me away for seven days and seven nights. I’d angered his trophy girl, and he’d turned around and leaked my private videos to the media. I refused to break, longing for home every single day, until news came that my parents had been run over and killed by a speeding sports car. Then, to make matters worse, a fire burned my house to the ground, leaving me homeless. To him, I was nothing more than a cheap plaything. The more I suffered, the happier he seemed. Julian watched my humiliated expression, then grabbed my wrist, his eyes sparkling with malice. “Impatient, are we? Just get on your knees and say you love me, and I’ll take back everything I just said.” I stared into his eyes, refusing to utter a single word. Kneel and say I loved the man who’d brought me so much bloody misery? I’d die before I ever did that. Julian just smirked, already used to my guarded demeanor. “Such a tough nut to crack,” he murmured, his fingertip tracing the tear-mole near my eye. “All these years, you’ve never once given in to me. Not even when your parents died did you shed a tear in front of me. You’re truly ruthless.” My eyes were already cold and numb. I endured the humiliation by his side to drag the entire Vance Group down with him, to bury it alongside my parents. But he was always so careful. It took me five agonizing years to find even a faint clue. Just three more days. In three days, I would have all the evidence of his crimes, enough to send him straight to hell. Julian, however, remained completely oblivious. He chuckled. “Your first love is out there, do you want him to see you moaning for me?” He was a madman… My nails dug deep into my palms. Sensing my trembling, Julian’s interest only grew. “Remember how you’d rather die than marry me? You ran out into the pouring rain to beg him, but he was too afraid of the Vance family’s power, so he shut the door in your face.” A playful glint flickered in his eyes, but his voice deepened. “What exactly did you see in him?” Seeing I wouldn’t answer, he leaned in, whispering into my ear. “No answer? Then how about I start a live stream for him? Let him get a good look at his ex-girlfriend enjoying herself under me.” With that, Julian raised his phone. My mind buzzed, then exploded. The accumulated shame and fury finally erupted. My nails raked wildly across his body, desperate to tear him apart. His shirt was loose and open, his exquisite collarbone marred by my messy claw marks, little beads of blood surfacing, a truly shocking sight. Julian’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of irritation darkening his brow. “You’re already married to me, and you still dare to think of him?” Ignoring my struggles, he pinned me beneath him, his actions growing more reckless, his voice a cold, low command. “Scream. Let him hear it loud and clear.” The brutal retaliation rained down on me. My muffled whimpers slowly transformed into uncontrollable moans of arousal, tears streaming down my face from the pain, yet he wouldn’t stop. A mix of shame and rage, I wildly slapped him across the face, my voice trembling, tearful. “Julian Vance, you animal!” He looked at my reaction, utterly satisfied, a cruel smile playing on his lips. Outside, the others finally sensed something was wrong. “Blake, doesn’t that voice sound like your ex-girlfriend, Elara?” **Chapter Two** The mention of Blake Carrington made me reel. Back in high school, local delinquents with dyed hair had whistled and leered at me. They were influential troublemakers in the area. Before, one female student had been assaulted, and the school, wanting to avoid trouble, expelled her. She later jumped to her death. I was terrified. A few of the punks dragged me into an alley, pinning my hands and feet, tearing at my underwear. Passersby ignored my desperate pleas. When I heard the sound of a zipper, I almost despaired. It was Blake Carrington, wearing his blue and white school uniform, who rushed in. He fought them off, almost breaking his arm. That day, he was covered in blood, his chin weakly resting on my shoulder. The proud young man, backlit by the sun, asked me with eyes full of tenderness and sincerity: “My 99th confession, Elara… will you be my girlfriend?” “Blake, you’re such an idiot.” I cried as I said yes, believing I’d found salvation. Our seventeen-year-old secret was him secretly writing “I love you” a thousand times on the flyleaf of my book, it was his profile from under the cherry blossom tree, my gaze lingering a thousand times. After Anya Petrova’s death, Blake was the only one who came to comfort me. He even gave me a fruit wine, disguised as a proposal. I thought I’d found love, a beautiful ending from campus to wedding gown. Who knew Blake had drugged my drink and sold my first time to Julian Vance? That night was the beginning of my nightmare. Later, I learned that he’d pursued me only to make Anya jealous, and the thugs were hired by him, part of a setup. As for the thousand “I love you’s” on the flyleaf of that book? They were love letters written to Anya… After Anya’s death, Blake hated me to his core. So, he feigned a proposal, when in reality, it was all to ruin my innocence. From start to finish, I was just a joke. “Why bring her up? She’s as flat as a board, and stiff as a plank in bed. Boring.” Blake Carrington swirled his wine glass, his lean fingers tapping restlessly. Hearing my name, he clearly looked annoyed. Someone chuckled, “Back then, she was so poor she only ate bread and drank tap water, so she was just underdeveloped. You can’t tell me, Blake, you never felt anything for that seductive face of hers?” “Blake doesn’t lack women, but plenty of brothers have had their eye on her for years, wishing they could get her in bed…” Those words seemed to stir Blake’s memories. He’d seen too many women. My figure held no appeal for him, but my face was undeniably alluring. One glance and his stomach would burn. He frowned, then started walking towards the curtain. The curtain was suddenly yanked open. I instinctively trembled and squeezed my eyes shut. If Julian Vance was a nightmare, Blake Carrington was a wolf in human skin, pretending to be kind but always scheming and exploiting. I’d die before I ever saw him again. The next second, a black suit jacket was draped over me, hiding the numerous hickeys covering my body. Julian pressed me into his arms, his voice mocking. “Well, well, Blake. In a hurry, aren’t we?” Blake’s gaze swept over the messy scene, his face darkening. “You and Anya were best friends. You drove her to her death, and you still have the nerve to do this with her fiancé…” His tone was cold and thin, a flicker of unconcealed disgust in his eyes. “Do you have any conscience left?” I closed my eyes slightly. “I told you, I didn’t force her…” That year, Anya had jumped into the sea. Before she died, she pointed at me, accusing me of stealing Julian Vance, then jumped to her despairing death right in front of me. But I never even liked Julian Vance. Why would I force Anya to die? Blake scoffed. “After her death, you grandly married into the Vance family. If it wasn’t you, who else could it be? And you still have the nerve to show your face at this reunion… Elara, don’t you disgust yourself?” Disgusting. The word was like a knife, plunging deep into my chest, causing a dull ache. After Julian took my first time, Blake had comforted me, full of feigned sympathy. Later, he indulged his appetite, whispering countless intimate words to me in hotel beds. Now, he called me disgusting. Perhaps Julian noticed the fleeting hurt in my eyes. His brow raised in amusement. “She’s my wife. Is it for an outsider like you to decide if she’s disgusting or not?” “You…” Blake’s face turned ashen, and he spun around and left. Julian, however, seemed to be in a good mood. He carefully covered me up, then personally carried me back to his latest Rolls-Royce. In the car, Julian’s fingers grazed my lips, then pressed down hard. “Your first love didn’t save you. Disappointed?” I closed my eyes, expressionless, unwilling to respond. Julian wasn’t satisfied. He bit my earlobe, his voice low. “If you don’t answer me, I’ll do it right here in the car. It’ll be a nice show for all the passersby.” People were coming and going all around us. I snapped my eyes open. “You’re insane!” **Chapter Three** Perhaps my tone was too agitated. Julian’s lips curved slightly, playing with my hair. “Just kidding, why so tense?” His voice was unusually gentle. He ran his fingers through my hair. “I’m not happy with your behavior today. I have some company matters to deal with, so go home, be a good girl, get cleaned up, and wait for me. I’ll be back later to keep you company.” Every time he wanted to punish me, he’d use every means to make me submit. Recalling those details, a wave of nausea washed over me. My gaze was cold as I said, “I’m not feeling well.” Julian’s expression subtly tightened. He brushed a stray lock of hair from my face. “I have tens of thousands of your private videos.” My face paled, my nails digging deep into my palms. Back then, Julian, to retaliate against me and ensure I couldn’t escape the Vance family, had recorded tens of thousands of intimate videos during countless nights—thousands of gigabytes, all stored on his computer. “Don’t look at me like that,” Julian loosened his tie. His black suit made his legs look exceptionally straight and long, and his eyes held a playful, unreadable smile. “Otherwise, I’ll think you’re inviting me right now.” His tone was incredibly suggestive. I bit down, straightened my messy collar, then got out of the car and hailed a taxi. Soon. My nails dug deeper into my palms. Soon, I would have collected all the evidence, sent Julian Vance to prison, and started a new life somewhere else. I opened my phone and suddenly saw an anonymous post. [Documenting the 99th humiliation plan: Making the heartthrob publicly humiliate his best friend at a party, embarrassing her in front of her ex-boyfriend!] The poster claimed she had a crush on a guy in high school, but he fell for her best friend. In a fit of rage, she found a corpse and faked her own suicide by jumping into the sea. Afterward, the heartthrob was filled with regret and married the best friend, tormenting her for five agonizing years. Just as the heartthrob grew disheartened, the poster went to the hospital, got plastic surgery to become her own double, and made the heartthrob avenge his “dead” self, orchestrating a “hundred humiliations plan.” As soon as he completed a hundred plans, she would accept his proposal. The contents of these plans were practically dog training, including but not limited to locking her best friend with chains for seven days and seven nights, recording thousands of gigabytes of private videos, and so on. Even more absurdly, the heartthrob actually carried out each one. The more I read, the tighter my brows furrowed. My heart pounded as I scrolled to the top and saw the latest post, uploaded five minutes ago. It included a picture of a girl in a white dress, smiling sweetly at the screen. That face was nine-tenths identical to the deceased Anya Petrova! And the content of the latest post was: [Documenting the 100th humiliation plan: Getting the heartthrob to abandon his wife to celebrate my birthday. Another day of being a little princess~] A sudden chill swept over me, my mind in turmoil, but I instinctively denied my suspicions. No way. It must be another one of Julian’s sick jokes. When Anya died, I had seen her body with my own eyes, bloated from the water. The birthmark on her shoulder couldn’t have been wrong. I stared intently at the address on the post, then told the driver in a low voice, “To the Imperial Luxury Hotel.” The car sped towards the opulent hotel. The lobby was grand and magnificent, illuminated like daytime by dazzling crystal chandeliers, filled with wealthy and renowned figures. I stared at the scene before me, stunned. The two men who had seemed at odds at the party—Julian Vance, CEO of Vance Group, and Blake Carrington, a powerful socialite—now stood beside a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to Anya Petrova. Under the soft lighting, the noble and unruly Julian Vance inclined his head slightly, personally placing a silver tiara on Anya’s head. Beside him, Blake Carrington knelt on one knee, gently placing crystal shoes worth hundreds of millions on her feet. It was exactly like a scene from a romantic drama. Julian handed her an exquisite crystal bottle, his usually stern eyes softening a few degrees. “For you. Happy birthday.” Anya gasped. “This is the aurora sample I mentioned offhand last time, Julian. How did you get it?” Julian chuckled softly. “Knew you liked it. Saw it at an auction and just picked it up.” Only I knew he was lying. Such a rare, priceless item could only be found in the deepest parts of the polar regions, a place even professional exploration teams dared not venture. That day, Julian had traveled to the Arctic alone, nearly losing his life. When he was rushed to the ICU upon his return, he was still clutching that crystal bottle tightly. Looking at that aurora crystal bottle, my heart twisted inch by agonizing inch. Julian, such an arrogant and cold man, would only ever risk his life for one woman. “Thank you, Julian.” Anya deliberately rubbed against Julian’s neck, deliberately exposing a white molar-shaped birthmark on her shoulder. The expression, the tone, and the shape of that birthmark—they were identical! The ironclad evidence became the last straw that broke the camel’s back. I could barely stand. I stumbled forward, gathering every ounce of strength to walk over to Anya Petrova. Julian finally noticed me, his gaze unperturbed, showing no awkwardness at being caught. I opened my mouth, my voice trembling as I asked, “Who is she?” He raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his face. “What answer do you want to hear?” “Julian Vance, is she…” My eyes reddened. I took a deep breath, then choked out the question, “Is she Anya Petrova?” Julian seemed genuinely surprised. No matter how much humiliation I suffered in the past, I never shed a single tear. Not even when my parents died did I bat an eye. But now, my entire body was trembling. Seeing my red eyes, he raised an eyebrow. “No.” “She’s not Anya,” Blake Carrington subtly stepped in front of Anya, his brow furrowed. “Elara, have you forgotten? Anya was killed by you long ago.” I had seen with my own eyes Anya “die” in front of me. Back then, Anya and I were the best of friends. After she drowned, I carried a crushing guilt for five years. Every night I closed my eyes, I’d dream of Anya’s desperate, helpless gaze. But now, the face from my memories merged with the face of the woman before me. Anya’s red lips curved slightly, and she smiled sweetly. “Hi, I’m Anya, Anya as in ‘Anya rising’ if you know what I mean, big sister.” **Chapter Four** Anya Petrova, Anya. Just an elaborate fake death scheme. I suddenly felt like a complete joke. My best friend, my husband, my ex-boyfriend—all of them had conspired together to weave this massive web of revenge, tormenting me until I was a walking corpse, wishing for death.

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Everyone said Liam Blackwood was absolutely obsessed with me. Even after my mother and I were kicked out of our home, he still went through with our engagement. He even rehearsed our perfect wedding ninety-nine times, all by himself, just for me. They had no idea. The brides at those weddings? They were chosen by drawing lots from the ninety-nine kept women Liam Blackwood maintained. “Ava, you’re already Mrs. Blackwood. It’s just a wedding for each of them. That’s not asking too much, right?” I numbly took the large box of cash he handed me, then rushed to the hospital. It wasn’t until my own wedding, when he walked down the aisle with my father’s illegitimate daughter, that I finally couldn’t hold back my tears. “Anyone else, but why her?” I choked out. A chilling smile played on Liam’s lips. “She’s carrying my child.” “Ava, be generous. Don’t be like your mother. She got so old, and you still had to beg people for her medical bills.” Under the mocking stares of every single guest, I clutched the money and fled in a panic. But at the hospital entrance, I saw my mother plunge. Her blood splattered across my face, her eyes wide. With her last breath, she rasped, “Ava Sterling, don’t ever beg him again.”

I clutched my mother’s rapidly stiffening body, my own blood turning to ice. My mouth hung open, but no sound escaped. Liam Blackwood’s phone rang, a frantic sound. I answered it instinctively. His lazy voice drifted through the line. “Ava, it’s Skylar’s and my wedding night. We’re out of protection at the house. Go buy a box and bring it back.” My fingers trembled, ready to hang up, but his voice came again. “Oh, right. And grab a box of milk candies. My little one’s afraid of pain, I’ll just sweet-talk her.” My mind flashed back to the night Liam Blackwood came to pick up my mother and me from our run-down apartment. He gently slid a ring onto my finger. “Trying to hide from me? You had me looking for so long.” “Even if you’re not the Thorne family’s eldest daughter, you’re still my wife, Ava. I’ll give you a perfect wedding.” On our first night, I was in so much pain I teared up. He slipped a milk candy into my mouth and murmured tenderly, “My little one, will sweetening you up with a milk candy make you forgive me?” Even though I knew about Liam Blackwood’s notorious playboy reputation, I still greedily fell in love with him. I never cared about those kept women. I knew he was just putting on a show. But Skylar Thorne was different. He allowed her to carry his child. In our five years of marriage, no matter how passionate Liam got, he always made sure to use protection. My greed finally met its punishment. His one exception was the person I hated most. If not for Skylar Thorne, my mother wouldn’t have lost her husband, and I wouldn’t have lost my father. He hung up first, as always. I stared blankly as the funeral home staff took my mother away. When they handed me a small box, I finally lost control, sobbing uncontrollably. After getting the death certificate, a call came in. “Miss Sterling, the DNA report shows that your mother was Mr. Sterling Senior’s biological daughter, lost years ago.” “Your plane tickets are booked. Would you like to meet your grandfather? Don’t worry, the old man isn’t as terrifying as rumors suggest.” I clutched my mother’s urn tightly, tears streaming down my face. “Yes.” “Then in three days, bring your identification. Someone will pick you up.” I returned home numbly, only to hear a group of drunken playboys loudly discussing. “Liam, Skylar Thorne is your wife’s half-sister. Didn’t you hate her the most? How did she suddenly become the bride for today’s wedding?” Liam Blackwood slowly swirled his red wine, chuckling softly. “Can’t help it. The mother of my child needs to have noble origins.” After the guys cheered, someone cautiously asked, “So, Liam, what about your wife?” Liam’s smile turned wicked. “Ava? Oh, she’s very obedient. I’ve been with other women right in front of her, and she’d still obediently hand me protection. It’s just a wedding. I can always give her another one later, right?” The group burst into laughter. “Liam, aren’t you worried your wife will actually get angry and leave? After all, if not for Skylar Thorne, your wife would still be the Thorne family’s eldest daughter!” Liam replied indifferently, “No way. Even if I kick her out, she’ll still kneel on the ground, crying and begging me not to abandon her.” “After all, her frail mother still depended on me to keep her alive.” I staggered backward, bumping into someone who had silently appeared behind me. “Sister, you’re back.” I turned, my eyes darkening as I saw Skylar Thorne’s face. “I don’t have a sister.” I turned to walk out the side door, but Skylar suddenly shrieked. “Ah!” Instantly, the chatter in the living room ceased.

Liam Blackwood walked over, hands in his pockets. He saw Skylar Thorne on the floor and gave me a meaningful look. “Did you push her?” Skylar quickly explained, “No, no, Sister didn’t push me. I just tripped accidentally.” Then she sobbed softly, “Liam, my stomach hurts a bit. Is the baby…?” Liam clicked his tongue, then scooped Skylar up in his arms. He looked back at me, his voice cold. “Come here.” He carried Skylar back into the mansion, setting her gently on his lap, like a delicate, precious gem. The playboys exchanged glances and quietly cleared out. I walked in silently. The playboy I brushed past whistled, as if watching a show. Before, no matter how much of a playboy Liam Blackwood was, they never dared to openly disrespect me. They were smart enough to see that Liam’s treatment of Skylar Thorne was different from the ninety-nine kept women outside. So, I was now treated like those kept women – free for anyone to tease and toy with. When I realized this, a sharp, jagged pain sliced through my already numb heart. He didn’t ask anything. He just looked at me with cold indifference. “Ava, apologize.” I bit my lip hard until my mouth filled with the coppery taste of blood. “I didn’t push her.” A cruel smile played on Liam Blackwood’s lips. He instructed the butler, “Go get the madam’s cat.” My pupils constricted. “What are you doing?” Liam Blackwood’s smile was savage. “Ava, Skylar is different from those other women. She’s my business partner, the Thorne Group’s eldest daughter, and she’s carrying my child.” “I cannot tolerate anyone bullying the mother of my child, including you.” “So, you need to pay a price to understand your mistake.” The moment he finished speaking, the cat was thrown into a pot of scalding liquid, letting out a horrific shriek. I lunged forward, but Liam Blackwood grabbed me. He pressed my head down onto the table, making me watch as my little cat, who had been with me for ten years, was scalded alive. Liam Blackwood leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Ava Sterling, this time it’s just the cat. If you dare to bully Skylar again, next time, you’ll have to consider your mother’s life.” The tears welling in my eyes fell silently. The memories of him protecting me in front of those kept women now felt like a cruel boomerang, striking me right in the heart. Next, Liam Blackwood placed a divorce agreement in front of me. “Sign it. My child can’t be born out of wedlock.” I trembled as I stared at the cat floating in the pot. It had been my only solace when my mother and I were thrown out of our home. Now, like my mother, it was completely gone. This marriage no longer held any meaning. I took the agreement and swiftly signed my name. Liam Blackwood frowned imperceptibly, seeing no hesitation in me. He gave a soft “Hmph.” “Since you’re no longer Mrs. Blackwood, move to the staff quarters. Your mother’s future medical expenses will be earned through your labor.” I forced a bitter smile, recalling my mother’s dying wish. I said faintly, “No need.” Just then, sounds of vomiting came from my room. My heart sank. I rushed into the room, only to see my mother’s handmade bedsheet covered in vomit. Skylar Thorne got up, looking apologetic. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Sister. I just couldn’t hold it in.” She then pulled a ten-dollar bill from her wallet. “This bedsheet looks old anyway. Here, ten dollars for it.” *“Slap!”* My eyes were bloodshot. I slapped her hard across the face. “Skylar Thorne, you’ve gone too far!” Skylar Thorne clutched her face, looking utterly wronged at Liam Blackwood behind her. “Liam, I didn’t mean it. I already apologized to Sister.” The next moment, a searing pain exploded on my own cheek.

He used all his strength, knocking me to the ground, without even sparing me a glance. He walked straight to Skylar Thorne, carefully checking her face. “Are you okay?” Skylar Thorne whimpered, burying her face in Liam Blackwood’s embrace. “It’s my fault. I ruined Sister’s bedsheet with my vomit.” Liam Blackwood’s gaze finally fell on the stained bed. He said indifferently, “Burn it.” “No! That’s my mother’s! I can wash it myself, don’t burn it!” But he knew perfectly well that I had nightmares every night and could only sleep peacefully while holding that bedsheet. He ignored my pleading gaze and instructed the housemaids behind him, “When the new madam moves in, throw out all these old things.” *“CRASH!”* The wedding photo on the wall crashed to the floor, swept out of the room like trash. Yet, all I could hear was his vow from when we took those photos. He had once sworn in front of everyone, “I, Liam Blackwood, will only ever love Ava Sterling.” When the bedsheet caught fire, I rushed to the brazier, grabbed it with my bare hands, and smothered the flames with my body. Blisters immediately swelled on my hands. Liam Blackwood rushed over in a flash, grabbing my hand, his eyes sharp. “Does it hurt?” Skylar Thorne suddenly clutched her stomach, pointing at the already opened urn. “I’m allergic to dust. Why is Sister bringing back a pile of ashes?” “Cough, cough, cough! Liam, help me!” I lunged forward. “No!” But my mother’s ashes were kicked over by Skylar Thorne. I could no longer control the rage burning within me. I rushed at her, tearing at her hair, my eyes blazing red. “You did that on purpose?!” “Slut! Wasn’t it enough that your mother was a homewrecker who seduced my father? Now you’re rushing to be a mistress, stealing someone else’s husband!” Skylar Thorne shrieked, “Liam, Sister’s gone crazy! She’s going to kill me!” I squeezed Skylar Thorne’s neck with all my might, but Liam Blackwood kicked me away. The moment I fell to the ground, fresh blood streamed from beneath me. I crawled to gather my mother’s ashes, leaving a glaring trail of blood across the floor. Tears dripped onto the ashes. “Mom, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…” But the next moment, Liam Blackwood snatched the urn from my arms. He coldly emptied all of my mother’s ashes into the toilet! *“WHOOSH!”* The sound of the flushing water almost shattered my eardrums. I knelt there, stunned, in front of the toilet, looking up to meet Liam Blackwood’s gaze, my eyes burning red. “Liam Blackwood, I will never! Never forgive you!” His eyes flashed with shock and pain, but it was only for an instant. Skylar Thorne held the handful of hair I’d torn out, crying like a wilting flower. “Liam, Sister pulled out so much of my hair! I don’t want to have your baby now, having babies makes you so ugly!” Liam Blackwood tenderly picked her up, cooing, “No, you won’t, Skylar is the most beautiful girl in the world, she won’t turn ugly.” Then, his gaze fell on me, like I was a lifeless object. He ordered the maid standing outside, “Get me some scissors.” He took the scissors, stood before me, and contemptuously pinched my chin. “Ava Sterling, have I been spoiling you too much?” With that, he pressed the scissors against my scalp, cutting off my long hair, strand by strand, as if he were trimming useless weeds. Just the day before our wedding, he had held my hair, treating it like a precious treasure, “I love Ava’s long hair the most.” He didn’t stop until my head was practically bare, with only a few sparse strands left. Then, Liam Blackwood threw the scissors aside. He turned, embraced Skylar Thorne, and reverently kissed her hair. “Do you still think you’re ugly now?” Skylar Thorne’s tears turned to laughter. She looked at me, her eyes full of triumph. “Heh, Sister looks like a little clown!”

My eyes stared blankly at everything before me. I cried and laughed at the same time. Pointing at Liam Blackwood, my voice was icy. “You will regret this.” But Liam Blackwood had someone bring a dog leash. He casually applied ointment to Skylar Thorne’s wound, not even looking up. “Tomorrow is Skylar’s birthday party. It seems the only way to keep you in line is to tie you up.” A maid stepped forward to fasten the leash around my neck. Her eyes widened when she saw the blood beneath me. She looked at Liam Blackwood repeatedly, hesitating. “Sir, the madam… she seems to be bleeding.” The next instant, the maid was struck by the scissors Liam had thrown. A cruel smile spread across Liam Blackwood’s lips. “It seems Ava Sterling has been bribing you all quite a bit. I’ll give you one more chance. Tell me, who is the madam?” The maid immediately knelt, begging for mercy, facing Skylar Thorne. “I’m sorry, Madam. I spoke out of turn. I’ll punish myself!” With that, the maid furiously slapped herself. Skylar Thorne, however, clutched Liam Blackwood’s arm, whimpering, “Liam, maybe I should just go. No one here likes me.” Hearing this, the maid immediately turned and fastened the leash around my neck. Like training a dog, she kicked me. “Crawl, now!” Then she turned back to Skylar Thorne with a fawning smile. “Madam, please don’t worry, we all love you!” Skylar Thorne finally gave a satisfied smile, while Liam Blackwood’s gaze remained solely on Skylar Thorne the entire time. He watched her, utterly captivated. I was leashed like a dog in front of the mansion gates, listening to the sounds of passionate intimacy from upstairs for an entire day and night. The next evening, guests arrived in a steady stream. Liam Blackwood and Skylar Thorne stood at the entrance, welcoming guests like a truly loving couple, completely oblivious to my presence. The wives who used to be close to me now fawned over Skylar Thorne. They approached me, showering me with insults. “Well, well, isn’t this the former Mrs. Blackwood? How did your hair get cut like some bald, pathetic creature? Standing guard here?” “Oh, my heavens, you’re giving her too much credit! ‘Mrs. Blackwood’? Please! She’s even more worthless than the kept women Mr. Blackwood keeps outside.” “Haven’t you heard? After she and her mom got kicked out of the Thorne family, she got involved in some shady dealings. She’s all used up, that’s why she can’t even have kids…” “…” The playboys still whistled, “kindly” tossing a piece of meat in front of me, their hands tracing indecently over my body. “Looks like Liam really dumped his wife. Why not come with me?” The group cheered, “Liam doesn’t want her anyway. What’s wrong with us brothers having a taste of his ex-wife?” With that, someone unfastened the leash from my neck. They impatiently stripped off my clothes. Some even sat on me, ignoring the fresh blood staining me, and began to move on their own. Loud, lewd laughter filled the air. The moment I looked up, I met a pair of cold, indifferent eyes on the second floor. Liam Blackwood swayed his wine glass, watching coldly the entire time. Perhaps he was annoyed by the noise, but he turned and walked away without a backward glance. I finally closed my eyes in despair, but the tears streaming down my cheeks were covered by a warm sensation. I opened my eyes to see the man who had been on top of me lying sprawled to the side, eyes wide and unseeing. The blood gushing from his neck splattered onto my face. The vile men scattered like they’d seen death itself. When I finally made out the face in the dim light, I gasped in shock. “How are you here?” A few minutes later, Liam Blackwood received the land transfer agreement signed by the Thorne family. His lips curved slightly.

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Seven months pregnant. With my belly showing, I helped Caleb Prescott secure the latest quarterly partnership. Then, checking his location discreetly, I headed to the bar, planning to surprise him. Just before pushing open the private room door, I heard his voice, laced with a cynical laugh, mingling with his friends. “Caleb, won’t Audrey be mad if she finds out you deliberately sent her on that business trip just so you could celebrate Chloe finishing high school and getting into college?” Caleb scoffed, utterly dismissive. “I’ve pampered Audrey for years. What more could she possibly want? Besides, she’s pregnant, easily agitated. I kept it quiet just to prevent her from getting jealous.” “True, Audrey has been with you for so long, she probably can’t live without you. But you’ve raised Chloe for all these years, and now she’s an adult, and so beautiful. Don’t you have… any thoughts?” Caleb reached out, casually wrapping his arm around Chloe Sterling’s delicate shoulders, his voice thick with doting affection. “That depends on whether our Chloe is willing.” “I… I’m willing to marry Uncle Caleb.”

I pushed the door open. The conversation inside the private room died instantly. Caleb instinctively pulled his hand back from Chloe’s shoulder, his doting expression quickly morphing into calm. “Audrey, what are you doing here? Is the contract settled?” Caleb’s friends, seeing my upset face, quickly tried to smooth things over with smiles. “Audrey, Chloe just finished high school today, and we’re all celebrating. Caleb was just about to call you to join us!” “No, thanks. You all have fun. I’m heading back.” I looked at Caleb and Chloe, their intimate posture a punch to the gut. I forced a strained smile onto my face and turned to leave. “Audrey.” Caleb called out, getting up and coming to my side. “Chloe just lost a game and has to drink ten penalty shots. I’ll be driving later, so could you take them for her?” I clutched my pregnant belly, fighting back the burning sensation in my nose, staring at Caleb in disbelief. “You want *me* to drink?” “It’s a celebration for Chloe. Just cooperate, don’t spoil the fun.” “Fine.” I picked up a glass and chugged it. The beer rushed down my throat, the foam stinging my nose, and my stomach churned, threatening to revolt. One glass. Two glasses. … Caleb’s friends started to look uncomfortable, one finally speaking up. “Caleb, maybe that’s enough.” “It’s fine. Back when Audrey helped me close deals with clients, she could down a liter of hard liquor without batting an eye. This is nothing to her.” I held the last glass, feeling nothing but bitter amusement. The year we got married, Caleb’s company hit a rough patch. I wanted to help him by drinking with clients to secure partnerships, but he stopped me, swearing solemnly that no matter how tough things got, he’d never let me suffer that humiliation. But then Chloe came into our lives. Caleb said she was a friend’s orphan, and he needed to take responsibility as her guardian. From that moment on, all his attention shifted to Chloe. For his company, I started to repeatedly drink and smile for investors. Until six months ago, I was force-fed by an investor until I had stomach bleeding and was almost taken to a hotel. I only escaped by slitting my wrists, threatening to end my life. And that night, he used the investment I had begged on my knees for to throw an all-night fireworks display to celebrate Chloe’s birthday. I finished the last drink, nothing left in my throat but a raw, bitter taste. “Caleb, I’m leaving.” “I’ll drive you back…” Caleb was about to reach out and help me, but then he heard Chloe’s saccharine tone. “Uncle Caleb, I don’t have any family left in this world. Could you… divorce Audrey and stay with just me, forever?” The private room fell into a deathly silence. I froze, looking at Caleb. He didn’t hesitate, handing me a divorce agreement, a pleading look in his eyes. “Audrey, Chloe rarely asks for anything from me. I don’t want to disappoint her.” “Fine. I’ll sign.” I managed a desolate smile, fighting back the tears stinging my eyes, and picked up the pen to sign the divorce agreement. As I walked out of the room, I heard Caleb’s friends trying to reason with him: “Caleb, a divorce agreement isn’t a joke. If Audrey truly gets angry, you might take things too far.” “Audrey’s been with me for eight years, and now she’s pregnant. She can’t leave me. I’ll just sweet-talk her later, it’ll be fine.” Tears finally streamed down my face, uncontrolled. I took a deep breath, wiped them away, and cast one last look at the joyous private room. Then, I pulled out my phone and dialed the hospital. **[截断点]** “Please schedule an abortion for me. The sooner, the better.”

Just as I left the bar, Caleb rushed out after me. “It’s too late. I’ll take you home.” I reached for the passenger side door, but he stopped me. “You’re pregnant. The front seat isn’t as safe for you. You should sit in the back.” Caleb then opened the passenger door for Chloe himself, and thoughtfully buckled her seatbelt. I looked at the “Wife’s Seat Only” sticker on the dashboard, finding it incredibly ironic and blindingly painful. “Uncle Caleb, can I date when I’m in college?” “No!” Caleb’s tone was stern. Chloe giggled, playfully feeding a snack into Caleb’s mouth: “Okay then, Uncle Caleb, I’ll listen to you. I’ll only be with you, forever.” I glanced at the car’s interior, decorated with a girlish touch. The mini-fridge that used to hold my milk and pregnancy snacks had long been replaced with Chloe’s favorite candies. This car, the one I brought into our marriage, felt utterly foreign now. Chloe had quietly, insidiously woven herself into Caleb’s life, yet he deluded himself into believing he was merely a guardian, never truly falling for her. How ridiculous. How utterly ironic. Noticing my gaze, Caleb spoke up. “Chloe said she’s never stayed in a hotel before, so I’m going to drop her off to experience that first. I’ll take you home later.” The car soon stopped outside a hotel. I watched Caleb lead Chloe into the hotel, my eyes falling on a discarded receipt on the passenger seat. The receipt clearly showed purchases of condoms and lingerie – all Caleb’s preferred styles. These two things hadn’t been used since I got pregnant. I remembered when Caleb and I got married, he told me his mother had taken her own life because she couldn’t bear her husband’s infidelity. He hated all unfaithful men in the world. He promised he’d protect me forever, never betray me. But as I stood outside that hotel room, hearing a woman’s sweet cries and a man’s muffled grunts from inside, His past vows felt like a cruel illusion. My eyes welled up, but I had no courage to burst in and catch them red-handed. If you couldn’t keep your word, why make those promises in the first place? … Two hours later. Caleb returned to the car, his hair damp. “That girl Chloe is so clingy. She wouldn’t let me leave, so I just took a quick shower. Sorry to keep you waiting.” I silently stared at the hickeys on his neck. Suddenly, this man I’d lived with for eight years felt like a complete stranger. Caleb noticed my silence and sat beside me. “Audrey, Chloe’s just a kid. Don’t be so hard on her.” “That divorce agreement was just to humor her. The terms clearly state I’m leaving with nothing. Don’t worry, once she loses interest, we’ll get back together right away.” I just smiled, saying nothing. Get back together? Caleb, I loved you for eight years. It’s time for it to end.

Early the next morning. Chloe burst into my room with a housekeeper. “Audrey Prescott, you’ve already divorced Uncle Caleb, so why are you still living here? I’m the lady of this house now, get out!” The housekeeper began clearing out my things. I didn’t stop them. I simply picked up my pre-packed suitcase and walked out of the house without looking back. “Wait! Open your suitcase. Who knows if you’ve stolen anything valuable? Uncle Caleb said everything in this mansion is mine now.” The housekeeper snatched my suitcase, ransacking it. Inside were only a few clothes I’d bought before marrying Caleb. Nothing else. “Can I go now?” “No! You haven’t been searched yet. Strip her!” The housekeeper stepped forward, pulling at my clothes until I was completely naked. Chloe looked at my pregnant belly with disgust. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Are those stretch marks? So ugly. No wonder Uncle Caleb said he didn’t want to touch you.” I clenched my fists, enduring the housekeeper’s mocking stares, and squatted down to pick up my clothes and put them back on. Suddenly, Chloe rushed toward me, slapping my belly hard. I instinctively raised my hand. But Chloe stumbled first, falling to the ground and pointing at my suitcase, sobbing. “Uncle Caleb, Audrey won’t let me move in, and she threw my suitcase!” Caleb glared at me, barely suppressing his rage. “What’s going on?” “Uncle Caleb, Audrey called me a fatherless child and told me to stay away from you. She said I was a burden to you. If only my dad were still here…” Chloe continued to sob. Caleb’s fury could no longer be contained. He slapped me hard across the face. “Apologize to Chloe, now!” Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth, my eyes blurring with tears. “Caleb, we’ve been together for eight years. Is this truly how you see me?” “And why wouldn’t I! Chloe’s just a child. Would she lie about you?!” Chloe clung to Caleb’s arm, acting utterly wronged, and pointed at a frog mascot costume. “Uncle Caleb, I want to see Audrey wear that.” “Did you hear her? Put it on and apologize to Chloe! Don’t forget your dad is still in the ICU. I can stop his medical treatment any time!” Caleb said, already dialing the hospital. “No! I’ll wear it.” I endured the mocking stares around me, painstakingly pulling on the frog costume. The tight fabric pressed painfully against my belly. “Uncle Caleb, look at Audrey in that frog suit! Her belly’s all puffy like that, doesn’t it look like a pregnant toad?!” “As long as Chloe likes it. You can wear it every day to make her happy.” The mascot costume was stifling. My head spun, and sharp pains radiated from my lower abdomen. I don’t know how long passed, then a wave of dizziness swept over me. I fell heavily to the ground.

I woke up in the hospital. Caleb was by my bedside, holding my hand. “Audrey, don’t be mad. Chloe’s just a kid, playful. Just go apologize to her properly later, and this whole thing will blow over.” “What if I don’t?” “It’s just an apology! Why are you arguing with a child?! I swear, you’ve gone completely crazy since you got pregnant!” Caleb angrily threw my hand away and stormed out. A nurse quickly rushed over, her voice urgent: “Ms. Sterling, your father’s medical treatment has been stopped. His condition suddenly worsened, and he’s not doing well. You need to go see him one last time!” My pupils constricted. I instinctively tried to get up. But Caleb, leading a team of doctors, burst into the room and dragged me to the operating theater without a word. “Caleb! Let me go! I need to see my dad…” “Audrey, Chloe just had a sudden severe anemia, and she needs umbilical cord blood to save her life. You can see your dad anytime. You need to give birth now.” I was forcibly strapped to the operating table. “Mr. Prescott, the patient is only six months pregnant, far from her due date. Administering labor-inducing drugs now could have a fatal impact on the fetus.” “Saving a life is more important! Do it!” Caleb snatched the oxytocin syringe from the doctor’s hand and brutally plunged it into my belly. Restraints tightly bound my limbs. I struggled desperately, looking at Caleb, trying to find a flicker of compassion in his eyes. But Caleb’s expression remained coldly indifferent. He just injected one syringe of oxytocin after another into my body until all five were empty. The doctor urgently tried to stop Caleb’s hand: “Mr. Prescott, five syringes are the limit! Any more and the baby will die from premature birth!” “Get out of my way! I only care if Chloe lives!” Caleb brutally plunged in the sixth syringe. An excruciating pain surged through my entire body. I couldn’t hold on any longer and completely passed out. … When I opened my eyes again, My abdomen was flat once more. I desperately got up and rushed to my father’s room, only for the nurse to tell me I was too late. My father had passed away just as Caleb dragged me away. The nurse said his last words were my name, whispered repeatedly. Passing a VIP room, I heard Chloe’s voice. “Uncle Caleb, it’s all my fault for being so sick. It caused Audrey’s baby to be born prematurely and die. She won’t be angry, will she?” “It’s fine. If the baby’s gone, Audrey can just have another one. All that matters is that you’re okay.” I touched my flat abdomen, closing my eyes in despair, letting tears stream down my cheeks. Caleb and I started trying to conceive right after we got married. We bought piles of baby clothes and toys, and he devoured books on childcare, saying he wanted our baby to be the happiest child in the world. Seven months ago, when I finally got pregnant, he was so excited, holding me and listening to the baby’s movements all night. That was the child we had hoped for for seven years. How could he be so cruel?! Three days later. I finished my father’s funeral and buried the baby’s tiny body alongside him. Leaving the cemetery.

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Just because I accidentally hurt Julian Vance’s mistress while bathing her. Julian threw my gravely ill mother out into the pouring rain, leaving her to die alone. After Mom passed, I handed him the divorce papers, begging him to let me go. But he just stared at me with a stone-cold face, kicking me to the ground. “Anya Reed, you’re really getting into this act, aren’t you? Haven’t you heard that people can actually die from getting rained on?” “Besides, I’ve supported you two parasites for so many years. If you want to leave, you’ll have to compensate me tens of millions.” I nodded calmly. A few days later, a massive sum landed in his account. He didn’t know, that was the price of my life. No sooner had the words left his mouth than a ledger slammed into my face. Julian Vance used the tip of his leather shoe to nudge the ledger open. “See that clearly?” His voice was chilling, like ice. “Every single penny you’ve spent since the day you married into the Vance family is right here.” The ledger was filled with his scrawled, almost aggressive handwriting, detailing every one of my expenses. From an extra slice of toast at breakfast to my mother’s emergency hospital bills. Every detail was meticulously recorded, down to the last cent. My fingers instinctively curled, staring blankly at the ledger as tears streamed down my face, uncontrolled. I never imagined Julian would go to such lengths. “A total of thirteen million two hundred thousand.” He bent down, his warm breath brushing my ear. “I’ll round it down for you, Anya. With that much money, you’d have to prostitute yourself from now until they’re defiling your corpse, wouldn’t you?” I snapped my head up, my gaze locking onto the icy disdain in Julian’s eyes. The man who once seemed like my closest confidant was now spewing words that bordered on pure venom. A bitter ache filled my throat. I glanced at Celeste Hayes, who was clinging to Julian’s arm, and let out a self-deprecating laugh. “If I recall correctly, Miss Hayes, the necklace around your neck is worth ten million alone, isn’t it?” The esteemed Mrs. Vance, after five years, had spent less than a single piece of jewelry on his trophy girlfriend. A sharp shove sent me sprawling to the ground. Celeste irritably rubbed her wrist, scoffing, “You old hag, who do you think you are, daring to compare yourself to me?” She whined, stretching her palm out to Julian, “This old hag is so thick-skinned, she actually hurt my hand~” Julian didn’t spare me a glance. Instead, he dotingly blew on Celeste’s palm. “Next time, don’t lay a hand on her yourself. It breaks my heart.” A wave of dizziness washed over me. I collapsed onto the floor, clutching my face as blood gushed from my nose. “Ugh!” Celeste shrieked, pulling up her skirt. “You old hag, how disgusting! Your nosebleed got on my shoe!” Seeing the crimson blood on the floor, a flicker of panic crossed Julian’s eyes, but it quickly turned to disgust when he spotted the divorce papers lying nearby. “Anya Reed, what trick are you trying to pull now?” That cold, hateful gaze reminded me of our wedding day, when Julian had gripped my throat, pinning me against the champagne tower, his face contorted with dark fury: “Anya Reed, your mother killed mine. And you still think you can marry me? You wicked woman, I’ll strangle you right now!” That day, he didn’t strangle me. But every day since had been a living hell. I said nothing, just wiped away the blood, and shakily got to my feet, intending to leave. But Celeste yanked me back by my hair. “You stained my shoe, old hag. You have to lick it clean.” I stumbled back down to the floor, but my eyes burned with stubborn defiance. Lick a mistress’s shoe? Never! I grabbed the table, trying to stand, but Julian kicked me hard in the back of my knee. “You want a divorce, don’t you? If she tells you to lick it, you lick it.” My entire body stiffened. I bit down hard on my lower lip, the metallic taste of blood flooding my mouth. Divorce… once I’m divorced, I’ll be free. My last shred of dignity shattered, I could only humiliate myself, extending my tongue. Again and again, I licked Celeste Hayes’s high heel until it gleamed. Celeste wrapped her arms around Julian, pouting, “Julian, darling, since this old hag is so good at licking shoes, why don’t we send her to Nightfall Bar to lick all the customers’ shoes?” “I still haven’t settled the score with her for hurting me~” I clenched my fists, staring at Julian’s face in disbelief. We weren’t divorced yet. I was still officially Mrs. Vance. Was he really not going to spare me even a shred of dignity? Julian’s gaze lingered on me, then he lifted his foot and deliberately ground it into the divorce papers. “Anya Reed, you deserve a lesson.”

The bar manager took pity on me and didn’t make me actually lick anyone’s shoes. He just handed me a flannel cloth and told me to kneel and wipe the customers’ shoes clean. Drunken patrons insulted me freely, some even stepping on my face with force. But I just calmly polished their shoes until they gleamed. A group of rich kids in front of me stared at their phones, laughing loudly. “Holy crap, Mr. Vance must really adore his new favorite! He’s put out a hundred-million-dollar bounty for a matching heart for her!” “Heard when that girl was diagnosed with heart disease this afternoon, Mr. Vance was so furious he almost trashed the whole hospital. Those doctors nearly peed their pants.” “A hundred million! Mr. Vance is way too generous. If you ask me, she’s just a little bird, so what if she dies?” “You don’t know anything. Celeste is different. They all say she looks just like Anya Reed from back in college…” I froze, my gaze drawn to their phone screens. Bold black letters clearly stated that anyone who was a match and agreed to donate a heart to Celeste Hayes would receive a one-hundred-million-dollar reward. If I remembered correctly, my blood type and all my health indicators matched Celeste’s. I had even been dragged by Julian to donate 3000cc of blood because of it. The screen’s light illuminated my face. The rich kids in front of me looked at me in surprise, then burst into laughter. “Isn’t that Mrs. Vance? Why aren’t you serving your Mr. Vance’s new darling? How’d you end up here shining our shoes?” “If you ask me, you should just sleep with us, it’d be better than being the Vance family’s dog.” Lewd gazes roved over my body, and several hands reached out to touch me. I recoiled in terror, grabbing a beer bottle, just as I was about to make a run for it, three bodyguards rushed in, kicking the rich kids far away. Ignoring their angry curses and wails, they turned and grabbed me. “Madam, it’s time for you to assist Miss Hayes with her bath.” My expression was numb. I let them drag me into the car. Outside, thunder and rain raged, just like the day my mother died in my arms—cold and piercing. The moment the door opened, a sticky, foul-smelling lace thong was flung at my face. On the sofa, Julian, looking utterly sated after his latest tryst, held Celeste close and lit a cigar. “Still remember how to come back? I thought you’d be too busy licking shoes to get off the bed by now.” I ignored his words, simply walking up to Celeste and saying, “Miss Hayes, it’s time for your bath.” *SLAP!* My face snapped sideways from the sudden blow. Julian flicked his cigarette at me, his eyes blazing with displeasure. “Can’t you speak properly?” I staggered a few steps before regaining my balance, clenching my fists, swallowing the metallic taste in my throat, and choked out, “Miss Hayes, please allow me to assist you with your bath.” “No way!” Celeste hid in Julian’s arms, whining, “That disgusting old hag will definitely hurt me on purpose! Let her bathe Little Monster tonight, it’ll be good practice for her.” Little Monster was Celeste’s pit bull terrier, and it had bitten me many times. What was the difference between bathing it and walking into a death trap? I shivered uncontrollably, instinctively resisting. “No, I won’t!” “You won’t?” Julian stood up, grabbing my hair and pulling me close, humiliatingly patting my face. “What right do you have to refuse? Don’t you care about your mother’s life anymore?” **截断点**

At the mention of my mother, my eyes instantly welled up. Seeing my tears, Julian paused for a moment, then roughly shoved me to the ground. “Anya Reed, a heartless woman like you can cry?” “If you hadn’t desperately stopped me from finding my mother back then, she wouldn’t have been pushed down the stairs by your mother. You’re the culprit!” “If Celeste isn’t happy today, you and your mother can both go to hell.” His eyes burned with raw hatred, yet he refused to look at me. Tears streamed down my face. I clutched my chest tightly. To keep that secret all those years ago, my mother and I had suffered so much. Yet, Julian still hated me so deeply… If that’s how it was, then after the divorce, I would tell him the truth and clear my mother and my names! Thinking this, I suddenly felt a sense of relief. All along, Julian had hated the wrong person. I wondered how desperate he would be the day he learned the truth. I staggered to my feet and walked towards the tightly shut metal door. From deep inside the room, I heard the growls of a dog. Fear surged through me. I turned to run, but the metal door slammed shut. Julian’s voice was icy. “I’m taking Celeste to watch the fireworks. Don’t let her out to bother us.” As the sound of his footsteps faded, the vicious dog instantly lunged at me, sinking its teeth into my arm. My pathetic screams and the fireworks outside erupted simultaneously. When I was finally let out, my body was covered in over a dozen lacerations, big and small. The dog kennel was littered with torn flesh and fresh blood. A bodyguard threw me a roll of gauze and a check. “Mr. Vance said for you to get lost.” I picked up the check with trembling hands. The amount was exactly enough for my mother’s treatment this month. But it wasn’t needed anymore. I tore the check into pieces and threw it on the ground, forcing myself to stand and leave. I would never come back to this place. I took a cab to the hospital, had my wounds stitched, received a vaccine, and then contacted the hospital director using the number on the bounty notice. “Are you sure you want to voluntarily donate your heart?” The hospital director looked at my medical report with satisfaction, nodding. “You are indeed the most suitable candidate for Miss Hayes’s heart transplant. However, the surgical risks are very high…” “It’s fine.” I raised my hand and signed the voluntary donor agreement without hesitation. If death was a release, could anything be worse than this? After signing the agreement and confirming the precautions, I had just stepped out of the hospital when Julian’s call came through. “Are you the one donating a heart to Celeste? What’s your name?” I gripped the phone tightly, my breath catching in my throat. “I…” Before I could speak, Julian impatiently cut me off, “Proceed with the surgery as soon as possible. The payment will be transferred to your card afterward.” The call disconnected. Staring at the name “Husband” on my phone, a mixture of sarcasm and bitterness twisted into an indescribable pain in my heart. If only he had looked at how he’d saved my contact, he would have known who I was. On my phone, a news headline popped up: *Vance Group CEO Spends Millions Lighting Up the City with Fireworks to Win His Beloved’s Smile.* Meanwhile, I clutched my wounds, found the nearest park, and spent the night lying on a cold bench. When I woke up, I received a call informing me that my mother’s grave had been arranged. To ensure they could be together, I used all my remaining savings to purchase a burial plot next to Mrs. Vance. After visiting my mother’s grave, I bowed three times to Beatrice Vance’s as well. Just as I was about to stand, a powerful force from behind kicked me. “You, the daughter of a murderer, what right do you have to visit my mother!”

My wounds ripped open, and blood seeped, staining my black dress. Julian Vance appeared before Beatrice Vance’s tombstone with Celeste Hayes. His eyes raged with hatred, and he flung a bouquet of flowers at my face. “Anya Reed, didn’t I warn you not to appear before my mother?” I clutched my arm, grinding my teeth. “I am not the daughter of a murderer!” My mother was right there. I couldn’t let her be slandered even from the grave! *SLAP!* A stinging slap landed on my face, making my ears ring. Celeste, in her towering heels, deliberately ground her foot into my wounds. “You old hag, aren’t you pathetic? Are you here to show off that Julian didn’t kill you, and even paid for your mom’s hospital bills?” At her words, Julian’s fingers trembled, his eyes filled with immense guilt towards his mother. When he looked at me, it turned into overwhelming fury. He grabbed my hair, dragging me like a dead dog, then kicked my knee. Before I could even stabilize my kneeling position, he grabbed my head and forcefully slammed it against the stone slab. “Today, you’ll kneel here and kowtow, and properly apologize to my mother.” “As for your mother, that wretched culprit, I’ll have her tortured mercilessly, making her wish she were dead!” I clutched my forehead, laughing a desolate, bitter laugh. “But my mother is already dead, isn’t she?” The portrait of Beatrice Vance before me smiled gently and kindly, as if she had found solace. The sense of grievance and pain in my heart almost overflowed. I murmured bitterly, a soft, broken whisper: “But my mother… she’s already dead…” She died painfully, miserably. “What did you say?” Julian staggered back a step. He stared at me, his voice trembling uncontrollably. “Anya Reed, do you think lying to me like this will atone for your sins and hers?!” “She’s right there!” My whole body trembled. I pointed to my mother’s tombstone beside us. If Julian just looked, he would see my mother’s photo. “Go look, Julian Vance, just look! My mother has already been killed by you. Are you satisfied?!” Julian’s eyes widened. He stared intently at the nearby tombstone, his entire posture visibly slumping. He reached out a trembling hand, about to push aside the flowers in front of the gravestone. *Thump!* Celeste collapsed to the ground, her face pale, hands clutching her chest, her breath shallow and weak. “Julian, darling, my heart hurts so much…” Julian instantly turned back in a panic, sweeping Celeste into his arms, ready to leave. “Wait!” I lunged forward, desperately grabbing his pant leg. “If I pay back that ten million, you’ll sign the divorce papers, right?” Julian’s body stiffened. He didn’t look back, only his cold voice echoed in my ears. “Anya Reed, I will never let you or your mother off the hook.” I smiled, tears filling my eyes. Julian Vance, you don’t need to let us off. Because my mother and I are both leaving your world. Just as I walked out of the cemetery, my phone rang. It was the hospital. “Miss Reed, Mr. Vance is demanding the heart transplant surgery immediately. We need you to rush over!” “Alright,” I gripped my phone. “But I have one condition: conceal my identity until after the surgery. Don’t let anyone know who I am.” I lay in the hospital bed, then was wheeled into the ICU. Julian Vance, pacing anxiously outside the door, glanced at me with a solemn expression, then rubbed his eyes and turned away, dismissing the flicker of doubt in his gaze. It was laughable. For a moment, he actually thought the woman before him was Anya Reed. How could that be? After all, she was such a cowardly woman, so afraid of death, she’d cry over a mere scratch… The surgery was a success. To celebrate, he bought Celeste a thirty-million-dollar emerald jewelry set and had it displayed on the front page of the news. In front of him, Celeste smiled and called his name, but Julian seemed distracted. He pulled out his phone, wondering if Anya Reed had reacted at all. Suddenly, a text message popped up. [Bank transfer: $100,000,000.] The sender was Anya Reed. A terrible premonition surged within him. Julian’s pupils constricted. He quickly grabbed a passing nurse, urgently asking: “What was the name of the person who donated the heart?” The young nurse was startled, stammering, “I think it was… Anya Reed…” “The poor girl was covered in injuries when she arrived.” “I heard her mother passed away just a few days ago after failed resuscitation efforts.” “What…” Julian’s lips trembled slightly. He staggered a few steps, grabbing the wall for support, his eyes filled with disbelief.

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Rachel Thompson once had a happy family. Her husband, Thomas Wilson, ran a successful restaurant, while Rachel stayed at home as a full-time mom. However, fate had other plans. In May 2005, Thomas, with whom Rachel shared a deep bond, passed away in an accident, leaving her with a 1600-square-foot house and a 3-year-old daughter. At 28, Rachel felt her world crumbling, but for her daughter’s sake, she had to be strong. 0 One morning, Rachel took her daughter Lily to the supermarket. While storing her bag in a locker, she turned around to find Lily gone. Panic-stricken, Rachel searched the entire store but couldn’t find her little girl. She was terrified, having already been pushed to the brink by her husband’s death. The thought of losing her daughter was unbearable. Just as despair was setting in, Rachel ran out of the supermarket and saw Lily standing not far away. The little girl was contentedly eating a lollipop, her other hand firmly held by a young man in his mid-twenties. Rachel rushed over, hugging Lily tightly while profusely thanking the young man. He sheepishly scratched his head and explained that he had found Lily alone on the street, guessing she had gotten separated from her mother. Fearing for the child’s safety, he had waited with her, believing her mother would come looking. He advised Rachel to be more careful, warning about the dangers children could face. Rachel agreed, insisting on treating him to a meal as a thank you. During their conversation, Rachel learned that the young man’s name was Jake Collins. He came from a rural background, with parents who were farmers. After finishing middle school, he had moved to the city to make a living, starting as a construction worker. Through hard work, he now ran his own construction contracting company. After the meal, they exchanged SnapChat contacts. Jake often messaged to ask about Lily. Rachel later found out that Jake was three years younger than her and unmarried. His fondness for children and their shared experiences brought them closer. As they spent more time together, Jake expressed his feelings for Rachel. He admired her independence and capability, sympathized with her struggles, and wanted to help her care for Lily. Rachel, in turn, accepted Jake’s affection. However, their relationship faced opposition from Jake’s parents in the countryside. They couldn’t understand why their son would choose a woman three years older, especially one with a child. But Jake was determined, willing to cut ties with his parents to marry Rachel, which both surprised and deeply moved her. 0

On February 14, 2006, Rachel married Jake, who was three years her junior. Jake’s parents, still strongly opposed to the marriage, didn’t attend the wedding. The newlyweds moved into Rachel’s house. Jake was an excellent stepfather to Lily, often doing more than Rachel herself in caring for the child. A year later, Rachel gave birth to their son, Kevin. While Kevin’s arrival brought joy, it also increased their financial burden. Rachel, overwhelmed with childcare, temporarily leased out her restaurant, leaving Jake as the sole breadwinner. Unfortunately, Jake’s company faced a crisis when two employees died in a work accident, resulting in hefty compensation claims. To make matters worse, Rachel developed mild postpartum depression, often lashing out at Jake and the children. Jake had no choice but to ask Rachel’s mother, Linda, for help. With her support, Rachel’s condition gradually improved. Feeling the weight of financial pressure, Jake desperately sought a higher-paying job but was repeatedly turned down due to his lack of qualifications. One day, while pondering how to make money amid piles of steel pipes at his worksite, an idea struck him – he decided to sell the pipes illegally. Knowing the high demand for steel pipes at construction sites, Jake thought he could siphon off a small amount without anyone noticing and sell them for a good price. On his night shift, he arranged for a scrap dealer to help him transport the pipes. Unfortunately, they were caught by a site worker who had forgotten something. The construction company reported the theft, and Jake was sentenced to one year in prison for embezzlement, along with a $5,000 fine. During Jake’s imprisonment, his parents, upon learning of the situation, came to Rachel’s house and caused a scene. They didn’t even inquire about their newborn grandson or visit Jake. Instead, they berated Rachel, calling her a seductress who had bewitched their son into marriage and now caused his imprisonment. They demanded $30,000 in compensation from Rachel. She scraped together the money to send them away, then broke down crying in her mother’s arms, lamenting her misfortune and Jake’s poor choices.

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On my birthday, my wife Zoe, who had promised to spend the day with me, was nowhere to be found. I waited from morning till night, asking everyone I knew, but no one had heard from her. Just as I was about to call the police, I saw trending photos online of my adopted brother Leo passionately kissing Zoe. Above them were dazzling, grand fireworks. The headline read: “Evans Corp CEO Lavishes Millions on Adopted Brother – Sibling Love or Secret Affair?” Leo even posted birthday celebration photos with Zoe on Instagram. There was a small cut on Zoe’s lip. The caption read: “I’ll always love you, sis.” I commented: “Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.” Immediately, I was bombarded with calls from Zoe: “What do you mean by wishing us happiness? Leo and I are just siblings, don’t be so jealous!” “Leo’s fictional skin condition* flared up on his birthday and he was suicidal. What’s wrong with me keeping him company for a normal birthday? Do you want his birthday to become his deathday?” “Leo saw your comment and thinks he’s a homewrecker now. He’s really upset. Delete it and apologize right now! Otherwise I’ll divorce you!” I coldly replied: “Fine, let’s get divorced then.” *Note: “Skin hunger syndrome” is a fictional condition invented for this story, not a real medical diagnosis.

There was a long silence on the other end. Just as I was about to hang up to clear my head, Zoe started cursing angrily: “Jack Evans, you’ve got some nerve!” “You think I’ll fall for your divorce threat? You chased after me for seven years like a lovesick puppy. Now you’re trying to play hard to get?” I clung to one last shred of hope: “What if I’m not playing hard to get this time?” Zoe’s voice dripped with disdain: “You think I’d believe that?” Then, amidst the roar of fireworks, I heard increasingly heavy breathing on the other end of the call. Remembering how Zoe said she was just keeping Leo company for a normal birthday without his “skin condition”, I felt like a complete fool. We dated for three years and have been married for four. Zoe always treated intimacy with me as a chore, never initiating or showing enthusiasm, always finding excuses to avoid it. But now, she was doing those things with another man under the fireworks… Perhaps my prolonged silence made Zoe feel guilty. She tried hard to steady her shaking voice as she commanded: “Stop being unreasonable! Go delete that Instagram comment right now! Apologize to Leo!” “I’ll be home soon after I finish keeping Leo company!” Keep him company? How exactly? By getting as physically close as possible? She held me in such low regard that she barely bothered to hide it anymore. I couldn’t keep swallowing my pride and ignoring this blatant cheating. I swallowed the bitterness and took a deep breath: “Zoe Chen, I’m not playing hard to get. Let’s meet at the courthouse tomorrow at 10 AM to file for divorce.” I had given her countless chances. Before, when she and Leo would hug intimately in public, I could believe her explanation that they were just close siblings. When Leo would always kiss her cheek affectionately, I chalked it up to habits from living abroad. I didn’t want to think the worst of the woman I loved and idolized. But Zoe kept pushing it further and further, rubbing my face in it! She knew how long I had planned our birthday trip together in advance, but she still didn’t care at all. Zoe was about to keep yelling at me when her voice suddenly changed pitch. Leo’s fake innocent voice chimed in: “I didn’t mean to, sis! You won’t be mad that I was too rough, right?” The phone was snatched away. The sound of slapping became clearer, and though my wife stayed silent, she couldn’t hold back her soft moans. Even if I was a complete idiot, I knew exactly what was happening on the other end now. In a fit of rage, I threw my phone across the room. It shattered the mirror, but also hit the volume button. The dirty sounds grew louder, drowning out the fading fireworks. “Ah! Leo, stop!” The call was abruptly ended. I picked up my cracked phone from the glass shards and dialed a long-unused number. “Grandfather, I’m willing to come home now. I also agree to the arranged marriage with the Xu family.”

After ending the call, I pondered for a long while. Zoe and I never should have met. I shouldn’t have thought she was a good person just because she looked like my first love. Zoe is Zoe, Olivia is Olivia. A fake is just a fake. Thinking back to when I first met Zoe, I could only laugh at myself. I had just graduated then, before being recognized by the Evans family. My father was gravely ill and I was drowning in debt. The Xu family used a $1 million check to buy me off, so Olivia could study abroad. $1 million is barely enough for a watch to me now. But back then, that $1 million not only covered my father’s medical bills, but also cleared all my debts. I used the remaining $100,000 as startup capital to become a clothing reseller. Luckily, I quickly earned back $1 million. After that, I invested in some unpopular internet and AI companies. Unexpectedly, in just a year, those companies turned a profit and were raking in money. Zoe was the daughter of a distributor, working part-time in accounting at her family’s company. When I paid the final installment early, she was surprised: “Didn’t you say last month you needed to delay payment for your father’s surgery? How can you pay so quickly now? Does that mean you don’t need to keep paying?” She carefully probed: “My condolences…” Good news puts people in high spirits. Seeing her face so similar to Olivia’s, I smiled and explained: “My father’s surgery was very successful. The stocks I invested in also multiplied several times over, so paying the final installment is no problem. Thank you for your concern.” She put away her prying curiosity and surprise, returning a sweet and innocent smile. Seeing that smile on a face 90% identical to my first love’s, I couldn’t help falling for her. Even knowing she wasn’t truly innocent, but calculating and probing, I still fell deeper and deeper in love with her. When I love someone, I want to give them my best. So I catered to her every whim. She said she was close with her adopted brother and hoped I would help mentor Leo. So I introduced Leo to my business connections as my future brother-in-law and even helped him land some big deals. But she would often go stay overnight at Leo’s apartment to keep him company. Whenever I expressed the slightest doubt, she would immediately explode: “You know Leo has that skin condition*! We can’t let anyone find out about it. Only I can help him as his sister. Stop meddling in my family’s private matters.” A notification popped up – it was the divorce agreement from my new lawyer. I was about to open it when I saw 999+ notifications on Instagram. I clicked in and found someone had logged into my account. After logging back in, I saw Zoe had posted an apology to Leo using my account: “As a brother-in-law, I shouldn’t have left inappropriate comments on my wife’s brother’s post, insulting their sibling relationship. I was being dirty-minded and narrow-hearted.” She even attached an animated gif of my face photoshopped onto a pig, repeatedly bowing and saying “I’m not human.” This was my main account with many followers and clients. My inbox was flooded with people asking what was going on. Some even asked if I had some kind of threesome fetish. I was furious, wishing I could strangle Zoe. Right after the apology post came a call from Leo. He arrogantly said: “My sister married a boring guy like you because she thought you were reliable and family-oriented. But now you want a divorce just because you’re jealous of me? Don’t you understand? Marriage isn’t something you can just end on a whim.” “My sister is already exhausted from keeping me company. Now she has to deal with the mess you made in the comments. You really know how to make trouble for people!” *Note: “Skin hunger syndrome” is a fictional condition invented for this story, not a real medical diagnosis.

I laughed bitterly. Zoe and Leo really were raised together – even their twisted logic was identical. They fool around under the guise of a sister keeping her brother company on his birthday. They stand me up on my own birthday, and then have the nerve to blame me! I coldly hung up on Leo, deleted the Instagram post, and made a new post clarifying my account had been hacked. Then I sent the finalized divorce agreement to Zoe and blocked her and Leo’s contact info. However, an unknown number started blowing up my phone. Thinking it was one of Zoe’s tricks, I angrily answered: “Mr. Evans, due to the withdrawal of medical support, your father has passed away. Please come to the hospital to claim the body as soon as possible.” My blood ran cold. I felt like I’d fallen into an icy pit. I struggled to steady my shaking body, my voice trembling: “W-what? Could you please repeat that?” The person patiently repeated the message. My head was spinning. I couldn’t accept this reality. My father had a heart attack and became paralyzed 8 years ago. Although his heart surgery was successful, he needed long-term care and rehabilitation, requiring large monthly medical payments to keep him alive. I had set up automatic payments for his medical fees long ago. How could the medical support possibly have been withdrawn? I was silent for a long time. The staff member, likely used to people unable to accept a loved one’s passing, suggested I log into the system to confirm myself. I took a deep breath, held it, and logged in with my eyes squinted to tiny slits, afraid to look. But I still gradually confirmed the fact of my father’s death. As grief overwhelmed me, a text came from the unknown number: “Jack Evans, you’ve really done it now! Not only do you dare to bring up divorce, you even dare to block and delete me!” “Did you forget that I control all your bank cards and assets? Now, unblock me immediately, add me back, and get on your knees to apologize! Otherwise your dad can just wait to die!” So Zoe was the one who withdrew my father’s medical support! I stared at those vicious words with an icy gaze, wishing Zoe would die in my father’s place. Back then when Zoe said she felt insecure and feared I would cheat once I got rich, I put all my assets in her name. I originally thought Zoe was just promiscuous and unfaithful. I never imagined she would be so vicious as to use my father’s life to threaten me! I gritted my teeth in hatred, my eyes blood-red, nearly crushing the phone in my grip. Out of what little remained of our marital affection, I had planned to let her off easy. But she shouldn’t have been so vicious. She shouldn’t have killed my father who was all I had left! I will make her pay double for this! The housekeeper brought over the Xu family’s engagement token. I opened it to find the phoenix jade pendant my first love had given me. It came with a note that said: “Returning the jade intact.” This pendant was the token of love my first love had given me. Hers had a lovebird engraving. The lovebird and phoenix, a perfect match made in heaven. She said the pendants were family heirlooms, only given to their most beloved. Later when we were forced to break up, the Xu family took back the pendant. I never expected it would return to my hands again! I suppressed my excitement and solemnly wrote on the paper: “Together until our hair turns white.”

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Just before I took my last breath, I finally agreed to sign the divorce papers. Ten years of love couldn’t withstand one taunt from his first love. I clutched the pen and died in Jack’s arms. Jack, who had patiently asked me for divorce 100 times after our marriage, Broke down crying uncontrollably after my death. Later, he took my ashes and disappeared into the sea. Just before the waves engulfed him, he said: “Lucy, I was wrong. If there’s another life, I’ll make amends.” Perhaps moved by his words, when I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the fifth year after we first met. Looking at the completely changed Jack before me, I finally understood. Maybe our ending was too tragic in the previous life, so in this life he just wanted to choose the path he truly desired. But when I was lying in the hospital bed again, He cried until his eyes were red, cursing himself over and over for being useless. “Who do you choose, me or her?” Mia clung to Jack’s arm, dragging her suitcase. Though phrased as a question, her tone left no room for doubt about the answer she expected. I stared blankly ahead, muttering, “The feelings were never that deep anyway. No need to pretend to be heartbroken.” Jack looked up sharply at me. “What did you say?” I jolted, meeting his gaze. His eyes swirled with complex emotions – Suppressed feelings, reluctance to let go, and the joy of reunion after a long separation. With just that one look, I knew he had come back too. I looked at this man who had tormented each other for ten years in our past life. Fighting the pain in my chest, I opened my trembling lips: “I said…” Mia impatiently cut me off. “God, you’re so annoying!” She stepped forward, jabbing my shoulder with her long, manicured nails. “Someone like you, apart from your pretty face, is completely ordinary in every other way. Just finish school like a good girl and don’t covet what isn’t yours.” In the past, I would have argued endlessly with Mia. But now I knew that no matter what, Jack would always take Mia’s side. Forget it. Looking past Mia, I saw Jack’s pained expression. She turned and linked her arm through Jack’s, her eyes glinting slyly. “Let’s go. My dad is waiting for us. I heard their new drug research is making progress…” Jack’s brow furrowed, then he spoke in a cool voice: “This kind of life is too cloying. Mia and I rented an apartment near campus. You can come visit sometime if you’d like.” With that, the two of them turned and left. The 20-year-old Jack was just like the 25-year-old Jack. For Mia’s sake, he abandoned me again without hesitation. It made sense. Given another chance at life, he surely didn’t want to repeat past mistakes. Tears welled up in my eyes. Emma beside me mistakenly thought I was crying because of them. She rolled up her sleeves, ready to chase after them. I grabbed her sleeve to stop her. “Let it go, Emma. He’s choosing what he wants. There’s nothing wrong with that.” Jack turned back at my words. Though his expression remained calm, his eyes were turbulent, Full of sorrow and reluctance to part. I wiped away my tears, avoiding his gaze. I didn’t want to read too much into his thoughts. Then I pulled Emma with me back to the dorm. Ending our entanglement while there was still a chance to salvage things might not be such a bad thing. In our past life, to please Mia, He gave me 100 divorce papers after we married, Just to satisfy all of Mia’s unreasonable demands. Even in my final moments, one phone call from Mia was enough to draw him away from my hospital bedside. He simply didn’t love me anymore. I was foolish not to let go until my dying breath. Heaven took pity and gave us another chance, But no one asked if I wanted to go through it all again. I suddenly remembered Jack’s last words before he died: “Lucy, I was wrong. If there’s another life, I’ll make amends.” But no matter what he meant, I didn’t want to keep tormenting each other anymore. Lucy, don’t soften your heart. Lucy, don’t look back.

Suddenly I felt warmth trickling from my nose. I reached up to touch it – a streak of bright red. The same pitiful state as my past life… At least Jack didn’t see it. I spent the whole night processing the emotions of reliving this life. The next day I went to class with puffy eyes. Just as the bell rang, Jack slipped into the classroom. The 20-year-old him wasn’t as composed and mature yet. His fluffy head would often burrow into my arms like a puppy. But now, we could never go back to that. My heart ached at the thought. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice someone sit down beside me. Seeing no reaction from me, the person slammed their backpack loudly on the desk. I startled, finally turning to look. Jack’s face was scrunched up in annoyance, dark circles under his eyes. He ignored my gaze, burying his head in his arms like he was sulking. He quickly fell asleep, his breathing even. His phone kept buzzing on the desk. On impulse, I picked up his phone. I tried my birthday as the passcode. It worked – he hadn’t changed it. The first thing I saw was his chat with Mia. All the previous messages had been deleted. There was just one message from him: “Are you still mad?” Mia’s messages came flooding in one after another: “Who told you to sleep in the study last night!” “You said you were over Lucy!” “You promised me! Don’t blame me if I change my mind!” My hands trembled uncontrollably. I couldn’t help remembering countless nights in our past life, When Jack would rush off at Mia’s phone call. Even when I was on my deathbed, Mia only had to tell a small lie, And Jack abandoned me without hesitation. Though I had resolved to let go in despair, My heart still ached unbearably in this moment. I still couldn’t face the reality that he didn’t love me. But life is for living. This time, I refuse to watch the one I love treat me coldly again. I refuse to repeat the same mistakes. When Jack woke up, I was long gone. I thought avoiding him would keep things peaceful between us. But I didn’t expect to see Jack again so soon in the cafeteria. Even though I had told myself countless times to let go, Seeing him again still made me panic for a moment. In just a few days, the once sunny and cheerful Jack had changed drastically. He now spent his nights in bars and clubs, reeking of cigarettes and alcohol. At the moment, he had his arm around Mia, smiling down at her. He looked like the stereotypical rich playboy. He let his friends joke crudely: “Why bother eating here in the cafeteria, Mia? Don’t tell me you and Jack are looking for a new place to get frisky!” Amid the raucous laughter, Mia scolded coyly: “Don’t be silly. I just happened to have class today and wanted a change of scenery with Jack for lunch.” I had my back to them, But every word stabbed into my heart. Jack used to hate cafeteria food. In the past, he only came because I begged him to accompany me. Now he moved naturally, his arm around Mia as she leaned into him. He must be very happy now. This is good. It strengthens my resolve to leave.

I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms. Taking a deep breath, I stood up to leave. A voice stopped me in my tracks. “Is that Lucy?” Mia’s surprised tone drew everyone’s attention. My pride was trampled under her feet. She continued speaking: “Oh my god, you’ve gotten so thin! You need to eat more, or you’ll look even more pathetic and poor!” She shoved a plate of food in front of me. Jack’s smile faded as he finally broke his silence, his voice cold: “That’s enough, Mia. Let’s go.” Mia glared at Jack, her face darkening. But in the blink of an eye, she put on an innocent expression again. “Oh, okay!” Then she tilted the hot plate of food towards me, spilling it all over me. I couldn’t dodge in time and fell backwards onto the floor. Mia gasped dramatically, crouching down to help clean the food off me. Her sharp nails left bloody scratches all over my skin. I cried out in pain, trying to stop her: “Stop! Stop! It hurts! It really hurts!” The scratches from her nails were unlike normal cuts. They kept oozing blood in tiny beads. Jack rushed over, yanking Mia away. He frowned as he examined my wounds, his voice shaking: “How did this happen? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?” I pulled my wrist from his grasp, but before I could answer, Mia’s shrill voice cut in: “Jack! If you can’t keep your promise, don’t blame me for changing my mind!” Jack’s face darkened ominously. He seemed to be holding back his anger, on the verge of exploding. Their friends looked at my face and joked: “Hey Jack, she looks familiar. But lately I’ve seen her getting into some rich guy’s Porsche a lot.” At those words, Jack’s eyes flashed dangerously. He snapped his head up, fury and jealousy in his voice: “Whose car?” “Are you that desperate?” “Or do you only go for rich guys? How many backups do you have besides me?!” His accusations made me angry and hurt. He was the one who chose someone else, Yet I became the target of everyone’s criticism. But any explanation would be useless now. I struggled to stay calm, just looking at him steadily. I forced a smile and said: “So what if I did?” He violently flung my arm away. I stumbled backwards. Emma had just gotten her food when she saw this scene. She rushed over and shoved Jack hard. “Jack, what the hell is wrong with you!” When she picked me up, I had already passed out. A streak of red trickled from my nose. Jack was frozen in shock at the blood on my face. “How… how did this happen…” “It’s too early… no… this isn’t right…” He moved to carry me to the hospital. Mia dramatically collapsed to the ground, her voice urgent: “Jack! Think carefully!” Jack’s feet seemed rooted to the spot. Emma clutched me tightly, glaring viciously at the two of them. In the silence, Emma grit her teeth and used all her strength, Somehow managing to carry me on her back and push through the crowd to the hospital.

I was woken by Emma’s sobs. When she saw me open my eyes, she cried even harder. “How could you get sick? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Why didn’t you come to the hospital sooner!” I tried to raise my hand to wipe her tears, But my body felt like it was on fire. I had no strength to lift my arm. The hospital room door was suddenly flung open with a bang. Jack rushed in. When he saw me lying pale and lifeless in the hospital bed, All the strength seemed to leave his body. He broke down sobbing. I lowered my eyes to look at his wretched state. Just like in our past life – too little, too late. Why? Emma thought Jack was faking his deep love after abandoning me. She got up and started shoving him out. The commotion attracted a doctor. Jack was forced out. My eyelids felt heavy. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. My body was already so weak at this point. Even in this new life, fate hadn’t spared me. I felt like my strength was draining even faster this time. Before I could rest, Mia pushed open the door, her face full of disdain. What a lively day. She smiled smugly. “Lucy, did Jack come?” “Hah, you don’t really think he came to see you, do you?” She waved her wrist. “My wrist just twinged a little and he insisted on rushing me to the hospital.” I barely opened my eyes, my voice flat: “You’ve seen how pathetic I am. Now get out.” She seemed unsatisfied with my response and got angry. “Stop acting all high and mighty!” Then she seemed to think of something and sneered: “Aren’t you curious why he obeys my every word?” I stared at her intently. I knew she was blatantly flaunting Jack’s preference for her, But I still couldn’t help wanting to hear her say it again. She snorted derisively. “Aren’t you curious why someone as young as you got this disease?” My brows furrowed. The strange rapid progression of my illness this time had bothered me, but I never thought there was a reason. Hearing her words sent chills down my spine. “To tell you the truth, your illness is from drugs I had people put in your dorm water cup. It took time, but finally showed results, hahaha!” My mind was reeling. But she got more and more excited as she spoke. “I originally just wanted to teach you a lesson, but Jack felt bad for you! How could he feel bad for you! He clearly likes me! Back then I only joked about dating his friend as a prank! Who told you to show up in the middle!” Mia was nearly hysterical. “Don’t you deserve to die? Just enjoy… enjoy your last moments alive.” “Oh right, that idiot Jack actually believed me when I said I had medicine that could cure your illness, how hilarious hahaha…” SLAP! Emma rushed over and slapped her hard across the face, her eyes blazing red as she roared: “You murderer! You’ll pay for this!” Mia clutched her face, her expression turning vicious. “What can I possibly pay for! You bunch of nobodies, what power do you have to make me pay! It’s her own fault! She should never have appeared in Jack’s life in the first place!” I finally understood. In both lives, All my suffering came from Mia’s selfish desires.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297115”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance