I shivered, wrapped in a vibrant, thigh-high red dress, as the night breeze whipped around me on the street opposite the bar. I was suffering out here, all just to snag some drunk guy nobody was watching, to absorb a little life essence. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be like my cousin, Blair, and just dive into the bar for prey. But it was way too loud in there. Fox ears are naturally sensitive, especially for an accomplished fox spirit like me. A tall boy stopped in front of me, almost six feet three inches. I had to crane my neck to look at him. He was in a blue tracksuit, his eyes clear and bright, his nose and mouth delicately shaped. His skin was so smooth and flawless, he looked like he’d melt at a touch. Honestly, he looked good enough to eat. But seeing his age, he was probably still in school. Was this too wrong? “Are you working, Miss?” Just hit on me, why are your eyes darting around like that? And what’s with the blush?! Did this kid just mistake me for a streetwalker? Another cold gust of wind made me shiver. Wrong or not, I needed that life essence. So, I went for it. I put on my most innocent, charming face, the one I used on elders. I gently tugged his sleeve, gazing up at him, blinking my eyes. “I’m freezing, sweetie. How about a kiss to warm me up?” “Why should I give you a kiss?” “Because I’m craving… ugh, I mean, I’m starving.” The boy didn’t seem to notice my slip-up. His eyes twinkled with amusement, and he took a step closer, slowly lowering his head towards me. I widened my mouth, practically drooling, ready to suck down that sweet life essence. My ninth tail was practically waving at me! It wasn’t until he pulled me into a convenience store and shoved a sandwich into my hand, no questions asked, that I finally snapped out of it. Wait, this isn’t what I’m hungry for! The scent of chicken wings wafted to my nose. I watched him pop a chicken wing into his mouth, then looked down at the whole-wheat bread in my hand. He just stared at me, looking completely innocent. “Why aren’t you eating, Miss? Aren’t you hungry?” Unbelievable! He didn’t even offer me a chicken wing! I clutched my bread, turned, and stomped off, feeling incredibly wronged. Ugh, men are the worst! 2 Back home, I looked at the empty sandwich wrapper in my hand, then smacked myself on the head twice, fuming. How did I eat it all? I didn’t even get a drink. Oh right, Davey didn’t buy me one. Just thinking about today’s epic fail made me cringe. Nine hundred years old, and I got clowned by a kid who hadn’t even shaved yet. What an absolute disgrace! No way. Next time, I’m going on the offensive. I *will* get my man! Once that burst of adrenaline faded, I deflated like a punctured balloon. Seriously, seducing people is hard. My face just has a mind of its own. It blushes whenever it damn well pleases, no matter how much I tell it not to! Especially today, when Davey got close. He was so handsome, way better looking than any male fox in our clan. I patted my burning cheeks, trying to hype myself up. Willow, don’t get sidetracked by pretty faces. You’re carrying the hopes of your entire clan! You have to be a professional fox spirit. You need to make those jerks who said you couldn’t seduce a man eat their words. I puffed out my chest again, ready to conquer. Listen up, my prey! The Nine-Tailed Queen is here! Tremble, mortals! 3 It was a dark and stormy night. Perfect for murder… *cough, sputter*… I mean, for *hunting*. Let’s see which lucky soul falls into my hands tonight. I randomly picked a guy, pinned him against the wall, and went in for a kiss. Just absorbing life essence, no need for all that fancy stuff. A little ‘take-charge’ approach is always popular, isn’t it? Except, could my little wallflower stop squirming already? Seriously, what’s this guy on? He’s surprisingly strong; I can barely hold him down! “Move again, and I’ll kiss you to death!” I growled, grinding my teeth. Huh, he actually stopped. He just went completely rigid. “Are you craving again, Miss?” A large hand gently cupped the back of my head, an utterly intimate gesture. I looked up, and in the dim light, I saw his face. Handsome, tall, with that sly smirk—it was that arrogant jerk from yesterday! “Do you just go around ambushing random guys every night?” he suddenly leaned in, whispering into my ear, “That’s dangerous, you know. What if you run into a bad guy?” My face flushed hot. He ruffled my hair, then, just as I was getting flustered, he slipped out of my grasp. Walking away, he called out, “This isn’t good for you, Miss. You should head home.” I snapped back to reality. I failed again! As I stamped my foot in frustration, he looked back under the streetlamp, still not far away. “Or, you could come home with me?” My fox ears practically shot straight up. Was this for real?! 4 Davey’s house was huge. If I shouted, would I hear an echo? “It’s just me here, Miss. Make yourself at home.” He lives alone in a place like this? I changed into slippers in the entryway, taking in my surroundings. The room was decorated in dark, cool tones, full of cold, minimalist vibes. Then I looked at Davey, with his sweet, innocent demeanor, and a million question marks popped into my head. It didn’t match at all. Davey, what kind of taste do you have? The shoe rack was filled with identical black leather shoes, except for the white sneakers he wore the first day, sticking out like a little lamb in a wolf’s den. Through the window, on the balcony, I saw perfectly stacked, uniformly spaced, identical black suits. I gasped, sucking in a cold breath. “I didn’t realize you were so cool on the inside,” I said, surprised. “Cool kid.” Davey turned back with a smile. “My name’s Devereaux. I’m a freelance worker. And you?” So, he wasn’t a student. I sat on the sofa. “I’m Willow. I’m a Community Development Specialist.” *Just the great cause of revitalizing Fox Clan, that’s all.* Davey was putting on an apron. “You always seem hungry when we meet, Miss. What do you want to eat today?” “You,” I blurted out. The moment I said it, my face burned. I was about to backtrack, but then I saw Davey’s eyes widen, his face even redder than mine. My heart fluttered with excitement. “No, I’m really tired today. Don’t have much energy,” Davey shook his head. I got even more excited. Davey and I stared at each other. After a long moment, he gave in, lowering his head, his earlobes flushed. “Whatever you want to do, shouldn’t you eat something first?” “How about chicken, three ways?” Davey looked at me with a gentle smile. What fox could ever say no to triple the chicken? 5 Davey’s chicken was absolutely delicious. After gnawing on the last drumstick and seeing the mountain of bones on the table, I let out a satisfied burp. Davey naturally began clearing the table. He was wearing a white T-shirt, his bangs neatly combed back, making him look soft and warm, as if bathed in a gentle light. His eyelashes fluttered like tiny brushes against my heart, tickling me. His apron strings dangled loose, highlighting an impossibly narrow waist. *Gulp.* It’s okay. Soon, this slender-waisted boy would be all mine. I shot up, wanting to pull him into a hug. But after two steps, my head felt so dizzy. Huh—? One Davey, two Daveys, so many Daveys! “That ‘drunken chicken’ dish had a lot of booze. You ate too happily and got tipsy.” Tipsy? But what about my big meal? I hadn’t absorbed his life essence yet! No way I’m letting you get away tonight! I pounced, biting down. “Good girl, settle down.” Suddenly, I was airborne. Davey had picked me up. He looked so skinny, how did he have so much strength? What did you say? What was Davey’s expression? How would a drunk fox know? But I was definitely happy, that much was true. 6 When I sobered up in the middle of the night, I saw my clothes were still perfectly on. I pouted. Remembering my cousin Scarlett’s teachings, I transformed into a thin nightgown, my legs bare, and slipped out of the guest room. It was the middle of the night, and I felt a little guilty. But Davey had explicitly agreed! I was just finishing what we started. He couldn’t blame me. I tiptoed to the master bedroom. The door wasn’t locked; it was even left ajar. Wasn’t that an invitation?! I quietly pushed the door open, slowly crawled onto Davey’s bed, and snuggled up next to him. My mouth was aimed right at his. Life essence, come to mommy! I sucked hard. Davey’s eyes suddenly snapped open, and he clamped a hand over his mouth. We stared at each other like two startled deer caught in headlights. The absorption process was interrupted, and I started coughing so hard the room shook. He did that on purpose! He totally did! 7 Davey switched on the lamp, looking at me with exasperation. Maybe he’d just woken up, his hair was messy, and his pajama top was open, revealing his abs. I instinctively knelt obediently on his lap, looking up at him. “You promised me,” I said, trying to straighten my back, my voice a little shaky. “Miss, you don’t do this with everyone, do you?” I froze. Thinking back, I usually just knocked them out and absorbed. This was the first time I’d met someone so difficult. I shook my head. “Only you.” “Are you serious, Miss?” “Super serious!” I pouted. The tense lines on Davey’s face softened. He shook his head helplessly, then chuckled softly. He shook his head again, then opened his arms to me. What a turnaround! What a ray of light! This was it! I leaped into his arms, giddy with excitement, and he wrapped me in a tight embrace. A single layer of fabric couldn’t stop the warmth from spreading. Davey was like a furnace, radiating warmth. Davey’s face drew closer and closer. I slowly closed my eyes, my other senses sharpening. I felt his scorching breath, felt his lips capture mine. So soft! His tongue began its conquest, and I had no power to resist, dizzyingly following his rhythm. It wasn’t until I was about to gasp for air that Davey finally released me. My lips and tongue were numb. Good thing I got that life essence, or it would have been a total waste. …I went silent. Did I just forget to absorb life essence? I jolted upright, startled, my head hitting Davey’s chin. My ears *hurt*. Wait, my ears!!! I quickly reached for the top of my head. Sure enough, they were out. I quickly pulled them back in. With my hair covering them, and in this darkness, Davey probably didn’t notice, right? Fox spirits can’t reveal their true forms to humans. I didn’t want to end up singing the blues in a jail cell. The next second, my entire body froze. My tail… it was out. Like a broken record, I slowly lowered my head, staring at the tails wildly waving around the room. I closed my eyes in despair. It was just a kiss! How could I get so emotional?! If the clan found out, I’d be laughed to death! Next time I need life essence, I’m finding a blind guy. A soft chuckle came from above my head. “So you really are a fox, Miss. No wonder you’re so beautiful—and so soft.” Davey was holding one of my tails, gently kneading it. I tentatively tried to pull it back. Davey narrowed his eyes, looking at me meaningfully. Then, he stroked my tail from the very tip all the way to the root. All my fox fur stood on end. My entire body felt like it was zapped with electricity. “Are you sick?!” I shrieked, furiously trying to snatch my tail back. I pulled. It wouldn’t budge?! Suddenly, he flipped over, pinning me down on the bed. In the darkness, I could hear both our heartbeats quickening. “Don’t get distracted, my little fox.” 8 I successfully absorbed the handsome Davey’s life essence. But I ended up in the hospital, unlucky me. That arrogant jerk at least had a conscience; he got me a VIP room. “Awake?” He looked at me with a cold face. I was the one who passed out from absorbing *his* life essence, why was he giving *me* attitude? “The doctor said you had food poisoning. He told me to warn you to be careful next time.” *Food poisoning.* *Careful next time.* He emphasized those words particularly heavily. If my human university professors had highlighted key points like that, I wouldn’t have failed so many classes and almost not graduated. “What kind of poisoning did I get?” I felt a little panicky, but then I sensed my body. My ninth tail seemed to have grown out. I ignored the pain all over my body, grimacing as I rushed to the bathroom. Locked the door. I released all nine of my tails, ready to admire my nine-tailed glory. This was it, nine tails! Let’s see who dares say I’m a bad cultivator now. However, I looked at the tails behind me, then at my reflection in the mirror. What the hell?! I’m a white fox! A snow-white fox with not a single stray dark hair, so how did I grow a black tail?! I hugged the dark, ugly tail and burst into tears, whimpering like a puppy. I’m so ugly now! Who wants this tail? Can I just cut it off? I seriously couldn’t face anyone like this! 9 The first thing I did when I got home was tie that arrogant jerk up tight. Seeing him restrained by eight of my tails, lying motionless on the bed, I weirdly felt he possessed a certain tortured beauty. That thought scared the crap out of me. Was something wrong with my fox brain? I let that ugly tail out separately, using it as a whip. In my excitement, the black tail snapped against the floor with a loud crack. That arrogant jerk shivered all over. I felt a little satisfied. “Confess leniently, resist severely. Tell me, which temple sent you to harm me? Why did I get a stomach ache and grow a black tail after absorbing your life essence?” I looked at the dark tail, sniffled, and fought back tears. “Miss, I didn’t do anything. You forced me.” “That’s nonsen…!” I slammed on the brakes. Huh, he was right, wasn’t he? Suddenly, my conscience felt a little pain. “How can you turn the tables on me like that?!” Oh no, my conscience hurt even more. 10 “No playing the victim! Confess honestly, or I’ll eat you, Miss.” I bared my fangs. Don’t think foxes only have ears and tails; I eat meat too! Davey shrank back in fear, his shoulders trembling. Tears clung to the corners of his eyes, and I felt a little soft-hearted. He was still young, after all. “Miss, you’re far too easy to trick.” What kind of horrible personality was that? I must have been blind to think he was a sweet, innocent boy. I was furious. I lunged, biting at his neck. Suddenly, black mist filled the air, and my tails were forcibly flung away. Before I could recover, Davey turned the tables. A large scythe, covered in black cloth strips, appeared out of nowhere, held horizontally in front of me. Davey was wearing a black robe, with smoky eyeliner circles so dark, it looked like he hadn’t slept in three days. If he just had a guitar, he’d be a middle schooler trying to be a death metal rock star. The scythe hooked my waist. With a slight pull, I tumbled into his arms.

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My cousin and I both transmigrated to a beastmen world. Life in this world was harsh, but we were surrounded by all kinds of gorgeous men, and polyandry was the norm. My cousin, Brittany, snatched the [Beloved System] first, grinning triumphantly at me. “You got ahead of me in our last life, but this time, everyone will love and spoil me. I’m the protagonist, and I’ll have countless leading men.” I just smiled faintly, opting for the leftover [Nation-Building Tech System], then pulled out an AK47. “I want that [Beloved System]!” Brittany shoved me aside, her eyes gleaming with impatience. The moment I heard her, I knew. Brittany had reincarnated too. In our previous life, my cousin and I had just arrived in this beastmen world when two systems appeared: one was the [Beloved System], and the other, the [Nation-Building Tech System]. Last time, Brittany pinched me hard, rushing to choose the [Nation-Building Tech System]. I never thought she’d regret it and choose differently this time around. The robotic voice in the air spoke, just as stiffly as before. “Once chosen, there’s no turning back.” “Only a fool would regret becoming the beloved protagonist! I’ll never regret it!” As Brittany’s words faded, the pink glow slowly settled into her chest. And just like that, the discarded [Nation-Building Tech System] bound itself to me. Brittany stared at me, a mix of triumph and hatred in her eyes: “Skylar, in our last life, you got the Beloved System and enjoyed the adoration of so many men. This time, those good days finally belong to me. As for you, if you get in my way, you might as well die early in this wilderness.” If Brittany hadn’t snatched the [Nation-Building Tech System] last time, why would I have needed to bind myself to the Beloved System and live a life of trying to please countless men? What was poison to me, she craved like honey. Oh, Brittany. You don’t know, I’ve wanted this [Nation-Building Tech System] for ages. Now, my wish has finally come true. The surrounding light faded, just like last time, leaving us in a dense forest. The trees here were so thick they blocked out the sun, even denser than any rainforest I’d seen. All sorts of strange plants were everywhere. This was the primeval beastmen world, where strength reigned supreme. Brittany couldn’t wait. “The protagonist’s perks are finally mine.” “Quick, Beloved System, make me beautiful!” A crystalline pill appeared in Brittany’s hand, and she swallowed it without hesitation. The pill worked instantly. Brittany’s skin brightened several shades, becoming smooth and delicate, and even her hair turned silky. “This Beloved System stuff is amazing! Skylar, you were so stingy to hog something this good from me in our last life!” Brittany excitedly caressed her now even more beautiful face, then remembered me standing nearby and added, her voice bitter with resentment. Just then, a lion’s roar echoed, and a massive tiger leaped out of the dense jungle beside us. Brittany showed no fear. She swayed her hips, a shy smile playing on her lips, and walked towards the tiger. A flicker of human-like astonishment crossed the great tiger’s eyes. The next second, he transformed into a bare-chested, handsome man. “Beautiful she-beastkin, if you do not have a tribe, Brody invites you to return to my tribe with me.” Brittany, all sweetness and light, threw herself into Brody’s arms, shooting me a triumphant look over his shoulder. “Of course, I’d be delighted.”

Female beastkin were scarce in this world, and just like in my previous life, Brody, the tiger beastman, brought my cousin and me back to his tribe. Brody was the leader of the nearby Soar Tribe, powerful and handsome. The moment we arrived at the tribe, a large group of bare-chested beastkin swarmed us, buzzing with questions. “Chief Brody, what did you hunt?” “Oh my goodness, it’s a she-beastkin! And she’s so beautiful!” “Only Chief Brody could find such a rare she-beastkin!” Just like me in my previous life, under the [Beloved System]’s influence, Brittany received the welcome and adoration of all the beastkin. Facing so many intense gazes, Brittany clung to Brody, all innocent and demure. I overheard her talking to her system, her tone surprisingly critical: “System, besides Brody, none of these beastkin are very handsome.” “My leading men must be absolute top-tier alphas. Only then will I allow them to grovel at my feet.” “Just like Skylar in the last life, she had handsome snake-kin, the Young Lord of Eagle City… This time, they’ll all be mine.” I shook my head from the side, secretly laughing at my cousin’s naivety. Memories flooded my mind. In my previous life, after transmigrating from a civilized modern society to this savage beastmen world, Brittany, wanting technological security, had snatched the [Nation-Building Tech System]. Females were rare in this world, so polyandry was practiced. Under the influence of the [Beloved System], the top male beastkin of the entire world pursued me, revering me as a goddess. Brittany only saw my sweet life, being pampered by powerful male beastkin. But she didn’t see how I was practically held captive, constantly pressured to birth new children. Mindful of our relationship before transmigrating, I tried my best to mediate among the male beastkin, asking them to let Brittany stay by my side. She had freedom and didn’t have to be a birthing tool like me. I never expected that my softheartedness would be my undoing. The night before I was due to give birth, Brittany burst in and shot me directly in the stomach. As I lay dying, spitting blood, I clutched at her and asked why. Her face was twisted with cruel malice. “Skylar, how dare you ask why? Ever since we came to this world, you’ve had the best of everything, so many men falling over themselves for you. I was consumed with jealousy.” Only then did I realize that all my consideration for her, in her eyes, had just been a show-off. Turns out, karma was watching. This life, I got a do-over. Watching Brittany, surrounded by all the beastkin, I secretly smiled. This ‘blessing’ is all yours now. Enjoy it.

The beastkin buzzed around Brittany, trying every trick in the book to win her favor. Brody got angry. “Brittany is my she-beastkin! Who dares to even think about her?” When the Chief spoke, the surrounding beastkin, no matter how unwilling, had no choice but to shut up. Brittany, watching Brody’s protective jealousy, was flushed with sweet delight. Just as the atmosphere was joyous and harmonious, an arrogant, wolf-eared beastman walked in. “Chief Brody, it’s tribute day today. Don’t tell me you forgot.” I was stunned. I wondered if my rebirth had caused a butterfly effect; this event had moved up. In my previous life, the Soar Tribe and Wolf Cloud City had clashed. The Soar Tribe was defeated and forced to relocate, agreeing to offer she-beastkin to Wolf Cloud City on a certain day. My cousin and I were outsiders, with no real ties to the tribe. Brody, who had taken a liking to me, had planned to offer Brittany to the Wolf Cloud City Lord. I learned from Brody that the Wolf Cloud City Lord was ugly and brutal. I begged Brody to let Brittany stay, saving her life. This time, however, Brittany glanced at me, then pulled Brody, who was still in a standoff with the Wolf Cloud City envoy, and whispered a few words to him. The next second, Brody pointed at me: “Envoy, this is the she-beastkin our tribe will offer to the City Lord. Take her.” I looked at Brittany. As expected, a look of satisfying revenge spread across her face. I scoffed, not at all surprised. The Wolf Tribe envoy looked at me, his eyes lighting up. He nodded in satisfaction. I knew what he was satisfied with. Though my looks were average in modern society, here, I was considered fair-skinned and beautiful. More importantly, my slender build fit their perverted City Lord’s aesthetic. The Wolf Cloud City envoy grabbed me. I almost struggled, but then I thought, I have my own way to protect myself now. Why not go to a different place and really make my mark, build my own power? So I calmed down, not moving, allowing myself to be taken obediently. Before I left, Brittany smugly came to see me off. “Skylar, that City Lord is old and ugly. Enjoy him.” “Now, no one can steal my protagonist halo.” I smiled. I mouthed something to her: “Just you wait, cousin.” I was rewarded by seeing her face go pale.

Hearing that I was too weak to shift into a beast form from fright, the envoy and other guards were quite shocked. They didn’t shift either but instead tossed me onto a wooden sled, planning to drag me along. Watching that sled with no wheels, even after being reborn, I was still amazed by the primitive world’s backward production capabilities. Perhaps seeing my weak constitution, they didn’t even bother to tie me up. So I lay comfortably on the wooden sled, closed my eyes, and began to contact my Nation-Building Tech System. In my previous life, I didn’t even realize there was a gun inside the system until I was dying. This time, the moment I entered the system space, I was utterly stunned. There was everything: rice that yielded a thousand kilograms per mu, basic medical knowledge, craft instruction books, and of course, plenty of guns and ammunition… The shelves were packed full. Any one item, pulled out at random, would be revolutionary for this world! My heart pounded, then surged with excitement. With these things, building my own empire wouldn’t be difficult. It could at least vastly improve my quality of life! No more living like a savage, like in my last life! I couldn’t help but want to grab my short-sighted cousin, Brittany, and beat her senseless. So many treasures, and in her previous life, she was like a toddler given a fortune, unable to use any of it, obsessed only with being beloved. What a waste! Just as my mind raced, commotion and screams erupted around me. I instantly opened my eyes. The moment I did, I froze. Breathing on me was a colossal beast, half a story tall, covered in hard, gleaming armor. Its mouthparts dripped with saliva, exhaling a foul, fishy odor. I was barely half a meter from it, face-to-face. What in the world was this thing?! The beastkin guards who had been watching me scrambled away in sheer terror, “Insect-beast! The insect-beast is here! Run!” It was an insect-beast, the beastkin’s natural enemy, something I’d only heard legends of in my previous life but never seen. “Roar—!” The insect-beast roared at me, its foul saliva dripping all over me. The next second, a gunshot rang out. “Bang—!” The colossal body of the insect-beast crashed down before me, kicking up clouds of dust. I whistled softly. Gotta say, the AK47 is just so good. And the moment I picked it up, I instantly mastered all its usage methods. System-issued, always top-tier. The scattered beastkin, seeing the insect-beast subdued by me, stared in shock, their faces filled with disbelief, almost afraid to approach me. I jumped off the wooden sled. Finn, the envoy, looked at me, a mix of shock and joy on his face: “How did you do that?!” Soon, greed crept onto his face. “What are you standing around for?! Grab her! Tie her up quickly! We must get her secret!” Laughable. Gun in hand, I rule this place. I immediately aimed the AK47 at Finn’s leg and shot him. “Aarghh—!” Finn let out a sharp howl, clutching a bloody hole in his leg, his face filled with terror. “What is this?! What is this?! By the Mother Goddess Raynes, I was wrong! Please, forgive me!” The beastkin guards who had been about to seize me were terrified. They instantly abandoned Finn and tried to flee. I fired a few shots into the sky. “Who dares to run? I’ll kill them directly!” All the beastkin became utterly silent. I nodded in satisfaction. A joke. If I let them go, who would boil water, cook, and hunt on the way to the city? I ran up to the terrified envoy and pressed the gun to his head. He was stunned and terrified by this unseen “divine artifact,” his mouth trembling. “Tell me everything about your Wolf Cloud City, or you’ll end up like that insect-beast.” I pointed to the thoroughly dead insect-beast nearby. Finn immediately nodded, spilling the beans on everything, like a dam breaking.

In my previous life, Wolf Cloud City had collapsed before I ever visited it, seemingly merged with another tribal power. This time, the envoy’s detailed account gave me a rough idea of the situation. Wolf Cloud City hadn’t always been called that. It was originally built by both the Wolf Tribe and the Fox Tribe, and back then, it was incredibly prosperous. Later, the Wolf Tribe grew powerful, directly expelling the Fox Tribe from the city to become the sole dominant power, then changed its name. The current City Lord, Drogo, was absurd and unreasonable. Not only did he hoard rare female beastkin, but he also loved war, turning the whole city into a chaotic mess and causing a significant loss of beastkin population. “Little Goddess, these rabbits have been caught by our warriors for you, and already cooked. Please, enjoy.” Finn respectfully offered me a bowl of rabbit stew in an old wooden bowl. Through my “brainwashing” and a few modern tricks, I had been hailed by the entire group as a goddess sent by their Mother Goddess Raynes. But I looked at the crude, indescribably ugly wooden bowl and couldn’t help but show my disdain. Sigh, change was absolutely necessary. “Little Goddess, this is the best food we can offer you! Once you return to Wolf Cloud City, I will definitely send people to bring you the finest, most exquisite food!” Seeing my frown, Finn swore to the heavens and earth. I stood up. “Who is in charge of cooking?” A somewhat scrawny guard stood up. I extended my hand, and instantly, a pile of modern seasonings appeared in my palm. Seeing me materialize these things out of thin air, all the beastkin looked on in shock and awe. “I’ll teach you how to use these.” I told the scrawny guard. In the beastmen world, the only seasoning was salt, but it was unrefined salt blocks that tasted bad, nowhere near as fine as modern salt. “Is this… salt? It’s so fine!” A beastman couldn’t help but exclaim. Seeing wood ear mushrooms on a nearby tree, my eyes lit up, and I picked quite a few. “Goddess, what are you doing with those? Only frail rabbit-kin and sheep-kin eat those.” Finn mumbled. I had the guard wash them clean and stew them with the rabbit meat, adding plenty of seasonings. Soon, a unique aroma filled the air. All the beastkin sniffed desperately, constantly swallowing their saliva. In no time, a fresh, rich pot of wood ear rabbit stew was ready. “This is a blessing from the Goddess!” Finn was the first to kneel, and a large group followed, kneeling in a rush. I was just chuckling to myself when, suddenly, a wooden grapple flew down from a nearby tree, hooked the stone pot, and the entire pot of rabbit stew was lifted away as if by magic. I was startled. “Quick, catch them!” The guards immediately transformed into their wolf forms and sprinted into the dense forest. I saw two fiery-red figures quickly disappear from my sight within the trees. But soon, the guards returned, apprehending two fox-kin beastmen, along with the stone pot and the confiscated vine-wood grapple. The two fox-kin beastmen had the alluring beauty unique to their kind, a stunning, almost ethereal beauty that transcended gender. One had a mole near his eye, the other didn’t. Their silver hair was topped with two beautiful fiery-red ears. Right now, both of them glared at us, looking annoyed and wary. “Inferior mixed-blood fox-kin, daring to use such tricks to steal the food the Goddess prepared for us! Break their hands and legs and banish them!” Finn declared imperiously, but I stopped him. “Wait.” I held up the vine-wood grapple to the two fox-kin beastmen. It was a hook with a mechanism, capable of retracting flexibly, but when extended, it had an extremely strong grip. I’d seen it already; even a heavy stone pot was no match for it. In my past life and this one, it was hard to find such a strong, expertly crafted hook on the beastkin continent. My heart swelled with excitement. If they had made this hook themselves, possessing such incredible craftsmanship, how wonderful it would be if they could join my ranks and help me implement new crafting methods! “Did you make this?” Both fox-kin beastmen kept their mouths shut, raising an eyebrow at me without speaking. Finn tried to intimidate them, but I stopped him. “I mean nothing else. I’m recruiting new subordinates. Don’t worry, if you become my subordinates, not only will you have today’s food, but anything else I can provide, I will.” The fox-kin beastman with the mole near his eye asked, “What do you want to do?” “Kill City Lord Drogo, and build my own, more advanced empire. What do you say? Care to take a gamble?” I didn’t hide my intentions, my power was evident. Hearing my words, their faces showed shock, as if they hadn’t expected me to have such resolve. The surrounding wolf-kin guards, however, were calm, having already been brought under my command. “Alright. Wolf Cloud City has a part of our fox tribe too. I’m in.” The fox-kin beastman with the mole said. The other one nodded slightly. After getting to know them, I learned that these two fox-kin beastmen had been expelled from their own tribe. They were twins, the elder brother named Lian, and the younger Nolan. Because they were a mixed bloodline of fire fox and silver fox, they were driven out of their tribe. They had survived in the dense forest by relying on their ingenious mechanical skills. This time, Nolan had craved the wood ear rabbit stew, which led them to take such a risk among the wolf-kin. Hearing it was because of their bloodline, I looked at the two beastkin curiously. Their bodies didn’t quite fit the beastkin continent’s ideal of robust strength, but their figures were slender, with lean muscle subtly showing beneath their fur clothes, undeniably captivating. The twins, one steady and the other lively, had silver hair and silver eyes, yet fiery red ears, making them absolutely captivating. I quietly swallowed. No wonder they were fox-kin. I had the beastkin divide the wood ear rabbit stew. For a moment, all I heard were the happy slurping sounds, until even the bottoms of the bowls were licked clean. “Brother, just for this skill, staying here is totally worth it!” Nolan’s silver fox eyes widened, adding to his allure, still wanting more. Lian, comparatively, was more mature. At Nolan’s words, he merely smiled subtly, looking at me, the mole near his eye stood out vividly. No way, they’re too good-looking! Seriously, in our world, they’d be superstars! Even without any romantic intentions towards them, my heart couldn’t stop pounding. This was a raw, visceral impact of facing extreme beauty. “Done eating? I have something for you.” I pulled out books on basic crafts and technology from the system space. Seeing me materialize objects out of thin air, Lian and Nolan’s faces showed shock, while the other wolf-kin beastmen looked on with pride and reverence. “Both of you, study this thoroughly. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask me. I’ll need you to produce the things shown in this book.” The book used picture-based lessons, simple and straightforward. Lian took the book with a puzzled expression, but soon exclaimed in surprise, “What is this? It’s so light, and it has pictures!” In the beastmen continent, records were kept on stone carvings or wooden boards; paper didn’t exist yet. I smiled faintly, with an air of profound mystery. “This is called a book. Just follow me, and I can give you even better things than this.” Along the way, relying on the complete set of craft books, I brought Lian and Nolan under my wing. They were smart and eager to learn, quickly becoming my two greatest aids.

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Queen Aethelred, famed across kingdoms for her breathtaking beauty, chose *me* of all people to be her Consort Queen. Every time I returned in my armor from battle, she’d look at me with utter disdain, “Why aren’t you dead yet?” Then, after eight years, I found myself clinging to life by a thread. She glared at the woman holding me, her eyes filled with chilling malice. “You’re abandoning me for *this* beast-kin?” she fumed, her voice dripping with fury. Yup, because a younger woman is just incredibly enchanting. 0 On the day of Queen Aethelred’s ascension, dignitaries arrived from every corner of the realm. Royalty from neighboring kingdoms flocked, eager to witness her famed beauty. As her newly crowned Consort Queen, I had barely finished my coronation ceremony before she dispatched me to the front lines that very night. My wedding night was spent alone, in a cold war tent. But at that moment, I regretted nothing. Marrying the woman I adored while also fulfilling my family’s legacy? It felt like winning the grandest lottery. With a fierce surge of strength, I dominated the battlefield, returning victorious soon after. The entire court roared, “Long live the Queen! All hail the Consort Queen!” Queen Aethelred merely scoffed, casting a contemptuous glance at me, still kneeling in the grand hall. “That scar on your neck is hideous,” she sneered, then turned and swept into her private chambers, leaving me to the buzzing whispers of the court. She wanted beauty, didn’t she? Back in my royal apartments, I diligently followed the royal physician’s orders, taking elixirs and applying salves every single day. “My Queen, look.” I eagerly showed Queen Aethelred my neck, now bearing only a faint line. “Ugly people always make a scene,” Queen Aethelred said, without even a glance. With a dismissive wave of her hand, she sent me back to the battlefield. That perfect profile uttered such a callous remark. I pouted, but still donned my armor to expand her kingdom’s borders. With the Consort Queen herself on the front lines, and the granddaughter of the famed Thorne family, a founding pillar of the kingdom, morale soared. Victory reports poured in. On the day of my triumphant return to the capital, the palace walls were adorned with festive lights and banners. Daisy, my personal attendant, was even more excited than I was. “My Lady, look! The Queen still cares for you!” Just as I thought I had finally warmed Queen Aethelred’s heart of stone, I drew closer and realized – this wasn’t a celebration of *my* triumph. This was Queen Aethelred taking a new bride. 0

On the high platform, Lyra Vane was radiant, dazzling in a magnificent ceremonial gown that outshone even my own wedding dress. Except for a full queen’s diadem, her attire and the surrounding rituals were practically identical to a new Consort Queen’s. In stark contrast, I was still in my full battle armor, dust-stained and disheveled, with fresh, unhealed scars on my hands. I looked more like a mere subject than a royal consort. My sudden interruption of the ceremony seemed to shock Queen Aethelred more than me. She blurted out, “You’re not dead yet?” All the questions, all the hurt, choked in my throat, unable to escape. The gazes of the entire assembly turned to me, and in that instant, I felt like I was standing utterly alone against the world. Seeing my silence, Queen Aethelred waved for someone to escort me away to rest, while her other hand clasped that of her ‘true love,’ Lyra Vane. Lyra Vane lowered her delicate fan, a smirk playing on her lips as she smiled at me. How dared this child of a disgraced traitor provoke me so openly? I drew my sword and pointed it directly at her, eliciting a sharp shriek. Chaos erupted in the great hall as guards dragged me out, half-coaxing, half-forcing. I watched as Lyra Vane, tucked safely in Queen Aethelred’s embrace, smugly raised an eyebrow at me. As fireworks burst into bloom outside my chambers, confined within the palace walls, I felt the first stirrings of doubt. Was the one I loved truly so despicable? Or was it *me* who wasn’t good enough? Yet she had once been so gentle. When we first met, I had fallen into the river, and she, heedless of danger, had rescued me. Those dark eyes, filled with the sparkle of a starlit night, were an incomparable memory. Daisy’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Alright, My Lady, you’ve told that story for eight years now. I could recite it by heart.” I was about to retort when urgent alarm bells suddenly rang out from beyond the palace walls. Assassins had infiltrated the palace! “She’s in danger!” I grabbed my sword, not even bothering to change, and scaled the high walls in just my sheer nightwear, rushing to Queen Aethelred’s aid. There were far more assassins than I imagined. By the time I reached Queen Aethelred’s private chambers, I found it littered with fallen guards. A blade flashed directly at Queen Aethelred’s throat; I rushed forward to block it. Turning, I saw Queen Aethelred comforting Lyra Vane, who was nestled in her arms behind me. Distracted for a moment, my left arm was pierced. More assassins quickly arrived, and I gradually found myself overwhelmed. “Aethelred! Call the guards!” Silence stretched behind me. I looked back, and Queen Aethelred was already at the chamber door, Lyra Vane clutched in her arms, fleeing. A cold dread seized me. I looked down to see blood dripping from the sword impaled in my chest. As I fell, I thought I saw Queen Aethelred shouting something from a distance. The world plunged into darkness, but through the fading silence, a furious female voice echoed in my ears: “Who told you to hurt *her*?!” 0

In the haze, I saw those dark eyes, brimming with concern. A wave of warmth surged through my chest, and the drowning sensation vanished instantly. I reached out, my fingers brushing against something soft and furry. A clear, melodic female voice spoke: “Seraphina, you haven’t repaid what you owe me yet. You’re not allowed to die.” The voice was utterly unfamiliar. How did she know my name? Through the blur, those dark eyes sharpened into focus. When my senses fully returned, I found myself in an unfamiliar room. Beside my bed sat the General’s wife of the Whispering Woods Tribe. As a child, our families had been close, and my grandfather often brought me to meet the General and his wife. Elder Elara, seeing me awake, was overjoyed. “She truly didn’t deceive me,” she murmured. When I questioned her, Elder Elara simply told me to rest and heal. I would know everything once I recovered. The Whispering Woods Tribe were the humans most deeply connected to nature’s essence. Here, I received excellent care, and my body recovered day by day. Elder Elara also informed me that she hadn’t heard anything about the Queen searching for me. Ignoring Elder Elara’s pleas, I decided to return to the capital. To the rhythm of drums and strings, a masked woman in red danced gracefully. Three fox tails swayed behind her. Beneath her white mask, a pair of upward-tilting eyes shimmered like water. I was mesmerized. Among the beast-kin, foxes were known for their striking beauty, so I presumed she was from the Foxkin tribe. To my surprise, the Foxkin, with whom I’d had no prior contact, presented her to me as a companion for my return journey. Before I departed, Elder Elara gravely advised me: if I ever faced danger, I *must* return with the beast-kin, Elysia. The masked woman silently met my gaze. I nodded, and together, I took the fox-kin back to the capital. 0

Every time I returned to the capital with my forces, the city would be adorned with festive lights and banners, but never once was it for me. This time was no exception. When I appeared, the city guards bowed respectfully, not daring to impede me. I entered the palace unimpeded, only to find this was Queen Aethelred’s grand celebration. She had finally gotten her wish: her ‘true love’ had ascended to the Consort Queen’s throne, to stay by her side. With the new Consort Queen’s ascension and *my* sudden appearance, the grand hall erupted in a commotion. The old ministers whispered frantically, debating how to respond in accordance with ancient laws. Queen Aethelred, a rare look of joy on her face, hurried down from the high platform. She rushed towards me, then reined in her smile, preemptively demanding, “Where have you been all this time? I thought you were dead!” Before I could even open my mouth, Elysia, behind me, let out a disdainful snort. Lyra Vane then approached, observing Queen Aethelred’s expression before turning to me with feigned concern. “It’s good you’re back, Sister. The Queen was very worried about you.” I gazed at the familiar wedding decorations around us, then glanced at the diadem on Lyra Vane’s head. I let out a soft, hollow laugh. “Oh, really?” Our ancestral teachings demanded I dedicate myself entirely to the Queen’s dynasty, just like my forebears. I was to embody the ideal Consort Queen, bringing stability and peace to the people. But now, it seemed I had married the wrong person and failed in my sacred duty. Queen Aethelred, too, glanced at the diadem. Her voice was laced with frantic urgency as she defended, “That’s not *your* diadem.” Elysia seemed to have had enough. “Of course not. Why would a new love wear an old crown? An old flame can’t compare to a fresh one.” I put a hand on Elysia’s arm, my gaze fixed on Queen Aethelred. I spoke just three words: “I want a divorce.” Since the founding of the kingdom, no Consort Queen had ever dared to propose a divorce. Wouldn’t this be a direct affront to Queen Aethelred’s authority? But I, Seraphina Thorne, had served the kingdom and its people flawlessly since becoming Consort Queen. The Queen had no grounds to dismiss me. In the past, Queen Aethelred had abandoned me to die, and today, she disregarded my honor so brazenly, shaming my ancestors. I absolutely would not tolerate it any longer. My declaration sent shockwaves through the hall. The elderly ministers seemed more agitated than Queen Aethelred herself, rushing forward to plead, “No, Your Majesty, you mustn’t!” Lyra Vane, however, watched Queen Aethelred’s reaction with an almost gleeful anticipation. Queen Aethelred froze for a moment, staring at me in disbelief. Once she realized I wasn’t joking, she suddenly looked as though she’d been dealt a crushing blow. She snatched my wrist. “Come back to the palace with me!” 0 A flash of white, and Elysia was between us, pushing Queen Aethelred and me apart. “Are you deaf?” she snapped. “She said she wants a divorce.”

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To amuse his new mistress, Damon ordered me, pregnant and exhausted, to dance in the water for his entertainment. When I finally dragged myself out, gasping for air, his mistress took one look at me and started gagging. “Your Majesty, I’m with child. I can’t stand the smell of fish.” It was only because I was a Merfolk princess that my legs transformed into a shimmering tail in the water. Damon exploded with rage. He had me locked in a crystal cage and sunk deep underwater, forbidding anyone from opening it without his permission. “Even if you can become human, you can’t hide that disgusting fishy scent! It’s revolting!” No matter how I struggled or pleaded, he didn’t care. He and his mistress even found it amusing. And so, I drowned, my body eventually dissipating into the water. He didn’t know that while we Merfolk can breathe underwater, we must reside on land to bear our young. After a full day and night, he finally seemed satisfied with my punishment and ordered me released. But I could no longer surface.

I never thought I’d die by drowning, and certainly not at the hands of the man I loved most. “Ariel, what are you standing around for? Seraphina is waiting for your dance performance! Are you defying even your King now?!” Damon, with the giggling Seraphina wrapped in his arm, glared at me with an unfriendly gaze. Remembering his threats against me, I had no choice but to enter the water. I began to perform the dance unique to our Merfolk, just as he demanded. Before, moving in water felt as natural as walking on land. But now, I was pregnant. My movements were clumsy, and I needed far more oxygen to sustain myself underwater. It wasn’t long before I was gasping for air, completely out of breath. I had to stop and pull myself onto the shore to breathe. I hadn’t expected that seeing me surface would make Seraphina immediately turn away, gagging. “Your Majesty, I smell such a strong fishy scent! I just found out I’m pregnant, and I simply can’t tolerate this smell right now.” With that, Seraphina nestled herself into Damon’s embrace, looking so fragile and helpless that it stirred compassion in anyone who saw her. Hearing Seraphina’s words, I felt utterly humiliated. Though I was Merfolk, I wasn’t an actual fish. How could I possibly smell of fish? And Seraphina’s mention of her pregnancy also bothered me. Damon and I had been married for years, yet we had no children. Damon had once confessed to me that their royal line struggled to produce heirs due to their immense power in battle. Some spent their entire lives without offspring, so he didn’t care about it and accepted he wouldn’t have children. Therefore, when I told Damon I was pregnant, he didn’t believe me. Seraphina had just entered the palace then and was in his prime favor. Damon thought I was faking it to gain his affection and lashed out at me. “Ariel, you’re truly shameless! To fake a pregnancy just to win favor—how could you? Don’t you know it’s hard for me to have children?!” I expected Seraphina to receive the same reprimand, but instead, Damon was overjoyed. “Really? Seraphina, you truly are my lucky star! I thought I’d never have a child of my own, and yet you’re pregnant!” “Unlike some who fake pregnancies for attention, you can’t hide your fishy scent, even if you come ashore and become human.” After saying that, Damon ordered me locked in the crystal cage he’d specially made for me and sunk to the bottom of the water. “You’ve disgusted my beauty. When my beauty is no longer angry, I’ll let you out.” Hearing Damon’s words, I was horrified. Once the crystal cage sank, it wouldn’t float back up. Being pregnant, I couldn’t breathe underwater for long periods. If I stayed too long, I would suffocate from lack of oxygen. My own death was meaningless, but my child—he hadn’t even been born, hadn’t seen the world with his own eyes. “Damon! You can’t do this to me! If you keep me in the water, I’ll drown! Let me out, now!” Damon listened, his eyes cold. “You’ll drown? Ariel, listen to what you’re saying! You’re a Merfolk princess!” “I’ve never heard such a ridiculous joke.” He finished speaking and, ignoring my struggles, locked me in. Then, he picked up Seraphina tenderly and turned to leave. Watching his cold, heartless demeanor and Seraphina’s triumphant gaze, I was filled with bitter resentment. But there was nothing I could do. And so, filled with despair, I sank to the bottom.

Damon carried Seraphina back to his royal chambers, a place that once, apart from him and me, no one was ever allowed to enter. But ever since Seraphina arrived, everything had changed. I, too, had become one of those forbidden to enter. I’d even been reduced to a personal entertainer, summoned at her whim and dismissed at her pleasure, without any of the dignity befitting a Queen. As long as Seraphina pouted to Damon about being bored, I had to appear and sing or dance for her. If I showed any reluctance, Damon would threaten my people. But he had forgotten—he once promised to protect me and my tribe forever. Now, he was the one trying to harm us. When Damon was inheriting the crown, he was surrounded by enemies. Brothers coveted his throne, and rival kingdoms loomed threateningly. In such a desperate situation, he sought help from my father, the King. My father was initially unwilling. We Merfolk never meddled in the affairs of other races. But because Damon and I fell in love, my father had no choice but to lend his aid. Though we helped Damon ascend to the throne, our tribe was greatly weakened and slowly began to decline. Damon also crowned me Queen, promising to protect our people. But just a few years later, Seraphina arrived. Everything he had said meant nothing anymore. Damon protected Seraphina with such tenderness, as if she were a fragile treasure. It was a look I hadn’t seen directed at me in a long time. In the first few years we were together, Damon had treated me with exceptional affection and care, as if I were too precious to hold, too delicate to even breathe near. Seraphina leaned against Damon, her voice weak and soft. “Your Majesty, don’t blame my sister. This is just my pregnancy, it’s not her fault at all.” Damon’s face darkened when Seraphina mentioned me. “If she makes my Seraphina uncomfortable, then it’s her fault. She deserves to be punished.” “I was too good to her in previous years, spoiled by luxury, so now she gets breathless with just a few movements. Seraphina, don’t worry, she’s just locked in water. She won’t die.” Hearing Damon’s words, a wave of sorrow washed over me. How could I not die? I was already dead. I remembered how, when I felt unwell in the past, Damon would take meticulous care of me, unlike now, when he knowingly confined me to a cage despite my discomfort. Seraphina heard Damon’s words, and the smile on her lips was almost impossible to suppress, yet she still feigned innocence. “Your Majesty, when my sister comes out later, she won’t come looking for trouble with me, will she? After all, she’s the Queen, and I’m just your mistress.” Damon’s eyes widened. “She wouldn’t dare! Don’t be afraid. No one can release her without my permission.” “Once you bear my child, I’ll depose her and make you Queen.” “Ariel hasn’t given me a single child in all these years. She should have been deposed ages ago!” “Oh, Your Majesty, you’re so good to me.” Seraphina finally looked satisfied, having received Damon’s promise. My heart twisted in agony watching this. I should have had a child too, but now he would never have the chance to be born. Because of Damon, he and I had died together. I couldn’t understand how a person could change so quickly, forgetting vows of eternal love in just a few short years. He got a new love and forgot the old. We promised to be each other’s only love forever, but as soon as someone new appeared, everything changed.

After Seraphina arrived, Damon used my poor health as an excuse to banish me from his royal chambers. Ostensibly, it was for my well-being, but in reality, he and Seraphina spent every night in revelry. Damon’s frequent visits gradually became occasional, and eventually, he stopped coming altogether. Now, every time he said he wanted to see me, it was only to make me sing and dance for Seraphina, humiliating me to please her. He said, “You are Seraphina, and you are worth everything I have to make you happy.” Once upon a time, he had said those very words to me. Whenever I was homesick or upset, he would gently comfort me, gathering all sorts of interesting things to make me smile. But now, I had become nothing more than a tool to please someone else. “Your Majesty! Terrible news! The Queen has stopped struggling! She’s sunk to the bottom!” Just as Damon and Seraphina were enjoying a tender moment, a servant suddenly rushed in. Damon froze for a moment. “What did you say?” Then, as if the words registered, he frowned, looking annoyed, his face darkening. “She sank? So what? She’s Merfolk; what’s so strange about her sinking to the bottom of the water?!” The servant, frightened by Damon’s expression, quickly explained, “But… the Queen, she… her eyes are closed, her face is pale, and she seems to have stopped breathing.” Damon dressed quickly and stood up, appearing ready to follow the servant out. Seeing Damon’s movement, Seraphina quickly spoke. “Your Majesty, didn’t you say you’d stay with me? How can you leave me halfway?” “My sister is Merfolk; she lives in the water. Nothing bad will happen to her. This must be her throwing a tantrum. Your Majesty, you’ve been with my sister for so many years; you know she’s like this. When she’s angry, she ignores everyone.” Damon’s expression suddenly changed, clearly angered by something she had said. “Hmph! She’s definitely throwing a tantrum. Ignore her. I’ve never heard of Merfolk drowning in water.” Then he turned back and issued another command. “Go tell everyone that no one is to release her without my order. If I find out otherwise…” Damon’s words hung unfinished, but the servant was already nodding frantically, terrified. “Yes, yes, Your Majesty! I’ll go watch immediately. I’ll make sure not even a fly gets out!” Damon finally looked satisfied. Seraphina giggled, whispering sweet nothings that so utterly captivated Damon he lost all sense of time.

Damon didn’t think of me for the entire night. I imagined by now my body wouldn’t last much longer before it dissipated. We Merfolk grew up in water, and upon death, we dissipate back into the water, returning nutrients to nurture future generations. By the time Damon finally descended from his bed, satisfied, the sun was already high in the sky. “I wonder how my sister is doing now. Has her anger subsided? You know, the last time my sister was angry, she didn’t show her face for three whole days and nights.” Seraphina’s words stirred my memories. It was when Seraphina had just arrived. Though she was favored, she wasn’t as openly bold as she was now. Damon still cared about me somewhat and hadn’t gone too far. And at that time, I still believed Damon loved me, and Seraphina was just a passing novelty. I thought he would return to me once he grew tired of her. So, when Seraphina came looking for trouble, I slapped her without hesitation. Seraphina ran back crying to complain, and Damon, in a fit of anger, slapped me back. It was the first time I had ever been hit in my life, and to be treated this way by the man I loved, I couldn’t bear it. I immediately jumped into the water and hid. For three days and three nights, I didn’t show myself. It was after that incident that Damon never came to console me again, and he began to openly lavish Seraphina with his affection. Damon, prompted by Seraphina, clearly remembered that incident. He paused for a moment, as if recalling my very existence, then suddenly became enraged. “Hmph! I’ll go see if she knows her place now!” With that, Damon stormed towards the royal gardens. Servants were diligently guarding the area, and my pale body lay there. As soon as Damon arrived, he impatiently demanded, “Has Ariel acknowledged her mistake? Has she begged me to let her out?” Hearing Damon’s words, I scoffed internally. How was I supposed to acknowledge a mistake, or beg for mercy? Hadn’t I already done all that before I died? Was it any use? Moreover, what had I done wrong? Was I wrong for getting tired while dancing, or wrong for letting a fishy smell disgust Seraphina? None of it was true. These were just false accusations you, Damon, imposed on me to humiliate me and please Seraphina. My biggest mistake was loving you and believing your lies. The servant shook his head. “To answer Your Majesty, the Queen… she…” “Since she sank, she hasn’t surfaced. She hasn’t opened her eyes, nor moved an inch.” Damon’s expression froze. He took a few hurried steps to the water’s edge and looked down. My face was pale, and I lay quietly at the bottom. Because the water was moving, my clothes and hair also swayed. Coupled with the strong midday sun, it was hard to see clearly. It looked as though I was floating, occasionally making slight movements. Damon clearly misinterpreted this. “Hmph! What do you mean she hasn’t moved? She’s clearly faking her death!” “Since you like staying underwater, then stay there forever! Don’t ever come up again!” Hearing Damon’s words, I felt a burning hatred. Was it that I didn’t want to come up? I was killed by you, Damon! I could never surface again! Damon finished speaking and angrily turned to leave. It was then that I saw my body beginning to dissipate. The servant saw it too. He screamed in terror, “The Queen… The Queen… she’s gone!” Damon stopped dead in his tracks and ran back to the water’s edge, looking down. The bottom of the water was empty. My body was no longer there.

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When I was eight months pregnant, my husband, Liam, completely ignored my protests. He was dead set on having a baby with his childhood friend, Scarlett, who was supposedly terminally ill. He said it was to fulfill her dying wish to be a mother. I was so furious that my water broke. There was blood. I called Liam eighteen times, but he didn’t answer a single one. By the time I was rushed to the hospital, it was too late. I’d lost the baby. Then I scrolled through SnapChat and saw Scarlett’s pregnancy results plastered all over her story. Later, Liam said coldly, “It just wasn’t meant to be for that baby, Stella. Why are you taking it out on Scarlett? She’s sick. Once her baby is born, we can just have another one.” Everyone thought I was madly in love with my husband, certain I’d swallow my hurt as always. But this time, I signed the divorce papers without hesitation, bought a plane ticket, and left the country. I saw my ex-husband again two years later at a class reunion. The moment I walked into the private room, he shoved a two-year-old boy into my arms, a smug look on his face. “Stella, you’ve thrown a tantrum for two years now. Isn’t it time to cool off? Just apologize to me publicly, and I might even let Leo call you ‘Mom’!” Everyone around us snickered, whispering that I’d gotten a fantastic deal, becoming a mother without any of the pain. But I simply held up my left hand, flashing the wedding ring on my finger. “I already have a husband and a child of my own. I don’t need to be anyone’s second-hand mother!”

The room fell silent the instant I finished speaking. Everyone stared at me in shock, then burst out laughing. “Oh, come on, Stella. Everyone knows you were obsessed with Liam! When he had kidney failure, you gave him one of your own kidneys. Do you really think someone like you would just marry someone else?” “Seriously, can’t you at least draft your angry words before blurting them out?” A cold laugh bubbled up inside me as I listened to their gossip. I couldn’t blame them for being shocked. The old me truly did love Liam with all my heart. When he was diagnosed with kidney failure, I didn’t hesitate to donate a kidney to him. Even now, on rainy days, my left kidney still aches. I always gave him the sweetest part of the watermelon and, knowing he didn’t like the seeds in dragon fruit, I’d pick each tiny seed out with a toothpick. Because I loved him, I even tolerated him going on dates with Scarlett again and again. I tolerated him styling Scarlett’s hair and gently wiping her mouth right in front of me. As long as he came home and remembered he had a wife, I thought it was enough. Everyone knew I was a total simp for him, and they all instinctively assumed I was just lashing out. Coming back to my senses, Scarlett picked up a bottle of wine from the table and walked towards me, saying casually, “Stella, I know you’re still upset about what happened two years ago.” “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t been diagnosed with a terminal illness, Liam wouldn’t have tried to have a baby with me to fulfill my last wish. If not for that, you wouldn’t have been so upset that you hemorrhaged and lost your baby.” “Since everyone’s here today, I’ll punish myself with a bottle. Consider this my public apology!” She grabbed the bottle and gulped it down. The harsh liquor made her choke and cough violently. Liam couldn’t sit still. He handed Leo to a colleague, rushed forward, snatched the bottle, and said, his voice a mix of anger and concern, “Scarlett, are you crazy? How could you drink so much? Even if your condition has been stable these past few years, you’re still a patient!” After comforting Scarlett, Liam shot me a haughty glance, his voice cold. “Stella, you’ve been throwing a tantrum for two years. That’s enough!” “Scarlett and I only did IVF; we didn’t even *act* like a couple. Are you really going to be this petty about such a small thing for two whole years?” The others chimed in. “Stella is just too stubborn. She got to be a mom without any of the pain, what a steal!” “Liam has been looking for her all these years. She left for two years, and he looked for two years. It’s time to move on from the past.” So, abandoning me at eight months pregnant to go have a baby with Scarlett was just a “small thing” in Liam’s eyes? What surprised me, though, was that Liam had actually been looking for me? What for? Lost in thought, I heard Liam continue, talking to himself, “Alright, Stella. Leo needs someone to take care of him. Since you’re back, you can take care of him from now on. Even though Leo isn’t your biological child, you’re his nominal mother, you should be responsible for him.” I actually laughed. Liam wanted me to be his baby nurse? But I wasn’t the Stella he could manipulate so easily two years ago. The moment he abandoned me and our baby to go have a child with Scarlett, my heart turned cold. I left the country without a second thought. And I wasn’t just talking out of anger earlier; I really was married with a child. After leaving the country, I found a new job, and before long, I met my husband, Julian. He helped me through that dark period, and soon, we were married and had an adorable son. Thinking about Julian and Finn filled my heart with warmth. Coming back to reality, I refused him coldly. “No, thanks. I have my own child to take care of. As for your Leo, perhaps his biological mother should take care of him.” Hearing this, Scarlett’s eyes immediately welled up. “Stella, I know you resent me for causing you to lose your baby, so you don’t want to take care of my child.” “I want to raise Leo myself, but my body just won’t allow it… I trusted you, which is why I entrusted him to your care. Leo is such a good boy, he doesn’t cry or fuss, he won’t be much trouble. Please, I’m begging you, take pity on a mother like me and help me take care of Leo…” Scarlett made a show of trying to kneel. Liam quickly helped her up and comforted her. Then he turned, giving me a cold glance. “It’s an honor to take care of Leo. Don’t be ungrateful!” His gaze fell on my clothes, and Liam scoffed. “Stella, I guess you didn’t have it easy overseas these past two years, did you? You couldn’t even bother to wear something decent to a class reunion.” “If you take good care of Leo, I can give you ten thousand a month for pocket money. That’s way more than you’d earn from any job.” Scarlett, playing the hostess, chimed in, “That’s right. You take good care of Leo, and Liam and I won’t shortchange you. At least you won’t have to wear off-brand clothes if you stick with us.” That’s when everyone noticed my casual outfit. Immediately, sneers erupted. “How did Stella fall so low? She can’t even afford proper clothes!” “If she knew this would happen, why did she act so stubborn back then? I heard Liam’s company really took off after she left. If she hadn’t stormed off abroad, she’d be set for life now.” I just curled my lips into a cold smile. They had no idea. The clothes I was wearing weren’t off-brand at all. They were custom-made by a master designer, pure silk, each piece worth hundreds of thousands. Seeing me smile, Liam mistakenly thought I had agreed to take care of Leo. He pulled out his phone, ready to transfer the money. “Here’s ten thousand. Go buy some decent clothes later, so Leo doesn’t catch your poor vibe.” But as soon as he sent the message, a bright red exclamation mark popped up!

Liam’s brows furrowed, his face darkening. “Stella, you blocked me?!” I found it amusing. I’d blacklisted and deleted him two years ago. Was he only just realizing it now? Liam felt his face burning. He demanded I add him back immediately. But I said coldly, “He’s just an ex-husband. Why would I add him? Besides, my husband doesn’t let me add other men. He gets jealous.” Seeing me repeatedly refuse to give him face, Liam finally lost his temper . “Stella, have you had enough of this act? I’ve given you an out. If you insist on making a scene, then we’re divorcing!” In the past, Liam would often threaten me with divorce whenever he was displeased, forcing me to back down. He thought he could still control me as easily this time. But I just gave a cold laugh. “Liam, did you forget? We divorced two years ago.” The whole room went silent. Liam froze for a moment. “What are you talking about?” Then, as if a thought struck him, he sneered, “I know! This is your game of push and pull, isn’t it? Two years apart, and you’ve certainly gotten a lot more cunning!” I rolled my eyes, speechless. “Liam, didn’t you see the letter I left you two years ago?” Liam looked confused. “What letter?” Before I left the country, I’d left a letter for Liam. Inside the envelope weren’t just my wedding ring, but also a signed divorce agreement. That divorce agreement was one I’d made him sign the day he ignored my pleas and insisted on having a child with Scarlett. He’d always been dismissive of me, signing it without even looking. He probably hadn’t bothered to properly check the contents of the envelope two years ago. That’s why he didn’t know we were already divorced, thinking I was just throwing a tantrum. Thinking about it, I sneered, then pulled out the duplicate copy of the divorce agreement from that year and shoved it in Liam’s face. “Liam, the letter I wrote you back then contained the signed divorce agreement. I had two copies, and this is the other one. Take a good look. We’re already divorced.” Liam’s face grew even darker. He was about to say the divorce agreement was fake, but when he saw his own signature clearly on it, he froze. “How can this be? I clearly never signed—” “No, you did sign it. Remember the papers I handed you the day you moved out?” At my reminder, Liam finally realized, belatedly, that what I’d made him sign that day was the divorce agreement. His face turned ashen. Everyone else was surprised too. “Stella actually filed for divorce? Did her love-addicted brain finally wake up?” “If they’re divorced, why is she back? I bet she still can’t let Liam go.” Hearing this, Liam raised his chin, confidently believing I still had feelings for him. Little did he know, my return to the country was primarily to accompany my husband and son. Julian happened to be coming back for a business gala, and Finn wanted to take advantage of the spring break to visit a water park here Right after arriving, I received the reunion invitation and just decided to drop by. I was about to shatter Liam’s fantasy when his phone rang. It was his assistant. “Mr. Hayes, we just got word that Mr. Thorne from Thorne Industries is bringing his wife and child back to the country. They’ll also be attending tonight’s business gala. The Chairman wants us to add an extra seat and treat them exceptionally well.” “The Chairman specifically told us to treat Mr. Thorne’s wife especially well. After all, Mr. Thorne is known for doting on his wife. As long as we keep her happy, we won’t have to worry about future collaborations.” Only then did I realize Liam’s company was hosting this business gala. After Liam hung up, everyone rushed to flatter him. “Liam, Thorne Industries is a giant in the industry! Your company can actually collaborate with Thorne Industries? Your future is limitless!” “I heard all the big shots in the business world will be at this gala. Can you help us old classmates make some connections?” Liam shot me a triumphant glance, speaking condescendingly. “Stella, do you regret stubbornly divorcing me now?” “If you agree to take care of Leo, I might consider remarrying you…” I scoffed internally. Thorne Industries was my husband’s company, and I was the very wife they wanted to impress. Before Liam could finish, I cut him off coldly, “Thorne Industries wouldn’t even *look* at your company.” Beside him, Scarlett, who had been silent for a while, shot me a disdainful look. “How would *you* know?” I enunciated each word clearly: “Because, I *am* Mr. Thorne’s wife.” As soon as I said that, everyone thought I’d gone mad. They looked at me like I was an idiot. Scarlett even let out a scoffing laugh. “If you’re Mr. Thorne’s wife, then I’m Mr. Thorne’s mother!” “Everyone knows Mr. Thorne dotes on his wife. He once spent hundreds of millions on a pink diamond bracelet that lit up the headlines for her! Mr. Thorne’s wife is incredibly precious, worth hundreds of millions. How could a nobody like you impersonate her?” “Look at yourself, what about you even remotely resembles Mr. Thorne’s wife?” But I slowly rolled up my sleeve, revealing the pink diamond bracelet on my wrist. “Are you talking about *this* bracelet?”

Everyone was stunned. “The news about Mr. Thorne lighting up the sky for that bracelet was everywhere! That bracelet looks just like the one Stella is wearing!” “So… Stella really is Mr. Thorne’s wife?” Scarlett froze when she saw the bracelet on my wrist. A flicker of jealousy and malice flashed in her eyes. The next second, she unexpectedly snatched my watch, saying in a snide, passive-aggressive tone, “Stella, how dare you try to fool people with a fake watch! How could you impersonate Mr. Thorne’s wife?” “Don’t get me wrong, this fake is pretty good, but a fake is still a fake, it can never be real.” “Liam is about to collaborate with Mr. Thorne. Are you trying to ruin Liam by impersonating Mr. Thorne’s wife at a time like this?” I glared at her coldly. “Who told you this watch is fake? This watch is genuine, now give it back!” But Scarlett refused to return it, even deliberately tucking the watch into her clothes. I stepped forward, trying to snatch it back, but she stumbled backward, collapsing to the ground, her eyes red as she looked at me. “Stella, I can’t believe you hate me so much. Not only did you deliberately push me, but to target me, you’re dragging Liam down with you. Fine, I’ll take Leo and leave, so I don’t bother you anymore…” Scarlett cried and made a scene, threatening to leave. Two years, and she was still pulling the same tricks. And Liam, as always, fell for it. This time too, he protected her, yelling at me. “That’s enough, Stella! Scarlett is a patient, are you trying to kill her?! You’re the one who was in the wrong first, impersonating Mr. Thorne’s wife! Are you trying to ruin our company’s collaboration? Two years apart, and you’ve become so malicious!” Meeting Scarlett’s defiant gaze, I scoffed inwardly. She wasn’t sick at all. Her terminal illness was fake, and her medical records were forged. I had told Liam this before, but he didn’t believe me, accusing me of making baseless accusations instead. Even now, he still didn’t believe me. I was too lazy to argue, assuming Liam would continue to harass me as he had in the past. But he sighed helplessly instead. “Fine, I see Scarlett likes this watch. Just give it to her as an apology. Let’s drop this, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything that just happened.” That watch was a special gift from Julian. Was he seriously expecting me to just give it away? No way. I snatched the watch back, saying coldly, “This is a gift from my husband. You have no right to touch it!” The sharp diamond edge cut Liam’s finger. Seeing me refuse to back down, he pursed his lips tightly. “Stella, it’s just a cheap bracelet. If I wasn’t trying to give you an out, do you really think we’d even care?” “Scarlett, it’s just a watch, right? I’ll buy you an even more expensive and better one. Let *some people* regret it!” I couldn’t be bothered to argue further and turned to leave the room. Afterward, I went back to the hotel where I was staying to rest. In the evening, I quickly got ready and headed to the business gala. Before I left, Julian sent me a message, telling me that the water park show had just ended, and he was bringing Finn over. He told me to go in first and wait for them. Knowing my husband and son loved cake, I took a plate with a small slice of cake, planning to find a seat and wait for them. The moment I turned, I ran into Liam and Scarlett, both dressed to the nines. Seeing it was me, Liam’s eyes flashed with disdain. “What are *you* doing here? What, did you come here specifically to get back together with me?” “You were so tough earlier, but now you look pathetic!” Seeing the cake in my hand, Scarlett scoffed mockingly, “Stella, could you be a server here? I heard the servers here only make four thousand. That’s not even as fast as taking care of our Leo!” Liam’s face was full of arrogance. “Stella, if you beg me, I might, for old times’ sake, make an exception and let you take care of Leo.” I replied calmly, “Don’t misunderstand. I’m not a server. I’m here waiting for my husband and child.” Scarlett, however, looked like she’d heard the funniest joke. “Stella, Mr. Thorne is the only one bringing his child to this gala today. You’re not still going to claim you’re Mr. Thorne’s wife, are you?” “I am, actually.” Hearing me say this, Scarlett crossed her arms and sneered. “Stella, you’re addicted to lying! How dare you talk nonsense and claim such connections at such an important event, and still wear that fake watch!” “If Mr. Thorne and his wife found out, we’d all be in deep trouble!” Before I could react, Scarlett rushed forward, snatched the bracelet from my wrist, and smashed it fiercely onto the ground. The sharp diamond cut a gash on my wrist, drawing crimson blood. Before I could even cry out in pain, Scarlett shoved me to the ground, then grabbed a nearby cake plate and threw it at my face, snarling, “I’ll teach you a lesson for trying to impersonate Mr. Thorne’s wife!” Cake smeared all over my face. The sticky cream clogged my nostrils, nearly suffocating me. I reached up to wipe the cream away, but Scarlett pressed her sharp stiletto heel down hard on my hand, grinding it repeatedly. Excruciating pain shot through my entire body; I could almost hear my bones cracking. When the people in the hall realized I was an imposter, they all laughed at my misfortune. Liam simply watched, his expression cold. Just then, someone in the crowd shouted, “Mr. Thorne is here!” Everyone immediately looked towards the entrance. I waved my arms wildly, trying to get Julian’s attention. But Liam grabbed my hand, whispering, “Stella, behave! I know you came here specifically because you’re jealous.” “As long as you don’t make a scene, I can consider remarrying you after the gala, and we can even have another child…” He tried to pull me up, but I snatched my hand back in disgust. Julian had noticed me. He walked towards me, holding Finn, his voice dangerously cold. “What’s going on?” Scarlett’s face was full of flattery. “Mr. Thorne, this woman is an imposter trying to pretend to be your wife! I’ve already taught her a good lesson for you!” Liam chimed in, “That’s right, Mr. Thorne, you don’t need to bother with someone like her.” The next second, Finn let go of Julian’s hand and ran towards me, tears streaming down his face. “Mommy, why is your face covered in cream, and your hand, it’s bleeding…” Suddenly, everyone present was stunned. “What? Did I hear that right? Mr. Thorne’s son just called that imposter ‘Mommy’?” “So… that means the person on the ground isn’t an imposter, but the real deal?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296935”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

After I donated a kidney for the man my girlfriend adored, Savannah, who had been giving me the silent treatment for a month, finally agreed to reconcile. She even set up a dinner party, calling it a “reward” for me. Her best friend, Kinsley, chuckled, “Savannah, you really know how to handle him. Caleb listens to you, and he’s completely devoted. Are you really going to throw away such a sweet guy and marry Ryder instead?” Savannah scoffed, a disdainful smirk playing on her lips. “He’s nothing but a stand-in. The only reason I haven’t gotten tired of him after all these years is that he’s a dead ringer for Ryder.” Their eyes met, a shared understanding passing between them. “Well, then, why not have Caleb be the best man at your wedding? That way, all his eight years with you won’t have been for nothing.” But Savannah just let out a cold laugh. “What a joke! Who is he to stand next to Ryder?” She paused, then added, “This dinner party is just a pat on the back for helping Ryder out. Consider it a consolation prize for all his years chasing after me.” I had just reached the door and heard every word. Pushing the door open calmly, I didn’t retort. She had no idea that today was the last day I’d be her stand-in. Tomorrow, my one true love would be back.

As soon as I stepped inside, everyone’s eyes converged on me, their expressions uniformly sneering. I took it all in, pretending to be oblivious as I handed Savannah the dessert she’d specifically requested. The next second, her face darkened, and her words sent the room’s atmosphere plummeting to freezing point: “Caleb, the ice cream’s completely melted. You just brought it to me? Are you trying to deliberately gross me out?” Before her words even faded, the dessert—which I’d waited an hour in line for and driven two miles to get—was violently slammed into the trash can. I glanced down. The ice cream was barely starting to melt, it wouldn’t have affected the taste at all. Kinsley, Savannah’s best friend, saw this and handed me a drink, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “You’re not taking our Savannah seriously enough. Why don’t you chug three drinks as an apology to show your sincerity?” Everyone else chimed in, their faces twisted with mocking amusement. I touched the bandage wrapped around my lower back, hesitated for a moment, then took the glass and drained it. As soon as I set the glass down, Kinsley pushed another full one into my hand. My brows immediately furrowed. I didn’t take it. That first glass had already pushed me to my physical limit. Any more, and I’d be in trouble. I looked at Savannah, hoping she’d say something for me. But she just watched, her face cold, not lifting a finger to explain. Kinsley saw my hesitation and sneered, “Savannah, looks like your boyfriend isn’t all that devoted after all. Just two drinks, and he’s being so wishy-washy.” Savannah’s gaze hardened with displeasure. She stepped forward and slapped me across the face. “Caleb, what’s your problem today? You’re usually such a heavy drinker!” She yelled. “And here I was, being nice enough to throw this party to reward you, and this is how you treat me? You won’t even drink three glasses for me!” I turned my head, my eyes darkening. I had thought that after giving a kidney, she would change her usual bossy attitude towards me. But no, she only got worse. She completely forgot that I couldn’t drink alcohol right now. I met her gaze and kindly reminded her, “Savannah, my kidney surgery hasn’t fully healed. Don’t you know I can’t drink?” Her eyes flickered with a hint of surprise, but it quickly vanished in the dim light of the room. Then she said carelessly, “Can’t drink after a kidney transplant? Do you think everyone in this room is stupid?! If you want to get out of drinking, at least come up with a better excuse.” Kinsley, standing nearby, chimed in mockingly, “Exactly! I see everyone else drinking just fine. Why can’t you? Or are you just deliberately refusing? This whole table of drinks is Savannah’s sincerity to you.” She gestured to the table, which was now filled with precisely 99 glasses of alcohol. Seeing the cold indifference on her face, no trace of concern for me, I immediately decided to turn and leave. But Savannah’s circle of friends wasn’t about to let me off so easily. They called people over to hold me down and forcefully poured the alcohol down my throat. The strong liquor seared my lungs, tearing at my chest with agonizing pain. I desperately looked to Savannah for help, but she just watched, a cold, distant spectator, as if I were a stranger. Just when I thought I was going to collapse right then and there, Savannah, who had been like a statue, finally moved. The next second, she walked over and yanked the glass from the hand of the person pouring it into my mouth. I thought she’d finally grown a conscience, that she was going to stop this absurd charade. But then she said coldly, “Hold on. Ryder’s calling.” The moment she answered the phone, her voice shifted, suddenly soft and tender, as if she were a completely different person. “Okay, I’m heading out to get you that dessert now. Wait for me.” A wave of dizziness washed over me, and my consciousness began to fade. Just as Savannah hung up, I collapsed directly in front of her. Everyone else panicked. Savannah frowned, glanced at me, then at the two-thirds of the untouched alcohol on the table, and said with utter disdain, “Don’t bother with him. He’s just faking it, trying to get out of drinking.” “I still need to get Ryder his dessert. I’m leaving.” Savannah walked away without a backward glance. Kinsley then kicked me twice. Seeing no reaction, she finally realized something was seriously wrong and panicked, running off. The others, seeing this, also found excuses to slip away. I was left abandoned in the private room. It was the cleaning lady who eventually called 911. When I woke up, a message popped up on my phone.

It was from Ryder. I opened it. It was a photo of him and Savannah with their marriage certificate. My fingers clenched, staring blankly at the photo until the screen went dark. All these years Savannah and I had been together, for various reasons, we’d unspokenly avoided talking about marriage. We’d fallen in love at first sight, our relationship quickly heated up, and in our respective friend circles, we were considered a “model couple.” We hiked together, camped together, even traveled together. We did everything a normal couple would do. I thought I would be this happy for the rest of my life. But I never imagined those days would end so quickly. I started noticing her requests getting stranger, but I indulged her, letting her have her way, not thinking much of it. At first, she just wanted to control my outfits I thought she just found me unfashionable, so I let it go. But then, she started directly controlling my preferences, restricting my behavior, even hiring a private tutor for me. That’s when I became suspicious. A little digging, and I found out about Ryder’s existence. It was then I understood: everything she had done for me before was actually for Ryder. From that moment on, I could often feel her looking through my eyes at someone else. For eight years, neither of us ever acknowledged this unspoken truth. Until Ryder returned to the country. Once he knew about me, he went all out to impress Savannah, repeatedly mocking me as nothing more than his stand-in . I’d lost count of how many photos like this one I’d received today. Savannah pushed the door open, pinching her nose, a thermal container in her hand. Her tone was disdainful. “I thought you were dead. Didn’t expect you to have such nine lives.” She saw my gaze land on the container in her hand and said coldly, “I spent all afternoon making this chicken soup for Ryder. It’s not for you. Besides, you’re awake now, so you don’t need it anyway.” She paused, her eyes darkening, then forced a sweet smile. “Since you’re fine, then the cake for Ryder’s birthday tomorrow is on you. Don’t you dare disappoint me again.” Without waiting for my answer, she walked out, carrying the container. She had always been like this with me. I had grown used to it over the years. Earlier, to make me more like Ryder, she had hired a private pastry chef to teach me, and I’d picked up a few tricks. But none of the desserts I’d painstakingly made for her had ever satisfied her. She even took a cake I’d spent a whole day on and fed it to a dog. She’d cast a cold glance at the messy aftermath and declared shamelessly, “Caleb, you’re so utterly useless. You can’t even do such a simple thing right. You truly can’t even hold a candle to Ryder.” Thinking of this, I called out to her, “Don’t you usually hate my cakes?” She turned to look at me, her tone impatient. “If Ryder hadn’t specifically asked you to make it, do you think you’d even have this chance?” True. If it weren’t for Ryder, she’d probably make it herself, or at least order a custom one. It would never be my turn. Before I could reply, she slammed the door shut. Smelling the lingering chicken soup aroma that didn’t belong in my hospital room, I remembered Ryder’s room was directly above mine. Just one floor separated us. He was in a luxurious VIP suite, complete with full amenities and a dedicated nutritionist for his recovery meals. He certainly didn’t lack the bowl of chicken soup Savannah held. As for me, the stand-in, ever since I was wheeled out of surgery, Savannah had originally planned to leave me to recover on a gurney in the hallway. It was only after my surgeon strongly insisted, and her own impatience grew, that she reluctantly got me the cheapest, smallest room, barely a yard from the restroom. The strong odor constantly drifted in, irritating me. Just then, a nurse pushed the door open, her voice cold. “Room 12, Caleb? Someone’s processed your discharge. Get ready to leave quickly. Someone will be here to clean and disinfect in half an hour.” I froze, looking up at the IV bag that wasn’t even empty. I hadn’t expected Savannah to act so fast, not even waiting for an afternoon. I ripped the IV needle from my hand, forcing down the discomfort in my body, and quickly packed up, preparing to leave the hospital. As soon as I stepped out of the hospital, I received a frantic message from Savannah: “Go to the bakery immediately. I’ve already had them prepare all the ingredients for the cake. Text me when you’re done.” I stopped, read the message, then tapped the screen, calmly deleting it from my phone. This cake, consider it my wedding gift to them. I had just hung up from calling the artisanal bakery when a SnapChat message popped up. I assumed it was Ryder again, gloating about something Savannah had done for him, and was about to block him. The next second, I saw another message pop up in my SnapChat favorites: “I land tonight. Free to pick me up?” Seeing the familiar tone, I felt a little stunned. I pinched myself hard, thinking I was hallucinating. I only had two people favorited on SnapChat: Savannah, and my one true love from my youth. In the eight years I’d been with Savannah, she never spoke to me with such patience. In my memory, only *she* would talk like that. But hadn’t she said she was moving abroad permanently and would never return? If she hadn’t made that decision back then, we wouldn’t be in this situation now. After all, I had confessed my feelings to her years ago. I stared at the message for a long time, calming my emotions before silently replying, “Okay.”

Putting down my phone, I turned, flowers in hand, and headed straight for the airport, completely forgetting about Savannah’s instructions. It wasn’t until late that night, when Savannah hadn’t received the cake I was supposed to make, ruining the elaborate birthday party she’d planned for Ryder, that she laid all the blame on me. She stormed in, Ryder following behind her. She kicked the door open, screaming, “Caleb, how many times is this?! What kind of stunt are you pulling now?! Where’s the cake I told you to make?!” I glanced at the rattling door, answering blandly, “Forgot.” Savannah immediately blew up. The thought of Ryder being openly ridiculed because I hadn’t shown up with the cake enraged her. She lunged forward, slapping me twice, and snarled, “Do you have any idea that because of you, Ryder was utterly humiliated in front of everyone?! People were pointing and whispering about him! And he was even worried about you, telling me not to get mad at you!” “Ryder is such a good person, why would you do this to him?!” “I’m giving you half an hour! You have to make a cake to apologize within that time, or I’m not done with you!” With that, she slammed the door and left. Watching her resolute back, I realized that she’d never been this invested, not even for my own birthdays. Not only did I never get the special treatment a birthday person deserved, but I had to make *her* a cake, and if it wasn’t to her liking, I’d have to stand all night as punishment. Thinking of this, I let out a bitter laugh. As I stepped out of my room, I saw her sitting in the living room, carefully peeling an orange for Ryder, meticulously removing all the white pith before handing it to him. Ryder saw me but didn’t make a sound. Instead, he smugly took the orange from Savannah and ate it. “Savannah, let’s set our wedding for three days from now, okay?” Ryder asked, his eyes gleaming triumphantly at me, though his voice was tender as he spoke to Savannah. Savannah had her back to me, but her voice was doting. “Of course, darling. Whatever you say.” Hearing that, he smiled even more triumphantly, then asked again: “How about inviting Caleb to our wedding, too?” This time, Savannah didn’t answer directly. Ryder saw the hesitation on her face and immediately acted hurt. “I just want his blessing. That way, our wedding will be even more perfect. Didn’t you always say you wanted to give me a perfect wedding?” Savannah was silent after hearing this. Then, as if remembering something, she nodded in agreement. Ryder smirked, looking at me. “Caleb, did you hear that? Savannah and I are cordially inviting you to our wedding.” Then Savannah turned back, her face cold. Seeing me, her eyes seemed to falter for a moment before she said with disdain, “Since you heard it, I won’t repeat myself. Be there on time, don’t make us a laughingstock again.” My hand clenched. I met Savannah’s indifferent gaze. My eight years of devotion, and in the end, I didn’t even get a proper breakup. I scoffed at myself, then nodded in agreement. On the wedding day, I showed up in full formal wear. The moment the couple emerged, they were the center of attention. Guests showered them with compliments, calling them a match made in heaven, not holding back on their praises. Savannah accepted it all with a beaming smile, but when her eyes landed on me, the smile instantly vanished. Savannah’s face soured. She frowned and chastised me, “Caleb, are you trying to steal Ryder’s thunder dressed like that? Don’t forget, today is Ryder’s and my wedding. Ryder is the groom today!” “If I’d known this, I never should have agreed to let you come! I thought you’d know your place, but I never imagined you’d stoop so low just to cause trouble!” At her words, the surrounding guests began to whisper. Those who didn’t know me accused me of being shameless; those who did threatened to kick me out. Ryder, on the other hand, didn’t seem annoyed. He even spoke up for me, sounding understanding. “Savannah, if he wants to be my best man, then let’s humor him. It’s a way of thanking him for taking care of you all these years. And it wouldn’t be a waste of that outfit he’s wearing today.” Ryder looked at me with a challenging glint in his eyes. Savannah frowned, about to retort, but then heard the continued whispers around them and relented. She checked the time, clearly reluctant. “Then hurry up and get ready. Is this where you’re supposed to be standing?!” A staff member came over, ready to escort me away, but before I’d taken two steps, Ryder’s voice stopped them. “Wait. His outfit is actually perfect. How about we have him bring us the wedding rings in a bit?” My body stiffened at his words. Deliver the rings. That was the flower girl’s job. He wanted me to watch them exchange vows, to watch Savannah marry him, with my own eyes? I looked at Savannah. She didn’t speak, implying her silent consent. The ceremony began quickly. Watching Savannah shed tears on stage, moved by Ryder’s words, I couldn’t help but sneer. The stage was set. It was time for the real show to begin. Savannah, let’s see how long you can keep that smile. The next second, the officiant excitedly announced, “Now, let’s give a round of applause for our special guest who will be presenting the rings to the happy couple…” A thunderous applause erupted. The couple on stage smiled, waiting for me to bring them their rings. I hooked a smile on my face, took the ring box from the staff member, and slowly walked forward. Whispers filled my ears, but my feet moved step by step, *away* from the altar. A moment later, I turned and knelt on one knee in front of a slender, unfamiliar woman. The entire hall erupted in gasps. Savannah’s face went deathly pale as she recognized me, then contorted in a furious scream. “Caleb, do you even know what you’re doing?!” “Of course, I’m proposing. Are you blind? Can’t you tell?” I sneered, utterly dismissive. Savannah’s face changed drastically. She grabbed her wedding dress with both hands and strode towards me, seething.

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My wife, three months pregnant, aborted our child against my will to make room for her childhood friend’s baby because he was terminally ill. Afterward, she calmly stated, “Ryan doesn’t have much time left. Why would you argue with a dying man? I promise you, once I give birth to Ryan’s baby, we can have another one of our own.” Everyone thought I was head-over-heels in love with her, convinced I wouldn’t refuse and would eagerly play the pathetic step-dad. But this time, I decisively signed the divorce papers and bought a plane ticket abroad the very next day. I saw my ex-wife again two years later at a class reunion. The moment she stepped into the private room, she shoved her two-year-old child into my arms, a haughty look on her face. “Liam, you’ve been throwing a tantrum for two years. Isn’t it time you cooled down? If you apologize to me publicly, I might give you a chance to take care of us, mother and son!” Everyone stifled their giggles, whispering that I had gotten a good deal, a two-for-one. But I simply flashed the wedding ring on my left hand. “No thanks. I already have my own wife and child. No need to be a pathetic chump!”

The moment I finished speaking, everyone in the private room froze, their shocked gazes fixed on me, before bursting into laughter. “Oh, come on, Liam! Who doesn’t know you love Serena more than life itself? When Serena had end-stage kidney disease back then, you gave her one of your kidneys. Do you really expect us to believe you’d marry someone else?” “Exactly! Can you at least get your story straight before you spout nonsense? Who’d believe such rubbish?” I smirked inwardly, ignoring their chatter. It was no wonder they were shocked. I *had* been madly in love with Serena. After her kidney disease diagnosis, I didn’t hesitate to donate a kidney to her. To this day, my left kidney still aches faintly on rainy days. I always gave her the sweetest part of the watermelon. Knowing she hated dragon fruit seeds, I’d painstakingly pick each one out with a toothpick. Because I loved her, I even tolerated her going on dates with her childhood friend, Ryan, again and again. I tolerated her tying Ryan’s tie and gently wiping his mouth right in front of me. As long as she came home and remembered she had a husband, I was content. Everyone knew I was a complete fool in love, beyond saving, and they instinctively assumed I was just spouting angry words earlier. As they collected themselves, Ryan, who had been silent, picked up a bottle of wine from the table and approached me, saying casually, “Liam, I know you’re still mad about what happened two years ago.” “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t been diagnosed with a terminal illness, Serena wouldn’t have aborted your child to give me an heir.” “Since everyone’s here today, I’ll drink this bottle as an apology to you!” He chugged the bottle, the burning liquor making him cough uncontrollably. Serena immediately jumped up, handed her child to a nearby colleague, snatched the bottle, and said, both angry and heartbroken, “Ryan, are you crazy, drinking so much? Even though your condition has been controlled these past few years, you’re still a sick man!” After comforting Ryan, Serena gave me a haughty look and said coldly, “Liam, you’ve been throwing a tantrum for two years. That’s enough!” “Ryan and I just did IVF; there was no physical intimacy. Why are you still holding a grudge over such a minor thing?” Everyone started murmuring. “Liam is so stubborn. It’s a two-for-one deal; he actually came out ahead!” “And Serena has been looking for him all these years. He left for two years, and she searched for two years. It’s time to move on from the past.” So, aborting our child to have a baby for Ryan was just a “minor thing” in Serena’s eyes? What surprised me, though, was that Serena had actually been looking for me? What for? Lost in thought, I heard Serena continue, “Alright, Liam, little Leo needs someone to take care of him. Since you’re back, you can take care of him from now on. Even though Leo isn’t your biological child, you’re his nominal father, so you should be responsible for him.” I scoffed. Two years hadn’t changed a thing. Serena was still arrogant, giving me orders as if it were her right. But I was no longer the Liam she could manipulate so easily. My heart had turned to stone the moment Serena aborted our child two years ago, and I had left the country decisively. And what I’d said earlier wasn’t just angry words; I genuinely had gotten married and had a child. After moving abroad, I found a new job, and before long, I met my wife, Victoria. She was there for me through those dark times. We got married soon after and had a beautiful daughter. Just thinking about my wife and daughter filled me with warmth. Snapping back to reality, I coldly refused, “No thanks. I have my own child to take care of. As for your little Leo, let his biological father do it.” Hearing this, Ryan’s eyes immediately reddened. “Liam, I know you resent me for causing your child to be aborted, which is why you refuse to take care of my child.” “I want to raise Leo myself, but my body won’t allow it…” “It’s because I trust you that I’m entrusting Leo to your care. He’s a very well-behaved child, doesn’t cry or fuss, and won’t be much trouble. Please, I’m begging you, take pity on me, a father, and take care of Leo…” Ryan made a show of falling to his knees. Serena quickly helped him up and comforted him. Then, she turned and gave me a cold glance. “So many people beg to take care of Leo, and I refuse them all. It’s an honor for you to care for him, don’t be ungrateful!” Her gaze fell on my clothes, and Serena scoffed. “Liam, you must not have had it easy these past two years abroad, huh? You can’t even wear decent clothes to a class reunion.” “It’s about time you stopped being so picky. If you take good care of Leo, I can give you ten thousand a month for pocket money. That’s way more than you’d earn working odd jobs.” Ryan also chimed in, sounding like the man of the house, “Yeah, if you take good care of Leo, Serena and I won’t treat you badly. With us, you won’t have to wear cheap, off-brand clothes.” It was then that everyone noticed my casual outfit. Immediately, sneering remarks filled the room. “How did Liam fall so far? He can’t even afford decent clothes!” “If only he’d known this would happen. I heard Serena’s company took off right after he left. If he hadn’t stubbornly gone abroad, he’d be living a comfortable life now.” I just curled my lips into a cold smile. They had no idea. The clothes I was wearing weren’t off-brand; they were custom-designed silk, each piece costing hundreds of thousands. Seeing me smile, Serena mistakenly thought I was agreeing to take care of Leo. She pulled out her phone, ready to transfer money to me. “I’ll transfer ten thousand. Go buy some good clothes later, so you don’t rub your poverty on our little Leo.” But to her surprise, the message she sent was immediately met with a glaring red exclamation mark!

Serena’s eyes widened. “Liam, you blocked me?!” I found it amusing. I’d blocked and deleted her two years ago. Was she just finding out now? Serena’s face flushed with embarrassment, and she demanded that I add her back immediately. But I said coldly, “Just an ex-wife. What’s there to add?” “Besides, my wife doesn’t let me add other women. She gets jealous.” Seeing me repeatedly refuse to give her face, Serena’s anger flared. “Liam, are you done with your act? I’ve given you a way out. If you insist on being stubborn, then we’ll divorce!” In the past, Serena would always threaten me with divorce whenever she was displeased, forcing me to yield. She thought she could still manipulate me as easily as before. But I just smirked coldly. “Serena, did you forget? We already divorced two years ago.” At my words, the entire room fell silent. Serena was stunned for a moment. “Divorced? When did we get divorced?” Then, as if something clicked, she sneered, “I get it! This is your little game, isn’t it? Playing hard to get? Two years apart, and you’ve certainly gotten more cunning!” I rolled my eyes in exasperation. “Serena, didn’t you see the letter I left two years ago?” Serena looked confused. “What letter?” Before I left the country, I had left Serena a letter. Inside the envelope, along with the wedding ring I’d taken off, was a signed divorce agreement. I had made her sign that divorce agreement on the day she insisted on aborting our child, despite my pleas. She was always dismissive of me; she hadn’t even looked at it before signing. She probably hadn’t even bothered to properly read the contents of the envelope two years ago. That’s why she didn’t know we were already divorced, thinking I was just throwing a tantrum. Thinking of this, I scoffed, and with a flourish, pulled out my duplicate copy of the divorce agreement from that year, thrusting it in front of Serena. “Serena, the letter I wrote you back then contained a signed divorce agreement. I made two copies, and this is the other one. Look closely, we’re already divorced.” Serena’s beautiful eyes widened. She was about to say the divorce agreement was forged, but when she saw her own signature clearly on it, she froze. “This is really my handwriting? How? I never signed…” “No, you did. Remember the document I handed you on the day you scheduled your D&C procedure?” My reminder made Serena realize belatedly that the document I’d made her sign that day was the divorce agreement. Her face turned ashen. Everyone else was surprised too. “Liam actually initiated the divorce? Has his ‘love-struck’ spell finally broken?” “If they’re divorced, why is he back? I bet he still can’t let Serena go.” Hearing this, Serena lifted her chin, confidently believing I still had feelings for her. Little did she know, my return to the country was primarily to accompany my wife and daughter. Victoria was attending a business gala back home, and our daughter wanted to visit Wonderland Theme Park during the spring break. I’d just arrived when I received the class reunion invitation, so I decided to drop by. I was about to shatter Serena’s illusion when her phone rang. It was her assistant. “Ms. Smith, we just got word that Ms. Stone, CEO of Stone Group, is back in the country with her husband and child, and they’ll be attending the business gala tonight. The chairman wants us to add an extra seat and treat them exceptionally well.” “The chairman specifically emphasized treating Ms. Stone’s husband well, as Ms. Stone is fiercely protective of him. If we can win over her husband, future collaborations are guaranteed.” Only then did I realize that Serena’s company was hosting this business gala. After Serena hung up, everyone started showering her with flattery. “Serena, Stone Group is a powerhouse! Your company landing a partnership with them means a brilliant future!” “I heard all the big shots in the business world will be at this gala. Can you help us old classmates make some connections?” Serena’s eyes gleamed with triumph as she glanced at me, speaking condescendingly, “Liam, are you regretting stubbornly divorcing me now?” “If you agree to take care of Leo, I might consider remarrying you…” I scoffed inwardly. Stone Group was my wife’s company, and I was the very husband they were so desperate to impress. Before Serena could finish, I coldly interrupted, “Stone Group wouldn’t even *look* at your company.” Beside her, Ryan, who had been silent for a long time, gave me a disdainful look. “How would *you* know?” I articulated each word clearly: “Because, I *am* Ms. Stone’s husband.” At my words, everyone looked at me as if I’d lost my mind, like I was an idiot. Ryan even burst out laughing. “If you’re Ms. Stone’s husband, then I’m Ms. Stone’s father!” “Who doesn’t know Ms. Stone dotes on her husband? She once made headlines by splurging hundreds of millions on a watch for him! Ms. Stone’s husband is a priceless man, worth hundreds of millions. How could a low-life like you impersonate him?” “Look at yourself! What part of you screams ‘Ms. Stone’s husband’?” But I unhurriedly rolled up my sleeve, revealing a large, diamond-encrusted gold watch on my wrist. “Are you talking about *this* watch?”

Everyone was utterly shocked. “The news about Ms. Stone buying a watch and making headlines… it looks just like the one Liam is wearing!” “So… Liam really is Ms. Stone’s husband?” Ryan’s eyes widened when he saw the watch on my wrist, a flicker of envy and malice crossing his face. The next second, he swiftly yanked the watch off my wrist when I wasn’t looking, sneering, “Liam, how dare you try to fool us with a fake watch! How could someone like you impersonate Ms. Stone’s husband?” “Not gonna lie, this knockoff is pretty convincing. Too bad a fake is always a fake; it’ll never be real.” “Serena is about to partner with Ms. Stone, and you’re impersonating her husband right now? Are you trying to ruin Serena?” I glared at him coldly. “Who told you this watch is fake? It’s the real deal, now give it back!” But Ryan refused, deliberately stuffing the watch into his pocket. I lunged to retrieve it, but he stumbled backward and collapsed onto the floor, his eyes red as he looked at me. “Liam, I can’t believe you hate me so much. Not only did you deliberately push me, but you’re also dragging Serena into this just to get back at me. Fine, I’ll take Leo and leave, so we don’t bother you anymore…” Ryan continued to whine and threatened to leave. Two years, and he was still pulling the same stunts. And Serena, as always, fell for it. This time, she also protected him, just as usual, yelling at me. “That’s enough, Liam! Ryan is a sick man; are you trying to kill him?” “You’re the one in the wrong here. Impersonating Ms. Stone’s husband, are you trying to ruin our company’s partnership? Two years apart, and you’ve become so malicious!” Meeting Ryan’s provocative gaze, I smirked inwardly. He wasn’t sick at all. His terminal illness was faked, and his medical records were forged. I had told Serena before, but she wouldn’t believe me, accusing me of slander instead. Even now, she still didn’t believe me. I couldn’t be bothered to argue, expecting Serena to continue her tirade as she always did. But instead, she sighed helplessly. “Alright, Ryan seems to like this watch, so just give it to him as an apology.” “Let’s just drop this whole thing. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything.” That watch was a special gift from Victoria. Let me just hand it over? No way. I snatched the watch back, saying coldly, “This is a gift from my wife. You have no right to touch it!” The sharp watch strap cut Serena’s finger. Seeing me refuse to back down, Serena’s face darkened. “Liam, it’s just a cheap watch. If it wasn’t to give you a way out, do you really think we’d want it?” “Ryan, it’s just a watch, right? I’ll buy you an even more expensive and better one. Let *someone* regret it!” I ignored them, turning to leave the private room. Afterward, I returned to the hotel where I was staying. That evening, I freshened up and headed to the business gala. Before leaving, Victoria sent me a message, letting me know that Wonderland Theme Park’s show had just ended, and she was bringing our daughter over. She told me to go ahead and wait for them. Knowing my wife and daughter loved cake, I grabbed a plate of small cakes, intending to find a seat and wait. As I turned, I bumped into Serena and Ryan, both dressed to the nines. Seeing me, a hint of disdain flashed in Serena’s eyes. “What are *you* doing here? What, did you come specifically to reconcile with me?” “You were so tough earlier! Seems like that was all just an act!” Seeing the cake in my hand, Ryan mocked, “Liam, you’re not a waiter here, are you? I heard their waiters only make four thousand a month. That’s less than taking care of our Leo!” Serena also wore a haughty expression. “Liam, if you beg me, I might make an exception and let you take care of Leo, for old times’ sake.” I said calmly, “Don’t misunderstand. I’m not a waiter. I’m here waiting for my wife and child.” Ryan, however, looked as if he’d heard the funniest joke. “Liam, the only CEO attending this gala with a child is Ms. Stone. Are you actually going to claim you’re Ms. Stone’s husband?” “I am.” Hearing me say that, Ryan crossed his arms and sneered. “Liam, you’re clearly addicted to lying! How dare you spout nonsense and pretend to be someone important at such a crucial event, and you’re still wearing that fake watch!” “If Ms. Stone and her husband find out, we’ll all be in deep trouble!” Before I could react, Ryan lunged forward, snatched the watch from my wrist, and slammed it onto the floor. The sharp strap cut my wrist, drawing bright red blood. Before I could even cry out in pain, Ryan shoved me hard onto the ground, grabbed a nearby cake plate, and smashed it onto my face, growling, “I’ll teach you a lesson, you imposter, on behalf of Ms. Stone!” Cake smeared all over my face, the sticky cream clogging my nostrils, nearly suffocating me. I reached up to wipe the cream off my face, but Ryan cruelly stomped on my hand with his hard leather shoe heel, grinding it repeatedly. Excruciating pain shot through my entire body. I could almost hear my bones cracking. The crowd in the hall, having heard I was an imposter, all laughed and pointed. Serena watched the entire thing with cold eyes. Just then, someone in the crowd shouted, “Ms. Stone is here!” Everyone immediately turned to look at the entrance. I waved my arms, trying to get Victoria’s attention. But Serena grabbed my hand, whispering, “Liam, behave yourself! I know you deliberately followed me here because you’re jealous.” “As long as you don’t make a scene, after the gala, I might consider remarrying you. I can even have another child for you…” She tried to pull me up, but I recoiled in disgust. Victoria still noticed me. Holding our daughter, she walked towards me, her brows tightly furrowed. “What happened?” Ryan’s face was full of flattery. “Ms. Stone, this man is an imposter pretending to be your husband! I’ve already taught him a good lesson for you!” Serena echoed, “Yes, Ms. Stone, there’s no need to bother with him.” The next second, our daughter let go of Victoria’s hand and ran to me. Seeing my disheveled state, her eyes welled up with tears. “Daddy, why is your face covered in cream? And your hand, it’s bleeding…” Suddenly, everyone present was stunned. “What? Did I hear that right? Ms. Stone’s daughter just called this imposter ‘Daddy’?” “Doesn’t that mean this isn’t an imposter, but the real deal?”

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At the reunion, my CEO husband deliberately lost a game. With his friends egging him on, he planned to tie the knot with his first love and announce it on SnapChat. Everyone present started cheering them on, and my husband eagerly pulled out the divorce papers, demanding my cooperation: “It’s just a game, don’t take it too seriously.” I stayed silent for a long time, and everyone expected me to explode. But I just took the divorce papers and said calmly: “Divorce is fine, but I need you to do three things first.” He readily agreed, rushing me to sign, even promising eagerly: “Forget three things, I’ll do three hundred, as long as you sign! And once we remarry, I’ll give you a lavish wedding!” But he didn’t know that the moment he decided to divorce me, my ‘capture’ mission had already failed, and the system was about to erase me. I could only survive by completing the three tasks the system gave me. Seeing me sign, my husband, Liam Sterling, happily put away the divorce papers. Everyone exchanged glances, a smirk of triumph on their faces. That’s when I finally understood: this reunion was a setup, a carefully laid trap just for me. On the virtual screen behind Liam, four blood-red words screamed: “CAPTURE FAILED.” The system’s electronic voice drilled into my mind: “Host, only if you marry your target for seven years can you offset the life-for-a-life exchange. You’re just an hour and a half short of seven years. In 48 hours, you’ll be erased.” Its tone shifted: “However, seeing your pitiful state, you can survive if you complete three tasks within the deadline.” “Now issuing Task One.” “Make Liam Sterling confess his love to you in public.” I laughed out loud. I just signed divorce papers, and now the system wants him to confess his love to me? Clara Davis stood up, her pretty face tight with resolve: “Liam, if you have to agree to Avery’s unreasonable requests because of me, then I’ll gladly accept punishment. I’ll drink three shots of vodka!” Liam’s eyes were filled with heartache: “It’s fine, she can’t stir up any trouble.” I gave a self-deprecating laugh. Seven years ago, on our wedding day, Liam was supposed to elope for love, but Clara ran off with all his savings and disappeared. After that, he firmly believed I was behind it and constantly clashed with me. We went from childhood sweethearts to bitter enemies. I thought that if I genuinely loved him, I could eventually win him over. For the past two years, he had almost accepted our situation, even remembering to leave work early to celebrate our wedding anniversary. But then, Clara came back. Only then did I realize he had never forgotten her, and he’d even set up this elaborate scheme just to marry her. He’d even forgotten that today was our seventh wedding anniversary. Now, the seven stolen years were finally to be returned. But I still wanted to live. I spoke up: “Liam Sterling, the first thing I want you to do is confess your love to me.” “Confess to me exactly how you confessed to Clara Davis back then.” Liam froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. The private room erupted: “Avery, don’t be unreasonable! You’ve already signed the divorce papers, there’s no need to be so petty and embarrass Liam!” “Liam, don’t listen to her nonsense! She’s just trying to cause trouble!” It was truly ironic. These people had received many favors from me in the past. Now that Sterling Corp. was so powerful, they constantly mocked me. Clara’s face was flushed with anger: “Avery, you’re really just messing with him! Liam, I won’t let you suffer this humiliation!” My own husband confessing to me was a humiliation in her eyes? I coldly scanned the room, then yawned: “I’m talking to Liam Sterling. Does it concern you to interrupt?” “Liam Sterling, if you don’t confess, I’m leaving. And I won’t bother with the divorce certificate.” After so many years together, I knew his temper. His brows furrowed, and he said impatiently: “I thought you were being sensible today, but it turns out you just thought of a new trick. If I confess, you’ll obediently get the divorce certificate?” It seemed he was truly desperate to marry Clara and make it official. “Yes.” Liam’s face darkened, and he spoke as if facing death: “Avery, be with me. I’ll buy you two bottles of milk every day and warm them with my body heat, so you always drink them at room temperature…” Clara’s eyes welled with tears, and she murmured: “Liam, you still remember.” Everyone in the room couldn’t help but applaud, marveling at Liam’s deep affection, still remembering his confession to Clara Davis eight years ago. Watching the two exchange increasingly loving gazes, I felt a wave of nausea and left my seat: “I have to go. Something came up.” Behind me, the room erupted in laughter, mocking me for shooting myself in the foot. As I walked out, my best friend, Chloe Miller, somehow heard the news and rushed to the restaurant, demanding answers: “Did you really sign the divorce papers with Liam, are you insane? You begged on your knees to marry him, giving up a marriage alliance with a billionaire’s son, and now you’re just divorcing him, letting that trash Clara snatch him up?” I was silent. Back then, the Sterling family was on the verge of bankruptcy. To help Liam, I gave up a marriage with the son of a billionaire and resolutely married him. My parents were furious and disowned me. I was ostracized by my family, and even as the CEO’s wife, I couldn’t interfere with anything in the Sterling family, leaving me in an awkward position. But Liam, after Clara returned to the country, immediately arranged a Vice President position for her without a word, even putting her in charge of billions of dollars. Love and lack of love, it was very obvious. My sky-high heels had rubbed my heels raw, and I uncomfortably shifted my stance, unable to stop myself from scoffing: “You think she’s trash, but Liam treats her like a treasure. What can I do?” Chloe sighed, giving me a supportive squeeze: “Men are like shoes, if they don’t fit, we just get new ones!” As she spoke, Liam came downstairs, dotingly ruffling Clara’s hair: “Clara, let’s go take our wedding photos first, then buy rings. When we go to the registry office, I’ll have a convoy of thirty cars pick you up!” His gaze met mine, and Liam’s lips tightened into a thin line, his voice cold: “Avery, there are still two things left. If you’re playing games, I won’t make it easy for you!” I lowered my eyes and smiled bitterly. He didn’t know I had wanted to keep my distance from him for a long time; I was only forced to interact with him to stay alive. After he walked away, I called out to the system in my mind: “Was that task completed?” “Barely satisfactory,” the system’s voice was flat. “Now, issuing Task Two.” “Go on a date with Liam Sterling for one day.”

I stumbled. “Are you serious? Liam Sterling barely tolerates me today. If I ask him to go on a date with me, he’ll definitely think I’m messing with him!” The system was cold: “Host has no right to question. You can choose to abandon the task and be erased.” At midnight, I tossed and turned, thinking about the system’s task. Bang! Liam kicked open the door and dragged me out of bed. In the darkness, his angry eyes glowed ominously: “Are you happy now? Because of the scene you caused today, Clara went home sick. I took care of her until past midnight before her fever broke!” I pried his hand off and forced a smile: “It was just a game. Couldn’t you have called it off? Who would take a CEO like you seriously?” Liam choked, then sighed softly: “It was just a game, why didn’t you cooperate?” I said nonchalantly: “Second thing. Tomorrow, you cancel all your work and spend the day with me.” Liam’s face immediately turned cold: “Avery, are you pushing your luck? You’re really taking advantage!” He slammed the door shut and left. A bitter taste filled my mouth. I knew this would be the outcome. The next morning, however, he still knocked on my door, his face sullen: “I lost a million dollars today because of you. What do you want, spill it.” Because of me? More like to get the marriage certificate with Clara as soon as possible. The system told me the date wasn’t the main point; the key was for Liam Sterling to spend six consecutive hours with me. I took Liam to the mall to pass the time. The whole way, he never looked up from his phone. Occasionally, he’d stop outside a women’s clothing store or a luxury boutique and just casually buy a ton of stuff. All of it was for Clara. In our seven years of marriage, he had never bought me anything. The dress I was wearing was worn out and pilled. He retaliated against me by poaching my family’s business. My dad scolded me for betraying our family, and I was blacklisted by the industry. No one knew that beneath my glamorous exterior, I lived on the meager salary from online part-time jobs. I persevered until noon. Liam looked impatient, so I quickly took him to a hot pot restaurant. Just as we ordered, his face changed as he looked at his phone. He made a call, his voice filled with urgent worry: “How can you not eat? No appetite without me? Okay, I’m coming back right now!” He then grabbed his coat and rushed to leave: “Urgent company business. I’m leaving first.” I knew this must be Clara’s doing. “Will you come back?” My task wasn’t finished yet. He seemed to remember something and nodded: “I will.” But I never expected him to return with Clara. Liam carefully tended to Clara, feeding her, wiping her mouth, acting like he was nursing a paralytic patient. They looked like an affectionate couple, while I was just a stranger sharing their table. After that, whatever I wanted to eat, Clara would point to and demand. I lost my appetite and pushed my forks aside. She looked triumphant, saying with exaggerated sweetness: “The food Liam feeds me tastes especially delicious…” Under the table, she deliberately stomped on my foot. I hissed in pain, but Liam paid no attention. Fortunately, we just needed to watch a movie to reach six hours, so I grudgingly endured her. Who knew there were only two tickets left at the movie theater? Clara spoke first, her eyes red: “Liam, you and Avery go watch it. I know she’s using the divorce as an excuse to spend time with you, but it’s okay, I won’t be a third wheel! I’ll leave now!” Liam panicked, quickly grabbing her hand: “What nonsense are you talking about? Forget the stupid movie, I’ll spend the whole afternoon with you instead, okay?” I pleaded calmly: “Liam Sterling, just watch this movie with me, and I’ll let you go, I won’t bother you anymore.” But Liam pushed me away with a shove, and the popcorn I was holding scattered everywhere. “Avery, stop pretending! I’ve already told you I could never like someone as selfish, arrogant, and self-righteous as you. Clara is generous and kind enough not to blame you, but that doesn’t mean I’ll indulge you. I’ve already been more than generous by taking you shopping today!” He held Clara’s hand and turned to leave. “Warning: Host is performing passively. Electric shock penalty. Please convince Liam Sterling to return within one minute.” The next second, a powerful current surged through my body. I instantly collapsed to my knees, my kneecaps hitting the ground with a loud thud, my body convulsing. Gritting my teeth, I begged with all my might: “Liam Sterling! Please, come watch the movie with me, or I’ll die! Please…” Liam turned back frantically, his pupils constricting when he saw me on the ground. He instinctively took a step. “Liam, go ahead. Avery is usually so healthy, but now she’s suddenly fainted. She must be seriously ill. Go with her, don’t worry about me.” Clara suddenly spoke. Liam’s steps halted, and his expression turned cold: “Avery, now you’ve learned to fake falls? What are you trying to prove, playing helpless? Don’t make me look down on you.” He abandoned me. No matter how much I called out, he never looked back. After a long time, the system’s punishment ended. My face was pale, as if I’d been pulled from water. Many people gathered around, offering to take me to the hospital. The system warned sternly: “Task Two completion rate is only fifty percent. If Task Three cannot be completed perfectly, Host, you will still be erased.” The panel changed, displaying only one line of text: “Make Liam Sterling propose to you.” I gave a desolate laugh, losing all my strength and collapsing onto the ground. This was an impossible task. When I opened my eyes again, I was in the hospital. Chloe rushed to hand me water, her eyes filled with sympathy: “The doctor said you have organ failure and won’t live for more than three days. Does Liam know? Is this why you divorced him?” I knew this was a side effect of the system’s punishment. Three days? Only twenty-four hours left. I didn’t want to grovel and make Liam pity me. After all, I had once been a wealthy young woman; I had my pride. I shook my head: “No. Chloe, as friends, I have one favor to ask. After I die, just tell everyone I traveled abroad and settled there. Don’t let them see how miserably I died.” Chloe’s eyes reddened, and she wiped her face: “You saved Liam’s life during the avalanche back then, but he thought Clara saved him. He’s misunderstood and tormented you for so many years, you—” My phone on the table rang urgently. It was Liam. Chloe answered, unable to help herself: “Liam Sterling, do you know Avery is sick!”

I struggled to sit up and stop her. On the other end of the phone, Liam paused for a second, then scoffed coldly: “Did Avery tell you to act? What’s a little fall going to do?” “Tell her to hurry up and state her last demand so we can get this over with. I don’t have time for her games.” Seeing how impatient he was, I took the phone and said seriously: “The third thing is simple. All you have to do is propose to me.” CRASH! A harsh sound came from the other end of the phone; something seemed to have fallen. Liam was frantic: “Clara, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!” The next second, he lashed out at me: “Avery, are you crazy? Are you out of your mind? I’m not playing with you anymore! Go get the divorce certificate or don’t, I don’t care. We’ll be automatically divorced in thirty days anyway. I’m not like you, desperate to live. I can wait!” He hung up. My heart ached. I knew Liam wanted to get rid of me, but I never expected him to despise me so much. The system was still urging me to complete the task. But now I had no leverage over him. What else could I do? Fatigue washed over me like a tide. Even if I begged Liam on my knees, he would just think I was pulling tricks. If that’s the case, I might as well die with dignity. With that thought, I called him. He answered impatiently: “If you’re going to talk about me proposing to you again, just go to hell!” He didn’t know his words would turn out to be prophetic. My voice was calm: “I was just kidding. See you at the registry office tomorrow morning.” Liam was surprised: “That’s it? Are you being so cooperative?” “Don’t want to? Fine then.” “No! You better not be playing games!” He quickly agreed. Nine A.M. the next morning, at the registry office entrance. Liam yelled at me for being one minute late: “Avery, what are you doing now? You were really faking being sick yesterday! They say the wicked live forever, so you’ll probably live to be a hundred!” His friends also looked at me with mocking expressions. They were all waiting for Liam to get his marriage certificate with Clara, specially bringing confetti to celebrate. I found it amusing. In the past, when Liam and I made plans, he was never on time, repeatedly breaking promises, deliberately enjoying my distressed reactions. Today, I was only one minute late, and he was so anxious. “That’s right, I was doing it on purpose. I’ve changed my mind. The third thing is, I want you to carry me in to get the divorce certificate!” From where we stood, it was less than a hundred feet to the entrance. Liam looked at me suspiciously: “That simple?” Clara still rushed out to object, as if I were committing an unforgivable sin: “Liam is a CEO! How can you treat him like a servant and make him carry you? We don’t have to get this divorce certificate, I’ll wait for Liam forever!” Everyone else’s faces also darkened: “Avery, you’re shameless! This is clearly a deliberate obstruction! You just don’t want the divorce certificate!” I curved my lips into a smile, composed. Liam, however, declared decisively: “Fine. But if you cause any more trouble inside, I’ll make your life a living hell.” He walked up to me. I jumped onto his back without any hesitation. Liam gave a small “oh.” I was too light. Frighteningly light. You see, I used to have a fiery personality. I loved racing, hiking, rock climbing. My muscle mass was not to be underestimated. He instinctively asked: “Are you starving yourself?” I replied faintly: “You and Clara disgusted me so much I couldn’t eat.” Liam curled his lip: “That’s enough.” When we married years ago, he was practically dragged into the registry office by ten bodyguards, forced to get the marriage certificate, his face filled with disgust. Now, he walked steadily towards the registry office, step by step, but it was to divorce me. In a daze, I remembered when I was seventeen. Liam was caught in an avalanche while skiing. I rushed into the snowy field without a thought, screaming until my throat was hoarse before I found him. At that time, he had snow blindness, and his leg was injured, preventing him from standing. I half-carried, half-dragged him down the mountain for a day and a night, even cutting myself to give him my blood, hoping to restore his strength. In his semi-conscious state, Liam’s hot tears streamed onto my neck: “You’re so good to me! I’ll marry you!” I laughed, coaxing him not to break his promise. By the time we reached the bottom of the mountain, I should have died from hypothermia. The system bonded with me then. It said our love was truly great, and as long as I could marry him for seven years, it would grant me health and a long life. I agreed, secretly delighted that this was a freebie, and that we would surely be happy. But I never expected to wake up and see him confessing to Clara Davis in front of the entire school. He said he would marry me. But what I got was his endless gratitude towards Clara. I tried to explain, but he didn’t believe me. “The person who saved me was gentle like a goddess. You’re so rough and bossy, how could it be you?” Snapping back to reality, I whispered into Liam’s ear: “Liam Sterling, we’re even now.” He stopped walking: “What did you say?”

My throat itched, and I coughed up blood. The system’s punishment yesterday had ruined my internal organs. Even as I covered my mouth, a drop of blood splattered onto Liam’s neck. He flew into a rage: “Avery, are you trying to die? Coughing on my neck, how disgusting! Clean it up!” I wiped the blood from my lips, then gently pushed his head back to face forward. My voice was calm: “Look ahead, not at me.” Liam quickened his pace, walking closer to the divorce counter. Before he could put me down, I jumped off his back and quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe his neck. He still seemed unsatisfied, pulling out tissue after tissue, as if he’d been contaminated with something filthy. I couldn’t help but say: “Liam Sterling, since you’ve decided to be with Clara, don’t let her down.” Liam frowned, finally looking at me properly: “What nonsense are you talking about? It’s just one day, and you’re already this petty and intolerant? Don’t worry, once the game is over, I’ll give you a lavish wedding. I won’t go back on my word.” I curled my lips into a weak smile. On the divorce papers, I fumbled to find where to sign. My eyesight was the most severely affected of all my declining organs. Liam held my finger and pointed to the spot, scoffing: “What’s wrong with your eyes? Are you crying them blind because you’re sad about divorcing me?” I snorted: “It was so sickening it gave me a stye.” Since Clara returned to the country, I hadn’t bantered with him like this in a long time. Liam angrily pushed my arm: “Avery, you just can’t say anything nice, can you!” I grunted in pain, taking a while to recover. His face suddenly changed: “Are you really sick?” I acted nonchalant: “No. Hurry up and finish the procedures. I’m planning to travel abroad for a few days. There are plenty of other fish in the sea, why obsess over one person?” Everyone present couldn’t help but scoff, looking at me with expressions that clearly said, “Stop acting,” filled with disdain. Liam’s face remained grim, and he suddenly stood up. “No divorce.” “No divorce?” Clara exclaimed in surprise, then her eyes welled up with tears, saying aggrievedly: “Liam, if you can’t bear to, that’s okay. I’m willing to be punished. I just have a slight alcohol allergy, I won’t die. I’ll go buy liquor right now!” I was speechless, not understanding what Liam meant. I deliberately provoked him: “Stop messing around. Or are you really reluctant to let me go?” Liam, predictably, couldn’t stand the provocation and quickly signed the papers. “If it weren’t for your pitiful, pale face, I…” He trailed off. Then he took the divorce certificate with a sullen face, turned around, and sat with Clara at the marriage counter. Everyone crowded around them, their faces joyful. My business here was done. I turned to leave, but Liam suddenly called out to me: “Don’t go. Wait until Clara and I get our marriage certificate and post on SnapChat, then I’ll remarry you right away!” Divorce and remarrying? Did he think this was a game? I perfunctorily agreed and walked out of the registry office. On the virtual screen, the countdown showed thirteen hours left—enough time for me to handle my affairs. But I never expected my vision to turn blood-red: “Host Avery Hayes, task failed. Detected official divorce between the two. Countdown reset to zero!” I never imagined the system had this trick up its sleeve. I leaned on the registry office doorframe, collapsing softly to the ground. Inside the registry office, Liam Sterling was posing for photos with Clara Davis, their heads close together. The photographer kept calling out: “Closer, lovebirds! Yes, more intimate!”

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Ten years into our marriage, my CEO wife, Victoria, flaked on our plan to spend the May Day holiday together again, claiming a last-minute business trip. But then, a message popped up from Julian, the man she’d always carried a torch for. It was a photo of his whole family on a trip, Victoria in the picture, laughing and playing with a kid. “Alex, if I’m not mistaken, she told you she had to go on a business trip again, didn’t she? After all these years, it’s hilarious how you still fall for that excuse.” “Guess where she’s taking me this time?” My gaze fixated on the corner of the plane ticket in the photo. It clearly said “Fairbanks.” I typed out a reply and sent it back: “Even if she goes to hell, it has nothing to do with me.” Moments later, Victoria’s furious call came through. “Julian was just sharing a moment from his life. Why are you so petty, snapping at him for something like that?” “Go apologize to Julian right now. I’ll make time to take you on a trip when I get back from my business trip.” Listening to yet another one of her empty promises, I mumbled a few perfunctory words and hung up. But she had no idea. I already knew about the twins she had with someone else. Three days from now, my divorce petition would go through. It was time for this marriage, built on lies, to finally end.

I stared at the dozen or so accusatory calls, all from my wife, Victoria Sterling. All I did was snap back at Julian, her first love, and she immediately jumped to his defense, practically demanding I kneel and apologize to him. Anyone who didn’t know better would think Julian was her actual husband. The screen went dark again. Perhaps his patience had run out, as the frantic ringtone didn’t sound a second time. Instead, a few messages popped up on Snapchat. They were from Victoria: “Alex, apologize to Julian right away. I promise, I’ll take you on a vacation when I get back.” “Haven’t you always wanted to see the Northern Lights? We’ll go to Fairbanks to see them.” The thought that she was going to Fairbanks this time too instantly hit me. I couldn’t help but sneer. Did she have to take Julian to every place I wanted to go first? I didn’t want to deal with it and was about to turn off my phone when another message from Julian popped up. It was a family photo. I didn’t even need to zoom in to recognize the slender figure in it as my wife. “Alex, I genuinely can’t believe it. You know your wife has another family out there, yet you’ve endured it for years. How do you do it? You must have been a spineless turtle in your past life.” “Given how much you’ve put up with all these years, I’ll tell you one more thing: about Victoria’s hospitalization abroad three years ago.” “She told you she had uterine fibroids and needed to go abroad for treatment, but that was a lie. It was the excuse I came up with for her. I just never expected you to believe it so easily, even giving her your life savings so thoughtfully. In reality, she went abroad that year to have my children. I wanted her to give birth in a local hospital, but she considered you and insisted on flying abroad to deliver…” The long, rambling text that followed, I didn’t read. I had no desire to read any further. Three years after we got married, all my friends had families that felt complete, and I was so envious. I went back and told Victoria I wanted a child, but she said her career was on the rise and a child would only be a burden right now. Two more years passed, and just when I finally got her to agree, she cried and told me she had uterine fibroids and had already contacted a doctor abroad, claiming a small surgery would cure her. She was gone for three years. When she finally returned home, she tearfully told me the surgery had gone wrong, and she could never have children. I still remember her tears streaming down her face that day as she said, “Alex, I’m so sorry. I made you wait all these years, and I still couldn’t fulfill your dream of becoming a father.” Looking at her red-rimmed eyes, I said with a pang of sadness, “Vicki, it’s okay. As long as you’re healthy, just being with you like this for a lifetime is enough.” I thought Victoria and I would adopt a child and live out the rest of our lives. But then, Julian, her first love, suddenly sent me an ultrasound report with my wife, Victoria Sterling’s name, clearly written on it. I thought it was a prank, one of Julian’s tricks to fool me, and I dismissed it several times. Deep down, I still believed Victoria’s heart belonged only to me. It wasn’t until I received another photo from Julian, showing a child strikingly similar to Victoria, that I had no choice but to believe that the ultrasound report was real. She had truly given birth to Julian’s children behind my back—twin children, at that. She’d even gone as far as to use her health as a cruel excuse to deceive me, just to prevent me from suspecting anything. A sharp pain tore through my heart at the thought. The stinging pain in my palm brought me back to reality. I quickly blocked and deleted Julian from Snapchat. A moment later, Mr. Davies, the butler, came over with a gift box. “Mr. Alex, this is a birthday gift from Miss Victoria.” With that, Mr. Davies opened the box directly. Inside was an exquisite watch, clearly custom-made. My heart froze when I heard what the butler said. Looking at the expensive watch, I suddenly remembered Victoria’s promise years ago: she would spend every one of my birthdays with me. Since Julian appeared, her earlier promises had become empty words. Whether she spent it with me or not, she still prepared a gift for me every year. Except, this watch, she had already given it to me three times. With this one, it was the fourth. Yet, the things she gave Julian were never repeated, and each gift was clearly more thoughtful than this watch. I snapped a few photos of the watch with my phone and casually posted them on an online auction site, setting the starting bid at $10. Mr. Davies, seeing me smile, thought I was chatting with Victoria and said, “Seeing you two so in sync makes me feel at ease.” I didn’t reply. After a couple more words of concern, Mr. Davies left. Just as I was about to go upstairs, my phone buzzed with an update on my divorce application. The paperwork would be finalized in three days. I gripped my phone, my eyes hardening. This marriage, full of lies, was finally coming to an end.

No sooner had I packed the watch than Mr. Davies came in with a parcel. “Mr. Alex, this package arrived with some damage. The delivery person requested a direct signature. Could you please check if there’s anything wrong inside?” I took the package Mr. Davies handed me, feeling suspicious. I hadn’t ordered anything recently. I instinctively knew it couldn’t be from Victoria, as she never ordered things online; I personally bought all her daily necessities. She wouldn’t touch such things. It wasn’t until I saw the recipient’s name on the package that my shocked expression softened. It was Victoria’s package. At Mr. Davies’ urging, I opened the box. Inside were two pairs of children’s shoes. Mr. Davies also looked a little shocked. “This… could Miss Victoria be pregnant? Didn’t she say she could never—” Before Mr. Davies could finish, Victoria’s call came through. Her voice was a mix of urgency and nervousness. “Alex, did a package just arrive at the house? Did you…” Before she could finish, I already knew what she was going to say. Looking at the children’s shoes in the box, I calmly replied, “Just received it. Don’t worry, I’ve already signed for it.” She paused, then after a long silence, said, “Good. Don’t overthink it. Those are gifts for a friend’s kids. He helped me out a lot before; I’m just showing my appreciation.” I couldn’t help but sneer when I heard that. They were clearly for Julian’s twin sons, and she was still making up excuses. I couldn’t resist snapping back, “That friend of yours, is his name Julian?” At my words, Victoria’s tone immediately changed. “Alex, what are you stirring up now? Are you mad I didn’t spend your birthday with you? Didn’t I promise you? I’ll make it up to you when I’m back from my time off.” “Stop dragging Julian into everything! How many times have I told you, we’re just friends!” I gripped the gift box in my hand and asked with a laugh, “Then why are you so anxious to call back? Isn’t it because you’re afraid I’ll go confront Julian?” I expected her to lash out, but she just said a few casual words: “You’re being completely unreasonable. I was just worried you’d overthink it if you saw the package. I never imagined you’d think so little of me. Looks like my concern for you was completely wasted!” I was somewhat surprised. In the past, whenever I mentioned Julian to her, she’d explode like a lit fuse. But the doubt that had just arisen vanished the next second when I heard a child’s tender voice through the receiver. I realized she hadn’t changed; she just didn’t want to argue with me in front of the kids. Before I could speak, she hung up, leaving me with a dial tone. She kept telling me that she and Julian were just friends, but then she went and had his children. Were they really just friends? Just then, Victoria’s Ragdoll cat, Whiskers, suddenly ran over. My eyes hardened, and I was about to leave, but it was too late. Red spots had already started to appear on my arm. In moments, what were just a few scattered spots had spread all over my body. They were incredibly itchy, and there were even signs of swelling. I’m allergic to cat hair, but Victoria insisted on keeping a cat, simply because Julian had given it to her. I even gave her the silent treatment for a month because of it. She just shrugged it off, a look of disdain on her face. “It’s just a little allergy, isn’t it? I can just buy you some allergy medicine. Only a cold-blooded person like you would shut out such a cute cat!” The swollen areas on my body were growing larger, so I quickly went to find allergy medicine. But I rummaged through the medicine cabinet several times, and there was no allergy medicine inside. I felt worse and worse, even my breathing became difficult, and my head felt heavier and heavier. The next second, I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I overheard Mr. Davies on the phone with Victoria. Mr. Davies was elderly and accustomed to using speakerphone. Victoria’s cold voice, distorted by static, cut through the air: “It’s just a minor allergy. Is it worth calling me in the middle of the night for? Just buy him some allergy medicine! You’ve been with the Sterling family for years; do I still need to teach you such basic things?” “And by the way, don’t bother me with trivial matters like this ever again!” Through the crack in the door, I saw Victoria had already hung up before Mr. Davies could even speak. I let out a self-deprecating laugh. I should have expected this outcome. What was I still hoping for? Mr. Davies came into the room, looking at me with sympathy.

After a day of observation, the doctor finally discharged me. No sooner had I completed the discharge procedures than I received a message from the Registry Office. With the divorce certificate in hand, I took a taxi home. As I approached the main gate, I heard a burst of cheerful laughter from inside. I thought Victoria had returned early. I was planning to give her the divorce certificate and explain everything to her face. The next second, I heard Mrs. Sterling and Aunt Carol’s voices from inside: “If Vicki hadn’t been so insistent on marrying him back then, and I couldn’t sway her, I certainly wouldn’t have allowed him to step foot in my Sterling family home!” “Anyway, Vicki and Julian have children now, and Alex is completely useless. When he comes back, we’ll just have him sign the divorce papers!” Aunt Carol quickly chimed in, “Exactly, the children grow up in the blink of an eye. You should enjoy the blessings of a house full of grandchildren.” I couldn’t help but clench my fists. So, their entire family knew Victoria had given birth to twins outside of our marriage, and I was the only one kept in the dark, foolishly believing her all these years. I pushed open the door, my face a mask of cold fury. The two women turned, startled. “Are you a ghost? Make some noise when you walk!” Mrs. Sterling shot me an impatient glance, her face darkening. “What are you standing there for? Go make some tea! I don’t know what you learned from all those etiquette lessons over the years; you’re still so unrefined, annoying to look at.” Years ago, Mrs. Sterling despised my humble background. Although she agreed to my marriage with Victoria, she secretly arranged various etiquette lessons for me. She implied, both overtly and subtly, that I wasn’t good enough for her daughter, and if I didn’t practice diligently, her daughter would embarrass the Sterling family when taking me out. Despite my strong reluctance, I endured everything and complied with Mrs. Sterling’s wishes, thinking about how Victoria had faced her mother’s coldness and difficulties because of me. But I never imagined that after all these years, she still looked down on me. As I brought them two cups of hot tea, Aunt Carol exchanged a knowing look with Mrs. Sterling. Just as I was about to go upstairs, Mrs. Sterling casually flung a divorce agreement at me. She said coldly, “Wait a minute. Sign this divorce agreement first.” She paused, then added, “This is Vicki’s wish too. She’s too shy to say it herself, so as a mother, I naturally have to help her.” “I’m sure you heard what Aunt Carol and I were saying. I won’t hide it from you, Vicki has already had children outside of this marriage. This divorce was bound to happen sooner or later.” I looked up at her. Regardless of whose wish it was, I already had the divorce certificate in hand. This marriage was over no matter what, so what harm was there in signing another agreement? With that thought, I quickly scribbled my signature. Seeing how decisive I was, both women looked stunned, as if they were dreaming. “Can I go now?” I asked, looking at their shocked expressions. Aunt Carol instantly recovered, disdainfully saying, “You certainly should. You’re no longer the Sterling family’s son-in-law. There’s no reason to linger.” Mrs. Sterling immediately chimed in, “Mr. Davies, quickly have someone pack his things. Tell him to get out of the Sterling house today.” Mr. Davies heard this and was about to call for staff when I stopped him. “No need. I’ll pack myself.” Aunt Carol’s eyes darted around when she heard this, and she scoffed, “Someone should watch him, just to make sure he keeps his hands clean. If anything goes missing, it’ll be our Sterling family’s money lost!” I ignored her and went straight upstairs to pack a few of my most used clothes. I didn’t touch any of the clothes Victoria had given me. I also placed the divorce certificate in a gift box and asked Mr. Davies to give it to Victoria. After I finished everything, I dragged my luggage out of the Sterling house. I hadn’t walked two steps past the main gate when I heard a servant mention that they were preparing to welcome back the young masters who had been living outside in a couple of days. It was then that I realized Mrs. Sterling was in such a hurry to get me divorced because she wanted to welcome Julian’s two sons back into the family. The next day, Victoria returned from her time off, with Julian following behind her. She stepped inside and looked around. Not seeing me, her heart inexplicably began to pound. Julian, however, was scanning the living room. “Vicki, Whiskers is gone. Did Alex get rid of him while you were away?” Whiskers was the Ragdoll cat’s name. Victoria frowned, remembering my allergy. She wanted to say something but held back. It wasn’t until Mr. Davies said the cat had been sent for vaccinations that Victoria’s expression softened slightly. Then she asked, “Mr. Davies, where’s Alex?” Before Mr. Davies could reply, Mrs. Sterling spoke from the top of the stairs, “Alex has already left the Sterling house.” Victoria was puzzled. “Mom, what do you mean?!” Mrs. Sterling had always had issues with me, and putting me down was a common occurrence. She was about to say more when her gaze shifted to the gift box in Mr. Davies’ hands. Mr. Davies handed the gift box to Victoria. “Mr. Alex asked me to give this to you.” Victoria’s eyes flickered with hesitation as she saw the familiar gift box. She remembered it as the box she’d used the very first time she gave Alex a gift. She never thought he’d kept it for so long. Julian, noticing the strange look in her eyes, scoffed, “That box looks so old. Did Alex just find some broken old box to gross you out on purpose? Vicki, you shouldn’t even look at it.” “What good could possibly be in such a piece of junk? He’s probably just messing with you. You’ll regret opening it.” The next second, Victoria opened it right in front of everyone. When she saw what was inside, her face instantly went ashen. Everyone looked utterly bewildered. It was a divorce certificate. Julian was the first to react, his tone dismissive. “Vicki, what’s Alex’s game with this fake certificate? Does he think you wouldn’t dare to actually divorce him?”

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My husband had this strange-looking piece of meat in the fridge for half a year, and he never touched it. I got curious. What was so special about it? I secretly took it for testing. Turns out, it was a two-month-old embryo. When I got home, I frantically searched through every drawer and closet until I found it: a miscarriage report. On it, signed beside my husband’s name, was another woman’s name. My husband. He’d hidden it from me. He’d had a child with another woman. Five years of marriage, a bond that felt unbreakable. In that single horrifying moment, it all crumbled into a sick joke. When Leo got back, that box of meat was gone from the fridge. He rushed into my study, his voice laced with panic. “Skylar, have you seen the box of meat I put in the fridge?” I looked up at him, my fists clenched so tight my knuckles were white. I wanted to scream, to ask him why he’d betrayed me. But in the end, I just set my book down, pretending to be utterly unfazed. “Oh, that weird-looking stuff? I fried it up with some peppers for lunch. Honestly, it wasn’t bad.” “What?! You *ate* it?!” Leo’s eyes went wide, filled with a horrified disbelief. “Skylar, are you out of your mind?!” I let out a cold laugh. “It’s just meat, Leo. Why are you making such a big deal?” His face instantly flushed, his voice trembling as he demanded, “How could you eat *it*? That was mine! You ate my things without asking! Have you become so disrespectful?” “Eating a piece of meat is disrespectful now?” “It wasn’t just a piece of meat!” Leo’s face was beet red, his chest heaving with uncontrolled anger. I just found it darkly amusing. “Then what was it?” He bit down hard on his lip, a flash of profound grief crossing his face. He looked like he wanted to say something, but then he just choked back his tears and said, “Nothing… I don’t feel well tonight. I’ll sleep in the guest room.” With that, he turned and walked into the guest room. Five years of marriage, and this was the first time he’d ever yelled at me, the first time we’d slept in separate rooms. The irony was so bitter, it made my stomach churn. If that box of meat meant so much to him, then why did he let *her* get rid of it in the first place? For five years, Leo had been, in my eyes, the perfect husband. He was gentle, attentive, worked hard, and meticulously looked after my every need. My stomach was sensitive, so he’d spend hours perfecting recipes that were easy on my stomach. I often had social obligations that involved drinking, and he always had a hangover cure ready for me. In front of others, he was an ideal partner. So how could this wonderful man have a child with someone else? I couldn’t believe it, couldn’t accept it. It felt like a venomous sting deep in my heart, a searing, bone-deep pain. The name on the miscarriage report, I recognized it: Chloe Meng, Leo’s college junior. Chloe had pursued Leo for years. Even after we were married, she shamelessly clung to him. She’d cried, begged, threatened to jump into a river, even slit her wrists for him. She’d tried every trick in the book. But Leo had always seemed disgusted by her persistence. He’d constantly complain to me about how annoying Chloe was, how her pursuit bothered him, how he couldn’t stand the sight of her. Then, one night, I took a few friends with me and we jumped Chloe on her way home. We gave her a good beating, leaving her bruised and bloody. I warned her to stay away from my husband. After that, Leo never mentioned Chloe again. I thought she’d finally gotten the message. I never imagined that a year later, Leo’s name would appear on Chloe Meng’s miscarriage report, right there in the “partner” section.

That night, Leo and I went to bed angry. The next day, he met up with his friends for drinks. I put my work aside and secretly followed him. Through a crack in the door of a dimly lit private room at a bar, I caught a glimpse of Leo, his arm intimately wrapped around a woman. She was leaning against him on the couch, her arms around his waist, her face flushed with shyness. Even in the low light, I recognized her instantly: Chloe Meng! If there had been any doubt before, it was now crystal clear: that embryo, that lost life, was Leo and Chloe’s! A surge of white-hot fury rushed through me, and my fists clenched tight. Just as I was about to burst in, I heard one of Leo’s friends speak up. “Leo, Chloe chased you for years, and you never gave her the time of day. What finally changed your mind?” I froze. Leo turned his head to glance at Chloe, a doting smile on his face. “I wasn’t going to accept her, honestly. But then, that time my wife had her jumped and beat her until she was bruised and bloody… Chloe still showed up at my office, crying, saying she’d never give up on me, even if it killed her. I don’t know why, but in that moment, my heart just… softened.” After he spoke, they looked at each other, smiled, and then kissed right there, in front of everyone. The room erupted in hoots and cheers. I stood frozen outside the door, as if struck by lightning. So, my rage, my attempt to protect my marriage, had actually created the perfect opportunity for them to get together? A sharp, needle-like pain pricked at my chest, tightening until I could barely breathe. As my heart twisted in agony, Leo and Chloe finally broke apart, lingering in their embrace. Chloe cupped Leo’s face, her voice thick with emotion. “Leo, I’ll never love anyone but you. Only death can separate us.” Tears welled in Leo’s eyes, his face full of profound emotion. “Chloe, if I’d known being with you would be this incredible, I would have accepted you sooner. Don’t worry, for the rest of our lives, I’ll give you everything, except the title.” I stared at the sickeningly sweet scene before me, my heart aching to its very core. Suddenly, all my strength to confront them, to demand answers, drained away. I turned around and walked away, numb and disoriented. I floated like a ghost, aimlessly making my way to the bar. I ordered several strong drinks and drank until I was completely wasted. Five years of marriage. Eight years together. From college until now, Leo and I had been a couple for eight long years. Back then, to marry him, I’d given up an opportunity to study abroad. I didn’t ask for a dowry, just married him. After we wed, I’d always been a devoted wife, attentive, caring, always making sure he was comfortable. He didn’t want kids, so I’d used the excuse of being infertile to keep both our parents quiet. But in the end, he’d had a child with another woman, behind my back. Eight years of a relationship, shattered by one persistent woman. How utterly laughable.

Drunk, I stumbled out of the bar. Night was falling, the sky a heavy twilight. Suddenly, brilliant fireworks exploded in the sky, dazzling and mesmerizing. As I walked by the river, I ran into Leo and Chloe again. This time, his friends weren’t there. It was just the two of them, passionately kissing beneath the vibrant display of fireworks. They looked like something out of a fairy tale. In that instant, I couldn’t hold back anymore. A monstrous surge of rage erupted within me. I raised my hand and lunged at Chloe, screaming, “Bitch!” Chloe was caught off guard. My slap sent her stumbling back a few steps before she lost her balance and fell to the ground. The back of her head hit a rock, leaving her head bleeding. Leo’s eyes widened in horror. He immediately rushed to her side. “Chloe, are you okay?!” He spun around, his eyes blazing, and yelled at me, “Skylar, what the hell are you doing?! Are you insane?!” Me? Insane? “Leo, that’s what I should be asking *you*!” I pointed at Chloe on the ground, my voice sharp with fury. “Tell me, what were you doing with her just now?!” Leo didn’t even flinch, instead, he frowned in disgust. “Are you drunk again? How many times have I told you, drink less! You always go crazy when you drink, acting like some unreasonable shrew!” Unreasonable? I actually laughed. Leo ignored my anger. He tenderly wiped the blood from Chloe’s head, his eyes reddening, his voice choked with emotion. “Chloe, get up. I’ll take you to the hospital.” The sight of it sliced through me again. My husband, right now, was tearing up for another woman. I angrily raised my fist and lunged at Chloe again. But Leo stepped in front of Chloe and forcefully slapped me across the face. “Skylar, haven’t you caused enough trouble?! Can you just stop your drunken tantrums?!” His gaze was cold, like ice. In five years of marriage, he had never looked at me like that before. I stared at him, suddenly feeling like I was looking at a complete stranger. A fresh wave of agonizing pain ripped through my chest. Leo gently helped Chloe up, his face full of concern, and then he brutally shoved me aside. I stumbled, lost my footing, and tumbled into the freezing river beside us. *Splash!* The icy cold hit me, making me gasp and shiver. Leo didn’t even look back. Chloe called out to him, “Leo, your wife…” “Forget her!” Leo’s voice was as cold as a stranger’s, without a trace of warmth, as he walked away without so much as a glance at me in the water. “She can swim. A little dip will do her good, help her sober up!” With that, he walked away, helping Chloe, not once looking back. I tried to swim to the bank, but my thigh suddenly cramped up. I couldn’t move it. Finally, I sank into the river in despair, letting the frigid water fill my lungs. The violent sensation of drowning choked me, consuming me completely. My heart turned to ash. … When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. A kind passerby had rescued me. Leo didn’t check on me at all. It wasn’t until the next afternoon that he finally called. His voice sounded tired, laced with subtle accusation. “Skylar, Chloe is out of danger. You went too far this time. You hit her head, and she almost got a concussion! Luckily, Chloe is big-hearted and isn’t holding it against you. But in the future, you absolutely can’t be so reckless!” My heart was a barren wasteland. His only concern was Chloe’s injury, completely oblivious that his wife had nearly drowned yesterday. After a brief silence, Leo lowered his voice and tried to explain. “Skylar, you misunderstood yesterday. Chloe and I are just good friends. It’s not as complicated as you think.” “Friends?” I laughed coldly. “Friends kiss?” Leo’s voice immediately turned icy. “You were drunk last night, you must have seen things! Chloe and I didn’t kiss! It was Chloe’s birthday yesterday, and I was just celebrating with her by the river. Can you just let it go? I’ve given you so much these past years. Am I not allowed to have other friends?” I hung up the phone. I was physically and mentally exhausted. I had no strength left to argue with him.

After being discharged, I claimed I had a business trip and didn’t go home for two weeks. Leo seemed busy caring for the injured Chloe and didn’t press me for details. It was Eleanor, Leo’s mom, who called me. It was the same old song and dance. “Skylar, when are you finally going to give me a grandchild?” In that moment, I found her words so bitterly ironic. She probably had no idea that she was supposed to have a grandchild, but her own son had personally snuffed out its life. “I’m not planning on having children.” “Not planning on it?” Eleanor’s voice rose sharply, a furious shout. “If you’re not having children, then what good are you to the Miller family? Your background is nothing special, your career’s a joke, and you can’t even pop out a kid. What good are you? I should have never agreed to Leo marrying you!” I knew Leo’s parents had always looked down on me these past five years. Before, for Leo’s sake, I had always endured it. But now, I didn’t have to keep quiet anymore. “Anyway, let’s not talk about that for now,” Eleanor paused, then lowered her voice. “Next week is Leo’s dad’s sixtieth birthday. You and Leo both need to come home. Make sure to prepare a grand gift for him. Don’t you dare embarrass my son!” I was silent for a moment. Then, I smiled. “Alright.” Oh, I would definitely give them a grand gift. … In the blink of an eye, it was Arthur’s sixtieth birthday party. When I arrived at the Miller family mansion, the grand hall was already packed with relatives and friends, buzzing with conversation and laughter. What surprised me was that Chloe was there too. Leo made no effort to hide her, introducing her to relatives and friends one by one. My face set in a grim expression, I walked towards them and asked coldly, “Leo, it’s your dad’s birthday today. Why did you bring that persistent pest, Chloe, here?” Before Leo could answer, Arthur rushed forward. “Skylar, what kind of talk is that? Chloe is my god-daughter! We met fishing. Don’t you dare be rude to her!” “God-daughter?” I was stunned. I hadn’t realized that not only had Leo’s heart drifted, but even his parents were slowly being charmed by Chloe. I, on the other hand, had become a complete outsider. Chloe suddenly extended a glass of wine towards me, her face plastered with a fake smile. “Sister-in-law, you’ve arrived just in time! I’d like to propose a toast! Honestly, you misunderstood last time. Leo was just celebrating my birthday, nothing more. And even though you almost gave me a concussion last time, thanks to Leo’s careful attention, my injuries are almost healed.” “What?!” Arthur heard her words and looked at me in shock, his nostrils flaring with anger. “Skylar, the injuries on Chloe’s head last time, *you* did that? Chloe has no quarrel with you! Are you insane?!” “Godfather, please don’t be angry,” Chloe said, feigning concern. “My injuries aren’t serious, and I’ve already forgiven Sister-in-law.” Chloe forcefully placed the wine glass in my hand, smiling artificially. “Sister-in-law, let’s drink this glass, and we can put this behind us.” With that, she raised her own glass and chugged it. I glared at her, my fingers tightening around my glass. Then, I abruptly flipped it over, splashing all the wine onto her face. “Chloe Meng, who the hell wants to put anything behind them with you?!”

“Skylar, what are you doing?!” Arthur’s eyes widened in outrage. “Chloe was being nice, toasting you. What is your attitude?!” Eleanor’s face was dark as she scolded me. “Skylar, it’s your dad’s birthday today. Are you deliberately trying to ruin the party?!” Chloe wiped the wine from her face, her shoulders trembling slightly as she feigned hurt. “Sister-in-law, do you have some misunderstanding about me? If I did something wrong, please tell me. I’ll apologize, okay?” “Chloe Meng, you know exactly what you did! Stop pretending!” No sooner had the words left my mouth than Leo stepped forward and savagely slapped me. His eyes were wide with fury, his face terrifyingly grim. “Skylar, don’t you dare take this too far! Chloe was being kind, toasting you, even humbling herself to apologize to you, and you’re still targeting her? What is your problem?!” “My problem?” I laughed, a bitter, angry sound. “I’d like to ask *you* and *her* what your problem is!” Chloe quickly stepped in to mediate. “Leo, darling, please don’t argue with Sister-in-law. It’s Godfather’s birthday today. Don’t let me upset him!” With that, she pulled a gift box from her bag and, like a child showing off a treasure, opened it in front of Arthur. “Godfather, this is the gift I prepared for you. Do you like it?” Arthur’s anger vanished the moment he saw the gift in her hand. “A top-grade red jade!” Arthur beamed, his mouth unable to close. “Chloe, you’re so thoughtful! Truly my good daughter!” “This jade must be hundreds of thousands, right?” Eleanor’s eyes sparkled. “Chloe, I had no idea you were so wealthy!” Chloe smiled, feigning shyness. “It’s just a small token of my appreciation. I hope Godfather likes it.” Then she turned to me, a provocative smirk on her lips. “Sister-in-law, what grand gift did *you* prepare for Godfather? Why don’t you show it to everyone?” “Yeah, let’s see it!” The relatives chimed in, echoing her. Watching Chloe’s smug face, I wanted to laugh with bitter irony. I knew she wanted to humiliate me in front of everyone. But I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction! “A grand gift? Of course!” In front of all our friends and family, I slowly pulled out a sealed, clear plastic box. I parted my lips and spoke softly, “This… is the grand gift I’m giving to my father-in-law!” Chloe froze instantly. Leo’s pupils constricted, his gaze locked on the box in my hand, his face turning deathly pale. Arthur frowned, looking confused. “What is that? A box of meat?” Eleanor exploded in anger, scolding me. “Skylar, Chloe bought your dad jade worth hundreds of thousands, and what did *you* prepare? Something so tacky and inappropriate!” The surrounding relatives and friends began whispering, mocking me for being cheap and embarrassing. I remained calm, my eyes fixed on Leo and Chloe, and slowly began to speak. “Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, haven’t you always wanted a grandchild? What I’m holding in my hand… is the grandchild you’ve been so eagerly awaiting!”

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