Olivia’s Nightmare: An intern named Rachel used some kind of “deposit transfer” on me. No matter how much money I put in my account, the balance would always become $50. In my previous life, I dreamed of buying a house near the company. I finally saved up $50,000 for a down payment. But when I tried to make the payment, the real estate agent told me my balance was insufficient. I checked my bank statements, questioned the bank, and even went to the police, but everyone treated me like I was crazy. Because my bank statements showed every transaction clearly. But I never made those purchases! I’ve always been so frugal! I called my parents in tears, but they just scolded me: “Olivia, are you making excuses for becoming a spendthrift?” “You’re could you make up such a ridiculous story! If you want money from us, just say it. No need to lie.” When I told my coworkers about this, after looking at my bank statements, some of the guys even joked: “Olivia’s spending thousands at a certain bar late at night. That price matches up perfectly with hiring male escorts!” Faced with all these misunderstandings, my explanations were useless. I anonymously posted about this online, but netizens all commented that I was making things up for attention. Only one comment suggested I observe if anyone around me had spending that matched my statements. After careful observation, I indeed noticed that whenever Rachel, the new intern in our department, made a purchase, a deduction would appear in my account. Even buying a drink would show up immediately. After confirming my target, I confronted Rachel directly. But she just laughed at me, saying I was spending recklessly and trying to blame others when I couldn’t save money. She said I must be going crazy. She even colluded with other colleagues and me sent to a mental hospital. After two years of torture in the hospital, I couldn’t take it anymore and escaped to jump into a river. But when never expected that when I opened my eyes again, I’d be back to the day before I was going to buy the house.

After my rebirth, the first thing I did was check my online banking balance. Sure enough, there was only $50 left. I quickly gathered my thoughts. At this point, my money had already been transferred to Rachel’s card through some unknown method. I wanted to confront Rachel and end it all, but remembering how my parents’ hair turned white overnight after my death in my previous life, I regretted my actions. If I acted impulsively again like last time, I’d only repeat the same tragedy. Just then, Sarah, our department manager, called me over. “Olivia, this order is tough be a bit tricky, but the commission is $500! Don’t say I’m not looking out for you!” I swallowed hard, almost instinctively. $500 would be enough for a month’s rent, with plenty left over. But I still declined. “Sarah, thank you. But I don’t want to take any orders for the next month.” Ignoring Sarah’s shocked expression, I turned and left the office. Because of the poor soundproofing, the colleagues outside had already heard everything. Immediately, discussions broke out. “Olivia is the top salesperson in the whole company, nicknamed ‘Hardworking Olivia’. She’s actually not taking orders today?” “Not just today, didn’t you hear her say she won’t take any for the next month!” Ignoring the chatter around me, I opened a food delivery app and ordered the largest iced Americano, then deducted the last $50 from my card. You should know, in my previous life, I couldn’t even afford a $4 sweetened coffee. To put down roots in this expensive city, I had tied my life to my belt. Every day, I’d work on client follow-ups until 2 or 3 AM, then get up before dawn to squeeze into the packed subway for two hours, just to clock in at the company on time. One late arrival meant a $50 fine. That was nearly a week’s worth of food money for me. I dreamed of buying a house near the company, even if it was just a 300 square foot studio. Every month when I got paid, I’d only leave $300 for living expenses. The rest, I’d put into my bank account. But I never expected that the $50,000 down payment I had desperso hard would up in someone else’s pocket! Just then, the office door was suddenly pushed open. “Girls! Lunch is on me!” Rachel’s loud voice instantly filled the room. She was beaming, carrying the latest Chanel bag, looking like she’d just won the lottery. “Let’s go to the New Moon Hotel! Order whatever you want!” The office erupted,oded with excitement, colleagues crowding around her. “Rachel, did you strike it rich?” “Which sugar daddy did you hook up with?” I didn’t move, just holding my coffee, staring at her coldly. Because I knew, she was spending my money. Rachel, surrounded by everyone, waved her hand, pretending to be modest: “Oh, it’s nothing. I just bought a lottery ticket the other day and won a small prize.” Someone immediately asked, “How much did you win?”

Rachel glanced at me, a smug smile tugging at her lips. “Not much,” she said casually, few hundred thousand.” “Whoa—” A collective gasp went around the room. A few hundred thousand was an astronomical figure for us working folk barely making over $10,000 a month. But I noticed that since Rachel entered, her gaze kept drifting towards me, intentionally or not. As if observing a lab rat’s reaction. She was watching to see if I had discovered that my bank card had become useless. I suppressed the hatred surging in my heart, holding back the accusations that almost spilled out. I couldn’t startle the snake in the grass just yet. I stood up, forcing a smile that was just right, even with a hint of envy. “Congrats, Rachel! You’ve me bask in your good fortune.” Rachel saw my normal demeanor and flashed a look of surprise, then secretly let out a sigh of relief. She probably thought I hadn’t noticed the anomaly in my savings yet. As lunchtime approached, Lily, who sat next to me, suddenly leaned over. “Olivia, didn’t you say you’d go house hunting once you saved enough for a down payment? When are you going? I’ll come with you.” At the mention of the house, I clenched my fists tightly, my nails almost digging into my flesh. But I quickly relaxed, my face still calm and collected. “No rush,” I said. “I lost my ID card a few days ago and it takes time to get a new one. Besides, with house prices falling so fast, I’ll wait and see a bit longer.” As soon as I finished speaking, I felt a gaze fall on me again. It was Rachel. She was looking at me again, her eyes unable to hide a hint of glee. Rachel was originally an intern who had only been with the company for two months. She was 5’3″, weighed 400 pounds, had an average appearance, and was at the bottom in terms of performance. In our sales department, which valued looks and results, she should have been at the bottom of the food chain. But in my previous life, it was her who took my $50,000 and first went for full-body liposuction, then plastic surgery. She transformed overnight into a beautiful rich girl that everyone loved. It was also her who used my money to buy people’s hearts, colluding with several male colleagues to have me sent to a mental hospital on the grounds that I was “mentally unstable”. Thinking of the torture in the mental hospital for those two years, I took another deep breath to calm myself. At noon, Rachel took us to the New Moon Hotel for lunch, telling us to order whatever we wanted with a grand air didn’t hold back. I opened the menu and pointed straight to the most expensive pages. “King crab, the biggest one.” “Australian lobster sashimi.” “And this, foie gras.” “Let’s have some bird’s nest soup too.” With each dish I ordered, the expressions of my colleagues around me became more and more interesting. Lily tugged at my sleeve and whispered, “Olivia, isn’t this… too wasteful?” I smiled at her without saying a word. How could spending my own money be called wasteful? Rachel’s cheeks twitched, but in front of everyone, she could only force a smile. “It’s fine, Olivia is our top salesperson, she’s worked hard and deserves to eat well, it’s only right.” She smiled brightly. “In the future, she’ll need to eat well and work hard to create more results for our department!” Before I could speak, a colleague next to me chimed in: “Oh, Rachel, you weren’t here this morning so you don’t know. Olivia just told Sarah that she’s stopping all her orders for the next month.” The air instantly fell silent. I wiped the corners of my mouth leisurely with a napkin, raising my eyes to look at Rachel. The smile on her face froze inch by inch. “What did you say?” She stared at me, her voice sharp as she shouted: “Olivia, why are you stopping orders?” “What do you mean?”

I met Rachel’s eyes that were almost spitting fire, slowly curling my lips. “Why are you so worked up about me stopping orders?” The colleagues around also looked at each other in confusion, the fire of gossip burning in their eyes. “Yeah, Rachel,” Lily couldn’t help but speak up, “Olivia isn’t in a hurry, why are you reacting so strongly?” “Right, anyone would think you’re the one stopping orders.” The chatter of the crowd was like cold water, instantly waking Rachel from her outburst. The ferocity on her face quickly faded, and she squeezed out an extremely concerned expression. “I… I’m just worried for Olivia!” She raised her voice, as if that would make her seem more sincere. “Didn’t you say you were just a few orders away from having enough for the down payment? The South City No. 1 orders are so hard to get, if you stop now, how much money will you lose! I’m just feeling bad for you!” She was on the verge of tears, acting as if it were real. I laughed. “I’m tired and want to rest,” I said casually, picking up a lobster and slowly peeling off the shell. “Besides,” I paused and up at her, my gaze pure and innocent, “didn’t you just win big? A few hundred thousand, right? If I really end up short on the down payment, you… wouldn’t refuse to lend me some, would you?” The air froze again. All eyes focused on Rachel. The color drained from her face in an instant, her lips trembling, unable to utter a word. I put the peeled lobster meat in my mouth, adding leisurely. “Our Rachel is so generous, she definitely would, right?” Caught in my trap and scorched by everyone’s gazes, she finally squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth. “Of… of course I would.” Afraid I might really ask, she quickly added: “But I didn’t win that much, it’s just… just pocket money.” I looked at the new Celine dress she was wearing, the limited edition Chanel bag beside her, and this table of food that could feed an ordinary person for half a year. Indeed. My $50,000 really wouldn’t last her long at this rate. I enjoyed this meal thoroughly. Before leaving, I had the waiter pack up all the untouched king crab and lobster. I heard a few colleagues whispering behind my back. “My god, taking leftovers home, how unsightly.” “Yeah, acting like she’s never eaten before, so embarrassing.” I heard them but pretended not to, just smiling at Rachel. “Rachel, look how much you’ve spent, it would be such a waste not to take all this good food home. I’ll take it back to eat, you don’t mind, right?” Rachel’s face had become a palette of colors. But in front of everyone, she could only grit her teeth and nod. “I… don’t mind.” Back at the company, I nonchalantly put the taketakeout boxes in the communal fridge, perfectly ignoring my colleagues’ strange looks. In the afternoon, I knocked on the door of the finance office. “Emily, I want to withdraw half a month’s salary in advance.” Emily, the finance manager, looked up at me: “According to the rules, it needs the manager’s signature, and it’s usually transferred to your account at the end of the month.” I handed over an application form that I had prepared earlier, already signed. “The manager approved it.” “And, I don’t want a transfer.” “Just cash.” If money in the card would mysteriously transferred away, then cash should be safe, right? An hour later, I was back at my desk, holding an envelope with a thick wad of bills. This was my base salary for this month and part of last month’s commission, $1,500 in total. I stuffed the envelope into the deepest compartment of my bag and zipped it up. In my previous life, it was from this $50,000 that I began my descent into the abyss, step by step. In this life, I would climb up from this $1,500. But I hadn’t even sat down for five minutes. My right eyelid started twitto twitch uncontrollably. Thump, thump, thump. Each twitch more violent than the last. An extremely ominous feeling instantly gripped my heart! I hurriedly unzipped my bag and reached into that compartment— Empty! The envelope was still there, but the thick wad of cash inside had vanished! My blood instantly ran cold, every hair on my body standing on end. I hadn’t expected that Rachel’s method of transferring my deposits would have no limits! Was she trying to cut off all my options? I looked towards Rachel not far away, just in time to see a flash of glee on her face. I clenched my fists tightly. Luckily, I had already thought of a way to break this deadlock!

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In the final stages of cancer, my only chance at life-saving chemotherapy was bought out by Frank and given to Rachel, who was in the early stages. I gave up on the doctor’s life-saving plan and swallowed strong pain-blocking medication. The price was organ failure and death in 3 days. During these 3 days, I gave up everything. When I handed over all my hard-earned assets to Rachel, my parents smiled with satisfaction. When Frank presented the divorce papers and I signed without hesitation, he sighed and said I was very understanding. When I pushed Lily to call Rachel “mom”, she excitedly said mom was the best. Even when I gave all my properties and assets to Rachel, they didn’t notice anything wrong. They just looked at me with contentment and said, “Our sensible Chloe has finally come back.” But I’m also curious, will they remember me after I die? Under the doctor’s pitying gaze, I swallowed the pain-blocking medication. I had 3 days left to live. After taking the medicine, I went to Rachel’s hospital room. Inside, Dad was peeling an orange for Rachel while Mom chatted with her. When they saw me enter, the smiles on my parents’ faces instantly turned cold. “What, done pretending to be sick and here to pick on Rachel again? Chloe, I’m warning you, don’t you dare bully Rachel while we’re here!” Dad glared at me, his tone icy. “Our Wilson family has always had strict discipline. I don’t know where you learned such bad behavior, being jealous of Rachel and even trying to steal her treatment opportunity,” Mom scolded, pointing at me. “If I had known, I never should have given birth to you!” In a corner hidden from my parents’ view, Rachel smiled at me, her eyes full of provocation. I lowered my gaze. I had heard these words from my parents countless times before. In the past, I would have argued with them and exposed Rachel’s true nature in front of everyone, even though my parents never believed a word I said. But now I was tired, too exhausted to fight anymore. “Well, it’s good you’re here. I have something to discuss with you,” Dad spoke up. I smiled faintly. “Dad, I have something to tell you too.” “Doesn’t Rachel want my store business and company? I’ve thought it over – she can have it all!” Dad was stunned for a moment. Mom also looked at me in surprise. “How did you know I was going to talk to you about this today? You agree?” I forced a smile. No wonder they were shocked and kept confirming. Rachel had wanted my hard-earned businesses for a long time. My parents had said all kinds of things, good and bad, trying to get me to hand over my life’s work to Rachel. But I had always refused. Now that I was dying anyway, these things meant nothing to me. Seeing I looked serious, Mom finally smiled in relief and stepped forward to pat my head. “You’ve finally come to your senses!” “Rachel has always been more talented than you, even when you were in school. Although she’s sick now, her financial management skills are better than yours,” Mom said. “We’ll feel much more at ease if you let her take over your stores and company.” I forced another smile and handed the transfer documents to Rachel. After seeing Rachel sign, my parents happily held my hands, calling me a good child over and over. I felt a hint of bitter irony in my heart. How laughable – only when I gave in to Rachel would Mom smile at me. But I was also curious – if Mom discovered Rachel’s true nature after I died, would she and Dad regret it? That evening, I returned home to find my husband Frank and daughter Lily cooking in the kitchen. Perhaps because of my late-stage cancer, I closed the door softly. The father-daughter pair seemed not to notice, laughing as they cooked together. Frank turned around with a plate of food and saw me. His smile froze for a moment before returning to normal. “Chloe, when did you get back? I didn’t hear you come in.” I silently looked at the dish in Frank’s hands – stir-fried vegetables, Rachel’s favorite. The presentation rivaled that of a professional chef. How ironic. I was about to die, and only now did I learn that Frank, my husband of 5 years, could cook. In the past, he always complained about my cooking. Under Frank’s influence, Lily gradually started criticizing me too. I had worked so hard for this family, but in the end, I didn’t earn an ounce of respect. In the past, I might have started screaming hysterically by now. But now I just calmly walked past them and sat on the couch, sorting through the things in my bag. Seeing my silence, Frank hesitated for a moment. He put the dish on the table and walked over. “Chloe, there’s something I want to discuss with you today.” Frank rubbed his nose awkwardly, hesitating before continuing: “It’s about your sister Rachel.” My heart sank. A bad feeling suddenly washed over me. Frank’s next words left me stunned: “After Rachel finishes her cancer treatment, she’s been feeling very depressed. So your parents suggested I marry Rachel to cheer her up.” My ears were ringing. It took a long time before I found my voice again. “So… you agreed?” Frank sighed. “Chloe, even though Rachel isn’t your biological sister, she’s still family after your parents adopted her. It’s just to cheer her up. Once Rachel is discharged, I’ll still be your husband and Lily’s father.” Before I could speak, Lily chimed in: “That’s right, Mom. Aunt Rachel has been so sad lately. You need to understand!” I silently looked at the father and daughter in front of me. This was the man I had loved for years. This was the child I had raised with such difficulty. I had never done anything wrong. I had given my all to my family, husband, and child. I could face them with a clear conscience. In the end, this was how they repaid me – with betrayal. But it didn’t matter now. If Rachel wanted everything, I would give it all to her. I didn’t want any of it anymore. I raised my head to look at Frank. “Alright, I agree.” Frank’s eyes flashed with surprise. “Really?”

He quickly took out divorce papers from a drawer and placed them on the table. I smirked inwardly. Oh Frank, you can’t even bother to hide your impatience? I picked up the pen and quickly signed my name. After signing, Frank’s face was full of relief. His expression was solemn yet affectionate. “Chloe, once Rachel is discharged, we’ll remarry. Don’t worry, I’ll never let you down!” Frank finished speaking and signed the divorce papers as well. After signing, he looked at me and sighed. “Chloe, you’ve become much more sensible than before. I’ve made mistakes in the past too. I was wrong. After Rachel gets better, I’ll never let you worry about anything again!” “That’s right, Mom!” Lily chimed in like a little adult. “Mom is so good to Aunt Rachel. I’m proud of you!” Looking at them, my heart turned to ashes. Before this, I had held out one last shred of hope for Frank and Lily. But now… Forget it. I had no expectations left, except for death. I stood up, intending to go back to my room to rest. A wave of intense dizziness hit me. I couldn’t help but faint. In the last moment before everything went black, I saw Frank’s worried face. I was jolted awake by a wave of cold. When I opened my eyes, I was surprised to find myself still lying on the floor. Frank and Lily were looking at me with disappointed expressions. “Dad, I told you Mom was faking again!” Lily said. “Mom, can you stop being so childish? You’re really holding us up from going to visit Aunt Rachel at the hospital!” Faking? Frank also spoke up with disappointment: “Chloe, can you stop making a scene? I already told you, even though we’re divorced, you’re still the one I love. There’s no need to use such childish tricks to test me!” After hearing Frank’s words, I finally understood. The pain-blocking medication I had taken would suppress all symptoms for these 3 days. During this time, I would look like a normal, healthy person. But the side effects were severe. After 3 days, I would die from organ failure. It seemed the medication was working quite well. I forced myself to stand up. “It’s probably just low blood sugar. I’m fine. I’ll go to the hospital with you. There are some transfer documents Rachel still needs to sign.” Frank nodded. There was no surprise on his face. My parents must have told him in advance. At the hospital, Rachel was watching TV in her room. “Chloe, you’re here!” Rachel’s face was still very pale, but her spirits seemed much better. However, I didn’t miss the smugness and arrogance in her eyes. “Chloe, thank you for trusting me to manage your businesses. Don’t worry, I won’t let you down!” “That’s right, Chloe. With Rachel managing your stores and company, you can stay home and collect dividends every day. How nice!” Mom said with a smile. I took out the remaining documents from my bag. “In that case, I’ll let her manage all my assets too. That way I won’t have to worry about anything in the future.” Everyone in the room froze. “Chloe, are you serious? You want to give Rachel all your assets?” Frank grabbed my arm, his eyes full of shock. This time it was my turn to be confused. In the past, they had always sided with Rachel. Whatever Rachel wanted, they gave her. If I refused, they would berate me endlessly. How come now that I was giving Rachel everything, they suddenly didn’t understand? Dad was the first to recover. His eyes were full of approval. “This child has finally come to her senses! Our efforts in raising you weren’t wasted!” “Chloe, it’s good that you’ve learned to accept your sister now,” Mom added. “From now on, you two can live well together. Even when we’re old, we can rest easy!” Rest easy? Dad, Mom, you’ve been fooled by Rachel’s act for too many years. Do you really believe Rachel will manage everything well? My head started spinning again. My nose felt itchy. When I touched it, I realized it was a nosebleed. “Chloe, why are you getting a nosebleed? The weather isn’t even dry,” Mom asked. I paused as I wiped the blood. In the end, I couldn’t help but look at them and speak: “Dad, Mom, if I really died from illness one day, would you regret it?” But Mom’s expression didn’t even change. She just smiled and glanced at me. “Your face looks so healthy, how could you possibly die from illness? Don’t say such unlucky things!” “Yes, Rachel is different. We need to make sure she gets proper nutrition once she recovers!” Dad said, looking at Rachel with concern. “I agree!” Lily chimed in. “Mom looks so healthy. Aunt Rachel is the one we’re most worried about!” The last glimmer of hope in my heart disappeared completely. I had nothing left to look forward to… I lowered my head to look at Lily and smiled as I spoke: “Lily, didn’t you always want Rachel to be your real mom? I agree now. Rachel is your mom now. Why don’t you call her ‘Mom’?”

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My home was about to be submerged by floodwaters, but my rescue captain husband took all his team members to save the woman he’d always pined for – Celeste. That’s when I knew: he’d also been reborn. In my last life, when my husband found out I was in danger, he rushed to save me. Because of that, he missed Celeste’s call. She had a severe depressive episode and ended up taking her own life. But right before she did, she posted online, claiming I’d cyberbullied her for years and stolen her beloved. After her death, I was cyberbullied relentlessly. My husband, Julian, said he didn’t blame me and treated me as he always had. But on the day I gave birth, he broke my limbs and my baby’s. Then, in front of Celeste’s grave, he threw my son and me into a small, portable tub. “I never would have married you if I’d known you’d been bullying Celeste for so many years!” “You can swim, yet you deliberately called me to save you. It’s all your fault Celeste took her own life!” I listened to my baby’s heartbreaking cries, and died in despair. When I opened my eyes again, it was this very day – the flood. This time, let him go save his precious Celeste. …

My house was a cozy two-story home in the suburbs. I’d already run up to the second floor, but the torrential rain was relentless, and the water level was rising incredibly fast, already up to my waist. My baby inside me seemed to sense my fear, moving uneasily too. “It’s okay, baby, we’ll be saved!” I touched my belly, trembling as I climbed onto the desk. This time, I didn’t call Julian. Instead, I called Ben, the deputy captain of the rescue team. But it was Julian who answered. “Enough, Scarlett. This is a critical moment for saving lives. Can you stop causing trouble? You know how to swim, and we have a kayak at home. You’re the least likely person to get into trouble!” He roared in frustration before hanging up. He completely forgot that I’d almost drowned trying to save Celeste before, and since then, I’d had a deep-seated fear of water. As for the kayak he’d given me for my birthday… Celeste had simply said she wanted it, and he’d immediately loaded it into her car. I hadn’t even touched the packaging. But after being reborn, I’d given up on explaining anything to Julian. I called Ben again. This time, he answered himself, but his attitude wasn’t much better than Julian’s. “Seriously, Scarlett, are all you pregnant women this dramatic?” “No matter how deeply Julian feels for you, he can’t handle this kind of trouble. The captain has already taken the other team members to save Miss Celeste. Stop calling; no one has time for your nonsense. You’re just wasting valuable rescue resources!” “You’re only getting away with this because you’re the captain’s wife. Otherwise, I’d curse you out. I hate it when women just cause more problems!” Ben cursed at me before blocking my number. Actually, it didn’t matter if he blocked me or not. Just moments ago, all network communications had crashed. I couldn’t make calls or send messages. Even worse, standing on the desk wasn’t much help. The water quickly rose to my armpits, and I started to feel chest tightness, gasping for air. In about twenty minutes, the water would completely swallow me. I strained to lift my neck, trying to breathe more easily, but tears flowed uncontrollably. In my last life, as soon as the flood reached the second floor, I’d called Julian for help. He was an orphan and had always yearned for his own small family, so he deeply valued the child in my womb. When he received my distress call, he was even more anxious than I was. Julian rushed to save me at top speed, missing Celeste’s call in the process. She then jumped into the floodwaters to take her own life. Before she died, she posted a video, claiming I’d cyberbullied her for over a decade, causing her severe depression. Now, her beloved had also been stolen by me, and she couldn’t bear it anymore. Because Celeste was a well-known anti-depression influencer, this video made me the target of such intense cyberbullying that I had a mental breakdown. I explained I’d never done any of those things, but the internet didn’t believe me. Aside from my family, only Julian stayed by my side. He said it wasn’t my fault, treating me with an unprecedented tenderness and care. I actually felt fortunate, believing I’d chosen the right partner, that I was the happiest woman in the world. However, on the day I gave birth, Julian took us to Celeste’s grave. He made my baby and me atone with our lives in front of her tomb. “You know how to swim, and you had a kayak at home; you wouldn’t have drowned. Yet you insisted on calling me for help… In these ten years, that was the only time I chose you, and it killed Celeste. You truly deserve to die!” But I was his wife, and I was carrying his flesh and blood! Wasn’t it his duty to save us? Julian dragged my hair, cursing me with the vilest, most disgusting words, his eyes bloodshot as if possessed. “If a single strand of Celeste’s hair fell out, I’d feel like I hadn’t taken care of her. How *dare* you bully her right under my nose?” “Does it hurt to watch your own son die? When Celeste died, I felt even worse than you do now!” “Didn’t you lie, saying you almost drowned that day? Then you should also experience what it feels like to drown!” I wanted to say I’d never bullied Celeste. I wanted to scream for help. But I couldn’t utter a single word. I listened to my baby’s painful, sharp cries, as water filled my eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. In the end, I could only die, helpless and despairing, tears streaming down my face.

I didn’t want to go through that agony again, which is why in this life, I sought help from other members of the rescue team. To my shock, Julian had already ruined my reputation within the rescue team, convincing everyone not to save me. I watched my meticulously decorated wedding home being swallowed by the flood, a bitter ache seizing my chest. Julian had once said that his childhood home was a small two-story house with a yard, and that kind of place felt like a true home. So, I gave up buying a house in the city, pouring all my savings into building a small house with him in his old village. Back then, he hugged me, his eyes red, thanking me for giving him his ideal home and promising to love me forever. And I actually believed him… What a joke. As the water reached my neck, I refused to sit by and wait for death. I forced open the highest window and, amidst the howling wind and pouring rain, precariously balanced myself on the sill. Below me, less than two feet away, was rushing floodwater. There was nothing on the roof to hold onto for support. If I lost my balance and fell, I’d surely die. Luckily, I still had some good fortune. Two rescue boats passed by. “Help!” “Help me!” I waved my arms, screaming for help. The first boat heard me and steered closer. It held a middle-aged couple. “It’s a pregnant woman.” “Don’t be scared, darling, we’ll save you now!” Hearing their comforting voices, my eyes stung with tears, and I repeatedly nodded. Thank goodness these strangers were willing to help me. But just as they brought their boat closer, the second rescue boat also approached. Ben was in it, along with several people he’d already rescued. Ben saw someone about to save me and frowned in disgust. “Brother and Sister, you don’t need to bother with her. She can swim, and she has a kayak. Everyone else might get into trouble, but she won’t.” He was Julian’s teammate and best friend; he never questioned Julian’s words. Ben shouted at me, “No wonder Julian always says Miss Celeste is a pampered lady, but kind and generous, while you, an unsophisticated country bumpkin, are selfish and greedy… He really wasn’t wrong about you! Scarlett, you’re wasting rescue resources. Do you know how many lives could be lost because of you?!” With the window open, wind and rain poured into the house, and the water level rose even faster than before. The others listened to Ben’s endless rant, growing desperate. “Are you out of your mind? That’s a pregnant woman! You want her to swim? Would *you* dare to swim in floodwaters?” “She’s a pregnant woman, almost swept away by the flood, and she can’t ask for help? Does she have to die for it not to be a waste of resources?” “Don’t listen to this idiot! Just save her!” Both rescue boats simultaneously sped toward me. But it was already too late. I clung tightly to the window, but the surging floodwaters still ripped me away. I bobbed up and down in the torrent, no matter how hard I thrashed or cried for help, I couldn’t grasp anything to save me. The two rescue boats, which had seemed like my only hope, quickly vanished from my sight. Terror, fear, then finally, despair. In my last conscious moment, I painfully caressed my belly. “I’m so sorry, baby.” “Mommy still couldn’t protect you…”

In a hazy dream, I was transported back to a long time ago. Julian confessed his feelings to me after Freshman Orientation Week. I had never considered dating, but if it was him, I simply couldn’t refuse. We got together. Soon after, rumors reached my ears. Many people said: “Julian’s truly in love with Celeste, but he’s just an orphan who was fostered by her family.” “That privileged lady doesn’t even like him. She was afraid her crush would misunderstand their relationship, so Julian just found a random girlfriend.” “Otherwise, why would Julian, the school heartthrob, ever notice an unsophisticated girl like Scarlett?” I thought Julian wasn’t that kind of person, so I asked him directly if it was true. He said no, and I believed him. After we started dating, Julian was wonderful to me. From high school to junior year of college, our classmates’ relationships came and went, but we remained as if perpetually in love. Even the ones who spread rumors in high school changed their tune. They said they envied us, saying it seemed Julian truly loved me. I always believed that, until senior year, when Celeste returned from studying abroad. “Celeste is sick.” “Celeste is upset.” “Celeste forgot her umbrella.” “Celeste…” My once perfect, attentive boyfriend started to frequently ditch me for another woman. The name “Celeste” became a constant ache in my heart. So, when Celeste actively sent me a friend request, I accepted it. I felt like a thief, sneaking glances at her Ins posts: Turns out, on my birthday, Julian went with her to get her nails done. Turns out, on our wedding anniversary, he was cooking for her at her house. Turns out… There were so many. My eyes stung with tears as I scrolled. My body ached all over. I opened my eyes and found myself in a hospital room. Ben was guarding me nearby. When he saw I was awake, he looked excited, awkward, and guilty. “Scarlett, you’re finally awake. I’m so sorry. Julian said you were just being dramatic and trying to get attention, and I misunderstood you.” “When you were swept away, I was terrified.” “Thank goodness you were lucky enough to be rescued midway, or I really would have regretted it for the rest of my life!” I didn’t respond to him. My stomach was cramping terribly, and crimson blood streamed from between my legs. I tilted my head back, gasping for air, but it felt like I was back in my last life, when Julian broke my limbs and threw me into that tub… The pain was so intense I couldn’t even scream! Ben, terrified, quickly called for doctors and nurses. The doctor came in, holding a stack of test results, his brows deeply furrowed. “The pregnant woman suffered a severe infection in the flood. The baby can’t be saved. We need immediate surgery. Has the patient’s family arrived yet?” “Coming right away, right away!” Ben frantically called Julian. In his haste, he accidentally put it on speaker. Julian’s angry voice blasted from the phone: “Ben, what kind of benefits did Scarlett give you that you’re helping her lie now? And here I thought you were my best friend!” Ben fired back, “Before you speak, lay a hand on your heart! How severe was this flood? Did you really have no clue whether your two-story house would be flooded?!” From Julian’s end, Celeste whimpered, saying she was scared of the thunder outside. Julian’s voice instantly softened with concern: “Celeste isn’t doing well. I need to stay with her. Stop bothering me with calls!” I had always known how much he cared for Celeste. But even now, in this moment, I felt an overwhelming chill. This was the man I had loved with all my heart for over a decade… The medical instruments shrieked, a piercing alarm. The doctor rushed over instantly: “Patient is hemorrhaging, heart rate dropping rapidly! Prepare for emergency resuscitation!”

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The day I paid cash for our marital home, my boyfriend let his ‘one that got away’ move into our bedroom. He even packed up my things and tossed them outside like trash. “Seraphina needs to smell my scent to fall asleep. She can’t handle stimulation. Can’t you just give in a little?” My boyfriend locked me out, and I dragged my luggage through the streets, drenched in rain. A Maybach pulled up beside me. The window rolled down, revealing deep, captivating eyes behind dark sunglasses, twinkling with a mocking smirk. “Need a hand, gorgeous?” I was reborn. Reborn on the very day I paid cash for the marital home with my boyfriend. This time, I wasn’t stupid enough to put his name on the deed. After the paperwork was done, I tucked the front door key into the most hidden pocket of my bag. Then, I went home. Outside the door, a suitcase sat alongside several large bags of my belongings. I inserted the key, twisted it. Just as I expected, the door was double-locked from the inside.

I pounded on the door, so hard that a neighbor flung open their window and started yelling. Only then did Alex reluctantly crack the door open just a tiny bit. He stammered, blocking my entry. “Alex, has Seraphina moved back in?” I called him out, no point in hiding it. My boyfriend turned his face away, avoiding my gaze that seemed to pierce through everything. “Seraphina’s a bit unstable right now. Yelling like this will only worsen her condition.” So, I’m the one in the wrong for just speaking normally? “Alex, you let a woman you haven’t seen in eight years sleep in *our* bed. Are you out of your mind?!” “She’s your high school regret? Then what about our ten years together? Was I just a fool?” “You said you’d marry me when I could afford to pay cash for our marital home. Would you demand the same from Seraphina?” *SPLAT!* Alex slapped me. My right cheek immediately swelled, the searing pain burning through my shock, sharpening my resolve. “Stella! Why are you still so childish?!” “Seraphina just got out of the hospital. She has no one else besides me. What’s wrong with her staying at our place for a bit?” His face flushed crimson, veins popping in his neck, as if *I* was the one being unreasonable. I pointed at the bags of skincare products and clean clothes, overflowing from trash bags on the concrete floor, and sneered: “Heh… So, I have to leave?” Alex turned his back, his voice strained: “Seraphina needs to smell my scent to fall asleep. She can’t handle stimulation. Can’t you just give in a little?” *Your* scent? Alex, I’d like to see how long she can stand *your stench*!

Before my rebirth. Following my boyfriend’s demands, I used every penny of my hard-earned money, working day and night, to pay cash for our marital home. His name was on the deed. He said a woman’s name wasn’t worthy of being written with his. I argued with him, but he threatened my kitten, Luna, forcing me to give in. On the very first day we moved into the new house, he brought a woman home. It was Seraphina, his unattainable high school crush, the ‘one that got away’. Seraphina had a string of failed relationships, more men than I could count. Until she fell for some mysterious guy and ended up in a mental institution… Alex let this crazy woman, fresh out of the asylum, sleep in *our* bedroom. And he had the audacity to ask me to get along with my rival! He lied, saying Seraphina’s parents had asked him to look after her for a few days. I, like a fool, actually treated Seraphina like a sister. It wasn’t until I returned early from a business trip and heard the intimate sounds from our bedroom. Only then did I realize that my boyfriend had never loved me. Everything I’d worked for all these years was just setting someone else up for their happily ever after! Alex kicked me out. I rented a cheap apartment, drifting aimlessly day after day, living like a stray dog on the street. Ultimately, Seraphina found me and pushed me from the eighteenth floor. Heh. This time, my destiny is in my own hands.

I was about to pick up my luggage and leave when the door opened again. Seraphina aimed at me and threw three large bags of trash. The trash bags weren’t tied, and the soup from instant noodles splattered on my pant leg, along with… Leftover durian. So, Alex still remembered Seraphina’s taste. Back in high school, many boys who pursued her brought her durian. Alex was no exception. But at the time, Miss Seraphina looked down on him, dressed in cheap clothes. And now, Alex finally fulfilled his dream of feeding durian to the girl he liked. I don’t like durian; I like strawberries. But he told me strawberries were too expensive and to eat them less. Hahahaha, love and not love, it’s so obvious. Strawberries and durians, can’t you tell the difference between what’s cheap and what’s valuable? I stared coldly at Seraphina. This woman, looking somewhat haggard, was arrogant and brazen, showing no humility for someone staying as a guest. She trusted him, he doted on her. What place did an outsider like me have? “Stella, Alex loves me. All these years, you were just his emotional outlet. If you want to fight me tooth and nail, I advise you to give up. You can’t win against me.” Before my rebirth, because of my foolish trust, I tacitly allowed Alex to bring a wolf into our home. Alex kept promising he only saw Seraphina as a sister. Because of love, I believed his nonsense. But in the end, I was crushed, utterly destroyed. Seraphina certainly had her methods, wrapping Alex around her finger and treating me like a dog. “You’re right. I’ve always been your stand-in. I knew all along Alex could never truly let you go.” I’d secretly liked Alex since high school. But his eyes were only on the popular Seraphina. In college, we unexpectedly reconnected. He was unusually enthusiastic about seeing me again, completely unlike his previous indifference. I’d already given up on him, but his flirting rekindled my feelings. He waited for me outside my dorm for meals. He took me to the movies on weekends. We FaceTimed constantly. My roommates all said my boyfriend and I were so in love. What they didn’t know was… I paid for all our meals. I planned every single date myself. He was the one who kept nagging me to get him gifts for every holiday. And the only thing he ever gave me that could be called a gift was leftover barbecue, packed up for me.

“Stella, catch!” Seraphina threw another bag at me. It felt like a large piece of meat… The bag was tied with a tight knot, but I could still smell the stench of a decaying body. “What… what is this?” My hands trembled as I gently placed the bag on the floor. “What else could it be? It’s a welcome gift for you, of course!” Opening the black plastic bag, I saw Luna, my little cat, her body mangled beyond recognition. She was soaking wet, drenched in her own blood. Her ears were gone, leaving two ugly scars. My head felt like it had been hit by a sledgehammer, ringing loudly. “My baby, why are you like this?!” Seraphina seemed quite pleased with my reaction. She stood with her hands on her hips, laughing hysterically, gasping for air. “Alex said this was your lifeline! Oh, my god, it’s hilarious! I just wanted to see why you’d cherish an animal so much.” Seraphina, you deserve to die a horrible death! She noticed the murderous intent in my eyes and immediately pulled out a defensive dagger. I recognized that dagger. It was a special anniversary gift I’d given Alex in college. Alex had lied and told me he’d lost it. Turns out, he gave it to Seraphina. Unarmed, I couldn’t fight her directly. Retreat was my best option. I gathered Luna’s tiny body, trembling as I walked downstairs. I felt so weak, like an old woman on her last legs, as if even a falling leaf could crush me. “Luna, Mom failed to protect you. Reborn, I never imagined they wouldn’t even spare you!” As I left the street, the sky opened up, pouring rain. I dragged my luggage, aimlessly wandering the streets, as if the heavy rain could wash away my sins. A Maybach pulled up beside me. The window rolled down, revealing deep, captivating eyes behind dark sunglasses, twinkling with a mocking smirk. “We meet again, gorgeous. Need a hand?”

This playful man was Julian, the son of my company’s CEO. Known throughout the elite circles as a notorious playboy. I’d actually known him for a long time. He was my junior in college. The embarrassing part? He used to pursue me back then… I truly don’t know why I was so blind to fall for a jerk like Alex and reject such a handsome, rich, sweet puppy! Even though Julian was a bit of a playboy, he wasn’t a bad person. He was even kind of cute. At least he wouldn’t do anything as disgusting as Alex. After I started dating Alex, I rarely saw Julian again. I remember the only time we met after I started working was at a bridal shop. I was with my best friend, trying on wedding dresses, when I accidentally spotted Julian with a glamorous socialite, also trying on dresses. Julian wore a tailored suit, his hair impeccably styled, looking every bit the business elite. He and the socialite, who emerged from the fitting room, looked like a perfect match, a truly stunning couple. I awkwardly greeted him. Julian’s face darkened as he asked, “Since when did you start liking women?” I stared blankly at my best friend, who was on the phone nearby, and realized he’d misunderstood. The socialite finished trying on her dress, then hooked her arm through Julian’s, asking him jealously who I was. Julian’s throat bobbed, and he glanced out the window. “Just a senior from college.” What he said wasn’t wrong, but why did my heart feel so heavy? Later, my best friend’s fiancé cheated before their wedding, and my best friend swiftly packed up and left the jerk. Julian fled his own wedding, refusing a business alliance. In seven days, it would be the day he was supposed to run. Before he left, I needed to use him well. “Julian!” Rain streamed down my forehead, streaking across my cheeks. I knew I looked utterly pathetic right now. But I didn’t care. Whether Julian was still interested in me or not, I had to take this shot. “I need your help to get revenge.” “Please, help me.” “Will you?”

I got into Julian’s car, my pant legs smelling of beef instant noodles, and the little cat in my arms emitting the stench of death. It made me feel a bit constrained. “Looks like you haven’t been doing so great these past few years, gorgeous.” “Why the lost puppy look?” “Tsk, tsk, tsk, truly pathetic.” Right, Julian’s sharp tongue was one of the reasons I rejected him back then. He had such a beautifully shaped mouth, but only sarcastic words came out of it. Julian wanted to take me to his private residence, but I refused. “I have my own place, in Willow Creek.” “Oh, really? You bought a place there? Pretty impressive.” Julian lit a cigarette, a playful smirk curving his lips. I turned my face away, suppressing the urge to snap at him. The urge to curse him out. I knew he was teasing me; my little studio apartment was nothing but a speck in the eyes of a rich kid like him. And in his eyes, I was probably the same. Julian drove the car to the underground parking garage and followed me upstairs. After opening the door and seeing the empty condo. He lightly scoffed, “No money for decorating?” I’d just been reborn; where would I find the time for decorating? Without a word, Julian made a call and had the problem solved for me. The decor style was a fresh French aesthetic. The balcony was transformed into a cozy little garden where I could relax. I buried Luna, my beloved cat who had been with me for two years, right there. My phone rang. It was Alex’s mom, Mrs. Davis. I locked myself in the bathroom and answered. “Hello?” “Stella, dear, did you buy an apartment in Willow Creek? Good girl, you really are something else!”

Alex had told me he’d marry me the moment I could afford to pay cash for a million-dollar marital home. This wasn’t just Alex’s idea, but mostly his mom, Mrs. Davis, constantly drumming it into my head. Mrs. Davis always looked down on me because I came from a modest background. Every time I went to my boyfriend’s house for dinner, his mom would find various ways to remind me of my place. Good thing I woke up. I almost became her easily manipulated daughter-in-law. I ignored her rapid-fire rambling on the phone and cut straight to the chase: “Auntie, your son’s first love is back. Did you know?” She paused for a moment, then confessed: “Auntie knows, but in Auntie’s heart, you’re the *only* best daughter-in-law candidate!” “Alex is still young, a moment of impulse is normal. He’s just playing around, don’t take it too seriously.” Young? Don’t take it seriously? Are you dense, or am I? Seeing that I had no interest in continuing the conversation, Mrs. Davis no longer hid her true intentions. “Stella, your neighborhood seems great! Auntie’s windows broke during a recent storm, and none of our rooms are livable. Could you possibly…” “Yes, of course.” Free labor? How could I say no?

took a shower. When I came out of the bathroom, the entire condo was transformed. “This… this fast?” I walked around again, disbelieving, my fingertips tracing the low-key yet luxurious furniture. I couldn’t help but marvel at Julian’s extravagant taste. “Like it, gorgeous? If you’re satisfied, pour me a glass of water.” Julian lounged comfortably on the soft sofa. I poured a glass of water, walked over to him, met his teasing gaze, and then chugged the water down myself. “Pour it yourself if you want water. I don’t serve people.” With that, I splashed the remaining bit of water on his handsome face. Julian lowered his gaze and chuckled, then loosened his tie, looking a little flustered. “Stella.” “You’re the only one who dares to be this bold with me. I really can’t find another.” “What makes you so sure I’ll help you?” He patted his thigh, signaling for me to sit down. My fists slowly clenched. Enduring the humiliation, I plopped down and then told him everything about my rebirth, spilling every detail. “Of course I believe you. Otherwise, you’d still be stupidly making money for that guy to buy a house.” “Julian, I need you to pretend to be my boyfriend.” “No need to pretend. I *can* be your boyfriend… or husband, even.” He wrapped his arm around my waist, his gaze intensely possessive. “I’m not joking. Control yourself.” Julian still had that playful, teasing expression. I sighed and said, “You’re still dating Chloe Song, the Song Corporation heiress, right?” His arm tightened, squeezing me until I could barely breathe. “Just for show. She has someone she likes too, just like me.” “Gorgeous, are you perhaps… jealous?”

The next day, my phone rang. Mrs. Davis appeared at the apartment complex entrance, carrying large bags. I gestured to the security guard to let her in. Mrs. Davis called again, asking me to help her carry things upstairs. “Auntie, I’m in a meeting right now.” “Just take the elevator up.” After hanging up, I set my phone to do not disturb. I forgot to tell her: the elevator was under maintenance and couldn’t be used right now. Julian emerged from the bathroom, clad only in a towel. He wrapped his arm around my waist and said he was going to show off his cooking skills. A delicious aroma wafted from the kitchen. “I didn’t expect the great young master to know how to cook.” Julian grinned, his spatula dancing like a sword in his hand. Compliment him once, and he gets all cocky like this. I was inexplicably in a good mood… It must have been because I successfully messed with Mrs. Davis! After breakfast, Mrs. Davis, laden with luggage, had finally climbed all seventeen floors. Julian opened the door. He was wearing just a pair of boxers, his eight-pack abs brazenly on display. Mrs. Davis’s eyes lit up at first, then she adopted the demeanor of an elder. She began pointing fingers at this handsome, shameless young man. “Oh, my! What an eyesore!” “Stella! Who is this man?” “You said you were in a meeting, but you were probably messing around with another man!” “How is my Alex supposed to save face?”

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The new air traffic control intern, eager to cultivate an image as a prodigy, volunteered to direct flights from the control tower. However, due to her lack of experience and poor judgment, she issued a takeoff command despite interference signals, causing a collision between the departing plane and another aircraft that was about to land. Afterwards, she threw herself into my boyfriend’s arms, sobbing: “I didn’t mean to, it was my first time and I was so nervous…” My boyfriend held her close, comforting her: “Everyone makes mistakes their first time. Don’t worry about it.” “You’ll get better with more experience.” Those passengers on the planes were moments away from reuniting with their families. But their lives were forever frozen in that instant. Shaking with anger, I slapped her: “Those were human lives! Not some game you’re playing!” “Your carelessness killed everyone on two planes!” The intern was overcome with shame, wailing that she would atone with her own death. To protect her, my boyfriend and the team leader pushed me out as the scapegoat. The leader secretly altered the duty logs and bribed everyone to fabricate evidence against me. At the press conference, my boyfriend publicly revealed “information” pinning all responsibility on me. Public outrage erupted. I was fired by the company and blacklisted across the industry. Grief-stricken families of the victims stabbed me 38 times until I died. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day of the intern’s fatal mistake. 0

“What… what do I do?” In the control tower, Tiffany, the air traffic controller intern, stared at the radar screen with a pale face, helplessly watching the two planes about to collide. As the aircraft markers turned red and drew closer, disaster was imminent. Unable to handle the pressure, Tiffany burst into tears, switched off her headset and collapsed into my boyfriend James’ arms, refusing to continue. “I’m scared, James,” she sobbed. In my previous life, Tiffany’s arrogance led her to recklessly order a takeoff despite interference signals. When the predictive radar blared urgent red warnings, the entire control tower was thrown into panic. Hundreds of lives that could have been saved were lost due to the actions of Tiffany, an intern who didn’t even have her official certification yet. The incident made headlines, causing a huge public outcry. Everyone was waiting for our airport to provide an explanation. To protect Tiffany, my boyfriend James didn’t hesitate to use me as a scapegoat. The team leader Henry also deleted all the control tower recordings that could prove my innocence, to eliminate any loose ends. At the press conference, I was helpless to defend myself as the blame was pinned on me. Facing astronomical compensation claims and prison time, I was brutally stabbed to death by grieving family members of the victims who had infiltrated the event. In my final moments, I saw the hatred burning in their eyes. Rage surged through me – I wasn’t the one who deserved to die! How could this be happening? Perhaps my unjust death moved the heavens. Incredibly, I found myself back at the moment Tiffany abandoned her post. In this new life, I was determined to make these people pay for their sins and seek justice for my past self. As the situation grew dire, I strode to the control panel, put on the headset and opened the radio channel to the pilots: “Eastern 5195, go around. Previous aircraft has requested landing, climb and maintain 2100 feet on current heading…” The chaotic control room fell silent as they heard my commands, holding their breath so as not to disrupt the rescue. After prolonged communication and cooperation from the pilots, the red alert was finally cleared. This time, the passengers who had died because of Tiffany in my past life would make it home safely. I switched off the headset, saved the recording, and handed off communications to a colleague. Then I turned and yanked Tiffany out of James’ embrace. A clear handprint was left on Tiffany’s tear-stained cheek. I was furious. This slap was not just for my wronged past self, but for all the passengers and crew who had died in my previous life. 0

The force of my slap sent Tiffany stumbling backwards. She clutched her face, looking at me in disbelief. I pointed at the plane that had just safely taken off outside. “You idiot! An air traffic controller’s job is to ensure safety in the skies. You nearly cost hundreds of lives with your stupidity!” Tiffany’s tears flowed freely as she whined, “I was just nervous since it was my first time directing takeoff. I’m sorry!” Always the same trick. Ever since she started her internship, this was how she handled problems. She insisted on cultivating an image as a prodigy despite her mediocrity, just to make everyone see her differently. But when crucial work was actually entrusted to her, she’d screw up royally and leave us to clean up her mess. Afterwards, she’d cry and act cute to beg for forgiveness. But this time, hundreds of living, breathing people had nearly died because of her. “Olivia, that’s going too far!” James yelled. “Mind your own business!” I snapped back at him. “Wasn’t it you who confidently boasted you could handle this flight direction? Now that we actually let you do it, you try to run away when things go wrong!” “What, do you think we all have a death wish? Want us to go to prison with you?” Henry, the team leader, also stepped in to muddy the waters and try to shift blame onto me. “Olivia, you should have given Tiffany more guidance since you knew it was her first time.” “Are you kidding me, Henry?” I scoffed. Henry was taken aback, probably not expecting me to call him out so directly. I glared coldly at the two men shielding Tiffany: “Instead of acknowledging Tiffany’s incompetence, you’re blaming me for not teaching her properly?” “Her poor work performance nearly cost hundreds of lives, and you’re still making excuses for her!” “If I hadn’t stepped in to direct the flights, do you think you’d still be standing here chatting with me?” “Do people actually have to die before you take this seriously? Or are human lives just meaningless to you?” Doubt flickered across their faces, but they still chose to defend Tiffany. “Don’t give me that crap about me not teaching her well or her being some genius! Tiffany was mentored by you two, so if she’s such a prodigy, how come you failed to train her properly?” “Did you all get kicked in the head by a donkey? Have you forgotten our duty to protect air safety?” I let out a cold laugh, looking at Tiffany being comforted in James’ arms: “What you’re doing now isn’t just a dereliction of your professional duties. It’s a blatant disregard for human life! If you want to keep arguing with me, don’t expect me to show any mercy!” 0

By now it was clear to everyone that I wouldn’t let this slide. Seeing my resolute attitude, the two men didn’t dare say anything more. I glared fiercely at Tiffany and ordered: “For the next two months, you’ll retrain with the new batch of interns. Just you, alone. You’re not allowed to participate in any flight direction until you pass the training!” “Do plenty of simulation exercises and learn how to handle emergencies properly!” “And I want to see your written self-reflection at Monday’s meeting. You’ll read it out loud to everyone.” With that, I turned to leave, not wanting to look at Tiffany for another second. “Wait!” James clearly wanted to advocate for Tiffany one last time: “Tiffany was involved in the rescue too. You can’t hog all the credit – add her name to today’s incident report.” Looking at his shameless expression, I responded sarcastically: “Sure, go ahead. And next time she screws up, you can take responsibility for her.” “Olivia! You- if it weren’t for Tiffany you wouldn’t even have this achievement-” I laughed mockingly, cutting him off. “Oh right, I should thank her for creating a mess for me to clean up!” “She doesn’t even have the basic psychological qualities needed for air traffic control, let alone actual directing skills!” “And you, repeatedly acting like this is all perfectly reasonable. How pathetic can you get?” James was at a loss for words, only able to glare at me with a red face. Tiffany’s tears seemed to have opened floodgates. She looked at me defiantly: “Olivia, I know you’ve always had issues with me, but aren’t you going too far today?” I drawled in an exaggerated tone: “Oh, so you know I have issues with you? Then why don’t you stay out of my way instead of constantly causing trouble!” “If you want credit for this rescue, you’d better earn it first. Though I suppose abandoning your post in a crisis is quite a talent too.” “Don’t worry, if you want to keep slacking off and coasting by, I’m sure someone will be happy to take the fall for you when things go wrong.” As I finished, I glanced meaningfully between James and Henry. Their faces twisted as if they’d swallowed flies. I gave a cold laugh and strode away. 0 Back in my office, I had just poured myself some water when Henry opened the door, ushering in Manager Smith with a sycophantic smile. Seeing James and Tiffany following behind, I immediately understood what this was about. An inquisition. I let out a derisive laugh. “Manager Smith, shouldn’t you be in training right now? What brings you to a lowly grunt’s office?” Manager Smith was in his fifties and had spent most of his life working at the airport, constantly squeezing money out of us underlings. All in all, he was a slippery old fox who loved being flattered. I couldn’t be bothered to play nice with someone like him. Seeing my attitude, Manager Smith immediately let out a disdainful snort. “If they hadn’t told me you were bullying your coworkers, I wouldn’t have known your authority had grown beyond mine!” “Making decisions above your pay grade, ordering Tiffany to retrain without reporting to me.” “You clearly have no respect for me!”

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A year ago, Sera Thorne found out she was nothing but a stand-in for Julian Knight’s long-lost first love. She turned right around and agreed to date her college classmate. They spent the night together, and the very next day, he dragged her home to meet his parents. “Dad, this is my girlfriend now, my future wife, Sera Thorne!” I played coy, head bowed, but my face was twisted into a knot of disgust. That’s when I realized he was Julian Knight’s adopted son. Julian’s voice was a low growl, laced with a danger I almost missed: “Sera… Thorne?” I feigned a stomach ache, then scrambled over the wall and vanished. I’d spent a year abroad, even had some subtle work done on my face, before I dared to come back. But I never expected that soon after landing, I’d be bound to Julian Knight’s bed, and then, inexplicably, married to his adopted son. Our reunion was shockingly dramatic. Right after returning home, I’d just landed a new job. My manager, without a word, pushed me into the penthouse suite on the top floor: “I had no choice. This… important person, somehow ended up here, drugged with something powerful.” “If this isn’t handled properly, I’m finished, you won’t get paid, and your mother’s medical bills won’t be covered.” The moment Julian’s eyes locked onto mine, I knew he recognized me. His gaze was deep, authoritative, even without a trace of anger. He didn’t look sedated at all. Instead, he gripped my throat. “You dared to come back?” Julian’s hand clamped over my mouth. He spoke, mostly to himself, a low, furious murmur, “And you dared to use these pathetic tricks?” That was the first time Julian had ever touched me. A night of pure madness. A year ago, I’d yearned for him, and now, it was happening in the most twisted way possible. Daylight poured in from outside. I cautiously rose. The next second, my wrist was seized brutally. He stared at me, his eyes burning with a raw, terrifying crimson. He really must hate me, right? But I never expected Julian to drag me straight to the registrar’s office. I knew something was wrong. Yet, as I was pushed into the marriage registration booth, my lips curved into an uncontrollable smile. I had to admit, a secret thrill pulsed through me. A year had passed, and I had never forgotten Julian, the first man I’d ever loved. Julian had saved me once, in a bar. Learning about my past, he’d waved a hand and sent me back to college. On my birthday, fireworks exploded across the sky, just for me. He’d said: “Sera, I wish you a smooth and easy life from now on.” On Valentine’s Day, acres of flowers bloomed, just for me. He’d said: “Sera, these are Eustoma, also known as thornless roses, symbolizing eternal love.” Could it be that after a year apart, Julian realized *I* was his true love, and he’d forgiven me? If that were the case, I could forgive him for treating me as a substitute… But the fleeting fantasy that had just bloomed was brutally ripped apart by Julian himself. “You didn’t actually think I was marrying *you*, did you?” He gripped my chin, his eyes blazing with pure hatred: “You like throwing yourself at men, don’t you? You’re so desperate to get into the Knight estate?” A cold sneer twisted his lips. “I’ll grant your wish.” The words had barely left his mouth when a group of men in dark suits stormed through the door. One of them pushed a wheelchair forward, and my eyes widened in shock. Sitting in the wheelchair was Leo Sterling! The once vibrant, carefree college student. Now, his eyes were vacant, and a drool-stained bib was tied around his neck. Julian’s voice drifted from behind me, laced with infinite coldness: “A year ago, he got into an accident looking for you, and he became like this.” My knees buckled, sending me straight to the floor. Just before I hit the ground, Julian grabbed my throat, yanking me into his arms. There was no tenderness for his adopted son, only a mocking, humiliating laugh for both of us. “You should take responsibility, shouldn’t you?” I closed my eyes. Julian knew this was my sign of impatience, my urge to resist. He scoffed: “You can try to say no, but the hospital where your mother is being treated? I just bought it.” My eyes snapped open, pupils constricting in horror. “I’ll marry him.” I tried to comfort myself: there’s no hate without love. Julian was retaliating like this because he cared. But I wasn’t the type to sit back and let things happen. I wouldn’t be pushed around. In between taking our wedding photos, I sent a message to an international number: “I accept all your conditions. Help me one more time.” A voice message quickly came back. Deep and magnetic: “I’ll handle everything. I’ll pick you up in five days.”

On our wedding night, I looked at Leo Sterling’s face, still as sharply chiseled as ever. He bore no resemblance to Julian Knight at all—one was reserved and composed, the other bright and cheerful. Despite a sixteen-year age gap, who would have thought they were adopted father and son? I sighed and reached out, covering Leo’s clear, innocent eyes. “You’re such a fool. Why did you come looking for me? If I needed money, I would have come back myself.” Back then, I had just returned to college, and Leo had been instantly smitten. If Julian was a seasoned player in the game of love, Leo was like a clumsy newcomer. He had cautiously shown me affection, awkwardly pursuing me. I only had to crook my finger, and the boy would rush to me impatiently. But I was a bad woman. My conscience had long been lost on the path I’d taken to get here. I truly only saw Leo as a pawn to be used. Watching Leo in his vacant, simple state, I closed my eyes. Then, I kicked him onto the floor. With a thud, Leo hit his head and fell unconscious. In the next room, the sounds of a man and woman making love paused for a moment. Then, the rhythm grew even more intense. I turned off the lights, a bitter ache in my heart. Julian’s first love was back. Tonight was my wedding night with Leo, and it was Julian’s reunion with his ‘white moonlight.’ Earlier today, the moment I stepped through the doors of the Knight estate, they looked at each other. Celeste took the suit jacket from Julian’s hand. Even seeing me, she merely raised a delicate eyebrow, not asking a single question. Julian, however, gently put his arm around her and explained: “This is Leo Sterling’s new wife, Sera Thorne.” Celeste smiled and greeted me, perfectly poised and gracious: “I’m Celeste. We’re not that far apart in age, so feel free to call me ‘Celeste’ if you’d like.” Celeste’s voice was soft, her manner refined and graceful. She stood beside Julian, perfectly matched. I had thought I wouldn’t feel pained by being a “substitute.” But the moment I saw the real deal, I understood. That year abroad, I hadn’t forgotten the pain; I’d just been too busy to dwell on it. Now that I was back, I realized it still hurt. I forced a bitter laugh. Leo’s incoherent murmurs drifted from the floor. I reached out and tossed a blanket over him. Then, I turned and went to sleep, but in my dreams, it was still Julian. What truly made me fall for Julian wasn’t his lavish spoiling, but his sheer gentleness. In my world, which was tattered and stained with ugliness, Julian seemed like a gift from the heavens. Our most intimate gesture was a simple hug. For three whole years, I finally decided to take the initiative. I’d plied Julian with warming wine, but he would rather take a cold shower than touch me. I couldn’t understand why, until I saw his wallet fall from his suit pocket. An old, yellowed photograph slipped out. I picked it up with trembling hands. The woman in the photo looked seven parts like me. That’s when I understood. Fate had always disfavored me. This was poison disguised as sweet nectar. But I still believed Julian cared for me, so I’d acted out of spite, getting together with Leo. I hadn’t known they were adopted father and son. It had all gone horribly wrong.

Before dawn, Mrs. Gable, the housekeeper, dragged me up and pushed me into the kitchen. “Mr. Knight ordered it. As a new bride, you have much to learn.” I expressionlessly shook her off and began picking vegetables. With my back turned, I tossed all the good leaves, leaving only the bitter, unwanted roots to drop into the pot. Halfway through, a sweet, clear voice suddenly called out from behind me: “Sera! I’ll join you.” Celeste, in a white house robe, looked so young, despite being quite a bit older than me. An unwelcome pang of inadequacy twisted in my gut. She had already walked to my side, her eyes curving into a smile as she spoke: “I’m just using you as an excuse to get into the kitchen. Otherwise, Julian always cooks for me, and I never get a chance to show off my own skills.” The words pierced through me like daggers, leaving me momentarily disoriented. Before, I had nothing to give Julian, so I started learning to cook. My most frequent act was bringing him meals. He would always ruffle my hair and say: “Thank you, my Sera. I promise to eat every bit.” Celeste, oblivious, continued to list all the dishes Julian had cooked for her, her tone brimming with happiness. My mind went utterly blank, a deafening roar echoing in my ears. Those were *my* memories, *my* dishes for *him*. My heart clenched, followed by a dense, suffocating ache. Julian, cooking for Celeste? The high and mighty, untouchable magnate had never done such a thing for *me*. I forced myself to stop thinking about it, turning to boil water. Still seething, I poured an entire bottle of salt into the pot. Celeste even came over to help, her innocent and kind demeanor only irritating me more. I sighed, about to wave her away, when she gasped first. “So hot!” I frowned, grabbing her hand and plunging it into a basin of ice water. The next second, a furious roar came from behind me: “You dare hurt her!” Julian walked toward us, his face so dark it could drip ink. He yanked me away. Celeste said, her eyes red, “I just accidentally burned myself.” “Don’t speak for her.” Julian’s gaze swept over me. “I know exactly what kind of person she is—malicious, and she’ll stop at nothing!” Celeste froze, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. I stared at Julian, blinking a few times, my eyes glistening. He was already escorting Celeste to the dining table, carefully applying ointment to her hand. I closed my eyes, then opened them again. Leo bounded down the stairs, calling out “Wifey!” with a vacant, innocent grin. I pinched his mouth shut. I forced a strained, ugly smile. In the end, Mrs. Gable finished making the meal. But just as I was about to pull out a chair, Julian set down his utensils: “You made a mistake, you should be punished. Do you have the nerve to sit down?” “Take this bowl of soup, kneel, and only get up when you admit your fault and apologize to Celeste.” I stared at the man before me. Time had left few marks on his stern face. He used to redden at the sight of my small cooking burns, calling in the best doctors for me. A group of housekeepers came to try and force me, but I waved them away, picking up the scalding bowl of soup myself and kneeling by the dining table. I obeyed because of my mother. Leo didn’t understand what was happening. He walked over, wanting to play with me. In an instant, his hand reached for the scalding water above my head.

“Stop!” I screamed, but it was too late. The scalding soup was about to spill. Julian instantly shot up, instinctively kicking the soup bowl away to protect Celeste, who was closest. But the entire basin of scalding water flowed down my neck. “Ah—!” A piercing scream of agony ripped from my throat. The next second, huge red blisters welled up on my neck and chest, the pain so intense I couldn’t straighten my back on the floor. Leo was also terrified, screaming. Celeste covered her mouth. Julian’s brow furrowed, an inexplicable emotion flashing across his face. Celeste was the first to react, rushing to give me emergency treatment on the sofa. She gently applied burn cream to me, her voice soft: “I’m so sorry. I don’t know why, but Julian’s temper has been terrible these past few days.” I lowered my eyes, saying nothing, but the image of what had just happened replayed in my mind. Julian’s instinctive move to shield Celeste, not caring if the scalding water poured over me instead. Honestly, if he hadn’t kicked the bowl, the soup would have, at most, splashed onto Celeste’s shoes. But he wouldn’t even risk that small inconvenience. I suddenly realized: I really couldn’t compare to Celeste. An inexpressible pain welled up in my heart. Celeste carefully took a silver needle to puncture a large blister. The sharp pain made me yelp and instinctively pull my arm away. Celeste stumbled backward, hitting her lower back on the corner of the table. I quickly whispered, “I’m sorry.” Celeste shook her head, her eyes red. Not far away, Julian immediately noticed the rapidly swelling bruise on her lower back. His gaze was almost devouring. As he approached, he gritted his teeth and said: “You heartless monster! Celeste was trying to help you, and you dared to push her?!” The next second, Julian’s bodyguard roughly grabbed me and shoved me outside. My burns still throbbed, and the push made cold sweat stream down my face, my consciousness blurring. Julian scooped Celeste into his arms and sat on the sofa, his eyes full of worry: “You’re not well. Don’t go near her again.” I was forced to kneel on the lawn by the bodyguard. It was scorching hot, and the lawn was covered in burning hot pebbles. In an instant, a piercing pain shot through my knees. Julian paced over: “You’ve tested my patience again and again. This is your lesson.” I gritted my teeth, glaring at him. I knelt outside for half a day, but he showed no pity. The bodyguards around me changed shifts due to the intense heat. But every time I nearly collapsed, someone would yank me up by the back of my neck. The burns on my body felt like they were being scorched by fire under the sun, waves of excruciating pain washing over me. Sweat trickled into the wounds, making it almost impossible to speak. Finally, Celeste spoke first, “Enough! She didn’t do it on purpose. Let it go.” Julian immediately cooed, “Alright, anything you say. Don’t upset yourself.” With a wave of his hand, the bodyguards released me. I collapsed onto the ground, vomiting violently, feeling like my insides were being torn out. My mind was a blur, my heart torn to shreds. I couldn’t tell if my heart hurt more, or if my body was in more agony. My consciousness gradually faded. Through the haze, I saw someone running towards me…

When I opened my eyes again, it was early morning the next day. My throat felt like it was on fire, and my head was pounding. I should have let go long ago, but I just couldn’t. I had to see it with my own eyes. Now I understood. Julian no longer loved me; only hate remained. I walked to the corridor and made a call. The person on the other end was eager to take credit: “I’ve taken care of your mother’s situation.” “See you in three days.” I breathed a sigh of relief. What I didn’t notice was Celeste standing not far behind me. At this moment, the usual gentleness was gone from Celeste’s face. She bit her lower lip, a flicker of jealousy quietly crossing her eyes. Celeste had returned on her own initiative. Julian was pleased, but she could tell he was a bit distracted. Even when she brought up marriage, he seemed uninterested, changing the subject several times. But yesterday, she had seen with her own eyes Julian frantically scoop me up and call a doctor to treat me. His eyes held a worry he might not even have noticed himself. She finally understood. Julian’s distraction and repeated hesitation were all because of Sera Thorne. A young, beautiful, temperamental girl. Someone unique enough to make him pause. Celeste took a deep breath and stepped forward: “You’re awake? How are you feeling?” I hung up the phone, turned to look at her, and gave a casual smile. Celeste continued to chat with me: “I heard you and Leo were college classmates.” “Julian and I were too. Back then, his pursuit of me caused such a scandal, Grandfather Sterling was furious.” “But he took ninety-nine lashes just to be with me.” I listened to Celeste, my heart a tangled mess of emotions. My head was still hazy. Feeling the ache in my heart, I closed my eyes. Celeste didn’t stop, suddenly taking my hand: “We’re fated. You can call me by my nickname, ‘Celeste,’ from now on.” The name “Celeste” made my eyes widen instantly. I was momentarily dazed, my heart feeling like it was being cruelly squeezed. My throat tightened, and I couldn’t utter a single word. I leaned on the railing, only hearing her last sentence: “Did you see the Eustoma in the yard?” “That’s my favorite flower. Julian just loves these romantic gestures…” I had never felt my heart ache so much, as if it were being torn out of my chest. “Sera, these are Eustoma, also known as thornless roses, symbolizing eternal love.” “Sera, do you like them?” Compared to the thornless Eustoma, I probably preferred thorny red roses. But because of the words “eternal love,” My heart had surged, and I’d embraced him, saying “I love them” with tears for the first time in my life. But now. Sera, Celeste. It turned out I had never truly entered Julian’s heart. Not for a single second! No hate, no love, nothing! Every time Julian called my name, he was just calling someone else through me. I was merely a vessel for his longing. More painful than having and losing was never truly having it at all, yet foolishly believing I did, secretly rejoicing over thin air. Just then, Leo pushed open the door. Seeing me in tears, he immediately rushed to hug me. I tried to push him away, but I saw the boy’s eyes were also red. Even though he couldn’t speak, I knew it was worry. On the other side, Celeste watched us, then suddenly smirked: “Leo loves you this much, even in his condition, so why are you still trying to steal *my* Julian?” At her words, I recoiled in shock, startled by the jealousy on her face. But Celeste held on tight. I forcefully yanked my arm away. Celeste’s lips curved into a smile. She deliberately stumbled backward, dragging Leo with her as they tumbled down the stairs. Several loud thuds shattered the morning quiet of the old mansion. Julian rushed out of his room. Seeing the terrible scene on the ground, his eyes blazing crimson, he charged over. Julian shoved me away. My waist hit the railing, my knees buckled, and I fell down after them.

No one paid me any attention. Everyone was busy rushing the unconscious Leo and Celeste to the hospital. I got up, clutching my waist, and stared at the bloodstains on the ground, momentarily dazed. I was dragged to the hospital with them. I explained: “She threw herself down on purpose.” “She seems to be jealous of me. Julian, isn’t that ridiculous?” Julian’s eyes were closed, and a suffocating low pressure emanated from him. Everyone else hung their heads, but I wasn’t afraid. I wanted to leave, but I didn’t want to be burdened by anything else. Just then, the doctor rushed out, his face anxious: “Mr. Knight, Ms. Dubois is pregnant, but she’s bleeding heavily now. She needs a blood transfusion.” In an instant, everyone present gasped. I gripped the wall, my pupils constricting. Julian’s voice was low and hoarse: “Sera Thorne’s blood type is the same as Celeste’s. Someone!” Hearing this, my eyes widened in fury, and I screamed: “Why?! I told you I didn’t push her! I won’t donate!” Julian gripped my throat, gritting his teeth: “Why should I believe you? Drugging me, seducing my adopted son—have I ever wrongly accused you of anything?” My pupils trembled violently. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. But he wouldn’t let up: “Born in a place like that, it’s not surprising what you’d do, is it?” His words were like a sharp blade, stabbing straight into my heart. He once pitied my background, pitied that I was born in a red-light district. Now, his true thoughts were exposed. I struggled to yank myself free, then sneered at him, my voice dripping with the malice I’d long mastered: “Don’t pretend to be so virtuous! Are you a saint? You manipulate your own daughter-in-law…” Julian’s eyes were bloodshot, veins throbbing. He slapped me across the face. I staggered and fell to the ground, my ears ringing instantly. This was the first time Julian had ever hit me. Yet, I lowered my head and began to laugh, my laughter growing more and more desolate. Julian turned his back, waving a hand, and his men dragged me away to draw blood. Watching his resolute back, everything I once held dear vanished into thin air. Bag after bag of blood was drawn, and I felt my life force draining away with it. I was utterly weak, my legs so wobbly I could only rely on the nurse to sit upright. My vision blurred. Before I passed out again, I heard the doctor say Celeste’s condition was stable. I collapsed downward, a cold smile on my lips. *Julian,* I thought. *I owe you nothing now.* I don’t know how much time passed. A low male voice reached my ears: “Why isn’t she awake yet? Give her the best medicine!” The next second, I coughed sharply twice on the hospital bed, slowly waking up. Julian immediately cut himself off, then snorted coldly and left the room. This time, I didn’t spare him another glance. Whether fate had given me a gift or poison, I no longer cared. The sky was vast, the sea wide. Would I die without Julian’s love? Clinging to a sliver of strength, I trembled as I rose. Julian walked back into the room. His eyes held an emotion I couldn’t decipher. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse: “Leo’s awake. He wants to see you.” I frowned, sensing something was off, but followed him to Leo’s room.

The once vacant, drooling boy now had clear eyes. I froze. Julian instinctively reached out to steady me. Where I couldn’t see them, Leo stared intently at Julian’s hand on me, his eyes filled with displeasure. Julian reciprocated the look. Adopted father and son, reuniting with no warmth, only overt hostility. Finally, Leo spoke, his voice low and hoarse: “I want to talk to my wife alone.” He deliberately emphasized the word “wife.” Julian frowned, his face darkening as he turned to leave. I sat beside Leo, a rare hint of apology in my voice: “I’m sorry about your accident, but it wasn’t my doing.” “If you insist on blaming me, I won’t take responsibility.” The man on the hospital bed laughed, a sorrowful sound: “Sera, I know everything now.” “Is there no place for me in your heart, not even a tiny bit?” I frowned, turning my face away, my meaning painfully clear. He clutched the bedsheet tightly, staring at me, the corners of his eyes reddening: “You like Julian, but he’s old, fifteen years older than you!” “What can he give you? Only I can give you everything you want!” I frowned, surprised that Leo, who had been incapacitated for a year, was now so perceptive. I bit my lower lip, my tone resolute: “What’s past is past. I don’t like anyone right now.” “Are you really that heartless?” He grabbed my hand, his voice growing firmer. I yanked my hand away. “Yes, I am that heartless. It’s not too late for you to see it now. I was always a bad person.” I turned to leave, but Leo grabbed me from behind, his voice trembling: “Whether you’re good or bad, I like you. Don’t leave me again, okay?” My heart fluttered, but I still broke free and hurried out. Leo insisted on moving from his original room to the bed next to mine. Even late into the night, he kept murmuring, but it was just the same old clichéd words. “You can rely on me to declare war on both of them. Grandfather Sterling really likes me, his grandson.” “Shut up. If you say one more word, I’m divorcing you.” I slept through the night, but my steps were still a bit shaky as I walked. I saw Julian smoking in the corridor, so I turned around. I’d barely taken two steps when he grabbed me. “He’s awake. He doesn’t need your care. I’ve scheduled your divorce registration.” I had my back to him, scoffing. “What’s wrong, Dad? Neither of us really wants a divorce.” “Dad, Leo said he’s going to declare war on you to get revenge for me.” I spoke with deliberate malice, finding a strange comfort in it. “Don’t call me that.” Julian’s voice was displeased, barely suppressing a simmering rage. I turned my head and saw a fleeting look of pain on his face, which I found utterly ironic. He had used such disgusting methods to torment me, never imagining the boomerang would one day strike himself. I glanced over Julian’s shoulder, spotting Celeste being escorted by others not far behind him, and a playful glint flickered in my eyes. The next second, I took Julian’s hand, ignoring his startled gaze. I leaned in, brushing a barely-there kiss on his cheek. Then, I whispered softly in his ear: “I hear you and Celeste aren’t officially married yet, but my marriage has already been ruined by you.” “Your peaceful life will have to pay a price, too, won’t it?” Instantly, Julian’s forehead veins throbbed, his voice hoarse: “What do you want?” A sudden gasp erupted from behind Julian—it was Celeste’s voice. My hands clenched Julian’s lapels, stopping him from turning around. He stumbled, and I rose onto my tiptoes. Our lips met.

His eyes widened in shock. Julian Knight, who had remained calm facing billion-dollar gambles, who could retaliate even when pursued by enemies, who had dominated the business world for years—now, his mind went utterly blank from a fleeting kiss. A wicked smirk played on my lips. “You started it. Now clean up your own mess.” Behind me, Celeste’s scream echoed through the entire corridor, gone was her former gentle composure. Julian kept staring intently at my retreating back, his heart pounding uncontrollably in his chest. It took a loud shout to snap him back to reality. But I was already far away. Under the setting sun, Julian sighed heavily and told Celeste, “Let’s go back.” Julian didn’t know how to explain to Celeste. The woman was completely enraged, not speaking to him all night. He frowned, listening to the doctor explain the key points for maintaining the pregnancy. The first point was emotional stability. He took a deep breath. Julian told Celeste he would pick her up from the hospital and that he would hold a grand engagement party for her. Celeste’s mood stabilized. And news of this engagement party naturally reached Leo Sterling and me. “I’m not going.” I was looking for my passport; I was leaving tomorrow. Leo trailed behind me, step for step, as if trying to completely extinguish any lingering hope I had for Julian. He kept trying to convince me. I finally got annoyed and stopped what I was doing. “I didn’t want to say it, but are you faking it, or are you really that naive?” Leo frowned, looking at me. I quietly slipped my passport into my pocket before continuing: “Julian can have children and raise them, so why would Grandfather Sterling adopt a child for his own son? Unless…” I paused, then a smirk played on my lips. “Unless you’re Grandfather Sterling’s illegitimate son, lost somewhere, so he found a nice excuse.” Leo’s eyes widened, blazing with fury. I leaned closer, my index finger tapping Leo’s chest, and chuckled softly. “Besides, how much truth is there to your feelings for me?” “Don’t tell me you’ve been at the Knight estate for ten years and never met Julian’s ‘white moonlight,’ Celeste Dubois!” Leo froze, his pupils constricting violently. He seemed truly oblivious to everything I had just said. When I walked out of the villa, he didn’t even try to chase me, remaining in a daze. It wasn’t until a sudden thunderclap, and an inexplicable sun shower began to fall, that he snapped back to reality. He clutched his chest and dialed Grandfather Sterling’s number. Meanwhile, Julian and Celeste’s engagement party was about to begin, and all invited guests had arrived. Julian stood at the entrance, watching the sun shower outside, an inexplicable unease bubbling within him. He pulled out his phone and dialed my number, but it went straight to voicemail. He clutched his phone tightly, his eyes showing a hesitation he’d never had before. At the airport, I extinguished my cigarette and smiled faintly at the tall, imposing man who had come for me. I let him put an arm around me as we boarded the private jet. The second before boarding, I looked at the numerous missed calls on my phone. A smirk played on my lips. I pulled out my SIM card and tossed it into a trash can. *Julian, since there’s no love between us, the next time we meet, we’ll be enemies on the battlefield of business.* I hadn’t gone to just anyone; I’d gone to the Moreau family, the Knight family’s century-old sworn rivals. On the other side, Julian finally sensed something was wrong. He abandoned the engagement party. He immediately began tracking my phone’s location. “Mr. Knight, Sera’s phone signal is gone!” “What?!” Julian sat at his desk, his brows tightly furrowed. He opened his eyes, which were a furious crimson.

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Arthur Vance was signing his organ donor papers when Lily Albright’s call came through. “Brandon’s flight is at five. Make sure your things are gone by three. I don’t want him upset.” The call disconnected, followed by a SnapChat transfer notification from Lily, just as always. Arthur lowered his gaze and smiled sadly. Five years. And he still hadn’t managed to melt her heart. But it didn’t matter anymore. He was dying anyway. ………………………………………. “Mr. Vance, regarding the organ donation policy, we do require a signature from a direct family member. You see…” Arthur’s eyes fell on the space for a family member’s signature, a sudden pang of bitterness in his chest. Direct family… Five years ago, his parents had died in a car accident, leaving Arthur all alone in the world. Besides Lily Albright, he had no direct family left. But he didn’t want Lily to know. So, he forced himself to speak. “I’ve agreed. Is a family signature really necessary?” The doctor paused. “It’s standard procedure. Given your current condition, you have about a month left. You should inform your family. Moreover, your records show you’re married. We can’t proceed with the donation without your wife’s consent.” Arthur’s gaze dropped. As hard as it was to accept—leukemia at thirty—it was happening. No matter how much he wished, there was no way back from this. He thanked the doctor, took the organ donation papers, and walked out. Actually, the day he was diagnosed, he’d already made up his mind: donate any usable parts of his body to those in need. He might not have much going for him, but his corneas, at least, were good. Arthur checked his watch. Two hours until Lily’s deadline. Two hours was enough time to visit Martha, the housekeeper who had served the Albright family for twenty years. Martha had lost her sight three years ago due to corneal disease. For the past three years, the Albrights had always sent Arthur to visit her. Over time, Martha had grown incredibly fond of Arthur. He often did things she couldn’t do herself and even hired a caretaker to look after her daily needs. For three years, consistently, Martha had come to treat Arthur like her own child. If she had anything good, Arthur was the first person she thought of. Arthur stepped inside. Martha was sitting on the sofa, sipping tea. Hearing his footsteps, Martha immediately recognized him. “Arthur’s here!” Arthur smiled faintly. “Your ears are so sharp! You guessed it was me so quickly!” Martha pursed her lips in a smile. “I might not know others, but I’d know yours anywhere.” With that, she handed him a plate of osmanthus cakes from beside her. “Lily bought these.” She paused mid-sentence. “Why didn’t you two come together?” Arthur froze slightly, his throat tightening. “When did she come?” Martha looked a little surprised. “Just now.” She gently took Arthur’s hand. “Are you two arguing?” Otherwise, why would she have been accompanied by a stranger? Martha didn’t voice that last thought. Arthur and Lily had an arranged, contract marriage. The Albright family had been pressing hard back then, wanting Lily to settle down quickly. At the time, Lily had a boyfriend, but he was a dead-end street, with no ambition and no future. Under constant pressure from the Albrights, he was eventually forced to leave the country. Lily was devastated, drowning herself in the nightlife every day. Seeing things worsen, the Albrights hired a professional therapist for her. And that therapist was Arthur Vance. The moment Arthur saw Lily, he was captivated. Her delicate features, those full lips, and that small, perfect nose. But it was her eyes, dark and sparkling like stars, that truly captivated him, making him want to get closer. Yet, Lily absolutely despised Arthur. The first time she saw him, she said he radiated this intellectual, almost gentle vibe that she immediately decided wasn’t “manly enough.” Arthur didn’t get angry. Every day, he diligently tried to guide Lily, telling her stories that might lift her spirits. Even when she’d cover her ears, turn her back on him, or even lock him out in the dead of winter just to shut him up, Arthur never showed anger. In his eyes, someone suffering from emotional pain often had uncontrolled emotions. And besides, this was Lily. Over time, Lily seemed to dislike him less. She began to tentatively accept Arthur’s guidance. During his patient counseling sessions, she would turn her back, whispering her deepest, most hidden feelings. Later, when the Albrights suggested another blind date for Lily, she unexpectedly grabbed Arthur’s hand, declaring, “I’ll get married, but I choose him!” Arthur was stunned. He thought Lily had genuinely changed, that she had truly developed feelings for him. It wasn’t until Lily pulled out a marriage contract that he realized the truth. She had only done this to escape the blind dates, using him as a shield. Arthur took a deep breath, forcing a smile to reassure Martha. “No, she’s busy with work. Our schedules just don’t align, so we couldn’t come together.” After he spoke, Arthur slipped a bank card from his bag into Martha’s hand. “My job situation is changing recently, and I might not be able to visit for a long time. Please keep this card. Buy anything you need, don’t hold back.” Arthur glanced at his watch. Before Martha could respond, he was gone. He needed to get back to the mansion before Lily’s deadline. Five years. He knew Lily’s temper all too well. If he didn’t follow her instructions today, she would undoubtedly tear the house apart. Most importantly, he still needed Lily’s signature. With her signature, he could proceed with the donation, and Martha could regain her sight. So, he had to rush back to the mansion now. The car drove on, and Arthur arrived at the mansion at two-thirty. The yard was as quiet as ever. He pulled out his keys, ready to unlock the door. But before he could step inside, Lily opened the door first. **Chapter 2** “Do you have no sense of time? Or are you doing this on purpose?” Arthur instinctively swallowed. “No, of course not. We said three, didn’t we? I didn’t realize you’d be back so early.” Lily’s eyes darkened, as if she realized she was in the wrong, and she lightly coughed. “My flight was moved up. Is that not allowed?!” Arthur said nothing. Lily’s attitude towards him had always been like this. She was a spoiled princess through and through. Her word was law, and whatever she wanted, Arthur had to deliver. So, for five years of their marriage, Arthur had gone along with her every whim, terrified of upsetting Lily. He didn’t want her unhappy, didn’t want to make her angry, because he loved her. But Lily was different. To show off her status as a rich heiress, every time she was happy, she would transfer a sum of money to Arthur. Her goal was to make him understand that he’d only get money if he made her happy. Arthur moved past Lily, who was blocking the doorway, and walked straight into the room to pack his things. Lily had already instructed him yesterday that their contract marriage would end the moment her ex-boyfriend, Brandon Miller, returned. So, he was now diligently packing his bags. As he reached the stair landing, Brandon stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. Their eyes met, and Arthur’s heart felt like it had been pierced by a thousand thorns, an indescribable agony. “What are you standing there for? Do you want Brandon to look at you all day?” Lily’s sharp words came from behind him. Arthur’s hand instinctively recoiled. Of course he wanted to leave quickly, but Brandon’s arm was blocking his way. It was clear Brandon didn’t want him to go inside. Arthur tried to walk upstairs, but Brandon still didn’t budge. “Mr. Vance, you haven’t changed your shoes. Aren’t you afraid of bringing germs into the room?” Brandon’s blatant provocation was completely normal in Lily’s eyes. She grabbed Arthur’s shirt, her voice icy as she commanded him, “Didn’t you hear Brandon? What are you waiting for?” Arthur looked down at Lily’s veiny hand on his arm, her eyes clearly showing impatience, as if telling him, “I can’t wait, hurry up.” Arthur turned and walked towards the entrance, putting on the disposable slippers Lily had personally set out for him. These were specifically for him last night because Brandon had a germ phobia and disliked using things others had used. This was also why, in five years of marriage, Arthur and Lily had never slept in the same room. Arthur changed into the slippers and slowly walked towards the stairs. Before returning, he had slipped the organ donation agreement into the divorce papers. He had originally planned to pack his things and then have Lily sign, but now, it seemed better sooner rather than later. Lily always dismissed Arthur, so when he handed her the papers, she only glanced at them. Seeing the bold words “Divorce Agreement,” she quickly signed her name. Arthur flipped the page, revealing only the signature box on the second page. Lily didn’t even look, signing her name directly. Everything was settled. Arthur sighed softly. He was about to say, “We’ll finalize the divorce tomorrow!” Then he swallowed the words. Their marriage had been a contract from the start. They hadn’t held a wedding or even officially registered their marriage. Just a single piece of paper had defined their entire five years together. Arthur walked directly into his room. At that moment, he didn’t look back at Lily, but he could still feel her burning gaze on his thin back. Arthur’s room was a converted study. When he first moved in, Lily had told him. Brandon would return one day, and all the rooms in the mansion were to be reserved for him. And on the day he returned, Arthur was to leave discreetly, without any delay. This was a warning, and the most crucial term of their contract. That was why Arthur had always slept in the study, and why he was so cooperative in choosing to leave. Arthur folded all his belongings into his suitcase. The room’s furnishings were mostly books. Besides his laptop and some clothes, Arthur had almost nothing. Once everything was packed, he picked up his suitcase, ready to leave. Brandon suddenly walked in, blocking Arthur’s path. “This mansion is huge, and Lily’s family has a lot of valuables. Are you…?” He trailed off, his eyes instinctively glancing at Arthur’s suitcase. Arthur understood his implication, but Brandon had no right to question him, nor to inspect his suitcase. Legally speaking, he and Lily hadn’t finalized their divorce yet, so he was still the man of this house. Arthur ignored him, walking straight past him with his suitcase. But Brandon persisted, lunging forward to block the doorway. As he rushed past, Arthur was simultaneously walking out, and by sheer accident, Brandon bumped into the doorframe. When Lily walked in, Brandon was on the floor, clutching his forehead. Arthur, meanwhile, stood expressionless, looking down at Brandon. Seeing this, Lily panicked. She pushed Arthur aside roughly. “Are you crazy?! Why would you do that to Brandon?!” Lily’s shove was powerful. Arthur lost his footing and hit his head against the bookshelf. Blood immediately seeped from his forehead. Arthur quickly pressed a tissue to the wound. Leukemia. The scariest thing was bleeding. Once he started bleeding, it wouldn’t stop. In severe cases, it could lead to infection. **Chapter 3** But Lily didn’t know, and she didn’t care. She flung Arthur’s suitcase out the door, her voice sharp as she warned him, “You, now, immediately, get out of my sight!” Arthur hadn’t eaten all day due to his check-ups. The hunger made him feel weak, almost unable to stand. Brandon, seeing this, grabbed Lily’s hand. “Baby, I’m in so much pain. Can you take me to the doctor? It really hurts…” Brandon clutched his forehead, which showed no trace of injury, pleading with Lily through a pained expression. Lily glared back at Arthur. “You’d better be gone before I get back, or else, don’t blame me for what happens next!” With that, she helped Brandon leave, completely ignoring Arthur, who was still bleeding profusely. Arthur leaned against the corner, gasping for air. He had still held onto some hope for Lily. After all, she had once been inseparable from him, even if that time was because she’d thrown a ceramic vase at him in a fit of rage. But even then, he’d felt a strange warmth. Now, though, he was utterly and completely disappointed. Arthur slowly got up from the floor. The tissue was soaked with blood. He held it to his wound and pulled the first-aid kit from the cabinet. He’d specifically stocked it the day he was diagnosed with his terminal illness. In the five years he’d been with Lily, he had never left the kitchen, often cutting his hand every few days. Each time, the bleeding wouldn’t stop. Ever since Martha got sick, Lily had never hired another housekeeper. She believed that Arthur, by marrying into the Albright family, should contribute something. So, all the household chores were handled by Arthur. He woke up early every day, prepared breakfast for Lily, and then rushed to catch the bus before eight. The first thing he did after coming home from work was prepare ginger tea and dinner for Lily, making sure everything was ready three minutes before she got back. Arthur was immersed in a life of tirelessly tending to Lily. At first, his colleagues at work used to mock him, calling him a “whipped” husband. But Arthur didn’t care. He loved Lily, and he loved doing things that made her happy. Back then, he felt it was all worth it. But now, he didn’t. Arthur sprinkled some hemostatic powder on his wound, then carefully lay down on the bed. Even though his life was counting down, he wanted to cherish the remaining time. Regrettably, the hemostatic medicine had no effect. His blood continued to flow, and the wound throbbed. Arthur forced himself up, hailed a taxi outside the mansion. He leaned his entire body against the back seat, trying to keep his forehead flat against the cushion. When he arrived at the hospital, Arthur’s face was pale, and he stumbled several times from weakness. Finally, a kind stranger helped him into the emergency room. Arthur lay on the bed, his consciousness slowly fading. But he could still feel the doctors and nurses frantically trying to stop the bleeding. The pain made him forget that Lily and Brandon were also there. As Lily walked past the emergency room, a nurse happened to call out Arthur Vance’s name. Lily stopped, casually asking, “Which Arthur Vance?” Brandon pulled her arm. “There are tons of people with that name. Isn’t your Arthur Vance at home?” Lily instinctively turned her head. Seeing Brandon’s jealous expression, she quickly pulled her hand away from the nurse. The two disappeared down the hallway without looking back. Meanwhile, Arthur, due to excessive blood loss, was admitted to the intensive care unit. Fortunately, the hospital had recorded Arthur’s emergency contact. Otherwise, he might have died in the hospital with no family showing up. Martha, supported by Daisy, rushed to the hospital. After the doctor’s explanation and persuasion, Martha collapsed onto the floor. She couldn’t believe it. How could Arthur, who had been perfectly fine, be diagnosed with aggressive leukemia? And with less than a month left? This was even more painful than when she learned she was blind. Martha stood by the ICU room, her eyes filled with tears, the rhythmic beeping of the machines tightening her entire chest. Daisy comforted her kindly. “Arthur’s a good person, good things happen to good people. He’ll be fine!” But Martha knew it was just a way to comfort herself. Arthur’s life was already counting down. Even if she wanted to try her best to save him now, it was too late. As time ticked by, nurses began to emerge from the room. Daisy quickly approached to ask, but was met with stern criticism from a nurse. “How can you be such irresponsible family members? You know the patient can’t get injured at this stage, how could you be so careless? Luckily, we acted quickly today, otherwise, if the bleeding hadn’t stopped, his life would have been in danger!” Daisy stood stunned, unsure how to respond to the nurse’s accusations. But she knew that Arthur’s injury must have something to do with Lily. Martha slowly walked over, crying as she apologized to the nurse, promising to be more careful in the future. But Daisy couldn’t stand it. Arthur was always so careful and steady. How could he get injured without reason? Even if leukemia made bleeding easy, without a violent impact or cut, how could he bleed without cause? The more she thought, the angrier she became. Just as she was about to defend Martha, the doctor stepped out. “The patient is awake. You can go in now!” **Chapter 4** Daisy quickly helped Martha inside. Arthur lay weakly on the bed. Seeing Martha, his heart felt like it was being gnawed by a thousand ants. When the hospital registered his emergency contact, he hadn’t thought much of it. He assumed he would be careful, and no emergencies would arise. But with the hospital’s insistence, he reluctantly gave Martha’s number. He hadn’t wanted Martha to know, worried she wouldn’t be able to handle it. But now, it was impossible to hide. “Arthur…” Martha choked out the name. Arthur raised a weak arm, softly calling out, “Aunt Martha.” Their hands clasped tightly together. Martha fought back tears, bringing Arthur’s hand to her ear. “Why are you so foolish? You’re sick, and there’s no one by your side. How can I not worry?” Arthur’s throat was tight, but he forced a smile to comfort Martha. “It’s okay, I’m much better!” Martha, though blind, wasn’t foolish. She guessed Arthur hadn’t told Lily about his illness. She also guessed that something had gone wrong between Lily and Arthur, likely because of that other man. But she couldn’t ask, couldn’t say anything. Because with Lily’s temper, rushing over to question her now would only lead her to blame everything on Arthur. Besides, she wanted to respect Arthur’s decision. If he chose not to tell Lily, there had to be a good reason. Martha wiped her tears and turned to instruct Daisy to prepare some bland food for Arthur. Though she couldn’t see, she could feel that Arthur was very weak right now. Daisy ran out of the hospital like a flash. When she first came to Martha’s house, it was Arthur who taught her about the local shops and Martha’s preferences. Occasionally, if she broke something, Arthur never blamed her. Instead, he’d comfort her, “Don’t be scared, Aunt Martha won’t be angry. I’ll get her something new.” For three years, whenever Daisy clumsily broke something, Arthur would use his own money to replace it. He treated Daisy like his own younger sister. When Daisy was upset, she would actively seek out Arthur to talk. They had almost no secrets. But now Arthur was sick, and Daisy felt her world had collapsed. She was terrified of losing Arthur, terrified of losing the Arthur who had protected her, taught her, and guided her for three years. She walked and cried, her sorrowful thoughts causing her to not notice Lily approaching from the opposite direction. They collided with force, both falling to the ground. Lily immediately snapped, “Are you blind?! Don’t you look where you’re going?!” It took Daisy a moment to recover. When she saw Lily in Brandon Miller’s arms, her face instantly changed. “What are you doing here?” Lily looked at her in surprise. “Is Aunt Martha not feeling well?!” Daisy was about to speak, but Brandon clutched his forehead and moaned. Lily ignored everything else, reaching out to help Brandon up. By the time she looked back, Daisy had vanished into the crowd. In the hospital room, Arthur seemed to sense something bad was happening. He gritted his teeth and reached for his phone. Before his fingers could touch it, Lily’s call came through. Arthur glanced at Martha, then lowered the volume to the minimum and answered. “Arthur Vance, what good are you? Do you know I just saw Aunt Martha’s caretaker at the hospital? If anything happens to Aunt Martha, I’m holding you responsible!” Lily’s accusing words exploded in his ear. Arthur swallowed, his throat dry. It took him a moment to speak. “I know. She’s fine, just picking up some medicine.” Arthur’s body ached, and he didn’t have the strength to argue with Lily. He also didn’t want Lily to know he was sick, because he didn’t want to receive her shallow, pathetic sympathy. Besides, even if she knew, she wouldn’t feel sorry for him. Instead, she’d blame him for being careless. So, this time, he chose to remain silent. Lily was slightly stunned. She felt Arthur was a bit strange today. Normally, whenever she lost her temper, Arthur would immediately admit his mistake. But this time, he hadn’t said anything, clearly just brushing her off. However, before she could speak, Arthur hung up. This undoubtedly pushed Lily’s last nerve. She quickly started the car, ignoring Brandon’s reaction, and floored the accelerator. Pushing open the mansion door, she shrieked Arthur’s name in a sharp voice, but the house was unusually quiet. Even the magpies that usually chattered noisily in the trees were silent. Lily grew angrier. She strode upstairs and kicked open the study door. But the room was empty, save for a pool of blood on the floor. Arthur was nowhere to be seen. Lily’s brow furrowed. She stepped closer to the bloodstain. After confirming it was human blood, Lily’s heart instantly panicked. She opened her phone and dialed Arthur’s number. The phone rang for several seconds before being hung up. Immediately after, a SnapChat message popped up: “Something came up at work. I’ll pick up my luggage as soon as possible.” Lily’s heart sank like a heavy stone, feeling a mix of suppression and anger. Arthur had never refused her calls, no matter how busy he was. He would always answer without hesitation just as the ring was about to end. But this time… She glanced at the suitcase by the door, suddenly feeling indignant. Saying something came up at work, and then mysteriously leaving a pool of blood—this was clearly deliberate, an excuse to not leave. Thinking this, she lifted her foot, ready to walk out. She wanted to confront Arthur and ask him how he dared pull such a childish stunt. Did he have no shame? But she hadn’t taken many steps before Brandon stopped her from behind. “Lily, my wound hurts. Can you please help me with it again? You know I hate pain…” Lily’s outstretched foot immediately retracted. She looked at the suitcase outside the door, then at the weak, pathetic Brandon. Yes, he hated pain the most. Normally, if he got even a small scratch, he’d desperately pull her arm, begging her to kiss it better. How much more so now? Lily helped Brandon up and then took a cotton swab to gently dab his forehead. At that moment, everything was replaced by Brandon’s cries of pain. **Chapter 5** Three days later, Arthur was discharged. His first priority was to rush back to the mansion to retrieve his luggage. Given his current relationship with Lily, he didn’t want to stay there a minute longer, nor did he want any more entanglement with her. He just wanted to get his bags and spend his remaining time in peace. But the mansion’s password had been changed. Lily and Brandon weren’t there, and Arthur couldn’t get in. He glanced at the time. He still had to go to his office later to hand in his resignation. Waiting indefinitely wasn’t an option. So, he bit the bullet and called Lily. The call connected, and Brandon’s cold, mocking voice came through. “Lily and I are on vacation in Westview. Mr. Vance, if you’re not in a hurry, would you mind waiting outside for a while?” Arthur paused. There was a very important patient list in his suitcase, and his body was getting weaker by the day. If he couldn’t get it today, he didn’t know when his next chance would be. So, he weakly asked, “How long will that be?” Brandon sneered. “That depends on my mood.” Arthur checked his watch again. “I’m afraid I can’t wait. Can you text me the password? I’ll grab my luggage and leave.” Brandon suddenly burst out laughing. “How can I do that? No one’s home. If you take your luggage and something goes missing, how do we account for it?” Arthur’s throat instantly tightened, but before he could say anything, Brandon hung up. Arthur rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold. It was December, and the frigid air made his hands and feet numb. He didn’t dare move around freely. These past few days, Lily had often posted photos of herself and Brandon on Ins, enjoying outdoor excursions. Their locations varied, sometimes far, sometimes near. He was terrified of missing their return. Arthur huddled by the mansion gate, quietly waiting for Lily’s return. Time ticked by, minute by minute. The cold seeped into his entire body, but there was still no sign of Lily. Finally, just as the sun was about to set, a black Rolls-Royce slowly pulled into the driveway. Seeing Arthur huddled by the gate, Lily’s eyes instantly darkened. She quickly opened the car door and walked up to Arthur. “What are you doing out here? It’s so cold, couldn’t you find somewhere to take shelter?” Arthur opened his eyes. Seeing Lily’s irritated expression, the words he was about to say caught in his throat. He just managed to say, “I came to get my suitcase.” Lily’s face immediately fell. “Are you that impatient? So eager to move out?” Even she felt strange saying this. She had been the one to repeatedly urge Arthur to leave, yet now she was questioning him. It truly made no sense. Arthur said nothing, just stood with his head down by the door, waiting for Lily to open it. “The previous lock was broken, and I wasn’t home during the day. For safety, I changed it.” Arthur paused, surprised for half a second. Was she explaining herself to him? But this was her house. She could do whatever she wanted. Why tell him all this? The door opened, but Arthur didn’t go inside. Only Lily’s and Brandon’s slippers were by the entrance. “Could you please bring my suitcase out?” Lily instinctively glanced at them. “Brandon doesn’t like disposable slippers, so I threw them out.” Her eyes flickered slightly as she spoke. “Why don’t you come in? You’ve waited so long, a hot drink wouldn’t hurt.” Arthur smiled. “I have other things to do. I won’t bother you.” Just then, Brandon brought out the suitcase. Lily seemed to want to say more, but Arthur left with his suitcase. Snow fell from the sky, and Arthur’s figure looked desolate and lonely. For some reason, at that moment, Lily felt Arthur had changed. He seemed thinner, quieter. In short, he was completely different from before. Arthur took his luggage to his office and handed over the patient list and his resignation to Dr. Lawrence, the head of the clinic. As a psychologist for five years, Arthur had helped countless patients with mental illnesses, but when it came to himself, he was powerless. Dr. Lawrence looked troubled, his eyes filled with regret. “Actually, with current medical technology, there have been cases of leukemia being cured. Your father-in-law…” “No need,” Arthur smiled. “No need to bother. I’ve already been checked. I don’t have much time left, and I don’t want to waste it on treatment, especially for a disease that can’t be cured anyway.” He looked up at the neon lights outside the window. He and Lily were no longer bound. They hadn’t even registered their marriage back when they signed the contract; at most, they were contractual partners. How could he trouble a top-tier hematology professor for someone who had already been given a death sentence by the hospital? Dr. Lawrence sighed, then put the resignation letter in his drawer. “If you need anything in the future, just tell me. I’ll do my best.” Arthur’s eyes shimmered. “Nothing else, just one thing: please don’t tell the Albright family about my illness and resignation.” “I’m afraid they won’t be able to handle it.” His certain tone and serious expression didn’t arouse any suspicion in Dr. Lawrence, who gritted his teeth and agreed. Arthur walked out of the hospital with his luggage. He had promised Martha that he would stay with her for his remaining days. So, after leaving the hospital, he went directly to Martha’s house. Halfway there, Arthur suddenly stopped. He started bleeding from his nose again, unsure if it was due to the day’s exhaustion or the cold weather. He tilted his head back, wiping with one hand, letting the blood flow back into his nose. The strong metallic taste of blood spread in his throat, making him cough violently twice. Just then, his phone suddenly rang. Arthur, still with his head tilted back, didn’t look at the caller ID. He answered, and Lily’s voice came through. “Do you cook lily bulb and snow fungus soup with cold water or hot water? Brandon’s sick, and I don’t really know how. Could you please…?” “Cold water.” Arthur cut her off before Lily could finish. “Just put the ingredients in when the water boils. You decide how long to cook it.” Arthur’s voice was hoarse with fatigue, sounding distant. But to Lily, it felt like defiant indifference. “You don’t have to be like this, do you? I just asked you to temporarily move out. I didn’t say you couldn’t come back. Why are you overreacting and giving me the silent treatment?” Arthur suddenly laughed. He, giving her the silent treatment? She just asked him to “temporarily move out”? Their contract was expired, both had signed, and she had signed with unusual haste. Now that everything was settled and they could go their separate ways, she was saying she hadn’t forbidden him from returning? Did she really think of him as a pet, summoned and dismissed at will? Arthur didn’t speak, simply hanging up the phone. He was feeling too unwell to argue with her now. But Lily reacted as if she had received a severe shock. She started dialing Arthur’s phone again and again. Arthur carried his luggage with one hand and clutched his continuously bleeding nose with the other. His phone only stopped ringing when it finally died and he stepped into Martha’s house. Daisy quickly brought a basin of hot water and carefully wiped Arthur’s face. Blood trickled down his nose, staining the front of his shirt. Daisy immediately started crying, her voice choked and trembling. “Does it… hurt?” Arthur smiled and shook his head. “It’s just a nosebleed. Normal people get nosebleeds too. It doesn’t hurt.” But Daisy knew Arthur was just trying to comfort her. How could a leukemia bleed be the same as a normal nosebleed? Once it started, it was hard to stop. How could it not hurt? Arthur leaned back on the pillow. Just as he closed his eyes, an urgent knocking came from the door. Daisy quickly ran over. The moment she opened the door, her throat instinctively tightened. “Is Arthur Vance here?” Lily’s aggressive questioning left Daisy momentarily stunned. She pushed past Daisy and walked straight in. Seeing Arthur lying on the sofa, covered in blood, Lily’s expression instantly darkened. “What happened to you?” Arthur paused. In five years, this was the first time she had ever asked him. It made Arthur feel, for a fleeting moment, as if she were concerned about him. But a fleeting moment was all it was. Just as Arthur was about to speak, Lily’s phone rang. He didn’t need to guess who was on the other end. “Lily, where are you? I feel so awful. Please don’t leave me!” Hearing Brandon’s voice, Lily looked directly at Arthur, as if under a spell. “Brandon’s sick and wants your lily bulb and snow fungus soup. Come back with me, and I’ll pay you for your trouble.” Hearing those words, Arthur’s chest began to heave. So, in her eyes, he was just that worthless. But before Arthur could speak, Daisy was already enraged. “Your boyfriend is sick, why should Arthur serve him? He’s sick too, Arthur’s not well! If you want service, do it yourself!” With that, she resolutely stood in front of Arthur. This scene instantly ignited Lily’s already bad mood. She brutally pushed Daisy aside, then grabbed Arthur’s arm and tried to drag him out. Arthur’s nosebleed had just stopped, but his body was still weak. He broke free from Lily’s grip, telling her in a faint voice, “I can’t go. I don’t feel well.” But Lily acted as if she hadn’t heard him. “You just have a nosebleed, but Brandon has a fever! It’s just a bowl of soup! I’ll pay you, isn’t that enough?!” She kept talking, dragging Arthur towards the door. In their struggle, Arthur accidentally tripped on a stone at the entrance, and blood immediately covered his entire face. Lily waved her hands in distress. “Why is there so much blood?” Daisy screamed and rushed over. “Lily Albright, haven’t you caused Arthur enough harm?!” “He’s dying!” **Chapter 6** The air suddenly went silent. Lily hesitated for a moment, then resumed her composed demeanor.

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It was the third day of the cold war between us. As soon as I, Harper, walked through the door, Mr. Davis, our butler, approached me with a huge bouquet of roses. Mr. Davis’s smile was utterly fawning. “Mr. Leo knows he messed up, ma’am. He specially picked out these red roses for you this morning—your favorite.” “If he didn’t have a meeting today, he would have delivered them himself. Please don’t be too angry, ma’am. You’re the one Mr. Leo cares about most.” Mr. Davis exhausted every good word he knew, trying to make excuses for Leo. But after a long day, I just found his chatter irritating. Red roses were my favorite flowers, true. My hand lifted, but I didn’t take them. Instead, I rubbed my tired forehead, bypassing Mr. Davis and heading upstairs. Every time we argued, Leo would send me countless gifts. In the past, I’d treasured them like precious jewels. But after I found *that* letter, these gifts became a cruel joke. It was almost season change, and I decided to update my wardrobe. While tidying up, I found a yellowed envelope tucked away at the very bottom of my closet. Pink trim, an old-fashioned design – I knew instantly it wasn’t mine. I opened it and barely had time to read for half a minute when Leo, fresh out of the bathroom, rushed over and snatched it from my hands. He carefully inspected the envelope, making sure it was completely unharmed, then folded it neatly. As if realizing something, his gaze shifted to me, standing there stunned. Leo showed no hint of shame at being caught. His eyes held a slight reproach. “Why were you going through my things? Even in a marriage, people need their own space, don’t they? You’re getting more and more unreasonable.” Just accidentally seeing something of his, and I was judged so harshly. It was as if his wedding vow, “Everything I have is transparent to you,” had never existed. I pressed my lips together, meeting his gaze directly. “Aren’t you going to explain?” The name on that love letter was Chloe Peterson, my high school deskmate. The date at the bottom was from our sophomore year. Leo and I only got together at a graduation party after high school; he confessed his feelings, and I accepted without hesitation. What I’d forgotten was that day was the day after Chloe left for overseas. In high school, I was a quiet girl. Chloe, on the other hand, was outgoing and could chat with anyone. Since we were deskmates, she often talked to me. To be fair, I liked her quite a bit back then; we had a good relationship, occasionally ate together, and talked about girl stuff. At that moment, Leo didn’t seem to think he was in the wrong at all. “Explain what? You’re the one who needs to explain why you were rummaging through my things.” The atmosphere was tense, unyielding, until his phone rang. He visibly relaxed as he answered. “Fine, I forgive you. Just don’t touch my things again.” He threw that line out, then casually pulled on some clothes and walked out the door. As for the love letter, he seemed to have completely forgotten it, never mentioning it again. It wasn’t that I hadn’t tried to argue or confront him, but his dismissive, almost pitying look cut right through me. He’d said, “We’re married now. What else do you want?” His words squeezed my heart until I couldn’t breathe. Even with the window open and air circulating, I felt like I was suffocating. In that moment, for the first time, I began to truly examine all the years I’d spent with him. Later that night, I had already fallen asleep. In my dream, a dog kept clinging to me. I groggily opened my eyes, met with a pungent, alcoholic smell. Leo was drunk, kissing me messily, his eyes wet and glistening, like a golden retriever who had finally found its owner. After all, we had been married for years. I pushed him aside and sat up, intending to get him some water to sober him up. I sat up and put on my shoes. Suddenly, a warmth pressed against me from behind. Leo held me tight, burying his head against my shoulder. His voice was full of a pathetic whine, “Don’t leave.” I tilted my head, my gaze tinged with sarcasm. “Am I really the one you want to stay?” The moment the words left my lips, I felt him stiffen behind me. The pressure on my shoulder eased. I turned to look, and Leo was already lying flat on the bed. He stared blankly at the ceiling, his eyes dark and utterly vacant. My heart ached with a tight, sour feeling, but a cold, mocking laugh escaped my lips as I continued. “Is it because my parents passed away that you pitied me and married me?” He was the one who proposed, six months after my parents died in a car accident. I was completely devastated then, and he had helped manage my company. Before he started helping with my company, Leo had lost a fortune in his own startup. He’d gone around begging for money, and friends and family had shunned him like the plague. He’d finally begged me to let him work at the company to repay his debts, but his meager salary wasn’t enough for the enormous sum. He’d only managed to solve his financial issues by dipping into company funds. I simply hadn’t exposed him, seeing how tirelessly he worked for the company. After we got married, he slowly took over more of the company’s affairs, allowing me to pursue work I enjoyed. He’d promised me that my shares in the company would remain the highest, and he had kept that promise. But the reality now was Leo asking me, “So, what do you want now?” I glanced at Leo, the tearing pain in my chest stealing my breath. Disappointment heavy in my heart, I stood up. My hand was caught. His palm was warm, but his fingertips were cold, a confusing mix of temperatures. Leo repeated his question, this time with a hint of compromise, forbearance… and a flicker of disgust. “What exactly do you want now?” **Chapter 2** After that night, Leo often avoided being alone with me. But I didn’t fall into the same slump I had after my parents passed. I pulled myself together and went back to work at the company. The board members were surprised by my return. Some whispered that I was just back to play around, others speculated that my marriage was in trouble. I started taking on more and more responsibilities, and slowly, Leo stopped avoiding me. He began to interact with me like before, acting according to my wishes. I knew there was an invisible veil between us, obscuring our true selves. What broke the stalemate, or rather, made it worse, was a high school reunion. Our old homeroom teacher suddenly organized a reunion, personally calling to invite us. Our once charming and talented class monitor had turned into a pot-bellied desk jockey, and the quiet wallflower had become a confident, eloquent beauty. Everyone had changed so much. Our arrival drew everyone’s attention, along with some whispers. “Is that Harper? She’s so gorgeous now.” “They actually look quite good together now.” Indeed, in high school, Leo and I were in the same class for three years but had almost no interaction. It was my deskmate, Chloe, who had a good relationship with him. Everyone used to think Chloe and Leo would end up together. In high school, Leo was popular – smart, good-looking. I, on the other hand, was an unpolished nerd back then. No one thought we’d ever be a couple. It was Leo who confessed first. Sam, our class monitor, was still as enthusiastic as ever. He approached us to chat. “You two are seriously busy! Our old teacher said it took forever to get you here.” I smiled, my gaze sweeping over everyone. I wasn’t fazed by their stares. “But we’re here now, aren’t we? Let’s find a seat.” Once we sat down, everyone started catching up, drinking. Many classmates who I hadn’t interacted with much in high school came over to chat. Jake, our old sports committee member, came over half-drunk and slung an arm around Leo’s shoulder. “You lucky dog! You married the class’s heiress, and now she’s become this beautiful.” “Hahahaha! The poorest guy in our class and the richest girl got together. You really made it, man!” His voice wasn’t quiet. After he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent. Leo’s smile froze, his face darkening. Leo hated it most when people said he relied on me. He always believed his achievements were due to his own hard work, and that I merely provided a foundation. My smile was plastered on my face, but it didn’t reach my eyes. I said calmly, “Jake, you’re drunk.” I wasn’t speaking up for Leo; I was speaking up for my own dignity. Jake burped. “No, I’m not! If I’d known you were so rich, I would’ve made my move first…” Before he could finish, Sam quickly walked over, clamped a hand over his mouth, and dragged him away. “You’re wasted! It’s been years, can’t you keep your mouth shut?!” Our old teacher, sensing the awkward atmosphere, quickly started ushering people to eat. The mood hadn’t quite lightened when the door opened, and a familiar figure appeared. Willow-like brows, almond-shaped eyes, cherry lips, and a graceful nose – Chloe. She possessed a newfound maturity and charm compared to her high school days. Chloe walked in, greeting everyone warmly, then chose the seat closest to me. A few people whispered as they stared at Chloe. Our old teacher cleared his throat. “Stop staring. Chloe’s back in the country for good this time. You’ll have plenty of time to catch up.” Across from me, Chloe and Leo exchanged loaded glances, as if they wanted everyone to know they had something special. I, the legitimate wife, felt like the villain breaking up a loving couple. By the end of the reunion, everyone was completely wasted. I stepped outside, wanting some fresh air, and happened to run into Chloe. A sickly sweet, teasing voice drifted from around the corner. “I’m back. So, when are you divorcing her?” The door was ajar, so I couldn’t see the other person, but my heart instantly plummeted. The moment that voice spoke, my heart shattered. The owner of the voice sounded a bit annoyed, but he was trying to be gentle with the person in front of him. “You just got back. What’s the rush? Settle in first.” “Don’t lie to me! I came back for you.” **Chapter 3** I crossed my arms, a faint smile playing on my lips, though my eyes were cold and sharp. “Why are you talking out here? Is it something others can’t hear?” They exchanged a glance, unsure if I’d overheard their conversation. Compared to Leo’s panic, Chloe quickly regained her composure. She walked up to me, pulling me into a fake intimate embrace. “Oh, we were just talking about you, Harper. I was asking Leo what you like so I could get you a gift.” I pulled Chloe’s hand away, forcing a polite, artificial smile. “Still calling him Leo? You two are still so close, aren’t you?” Their faces stiffened. I continued, “Don’t bother yourself. Leo and I have everything we need now.” I had occasionally heard about Chloe’s life overseas. It hadn’t been easy for her. Determined to make them both suffer a sleepless night, I met Leo’s gaze, giving him no quarter. “Leo, after all, you and Chloe were quite the match in high school – a real power couple. It’s probably best you don’t get too close now. I might get jealous, you know.” I said I’d get jealous, but my cold demeanor sent shivers down Leo’s spine. The drive home was silent. Leo’s phone kept buzzing. The incessant ringing started to annoy me. I asked, “Aren’t you going to reply? What if Chloe has something important to tell you?” The moment I spoke her name, Leo slammed on the brakes. He glanced at me, then immediately turned off his phone. “I told you, there’s nothing going on between us! I just explained it, didn’t I?” His defense was weak, pathetic. I bit my lower lip, my mind already starting to plan for divorce. After that, our relationship completely froze. We didn’t even argue anymore. Even though he was the one who confessed, I knew very well that in this relationship, I was the one who was truly on the bottom. Every cold war ended with me initiating the reconciliation. Leo would just fob me off with gifts, as if presents could fix everything. But he forgot, it was I who, using my connections and family ties, had elevated him to a height he could never have reached on his own. Perhaps Leo had truly loved me once, but that love letter was a stark reminder that I was never his first priority. I felt so little love. I didn’t want to trap myself in fantasies anymore. But at night, falling into memories left me gasping for air. My body felt off, but I chose to ignore it, going to the company as usual the next day. For several days, Leo didn’t come home. I knew, but I didn’t care, pouring my energy into the company’s new project. Finally, I allowed myself a night off. As I sat down for dinner at home, Mr. Davis asked, “It’s getting cold lately. Mr. Leo hasn’t been home for days. I wonder if he has enough clothes at the office. Would you like me to send some over, ma’am?” This cold war had dragged on for too long, and everyone else in the house seemed anxious. Perhaps Mr. Davis simply couldn’t stand the current atmosphere and was kindly hinting. I had too many things on my mind lately, and my emotions felt a little out of control. My cool voice turned sharp and piercing, directed mercilessly at anyone who didn’t align with my wishes. “If you’re so worried, go find him yourself. I probably know where he is. Do you need me to tell you?” Mr. Davis had been hired during my high school years because my parents were busy with company affairs. In the past, he always prioritized my feelings. But after Leo and I got married, Mr. Davis slowly began to put Leo first. I stared at the dishes in front of me; most of them were Leo’s favorites. It wasn’t just Mr. Davis; the cook was the same. Clothes and daily meals were always chosen with Leo in mind first. The house decor was arranged exactly to his liking. My entire life was slowly being devoured, consumed. I took a deep breath, my eyes sharp as I swept my gaze across Mr. Davis. “Find the design plans I made for the house before. Arrange everything according to those.” Mr. Davis hesitated, wanting to speak, then forced a strained smile. “Ma’am, that’s a huge undertaking. And we should discuss it with Mr. Leo first…” I stared at her, expressionless. Mr. Davis fell silent, then immediately instructed someone to find the plans. At the company, I immersed myself in organizing the project proposal, not noticing anyone entering my office. Just as I finally allowed myself a moment to breathe, I looked up and saw Leo, whom I hadn’t seen in days. I ignored his presence, standing up to ask my secretary why she let someone in without my permission. Leo stepped forward and grabbed my arm. After days apart, his first words were an accusation: “Why are you redecorating the house? Are you planning to divorce me? All because of that love letter?” He sighed, shaking his head, accusing me. “You’re becoming so petty now. You weren’t like this before.” The moment he said that, my heart clenched. I let out a breath and looked at him, scrutinizing. “And you? Haven’t *you* changed?” “Besides, it’s *my* house. I don’t need you telling me what to do.” Leo hated it when I brought up money. Every time I did, he acted like he was a kept man, feeling inferior to me. I knew this, which was why I often avoided such topics and only praised Leo publicly. But with too much praise, not only did outsiders believe I owed everything to Leo, even Leo himself couldn’t distinguish reality. My words stung him. He unconsciously tightened his grip on my arm. Pain shot through my wrist. I ignored his cold gaze, biting my lip, and pulled his hand off. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been up to these past few days.” Leo was speechless for a moment, then quickly found his voice. “I’ve been working myself to death for this company, and you don’t see any of that? Now, because I made one mistake, you’re treating me like this?” “Is it that in your heart, you only care about this company, and I’m just your obedient dog?” My brows furrowed. I didn’t understand why he was acting so wronged. I simply said, “If that’s what you want to think, there’s nothing I can do.” Then, remembering something, I gave a bitter laugh. “Have you finished helping Chloe with whatever she needed? Or are you just here to throw a tantrum at me? You should know I’m not a forgiving person.” Leo’s body stiffened. He denied it weakly. “I didn’t.” His rebuttal had no conviction. My phone vibrated in my hand. I glanced down, giving him a perfunctory reply. “Oh, right. It’s just friendly, harmonious help between classmates.” **Chapter 4** Leo was annoyed by my attitude. “Are you really going to treat me like this for an outsider? She’s her, and you’re you. We’re married.” I was so exasperated by his twisted logic that I wanted to leave, but Leo held me back. He remembered his true purpose for coming to see me: he wanted me to stop meddling in company affairs. I was the largest shareholder, and my return had significantly impacted Leo. The old men on the board, who already disliked Leo, were now opportunists, and Leo was slowly losing his influence in the company. My bad mood had made me sarcastic, which now made it difficult for him to communicate with me. Our conversations had rarely been this strained after we married. In the past, I would usually soothe myself, making him forget that before we got married, I had a very strong personality. Seeing my lack of trust, Leo seemed to grasp at a lifeline. “I can explain to you, that love letter…” But I didn’t have time to pursue it now. I turned and waved him off. “I’m busy right now. We can talk later.” Leo felt an indescribable bitterness, like swallowing a bitter pill. It wasn’t that I was deliberately ignoring him; he’d just come at a bad time. The head of Vance Enterprises, whom I’d been trying to reach for ages, had finally responded. I arrived at the agreed location according to the address they provided. When I saw the person waiting, I froze. The balloon of anxiety in my chest, about to burst, seemed to slowly deflate. Meeting the eyes of the person before me, I actually smiled. It was like a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders. I let out a sigh of relief. It wasn’t a forced smile or a cold, mocking one; it was the first genuine, relaxed smile I’d managed in days. Julian Vance watched my transformation from tension to relaxation and gave a helpless smile, extending his hand. “Long time no see, Ms. Harper.” His address momentarily disoriented me. It had been so long since anyone called me “Ms. Harper.” The title “Mrs. Leo” had almost made me forget my own name. Snapping back to reality, I stood up and took his hand. “Long time no see, Julian.” Julian was my middle school classmate. Our families lived close, and our parents knew each other, so we used to walk to and from school together. We went to different high schools, but our relationship remained as good as ever. However, Julian went overseas for college, and later, after I got married, we gradually lost touch. I hadn’t expected the person I was meeting to be Julian. We exchanged a few brief pleasantries before getting down to business. Julian had just returned to the country and was taking over this project. The collaboration partner was still under discussion. Though we were old acquaintances, Julian had no intention of giving me special treatment. I knew it wouldn’t be easy to secure this deal, but the hope wasn’t entirely gone. There were still a few missing points in the contract. Julian told me to revise it and discuss it at their company next time. Afterward, we both stood up to leave. Free from the corporate scheming, our conversation returned to the easygoing banter of old friends. Julian had been dropped off by a driver, but he just received a call saying the driver had an emergency. I didn’t hesitate to offer him a ride home. We chatted and laughed as we walked to my car, only to find Leo standing there. Leo’s eyes lit up when he saw me, but then his gaze narrowed sharply as he noticed Julian beside me. He quickly walked over to me, placing himself between us, his eyes filled with hostility. Leo didn’t want to talk to Julian; he seemed to flee as if Julian were carrying a plague. He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward my car. I glanced back at Julian, my mind still on the contract, knowing I couldn’t offend him. I pulled my hand away from Leo. Leo’s eyes grew cold as he stared at his rejected hand. I stopped, turning to him. “What are you doing?” Leo’s gaze was full of scrutiny, sweeping between Julian and me. He gave a cold laugh. “What am *I* doing? What are *you two* doing? You’re a married woman. What are you doing alone with another man?” I knew I was innocent. I’d been working myself ragged for the company, only to be doubted by him. My emotions had been unstable these past few days, and his words made me explode instantly. “Alone with another man? Ha! I didn’t realize Mr. Leo’s standards were so high. When Mr. Leo was with Ms. Chloe, did you ever consider that you were a married man?” Our words turned into spears, piercing each other. Our voices were grand and forceful, but they concealed shattered hearts. The parking lot lights were dim. We could see each other, yet a mist lay between us, preventing us from drawing any closer. **Chapter 5** The tension hung heavy in the air. Julian took two long strides forward. “Mr. Leo seems to have a lot of animosity toward me. Do you think there’s an issue with the partnership?” Leo’s open mouth closed, confusion clouding his brows. “Partnership?” At his bewildered question, I snorted. “Leo, you’re truly a diligent husband, aren’t you? You really haven’t bothered with the company at all these past few days, have you?” Julian “kindly” explained the reason for our meeting. Watching Leo’s face shift from flushed with anger to pale with shock, Julian’s eyes flashed with a hint of mockery and disdain. I wasn’t in the mood to care what he thought anymore. I just got straight into my car. Julian understood and followed suit, leaving Leo standing alone. After that, Leo returned home, but I was busy with company affairs, ignoring all his attempts to win me over, no matter what methods he tried. Everyone has a breaking point. I dragged my exhausted body home, met by a cloud of cigarette smoke—a smell I absolutely detested. Leo occasionally smoked, but he always avoided me when he did, and he’d air himself out before coming near me. The living room was dim, with small points of light glowing near the couch. I turned on the lights, still intending to ignore him as before. A weary, defeated voice came from behind me, sounding both resigned and demanding. “Let’s talk.” It was a conversation I couldn’t avoid. I checked my watch. “I’ll give you ten minutes. I need to sleep. I have an early start tomorrow.” Leo froze for a moment at my words, then let out a noncommittal laugh. “Now, talking to you requires a time limit? When did we become like this?” “Ever since your love letter,” I stated. Leo was silent for a while. “Yes, that letter was for Chloe, but I haven’t had feelings for her in ages. Why won’t you believe me?” No feelings? If he had no feelings, why did that conversation happen at the reunion? Was I imagining it? I internally sighed. Leo’s ability to lie through his teeth was getting impressive. I turned to meet his gaze, like an invisible power struggle, neither of us yielding until we were both bruised and broken. “So, is an explanation really that hard? Wasn’t it *you* who kept running away from it?! Do you dare ask yourself if you’ve truly been faithful?” “When I wanted to explain, what were *you* doing? Weren’t you busy chatting with Julian?” “That was business. I’m not as idle as you are.” “Business? Does business require meeting and talking every single day? Fine, you’re innocent. What about *him*?!” “You worry about yourself first! Everything I do is for the company. Oh, right, it’s *my* company, not yours. You obviously don’t care about its growth!” “The year after we married, when you went overseas—was that for him?” I didn’t understand what that year had to do with anything. It was a year I never wanted to revisit. I couldn’t recall when that night ended, only the countless hurtful words exchanged between us. My body was still standing there, but my heart had long since crumbled, and our love had rotted away. After Leo’s outburst, I spent the entire night plagued by nightmares. I woke up from a restless sleep and checked my phone messages. Among the work-related texts, there was one that stood out awkwardly. Unknown message: This is Chloe. Let’s meet and clear things up. I swiped away the message and replied to the work-related ones. It was business as usual: reviewing documents, attending meetings, communicating. It wasn’t until dusk approached that I pulled out my lipstick from my bag and added some color to my lips. I arrived at Chloe’s chosen location to find her already there. **Chapter 6** Chloe rested her chin on her hand, smiling as she looked at me. “I thought you wouldn’t come.” I ordered a black coffee. Chloe seemed a little surprised. “You drink black coffee now? I remember you used to hate anything bitter.” Because of our close relationship as high school deskmates, Chloe was the first person to know about my family’s wealth. But times had changed. Years had eroded our friendship. No one lived in the past. I lowered my gaze. “I assume you’re not here for a reunion, are you?” Chloe stirred her coffee. “I really didn’t want things to be like this between us. Honestly, I genuinely liked you.” I laughed, not a mocking laugh, but a genuine one that came from the heart. The chosen location had a perfect view. A glance showed the sunset outside, the lingering rays of the setting sun falling on Chloe and me, as if praising our beauty. “Regarding Leo and me, I’m sorry, but I truly can’t be without him right now.” My voice was laced with mockery. “Your feelings must be so deep then. Why did you two break up before?” Chloe was rarely stumped. After regaining her composure, she leaned forward, more aggressive now. “I know about the love letter. The one he wrote to me.” “Honestly, you should know by now why Leo chose you back then. It was because I went overseas, and you could be his best stepping stone at the time.” She mercilessly shattered my illusions, every word a stab to my heart. I saw clearly, yet I had allowed myself to be deluded, to believe that at least the love we shared all these years was real. But hearing the truth from Chloe, my former good friend and the woman Leo once loved, still made me uncontrollably sad. Gathering my last shred of courage, I met her gaze, stating calmly, “So what? At least we were happy for all those years, and we truly loved each other.” Chloe wasn’t fazed. Instead, she looked like a victor who had already claimed her prize. She pulled out her phone and pushed it toward me. “Tell me when you two ever loved each other after you’ve seen this.” I picked up the phone and started scrolling. My pupils contracted. The air grew thin. Chloe’s smile warped before my eyes, turning demonic. I don’t remember how I walked out of that coffee shop. All I recall is every memory I had with Leo being drenched in black paint. My mind was consumed by that chat log. Chloe and Leo’s conversation had started in the second year of my relationship with him. It began with simple greetings, then gradually progressed to casual chats, sharing, then ambiguous flirtations, and exchanging gifts. Every word they typed on that screen felt like a slap across my face. They had even met multiple times over the years. Whenever Leo said he was going abroad for business, he was actually meeting Chloe. During the year I was getting treatment, they met as usual. The love overflowing from that screen stung my eyes. It was so ridiculous, so utterly laughable, that I couldn’t even cry. The sky had turned completely dark. There was no dramatic rain, like in a movie, to accompany my sorrow. The city continued on as usual. I was even somewhat grateful I’d found that love letter. I’d managed to reclaim my heart from Leo before I saw these chat logs. But why did it still hurt so much? Was love truly this hard to let go of? I walked to my car, then squatted down, burying my head in my knees, unable to speak. I was afraid of being discovered, so I didn’t even dare to cry out loud. I don’t know how long passed, until my legs went numb. Someone softly called out to me beside me. I looked up, my vision blurry from crying for so long. A man was kneeling in front of me, his voice gentle, as if afraid to startle me. “Why are you crying here? Did something happen?” I suddenly stood up, but my legs were aching and numb from squatting. I stumbled forward and Julian caught me in his arms. Julian was about to say something playful, to break the somber mood, but the person buried in his shoulder began to sob louder. Julian sighed and silently patted my back. He comforted me just like he did in elementary school when I cried after getting a bad test score. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Everything will be alright.” The person in his arms mumbled, her voice muffled and nasal, “It won’t be alright. It’s already too late.” I knew I shouldn’t be so intimate with Julian in public, especially after just telling him yesterday not to overstep. But I desperately needed a anchor right now. Julian, having just finished a business meeting, had passed by and noticed my familiar car parked. He got out and saw me crouching on the ground. When I buried myself in his arms, a flicker of joy ignited in his chest, but seeing me cry, he felt a rare surge of anger. He had liked me for a long time, but it seemed everyone was set against his affection. Leo’s appearance, the estrangement of our families, and then *that incident* – he felt he had no face to see me. Studying abroad, he witnessed more of the world. His desire for power grew daily, and his past affection for me morphed into a twisted form of love. Julian was no longer afraid; he confronted his own desires. Julian tirelessly comforted me, over and over. Then, he noticed Leo’s icy glare from not too far away. A faint curve appeared at the corner of Julian’s lips, and he lowered his head to kiss my forehead. I was startled by his action, instantly regaining my composure and pulling away. Julian reined in his emotions. “My apologies. I overstepped.” Since I was the one who practically threw myself into his arms, I found myself speechless. I simply muttered, “I have to go,” and got into my car. **Chapter 7** The next time I saw Leo was through photos someone sent me. An anonymous text message, with intimate photos attached. Leo was asleep, holding the woman in his arms tightly. She was pretty and delicate. The photos burned my eyes and my heart. Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. I bent over, dry-heaving. When I finally snapped back to reality, I was already in my car, my mind racing to find someone to talk to… but what would I even say? In the split second I was lost in thought, a powerful impact came from the right. Before the car window shattered, I remember thinking how foolish I was. I woke up in a hospital, my head throbbing, feeling disoriented. A dull ache in my abdomen spread throughout my entire body. A nurse called the doctor, who stood beside my bed, just about to speak when two people burst into the room. Leo looked at me, his eyes filled with anguish. Chloe stood outside the door, silent. The doctor, who had seen countless absurd situations, internally scoffed but maintained her professional demeanor. Her eyes, behind her glasses, glinted coldly. “Fortunately, the car accident didn’t cause any severe injuries. However, Ms. Harper, you are very weak after your miscarriage and need to rest and recover properly.” The moment she said this, everyone in the room froze, including Julian, who had just arrived. I touched my aching abdomen, deflating. “I… was pregnant?” I whispered. Recalling my unexplained mood swings before, everything suddenly made sense. Light streamed through the window and illuminated the bed, yet it seemed to stop beside me, casting me in shadow. A light breeze carried a hint of chill; the cold autumn in North America was coming. I sat on the hospital bed, my eyes vacant. The abdominal pain spread throughout my body. I hugged my stomach, curling into a ball, my eyes frighteningly red, tears streaming down my face unconsciously. Leo approached the bed, his hand trembling as he pulled me into his arms. After so many days, this was a rare moment of tenderness, yet I felt no warmth at all. The doctor said a few comforting pleasantries, then rushed off to the next room. Leo’s eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse. “…We can still have children.” In that moment, his words were sincere, a promise from the depths of his heart. I couldn’t remember the last time Leo had been so gentle and comforting. Chloe walked forward and sat on the edge of the bed, consoling me. “The important thing is to recover your health.” Catching Chloe’s gaze and the faint, intimate red mark on her neck, I snapped out of my daze. I remembered losing my mind after seeing that photo. I forcefully struggled out of Leo’s embrace, backing away from both of them. I had always felt Leo’s perfunctory attitude, but the feelings that had accumulated over time were rooted deep in my flesh and blood. The love letter was just the fuse. Before that, I had been enduring, and my feelings for Leo were cooling. Yet, whenever I remembered the young Leo, I couldn’t bear to let go. In this relationship, which I now wondered if it was one-sided, I had truly loved well. But now, knowing I had lost our child, I couldn’t distinguish if this feeling was still love, or just a heavy sunk cost from the past. At this moment, I truly, genuinely hated Leo. I tried hard not to appear too pathetic, but my body trembled uncontrollably. I clutched my chest, hatred bursting from my eyes. When Leo met my gaze, he was stunned by the hatred and disgust in my eyes. It felt as if a sudden arrow had pierced his heart, bleeding profusely. Before today, he thought he only felt a sense of marital responsibility towards me. But when he heard about my car accident, he was terrified. In that moment, he realized the world would be gray without me. Seeing that I was okay, his senses returned, like his heart started beating again. Chloe, standing nearby, felt a complex mix of emotions. She had witnessed Leo almost losing his mind over someone else, speeding recklessly to the hospital after hearing the news, nearly causing a second accident that day. The man who, in high school, had eyes only for her, was now anxious and worried for another woman. For reasons she couldn’t quite grasp, she had followed him. She seized the opportunity to speak, successfully infuriating me, who had just lost a child, creating a rift between Leo and me. But she felt no joy. Now, I hated Leo as Chloe had wished. Every word I uttered was a sharp knife aimed at him. “You two get out, you pathetic couple! Get out! Why are you pretending, Leo? You must be thrilled, aren’t you? The baby’s gone, your white moonlight is back. What a joyous occasion!” “I shouldn’t have gone to find you! Why? Why do I always lose everything?! Why, why, why… I hate you! I hate all of you, everyone…!” My face, pale as paper from the miscarriage, was flushed crimson from extreme emotion. My hair was disheveled, and tears stained my beautiful face, making me look frail and chaotic, with a broken kind of beauty. I grabbed the water glass beside me and threw it at Leo. He didn’t dodge. The blood dripping from his forehead brought me back to my senses. My body couldn’t handle any more outburst. I deflated, returning to my usual composure. After a long silence, I slowly spoke: “Now that the baby is gone, and I’m thoroughly fed up with you, let’s get a divorce.” **Chapter 8** Leo’s pupils contracted. He had been prepared for me to yell at him, but hearing “divorce” still made him blurt out, “No! I don’t agree.”

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My brother Michael was in a terrible car accident on his way to meet me for drinks. His body was never found. When my wife Sophia heard the news, she slapped me hard across the face. Gripping my neck, she screamed in anguish, “I married you, but you still couldn’t leave him alone! Why? Why couldn’t it have been you who died instead!” Years later, I was working late one night when a serial killer started stalking me. As I held my breath, desperately trying not to be discovered, Sophia’s sudden phone call shattered the silence. She immediately launched into a tirade: “It’s so late, why aren’t you home yet? Are you dead somewhere? Or are you planning to get someone else killed?” I had no chance to respond before the killer’s knife plunged into my body. Later, I was dismembered, my bones dissolved in acid and scattered across the wilderness. When Sophia was called in to examine the remains, she didn’t even recognize me. It wasn’t until Michael returned with his new girlfriend, eight years his junior, that Sophia finally realized those scattered remains were mine. She collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. But it was all too late. 0

Sophia, a forensic pathologist, was urgently called back to the police station late one night. “Sophia, this murder case is extremely brutal,” said the gruff man speaking. I recognized him as Chief Zhang from the police department. “The victim was killed and their remains scattered across the city. We’ve only found partial remains so far. We need you to try to identify the victim from the bones.” Sophia nodded solemnly and opened the body bag. As soon as it was unzipped, a strong smell of decay filled the examination room. Inside were fragments of human bones. My bones. Seeing this, Chief Zhang frowned and cursed, “That bastard! Not only did he kill him, he dissolved the flesh too!” He clenched his jaw, clearly struggling to contain his anger. Sophia calmly nodded and began sorting through the bag. She didn’t recognize me. I suppose I can’t blame her – I was barely more than a pile of bones at that point. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder how she would react if she knew those were my bones. Would she cry? Or laugh? Probably the latter. After all, she hated me to my very core. All because of my dead brother Michael, who had once been the love of her life. Chief Zhang patted her shoulder. “I’ll leave you to it then, Sophia.” Soon, my bones were laid out on the examination table. Looking at my shattered remains, Sophia’s eyes reddened. “This bastard! Not only are the bones in pieces, even the flesh was dissolved!” After three years, this was the first time she had shed tears over me. As time passed, a skeletal framework gradually took shape. Chief Zhang pushed his glasses up his nose and said gravely, “I’m over 50 years old, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a cruel method of murder.” Sophia placed the final bone, her voice filled with righteous anger: “Indeed! This method is absolutely vicious! We must bring the killer to justice and give the victim justice!” As she spoke, she unconsciously clenched her fists. Sophia took a deep breath to calm herself before continuing: “Not only that, I’ve discovered something else.” “The victim’s flesh was dissolved while they were still alive, until they lost consciousness. Only then did the killer slowly dismember the bones.” “Based on the wear on the bones, I can determine that…the victim was still alive when the killer began dismembering them.” “I’ve also estimated the bone age – the victim was likely around 28 years old.” “Most of the victim’s bones are here now, only the left hand is still missing.” Chief Zhang inhaled sharply. Despite his years of experience, he couldn’t help but widen his eyes in shock. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, “That fucking animal! I’ll skin him alive when we catch him!” Then he noticed something about the skull. There was a small indentation. It was an old injury I had sustained years ago. He made a small sound of surprise. “Sophia, doesn’t this skull look familiar? Like Jack’s?” To my surprise, Sophia scoffed at his words. “Ha, if only it really was him. That would be great.” Chief Zhang pressed his lips together, seemingly at a loss for words. Sophia continued her tirade: “That beast deserves to die for killing his own brother!” Hearing those words, my heart felt like it was being stabbed by thousands of knives. Even the acid that had dissolved my flesh couldn’t compare to a fraction of this pain. I had hoped that, given our years of marriage, she might speak a little more kindly of me. But no. Instead, she wished for my death every single day. “Sophia, you were married after all…” Chief Zhang started to speak, trying to defend me. Sophia’s eyes widened as she shouted angrily: “Married? What good is being married?” “If he hadn’t insisted on going drinking with his brother, how could Michael have died in that car accident?” “If it weren’t for him, how could our happy family have lost someone!” 0

Seeing Sophia so adamant, Chief Zhang didn’t argue further. I knew Michael’s death had always been Sophia’s deepest wound. Because Michael had been the love of her life. Michael knew he didn’t love her, so he rejected her advances. That’s how I got the chance to pursue her. But after Michael died, everything changed. Sophia cursed me as a murderer, the one who killed Michael. She demanded I give my life in exchange for his! She slapped me over and over, until my mouth was bleeding and teeth were falling out, but it still wasn’t enough to satisfy her rage. “Tell me! Why wasn’t it you who died instead of Michael?!” Sophia gripped my throat tightly, like a vicious monster. “You won’t speak? If you don’t, I’ll kill you myself!” Yes, I wondered the same thing. Why was it Michael who died, and not me? If it had been me, I wouldn’t have had to endure all this suffering! Chief Zhang sighed heavily. “Sophia, don’t be like this. Michael is gone, Jack needs to stay safe and well.” Sophia clenched her fists, saying coldly, “If he were gone too, that would be justice served!” Chief Zhang shook his head and turned to leave. The woman I once loved more than anything now wished for my death. To say it didn’t hurt would be a lie. Just then, Sophia’s assistant walked in. He was holding a scrap of paper, stained with blood and mud. On it, barely legible, were the words: “Peach Blossom Gardens Purchase Contract” So I had been clutching that contract tightly when I died. I remembered – it was for the house I had bought to please her. A 3000 square foot beachfront condo. $300,000 down payment, $8000 monthly mortgage payments for 30 years. I had used up all my savings, just to see her smile. But she had only nodded and said dismissively, “This is what you owe me!” Sophia merely glanced at it and said flatly, “Mm, put it in an evidence bag.” Didn’t she recognize that Peach Blossom Gardens was the home I had bought for her? When we first got married, I was broke. Sophia’s biggest dream was to live in a beachfront home of our own. So I worked day and night at the company, putting in overtime, all to make her dream come true. “Thank you, honey. We’ll have our own home someday!” she would say tenderly whenever I worked late. But after Michael died, everything changed. The woman who once loved me became the one who hated me most. I watched helplessly as that contract was sealed away in an evidence bag, my heart aching. Oh Sophia, you missed your best chance to recognize me. After finishing up in the lab, she leaned back in her chair to rest. She frowned as she checked her phone, finding no messages from me. It irritated her. After all, before this, I would send her dozens of caring messages every day. Even though her only response was usually a curt “Mm.” She gripped her phone, scrolling up through our chat history. Finally stopping at my last desperate plea for help. “Sophia, save me!” Sophia’s face twisted in disgust as she spat on the ground. “Jack is such a liar! First he gets his brother killed, and now he dares to send this kind of message to trick me!” She scowled as she blocked and deleted my contact. But Sophia, don’t you know that once you delete me, you can never add me back? 0

A commotion outside caught everyone’s attention. “I need to file a report! I need to file a report!” Hearing the voice, Sophia got up and went out. I looked closer – it was my coworker Emily! Pretty and kind-hearted, always helpful to everyone. She looked very distraught, hands on her hips as she caught her breath. “What’s going on?” Chief Zhang handed her a glass of water. “Officer, my coworker Jack has gone missing!” Emily exclaimed. “He’s usually at the office by 6 AM, but today he wasn’t there even at 10. He’s not answering calls or messages either!” “He’s such a diligent worker, he would never skip work without a reason. Something must have happened!” She rambled on anxiously. Seeing how worried she was made my nose tingle with emotion. She was the first person to be so concerned about my disappearance. Thank you, Emily. To my surprise, Sophia became enraged hearing Emily’s words. “Who are you to Jack? How do you know him so well?!” Emily was taken aback. “Jack is just my coworker…” Sophia glared at her, breathing heavily as she shouted, “Coworker? More like his mistress, I bet!” “Whether he shows up to work or not is none of your business! He’s MY husband, what right do you have to interfere?” Emily’s face turned red from the verbal assault. “You…you’ve misunderstood!” Sophia waved her hand dismissively, telling Emily to leave. “Let me tell you, Jack isn’t missing. He’s just hiding to upset me. If you file another false report, I won’t be so nice!” Emily was forced out. As the door closed, I saw her eyes glistening with tears. I wanted to run after her, but there seemed to be an invisible wall in front of me. I tried to follow, but was bounced back. I tried again, only to be repelled once more. Emily wasn’t my mistress at all – she was the kindest, most considerate girl in the office! She would bring me stomach medicine when I had digestive issues. She would teach me unreservedly when I got stuck on a project. To me, she would always be that warmhearted girl! I followed Sophia as she hailed a cab after work. The destination was a cemetery on the outskirts of town. Sophia was holding a large bouquet of chrysanthemums. “Michael, I’ve come to see you,” she said to a gravestone. It was Michael’s cenotaph. After Michael’s fatal accident years ago, his body was never found. Sophia had broken down, gathering scraps of his clothing from the scene and insisting on burying them in the cemetery. From that day on, my good days were over. Every month on this day, Sophia would drag me here to repent. “Now, go repent to Michael!” she would command coldly. If I showed the slightest reluctance, she would take her scalpel and cut a gash in my arm. So I had to wear long sleeves year-round to hide the scars. I remember one time, there was a fierce windstorm. As bad luck would have it, my stomach condition flared up too. Sharp pains stabbed through my abdomen as large beads of cold sweat formed on my forehead. But she was relentless, still forcing me to the cemetery. The rain had washed debris and thorny branches down the hillside. Seeing the state of things, I hesitated. “Sophia, can I not kneel today?” I asked timidly, fighting through the pain. Sophia angrily knocked the umbrella from my hand, yelling: “This is nothing! You want to run away already? Don’t forget, you owe Michael your life, you murderer!” I stood there helplessly, letting the heavy raindrops pelt my face. “Sophia, I’m not feeling well today…just this once, please?” I begged, dropping to my knees. 0

But she just silently took out a scalpel from her bag. “Do you think you have any right to negotiate? Don’t make me get nasty.” Before I could react, she kicked the back of my knees hard. “Thud!” I collapsed to the ground. Instantly, rocks and thorns dug into my knees. It was an excruciating, searing pain. My stomach churned violently, the agony almost unbearable. I tried to slowly stand up, fighting through the pain. Sophia coldly pressed the scalpel against the crook of my arm. “You know the consequences of trying to bargain, don’t you?” An icy chill ran deep into my bones. Without blinking, Sophia slashed my arm over and over. New wounds overlapped old scars, a horrifying sight. Gritting her teeth, she drove the scalpel deep into my flesh. “Click…click…” I could even feel the blade scraping against bone. “Ahh!” I bit down hard, trying to stifle my cries. One cut. Two cuts. Carving into living flesh and bone – it was nothing short of torture. Finally, I passed out in the cemetery. But Sophia just left. She didn’t look back. Blood loss and hypothermia caused me to go into shock on the ground. As I lost consciousness, all I saw was her retreating back. And her cold warning: “Since you want to play dead for sympathy, just stay here then! Better if you actually die!” Resolute and merciless. It reminded me of when we first got together. Sophia had been gentle and sweet, often cuddling up to me. Back then, I thought I must be the luckiest man in the world. But I was wrong. The woman I had cherished now wanted me dead! I wanted her love too. I wanted the sweet, normal marriage other couples had. But I didn’t deserve it. I was just the sinner who got his brother killed. I would never deserve love in this lifetime. Just when I thought I was going to die, the old cemetery caretaker found me. Seeing my condition, his eyes filled with sympathy. “Oh dear, what happened to you, young man?” “Does it hurt?” At the hospital, he grasped my hand. “Son, should I call the police for you?” I shook my head. “Thank you for your kindness, sir. But this is my own sin to bear.” In the end, I dragged my battered body out of the hospital. Because I knew I still had to work overtime, still had to buy Sophia her dream beachfront home. As soon as I walked in the door at home, Sophia kicked me hard. Blood rushed to her head as she waved a phone in my face. “You bastard, are you trying to humiliate me?!” She clenched her jaw, looking ready to eat me alive. “Now you’ve even gone to the police? I’m telling you, it’s useless no matter how many reports you file. Everyone at the station is on my side.” “As long as I don’t kill you myself, no one can touch me!” Another kick landed, making me feel like my internal organs had been scrambled. I curled up on the floor, unable to move. Sophia, I don’t want to humiliate you. I just want you to love me… One kick wasn’t enough to satisfy her rage. So she started aiming for my head instead. “You killed Michael, and now you’re trying to ruin me too?” “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!” That’s how the dent in my skull was formed. Even as she kicked me until my head was cracked and bleeding, I never blamed her one bit. Sometimes I would even fantasize that once she got her anger out, things would get better. But I died. I died the day I signed that home purchase contract. The happy little family that was supposed to be ours would never exist now. “Mom, Dad, today is the anniversary of your passing.” Hearing Sophia’s voice snapped me back to the present. She had already walked around to the other side of the cemetery, standing before two gravestones. Only then did I remember – today was also my parents’ death anniversary. She laid down the paper money and chrysanthemums. “A few years ago, Jack killed Michael – his own brother!” “He’s a monster! He destroyed our whole family!” She clenched her fists, face contorted with anger. But now I’m dead too. Shouldn’t that count as a life for a life? “Long time no see, sister-in-law.” Michael’s familiar voice came from behind. Sophia turned around in disbelief. “Is that…is that really you, Michael?” Michael nodded. Next to him stood a young woman with a delicate face. The paper money scattered from Sophia’s hands as she stepped forward, wanting to confirm it was really him. “It really is Michael! You’re back!” Michael uncomfortably took a step back. “Yes, I’m back.” “I came to pay respects to Mom and Dad on their death anniversary.” By now Sophia had lost all composure, moving to embrace him. Large tears rolled down her face as she broke down sobbing. “You’re back…I thought you were dead…oh god…” The young woman finally stepped forward to intervene. “It’s been a while, sister-in-law! I’m Michael’s wife, Rose.” Hearing this, Sophia froze in place. “You’re…Michael’s wife?” She couldn’t understand why Michael had returned with a wife. The atmosphere instantly became tense. Michael finally sensed the awkwardness and changed the subject: “Where’s Jack? Why isn’t he here for Mom and Dad’s death anniversary?” 04 At the mention of me, Sophia’s expression changed back to one of utter disgust. “Him? Who knows where he’s off fooling around now!” Michael nodded, not asking any further. But I’m not off fooling around – I’m right here beside you! Sophia shifted the topic back to Michael. “But weren’t you in a car accident years ago?” Michael sheepishly scratched his head. “That was actually just a ruse for me to disappear.” “Back then, I owed money to some loan sharks and was being hunted down by enemies. I had no choice but to fake my death.” Hearing this, I felt my blood run cold. A sense of helpless anguish welled up in my chest. All those years of kneeling and repenting in the dirt. The searing pain of the scalpel cutting to the bone. The endless self-loathing and guilt. All of it had been for nothing. A cruel joke. Sophia was stunned. Perhaps she was realizing she had wronged me all this time? But it was far too late now. I was already dead! In an instant, her demeanor changed to one of warmth and care. “I’m just glad you’re back safe. It’s wonderful to have the family reunited.” This gentle, caring side of her was something I hadn’t experienced in years. Michael nodded. Suddenly, as if remembering something, Sophia grabbed Michael’s hand excitedly. “You must be missing home-cooked food after being gone so long. Let me make you both a welcome home dinner!” “Sounds great!” Home-cooked food? I had long forgotten what home tasted like. The three of them returned home together. Not one of them remembered my existence. It was as if I had never existed at all. Soon the table was laden with dishes. It was all seafood. All Michael’s favorite foods. Sophia had remembered his tastes perfectly. But she had forgotten that I was deathly allergic to seafood. Three place settings were laid out. “Hey, where’s Jack? Why isn’t he back yet?” Michael asked her. Only then did Sophia finally remember me. She took out her phone, intending to call me. But she had long since deleted all my contact information. “Michael, why don’t you try calling? I just got a new phone and haven’t saved his number yet.” Michael’s expression was hesitant, but he complied. He called several times, but there was no answer. “That’s strange…” Michael frowned. Rose suddenly spoke up: “You don’t think something might have happened to your brother, do you?” Hearing this, Sophia exploded like an angry shrew: “That kind of man? It’s normal for him to disappear for days at a time!” That kind of man? What kind of man am I? The kind who worked tirelessly to support our family? Or the kind who silently endured her abuse? Now that Michael was safely back, she still refused to let me go! Looking at this woman before me, I felt like I no longer knew her at all. Michael’s brows furrowed as he suddenly demanded: “Are you saying Jack has been missing for 3-4 days already?!” Sophia was startled by his outburst. “Y-yes…what’s wrong?” Michael glared at her fiercely before grabbing his keys and rushing out the door. But his retreating figure looked panicked. A few hours later, Michael returned empty-handed. In just those few hours, he seemed to have aged years. “Jack…Jack is missing!” “How can that be?!” Rose jumped up from the couch. She steadied Michael, saying seriously: “We need to file a police report! We have to find Jack!” But Sophia just got up to pour Michael a glass of water. “Oh, it’s fine!” “Jack hates coming home. He’s either at the office or probably at that Emily girl’s place.” She spoke of Emily with utter contempt. Michael and Rose insisted on calling the police, leaving Sophia ignored on the sidelines. Only then did I realize that blood ties run deeper than romantic love. “Jack is just playing games. Why waste police resources?” Sophia said awkwardly. Even though Michael had returned safe and sound, Sophia still hated me. I didn’t understand why anymore. Was it just habit? Or had she never truly loved me at all? Just as Michael was hanging up from calling the police, Sophia’s phone rang. “Ms. Liang, we’ve found the victim’s left hand.” “The hand hasn’t fully decomposed yet. We’ve been able to mostly confirm the victim’s identity based on the remains…” It was her young assistant calling. Sophia absently fiddled with her hand as she replied, “Mm, go on.” “Ms. Liang, you should prepare yourself.” The call was on speakerphone, so Michael and Rose looked over. Sophia also seemed to sense the gravity of the situation. She raised her head, her expression somber. “It’s alright, just tell me.” 0

The person on the other end gathered their courage. “The victim’s true identity…is your husband, Jack.” In an instant, Sophia looked like she had been struck by lightning. “Wait…how is that possible?” Michael collapsed to his knees, covering his face as he broke down: “Jack…is dead?” Sophia, as if refusing to believe it, continued questioning. “How can that be? Are you joking? How could it possibly be Jack?” The voice on the phone sighed. “There’s no mistake.” “He had May 10th tattooed on his left hand. Everyone knows that’s your birthday.” Hearing this, the phone slipped from Sophia’s hand and clattered to the floor. That tattoo – I had gotten it on her 24th birthday. It covered my entire hand, quite eye-catching. Sophia had been teased about it plenty of times. “I don’t believe it! Couldn’t this be some kind of mistake?” She still refused to accept it. But what good would disbelief do now? I was already dead! The person on the phone quietly offered condolences before hurriedly hanging up. Sophia suddenly stood up, intending to rush out. She had barely taken a few steps before stumbling and falling. “How could it be Jack? There must be some mistake!” She muttered to herself. Soon, they all arrived at the police station. And there were my remains, laid out on the examination table. My entire body had been reduced to bleached bones, with only the left hand retaining some flesh. The faded tattoo was barely discernible. Michael collapsed by the table, wailing: “This…this really is Jack!” I watched as Sophia shook her head in disbelief, stumbling backwards. “No…this can’t be!”

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On my twentieth birthday, the girlfriend I’d been with for three years pushed me from a high-rise building. “Finally rid of you, you pathetic loser,” she spat, her voice chillingly cold. In that last moment, I watched as my so-called best friend wrapped an arm around her, both of them smirking down at me. I had loved her for three years, and she tried to murder me. A crushing wave of despair washed over me, and I closed my eyes in resignation. Then, I was reborn. I reclaimed the family keepsake that proved my identity, taking back what was rightfully mine as the heir to a wealthy fortune. Now, she was on her knees, pleading, “Asher, please, save me. Please?” In my past life, my girlfriend tricked me into meeting at a guesthouse, claiming it was for my birthday. After she and Liam Thorne drugged my drinks until I passed out, I woke up tied to the top floor of a high-rise. My eyes fluttered open, slowly clearing. Liam stood there, his arm around Chloe Miller, both of them staring down at me with utter contempt. “Awake, are we?” she said, her voice dripping with venom. “Good. Any last words? If I’m feeling generous, I might even grant one.” They both chuckled, leaning into each other. Chloe’s sharp, hyena-like laughter sent shivers down my spine. I’d never seen her like this before. The wind on the rooftop was fierce, whipping against my face, filling me with dread. I turned my head, gazing down at the dizzying heights and the tiny, ant-like figures below. My heart hammered with terror. One step, and I would plummet from this building, splattering into a bloody mess on the pavement below. The image of that gruesome scene made me tremble. I glared back at them. They were still grinning, as if my life meant nothing. My fear morphed into a burning rage. I roared at her. “Chloe Miller!” “I was so good to you! Why would you betray me? How could you be so cruel?!” They wanted me dead, and I didn’t even know why. My legs began to give out, my mind shattering with despair. One was the girlfriend I’d loved for three years, the other, my childhood best friend. “Why?!” Her eyes turned vicious as she stepped closer. “Because you’re a worthless garbage! Poor, and utterly worthless. Why would I ever be with you?” “Do you know, Asher, every time my friends asked about my boyfriend, I couldn’t even bring myself to talk about you.” “You were an embarrassment!” I stared up at her, disbelief etched across my face. Behind her, Liam Thorne smirked, slowly walking toward me. A large hand pressed down on my head, pushing me closer to the edge. My eyes burned red with defiance as I glared back at him. “Since you’re so pathetic, I’ll tell you a little secret, Asher.” “No, wait, it should be Asher Thorne, right? The Thorne family’s—second young master.” I gasped, my tense body went slack. I almost tumbled off the building. As I steadied myself, I finally saw what he held in his hand. It was the carved bead I’d worn around my neck for years! The one he’d been asking me for! Could it be?! A wave of shock slammed into me. I met his smiling eyes. He’d used this bead to claim my identity, to become the young master in my place! “Liam Thorne! You treacherous bastard!” I roared at him, my voice raw and hoarse. “Hahahaha! Looks like you figured it out! Let me tell you, Asher, you deserved every bit of it!” “You have to die. Only then can I truly rest easy.” He stepped closer, and Chloe, still smiling, joined him. Knowing the truth, tears of bitter rage streamed down my face. I stopped struggling, my heart filled with hatred for them, and even more, for my own stupidity! “Thud—” They both shoved me. I plunged into the air, clutching my fists, closing my eyes, my heart burning with vengeful hate… “Asher?!” My eyes snapped open. A hand waved suddenly in front of my face. The raw agony of that last moment made my body tremble, and I instinctively grabbed the nearby table for support. My chest heaved, and I gasped for air, desperate to fill my lungs. When I calmed down, I looked around, slowly realizing that I hadn’t died. The vivid terror and burning fury still seared through me. My body still trembled, and I wrapped my arms around myself. “What’s wrong, Asher? You look so pale.” I snapped back to reality. Liam Thorne and Chloe Miller, those two dreadful figures, were standing right in front of me. Chloe reached out a hand, a worried look on her face, to wipe the beads of sweat from my forehead. But recalling her monstrous grin on the rooftop sent a cold shiver down my spine. I dodged her hand, taking a step back. “So, Asher, can I have that bead?” Liam asked, his handsome face creased with a slight frown. I lowered my gaze, picking up the smooth, brown bead hanging around my neck. My initial ‘A’ was carved into it. My mind raced. I was back. Back to the day he’d asked for this very bead. I remembered then. His birthday was approaching, and he’d outright asked for it. He claimed he’d been having bad luck lately and wanted something to bring him good fortune, and my bead had caught his eye. My heart lurched. I clutched it tighter. Seeing my nervous expression, he actually tried to grab it. He tugged at the cord around my neck, refusing to let go. I tightened my grip on the bead, glaring at him, seething. “No!” I roared. My drastic reaction made both of them look up in surprise. Liam flinched, staring at me with stunned disbelief. It was then I realized how loud I’d been. It was probably the first time I’d ever raised my voice like that. “Asher, it’s just a bead, right? Just give it to Liam,” Chloe said. “He’s been so unlucky lately. He’s been sick three times this month and still isn’t feeling well.” Three times in one month? I scoffed inwardly. So, they were already hooking up back then? She remembered the exact number of times he’d been sick. “No…” My anger from earlier had faded, and I weakly pushed back. Seeing my softened demeanor, Liam’s tense posture visibly relaxed, as if he’d let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He’d been wary of me. “I’m sorry, Liam, but I’ve worn this since I was a kid. I can’t imagine being without it.” “I’ll get you a different gift.” Silence hung in the air. I wondered if he knew the significance of this family keepsake yet. It wasn’t until I turned to leave that I caught his reflection in a mirror behind me—his face twisting into a malicious sneer, his eyes dark with menace. Only then did I realize. He knew. And he was doing this on purpose.

Outside, Chloe looped her arm through mine, just like she always did, chatting and laughing. But she’d just sided with Liam. They were clearly hooking up. I pulled my arm away with disgust. She flinched, then pretended it didn’t bother her. Suddenly, she giggled, pulling out her phone and letting out a gasp of envy. “Asher! Look at this bag! It’s gorgeous!” She shoved her phone screen in my face. It was a designer bag worth thousands. Seeing my silence, she pouted cutely, mumbling, “Ugh, it’s way too expensive. I guess I can only dream.” “Even though everyone else in class has one, there’s nothing I can do.” Her eyes welled up, threatening to spill over. I scoffed inwardly. In my past life, I’d been completely taken in by that innocent, pitiful act of hers. She always made me feel like I owed her something, mentioning how other people had new bags and new makeup. Every time I saw her look so miserable, my heart would soften, and I’d want to do everything in my power to make her happy. So, despite being financially strapped, I would work multiple part-time jobs, eating only ramen and cheap sandwiches for days, just to scrape together enough money for her gifts. I still remembered that rainy winter day. I was out with an umbrella, handing out flyers, soaking wet and utterly miserable. My hands and feet were numb with cold, but I forced myself to visit every shop, humbly begging them to take a look at the flyers. I’d only made fifty bucks that afternoon, but the bag she wanted cost fifteen hundred. Later, walking home from work, I passed a fried chicken place. My legs felt heavy, glued to the spot, as I stared longingly at the golden fried chicken, practically drooling. But I thought of her gift and her happy smile, and I held back, even though I hadn’t eaten meat in six months. After a month, I finally saved enough to buy the bag and gave it to her as her birthday gift. She giggled with delight when she received it, spinning around, saying she was the happiest girl in the world. At the time, I thought all my hardship was worth it. Because for someone who grew up in an orphanage like me, she was my only family, the only girl in my heart. Now, looking back, I just feel utterly stupid. A true lover wouldn’t let you go hungry for days, wouldn’t ignore your struggles, wouldn’t be clueless about your whereabouts. She had only ever been using me. Silence stretched between us. Seeing my indifferent expression, she looked a little lost, on the verge of tears. I frowned, letting out a weary sigh. “Chloe, I’m out of cash.” “I can’t even afford a meal tomorrow.” Her body stiffened. She forced a twitch of a smile, but no words came out. It wasn’t until her phone rang that she quickly said, “Asher, I think my roommate is looking for me. I gotta go.” She wiped her eyes, then turned and scurried away. Watching her fleeing back, I let out a soft, mocking laugh. I’d skip meals for what she wanted, but she wouldn’t even spare me enough for one meal. I truly was a pathetic clown. I clenched my fists, the hatred in my heart deepening. Looking at the smooth bead around my neck, I decided it was time to get things back on track. I was going to claim my true identity.

I arrived at the Thorne family’s grand mansion and pressed the doorbell. I’d been here once before, in my past life, for Liam’s party. Back then, he’d invited me to celebrate him finding his family. “Hello, who are you looking for?” A kind-faced housekeeper opened the door. When she saw the bead around my neck, her eyes widened in astonishment. She quickly turned and shouted, “Madam! He’s here! He’s here!” The door remained open, and I stepped inside. I stopped just at the entrance to the living room. After the housekeeper exchanged a few words with Madam Thorne, Eleanor suddenly looked up, her eyes wide as saucers. She was practically supported by the housekeeper as she slowly walked toward me. She stared intensely at the bead around my neck, then swept her gaze over my face. “You’re home. You’re finally home!” she cried, a bright smile breaking across her face. I noticed the streaks of silver in her hair. At that party, I’d heard that Madam Thorne had been searching for her child for over a decade, losing sleep every night because of him. Even after so much time, she’d never given up. The tender love in her eyes when she looked at Liam then had made me envious. I wished I had a mother too. My eyes welled up, blurring my vision. My heart ached. My mother must have suffered so much. “Mom—” A deep, resonant voice spoke from behind Eleanor. I looked toward him. It was my brother, Julian. His lips parted slightly, a hint of surprise in his eyes. He froze for a second, then rushed forward and wrapped me in a tight hug. “My little brother.” A scene of profound brotherly affection. He patted my head and chuckled. “Come, sit down. Talk to Mom.” He murmured softly, and Mom pulled me down beside her. She told me that when she was busy starting her business years ago, she’d left me with Julian. But he hadn’t watched me carefully enough, and I’d been snatched. She’d searched endlessly, running to countless cities, visiting numerous orphanages, but I was nowhere to be found. I listened in silence, noticing the discomfort on Julian’s darkened face. Slowly, he spoke, a hint of self-reproach in his voice. “Little brother, I’m sorry. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have endured so much hardship…” I gave him a comforting smile. “Bang—” The living room door burst open. Liam Thorne rushed in, looking flustered and covered in a fine sheen of sweat. He gasped, panting, “He’s an impostor!” Eleanor, who was holding my hand, flinched. She looked between us, her eyes wide with disbelief. Just then, Chloe Miller emerged from behind Liam. She cowered forward, looking at me with a strange mix of fear and pleading. Her next words sent a fresh wave of ice through me. “Asher, please, just give Liam back his bead, okay?” Her words hit me like a physical blow. My mind went blank, and a deafening buzz filled my ears. I realized they were conspiring to frame me. Liam was still trying to snatch my identity.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297152”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf