For a decade, I drained every last dime I had, sacrificing everything to care for my wife who went insane after a car accident. When her fits hit, she’d throw anything she could get her hands on at me, leaving me bruised and bloody. Then, when she cleared up, she’d cling to me, sobbing uncontrollably. My friends all told me to divorce her, but I always remembered: she pushed me out of the way of that car. That’s how she hit her head and ended up like this. Until the day she accidentally hit me so hard, I was critically injured. My soul floated up to the ceiling. From there, I watched her carefully adjusting the collar of her childhood friend. “What are you crying for? He’s dead. Shouldn’t we be celebrating?” “But I feel for you, Victoria. You faked insanity for ten years just to drain all his money.” She leaned in, her lips finding his, her voice chilling. “Ten years of holding back. Finally, I don’t have to touch that loser anymore.” Turns out, that car accident was a setup, a perfectly orchestrated charade. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my wife was diagnosed with psychosis.

“Mrs. Wallace’s brain sustained a traumatic impact. While there’s no immediate danger to her life, her mental state might become unstable… alternating between lucidity and delusion.” The doctor handed me the diagnosis, sighing deeply. That’s when it hit me: I was reborn. “You should take her home for now, Mr. Wallace. A familiar environment can aid her recovery.” I barely heard the doctor’s advice. My eyes were fixed on Victoria, lying on the bed. Her eyelids fluttered slightly. She was faking sleep, clearly. In my previous life, I’d believed the doctor. I took her home. By day, I worked myself to the bone to earn money. By night, I endured her abuse and violent outbursts. Meanwhile, her childhood friend, Brandon Miller, used the excuse of “knowing a top psychiatrist” to take her out for “treatment” during the day. In reality, he drove my car, maxed out my credit cards, and squandered my money, living it up and getting intimate behind my back. This time around, you think I’m taking you home? Dream on! I walked to the bedside, leaned over, and subtly moved my hand to her inner thigh. Then, I twisted with all my might! “AHHHH!” A piercing scream ripped through the quiet hospital room. Victoria shot up from the bed, pointing at me and yelling, “Julian Wallace! Are you f*cking insane?!” I wasn’t insane. But this time, I was going to make you truly mad! I yelled towards the door, “Help! Doctor! Nurse! My wife is having a breakdown! She’s out of control!” Nurses and doctors rushed in immediately. What they saw was Victoria, face contorted in a terrifying snarl, lunging off the bed to attack me. I was backed against the wall, my face a perfect mask of horror and helplessness, my eyes welling up with tears. “Quick! Restraints!” Dr. Evans barked, making an instant decision. Victoria must have forgotten her “insane” persona because she struggled furiously, roaring at the nurses: “Get lost! I’m not crazy! He’s the crazy one!” I wiped my eyes, gently holding her bound hand. “Don’t worry, darling. Even if you’re crazy, I’ll never divorce you.” My voice was choked up, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear clearly. Victoria’s face instantly shifted from red to green. She glared at me, her eyes overflowing with pure venom. The other patients and their families in the room looked at me with sympathy and admiration. “That young man is such a good husband. His wife is like this, and he’s still standing by her.” “Yeah, talk about rotten luck, getting stuck with something like this.” Meeting their gazes, I spoke to the doctor in a sorrowful tone. “Doctor, for her safety, and for mine, please contact the best psychiatric hospital immediately. I need to transfer her.” “What?!” Victoria’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Julian Wallace! You wouldn’t dare!” She thrashed her body wildly, the restraints digging into her skin, turning it red. “I’m not sick! I’m not crazy! You cruel husband!” I ignored her roars, simply giving Dr. Evans a look of pity and helplessness. “Doctor, you see? She’s already speaking nonsense, experiencing paranoid delusions. I’m clearly her husband, but she doesn’t even recognize me anymore.” “Please, hurry and get this arranged. I absolutely must get my wife into the best psychiatric hospital and get her cured!” Dr. Evans sighed, stepping back, and sympathetically reassured me, “Don’t worry, Mr. Wallace. The psychiatric hospital staff will be here shortly.” At those words, I saw Victoria’s face fill with terror! Every single one of her desperate arguments only served as ironclad proof of her severe condition. “Julian Wallace, you bastard, how dare you pull this on me? I’ll kill you!” She was furious, trying to lunge at me, but she collapsed under the doctor’s sedative. Watching her gradually quiet down, wanting to kill me but utterly powerless, I curled my lips. “Don’t worry, darling. I’ll make sure they cure you.”

The transfer to the psychiatric hospital went smoothly. I chose Blackwood Mental Health Facility for Victoria – the most secure center in the city. And I specifically upgraded her to the VIP package: 24-hour surveillance, double-layered security doors, and tranquilizer shots twice a day. As I finished signing, ready to leave, Brandon Miller rushed over. He grabbed my arm, his face a mix of anxiety and disbelief. “Julian, I heard about the accident,” “But I never thought it would be this serious! How could you send Victoria to a place like this?” I gently pulled my arm free, subtly stepping back to create distance between us. “I had no choice. The doctor said she has strong violent tendencies. It’s too dangerous to keep her at home.” I sighed, then my tone shifted, and I looked at him curiously. “But how did you find out I was here? I don’t think I had time to notify anyone.” Brandon’s face stiffened slightly, then he explained, “I… I was worried about Victoria, so I called all her old friends. That’s how I found out.” What a perfect excuse. “Oh, I see.” I nodded, a grateful smile on my face. “That was very thoughtful of you. Speaking of which, I was just about to look for an expert to consult. Didn’t you say you had a friend who’s a psychiatrist?” Brandon’s eyes lit up. He quickly said, “Yes, yes! I have a friend who’s an authority in the field! Julian, don’t worry, I’ll make sure he uses the best possible treatment plan for Victoria!” “That’s fantastic!” I feigned delight, and right there, in front of Dr. Evans, the facility’s lead physician, I peppered him with questions: “Mr. Miller, you’re truly so kind. Could you tell me which hospital your expert friend works at?” “And could I perhaps see his medical license and professional qualifications? After all, with Victoria’s condition, I wouldn’t dare trust just any quack without proper credentials.” Brandon’s face instantly turned beet red, and he stammered for a long time, unable to get a single word out. I didn’t give him a chance to breathe. I immediately turned, apologizing to Dr. Evans. “Dr. Evans, I’m so sorry. My friend here is just a little too enthusiastic.” “From now on, Victoria’s condition is entirely in your capable hands.” “Also, to avoid any unnecessary trouble, from now on, besides myself, anyone claiming to be her friend, relative, or an expert coming to visit, please make sure to verify their identity with me first.” “We wouldn’t want any medical mishaps, would we? We’d all be in deep trouble.” Dr. Evans nodded gravely. “Mr. Wallace, rest assured, we have strict visitation policies. There will be no mistakes.” Brandon stood aside, his face pale, looking like he’d been choked. His plan to collude from the inside was thoroughly blocked by me from the very first step. Back home, I dug out all of Victoria’s bank cards and dialed the bank’s customer service. “Hello, I’d like to report all bank cards under my name and my wife Victoria Wallace’s name as lost. Yes, all of them. Immediately. Right now.” “Reason? Oh, my wife is mentally unstable. I suspect she’s given her cards and PINs to outsiders. For the security of our funds, please freeze all accounts immediately.” In my last life, they spent money like water, living lavishly with the funds from these very cards. This time, I’d like to see how well you two can live it up without my money. Sure enough, within three days, that despicable pair was driven to desperate measures. The miniature listening device I’d planted in Brandon’s car relayed their furious conversation. I leisurely steeped my tea, listening in. “…That b*tch! Julian Wallace, that scumbag!” Brandon’s voice was sharp and shrill. “He shut down all the cards! I tried to withdraw cash, and it said the account was frozen!” From the other end of the line, Victoria’s voice came through, seething with suppressed rage, tinged with a hint of undetectable panic. “Brandon, we can’t wait any longer!” “If we wait any longer, those nurses and doctors will truly drive me insane here! They give me shots every day!” “What do we do then? We have no money now, and we can’t even see you! All those shady friends are starting to avoid me!” Brandon’s voice began to crack with tears. “I understand, Victoria. Just wait. I’ll find a way to get you out first. We’ll settle the score with that bastard Julian later!”

Brandon somehow got his hands on a set of orderly clothes and bribed a new cleaning staff member, planning to coordinate an inside job to sneak Victoria out. I decided to play along. That night, I deliberately called Dr. Evans, telling him I’d had a nightmare that something happened to Victoria, and I felt uneasy, asking him to patrol more often. Dr. Evans reassured me that everything was fine but still promised to keep a closer eye out. At midnight, Brandon, disguised as an orderly, pushed a cart piled high with dirty bedsheets and quietly slipped into Victoria’s room. Victoria had already changed into her clothes and was hiding at the very bottom of the cart. Everything went smoothly. They successfully bypassed the first checkpoint and reached the back gate of the facility. Outside the back gate, the bribed cleaning staff member was waiting. However, just as Victoria was climbing out of the cart— “What are you doing?!” A sharp shout, accompanied by several powerful flashlight beams, exposed them. It was Dr. Evans with the security team, who happened to be passing by on rounds. Victoria and Brandon were caught red-handed. This escape attempt had severe consequences. Victoria was deemed an “extremely dangerous individual” and transferred to the deepest part of the facility’s intensive care unit. There, the windows were only palm-sized, and the door was a quadruple-locked iron door. Her daily activity range was limited to that ten-square-meter room. She was completely imprisoned. But what I didn’t expect was that she could still call Brandon. “Brandon, we have no other way.” Through the listening device, Victoria’s voice was cold and desperate. “Only if Julian dies can I get out, can we get the money, and can all of this end.” “I’ll find an opportunity to tell the doctor my condition has improved and request to see him.” “We’ll arrange to meet at Crimson Lake outside of town. It’s secluded and deserted at night.” “Then, I’ll push him into the water, hold him down, and say he committed suicide by jumping into the lake because he couldn’t take it anymore. And I… because of my ‘condition,’ couldn’t save him.” “Okay, let’s do it!” Brandon’s voice held a desperate, make-or-break ruthlessness. “Victoria, this is our last chance.” Listening to the conversation through my headphones, the smile on my lips deepened. When all of a person’s escape routes are blocked, the evil of human nature is unleashed without reservation. The time I’d been waiting for had arrived! A few days later, I received a call from Dr. Evans. He said Victoria’s condition had stabilized significantly lately; she no longer argued and could even engage in simple conversations. Victoria herself had strongly requested to see me, suggesting we meet by Crimson Lake, where we used to have dates. “Mr. Wallace, after our assessment, we believe this could be a good sign, perhaps helpful for her recovery.” “We’ll have two orderlies accompany her to ensure safety.” “Then… alright.” I reluctantly agreed. “For her to get better, I’m willing to try one more time.” Friday, at dusk. I parked my car in a small grove of trees some distance away, turned off the engine, and waited quietly. A few minutes later, a white facility transport van slowly pulled up. The doors opened, and Victoria, along with two orderlies, stepped out. Victoria told the orderlies, “Sirs, could you please wait for me in the car for a moment? I want to speak with my husband alone. It won’t be more than ten minutes.” The orderlies exchanged glances and nodded. After all, this had been pre-arranged. Victoria took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and walked step by step toward the man by the lake, who was wearing a beige trench coat. That trench coat was my favorite and most frequently worn piece of clothing. Splash! Water splattered everywhere. The man didn’t even have time to react before he was swallowed by the icy lake water. He choked on several mouthfuls, struggling desperately in the water, flailing and shouting, “Victoria! It’s me!” However, Victoria couldn’t hear what he was yelling, or rather, she simply didn’t care. She jumped into the water without hesitation, pressing his head down with all her might, pushing him under again and again. “Die! Die! Julian Wallace, you bastard! You ruined everything for me!” She roared maniacally, having completely lost her mind. The man’s struggles grew weaker and weaker. Finally, the last string of bubbles disappeared from the surface of the water. Victoria gasped for air, a satisfied, twisted smile spreading across her face. She had succeeded! She had killed Julian Wallace. Freedom and wealth were beckoning to her. Just then, a voice, tinged with a hint of curiosity, drifted from the darkness behind her. “Darling, what are you doing?” Victoria’s body stiffened abruptly, the smile on her face freezing instantly. Slowly, inch by excruciating inch, she turned her head.

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My wife was mentally impaired. I stood by her side for six years, never leaving her, caring for her devotedly. Then, suddenly, she wasn’t impaired anymore. It turned out her first love was back, and she wanted me to step aside for him. “You’ve had it good, haven’t you? Living off my family for so long, you’ve milked us dry. Now it’s time for you to go!” “Be smart and walk away, and I won’t hold it against you. But if you cause any trouble, I have a thousand ways to make your life miserable!” Her eyes were clear, and she smiled as she threatened me. I didn’t argue. I readily agreed to her demands, even wishing them a lifetime of happiness. Genevieve froze, but I smiled. She had no idea I’d been waiting for this day for a long, long time! “Sign this divorce agreement immediately!” Perhaps because she had only just recovered, and her position wasn’t entirely secure yet, Genevieve had specifically added a clause at the end of the agreement: “Officially effective one year from now.” “Don’t get the wrong idea. This isn’t for me.” Her eyes flickered. “You’ve always relied on the Sinclair family’s support. I’m giving you a year to prepare yourself. After that, don’t ever bother me again.” I couldn’t help but find her words ridiculous. Her true intention couldn’t have been clearer: she didn’t want to be branded as ungrateful. After all, I had cared for her for six long years while she had the mind of a child. If she abandoned me the moment she recovered, it would definitely damage her reputation. In short, it wouldn’t help her ascend to power and become the head of the Sinclair empire. That’s why she insisted on us maintaining our marriage for another year. I had to admire her incredible nerve and audacity. My parents, however, urged me not to argue with Genevieve. They told me to use this year to win her heart back. “Wealthy people often have affairs, Spencer,” they said. “As long as they don’t bring anyone home, just pretend you don’t see anything they do outside.” “Spencer, why are you making this so difficult? As long as you stay by Genevieve’s side, once she’s done playing around, she’ll come back to you eventually,” they tried to convince me. I just sneered and shook my head. “Mom, Dad, the gap between us is too wide. Her heart was never truly mine. Would you two want to live this kind of life?” “Mom, Dad, you’ve really disappointed me.” If Genevieve had ever cared for me, this divorce agreement would never have appeared before me. Back then, when Genevieve was fighting for control of the family corporation, she was unfortunately ambushed. A car accident left her mentally impaired, her IQ regressed to that of a five-year-old. After that, from among the many eligible heirs, she chose me, an ordinary man from a humble background, to be her husband-in-name-only. Though it was merely a contract, I still devoted myself to caring for her for six years. But now it seemed, perhaps, it was all part of her elaborate plan. The competition for the Sinclair Group’s heir was fierce, but in the end, it was she, the seemingly ignorant “fool,” who played the long game and became the biggest winner. Now that she’d achieved her goal, she naturally had no need to continue this charade with me, an outsider from a lesser family. The night before she took control of Sinclair Inc., she changed into a designer gown, looking regal and distant. Every movement she made seemed to announce that everything was under her control. She coldly called my name: “Spencer Thorne.” It was that one call that made me realize I could no longer see the innocent girl who used to shyly grab my shirt and sweetly call me “brother.” Perhaps Genevieve was afraid I’d cling to her. Even though she was the one who stipulated I could only leave after a year, she kept warning me not to covet what wasn’t mine. And so, I, her titular husband, was forced to watch Genevieve parade her “first love” in front of me every single day. When Asher Hayes moved into Genevieve’s mansion, every corner of the house was adorned with festive decorations, as if they were about to have a wedding. Genevieve, true to the corporate powerhouse she was, generously paid for all sorts of expensive custom suits and luxury sports cars for Asher. It made me recall my own wedding to Genevieve. Because she was mentally impaired back then and understood nothing, our wedding was rushed and incredibly simple. She used to cry and tell me she would become really strong so no one could bully her big brother. But now, she was the one bullying me. And now, Genevieve, worried Asher would be bullied by outsiders, showered him with endless affection in public. Anyone unaware would assume he was Genevieve’s legitimate husband. But it didn’t really make a difference. My status as “husband” was just an empty title anyway. To put it harshly, I was just her unpaid caretaker for six years.

Ever since Genevieve secured her position as the head of the Sinclair Group, her actions became increasingly brazen. She and Asher were joined at the hip, and I, her husband-in-name-only, had become completely invisible in her world. While playing a game with my friend Kyle, he was still fuming on the voice chat, advocating for me. His clenched-jaw tone amused me. “Hey, what’s gotten into you? You’re more worked up than I am, and I’m the one living it. Chill, it’s not a big deal.” Kyle scoffed. “If I’m not angry, who will be? We’ve been friends since childhood, and I know your personality inside and out. If I don’t stick up for you, who will?” “You’re always so unfazed, so calm and collected. Even if someone rode all over you, you probably wouldn’t fight back!” he scolded, frustrated with me for not fighting back. “Anyone with half a brain knows how good you’ve been to Genevieve these past few years. Remember when she was pushed to the ground and called ‘brain damaged’? You were the one who stood up and protected her. Every hardship you’ve faced all these years, wasn’t it because of her?” “Now she dares to shamelessly bring another man home! She’s so ungrateful, all your kindness was wasted on her!” Kyle ranted indignantly about Genevieve’s faults, getting more and more heated. I knew my friends were all furious about my situation, but truthfully, I didn’t care much about Genevieve’s attitude. At most, I’d occasionally sigh to myself, “How things have changed.” So, I changed the subject, pulling Kyle into a conversation about other things. “Forget about that for now. I’m looking for a job recently. Do you have any good connections?” “Speaking of which, our company is hiring. I remember you studied administrative management. You could come and apply sometime soon.” “Honestly, our boss is a total stunner. Who knows, maybe you’ll even have a beautiful encounter with her.” As soon as he mentioned his boss, Kyle’s spirits lifted, and he enthusiastically gushed about her captivating beauty and unparalleled grace. He even dragged Genevieve into the comparison, praising his boss for being so pure, loyal, and thoughtful. If I didn’t know Kyle so well, I’d suspect he’d been bribed by his boss to set me up. I chuckled. “Haha, well, I’ll take your word for it then.” I didn’t take Kyle’s words too seriously. I just thought that my marriage contract with Genevieve had only a year left. As long as nothing unexpected happened, my future life would return to normal. But life is unpredictable. Just when I didn’t want to stir up trouble, trouble found me. As I was about to leave, I happened to walk in on Genevieve and Asher canoodling in the living room. They were so intimately entwined that I, an outsider, felt incredibly awkward in that situation. I was about to turn and leave when I heard Asher suddenly speak. “Oh, isn’t that Spencer? Where are you off to?” “Why are you suddenly interrupting Genevieve and me being all lovey-dovey? That’s pretty rude of you.”

This was the first time I’d directly interacted with Asher. He was undeniably handsome, barely in his early twenties, with those sly, captivating eyes that could charm anyone. If I were a woman, I probably couldn’t resist the urge to pull him into my arms. But my attention was drawn to the prominent hickeys on his collarbone. It wasn’t hard to guess what he and Genevieve had been up to last night. Actually, I didn’t even need to look. We all lived under the same roof, and I heard the noises from my room every night, loud and clear. At Asher’s call, Genevieve seemed to only just notice me. She turned her head, a clear look of displeasure on her face. It seemed I really had interrupted their good time. Knowing my place, I didn’t go closer, just apologized from afar. “I was just going out to grab a bite. My apologies for disturbing you two. I’ll leave right now.” However, my discretion wasn’t accepted by Asher. I watched as he gently rubbed his cheek against Genevieve’s hand, looking down pitifully. “Does Spencer dislike me? Why does he leave as soon as he sees me? Did I upset him somehow?” Hearing this, Genevieve immediately soothed him with a kiss. “How could anyone in this world dislike my Asher?” Then she glared at me fiercely. “Now, get over here and apologize to Asher!” I obediently walked over, head bowed, trying to make my presence as minimal as possible, determined to be a silent background fixture. “Gen, is it because I’m too ugly that Spencer keeps looking down and won’t look at me?” Asher seemed to want to make the atmosphere even more awkward, putting on another pitiful act. He wrapped his arms around Genevieve’s neck, ready to give an award-winning performance of despair. “Nonsense! My Asher is clearly the most adorable boy in the world. Anyone who can’t see how captivating you are must be blind!” As she said this, Genevieve’s gaze was fixed on me, making sure I knew the implied “blind person” was me. That look wasn’t new to me. Years ago, when I first married Genevieve, the Sinclair family’s eldest daughter, Isabelle, tried to assert her dominance by constantly provoking Genevieve in front of everyone. After I subtly retaliated with a few sharp words, Isabelle became furious and raised her hand to slap me. Back then, Genevieve was the one who stood in front of me, glaring fiercely at Isabelle, shouting, “No one is allowed to bully Gen’s Spencer!” The way Genevieve looked at Isabelle back then was exactly how she was looking at me now: cold, disgusted, and with a clear warning. I just never imagined that the little girl who once said she’d protect me would now use the same method to protect someone else.

I stood there, saying nothing, doing nothing, yet I was blamed for ‘hating Asher.’ Genevieve’s biased protection made Asher’s face light up with joy. He shot Genevieve a playful, adoring glance. “Gen, I knew you were the best to me.” “Yes, yes, Asher Hayes and Ms. Sinclair are truly a perfect match. Anyone who sees you two would say you’re meant to be.” To escape this uncomfortable situation quickly, I played along with Asher’s words. But perhaps it was my imagination, because after I said that, Genevieve’s gaze on me seemed to sharpen even more. Maybe she connected my words to the humiliation of being a ‘fool’ who had to be subservient to others back then? My mind drifted for a moment, but I remembered not to draw unwanted attention at a time like this. In contrast to Genevieve’s reaction, Asher was very pleased with my response. “Spencer, you really know what to say.” “Aren’t you going out to eat? Go on, don’t starve yourself.” Seeing that he was finally willing to let me go, I quickly smiled and said, “Then I won’t disturb you two. I’m leaving now.” Throughout the entire exchange, Genevieve didn’t say another word, her eyes solely focused on Asher in her arms. But this outcome was exactly what I expected. I just wanted this year to pass quickly so I could finally escape them for good. I didn’t notice, however, that as I left, Genevieve’s eyes, watching my retreating back, grew a touch darker and more unreadable. There was an indescribable something in her gaze, but she concealed it well. Even Asher only thought she was mad at me for interrupting their intimate moment and didn’t pay attention to Genevieve’s brief lapse. When I returned, Asher was no longer at the house. I scanned the living room and didn’t see Genevieve either, immediately understanding. “Looks like they won’t be back tonight.” However, just as I was about to go upstairs to my room, I suddenly heard a low, cold voice from behind the sofa. “I didn’t realize my not coming home would make you so happy.” I turned around and saw Genevieve, her face cold, leaning on the sofa and staring at me, her gaze ominous and dangerous. Who in their right mind sits in the dark, dressed in all black, on a sofa late at night?! I grumbled to myself, but on the surface, I feigned surprise and walked over to Genevieve. “Ms. Sinclair, if you’re home, why aren’t the lights on?” Genevieve suddenly gripped my shoulder. “Spencer Thorne, have you forgotten we’re still married?” Her expression was unpleasant. I guessed she was in a bad mood because I’d walked in on her and Asher earlier. But I had no experience dealing with Genevieve in this state, and I didn’t want to stir up more drama, so I forced myself to answer, “Of course I remember.” “But Ms. Sinclair, please rest assured, today was just an accident. Next time, I’ll be more careful and won’t disturb you and Mr. Hayes.”

The expression on Genevieve’s face seemed to grow even more displeased. She let out a strange, mocking laugh, then slid her hand to my waist. Even through my thin shirt, I could feel the heat of her palm. “Spencer Thorne, I remember you once said you’d never betray me or leave me, didn’t you?” “Yes.” I lowered my head, meeting Genevieve’s aggressive gaze. “But we’ve already signed the divorce agreement, so those words don’t count anymore.” “What? Is this whole charade you’ve been putting on just to remind me about the divorce papers? Or worse, have you actually fallen for me? If—” “No! Ms. Sinclair, I think you’ve misunderstood. Our marriage was a planned arrangement from the very beginning. How could a collaborator possibly fall for their business partner?” Genevieve’s eyes were fixed on mine, deep and unreadable. The emotions within them were truly hard to decipher. And she still held the ‘life-and-death power’ over my family, which was the key leverage that forced me to agree to this year of pretense. “Good, very good.” Genevieve suddenly released her grip on me and scoffed. “Spencer Thorne, you’d better remember your words.” “I trust you’re a smart man. If that’s the case, then for the rest of this year, you’d better fulfill your duties as a husband.” I’d always thought that even if there was no affection between us, considering how dedicatedly I’d cared for her for five years, things wouldn’t end too badly. But Genevieve’s sudden fury now seemed utterly baseless. My first thought was that Asher had badmouthed me to her earlier, but that didn’t make sense. Asher was targeting me only because I’d held the title of Genevieve’s husband for five years, and he couldn’t gauge my place in her heart. After that little test, he got the answer he wanted, so he shouldn’t be bothering me anymore. “I understand.” I followed Genevieve into the master bedroom. By the time I finished showering and came out, Genevieve was already asleep in bed. Only a small nightlight remained lit in the entire room. This was a lingering after-effect from Genevieve’s car accident. In the years she had the mind of a child, even with me by her side, she would always remind me to leave a light on before she slept. I watched her sleeping face for a while before slowly getting into the other side of the bed. I thought I’d lie awake until dawn, but in the quiet atmosphere, it wasn’t long before a heavy wave of sleepiness washed over me.

I had a dream. In it, I was holding a girl’s hand, frolicking freely by the beach. I knew those were memories from before I was forced to marry Genevieve. And that girl had completely vanished from my world the day I married Genevieve. For all these years, despite trying everything I could, I still couldn’t find any trace of her. Just as my dream was about to turn sweeter, I suddenly felt a chill run down my spine. I woke up abruptly to see Genevieve, who knows when she woke up, sitting up in bed, staring intently at me. I was startled. Before I could fully register what was happening, I heard her cold voice. “Who allowed you to sleep next to me?” “I let you in to serve me. You can’t even do that right, you’re useless!” “Get out!” The no-longer-scheming Genevieve was always so temperamental. I couldn’t figure out what she was thinking, but not having to share a room with her was a good thing. I quickly scrambled out of bed, but my brain was still a bit foggy from sleep. Without thinking, I almost stumbled into the nightstand. Luckily, I only swayed and steadied myself before leaving without looking back. Because of this, I didn’t notice Genevieve’s hand, which had reached out halfway before being abruptly pulled back. The next day, Genevieve went to the company early. Although she had swiftly eliminated all dissenting voices in the corporation on the day she took power, Isabelle wasn’t one to sit still. Not to mention the old shareholders who sided with Isabelle were still causing trouble behind the scenes. Thankfully, Genevieve had now allied herself with the Hayes family, otherwise, her path to stabilizing her position in the Sinclair Group might not have been so smooth. As for me, because I hadn’t slept well the night before, Kyle immediately noticed the obvious dark circles under my eyes when we met up. “I swear, Spencer, did you go out robbing banks last night?” Kyle asked. “Just a bit of insomnia,” I gave a flimsy excuse. “I haven’t been working for so long, so I was up late trying to organize my resume.” “Don’t push yourself too hard. I believe with your abilities, you’ll definitely thrive at our company,” Kyle said lightheartedly, patting my shoulder. I naturally believed in my own abilities. I just suddenly thought that with Genevieve staying home all night yesterday, even if nothing truly happened between us, in Asher’s eyes, it was a clear signal of provocation. I was worried he would come looking for trouble.

Sure enough, just as Kyle and I finished our interview and walked out, one of Asher’s bodyguards found me. “Mr. Thorne, my young master invites you to a private club. Please come with us.” The bodyguard was tall, a good half-head taller than me, and when he looked down slightly, the corners of his eyes turned up a little. A hint of contemptuous smile played on his lips, making him look rather unpleasant. Kyle immediately bristled, letting out a sarcastic laugh. “Oh, listen to that! Some dogs, after spending too much time with their master, learn a few human tricks and think they’re people now?” “Anyone who doesn’t know better would think you’re hot stuff, but trash should know its place. This isn’t a recycling center, you know.” Kyle’s words were barbed, and his rapid-fire delivery left the bodyguard’s face ashen. “Mr. Thorne, my young master’s invitation is sincere. I hope you won’t be foolish. Control your friend, or else, if you provoke someone you shouldn’t, there will be trouble.” I sneered. “A stray dog with no manners, barking at people in the street—Kyle isn’t out of line for cursing back. You’re so angry, did you just admit that description fits you?” After the bodyguard left, his face livid, Kyle immediately raised an eyebrow at me and grinned. “I can’t believe you didn’t stop me.” “I thought you’d tolerate it again this time. If you ask me, next time we see that scumbag couple, you should curse them back. That’s the real satisfaction!” His words made me grin. “You’re right, you’re right. When it comes to arguing, who could ever beat you, even when we were kids?” Truth be told, my attitude towards Genevieve or Asher had always been one of indifference. Because I didn’t care, I didn’t want to waste my breath. Asher just wanted to flaunt Genevieve’s affection in front of me and mock me. Such words go in one ear and out the other. If I obsessed over every little thing, wouldn’t I be living too exhausting a life? “I know you’re sticking up for me, but we really don’t need to get angry over people like that. Asher just wants me to be jealous of him, doesn’t he? I’ll purposely not give him that satisfaction. Isn’t that the best revenge?” Having my best friend stand up for me naturally made me happy, but I didn’t want him to get dragged into trouble because of it. After all, Asher clearly seemed like an arrogant type. If he felt insulted by me, he’d naturally look for an opportunity to retaliate.

“Spencer, quickly, try this tea. See if it suits your taste?” In the private club, Asher, with a smile on his face, instructed the tea artist to pour me a hot cup of tea. “Anything Mr. Hayes serves certainly wouldn’t be subpar. It’s just a shame a coarse person like me doesn’t appreciate such luxuries,” I replied with a smile. I’d heard Asher liked tea. This very club was apparently bought for him by Genevieve. She’d even spent a fortune to collect various fine teas from all over the world and deliver them to Asher. Genevieve’s favoritism towards Asher was well-known. Asher didn’t get angry at my words. Instead, he just curved his lips and looked straight at me. “I heard Spencer is looking for a job recently?” “Are you short on cash? Why didn’t you tell Gen? She’d definitely be upset if she found out.” “If Spencer feels uncomfortable asking, you can tell me. Though I don’t have many talents, I’m certainly not lacking in money. As long as Spencer asks, I, as your younger brother, wouldn’t mistreat you.” I instinctively pursed my lips, then looked at the black card pushed across the table, feeling a bit amused. I honestly didn’t expect Asher to try the classic “throw money at me” move from a TV drama. “Thank you for your concern, Mr. Hayes, but I don’t like getting something for nothing.” “My marriage to Ms. Sinclair was just a contract from the start. I’ve already taken what I was supposed to. Anything extra isn’t necessary.” It seemed Genevieve hadn’t told Asher about our arrangement, which was why he felt threatened by my presence. Thinking this, I simply took off the jade ring that Grandmother Eleanor had given me when I married Genevieve and pushed it back across the table with the black card. My action didn’t just surprise Asher; even the bodyguards behind him looked astonished. Perhaps Asher never expected me to so readily hand over what he wanted, but he still accepted the items with a smile. “Spencer, what are you saying? I’ve always respected you as a brother. Of course, I, as your younger brother, should help out if my older brother is in need.” I suppose Asher had never met a ‘love rival’ as sensible as me in his life. Before he could even make a move, I had already calmly exited the stage. At this point, Asher wouldn’t have anything to be dissatisfied with, though he might, to some extent, look down on me, thinking I was too weak. If I could truly leave him with that impression, that would be absolutely perfect. Asher personally poured me another cup of tea. “Spencer, that necklace on your neck looks nice too. How about you sell it to your little brother?” Hearing this, I instinctively raised a hand to guard the necklace. “This is just cheap stuff from a street vendor. If Mr. Hayes likes it, Ms. Sinclair will surely get you something better and more expensive.”

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Marcus doesn’t love me or our daughter. Yet he’s fallen madly in love with Lily’s dance teacher. He spent a fortune buying a luxurious mansion to keep her as his mistress. His love for her is no secret. The dance teacher came to see me, revealing the red marks on her body. “I’m so sorry, I never meant to be the other woman,” she said tearfully. “But he won’t let me go. Please help me leave the country.” In a moment of weakness, I agreed to help her escape. Marcus went berserk. He strapped a bomb to our daughter. “Tell me where Melody is or I’ll blow her up right in front of you.” I broke down sobbing and quickly told him Melody’s location. After he left, a timer appeared on the bomb strapped to Lily. Beep…beep…beep… I rushed over without thinking. The blast threw me backwards. My daughter’s body exploded into a bloody mist, painting the world red. “No!” I screamed. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I discovered Marcus was keeping a mistress. My phone buzzed with another text from an unknown number. This time it was several photos. In the pictures, Marcus gazed at the woman before him with tender affection. No matter what she was doing – eating, looking at her phone, or just staring into space – his eyes were always fixed on her adoringly. That woman was the apple of my husband’s eye, the one who taught him the meaning of love. This mysterious number would occasionally share little moments of Marcus and Melody’s romance with me. It was through these glimpses that I saw the human side of Marcus. The unknown number continued messaging: [Do you know how much your husband cares for that woman? If she so much as frowns, he’s beside himself with concern.] [They’re holding their wedding at Evergreen Manor tonight. You’re not planning to crash it, are you?] [Why don’t you just get divorced? Do you think you still have a chance?] I gripped my phone tightly. I had tried tracing this number before, but could never uncover who was behind it. But I had my suspicions. The grief and terror of losing my daughter still haunted me. Shaking, I texted back: [It’s you, isn’t it?] There was no reply. I won’t be going to Marcus’s wedding this time. I went in my past life. Back then, I was shocked to learn my husband was holding a wedding with that woman. Though Marcus and I had been legally married for years, we never had a proper ceremony. I lost all reason and rushed to Evergreen Manor. At the wedding, I caused a huge scene. Marcus looked at me like I was a stranger and publicly handed me divorce papers. “Just sign them. I want to give Melody a real family,” he said coldly. Melody was sobbing uncontrollably. “No, if you divorce your wife because of me, I’ll be a homewrecker!” Seeing her cry made Marcus even more protective of her, fueling his hatred towards me. That wedding was the final nail in the coffin of my marriage to Marcus. After that, every time Melody tried to run away, Marcus assumed I was behind it. Each escape attempt resulted in Marcus torturing me – locking me in the basement, abandoning me in a snowy field overnight, or dumping me in the middle of nowhere. When I begged for a divorce, Marcus just sneered: “Divorce? I gave you the chance before and you didn’t take it. It’s too late now!” That disastrous wedding was the start of all the tragedies. I can’t make the same mistake again. I went back to Lily’s bedroom. Seeing her sleeping peacefully finally calmed my racing heart. In the darkness, a tear slid down my cheek. It wasn’t always like this. Marcus used to have a gentle side towards me and Lily. In the first few years of our marriage, he treated me well. His love was clumsy but passionate. He would bring me flowers every day when he came home from work. He would hold me and say, “Honey, I don’t know how to love, but I’ll try my best to be good to you.” Back then, he was like a lost puppy – pitiful and helpless. I knew that Marcus’s grandfather, in order to groom the family heir, had subjected Marcus to emotional desensitization training from a young age. Like killing the dog Marcus had raised and forcing him to eat it. Or sending away the butler who had been so kind to him. Most horrifically, even driving Marcus’s own mother to self-immolation… Marcus was expected to be devoid of love or personal attachments, a puppet with no emotions of his own. But how could a person truly achieve that? I tucked the blanket around Lily. As my fingers brushed her soft cheek, I suddenly remembered when she was first born. Marcus had been so tense as he carefully cradled her in his arms. He held her like she was made of the most delicate crystal. After a long moment, he finally managed to say: “Such a tiny human.” In the warm glow of the hospital lights, his eyes held a tenderness he didn’t even realize was there. I thought we were finally on the right track. But then he went back to the family estate once, and everything changed. He reverted to his old cold self. No, he became even more callous and unfeeling.

He treated me and Lily like we didn’t exist. I wondered if something had happened at the estate, if he was being pressured somehow. But when I voiced my concerns, he just looked at me like I was an idiot. “You don’t actually think Grandfather is threatening me, do you? Have you been watching too many soap operas?” “Olivia, I just realized that developing feelings for you was disgusting.” Disgusting! That’s how he described our relationship. Up to that point, we might have still maintained a facade of normalcy. But then Melody appeared and things spiraled beyond the point of no return. He fell madly in love with her, defying family pressure for her sake, nearly giving his grandfather a heart attack. When I confronted him, he offered no explanation. He didn’t love me. He didn’t even respect me. My phone buzzed insistently in my palm. It was that unknown number again: [Coward.] I whispered under my breath, “If being a coward means my daughter and I survive, then so be it.” Marcus loves Melody. Let him love her then. I won’t interfere this time. After leaving Lily’s room, I called my lawyer. “Hello, I need help handling the division of marital assets…” This time, I’ll agree to the divorce. I’ll take Lily and leave this place far behind. But it seems fate enjoys playing cruel jokes on me. An hour later, Marcus came home after being away for ages. He kicked the door open with a thunderous bang. Before I could even ask what was wrong, he knocked me to the ground with a vicious kick. I fell backwards into the fish tank. The glass shattered everywhere. Shards of glass embedded in my back, blood immediately pooling beneath me. Marcus stared at the blood, a dark glint in his eyes. Rage burned in his gaze as he ground his shoe into my hand. “Olivia, where have you hidden Melody?” he snarled, yanking my head up by the hair. Melody had run away again? The pain was blinding. I hastily tried to explain: “I don’t know, I didn’t do anything. She must have left on her own.” “You dare lie to me?” Marcus slammed me against the wall. I heard my bones crack. He advanced on me step by step: “She’s such a good girl! She promised she’d wait for me. You must have done something to scare her into running away!” “I told you, it wasn’t me!” My voice shook from the pain. Why wouldn’t this monster just leave me alone? I hadn’t done anything this time around. Even in my past life, all I did was help Melody leave at her own request. How did that result in such a gruesome end for me and my daughter? Marcus sat on the couch, his expression unreadable as he stared at me. After a long silence, he suddenly spoke: “Don’t you care what happens to Lily?” My whole body went rigid with fear. The horrific image of my daughter’s death was still vivid in my mind. This inhuman beast was threatening our child again. Something snapped inside me. Ignoring my injuries, I crawled towards him. I kowtowed over and over, begging: “Please, I’m begging you, don’t hurt our daughter. Don’t hurt her…” “Believe me, I never did anything to Melody. I’ll sign the divorce papers right now if you want.” Seeing my panic, Marcus fell silent. Suddenly, he stood up and roughly dragged me down to the basement. The stench of mold and decay assaulted my senses. As icy chains locked around my wrists and ankles, I finally saw the machine in the corner. It was the electroshock device Marcus used for torture. “Tell me where Melody is,” he said, turning a dial on the machine. The hum of electricity filled the basement. “It wasn’t me!” I cried. The current felt like it was exploding through every inch of my skin. I had experienced this torture in my past life too. That time, I had nearly died.

Wires wrapped around my ankles and wrists. Each time I struggled, the shocks intensified. “Does it hurt? Not knowing where Melody is hurts me even more,” Marcus whispered in my ear. Suddenly, the creak of a metal door echoed from deep in the basement. Then came the sound of a child crying. “Mommy!” My blood ran cold instantly. As Marcus released his grip, I screamed desperately: “Marcus, don’t hurt her!” Marcus glanced back at me. That look in his eyes – it was like he was regarding a corpse. A minute later, Marcus returned carrying Lily in his arms. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, but she still clung to her father trustingly. “Daddy, why is Mommy tied up like that?” she asked in a small voice. Marcus gently wiped the tears from her face and replied casually: “It’s just for fun. Do you want to try it too, sweetheart?” I shook my head frantically, horrified. “Please, Marcus, I’m begging you. I’ll die to prove I never hurt Melody. Just please don’t harm our daughter.” I was beyond desperate. If my death could buy Lily’s safety, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. As I prepared to bite my tongue, Marcus suddenly gripped my throat. “You want to die? Your life isn’t worth much. You’d better stay alive until I find Melody.” Just then, Marcus’s phone rang. He set Lily down. She immediately ran to my side, crying softly. She tried to undo the chains but didn’t know how. On the phone, one of Marcus’s subordinates was reporting to him. “Mr. Holt, we’ve found your wife.” Of course. Melody was the one they called “wife.” I was just “that woman.” Marcus found Melody at the airport. She had been trying to leave the country when his men spotted her. I was dragged along, still chained, to the airport. From a few meters away, I watched Marcus embrace Melody tightly, breathing heavily. “Why do you keep running away? Are you trying to break my heart?” he choked out. “Melody, you’re taking advantage of how much I care for you.” Marcus’s voice cracked with emotion, trembling as he spoke. Melody shrank into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “But what can I do? I’m the other woman. I’ve come between you and your wife. I’m a sinner.” “I deserve to die. I deserve to die! I’ve ruined Lily’s family. I was her most trusted teacher, and now she’ll hate me…” As she spoke, she grabbed the Swiss Army knife from Marcus’s belt and tried to plunge it into her own throat. In a split second, Marcus grabbed the blade. Blood dripped from the knife onto Melody’s pure white dress. Like a red rose blooming, shockingly vivid. Melody immediately let go of the knife, staring at the man’s deeply cut hand in distress. “Why…why are you so good to me? I’ve fallen in love with you. What am I supposed to do now?” Melody wept as she pounded Marcus’s chest, crying so hard she could barely breathe. Marcus tossed the knife aside and hugged her fiercely, as if trying to fuse her into his very bones. I watched numbly, my heart too numb to feel anything anymore. Marcus patiently comforted her. After a while, Melody’s sobs subsided. She turned to look at me, tears falling again. “I’m so sorry, Lily’s mom. I never meant for this to happen…” “Don’t apologize to her,” Marcus interrupted, stroking Melody’s hair tenderly. “It’s not your fault. I’m the one who forced you into this. I pressured you. My Melody is the kindest girl in the world.” “Melody, you’re more important to me than anyone.” Hearing this, Melody cried even harder. The two gazed at each other with such passion, the scene looked tragically beautiful. Marcus reverently kissed Melody’s forehead. “Be good now. Don’t run off again. Stay by my side.” Melody nodded weakly. But she hadn’t eaten properly, and the stress caused her blood sugar to crash. She suddenly fainted in his arms. Panicked, Marcus lifted her up, hands shaking. He rushed off with her in his arms. As he passed by me, he shot me a vicious glare. That look – as if I were his mortal enemy.

Melody came to find me a week later. She looked healthier, having gained some weight. Wearing a little white dress, she looked like an ethereal fairy from afar. She found me at the mansion. At the time, I was planning to bring up divorce with Marcus again. Melody kept her head down, unable to meet my eyes. “Lily’s mom, I’m so sorry. I’m scared too. I don’t know what to do.” “Maybe…you could help me. I want to leave the country.” Here we go again. This time it came earlier. In my past life, she didn’t pull this move until six months later. “I won’t get involved in your affairs,” I told her firmly. Melody looked up in shock. She had assumed I would happily accept this request as a way to get rid of her. She blurted out, “Why not? Don’t you want to drive me away so you can win Marcus back?” Realizing what she’d said, she quickly looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” I waved her off. “You should go. If you don’t get back soon, Marcus will go crazy looking for you.” … Marcus came home that night. Just because he knew Melody had come to see me. He interrogated me the moment he walked in. “What did you say to her?” I shook my head. “I didn’t say anything. She asked me to help her leave the country. I refused.” Hearing this, Marcus looked at me in surprise. It was like he was seeing me for the first time. “You’re acting strange,” he said suspiciously. “You’re imagining things.” Marcus didn’t press further. After getting a call from Melody, he hurried to leave. As he was walking out, I handed him a document. He impatiently asked, “What’s this?” “It’s a permission slip for Lily’s overseas study program. We both need to sign it as her parents.” In a rush to go see Melody, he barely glanced at it before scrawling his signature. He had no idea that hidden beneath the permission slip was a divorce agreement. After the door slammed shut, I let out a long breath. I gathered our luggage and took Lily to the airport. But before we could leave the house, several luxury cars pulled up out front. My heart sank. Marcus got out of one of the cars and strode over. He kicked over the suitcase. Lily started crying in fright. He didn’t even look at our daughter, just glared at me venomously. “Where do you think you’re going? Trying to run after what you’ve done?” Cold sweat broke out on my skin as I hugged Lily, my hands shaking. I tried to keep my voice steady: “What happened? Explain it to me clearly.” “You dare play dumb.” Marcus snarled, grabbing my throat. His face was twisted with rage. Lily cried and tried to pry his hand off me, but it was no use. Marcus’s voice was ice cold: “Melody broke out in a rash right after she left you.” I was stunned. So once again, he suspected I had drugged Melody somehow. I tried to explain, but Marcus pulled out a gun and shot my right hand. The loud bang made Lily wail in terror. The pain nearly made me black out. Just before I lost consciousness, I heard Marcus’s frigid voice: “You’re lucky Melody wasn’t seriously hurt. Otherwise a bullet would have been the least of your worries.” I woke up three days later. The bullet had been removed, and my arm was heavily bandaged. Lily’s small form was curled up asleep next to me. My phone buzzed just then. It was that unknown number. [Marcus is on vacation with Melody right now. Leave while you can.] I had suspected the person behind these messages might be Melody herself. But now I knew it wasn’t her – it was someone I hadn’t seen in a long time. I checked myself out of the hospital against medical advice. The doctor had no choice but to call Marcus. On the other end of the line, Marcus was clearly in a foul mood. “What, is she dead?” he snapped. The doctor broke into a sweat. “Well, no…” “If she’s not dead then don’t bother me.” Marcus cut him off. In the background, Melody’s gentle voice could be heard. “Darling, is that about your wife? Did something happen to her?” “She’s fine. Don’t worry about her…” After the call ended, the doctor awkwardly looked at me and approved my discharge. I took Lily and left without looking back. As the plane took off, the view outside the window was breathtaking…

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The school was eerily quiet after classes, with only the faint sound of cicadas in the background. I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the lingering trauma of my family’s destruction in my previous life. From the corner of my eye, I saw Tyler Brooks handing a bottle of water to Rachel Evans. Rachel had been my childhood friend since we were kids. The water was laced with a potent aphrodisiac – strong enough to make anyone lose control. In my previous life, I had exposed this on the spot. But Rachel didn’t believe me. Instead, she thought I was jealous of Tyler’s popularity and was stirring up trouble. This time, I watched coldly from the sidelines. Rachel took the bottle, glancing at me. “What’s with that look? Are you going to police my drinking water too?” “It’s none of my business,” I said, averting my gaze. Tyler, seeing this, started to stir the pot with a smirk: “Jack Carter, aren’t you being a bit too controlling of Rachel? Is she your girlfriend or something?” A few classmates who were about to leave turned to look at me with strange expressions. Rachel’s face tensed up, her eyes filled with disdain as she looked at me: “Who’s his girlfriend? He’s just a bookworm who only knows how to study. I wouldn’t be interested in him!” A surge of hatred nearly burst from my chest. I suddenly looked up: “As if I’d be interested in you, Rachel Evans?” Rachel was stunned, speechless, with tears about to fall. Tyler seized the opportunity to mock me further. “Still playing hard to get? Everyone knows you have a crush on Rachel.” “I just talk to Rachel a bit, and you get all moody. Tsk tsk, what a clown.” These words ignited Rachel’s anger. She always felt that being associated with someone like me, who was always buried in books, was embarrassing. She glared at me fiercely, then defiantly drank the entire bottle of water in one go. I tightened my grip on the pen in my hand, a dark light flashing in my eyes, and a smile involuntarily curling at the corners of my mouth. In my previous life, with my interference, she had only taken a sip. But even just that sip was enough to make her lose control, only knowing how to beg for intimacy. Now, she had drunk the entire bottle… A sense of anticipation crept into my heart, and I found myself looking at Tyler with a hint of admiration in my eyes. It takes a villain to deal with another villain, after all. I noticed a flash of triumphant glee in Tyler’s eyes. He put his arm around Rachel’s shoulders: “Rachel, are you feeling unwell? Let me walk you home?” Rachel shyly agreed. About ten minutes later, Mike Anderson, the class monitor, burst into the classroom with a flushed face. By then, only I was left in the classroom. He was clearly anxious, mumbling something about “bathroom, bathroom…” But he just couldn’t get to the point. I feigned ignorance and asked: “Did something happen in the bathroom? It’s not Rachel, is it?” Mike grabbed my arm, his hand shaking with excitement. “Yes, it’s Rachel, and… and Tyler.” “Those two?” I looked innocent and confused, as if I truly knew nothing. There was a time when I considered Mike my best friend. He had been my deskmate for all three years of high school, and we always had a lot to talk about. But after the incident in my previous life, he was the first to step on me to climb up. He publicly claimed that I had impure thoughts, and when my advances towards Rachel were rejected, I drugged her in an attempt to force the issue. After I went to give my statement to the police, he even started a livestream, taking advantage of the hot topic. During the stream, he seriously made up a lot of non-existent stories: “When I heard this news, I was heartbroken. I’ve been his deskmate for three years, and I knew he had always had a crush on Rachel, but I never thought he would…” “Jack has a strong voyeuristic tendency. He often secretly follows female classmates at night.” “I’ve tried to advise him, but he wouldn’t listen. He wouldn’t even spare a young widow who had just lost her husband…” That livestream caused a huge uproar. I was nailed to the pillar of shame. The school also used this as an excuse to expel me. Years later, at a class reunion, Mike had already climbed to a high position. In his drunken state, he boasted proudly: “It’s a good thing you got into trouble, otherwise how would the spot for early admission to Harvard have fallen to me?” Recalling this, my gaze towards Mike suddenly turned a few degrees colder. In my previous life, I had gone to stop them. But the truth was that Mike had me go to intervene while he ran to call for help. In reality, he was hiding in the dark, secretly recording, quietly calling the police, watching me fall into an impossible situation… Seeing that I wasn’t in a hurry, Mike became anxious. “Rachel is in trouble… Tyler dragged her into the bathroom! Rachel kept struggling… she must have been forced.” “Not necessarily, right? Aren’t Rachel and Tyler mutually interested in each other? Maybe it’s just a couple’s game.” I said with a half-smile. Everyone knew that Rachel and Tyler were very close, just a thin layer of window paper away from making it official. Hearing this, Mike grabbed my wrist urgently: “No way, we’re just high school students, how can we do such things? Come on, let’s go check it out, we must stop them!” The calculation in Mike’s eyes was barely concealed. He couldn’t wait for me to rush over there right now. So that I would fall into an inescapable situation, allowing him to naturally snatch away the early admission spot. I nodded and followed Mike downstairs. On the way, I opened my phone and silently sent out a message I had prepared earlier. The recipients were several internet celebrities who happened to be livestreaming nearby. This time, I wanted to make a big scene out of this incident. Tyler was the principal’s only son, after all. I still couldn’t forget the look of disgust on the principal’s face when he expelled me in my previous life. I’m quite the helpful person, you see. I wanted to let the principal see his son’s “graceful demeanor” with his own eyes. As we got closer to the bathroom, the lewd sounds coming from inside became clearer. It was utterly filthy. “Rachel, do you like it?” Tyler’s voice, filled with heavy breathing, came through. “I like it.” Rachel’s voice sounded like she had little rationality left, answering purely based on desire. Mike’s eyes rolled, and he lowered his voice to say to me: “Jack, it sounds like Rachel isn’t fully conscious. You go in first to stop them, I’ll go find help.” I smiled inwardly. These words were exactly the same as in my previous life. I pretended to be troubled. “I don’t know… This is the girls’ bathroom. If I barge in and it turns out to be a misunderstanding…” “Are you kidding me!” Mike glared at me, his eyeballs almost popping out. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me hard, with a look of exasperation. “Can you stop being such a coward! If we wait any longer it’ll be too late. Do you want to watch Rachel get violated right before your eyes?” The bathroom door wasn’t fully closed. Through the gap, I could clearly see what was happening inside. Rachel’s clothes were torn and disheveled, most of them pushed up to her waist. She was clinging to Tyler like a boneless pile of mud. Tyler’s eyes were full of lust as he pressed her against the wall. Tyler was still putting on an act: “Are you sure you want to give it to me? Rachel, won’t you regret this?” “Give it to me, give it to me…” Rachel begged like the most wanton prostitute in the world. Tyler feigned reluctance, but his eyes were full of triumphant laughter. … I hesitantly agreed: “Alright then, you go quickly call a teacher, I’ll try to control the situation.” Just as I was about to push open the bathroom door, I turned back to remind him: “Make sure you hurry!” Mike nodded and ran off. After he left, I lowered my hand that was about to push the door. I knew Mike hadn’t run far. Sure enough, five minutes later, Mike’s sneaky figure appeared. He had circled back. I hid in the shadows and watched as he took out his phone and quietly slipped it into the door crack… The people inside were getting more and more unrestrained, completely oblivious to heaven and earth. After doing this, Mike left satisfied. Soon after, Mike led a large group of people rushing to the teaching building. The commotion inside hadn’t diminished at all. Mike covered his mouth, looking helpless and scared as he stopped the principal: “Principal, I… I really… I don’t know why they’re like this? But as the class monitor, I couldn’t just ignore it.” The principal was fuming, his nostrils flaring. He didn’t know the male lead inside was his own son; Mike had deliberately not made that clear. I knew that in Mike’s view, it would be best if both Tyler and I went down together, as we were both his potential competitors. On a normal day, if the principal encountered this kind of situation, he would have already sent security to drag the people out. But coincidentally, today the leaders from the Education Bureau were here for an inspection and hadn’t left yet. A group of leaders followed to “catch the adulterers in bed.” This scene couldn’t be more spectacular. The principal was so angry his chest was heaving violently. His promotion plans were likely going down the drain. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, wishing he could drag out the shameless couple inside and tear them to pieces. Just as he was about to step forward, Mike stopped him again with a troubled expression: “Don’t go, inside… inside is… that person he…” “I don’t care who it is, this matter isn’t over today!” the principal roared. Mike seemed to give up, with a look of disappointment. “It’s Jack Carter. I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen.” The principal, of course, knew who I was. I always ranked first in every exam and was the most promising candidate for Harvard among the teachers. Hearing this, the principal’s eyes bulged instantly, spittle flying as he spoke. “This beast…” The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he quickly swallowed them back. The Education Bureau leaders were still beside him, so he couldn’t speak too harshly. The commotion inside was still ongoing, getting more and more intense. Mike covered his face and fake cried, looking pained: “Jack, how could you do such a thing! I understand you have a sex addiction, but you can’t…” With these words, the expressions of those around became even more unsightly. The leaders looked at each other, sighing deeply. At this moment, I walked out from behind the crowd, looking bewildered: “Me? What about me?” “Jack Carter, why are you here!” Mike jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his whole body tensing up. The principal looked at me thoughtfully. “It’s not you? Then who’s inside?” “I don’t know, I didn’t see,” I shrugged, looking innocent. Of course, I wouldn’t expose anything at this point. It was also at this time that the internet celebrities who had received my message sneaked in through the school fence. “Oh my, I thought it was fake, but I didn’t expect such a juicy scandal to really be happening at a school.” “You’re teachers, right? Won’t you let our livestream audience have a look?” “Come on, tell us teachers, how did the students make such a big commotion? Is there an aphrodisiac in the school’s tap water?” I chuckled to myself. There really was an aphrodisiac, wasn’t there? The principal’s face turned black as the bottom of a pot, turning away in anger. Mike stared at me intently. The next second, he rushed over and grabbed my arm, lowering his voice to question me. “Why didn’t you go in?” “Ah? I didn’t dare. It was too inappropriate in there. I’m a good student, you know.” Hearing this, Mike raised his fist, about to strike. But at that moment, the livestreamers’ cameras turned towards us. Mike had to forcefully retract his hand, his eyes full of venom. The streamers happily waved their equipment around, filming everywhere. The livestream comments were flying. [Bros, this is too exciting.] [Just from the sound, you can tell how shameless those dogs inside are.] [Streamer, hurry up and go in to film! We bros have our pants ready to drop.] The streamer seemed tempted but ultimately said reluctantly, “That wouldn’t be right. If I go in, my stream would be shut down immediately.” The Education Bureau leaders looked embarrassed at this scene. One of them cleared his throat and instructed the principal. “Davis, we can’t just keep standing here like this. Go in and take a look.” The principal nodded grimly, his face ashen, rolling up his sleeves to charge in. Just as he took a step, I rushed forward to stop him. “Principal, don’t go in. The students inside… their identities are special. If this blows up, it won’t be good for anyone.” My words were full of hidden meaning. The livestreamers caught on immediately. “Oh ho, could it be the child of some school leader? That’s some real power there.” Those leaders became even angrier, with one or two already storming off. The principal, provoked by me like this, couldn’t back down. He angrily pushed me aside, “Get out of the way. No matter who’s inside, I’m going to deal with this.” Mike seized the opportunity to chime in. “Jack, stop interfering. Don’t tell me you knew about this all along?” He was trying to drag me down with them. I didn’t rush to defend myself. “Class monitor, I just feel it’s a pity. We’re all classmates. If this gets out, their lives will be ruined…” The comments in the livestream started to change direction. [This student seems so kind-hearted.] [Hey, don’t stop him. Classmates like that don’t need anyone covering for them.] [Don’t you guys think that class monitor seems a bit off? Like he’s trying to stir things up?] The Education Bureau leaders exchanged glances, all sighing. In front of the cameras, forcibly barging in was indeed inappropriate. What if the people inside really thought about doing something stupid because the incident blew up? No one could bear that responsibility. Our group just stood there awkwardly, not too far from the bathroom. The sounds from inside still hadn’t stopped, intermittently coming through. The streamers tried to get closer to film but were stopped. This “catching in the act” scene lasted for nearly two hours. Until finally, the bathroom door creaked open. The first to walk out was a burly man dressed like a construction worker. Seeing so many people, the worker was stunned for a moment. Then he spat and said, “What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen someone use the bathroom before?” The principal and other leaders, seeing it was someone from outside the school, relaxed a bit. As long as it wasn’t students, the situation could still be salvaged. But the next second, someone exclaimed in shock: “Holy crap, there’s a huge bed inside!” Everyone rushed over. The scene in the camera lens left everyone dumbfounded. Tyler and Rachel were naked, entangled with each other, with suspicious liquids all over their bodies. Next to them stood several men who were putting on work clothes. I recognized a few of them as workers from the school’s construction site. “This woman looks innocent, but damn, she’s wild.” “That chick really knows how to please. She satisfied all of us.” The workers calmly put on their clothes and nonchalantly passed through the crowd, leaving with long strides. Rachel, however, seemed to have lost her mind, still mumbling: “More, I want more…” The drug’s effect was really much stronger than in my previous life. The streamers squeezed their heads in, clicking their tongues: “Now that’s some real action, a group activity.” Tyler was startled by the commotion. He hurriedly pushed Rachel away, covering his face while putting on his clothes. The principal’s face could no longer be described as just “ferocious.” His whole body was shaking as he pointed at the people on the ground, gasping for air, “You two beasts, you’re absolutely disgraceful!” The principal didn’t even consider that it might be his own son. Tyler was terrified, desperately trying to put on his clothes. Rachel was still in a daze, moving closer to Tyler, panting. “Tyler…” Tyler, as if disgusted by her, kicked Rachel away. The eyes that were usually full of doting were now filled with revulsion. I stood among the crowd, timely showing an expression of shock and heartache. The principal started cursing at them, his words becoming increasingly crude. Tyler curled up in a corner, tightly covering his face with his clothes. Rachel was still not in her right mind. Mike stood to the side, observing me with a complex expression. He couldn’t understand how things had turned out like this. The Education Bureau leaders’ faces were red, sighing and muttering a few words to the principal before leaving. As soon as they left, the principal completely lost control. He rushed forward and started kicking Rachel and Tyler violently. “You shameless dogs, I’ll beat you to death!” Tyler screamed and dodged. Afraid of being recognized, he didn’t even dare to make a sound. Rachel, still under the influence of the drug, lay on the ground moaning in pain.

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When I was bullied and pushed off the school rooftop, Julian, the fox-beastman I had adopted, was kneeling before my tormentor, Valerie Blackwood, devoutly kissing her hand: “Valerie, please, let me come back to you, okay?” But back then, it was *me* who’d risked half my life, fighting tooth and nail, to rescue a half-dead Julian from Valerie’s cruel beast-fighting arena. That was the moment I finally understood: Julian had always been deeply in love with Valerie. He hated my so-called rescue, hated me for taking him away from her side. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day we first met. Julian was curled in a corner, bruised, battered, and barely clinging to life. I smiled, clapped my hands, and pointed at the snarling little wolf that had injured him so badly. “What a fierce little pup. I want him.” Memories from just a few minutes ago were still replaying in my mind. Valerie, with a pack of beast-men, cornered me on the rooftop, beating me until my head bled. Just as I gritted my teeth, pulling out the small knife hidden at my lower back to stab her, Julian appeared. But not to save me. He shifted into his beast form, leaping swiftly, snatching the knife from my hand. He tackled me, throwing me off balance. My foot slipped, and I tumbled backward. In that instant, I watched him carefully help a startled Valerie to her feet. He knelt on the ground, bowing his head to devoutly kiss her hand. “Valerie, you are my only true master. “I’ve grown strong enough now, strong enough to protect you. “Please, let me return to your side, okay?” Turns out, the fox I’d nurtured for five years had never once acknowledged me as his owner. Every day I cared for him, he was just biding his time, waiting for a chance to bite through my throat and return to Valerie’s side. Hatred burned away my reason. I closed my eyes as I fell. The sudden, dizzying sense of freefall swallowed me whole.

When I opened my eyes again, the sky was bright, and the arena roared with thunderous applause and shouts. I froze for a moment, then my gaze landed on the blood-soaked fox in the fighting ring. That was Julian’s beast form. He was losing ground rapidly under the relentless, vicious attacks of the wolf-beast opposite him, whimpering lowly in the corner, too terrified to move. It hit me then— I had been reborn, back to the year I first met Julian. Valerie Blackwood was naturally spoiled and cruel, finding pleasure in tormenting beast-men. This arena was her personal playground, but for the beast-men, it was hell on earth. Only the victors earned the right to live. But even then, their fate was merely to be bought by spectators and kept as playthings. In my previous life, Julian’s helpless, pathetic form in the corner had moved me. I had offered to buy him. But Valerie refused to let him go. She’d said: “The law of the jungle is the truth of this world. If he loses, he deserves to die. Ms. Sterling, don’t spoil the rules of my arena.” But I was stubbornly set on Julian. I risked life and limb, fighting my way out of the arena with him. Once free, I scoured the lands for rare herbs and potent elixirs to heal and strengthen Julian. Everything I owned, I shared with him, never once discriminating against him for being a beast-man. What a joke. All that heartfelt effort? Just me deluding myself. From the very beginning, Julian’s heart belonged to Valerie, even though she never gave him a second thought. He was pathologically, madly obsessed with her, willing to abandon a life of luxury just to grovel at her feet. Living this life again, I finally realized— Some creatures are just born rotten to the core.

The wolf-beast on the platform slowly closed in on Julian. The applause was deafening, almost tearing the roof off the arena. Everyone was eagerly anticipating the moment Julian’s throat would be ripped out, his last breath choked. Especially Valerie. Her eyes practically glowed with anticipation. But how could I let Julian die so easily? This time, I wanted Julian to get what he truly wished for: to stay with Valerie, to be tormented to death by his darling mistress. The next second, I smiled and clapped, pointing to the small wolf on the platform. “What a fierce little pup. I want him. “Ms. Blackwood, you wouldn’t mind parting with him, would you?” Valerie was clearly annoyed she didn’t get to see Julian die on the platform. But she still forced a smile at me. “Of course. Ms. Sterling, please, help yourself.” The wolf-beast was led off the stage, cleaned, and then brought back to me. Julian, however, was immediately forced into his next fight. When another wolf-beast was brought onto the platform, Julian visibly started to break down. I leisurely sipped my drink, savoring Julian’s panicked expression. This wolf-beast was clearly not as strong as the last, and Julian managed to hold his own, fighting back and forth. His old wounds tore open again, bleeding profusely. He whimpered and cried, but it only made the audience even more excited. To maximize their attacking power, beast-men usually shift into their animal forms during fights. But just as the wolf-beast clamped its jaws around his neck, Julian suddenly shifted into his human form. A handsome, fair face emerged. Julian, eyes hazy with tears, looked desperate and broken, reaching out to Valerie. “Valerie, save me.”

People turned to look at Valerie. Her face was grim. She raised her hand and slammed her teacup to the ground. “How are my staff teaching these beast-men?! “This low-level creature dares to call me by my name?” Seeing Valerie angered, some onlookers got other ideas. “If Ms. Blackwood doesn’t want him, why not sell this fox to me?” “No wonder they call him a fox; he’s got that charming, manipulative look. I like it too.” A few fleshy-faced older men exchanged knowing glances. But Valerie’s face was cold as she enunciated each word: “The law of the jungle. The loser dies. Don’t any of you dare break the rules.” Julian, pinned to the ground on the platform, his neck bleeding, was moments from death. The next second, he somehow produced a small dagger and stabbed the wolf-beast on top of him. The wolf-beast struggled weakly a few times, then went still. Julian had turned the tables at the last moment. This was a scene I’d never witnessed in my previous life. The arena fell silent. Everyone stared, stunned, at the platform. No beast-man had ever managed to evade a search and bring a weapon into the ring. But precisely because of that, there were no explicit rules against it. Julian scrambled to his feet, ignoring the blood on his face, and grinned brilliantly at Valerie. “Valerie, I won. I…” Valerie coldly cut him off: “Who was it just now who wanted this fox? “Let the bidding begin.” Julian’s face went utterly white.

Julian did indeed have a beautiful face. The auction price climbed higher and higher. I boredomly set down my drink. The wolf-beast I’d bought earlier, his wounds bandaged, was brought to my side. Only then did I notice that his human form was just as striking as Julian’s. His deep-set features held a primal intensity, and a few shallow scars still marked his face. His glowing emerald eyes had been fixed on me for a while, yet his grey wolf ears were softly drooped. Both docile and wild. For some reason, I felt like I’d seen those untamed eyes before. I took a sip of tea and asked, “What’s your name?” “Caleb.” “Have… have we met before?” His vertical pupils brightened. Caleb was about to speak when suddenly, gasps rippled through the entire arena. Julian, who knows where he found the strength, had broken free from the guards. Under the collective gaze of the crowd, he lunged towards Valerie. Before Valerie could react, he dropped to his knees without hesitation. He took her hand, kissing it with a trembling, controlled tenderness, his voice full of sorrow. “Valerie, I promise I’ll become the strongest beast-man. “I’m willing to be the sharpest blade in your hand. Please, keep me, okay?” *Slap!* A crisp, resounding slap echoed through the entire arena. Julian’s proudly beautiful face was whipped to the side, rapidly swelling red. Valerie disgustedly wiped the back of her hand, as if she’d touched something foul. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Such pathetic groveling is truly disgusting.”

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A new accord had been struck between Humans and Beastkin. To ensure the harmonious development of both races, every adult female was required to visit the Supervisory Agency and randomly draw a lot to foster a Beastkin partner. After two years, if no bond had been formed, the Beastkin would be allowed to re-integrate into society. In my last life, my best friend was assigned to a Bear-kin who was addicted to abuse, and he ended up beating her to death. As for me, I was assigned to a chillingly possessive and manipulative Serpent-kin, a true master of psychological abuse. He imprisoned me until I lost my mind, and I finally jumped from a tall building. Reborn, I stared at the number card clutched in my hand. Willow and I exchanged a look. We swapped. No hesitation. This time, it was our turn to strike back. 0 When I leaped from the building, I heard a furious, unwilling roar from above: “How dare you! You worthless piece of trash! Only I love you in this world! How dare you die!” I closed my eyes, exhausted, but the pain I expected never came. When I opened them again, I froze. I was back two years ago, at the Supervisory Agency, just as I was about to take that damn Serpent-kin, Seraph, home. It was the beginning of all my tragedies. While I was still reeling, a familiar figure caught my eye. It was Willow, my best friend, who had been beaten to death by Brock. We looked at each other, and the shock in each other’s eyes was undeniable. In a few short seconds of eye contact, we confirmed it: We had both been reborn. In our previous lives, she took home the seemingly honest and harmless Bear-kin, Brock. Who would have thought he was addicted to abuse? In just two short years, he brutalized Willow until she was unrecognizable. In the end, they didn’t even find a full body. And I, I didn’t even get to see her one last time. Seraph had me imprisoned, forbidding me from leaving the house. I fought back frantically, but it was useless. Later, I never imagined he’d drug me while I slept. When I woke up, he had already severed the tendons in my hands and feet. My innate, formidable strength, a power that surprisingly surpassed even that of most Beastkin males, completely vanished from my body. He also cut off all my contact with the outside world, brainwashing me, telling me that the only one who truly loved me in this world was him. I had almost resigned myself to my fate, even considering living out the rest of my humiliated life. But when the news of Willow’s death reached me, I finally despaired completely. With a dining knife, I slowly, agonizingly, severed my own palm, tearing free from the iron restraints that had bound me for years. Amid Seraph’s furious screams, I leaped from the building. I never thought we’d get a second chance. So this time, when the staff asked us to draw our number cards, I quickly walked over to Willow. In her stunned gaze, I swapped cards with her. Then I walked directly towards Brock. Willow’s eyes instantly reddened, and she wanted to say something but ultimately said nothing. Her gaze hardened as she rubbed her eyes, then lifted her head high and walked towards Seraph. I looked at the Beastkin before me, smiling foolishly. Who would have thought such a cruel side lay hidden beneath that harmless facade? Willow and I exchanged a glance, then signed the contracts. From today on, I was Brock’s foster parent. Unless both of us determined we hadn’t formed a bond after two years, we couldn’t separate for any reason. In the last life, this rule had bound Willow and me for two agonizing years. This time, it was their turn to experience that hell – caught between a rock and a hard place, unable to live or die. I brought Brock home. A few peaceful days passed. He was attentive to me in every way, yet secretly gathered all sorts of information about me. When he learned that my parents had passed away years ago and I only had a few friends, he finally revealed his vicious claws. I returned home from work that evening. The moment I stepped through the door, I was hit with a terrible stench of smoke and alcohol. Looking around, Brock was sprawled on my brand-new leather sofa, puffing away, with numerous empty bottles scattered beside him. Seeing me, he flashed a provocative smirk. Then, he pressed his cigarette out on the sofa. My veins instantly throbbed. I walked towards him. “Did you forget the rules? No smoking or drinking inside. If you want to drink, do it outside.” He scoffed, raising his hand to slap me. “I gave you a few good days, and you really think you’re the boss now, huh? What the hell are these stupid rules! *I’m* the rule!” But in the next second, I clamped down on his large hand. In his slightly sobered eyes, I squeezed hard. *Crunch.* A sickening bone-grinding sound came from his palm. Then, a crisp *snap*, followed by his scream. He swore a mouthful of curses, panting, and lunged at me. But I kicked him over. He couldn’t handle my strength. I was born with colossal power. Though not a Beastkin, my strength surpassed even most males. Brock immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, collapsing weakly to the floor. I watched him with a hint of mockery. Suddenly, I remembered the first time he got violent with Willow in our past life. One slap had knocked Willow unconscious. One kick had broken four of her ribs. She’d been in the hospital for over ten hours of emergency surgery, barely clinging to life. I wanted to teach him a lesson back then, but he just knelt before Willow, slapping himself and crying. In the end, Willow softened, letting him off the hook. But I never imagined that small mercy would lead to me losing my only friend. My foot moved back and forth, grinding on his injured spot. His sounds went from enraged curses to faint pleas. Only when he was barely clinging to life did I lift my foot. Unhurriedly, I blew on my slightly reddened palm. “Stop whimpering. I let you live, didn’t I? If you keep running your mouth, I’ll end you.” I raised an eyebrow at him. “After all, you’re *my* foster Beastkin now. Whatever I do to you is exempt from punishment.” He instantly trembled, his eyes clearing considerably. I sneered. In our past life, this idiot repeatedly escaped punishment by claiming he was drunk, didn’t know his own strength, or that it was just an accident. So, I was always confused. Did being drunk really give him free rein to attack anyone? Why didn’t he go bother the burly Elephant-kin or Lion-kin on the street when he was drunk? Why did he only dare to lay hands on weak, ordinary humans like Willow? Now I knew. He was just a pathetic fraud who hadn’t been properly disciplined. Just like now, he’d been drinking, but why didn’t he dare fight me? Why was he just whimpering on the floor, not daring to utter a single word? I scoffed, kicking his backside hard again. “Get up. I’m going shopping. You’d better have the house spotless by the time I get back, or else…” I gave him a fleeting, icy glance, which made him shiver. The entire Beastkin hunched into a trembling ball. I grabbed my bag and left, heading straight for Willow’s place. Leaving her alone with that sinister brute made me uneasy. Our homes weren’t far apart, and I soon arrived at her door. But before I could even go inside, I heard arguing from within:

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My cat started talking after she was spayed. “I’m going to kill you!” I thought I’d misheard. Until she lunged at me and said it again. “I’m going to kill you!” My hair stood on end. I immediately called for Liam, my boyfriend. Liam said I was just imagining things because I was so worried about her. He told me to stop overthinking and locked her in her carrier. But late that night, she spoke again: *I’m going to kill you!* I jolted upright, opening my eyes to find her perched on my chest, glaring at me with pure malice. I shot up in bed, and she swiped at my neck. Liam snatched her up, threatening to throw her down the stairs. I quickly stopped him; I mean, I’d had her for two years! Besides, it was just post-op stress, we couldn’t blame her entirely. Only then did Liam put her back in the carrier. He then tied the carrier securely, front and back, with rope before finally relaxing.

But I couldn’t sleep anymore. I ended up scrolling through TikTok to lull myself to sleep. I stumbled upon a paranormal streamer named Rook, who was talking about why pets suddenly start acting weird. I quickly messaged him about my cat talking. The viewers in the chat exploded, saying it was impossible. Some even accused me of trying to get clout in the middle of the night, since my account was full of just cute cat videos. But Rook’s brow furrowed. He asked if I’d recorded anything. I quickly sent him the footage from my home security camera. Rook’s face went white after just one glance. He immediately ended his live stream and sent me a private message. “She’s not saying she wants to kill you, she’s telling you to run!”

My scalp tingled with dread. But I distinctly heard “I’m going to kill you,” didn’t I? Rook said cat-speak isn’t about phonetic similarities; it has its own distinct meaning. “But why would she tell me to run?” “Because someone in your family wants to kill you!” I wanted to curse. It’s just Liam and I living here. He loves me more than anything; how could he possibly want to kill me? I was already stressed enough; encountering some internet charlatan in the dead of night was just infuriating. I quickly shot back: “Your whole family wants to kill you, how about you go die instead?” Then I locked my phone and got ready to sleep. But Rook sent another message. “Is your cat named Grumble?”

My heart slammed. Two years ago, I found a tiny black kitten in the park near our apartment complex. I only meant to feed her and leave, but she followed me all the way to my door. I was completely won over and adopted her. The kitten would let out little “grr-ows” when she was hungry. Liam said, “Doesn’t she sound like she’s saying ‘Grumble’?” So, we named her Grumble. But how could this streamer, whom I’d never met, know such an unusual name? I thought for a moment, then shot back: “Is that against the law?” Rook then asked: “Did you move because of Grumble?” I jolted again. About six months after Grumble came to live with us, she started standing by the front door in the middle of the night, letting out those eerie “grr-ows.” I initially thought she was in heat and bought her lots of toys. But not long after, a female streamer across the hall suddenly died of cancer. I’d heard before that cats can see things we can’t. Had Grumble seen something? Liam tried to calm me, telling me not to overthink things. “Who still believes in old superstitions these days?” he scoffed. But not long after that, a young professional who had just moved in also suddenly dropped dead from a heart attack. I started to get scared, convinced this building felt… cursed. Liam also thought something was off. So, we decided to move. When we looked at new places, we’d bring Grumble. If she let out even one of those “grr-ows,” no matter how cheap the rent, we’d pass on the place. It took us over a month of searching before we finally settled on our current place. But how did he know all of this too? I directly questioned him: “Who are you, really?” Rook told me not to rush, saying he had just one last question. “Did your boyfriend make you get your cat spayed?” Grumble had been in heat, and her nocturnal serenades were driving us crazy. Liam was under a lot of stress from work. He’d nagged me for ages until I finally agreed. Rook sighed, then said, **”You need to run! I’m certain now; your boyfriend is trying to kill you!”**

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I woke up as a lioness, with three little cubs already nestled in my belly. To raise my kids, I hid the fact that I was married and a mom, then joined a pride. The pride was migrating, and I was utterly exhausted, rushing through the night, clutching my cubs in my jaws. I clung to the group like a lifeline, terrified of falling behind. The Lion King looked like he had something to say, then finally blurted, “You’re moving so fast, aren’t you afraid of losing your cubs?” I prayed the cubs wouldn’t be born too soon. At least not during the dry season. But fate had other plans. I gave birth on the scorching sand, under a blazing sun. Three fluffy little cubs crawled around. All I could see was dry, yellow earth. It hadn’t rained for five months. “Mom, brother scratched me!” “I didn’t scratch her! I just touched her. The rock was hot on my paw, so I shifted.” My cubs bickering was a common occurrence. I lay on the ground, my paws acting as cushions. “Mommy, there’s a mommy over there too.” What was this kid talking about? I followed his gaze and saw a musk ox leading her calf across the plains. “Oh my god, such a big ox! Run, kids!” I shot up instantly, snatched the smallest cub in my jaws, and bolted. I huffed and puffed, charging forward, my cubs struggling to keep up. The more I thought about it, the more something felt off. I slowly started to slow down. I smacked myself on the head. I’m a lion now! I should be hunting that musk ox! By the time I regretted it and looked back, the musk ox mom had already led her calf to safety.

My head was spinning from hunger. My cubs were also wobbly on their feet, lacking milk. The vast, scorching grassland stretched endlessly under the blazing sun. A sudden wave of dread washed over me. If we continued to starve, it would only take one day and night for this land to claim us. I had no choice but to learn to hunt like the lions I’d seen in animal documentaries. I gritted my teeth, enduring the hunger, and trekked dozens of miles. Finally, I caught two voles. They were barely a snack, but at least I had milk now. I rushed back without stopping, eager to feed my cubs, but then I saw three fluffy heads peeking out from behind a dune. “Mommy, look! So many lions.” Kai, the second cub, looked envious. “If we follow them, we’ll definitely get enough to eat.” “Don’t say that!” Finn, the eldest, gave him a small swat with his paw. “We won’t starve with Mom, either.” *Rumble…* Finn’s little belly inconveniently growled. I stood on the dune, gazing into the distance. Across the wide plains, a massive pride was slowly moving. Behind them, the boundless land stretched, and an orange sunset hung in the distant sky. I knew deep down that my cubs had no chance of survival with just me. I clenched my paw and slammed it against the ground. I’m going all in!

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After our werewolf father passed away, my mother couldn’t afford to raise my sister and me alone. She made us choose. “Human or wolf?” In my last life, my younger sister, Chloe, chose to be a wolf. She later died miserably, bullied and brutalized by the pack in a wildlife park. I, on the other hand, stayed with our mother, blending into human society. I briefly tasted luxury, only to die later from rabies, a cruel fate dealt by her own bite during one of my visits. Reborn. Now, Chloe glared at me, her eyes spitting venom, and snatched the first slip. “I want to be human!” I watched her, my gaze dropping, my entire body trembling with a strange relief. My dear sister, the cost of being human is far, far greater than anything a wolf faces. My mother held two slips of paper in her hand, one long, one short. She said whoever drew the long one would be human, and the short one, a wolf. In my last life, I was the older sister; I reached out first. The moment I clutched that slip, a mix of desperate hope and gnawing guilt seeped through my fingertips. —I drew the long one. I became human. This time, Chloe shoved me aside, rushing forward, her voice thick with unconcealed eagerness. “Mom, I’m first!” My mother hesitated, glancing at me. “Maybe… let your sister go first?” My eyelashes fluttered, and that dull ache in my heart resurfaced. She always played favorites with Chloe, knowing what it truly meant to be human. Besides, the cruel truth was, both slips were identical – both long. It was always about who chose first, who would be “human.” Before I could even respond, Chloe had already lunged, her fingers clamping tightly around one slip. She yanked it out with a triumphant cry! The next moment, she burst into my room, overturning all the dresses and jewelry my mother had prepared for me, scattering them everywhere. Amidst the crashing sounds, she proudly declared, “These are all mine now!” I watched her in silence. My ears felt hot, and I composed myself, making the subtle throb in my ear cartilage subside. The closer we got to the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, the more my beastly nature, my wolf form, stirred within me. Either completely excise that wildness and live as human. Or surrender to instinct and become a wolf. This was a tradition of our wolf clan. Chloe glided past me, a sneer twisting her lips. “Sister, you look just like a stray dog right now.” “Don’t look at me like that. You’ll have to rely on me to support you from now on. Without me – even if you roll over and beg in the pack, you’ll never eat your fill. Those animals, they have no feelings, tsk.” It was also a wolf clan tradition: the one who chose to be human would enjoy life, but also bear the responsibility of supporting the entire family.

Chloe’s hatred for me had taken root in our previous lives. Back then, when she was sent to the wildlife park, she couldn’t adapt to life there at all. There was no sweet chocolate, no cold ice cream. In that isolated place, food had to be hunted personally. Though we paid caretakers to look after her regularly, it was still a world away from her former life of ease and luxury. I felt so bad for Chloe back then. Every time Mom allowed me to visit, I tried my best to bring her the finest food. But she wouldn’t even look at it. Her ears would flatten, her nose wrinkle, and she’d glare fiercely at my dresses, my long gloves. Her eyes screamed disgust at my pretense. But she didn’t know that those long gloves and dresses concealed injuries. Every time I’d been there for barely ten minutes, Mom’s call would inevitably come through. “Time’s up, darling. The smell in there will ruin your perfume. Our new clients won’t appreciate that scent. Come out.” Each time Chloe saw me about to leave, she’d bare her teeth, whimpering and snarling. I could only softly comfort her, “Just a little longer, bear with me. After some time, I’ll take you with me.” My only reply was her wolf howl and a rigidly drooping tail. Until I visited her after a surgery. She saw the injuries on my hand and my weakened state. Suddenly, she became remarkably docile. She slowly brought her head closer, resting it in my palm. My heart softened, aching with both tenderness and sorrow. “Being human is truly agonizing.” She lowered her head, licking the bruised wounds on my arm. Then she abruptly looked up and bit me, hard. Immediately after, another scrawny wolf rushed out from the shadows. I was torn, dragged, and injured by them. Later, I contracted rabies. The fear of people grew, along with a new terror of light and water. I died a month later, in the spring. The look in Chloe’s eyes now was exactly the same as when she bit me then. I was absolutely certain: she had been reborn too. Now, she wanted my life. But my dear sister, I knew everything about your past. Are you truly sure you want to step into my life this time?

After the choice was made, my mother barely paid any attention to me. Now, her eyes were solely on Chloe. She poured all her remaining money and resources into Chloe. The ten servants and the butler in the villa were all replaced according to Chloe’s preferences. Her diet, décor, clothes, entertainment, and even her education were custom-designed by the most exclusive professionals, ensuring everything pleased her. To ensure her skin was perfect during shedding, she wasn’t allowed to hold anything heavier than a single towel. I looked at her seemingly familiar class schedule and couldn’t help but suggest, “Actually, you could add more physical training or self-defense classes.” Chloe scoffed, her eyes full of disdain. “Me? Need those? You’re the one who needs them, aren’t you?” She glanced at the simple vegetables on my plate, a mocking smile playing on her lips. “In such a hurry to eat that?” She dragged out her words. “You’ll have plenty of time to eat these later. If I were you, I’d be thinking about how to deal with those disgusting animals in the wolf pack.” She was talking about the one-eyed Alpha wolf and those several wolf pups. I knew, of course, but I wasn’t worried. In my last life, I had told Chloe about the weaknesses of each of those wolves, urging her to pull herself together, to be brave, to carve out her own place in the wolf clan. But she just thought I was making fun of her. In the end, she refused to grow strong on her own. She only chose a low-ranking wolf that was utterly subservient to her. Then, for harming a young cub in the pack, she was driven out.

Right now, Chloe had her feet propped up, lounging in the sofa, leisurely flipping through a magazine. The male models and pretty boys on the glossy pages were all as exquisite as display figures in a shop window. She smirked casually, her finger tracing across page after page. “This one, this one, and this one… they all look pretty good, no worse than that popular guy, or your class president, whatever… too bad—” She looked up at me, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction. “My dear sister, you won’t have that chance, will you?” I said nothing. My agonizing experiences from the previous life had already instilled in me a bottomless fear of most people. A beautiful exterior didn’t necessarily hide a human. And beneath those rough, heavy exteriors, lay something even more terrifying. My fingertips unconsciously curled, and I even instinctively touched my neck – it should have had a collar there, but now it was empty. Chloe scoffed again. “Make sure you clean up your room properly. I’m a germaphobe, I hate shedding things.” “What about shedding men?” Chloe rolled her eyes. “Heh. Mom said she’d choose the most excellent partner for me. In the future, I’ll live the life of luxury that should rightfully be mine.” She didn’t even look up, opening her mouth, and an attentive deaf servant promptly delivered a small piece of fruit to her lips. A single such aide, with an average monthly salary of eight thousand, and there were ten of them, plus the butler. Monthly property management, pool and garden maintenance, utilities, meal expenses. Car fuel, maintenance, and facility upkeep. This money was a huge expense, and none of it would just fall from the sky. This money had to be earned by the one who chose to be human.

Meanwhile, I suddenly noticed that a small structure was still being built at the very back of the villa’s garden. From the foundation, it looked sealed off and narrow, and the spare materials were steel pipes for a cage. I cautiously asked my mother. “Mom, the Coming-of-Age Ceremony is soon, should we go see the Safari Park ahead of time?” This was a tradition of our wolf clan. My mother quickly closed the book in her hand, placing it behind her back, and looked up with a radiant smile. “Why go there? The adoption fees are so expensive. You’ll stay home, free and safe. We can look after you anytime.” My heart turned cold. In the last life, for Chloe, she had gone to great lengths to choose the best ecological wildlife park, ensuring Chloe lived without a care. This time, she intended to trap me in that narrow, dark room. Just then, Chloe urged from behind that she would be late for school. Mom immediately rose to greet her. A business card fluttered from the book. She quickly snatched it up. But I, with my heightened senses, sharply caught a glimpse of the title on it.

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My Mom’s Secret Sugar Baby An hour before my college entrance exam, I stumbled upon my mom’s secret dating Ins account: “Sending my little boyfriend off for his final exams feels so new~~” “Dropped off my boyfriend, now my son. Being a woman is tough, isn’t it?” “Attached: A handsome photo of my boyfriend.” I watched Mom rush toward me, wearing a stunning dress, and my eyes locked on the half-face of my scholarship student roommate in the Ins photo. In that instant, my entire world shattered. “Don’t be nervous. Just relax once you get into the exam hall. If it doesn’t work out, we can always go study abroad. I’ll even sponsor Jason to go with you, so you two can look out for each other.” If I hadn’t seen Mom’s secret dating account, I would have been so touched by her thoughtful generosity. But now, I felt waves of nausea. Jason wasn’t just anyone; he was my scholarship student roommate – the other main character on my mom’s secret dating account. Seeing my troubled expression, Mom looked at me with concern. “What’s wrong? Still feeling stressed?” Dad stood a short distance away, his face etched with worry too. Dad was always busy with work, rarely taking a day off to provide for our family. It was truly rare for him to take time off just to personally send me to my exams. I almost blurted out everything I’d just seen, ready to confront Mom right there and then. But my mouth opened and closed, and still, no words came out. With the exams so close, exposing everything now and causing a scene would not only disrupt a major life event. All the family’s finances were currently in Mom’s hands. If I ripped off the band-aid, Dad and I might even end up on the streets. I forced out a strained smile. “Nothing, just a bit nervous. I’ll head into the exam hall now.” “Alright, son, go get ’em! I believe in you!” I suppressed the shock and disgust churning inside me, walking into the exam hall without looking back. Facing the stacks of test papers, I fought back the chaotic emotions, forcing myself to calm down and answer carefully. For two days straight, I managed to act as if nothing had happened in front of Mom and Dad. After the exams finished, my parents suggested we go out for a celebratory meal. I had survived the college entrance exams and was moving on to a new stage in life. But what I didn’t expect was for Mom to think of her little boyfriend again at that moment. “It’s just the three of us, that’s too quiet. Caleb, why don’t you invite your roommate along?” “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Dad said, a little hesitant. “They probably have their own celebrations. How would it look to invite them?” “Well, what if we just invite Jason then? His family is from a rural area far away and can’t come to be with him. It would be really sad to leave him all alone in the dorm.”

Jason, who was supposedly “all alone in the dorm and quite pitiful,” showed up in the restaurant’s private dining room five minutes after Mom suggested inviting my roommate. It was then I realized they had planned this all along. Watching Dad gleefully order all of Mom’s favorite dishes from the menu, then happily push the menu towards us, my heart ached even more. All these years, he had wronged no one. I still remembered when I was little, he was afraid Mom would be scared alone at home in the dark, so he’d commute for hours every day just to come home and sleep beside her. He was afraid Mom would get too tired looking after me at home, so he’d always take me to his office to watch me, saying Mom deserved to have her own life. For the first eighteen years of my life, I truly believed my parents were the best in the world—a loving couple, a perfect family. But reality slapped me hard across the face. I started wondering, when exactly did Mom and Jason get together? Was it when Mom constantly worried I wasn’t eating well at school and brought me lunch? Or was it that month, a year when our dorm was being renovated, and the fumes were too strong to live in, so I enthusiastically brought Jason home to stay with us? No matter what, it was my fault. I gave Jason the opportunity to destroy my family. I still remembered a conversation we once had in our dorm. Jason’s eyes glowed with an intense heat. “What’s the point of studying in this day and age? Why not just sleep with a rich woman and get everything you want?” At the time, I just thought that his impoverished background made his views overly extreme. But I never imagined that one day, his predatory claws would reach directly into my home. Right in front of my dad, Jason and my mom started exchanging glances and flirting. “Your makeup today is just stunning, Auntie Victoria. If I didn’t know you were Caleb’s mom, I’d think you were his middle school sister!” Mom’s face immediately bloomed into a radiant smile. “Oh, you smooth talker! How old do you think I am? How could I possibly look like a middle schooler?” “I’m telling the truth! Don’t you believe me? Ask Caleb! Caleb, tell us, doesn’t your mom look like a middle schooler?” I chuckled. “Jason, are you just practicing your lines on my mom now?” “Practicing? What are you talking about?” Dad asked curiously. “You guys don’t know, Jason used to tell us his dream was to sweet-talk a bunch of rich women, make them spend money on him, and just live a happy life being a kept man. So, he’s gotta practice those sweet-talk lines, right?”

Mom, who had been smiling so brightly, instantly lost all cheer. Jason’s face turned awkward. “You… what are you talking about? I just said that casually, you’re not taking it seriously, are you?” I looked innocent. “Casually? No way. You said it more than once. You said your life’s goal was to manipulate naive rich women, making them think you truly loved them, when in reality, it was just for their money.” Jason’s face turned pale. He nervously glanced at Mom’s expression. “That’s all nonsense, all nonsense! Don’t take it seriously! Why isn’t the food here yet? I’ll go check on it!” He didn’t return to the private room until Dad looked at me with a complicated expression. “What’s up with your roommate? His values are messed up. Stay away from people like that in the future.” I said, pointedly, “He and I are just roommates. We won’t have much to do with each other after this. It’s those rich women he’s deceiving who are truly pitiful.” Dad scoffed. “I can’t control others, but you’re my son. I can control you. Stay far away from people like that from now on.” I looked up at Mom. “Mom, you’re a real rich woman. Why don’t you offer your opinion?” Mom flinched. “Opinion? Oh, opinion. I don’t have an opinion. Maybe he’s just a kid, talking nonsense.” Dad frowned, about to say something else. But at that moment, Jason pushed the door open and returned to the private room. “There’s a small jewelry vendor outside. Auntie Victoria, do you need anything? I can go with you to take a look.” I sneered, “Why would you go with her? My dad’s right here. Let my dad go.” Jason looked annoyed. “I just thought Uncle David might be bored.” “You don’t feel bored accompanying someone else’s wife, but my dad would be bored accompanying his own wife?” Mom couldn’t listen anymore. “Alright, Caleb, watch your tone! I’m not in the mood for jewelry. Let’s just eat, let’s just eat.”

After dinner, we all walked out of the private room. Dad went to pay the bill. The moment I turned my head, I realized Jason and my mom had disappeared. Dad came directly up to me after paying. “Let’s go first. Your mom said your roommate looked pitiful and wanted to take him to buy some clothes.” I looked at Dad in disbelief. “And you agreed to that?” Dad looked bewildered. “What’s wrong with buying a few clothes? You don’t think your mom and that young classmate of yours would have anything going on, do you? No way. Your mom and I have such a strong bond. She would never betray me.” Seeing Dad’s confident expression, I found it even harder to reveal the cruel truth. I even hoped Mom and Jason would just end things then and there. My parents could go back to living their lives happily at home, and this whole thing could be forgotten. But I was disappointed. Not long after, Mom’s secret dating account updated. “How could life be the same with anyone? It was only when I met you that I felt my heart truly stir. Only when I met you did I know what love was.” The attached picture showed her and Jason sweetly embracing and kissing, each holding a bubble tea. Even though she had blurred herself out, how could I not recognize my own mother? Back home, I paced restlessly in my bedroom. Mom was completely fixated on Jason now. How could I make her choose to return to her own family? A commotion erupted outside my door. I went out to see. Mom was back. And Jason was following right behind her! Seeing my astonished gaze, Jason actually gave me a challenging smirk. “Sorry, Caleb, I told Auntie Vicky the school dorms aren’t allowing residents right now, so she just let me stay at your place.” Seeing my shocked expression, Mom seemed a little nervous. “After all, you’re classmates; you should look out for each other. Maybe you’ll even go abroad together someday.”

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