The night of my engagement, I found my CEO fiancée and her eighteen-year-old assistant on the company rooftop. Seraphina calmly tightened her open, revealing nightgown, kicking a few used condoms into the corner. But before I could even react, Jace clutched his chest, crying that my footsteps had been too loud and scared him, causing his heart condition to flare up. My fiancée ordered her guards to tie me up and hang me upside down from the edge of the roof for two days and two nights. “That’ll teach you for scaring my Jace on purpose! Since we just got engaged, I’ll go easy on you this time, just a small punishment!” Jace then broke into a smile. He pushed Seraphina against the rooftop wall, kissing her wildly right in front of me, until they were breathless and flushed. He only left when he was satisfied. Before he left, he subtly tucked a sharp piece of glass beneath the rope. With each swing, the rope quickly frayed and snapped. I didn’t die from the fall, but my legs were shattered. I was confined to a wheelchair for life. Yet, on the very night I was hospitalized, I saw Jace post a photo on SnapChat. The picture showed ten condoms blown up like balloons. “Sister promised to go unprotected! She says that useless waste is done for, and tonight she wants me to give her a baby!” I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my flesh. Eight years of a relationship, and I never imagined we’d end up like this. I immediately contacted the cutting-edge neuroscience medical team I’d anonymously invested in three years ago. “Add another hundred million to the investment. Fix my legs.”

When Seraphina heard I was going to call the police, she immediately FaceTimed me, demanding answers. “Jace is just a playful kid, a little bit immature. He didn’t mean to cut the rope.” “Look, I’ll apologize for him. Let’s just drop this small matter, okay?” “I promise you, our engagement will continue. Even though you’re a cripple now, with you as my husband, nobody will dare to laugh at you!” I hung up the phone and pounded my numb legs, consumed by grief. We were childhood sweethearts; we’d been together since we were eighteen. I still remember a younger, innocent Seraphina swearing under the sun that she would love me forever, her heart never changing. But it had only been eight years, and her heart had already changed. In her eyes, Jace getting a fright was a major event, but my shattered legs she casually dismissed as “a small matter.” It turned out, love and indifference were starkly obvious. I hired the most professional legal team to gather evidence of Jace’s deliberate harm, then called the police. The lawyers quickly got back to me. Seraphina had ordered all company surveillance footage deleted the moment the incident happened. She had chosen Jace’s side once again. Her protectiveness toward him chilled me to the bone. Seraphina furiously rushed to the hospital, raising her hand and slapping me across the face. She snapped, annoyed: “Dean, you’re calling the police over such a small thing? Didn’t I already apologize for Jace?” “He’s just an eighteen-year-old kid! You’re a whole decade older than him, why are you being so petty with a child?” “Besides, you were the one who scared him first! He has a weak heart and gets easily frightened. I haven’t even tried to blame you, and you’re already turning the tables on me!” She finished speaking and sat by my hospital bed, threatening: “Our engagement just got put on the schedule. You don’t want me to unilaterally cancel it now, do you?” “Your legs are broken, and if you get dumped too, what will happen to your parents? They’re already not in the best health; if they hear this double blow of bad news, it could literally break their hearts, and something terrible might happen!” I stared hard into her eyes, unable to believe she would use my parents to threaten me, all for Jace. Five years ago, Seraphina was in a car accident. Both her kidneys were damaged, and she urgently needed a transplant. My entire family got tested for a match, and only my mother was a match. Despite her age, she immediately decided to donate a kidney to Seraphina, which is why her health has been declining ever since. At the end of the year my mother donated her kidney, Seraphina was being chased by a rival she’d angered. Both our families had just left a restaurant when a masked man with a knife rushed toward Seraphina. Her biological parents instinctively hid, but in that critical moment, my father stepped forward and took a knife for her, puncturing his lung. My parents’ health suffered because they successively saved Seraphina. They genuinely loved her and had long considered her part of our family. But Seraphina was not only ungrateful, she was using them to threaten me into withdrawing the police report. I pulled at the corner of my mouth, a bitter taste filling my heart. “Why? Seraphina, haven’t my family and I been good enough to you?”

Perhaps it was the depth of my disappointment, but my voice was trembling. Seraphina looked as if she’d heard the funniest joke, a disdainful smirk playing on her lips. “I didn’t beg you to be good to me. Wasn’t it all your voluntary effort?” “Besides, it’s not like you didn’t have ulterior motives, right? Wasn’t it because you wanted me to marry into your family and give you an heir?” I lowered my head and chuckled bitterly, unable to utter a single word of rebuttal. A moment later, I slowly spoke. “So, the vows we made when we were eighteen… have you forgotten them all?” A flicker of guilt crossed Seraphina’s eyes, but it vanished in less than a second. She arrogantly lifted her chin, irritated. “Those were childhood vows. Why are you bringing them up now?” “I know you’re resentful, but you don’t need to get lawyers involved, do you?” “Dean, you weren’t this petty before, were you? Why have you become so unreasonable now?” I closed my eyes, not wanting to continue the conversation. Seraphina scoffed. “Don’t forget to withdraw the police report. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee I won’t say things to your parents!” Only after she left did I open my eyes. But the tears, rebellious, streamed out. I buried my face in my hands, letting out cries of anguish. That night, I sent Seraphina a message. “I can withdraw the police report, but our engagement is off. We’re even from now on.” “Cancel the engagement?” Seraphina frowned, demanding, “Dean, what game are you playing now? You love me so much, how could you bear to cancel this engagement?” “Alright, you don’t have to act in front of me! I’ve already promised you that I’ll let you be my husband, and I’m not going back on my word!” Just then, her phone rang. It was the special ringtone she’d set just for Jace. She’d also arranged a special passenger seat for him, a special workstation. Her favoritism for him was everywhere. Jace’s whining voice came through the phone. “Sister, I saw a limited-edition designer couple’s diamond ring. One for each of us! Come pay for it, quick!” “Wait for me, I’m coming right away.” Her reply was swift and decisive. It was clear she truly cared for that eighteen-year-old assistant. I lowered my gaze. The silver ring on my ring finger was still the couple’s ring we had handmade together when we first got together. So many years had passed, the ring was worn and faded, but I still couldn’t bear to take it off. Seraphina’s silver ring, though, had long since disappeared. Chuckling mockingly, I took off the ring on my ring finger and threw it into the trash. It was half a month later when I was discharged from the hospital. As soon as I was wheeled out, I saw Seraphina, waiting impatiently. “I’m pregnant.” My heart seized. Even though I felt I no longer loved her, hearing this news still brought a pang of pain. After she spoke, she ordered someone to take my wheelchair, then had me moved into a black sedan. “Jace hasn’t reached the legal age for marriage, so we can’t get our license yet.” “I’ve already announced to everyone that I’m pregnant with my fiancé’s child. Today, you’re going to marry me. Once the baby is born, we’ll get a divorce.” The car door shut, and we sped towards the marriage registry. I sat in the car, clenching my fists, my knuckles white. “Seraphina, what makes you think I’d be willing to accept this child?” She replied indifferently, “Because it’s your parents’ wish. I’ve already called them, and they agree we should get married immediately.” “Oh, and of course, I told them I was pregnant with *your* child. Don’t spill the beans when you talk to them later.” “Otherwise, if they find out the golden grandchild they’ve waited so many years for isn’t happening, they might be devastated again!” I trembled with rage. She watched me, amused. “You’re getting a child handed to you for free, you should be happy!” “Besides, marrying me has been your wish for years, hasn’t it? You proposed to me so many times before, and I never agreed to get married.” If Seraphina had agreed to marry me before, I would have been ecstatic. But now, I just felt a wave of nausea. I couldn’t hold back and dry-heaved a few times in the car. Seraphina immediately covered her nose and mouth in disgust, scornfully saying, “If you’re going to throw up, get out and do it! Don’t you dare stain my car!” “This car is Jace’s favorite! I promised to give it to him once he gets his driver’s license!” Those words were like a dagger stabbing into my heart. Eight years together, and the gifts Seraphina had given me were always random souvenirs. But for Jace, she was so thoughtful and generous. In that moment, I decided I would stop deceiving myself. I let go of that eight-year relationship. Three years ago, I had secretly invested in an international medical team. Now, I took out my phone and sent a message to the team leader: “Add another hundred million to the investment. Fix my legs.” The reply came quickly: “Understood.”

The car soon arrived at the marriage registry. Seraphina ordered someone to push me to the marriage registration counter inside. She had even pre-booked the VIP channel. As soon as I was at the counter, she forced me to sign. I picked up the documents to be signed and tore them into pieces, just like our relationship, which had reached its end. “Seraphina, if you try to force me to sign, I’ll have no choice but to call the police.” Seraphina’s expression immediately turned cold. She yelled at me, “If you don’t sign, what about the baby in my belly? Do you want him to be born a bastard?” “I don’t care. You’ll sign today, whether you want to or not! Otherwise, I’ll jump from this rooftop, and it’ll be two lives lost!” This wasn’t the first time Seraphina had threatened me with suicide. In the past, whenever she pulled that stunt, I’d immediately give in to all her demands. But this time, I wouldn’t bow down to her. I looked at her coldly, calmly saying, “Your life or death has nothing to do with me. Either way, I won’t sign this.” The staff at the counter, hearing this, realized I was unwilling to register the marriage. They loudly declared, “According to Article 9, Section 2 of the Marriage Law, if both parties are not fully willing, the marriage registration authority shall not register the marriage.” “Marriage is not a game. You two should go back, discuss it thoroughly, and then come again!” I grabbed my ID back and pushed my wheelchair out. But just as I reached the lobby entrance, my wheelchair was knocked over by someone rushing in. I toppled over with the wheelchair, crashing into the glass door. A sharp pain shot through my head, and a warm liquid trickled down. I lay on the ground, unable to get up, the pain in my head making me dizzy. The person who had bumped into me rushed into Seraphina’s arms, their voice tearful. “Sister, are you going to abandon me? I don’t want you to marry anyone else. Can’t you wait for me for two more years?” Seraphina’s eyes also reddened. She hugged him tenderly, comforting him, “Okay, okay, don’t cry. I’ll wait for you.” Jace turned his head, looking at me lying on the ground, showing no intention of helping me up, nor a word of apology. “Why are you trying to steal my sister from me? You know she’s already pregnant with my child! Why are you trying to break up our family of three?” “I know you’re forcing Sister to marry you! Even if your legs are broken, you shouldn’t use Sister’s entire life to compensate for yours!” “I’d rather go to jail than let Sister marry someone like you. Go tell the police that I’m the one who hurt your legs. I’m willing to take full responsibility!” His tearful accusations immediately drew the attention of the surrounding crowd. These people stared at me with contempt, unable to resist cursing out loud. “I can’t believe a cripple like him has such a wicked mind, deliberately breaking up someone else’s family!” “Using his disability to emotionally blackmail a pregnant woman and forcing her to marry him, how shameless!” Everyone around pointed fingers at me. Jace looked at me triumphantly, a victorious smile on his lips. The two of them walked past, arm in arm, intimately, like a newlywed couple who had just registered their marriage. I endured the intense pain, lying on the ground, lowering my head, not wanting anyone to see my pathetic state. It wasn’t until a staff member noticed me that they helped me up and put me in a taxi. This incident still reached my parents’ ears. Jace had come prepared. The people who mocked me at the marriage registry were all hired by him. He’d also had someone secretly film a video and post it online, causing me to be cyberbullied. My parents brought me home, caressing my numb legs, tears streaming down their faces. “I can’t believe Seraphina could be so heartless! Dean, don’t worry, your dad and I will go abroad with you to treat your legs. You’ll definitely get better!” “As for that ungrateful snake Seraphina, ever since she started her company, your dad and I have been quietly cleaning up her messes behind the scenes.” “Since she’s the one who acted so heartlessly, it’s about time we settle accounts with her properly!” Three days later, my parents and I boarded a flight to another country. As soon as we landed, Seraphina frantically called. I answered the phone, my voice impatient. “Is there something you need?” Seraphina’s voice was anxious. She kept asking,

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In the third year of my marriage to Sarah Montgomery, I overheard her friends asking her: “Sarah, if we pretend to be you and take turns holding hands and kissing your husband, he really won’t notice?” Sarah carelessly smoothed a stray strand of hair from her temple, utterly unbothered. “He has face blindness, he won’t notice.” “But just so we’re clear, have your fun, but don’t sleep with him. I don’t want seconds; that’s just dirty.” For the past three years, the person I’d been dating, holding hands with, and kissing, was never Sarah Montgomery. Of course, I knew. I also knew that for the past three years, the one I’d been holding close in bed every night, wasn’t Sarah either. The phone rang just as I carried Chloe Miller out of the bathroom. Chloe was a clingy little siren. Taking advantage of a brief pause, I nudged her waist. “Phone.” She finally glanced at her phone, pouting, a hint of annoyance in her expression. She quickly flipped it over, then playfully leaned in to kiss my earlobe. “Hubby, I’m gonna take this call.” Chloe said, then disappeared into the balcony. I silently put on my pajamas and went downstairs, opening the car door and slipping inside. From the car’s Bluetooth, which was connected to Sarah Montgomery’s phone, came her cool voice: “Tomorrow, you switch with me.” Chloe chuckled softly. “What, only three years and you’re already having withdrawals?” Sarah paused, likely having a drink, her voice a little hoarse. “Not really. Grandpa’s birthday is tomorrow, so I need to bring him. Oh, and a reminder, it’s Ashley’s turn on Friday.” As soon as she finished, a chorus of laughter erupted. “No way, Sarah, you’re seriously that generous? You just got married and you’re already lending your husband out for us to ‘play’ with?” Sarah’s nonchalant voice came through. “It’s a blind box game. You play, you lose, you pay up. It’s just Liam Henderson; I can afford to lose him.” “But just so we’re clear, have your fun, but don’t sleep with him. I don’t want seconds; that’s just dirty.” Someone “tsk”-ed. “What are you scared of? Who would ever actually *want* him?” “Still, Liam Henderson has a great body. Sarah posted a picture of him right after he showered in the group chat, those abs, *tsk-tsk-tsk*. None of you five felt a thing?” “I kinda did.” Chloe’s sweet, flirty voice suddenly broke the silence. Sarah’s end went quiet. The silence that followed was so thick, it sent a chill down my spine. “Just for fun, I’m not a home-wrecker.” Chloe said leisurely, “But wouldn’t sleeping with him be perfect? His birthday’s in a few days, aren’t you planning to announce this whole thing then?” The raucous music on Sarah’s end drowned out Chloe’s voice. But I could still hear Jake Peterson laughing in her ear. Jake was Sarah Montgomery’s first love. I grew up alongside Sarah, watching her and Jake go from strangers to lovers. But Mr. Montgomery didn’t like him. He’d threatened that if Jake didn’t leave Sarah, the Petersons would be forced out of this state. For Jake, Sarah had no choice but to agree to an arranged marriage with me. Eighteen years of secret love, and my dream finally came true. Only now, I realized it was nothing more than a game among these rich kids from the elite circles. Jake laughed, echoing. “Right, Sarah, his birthday’s in a few days. Why don’t you give him a big present and tell him the truth?” “From the moment you two got married, you’ve been taking turns with him… When you think about it, Liam Henderson is like a shared toy, everyone gets a turn.” “Shut up.” Sarah and Chloe’s angry voices came out at the same time, and the phone line fell silent again.

Chloe spoke lazily. “After all, he’s Sarah’s husband. Provoking him like that isn’t good.” “We won’t touch him, that’s not happening.” I couldn’t make out what Sarah said, the other end was a chaotic mess, drowning out her voice. The call lasted fifteen minutes. I turned off the Bluetooth and got out of the car. That wrenching pain had long passed, now hidden beneath a calm exterior. But it was still there, tiny and persistent, like a swarm of ants gnawing away at my insides. As I walked upstairs, I ran into Chloe, who was about to leave. She seemed to be in a hurry, her buttons were misaligned, and the exposed skin of her collarbone was covered in suggestive red marks. Seeing me, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, diving into my arms and wrapping her hands around my waist. “Where did you go, hubby? I thought I lost you.” “Just went downstairs to take out the trash.” I lowered my head, my palm stroking her cheek, my fingertip tracing the mole near her eye. Sarah Montgomery also had that mole near her eye. Chloe’s amber eyes deepened as my finger slid down. The moment my fingertip touched her lip, she opened her mouth, catching it and gently biting down. Chloe had a habit, like a biting cat, determined to leave all her marks on me. Even if this territory wasn’t hers. Chloe’s breathing grew heavier, her eyes burning with unresolvable desire. She pulled me upstairs, her small body tackling me onto the bed. I suddenly pressed her hands down. “Sarah Montgomery, stop using birth control. Give me a child.” Chloe’s pupils flickered. She stared at me, a fierce glint in her eyes. That night, Chloe transformed from a docile house cat into a fierce, untamed wildcat. She was exceptionally wild. … I found out Sarah Montgomery was deceiving me a few days before our wedding, when I received an anonymous video. The video was taken in a private room at a bar, with Sarah sitting beside Jake Peterson. She proposed a blind box dating game, and a group of them drew lots, and I was the one chosen. Besides Sarah Montgomery, there were four other “players.” Chloe Miller was also chosen. “Boring.” She impatiently flipped the table, then abruptly stood up and left the private room. “You guys play if you want.” Jake Peterson laughed, smoothing things over. “It’s fine, four people can still play, but you guys need to watch your limits. For Sarah’s sake, don’t take it too far.” That’s when I realized the wedding I had anticipated for eighteen years was just the starting signal for a game. My heart clenched so tightly, I couldn’t breathe. The anonymous sender messaged me: *[It’s not too late to cancel the wedding now.]* I ignored it, sitting numbly, staring at the video all night. It was a commercial marriage alliance; our family was climbing the social ladder by marrying into the Montgomery family. I had no right to cancel the wedding. The wedding proceeded as planned the next day. But before the ceremony ended, Sarah Montgomery took a call, changed out of her wedding dress, and left. That night, it was Chloe Miller who came home. I had face blindness, but I wasn’t stupid. After secretly loving Sarah Montgomery for eighteen years, how could I not recognize her? In my world, people were only divided into three types. Men, women, and Sarah Montgomery. That night, Chloe stood with her arms crossed, looking at me with a mocking, playful smirk. I remember she seemed to want to say something that day, but before she could open her mouth, I walked over and kissed her. “Sarah Montgomery, I knew it, you’d come back.” Everything that followed seemed to fall into place naturally. Four people took turns pretending to be Sarah Montgomery. Every year for my birthday and anniversaries, I received five gifts. We were like any normal couple. Dating, holding hands, hugging, shopping, kissing. But the one who came home at night was always either Sarah Montgomery or Chloe Miller. It was too easy to tell Sarah Montgomery and Chloe Miller apart. Sarah recoiled from my touch, her eyes holding an unmistakable loathing with just a glance. Chloe, however, was always delighted. She had many tricks up her sleeve and was incredibly clingy. She’d join me for a long hike, walking twenty miles, and still have the energy to keep me up until dawn. She loved all forms of physical contact, clinging to me and calling me “hubby,” then getting so breathless from my kisses she couldn’t speak. “Baby, I really, really like you.” That word, “like,” she’d whisper it into my ear a million times a night, then playfully demand that I reciprocate. Eventually, it turned into resentment. Sometimes I’d drift off to sleep, hazy with exhaustion. In my dreams, someone would trace my features, murmuring to themselves: “Why did you marry her, even knowing she was deceiving you?” “Why don’t you divorce her? Do you love her that much?” I wanted to ask her too. Why did she go back on her word and join this game? I treated her as Sarah Montgomery’s substitute. What did she see me as? I never asked, and Chloe never answered. In my vague world, another type of person emerged: Chloe Miller.

Chloe left early the next morning. The mess in the house had been meticulously cleaned up. Sarah Montgomery called me, telling me to come downstairs. When I opened the car door, Jake Peterson was sitting next to Sarah. He gave me a provocative smile. “Excuse me, Liam Henderson, I’m also going to see Elder Montgomery. You don’t mind, do you?” Before I could reply, Sarah impatiently spoke. “Liam Henderson, get in the car.” I closed my eyes for a moment, ignoring Jake’s taunt. After getting in the car, I asked Sarah, “Didn’t you buy me breakfast?” Sarah froze for a moment. I deliberately smiled. “You forgot, when I woke up this morning, you said you were going to buy me breakfast.” I didn’t know when Chloe had left. But Sarah’s face went from pale to dark after hearing me, and Jake gasped. “You two… slept together?” His tone held an ill-concealed triumph. I didn’t answer. Instead, I feigned surprise and looked at Sarah. Sarah “hmm”-ed, her face turning even worse. She picked up a bubble tea from beside her, preparing to drink it. I added fuel to the fire, continuing: “Didn’t you say last night you were going to quit bubble tea? High sugar isn’t good for the baby, we’re supposed to be preparing for pregnancy.” *Clatter.* The bubble tea fell to the ground. Sarah’s dark eyes swirled with a chilling coldness, as if threatening to swallow me whole. Jake Peterson, however, smiled meaningfully. “Is that so? Well, I’m really looking forward to your baby.” I smiled gently, looking at Sarah. “I’m looking forward to it too. For us to have a complete family.” Sarah’s irritation was visible to the naked eye. This irritation reached its peak when Chloe Miller appeared. Chloe carried her bag, wearing an expression that seemed to relish in the unfolding drama. She was with a few other people I couldn’t distinguish. But judging by Chloe’s demeanor, they were likely the other three who’d impersonated Sarah. “Sarah Montgomery, aren’t you going to introduce us?” I intertwined my fingers with hers. “Are they your friends too?” “Chloe Miller.” Before Sarah could speak, Chloe extended her hand to me. “Nice to meet you, brother-in-law.” The words “brother-in-law” were deliberately emphasized. In bed, Chloe sometimes played games and would purposely call me “brother-in-law.” Hearing it from her now, in this setting, it carried an inexplicable intimacy. Sarah slapped my hand away, pulling Chloe outside. Jake Peterson’s triumph in his eyes became even more obvious. He smiled, looking at me. “Liam Henderson, is Sarah’s temper really bad? Only I’m close enough to her that she treats me well.” “Not that bad.” I smiled, going along with his words. “She’s been quite well-behaved lately.” Jake chuckled. The others burst into laughter too. I felt incredibly uncomfortable among this group. Just then, I received another anonymous message: *[Come to the backyard.]* I went out, half-believing, half-doubting. I hadn’t walked two steps when I heard Sarah Montgomery’s voice from behind the rockery: “He touched you? Why did he say he wanted to prepare for pregnancy?” Chloe Miller stood with her hands in her pockets, leaning lazily against a tree. “What, you’re having second thoughts?” “He’s my husband!” Sarah frustratedly grabbed her collar. “He didn’t touch me.” Chloe impatiently waved her hand away. “But what if he did? He wouldn’t even notice anyway. And even if he did, at most it’d lead to divorce, and wouldn’t that be perfect for you to be with Jake Peterson?” Sarah hesitated, then irritably picked up the bubble tea beside her. But then she seemed to think of something and tossed it into the trash. “You’re not planning to divorce her?” Chloe narrowed her eyes, her voice turning cold. “Aren’t you afraid Liam Henderson will get angry if he finds out?” “He won’t,” Sarah said with certainty. “He loves me very much, he won’t get angry. Once his birthday is over in a few days, and the game ends, I’ll properly settle down and live with him.” “In any case, you need to rein it in. Liam Henderson wants a child, and I’ll give him one, it’ll be compensation for deceiving him these past three years.” “What about Jake Peterson then?” Sarah said nothing. I lowered my gaze to my phone, where the divorce papers from my lawyer were in my inbox. Before the wedding, I had genuinely intended to live a proper life with her. I didn’t even ask for her love; simply living as respectful partners would have been enough. From the moment I learned the truth until the wedding day, I gave her countless opportunities, waiting for her to confess to me. But she never did. Three years. Whether it was with Sarah Montgomery or Chloe Miller. I was tired of this game. After dinner, Sarah Montgomery and I went home together. As I leaned over to buckle her seatbelt, my phone lit up. Sarah merely glanced at it, then pushed me away and got out of the car to answer the call.

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The summer break kicked off with a school-organized volunteer trip to an orphanage, where we’d live for a month. As a med school representative, I quickly noticed something was off with one of the orphan boys. Julian, who looked eight years old, had the bone age of a forty-two-year-old! In my previous life, I spilled the beans about his bizarre check-up results to my classmates, warning them to steer clear of the kid. But they scoffed, accusing me of being a cold-blooded monster for bullying a poor orphan. The next day, Julian vanished. Rumors flew that I’d driven him to believe he didn’t deserve to live. My classmates, furious, cornered me on the rooftop, demanding I jump to my death to atone for their accusations. The orphanage fence was old and rickety, and I ended up smashed onto the pavement below, dying instantly. Then I opened my eyes. I was back. Back to the very first day at the orphanage. This time, I decided to tell them Julian’s check-up was perfectly normal. **01** Standing at the orphanage gate, a swarm of kids rushed out to greet us. My eyes immediately locked onto him – Julian. He threw himself into Brittany, a junior from the finance department, clinging to her. “You smell so nice, big sister!” he chirped. “Unlike the other big sister over there, she smells stinky.” Julian shot me a dirty look as he finished. Last time, I’d noticed Julian’s behavior was way out of line. He’d bury his head in Brittany’s chest, acting all sweet, but then he’d deliberately touch her thigh. When I kindly warned Brittany, she snapped at me, self-righteously, “Riley, do you have any humanity left?! Or is it just that you’re so used to being groped that everyone else seems ‘dirty’ to you?!” Her words sparked a wave of laughter among the other students. The gossip spread like wildfire, painting me as a classist, snobby, cold-blooded monster. They constantly sabotaged me, even egging on the orphanage kids to torment me. “That big sister is a bad person! Don’t be like her!” The orphanage kids were young; they believed whatever the adults told them. They copied everything they heard, constantly pelting me with pebbles, sprinkling sand in my bed, and some even intentionally putting cockroaches under my covers! In the end, when I fell from the roof, it was them—the kids, egged on by my classmates—who swarmed me and pushed me over the railing! This time, I decided I wouldn’t meddle in their affairs. I clutched my bottle of disinfectant and medical equipment. “That’s the smell of alcohol, it might be a bit strong,” I told Julian, “but it helps keep everyone healthy!” Hearing me, the other kids crowded around, their big eyes wide with curiosity. “Wow, big sister, you’re so smart!” “Can this water really protect us? Can you give me some?” Seeing their innocent faces, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of emotion. These precious little angels had been corrupted in my past life by those classmates, who were always sucking up to the powerful and stepping on the weak. This time, I vowed to protect their purity! “Of course! Every day, I’ll use this disinfectant to wash your hands and keep you safe!” As soon as I said that, the children started jumping up and down, cheering for me like I was a superhero. But Derek from the Business Management program wasn’t thrilled. He was always the center of attention, and seeing me surrounded by adoring children, his face immediately fell. He strode forward and kicked the bottle of disinfectant out of my hand. “Oh, so you think you’re some kind of savior around here, huh?” he sneered. “You’re so good at buttering up these kids. Are you from here too?” He laughed. “Seriously, Riley? You’re an orphan too? No parents?” The children instantly went quiet, their faces falling in disappointment. Being told they were “parentless”—they probably heard that a lot. But Derek just said it right to their faces. “Derek, are you insane? How can you say that in front of the kids?!” I stared at him, shocked. Before Derek could reply, Julian spoke up from the side. “Derek didn’t say anything wrong, big brother.” He giggled. “Are you really parentless, big sister? Hehe.” Brittany and Derek exchanged a look and burst into laughter. “Julian, you’re so funny!” Brittany exclaimed. “After this volunteer trip, I’m going to adopt you as my little brother!” But Julian buried his head in Brittany’s chest again. “I don’t want to! I want to be Brittany’s *baby*.” Brittany was still basking in the glow of being liked by a child. She didn’t even notice that Julian, barely eight years old, had a noticeable bulge in his crotch, pressed against her. **02** The next morning, I woke up early to draw blood for the children’s physicals. When it was Julian’s turn, he completely shut down. No matter what I said, he refused. “This woman’s a liar! She’s taking our blood to sell it! Don’t trust her, everyone!” In my previous life, Julian pulled the same trick. Back then, I just thought he was a scared kid, terrified of needles. The other kids, hyped up by his words, went wild and wouldn’t let me draw their blood either. Julian even grabbed a syringe and lunged at me. “You want my blood?! I’ll stab *you*!” The other students followed suit, grabbing syringes and trying to stab me! My body was covered in countless tiny puncture marks, nowhere untouched. The other students just stood there watching, completely unconcerned. “That’s not our problem. I’m a finance major, this isn’t my field,” one said. “Seriously? You think you’re going to be a doctor? You should just drop out and get a factory job!” another scoffed. I even tried to ask the school for help, to get out of the volunteer trip. But when my classmates found out, they cornered me. Derek viciously kicked me. “This volunteer trip is tied to all our credits! We can’t have any screw-ups!” he snarled. “If you chicken out and mess with our grades, I swear I’ll make you pay!” Brittany crouched down, her eyes narrowed menacingly. “If you don’t draw their blood and complete the check-ups, then *I’ll* be drawing *your* blood. Understand?” Her dad was a notorious figure in the city’s organized crime scene, and she’d always thrown her weight around at school. Once, a student dared to contradict her in front of everyone, and the next day, that student was found badly beaten on the outskirts of town. I knew she wasn’t kidding. In the end, I had to ask the orphanage director for help to resolve the situation. After I discovered the irregularities in Julian’s medical report, I immediately told my classmates. But they didn’t care, accusing me of deliberately targeting Julian, saying I was a cold-blooded animal! It ultimately led to my innocent death. This time, all I wanted was to protect myself. Facing Julian’s defiant glare, I stood up and addressed all the children. “Kids, this is a magic wand that can draw all the bad stuff out of your bodies!” I announced cheerfully. “Once the bad stuff is out, everyone will be super strong! Plus, I’ve got candy for all of you!” As expected, the children eagerly lined up, all wanting their blood drawn. Only Julian remained, clinging desperately to Brittany’s neck, rubbing his face against her chest. “I don’t want to, I don’t want to! No blood draw!” Derek was getting impatient. “Come on, hurry up, don’t drag it out. If you mess with our credits, I swear I won’t let you off, you brat!” Seeing there was no way out, Julian reluctantly allowed me to draw his blood. The entire time, the look in his eyes was filled with a chilling killing intent that sent shivers down my spine. After collecting all the samples, I locked myself in my private room in the dorm. I started testing each sample, one by one, until the last one was done. I looked up and realized it was late into the night. Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed past the window. I immediately tensed. The next second, the lights in my room went out, and the door creaked open. In the moonlight, I saw Julian, his face grim, staring intently at me. **03** I forced myself to stay calm. “Julian, little one, what’s wrong? Do you need something?” His hands were clasped behind his back, as if hiding something, and he stepped closer, inch by chilling inch. “Did you finish testing my blood sample?” I nodded, fighting back the rising panic. “Yes, I just finished.” He stared me down, trying to read my expression for any hint of a lie. “So, what did you find?” I swallowed hard, backing away until my spine hit the cold wall. “Julian, your check-up report… there’s a problem!” As soon as I said it, Julian lunged at me like a madman! In the nick of time, I shouted, “Your iron levels are low! A bit anemic, actually! You need to eat more, kiddo!” Julian suddenly froze. I saw him hurriedly stash something behind his back. It was a gleaming fruit knife! My shouting quickly drew the attention of my classmates in the next room. They gathered outside my door. “Riley, why’s your room dark? Oh, Julian, why are you here?” Julian instantly plastered on his usual innocent smile. “I just came to see if big sister Riley was done with her work. She must be so tired working so late!” He bounced away amidst their praises. But I knew for sure now: Julian was hiding something big. His blood oxygen levels and bone age clearly showed he wasn’t a child at all! He was a forty-year-old man! What was he doing, pretending to be a child in this orphanage? If he was just freeloading off them for food and shelter, that wouldn’t be enough to make him want me dead. Soon, a staff member came and restored the power to my room. “That’s weird. Your power lines were cut from the outside.” The staff’s words only confirmed my suspicions. Julian definitely had a bigger secret! First thing the next morning, I went to the director’s office. “Director, may I see the students’ files?” The director was surprised by my request, frowning. “What do you need them for? We usually don’t show them to outsiders, it involves the children’s privacy.” I remembered how, in my previous life, when my classmates cornered me on the rooftop, the director simply stood by his window, watching my plight, without the slightest intention of helping me. This time, I didn’t dare tell him my true suspicions. I had to lie. “My aunt and uncle don’t have kids and are looking to adopt an orphan. I wanted to see if there were any suitable children to help them find the right one.” The director finally lowered his guard, smiling as he pulled a thick binder from his drawer and handed it to me. “Oh, I see. All the children’s records are here. You can look at them in my office, but you can’t take them out. We have several well-behaved children here; take your time choosing.” I took the binder and started flipping through it. I’d reached the very last page of the thick file, but there was no information about Julian. “Director, why isn’t Julian’s information in here?” A flicker of unease crossed the director’s eyes, and his face immediately hardened. “Why do you want Julian’s file? I heard you two had some disagreements a few days ago. What’s the real reason you’re asking for his file?!” He said, and then, with a click, he locked the office door from the inside. A bad feeling instantly washed over me . Why was the director so alarmed by my question about Julian’s file? What was the director’s relationship with Julian? What secrets were they hiding? “Julian, that kid, he’s a handful sometimes, but he’s bright! You know, Director, most of the kids in the orphanage have some health issues. But Julian, he looks perfectly fine!” I rambled, trying to reassure him. The director visibly relaxed, awkwardly saying, “I was just trying to open the door for some air. How did it get locked? Guess I’m getting old.” He cleared his throat. “Julian, he was adopted once before, but the adoptive parents said he had violent outbursts, always breaking things and screaming to be brought back here. They were forced to return him. To avoid a repeat, I removed Julian’s file from the general records.” I nodded, then left the office. The next second, a dark figure slammed me into the corner. **04** Julian’s eyes were filled with murderous intent as he glared at me. “What were you doing talking to the director?! Were you investigating me?!” He barely reached my ear, but his strength was terrifying! “I just wanted my aunt to adopt you, that’s all. My aunt and uncle run a restaurant. You’d be well-fed, I promise.” I pretended to be casual. He violently flung my wrist away, his face twisted with rage. “I like it here with everyone! Just leave me alone!” he snarled. “If I catch you snooping again, you’ll regret it!” With that, he dragged me to the bathroom at the end of the hall and locked me inside one of the stalls. The bathroom was out of the way, near the staff offices, so normally no one except the director would pass by. I pulled out my phone and texted my classmates, but they all claimed to be busy, and no one was willing to come and unlock the door. I decided that if no one came by midnight, I’d have to call the police. But around eleven at night, I suddenly heard a girl crying from inside the bathroom! My blood ran cold. No way this is actually happening, right?! Then I heard words mixed with the sobs: “Waaah, why… waaah, if only I had a mommy…” I instantly realized it was one of the orphanage children crying. I whispered, “Little one, it’s big sister Riley. Can you open the door for me?” The child immediately shrieked in terror, then took a while to articulate a full sentence. “Are you really big sister Riley?” After confirming my identity, the child opened the door. The crying child was Lily, a quiet and easily overlooked little girl among the other kids. I crouched down to wipe her tears. “Tell big sister, why are you crying? Did someone hurt you?” Lily was trembling all over, just sobbing. I reached out to comfort her, but she suddenly winced, as if in pain. I lifted her shirt and discovered her body was covered in bruises and cuts! “Lily, tell big sister what happened. Big sister promises, I’ll get you out of here!” She finally started telling me her story. My tears streamed down my face, and I was shaking with fury as I listened. The moment I woke up tomorrow, I would call the police! After taking Lily back to her room, I returned to mine to gather evidence for the police report tomorrow. Passing Brittany’s room, I heard muffled moans and gasps coming from inside. “Derek, go easy!” I heard Brittany pant. “Why won’t you let me touch you?! Okay, okay, I get it, it’s just your little… thing.” I paid them no mind, rushing back to my room and locking the door. First thing the next morning, I was woken by a commotion in the courtyard. I looked out to see Brittany yelling at Derek, raging. “You scumbag! Why didn’t you tell me you were hooking up with Chloe?!” Derek and Chloe stood hand-in-hand, looking utterly bewildered. “Why do I need to tell you who I’m dating? What’s it to you?” Derek retorted. *Slap!* Brittany slapped Derek across the face, utterly distraught. “Then why did you come to my room last night and do *that* with me?! I’ll have my dad kill you!” Chloe looked shocked. “Brittany, what are you talking about? Derek was in my room all night!” **05** By now, everyone had rushed into the courtyard to watch the drama unfold. Brittany, humiliated, turned her fury on Chloe.

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For ten years since I was found and brought home, my relationship with Chloe, the fake heiress, was as close as real sisters, practically inseparable. Even my mother, Eleanor, used to say that Chloe didn’t care for her as much as I did. I once swore I’d give my life to protect our unique family of four. But then, Chloe’s sudden cerebral aneurysm ruptured, and she was on the brink of death in the ER. Yet, I refused to operate. I chose instead to practice a basic suturing technique. My boyfriend, Dylan, yelled at me, his voice raw with disbelief. “Audrey! Only your microscopic dissection technique can save your sister! All the specialists in the hospital are waiting for you! The surgical window is closing, less than an hour left! What are you still hesitating for?!” He was right. I was the only person in the country who could perform that level of surgery. But I just calmly hummed in response, continuing to tinker with the medical model. My parents, Eleanor and Richard, rushed in, tears streaming down their faces. “Audrey! That’s the sister you swore to protect with your life! How can you just stand there and watch her die?!” I gently pulled away from them and held out my right hand This hand, which had once performed countless medical miracles, was now trembling ever so slightly. “I’m sorry, Mom, Dad. This hand of mine… it’s ruined.”

The air in the room instantly froze. The expressions on their faces morphed into pure shock. They stared intently at my right hand. That slight, yet fatal, tremor was a death sentence for any top surgeon’s career. My mom’s lips trembled. “How… how can this be?” she stammered, disbelief etched across her face. “It was fine yesterday! Are you just overtired?” “It’s idiopathic tremor. The cause is unknown,” I said, pulling my hand back and sliding it into my lab coat pocket. “Maybe it’s fate.” “Fate?” My dad, Richard, frowned, his voice laced with accusation. “Audrey, don’t talk nonsense! Are you… are you still blaming us?” I didn’t answer. My gaze simply returned to the surgical simulator. Eighteen years ago, I was found in a small, forgotten town and brought back to the Stevens family. It turned out that Chloe, the precious daughter they’d raised for eighteen years, was an imposter. And I was the true heiress. My adoptive parents had died young, and my life had been incredibly difficult. When I returned to the Stevens’ home, I was sensitive and insecure. It was Chloe who gave me the most warmth. She taught me etiquette, bought me beautiful clothes, and defended me everywhere, saying we were real sisters and that I shouldn’t feel constrained. My parents also said that Chloe was their daughter too; they loved both of us like their own, equally cherished. Because Chloe’s original family background was very poor, they couldn’t bring themselves to send her away, so they decided to raise both of us. I was grateful to them, and I was grateful to Chloe. I studied hard, pushing myself to become their pride, swearing I would protect our family of four. Until now… Seeing my silence, Mom’s tears suddenly gushed out. She yelled at me, “Audrey! Are you still holding a grudge?! Just because we doted on Chloe a little more, you’re holding it against us, and now you’re going to just let her die?!” “Did you forget how much Chloe cared for you?! When you stayed up late studying, who was it that constantly made you nourishing soups?!” Her words pierced my heart, and for a fleeting second, it ached. Dylan quickly stepped forward to support my mom. “Eleanor, please don’t get upset. Audrey isn’t like that!” He then turned to me, his eyes filled with heartache. “Audrey, I know you have your grievances, but Chloe is innocent! You can’t let your personal feelings overshadow your duty as a doctor!” My dad, Richard, who was always a dignified university professor, had reddened eyes and a hoarse voice. “Audrey, even if your hand is injured, you could at least go in and guide them! Chloe is your sister, you can’t just stand by and watch her die!” But I remained unfazed, simply continuing to adjust my equipment. My mom finally broke down. She dropped to her knees with a thud, sobbing hysterically. “How could I have raised such a cold-blooded, heartless daughter?! Chloe is so kind, she always let you have your way, and now… now you’re going to force her to die?!” Her cries were piercing, as she pounded the floor, drawing curious and judgmental stares from other medical staff outside. I just smiled faintly. “Then that’s her fate, I suppose. There’s nothing I can do.” Then, I sat back down and picked up the operating stick of the surgical simulator again. On the screen, the robotic arm began its work once more. I was completely focused, as if everything outside had nothing to do with me. Seeing my cold demeanor, my dad swayed slightly. Dylan looked at me, seemingly utterly disappointed. He took a deep breath, as if making a momentous decision. “Richard, Eleanor, don’t beg her anymore.” He turned to my parents, his voice firm. “Let me do it!”

Dylan stepping forward instantly rekindled hope in my parents. “Dylan! You… do you really have confidence?” My mom, Eleanor, gripped his hand excitedly. Dylan glanced at the two elderly people on the ground, then at me, a look of profound compassion on his face. He spoke with a heavy heart, “Audrey isn’t willing to act, and I understand. After all, she carries the prestigious title of ‘The Hand of God,’ she cannot afford to fail. But I can’t just stand by and watch Chloe die!” His words, while seemingly understanding of me, subtly nailed me to the pillar of shame for “abandoning someone to die out of concern for my reputation.” The colleagues who had rushed over to see what was happening now looked at me with even greater disdain. Dylan turned back to my parents, requesting again, “Richard, Eleanor, please trust me! I’ve followed Audrey’s microscopic dissection technique in every surgery she’s done. I’ve memorized all the theory and the essence. Please allow me to combine traditional surgical methods with her theories to take a risk for Chloe!” “Good! Good boy!” My dad, Richard, was so moved that old tears streamed down his face. “Dylan, if you save Chloe, our Stevens family… half of our family fortune, it’s yours!” Upon hearing those words, I, who had been silent all this time, finally lifted my eyes. I looked at my ecstatic parents and the righteous Dylan, calculating silently in my mind. Half of the Stevens family fortune was at least a hundred million. But… I slowly stood up, looking at Dylan, and said mockingly, “You want to use my technique? Did you get my authorization?” Dylan froze for a moment, then looked at me, exasperated. “Audrey Stevens! What time is it now? You’re still arguing about this? Saving a life is what matters!” “Saving a life is one thing, patents are another,” I said, shrugging indifferently, my tone firm. “Without my authorization, if you dare to touch that scalpel, I’ll sue you until your reputation is ruined, and you’ll never wear a lab coat again for the rest of your life.” “You!” Dylan’s face turned pale with anger. My dad, Richard, was trembling all over, pointing his finger at my nose. “Audrey Stevens! You’re utterly unreasonable! For money and a patent, you’re willing to disregard your sister’s life?!” I looked at him coldly, as if he were a stranger. “Make your decision quickly. The patient can’t wait.” Time ticked by, second by second, and the murmurs around us grew louder, but I showed no sign of impatience. “Fine! I agree!” Finally, my dad gritted his teeth and accepted my terms. “As long as you authorize it, I’ll immediately hire a lawyer afterward and transfer half of all the shares in my name to you!” I smiled, pulled a voice recorder from my pocket, and pressed the record button. “Dad, please say it again. You are voluntarily granting me half of the Stevens Group’s shares as authorization fees for my patent.” My dad’s face turned purple with rage, but he humiliatingly repeated the statement. I pocketed the recorder with satisfaction, then nodded at Dylan. “Go on. I hope your hand is steadier than mine.” With that, I walked straight out of the office, ignoring the disgusted looks from my parents and Dylan’s disappointed gaze. I didn’t go home. Instead, I went to a coffee shop across from the hospital and ordered the bitterest black coffee. Through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, I could see the lights on in the surgery ward building. They got what they wanted. And so did I.

For the next few days, I took leave. Hashtags like #TrueHeiressLetsFakeHeiressDie, #EvilSisterAudreyStevens, and #TheViperWithin took turns trending. My entire background was dug up. Netizens concocted a vulgar drama: “Country Bumpkin Heiress Returns to Rich Family, Jealously Harms Kind Sister at Every Turn.” Chloe’s social media accounts were unearthed, filled with heartwarming anecdotes of how good she was to me, accompanied by gentle captions, making me appear even more despicable. I didn’t look at my phone. I simply locked myself in my apartment, polishing an old photo frame over and over. Inside the frame was a gentle, scholarly middle-aged man – my mentor, Professor Hayes. Three days later, the news exploded: “Devoted Boyfriend Steps Up, Miraculously Saves Girlfriend’s Sister,” “A New God Is Born! Dr. Dylan Successfully Completes Ultra-Difficult Intracranial Surgery!” The reports painted Dylan as a hero. He faced the camera, saying emotionally, “I only did what I had to do. Audrey Stevens is my beloved, and her sister is my sister.” This statement made me, the actual sister, seem even more cold-hearted. Online, the condemnation against me reached its peak. Then, an even bigger piece of news broke. TheraMed Innovations, a domestic medical device giant, grandly announced a deep strategic partnership with Dr. Dylan to jointly develop and promote a改良版 (improved version) microscopic dissection technique and related surgical instruments. A week later, I received a call from the hospital director. His tone was an unrefusable command. “Audrey Stevens, tomorrow at 9 AM, the hospital is holding a city-wide neurosurgery expert consultation meeting, which will be live-streamed. As the patent holder of this technology, you must attend.” I knew it wasn’t an invitation. It was a summons. They wanted me to witness Dylan’s triumph with my own eyes. The next day, I arrived punctually at the hospital’s International Conference Center. The hall was packed with neurosurgery experts from across the city, and reporters from major media outlets, flashbulbs constantly firing. As soon as I walked in, I saw a dazzling sight. Dylan and Chloe, seated in a wheelchair, were surrounded by a group of reporters, with my parents, Eleanor and Richard, hovering around them. The true family of four. Suddenly, just a second before the meeting was about to begin, Chloe tearfully addressed the cameras. “Everyone, I’m sorry to take up your valuable time. But today, I need to reveal the truth!” Her pale face was streaked with tears, making her appear utterly fragile and instantly capturing everyone’s attention. “My aneurysm rupture wasn’t an accident! It was… it was caused by my sister, Audrey Stevens, from long-term poisoning!” The revelation hit like a bombshell! The entire room erupted, and all the cameras instantly swiveled to point at me. Chloe cried even harder, clutching my parents’ hands, sobbing, “From the day she came back to the Stevens family, she’s constantly bullied and ostracized me! I endured it, for the sake of Mom and Dad raising me, not daring to ruin our family harmony! But I never imagined she would be so cruel as to try and take my life!” Dylan gently stroked her shoulder, seemingly giving her the courage to speak the truth. He then produced several lab reports. “I didn’t dare say anything before, fearing it would harm Audrey Stevens’ reputation. But after this surgery, I obtained irrefutable evidence proving that Chloe was poisoned with a chronic neurotoxin! I can’t let her continue to harm Chloe!” The live stream exploded. The comments section scrolled wildly. The hashtag #TrueHeiressPoisonedFakeHeiress shot to the top of the trending list at rocket speed. I stood at the entrance of the conference hall, surrounded by countless eyes filled with revulsion. Reporters’ questions bombarded me. “Dr. Stevens, did you really poison your sister?” “Why would you do such a thing? Was it out of jealousy?” “Do you even have the right to be a doctor anymore?” I ignored everyone and walked towards my biological parents. I looked at them, my voice trembling slightly. “Dad, Mom.” “Do you also believe I’m that kind of person?” My question brought a momentary silence to the room. “Audrey, we gave you a chance…” My mom cried, “Chloe presented the evidence… we… we’re so disappointed in you!” My dad, Richard, turned his head away, his face etched with sorrow, unable to look at me. “See? A true monster, even her parents disown her!” “What a monster hiding in plain sight. After doing something like that, the Stevens family should never have taken her back!” “She absolutely cannot be allowed to practice medicine again!” The malicious whispers filled my ears. I stood under the spotlight, isolated and helpless, like a criminal already condemned by the whole world. Just then, several uniformed police officers entered the hall. Their expressions were serious, their voices loud. “We received a report about intentional poisoning. Who called it in?” Everyone’s eyes landed on me. Even Dylan and Chloe couldn’t help but let a smirk tug at their lips. In the police officers’ sharp gaze and the deathly silence of the entire room, I calmly raised my hand. “Officers.” “I made the call.” For a moment, time in the entire conference hall seemed to stand still. Everyone looked at me as if I were insane. Calling the police on myself? What kind of move was that?

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I could control time and space. But after 999 cycles, my fiancé still abandoned me on our wedding day, fleeing with his childhood sweetheart, Chloe, without a second thought. The first time the apocalypse hit, I used my power to trap my fiancé and me forever in the time loop of our wedding night. I just thought that way, we could be in love forever. But when I reset the loop for the 999th time with him, Liam, who was always so cold, suddenly brought a woman home. He knelt, his eyes red, begging me: “If you don’t let her stay here, I’ll choose destruction with her.” Watching them, so deeply in love it hurt, I turned and walked away in silence. Later, I let go of my obsession and tore open a time rift, granting their wish to face oblivion together. But then, his eyes bloodshot, he found me, dropping to his knees, pleading desperately. “Aurora, please, don’t let me leave. I don’t want to die!” “Aurora, your husband ran off! You should just wait here obediently for him!” Another wedding scene, another loop. This time, there was no anticipated blessing or happiness. Only Liam’s escape and his relatives and friends blocking me, trying to stop me from chasing him. “Get out of my way!” The red wedding veil shimmered in the twilight. Trapped by them, I could only watch helplessly as Liam rushed out of the mansion. Then, he tightly embraced Chloe, who was standing right by the door. “This time, I won’t let you die! I *will* keep you by my side!” Hearing Liam’s words, my face went ghostly pale, just like the sky after tomorrow’s endless darkness, destined for the destructive meteor shower. Through countless loops, this moment was supposed to be Liam holding my hand, surrounded by everyone’s blessings. But this one time, the predetermined path of fate had changed. The man by my side no longer loved me. The relatives and friends surrounding me, scolding me, had no idea that tomorrow, meteors would fall, and the world would end. I’d traded my life and health for the power of time and space, trapping Liam and me forever in this wedding night. This was the 96th loop, 96 wedding nights. I thought we would be safe, always in love, always escaping disaster. I didn’t know Liam already regretted Chloe’s appearance when she came to steal him away. This time, before he left, he whispered to me: “Aurora, this time, I don’t want to regret it.” Watching everyone leave, I sat alone in the bridal suite, staring at the increasingly red moon in the sky, and suddenly smiled. Maybe I should just “complete” their story. My phone lit up. Chloe had sent a taunting SnapChat message this time: “Liam said he’d rather die than be without me.” “He suddenly came to me today and said he loved me! That just proves he never wanted to marry you!” “Not only can you two not be together on your wedding day, you’ll never be together in this life! He and I are true love!” Finally, I tapped on the video she sent. Against an extremely dim background, Liam was holding her. The fireworks from *my* wedding exploded, and I was in the dark. In the fierce, blazing light, I clearly saw them. Locked in a desperate, burning kiss. In that instant, all the past memories and sudden, brutal loss exploded in my mind, shattering, raging. Then, my gaze instantly dimmed, like a falling star. After turning off my phone, I sat on the bed, still strewn with red dates, lotus seeds, and peanuts—a messy remnant of his family’s outdated traditions for a prosperous marriage—staring blankly. The next second, I looked up, meeting Liam’s eyes as he walked back in. “How many times have we gotten married, and you still look so unhappy? Can’t you even bother to clear this stuff off the bed?” Every breath pulled at my aching heart. Powerlessly, I tugged at the bedsheet. Some peanuts, sunflower seeds, and walnuts scattered onto the floor. “Your family said it would be lively this way, and we shouldn’t clear it for our wedding night.” He seemed to recall his recent actions; a flicker of evasion crossed his face. “Aren’t I here to spend our wedding night with you?” “You know, no matter how many times we live this night, I’ll never get tired of it.” Breaking character, he even took a red date and popped it into his mouth. A smile played on his lips, his tone confident, “And I know, you can’t leave me. Why else would you keep taking me away from the apocalypse, time and again?” I forced a smile, mumbled a vague reply, and tried to stand up. He coughed, looking at me, his eyes suddenly serious. “Aurora, will you promise me something? Look, I’m here for our wedding. Can you help me preserve Chloe’s memories too?” I froze, looking at him in disbelief. He looked utterly unconcerned. “Don’t you have that power? I asked you to help my family before, and you refused.” “Now I just want to restore Chloe’s memory. Is that too much to ask?!” In that moment, fury boiled within me. No wonder he was saying all those sweet things he hadn’t uttered in ages. It was all for his beloved Chloe. But he knew better than anyone *why* he wanted Chloe to regain her memories! It was so that in the next loop, she would remember today, remember their blossoming relationship, and he wouldn’t have to win her over again. Thinking this, I stared at him, enunciating each word slowly. “Absolutely not!” Immediately, his brief complacency exploded into towering rage. “Aurora! How dare you speak to me like that!” “I’m telling you, if you don’t restore Chloe’s memories too, don’t even *think* about marrying me again!” “Not only that, if I see Chloe doesn’t recognize me in the next loop, I’ll choose destruction with her!” Watching him, so deeply, passionately angry, I felt a fatigue and deadness I’d never experienced before. Even if time stood still, people would change. No matter how beautiful the past, it was nothing but sand slipping through my fingers. I gave a weak laugh, stood up, and forcefully yanked off the bedsheet, scattering everything. Lotus seeds and red dates crashed to the floor. My voice, too, landed flat. “Then don’t marry.” “This timeline is meaningless. We just won’t marry.” As I left, I could still hear Liam’s furious roar behind me. “Fine, Aurora! Don’t you dare cry when I die in this timeline!” I crushed the lotus seeds under my heel. My steps never faltered. No more tears. Liam. I would never cry for you again.

At the start of the new loop, I didn’t go to the wedding ceremony. Instead, I went to say goodbye to Jasper. Jasper, my only friend here who kept all his memories, and the one who gave me this looping ability. However, this time, I hadn’t even seen Jasper yet when I realized the wedding was proceeding as planned, even without me. Following the gazes of the guests, I saw Liam had clearly replaced me with Chloe, who was now wearing the wedding dress. Suddenly, I turned away in shock, only to see Jasper behind me, his eyes filled with fury. But in his familiar expression, I remembered my *first* wedding night with Liam. Back then, as Liam and I were still basking in the thrill of finally opening our wedding gifts, Jasper suddenly appeared, revealing the truth about the impending apocalypse. Before I could even believe him, he said he’d already granted me the power to reset time, then floated away. The next second, darkness tore through the sky. With a pale face, I used the method Jasper taught me, tearing open a time rift to put Liam and me into the moment we most wanted to stay in. The wedding night. It became our only time anchor point we could reset. At first, in the day-after-day loops, Liam endlessly declared his love for me, tirelessly putting the ring on my finger. It wasn’t until the thirty-sixth loop that he spotted Chloe at the wedding venue. He lied, telling me he wanted to go see old friends. I had no idea then that the “old friend” was his childhood sweetheart. Later, their connection grew more and more intense, until the last loop when Liam made me a laughingstock at our own wedding. Even more unthinkable, this loop, with me absent, Liam actually had Chloe take my place as the bride. Thinking this, I pulled back Jasper, who was about to charge forward. “No, Jasper, it’s no use. I’m tired.” He considered many possibilities, then, in a daze, asked me: “Are you planning to skip this wedding and settle the score with him next time?” My face was pale, and I shook my head. “No, I won’t take Liam into another loop again.” “I don’t love him anymore. This is the last time. I want a clean break.” The next second he heard this, Jasper took a moment to react to the news. He had tried to convince me many times that staying in this time rift was futile. Now, hearing that I’d finally come to my senses, he was slow to react. It wasn’t his fault, after all, in these 97 loops. Each time, for Liam, I had silently endured half a day’s worth of pain. Hiding it from Liam, I repeatedly reached out through the pain to accept the ring he placed on my finger. Faced with my tireless desire to restart the wedding night, he would only sneer in front of Jasper. “Who told her she loved me so much? It’s her honor that I stay in this loop with her.” Jasper was furious then, but I talked him down, foolishly celebrating Liam’s words, thinking we were luckier than other lovers, smugly believing that living like this was enough. Now I understood how utterly pathetic I had been in those countless loops. “Even if it repeats a thousand, ten thousand times, Liam will still change his mind. What good are the same time and people if true feelings can change in an instant?” Before the endless darkness descended, my eyes, resolute, stared at the sky as I murmured. “I will tear open the time rift and end this ridiculous timeline, controlled by my own obsession.” “Jasper, when it’s over, can you tell me why you chose me?”

After saying that, the sadness in my eyes was gone, and I quietly watched them complete the wedding. Even though I was prepared for Liam’s change of heart. Still, hearing their intimate voices from the bedroom, I was deeply pierced. Soft, ambiguous moans revealed them doing something explicit on the very same wedding bed Liam and I had shared. They were wrapped in a tight, passionate embrace. Liam, his back to me, held Chloe tightly. Chloe straddled Liam, her eyes meeting mine. She twisted harder, her breathing labored and seductive. “Liam, darling, this is your and Aurora’s wedding bed. Wouldn’t it be bad if Aurora saw us like this?” Liam scoffed, as if she’d made a joke. His wandering hands had already found their way to Chloe’s delicate skin. “Bad? She’s just my doormat. Does she dare get angry?” “Besides, we’ve been together so long, doing the same thing every day, looking at her face I’ve long grown tired of. If it weren’t for you, my life would be so boring.” “And so what if she gets angry? All I have to do is snap my fingers, and she’ll come running back, wagging her tail.” I gripped my hands tightly, my stomach churning with intense nausea. The countless moments from those thousands of loops transformed into a million sharp blades, tearing through the mirror of our beautiful memories, shattering it to pieces. Countless sharp fragments pierced every cell in my body. I was in unbearable pain, and in the end, all that overwhelming love turned into utter deadness. I turned around, unsure how long I stood there before my body finally moved. Slowly, I walked to the safe, taking out the time hourglass locked inside. As soon as I stood up, I met Liam’s gaze. He’d come out for a drink. He jolted, dropping the water bottle in his hand. After a moment of terror, an undisguised triumph crept onto his face. “Now you know to come back and apologize?” Seeing no reaction from me, he scanned me up and down, his eyes finally landing on the time hourglass in my hand. “Last loop you were throwing rings and yanking off bedsheets…” He looked down at me, utterly convinced he had me. “Weren’t you having a grand old time then?” I took a deep, heavy breath, my face cold as I turned to leave. But he grabbed my arm, his voice growing more arrogant. “I’m telling you, now it’s useless even if you try to make up for it with the time hourglass.” “You better quickly preserve Chloe’s memory forever, and then I’ll forgive you. Otherwise, just wait for me to leave this loop!” My body stiffened. I turned around, meeting the disdain in his eyes. I smiled. “Alright, you wait.” While he was still fantasizing about how the next loop would be filled with love for him and Chloe, I walked out the door without looking back. Darkness descended as expected. I opened the time hourglass. A terrifying cascade of black debris and a raging storm swept over everything in an instant. Liam rushed out in a panic, his voice laced with fear. “It’s just preserving someone’s memory, isn’t it? Why is the commotion so huge?!” Even as the world crumbled around us, my face was ashen. He still maintained that arrogant, superior posture. “Now do you realize how hard it is to admit you were wrong? Then why did you make me angry in the first place?” “I’m telling you, my family needs their memories preserved too, otherwise…” I said coldly, “Otherwise, what?” The disdain on his face grew. “I’ll just leave this loop, and then let’s see what you’ll do!” Suddenly, before I could even retort, Chloe burst out and smacked the hourglass from my hand, sending it crashing to the floor. In a fit of rage, I shook off her hand. “Are you crazy?!” The next second, I coughed up blood. My body couldn’t withstand such an impact. The process of mending the time rift had been violently interrupted. I collapsed instantly. Liam, however, didn’t hesitate to help Chloe up, then roared at me. “Aurora, how dare you hurt Chloe?!” “I’m telling you, if you don’t apologize, I’m leaving this loop right now. Then you’ll regret it!” I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, a smile spreading on my lips. “Liam, I won’t regret it. I only hope that when this loop ends, you’re not the one filled with regret.” “What did you say?” Liam stared blankly at my lifeless expression. Chloe, who must have learned about my superpower from Liam, urged him on. “Aurora, don’t be so stubborn. If you don’t apologize, and Liam leaves you, you’ll have nowhere to cry from regret.” At this, Liam regained his smug confidence. “Exactly. Stop pretending, Aurora. Don’t forget why you created this timeline. What’s the point of your life without me?” “I’m telling you, while the time rift is open, preserve Chloe’s and my family’s memories…” “Otherwise, I’ll leave this loop right now and show you!” “What will you do then?!” He was arrogant and conceited, but he didn’t expect me to simply curl my lips. “As you wish.” “What?” Liam frowned. But I picked up the open time hourglass from the ground. The world shattered. The storm intensified dramatically the moment I picked up the hourglass. I reached out and tore open a corner of the sky. “Liam, didn’t you say you wanted to leave this loop?” “Now, the time rift is open. We’re all facing the apocalypse tomorrow, and my superpower has already been withdrawn.” “This ridiculous loop will not repeat. As you wish, face the end!” His eyes widened. The raging wind, violent and without warning. Swept over us… Liam stood frozen, slow to grasp the situation. It wasn’t until the ground beneath his feet cracked that he understood… the apocalypse had truly arrived.

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My Girlfriend’s Family Had the Most Twisted Animal Fetishes. Now, They’re Trapped in the Beast Realm. My girlfriend’s family harbored a truly disgusting obsession with animal cruelty, their methods barbaric and utterly bizarre. She’d feed hormone-inducing drugs to horses and dogs. Her mother enjoyed tormenting snakes, and her father had a depraved fondness for female monkeys. I brought them all into the Beast Realm. They were ecstatic, believing they could indulge their sadistic urges to the fullest. But then, to their horror, the small animals around them began to undergo bizarre transformations. Now, they’re destined to spend an eternity in endless despair! Cassidy Miller brought me home and showed me an animal courtship video, then told me she wanted to marry me. She said she adored animals and slid a ring onto my ring finger. She proudly showed off her years of “treasures.” “Kael, what do you think? Shocking, right?” It was more than shocking. A whole wall of photos—all evidence of her animal abuse. I stared at the wall, trembling, but she whispered from behind, wrapping her arms around me. “Don’t be scared. I’d never do that to you. After all, you’re human!” My own voice sounded cold and hoarse. “What… if I wasn’t human?” Cassidy traced my face, her other hand taking a photo from the wall. In it, she had a dog tied down, as a horse in heat mounted it… Cassidy’s chilling voice echoed in my ear. “If you weren’t human… I’d throw you into the horse stable!” Cold sweat streamed down my forehead. I suppressed the surge of excitement building inside me. Damn it! My mission was finally complete! The next day, Cassidy took me back to her hometown to meet her parents. Mrs. Miller met us at the airport. She wore horse-hair shoes, a tiger-skin vest, a rabbit-fur hat, and a necklace of unknown animal bones around her neck. A faint, metallic scent hung in the air around her. I smiled and told her she looked quite fashionable and unique. Mrs. Miller’s eyes flickered with a cold gleam, then she forced a stiff smile. “Hehe, just decorations.” Cassidy quickly changed the subject. “Honey, Dad made a lot of delicious food for you. Let’s go home quickly!” I nodded, following the mother and daughter, my eyes narrowing. Lunch was filled with dishes I’d never seen before. Mr. Miller enthusiastically piled food onto my plate. I stared at the deep-fried whole rabbit, the steamed bear paw with fur still attached, the braised snake meat… A wave of fury surged to my head. Beyond their usual games of torture and abuse, their very lifestyle – their food, clothes, shelter, everything – was derived from animals. I fought back the urge to vomit and said awkwardly, “Sir, I’m vegetarian. Cassidy knows.” Mr. Miller paused with his fork, a flicker of displeasure crossing his face, but quickly replaced it with a forced, amiable smile, pushing the vegetable dish towards me. Mrs. Miller looked annoyed, tossing her fork onto the table and leaning back in her chair. “This once is fine. But once you marry our daughter, we’ll be family, and this habit needs to change!” After lunch, her parents pulled Cassidy into a room for a whispered conversation. When they emerged, their eyes were bloodshot and menacing as they looked at me. Mrs. Miller even had an axe hidden behind her back.

My heart sank. No! I had to find a way to make them feel I was valuable, and make them willing to come back to the Beast Realm with me. At that moment, a nature documentary about exotic animals in a primeval forest was playing on TV—it was their favorite channel. I quickly pointed at the screen and cut in. “The animals back home are much rarer than these! The pythons are more beautiful, and we have rare monkey kings too.” All three faces turned to me, their eyes lighting up with excitement. Cassidy was even more eager. “Honey, I can’t wait to go to your place and meet your family!” I curved my lips into a smile. Goal achieved. Go on, go to your deaths! Cassidy didn’t know that where I lived was a secret, in another world entirely populated by beasts. My home village was called Beastkin Village. Don’t laugh, it’s literal! Our family was a rare sight in the Beast Realm—a clan of weaklings. My fox father loved me, but he was constantly worried. “If only my Kael could absorb human vitality daily, he’d surely be the most outstanding child in the Beast Realm.” My mother blamed herself too. “If only I had a little more power, our family wouldn’t be bullied so much in this Beast Realm.” Even my sister’s fiancé cheated on her constantly because of her lack of strength. So, three months ago, my grandmother, the ancient fox spirit, sacrificed herself, her very essence tearing open a rift between the human world and the Beast Realm. She told me to bring back as many humans as I could. “Kael, my dear, if our fox clan can absorb fresh human life force, we will surely rise to power, claiming our rightful place as rulers of the Beast Realm.” And so, I came to the human world with this daunting mission. But most humans were kind. I searched for a long time before finally choosing Cassidy Miller’s family. On the surface, she was a pet shop owner, but in reality, she was violent and twisted. I deliberately let her catch me in the wild. My cat-like, foxy appearance was something she found exceptionally peculiar and captivating. She locked me in a cramped cage and fed me some powder that left me weak and paralyzed. For a long time, I couldn’t process or get rid of the drug, forced to watch her atrocities. When a sick calico cat became ‘useless,’ she simply tossed it from the rooftop. Its agonizing cries echoed through the night as its bloody body lay sprawled on the concrete. Occasionally, passing cars would crush its remains, and Cassidy would snap photos, utterly satisfied. At that time, Cassidy also had a male friend named Blake, who joined her in tormenting animals. Later, when her poodle went into heat and obscenely humped Blake’s leg a few times, Cassidy saw it. Her eyes flashed with cruelty. She choked the dog, forcing it to eat a paralyzing drug, and Blake personally threw the little dog into the horse stable. The two of them laughed maniacally, watching the horse in heat mount the dog… My claws frantically scraped at the iron cage, but the drug’s effect kept me weak. I could only watch as the little dog whimpered and died. And the horse in heat didn’t escape its doom either; just because Blake said it was “a complete eyesore,” Cassidy downed the small horse with a single injection. The two of them were busy in the secret room for half the night, cruelly dismembering the horse. Foxes naturally possess an acute sense of smell, and the thick stench of blood from the secret room assaulted my nose. I absorbed the bloody aura, and my strength returned significantly. I clawed open the cage and bolted out. Cassidy clearly heard the commotion. She grabbed a dissection knife and chased after me. I stumbled, my strength failing, just as I reached the door. I was about to be discovered.

Summoning the last of my strength, I transformed into my human form. Cassidy, seeing me sprawled by the door, approached cautiously. When she saw my face, her eyes widened in shock. The greatest advantage of us foxkin is our stunning beauty, almost beyond reproach. Clearly, Cassidy wasn’t blind. Blake, seeing her embracing a man, looked stunned, his eyes filled with jealousy. My animal instincts told me he wanted me dead. And when I saw the bloody horse tail in his hand, I couldn’t help but shiver. I, too, was wondering how to kill him. Cassidy, I needed to bring back to the Beast Realm and keep around permanently so I could drain her life force. But young Blake? I could certainly bring him back for my family to enjoy. I leaned into Cassidy’s embrace, intensifying the animalistic aura she found so alluring. Foxes are naturally skilled in enchantment, and though I was young, captivating a human for a short time was no challenge. She was helping me to the car when Blake caught up. “Cassidy, you’re taking him back?” Cassidy was twisted, and with her mind clouded, lust quickly took over. “This boy looks unwell. I’m taking him back for a check-up.” Blake was infuriated but clear-headed. “Then send him to a hospital, or just call the police!” “To a hospital for what? Am I not a doctor? And are you insane? Don’t you remember what we just did? You want to call the police?” With that, Cassidy, impatient, turned and didn’t look back. Blake shouted after her, “Cassidy Miller, I think you’re slipping back into your old habits!” Cassidy rented a villa in the suburbs. As soon as I entered, I smelled an unusual scent. But inside, the decor seemed normal, except for a tightly locked basement door. She placed me on the sofa, affectionately stroking my head, her gaze growing obsessive. “What a beautiful face!” I let out a soft whimper. Her eyes darkened with increasingly intense desire, and she tugged impatiently at her skirt hem. She leaned in, her hands exploring downwards. Beast! I cursed inwardly, completely forgetting this was the result of me over-emitting my foxkin allure. After blowing some fox-specialized sedatives into her ear, Cassidy collapsed naked onto the sofa. I tossed a pillow at her. She drifted into a hazy dream, hugging and kissing it, her body movements more lewd than any animal’s. I scoffed. Taking advantage of her deep immersion in her battle with the pillow, I pushed open the basement door. The scene inside shocked me to the core, a pain so profound it stole my breath. Half-dissected living civet cats lay helplessly on the table, neither alive nor truly dead. There were also tigers tied to posts, skinned alive. On the floor lay discarded bodies of rabbits and birds. On the wall, snakes were pinned, writhing. Though I despised snakes, even I trembled with fear. Suddenly, a high-pitched cry echoed from upstairs – Cassidy was about to finish and snap out of it. I immediately returned upstairs. Once clear-headed, Cassidy opened her eyes, looking utterly sated. I clutched the blanket around me, whimpering, feigning the aftermath of being violated. “W-who are you? I’m calling the police, w-w-w…” Suddenly, a handgun was pointed at my face.

“Good boy, what’s your name?” Facing the threat, I feigned terror and told her my name was Kael. Cassidy smiled playfully, lowered the gun, then gently pulled my head to her chest. She clicked on the TV remote. She played an animal courtship video for me and slid a ring onto my ring finger. “Kael, I’m completely smitten with you. You and I, we’re like those male and female animals who’ve never met, but our hormones are destined to draw us together. Let’s get married!” But in the video, the female animal, once rejected, was being torn apart and devoured by the male. She forced me to nod. Suddenly, the villa’s front door burst open. Blake stood there, drenched in the thunder and rain. He held a knife and said he was going to chop me up. “Never seen a male fox demon before. I’m going to tear your face off and preserve it as a specimen!” Heh, he was actually right. I am a fox. Cassidy snatched the knife from him and kicked him into the wall. Blake looked incredulous. “Three years of our relationship! It means nothing compared to this fox demon you just met?!” Cassidy frowned, her eyes icy cold. “Kael has that scent I’ve always dreamed of.” Blake sneered, “Oh yeah? What scent? Fox body odor?” Hearing that, I feigned weakness and hurt, while discreetly intensifying my scent towards Cassidy. Who the hell says us foxes smell bad?! That’s too much, man! While comforting me, Cassidy delivered another kick. Blake was bleeding and was then locked in the basement. Her actions suited me perfectly. Good. After all, the males in the Beast Realm needed men too. However, the passage between the Beast Realm and the human world was closing soon. Shortly after meeting Cassidy’s family, I suggested we quickly go to my homeland to meet my parents. Cassidy, inhaling my scent daily, was impatient. But her parents were slow, preparing many things before joining us. Blake was skilled in making potions, so Cassidy brought him along, claiming he was her brother. Fearing I might be upset, she even took me to the basement to torment Blake a bit before we left, just to prove her heart was only for me. Blake cursed, but he was met with whips and insect bites. Three days later, after much prodding from me, they finally set off for my homeland. My grandmother had placed the entrance to the passage in a poisonous forest in the southwest, a place ordinary humans couldn’t approach. But I had a special potion, and I led Cassidy and the others through the forest without difficulty. Blake, half-dead from exhaustion, didn’t forget to make cynical remarks. “Heh, I’m telling you, Cassidy Miller, what kind of normal guy’s home requires trekking through mountains and over ridges? You two are probably being stalked by spirits and don’t even know it!” Hearing that, Mr. and Mrs. Miller exchanged glances, clearly suspicious. I stopped, looking distressed at the Miller family. “Mr. and Mrs. Miller, my home is indeed a bit remote. But otherwise, where would all those rare animals come from?” I pouted, feigning innocence. Mr. and Mrs. Miller nodded, understanding. Immediately, Cassidy slapped Blake across the face. “You almost got to us. You talk too much, you idiot!” At the end of the forest was an invisible wall. Beyond the wall was the Beast Realm. On the other side of the wall, several figures were faintly visible. I happily shouted, “Mr. and Mrs. Miller, look! My parents have come to meet us!” With that, I darted towards my parents, Cassidy following close behind. The humans didn’t notice, but as Blake’s foot stepped across, the passage immediately closed.

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I was the daughter of the city’s wealthiest family. But I had a secret: once a month, I’d transform into a Ragdoll cat. My dad, terrified this secret would get out, handpicked five fiancés for me. They had all grown up alongside me, a gesture of shared history. Each of them was a high-flyer, but their eyes held nothing but ambition and greed. Only Liam Hayes was different. When I, as a cat, was lost outside, he would always pick me up and bring me home, caring for me. On a day that was supposed to be special for us, I had planned to gift him a vintage piano worth millions and set our engagement date. But I transformed into a cat again. On the couch, Liam held me close, promising Chloe Miller, our housekeeper’s granddaughter: “Marrying Skylar is just a stepping stone. Once the Sutton empire is mine, the only one standing by my side will be you, Chloe. As for her… a payout will keep her quiet.” “Chloe, you’re the one for me.” The engagement party was just around the corner, and Dad asked me who I’d finally choose. The greedy glint in those men’s eyes flashed through my mind… I said, “When choosing a husband, I definitely need the one who’s the least trouble… and the most handsome. Let’s go with Julian Thorne from the Thorne family.” Dad’s teacup shattered on the floor. “Skylar! Julian Thorne was in a car accident three years ago… he’s been in a vegetative state ever since. Are you sure?” “Why?” Dad was incredulous. “Wasn’t Liam a good kid? The others are all the cream of the crop, and you…” “You know about… my situation. What would happen to the Suttons if word got out? What would I become?” Dad’s face instantly turned grave. “But Julian Thorne… he’s been like that for three years. My child, you’d be tied to a man who’s essentially gone, so young! How can I be at peace with that!” The Thorne family’s eldest son, once one of the most eligible bachelors in the city, had been in a car accident three years ago, leaving him in a medically confirmed vegetative state. Dad had picked those five back then, fearing I’d be alone someday, hoping at least one of them would genuinely care for me. But he couldn’t guard against the treacherous nature of people’s hearts. I leaned softly on Dad’s shoulder. “Dad, having you is enough. I’m fine on my own.” At least Julian wouldn’t harm me, nor would he have ulterior motives because I could turn into a cat. Dad sighed, finally giving up his objections. After Dad left, my heart felt icy. Who would’ve thought Liam, who seemed pure as driven snow, was actually calculating furiously with Chloe Miller behind my back! If he knew I could turn into a cat, he’d probably see me as a monster, or even… eagerly pack me off to some secret research lab, right? Just the thought sent a shiver down my spine. I had just returned from the company when four figures blocked me at the villa entrance. Everyone was there, except Liam. Dylan Reed, the investment banker, was the first to lose his patience, speaking with a languid drawl: “Skylar, darling, we’ve supported you for ages. How come there’s still no word on that five-million-dollar investment Mr. Sutton promised? You’re not playing dirty, are you?” Next to him, Dr. Alex Gray, still in his scrubs, hands in his pockets, chimed in: “Skylar Sutton, are you going to get me that Chief Resident title or not? Spit it out! My time is far more valuable than yours. A single wasted minute could mean a life lost, and you think you can afford that?” Ben Stone, the lawyer, adjusted his glasses. “No one understands the Suttons’ intentions better than I do. Are you trying to burn bridges now? Either sign a ten-year contract with our firm, or I can’t guarantee what the Sutton name will become.” Even Lucas Blackwood, who always prided himself on his artistic integrity, spoke up, full of indignant betrayal: “What about us? Forget us! What about Liam? He’s too pure for this world; he wouldn’t have gotten involved in this mess if your family hadn’t forced him! You have to compensate us!” In their mouths, I was an ungrateful, unforgivable liar. But which one of them wasn’t where they were today because of the Suttons? From their tuition for prestigious overseas education to their connections for high-paying jobs back home, the Suttons had paved the way for everything. And now they were turning around and accusing me? I pointed at the main door. “Done talking? If you’re so wronged, you shouldn’t have come in the first place. This is perfect, now get out! Isn’t it better for everyone to be free?” Their faces instantly twisted into ugly grimaces. I tugged at the corner of my lips, finding it somewhat amusing. “What? You’re free and not happy? Is it because you won’t have the chance to rightfully covet the Sutton fortune anymore?” “Stop pretending, you pillars of society. When you were falling over yourselves to get your foot in the Sutton door, why didn’t you show so much pride?” Dylan and the others flushed, their faces turning pale, but they stubbornly tried to argue. Alex forced out a defense. “Wh-what’s with the nasty talk! We… we’re from ordinary families, how could we dare challenge a family as wealthy as the Suttons? It was your dad who insisted on choosing us…” Ben echoed, “Exactly! What right did we have to refuse? Beggars can’t be choosers!” Their shamelessness almost made me laugh in exasperation. Before I could even process their ridiculous accusations, Liam and Chloe appeared. The moment Chloe saw me, she clutched Liam’s sleeve like a startled little bunny. Liam instinctively pulled her behind him, and the four others immediately surrounded them, as if I was about to tear Chloe apart. This scene was so familiar. Five years ago, when Chloe first came to the Suttons with her grandmother, she shyly handed me a small, carved wooden charm on a red string, saying it was a protective amulet from her village. I saw her genuine sincerity and was touched. Thinking little girls loved pretty things, I immediately gifted her a diamond bracelet in return as a welcome present. Who knew that just two days later, Liam would angrily confront me, holding that wooden charm. “Chloe said she’s had this since birth, that her mother had practically begged for it on her knees for days! And you’re trying to take it from her too?!” I was stunned, looking at Chloe, hoping she’d speak up for me. Instead, she sank to her knees, tears welling up instantly. “Liam, don’t blame Skylar! It was… it was my fault for insisting on giving it to her! Skylar is very good to me, she even gave me such a beautiful bracelet… *sob*… I’m not upset, really…” She cried and bowed her head, her forehead quickly growing red. This display of utter helplessness and false martyrdom instantly ignited the fury of those self-proclaimed knights in shining armor. “Skylar Sutton, just because you’re a Sutton, you think you can push people around like this?” “Someone gives you a heartfelt gift, and you throw money in their face?” “Don’t be scared, Chloe! We’re here, she won’t dare touch you!” From then on, whenever Chloe shed a single tear in front of me, no matter what I had or hadn’t done, Liam and the others would immediately decide it was my fault. Chloe, meanwhile, never once explained. Later, when I turned into a cat, I personally saw her casually toss that wooden charm into the trash, not caring about it at all. In front of those men, she’d lavish me, a cute little cat, with affection, but secretly, she’d pull my fur, even pinch my tail until I cried out in pain and fled. One time, I couldn’t stand it anymore and suggested to Dad that we send Chloe to school, to learn a skill. My mom passed away early, and Mrs. Miller had been with our family for nearly twenty years, taking devoted care of Dad and me. Because of Mrs. Miller, I had always shown Chloe a lot of patience. Sending her to school was truly for her own good. But Chloe immediately burst into tears and ran out. Those men instantly came running again, without bothering to understand the situation, accusing me: “Skylar Sutton! Chloe never got much schooling growing up, aren’t you just rubbing salt in her wounds?!” “She’s already so insecure and sensitive, can’t you just be nicer to her? Do you have to provoke her like this?” “How can you be so malicious! Can’t stand to see anyone do well, can you?!” They became even more convinced she was pathetically vulnerable and innocent. And I, through and through, was nothing but a spoiled, manipulative, and utterly irredeemable villain. My thoughts snapped back to the present. Looking at the faces of these five men, I felt a wave of nausea. “Take your pathetic little saint and get out!” Accusations once again rained down on me, overwhelming. “Skylar Sutton! How dare you speak like that! You’ve gone too far!” “Chloe came to see you out of kindness, don’t you know what’s good for you!” Chloe’s tears started to well up again. She peeked half her head out from behind Liam, pulling out a few crumpled bills and offering them to me. “Skylar, please don’t be angry… this is my allowance I’ve saved for ages, it’s not much… please don’t blame Liam and the others…” Again? I swatted her hand away, scattering the bills across the floor. “Cut the sickening act!” *SLAP!* Liam’s palm slammed against my cheek. My face instantly swelled, burning with stinging pain. “Skylar Sutton! Are you done with your tantrum?! Chloe was just trying to be kind! How dare you humiliate her like that?!” Liam’s tone was laced with condescending arrogance. “Skylar Sutton, if you still want to marry me, you *must* respect Chloe!” “And Dylan and the others, you need to compensate them properly!” He ticked off my supposed misdeeds on his fingers, one by one: “Dylan’s boss is constantly chewing him out these days; can’t the Suttons pull some strings for him?” “Alex can’t get promoted and is constantly bossed around by his supervisor; are you blind?” “Who even understands art these days? Lucas’s gallery is barely staying afloat. Is it so hard to buy a few paintings to help him out?” He paused, his voice turning threatening. “My orchestra has an overseas tour coming up in a few days. If you keep acting like this, don’t blame me if I don’t come back!” Dylan and the others looked profoundly touched.

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The kidnappers chopped off ten of my fingers, warning that if they didn’t see the ransom by tomorrow, they’d throw me into a blender and grind me to bits. I decided there was no way out, no escaping their twisted game. So that night, I took matters into my own hands and ended it myself. I shattered my last chance at survival, cutting my own throat. Because I knew. Julian Sterling wouldn’t save me. He had once cut ties with his family, forfeiting his claim to a billion-dollar inheritance, all to be with me. But on our wedding day, he discovered my mother and I had taken $50,000 from his stepmother. I had supposedly deliberately seduced him, dragging him down from his high pedestal. In the five years we were married, Julian fought his way to become a business mogul. Yet, his parade of mistresses was endless. He even made me personally demonstrate to his pampered playthings how to properly please him in bed. Just ten days ago, I was kidnapped along with his current lover. Everyone knew Julian hated me. That’s why my ransom was $50,000, while hers was $500,000. But Julian didn’t hesitate; he paid the $500,000 and only took Chloe Harper. “You probably staged this yourself, didn’t you? You’ll stop at nothing to con money now.” “I’m giving you this out of charity for Chloe, but if there’s a next time, I’ll throw you into the ocean to feed the sharks.” But he didn’t know. I had truly been tortured for ten agonizing days. Until I died. Mr. Thorne, the Spirit Guide, sighed deeply as he came for my soul. He said my obsession was too strong; even in the afterlife, I’d be a lost soul, forever unable to move on. So, he gave me three sticks of mystic incense. He told me to resolve my obsession before midnight tomorrow, or I would be trapped forever.

Mr. Thorne said that until he officially came for me tomorrow night, I would appear completely normal. So when Julian saw me come home safe and sound, the mockery in his eyes was undisguised. “Back so late? Looks like your little kidnapping performance took a lot out of you.” “Since you got your money, do what you’re supposed to. Go inside and get the strawberry-flavored lube.” He was about to get hot and heavy with Chloe right there in the living room. If it were before, I would have just done as he said, then hidden in my room, covering my ears and weeping. But today, I simply sat calmly on the couch. I pulled out the divorce papers he had given me. “I’ll sign, but I have a condition.” Julian’s face darkened. He hated being threatened, but the lure of divorce was too strong, so he held his temper for now. “What condition? Let’s hear it.” “If it’s too much, don’t blame me for flipping out.” I touched the three sticks of mystic incense Mr. Thorne had given me. “I found a shaman who can create dreams. If you’ll just join me for three dreams, I’ll not only divorce you, but I won’t ask for a single cent of our assets.” “That simple?” Julian scoffed. “If three dreams could get rid of you, you bloodsucker, we would have divorced ages ago.” “Anya, are you trying to trick me again?” I looked at him calmly. There was no anger from his mockery. No guilt, no flinching, none of what he expected from me. Julian realized I was serious, and his expression grew solemn. I knew he was hesitating. Chloe wrapped her arm around his shoulder. “Julian, just agree. What if she changes her mind by tomorrow?” Julian pinched her breast playfully. “Alright, anything for my darling.” He then turned back to me, his eyes devoid of any emotion. “How do we do it?” I swallowed the bitter ache in my eyes. Lowering my head, I took out the first stick and lit it. Mr. Thorne had said the dreams were under my control, and everyone who entered would retain their memories. He told me to use these three dreams wisely to resolve my obsession. I was always unwilling to accept it. Did Julian truly have no love for me, even just a tiny bit? Between me and Chloe, would he always choose Chloe? I set the first dream in our old rental apartment. When Julian first left the Sterling family, we only had $3000 between us. So, all we could afford was this dilapidated basement apartment. Julian, being a spoiled rich kid, wasn’t used to sleeping on rough sheets. So, I took his old shirts—the ones with the softest fabric—and painstakingly cut them up to sew him a new one. Back then, Julian would hold me close, nestled on our cramped double bed, saying he’d make so much money one day and give me a good life. Julian touched the oddly patched bedsheet, a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes. But when he turned to me, he was back to his usual prickly self. “You think this will win my heart back?” “Anya, don’t forget who trapped me in this dump in the first place.” His stare made my heart ache. He started looking around. “Where’s Chloe? Where did you hide her?” Just as he stepped out of the basement, flames erupted from the doorway. The only way out was a small window leading outside. But the window was too high; without someone pulling you from the outside, it was impossible to climb. Chloe was there, screaming in terror by the window. “Julian! Save me!” Julian reached for her, and the flames surged into the room, the wood crackling and popping as it burned. I asked Julian. “There’s not enough time. We can only save one of us, Chloe or me. Who do you choose?” Julian glared at me, his eyes burning. “You’re insane. I’d be out of my mind to save you. I’m saving Chloe!” With that, he pulled Chloe out, comforting her in his arms. The fire in the room grew fiercer, my tears evaporating before they even touched my cheeks. I stood below the window, looking at Julian. “Chloe’s safe now. Will you help me out?” “You should know, this dream feels real. I can feel the pain.” Julian hesitated. He hated me, wanted me dead, but watching a living person burn to ashes was different. But just as he was about to reach out, Chloe suddenly clutched her throat. “Julian, my throat hurts so much. What if I can never sing for you again?” Julian scooped her up without a second thought. “Anya, is there a hospital in this dream? Where is it? Tell me!” I pointed in a direction. He turned and left, leaving me with a complex look in his eyes. There were too many emotions there, and before I could decipher them, thick black smoke enveloped my vision. The dream collapsed. I clutched my chest, coughing incessantly. Julian woke up a moment later, opening his mouth to curse. But seeing me cough like I was about to pass out, he unusually reached out and patted my back. “Anya, are you an idiot?” “You created a dream that hurt yourself like this.” “You’d better learn your lesson for the next two. Don’t do anything so dangerous.” I pushed his hand away. “You don’t need to worry about me. Go comfort your little darling.” Chloe cried incessantly after leaving the dream, her voice only softening when she hid in Julian’s arms. The two shared a comforting kiss. I had no heart left. Yet, my chest ached, a pain so profound it felt like dying all over again. This was the first dream. Julian knew I would die. He knew how dangerous my situation was. But he still chose Chloe.

After the first stick of incense burned out, Mr. Thorne came to see me, his brows deeply furrowed. “Anya, your obsession has grown stronger.” “You have less than twenty-four hours left. If you don’t resolve it, you’ll really turn into a vengeful spirit.” I showed him the first dream. Mr. Thorne was silent too. For a long time, he couldn’t think of anything to comfort me. But what about the second dream? I couldn’t think of a more brutal scenario. Mr. Thorne offered an idea. “How about this? Next time, don’t give Julian time to think.” “I’ve seen your red thread of fate; it’s tied very strongly. Julian can’t be completely devoid of feelings for you. If you make him choose between you and Chloe, you should look for his subconscious reaction.” That night, Julian held a grand party in the suburbs. When I was called over, I heard him clinking glasses with his buddies at the door. “Guys, Anya is finally divorcing me!” “Go wild tonight; all the drinks are on me!” Pushing open the door, I saw wedding photos, cut in half, plastered everywhere. Julian saw me enter, put his arm around Chloe, and tossed our wedding ring into the swimming pool. Everyone present burst into laughter. They were betting whether I would jump in to retrieve the ring. But I just walked straight over. I picked up a glass and clinked it against Julian’s. “Congratulations. You’re about to get what you want.” Then I downed the drink in one gulp. In our poorest year, I worked sixteen-hour days to give Julian a better life, developing severe stomach problems. But I was already dead now, what was a little alcohol? Julian turned his head away. His eyes seemed to redden for a fleeting second. But when he turned back, it was as if my previous observation had been an illusion. He stared into my eyes. “You wouldn’t mind playing a love song for Chloe and me, would you?” Everyone was watching me, enjoying the spectacle. Mr. Sterling’s “trouble-and-strife” wife, forced to congratulate the new couple at her own dismissal party. But I said nothing. I sat at the piano and began to play ‘Love Letter.’ I had specially practiced this song to win Julian’s heart. I could feel his gaze on my back, still as ardent as when we were in love. But from the fourth measure, I started to hit sour notes. The kidnappers had chopped off my ten fingers. Although they looked normal now, they were soft as noodles, completely without strength. Julian’s face grew darker and darker. Finally, he slammed the piano lid shut. “Anya, are you doing this on purpose? Is playing a song for me really that much of a chore?” “Or was your playing for me back then all a lie, too?” I pulled my hand out. Deep red marks were pressed onto it. Julian froze for a moment. He touched my hand, flinching back from the icy cold. “Why are you so cold? Are you not feeling well?” A dead person’s hand, of course, couldn’t be warmed. I looked at Julian. How long had it been since he cared about my body? I couldn’t remember. Julian’s mood soured, and he abruptly cut the party short. After seeing everyone off, only Chloe, Julian, and I remained at the villa gate, waiting for the car. Chloe extended her hand and waved it at me. A diamond, at least five carats, flashed blindingly on it. I remembered Mr. Thorne’s words, pulled out the second stick of incense, and lit it. A truck suddenly roared towards us from the distance. Julian had Chloe on his left and me on his right. Everything slowed down before my eyes. I saw Julian push Chloe to the left, holding her close. I saw the truck hit me, running over my legs. The second dream shattered instantly. There was no truck, no accident. Chloe and Julian were unharmed, but I collapsed to the ground from the searing pain throughout my body. Julian shook his head hard, taking a long moment to confirm that what had just happened was only my second dream. He roughly pulled me up and slapped me. “Are you insane, Anya?” “If the third dream is like this again, I swear I’ll strangle you.” But I just laughed, a bitter, hollow laugh. It made my tears well up. Mr. Thorne had gambled wrong again. Even if it was just a physical reaction, between me and Chloe, Julian still wouldn’t choose me.

Julian kept saying I was truly insane, seeing the look on my face. Just then, I received a notification from the hospital. “Ms. Anya, your mother’s condition is very poor. Please come to the hospital immediately.” I tugged on Julian’s sleeve, begging him to drive me to the hospital. But Julian hated my mother even more. He’d probably throw a party if she died, and he just pulled Chloe into the car and drove off. I hobbled to the hospital. My mother’s eyes couldn’t focus anymore. She looked at me, her expression a little confused. “Anya, why can’t I see your feet?” Perhaps she was dying and seeing my soul. I brushed it off. “You’re mistaken.” My mother started to sob. “Anya, I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I shouldn’t have taken that $50,000 back then. It made Julian resent you, and your illness was never cured, burdening you for so long.” The money was accepted by my mother and deposited into my account. When Julian’s stepmother showed him our transaction records, I was utterly lost for words, with no way to defend myself. But now, it was all in the past. I couldn’t let my mother die uneasy. I just kept comforting her: “It’s okay, it’s all over now.” My mother said she wanted to apologize to Julian. I stopped her. What was the point of dwelling on right and wrong now? Julian was convinced I had tricked him; he’d only think my mother was fabricating another lie. I personally closed my mother’s eyes. Mr. Thorne took my mother’s soul, pacing back and forth in front of me, worried about my lingering obsession. But I had seen through it all. I thought I didn’t need any more dangerous scenarios to test Julian. Faced with a threat to life, he would certainly choose Chloe. If he could just stay with me for once, I could let go. When Julian came home, I placed a bowl of simple rice, a traditional mourning meal for the departed, on the table. “My mother died. Our old custom is to eat a bowl of remembrance rice for the dead. If you eat it, I’ll divorce you.” Julian was startled. “Is this the third dream?” Of course not. Before I could speak, Chloe’s call came in. “Julian, I did fifty squats today, don’t you want to reward me?” Then she started to whine. “Come on, my stamina’s much better now. Let’s try something new.” Julian hadn’t even warmed his seat before grabbing his jacket and heading for the door. I grabbed his sleeve. “This is the last time. Julian, are you not going to divorce me?” “You wouldn’t still want to be with me, would you?” Julian scoffed. “Don’t try to threaten me with divorce.” “And what if we don’t divorce? Your mother’s dead. No medical bills. How much can it cost me to keep you? I’ll just treat you like a blow-up doll.” I let go of his sleeve and watched him walk out the door. I sat by the table and ate the bowl of remembrance rice for my mother myself. Julian suddenly ran back, throwing a red envelope into my lap. “Didn’t you say your mother died?” “Go buy something to celebrate.” A sudden lightness filled me. It was as if a heavy chain had been lifted from my heart. I smiled at him, and my body began to vanish before his eyes, like erased marks from an eraser. Julian reached out to grab me, but his hand met only air. He probably thought he was dreaming, only pausing for a moment in confusion before walking out the door. Julian lay on the bed with Chloe in his arms, his hand pausing as he unclasped her bra. He suddenly realized why this dream had been so long. Without bothering to get dressed, he rushed home. But he searched every corner of the house and couldn’t find Anya. A sudden, indescribable panic welled up inside him. He remembered Anya’s words and called the hospital. The nurse’s emotionless voice came through. “You’re asking about Ms. Anya’s mother? She passed away two hours ago. Ms. Anya said she would be cremated tomorrow.” “Oh, by the way, her mother left a letter. I’ll send you a photo.” Julian opened the image. A few lines were scrawled crookedly on it. [Julian, when your stepmother paid me, Anya truly knew nothing about it. It was all my fault. I don’t ask for your forgiveness, only that you treat Anya a little better. She anonymously transferred a lot of money to support your business; she wouldn’t let me tell you. If you don’t like her, then divorce her.] Those few lines were like a dagger, plunging deep into Julian Sterling’s soul. He didn’t know why his heart ached so fiercely, as if it were about to crack open. He kept mumbling, “I don’t believe it, it’s impossible.”

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I used to be a professional ghost-tester. I’d kept my nose clean for years. But to get my ambitious boyfriend into his dream university, I decided to quietly take on his case. The day before the exam, he even got down on one knee and proposed. My heart pounded, ready to tell him I’d make his dreams come true. Then, I overheard his conversation with his buddies: “Julian, it’s just a bit of fun, right? You’re not actually going to marry Blair Hayes?” “Hahaha, of course not! How could I marry some trailer park girl? She was just a temporary thrill.” He paused, a smirk playing on his lips, then added, “Besides, Seraphina’s coming back soon. Grandpa always disapproved of her, so I’ll just pick someone utterly unpresentable. The family will definitely object, and then I’ll have a perfectly legitimate excuse to marry Seraphina.” “Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! You really have all your bases covered, man…” “Oh, right, didn’t the old man say he’d only hand over the family fortune once you got into Stanton University?” “Don’t worry, I’ve got that covered. I hired a genius ghost-tester. Why do you think I was with Blair Hayes in the first place? To get all my exams aced! Now that she’s banned from taking tests, she’s useless anyway.” My grip tightened on the exam admission ticket in my hand. I ended up getting Julian a 2.50.

“How did you do?” It was a text from Julian’s burner phone. “Don’t worry, I guarantee you’ll be ‘satisfied.’” After I sent it, I squeezed my phone tight. Oh, Julian, this score? You’re going to *love* it. Three days ago, the scene of Julian kneeling before me, proposing, was still vivid in my mind. Tears welled in his eyes, and he said I was the most important person in his life. Now, it all seemed so laughable. Back home, Julian had just gone into the bathroom. On the couch, his phone screen was still lit, showing a SnapChat group chat called “The Bro Zone.” The messages that flashed across the screen made my stomach clench into a painful knot. They were private photos and videos of me and him, during our most intimate moments. He’d posted them all in that group, accompanied by vile comments. “Trailer park girls really let loose.” “Julian’s done with her, can I have a turn?” “Girls like her? Throw some cash, and they’ll do anything.” The latest message was from Julian: “Seraphina’s coming back tomorrow. Finally, I don’t have to pretend to be deeply in love anymore. This girl actually thought I was going to marry her, LOL. With her background, she’s not even fit to be a maid in my house.” I bit down on my lower lip, hard, until I tasted blood. My phone trembled in my hand, not from sorrow, but from a raging fury. What I’d believed was love, in Julian’s eyes, was nothing more than a game, and I was just the clown there for his and his friends’ amusement. The toilet flushed in the bathroom, and I quickly put his phone back, a docile smile plastered back onto my face. When Julian came out, I was kneeling on the floor, polishing his leather shoes, just as I often did over the past six months. He looked down at me, his gaze as dismissive as if I were a dog. Then he spoke, “Seraphina’s coming back tomorrow. I need to pick her up at the airport. You can grab dinner on your own tonight.” I looked up, blinking innocently, feigning confusion. “Seraphina?” “Just an old friend,” he said dismissively. “You wouldn’t know her.” I lowered my head, continuing to polish his shoes, hiding the icy coldness in my eyes. Of course, I knew exactly who Seraphina Vance was – Julian’s childhood sweetheart. After Julian left, I opened my laptop and started searching for everything I could find on Sterling Corp. I needed to understand my enemy if I was going to deliver a fatal blow. Three days later. Julian suddenly appeared at my doorstep, holding a massive bouquet of roses, his face sporting that familiar, ‘sincere’ expression. “My father wants to meet you.” He finally revealed his true purpose. “He… he approved of us.” I raised an eyebrow. “Approved of what?” “Our marriage.” Julian said urgently, “Just come home with me tomorrow to meet him.” I almost burst out laughing. Julian’s sudden change was too suspicious. There had to be a catch. But I decided to play along. “Really?” I feigned surprise. “Your father really agreed?” “Yes!” Julian grabbed my hand. “As long as you make a good impression, we’ll be married very soon.” I lowered my head, concealing the calculation swirling in my eyes. Meet Mr. Sterling? Oh, this was *perfectly* playing into my hands. “Okay, I’ll go,” I said softly.

Julian drove me to the Sterling family’s sprawling estate in the suburbs. I wore my plainest white dress and flat shoes, feeling utterly out of place amidst the opulent surroundings. “Remember,” Julian specifically instructed me before we got out of the car, “talk a lot, smile less, don’t be stiff. Just relax and be yourself. My father doesn’t like overly formal women.” I nodded. In truth, I knew perfectly well that this kind of old-money family valued elegance and composure above all else. Julian was telling me to be casual only because he wanted me to make a fool of myself in front of everyone. As soon as we entered, the Sterling family members eyed me with scrutinizing looks, as if I were a cheap knock-off. “Is *that* the trailer park girl? Ugh, she practically *screams* low-rent.” Someone snickered. “Julian, your taste is getting worse and worse.” “Right? Each one’s worse than the last. Honestly, she’s not even as good as Seraphina Vance…” Julian didn’t object. He just smirked, a look of triumph on his face. I stood my ground, my fingers gripping the hem of my dress tightly, but keeping a polite smile. “I hear your folks run a fish stand at the local market, don’t they?” “No wonder she smells like fish as soon as she walks in.” This comment sparked another round of laughter. Julian, especially, was practically bursting with laughter. This was exactly the reaction he wanted today. I was like a clown, there specifically for them to insult. But I just kept smiling. For revenge, I had no choice but to endure. “Enough.” A commanding voice echoed from the staircase, and everyone instantly fell silent. Mr. Sterling pointed at me. “You, come with me to the study. Everyone else, disperse.” Under the gazes of either jealousy or schadenfreude, I followed Mr. Sterling into the study on the second floor. Once I sat down, before Mr. Sterling could speak, I picked up the paper and pen on the desk and began writing from memory. It was this year’s Stanton University entrance exam. Mr. Sterling’s expression shifted from skepticism to surprise, and finally, to admiration. “Julian came to you because he wanted you to take the Stanton entrance exam for him, didn’t he?” I didn’t answer immediately. This was a dangerous moment—if I admitted it, Julian would hate me to my core. But if I denied it, my revenge plan couldn’t continue. Ultimately, I chose the truth. “I took it for him,” I said, a sarcastic smile touching my lips. “2.5 points.” Unexpectedly, Mr. Sterling suddenly burst out laughing. “Good! Good!” He slapped the table. “That waste of a son, Julian! He can’t even cheat properly!” I looked at him in surprise, not understanding his reaction. “I suspected Julian would find someone to take the exam for him. That good-for-nothing has never done anything on his own merits, not since he was a kid.” “There’s one thing I need you to do…” Two hours later, I walked out of the study. The Sterling family in the living room, seeing my expression, all broke into smiles of schadenfreude. “Got kicked out?” Julian’s Aunt Carol shrieked. I lowered my head, said nothing, and hurried toward the front door. Julian said casually, “Scared her speechless, didn’t it? I knew my dad wouldn’t agree. From now on, we’re going our separate ways. My family is simply way out of your league…” I suddenly looked up, a brilliant smile spreading across my face. “He… he said he agreed to our marriage.” Julian’s face instantly went pale. “What? No way! He’s always been so picky…” “How could he possibly approve of *you*?!” “You’re lying! You don’t deserve it…” Julian let go of my arm, stumbling back a few steps. “It’s over… it’s all over…” Looks like his little game just blew up in his face. Watching Julian in such a panic, my heart sang with cold satisfaction. This was just the first step, Julian. You’re going to *love* what’s coming.

News of my engagement to Julian exploded like a bombshell through the city’s elite circles. The one who took it the hardest, of course, was Seraphina Vance. To appease her, Julian shoved the tip of his polished leather shoe into the back of my knee, forcing my kneecap to crack against the hard floor. “Apologize.” His voice came from above me, cold as ice. The eyes of those around us, filled with either pity or mockery, fell upon me. “I’m sorry, Miss Vance.” I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to endure. My nails dug deep into my palms, the pain keeping my voice steady. “I shouldn’t have… taken your rightful place.” Seraphina suddenly leaned down, gripping my chin and forcing my head up. “Julian and I grew up together. Who do you think you are? A fishmonger’s daughter? You’re not even fit to polish my shoes.” A few snickers rippled through the onlookers. From the corner of my eye, I saw Julian’s lips curve into a slight smirk—he was enjoying this moment. “Seraphina, don’t stoop to her level.” Julian wrapped an arm around Seraphina’s waist, his voice sickeningly affectionate. “Come on, I’ll take you to that Japanese restaurant you love.” That night, fireworks exploded across the city sky, lighting it up all night. News alerts popped up constantly. [STERLING SCION DROPS SERIOUS CASH FOR HIS LADY LOVE] [STERLING HEIR LIGHTS UP THE SKY WITH CUSTOM FIREWORKS – EACH ONE COSTING SIX FIGURES!] [BREAKING: JULIAN STERLING TRANSFERS 5% OF STERLING CORP. SHARES TO SERAPHINA VANCE, VALUED AT $980 MILLION!] These shares were core assets Julian was set to inherit. Seeing him squander them like this… It was no wonder Mr. Sterling had a contingency plan. The front door was suddenly kicked open. Julian stormed in, drenched, with Seraphina, equally soaked, trailing behind him. She was wrapped in Julian’s tailored blazer, and he was looking at her with an intensity I’d never seen directed at me. Julian’s face twisted the moment he saw me. “What are you still doing here?” I offered my standard sweet smile. “Dad told me to stay here. He said to wait for you.” Seraphina suddenly giggled. “Look at your fiancée, Julian, she’s like a pathetic little guard dog!” Julian’s face instantly darkened. “Dad told you to stay here?” He sneered. “How come *I* don’t know about it?” “Mr. Sterling called personally this afternoon. Said for me to get ready for the wedding.” Julian’s eyebrow twitched violently. Mr. Sterling had never been fond of Seraphina; Julian knew that better than anyone. Yet, Seraphina, banking on Julian’s blatant favoritism, had never bothered to show respect to anyone. And now, she sat on the couch, legs crossed, pointing a manicured finger at me with an infuriating air of entitlement— “Julian, my foot hurts. Tell her to rub it.” The air instantly froze. Julian narrowed his eyes. He spoke coldly, “You. Come here.” —He wanted me to kneel and rub Seraphina’s foot? Seeing my lack of reaction, Julian’s eyes turned menacing. “What, did you suddenly forget how to understand English?” I took a deep breath and slowly walked toward her. Just as I was about to bend my knees— “Enough!” A commanding voice roared from the staircase. Mr. Sterling stood there, leaning on his cane, his face terrifyingly grim. “Dad…” Julian’s expression instantly changed. Seraphina panicked too, quickly putting her feet down and standing up awkwardly. “Mr. S-Sterling…” Mr. Sterling didn’t even spare her a glance. “My Sterling family’s future daughter-in-law is not for outsiders to order around.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it was like a slap, landing hard across Seraphina’s face. Seraphina’s face went chalk-white. “Mr. Sterling, I… I was just…” “Just what?” Mr. Sterling sneered. He continued, “Miss Vance, I hear your ‘studies’ abroad were quite *eventful*?” Seraphina trembled from head to toe. “Her drug abuse, her compulsive gambling, her… *indiscretions* abroad,” Mr. Sterling’s words, sharp as knives, sliced into her. “The doors of the Sterling family are not open to someone with your… *habits*.” Seraphina’s face instantly turned ashen. She whipped her head around to look at Julian, her eyes wide with panic. “Julian, I…” But Julian didn’t speak this time. Mr. Sterling scoffed, then directly ordered the butler, “Show her out.” Seraphina panicked, reaching out to tug Julian’s sleeve. “Julian! Say something!” Julian was silent for a few seconds. Finally, he slowly pulled his hand away, his voice low. “Seraphina, you should go home.” Seraphina stared at him in disbelief, her eyes shifting from shock to resentment, finally fixating on me— “Blair Hayes, you just wait!” As she left, her venomous gaze seemed to promise she’d tear me apart. 4 After Seraphina left, a strange silence fell over the entire living room. Julian stared at Mr. Sterling, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Dad, aren’t you being a bit too harsh? Seraphina was just confused for a moment…”

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“Sweetie, I’ve picked two game scenarios for you. You’ll be playing guiding NPCs, so you won’t have to do any killing or arson. Just give players some hints at the right moments,” my father said, his towering 6’6″ frame looming over me with a kindly expression. I nodded helplessly, indicating that I understood. At this point, I’d take any job he offered, even if it meant being the horror boss myself. “Remember, no workplace bullying, alright? Get along well with those boss colleagues of yours,” my dad reminded me as he pressed the transfer button, still reluctant to let me go. [Welcome to Naranmud Academy] [Naranmud is a renowned international high school where you can gain knowledge, broaden your horizons, and enter your dream university.] [However, the school has strict rules. Please follow them carefully.] […] I stared at the professional broadcasting equipment before me, utterly confused. What was going on? A sweet system voice chimed in the room: “Welcome to the NPC team for this horror game! Let me introduce you to your job responsibilities.” Still bewildered, I sat down in the chair and was about to pick up the work manual on the desk when a low, slightly hoarse voice sounded behind me. “Bootlicker.” Huh? Who’s he calling a bootlicker? A tall, muscular figure cast a looming shadow over me. Golden-brown hair, steel-blue eyes, and a face hidden behind a mask. He licked his pale red lips, staring at me unblinkingly as he asked, “Nepotism hire? Pretty gutsy.” “How can you tell I got in through connections?” He jerked his head towards the system that had just spoken. “I’ve been here five years, and this is the first time I’ve heard it speak in that sickeningly sweet voice instead of its usual robotic tone.” Oh, so he was calling the system a bootlicker. I laughed awkwardly, making a mental note. This must be the boss of this game scenario, my first workplace colleague. I had to make a good impression! I extended my hand towards him. “Hi, I’m Lily. I’m new here, please take care of me.” His large, calloused hand enveloped mine, sending an instinctive shiver through me as he rubbed his fingers together. His lips moved slightly as he uttered a name. “Anderson.” He sat down in another chair and began adjusting the broadcasting equipment. “Your job is to read the text from the manual over the PA system, guiding players to the next plot point when they reach certain triggers. It’s safe here; no one can harm you. The game starts in ten minutes, so get ready.” His steel-blue eyes glanced over at me. “Any questions?” I scratched my head. “Actually, yes.” I pointed at his eyes. “Do they make colored contacts in horror games?” Anderson paused for a moment, then a hint of resignation appeared in his eyes. “I’m mixed-race. This is my natural eye color.” The crimson doors swung open with a bang, and a group of people cautiously peered inside the school. A clear voice came over the PA system. [Welcome to Naranmud Academy.] [Naranmud is a renowned international high school where you can gain knowledge, broaden your horizons, and enter your dream university.] [However, the school has strict rules. Please follow them carefully, or terrible things may happen.] [Rule One: No dating allowed on campus.] [Rule Two: The infirmary is off-limits after midnight.] … The group’s expressions grew increasingly grim. Invisible to the players, blood-red comments floated through the air. [Finally, the Maddog’s stream is here!] [He may be crazy, but his sex appeal is off the charts. Sigh…] [Hey, the broadcast voice changed. It sounds pretty nice.] [Hurry up and start! I want to see Maddog kill someone already.] … In a dark, dilapidated hallway, a group stumbled along, their ragged breathing and muffled curses mixing to create a heart-pounding escape scene. “Damn, this madman just won’t give up!” “How unlucky can we get? We’re going to die in this scenario today.” The tall, muscular man maintained a constant distance behind them, like a cruel cat toying with fleeing mice. I watched this scene on the large screen before me, unsure how to feel. Anderson had shed the calm facade I’d seen earlier, revealing a bloodthirsty interior. The massive saw that looked impossibly heavy seemed like a toy in his hands. He excitedly revved it up, the sharp blade striking sparks as it touched the ground. The leader of the escapees gritted his teeth, suddenly stopping to throw back an item. A cloud of smoke billowed out, and Anderson disappeared. The leader smirked triumphantly, turning to continue his escape—only to freeze as his gaze met the tall man’s. The hunter, bored with this game of cat and mouse, brought down his gleaming saw in an unavoidable arc. [That was awesome!] [As expected of Maddog. I’d call this the art of violence.] [Hubby is so cool! I want to discuss some human reproduction knowledge with him.] [To the person above, I’ll say it again: fangirls shouldn’t watch these streams.] … The 3-day scenario ended in less than 2.5 days with all players dead. The stream closed. Anderson wiped down his saw blade and spoke up: “Leaving already?” I glanced at him and sighed. “Yeah, us working stiffs have no rights. Gotta go slave away for the capitalists at my other job.” I work seven days a week—Monday to Wednesday here in Anderson’s scenario, Thursday to Saturday in another, with Sunday off. I trudged out with heavy steps, completely missing the look Anderson gave me. A dangerous, meaningful gaze that licked from head to toe over my gradually retreating figure. The pale neck, the waist hidden under clothes, down to the ankles that could be grasped in one hand… “Lily…” he murmured. [Welcome to The Shining] [You’ve checked into the Farview Hotel. The facilities are excellent and the environment is cozy. You like it here, but soon you notice something’s not quite right.] [Try to survive for 72 hours, dear player.] As the white light faded, I recovered from the dizziness of spatial transfer and looked down at my uniform. Lace trim, a black and gold belt, an elegant uniform that clung to my body, and snow-white gloves that fit my hands perfectly. I glanced at the cocktail glass on the bar. So my NPC role this time is a bartender? Just then, I heard a rustling sound nearby. It seemed to be… coming from under the bar. I bent down to look. A young man was curled up there, his chest heaving slightly. He looked extremely uncomfortable. I reached out to pull him up. “Are you okay? Not feeling well?” Unexpectedly, a pair of slender hands grabbed my wrist, holding it in mid-air. The young man’s face was flushed, his eyes brimming with moisture as he gazed at me longingly: “Big sis, I feel so awful.” He tilted his head towards my wrist, his bright red tongue darting out to lick along the edge of my glove and slip inside, caressing my skin. My pulse quickened slightly, as if welcoming the teasing of his lips and tongue. As he licked, he raised his pitch-black eyes to look at me, greed and madness on full display. My heart skipped a beat. “Aiden, let her go.” A mellow voice sounded behind me. I jumped, hurriedly pulling my hand away. Another young man stood there, tall and handsome with black hair and eyes. He frowned at me. “I’m sorry, miss. He’s my brother. Please excuse his rudeness earlier.” I shook my head to indicate it was fine. He walked over and roughly yanked Aiden up. Aiden’s expression gradually shifted from infatuation to clarity. “My name is Ethan. We’re the bosses here. You must be the new NPC, right? Let me explain your job to you.” He pulled out a bar stool and gestured for me to sit. When both brothers stood before me, I was surprised to find they looked extremely alike—same height, same face, same clothes, like mirror images of each other. But despite their similarity, they were easy to tell apart. The one with a gentle, non-threatening aura was the older brother Ethan. The one with an obsessive, predatory gaze was the younger brother Aiden. “Your bar will only appear when players trigger certain quest points. You just need to give them clues to guide them along. It’s very simple and completely safe,” Ethan said with a slight smile. “Well, if you don’t have any questions, we’ll be going now. The game is about to start.” They gradually disappeared down the hallway. In the darkness, the twins’ footsteps were eerily in sync. Aiden rapturously sniffed the hand that had touched the new bartender, a dissatisfied whine escaping his throat: “I want… I want to eat big sis up…” Ethan licked his canine teeth, also struggling to control himself as he reassured his brother: “Wait a little longer. We’d scare her off now. Just wait…” The crimson carpet was like thick blood, countless branching corridors resembling spreading veins. A player huddled in a hidden corner, body trembling almost imperceptibly. He was the last player left. If he could just avoid detection for five more minutes, he would survive. He kept reassuring himself. “Bingo, found you.” An amused voice sounded by his ear. The player looked up in panic, eyes filled with disbelief and despair. Vines burst forth, tearing his body apart before he could even scream. [Yay! Congrats to big bro on getting the final kill.] [What? I lost my bet. Can’t believe little bro got so many fewer kills!] [That guy was so close, the scenario was about to end.] [You clearly don’t know, newbie. This is big bro’s signature move—letting people see a glimmer of hope, then crushing it before their eyes.] … Before closing time, Ethan came to me looking a bit embarrassed. “Aiden got hurt and wants you to bandage him. He won’t let me touch him. Could you help, miss?” “Of course.” I poured disinfectant over the gruesome gash on Aiden’s arm. It must have been extremely painful, but he didn’t make a sound, just stared at me with blatant, feverish eyes. I finished bandaging under that gaze, sweating profusely. After tying a neat butterfly knot, I tried to stand up. Aiden suddenly flipped his palm over, loosely grasping my wrist for a moment before letting go. His beautiful lips curved into a smile, his slightly lowered voice thick with desire. “Thank you, big sis.” I quickly grew accustomed to this kind of work. Monday through Wednesday, I was the broadcaster at Anderson’s place, guiding players to the next quest point and occasionally oiling Anderson’s saw. Out of courtesy, Anderson would sketch portraits of me in return. He was an excellent artist. On many warm afternoons, we’d sit in the empty, blood-stained playground. I’d doze off as I posed, while his pencil flew across the paper, his steel-blue eyes peering at me over the easel. Thursday through Saturday, I was the bartender for the twins, providing clues to players who triggered plot points and sometimes bandaging Ethan or Aiden’s wounds. They’d beg me to mix them drinks, listening to stories about the odd things I encountered outside the game as we waited. On Sundays, I’d go home to eat the meals my dad cooked, listening to his worried questions about whether my job was going well or if my colleagues were bullying me. I’d think of my coworkers’ smiling eyes and shake my head, telling him not to worry. Another Monday arrived. The broadcast announced, [Will the two students please report to the administration office immediately.] My melodious voice did nothing to ease the players’ terror. In fact, it seemed to make them even more frightened. Behind the microphone, I also frowned. In all my time here, this was the first hidden plot point to be triggered. The two players were a couple—the man a high-level medium, the woman a healer. Working in perfect sync, they had narrowly escaped Anderson’s pursuit, triggering the first school rule: [No dating allowed]. A large black door slowly materialized behind them, emanating an ominous aura. A gilded plaque hung on it, bearing three words: [Administration Office]. They approached uncertainly. Through the door, the man timidly activated his medium abilities. Moments later, he suddenly clutched his chest and coughed up blood. “What’s inside?” the woman asked, supporting him anxiously. “Fire… a huge fire…” “Fire?” [Will the two students please report to the administration office immediately.] The broadcast repeated its urgent summons. The woman bit her lip and, supporting the man, pushed open the door. The door slammed against the wall, stirring up a thin layer of dust. Surprisingly, there was no fire as the man had sensed. The small room was filled with dust, its contents visible at a glance. A row of bookshelves stood at the far end. The woman slowly walked over. I stared intently at the woman’s actions on the screen. She flipped through the messy books and papers on the shelf, pulling out a file folder. The moment my eyes fell on the folder, my pupils constricted. There in the name field was clearly written: Anderson. Followed by the enrollment date: May 1, 20XX. The woman on screen froze. She turned back in horror to find Anderson standing in the doorway, his steel-blue eyes filled with violent killing intent, a glimpse of sharp white teeth visible like a wild beast’s fangs. “Ladies and gentlemen, game over,” he said.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296990”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #惊悚Thriller