On my first day as an intern in the department, I was stunned by a private message from my supervising doctor. She had actually looked into my background, knew that my car, less than a year old, cost over thirty thousand dollars base price, and even commented on my three years of steady driving experience. Then she laid down her demands, stating that her home was far, on the west side of the city, and that starting tomorrow, I should pick her up at her place at 7:10 AM every day, and then wait for her at the hospital entrance at 5:00 PM when she finished work. Finally, she self-righteously declared that this would be my “teaching fee” as her intern. I stared at my phone screen for a full two seconds, then simply replied that it wasn’t within my job description. After that, I ignored her and drove home after work. The next day, two tardiness records mysteriously appeared in my intern handbook. Even worse, the remarks section blatantly read: “Poor attitude, disobedient.” Seeing these twisted accusations, I couldn’t help but laugh in anger. Since she insisted on pulling rank, I saw no reason to be polite either. 1 Dr. Jennings finished her rounds and walked over to me, her tone peremptory. “I’m on call today, so I won’t be off until seven. I’ll let you grab dinner after work, but be at the hospital entrance by six-thirty, waiting for me.” I froze, startled by her words. Seeing my silence, her tone grew impatient. “Did you hear me? Because you didn’t drive me home yesterday after work, I got home half an hour late.” “My husband and I are trying for a baby right now. Do you know what half an hour means to me?” Her voice was aggressive, demanding. What did that have to do with me? She wasn’t even my one-on-one mentor. But thinking that I had just started at the hospital, I decided not to be too harsh with my words. I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Dr. Jennings, I also need to get home early. My parents are waiting for me for dinner.” “Besides, my house is on the east side of the city, completely opposite yours. If you’re really in a hurry, you can book a rideshare every day. It’s more convenient than me.” I thought my words had made it clear enough; any intelligent person would understand I wasn’t willing. Clearly, I had underestimated Dr. Jennings’ audacity. She sneered. “I mentor you every day, and I don’t complain about the hassle. Is this how you treat your teacher?” At these words, my roommate Sally, standing nearby, quickly spoke up. “That’s not right of you, Dr. Brooks. How much effort does Dr. Jennings put into us every day?” “She’s just asking you to drive her home, and you keep making excuses?” Sally and I had always been at odds in school. I turned to her. “Since you’re so thoughtful, why don’t you drive Dr. Jennings home then?” “I recall your family lives on the west side too. And your parents, bless their hearts, bought you a little commuter car. Perfect, isn’t it?” Sally’s face instantly changed. She quickly said, “No way.” Realizing her slip-up, she forced a smile. “Dr. Jennings, my car is just a tens-of-thousands dollar commuter vehicle. It’s not worthy of you. Her BMW is much better, it suits your status.” Dr. Jennings looked extremely pleased. “Alright, you just need to do as you’re told. Remember to be at the hospital entrance by six-thirty this afternoon, waiting for me.” Seeing that they weren’t listening to reason, I let my face harden. “Dr. Jennings, I told you, it’s not on my way, and it’s not convenient.” “As for how you get home, that has nothing to do with me.” “Don’t waste your time; I won’t be driving you home.” The surrounding interns were shocked by my defiance. Everyone turned to look at us. Dr. Jennings clenched her fists tightly. “Do you even know who I am?” I nodded slightly. “Dr. Jennings, I address you as a doctor, but we are merely colleagues.” “I have work to do, so I won’t waste any more of your time.” With that, I turned and left. 2 All day long, Dr. Jennings kept me busy. I knew she was upset, but I didn’t say anything. After all, these were all part of an intern’s duties. If I didn’t do them today, I’d have to do them tomorrow. Might as well get used to it early. As quitting time approached, Dr. Jennings suddenly looked at me. “The patient on the third floor just had surgery today. Someone needs to stay with them. Go down and observe for two hours.” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh in anger. “Dr. Jennings, it’s almost time for me to finish work.” “Other interns will be arriving soon. Do you want to wait for them to get here?” Dr. Jennings reprimanded me. “You call yourself a doctor, always trying to shirk your duties!” “Are patients supposed to wait for your work schedule?” “If you have that kind of work attitude, you should resign sooner rather than later. You’re not suited for hospital work.” I clenched my fists tightly, stung by her scolding. She wasn’t entirely wrong. My purpose in interning at this hospital was to challenge myself, to prove to my parents that I could handle hardship. And as a doctor, not getting off work on time was perfectly normal. I should get used to it in advance. Thinking this, I lowered my head. “I understand, Dr. Jennings. I’ll go now.” On the third floor, I bustled about for two hours, without a single sip of water, and was finally nearing the end of my shift. I sat on a chair, my gaze vacant. Another intern who had come with me sidled over. “Let me tell you, you really hit a brick wall today. I heard Dr. Jennings is really close to the Chief of Staff. You dared to offend her? Aren’t you asking for trouble?” My eyes widened. I thought I’d misheard. “What did you say? Chief of Staff?” The intern looked left and right. “Yeah, didn’t you know? When we started at the hospital yesterday, I specifically asked the other doctors, and everyone knows.” My mind was in a daze. Before I could fully react, a shadow fell over me. Dr. Jennings cleared her throat. “Time’s up. Are you done for the day?” I glanced at my phone. It was exactly seven o’clock. As I stood up to leave, Dr. Jennings walked over to me. “It’s getting late. You can drive me home today.” I frowned slightly. “Dr. Jennings, it’s getting late. I need to get home early.” I absolutely needed to get home early to figure out what all this was about. Dr. Jennings stood with her arms crossed, looking at me. “I see you still haven’t figured out who’s really in charge here.” “Do you know who I am? What’s my relationship with the Chief of Staff?” “Me asking you to drive me home, that’s me doing you a favor. You better think it over. If you refuse me today, every day from now on will be like this.” I took a deep breath. “You say you have a relationship with the Chief of Staff. What kind of relationship?” She chuckled lightly. “What do you think? Didn’t I already tell you I’m going home to try for a baby? So, of course, it’s a marital relationship.” “If you mess with me, I’ll make sure you can’t stay in this hospital, do you hear me?!” Looking at her sharp, malicious face, I bit the soft flesh inside my cheek. “Since you’re so close to the Chief of Staff, why doesn’t he buy you a car?” “And I heard the Chief of Staff has been married for a long time. His wife is his colleague, so your age doesn’t quite match, does it? Dr. Jennings, you’re not playing mistress, are you?” Dr. Jennings’ eyes turned bloodshot as she stared at me. “What nonsense are you spouting?” I was eager for answers and had no time to waste with her here. “Dr. Jennings, I’m in a hurry to get home. Please just call a taxi.” 3 I stopped looking at her, turned, and walked away. Back home, seeing my father on the sofa, I began. “Do you have any connection to Dr. Jennings in the emergency department?” Dad looked puzzled. “Who’s that?” I recounted everything Dr. Jennings had told me. My dad was the Chief of Staff. But no one knew this. I wanted to prove my own abilities, which was why I had refused my dad’s kind offer to arrange my placement in the hospital. Everything I had achieved at the hospital, up to this point, was on my own merit. For as long as I could remember, my parents had a strong relationship. I didn’t believe the rumors were true, nor did I believe what Dr. Jennings was saying. I needed to confirm it with my father. Hearing everything, Dad slammed his hand on the table. “Nonsense! Dr. Jennings, you say? I’m going to make her pay today.” Dad pulled out his phone, about to make a call. I stopped him. “Since this isn’t true, leave it to me. I’ll make her pay for spreading such lies.” The next morning, as soon as I arrived at the hospital, everyone looked at me with disdain. “No wonder she, of all people our age, can drive a BMW. Turns out she’s just spreading her legs to serve men. And you know, that money comes fast.” “She’s never bothered with us since she started here. I thought she was just introverted, but she actually looks down on us. Pfft!” “If she looks down on us, why does she come to steal our jobs?” “Doesn’t anyone else find it disgusting to be colleagues with someone like her?” Whispers and pointing fingers surrounded me. I frowned, looking in the direction of the voices. “Do you know what you’re saying?” A voice from the crowd responded. “You still have the nerve to show your face here. If I were you, I’d quit and leave immediately.” “Does anyone smell something? I swear I smell something fishy.” Hearing these words, I trembled with anger. Just then, Sally walked in from outside the hospital. She saw me and frowned. “You still have the nerve to come to the hospital?” “Back in the dorm, you led the charge to isolate me, and said my family was poor. I thought you were from some rich family, but the Brooks family is just as shameless.” As she spoke, she pulled out a stack of photos from her pocket. “Looking at the man’s age, he must be older than your dad, right? You really have no shame.” With that, she violently threw the photos up in the air. My gaze fell on the photos scattered on the ground. In the pictures, I was sitting in a luxury car, smiling happily. And a man was fastening my seatbelt. All sorts of misleading photos. If I didn’t know the man was my dad, I would have believed it too. The photographer was very skillful. My face was clearly captured in every photo, but my dad’s face wasn’t visible in any of them. Dr. Jennings’ office door opened. She swept a condescending glance over me. “We don’t need shameless interns like you in this hospital. I don’t have shameless students like you. You’re fired. Get out of the hospital now.” 4 Her eyes gleamed with triumph. At that moment, I knew everything was part of her plan. I bit my lower lip, the taste of blood filling my mouth. “I won’t leave, unless I’m officially fired.” “As for you, you’re just a regular doctor. You have no authority to fire me!” Dr. Jennings hadn’t expected me to challenge her. She pulled out her phone and made a call. “Fire intern Ashley Hayes right now.” Soon, my phone received a termination message. Dr. Jennings waved her hand at me. “You’ve received your termination notice. Now get out of this hospital.” “Don’t ever say you work here again. Disgusting!” With that, she turned to leave. I grabbed her wrist. “Dr. Jennings, you’ve been spreading rumors in the hospital, circulating gossip about yourself and the Chief of Staff. Is any of this actually true?” A flicker of panic crossed Dr. Jennings’ eyes. She lifted her hand and flung mine away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” “You’re not a doctor at this hospital anymore. Besides, this is all my private business. I don’t need to tell you anything.” I stood my ground. “I’m not leaving. I haven’t done anything wrong. Why is the hospital firing me without any reason?” Dr. Jennings hadn’t expected me to be so persistent. She stared intensely at me. “Alright, then I’ll make sure you lose convincingly.” With that, she pulled out her phone and made another call. Less than five minutes later, a familiar voice echoed from outside the crowd. “What are you all gathered around for?” Hearing the voice, my entire body froze. Dr. Jennings chuckled softly. “The Chief of Staff is here. You’ll be out of this hospital in no time.” The crowd automatically parted to create a path. Dad walked in. Dr. Jennings quickly stepped forward, her voice soft and delicate. “Chief of Staff, you’re finally here. There’s an intern here who’s disobedient and keeps causing trouble.” “She insists on seeing you before she’ll leave. I truly couldn’t handle her anymore.” Dad looked up and saw me. Dr. Jennings was still chattering on. “Chief of Staff, this intern is truly unfit to be a doctor. I don’t know how her parents raised such a child.” “You must fire her and blacklist her from all hospitals. A person like her truly doesn’t deserve to be a doctor!” Dad gave a forced smile. “So, you’re saying, what exactly makes my daughter unfit to be a doctor?”

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1 My fifteen-year relationship with Molly shattered in a fierce argument about her stubborn refusal to consider marriage. The next day, as a TV reporter, I was assigned to cover a live broadcast from the City Hall registry office. When I interviewed a young man, a random question popped up on the live stream’s comments, dripping with malice: “What’s the cruelest thing your wife has ever said to you?” I was about to skip over this potentially thorny question, but the guy smiled shyly at the camera and answered softly, “She never yells at me. The worst thing she probably ever said was calling me a clumsy idiot when I burned my hand.” He went on to explain that his wife was fourteen years older than him, and she cherished him deeply. She always said he’d been with her since he was so young, and she wanted to spoil him rotten. That’s why he chose his twenty-second birthday to get married. The comments section exploded with “Aww, couple goals!” and I found myself smiling too, ready to offer my congratulations. Just then, a woman walked up and threw herself into his arms, asking intimately, “Honey, what are you talking about?” I felt like I’d been struck by lightning, my blood freezing in my veins. The microphone clattered to the ground with a sickening thud. Because that woman was Molly, my girlfriend. And just last night, she had spat at me, “You have any self-respect? Would you have been my lapdog at seventeen, begging me to be with you? Always paranoid. Hell, I’m the one who suspects you’re seeing other women!” … The moment our eyes met, a flicker of panic crossed Molly’s face, but it quickly settled into a cold calm. She shot me a warning glance, subtly shaking her head. I felt like someone had their hand clamped around my throat, my limbs stiff and useless as I stood rooted to the spot. The young man, ever so kind, picked up the microphone and handed it back to me, a playful grin on his face. “What’s wrong, Anchor? Did my wife’s beauty stun you?” Molly laughed, playfully tapping his chest. “Stop talking nonsense. Let’s go, didn’t you want Japanese food?” He let out a delighted yelp, leaning down to kiss her. “Thanks, babe. You’re the best, babe.” That word, “babe,” pierced my heart without warning, leaving a raw, bleeding wound. How utterly pathetic. Fifteen years with Molly, and I never even had the right to call her that. Seeing me still pale and frozen, the young man grumbled, though his eyes were brimming with amusement: “My wife usually won’t take me because she’s worried I’ll get sick. But since it’s our wedding day, she’s finally letting me go wild. Babe, you know I’m the boss today, right?” Molly didn’t spare me another glance, her gaze tender and affectionate as she looked at him. “Alright, alright, boss. Let’s go.” She took his hand, her steps composed as they walked past me. Not a single hesitation, as if I were nothing more than an irrelevant stranger. A torrent of questions lodged in my throat, like countless needles, pricking me until I bled internally. The cameraman behind me gestured, reminding me the live broadcast was still running. Swallowing back my tears, I hastily ended the segment and hurried after them. Under the young man’s astonished gaze, I articulated each word: “Molly, we’re done.” … On the ride home, I huddled in the corner of the taxi, burying my face in my hands and sobbing uncontrollably. Molly and I had been together for fifteen years. During our poorest days, we squeezed into a leaky basement apartment, sharing a single cup of instant noodles. She’d give me the only egg, while she just drank water to stave off hunger. When winter hit, she’d tuck my hands into her clothes to warm them, shivering herself but never once complaining. I never felt the hardship either. Because she told me we’d work hard together, and when we both made it big, she’d wear the most beautiful wedding dress and marry me in style. I worked for ten years, and waited for five. Finally, I was successful, and she was wealthy. But she married another man. Back home, I started packing my suitcase. Molly must have returned at some point, because every item I put in, she’d pull out. Finally, she grabbed my wrist with a tight grip, kicked over the suitcase, and snarled, her eyes bloodshot: “Ethan, what the hell do you think you’re doing? What’s with all the drama?” Tears welled up instantly, and I clutched my chest in agony, my voice hoarse. “Drama? Molly, you married another man. What am I supposed to stay for? To be your side piece?” Molly collapsed onto the sofa, pulling out a cigarette. She brought it to her lips, then silently snuffed it out. “Ethan, it’s not what you think with him.” “He’s Professor Cohen’s son, Liam. Professor Cohen passed away and entrusted Liam to me. I have to take care of him.” Professor Cohen, Molly’s benefactor. If he hadn’t invested in Molly’s project back then, she wouldn’t be where she was today. I curled my fingers, my eyes closing in numb despair. “So you have to marry him and take care of him for the rest of your life? What about me?” Molly frowned, about to speak. Her phone rang, and her eyes instantly softened. “Liam, what’s wrong?” Liam sobbed into the phone. “Molly, is Ethan still mad? Have you explained it to him? Or maybe I should… Ah!” A heavy thud echoed from the other end. Molly immediately stood up, her voice laced with panic. “Liam, what happened? Don’t scare me.” Liam’s voice trembled. “Molly, I fell. It hurts so bad.” Molly soothed him gently. “Don’t be scared, I’ll be right there.” Hanging up, she grabbed me, her tone brooking no argument. “You’re coming with me. Liam and I will explain everything to you in person.” I yanked my hand back, but Molly dragged me all the way to Liam’s place. What made it even more disheartening was realizing Liam lived just upstairs from me. I couldn’t bear to think about all those nights Molly claimed to be working late or leaving in the middle of the night. Had she been with Liam all along? Molly, her face full of concern, helped Liam out of the bathroom. Liam was naked, pressing himself close against her. Seeing me, his eyes red and swollen, he said: “Ethan, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were Molly’s boy… friend. Please don’t fight with her. She’s just being kind and taking care of me.” I said nothing, and his eyes welled up with more tears. Molly snarled. “Ethan, Liam’s talking to you. Can’t you answer him? Do you have any manners?” A sharp ache tightened in my chest. After a long silence, I finally whispered, “I understand.” Liam’s tears turned to a smile, and he tugged at Molly’s sleeve. “Molly, my foot hurts so bad. I think I twisted it.” Molly immediately knelt down, carefully cupping his foot and gently massaging it. “Where does it hurt?” Watching them, I suddenly remembered the time I broke my leg protecting her in a car accident. I was in so much pain I couldn’t sleep all night, begging her to put medicine on it. She had impatiently brushed my hand away. “Ethan, you know I’m a germaphobe.” Turns out, her germophobia was just for me. Molly expertly walked over to a cabinet and started rummaging for liniment. The moment she left, Liam’s face contorted into a venomous sneer. “Ethan, why are you such a pathetic loser? Molly and I are legally married. What are you? A side piece trying to stand here?” His voice grew even nastier. “I hear you’ve been with Molly for fifteen years? How sad. All that time and you never even got a marriage certificate. Someone like you, a shameless mooch, should go find a sugar mommy at a club while you still have some looks. Though, I wonder if you can even get it up anymore?” My heart seized, and I angrily looked up. But before I could do anything, he suddenly flushed, slapped himself hard across the face, and collapsed to the floor. “Ethan!” Molly rushed over, shielding Liam in her arms. Liam clutched his face, accusing me through tears. “Molly, I was just apologizing to Ethan, and he suddenly hit me. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have let you take care of me. I’ll leave, I’ll just leave, okay?” I was shaking with rage. “You’re lying! You clearly—” “Enough!” Molly cut me off coldly, gripping my arm tightly. “Apologize to Liam.” In that moment, the last bit of air I was holding onto in my chest simply deflated. I managed a weak smile, my eyes burning. “Molly, you can’t even see through such a cheap trick? That’s… quite disappointing.” I shook off her hand and walked out calmly. As I watched the elevator indicator lights, I remembered being seventeen. I was cornered and bullied by a group of guys in the hallway. When a kind classmate found us, the ringleader turned the tables, slapping himself hard and preemptively telling the teacher: “Teacher, Ethan hit me.” I was just an ordinary student from a single-parent home, and the teacher, not wanting to get involved, was about to give me a disciplinary notice. Molly was the one who helped me. Dressed in a white dress, she leaned casually against the railing, lazily telling the teacher: “Teacher, you can’t even see through such a cheap trick?” She pulled out a video, proving my innocence. She said, “You follow me from now on, be my little brother, and no one will ever dare bully you again.” The girl’s smile was too dazzling, it captivated my heart. And I followed, for fifteen years. But I never imagined that the boomerang of time, after all its twists and turns, would ultimately strike the one who first wielded it. Back home, I continued packing, but my phone kept buzzing. I picked it up and saw that the clips from today’s live broadcast had gone viral. Someone recognized Liam; he was a moderately popular college blogger. I clicked into the account a netizen had found. His latest post showed him and Molly with their fingers intertwined, a marriage certificate displayed in front of them. “Married my crush of many years, so happy~” I suppressed the bitterness in my heart and scrolled further down. In Liam’s posts, I saw Molly, who never lifted a finger at home, cooking for him with her own hands. I saw her, someone who never ate spicy food, going to the hospital with gastritis after eating spicy meals with him. And then there was the day my father passed away. I was home alone, heartbroken to the point of heart failure. She was away on a business trip and called me after hearing the news. But at the same time, the boy’s post showed: “Wife on the phone while doing it, so hot.” Turns out, the choked voice I thought was her comforting me, was just her gasping while in bed with another man. I sat in the darkness, stunned, all night. Molly didn’t come back until noon the next day. I got straight to the point. “You slept with him, didn’t you? Happy?” Molly paused, mid-shoe change, her face instantly darkening. “Watch your mouth. Liam was crying all night, I was comforting him.” I raised my hand, pointing to the hickey on her neck. “Comforting him in bed?” Molly froze. I then handed her Liam’s social media page. Molly was completely silent. After a long pause, she spoke: “He’s just a kid, posting for fun. Don’t go bothering him. It’s all my fault.” No explanation, no apology. Her first instinct was to protect Liam. Tears instantly streamed down my face. “Molly, don’t you guys feel… disgusting?” Seeing my tears, Molly was about to embrace me, but her face darkened when she heard my words. She scoffed. “Clean? You think you’re clean? Ethan, you’ve been with me all these years, circling me like a lapdog. I told you to get a vasectomy, and you went right away. You’re infertile now, a cripple. At least Liam isn’t like you; he’s young, vibrant, whole!” “You forgot how you begged me like a dog to protect you back then. You think if you leave me, anyone out there will want you? Who would ever care about a rotten person like you?” I stared at her, an extreme sorrow washing over me even before anger could. At eighteen, we first experimented with intimacy. Two clueless individuals, fumbling through it, supporting each other every step of the way. Later, through those difficult years, I stood by her. She said she didn’t want children, and I, without a second thought, got a vasectomy. The inability to ever have children, it was the deepest pain in my heart, and I thought she’d be touched. But now I knew, in her eyes, I was a cripple, a useless man. I stared blankly at the face I had loved for fifteen years, suddenly wondering when she had become so… rotten. The girl in the white dress, she had truly died completely in my heart. Realizing she’d spoken out of turn, a flicker of regret crossed Molly’s eyes, but she was interrupted by a phone notification. She glanced at it, and her face instantly turned ashen. Molly lunged, viciously seizing my throat and kicking me to the floor. “Ethan, don’t think I won’t hurt you just because you’ve been with me for years. If anything happens to Liam, I’ll make you pay for it!” Seeing my stunned expression, she slammed her phone onto my face. “Look what you’ve done!” On the screen, my name glared back, every word accusing Liam of being a homewrecker. The language was vicious, sickening. Liam, unable to withstand the online bullying, was now on a rooftop, threatening to jump. I stared at her, my voice trembling. “You think I posted that?” Molly’s eyes were ice cold. “Who else would it be? How could you be so evil? Using such a despicable tactic against a kid.” She stood up, looking down at me. “I only planned to take care of Liam for a while, grant a few of his wishes, and then marry you. But now, I’ve changed my mind.” “Ethan, you will pay the price.” She slammed the door shut as she left. My chest felt like it was being ripped open, making it hard to breathe. I forced myself to go to work. The moment I arrived at the TV station, my boss called me into his office. “You’re fired. Get out.” I stood frozen, my mind a blank. Walking out of the building, the streets were filled with strange, judgmental stares. Before I could even process it, my phone was bombarded with messages. Molly had posted a statement online, accompanied by her marriage certificate and a forged psychiatric evaluation report: “Liam and I are married. Ethan was merely a childhood acquaintance. He’s mentally unstable, and out of old affection, I continued to look after him, never imagining he would slander my husband.” The entire internet erupted in condemnation. “A mentally ill person working as an anchor? How disgusting. People treat him as a friend, he treats them as his wife.” “Delusional, truly terrifying.” “Wow, his information has been dug up. He bullied others in high school. Such a rotten person trying to latch onto CEO Molly.” I stared at the news on my phone, filled with twisted truths, and felt my vision go black, collapsing heavily to the ground. When I opened my eyes again, Molly had me confined. Until Liam came knocking.

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After the premiere, I realized my girlfriend, Chelsea, was gone. I searched the whole venue with a glass of champagne in hand, finally hearing her on the phone in the fire escape. She was saying that the film was custom-made for her, guaranteed to win her the Best Actress award. She also mentioned that she’d reveal the person’s identity during the Best Actress nominations next month. And she specifically stated that tomorrow she would sign a contract for the next project with them, believing that once the contract was secure, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble. I leaned against the wall, listening to the entire conversation. It was then I understood. I was just her stepping stone, a director with resources who didn’t even demand a salary. The next day, she sent a playful voice message as usual, asking if I’d finished writing the script for her next movie. I compiled all the breach of contract clauses from her business agreements into a PDF, added that recording, and sent it to her talent agency. After that, I sent her a text. 1 Less than ten minutes later, Chelsea burst through the door. Her voice was frantic. “Kris, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” I scoffed. “I really didn’t know you were capable of two-timing me while we were supposedly in a relationship.” Chelsea and I went to the same university. I directed a film in my freshman year that instantly hit big, turning me into a prodigy director. Chelsea, though pretty, wasn’t particularly outstanding in the sea of beauties at the film academy. I didn’t know her back then. In my junior year, I was at the library gathering material when it suddenly started raining. She offered me an umbrella. “Mr. Thorne, please take my umbrella.” I was aloof with everyone back then and took a step back. “No, thank you.” Chelsea smiled. “Mr. Thorne, you’re quite famous on campus; of course, I wanted to meet you.” “But to get to know you, and even help you, I think that’s rather nice.” She pointed to the camera on my body. My life had always been full of pretense, and it was the first time I’d encountered someone so genuine. Before long, we knew each other. A year ago, Chelsea pulled me close. “Kris, I know I’m not good enough for you, but I really like you.” At that time, I also had a soft spot for her, pretty and sweet as she was, and accepted her confession. Later, knowing she wanted to be a big star, I personally wrote three scripts for her. As expected, her first film was an instant hit. Now, her second film was a box office smash. Unless something went wrong, she would be nominated for Best Actress in a month, becoming the youngest Best Actress ever. But I never imagined what happened yesterday would occur. Chelsea’s face was pale. She grabbed my hand. “Kris, let me explain.” “He’s like an older brother from my hometown. If it weren’t for him, I might not have even gone to college. He’s my benefactor.” I shook off his hand. “And? What does that have to do with me?” She looked at me with a hint of judgment. “You’ve been born with a silver spoon in your mouth, getting whatever you want. Of course, you don’t understand the struggles of people like us from the lower class.” “If I can become Best Actress, he can leverage my name to stay in this industry and get decent opportunities.” “Since I’m with you, I definitely intend to marry you. I’m just helping him out. You’re a man, why are you so petty?” Her words struck me as utterly ridiculous. She was my girlfriend, planning to announce she was with another man. Everyone in the industry knew about our relationship. She was essentially trampling my reputation underfoot. And now she was accusing me of being petty. I scoffed, shaking off her hand. “I don’t want to argue with you. Let’s break up.” 2 “And as for the script for the third film, you can forget about it.” “I’ll find someone suitable.” I didn’t want to look at her anymore and turned to leave. Chelsea suddenly sneered. “Don’t even think about it. The female lead for your third film will definitely be me.” I frowned and looked at her. She pulled out her phone and waved it in front of me. “Your company has already signed a contract with mine. Are you trying to breach it?” I suddenly remembered. Today was the day to renew the contract for Chelsea’s third film. I should have called the company to tell them not to renew. But Chelsea’s sudden arrival had disrupted my plans. I gritted my teeth. “Fine. I’ll pay the penalty.” No matter what, I couldn’t stand being around someone like her. Chelsea chuckled. “Don’t bother. Both companies have already made official announcements. If you unilaterally breach the contract now, what do you think the netizens will say?” “I’m not an unknown actress anymore. Now I’m a front-runner for Best Actress.” Chelsea’s eyes gleamed with triumph. Her expression made her seem like a stranger to me. I felt as if I had never truly known her. My chest felt like it had been struck by a heavy hammer. I had been genuine with her; otherwise, I wouldn’t have used every resource to pave her way. The door was pushed open again from the outside. Kevin Stone walked in, wrapping an arm around Chelsea’s waist right in front of me. “Director Thorne, you once refused to cast me in your films. I bet you never thought you’d become my stepping stone, did you?” Seeing his face, I suddenly remembered five years ago. That was my first film. Kevin was an investor’s pick, shoved into the cast. Initially, I tried to tolerate him out of respect for the investor. But his acting was simply abysmal. I’d rather forgo the investor’s funding than let him ruin my character. Later, I replaced him with a new actor. That new actor became a sensation in the film, instantly rising to become an A-list star. I never expected Kevin Stone to be Chelsea’s boyfriend. My gaze fell on Chelsea. “So, you’re not hiding it anymore?” Chelsea raised an eyebrow. “Eventually everyone will know Kevin is my boyfriend. Knowing sooner or later makes no difference.” “Besides, I’m a Best Actress, an actress, not an idol. I’m allowed to date.” I couldn’t help but laugh aloud. “You’re that confident you’ll win Best Actress?” Chelsea straightened her back. “The impact of my two films isn’t just national, it’s global. In the entire industry, no one can snatch it from me. If not me, then who?” “Even if you tried to rig it, my fans would see it as a conspiracy and wouldn’t stand for it.” Kevin chuckled. “Director Thorne, thank you for paving the way for us. When we reach the top, we’ll definitely remember your generosity.” Chelsea looked at me. “Don’t worry, I won’t break my promise. I’ll still marry you.” I just felt disgusted. My fists clenched tightly. She thinks she’s guaranteed Best Actress, doesn’t she? Well, we’ll see about that. 3 Early the next morning, before dawn, I left my place. When my car pulled up outside Scarlett Reed’s apartment, I cut the engine and sat there for a while. I couldn’t put my finger on the feeling, just a knot of frustration in my chest that I couldn’t seem to release. I went upstairs and knocked on her door. Scarlett opened the door in her pajamas, her hair a mess. The moment she saw me, she froze. “What are you doing here?” She instinctively took half a step back, a hint of awkwardness in her eyes. She was actually the female lead in my first film. Later, when her career was booming, she confessed her feelings for me. But I had already met Chelsea by then and turned her down. Since then, Scarlett had kept a low profile, rarely taking on acting roles. But I knew she was incredibly talented. And she had a huge fanbase; whenever she appeared, audiences would respond. There was another very important thing. There was still a film we co-produced that hadn’t been released yet. I didn’t beat around the bush. “Scarlett, I need your help.” Her expression shifted several times, finally leaning against the doorframe, looking at me with complicated eyes. After about ten or fifteen seconds of silence, she stepped aside, letting me in. “Come in and talk.” When I left, she stood at the doorway watching me go. She didn’t say anything, but I knew she would help me. Not because she was generous, but because some debts, sooner or later, had to be settled. Chelsea said no one could be her competitor, didn’t she? But she forgot. It was she, Chelsea, who had brutally pushed Scarlett out of the Best Actress spot back then. She’d sat on that throne for too long. It was time to repay the debt. I got home around two in the afternoon. As I pushed open the door, I saw Kevin Stone wearing my pajamas, holding Chelsea, his head buried in her neck. I frowned. “What are you two doing?” Seeing me, Chelsea calmly adjusted her clothes. “You’re back?” “We were just rehearsing. In the next project, we’re playing a couple. You’re a director yourself, you know this is perfectly normal in our line of work.” Kevin looked at me with blatant provocation. I suppressed the rage burning in my chest. “You two dogs, get out of my house!” Chelsea stared at me. “Do you have to make things so ugly?” I gritted my teeth. “Get out!” But Chelsea picked up a property deed from the table and tossed it at my feet. “This is my house. You’re the one who needs to leave!” I looked at the property deed at my feet. Chelsea’s name was on it. Last month was Chelsea’s birthday. She sat in my lap, her arms around my neck. “Kris, I know you love me very much, but you know, in our industry, love is so fleeting.” “I really feel very insecure.” I held her, making a significant decision. I transferred all the properties under my name to her. Including this one, the house I bought with the money from my first successful film. I never imagined that one day she would kick me out of my own home. I was packing my suitcase in the room. Chelsea walked in. “I didn’t want you to leave.” I looked up at her. “Then tell Kevin to leave the house now.” She frowned. “Why are you so obsessed with him?” “I already told you, he’s my benefactor. I can’t be ungrateful. Since you’re my boyfriend, you should be thankful to him too!” My voice was cold. “We’ve broken up. I’m not your boyfriend. He is.” The thought of being with this kind of woman for so many years, wasting so many resources, just made me sick. I picked up my suitcase and walked out. Chelsea’s voice came from behind me. “If you walk out of this house today, then we are truly over.” “I’m telling you, I’m about to become Best Actress. You’ll definitely regret this.” I carried my suitcase, not even turning around. I wouldn’t regret it. As for Best Actress, she wasn’t guaranteed to get it. 4 I took my luggage straight to the film set. After discussing it with Scarlett, within a couple of days, I scheduled the unreleased film for screening. Though the timing was rushed and there was no publicity. But because I was the director. And Scarlett’s acting skills were well-recognized in the industry. On opening day, while it couldn’t compare to Chelsea’s box office, it still performed well. That day, Chelsea called. “Kris Thorne, I think you’re truly insane, ruining your own reputation.” “Your new film’s box office today isn’t even a third of your usual. Aren’t you panicking?” I scoffed, hanging up on her. I knew Chelsea well; she definitely hadn’t seriously watched the movie. Over the next two weeks. The film’s box office kept climbing, already surpassing Chelsea’s second film and quickly catching up to her first. I was just finishing up on set when Chelsea stopped me. “If you take ‘Chrysalis’ offline now, I might consider not breaking up with you.” Still so high and mighty. Without me, she wouldn’t be where she was today. How could she possibly think I’d be unwilling to let her go? I pushed her aside. “No way.” Another week passed, and the film became a massive box office hit. Scarlett instantly soared to become a top-tier actress. The film was also nominated for this year’s Best Picture and even garnered a nomination for its educational significance. The international film festival was the next day. Scarlett called me. “I’ve been nominated for Best Actress.” Just as she was about to hang up, she suddenly said: “Check the internet immediately.” I quickly opened my computer. The top trending topic showed ambiguous photos of Scarlett and me. There were also timelines of Chelsea and me entering the same room. Netizens in the know claimed that I had cheated on Chelsea with Scarlett during our relationship. Everyone was cursing me. To everyone’s surprise, Chelsea even posted a veiled comment. [Someone betrayed me, but someone else will love me.] Her fans flooded my comment section. [Shameless! Cheating on our darling Chelsea!] [What an old hag, how could she compare to Chelsea? Pffft!] [This guy has the nerve to be a director? I’ll never watch his films again!] Even all my personal information was dug up. That night. Not only my house, but Scarlett’s house was also surrounded. Chelsea called, her voice triumphant. “The Golden Rooster Best Actress award won’t go to a disgraced actress like her, Kris. You really thought you could succeed? Impossible!” I hung up on her, blocking her number immediately. She wouldn’t think I didn’t have a backup plan, would she?

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My daughter’s simple “Daddy” was once the sole reason I clung to my marriage. When my wife, Stella Lawrence, was first caught by the police for soliciting eight men, I chose to endure it. For the sake of our family, we struck a fragile agreement: I wouldn’t file for divorce, and she would undergo daily screenings for infectious diseases at the hospital. Each time, she’d cooperate submissively during blood draws, allowing the cold needle to pierce her skin, all out of guilt. This went on for a whole month, until she was caught red-handed again, for the same offense. In that moment, my blood felt like it was boiling, my eyes bloodshot as I stared her down. “How many more times will you betray me? What do you take me and our daughter for?” A sharp slap suddenly echoed through the room. She shrieked hysterically, “I’m sick of your endless checks! You think this is a compromise? This is you silently condoning my continued indulgence!” “And how clean are you, Mr. Saint? When you were juggling countless women back then, did I ever utter a single complaint?” The most brutal truth unraveled with her cold sneer: “You really think Luna is your biological child? Just because she called you Daddy for a few years, you think you’re her real father?” The undisguised disgust in her eyes pierced my heart like an ice pick. I suddenly understood that all my persistence had been meaningless. I had chosen to forgive her for the child’s sake back then, but now, for the child’s sake, it was time to cut ties completely with this rotten relationship. … A rival, also arrested nearby, gloated. “You two are a perfect match, truly. Both of you are so dirty, what’s there to despise each other for?” “That woman must be getting drafty from all those daily checkups, huh? I bet your husband’s had enough of you.” “And let’s be real, the number of women he slept with back in the day probably outnumbers your current flings…” Stella slapped her again. “Enough! Shut up!” I stared at her, tears streaming down my face, unstoppable. Six months into our marriage, I was kidnapped by an enemy of her past crimes. Beaten and humiliated for three days and three nights, videos spread across the internet before she finally rushed to my side. At one point, I wanted to end my life. She stayed by me 24/7, never leaving my sight. She tried everything to cheer me up. “Julian, it’s all over. I’m here. No one will ever dare to hurt you again.” Two months later, she found out she was three months pregnant. She wept with joy, convinced it was a gift from heaven. “Our baby is fighting so hard to see you. Please don’t let her down, okay?” I started taking new dad classes. Slowly, I began to accept everything. Even through the arduous pregnancy, Stella treated me with unwavering devotion. It was a girl, named Luna, meaning to protect my peace. Three years flew by, and I thought life was slowly getting better. But reality delivered a brutal slap to my face. The day she was arrested, I was in the next room celebrating Luna’s birthday. The police kicked open the door, and all I saw was clothes strewn across the floor. And nine naked people on the bed. “My husband back then probably had even more, must have been awesome.” I happened to overhear that sentence. After she sobered up and saw me, she slapped herself so hard she ended up in the hospital. Claiming she was just framed by a rival. And back then, cradling a trembling me, she had retorted to others: “Am I looking for a husband or virtue?” “Anyone who dares to say one more bad word about my husband, I’ll kill them!” Just three years, and everything had changed. The chaotic shouts pulled me back to reality. The person opposite her was already covered in blood. Stella still had her fists tightly clenched. “You have no right to talk about my husband!” She turned to me, and the ferocity in her eyes finally dissipated. She stepped forward, blocking my view. “I’m sorry, I’ve been under a lot of stress lately. Let me calm down first.” I looked at her calmly. “I’ll have my lawyer handle the divorce papers. Let’s do it quickly.” She furrowed her brows, the drops of blood on her face looking somewhat terrifying. “Are you really that heartless? I just spoke without thinking, does all the good I’ve done for you before count for nothing?” I didn’t answer. I turned to the police. “I’m not bailing her out. Follow the procedure.” Then I walked away without looking back. Luna was waiting for me at home. Her innocent eyes were still searching. “Where’s Mommy?” I picked her up, fighting back tears. I spent a lot of time with her. Making formula, changing diapers—all hands-on. I never once thought she wasn’t my flesh and blood. But after so many years, I had already grown too attached to let go. A car engine rumbled at the door. Stella walked in, her face weary. Luna flew into her arms. Stella immediately put on a smiling face, picking her up and spinning her around. Only after telling stories and putting her to sleep did she open her laptop to deal with messages. A glass of warm milk still sat on the nightstand. She didn’t even look up. “Go to sleep first. Even for Luna, you need to calm down.” I lay awake all night. My mind was clouded, unable to decide what to do. Three days later, Stella’s adopted brother, Alex Lawrence, was getting married. It had been decided that Luna would be the flower girl. Alex and I were on good terms; there was no reason to take my anger out on him. The moment Alex saw Luna, he warmly picked her up. “Our Luna is the best, isn’t she?” Luna giggled, kissing his cheek. “Luna loves Uncle Alex the most!” The joyous atmosphere around me sent a pang through my heart. Should I really take Luna away from the Lawrence family? Alex pulled me over for a photo. “On such an important day, my lifesaver must have a place of honor!” Years ago, he was also taken by the kidnappers. I had negotiated and offered myself to protect him. In these three years, he had practically brought the world’s best things to me. I forced a smile, pushing those messy thoughts away. The wedding went smoothly. I couldn’t resist taking a few more videos. Turning around again, Luna had disappeared. I frantically went to look for her. The hotel storage room. Stella’s phone, which had been unreachable, was ringing inside. Just as I was about to knock, I suddenly heard unusual gasps. “Stella, are you really just going to watch me get married? What about our eight years?” It was Alex’s voice. My hand, resting on the doorknob, froze mid-air. Unspeakable sounds reached my ears. After an unknown duration, Stella’s languid voice spoke. “You’re part of the Lawrence family, after all. We can’t be together.” “Then are you really willing for me to sleep with other women from now on?” Alex sounded a bit desperate. “Why? When I had the kidnappers take him, you should have just left him alone!” “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be despised as dirty by a man who’s been ridden by countless others!” “Luna is our biological child…” “Enough!” Stella cut him off, the sound of clothes rustling. “I’ve already indulged you enough. Don’t push your luck.” “Since you’re married, settle down. Don’t make me sacrifice my reputation to protect you again!” I slumped against the door, making a loud thud. Eight years… I had only known Stella for seven years. That nightmare I lived day and night. It was actually orchestrated by the closest people to me. The air fell into a deathly silence after the door opened. Stella helped me up. “Are you alright? I just came to help grab something…” I stared fixedly at Alex’s clearly aroused state, my heart sinking to rock bottom. “Was it fun, watching your husband being humiliated?” Seeing that I had already heard everything, Alex tore off his disguise. “When you were under those guys, Stella and I were having a blast right next door.” “These past few years of marriage, I’ve been with her every day!” “To avoid you finding out, Stella even deliberately got caught soliciting.” My head spun with a buzzing sound, and my stomach churned with agonizing pain. Stella glared at him, then hugged me. “He and I are in the past. I’ve repaid what I owed him.” “Don’t worry, I won’t have any contact with him again. Those kidnappers have already been dealt with.” “Let’s just live well with Luna, like before, okay?” I didn’t hear a single word she said. “Get out! Don’t touch me!” I pushed her away with all my might. Leaning against the wall, I dry heaved. Behind me, they were blaming each other. I closed my eyes, but the sheer absurdity of it all choked me. Seven whole years! My supposed happiness had all been a lie, replaced by a third party. During the time I was humiliated, I thought of Stella again and again. The belief that I had to see her again kept me alive. But what was she thinking next door at that time? Was it pity for me? Or passion for Alex? When I was anxious outside the delivery room, wishing I could suffer in her stead. Was she thinking about what to name her and Alex’s child? How could anyone be so flawless in their deception? On one hand, loving me with all her might. On the other, carrying on under my very nose. Luna ran over and called out to me. My expression numb, I picked her up, walking past Stella. “Luna, it’s just Daddy from now on.” “Mommy, don’t cry. Luna wants Daddy.” Her tender little hand wiped away my tears. I stumbled out of the hotel. Since neither I nor Luna were wanted, I’d grant them their wish. That night, Alex came. He had changed out of his suit. His light attire revealed prominent hickeys on his chest. A nameless nausea surged within me. The discomfort in my stomach made my nails dig deeply into my flesh. I quickly ushered Luna back to her room. “Brother, you’re being too petty. Luna is my biological child, no matter what.” Alex scrutinized my pale face, his tone filled with thinly veiled mockery. “To be frank, your wife is pregnant again, and it’s mine too.” “In the future, only my child will inherit all the shares of Lawrence Corp.” “Because you, Julian, have absolutely no fertility left.” His triumphant expression deeply stung me. I threw a punch, the pain making me unstable on my feet. “Get out!” He clutched his face but didn’t get angry; instead, he laughed. “Enraged, are we?” “So what? You can never change the fact that Luna is my biological child!” Luna, hearing the commotion, came out clutching her teddy bear and responded blankly. “Uncle Alex, Luna’s daddy isn’t you.” I quickly covered Alex’s mouth, forcefully dragging him towards the door. He leaned on the doorframe, letting out a contemptuous sneer. “If you truly cared about Luna, you shouldn’t have let her be born. She’ll only suffer more as she grows up.” “You really think Stella wanted to have a child with you? Luna was just a tool to stabilize your marriage.” “She only loves me. Even Luna comes second!” “Just a bastard child. Living with you for so long, Stella says she feels sick just looking at her.” Seeing me frozen in place, Alex grew even more triumphant. “Do you know why she agreed to let me hire people to kidnap you back then?” “Because you had a cold, and she was 30 minutes late meeting me because she was taking care of you, so I was angry and wanted revenge.” My entire body felt struck by lightning, my vision swimming. It was merely such a trivial matter. And I was just an ant sacrificed for Alex to trample on at will. My eyes bloodshot, I stared at him, my chest heaving violently. He drew a circle on my chest. “Stella only has me in her heart.” “She was already pregnant. To avoid having your offspring, she had someone render you infertile.” My pupils constricted sharply. My body reacted faster than my mind. I clamped my hands around his throat, trembling all over. “You bastard! How dare you hurt Luna like this… Go to hell!” Luna was terrified and started crying hysterically. Alex flashed a smug, knowing smile. “You’re truly a terrible father.” I looked at a frightened Luna. My grip slowly loosened. Just then, Stella returned from the office. Seeing the scene, she violently shoved me aside. My forehead hit the corner of the table, blood gushing out. Luna’s cries grew louder. But Stella only had eyes for Alex. “Julian Reed! If anything happens to Alex, I will never forgive you!” Alex was helped away. Until the car drove off. Stella didn’t spare us, mother and child, a single glance. I held a trembling Luna tightly. “Daddy’s here, don’t be scared…” “Daddy, do Mommy and Uncle Alex hate us?” I looked into her tear-filled eyes. My chest suddenly ached as if pricked by needles. She was already three years old; how could she not understand adult emotions? “Daddy, then we don’t want Mommy either.” She buried her head in my arms. I forced myself to comfort her to sleep, swallowing my grief. It had come to this. I had to take Luna and leave. With my decision firmly made, I pulled out the divorce papers I had already drafted. I placed the peace charm she had begged for three years ago on top. She had once said it was specially sought to bless me, to ward off my nightmares. But just moments ago, I had seen an identical one on Alex’s wrist. As I packed, my perfectly fine suitcase suddenly cracked open. Just like my once envied relationship, rotting from the inside out. After arranging new lodging, I sat by Luna’s bed. Planning to leave with her at dawn. But suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the door. Before I could even stand up, Stella stormed in, her face enraged. She kicked me away, her eyes bloodshot. “Julian Reed! How cruel you are! You actually tried to kill Alex!” I curled against the wall, too much pain to speak. Luna was also startled awake. Seeing the scene, she huddled in her blankets, trembling in fear. “Lu… Luna…” I struggled to reach for her. Stella grabbed her like a chicken, lifting her up. “You’re a father! Why can’t you be kinder to Alex? Without him, how could you have become a father?” “Alex came here to apologize to you, out of kindness, and you actually hit him! He’s traumatized and now has a fever!” Luna must have been pinched because she cried hysterically. Continuously calling for “Mommy.” “Shut up!” Stella roared viciously. “It’s all your fault, you little bastard! You’re clearly mine and Alex’s child, yet you’re trying to leave with your cheap father.” I couldn’t believe my ears. No matter how harshly Stella had cursed me before, she had never been cruel to Luna. But now, she was actually taking her anger out on her own flesh and blood! “Stella Lawrence! Are you insane?” I rushed forward, trying to snatch Luna. But she held Luna high above her head. “Move again, and I’ll drop her to her death!” I froze in place, my temples throbbing, my mind a blank. “You say I’m insane? I think you’re the one who’s insane.” “I provided you with a good life, good food and drink, and you just because you caught me once, started acting like I’m dirty?” “Alex was right, I never should have kept you and your daughter!” She took a step forward, making to throw Luna down. I quickly knelt, clutching her leg. “No! I beg you, just let Luna go, I’ll do anything.” I repeatedly kowtowed, my voice desperate and helpless. She stared at me for three seconds, then suddenly smiled. “Alex wants Luna to die with him.” My mind reeled. She continued. “Do you know how miserable Alex is right now? He’s on a ventilator!” “Today, I’m going to make you experience Alex’s pain!” With that, she took Luna directly into the bathroom. The bathtub was filled with water. “Mommy, I’m sorry…” But she ignored the pleas, pressing Luna’s head underwater. Luna choked, flailing desperately. “Da… Daddy…” I held onto Stella’s arm with all my might, but she wouldn’t budge. She radiated an almost crazed aura. Luna’s voice grew fainter and fainter. Tears streamed down my face in desperation. I tried to open the drain to let the water out. But Stella violently shoved me to the ground. “Now do you know how desperate Alex was?” “I want you to witness firsthand how Luna suffers because of you!” The floor was slippery, and the back of my head hit the tile with a sickening thud. My vision went black, and my body was unresponsive. Faintly, I saw Luna’s arms stop moving. “No… Give me back my Luna…” I weakly reached out. Stella dragged me all the way to the bedroom. “Give you back your child? Sure! You enjoy wearing a cuckold’s horn that much?” “Are you that starved? No wonder you survived three days and three nights!” A bad feeling surged within me. Before I could react, my pajamas were ripped apart by Stella. I was thrown naked onto the bed. Stella snapped her fingers, and the kidnappers from years ago filed into the room. A phone camera was already set up. “You think I’m dirty? Well, I’ll make you experience what ‘dirty’ really feels like!” My eyes widened, words caught in my throat, only “Ah, ah” escaping. The sound of a belt unbuckling dragged me back to the terror of three years ago. Countless greasy hands, I felt like an object for sale. My stomach cramped violently. I desperately tried to get up. But Stella snatched a belt and tied my hands behind my back. “I advise you not to struggle, or you won’t even get to see Luna one last time.” My twisted limbs completely relaxed at those words. She flashed a triumphant, mocking smirk at me. Patting my face, she whispered into my ear. “Enjoy your gift.” The bedroom door slowly closed. All my memories flashed before my eyes like a rapidly spinning carousel. Stella and my first kiss on the Ferris wheel. That grand and solemn wedding. And her repeated pleas for me not to kill myself. No more. I wanted none of it. I bit down hard, reaching for the scissors hidden under the pillow. Screams of terror erupted from the bedroom. At the same time, Stella received a call from the hospital. After hearing the news, she rushed back to the room like a madwoman.

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Kelly did not even let me explain. She told me Zane had nearly drowned jumping into a freezing river for her, a reckless devotion she would not trade for a billion dollars. I gave a bitter smile and asked if betraying me meant nothing. She lowered her head, muttered a quick apology, and left without a trace of hesitation. Watching her walk away, I sighed quietly. She had no idea she was giving up far more than me and our shared future. She was abandoning her place as the matriarch of a multi billion dollar empire. We were once the couple everyone on campus envied. I led the dean’s list and treated her like royalty. Everyone believed we would marry. Yet she left anyway, with no fights or warning. On a perfectly ordinary afternoon, she walked straight into the arms of the campus delinquent who had pursued her for three years. She claimed my love was too safe. She wanted a romance that was explosive, chaotic, and reckless. From that day, she skipped classes to go clubbing and rode on motorcycles with local street thugs. Her parents, desperate, called me in tears, pleading for help. My heart softened. I took the fully funded study abroad documents I had prepared for her and tracked her down. She only sneered, saying the department had no exchange quota and accusing me of forging papers to trick her into leaving Zane. 1 I had my butler, Silas, accompany me to the administration building to process my paperwork. Wanting to avoid any unnecessary drama about my identity, I specifically instructed the university to simply announce my withdrawal. They were not to mention a single word about my transfer to an elite Ivy League institution overseas. The paperwork was finalized. Walking out of the grand double doors, the midday sun beat down mercilessly, the harsh glare making my eyes sting. Silas lowered his voice. “Are you holding up alright, young master?” I glanced up at him. “Do I look like the kind of man who would fall apart over a woman?” Silas shook his head. A self-deprecating chuckle escaped my lips. “The eighteen year old me would have. But at twenty one, I finally understand what my father meant.” “He always said love was the most useless commodity in high society. It only turns you into a walking punchline.” I am the sole heir to the Kingsley family empire. Since childhood, every single person who approached me did so with dollar signs in their eyes. After surviving enough betrayals, I gradually locked myself away in my own isolated world. But a part of me still craved a normal youth. I wanted genuine friends and a warm, uncomplicated romance. So, at eighteen, I put on a pair of thick, black framed glasses, bought the cheapest clothes I could find, and enrolled at this university. However, the aura of detachment I had built up over a lifetime was too strong. An entire month went by without a single person daring to speak to me. I tried joining clubs, only to be rejected one after another. Eventually, I found myself sitting by the campus lake, utterly defeated and ready to throw in the towel. Then Kelly appeared. She crashed into my deadened heart like a blinding ray of light. When she smiled and handed me a cold soda, my fingers literally trembled as I took it. In eighteen years of life, it was the very first time someone had given me something out of pure, uncalculated kindness, even if it was just a cheap drink. She comforted me with a soft voice and excitedly dragged me into the sketching club, swearing she did not care about my supposedly poor background. In that exact moment, I decided to give her my entire heart. And I really did do crazy things for her. Once, I heard a false rumor that she had a boyfriend. I spent the entire night drinking rotgut whiskey in a dive bar until I threw up blood. But the next day, when she cleared up the misunderstanding and hugged me, confessing she liked me too, I cried like an absolute fool. Looking back on it now, maybe that is what youth really is. It always comes with a heavy dose of pain. I was just about to leave the administration courtyard. Unexpectedly, Kelly and Zane blocked my path. Kelly’s eyes were visibly red. She marched right up and grabbed my wrist. “Alan, I know you are heartbroken, but you cannot ruin your life by dropping out! I will feel too guilty if you throw your future away like this!” I yanked my hand back, my tone dropping to freezing temperatures. “My withdrawal has nothing to do with you. We have no relationship whatsoever. Keep your hands to yourself.” Without another word, I turned to walk away. Zane immediately stepped in front of me, wearing an absurdly self righteous expression. “Kelly gave you three of her best years. That is more than enough! You dropping out right now is just a manipulative stunt to make her feel bad and force her to come crawling back! If you really loved her, you would wish us the best!” Right at that moment, my three dorm mates happened to be walking by. Derek, our dorm leader, shoved Zane hard in the chest. “Have you got no shame? You steal the guy’s girl, and now you are playing the victim?” “The whole school knows how well Alan treated her. She tossed him like garbage, and now she wants to play the innocent angel?” “Any girl who chooses a piece of trash like you is no prize herself!” Zane exploded. “You can trash talk me all you want, but keep Kelly’s name out of your mouth!” A split second later, he threw a wild punch. The four boys instantly tangled together in a vicious brawl. Students swarmed the area, forming a massive circle, holding up their phones to record every second. 2 It did not take long for my three friends to pin Zane to the concrete. Kelly threw herself onto the ground, wrapping her arms around him and screaming at me hysterically. “Alan! You are pure evil! You chose to drop out, nobody forced you! I came over out of the goodness of my heart to check on you, and you order your friends to jump him!” “I regret every single second of the three years I spent with you! You are a sick, possessive freak! You treated me like your personal property, forbidding any guy from getting near me. It was like living in a cage!” “You are a total monster!” Zane lay on the pavement, groaning out a weak, dramatic line. “Kelly, do not blame him. It is my fault for chasing true love. But even if it kills me, I will save you from a guy like him…” Kelly glared at me with bloodshot eyes, screaming at the top of her lungs. “What will it take for you to let him go? Is it my body you want? Fine! You can have me! Just promise you will never hurt him again!” With a violent tug, she ripped the collar of her own blouse, exposing her bare shoulder. The surrounding crowd went into an absolute uproar. “Holy crap, Alan looks like a nice guy, but he is actually a creep!” “That is so gross. I would have dumped him ages ago if I were her!” Curses, accusations, and the aggressive clicking of camera shutters instantly drowned me out. I stood tall, looking down at them from my vantage point, a cold smirk playing on my lips. “Kelly, your acting is way over the top.” She froze, her hand still clutching her torn shirt, her face a mask of shock. “What did you just say?” I slipped my hands into my pockets, my voice entirely unbothered. “I have been standing right here the entire time. I haven’t said a word, and I haven’t moved a muscle. You, on the other hand, accused me of ordering a hit, slandered me by saying I imprisoned you, and topped it off by claiming I want your body.” “It is a real tragedy you are not in Hollywood. You would sweep the Oscars.” Someone in the crowd immediately spoke up. “I was watching the whole time. It really went down exactly the way Alan said.” The public opinion flipped in an instant. Kelly’s face drained of color. She waved her hands frantically. “No! That is not what happened!” I cut her off with a voice like ice. “No? Zane is the biggest thug on campus. He gets into street fights every other day. My roommates are regular honor roll students. You really think they could drop a seasoned brawler in two seconds flat? Do you think everyone here is stupid?” “You don’t want the reputation of a cheater, so you are pinning all the blame on me.” “But you seem to have forgotten something. When I loved you, I was willing to play the fool. But now that I don’t give a damn about you, why would I ever tolerate your nonsense?” “And as for your body, cover it up. It makes my stomach turn, and I don’t want to pollute my eyes.” With that, I called for Silas and walked away without looking back. The next evening, Derek called to invite me out for a farewell dinner. They originally planned to hit a cheap food truck near the campus gates. For three years, these guys had no idea about my real background, yet they treated me like a true brother. I refused to let them eat street food on my last night. I had Silas book the most exclusive private dining room at a three star Michelin restaurant downtown. Sitting around the table, there was no awkward politeness. Just raw, honest talk between friends. We drank, clinked glasses, and reminisced about the last three years. Nobody asked how much the plates of wagyu and truffles cost. Nobody cared about the invisible wealth radiating from me. It was close to midnight when we finally stumbled out of the private room, our arms draped over each other’s shoulders. 3 The moment I looked up, I saw those two again. Zane had a cigarette dangling from his lips, looking every bit the street rat, shouting at the front desk manager. “You think I can’t afford to treat my girl to a decent meal? My wallet got stolen, and my phone just broke! I will bring you the cash in a couple of days!” The manager maintained a blank, professional stare. “Sir, your bill comes out to over five thousand dollars. If you cannot settle the check right now, I will be forced to call the police.” Kelly looked up and locked eyes with me. She shrieked instantly. “Alan! You stole his wallet on purpose! You just wanted to humiliate him in front of all these people! You are so twisted!” I furrowed my brows in sheer disbelief. “Are you mentally ill? Me, steal from him?” Zane immediately dropped his tough guy act, switching to a pathetic, wounded puppy look. “I know you still love Kelly, and you hate me for taking her away. If you wanted to eat at a high end place like this, I could have paid for you. There was no need to resort to petty crime.” My three roommates stepped in front of me like a human shield. “Bullshit! Alan would never steal a dime!” Kelly looked at me with tear filled eyes, her tone dripping with patronizing pity. “Just admit it, Alan. If you didn’t take his money, how could you possibly afford to eat here? Just hand over the wallet. I will make sure Zane doesn’t press charges. Don’t ruin your entire life over a moment of jealousy.” I completely ignored her, simply casting a brief glance at the manager. The manager caught my drift immediately. Less than a minute later, the high definition security footage was playing on the lobby screens. On the massive display, Zane was seen excusing himself to the restroom, pulling an empty wallet from his pocket, and tossing it directly into a trash can. Then, he took his own phone and violently smashed it against the tile floor, shattering the screen. Returning to his table, he patted down his pockets, shouted that he had been robbed, and pulled out his broken phone, faking a complete meltdown. Kelly’s face flushed a deep, humiliating red. She tucked her chin so far down it practically touched her chest, completely speechless. Zane panicked. “I… I swear I will bring the money tomorrow! Please don’t call the cops!” I looked down, discreetly tapping a quick message on my phone. A second later, the manager’s phone buzzed. A perfectly rehearsed smile spread across his face. “Our owner has a soft spot for romance. He says that if this gentleman can prove he truly loves the lady beside him, the house will cover the bill.” The manager walked over to the bar, picked up a thick, solid glass liquor bottle, and handed it directly to Zane. Zane gripped the neck of the bottle, his hands shaking violently, entirely paralyzed by fear. Kelly nervously checked the judgmental stares of the wealthy patrons around them. She urged him in a hushed whisper, “Zane, I know it will hurt, but I don’t want to go to jail, and I can’t get expelled. Didn’t you say you loved me? Just one hit. You are used to getting into fights anyway…” Finally, Zane squeezed his eyes shut, gritted his teeth, and smashed the heavy bottle against his own skull. Crimson blood instantly poured down his forehead, dyeing half of his face red. Kelly practically tackled him in a hug. “Zane! You are amazing! Thank you for bleeding for me! I am so moved, I swear I will never leave your side!” I stood exactly where I was, my face twisted in utter disgust. Disgust for her, but mostly disgust for myself. This was the kind of cheap, trashy melodrama you read in trashy romance novels, the kind where you wonder how the female lead could be so brain dead. I could not believe I actually loved someone this brain dead for three years. What a joke. Too tired to waste another breath, I grabbed Derek’s shoulder and headed for the door. Passing by them, I couldn’t resist dropping one final piece of advice. “Next time you want to flex, make sure you check the menu prices before you walk through the door.” 4 Before I could take another step, Kelly clamped her hand around my wrist. “You have to apologize to Zane! This is all your fault!” A laugh bubbled up from my throat, dark and dry. “Me? Apologize?” Kelly puffed out her chest, completely shameless. “You obviously had enough money to book a VIP room here. Why couldn’t you just cover our tab while you were at it? You are just cheap! All those times you said you loved me over the past three years, it was all fake! If you don’t apologize right now, I am going to make your life a living hell!” Zane pressed a hand to his bleeding head, glaring at me like a cornered rat. “Don’t get cocky! My boss answers directly to Mr. Silas! The underground runs this city! I promise you, I will make you pay for this tenfold!” I let out a cold snort. “Alright. I will be waiting.” With a forceful yank, I ripped my arm from her grip and strode out into the night. Early the next morning. Derek called me in a complete panic. “Alan, it is bad! The campus forum is going nuclear! You need to see this right now!” I pulled up the university network. The top trending post had a glaring, sensational headline: [SHOCKING! Top Student Alan Kingsley Commits Theft & Violence in Jealous Rage!] Beneath it was a heavily edited video clip. The first half featured Zane playing the bloody victim while Kelly cried into the camera. The second half was a deepfake. It showed a highly realistic AI generated version of me looking down at the ground, admitting I stole the wallet, and then raising a glass bottle to attack Zane. The comment section was an absolute warzone. Rumors, insults, and death threats swept through the entire student body like a wildfire. Shortly after, the Dean of Students called me personally. He sounded heavily conflicted. “Alan, this situation with Zane has escalated beyond our control. The student body is out for blood. Could you possibly come down to the campus and clear the air in person?” “Alright.” After hanging up, I called for my butler. “Silas. I am done keeping a low profile today.” Silas bowed deeply. “Understood, young master.” One hour later. An extended, pitch black Rolls Royce Phantom glided through the streets, coming to a smooth halt right in front of the main administration building under the watchful eyes of the entire university. A massive crowd had already gathered on the steps. Zane had brought a gang of street thugs, blending them in with the furious college students. They waved picket signs demanding justice and screamed for my expulsion. Kelly stood at the very front of the mob, looking like a tragic, wronged heroine. Silas stepped out first. He bowed respectfully and personally opened the rear door for me. Today, there were no thick framed glasses hiding my eyes. No shaggy hair covering my forehead. My hair was styled flawlessly, revealing sharp, aristocratic features that could easily rival any A list Hollywood actor. I wore a custom tailored bespoke suit, a limited edition luxury watch gleaming on my wrist. The cold, untouchable aura of pure old money radiating from me made people physically step back. The moment my leather shoes touched the pavement, the entire plaza went dead silent. Everyone froze like statues. I took slow, measured steps until I stood right in front of Kelly and Zane, whose faces had completely lost their color. A chilling, hollow smile touched my lips. “So, you wanted an explanation?” Zane was the first to snap out of the trance. He clenched his fists and roared, “You think renting a designer suit and hiring a fake luxury car is going to scare me? Let me tell you, it won’t work! My boss is on his way right now, and you are going to pay in blood!” The moment the words left his mouth. A black utility van slammed on its brakes right behind my Rolls Royce. The sliding door flew open. A massive, bald bruiser wearing a thick gold chain vaulted out of the vehicle. Rocco, flanked by a dozen heavily tattooed enforcers, stormed forward with terrifying aggression. “Who the hell is messing with my boy? You got a death wish?” Rocco marched straight toward me, raising a massive, calloused hand, fully intending to slap me across the face. But in the next fraction of a second, his hand froze rigidly in mid air. His pupils dilated in sheer, unadulterated terror. “M… Mr. Silas?”

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I contacted the man I’d avoided for a decade, my hand resting on my now flat stomach, a cold smile on my lips. It began at a welcome home party my husband threw for his childhood sweetheart, Valerie. During a drinking game, she lost and asked me to take her punishment, claiming it was her time of the month. I refused, explaining I was pregnant. Valerie just scoffed, saying I should admit I didn’t want to help instead of suddenly “getting pregnant” as an excuse. The room burst into laughter, and my husband’s face darkened. The next second, someone kicked me into the deep end of the pool. A man bet my husband on how long I could hold my breath. My husband laughed, wagering his Aston Martin keys that I could last five minutes. Others threw cash into the bet. A heavy hand held me under. A sharp cramp tore through me, and I felt a warm flow into the water. On the deck, they kept counting. Valerie lost the bet. To cheer her up, my husband downed three glasses of wine. As I sank, my vision fading, I heard him clearly: “Stop faking it. Keep going.” When I woke in a hospital bed, my husband stood over me, frowning. His first words were: “Were you really pregnant? Why didn’t you say something sooner?” 1 “I did tell you, Ross. I told you I was pregnant.” Ross let out a cold, dismissive laugh. “In that kind of setting? How was anyone supposed to know you weren’t just making it up to get out of a drink? If you have been pregnant all this time, why did you hide it from me?” Because he did not know, he felt completely justified in watching his friends kick me into a pool. He felt justified in laughing and betting his sports car on my life. He felt justified in guzzling wine to cheer up Valerie while I was drowning. I closed my eyes, my fingers curling into tight fists around the hospital bedsheets. He dropped onto the sofa furthest from my bed, speaking in a slow, casual drawl. “Honestly, you do not even need to say it. I know exactly what you were doing, Nora. You were waiting to go straight to my grandfather to claim your little reward, weren’t you?” Looking at his face, I saw that familiar, absolute certainty. That arrogant, condescending look that told me he thought he had me completely figured out. I had seen that exact look countless times over our three years of marriage. No matter how hard I tried to be the perfect wife, he always looked down on me from his pedestal. I genuinely believed that marrying him meant I finally had a family of my own. Nobody knew how ecstatic I was when I saw those two pink lines. I had been so incredibly excited to welcome this tiny life, a little soul that shared my blood. I had carefully tried to guess his reaction, wondering if the father of my child would feel the exact same overwhelming joy that I did. Just last night, when Ross called to invite me to that party, a secret thrill had bloomed in my chest. I foolishly thought I had finally broken through the walls around his heart. I thought I could finally share my wonderful news with him in front of everyone. The sudden click of the door handle shattered the heavy silence in the room. Valerie strutted in on her designer stilettos, holding a massive bouquet of exotic lilies. I instantly furrowed my brows. “Get out.” She let out a dramatic huff. “Do you really think playing the victim makes you the queen of the Sinclair family? You cannot pin last night on me. You knew you were pregnant, yet you still came out to party with us. You did this on purpose, didn’t you? You just wanted to put on a pathetic show to make Ross feel guilty.” She crossed her arms, looking down her nose at me with pure disdain. “Do not forget, you were the one who forced your way into this marriage. If it were not for you, Ross would have ended up with his first love ages ago. You ruined his life, and you still have the nerve to act high and mighty?” “My marriage is between me and Ross. Outsiders do not get a vote.” My voice was incredibly soft, but I made sure every single syllable was crystal clear. At the mention of his first love, a flash of hostility crossed Ross’s eyes. “She is not an outsider.” I fell silent for a few long seconds before I finally spoke. “Ross, if it were not for her last night, our baby would still be alive. How exactly do you expect me to treat her?” Ross turned his face away, his voice dropping to absolute zero. “It is your own fault for not protecting yourself. You have no right to blame anyone else.” My breath caught in my throat. My mind went completely blank for a split second. I knew exactly what he was doing. He said it on purpose. Because just like Valerie said, he hated me. I slowly exhaled a shaky breath. “Ross, let’s get a divorce.” He let out a mocking sneer. “You know damn well my grandfather will never allow us to divorce. Do you honestly not feel ridiculous trying to use that empty threat on me, Nora?” He leaned forward. The lingering scent of expensive alcohol from last night mixed with an overwhelming, suffocating pressure. “If we divorce, where exactly are you going to go? Your parents died ten years ago. Besides me, who else are you going to cling to as a parasite? Or…” He paused deliberately, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. “Are you planning to run to your… stepbrother?” He spat the last word out like it was poison, his eyes locking onto mine like a predator. A sudden chill shot straight up my spine. But then, my tightly clenched fists slowly relaxed. There was absolutely nothing left to care about. A soft, broken laugh escaped my lips. “For three years, I sat in that massive, freezing house, waiting for you to just look at me. I was stupid enough to believe that if I held a stone against my chest long enough, it would eventually warm up.” “But now I know the truth, Ross. Your heart is harder than stone.” I was smiling, but the tears were spilling down my cheeks faster than I could stop them. “The baby is gone, Ross.” I forced the words out using every last ounce of strength I had left in my body. “And I am completely done waiting like an idiot for you to love me.” “I will go talk to your grandfather myself. He will agree to it.” The moment the words left my mouth, I clearly saw his pupils violently contract. That smug, untouchable mask he had worn since walking into the room finally cracked. He instinctively took a half step backward. After a brief moment of stunned silence, his jaw clenched tight, his voice dangerously low. “Nora, without the Sinclair family backing you, you are absolutely nothing. Are you really sure you want to do this?” “I am sure. Don’t worry, you are about to get your freedom back.” 2 The next morning, Elder Sinclair arrived at the hospital leaning heavily on his silver handled cane. He took one long look at me, let out a heavy sigh, and lowered himself into the chair beside my bed. “I have already contacted the Vanderbilt family. I told them to keep their daughter, Valerie, on a very short leash. You will not have to see her face ever again.” “And I have thoroughly disciplined that reckless grandson of mine. He truly does care for you, Nora. Just give him some time.” I opened my mouth, fully intending to tell him that his grandson’s heart belonged to someone else entirely. But the old man did not give me the chance to speak. “You have suffered a terrible injustice with the child.” His tone softened, yet it carried an undeniable, commanding edge. “But life has to keep moving forward, Nora. You are still young. Once your body heals, you will have other children.” I took a deep, steadying breath. “Arthur, I want a divorce.” The hospital room went dead silent. Elder Sinclair did not explode in anger. He just looked at me, his eyes clouded with a deep disappointment. And that kind of quiet disappointment was infinitely harder to swallow than screaming rage. “Nora, do you have any idea what you are actually asking for?” He phrased it as a question, but he clearly had no intention of waiting for my answer. “Divorce is an easy word to throw around. But what happens after the papers are signed? How do you plan to survive out there on your own?” His tone was heavy and earnest, sounding exactly like a patriarch looking out for my best interests. “Let me ask you a few simple questions, my dear.” “How old are you?” “Have you ever worked a corporate job in your life?” “Have you ever earned a single dollar with your own two hands?” I sat there in total silence. “No. You haven’t.” His voice was terrifyingly calm. “I am not saying you are incapable, Nora. But before you turned eighteen, you relied entirely on your stepbrother. When your parents passed, they left you a massive inheritance. And by twenty five, you were married to Ross. You have absolutely no concept of what it means to grind, to struggle, to earn a living in the real world.” “Maybe in the past, you could have fallen back on Gideon. But from what my investigators tell me, the two of you had a total falling out. He left the country ten years ago and has not been back since.” “So tell me. If you divorce Ross today, exactly what are you going to live on?” “This VIP hospital suite costs five thousand dollars a night. You need premium postnatal care after a miscarriage. The Sinclair family can provide you with the absolute best medical team in the state to ensure a perfect recovery. Do not gamble with your health, Nora.” I clutched the edge of the blanket, refusing to speak. Seeing that I was not backing down, Elder Sinclair did not lose his temper. Instead, he smoothly changed his tactics. “How about this. Focus on your recovery first. When you are discharged, you come back to the Sinclair estate. I will force Ross to move out into one of his penthouses for a few months. The two of you need some physical distance to cool off.” “Once you are fully recovered, I will personally arrange a position for you in one of our corporate offices. Whatever career you want to pursue, I will fund it.” “Learn how to be an independent woman first. Then, we can revisit this divorce talk.” “If you still want to leave him after you have tasted the real world, I promise I will not stand in your way.” He gestured for his head butler to bring Ross into the room. Ross stood in the doorway, his face still etched with deep annoyance. “Grandfather.” “Get over here and apologize to your wife.” Ross shot me a sideways glance. “Sorry.” The old man frowned deeply. “Did you forget how to speak? Louder.” Ross took a deep breath and raised his voice a fraction. “I am sorry, Nora.” His volume went up, but the half hearted, dismissive attitude remained exactly the same. Elder Sinclair did not care. Forcing Ross to apologize was just part of his grand performance. It was exactly like his manipulative speech about letting me gain independence. “Arthur, I do not need his apology.” The old man turned his sharp gaze back to me. “My answer has not changed. I want a divorce. It is not because I am throwing a tantrum, and it is not because I am trying to prove a point. It is because this marriage has been entirely meaningless from the very first day.” “It took me three brutal years to finally admit that out loud.” My voice was trembling, but I forced every single word out with absolute clarity. “You told me I have no work experience, that I cannot feed myself. Fine. I will learn.” “I am only twenty eight. It is not too late to start over.” Elder Sinclair sat in total silence for a very long time. Finally, he stood up. As he leaned his weight onto his silver cane, his body swayed slightly. His butler instantly rushed forward to steady him. He looked down at me, the rims of his eyes turning a faint shade of red. “I have always looked at you as my own flesh and blood, Nora.” “If your mind is truly made up, I will not force you to stay.” “But mark my words. The doors to the Sinclair estate will always remain open to you. Whenever you decide you want to come home, your place will be waiting.” He turned and walked toward the door. Right at the threshold, he stopped without looking back. “Ross. Come with me.” Ross followed him out into the hallway. The hospital room fell dead silent once again. I stared blankly up at the white ceiling, fresh tears slipping from the corners of my eyes. He claimed he treated me like his own flesh and blood. But you do not treat your own blood like a business transaction. You do not sit by your granddaughter’s bed the day after she loses her baby and casually tell her she is young enough to just make another one. I knew he was just putting on a masterful act. But his calculating performance made one thing abundantly clear. Getting this divorce was going to be a brutal war. 3 The door swung open again. Ross walked back in, looking thoroughly exhausted and irritated. “Grandfather ordered me to stay here and watch over you.” I stared right through him, my face expressionless. “Ross, your grandfather officially agreed to the divorce.” He froze, a sudden flash of genuine panic breaking through his arrogant facade. “I am walking away with nothing from the Sinclair estate. I only want the inheritance my parents left me. The eight million dollar trust fund. When we got married, I handed it over as my dowry. Later, you told me you converted those funds into Sinclair Corporation shares.” My voice was terrifyingly calm. “Right now, I just want my eight million dollars back in cash.” Ross quickly looked away, dodging my eyes. “Focus on getting better. We can deal with the financial details later.” He turned on his heel, ready to bolt. “Ross.” He stopped dead in his tracks but refused to turn around. “Did you already drain my trust fund?” The muscles across his broad shoulders instantly locked up. “Valerie’s family business ran into massive financial trouble last year. She came begging you for help. Did you use my parents’ money to bail out her family?” Ross whipped around, his face turning an ugly shade of ash. “What the hell are you talking about?” He closed the distance between us, looming over my bed with a dark, threatening glare. “My business with Valerie has absolutely nothing to do with—” I let out a sharp laugh. “Ross, if you dared to give my dead parents’ money to Valerie, I swear to God I will—” The door suddenly clicked open, and Valerie strolled right in. “You will do what, exactly?” She looked at Ross, then shifted her mocking gaze to me, letting out a sharp, condescending giggle. “Ross, why are you even wasting your breath on her? So what if her dead parents’ money was used to save my family? Does she have a single shred of proof?” She crossed her arms, raising a perfectly arched eyebrow. “Nora, I suggest you get a grip on reality. The moment you married into this family, your money became Sinclair money. Or did you think all those designer clothes and luxury cars you have been using for the past three years magically fell from the sky? Did you think the Sinclairs were running a charity?” “Even if Ross was generous enough to write you a check right now, what difference would it make? You do not even know how to write a basic resume. How long do you think eight million dollars will last a spoiled housewife?” She laughed out loud, her voice dripping with pure, unfiltered malice. “What are you going to do when the money runs out? Sit on a street corner with a cardboard sign?” I gripped the bedsheets so hard my knuckles turned white, but I kept my mouth shut. Valerie took a slow step closer, her tone venomous. “Actually, it is going to be incredibly entertaining to watch. An orphan who just got dumped by the great Ross Sinclair. Can you imagine what high society is going to whisper about you behind your back?” She leaned in close, dropping her voice like she was sharing a juicy secret. “Congratulations, Nora. You are about to become completely worthless.” I raised my trembling hand, fully intending to slap the smug look right off her face, but Ross caught my wrist in a vice grip. Right as we were locked in a tense standoff, a deep, resonant male voice echoed from the doorway. “She still has me.” Valerie straightened up instantly, whipping her head toward the door. Ross followed her gaze. A tall man stepped into the room. With a fluid, calculated motion, he effortlessly broke Ross’s grip on my wrist and smoothly stepped between us, acting as an impenetrable shield. “Who the hell are you?” Ross massaged his aching wrist, his face twisting into a scowl. “Gideon.” “So you are that pathetic little…” Gideon shot her a single, freezing look, and she instantly snapped her mouth shut. Completely ignoring the two of them, Gideon pulled up a chair and sat down beside my bed. “The chicken soup is still hot. I got it from that old diner you loved when we were kids. Eat it before it gets cold.” Looking at his familiar face, the tears I had been fighting back broke free, streaming down my face. Ross stood a few feet away, his expression darkening into pure rage. “Did you call him back to the city, Nora?” I did not even bother looking at him. “Get out, Ross. My legal team will be in touch regarding my inheritance.” Valerie let out a nasty sneer. “A legal team? You honestly think you can afford a decent lawyer?” Gideon slowly turned his head to look directly at Valerie. The smug smile froze on her face. She instinctively took a terrified half step backward. Ross quickly grabbed her wrist, pulling her safely behind his back. He glared at Gideon, then shifted his dark, calculating eyes to me. “People always used to whisper that you two had a dirty little secret going on behind closed doors. I never bought into the rumors, but seeing you two now, I guess they were right all along.” “You really played the long game, didn’t you, Nora?” Gideon calmly scooped a spoonful of hot soup, blew on it gently, and brought it to my lips. “You play a pretty good game yourself, Ross. Raiding your wife’s dowry to bail out your little side piece’s bankrupt family. I wonder if the elder Mr. Sinclair knows about this? Do you think he would break your legs himself?” Ross glared daggers at Gideon. “Valerie is absolutely right. The second she signed that marriage certificate, she and her bank accounts became Sinclair property. Who the hell do you think you are to question me?” Gideon’s hand paused in mid air. He lowered his gaze thoughtfully. I opened my mouth, ready to defend him, but his smooth, unwavering voice beat me to it. “It does not matter who I am. But since Nora is divorcing you today, I have more than enough ways to make you choke on every single dime you stole from her.” 4 Ross let out a harsh, barking laugh. “Now it all makes perfect sense. You do not speak to her for a decade, and the exact second she mentions divorce, you magically appear to play the white knight? Were you just waiting in the wings to take my sloppy seconds?” Valerie immediately jumped on the opportunity to pour gasoline on the fire. “Can’t you see what is happening, Ross? Her loving wife act was totally fake. She has probably been sleeping with her precious stepbrother this whole time! She used you as a shield to secure her status as Mrs. Sinclair, while she was messing around with another man behind your back.” “And now that she lost the baby, she is playing the ultimate victim. She wants to throw all the dirt on you so she can walk away clean and run off into the sunset with her golden boy!” “Shut your mouth!” I was shaking violently, pure adrenaline and fury surging through my veins. “Was she wrong?” Ross’s voice dropped to a terrifying, deadly pitch. The fact that he was actually standing there, playing the role of the betrayed husband trying to catch a cheating wife, was the most sickeningly hilarious thing I had ever witnessed. “Ross, wasn’t it you who stood there and watched them kick me into the deep end of the pool?” My voice was barely more than a whisper, but Ross’s breathing hitched instantly. “When I told you I was pregnant, wasn’t it you who stared at me with a dead look in your eyes and called me a liar?” “Wasn’t it you who laughed and bet your car keys on how long I could hold my breath?” “When Valerie lost the bet, and you drank three glasses of wine to cheer her up, did you hear the sound of me fighting for my life in the water?” “Ross.” My tears slipped down my cheeks without any warning. “The person who murdered your child… was you.”

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I had deliberately kept thirty premium suites empty for Allee, a longtime corporate client, despite Memorial Day weekend being fully booked for months. She brought thirty employees for a retreat, but at checkout, she was outraged. “Why are we paying $500 a night when walk-ins pay $400?” she shouted. I tried to explain, “Their rate doesn’t include park passes, meals, or shuttle service—” She cut me off with a sharp slap across my face. “I don’t care! Refund the difference or we cancel!” I said nothing, quietly processed the cancellation. As soon as they left, I called a travel agency I’d turned away days earlier. They had a group of a hundred seniors needing lodging. The tour director wired the deposit instantly, nearly crying with relief. “You saved us—I thought they’d be on the street! Finding rooms now is impossible.” Just as I hung up, a news alert flashed: record holiday crowds, with even luxury resorts sold out. 1 “What exactly are you trying to pull, Marsha?” Allee slammed her hand on the reception counter. “You quoted us five hundred bucks a head. I just watched a guy pay four hundred. You are intentionally ripping off your most loyal clients!” I kept my hand pressed against my stinging cheek, forcing down the massive wave of shock and fury bubbling in my chest. I took a breath and tried to explain one last time. “Allee, you are completely misunderstanding the situation. Mr. Davis was a walk in. He is only staying for a single night, and his four hundred dollars covers the bed and nothing else. Your five hundred dollar rate is an all inclusive package. If you do the math, you are getting an incredibly massive discount.” “A discount? Do you think I am an absolute idiot?” Allee refused to listen. Instead, she cranked her volume up even higher, drawing the stares of everyone lingering in the lobby. “It is just a few extra plates of food and a stupid piece of paper! How much could that possibly cost? You are just taking advantage of our loyalty. You think we are easy targets, so you are jacking up the price!” “That is simply not true, Allee.” I maintained my composure, even though the side of my face was throbbing painfully. “The all access pass to Lake Sapphire costs a hundred and eighty bucks. Our dining is an all you can eat buffet. Breakfast alone has over twenty premium options.” “Lunch and dinner include steak, fresh seafood, an entire dessert bar, and unlimited beverages. You get complimentary private shuttles to the train station and the lake.” “You also get a dedicated tour guide for the entire day, a fifty dollar voucher for the lakeside food trucks, and free access to three premium water sports.” “At five hundred bucks, I am barely breaking even. If you do not believe me, go ask any other resort on this mountain. For the exact same package, they will charge you at least eight hundred dollars.” Allee shrieked, completely unreasonable. “I do not care what other places do! I only care that you gave someone else a cheaper rate! You either refund every single one of us a hundred bucks, or we are walking out that door!” We had been doing business for ten years. I kept her rate locked in at five hundred. I held that price for a decade. Every other hotel in the area had tripled their prices. I still gave her the five hundred dollar loyalty rate. And this was how she repaid me. By slapping me across the face. But I still swallowed my temper. “Allee, if you truly feel that a hundred dollars is a rip off, I can drop your rate to four hundred bucks to match the walk in guests. But that means every single additional service will be immediately canceled.” “The only reason I came to your lodge was for the all inclusive perks!” Allee screamed. “If you cancel the extra services, why the hell would I stay in your hotel!” It was blatantly obvious. She just wanted to milk me for everything I had. She wanted to pay the four hundred dollar bare bones rate, but she still expected the five hundred dollar VIP treatment. But I was not running a charity. Allee pointed a manicured finger right at my nose. “If you do not agree to my terms right now, I am taking my entire team and leaving! Your hotel is going to sit totally empty for the entire holiday weekend, and I want to see who you are going to find to fill these rooms!” The young receptionist standing beside me finally snapped. “What is wrong with you? The sketchy motels down the road have skyrocketed their prices! Our boss kept your rate the same and gave you a million free perks, and you are still acting this greedy?” Allee let out a nasty sneer, side eying me like I was garbage. “Am I the greedy one, or is your boss just a bloodsucking capitalist who lost her morals? Hurry up! Either give me the cash, or cancel the rooms!” Her colleagues immediately chimed in to back her up. “If you do not give us the refund, we are going to bomb your hotel with one star reviews online!” “We will let the whole internet know this place is a total scam!” “You are so shady for ripping off old clients! It is disgusting!” “We would not stay here for four hundred bucks anyway. Just give us our money back!” Several of them pulled out their phones, opening up travel apps, fully prepared to start typing out vicious reviews. I took a deep, steadying breath and gently touched my burning cheek. Ten years of loyalty and goodwill. It was completely shattered by a single slap. There was absolutely no reason to preserve this relationship anymore. I let out a cold, hollow laugh. “Alright. I will process your cancellation right now.” Allee froze. She clearly did not expect me to agree so easily. A smug, triumphant look quickly washed over her face. “Hurry up and cancel it then. You are wasting my time. Let me tell you, there are a million luxury hotels begging for our business!” The young receptionist gathered the thirty ID cards and began canceling their rooms one by one. I stepped to the side, pulled out my phone, and dialed Shirley’s number. Shirley was the director of the Golden Years Travel Agency. About two weeks ago, she practically begged me for rooms. She had a massive senior citizen tour group of a hundred people looking for a two week stay. At the time, I had already promised Allee I would hold thirty premium suites for her corporate retreat. The remaining rooms I had were not enough to house a hundred people, so I had to politely decline. Shirley had sounded like she was on the verge of a breakdown. She told me this tour group was half of her yearly revenue. If it fell through, her agency would go bankrupt. She begged me to call her the second anything opened up. The phone rang exactly once before it was frantically answered. “Shirley, you mentioned you had a massive senior tour group coming to the lake. Did you manage to find lodging for them yet?” Shirley’s voice was thick with despair and exhaustion. “No, we didn’t! The whole trip is ruined. I am literally sitting at my desk right now, preparing to call a hundred sweet old people to tell them their vacation is canceled. My agency is not going to survive this weekend, Marsha.” Hearing that she was about to pull the plug, I quickly interrupted. “Shirley, I have rooms. I have enough space to comfortably house all a hundred of your guests.” Dead silence on the other end of the line for two solid seconds. Then, Shirley let out an absolute shriek of pure joy. “Are you serious? You actually have the rooms? Marsha, please tell me you are not joking! I will take them! I do not care how much it costs, I will take every single one of them!” I quoted her the exact same rate I had given Allee. “Five hundred bucks a person. That covers three buffet meals a day, the all access lake pass, private shuttles, a full day tour guide, the lakeside food vouchers, and three premium water sports.” Shirley let out another hysterical scream. “Oh my god! Are you running a charity? That price is an absolute steal! Do not move, I am wiring the deposit right this second before someone else snatches those rooms!” A second later, my phone pinged. Fifty thousand dollars hit my account instantly. Shirley quickly added, “That fifty grand is just the deposit for the first night! Our group is staying for the full two weeks. That is fifteen nights total. When I get there with the group, I will pay the rest of the balance in full! Marsha, please guard those rooms with your life! You are my absolute savior!” I happily agreed. The slight annoyance of losing thirty petty guests instantly evaporated. I felt incredibly light. Allee was actually right about one thing. If you want to make money, you cannot be too nice. Shirley’s hundred person group staying for fifteen nights was infinitely more profitable, and significantly less of a headache, than dealing with thirty penny pinching, entitled brats. I hung up the phone and walked back to the front desk. The receptionist had finished the paperwork. Every single cent of the deposit was refunded directly to Allee’s corporate card. Allee held up her phone, waving the refund notification proudly at her employees. “Did you guys see that? When you deal with greedy scammers, you have to play hardball!” “Let’s go! We are going to find a much better resort!” “Let her cry in her empty hotel all weekend!” The employees grabbed the handles of their rolling suitcases and followed Allee toward the glass doors of the lobby. But the moment they reached the exit, they abruptly stopped. It was currently two in the afternoon. The local transit buses that ran down the mountain only came once every four hours. The next bus was not scheduled to arrive until six in the evening. If they wanted to charter a private shuttle, it would cost at least eighty bucks a head. Thirty people meant twenty four hundred dollars out of pocket. Allee was incredibly cheap. There was absolutely no way she was going to spend that kind of cash. She hesitated for a moment, then turned to her team. “Whatever, we have time to kill. Let’s just chill in the lobby for a bit and catch the six o’clock bus.” Without waiting for a response, she marched right back into the center of my lobby, dropped heavily onto a plush leather sofa, crossed her legs, and started scrolling through her phone. Her employees exchanged awkward glances, but having no other choice, they dragged their luggage back inside and claimed the remaining seats. Thirty people packed my lobby, taking up every single chair and sofa. My young receptionist turned pale with anger, muttering under her breath. “How do they have the nerve to sit on our furniture? This is disgusting! She literally assaulted you, canceled her room, and now she is loitering like she owns the place!” I just offered a casual smirk. “Let them sit.” Honestly, I was praying they stayed exactly where they were. I wanted them to have front row seats when Shirley walked through those doors with a hundred paying guests. I wanted them to realize exactly who the actual joke was. Time ticked by slowly. The vintage clock on the lobby wall chimed the passing hours. At first, Allee looked incredibly smug. She scrolled through social media, humming a catchy pop song, occasionally shooting me a triumphant glare. She fully believed she had won. But after an hour passed, she started getting restless. She kept checking her watch. She kept standing up and pacing by the front doors, peering out into the driveway. Her employees were clearly losing their patience too. Another hour passed. It was now four in the afternoon. A group of exhausted tourists dragging heavy suitcases walked into the lobby. “Excuse me, do you guys have any vacancies? We need two rooms.” I offered a polite, apologetic smile and shook my head. “I am so sorry, we are completely booked.” The tourists groaned in despair and dragged their bags back out the door. Witnessing this, Allee’s eyes lit up with arrogant glee. She leaned over to her coworkers and whispered loudly. “Did you see that? She is turning away walk ins because she is waiting for us to crawl back and beg. Ha! I am not giving her the satisfaction. Just wait. She is going to come over here and grovel. When she does, we will aggressively negotiate the rate down to four hundred bucks, and we will force her to keep all the free perks.” The employees nodded eagerly, completely buying into Allee’s delusional logic. Over the next hour, several more groups of desperate tourists came in looking for a place to sleep. Since the entire lodge was reserved for Shirley’s mega group, I had to turn every single one of them away. Allee sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, watching me with a smug, knowing grin. She honestly believed I was rejecting paying customers just to keep the rooms open for her dramatic return. Five in the afternoon. Just one hour until the bus arrived. An older employee in Allee’s group finally cracked. He leaned close to Allee and spoke in a hushed, nervous tone. “Allee, maybe… maybe we should just stay here.” “I was looking out the window, and it looks like the entire town is completely booked. Plus, the service here is actually top tier. Five hundred bucks really is not that bad of a deal.” Another younger girl chimed in, her voice trembling slightly. “He is right, Allee. I was just checking the travel apps. The sketchy motels down the road have jacked their prices up to over a thousand bucks a night! And they do not even offer breakfast. If we do not secure a room right now, we are literally going to be sleeping on the pavement.” The smug arrogance completely melted off Allee’s face. She froze. The truth was, she was internally panicking too. She had secretly checked the hotel apps an hour ago and saw the horrifying, skyrocketing prices. But her ego was too massive to admit she made a mistake. “Stop panicking!” she snapped, forcing a confident tone. “She is just playing hard to get to force us into paying more. Watch this. I will go negotiate with her.” “I guarantee I will get us the rooms for four hundred bucks, with all the VIP perks included.” With that, she stood up, smoothed out the wrinkles in her blazer, and sauntered over to the reception desk. She forced a highly artificial, plastic smile onto her face. “Marsha, let’s make a deal. Look at my team. We have so much luggage, and moving around is such a hassle. How about this… we will do you a favor and stay at your hotel.” “You give us the rooms for four hundred bucks a head, keep all the premium services, and we will call it even. Sound good?” I slowly lifted my eyes from the ledger and looked at her. “No.” The fake smile vanished from Allee’s face instantly. “Marsha, do not push your luck! I am offering to stay here to save your business! If I walk out that door, your precious hotel is going to sit empty for the entire Memorial Day weekend!” I ignored her completely and went back to double checking my invoices. Allee gritted her teeth. “Fine. You play hardball, I play hardball. Four hundred and fifty! That is my absolute limit! If you say no to this, we are genuinely leaving!” I did not even bother looking up. “No.” Allee exploded. “What the hell is your problem, Marsha? Four hundred and fifty is not enough? Are you that desperate for cash? Let me tell you something, I know exactly what you are doing! You are turning away random guests to force us into paying full price! Well guess what? It is not going to happen!” Her insults grew increasingly vicious and unhinged. “You greedy witch! You think owning a crappy hotel makes you royalty? You think having a little bit of money means you can treat people like garbage? I hope this place burns to the ground!” My receptionist was shaking with pure rage. “Watch your mouth! If you swear at us one more time, I am calling the cops!” “Call them! I dare you!” Allee shrieked, completely fearless. “When the cops get here, I will make sure they know exactly how you scam your loyal clients!” Right at that exact second, a massive wave of noise erupted from the driveway. “Oh my goodness, Shirley! We are finally here!” “Wow, this lodge is absolutely gorgeous!” “This is a million times better than that dingy place we stayed at last year!” I looked up. Shirley was leading a massive army of a hundred cheerful senior citizens straight through the sliding glass doors. They were wearing matching visors and pulling vibrant rolling suitcases, their faces glowing with excitement. I immediately stepped out from behind the desk, a bright, genuine smile spreading across my face as I went to greet them. “Shirley! I am so glad you guys made it safely! I have all your keys ready. You are all booked into our premium lakeview suites!” Shirley grabbed both of my hands, her eyes brimming with actual tears. “Marsha! You are literally my guardian angel! I seriously thought I was going to lose my business this weekend. I was ready to sell my house to cover the refunds! My husband was threatening to divorce me!” “You single handedly saved my marriage and my career! I can never thank you enough! From this day forward, every single tour group I manage is booking exclusively with you!” I was completely absorbed in welcoming Shirley and the sweet elderly guests. I did not spare a single glance for Allee. Allee and her thirty employees stood frozen in the corner of the lobby. They stared at the chaotic, joyful scene unfolding in front of them, their jaws practically hitting the floor. They simply could not comprehend it. They thought canceling their thirty rooms would ruin me. Instead, they watched me welcome a massive, highly lucrative wave of guests. Allee’s face shifted through a spectrum of colors. Red, white, then a sickly shade of green. She looked absolutely humiliated. But she was too toxic to let it go. She crept over to a group of elderly women waiting for their keys and whispered maliciously. “Ladies, do not let her fool you! This place is a total scam!” “She rips people off! She literally just tried to steal our money! You guys need to get out of here right now!” An older gentleman turned around, giving her a highly confused look. “A scam? How is it a scam? She gave us a room, three meals, park tickets, and a free bus ride all for five hundred bucks. You call that a scam?” “Little girl, I think you need your head checked.” Another woman chimed in defensively. “Yeah! We called every hotel on this mountain. The absolute cheapest place was charging eight hundred dollars just for a bed! Marsha is the most honest business owner we have met. How dare you call her a scammer?” “Honestly, I think you are the scammer! Are you trying to scare us away so you can steal our rooms?” The seniors quickly piled on, scolding Allee loudly for her rudeness. Allee, utterly defeated and embarrassed, slinked back to her corner. Just then, the loud, heavy honk of a bus horn echoed from the road outside. The six o’clock shuttle had arrived. Allee practically lunged for her suitcase, treating the bus like a rescue helicopter. She screamed at her team. “The bus is here! Hurry! Let’s get out of this miserable hellhole!” The employees grabbed their luggage and sprinted frantically out of the lobby, following Allee into the humid evening air. They sprinted toward the open doors of the bus. But the moment they looked inside, they froze in absolute horror.

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1 The family trust had a strict rule: I could only claim outright control of thirty percent of the company if I gave birth to an heir with the Savage family bloodline. So, when the fertility clinic nurse told me it was time for the embryo transfer, my heart swelled with anticipation. “Just to confirm, you’re using my husband, Julian Savage’s, cryopreserved sperm, right?” I asked the nurse. She flipped through my authorized, encrypted file, and a strange expression crossed her face. “Ms. Lane, the records indicate Mr. Savage suffers from congenital azoospermia,” she informed me. “The male donor listed for this successfully cultured embryo is named David Savage,” she added. A cold dread seized me. I snatched the medical report Julian had brought home earlier and bolted towards the lab. The chief simply glanced at the official seal on the report and snorted. “This looks like it was printed at some street-side shop. They even got our hospital’s name wrong,” the chief said dismissively. It turned out my husband, who was infertile, had swapped his sperm with that of his brother, a convicted felon, during the IVF process, all to use me to secure the family fortune. Before I left, the chief pulled out a thick registry. “Given your Black Diamond VIP status, if you require a new match for top-tier genetics,” the chief told me. “We have a selection of premium, anonymous donors – Ivy League athletes, no less. We can arrange for extraction tonight,” he added. … I didn’t hesitate. My pen tip pierced the final page of the confidentiality agreement as I signed. The chief adjusted his glasses, then placed the agreement into a safe. “Ms. Lane, expedited cultivation will take at least three days.” “On the day of the transfer, three days from now, I’ll personally perform the procedure.” I nodded, clutching that fake medical report as I walked out of the lab. The sterile scent of the hospital churned my stomach, making me feel nauseous. My gaze fell upon the glaring “Excellent Sperm Motility” emblazoned on the report, despite the misspelled hospital name. I silently repeated Julian Savage’s name, my nails digging deep into my palms. For three years of marriage, he woke up early to make me traditional tonics, and no matter how busy his business trips were, he’d always video call to say goodnight. Last year, when my routine check-up showed a thin uterine lining, he held me and cried all night. He said, “Don’t be scared, darling. We’ll do IVF, and I’ll be there for every injection.” Every single shot, he’d pushed the plunger himself. But while the medicine in those syringes was real, the report he handed me was a lie. He had no sperm at all. From start to finish, the sperm he put into the culture dish was never his. It was the seed of his brother, David, a rapist who’d just been released after five years in prison. I spent ten minutes throwing up in the hospital parking lot, emptying my stomach of acid before I could start the car. Back at the villa, Julian emerged from the kitchen, carrying a steaming pot of black chicken soup. “Darling, you’re back? Come here, it’s freshly made. Drink it while it’s hot.” He placed the soup in front of me, blew on a spoonful, and offered it to my lips. Three hours ago, I would have thought there was no better husband in the world. I stared at the pot of soup, and my stomach started to churn again. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Julian reached out to touch my forehead, but I leaned back, dodging his hand. I pulled the fake report from my bag and slapped it across his face. The paper grazed his nose and fell to the floor. “Julian Savage, you’re infertile.” His hand, which had been holding the soup, froze. Then, a look of wounded innocence replaced his surprise. “You went and checked?” He set the soup pot down, his voice dropping. “Elara, listen, I can explain…” “The sperm in that culture dish belongs to David Savage.” I stared at him, enunciating each word. “Your brother. The one convicted of rape, sentenced to five years, and just released last month.” The living room fell silent. Julian closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his face was utterly cold. He stepped forward, his arms encircling my shoulders, pinning me against him with such force my ribs ached. “Do you know what being infertile means to a man?” he whispered against my ear. “I’ve suffered for eight whole years.” “I can’t give you a child, but David is my brother. His blood is Savage blood.” “You know the trust fund’s terms… it has to be Savage blood to get that thirty percent controlling interest.” “This is for our future, don’t you understand?” His voice choked when he said “for our future,” making him sound like the injured party. A chill ran through me, sending shivers down my spine. “You let a rapist’s sperm into my body, and you tell me it’s for our future?” “That’s your brother!” I struggled, pushing against him. “He served five years because he dragged a college girl into an alley! And you dare put his genes inside me?!” Julian’s face darkened completely. He released me, took a step back, picked up the fake report, and folded it into his pocket. “Whose sperm it is doesn’t matter.” “It’ll be born, carry the Savage name, and call me Dad.” “Who outside will ever know?” “Once we get the controlling interest, you’ll be the biggest contributor to the Savage family.” He stared at me intently, and I looked up and slapped him. As my palm connected, his hand shot up. He twisted my wrist outwards, and I gasped in pain, breaking out in a cold sweat. “You’d better think twice before you lay a hand on me.” He looked down at me, a smirk playing on his lips. Just then, the front door of the villa was pushed open, and a pungent, foul smell wafted in. David Savage stood in the doorway, clutching a duffel bag, a scar visible on his shaved head. He surveyed the room, grinning, his yellowed teeth showing. His gaze swept from my face, to my chest, then to my belly. “Hey there, sis,” he mumbled, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his face plastered with a smirk. “From now on, I’m the kid’s daddy. You better treat me right.” That night, I packed my suitcase, but before I could take three steps, Julian kicked the bag over from behind me. “Where are you going?” “Divorce.” “Divorce?” He chuckled. “Try it.” “The trust fund clearly states that the controlling interest can only be activated if a Savage bloodline heir is born during the marriage.” “If you leave, the Savage family gets nothing. Do you really think the old man will let you off the hook?” I bit my lip, silent, because he was telling the truth. Old Mr. Savage was eighty-seven, hooked up to tubes in the ICU. The trust fund terms were set by him, and no one could change them. Julian crouched down and pulled the suitcase back to the entryway, his tone softening. “Don’t make a fuss, David’s just staying for a few days.” “He’ll leave after the transfer.” “I’ll have the housekeeper prepare the nearest guest room for him.” The nearest guest room was right next to our master bedroom. I watched David, cigarette in mouth, walk in and drop his duffel bag. A few faded briefs and a pair of slippers tumbled out. He turned back and winked at me. I triple-locked the master bedroom door. The next morning, I went to the balcony to collect laundry, my hand freezing mid-reach. A section of the clothesline was empty; my underwear was gone. The guest room door next door was ajar. David lay on the bed, clutching a wad of black fabric to his nose, humming with his eyes closed. My stomach lurched. I rushed over, snatching it away, my nails scratching his hand. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” David wasn’t flustered. He licked the scratched wound. “Sis, you’re feisty, huh? The kid’s gonna have your temper.” “Don’t be shy, we’ll be family soon…” I grabbed the ashtray from the bedside table and hurled it. He dodged, and the ashtray hit the wall. “Spirited, I like it.” I ran back to my room, slammed the door, and sank to the floor, hugging my knees, trembling. My phone vibrated. An encrypted text from the hospital chief. [Embryo expedited cultivation in progress, estimated completion in three days. Will coordinate with original transfer surgery for replacement. Please ensure enough time is bought.] Just three more days. Dinner was served. David pulled out his chopsticks, sucked on them, then stirred them into the braised ribs. He picked out the largest piece, bit into it, and spat it back onto the plate. “Too fatty, don’t like it.” He pushed the bitten rib towards me. “Sis, you eat it.” I averted my gaze. Under the table, his foot brushed against my calf. His toenails were caked with black dirt. I shot up, bracing my hands on the table, flipping the entire thing over. Bowls and plates shattered everywhere, and a rib rolled onto Julian’s shoe. David froze. Julian stepped forward and slapped me. I stumbled sideways, crashing into a dining chair and falling. The back of my head hit the tiled floor. “Elara Lane, what is your problem?!” He grabbed my collar, pulling me up. “David is my brother, aren’t you his elder sister-in-law? You have no decency!” My head spun, and a metallic taste of blood filled my throat. “He was touching me under the table…” “Bullshit!” He shoved me back forcefully. My heel landed on a shard of broken porcelain. The shard pierced my skin, and I gasped in pain. Julian gestured to the bodyguards behind him. Two bodyguards stepped forward, grabbed my shoulders, and forced me to my knees on the shattered porcelain. “Apologize.” Julian pointed to David, who was slumped in a chair. “Say sorry to David.” The porcelain shards dug into my knees, drawing blood. David, picking his teeth with a toothpick, crouched down, pinching my chin to lift my face. “Come on, sis, I’m waiting.” I closed my eyes, forcing three words through gritted teeth. “…I’m sorry.” As night fell, I curled up in the master bedroom bed, my palms and knees throbbing, a fever of 102 degrees raging through me. Footsteps echoed in the hallway, followed by the sound of the doorknob turning. Someone was trying my door, and I jolted upright, my pajamas soaked in cold sweat. The doorknob pressed down, then sprung back as the latch held. David’s muffled laughter drifted from outside the door. “Sis, why’d you lock it so tight… I just wanted to see if you were asleep.” I leaped out of bed, barefoot, and dragged the bedside table to brace against the door. The fever made my vision swim, flashing back to three years ago. Julian had also chased after me when I had a high fever. He’d watched over me all night in my cramped apartment, wiping my forehead repeatedly. At dawn, I saw him dozing by the bed, a thermometer clutched in his hand. Outside, a violent prying sound, then the door was kicked open. The door panel cracked at the hinges, and the bedside table was shoved back half a yard. David stood in the doorway, reeking of alcohol and sweat, his eyes bloodshot. He stared at me, breathing heavily, a predatory grin spreading across his face. “Sis, why go through all this trouble?” He lunged, pinning me to the mattress, grabbing my nightgown collar and tugging it down. “You’re going to carry my kid anyway…” “Why not just make it real tonight and save yourself the needles at the hospital!” The overpowering smell of alcohol hit my face. I struggled desperately, turning my head, my right hand scrambling across the bedside table. My fingertips brushed against the marble base of a lamp. I gripped the lamp’s metal rod, closed my eyes, and brought it crashing down on his head.

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1 After three months in the asylum, Leo finally came for me. He stood in the sunlight, looking at me like a conqueror, his voice full of contempt. “Whitney, have you finally understood? I only made a mistake any man could make. It was not illegal, and it is not for you to judge. Accept it, and you remain Mrs. Moy. If not, we divorce.” I studied his face, so familiar yet now a stranger. I remembered waking in the hospital three months earlier, after a failed suicide attempt, only to see my husband, Leo Moy, who was supposed to be dead. Casually, he told me that three years ago, another woman, Chloe, was pregnant, and her child needed a father. So he faked his death and left me. Now that the child was older, he saw no reason to keep hiding it. He even suggested Chloe and I could coexist peacefully. He would spend half the week with each of us. His words cut like knives over the scars covering my body, wounds I had made while grieving him. It turned all that pain into a cruel joke. I lost my mind, screaming hysterically, demanding to know why. He just had me sent to the asylum. Now, facing this cold, ruthless man, I stayed quiet a long time. Finally, I replied calmly, “Alright. Let us get divorced.” The air hung still for a moment. A flicker of clear astonishment crossed Leo’s eyes. But just as quickly, he scoffed. “What, three months in the asylum, and now you’ve learned to play hard to get?” “Whitney Robinson, you’ve tried to kill yourself so many times for me over the years, loved me so much you’d throw your life away. There’s no way you’d be willing to divorce me!” “Cut the mind games. I’m not falling for it.” Gazing at the indifference on his face, I unconsciously curled my fingers. Yes, I had, indeed, loved Leo with my life. So much so that three years ago, upon learning he’d accidentally fallen into the sea and died while preparing a surprise for me, I immediately wanted to jump in and join him. If friends hadn’t stopped me, I would probably be dead already. From then on, every day was an endless agony. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, and cried constantly. Before long, I developed severe depression, attempting suicide nineteen times. It was precisely because of this that I had completely broken down when I discovered everything had just been an elaborate lie he’d orchestrated for Chloe. But now… all the hurt and resentment had turned to numbness. “I’m not kidding, Leo. I’m tired. Let’s get divorced.” I repeated, my voice flat. The next second, Leo’s face darkened. He grabbed my wrist and practically shoved me into the passenger seat. He leaned over me, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Whitney, how much longer are you going to make a scene? Yes, I lied to you.” “But I compensated you, didn’t I?!” “Money, companionship—whatever you want, I can give it to you. Why can’t you just be obedient like Chloe?” With that, he pinched my chin and brutally kissed me. The next second, I smelled a sweet, cloying, girlish scent in the car that wasn’t mine, and my stomach churned. I couldn’t help but vomit. Leo’s face twisted. “Whitney Robinson, are you really disgusted by me?” I wiped my mouth expressionlessly, offering no reply. But my calm demeanor only seemed to sting Leo more. He sneered, his tone suddenly sharper. “Don’t put on an act, Whitney. Three months ago, you were practically dying of jealousy because I pampered Chloe.” “Now you’re playing the heartbroken role, for who? You just want to force me to comfort you!” I paused, remembering three months ago, the day Leo first confessed everything to me. At the time, he completely ignored my pale face, ordering bodyguards to restrain my frantic struggles, and casually said, “Whitney, the reason I was late to our wedding registration was not because I worked late, but because the night before, I’d been with Chloe seven times.” “That day you went to try on your wedding dress, I made an excuse about company business, but actually, I was in the underground parking lot, making love with Chloe.” “You’re too rigid and boring, but Chloe is different. She’s vibrant, uninhibited. I really like that.” “These past three years away from you, every single day has been incredibly easy.” I felt as if my throat was stuffed with cotton, choking me. My eyes bloodshot, I asked him why he suddenly decided to tell me the truth. He said, “Because I’m tired. Why can’t I openly dote on the woman I like?” “I’ve accommodated your feelings for three years. Now, it’s your turn to be considerate of me, isn’t it?” I stumbled back several steps. He faked his death, tricked me, caused me to attempt suicide nineteen times, making me live like a zombie, and he called that accommodating my feelings? In that moment, all my rationality collapsed. I cursed Leo wildly, wishing him a terrible end, demanding he pay the price. But he, without mercy, locked me in the asylum, telling me to reflect. During those three months of darkness, I went from madness to dead calm, thought a lot, and let go of a lot. Perhaps promises really only count when love is present. I was tired; I wanted to let him go, and let myself go too. “Leo, I’m not acting.” I pushed Leo off me, my voice calm and firm. “Since you love her so much, I’m willing to step aside and give the woman you love a proper place.” “Once the divorce papers are drafted, send them to me.” Leo’s face was as dark as a brewing storm. He stared intently at me, as if searching for a hint of bluff on my face. But I remained perfectly calm, as if I no longer cared what he did. “Whitney…” Leo gritted his teeth, forcing a sarcastic smile. “You don’t really think your life will be better after we divorce, do you?” “Don’t forget you had a miscarriage and lost your ability to have children. Who else would want you besides me?!” Hearing that last sentence, my heart jolted, and I looked up, disbelieving. Years ago, Leo’s startup failed, leaving him deeply in debt. One day, when he wasn’t home, debt collectors came to our door. Unable to find him, they took their frustration out on me. They tormented me for an entire day and night, and the baby in my womb turned into a pool of blood. From then on, I lost my ability to conceive. I was afraid Leo would feel guilty, so I never told him the truth, only saying that the stress from work was too much, and I couldn’t save the baby. At the time, Leo’s eyes were red with pain, and he swore to God he would take care of me for the rest of his life. But now, he was using my most painful nightmare to threaten me! Seeing my body tremble slightly, Leo mistakenly thought I was giving in. He lit a cigarette with a light laugh. “Actually, the reason I got together with Chloe was also because I saw how healthy she was, and that she could have my children.” “Whitney, since you can’t have children, you can’t expect me to let the Moy family line end, can you?” “Alright, stop making a fuss. It’s Chloe’s birthday today anyway. I’ll take you to meet her. You need to get along peacefully with her from now on.” With that, he didn’t wait for my response, and sped off to a nightclub. The moment I pushed open the private room door, countless gazes landed on me. Those men who had once universally comforted me over Leo’s “death” now wore sneering expressions. “Oh, isn’t it our most devoted Mrs. Moy!” “Hahaha, Leo, you’re something else! To have your wife so devoted she tried to kill herself so many times!” “She’s more loyal than my dog, Leo, how did you train her?” They uttered one humiliating remark after another, making me feel like a self-pitying clown. Leo, meanwhile, wore a faint smirk of triumph, never saying a word in my defense. My face grew increasingly pale. Just as I was about to speak, the private room door opened again. A young, beautiful woman walked in, accompanied by a small boy, three or four years old. It was Chloe. The moment I saw her face, the suppressed hatred surged within me. Years ago, it was Chloe’s mother who had climbed into my father’s bed, driving my own mother to a stroke. From then on, I was a child without a father, tormented and bullied at school. I mean, more than Julian’s infidelity, what I truly couldn’t accept was why his mistress had to be Chloe! At first, he had cursed Chloe with the most venomous words, again and again, for me. He had punished her time and again for my sake. But why, then, did he fake his death to deceive me for three years for her, and even have a child with her? “Whitney, long time no see.” Chloe met my hateful gaze, smiling sweetly as she offered me a glass of wine. “The grudges from back then are water under the bridge. Now we’re all Leo’s women. How about we bury the hatchet with a toast?” She spoke with an air of graciousness, as if there had never been any animosity between us. But the next second, I fiercely splashed the wine in her face! “Chloe, you and your mother are nothing but home-wrecking sluts!” “I will never forgive you!” “Ah—!” Chloe shrieked, the red wine streaming down her hair, her eyes instantly burning with anger. The little boy beside her began to cry, rushing over to hit me, calling me a bad woman for bullying his mommy. Everything happened so fast. By the time Leo snapped out of it, Chloe was already clinging to him, looking utterly pathetic. “Leo, it’s my birthday today! Whitney is humiliating me like this, aren’t you going to stand up for me?” “Waaah, are you just going to abandon me and our son now that she’s back…?” Leo sighed, quickly hugging her and gently comforting her. Then he turned to me, his face thunderous. “Whitney, you’ve gone too far.” “Apologize to Chloe, now!” I scoffed. “Apologize to a home-wrecker? Never!” “Leo, I told you, I agree to the divorce. Aren’t you helplessly in love with her? So what are you hesitating for?!” I don’t know which words struck a nerve with Leo, but his expression instantly darkened. To my disbelief, he said coldly, “Whitney, it seems I’ve indulged you too much.” “Don’t forget, your mother is still in a hospital under the Moy Group!” My head snapped up, my eyes wide with shock. I never expected Leo to use my mother’s life to pressure me for Chloe’s sake! In that moment, my palms turned icy cold. I could barely connect the cold-faced man before me with the Leo I remembered! Leo and I both came from single-parent homes. His father, like mine, had an affair. More unfortunately than me, his mother committed suicide because she couldn’t cope with the shock. In the beginning, we supported and encouraged each other. After we got together, he was so good to me he’d spend ninety-nine out of a hundred bucks on me. Even if he was suffering from heatstroke, he’d save on air conditioning costs to buy me gifts. When I was sick, he’d carry me on his back for ten kilometers through heavy snow to the hospital. Back then, we huddled in a cheap rental, believing love could conquer all. But when exactly did he become so utterly unrecognizable? “Leo…” With my mother’s safety at stake, I ultimately compromised, tears in my eyes, and apologized to Chloe. But she said I wasn’t sincere, demanding I kneel and kowtow to her. At this, even Leo hesitated, his tone growing a little stern. “This is a bit much, Chloe, it’s not necessary.” Chloe’s eyes welled up. “Leo, do you really think I’m the kind of person who’d deliberately make things difficult for her?” “I’m actually just trying to stand up for you!” Chloe said, pulling a stack of photos from her bag and fiercely flinging them at my face. “Leo, I already found out. In those three years you faked your death, Whitney couldn’t stand the loneliness and was messing around with other men!” “She’s not that devoted at all. She’s just a cheap slut who sleeps with anyone!” I froze, looking at the photos. The next second, my pupils constricted, and a chill spread through me! Those were… photos of me being insulted repeatedly by Julian’s debt collectors, years ago! Where did Chloe get them?! “Leo, it’s not like that…” I instinctively started to explain, but before I could finish, a heavy slap landed on my face! “Whitney Robinson!” Leo’s eyes were bloodshot, his body trembling. He looked at me with utter disappointment. “Aren’t you cheap, aren’t you disgusting? Only three years, and you’ve already betrayed me?” “Even though I wasn’t there for you during those three years, I never left you wanting for food or clothes. Were you really that lonely?!” I fell to the ground from his blow, blood oozing from the corner of my mouth, yet I couldn’t help but feel a pang of irony. How dare Leo, a man who had cheated countless times, still put on such a victimized act? I spat out a mouthful of blood, my suppressed emotions bursting forth like a broken dam. “Leo, you call me disgusting, but what about you?” “When you were reveling with Chloe, why didn’t you feel disgusted? You and your father, both of you are scumbags!” With a crash, Leo furiously smashed a dozen beer bottles on the table. He ordered someone to pin me down on the broken glass. Looking at the blood seeping from my knees, a twisted smile appeared on his face. “Whitney Robinson, since you’re so stubborn, then stay on your knees until you understand your mistake!” Excruciating pain flared. My face was ashen, but I gritted my teeth, not uttering a word. Chloe watched my pathetic state, her eyes full of amusement. She leaned over, whispering so only we could hear, “Whitney, your mother couldn’t beat my mother back then, and you’re no match for me now.” “Don’t worry, it won’t be long before I take everything from you, and make you…” “Regret fighting me!” With that, she pressed down hard on me. Sharp shards of glass instantly pierced my knees. I couldn’t hold back any longer. I screamed and then passed out from the pain. In a daze, I felt like I was dreaming. I dreamt I was back to the best days of my relationship with Leo. He said he would love me forever, never leave me. But the next second, as the dream faded, a cold voice echoed in my ear. “Whitney, sign the divorce papers.” I turned blankly, seeing Leo looking down at me, his eyes full of disgust. “Someone as filthy as you doesn’t deserve to be my wife.” “I’ll give you five million. Take that money and get out of my sight forever!” I gave a sarcastic laugh. Without hesitation, I picked up the pen and signed. I didn’t say a single extra word. Seeing my decisive action, Leo was stunned. He frowned, about to say something more, but then he saw me turn and leave the hospital room. I arranged for my mother’s transfer to another hospital. Since I was divorced from Leo, staying in a Moy Group hospital was no longer an option. But while I was doing the paperwork, a panicked nurse suddenly found me. “Ms. Robinson, your mother’s condition has suddenly worsened, it’s very critical!” I was startled, forgetting all my sadness, and rushed to my mother’s hospital room. But there, I saw Chloe, smiling, in my mother’s room! My mother’s eyes were wide, her breathing rapid, her face deathly pale. It looked as if she could pass away at any moment! “Chloe! What did you do to my mother?!” Chloe still wore that repulsive smile, slowly saying, “Nothing much, really. Just showed the old hag some… unflattering photos of you.” “And I told her, I’d post those photos online, so everyone would know…” “That her daughter, like her, was abandoned by a man, a promiscuous bitch!” “Chloe!” My eyes burned with fury, my body trembling, rage consuming all my rationality. I didn’t care about anything else. I lunged, straddling her, desperately hitting and scratching her. “Ah! Help, Leo, save me! Whitney is trying to kill me!” Chloe’s hysterical screams indeed drew Leo. Seeing this scene, Leo’s face instantly changed. He violently pushed me off Chloe. “Whitney Robinson!” He shielded Chloe behind him, glaring at me with furious eyes. “I knew it! You were just faking being calm, you never wanted the divorce at all!” “But Chloe is innocent! Take out your anger on me, why are you bullying her?!” “Get this straight, I will never be with a vicious, promiscuous woman like you!” I was so angry I could barely speak. Seeing my mother’s condition grow increasingly unstable, I didn’t bother to argue, frantically shouting, “Leo, my mom is dying! Call a doctor for her now—!” “Stop pretending!” Leo coldly cut me off. “You and your mother are cut from the same cloth, both liars. Do you think I’d believe you now?!” “Leo!” I screamed his name hysterically, my voice trembling uncontrollably. “Have you forgotten? When you were homeless, my mom took you in. She treated you like her own son, sewed your clothes, cooked your meals…” “Enough!” “Whitney, I don’t want to see you anymore. From now on, I will not allow any Moy Group doctors to treat your mother!” With that, Leo took Chloe’s hand and strode out. I rushed over, holding my mother’s body, crying and begging doctor after doctor to save her. But they all, constrained by Leo’s orders, refused to intervene. Ultimately, my mother died of an acute heart attack. Before she passed, a single, sorrowful tear fell from the corner of her eye. “Mom!!” I completely broke down, crying myself unconscious. Three days later, I handled all of my mother’s funeral arrangements. Like a zombie, I numbly packed all my belongings. I bought a plane ticket abroad, leaving this city that held all my pain behind. Leo. Love and hate, both too expensive. You don’t deserve either. May we never meet again. … Meanwhile, elsewhere. Leo arrived at a luxuriously appointed club. Ever since his divorce, he’d felt inexplicably agitated. Every time he closed his eyes, he’d recall my desperate expression that day. He found himself drowning his sorrows in alcohol. But just as he was about to down a shot of whiskey, a rough, boastful voice suddenly cut through the air— “You know Ethan Vance, right? The richest man in the capital, CEO Vance?” “I’m not bragging, but when I ran a debt collection agency back in the day, that guy owed a mountain of money!” “And guess how that debt was settled? Hahaha, we slept with his wife to settle it!”

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After the car crash, the two men in my life completely changed. My husband, who used to be utterly cold towards me, actually knelt down in public, desperately begging me not to leave him. My son, who had always been distant, now clung to me all day, demanding hugs and kisses. I was completely bewildered, my legs trapped by one of them, unable to move. Just then, strange words floated before my eyes. Some said I shouldn’t flatter myself, thinking they, father and son, had fallen in love with me. Others explained that their sudden kindness was a ploy, intending to use me as a shield, to die in place of the so-called heroine. Once the villains were dealt with, I, the side character, would be useless, and their family of three could live happily ever after. Seeing these words sent a cold sweat down my spine. I pushed away the two men, one large and one small, who were clinging to my legs. 1 The big one swayed but regained his balance. The small one plopped straight onto the floor, his eyes welling up with tears from the pain. He scrambled up and hugged my leg again, burying his little head into my lap. I froze for a moment. Just now, I’d rolled on the ground while chasing a thief, and my jacket and sweatpants were covered in dust. The smell of sweat hadn’t even faded. Travis used to wrinkle his nose and pull away from my hugs. “Mom, can you please mind your personal hygiene?” “Chloe Hood never smells like this; she’s always sweet and fresh.” Yet now, he was clinging to me, sniffling and whining. “Mom, hug me too, kiss me!” As for Leo, he looked possessed. The man knelt before me, looking up, the bandage on his forehead adding a touch of fragile vulnerability. His eyes were inexplicably red. His fingertips trembled, but paused abruptly just before touching me, as if he were afraid. His murmur was barely audible. “This dream feels so real…” The hospital room door suddenly burst open. “Mr. Thorne’s leg is just scraped; he needs rest. Chloe, you don’t need to worry so much.” Following the voice were Leo’s executive assistant and Chloe Hood. Seeing the man kneeling on the floor, Chloe froze, then glared fiercely at me. “Amy Alexander, have you no shame? I’ve seen plenty of clingy women, but never one as pathetic as you! We’re divorcing, and you’re still harassing Leo?” “You’re nothing but bad luck, you jinxed your whole family, and now you’ve caused Leo’s car crash!” Leo’s gaze suddenly turned dark. “My clinging to my wife is none of your damn business!” Chloe was stunned. Leo had always been incredibly biased towards her and protective of her. But now, he was talking to her in such a tone, in front of everyone. Chloe opened her mouth, but Leo gave her no chance to speak. “My wife letting me kneel is my good fortune.” “By what right do you presume to meddle? My family affairs are not for you to manage!” “Get out!” I nearly jumped out of my skin. Was this still my cold, aloof husband? Last month, Chloe went missing. I was dispatched to find her. When I located her, she was almost harassed by some thugs on the street. Leo held her in his arms, staring coldly at me. “Amy Alexander, I never thought you’d be so malicious. You deliberately delayed your response to target Chloe. You don’t deserve that police uniform.” “If I were you, I’d resign.” … Chloe couldn’t bear it, her eyes misted with tears, and she scurried away. The executive assistant started to follow but stopped short, speaking with a hint of disapproval. “Mr. Thorne, Chloe rushed here without even eating after hearing about your accident.” The assistant’s voice softened noticeably as he uttered “Chloe.” Leo, though still kneeling, his eyes exuded an air of condescending chill. “You’re fired.” The assistant was stunned. He had been with Leo and Chloe for over a decade; the three of them grew up together, practically family. Firing him just like that, for what reason? The comments section exploded. [Is the male lead crazy? He cursed the heroine, fired the male second.] [Oh oh oh, the male lead’s jealousy is palpable even through the screen. The male second has been eyeing the heroine for a long time; the male lead is warning him!] [You’ll be chasing your wife soon, kid. Sentenced to eternal bachelorhood!] [Sigh, he’s putting on a full act. To use the female support as a target to draw out his enemies, the male lead has to cruelly betray his friends and loved one. He’s just trying to protect them, who knows how much pain he’s in right now. My heart aches for the devoted male lead.] 2 I only found out Leo liked Chloe after I married him. We met twice and then hastily married. The first time, his phone was snatched, and I intervened heroically. The next day, he directly crashed my blind date. “Sorry, he’s not good enough for you.” We both got what we needed. I fulfilled my father’s dying wish before he passed, and Leo handled the arranged marriage. Falling for Leo was as easy as breathing. He was wealthy beyond measure, charismatic, strong, and incredibly kind to me. His credit card was always available, and he remembered every casual remark I made. It made me wonder if he secretly had a crush on me. Until Chloe came to tell me. Marrying me was just a spiteful act on his part. After the truth was exposed, Leo stopped pretending to be aloof, revealing his true dark nature. “Anyone could have played this role; did you really think you were special?” Our son, Travis, was similarly close to Chloe. I knew I couldn’t win custody, so I considered getting a divorce, taking some money, and living freely. The first time I brought it up, Leo just scoffed, again and again. “If you leave, where will I find another woman like you?” As he spoke, he suddenly and shamelessly began to undress. I swallowed hard, and the divorce was off. The second time I brought it up, he grabbed Travis and stormed out, which led to the car crash. I thought they still had some feelings for me. But before I could get too invested, the comment section doused me with cold water. It turned out I was just his chosen scapegoat. He had planned everything since the blind date, it was all premeditated. …Damn it, I was manipulated by the system again. 3 Seeing Leo, full of life and not at all like someone who had just barely survived a car crash, I said, “Let’s go, to the registrar’s office now…” Before I could finish, Leo’s eyes rolled back, and he promptly fainted. The doctors frantically wheeled him into the operating room. Only Travis and I were left, staring wide-eyed at each other. He tightly clutched my shirt, as if terrified I’d abandon him at the hospital. Leo’s life or death was none of my concern, but Travis… I sighed, taking him back to my one-bedroom apartment near the police station. The stalls in front of the apartment complex were bustling. Parents and children crowded three deep. The ground was covered with dazzling small toys, and in the furthest corner was a delicate ceramic tiger. Travis stared at the palm-sized tiger, then looked at me, his eyes pitiful. The carnival game vendor saw this and immediately thrust a handful of rings into my hand. “Ten dollars for eight rings, even if you don’t win, it’s fun. Don’t disappoint the kid!” The small tiger was tiny and far away, surrounded by dozens of scattered bamboo rings. Someone complained: “I’ve spent almost two hundred and haven’t even grazed the edge.” The vendor beamed smugly. “This tiger has been here for three days, and no one has…” Before he could finish, a ring I casually tossed landed perfectly around it. The vendor’s face turned green. Travis must have really liked that tiger. His eyes were glued to the toy, following it from the vendor’s hand to mine. I was about to hand it to him. The comments section scoffed. [What kind of street vendor junk would our little Travis like? He’ll take it and throw it away immediately.] [Poor Travis, suffering so much, having to pretend he wants it to play along with the female support. My heart aches for him.] [It’s okay, he’ll just have to tolerate it. For the female support, it’s her last supper!] My hand paused. Travis had already raised his arm high. His wristwatch peeking out from his cuff. It was a birthday gift from Chloe, which he always wore, never taking it off. And the tiger-hooded plush pajamas I had sewn for him by hand? When he received them, he merely frowned slightly, shaking his head and sighing like a miniature adult. “Mom, you don’t need to waste your time on these things anymore.” That pajama set remained tucked away in the deepest part of his wardrobe, never worn. A little girl nearby suddenly burst into tears. “I want the little tiger too!” She tugged at my sleeve, calling me “pretty big sister” over and over. Her mother fussed over her, looking at me apologetically. “I’m so sorry, my daughter was born in the year of the tiger, and it’s her birthday today. Could you possibly give this to her? I’ll pay any price!” Out of the corner of my eye, Travis suddenly tensed up. Rather than being thrown into the trash, it might as well go to someone who genuinely wanted it. I bent down and placed the tiger in the little girl’s arms. “Happy birthday, sweetie.” The soft little girl smiled through her tears, hugging my face and giving me a big kiss. “Thank you, pretty big sister!” Travis’s raised arm slowly lowered. His small hands covered his face, and his shoulders silently trembled. [Why did the female support give the doll to someone else? How malicious, preferring to please a stranger than her own son. Does a mother like that even deserve to live?] [Travis doesn’t care for that junk, it’s a dirty street vendor item, who knows how many germs and viruses are on it.] [Poor Travis, struggling to hold back his laughter, having to play along with the female support.] We walked in silence. Until we were almost at the apartment door. Travis looked up, his head having been down the whole way. His face was streaked with tears. “Mom, are you abandoning me?” 4 I gave Travis a nickname. “Champ.” A gift sent from heaven. But Travis didn’t like me as a mother. He didn’t want the birthday gifts I painstakingly made. He didn’t want me to tuck him into bed at night. He even forbade me from attending parent-teacher conferences. “Aunt Chloe can accompany me just fine; I don’t need you.” The child I had painstakingly given birth to, it turned out, was just like his father, preferring another woman. The thought used to twist my heart, making it hard to breathe, like being wrapped in thick, wet cotton. Now, I could calmly accept it. Love or not, it was all the same. I pursed my lips, about to answer Travis’s question, when the hospital suddenly called. “Your family member ran off! He snuck out even though his leg isn’t healed. If he ends up disabled, we won’t be responsible!” A familiar voice came, limping audibly. “If I don’t run, my wife will run off with someone else.” Leo, with a cast on his leg and leaning on crutches, stood right in front of the apartment building’s entrance. I was surprised. “What are you doing here?” Then it dawned on me. For Chloe, he was even willing to abandon his leg. So devoted. Leo’s brows drooped, his mouth turned downwards, looking exactly like a stray dog kicked out of its home: “Can’t I even go home? You don’t welcome me? Is there a man hidden in the house?” The bathrooms in the villas owned by the Thorne family were bigger than my rented apartment. Refusing to live in a grand villa, he insists on squeezing into a toilet-sized space. Insane. I tried to walk around him. Leo flexibly twisted his body, blocking the only path, and simply sat down on the ground, shamelessly: “My leg hurts, let me go home, or you won’t be able to go home either.” I stared at him in disbelief. How had the once aloof CEO turned into this? The wails of a neighbor echoed down the hallway: “Ugh, I still need to rush to the market for groceries!” “You young couple, mind your manners! Please be kind to us elderly folks!” Leo had no shame, but I did. The moment we entered the apartment, Leo began sniffing around, searching every corner. “I’m checking if there’s a man hiding in the house.” I watched him, speechless, as he sat on the floor, rummaging through the trash can. He pulled out a scarf from it, and directly put it around his neck. That was a scarf I knitted when everyone in the precinct was into knitting. When it was still a half-finished product, Leo saw it and scoffed, “I’m allergic to polyester.” “This thing, like you, is presentable. I wouldn’t wear it.” Now he was checking himself in the mirror, again and again. Large red marks appeared on his neck, but he didn’t even blink. Bathroom, kitchen, living room, he checked each one. I was busy making noodles and didn’t notice him sneaking into the bedroom—he peered under the bed, then finally opened my closet. When I pushed the bedroom door open, I saw his long, slender fingers picking at my underwear. His expression was extremely serious, and I truly thought something major had happened—if his nosebleed hadn’t slowly started to drip. I punched him out of the bedroom. “Pervert!” 5 “Darling, you’re so strong, I’m so happy.” Leo wiped the blood from his nose, his lips curling weakly into a smirk. “Checked, no other men. I knew you still had feelings for me.” His words, ironically, calmed me down. Leo’s uncharacteristic clowning must be to cover his true intentions. I narrowed my eyes at him: “What exactly do you want?” Leo was unyielding: “I want to apologize to you. I was an ass before, I know I was wrong, please don’t leave me.” I scoffed. Since he wanted to play a part, I’d play along to the end.

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