At the graduation party when I was eighteen, Jacob Taylor introduced me to an adult secret. I endured the initial discomfort, but secretly smiled the whole way home. Six years of secret love, from middle school to high school graduation, had finally come to fruition. I curled up in bed, my fingertips lightly tracing the marks he left behind, as if this could make that moment last forever. Until the next afternoon, when I returned to school early to retrieve a forgotten notebook and heard Jacob and his basketball teammates laughing in the empty classroom. “Nice job, you scored with the class beauty,” a gruff male voice rang out – it was Mike, the team’s center. My heart skipped a beat as I stood in the shadows of the hallway clutching my notebook, my cheeks burning. “I wanted to pursue Jessica, but was afraid she’d think I was too inexperienced,” Jacob’s casual voice was like a dull knife, slowly cutting open my chest, “So I practiced my skills with Emily first.” I didn’t say a word, I just changed my first college choice from New York University to the University of Florida – the option furthest from New York.

The notebook slipped from my hands, landing with a muffled thud on the carpet. I stood frozen in place, as if struck by lightning. On a hot July afternoon in Minnesota, I felt my blood turn to ice. “As expected of our captain, even the class beauty is just practice for him,” another teammate, Chris, whistled. “Doesn’t that make her like, what do you call it, one of those inflatable practice dolls?” Mike laughed crudely. Jacob laughed and threw a textbook at him: “Don’t say it like that, it’s not like she lost out.” “Seriously though, the class beauty is too skinny. Compared to Jessica the cheerleading captain-” “Shut up,” Jacob interrupted, but with a laugh in his voice, “It was just the mood at the time. Besides, I could tell she was struggling quite a bit…” “Wow, who knew our straight-A class president Emily was such a closet freak!” “Who could resist Jacob’s charm? When meat is served to your mouth, how can you not eat it?” “Emily’s been chasing you for so many years, she’s probably fantasized about it countless times, right?” A burst of harsh laughter erupted from the classroom. I bit my lip hard until I tasted iron. My nails dug deep into my palms, the pain barely keeping me standing. Footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway, and I frantically picked up my notebook and fled into the farthest stall of the girls’ bathroom. The moment I locked the door, tears began to fall. I covered my mouth, suppressing my sobs as my body slid down the partition to the cold floor. The girl in the mirror had red, swollen eyes and messy hair – this was how Jacob Taylor saw me, a convenient post-it note girl to be used and discarded. Outside the stall, the sound of running water and girls chatting drifted in. I held my breath, listening to them discuss prom and their upcoming college lives. Most people had chosen schools on the East Coast, including Jacob – he had received a sports scholarship to New York University. And I had originally planned to follow him to New York, applying for a scholarship to the same university. With trembling hands, I took out my phone and logged into the college application system. The deadline was midnight tonight. My finger hovered over the screen for a long time before I finally changed my first choice from New York University to the University of Florida – the farthest option from New York. “Emily? Are you in there?” My best friend Sarah’s voice came from outside the door. “The graduation ceremony is about to start, everyone’s looking for you.” I quickly wiped away my tears and took a deep breath: “I’ll be right out.” As I pushed open the stall door, I fixed my appearance in the mirror. The girl in the reflection had changed – something soft had died in her eyes. At the graduation ceremony, I mechanically accepted my diploma. As I stood on stage, my gaze swept over the crowd – Jacob was laughing and joking with his basketball teammates, not even bothering to look up at me. That night, while everyone else was celebrating graduation by the lake, I sat alone at home and clicked the “Confirm Submission” button. The system displayed a successful change: Emily Carter, University of Florida, Biochemistry major. Thirteen hundred miles from New York.

Tears of heartbreak and humiliation had long since fallen. Jacob’s words echoed in my mind over and over again. They had almost completely destroyed all of my self-esteem. If I hadn’t heard it with my own ears, I never would have believed that he and the person who had been so intimately entangled with me last night were the same person. Apparently, it was possible to do such intimate things without love. Even in the most passionate moments of losing all reason, it was possible to lie and deceive. What I had foolishly believed to be the fruition of our relationship was nothing more than a joke to others. The more I cried, the more upset I became. But I didn’t dare make a sound, my body shaking uncontrollably. After a long while. My phone buzzed with a message notification. It was Jacob. [Take a cab home yourself, the team has a celebration party tonight, it’s not convenient to take you.] I didn’t reply. He added another message. [Remember to go to CVS and buy Plan B, I don’t have time to go with you today. Make sure to take it, be good.] I stared at these two messages for a long time without saying anything. Yesterday from evening until dawn, Jacob had worn me out over and over again. In the end, when we were both exhausted, just before he fell asleep holding me, he had mumbled twice. “We weren’t fully prepared for the first time, I’ll definitely take you to buy emergency contraception tomorrow.” He even reminded me that girls need to protect themselves, and that Plan B is more effective the earlier you take it. At the time, I thought he was being responsible towards me, that I had finally found my happiness. But now… In an instant, I sobered up quite a bit. I pinched my palm hard, forcing myself to stop crying. I wiped away my tears and tidied myself up before leaving the bathroom. Too embarrassed to go to the pharmacy myself, I just ordered the pill on Uber Eats. After the rider left it at the door, it took me a long time before I dared to sneak out and bring it back. After swallowing the pill with tears in my eyes, I seemed to lose all my strength and just sat numbly on the carpet, staring blankly. Ever since Jacob’s family moved in next door, I had followed him around like a little tail for ten years. I had never imagined what a world without him would be like. I didn’t dare to imagine it either. But from now on, it would just be me alone. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the lights of Minneapolis came on one by one, then gradually went out. I don’t know how much time had passed when my best friend Sarah FaceTimed me. “Emily, why didn’t you come to the graduation party with Jacob tonight? “That cheerleader Jessica showed up instead, and she’s been all over Jacob while you’re not here. They’re being so gross right now.” Sarah turned the camera to show me.

In a dim corner of the party, Jacob and Jessica the school beauty were sitting close together. Jessica was wearing a crop top and tight jeans tonight, showing off her slim waist and long legs. The two of them were clearly separated from the people around them. Even their conversation seemed like intimate whispering. The flirtatious atmosphere was palpable even through the screen. My chest tightened involuntarily. Jacob had just said this afternoon that he wanted to pursue her, and it looks like he’s already succeeded tonight. Jessica drew “guy does push-ups over girl” for Truth or Dare and had to pick a guy to do it with her. Not surprisingly, Jacob immediately volunteered. Everyone started cheering them on. Jessica blushed and obediently lay down on the couch. Jacob hovered over her and did dozens of push-ups in one go. He was very restrained the whole time, trying hard to avoid touching Jessica’s body. Until the very last one, whether he finally lost his strength or did it on purpose, He couldn’t hold himself up and fell directly on top of Jessica. The screams around them grew even louder, nearly taking the roof off. Jacob and Jessica’s faces turned even redder. Amidst the crowd’s frenzied cheering, Jacob simply lowered his head and kissed Jessica. The two kissed shamelessly, ignoring everyone around them. It lasted a full three minutes before they reluctantly parted. During those endless three minutes, I stared at the screen without blinking, so stunned I nearly forgot to breathe. My heart felt like it was being torn apart. I wanted to cry, but I had cried too much earlier without drinking water, so I had no tears left. “OMG Emily, did you see that? You could hear them kissing, he’s so into her,” Sarah exclaimed as she turned the camera away and left the party room. She found a quiet corner and sincerely advised me: “Emily, don’t blame me, but if you didn’t see it with your own eyes, you wouldn’t give up on him.” My throat was dry, and the sounds I made were barely audible. “Mm, I don’t blame you.” I only blame myself for being so stupid for so many years. I thought that since I was always allowed to follow Jacob around, that spot next to him would always be mine. “I just can’t stand Jacob. How could he string you along pretending to be an innocent boy when he knew you liked him for so many years, watching you fall deeper and deeper?” “You saw it clearly just now. I really hope you’ll seriously reconsider. Don’t let him waste another four years of your life in college…” “I won’t, Sarah,” I interrupted her, stating calmly. “I won’t give myself that chance again. “Sarah, I’ve already decided. I’m going to the University of Florida with you. “But you have to promise to keep it a secret for now.”

After saying that, to prevent myself from hesitating again, I opened my laptop in front of Sarah. Without any hesitation, just before the deadline, I changed my Early Decision application through the Common App from New York University to the University of Florida. Sarah was so happy she almost jumped up. She had been trying to persuade me to apply to the same university for a long time. But in our sophomore year of high school, Jacob and I had made a promise to work hard together and go to his dream school in New York after graduation. That’s where his dream sports management program was. So even though I was actually more drawn to the warm sunshine of California and didn’t particularly care for the hustle and bustle of New York, for three years of high school, I had always treated NYU as my only goal. After years of being neighbors, both sets of parents were happy for us to attend the same university. Everyone, including myself, thought that Jacob and I would naturally become a couple after we became adults. But now, I couldn’t find any reason to go to New York anymore. Or rather, after today, if I were to follow Jacob around like before, I would look down on myself. Now I just wanted to hide far away. It didn’t matter where, as long as Jacob wasn’t there. If he was on the East Coast, then I would go to the southernmost point.

Before bed, I filled an entire bathtub with water, wanting to wash myself completely clean. But when I took off my clothes, the purple bruises from his kisses were still clearly visible on my skin. Memories of last night came flooding back involuntarily. The burning heat of the boy’s skin as we held each other tightly, the scorching breath in my ear as we moved together – the lingering warmth seemed to still surround me. I shook my head violently, trying to shake off these wild memories. I found a loofah and scrubbed my skin over and over again until my whole body was red before I stopped. Clumsily attempting to erase this most shameful experience of my life. The result was that I was in so much pain I couldn’t sleep well all night. Jacob didn’t send any more messages either. Breaking the habit we’d had since getting phones of saying goodnight to each other without fail for six years. This was for the best. It would have happened sooner or later anyway. Might as well start detoxing from tonight. I tossed and turned until nearly dawn before finally falling asleep. Early the next morning while I was still sound asleep, I suddenly felt someone plant a light kiss on my forehead in my dream.

I woke with a start. But when I opened my eyes, I saw the familiar chin and Adam’s apple. The scent enveloping me from above was Jacob’s favorite Creed cologne, along with a faint unfamiliar citrus fragrance. I had almost forgotten, Jacob always had a spare key to my house. Seeing that I was awake, Jacob simply moved lower, chuckling as he tried to kiss my lips. I hurriedly turned my head to avoid it. I pushed him away and retreated to the other side of the bed. Jacob was stunned for a moment, then laughed at me: “Morning, sunshine. Why so shy?” I didn’t say anything, just pulled the covers over my head. Jacob scolded me while trying to pull off my blanket. “Emily Carter, you’ve got some nerve. You didn’t say goodnight to me last night and even turned off your phone. “Now you’re hiding from me?” He was quick, diving under the covers in an instant. Before I could react, he had me completely wrapped in his arms. “Hey, how many times have I told you not to skip breakfast? “I went out of my way to bring you your favorite – pumpkin spice latte and blueberry muffin from that Starbucks you love. “Do you want to get up and eat now, or… do you want me to eat you first…” His breath was extremely close to me, and his hands followed suit. Sobering up from my daze, I struggled desperately. But at 5’4″, I was no match for the 6’2″ athlete. I really couldn’t understand what he was thinking. He already had Jessica, why was he still messing with me? After struggling hard for a while, I was panting, but hadn’t broken free. Instead, he held me even tighter. “What’s wrong with you? “Are you angry? Just because I didn’t take you to the party last night? Such a small thing?” I didn’t say anything. He buried his head in the crook of my neck and laughed. “Let me guess, your gossip queen friend Sarah livestreamed it for you? “It was just a game, is that worth being jealous over? “Why are you still like before, getting upset whenever I get a little close to other girls?” I was furious to the extreme, at a complete loss for words. Remembering what I learned in self-defense class, I suddenly raised my knee and aimed for his groin, then quickly ran off the bed while he was in pain. “Emily!” Jacob gritted his teeth, his face turning red. I quickly grabbed a hoodie and threw it on over my pajamas, hurrying to the living room. I didn’t want to be in the same room as him, especially not my bedroom. Jacob came out shortly after, looking both angry and helpless. After a long while, he seemed to suddenly remember something and casually asked: “By the way, you took the Plan B yesterday, right?” “Don’t cause any accidents, we can’t explain it to your parents.” Jacob walked to the kitchen island and picked up the latte, holding it out to me. “Come on, drink something before you get angry. You know you have low blood sugar.” I didn’t say anything and didn’t take it. Jacob’s hand holding the cup froze in mid-air for a long time before he finally lost patience. “What the hell is your problem? “Emily, there’s a limit to throwing tantrums, you know?” I coldly replied: “I’m not good enough for you.” Jacob’s face turned white with anger. He slammed the coffee down on the counter. He used too much force, and the lid popped off, splattering coffee everywhere. “What do you mean by that? “Who do you think you are, Emily? “It was just a one night stand, and now you want to control me? Do you know how suffocating that is?” His tone was unprecedentedly fierce. In an instant, tears streamed down my face without a second of build-up. Yesterday’s humiliation and hurt all came rushing back. Jacob seemed unprepared for my sudden intense crying and was at a loss for what to do. He apologized with frustration: “Shit… I’m sorry, I drank too much last night and wasn’t thinking when I said that just now.” Jacob walked up to me as he spoke, reaching out to wipe my tears, but I dodged him again. He froze, his hand stopping in mid-air. He was about to say something else when his phone suddenly rang. He only glanced at the screen before his expression changed, and he immediately grabbed his jacket to leave. “I have an emergency, you calm down first. “We’re going to college now, stop being so childish. Who could put up with this in the future?”

Less than half an hour after he left, Sarah sent me a screenshot. It was Jessica’s Instagram story. [✨Magic breakfast appears when you’re hungry✨ Is this what they call mutual crush?] The photo showed an Einstein Bagels packaging bag identical to the one on my dining table. I didn’t reply. I just silently wiped away my tears and knelt down to clean up the coffee Jacob had spilled. After trying for a long time, I was upset to find that the stains on the wooden floor had seeped into the grain and couldn’t be wiped away. In a fit of anger, I contacted a flooring company to come refinish and reseal it. After all, this was the eco-friendly sealant that Jacob and his parents had specially recommended to my family after returning from their vacation in Hawaii. While I was at it, I gathered up Jacob’s sweatshirt, toothbrush, game console, and all the gifts he had given me over the years. I even went through the photos of us together on my phone, sorting them all out. I was busy until late at night before I finished packing everything into donation boxes. He probably wouldn’t care about these old things anyway. After Jacob left that day, there was no news from him for several days in a row. I guess things were going well with the cheerleading captain. Or maybe he was waiting for me to contact him first. In the past six years, every time we had a cold war, I was always the first to give in, without exception. But this time I didn’t reach out to him. There was no need to reach out to him anymore. I blocked his phone number and all his social media accounts, changed the password on my front door, and deleted my old Instagram. After doing all this, I called my parents who were on a business trip in China. I told them I wanted to go to San Francisco to stay with Aunt Linda during spring break. My plan was to fly directly to the University of Florida with Sarah when the break was over. Besides Sarah, no one else knew I had changed my ED application. This plan should perfectly avoid any chance of running into Jacob. Mom laughed on the phone and asked, “Sweetie, are you going to California with Jacob?” I gave a vague answer, not wanting to explain too much. I just said I wanted to keep Aunt Linda company after her recent surgery. Dad booked me on the earliest flight the next day, and I packed my bags overnight to prepare to leave. As I was heading out, I unfortunately ran into Jacob’s mom in the driveway. She enthusiastically rolled down her car window: “Emily, why are you alone? Isn’t Jacob picking you up? “Didn’t he say he was taking you to Cancun for spring break? Have fun you two!” I was a bit confused. During the most stressful part of senior year, I had indeed mentioned to Jacob that I wanted to see the blue seas and skies of Cancun, Mexico. But how could we possibly travel together now, given our current situation? But my Uber had already arrived, so I just said a quick goodbye and left. What I never expected was that at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, I would actually run into Jacob.

After half a year apart, when I saw Jacob again, we had both changed quite a bit. He was even thinner, had dyed his hair, but of course still looked as handsome as ever. I’ve never been good at reading people, but my aesthetic sense has always been on point. Otherwise I wouldn’t have known to follow him around like a puppy since I was little. I was only stunned for a brief moment before I smiled and greeted him casually. “Hi Jacob, you’re here too.” Jacob’s hand froze in mid-air as he was reaching for my luggage, looking at me in disbelief. Since we were little, both sets of parents had repeatedly told me to call him “big brother Jacob” many times. I had stubbornly refused to ever call him that. Now with a different mindset, it came out naturally. But Jacob seemed to have a hard time accepting it. It was a long time before he finally took my luggage with shaking hands. Mom whispered an explanation in my ear. “We came out to pick you up and happened to run into Jacob at the entrance. He insisted on coming along to help.” I smiled and gestured that it was fine. In the car, I couldn’t wait to share all the recent interesting stories from school with my parents, making them laugh non-stop. No one paid attention to Jacob, but from the corner of my eye, I noticed his lips curling up in a secret smile the whole way. That day he seemed to want to come sit at my house for a while, but all three of us politely declined together. The entire winter break I was out early and back late every day to practice driving, and in the evenings I was always out with some high school friends. I heard Jacob came looking for me a few times, but we always missed each other. I was a bit surprised, not thinking there was anything we needed to talk about. This year my grandmother and aunt had come back for the New Year. On New Year’s Eve, the house was especially lively. After the New Year’s Eve dinner, the older folks were watching the Spring Festival Gala on the couch, while the younger generation was learning to play mahjong. But Jacob’s family of three suddenly showed up at our house with bags of gifts.

“Our house is too quiet, mind if we join in for a game?” Jacob’s mom joked with a smile. In previous years, our two families had always spent the Spring Festival together. This year, because of my relationship with Jacob, my mom had declined his mom’s invitation to have New Year’s Eve dinner together. But when guests show up at the door, you can’t just turn them away. Jacob naturally sat down next to me, watching me play mahjong. My cousins didn’t know about the situation between Jacob and me, and kept teasing us. I laughed it off and clarified each time. Jacob’s expression soured a bit. When we went out to set off fireworks at midnight, he grabbed my hand, seeming to want to say something. But my phone suddenly rang. My face reddened a bit as I pulled my hand away from Jacob’s and stepped aside to answer the call. It was a classmate from Florida named Jack who I had met through a student club. He was very good-looking too. Not the cold, aloof type of handsome guy, but more of a funny, goofy boy who loved to laugh. He talked a lot and was full of jokes. He often made me laugh so hard I couldn’t straighten up. He said he called because he was bored being alone and wanted to count down to the new year together with us. I didn’t think much of it and didn’t hang up since it was New Year’s. I let him participate in our New Year’s countdown ritual remotely. Just before hanging up, he chuckled. “Actually, I just wanted to be the first person to wish you Happy New Year after midnight. “Happy New Year, Emily.” I smiled happily and wished him well too. We chatted for a while longer, and when he was finally willing to hang up, I turned around to find Jacob standing behind me with an icy expression. I don’t know how long he had been listening. “Boyfriend?” he asked hoarsely. “Not quite yet,” I replied honestly after thinking for a moment. “…” Jacob was silent for a long time. I thought he had nothing more to say and was about to head back to the living room to continue playing mahjong. But he suddenly spoke up again, “Out-of-state guys aren’t necessarily reliable. It’s better to find someone local who you know well.” I nodded. “You’re right, you never truly know someone. I’ll keep evaluating him. “Thanks for the advice, Jacob. You should settle down soon too.” Jacob looked like something had stabbed him in the heart. He didn’t say anything else and left the yard directly. I didn’t think much of it. It wasn’t the first time he’d thrown a tantrum. Before, when I had rose-colored glasses on, I thought everything about him was perfect. But now… After that, I accompanied my grandmother and parents to visit relatives and then went on road trips. I barely stayed at home. I didn’t run into Jacob again either. The winter break was short, and soon I was back at school. But the next day, I actually saw Jacob at the university gates.

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Preschool called to inform me that my daughter Nora had been pushed down the stairs by a classmate. I hurried to the hospital, where I found my husband, who should have been at work, talking with the doctor: “Mr. Asher, your daughter’s injuries are serious. Should we begin with emergency care or conduct the bone marrow test first?” “Do the test first! We can’t hesitate; my precious daughter can’t wait any longer!” I was completely baffled until I saw another little girl, about four or five years old, come over and cling to my husband’s leg, sweetly asking, “Daddy, I did what you told me and pushed Nora. Am I saved now?” She was Nora’s preschool classmate, a child suffering from leukemia. I felt numb, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. Tears blurred my vision as Asher picked up the little girl, softly saying, “Daddy is going to save you, don’t worry.” A slender figure appeared, leaning close to the father and daughter. “The one who got hurt is also your daughter. You won’t blame our Freya, will you?” Asher frowned slightly and replied nonchalantly, “I specifically asked Freya to do it. Her mother is always watching her too closely. I couldn’t do anything myself, so I had to ask Freya to help, just to get a chance to do the match at the hospital.” “Back then, to save Freya, we needed a sibling’s umbilical cord blood but didn’t want you to go through another pregnancy, so we stopped your medication and had Fiona give birth to her. In the end, she should thank Freya; without her, she would never have been born.” “The only person I truly love is you, and the daughter I care most about is Freya.” The woman turned, and I finally saw her face. It was Celeste, Asher’s old flame and a top actress in Hollywood. Celeste wiped her tears, murmuring, “Oh, my poor Freya, having to endure another bone marrow transplant because of the relapse.” The three of them hugged tightly, appearing as the perfect family. But what about me? Legally married to him for six years, with a lovely daughter—what am I to him? Tears fell uncontrollably as their conversation replayed in my mind. Freya, the little girl Asher pitied and always brought home, turned out to be his daughter with Celeste. His daughter had leukemia. To spare Celeste the ordeal of pregnancy, he had me give birth to Nora just for the life-saving umbilical cord blood! After the relapse, he targeted Nora’s bone marrow, instructing his daughter to harm our child just for a chance to secretly do the match at the hospital! No wonder… no wonder I couldn’t conceive after a year of marriage—the problem lay in the medicated milk Asher gave me every night. Even after stopping the medication and successfully conceiving Nora, I was extremely cautious to ensure a safe pregnancy. When giving birth, I was on the brink of death and ended up unable to conceive again. Asher’s gentle face urging me to drink milk and sleep every night twisted into something monstrous in my memories. My hands shook violently, and the phone slipped from my grasp. The noise interrupted the scene not far away. Asher looked over at me, the tenderness on his face freezing instantly. He awkwardly pulled his hand away from Celeste’s arm, stammering, “Honey, what are you doing here…” I pretended not to see, wiped my eyes hard, and asked with a trembling voice, “The teacher called me. How’s Nora?” Now wasn’t the time to confront him. My daughter’s safety was more important. Asher walked toward me, visibly uneasy, while Celeste looked at me with a fierce gaze but spoke in a soft voice, “Nora’s mom, it’s really my daughter’s fault for being impulsive…” “Enough! My daughter’s safety is the priority now. If anything happens to her, I won’t let you off!” Celeste covered her mouth, crying, while her daughter Freya pointed at me, shouting, “Bad woman! You made my mom cry! I’ll tell my dad to hit you!” I didn’t want to get entangled with them any longer and headed straight to my daughter’s room. “Now! Save my child immediately!” When Nora was wheeled back into the room from the emergency room, I saw her pale face. Her head was wrapped in thick gauze, looking so fragile and pitiful. A four-year-old girl, at such an innocent age, yet she had to endure this cruel treatment. Even her birth was a calculated plan by the father she admired so much. Asher wrapped his arms around me from behind, speaking softly, “The doctor said Nora isn’t in any serious danger. She might need to stay in the hospital for a while, so don’t worry too much.” “As for the little girl who pushed her, I’ve talked to her mom. She didn’t mean it; kids… accidents happen during play.” His sudden niceness was just to prevent me from holding anyone accountable. I didn’t respond, only asking him, “Why didn’t you tell me Celeste’s daughter and Nora are classmates?” His hand, which was holding me, froze, and he said guiltily, “I only found out today at the hospital, honey. How could I hide anything from you?” I remained cold and silent. He awkwardly let go, tucking Nora’s blanket. The phone notification sounded at an inappropriate time. He glanced at the screen, then stood up, trying to be accommodating, “Are you hungry? The doctor said Nora will wake up soon. I’ll get her favorite custard bun.” After he left, I quietly followed him. I saw him head to the doctor’s office. “I’ve already informed Fiona that Nora needs to stay in the hospital. We should be able to do the match during this time, right?” “We can, but Nora’s health isn’t great. Are you sure you want to rush the match? She’s really pitiful. When she was brought in, she didn’t cry out in pain, only kept calling for her dad.” Asher was silent for a long time before hoarsely saying, “I’ll compensate the mother and daughter.” The doctor sighed, “Asher, I’ve known you for years, and I have to advise you. Fiona loves you so much. Despite her weak body, she risked everything to have the child. Can you really be this heartless?” “Enough!” Asher shouted angrily. “It was Fiona who insisted on marrying me. If she hadn’t taken advantage of my vulnerability when I was down, maybe none of this would have happened! Doesn’t she bear any responsibility?” “I only found out after marriage that Celeste was forced into a marriage by her family. She divorced for me and endured so many rumors to have Freya for me. The child was born with health issues and was called an illegitimate child. I owe them more!” “But unfortunately, the person she was once married to was my cousin. My parents would never allow her into the Aiden family again. Once Freya recovers, I’ll recognize her as my goddaughter, then send Celeste abroad and visit her every year. Fiona and Nora won’t know anything. I’ll be the best husband and father, making it up to them for the rest of my life.” He closed his eyes in pain, as if making a heavy decision. Seeing him ready to leave, I quickly returned to the room. My mind was still chaotic, as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer. Asher and I had a marriage of convenience. That year, I had just returned from studying overseas and met Asher at a banquet. At that time, the Aiden family was in the middle of a power struggle. Asher and his father were at a disadvantage, marginalized and suppressed, making him look like a somewhat defeated young master. When I sprained my ankle, a group of men surrounded me with concern, but only he knelt down to gently massage my ankle. So when it came time to choose a marriage partner, I chose him without hesitation. Later I learned from others that he once had a close childhood friend who married someone else when he was at his lowest. But I didn’t mind, because he treated me so well during that time. He worked part-time to save money to buy me roses, got up at four in the morning to make soup, and had our photos taped to the back of his phone. I thought this love, expressed in such details, couldn’t go wrong. But now he says I took advantage of his vulnerability? Thinking back, the roses stopped coming long ago, the soup hasn’t been made in ages, and the photos… when did they get removed? Ah, it was a month after we got married. He came back from a reunion, disoriented, muttering about how “everything is too late.” Maybe it was then that he and Celeste rekindled their relationship. I opened the class group chat and saw a student’s name—Freya Aiden. Looking at the birthdate, it matched six years ago. Asher named our daughter Nora to bless Freya… Bless Freya… One is his precious jewel, the other a tool to bless his precious jewel. No wonder he volunteered to pick up the kids despite being so busy at work. It was to see his daughter and also reduce my contact with her. I dropped my hand in defeat, tears betraying me once again. At that moment, I received a friend request through the parent group chat. The request was from Freya’s mom, and after accepting, I scrolled through her Facebook. It was filled with photos of her child and a man whose face wasn’t shown. But six years of living together made me instantly recognize the man’s back. [Today, Daddy took the baby to the amusement park again and let such a big child ride on his shoulders. What a doting father!] [The child’s dad spent the whole day playing princess dress-up games with the child, even pushing back meetings, sigh.] [A happy family of three, this life is enough!] She posted almost every two days. It turns out Asher’s excuses of being busy with work were just to spend time with them. A new message popped up; it was from Celeste: “Sorry, Nora’s mom, our Freya has been spoiled by her dad and doesn’t know her own strength. You won’t be angry, right?” I was about to reply, but Nora woke up, unconsciously calling for her dad. My heart tightened. I quickly put down the phone, comforting her by stroking her forehead, “Daddy will be here soon. Be good, Nora. Mommy is here.” **A Happy Family of Three, This Life Is Enough!** Almost every two days, Asher would share a post on WeChat Moments. He always claimed that work kept him busy, but it was just an excuse to spend time with us, his wife and daughter. A message popped up from Celeste: “Sorry, Nora’s mom. Our Freya has been spoiled by her dad since she was little. She doesn’t know her own strength. You’re not upset, are you?” I was about to reply when Nora woke up, mumbling for her dad. My heart tightened. I quickly set my phone aside and gently stroked her forehead to comfort her: “Daddy will be here soon. Be good, Nora. Mommy’s here.” She weakly opened her eyes and saw my tear-stained face. The little four-year-old seemed to forget her pain and asked me, her voice trembling: “Mommy, why are you crying? Did I make you sad by being naughty?” I shook my head desperately, forcing a strained smile: “Our Nora is the best, Mommy’s most obedient treasure.” She looked down sadly and whispered: “But whenever Daddy picks me up, he always says Freya is more obedient and sensible. But she’s not nice at all and always takes my toys.” My heart ached as if it were being squeezed. I could handle my own failures, but what had my daughter done to deserve such treatment from her own father? Nora grew more upset, her little mouth pouting in guilt. I gently leaned over and hugged her. After a long while, I finally made up my mind. “Nora, would you like to go abroad with Mommy?” She loved to play and just blinked at me, asking: “Are there kids to play with abroad? Will they take my toys?” “No, they won’t.” “Daddy will get them back for me, right?” I wiped my tears away haphazardly and said: “No, Daddy won’t be going. Only Mommy will take you. Is that okay? There’s also your uncle and grandparents. They will all protect you.” I watched her nervously, fearing she wouldn’t want to leave her dad. She did look conflicted for a long time and finally said, a bit reluctantly: “Okay, I love Mommy the most.” I comforted her until she fell asleep, then couldn’t hold back my tears any longer and rushed out of the ward, sobbing uncontrollably. After crying, I called my brother in Australia: “Brother, prepare new identities for Nora and me abroad. We’re planning to come over.” He paused for a moment and asked, “Did you and Asher have a fight? If you’ve been wronged, just get a divorce and reunite with Mom and Dad with Nora.” I had thought about divorce, but why should my Nora have to write down such a degrading father in the family relations section? What if, when things turn ugly, Asher uses his status as her father to fight for custody or force her into a bone marrow transplant? I couldn’t bear to think about it. I took a deep breath: “I’ll explain later. Once Nora recovers, I’ll book the flight.” A slightly panicked voice suddenly sounded from behind me: “Flight? Where are you going?”

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In the seventh year of my secret crush on Jasper, I ended up marrying him. On our wedding night, he handed me a divorce agreement. ” After a year, we’ll go our separate ways peacefully,” he said, glancing at my lace nightgown with a slight smile. ” Miss Adeline, is there something on your mind?” When the year was up, I asked, “When are we going to the civil affairs bureau?” He acted as if he didn’t hear me. “Who was that guy earlier?” I laughed and replied, “Mr. Lu, is something on your mind?” During my graduation internship, right after I was offered a full-time position, Jasper approached me. He asked if I would marry him—a marriage of convenience. In a year, he promised to give me ten million. Who can afford to let pride overshadow money, right? I was afraid if I hesitated even for a moment, he’d change his mind.

From the time we got our marriage certificate to our wedding night, less than a month passed. That night, I dressed up intentionally in a lace nightgown. But Jasper handed me a divorce agreement. “After a year, we’ll part ways.”

He had grown a lot more refined and composed since high school. I was momentarily stunned. “Should I sign it now?” Jasper seemed in a hurry. ” Just give it to me before the contract ends.” I nodded. “Where will you be sleeping tonight?” The air was filled with silence. I really wanted to slap myself. Jasper paused, then briefly smiled, his gaze lowering with meaning. “Miss Adeline,” he chuckled, “is something on your mind?”

Following his gaze, I suddenly covered my chest. “Shameless!” Jasper raised an eyebrow, leisurely leaning against the doorframe, teasing me on purpose. ” On such a joyous night, should we sleep together?” We were both adults, and given how I was dressed, any man would misunderstand. I slammed the door shut, both angry and embarrassed. This guy was still the same bold rogue from high school!

I didn’t see Jasper again after that. I heard he went abroad for business. Living in a mansion with a husband who was never home was quite relaxing for me. Late at night, I heard the sound of an engine downstairs. After seven months, Jasper was back. He slept in the guest room. I relaxed and turned over, then suddenly opened my eyes wide. Last night, I had drunk too much and fell asleep in the guest room. I had even taken out the love letter I wrote to him when I was young to read, and it was still there.

The hallway was chilly. I quietly opened the guest room door. I heard water running in the bathroom. Jasper was showering. Holding my breath, I searched around but didn’t find it. The next moment, the bathroom door opened. Jasper was only wearing gray lounge pants. His skin was pale and muscular, still dripping wet. Our eyes met. He said calmly, “Are you hiding someone?”

I glanced at his abs, “No.” Jasper leisurely dried his hair, “Did you need something?” I made up an excuse. “Um… just checking if you’re hiding a woman.” Jasper chuckled, “If I were hiding a woman, I wouldn’t be back tonight.” “So, you’ve been with other women these past seven months?” Realizing I said something wrong, I shut my mouth. But Jasper wouldn’t let it go, looking at me with interest, teasingly. “Do you want to talk about this with me?”

Without waiting for an explanation, I suppressed the discomfort in my heart, wanting to say something. The phone rang. Jasper put on a short T-shirt and stepped out onto the balcony to answer in English. I wasn’t interested in his call. I searched again and decided to pretend to sleep. Jasper was unlikely to share a bed with me; I’d search again in the morning. I couldn’t let him find it first. Half-asleep, I felt the bed sink beside me. That night, I dreamed of Jasper from high school. The transfer student from Hong Kong, smart, handsome, and well-off. His name was once popular throughout the school. He had a girlfriend. I didn’t know why they argued back then, but she cried. Jasper, holding his school uniform, bent down to comfort her helplessly. I stood not far away, feeling a profound silence.

reams are always nonsensical. One moment, I was heartbroken and suppressed. The next, I dreamed of pulling up a radish. The bedroom light suddenly turned on. Still immersed in the dream, I mumbled, “Why can’t I pull it out…” Jasper took a deep breath, “Open your eyes and see what you’re doing.” Just as I was about to open my eyes, a warm hand grasped my wrist and moved it away. Jasper got up and went to the bathroom, not waiting for me to speak. He said in a cold voice, “Keep causing trouble, and you’ll sleep on the floor.” “…” He’s really fierce.

Waking up the next day, it was bright outside. I felt the cold spot beside me. Slowly, I finished breakfast. Jasper was already waiting in the car. We were going to the family estate today. In the car, we said nothing. Finally, I said, “Sorry about last night.” Jasper was working. He glanced at me, “What were you looking for last night?” I paused, then honestly replied, “A love letter.” “You wrote it?” “Yes.” Jasper’s gaze landed on my face. He asked, “A secret crush, huh?” My cheeks warmed, “It was my senior from high school, very handsome, you know.” I spoke while looking at him. Jasper chuckled briefly, as if unconcerned. I felt like a clown. What was I expecting? “So what now that you’re married?” I looked up, stunned. Jasper turned to me, teasing, “Should I sleep between you two?” “…”

When we got out of the car, I boldly tugged at his sleeve. ” We need to act the part; I want to hold hands.” Jasper’s expression didn’t change, still on the previous topic. “So do I sleep between you two, or what do you want?” He smiled, but I felt it was empty, like there was nothing inside. As if he seemed easygoing but was actually cold inside. I said, “I’ll put on a grand show for you!” With that, Jasper looked down at me, seemingly genuinely smiling. Then he gently took my hand, intertwining our fingers. “Then you have to mourn for me, wife.”

At the family estate’s entrance, I knew he was acting. He didn’t really want to hold my hand. But hearing him call me ‘wife’ made my heart race a little. As soon as we stepped into the living room, “We’ve waited from the beginning of the year to the end, and the third child finally brings his wife home to meet us?” Jasper was the third child in the family. He probably married me to avoid an arranged marriage. Jasper pulled out a slight smile, “Mom, I didn’t want to disturb your peace.” “You mean you didn’t want me to disturb yours.” The middle-aged woman, draped in a shawl, sneered, looking at me. “Miss Adeline, right? Come and have a cup of tea.” But there was no tea in front of her. She meant for me to make it. Just as I was about to stand, my wrist was held down. Jasper leaned back in his chair, playing with my fingertips, “With two maids standing by, does she have to do it?” “Can’t I want a cup of tea made by my daughter-in-law?” “Of course, but my wife isn’t for serving.” Stop acting… I damn well like you even more.

The Aiden family children are usually busy. So it’s a rule that they must come back for a meal and stay overnight once a month. The dining table was cold and quiet. This house didn’t feel like a home; it was oppressive and serious. In the bedroom, I was nervous again, “I can sleep in the guest room.” “That would be a breach of contract.” The contract stated that if Party B caused others to find out it was a fake marriage, Party B owed Party A five million. I changed the subject, “Do you have a lot of conflicts with your mother?” Jasper, not done with his work, replied dismissively, “Are you into me? Want to save me?” “Didn’t the woman you spent seven months with save you?” He laughed, “If I had someone I liked, why would I marry you?” “…” He said he didn’t have anyone he liked now. I felt a bit disappointed. I opened my mouth to speak. Suddenly, everything went dark. Later, I heard it was because the second brother and his wife were fighting next door. A cup of water spilled into the electrical outlet, causing a blackout on the entire second floor. By then, I was already startled and ended up sitting on Jasper’s lap.

I wasn’t at a loss. I just wanted to be close to him. “I’m so scared.” Jasper paused, “I’m more scared.” The room was dimly lit. “What are you afraid of?” His voice was playful, “Afraid of losing both money and love.” He’s been in social settings for so many years, understanding people well. Like he saw right through my feelings for him. I pretended not to understand, “So why did you marry me?” Jasper, with little emotion, draped his arm lightly over my knee, “Be good, short of money.” When did I lack money? Thinking of something, I didn’t explain. Seeing his brows furrowed, he was probably about to say, “Keep it up, and you’ll sleep on the floor tonight.” “Jasper.” “Hmm.” “Do you believe I can guess what you’re thinking?” We were so close, almost feeling each other’s breath. Jasper lifted his eyes, his gaze brushing over my lips. “Do you think I dare?”

Under the moonlight, his eyes were very dark. I saw myself in them. I whispered, “You probably dare.” Jasper seemed surprised by my words, gently tapping my knee with his finger. After a while, his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and he shifted his gaze, “No protection.” “…” I then realized we weren’t talking about the same thing. The light finally came back on. I stood up in a panic, palms a bit sweaty, “Rogue.” I said, escaping into the bathroom. Coming out, Jasper was still at the computer. The sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up, his side profile sharp and refined. As if he’d forgotten what just happened. I felt uneasy. In the dead of night, once again sharing a bed. After his shower, he came out. I instinctively pulled the blanket a bit. “Don’t worry, I won’t touch you.” His tone was light. I couldn’t tell if he was reassuring me or telling me not to get my hopes up. I turned my back on him in anger. “Turn off the lights; it’s too bright, and I can’t get used to it.” Jasper, being obedient, said, “You sleep first.” I snorted, “Don’t worry, I won’t touch you either.” After hastily finishing my sentence, I dashed into the bathroom. When I emerged, Jasper was still seated in front of the computer. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up, highlighting his sharp profile. It was as though he had completely forgotten the earlier conversation. I felt a pang of discomfort. The night was quiet, and once again, we shared a bed. After his shower, he came out, and I instinctively pulled the covers up. “Don’t worry, I won’t touch you,” he said with an indifferent tone. It was hard to tell if he was trying to reassure me or make me abandon any hope. Annoyed, I turned my back to him. “Please turn off the lights; it’s too bright for me.” Jasper complied, “You can sleep first.” I scoffed, “Don’t worry, I won’t touch you either.” “Well, once you’re asleep, who knows.” My ears burned red as I recalled the sensation from last night, something I struggled to control. … Jasper always seemed busy, often returning home late when I was already asleep. On the phone, my best friend was incredulous, “How can you sleep next to such a handsome guy and not do anything?” I whispered, “He doesn’t seem to like me.” “If he did, he would have made a move on your wedding night. You know, sometimes love and family grow with time.” I hung up, realizing she had a point. I might not win his heart, but I should at least try to experience something with him. Lost in thought, the department manager called me over, “These are documents Mr. Jasper needs delivered, Miss Adeline. Could you please take them over for me? Thanks a lot.” He handed me the documents and left. Over the years, I’ve faced many humiliations, one after another. But I took a deep breath; once I get the ten million, I’ll quit immediately! The location was just at the hotel across the street, and I could see Jasper. As I counted the room numbers, a woman opened the door. She was wrapped in a bath towel and, seeing the documents in my hand, said understandingly, “My boyfriend just stepped out. You’re his employee, right?” In that moment, I forgot how I felt. Numbly nodding, I handed over the documents and turned to leave, my steps unsteady and my mind blank. I wanted to call and ask him something, but I realized I had no right to interfere in his private life. After all, our marriage was fake from the beginning. I felt a rush of sadness and wanted to cry. To ease the pain, I went to a bar and hired a couple of male escorts. My best friend had to cancel last minute and advised me over the phone to take it easy and not let things get out of hand tonight. But I couldn’t hear anything. My phone lit up again. Jasper was asking, [Where are you?] I pretended not to see it, but after a few seconds, I replied anyway, [Working overtime] [Thank you for your hard work.] Such a considerate reply. I felt a bit emotional and typed back fiercely, [Good thing you know!] [Hmm, should I come toast a drink to you?] … I suddenly looked up, neon lights flickering before my eyes, and sighed with relief. Jasper was likely cozied up somewhere and wouldn’t be here. As I withdrew my gaze, I glanced casually and locked eyes with the man not far away. Jasper stood in the shadows, a faint red glow at his fingertips. In his suit, tall and long-legged, he took a drag of his cigarette. Through the smoke, his gaze was emotionless as it fell on me. At that moment, I had a male escort on each side, one pouring wine, the other feeding me fruit. In a daze, Jasper leisurely stubbed out his cigarette and walked over slowly. The escorts sensed trouble, “Violet, who is he? He looks so fierce.” I suddenly didn’t know how to explain. The escorts wouldn’t let up, “Aren’t we enough? Did you call another one, Violet, speak up, Violet.” Jasper turned his head, “Try calling one more.” The escorts shrank back, too scared to speak. I awkwardly stood up, feeling a bit dizzy, “Let’s go home…” Jasper looked amused, “Where do I sleep this time?” “Don’t worry, you won’t have to sleep in the middle.” He laughed angrily, “So you’ve rearranged things for me, huh.” His expression turned cold as he grabbed my wrist, leading me to the door. I struggled, equally angry, “You’re allowed to have a girlfriend, but I can’t have fun? You have to let me make mistakes too.” Mistakes, indeed. He frowned, “What girlfriend?” “She’s all showered and waiting for you!” The phone rang. Jasper answered it, and as he paid the bill, he also covered the cost of the escorts I had hired. Such a nice guy, so generous. After hanging up, he sent a message on the screen, then looked at me, “Who taught you to make such a fuss?” I got into the car, “Who’s really making a fuss!” Jasper sighed inwardly, choosing not to argue, “You’re drunk, stop it.” The phone rang again. It was my department manager, Zane. As soon as I answered, he was angrily scolding, “I told you to deliver the document to 913, where did you send it? The business partner is still waiting in the conference room, and Mr. Jasper is urging, if you don’t want to work, just leave tomorrow!” I was already in a bad mood, drunk, and spoke without thinking, “You’re just a scapegoat always shirking responsibility! You clearly told me to send it to 319…” After saying that, I paused, realizing I might have misunderstood something. The voice on the other end was clearly confused, “Iris Adeline, you’re something, I ask you to do one thing and you throw a fit, if I were Mr. Jasper, I’d fire you right away!” I impulsively said, “He’s right here, tell him yourself.” It was on speaker. My head was dizzy, leaning against the car window, resting my eyes. The person next to me had a deep and pleasant voice. In my haze, it felt like a dream. I heard him say—if you speak to her like that again, you’ll be packing your things and leaving. … It started raining. When I woke up, we were home. I didn’t open my eyes, and Jasper didn’t wake me. He wrapped his arm around my waist and carried me. His chest was warm with a hint of moisture. I couldn’t help but open my eyes a crack, quietly watching him, strangely reminded of him in high school. In the cafeteria, on the sports field, even in the store when we brushed past each other. Those memories stayed with me for many years. Maybe my gaze was too intense, like I was looking through him at someone else. Jasper suddenly stopped, lowered his eyes, “Who are you looking at?” My face was flushed, murmuring, “Someone I like.” His fingers tightened on my waist for a moment. Jasper’s eyes turned cold, perhaps remembering the love letter I was looking for last time. He placed me on the bed, pinched my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Iris Adeline.” “Hmm.” “Look closely,” he said in a deep voice, “I’m not him.” … The memory of the hangover was fragmented. Jasper got up half an hour earlier than me. Washing up, changing clothes. Neither of us spoke first. It felt like an unspoken cold war. I asked about the important matter, “What about the document I delivered wrong last night, is it important?” Jasper was tying his tie, and in the morning light, his face looked even more handsome. Some people, just standing there, can provide emotional value. He said, “It’s the project promotion plan, it’s fine.” I was relieved. Jasper glanced at me, “Nothing else to say?” Thinking of last night’s awkward misunderstanding, I shook my head, wanting to leave, “Nothing.” As I was about to pass by, he held my arm for a moment. He sighed, “During our marriage, I won’t do anything to betray you.” I took a few seconds to react, fearing he’d bring up the male models, “Got it, I’ll head downstairs first.” Jasper didn’t let go, thinking I was still angry, “Really, no girlfriend.” His eyes were dark. His tone coaxing. My thoughts slowed, suddenly feeling a bit envious of the girl who occupied his youth. This person is gentle and restrained. Being in a relationship with him must be a delightful thing. “Are you explaining to me?” Jasper paused, wanting to ask, “What do you think?” Silence between us. He continued looking at me, not sure what he was thinking. I stood awkwardly, also asking, “What are you thinking?” Jasper leaned against the wardrobe, a faint smile on his lips, “Thinking if you get drunk, do you like to kiss people randomly.” I didn’t kiss him last night, did I? Zane seemed to know something shocking. Today he was extra attentive, offering two hot drinks as an apology. I didn’t want to engage, thinking all day about when I might have kissed Jasper. That night, there was a dinner gathering. The business partner was hosting. I was involved in the project, so I was naturally invited. Jasper arrived late. He sat right next to me. Zane, ever the opportunist, used the chance to bond with me over drinks. The business partner jokingly asked if he had a thing for me, being so attentive. Zane shook his head repeatedly, glancing at Jasper, “Miss Adeline has a boyfriend.” I was stunned, not wanting more misunderstandings, I explained, “No, I’m single.” The table fell silent for half a second. Then the laughter resumed. The business partner smoothed things over, “Young people these days focus on their careers, marrying late. But Mr. Jasper, you should hurry up, almost thirty, let me introduce my daughter to you sometime.” Jasper remained unreactive throughout, smiling, “Sorry, I’m married.” In an instant, some were surprised, some were confused. Zane was the latter, his gaze at me changing multiple times. Finally turning disdainful. Our marriage agreement was mutual, not public. Now, something felt off. I couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. I glanced at Jasper next to me, sending him a message. [Mr. Jasper, what do you mean?] The screen lit up, Jasper glanced at his phone. But showed no intention of opening it. I anxiously nudged him with my knee. Jasper finally, generously, replied. [Don’t want to meet his daughter.] So that’s it. I lowered my gaze

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My sister called me nine times before she took her own life, and I didn’t answer. Everyone blames me for her death, even my fiancé. The person who once stood by me during my battle with depression now looks at me with contempt. “You don’t deserve happiness,” he told me, his words cold as ice. But when my depression returned, and I was ready to end my life to bring her back, they regretted their words. When I left the hospital, a light rain was falling. The doctor, a compassionate middle-aged woman, reviewed my results on the computer and gently advised, “Lin Yue, given your current condition, I recommend staying in the hospital.” I pressed my lips together, saying nothing. She continued, undeterred, “If you don’t want to, that’s fine. I’ll prescribe more antidepressants. Your real issue is with your family. If possible, try to have a good conversation with your mother.” I instinctively squeezed my hand. As I was leaving, she remarked, “You have a wonderful partner who’s always by your side. Love and companionship are the best medicine.”

But the doctor was unaware. That wonderful partner seems to have stopped loving me. Kieran and I have been together for a year and engaged for three months. Two years ago, I missed my sister’s call, which led to her suicide. My mother accused me of being a murderer, throwing things and screaming curses, wishing me a terrible fate. The year I was diagnosed with depression, I met Kieran. I broke down crying in front of a convenience store, and while passersby gave me strange looks, he stood in front of me with an umbrella, offering a tissue and a warm smile: “A pretty face like yours shouldn’t cry.”

I called Kieran multiple times, but he didn’t answer. The repeated mechanical voice was frustrating, so I hung up and took a cab home. When I arrived, the door was open. I thought Kieran was back and was about to call out to him, but the words caught in my throat. The house was in chaos, everything overturned. I was about to call the police when I locked eyes with someone coming down the stairs. It was my mother, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. She was holding a photo frame and, upon seeing me, paused before hurling it at me with force. It landed at my feet, the glass shattered into pieces. She lunged at me, pulling my hair and hitting me, her voice a chaotic repetition of bitter accusations: “You still want to get married?” “Do you deserve it?” “You killed your sister!” “You should go to hell!” “You don’t deserve happiness!” “Why—why wasn’t it you who died?!” I didn’t dare fight back, only shielding my head, as her venomous words pierced my heart. Overwhelmed by negative emotions, I could only cover my ears and mutter to myself. I can’t die. I promised her.

I don’t know how long she hit me until the neighbor heard the noise and pulled us apart. A woman knelt beside me, asking if I was okay. I snapped out of my daze, trembling as I searched my bag for medicine but couldn’t find it. A pair of feet stopped in front of me. White pills fell to the floor like pearls. I was stunned and looked up. Kieran stood over me, holding an empty medicine bottle, his smile cold and malicious: “Take it.” 4 When I got engaged to Kieran, my condition was nearly stable. At my worst, I locked myself in my room, refusing food and water, clawing at my skin with my nails. Kieran felt sorry for me and took time off work to take me on trips, from warm Hawaii to frigid Iceland. He proposed in a lavender field in Provence, kneeling on one knee, his profile devout as he slipped a ring onto my finger. “Adeline, I’ll be with you for a lifetime.” I once saw Kieran as my lifeline. When I was teetering on the edge of the abyss, he was the only salvation I could cling to. During the times when self-harm and the will to survive tore me apart, he broke that balance. He appeared in the darkest time of my life, like a savior, delivering me from suffering.

I ended up taking the pills from the floor. Kieran let go of the bottle, and it clattered to the ground, rolling away. I scrambled to pick it up, gathering the scattered pills back into the bottle. The neighbors had quietly left, leaving behind a semblance of decorum. He just watched me coldly. “I never knew you were such a disgusting person,” he said. “Ruan Lin Yue, you killed your sister. You brought this on yourself. You deserve to be in pain.” I didn’t look up, numbly continuing to gather the pills. I can guess when Kieran found out. I never talked to him about my inner struggles. But after we got engaged, he kept hinting that I should introduce him to my parents. My relationship with my mother wasn’t good; childhood rifts still existed, and she already hated me. Later, Kieran stopped mentioning it. A week ago, he disappeared for a day, and when he returned, his attitude toward me changed. Three days ago, he brought his assistant home. They were entangled on the sofa. I’m a light sleeper; the noise downstairs woke me. I thought he was working late. Just as I was about to ask if he was hungry, I was frozen by the scene in front of me. Kieran’s assistant was beautiful, her long hair draped over his chest, leaning down to kiss him. Kieran didn’t dodge, allowing her to leave a pretty lipstick mark on his face. Then he pulled her into his arms. The assistant exclaimed, coyly said, “Don’t be like this, Mr. Kieran, your girlfriend is still here.” But her tone was full of unabashed pride. The smell of alcohol was strong in the living room, so strong that I wanted to use it to deceive myself. But Kieran saw me. His gaze fell on my face, contemptuous and disdainful, like a knife dipped in poison. “Don’t worry about her,” he said. “She doesn’t deserve it. If it weren’t for that face…” I didn’t hear the rest. The symptoms of depersonalization came quickly, nausea, a burning sensation rising from my stomach. I stumbled into the bathroom, gagging. As tears fell, I remembered the words he said the first day we met. Don’t cry. Crying makes you ugly. When I couldn’t vomit anymore, Kieran appeared in the doorway, his words devoid of warmth: “Can’t handle this? But isn’t the most disgusting—” “You.”

I don’t know when Kieran left. By the time all the pills were back in the bottle, I was alone in the room. I sat amidst the wreckage, dazedly looking at the photo frame not far away, picking it up too. The sharp shards cut my hand, red blood falling on the photo of me. The picture was a candid shot taken with Kieran in the ancient town’s street. He bought candied haws, squinting with a smile, coming toward me, while I was looking at lanterns with my back to him. The bustling crowd became the backdrop. Only the young man buying candy for his sweetheart and his love watching the lanterns were the leads. The girl who took the photo gave it to me, wishing us, “A long-lasting relationship.” Back then, Kieran held my hand, fingers interlocked. He whispered in my ear: “Get better soon, Adeline. We’re meant to last.” I really wanted to get better. So I actively sought treatment, took medication. In the past, I was the only one hanging on, relieving my mental anguish with physical pain when despair hit. As long as I didn’t die. As long as I didn’t break my promise to her. That was enough. Later, when Kieran appeared, I started seeing a doctor. When I was one step away from escaping the abyss, the hand reaching out to me pushed me back. I fell into darkness again.

Kieran barely came home. My mom’s texts bombarded me daily. Calling me a beast, a whore. Asking why it wasn’t me who died. I didn’t dare look much. My unstable emotions were like a bomb; if it went off, I might really lose control. I hired someone to clean the house. The broken pieces couldn’t be put together, and the cleaning lady asked if I wanted to throw them away. I stared at the things in her hands for a while, then shook my head. After seeing her out, I went out to meet a friend. Saylor was in town for a business trip and invited me to dinner. We booked a restaurant. Piano music played continuously, Saylor hugged me as soon as she saw me. Letting go, she looked me up and down: “Why are you so thin? I thought your Mr. Kieran would have you well-fed and chubby.” I didn’t say anything. She quickly sensed my mood: “Is he treating you poorly?” I changed the subject: “It’s rare for us to meet, let’s not talk about him.” When the food arrived, Saylor chatted about her recent life, complained about her colleagues, making me laugh. I was smiling, using a fork to stab a piece of steak, but before I could eat it, my smile froze. This restaurant is perfect for couples. The atmosphere is ideal. But, it shouldn’t be Kieran and his assistant. The man gentlemanly pulled out a chair. The pretty woman thanked him with a smile. The roses on the table were vividly beautiful. I remained silent. She quickly picked up on my mood. “Is he treating you poorly?” I changed the subject. “We don’t get together often, so let’s not talk about him.” The food arrived. While eating, Saylor filled me in on her recent life, venting about her colleagues and making me laugh. I was smiling as I lifted a piece of beef to my mouth, but my smile vanished. This restaurant is perfect for couples. The atmosphere is wonderful. But it shouldn’t be Kieran and his assistant. He pulled out a chair for her with exaggerated politeness. The woman thanked him with a smile. Roses adorned the table, vibrant and fresh. The diamond ring on her finger caught the light from the chandelier, making my eyes ache. I must have stared for too long because Kieran noticed. When our eyes met, he gave me a smile devoid of warmth. Moments later, I watched him reach over to gently tuck a strand of hair behind his assistant Nora’s ear. The gesture was intimate and suggestive. When Saylor followed my gaze, she saw the same scene. She instantly grew furious, grabbed the wine glass from the table, and stood up. “Don’t go.” I held her hand, almost begging, “Don’t go.” She looked into my tear-filled eyes, hesitated for a few seconds, and then sat back down. I fumbled through my bag, took out a medicine bottle, and with trembling hands, unscrewed the lid. My stomach churned with pain. It wasn’t until I swallowed the pills that I felt relief from the overwhelming suffocation. But I couldn’t eat anymore. As Saylor and I left, we passed by Kieran and Nora. Saylor couldn’t contain her anger, and her bag knocked over a wine glass, which crashed to the floor. The red liquid spread across the table and dripped onto the floor. Nora frowned, ready to argue with Saylor. Saylor shrugged, saying, “Sorry.” Nora was about to retort, but when she saw me next to Saylor, her expression softened into a smile: “This restaurant is perfect for couples.” “You like it?” Kieran chuckled, “I’ll bring you here often.” I didn’t look at them. I just stared at the dark liquid on the table, watching it drip to the floor. Sensing something was wrong, Saylor quickly shielded my view and led me away.

Sitting in the passenger seat, I instinctively reached for the bottle cap. But my hand slipped, and the medicine bottle fell to the floor. I didn’t pick it up. Instead, I dug my nails into my skin. Forcing myself to stay present at the brink of a breakdown. “Adeline.” “Adeline!” Saylor called my name louder, bringing me back to reality. “Why don’t you break up with him?” “After all, it’s just an engagement.” I didn’t respond. “I know he was there for you before, helped you get better, and I’m thankful to him.” “But he cheated.” “Adeline.” The flickering light outside cast shadows on Saylor’s face, her tone leaving no room for argument: “Break up with him.” Silence filled the car like a heavy cloud. After a long while. I finally heard myself speak. I said, “No.” The car came to a sudden stop by the roadside. The seatbelt pressed against my chest. Saylor hit the steering wheel, turned to speak, but fell silent when she saw my face. It took a while. Then I heard her ask: “What is it that’s holding you back?” I didn’t answer. She looked at me, determined to get an answer. What’s holding me back? I closed my eyes. The red liquid still flowed, dripping. Like it would never stop. What’s holding me back are the familiar words. The hand that once tried to pull me out of the abyss. What’s holding me back is the guilt from two years ago. I have no sister anymore. I have no family anymore. I opened my eyes, even though they hurt, no tears fell. With red eyes, like a wounded cub, Pathetic and laughable. “Saylor.” I murmured, repeating it again. “I have no family anymore.”

When Saylor left, she hugged me, didn’t say much, just reminded me to see the doctor on time. I nodded. But the moment the door closed, the emotions I had suppressed erupted, more intense than ever. The home that my aunt had neatly organized was once again thrown into chaos by me. I went mad, smashing things that were perfectly fine to the ground. The sound of glass shattering was piercing. But it wasn’t enough. Perhaps because I had suppressed it for too long, the impulse was stronger than ever. The devil whispered in my ear. Urging me to take the fruit knife and press it against my wrist. But I stopped short. The door suddenly opened. Kieran’s hand froze in mid-air, meeting my eyes. Previously, whenever I picked up a knife, he’d panic. He wouldn’t let me touch anything sharp. But this time. He just stood there, his expression cold and detached like a spectator. The ticking of the clock on the wall was distinctly audible. “Do it.” He looked at me, sneered, and repeated: “Cut yourself.” I didn’t move, like a puppet, staring blankly at him. He snorted, his gaze sharp. “You don’t dare.” “You’re just trying to gain sympathy.” “Why wasn’t it you who died?” His tone was innocent yet heartless, as if it were a simple question. I used all my strength to restrain my trembling. “Adeline.” “You don’t dare to die.” He said it almost word by word. Indeed, I don’t dare. Caught between medication and promises. I can’t die. But I can’t live either. The knife clattered to the floor, landing at my feet. Despair wrapped around me like vines, making me finally cry out. In the past, whenever I cried, Kieran would hold me in his arms, his cold demeanor softening, speaking gently to comfort me. Just like. Just like— That person. Always using a handkerchief scented with gardenias, gently wiping away my tears, then holding me close, whispering to comfort me: “Little Moon, don’t cry.” “Crying isn’t pretty.” Such a cliché phrase. But I heard it for over a decade, and never got tired of it. In this world, No one will comfort me like that anymore.

I sank deeper into the mire. Sometimes forgetting to take my medicine. Other times swallowing a handful in one go. I started cutting my arms again. New wounds on top of the shallow scars that were almost healed a year ago. But not fatal. Later, the medicine bottle was empty. I don’t know how I got through it. In a daze, I made it to my sister’s death anniversary. That day, the weather cleared. I got up early, tidied my messy self, and bought a bouquet of flowers. But when I got there. Someone had already arrived before me. Mom stood there, the grave covered with various offerings. Expressionless, I walked up, placed my flowers down. Just as I turned to leave, something heavy hit my head. I staggered, almost falling. The flowers I had carefully wrapped scattered, strewn all over the ground. Her voice was filled with deep hatred, hysterically yelling at me: “What are you doing here?” “Aren’t you a murderer? How dare you show your face here?!” But as she cursed, she started crying: “The one who should’ve died was you!” I didn’t turn back. My head felt dizzy, as if I were standing on the edge of a cliff. I clenched my hand, forcing myself to stay calm and leave. Sitting in the car, I saw the doctor’s message. She asked why I hadn’t come. I stared at her profile picture, took a long time to type out a reply: —Sorry, something came up. Her response was quick. —I’ll reschedule, when can you come? Forget it. The cursor in the input box blinked. In the end, I didn’t send anything. —Let’s schedule next time. Kieran came home early for the first time in a while. It wasn’t Nora who brought him home, but another male subordinate. When he got back, I was squinting at the empty medicine bottle. It’s been empty for a long time. The male subordinate helped Kieran onto the sofa, politely said goodbye to me.

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When the kidnappers forced Declan to choose between us, he picked me over his childhood sweetheart. But I refused to go with him, knowing he’d regret it. In my previous life, after I was rescued, Cora, Declan’s childhood sweetheart, was caught in compromising photos by the kidnappers and tragically took her own life that night. Declan appeared indifferent and went through with our wedding, but during our marriage, he made me feel the weight of his resentment. Seven years later, I finally got him to agree to a divorce, but on the way to finalize it, he lost control and drove us off a cliff. Even in his dying moments, he blamed me, saying, “This is the price we owe Cora. In this life, we should make amends for her. How can you just live in peace…” This time, I didn’t want to live that way. 1 “Willa, come with me.” When I realized I had been reborn, the kidnappers were pressing knives to both Cora’s and my necks, demanding Declan choose who to save. His gaze flickered between us, and after a moment of intense internal conflict, he made the same choice as before—reaching out to me. But I shook my head decisively. “Declan, save Cora first.” In this life, I don’t want to owe anyone or carry the weight of a life on my conscience. Declan seemed relieved. “Willa, you’re my fiancée, so I should save you first. But since you said so, don’t blame me then.” He quickly took Cora away, anxious I might change my mind. Unlike him, I don’t regret my choices. Last time, he came with the ransom, but the kidnappers demanded more, saying they could only release one person initially. Declan had no option but to choose me. While we struggled to gather more money, the kidnappers began to exploit Cora, taking inappropriate photos. We arrived with the police just in time, but the experience had already shattered her dignity. She returned home in despair and ended her life that night. By the time we found her, it was too late. Declan showed no concern when he heard the news. He calmly managed her affairs and gave her family a substantial sum for consolation. Even when I suggested postponing the wedding, he refused. “Willa, marrying you was always part of the plan. We can’t let others influence it.” Yet, the “outsider” was on his mind throughout our seven-year marriage. Marrying me was merely a way to bind me and atone for Cora. But what did I do wrong? 2 After Declan left, I began thinking of ways to save myself, uncertain if he’d come back. Previously, he discreetly slipped a tracker into Cora’s pocket when he hugged her, allowing us to locate her even if the kidnappers moved her. But this time, he seemed to have forgotten that. I guessed that from the start, the only one he truly wanted to save was Cora. Only because I was his fiancée did he reluctantly choose me, fearing criticism. Our marriage was arranged; our feelings weren’t deep. Cora had been with him through their formative years; they were childhood friends and confidants. His regret in the past life was understandable. This time, he could have what he truly wanted. I was happy for him and didn’t forget to find my own escape route. I knew the kidnappers would pass an auto repair shop when they moved locations. The workers there were tough and formidable. Last time, the kidnappers tried to take over the shop, not expecting the owner to be a hard nut to crack, refusing to give in. A fight erupted, and the kidnappers, not expecting to meet someone fiercer than them, had to flee. Later, when the kidnappers were caught, the shop owner testified against them. 3 Like before, they left one person in the car to watch me while the others went to the repair shop. My hands were tied behind my back, and the kidnapper in the driver’s seat wasn’t paying much attention to me. Taking advantage of his distraction, I used my mouth to open the car door handle. Then I pushed the door open and ran toward the auto repair shop, hoping they wouldn’t ignore my plight. The shop was already in chaos. I spotted the young shop owner immediately. His features were sharp and upright, exuding a sense of integrity. His swift movements made him seem cool. To avoid getting hurt, I crouched low and dashed over, accidentally knocking him over. I fell into his arms, terrified. “S-sorry,” I stammered. “Could you please help me?” He glanced at me, frowning. The next second, he rolled us both several times on the ground. A chair landed where we just lay with a “bang.” If he hadn’t noticed on time, I would have been in serious trouble. Still shaken, I saw that the kidnappers realized I had escaped. What started as a squabble over territory was now a demand for me. The two sides faced off. I looked at the man beside me with pleading eyes and whispered, “If you can save me, I’ll do anything.” But he didn’t reply, only eyeing the kidnappers thoughtfully. Someone behind him couldn’t help but remind him, “Jasper, sometimes less trouble is better.” So he was called Jasper. Not getting any response, my heart sank. Fine, there’s no need to force anyone. As the kidnapper leader called for me the third time, I started to walk towards them. But soon, someone pressed down on my shoulder, stopping me. Jasper stepped forward and said to the kidnappers, “She’s under my protection today.” It seemed even heaven was on my side. Suddenly, motorcycle engines roared outside. A confident smile appeared on Jasper’s face. “My backup is here.” The kidnappers, unwilling, glared at me and left cursing. My tense nerves finally relaxed. I let out a silent breath and felt the rope on my wrist loosen. Jasper had cut it. 4 “I’m Willa Lin, thank you so much for earlier,” I said, extending my hand to him. Jasper kept staring at my wrist, where the rope had left bloody marks, looking alarming. “Let me help you with that,” he said. I shook my head, “It’s just a small injury, it’s nothing.” “Weren’t you the one who said you’d do anything if I saved you?” Without waiting for a reply, he sat me down and took out a first-aid kit. “Bear with it,” he said. I bit my lip, watching him carefully treat my wound. A warmth spread through me. I remembered when I first married Declan, one time he got drunk, and as I helped him to his room, I casually mentioned he should drink less. He flew into a rage, pushing me away. I lost my balance and fell, shattering the jade bracelet on my wrist; the shards cut into my skin. I screamed, clutching my bleeding wrist. Declan just coldly stared and said, “Does it hurt? It should. Cora hurt a thousand times more than you, and now she can’t even say it. If it weren’t for saving you, she wouldn’t have been humiliated by the kidnappers or lost hope…” I sat there, disbelief on my face, feeling my heart grow colder. After a long time, I found my voice. “But the kidnappers took Cora and me to threaten you! You chose to save me first; why blame me now?” Declan, his drunkenness seemingly fading, looked at me with icy eyes. “Willa, I was always against this arranged marriage. If you hadn’t told Grandma you liked me, she wouldn’t have forced me to marry you.” “So, you’re saying if it weren’t for me, you’d only need to save Cora?” I laughed bitterly, “Declan, you’re insane. Blaming me instead of the kidnappers.” I got up and treated my wound alone in my room. After that, no matter how much it hurt, I never told Declan. Now, the man in front of me was gently blowing on my wound, afraid I’d be in pain. My eyes stung, and I closed them, taking a deep breath, asking knowingly, “What are you doing?” Jasper looked up with a genuine smile. “When I was little and got hurt, my mom did this. Does it feel better?” I nodded, “Yes, a lot better.” Encouraged, Jasper continued. But the moment was soon interrupted. 5 “Jasper, I heard someone’s causing trouble at your shop, so I rushed over…” “Whoa! Where did you find such a pretty girl?” A tall man with tattooed arms entered, eyes lighting up when he saw me. “This is rare. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful girl here…” The tattooed guy said, a strange blush on his face. Jasper stepped in front of me protectively. I nodded, “Yeah, much better.” Jasper, reassured, continued with his task, but the atmosphere was quickly disrupted. “Jasper, I heard there was some trouble at your shop, so I rushed over…” “Whoa! Where did you find such a beautiful girl?” A tall man with a tattooed arm walked in, his eyes lighting up as he saw me. “Really unusual, I think it’s the first time I’ve seen such a pretty girl here…” The tattooed guy said, with an oddly shy expression. Jasper noticed and moved to shield me. “Thanks, but it’s sorted now. As for other stuff, it’s none of your business. I’ll treat you to a drink another day.” The tattooed guy paused, then got the hint. “Jasper, now that you have a girl, you’re ditching your buddies?” He turned away with a playful huff, looking slightly upset. Jasper sighed and pulled him aside, whispering, “Can’t you take a hint? Go hang out somewhere else.” “Jasper, is she your girlfriend?” “Does it look like she is?” “Absolutely! You two look perfect together.” “Smart observation.” “I’m not leaving until you give me some wedding candy.” “You’ll get your share.” “…” Not far off, the two of them continued their whispering, but even though they tried to keep their voices down, I could hear everything clearly. Trying to ease the awkwardness, I pretended to be busy, looking everywhere except at them. A few minutes later, Jasper managed to send the tattooed guy away. After he left, Jasper asked me, “Where do you live? I’ll take you home.” Maybe it was selfish of me, but suddenly I didn’t want to go back so soon. My parents are always busy with their own affairs. Even if I didn’t go home for a month, they wouldn’t notice. As for Declan, if I’m right, he might have been reincarnated too. He’s probably eager to be with Cora now. I was married to him for seven years in my past life. He never took me to any events or shared a room with me. When people asked about me, he’d always have a cold expression, turning me into a joke in our circle. This time around, I want to stay far away from him. So I pleaded with Jasper, “Can you let me stay for a few days?” I gently tugged at his sleeve. Looking at both lives, he should be a good person. Plus, he can protect me. If I cling to him, would he refuse? Jasper suddenly leaned close, his gaze intense. “Little girl, if you keep this up, I might take it seriously…” The proximity was so close, I could even smell the fresh scent of soap on him. I swallowed instinctively, about to speak, when a familiar voice came from behind. “What are you doing?” It was Declan… He’d brought the police with him. “Are you okay?” Declan looked at me, genuine concern in his eyes. I shrugged, “Do I look like I’m not okay?” Declan was silent. Cora walked in right after. She glanced around the now normal auto repair shop and bluntly asked: “Willa, how did you escape from the kidnappers? As far as I know, there were six of them. Your hands were tied, and you were unfamiliar with the area. I’m really curious…” What is Cora trying to say? “Everyone knows the Lin family and the Shen family plan an arranged marriage. But they’re also both eyeing that piece of land in the south of the city. The auction is in ten days, highest bidder wins. But right at this crucial moment, this happens, and the ransom is ridiculously high. Willa, it’s hard not to think otherwise.” Is she suggesting I hired the kidnappers? I admit, I’ve never been this speechless in two lifetimes. I truly felt helpless and sympathetic about Cora’s past life. But this time, I practically saved her. And her first reaction after being saved is to accuse me. It’s truly disheartening. I suddenly raised my hand and shouted, “Officer, someone here is slandering me.” And then we were all taken away. While waiting for questioning, Cora wouldn’t let it go. “Willa, why won’t you say anything?” I scoffed, “Why should I tell you? You’re not the police.” Cora was at a loss for words. Declan couldn’t stand it, immediately speaking up for Cora. “Willa, Cora just wants to understand what really happened, so she knows what to say during the questioning.” “What? You plan on lying to the officer?” Declan stood up angrily, pointing at me, “Willa, you’re being unreasonable!” Jasper came out of the interrogation room just in time to see this, and without a word, he stood in front of me. “Put your hand down.” His tone was flat, yet carried an undeniable pressure. I hid behind Jasper, unable to see the expressions on their faces, but I could sense the tension. Declan asked, “Who are you to her?” Jasper turned slightly to look at me, a small smile on his lips. He countered, “What do you think?” I looked up at his ridiculously perfect profile, and impulsively made a heart shape with my thumb and index finger. Declan’s face darkened several shades at the sight. Just then, the police called him in for a statement. After some questioning, things started to clear up a bit. The police identified suspects, but can only proceed further once the kidnappers are caught.

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On the wedding day, my husband’s assistant concocted a reason to get me out of the venue. She donned the wedding dress and beat me to the stage, staging a wedding drama. Astonishingly, when my husband found out, he didn’t stop her; instead, he clasped hands with the assistant, gazing into her eyes with a blissful expression as they completed the wedding ceremony. As I realized what was happening and was about to confront him, my husband harshly rebuked me: “You were late and missed the auspicious time for the wedding. Why should everyone wait for you? Must you be so selfish?” “Phoebe was just trying to help us get the wedding ready. Don’t take advantage and act innocent. At worst, I’ll arrange another ceremony for you!” Our friends were all stunned, expecting an outburst from me due to my husband’s outrageous remarks. But I nodded, agreeing with him. Seeing my calm demeanor, he seemed quite pleased and promised to arrange another ceremony for me when he had time. However, he seemed to forget that we had just signed a divorce agreement yesterday. After removing the bride’s veil and handing it to my husband, Asher Thompson, I ignored the subtle expressions of him and those around us and left the wedding hotel directly. Even as I exited, Asher didn’t come after me. Behind me, thunderous applause erupted as he and Phoebe Carter were ushered onto the stage by the crowd. I knew Asher had long seen through Phoebe’s plan but chose to indulge her. Even if I investigated now, it would be useless. He probably already destroyed all evidence of Phoebe’s scheme, as he always did. In the past, I might have been angry and devastated. But now, I felt unexpectedly calm and simply went home to take a nap. Asher didn’t like hassles, so I had been the one bustling around for the wedding. To ensure everything went smoothly, I had been preparing every day after work, carefully selecting the hotel, staying up to pick the wedding invitation and party favors. Just yesterday, I rehearsed until the early hours, and my heart still aches from it. Looking back, it hardly seemed worth it. I should have just done a half-hearted job. I was dozing off when a call from Asher woke me. “Adeline Brooks, the wedding’s over. Where are you?” Hearing his cheerful voice on the other end was amusing. I had been back for quite a while, and he hadn’t even noticed. Or maybe he noticed but simply didn’t care to think about me. I yawned, “I’m at home.” There was a brief silence. “Adeline, are you still mad about the wedding?” He asked in his usual feigned ignorance. But this time, he guessed wrong. I wasn’t angry, just a little bored. “No,” I said truthfully. He didn’t believe me at all: “I know you’re upset, but this is really your fault.” “There were many important guests today, most of them our business partners. Why should they wait for just you? If they found out the bride was late, they might question our capabilities.” “I’m doing this for the company. If you don’t understand, that’s fine, but what right do you have to be jealous and angry here?” “Moreover, Phoebe was under a lot of pressure today. She came up with this backup plan in such a short time and even took on a lot of drinking on your behalf. By logic, you should thank her.” Hearing his absurd reasoning made me laugh. I even suspected someone must have stolen his brain amidst the wedding crowd. Before I could speak, Phoebe’s sweet voice chimed in, “Asher, don’t blame Adeline. She surely didn’t mean to. Besides, didn’t you already give me a raise? No need for Adeline to thank me.” “One thing is separate from another. Salary is salary, gratitude is gratitude.” “But helping Adeline is helping the company, and helping the company is helping myself, right?” Their back-and-forth made me nauseous, but I was used to it. Asher has always pampered Phoebe unconditionally. At work, everyone has to call him Mr. Thompson, but only Phoebe can call him “Asher.” Others get harshly berated for small mistakes, but no matter how big a mess Phoebe makes, Asher turns a blind eye. A month ago, Phoebe’s mistake ruined a multi-million dollar deal. The whole company was outraged, but to calm everyone down, Asher pinned the blame on me without even discussing it, docking my annual salary. I confronted him, and he was indifferent: “We’ve been together for so many years. Why are you fussing over a small matter?” “This amount is nothing to you, but Phoebe has less means. How would she live if I docked her salary?” “If it’s a big deal, I’ll compensate you, okay?” This wedding was supposed to be my compensation. Seeing me silent, Asher sighed: “Adeline, can’t you learn from Phoebe? She’s younger than you and more mature.” “When something goes wrong, she’s always quick to find solutions. She even invited her parents for the wedding to make it perfect.” “You have no parents, so they can’t come. But you can’t just refuse to communicate and leave the mess whenever you’re angry.” Hearing him mention my parents made me scoff. His house caught fire when he was a child, and he was the only one home. My dad rushed in to save him, got severely burned, and died despite rescue efforts. My mom died shortly after from grief. The night my mom passed, he held me as I cried, promising over and over he’d never leave me. But it’s only been eight years, and now their deaths became my flaw compared to Phoebe. In the past, I’d have been emotionally shattered and started a huge fight with him. But now, perhaps because I was prepared for his ridiculous actions for Phoebe, my heart was surprisingly calm. “You’re right. It’s my fault,” I said softly. Perhaps my calm tone made Asher’s attitude soften a bit. “It’s okay to be wrong. As long as you admit it and change, it’s fine. Listen to me now, apologize to Phoebe, and compensate her with a set of…” Before he could finish, I interrupted. “You misunderstood.” “What I meant was, I shouldn’t have come to you in the first place, shouldn’t have gotten a marriage certificate with you first, and shouldn’t have let my dad save an ungrateful person like you.” Asher paused, embarrassed and angry, he coldly questioned me, “Adeline, what do you mean?” Hearing his anger, I didn’t apologize like before, trying to soothe him. Instead, I spoke calmly. “Asher Thompson, let’s get a divorce.” As soon as I said it, Asher was taken aback. “What did you say?” “Adeline, don’t take advantage and act innocent. You’re divorcing me over this one small thing?” I thought he’d explode in rage and agree immediately. I even heard him calling Phoebe’s name in his sleep a few days ago. He likes her so much, wouldn’t he be happy if I divorced him and let them be together? But surprisingly, Asher took a deep breath, and his tone became unexpectedly gentle. “Adeline, I know you’re just saying this out of anger, so I won’t hold it against you.” “Stop making a scene. Divorce is a hurtful thing to say, and we’ve been together for so many years. How can we just divorce like that?” “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Don’t say it again in the future.” “By the way, we just got notified of a business trip these days. I’ll give you a month’s leave to calm down.” With that, Asher hung up the phone. As soon as the call ended, I heard him explaining to Phoebe in a low voice: “I can’t help it. Divorce is complicated, and there’s the matter of dividing assets…” I didn’t hear the rest, but I understood. He was probably afraid I’d take some of his assets if we divorced. I couldn’t help but snicker, not knowing what to say. Asher tells Phoebe everything, from what he eats to the company’s core secrets. I once warned him to be careful, but he dismissed me, saying he trusts Phoebe. He gives her so much trust but uses the darkest thoughts to speculate about me. But it doesn’t matter now. I contacted a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement. To expedite the divorce, I chose to leave with nothing. Then I texted HR to resign. HR didn’t know my relationship with Asher and quickly replied in an official manner. “Mr. Thompson and Ms. Carter are on their honeymoon. I wouldn’t dare disturb them now. Please bring this up again after a month.” I wasn’t surprised. I had already guessed that Asher’s “business trip” was a lie. His wedding was the talk of the town. How could anyone ask him to handle business now? “I can’t wait. Please accept it now and give it to him after the honeymoon. I’ll be responsible for any issues.” HR hesitated, but after my repeated assurances, he agreed to submit it. Asher and I had an eight-year contract, which expired two years ago, but he never renewed it. Whether he forgot or just didn’t care. After all, his focus has been more on Phoebe in recent years. It’s better this way. I don’t even need his approval to resign. Then I called a friend far away. Once she learned my intention, she was delighted and eager to have me join their company. HR was a bit hesitant, but after I reassured him several times about my decision to resign, he agreed to help me submit it. I had an eight-year contract with Asher Thompson, which actually expired two years ago, but he never bothered to renew it. I’m not sure if he forgot or just didn’t care. His attention has been more on Phoebe Carter these past few years. This way, I don’t even need his approval to leave the company. I immediately called a friend who was far away. When she heard about my plans, she was thrilled and insisted I join her new company. She had recently started it, but despite everything being set, she lacked a strong technical leader. She had asked me several times to join her, but I had always turned her down. The company that Asher and I started felt like my own child. We began by renting a small space to save money, just the two of us, and now it’s about to go public with an entire building. Even though Asher never gave me any shares, I never complained. Looking back, I realize I was too invested. I agreed to my friend’s offer without hesitation and bought a ticket to Hawaii. As soon as I landed, I saw her waiting in the airport lobby. She rushed over to take my luggage and asked how I was doing. I felt a bit uneasy and laughed, saying, “No need for all the formalities between friends.” She smiled and said, “It’s because we’re such good friends that I want to make sure you’re well taken care of.” Her words reminded me of when Asher asked me to leave a high-paying job to start a business with him. He just sent me an address, and I dragged my luggage, sweating and taking detours to his remote apartment. When I arrived, he was in pajamas, playing video games with someone else. He didn’t say it, but I could tell he was annoyed that I came at a bad time. After he finished the game, I joked about why he didn’t pick me up and if he wasn’t worried something might happen to me. He scoffed and said, “What could possibly happen in broad daylight? Besides, we’re like an old married couple. You could come on your own, no need for a pickup.” Thinking back, being “close” was just an excuse. The real issue was the lack of care. That afternoon, my friend took me to see a house, and after we settled on a place, she invited some friends to dinner at a fancy hotel. She went to park the car, and I went up first. As soon as I walked through the revolving door, I heard a familiar voice. “Hey, isn’t that Adeline Brooks?” I instinctively turned my head and saw Asher Thompson and Phoebe Carter holding hands at the front desk. Seeing me, Asher quickly pulled his hand away, while Phoebe’s face showed displeasure, which she quickly masked with a smile. “Adeline, I just heard from HR that you were looking for Asher. Why didn’t you just call him? Why come here in person?” Asher seemed to realize something and frowned. “Are you following me?” “What do you mean by that? Are you saying you don’t trust me?” I found it amusing and didn’t bother explaining much. “I’m not following you. I’m here to meet a friend.” Asher clearly didn’t believe me. “Come on, I know if you have any friends. If you’re following me, just admit it. Why lie?” He smirked, like he could see right through me. I was silent, unsure of what to say. He knew I was away from home with few friends, yet he still chose to leave me alone in that city to “cool off.” But I remember last year when he claimed to go home for the holidays, he was actually with Phoebe, saying she was upset and had no friends there, worried she might do something rash. “Asher, since Adeline is here, you two should talk. Oh, and can I have the room key?” Phoebe smiled and extended her hand to Asher. He naturally took out the room key and handed it to her. “I’ll wait for you upstairs,” she said. Before leaving, Phoebe gave me a smug look. It was obvious what she meant: they had booked a room together. Asher seemed to realize something, his expression briefly panicked. “The front desk said there was only one room left. Don’t overthink it. It’s a suite; I’m sleeping on the couch.” But I remembered his habit of always having the assistant book hotels in advance, whether on business trips or vacations. I couldn’t be bothered to expose him. I took out the prepared divorce agreement from my bag. I had planned to have him sign it after settling my new job, but since we met here, it was a good opportunity. “What’s this?” Asher opened it, puzzled. Just as he started to read, Phoebe’s scream echoed from upstairs. “Phoebe, what’s wrong?” Asher asked, worried. Without even looking at the document, he hastily signed it and was about to leave. “Aren’t you going to see what you just signed?” I couldn’t help but ask. Asher replied indifferently, “What else could it be besides asking for money?” Without waiting for my response, he hurried away. I chuckled to myself. His rushed departure reminded me of a few years ago when I fell seriously ill and was lying in a hospital bed without money for surgery. Asher assured me not to worry and that he’d find a way. That night, I woke up to see him exhausted, making call after call to borrow money for me. From that moment, I promised myself I would never let him down, no matter what happened. As our company grew and money was no longer an issue, Asher and I could never return to those days. I put the divorce agreement back in my bag. In a month, when the legal waiting period for divorce ends, there’ll be nothing between Asher and me anymore. By the time I took the elevator to the private room, everyone was already there. After a few drinks, my friend pulled me aside, reminiscing about the past. She asked if I had a boyfriend, considering I had turned down her entrepreneurship offers multiple times. Previously, Asher didn’t want to make our relationship public, so few people knew. Even during the wedding ceremony, he only invited business partners, excluding family and friends. He explained that we were in another city, and announcing our wedding would seem like a ploy for monetary gifts. It was better to marry quietly and arrange another ceremony later. Back then, I didn’t think much of it. But now, it seems he was creating an opportunity for Phoebe to be the bride. “I’m already divorced,” I said calmly. The room instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at me, unsure if they should offer comfort. I raised my glass first. “It’s just a jerk. Divorce is a good thing. From now on, I’ll stay here and make big money with you all!” “Yes, make big money!” The room quickly became lively again as everyone raised their glasses. The next day, I successfully signed a contract with my friend and focused on my career. The business developed smoothly, and with the latest technology, it thrived, tripling profits in just half a month. My friend was thrilled and organized a celebration at a tourist spot outside the city. I didn’t expect to run into Asher and Phoebe there again. They sat by the bonfire, Asher peeling shrimp for her. Phoebe said something, and Asher laughed, feeding her a shrimp. Then he playfully tried to smear her face with shrimp juice, and she laughed, dodging him. When he finally succeeded, she dove into his arms. Asher’s face turned red, clearly enjoying it. I remembered that Asher never liked me playing such childish games. He often complained that shrimp made hands dirty and didn’t like eating them. I used to peel them and coax him to eat. I had to admit, since being with Phoebe, he had changed a lot. “What a sweet couple,” my friend said, approaching with a teasing smile. “Jealous?” I shook my head with a faint smile. “Too messy.” My friend looked confused. I didn’t explain and turned to leave. I thought Asher wouldn’t notice me with so many people around. But as soon as I turned, Asher called out coldly, “Adeline!” He strode toward us, and I quickened my pace, not wanting to see him. I thought he’d give up, but surprisingly, he ignored others’ looks and rushed over. “Adeline, are you deaf? Didn’t you hear me calling?” Knowing his personality, I stopped and coolly asked, “What do you want?” Asher seemed puzzled by my indifferent attitude, momentarily at a loss for words. Phoebe was the first to greet me. “Adeline, what a coincidence meeting you again. I didn’t expect to run into you twice here.” Her words had an undertone. Asher picked up on it too, his gaze darkening. “Are you still following me here?” he asked. I was speechless. “I’m not following you, just a coincidence.” “Hah, once is a coincidence, twice too? I can’t believe it!” “And if you weren’t following, why run away just now?” Asher looked at me with suspicion, clearly only believing his own doubts. Phoebe, looking pitiful, said, “Asher, don’t fight with Adeline. Maybe I should go back and let her keep you company. I initially wanted her to accompany you on this business trip.” “What are you doing here? Are you tailing me?” I was momentarily at a loss for words. “I’m not tailing you; it was just a coincidence.” “Ha, a coincidence once, maybe, but twice? I don’t buy it. Things can’t be that coincidental!” “Besides, if you weren’t following me, why did you look so guilty just now? Why did you run off?” Asher Thompson gave me a cold stare, his eyes brimming with disdain. He seemed intent on trusting only his own suspicions. Just then, Phoebe Carter chimed in, sounding hurt, “Asher, please don’t argue with Adeline Brooks. Maybe I should just head back and let Adeline accompany you. I actually wanted her to join you on this business trip.” “If I’m with you, people are bound to speculate.” Asher Thompson’s face showed some hesitation initially, but hearing her, he spoke more firmly. “Who’s going to speculate?” “We’re just going on this business trip openly and honestly; only small-minded people would read into it!” As he spoke, he cast a cold glance my way, clearly implying that I was the small-minded one. I found it amusing. I expected Asher Thompson to launch into one of his typical tirades after Phoebe’s complaints. But unexpectedly, his expression softened a bit, and he sighed. “Adeline, could you stop overthinking? It’s exhausting for me.” “I promise, once we get back, I’ll organize a wedding for you. Can you just head back for now?” “Besides, we’re already legally married. What are you worried about?” Turns out, he really didn’t know he’d already signed the divorce papers. Now he wants to use a wedding to brush me off and prevent me from ruining their honeymoon? The more I thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. “Organize a wedding?” I let out a light laugh, pulled the divorce agreement from my bag, and tossed it in front of him. “Seems like you’ve really forgotten, Asher Thompson. We’re already divorced.”

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For the 999th time, my attempt to seduce the esports tycoon ended in failure. We’ve been married for five years, yet he’s never touched me. I even need his permission for a simple kiss. I always thought he was asexual, uncomfortable with any physical contact. That is, until I received a private video of him in bed with someone else. In the video, the man’s body moved rhythmically, while the woman beneath him wore a cosplay outfit of his favorite game character. His usual cold demeanor was gone, replaced by a look of desire. “Baby… you’re so beautiful…” he murmured. That’s when I realized he wasn’t asexual. He just didn’t love me. After he rejected my advances once again, I said nothing. I simply left the divorce papers and walked away. Later, Lucas Graham stood outside my apartment building. As he watched me walk hand-in-hand with another man, his eyes slowly filled with tears. The screen of my phone was still lit, and I hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of what I’d just seen. In the video, the man’s lean waist moved rhythmically. The dim light cast shadows on his face, adding a touch of lust to his features. The woman beneath him wore elaborate, seductive makeup. Her cosplay outfit was torn to shreds, hanging off her chest, hinting at their previous passion. I had never seen Lucas Graham like this before. His eyes, fixed on the woman, were blood-red and filled with a hint of madness. Who would have thought that the cold, seemingly asexual esports god would be so wild behind closed doors? I shifted my gaze to the scented candle burning on the bedside table and let out a bitter laugh. I had gone to great lengths to win Lucas over, even spending a fortune on aphrodisiac essential oils. I’d even added ylang-ylang to my shower gel for its reputed arousing effects. I felt a lump in my throat and had to swallow hard to keep from crying. When I first met Lucas after college graduation, his cold face and unapproachable demeanor made him seem like an unreachable flower on a high cliff. But the colder he was, the more it sparked my desire to conquer him. The more he pushed me away, the more determined I became to make him my boyfriend. I even made a bet with him: “In three years, I’ll definitely make you fall in love with me.” I pursued him relentlessly, using every trick in the book. My closet was bursting with sexy lingerie, but Lucas remained unmoved. Then, a year later, he suddenly proposed to me. I thought my efforts had finally paid off. I was so touched I couldn’t even speak. But only now do I understand. Marrying me was just a way to suppress the scandal of him sleeping with his fans. I was nothing more than his shield. Lucas came home late that night. Although he maintained his usual cold facade, I caught sight of the hidden red marks on his neck. From the moment he entered until he reached the bedroom, he didn’t even spare me a glance. Just as the door was about to close, I called out to him. “Lucas, do you remember the bet I made when we first met?” Lucas’s brows furrowed instantly, his impatience evident. “I’m very tired today. I don’t have time for your nonsense.” “If you’re bored, go find a job. Stop being so paranoid.” I fought back the lump in my throat. “When we first met, I bet you that if I couldn’t make you fall for me in three years, I would…” But before I could finish, Lucas’s phone rang, interrupting me. He glanced at the caller ID and immediately answered. Whatever was said on the other end made his face, for the first time, show a panicked expression. “Wasn’t she fine this afternoon? How did she suddenly relapse?” “I’ll find a match as soon as possible!” Lucas threw on his jacket and rushed out. As he passed the couch, he suddenly stopped. “I remember you’re O negative too. Come with me for a matching test.” Lucas didn’t give me time to react, yanking me off the couch. The temperature difference between day and night in spring was significant. I was only wearing a thin nightgown when Lucas pulled me out of the house. By the time we reached the hospital, my hands and feet were purple from the cold, and I couldn’t stop shivering. Lucas, on the other hand, was anxiously talking to the doctor, not sparing me a single glance. It was a passing nurse who couldn’t bear to see my state and gave me a blanket. “She has the same blood type as Evelyn. As long as she’s a match, we can take as many stem cells as we need.” Several nurses immediately surrounded me, inserting a needle into my skin. The anesthetic quickly took effect. In my hazy state, I saw Lucas’s cold face. “As long as it can cure Evelyn, I don’t care if all her stem cells are drained.” When I woke up again, there was a piercing pain in my lower back, and the IV in my hand had backflowed. Across from me, Lucas was tenderly moistening the lips of the woman lying in bed with a damp cloth, occasionally looking up to check the IV drip. The gentle tone he used to comfort her was something I had never heard in our three years together. It was then that I realized, a heart that doesn’t love me can never be warmed, no matter what I do. I pulled out the IV needle from my hand, hissing in pain. Seeing me awake, the smile instantly vanished from Lucas’s face. “Don’t think acting weak will make me feel sorry for you.” “It’s just stem cell donation, not like it’s going to kill you.”

The color drained from my face, and when I opened my mouth, my dry, cracked lips split painfully. Evelyn quickly wrapped her arm around Lucas’s. “Lucas, don’t blame Aria,” she said softly. “Even though the doctor said it was a minor procedure, you took 500ml of stem cells from her at once. How could she recover so quickly?” She leaned on Lucas’s shoulder, appearing weak and fragile. But the look in her eyes as she gazed at me couldn’t hide her hostility. I lifted my hospital gown, only then noticing the numerous needle marks covering my body. Normally, donors give a maximum of 200ml, but Lucas had taken 500ml from me in one go. No wonder I felt so weak when I woke up. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. It seemed I had been fooling myself all along. I was nothing more than a choice he made after weighing the pros and cons. Lucas picked up a fruit knife and started peeling an apple for Evelyn, speaking casually. “To prevent Evelyn from relapsing in the future, we had to take a bit extra.” “Besides, stem cells regenerate in a few days. Don’t be so stingy.” Seeing his nonchalant attitude, I felt a stabbing pain in my chest. Excessive stem cell extraction could lead to blood clotting disorders, and in severe cases, even blood cancer. Yet my life and death meant nothing more to him than a casual remark about being prepared. Fearing I might vomit if I looked at him and Evelyn any longer, I decided to go home that very day. Lying in bed, I stared at our wedding photo on the wall and let out a sarcastic laugh. If I was going to leave, I might as well make a clean break. I booked a flight for three days later, but after waiting half a day, I still hadn’t received the confirmation code. Just as I was wondering what was wrong, Lucas called. His voice was uncharacteristically tense. “Aria, why are you booking a flight?” I used to book Lucas’s business flights, so the phone number was automatically filled in with his. “I’ve been feeling down lately. I’m going to visit a friend for a few days.” “Well, be careful-” But before Lucas could finish, a woman’s fragile voice came through the receiver. “Lucas, my head hurts so much…” Lucas hung up without a moment’s hesitation. In his heart, I had always been last on the list. The next day, when I returned home, I found the master bedroom door wide open, with Evelyn lying on the bed in her loungewear. Seeing me return, she lazily raised her eyes, adopting the air of the lady of the house. “Welcome back, sis.” Lucas emerged from the kitchen upon hearing the commotion and explained in a deep voice, “Evelyn is still recovering. It’s more convenient for me to take care of her here.” “You don’t mind me making this decision, do you?” I shook my head and smiled. “Not at all.” A flash of surprise crossed Lucas’s face. He lowered his gaze, carefully examining my expression. Seeing no signs of displeasure in my words or manner, he finally relaxed. In the past, I had been possessive of him. Even if he exchanged a few more words with a female server, I would sarcastically comment on it, let alone allow a woman to move in and live with him. I gathered my belongings from the master bedroom. Apart from my daily clothes, I threw away all the lingerie and scented candles I had bought to seduce Lucas into the garbage bin downstairs. Even the crystal pendant he had bought me when we first got together went into the trash. Lucas strode over, his brow furrowed in anger. “Why are you throwing that away?” I continued packing my suitcase, “Shouldn’t broken things be thrown away?” Broken things should be discarded, just like spoiled feelings. Lucas nodded slowly, seeming to agree. “If it’s broken, throw it away. I’ll buy you a new one later.” With that, he dove back into the kitchen to make soup for Evelyn.

I had just finished packing my suitcase when I noticed a figure standing in the doorway. “I advise you not to embarrass yourself. If you’re smart, you’ll divorce Lucas.” “Stolen love will never last.” “You probably don’t know this, but I’ve known Lucas for longer than you have.” She slowly approached me, her contemptuous gaze making me extremely uncomfortable. “You don’t think I secretly filmed that video I sent you, do you?” “There’s a folder named ‘ERO’ on Lucas’s computer E drive. It’s full of videos he recorded himself. He says they’re all proof of his love for me.” I looked at Evelyn’s superior expression and let out a scornful laugh. “If he loves you so much, why didn’t he marry you?” “As long as I’m here, you’re nothing but a mistress who can’t see the light of day.” Evelyn seemed to be angered by the word ‘mistress’. She grabbed my hair violently. “Are you proud of being Lucas’s shield?” “So what if you’re Lucas’s wife? Has he touched you in the two years you’ve been married?” “You think you’re worthy of competing with me for Lucas?” She slammed my head against the bedside table. My eyes were covered in blood, and I was in too much pain to fight back. Just when I thought she was going to continue assaulting me, she grabbed my hand and suddenly slapped herself with it. “What are you doing?!” Lucas’s angry shout came from the doorway. He pushed me away and, upon seeing the handprint on Evelyn’s face, he turned to glare at me fiercely. “Is this how you show you can’t accept Evelyn?” “At first, I really thought you had changed and become sensible. I didn’t expect you to pull these tricks behind my back.” “How many times do I have to explain to you that Evelyn and I are just friends? Can you stop being so paranoid?” My face was covered in tears and blood. Faced with his fury, every muscle in my body tensed up. Evelyn fell weakly into Lucas’s arms. “Lucas, don’t blame Aria. This is all my fault.” “I shouldn’t have come here to bother her… I’ll leave right now if it means you two can make up!” Evelyn shot me a triumphant smile from Lucas’s arms. When I met Lucas’s angry eyes, my heart sank to the bottom. “I didn’t hit her…” “Enough!” Lucas slapped me to the ground. “You vicious woman, how dare you lie!” “I’ve been too lenient with you!” He dragged me up from the floor, ignoring my bleeding forehead, and locked me in the stairwell. “Stay in there and reflect on what you’ve done wrong. I’ll let you out when you’ve figured it out!” The stairwell was dark and cramped, without a hint of light. I have claustrophobia and am terrified of being alone in enclosed, dark spaces. But even though I shouted until my throat was raw and scratched the door until my fingers bled, Lucas showed no signs of softening. After what seemed like an eternity, the housekeeper finally opened the door from the outside. She threw a bag at my head. “Mr. Graham has taken Miss Rose to a gala. The temperature’s dropping tonight, and he’s worried Miss Rose might catch cold. He wants you to bring this coat to her.” I opened the bag. The coat was a limited edition from last month’s Paris Fashion Week. Just one of its cufflinks was worth over a million dollars. “Alright.” I took the bag and went back to my room to get my packed suitcase and documents. Then I went to the study to find the file Evelyn had mentioned, copying all its contents. As I passed the housekeeper on my way downstairs, I said quietly, “When Lucas returns, tell him I’ve left him a big surprise in the study.” Then, without looking back, I took a taxi straight to the airport. Only when I was seated on the plane did I dare to let out the frustration I had been holding in my heart. Three years. It was time to end this dysfunctional love. At the gala, Lucas waited for over an hour but didn’t see me. He called me countless times, but every call went straight to voicemail. He drove home and frantically questioned the housekeeper. “Where did my wife go?” “Did she act strange before she left?” Scared by Lucas’s behavior, the housekeeper answered truthfully. “Mrs. Graham went to your study before she left.” “She also said… she left you a gift.”

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On my wedding day, Dominic’s childhood sweetheart, Rosalie, left a suicide note and disappeared into the vast ocean. She didn’t blame Dominic for forgetting his childhood promise; she only blamed herself for being too fragile to accept my existence. Every winter night, I was forced to kneel in the swimming pool, apologizing to her. When my dress was soaked with blood, Dominic grabbed my neck, his face full of malice: “Rosalie lost her life. What right do you have to nurture a new life?” Later, Rosalie returned from studying abroad, claiming it was all a joke. For the first time, Dominic felt remorse: “Let’s reconcile.” “Let’s have a child again. I’ll be a good father and husband, okay?” But he forgot that some wounds can never heal. The study door was wide open. I could see Dominic holding a woman in his arms. It was his secretary, Vanessa. “What are you dawdling for? Bring it over!” I obeyed mechanically. I was afraid that if he got angry, he would punish me again. Vanessa took the water, but her hand slipped. The sound of breaking glass rang out, and she covered her mouth with a light laugh: “It’s so hot!” “Mr. Foster is so unlucky to have married a wife who can’t even handle a glass of water properly.” I turned away, swallowing the bitterness in my heart, not wanting to see their intimate moment any longer. But Dominic wouldn’t let me off: “Pick it up. What if Vanessa accidentally cuts herself?” “Do you want to hurt another person?” I crouched down, and from above came the sound of passionate entanglement. Dominic said playfully: “Isn’t it more exciting with her here?” My vision blurred involuntarily as I quickened my movements, stumbling out of the room. The thin door couldn’t block out their increasingly intense gasps. I slumped against the wall, desperately covering my ears, only to find a warm liquid flowing from my palm. I stared at the wound, a wave of despair washing over me. Every day that Dominic took his revenge, I clung to my love for him, trying to repair this relationship. But now, it seemed pointless. Perhaps from the day Rosalie died, all he had left for me was hatred. In the middle of the night, someone took my hand. The ointment dissolved the dried blood, and the faint sting woke me up. Dominic’s face was expressionless: “I didn’t sleep with her.” “What do I have to do for you to apologize to Rosalie?” I didn’t understand. It was he who failed to keep his childhood promise. Why should I bear the consequences? If I had known about this stubborn emotion earlier, I would never have chosen this marriage. Exhausted, I no longer wanted to participate in this one-sided farce: “Then let’s get a divorce.” “I’ll do as you wish and apologize at her gravestone.” A strong sense of suffocation came from my neck, and I couldn’t help but cough. Dominic warned me: “Don’t play tricks. We both have to pay for this life.” “Don’t think I’ll soften just because you mention divorce.” I fell heavily into the bed, my heart feeling like it had fallen from a great height, no longer moved.

I never thought that the marriage I had looked forward to would be so heavy, so heavy that I could barely breathe. Back then, Dominic was nothing like the cold and cruel person he is now. He had loving parents and close friends. When he was with me, he showed me healthy affection. When I sprained my ankle during a competition and felt embarrassed, he massaged my injury every day, telling me: “It’s no big deal to lose one competition. You’ll win the next one.” When I won a scholarship but was rumored to have received sympathy points from the teacher, I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror. It was Dominic who rushed in and punched that person, scolding them: “You’re stupid and brainless. What can you do besides being jealous of girls who are better than you?” I wanted to build a career and carefully craft my personal brand. But I was afraid that I didn’t have the ability, that it would all be for nothing. Dominic interrupted all my hesitant and weak thoughts, so I gathered the courage to invest all the money I had saved over the years. Perhaps when you meet the right person, your luck changes for the better. My life took a turn for the better. But everything came to a halt on our wedding day. The girl who was like a sister to him left a suicide note and jumped into the sea. She hated me for stealing the man she loved, mercilessly crushing her girlhood dreams. Dominic changed so quickly, so fast that before I could react, I became the culprit in Rosalie’s death. As long as her body wasn’t found, I would have to suffer one more day. Three years have passed, and I still can’t understand. If there was a possibility between them, how could I have appeared? Dominic’s pursuit of me was so grand and open, and she never appeared once. Even on the day we met the parents, she smiled happily. So when she jumped into the sea, I was confused and bewildered. When Dominic looked at me with hatred, my first thought was, why does he hate me? Perhaps humans are such strange creatures that to make themselves feel better, they have to find excuses to blame others. The love Dominic gave me was like a painkiller, soothing all my wounds. I could overlook his cold indifference. I could overlook the child I lost in the cold water. I thought, life is so long, there would always be another chance. Even when he burned all the baby clothes I had knitted, I could find an excuse. He was just too grief-stricken, suddenly losing a loved one, and needed time to recover. The only thing I couldn’t tolerate was him being intimate with another woman. Even if it was to force me to bow my head and admit my mistakes. After all, once tainted, it’s tainted forever. I withdrew from my thoughts, staring at the well-bandaged wound on my palm, admiring Dominic’s ruthlessness. A dull knife cuts the deepest. Fortunately, I’ve finally given up hope.

I asked a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement, but Dominic did nothing except warn me to behave. I found some peace, thinking that as long as he stayed away, I might still have a chance at having a child. It seemed like fate was against me. On Rosalie’s birthday, he vented his anger on me again. In the freezing weather, I was forced to kneel in the center of the banquet hall. Rosalie’s parents stared at me, wishing they could tear me to pieces. All kinds of unbearable curses poured in. I was powerless to fight back, only able to keep my head down and maintain the kneeling position, hoping time would pass quickly. Dominic questioned me furiously: “Is a human life so worthless in your eyes? You’re not even willing to sincerely apologize?” “She was my sister! How could you become like this!” A person’s self-esteem is always inexplicably fragile. At that moment of his questioning, I truly felt betrayed by the whole world. I didn’t understand: “How many times did I even meet her? How could I have such power to harm her?” “Who was it that didn’t notice her obsession, or perhaps knew but ignored it?” “Who really killed her? Don’t you know?” “I just want a divorce! Is trading a divorce for an apology so difficult for you?” “Or is the title of your sister so cheap? Cheap enough to die for?” His eyes turned red, and he raised his hand high, about to bring it down, but stopped. The bodyguards picked me up and walked towards the outdoor pool. It was the same familiar routine, I was tired of it even if he wasn’t. But today was different. Years of accumulated cold had taken their toll, and I couldn’t bear even a bit of coldness. My pneumonia came and went, and I couldn’t save my own body, but at least I wanted to protect this only possible child that might live. If weakness could exchange for her life, I was willing to bow my head. Dominic acted unusually: “Amelia, people always have to pay the price for what they’ve said and done.” As soon as I touched the bone-chilling water, I couldn’t stop shaking. My head became dizzy, and I crawled forward, wanting to kowtow and apologize to save myself, but was dragged back into the pool where half my body was submerged. “Dominic! What are you doing?” A coquettish female voice rang out, and I froze in place. Rosalie, who had died three years ago, wearing a white gown, walked down the stairs step by step towards Dominic. “I barely survived, nursed myself back to health, why have I become a dead person in Dominic’s words?”

The Winters family’s faces simultaneously flashed with guilt. I seemed to catch onto something. She smiled as she walked towards Dominic, throwing herself into his arms: “Dominic, I floated in the sea for a day and a night back then, was rescued, but fell seriously ill.” “It’s been three years, I’ve finally recovered and can come back to see you!” “Why aren’t you smiling? Aren’t you happy that I’m back?” Dominic stood stiffly as Rosalie pulled him close, chatting about old times and family matters. There wasn’t a trace of a smile on his face, and his stare made everyone feel cold. Rosalie’s gaze shifted to me, and she shrank into Dominic’s arms: “Who is that ghost? She’s so scary!” Indeed, soaking wet, with hair clinging to my face, from a distance of over ten meters, didn’t I look like a vengeful spirit crawling up from the underworld to claim a life? The warm blood beneath me dyed the water red, and I finally realized. I had no family left… I was finally dragged ashore and thrown into a dry room. There were no change of clothes in the room, so I could only wrap myself in a blanket to draw what little warmth I could. The thunderous joy from downstairs seemed to draw a period to this thoroughly ridiculous farce. My torment should have ended too. But Rosalie wasn’t willing to let it go. In her eyes, the three years of companionship was a thorn deeply embedded in her bone. She despised my disheveled state, standing at the door to gloat: “Sister, I’m so sorry.” “Dominic was so happy to see me back that he even forgot about you.” “It seems he does have me in his heart, he only married you out of youthful ignorance.” “Faking my death was such a good idea, it not only made Dominic hate you but also made him realize his feelings for me.” I pinched my palm hard to keep myself clear-headed: “What did you say? Fake death?” “Do you know that your foolish prank killed my child! It tortured me for three years!” “Who told you to compete with me? The lesson had to be deep enough to make you never dare to touch him again, even unto death.” She was completely indifferent: “It was just a joke, I didn’t take your life!” “But Dominic and I were separated for three whole years!” As she turned, she met the man’s gloomy and violent gaze. The usually willful and spoiled young lady suddenly became a bit timid: “Dominic, I… I didn’t mean to deceive you. Why are you so angry?” “We’ve known each other for over twenty years, can’t I even play a joke?” Listening to her cautious yet righteous tone, I wanted to curse. As I opened my mouth, an intense itch and pain came from my chest, and I uncontrollably coughed up a pool of blood. For the first time, Dominic panicked, stumbling towards me. “Amelia, why are you coughing blood?” He held me tight, only to find that my body was ice-cold. As he lifted the thin, soaked blanket, a shocking pool of blood was revealed on the floor. “Why is there so much blood? Amelia, what’s going on? Don’t scare me!”

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After Finding My Billionaire Parents, My Fiancée Deliberately Caused a Car Accident to Steal My Family Heirloom Pendant She sent her male secretary to meet my parents instead. When I begged for her help with a steel bar piercing my thigh, she was busy comforting her shocked male secretary. Before leaving, she smashed my phone and said coldly, “You’ve enjoyed the benefits for so many years. Let Lucas have the pendant now.” Later, I was rescued by a kind passerby. I lay unconscious in the hospital bed with no one visiting. When I woke up, I saw my fiancée and her male secretary sharing a passionate kiss, supposedly for a fundraising project. The caption read: “No matter how many times, my heart will always lean towards you.” My heart finally died. I dialed my billionaire mother’s number. “Mom, cancel the grand wedding.” “Ethan, why cancel so suddenly? Did something happen?” The elegant woman’s voice on the other end of the line was filled with worry. I didn’t want to trouble this mother who had only found her biological son when she was nearly fifty. After making up an excuse, I hung up the phone. The next second, Olivia pushed open the door, reeking of alcohol. Her eyes were unfocused, and her silk shirt was wrinkled in several places. Seeing me sitting on the sofa, her brows immediately furrowed. “Where have you been messing around for the past two weeks? Your phone was off. I thought you might have died somewhere.” Her tone was accusatory. She asked as if it was perfectly natural, seemingly forgetting that she was the one who left me on the road after the accident and smashed my phone. When she didn’t get an answer from me, Olivia clearly became impatient. She irritably loosened the silk scarf around her neck and walked towards the bedroom. A cluster of hickeys suddenly appeared in my line of sight. I didn’t know if it was the alcohol or if she simply didn’t care about my feelings. She made no attempt to hide them. Even at this point, my heart still ached dully like it was being cut by a knife. During the two weeks I spent recovering in the hospital, I might as well have been a living corpse. I had multiple fractures, and the steel bar that pierced my thigh put me at risk of amputation. But even so, I had hoped she would come to see me just once, even if only for a fleeting moment. I would have made excuses for her as I had always done before. And then continued to love her despite the pain. But when I got my new phone, I saw this woman I had loved for eight years publicly embracing and kissing her male secretary, smiling shyly and charmingly. The cheers of the crowd seemed to cast a filter of happiness around them. Suppressing the bitterness rising in my throat, I took off the plain ring on my index finger and placed it on the table. Olivia came out after her shower and saw this scene. Her face darkened, and she quickly walked over, using all her strength to slap me across the face. The force was heavy, and half of my face almost instantly swelled and went numb. “Who told you to take it off? Have you forgotten what I said?” she demanded. I met those angry eyes and spoke hoarsely: “How could I forget?” “Take off the ring, the vow is void, we’re over.”

Olivia looked at me in disbelief. “Who are you to say it’s over? If it weren’t for me, you’d still be living on the streets!” My gaze fell on the hickeys on her neck as I spoke calmly: “Where were you during the time I was in the hospital?” “Were you busy impersonating me to meet my parents, or were you fooling around in bed with Lucas?” Hearing my words, she realized what I meant and thought I was jealous. She immediately relaxed and approached me with a coquettish tone. “Lucas told me you only had minor injuries. You’re almost thirty and still lying to make me jealous?” Then, as if remembering something, her voice softened considerably: “Lucas has suffered a lot since childhood. He needs that identity more than you do.” “Besides, he promised me that after meeting your parents, countless business opportunities would pour into the company.” “We’re about to get married anyway, so why not give this chance to someone who needs it more?” I pushed away her body as she tried to get closer. I didn’t know how much Lucas had suffered. But over the years, in my search for my parents, I had been driven out of the orphanage, ended up on the streets fighting with stray dogs for food. I was almost kidnapped for a meal. Olivia knew all of this. Yet for Lucas’s sake, she casually asked me to give up the parents I had just found. “Why should I give it up? They’re my parents. You know how many years I’ve been looking for them.” Olivia was silent for a moment, then suddenly sneered: “What can you do if you don’t want to? I’ve already taken the pendant that could prove your identity.” “Even if you speak up, who would believe you?” As soon as she finished speaking, her phone rang. I glanced at it; the contact name was a heart emoji. Olivia awkwardly hid her phone behind her back and said: “This matter is already settled. Don’t do anything unnecessary.” “Do I need to remind you of your place?” I heard such belittling words from her almost every day. As her footsteps gradually faded away, she answered the call. I heard an intimate male voice from the other end of the phone. “Babe, I didn’t make you uncomfortable earlier, did I? It’s all your fault for being so seductive today, I couldn’t help myself.” Followed by Olivia’s embarrassed response: “Stop teasing, I’m at home.” Bitterness welled up in my heart. I lowered my eyes to look at the plain ring on the table and muttered to myself: “I had already met them privately.” “I was originally planning to introduce you to them as my fiancée this time.”

Before Lucas appeared, my life with Olivia could be considered happy and ordinary. She was often dizzy with work at the company. When she came home, I would prepare a hot bath for her and timely offer her a cup of hangover tea. When did cracks start to appear in this life? Probably on Lucas’s first day at the company. I received a friend request on SnapChat. After adding him, he didn’t say a word. But his SnapChat stories were frequently updated with his daily life at the company with Olivia. “The boss worked overtime today, giving her a foot massage.” “Accidentally brushed against her lips today, so sweet.” “She really seems to like my scent, even the buttons on my shirt were torn off.” “Babe blushed, so cute.” This clearly exceeded the distance that should exist between a boss and a subordinate. I could feel that he was showing off to me, but I still chose to trust Olivia. Until that day, when I brought soup to the company and he poured it out in front of me, replacing it with a glass of high-proof liquor. From the corner, I watched Olivia drink it without hesitation. At three in the morning, I received a photo from Lucas of the two of them cheek to cheek. “She’s so beautiful tonight.” “Are you still waiting for her to come home?”

That night, I didn’t sleep a wink. Tears that I hadn’t shed even when I was bullied and beaten at the orphanage soaked my pillow that night. My thoughts returned to the present. It started raining heavily outside, and the damp air made the wound on my thigh ache dully. I propped myself up and walked into the guest room to pack my clothes. Olivia was a light sleeper. To let her sleep well, I had been staying in the guest room almost every day, rarely disturbing her. Halfway through packing, a photo fell to the ground. It was our first photo together at eighteen. I picked it up and looked at it for a long time, then tore it in half and threw it in the trash. Come to think of it, I hadn’t received much kindness over the years. That’s why I had made Olivia my emotional support. I had been wandering since childhood, struggling alone in society for many years. While washing dishes in a kitchen, I happened to encounter Olivia, who was almost abducted. Her parents had fled abroad with her brother to avoid debts due to failed business investments. They left her alone to face the creditors. I initially wanted to ignore it, but she looked so pitiful crying. I couldn’t bring myself to abandon her, so I grabbed an iron shovel nearby and confronted the thugs. My reckless behavior scared off those debt-collecting hooligans. When I came to my senses, my eyes were already covered with warm blood. Eighteen-year-old Olivia, wearing a white dress, hugged me, trembling and begging me not to die. She cried beautifully, stirring the long-dried softness in my heart. I used all the money I had saved over the years to support her through college. I switched to working at construction sites, doing the hardest and most tiring jobs. I thought that if I had Olivia for the rest of my life, it wouldn’t matter if I couldn’t find my parents. Later, she graduated smoothly and joined a financial company. In less than three years, she became a big name in the industry and established her own studio. I hid outside her company building, the dust on my body making me afraid to approach that moonlight. But in front of everyone, she flew into my arms like a butterfly. I just never expected that under the influence of power and money, even the high-hanging moon would become dim. I never questioned true love, but true love can change in an instant. Fortunately, it was only eight years. I could afford to lose.

I bought a ticket on my phone for a flight to the capital city the next day. After packing my things, I reached out to knock on Olivia’s door, but heard mixed male and female voices flirting inside. The door was slightly ajar, as if it hadn’t been closed properly. Olivia had her phone on speaker and was applying body lotion to her legs. The conversation inside reached my ears word for word. Lucas’s voice came through, whining and coaxing: “Olivia, can we be together after I meet your parents? Ethan doesn’t deserve you at all.” “You’ve already repaid what you owed him long ago. Didn’t you tell me you don’t love him anymore?” Olivia’s hand paused as she was applying the lotion, her voice turning cold: “Lucas, I can give you anything you want.” “Except for this.” “I don’t love Ethan, but I still have a responsibility to him.” Then she softened her voice again, coaxing the man: “I’ve given you everything. What else are you unsatisfied with? Being too greedy isn’t a good thing.” “But Olivia, do you really want me to be the other man?” A smile appeared on Olivia’s face, her voice lazy and drawling. “How could you be the other man?” “The one who isn’t loved is the other man.” I closed the door and turned to leave. Laughing at myself for the thought of saying goodbye just now.

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The day after my miscarriage, Lucas Reed’s charity auction was trending on social media. Facing the cameras, the tech billionaire gazed lovingly into the lens, “This piece of jewelry represents only a fraction of my love for my wife.” “My wife is my everything.” Fans quickly dug up stories about Lucas Reed and his wife Aria: “He left a board meeting just to bring his wife some lobster mac and cheese.” “He bought the Moonlight Lake Resort, the most scenic spot in the city, just for his wife to enjoy alone.” … The internet was in a frenzy, and Lucas Reed was crowned the king of true love. Our relationship was dubbed a fairy tale romance by netizens. I watched the video several times, only to end up laughing bitterly at myself. If I hadn’t received that text message, I wouldn’t have seen Lucas embracing another woman, calling her “wife” affectionately. And that woman had a swollen belly. I wouldn’t have lost my own child. I don’t want this rotten marriage anymore. Looking at the medical report in my hand, I called Lily, the wish-fulfillment streamer. “Hello, I want to record four videos as my last words. Name your price.”

For the first episode, “Love Has Rusted,” I took Lily to the orphanage where Lucas and I first met. I was an orphan, but I was gifted academically and quite attractive. I always had many suitors. Knowing the games rich people play, I focused solely on my studies, wanting to carve out my own path through hard work. Lucas was different from the others. He volunteered at the orphanage every week, buying treats for the children. The kids affectionately called him “Brother Lucas.” During his free time, he would ask me for help with his studies, always polite and never mentioning his feelings. When I fell ill, he would bring medicine in the middle of the night. He spent a fortune hiring Ivy League tutors for himself and invited me along, claiming he felt lonely studying alone. When I broke my leg, Lucas insisted on carrying me to school on his back to ensure I didn’t miss any classes. He climbed 108 steps every day for 120 days. On the day of our final exams, Lucas knelt down with a bouquet of flowers, “Aria, will you be my girlfriend? Let’s create a beautiful future together.” My heart finally melted, overwhelmed with happiness. Shallow love is common, but a connection of souls is rare. I became the top scorer in that year’s exams and was admitted to the Electronic Science and Technology program. Lucas enrolled in Business Administration at Stanford, not far from my university. After we got together, our love didn’t diminish; if anything, it grew stronger. If I hadn’t discovered Lucas’s secret family two days ago, I should have been the happiest woman alive. It’s just as they say, “Those who fall in love quickly are the first to grow cold, while those who fall slowly are still warming up.” Lily filmed me playing with the children, She captured the ancient tree carved with our names. Then I took Lily to the secret hideout Lucas and I shared. I carefully dug up the love lock we had buried, looked calmly at the camera, and said, “Lucas, the lock is rusty now. Do you think our love has rusted too?” “If it has, please tell me, okay?” “I love you, but I don’t want to live in a lie.”

For the second episode, “Who Broke the Wedding Vows,” I took Lily to Moonlight Lake Resort. This was where Lucas and I got married. Back then, Lucas wasn’t a billionaire yet, but he still rented out the entire resort. That day, Lucas put the ring on my finger with tears in his eyes, lifted my veil, and solemnly promised, “Aria, I will love you with my life for the rest of our days. Even if I’m no longer alive, my soul will always protect you.” “I will never betray you, never leave you.” Looking at the ring on my finger, tears rolled down my cheeks. From that moment, I was no longer homeless. “Lucas, I will strive to be the best Mrs. Reed. In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, I will never betray you, never leave you.” Lily looked admiringly at the picturesque venue, “Aria, your husband treats you so well. No wonder netizens call your relationship a fairy tale romance.” She sighed, “In today’s society, how many people can stay true to their first love? You’ve made so many people believe in love again.” I smiled lightly and walked solemnly down the red carpet, “Lily, make me look beautiful. I want your brother-in-law to remember how stunning I was back then.” The altar from our wedding was still there. I slowly stepped onto it, faced the camera, raised my hand, and vowed, “Lucas, I will strive to be the best Mrs. Reed. In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, I will never betray you, never leave you.” “Lucas, I love you, my vow is eternal.” “Lucas, is your vow still there?”

For the third episode, “Witnessing Your Betrayal,” I took Lily to the central garden. Sitting under a tree, we watched a petite young woman with a protruding belly taking a stroll in the distance. Lily’s expression had already changed. She cried, “Aria, I just started believing in love. Why are all men so fickle?” “Aria, you’re so pitiful. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your video goes viral so everyone can see what a scumbag he is.” I forced a smile on my pale face and patted her hand to comfort her, “He loved me once, maybe he still does. We had sweet moments, isn’t that good enough?” “Love isn’t something you beg for. If someone doesn’t love you anymore, you should love yourself.” Swallowing my bitterness, I smiled and walked towards the young woman, “Hello, beautiful. We’re doing street interviews. We’d like to test how much your husband loves you. Of course, we have a great gift for you.” The young woman scoffed, “My husband absolutely adores me. See that house? He bought it for me.” She showed us her phone, “See this huge children’s playground? It’s a gift from my husband for me and our son. He says we’ll always be his treasures.” I stared at the children’s playground with a heavy heart. Lucas once told me that if we had a child, he’d buy the best playground for us, so we could always be his happy treasures. It turns out he had already given my promises to someone else. Perhaps my child sensed the falseness of his father’s love and didn’t want to come into this family. I immediately took out a bracelet, “If you can get your husband to come here right now, we’ll believe your husband loves you 100%, and we’ll give you this bracelet. We’ll also promote you as the ultimate couple goals.” The woman’s eyes lit up, greedily eyeing the bracelet. This was a Valentine’s Day gift from Lucas, worth over $200,000, with our initials engraved on it. I seized the opportunity to put the bracelet on her wrist, flattering her, “Beautiful, our views depend on you now.” The young woman proudly took out her phone and spoke in a sweet voice, “Honey, I want to eat the lobster mac and cheese from Fifth Avenue. Can you go buy it for me?” I don’t know what the other person said, but the young woman pouted and continued to whine, “No, I want it now. I want you to go buy it now. Why can’t you leave the meeting?” A chuckle came from the other end, and the young woman put it on speakerphone, “You clingy little thing, if you miss me, just say so. I’ll be there in five minutes.” The young woman blew a kiss into the phone, “Love you, honey.” She hung up and said proudly, “See? With just one word from me, my husband will drop everything and come running.” “He even left his meeting. Isn’t that proof enough?” I sneered. So the man who once loved me to death now loves someone else just as much. The wind blew, making me squint. Tears seemed to well up, and I hurriedly wiped them away, but the more I wiped, the more they came. This damned wind, always stirring up emotions. Five minutes later, Lucas came jogging over, carrying a takeout box. The young woman immediately smiled and threw herself into his arms, tilting her head up for a kiss. Lucas’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he lowered his head and captured her luscious lips. They began to kiss passionately, oblivious to their surroundings. I watched this fiery scene from a distance. Even though I already knew the truth, I couldn’t help but imagine for a moment. But seeing it in person made me realize how much it hurt, like a knife twisting in my heart. It was as if every nerve was trembling, my chest tight with held breath, tears streaming uncontrollably. The young woman’s arms were around Lucas’s neck. If he had glanced away for even a second, he would have seen the bracelet with our initials clearly engraved. But he was kissing her so earnestly, so passionately, so lost in the moment. I still remember our wedding night when Lucas excitedly held me, gently kissing my forehead, eyes, and nose. With tears in his eyes, he whispered in my ear over and over, “Aria, you’re finally mine, and I will always be yours alone.” “I love you, and I will love only you for the rest of my life.” Back then, I truly thanked the heavens for blessing me with such a wonderful person who loved me so much. But now, he had long forgotten his vows. He had made new promises to someone else. After their prolonged kiss, the young woman tugged on Lucas’s tie and whispered something in his ear. Lucas immediately scooped her up and headed towards the stairs. As they entered, the young woman turned back and waved at me, the bracelet dangling from her arm. Lily silently put away her phone, “Aria, if you’re sad, just cry it out. You’ll feel better if you let it out.” I touched my face and realized it was already wet with tears. No matter how much I had prepared myself not to be sad, the tears still came.

For the fourth episode, “Never to Meet Again,” Lily and I sat on the couch. I took out my medical report. When Lily saw the words “late-stage acute leukemia,” she burst into tears. “Aria, let’s not film anymore. I don’t want the money. Please go get treatment, okay? If your husband won’t go with you, I’ll go with you.” The young girl cried so hard that the camera drifted away. I had to steady the phone and face the camera myself. “Stop crying, your nose is running. If this video goes viral, you’ll definitely become a meme.” Lily finally stopped crying and said chokingly, “Aria, if you have any wishes, tell me. I’ll make sure to fulfill them for you.” I smiled lightly at the camera, “Lucas, by the time you see this video, I’ll be resting eternally in the snow-capped mountains.” I frowned, thinking quietly for a moment, “Which do you think is better, the Swiss Alps or the Rocky Mountains? You said you’d take me to see snow-capped mountains, but I guess that’s not possible in this lifetime.” “Lucas, don’t come looking for me. Let me rest peacefully in the mountains. I don’t want to be in a cemetery. I’m afraid all the neighboring graves will have visitors, but mine won’t. Even as a ghost, I’d be embarrassed.” I muttered softly, “I’m more afraid that you’ll bring your new love to see me, or even your children with her. That would remind me of our child.” I sat up straight and smiled, “Lucas, it’s time to say goodbye.” “No, not goodbye. We’ll never meet again.” I inserted a few video clips captured by a private investigator, In a private room at a bar, Lucas and his best friends were each holding a beautiful woman, playing truth or dare. The bottle landed on Lucas. His friends jeered, “Who’s better in bed, Aria or your new girl?” Lucas smirked, pressing down on the girl beside him and biting her hard, “Of course it’s my new girl. She’s mind-blowing, exciting.” “Aria’s like a dead fish.” The atmosphere grew more intense, “Who was your last time with?” “Of course, with my new girl. In the car, it was hot and intense.” “Hahaha…” I was familiar with that private room, but I had left early. I didn’t expect the lead role to change in just a moment. I played another video from before, “Come on, who told you to call these questionable women? Besides your sister-in-law, who else could I possibly be interested in?” Someone lit a cigarette, and Lucas immediately put it out, “My wife doesn’t like the smell of smoke.” Someone opened a bottle of wine, and Lucas threw it away, “My wife doesn’t like me drinking.” Someone turned up the music, and Lucas immediately lowered the volume, “My wife doesn’t like it too loud.” At that moment, Lucas had already peeled and cut the perfect fruit and was handing it to me, “Honey, eat more fruit. It’s good for your skin.” … At the end of the video, Lily was crying so hard her nose was bubbling, but she still held up my diagnosis notice to summarize the video. After finishing the video, I sent Lily away, telling her to release the video a month later. I also asked her to send a copy directly to Lucas. I spent half a day donating all the things Lucas had bought for me to charity foundations. I had the cleaners take down our wedding photos, and packed all my toothbrushes, towels, clothes, teacups, and other belongings into black garbage bags. In less than three hours, the house was completely cleared out. I picked up my bag, gently closed the door, and headed to the airport. A month later, Lucas was watching the news when suddenly a viral wish-fulfillment livestream popped up. It had over a million followers. Lucas casually clicked on it, and his heart suddenly jolted. He stared wide-eyed at Aria, the subject of the wish video. A month ago, hadn’t she gone to their secret base for research? Today was exactly one month, and he had specially prepared a grand fireworks display to celebrate her successful return. Lucas’s heart began to race. He quickly clicked on the first video.

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