When Cole Sterling couldn’t afford his college tuition, I was the one who stepped up. I funded his entire four years of university, bankrolled his lavish lifestyle, and helped him become a corporate CEO. With the endless resources I poured into him, he became a celebrated success story. But when he learned that his childhood sweetheart was getting married, he orchestrated a car crash to have me killed. As my consciousness faded, he walked over to me. “If you hadn’t used your money to tie me down, sponsoring me all those years ago, I would have been the one marrying Luna Reed! Only with you dead can I finally be with her!” The next time I opened my eyes, I was back on that fateful day, a black card in my hand, ready to fund his education. And he had been reborn, too. 1 I opened my eyes and found myself holding a credit card. Across from me, Cole Sterling stared with cold, hard eyes. He still carried the air of refined arrogance that my money had cultivated in him. He shot me a look of pure disgust. “Arabella Thorne, I’ve had enough of you!” he sneered. “Stop trying to corrupt me with your filthy money. I’ll figure out my own tuition. This time, I’m going to live my life my way!” In the next instant, his harsh expression melted away, replaced by a look of pure clarity. He bypassed me completely and walked straight to Luna Reed. He took her hands, his voice trembling with emotion. “Luna, this time, no one will ever keep us apart.” I watched the scene unfold, my emotions shifting from a burning rage to confusion, and finally settling into a cold, clear calm. In my last life, when I heard Cole’s family had run into financial trouble and he couldn’t afford tuition, I went to him immediately. I offered to pay for everything. He had taken my black card with a smile, calling me kind and gentle. Throughout his entire college career, I spent eighty percent of my allowance on him. I transformed him from a charity case into a playboy who drove sports cars, frequented exclusive clubs, and threw money around like it was nothing. After graduation, he wanted to start a business. Without a second thought, I gave him my entire trust fund—assets, stocks, and cash worth over a billion dollars—that my parents had set aside for me. With my money and my family’s connections backing him, he became a phenomenal success, a titan of the business world. Later, we got married. We had children. But I never knew that all along, he was hiding another woman in his heart. Not until the day the news of Luna Reed’s wedding broke. He went mad. He would fly into rages over nothing. He drank himself into a stupor night after night. Once, it was Luna’s fiancé who called, asking me to come and pick him up. When I arrived, I found him slumped in a drunken heap in Luna’s apartment, muttering her name. “Luna, it’s my fault.” “I never should have sold you out for a credit card.” “It was all Arabella’s fault. She blinded me with her money.” “I hate her. God, I hate her.” “Luna, can we get back together? Just like we were in college…” It was only then that I learned the truth. In college, he had been taking my money and spending it on Luna. When I found out, we had a massive fight. In my anger, I seized control of the company and froze all his accounts. I wanted to make him understand that I was the one who had given him everything. I never imagined it would drive him over the edge. He hired someone to stage a car accident, to have me killed. As I lay bleeding out, my vision blurring, he appeared at the scene. His voice was like ice. “If you hadn’t used your money to tie me down, sponsoring me all those years ago, I would have been the one marrying Luna Reed! Only with you dead can I finally be with her!” Remembering all this, I casually tossed the black card I was holding to a passing student. “Hey,” I said. “I’ll sponsor you through college. All four years, everything’s on me.” The student who caught the card stared at it, his face a mask of disbelief. Cole watched me give the card to a complete stranger, and a flicker of regret crossed his face. But it was quickly replaced by fury. “Arabella, don’t think you can provoke me like this. I won’t fall for it. No matter what you do, I will never accept your sponsorship!” I looked at him, feigning surprise. “Cole, what on earth are you talking about? Who said I was ever going to sponsor you?” 2 My words made Cole freeze. He stared at me, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Arabella, what are you playing at? You were obviously going to give that card to me. I’m the one who rejected it.” I laughed. “Could you be any more self-absorbed?” Cole refused to believe it. He scoffed, “It doesn’t matter what act you put on. Everyone knows you’re obsessed with me. But in this life, you’re destined to never have me!” Seeing that his narcissism was still fully intact gave me a sense of relief. In this new life, I was going to make sure he learned exactly how cruel the world could be. I ignored him and took the hand of the student I had just sponsored. “What’s your name?” The student was still in a daze. He blushed as I held his hand. “I’m… I’m Nathaniel Vance. Nate.” I smiled. “That’s a great name, Nate. Let me buy you dinner. Come on.” I took Nate to a high-end restaurant. He looked around, a little intimidated by the opulent decor. “Um, I’m a freshman this year,” he offered nervously. “I know,” I said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I’m a freshman too.” “What?” Nate stared at me, his cheeks turning pink. “What, I don’t look like one?” “You seem more like a senior, someone who knows their way around.” I laughed. “Do I look that old?” “No!” Nate quickly backpedaled. “That’s not what I meant. Oh, right, I still don’t know your name.” “I’m Arabella Thorne.” As Nate and I talked, I noticed he was actually very handsome. Exactly my type. And he was sweet and endearing. Just then, we heard footsteps approaching. It was Cole, with Luna in tow. In my last life, he had squandered my money without a thought, a regular at places like this. But in this life, he was just a poor kid whose family was in ruins, unable to even pay his tuition. Had he forgotten? Or had his rebirth somehow altered his circumstances? As I wondered, Cole spotted me. He clearly assumed I was there waiting for him. As he walked past our table with Luna, he sneered. “Trying to get my attention this way? Desperate for a little recognition? Give it up, Arabella. It’s never going to happen.” I rolled my eyes and turned back to Nate, placing a piece of food on his plate. “You have to try the house special. It’s delicious.” Nate blushed and nodded eagerly. Cole huffed and sat down at a nearby table with Luna. He still carried himself with the aristocratic air I had bought for him, ordering a dozen expensive dishes from the menu without a thought as to whether they could finish them. Luna looked worried. “Cole, it’s just the two of us. Don’t you think this is too much?” Cole spoke loudly, making sure I could hear. “It’s fine, don’t worry about it. This is how I always eat. Besides, this place is just average. We’ll make do for tonight. Next time, I’ll take you to a Michelin-starred palace in Paris. The ingredients there are sold by the gram; every bite is worth its weight in gold.” 3 I had to stop myself from laughing out loud. He had truly forgotten that he was now a broke student who couldn’t even afford tuition. But Luna’s face lit up with happiness at his words. She shot me a smug, triumphant look. Then she raised her voice. “Cole, since this is the first day of our relationship, I have a gift for you.” Cole looked at her expectantly. “What is it?” Luna pulled a sweater from her bag. “I knitted this for you myself.” The light in Cole’s eyes dimmed. Luna had no way of knowing that in his past life, the gifts I gave him were watches worth hundreds of thousands and sports cars worth millions. After all that, how could a simple knitted sweater ever compare? Luna’s face fell. “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it? I poured my heart into every single stitch.” Cole quickly plastered on a smile. “No, I love it! Of course I do!” But after taking the sweater, he tossed it aside without a second glance. I opened my purse. Inside, just as I remembered, was a small gift box. It contained a pair of matching couple’s bracelets worth sixty million dollars. In my last life, I had given them to Cole. He’d loved them and wore his every day. But one day, my bracelet disappeared. I thought it had been stolen. It wasn’t until I saw Luna again that I realized the thief was Cole. He had stolen my bracelet and given it to her. I took out the box and pushed it across the table to Nate. “What’s this?” he asked, curious. I gave him a mysterious smile. “Open it and see.” When Nate opened the box and saw the matching bracelets, he was mesmerized by their dazzling luster and exquisite design. “These are beautiful,” he breathed. “I’ve never seen anything like them.” “Of course not,” I said matter-of-factly. “The ruby and sapphire on those were bought at a high-end auction. I designed the bracelets myself and had them custom-made by an international team of jewelers. They’re one-of-a-kind.” Nate looked at them in awe. The commotion caught the attention of Cole and Luna. Luna’s eyes turned red with envy as she stared at the bracelets. Cole shot to his feet, his expression a storm of emotion. He rushed to our table and tried to snatch them. “Put those down! Don’t you touch them!” Nate quickly hid the bracelets behind his back, glaring at Cole. “What are you doing? Why are you trying to steal my things?” Cole seemed to snap back to reality, remembering that in this life, the bracelets were not his. But he still turned to me, his voice full of resentment. “It’s just a stupid bracelet. If I wanted to, I could buy ten of them.” I knew his pride was fragile and his ego was massive, but I hadn’t realized the extent of his delusion. I looked at him calmly. “Cole, if you can afford it, go buy one. Why are you shouting at me?” Nate chimed in, equally annoyed. “Yeah, what’s your problem?” Cole’s face flushed with anger, and he retreated to his table. Luna tried to comfort him. “Cole, just ignore them. So what if they have a little money? We don’t care about that.” “I’ve lost my appetite,” Cole snapped. “Let’s go.” The waiter had just brought their food to the table. “But I haven’t eaten yet,” Luna whined. “We’ll eat later,” Cole said dismissively. “I’ll treat you to something better.” Though reluctant, Luna had no choice but to follow him. But as they tried to leave, the waiter blocked their path. “Sir, your bill comes to a total of eight thousand, five hundred and twenty dollars.” Cole nodded. “Eight or nine thousand, that’s nothing. I’ll just…” He trailed off as he patted his pockets. The color drained from his face. 4 Feeling the empty lining of his pockets, Cole finally remembered. In this life, his father was a gambling addict, his mother was in long-term care at a hospital, and his family was drowning in debt. Eight thousand dollars was nothing to the man he used to be. But to the man he was now—a student who couldn’t even scrape together his tuition—it was an astronomical sum. His expression turned grim. His eyes flickered towards me. “Sir?” the waiter prompted. “How will you be paying?” Cole gritted his teeth and turned to Luna. “Luna, I… I don’t have any money on me. Can you cover this?” Luna was horrified. “Cole, are you kidding me?” Cole’s face grew even darker. “Why would I joke about this? I really don’t have any money.” Tears welled up in Luna’s eyes. “No money? Then why did you bring me to such an expensive restaurant? Why did you order so much?” Her suspicion grew. “Wait… you’re not one of those dining scammers, are you?” Their conversation put the waiter on high alert. He immediately spoke into his walkie-talkie, calling for security. Cole’s face was a thundercloud. In his past life with me, he could spend whatever he wanted. All he had to do was ask, and I would give it to him. He had never been humiliated like this. “Luna, just lend it to me,” he said through clenched teeth. “It’s not like I won’t pay you back.” Luna looked down. “My monthly allowance is only two thousand. I don’t have that kind of money.” Just then, his phone rang. “Hello, is this the son of Maria Sterling?” “Your mother’s hospital bill is due. The total is one hundred and thirteen thousand dollars, plus nursing fees, which comes to a total of…” Cole hung up before the person could finish. His face was ashen, all the arrogance of his rebirth completely gone. He looked at the tearful Luna, then his gaze drifted back to me. After a moment of internal debate, he clenched his fists and walked slowly towards my table. He stared at me, a bleak, defeated smile on his face. Then, as if surrendering, he forced out the words. “Give me the card.” I knew he was out of options. Reality had finally hit him. If it weren’t for our past life, maybe he would have had a chance. But now, I was only interested in giving him a final push off the cliff, not pulling him back up. I glanced at him. “What did you say? Say it again.” Cole’s fists tightened, as if he had made a momentous decision, or perhaps as if he were enduring the greatest humiliation of his life. His face was a mask of suppressed rage and shame. “I lose, okay? Is that what you want to hear? Stop humiliating me. Just give me the unlimited black card, and promise you’ll stop throwing your rich-girl tantrums at me… and I’ll agree to accept your sponsorship. I’ll be your boyfriend.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “580634”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

It was eleven o’clock at night. I had just locked my car when a crimson warning flared before my eyes. 【WARNING! Your husband, who is currently in a divorce cooling-off period, is about to kidnap you, broadcast your nude photos across all platforms, and then dismember you, throwing your remains into the sewer!】 【This gold digger, who shamelessly exploited love and money, now wants a divorce and a share of assets. She deserves this retribution!】 I was utterly bewildered. I’m just a single working woman; where would I get a husband? Before I could even react, a pair of cold hands suddenly tightened around my neck. “Run, why don’t you? Aren’t you trying to get a divorce?” In a daze, I was dragged and thrown into a black van. In the darkness, cold handcuffs clamped onto my wrists. … The moment the car door slammed shut, those hands clamped down on my throat. A wave of suffocation instantly sent my heart racing, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. “Sweetheart, I’ve been so good to you. Why do you insist on a divorce?” I used every ounce of strength I had, speaking in broken gasps. “Look, mister… you’ve got the wrong person! I’m not married, and I’m not your wife!” “You bitch, what are you blathering about?” My words completely enraged him, and the grip on my throat tightened even further. 【Is this woman insane? Lying through her teeth! She’s in a divorce cooling-off period with her husband and dares to say she’s not married!! Her husband has rage issues, saying this is a death wish!】 【If she quickly withdraws the divorce petition and softens her stance, she might survive!】 The crimson subtitles scrolled rapidly, making my heart clench. Despite my overwhelming sense of injustice, breathing became increasingly difficult. I dared not argue further and pleaded, “Please, let go of me! We don’t have to divorce, everything can be discussed! Just release me first, let’s talk!” The man paused, his hands loosening slightly on my neck. “Are you serious? You’re not lying to me?” “Absolutely not!” I quickly pressed on, gasping, “I was foolish before, overlooking your kindness. You’ve always been so attentive to me, working hard to support us, accommodating my every whim. I shouldn’t have impulsively filed for divorce…” I racked my brain, uttering insincere words, and thankfully, the man’s hands slowly released my throat. I slumped onto the seat, gulping for air, my back already drenched in cold sweat. He remained silent for a moment, then moved to sit in the empty seat opposite me. But even in the darkness, I could still feel the murderous intent in his eyes. I hadn’t eaten dinner, having worked late, and my emotions were running high. Suddenly, my blood sugar dropped. Feeling dizzy and lightheaded, I couldn’t hold on any longer and pleaded, “I… I have low blood sugar. Could I get something to eat?” As soon as the words left my mouth, the man abruptly stood up. I froze, startled, curling up into the corner of the seat. He leaned in close, his rough fingers abruptly hooking my chin, forcing me to look up at him. The sudden, intimate proximity made my heart pound. What was he going to do? Was he going to strip me and take nude photos? Or simply dismember me? I clenched my fists, trembling uncontrollantly, not daring to breathe loudly. “You better not try any tricks with me.” With that, he finally released my chin. At that moment, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. Watching him get out of the car and walk to the trunk, for a fleeting second, I considered opening the door and escaping. But realizing I had no strength left, I quickly abandoned the idea of saving myself. The man unlocked my handcuffs and handed me a bag of bread. I wolfed it down, thinking he had finally calmed down. But just as I was about to take another bite, he abruptly snatched the bread away. The next second, he grabbed my hair, glaring at me fiercely. “I’ve been so good to you, giving you everything you asked for. Why did you still trick me, betray my feelings, and steal my money?” A sharp pain shot through my scalp. I quickly squeezed out a sob, feigning remorse. “I’m sorry! It was all my fault, I was foolish and made a mistake! I swear I won’t do it again, never!” The man finally calmed down, sitting back in the opposite seat. My taut nerves relaxed slightly, but the cold sweat on my back hadn’t dried. 【This guy yelled about revenge, but when it came down to it, he’s a total softie! His love-struck brain is beyond saving!】 【This woman has some tricks up her sleeve, she’s got the guy wrapped around her finger again! If she doesn’t mention divorce, he’ll probably treat her like a queen. It’s true love!】 The subtitles continued to fan the flames. But I didn’t even know who this man was; I was caught in this messy situation unjustly. “You keep saying you love me, but do you really know me? Look closely, who am I?” The man looked up, a cold, obsessive glint in his eyes. “Sarah Miller, the only daughter of the Miller family. I saw you in an alley when I was ten, and I’ve never forgotten you. Your waist is 24 inches, hips 35 inches, you’re a Cancer, you love sweet and sour food, can’t stand cilantro, are afraid of the dark and spiders, need hot ginger tea during your period, and always curl your feet against the wall when you sleep.” He described these minute details perfectly, and I was utterly bewildered. 【This guy is so devoted! He’s been waiting for this woman for fifteen years!】 【He knows even her smallest habits inside out! Let’s see how this gold digger tries to deny it now!!】 The subtitles scrolled furiously, and my mind was a jumbled mess… “Some things… even I don’t remember clearly.” Had I crossed into the wrong world? Or was there really someone with the same name as me who was involved with him? But why would someone slander my reputation, making me bear the ignominy of being a ‘gold digger’? I couldn’t just die without clearing my name; I had to explain! “I’ve never been married, you’ve definitely got the wrong person! A check of the marriage registry would show I have no marriage records whatsoever! My cloud drive contains everything from the past five or six years—my private photo albums are all of my daily life, not even a single photo with a man. My chat logs are only work-related with colleagues, or daily reminders from family. I’ve never had any romantic interests, let alone been engaged to be married or gone through a divorce!” As soon as the words left my mouth, the subtitles exploded before my eyes. 【Oh my god! Is this girl crazy? A knife at her throat and she’s still arguing!】 【Help! Does she think she can turn the tables with just her words? Doesn’t she see who she’s up against?!】 【I’m speechless, I don’t understand this move! Is she really not lying? But who would believe that?!】 But the man suddenly leaned over, snatching my phone from my pocket. His fingers rapidly scrolled across the screen, a fleeting flicker of doubt in his eyes. He then found my cloud drive and opened my private photo album. A sliver of hope had just risen in my heart, thinking he was finally going to believe me. But the next second, he suddenly let out a low chuckle, then angrily threw my phone away and savagely clamped his hands around my neck. “Do you take me for a fool?” “I… I didn’t…” 【This woman is too bold! Still trying to lie, even when the truth is practically staring her in the face.】 【The guy definitely won’t spare her now, will he? Stupid and wicked, still arguing now, she’s leaving herself no way out!】 【I bet a bag of chips this woman won’t survive tonight! Everyone, watch and see!】 Each subtitle made me crumble. “You really got it wrong! I don’t know who stole my information to impersonate me! I don’t even know you, why won’t you believe me? Why…?” Who could be so vicious as to frame me like this? Even if I die and become a vengeful spirit, I won’t let that person go! 【This girl’s hysteria doesn’t seem faked. Could someone really be impersonating her?】 【Oh my god! Is she being used as a scapegoat? The fake one played him, and the real one is taking the fall!】 【But how can marriage be faked? The guy’s face went green when he saw her phone, he must have seen something, right?】 【This drama is interesting! Am I the one who transmigrated, or is this woman the one who did? Waiting for the truth to come out!】 The man suddenly released his grip on my throat. I slumped back into the seat, gasping for air. “I really don’t know you, and I’ve never been married. You’ve definitely mistaken me for someone else!” Before I could finish, a sharp, cramping pain shot through my lower abdomen. I looked down and saw that my dress was soaked with a large patch of blood. Embarrassment instantly flooded me. I frantically covered it with my hand, wishing I could disappear into the floor. 【Holy crap! Her period just came at the perfect time! This woman is lucky! The guy’s probably going to feel bad for her, right?】 【I bet you! This guy won’t be able to lay a hand on her for a while. Next thing you know, he’ll be rubbing her belly!】 I endured the pain, not holding out any hope. This man had just been so menacing; how could he possibly care about me? But the man glanced at my flushed face and the hand covering my dress. Without a word, he suddenly started the car and drove out of the garage. The subtitles instantly flooded the screen. 【Help! Is this man actually going to buy brown sugar water? This thoughtfulness is so unexpected!】 【He was played by a woman and he’s still so protective of her, this guy isn’t losing out at all by being deceived!】 【The ultimate combination of a love-struck fool and a simp! This guy is beyond saving! The more I watch, the more annoyed I get!】 The car stopped in front of a coffee shop, and the man pushed open the door and got out. Not long after, he returned with a hot ginger tea, which he handed to me. I stood frozen, a mix of emotions swirling inside me. But before I could react, he drove to a convenience store, came back with a pack of sanitary pads, opened the car door, and took my arm. “I’ll help you to the restroom.” “I can manage myself,” I quickly refused, feeling deeply uncomfortable with such intimacy. But he didn’t let go, insisting on supporting me. He even took off his jacket and wrapped it around my waist to cover the stain, his movements clumsy but filled with care. 【Oh my god! This is too much pampering! What kind of spell did this gold digger use to trick this guy like this?】 【It was supposed to be a kidnapping, how did it turn into taking care of her period? This guy is something else!】 After I came out of the restroom, clutching the warm ginger tea in the car, my mind was in a whirl. But I was certain of my own character; even if I had amnesia, I would never toy with someone’s emotions. Yet, I was equally sure I hadn’t lost my memory, and everything before me felt bizarre. Could there truly be another woman in the world who looked exactly like me and was married to this man? But why would she try to smear my name? I closed my eyes, furiously racking my brain. The next second, I abruptly opened them. I knew why! Inside the car, the man and I sat opposite each other, in a long silence. I decided not to tip my hand just yet. The cramping in my lower abdomen grew more intense; I couldn’t bear it any longer and whispered, “Could you recline the seat a bit? I want to lie down for a while.” As soon as the words left my mouth, he reached out and adjusted the button, and the seat slowly tilted back. Before I could thank him, a jacket, still warm from his body, was placed over me. “Is the pain bad? I’ll go buy painkillers.” Countless question marks appeared on the subtitles, presumably expressing utter exasperation at the man’s “simping” behavior. “No need, thank you.” I quickly declined, a mix of emotions churning within me, but still felt compelled to explain. “I truly am single, I’ve never been married, and I don’t know you. Maybe… there’s someone else in this world who looks exactly like me, and she’s the one you’re involved with.” The man lowered his head, his fingers stroking his phone case, but didn’t respond. I dared not say more, and the car fell silent again. A while later, he opened his phone’s photo album. A glance from the corner of my eye, and I was instantly stunned. Every photo showed a woman who looked exactly like me, smiling intimately as she linked arms with him. But I was certain it wasn’t me. “We’d only been married for less than a month when you suggested living separately, always abroad, only communicating by email. You only contacted me when you needed living expenses!” He suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with an indescribable weariness. “I thought you were just throwing a tantrum, but I never imagined…” My heart jolted, and I finally pieced things together. The woman impersonating me had never truly spent time with him, merely maintaining an “online marriage.” And she had constantly been asking this man for money—not just living expenses, but also insisting on investments. In just one month, she had already swindled over a million dollars from him. No wonder the man was so furious; defrauding him was despicable enough, but she had also been constantly deceiving him emotionally. Just then, my phone suddenly vibrated. The screen displayed “Olivia.” I hadn’t seen her in over a year, and I’d heard she’d been sick. Why was she calling me now? Had something happened to her? I desperately wanted to answer, but the man immediately looked at me with alarm. “She’s my best friend! Don’t worry, I won’t say anything to her.” The man hesitated for a few seconds, then released my wrist. I answered the call, about to say, “I’m going to sleep, I’ll contact you later!” when Olivia’s voice preempted me: “Honey! The doctor I introduced you to has agreed to meet! Hurry up and finalize the divorce, don’t get tangled up with that lunatic, he’s not worth it!” I was instantly stunned, a surge of anger rising within me. “What are you talking about? When did I get married? Where are these divorce papers?” “Oh, come on, stop pretending!” Olivia’s tone carried a hint of mockery. “I know you don’t want to mention that psycho! Marrying him is a stain on your record! But don’t worry, I’ll find you someone better in the future! Leaving him is a new beginning, don’t dwell on it!” “I didn’t…” I still tried to argue, but the man suddenly snatched my phone, abruptly ending the call. The next second, he grabbed my hair, violently pressing my head against the car wall with enough force to make my scalp tingle. A flurry of dense subtitles instantly exploded before my eyes. 【Holy crap! Isn’t this ironclad proof? Even her best friend said so! How can this woman still argue?!】 【Serves her right! She’s still playing innocent at a time like this, it would be against all reason not to dismember her now!】 【No wonder she could trick the guy, she had someone advising her from behind! This best friend is quite something, not plastic, but genuinely helping with bad deeds!】 【I originally thought she was innocent, but now it seems she’s just a good actress!】 My eyes reddened from the pain, and I stammered out an explanation. “It’s not like that! I don’t know why she’s saying that! I really haven’t gotten married, and I didn’t ask her to introduce anyone to me!” “Still trying to deny it? Your best friend admitted it herself, how long do you plan to lie to me?” “I’m not lying to you!” Tears streamed down my face in desperation. “Olivia is lying…” Suddenly, a glaring red line flashed in the subtitles. 【When I was working abroad, I heard a plastic surgeon mention something similar! A woman had surgery to look like her best friend, then used her friend’s identity to trick a man out of his money! When the truth came out, she got away scot-free, and her best friend was the one who suffered!】 【There’s such a thing!! Quick, tell us more!】 But at this moment, the man suddenly pulled out a dagger and pressed it against my carotid artery. Just as the blade was about to pierce my artery, another red subtitle furiously scrolled across the screen. 【Holy crap! I remember now!! This plastic surgery girl, Olivia, bragged at a party abroad that she got surgery to look like her best friend, Sarah Miller, and would definitely hook the attractive man, Leo Evans, who had a crush on Sarah!】 【Olivia was full of envy and resentment towards her best friend. She meticulously planned it out, first deliberately distancing herself from Sarah, claiming she was going abroad for medical treatment, but secretly going to a plastic surgery clinic to transform into Sarah. The two friends already looked somewhat alike. After the surgery, Olivia used makeup to become Sarah’s spitting image, and began to deceive Leo! Leo didn’t suspect a thing, mistakenly believing Olivia was Sarah, and poured all his heart and money into her!】 【I’ve seen this story in novels! This is the first time in real life! This woman, Olivia, is truly malicious!】 I froze in place, my blood running cold. All those seemingly harmless details I had ignored now linked together into a complete chain of conspiracy. Olivia had been my inseparable best friend since college; we’d shared every joy and sorrow. I’d always considered her my closest confidante, never once thinking to guard against her. I remembered two years ago when she suddenly told me she was going abroad for medical treatment. She even borrowed my ID, claiming it was to help me obtain an international medical license. I agreed without much thought. After she returned, she always borrowed my clothes and frequently asked about my habits. For instance, I don’t eat cilantro, I’m afraid of thunderstorms, and I drink warm ginger tea during my period. She even grilled me about my little habit of curling my legs in my sleep. She also deliberately mimicked my makeup and speaking style. At the time, I simply thought she genuinely liked my aesthetic. Looking back now, that was all her premeditated groundwork! 【Here’s the kicker! Olivia is the illegitimate daughter of the Miller family, Sarah’s half-sister!! Olivia’s mother seduced Sarah’s father years ago, trying to use the child to secure her position, but even after the child was born, the Miller family never acknowledged her!】 【No wonder the two of them look somewhat alike! That explains everything! She was a parasitic sister masquerading as a best friend all along!】 【Jealousy truly distorts people beyond recognition! Her own mother shamelessly destroyed another family, and she followed suit. To steal her sister’s life, she even changed her face—what else is she capable of?!】 【Sarah is too pathetic! The best friend she poured her heart out to harbored such malicious intentions, she truly was unlucky in her choice of friends!】 【Thank goodness Leo had a change of heart and didn’t act! Otherwise, Sarah would have died such an unjust death!】 The cruel truth shattered my perception repeatedly! “Olivia, I won’t let you get away with this!” But the dagger in Leo’s hand remained pressed against my neck. Just as I was wondering how to explain, Leo’s eyes suddenly reddened. My heart gave a violent jolt, and I boldly guessed that he, too, could see the subtitles. The next second, the dagger slipped from Leo’s hand. He actually knelt down directly in front of me. “I’m sorry… I almost hurt the person I love most. I was foolish, deceived, and nearly killed you by mistake.” “You’re not wrong, Olivia is! She transformed herself to look like me, used my identity to scam a marriage and money, and had us all running in circles.” “You go now, we can involve the police later. I’ll definitely help you get justice; I won’t let her off easy!” “Calling the police would be disadvantageous for you. After all, you did commit kidnapping. If Olivia insists on pressing charges, you’ll also be implicated.” Leo was stunned, his eyes instantly welling with emotion. He bent down and picked up the dagger from the floor. “Then I’ll kill her myself and avenge you! A vicious woman like that doesn’t deserve to live!” “Don’t be impulsive!” I quickly grabbed his wrist. “It’s not worth ruining your life for a wicked woman like her. Her evil deeds will be exposed eventually; we don’t need to sacrifice ourselves in this way.” Leo stared at my hand holding his, his gaze gradually softening. “Okay, I’ll do whatever you say.” The subtitles on the screen suddenly refreshed: 【??? This development is a bit off! How did these two suddenly develop such chemistry?】 【What chemistry? They’re giving off major couple vibes, okay!】 【Help! Just a moment ago they were at daggers drawn, now it’s getting kind of sweet?】

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1 After graduating from college, my billionaire parents, claiming it was for my own good, signed me up for an overseas youth volunteer program. With a noble air, they arranged for the staff to send me to the most arduous location. Later, a new virus broke out in Niger, where I was stationed, causing countless deaths and injuries. Flights back home became impossible to find. I called my parents, begging them to help me return, but received only cold mockery: “Adam! You need to remember, you are an international volunteer now. This is your moment to shine and contribute!” “Don’t expect us to pull strings for you. You can only come back when the volunteer group returns!” “We’re very busy. Don’t keep calling us unless it’s important.” Helpless, I had no choice but to call my childhood friend. But even this last shred of hope was shattered by her utterly indifferent voice. “What? Do you have to be superior to everyone else? Everyone else can stay, but you can’t? Isn’t that what you told Aiden before?” “A malicious person like you deserves to stay in such a disgusting place and rot!” With that, she hung up the phone and pressured the agency, completely cutting off my hope of returning home. Everyone in the volunteer group eventually found ways to return home, leaving me with no one to turn to for help. In just two days, I contracted the supervirus. On the brink of death, I was rescued by a medical aid team dispatched by the government. I sat numbly in the temporary ward, awaiting treatment, when I saw a post from my foster brother, Aiden, on his social media. 【Grateful to my loving parents! They heard I was bored, dropped their work, and took connecting flights to accompany me on a trip abroad~】 I didn’t make a scene as usual. Even though I knew Aiden had done this on purpose, I just posted a sarcastic smiling emoji in the comments section. In the temporary ward in Niger, I was alone in a small room, waiting to receive treatment. A nurse, wearing a full isolation suit, walked in and hooked up my IV. The silence in the ward was broken by the continuous ringing of my phone. Recognizing the caller on the screen, I pressed the answer button with trembling hands. “Adam, do you have any humanity left?!” “Do you know how many times Aiden has been sad because of your comment! He’s your brother, how can you be so malicious!” I looked at my legs, growing weaker each day from the virus, and spoke with a bitter laugh. “What’s wrong with a comment? I just didn’t want to offer blessings. Is that such a heinous crime?” “Sometimes I really wonder, maybe you guys made a mistake back then. Maybe Aiden is your biological son, and I’m the one who was adopted!” A moment of silence fell on the other end of the line, then a familiar female voice finally spoke. “Adam, you’ve misunderstood your father and mother.” “Our family always goes on a trip during the summer break, and you’re volunteering now, so…” “When you come back, your father and mother can go with you again, okay?” My face felt as if it had been slapped hard. My lips trembled for a long time before I spoke with a self-mocking laugh. “Is that so?” “Do I deserve it?” My father’s angry roar suddenly echoed. “What’s the point of talking to such a rebellious son!” “I’m his father! Do I need his permission for what I do? Tell him I’m giving him one last chance. If he doesn’t apologize properly to Aiden, then he can reflect in Niger for the rest of his life!” After a string of harsh words, the call was abruptly cut off. The self-mocking smile on my lips hadn’t even had time to fade before I was engulfed by sadness. Yes, these were my parents. Didn’t they know the situation in Niger? International news reported it daily; even children knew how terrifying the supervirus was. But they simply didn’t care. Because the son they cared about most was always by their side, protected perfectly. In their minds, Aiden was obedient and sensible, while I was barbaric and unreasonable. So, as soon as I graduated from college, they went to great lengths to sign me up for the overseas youth volunteer program, and then self-righteously told the person in charge that I had voluntarily chosen to go to the most difficult place. Niger’s environment had been reported on the news many times; it wasn’t just poverty, but also many unknown viruses, and going there and never returning wasn’t impossible. They knew everything, yet they still insisted. If I showed even a hint of resistance, I became the “ungrateful,” “overbearing and pampered” prodigal son in their eyes. Under my parents’ daily high-intensity cold pressure, I reluctantly had no choice but to go. When I first arrived in Niger, the harsh environment and rough food, every single thing was unbearable. But all of that could be overcome. It wasn’t until the supervirus outbreak, when statistics showed the infection mortality rate was as high as seventy percent, that I truly felt a sense of fear. Recalling the despair of having no one to turn to for help, an unknown surge of anger welled up in my chest. Impossible. I wouldn’t apologize. I would never bow down, not in this lifetime. 2 The day the medical team returned home. I was dressed in the highest level of protective gear, dragging my luggage, looking disheveled as I exited the station. I brushed past Aiden, who was wearing custom-made clothes. “Mom, Dad, you’re both so wonderful! I said I wanted to go out and have fun, and you both dropped all the company’s business to accompany me.” A familiar, gentle male voice, etched in my memory, responded with a laugh. “You silly boy, you’re our precious son. It’s just a small wish, your dad and I will definitely do our best to fulfill it.” “Haha, silly child, no matter how busy Dad is with work, are you not more important?” “As long as you’re safe and healthy, your dad and I will be completely satisfied!” The voices weren’t loud, but they struck me like thunder, making me stop dead in my tracks, standing foolishly in place. My entire body felt cold to the point of numbness, as if even my blood had congealed from the sudden drop in temperature. Only then did I truly understand. When my parents said they had no time to help me, they were actually reserving that time for Aiden. In their eyes, my life was less important than Aiden’s travel plans when he was bored. For so many years, I had compromised countless times, without bottom, just to get my parents’ attention, yet I still couldn’t compare to Aiden. In the year Aiden was adopted, the company flourished, rising to become a top-tier enterprise in H City, and my mother also received good news about a pregnancy. But compared to the company’s booming success, the child seemed less important. From then on, Aiden was declared the Miller family’s lucky star by my father, believing that good fortune would follow if he was treated well. From a young age, I was indoctrinated with the idea that I must always yield to my brother. Until one time, during a primary school final exam, I came home with an award for being first in my grade, only to be met with a slap from my father. Because Aiden had run home crying, saying I looked down on him. No matter how I explained, in their eyes, I was just making excuses, bullying Aiden because I was the Miller family’s biological son. From then on, Aiden tasted the sweetness of manipulation, and I lost my parents. My relationship with my parents became increasingly strained and distant, all because of Aiden’s provocations. My memories stopped abruptly there. Dr. Lee, beside me, patted my shoulder. “Adam, what’s wrong? Is there something bothering you?” I forced a smile and shook my head, pretending nothing had happened. Reality was already starkly clear. Until I boarded the plane leaving home, I had still held onto hope, believing that family bonds were unparalleled. But this near-death scare made me realize that, in my parents’ eyes, I truly was expendable. 3 Due to the after-effects of the supervirus, even after returning home, I couldn’t go directly home. The medical team arranged for me to receive follow-up rehabilitation treatment at the hospital. Dr. Lee, seeing my continuous silence, thought I was homesick. He put one arm around my shoulder, gently reassuring me. “It’s alright, Adam. We’ve actually achieved a significant victory against this virus. See, you’re doing well now, aren’t you?” “And your leg needs better treatment to recover.” “If you’re homesick, I can help you talk to your family. We can do a video call so you can see them.” Hearing the caution in his voice, my eyes welled up slightly, but I couldn’t bring myself to refuse. After sending the address to Dr. Lee, I was assigned to a Level 1 isolation ward. A live video call was open on my phone. In the camera, Dr. Lee stood smiling at the entrance of my family’s villa. After confirming the house number, just as he was about to knock, he heard the sound of a car engine from outside the garden. My parents and Aiden got out of a black luxury car. The three of them were smiling sweetly, looking like a loving family. My father paused when he saw Dr. Lee. “You are?” Dr. Lee’s gentle voice came through the phone: “Hello, are you Adam’s parents? I’m Dr. Lee, from the medical aid team to Africa.” “It’s like this, a supervirus outbreak occurred in Niger, which you should all be aware of.” “Adam, while volunteering in Niger, unfortunately contracted…” Dr. Lee’s words were cut short by my father’s furious roar. “Enough! What kind of stunt is Adam pulling now?!” “Does it mean that what I say no longer matters?” “I don’t care if you’re a cat, a dog, or an actor Adam hired. Please tell that rebellious son that our Miller family has no room for deserters!” “My stance is still the same. He’s only allowed to return home when the entire national volunteer team has withdrawn!” The voice on the other end was slightly distorted, but the anger in the reprimand was clearly discernible. I looked at my father’s flushed face in the video and couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. Really, he thought too highly of me. Hiring an actor? He actually thought of that. If I truly had that capability, I would have cut ties with them long ago. Dr. Lee seemed stunned by the sudden outburst of anger, stammering for a while before speaking again. “No, no, I… I’m not an actor, I’m really a doctor from the city hospital, and a member of this medical aid team to Africa…” “Enough! I don’t want to hear any more of your lies!” “No matter what tricks Adam is playing, I will not budge on letting him come back!” “What supervirus, how ridiculous! Tell him, even if he dies, he better die honestly in Africa and not come back to defile our eyes!” With that, he didn’t wait for Dr. Lee’s response, tightly pulling Aiden by the hand, then strode purposefully into the house. With a loud bang, Dr. Lee instinctively covered the microphone of his phone. But with such a loud sound, how could I not hear it? Even though I had told myself a thousand times not to have any more expectations for the Miller family, not to rely on anyone anymore, at this moment, the world before my eyes still involuntarily twisted. My fingers trembled slightly as I put down the phone. I knew it all too well. They clearly knew that all I ever wanted was just a tiny bit of concern that parents could give. But even that little bit, they were so stingy with. After experiencing life and death, I should have given up on this fake family affection long ago. 4 After the examination and treatment reports came out, several specialists immediately gathered around me for a consultation. Although no one told me the detailed situation, from their fragmented conversations, I still gathered some information from the nurses’ chats. “Oh, what’s wrong with the young man in bed 37? He’s all alone, looks quite pitiful.” “I heard he was a volunteer in Niger, got infected there. Luckily, he ran into our hospital’s treatment team.” “But… although the virus problem is solved, the complications…” “Tsk, tsk, the follow-up treatment costs a lot too!” I looked at my bank card balance on my phone, feeling colder and colder the more I looked. Since high school, I had lived in the school dormitory, and my monthly allowance was always five hundred dollars, as suggested by Aiden. He claimed it was for my own good, fearing I would go astray if I had too much money, yet he himself squandered twenty thousand dollars a month on living expenses. But five hundred dollars was a luxury for a teenager, barely enough to fill my stomach. Even if I only dared to order the “poor student’s meal” in the cafeteria, I could only save enough money for cheap toilet paper each month. After entering college, while others were enjoying their long-awaited freedom, I was already rushing between three part-time jobs a day. After graduating from college, before I even had a chance to work, I was sent abroad by my parents with nothing. The little more than a thousand dollars left in my bank account was what I had saved from part-time jobs and work-study programs during school. This meager amount of money, how could it possibly cover the exorbitant medical fees? From the doctors’ words, I learned that not only did I need treatment for complications, but the subsequent rehabilitation costs were also significant. With no other options, besides my parents, I couldn’t think of any way to raise enough medical funds in a short amount of time. That afternoon, despite the doctors’ strong objections, I resolutely completed the discharge procedures. 5 Upon arriving home, my finger pressed against the door lock, but there was no response. I had to knock loudly. Soon, the front door opened, and Aiden looked at my disheveled appearance with some surprise. “Adam, why are you back?” I gave him a cold glance, offering no response, and dragged my suitcase past him into the house. But just as the front door closed, a remote control flew straight at my face. Unable to dodge, I felt a sharp pain on my forehead, and blood streamed down my cheek. “Why are you back?! Didn’t I already say you’re not allowed to return without permission! What methods did you use, where did you get the plane ticket?!” My father’s voice was filled with barely contained rage. “And you had the nerve to send someone to lie to me, saying there was a virus outbreak in Niger! Full of lies, utterly depraved!” “How can you be so useless! Why can everyone else persevere, overcome difficulties, but not you! Are you more precious than others?” “Look at your brother! How are you in any way comparable to Aiden! When will you finally stop causing me trouble?!” I looked up, wiping the blood from my face with my sleeve, my expression blank, but inside I found it laughable. Even now, he thought I had used underhanded means to return home without permission. The path from the front door to the living room wasn’t long, but it was certainly long enough for them to notice my already limping leg. Yet, from beginning to end, everyone in the family offered me only rebuke and disdain. If it weren’t for needing money for treatment, I think I probably wouldn’t have stepped foot in this house again. I struggled to drag my suitcase, wanting to go upstairs to my room to rest. Aiden, however, followed me, his face full of concern, trying to grab my luggage. “Adam, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Let me help you take your luggage to your room, okay?” Although his words sounded caring, his hand was tightly twisting my pinky finger, pulling it upward with all his might. The biting pain made me instinctively swing my hand to shake him off. Aiden, following the force, landed on his bottom, his face full of disbelief, an expression of hurt spreading across his features. “Adam! Are you… are you misunderstanding me? I just wanted to help you.” “Yes, I know you’ve always looked down on me. I’m just an adopted son of the Miller family; you’re the biological son.” “But, but I grew up in the Miller family. I’ve always considered you and Mom and Dad my closest family!” He spoke with increasing agitation, his voice growing louder and louder, until finally, he seemed to collapse to the floor from exhaustion. My father fumed, his already angry expression instantly turning crimson. But from my perspective, Aiden’s face, hidden beneath his arm, was clearly smiling. “Rebellious son! You ungrateful child!” “How dare you compare yourself to Aiden! How are you in any way comparable to Aiden! When you were born, I should have strangled you!” “To spare me from being infuriated to death now!” 6 Ignoring the theatrical farce, I limped back to my room. My body, not yet fully recovered, was weak, and all I wanted was to lie down and sleep soundly. But as soon as I opened the door, my entire body jolted awake as if by an electric shock. In my bedroom, all my personal belongings were piled in a corner like trash. Aiden’s piano, music stand, figurines… occupied every corner of the room. Even the bed was covered with his clothes. “Oh, I’m sorry, Adam. See, I was in a hurry and forgot.” “Mom and Dad bought me a new master-grade piano. To make space for my darling, I had to put the old piano in your room for now.” “Adam, you wouldn’t be so stingy, would you!” Aiden’s voice carried a hint of provocation. Even when he leaned in close to me, the malice in his eyes was clearly visible. Seeing that I didn’t respond, he took another step closer, whispered softly into my ear: “Why did you come back? You don’t actually think there’s still a place for you in this family, do you? Now, in Mom and Dad’s eyes, they only have one good son: me.” “Silly brother, I advise you to be smart and leave on your own, or don’t blame me for getting my hands dirty!” Watching Aiden’s smug expression, I was so furious I gritted my teeth. In that moment, anger surged through my brain. I dropped my luggage, grabbed Aiden, and threw him to the floor, starting to hit him. Aiden was stunned for a moment, then began screaming. “Help, help! Dad, Dad, come save me!” “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault, I won’t do it again, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” “Waaah, please, Adam, let me go, I’ll never occupy your room again, ahh!” A wave of cloying sweetness made me feel nauseous. Just as I was thinking of giving up and giving him a few more slaps, a voice roared: “Enough!” A figure behind me threw themselves onto Aiden, shielding his body. “Adam! How did you become like this?! If you want to hit someone, hit me! Your brother is innocent!” “Waaah, what did Aiden do wrong!” “It was Mom who saw you weren’t home, so she temporarily lent your room to him.” My mother wept profusely, her tears falling like rain. With one hand, she shielded Aiden, and with the other, she didn’t forget to check his injuries. Just then, a large hand viciously seized my raised fist, dragging me from the floor and roughly throwing me against the wall. “You little bastard! Now you dare to defy your elders, even raising your fist at your own mother! You’re nothing but an animal!” As those words landed, the light in my eyes completely died. Was this house truly still my home? The curses uttered by my own father were the most venomous curses in the world. My body trembled with pain, but I didn’t pause, shakily getting back to my feet. My left hand, having collided with the corner of the wall, was already fractured and deformed. But I felt no pain whatsoever. Now, I just wanted to leave this place and never come back.

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1 In the fifth year of my relationship with Alice Zinberg, we had another argument. She grabbed her keys and stormed out, once again choosing the silent treatment. I sat quietly on the sofa, fuming for a while, then scrolled through short videos, chuckling heartily. Around 2 AM, I was woken by my phone. Alice’s voice on the other end was icy enough to freeze water: “I’ve been out here all this time, and you haven’t called me once?” It was then I awkwardly remembered she was still out there, wandering in the freezing cold. I apologized, “Uh, why don’t you… just not come back? Let’s just call it quits.” A brief silence fell on the other end of the line after I said that. Then, with a “smash,” the call was disconnected. I was so tired I couldn’t keep my eyes open, so I rolled over and fell comfortably asleep in my warm bed. When I woke up the next day, I heard rustling in the living room. Going out, I saw Alice packing her suitcase. She seemed not to notice me, just silently stuffing her belongings into the suitcase. I stood there, frowning, watching her for a while, worried she might accidentally take some of my things. She finally finished packing, zipped up her suitcase, and then calmly said, “You need to cool down. Let’s not contact each other for a while.” Her words sounded familiar. It seemed like this happened once last year too. We had a huge fight, and she grabbed her keys, intending to leave. I went over and desperately grabbed her. “Why are you doing this again? Why do you always leave me alone? Can’t you just say what you mean to my face? Why are you always avoiding things!” She actually didn’t leave. Instead, she went back into the bedroom. When my emotions had somewhat calmed, I saw her emerge with her suitcase. Her voice was distant and calm, completely unlike my hysteria. “You cool down for a few days, and we’ll talk later.” For the next half a month, she truly didn’t contact me again. All the messages I sent, all the calls I made, vanished like stones in the sea, receiving no response. I was distraught then, crying every day and unable to sleep. In the end, I actually swallowed my pride and sent messages begging for forgiveness. Once it happened, it happened again. Alice discovered that the silent treatment worked exceptionally well on me; I didn’t need comforting and would sort myself out. So, she began giving me the cold shoulder repeatedly. I went from desperately craving a response to gradually learning to self-soothe, step by step. Only I knew how I endured that process. Now, just like last year, she stood before me with her suitcase, her expression blank, seemingly devoid of emotion. She even offered generous advice: “Don’t overthink things. Eat well, work well. You’re not without other things to do besides clinging to me.” I rubbed my sleepy eyes and casually replied, “Okay. Be careful on your way.” Alice’s previously indifferent expression stiffened slightly. Clearly, she hadn’t expected me to even utter a single word of retention. I took two steps towards the bathroom, then remembered something and turned back to remind her, “Did you pack your summer clothes too? Take them with you today if you can, save yourself another trip.” Her face darkened. She didn’t speak, just slammed the door shut and left. My heart suddenly relaxed. It felt good; it was finally over. 2 Today was Saturday. In the past, I would always pester Alice to spend the weekend with me. Later, Alice found her trick against me: whenever we argued, she’d grab her suitcase and leave. And once she left, it would be at least half a month. I was forced to get used to spending one holiday after another alone. From writing hysterical little essays at first to gradually becoming numb and detached, and finally returning to the joyful holiday state I had when I was single and spent time with friends, it only took a year. I cooked myself a steaming bowl of century egg and lean pork congee. After eating, I curled up on the sofa, petting my cat and watching a horror movie. Outside, the weather was gloomy, with a drizzling winter rain. I had the heating on, enjoying my comfortable solitude. As one movie ended, I made myself a hot drink and casually browsed my social media. To my surprise, the first post was one Alice had just made. 【Accompanying Mr. Davis on a business trip】 The accompanying photo was a selfie of her and Leo Davis, arms linked, at the airport. Leo was her university classmate and business partner. They were very close. Every time Alice and I had the silent treatment, it was always them two going on a long business trip together. The first time I found out, I was mentally drained for a long time. I wasn’t sure if they were simply colleagues or if there was something more. Until the second silent treatment, the third silent treatment, Alice, without exception, took Leo on a business trip out of town, leaving me alone at home. I started furiously messaging and calling Alice, demanding to know what she meant, why she always went on business trips when we argued, and always took Leo with her. She usually took an assistant on business trips, so why didn’t she take one with Leo? Three days later, Alice calmly replied with a few words: 【Think what you like.】 Then she disappeared again, not answering a single word. I knew then that there was no need to continue this relationship. I wiped my tears, my hands trembling as I typed a few words: 【Then let’s break up.】 Then I turned off my phone, forbidding myself from going crazy and making a fool of myself, trying to bury myself in work to distract myself. A few minutes later, my phone vibrated. I couldn’t wait three minutes and picked it up to look. It was a message from a work group. Various app notifications. A text from the bank wishing me a happy birthday. It wasn’t until 9 PM that a message with Alice’s name finally popped up. Two short, cold words. 【Whatever.】 I completely broke down, crying uncontrollably on the bed. As I cried, I sent messages accusing her of not loving me at all, meticulously listing all the disappointments and neglect I felt from her, trying to awaken a tiny bit of guilt in her, trying to make her realize she wasn’t fit for this relationship. But everything was, as always, a stone sinking into the sea. It was as if no one was on the other side. Or rather, she didn’t even bother to read a single word. I scrolled through her social media, seeing photos of her having dinner with Leo and clients, a harmonious scene, everyone smiling happily. A bucket of cold water was poured over my head. I clearly saw myself as a struggling, yet utterly pathetic clown. My reason clearly told me that she was not a good partner. I finally stopped sending messages. But life became a blur. I tried hard to act like everyone else, but everything became mechanical and numb. Only when I dragged my exhausted body home, looking at the empty house, could I not help but squat down and cry. I knew she was likely a terrible person. But I missed her terribly. I knew I was incompetent and fragile, but performing as a normal person had already drained all my energy. I indulged in my painful thoughts of her in the darkness. I didn’t know when it would end. Until thirty-six days later, she finally contacted me again. 【Calmed down yet?】 【Still breaking up?】 I stared numbly at the message. The message came too late, no longer stirring my anticipation or excitement. I slowly typed out two words: 【Up to you.】 She sent a voice message. “I brought you a birthday present. I’m coming back now.” Her voice was light, with a hint of laughter. There seemed to be another man’s laughter beside her. That laughter was distinctive—it was Leo’s voice. Even through the phone screen, I could imagine them, fresh off the plane, dusty but vibrant and full of spirit. Unlike me. I was like a dirty, trapped beast in a cage. All my pain and struggles had not affected Alice in the slightest. Everything I felt in this relationship felt like my own sensitivity, my own overthinking, a self-made drama. And Alice, generous and stable, had tolerated me. 3 My thoughts returned to that social media post. There were already several comments below it. A: 【A perfect match, Mr. Zinberg.】 B: 【Nonsense, our Leo is clearly both talented and handsome!】 Alice: 【Good eye.】 C: 【A month-long business trip? Leaving your boyfriend alone at home again? How do you smooth things over? #doghead#】 Alice: 【We’re adults. Do you expect me to be with him all day long?】 C: 【True, men shouldn’t be spoiled.】 Amidst all the trivial comments, a striking one suddenly appeared. Quinn Riley: 【Boyfriends don’t need company, but male partners on a business trip definitely do~】 That “~” conveyed a strong sense of sarcasm. This was the boyfriend of Eleanor Vance, another female partner at Alice’s firm. I’d heard they were supposed to get married this year, but it was already year-end, and there was still no news. Eleanor, his girlfriend, had been on just as many solo business trips with Leo as Alice had. I’d heard that the last time his mother was hospitalized with an illness, he was swamped at the hospital alone, while Leo posted a selfie with Eleanor, cheek-to-cheek, in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. They claimed it was a business trip, but anyone who didn’t know might think it was a honeymoon. Quinn had a huge fight with Eleanor over this. Although they reconciled, their relationship was no longer the same, and marriage hadn’t been brought up again since. When his comment appeared, the previously lively social media feed seemed to hit a pause button; there were no new comments for a while. Just as I was about to scroll away, I saw a new comment pop up. Leo: 【Buddy, don’t be overly dramatic. Is business more important, or your petty little love affairs?】 Leo: 【If you want to marry a rich person and get rich without effort, just be a pretty face, don’t mess things up for yourself.】 Quinn quickly replied: 【Compared to certain people who can’t travel for business without a female partner accompanying them every time, I’m much more independent at work. Who are you calling a pretty face?】 After a ten-minute pause, Leo replied with just two words. 【Nonsensical.】 Ever since Quinn found out Eleanor was always on solo business trips with Leo, he hadn’t gotten along with him. They’d always exchange words, even I had grown accustomed to it. I closed my social media and was about to make dinner when my landlord called: “Hey Adam, your lease is up next month. You’re renewing, right?” I looked around the apartment. A spacious, bright open-plan apartment with the most bustling night view of S City outside the window. Alice had always wanted me to move into her apartment, but I was always worried about the risk of being kicked out if I lived in someone else’s place, so I insisted on living alone. She was very clingy back then; the next day, she showed up at my door with her suitcase, looking pitiful. I had just started working then and didn’t have much money, living in a cramped thirty-square-meter apartment far from the city center. I knew Alice was used to a good life, and I always felt it would be unfair to her to make her live in such a small place with me. So, as soon as I became a full-time employee and got a raise, I gritted my teeth and moved here. It cost almost half my salary every month. “No, I won’t,” I told the landlord. “I’m planning to move to the east side of the city.” That would be closer to my workplace. I also wouldn’t have to leave home at 6 AM every morning to catch the subway. The landlord was a bit surprised: “What’s wrong? You used to say this place was convenient because it was close to your girlfriend’s company.” “Yeah,” I responded softly, kicking my slippers, and chuckled, “We broke up.” The landlord was very sympathetic, comforted me for a while, and then kindly introduced me to a moving company before hanging up. 4 The company was preparing for a live streaming event at the mall recently. I was busy coordinating with my new junior colleagues. The two new colleagues were recent female university graduates, full of energy and enthusiasm, which even invigorated us old hands in the workplace. After coordination that day, the two insisted on dragging me to eat barbecue, saying we needed to relax after so many tiring days. At a roadside food stall, I snapped a photo of the barbecue table, overflowing with food under the dim yellow lights. The two university girls tilted their heads into the shot, smiling cleanly and brightly. The photo frozen, I happily posted it on social media: 【Coordination complete! We can finally enjoy a good weekend tomorrow!】 By the time I got home, it was past midnight. A long-awaited message from Alice popped up on my phone. She had taken a photo of her eating with a client, almost as if she were reporting to me: 【I’ll be back in another week.】 【I brought you a gift.】 I pretended not to see it, disinfected and charged my phone, and placed it by my bedside. In the past, when I was first given the silent treatment, I would panic and furiously message her, just begging for a tiny response. Later, I forced myself, after each of her departures, to try and get used to single life. I gradually stopped messaging her. She, in turn, softened her silent treatment strategy, becoming less completely unresponsive. From sending me one message a month, to calling me every half-month, then weekly, then every three days. What a blessing. This kind of blessing, whoever wants it can have it. After showering and getting into bed, I saw Alice had sent a few more messages. 【What did you do today?】 【Work was tiring?】 【Fell asleep?】 I set her messages to “Do Not Disturb.” Not deleting, not blocking, not responding. I had learned very well from her.

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At my mother’s memorial service, our butler suddenly received undeniable proof of my fiancé’s infidelity. “Miss Scarlett, Mr. Noth’s mistress has given birth to a child!” Arthur Noth offered no explanation. His voice was flat. “Just focus on the service.” The next day, he didn’t attend the memorial. He only called. “I’ve been at the maternity clinic, taking care of her. I won’t be able to make it to the service.” When I didn’t reply, he sighed. “Don’t worry, she and I were just an accident. She doesn’t want to ruin the alliance between the Noth and Weixler families. She just wants to keep the child as a memento.” “But I am the father, and I can’t just abandon my child. After we’re married, I’ll stay at her place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to care for the baby, and come home on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.” My grip tightened, my eyes brimming with tears, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “Arthur Noth, we’re through. The engagement is off.” He scoffed. “Your mother just passed. Don’t be dramatic.” I hung up without hesitation, then walked straight to his arch-rival. “Marry me, and we’ll bring down the Noth empire. Are you in?” 1. At the memorial service, Lucas Thorne’s eyes widened in surprise. His usually stern face flushed, and he stammered, “Our family tradition dictates a man only marries once. If you marry me, you’ll be mine for life.” Thinking it was a lost cause, I turned to leave, disappointed. He grabbed my hand firmly, his usually wild gaze now solemn. “Scarlett Weixler, be sure about this. There’s no turning back.” I offered a slight smile, nodding with conviction. “Good. No turning back.” Lucas had been my mother’s choice for my future husband, his character, family, and temperament all beyond reproach. If I hadn’t fallen for Arthur, I would have married him. The memorial arrangements were complex, and Lucas helped me with the condolences, dedicating more than half a month to the task. Arthur, during this time, didn’t call once. For those two weeks, every time I opened social media, I’d see intimate photos of him and Holly Lane. They’d be smiling brightly, holding the baby, forming a heart with their hands. The caption: “Our dearest, most cherished family.” I scoffed, a familiar pang of bitterness in my heart. The next second, his call came through. His voice sounded lazy. “The service is over, right? Want to come see the baby at the clinic?” I looked at the dark circles under my eyes in the rearview mirror and spoke flatly. “Arthur Noth, we’re already broken up.” Silence for a few seconds. Arthur mumbled an “Mm-hmm” to himself. “Good. Holly’s been a little depressed after giving birth. Seeing you might upset her.” The tears that had been building for weeks finally fell. My eyes reddened, and I laughed self-deprecatingly. “Arthur Noth, I said we’re broken up. Are you deaf?” He paused, then sneered. “Scarlett Weixler, you’ve been with me for five years, practically worn out. Who else would want you after me?” “I told you this child was just an accident. Why are you clinging to it?” I said nothing. A crashing sound came from his end. Arthur scoffed. “Fine, then. Break up. I’ll wait for you to come crawling back.” The call was abruptly cut off. I returned home to find the lock code changed. Arthur’s phone was unreachable, so I found a random hotel for the night. Waking up, my social media feed pushed a live stream from the maternity clinic. Holly Lane was interacting enthusiastically with viewers, Arthur seated beside her, watching her with doting affection. That gentle gaze, I’d once believed, belonged only to me. The stream had been going for nearly five hours when a fan’s comment scrolled across the screen: “So envious of the streamer, living in a clinic that costs $50,000 a month, with her husband by her side.” “So lucky.” “Sign me up for a husband like that.” Before inheriting the Noth Corporation, Arthur was a decorated military officer. He absolutely detested being in front of cameras. I’d begged him to take a photo with me, and he’d always refused with a cold face. Yet now, for Holly, he was making an exception, live-streaming to a national audience. Holly smiled as she replied to a fan: “He’s just so thoughtful~” Thoughtful? A searing pain twisted in my chest. I smiled, wiping away a tear from the corner of my eye. Arthur had never been a patient or thoughtful lover to me. I remembered one time, I asked him to accompany me to a movie. After much coaxing, he finally agreed. But in the end, he slept through an hour and a half of the two-hour film. When he woke, he rubbed his temples, irritably telling me, “Spending time with you is a waste of my time.” He could be caring, could spend an entire day with Holly. He just couldn’t be caring towards me. 2. Arthur must have recognized my social media ID, because he called me. “You have half an hour. Come to the clinic and collect your mother’s belongings.” By the time I arrived, they had ended the live stream. Holly beamed at me. “Scarlett, you came to see me!” I ignored her, walked up to Arthur, and held out my hand. “Give it to me.” His upward-curved lips flattened, and his face darkened. “Holly spoke to you. Are you mute?” I forced a smile, looking at Holly. “Congratulations, Miss Lane. You successfully seduced my fiancé and bore his child. What’s next, using the baby to secure your position?” Smash! Arthur slammed a teacup to the floor. “If you can’t speak properly, then shut up!” Holly suddenly clutched her stomach, crying out in pain, tears splashing to the ground. Arthur tensed instantly. “Holly, what’s wrong? Where does it hurt?” She bit her lip, her eyes red as she wept at me. “Scarlett, I didn’t want to ruin your relationship with Arthur, but the doctor said this might be my only chance to be a mother. Don’t worry, once I’ve recovered from childbirth, I’ll leave and stay far away, I promise I won’t cling to Arthur.” Then, she looked at the baby in the cradle. “Mommy is sorry, darling, that you were born without a daddy, but Mommy didn’t mean it, I hope you can forgive Mommy…” She sobbed, seemingly overwhelmed with pain and grief. Arthur’s gaze towards me was venomous, his entire demeanor chilling. “Are you happy now that you’ve made her cry?” I scoffed. “Such pathetic acting, and only you find it entertaining.” My attitude enraged Arthur. He ripped my mother’s heirloom pocket watch from his neck, lifted it high, and prepared to smash it. My pupils constricted. “No! Don’t!” He didn’t stop, throwing the watch forcefully across the room. The face shattered on the floor, splintering into pieces. I tripped over a sharp table corner, hitting my leg. A searing pain shot through me, making me gasp. Arthur sneered. “That’s what you get for being disrespectful.” “Get out, stop trying to play the victim here.” Holly cast me a feigned look of concern. “Scarlett, you should get up. Arthur saw you pretend to fall…” I gritted my teeth, glaring coldly at her. Arthur, seeing me dare to glare at Holly, yanked me up from the floor. “Holly has been experiencing engorgement and has many dirty clothes. Go wash them thoroughly before you leave. Remember, by hand.” I wrenched my arm free. “Why should I?” “Because you bullied Holly just now!” Arthur’s face was terrifyingly dark. “You owe her an apology!” I endured the piercing pain in my foot, straightening my back. “You wish!” Arthur’s eyes turned to ice. He shoved me into the bathroom. “Bang!” The door was locked from the outside. “Don’t even think about coming out until they’re spotless!” “Arthur Noth, this is kidnapping!” I rattled the doorknob, screaming, “Let me out!” The door slammed against my hands, making a deafening racket. Outside, there was only silence. My hands were burning, and my foot throbbed with excruciating pain. The room reeked of sour milk and vomit. I sank to the floor, exhausted. Through the door, I heard Holly’s insincere voice. “Arthur, if you treat Scarlett like this, won’t she be angry when she comes out?” Arthur scoffed softly. “What if she’s angry? I’ll just sweet-talk her. Besides, this is her fault. If she doesn’t learn to control her diva temper, who will tolerate her when she marries into the Noth family?” “The Noth family has a military background spanning generations. If it weren’t for the lack of heirs to the Noth Corporation, my mother wouldn’t have me marry a socialite heiress who’s good for nothing but spending money.” Holly feigned worry. “Arthur, if you talk about Scarlett like that, won’t she break up with you?” Silence fell over the room. After a long moment, Arthur’s cool voice, tinged with arrogance, came through. “She won’t.” “As a socialite with no inheritance rights, the Noth family is her best option. Besides, she loves me to death. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d die for me if I asked her to.” I clutched my chest, unable to believe I was hearing such words from Arthur Noth. 3. Our Weixler family had been merchants for generations, often targeted by unscrupulous individuals from the underworld. Six years ago, my mother and I were traveling abroad when she was taken hostage by thugs. They held a gun to her temple. I screamed until my throat was raw, certain I was about to lose my mother. At the critical moment, a whooshing sound cut through the air. The thug dropped dead instantly. Arthur Noth stood there, a gun in his hand, in military uniform, broad-shouldered, lean-waisted, and decisively saved my mother and me. I saw his true face in the military jeep – exquisite features, a prominent, well-formed nose. It was love at first sight. For that, I pursued him relentlessly for an entire year until he finally agreed to date me. For five years, I was completely devoted to him. My sincere devotion had earned me such heartless scorn. It was truly laughable. The bathroom door was pushed open. Arthur saw me crouched on the floor, pale-faced, and pulled me up impatiently. “I just asked you to wash some clothes. Why are you squatting here, trying to look pathetic?” A wave of nausea rose in my throat. I forced it down, suppressing the urge to vomit as I searched for my mother’s belongings. The pocket watch was utterly shattered, scattered into fragments. I picked up each piece. Arthur’s voice came from behind me: “Once Holly recovers from childbirth, we’ll get married. After the wedding, Holly will live with us.” Holly cast me a grateful look. “Scarlett, thank you for accepting me and the baby. I’ll be so grateful…” I didn’t have time for her drivel. I turned to Arthur. “No need. We won’t be living together. I’m taking my things. Give me the house code, and I’ll have a moving company collect my belongings.” Arthur rattled off a series of numbers, his gaze dismissive. “Such a production, only to move back in eventually.” Holly tugged at his sleeve, speaking timidly. “Arthur, the bedroom…” Arthur’s eyes flickered. He led Holly into my car. “I’ll come back with you, just to make sure you don’t take the wrong things.” Back home, I understood why Arthur was so insistent on returning with me. Scattered across the sofa were intimate adult toys. On the dining table, adult candles. The bedroom exuded a tempting, sensual aura, with handcuffs attached to both the headboard and footboard. In the past few days, I had been busy with my mother’s memorial and hadn’t spent much time at home. Arthur and Holly, however, had clearly indulged themselves fully. I walked into the walk-in closet to find jewelry strewn across the floor. Several designer handbags were also missing from the shelves. Holly, following behind me, smiled faintly, a smug expression on her face. “Scarlett, is anything missing?” She was eager to see me lose my temper. Unfortunately for her, I simply smiled. “A mistress is just a mistress. Always resorting to petty theft.” “You!” Holly’s face flushed with anger, a flash of malice in her eyes. She gasped, clutching her stomach, and sank to the floor. “Scarlett, I haven’t even recovered from childbirth yet, how…how could you hit me…?” Arthur stormed in and helped Holly up. He was furious, swinging his hand and delivering a stinging slap across my face. “Scarlett Weixler, you’ve been a spoiled princess for too long, acting so arrogant!” Arthur hadn’t held back. My face swelled immediately. My temples throbbed with anger, and I nearly lost control. “I didn’t hit her!” He didn’t believe me, yanking me out of the closet and throwing me to the floor. “Get out, go back to your Weixler family. Don’t come back until you’ve learned your lesson!” My mounting rage slowly turned to resentment. I got up, furious, and slapped Holly hard. “Smack!” Arthur, incandescent with fury, raised his hand to strike me. I gritted my teeth, meeting his gaze directly. “That’s the one I hit.” I turned and walked away, once again, foolishly, my eyes welling with tears. Stepping outside, rain poured down, drenching me. I curled up on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. After a long while, I noticed the rain had stopped on me. I looked up to see Lucas Thorne, who had arrived at some point, holding an umbrella, shielding me. He extended his hand to me, his voice laced with unconcealed tenderness. “Scarlett, I’m taking you home.”

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1 Learning that my wife was once again celebrating another man’s birthday, my heart sank, and I stood on the edge, contemplating taking my own life. The moment I looked up, countless messages materialized in the air. 【Don’t do it, big brother! In the future, that woman will be crawling back to you like a dog!】 【If you die now, you’ll miss the moment she realizes her mistake!】 【If you don’t believe it, in two minutes your wife will text you, telling you to prepare a bath for her return!】 Skeptical, I waited, and indeed, two minutes later, I received a text from my wife. I believed these messages were here to help me reclaim my marriage. So, when my wife returned, I followed their instructions, opening the door with a suggestive red mark on my neck. … The click of the lock sounded, I took a deep breath and opened the door. Evelyn Gardner was supporting a heavily intoxicated Brandon Thorne, her clothes smelling of smoke and alcohol. Her face, habitually cold, prepared to offer an explanation. “He drank too much, I…” “I have plans tonight.” I cut her off before she could speak, my tone soft and calm, interrupting her prepared excuse. She froze. I stepped aside, offering a gentle smile. “Get him settled. Take a shower and get some rest. Don’t worry about the house; the cleaning service will handle it tomorrow.” This string of kind, understanding words, devoid of anger or argument, left her completely stunned. Evelyn’s gaze finally shifted from her initial shock, landing on me. For the first time, she scrutinized me as if I were a stranger. My black shirt, unbuttoned, showcased my well-defined chest and abs, and… the glaring red mark on my neck. Her face instantly darkened. “What is that on your neck?!” Evelyn’s voice held a tremor I hadn’t heard in ages. I instinctively raised a hand to cover it, my eyes darting away, feigning a touch of panic. “Nothing, probably… a mosquito bite.” Without another glance at her icy face, I picked up my phone from the sofa, and, in my crocodile-leather shoes, walked directly past her. “Where are you going?!” Her voice, thick with suppressed anger, came from behind me. I didn’t look back, leaving her only with a dashing, confident silhouette. Once outside, the evening breeze sent a shiver through me. I leaned against the wall, my heart pounding. “Messages, did… did I do that right?” Instantly, a dense swarm of messages surrounded me again. 【Yes! Absolutely! You are my god, big brother!】 【Did you see the shock on that woman’s face? I’m ecstatic!】 【You used to be too desperate in love, spoiling her until she had no idea how good she had it! Making her think you’d never leave!】 【Remember, good men get a badge of honor, bad men get everything!】 I thought of Evelyn’s expression moments ago—both furious and incredulous—a rare sign of concern I hadn’t seen on her face in ages. I became even more convinced that the messages were right. 【Go all out! Big brother, go to a nightclub! Let her not find you!】 A nightclub? I’m such an introvert; I’ve never been to a place like that. But the messages felt like countless hands, pushing me forward. Deafening music, hazy, flashing lights, a swirling mass of bodies on the dance floor. I sat stiffly in a corner, holding a drink for ages without taking a sip. 【Don’t be scared, big brother! You’re so handsome, be confident!】 【Sway to the rhythm! Let yourself go!】 Inspired by the messages and the surrounding atmosphere, I, as if possessed, stepped onto the dance floor. My movements were stiff at first, but slowly, I immersed myself in the music, discovering for the first time how exhilarating dancing could be. When I’d had enough fun, I returned to my booth and finally picked up my silenced phone. The screen blared: Missed Calls (27) Evelyn Gardner. My wife, who had been distant for an entire year, had called me twenty-seven times?! After all, it used to be me desperately calling her, trying to find out where she was. 【Ignore her! Let her hang! Let her taste what it’s like not to be able to find someone!】 Obediently, I tucked my phone back into my pocket, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. Wife, it’s not that I don’t want to answer; it’s that I need you… to fall in love with me again. You’ll understand, won’t you? I partied all night. The next morning, I returned home, exhausted and hungover. The living room light was on. Evelyn sat on the sofa, her eyes bloodshot, empty wine bottles strewn around her feet. Seeing me, she lunged forward, grabbing my wrist, her voice hoarse. “Where were you?!” I smelled the lingering scent of Brandon’s cigarette smoke on her. Seeing my silence, her face was filled with disbelief. “You weren’t like this before! You never stayed out all night!” I raised my eyes, blinking innocently. “What’s wrong with staying out all night?” “Evelyn, we’re both adults. Who doesn’t have their own life?” Evelyn was speechless, blocked by my words. In her bloodshot eyes, for the first time, appeared an unfamiliar unease and a hint of panic. “Isn’t that what you used to tell me?” I tilted my head, smiling purely and harmlessly. “You said you were busy, you said you had to entertain, you said… adults need their own space.” I returned her dismissive words, verbatim. In truth, my heart was pounding, my palms sweating with nerves. 【Hold steady! Big brother! Don’t break character! You are now the mighty Nicholas Thorne!】 【Yes! Fight magic with magic! So satisfying!】 The messages gave me endless confidence. Just then, the master bedroom door clicked open. Brandon Thorne emerged, wearing a black silk robe, rubbing his sleepy eyes, walking out languidly. That robe was my favorite one. In the past, this scene would have driven me to furious madness, leading to an immediate fight. 【The main man is here! High alert! Remember, whoever loses their temper first loses!】 I took a deep breath. Calm. Calmness was the greatest weapon. Brandon saw me, feigning surprise as he covered his mouth, saying in a sickly sweet, breathy voice, “Oh, Nicholas is back? I’m so sorry, I drank too much last night, and Evelyn was afraid I’d stain my clothes, so… she just found one of your pajamas for me. You don’t mind, do you?” Evelyn’s face was also extremely unnatural, and she awkwardly explained, “His clothes were dirty, I just grabbed something.” “Mind?” I chuckled, walking directly up to Brandon, my tone full of reproach, but directed at Evelyn. “How could you give Brandon my old, worn clothes to wear? That’s just so thoughtless.” I took Brandon’s hand, affectionately leading him toward the walk-in closet. Under their shocked gaze, I pulled out a brand new green pajama set from the cabinet and handed it to him. “This one is new, never worn. It suits your skin tone. Go put it on, it looks great.” 【What the hell! Top-tier infuriating behavior! This is killing him with kindness!】 【Brandon’s face has gone green; he thought he was provoking, but big brother just treated him like he was scavenging old clothes! And made him wear green clothes, I’m dying of laughter hahahahaha!】 I ignored their petrified expressions, turned back to my room, changed into a custom-tailored suit, and grabbed some documents, preparing to leave. Passing through the living room, I casually retrieved a crocodile-skin box from the safe in the entryway. “Where are you going?! What are you taking?!” Evelyn finally reacted, grabbing my wrist. I immediately slapped her hand away and opened the box. Inside lay a dazzling sapphire watch. “Oh, this.” I held it up, my tone intimate yet with a hint of chiding. “Remember that ‘collectible Patek Philippe watch’ you bought for eight million the year we got married? It’s… the set you wanted to give Brandon, but never did.” Evelyn’s pupils constricted sharply. I looked apologetically at Brandon. “Sorry, Brandon, it’s not that Nicholas is stingy and won’t give it to you. It’s just that Mr. Williams from the Quantum Group, who wants to partner with Gardner Enterprises, also likes sapphire dial watches. I’m meeting Mr. Williams for dinner today and plan to give this to him to discuss the project.” “Are you insane?!” Evelyn asked in disbelief, her voice trembling. “Have you forgotten how much you cherished this watch?! You wouldn’t even let me touch it back then!” “I’ve had a change of heart.” I looked at her earnestly, my eyes clear. “It’s just a watch. It’ll just collect dust sitting there. It needs to serve a greater purpose, doesn’t it?” I smiled, closed the box, and patted her shoulder. “You two rest well at home. I’m leaving.” With that, I walked out in my leather shoes, not looking back. The moment I got into the car and closed the door, I hugged the crocodile-skin box, my heart aching. After all, this had once been the most precious proof of my wife’s love for me. To give it away like this, to say I wasn’t reluctant was certainly a lie. 【Don’t be sad, big brother! Nothing ventured, nothing gained!】 【If that Quantum project goes through, it could bring at least half a billion in profit to Gardner Enterprises! Won’t it be great to sit back and collect your share as a shareholder?】 【Think bigger picture! You used a piece of jewelry she sullied, and in return gained career and wealth. More importantly, she’ll see you in a completely new light!】 I looked at the messages, took a deep breath, and nodded vigorously. The messages were right. I needed to think bigger. Sacrificing an external item for my career was worth it. When I gave the “sapphire watch” to Mr. Williams, the surprise in his eyes almost spilled over. As expected, the Quantum Group’s collaboration project with Gardner Enterprises was quickly finalized, and I was personally designated as the project liaison by Mr. Williams. In the days that followed, I was constantly busy. I plunged into the corporate world, which I had been away from for three years, absorbing everything like a sponge. Meetings, reports, social engagements… my schedule was packed. 【Go, big brother! Let her see how charming you are when you’re serious about your career!】 【Yes! Ignore her! Women will only slow down your money-making!】 The messages were my strongest support. I could feel Evelyn’s gaze constantly lingering on me, scrutinizing, and with a complex emotion I couldn’t decipher. But I had no time to respond. First, the messages forbade it. Second, I genuinely was very busy. On the night of the celebration banquet, as the project lead, I naturally had to attend with Evelyn. I had a top stylist do my hair, then changed into a custom-tailored white suit. When I stepped out, Evelyn, who was sitting nearby drinking bubble tea, clearly gasped the moment she saw me, her eyes filled with undisguised admiration. I secretly gloated, but my expression remained as cold as ice, merely asking, “Ready to go?” She blinked nervously a few times, then silently approached and linked her arm through mine. Just as we were about to leave, a sickly sweet voice chirped from nearby. “Evelyn, Nicholas, where are you going?” Brandon Thorne appeared from nowhere, holding a glass of dark purple juice. He stumbled, lunging straight for me! The cold liquid splattered all over my white suit, quickly spreading into a large, glaring stain. “Oh! I’m so sorry! So sorry, Nicholas!” Brandon immediately apologized in a panic, his eyes welling up with tears instantly. “I didn’t mean to… I slipped… What can we do? Tonight’s celebration is so important, and you don’t have clothes to wear. You can’t let Evelyn go alone, can you…” He apologized, yet every word was an insinuation. Evelyn was initially shocked, then looked at my ruined suit, a flicker of hesitation on her face. She was silent for a few seconds, then actually spoke. “How about… Nicholas, you go home and change. There’s no time left, I’ll take Brandon to the venue?” 【Don’t agree! Absolutely not!】 【That vile woman! She actually dared to say it! Can’t she still see through this idiot’s tricks?!】 【Big brother, if you listen to her, all your efforts will be wasted! She’ll immediately revert you back to that pathetic doormat she could summon and dismiss at will!】 I looked down at Evelyn’s hesitant yet somewhat entitled face, and without hesitation, swung my hand, delivering a sharp slap.

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On the day I was scheduled to try on wedding dresses with my boyfriend of seven years, I rushed to the bridal shop, filled with excitement. Instead, I overheard a conversation between my boyfriend and his friend. “You got married to Serena yesterday, and today you’re bringing Summer to try on wedding dresses? Aren’t you afraid Summer will find out and confront you?” He looked helpless, his voice hoarse. “My brother died in a car accident. Serena is pregnant with his child. If I don’t step up and marry her, how will they, an orphan and her child, survive?” “I’ll spend my whole life making it up to Summer. Keep your mouth shut; she absolutely cannot know about this.” My heart turned to ash. I immediately made an appointment for an abortion at the hospital. If he couldn’t give me and our child a complete home, then it was better not to have the child at all. 1 Their conversation was like biting winter frost, instantly extinguishing all the joy I had felt after receiving my pregnancy test results. This morning, I had woken early to collect the report from the hospital, intending to personally deliver the good news to him at the bridal shop. I never imagined he would deliver such a crushing blow first. If he had already married someone else, why was he still going through with a wedding to me? Before I could find an answer, the bridal consultant approached. “Miss Sterling, Mr. Ashton’s specially custom-made gown for you has arrived. You can try it on now.” Hearing this, I was momentarily lost in thought. Liam Ashton valued this wedding more than anyone. Both the wedding ring and the gown were personally designed and overseen by him, according to my preferences. The inner band of the ring was even engraved with a few words: “Two hearts bound, love unfailing.” I felt for him, having to deal with wedding preparations after work, and suggested hiring a designer to handle everything. But he shook his head, refusing, saying, “Designing it myself shows more sincerity. I want you to think of me whenever you see these things.” Everyone who knew about it praised him, saying he would surely be an excellent husband and that I was lucky to have met him. But who knew, his love for me would become so ironic? I composed myself and walked towards the fitting room where the wedding dress hung. There, I saw a familiar figure. Serena Davies, hearing the assistant directing me, turned and smiled. “Summer, you’re finally here. Come see how beautiful your wedding dress is!” Her expression was perfectly natural as she spoke, the picture of a caring older sister. When Liam’s brother was alive, we had met for dinner a few times, and I had interacted quite a bit with Serena. I used to think of her as my future sister-in-law, sharing good things with her, all to foster a good relationship with my future sister-in-law. If I hadn’t just overheard Liam and his friend’s conversation, I never would have imagined she would become an insurmountable obstacle between Liam and me. Remembering their words, I instinctively glanced at her still-flat stomach, a surge of bitterness washing over me. No matter what happened, she had a harbor to rely on. My child and I, however, had none. My expression dimmed as I looked at the exquisitely beautiful wedding dress. “It truly is beautiful. Would you like to try it on?” A disbelieving voice followed. “Summer, what are you saying? This is your wedding dress; how can someone else try it on?” Liam approached, a hint of annoyance in his voice, his eyes filled with disapproval. My expression remained unchanged, perfectly calm. “What’s the harm? I heard Serena didn’t wear a wedding dress when she married your brother. Trying it on now could fulfill her past regret.” Their wedding was rushed; they just got their license and didn’t have a ceremony. Now, Liam had given her the title of wife. So, I would help her fulfill the regret of not having a wedding. 2 Serena was visibly moved by my words. After all, no woman had ever not fantasized about being a beautiful bride. Perhaps Liam also felt my words were fitting, his expression softening slightly, and he said no more. Seeing his mood lighten, Serena’s eyes flickered with hesitation, and she tentatively asked, “Can I really try it on?” I nodded, and an attendant helped her into the gown. Liam had already donned his groom’s suit. Seeing Serena go to try on the dress, he thought about changing out of his suit. But I reached out and stopped him. “Serena is pregnant; doing anything is inconvenient for her. If you leave, what if something happens to her?” Hearing this, he abandoned the idea and quietly stood by my side, waiting. A hint of worry, however, flickered in his eyes. Catching his shift in emotion, a mocking smile touched my lips. Before long, Serena emerged, guided by a staff member. She wasn’t visibly showing yet, and her figure was similar to mine; the wedding dress fit her perfectly. A barely concealed delight on Serena’s face, she feigned modesty and asked, “Liam, do I look nice in this?” Hearing her, Liam, whose gaze had been fixed on her, snapped back to attention and softly hummed. The next second, another staff member walked over. Seeing this, they exclaimed, “The wedding dress looks truly beautiful on you, you really are the most perfectly matched bride and groom I’ve ever seen!” The words hung in the air, and everyone present’s expressions shifted. Serena glanced awkwardly at Liam, then, forcing a smile, began to explain, “No, you misunderstand…” Before she could finish, I clapped my hands, genuinely marveling, “You truly look perfect, Serena! This wedding dress is simply made for you!” So beautiful, how could everyone not appreciate it? As I spoke, Liam looked at me with a hint of disbelief in his eyes. After all, I had always been very particular about others touching my belongings, especially a wedding dress of such significance. And now, not only had I given her the right to try it on, but I was also praising her without reservation. “Summer, you…” I blinked, looking at him. “Alright, I was just making conversation. I suddenly remembered I have some unfinished business at work. I need to rush back to the office now, so I won’t bother you two.” With that, I walked directly towards the bridal shop entrance. Liam, seeing this, tried to follow. But Serena held him back. As I reached the door and looked back inside, I saw Liam supporting her, walking towards the fitting room. His support was careful, his gaze fixed on her. It was as if with her there, he had no room in his eyes for anyone else. At that moment, I felt a flicker of uncertainty. Was he truly marrying her out of this so-called responsibility? Or did he genuinely love her? I couldn’t get an answer, nor did I want to humiliate myself further. The next day, I arrived at the hospital as scheduled for my pre-operative check-up. When the doctor asked about the child’s father, I said, “He’s busy with work; he doesn’t have time to accompany me.” When I woke up that morning, I thought about telling him. But I called him several times, and not once did he pick up. After the surgery, my face was drained of color, and I weakly supported myself against the wall, walking out of the hospital. As I reached the hospital lobby, I saw Liam, accompanying Serena for her prenatal check-up. Both were startled when they saw me. Liam’s eyes flickered with surprise, and he asked, confused, “Are you not feeling well, Summer? Why are you at the hospital alone?” 3 Before I could speak, Serena interjected, “Summer, don’t take your health for granted just because you’re young. No matter how busy you are with work, you must take care of yourself. Don’t make Liam worry about you.” Her tone was earnest, yet I could detect a subtle aloofness in her words. I pursed my lips, hummed, and said, “I’m done with my check-up. I’ll get my medicine and leave. You two go for your prenatal check-up.” Liam’s eyes were filled with concern. He was about to walk towards me, but Serena pulled him back. “Liam, it’s almost our turn. Let’s go now.” With that, she feigned discomfort, rubbing her stomach. “I don’t know if I’ve been worrying too much lately, but my stomach feels a little uncomfortable. I hope it doesn’t affect the baby.” She emphasized the word “baby,” and the worry in Liam’s eyes dissipated. He said with an apologetic expression, “Summer, you go home first. I’ll come find you after I accompany Serena for her check-up.” In the past, when his brother was still alive, he always referred to Serena respectfully as ‘sister-in-law.’ Now, he called her so intimately. Watching them, a family of three, I clearly realized that I had become the true outsider between them. The man who once said he would love me for life no longer had me in his heart. Remembering how he used to prioritize me no matter what happened, my eyes welled up with bitterness, and I choked out, “Okay, you two go.” On the way home, I gazed at the familiar scenery flashing past the car window, and images of our past together flashed through my mind. Liam and I had known each other since high school. Back then, he was my deskmate. He was a quiet bookworm, while I was lively and active. My parents were busy with work, afraid I couldn’t take care of myself, so they made me live in the dorms. I hated the cafeteria breakfast, so I always pestered him to bring me breakfast from outside. He was reluctant, yet always indulged me. And this went on for three years. After high school, we, with unspoken understanding, chose the same university. As old classmates of three years, in an unfamiliar environment, I always sought comfort in him. I was used to coming to him with any problem, and he tirelessly helped me solve them. Many times my mom would say I shouldn’t bother others like that. I didn’t care and relayed her words to Liam. At that time, he put down his pen, saying nonchalantly, “Do you really think I’m just some soft-hearted guy? Summer, if I didn’t like you, I wouldn’t bother with you.” His affection for me was always apparent; I knew that from early on. So I uninhibitedly enjoyed his kindness. After we got together, his love for me became even more undisguised. As long as he was there, I could always be carefree. My mom knew of his devotion to me and always teased me, saying the hardest thing I’d ever experienced in life was going to work. But now I think she was wrong. The hardest thing I’d ever experienced wasn’t going to work. It was that the man I loved married someone else. And I was the last to know. Remembering the past, my eyes were red from crying. The driver, seeing this, handed me a tissue and advised, “Young lady, there’s no obstacle in this world you can’t overcome. Look forward; good fortune awaits you.” I took the tissue, choked out a thank you. After getting out of the car and paying, I was about to chat with a friend when I inadvertently clicked into my social media feed. There, I saw Serena’s new post from five minutes ago. She had posted an ultrasound image and a photo of Liam looking down at the scan report, with the caption: “Baby, hurry up and come out. Daddy and Mommy can’t wait to see you.” Scrolling down, the first comment was from Liam’s mother. She wrote: “Grandma can’t wait either. I’m so excited to see my first grandchild!” 4 The comment section was filled exclusively with Liam’s family. From their comments, it was clear they all knew about Liam marrying Serena. Remembering my visit to his family’s home a few days ago, and how kind they were to me, I found it incredibly ironic. I couldn’t help but wonder if, when I discussed our wedding at their house, they were all secretly laughing at me. My own boyfriend had married someone else, and I was still eagerly anticipating a fraudulent wedding. I wiped away the tears from my eyes and returned home. Before Liam and I set our wedding date, his family had already given me the customary “five metals” and dowry. I returned home and packed all the items they had sent into cardboard boxes. On the day of the wedding, I would return everything they had given me. From then on, I would have no further ties to the Ashtons. After the abortion, my body was very weak, so I took a few days off to rest at home. One day, as I was dozing, I vaguely felt someone approach. When I opened my eyes, I saw a familiar face. Liam gently touched my cold hands, his face anxious. “Summer, are you not feeling well? Should I take you to the hospital for a check-up?” If it were before, I would have whined and thrown myself into his arms, seeking warmth. But now, I pulled my hand from his, hid it under the covers, and mumbled, “It’s just a small cold, no need to go to the hospital.” Liam didn’t notice my resistance, shaking his head helplessly. “Why didn’t you tell me you had a cold? We’re getting married; why be so polite with me?” Hearing the word “married,” my groggy mind gradually cleared. Married? Yes, he was indeed married. I glanced at the cardboard boxes in the corner and quietly said, “Yes, we’re getting married. You can take your things back today.” We didn’t live together, but he occasionally stayed here, so he had many personal belongings in the house. The day I returned from the hospital, I had packed all of them. Liam didn’t notice anything amiss, a smile on his face. “Okay, we’ll be moving to our new home after the wedding anyway.” I didn’t reply to his statement. That evening, Liam made me a bowl of warm century egg and lean pork congee, then prepared to leave with his things. Watching his departing back, I softly said, “Don’t come again for a while. I have a cold, and I don’t want to infect you. You just stay home and prepare to be the handsomest groom.” He was deeply helpless by my words but complied. For the next few days, he didn’t come over but still sent me messages from time to time as usual. I always gave vague replies. Time flew by, and soon it was the wedding day. I didn’t wear the wedding dress Liam had personally designed, nor did I rush to the future I had once fantasized about. Instead, I bought a high-speed train ticket to Yunnan for a trip. The moment before boarding the train, someone from the hotel called me, asking when I would arrive. I immediately sent her Serena’s photo and told her, “This is the real bride. Before, I was just helping her with a rehearsal. Find her, help her change, and do her makeup.”

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My husband, Mark, said that to ensure my contributions were never taken for granted, he was implementing a family KPI system. He quantified every household chore into a point system. If I did well, I earned points. If I fell short, points were deducted. For three years, I worked diligently, accumulating 200,000 points. On our wedding anniversary, I saw a necklace I loved and asked to redeem some of my points for it. Mark slammed his chopsticks on the table, his face contorted with anger. He called me vain and wasteful. I tried to reason with him. “But you promised they could be cashed in!” He let out a cold, contemptuous laugh. “The points are a reward for being an adequate wife, not an ATM for your vanity!” Just then, his phone rang. It was his childhood sweetheart. His tone shifted, becoming a gentle murmur I had never heard him use with me. “Zoe, don’t cry. So what if the project failed? I ordered you a new car tomorrow, three hundred thousand dollars. Think of it as a reward for having the courage to try.” I stood frozen, the words dying in my throat. The next day, I filed for divorce on the grounds of emotional abuse and psychological control. I also demanded he pay me for three years of labor, corresponding to my 200,000 points, at the standard market rate for domestic services. 1. A bitter smile touched my lips. Mark glanced at me, his brow furrowed. “What are you laughing at?” “My two hundred thousand points can’t get me a three-thousand-dollar necklace, but a few of her tears can get her a three-hundred-thousand-dollar car. Mark, what exactly are your rules?” He ended the call and steepled his fingers, assuming the calm, rational, and unassailable posture he used in court. “Nina, I thought you were a sensible person,” he began, his voice devoid of emotion. “Zoe’s situation is different. She’s like a sister to me, someone I’ve watched grow up. Her career took a hit; she needs support.” He shifted his gaze to me, as if I were a line item on a balance sheet. “Your KPI point growth for the last quarter decreased by two-point-one percent compared to the previous one. Your household efficiency needs improvement. Under these circumstances, purchasing a three-thousand-dollar necklace is a classic impulse buy. It’s irrational. And it’s vain.” The KPI he spoke of was the system he had designed for me three years ago. Cleaning the house: 10 points. Cooking a four-course dinner with soup: 8 points. Hand-washing one of his expensive shirts: 5 points. For three years, I had performed these tasks day in and day out, meticulously tracking my score. He had called it a quantification of love and dedication, a promise that no effort would ever be overlooked. But looking at his cold, impassive face now, the whole thing felt like a grotesque farce. My love, my dedication—in his eyes, it was just a string of data that could be dismissed at his whim. He stood up and walked to the entryway to change his shoes. “Zoe’s not in a good place. I’ll be staying with her for a few days.” “Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary. You said you’d be with me.” “I’ll try my best.” My heart went cold. Last year on our anniversary, he’d said he’d “try his best” to come home. He ended up spending the entire day with Zoe because she’d sprained her ankle. On my birthday, he’d said he’d “try his best” to be there. He ended up at Zoe’s promotion party. The day I had surgery for an ectopic pregnancy, he’d said he’d “try his best” to make it. A single phone call from Zoe about a breakup was all it took for him to leave me alone on the operating table. When Zoe was involved, anything concerning me became an optional task, something to be handled with a half-hearted “try.” I had confronted him about it once, screaming and crying. He had just rubbed his temples, his face weary, saying he had a duty to look after her for the sake of their families’ long-standing friendship. Even his mother had called to subtly warn me not to be so petty. The door clicked shut, sealing me in my world, him in his. I looked at the cold, untouched dishes on the table and laughed, a hollow, bitter sound. 2. I walked into the study, my fingers tracing the spines of the thick, logbook-like journals on the shelf. Each one was embossed with gold lettering: The Miller Household: Annual Operations Report. Mark’s masterpiece. I opened the first volume. On the flyleaf, in his bold, confident script, were the words: To my Nina: Love is something you do, not something you say. I promise you, every ounce of your effort will be recorded and cherished, never in vain. The date was the first day of our marriage. “Nina,” he had said, “traditional marriage is too vague, too full of emotional arguments. We’re a modern couple. We need a more scientific, more efficient way to run our home.” “This KPI assessment will be the bedrock of our marriage. It will translate all your labor into tangible value. I guarantee you can redeem your points for anything you want, anytime.” Back then, I was captivated by the future he painted. I thought this was his way of loving me—meticulous, serious, unique. So I began to document my every chore with the dedication of a research scientist. The densely packed pages were a record of my youth, quantified. I thought I was accumulating proof of our love. It turns out I was just filling out an unpaid labor contract. I opened my phone and scrolled through my chat history with Mark. The last message was from three days ago, a reminder from me to pay the homeowners’ association fee. His reply was a cold, one-word “OK.” Scrolling up, it was an endless stream of my detailed reports and his brief, directive responses. And his chat with Zoe? I had accidentally seen it on his computer once. He replied thoughtfully to every silly photo of a cat or dog she sent. He patiently played along with every one of her bad jokes. When she complained about work being hard, he would transfer her a huge sum of money without a second thought. His warmth, his patience, his generosity—they all existed. They just weren’t for me. The ringing of my phone startled me. It was Mark’s assistant. “Mrs. Miller, do you know where Mark is? There’s an urgent case at the firm, and his phone is going straight to voicemail.” Whenever he was with Zoe, Mark’s phone was on silent. Worried it was something important, I grabbed my car keys. “I’ll go find him. Don’t worry.” I had just parked when I saw them. Mark, Zoe, and his best friend, Leo, were walking out of a high-end restaurant, laughing. Zoe was clinging to Mark’s arm affectionately. “Zoe, you’ve got some serious pull,” Leo joked. “Getting our star lawyer to ditch his own wedding anniversary for you.” Zoe giggled, practically draping herself over Mark. “What’s Nina? She’s just a free maid. It was my idea, you know. I told him to set up that stupid KPI thing. And she actually fell for it, slaving away to earn points. She’s such an idiot.” Leo roared with laughter. “An idiot is right. Who else would marry him with no dowry, not even a proper wedding?” Their words were like poisoned needles, stabbing into my heart. Just as I was about to storm out, Leo asked Mark, “Seriously, man. What did you ever see in her?” I held my breath, waiting for his answer. Mark’s voice cut through the frigid air, each word a shard of ice piercing my soul. “Obedient. Free.” I stood frozen, a dull, aching pain spreading from my chest. Zoe, clearly delighted with his answer, pressed even closer. “Mark, if I hadn’t gone abroad in a huff back then, you wouldn’t have married her, would you?” Mark was silent for a moment. He turned to look at her, his eyes filled with a softness I had never seen. “Zoe, you deserve to be free. To have your own dreams and a career. I didn’t want you to be trapped in a home by me.” A roar filled my ears. The last thread of my sanity snapped. Three years ago, I had just received a translation offer from a major corporation. My future was bright. Mark proposed. He said he needed a stable home and hoped I would quit my demanding job for him. 3. I had hesitated, unwilling to give up my career. He held my hand, his eyes sincere. “I can’t do this without you,” he’d said. His profession required a supportive partner at home. But he didn’t want me to be an undervalued housewife. “This KPI assessment, it will make all your labor tangible. I promise, every contribution you make will be seen, will be quantified.” He had used a set of seemingly fair rules to put a price tag on my worth, manipulating me into willingly sacrificing myself to become a convenient tool in his life. All so the woman he truly loved could soar, unburdened. They laughed as they walked towards their car. The moment Mark opened the door, he saw me. He froze, and then his expression darkened. “What are you doing here? Stalking me? Is it about that necklace? Do you really have to have it?” Zoe looped her arm through his, tilting her head as she looked at me with a sweet, venomous smile. “Oh, that’s just how housewives are. They don’t earn money, but they sure know how to spend it. And they’re so clingy. Don’t be mad, Mark.” Mark frowned at me, issuing a command. “Go home. You’re not getting the money. This month’s non-essential spending is already three percent over budget. If you want the necklace, you can wait until next month.” Leo watched the drama unfold, whispering to the others. I felt a wave of shame so intense I wanted to run. But then I clenched my fists. My fingertips brushed against the familiar roughness of my skin, a testament to three years of daily immersion in cold water and harsh chemicals. Suddenly, I found my courage. I was not the one who should be ashamed. Love is not a KPI. Marriage is not a transaction. I looked at the man I had loved for so many years, my gaze hardening. “Let’s get a divorce, Mark.” He scoffed. “Now you’re just being hysterical.” The car sped off, leaving me standing alone in the biting wind.

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Three days after finalizing the divorce with Holden, two videos exploded across all major platforms. One was from eight years ago, showing me, Scarlett, at twenty-four, bussing tables with Holden at a late-night diner. I was cradling a fifteen-dollar plate of fried rice, my eyes sparkling. “Future Scarlett, once Holden becomes a big-shot director, won’t it be awesome to be married to him? You better remember all the hardships we’re going through now; he’ll have to pay it all back, with interest!” The other clip was from yesterday’s film festival red carpet. The newly crowned Best Actress, Selena, walked past the autograph wall, her arm linked with Holden’s. The man smiled at the cameras. “Finally, I don’t have to see other people’s shadows through Scarlett anymore.” 1 The videos went viral just as I received my acceptance letter from the Vienna Conservatory of Music. Clicking the play button, my twenty-four-year-old self abruptly appeared. A girl with a ponytail, meticulously picking out every single shrimp from her fried rice and transferring them to the bowl across from her. I stared at the screen for a long time before finally digging this memory out from the depths of my mind. It was my second year in the big city after leaving home. I was down to my last two hundred dollars, squatting at a copy shop near the film academy, editing screenplays for people. After three days, only Holden stopped, a cigarette dangling from his lips, raising an eyebrow. “Want to work on a film crew with me?” I looked up, staring at his face, lost in a daze, my throat tightening. He clicked his tongue. “It’s a legitimate crew, daily pay.” From then on, the production’s logistics team gained two new members. I wrote storyboards; he lugged equipment. The set was bustling late at night, few people noticing us in the corner. Only one girl, wearing a baseball cap, occasionally stood behind the monitor, watching us work through the night, her eyes bloodshot. After that, she came every day, carrying a second-hand camera, filming us. Holden was twenty-five then, wild and sharp, with an innate storytelling quality for the camera. I thought she was moved by his persistence. Patting her shoulder, I proudly declared, “What you just filmed is future director Holden’s on-set diary. These shots might be worth a fortune someday.” But she shook her head, saying the protagonist she wanted to capture was never Holden. It was me. She said in twenty-four-year-old Scarlett, she saw herself in her past—reckless, passionate, giving her all. She called this project ‘Eight-Year Dream’. Eight years later, she intended to prove with this film that there are no fairy tales in real life. I laughed, thinking her naive. She stomped off in a huff, but the next day, she reappeared in the corner of the set. As long as she didn’t interfere with our work, we let her be. 2 The forums had already exploded. Someone dug up the comment Holden made backstage at the film festival to Selena. “Oh my god, wasn’t Scarlett rumored to have married Holden for his connections? Who started that lie!” “Scarlett loved Holden to death, okay? This is clearly Holden cheating.” “She worked three jobs to support both their dreams back then—that’s not love? She was super in love!” “Everyone says Selena looks like Scarlett. Is this a ‘substitute’ trope?” They were half right. In twenty-four-year-old Scarlett’s eyes and heart, it truly was all about Holden. But they were also wrong. Selena wasn’t a substitute. I was the shadow. The one in Holden’s heart had always been Selena. When he first took me in at his rented flat, he often stared at my profile, lost in thought. But from the fourth month on, he started truly seeing me. He’d cook late-night snacks when I pulled all-nighters writing scripts, and prepare ginger tea every rainy season. Every night after work, he’d tuck my frozen hands into his jacket pockets. Putting his arm around my shoulders, he’d whisper, “Scarlett, when I make my first movie, I’ll definitely have you as the screenwriter. Then, I’ll propose to you at the premiere.” I nodded hard, working even harder at my jobs. Waking up at five in the morning to edit scripts, then heading to a breakfast shop at seven to fry donuts. At noon, I’d hand out flyers in office buildings. Getting heatstroke in a suffocating mascot costume in summer was common; in the dead of winter, standing on street corners, my hands were covered in chilblains. I also had to constantly watch out for city officials; getting chased once meant half a day’s work wasted. In the evenings, Holden and I would go to film sets as temporary production assistants. He studied photography; I did odd jobs. If we finished early, we’d help bus tables at a late-night diner. Often, we’d be busy until after midnight, then catch the last subway home. The girl who filmed us lasted only a week before collapsing from exhaustion. Rubbing her shoulders, she looked at me with immense respect. “Are you made of steel? Don’t you ever get tired?” How could I not be tired? I was only human. But thinking of that promise made every bit of exhaustion worthwhile. I wanted Holden to succeed sooner so he could repay me a hundredfold, a thousandfold, for all these hardships. If he tried to renege, the video would be proof. In the footage, I was leaning against a wall, dozing off. Holden gently moved his shoulder closer, supporting my swaying body. He frowned, wiping the sweat from my forehead, and sighed. When I caught the faint scent of soap on him, I suddenly jolted awake, feeling recharged. I smiled, tugging at his sleeve, swaying him. That Scarlett never seemed to notice Holden’s occasional moments of distraction. 3 After filming us for a month and a half, the young woman said she was going back to school. Because of Holden and me, she believed in love again. The night before she left, we treated her to a barbecue at the diner. Holden played a tune on his guitar that I had just written. It made the young woman cry again. She asked what the song was called. I said, “Against the Current.” It was a song written for him, and for me. Also because of this song, a producer that night wanted to buy Holden’s short film script. The young woman poked me. “If he really becomes a big director, aren’t you afraid he’ll leave you?” I pulled Holden’s arm, lifted my face, my eyes crescent moons. “Future big director, someone’s questioning your sincerity. Quickly, make a statement.” In front of everyone in the entire night market, Holden leaned down and kissed me, his eyes as gentle as if steeped in honey. “Holden will always love Scarlett! Just like it says in this script, my love for you isn’t enough even if we filmed until wrap.” I rubbed my eyes, turning off the video. My chest ached with a dull pain. Because on TV, Selena’s acceptance speech was playing. The background music was the same “Against the Current” that Holden had been reluctant to sell years ago. Now renamed “Moonlight Elegy.” The composer and screenwriter credits, once my name, were now Selena’s. He once said that if he became a director, I would be his exclusive screenwriter. We would win the Golden Palm together. Before the award submission deadline, he said he would submit my name. But that day, Selena threw a tantrum because I hadn’t brought her coffee. Holden pulled me aside, telling me to apologize. I laughed out loud on the spot. “Holden, am I her assistant?” He, however, said, “Scarlett, be sensible, don’t make things difficult for me.” I stiffened my neck and ordered takeout for Selena. That was my last shred of adult dignity. But at the awards ceremony, I sat in the audience, wearing a rented gown, full of anticipation. I waited and waited. Finally, I watched helplessly as my own work was credited to someone else. “Scarlett, you know Selena has a bad temper, just humor her. To make it up to you, I bought you that limited edition bag.” “It’s perfect; you can focus on the family from now on. Consider this a learning experience.” His words were like a bucket of ice water, chilling me to the bone. That night, I lost my first credit. After that, every time I upset Selena, I paid a price. For example, a script I had just finished writing would suddenly become her idea. My collection of old movie DVDs, cherished for years, was thrown away by her. The writing nook in the study was converted into her dressing room. Each time this happened, Holden would give me a gift. Later, he simply gave me his card and told me to spend freely. I cried, I protested, but in the end, he always grew impatient. “Scarlett, aren’t these enough to repay the hardships you went through with me back then?” “She’s your sister, can’t you just let her have her way? How much longer are you going to keep this up?” I stood frozen, swallowing all my grievances. “Holden, what you owe me, you can never repay.” “If you want me to stop, give me another five hundred thousand.” Fifty thousand, plus the money from selling off the gifts, would be enough for me to independently produce a short film. He looked at me with incomprehension, with disappointment, but no guilt. “Scarlett, you’ve changed.” That day, he threw the check on the coffee table and stormed out. After that, rumors of me ‘extorting’ Holden spread like wildfire. And he watched, coldly. Reopening the forum, I found netizens in an uproar. “Is Selena shameless? Stealing Scarlett’s scripts and meddling in her marriage, I’m boycotting her for life!” “Don’t forget Scarlett got expensive gifts every time she caused a scene! If she really had talent, why would she keep leeching off Holden? She’s just a housewife now, I bet she’s orchestrating all this!” “Victim-blaming? Many of Selena’s films are similar in style to Scarlett’s early scripts, could they all be stolen?” “Holden is Scarlett’s husband. If there were really problems, would he protect Selena so much? Isn’t it obvious who he loves?” As the topic’s popularity soared, my name, Holden’s, and Selena’s were trending in the top three. Selena’s fans flooded my social media with insults. My supporters started trending topics about her plagiarism and being a home-wrecker. Seeing both sides about to spiral out of control, Holden updated his status. Two images. One, a divorce agreement. The other, a copyright transfer contract, with Selena as the beneficiary. At the same time, Selena’s private account was exposed. The content crashed the servers. 4 Selena’s private account interactions with Holden began nine years ago. The first interactive post was full of a teenager’s resentment. Nineteen-year-old Selena wrote: “Suddenly there’s an older sister, but she’s my dad’s ex-wife’s daughter. I hate her.” Holden asked: “What’s your sister’s name?” Scarlett. After that, their conversations always revolved around me. Like what I liked, what I disliked, what my ideal type was. Selena complained about how her bad sister took everything from her. Because of the bad sister, she was forced to go abroad to study acting. Twenty-four-year-old Holden comforted her: “Bad sisters get their comeuppance. Focus on your career abroad.” That year, when he was twenty-four, he finally met twenty-three-year-old Scarlett. A girl who looked seventy percent like Selena. At twenty-five, he got his first commercial advertisement. He became somewhat known, and his work was on subway billboards. That same year, for my sake, he turned down an opportunity in New Orleans. He knew I didn’t want to leave Sterling City. Soon, the buzz faded. He picked up his camera again, returning to the streets to shoot short films. I tried to speak several times, but he just ruffled my hair. “Your big brother is amazing, he’ll bounce back eventually. But my Scarlett shouldn’t settle.” Looking at his face, my eyes welled up, and guilt washed over me. After two more years of filming, when he was twenty-seven, Selena returned. As a rising actress, she invited Holden to collaborate on a public service short film. Holden became famous again, and through Selena’s introduction, he signed with a film company in New Orleans. The night he signed, he held me without saying a word. I guessed he was struggling. In the second year in New Orleans, screenshots of me maxing out his credit cards went viral. His fans labeled me a gold digger, and the entire internet urged him to break up with me. He offered verbal comfort but let me be subjected to cyberbullying. Netizens crowned Selena the “new girlfriend.” Holden remained silent. He came home less and less, but collaborated with Selena more and more. They were hailed as the golden couple of the film industry, with only me as an obstacle. When rumors first started, he would hold me and explain. “Scarlett, it’s all company hype. Selena and I have nothing going on, don’t be angry.” I touched his face and kissed his eyes. “Okay.” Later, he would just smoke on the balcony and tell me to go to sleep first. Now, Selena’s private account once again ignited a wave of hatred against me. My estranged father also published a “heartbroken” long post. He claimed that despite my alleged misdeeds, he still begged netizens to leave me alone. He would make me apologize and stay away from Holden and Selena. Keyboard warriors instantly cheered: “See! Scarlett’s mom was a home-wrecker, Scarlett is a home-wrecker too. Our Selena is the most innocent!” “Why are Scarlett’s supporters quiet now? Her dad confirmed it, she’s a bad seed!” “Holden has spoken out, they’re divorced. Scarlett stole Selena’s place for years, it’s time to pay up! Support Holden and Selena, Scarlett get lost!” Holden and Selena’s fans flooded my social media, their insults even worse than before. I scoffed, turning off my phone. My fingertip traced the photograph of a man who looked exactly like Holden. I kept my promise to you. … The hashtag #HoldenDivorcesGoldDiggerTrueLoveWins remained number one on trending topics for a whole day. Netizens pieced together the scandalous marriage of the top director. Many wondered when Holden would marry Selena. Would their wedding be even more extravagant than his previous lavish one? Others listed my alleged crimes, fantasizing about my tragic downfall. Unexpectedly, a single piece of news reversed the tide.

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After I found out I was pregnant, I decided to stop making a fuss. Even when my husband, Brandon, brought his childhood friend’s widow home, I pretended not to notice. He looked at me, his expression unreadable. “Clara has a bit of a fever. I just brought her here to recover.” I thoughtfully closed the door. “Take good care of her, then.” We had screamed at each other hysterically about her countless times, but he never once backed down. It wasn’t until I found out I was pregnant that Brandon’s attitude softened slightly. “After Allen passed, I genuinely just felt sorry for her, being pregnant and all.” I nodded. “Hmm, it gets cold at night. Remember to give her an extra blanket so she doesn’t get sick.” Seeing my indifference, Brandon’s brows furrowed even deeper. “You don’t care at all?” Caring used to exhaust me. Now, I just wanted to safely deliver this child, repaying him for saving my life. Everything else, I truly didn’t care about anymore. … Without waiting for my answer, Brandon frowned deeply. He held my hand, refusing to let go. “She suddenly got a fever. After a hospital check-up, the doctor said to keep an eye on her. She’s pregnant, after all, and I was worried, so I asked her to stay here tonight.” I smiled faintly, pulling my hand away. “I understand. No need to explain. I’ll sleep in the guest room.” Brandon’s expression stiffened. “Why aren’t you asking me?” I had asked countless times before, but all I got in return was his accusations. I said, “Isn’t this what you wanted?” Brandon was silent for a moment, then took my hand again. “I’ll have her leave once she wakes up. She’s just Allen’s…” I finished his sentence for him. “She’s just Allen’s widow. Allen pushed you away during the car accident, and on his deathbed, he asked you to take care of his pregnant wife. You just feel guilty. I won’t speculate about your relationship.” These words, I didn’t know how many times I had heard them. Brandon looked at me, a weary expression on his face. “Lydia, what do you want?” “Let her stay,” I said calmly. “It’s not the first time she’s slept in my bed.” Brandon’s breath hitched, his face changing. Half a month ago, after working overtime until the early hours, Brandon didn’t pick me up for the first time. I came home to find Clara in my pajamas and slippers, lying in the marital bed Brandon and I shared. Her vomit had ruined the first portrait Brandon ever painted for me. And Brandon was sitting calmly by her side, like a husband guarding his wife. I couldn’t stop trembling and had a huge fight with Brandon. “You didn’t pick me up just to be with her?” “Do you like her?” In the end, Brandon disdained explaining further. “Stop being so unreasonable! She’s not like you; Allen always doted on her, she’s innocent and naive. How could she have the dirty thoughts you imagine? Believe it or not.” My heart ached intensely, and I didn’t dare let my tears fall. Brandon refused to say more, slamming the door as he left. Memories faded, and I went to the guest room to make the bed. Brandon followed me, trying to discern any different emotions on my face. Unfortunately, there were none. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, whispering in my ear, “I’ll have the portrait repaired right away. It’s at the studio now. I’ll take you to see it tomorrow, okay?” His studio. I had almost forgotten about it. He was a painter and was very particular about anyone entering his workspace. I had tried several times to go, but he always changed the subject. Over time, I understood what he meant. For all these years, I had never stepped foot into his studio. The last time I tried to go to the studio was his birthday. I had bought a gift and cake, wanting to take him out to celebrate. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I saw Clara, her pregnant belly prominent, chatting and laughing with him inside, as he painted her portrait. She even casually scribbled on his finished artwork, and he just laughed it off. A territory I couldn’t enter. Yet Clara could do as she pleased inside. Brandon and I had another big fight. “She just lost her husband, she’s not in a good mood, she just wanted to see my paintings.” “Why have you become so jealous?” He slammed the door and left. He didn’t even glance at the gift I had prepared for him. I patted the pillowcase. “It’s just a painting. You don’t need to bother.” Brandon froze, his face filled with disbelief. “Just a painting?” “That was the first painting I ever did for you. You said it was your favorite.” I didn’t reply, calmly lying down. I don’t know how long Brandon stood by the bed before he left. In the middle of the night, my calf cramped. Since I found out I was pregnant, my body had started to feel uncomfortable in various ways. I went to get a massage roller and, through the crack in the master bedroom door, saw Brandon massaging Clara’s calf. “Brandon, maybe I should just go. Scarlett will just argue with you again if she finds out.” Brandon was silent for a moment, then said, “It’s not your fault. It’s okay.” “Really? But lately, I feel like you haven’t been replying to my messages promptly. If Allen were still here…” Her words trailed off, and Clara’s crying tone returned. Brandon was silent for a moment. “I’m sorry to both of you.” The cramp in my calf twisted more painfully. I gently pushed open the door. “Excuse me.” Seeing me, Brandon immediately pushed Clara’s leg away and abruptly stood up. Clara, who was over eight months pregnant, struggled to prop herself up. “Scarlett, don’t misunderstand. My leg cramped, and I asked Brandon to help me…” “It’s fine. I just came to get something.” I glanced at them, picked up the massage roller from beside the bed. “Sorry to interrupt. Please continue.” Clara’s face stiffened, and she anxiously looked at Brandon. After Clara left, Brandon came to my room. “Lydia,” he pinched his brows, his voice tired, “let’s talk. Clara and I…” I thought he was going to talk about something else. But it was still this. “I know,” I said, “you feel guilty towards Allen and just want to make amends to her and her child. I understand completely and don’t mind.” Brandon’s face instantly turned pale. “Really? But you used to…” I smiled. “Believe it or not.” This was once his reply to my hysterics. Now I returned it to him verbatim. He heavily wiped his face, then knelt on one knee, holding my calf. “Let me massage it for you.” I didn’t refuse. From this angle, I could clearly see the distinct scar on the side of his neck. On New Year’s Eve, during the third year of our relationship, a stampede occurred at our date spot. Brandon used his arms to fiercely protect me in a corner, creating a tiny space for me to survive. A sharp object had left a long gash on the side of his neck. As blood splattered, he didn’t forget to tell me, “Lydia… don’t be scared. I’m here…” If that year’s wound had been just one millimeter deeper, he would have died on the spot. If it weren’t for him, I would have died in that accident long ago. “Lydia.” I snapped out of my thoughts. His tone was a bit coaxing. “I’ll sleep here with you tonight. Tomorrow I’ll change all the sheets in the master bedroom.” “Actually, you shouldn’t have let her leave. What if she’s uncomfortable?” His movements paused, and he said in a deep voice, “She’s single. It’s not appropriate for her to stay over.” After only a few presses, his phone rang. It was Clara. He glanced at me and put it on speaker. “Brandon! I twisted my ankle and fell. My stomach hurts a little, and I can’t get up right now. Can you come help me?” Brandon instinctively started to walk out, then stopped when he saw me. He opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak. I spoke first. “See? I told you she should have stayed.” His brows furrowed tightly. “I’ll go check on her. I’ll be right back.” I held my breath, touching my belly. I lay down, covering my lower abdomen, and reminisced over the years, sleep completely gone. After we got married, he was diagnosed with severe male infertility, and even with IVF, he only had one chance. Those few days, we barely slept. I saw him several times, clutching the divorce papers, silently crying, then hesitatingly hiding them again. I was the first to come to terms with it. Our relationship was strong, and he had saved my life. Even though the IVF process was incredibly difficult, I still yearned for a life of having children with him and growing old together. During this time, Allen had an accident, leaving behind a pregnant Clara. At that time, I had to inject myself five times a day, take a handful of pills, and have ultrasounds and blood tests every two days. In the beginning, he accompanied me throughout. Later, when I was getting injections, he was accompanying Clara to her prenatal check-ups. When I was having blood drawn, he was helping Clara prepare her hospital bag. We argued more and more frequently. On the egg retrieval day, I lay naked on the operating table, enduring the excruciating pain of a 20-centimeter-long needle piercing my ovaries. I bit my lip until it bled from the pain, silently shedding tears. At that time, I believed that once we had a child, Brandon would realize who his priority should be. When I was pushed out of the operating room looking for him, I found he was already gone. Only a message on my phone: “Clara, being pregnant, is threatening to jump. I had to go. You have doctors taking care of you, don’t worry.” Before I could calm my grief, I received a deliberate call from Clara. On the phone, her voice choked with sobs. “Brandon, if Allen were still here, I wouldn’t be neglected like this! You and Scarlett have such a good relationship; I could have had that too, but Allen cruelly abandoned our child and me!” Brandon’s sigh was trembling. “I will never abandon you in my life.” Despair and anger made the pain even more pronounced, piercing directly into my heart. I couldn’t help it and swore at Clara with many harsh words. When Brandon returned, another fierce argument ensued. “She’s pregnant and just lost her husband, she’s depressed. How can you curse her like that? Aren’t you afraid of pushing her to her death?” “Why are you so heartless now?” “I’m so disappointed in you!” He didn’t care about Clara’s overstepping boundaries, only knew how to criticize me. I jumped onto the windowsill like a madwoman, yelling and questioning: “Brandon! What about me?!” “I take injections and medication, undergoing IVF, just to have a child with you. Am I being pathetic?!” Brandon was scared. He hugged me tightly, his palms trembling as he stroked the back of my head. “Lydia, I said too much. I’m sorry.” “From now on, I’ll only accompany you.” Brandon kept his word. For a while afterward, he proactively cut off contact with Clara, stayed by my side, and personally prepared all three meals a day. At night, he held me, kissing me tenderly until I fell asleep. Half a month later was the embryo transfer surgery. He escorted me outside the operating room, devoutly kissing my forehead. “Lydia, don’t be scared. I’ll be right outside.” “You’ll see me as soon as you come out.” But when I was pushed out of the operating room, I only saw a bouquet of flowers by the hospital bed. And a message from him: “I’m sorry, Lydia, Clara’s baby’s heartbeat is having issues. I have to go check on her. You have a doctor taking care of you, don’t worry.” I closed my eyes, and the tears I expected surprisingly didn’t fall. I simply replied: “Okay.” As my thoughts drifted, my hand was still resting on my lower abdomen. Now, when I thought of Brandon, only one thought remained in my mind. To bear his child, to repay him for saving my life. Everything else, it didn’t matter. Brandon didn’t return until three days later. For those three days, where he was, what he was doing, and who he was with – I didn’t ask at all. I just carried on with my own routine. Clara frequently sent him thank-you messages. I didn’t need to guess where Brandon had been. He kept staring at me, wanting to say something, but not knowing how to explain. I was too lazy to think about it. “The portrait is repaired. I brought it back,” he asked, “should I hang it in the master bedroom?” The painting showed me smiling brightly. I hadn’t smiled like that in a long time. “Whatever,” I said. Brandon’s expression stiffened, and he said no more. He brought back a lot of groceries, made a table full of dishes, and led me to sit down. “Clara bought all the ingredients. She felt she had inconvenienced us.” I didn’t even spare him a glance, just focused on eating. “She was on bed rest for three days at home,” he explained softly. “It wasn’t right for me not to take care of her.” “I slept on the sofa for several nights.” I nodded quietly. Brandon picked up a shrimp for me. “She has surveillance cameras at her house. If you don’t believe me, I can show you the video.” I smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. I won’t cause her any more trouble. No need to explain.” Brandon’s movements paused, and he heavily put down his chopsticks. “Lydia, you’re different from before.” I wondered, “Isn’t it good that I’m quiet?” Brandon’s face instantly turned ashen. “Lydia…” Halfway through the meal, my lower abdomen suddenly cramped, and cold sweat immediately broke out! I was trembling all over from the pain. “The food… something’s wrong.” Brandon, in a panic, scooped me into his arms and carried me to the car. “Don’t be scared, we’re going to the hospital!” Halfway there, Clara’s call came through. “Brandon, I… I’m going into labor, I’m scared…” “Can you come be with me?” The car screeched to a halt by the roadside. I clutched my clothes, suppressing the excruciating pain, waiting for his decision. Brandon’s breathing grew heavy. He looked at me, covered in cold sweat, and after a long moment, said, “Lydia, you’re still early in your pregnancy, there shouldn’t be any danger.” “I know you’re in a lot of pain, but her husband died, and she has no one to rely on. She needs me…” I waved my hand, gritting my teeth, and opened the car door myself.

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