For five years, I was Alex Thorne’s personal assistant. We never spoke of love, yet we did everything intimate, until the woman who truly held his heart came back. He fired me. I had seen this coming. No tears, no drama. I just packed my bags. The very next day, he was in tears, regretting it. Half an hour ago, the news from HR hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest: I was fired. My colleague gently patted my shoulder, her eyes full of pity. “We all tried, Chloe, but the decision was final.” The announcement didn’t shock me. Instead, a strange calm settled over me, as if I’d been expecting it. Rumors had been quietly circulating in the company all last week: CEO Alex Thorne was engaged. His fiancée was Celeste Hayes, heiress to the Hayes empire, his ex-girlfriend, and the woman he’d always truly loved. Since his dream had finally come true, it was only natural that the “extra baggage” in his life would be cleared out. Even though Alex and I had never openly defined our relationship, who in the company didn’t know we had a complicated, unspoken arrangement? With that connection, no one dared to touch me. No one, unless it was Alex himself. I got the notice that morning and completed all my handovers by the afternoon. My replacement looked utterly miserable, complaining non-stop, “Chloe, what will the assistant’s office do without you?” Alex’s temper was legendary – erratic and explosive. A coffee not at the perfect temperature could send him into a rage. The assistant’s office, being closest to him, often became his punching bag. But five years ago, when I arrived, everything changed. Making his coffee, ordering his meals, submitting his reports, even smoothing over mistakes from other departments—I handled it all, calming him down. My colleagues often said those five years were the easiest they’d ever worked under Alex. I smiled, showing them again. “Get the water temperature right, and Alex won’t cause a fuss.” “I hear there’s someone in this company who understands Alex better than anyone, his ‘special exception,’ is that you?” A voice came from behind me. I turned. Celeste Hayes stood there, taking off her sunglasses, her gaze sharp. My colleague, holding her coffee, lowered her head and hurried away. I offered a polite smile. “Ms. Hayes, you flatter me. If I were a ‘special exception,’ I wouldn’t be standing here today.” “In this company, aren’t only those who lack competence fired?” Her words seemed to ignite something in Celeste. She suddenly grabbed the hot water kettle from the desk and splashed it towards me. A mocking smirk played on her lips. “You’ve got a sharp tongue, but let’s see if you can handle the heat!” The hot water splattered on me, my skin instantly turning red. Luckily, Alex always drank his coffee at a lukewarm temperature; otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable. Just then, Alex appeared. He walked towards Celeste with a smile, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead. Celeste linked her arm through his, stating bluntly, “I had a bit of a disagreement with an employee and couldn’t help but splash some hot water on her.” Alex finally looked at me, his eyes cold, as if I were a complete stranger. “If you splashed her, you splashed her. I’ll have someone compensate her. No need to delay our date for someone so insignificant.” “I booked that amazing Italian place you love. We can head there now.” They walked past me, embracing, Celeste’s gaze full of triumphant mockery. Whether it was the sting of the hot water or a dull ache deep in my chest, my heart felt like it was being sliced open. But that kind of pain… I never wanted to feel it again.

After leaving the company, I didn’t go straight home. Instead, I walked into a quiet coffee shop. Liam Harrison was already there, idly stirring his coffee. “Mr. Harrison, good to see you,” I greeted softly. “I’ve resigned from Thorne Corp and am ready to start at your company anytime.” Hearing my voice, Liam stopped stirring, looked up, and offered a gentle smile. “Welcome, Chloe Davis, to our team. No rush to start work, though. I hear your relationship with Alex Thorne was… unique. Now that he’s getting married, I imagine you need some time to adjust, right? I’ll give you three days to sort out your personal affairs. You can officially start after that, okay?” I subconsciously frowned. While I knew my relationship with Alex couldn’t be kept entirely secret, I hadn’t realized it was already common knowledge within their circles. Liam Harrison’s company was the first I’d contacted after leaving Thorne Corp. More accurately, he contacted me. After Celeste Hayes returned and Alex announced his engagement, Liam sought me out, offering an incredibly generous deal. Honestly, at first, I couldn’t believe it. “Mr. Harrison, if I may ask, why are you offering me such favorable terms?” I couldn’t help but ask. Liam looked calm, taking a slow sip of coffee, and gave me an answer that left me half-believing. “I know Alex. Anyone who can last five years as his assistant clearly has the skills to run an entire department for us.” “And I don’t want ‘unforeseen complications’ to arise with our business partners once you’re on board.” After some thought, I finally accepted Liam’s invitation. After all, the terms he offered were indeed enticing, and I desperately needed the money right now. Just as I nodded in agreement, a familiar cold laugh echoed from behind me. Alex Thorne walked into the coffee shop, hand-in-hand with Celeste Hayes. I knew him too well. Whenever he made that sound, it meant he was angry. Not just angry, but furious. “Well, well, Mr. Harrison. Long time no see. So, Harrison Industries is willing to pick up my company’s discards?” “But I should warn you, Mr. Harrison, this one is untrustworthy and a total gold-digger. As an employee, you’d be wise to be cautious.” I listened silently to every word Alex said about me. My fingers, hidden under the table, were digging so deeply into my knees I could almost feel blood oozing. Honestly, the moment Alex fired me, I didn’t hate him. After all, what we had was nothing more than a five-year arrangement. He gave me money, and I slept with him. But I didn’t understand why he was still so aggressive, even after I’d left Thorne Corp. I bit my lower lip hard, fighting back the sting in my nose, desperate not to let a single tear fall. “Mr. Thorne, if I truly stole anything from Thorne Corp, you can call the police and have me arrested. But please, don’t slander me!” Alex gave me a cold stare and said nothing more. But Celeste stepped forward, a smile playing on her lips. “Miss Davis, it was just a joke, why are you getting so emotional? Is the compensation not enough? Are you trying to shake me down for more?” Saying this, she pulled a wad of cash from her bag and threw it at me. “I heard your mother’s still in the hospital, needs money for treatment, right? But that doesn’t mean you can throw away your dignity.” “Consider this your payout!”

The moment Celeste’s words fell, the stack of money hit my face hard. I didn’t know which edge it was, but one of the bills cut my right cheek, leaving a faint streak of blood. All eyes in the coffee shop turned to me—some sympathetic, some mocking, and some filled with undisguised malice. “She is now an employee of Harrison Industries. She has nothing to do with Thorne Corp anymore. Do you really think I’ll stand by and let you bully people like this?” Liam Harrison’s face turned cold as he suddenly looked up at Celeste. Celeste instinctively recoiled two steps, hiding behind Alex. It was the first time I’d seen Alex so anxious about someone. He immediately shielded Celeste, glaring at Liam. Finally, he glanced dismissively at me. “So what if her face got scratched? That ten thousand dollars is compensation enough. If anything, she made out like a bandit.” As he spoke, Alex narrowed his eyes at me. I knew he was warning me to take the money and be quiet. If I didn’t, he had countless ways to make my life even harder. Five years of shared history had left no mark on his heart. He had never once been truly sincere with me. I forced a strained smile, picking up the scattered bills one by one, feeling utterly humiliated. “Don’t worry, Mr. Thorne. I definitely made out.” Every word was forced out through gritted teeth, my gums almost bleeding. Celeste scoffed. “Just like a pathetic lap dog!” I clenched my jaw, the soft flesh inside my mouth almost bitten raw, a strong metallic taste spreading on my tongue. I dared not look up, knowing I must look pathetic and ridiculous. Finally, Liam sighed, took my hand, and led me out of the coffee shop. “Rest well for three days. I’ll see you at Harrison Industries then.” Back at my rental, Alex’s jacket was still on the messy bed. I started tidying the place, gathering all his belongings into a box. I planned to return them to him sometime, or just toss them out. After hours of work, I realized that over the past five years, his presence had permeated every corner of this apartment. The toothbrushes and towels in the bathroom, the potted plant on the windowsill, the apron in the kitchen… Turns out, in those five years, I had unknowingly started treating him like a real boyfriend, not just a transaction. Though I didn’t want to admit it, that was the reality. The lock suddenly turned, and his familiar silhouette appeared, just like he used to. Alex immediately spotted the box of his things I’d packed and sneered coldly, “So, you found a new sugar daddy, and now you’re desperate to kick your old one to the curb?” “Chloe Davis, are you really that pathetic? Can’t you live without money?” I bit my lower lip hard, the deep indentations of my teeth clearly visible. So, in Alex Thorne’s mind, that’s all I was—worthless. But none of it mattered anymore. A heart that had died wouldn’t come back to life. “We agreed to five years from the start. The time’s up, you’re getting married, and I won’t hold you back.” “Besides, I’ve resigned from Thorne Corp. Mr. Thorne, you have no reason to stay here, do you?” He said nothing, his face incredibly grim. He sat on the sofa, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. I quickly pushed the organized box towards him. “I’ve packed everything. You can take it with you.” As soon as I spoke, Alex’s expression darkened even further. I didn’t know what he was angry about. Like a five-year old instinct, my mind quickly ran through every possible reason for his anger. Finally, I remembered something and told him, “I’ll be giving notice on this apartment too, don’t worry. As for our five years together, I won’t say a word to anyone, especially not to Ms. Hayes. And I won’t disturb you anymore.” Alex froze for a moment. In the dim light, his expression was unreadable. Soon, he let out a cold laugh, leaning in to pinch my chin. A moment later, a red fingerprint appeared on my jaw. “Good, you’re sensible. Otherwise, you’ll pay!” “I don’t want these things. You’ve touched them. They’re contaminated!” With that, Alex turned and left. His words stole my breath. The tears I’d been holding back finally broke free, falling one by one. I closed my eyes, letting the tears stream down. And he, he never looked back.

The next two days, I found a new place near Harrison Industries and gave notice on my old rental. After finally finishing the move, I managed to squeeze in a visit to the hospital. Mom was still the same, lying in bed, unresponsive. Ever since a car accident five years ago, Mom had been in a vegetative state. She survived only with the help of hospital equipment. As usual, I massaged her limbs to improve circulation. Then, following the doctor’s instructions, I slowly told her about my recent life. “Mom, I left Thorne Corp. I have a new job now.” “This new job pays much better. Don’t worry about me. Just focus on getting better and waking up soon.” After doing everything, Mom’s vitals remained flat, unchanged from before. Leaving the hospital, I rushed to Harrison Industries. Although the three days weren’t up yet, I chose to start work early. Thanks to Liam’s instructions, my onboarding process sailed through, given a green light every step of the way. To familiarize myself with the work quickly, I stayed late on my first day, working overtime. By the time I got home, it was already late into the night. As soon as I lay down and pulled out my phone, former colleagues from Thorne Corp’s assistant’s office started messaging me in our SnapChat group, venting their frustrations. [Alex must’ve eaten something bad today, his temper is out of control! Without Chloe here, none of us can calm him down!] [One minute he says the temperature’s wrong, the next the water’s not enough, then the coffee’s too little. Chloe, I followed all the notes you left me, and he still finds a million things wrong!] [Me too. I got yelled at all day. I don’t want to do this anymore!] I read for a while, then simply closed my phone without replying. Since I’d already left Thorne Corp, Alex Thorne’s habits had absolutely nothing to do with me anymore. In the days that followed, I fully immersed myself in my work at Harrison Industries. Soon, Liam Harrison directly assigned me a task: to create a new proposal. It was a good thing I’d always been in the assistant’s office; I’d often handled proposals. I worked overtime for several days straight, the dark circles under my eyes impossible to hide, my entire orbital bone outlined in shadow. Until the day the project bids were presented, Liam asked me to attend with him. The biggest competitor for this project happened to be Alex Thorne’s Thorne Corp. At the project banquet, Alex Thorne and Celeste Hayes were the center of attention, with many people congratulating them. It was as if they already had the project in their hands. When Liam Harrison and I appeared, we quickly caught Alex and Celeste’s attention. When our gazes locked, a silent battle of intentions played out. Celeste smirked with open provocation, directly taunting me. “Mr. Harrison, your proposal for this project isn’t by Miss Davis, is it? You’d better open your eyes wide then. This woman only knows how to con you out of money; she can’t plan for anything, otherwise, why would Thorne Corp have fired her!” “And she’s no good person. She used to be so shameless, trying to hook up with our Alex, but he rejected her. Now she’s conned her way into Mr. Harrison’s good graces.” Her voice wasn’t quiet, as if she wanted everyone to hear. Soon, it attracted the attention of many people at the banquet, and whispers erupted. I clenched my fists, gritting my teeth as I tried to defend myself. “I wasn’t fired because of my work ability, and I never tried to hook up with Mr. Thorne!” The words had barely left my mouth. Celeste pulled out her phone and played an audio clip. The clip was edited, with the beginning and end cut off, leaving only one sentence from me and one from Alex. I said, “I won’t say anything about anything that happened between us.” Then came Alex’s rejection. “They’re contaminated!” I spun around, looking at him sharply. Alex’s eyes flickered, avoiding my gaze. Celeste laughed wildly, asking me, “The evidence is all here, Chloe. What do you have to say for yourself now?”

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Julian Grayson’s first love, the woman he’d always adored, just gave birth to their third child. For our tenth anniversary, he paraded his *third* child by her in front of me, his voice strangely calm: “Serena’s children are the future of the Grayson legacy. As my wife, it’s your duty to raise them right.” I didn’t scream or break down like before. I just quietly took the baby. Loud, mocking laughter erupted, filling the ballroom. “I heard she used to throw terrible tantrums,” someone snickered. “Guess she finally learned her lesson.” “The Reynolds are bankrupt anyway,” someone whispered, “she knows fighting is pointless. No kids of her own, she’ll be tossed out eventually.” Julian simply watched, letting their snide remarks and humiliating stares wash over me. I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth, then forced a small smile. “Julian, I want a divorce.” Julian looked like I’d just told the funniest joke. He sneered, “Aurora Reynolds, if you can cough up a billion dollars right now, I’ll sign the papers immediately. Otherwise, stop this pathetic act!” I didn’t say a word. I just dialled an unfamiliar number. “I accept your terms.” The man on the other end chuckled softly, his voice cultured and smooth. “A mere billion dollars. I can have it wired to you anytime.”

“But, are you sure you want to bind yourself to me for a man who’s not worth it?” The guests’ whispers sliced through me like knives. “I heard the Reynolds are drowning in debt. They’re only surviving because Mr. Grayson throws them scraps.” “Like a stray dog. If she leaves him, she’ll be living on the streets by tomorrow, won’t she?” I looked at the baby in my arms, a child that wasn’t mine, and felt a familiar ache in my heart. Ten years of marriage. Ten years of Julian and Serena, his childhood sweetheart and the woman who helped him build his empire, having three children and giving them to me to raise. Six years ago, I cried and raged, refusing them, utterly broken. Julian showed no mercy. He used the very survival of my family, the Reynolds, to force me into submission. Three years ago, I rebelled again. Julian, without a word, confiscated my cards and threw me out. I remember freezing in the winter cold, my mind hazy with despair, until I finally returned, weeping, begging Julian for forgiveness. We fell in love young. At his most devoted, he even shielded me from an enemy’s bullet. But now, we’d grown to despise the sight of each other. It was time to end this. “I’m sure.” The man let out a pleased laugh. “Three days from now, everything will be as you wish.” The call ended. I stood in silence for a long time. Seeing my red eyes and my quiet refusal to speak, Julian’s mocking expression softened slightly. “Aurora, raising Serena’s children well is what truly matters. As long as you’re obedient, the position of Mrs. Grayson is yours forever. No more drama, okay?” He was actually *coaxing* me, a rare occurrence, but it was all for her. I had no strength left to fight. Clutching the baby, I turned and walked away. As soon as I stepped back into the Grayson mansion, a picture book slammed into my forehead. The pain was so sharp I almost dropped the baby. Six-year-old Leo, their first child, was glaring at me, his face a mask of fury. “Why didn’t you warm up my milk?!” I winced, glancing at the two nannies nearby. One was filing her nails, the other scrolling on her phone, rolling her eyes. “Mr. Grayson said it’s *your* job to look after the young master. Don’t blame us for your laziness, Mrs. Grayson.” Right… Julian had arranged all of this. Julian deliberately made me care for his and Serena’s children, under the guise of “a wife’s duty.” I remembered when Leo had a high fever, how I stayed awake for three days and nights, nursing him, a weak premature baby. When he had chickenpox, I covered myself in ointment and quarantined with him. Despite the mess between Julian and Serena, the children were innocent… Yet, the children I poured my heart into raising were now staring at me like I was their enemy. Blood truly ran thicker than water. In their eyes, I was nothing more than a glorified nanny, to be ordered around. I warmed his milk, but as I handed it to him, he violently knocked it over. “Can’t you even take care of a child properly?” Julian was back. His cold voice came from behind me. He shoved me away. “What if you burned Leo?!” My throat tightened. I’d tested the milk. It wasn’t hot enough to burn anyone, and besides… I was the one who got splashed. Leo made a smug face at me, then burrowed into Julian’s arms. “Daddy, Mommy is clumsy. When are you taking me out to play?!” Julian ruffled his hair fondly. “In three days, we’ll all go out with Serena, and bring your brother and sister.” Serena’s smile stiffened when she heard him say her name, but she clutched Julian’s arm even tighter. I noticed an emerald ring on her finger – a precious heirloom my mother had entrusted to Julian before she died. My marriage to Julian was a billion-dollar deal. Thirteen years ago, when Julian wasn’t yet the head of the Grayson Empire, we were deeply in love. Then, I was accidentally misdiagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. To avoid burdening him and jeopardizing his fight for the family business, I faked family opposition and broke up with him. Later, when my family, the Reynolds, faced bankruptcy, Julian appeared with a billion dollars. He said if I married him, he’d use the money to save my family. I was so naive back then. I thought he loved me too much to let me go, that I was getting a second chance at our shattered love. I never imagined he came back filled with hatred. On her deathbed, my mother entrusted him with that ring. He promised, with tears in his eyes, he’d treat me well. Now, that ring sat on Serena’s hand, a bitter mockery of everything. “Aurora,” she purred, noticing my gaze, “Julian said this looks beautiful on me.” She playfully wiggled her hand. “He said you’re always focused on the kids, why bother with appearances? It’s just a waste on you.” Julian casually added, “It was just sitting there, collecting dust anyway.” My heart felt a complicated, inexpressible bitterness. I just wanted to turn and leave. “Oh!” Serena suddenly shrieked. The ring slipped from her finger, shattering into pieces on the floor. My instinct was to bend down and pick it up, but then everything went black as I crashed into the coffee table. As blood streamed down my temple, I caught a glimpse of Julian’s momentary panic. He frowned, his hand instinctively reaching out to steady me. But then Serena suddenly cried out in pain, clutching her ankle. He instantly pulled his hand back, sweeping Serena into his arms with anxious concern. I fell to the floor with a thud.

“Oh, Aurora, how clumsy can you be?” Serena leaned into Julian’s embrace, her voice sickly sweet. “Julian, should we call a doctor to check on her?” Julian frowned, glancing at me. After a moment of hesitation, his tone grew impatient. “It’s just a scratch. Don’t be so dramatic.” He turned and carried Serena and their children upstairs to rest. I walked alone to my small, forgotten annex. Behind me, the nannies’ sneers were unconcealed. “Still putting on her ‘lady of the house’ act, huh? Hope she breaks her neck!” I curled up on my narrow bed, sleeping until midnight. The wound on my forehead still throbbed. Footsteps approached outside the door, followed by Julian’s cold voice. “Grandfather’s eightieth birthday gala is tomorrow. You’d better behave yourself.” I didn’t respond. The door was abruptly shoved open. Julian’s tall figure stood in the doorway, a first-aid kit in his hand. Before I could react, he roughly pulled me up, his grip so strong it made me wince. “You know it hurts, so why didn’t you put on some medicine?” He stared at my wound, a cold smirk on his face, but skillfully took out an alcohol wipe. “You’re not trying to let Grandfather see you looking like this tomorrow so he’ll take your side, are you?” “Julian,” I asked softly, “why did you marry me?” His movements paused for a beat, then he mockingly pinched my chin. “Because you needed the Grayson family’s billion dollars.” In the darkness, I silently laughed, tears streaming down my face. I should have known. He didn’t marry me out of love. For ten years, he’d resented my parents for tearing us apart, unaware that I left him because I was misdiagnosed with cancer. By the time I wanted to tell him the truth, he hated me to his core. I pulled the divorce papers from my bag and placed them on the bed. Over the years, I’d suggested divorce a few times, but it never worked. The Reynolds were bankrupt, and Julian had me confined to the house, taking care of the children. I had no way to come up with a billion dollars for my freedom, as he’d demanded. He knew it too, never taking my requests seriously. He sounded impatient. “Aurora, are you ever going to stop this drama?” “This time, it’s real.” My voice was soft, yet firm. “I’ll find a way to pay you back. Even if you don’t believe me, my feelings for you…” Serena’s sweet, whiny voice drifted down from upstairs. “Julian~ Where did you put my pink lingerie~?” Julian immediately let go of me, crumpling the divorce papers and tossing them into the trash. “Alright, you’ve squandered every last dime you ever had. Besides me, who else would give you a billion dollars?” The door slammed shut. The next day, I forced myself to apply makeup, covering the wound on my forehead, and arrived at the birthday gala. Julian’s assistant, however, seated me in the very last row, in a corner, at the same table as the Grayson family’s drivers and nannies. “Well, isn’t that Mrs. Grayson?” A socialite passed by, covering her mouth with a delicate laugh. “What are you doing sitting here?” I sat down in silence, whispers drifting from behind me. “I heard Mr. Grayson brought another child back. Miss Hayes is so fertile, so blessed with children. No wonder he adores her.” “Right? And his legitimate wife is stuck at the staff tables. So embarrassing.” I gripped my napkin, my knuckles white. A moment later, Julian strode over, Serena trailing behind him. “Who told you to sit here?” The assistant stammered, “Miss Hayes said you wanted Mrs. Grayson to sit here.” Serena’s face instantly paled with feigned panic. But Julian merely frowned, saying nothing. Her triumphant smile returned. I followed Julian to greet Grandfather. After a few kind words and some loving concern for me, Grandfather turned to Serena, his expression displeased. “The Grayson family threshold isn’t for just anyone to cross. Next time, don’t bring strays.” Serena’s face went chalk-white. Just then, Leo and Mia suddenly rushed to her, sweetly calling her ‘Serena’. Serena’s expression softened considerably. After all, she had given Julian three children. Even if Grandfather disliked her, he would still give her face for the children’s sake. Grandfather snorted and called Julian away. I was about to stand up and leave when Serena, with a cold smile, suddenly pressed down on my shoulder. “Aurora, let’s play a game.”

Serena pulled a thermos from her handbag. In a blind spot, hidden from most eyes, she suddenly grabbed Mia’s wrist. “Good girl,” she cooed, covering the child’s eyes. “Mommy’s going to do a magic trick for you.” “No!” I lunged forward to stop her, but she shoved me away. The next second, a piercing scream echoed through the grand hall. Mia’s fair arm instantly swelled and blistered. Serena, quick as a flash, shoved the thermos into my hand. “Help me!” Serena knelt, clutching a wailing, heartbroken Mia. “Aurora, if you have a problem with me, come at me! Why would you scald Mia with boiling water?! She’s just a child!” I froze, stunned. I couldn’t believe she would do something so twisted and heartless just to frame me, even hurting her own child! Julian rushed over, saw Mia’s injuries, and without a second thought, kicked me to the ground. He roared, “How could you lay a hand on such a small child?! Are you even human?!” Julian called the family doctor to treat Mia’s burns. Leo suddenly burst into tears. I lay on the ground, struggling to push myself up. My trembling hand reached out to Leo. “Leo, baby, don’t be scared… tell Daddy… who it was just now…” Before I could finish, Leo recoiled in terror, hiding behind Julian, sobbing. “It was Mommy! She threw hot water on Mia! I’m so scared!” I instantly froze, my outstretched hand falling limply. “Just because I brought Serena to one party, you’re jealous to this extent? They’re the children you raised with your own hands!” I opened my mouth, a metallic taste of blood growing stronger in my throat. It finally coalesced into a barely audible, bitter laugh. I looked into Julian’s furious eyes. “Julian, do you really believe that?” “He’s only six! Can he lie?!” The surrounding guests buzzed with chatter. Someone pointed at me, calling me “vicious.” Someone else whispered, “No wonder she can’t have children, her heart is so cruel.” The tide of accusations washed over me, drowning me. What hurt more was Julian’s hateful gaze, like a knife twisting in my heart. In his mind, I was just a jealous, wicked woman. Serena nestled against Julian, her eyes red. “Aurora, if you’re sick, you need help. How could you do something so cruel?” Leo’s crying grew louder, saying he was scared of me. Julian pointed at me, roaring, “Aurora, get out! Get out of our sight!” I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, shakily stood up, and pulled the divorce papers, which had never left my bag, from my purse. I offered a desolate smile. “Yes, I should go… Sign the papers, and I’ll obediently disappear.” Julian’s anger flared. He stood up abruptly, ripped the divorce papers to shreds, and threw them in my face. “Without a billion dollars, don’t even *think* about divorce! You, Aurora Reynolds, will be my wife for life!” Outside, the rain poured down. I stumbled into the deluge, the cold raindrops mixing with my tears, washing over me. Ten years of marriage, of genuine love and unspoken endurance. Tomorrow, when I got that money, it would all be over, right? The next second, my vision went black, and I tumbled down the stairs. I braced for impact, expecting to hit the bottom, but instead, I fell into a warm, strong embrace. “Just a little late, and you’ve already managed to get yourself into such a mess, hmm?” When I next woke, I was in a hospital bed. The man before me had handsome, striking features. He was Caspian Thorne, the current head of the powerful Monarch Group. I was about to speak when I noticed a familiar diamond cufflink on his suit sleeve. It was the gift I’d given a lifesaver on my eighteenth birthday. “Finally recognized me? My unrequited love for you for over a decade hasn’t been in vain.” Caspian leaned closer, his voice deep and magnetic. Memories flooded back. When I was eighteen, I was kidnapped. A boy risked his life to save me. As he left, I pressed my most precious birthday gift into his hand… “It’s… you…” My voice trembled. I instinctively tried to sit up. He quickly held me, his expression suddenly tense. “Careful. The doctor said you’re pregnant. Eight weeks.” My entire body stiffened. The timing was exactly when Julian last touched me. He’d been completely drunk that night, mistaking me for Serena. Caspian sneered. “Interesting. Julian Grayson kicks you out, but has no idea his wife is carrying his child.” Then he smirked, his gaze burning as he stared at me. “But not for long.” I was so overwhelmed by the rapid succession of news, I couldn’t process it. “What?” Caspian chuckled. “The billion dollars has already been transferred. He’ll sign whether he wants to or not.” At that moment, Julian was sitting in the villa garden, watching Serena and the two children play on the lawn. “Aurora didn’t come back all night. How can she be so stubborn with you, darling? The baby cried all night, it broke my heart.” Julian was about to respond with a cold laugh when his phone vibrated. He casually checked the message, still thinking about how he’d teach me a lesson when I returned. But the message on his screen made his smile freeze instantly— [Your account has received a transfer of $1,000,000,000.00. Memo: Divorce Redemption]

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I transmigrated into the villainess of a novel. But I never did anything wrong. I even became friends with the female lead and married the gentle second male lead. I always thought I was incredibly happy, Until I read my husband’s diary. Turns out, he was reborn. All these years of tender affection were just to keep me from hurting the female lead… Staring at the pregnancy test results in my hand, feeling the tiny life stirring in my belly, I felt a sense of peace I’d never known. I’d lived in this world for 13 years, and in this moment, it felt like I finally had a true home, a real connection. I transmigrated into this novel world after my death, becoming the villainess with the same name, who had done countless terrible things. But I felt incredibly lucky. When I arrived, the story hadn’t even begun, and I hadn’t done anything to offend the main characters. In fact, because Stella was so cheerful, we became the best of friends, sharing everything. I became her wingwoman, encouraging her to pursue love, watching her and the male lead fall deeply for each other, and standing as a bridesmaid as she married the man she loved. Stella was the second person I wanted to share my good news with; As for the first, well, that was my husband, of course. My husband, Liam, was originally the gentle second male lead in the novel, always silently protecting Stella. I don’t know if my presence caused a butterfly effect, but he stopped being Stella’s loyal follower and instead showered all his attention and favoritism on me. We’d walked hand-in-hand for 13 years, and I genuinely felt loved, so I married him without a second thought. Now, our little family was about to welcome a new life, and I couldn’t wait to tell him the good news.

I pondered and pondered, thinking it would be better if he discovered it himself rather than me just blurting it out. I snuck into his study, sat down in his chair, and casually pulled open a drawer. An old notebook immediately caught my eye. I noticed it right away because it stood out amongst the neatly organized files. It must have been tucked away at the very bottom, and in his rush to leave, a corner had accidentally peeked out. I carefully picked up the notebook to look at it, feeling both amused and bewildered. It was one of those girlish notebooks from our school days, quite old, but it looked like he opened it often to write. The edges were curled, and the pages were yellowed. My husband and I had always been open with each other, so I had no qualms. I naturally opened it to browse. The first page had “Forever Love” written in large English cursive. I smiled to myself, my cheeks burning. Could this be a love letter he wrote to me? I took out my pregnancy test results, intending to tuck them inside. I wanted to give him my most precious “love letter” too. I carefully turned to the first page and instantly froze – “My forever love, Stella.” Stella. The female lead of the story. Suddenly, my blood ran cold, and my entire body went numb. It felt like my throat was stuffed with thick cotton, making even breathing difficult. My fingers trembled, yet they uncontrollably turned page after page, reading every word carefully. With a compulsive, almost masochistic drive, I read the entire diary, word for word. More than a diary, it was an unsent love letter, summed up in a few crushing words: Liam loved Stella. A love unrequited. Turns out, Liam was reborn; Turns out, Liam had always loved Stella deeply; Turns out, all his care and favoritism towards me were nothing but an act! He had to keep an eye on me, preventing any possibility of me harming his beloved. The joy of pregnancy had vanished without a trace, leaving only a bitter taste in my mouth. For 13 years, I never once thought of harming Stella, but in that moment, I genuinely envied her. I envied that a brief moment of kindness and warmth she offered could make a man love her so deeply for 13 years, even sacrificing himself to entangle with the villainess just to ensure her happiness. My emotions were a tangled mess, pain and despair intertwined. I didn’t even remember how long I cried, only that my world felt horrifyingly unreal.

Exhausted, I fell asleep on the couch until Liam came home and startled me awake. He reeked of alcohol, stumbling as he walked. “Honey, I’m home…” he said, smiling at me. “Sorry, I had a work dinner tonight, got back late.” I forced a bitter smile, one that didn’t quite reach my eyes, but still performed my wifely duties. I went over to help him, loosening his tight tie and unbuttoning his collar. “Thanks, honey. You’re the best.” I looked closely at Liam and realized his thanks were perfunctory. If he had paid any attention, he would have seen the redness and swelling around my eyes. Perhaps putting on this fake act for me had simply become his habit. I helped Liam to bed, took off his socks and clothes, and even prepared to wipe his face and body. Drunkenness had lowered Liam’s guard. He seemed to drop his vigilance, unconsciously revealing his true feelings with weary exhaustion. “Stella…” My whole body stiffened. I thought I was hallucinating. My gaze was fixed on Liam, my nails digging into my palms… “Stella.” The cruel reminder struck again. As if to torture myself, I instinctively imitated Stella’s tone. “Liam, dear.” Liam suddenly clutched my hand tightly, his hazy, drunken eyes filled with undeniable tenderness. “Stella, as long as you’re happy, everything I do is worth it.” That single sentence trapped me once more in this cage of deception. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Everything around me twisted and distorted. I stumbled out of the room, desperate to escape the bedroom. The love I had given everything for, from beginning to end, was nothing but a joke.

I slept terribly. All the horrible things the original villainess, Chloe, had done in the novel replayed wildly in my mind. Chloe leading a gang to bully the female lead, Chloe hiring thugs to assault the female lead, Chloe using her family background to suppress the female lead… In my dream, Chloe suddenly turned around, and it was a face identical to mine. That face was twisted and grotesque, so terrifying that even I was horrified. Time seemed to fly by in the dream, and the male lead and second male lead quickly grew powerful, then exacted their brutal revenge on me. Liam’s cold, indifferent eyes stared at me calmly, as if I were a dead object. “Since you enjoy ruining lives so much, why don’t you experience it yourself?” I was brutally violated and left for dead in despair, abandoned beside a filthy dumpster, choking on my last breath. “No!” I screamed, waking myself up! I looked up to meet Liam’s concerned gaze, which overlapped with the brutal, ruthless image from my dream. I trembled with fear. Liam was helping me pull up the blanket, looking utterly confused by my reaction. “Honey, what’s wrong? Why are you sleeping on the couch? What if you catch a cold?” “Honey, are you mad that I drank too much last night? I’m sorry, yesterday’s client was really important.” I shook my head, enveloped by fatigue and terror. I didn’t want to say anything. There was no guest room in the house. Liam had once vowed that he would never make me mad enough to kick him out to a guest room; even if he did, he’d be considerate enough to sleep on the floor beside me. But now, with actual conflict, I didn’t even have my own space. He was clearly keeping a very close eye on me. Liam didn’t notice my distress, frowning as he whined pitifully. “Honey, my work dinner yesterday was so tough, my head is throbbing. Where’s the hangover soup?” “I forgot.” In truth, I hadn’t made any at all. Liam came from an ordinary background, while I was a typical rich kid. He always said he wanted to earn my father’s approval through his own efforts, to achieve more so he could be worthy of me. So Liam was a workaholic. He didn’t accept help from my family, instead choosing to start his own business. In the early years, to secure projects, he often drank heavily with partners, almost getting a stomach hemorrhage. I loved Liam deeply and, as his wife, I always took great care of him. To help him with the harm drinking did to his body, I sought out many remedies, often taking care of him all night just to ease his hangovers. If I hadn’t known his true intentions, perhaps I would have continued to be a dutiful wife, just like before. Yet, in reality, my efforts were all for naught. *“Chloe used her family background to harm Stella. I can’t let her have any chance to hurt my beloved Stella. I must make a name for myself in the business world, gain enough power to contend with the Chu family’s old man. If they hurt Stella like they did in the previous life, I will make the Chu Corporation pay a heavy price!”* Liam pushed himself relentlessly, only to gain real power and protect the woman he truly loved.

“Honey, what’s wrong today? You don’t look well. Are you feeling sick somewhere? Should I take you to the hospital?” I stared blankly at the man before me, wondering how much sincerity was in his concern now. I was debating whether to confront Liam when my phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed two big words – Stella. Liam quickly grabbed the phone and handed it to me, his eyes urging me to “answer quickly.” I numbly tapped to answer, and Stella’s cheerful voice rang out. “Chloe, honey, we said we’d go to the art exhibition today, do you remember?” “I remember.” “Then let’s just meet at the coffee shop in front of the Art Gallery. Noah’s on his way to work and can drop me off.” “Okay.” After hanging up, before I could even open my mouth, Liam spoke first: “You have plans with Stella today? I’ll drive you.” “No need. Your company isn’t on the way.” Liam lovingly stroked my cheek. “Silly girl, everywhere is on the way when it’s for my wife. Go get changed!” Liam stood up and went back to the room to get ready, his back radiating happiness. He was going to see his beloved, of course he was thrilled. And he clearly forgot that he had just said he wanted to take me to the hospital because I looked unwell. After all, in Liam’s world, nothing was more important than Stella.

When Liam dropped me off at the coffee shop, Stella was happily sipping on a Mocha Cocoa Frappuccino. She naturally handed me a cup of hot milk and cheerfully greeted me. Liam gently cautioned me. “Girls shouldn’t drink too many cold drinks, it’s not good for your body, and it makes your period hurt. You’re not a kid anymore, you should take better care of yourself.” Stella laughed and teased. “Oh, wow, you two are so sweet! You’re flaunting your affection right in front of me.” Liam smiled and casually added, “You too, drink fewer cold things!” All that build-up was just to give *her* a warning. The hot milk in my hand suddenly felt scalding hot. Actually, I didn’t even like cold drinks. The care he wanted to give was never truly for me. “Alright, alright, I get it, you’re so naggy. Only Chloe can put up with you.” Liam chuckled, then turned to me and said, “I’ll come pick you two up for lunch. I remember you said you wanted to try that new Spanish restaurant in Uptown.” Once suspicion set in, I realized how clumsy his acting really was. It wasn’t *me* who wanted to try the Spanish restaurant, it was Stella. But I had been so blinded by love, and he had tried his best to deceive me. Now that the truth was exposed, I realized how naive I had been. Stella linked her arm through mine. “Okay, okay, you go now. Don’t interrupt our girl time.” She pulled me inside, still chattering excitedly. “Chloe, I’m super excited about Master Gu’s work…” I instinctively looked back at the man not far away. He was constantly observing us with a scrutinizing gaze, but the moment his eyes met mine, he instantly reined in his emotions. He put on a show of deep affection, an act of tender sweetness. Liam, aren’t you tired? After the exhibition, as soon as we exited the gallery, Liam’s car slowly pulled up. During the exhibition, he had asked me several times when he should come pick us up.

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My first day as an intern, and the new intern who started with me claimed she was the CEO’s fiancée. Naturally, she became the department’s golden child. Our manager, Mr. Davies, was so eager to kiss up to her, he rallied everyone to chip in a thousand bucks each for a grand wedding gift on the big day. Everyone meekly agreed, except for me. I just shook my head. “It’s *my* wedding, so I guess I don’t need to contribute to the gift, right?” The office erupted in laughter: “*Your* wedding? Seriously, the nerve of some people! Mrs. Sterling is right here!” “I saw her Ins full of posts crushing on Mr. Sterling. Is she, like, totally delusional?” “Seriously, she’s got some nerve, utterly shameless.” Jessica tried to smooth things over. “Let’s not be too hard on her. Maybe she needs that thousand bucks to eat.” I calmly replied, “Since you’re all so chummy with her, I assume you’re all invited to the wedding in a few days?” Jessica panicked. “How about you just transfer the money to me? The wedding tables are probably all booked. Once I’m done, Mr. Sterling and I will treat you all to dinner.” Watching her keep up the act, I turned around and sent wedding invitations to every single colleague. I couldn’t wait to see their faces when they realized *I* was the one in the wedding gown.

To better blend in with my husband’s company, I decided to go undercover as an intern. During the morning meeting, Mr. Davies, our manager, mysteriously announced some big news: “Listen up, everyone, I’ve got a secret! Mrs. Sterling herself is interning here, and she’s been assigned to our department! So you all better be on your best behavior, keep your eyes open, and be proactive, got it?” Everyone answered in unison, and I felt a bit awkward, so I started to say, “Actually, you don’t really need to…” I didn’t even finish my sentence before he cut me off with a stern lecture. “What do you know? If we don’t treat Mrs. Sterling right, our whole department could be facing a major shake-up!” “Exactly! You just graduated college, right? No wonder you don’t get it. You better work hard, don’t drag us down.” “If we get on Mrs. Sterling’s good side, promotions and raises will be a piece of cake!” Remembering I was supposed to be incognito and they hadn’t recognized me, I just nodded along. “Yes, yes, I’ll listen to the manager.” After the meeting, I found an empty desk. The moment my butt hit the chair, a male voice yelled at me: “Chloe! What are you doing?! Is that a seat you can just take?!” I turned to see Mr. Davies, the department manager, yelling at me. I looked at the workstation in front of me. I wasn’t even in *his* seat, so what was the problem? Mr. Davies came over and yanked me up from the chair. “Your spot is in the back! This prime spot, with the great lighting, is for our Mrs. Sterling!” Just as I stood there, utterly confused, the intern who started with me walked over, carrying some files. She looked down at me, a smirk on her face. Mr. Davies, ever the eager beaver, had already pulled me aside and was now beaming at her. “Next time you need any files, just tell me. No need for you to bother getting them yourself.” Wasn’t this Ashley, my old classmate? I waved at her, but she completely ignored me. Ashley glanced at her cup, and Mr. Davies immediately understood. He turned to me and snapped: “What are you staring at? Go make her a coffee, now!” Thinking I shouldn’t get fired on my first day, I swallowed my pride and went to get Ashley’s coffee. “Wait,” Ashley said, haughtily crossing her legs. “I want the hand-ground coffee from downstairs. Be a dear and go get it for me.” “Sure, I’ll go now.” It was pouring rain outside, and that quick trip soaked my pants from the knees down. She took a sip, then promptly poured the coffee all over me. “I said hand-ground, didn’t I? Are you deaf?!” The commotion made the other colleagues rush over, concerned: “Ma’am, what happened? Wasn’t the coffee to your liking?” “So clumsy, I wonder how she even got hired here. Go get another one!” I forced a laugh. “How are you all so sure *she’s* Mrs. Sterling?” Chapter

I had hidden my identity because I didn’t want to flaunt my status, but I never expected someone would exploit that loophole to impersonate me. Mr. Davies rushed out of his office, yelling at me. “Are you kidding me?! Only two interns started today. If it’s not Miss Ashley, then who is it? You, some broke nobody who rides public bikes?!” So that was it. This morning, I had grabbed a public bike, afraid that if Julian and I commuted together, we’d be recognized. That’s how Ashley got her chance to pretend to be me. Ashley crossed her arms and threw a hundred bucks at me. “Broke people will always be broke. She can’t even buy a decent coffee without my money. Go on, get me another one.” I wasn’t about to put up with her. I picked up the extra coffee I’d bought and splashed it right on her. “This *is* hand-ground! Can’t you taste it?!” Ashley gasped in shock, but the colleagues behind her were even more frantic. They scrambled, grabbing tissues and wiping her down. “Chloe! Are you insane?! How dare you pour coffee all over Mrs. Sterling!” Mr. Davies knelt on the floor, wiping Ashley’s shoes. “Ma’am, please don’t be angry. Blame only Chloe, this has nothing to do with us!” “Oh my God! Isn’t Mrs. Sterling’s dress a designer haute couture from Versace? I remember this set is custom-made, it must be worth at least a few hundred grand!” Brenda stood there, gloating, looking at me. “Chloe, that’s over a million bucks! How are you going to pay for that, huh?” “Hilarious! With her salary, she’ll never be able to pay that off, even if she worked her whole life!” The office burst into laughter, Brenda practically crying with mirth. Ashley looked incredibly pleased. “Fine, I won’t make things difficult for you commoners. Just apologize to me. Kneel before me, sincerely, and say you’re sorry. Then we’ll let this go.” I was so infuriated I almost laughed. I pulled out my phone and transferred a few hundred bucks to her. “This cheap knockoff of yours? You think I need to work my whole life to pay for *that*?” Brenda got even more hyped. “Are you saying our Mrs. Sterling is wearing a fake? You bumpkin, have you ever even seen real luxury?” “Our Mrs. Sterling is Mr. Sterling’s wife! You know Mr. Sterling, right? He’s not just our company’s CEO, he’s the richest man in Westport!” I tugged on Ashley’s dress hem, turning it over to examine. “The label’s all wrong, and you’re claiming it’s over a million?” Ashley visibly panicked, her eyes darting around. “What nonsense! How could *you* tell if it’s real just by looking?” Brenda pulled at the hem to see. “It *does* look a little different…” “But I remember fashion bloggers saying this year’s new logo has some variations, and Mrs. Sterling’s is the latest style, isn’t it?” I shook my head. “Fine. I’m not going to argue with you. If you really think I owe you that much, go ahead and take your dress to the police. I’m ready whenever you are.” “You!” Mr. Davies was about to argue further, but Ashley stopped him. “Forget it. I’m getting married in a few days, I don’t want this to spoil my mood. It’s not that much money anyway.” Immediately, everyone started praising Ashley, saying how beautiful and kind-hearted she was, just letting such a large sum go. It was truly laughable. She was clearly just guilty. Mr. Davies suddenly waved his hand, stopping everyone. “Everyone, listen up! Mr. Sterling’s wedding is in a few days. How about we all chip in a thousand bucks each, and our department can give Mr. and Mrs. Sterling a combined gift?” The office fell silent. No one wanted to fork over that kind of money. With salaries of only a few thousand bucks a month, after rent and commuting, there wasn’t much left. Now they had to give a gift to the boss? “What? You don’t want to?” “Of course not! I’ll go first!” Brenda was the most eager. “Mr. Davies, I just transferred it to you!” The remaining colleagues grudgingly coughed up the cash. Mr. Davies counted the people, then turned to me. “Chloe, what’s your deal? You’re the only one in the whole department who hasn’t paid up.” This was beyond ridiculous! “It’s *my* wedding, so I guess I don’t need to contribute to the gift, right?” Chapter

Mr. Davies roared with laughter, practically doubled over, tears streaming down his face. “Open your eyes! Mrs. Sterling is right here! How dare you impersonate her?!” “Are you sure *I’m* the one impersonating her?” I gave them one last chance. Ashley chuckled, coming over to pat my shoulder. “Chloe, I know you’ve always envied me since high school. Envied my good grades, how many guys chased me, and now you envy me marrying into wealth and living a rich life.” “But you can’t just claim *you’re* marrying Julian Sterling, can you?” I scoffed. “Did you even check? How do you know it’s not me?” Ashley froze for a few seconds, but Brenda jumped in before her. “Everyone knows Mr. Sterling’s wife is the heiress of the Sterling family!” Ashley quickly caught on. “Exactly! I’m the only one here named Sterling, so what do you think?” They didn’t know that I had taken my mother’s maiden name. My father’s actual surname *is* Sterling. But these people were so convinced by Ashley, it was useless to argue. She wanted to impersonate me, right? Then she only had herself to blame for what happened next. “Since you’re all giving such a generous gift, and you’re so close to ‘Mrs. Sterling,’ shouldn’t you all be invited to Mr. Sterling’s wedding?” A few people looked expectantly at Ashley, waiting for her to speak. A forced smile appeared on her face. “How about you just give me the cash gifts directly? You know, the Sterling family’s banquet isn’t ordinary. The number of guests and tables are all pre-arranged. So, here’s what we’ll do: I’ll treat you all to dinner separately next time.” I scoffed loudly. “The Sterling family can’t afford an extra table?” Ashley gnawed on her lip, trying to think of an excuse. “What do you know? Mr. Sterling and Mrs. Sterling are busy enough. We don’t want to cause them any more trouble. So, we’ll just have dinner together next time.” After she spoke, Brenda looked at Ashley like a fawning puppy, waiting for her praise. Ashley beamed with satisfaction. “See? Brenda gets it.” Fine, let her keep up the charade. After work, I turned around and sent wedding invitations to every single colleague in the department. I couldn’t wait to see their expressions when they saw *me* standing beside Julian Sterling as the bride. On the wedding day, I was resting in the bridal suite when the door suddenly burst open. Mr. Davies and Brenda stormed in. “Chloe? You didn’t even contribute to the gift, and you dare to show up?!” I popped a snack into my mouth. “It’s *my* wedding. If I don’t show up, who’s Julian Sterling going to marry?” Mr. Davies sighed in exasperation. “Seriously, what did I do to deserve a delusional fangirl like you in my department?” “Delusional? Me? Don’t you want to take a good look at the wedding setup in the main hall?…” “And she’s even wearing a wedding gown! If you’re not delusional, who is?! We’ve seen plenty of women like you, fantasizing about marrying Mr. Sterling!” Brenda cut me off. I truly marveled at their imagination. Mr. Davies waved his hand at me. “Hurry up, before anyone sees, take off that wedding dress.” “Exactly! Wearing a wedding dress, trying to steal the spotlight… Are you trying to get our entire department fired?!” I was about to say something when I saw Ashley walk in. Brenda immediately ran to her to complain. “Ma’am! Look, Chloe is insane! She actually dared to wear a wedding dress to your and Mr. Sterling’s wedding!” Chapter

“Ma’am, we didn’t let her go out. The VIPs outside haven’t seen her. Please, please, don’t tell Mr. Sterling.” Ashley crossed her arms, scanning me up and down. “Chloe, I knew you were always trying to compete with me. Turns out you were eyeing my husband all along.” I countered, “Ma’am, isn’t it *your* wedding today? What, did Mr. Sterling and the Sterling family not prepare a couture gown for you?” “I, I was just coming for my hair and makeup, wasn’t I?” Ashley stammered. “Everyone, come with me. There are no more private rooms at the Grand Imperial Hotel. I’ve arranged for everyone to have a meal at the hotel next door. Let’s all go there. Especially you, Chloe, don’t cause any more trouble here.” Ashley was clearly feeling guilty. She was afraid things would get out of hand, so she wanted to get these people out of there quickly. “Since we’re already here, why don’t you go say hello to Mr. Sterling?” I asked. Ashley grew agitated. “My husband is very busy! Let’s go, now!” Seeing her anxious made me want to laugh. “What are you laughing at?! We haven’t dealt with you yet! Ma’am, we can’t let her walk out dressed like this. How about we just strip her of that wedding dress?” Brenda suggested. “You wouldn’t dare.” “What wouldn’t I dare do?! If Mr. Sterling sees this, our entire department will be in big trouble!” Brenda said, then lunged at me, trying to pull off my headpiece. My golden tiara was brutally yanked off, my scalp stinging with pain. “Brenda, are you crazy?! I told you this is *my* wedding! Ashley is a fraud, *I* am…” I didn’t even finish my sentence when Ashley slapped me. “You’re right! Strip her of that wedding dress, and then throw her out!” At her words, Mr. Davies’ repulsive gaze lingered on me, full of malicious intent and offense. I recoiled, trying to warn him off with my eyes, but he showed no sign of stopping. “The lady’s orders, I have to obey them, don’t I? Who told you to wear a wedding dress to your doom?” My mind raced, frantically trying to figure out how to escape this terrible situation. I wanted to scream for help, but Mr. Davies quickly covered my mouth, holding it shut. “Go ahead and scream! Everyone here works for the lady. Who’s going to help you? You might as well just take off your clothes quietly!” As he spoke, he reached for my waist. The wedding dress was strapless, easily torn off. I clung to it with all my might, struggling desperately to break free, but the strength difference was too great. I was pinned to the ground, unmoving. Just then, the bridal suite door opened again. “Ma’am, your…” Mrs. Miller saw the scene and dropped the tray she was carrying with a clatter. I saw my savior and screamed at her, “Mrs. Miller, tell them who the *real* Mrs. Sterling is!” Brenda laughed. “Does she even need to ask? I think you’ve lost your mind! Mrs. Miller, this lowlife dared to wear a wedding dress and cause trouble. Just tell her who the *real* Mrs. Sterling is, and make her give up!” “Exactly! This person has been causing trouble for our Mrs. Sterling at the company. We absolutely cannot let her off today!” Mrs. Miller stood there, her eyes darting back and forth between me and Ashley. She looked at Ashley, as if she were afraid of something. Chapter “Mrs. Miller, I advise you to think carefully before you speak. Today is my wedding, and I’ll be taking these colleagues to another hotel in a moment.” Mrs. Miller bit her lip, her eyes on me filled with a strange mix of confusion, guilt, and reluctance.

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Leo, the Rake Leo was a notorious playboy. After we started dating, he seemed to settle down, shedding his wild ways. Everyone said he was utterly, madly in love with me. But later, I saw him with the girl who used to bully me, laughing as he said, “Audrey? She’s just a boring, utterly unappealing deaf girl. Honestly, playing with her was a total drag.” His half-brother chuckled, “You’re willing to let her go? That’s great. Next time you see her, remember to call her sister-in-law.” Leo completely freaked out. It was Valentine’s Day, and I went to the hospital for a follow-up. “Ms. Hayes, your hearing has recovered to 60%. You can gradually stop using your hearing aid from now on.” I was practically bursting with joy at the news. My first thought was to tell Leo. But sitting in the hospital hallway, I called him three times in a row, and each call was rejected. I waited for a long time, but there was still no reply in our SnapChat chat. Disappointed, I finally put my phone away. Unexpectedly, as soon as I stepped out of the hospital, I bumped into Julian Hayes. The man leaned against his car, tall and imposing, with a sharp, cold face. Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, every move he made exuded an effortless grace and aristocratic charm that drew admiring glances from passersby. “Mr. Hayes.” I greeted him, feeling a little stiff. “What a coincidence.” Julian Hayes, the youngest CEO of The Hayes Corporation. I’d heard Leo complain more than once about how his brother was a cold-blooded, ruthless corporate shark. At this moment, the handsome corporate shark pursed his lips and suddenly asked, “Are you planning to celebrate with Leo tonight?” I answered, flustered, “Leo hasn’t replied to my messages. He’s probably still busy…” Julian let out an almost imperceptible scoff. Seeing my confused gaze, he softened his voice, his tone laced with a hint of something tempting. “It’s alright. I’m not busy now. I’ll take you to him.” Julian drove me to an exclusive club. As I was getting out of the car, he suddenly called my name. “Ms. Hayes.” The emotion in his eyes was dark and unreadable. “Do you truly, genuinely like him that much?” I froze for a moment, then smiled. “Yes, I like him a lot.” I met Leo in high school. Back then, because of my hearing loss, I was bullied at school. Once, soaked to the bone and shivering like a drowned rat, covered in foul mop water, a confident, handsome boy appeared as if from nowhere. He took off his jacket and draped it over my head. Through my damaged hearing aid, I couldn’t hear anything, but I knew the hand that pulled me up was incredibly warm and strong. My young heart fluttered like a butterfly, soft and hopeful, stirred by that unexpected kindness. Years passed, and he remained as he was that first day. Julian watched me silently for a few seconds, then lowered his gaze. “Go on in. It’s cold out here.” Before I could say anything, he had already floored the gas pedal and driven towards the parking lot. I had no choice but to take the gift I’d prepared for Leo and walk into the club. From the slightly ajar door, flickering lights spilled out, and the smell of smoke and alcohol hit me. Leo was surrounded by people, his eyes slightly narrowed, a lazy, almost bored expression on his face. I reached out to push the door open, but then I stopped. Sitting next to Leo was a woman. Her back was to me, her figure tall and elegant, her face unseen. Only a cascade of red hair shone under the shifting lights, like silk. A strange unease settled in my stomach. Then I heard someone laugh loudly, “Scarlett, you don’t stand a chance. Leo’s already hooked by Little Apple. He’s a taken man now!” Suddenly, my ears felt hot. My name is Audrey. Little Apple. That was me. Leo was naturally carefree and wild. Before we dated, he drank, smoked, raced cars… indulging in every pleasure imaginable. As for girlfriends, he’d change them weekly, never truly caring. Only after he confessed his feelings for me did he calm down a lot. Even his friends would tease him, “Leo’s quieter than a mouse around his girlfriend. He’ll probably be totally whipped later on.” At that moment, I shouldn’t have doubted him. The Ms. Scarlett with her back to me let out a soft chuckle. Her voice sounded sweet and delicate, with a hint of defiance. “Leo, are you really with her?” Leo lifted his eyelids, giving her a dismissive glance, his expression cold. He took a sip of his drink before saying, “Audrey? She’s just a boring, utterly unappealing deaf girl. Honestly, playing with her was a total drag.”

Every word was slow, every syllable clear. It felt like I’d been punched square in the gut; I couldn’t react. The room fell silent, everyone staring at Leo in shock. Ms. Scarlett chuckled again. “Is that so? I heard she’s been with you for quite a while.” Leo’s face held a carefree smile, casual and unconcerned. “So what? She’s like an apple – not bad, but so boring, completely unappetizing. No one would actively seek one out, but if someone hands one to you, would you really refuse?” I stood rooted to the spot, utterly disbelieving. A chill swept through me, sinking deep into my bones. The world around me started to blur, the sounds fading into a distant hum. In a daze, I thought I heard Ms. Scarlett ask, her voice playfully whiny, “If she’s a boring apple, then what am I?” Leo hooked her chin, his smile dangerously seductive. “You, my dear, are my little cherry.” My body trembled uncontrollably, and the gift in my hand slipped, clattering to the floor. Everyone in the room turned to look at me. Leo froze for a second, then quickly regained his composure and started walking towards me. He didn’t know I had heard all those words. Because I wasn’t sure if the treatment would work, I had never told him that my hearing was gradually returning. My mind went blank. I didn’t know what to do, only frantically fumbling in my bag for my hearing aid. It was as if putting on the hearing aid would give me a sense of security. When I looked up again, Scarlett stood before me. She smiled, her eyes sparkling. “What’s with that expression? Ms. Hayes, don’t you recognize me?” My whole body trembled, my limbs stiff. It felt like I was naked, thrown into a brutal winter storm, every breath a struggle. The woman before me was strikingly beautiful, her smile open and generous, like a kind and pure princess of noble birth. But I knew the wicked heart beneath that mask! It was overturned meals, foul-smelling sewage, never-ending ridicule and pranks, wanton insults and rumors… How could it be her? It really was her! I used every ounce of strength I had to keep standing. Then I asked Leo, who was standing to the side, “She led the bullying against me in high school. Did you know?” Scarlett stood smiling. Her expression was gentle, but her eyes held a hint of mockery. Leo’s gaze flickered, avoiding mine. His tone was casual. “Is that so? Was there such a thing? I don’t really remember…” In that instant, I saw through Leo’s expression. My mind became crystal clear. I shook my head, a tearful smile on my face, correcting him. “You remember perfectly. You knew everything.” It was just that his heart had drifted away. Leo frowned. “Scarlett’s personality is a bit direct, but back then, it was just kids playing around. Audrey, don’t be so sensitive. Besides, why would Scarlett specifically target you? Were you at fault first?” The scars he had personally witnessed were now reduced to mere “sensitivity.” He even turned it around, asking if I was at fault first. I used to believe that the most precious thing in the world was true affection. But it turns out, hearts can be so fickle, so easily swayed. “Leo, you disgust me.” My chest felt hollowed out, as if a knife had carved out my very soul, but my resolve was stronger than ever. “We’re breaking up.” Leo’s face instantly darkened, his eyes clouding with an ominous anger. “Breaking up?” He scoffed. “Audrey, who do you think would want you besides me?” My face was pale, my head throbbing with pain, as I quickly turned and left. “Audrey, don’t you dare regret this!” I wouldn’t. Leo, I might be weak, but I will never regret this.

Outside, Julian was still there. His lips moved, saying something. But my ears were ringing, my steps unsteady, and I had no energy to pay attention to him, no energy to process the situation. I could only respond, my words tumbling out, disjointed and slurred: “Ears… hurt so much. Can’t hear.” Even my hearing aid was useless. Julian’s eyes widened with urgency, and some other emotion I couldn’t quite grasp. Before I could make sense of it, I fainted. I had a dream. The dream was chaotic yet familiar. A woman lay in a bathtub, gently beckoning to me. I ran to her, calling “Mom,” and heard her sigh, “If only I couldn’t hear anything, it would be so much better.” How could not hearing be better? Mom, I don’t understand. As I drew closer, I saw her skin was ashen, and the bathtub was filled with blood. Empty pill bottles were scattered across the cold, damp floor. I stumbled back a few steps, falling down the stairs. From then on, my ears heard no sound; the whole world seemed even quieter than a winter’s night. Looking up again, the scene suddenly shifted, but the empty pill bottles were still at my feet. Someone picked one up, shook a few pills into their mouth, and chewed them like candy. I cried out, rushing towards him, snatching the pills from his hand. “These are bitter. Little brother, I’ll give you candy, okay?” He took the candy, silently shedding tears, not speaking. The scene shifted again. A beautifully dressed girl smirked and said to the person next to her, “That little deafy is always so dull, so boring. Why don’t we cut her skirt?” Suddenly, someone grabbed my hand from behind. I couldn’t hear his voice, but his palm felt so warm and strong. Hope and joy surged in my heart, and I turned around, calling out, “Leo!” He affectionately ruffled my hair, smiling brightly. However, the next instant, his eyes turned cold, and he pushed me forward! I fell into a torrent of churning lava. Burning, painful, terrifying, bewildered. I couldn’t break free. In a blur, I felt parched. Suddenly, a soft, damp touch brushed my lips, bringing a comforting coolness. I used all my strength, my limbs wrapping around him, like a child desperate for candy, clinging on and refusing to let go. I ground against him, constantly taking, swallowing those few drops of moisture with desperate whimpers. But that coolness quickly turned to scorching heat, accompanied by deep gasps and unrestrained affection. “Hot,” I frowned, pulling away. “Little Apple…” someone whispered softly. I stubbornly tried to move away. That person sighed, a helpless yet indulgent sound, incredibly gentle. When he returned, he carefully wiped my forehead, hands, and feet with an alcohol-scented damp towel, repeating the motion tirelessly. Until I escaped the nightmare and fell into a peaceful sleep. I woke up the next morning. I was at Julian’s suburban mansion. He explained, “I was worried the night emergency room wouldn’t take good care of you, so I took the liberty of bringing you here and calling my family doctor.” I nodded, then heard him say, “Ms. Hayes, I’m hosting a dinner party here tomorrow night. Would you consider being my escort?” I instinctively wanted to escape. “I want to go back to school. My graduation project isn’t finished yet…” Julian thought for a moment, his expression serious. “This is a suburban area; you won’t be able to get a cab. And given the current fluctuations in your hearing, I can’t let you drive back alone. That would violate traffic safety laws.” …He had a point, and he had taken such good care of me yesterday. I couldn’t refuse. I could only carefully ask, “Will Leo be there tomorrow?” “Do you want to see him? If you don’t…” “No, no!” I quickly waved my hand. “It’s fine.” Julian had been so kind to take care of me when I was ill. Who was I to ask him to cause friction between brothers? Julian didn’t speak. After a long moment, he let out a soft, cool chuckle, and his gentle, clear eyes became unreadable. “Alright,” he said. “If you wish, then he’ll come.”

The Hayes family, true to their name, were the epitome of power and wealth in this city’s most affluent district. The room glittered with opulent gowns and sparkling jewels, filled with the murmur of conversations and the clinking of champagne flutes. The only downside was running into Scarlett. With no one nearby, she dropped her gentle facade. “Talking about breaking up with Leo, but still sniffing around like a stray dog. Audrey, do you even belong here? Are you worthy?” I didn’t want to get into it with her and turned to leave. A flash of malice crossed Scarlett’s eyes, and she actually grabbed my hair and yanked it back. “Did I say you could leave? Years apart, and your guts have certainly grown.” I was trembling with rage and tightly gripped Scarlett’s hand. My nails dug into her skin, leaving several clear red marks. Scarlett cried out in pain, her fury intensifying. She violently flung my hair away, tearing off my left hearing aid in the process. My hearing, which had been gradually recovering, had already faded due to the previous shock. Without a hearing aid now, I was completely deaf. “Stop!” My eyes burned red with fury as I tried to stop her. However, in the next instant, Scarlett’s high heel stomped fiercely on my hearing aid, grinding it into pieces. “You…” I gasped for air, enraged. “You’re going too far!” Scarlett actually smiled sweetly. “Oh, and what of it?” A fiery rage surged through me, threatening to consume me whole. I raised my hand and swung it, aiming for her temple! “Audrey!” I heard Leo shout from not far away. The commotion was quite loud, and scattered groups of people in the distance turned to look. Scarlett stood there, a bright red handprint on her face, utterly stunned. Leo quickly walked over, his face somewhat grim. He shielded Scarlett behind him. “Audrey, what are you doing?” My tone was cold. “What am I doing? Didn’t you see?” Leo sighed, softening his voice a little. “I know you came here specifically for me today. But in a place like this, you really shouldn’t make such a scene. Audrey, apologize to Scarlett, and I’ll forgive you, okay?” For a moment, I didn’t react. Then it dawned on me—he probably thought I had gone to all this trouble to show up here just to find a chance to get back together with him. Could a person’s cheek be this thick? “Leo, I remember telling you,” I said, every word slow and deliberate, “we’re already broken up.” Leo’s eyes darkened. “Audrey, don’t make a fuss. Apologize.” I almost scoffed. “Leo, do you want a slap too?” Leo abruptly seized my wrist, his expression clouded with dark fury. “Audrey, if you don’t back down, you’ll really lose your chance.” The next moment, someone chuckled from a distance. Leo looked behind me, his face suddenly changing. Julian walked forward with a relaxed stride, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. His voice, unwavering like mountains and seas, spoke. “In that case, next time you see her, remember to call her sister-in-law.” Leo and Scarlett were escorted out by security. The expressions on their faces as they left were a mix of shock and rage. Leo even yelled hoarsely, “Audrey, you can hate me, but you can’t choose him! What kind of good guy is Julian Hayes?!”

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It had been three years since our breakup. My childhood sweetheart, Liam, and I were back together again. He treated me just as he always had, maybe even more thoughtfully than before. I truly believed this time, we were finally on the right track, headed for a happy ending. Until I happened to pass by the private booth next door. I heard Liam’s friends teasing him. “Didn’t you say you were done with Chloe? How is this fair to Cassie?” Inside the booth, Liam’s eyes were slightly glazed over, but his words were crystal clear. I watched him gently squeeze the slender neck of the girl beside him. He chuckled, playfully chiding, “Cut the crap. Be there on time for the wedding next month.” The private booth was loud and boisterous. But Liam’s voice cut through the noise, clear as day. My body went cold. I had to brace myself against the wall to keep from collapsing. The conversation inside continued. “I’m telling you, just be straight with her. You finally managed to win Cassie back and sweet-talked her into agreeing to marry you. Don’t mess this up now.” It was another voice. Jake, Liam’s best friend. He was also a witness to our on-again, off-again relationship for years. Liam waved a hand, shrugging it off. “What’s the point of just nagging me? Why don’t you tell her to keep her distance from that boss of hers?” Jake gave Liam a fed-up kick. “Cassie already said she wasn’t dating him during those three years you guys were broken up…” “And you believed her? The rumors about her and her boss have been going wild at the office! I was the only idiot kept in the dark…” His voice grew more bitter as he continued. “Always working late, always out entertaining clients—who knows if she was actually in the office or in someone’s bed!” Those words were truly disgusting. Everyone in the room was too stunned to speak. And I, standing outside the door, felt my blood run cold. A shiver that I couldn’t control ran through me. It’s already tough enough for women in the workplace. Arthur had only taken me under his wing because I was a former student of his. I honestly believe I worked myself to the bone to earn this position today. I’ve been fair to everyone. But to avoid Liam misunderstanding, I clearly told him the situation on the very first day we got back together. Liam had also told me more than once that he trusted me and supported my work. But I never imagined he was actually thinking this about me behind my back. And slandering me with such disgusting words in front of all his friends. If I hadn’t happened to pass by this booth, was he planning to just trick me into marrying him? That would be absolutely terrifying. In that instant, my brain made the decision faster than my heart. I pulled open the door, walked straight up to Liam. Before he could even react. *Smack!* The sound echoed through the entire room. I slapped Liam. It landed with a lot of force. Two seconds later, the girl beside him shrieked, crying as she reached out to touch his face. But Liam abruptly pushed her away. He stood up, flustered, and started to explain to me. “Listen, I can explain…” “Liam, we’re done.”

Tonight, I’d successfully closed a huge deal. I’d put on a brave face and drank myself silly. I had planned to use this bonus as our honeymoon fund, for Liam and me. But by a cruel twist of fate, I ended up hearing his true thoughts instead. Destiny truly loves to play jokes on me. I flexed my numb hand, stumbling towards the restroom. Looking up, I saw my eyes looked terrifyingly hollow. I splashed cold water on my face, hoping to calm down. But somehow, I couldn’t seem to wipe the water from my face. My eyes just kept getting redder. A wave of delayed grief hit me like a ton of bricks. I just crouched there and cried until I had no tears left, setting a five-minute alarm. When the alarm rang, I slowly calmed down. The dinner wasn’t over, and the clients hadn’t left yet. This wasn’t the time to lose myself in emotion. So, while no one was looking, I slipped back into the private booth. “What took you so long?” Arthur, my boss, sitting beside me, turned his head to look. His eyes burned into mine, as if he could see straight into my soul. I nervously avoided his gaze, casually made up a lie. “Ran into someone I knew. Just said a quick hello.” Arthur nodded, saying nothing more. Ten minutes later, the dinner ended. A sigh of relief escaped me. I’d expected to stay until midnight tonight, but it ended so early. Good. I’d have a little more time to sort out my messed-up feelings. And it wouldn’t affect my work performance the next day. After seeing the clients off, Arthur and I stood at the entrance, waiting for the company driver. Suddenly, he pointed at the dark circles under my eyes and spoke calmly: “Go home and get some rest. Your eyes are all red from staying up.” I froze. Just as I was about to say something, I was interrupted by an angry shout. “Cassie!” Not far away, Liam was glaring at us, furious. “Was I wrong about anything I said just now? If there’s nothing going on between you two, then why did you lie to me tonight and say he wouldn’t be here?” Before I left for the client dinner, Liam had asked me if my boss would be there tonight. I’d said no because I truly hadn’t received any notification. Who knew the client was difficult and insisted Arthur oversee the signing before they’d agree to the contract? My colleagues had no choice but to ask Arthur to come. But I couldn’t bring myself to say any of this to someone who clearly didn’t trust me. I slapped his hand away from where he was pointing at Arthur, warning him coldly: “Liam, this is between *us*. Be respectful to other people.” Liam probably hadn’t expected me to disrespect him so openly in front of others. He gritted his teeth, repeating “Fine, fine” through them. “This is all because of him, isn’t it? That’s why you want to break up with me? “Well, guess what, I don’t agree!” With that, Liam stormed off in a huff. Fuming, I wanted to chase after him and argue. But suddenly, my wrist was grabbed. I turned my head. A strange emotion flickered in Arthur’s usually stoic eyes. “That childish, ridiculous man—is he really worth you going back to him again and again? Cassie, did he save your life or something?”

Arthur was a year ahead of me in school. He was a campus legend I’d heard about frequently during my college years. Everyone who knew him always praised how gentle and polite he was in how he treated everyone. And in the three years I’d worked under him, he’d lost his temper with me only twice. Once was when I first started. I’d swallowed my pride and put up with a harassing client just to get the company a deal. He chewed me out for not knowing how to protect myself. The second time was just now. He mocked me for being upset over a worthless man. But what Arthur didn’t know was that Liam really *had* saved my life.

Liam and I were next-door neighbors. He was only twelve when he first moved in. I was two years older than him. One time, the kids in our neighborhood were playing together. I walked by and was playfully pushed into the river. The river wasn’t deep, but it was deep enough to be life-threatening for fourteen-year-old me. The other kids either froze in fear or scattered, terrified of getting into trouble. Only Liam. Without a second thought, he jumped right into the water. He struggled to pull me out. CPR, chest compressions—he did everything he could. When I finally opened my eyes to the world again, the first thing I saw was Liam’s clear, innocent eyes. That night, my parents went to Liam’s house with some fruit and milk to thank them. Once inside, we found Liam getting yelled at by both his parents. When we asked why, I found out. Liam, who’d just saved me, had only been taking swimming lessons for three days at that point. One wrong move, and both of us could have drowned in that little river. He was grimacing from the scolding, but still managed to greet us: “Cassie, Uncle, Auntie, please make yourselves comfortable…” Because he saved my life, Liam and I were always close growing up. Once we hit our teenage years, that closeness became even more apparent. I was the first to realize it. Liam really wasn’t good at hiding his feelings. After I called him out, he actually got all shy and awkward before confessing to me. “Cassie,” he’d said, all flustered, “I’ve liked you since we were kids. And I can tell you like me too. We’ve already kissed, so why don’t you just say yes…?” In my panic, I blushed and used my grades as an excuse. “Your grades are terrible! No one’s going to want you!” I never thought Liam would actually buckle down and study harder because of that one sentence. His grades weren’t bad to begin with; he just had a lazy approach to studying. Now that he was actually putting in the effort, the results were incredibly obvious. But when he confessed again, I still turned him down. “Liam, I’m not ready for a serious relationship right now.” He didn’t get angry, just confidently raised an eyebrow at me. “Fine,” he’d said, a confident smirk on his face, “but I’ll stand proudly by your side one day. You’ll see.” His confidence wasn’t misplaced. Because two years later, we really did get together.

When he first went to college, that was the most carefree time of our lives. We did all the things couples in love do. Sweet gestures, thoughtful gifts, exciting surprises. Every day was a new adventure. But the turning point came because of that. He was handsome, and had a charming personality. When he first started college, lots of girls loved chatting with him. He’d smile and chat right back. Boundaries between men and women—he just couldn’t grasp them. I’d walked in on them a few times, and we argued about it countless times. But it always ended with me heartbroken and him feeling misunderstood. Liam didn’t understand why I got so angry over him just talking to someone. And I didn’t understand why he couldn’t keep his distance from other people. Too many petty arguments can really damage a relationship. We started constantly breaking up and making up, and eventually, we were both exhausted from the drama. Liam couldn’t take it anymore and initiated the breakup. He chose to study abroad. I, too, grew rapidly during those years, becoming the professional woman I’d always aspired to be. And it was then that Liam came back. He came back with an engagement ring. … My silence stretched on. Arthur finally let go of my hand, letting out a silent sigh. “I’m giving you three days off. Take some time to think things through.” Snapping out of my reverie, I nodded wearily. “Okay.”

Back home, I tore up the marriage leave request I’d prepared a week ago. I started thinking about how I’d spend these next three days. Maybe I was just too tired today, too drained to think about anything that upset me. The moment my head hit the pillow, I was out cold. But my sleep was restless. Fragments of memories about Liam kept appearing in my dreams. I also dreamed about the girl sitting beside him. Her name was Chloe. She was a hardworking student Liam had sponsored while abroad. After we got back together, we’d confessed our three years apart to each other. I hadn’t dated anyone. And Liam had completely changed from his usual thoughtless self, quietly studying abroad. But Chloe was an exception. Liam said the resilient look in her eyes reminded him of me, and that was why he chose to sponsor her. Over time, they developed feelings for each other. Liam said they had a brief relationship. But ultimately, she wasn’t me. In the end, he chose to break up with her and come back home to try and win me over again. And it was then that I impulsively agreed to his proposal. And he had completely cut ties with Chloe. But then the scene shifted in my dream. I dreamed of his hand gently stroking Chloe’s neck again. Such an intimate and natural gesture—how could that be “cutting ties”? Liam… he hadn’t changed at all, right from the start. The dream turned nightmarish at that moment. I snapped awake, as if I was trapped in a suffocating shroud of black mist. It was four in the morning. I was wide awake. There wasn’t much of Liam’s stuff at my place. Most of his belongings, along with mine, had already been moved to our wedding house. It was a new house we’d both loved, after looking at so many options, that he’d bought a month after returning home. Now, my only comfort was that he’d paid for it in full. We didn’t have any property division issues to sort out yet. Thinking about this, my heart still sank. When Liam first came back, I truly planned on making things work with him. I thought we could both be more tolerant, more compromising. After all, we’d loved each other for so long. And found it so hard to forget each other. But when Chloe reappeared by his side. The moment those ugly words came out of his mouth. I realized how foolish I’d been. Liam was still Liam. He couldn’t be tolerant, couldn’t compromise. He couldn’t even guarantee his love. While I was still lost in thought, my phone rang. It was Jake. I pulled at the corner of my lips, a sarcastic smile playing on them. For so many years, whenever Liam and I argued, he’d come over afterward to play the mediator. But things had been so tense last night, I was curious how he’d even try to convince me now. “Cassie, I’m not getting involved in your business anymore. But I hope you two can really clear the air before you go your separate ways. So you don’t have any regrets later.” “Regret? Why would I regret it? Finding out before the wedding means it’s a blessing in disguise.” I spoke softly. Jake fell silent. After hanging up, I lay on the couch for a while. It was true, I should have a proper talk with Liam. I needed to explain things to my parents, at least. But I couldn’t get through to Liam’s phone. I remembered that when we first got back together, he’d linked a location-sharing app to my phone. I dug it out and opened it. It showed he was at a hospital. I didn’t overthink it. I quickly got ready and hailed a cab. My time off was almost over—only two and a half days left. I needed to get these things sorted out quickly. The location sharing was precise—it even showed the building and floor. I made my way to the hospital room. And that’s how I unexpectedly heard Chloe’s familiar voice. “Liam, it hurts so much.” Inside the room, Liam had his back to me. He gently ruffled Chloe’s hair, his voice filled with remorse. “I’m sorry. I won’t let you get hurt next time.” Chloe’s response was to wrap an arm around his waist. She smiled sweetly. “I never blamed you.” Anyone seeing this scene would assume they were a loving couple. Even I felt a moment of confusion. But I’d grown so much in these three years. It hadn’t even been ten hours since we’d ripped each other apart last night. And I could already suppress the pain in my heart, knocking on the door without batting an eye. “Liam, step outside for a moment.” 8. Liam frantically rushed out, breathlessly explaining to me. “When I pushed Chloe away yesterday, I hurt her, that’s why I brought her to the hospital.” He grabbed my hand, his voice catching slightly.

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At the new product launch, Liam stripped off my dress in front of everyone. Within hours, photos of me desperately trying to cover myself were trending across Ins. He held up his phone, a smug grin plastered across his face: “You’re just a pathetic stand-in, a replacement. And you actually think you can have it all? A family and a career?” “You’re wearing my mom’s eyes, so act like it! Stay home and be nothing more than my personal maid!” The vile comments online were hard to swallow. But they didn’t cut me as deep as Alexander’s cold, hateful gaze. That chilled me to the bone. Twenty years ago, I was kidnapped. I had no choice. Twelve years ago, when my birth parents found me, I had no choice. Eight years ago, when I was married off to Alexander as a stand-in for my adoptive sister, I had no choice. Now. I want to make my own choice. From this day forward, I’m done walking this path with you all. 0 I scrambled to wrap myself in a tablecloth, fumbling to end the live stream. Liam laughed, triumphant. “Serves you right! You killed my mom, this is your karma!” “I let you live, I didn’t demand blood for blood. That’s mercy!” He was only eight years old. Words like that, he had clearly learned from someone else. I frowned, trying to explain. “Your mom’s death had nothing to do with me.” My adoptive sister, Brooke, had died in a drunk driving accident back then. I wasn’t even there. A flicker of guilt crossed Liam’s young face. He kicked the table violently, then stomped off, seething. A few years ago, I would have chased after him, held him close, and patiently explained everything. But now, I walked back to my room without a word. I didn’t expect what I found when I opened the door. All the clothes I’d prepared for the launch were slashed and torn, scattered across the floor. Especially the custom-made silk gown, made from that exclusive Xiangyunsha fabric, which the client had pre-ordered. It was completely ruined. That fabric was out of stock, and there was no way to get a new dress made in time. Liam’s delighted laughter echoed from behind me. He held a pair of scissors, his face contorted in a sneer. “Scarlett, you stole my mom’s eyes.” “Now I’m going to make you feel what it’s like to lose something, too.” He plunged the scissors viciously into a fabric doll on the table, his eyes pure venom. I stood amidst the wreckage, watching him walk away, utterly speechless. Years ago, when I finally came home after being kidnapped for over a decade. I discovered that Brooke had already claimed my family’s entire affection. The home I’d dreamed of, longed for, wasn’t warm or welcoming at all. After she died, my mom sent me to Alexander’s house. His only demand was that I conceive and carry his child with Brooke. I’d lived thirty years and never once known genuine family love. The child I carried for nine months, the one I raised for eight years, now saw me as his enemy. My eyes burned, dry and aching. My heart felt like a block of ice. I knelt, starting to clean up the mess. A pair of feet stopped in front of me. I looked up to see Alexander, his gaze soft as he sighed. His eyes held a gentle warmth, but his voice was chillingly detached. “Scarlett, you handled this situation badly.” He extended a hand to me, like offering charity. “Liam is only eight. He needs your undivided attention.” As I stood, more torn fabric fluttered to the floor. Alexander’s gaze softened a little, perhaps pitying my futile struggle. “You should cherish Brooke’s eyes. I’ve seen you pull all-nighters on your design drafts a few times. What if you damage *her* eyes?” “This is a good opportunity to close your online shop. I’ll cover the compensation costs for you.” His hand traced my cheek, his gaze fixed on my eyes, lost in thought. “Just listen to me. You know why I keep you around.” I understood, of course. Because of Brooke’s eyes. It was insane, the depth of his obsession with another woman. Every time we were intimate, he wouldn’t let me close my eyes. He looked through me, seeing only her. I had dedicated eight years to serving them, yet I never managed to warm their hearts. He pulled me into his embrace, his hot breath on my neck. “Scarlett, if you’re truly lonely…” “I can allow you to have a child with me.” His lips were warm and soft, brushing my cheek and the corner of my mouth. His embrace was scalding, but I felt like I was plunging into an ice cave. Back then, Alexander hadn’t wanted me at first. But Mom told him that Brooke had frozen her eggs beforehand, and I could be the ‘vessel’ for their love child. Only then did Alexander relent. Later, when he was drunk and pinned me down, the first thing he said upon waking was: “Don’t ever dream of having my child. You’re not worthy.” He watched, ensuring I took my birth control, time and time again. Now, eight years later, facing his rare ‘generosity’… I didn’t feel a flicker of gratitude. Instead, I turned my head, avoiding his kiss. “My time is up.” “Alexander, I’m leaving.” 0

Interrupted, Alexander’s expression hardened with anger. “All this over a ruined dress?” “Liam is eight, he’s just a child!” “You’re supposedly his mother! I haven’t even asked what you’ve been doing these past eight years that made the kid hate you so much. And you have the nerve to throw a tantrum?” Mother? How could I possibly be? I wasn’t even his lover, just a vessel, a convenient body to satisfy his needs. There were countless others who could replace me. Years ago, he had been engaged to me, but then he fell for my adoptive sister, Brooke. He swore that even if I returned, he would only marry her. Alexander orchestrated a lavish proposal, a fairytale event. Everyone there celebrated their eternal bond. But then, Brooke suddenly died in a drunk driving accident. My parents refused to give up the opportunity to marry into the prestigious Alexander family. Seeing Alexander consumed by grief, they hatched the plan to send me to his house. Because of the abuse I suffered from my foster parents, my eyes were almost blind. So, Mom arranged for Brooke’s cornea to be transplanted into my eyes. Alexander, maddened by longing, obsessed with the idea of a child that shared Brooke’s blood. And because of my eyes, he agreed to let me move in. The agreement was that I would stay for eight years, raise Liam, and then I could leave. No wedding dress, no ceremony, not even a marriage certificate. From beginning to end, no one ever asked if I wanted any of it. I lowered my gaze, stating calmly, “I’m not throwing a tantrum.” “It was just an eight-year agreement.” “Being here without a proper title, I’m also delaying you from finding someone new.” Alexander’s brows relaxed, and his rigid posture softened considerably. “Scarlett.” He sighed, coaxing gently, “All this fuss you’re making, it’s just because you want a proper title, isn’t it?” “Actually, if you’re a good girl, and if you give me a son this time, I can consider marrying you.” “No, it’s not.” When I was a child, my foster parents beat me, and I rarely had a full meal. After being found, I was like air in my own family, treated only as a tool to be used. I had never been loved myself. How could I bear to bring a child into this world to suffer? I stepped back half a pace, pulling out a pre-prepared folder from my bag. “All the recipes are saved on this flash drive.” “Liam’s preferences, his academic progress, his extracurricular class schedules – I’ve detailed everything.” “Liam is grown now, and he hates me so much. My presence here will only hinder his growth.” “You should find a good tutor to guide him.” Alexander reached out and gripped my chin, his gentle facade cracking. “Scarlett, since when do *you* get to make decisions?” He snatched the flash drive, throwing it against the wall. It shattered, parts scattering everywhere. His long fingers slowly tore the remaining papers. He spoke emotionlessly, “Don’t test my patience.” “I’m letting this go because you raised Liam and because of *those eyes*. This time, I won’t hold it against you.” “Go back to your room. Close your online shop. You’re not leaving the house for a single step this month!” He yanked open the door, coldly ordering his staff: “Take her home immediately. And make sure she stays put.” As the car drove towards the house. We passed a park where many parents were flying kites with their children. The kites soared high on the wind. But they were always firmly tethered by a thin string. Before I was sent to Alexander’s house, Mom took me to a high-end clinic, getting me a slew of cosmetic procedures to make me resemble Brooke. Mom meticulously coached me on all of Brooke’s preferences: her clothing styles, her favorite perfumes, the foods she loved, everything. I watched myself in the mirror, becoming more and more unfamiliar. Mom came up behind me, resting her hands on my shoulders, and placed a delicate silver charm bracelet on my wrist. “This was Brooke’s. Wear it to constantly remind yourself how you got into the Alexander family.” “Don’t feel wronged. The Alexander family is worth hundreds of millions. How many women are desperate to get close to him?” “Remember this. It’s your leverage to stay in the Alexander house.” “When you become Mrs. Alexander later, you’ll thank me.” I was obedient, mimicking Brooke’s every move. Alexander was very pleased with me over the years. That’s why he even allowed me to open my own online shop and do designs. But a fake can never become real. Charity can easily be withdrawn. … I was just about to head upstairs. A bucket of dirty water rained down from above. Liam stood on the steps, laughing hysterically. “Scarlett, does my pee smell good?” “If you don’t stop clinging to my house, next time I’ll make you eat sh*t, I swear!” I was covered in filth, and the house staff all hid in the background, watching the show. He was clearly delighted with his prank. Forgetting every lesson I had ever taught him. When Mom visited me shortly after Liam was born, she had said, “Even if he’s not your flesh and blood, he came from your belly.” “Raise him well, and you’ll find peace in your old age.” The moment I held the tiny infant in my arms, my heart melted completely. In those ordinary, fragmented moments, I harbored a hope I shouldn’t have. Now, the pretense was over. It all ended in nothing. 0

I clenched my fists, looking up at him. “Liam, ‘even small evils can have big consequences.’ Have you forgotten that so quickly?” Then I saw a woman, scantily clad, stroll lazily out of Alexander’s room. “Scarlett, Liam is still young. It’s normal for him to be a little mischievous. Don’t be so harsh.” Liam immediately flung himself into her arms. “Aunt Serena, you’re so much nicer to me. You have no idea what I’ve been through these past few years!” “I heard she lived in a pigsty after she was kidnapped. No wonder she always smells bad!” “You’re nothing like Aunt Serena, always smelling sweet and soft.” My heart clenched. Back then, at my foster parents’ house, I rarely ate a full meal, and my health was always poor. Even after coming to the Alexander house, I’d get sick every few days. Because Alexander disliked me, the house staff didn’t treat me kindly either. Only little Liam would sneak into my room at night. He’d press handfuls of candy into my hand. “Aunt Scarlett, eat this. The candy will make the pain go away.” His small hand would cover the old scars on my body, and he’d say in his baby voice, but with fierce determination, “When I grow up, I’ll beat up the bad guys for you, Auntie!” How could I have known then? That the little boy who promised to protect me would grow into the sharp blade that cut me deepest. The surrounding staff didn’t bother to lower their voices. “Didn’t she say she was leaving? How does she have the nerve to come back?” “Oh, come on, she just wants to threaten Mr. Alexander into marrying her, doesn’t she? You don’t get that little trick?” “Mr. Alexander never intended to marry her anyway. It was her mom who pushed her here, begging. She didn’t even care about a title, just slept with him for eight years. If she were my daughter, I’d break her legs and throw her out.” Serena was Alexander’s secretary in name, but in reality, she was his kept woman, his little ‘golden canary’. She watched me, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “Scarlett, it’s exhausting trying to hold onto something that doesn’t belong to you.” I lowered my gaze, ignoring her. As I started upstairs, the front door swung open. Mom walked in, her face instantly sour when she saw my appearance. “What in the world did you do to yourself?” She pushed me towards my room to clean up. Her voice, muffled by the bathroom door, sounded strangely unreal. “Scarlett, a little tantrum is enough. Do you really think you’re Brooke? You actually dared to threaten Alexander with leaving?” “How could you be so stupid, letting some cheap woman from outside get the better of you?” Seeing my continued silence, she yanked open the bathroom door. Water sprayed down, blurring my face; I couldn’t tell if it was water or tears. “Mom, I’m not happy.” My mom froze for a moment. I wrapped myself in a towel and moved past her. She grabbed my wrist, then whirled around and slapped me across the face. “Scarlett, are you awake now?” “Know your place. If you leave Alexander, you have no education, no skills. How will you survive?” I covered my face, tears streaming down. Seeing my continued silence, Mom softened her tone and reached for my hand. “Scarlett, how could a mother not care for her child? I’m doing this for your own good!” “Your dad’s company relies entirely on the Alexander family’s support to survive. Our family just bought that villa, and we still have millions in mortgage payments.” “Your brother and his wife are about to have their third child. It’s when they need money the most. If you upset Alexander now, do you want our whole family to die?” “Liam is just a child, no matter how harsh he sounds, he must still care about you deep down. You’ve looked after him for eight years; even a dog would develop feelings. As long as you coax him well, he’ll come around.” When disappointment reached its peak, my heart somehow stopped feeling pain. Honestly, I knew she had never truly loved me. But after being kidnapped, my foster parents’ abuse was so brutal that I desperately tried to recall the image of my birth mother holding me. Thinking of it so often, it became a tiny beacon of light. But a fake is always fake. When I finally let go of that obsession, when I personally burst that illusory bubble. The brutal reality that had been hidden beneath was finally exposed. I pulled out the suitcase I had already packed. “Mom, I’ve never had a choice in my life.” “But now, I want to choose for myself, just this once.” “From now on, I’m not walking this path with you all anymore.” I yanked open the door. Alexander’s brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes swirling with barely concealed fury. “Who said you could leave?” 0 He rubbed his temples, as if dealing with a disobedient pet. He coaxed, somewhat perfunctorily: “Why are you suddenly being so stubborn? Besides your parents, you have a brother, a sister-in-law, and two kids. Where will you even live if you go back?”

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My husband’s idealized first love got engaged. To make her regret it, he abandoned me right after our wedding and left for a scientific expedition in Antarctica. I visited him 66 times during that period, but all my attempts were futile. Five years later, I stopped. I was laughing and chatting at my birthday party when he suddenly appeared. He looked at my slightly swollen belly, his face twisted in anguish. “I was away for five years, and you never once bothered with me. Whose bastard child is that in your belly?” I replied calmly, “It’s none of your business. Legally, a couple can divorce after two years of separation.” Hearing that, Brandon Sterling kicked over the birthday cake, furious. “Chloe Sterling, I’ve only been working away for five years, and you’ve already gotten yourself pregnant.” “You’re so despicable. Tell me, whose bastard is it? I’ll make sure he can’t even show his face in this city.” Seeing my carefully prepared birthday party ruined by Brandon, my temper flared too. “Brandon Sterling, this isn’t your playground. Stop acting like a lunatic. If you’re sick, go to a hospital.” When Brandon heard the word “hospital,” his emotions instantly surged. He grabbed my arm and started dragging me out. “Bitch, we’re going to the hospital right now for an abortion.” Brandon’s strength was immense; I had no room to struggle. Just then, Grandma Sterling heard the commotion and rushed over, leaning on her cane. Seeing Brandon’s brutal actions, her heart leaped into her throat. “Brandon, let go of Chloe immediately!” “Chloe is carrying…” Brandon’s anger seemed to calm slightly when he saw Grandma, but it surged again when he heard her words. He cut Grandma Sterling off directly. “Chloe Sterling, you’re quite the manipulative one, you’ve even got Grandma wrapped around your finger.” With that, he raised his other hand and brutally slapped my face. My lip instantly split, and my cheek swelled red. Grandma Sterling was shocked by the scene. She immediately tried to pull me free from Brandon’s grip. But Brandon’s bodyguards blocked her, preventing her from getting close. Brandon told his bodyguards to call a private hospital doctor to prepare for the abortion. He arranged everything while dragging me to the car. Grandma Sterling stubbornly followed the bodyguards into another car. None of our friends around us offered a hand. Instead, they watched the scene unfold with gleeful schadenfreude. The Sterling family was wealthy and influential, and they didn’t want to offend Brandon, preferring to curry favor with him. The car quickly arrived at a private hospital. Dr. Hayes, the Dean, personally came out to greet Brandon. Brandon ignored the Dean’s obsequious flattery, dragging me straight to the obstetrics and gynecology department. “Brandon Sterling, let go of me! The child in my belly is…” Before I could finish speaking, I ran straight into Serena, who had just come out of the doctor’s office. She was Brandon’s ex-sister-in-law, and the idealized woman he could never forget. The moment she saw Brandon, she happily ran over and hugged him tightly. “Brandon, I’m finally pregnant!” After saying that, she looked at Brandon with deep affection. Brandon released my hand and carefully embraced Serena. “Serena, you’re pregnant, why are you still so reckless? Be careful.” Serena giggled playfully, then her eyes caught sight of me, and she exclaimed in surprise, “Sister-in-law, you’re pregnant?” Seeing their intimate actions at that moment, I instantly understood. Why Brandon had been gone for five years, and why Serena had also disappeared for five years. It turned out they had been involved all along. I ignored the challenge in Serena’s eyes and replied calmly, “Brandon Sterling, we are no longer married, and besides, you’re with Serena now. Let me go immediately, or you won’t be able to handle the consequences.” Though Grandma Sterling was shocked by Brandon and Serena’s entanglement, her immediate concern was preventing Brandon from doing something extreme. “Brandon, let Chloe go back and rest now.” Brandon instantly released Serena, demanding in a sharp voice, “Grandma, Chloe cheated on me! She’s carrying a bastard child! Do you expect me to just turn a blind eye?!” Grandma Sterling heard his intent to not give up easily. She quickly said, “Brandon, the child in Chloe’s belly isn’t a bastard, it’s…”

Before Grandma Sterling could finish speaking, Serena interrupted, “Brandon, Grandma doesn’t look well. Is Chloe not taking good care of her? Or perhaps Grandma is being threatened by Chloe?” Hearing this, I found it utterly ridiculous. “Brandon Sterling, Grandma raised you. You just left for five years. You know better than anyone why Grandma’s spirits are low.” Serena scoffed, walking up to me. “You were the one who came between Brandon and me in the first place! Why Brandon left, don’t you know?” With that, Serena violently shoved me. My belly slammed into a gurney placed in the hallway, and a sharp pain instantly shot through me. A warm gush flowed down my thighs. Grandma Sterling saw it and looked utterly frantic. “Doctor, quickly, come look! Nothing can happen to Chloe’s baby!” The doctor and nurses were about to come check, but Brandon barked at them, “No one is to go near her! Today, I’m going to make her abort that bastard!” At Dr. Hayes’s signal, the doctors and nurses didn’t dare move. Serena sneered, “Sister-in-law is carrying some unknown bastard, betraying Brandon. How does she even have the nerve to ask for doctors from his family’s hospital to examine her?” Grandma Sterling anxiously fumbled in her bag for her phone, ready to call for help. Brandon saw her and had his bodyguards confiscate Grandma’s phone. “Grandma, what kind of spell did this bitch Chloe cast on you? You’re still trying to find someone to help her now.” “Grandma, I’m telling you, this bastard cannot be kept.” Grandma Sterling was utterly shocked. “Brandon, I’m your grandmother! Are you not going to listen to me anymore?” With that, Grandma Sterling went to help me up and tried to lead me outside, planning to find another hospital. But the bodyguards held her back. “Brandon Sterling, don’t you dare act crazy here!” I struggled to stand, clutching my belly, cold sweat pouring down my body. “The child in my belly is not something you can touch. Let me go now, or you won’t be able to handle the consequences!” Brandon stared at me, silent for a moment. Just then, Serena opened a live stream on her phone. She tiptoed and whispered something in Brandon’s ear. Brandon took the phone Serena handed him, pointing it at me. “Chloe Sterling, since you don’t want a proper abortion at the hospital, I’ll find another way.” “I’ll make sure you remember the consequences of betraying me.” Brandon had his bodyguards tie me to the hospital bed. My eyes widened in terror as I watched the bodyguards with clubs. I thrashed my arms and legs desperately, trying to break free. At this point, I couldn’t care less about anything else. I was ready to reveal the child’s true father. “Brandon Sterling, you’re insane! The child I’m carrying is…” Before I could finish speaking, at Brandon’s signal, a bodyguard brought a club down hard on my belly. Excruciating pain ripped through me, and the words I was about to utter turned into a scream of agony. Blood seeped from where my wrists and ankles were tied due to my violent struggles. “Bitch, this is what you get for cheating on me and getting pregnant with a bastard!” The online viewers, having learned the alleged story, chimed in with agreement. “This woman clearly isn’t decent.” “Cheaters deserve to die, don’t let her off easy.” “Seductress, beat her to death! Let all women see the consequences of cheating!” Brandon held the live stream screen for me to see. “Chloe Sterling, not only did you cheat on me and make a fool of me, you also manipulated Grandma to help you deceive me.” “Today, I’m going to have the child in your belly beaten to death right before your eyes.” When the bodyguards started tying me up, Brandon had already locked Grandma Sterling in a nearby office.

As the second blow was about to land, someone suddenly burst in. He stopped the bodyguard. “Mr. Sterling, you can’t touch Ms. Sterling right now.” “If you stop now and apologize to Ms. Sterling, your future might be a little easier.” Serena’s expression changed slightly when she saw the bodyguard, but she didn’t say anything. However, Brandon stared at the unexpected visitor for a long time before speaking, “You look familiar. Oh, you’re my brother’s bodyguard.” With that, Brandon suddenly grabbed the club from his bodyguard’s hand and brutally struck the man on the head. “Damn it, you’re just a low-level worker! How dare you meddle with my woman?!” Blood instantly gushed from the bodyguard’s head, and his body slumped to the ground. Watching the bodyguard who had been by my side fall to the ground, his life hanging by a thread, my emotions plummeted. This was my only hope, and now it was gone. “Brandon Sterling, please, I’m sorry. Please, let my baby go!” Utterly desperate, I cried out these words. Brandon glanced at his phone, then at me, and had his bodyguards untie me from the bed. “Now, kneel before me and tell me what you did wrong?” “If the viewers in the live stream forgive you, then I’ll let you off.” Clutching my aching belly, I painfully crawled to Brandon’s feet and knelt. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have cheated, and I certainly shouldn’t have gotten pregnant. I’m a slut.” “But the baby is innocent, please, I beg you, let him go.” Brandon watched my pathetic state but said nothing. Instead, he randomly connected to a viewer’s microphone. The outraged voice of a viewer boomed from the phone. “Bitch, you deserve to die! You’re a whore, beat her to death!” Serena walked up next to Brandon and slowly spoke, “Brandon, look, sister-in-law still doesn’t want to give up this child, and she still won’t say who the father is. It seems she hasn’t truly acknowledged her mistakes.” Hearing their conversation, my face turned ashen. But for the sake of the child in my belly, I couldn’t give up. Enduring the intense pain, I suddenly stood up and ran towards the exit. If I could just run out of this hospital, if I could call for help from people outside and report this. Then this child would still have a chance to survive. Just as I was about to rush out the hospital main entrance, Brandon grabbed my hair from behind. He harshly pulled me back, a tearing pain searing my scalp. “Bitch, you’re actually trying to escape now?” “Unless I teach you a lesson, you’ll never learn.” He spoke while handing me over to the bodyguards, telling them to tie me to an operating table. “Doctor, directly perform a caesarean section and remove the fetus from her belly.” The doctors and nurses prepared to give me anesthesia, but Brandon stopped them. “She’s a whore, and the child in her belly is a bastard. No anesthesia is needed.” Looking at the sterile, white lights of the operating room, I weakly said, “Brandon Sterling, you will regret this.” Brandon replied indifferently, “After this, maybe you’ll even thank me. Do you know, you’re famous now? You’ll be the first person in history to have an abortion live-streamed for the whole internet to see.”

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Before Jackson’s grandmother passed away, she left one last wish: that Jackson would marry me. So, even when he fell for Chloe, the woman he’d always considered his true love, Jackson still insisted on marrying me. That was, until Chloe deliberately ran over the puppy I’d raised since I was little. Jackson, once again, chose to protect Chloe. This time, I didn’t argue or yell. I simply contacted Professor Davies at a highly classified desert research facility, ready to become a research scientist there. Before I left, I gave myself seven days to tie up loose ends. Day one, I took off the engagement ring that symbolized “forever.” Day three, I handed in my resignation at work. On the day I left, Jackson suddenly remembered the puppy. He actually offered to buy me a new one the next day. Then, he added, “Chloe’s going to the company’s charity gala. Make sure her gown is ready for her.” I smiled and agreed, then vanished from his world forever. Later, every time he heard news about me, Jackson would stare blankly at our engagement ring. It was the love he couldn’t get back, and the puppy he couldn’t give…

I looked at the non-disclosure agreement in my hand and signed my name without hesitation. “Professor, I’m ready to join the rocket development program.” Professor Davies looked at me with a hint of regret. “You know this mission is top-secret. Once you join, you’ll be off-grid for ten years. No one will be able to find you.” “Aren’t you getting married? You should at least discuss it with your fiancé.” Thinking of Jackson’s cold, unyielding face, I gave a bitter laugh and shook my head. “No need.” Professor Davies was silent for a moment, then spoke. “Alright, go prepare yourself. You leave in seven days.” It was raining when I left Professor Davies’s office. I walked home, soaked to the bone. As expected, Jackson still wasn’t back. Chloe had taken my puppy, Lucky, the one I’d raised since childhood, and then he was run over. My arguments with Jackson got nowhere, and he even blamed me. He hadn’t been home in three days since. I took off the ring on my finger and tossed it into a drawer. It was the “forever” ring Jackson had made for me himself, symbolizing our lifelong love, meant to be worn even in the grave. I used to believe, so naively, that we’d grow old together. But everything changed the moment Chloe returned to the country. Jackson stopped remembering my birthday. He stopped caring about my joys or sorrows. I became practically invisible in our own home. I was about to take off my soaking wet clothes when the front door chimed. I opened it, and Chloe stood there, her eyes full of mockery. She kicked something on the ground with disdain. “This stupid animal was disobedient and got hit by a car. It’s dead.” My eyes widened in disbelief as I looked at what lay by Chloe’s feet. Lucky’s tiny body was there, matted with mud and blood. My heart clenched, and tears immediately blurred my vision. Seeing my reaction, Chloe’s mockery intensified. She shrugged dismissively. “It’s just a dog. Do you really have to cry like your mom died?” I couldn’t hold back anymore. I lunged forward and shoved Chloe hard. She shrieked, stumbling backward directly into Jackson’s arms. He’d rushed over, hearing the commotion. Instantly, tears streamed down her face. “Jackson, the dog ran out on its own and got hit. Why are you blaming me?” Before I could say a word, her sobs grew even louder. “I’m so sorry, Vicky… I didn’t mean for this to happen…” I stroked Lucky’s lifeless body, my chest aching so badly I could barely breathe. I couldn’t help but yell at her, “What good is ‘sorry’ now?!” She immediately looked incredibly wronged. “Jackson, I was just trying to be kind, bringing the dog’s body here for her. How could she say such things to me…?” Jackson’s expression grew even more annoyed as he looked at me. “It’s just an animal. It’s dead, so what? What’s the big deal?” “My grandma gave you so much money! You could buy tons of new dogs with that!” With Jackson defending her, Chloe cried even harder, soaking a large patch of his shirt. Perhaps feeling it wasn’t enough, he continued, “Victoria, when did you become so petty and unreasonable? What happened to you?” An animal? I looked at him, my heart aching to the point where I could barely breathe. He knew how important Lucky was to me. It was the only gift my mom left me before she died. He used to sit by my mom’s bedside, promising repeatedly that he’d take care of both me and Lucky. But now, for Chloe, he called my dog an “animal.” It was clear Jackson’s heart had completely turned. I was tired, too tired to argue anymore. Thinking of my decision to leave soon, a sense of calm washed over me. Jackson patted Chloe’s back, glaring fiercely at me. “Are you happy now?!” Then, he gently patted Chloe’s head, his voice filled with affection. “It’s raining outside. Want me to take you home?” Chloe sniffled, tucked into his arm. From an angle he couldn’t see, she smirked at me, a taunting curl of her lips. Watching him hurry away with her, a bitter laugh escaped me. Turns out, the Jackson who’d fallen for me at first sight and pursued me so passionately didn’t actually love me. I was just a distraction for his lonely moments. Chloe was his true love, the one who truly held his heart. Now that his real love was back, of course, I, the stand-in, should just step aside. But none of it mattered anymore. I put the ring and the unsigned pre-nuptial agreement into the drawer. Jackson would never guess that the agreement his grandmother had forced him to sign, giving me half of his assets, was never notarized. I hadn’t even signed it. Chapter

After I had Lucky cremated, I buried him next to my mom’s tombstone. Early on the third day, Professor Davies sent me the exact departure time. I replied with an ‘okay’ and then walked into the HR office. I officially submitted my resignation. They must have always had it out for me, because the entire process was incredibly smooth. As soon as I closed the HR office door, I heard them gathered inside, gossiping. “Just like that, she quit. Must be nice to be the CEO’s wife. I heard Mr. Jackson’s grandma left her half his fortune before she died!” “CEO’s wife? They’re not even close to being married. I bet she quit because Mr. Jackson gave her project to Miss Chloe.” “But wasn’t that *her* project? It’s almost finished! Giving it to Miss Chloe now is just letting her take all the credit!” “So what? Miss Chloe is Mr. Jackson’s sweetheart!” It wasn’t surprising they thought that. As soon as Chloe returned, Jackson gave her a General Manager position. Even though Chloe knew nothing, Jackson would personally hand her projects. He even made me work overtime to revise Chloe’s proposals and attend dinners with Chloe’s clients, drinking until I ended up hospitalized with a bleeding stomach. Yet, he would only say it was something I owed Chloe. Listening to the mocking whispers that occasionally drifted out, my heart was utterly calm. Nothing stirred within me. I just hoped the remaining days would pass quickly. All the paperwork was done. It was time to go home and pack my things. I carried my belongings back to the house, only to see Jackson and Chloe laughing and chatting over breakfast in the dining room. Watching them feed each other bites, my hands trembled uncontrollably. Once, I accidentally used Jackson’s water glass. That very day, he hired a dozen housekeepers to disinfect the entire house, and warned me not to have any physical contact with him. It turned out Jackson wasn’t a germaphobe. He just didn’t want to be intimate with me. Seeing me return, Chloe deliberately tugged on Jackson’s finger, feigning innocence. “Jackson, you gave Vicky’s position to me. Will she be upset?” Jackson scoffed. “I’m the CEO of this company. Does she really need to approve my decisions?” “But Vicky hasn’t been home for days now.” “She’s waiting for me to go coax her. Just ignore her.” Hearing that, Chloe’s eyes gleamed with triumphant satisfaction. She leaned into Jackson’s embrace, pouting as she wrapped her arms around his neck. I said nothing, turning to walk upstairs. Jackson finally noticed me. A flicker of guilt crossed his face, then he angrily threw his knife and fork onto his plate, barking orders at me. “Stop right there!” I kept walking. He rushed over in a few strides and grabbed my arm. “Victoria, what’s your problem? Do you even remember you have a home?” He reached for the box in my arms, but I sidestepped him. “No need. You’re busy!” Jackson’s impatience flared. He was about to speak when Chloe called out to him. “Jackson, I want another fried egg. Can you make it for me?” “Of course.” Jackson immediately turned and walked toward the kitchen. I started to move, wanting to go back to my room, but Chloe blocked my way. “What do you want?” Chloe glanced towards the kitchen. The sweetness vanished from her face, replaced by pure jealousy and malice. “Victoria! You heard it all, didn’t you? Jackson only cares about me. If his old hag of a grandma hadn’t forced him, he never would have married you.” “I heard his grandma left you half his fortune? Don’t be shameless and think that money is yours!” “I advise you to be smart about this. Hand over the property agreement. After all, one word from me, and he’ll kick you to the curb.” She paused, looking at me, then pretended to cover her mouth and laughed. “Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot. Your family’s all dead. You’re like an unwanted stray dog now.” “No wonder you’re sticking to Jackson like glue.” Her tone was contemptuous, her eyes and lips full of amusement. No matter how she insulted me, I wouldn’t care. But she shouldn’t have mocked my family. My blood ran cold instantly. I couldn’t help but snap at her, “Chloe! Say one more word, and I’ll rip your mouth off!” “Victoria! What are you doing?!” Jackson overheard me. He must have feared I’d hurt Chloe, because he immediately barked at me to stop. I froze. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chloe raise an eyebrow, then exert pressure on my hand. The next second, I was falling backward. My vision spun, and before I knew it, I was tumbling down the stairs, every inch of my body screaming in pain. “Victoria!” Jackson dropped what he was holding and ran over in two steps, trying to help me up. Chloe leaned into Jackson, her eyes glistening with tears. “Jackson, I didn’t mean to… “It’s all my fault, Vicky. I’m so clumsy. I’ve caused trouble again. What should I do…?” Her panic was perfectly timed. Jackson couldn’t bring himself to blame her. He frowned, looking at me. “Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital? Chloe didn’t do it on purpose, don’t blame her.” I shook my head, turning my face away bitterly. I saw my scattered belongings. My resignation letter and the classified documents were clearly visible on top. Chapter

Afraid he’d discover them, I ignored the pain in my body and frantically tried to gather my things. “Let me help.” Jackson knelt down, frowning as he picked up the resignation letter. I stared at the classified documents underneath, holding my breath, terrified he’d notice. Luckily, Jackson’s attention was entirely on the resignation letter. I quickly buried the documents among my other belongings. “You quit?” Jackson’s tone was surprised. “Yeah.” I crammed everything into the box. He looked displeased. “Why didn’t you say anything sooner? I asked you to hand over the project before, and you kept refusing. What changed your mind now?” Perhaps my face looked too bad, because he hesitated, then softened his tone for a rare moment. “It’s fine if you quit. It saves me the trouble anyway. Grandma gave you so much money, you should be content.” “You can just relax and be my wife from now on. Stop competing with Chloe. “She’s kind-hearted, she doesn’t understand your manipulative games.” I bit my lip, forcing back tears, my heart feeling as if countless needles were pricking it. I struggled to get up, wincing from the pain. He reached out to steady me. “Victoria, can you explain the project to Chloe, so those investors don’t give her a hard time?” “She’s not as good at charming people as you are, to the point of getting half the assets.” Not wanting to waste any more time dealing with them, I nodded at Jackson. “Okay.” Jackson seemed very pleased with my obedience. He even offered a rare smile. “That’s better. I haven’t had time to be with you lately, and you’ve been wronged. Once Chloe fully takes over your work, I’ll make it up to you.” “After Grandma’s mourning period is over, we’ll get married. That way, she can rest easy.” I bit my lip so hard it hurt, my heart throbbing with a dull ache. That day would never come. Over the next few days, I quietly packed my bags, wrote out the project proposal for Chloe, and found time to visit Jackson’s grandmother’s grave. I told her my decision. She had loved me dearly when she was alive, and I knew she wouldn’t want to see me suffer Jackson’s abuse like this. On the last day, Jackson didn’t go to work. I felt a little anxious, trying to come up with a reason to leave smoothly. Unexpectedly, Jackson pulled out the old telescope that hadn’t been used in ages. “Chloe wants to go stargazing, so I’m taking her camping today.” “Okay.” I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This was perfect. If I left early, I could avoid running into him. He then added, “There’s also a charity gala tonight. Get Chloe’s gown ready for her.” I thought about it. By that time, I would already be on my way to the desert research facility. Chloe walked over, linked her arm through Jackson’s, and whined with feigned vulnerability. “How could Vicky prepare my gown? Last time, the project proposal she gave me was all wrong, and it caused me so much trouble with the investors.” “Jackson, I can wear anything. I don’t want…” She even shed two theatrical tears. Jackson’s brows furrowed, and he glared at me. “Victoria, if you don’t want to do something, you can just say so! How can you do something like this?! You’ve truly disappointed me!” I was about to leave anyway, and I didn’t want any more conflict with them. I calmly apologized to Chloe. “I’m sorry. My mistake. It won’t happen again.” Then I looked at Jackson. “Don’t worry, I’ll prepare the gown properly.” A flicker of shame crossed Jackson’s face. He hesitated for a long moment before slowly speaking. “Victoria, tomorrow, I’ll take you to buy a new puppy, I promise it’ll be just like the old one.” Before Professor Davies’s car came to pick me up, I ironed Chloe’s gown and delivered it to her. Then, I placed the ring, the one symbolizing “forever,” and the pre-nuptial agreement on the table. I walked downstairs with my luggage. Professor Davies looked at my blank expression and sighed, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. “Since you’ve decided to go, work hard there and strive for results as soon as possible!” “I will!” I got into the car, watching Jackson’s mansion grow smaller and smaller, gradually disappearing from view. In the early hours of the morning, Jackson returned home with a slightly tipsy Chloe. The house was quiet, the lights off. Jackson subconsciously felt annoyed. After all, no matter how late it was, I used to always wait for him on the sofa. “Victoria! Come out and make some hangover soup!” But the empty house offered no reply, only silence. Jackson impatiently switched on the lights, only to suddenly see the documents and the ring on the table. He roared, “Victoria! Who gave you permission to take off the ring?!” Chapter But the empty house offered no reply, only silence. Jackson stood in the center of the living room, unaware that his own heart was trembling.

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My so-called best friend got pregnant out of wedlock, and I, being the kind-hearted fool, let her stay in my spare apartment. Only to find out the baby in her belly belonged to my mama’s boy husband. My mother-in-law, who was obsessed with male heirs, told me I was useless, worse than a stray dog. The day after I desperately refused to divorce, the deep freeze apocalypse hit. They threw me out, watching with cold eyes as I froze to death, turning into an ice sculpture. But fate gave me a second chance, along with one wish. “I just wish my best friend gets pregnant with six babies.” The moment I heard my best friend, Seraphina, had her prenatal check-up and discovered she was carrying six babies, I knew. I knew I had been reborn, and Seraphina’s wish for a blessed pregnancy had also come true. “Chloe, thank you so much for letting me stay in your apartment for free, and for coming with me to my appointments.” Seraphina hadn’t revealed her true colors yet, looking genuinely grateful as she gazed at me. I forced back the rising nausea and hatred, managing a seemingly natural smile. “We’re sisters, your problems are my problems.” Back home, my mother-in-law, Eleanor, and my husband, Brandon, were beyond thrilled to hear about Seraphina’s six-baby pregnancy. Eleanor clapped her hands, cackling with glee: “Seraphina is truly amazing! More children are wonderful, aren’t they? Carrying on the family name, ensuring a booming household!” Then, she shot me a venomous glare. “Unlike some people, who’ve been married for two years with no sign of a baby. Just freeloading off us for so long, you’re not even as useful as a dog. At least a dog can get pregnant and have puppies!” Brandon, my pathetic mama’s boy husband, scoffed, “Why are you just standing there like an idiot? Mom gets annoyed just looking at you. If you can’t have kids, can’t you at least cook?!” I bit back my anger, adopting the pleading tone I’d used in my past life. “I was thinking… what if Seraphina stayed in the empty apartment next door? What do you think, Mom?” Eleanor’s expression softened, feigning reluctance. “Fine, I guess. There’s an old superstition back in our hometown that if you take care of a pregnant woman, some of her fertility luck might rub off on you. From now on, you can go take care of Seraphina and catch some of her good fortune!”

In my previous life, my pregnant-out-of-wedlock best friend had cried to me, claiming her baby daddy abandoned her and she was suicidal. I pitied her, decided to help her out, and let her live next door to lend a hand. I was confused by my mother-in-law and mama’s boy husband’s unusual excitement but didn’t think deeply about it. Not until I saw Brandon, Seraphina, and my mother-in-law had formed a three-person group chat. The group name? “Our Loving Family.” That’s when I finally understood. The father of the child in my best friend’s belly was Brandon. They had been seeing each other behind my back for half a year. I confronted the three of them. My mother-in-law, obsessed with male heirs, yanked my hair and started screaming obscenities: “You useless hen! How dare you ask when you can’t even have a child! Do you want the [Family Name] legacy to die out because of you, you pathetic excuse for a wife?!” I tried to get Brandon to help, but he just sided with his mom, pinning me to the floor. “My mom said I need a woman to bear my children. If you can’t, I’ll find your best friend to do it. It’s all the same. Show my mom some respect; it wasn’t easy for her to raise me.” My back was injured, leaving me unable to move in bed. I planned to call the police, but due to extreme blizzard conditions, they never arrived. The next day, the deep freeze apocalypse began. The entire apartment complex started emergency heating early. The roads outside were already covered in heavy snow, and the news announced that the extreme weather would last for a long time. Residents were warned to stay indoors and conserve food and water. Eleanor and Brandon conspired together. “Son, one more person means one more mouth to feed. We can’t let my grandchild go without. Chloe is useless, let’s just kick her out and let her fend for herself.” “Mom, I’ll do whatever you say!” It was below negative thirty degrees Fahrenheit outside; going out meant certain death. No matter how much I begged Brandon, he just repeated: “My mom said you’re just one more mouth to feed!” Within ten minutes, I was hypothermic, frozen solid into an ice statue. But God had eyes. I was reborn. And I was given a wish. My wish was for my best friend, Seraphina, to be blessed with a continuous stream of pregnancies, six at a time. Just wait. My revenge had only just begun.

I immediately had Seraphina move into Brandon’s house instead of the apartment next door. My mother-in-law, as expected, was overjoyed. She warmly held Seraphina’s hand. “Oh, just look at that big backside of yours, definitely the type to bear sons! If all six babies are boys, I’ll be over the moon every single day!” I didn’t show any suspicion, pretending to be completely clueless. Whatever Seraphina craved, I cooked, acting like a complete idiot, even eagerly offering to be the children’s godmother. No matter how much Seraphina and Brandon flirted and put on a show in private, Every night after they fell asleep, I’d get up to scout for a shelter. Counting down the days, the deep freeze apocalypse was only two weeks away. I looked at the one million dollars my father had left me as a dowry and decided to use it to build a comfortable, warm shelter. First, I chose my old family’s abandoned air-raid shelter as my survival spot. It was currently derelict, but in its prime, it had saved the lives of the entire village. This air-raid shelter had been built by a renowned architect who had returned from abroad. I just needed to spend money to renovate it into a secure bunker. I contacted my cousin, Liam, who was still in the village, and asked him to help me with it. Liam was puzzled: “You’re living so well in the city, why suddenly think of that old air-raid shelter in the village? That place is a real dump now.” Seeing I wasn’t willing to reveal too much, Liam didn’t press further, just adding with concern, “If things aren’t going well in the city, coming back to the village is fine too. If you’re ever feeling wronged, remember to tell your big brother.” My eyes welled up a bit. In my past life, my mother-in-law often looked down on me for having relatives in the countryside. She’d mock me, saying I was a country bumpkin trying to act like royalty. But my family background wasn’t bad at all. My father was the first person in our village to get into a top university, and after graduating, he landed a respectable job before meeting my mother. Sadly, a car accident took them both. As I grew up, I made a terrible mistake, failing to see Brandon’s true nature as a mama’s boy. After we married, my mother-in-law constantly checked my phone, terrified I’d use her family’s money to help my own. What she didn’t know was that our village had become quite prosperous long ago. Our living conditions were perfectly fine. “Still sneaking around on the phone? Is it another one of your poor relatives trying to leech off us?!” Eleanor stood behind me, her face dark. Brandon grumbled, “My mom said we’re not allowed to use our money to subsidize poor relatives. Do you even care about my mom anymore?!” I lowered myself, offering a placating smile and apology. “No, no, I was just asking another family’s nanny for advice on how to make special pregnancy soup for Seraphina.” They seemed half-convinced, and I managed to smooth things over. Inside, I sneered. The [Family Name] family did have some cash, but it was all from rental properties. That’s why Seraphina hooked up with Brandon. Willingly bearing his children. But soon, their pathetic pile of money wouldn’t mean anything. In the deep freeze apocalypse, only food and water would be truly valuable. Money would just be a pile of worthless paper. I wouldn’t forget the hatred from my past life. I would meticulously set my plans, making sure those three got what they deserved. Soon, I’d be living comfortably in my renovated bunker, eating well and enjoying life. And they? They could just tear each other apart!

Liam was incredibly dedicated to my cause. In just ten days, he completed the bunker renovation. Next up was stocking the bunker with equipment. In the deep freeze apocalypse, most areas would experience power outages. I bought three generators: a diesel generator – portable, providing stable power, but requiring regular maintenance and fuel; a solar generator – converting sunlight into electricity, no harmful emissions, no diesel consumption, but with obvious drawbacks like being weather-dependent and unusable at night. And a pedal-powered generator – its advantage was needing only human power, but it generated minimal electricity. So, the diesel generator was the most crucial. I purchased a massive amount of diesel, enough for three months. The bunker was the best place to store it. With the power issue resolved, the remaining concerns were food and water. I started by buying essential appliances like a stir-fry pan and an electric rice cooker, trying to minimize electricity-consuming products to avoid excessive power usage. I stocked a hundred pounds of grains, flour, and cooking oil, and hundreds of boxes of instant ramen in various flavors. As for water, I decided to buy a water purifier. In the deep freeze apocalypse, the outside would be a vast frozen wasteland, so water itself wouldn’t be scarce. Firstly, pure water bottles took up too much space. Secondly, the saved space could be used for a hydroponic vegetable growing area. Self-sufficiency, no need for refrigerator space, no wasted electricity. I bought seeds for cabbage, spinach, coriander, tomatoes, and bok choy. For meat, I could only buy large quantities of military-grade MREs, enough to last me three months. Other items included my favorite snacks and daily necessities. The food problem for the deep freeze apocalypse was solved; next, clothing. I purchased down jackets and snow boots costing over ten thousand dollars, advertised as being suitable for the South Pole. Then, medicine. Especially vitamin tablets. In an apocalypse, if people don’t eat fruit for extended periods, they’ll lack vitamins and develop scurvy. If left untreated, it could lead to fever, swelling, paralysis, and death. Living alone in the bunker, I absolutely couldn’t afford to get sick. After all this, the weather grew increasingly cold. My mother-in-law often nagged me. “Running out all day, who’s going to take care of your best friend with her big belly? Are you expecting me, an old woman, to do it?!” I bit my tongue, quietly cooking for the three of them. Seraphina sat on the couch watching TV, acting more like the lady of the house than I did. “I want some fruit. Can you make me a pretty fruit platter? I’ll only feel better if it looks nice.” My gaze turned cold. “The apples on the table are already washed. You can eat them directly.” Seraphina glanced at Brandon, seeming eager to reveal their secret. Last night, I’d secretly checked Brandon’s phone and saw the advice he’d given her. *“My mom said not to tell her about us yet. Just treat her like a free maid. If she ever refuses to work, just use emotional blackmail.”* Seraphina immediately looked tearful and wronged. “Chloe, you’re the one who asked me to live here. Are you regretting it now? It’s normal for a pregnant woman to crave things.” At this, my mother-in-law also stepped forward. “Exactly! You were the one who said you wanted Seraphina to move in. My son and I, the homeowners, have no complaints, so why are you suddenly getting emotional?” Hah, I had said she could live next door. Moving her in here was *your* idea. If I had known the baby in Seraphina’s belly was Brandon’s, I wouldn’t have cared if she lived or died. I smiled. “Alright, please wait. I’ll go make the fruit platter now.” The temperature dropped lower and lower. Everyone thought this year’s cold snap came earlier than usual. Before a disaster, there’s always an eerie calm. Humans don’t feel it.

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