My son, Arthur, was critically ill, desperately needing a liver transplant. My wife, Vivian Hayes, was the only perfect match. I pleaded with her for twenty days. Finally, she agreed to come back and donate. I waited outside the operating room all day, but she never showed. That same day, Vivian’s childhood best friend, Julian Thorne, posted photos on his Ins of their round-the-world trip. “Sending love from day 20 of our global adventure! Dr. Hayes gave up her fellowship to help my son realize his dream of traveling the world.” It was then I realized: the very first day I begged Vivian, she had already left for a trip with Julian and his son. That evening, Vivian called me: “Liam, Noah aced his finals, and his wish is for his mom and dad to travel the world with him.” “You know, he doesn’t have a mom…” “I couldn’t bear to see his wish go unfulfilled. We’ll be back in three days.” “And then, I’ll donate my liver to our son.” Three days later, when Vivian arrived at the hospital, all she saw was Arthur’s death certificate. … In the hospital morgue, I gazed at my son Arthur’s serene face, a crushing pain in my heart that stole my breath. Arthur had always been such a good kid, never giving me much to worry about. But I couldn’t even guarantee his health or his life. My son had suffered sudden liver failure, requiring an urgent transplant. The only person in our entire family who was a match was my wife, Vivian Hayes. But the day after the matching results came in, her company sent her abroad for a prestigious fellowship. On her first day away, I begged Vivian to come back and donate her liver to Arthur. She said the overseas fellowship was a rare opportunity, and she didn’t want to give it up. In the middle of her trip, I pleaded with her for another eighteen days. She still refused, cold and unfeeling. On her nineteenth day abroad, the doctor said Arthur’s condition had worsened, and he needed a transplant as soon as possible. I begged her again to come back, to save our son first. But she claimed if she left mid-program, her entire career would be ruined. She told me to transfer Arthur to a major medical center and find more people to match. The specialist hospital was completely full; they refused to admit us. Helpless, we had no choice but to return to the city hospital. Arthur was ravaged by his illness, his face ghostly pale. He looked at me with eyes full of hope: “Dad, why isn’t Mom back to see Arthur yet?” “Is Arthur being bad? Did I make Mom angry?” I didn’t know how to comfort him. I just thought maybe I hadn’t explained clearly enough, that Vivian might have misunderstood how serious Arthur’s condition was. So, I reached out to Vivian again, bringing Arthur’s lead doctor with me, begging her to rush back and save our son. With the doctor’s confirmation, Vivian finally relented. She agreed to take two days off to come back and donate her liver to Arthur. But on the day of the surgery, I sat outside the operating room, waiting all day. What I got was the news that my son couldn’t be saved and had passed away. Vivian still hadn’t shown up. I pulled out my phone, wanting to ask Vivian why she wasn’t there. Instead, I saw a photo Julian Thorne had sent me. In the picture, Vivian, holding Noah’s hand, was leaning into Julian’s embrace, smiling radiantly. My hand trembled as I opened Julian’s Ins feed, and the glaring content hit me. “Sending love from day 20 of our global adventure! Dr. Hayes gave up her fellowship to help my son realize his dream of traveling the world.” If Julian hadn’t posted that on Ins, I wouldn’t have known that the wife my son and I desperately waited for was actually traveling the world with another man’s child. I clutched my son’s already cold hand, my heart twisting into a knot, suffocating me. Just then, Vivian called: “Liam, Noah aced his finals, and his wish is for his mom and dad to travel the world with him.” “You know, he doesn’t have a mom…” “I couldn’t bear to see his wish go unfulfilled. We’ll be back in three days.” “In three days, I’ll donate my liver to our son.” My mind went blank. Just one day ago, I would have jumped for joy. But now, I couldn’t feel happy at all. My son’s life, in her eyes, wasn’t as important as a stranger’s wish. Vivian must have sensed something, because she asked anxiously, “Liam, why aren’t you saying anything?” I snapped back to reality and asked what was on my mind: “Vivian Hayes, do you know how sick our son was?” Vivian froze. It seemed only then she realized Arthur’s condition couldn’t be delayed any longer. “Liam, don’t worry, I’ll buy a ticket and come back right away.” From the other end of the phone, Noah’s innocent voice chimed in, “Mommy, for the last stop, Noah wants to go to romantic Paris. Will you take Noah?” Vivian paused for a moment, then spoke to me: “Liam, my friend at the major medical center said Arthur isn’t a critical case. Three days later for treatment is still fine. Just be the bigger person and wait for me to come back.” I should have known this would be the outcome. Ever since Julian Thorne got divorced and returned, Vivian’s entire world revolved around him and Noah. She promised to celebrate Arthur’s birthday with us, but she stood us up because Noah had a cold. She always said Noah didn’t have a mom and she had to take care of him, telling my son and I to be more understanding. She gave Arthur’s birthday gift to Noah, telling us to be more understanding. She canceled family gatherings to take Noah to the amusement park, telling us to be more understanding. She knew Arthur and I would forgive her, that we’d wait for her, right where we were. That’s why she acted with impunity, ignoring us, hurting us. But this time, I couldn’t be understanding. Because my son had no future. And my marriage with Vivian Hayes had reached its end. 2 Hanging up the phone, I prepared Arthur’s body for viewing. Before he went into surgery, Arthur had asked me, full of hope, “Dad, will I see Mom when I wake up?” I answered firmly, “Yes, Arthur. You’ll be all better after you sleep.” But I let Arthur down. Until his dying breath, Vivian never came back to see him. Perhaps she had a gut feeling, because Vivian kept sending me messages, asking about Arthur’s condition. I just watched her messages, neither replying nor blocking her. The next day, I arrived at the hospital early to handle Arthur’s funeral arrangements. To my surprise, I ran into Vivian. Julian Thorne rushed into the hospital, carrying Noah. Vivian was running beside him, shouting at the nurses, “Hurry! Save him!” People quickly moved out of her way. I couldn’t dodge in time and found myself blocking her path. She skidded to a halt: “Liam, Noah suddenly fainted. I need to get him checked first.” I nodded, stepping back two paces to clear her way. Vivian looked at me, bewildered. She couldn’t understand why I had become so understanding. Before, when she favored Noah, I would always try to stop her, I would complain. Now, I was silent, proactively moving aside for her. “Liam, don’t be mad. I’m going to donate my liver to Arthur right now.” Saying this, she let go of Noah’s hand and reached for mine. Julian caught up from behind, grabbing Vivian’s hand. “Vivian, please don’t go.” “Liam, I know you hate Noah for taking Vivian’s affection, but Noah is just a child. Please, let him go.” Under Julian’s emotional plea, Vivian chose to stay with him, leaving without a backward glance. A young nurse nearby comforted Julian: “Don’t worry, brother-in-law. Dr. Hayes is known for being fiercely devoted to her husband. If you ask, there’s nothing she can’t do.” “Unlike those shameless homewreckers who don’t know their place.” The people around us, like sharks smelling blood, began to whisper and gossip furiously. “So, he’s the other man? A grown man being a homewrecker, not even bothering to hide it in front of the actual spouse. How thick-skinned!” “Exactly! When his son was admitted earlier, he even claimed to be Dr. Hayes’ husband and wanted us to arrange a retired professor for his son’s surgery.” “What a shameless homewrecker. It’s karma that his illegitimate child died.” Vivian had always insisted on keeping her work and personal life separate, so she never brought Arthur or me to any hospital events. She didn’t want her colleagues to know about us. After Julian returned, she claimed he was new to the area, so she took him to hospital events, openly introducing him to her colleagues. When her colleagues chuckled and said her “brother-in-law” was handsome, Vivian just smiled and implicitly agreed. All her colleagues at the hospital believed Julian and Noah were her husband and son. On the contrary, Arthur and I were considered the shameless other man and illegitimate child. In the hallway, Vivian stopped me. She took a step forward, trying to kiss me, but I turned my head, avoiding her. “Vivian Hayes, this is your workplace.” Vivian’s hand froze in mid-air. She pouted, trying to be cute. “Liam, stop being mad, okay?” “I’ll go donate my liver to Arthur in a bit.” I lowered my head, hiding my emotions: “It’s not needed anymore.” Because Arthur was gone. And a mother who broke her promise had no right to see him again. If Arthur knew his longed-for mother had been traveling the world with someone else’s son, how heartbroken would he be? Vivian sensed my sadness. She pulled two boxes from her bag: “These are gifts for you and Arthur.” The box for Arthur contained a Transformers action figure. I stared at the toy, lost in thought for a moment. Last year, for Arthur’s birthday, Vivian was on a business trip abroad. Arthur wanted a genuine Transformers figure, and Vivian video-called him to let him pick one. But when she returned, that genuine Transformers toy was already clutched in Noah’s arms. Arthur cried, wanting the toy, but Vivian coldly criticized him for being petty and fighting with his “brother” over toys. Now she had bought the Transformers toy Arthur had always wanted, but it was too late. Arthur was gone. Seeing my lack of reaction, Vivian grew anxious. She grabbed my hand, just about to say something, when Julian walked in. “Vivian, the doctor said Noah has leukemia and needs a kidney transplant.” Vivian’s eyes were filled with urgency. “Don’t worry, I’ll go get tested for a match right away. I won’t let anything happen to Noah.” She dropped my hand and followed Julian away. I called out to her: “Vivian Hayes, aren’t you going to see Arthur?” 3 Vivian paused: “I…” Julian quickly interjected: “Liam, please don’t compete with me. Noah is waiting for Vivian to save his life.” Vivian let out a sigh of relief: “Liam, don’t be angry. I’m a doctor; my duty is to save lives and help those in need.” “Wait for me, I’ll be there in a moment.” With that, Vivian hurried away with Julian. I watched their retreating backs and murmured, “No need, Vivian Hayes.” I heard nurses discussing that Vivian had successfully matched for a kidney transplant and had already signed the donation agreement. She could have the transplant after a week of recovery. Even though I already knew the outcome, my heart still twisted with a sharp, piercing pain. After running around all day, I found an empty office to rest. As I entered, I walked in on Vivian and Julian, passionately kissing, completely lost in each other. Seeing me, Vivian quickly pulled away from Julian and rushed to explain: “Liam, Noah is sick, I was just comforting Julian.” I couldn’t help but sneer: “Comforting requires kissing each other?” Vivian tried to explain further, but Julian, eyes red, pulled her back. “Liam, don’t blame Vivian. I was the one who kissed her first.” I scoffed mercilessly: “You must be starving to eat anything put in front of you.” With that, I turned to leave. Vivian followed me out. “Liam, please let me explain. I only see Julian as a brother.” Julian’s hoarse voice came from behind: “Vivian, the doctor said Noah’s condition is very dangerous. He needs a transplant immediately.” Vivian hesitated for a moment, then explained to me: “I’ll donate my kidney to Noah first.” She still left without a backward glance. It was truly ironic. Her own son needed a liver transplant, and Vivian stayed far away. Her childhood friend’s son needed a kidney transplant, and Vivian immediately volunteered to donate her kidney. It was so clear then. Love and indifference, so starkly visible. If only I had realized sooner, if only I hadn’t placed all my hope in Vivian, Arthur might still be alive. In that moment, I completely gave up hope. I went home to pack my bags. All of Arthur’s and my belongings, I packed them all away. If this was the end, then it had to be a clean break. After packing everything and printing out the divorce papers, a faint glow appeared on the horizon. The sun was rising. A new day had begun. I walked into the first rays of morning light, leaving the home where Vivian and I had supposedly shared a decade of love. As I hailed a cab, I opened my phone. Vivian’s messages flooded in, one after another. “I’m donating my kidney to Noah tomorrow at 9 AM. Come early to take care of me.” “Noah can’t drink or eat after surgery. Prepare some cotton swabs to moisten his throat later.” “Don’t worry, once I recover, I’ll donate my liver to Arthur.” “Once Arthur is better, let’s go on that world trip together. We’ll go to Switzerland to see the Northern Lights, ski in the Alps, experience all the breathtaking scenery across the globe.” I closed the messages, letting out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. Vivian Hayes, we have no future. At eight o’clock, I took Arthur’s body to the funeral home, but at the corner, I ran into Vivian. “Liam, is this…?” I looked at her coldly: “Vivian Hayes, Arthur passed away. His cremation is at noon. Do you want to come with me to say goodbye?” Vivian stumbled back two steps. “Impossible. How could that be?” Julian steadied Vivian: “Liam, why do you keep cursing Arthur? Arthur is perfectly fine.” Julian kept spouting nonsense, provoking me. I couldn’t help but slap him across the face. Julian licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, looking at me defiantly: “Exposed, huh? Is Liam getting upset and resorting to violence?” “Enough!” Vivian snapped, and the noisy environment suddenly fell silent. Vivian walked closer, step by step, staring at me fiercely: “Liam Walker, I just didn’t donate my liver to Arthur the way you demanded. Do you really need to lie to me?” She abruptly overturned the gurney transporting Arthur’s body. With a crash, Arthur’s small, frail body fell to the floor right in front of us.

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I was cycling to my high school reunion when a speeding Cullinan slammed into me, sending me flying. I picked myself up, wincing in pain, ready to confront the driver. But then, my girlfriend stepped out of the car, glaring at me. “Alex, I told you to stay home! Why are you here, making a scene with that old bike of yours?!” Liam Davies, leaning out of the driver’s seat, sneered. “Well, well, if it isn’t our old class president! My bad, I thought it was just some clueless delivery guy.” He casually pulled a wad of cash from his wallet and tossed it at my feet. “Here, that should buy you a new one. Oh, and keep the change. Go rent a decent car. “I know you can’t afford a Cullinan, but seriously, don’t show up to the reunion on that beat-up piece of junk.” I glanced at my bike, sprawled on the ground, and a cold smile slowly curved my lips. This wasn’t just any ordinary bike. Its name was the Trek Butterfly. … I sank to the ground, my palms stinging, a dull ache throbbing in my right knee. An hour earlier, my girlfriend, Chloe, had called me. “Alex, don’t bother coming to the reunion today. I’ll just catch a ride home later.” “Everyone else’s partner is either a senior executive or a rich kid. I don’t want them to know you’re still just a low-level employee who can’t even afford a car.” But I was worried about Chloe, so I rode my bike to follow her. I was approaching the hotel intersection when a black Cullinan ran a red light, speeding straight into me. The car door opened, revealing a familiar face: Liam Davies, my old high school classmate. What made my chest tighten even more was seeing Chloe, my girlfriend, clinging to him, a sweet smile on her face. “Well, well, if it isn’t Alex, our straight-A class president!” Liam’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Haven’t seen you in years since graduation. How’d you end up like this? Showing up to the reunion on a bike?” Chloe frowned, her perfectly made-up eyebrows furrowed, her voice laced with impatience. “Alex, I specifically told you to stay home. Why are you aimlessly riding that old bike of yours around?” I swallowed my anger and reached out to Chloe. “Come here. You’re my girlfriend. Stay away from him!” To my surprise, Chloe instantly bristled like a cornered cat. “Alex, what’s that supposed to mean?! He and I are just friends! Are you just so twisted inside that you see everything as dirty?!” “Liam’s driving a Cullinan at such a young age, and he was my first love! You’re just jealous of him!” She pointed disdainfully at my bike lying on the ground. “If Liam hadn’t specifically driven his Cullinan to pick me up today, did you expect me to sit on the back of your pathetic bike and be laughed at by the entire class?” Liam chimed in, feigning concern, “Class president, I’m really sorry about your bike. Just name your price. Chloe was my first love, after all. I can’t stand to see her living a hard life with you.” “If we hadn’t broken up back then, Chloe, you wouldn’t have…” He trailed off, and Chloe bit her lip, her gaze at me filled with even more resentment. My thoughts drifted away. Chloe was our class beauty. In high school, Liam skipped class all the time and his grades were a mess, yet Chloe always seemed to gravitate towards him. Later, because of his abysmal grades, Liam’s family paid to send him abroad. The day they broke up, Chloe cried her eyes out. I stayed with her on the rooftop all night. She leaned on my shoulder, sobbing, “Alex, you’re the best to me. Will you stay with me forever?” For that sentence, I gave up better opportunities and went to the same university as her. We naturally became a couple. I thought everything would head in a good direction, but then Liam suddenly returned to the country, making a grand show of it. Chloe often showed me his Ins posts, where Liam flaunted his luxury cars and mansions. Her complaints about me grew more and more frequent. I slowly stood up, brushing the dust from my clothes, my voice calm. “Liam Davies, my bike? I don’t think you can afford to replace it.” The two of them looked like they’d heard the funniest joke in the world. Liam even exaggeratedly covered his mouth. “Class president, did you hit your head? My Cullinan cost five million on the lot. You think I can’t afford your junk bike?” “Alex, what are you talking about?!” Chloe shot me a fierce glare, then turned to Liam, flashing a fawning smile. “Don’t mind him. He’s just a low-level employee now, hasn’t seen much of the world. Not like you, Liam, doing incredibly well! I heard your dad is the CEO of Meridian Holdings, right?” I watched them in silence, feeling a bit speechless. Meridian Holdings? Wasn’t that one of my family’s companies? Looks like the CEO of Meridian Holdings might need a change. I looked at the bike on the ground. Though it looked ordinary, I’d bid an insane amount for it at an auction last month. It was the only one of its kind in the world. I’d planned to give it to Chloe when I proposed and reveal my true identity, but it seemed… “Alright, take this money and buy a new car.” Liam pulled a stack of hundred-dollar bills from his wallet and tossed them on the ground. “Consider the extra a gift.” Chloe looked at me like I was a piece of trash. “Alex, hurry up and take your junk and leave! Don’t embarrass me!” With that, she linked her arm through Liam’s and got into the Cullinan without a backward glance. I pulled out my phone and dialed my lawyer. “Mr. Thompson, cancel all gifts in Chloe’s name. Yes, including that villa and the company shares.” After hanging up, I gently picked up the bike and shook my head. This was the one and only Trek Butterfly in the world. It was worth a hundred Cullinans. If Chloe couldn’t appreciate it, then so be it. 2 There was no need for me to go to the reunion anymore. I turned to leave, but then I heard exaggerated calls from behind me. “Hey! Class president! Don’t go!” A black Audi pulled up beside me, and a few familiar faces stepped out. “Old friends, it’s been too long! Let’s hang out.” I politely declined, but Jake threw an arm around my shoulder, squeezing so hard it hurt. “How can a reunion be complete without our class president? Come on, get in our car!” “No need.” I coolly pulled his hand away. “Don’t be shy!” On the other side, Ben had already taken the liberty of lifting my bike, which was still on the ground. “Your bike’s broken. We’ll help you put it in the trunk.” I frowned, about to refuse, but then I noticed them exchange a knowing look, a malicious smile playing on their lips. It suddenly dawned on me that these guys used to be Liam’s flunkies in high school. Clearly, Liam had put them up to this. I scoffed inwardly and decided to play along. “Alright, then. I appreciate your help.” I was curious to see what game Liam was really playing. Inside the hotel’s VIP room, I pushed the door open just as I heard a burst of exaggerated laughter. “Chloe is our class beauty, and she and Liam are a match made in heaven!” Mia, the former literature club president, raised her wine glass. “If only some loser hadn’t swooped in back then…” “Exactly!” Ryan, the former sports captain, chimed in. “Liam’s the young master of Meridian Holdings now. Some people aren’t even fit to tie his shoelaces!” The room suddenly fell silent—everyone had seen me. Chloe’s face instantly soured. She instinctively tightened her grip on Liam’s arm. Liam, on the other hand, flashed a smug, triumphant smile and raised his glass in a toast to me. “Well, well, if it isn’t our class president? Welcome, welcome!” “Alex,” Chloe’s voice was icy. “Who let you in?” “Your lovely classmates, of course,” I swept my gaze around the room, letting my eyes linger on Jake and the others. “Hard to refuse such a warm invitation.” Before I could say another word, Jake suddenly spoke up loudly, “There’s no reason you can’t come to a reunion! Since you’re here, join us!” He pushed me into a seat. “Come on, sit down! Everyone was just talking about you and Chloe!” Then, a snide voice piped up, “I say, Class President, Chloe and Liam only broke up because you took advantage of the situation. Now that the real guy’s back, shouldn’t you be smart enough to step aside?” Laughter erupted through the room. Someone even whistled. Jake stifled a laugh and patted my shoulder. “It’s just a joke, Class President. Don’t take it seriously.” Everyone was staring at me with mocking expressions, waiting to see how I’d react. I simply smiled faintly and clapped. “You’re right. They truly are a perfect match.” I looked directly at Chloe. “I wish you both a fresh start and a happy future together.” Chloe abruptly stood up, her face flushed crimson with fury. “Alex! What do you mean by that?! You shamelessly chased after me just to say something disgusting like that?!” “Don’t be mad, Chloe.” Liam gently put his arm around her shoulder, then turned to me with a cold smirk. “If your own life’s a mess, don’t blame people for speaking their minds.” Another round of grating laughter. “So what if he got good grades? He still has to work for others.” “Liam could just drop a few dollars, and it’d be enough for Alex to live a lifetime.” I stared coldly at these former classmates. “Since I’m not welcome here, I’ll take my leave.” Liam gave a subtle nod, and Ben stepped forward to block my path. “Class president, don’t be in such a hurry. Wasn’t your bike accidentally damaged?” He deliberately emphasized “bike.” Jake also feigned concern, stepping closer. “Yeah, how will you get back so late? Or maybe…” He pulled out a fifty-dollar bill. “How about we all chip in for your taxi fare?” I looked at these pathetic clowns, suddenly feeling utterly bored. So, they called me here just to watch their pathetic performance again. “This kind of boring reunion,” I straightened my collar, “don’t bother inviting me anymore.” Just as I was about to leave, two burly security guards suddenly blocked the doorway. Liam’s voice came from behind me, carrying a dangerous undertone. “Alex, are you… disrespecting me?” 3 The room instantly fell silent. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the show to begin. I slowly turned around, seeing Liam’s malicious grin. “Alright, here’s the deal. What you just said hurt Chloe’s feelings. If you get on your knees and bark like a dog three times in front of Chloe, then crawl between my legs, I’ll let you go. How about it?” Chloe averted her gaze but said nothing to object. All eyes in the room were fixed on me, some mocking, some pitying, but most were filled with schadenfreude. The security guards grabbed my shoulders, their grip so tight it sent a fresh wave of searing pain through my injuries. I stared coldly at Liam. “We were classmates. Do you really need to humiliate me like this?” Liam slowly swirled his wine glass, a victorious smile on his face. “Alex, do you remember high school? You, flaunting your class president status, always meddling, even reporting me to the teacher for being a few minutes late.” “And in the end, you even dared to touch *my* woman!” He suddenly smashed his wine glass on the floor. Glass shards scattered, making the surrounding classmates flinch. “Now, *I* call the shots here!” He stood up, looking down at me. “I booked this entire hotel. My dad is the CEO of Meridian Holdings. Here, who dares to disrespect me?” I scoffed. “So? Are you going to illegally detain me?” “Illegally detain?” Liam exaggeratedly spread his hands. “Classmates, did any of you see me detaining him?” Jake and the others immediately chimed in, “No! He’s clearly just refusing to leave!” I pulled out my phone. “Fine, then I’ll call the police.” Liam’s eyes hardened, and he signaled the security guards. “Teach him a lesson!” A guard’s fist slammed into my freshly injured knee. The sharp pain made me grunt, and cold sweat instantly drenched my back. I looked up at Chloe. She stood beside Liam, her eyes flickering, but in the end, she closed her mouth and remained silent. “Chloe,” I questioned her, my voice hoarse, “Are you just going to stand there and watch?” She bit her lip, finally speaking in a cold tone. “Alex, you’re the one who acted like an idiot first. Don’t blame Liam for getting angry.” The surrounding classmates also started chiming in, urging me to back down. “Alex, just swallow your pride!” “You’re just an ordinary guy. Liam’s family has massive wealth. You can’t win against him!” “Yeah, riding a bike, why are you still putting on airs?” I looked at the faces of these people and suddenly found it utterly laughable. Slowly, I straightened my body. Though my knee trembled with pain, my eyes were chillingly cold. “Liam Davies, I’m warning you for the last time. I’m not someone you want to mess with!” The room erupted in laughter. “Hahahaha! Did you hear that?!” Liam laughed, doubling over. “Riding a beat-up bike, and still talking like that?!” He clapped his hands, and two waiters brought my bicycle in. It still had scratches on it. “You said my Cullinan couldn’t afford your bike, didn’t you?” Liam sneered, kicking the wheel. “My car could lose a speck of paint, and it’d be enough to buy ten of these pieces of junk!” I almost laughed out of sheer anger. This Trek Butterfly was the only one of its kind in the world. Its frame was studded with Swarovski diamonds, and the custom craftsmanship alone took two years. When I used to ride it, discerning rich folks would respectfully ask specialists to handle it, terrified of damaging even a single diamond. But now, these people were treating it like some bargain-bin item? I looked at Chloe, deciding to give her one last chance. “Chloe, if you come back to me now, I can pretend none of this happened today.” I pointed to the bicycle. “This bike, I originally intended it as your engagement gift.” Chloe froze for a moment, then looked at me like I was insane. “Alex, are you trying to humiliate me? In your eyes, I’m only worth a pathetic bicycle?!” She clutched Liam’s arm. “Alex, let me tell you, I’d rather cry in Liam’s Cullinan than laugh on your pathetic bike!” Liam smugly pulled her closer. “Hear that? Give up now, alright?” Just then, my phone rang. It was my parents. They’d already heard what happened from Mr. Thompson. “We always thought that girl was ill-intentioned, son. It’s good you cut your losses now! We heard you were hurt. Where are you now? Do you want us to send someone to pick you up?” I thought for a moment, then spoke. “Actually, I do need your help with something.” I looked up, directly into Liam Davies’ bewildered face, and said, word by word. “Dad, can you tell that David Davies to come to the Meridian Hotel now? Yes, the CEO of Meridian Holdings.”

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My wife had left a box of oddly shaped meat in the fridge, and for over half a year, she hadn’t touched it. Curious about this precious meat, I secretly took it for testing. The result? It was a two-month-old embryo. Back home, I tore through drawers and cabinets until I found it: an abortion record. On the record, my wife’s name was signed, alongside another man’s. My wife had secretly aborted someone else’s child, right under my nose. Five years of a perfect, inseparable marriage – it all became a cruel joke in that single moment. When Chloe returned, the box of meat in the fridge was gone. She rushed into my study, her voice laced with panic. “Adam, have you seen that box of meat I put in the fridge?” I looked up at her, my fists clenched so tight my knuckles turned white. I wanted to scream, to demand why she had betrayed me. But in the end, I just lowered the book in my hands, feigning a casual nonchalance. “Oh, that weird-looking stuff? I fried it with some chili for lunch. Surprisingly, it tasted pretty good.” “What?! You ate it?!” Chloe’s eyes widened in horror. “Adam, are you out of your mind?!” I sneered. “It’s just meat. Why are you making such a fuss?” Her eyes instantly welled up, her voice trembling as she accused me. “How could you eat it?! That was mine! You ate my stuff without permission! Have you become so disrespectful of me?!” “Eating a piece of meat is being disrespectful?” “It wasn’t just a piece of meat!” Chloe’s face flushed crimson, her chest heaving with rage. I just found it hilarious. “Then what was it?” She bit her lower lip hard, a flash of grief crossing her face. She looked like she wanted to say more but held back her tears. Finally, she choked out, “Nothing… I’m not feeling well tonight. I’ll sleep in the guest room.” With that, she turned and disappeared into the guest room. Five years of marriage, and this was the first time she had ever yelled at me. It was also the first time we’d slept apart. I found it utterly ironic. If she cared so much about that box of meat, why had she aborted it in the first place? For five years, Chloe had always been the perfect wife in my eyes. She was gentle and considerate, meticulously taking care of my every need, managing every household detail. I had stomach issues, and she’d meticulously research special recipes for me. When I had business dinners and drank too much, she’d always thoughtfully prepare a hangover cure. In public and private, she was the ideal partner. But how could such a wonderful woman get pregnant with another man’s child? I couldn’t believe it, couldn’t accept it. My heart felt like it had been viciously stung, the pain piercing me to the bone. I recognized the name on the abortion record: Liam Scott. He was a guy who’d pursued Chloe relentlessly back in college. Liam had chased Chloe for years. Even after Chloe and I got married, he still shamelessly clung to her for several more years. For her, he’d cried, begged, even jumped into a river and cut his wrists, trying every desperate stunt imaginable. But Chloe always claimed she found his advances repulsive. She’d constantly complain to me about how annoying Liam was, how his pursuit bothered her, how she didn’t like him at all and got irritated just seeing him. Later, I took a few of my buddies and went to find Liam. Under the cover of darkness, my friends and I ambushed Liam on his way home. We beat him senseless, leaving him with a bloody, swollen face. I warned him to stay away from my wife. After that night, Chloe never mentioned Liam again. I thought he’d finally heeded my warning and stopped bothering her. I never imagined that a year later, his name would appear in the “partner” column of her abortion record.

That night, Chloe and I parted ways on bad terms. The next day, she made plans to go shopping with her friends. I dropped everything I was doing and secretly followed her. I trailed them all the way to a bar. Through the crack in the door of a dimly lit private room, I caught a glimpse of Chloe intimately settling into a man’s lap. The man had his arm around her waist, leaning back on the sofa, a look of doting affection on his face. Even in the low light, I instantly recognized him: it was Liam Scott! If I had any doubts before, they were completely erased now. That aborted embryo had to be Liam’s! A surge of white-hot fury instantly shot through me. My fists clenched tight. Just as I was about to burst in, I heard Chloe’s friend, Maya, speak up. “Chloe, Liam chased you for years, and you never budged. What finally made you give in?” I froze. Chloe tilted her head, glancing at Liam, and chuckled shyly. “I wasn’t going to accept him, but then… that time, my husband had someone beat him up. He was left bloody and bruised, but he still came to my office, crying and saying he’d rather die than give up on me. I don’t know why, but in that moment, I suddenly softened.” After she finished speaking, they exchanged a knowing smile and kissed passionately right there in front of everyone. The private room erupted with cheers and jeers. And I stood outside the door, stunned, as if struck by lightning. So, all that time, I was furious, defending her honor, only to accidentally create the perfect opportunity for them to get together? A sharp, piercing pain spread across my chest, like a thousand needles, making it hard to breathe. As my heart ached, Chloe and Liam reluctantly pulled apart. Liam cupped Chloe’s face, declaring his love deeply. “Chloe, besides you, I’ll never love anyone else in this life. Only death can separate us.” Tears welled up in Chloe’s eyes, her face filled with emotion. “Liam, if I’d known being with you would be this wonderful, I would have accepted you sooner. Don’t worry, for the rest of my life, I’ll give you everything, except for my official status.” I stared blankly at the intensely affectionate scene before me, my heart aching to its very core. Suddenly, all the strength to confront them drained out of me. I turned around and walked away, feeling utterly lost. I felt like a wandering ghost, making my way to the bar, where I ordered several strong drinks and drank myself into a stupor. Five years of marriage. Eight years of dating. From college until now, Chloe and I had been together for a full eight years. Back then, to marry her, I gave up a chance to move abroad and even swallowed my pride, agreeing to live with her family and effectively put their needs before my own. After we married, I was always good to Chloe. I handed over my paycheck, always attentive to her every need. She didn’t want kids, so I even made up a story about my own fertility issues, just to keep both our families from pressuring us. But in the end, she got pregnant with another man’s child, all behind my back. Eight years of a relationship, undone by one shamelessly persistent man. How pathetic.

I stumbled out of the bar, completely drunk. Night was falling, heavy and dark. Suddenly, bright fireworks burst across the sky, dazzling and mesmerizing. As I passed by the riverbank, I saw Chloe and Liam again. This time, no friends, just the two of them, passionately embracing and kissing under the brilliant fireworks. They looked like a pair of star-crossed lovers. In that instant, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. A colossal rage erupted inside me. I swung my fist, charging hysterically towards Liam. “You bastard!” Liam was caught off guard by my punch, stumbling back a few steps before losing his balance and falling to the ground. The back of his head hit a rock, splitting open and bleeding. Chloe gasped in horror and immediately rushed to his side. “Liam, are you okay?!” Her eyes blazed with fury as she turned and snapped at me. “Adam, what are you doing?! Are you insane?!” Me? Insane? “Chloe, that’s what *I* should be asking *you*!” I pointed at Liam on the ground, my voice rising in a furious demand. “Tell me, what were you doing with him just now?!” Chloe showed no remorse, instead wrinkling her nose in disgust. “Are you drunk again? How many times have I told you to drink less! You always go crazy when you drink, acting like some barbaric brute!” I’m the brute? I let out a bitter laugh. Chloe ignored my rage, her face filled with tenderness as she wiped the blood from Liam’s head. Her eyes turned red, and her voice choked. “Liam, get up quickly. I’ll help you to the hospital.” This scene stabbed at my eyes once again. My wife, her eyes red with concern for another man. I furiously raised my fist, charging at Liam again. But Chloe stepped in front of Liam, and slapped me hard. “Adam, have you caused enough trouble?! Can you stop being such a drunken maniac?!” Her gaze was cold, like ice. Five years of marriage, and this was the first time she had looked at me with such eyes. I stared blankly at the woman before me, suddenly feeling like she was a complete stranger. A piercing, bone-deep pain flared in my chest again. Chloe tenderly helped Liam away, and as she did, she gave me a harsh shove. My foot slipped, and I stumbled precariously, falling into the frigid river beside us. *Splash!* A bone-chilling cold engulfed my entire body, making me shiver violently. Chloe didn’t bat an eye. Liam called out to her. “Chloe, your husband…” “Forget him!” Chloe was as indifferent as a stranger, not even glancing at me in the water. Her voice was utterly devoid of warmth. “He can swim. A little dip might help him sober up!” With that, she helped Liam and walked away without looking back. I tried to swim to shore, but my leg suddenly cramped, leaving me powerless. In the end, I could only despair as I sank into the river, letting the icy water flood my lungs. A fierce sense of suffocation, like a beast, brutally consumed me. My heart was dead. … When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. A kind passerby had rescued me. Chloe made no effort to check on me. It wasn’t until the next afternoon that she finally called. Her voice on the phone was tired, laced with a hint of complaint. “Adam, Liam’s out of danger, but you went way too far this time! You hit the back of his head, and he almost got a concussion! Luckily, Liam is generous and isn’t holding it against you. But from now on, you absolutely cannot be so reckless!” My heart felt utterly dead. Her only concern was Liam’s injury, completely unaware that her own husband had almost drowned in the river yesterday. After a brief silence, Chloe lowered her voice, trying to explain. “Adam, you misunderstood yesterday. Liam and I are just good friends; it’s not as complicated as you think.” “Friends?” I scoffed. “Do friends kiss?” Chloe’s voice instantly turned cold. “You were drunk last night; you must have imagined it! Liam and I didn’t kiss at all! It was Liam’s birthday yesterday, and I was just with him setting off fireworks by the river. Can you stop overthinking everything? I’ve given you so much over the years; am I not allowed to have other friends?” I hung up immediately. I was physically and mentally exhausted. I had no strength left to argue with her.

After being discharged from the hospital, I made an excuse about a business trip and didn’t go home for two weeks. Chloe seemed busy taking care of the injured Liam, and she didn’t press me much. It was my mother-in-law, Mrs. Davies, who suddenly called me. It was the same old, tired conversation. “Adam, when are you finally going to give me a grandchild?” In that moment, I found it incredibly ironic. She probably had no idea that she *could* have had a grandchild, but her own daughter had personally destroyed it. “I don’t plan on having children.” “Don’t want them?” Mrs. Davies shrieked, her voice sharp and loud. “If you’re not going to have kids, what good are you to our family? Your background is ordinary, your job isn’t great, and you can’t even produce a child. What’s the difference between you and a good-for-nothing? I never should have agreed to Chloe marrying you!” I knew. For five years of our marriage, my in-laws had always looked down on me. Before, for Chloe’s sake, I had always chosen to endure it. But now, I had no reason to swallow my anger. “Anyway, let’s not talk about that,” Mrs. Davies paused, then suddenly lowered her voice. “Next week is your father-in-law’s sixtieth birthday. You and Chloe both need to come home. Remember to prepare a big gift for your father-in-law. Don’t you dare embarrass my daughter!” I froze for a moment. Then, I chuckled. “Alright.” When the time comes, I’ll definitely give you all a *big* gift. … In the blink of an eye, it was my father-in-law’s sixtieth birthday banquet. When I arrived at the Davies’ family home, the grand hall was already packed with relatives and friends, drinks clinking, buzzing with lively chatter. To my surprise, Liam was there too. Chloe made no attempt to hide him, introducing him to every relative and friend one by one. I walked towards them, my face set in a dark scowl, and coldly demanded, “Chloe, it’s your dad’s birthday today. What are you doing bringing this pesky leech, Liam, here?” Before Chloe could reply, Mr. Davies rushed over. “Adam, what kind of talk is that? Liam is my godson. We met fishing. You have no right to be rude to him!” “Godson?” I was stunned. I had no idea that not only had Chloe’s heart wandered, but even my father-in-law was gradually falling under Liam’s spell. I, on the other hand, had become a complete outsider. Liam suddenly extended his wine glass towards me, a fake smile plastered across his face. “Brother-in-law, you’re just in time. I’d like to propose a toast! You actually misunderstood last time; Chloe was just celebrating my birthday. Nothing more. Even though you almost gave me a concussion last time, thanks to Chloe’s careful nursing, my injuries are almost healed.” “What?!” Mr. Davies stared at me in shock, his nostrils flaring in anger. “Adam, *you* caused Liam’s head injury last time? Liam has no grudge against you. Are you insane or something?!” “Godfather, please don’t be angry. My injuries are fine, and I’ve already forgiven brother-in-law.” Liam forcefully shoved the wine glass into my hand, feigning a polite smile. “Brother-in-law, drink this glass, and we’ll let bygones be bygones.” With that, he raised his own glass and drained it. I glared at him, clutching the wine glass in my hand. Then, I suddenly flipped it, splashing all the contents directly onto his face. “Liam, who the hell wants to let bygones be bygones with you?!”

“Adam, what are you doing?!” Mr. Davies’s eyes widened in outrage. “Liam was being kind enough to toast you! What is wrong with your attitude?!” Mrs. Davies’s face also darkened as she scolded me. “Adam, it’s your father-in-law’s birthday today! Are you deliberately trying to ruin the party?!” Liam wiped the wine from his face, his shoulders slumping slightly as he feigned a wronged expression. “Brother-in-law, do you have some misunderstanding about me? If I’ve done something wrong, please tell me. I’ll apologize, okay?” “Liam, you know exactly what you’ve done. Stop playing innocent!” As soon as the words left my mouth, Chloe stepped forward and slapped me hard. Her eyes were wide and blazing, her face terrifyingly dark. “Adam, don’t go too far! Liam was kind enough to toast you, and he even humbled himself to apologize! Why are you still targeting him?! What do you mean by this?!” “What do *I* mean?!” I laughed, enraged. “I’d like to ask *you* and *him* what you mean!” Liam quickly stepped in to mediate. “Sister Chloe, please don’t argue with brother-in-law. It’s Godfather’s birthday today; let’s not make him unhappy because of me!” With that, he pulled a gift box from his pocket and presented it to Mr. Davies like a treasure. “Godfather, this is the gift I prepared for you. Do you like it?” Mr. Davies’s anger instantly vanished when he saw the gift in Liam’s hands. “Top-grade red jade!” Mr. Davies beamed, unable to close his mouth. “Liam, you’re so thoughtful. You truly are my good son!” “This jade must be worth hundreds of thousands, right?” Mrs. Davies’s eyes lit up too. “Liam, I didn’t realize you were so wealthy!” Liam gave a bashful smile. “Just a small token of my appreciation. I hope Godfather likes it.” Then, he turned to me, a provocative smirk on his lips. “Brother-in-law, what grand gift did *you* prepare for Godfather? Why don’t you bring it out for everyone to see?” “Yeah, let’s see it!” The relatives chimed in. Watching Liam’s smug expression, I felt a mocking urge to laugh. I knew he wanted to publicly humiliate me. But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction! “A grand gift? Of course!” In front of all our relatives and friends, I slowly pulled out a sealed, clear plastic box. My lips parted slightly. “This is the grand gift I’m giving my father-in-law!” Liam froze. Chloe’s pupils contracted sharply, staring intently at the box in my hand, her face instantly turning ghostly pale. Mr. Davies frowned, asking doubtfully, “What is that? A box of meat?” Mrs. Davies bristled with anger, scolding me. “Adam, Liam bought your father-in-law jade worth hundreds of thousands! And you? What kind of shameful thing have you prepared?!” The relatives and friends gathered around began to whisper, scoffing at my cheapness and calling me an embarrassment. Unfazed, I stared at Chloe and Liam, and spoke in a low, chilling voice: “Mother-in-law, Father-in-law, haven’t you always wanted a grandchild? What I’m holding in my hand… is the grandchild you’ve been eagerly awaiting!”

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Eight years ago, I dropped out of college and worked tirelessly to pay for Valerie’s tuition. She clung to me, tears streaming, swearing she’d never betray me, not ever. Years later, she built her own empire, becoming a multi-millionaire CEO. But the night I was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I saw her, under a streetlamp, kissing someone else. That same night, she broke up with me. My heart turned to ash. “Valerie, what about our eight years?” She looked at me, her voice icy. “Eight years? That’s not long at all. Not to me.” “Your eight years might have been all about me, but my eight years? They were about so much more than just you.” Yet, when she learned of my death, she completely lost her mind. “I’m sorry, Mr. Alex. The diagnosis is in. It’s late-stage stomach cancer.” The doctor handed me the report, his eyes filled with pity. I felt like I’d been struck by a lightning bolt. It was just a stomach ache, how could it be a terminal illness? A million questions flooded my mind, but a lump formed in my throat, and I couldn’t make a sound. I opened my mouth, and after a long moment, finally managed to ask, “How much longer… do I have?” The doctor adjusted his glasses. “Three months, at most.” I let out a bitter laugh, took the diagnosis, and stood up to leave. It wasn’t until I was outside, sitting in my car, that I covered my eyes and broke down, sobbing. My cries were muffled, a raw, hoarse sound tearing from deep in my throat. Only three months left to live. What about Valerie? How would she survive, alone, after I was gone? The night breeze carried a chilling bite as I stood on the balcony, waiting for Valerie to return. I’d shredded the diagnosis, tearing it into tiny pieces, then watched them swirl down the drain. I waited from day until night. In those dozen or so hours, I finally understood. I couldn’t tell Valerie. Everyone says it’s better to cut ties cleanly, better a quick, sharp pain than a lingering one. But I… I didn’t want her to hurt at all. A familiar silhouette gradually appeared under the streetlamp. I was just wondering why Valerie hadn’t driven home today when, the next second, I saw her pulled into someone else’s embrace and kissed. In an instant, the blood in my veins seemed to freeze. The two figures under the streetlamp looked exactly like a pair of lovers. Valerie didn’t pull away. She let him kiss her on the side of her lips, then watched him leave. The villa’s front door opened, let in by the housekeeper. I waited on the second floor, my mind a blank slate. Soon after, she walked into the room and gently hugged me from behind. “Alex, I’m so tired today.” My body stiffened. I subtly pulled away from her embrace. Valerie looked at me, a hint of complaint in her voice. “What’s wrong?” I reached up and plucked a rose petal from her hair. It was from when she and that other person stood under the roses, kissing. My fingers trembled slightly. I looked up at her, my voice low as I demanded, “Who was that person?” Valerie’s face instantly changed. “You saw?” I waited silently for her explanation, but she just calmly told me, “Alex, there’s nothing between us. You know I only love you.” “You’re the only one I’m truly sincere about.” My heart was practically numb with pain. I let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Oh, really? Valerie, then your ‘sincerity’ comes cheap.” Perhaps stung by my words, Valerie’s expression gradually darkened. “I don’t want to argue with you.” I repeated her words. “I don’t want to argue either. I want an explanation.” “Tell me, who was he?” Valerie’s expression grew impatient. “You can’t stand it, can you?” She coldly tossed out, “Then let’s break up.” I barely reacted, just stared at her, stunned. “You… what did you say?” Valerie’s eyes darted away, but she still told me, word for word, “I said, if you can’t stand it, then let’s break up.” Suddenly, my nose stung. My voice choked in my throat. “Break up?” My lips trembled slightly as I asked her, “Valerie, what about our eight years?” She looked at me, her gaze icy. “Eight years? That’s not long at all. Not to me.” “Your eight years might have been all about me, but my eight years? They were about so much more than just you.” A sudden, violent pain erupted in my stomach, spreading to my heart. I could barely stand. Valerie ran a frustrated hand through her hair. “I’ll meet many more people. Alex, if you don’t trust me, then what’s the point of dragging this on?” I forced myself to maintain a calm facade, my nails digging into my palms. A coppery taste filled my mouth. I gritted my teeth and said, “Valerie, say ‘break up’ one more time, and I’ll never appear before you again.” She opened her mouth, but in the end, she just slammed the door shut. “I’m staying at the apartment tonight.” It wasn’t until her voice completely faded that I collapsed weakly to the ground. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. I covered my mouth with my hand, but the next second, I violently vomited a large mouthful of fresh blood.

My consciousness gradually blurred, my vision hazy, and I collapsed to the floor. The second before I blacked out, I suddenly remembered the year Valerie and I first met. She was only eighteen. “Stop pretending! You think you can hide?!” A group of girls had cornered someone. The leader viciously slapped the girl, her face contorted with hatred. She grabbed the girl’s hair, cursing and venting, “You slut, trying to seduce men!” I didn’t hear a single sound of resistance. The girl silently endured the violence, so quiet it was as if she felt no pain. “Enough.” I pressed my cigarette against the wall to extinguish it, then turned and walked to the alley entrance, watching them coldly. The girls turned to look at me, their expressions dismissive. “I suggest you mind your own business.” Through a gap, the girl’s eyes fixed on me, her gaze vacant. I picked up a wooden stick leaning against the wall and slammed it against the corner. It snapped with a crack. I threw the remaining half in front of them. “I said, *enough*.” The girls exchanged glances. After a few seconds of silence, they reluctantly walked away from me. Only the girl remained, a clear handprint still on her cheek. I watched for a few seconds, then looked away, turning to leave. Footsteps followed behind me, not too close, almost matching mine. After the second street corner, I finally stopped. The footsteps ceased as well. I turned around. The girl was indeed about a yard behind me. “Why are you following me?” She looked at me in a panic, and tears suddenly streamed down her face, tracing a path over the handprint, making it seem even more stark. I was suddenly lost in thought, realizing, *she hurts too*. “Come on.” Perhaps she thought I was chasing her away. She clutched the corner of her shirt, flustered, but refused to move a single step. I paused for a few seconds, then finished my sentence. “I’ll take you home.” She trusted me without a second thought, and actually led me to her home. In the long, dark alley, she spoke for the first time. “My name is Valerie.” I curved my lips into a slight smile, though it was hidden in the darkness. “Alex.” Valerie lived in the slums, her house surrounded by piles of scavenged junk. She pushed open the yard gate, and a partially-blind old woman emerged from the small doorway. “Valerie, you’re back.” Valerie smiled and called out, “Grandma.” She introduced me to the old woman. “This is Alex. He’s my… good friend.” I paused, slightly stunned. Perhaps afraid I’d contradict her, Valerie quickly ducked into the kitchen. The old woman warmly pulled me into the house, then took out some treasured candies and offered them to me. “Good boy. Valerie has never brought a friend home before.” “You’re the first one.” I gave a bitter smile as I peeled the wrapper, putting the milky candy in my mouth. This elderly, partially-sighted woman would never know what her granddaughter suffered at school, let alone that she had no friends. She held my hand and talked for a long time. When emotions ran deep, she wiped tears from the corners of her eyes. “My Valerie has had a very hard life. She was abandoned by her parents by the river when she was just born, and I, a poor, old, almost-blind woman, found her and brought her home.” The old woman took out her sewing kit, dug out a few crumpled bills from the bottom, then tremblingly pressed the largest bill into my hand. “It’s a blessing she met a friend like you. Please, help me look after my Valerie from now on.” My nose stung, my lips parted, but no sound came out. Finally, I just mumbled, “Okay.” From that day on, I started watching over Valerie, becoming almost her constant shadow. “Alex, where’s your family?” The sunset settled on the lake, quickly sinking and taking the last light with it. Valerie asked me this for the first time. I paused for a few seconds, then told her, short and direct, “My mom died. My dad’s in prison. He killed my mom.” The air suddenly grew quiet. Valerie must have realized she’d spoken out of turn, so she immediately fell silent. After a long silence, she took my right hand. In the darkness, I heard her choked voice. “Alex, from now on… I’ll be your family.” She made that promise to me, and I believed her.

My face suddenly felt wet. I slowly opened my eyes. The white furball in front of me was licking my cheek. Seeing me awake, Buddy snuggled into my arms. I reached out and stroked his head, then staggered to the bathroom, turning on the shower to wash away the blood. The person who drove Valerie home that night was quickly identified—Brandon, Valerie’s secretary. He was young, a prestigious university graduate, and strikingly handsome. I wasn’t surprised that someone like him could attract Valerie. Valerie didn’t come home for several nights. I waited in the villa, calm as if insane. Late at night, my stomach pain grew severe. I tremblingly took out my painkillers, poured out a few pills, and dry-swallowed them. In the darkness, I curled up, letting the cold sweat soak the sheets. Just as the pain began to subside, the sound of the door lock clicked. Someone walked into the room, then quietly lay down beside me. She reached out and hugged me from behind, not saying a word. The smell of alcohol drifted into my nostrils, pungent and stinging. I pulled away from her, turning on the bedside lamp. “Have you been drinking?” Valerie’s eyes were red, but she didn’t answer. After a long moment, she finally cried, “Alex, you can’t leave me.” “You’re all I have. If even you leave me, what will I do?” I looked at her, smiling faintly, and gently wiped her tears with my fingertips. A sudden, intense bitterness welled up inside me. “Valerie, it’s not me leaving you…” I trembled as I closed my eyes. “It’s you leaving me.” Valerie gripped my hand, apologizing over and over. “I was wrong. Please forgive me.” “You know I can’t live without you.” Her tears dripped onto the back of my hand, and all my defenses crumbled instantly. “Valerie, tell me, between him and me… who do you choose?” She wrapped her arms around my neck, tilted her head back, and kissed my lips, her voice choked with tears, speaking the most devastating love words. “I choose you, Alex. Only you.” Valerie kissed my Adam’s apple, her passion evident. I cupped the back of her neck, deepening the kiss. My body gradually grew hot. The moment I took off Valerie’s shirt, I suddenly saw the dense scars on her arm. The string in my mind suddenly snapped. *That’s right*, how could Valerie possibly leave me? Everyone only saw Valerie’s dazzling success, but no one knew that she had once suffered from severe depression. The first time I found her, the bathtub water was already stained crimson. She lay there, unconscious, her fate uncertain. But even after being rescued, Valerie didn’t give up on suicide. When I broke into the locked room, her left arm was covered in countless cuts. Valerie sat on the floor, her face blank. I skillfully took out gauze to bandage her. Valerie didn’t pull away, she just looked at me and smiled. “Alex, please don’t save me.” She expressed her pain so calmly. I looked at her vacant stare and remained silent for a long time. “Does it hurt?” Valerie’s right hand still gripped a fruit knife. I took her hand, used its force, and slashed deeply across my own arm. It took her a few seconds to react. Then she screamed and threw the knife away. “Alex! Alex…” Valerie finally burst into tears. She frantically tried to cover my wound, but the blood soaked her palm, seeping through her fingers. “Valerie, it hurts so much.” I pulled her into my embrace, begging her over and over. “Please, don’t die.” “Valerie, let me be your medicine.”

The memories gradually faded, and my gaze refocused on the present. A voice reached my ears. “Sir, Ms. Valerie said you don’t need to wait for her tonight.” Mr. Davies, the butler, spoke and then quietly withdrew. The dinner on the table had grown cold. I quietly listened to the clock strike midnight. This was the third day. The third day I hadn’t seen Valerie. Just as I was lost in thought, the white furball suddenly darted into my arms. It knocked the bowls and chopsticks off the table, making a sharp clattering sound. “Buddy, cut it out.” Buddy’s tongue lolled out, like a grin. I helplessly stroked his head, then bent down to pick up the broken pieces from the floor. A sharp shard of porcelain cut my fingertip, and blood quickly seeped out. I knelt on the floor, looking at the scattered fragments around me. For a moment, I felt a strange sense of unreality. A bitter smile touched my lips. Go back to how things were… as if that were even possible. The room at night carried a chill. Ever since I fell ill, I’d become sensitive to the cold. The heat from the AC gradually filled the room, but even curled up under the blankets, I still shivered violently. Valerie appeared at some point. She gently wrapped her arms around me. “Alex, I’m home.” I strained to press closer to her, desperate for a bit of warmth, but I still shivered uncontrollably. “Valerie, I’m cold.” She gently stroked my back, then hummed a familiar lullaby to lull me to sleep. “Don’t be scared.” I called her name. “Valerie?” She said, “I’m here.” I called her name again and again, and she answered every time. Suddenly, I wanted to cry so badly. Tears welled up in my eyes. My voice choked with sobs as I told her, “Valerie, I’m dying.” Her movements suddenly stilled. “Oh? Well, that’s…” I couldn’t quite hear her voice, so I looked up at her. Valerie’s expression suddenly twisted, her eyes filled with extreme, deranged madness, her smile grotesque. “Well, that’s wonderful.” My heart jolted. I reached out a disbelieving hand toward her. “Valerie—!” When I opened my eyes again, the sky outside was bright. My back was soaked with cold sweat. I sat up, still shaken, unable to fully recover my senses. It had just been… a dream. I closed my eyes, calmed myself, then got up and walked out of the room. A housekeeper walked by in the hallway. I looked at the shirt she was holding and said, “Did Ms. Valerie come back last night?” The housekeeper respectfully nodded. “Yes, Ms. Valerie returned very late last night. She was afraid of disturbing you, so she slept in the guest room.” I took the shirt, glanced at it, then handed it back. “You can go now.” It wasn’t until I was alone that I lifted my fingers to my nose and inhaled. A familiar woody fragrance. I almost wanted to laugh. It was the birthday gift Valerie gave me when she turned twenty. The same scent. On whose body had she picked it up this time? My stomach began to cramp again. I took two painkillers, just barely managing to suppress the pain. A wave of dizziness washed over me. I lifted my hand, trying to grab onto something, but ultimately collapsed weakly onto the bed and passed out again. When I next woke, the window was pitch black. A knock sounded at the door. I reached out, gripping the edge of the table to steady myself. “Come in.” Mr. Davies slowly walked up to me. “Sir, Ms. Valerie sent someone to pick you up.” I paused, slightly confused, then nodded. It wasn’t until I was in the car that I belatedly asked, “Where are we going?” The driver’s voice held a hint of a smile. “You’ll find out when you get there.” A flicker of emotion stirred in my heart. Unease, or perhaps, expectation.

The entire floor of the riverside rooftop restaurant was empty. A waiter pushed open the glass door for me. A cascade of roses bloomed profusely, and amidst them, stood Valerie, dressed in a white gown. She walked toward me, a dazzling smile on her face. “Happy Birthday, Alex.” I was slightly stunned. It was my birthday today? I’d even forgotten myself… She explained that she had deliberately been distant these past few days to prepare this surprise for me. Valerie took a necklace from a box in her hand and fastened it around my neck. As our skin brushed, I felt her breath near my ear. “Alex, this is our ninth year.” She wrapped her arms around my waist, leaning gently against me. “And we’ll have many, many more nine years together.” I almost froze, unable to move for a long time. A sudden, intense bitterness welled up inside me. *But Valerie… we don’t have a future anymore.* She took my hand and led me to the table. A waiter poured our wine. Valerie raised her glass to me. “Alex…” She suddenly smiled shyly. For a moment, I saw the ghost of her eighteen-year-old self. “Have I ever told you?” I frowned, asking, “What?” Valerie’s expression grew serious. “I love you.” My heart lurched, then pounded in my chest with endless echoes. Valerie’s affection had always been quiet, almost shy. Never had she expressed it with such passionate, direct honesty. This was the first time. Her cheeks flushed. She took a sip of her wine, using it to hide her nervousness. I hesitated for a moment, then drained my glass. My stomach cramped painfully. I forced a smile, enduring the discomfort. “I’m very happy.” She was about to say something else when a heated argument suddenly erupted nearby. “Sir! You can’t go in!” By the time I looked up, the man had already walked in front of us. He looked utterly distraught, but his handsome face was still undeniable. His clothes were impeccably neat, yet he reeked of alcohol. “Why did you fire me?” The man’s voice was cold, yet broken, with a hint of a sob. He was fragile, like a wet, abandoned puppy, easily eliciting a protective instinct from others. I instantly knew who he was—Valerie’s secretary, Brandon. Brandon continued to demand, over and over, “What exactly did I do wrong? Was my presence a problem for you?” “But you didn’t reject me then. I thought you felt something for me…” He acted as if I wasn’t even there, passionately pouring out his heart. Valerie’s expression gradually darkened. “Shut up.” Only then did Brandon turn his gaze to me. He stared for a long moment, then gave a bitter laugh. “I see.” He turned and walked away, a look of grim determination on his face. Valerie instinctively rose to stop him. I looked up at her. “Valerie.” My eyes suddenly stung. I asked, almost pleading, “Are you leaving?” She faltered. I gripped her fingertips, forcing a difficult smile as tears traced paths down my cheeks. “Please, don’t go.” Valerie’s eyes flickered with struggle. After a few seconds, it turned to apology. “I’m sorry.” She chased after him. In that vast restaurant, I was the only one left, the only ‘star’ of her show. I stood there for a long time, then covered my eyes with my hand, letting the tears soak my palm, before a low, bitter laugh escaped me. If you’d known this was the last birthday you’d spend with me, would you regret it? Valerie, I almost fell for it. Almost.

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The wedding countdown stood at twenty-two days when I walked in on Liam Hayes and his secretary, Chloe, tangled together, stark naked, in my own bed. My fury erupted, and I demanded to break up right there, cancelling our long-planned wedding. Liam fell to his knees, begging me, claiming it was just one drunken mistake with Chloe. He swore I was the only one he ever loved, that I shouldn’t negate our ten years together over a single error. My heart softened at his desperate pleas and tear-soaked face, and I decided to give him one more chance. But three weeks later, he came to me, hand-in-hand with Chloe, clutching a positive pregnancy test. “Chloe is pregnant, and it’s mine. This pregnancy is incredibly difficult for her. If she were to terminate it, she might never be able to conceive again.” “She’s still so young, I can’t let her carry the stigma of being a home-wrecker. For the wedding, she should be the bride first, just until the baby is born and officially part of the family. Then, we can have an even grander wedding for us.” What he didn’t know was that since the night he cheated, Julian Hayes, the scion of a powerful family, had already approached me. He told me he wanted to marry me. But I, swayed by Liam’s sweet talk and manipulative pleas, had rejected Julian. Julian had proposed a bet to me: whether Liam would actually marry me. If I lost the bet, the price was marrying him instead.

Watching their fingers intertwined, I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. I tossed the wedding gift I’d prepared into the trash can. “Well then, I wish you both a lifetime of sweetness and happiness.” I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, leaving painful crescent marks. Liam didn’t seem to catch my implied meaning. His entire demeanor brightened. He let go of Chloe’s hand and walked towards me. “Aurora, I knew you’d be the most understanding and mature one, you always are. You’d definitely get it.” “Chloe is only twenty, and she’s carrying a Hayes heir. We can’t let the baby be born without a mother, right?” As soon as he finished speaking, he gave a subtle gesture to Alfred, our butler. Alfred quickly moved Chloe’s luggage into *our* bedroom. Liam offered me a strained smile. “Aurora, the guest room is too small, and Chloe is pregnant, so it’s not convenient for her in there. She’ll stay in the master bedroom for now, and you can move into the guest room.” I scoffed, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “So, you’ll be staying in the master bedroom too?” His words faltered, and he weakly tried to find an excuse. “Chloe is in her early stages of pregnancy, so there are many things to be extra careful about. Staying in the master bedroom will naturally allow me to look after her better.” “But don’t worry, I won’t sleep in the bed. I’ll have Alfred bring in a sofa, and I’ll sleep on that.” A bitter laugh bubbled up inside me. They’d already slept together, and now he was putting on this act? He pulled Chloe in front of me, gently instructing her. “Quick, thank your sister-in-law! If it weren’t for her acceptance, our child wouldn’t receive such treatment.” Chloe, who moments ago had seemed so innocent in Liam’s arms, was now bursting into tears, faking distress. I hadn’t said a word, yet she immediately looked as if she’d suffered a great injustice. “Sister-in-law, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin your relationship with Liam. We just got drunk…” Tears streamed down her face as she spoke. Liam saw them, and his face was etched with concern. He gently wiped away her tears. “Chloe, don’t blame yourself too much. We were just swept up in the moment, our feelings were too intense to control.” “Don’t worry, your sister-in-law is a sensible person; she already forgave us, didn’t she? Getting too upset isn’t good for the baby. You’re carrying a Hayes heir now, I can’t let you suffer out here.” But Chloe still looked terrified of me, her gaze darting between Liam and me. She looked at me timidly. “But Liam, sister-in-law doesn’t seem very happy. Her face looks quite displeased.” The next second, Liam grabbed my arm and pulled me in front of Chloe. “Aurora, it’s no use me explaining things to Chloe. Why don’t you explain it to her? Chloe is sensitive; without your permission, she’ll just overthink everything, and too much stress isn’t good for the baby.”

I watched them, a perfect duet, my gaze turning icy. I didn’t know if he was truly clueless or just pretending. My heart was seething with resentment, and he was still trying to slap me in the face like this. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I yanked my hand free from his grasp. My eyes, red with suppressed rage, fixed on him. “Liam Hayes, are you saying that you got another woman pregnant, and now I’m supposed to rush over and comfort the home-wrecker you brought back? How dare you have such audacity?” Liam’s eyes, which had been upturned in smugness, instantly darkened when he heard my words. His voice deepened several octaves. “Aurora, how could you think that? Chloe is only 20! She’s still so young. Do you have any idea how much physical harm it would cause her if we forced her to have an abortion?” “I already took her virginity; I’ve already wronged her enough. And you can’t even tolerate *this* small thing?” The way he twisted his infidelity into such a grand, righteous excuse, it felt as if I’d never truly known him. Had he forgotten? I wasn’t even twenty when we started dating. And didn’t I give him my first time too? He turned away, no longer wanting to meet my gaze. But the words he spoke were like daggers, each one drawing blood. “Besides, we’ve been together for so long, and your womb has always been silent. Now, Chloe can give our family an heir. You should be on your knees, thanking her!” I let out a cold snort, responding flatly. “So, if I went and slept with someone else, got pregnant with their child, would you still kneel and thank me?” He spun around abruptly, his furious gaze almost devouring me. “Enough, Aurora! Don’t you think your words are truly disgusting?” “I always thought you were kind and sensible, that you’d understand everything I did. I never imagined you’d be no different from those jealous women.” He gritted his teeth, looking utterly exasperated. Perhaps in his mind, I was just as he described. All that talk of me being gentle, kind, and sensible was just an excuse for him to bring Chloe home. I let out a bitter laugh. “My apologies for disappointing you.” Chloe suddenly dropped to her knees, sobbing hysterically. “Sister-in-law, I’m so sorry, it’s my fault. I ruined your relationship with Liam.” “This baby shouldn’t be in my belly. I promise you, I’ll leave right now. I’ll get rid of the baby immediately and never appear before you again.”

With that, Chloe, still crying, rushed towards the door. With a “thud,” she fell directly to the ground. Liam’s eyes filled with panic. He rushed over without hesitation. Chloe clutched her stomach, whimpering. “Liam, help me! My baby, this is our first baby, I don’t want anything to happen to this baby…” Seeing Chloe’s pained expression, Liam’s eyes instantly reddened. He quickly scooped up the whimpering Chloe from the ground. His panic was visible, his lips trembling. “No, Chloe, I won’t let anything happen to our baby, don’t worry.” “You’re still young, we’ll have many more children, as many as you want, I’ll give them to you, okay?” Listening to his touching declaration, tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes. Five years ago, I too was pregnant with his child. But back then, he claimed it was his career’s crucial period and told me to terminate the pregnancy. We were both young then, and I didn’t think much of it, so I went through with the abortion. The moment I was wheeled into the operating room, I suffered a hemorrhage and almost died on the table. That surgery severely damaged my uterus, making it difficult to conceive afterward. Liam knelt by my hospital bed, clutching my hand, sobbing uncontrollably as he repented. “Aurora, I’m so sorry, I truly didn’t know that abortion would cause such severe damage to your body. Don’t worry, I promise I’ll never fail you again. From now on, if we have a child, we’ll keep it, okay?” “If we really can’t have children, that’s okay too. I’ll be child-free with you.” What were once such moving and heartfelt vows now felt like a sharp blade piercing my heart. I turned, wanting to leave, but he, still holding Chloe, rushed up from behind me. Suddenly, he kicked me hard in the back. I lost my balance and stumbled, falling backward. I knocked over a nearby vase, and glass shards pierced my palm. “What are you standing around for?! Get the car ready! If something happens, can you take responsibility?!” “Chloe is pure-hearted; she thinks of everything for you, yet you say such vicious things to upset her. You’re so much older than her, can’t you be more mature?!” The crushing pain in my chest made it hard to breathe. I slowly got to my feet, pulling the glass shards from my palm. Blood instantly welled up. To avoid giving him any more leverage, I forced myself to endure the pain and went to get the car for him. Perhaps, as he said, there was a life in her belly. Blood dripped onto the steering wheel, while in the backseat, Liam and Chloe’s fingers were intertwined. After dropping them off at the hospital, I felt my task was complete. Trembling, I called Julian. “What you said last time, I agree.”

Julian didn’t seem surprised to hear from me. He told me to send him my address. After I sent it, he replied with a text. “Wait for me. Ten minutes.” For some reason, receiving Julian’s message filled me with a strange sense of calm. I took a closer look at myself; I was a mess, my hand still oozing blood. I decided to head to the doctor’s office first to get some medicine and a simple bandage. As I passed Chloe’s hospital room, through the half-open door, Liam was spoon-feeding her swallow’s nest porridge, blowing on each spoonful carefully. He gently wiped the porridge from her lips. “Eat slowly, little glutton, don’t choke.” Their eyes met in the air, and Chloe couldn’t help but lean in and kiss his lips. Liam didn’t refuse; he even closed his eyes. Watching this scene firsthand, my heart twisted painfully. As I pulled away, Chloe seemed to notice me. A hint of challenge appeared in the corner of her mouth, and she wrapped her slender arms around Liam’s neck. “Liam, don’t you think it’s all my fault? It’s because I’m pregnant with your baby that sister-in-law is so unhappy.” “You don’t know how scared I was when I saw the way sister-in-law looked at me. I know she hates me, but I really don’t want to ruin your relationship, and I don’t want her to hurt our baby. Maybe I should just leave.” Liam suddenly cupped her face, gently stroking her cheek with the same hand that had once caressed mine. “Silly girl, how can you say that? It’s Aurora who’s being childish. You’re having such a difficult pregnancy, and she keeps doing things to upset you. When I get back, I’ll teach her a good lesson.” “You’re carrying a Hayes heir now; I’ll naturally give you a proper status.” Chloe said, teary-eyed and full of feigned grievance, her tears coming on cue. “But what if Aurora really gets angry and leaves? Then I’ll truly be a sinner.” Liam placed the swallow’s nest porridge aside and sneered. “She won’t leave me. Everyone knows she’s been with me for 10 years; no one would want a ‘damaged good’ who’s cohabited with another man for a decade.” “She loves me to death, she’s like a persistent shadow, impossible to get rid of. This wedding, she was the one begging me to marry her.” So, in his eyes, all my efforts were just one-sided devotion. Hearing this, my stomach churned, and I rushed to the bathroom, dry-heaving. But there was nothing in my stomach, only bitter acid. Ten years. Memories flooded my mind like a torrent. All those solemn vows played out like a movie in my head. Liam Hayes, you were the one who pursued me back then. To be with you, I even risked cutting ties with my parents. And now, all I got was a dismissive “desperate fool chasing after me.” I dragged my battered body, slowly walking towards the hospital exit.

Liam, who had come out to get water for Chloe, spotted me and called out. “Aurora Hayes!” I instinctively stopped. He walked towards me, holding the kettle, and started to speak but then noticed my hands, wrapped in bandages. He frowned, a rare flicker of concern in his eyes. “Aurora, what happened to your hands?” He reached out to touch them, but I instinctively pulled away. “It’s nothing. You should go back and care for your little darling in the hospital room, Liam.” Hearing my deliberately distant tone, his outstretched hand froze in the air, and a rare hint of disappointment crossed his features. “Aurora, stop playing games, okay? Chloe is pregnant and her emotions are unstable right now. As her sister-in-law, you should be more generous.” “Didn’t you always want to travel? After the baby is born, we can go together, okay?” Watching his self-righteous demeanor, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. In the past, whatever I did or said, he would agree without question. But ever since Chloe joined the company, he’d stood me up countless times. His promises, I no longer dared to hope for. As he spoke, his fingers were still busy replying to Chloe’s messages. I clenched my fists and looked up, meeting his cold eyes. “Liam Hayes, let’s get a divorce.” He was still engrossed in his chat with Chloe. When he finally registered my words, he froze. He lifted his eyelids, looking at me. “Aurora, what did you just say?” I repeated myself, word for word, enunciating even more clearly than before. “I said, Liam Hayes, let’s get a divorce.” Upon hearing this, he slammed the kettle to the ground. He paced wildly like a madman, hands on his hips, his bloodshot eyes fixed on me. “Aurora, do you even know what you’re saying?” “You’re overdoing this hard-to-get act, aren’t you? So what if Chloe got pregnant? Why are you sulking so much?” “You always said you loved me, but now, when our love is truly tested, you’re backing down? Do you think I’d still be a man if I let Chloe go and terminate the pregnancy? Do you want Chloe to end up like you, unable to bear children?” …He practically tore his throat screaming. Passing patients stopped to watch the spectacle of his madness. So, in his eyes, I had always been useless, a woman who couldn’t bear children. I bit my lip, trying my best to keep the salty tears from falling. My throat aching, I looked at him. “I’m not making her get rid of the baby, Liam. Listen carefully: this time, *I’m* leaving *you*.” A message popped up on my phone from Julian: “I’m in the parking lot. Come over.” I turned to leave, Liam’s furious voice echoing behind me. He ripped his throat screaming, “Aurora Hayes, go! If you leave, don’t ever come back!” “Divorce then, divorce! See how everyone will mock you, how you’ll become an abandoned woman everyone can whisper about behind your back in our social circle.” “Don’t come crying back to me for charity later.” No, Liam. From the moment you hurt me again and again for Chloe, I should have known I needed to leave. The hospital layout was unfamiliar, and I searched for a while but couldn’t find the parking lot Julian mentioned. Just as I spotted a parking sign and started walking towards it, a large hand suddenly grabbed me. A furious face appeared before me.

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I was the perfect corporate wife in our elite circles. When Blake Sterling got a model pregnant, I stepped in to make it all disappear. When Blake was caught sneaking into hotels with an A-list actress, I greased palms and made scandalous photos and videos vanish. Everyone in our elite circles said Blake Sterling had the perfect wife. Their knowing smiles were laced with ridicule, but I didn’t give a damn. After cleaning up his final mess, I simply vanished. Since then, Blake Sterling has been trying to find me, even across the ocean. Blake Sterling’s latest arm candy was a fresh face, Skylar Vance. Naturally, Blake was the lead investor in her debut film. Among Blake’s endless string of conquests, Skylar was the youngest, and by far, the boldest. She flooded my inbox with provocative photos, each one a blatant taunt. “Mrs. Sterling, everyone says you’re so magnanimous. Can you tell me if these photos are flattering?” I closed my email without replying, until Blake’s call came through. “How did those photos get out? Aria Hayes, are you done with your act?” His cutting tone sliced through the phone, and my heart ached for a few seconds before settling back into stillness. “I don’t know.” I spoke flatly. The next second, he hung up. My phone buzzed relentlessly with notifications from all my social media apps. #SterlingCEOCaughtInAnotherPhotoScandal The headlines screamed, the photos pixelated, but it wasn’t hard to tell they were identical to the ones Skylar had sent me. She was young, and her tactics were just as amateur. Editors from major media outlets flooded my SnapChat with messages. “Mrs. Sterling, seven figures should do it this time.” “Mrs. Sterling, we still have time for damage control.” I replied, “Not interested,” to each of them. The offers stopped coming. But then, screenshots of my replies to the editors exploded online. “Guess she’s finally given up.” “No kidding. Who could keep cleaning up their husband’s messes, time and again?” “How long until they divorce, do you think?” I took a deep breath, gazing at the empty mansion around me, a chilling emptiness settling in my chest. Blake Sterling, consider this my divorce gift to you. Soon enough, the scandalous photos evaporated as quickly as they’d appeared. The ‘screenshots’ of my replies were debunked as AI-generated fakes, and major media outlets started dumping dirt on other celebrities to divert attention.

The scandal was suppressed, and Blake sent me a SnapChat message. “Aria Hayes, you never cease to amaze me. You can put up with anything, can’t you? You’d do anything for money.” “How much do you want this time? What expensive meds does your father’s pathetic life need this time?” I replied flatly, “Nothing.” Silence stretched on his end for a long time before I put down my phone. Blake didn’t know that my father had passed away yesterday. While he and Skylar were enjoying a lavish spa day, my father had succumbed to acute kidney failure. I’d called him countless times, only to hear the answering machine. After crying for ten hours in the hospital room, Skylar’s message popped up. I got up, wiped my tears, and began to arrange my father’s funeral. Once everything was settled, I returned to the mansion Blake and I shared. It was only when those photos went viral that Blake finally called me. His first words were cutting accusations. But, it didn’t matter anymore. My most important task now was to divorce Blake. Our marriage had been nothing more than a business arrangement between the Hayes and Sterling families. A financial blunder by my father led to our company’s bankruptcy, and he’d collapsed from the shock. When Mr. Sterling Sr. was still alive, Blake treated me reasonably well. We weren’t madly in love, but we were respectful, almost like polite strangers. In those quiet days, my feelings for Blake grew. His transformation began after his grandfather’s death. That night, the rain poured down. Blake was in our master bedroom, getting intimate with a strange woman. I went wild, tearing at the woman, but Blake shielded her. It was also the first time he’d ever threatened me. “Aria Hayes, your father’s medical bills still depend on me.” Helplessness washed over me. That night, the strange woman stayed. After that, Blake began to indulge himself without restraint. I started cleaning up all sorts of scandals for him. In Blake’s eyes, I was just a woman pretending to be a virtuous wife for money. “Aria Hayes, you have no idea what my life was like before. Now, with no one to control me, it’s just so… comfortable.” Blake’s eyes were hazy as he said it. I just stared at him blankly.

Blake had indeed been tightly controlled before, even watching his grandfather’s every expression before speaking. A rustle of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. Blake walked towards me, tugging at his tie, his expensive cologne heavy in the air. “Aria Hayes, not asking for money again? What new trick have you learned this time?” I looked at him, confused. “Don’t pretend. Skylar told me she saw you signing up for those ‘Win Back Your Husband’ workshops. What did you learn there?” “Suddenly not wanting money, what’s this move called? Playing hard to get?” Blake’s laugh was mocking. He sat next to me, pulling me into his embrace. I could hear his heartbeat clearly against my chest. “Aria Hayes, I’m giving you a chance. Start your performance.” He laughed again as he said it. I looked up at him. He was leaning back on the couch. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been this close to Blake. I raised my hand and touched his chest, feeling a tremor. “Aria Hayes, is that all you’ve got?” With that, Blake roughly pushed me away. His gaze was filled with utter contempt, as if I were something vile, a piece of trash. “Blake Sterling, let’s get a divorce.” I spoke calmly. Blake, who had been standing, froze. This was the second time I’d mentioned divorce to him. The first was the night I caught him cheating. My father had left me a substantial inheritance, and no one else knew about it. But Blake had refused to divorce, saying he wouldn’t let me have half his assets. He also didn’t believe I’d ever be willing to leave him. “Oh, really? When?” Blake smirked carelessly, pulling off his tie and throwing it at my face. A surge of surprise went through me; I hadn’t expected him to agree so easily. But then he suddenly pinched my chin. His handsome eyes scrutinized my face. After a long moment, he spoke flippantly. “Aria Hayes, you’re a terrible student. Find a different workshop.”

After saying that, Blake went back to the bedroom. I was left alone in the living room, the closed bedroom door a barrier between Blake and me. Thinking back to our days of polite respect, it felt like yesterday. Blake had changed so fast. Suddenly, Maria led a few men in. I knew them all—Blake’s closest friends. They didn’t greet me with the same deference as before, merely glancing at me briefly. Blake emerged from the master bedroom quickly, having changed into loungewear. The last one to enter the study turned back, his eyes full of pity, and looked at me. The study door was ajar, and muffled conversations drifted out. “Not many people for a proposal here, security’s good.” “Use all roses, girls always love custom diamond rings.” “Blake, are you sure about this? Your wife, she…” “I can’t give Skylar a proper title, but I can give her a grand gesture to compensate. Just don’t let this get out.” Blake’s voice cut off the conversation. So, he was going to propose to Skylar Vance. I turned and walked away from the study door. Blake had been back for so long, yet he hadn’t noticed my packed luggage. Hearing the sound of him seeing his friends out downstairs, I stepped out of the master bedroom. Looking down, I saw Blake humming a cheerful tune. Soon, dusk fell, and Blake changed into a tailored suit before heading out. I didn’t follow him, busy instead arranging my emigration. All these years, I’d been using my own money to clean up his dirty laundry. Blake automatically assumed I was using the supplementary card he’d given me, making him believe he controlled my finances. Looking at the decent balance in my bank account, I felt a calming sense of security. After confirming the house, the agent sent me the contract. Before I could even look at it, a message from Skylar Vance popped up. It was a ten-minute video. Blake’s declaration of love lasted six minutes, his gaze on Skylar full of adoration. I had to admit, out of all his women over the years, Skylar was truly the most favored.

“Pretty, isn’t it, Mrs. Sterling?” “I heard your wedding was just at a five-star hotel, no proposal, very rushed and perfunctory. Blake never gave you such a grand proposal, did he?” “Blake’s friends all say I’m the only girl he’s ever truly cared about.” Skylar’s voice message sounded utterly smug. She thought her words would drive me crazy. But my heart was eerily calm. For Blake Sterling, I figured there was only a sliver of love left. “Congratulations.” I simply replied with those four words. Her end went silent. The summer wind rustled the leaves, a dry, whispering sound. I slipped off my wedding ring and placed it on the dresser. That night, I dreamt of my father. When I woke up, my pillow was soaked with tears. One hundred and ten missed calls blared on my screen. Before I could even check them, Blake’s call came in again. The moment I answered, his barely concealed rage erupted. “Aria Hayes, I truly underestimated you. All these years, you’ve played the innocent, virtuous wife, but behind my back, you’re more devious than anyone!” “What?” I instinctively retorted. He hung up, and then I received a screenshot from Blake. That proposal video had already soared to the top of every major media platform’s trending topics. Editors from various media outlets had already sent me their prices. While I was asleep, Sterling Enterprises’ stock had plummeted because of the video. People were already speculating how much Blake would have to pay out in a divorce settlement. I looked at the screen full of notifications and felt utterly drained. Just then, the bedroom door burst open. Blake stood there, eyes bloodshot, gripping my collar. His eyes blazed with fury. If looks could kill, I would have died a thousand times over.

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My half-sister was reborn. She predicted a zombie outbreak, the end of the world, in two months. My husband and his whole family believed her. They went crazy hoarding supplies, even spending a fortune to turn their out-of-town estate into an impregnable fortress. My husband blew through all his savings and then borrowed from loan sharks. I clutched at his leg, begging him to stop, but he just kicked me out with nothing but a signed divorce agreement. Two months later, my husband called, scoffing, “The first infected person is about to appear. If you don’t want to die, come kneel at the mansion gates. Vivian is kind, she might just let you in.” But on the predicted day, the apocalypse never came. That’s when they finally panicked. **Chapter 1** I jolted awake from a nightmare, my phone ringing. “Ms. Harper, today is the deadline for your mother’s burial plot renewal. If you don’t renew it, her ashes will have to be removed.” I was on a business trip out of town. My hand trembling, I called my husband, Zane, urging him to renew it quickly, to not let anyone disturb my mother’s peace. Still shaken, I leaned back in my chair, the dream’s images still swirling in my mind. Two months later, a zombie crisis, erupting from City A, would sweep across the globe, turning the entire world into a living hell. During the outbreak, my family was trapped in our remote mansion. We waited two months, and just as we were completely out of supplies, the army finally arrived for rescue. Tears of joy streamed down my face. I urged my family to hurry and drive away with the army, but my sister, Vivian, insisted on putting on her makeup before she’d leave. As the army’s departure time drew closer, I wanted to drag her out, but Zane blocked my way. “What’s wrong with Vivian, a girl, wanting to look pretty before she leaves? It’s the army’s job to serve the people, so what if they wait a bit?” My father, Arthur, and stepmother, Martha, nodded in agreement, calmly sitting back down. I was in disbelief, but I didn’t have time to waste on them. I turned to leave, but Zane grabbed me, saying a family should stay together. He snatched my car keys. Finally, as Vivian leisurely applied her eyeliner, the zombie horde suddenly attacked. We couldn’t retreat in time and were all torn apart by zombies. The phantom pain of being bitten by zombies still lingered on my skin. Now that I had a chance to do it all over again, I absolutely wouldn’t make the same mistake twice! When my plane landed, I felt a faint unease. I changed direction halfway and headed to the cemetery. To my shock, a brand new tombstone, engraved with an unfamiliar name, stood on my mother’s plot. The staff looked bewildered. “After we called you last time, no one renewed the plot. To avoid any mistakes, we even notified your father. He specifically said not to renew it and that we could dispose of the ashes however we pleased.” A chill ran through me. My heart ached painfully. I went crazy, searching through countless unclaimed urns in the warehouse until midnight, finally returning home clutching a small, cold urn. I hadn’t been home for half a month, and the sight that greeted me in the entryway left me stunned, unable to recover for a long time. My cozy home, which I’d meticulously decorated, now looked like a frozen cave. All the appliances and furniture were gone. The beige curtains I’d carefully chosen were half-torn down, draped over the dirty floor. My husband, Zane, was directing the housekeepers to take down our wedding photo, which had hung on the wall for three years, and casually throw it in a corner. “What are you doing?” The scene before me made me feel like I was dreaming. After a long moment, I managed to squeeze out a question. A flicker of panic crossed Zane’s eyes. “Harper, why are you back so suddenly…?” I stared at him, my fingers trembling as I clutched the urn. “If I hadn’t come back early, how would I have known my mother’s grave had been dug up?” Zane’s usually gentle face showed a hint of helplessness, as if he were looking at an unreasonable child. “You don’t understand, Vivian was reborn from the future! The world ends in two months, and every penny in this house needs to be spent wisely. Wouldn’t it be better to buy more food with the money for the cemetery renewal? Why are you still being so difficult at a time like this?” **Chapter 2** It clicked then; Vivian had been reborn too. But I didn’t let it show on my face. I clenched my fists, my voice filled with anger and disbelief. “You actually believe Vivian’s talk about the end of the world? You’ve all gone insane!” “Dad’s company landed several big projects thanks to my predictions!” Vivian strutted down the stairs, looking cocky. “All the money earned from that was used by Dad to buy an entire warehouse of common medicines. Those will be more valuable than gold in the apocalypse.” Her eyes held a sneer. She moved close to Zane, delicately caressing his flat stomach. “I might as well tell you the truth, I’m already carrying Zane’s baby. If you’re smart, you’ll serve me well. In the apocalypse, I might even spare you a bowl of food.” My icy gaze flickered between their faces. It looked like they’d been having an affair long before the apocalypse was supposed to hit. Zane suddenly felt a chill run through him. “Harper, we’ve been married for three years and you haven’t had a child. I’m an only son, you need to consider carrying on my family name.” Only son, my foot. This nobody from nowhere acting like he had a royal lineage to pass down. I scoffed, pulling the plain silver ring off my finger and tossing it at Zane’s feet. “Since you put it that way, I definitely need to consider your family’s royal lineage. Since Vivian says there are two months left, let’s hurry and finalize our divorce before the end of the world.” Zane stared intently at the wedding ring I’d just discarded like trash, his brows furrowed. Our family backgrounds were vastly different. After he graduated college, I willingly gave up everything to help him start his business. We huddled together in a cramped, damp basement, finding warmth in each other. To make money, I worked five jobs a day, my hands raw and aching from washing dishes in freezing water, even in the dead of winter. He used the first money he earned to buy me this ring, a simple silver band with just a tiny chip of diamond embedded in it. Later, his business took off, and I, with my impressive qualifications, successfully joined a prestigious medical research institute. Yet, I still cherished that ring like a precious treasure. My reaction clearly caught him off guard. Zane could no longer keep up his gentle facade, looking utterly incensed. “Harper, stop throwing a tantrum! At a time like this, our family needs to unite to overcome this difficulty. Perfect, tomorrow, you should go around and borrow money from all your friends and colleagues. You’re well-liked, borrowing a few million shouldn’t be a problem!” I sneered, too lazy to bother with such absurd talk, and walked straight upstairs to rest. But when I woke up the next day, I was shocked to find my room door wide open, and my entire wardrobe, filled with all my gold, silver jewelry, and designer bags, was gone. I bit down hard on my lower lip, sharply demanding Zane where my things had gone. He acted completely unconcerned. “You were sleeping soundly, I didn’t want to wake you. Those jewelry and bags are useless anyway. Selling them means we can buy a few more bags of rice.” I could barely contain the rage bubbling within me. “What about the gold ring under my pillow? That was my mother’s only keepsake!” Zane’s voice faltered, then he sighed. “Harper, your mother passed away so many years ago. But you still have your father, Vivian is your blood relative, and I’m your family too. Why can’t you make some sacrifices for your own family?” His casual, entitled tone shredded what little sanity I had left. I suddenly burst out laughing, but big tears rolled down my cheeks. His breathing hitched. He wanted to say more, but I pushed him out of the room. I collapsed amidst the chaos on the floor, tears streaming uncontrollably, yet a helpless smile curved on my lips. **Chapter 3** Luckily, to be safe, I had secretly sold my most valuable jewelry under the cover of night, leaving only the cheap trinkets Zane had bought me and a few eye-catching designer bags. When Zane had to personally move the wardrobe so as not to wake me, a full ten million dollars had already landed in my bank account. But I never imagined he would stoop so low as to steal my mother’s keepsake to sell for money. The hatred from the previous life, where he had personally dragged me into a dead end, surged within me. I silently wiped away my tears, a plan slowly forming in my mind. Since your whole family is united in preparing for the apocalypse, how could I not lend a hand? After some time, my phone rang again, the caller ID showing one of my father’s company shareholders. “Harper, get to the company quickly! Your father’s gone mad! He’s going to sell all his shares!” My heart tightened. I rushed over, only to find my father, Arthur, and Vivian confronting a group of shareholders. This company was founded by my parents together. For it to become an industry giant today, my mother had poured her heart and soul into it. I couldn’t let him ruin it like this. My father saw me, his eyes lighting up. “You’re just in time! Hurry and transfer your shares too, and give me the money to reinforce the mansion.” Vivian lifted her head proudly, looking at me as if I were already dead. In her eyes, I had neither the good fortune of being reborn nor the willingness to humble myself, so I was doomed. Her family would stay in their impenetrable fortress, laughing at my miserable end. The shareholders were all company veterans, caught completely off guard by my father’s sudden move. Fearing he was being scammed, they clamored to dissuade him from doing something foolish. “If you don’t want the company to have problems, there’s another solution.” Zane walked quickly towards me, a polished smile playing on his lips. “You just need to buy out your father’s shares.” My fingers clenched so tightly my nails almost pierced my palm, my knuckles white. Zane’s expression was as calm as if he were discussing tomorrow’s weather, yet his words were like a dull knife, slowly carving into my heart. Vivian scoffed. “Her? Want to buy out Dad’s shares? Does she even have that kind of money?” Cold sweat trickled down my back. I couldn’t believe my former husband had schemed to this extent. My father had set the price very low for a quick sale, and all my liquid and illiquid assets barely amounted to enough. “So, even if it means spending your entire fortune, you want to keep this company, right?” Zane whispered softly in my ear. His voice was gentle as always, yet it felt like steel blades piercing me. He watched me with keen interest, like he was sizing up prey he was sure to capture. In two months, companies and shares would be nothing but garbage. And now, he wanted to squeeze every last bit of value from me using this garbage. After the apocalypse, if I wanted to survive, I’d have to swallow every humiliation and humbly bow at his feet. My gaze fixed on Zane’s utterly hypocritical face, my own pale and bloodless. “It’s a deal!” The paperwork was quickly done. My father, smugly thinking he’d offloaded a huge burden, had no idea he was giving up their last lifeline. Ever since my father remarried, the company shares had been tightly clutched by my stepmother. She never imagined there would be a day she’d hand them over to me on a silver platter. Vivian triumphantly announced that they had sold all their properties, and the whole family had moved into the out-of-town estate. The cash from selling all their assets was transformed into bags of rice and instant noodles in the warehouse, and long-lasting potatoes, winter melons, and cabbages in the cold storage. Construction crews were working feverishly at the mansion, building various illegal structures. Vivian smiled proudly, “When the zombies attack, these watchtowers will be the best observation points.” I snorted, about to leave, but Zane wouldn’t let me go. He forcibly dragged me away. A burly man with a scarred face looked me up and down, his lecherous gaze making me incredibly uncomfortable. “This is Mrs. Zane, quite the looker.” The man rubbed his hands together and placed a contract in front of me. “Mr. Zane is in a hurry to borrow fifty million. We don’t exactly distrust him. But we’d appreciate Mrs. Zane signing too. If something unexpected happens, a wife should naturally help pay it back, right?” **Chapter 4** Before I could even speak, Zane pulled me aside. “In two months, who’s going to care about these debts! Just sign it quickly! The things we’re hoarding can save lives! By then, even the government will be begging us to sell supplies. What’s this small amount of money compared to that?” He was already this insane, even borrowing from loan sharks. He was truly seeking his own destruction. I scoffed internally, but put on a heartbroken expression. I clutched his leg, pleading repeatedly, “You’ve taken all our money and gambled it away! Please, I beg you, come to your senses! You won’t be able to pay back a loan shark!” The man instantly became wary. Fifty million wasn’t a small sum. If Zane really gambled it all away, even dismembering him wouldn’t help. Seeing the money about to slip away, Zane was furious. He kicked me away. “Bitch, what nonsense are you spewing!” Vivian gracefully stood by Zane’s side, smiling with pursed lips. “Zane, Harper said she wants a divorce, so she’s hardly Mrs. Zane anymore, is she? I’ll sign it.” Zane glared at me, immediately scribbled a divorce agreement, and threw it in my face. I was almost laughing from pure rage. Every clause stated that all marital property was unrelated to me, meaning I was to leave with nothing. Though, given the current situation, there wasn’t much left of our marital property anyway. I added a clause at the end of the agreement. Zane scoffed, agreeing without a second thought. A month later, clutching my freshly issued divorce certificate, I felt a sense of immense relief, completely unfazed by Zane’s grim, thunderous expression. Time trickled by, drawing closer to the date Vivian constantly chattered about. Zane and the Arthur family believed they had made all the necessary preparations, and their actions became increasingly reckless.

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Just because she lost a game of Truth or Dare, my wife was passionately kissing her assistant in my car. The moisture even soaked my son’s car seat. The male assistant sent me the video, and I immediately forwarded it to my wife. “Going broke, Seraphina? Cheating in *my* car now?” She sent a voice message back, her tone laced with drunken charm. “This was an arranged marriage, Julian. Did you actually think I was *your* wife? It was just a dare! Are you seriously that petty?!” I scoffed. It was time to make her understand. You do something you shouldn’t, you pay the price. I immediately halted the Miller Group’s major overseas deal, scheduled for signing next week. The next moment, my wife, Seraphina Miller, started bombarding my phone. But my secretary, Sarah, blocked every call. “I’m sorry, Ms. Miller, Mr. Thorne is currently in a meeting.” Playing the silent game? I could play too. Not long after, Seraphina stormed into my office, heels clicking furiously, and slammed her palm onto my desk. “Julian, have you lost your mind? That was a $300 million deal! You’re going to destroy my company over a stupid dare?!” Seraphina, who always carried herself with such elegance and composure, was now acting like a raging lunatic, all for another man. I put down my report and looked at her enraged, contorted face. “You have fifteen minutes, starting now.” Ten minutes later, Seraphina sent a photo. The Maybach’s interior was back to pristine condition, undergoing a professional cleaning. I immediately notified my overseas department, “Proceed with the signing as planned.” Then, I sent Seraphina a photo. Her cherished designer gown was trampled on the floor, and her beloved custom-made shoes were soaking in a filthy mop bucket. “Seraphina Miller, this was also a dare. Remember my bottom line. This is just a warning. Cross me again, and the consequences will be beyond what you can handle!” Silence from Seraphina’s end. I knew she was furious, probably boiling with rage. But I was even angrier. Our family alliance had been orchestrated by her back then, and it was *her* who rejected the option of us leading separate lives after marriage. For six years, we went from a formal, polite relationship to one where we truly supported each other. Especially after our son was born, I poured all my energy into our family, ensuring both the Thorne and Miller families flourished and prospered. I thought we would stand by each other until we were old and retired. But she shattered our happy, stable life. That brief pause on the $300 million deal? It was just a warning shot.

That day, Seraphina didn’t come home for the first time. The next morning, I walked straight into the Miller Group, taking the internal elevator directly to the executive floor. It was completely empty outside. Our assistants should have been on duty. I hadn’t brought mine today, but where was *her* assistant? Loud laughter drifted from her office, seeping through the blinds. I caught a glimpse of her assistant, Kai, holding a hairdryer, solicitously drying her hair. Seraphina lounged casually in her office chair, chatting and smiling with him. Seraphina used to be very strict about personal space. No one, except me, was allowed to linger in her office for long. But her tenderness towards Kai now felt like a sharp blade piercing my heart. Even more glaring was the cold glint of the high-end watch on Kai’s wrist. That was clearly the watch she had carefully chosen and bought abroad as my birthday gift! Kai was just an intern assistant; he couldn’t afford a single screw on that watch even if he sold everything he owned! I pushed the door open. Kai dropped the hairdryer as if electrocuted, forcing out a sycophantic grin. “Mr. Thorne, what brings you to the Miller Group offices?” I looked at him coldly. “I’m a director and general manager of the Miller Group. It’s not for an intern to tell me where I can be!” “Go fetch HR. I want to ask her if the company’s hiring standards have fallen this low.” Kai looked to Seraphina for help, and she gestured for him to step out and let things blow over. Just as Kai was about to leave, I spoke, my voice chilling. “Take off the watch!” He froze, his hand covering the watch, looking pitifully at Seraphina. I stared intensely into Seraphina’s eyes. “Explain this. Why is my birthday gift on *his* wrist?” “The order receipt for that watch is still in my drawer!” Seraphina’s expression turned impatient. “He’s my assistant. He reflects on me.” “Just because you insisted on cleaning the car he sat in, making him look bad, what’s wrong with me giving him a watch to keep up appearances?” “Your assistant’s wardrobe, wasn’t that also bespoke that you shelled out for?” I scoffed. “My assistant is a man who earns his pay through his own merit. That good-for-nothing, why does *he* deserve it?” I pointed a finger at Kai. “Is it because he knows how to ‘serve’ you?!” Seraphina’s face instantly turned ashen, and fury boiled in her eyes. “It’s just a watch! Consider it compensation for his ‘suffering’!” “I’ll get you a better one for your birthday, alright?!”

I sneered. “A limited-edition watch? Who is *he* to even be seen with something like that?” “Seraphina Miller, people should act in accordance with their standing.” I took a step closer, my voice icy. “Mrs. Thorne wears limited-edition jewelry, custom-made gowns, and global limited-edition heels. That’s only natural.” “But for Ms. Miller to enter the exclusive world of haute luxury… money alone won’t get you in.” Seraphina exploded in rage. “Julian Thorne, we have important work to discuss! Assistant Kai has put in tremendous effort for this deal, please leave immediately!” She actually dared to yell at me for that useless piece of trash. I chuckled coldly. “Then let me see Assistant Kai’s *real* capabilities!” In a fit of pique, Seraphina hurled her bag at Kai and stomped out. Kai shot me a smug, sleazy grin, then scurried after her. Before the sound of her heels completely faded, I made a call. “As planned, have Mr. Thompson give them a proper welcome.” Then I ordered a coffee and sat by the floor-to-ceiling window. I’d only taken a couple sips when Seraphina called. Her voice was so shrill I had to pull the phone away from my ear. “Julian Thorne, you despicable schemer!” “Mr. Thompson publicly ripped up the contract, calling Kai a gold-digger who ‘sucks up’ to rich women!” “He even mocked me, saying I slept my way to the top, always wanting more and more!” “You orchestrated this! I must have been out of my mind to marry you!” I calmly set my cup down. “People will say what they want. How can I control that?” “If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.” Before I could finish, Seraphina screamed hysterically. “The deal’s off, Kai ran off humiliated—are you satisfied?!” My lips curved upward. “Satisfied? I’m just putting things back where they belong.” Seraphina, seething, hung up. I called Ms. Davies from HR and had every trace of Kai purged from the company records. At this point, I felt I had given Seraphina enough dignity and leeway. As long as she behaved herself and returned to being Mrs. Thorne, we could continue. But I never imagined she wouldn’t cherish the chance I gave her.

That day, Leo had a fever of 101.3°F and was particularly clingy. I stayed home, giving him IV fluids and playing with him. Seraphina, in her heels, was about to leave again when Leo called out in his tiny, milky voice. “Mommy, don’t go!” She hesitated for a moment, then finally sat down. Seeing Leo’s contented smile, I felt confident that giving her that chance earlier had been the right decision. But her jarring ringtone tore through the tender moment. Kai’s voice, laced with tears, rang out. “Ms. Miller, someone’s following me! Everyone online is calling me a sugar baby, a bootlicker, and a home-wrecker!” “Is Mr. Thorne trying to drive me to my death? Ms. Miller, please tell Mr. Thorne I won’t go near you again. Please beg him to let me go!” I didn’t even lift an eyelid, continuing to play with Leo. Kai being harassed was expected, but it wasn’t as bad as he claimed. Seraphina, however, reacted as if she’d been stepped on, slamming her phone onto the coffee table. Leo, startled, burst into tears. Instead of comforting our son, she pointed a finger at me, ranting like a wild banshee. “Julian Thorne, that’s enough! I’m sick of your smug, manipulative face!” “Kai’s already gone, why won’t you leave him alone?” “I married you, Julian Thorne, I didn’t sell myself to you! What right do you have to control everything I do?!” My patience snapped. I pointed outside. “If you want to argue, get out! Don’t scare our son!” She scoffed. “Julian Thorne, you want to hurt him? Well, I’m going to protect him!” With that, she ignored Leo’s cries and stormed out, slamming the door shut! I watched her retreating back, my gaze darkening. She’s truly lost her mind! After putting Leo to sleep, I opened my laptop. The scandal of Kai’s illicit affair and sudden promotion, which had been all over the internet that morning, had mysteriously vanished by afternoon. For that useless piece of trash, Seraphina had actually used the company’s PR team! Utterly pathetic! I tried to ignore it, but then I noticed Seraphina had issued an official company statement. The statement lauded Kai’s exceptional professional abilities, sternly rebuking malicious rumors and threatening legal action. A message from Ms. Davies from HR simultaneously landed on my phone: Seraphina had officially appointed Kai as Operations Manager, granting him an independent office on the executive floor and副总经理 (Vice President) level privileges. My assistant also sent me photos from Kai’s SnapChat, snaps of him looking ridiculously smug about his newfound ‘success.’ He was decked out in custom-tailored suits, proudly displaying that gleaming watch. I looked at the messages on my phone and let out a cold laugh. Seraphina Miller, if you insist on promoting this parasite, don’t blame me for showing no mercy! After dealing with everything concerning the Miller Group, I rushed home, only to find Leo gone! I anxiously questioned Maria, the nanny, who stammered, “Ms. Miller came back… and took the young master with her…” The rage in my heart could no longer be suppressed. After learning from my assistant that Seraphina was at the amusement park, I rushed there without delay. But I saw Seraphina and Kai whispering intimately ahead, completely unaware of Leo stumbling and struggling to keep up behind them. His little face, flushed with fever, was slick with sweat, and he pleaded in a teary voice. “Mommy… slow down… it hurts… wait for me…” Kai’s lips curved into a malicious smirk, and he casually extended his foot. *Thump!* Leo fell heavily to the ground, stunned for a moment, then burst into uncontrollable wails. Seraphina instinctively reached out to help, but Kai suddenly spoke, feigning hurt. “Ms. Miller, is the little master perhaps annoyed with me? Did he intentionally fall to fake cry?” Hearing this, Seraphina abruptly withdrew her hand and looked at Leo with a scolding expression. “Uncle Kai was kind enough to play with you, and you’re faking a fall? Why are you so naughty?” I lunged forward like an arrow released from a bow, scooping up Leo, who was now sobbing uncontrollably. Rage threatened to consume me. Seraphina’s expression flickered, and she rushed to explain, “Kai said I shouldn’t have left Leo when he was sick, so he suggested I bring him to the amusement park to make it up to him…” I looked at her coldly. “What can a two-year-old child do at an amusement park?” “Watch you two pathetic excuses for a couple put on a show? Or get deliberately tripped by him?” The air was dead silent. Kai’s smug smile froze on his face. Seraphina’s pupils constricted abruptly, and then her face hardened with anger. “Julian Thorne, you’re so ungrateful! We were…” I held my shaken son and cut her off. “Seraphina Miller, we’re getting a divorce!”

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Seven days before the wedding, my fiancé, my childhood sweetheart, proposed to the impoverished student he’d been sponsoring. I didn’t cry, didn’t make a scene. I simply stood there, in front of everyone, and wished them eternal happiness. His buddies tried to persuade me to be generous, to fulfill Chloe Miller’s long-held wish. He, Ryan Sullivan, was furious, accusing me of blowing things totally out of proportion. He glared, his eyes ice cold, practically daring me to beg for forgiveness. He looked down at me, condescendingly, and said, “I told you I’d come back and marry you after I helped Chloe finish everything on her wish list. You haven’t been good.” I knew. That was the last wish. I deleted those thirty-three wishes from my notes, my heart finally dead. Then, I dialed a number. “I’m willing to marry you.” The man on the other end of the line chuckled. “Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.” The cold wind cut right through me, and a dull, twisting ache tightened in my chest. From the upstairs private room, bursts of cheering drifted down to my ears, wave after wave. My fists were clenched tight, trembling uncontrollably. I hadn’t walked more than a few steps when Chloe Miller came running after me. “Alice, I never meant to ruin your relationship. Please don’t be mad at me, okay? I’ll give Ryan back to you! I… I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” Her eyes were teary, and her nose was red, like a startled bunny. I scoffed, watching her performance unfold. “I don’t need him. You two deserve each other, you utterly disgusting pair.” Chloe kept apologizing. “Alice, just hit me! Kill me! I shouldn’t have ever shown up here!” She dropped to her knees with a thud, then grabbed my hand, trying to force it to slap her face. But before I could even touch her, Ryan’s grip tightened fiercely around my wrist. A sharp, stinging slap echoed in my ears. I was stunned. A burning sensation spread across my cheek. He was shaking with rage, pulling Chloe protectively into his arms, wrapping his jacket around her. His voice was impatient, laced with irritation. “Alice, didn’t I warn you not to mess with me? You’ve changed. When did you become so obsessed with tearing other women down? Making me lose face in front of everyone like this.” “I only see Chloe as a little sister. Besides, this is my last night with her. After this, I’m all yours, understand?” Ryan’s eyes, those beautiful, familiar eyes I once loved, were now filled with nothing but disappointment. My own eyes burned. Ryan and I grew up together. When I was younger, I was in my ‘main character’ phase, a bit cringey, honestly, always calling myself a princess. He’d play all sorts of goofy characters, or my brave knight, carrying me on his back and boasting to other kids that I was his one and only little princess. He never wanted me to shed a single tear, or suffer even the slightest injury. Once, when I was hospitalized with a high fever, he stayed by my side for two days straight, not eating or drinking. He said he wished he could die for me, that he’d go to hell and beg the King of the Underworld to grant me a lifetime free of illness and misfortune. The privileged son of the Sullivan family even learned to do laundry and cook, all to take better care of me. I looked at Ryan’s face, feeling increasingly like he was a stranger. Had I changed? Perhaps Ryan himself hadn’t even realized it, but ever since Chloe appeared, his heart had already sailed across the ocean for her. Seven years ago, when Ryan and I first started dating, we decided to do something meaningful to celebrate. Chloe Miller was someone I spotted right away – a brilliant student, but with a tragic background. We brought her into our lives, helped her get into the best high school in the city, and promised to sponsor her all the way through college. At first, Ryan would complain about her to me. He’d say she was slow, clumsy, and had no common sense. He swore he’d never be interested in her kind. He predicted she’d have a tough time in the real world. The same girl he despised back then, he now cherished more than anything. I used to tell him to quit smoking, but he’d just grin and say he’d naturally quit when we were ready for kids. Then he’d light up one cigarette after another right beside me. Until the smoke made Chloe cough a few times. He quietly put it out, and from that day on, I never saw him smoke again. “Ryan, let’s cancel our wedding.” One week. That was enough time for me to pack my things and leave him. And to find a new groom.

“Alice, why are you being like this? Ryan just wants to fulfill Chloe’s dreams, that’s all.” “Yeah, Chloe’s had it rough all these years. It’s just a few wishes, you’re being so petty.” Ryan’s cronies, who had followed him out, chimed in, talking over each other. Even Blake Sullivan, Ryan’s younger brother, whom I had always had a soft spot for, spoke up. “Sis-in-law, my brother isn’t even married to you yet, you’re acting way too entitled.” “Don’t you believe my brother could drop you in a second? You’re just yesterday’s news, who’s going to pick you up now?” He finished speaking, and a few of them exchanged glances, then burst into snickers. Ryan, still holding Chloe close, scoffed mockingly. “Are you really sure about this? Don’t come crying and begging for my forgiveness later.” I was genuinely exhausted. I didn’t want to argue with them anymore. Just then, a familiar Maybach pulled up nearby. Without a word, I opened the passenger door and got in. Ryan’s face instantly crumpled like he was constipated. He roared, “Alice! Get out of there right now! We can still talk this through!” Julian Blackwood let out a soft chuckle, then leaned over to help me fasten my seatbelt. “Take me home first. I need to pack some things.” “Okay. Pack everything clean.” After so many years together, Ryan had given me a lot of expensive things. I called a luxury consignment store and arranged for them to pick up all my bags and jewelry. There was so much that they could only take a portion, promising to return for the rest tomorrow. I rubbed my throbbing temples, ordered some takeout, and started scrolling through Ins while I ate. My eyes landed on a kissing photo. Ryan was tenderly cupping Chloe Miller’s face, his gaze full of deep affection. Then, there were videos his friends had posted in their SnapChat group. The two of them were passionately kissing amidst cheers and whistles, the sickening sound of their kissing making my stomach churn. I felt like I was going to throw up. I immediately left the group. The next second, Ryan’s call came through. “Alice, we were just kidding around, how many times have I told you? These are my best friends, and you just left the group without a word. Are you planning to never speak to us again?” I just hummed softly. “What do you mean by that?” Blake’s voice cut in. “Don’t worry, bro, she won’t. She’s too dependent. She’ll be begging you to add her back in a couple of days.” I hung up the phone and let out a light, cynical chuckle. In the past, I really would have swallowed my pride and begged them, but not anymore. I needed to get far, far away from them. That night, as I tried to sleep, the wedding photos on my bedside table and dressing table felt like burning eyesores. I immediately took them down and replaced them with a photo of Ryan and Chloe that I found in his study. Ryan should probably thank me for that. The next morning, Ryan came back, looking surprisingly refreshed. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and he lifted his chin, looking at me confidently. “I knew you’d be waiting for me here at home, Alice.” “Alice, I really should have come back to you yesterday. It was all Chloe’s fault, she said she was afraid of the dark, so I stayed. It won’t happen again, I promise…” His expression froze when he saw the luxury consignment people carrying my bags away. He looked at me, a tense worry in his eyes. “Alice, why are you selling the things I gave you?” I replied calmly, “They were taking up too much space. I’m making room for new things.” He happily took my hand. “Good. I’ll get you new ones.” I frowned and pulled my hand away. He seemed to have completely misunderstood my meaning. I was talking about making room for Chloe’s things. I was moving out.

Ryan claimed he’d played games all night and hadn’t slept well, so he wanted to catch up on some sleep. He tried to pull me towards the bedroom. If I hadn’t caught a glimpse of the hickey on his collarbone, I might have almost believed his pathetic lies. “Alice?! What is this?” “Are you doing this just to piss me off? Where are our wedding photos?” He pointed furiously at the empty spot on the wall, his eyes bloodshot. “Threw them out.” Ryan’s body stiffened for a moment, his fingers trembling. “I’m already so tired, why do you keep making trouble? I’m sorry, I’ll apologize, okay? Just put the photos back.” “I don’t have feelings for her. I’m just purely helping her complete her wish list.” In the beginning, I, too, naively believed that Ryan was just doing Chloe Miller a favor. When she had a stomach ache, he personally cooked porridge and fed it to her. When the power went out, he stayed with her all night. He took her to the amusement park that *I* had always wanted to go to. He even went to the lingerie store with her and personally helped her pick out her underwear. Every single one of these things was on Chloe’s thirty-three-item wish list. She had personally sent it to me, neatly arranged, one scandalous wish after another. She sent it to me, then quickly unsent it. Claiming she had accidentally tapped the wrong person. That was the moment I finally understood how utterly stupid I had been. There was nothing innocent about their relationship anymore. “The cleaning lady took them away to dispose of them.” Ryan’s expression instantly shattered. I chuckled again. “We can take new ones later.” With Chloe. His warm hand gently placed itself on my shoulder. “Good. We’ll take even better ones in the future.” Just then, a sudden phone ring broke the awkward silence. It was the real estate agent for secondhand homes. She was asking if I was truly serious about selling the house. Because I was putting it on the market for almost half its value. All these properties Ryan had transferred to my name when he proposed. A large riverside penthouse, a suburban villa, and two four-bedroom apartments in prime downtown locations. “Yes, I’m really selling. The contract’s already signed. Please find a buyer as soon as possible; I need the money urgently.” Realizing something was terribly wrong, Ryan’s grip tightened on my wrist. I gasped, sucking in a sharp breath of pain. He seemed not to notice, his voice urgent as he questioned me. “Who was that on the phone?” “The agent.” “You’re selling houses? Which ones?” Seeing the panic on his face, I felt a secret thrill. I had originally intended to tell him, but now I just wanted to watch Ryan squirm, completely in the dark. “Someone asked me to inquire about them.” A faint trace of color returned to his pale lips. “That’s good.” “Alice, all my time belongs to you now. I won’t let Chloe bother us again.” I raised an eyebrow, but before I could voice my doubts, Ryan took another call. A few minutes later, he rushed out the door in a panic, not even bothering to change his slippers. I waved dismissively. And continued to pack my luggage. It wasn’t until I was almost done that Ryan called, attempting to explain himself. “Alice, Chloe’s depression has flared up again. I’m afraid she’ll do something stupid, you know she has suicidal tendencies.” I scoffed. “You don’t need to tell me. I don’t want to know.” From the other end of the line, Chloe’s sobbing voice drifted through. “Alice, I’m so sorry, I can’t control myself. I just want to end it all…” “That way, you can be with Ryan forever…” “Yeah, then die. Honestly, nobody really cares.” I held the phone, marveling at how well Chloe could act. My psychologist had clearly told me that Chloe was perfectly healthy. A sudden burst of noise came from the other end. Then, Chloe’s heart-wrenching sobs mingled with Ryan’s enraged roar. “Alice, you are truly evil! I wish I could rip you open and see if your heart is made of iron!” “You are the root cause of Chloe’s depression!” “If you hadn’t constantly misunderstood her, why would she have become like this?! Do you only find happiness by driving her to her death?!” I said, “Yes.” “You’re amazing,” he said through gritted teeth. *Slam!* The phone went dead. Ryan had probably thrown his phone. But that wasn’t my concern. There were still four days until our wedding, and I had finished packing all my belongings. Only a few minor things were left to handle. Soon, I would say goodbye to Ryan completely. I had moved some of my luggage out, waiting for the moving company to arrive. But Ryan got there even faster. His face was ashen, contorted into a terrifying mask of rage. He looked at my luggage, then scanned the empty, echoing room, his voice trembling. “Where are you going? Alice, tell me you’re not leaving me, right?”

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Damien Thorne, the ruthless underworld kingpin, confessed his love for the ninety-ninth time. And for the ninety-ninth time, I rejected him. That very night, he drugged me and held me captive. Damien’s eyes were wild, possessive. He held me close, whispering his love over and over, a chilling litany. I scoffed, my heart burning with hatred for him. I managed to escape, barely, only to be kidnapped by his enemies. To save me, Damien took three bullets. The first shot crippled his arm. The second blinded an eye. The third stole his life. As he lay dying, covered in his own blood, Damien stared at me, his gaze stubborn, yet heartbreakingly fragile. “Evelyn, why couldn’t you just love me, just once?” I opened my eyes again, and I was back. Back to the day Damien Thorne first confessed his love. This time, I took his hand. I thought we’d grow old together. But Damien, the man who died for me, betrayed me three times instead. On our wedding night, he deliberately ‘mistook’ rooms and slept with someone else. I swallowed the bitter pain and forgave him. Another time, a two AM call from someone else, and he left me stranded in the pouring rain in the middle of nowhere while I was three months pregnant. I miscarried. I wiped my tears, letting it go. But the third time? He threw my elderly mother off a sheer cliff, hundreds of feet above the crashing ocean.

The ocean wind howled, whipping my tears away before I could even try to stop them. Just a few steps away, my mother was brought forward, a burlap sack over her head. Her frail, elderly frame trembled violently. Even though I couldn’t see her face, I knew the utter despair consuming her. Damien’s face was a mask of cold indifference. A cigarette dangled from his lips, and in his right hand, he idly twirled a sleek, black handgun. Behind them, hundreds of feet below, stretched the vast, endless ocean. It hit me in an instant what he was about to do. My legs buckled. I fell to my knees, trembling, before him. “She’s my mom… my only family left in this world. Please, just spare her. Do whatever you want to me, but don’t hurt her…” Damien glanced at me, a casual, dismissive look. He lifted my chin with his hand, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Did you ever think about Tiffany’s feelings when you recklessly hurt what she cherished? Now that the stick is hitting your own back, does it finally sting?” I stared at him, my heart heavy with a profound sadness. Just hours ago, Tiffany’s dog accidentally fell into a mud pit. Tiffany, feigning illness, had subtly ordered me to take on the ‘burden’ of bathing her pet. All because I accidentally got a little water in its nose while bathing it, Tiffany had cried hysterically, claiming I was trying to drown her dog. For years, Damien had treated her like a precious gem, so of course, he was utterly heartbroken for her. Damien gently comforted her, his smile easy and unbothered. I thought that would be the end of it. I never imagined that after comforting Tiffany, he would bring my mother here. I knew Damien’s methods all too well. I wouldn’t dare gamble with my mother’s life. So, I could only lower myself and beg him. “Damien, I truly didn’t mean to. Please believe me? My mom is old and her health isn’t good. Don’t scare her…” Damien scoffed. “You wanted to drown Tiffany’s dog, didn’t you? Then I’ll just have to let you taste what it’s like to have someone close to you drowned, Evelyn. When you do something wrong, there’s always a price to pay.” He looked into my eyes, a cruel smile twisting his lips. “Wouldn’t you agree?” A chill shot through me. I clutched desperately at his pants leg, pleading with him over and over again. But Damien was dead set on getting revenge for Tiffany. The next second, he slowly raised his hand, and his men immediately understood. “No! Don’t!” It was too late. My mother was thrown over the edge, like a rag doll— She plummeted downwards. *Splash!* The calm ocean surface erupted with a violent spray. My heart ripped into a million pieces. I lunged forward like a madwoman, only to be roughly held back by Damien’s men, pinned to the ground. Tears blurred my vision. In a daze, Damien’s blood-stained face from my past life, and his desperate, fragile eyes, flashed before me. Because of that look, I had made a solemn vow. If I ever got another chance, another life, I would love him truly. Fate, it seemed, had heard my plea. But tragically, in this second chance, the man from my memories had become utterly unrecognizable. Facing his repeated cruelty, I chose to bite my tongue and swallow the pain. I kept brainwashing myself: he didn’t mean it, if I just treated him well enough, he’d eventually remember his feelings for me. But reality slapped me hard across the face. My stubborn delusion had cost me an unbearable price. I had lost the only person in this world who truly cared about me: my mom. My tears became a torrent, and despair threatened to swallow me whole. Damien watched me for a long time, seemingly quite pleased with my reaction. He walked over, his fingertips tracing my face, gently wiping away my tears. Then he slowly pulled me into his embrace. “Sweetheart, do you finally understand your mistake?” His face held none of the loving warmth he once showed. Only cold indifference remained. The man who once died for me was long gone. Wrong. Of course, I knew I was wrong. I was wrong to keep softening my heart for him. Wrong to not walk away the first time he crossed my line. Wrong to bring the grievances of my past life into this one. I was terribly, utterly wrong. Time seemed to stretch endlessly. Eventually, Damien’s men retrieved my mother’s body from the water. Suddenly, I found a surge of strength from somewhere deep inside. I shoved him away, scrambling, trembling, to my mother’s side. Just as I reached out to open the burlap sack, Damien’s voice cut through the air again. “Alright, alright, I’m just messing with you. It’s just a dummy in there, not your mother.” I froze. Damien continued, “Sweetheart, if you ever dare to ‘misbehave’ again, what’s placed before you truly *will* be your mother’s body.” “Tiffany took a bullet for me. She’s my savior. Don’t provoke her again, understand? Be a good girl. Don’t make things difficult for me.” I stared blankly at him until his figure vanished from my sight. Only then did I wipe away my tears, my hand trembling as I dialed a number. “I’ve made up my mind,” I choked out. “I’m leaving Damien Thorne.”

After hanging up, as I dragged my numb, lifeless legs, ready to leave, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Tiffany. “Ms. Price, I assume the dummy has been retrieved. Why don’t you open the bag and take a look? There’s a little surprise for you.” My eyes involuntarily darted to the burlap sack containing the ‘dummy’ a short distance away. My entire body stiffened, a chilling dread blossoming in my chest. I was shaking uncontrollably, my feet heavy as lead. I couldn’t even move my legs. Suddenly, the burlap sack shifted. A muffled cry of pain seemed to come from within. I couldn’t take it anymore. I stumbled, half-ran, half-fell towards it. My hands trembled violently as I desperately clawed at the sack, tearing it open… Tiffany’s second text followed immediately. “I had someone switch your mother with the dummy, Ms. Price. This is the price of provoking me. I hope you can afford it.” My mother’s face was ashen, blood stark against her skin. She lay bound, soaked, barely clinging to life. At the sight, I nearly fainted. When I finally managed to get her to the hospital, practically dragging her, I was told all medical resources had been diverted to save a dog that had merely choked on some water. The nurse pursed her lips, sighing helplessly. “Just a dog, yet it’s worth more than a human life! I swear, my life isn’t even worth as much as that dog’s!” “Exactly. If a dog has issues, take it to the vet, right? Why waste all these medical resources on it? Besides, that dog looks perfectly fine, jumping around. People are making a fuss over nothing!” “Shhh! Keep your voice down! That dog belongs to Damien Thorne’s beloved! You want to talk trash about the Kingpin’s favorite, you’ve got a death wish!” My mother was barely breathing. Any more delay and it would be too late. There was no time to think. I had to find Damien. I found him in a VIP room upstairs. The moment I walked in, I saw Tiffany sitting on his lap, their bodies pressed intimately together as they passionately kissed. Normally, seeing such a scene would tear me apart with jealousy. But now, I didn’t even have the energy for it. I rushed over, grabbing Damien’s hand. “My mom… something’s happened to her. She’s in critical condition. Please, will you save her?” Damien impatiently shook off my hand, looking annoyed, as if I’d interrupted something important. “I threw a dummy into the ocean, Evelyn, not her. What could possibly happen to her in such a short time? Stop this drama. I don’t have time for your games.” As every second ticked by, helpless tears streamed down my face. “I’m not lying… My mom is really hurt. Tiffany swapped her with the dummy. She hit her head on a rock when she was thrown down, and she’s barely clinging to life. She’s right here in the hospital. Please, tell the doctors to go see her!” At my words, a flicker of uncertainty crossed Damien’s eyes. “Ms. Price, what are you implying? How could I possibly harm your mother? I haven’t even brought up you trying to drown my dog, and now you’re trying to frame me?” Tiffany started to cry as she spoke. Seeing her tears, Damien’s expression instantly darkened. He stared at me, a cold fury in his gaze. “Apologize.” My mother was teetering on the brink of death. For her sake, I had no choice but to endure. “I’m sorry, Ms. Reed. I was wrong. Please, for my elderly mother’s sake, save her!” A flash of triumph crossed Tiffany’s eyes, but before she could speak, Damien cut in again. “Good. Now, it’s its turn.” Damien pointed at the dog behind me, a sneer on his face. “You almost drowned it. Is it really too much to ask for you to apologize to it?” Even after enduring so much humiliation, I still couldn’t believe my ears. Damien Thorne was actually telling me to apologize to a dog. All color drained from my face. I stared at him, utterly incredulous. “You want me to apologize to a dog?” Damien chuckled, “What? Feeling wronged? Don’t you want me to send someone to save your mother? Just apologize to it, and I’ll agree.” I looked into his eyes, biting down hard on my teeth. The humiliation was so profound, I wished I could just die. But then I thought of my mother’s ashen face, and I realized I didn’t even have the luxury of death.

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