They say dreams from deceased loved ones can shield you from harm. After my mom passed away, I dreamt of her three times. The first time, she silently blocked me in my dream, refusing to let me go to work. The next day, I spiked a high fever and couldn’t go in. It was a twisted blessing in disguise; I dodged the massive fire at my company building. The second time, Mom visited my dream again, stopping me from moving into the neighboring complex. A week later, the arsonist was apprehended in that very complex. Each time Mom appeared, her form grew a little more translucent. Eventually, she stopped appearing in my dreams altogether. Until ten years later, when I found a baby in a trash pile downstairs and brought him home. That night, my almost transparent mom suddenly burst into my dream, her face contorted in pure terror. She shook me frantically, screaming with all her fading strength: “Alex, wake up!!” “Run!!!!” I gasped, clutching the duvet, my body slick with sweat, a thick layer of beads on my forehead. My wife, Chloe, stirred awake by my movements. Her voice was soft, sleepy. “What’s wrong, honey? Bad dream?” I’d dreamt of my deceased mom again. The last time I’d seen her in my dreams was ten years ago. She hadn’t visited me for an entire decade. Back in my hometown, there was an old belief that a relative’s spirit, visiting in a dream, could ward off disaster. I didn’t used to believe it, not until I dreamt of my mom twice in a row. The first time was right after I returned from studying abroad and had just started my new job. In the dream, she silently blocked me, locked my bedroom door, hid my car keys, trying every way possible to stop me from going to work. “Mom, stop messing around. I’ll be late tomorrow.” But Mom shook her head. Unlike her usual self, she was adamant, refusing to let me go to the office. I woke up with my head pounding, splitting open, my whole body burning hot. The next day, my body stubbornly gave in to a high fever. I had to go to the hospital for an IV drip, so I called Mr. Harrison, my supervisor, to ask for time off. “I’m sorry, Mr. Harrison, I think I caught a cold last night. I’m running a 102° fever.” Mr. Harrison’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Alex, taking a day off on your very first day? Your attitude… seriously?” I humbly begged for the day off, then slammed the phone down in frustration. As I lay there alone in the hospital, getting my IV drip, I thought about that bizarre dream from last night, and that strange old legend from my village when I was a kid. *Dreams from deceased loved ones can ward off disaster.* Even though my mom had left me a substantial inheritance, she never wanted me to be a slacker, living an aimless life. I knew she wanted me to find work I truly loved. Why would Mom try so hard to stop me from working in that dream? After my IV drip finished at noon, my heart felt heavy. At the subway station, I saw the train heading towards my company building, but I turned and boarded the one going in the opposite direction. I quietly reassured myself, “Well, I’ve already asked for the day off. What’s another half-day?” I murmured, “What if the legend is true?” That evening, as I was having hot pot alone at home, a news alert popped up on my phone, making my eyes widen in shock. “Massive Fire at Financial Tower in City A: Hundreds of Casualties.” The burning building, spewing black smoke, was my company’s office. The fire had just been extinguished. And the fire started on *my* floor. Currently, no one on that floor had survived! I immediately opened SnapChat to call Sarah, another new hire like me, but there was no answer. I went back to SnapChat and messaged Mr. Harrison: “Sarcastic much? I’ve got money to burn, old man! I quit!” Half an hour passed, no reply. A cold sweat instantly broke out on my back, and my hair stood on end. My colleagues were all dead in that fire! That meant if I had gone to work today, I’d probably be burned to ashes right now!

Suddenly, Mom’s dream from last night and that strange village legend swirled in my mind like a kaleidoscope. I looked at a photo on my phone, one where I was hugging Mom. I understood then: Mom had given me a second chance at life. Later, I found a new job I loved, but that day’s events left a deep scar on my heart. My new job was in design, which I loved, but I was lacking inspiration. So, I decided to move to a nice new townhouse. The complex next door was newly developed, and the prices were incredibly good. The night before I was supposed to move in, after signing the contract and finishing the renovations, Mom appeared in my dream again. In the dream, her figure was far more translucent. She looked furious, scolding me. “Alex, why are you wasting money on another house? Buying this house now is a foolish choice!” “How many times have I told you not to waste money? Isn’t that penthouse apartment I left you big enough?!” In the dream, her face was grim, her voice sharp as she pointed her finger at me. “Cancel the contract immediately! We’re not taking this townhouse!” This was a side of Mom I’d never seen. Growing up, she’d always doted on me, supported me, and provided everything I could ever want. She even said she’d disown me if I insisted on moving into the new house. I was heartbroken in the dream, waking up with tears still in the corners of my eyes. Day broke, and the moving truck I’d hired was almost here, but the dream from earlier made me hesitate. Remembering the previous dream, my palms grew sweaty. Was something else about to happen? I put my moving plans on hold and didn’t move into the new complex. A week later, the arsonist was finally caught in the neighboring complex. He was a madman seeking revenge on society, specifically targeting wealthy neighborhoods for arson and murder. This time, he had set fire to a townhouse belonging to a wealthy expat doctor living alone. The man was eventually rescued but suffered extensive burns and disfigurement. He was a trust fund kid, but no amount of money could truly compensate for the damage he’d endured. I read the news, my heart unable to calm down. The victim’s townhouse was right next to the one I’d bought. If I had moved in then… I probably would have been the victim today! Mom had saved me again. This incident solidified my belief in that old legend. I even made a special trip to the cemetery. “Mom, you’ve given me a third life.” I thought Mom would continue to protect me, but after that, she never appeared in my dreams again. Not even when I accidentally scalded my arm with boiling water, or when I broke my left leg in a car accident. Mom didn’t visit my dreams before any of those things. My faith started to waver again. Didn’t they say dreams from deceased loved ones could ward off disaster? Why wasn’t my mom sending me dreams anymore? Remembering how translucent Mom’s spirit had been the second time, I wondered: did sending these dreams cost Mom something? Until today, ten years later, when I brought a baby home, and Mom appeared in my dream once more. By now, she was almost completely transparent, but she was desperately trying to shake me awake, her expression more terrified than I’d ever seen. “Alex, wake up!!” Then, with all her fading strength, she screamed: “Run!” My wife, Chloe, poured me a glass of warm water, soothing me gently. The baby’s cries echoed from the other bedroom, but I shivered.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297192”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

I went to a clinic for breast reduction surgery, only to find the handsome doctor was the same guy I had a blind date with yesterday. Dr. Wyatt’s charming eyes twinkled, his voice deep and calm: “Please take off your top and unhook your bra.” My face burned as I underwent the examination, but then I couldn’t for the life of me hook my bra back up. Dr. Wyatt called for a nurse to help me. My brain completely short-circuited. I quickly refused, flustered: “No, it’s fine! You can just help me yourself!” The next second, Dr. Wyatt’s arms gently wrapped around me… Before I left for my blind date, my mom glared at my oversized, thick hoodie with pure disdain. “Can’t you ever bother to dress up a little? Do you really think he’ll want you looking like that?” She forced me into a slightly tighter top, then snatched my glasses off my face. “What are you doing with those glasses? What if he thinks you’re too bookish, or that you just don’t care about your appearance? What if he thinks you’re not *trying* to look good enough for him?” I habitually hunched my shoulders, mumbling defensively, “I can’t see without them.” My mom snorted. “Don’t try to fool me. That’s a mild prescription; you’re not blind! How could you not see the road?” “Are you deliberately trying to ruin this date?” “Let me tell you, this guy has amazing prospects. So many girls would kill to marry him. Don’t be so ungrateful.” I wanted to say I also had astigmatism and things looked blurry, but I just shut up. My mom’s decisions were set in stone. She only believed what she thought was right. My vision was blurry as I left the house, and because I couldn’t make out the numbers, I missed a bus. By the time I reached the downtown coffee shop, I was 10 minutes late for our appointment. I scurried into the coffee shop, squinting to find a man in a white shirt. By the window, a man in a white shirt looked up at me. It must be him, right? I hurried over, my face full of apologies. “I’m so sorry, I’m a little late.” The man seemed to freeze for a moment. “You are…?” “I’m Chloe.” “Chloe?” A smile appeared on his face, his voice sounding a little strange. “I’m… Wyatt.” His voice was deep and pleasant. Though his features were a bit blurry to me, I could tell he was good-looking. Tall and broad-shouldered. Fair-skinned with thick hair. He also had a pleasant woody cologne scent. I awkwardly lowered my gaze. My mom was right. Such a handsome blind date wouldn’t possibly be interested in just an average girl like me. Sure enough, a few minutes after I sat down, Wyatt took a call. “Excuse me, I have something to take care of. Can you wait for me here? I’ll be right back.” With that, he swiftly strode out of the coffee shop with his long legs. I let out a bitter laugh. His excuse was so lame. He probably just set an alarm to escape, right? And he didn’t even ask for my contact info. Clearly, he wasn’t interested. But I hadn’t really expected anything to come of it anyway. I knew I wasn’t good enough for him. My phone rang. It was my mom. As soon as I picked up, I was hit with a torrent of scolding. “Chloe, where did you go? The young man has been waiting for you for 20 minutes!” I quickly explained. “We just met. He wasn’t interested and he already left.” My mom’s voice grew even shriller. “What nonsense are you talking about? He just told me he’s still waiting for you and hasn’t seen a single sign of you!” My heart dropped. There were two coffee shops side by side here. In my haste, and with my blurry vision, I must have walked into the wrong one. So the guy I just met wasn’t my blind date?

After hanging up, I rushed to the coffee shop next door. There, I met my real blind date. He wore glasses, had a round face, and was a bit balding. He didn’t really look like a “young man.” I was so late, he was clearly annoyed. “We in the government sector are very strict about punctuality.” I quickly apologized. “I’m so sorry.” “It’s fine, I’ll forgive you this time. I’m quite the gentleman, you know.” I didn’t know what to say. This blind date was arranged by my mom. She said she was afraid I’d say the wrong thing and offend the guy. So she added him on SnapChat herself, chatted for a few days, and once she felt he was suitable, she pushed me out to meet him. My date pulled out his phone. “Let’s swap SnapChat info. Your mom told me all about you. I gotta say, I’m pretty happy with your appearance.” He then flashed a sleazy grin, teasing, “Your chest is huge, like a dairy cow’s. Our kids will never go hungry for milk!” As he spoke, he gestured with his hand, drawing a half-circle in the air. My face flushed crimson. “Are you out of your mind?!” Then I stormed out. Back home, I was met with my mom’s explosive fury. “Chloe, he said he was interested in you, and you just turned around and ran off! Are you trying to kill me?!” “You’re a woman over 25, almost 30! Do you even want to get married?!” I mustered my courage to retort, “That guy’s a creep! Who says someone’s chest is huge like a dairy cow’s the first time they meet them?!” I thought she’d understand. When I first started developing, she’d always told me that having a big chest was shameful for a girl and I should hide it. She’d warned me to stay away from boys who stared at my chest. So I’d gotten used to hunching my shoulders, wearing loose clothes, and trying to conceal my prominent chest. But my mom just scoffed. “He was just making a joke, and you’re overreacting! No wonder you don’t have any friends!” “Besides, a woman’s chest is for her husband and children! If you didn’t have that ‘asset,’ why would a decent guy from a stable government job even look at you?!” I was so angry I didn’t want to talk to her, so I just went back to my room. My mom kept yelling outside the door. “Chloe, your mom’s never wrong. Only your mom truly cares about you in this world!” “Women are only young for a few years! Stop being so picky! You’re no supermodel, and this guy is more than good enough for you…” Annoyed, I put on my headphones and started scrolling on my phone. I knew my mom loved me. But when it came to my relationships, she became completely unreasonable and spoke without thinking. She’d try to verbally force me to find a man and get married quickly. She’d strictly guard me in school, not even letting me talk to boys. But just a couple of years after graduation, she was demanding I go on blind dates and have children. Any old loser was a “good man” in her eyes. While I definitely wasn’t a supermodel, didn’t I deserve to marry a *normal* guy? I sighed. I accidentally clicked on an ad. Starlight Aesthetics Clinic. I was about to close it when four words caught my eye. [Breast Reduction Surgery…] I looked down at the two troublesome mounds on my chest. Memories flashed through my mind: classmates’ teasing in school, the blind date’s vulgar comments, and my own figure looking like a barrel in a sweatshirt… I was just an average girl, but these burdens always drew unwanted attention. It made me feel awkward and self-conscious, so much so that I rarely walked with my head held high. I hesitated for a moment, then dialed the consultation number.

The next day, Sunday, I made up an excuse to my mom and left the house. Coincidentally, Starlight Aesthetics Clinic was right across from the coffee shop where I had my blind date yesterday. Sitting in the consultation room, I felt a little nervous. The nurse who led me in poured me a glass of water. “Please wait a moment, ma’am. Dr. Wyatt will be in for your consultation shortly.” Perhaps seeing my tension, she tried to reassure me. “Dr. Wyatt is excellent! He guarantees beautiful results wherever you go!” Well, I don’t need *that*… just make them smaller. After waiting a bit longer, I heard footsteps outside the consultation room. A handsome guy, easily six feet one, walked in wearing a white lab coat. I was stunned. He looked incredibly handsome, making even a lab coat look like a designer trench coat. He paused when he saw me, a slight flicker of surprise in his eyes. I awkwardly stood up, my face heating up. It was the first time such a handsome man had stared at me, though his gaze was a little strange. “Dr. Wyatt, hello. I’m here to consult about… breast reduction surgery.” I said the last four words barely above a whisper. Dr. Wyatt snapped back to attention, a smile gracing his lips as he sat opposite me. I froze for a moment; his smile was truly captivating. If all my blind dates looked like him, that would be amazing. Dr. Wyatt first looked over the personal information the nurse had filled out for me, then asked: “Do you have a boyfriend?” “Huh?” I stared at him in surprise. “Does that have anything to do with the surgery?” Perhaps it was my imagination, but a hint of awkwardness flashed across Dr. Wyatt’s face. “Just casual conversation. Let’s see, your request is to reduce your cup size to an A?” I nodded, my voice a mosquito-like whisper. “No boyfriend. Yes, flat-chested would be best.” I was so envious of girls with smaller chests. Everything they wore looked so chic and sophisticated. Unlike me, I looked plump in too many clothes and trashy in too few. Dr. Wyatt looked thoughtful. “What’s your current cup size?” My face instantly flared crimson. “It might be… an E, I think… I’m not really sure…” My bras were all randomly bought online; the same size could be loose or tight. Dr. Wyatt’s charming eyes twinkled. “Would you mind if I took some measurements?” I felt myself flush from head to toe, unable to believe what I was hearing. “C-can I… have a female doctor instead?” Dr. Wyatt replied gently, “Breast reduction is a complex procedure, with high risks. If not done well, it can cause mammary gland damage. I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving it to anyone else.” I was startled. I mentally chanted, “It’s professional. It’s for my health,” and nodded in agreement. He stepped outside and called a nurse in. I secretly let out a sigh of relief. So it wasn’t just the two of us for the examination. Dr. Wyatt pulled back a curtain in the consultation room, gesturing for me to go inside. “There’s a camera there, but this area is out of its view.” My legs were trembling with nerves as I shuffled in, taking tiny steps. The nurse stayed outside the curtain and didn’t follow me in. A deep male voice resonated near my ear: “Please take off your top and unhook your bra.”

I closed my eyes and did as I was told. A sudden coolness spread across my chest. Dr. Wyatt held a stiff ruler and a soft measuring tape, moving them across my chest. My heart pounded like thunder, and I felt breathless. When he measured around, his fingers inevitably brushed against my skin. It felt like an electric shock, a current surging from my toes to my head. I awkwardly turned my head away. Out of the corner of my eye, though, I saw that Dr. Wyatt’s gaze was utterly focused and professional. Those few minutes felt like centuries. Finally, Dr. Wyatt spoke. “You can put your clothes back on now.” I fumbled to put my clothes on, but I just couldn’t hook my bra. Dr. Wyatt, turned to the side, tidying up his instruments. He hesitated, then asked, “Do you need the nurse to help you?” I quickly shook my head. “N-no… no, it’s fine. You can just help me yourself.” The moment the words left my lips, I saw Dr. Wyatt’s movements freeze. He looked stunned. I bit my tongue, wishing I could just bang my head against the wall. What a pathetic mess I was. How could I have blurted out the thought that had just flashed through my mind? Oh no. A handsome man like Dr. Wyatt, how could he possibly tolerate me saying something like that? He wouldn’t just kick me out, would he? I was sweating with anxiety, but my bra hook was stubbornly refusing to cooperate. A pleasant woody scent suddenly grew stronger. Dr. Wyatt’s face was right in front of me. He gently wrapped his arms around me, his hand reaching behind my back, and in one swift motion, he fastened my bra hook. His warm breath accidentally brushed against my earlobe. My whole body tingled. I didn’t dare to move. Afraid the man in front of me would hear my heart pounding like thunder. Dr. Wyatt’s expression remained composed. He绅士ly pulled away from me. “Alright, let’s talk at the desk.” Sitting back down, I was so nervous and embarrassed that I didn’t quite catch what Dr. Wyatt was saying. He good-naturedly repeated, “Your actual cup size is a D. It just appears much larger than other D-cup sizes because your breast shape is conical, unlike round or teardrop shapes.” “I don’t think this size should be impacting your daily life. Could you tell me your reason for wanting the surgery?” My gaze dropped, not daring to look at him. “Because they’re too prominent. They always attract attention.” Dr. Wyatt smiled. “You’re so beautiful, why are you afraid of people looking at you?” I looked up in surprise. “What?” Dr. Wyatt didn’t seem to be teasing me; his smile was utterly genuine. He stood up, leaned one hand on the desk, and bent over. His elegant, slender fingers gently removed my glasses. His voice was soft, almost caressing: “I think you look even better without your glasses.” The world suddenly turned blurry, and Dr. Wyatt’s handsome features looked like they were covered in a faint mosaic. I felt like I had seen him somewhere before. I murmured, “Wyatt?” He tilted his head. “Finally remember me?” His tone was as if… we were old friends reunited.

No one in my family had poor eyesight. I deliberately ruined my eyes. Back in school, my mom would always scold me whenever I looked at her. “Why are you staring with those big eyes? Do you think big eyes are pretty? Don’t you know you look so naive and uncultured like that, only attracting street thugs?” I was terrified of her and never dared to argue that I wasn’t staring. I could only read in the dark, writing with my face very close to the paper. Finally, I managed to develop nearsightedness and astigmatism, and I got to wear glasses as I wished. My mom picked out the most old-fashioned black frames with thick lenses for me. She finally seemed satisfied. “Now you look like a diligent, studious child.” But she was always contradictory; she never liked me wearing glasses on blind dates. That’s why it took me until now to realize that Dr. Wyatt was the same person I mistakenly thought was my blind date yesterday! How could it be such a coincidence?! I was so embarrassed I wanted to curl up and disappear. He wouldn’t think I tried to hit on him yesterday and then deliberately came here to harass him today, would he? And also, was Wyatt nearsighted too? Otherwise… otherwise, how could he say I was pretty? Wyatt picked up a large round mirror from the desk and held it in front of me. “My vision is perfect, 20/20. Don’t you ever look in the mirror?” Huh? I said what I was thinking out loud again? Today was truly mortifying. I instinctively looked at the mirror. My mom’s voice automatically echoed in my ears. “Your eyebrows are too thick, like a man’s. Your eyes are big but lifeless. Your nose is too small, your lips too thick. Your face is pale as a ghost, and your chin is too pointed, you look like you have no luck in life…” I’d heard those words for nearly twenty years. Every time I looked in the mirror, I’d think, maybe she was right. I really wasn’t good-looking. That’s why boys always teased me in school, and why so many blind dates after work never worked out. I lowered my head again. “Dr. Wyatt, I apologize for bothering you twice. Please don’t tease me.” Seeing my disbelief, Wyatt raised an eyebrow. “How about we make a bet?” I put my glasses back on, asking dumbly, “Huh? A bet… about what?” Wyatt’s handsome, thin lips opened and closed, glistening. I was mesmerized, instinctively nodding. When I came to my senses, I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. Wyatt’s slender, defined fingers tapped the desk. “Alright, if you lose… you have to grant me one wish.” “If I lose, I’ll perform your surgery for free.”

That afternoon, Wyatt took me to a high-end department store. A place I always passed but never dared to enter. He picked out two dresses for me, one black, one white, both absolutely gorgeous. I tried them on. The dresses had tight waists, making my chest look even more voluminous. The skirts flared slightly, revealing my legs, which were quite fair since I always wore long pants. Standing in front of the mirror, I barely recognized myself. I quietly said to Wyatt, “Department store mirrors are really something, huh? They have a built-in slimming effect.” Wyatt covered his forehead with a hand. “The mirrors are normal. Trust my aesthetic judgment, I am a plastic surgeon, after all.” “I think both dresses look great on you. Which one do you like?” I hesitated. I was too embarrassed to tell him I had trouble making decisions. Normally, when online shopping, I’d procrastinate until the minute before coupons expired before finally choosing. Maybe I should just pick one randomly? But the black one was more practical… the white one was more special… Which one to choose? Seeing I didn’t answer, Wyatt made the decision for me. “Let’s get both. They’re different styles anyway.” He pulled out his phone to pay, and I quickly stopped him. “I’ll pay myself.” I checked the tag—five digits. Two dresses would wipe out my savings. It hurt a little. Maybe I should just pick one? While I was still stunned, Wyatt had already paid, picked up the bags, and motioned for me to follow. It seemed treating decision-making paralysis just required money. I looked at the reflective floor of the mall, thinking hard, but couldn’t figure it out. What was Wyatt’s angle? I was so plain, so broke, so uninteresting… Was I really worth him spending so much money? Next, Wyatt took me to get my eyes checked and fitted me for daily disposable contact lenses. Silicone hydrogel, apparently, also very expensive… It was my first time wearing these, and I was clumsy. Wyatt gently caressed my cheek with his fingers, helping me put them in. The world was clearer than ever before. Except everything seemed a little bigger. I stared at the man’s Adam’s apple, swallowing hard. Wyatt looked at me with satisfaction. “Your skin is beautiful; you don’t even need makeup. You’re a natural beauty.” My face flushed again, a little thrill going through me. Maybe… I did have some good qualities?

After a busy half-day, we finally got to the main event. Wyatt and I stood at the door of a private karaoke room. He gave me a reassuring smile. “They’re all my friends inside. Don’t be nervous.” He suddenly leaned close, whispering in my ear. “If I win, don’t you dare refuse my… request.” With that, Wyatt pushed open the door to the room. Suddenly, I felt a strange anticipation for myself to lose. What request would he make? As I stepped into the room with Wyatt, under the dim lights, a dozen men and women turned to look at us. It was my first time being the center of attention in such a setting, and I nervously clutched the hem of my dress. The atmosphere froze for a second, then erupted into cheers. “The sun must be rising from the west! Dr. Wyatt actually brought a girl to a party! And she’s a beauty!” Wyatt subtly held up one finger to me. “Old Wyatt, where did you meet such a beautiful girl? You’re so lucky!” Wyatt curved his lips into a smile, holding up two fingers. “Hi, Future Sister-in-Law! You’re so pretty!” I quickly waved my hands. “We’re… just friends.” Wyatt mouthed the words: “Three.” Besides Wyatt and me, there were eight other people in the room. The bet was that if half the people complimented my looks, Wyatt would win. It wasn’t even half. He was going to lose. I knew it. Wyatt must have bad eyesight. Those three who just complimented me must have just been being polite. I lowered my head, feeling self-conscious. I didn’t see Wyatt’s face suddenly darken. A sophisticated-looking woman immediately pulled me to sit next to her. “I love sitting with pretty girls! I’m Stella, what’s your name, sweetie?” “Hi, I’m Chloe.” Wyatt won. He seemed to be in a great mood and picked a song. “Hard to forget the first time I saw you, those captivating eyes, your image in my mind… I can’t shake it…” Did Wyatt have *no* flaws? How could he even sing so beautifully?! He looked deeply into my direction. Was he looking at me?

I sat awkwardly in the corner. Wyatt’s friends were very welcoming and even pulled me into their group chat for planning get-togethers. Someone invited me to play dice. I shook my head. “Sorry, I don’t know how.” Someone asked what song I wanted to sing. I gave an embarrassed laugh. “I’ll just listen to you guys. I’m tone-deaf.” In the end, everyone else was enthusiastically enjoying themselves, while I shrank in the corner, scrolling on my phone. Just like every other friend gathering I’d ever been to. I swiped my phone screen back and forth, pretending to be busy. Someone next to me handed Stella the microphone. “The next song is a must-have for every gathering—your love duet with Wyatt!” “You two have been singing love songs together for years. When are you and Old Wyatt finally going to make it official?” Stella laughed playfully. “No rush. Old Wyatt and I have known each other for years; we understand each other perfectly.” Oh. So Wyatt wasn’t looking at me earlier. For a second, I actually thought he was singing that song to *me*. Of course, I was just deluding myself. Stella seemed like a girl a hundred times better than me. I picked up a drink from the table and gulped it down. My phone vibrated. It was my mom. I jumped in fright. If my mom found out I was at a karaoke bar, I’d be dead. Wyatt finished singing. Stella took the microphone and walked towards him, ready for their duet. I quietly ran out of the room to answer my mom’s call. “Chloe! What time is it?! Aren’t you coming home? Don’t you have work tomorrow morning?!” I timidly replied, “I’m on my way back now.” “You don’t have a boyfriend! A single girl staying out until 10 PM, people will say I raised you poorly…” I quickly hung up. Stepping out, I realized it was raining. And it was coming down pretty hard. The ride-sharing app showed 200 people ahead of me in the queue. I was about to dash into the rain when someone grabbed my arm. I turned around. Wyatt’s face was expressionless. “Was my singing that bad? Did it scare you away?” I stammered, “I-it was… really good. My mom called and told me to come home. Aren’t you supposed to sing a duet with Stella? So I didn’t say goodbye.” Wyatt raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t want to hear me sing a love song with someone else?” I lowered my head. “No…” What right did I have not to want to hear it? A large hand gently stroked the top of my head. “Why are you always so cautious? Never mind, if you don’t like these kinds of places, I’ll drive you home.”

The car was parked in the open-air lot. Wyatt told me to wait while he drove it over. I felt a little guilty enjoying the ride, so I ran with him to the parking lot. The rain was heavy, and it was windy too. By the time I struggled to reach the car, I was soaked from head to toe. Once inside, Wyatt rummaged for tissues. I couldn’t take my eyes off his drenched T-shirt. “One, two…” Two clean white tissues were offered to me. “What are you counting?” “Abs…” I answered subconsciously, then immediately realized what I’d said. Wyatt didn’t seem embarrassed at all. Instead, he leaned his arm back. His T-shirt clung to his body, clearly revealing a six-pack and two pink n*pples peeking through. A perfectly sculpted body like something out of a comic book, paired with his handsome face. I couldn’t control myself and swallowed hard. A little embarrassing. Wyatt’s lips curved into a smile. “Checking me out before you pay, is that fair?” “What?” Before I could react, Wyatt’s fingers pinched my chin, and he kissed me. At first, it was just a gentle brush, a tentative touch of lips. My hands were on Wyatt’s shoulders. I meant to push him away, but somehow, they ended up circling his neck instead. Wyatt seemed encouraged. His tongue gently parted my lips, stealing all my breath. The temperature inside the car instantly soared. The single sip of alcohol I’d had earlier seemed to spread through my entire body, making my limbs go weak. Wyatt’s kisses grew more aggressive, as if he wanted to devour me whole. I let out a soft moan of discomfort. I was suffocating. I still hadn’t learned to breathe during a kiss. After a long while, Wyatt finally took pity on me and pulled back slightly, but he didn’t get up. He leaned against my cheek, whispering in my ear: “Chloe, you really should see how beautiful you are right now.” His hot breath brushed my earlobe. His muscular chest pressed tightly against my softness. Making my body tremble from head to toe. “Wyatt…” My phone buzzed with continuous SnapChat notifications. The intimate atmosphere in the car was instantly shattered. I didn’t even need to look to know my mom was bombing me with messages and voice notes again. Wyatt pulled away from me, glanced at the screen, and asked, “Is it okay not to reply?” I clutched my phone, embarrassed and furious, and pressed the power button, turning it off. I’d been a good girl for twenty-something years. What if I let loose for one night? The feeling just now was too good. I really wanted it to continue. If Wyatt asked if I wanted him to take me home, how should I answer? Would it be too forward to say I didn’t want to go home? But I really wanted to keep kissing… Unknowingly, I started overthinking again. Wyatt chuckled softly, then leaned in once more. I closed my eyes, only to feel a cool sensation across my chest. Huh? He had pulled out my seatbelt and fastened it for me. “To my place.” It wasn’t a question. Wyatt knew what I wanted at that moment. A spacious penthouse in the city center. With floor-to-ceiling windows and an entire wall dedicated to a wine collection.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297191”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

The rescue team called me, saying my parents had ventured into the uncharted wilderness and were now calling for help. They told me to be ready for the huge rescue fees. My husband suddenly snatched my phone. “These are just scam calls, don’t believe them.” He then threw my phone, threatening to divorce me if I dared use our money for the rescue. But he had no idea that the tour package he’d booked for my parents had been stolen by *his* parents. Now, trapped in the wilderness and waiting for rescue, were *his* parents. “Ms. Miller, this is the rescue team. Your parents have entered an uncharted wilderness. We are not a volunteer service, so the cost to get them out will be approximately $150,000.” The number they quoted was huge. It sounded like a lot, but with years of savings between my husband and me, we could still manage it if we really pushed ourselves. I immediately said, “Of course, rescue them! How do I transfer the money to you…?” Before I could finish, my husband snatched my phone. He stated flatly, “Those two old people went into the wilderness on their own. We don’t need to waste our tax dollars. Thanks for your time, but no thanks.” What kind of talk was that?! I immediately tried to grab my phone back from his hand, but he just threw it on the floor and smashed it. He glared at me, his face red with fury. “Ashley, do you know what you were just saying? That’s years of our savings, just gone like that? Don’t you think that’s a waste?” I stared at him, shocked. “What are you talking about? That’s our parents! You’re always saying how hard they worked to raise you, how we needed to honor them!” I picked up my phone from the floor. Luckily, my phone case was shockproof, and with the tempered glass protector, it only shattered the screen protector when it hit the ground. Seeing the phone was okay, I sighed in relief. The rescue team’s call was still connected on the screen. I knelt on the floor and replied, “I’m willing to pay for the rescue!” My husband rushed over, snatched my phone again, and yelled into the receiver, “Rescue who, exactly?! I said no damn way! Those worthless old people had nothing better to do than wander into that wilderness. They deserved whatever they got!” With that, my husband hung up. I looked at him in disbelief. “Blake Hayes, are you even human?! Those are your parents!” He scoffed. “My parents? No, those are *your* parents. Ashley Miller, let me tell you, if you dare spend a dime to rescue them, I’m divorcing you. Don’t forget, you have no right to touch our joint assets without my consent.” After saying that, he went back into the bedroom, even locking the door to keep me out. My heart turned to ice. I sat on the floor, trying to compose myself, already thinking of ways to get around him and pay for my parents’ rescue. Suddenly, I realized something was off. What he’d just said clearly showed he thought it was *my* parents who were trapped in the wilderness. But it was *his* parents who had taken the tour tickets.

A week ago, Blake was humming a tune as he walked in. Seeing me, he pulled two tickets out of his bag. “My friend opened a travel agency, and they’re doing a promotion right now, so I bought two tickets. Aren’t your parents always talking about traveling? This is a perfect chance to send them off on a trip.” I stared at the two tickets. The price tag on them was hefty: $800 a head, flights not included. Clearly not a budget tour. Holding the tickets, something felt off. I asked, “Blake, didn’t you say before that my parents traveled too much, that it was a waste of money? Why the sudden change of heart, sending them on a trip now?” He sat on the couch, smiling. “Oh, old people have so few hobbies, right? They’ve got plenty saved up, their retirement funds are solid. It’s good for them to get out, stretch their legs, and stay active.” Hearing Blake say that, I felt genuinely happy. Looking at the two tickets to the Northwest, I immediately called my parents. After hanging up, Blake smiled at me. “Happy?” I nodded repeatedly. “Yeah, I am. How about this, we buy two more tickets and send your parents along too?” “No way. They can’t go!” he blurted out. I looked at him, confused. “Why? If you think it’s too expensive, I’ll chip in some extra money. Four old people could look out for each other on the trip.” Blake always said his parents were simple country folk, born and raised in the sticks. Besides coming to the city for our wedding, they spent most of their time in the countryside. They’d never traveled before, and this was a great opportunity. My parents, who were seasoned travelers, could take his parents along, and they could look out for each other, so nothing would go wrong. He frowned, thinking for a long time before replying, “They’re just country bumpkins, practically born with mud on their boots. They don’t deserve such a fancy trip. A little sightseeing around the city is enough for them.” “No way! There’s a first time for everything! Those two have worked hard their whole lives, what’s wrong with them enjoying themselves a little?” I opened my phone. “Send me your friend’s travel agency info; I’ll buy the tickets.” Blake stood up and put his arm around me. “Honey, their travel agency just opened, and the special tickets are all gone. How about this, next time we go on a trip, we’ll invite them along.” “Oh, and remember to book the flights for your parents. The tour tickets are redeemed in person. I’m going out of town tomorrow, so I’ll leave you to handle the arrangements. I trust you with it.” He was so adamant that I had no choice but to agree. That night, after he fell asleep, I slipped out of bed and went to the living room, taking the two travel tickets to search for the travel agency online. But after searching for a long time, I couldn’t find any information about that travel agency. “Could it be that it’s a new agency, so there’s no info yet?” I mumbled to myself. The thought of Blake sending my parents on a trip while leaving his own at home made me feel a little guilty. Finally, I found the travel agency my parents usually used and asked if they had any new packages. They quickly replied, “Of course, ma’am. Same great service, guaranteed to satisfy.” “$200 a head, flights not included.” Looking at the package they offered, the itinerary was packed, but the price was incredibly cheap. Since it was a travel agency we’d worked with for years, I immediately transferred the money. After doing all that, I returned to bed and slept soundly.

After Blake left for his business trip, I called both sets of parents and told them we’d booked a trip departing from our city. My father-in-law and mother-in-law immediately told me to book business class flights for them to come from the countryside. As soon as they walked in, my mother-in-law started grumbling, “Going out to play again, how much money have you even made to be so wasteful?” My mother-in-law was always like that—loud and incredibly stingy. After years of being married to Blake, I’d long learned to just let her nagging go in one ear and out the other. I smiled and pulled my mother-in-law into the house. “Mom, Blake said you two have never traveled before, so this is a chance to send you off! Besides, money’s meant to be spent, right?” My mother-in-law sat down, scrutinizing me. I smiled and showed her my phone. “See, this travel agency is great. My parents go there all the time. No forced sales, the guides are fantastic speakers, their descriptions of the sights are so vivid and engaging. The itinerary is well-planned, and they book five-star hotels.” My mother-in-law glanced at it, clearly tempted. She scrolled through my chat history with the travel agency for a bit, then suddenly looked displeased. “You’ve sent your parents off so many times, and we get booked on this little tour?” She looked at me and snorted dismissively. “My son makes so much money, and it all goes to your parents.” I kept a smile on my face. “If one isn’t enough, we can add more activities, go to more places, right?” As I spoke, my father-in-law suddenly stood up, picked up two travel tickets from the coffee table, glanced at them, and immediately got angry. “You booked us a $200 tour, and sent your parents on an $800 one?!” My mother-in-law snatched the tickets from his hand. After looking at them, she was so furious she stomped her foot, then plopped onto the floor, dramatically slapping her thigh. “Oh, the horror! I thought you were finally being merciful, having a change of heart and wanting to send us on a trip, but I never expected you to book us on this garbage tour!” I quickly explained, “Blake bought these to support his friend’s business. They were special discount tickets, not expensive.” With that, my mother-in-law shoved the two travel tickets into my arms. “Anyway, it’s all just travel. We want to go on the $800 one.” “This…” I hesitated. After all, the $800 tickets were bought by Blake. My mother-in-law immediately burst into a tirade. “You just don’t want us to enjoy anything good. You look down on us country folk, don’t you? Such a cheap tour, who are you trying to fool?!” Even my usually quiet father-in-law spoke with a hint of anger now. “We’ve seen videos online. Cheap tours lock old people in rooms. If you don’t buy expensive goods, they don’t give you food, water, or even let you use the bathroom. If you want to abuse us, why use such a method?!” I had no idea how to explain. I pointed to my past chat records with the travel agency. “I’ve sent my parents on this tour several times; this travel agency is really good.” My mother-in-law swatted my phone to the floor. “Hmph, I don’t care. Hurry up and book our flights. We’re going to the Northwest.” I picked up my phone, feeling helpless. Seeing my mother-in-law’s insistence, I called Blake. The first call was hung up. Just as I was about to dial again, my father-in-law spoke up. “Don’t bother him. A man’s busy with work. What are you, a woman, doing, telling him what to do?!” Having lived with my in-laws for years, I knew how to avoid their temper. “I just wanted to confirm with Blake.” My father-in-law was impatient. “Does this little thing need confirmation from the man of the house? I’ve always said a man’s place is at work, a woman’s place is at home. Women shouldn’t interfere when a man is out building his career. Hurry up and book our flights.” My mother-in-law chimed in, “Exactly! It’s normal for our Blake to ignore us for a month or two when he’s busy. Don’t you dare bother him when he’s trying to get a promotion.” Stay calm, stay calm. Mother-in-law relations have always been tricky. We only see them twice a year, so I’ll just consider this my good deed for the year. I sighed and had no choice but to open my phone to book flights. I entered their information, selected tonight’s flight, and as I was about to pay, my mother-in-law snatched my phone again. She suddenly yelled, “Why are you booking us economy class?! That’s for the common folk! Our son can afford a house in the big city; how can you make us fly economy?!” After several rounds of this, I was too tired to argue. If she wanted first class, so be it. Payment, of course, would be from my husband’s bank card. Only after the tickets were successfully purchased were they satisfied. “Then I’ll postpone the original tour I booked for you. It’s just a reservation; you can go any time within a year.” My mother-in-law wasn’t happy again. “Don’t think I don’t know, you just want to subject us to a cheap tour! We’re not going. Either refund it, or let your parents go.” Then, my mother-in-law’s eyes darted. “Oh, right, just let your parents go on the $200 tour. Let them suffer a bit, and they’ll never want to travel again!” My good intentions were completely wasted on them. Even though I was used to letting their words go in one ear and out the other, I felt a little angry now. “Fine, then my parents will go on the $200 tour.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door. I quickly opened it; it was my parents. As soon as he walked in, my dad cheerfully said, “Ashley, what kind of tour did Blake book for us?” Then he noticed the two older people in the room and quickly greeted them. “Oh, in-laws, you’re here too! Is it just the four of us older folks going off without you two young ones this time?” My mom also smiled slightly. “We travel often, so we know all the ins and outs. When we’re on the road, we’ll give you tips.” I was about to speak, but my mother-in-law cut me off. “I don’t need your tips! My darling son booked us an $800 tour, not like your daughter, who’s so cheap, only booking you a $200 one.” She cast a sideways glance at me. My mom paused. “An $800 tour? That’s pretty good.” My mother-in-law gloated, “That’s because my son has been filial since he was little. He feels bad for us old folks in the countryside, so he booked us an $800 one. Your tour is too cheap; we won’t go with you.” Then, my mother-in-law said with fake sympathy, “But dear in-laws, you need to be careful. There are a lot of cheap tours online that will make you spend money to leave. You should be careful, or maybe just don’t go.” Who couldn’t hear the underlying meaning of those fake sympathetic words? My mom was naturally gentle and kind to everyone. Even after hearing that, she didn’t show any anger towards my mother-in-law, maintaining her smile. She reached out and patted my back, comforting me slightly. “The city has many tourist attractions close by, and a two-day itinerary is plenty. This price includes two nights’ accommodation, which is a great deal. Just the other day, your dad and I were talking about booking this package. I guess mother and daughter really are on the same wavelength.” Seeing that my mom wasn’t angry at all, my mother-in-law realized her taunts were falling flat. “Hmph, you’ll know when you’ve suffered a bit. Honey, let’s go now. No need to see us off. Just take your parents on their trip.” My father-inin-law and mother-in-law turned and left. Only my parents and I remained in the house. After they were gone, I took my mom’s hand. “Mom, I really didn’t think all this through. The tour I booked for you, there were plenty of cheaper ones, but you know this travel agency’s value.” My mom shook her head. “That $800 tour was originally for us, right?” My mom had seen right through it, of course. I was about to tell her that I would rebook a trip to the Northwest for them later, but then my mom spoke. “Your in-laws have spent their whole lives in the countryside and have never traveled. It’s a rare chance for them to go, so of course they should enjoy themselves. Don’t worry, your dad and I won’t mind.” I looked at my parents with gratitude and immediately contacted the travel agency to change the passenger names.

After seeing both sets of parents off on their trips, I was alone at home. I went about my usual routine: working, coming home, cleaning the house. I also received different photos from both sets of parents. Mother-in-law: “Oh, my son is so filial! This $800 trip is just different.” Mother-in-law: “Look at this grand hotel, how luxurious! Those country folks would never get to stay in a place like this. My son is a city man now, with a car and a house, he’s amazing.” Mother-in-law: “Oh, this vast, sandy desert is truly something else. Most people wouldn’t even understand it. In a couple of days, our guide is taking us to a famous landmark. Ordinary people can’t get in there, only those with our $800 tickets can.” I looked closely at the photos my mother-in-law sent, frowning. The package clearly stated five-star hotels, but the place they were staying didn’t look like a five-star hotel at all. It looked more like a budget motel. I was about to type a message, telling my mother-in-law to ask the guide about the accommodation, but after typing a few words, I deleted them all. Better to avoid trouble. After so many years married to Blake, I already knew how to handle his relatives. If I opened my mouth and said the hotel was wrong, my mother-in-law would probably scold me. Then I looked at the messages my mom sent me, all beautiful landscape photos. As I was looking at my mom’s photos, Blake came home. “Did you send your parents on their trip?” He asked casually, changing his shoes. I nodded. “Yeah, they’re having a great time. Want to see photos?” I even purposefully held my phone out to him. But he frowned and pushed my hand away. “I just got back from a business trip, I’m a little tired. As long as they’re having fun, that’s enough.” It was normal to be tired after a five-day business trip, so I didn’t think much of it. But unexpectedly, the very next day after he returned, I received an unfamiliar call.

Now, sitting on the floor, I kept replaying everything, and suddenly, from a mess of “something’s wrong,” I finally pulled out the crucial thread. There was no “friend’s travel agency.” It was clearly a setup he orchestrated, to lure my travel-loving parents to the Northwest, then have his contacts guide them into the uncharted wilderness. My parents’ emergency contact was me. The rescue cost was too high, and no one offers free rescue. So, naturally, they contacted me to get them out. In my initial panic, I hadn’t thought much. But now, calm, I knew that regardless of whether it was my parents or his, if either pair of elderly people were in trouble in the wilderness, I would pay to rescue them. However, Blake’s words just now had completely extinguished that notion. He was so resolute, demanding no rescue. Why should I make him act like a devoted son? Thinking this, I stood up and knocked on his bedroom door. “Come out. I want a divorce.” The door opened, and Blake stared at me, utterly shocked. “Are you insane? You want to divorce for those two old geezers, willing to waste so much money? I’m not giving you the money, and now you want a divorce?” I nodded. “Divorce, and divide the assets. My parents paid the down payment on this house, and we’ve been jointly paying the mortgage. Your family paid for the renovations and appliances. So, we’ll split it equally by market value: the house goes to you, and the money comes to me.” “Our joint assets will be divided equally. Don’t worry, we had a prenuptial agreement notarized, so our pre-marital assets won’t be mixed in. “One car each.” At this moment, I was even more grateful that I had considered getting pregnant some time ago. For it, I had specifically asked experienced colleagues with children, bought folic acid and other prenatal supplements, and downloaded an app to calculate my ovulation day. But these were just preparations. Just as I was about to start, some things got in the way. I even decided I didn’t want children this lifetime. Without children, dividing assets would be incredibly easy. Seeing my resolve, Blake sneered. “You think threatening me with divorce will make me pay that money? Ashley Miller, don’t dream. Your money is also mine. You won’t get a divorce.” I looked at him, stunned. It was hard to imagine the man who used to show up under my dorm building every day, who knelt on one knee to propose and promised to treat me well for life, had turned into this. “Are you really willing to let our parents die?” I struggled to control my breathing, staring at him coldly. He sighed. “Ashley, I know it wasn’t easy for your parents to raise you for so many years, but you have to think about our future. We’re both only children; we already have four elderly parents to support. If we have two kids too, can we afford it?” I said grimly, “My parents have their retirement funds; we don’t need to worry about their retirement.” He looked at me coldly, his eyes even showing clear dissatisfaction. “But now we’re talking about $150,000 for one rescue, and there’s no guarantee they’ll even make it out alive! Wouldn’t that $150,000 just be wasted? How many years will it take us, with our salaries, to save up that much?!” Hearing this, I felt utterly sick to my stomach. Perhaps it was psychosomatic, but I clutched my stomach and gagged. Seeing my action, Blake’s eyes suddenly lit up. “If you won’t consider us, at least consider our child, right?” Pregnant? How could I be pregnant? He moved to hug me. “Honey, you’re pregnant, you’re tired, don’t stress over these things. Don’t worry, after this is over, I’ll contact a search and rescue team to try and retrieve your parents’ bodies.” “I remember your parents should have a few insurance policies, and you’re the beneficiary. Once the money comes in, we can move my mom to the city. She can live in your parents’ house. That way, everyone in our village will say you’re a filial daughter-in-law.” “Once the baby is born, we can pool our money to buy him a house. Wouldn’t that be amazing later?” Oh, he’d already planned everything, even for the money after my parents died, and the house we were living in now. When did Blake start having these thoughts? I dodged his embrace. “Are you sure you don’t want a divorce?” Blake nodded. “No divorce, no divorce. You’re pregnant now, why would I divorce? Think about it, wouldn’t it be better to spend that $150,000 on our child than on rescuing two elderly people with slim chances of survival?” I took a long, hard look at Blake, hoping he wouldn’t regret his decision today. After that, Blake became incredibly attentive, even specifically telling me not to be too upset, and to remember to think more about our child if I felt overwhelmed.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297190”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

It was the third year with Landon when I overheard his buddy ask him: “Landon, you had your brother pretend to be you? Dating and even kissing your little naive boyfriend? He seriously won’t figure it out?” Landon exhaled a puff of smoke, utterly unconcerned. “We look practically identical. Julian’s simple-minded; he won’t notice a thing.” “Besides, my brother is totally homophobic. And he doesn’t do used goods, so he’d never actually sleep with him.” I lowered my gaze, pretending I didn’t know. For three years, the one I’d been dating, holding hands with, kissing – it was all Landon’s brother. The one who gripped my waist every night, whispering for me to call him ‘Husband’ – that was him too. 0 Landon’s supposedly homophobic brother was now holding me in the bathtub, gently murmuring. “Just let me clean you up, sweetheart. You’ll get sick.” I turned my face away, feeling drained. His expression remained unchanged. He could talk dirty and still look like a perfect gentleman. Who knew his kinks ran that deep? While I was silently fuming, a phone chimed. I watched Jasper subtly angle his phone screen away. I knew immediately it was Landon on the other end. Sure enough, he kissed my forehead. “I’ll just step out for a call. If the water gets cold, let me know.” I stood up, following him silently. *Click.* The sound of a lighter sparked from the balcony first. “Bro, is he with you right now?” “Hm.” Jasper lowered his head, loosely gripping the cigarette between his teeth. A moment of silence passed on the other end. “You really don’t need to go to such lengths. Just string him along normally. Why let him stay over… I went to his dorm tonight, couldn’t find him.” “Didn’t you tell me to pretend to be you and keep him placated?” Jasper exhaled a thin stream of smoke, unhurried. “What, changed your mind? You’re not chasing girls anymore, and now you want to date a guy?” “How could I?” Landon’s voice instantly filled with disgust. “He’s nowhere near Stella. At most, I’d just take pity on him and sleep with him a few times, that’s it.” Laughter and jeers erupted from the phone, and Landon’s voice grew even more contemptuous. “A real relationship? He’s not worthy.” I stood behind the door, listening silently, my throat tightening. “Landon, are you really okay with just tossing him to your brother like that? Julian is way prettier than a lot of the girls at school.” They were probably at a bar; Landon’s voice slurred with drunkenness. “No matter how pretty, he’s still just a guy. Can’t even get pregnant.” “Damn, you’re getting me all worked up!” “—Last time Julian kissed you, his lips were so red. Jasper, tell him, wasn’t that just so damn tempting?” “Knock it off! You know my brother’s homophobic. Kissing a guy is his limit. Right, bro?” Jasper slowly toyed with the lighter in his hand, not answering. The air suddenly went still. “Bro?” In the almost eerie silence, Landon’s voice grew noticeably tense. I quietly peeked at the man standing in the night. After our intimate moments, Jasper still looked perfectly put-together, not a hair out of place. He leaned against the railing, slowly exhaling smoke. After a long moment, he finally stubbed out the cigarette, speaking faintly. “Mm.” 0

“And you guys, don’t think I don’t know you’ve all been secretly eyeing Julian. Fine, crack all the jokes you want, but don’t you dare lay a hand on him. I’m not sharing my leftovers.” “Hey, aren’t you almost done reeling in the campus queen? Why are you still playing Julian? Honestly, Julian’s pretty innocent; he just got turned gay by you because the campus queen likes you—” “Who said he was turned gay by me?” On the phone, Landon let out a short, lazy laugh. “He secretly hid a photo under his pillow. He’d been crushing on me for ages.” At the mention of the photo, my breathing hitched. Then I heard him slowly utter the last few words: “He’s just inherently wired to be used by men.” “Holy shit, Landon, you’re a legend!” The call ended abruptly. I gently exhaled. That dull ache had long since passed, but there were always these tiny cuts. Fine, fragmented, like ants gnawing at me. … I don’t know how long I’d stood outside in the breeze, but when Jasper wrapped his arms around me from behind, there wasn’t a trace of cigarette smoke left on him. I instinctively melted into his embrace. But I really hate being deceived. So, when he cupped my chin and kissed me, I mumbled in protest, “Landon…” The hand exploring my waist paused, his voice husky. “Call me Husband.” I squeezed my eyes shut, silently resisting. Jasper didn’t get angry. He slowly lifted me. My waist dipped into a breathtaking arch. He coaxed softly, “Come on, call me Husband, okay?” … I finally couldn’t hold back a choked sob. But the man behind me had already cast aside his gentle facade. “Husband, Husband—!” Remembering Jasper’s dominance, I quickly twisted around, rubbing my face against his hand. Coaxing, “Husband, it hurts.” “Hurts?” The one who had been silent finally spoke. “Why didn’t you say so sooner?” His long fingers brushed away the damp hair from my forehead. “Let Husband see.” “…You’re really crying hard.” His tone was loving, yet his gaze was clearly one of appreciation. My limbs felt weak as I buried my face in his chest. I couldn’t help but curse, “You jerk.” “Jerk?” he repeated, then smiled meaningfully. “You always did like jerks.” … 0

Compared to Jasper, Landon really was more of a jerk. I discovered this relationship was just a game of conquest. It was the second week after we got together, when Landon took me to meet his friends. Having crushed on him for two years, I knew he only liked girls before. I was terrified his friends wouldn’t approve. So, regardless of whether their intentions were malicious, or what kind of alcohol it was—red or white— I accepted every drink they offered, pouring it all down my throat. Finally, when I was too drunk to keep my eyes open, slumping softly into Landon’s arms, he finally spoke, lazily. “Enough. Can’t you see he’s already passed out?” “Tsk.” Someone’s hand brushed my face. “Damn, that face is really something.” Then a pinch on my waist. “Holy shit, his waist is tiny too.” “If you don’t like guys, Landon, why don’t you give him to me?” A puff of smoke was playfully blown into my face. “I love guys like this.” What was he saying…? I lay uncomfortably on Landon’s lap, coughing tears from the smoke. “Oh, can’t stand smoke?” The guy suddenly got excited. “Then imagine smoking while doing him—wouldn’t that be the best? Haha…” What on earth were they talking about?! My remaining consciousness waited for Landon to scold them. But no matter how long I waited, he remained silent. “So it’s settled.” “Kyle, wanna join tonight? The hotel downstairs has everything, it’ll be epic…” “Enough.” Landon pushed the guy away, his voice low. “Don’t even think about him.” “No way, Landon.” The guy laughed exaggeratedly. “Do you want to taste what a guy feels like, or are you getting soft on him?” “Come on, this is the guy the campus queen likes, he’s your rival. How can you be soft on him?” “Damn it, are you deaf?” Landon slammed his lighter on the table, his voice impatient. “I told you I’d hand him over to my brother. Once I get Stella, I’ll just find an excuse to dump him. If I hand him over to you, you’ll try to kill him? I don’t want a murder on my hands.” “As for getting soft,” Landon sneered. “The thought of being intimate with a guy makes me sick.” …No wonder. No wonder every time I tried to kiss him, he’d turn away with a dark look. I thought I was being too eager. Turns out, he just found me disgusting. …Good thing my face was down. I struggled to keep from throwing up, trying to find some bitter amusement in the situation. Otherwise, a grown man crying with snot and tears everywhere would look pretty bad, right? 0

“This is truly absurd.” When he placed me in the passenger seat, I distinctly felt him wearily rub his brow. “Landon, how could you come up with something so ridiculous?” “I don’t want my crush to like someone else, bro. I know you’re homophobic, and this is a huge sacrifice, but just help me out this one time, okay?” “I promise, I won’t touch a race car for at least a month afterward.” “That’s not the same thing.” Jasper’s tone was firm. “When will you ever grow up…” “Ugh.” My stomach churned from all the alcohol, and I couldn’t help but turn over. I met the gaze of the person leaning over to buckle my seatbelt. …They really did look alike. Even the mole at the corner of their eyes was identical. Yet, despite having the same face, Landon was ostentatious, wanting the whole world to fall in love with him. This man, however, meticulously buttoned his shirt to the very top, his sleeves rolled up only a tiny bit, revealing his wrist-watch. It gave him an almost unapproachable, ascetic air, combined with an undeniable hint of raw desire. His gaze lingered briefly on my lips for a few seconds before subtly shifting away. His long fingers tapped the steering wheel. “Fine, just this once.” … Later, everything proceeded smoothly according to Landon’s wishes. The two of them took turns holding my hand, going on dates with me. Every day, I received two hefty allowances and two sets of gifts. With one exception. Jasper would take me to bed. In stark contrast to his reserved and self-possessed exterior, his desires were intense, and his repertoire varied. Every time, with his back covered in scratch marks, he’d casually kiss my trembling inner thigh while calmly responding to Landon’s calls: “No, he’s been very well-behaved.” “Hmm, didn’t notice a thing.” Then he’d pull my groggy body into his arms. “Come on, sleep a little before school, okay?” … By routine, yesterday should have been Landon’s turn. But perhaps things with Stella had finally progressed, so he couldn’t even bother to pretend. He just turned off his phone and went sea fishing with his beauty. By the time he remembered me that evening, Jasper and I had already had several rounds in bed. 0

The next morning, Landon was waiting downstairs early. “Sit in the back. The front passenger seat is Stella’s spot.” Perhaps he thought I was an idiot, but Landon never bothered to hide his disdain for me. Or his unique special treatment for Stella. It seemed things were indeed getting serious. After just one day, the car’s decorations and air freshener had changed to styles Stella liked. I paused, hand on the door, and didn’t say anything, dutifully getting into the back. “Wait.” In the rearview mirror, Landon’s half-lidded eyes narrowed. “What’s that on your collarbone?” I followed his gaze and touched my skin,愣了一瞬. It was a tooth mark. Jasper, that jerk. “Probably a mosquito bite.” I cursed Jasper silently, then nonchalantly pulled up my collar. “A mosquito could do that?” Landon frowned. When he leaned closer, as if to inspect it, I suddenly felt a surge of weariness. So I curved my lips slightly. “Wasn’t it you, Husband?” “When the hell did I—” Landon suddenly fell silent. “Can we not go on for so long tonight? I’m really tired.” I yawned, fanning the flames. “…Okay.” Landon gritted his teeth, his face thunderous, dark enough to curdle milk. Sure enough, not long after I got out of the car, I heard him questioning Jasper’s voice. “Bro, did you touch Julian?” I don’t know what Jasper said, but Landon suddenly kicked the front of the car violently. “He’s my boyfriend! How could you touch him?” I walked back a couple of steps and heard the unhurried rustle of Jasper flipping through papers. “Aren’t you about to win Stella over? It’s the perfect time to break up with him.” Then a pause. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for Julian.” “I…” Landon irritably tugged at his collar. “Even if I don’t like him, he’s still my boyfriend. No one else touches him but me, damn it.” “I’ve been unfair to him these past three years. Once I sort things out with Stella, I’ll consider forcing myself to try with him.” “Aren’t you afraid he’ll leave you once he finds out the truth?” “No.” Landon’s brow instantly relaxed a little. “He loves me a lot.” “Sorry, bro, I shouldn’t have suspected you like that. You two definitely don’t have anything going on. Once I handle things here… No, I’ll take him to meet everyone around me tonight. It’ll be compensation.” “From now on, Julian won’t be bothering you, bro. You’ve worked hard these past few years.” Jasper turned another page. “No trouble at all.” 0

For the next few days, Landon truly seemed to have settled down, dutifully staying on campus. Several times, I intentionally made movements to get close to him, just like before, and he surprisingly didn’t resist at all. In fact, his reactions were quite intense. The next time I evaded his pursuing lips, Landon finally couldn’t hold back. He forcefully pressed me down beneath him. Panting, he commanded, “Open your mouth.” “I’m a bit tired today.” I innocently repeated his old excuse. “And a little unaccustomed to it.” Landon’s breath hitched for a moment, and he slowly released me. He lowered his gaze, muttering to himself, “It’s okay, after tonight…” I didn’t know what he had planned. But I tilted my head and thought. Whether it was with Landon or Jasper, it was time for this game to end. So I obediently nodded. “Okay.” 0

I didn’t expect Landon to be off his game even before evening. “I’m going out to take a call.” After dodging five consecutive calls, he finally couldn’t hold back, grabbing his phone and rushing out. As soon as he stepped out of the dorm building, a girl threw herself into his arms. “You said you liked me, so why did you suddenly stop coming to see me?” The girl sobbed, complaining indignantly. The one who had been constantly saying he needed to sort things out with Stella let her wrap her arms around his waist. His hands hesitated for a few seconds before finally resting on her shoulders, holding her tight. … “Ah!” Stella suddenly shrieked. I instinctively tried to step back, but someone wrapped an arm around my waist, kissing my neck with a low chuckle. Landon finally looked up, his eyes landing on me. “It’s not what you think!” He abruptly pushed the girl away, trying to walk over and explain. But he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the person beside me. “…Bro?” I pulled my hand from Jasper’s grasp, about to speak. Then I heard Jasper calmly respond, “Hm.” “I haven’t introduced you two yet.” Just like someone introducing their partner to family, Jasper calmly gestured towards Landon. “This is my brother, Landon. And as for Julian,” He didn’t bat an eye, taking my hand and intertwining our fingers once more, a smile playing on his lips. “This is your sister-in-law.” 0

“…What are you talking about?” It wasn’t just me; Landon’s face also went momentarily blank. I hadn’t expected Jasper to still be pretending to be his brother at this point. Seeing Jasper calmly pull me closer, Landon’s eyelid twitched. “When did he become your—!” “Are you asking when we got together?” Jasper’s lips curved slightly, but there wasn’t a hint of a smile in his light eyes; instead, there was a cold, cruel glint. “But are you sure,” “You want Julian to hear what I’m about to say?” “You bastard!” Landon quickly strode over, grabbing Jasper’s collar and slamming him against the wall like a furious lion, his eyes bloodshot. “He’s my—!” “Address me properly.” Even in such a disheveled state, Jasper met his gaze with an unnerving calm. Landon’s fury slowly dissipated under that steady stare. “…Sister-in-law.” He glared at Jasper, gritting his teeth. “Happy now?” Jasper nodded slightly, but he wasn’t done. “Didn’t you say you were introducing your girlfriend to everyone tonight? Julian isn’t an outsider; he can witness it too.” “Going, sweetheart?” Both men looked at me. Our eyes met, and I suddenly felt a sense of relief. For Stella, Landon had concocted this ridiculous rotation game. Now that he saw I wasn’t clinging to him anymore, he must be thrilled. So I smiled and leaned into Jasper’s embrace. “Of course, I’ll go. Landon’s brother is my brother, after all.” 0

Perhaps they’d already been briefed, but when we walked into the private room, everyone enthusiastically stood up. A chorus of “Sister-in-law” was on the verge of escaping their lips when they saw Jasper behind me. Their expressions immediately became a sight to behold. “Uh, L-Landon?” They took a few seconds to react, perhaps thinking Landon had suddenly changed his mind again. So they all pretended to be familiar and clapped Jasper on the shoulder. Then, the real Landon walked in, a dark scowl on his face. “Holy shit.” Someone finally couldn’t help but blurt out a curse. “Why are you looking at me? Order the food.” Landon, still fuming, sat down next to me. “Aren’t you going to introduce everyone first?” Jasper, while naturally sanitizing my forks, smoothly steered the conversation. “This is Stella,” Landon gritted his back teeth. “My girlfriend.” Stella shyly leaned against him. Landon immediately looked at me nervously. Seeing my lack of reaction, his face grew even darker. He finally ignored everyone’s winks and nudges, silently peeling a shrimp for me. “Eat shrimp.” Before I could even reach for it, the person on the other side snatched it with his forks. “You f**king done with your—” Landon slammed his forks on the table. Before he could unleash his anger, he heard Jasper casually say, “He’s allergic to shrimp.” Landon’s rage immediately died down. “I didn’t know.” He looked uncharacteristically flustered. Ignoring how bizarre it was for him to serve me, he eagerly picked up a piece of chicken. “You can eat this, right?” “Thanks, I can eat it.” I gave him a slight smile, and as his face relaxed in relief, I promptly put it into Jasper’s bowl. “But I don’t like it.” The smile on Landon’s face completely vanished. “Wanna step out for a smoke?” As if he couldn’t hold back his fury any longer, he stood up and tapped twice on Jasper’s chair back. It was boring to stare at a bunch of guys who enjoyed humiliating me, and I also wanted to know what Jasper’s game plan was. So I found an excuse and followed them out. Sure enough, around a corner, I heard Landon’s vicious voice: “Bro, what the hell is your deal? Are you addicted to pretending to be me, or did you seriously fall for your own brother’s boyfriend?” “It’s perfectly natural for me to get him food,” He let out a short, neurotic laugh. “But what right do you have to care what he’s allergic to?” “I don’t have the right.” Jasper held a cigarette in one hand, bringing it nonchalantly to his lips. Then he casually stubbed it out. “But I will soon.” Landon exploded, grabbing Jasper’s collar and slamming him against the wall, his eyes bloodshot: “Jasper! Are you really stealing your brother’s boyfriend?!” “What’s the rush?” Under Landon’s furious glare, Jasper remained outwardly calm and relaxed. His long legs, encased in tailored trousers, were sprawled lazily. “If I hadn’t pushed you like this, would you ever have seen your true feelings?” “What do you mean?” Landon narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “If I hadn’t forced your hand tonight, would you still be wavering between Stella and Julian?” “No matter how much Julian loves you, there’ll always come a day when he loses heart.” Jasper freed his collar from Landon’s grip. Like a dependable older brother, he patiently guided him: “Now do you know what to do?” Though still half-skeptical, Landon finally relaxed his hold on his brother, who he’d trusted for over twenty years. He snorted. “Alright, let’s switch roles back then. And book me a room.” “Condoms and stuff are basic, but get a few more varieties of kinks.” He carefully watched Jasper’s expression. “Something this simple, surely nothing else could go wrong, right?” “Of course.” Jasper’s expression was as usual. … When they re-entered the private room, the two had indeed switched seats. “Can we sleep out tonight?” Landon, now in different clothes, lightly bit my earlobe. A disagreeable stickiness immediately washed over me. I instinctively flinched away, my hand accidentally brushing against Jasper’s thigh. Just as I was about to move it back, my pinky finger was gently hooked. I looked up to see Jasper calmly sipping tea, his face devoid of expression. Noticing my gaze, he even raised an eyebrow, puzzled. “What’s wrong?” “…Nothing.” So, under everyone’s watchful eyes, right next to his own brother, Jasper subtly intertwined his fingers with mine, his ‘brother’s boyfriend,’ beneath the tablecloth. Slowly. So slowly. Then he squeezed tight. “I’ve booked a room.” Seeing I didn’t respond, Landon thought I was shy, and he cleared his throat awkwardly. “I—it’s my first time too, but I’ll make sure you’re comfortable. Okay?” My fingertips were gently caressed by another, and my heart couldn’t help but quicken a few beats. But I carefully held back my answer. Because I knew Landon wasn’t the only one waiting for my reply. Landon was doing this for Stella. But what about Jasper? Was simply humoring his brother reason enough to sacrifice himself and sleep with a man? I’d even secretly wondered if he liked me. But then why had he lied to me for three years, never revealing his true identity? Yet, recalling the brothers’ interaction just now, I finally spoke with a smile. “Okay.” Since Jasper had gone to such lengths, even booking us a room. How could I possibly disappoint his efforts?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297189”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

My fiancé, Declan, married me because it was what his family wanted. I actually thought he’d finally given up on Chloe, the girl who held his heart. But for three years after we got married, he was barely ever home, always out and about with her. I couldn’t be bothered to catch them red-handed, so I just got bored and started an online relationship. Then, to my shock, I found out my online boyfriend was none other than Julian, Declan’s best friend. I just couldn’t reconcile the sweet, clingy guy who begged for hugs every day online with the intimidating Julian I knew in real life. I freaked out and broke up with him. But Julian burst into my apartment, crying and begging me to forgive him, not to leave him. As he was pleading, Declan suddenly walked in. Panicked, I shoved Julian into the closet. Declan hugged me, whispering, “It’s over with her. From now on, I’ll focus on you. Let’s have a baby.” Julian, furious, kicked open the closet door. “No way! I don’t agree!” *** Declan threw a lavish birthday party for Chloe on a cruise ship. My best friend, Taylor, couldn’t stand it and insisted on dragging me along to catch them and humiliate the other woman. I was about to refuse, but then I remembered my online boyfriend had sent me his location, and it was somewhere nearby. So, hoping I might bump into him, I went along. But as soon as we arrived, the birthday party was already over. We didn’t even catch a glimpse of Declan or Chloe. Taylor was so mad she started swearing like a sailor. I let her rant for half an hour before I finally managed to calm her down. “Let me take you home. I told you, don’t bother trying to catch them.” Even if we did, what would be the point? After dropping Taylor off, I walked alone down the street, glancing back at the bar behind me, and then stepped inside. I ordered a glass of red wine at the bar, but it tasted bitter, so I only took one sip. My online boyfriend sent me another message. **[My friends moved to a new spot, a bar, but don’t worry, babe, I won’t have any contact with anyone else.]** A thought flashed through my mind. Could it be the very bar I was in right now? I typed a reply. **[What’s the bar called? Do you have a room number?]** He actually sent me the address and the room number. And a teasing remark, too. **[Missing me, babe? It’s too late now. Next time you want to see your husband, let’s pick a proper time. Our first meeting has to be special.]** A smile played on my lips. What I didn’t say was, we might just meet tonight. I hurried upstairs. The corridors were a maze, but I finally found the room number he’d given me. The door wasn’t fully closed; it was slightly ajar. They seemed to be playing a game inside, and I heard Chloe’s voice. A surge of alarm went through me. Had I gone to the wrong room? I glanced back, realizing I hadn’t made a mistake at all. This was definitely the room number my online boyfriend had given me. “Julian! Your turn. Truth or Dare?” From my angle, I couldn’t see Julian’s face, only his back. His shoulders were broad, and he had a great physique. He was Declan’s best friend, closer than brothers since they were kids. Julian lazily drawled, “Truth.” “Who were you just texting, smiling so happily?” Chloe casually asked. Julian glanced at Declan, who was sitting beside him, and said, “Aubrey. My girlfriend.” The room fell silent for a moment. Chloe gave a dry laugh. “What a coincidence.” She quickly looked at Declan, who seemed oblivious, and instantly breathed a sigh of relief. My heart lurched. That was my name, and my online username. It couldn’t be such a coincidence… But the very next second, my heart sank. Julian’s phone screen was projected onto the big monitor. And there, glaringly obvious, was my chat window. “Whoa, Julian, you’re into online dating? And she’s older?” Julian frowned, smacking the person next to him. “Give me my phone back.” He snatched his phone, his expression faltering slightly, and started to walk out of the room. I was terrified and immediately fled the scene. As soon as I reached the stairwell, my phone vibrated in my pocket. In my panic, I just hit hang up. **[Babe, why aren’t you answering? Do you not like me anymore?]** The messages that followed were a rapid-fire flood of pathetic, adorable emojis. Seeing those messages, I took a deep breath. How could Julian, with his unapproachable face, say such things to me? And he’s actually older than me, yet he pretended to be some younger college guy! **Chapter 2** I sprinted all the way home, my back drenched in sweat. My phone now had several new photos of abs. The muscles were perfectly defined, very eye-catching. But I was in no mood to appreciate them. **[Don’t be mad, babe. I’m coming home now. I’ll never go to shady places again.]** **[Babe, please talk to me…]** I sent a voice message. “Sorry, my husband’s home. Don’t text me today.” There was a pause on the other end. Soon, another message came through. **[Babe, didn’t you say your husband was never home?]** I replied without batting an eye. **[He came back today.]** **[Okay, babe. I know I’m not supposed to be seen.]** I knew Julian understood I was lying, but he couldn’t call me out. I had never hidden the fact that I was married, and he also knew my husband was Declan. When we first got together, he said he didn’t care, that he could wait for me to get divorced. Before that, we could be platonic, just a spiritual connection. But I never thought he’d hide his identity. His age and even his name were all fake. And the big question: Did Declan know what Julian was up to? Hooking up with his best friend’s wife behind his back. I slapped my face, annoyed. It was all my fault for not insisting he send me a photo. My fault for trusting a stranger online so completely. I ignored Julian for a few days, planning to ice him out until he got the hint. I didn’t think he’d dare to just show up and expose everything. Julian had to have some shame, right? But Julian, shamelessly, kept sending me messages. Constantly asking, *Is your husband gone? Is your husband gone?* I typed a single word. **[No.]** Not long after, I saw Declan and Chloe trending on Ins. The two of them were shouting declarations from a hot air balloon. “Chloe! I love you!” “Declan! I love you too!” It had gone viral just because the hot air balloon cost a staggering fifty million dollars. Netizens were gushing with envy, joking that they were just NPCs in a grand romance, witnessing another fairytale billionaire love story. All I felt was awkwardness. Didn’t they think shouting from the sky was totally ridiculous? What if a bird pooped on them? Not long after, the trending topic was completely scrubbed clean. My mother-in-law called me. “Aubrey, Declan’s just having a bit of fun. Don’t make a fuss, dear. He’s very busy with work, it’s normal for him to unwind. A man, well, who doesn’t have a few people around them? The Maxwell family only recognizes you as their daughter-in-law.” My voice was flat. “Don’t worry, Mom. I won’t make a fuss.” Hearing that, my mother-in-law quickly hung up. They were being so public about it that people had forgotten I was the original wife. What good would a fuss do now? Honestly, before the marriage, I actually did make a fuss. Declan and Chloe were childhood sweethearts, while Declan and I met later. Strictly speaking, I was the latecomer. My father was Declan’s father’s army buddy. After my dad was killed in action, Declan’s father adopted me. I was sixteen then, and my looks had blossomed; I was quite pretty. Declan was smitten at first sight and made a grand show of pursuing me. Declan’s father thought it was a great idea and decided to arrange our engagement. But Declan’s mother didn’t like me. She thought I was from a common background and wasn’t good enough for her perfect son. Not long after the engagement, Declan changed his mind. He said his feelings for me were just a passing fancy, and the one he truly loved was Chloe, his childhood sweetheart! I was furious and constantly at odds with Chloe. We competed in academics, in dancing, in talents. But other than academics, I was inferior to Chloe in everything. I’d never had any exposure to classical arts. Declan and his friends often mocked me, calling me an unsophisticated country bumpkin. Yet, whenever I scored better than Chloe on a test, Declan would accuse me of being too competitive and not as gentle and lovely as Chloe. Right after high school, I poured every ounce of my effort into my exams and became the top student. While I was basking in joy, I heard Declan scornfully say, “She only knows how to bury her head in books. What good is that? She’s not worthy of being my wife.” **Chapter 3** My heart instantly sank. I had actually thought Declan still had some feelings for me. Turns out, he’d always looked down on me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297188”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

My childhood friend and I were about to leave after dinner when someone suddenly blocked our way, insisting I pay for another table. I flat out refused to acknowledge her, saying I didn’t know them, but the woman blew her top. “Damn it, I’m doing you a favor by letting *this lady* pay! You dare disrespect the Sterling Group in Veridian City? You looking for trouble?” Before I could even speak, she got even more arrogant. “Do you even know who I am? I’m Leo Sterling, the CEO of Sterling Group’s wife! Scared now?” I froze for a second, then called Leo Sterling directly. “Heard you have another wife at the company?” … The second I hung up, the woman absolutely lost it. She snatched my phone and smashed it on the floor. “Still calling people, huh? I’m telling you, you won’t walk out of this restaurant tonight!” “Stop it!” My childhood friend, Riley Blackwood, instantly pulled me behind her. “Is this all the Sterling Group’s people have for manners? Randomly stopping people from paying, and then getting physical?” Riley’s words made the woman’s face flush crimson. “Manners? In Veridian City, the name Sterling Group *is* manners!” “I’m telling you to pay, I’m giving you a golden opportunity, got it?” “You want to talk rules with me? My word *is* the rule!” A humorless laugh escaped my lips. I looked up at Vanessa Reed. “No matter how big the Sterling Group is, I’m pretty sure they didn’t teach you to block people and extort money, did they?” Vanessa sneered, hands on her hips, looking like a total menace. “I’m letting you pay because I’m giving you a chance to social climb! Plenty of people are lined up, begging to pay my bill, and I wouldn’t even look twice at them!” “A chance to social climb,” huh? Since when did my Kingston family need to social climb off anyone in Veridian City? I glanced at my friend, her face darkening. She, a high-society heiress from Capitol City, never imagined she’d be bullied like this by some minor Sterling Group VP in Veridian City. Vanessa scoffed, waving a hand towards the door. “Let me tell you, in Veridian City, I, Vanessa Reed, *am* the rule! Get these two idiots who have no idea who they’re messing with and hold them down!” The words barely left her mouth when seven or eight bodyguards in black suits swarmed in, instantly surrounding us. Riley instinctively pulled me further behind her, her eyes blazing. But there were too many of them. Before she could even make a move, two bodyguards had her arms pinned down. “Riley!” I started to rush forward, but then felt a sharp blow to the back of my neck. My vision instantly went black. Through a haze, I saw Riley struggling, cursing, “Bastard!” before someone landed a punch on her cheek. Blood immediately welled up at the corner of her mouth. I was held down on the ground, forced to watch as Vanessa raised her foot and kicked Riley in the stomach, all while cursing. “You dare meddle in my business? Today, you’ll learn that the Sterling Group is not to be messed with!” The bodyguards’ fists rained down on me, dull pain spreading through my body in waves. Riley had only come here to visit, and now she was caught up in this inexplicable mess. I hoarsely yelled, “Vanessa Reed, I am Chloe Kingston, Leo Sterling’s legal wife!” I pointed to Riley, who was still pinned down beside me. “And she’s Riley Blackwood, from the Blackwood family in Capitol City! Let us go now, and this can still be over!” At that, Vanessa’s foot froze mid-air, then she burst out laughing. “Leo Sterling’s wife? Blackwood family? Are you two out of your damn minds from being hit too hard?” The people at her table behind her also started laughing. “Who doesn’t know Mr. Sterling’s wife is VP Reed?” “This person really has the nerve to show off, saying whatever she wants.” “Blackwood family? Capitol City? I’ve never heard of them. She probably just made it up to scare us.” Vanessa leaned down, grabbing a handful of my hair, her eyes vicious. “You say you’re his wife one more time, and I’ll rip your mouth apart. I’m going to show you what’s real and what’s fake. Only *I* can call him Leo, and only *I* am his woman.” Riley, pinned to the ground by bodyguards, blood still trickling from her mouth, spoke with a mocking tone, “Chloe Kingston, Chloe Kingston, so you got married for nothing, huh? She’s openly claiming him right in front of you, and you, the actual wife, are here looking like a walking joke?” Her words caught me off guard for a moment, then I smiled too, but my laugh carried a hint of malice. Vanessa was still yanking my hair. Suddenly, I violently turned my head and bit down hard on her wrist. She shrieked in pain, her grip loosening instantly. Using that momentum, I slammed my knee into the groin of the bodyguard behind me. While he doubled over in pain, I grabbed a nearby beer bottle and smashed it over the head of another bodyguard. By the time Vanessa reacted, I had lunged at her, my balled fist striking her face. She was stunned by the sudden counterattack, stumbling back two steps, nose instantly gushing blood. “You dare hit me?!” Vanessa was both shocked and enraged. She reached out to claw at my face, but I grabbed her arm and slammed her to the ground. I straddled her, raining down punch after punch. The few Sterling Group employees were desperate, drunkenly rushing forward to pull me off. “You dare hit VP Reed? You have a death wish!” Riley, I don’t know when, had also broken free from the bodyguards. She kicked away an approaching employee and yelled at me, “Damn it, beat her to death! I’ve never been so humiliated in my life!” In the chaos, someone grabbed a chair and smashed it onto my back. I grunted, but didn’t stop. Vanessa screamed, trying frantically to grab my hair. “Sterling’s people, kill her! I’ll take responsibility for anything that happens, triple bonus!” The employees swarmed like mad, some pulling my arms, some grabbing my waist, others secretly kicking at my legs. Vanessa, seizing the moment I was being pulled, suddenly kicked me in the stomach. I stumbled back two steps, just about to charge again, when I heard voices from the restaurant entrance. “Everybody stop!” Two people in police uniforms pushed their way in. Seeing the mess, their brows furrowed. But when their eyes fell on Vanessa Reed, battered and bruised on the floor, their faces instantly changed. “VP Reed? What are you doing here? What happened?” One of the heavier officers quickly stepped forward, his tone clearly fawning, reaching out to help Vanessa up. Vanessa, seeing the police, acted as if she’d found her salvation. She pointed at Riley and me, wailing. “Officer Jenkins! These two out-of-towners are crazy! Not only did they refuse to pay the bill, but they also assaulted people! Look at me, and my employees, they’re all injured because of them!” Officer Jenkins glanced at our injuries, clearly dismissing them, and instead sternly yelled at us. “What do you two think you’re doing? Brawling in broad daylight, and daring to hurt Sterling Group’s people? You’ve got some nerve!” “She was the one who stopped us from paying first, and she hit us.” Riley, clutching her mouth, spat. “Nonsense!” Vanessa immediately interrupted. “I was kindly letting them get a little connection with Sterling Group by paying my bill, but they turned hostile and refused to acknowledge me, and even impersonated my husband’s wife and someone from Capitol City’s Blackwood family.” Officer Jenkins clearly believed her, pointing to the broken beer bottles and overturned tables and chairs. “Regardless, you beat people up like this and ruined the restaurant’s property, so it’s definitely your fault! Let me tell you, in Veridian City, who doesn’t give the Sterling Group some respect? VP Reed is Mr. Sterling’s person. If you touch her, you’re disrespecting Sterling Group, you’re messing with the rules of the entire Veridian City!” The other, thinner officer had already pulled out handcuffs and rattled them. “Less talk, let’s go back to the station with us first! Oh, and by the way, the bill for VP Reed’s table, plus the restaurant’s renovation fees, medical expenses, and emotional distress damages – you two will cover all of it. If you then kneel down and apologize to VP Reed, maybe this can still be settled privately.” “Why should we?” I was so angry I laughed. “She was the one who started the trouble, and you’re just convicting us without even knowing the facts?” “Why? Because you’re out-of-towners!” Officer Jenkins impatiently waved his hand. “Here, you follow the rules here! VP Reed letting you pay was her giving you a break, don’t bite the hand that feeds you!” Riley scoffed. “I’d like to see if Veridian City’s rules are above the law of the land.” “Hey, still talking tough, huh!” Officer Hayes stepped forward, trying to cuff me. “Looks like you haven’t learned your lesson!” I sidestepped, dodging him. He instantly got mad, suddenly pulling out a stun gun and flicking the switch. “You want to play hardball, huh?” He jabbed the stun gun at me. “Looks like you want to end up in jail!” A jolt of electricity instantly shot through my limbs. My whole body went numb, and I almost collapsed. Riley quickly grabbed me, yelling at the officer, “You dare abuse your authority?!” “Abuse my authority? I’m performing my duty.” Officer Jenkins also pulled out his stun gun, pointing it at Riley. “In Veridian City, Sterling Group’s business is big business. You two, who don’t know your place, need to be taught a good lesson in rules!” Riley grunted as she was zapped, and a burnt smell filled the air. “You power-tripping pieces of trash… you’ll regret this one day…” “Regret?” Officer Jenkins laughed even harder, using his stun gun to lift Riley’s chin. “You two can regret it slowly when you’re locked up and getting beaten every day!” He turned and smiled obsequiously at Vanessa Reed. “VP Reed, do you think this is enough? I can add more juice if you like!” Vanessa watched from the side, looking smug. “Give them more juice, make them know who’s in charge here!” Officer Jenkins kicked me, then bowed again to Vanessa Reed. “VP Reed, could you give us a heads-up? When’s your due date roughly? My partner and I will definitely prepare a generous gift to congratulate you and Mr. Sterling.” Officer Hayes also nodded, bending at the waist. “Exactly, exactly. You have to give us the honor then, let us share in the good news. Maybe with this opportunity, Mr. Sterling can even give us a leg up.” Mentioning this, Vanessa smiled. “About four or five months, I had someone check, it’s a boy.” Vanessa… was pregnant…

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297187”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

The day I was released from prison, my guys took me to a bar for a welcome back party. But the table next to us was playing a game, and suddenly they wanted me to foot the entire bill for the bar. I politely declined. The guy actually kicked my chair out from under me, grabbed me by the collar, and started screaming. “I’m *the* man, Valentina’s husband! The King of the Emerald City’s underworld! Asking you to pay is doing you a favor, so try saying no again, I dare you!” It wasn’t just me; even my guys behind me were stunned. “Boss, you covered for her for three years. How could she dare to get a new husband outside?” “Has she forgotten what you’re capable of?” … The joy of my release instantly faded. I lowered my head and texted Valentina to demand an explanation. Seeing this, the man flew into a rage, snatched my phone, and tossed it straight into an ice bucket. “Thinking of calling the cops? I’m telling you, the whole Emerald City is my territory. No one can save you!” A nameless rage flared in my chest. I slammed my fist on the table. Behind me, over a dozen of my guys sprang up, rushing forward to form a protective circle around me. “Let go of Jaxson if you don’t wanna die!” The man, instead of getting angry, scoffed and mimicked my gesture, slapping his own table. The bar’s chaotic music suddenly cut out, and the dazzling lights went dark. In the sudden silence, half the people in the venue quickly converged on us. “Ever since our boss, Victor, married Valentina, we haven’t had a troublemaker like this in Emerald City for three years.” “Daring to cause trouble in our man Victor’s place? Today, we’ll show you what real power looks like!” My guys, who had voluntarily stuck by me through three years in prison, stared in disbelief. “Our boss, Jaxson, went to jail for that woman, Valentina, for three years. What the hell happened in those three years?” It wasn’t just them; my mind was reeling too. Three years ago, Valentina hit someone with her car. She was just pregnant then, and she cried and begged me to take the fall for her, promising to look after the crew and raise our child. I didn’t hesitate for a second. But now, everything happening before my eyes made me seriously doubt the past. I slightly lowered my head. Victor thought I was scared and reached out to pat my shoulder. Using the moment he extended his arm, I slammed a beer bottle on the table, shattering it. In a flash, before he could even react, I twisted his arm and body, pressing the sharp, broken edge of the bottle directly against his vulnerable throat. “You say Valentina is your wife. What does that mean?” Victor, who had been so arrogant just moments ago, was scared stiff. His whole body trembled uncontrollably. “What else could it mean? We were in love, I married her, so of course she’s my wife.” When he spoke of Valentina, Victor seemed to regain his confidence. “I’m warning you, don’t touch me. Everyone in Emerald City knows Valentina is crazy in love with me! For my birthday, she booked giant billboards all over the city for three days and three nights to declare her love, and she bought me a downtown high-rise as a wedding anniversary gift! If you dare touch me, my wife won’t let you off the hook!” My scalp tingled with disbelief. I turned my head, signaling my guys to check things out. Taking advantage of my distraction, Victor shoved me hard. The crowd that had been standing behind him instantly swarmed me! I was on my own turf and completely unprepared. I took several hard punches to the chest, almost throwing up blood. Seeing me humiliated, my guys roared and plunged into the brawl. I kicked away the guy pinning me down and, my first priority, stopped my crew. “Don’t fight! You just got out; I can’t have you going back in for me.” Then I jumped onto a table, crossed the chaotic crowd in a few quick steps, and grabbed Victor, who was trying to hide. “Listen up, clearly! My name is Jaxson, and I’m legally married to Valentina!” Victor, seized by me, was flustered at first, then burst out laughing. “I knew it! Who in Emerald City would dare to touch me? Turns out it’s just a lunatic!” Cheers erupted in agreement with his words. “Valentina is madly in love with our man Victor. She sends him luxury cars and mansions every other week. Who are you, some random outsider, to even utter our Sister Valentina’s name?” “Our man Victor and Sister Valentina are a model couple. Who the hell are you, showing up with a few low-level thugs to cause trouble, do you really think we’re scared of you?!” I gritted my teeth, my whole body trembling. I never dreamed that the woman I gave up everything to protect would become a model couple with someone else! My guys around me were fuming, gritting their teeth just like me. “Boss, it’s been three whole years! We can’t just let them get away with this!” “You abandoned everything for that woman at the peak of your power. We have to make her pay for her betrayal!” I took a deep breath, steadying myself. I couldn’t just listen to one side of the story. Valentina depended on me so much back then. Could she really have changed so drastically in just three years? No, I had to get to the bottom of this! My phone was ruined by the water. I rattled off my number and told one of my guys to dial. Hearing the digits I spoke, Victor’s face changed. “You actually got my wife’s private number?!” I reluctantly pressed my lips together. “I told you, I’m Valentina’s husband, legally.” As soon as the words left my mouth, the crowd around Victor surged toward me! “Plenty of white-collar types have coveted our Sister Valentina over the years, but no one has ever dared to challenge our man Victor like you did! Today, we’ll show you what real trouble looks like!” They rushed at me ferociously. I took down a few in quick succession, but then countless more swarmed me. I was outnumbered, and I took some cheap shots, my face stinging from several hard hits, blood trickling from my lip. My guys, seeing this, couldn’t hold back any longer. They grabbed chairs and lunged into the fray, turning the bar into a chaotic mess. These guys were my top enforcers back in the day, skilled fighters, but even a tiger is no match for a pack of wolves. For every one of them that went down, three more stepped up. Before long, everyone was exhausted, protecting me in the center, backs to each other. “Boss, what the hell is going on? Valentina clearly had a lavish wedding ceremony with you back then. When did you two get divorced? How come none of us, your closest guys, knew?!” My teeth felt like they were about to shatter. “Don’t even get me started! I didn’t even know, damn it! Stop fighting for now, preserve your strength, and run!” Knowing we couldn’t win, it was no shame in retreating to regroup. My guys protected me, fighting and withdrawing. Victor watched me fleeing in disarray and burst into laughter. “The woman I, a tiger, protect wouldn’t look twice at a stray dog like you! Chase them!” I’d been in prison for three years, but I still remembered the bar’s underground passage. I took a shortcut to the parking garage, thinking I could shake them off, but somehow, they came down from somewhere and were even faster than me! The front exit of the underground garage was completely blocked, and Victor’s men had locked down the back entrance. A group of them, armed with baseball bats and machetes, swaggered closer, faces full of smug satisfaction. My palms were sweating buckets. I, Jaxson, started from nothing at fifteen, and by twenty, I was the boss of the Emerald City’s underground. I can’t believe that after three years away, I’d come out of prison today only to go down in a gutter! My guys, seeing there was no way out, stood defiantly in front of me. “Boss, we’ll get you out of here, but once you’re out, you have to get a clear explanation from Valentina. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair to us, your brothers, for the three years we spent in prison with you!” With that, they roared, ready to fight to the death. At the crucial moment, I pulled them back. “Don’t panic, there are cops!” I never thought in my life I’d be calling on the police for backup. My guys looked a bit lost. “Are you sure about this, Jaxson? We just got out…” I sighed helplessly, but no matter what, better to bend than break, right? A smart man knows when to adapt. I jogged closer, seeing two traffic cops who were slacking off in the bar’s underground garage, supposedly doing a DUI check. I casually offered them a cigarette, plastering on a slightly ingratiating smile. “Officers, my friends and I were having a party, and they not only told me to pay the entire bill but also started hitting me and my friends. Now they’ve surrounded the bar and won’t let us leave. What do you think about this, sirs…?” The two cops lit their cigarettes off my lighter, giving me a smirk that didn’t reach their eyes. “You mean, they hit you?” I nodded repeatedly. To my surprise, the next second, those two cops flicked their cigarettes, sending the lit ends directly onto my shirt, then stomped them out with a kick. “He’s Sister Valentina’s husband, hitting you is doing you a favor!” “Our man Victor told you to pay the bill for the whole bar, that’s your blessing. You didn’t do it and tried to run, so you deserve to be hit!” My heart lurched. It seemed everything they said earlier was true. Valentina really had betrayed me after I went to prison. Otherwise, why would even these traffic cops show Victor such deference?! Victor and his crew had seen me talking to the cops and deliberately held back, only approaching gleefully when they saw the officers twisting the truth. “If our man Victor hadn’t been making good karma for our pregnant Sister Valentina, do you think you’d even be standing here today?” “Our Sister Valentina is due any day now. It’s her first child, precious beyond measure. Victor swore before Buddha he wouldn’t take any lives to pray for the baby’s blessings. You remember this: it’s Victor and Sister Valentina’s son who saved your pathetic life!” “First child?!” I was astonished. I grabbed Victor, who was standing in front of me. “Are you saying Valentina got rid of my baby?!” Victor went ballistic. He swung a punch at my temple. “Are you really crazy or just playing dumb? Who the hell are you, spewing such disgusting lies about my Valentina?!” My last hope shattered. Three years, all for nothing, a complete joke. My mind was spiraling. I threw caution to the wind and lunged at Victor, fighting him with everything I had, every punch connecting, making him howl in pain. Both sides of the guys were terrified and rushed to pull us apart. “Boss, we just got out, don’t send yourself back inside for that awful woman!” My hand movements suddenly paused. The traffic cops seized the opportunity, pulled tactical flashlights from their car, and shone them directly into my eyes. I was blinded instantly, everything went stark white. They quickly pulled the swollen Victor away. Then, taking advantage of my blindness, they swarmed me, punching and kicking. I gritted my teeth, covering my eyes, while frantically swinging my other arm to ward them off. But Victor, having lost all face, was now completely insane. When I finally blinked my eyes open, I saw him lunging at me with a wicked-looking blade! For a split second, someone screamed, someone cheered. My guys bravely threw themselves forward, trying to shield me. My mind went blank, but then I seemed to hear Valentina’s voice. “What are you doing here?!” The blade, with its blood groove, stopped mere inches from my eyes. Victor turned back in surprise, the fury on his face instantly vanishing, replaced by a wide smile. “Valentina, why are you out here? You should be resting!” “This stray dog dared to badmouth you right in front of me. I was just about to teach him a lesson, planning to cut out his tongue!” I ignored the hands trying to help me up, my gaze fixed on Valentina’s rounded belly. “Valentina, care to explain?” Victor kicked me hard in the face. “Still daring to question my wife? You really have a death wish!” A huge black boot print marred my face. My guys, seeing this, glared furiously at Valentina. “Sister-in-law, our boss Jaxson spent three years in prison for you! He had so many chances to get out early, but to atone for you and the child, he served the full three years! Now that you’re doing well, you just let others humiliate him like this?!” “Don’t you have any conscience, woman?! Even if there’s no love left, don’t you have any gratitude? Did our boss Jaxson waste the prime of his youth for you for nothing?!” I stared fixedly at Valentina, my nails digging into my palms until they bled, but I didn’t even notice. Yet, Valentina lowered her eyes, looked at me, and actually let out a disdainful laugh. Yes, she laughed, as if she had seen something utterly ridiculous. “Jaxson? There’s only one ‘Boss’ in Emerald City now, and that’s Victor.” “Jaxson, you don’t need to hold it over me, bringing up how you went to jail for me. You were enjoying your ‘break’ inside all those years, leaving me to struggle to keep things afloat out here. Victor was there for me through my toughest days.” “If you want money as compensation, just say so. There’s no need to cause trouble on Victor’s turf. So childish!” A suffocating pressure built in my chest, making it hard to breathe. “Valentina…” Before I could finish, the smile vanished from Valentina’s face, replaced by a look of malice. “I’m not finished yet, you don’t get to interrupt!” “I can give you what I owe, but you touched my man, so you’re leaving an arm behind today as an apology to Victor!” Immediately, someone with a knife approached me. I looked at Valentina’s resolute expression, my heart aching to the extreme. “Are you trying to make an example of me, just like I used to do for you, to boost your new man’s reputation?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297186”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

It was three years after my death when my wife, Seraphina Hayes, demanded my kidney for her childhood sweetheart, Julian Thorne, again. She arrived at my old place, donation papers clutched in her hand, only to find strangers living there. Desperate, she tracked down my landlord, Mr. Henderson, to find out where I’d gone. But he just told her: “Liam? He’s long gone! Heard he died from a full-body infection after a kidney surgery. Couldn’t afford the meds, so he just… faded away.” Seraphina scoffed, refusing to believe him. She accused Mr. Henderson of being in cahoots with me, trying to trick her. Her brow furrowed, and she sneered coldly: “It was just a kidney donation, wasn’t it? How could someone *die* from that?!” “Tell him this: if I don’t see him at the hospital tomorrow, he can forget about getting another penny of child support for that kid!” With that, she stormed off, radiating fury. Mr. Henderson watched her retreating figure, then sighed, a weary sadness in his voice: “But that child… he died from his illness a long time ago too. His ashes are still at the funeral home, unclaimed.” 0

I floated above, watching Seraphina Hayes stomp into my old apartment complex, her heels clacking a furious rhythm. Three years. She still wore perfect makeup, but the usual coldness in her eyes sharpened into something truly cruel. “Hey, where’s Liam Miller? I just went to his place, and the tenants told me he moved out!” Seraphina’s blood boiled just thinking about the rude new tenants. She grabbed Mr. Henderson, who was just leaving, her voice sharp and accusatory, lashing out like a whip: “Where’s Liam living now? Don’t you dare tell me you don’t know!” Mr. Henderson, a man in his sixties, flinched at her belligerence. He frowned. “Liam Miller? He…” “Spit it out! I need to see him, now!” “Your urgency won’t help! Liam’s long dead, dear. Heard he died from a full-body infection after a kidney surgery. Couldn’t afford the meds, so he just… faded away.” “Wh… what, dead?!” Seraphina’s face froze for a beat. She clearly hadn’t processed his words. But after a flicker of hesitation, her sneering disdain returned. “Hah! You’re in cahoots with him, aren’t you? Trying to fool me? Listen to this!” She pulled out her phone, quickly tapping open a voice message. Julian Thorne’s sickly sweet voice drifted from the speaker: “Seraphina, I’ve checked with the surgeon. The operation was a success. Liam was transferred to a regular recovery room. But he’s been upset with me since the last surgery, so I guess he’s using all sorts of excuses to avoid donating another kidney this time…” Seraphina let out a harsh laugh, shoving her phone screen in Mr. Henderson’s face. “Hear that? The doctor said he’s fine! What’s the point of making up such pathetic lies?!” Mr. Henderson’s face clouded. “Why would I lie? Liam is truly…” “Shut up!” Seraphina snapped, her voice shrill. “Liam Miller is a selfish, despicable man! He wouldn’t help Julian, and now he’s got people in on his act? Julian needs his kidney. What right does he have to hide?!” Her attitude enraged Mr. Henderson. His voice turned cold. “How can you be so unreasonable, young lady? The man’s gone, and you’re still here, throwing a tantrum!” But Seraphina was focused solely on Julian. She didn’t listen, just kept raging. “You tell him this: if I don’t see him at the hospital tomorrow, he can forget about getting another penny of child support for that kid!” She spun around and left, her heels clacking like angry drumbeats against the pavement, as if venting all her fury on the ground. Mr. Henderson watched her go, shaking his head. He sighed softly. “But that child… he died from his illness a long time ago too. His ashes are still at the funeral home, unclaimed.” I floated in the hallway, listening to his words, my ghostly heart clutched by an unseen hand. Leo, my son… he never got to see his mother one last time, not even when he died… Seraphina exited the complex, pulling out her phone to call Julian. Her voice instantly softened. “Julian, don’t worry. I’ll make sure that bastard Liam gives you his kidney! If he tries to hide, I’ll make sure he never sees that kid again!” On the other end, Julian coughed weakly, feigning concern. “Seraphina, don’t be too hard on him… after all, he was your husband.” Seraphina scoffed. “Husband? Him? He’s not even fit to be called that! If you hadn’t gone abroad back then, why would I have ever married a good-for-nothing like him?!” I floated behind her, listening to those words. My very soul trembled. So, in her heart, I wasn’t even worthy of being called a “husband.” “Daddy…” Lost in thought, I suddenly heard a tender voice. Looking down, I saw Leo floating beside me. His tiny hand gently tugged at my shirt. He looked up, his big eyes filled with confusion. “Why does Mommy call me a bastard? Does she not like me?” My heart lurched. I instinctively shook my head. “No, sweetheart. How could Mommy not like you?” “Then why did Mommy never come to the family sports day at kindergarten?” Leo pouted, his voice dropping. “All the other kids had their mommies with them…” My throat tightened, words caught painfully inside. In an instant, memories flooded back, a crushing tide— Seraphina and I, we once truly loved each other. We met at an industry conference. It felt like fate, love at first sight for both of us. Our courtship, our marriage—everything felt so natural. I still remember her hands trembling, clutching the pregnancy test, the first time she found out. She was shy and excited as she threw herself into my arms: “Liam, we’re going to be parents!” Back then, I thought I’d found the love of my life. But just four months into her pregnancy, Julian came back from overseas. When she got his call, the milk cup in her hand shook so much she dropped it. I’d heard his name from her before, sometimes. But I thought, it was just the past. Since she chose to marry me, she would know her boundaries, take care of our family. I never imagined that from then on, she would grow colder towards me, constantly making excuses to go out. It escalated to early mornings, late nights, even not coming home at all. What truly broke my heart was when she secretly booked an abortion appointment, wanting to get rid of the baby. I even considered divorce. But every time I saw her, I’d remember the days when we were so deeply in love. I longed for her to come back to me, even begging her on my knees. Only then did she reluctantly agree to keep the child. But after that, she always carried the faint scent of a strange man’s cologne. It wasn’t until she was seven months pregnant that Seraphina got into a car accident. The baby was born prematurely, so tiny and fragile in the incubator, like a frail, abandoned kitten. But during her hospital stay, she only allowed Julian to be with her. That bastard took advantage, lying to her that the baby hadn’t made it. And she believed him! She even sighed in relief! I’ll never forget what she said then: “This is for the best… Julian doesn’t like kids. We can start fresh…” In that moment, my heart turned to ice. I secretly took Leo home, deciding never to tell her the truth— I was terrified she would do something to harm our child for the sake of her so-called “love.” But fate is cruel. When Leo was eighteen months old, Seraphina accidentally ran into us, father and son, at the mall. She froze, her face instantly draining of color. Without a word, she rushed forward and slapped me across the face. “Liam Miller, whose child is this? Are you cheating on me?!” I desperately tried to explain it was our son, but she refused to believe me. Julian, standing nearby, fanned the flames: “Seraphina, that kid’s eyes don’t look anything like yours. How could he be yours?” From then on, she started calling Leo “the bastard.” No matter how I explained, even showing her the birth certificate, she was convinced it was proof of my infidelity. “Daddy?” Leo’s voice pulled me back to reality. He tilted his head, looking at me. “Why are you crying?” Only then did I realize my ghostly essence was trembling. So… ghosts can feel heartbreak too. I crouched down, trying to hug him, but my arms passed right through his translucent body. “Leo, Mommy doesn’t dislike you. She just… forgot.” “Then let’s go tell Mommy, okay?” Leo’s eyes sparkled. “Tell her I’m her baby! She’ll definitely remember!” I looked at his innocent, hopeful gaze, my chest aching so much I couldn’t speak. Just then, Seraphina’s phone rang. Julian’s weak voice came through the receiver: “Seraphina, the doctor says I can’t wait… the surgery has to be by tomorrow at the latest…” Seraphina gripped her phone, her eyes hardening. “Don’t worry. I’ll tear this city apart to find Liam Miller, even if I have to turn it upside down!” I floated above, watching this mother and son— One filled with innocent hope, the other consumed by bitter hatred. Suddenly, an invisible force pulled me, following Seraphina’s car. It seemed my soul was still bound to this cruel woman, unable to break free. *** I followed Seraphina to the hospital, my transparent body passing through walls, floating outside Julian’s hospital room. Julian lay in bed, his face ghostly pale, like a sheet. Seeing Seraphina enter, he weakly reached out.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297185”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

I was born with color blindness. A fortune teller once said I had a dark aura that needed to be balanced by someone with strong positive energy. My dad, worried about my future, found seven guys who were said to have exceptionally bright auras. But among them all, my eyes were drawn to Marcus Sinclair— Because in my black and white world, he was the only one in color. I chose him. But on our wedding night, he switched the boxes containing my medication. I usually relied on color to distinguish my pills, and as a result, I accidentally swallowed an overdose of sleeping pills, collapsing in convulsions. Over the phone, he laughed coldly: “Lily Foster, Natalie is in the hospital because of you. It’s time you taste the bitterness of despair.” As the clock ticked away, I counted down my final moments. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day I was supposed to choose a husband. This time, I dug my nails into my palm, refusing to look at Marcus Sinclair who stood in the most prominent position. As my gaze swept across the corner, I suddenly remembered that in my previous life, after I died, only that quiet man had come to collect my body. I raised my hand and pointed directly at him: “I choose him.”

“Lily, do you think changing men will make me care?” Marcus sneered, turning away nonchalantly. “I’ve told you before, I’ll never marry you. If you really like someone else… go ahead and marry them.” Jason Shen, standing nearby, frowned at Marcus’s words and quietly lowered his eyes. Natalie immediately came over and tugged at my arm. “Lily, Marcus is leaving. Why aren’t you chasing after him?” She blinked, feigning concern. “If he gets really angry, you’ll have to beg him to forgive you in a few days.” I shook off her hand and laughed coldly. “Why should I chase after him?” How ridiculous. They had lived in my family’s house since childhood, relying on us for food, clothing, and shelter. Now they expect me, the actual owner, to beg them? In my previous life, I was brainwashed by them, believing that ‘the only color in my world must be my destiny.’ This time, I won’t make the same mistake! “Dad, I want to marry Jason.” My father frowned deeply. “Lily, marriage isn’t a game. This concerns your lifelong happiness!” “Did you have a fight with Marcus?” he probed. “Didn’t you used to like him the most?” Like? That so-called love nearly cost me my life. How could I dare to like him again? I forced a smile. “Dad, people change.” My dad exchanged a glance with the fortune teller, who immediately spread out his tools and began to make a show of divination. After a while, he shook his head dramatically. “Mr. Foster, I’ve carefully calculated. This Mr. Shen has a very unusual aura. He’s not compatible with Miss Lily at all!” “In my opinion, Mr. Sinclair still has the strongest positive energy. Even if they don’t get married, as long as he stays close to Miss Lily, it will keep her safe.” Hearing this, my dad’s face showed hesitation. I directly exposed their trick: “If you say we don’t need to get married, then why not just give him a job to stay in the house? Wouldn’t that work the same?” “Well…” The fortune teller was suddenly at a loss for words, mumbling incoherently. My dad pondered for a moment before finally relenting: “Lily, tomorrow is the anniversary of your mother’s passing. I’ll be away for three days to pay my respects. Take these three days to think it over. Whatever decision you make, I’ll support you.” I nodded gratefully, watching as my dad left. My mom died from complications during my birth. Since then, my dad has poured all the love he had for my mom into me. He took me to see countless specialists, but none could cure my color blindness. Later, when he heard that Marcus could let me see colors, my dad was overjoyed and gave him countless privileges. Who could have imagined that this kindness would eventually become the death warrant for me? In my previous life, when my dad saw my final fate, he must have been heartbroken too. “Lily, quick, think about what gift to send to make up with Marcus!” “How about a yacht?” “A mansion might be more practical.” The group chatted animatedly, completely disregarding my opinions. I folded my arms and coldly watched them. “Who said I was going to apologize?”

Everyone burst into laughter. “Lily, stop being stubborn. If Marcus really ignores you, you’ll end up crying again.” Ignoring my protests, they forcibly pushed me into a car, insisting on taking me to the mansion where Marcus lived. These people were so eager because in my previous life, every time I went to apologize to Marcus, they would tag along and reap considerable benefits. When Marcus saw me, he showed no surprise, just arrogantly turned his face away. The freshly picked flower in his hand was alluringly beautiful, like a bottle of enticing poison, tempting me to come closer. “Give me back the keys to the mansion.” “…What did you say?” I calmly repeated myself, shocking everyone present. “Lily, have you gone mad?!” “Marcus, don’t take it to heart. Lily didn’t mean it. Lily, apologize quickly!” Everyone panicked as if Marcus was the true owner of the Foster family. Marcus slowly walked up to me: “Lily, I’ll give you one last chance.” “No need.” “Fine, I’ll give them back to you.” He took out the keys but let them slip from his fingers just as I was about to catch them. The keys fell into the drain with a ‘clink’. “You!” I knelt on the ground, desperately reaching for the keys. Although the water flow wasn’t strong, the keys always seemed just out of reach. Mocking laughter erupted around me: “Come on, Miss Foster, try harder. If the keys wash away, you won’t be able to apologize.” “Hah, I thought she had really changed, but look at her now, scrambling for Marcus’s keys like a dog.” The keys quickly blended into the dark drain. As I fumbled around, my nostrils filled with the stench of decaying leaves. Finally, I felt the keys. But Natalie immediately pulled Marcus back. “Marcus, be careful, don’t get dirty.” Suppressing my anger, I used the keys to open the mansion’s front door, only to be shocked speechless by the sight before me— “Who told you to touch anything here?!” This was the ancestral home my grandmother had left me. Every piece of furniture was her life’s work. But now, all those old items that carried memories were gone. Marcus carelessly adjusted his cuffs. “Last year, you gave me this house as a birthday gift. Don’t you remember?” “I gave you the right to use it!” I gripped the doorknob tightly. “This is a heritage site. Unauthorized alterations are illegal.” He sneered, “You want to take back something you’ve given away? Miss Foster, you never cease to amaze me.” Natalie, standing to the side, suddenly chuckled softly. “Marcus, Miss Foster probably doesn’t know that all the old furniture has been sent to storage.” She added, feigning thoughtfulness, “We’ve just put them away temporarily~” “We?” I coldly looked at her. “Since when did Miss Sullivan become the mistress of this place?” Natalie’s eyes immediately welled up with tears as she shrank behind Marcus. “I was just… trying to explain…” Marcus immediately shielded her and raised his hand, slapping me hard across the face. “Apologize to Natalie!” Everyone present was stunned. No one expected Marcus to actually hit me. “Never!” Marcus laughed in extreme anger. “Fine! Since Miss Foster values her pride so much, I’ll grant your wish!” Marcus roughly pushed me into the unfinished walk-in closet and locked the door with a click. A blinding whiteness greeted my eyes. The walls, ceiling, and floor were all a stark white. When I was eight, I was once kidnapped. The kidnappers locked me in a room just like this for three days and three nights. Marcus knew this incident better than anyone, yet now he deliberately used my greatest fear to punish me. “Open the door! Marcus!” I pounded desperately on the door, cold sweat already beading on my forehead, but the door didn’t budge. Laughter filtered through from outside: “The young miss sure has a temper.” “Only you can put up with her, Marcus.” “Let her cool off in there for a while. It’ll do her good.” Marcus’s voice penetrated the door, each word cutting deep: “She’s nothing but a lapdog. If it weren’t for Mr. Foster’s sake, who would bother entertaining her?” Even though I knew this man had never loved me, hearing such an evaluation firsthand still felt like my heart was being ripped open. I had offered my sincere feelings for so many years. Even the most ordinary friend would show some respect and affection. But Marcus insisted on trampling my dignity and grinding it into the mud. My breathing began to shake uncontrollably. The air in the confined space felt terrifyingly thin. The heavy smell of paint mixed with the acrid scent of disinfectant churned in my lungs. I opened my mouth wide, desperately gasping for air, but it was as futile as a fish out of water. Drip, drip. Whether it was real water or an auditory hallucination brought on by impending breakdown, the walls before me began to twist and writhe, like countless pale hands reaching out to grab me. Just before I lost consciousness completely, I was roughly dragged out of the room by my arm. “Stop pretending! Natalie is about to go to the press conference. You’re the brand manager, don’t think you can slack off!” I struggled to lift my head and saw several men in suits surrounding Natalie like stars around the moon. The dress she wore made my pupils constrict— “How dare you let her wear my gown?!” That was the wedding dress my grandmother had specially customized for me. Every stitch carried her blessings. “It’s just a dress,” one of the men scoffed dismissively. “Take it off!” I struggled to rush over. Suddenly, Natalie burst into tears. “I’m sorry… It’s all my fault… I’ll take it off right away…” She forcefully tore open the collar. The men immediately surrounded her, hastily covering her with their jackets. My precious wedding gown was carelessly trampled underfoot. The exquisite embroidery was ruined beyond recognition, and the inlaid jewels scattered across the floor. Natalie looked at me with tear-filled eyes. “Are you satisfied now, Miss Foster?” Marcus grabbed a fistful of my hair, his voice ice-cold. “Apologize!” Security guards rushed in at the commotion. “What’s going o—” Before they could finish, Marcus slowly turned, his gaze piercingly cold. “You want to interfere?” The guards’ eyes darted between Marcus and me. Finally, one pressed his radio. “Report, all normal in the villa area.” Then they quickly left. Marcus released my hair and leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Lily, you’d better behave. Otherwise… I can’t guarantee what might happen next.” I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging into my palms. “Marcus, do you really think you’re above the law?” He straightened up with a light chuckle. “I wouldn’t say above the law, but dealing with you… is well within my means.” The press conference staff came to hurry them along. Only then did Marcus temporarily let me go, leading Natalie towards the venue. Marcus quickly got Natalie a new gown and was coaxing her in a low voice. I looked down at my simple white T-shirt and suddenly felt the irony acutely. How could I have been so blind in my previous life? Just as I was about to take my seat, Marcus suddenly pushed me aside. “Natalie, you sit here.” I suppressed my anger. “If she sits here, where am I supposed to sit?” “What?” He raised an eyebrow mockingly. “Don’t tell me you still think this is your reserved seat?” With that, he kicked over a low stool. “Sit if you want, or get lost if you don’t.” He couldn’t resist adding a final jab. “If it weren’t for your dad’s influence, do you think you’d even qualify to be at an event like this?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297184”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic

Seven years into my marriage, I was diagnosed with cancer. After another coughing fit, I collapsed at home, blood staining my lips. That very evening, Liam walked in, holding the woman he’d lost and just found again, his first love, Serena. He kicked open my hospital room door with a violent crash. He shoved a kidney donation consent form directly into my hand. “Serena’s condition can’t wait. You’re young, you’ll recover quickly. I’m begging you.” “Don’t worry, I’ll cover all the surgery costs, and I’ll take care of you afterward.” I didn’t cry out in pain. My hand fumbled, shakily signing my name on the paper. The nurses outside looked at me with disdain. “No wonder she holds her position as Mrs. [Liam’s Last Name]. She’d even give her life for him. Who else could compare?” Liam gently held Serena in his arms, tossing a line at me without even looking back: “After you’re discharged, I’ll take you to Switzerland to see the snow-capped mountains. Isn’t that what you always wanted?” He had no idea my body couldn’t handle the surgery anymore. I was destined not to make it to that day.

On our seventh wedding anniversary, I received my late-stage lung cancer diagnosis. “Ms. [Aria’s Last Name], based on the test results, you’re seven weeks pregnant.” The doctor’s voice seemed to drift from a far-off place. “However, given your current condition, you must begin chemotherapy immediately.” I clutched the diagnosis in my hand, unable to stop myself from asking, “What if… what if I want to keep this baby?” The doctor pushed up his glasses, his tone heavy. “The cancer cells have already spread. If you don’t get immediate treatment, your survival period might not exceed six months.” “And chemotherapy drugs could cause fetal deformities or even death.” I whispered, “So, if the baby lives, I have to die?” “Ms. [Aria’s Last Name], I advise you to terminate the pregnancy as soon as possible.” The doctor’s voice was tinged with professional sympathy. “You’re still young. Once your condition stabilizes…” I didn’t hear the rest of what he said. Seven years. Liam and I had longed for this child for seven whole years. Every negative pregnancy test felt like it was mocking my foolish hopes. Now it was finally here, but it had to be my killer. As I walked out of the hospital, I touched my abdomen, making a decision. I was going to tell Liam the good news. Maybe this child could save our increasingly cold marriage. Maybe, just maybe, he’d hold me tight like he did seven years ago, saying, “Aria, don’t be scared, I’m here.” The villa was empty. Liam wasn’t back again. I had grown used to it. Ever since Serena returned three months ago, he rarely stayed overnight at home. I changed into his favorite white dress and began preparing our anniversary dinner. Candlelight, red wine, his favorite steak. I wrote “Happy 7th Anniversary” on the cake, then sat at the dining table, waiting for him. My phone screen lit up. It was a video from an unknown number. The moment I opened it, my blood froze. Fireworks bloomed in the night sky, forming the letters “AL forever.” That was our special fireworks display, the one he designed for me when Liam and I got married. AL, for Aria and Liam, our initials. But now, standing under the fireworks was Serena, Liam leaning in to kiss her forehead. The video ended on Serena’s smug, triumphant smile. “Aria, did you really think what you stole could ever truly be yours?” “Take a good look, see who he truly loves.” My phone slipped from my hand and clattered to the floor. A metallic taste rose in my throat. I stumbled, grabbing the dining table, and a mouthful of fresh blood splattered onto the pristine white cake. In the last second before darkness claimed me, I seemed to hear Liam, seven years ago, whispering in my ear. “Aria, in this life, I’ll only set off fireworks for you.”

The ceiling swayed in my vision, the antiseptic stinging my nostrils. I blinked, the metallic taste of blood still lingering in my throat. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My hand unconsciously went to my abdomen. It was still flat, yet it already held the life I’d yearned for seven years. The ward door suddenly kicked open, slamming against the wall with a thunderous bang. I jumped, my IV tube swaying violently. Liam strode in, his suit as crisp as if he’d just left a board meeting. In his arms, Serena, like a lazy cat, was wearing that Chanel dress I’d seen in a magazine last week. “Finally awake.” Liam’s voice was edged with impatience. “I’ve waited three hours for you.” My fingernails dug into my palms. Three hours? I’d been unconscious for a whole day and night. Serena peeked out from his arm, her lips slightly pouted. “Liam, it smells awful in here. I’m getting dizzy.” Liam immediately clutched her tighter, pulling out a delicate small bottle from his pocket and placing it at her nose. “Peppermint essential oil. Just sniff it.” I watched silently, like a surreal play unfolding before me. The man who once took an entire day off because of my period cramps was now carefully attending to someone else. Liam turned to me, suddenly pulling a document from his briefcase. “Aria, Serena has kidney failure and needs a transplant.” “The matching results show you’re the most suitable donor.” The document was shoved into my hand. I looked down at the words ‘Living Kidney Donation Consent Form’ and suddenly wanted to laugh. “She’s young and afraid of pain.” Liam’s voice softened. It was the first time today he’d used that tone with me. “You’ve always been strong, and you recover quickly.” A tear splattered onto the signature line, blurring a small patch. I looked up at Liam. His brows were slightly furrowed, but his gaze was fixed on Serena. His fingers gently ran through her long hair. “Pen.” I reached out, my voice so hoarse it didn’t sound like my own. Liam visibly froze, as if he hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. He hastily pulled out his fountain pen and handed it to me. Our wedding anniversary was still engraved on it. I shakily signed my name, each stroke like I was personally burying my own love. After signing, I quickly tucked the cancer diagnosis under my pillow. Liam visibly relaxed, a long-lost tenderness appearing on his face. “Thank you. I’ll cover all the surgery costs, and afterward… I’ll take care of you.” What generous charity. I turned my face away, looking out the window. The sun was still so bright, shining on the small wildflowers on the windowsill. “After you’re discharged, I’ll take you to Switzerland to see the snow-capped mountains.” He continued, his tone lighter now. “Didn’t you always want to go?” My heart clenched violently. It was something we promised during our honeymoon. To go to Switzerland together on our seventh anniversary. He remembered after all. But now the promise sounded so bitterly ironic. “Liam…” Serena suddenly cut him off in a delicate voice, “It’s so stuffy in here, I feel sick…” Liam’s face instantly changed. He scooped her up in his arms. “We’re going back right now.” He turned to leave, then paused. “The surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday. Get some good rest these next few days.” The ward door closed again, his footsteps fading away. “Tsk tsk, how impressive.” The nurses’ whispers drifted from the doorway. “No wonder she can be Mrs. [Liam’s Last Name]. She’d even give her life for him.” I pulled the blanket up over my face, finally letting the tears flow freely.

The next day, I found the doctor again. “Ms. [Aria’s Last Name], are you sure you want to sign this ‘Consent to Forgo Treatment’ form?” The doctor’s pen hovered above the paper, his eyes behind his glasses showing confusion. I slowly nodded. “Given your current physical condition, a kidney transplant is almost equivalent to suicide.” The doctor lowered his voice. “Not to mention keeping the fetus.” “I understand.” I reached out for the fountain pen, saying indifferently, “But the surgery must be done.” “At least wait until the fetus is twelve weeks…” “He can’t wait anymore.” I cut off the doctor, signing my name on the consent form. The ink bled, like a black tear. At the end of the hallway, a long line of women waited at the obstetrics and gynecology clinic, each pregnant woman touching her swollen belly, her face radiating a happiness I dared not dream of. I clutched the examination report, the words ‘Termination of Pregnancy’ stinging my eyes. The operating table was colder than I imagined. As the instruments clinked, I bit down hard on my lip, staring at the ceiling. A sharp pain spread from my lower abdomen to my entire body. My nails dug into my palms, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. Tears streamed down my temples into my hairline. I thought of the hope and disappointment with every pregnancy test over the past seven years, and the euphoria of last week when I learned I was pregnant. This child, unwanted by its father, perhaps it was better if it never came into this world. The nurse wiped the blood from between my legs. “You can leave after half an hour of rest.” I nodded mechanically, my hand instinctively touching my flat abdomen. There had once been a heartbeat. Now, only a desolate silence remained. It was dusk when I returned to the villa. I pushed open the door, and a sweet, cloying scent of ginger tea hit me. In the living room, Liam was half-kneeling in front of the sofa, one hand holding a bowl, the other gently stroking Serena’s hair. “Just one more sip, hmm?” His voice was achingly gentle, completely unfamiliar. “Drink it, and your stomach won’t hurt anymore.” Serena was wrapped in *my* wool blanket, her face pale, yet the moment she saw me, a triumphant smile appeared. She deliberately let out a soft moan, burrowing deeper into Liam’s arms. “Liam, it hurts so much…” Only then did Liam notice me standing at the doorway. His gaze lingered on my pale face for a second, then he frowned. “Where have you been? You didn’t answer your phone.” I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Was I supposed to say I’d just gone and killed our baby? “Go make Serena a bowl of brown sugar water.” He commanded, then turned to gently coax the woman in his arms, “Aria makes the best brown sugar water, try some.” Aria. He hadn’t called me that in a long time. In the kitchen, I mechanically sliced ginger, the knife blade grazing my fingertips several times. Pains in my abdomen came in waves, cold sweat beaded on my back. When the water boiled, I felt a dizzy spell, grabbing the counter to keep from falling. “Not done yet?” Liam’s voice came from behind me. “Serena’s waiting uncomfortably.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297183”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic