My first night in Vegas, fresh off the plane, I thought I’d flex a little, being the former King of Gambling and all. Just a few quick rounds. But as I was leaving, some jerk insisted I cover his massive losses. “One hundred ninety-nine million, not a penny less!” The front desk girl looked up at me, startled. I quickly shook my head, saying I didn’t know him. That only made him bolder. “You know Stella Vance, right? She owns the casino next door, and she’s my wife! We’re all outsiders here, so helping me out is a compliment. Don’t push your luck!” I paused for a few seconds, then pulled out my phone and called Stella. “Heard you’ve got a gambling addict husband here in America?” … Seeing me dial, the guy probably thought I was calling the cops. He immediately yelled for his goons to snatch my phone. “Damn it, you dare call the cops? Believe me, even if they show up, you’ll still pay me, nice and easy!” I looked at him, puzzled. Did he really have connections at the precinct? Just a few days ago, I’d had dinner with the Governor. Could his connections really be higher than the Governor’s? While I was lost in thought, his crew had already surrounded me. Every one of them was in a sharp suit, dark shades, looking like a bunch of bodyguards. Before I could speak, Liam Sterling, who’d come with me, couldn’t hold back. “You’ve got some balls, huh? Do you even know this place belongs to the Sterling family? You dare mess with Mr. Sterling’s son?” Liam was the casino owner’s son, but this guy didn’t even flinch. “So what if he’s Mr. Sterling? I’m Stella’s damn assistant! Go ask around, who in this town dares disrespect me, Mick Reilly?” “Me asking you to pay is a chance for you to get on my good side. Can’t believe you two morons didn’t know a good thing when it smacked you in the face. Less than two hundred million to get in my good graces? You missed out on such a golden opportunity.” I actually laughed. “Randomly get blocked by a gambling addict, who then demands I pay hundreds of millions for his losses? Here, you can have that opportunity, you want it?” “Ignore him, Liam. Call Stella right now. I want to see how she explains this to me.” Stella had made a fortune over the years, all riding on my name. So many gamblers traveled from afar to her casino, just to catch a glimpse of me, the youngest King of Gambling in history. It brought in a ton of silent profit. But now, she was secretly shacked up with this lowlife gambling addict of an assistant, and it absolutely infuriated me. But just as Liam pulled out his phone, one of the bodyguards stepped up and slapped him! Then, they snatched his phone, quickly threw it to the ground, and stomped on it repeatedly until it was utterly smashed. “What are you doing?!” Liam never dreamed anyone would be so arrogant on his own father’s turf. But Mick Reilly just smirked, a cruel glint in his eyes. “Still trying to call for help? I already told you, if you don’t cough up the money today, you won’t see tomorrow’s sun!” “Since you two are so disobedient, let’s teach you a lesson.” He gave a signal to his bodyguards. They immediately grabbed us, forcing us to the ground, and started mercilessly beating us, aiming for our vital spots. I’d been through a lot, traveling the world, so I could take it better. Liam, being a rich kid, nearly passed out on the spot. “Stop it! How much do you want? I’ll pay!” Seeing him about to be beaten to death, I grit my teeth and yelled for them to stop. After so many years of friendship, I couldn’t let him get beaten to death by a few thugs here. Mick Reilly, thinking I’d caved, swaggered over, knelt down, and viciously slapped me twice across the face. “See? If you were just cooperative from the start, you wouldn’t have had to suffer all this.” “Three hundred million. Not a single cent less.” My eyes widened instantly: “How did it become three hundred million? It’s only been a few minutes!” He roughly grabbed my hair, then punched my already bleeding left eye. He looked at his blood-stained fist, disgusted, and shook it off. “See that? Just because I had to teach you two idiots a lesson, now I’m hurt.” “This extra cash? One, it’s for my boys, their hard work educating you. Two, it’s for my medical bill.” “What, you got a problem with that? Too bad, swallow it. In this city, I, Mick Reilly, am the law. Go on, try and find someone who dares to say a word.” He glanced around casually. The gawking gamblers quickly lowered their heads. “Those two are out of luck. Of all people to cross, they had to cross this absolute tyrant.” “Mick Reilly is notorious for preying on people he sees as vulnerable, especially those new to the city, easy marks. If you run into him, you just have to accept your fate.” “Keep it down. His wife is Stella Vance, the casino owner. It’d be nothing for her to deal with a couple of tourists. Blame these two for being blind. They’re lucky if they walk out of here alive, let alone in one piece.” But three hundred million was something I couldn’t just pull out right away. I had no choice but to temporarily suppress my anger. “Mick Reilly, I advise you to know when to stop.” “I’m Stella Vance’s legal husband. We’re officially married. I’m also the World King of Gambling. Treating me like this won’t end well for you.” “Liam Sterling’s father is the owner of this casino. I suggest you take him to the hospital now. Otherwise, when Mr. Sterling comes back and sees his son this badly hurt, you won’t be able to escape.” I thought Mick Reilly would listen to reason, but instead, he burst out laughing, grabbed my neck again, and slammed my face into the floor, grinding it hard! “What are you, some nobody, daring to even *think* about my wife?” “And this punk kid, he looks like a broke loser. You two together can’t even cough up three hundred million, and you dare impersonate the owner’s son?” The casino floor wasn’t smooth. The rough surface had already carved several deep, bloody gashes into the side of my face. It was a bloody mess. Liam, enraged, yelled, “My dad really is Arthur Sterling! If you don’t believe me, call the casino manager, he knows me!” Chloe, the front desk girl, froze for a moment. Liam’s expression didn’t look fake. Better safe than sorry, she quickly dialed the manager’s number. A few minutes later, the portly manager, Frankie Costello, appeared at the entrance, hurried and flustered. Liam finally breathed a sigh of relief. “You still have time to let me go. Otherwise, when my dad actually gets here…” “Forget three hundred million, not even three *billion* will save you!” Liam’s attitude was so firm that Mick Reilly seemed momentarily flustered. His head bodyguard cautiously approached. “Mr. Reilly, I just did a quick search. Arthur Sterling does seem to have a son back home, who rarely shows up here.” “The kid’s age matches too. Could he actually be his son?” Mick Reilly looked at Liam, who was beaten beyond recognition. The more he thought about it, the more scared he got. He quickly told his bodyguards to release us. “That’s more like it.” Liam scoffed, struggling to his feet. Frankie Costello had already walked up to them. Recognizing the manager, Liam forced a smile. “Uncle Frankie, I didn’t expect you to be on duty today.” “It’s these guys. Not only did they block our way and rob us, they also beat me and Mr. Thorne here for no reason. How do you plan to handle this?” Mick Reilly watched, growing increasingly alarmed, silently cursing his luck. Who would have thought this bleached-blond punk was actually the owner’s son? He was absolutely doomed. The gamblers who had been keeping their heads down now craned their necks. “Looks like a twist! That kid is really Arthur Sterling’s son?” “Then Mick Reilly is completely finished. He’s Stella Vance’s assistant, sure, but Mr. Sterling’s son is way higher up. Beating him up like this? Money won’t solve it.” “Exactly. There’s no way he’s walking out of here in one piece. Knowing these guys, a broken arm or leg would be getting off easy.” Mick Reilly listened, growing more and more terrified, even starting to consider apologizing proactively. Liam glanced back at him, his eyes filled with undisguised contempt. But when Frankie Costello actually reached them, the first thing he said left Liam completely stunned. “Who are you? How dare you impersonate our boss’s son?” Liam froze, immediately pointing at his own face. “Uncle Frankie, did you not recognize me for a second? It’s me, Liam Sterling! I even hosted you a year ago when you went back home to visit relatives.” Frankie Costello, however, maintained a cold expression, walked straight past Liam, and came to Mick Reilly’s side, instantly plastering on a fawning smile. “Mr. Reilly, don’t listen to this kid’s nonsense. Our Mr. Sterling’s son is still studying back home. How could he suddenly appear at the casino?” “This guy is probably just impersonating Liam to swindle people here. Don’t pay him any mind.” Liam watched them converse, fuming with rage, shouting about how his dad would punish them when he returned. My face darkened. Seeing Liam’s outburst, I instantly understood what was going on. Liam’s father was busy setting up his fifth casino branch and wouldn’t be back here anytime soon. Liam’s phone was also destroyed, so he couldn’t contact his father. Naturally, Frankie Costello would choose to side with Mick Reilly, who was more beneficial to the casino’s immediate development. This meant we were in serious trouble. As expected, Mick Reilly let out a sigh of relief. The anger in his heart surged, and he kicked Liam squarely in the knee, actually causing his leg bone to visibly deform! “You pathetic dog! You almost tricked me!” “What Sterling heir? I knew you, you bleached-blond punk, couldn’t be some rich kid. Begging from the wrong side of the tracks is more like it.” After cursing at Liam, he turned back to me, eyes filled with malice. “I did hear that my wife has a useless ex-husband back home. She said you kept hounding her, always finding ways to extort money. Is that true?” I froze. “I never divorced Stella back home. She…” My response was met with Mick Reilly’s merciless slap. “Don’t keep saying Stella, Stella! My wife’s name isn’t for the likes of you to utter!” I could only smile bitterly to myself. The legendary King of Gambling, brought low by his own wife’s side piece, and humiliated like this in public. But Mick Reilly still didn’t seem satisfied. Hitting me didn’t seem to vent all his anger. The next second, my head was forcibly yanked back, and a dog leash was brutally snapped around my neck. I struggled fiercely but only earned myself a more severe beating. Finally, I was forced to my knees, coughing up blood. Mick Reilly leaned in, grinning, close to my ear. “Your wife just used this dog leash last night.” “Now it’s on your neck, consider yourself lucky, Jax Thorne.” “Oh, right, one more thing.” He pulled out several round, spherical glass beads from his pocket, right in front of my face. I knew these things all too well. Stella had practically begged me to custom-make them last week, claiming these special round chips were needed for new slot machines to better attract gamblers. “You still don’t know what these are for, do you?” Mick Reilly smugly brought the beads closer to my nose. A foul, indescribable odor immediately assaulted my senses. “I don’t care if you’re divorced or not. Even if she’s still your wife back home, listen carefully.” “Last night, she was on her knees, just like this, practically begging me to *use* these on her.” My rage instantly hit its peak. My entire brain felt like it was about to explode. Stella was my college classmate. All these years, she had cultivated an innocent, pure-as-snow persona in front of me. Even after we got married, she was incredibly reserved in bed, always lying there like a statue, barely responsive, and would rush off afterward, never giving me a chance for intimacy. But now, she was willing to wear a dog leash for an assistant. As for what those beads were used for, any normal person could figure it out. In that moment, my heart turned to ash. I lost all will to resist, letting him tighten the leash around my neck. “Alright, since you know everything now, keeping a former husband like you around is indeed annoying.” Mick Reilly chuckled, increasing the pressure in his hand. I could feel my breath growing shallow. Death was beckoning. “Don’t even think about marrying into money in your next life. Look at you now, with that wild dog face. How could you ever be worthy of a big shot like my wife?” But just as I was about to be choked to death, a gasp suddenly came from the entrance. “Stop it right now!” In my fading consciousness, I recognized Stella’s voice. My heart, which had already died, finally flickered back to life. Good, she had finally come. Even though she’d cheated to this extent, if we could talk things through today, and Mick Reilly received his due punishment, maybe parting ways amicably wouldn’t be impossible.

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Amidst the clinking glasses and celebratory chatter of the success party, Brandon, my fiancé, stood by as his ex-girlfriend, Cassandra, “accidentally” spilled an entire glass of red wine all over my design blueprint. That wasn’t just any blueprint. It was the final draft for the ‘Skyway Haven’ project, a masterpiece I’d poured three months of my life into, working endless nights. It was the design that had just clinched the Pritzker Prize. The crimson liquid spread across the paper like a gaping, hideous wound, instantly seeping into every fiber. The air went dead silent. Every eye in the room pivoted to me, eager for the drama to unfold. Before I could even open my mouth, Brandon moved. He strode forward, not towards me, but to shield a seemingly flustered Cassandra behind him. He didn’t even glance at the ruined blueprint that held my heart and soul. He looked at me, his brows tightly furrowed, his voice laced with annoyance and a hint of accusation. “Sera, what’s the big deal? It’s just a blueprint. You can just draw another one when you get back.” “Cassandra just got back to the country, she doesn’t understand anything. Don’t scare her.”

I laughed. Seriously? Scare *her*? I hadn’t said a single word. How was I scaring her? I looked at Cassandra, nestled behind him. Her face wore a perfectly crafted mask of panic and innocence, but I saw a faint, triumphant smirk hidden in the corner of her eye. Such a flawless act. Then I looked back at Brandon. This man, whom I’d stood by through thick and thin, from nothing to founding ‘Brandon Architecture.’ This man, who’d built half his empire on my designs. Right now, all his protection and concern were focused on another woman. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an icy hand, tightening inch by painful inch. “Brandon,” I heard my own voice, eerily calm, “you know what this blueprint means.” “It means our company can secure that multi-billion dollar prime land in the city’s South District. It means your ‘Brandon Architecture’ can leapfrog to become an industry leader.” “And you say, ‘just draw another one’?” My question choked him. His face turned ugly. “Sera, don’t throw a tantrum out here. I’ll explain everything to you when we get home.” He lowered his voice, as if he was bestowing a great favor on me. I just felt sick. The whispers around me buzzed like flies in my ears. “Tsk, Designer Sera is just too aggressive. She doesn’t give Mr. Brandon any face.” “Exactly! Designer Cassandra is so gentle. She looks like the kind of woman who truly knows how to elevate her man’s career.” “Men, they prefer a woman who knows how to soothe and charm. Who wants a workaholic who just draws blueprints all day…” My head buzzed, a sharp cramp in my chest coupled with days of sleepless fatigue washed over me. My vision started to black out. My last conscious thought was seeing Brandon pat Cassandra’s shoulder reassuringly, then looking at me with an expression that screamed ‘trouble.’ That look, like a steel needle, pierced through all my illusions. The next second, I completely lost consciousness.

When I opened my eyes again, I was staring at a strange ceiling, and the air smelled of cheap air freshener. I wiggled my fingers, feeling light as a feather, yet incredibly heavy. No, this wasn’t my body. I shot upright and rushed to the bathroom. The mirror reflected a young, unfamiliar face. Delicate, with a hint of timidness. It was Chloe, Brandon’s new assistant. How was I here? In her body? Where was my body? A bizarre and terrifying thought exploded in my mind. Soul swap. Damn it. I didn’t have time to think. One thought consumed me – my body! I grabbed the keys and phone from the table and bolted out of the tiny rental apartment like a madwoman. It was already late at night. Relying on memory, I used Chloe’s fingerprint to unlock the door and burst into the home Brandon and I shared. No one was home. My body wasn’t here. Brandon wasn’t here either. A massive wave of panic gripped me. I could barely stand. Where were they? What was happening to my body right now? I forced myself to calm down. Brandon. Yes, find Brandon. I used Chloe’s phone to dial his number. It rang for a long time before he picked up. The background noise was loud, like he was in a bar. “Hello? Chloe? What’s up this late?” Brandon’s voice was slurred with alcohol and impatience. “Mr. Brandon, Designer Ser… Designer Sera?” I pinched my voice, trying to sound like the timid little assistant. “She collapsed. She’s at the hospital, I had a nurse look after her.” He answered carelessly. Hospital. My heart eased slightly, then immediately clenched again. He said… he had a nurse look after me? He wasn’t with me? “Then… where are you, sir?” I asked, trembling. From the other end, Cassandra’s sweet, soft voice chirped, “Brandon, who is it? Come drink with me!” Brandon immediately responded in a gentle, soothing tone, “Just an assistant. You enjoy yourself, I’ll be right there.” Then, he turned back to the phone, his voice dropping eight degrees, instantly cold. “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t. Do your job. I’m hanging up.” The call disconnected. I stood in the empty living room, phone in hand, feeling utterly chilled. I collapsed from exhaustion for his business, ended up in the hospital. And he was out, partying with his ‘one that got away’ at a bar. “Do my job?” Hah, what a joke. I opened Chloe’s SnapChat. Pinned at the top was the company’s core project chat. Brandon had just sent a message to the group. “@everyone, tomorrow morning at 9 AM, an emergency meeting for the ‘Skyway Haven’ project will be held. Designer Cassandra will be joining us as a special consultant to discuss the subsequent design plans.” My pupils constricted sharply. Special consultant? Cassandra? An interior designer who only handles soft furnishings, consulting on a world-class architectural project? What kind of freaking consultant? Brandon, what exactly are you trying to do? I clenched the phone tightly, my knuckles white from the strain. No. I couldn’t just sit here and do nothing. I had to figure all of this out. Under Chloe’s identity, I took a taxi to the company. The office building was pitch black at night, save for the lights on in ‘Brandon Architecture’s’ CEO office on the top floor. My heart sank. Who would be at the office this late? I quietly took the elevator up, using the assistant’s access card to swipe open the glass door. The CEO’s office door was ajar, and I heard hushed voices from inside. It was Brandon and Cassandra. I held my breath, pressing myself against the door like a ghost. “Brandon, are you really going to do this? Change Sera’s name to mine? If she finds out…” Cassandra’s voice held a hint of false hesitation. “She won’t know.” Brandon’s voice was cold as ice. “She’s in the hospital right now. By the time she gets out, the project contract will be signed, and it’ll be a done deal.” My blood, at that moment, froze completely. He was going to… change my name on the blueprint? He was going to hand over my painstaking work, my life’s blood, to this woman? “But it’s Sera’s hard work after all. That design concept…” “What concept of hers?” Brandon scoffed, his voice filled with disdain. “That entire concept, wasn’t it just an extension of your university concept draft from back then? At the end of the day, you’re the original creator. I’m just giving you back what should have been yours.” “Besides, while Sera’s design is good, it’s too focused on the technicalities, completely lacking your commercial savvy and market appeal. Having you sign it, using your reputation as a brilliant, internationally-trained designer for promotion, will be much more beneficial for the company’s IPO.” *Boom!* Something inside me just *snapped*. So that’s how it was. In his eyes, I was just a tool, too focused on craftsmanship. All my talent, all my efforts, were just stepping stones for him to package the company and pursue its IPO. And Cassandra, she was the truly talented “original creator” in his mind, the one who could bring him greater benefits. “Trading my talent for love.” The belief I once held so firmly now seemed like a colossal joke. I clung to the cold door, trembling like a leaf. My stomach churned, and I clamped a hand over my mouth, desperate not to throw up. Inside, Cassandra let out a satisfied sigh. She pressed against Brandon, her voice soft and alluring. “Brandon, you’re so good to me. I knew it, you always had feelings for me.” “Silly girl.” Brandon’s voice held a hint of tenderness. “If your family hadn’t insisted you go abroad back then, we would never have separated. Now that you’re back, I won’t let you suffer a single grievance.” “What about Seraphina? You two…” “Sera and I, that was nothing more than a business arrangement. Her technical skill, my market, that’s all. Once the company goes public and stabilizes, I’ll tell her everything.” “Don’t worry. The position of Mrs. Brandon will only ever be yours.” Every single word, like poisoned blades, slowly tearing my heart to shreds. A business arrangement… that’s all… I accompanied him through the toughest times, I let him use all my patents for free, I poured myself into building his business empire. In the end, all I got was “that’s all.” I couldn’t listen anymore. I was afraid I’d kick down that door and drag that despicable pair down with me. I stumbled back, fleeing into the adjacent breakroom, my body sliding down to the floor against the cold wall. I hugged my knees, burying my face. No tears came. There’s no grief like the death of hope. I just felt that the past ten years had been an intricately orchestrated scam. And I, was the most ridiculous, most foolish clown. I don’t know how long passed, but the office door opened. Brandon and Cassandra walked out, intimately embracing. Through the crack in the breakroom door, I saw Cassandra stand on her tiptoes and press a kiss to Brandon’s lips. “I’ll head back now. See you at the meeting tomorrow.” “Okay, be careful on your way.” Brandon watched her leave, then turned and went back into his office. I heard the clicking of a mouse and the tapping of a keyboard from inside. What was he doing? He was changing the designer’s name on my blueprint! A metallic taste rose in my throat. I pushed myself up against the wall, a towering hatred igniting in my chest. Brandon. Cassandra. You thought I was a fool. You treated everything I had as spoils of war, to be plundered at will. You thought I was lying helpless in a hospital bed, at your mercy? Good. Oh, so good. I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, looking at Chloe’s timid face in the mirror. From today onwards, things would be different. What you owe me, I will collect every single penny, with interest! I wasn’t Seraphina anymore. I was… a vengeful spirit.

The next day, 9 AM. The meeting room at ‘Brandon Architecture’ was thick with tension. Under Chloe’s identity, I stood in the corner, head bowed, holding a cup of coffee, like I was invisible. Brandon sat at the head of the table, looking smug and triumphant. Cassandra sat beside him, dressed in a custom-tailored suit, her makeup flawless, clearly embodying the role of a hostess. In her hand was a document—my ‘Skyway Haven’ design proposal. But the designer’s name on the cover now boldly read: Cassandra. That was quick. In just one night, she’d fully usurped my spot. The executives in the room were all seasoned professionals. Seeing the situation, no one dared to speak first. Brandon cleared his throat. “Everyone, Designer Sera is temporarily unable to participate in the project due to health reasons. But the project schedule cannot wait. Therefore, I specifically invited Designer Cassandra to be our special consultant and lead the upcoming work.” He paused, then picked up the proposal from the table. “This final proposal for ‘Skyway Haven’ actually has its core concept rooted in Designer Cassandra’s early creative vision. One could say, she is the soul of this project. It is only fitting that she takes over.” I almost threw up on the spot. I’d seen shameless people before, but never this shameless. To describe theft so eloquently, Brandon, you’re truly a piece of work. The executives exchanged glances. Finally, the company’s technical director, Mr. Hayes, who had worked with me for years, couldn’t help but speak up. “Mr. Brandon, isn’t this against protocol? Designer Sera’s proposal…” “Mr. Hayes.” Brandon’s eyes instantly turned cold. “Are you questioning my decision?” Mr. Hayes’ face paled. He dared not say another word. Brandon seemed pleased with this ‘setting an example’ approach. He turned to Cassandra, his tone softening again. “Cassandra, why don’t you share your ideas with everyone?” Cassandra stood up, a perfect business smile gracing her lips. She turned on the projector and began to speak fluently. Every word she uttered was something I had painstakingly articulated to Brandon, night after night. From design inspiration to structural mechanics, to the application of environmentally friendly materials. She recited it all flawlessly, as if it were her own. Shameless. Absolutely freaking shameless. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. Calm down, Seraphina, calm down. You are Chloe right now. You cannot act impulsively. I took a deep breath, my gaze sweeping across everyone present. Those executives who once smiled at me, calling me the “company’s anchor,” now had their heads bowed, pretending to take notes diligently. Not a single person stood up to say a word on my behalf. Fine. This was all just fine. I saw their true colors clearly now. Fair-weather friends, quick to curry favor. A company built on plagiarism and lies, does it really deserve to go public? In their dreams. Halfway through the meeting, Cassandra started discussing the project’s core technology—my exclusively developed ‘Suspended Seismic-Resistant Structure.’ This was core confidential information I hadn’t yet patented, only discussed with Brandon. “…So, this suspended structure will be the biggest highlight of our project, and our ultimate trump card to surpass all competitors.” Cassandra spoke with passionate fervor, as if she were the inventor of the technology herself. Brandon nodded in satisfaction. Just then, I moved. Holding the coffee, I pretended to slip, my body “accidentally” bumping into the projector’s power cord. *Click.* The screen instantly went black. The entire conference room plunged into darkness and chaos. “What happened?!” “Ouch! Who did that?!” Under the cover of darkness, I quickly, with lightning speed, plugged the USB drive I had been clutching into the main conference computer’s USB port. Inside was the “gift” I had prepared overnight. A tiny virus program. It wouldn’t destroy the computer. It would only, at a specific time, send a specific file to specific people. Having done all that, I immediately pulled out the USB drive, scurried back to my corner, and feigned panic. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to!” I shrieked in Chloe’s voice. The lights were quickly turned back on. Everyone glared at me, the “culprit.” Brandon’s face was as black as a thundercloud. “Chloe! What are you doing?! You can’t even handle such a small task!” I lowered my head, my shoulders shaking, looking like I was about to cry. “I’m sorry, Mr. Brandon, I… my legs just went weak…” Cassandra walked over, feigning concern and helping me up. In a voice only we two could hear, she whispered: “An assistant should act like an assistant. Things that aren’t yours to touch, you’d best leave them alone.” Her eyes were full of warning and disdain. I sneered inwardly. Things not mine to touch? Cassandra, you’ll soon find out whose things you’re touching right now. The meeting ended abruptly due to this small incident. Brandon called me into his office and gave me a furious dressing-down, finally punishing me by “deducting my entire bonus for the month.” I meekly accepted it. Walking out of the office, I glanced back at the closed door. Brandon, Cassandra. Enjoy your stolen victory. Because the countdown has already begun. For the next few days, I lived a double life. By day, I was the timid, clumsy little assistant, Chloe, in the CEO’s office. Serving coffee, making copies, being ordered around, and constantly enduring Cassandra’s sarcasm and deliberate provocations.

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Bound by an engagement contract, my father brought back two brothers from a fallen wealthy family, allowing my sister and me to choose our husbands. Caleb, steady and talented, fell for my sister the moment he saw her. I looked at Jax, whose legs were both broken, and sighed. A soft heart led me to accept him. After we married, I searched for renowned doctors, hoping to heal his legs. But his condition never improved. He grew depressed, and I gently comforted him. I thought if I was good enough to him, he’d become cheerful and positive. Yet, on the day our enemies attacked, he stood up from his wheelchair and pushed me out, using me as a human shield. “I’m sorry, I can’t just stand by and watch Seraphina die.” So, if Seraphina couldn’t die, I was expendable? He gave me one last, deep look, then slammed the door shut. “I owe you this life, I’ll repay you in the next!” Tears of despair streamed down my face. Turns out, his disability and depression were just an act, meant only for me. When I opened my eyes again, I heard my father telling my sister and me to choose our husbands.

I stared at the people before me, hatred seeping from my very bones. My sister, Seraphina, glanced at the steady and talented Caleb, then turned to me, her face full of gentle consideration. “My little sister is still young and a bit spoiled. How could I let you marry Jax, who’s crippled? I’ll choose Jax, it’s fine, really.” She’d said the exact same thing in my past life. I was so incredibly touched back then, believing she was the best person in the world. To spare her any hardship, I refused. “Sister,” I’d said, “you and Caleb share a deep love. How could I break you two apart?” I forcefully chose Jax, the disabled brother. I sought doctors and medicine for him for seven years. I knelt on countless temple steps, my forehead raw from bowing, begging for his recovery. Then, our enemies attacked our home. My wonderful husband, the man I had meticulously cared for seven years, stood up from his wheelchair and, without hesitation, pushed me out to draw their fire. “I’m sorry, I can’t just stand by and watch Seraphina die.” He didn’t even give me time to react before he slammed the heavy door shut. My sister, on the other hand, had dozens of bodyguards and a secret passage! She just needed to run a few more steps to meet up with Caleb. She’d claimed she wanted to protect me first. But after I was pushed out, she didn’t call anyone to save me. I died, and she got all the praise. Thinking of this, I forced a smile. “Then let’s switch.” The air instantly froze. Seraphina’s gentle expression stiffened. Caleb snapped his head up, blurting out, “No!” My father’s face darkened too, his stern gaze sweeping over Jax and me. “Nonsense! How can your elder sister marry a cripple?” A chill pierced my heart, bone-deep. So, you knew marrying a cripple was unacceptable. Last life, when I chose Jax, he didn’t say that. He said I was sensible, considerate, and a good daughter of the Sterling family. Just then, a clear, cold voice rang out. “I am not a cripple.” Under everyone’s shocked gazes, Jax slowly stood up. His posture was tall and straight, his aura commanding. I stared at him, my blood feeling like ice. He was faking it from the start? So, what was all my sleepless nights searching for doctors and medicine for? What about the good luck charm I begged for him, kneeling on nine thousand steps, bowing at each one? What about giving up all my shares just to beg Father to spare his life? It was all a complete joke! Seeing him like this, I instantly understood. He was reborn too. So, his “I’ll repay you in the next life” from last time? All lies. Even with a second chance, he didn’t want to marry me. It didn’t matter. I didn’t plan on having him either. “Mr. Sterling, my business acumen might not be inferior to my elder brother’s.” Jax’s voice was neither servile nor overbearing. In just a few words, he pointed out the Sterling family’s current business dilemma, analyzing it even more precisely than Caleb. “I can help the Sterling family turn losses into profits within three months.” My father’s shock turned into wild joy. I saw the way Seraphina looked at Jax. It changed too, becoming astonishingly bright. She quickly composed herself, walked to Caleb’s side, and put on a caring act. “Caleb, you’ll have to take good care of my sister from now on.” Caleb’s grim gaze fell on my left prosthetic eye. That was the eye I lost when I took a knife for Seraphina. Caleb’s eyes filled with disgust. He spoke each word distinctly, “Please, Mr. Sterling, cancel this engagement. Grant me my freedom. I’d rather start from scratch outside.”

My father’s face instantly dropped. His stern gaze landed on Caleb. “Cancel the engagement? Do you want everyone in the city to mock the Sterling family, to say we’re untrustworthy?” Caleb frowned, his gaze fixed on my face—specifically, on my dull, grey prosthetic eye. His tone was distant. “I’m not worthy of Miss Aria. Please, Mr. Sterling, fulfill my request.” Seraphina immediately stepped forward, her face full of feigned distress, as she chastised him. “Caleb, how can you say that? You’re hurting my sister’s feelings too much.” Caleb looked at her, his eyes instantly filling with deep affection. “If I cannot be with the one I love, I’d rather never marry.” I almost burst out laughing. What a dramatic display of undying love. A flicker of joy passed through Seraphina’s eyes, quickly replaced by her usual thoughtful expression. “Don’t be impulsive. Have you forgotten those enemies? They won’t spare a struggling man like you. I can’t stand by and watch you ruin your life.” Caleb was visibly moved, his gaze growing even more fervent. The smile on my lips could no longer be hidden. “Well, in that case, why don’t both Caleb and Jax become live-in husbands for Sister?” “That way, the engagement isn’t broken, and all you ‘lovers’ get what you want.” “After all, the contract never said Sister couldn’t have two at once.” “As for who’d be the main husband, and who’d just be a ‘plus one’ or ‘side piece’ – well, Sister can decide that herself, can’t she?” Seraphina’s face flushed crimson. She glared at me, feigning coyness. “Sister, what nonsense are you spouting!” My father’s gaze shifted to me, carrying a hint of scrutiny. “You really don’t want either of them?” I nodded, my voice firm. “No.” Jax and Caleb looked at me simultaneously. Their eyes held the same contempt, as if saying, *If even we don’t want you, who possibly would?* My father was silent for a moment, then asked, “Then, who do you want to marry?” “I want Julian Thorne, the only son of the Thorne family,” I declared. The entire room gasped. My father stood up in shock. “Are you insane? He’s known as the city’s most notorious playboy! Fortune tellers even say he won’t live past thirty!” The Thorne family was vast and wealthy, far surpassing our Sterlings. But Julian Thorne was idle and dissolute. Two years ago, he’d fallen gravely ill, and all doctors said he wouldn’t live past thirty. Anyone who married him would suffer a living hell. Even with the Thorne family’s promise to give their daughter-in-law twenty percent of the company’s shares, no one in high society dared to marry their daughter into the Thorne family. I calmly looked at my father. I cut straight to the chase. “I’m willing to marry into the Thorne family for the future of the Sterling family.” “But you must give me ten percent of the Sterling family’s shares as my dowry.” The shrewd glint in my father’s eyes sharpened. His reaction was expected. His favoritism had never been for me, so how could he willingly give me shares? I chuckled softly. “Dad, my appearance is… flawed. If I go to the Thorne family, I’ll be without any backing. If you don’t give me some leverage, how can I establish myself?” “Besides, how many years can Julian Thorne live? Once he’s gone, won’t everything of the Thorne family eventually belong to the Sterlings?” A flicker of calculation passed through his eyes. Finally, he nodded. “Alright, I agree.”

After I joined the Thorne family, Julian’s parents showed me exceptional regard. They not only personally guided me through the Thorne family’s vast business empire but also taught me hands-on. Two months later, the first project I spearheaded achieved great success, with profits far exceeding expectations. Julian’s parents were delighted and hosted a celebration banquet specifically for me. At the banquet, I wore a perfectly tailored gown, becoming the center of attention. Seraphina approached with a wine glass, smiling sweetly. “Congratulations, little sister. But I must advise you, women shouldn’t be too high-profile. Men don’t like that.” She pointedly added, “Especially women who only achieve a little something by being propped up by others.” I swirled the red wine in my glass. “Sister is right. Father has propped you up for so many years, yet I haven’t seen a single achievement from you.” My father, who was talking to someone, heard my words and, for the first time, gave Seraphina a cold look. Seraphina’s eyes instantly welled up. “Sister, how can you talk like that? I’m only doing this for your own good!” She changed tactics, looking at my eye, feigning worry. “Your most important task now is to capture Julian’s heart and get pregnant soon. But your eye… it’s so unsightly, no wonder your husband doesn’t favor you.” “I knew it. From the beginning, you shouldn’t have married into the Thorne family. Staying home would have been better than being thrown out.” I stared at Seraphina, speaking each word distinctly. “Sister, have you forgotten how I lost this eye?” “That year, when we encountered those thugs, even in that desperate situation, with your leg injured, I never thought of abandoning you. I dragged your hand and ran.” “And how did you treat me?” “We were almost free, just a few more steps, but you tripped me, causing me to be caught by them, and my eye was brutally gouged out!” Seraphina’s face instantly turned pale. Unable to retort, she covered her face and pretended to cry with guilt. “I’m sorry, little sister, I didn’t mean to…” “Cut the act,” I interrupted her. “Don’t think a few tears can hide your malice.” “Aria Sterling! Your words are too much!” Caleb, protecting the crying Seraphina, angrily rebuked me. Jax was even more direct. He grabbed my wrist, trying to forcefully drag me in front of Seraphina. “Seraphina is always kind; you must be slandering her. Apologize to her now!” I kicked him. “What are you, some kind of side piece Seraphina can’t openly acknowledge? Do you even have a right to speak here?” Jax looked up at me, stunned. “How can you say that about me?” Then, his face darkened, and he gritted his teeth. “No matter what, you must apologize to Seraphina first.” With that, he actually tried to kick my shin, intending to force me to kneel before Seraphina. I angrily struggled free and ordered the bodyguards behind me. “Throw him out!” Jax’s eyes widened. “How dare you kick me out?” I sneered, “Because this is a Thorne family banquet. What right does a nameless side piece like you have to cause a ruckus here?” Jax roared in anger but was utterly helpless to resist. A week later. Jax suddenly burst in, his face full of panic, and grabbed my hand. “Come with me quickly! Seraphina’s in danger!”

I pulled my hand away, completely unfazed. “Aria Sterling, come with me, now! If you don’t go, the Blackwood family will kill Seraphina!” Jax roared at me, his face grim. “I don’t care how she offended the Blackwoods. What does that have to do with me?” I retorted with a cold sneer. “Aria Sterling!” Jax’s face flushed crimson with fury. He gritted his teeth and said, “Seraphina chose that high-risk, high-return project to surpass you! You’re responsible for this!” I almost laughed. She got into trouble with a project, so she kidnapped a competitor, trying to force them out. Turns out, that person was a tough nut to crack. Even more, she was Isabelle Blackwood, the heiress of the Blackwood family, who was out gaining experience. Seraphina had tortured her to the brink of death; she was still in the ICU. The Blackwood family wielded immense power; they could make this whole city tremble. They even had their own unofficial detention facility. Anyone who entered that facility usually came out broken or driven mad. “None of my business,” I said, rolling my eyes, and turned to leave. “How is it not your business?” “Aria Sterling, if you hadn’t done so well on your project, if you hadn’t flaunted it in front of Seraphina, she wouldn’t have been provoked into doing this!” Jax blocked me, his eyes red as he stared intensely. “Now, isn’t it your duty to atone for her sins?” With that, he reached out and tried to pull me towards a car. Taking advantage of Jax’s distraction, I kicked him, seizing the chance to break free. But before I could even catch my breath, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see my father approaching with Caleb. My father’s expression was grim, and Caleb’s gaze was terrifyingly cold. My heart sank. I had a bad feeling. Caleb rushed forward without a word, grabbing my arm. “Let go of me!” I struggled desperately. “Jax!” Caleb shouted at Jax, who was still clutching his stomach. Jax immediately reacted and ran over to help. Two men—I couldn’t break free. They pinned me to the ground, tying my hands and feet with ropes. I glared at my father, furious. “Dad, what are you doing?” My father avoided my gaze, his voice trembling slightly. “Aria, don’t blame your dad. Seraphina has never been hurt since she was little. She can’t endure the Blackwood family’s torture.” Can’t endure it? So, he’d sacrifice me without hesitation? I turned to Jax, demanding furiously. “Jax, are you serious about this?!” Jax looked at me, a flicker of pain in his eyes, but he remained resolute, dragging me toward the Blackwood residence. “Jax, your attitude towards me hasn’t changed one bit. Still just as cruel.” Jax looked back at me, his face devoid of surprise. “I’m sorry, Aria.” Sorry? I almost laughed out loud. “Jax, your apology is a joke. Push someone to their death, then offer a ‘sorry’?” “I promise, this is the last time.” Jax looked at me earnestly. “I’ve already found a loophole in the Blackwood family’s private detention facility. I’ll do everything I can to protect you. You won’t get hurt.” When we arrived at the Blackwood estate, Jax immediately pushed me away and rushed towards Seraphina, who was crying dramatically. He gently stroked Seraphina’s back, his voice tender, a side of him I had never seen. “It’s alright, I brought her.” “Mr. Blackwood, Seraphina is innocent. Everything was Aria Sterling’s doing behind the scenes.” “All the harm Miss Blackwood suffered should be borne by Aria Sterling!” I was tied with ropes, sprawled miserably on the ground. I struggled to look at Caleb, a last glimmer of hope in my eyes. “You always boasted about your integrity, didn’t you? Why aren’t you telling the truth?” Caleb avoided my gaze. He pulled out a document from his pocket. “I’m sorry.” He apologized softly, then handed the fabricated evidence to Mr. Blackwood. “This is the evidence that Seraphina kidnapped Miss Blackwood. The main culprit is Aria Sterling.” My heart turned completely cold. Mr. Blackwood read the document, his face ashen. He waved his hand, and two men in black immediately stepped forward. A cold glint flashed. Three knives plunged savagely into my body. “Ah—!” The intense pain made me scream. Blood instantly soaked my clothes. Seraphina was still crying. Everyone was comforting her. No one spared me a glance. Just then, a servant rushed in. “Master, Miss Isabelle is awake!” “Miss Isabelle says it was Seraphina who harmed her that night, not Aria Sterling!” Mr. Blackwood was enraged. “Outrageous! Your Sterling family dares to replace the culprit?!” I thought I could finally escape this suffering, but my father stepped forward. After a string of comforting platitudes, he changed his tone: “I only have these two daughters. Do you mean to destroy my entire legacy?” He pointed at me. “Since Aria has already suffered the punishment on Seraphina’s behalf, why not give her double the penalty, and this matter can be considered closed.” My eyes widened. I stared at him in disbelief. “Dad, I’m your biological daughter too.” “For Seraphina’s sake, are you truly willing to let me die?” He unnaturally averted his gaze. Mr. Blackwood glanced at me, then sneered. “Fine.” I was dragged to the Blackwood family’s private detention facility, my hands and feet chained. Torture implements were laid out before me, one by one. Steel needles pierced under my fingernails, making my entire body tremble with pain. “Ah—!” My blood slowly stained the entire facility. I don’t know how much time passed before Jax walked in. “Jax, take me away, quick!” “Please, save me…” I cried and pleaded. But he frowned. “Can you be a little quieter? Seraphina is very scared hearing your voice.” I looked at him in disbelief: “Even with me standing here covered in wounds, your eyes are only on Sister’s trivial fear, aren’t they?” Jax’s face showed a flicker of reluctance, and his fists clenched tightly, but his words still brought despair. “Just endure it a little longer. Seraphina’s period has started, I need to go make her a warm tea for her cramps.” “Jax, please! They’re going to stab steel needles into my neck next! If I don’t leave now, I’ll really die!” Jax’s footsteps paused briefly. “Just hold on. Seraphina can’t stand pain.” He walked away without looking back. I numbly wiped the blood from my face. Julian Thorne and Mr. Blackwood emerged from the shadows. Julian draped his jacket over me, gently stroking my hair, his voice laced with mockery. “Wife, are these your family and your childhood friend?” I looked at Mr. Blackwood, my face devoid of warmth. “Now, can you believe that I have absolutely no lingering attachment to the Sterling family?” Mr. Blackwood nodded with satisfaction. “Welcome to the family.” From this day forward, I was no longer the second daughter of the Sterling family. I was the Sterling Group’s nightmare. Jax stood in the kitchen, a spoon in his hand, the warm water gurgling in the pot. His mind was filled with my last desperate plea to him.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297309”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #魔幻Magic

My brother skipped my birthday party to be with his girlfriend. To make it up to me, he offered to buy me a Givenchy Starry Sky necklace. I grudgingly accepted his apology. But that very day, his girlfriend added me on SnapChat. And she wasted no time being rude. “Seriously, no shame? How dare you take a gift from *my* boyfriend? Every dollar he earns is *mine*.” “Also, women just get married eventually, right? All that schooling? Useless. Just drop out, stop bleeding the family dry.” I was floored. I’d never met anyone so brazen. I instantly shoved my phone in Ryan’s face. “Look at the trash mouth you’ve found for yourself.” Brittany’s messages kept coming. “Back where I grew up, girls your age already have a couple of kids. Get married, stop freeloading off your family.” “All the money Ryan makes, even your parents’ money—it’s all going to be mine eventually.” “You need to understand, every penny you spend now means one less penny for me in the future.” Ryan, my brother, stared at the screen, shocked. After a moment, he scratched his head awkwardly. “Maybe… maybe there’s some misunderstanding?” “Misunderstanding? Ryan, are you totally blinded by love? Brittany is clearly twisted!” I stared at my brother like he was a complete idiot. Ryan had always been a bit wishy-washy and painfully introverted since we were kids. Because of his personality, he barely had any friends, let alone a girlfriend. He was almost thirty, and this was his first relationship ever. Naturally, our entire family was beyond thrilled. Mom and Dad booked overnight flights, ready to fly in from overseas to meet his “future wife.” I even took time off school just to come back. Ever since he started dating, Ryan wouldn’t stop raving about how amazing Brittany was. He swore up and down that we’d all adore her. I thought Ryan was about to drop some amazing news, a real game-changer. Turns out, he just dragged in a massive train wreck. The necklace he’d given me was still around my neck, feeling scorching hot and glaringly obvious. “Chloe, please, just forgive your future sister-in-law. She didn’t do anything wrong; it’s just the toxic environment she grew up in that twisted her views.” “I’ll talk to her, just don’t be mad.” Ryan tried to smooth things over, speaking gently on Brittany’s behalf. When I stayed silent, he held up three fingers, swearing on it. “I swear, I’ll never make my favorite, most adorable sister mad again!” I snorted out a laugh. Ryan finally relaxed when he saw my attitude soften. “Chloe, please don’t tell Mom and Dad about this, okay? I don’t want to ruin Brittany’s impression with them.” I nodded. I wasn’t about to badmouth her right away. Ryan continued, “Tomorrow, I’ll make her apologize to you in person. You *have* to forgive her, okay?” I nodded again. As long as she recognized her mistake and apologized sincerely, I could pretend nothing happened. Ryan drove me to Brittany’s place. He even said Brittany felt really bad and wanted to cook for me as an apology. *Hmm,* I thought, *sounds somewhat promising.* We pulled up to a run-down, older apartment complex in a less-than-desirable neighborhood. The moment I stepped out of the passenger seat, someone shoved me. I lost my balance and tumbled to the ground. Brittany glared down at me. “Don’t you know the passenger seat is for the girlfriend only? How *dare* you sit there?” My head hit the car door, and I saw stars. Brittany’s long fingernails practically poked my eyes. “Are you blind? It even says ‘Wife’s Seat’ on the dashboard!” “Did you just ignore everything I told you yesterday? Seriously, you’re taking my kindness for granted.” I’d seen it. But I get motion sickness. And honestly, I didn’t see what was wrong with a sister sitting in her brother’s passenger seat. Ryan flinched, quickly pulling Brittany back. “Brittany, don’t lay a hand on her…” “What, are you going to stop me?!” Brittany flung Ryan’s hand away. “She’s just a brat! Why should she get to spend your money on a necklace and steal my seat? She’s such a spendthrift, she’ll bleed the family dry!” I struggled to push myself up, my forehead throbbing. “You pushed me?” “Why wouldn’t I?” She stood there, hands on her hips, and spat at me in contempt. Then, without warning, she lunged, yanking the necklace hard from my neck. “Give it to me! Why is a student like you wearing something so expensive? You’re so vain!” Brittany demanded, as if it were her right.

The cold chain tightened around my throat. To avoid provoking her, I hadn’t even worn the necklace Ryan bought me. I yelled, “I bought this myself!” “You bought it yourself? Aren’t you still spending the family’s money?” The necklace snapped in her hand. Brittany’s eyes were filled with nothing but malice and greed. “The family’s money is for me and Ryan. How dare you be so extravagant?” “Brittany!” Ryan’s voice rose as he spun her around. “You promised me you’d apologize to my sister!” Brittany’s eyes immediately welled up, tears streaming down her face. “I humbled myself to cook for her and apologize, and she intentionally sat in *my* passenger seat to provoke me!” “Ryan, you’re my boyfriend. Are you helping me or helping her?” At that, Ryan’s demeanor instantly softened. He immediately turned to me, trying to appease me. “Chloe, don’t mind her. Brittany’s just a little stressed. Let’s just go inside and eat. She made soup…” I looked at Ryan’s evasive gaze, a lump forming in my throat. Was this really the brother who usually doted on me and protected me? Brittany smugly tilted her chin, eyeing me disdainfully. It wasn’t until I got to her place that I understood what “sincere apology” meant. On the dining table sat a sad plate of plain boiled cabbage and a watery egg drop soup with barely any egg… I looked at Ryan, utterly incredulous. Didn’t he say he’d gone shopping for groceries first thing in the morning and spent ages preparing? Ryan scratched his head awkwardly, saying nothing. Brittany slammed the forks hard onto the table in front of me. “Eat up, don’t be picky. It’s an honor to eat my cooking.” I honestly couldn’t bring myself to touch my fork. Her expression hardened. She picked up the bowl of soup and flung it at me. “Not eating, huh? You’re getting too comfortable!” The scorching hot soup splashed all over my skirt, sticky egg bits everywhere… Luckily, I dodged in time, so it didn’t hit my face. Ryan flinched. He jumped up to grab tissues and help me clean myself. Brittany, however, just added fuel to the fire. “Stop faking it, it wasn’t that hot. You think you’re some pampered princess?” I’d been spoiled by my parents since childhood; I’d never endured such humiliation. I grabbed the bowl of cabbage on the table, intending to throw it. Ryan was quick, his hand shooting out to grab mine firmly. “Chloe, Chloe, calm down!” Ryan’s grip was strong; I couldn’t break free. “Please, for me, okay? Don’t hold it against Brittany. Her parents didn’t love her, they were abusive when she was little, that’s why her temper is a bit short.” “That’s no excuse for her to bully people,” I bit out. Ryan still didn’t let go. I could only watch as Brittany walked closer, poking my face with her greasy finger. “Ryan and I are going to be a family in the future. You think he’ll take your side? Dream on.” “You better be smart and promise you’ll never spend a single penny of Ryan’s money again.” “And you better drop out of school. Tuition is such a waste of money, or else I’ll make sure you can never show your face in front of your classmates!” I snapped my head towards Ryan. He avoided my gaze again. “Chloe, your sister-in-law means no harm…” It felt like something was lodged in my chest, heavy and bitter. I found a burst of strength and violently yanked my hand free from Ryan’s grip. I stared into Ryan’s eyes, enunciating each word. “You’re such a wonderful brother.” As I turned to leave, Brittany taunted me from behind. “Oh, by the way, your parents sent you a birthday gift the other day, I already opened it.” “It’s a dress, looks pretty expensive. I’ll keep it, I have a reunion next week.” My steps faltered. When I looked back, I saw Brittany greedily fiddling with the princess dress Mom and Dad had sent me. Ryan looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing, just a barely audible sigh.

This time, I didn’t cover for Ryan. I got home and told Mom and Dad everything, exactly as it happened. Mom was heartbroken. “My precious daughter, we’ve never even raised our voice at you, and she dared to do that?!” “That boy, Ryan, he’s so foolish. When we get home, we’ll give him a good beating.” Mom and Dad were furious. Ryan didn’t come home until very late. His eyes were bloodshot. I guessed Mom and Dad must have chewed him out over the phone. Ryan gritted his teeth, stubbornly looking at me without speaking. I sighed. “Ryan, what were you thinking today?” “Chloe, I finally found someone I like. Why can’t you be more understanding?” Ryan’s gaze was full of blame and displeasure. He shook his head slightly. “And you told Mom and Dad? How is Brittany supposed to get along with them now?” I stared at my brother, stunned. How could he say something like that? Ryan continued, “Mom and Dad just called me, they cursed me out for ages. Brittany heard everything, she was crying…” Mom and Dad arrived home two days later. Ryan completely dropped his defiant facade in front of them, obediently admitting his mistakes. To appease Mom and Dad, he even grabbed my hand and slapped his own face with it. All three of us were stunned, seeing his bloodshot eyes. Families are easily softened, and they forgave him for the most part almost immediately. Mom and Dad demanded Ryan break up with Brittany. Ryan didn’t answer. He just kept kneeling, begging for forgiveness. … A week after Mom and Dad came home, Ryan showed up with Brittany without a word. Ryan grinned. “Mom, Dad, Brittany said she wanted to meet you.” Brittany wore a simple, elegant cotton dress, her hair in a high ponytail, with only light makeup. As she entered, she kept her head slightly bowed, looking incredibly timid. I almost didn’t recognize her. “Mr. and Mrs. Davis, Chloe, hello.” She spoke softly, the picture of a gentlewoman. My parents didn’t like Brittany. But guests were at the door, so they couldn’t just turn them away. Mom shot Ryan a displeased glance. Clearly, she wasn’t happy about him bringing someone home without warning. But Mom and Dad still played the good hosts. Mom cooked a table full of dishes, and Dad even brought out his prized wine. I sat on the sofa watching, sighing inwardly. Mom and Dad were still giving Ryan enough face. At the dinner table, Brittany completely changed her attitude, becoming incredibly attentive. She kept serving Mom and Dad food. “Mr. Davis, this fish is light; Ryan said your blood pressure is a bit high, so light food is perfect for you.” Then she turned and served Mom a piece of braised pork. “Mrs. Davis, your skin is amazing.” My parents still kept poker faces, but they had relaxed slightly. Ryan watched from the side, his eyes full of smugness, as if saying, *See? My girlfriend is so thoughtful.* I sighed and kept eating. I knew my parents. They might seem polite on the surface, but that was just their good upbringing. They loved me the most. Knowing how I’d been treated, there was no way Mom and Dad would accept Brittany as their daughter-in-law. Brittany even served me some food. “Chloe, eat more, you’re too thin.” I didn’t respond. Instead, I picked up the food she’d served me and put it in Ryan’s bowl. Brittany’s eyes instantly turned red. “Chloe, do you really hate me that much? We’re going to be family, and family shouldn’t hold grudges overnight.” Ryan immediately jumped in, “Chloe, you’re going too far this time.” Suddenly, the atmosphere in the living room turned awkward. Mom and Dad stopped what they were doing and looked at Ryan in unison. Ryan’s eyes darted around. “I… I just think Chloe isn’t being fair.” Brittany didn’t sense the shift in atmosphere. Her eyes gleamed with undisguised calculation. I chuckled to myself. She was finally dropping the act. After dinner, Brittany volunteered to wash the dishes. I could hear the water running and her softly whispering to Ryan. “Your parents seem pretty easy to handle. This house must be expensive, it’s a villa in the city center. When we get married, make them pay for more…” After they finished the dishes, Dad put down his teacup and said coolly, “You’re a clever girl, aren’t you?” Brittany thought she was being complimented and grinned. Ryan didn’t catch the hidden meaning and cheerfully nodded. “Yeah, Brittany’s really sensible.” Mom’s smile was barely held together. I chuckled aloud. “So, you two are getting married?”

Brittany nodded. “Of course, we’re planning to get married.” She exchanged a knowing look and smile with Ryan. The family dinner concluded then and there. Before Brittany left, she didn’t forget to bump my arm when no one was looking. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Soon, everything in this house will be mine. You just watch.” … After Brittany left, Mom and Dad blew up. But Ryan said one thing that silenced the whole room. “Brittany’s pregnant – this is your first grandchild.” Brittany thought she was carrying a golden ticket, and she became even more arrogant. Ryan even defied his parents, taking Brittany to secretly register their marriage without telling them. By the time we found out, it was too late. Mom was so angry she nearly fainted. Dad slapped Ryan hard. “You fool!” Ryan stuck his neck out stubbornly. “I’m not wrong! I know Chloe is smarter than me, that’s why you’ve always favored her more.” “From childhood until now, no one has ever truly chosen me—Brittany is the only one who loves me.” “Do you know? That day she cooked me a bowl of plain rice porridge, it was the first time I felt the warmth of a home…” I listened, utterly stunned. This… my brother had become *that* pathetic. Mom and Dad remained firm. But Brittany was shameless. Even knowing Mom and Dad disliked her, she forcibly moved all her luggage into the house. Mom, Dad, and I rushed home when we found out. By the time we arrived, the house was completely transformed, filled with Brittany’s things. Seeing us, she wasn’t flustered at all. She even carried herself like the lady of the house. Brittany nonchalantly stirred her bird’s nest soup with a spoon. “Oh, you’re here. This stuff is expensive, you rich people sure know how to enjoy yourselves.” None of us bothered to respond to her. Suddenly, she changed the subject. “I really like this house. You should transfer the title to my name. And all the money you two old people have in the bank, transfer it to my card too. I’ll keep it safe for you.” Ryan was in the bathroom at the moment. Dad’s face instantly darkened. “Get out. You’re not welcome here.” Brittany didn’t get angry. “Don’t be mad, now. Ryan and I are getting married, of course, you parents should help us out.” “And Chloe, she’s a girl, she’ll get married sooner or later. No need to study so much. You should go help her drop out. Better to save that money to raise a child for me and Ryan.” I rolled my eyes at her. “Are you dreaming?” Brittany looked utterly righteous. “Am I wrong? You have so much money, isn’t it a waste to give it to this brat?!” “What I’m carrying in my belly is the golden heir who’ll continue the Davis family line!” Ryan emerged from the bathroom. He saw Mom and Dad’s ashen faces and suddenly bowed deeply to them. “Dad, Mom, please don’t be angry. Brittany means no harm, she’s just very direct.” Mom was trembling all over, her face pale. She pointed at the front door. “Get out! Both of you, get out!” Brittany shrieked. “Why should we? I’m willing to discuss this with you, that’s me giving you respect.” “Ryan, they’re deliberately making things difficult for me! Are you going to do something about it? Or else, I’m not marrying you!” Ryan rushed to appease her. “Don’t be mad, don’t be mad, I’ll talk to them properly.” Watching my brother like this, my heart turned cold. Mom clutched her chest, her face as white as a sheet. Mom’s health was never good; how could she endure such a shock? “Mom!” I rushed forward, catching Mom as she collapsed. Instantly, the house descended into chaos. Mom didn’t wake up until the next day. Dad and I stood vigil by her bedside. Ryan only came to look at Mom once, Then left the hospital, citing the need to care for Brittany, the pregnant woman. Mom held my hand, her voice hoarse. “Chloe, your brother… I used to think he was just a bit soft, but now I know he’s completely lost, beyond saving.” Dad sat by the bed, taking a deep breath. He pulled a document from his briefcase. “My dear, this is the company’s equity transfer agreement. Your mom and I have already signed it.” “From now on, you are the company’s sole successor.” I was stunned. “Mom, Dad…” My parents loved me dearly. But they were still very traditional. No matter how poorly Ryan performed, they couldn’t bring themselves to hand over the company to me.

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To go on a summer vacation with my husband and daughter, I barely slept three or four hours a night for half a month. I worked myself to the bone to finish everything and take time off. I also wanted to create the perfect itinerary for our family trip. But I never imagined my husband, Ryan, would give my meticulously planned itinerary to his female colleague. And then take our daughter, Daisy, and that colleague on the trip instead. After they returned from their “happy family” vacation, Ryan couldn’t care less about my feelings. He just thought I was being unreasonable. Even Daisy started begging for his colleague to be her mom. That was it. I was completely done. I filed for divorce. A few days before their trip, I noticed Ryan’s suitcase was already packed. On his desk, I found a printed document. I picked it up casually and opened it. It was my travel itinerary, the one I’d poured my heart and soul into creating. The cover had been edited. Another name was written on it: Mia. Mia was Ryan’s colleague. I immediately confronted Ryan. He just brushed it off, totally nonchalant. “Oh, Mia has always wanted to go to that place.” “I saw your itinerary was really good, so I let her use it as a reference.” I bit back my fury. “A ‘reference,’ huh?” “Then why are all the hotel booking details exactly the same?” “Even my personal notes are printed on it?” “And the date is tomorrow?!” Ryan still looked bored. “Well, she can stay at that hotel, too.” Daisy, hearing us, ran over and chimed in. “Mom, why are you so stingy?” “Isn’t it okay for Aunt Mia to use it?” For the sake of family peace, I swallowed my anger. The next day, I woke up to find Ryan and Daisy gone. I called Ryan’s phone over and over, but it kept going straight to voicemail. On the twelfth try, someone finally picked up. “Hello? Who is this? What do you want with Mr. Ryan?” It was a woman’s voice. “Who are you? Why do you have my husband’s phone?” “Oh, it’s you, Scarlett. It’s Mia!” “Where’s Ryan right now? Is Daisy with him?” Mia chuckled softly a few times. “Ryan took Daisy and me on vacation.” “You don’t mind, do you, Scarlett?” A lightning bolt struck me. Everything suddenly made sense. The printed itinerary on the desk yesterday. The suitcase packed in advance. I was left alone in the empty house. Looking at the itinerary I’d made on my laptop, my heart twisted in agony. After that, Ryan’s phone went straight to voicemail again. I called Daisy’s smartwatch. Each time, Daisy would just say a few quick words and then rush off to play. Over the next few days, I kept checking Ins. It was flooded with Mia’s travel photos and videos. I saw pictures of Daisy, her smile radiant, holding Ryan’s hand in one and Mia’s in the other. My emotions were a mess. There was Mia holding Daisy on a carousel ride. That was supposed to be *my* special note in the itinerary, that *I* would hold Daisy on the carousel. The three of them looked like the perfect happy family, eating together in the restaurant I had carefully picked out. In one video, Daisy even thoughtfully picked up some food for Mia. Ryan gazed at them both with such tender affection. It wasn’t until the last day of their trip that a mutual friend of mine and Ryan’s sent me a screenshot. “Scarlett, what’s going on?” “Ryan and Daisy are out traveling with another woman?” It was Ryan’s Ins post, a photo dump, a grid of nine perfect shots. But I couldn’t see Ryan’s posts on my own feed. He had blocked me. Every photo in that grid radiated pure bliss. The caption read: “Perfect vacation, thanks to Tour Guide Mia for the company.” In the center of the grid was a standalone photo of the three of them together. Below it were comments from friends: “Summer trip for the family of three, how lucky!” “Ryan, your family life is truly blessed!” “You guys are having too much fun!” Ryan replied to every comment, thanking them. He clarified nothing.

The days that followed were pure torture. Finally, they returned from their trip. And Mia came back with them, carrying some of their things. They looked like a real family of three. The atmosphere between them was sweet and lively. They brought back a pile of souvenirs and local specialties. Daisy excitedly counted them out. “This scarf is for Grandma, she’ll love how pretty it is.” “This tea is for Grandpa, he loves tea the most.” “This watch is for Uncle.” …She showed them off one by one. But in the end, there wasn’t a single thing for me. I asked, my voice tinged with a desperate plea, “Daisy, why didn’t you mention anything for Mom?” “Oh, Mom, your gift is in Aunt Mia’s bag!” Daisy chirped. “Aunt Mia even tried it on personally to make sure the size was right, because she was worried it wouldn’t fit you.” “Mom, see how nice Aunt Mia is?” My heart sank. There was no joy in me. Daisy continued to excitedly show off the toys and new clothes Mia had bought her. “Mom, look at this cute doll Aunt Mia caught for me in the claw machine!” “Aunt Mia is super good at it!” “And this pretty little dress Aunt Mia bought for me.” She then rattled on about the fun things they did on the trip. “This trip was so much fun! I want to go with Aunt Mia again next time!” “We even caught little fish, and lots of crabs!” “We ate so much good food!” Ryan was also clearly thrilled with the trip. He nodded in agreement, telling Daisy, “I’ll take you again next time, but you have to be well-behaved.” My pent-up anger, building for days, finally exploded. “You took my meticulously planned itinerary, went on vacation with another woman and my daughter, and left me alone at home. Do you think that’s okay?” “Ryan, what do you even take me for?” Ryan instantly frowned, a hint of impatience in his voice. “I did it all for your own good.” I stared in disbelief. “You did it for my good by treating me like this?!” “Isn’t it? I was worried you were working too hard, so I asked Mia to look after Daisy.” “Weren’t you relaxed, having a few days off at home?” Mia also put on an innocent face. “Scarlett, please don’t misunderstand.” “Daisy has always really liked me, so Ryan just asked me to help look after her on the trip.” “I really didn’t mean anything by it.” “I’m so sorry… If I’d known you’d be upset, I wouldn’t have gone…” she said, looking distraught. Ryan chimed in, “We even brought you a gift, what are you making such a fuss about?” “And I was worried the dress size would be wrong, or the style wouldn’t be good.” “Seeing as you and Mia are the same size, I specifically had her try on several pieces before picking this one out.” Daisy, hearing me accuse Ryan and Mia, immediately started crying and throwing a fit. “You’re a bad mom, you don’t love me at all!” “All you do is work all day. Only Aunt Mia ever plays with me.” “Aunt Mia even takes me to eat delicious burgers and fries.” “You never let me eat this, and you never let me eat that.” Ryan then added to the blame. “And it’s just a travel itinerary you can find a million of online. You’re making a huge deal out of this little thing.” “Mia helped revise many of the details, which is why the trip went so perfectly.” “You’re so busy every day, when would you actually have time to finish that itinerary anyway?” “I was just trying to fulfill your wish for Daisy to have a happy trip, what are you still unhappy about?” Mia, ever the picture of understanding, said softly, “It’s okay, I’m just happy I could help.” “The most important thing is that you and Daisy had a good time on this trip.” “It doesn’t matter if I’m misunderstood.” Daisy was still crying and whining relentlessly. “Why can’t I have a fun trip? Don’t you want me to have fun, Mom?” “This is my first summer trip this year, Mom, don’t you love me anymore?”

Seeing Daisy’s outburst, Ryan angrily snapped at me. “Look what you’ve done to the child!” “Mia was trying to be kind. What could a child possibly do wrong by going on a trip?” “Can you stop being so unreasonable?” “Do you have to turn our home into a chaotic mess before you’re satisfied?” Mia, meanwhile, still played the understanding role. “Ryan, don’t say that. Scarlett works really hard too.” “And Daisy, you too. How can you talk to your mom like that?” Watching the scene unfold before me, I felt like an outsider. My heart went completely cold. I said, calmer than I had ever been, “Ryan, let’s get a divorce.” Ryan looked at me as if he’d heard a joke, scoffing. “I worried you worked too hard, letting you stay home with nothing to do.” “And now you want to divorce me? Are you out of your mind?” “Don’t make jokes like that!” Daisy heard me say “divorce” and cried even louder. “Mom, you don’t want me and Dad anymore!” “Daisy will be a wild child with no mommy’s love!” “Why can’t Daisy go play, boohoohoohoo.” Ryan didn’t refute Daisy’s words. “Everything I did was for your own good. Why can’t you understand my intentions?” “Do you have to make such a scene?” “Do you know how much damage talking about divorce in front of Daisy does to her?” I stopped wasting words, went back to the room, and pulled out the divorce papers I had already prepared. For days, my heart had been enduring excruciating pain. I had drafted the divorce agreement but never thought I’d actually have to use it. Ryan had pushed me to this point. “Sign it.” “Ryan, I’m truly exhausted.” Mia, seeing our situation, feigned panic and tried to dissuade me. “Scarlett, don’t be impulsive! Ryan and Daisy really love you.” “And during the trip, Ryan and Daisy kept saying they wanted to go on another trip with you when you had free time.” I gave Mia a cold stare, silently telling her to shut up. Mia, however, acted as if she was deeply hurt. She covered her face, looking pained. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I truly didn’t realize you’d care so much, Scarlett.” “I thought it was just helping Daisy have some fun.” “It’s all my fault, Scarlett. If you’re angry, just hit me.” “Don’t take your anger out on Ryan and Daisy.” As she spoke, she started to cry, her voice laced with injustice. Ryan saw Mia’s tears and didn’t say a word against her. “Scarlett, I really don’t understand you anymore.” “You know how exhausting it is to take a child on vacation.” “You’ve been home doing nothing, and you tell me you’re tired?” Daisy rushed over, wanting a hug. But because she was so clumsy, she knocked me to the floor. Mia quickly reacted, trying to help both Daisy and me up. But before I could even touch her hand, she stumbled and fell to the side with us. Ryan first helped Mia up, then scooped Daisy into his arms, comforting her. Ryan’s emotions were more agitated than I had ever seen them. “Daisy, don’t cry, don’t cry. Did you hurt yourself?” Daisy cried even harder, gasping for breath. Lying on the floor, my back throbbed with a sharp pain. The pain made me stare blankly at the scene for a few seconds. I couldn’t help but mock my own failure. Daisy was still screaming next to me. “It hurts so much, Daisy hurts so much.” “Mommy, Mommy, do you really not love Daisy anymore?” Ryan, fuming, shot me a cold glare. He snatched the divorce papers from my hand. And with a swift, decisive motion, he signed his name. “Scarlett, this is all your own doing.” “When you regret it, that’ll be your own damn fault!” My heart completely gave up on that father-daughter duo. “Daisy, don’t be scared.” “Daddy will take you to the hospital right away to see if you hurt yourself. We’ll get you checked out.” Ryan soothed Daisy as if she were a fragile treasure.

After they rushed off to the hospital, I looked at the divorce papers in my hand. A true sense of relief washed over me. I had been so tired for so many years, and finally, it was all over. Ryan and I were college sweethearts. He was the one who pursued me back then. He would carry me through muddy paths on rainy days. He’d personally brew brown sugar water for me during my period. Because he was good at academics, he’d tutor me, helping me improve my grades. Our relationship was always so strong. Until we got married. When I was only a month pregnant with Daisy, he insisted I quit my job. He said it was for my own good, that I shouldn’t overexert myself during pregnancy, or my body wouldn’t handle it. I thought he was genuinely caring. But after I gave birth to Daisy, Ryan insisted I breastfeed. He said it was best for the baby. Yet, he didn’t know that breastfeeding left my body incredibly weak. Each feeding was excruciating. During pregnancy, I had severe morning sickness and lost a lot of weight, but he never noticed. When Daisy turned three, he still wouldn’t let me work, saying Daisy needed her mom. He couldn’t let her childhood lack a mother’s love. So, I stayed home as a full-time homemaker, caring for Daisy around the clock. But when Daisy turned four, Ryan’s company went bankrupt. I had to go back to work to earn money, leaving Daisy with his parents. Ryan’s parents were very upset with me. They even blamed me for Ryan’s company going under, saying I was bad luck for him. They were incredibly old-fashioned, always hinting that Daisy needed a brother. And behind my back, they constantly manipulated Daisy, filling her head with the idea that I didn’t love her, that’s why I left her alone with them.

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My sister, Alexis, was straight-up obsessed with me. When I was ten, some dirtbag tried to snatch her. I ended up in his car instead. They got their ransom, and I came home, but my face was sliced up pretty bad. My legs were broken, too. Alexis went into overdrive. She took over Dad’s business and turned it into a freakin’ empire. I became the center of her universe. Also, her untouchable nerve. Some jerk at school called me “scarface”. Alexis shoved his head into a trash can full of rats. He was barely recognizable. Another kid whispered I was a cripple. Alexis ran him over with a steamroller, turning his legs into hamburger. Alexis was a stone-cold killer to everyone in town. Except me. She spoiled me rotten. She dropped a ton of cash on reconstructive surgery, fixed my legs, and sent me to college overseas. Right before I came home, I got a wedding invitation from her. She was so excited. Said I was getting a new brother-in-law who would love me just as much. She even sent me a picture of the lucky dude. I walked into the house, and this guy, her fiancé, busted in with a bunch of goons. He thought I was the boy toy Alexis was keeping on the side. He started beating the crap out of me. Alexis finally showed up, and he pointed at me, lying on the floor, and whined:“Am I not good enough for you? Is he better than me?” Alexis’ eyes went red:“You don’t have enough lives to be compared to him.” “BANG!” The sliding glass door exploded. A bunch of tough-looking guys stormed in. I was still trying to figure out what was going on when I saw the dude in the lead, the one from Alexis’ picture, my future brother-in-law, Jason. Before I could even say hello, he swung a metal baseball bat straight into my face. My nose exploded in pain. Warm liquid trickled down. Blood. The blow caught me completely off guard, and my head was spinning. “So, I finally caught your ass, boy toy? Thought you could hide overseas forever?” Jason screamed. He raised the bat again, aiming for my head and body. I scrambled back, trying to protect my head, and tripped, landing hard on the floor. “You’ve got this all wrong, I’m…” Before I could finish, Jason jammed the bat into my mouth, shoving it back and forth. Pain shot through my face. A metallic taste filled my throat. I choked, spitting out a mouthful of blood. “Wrong, my ass! Don’t think I don’t know you manipulated Alexis into buying you this house!” “You knew I was marrying Alexis, so you wanted to come back and interfere. Even if you’re not successful, you can still be a sugar baby, right?” “Today, I’m gonna show you what happens to homewreckers!” He kicked me, sending me sprawling. The back of my head slammed against the edge of the coffee table. My scalp split open. Desperate and angry, I swallowed the blood and said:“You’ve got this completely wrong! I’m Alexis’ brother!” “She sent me a message a few days ago, telling me to come home for the wedding…” Jason froze. One of the goons stepped forward and whispered. “I did hear the boss had a brother who’s been living overseas for years. But we’ve never seen him. I heard the boss has a twin brother.” Jason glanced at my face. “Twins? This boy toy doesn’t look anything like Alexis.” Just then, another guy walked in, his face was all scarred up. It was Danny, Alexis’ right-hand man. He’s been with Alexis forever. He should recognize me! “Danny, it’s me, Frankie!” I barely got the words out, and Danny looked over, confused. “Who the hell is this guy? How does he know my name?” Danny was suspicious, but Jason swung the bat at my mouth, hitting me hard. I couldn’t talk anymore. “He’s the boy toy I was telling you about. He must have heard us talking.” Danny shook his head. “That’s not right. He said his name was Frankie, and Frankie is the little boss’ name! No one knows that.” He rushed over, grabbed my face, and started looking me over. “This face doesn’t look anything like the little boss’ face.” My heart sank. I’ve had so much work done; he wouldn’t recognize me. “Wait a minute! The little boss was sent out to get plastic surgery. Did you get your face done?” Danny was starting to remember. I nodded, pleading with him. Yes, I’m their boy! Jason didn’t believe it. “A pretty boy who lives off his face? Of course he’s had work done.” Danny held up his hand. “Faces can be faked, but not identity. Let’s check his ID.” Two goons grabbed me and started to search me.

  I twisted, trying to get away, and Jason slapped me hard across the face. “Hold still! Tie him up.” The goons tied me up tight. I was searched. Danny was getting worried. “Why’d you beat him up like this? What if he really is the little boss?” Jason laughed and offered him a cigarette. “What’s the problem? I’m marrying Alexis. If I beat her brother by mistake, it just proves I love her, and she’ll forgive me!” Danny took a drag. “Good point.” They found my ID in my pocket. Jason snatched it and burst out laughing. “See? I told you he was lying!” Danny leaned over and slowly read the name: “Jack Smith.” Then, he opened my diploma. “John Smith.” “He’s a fake. The little boss’ name is Frankie Miller. He went to Korea, not England.” My heart dropped. After what happened, Alexis took me out of the system. She changed my last name to my mom’s name. She didn’t want me to be kidnapped again, so she kept it a secret from everyone. Did Alexis do it to protect me? Alexis, you’re going to get me killed! I was panicked. Danny’s eyes turned cold. “This punk is pretending to be the little boss? Get him!” They knocked me to the ground and started kicking me. My phone fell out of my pocket. When the screen lit up, Danny saw my wallpaper. His face changed. “Wait!” The wallpaper was a picture of me and Alexis. Danny picked it up, his hand shaking. “Is this your phone?” I nodded frantically. Jason rolled his eyes. “Danny, it’s just a picture! He probably Photoshopped it!” I made wild gestures, trying to get Danny to open the phone. He understood. He put the phone to my face to unlock it, and pulled up the texts between me and Alexis. “His contact name for the boss is ‘Sister’!” Danny was shocked. Jason grabbed my phone. “This boy toy is the type to call everyone ‘Sister’, that’s how he manipulates them! Don’t fall for it!” He swiped up a few times and exploded. “She didn’t just buy you a house, she called you ‘Baby,’ and said she never wanted to be apart from you again?” I wanted to explain, but my mouth was too damaged. Alexis is my only family. She doesn’t want me overseas forever. No one’s ever laid a hand on me before, and now I was beaten by her fiancé and gagged. Her own man didn’t recognize me. Alexis, it hurts so much! I started crying, and Danny frowned. “He’s got the same personality as the little boss. Can’t take any kind of hardship. Loves to cry.” “Should we double-check? The boss is obsessed with the little boss. If it’s really him, we’re screwed!” Jason nodded. “Fine. I’ll call and ask. If he really is Alexis’ brother, I’ll take the fall. But if he isn’t…” His face twisted. “I’ll make this boy toy wish he’d never been born!” He had the goons gag me and dialed Alexis. “Hey, babe, you said your brother was coming for the wedding, right? What day does he get in?” “I want to get him a gift.” Alexis sounded happy. “That’s so sweet of you! He said he’d be there tomorrow night.” I felt a chill run down my spine. I changed my ticket to today to surprise Alexis. Jason stared at me, his eyes narrowing. If he hung up, everything would be over! I bit down hard on the goon’s hand. He yelled and let go. “Alexis, help me!” I shouted. Jason’s face went red. He kicked me to the ground and stepped on my mouth. Alexis sounded worried. “I think I heard someone say, ‘Help’?” Jason forced a smile. “It’s just the TV. My brother is coming home, so I need to get a gift ready. I’ll talk to you later.” He hung up. Despair washed over me. Jason pressed down harder. “You tricked me, almost fooled me!” I cried harder. He still wasn’t satisfied. He stared at my tear-streaked face. “You’re the reason Alexis likes you! She was going to marry me, but she still bought you a house.” One of the goons told him:”It’s not that surprising, bosses like to keep people on the side. Since she likes him, should we let him go?” “You’re the one marrying her anyway, it’s fine if you turn a blind eye.” Danny agreed:”Yeah, you’re the primary partner, it’s not a big deal.” Jason wavered. The injustice of it all overwhelmed me. I was Alexis’ brother, treated like a boy toy! She has terrible taste in men. I’m making her cancel the wedding! Jason saw my anger and flipped out. “You dare glare at me? I’ll ruin you!” He stepped back and pulled out a knife, going for my face. “No!” I screamed.

Jason kept going. “After you’re ugly, Alexis will love me!” The pain kept coming. I almost passed out. Alexis spent a fortune finding doctors to fix this face. It’s over now, Alexis won’t let him live! “You’re dead…” I said to him, and Jason exploded. “What did you say?” He slashed at my lips. “Curse me now!” I couldn’t speak anymore. Jason was about to keep going when they heard high heels. “Boss, why are you here?” Alexis! I struggled, trying to get up, and pain shot through my leg. Jason broke my knee. Danny’s face changed. He told Jason to hide me. “She can’t see him. She’ll get angry!” Jason and the goons dragged me into the kitchen, and Alexis walked in. “Danny, didn’t I tell you to start decorating? Where’s everything?” “I just got here. It’s in the car. I’ll get them to unload it.” Danny and the goons left. Alexis walked around the house. “It looks good, he’ll like it.” “Is this the kitchen?” She asked the designer and went for the door. I saw her shadow through the glass and started crying. Alexis, save me! Alexis opened the door. She saw Jason and me on the floor and was shocked. “Jason, what are you doing here?” “Who is that?” She said, pointing at me. Alexis, it’s me! Recognize me! I crawled towards her. Jason kicked me in the face. “Shut up!” I tried to say something, but Jason hit me again. “Don’t call her ‘Sister’ in front of me!” Alexis froze. She knelt down and stared at me. Jason spoke first. “Babe, I know. He’s your boy toy, right?” “You bought him this house. I’m fine with that, you’re successful, it’s normal.” Jason started to cry. “I just wanted to see what makes you like him.” “I can copy him, so you’ll love me more…” Alexis hugged him. “What are you saying? I only love you. I wouldn’t be marrying you otherwise.” “Honey, this house is for my brother. He’s coming home tomorrow. I wanted to surprise him. You must have misunderstood.” “Who is he? I don’t have a boy toy!” Jason realized what happened. His face went white. “He…he offended me. I was teaching him a lesson…” Alexis frowned. “He offended you? Okay. But you shouldn’t have brought him to my brother’s house. How unlucky!” “We have bad luck before we have the blessing from God!” Jason said:”I get it. I’ll have him taken care of right away. We’ll get a priest to ward off the bad luck.” “Tomorrow, I’ll apologize to your brother. He won’t be mad, right?” Alexis smiled:”He won’t blame you.” I was dragged out, panicking. He was going to have me killed. He knew who I was! He wasn’t taking any chances. I fought and got slapped. “You’re dead. Now, take him away!” Jason rushed them. Danny walked in with the god of the Kitchen. He saw Alexis’ face and said:”Boss, we didn’t want to spill blood, but he pretended to be your brother…” Jason tried to stop him, but it was too late. Alexis pounced on it. “He pretended to be Frankie?” Danny nodded: “Yeah, it’s not believable. We checked, his ID is the wrong name!” He showed Alexis the IDs. Alexis’ face went white. “What’s going on?”

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My parents, to try and straighten me out, faked a DNA test. They said I wasn’t their real son.   My sister, ignoring my pleas, was determined to throw me in a mental hospital. “You’re a menace, why don’t you just die?” And my beloved fiancée?She not only watched with cold eyes but used her connections to make sure I suffered every kind of torment inside. Five years. Five years and I finally learned my lesson. So, why do they suddenly want me to go back to being the spoiled, arrogant brat I used to be? ***** “Ryan, what’s with the Mr.Big Shot act again?It’s late, why aren’t you home?Are you trying to make us all worry about you on purpose?” My sister, Ashley’s voice blasted from the phone. After five years, the Miller family finally arranged for me to be released. Because today’s Brandon’s birthday. He said he was willing to give me a chance to apologize. Then, Dad took the phone. “I know you resent us putting you in the crazy house, but who told you to be such a bully to Brandon?We did it for your own good!”Ashley chimed in. “Exactly, and we got you out now, didn’t we?What more do you want?”They kept nagging me. Half an hour later, after they finished lecturing, they started asking where I was. “Where are you right now?We’ll send a car to pick you up!This time, be good.Don’t go wandering around again!” I swallowed hard, my voice extremely hoarse. “The hospital.”Yeah.I’d been waiting here, from day to night, without moving. There was a pause on the other end. Then, they yelled at me, even louder than before. “At the hospital?Can’t you get yourself home?Do we really have to come get you?It’s not like you don’t know the way back!” “Who are you trying to fool with this act?Are you still resentful of us? I knew you hadn’t learned anything.I knew we shouldn’t have gotten you out!”But they seemed to forget. They were the ones who told me to wait here and not move in the first place. “S-sorry, Mr.and Mrs.Miller, Ashley.I didn’t mean to.”I apologized without thinking. They were stunned. Maybe they were shocked by my obedience, or maybe they were surprised by how I addressed them. Five years ago, we were a close family. If it hadn’t been for that DNA test, I never would’ve believed I wasn’t their real son. Not when I looked so much like my parents. “Whatever!”They seemed to have lost their temper. “I’ll have Ashley pick you up!” I sat there quietly, letting the cold wind and hunger wash over me. “Need a ride, buddy?”A cab stopped in front of me. I shook my head. “Waiting for someone.”Taxi after taxi left the curb. It wasn’t until after 10 pm, when the hospital was almost closed, that I still hadn’t heard from the Miller family. Not a single message on my phone. The security guard took pity on me. “You’ve been waiting all day. Why aren’t they here yet?I’m about to get off work, and it’s pretty isolated out here. It’s dangerous for you to be alone at night!”I just tugged at the corner of my mouth and didn’t say anything. I’d waited five years. What’s one more day?The guard sighed. He got some water and a sandwich for me. Seeing I was alone and in danger, he stayed late to keep me company. “Thanks, man!”I ate the sandwich obediently. This was the best birthday I’d had in five years.   In the end, the Miller’s car never came. The security guard gave me a ride. It was after midnight when I got back to the Miller’s house. My phone still had no messages. The lights of the house were shining bright, and you could hear the laughter and chatter from outside. I didn’t question them. If the maid hadn’t opened the door, I might have stayed outside forever. “Wow, what happened to you?You look terrible. Your clothes are all dirty. “Ashley burst out as soon as she saw me. Mom didn’t seem to believe it either. “Ryan, have you lost a lot of weight?” Why, in just five years, had I gone from a somewhat beefy young man to someone who barely weighed 80 pounds?Dad’s eyes showed a hint of pity.

He immediately told the housekeeper to cook something for me to eat. “We were going to pick you up, but Brandon wasn’t feeling well, so we…”I knew. This was their special way of making amends. They could neglect me, put me down, and not have to worry about whether I was sad. Afterwards, they’d give me a treat to make me forget the pain. In the past, I would’ve been ecstatic. But now, I didn’t care. I was about to say something when Ashley interrupted. “It’s just a guilt trip.He’s probably pretending to be pitiful so you feel bad for him.Then he can stay here!” Mom huffed and turned to me with a kind and gentle look. “Anyway, we haven’t found your real parents, so you can live here.You can call me Mom, just like before.I still think of you as my son!” “It’s okay, Mrs.Miller. I’m grateful that you’re taking me in!” That polite form of address was more than just words. It had placed a chasm between the two of us, people who had once been as close as a person could be with their mother. Mom couldn’t hold back. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes. I wasn’t the arrogant son she once knew. I should complain. I should rant about how they’d abandoned me all these years. Anything would have been better than this pathetic and meek version of myself.   Brandon visibly trembled when he saw me, as if he’d seen something terrifying. After a while, Brandon finally gathered the courage to hold out his hand. “Ryan, let’s shake on it!”I stood there, stunned.I’d never argued with him, so why would we “shake on it?”Five years ago, I’d just started college. Like always, whenever I was in a new place, I would stake my claim on Emily. Emily was my fiancée. I loved her, and, being the Miller family’s oldest son, I’d always been arrogant. Naturally, I couldn’t stand any guys who looked at her the wrong way. Brandon was one of them. Brandon had grown up in an orphanage. For some reason, the cold and aloof Emily always seemed to pay special attention to him. Even my sister, who was always on my side, turned against me. I confronted Brandon once. After that, Brandon started facing various forms of bullying at school. Everyone said that I couldn’t stand him. Near the end of the semester, Brandon finally snapped and jumped from the top of the school building. They saved him. He wasn’t hurt. But he left a suicide note. It was full of accusations against me!No one believed me. Emily broke up with me. I thought that was the worst it could get. Then, they announced that I wasn’t the Miller’s real son. The real son turned out to be Brandon. As for where my real parents were?No one told me!In one night, I fell from heaven to hell. In the end, the family I’d known for over twenty years sent me to a mental hospital. A place worse than prison. “I don’t want to worry the family. I don’t care what you did to me. It’s all in the past.” “If you promise not to upset Mom and Dad, I can treat you like a brother!”Brandon smiled. He was well-behaved and generous. Anyone would praise him, saying he was the Miller’s first son. Everyone around him looked at him with approval. Dad nodded. “That’s right. If you’re willing to change, you’ll always be the Miller’s oldest son!”Ashley scowled. “I’m only forgiving you for Brandon’s sake. You better thank him. If you bully him again, I’ll make you pay!”Five years ago, I would have tried to explain myself to everyone. I didn’t bully Brandon. He staged all those things himself. But now, I wasn’t going to act like a clown, explaining myself to people who didn’t care about me. “I’m sorry.I came back mainly to get my ID…”Everyone’s face darkened. They all thought I was ungrateful. “Why are you always stuck on small things?If you’re so difficult, do you want to go back to the mental hospital?” “We raised you for so long. Why can’t you be good like Brandon?Why are you always disobeying your parents?”Mom seemed a bit out of control. I didn’t understand why she was overreacting. “But… I’m not your real son!”Wasn’t it normal for me to leave and take my ID?Mom froze. She looked at me blankly. I guess I looked like a stranger.

Ashley scoffed. “You’re dreaming if you think you can just leave after living the high life at the Millers’ for over twenty years. Do you think you can ever repay all that?”I lowered my head. I couldn’t understand these people. They hated me. I wasn’t even a Miller. Now that I was leaving, wouldn’t that make them happy?In the end, I stayed at the Millers’ for the time being. My old master bedroom had become Brandon’s room. Now, I was in the maid’s room, a place I’d never set foot in before. I didn’t complain. I went to bed early. Even in that soft bed, I still had nightmares. I dreamt of my days in the mental hospital. Those terrible people didn’t care about my cries and tore at my clothes. I begged them, telling them that my family and my fiancée would never let them get away with it!But my resistance only made them more violent. They laughed at me for daydreaming. They laughed that I thought I was still the Millers’ oldest son. They laughed at my stupidity. Because everything that had happened to me was approved by the Miller family and Emily!Again, I woke up from a nightmare. I felt cold all over.   When I went to the living room to get a glass of water, I saw Ashley sneaking out of her room. She had a helmet in her hand, like she was going racing. I pretended not to see anything and kept pouring my water. Ashley paused. Then, she came over. “Don’t you have anything to say to me?” “Say what?”I asked. Ashley was the Miller’s daughter, but she loved riding motorcycles. I remembered Ashley had been in an accident before. Every time she snuck out to ride her motorcycle, I would curse her and tell her to be careful. Ashley always acted like I was a pain in the ass. “Why are you being so annoying?I’m riding a motorcycle, not going to war, so chill out!You’re not my brother, Brandon doesn’t even say anything, so why should you?”Even though I knew she was annoyed, I would still tell her to be careful before she left. But all those times I’d cared about her vanished with the unanswered cries for help over the past five years. Ashley’s face darkened. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll crash if I drive too fast?”I shook my head. “I don’t know about that. Isn’t the thrill what it’s all about?” “If you don’t have anything else to say, I’m going back to my room?”Ashley blocked my path. I tried to go around her, but she stopped me. “So, we sent you to the crazy house for five years.Are you going to hold a grudge forever?If you hadn’t been bullying Brandon, would we have sent you there?”She smiled coldly. Every time we argued, she would accuse me of bullying Brandon. Then, she would watch me break down. But this time, I just shook my head calmly. “I’m not angry.Really.”She seemed very angry and kicked the table.   When I saw Emily again, I thought I would be emotional. I thought I’d tell her about the pain I’d suffered all these years, but nothing happened. Not even a ripple in my heart. She and Brandon stood together, a perfect match, and she looked at him with a tenderness I’d never seen. When she saw me, she frowned. I’d always thought of myself as Emily’s fiancé. Out of all my dreams of being a scientist or a doctor, I wrote that I wanted to marry Emily. Now that I think about it, I was probably always chasing after Emily. And Emily never said anything. People said that Emily was only nice to me because of the Miller family. Now, Emily had probably gotten her wish. “Ryan, I saw that your clothes were all dirty yesterday. I got you a few things. Don’t worry, I’ve only worn these once, so you’ll be fine, right?” Brandon pulled out his old clothes like he was trying to get a reward. Everyone’s eyes were on us. I remembered how embarrassed I’d felt so many times in the past when I’d lost to Brandon. But all that embarrassment was nothing compared to the hell I’d been through for five years. “Thank you, Brandon!”I took the clothes obediently. I could sell them for money when I left the Miller’s house. The once-proud son was now so humble. Even the maids couldn’t help but whisper to each other. The Millers looked displeased. “Ryan, are you kidding me?”Ashley seemed to be losing it. She threw the clothes on the floor. “How can you wear other people’s clothes?Don’t you know that you’re part of the Miller family……”

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On my 22nd birthday, my uncle discovered my diary. After learning about my secret crush on him, he sent me abroad and spent millions on a lavish wedding to marry his true love. At the airport, he coldly warned me: “Never have inappropriate thoughts again.” Years later, I returned with a child in my arms. He was shocked: “Is this yours?” I nodded with a smile: “Yes. I just finished my postpartum recovery.”   Sitting on the plane, I still felt dazed. I never thought that after five years abroad, I would have the chance to come back. After all, Orion had said that in this lifetime, I’d better never appear in front of him again. But it was also he who personally bought me a ticket back home, inviting me to attend his and Melissa’s wedding anniversary celebration. After two layovers, I finally landed. Uma had been sleeping peacefully on the plane, but once we got off, she started crying. “Mommy, my feet hurt,” she whimpered softly. Hearing Uma’s quiet sobs, I quickly picked her up and walked towards the exit. At the arrival gate, I turned on my phone, ready to call a cab. Just then, my phone rang. Seeing the familiar number on the screen, I fell silent, unsure whether to answer or not. In the end, I didn’t pick up. But a second call came through almost immediately. I sighed and finally answered. Orion’s voice quickly came through. After years without talking, his voice hadn’t changed. “Are you out of the airport? I sent an assistant to pick you up,” Orion said in a businesslike manner, as if we were strangers. I laughed bitterly, “I can get a cab myself.” There was silence for a second; Orion probably didn’t expect me to say that. After all, back then, I had been well taken care of by him. During my years by his side, all my needs were met – I never had to worry about transportation. After a moment of silence, Orion spoke casually, “Let the assistant come anyway. I bought a gift for Melissa on your behalf, it’s in the trunk. You can bring it directly when you come for dinner.” Orion was still so thoughtful, considering even the gift situation perfectly. Of course, when he spent millions on the venue and commissioned a limited edition diamond to create a unique wedding ring for Melissa, it was clear how much he loved her. “Alright,” I said, rubbing my forehead and responding softly. Orion didn’t say anything more, but he didn’t hang up either. After a while, Orion finally spoke: “Yara, after five years abroad, I hope you’ve really reflected on things. If you do anything to Melissa, I won’t let you off easy.” Hearing this, I was stunned. The noise around me seemed to fade away. Orion said he wouldn’t let me off easy. Before I could respond, Orion had already hung up. Actually, Orion could rest assured. I wouldn’t do anything to them. I just wanted to take good care of Uma and find a job. As I left the airport, I lowered my head. The proud 22-year-old me probably couldn’t have imagined that my life would end up in such a miserable state.

I was sent abroad by Orion on my 22nd birthday. That day, Orion discovered my diary. When I was young, my parents died in a cruise ship accident and never returned. Orion naturally took over my care. My relationship with him had always been harmonious. Until I became an adult, I realized I didn’t just see Orion as an uncle. I liked him. But I also knew very clearly that there was no future between Orion and me. So I wrote all my feelings in my diary. If Orion hadn’t seen my diary, I probably could have pretended that my feelings for him were just those of a niece for her uncle. But Orion saw it. He tore up my diary and asked me how I could have such disgusting thoughts. “Don’t you know I’m your uncle! Even without a blood relation, we can only be family!” The usually gentlemanly and refined Orion was no longer gentle, shouting at me with disgust in his eyes. At that time, I wanted to explain, but couldn’t explain anything. In the end, I could only keep bowing and apologizing, saying I was wrong, that I shouldn’t have fallen for him. But Orion didn’t calm down. The next day, he resigned from the job I had lined up, and under the guise of studying abroad, sent me to a remote university overseas. To prevent me from contacting the outside world, Orion even hired bodyguards to watch me. At first, I didn’t understand why Orion treated me this way. Until the first month after I went abroad, news of Orion’s marriage went viral. Only then did I realize that all these years, he had always had someone in his heart. I watched Orion’s wedding video over and over again. In the video, when looking at Melissa, Orion’s gaze was gentle and loving. He had never looked at me that way. From that moment on, I knew that Orion keeping me by his side for so many years was just out of sympathy and responsibility. His only love was Melissa. “Miss John, please get in the car,” the assistant’s voice brought me back to reality. I nodded and got into the car with the sleeping Uma. When he saw Uma, the assistant’s face showed a hint of surprise: “Miss John, this is…?” I made a shushing gesture, afraid our conversation would disturb Uma’s sleep. After sitting in the back seat, I answered softly: “This is my daughter.” The assistant nodded and fell silent. When he drove to our destination, I was stunned. This hotel was where Orion and Melissa got married. Five years of marriage, he held a wedding anniversary celebration every year, and personally selected gifts for Melissa. I thought, Orion really cherished Melissa. In previous years, he didn’t allow me to enter their world. Inviting me back this year was probably just to let me witness their happiness. I numbly got out of the car and saw Melissa smiling as she walked towards me. Unlike my haggard appearance and simple clothes, Melissa wore expensive jewelry and perfume, looking well-cared for by Orion. Melissa’s smile suddenly froze.

I knew she had seen Uma in my arms. Sure enough, when she came to my side, Melissa’s expression was very surprised: “Yara, how did you secretly have a child abroad without telling me? I’ve been married to your uncle for so long, you still treat me like an outsider.” Before I could speak, Melissa took Uma from my arms without asking. Uma woke up and immediately started crying, struggling not to let Melissa hold her. I took Uma back from Melissa and comforted her for a while. Actually, Melissa knew about my past crush on Orion. Returning this time, I didn’t want to get too involved with Melissa. But Melissa still stubbornly wanted to hold Uma. When Melissa and I arrived at the hotel’s private room, Uma was still crying and wanting me to hold her. Melissa forced a smile and handed Uma back to me: “Your uncle knows having children isn’t easy. We haven’t thought about having kids these past few years. Seeing you’ve had a daughter, I got too excited.” There were already several people sitting in the room. I wasn’t used to socializing, so I chose a corner seat, and Melissa sat down next to me. She enthusiastically linked arms with me, introducing me and Uma to the others. The looks others gave me were visibly teasing and probing. I couldn’t stand the strange atmosphere here and said I wanted to go to the restroom. When I came back after washing my face, I heard Melissa’s voice. Someone asked Melissa why she brought in an unlucky thing like me. “What unlucky thing, Yara is Orion’s sister. Although she went down the wrong path and tried to seduce Orion before, now that she’s had a child, she definitely won’t make mistakes again.” Hearing Melissa say this, I just quietly stood at the door of the private room. Yes, in others’ eyes, I was just a madwoman who tried to seduce her uncle, a shameless slut. Uma tugged at my clothes uneasily, and I comforted her before entering the room. Some things have to be faced eventually. I don’t know how long passed, but suddenly everyone in the room stood up. “Mr. John is here!” “Hello, Mr. John!” A group of people crowded around him, while I didn’t move, just sitting in my seat. After a long time, I finally raised my head and looked at Orion. He seemed to have lost some weight. Orion wore a suit, with Melissa leaning on him. When they looked at each other, their eyes were full of smiles. Orion was surrounded by people and didn’t notice me in the corner. All these years, he who should have been the center of attention still was, while the only one not doing well was me. Suddenly, Melissa seemed to remember something and pushed Orion with a smile: “Orion, Yara is here too. You uncle and niece haven’t seen each other for so many years, catch up a bit. Yara even brought back a surprise!” Hearing the word “surprise”, Orion remained unmoved, first helping Melissa sit down and ordering her a glass of milk before raising his eyes to look in my direction. Uma shrank into a ball, looking very wary. Orion obviously saw Uma too, his eyes widening suddenly. “Yara, what is this?” He was asking about Uma. I hadn’t told them about Uma, so when they saw me with her, their expressions were all the same – either surprised or looking like they were watching a show. Melissa spoke for me: “Orion, this is Yara’s daughter. Isn’t she cute? She looks just like Yara and seems to be a few years old already.” Orion’s gaze fell on Uma, then on me, examining me for a while. Just when I thought Orion wouldn’t pay attention to me anymore, he asked hoarsely, pointing at Uma: “During these years abroad… you got married and had a child?” I raised my head, looking directly at Orion, and nodded. “I got married a while ago. Sorry I didn’t tell you.”

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I’m a mortician specializing in restorative art. I have eyes that can see people’s death dates, and even twist their destinies. But this ability can only be used three times, or there will be a severe backlash. The first time, Liam was critically ill, desperately needing a kidney transplant. I used my ability to extend his life. The second time, Liam needed money to invest in his company. I proactively read fortunes for a wealthy man, altering his destiny in exchange for five million dollars. But when I brought the money home, I overheard Liam and Chloe’s conversation. “What if she finds out about us?” Liam scoffed. “Don’t worry, she won’t. That stupid woman is about to die anyway.” It wasn’t until I used my last ability that I discovered something terrifying. I only had three days left to live. … My body did indeed start showing problems. But it shouldn’t have. My lifespan was always longer than most people’s. The fact that I could see people’s death dates and twist their destinies was something Liam didn’t know. At that moment, I was cleaning a body that had just been brought in. After treating the wounds and applying the makeup, it was already four in the morning. My phone suddenly vibrated. It was a text from Liam. “Honey, I’m at the parking lot. Yesterday you said you wanted cantaloupe. You’ll be able to eat it after you get off work.” “I love you, babe. Can’t wait to see you.” I texted back, “Okay.” I quickly turned off my phone and glanced at my work log for three days from now. It had another name for me, a name only Liam knew. If I hadn’t seen Liam cheating with my own eyes yesterday, I might never have believed someone who claimed to love me so much could be so cruel. After all, to pursue me, he used to come to the funeral home every day to wait for me to finish work. For three whole years, come rain or shine, he was always there. His sincerity moved me, and after we got married, he continued to be just as good to me. My colleagues all praised him as a wonderful husband, envying me for finding true love. But looking back, after Chloe appeared a while ago, something felt off about him. Her name was the one he mentioned most often. On Valentine’s Day, he’d make excuses about working late at the office, but he was actually out to dinner with Chloe. One day, he actually didn’t come to pick me up after work. I had to call him to find out he’d simply forgotten. Yet, I saw a photo of them together at a nightclub on Chloe’s Ins story. I had originally intended to find an opportunity to ask him directly. If his heart had changed, I would have let them be. But then he reverted to his gentle, loving self, and I didn’t dig deeper. I just thought maybe he was just looking for a new thrill. One day, Chloe called him many times, but he didn’t answer. He stayed home with me instead. “Honey, the company’s run into some trouble recently. We desperately need a large sum of money, or the company will go bankrupt.” “This company is my life’s work, honey. I treat it like my own child. I can’t lose it.” He finished speaking, then hugged me and burst into tears. I couldn’t bear to see him so upset. “Don’t worry, I still have some savings in my account. I’ll go to the bank and withdraw it tomorrow.” After I said that, he hugged me tightly and said, “Honey, you’re so good to me. I’ll always be by your side from now on, and I promise to do everything I can to make you happy.” I believed him. All my previous suspicions vanished. I found a middleman and announced on the black market that I could read fortunes and alter destinies. A wealthy man, on the verge of death, found me. I used my second ability, extending his lifespan. He paid me a five-million-dollar酬金 (fee). This money, if things had gone as planned, was supposed to be given to Liam today. Sure enough, as soon as I got in the car, Liam first pretended to be concerned about my health. “Honey, you were coughing a bit this morning. Are you catching a cold?” “Make sure you get enough rest. If you’re sick, please take a few days off and stay home.” I nodded. My heart felt no ripples. Seeing my expressionless face, he softened his tone and asked again. “Honey, did you go to the bank to withdraw the money? The company’s account is empty, and the finance department is urging me to transfer funds today.” I looked up at him after hearing that. His face was full of anxiety, and he parted his lips to continue. “It’s okay. If you can’t withdraw it, it’s fine. I’ll figure out something else. I can’t let a woman shoulder all the responsibility.” Though he said that, in his heart, he was clearly anticipating me handing over the money. When I said I’d transfer it to him once we got home, a flicker of glee crossed his eyes. But he likely wouldn’t live to spend that money. 2 He hugged me happily and said, “Honey, you’re the best. The company is saved now.” “By the way, have you felt unwell lately? You looked a bit pale this morning. I’m a little worried.” I knew what he meant by that. This morning, I had used my last ability and saw that only three days remained above my head. But what he didn’t know was that I had swapped my own fate. After returning home, I called Mr. Sterling, who then told me about Liam’s true nature. I was somewhat shocked. After thanking him, I quickly hung up. Hearing the sound, Liam poked his head out of the bedroom, asking suspiciously, “Honey, who were you talking to?” “Nothing much. The money couldn’t be transferred, so I just called the bank to inquire about the situation.” “Oh, I see. No rush. Just as long as you can transfer the money to me tomorrow.” Only then did he relax and continue tidying up. The next morning, he still hadn’t received the money and was starting to get anxious. I had just sat down to eat breakfast when he immediately snatched my forks away. I was annoyed. “What are you doing? What do you mean by not letting me eat?” He heard my impatient tone, but instead of getting upset, he smiled. “Honey, how can you still have an appetite when the money hasn’t come through?” I let out a cold laugh. His hidden agenda was practically screaming at me. Seeing that I didn’t answer him directly, his face began to darken, turning sullen. “Aubrey Hayes, you *will* transfer that money to me today! You weren’t like this before!” “The company can’t wait any longer. If it goes bankrupt, you won’t be able to live a life of luxury anymore! You’ll have to beg with me!” I ignored him. His expression was somewhat perplexed. In the past, I would have transferred the money immediately, but this time I had waited a long time. I naturally knew what he was angry about. Not long after we got married, his physical exam revealed kidney failure, so severe that he needed an immediate transplant. Unfortunately, there was no kidney donor available. He cried to me. “Honey, I don’t want to die. If I leave, and you’re all alone, I can’t rest easy.” I had no choice but to use my ability to alter someone else’s lifespan. After the surgery, I could only tell him that I had donated it. He was so moved, saying he would spend his entire life making it up to me. How could I, who loved him so much, refuse his request? He grew more and more anxious, talking faster and getting more agitated. Seeing me unresponsive, He forcefully swept the table, sending plates and bowls crashing to the floor. But I didn’t expose him. I looked up to question him. After five years together, I still wanted to give him one last chance. If he told me the truth, He wouldn’t die. “Liam, is your company really in trouble?” “Or are you lying to me? Just tell me, and I’ll forgive you. Maybe we can figure it out together.” At my words, his pupils contracted slightly, and his expression became unnatural. But then he thought, *How could she possibly know? Besides, she’s practically dying anyway.* Liam sneered. “Aubrey Hayes, if you don’t want to give me the money, just say so. Don’t accuse me! If you don’t believe me, ask the company’s CFO.” “Or I can call Chloe. She’s my secretary. One question and you’ll know. When she found out the company was in trouble, she willingly sold her house to help me. You’re my wife, and you’re not even as good as her.” Liam’s stubborn denial truly disappointed me. Since he intended to harm me, I had nothing left to hold back. No need for softness. Suddenly, Chloe actually entered, inputting the password to unlock the door. I froze for a moment. It seemed they were much more intimate than I had imagined. She scurried over and linked her arm through Liam’s, cooing, “Mr. Miller, hasn’t Ms. Hayes given you the money yet?” “Is Ms. Hayes giving the money to another man? You don’t know? If you ask me, just take her phone and transfer it yourself.” Liam’s fury ignited at her words. He grabbed a cup from the kitchen and threw it at me. It struck me squarely on the head. I cried out in pain, clutching my head and groaning. 3 Chloe stood by, covering her mouth and giggling, her words dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, Ms. Hayes, Mr. Miller is usually so kind-tempered. Look how you’ve upset him. This isn’t good for you.” He seized the opportunity to snatch my phone and began transferring money to himself. “Liam, give that back! If you transfer it, you’ll live to regret this!” He found my words amusing. “You b*tch, when I was being nice to you, you wouldn’t give it to me. You forced me to get rough. Who knows who’ll regret what? Maybe you’ll be the one in trouble first.” “If you had just given me the money earlier, you wouldn’t be suffering. I can’t stand you.” Chloe kicked my face, then leaned in close to my ear. “He’s always with me when he’s not home. He says I’m more adventurous in bed than you are. He absolutely adores it.” “And I’m pregnant.” She touched her belly, looking at me provocatively. “Oh, by the way, he told me you have some special ability, that you can see people’s lifespans. Is that true?” I stared at her in shock. I grabbed Liam’s leg and asked, “How do you know that?! Who told you?” He disgustedly kicked me away. “Get lost! You don’t need to know that.” “You just need to know that when you die, I’ll take care of your body. I think you’ve just used your abilities too much and now you’re facing retribution.” Before I could speak, he continued to kick me savagely, only stopping when I coughed up blood. “See? Your retribution has arrived. Don’t blame me for abandoning years of our relationship. It’s just that you have this ability and never told me! Otherwise, my mom wouldn’t have died!” “Aubrey Hayes, how heartless you are! If you could have checked my mom’s lifespan in advance, and she’d been diagnosed with stomach cancer earlier, she could have been treated. Everything would have been fine!” “You could save *my* life, why wouldn’t you save my mom’s?!” Liam was known for being exceptionally filial. But this level of devotion, it was truly pathological. My heart clenched. When his mother was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer, I was on duty at the funeral home. By the time I rushed to the hospital, she had already passed away. Liam was disoriented for half a month afterwards. Then he told me his company was in trouble. It seemed he already knew about my abilities by then and had blamed everything on me. My body began to suffer a severe backlash. I convulsed incessantly, rolling on the ground, my eyes rolling back. Chloe was terrified and quickly crouched behind Liam. He didn’t find it strange; instead, he laughed wildly. “You b*tch, this is your retribution!” “By my calculations, you’ll die tomorrow. I’ll take care of your body then.” He stabbed me in the abdomen with a knife, and I screamed in agony. “Once you’re dead, I’ll find a place to bury you properly.” Without waiting for me to speak, he grabbed Chloe and turned to leave. I lost consciousness from excessive bleeding. When I woke up, I found myself lying inside a cremation oven at the funeral home. The enclosed space made it hard for me to breathe. I desperately cried, pounded, and called for help. “Is anyone there?! Let me out, please!” “Is anyone there?! I’m still alive!” No one responded. I started to panic. Then Liam’s voice echoed in my ears. It wasn’t loud, but I could hear it clearly. “Screaming won’t help. No one’s coming to save you.” “I’ve been preparing for this. Today, I’m sending you to be cremated. A life for a life!” My throat was raw from screaming, and my voice was laced with tears as I asked, “Alright, since I won’t live long, let me die with some understanding. What have you done to me?!” At my words, Liam chuckled softly. He began to tell me how he had been preparing for two months, how he had bought a secret poison from a shady contact deep in the city’s underbelly. No matter how resilient a person was, prolonged consumption would cause problems. Every day after work, the fruits and food he brought me contained the poison. So that was it. My heart felt as if it were in ice, chilling to the bone, making me tremble with pain. He was the person I trusted most. How could he?! How *dare* he?! I had sacrificed so much for him. The first time I twisted someone else’s fate, my limbs became weak, and every step felt like my bones would fracture. In the end, I had to hide from him, claiming I was working overtime, but I actually slept in the morgue for half a month before recovering. The second time I altered the rich man’s destiny, I briefly went blind. I never told him any of this. For him, I was willing to endure. He finished speaking and left immediately after seeing the cremation oven start its cycle. I heard him leave. I immediately pressed the emergency button, which only internal staff knew about. Soon, my colleagues rushed over and violently pulled the metal tray out. They gasped when they saw it was me. They quickly treated the wound on my abdomen, stitching it with twenty stitches. “Ms. Hayes, how did you end up in there? Thank goodness you pressed the button in time, or someone could have died.” “Oh my god, Ms. Hayes, who put you in there? Your name isn’t on the work log.” They looked at the name, which read “Aubrey Vance.” “That’s not right. That’s not Ms. Hayes’s name. I saw that name on the log yesterday too and wondered why it was only one letter different from Ms. Hayes’s.” Suddenly, a female colleague screamed. “The family member who signed the log is Ms. Hayes’s husband!” “I feel a little weak in the legs, I need to sit down.” Hearing this, they helped me to the break room, their faces filled with worry. They wanted to ask more questions but ultimately swallowed their words. I broke the silence. “Don’t say anything about what happened today. I’ll handle it.” Seeing my solemn expression, they immediately nodded, gave me a few words of caution, and left. I took out my phone and called Mr. Sterling. “Hello, I’m out. Are you ready?” “Everything’s set. Just waiting for your command to deal with that despicable pair.” “Good!” I closed my eyes, waiting quietly. Meanwhile, Liam went home, packed his things, contacted a real estate agent to sell the house, and sold off all the valuable items in the home. After letting his guard down, he actually started dancing a striptease with Chloe at home. They were both incredibly excited, tearing open one condom after another. Used toys lay scattered on the floor. He cupped Chloe’s face and said, “Once she’s dead, I’ll have her abilities. We’ll be rich beyond our wildest dreams.” “My little darling, tonight I’ll definitely take good care of you, make you utterly satisfied, and blow your mind.” But the next second, Chloe’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She pointed at Liam, terrified.

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My girlfriend, Chloe, was cornered by some rough types, clearly in distress, but all I did was quietly flip open my textbook and review. In my past life, I couldn’t stand by. I stepped in, and I ended up hurting one of those guys. The next day, Chloe framed me, claiming *I* had assaulted her. I lost my chance at a scholarship, a direct path to a prestigious university. Eventually, the police let me go due to lack of evidence. But when I walked out, I saw Chloe nestled in that thug’s arms, giggling, “Honey, this nerd doesn’t get our fun. He actually thought you were assaulting me, hahaha, it’s so hilarious!” Chloe then added, “Good thing we set him up to take the fall. Otherwise, that scholarship wouldn’t have been mine.” “Since he loves meddling so much, I’ll just break an arm and a leg,” the thug sneered. They beat me, left me crippled, and dumped me in a saltwater tank, where I suffered agonizing, bone-rotting torture every day. My Nana Sue, who came looking for me, was drowned in a tub by those same thugs. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on that very day Chloe was being cornered.

“SLAP!” A loud, stinging slap. My left cheek burned instantly. “Jason, are you even a man? Just watching your own girlfriend being… You, why didn’t you save me last night?” Chloe’s voice trembled, her tears streaming down her face. I pressed my tongue against my throbbing cheek, suppressing the rage churning in my chest. “Chloe, weren’t you having a blast? I thought you were really enjoying yourself,” I said, my voice cold. “Besides, we broke up. Do whatever you want. I have no right to interfere.” I turned to leave, but she grabbed my sleeve. Her attitude suddenly softened. “I don’t agree to the breakup. You haven’t tutored me for today’s class yet, have you?” I almost burst out laughing. Chloe, the girl who hadn’t opened a textbook once in three years of college, was now using “tutoring” as an excuse to keep me around? I knew her too well – she was only sticking to me because of next week’s midterms, and she needed my notes and tutoring to pass. “Let go.” I peeled her fingers off, not looking back. Last night, at eleven, I was in my dorm, rushing to finish a paper when my phone buzzed. “Chloe” flashed on the screen, and my fingers froze. She’d changed her number after we broke up, and I’d deleted all her contacts. “Jason… help… help me…” Chloe’s slurred voice came through, background noise a chaotic mix of music and laughter. “Golden Horizon Hotel… they’re forcing me to drink…” My heart just *clenched*. Chloe and I had grown up together; I’d always looked out for her like a little sister. Even after all the times she’d messed up, my family did owe hers a debt of gratitude for their past help. After a tough internal debate, I decided this would be the last time. I grabbed my jacket and rushed out. Chloe loved to party, but her alcohol tolerance was terrible. When we were together, I never let her drink outside. When I finally, breathlessly, knocked on room 1818, the sight before me chilled me to the bone. The door was ajar. Chloe, her clothes disheveled, was straddling Blake’s lap – that trust fund kid whose family owned a chain of hotels. He was bringing a drink to her lips. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glazed, but a smile played on her lips. She didn’t look forced at all. “Well, well, if it isn’t Jason, the top student,” Blake grinned, his arm tightening around Chloe’s waist. “Looking for your ex-girlfriend? Too bad she prefers playing with me now.” Chloe turned, saw me, and her expression stiffened for a split second, but then she quickly smiled. “Jason? What are you doing here… Come have a drink with us…” I stood there, feeling my blood turn to ice. So, the “cry for help” was just her drunken whim, or part of some twisted game she was playing with Blake. I’d rushed over like an idiot in the middle of the night, only to witness *this*. “My apologies.” I turned and left. Behind me, I heard Chloe’s cackles and Blake’s mocking voice, “Poor guy’s always poor. Can’t even afford a hotel room, still trying to get a girl?” Stepping out of the hotel, the night wind cut through me. I stood by the road, suddenly feeling utterly pathetic. Twenty-two years of friendship, of shared life, and in Chloe’s eyes, it was nothing more than a transaction – me providing academic help in exchange for her company, and now she’d found a wealthier buyer. “Jason! Wait!” Chloe chased after me. I quickened my pace, but she still managed to block my path. “What do you even want?” I couldn’t help but raise my voice. “Wasn’t last night clear enough?” Chloe bit her lower lip. “I was drunk… I don’t remember anything…” Her eyes darted away. “Blake said he’d help me with my failing grades for the finals, so I…” “So you exchanged your body for grades?” I scoffed. “What a noble transaction.” Her face flushed crimson. “How can you say that?! If you hadn’t insisted on breaking up, I wouldn’t have…” “I insisted on breaking up?” I cut her off. “You were the one who said, ‘Jason, we’re not from the same world. You can’t give me what I want.’ Remember?” That was three months ago, on Chloe’s twentieth birthday. I’d worked three jobs, saved up to buy her a fancy necklace, while her friends showered her with designer bags and perfumes. That night, in front of everyone, she threw the necklace back at me. “Jason, let’s break up. You can’t even afford a decent birthday dinner. We’re not from the same world.” I remember standing at the restaurant entrance, clutching that “cheap” necklace, watching her and her friends drive off in Blake’s Porsche. “I was just… upset at the time,” Chloe now explained, reaching for my arm, but I pulled away. “I know you’re the best to me, Jason. See? I came back for you.” Watching the calculation in Chloe’s eyes, impossible to hide, I suddenly realized I’d never truly known this person. For over two decades, I might have been in love with nothing more than a carefully constructed illusion. “Chloe,” I took a deep breath. “We’re done. Truly done. I won’t write your papers anymore, I won’t cheat on tests for you, and I certainly won’t continue to be your on-call backup.” Her expression instantly twisted, the sweet facade crumbling to reveal something ugly underneath. “Who do you think you are? A poor student with nothing but good grades! I’m giving you face by even looking your way!” “Then please take that ‘face’ back,” I said calmly. “I don’t need it.” As I turned to leave, I heard her scream hysterically behind me, “You’ll regret this, Jason! Without me, you’re nothing!” My phone vibrated. It was a message from my advisor: “Jason, your MIT exchange application has been approved. Congratulations.” I stopped, and then I smiled. The world, it turned out, was so much bigger than I’d ever imagined. And my worth? It never needed Chloe’s approval to be proven.

I never thought Blake would personally seek me out. “Heard you were peeping on Chloe and me getting cozy yesterday? That desperate?” People around us had already stopped, pulling out their phones. “Move.” My voice was low as I tried to walk around them. “Chloe told me you’ve been harassing her, refusing to let go,” Blake said loudly, making sure everyone could hear. “Broke bookworms are always broke bookworms, can’t even keep a girlfriend. Know what she said on my bed last night? She said you—” I didn’t wait for him to finish. I punched him square in the face. Blake, caught off guard, clutched his face, staring at me in disbelief. His two goons instantly lunged. “Jason! Are you crazy?!” Chloe’s voice suddenly cut through the crowd. She pushed her way to the front, glanced at the bruise on Blake’s face, then turned to me, her eyes filled with accusation. “How could you hit him?” I looked at her, suddenly feeling an absurd hollowness. For over twenty years, I hadn’t even raised my voice at her, and now she stood beside the man who had humiliated me, demanding answers. “Chloe,” I wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of my mouth. “Last night, you called for help. Was *this* the kind of ‘help’ you were calling for? Blake’s bed?” A ripple of whispers broke out among the onlookers. Chloe’s face went white, then quickly flushed crimson. “What are you talking about?!” she shrieked. “I never called anyone!” Blake’s eyes glinted maliciously. “I’ll make sure you can’t stay in this school. My dad’s a board member. Who do you think the Dean’s office will believe?” I met his gaze head-on. “What else do you have besides your daddy’s money?” Blake stumbled back, falling onto the ground, his face a grimace. His two goons started forward but were held back by my stare. “Jason!” Chloe suddenly rushed over and grabbed my arm. “Do you know what you’re doing? Blake’s family—” “I know,” I shook off her hand. “He’s rich and powerful. So what? Is that why you chose him?” Chloe’s lips trembled. “You just don’t understand…” Her voice suddenly dropped. “The life I need, you can’t give me…” “And are you getting it now?” I scanned the growing crowd, then looked at Blake, still sitting on the ground. “Being with someone like this, is *that* the life you want?” Chloe didn’t answer, but her eyes flickered. Just then, the piercing whistle of campus security echoed from a distance. Dean Miller, without asking questions, sternly reprimanded me, “Jason. You assaulted a fellow student without provocation. According to school regulations, that’s a disciplinary strike.” “Without provocation?” I couldn’t help but retort. “He started it—” The Dean cut me off. “Considering your otherwise good record, if you’re willing to apologize publicly, we can go easy on you.” I looked at Blake. A triumphant smirk played on his lips, his eyes practically screaming, “You’re done for.” “I won’t apologize.” I met the Dean’s gaze directly. “He provoked and insulted me and my family first.” The Dean’s face grew even sterner. “Jason, think carefully. A disciplinary strike will affect your MIT exchange qualification.” My heart sank. The MIT exchange was a goal I’d worked for two years, my only chance to escape my current situation. I looked at Blake, his smile widening, clearly knowing this was a sore spot. The room fell terrifyingly silent. I thought of my parents, working overtime in the factory, of them scrimping and saving every penny to send me to college, of the light in my father’s eyes when he said, “Son, our family is counting on you.” Then I remembered Blake’s sneering face as he insulted my parents, and Chloe standing by his side. “I’d rather take the disciplinary strike than apologize to someone like him,” I said, every word deliberate. The Dean shook his head in disappointment, picking up his pen to sign the document. Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open. “Wait!” A familiar voice rang out. I turned in surprise to see my roommate, Sam, standing in the doorway, breathless, holding up his phone. “I have video evidence! Blake provoked him first! And his two goons started the physical contact!” The Dean frowned, taking the phone. The video clearly showed the entire incident. The atmosphere in the room instantly shifted. Blake suddenly stood up. “That video’s edited! My dad—” “Enough!” The Dean sharply cut him off. “Mr. Blake, we will handle this matter fairly. Now, please go back to your room.” Blake’s face was ashen as he glared at me, then slammed the door shut and left. The Dean tiredly rubbed his temples. “Jason, while your actions were understandable, hitting someone is still wrong. Write a statement. This matter ends here.” Walking out of the Dean’s office, Sam punched my shoulder. “You’re a wild one, man!” My phone buzzed. It was an email from my advisor: “Final confirmation for MIT exchange. Please submit your visa documents as soon as possible.” I took a deep breath and replied, “Already prepared. Will submit tomorrow morning.”

On the weekend break, I went back to my old place to visit Nana Sue. I didn’t expect to run into Chloe at the edge of town. Nana Sue warmly took Chloe’s hand. “Came from the city? Had dinner yet? Why don’t you come eat at our place?” I was about to object, but Chloe already smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Nana Sue, I haven’t eaten yet. I’m here for a community project, and I didn’t expect to run into Jason.” Community project? I scoffed inwardly. Chloe hadn’t completed a single volunteer hour without paying someone off in three years of college. How could she possibly be doing a community project? On the way home, Nana Sue and Chloe chatted animatedly. Chloe was uncharacteristically well-behaved and attentive, asking Nana Sue about everything. Nana Sue beamed, praising her, “This girl is so thoughtful.” “Jason,” Chloe suddenly said after dinner. “I have a research report for this community project that I need to write. You’re a great writer, could you take a look?” I was about to refuse, but Nana Sue spoke first. “Jason, your classmate came all this way, it’s not easy. Help her out.” Seeing the expectant look in Nana Sue’s eyes, I had no choice but to nod. A flicker of triumph in Chloe’s eyes confirmed my suspicion: this was a trap. I led Chloe to the small table in the backyard and asked coldly, “What do you really want?” Chloe’s expression immediately changed, her earlier sweetness gone. “I just wanted to see the famous Nana Sue,” she said, glancing around the modest yard, a hint of disdain in her eyes. “So this is where you grew up.” I clenched my fists. “If you’re here to insult me, you can leave now.” “Don’t be so tense,” she suddenly smiled again, pulling a USB drive from her bag. “I really do need your help. Blake is forcing me to submit an economics paper, due next Monday. You know I can’t write it. Please help me, just this once.” “Why don’t you ask Blake for help? Isn’t he so capable?” I sneered. A shadow crossed Chloe’s eyes. “He… he’s in a bad mood lately. Jason, just for Nana Sue’s sake? She was so happy just now, if she knew you were so cold…” She was using my Nana Sue against me! I took a deep breath, weighing my options. If I refused, she might cause a scene in front of Nana Sue. If I agreed… this was clearly a trap. “Just this once,” I finally conceded. “Leave the files, and I’ll give it back to you tomorrow.” Chloe flashed a triumphant smile, pressing the USB drive into my hand. “I knew you were the best.” She leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Don’t tell Nana Sue about our ‘little secret,’ okay?” The next morning, I finished revising the paper and was about to head to the local library to email it to Chloe. As I stepped out, I saw a black Mercedes pull up at the edge of town. The window rolled down, revealing Blake’s detestable face. “Nana Sue,” Blake suddenly said, “Jason and I have a small academic disagreement. He thinks data can be freely altered, but I believe academic integrity is more important. What do you think?” I stared at him in shock. What was he babbling about? Nana Sue looked at me, puzzled. “Jason never lies, does he? Is there some misunderstanding?” Blake sighed, pulled out his phone, scrolled a bit, then handed it to Nana Sue. “See, this is a paper Jason ghostwrote for someone else, and he even got paid for it. That’s a serious disciplinary violation in college.” I leaned closer and saw it: on the screen was the very paper I’d revised last night, complete with my name as author and a screenshot of a transaction record! This was a complete frame-up! “That’s not true!” I snatched the phone. “Nana Sue, he’s lying!” Nana Sue looked at me, then at Blake, her eyes filled with confusion and worry. Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Sam: “Emergency! Someone posted on the campus forum accusing you of long-term paid ghostwriting, with ‘evidence’ attached. The Dean’s office is already investigating. Your MIT qualification might be canceled!” I felt like I’d fallen into an ice abyss. So, this was their real objective. Blake stood up, feigning concern.

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