I hid my identity and married a poor guy, all because his mother told him from day one of our relationship: *A man who treasures his wife gets blessed by fortune.* My husband, Ethan Barlow, treated her words like a holy commandment. When I casually mentioned wanting seafood, he’d drive to the docks at midnight just to pick out the freshest crabs for me. When I didn’t feel like walking, he’d carry me on his back up sixteen flights of stairs. Later, he started a gourmet seafood chain. Within a few years, his business skyrocketed. He went from a fishmonger at a local market to a multimillionaire CEO. Everyone said I was the luckiest woman alive, pampered by my husband so much that I couldn’t even unscrew a water bottle cap myself. Until last week, when a famous heiress from Manhattan’s high society set her eyes on him. Ethan came home and handed me a divorce agreement, along with a transfer of fifty million dollars in assets. “Sera, this fifty million is your compensation.” “The wife I need now is someone who can stand beside me as an equal.” I calmly signed my name, turned around, grabbed my purse, and went to the bank. Looking at the bank statement showing my true personal balance of over thirty billion dollars, I couldn’t help but laugh. Since Ethan didn’t want to pamper me anymore, I guess I’d just find a hotter, sweeter, poorer young guy to spoil instead.

When I pushed open the double doors of our villa, the living room floor was cluttered with my clothes. My mother-in-law, Patricia Barlow, was directing the maid to sweep my expensive skincare products brutally into black trash bags. Hearing the door, she quickened her steps and grabbed my hand. “Oh, Seraphina, my heart aches for you.” “You’re a good girl, but Ethan is a CEO worth millions now.” “Our company is going public, and we desperately need that hundred-million-dollar investment from the Vance family.” She pushed my hand away, her eyes suddenly filled with disdain. “You can’t even unscrew a water bottle cap. Staying with Ethan will only drag him down.” “I know you feel wronged, but for Ethan’s future, you need to be sensible.” I looked at her calculating face and found it hilarious. Back when Ethan was just a poor boy selling fish at the market, Patricia was the one holding my hand, bragging to everyone that a man who listened to his wife would make a fortune. Back then, I was exhausted by the cutthroat corporate world. I just wanted a simple life with a simple man. So, I naively believed her. Later, when he started his seafood chain, I helped him behind the scenes. In just a few years, his company’s valuation soared. Everyone thought I was just lucky, pampered into a useless doll by Ethan. They had no idea. The only reason Ethan could secure those premium supply chains—monopolized by the city’s top oligarchs—was because I pulled the strings from behind the curtain. I ignored Patricia and turned to look at Ethan, who was sitting on the sofa, smoking. He stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, and walked over to me. There was a hint of guilt in his eyes, but also a trace of lingering affection. He reached out to touch my cheek, but I tilted my head to dodge him. “Sera, I’m sorry.” “That fifty million compensation is more than enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life.” “I also bought you a luxury penthouse downtown. If you ever run into trouble, you can always call me.” I stared at him quietly. “Are you that desperate for money?” “For Tiffany Vance’s investment, you’re throwing away years of our marriage?” A flash of pain crossed Ethan’s face, but he quickly looked away. “Sera, you don’t understand how brutal the business world is.” “The seafood industry is cutthroat. Without the Vance family’s capital and connections, my company could go bankrupt any day.” “I need a wife who can fight beside me in the boardroom, not a little girl who waits for me to crack lobster claws for her at home.” His tone softened a bit. “I still care about you, but reality is just this cruel.” He loved me, sure. But he loved money more. Seeing Ethan soften, Patricia slapped her thigh in a panic. “Ethan! Miss Vance is going to be here any minute! Don’t do something stupid!” “She’s just a woman who knows how to spend money. She got fifty million dollars for doing nothing! What more does she want?” I lowered my eyes, hiding the mockery in them. “Fine. I’ll leave.” I didn’t even look at my designer clothes on the floor. I only picked up a simple black leather briefcase near the foyer. Inside was the list of my real assets. As I walked to the door, a red Ferrari screeched to a halt in the courtyard. The door swung open, and Tiffany Vance, dressed in a haute couture skirt and high heels, stepped out. She looked me up and down, pulled a check from her Hermès bag, and held it out between two fingers. “Seraphina Sterling, right?” “I heard you got fifty million from Ethan.” “Here’s another million. Take it and disappear from New York high society forever.” Patricia immediately rushed forward, her face practically glowing with greed. “Miss Vance is so generous!” “Sera! Hurry up and thank Miss Vance!” I didn’t take the check. I just stared at Tiffany for a moment. Suddenly, I laughed. “Miss Vance, since you’re so filthy rich…” “Why don’t you first pay off the ten million dollars in unpaid supply bills that Ethan’s company owes?” The moment I said this, Ethan’s face drained of color. He looked at me in shock. “How do you know about the ten million in unpaid bills?!” I smiled, offered no explanation, and walked right past them out the door. Since Ethan believed Tiffany could fight beside him, let him find out. Let him see how brutal the business world really is once he loses his ultimate backer.

After leaving the villa, I checked straight into the penthouse suite of the Celestial Heights Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in New York. The entire building was under my name. When the general manager saw me, he almost dropped his walkie-talkie in shock. I waved my hand to cut off his formal greetings. Sinking into the plush sofa, I sent a direct text to my assistant. “Cut off all premium seafood supply chains to Barlow Seafood.” “Also, find me a young guy. Must be extremely handsome, sweet-talking, and very poor.” Since Ethan didn’t want to pamper me anymore, I needed someone else to do the job. This time, I wasn’t going to hide my wealth. I refused to believe money couldn’t buy me absolute emotional satisfaction. The next morning, I went to Barlow Seafood to sign the final paperwork to withdraw my shares. To protect Ethan’s fragile ego back then, I had only taken a symbolic 5% non-voting equity. As I approached the conference room, Patricia’s exaggerated laughter echoed through the door. “Oh, Miss Vance, this emerald-cut diamond bracelet you gave me is gorgeous!” “Unlike that Seraphina, who only knew how to spend Ethan’s money and never bought me a single decent gift.” I pushed the door open, showing no expression. The room fell dead silent. Tiffany was sitting at the head of the table, playing with her manicured nails. Ethan stood beside her, staring at some financial reports with a deep frown. Seeing me, Ethan immediately put down the documents. “Sera, why are you here?” “The money for your shares has already been wired to your account by accounting.” I walked to the table and tossed my pen onto the documents. “I’m just here to grab my personal files.” Tiffany leaned back in her chair and let out a scoff. “Seraphina, you got your money, so learn to behave.” “Coming to the office today—are you trying to play hard to get?” “Ethan is very busy. He doesn’t have time for your games.” Patricia quickly jumped in. “Exactly!” “Sera, don’t be ungrateful.” “The Vance family is about to invest a hundred million dollars! Ethan is a rising star in New York now!” “If you keep harassing him, Miss Vance will make sure you can’t even find a job in this city!” I looked at Patricia’s brown-nosing face and found it incredibly pathetic. “A hundred million dollars?” I raised an eyebrow and looked at Ethan. “Mr. Barlow, has Miss Vance’s wire cleared yet?” “Because I heard your largest seafood supplier suddenly cut off your inventory this morning.” Ethan’s hand froze over the files. “How do you know about the supply shortage?!” He was indeed losing his mind. That supplier controlled eighty percent of the premium seafood imports in New York. Once they cut the supply, Barlow Seafood’s reputation would be ruined by tonight. Tiffany’s face shifted slightly, but she forced a cold sneer. “So what if they cut us off?” “Once my family’s hundred million clears, we can find any supplier we want!” I gasped dramatically, mocking her. “Oh, wow. Miss Vance is so powerful.” “Then you better hurry. Seafood rots very quickly, you know. It’s going to stink up the place.” I leisurely packed my personal documents into my bag and turned to leave. Ethan rushed out after me, grabbing my arm. “Sera, stop playing games!” “Do you know someone at that supplier?” He looked into my eyes, his voice filled with exhaustion and desperation. “Please, put in a good word for me.” “We were married, after all. Do you really have the heart to watch my life’s work go down the drain?” I shook off his grip without a second thought. “You must be joking, Mr. Barlow.” “How could a useless girl like me know a top supplier?” Seeing Ethan’s crushed expression, my mood instantly improved. Down in the lobby, a young guy in a crisp white shirt was leaning against a pillar, waiting for me. He had a jawline that could cut glass, but when he smiled, he had this look of pure, innocent charm. “Hey, beautiful. Are you done with your business?” He ran over and naturally took the bag from my hand. I looked at Julian Montgomery, the “poor boy” my assistant had found according to my exact specifications, and smiled with satisfaction. “Let’s go. I’m taking you out for a feast.” Behind us, Ethan, who had chased me down to the lobby, stood there with a face as black as coal.

The crisis at Barlow Seafood was far worse than Ethan had anticipated. Within three days, foot traffic at his high-end locations plummeted. The hundred-million-dollar investment Tiffany promised was constantly delayed in “compliance checks.” Patricia was frantic, digging for information everywhere. Somehow, she heard a rumor that Julian, my new “poor boy,” actually had connections to secure premium seafood. That afternoon, I was having street tacos with Julian at an outdoor patio. Julian was incredibly sweet, carefully squeezing lime juice over my tacos and wiping my fingers with a napkin. “Try this, Sera. It’s really good.” I had just taken a bite when a black Mercedes-Maybach screeched to a halt by the curb. Ethan and Patricia stepped out, their faces grim. Patricia stormed over and slammed her hand on our table, knocking over the salsa. “Seraphina! Is this how I taught you to behave?” “Have some self-respect!” “Make this boy hand over the seafood supply chain right now, and Ethan might still forgive your little tantrum!” Ethan stared at Julian’s hand, which was gently brushing a stray hair from my face. His eyes burned with jealousy. He stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. “Sera, stop using this loser to make me jealous.” “What’s the point of finding a pretty boy who has nothing going for him but his face?” He suppressed his rage, his voice trembling. “Just have him give me the supply chain, and I won’t take back the fifty million.” “I can even offer him a job as a security guard at my company.” “Stop ruining your own life!” I wrenched my wrist free, finding the mother and son utterly delusional. “Mr. Barlow, are you confused?” “We are divorced.” “Who I date and what I eat has absolutely nothing to do with you.” I grabbed a napkin to wipe my hands, looking at him coldly. “And as for the supply chain, why on earth should Julian give it to you?” “Because of your bloated ego? Or because your mother screams the loudest?” Ethan was speechless. Just then, several black SUVs pulled up. The doors slid open, and a dozen muscular bodyguards in black suits poured out, surrounding our table. Tiffany, stepping high on her Louboutins, walked over, escorted by her entourage. She looked at the messy table, then at me, letting out a sharp laugh. “I wondered who was bold enough to block our supply chain.” “Turns out it’s just a discarded ex-wife playing sugar mommy to some boytoy!” Tiffany walked up to Julian, lifting her chin arrogantly. “Look, kid. I don’t care what scam you used to get those supply lines.” “Hand them over. Now.” “Otherwise, I’ll make sure you can’t even beg for scraps in this city.” Julian popped a piece of taco into his mouth, chewed slowly, and didn’t even look at her. Feeling humiliated, Tiffany pointed at Julian and screamed. “Trash his stand! Teach this boy a lesson!” The bodyguards immediately lunged forward. The patio erupted into chaos. Tables were flipped, chairs shattered, and food flew everywhere. Patricia stood on the side, screaming fake concern. “Oh dear! Stop fighting! Stop it!” But she kept backing away, and in the confusion, she gave me a vicious shove from behind. I was standing near the edge of the patio. With her push, I lost my balance and fell hard onto the concrete, right onto some shattered glass. A sharp pain shot through my palm. Fresh red blood immediately began to pool on my wrist. “Sera!” Julian tried to rush over to help me, but two bodyguards held him back. I sat on the ground, looking at the blood on my hand, my eyes turning ice-cold.

The throbbing pain in my palm made me frown. Seeing the blood, Ethan’s face changed instantly. He instinctively took a step toward me, trying to help me up. “Sera!” There was genuine panic in his voice. But before he could touch me, Tiffany grabbed his arm tightly. “Ethan! If you dare help her today, the Vance family’s hundred-million-dollar investment is canceled!” Ethan’s hand froze in mid-air. He looked at my bleeding hand, then at the furious Tiffany. His eyes were torn with conflict. Patricia rushed over, locking her arms around Ethan’s other side. “Ethan! Don’t be a fool!” “She fell because she didn’t watch where she was going! What does that have to do with you?” “If you offend Miss Vance for an outsider, our company is finished!” Ethan closed his eyes in agony. When he opened them again, there was no warmth left. He stood there, looking down at me, his voice dry. “Sera, I’m sorry.” “Just bear with it. Go to the hospital and get it bandaged.” “I’ll pay for the medical bill.” In the face of a hundred million dollars, his pathetic version of love was ultimately worthless. Sitting on the dirty ground, I felt deeply disgusted. Seeing Ethan’s choice, Tiffany smiled triumphantly. She stepped forward, and her sharp stiletto heel came down right on my bleeding hand, grinding down hard. “Seraphina, learn your place.” “A useless trash who can’t even open a water bottle cap dares to fight me for a man?” “You think you can play with me?” She bent down, lowering her voice. “Do you believe that with one phone call, I can make sure you disappear from New York forever?” I stared at her foot on my hand and didn’t say a word. I just suddenly yanked my hand back with brute force, throwing her off balance. Tiffany stumbled, and just as she was about to snap, Julian, who was held by the bodyguards, suddenly exploded with strength. He kicked the bodyguard in front of him straight in the chest, breaking free, and rushed to my side. He knelt on one knee, gently cradled my injured hand, and pulled a pristine white silk handkerchief from his pocket to wrap it. His eyes, usually so bright and innocent, were now cold enough to freeze water. “Ms. Sterling, I am deeply sorry for this lapse in security.” Julian’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly to everyone’s ears. Ethan froze. “Ms. Sterling?” “What do you mean, Ms. Sterling?” Before anyone could react, the deafening roar of high-performance engines echoed from both ends of the street. A dozen blacked-out Rolls-Royces with low-digit vanity plates swerved in, completely blocking off the street. The doors opened in perfect unison. Dozens of elite, highly trained bodyguards in tactical suits rushed out, securing the entire perimeter. Tiffany’s thugs looked at this military-grade security force and didn’t even dare to breathe. From the middle Rolls-Royce, a chubby, middle-aged man climbed out. He didn’t even bother to wipe the cold sweat pouring down his face as he stumbled through the crowd. *Thud!* He dropped straight to his knees right in front of me. When Tiffany saw the man, she gasped, her voice cracking in pure terror.

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I had been with Chloe for five years. My love for her was the worst-kept secret in the entire city. Everyone sneered behind my back, calling me her loyal golden retriever—always on call, discarded the second she was bored. On the day of our wedding fitting, I stood in front of the mirror wearing a custom $40,000 tuxedo, waiting for her. Instead of Chloe, I got a text saying she had rushed to take my brother Tristan’s cat to the emergency vet. “Carter, stop being so dramatic,” Chloe’s voice drifted through the receiver, laced with annoyance. “The cat is really sick. You can fit that tuxedo any day, can’t you?” I looked at my reflection in the mirror, forced a smile, and slowly began unbuttoning the jacket. “Then let’s not fit it. Let’s not get married at all.” She let out a mocking scoff and hung up. She probably thought I was throwing another tantrum. She was probably expecting me to crawl back and apologize in a couple of days with my tail between my legs. After all, for five years, I was always the one to bow my head first after every single fight. But she didn’t know that just yesterday, I signed an offer with a top-tier investment firm on Wall Street. A $500,000 starting salary. My flight to New York was next week. I used to be a fool, treating her like a goddess. But now, I was wide awake. This trash wedding? Anyone else could have it. I was done.

“Just because I skipped your fitting to help Tristan with his sick cat, you’re calling off the wedding?” Chloe’s voice on the phone was dripping with patronizing amusement. “Carter, have you lost your mind? Over this?” “Yes, over this,” I replied, staring at the sharp lines of the tuxedo in the mirror. My eyes were completely dead. “I’m calling it off. We’re done.” Chloe let out a sharp, angry laugh. In the background, I could hear Tristan’s whiny, dramatic voice consoling her. “This is the eighth time this year you’ve threatened to break up with me,” Chloe sighed. “Carter, you’re a grown man. Stop acting like a dramatic teenager throwing a tantrum. I’m exhausted.” “I have never been more certain about anything in my life. We are through.” My mind had never been this clear. Chloe grit her teeth, her voice turning icy. “Fine. Have it your way. If you walk out of that boutique today, don’t you dare come crawling back. Even if you beg on your knees, I won’t look at you again. Don’t regret this!” *Click.* The call was cut off. I took a deep breath, called the stylist over, and took off the designer jacket without a second thought. The fabric had felt so heavy, but the moment it slid off my shoulders, it felt like a five-year boulder had finally shattered off my chest. As I changed back into my casual clothes and reached for the door, my phone buzzed. It was a picture from my brother, Tristan. In the photo, Chloe was leaning over, tenderly bottle-feeding a fluffy Ragdoll cat. Her profile looked incredibly soft and gentle. Beneath the photo was a text: *”Looks like our little ‘Beanpole’ is throwing another fit, huh? Man, I envy how much free time you have to be dramatic. Chloe is just too sweet—she couldn’t bear to leave a poor kitty suffering. Don’t be mad at her, little bro.”* “Our little Beanpole.” Seeing those words made my stomach churn with pure disgust. Growing up, I was skinny and sickly. Tristan had rallied all the neighborhood kids to call me “Beanpole.” Once, he even pushed me into a deep sandbox, laughing that a beanpole belonged in the dirt. It was bad enough coming from him, but I had told Chloe thousands of times how much I loathed that nickname. It was my ultimate childhood trauma. Yet, just two days ago, in front of a group of her wealthy friends, Chloe had laughed, patted my head, and said, “Our little Beanpole just has a short fuse.” I had frozen in embarrassment, and she had blamed me for “not being able to take a joke.” And now, Tristan was using that exact nickname to mark his territory like he was the actual husband. I didn’t write a three-page essay to argue back like I used to. I didn’t call Chloe screaming. I calmly saved the screenshot, set both of their Snapchat accounts to “Do Not Disturb,” and walked out. The afternoon sun was blinding. I hailed a cab. “To the train station, please.” To hell with this love. To hell with this family. I was done serving them.

“Are you insane? You actually broke up with her? Canceled the whole wedding?” My best friend, Luke, stared at me over the table, spilling half his iced coffee in shock. I calmly stirred the ice in my cup. “Yep. It’s officially over.” “But…” Luke swallowed hard, looking at me like I had grown a second head. “Carter, don’t take this the wrong way, but that doesn’t sound like you at all. You used to worship the ground she walked on.” “That was then. Now? I just think she’s toxic.” I took a sip of my black coffee. The bitter taste ran down my throat, keeping my mind incredibly sharp. Luke sighed, reaching over to pat my shoulder. “Honestly, good for you. You should’ve dumped that toxic girl a long time ago. But… are you really okay with letting her go?” *Am I okay with it?* I had asked myself that question during countless sleepless nights. Could I really let go of Chloe? Five years ago, I was a sickly, painfully thin college kid with zero self-esteem. I was working a shift at a convenience store when a middle-aged guy in a designer suit accused me of stealing his expensive lighter from the counter. He pointed a finger in my face, yelling, “It was you, you poor rat! I bet you’ve never seen something this expensive in your miserable life! Give it back before I call the cops!” I couldn’t prove my innocence. The security cameras were broken, and the crowd of customers just stared and whispered. “I didn’t take it, I swear…” I clenched my fists, my palms sweating, feeling completely helpless. Just as the man raised his hand to shove me, a slim but firm hand blocked him. I looked up and saw Chloe, wearing a crisp white shirt. She stood right in front of me, her voice ringing clear and confident. “Sir, the cameras might be down, but I’ve been standing right behind that aisle. I saw your lighter slip into the inner pocket of your briefcase. If you keep harassing this employee, I’ll call the police and report you for defamation.” The man blinked, searched his bag, and found the lighter. He scurried away in embarrassment. As the crowd dispersed, I was so tense I couldn’t even form a proper thank-you. She turned to me and smiled, her eyes sparkling. She said, “Don’t be scared. If you didn’t do it, don’t let anyone bully you into saying you did.” In that dark, miserable period of my life, Chloe became my only light. After that day, I worked out like crazy to get fit, and I did everything to treat her like a queen. I thought I had found my savior. I thought a loser like me finally deserved to be loved. The day I confessed my feelings, Chloe’s eyes welled with tears as she hugged me tight. “Carter, you don’t have to change a thing for me. Skinny, muscular, whatever—as long as it’s you, I love you.” I cherished those words for five years. I thought we were a match made in heaven. Until Tristan came back from college in London and forced his way into our lives under the guise of “family.” That was when I realized Chloe’s warmth was never exclusive to me. She could shine her light on me, but she was just as eager to pour it all over Tristan. And I was nothing but a cheap prop she used to make herself feel like a saint.

Tristan’s first contact with Chloe started with a “broken laptop.” “Hey, Carter, I heard your girlfriend works in tech. Send me her Snapchat. My laptop crashed, and I have some urgent files to recover.” We had never gotten along, so his sudden friendliness made me feel flattered. Like an idiot, I shared Chloe’s contact info. For the next two weeks, Tristan never brought it up again, so I assumed everything was fine. Until the three of us met up for dinner one night. Looking at the menu, I was about to order a peanut butter lava cake when Chloe suddenly grabbed my wrist, blurting out: “Don’t order that. Your brother is severely allergic to peanuts.” I froze. My brain went entirely numb. I had never told Chloe about Tristan’s peanut allergy. I slowly turned to look at Tristan. He was holding his water glass, a smug little smirk on his lips. “Oh, Chloe has such a great memory,” Tristan chuckled. “I casually mentioned it during our late-night chat the other night, and she actually remembered.” *Late-night chat? The other night?* I looked at Chloe, my blood running cold. Behind my back, they had already become close enough to have intimate late-night conversations. On the drive home, I snapped at Chloe for the first time. “Why are you talking to my brother privately behind my back?” Chloe looked completely innocent, her face quickly turning into a mask of annoyance. “Carter, are you seriously paranoid? He’s your brother! He just got back to the country and needed some help. What’s wrong with me being nice? I’m trying to build a good relationship with your family for our future!” “But you crossed the line!” I gripped the steering wheel tightly. “Crossed the line? I helped him fix his laptop and we had a normal chat! How is that crossing the line? Ugh, Beanpole, can you please stop being so insecure? You’re making a mountain out of a molehill.” *Beanpole.* She called me Beanpole again. The energy drained out of me instantly. I had shown her my deepest scars hoping she would comfort me, but she chose to rub salt right in them. From that day on, Tristan acted like he had a free pass to disrespect me. If I asked Chloe to pick up a package for me on her way home, she’d make excuses for three days about being too tired. But if Tristan texted her at midnight saying he wanted taco drive-thru from the other side of town, she’d grab her keys and drive thirty minutes to get it for him. On Valentine’s Day, she bought me a bouquet of cheap clearance roses. But for Tristan’s birthday, she spent half her paycheck on a limited-edition designer watch. I lost my temper. I went to my parents to confront them. But do you know what my parents said? “Tristan is your brother! What’s wrong with Chloe helping him out? You’re a grown man, Carter. Keeping your girlfriend on such a tight leash is pathetic. No woman will want to marry a petty man like you!” “Your brother has always been more successful and charming than you. He’s just helping you test her loyalty! Stop being so ungrateful!” Everyone stood on their moral high ground, pointing fingers at me. Everyone treated me like a jealous, psychotic lunatic. Over time, I even started to doubt myself. *Was I really being too narrow-minded? Was something wrong with me?* I fell into a spiral of self-doubt, checking her phone like a madman, only to be humiliated by her again and again under the excuse of “family bonding.” The final blow that made me cut this toxic cancer out of my life happened last month, on the day of my surgery.

Last month, I had chronic, severe stomach pain for weeks. The doctor recommended an immediate laparoscopic surgery to remove a potentially precancerous polyp. I was terrified. A week before the procedure, I begged Chloe to accompany me to the hospital. She didn’t even look up from her phone. “We have a major project launch next week. I can’t take time off. It’s just a minor outpatient surgery, Carter. Go by yourself. Don’t be so needy.” Swallowing my tears, I signed the consent forms alone. I lay on the cold operating table alone. When the anesthesia wore off, I was shivering from pain and sweat, barely having the strength to pour myself a glass of water. I grabbed my phone, desperate to hear Chloe’s voice. She picked up, but the background was loud and bustling. “Hey, Chloe… are you done with work? I’m really hurting…” My voice trembled. “I’m with a client right now. It’s super loud here. I gotta go, get some rest!” She hung up within ten seconds. I stared at the black screen, tears burning my eyes. Needing some hot water, I held onto the wall, slowly dragging my feet out of the recovery room. But as I rounded the corner near the orthopedic clinic, I froze. There, right outside the doctor’s office, my girlfriend—who was supposedly “meeting a client”—was kneeling on the floor, tenderly massaging Tristan’s ankle. Tristan was sitting in a chair, wearing his limited-edition sneakers, complaining, “It’s your fault. You just had to drag me to that mall, and now I have a blister.” Chloe gently applied a band-aid, her voice softer than I had heard in years. “My bad, my bad. I’ll drive you home and buy you dinner, okay?” Standing in that sterile hallway, the draft blew right through my thin hospital gown. I didn’t storm over. I didn’t scream. I just stood there quietly, watching them laugh as they stepped into the elevator together. Suddenly, I just felt so incredibly tired. So tired. To preserve a relationship with a woman who didn’t love me, and a brother who never respected me, I had turned myself into a circus clown. She didn’t lack boundaries; she just didn’t care about mine. Whether she was actually trying to “get close to my family” or just using Tristan to scratch some taboo itch, I didn’t care anymore. Once something is ruined, I throw it away. I walked back to my hospital bed and fell into the most peaceful sleep I’d had in years. From that day on, I stopped arguing. I stopped checking her phone. I stopped reacting to Tristan’s provocations. Chloe actually thought I had finally “matured” and learned to be “understanding.” She had no idea that when a man stops fighting with you, it means he has already checked out. I began studying like a maniac to finish my CFA certification and secretly sent my resume to top investment firms in New York. I was never dumber than Tristan. My SAT score was nearly perfect, and I had topped my class in college. But my parents were incredibly biased. They threw all their money at Tristan so he could play around at an expensive school in London, while forcing me to stay local and work part-time to pay for his lifestyle. But I was done accepting that fate. The moment I stopped focusing on Chloe and Tristan, my world became limitless. With my stellar resume and flawless interviews, I landed a Senior Associate position at a powerhouse firm on Wall Street, with an annual package close to $500,000. Everything was set. I just needed a clean break. I was planning to tell her calmly on the day of the wedding fitting. But she chose to prioritize Tristan’s cat instead. So be it. She could go spend the rest of her life with that cat.

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The night my brother, Logan, went to his fiancée’s house to finalize their wedding date, I invited him out for hotpot to help him destress. Once we sat down, I teased him casually. “Wow, Logan, since when do you have such a big appetite? You’re actually eating cilantro. Didn’t you use to hate it?” He smiled faintly, his voice flat and emotionless. “Tastes change. It’s good to try new things once in a while.” As he spoke, he scooped a massive spoonful of peanut butter, slathered it over a slice of beef, and swallowed it whole. My heart instantly seized. No one knew better than I did— Logan had a severe, life-threatening peanut allergy. Even a trace amount would send him into anaphylactic shock. He hadn’t touched a single peanut product his entire life. Suppressing the rising panic in my chest, I forced a smile and raised my glass. “Come on, let’s toast to your upcoming wedding. Cheers!” As I spoke, I discreetly double-tapped the bottom of my glass. This was a secret signal Logan and I had shared since we were kids. But the man sitting across from me didn’t notice at all. He simply clinked his glass against mine, tilted his head, and downed his drink. I stared at his flawless, calm expression. Cold sweat broke out across my back. The man in front of me was not Logan. If he wasn’t my brother… where on earth was the real Logan? 0

The spicy red broth bubbled violently in the pot, the rising white steam blurring my vision of the man sitting opposite me. This local hotpot joint was our absolute favorite. Ever since Logan went to his fiancée Clara’s house a week ago to discuss the wedding, we hadn’t seen each other for days. The moment he got back today, I dragged him here. “Leo, what are you daydreaming about? The beef is getting overcooked.” The man opposite me urged. He smoothly used his tongs to scoop up a piece of beef and dropped it into his dipping bowl. I stared at his bowl, my brain completely freezing. The blood in my veins turned to ice. His bowl was covered in a thick layer of cilantro, topped with a heavy scoop of rich peanut butter. He picked up the beef, dripping with peanut butter and cilantro, stuffed it into his mouth without a second thought, and chewed happily. “Man, this place is still as good as always,” he mumbled around his food. Under the table, my hands began to shake uncontrollably. Since we were kids, Logan had detested cilantro. He said it smelled like stinkbugs. But more importantly, he was lethally allergic to peanuts! When we were little, he once accidentally ate a cookie with peanut butter. Within five minutes, his entire body broke out in hives, his throat swelled up, and he nearly stopped breathing. He spent the entire night in the ICU. The doctors barely pulled him back from the edge of death. Since then, “peanuts” became an absolute taboo in our house. Yet now, this “Logan” sitting in front of me was not only eating cilantro, but he was also swallowing massive amounts of peanut butter! And he had absolutely no reaction. No hives, no wheezing, no pale face. He looked perfectly healthy, laughing and talking. “Logan…” My voice sounded dry, like sandpaper. “I thought… you couldn’t eat peanuts?” His hand paused for a fraction of a second. A tiny, almost imperceptible flash of panic crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a natural smile. “Oh, did you forget? I went to see an alternative medicine specialist a while ago. He put me on some herbal immunotherapy. A few days ago at Clara’s place, her mom didn’t know about my allergy and made peanut pastries. I took a bite and felt completely fine. Looks like I’ve been desensitized.” He explained smoothly while grabbing another slice of lamb. “And about cilantro, I used to hate it, but now I suddenly find it pretty good. Tastes change as you grow up, you know?” Desensitized? A lethal, genetic allergy cured by some random herbs? That was statistically impossible. I forced down the urge to slam my hands on the table. Taking a deep breath, I picked up my beer glass. “Oh, really? That’s great. We can eat so much more stuff together now. Come on, bro, cheers.” I held my glass out. He smiled, raised his glass, and clinked it against mine. *Clink.* I stared intently at his fingers. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Logan and I had a secret habit from our childhood. We grew up in foster care together. Back then, whenever we got a can of soda or a bowl of hot soup to share, we would double-tap the bottom of the container with our fingers when clinking them together. It was our way of saying, *we’re in this together.* We kept this habit even after we grew up. Whenever it was just the two of us drinking, whether it was water or beer, we always double-tapped the bottom of the glass. It was our secret code. Our adoptive parents didn’t know, and Clara didn’t know either. But just now, he had simply clinked my glass normally and taken a big gulp. I gripped my cold glass so hard my knuckles turned white. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst through my ribs. The exact same face, the exact same voice, even the same clothing style and speech patterns. But he was not Logan. Absolutely not! Then where was the real Logan? And who was this monster wearing my brother’s skin? 0

I couldn’t taste a single thing for the rest of the dinner. I did my best to hide my suspicion, pretending to chat with him normally. I couldn’t show my hand yet. If he wasn’t Logan, then the real Logan was in extreme danger, or maybe even… I didn’t dare to finish that thought. By the time we got home, it was already 9:00 PM. I pushed the front door open. The living room was lit with a warm, cozy light. My adoptive father, Arthur, was sitting on the couch watching the news, while my adoptive mother, Helen, was in the kitchen slicing fruit. Twenty years ago, they adopted Logan and me from foster care. They didn’t have biological children of their own, and over the years, they treated us like their flesh and blood. They put us through college, bought us clothes, and gave us a real home. In my heart, they were my real parents. “Hey, Dad. Mom. We’re home,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady as I kicked off my shoes. “You’re back! Was the hotpot good? You smell like smoke, go take a shower,” Helen said, walking out of the kitchen with a fruit platter, her smile warm and gentle. The fake “Logan” walked over naturally and wrapped his arm around Helen’s shoulders. “Mom, I’m stuffed. Leo kept ordering so much meat.” “Oh, you. You’re about to fit into your wedding suit, you need to watch what you eat,” Helen laughed, patting his arm. Arthur also put down the remote control, smiling warmly at us. It was such a peaceful, ordinary family scene. But it made my skin crawl. I took a deep breath and sat down on the armchair. “Hey Mom, something weird happened today,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Logan ate peanut butter at the restaurant, and he was completely fine. Not a single hive.” The air in the living room seemed to freeze instantly. Only the muffled voice of the TV news anchor echoed in the silence. I stared at my parents’ faces, watching for any tiny reaction. Helen’s hand slipped, and her knife clicked sharply against the glass platter. The smile on Arthur’s face stiffened for a brief second. But Helen recovered quickly. She popped a piece of apple into the fake Logan’s mouth and turned to smile at me. “Oh, that? I thought it was something serious. Didn’t Logan tell you? I took him to an amazing herbalist a few months ago. He swore he could cure allergies, and look at that, it actually worked!” Arthur nodded in agreement. “Yeah, Leo, you worry too much. Your brother is getting married soon. It’s a blessing that his health is getting better.” My heart sank into a dark, bottomless abyss. They were lying. Logan had never been to any herbalist! His allergy was a severe genetic defect. It was medically impossible to cure. The specialists at the hospital had told us that years ago, and my parents were right there in the room! Why were they helping this imposter cover up his lie? Could it be… A terrifying thought exploded in my brain, making my scalp go numb. Did my parents already know he wasn’t Logan? Or worse… were they in on it together?! Suddenly, the home I had lived in for twenty years felt completely foreign and terrifying. The air around me felt thick and suffocating, like breathing in wet cement. “Maybe I’m just overthinking. I’m going to go take a shower,” I muttered. I stood up abruptly, keeping my head down as I rushed to my bedroom. I shut the door and locked it immediately. Leaning against the door, my legs gave out, and I slid down to the floor. Cold sweat drenched my shirt. I was completely alone. In this house, everyone except me was a monster. Where was Logan? Was he already…? No! Logan was smart. If he realized he was in danger, he would have left me a clue! I had to calm down. I couldn’t panic. Logan was waiting for me to save him. 0

I dragged myself up from the floor. I didn’t dare turn on the light. Using only the moonlight filtering through the window, I began searching my room frantically. Although Logan and I had separate rooms, we shared a lot of things. If he wanted to leave me a message, where would he put it? His phone? No, the imposter definitely had his phone. A diary? Too obvious. My eyes fell on an old metal tin on the bottom shelf of my bookcase. It was our old sketchbook from high school. I worked as a freelance illustrator. Logan wasn’t into art, but he used to love doodling rough design ideas in my sketchbooks. We had made a pact back then: if either of us ever got into trouble we couldn’t talk about, we would draw a distress signal on the very last page of the sketchbook. With trembling hands, I pulled out the tin and opened it. The yellowed sketchbook lay quietly inside. I flipped to the very last page. Under the faint moonlight, I saw a rough sketch drawn with a black charcoal pencil. It was drawn in a hurry; the lines were messy and chaotic. It was a giant Ferris wheel. And beneath the wheel, there was a crude, crooked cross. The Ferris wheel… My mind raced. There was only one place in this city with a Ferris wheel—the abandoned amusement park on the outskirts of town! And right next to that park was the “Sunny Days Orphanage,” the place where we were adopted! The orphanage had been demolished years ago, and now it was just a desolate, overgrown wasteland. No one ever went there. And a cross… did it mean death, or did it mean something was buried there? Logan wanted me to go there! He had left a clue—or maybe himself—at that place! I checked the time on my phone. 11:30 PM. It was too dangerous to go out now. If I woke up the three people downstairs, I might not even make it out of the house alive. I needed help. I opened Snapchat and tapped on Clara’s profile. Clara was Logan’s fiancée. They had been together since college, and they loved each other deeply. If there was anyone else in this world who cared about Logan as much as I did, it was her. But I didn’t dare write too much on Snapchat. What if her phone was being monitored too? I carefully drafted a message: *Hey Clara, Logan ate peanut butter at dinner tonight and had zero reaction. He’s been acting really strange lately. Please keep an eye on him.* After sending it, I put my phone on silent, lay down on my bed fully clothed, and stared at the ceiling. I didn’t sleep a wink all night. The next morning, I heard the front door close downstairs. Arthur and Helen had gone to the morning market, and the fake Logan said he was going to get his wedding suit fitted. This was my chance! I jumped out of bed, threw on a jacket, grabbed my backpack, and bolted out of the house. In the taxi, I finally received Clara’s reply. It was short, but it made my eyes sting with tears. *I thought he was acting weird too. Where are you?* I immediately pinned the location of the abandoned amusement park and sent it to her with a warning: *Don’t tell anyone. Come alone.* The taxi dropped me off at the edge of the overgrown wasteland. The once-vibrant amusement park was now nothing but a graveyard of rusted metal. The massive Ferris wheel loomed in the distance like a dead iron beast, surrounded by knee-high weeds. I took a deep breath, wading through the dry grass toward the wheel. The silence was deafening, broken only by the rustling of the wind through the weeds. I reached the base of the Ferris wheel and started searching for any sign of a “cross.” After searching for about fifteen minutes, I noticed a patch of freshly disturbed dirt at the base of a thick, rusted iron pillar. On top of the dirt, two dry branches were crossed over each other, forming a crude crucifix. This was it! I dropped to my knees, ignored the dirt under my fingernails, and started digging frantically with my bare hands. The soil was loose, clearly buried very recently. About six inches down, my fingers hit something hard. It was a plastic Ziploc bag. I yanked it out and wiped the dirt off the plastic. Inside was a USB drive and an old, faded black-and-white photograph. With shaking fingers, I pulled the photo out. It was a young couple holding a baby boy, about a year old. Even though it was taken decades ago, I recognized them instantly. The couple was a young Arthur and Helen! But the baby boy’s eyes and nose… looked exactly like Logan. Or rather, exactly like the imposter! On the back of the photo, written in faded blue ink, were the words: *Luke’s 1st Birthday.* Luke? Luke Miller? (Our family name). My head spun, and a realization hit me like a lightning bolt, shattering the fog. Arthur and Helen had a biological son! And their biological son looked exactly like Logan! No, that wasn’t right. Logan looked like *him*! Twenty years ago, when they went to the orphanage to adopt, it wasn’t out of the goodness of their hearts. They chose Logan because he looked exactly like their lost biological son! Which meant the imposter in our house right now… was their real son, Luke! He was back! And he had replaced Logan! Just as the shock washed over me, I heard a faint rustling sound behind me. *Rustle… rustle…* The sound of dry grass snapping echoed loudly in the dead quiet of the wasteland. I spun around. Arthur was standing less than fifteen feet away, holding a rusted shovel. His eyes were cold, staring at me as if I were already a corpse.

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After Austin stood me up for the fifth time, he finally cleared his schedule for our sixth attempt to get our marriage license. I wore a custom designer dress I made myself, holding a fresh bouquet of peonies, and stood outside City Hall early in the morning. But I waited from 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM. He never showed up. Just as the City Hall doors locked, a text from Austin popped up on my phone. “It’s Hailey’s birthday today. I need to celebrate with her first. We’ll get married next time.” Right after that, a massive firework display lit up the city sky. Passersby stopped, looking up in awe. “Look! Mr. Miller is setting off fireworks for his muse again. That is so romantic!” I walked home, my soul completely crushed. My five-year-old daughter, Lily, was sitting on the porch, shivering from the cold. “Mommy, Daddy promised to take me out for McDonald’s. But I waited so long, and he never came.” Six attempts to get married. Six broken promises. And now, even my daughter was becoming a victim of his neglect. I threw my bouquet straight into the trash and hugged my shaking little girl tight. “We are not waiting anymore, sweetie.” “Never again.”

I brought Lily inside, made her some warm ginger tea, and cooked dinner. Lily kept crying, asking why her daddy lied to her. My heart ached terribly. I had waited for Austin for six long years, but I could never win even a fraction of his time. And now, my daughter was forced to walk the same painful path of waiting. I had to stop this. No matter what. While I was running a bubble bath for Lily, Austin finally stumbled through the front door. He held a cheap, plastic takeout box from a fancy restaurant, looking like he wanted a reward. “Look, I brought you guys some gourmet snacks! Lily, do you like it?” I had already seen Hailey’s Instagram story. She and Austin had just dined at a luxury rotating rooftop restaurant. This box was just a free leftover giveaway from the restaurant. Lily frowned and pushed it away. “My classmates say this is just cheap free stuff from restaurants, Daddy. You don’t care about me at all.” Austin rubbed his nose, quickly trying to change the subject. “Sorry, baby girl. Daddy was just way too busy today.” He walked into the bathroom and hugged me from behind. “Chloe, don’t be mad. I promise I’ll marry you next time.” I ignored him. He kept coaxing. “We’ve been together for so long anyway. We don’t need a piece of paper to prove our love, right?” “Once this busy season at work is over, I’ll make it up to you.” I asked him flatly, “When exactly will you be done being busy?” He froze, unable to answer. “First, you said you were busy with the company’s IPO. I waited.” “Then, you said Lily was too young and needed care. I waited too.” “Now, Hailey has been back for three years, and you haven’t mentioned our wedding once. I had to beg you just to get you to City Hall.” I raised my eyes, staring at him blankly. “How much longer do I have to wait just to get one hour of your time?” “Do Lily and I have to live like dirty secrets forever without a legal name?” His face instantly darkened. “Don’t say things like that. You know I don’t mean that.” “You and Lily are the most important people in my life, but…” He looked frustrated. “But Hailey is still traumatized by her divorce. She gets severe panic attacks and chest pains whenever she sees couples getting married. We have to be understanding.” He gently stroked my hair, his voice softening. “She saved my life back in college, Chloe. I can’t bear to see her suffer.” “Once her son starts elementary school, things will settle, and I’ll send them back to Europe.” I had heard this excuse a thousand times. Hailey was Austin’s college sweetheart. She had saved him once when he was being severely bullied. But she dumped him when his first startup failed, getting pregnant by a wealthy businessman instead. Years later, the businessman dumped her, leaving her penniless. Naturally, she crawled back to Austin. That night, Austin had held me and cried, claiming he hated her. “She abandoned me when I was at my worst! You and your mother gave me the strength to live, Chloe!” “I will never forgive her!” I had wiped his tears, promising to stay by his side forever. But the very next day, he bought a luxury apartment in the building next to ours and moved Hailey and her son right in. “I don’t love her anymore, Chloe. But her kid is innocent. Once she gets a job, they’ll leave.” That was the beginning of my endless waiting. Three years had passed, and they were still here. I suddenly spoke up, “I’m done waiting for you.” “Go do whatever you want. Just don’t bother me.” He didn’t notice the absolute exhaustion in my eyes. He pointed at the bathtub. “Don’t let Lily play in the water for too long. Look how sleepy she is.” A sudden rage flared up in my chest. “She isn’t sleepy! She has a fever! Can’t you see that as her father?” “If you hadn’t promised to take her out, she wouldn’t have stood on the porch waiting for you in the freezing cold!” Austin stood frozen, looking guilty. “I… I’m so sorry. I really forgot. I’ll get her some medicine right now.” But by the time I finished reading Lily two bedtime stories, he still hadn’t brought the medicine.

I changed into my pajamas and walked out. Austin was staring at his phone, smiling. “Where is the medicine?” He looked up, completely blank. “What medicine? Oh, babe, look at this! Mason is so smart. He’s reciting Shakespeare’s sonnets!” He shoved his phone in my face. On FaceTime, Hailey’s son was clumsily reciting a poem. Whenever Lily tried to show Austin her English spelling bee words, he always looked annoyed. Yet here he was, acting like a devoted father, teaching another man’s kid line by line. I asked quietly, “Did you forget your own daughter is sick?” He snapped back to reality, looking embarrassed. “Sorry. I’ll look for the medicine now.” Hailey’s face appeared on the screen, looking guilty but smug. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Chloe. My son just loves learning so much, he ended up taking up all of Austin’s time.” “I’ll make sure to limit our FaceTime calls to only three hours a night next time.” Austin searched the cabinet and said, “It’s fine. Loving books is a good thing. My daughter only wants to go to Disneyland all day. She has no ambition.” “And three hours isn’t enough anyway. Don’t we still need to review your fashion design drafts tonight?” Hailey smiled shyly, her eyes flashing with a hidden victory. “Thank you, Austin. If it weren’t for you, I really wouldn’t know what to do…” “Don’t say that. Your happiness is all that matters.” Austin stood up and said to me, “Chloe, we’re out of NyQuil. I’m going down to the 24-hour pharmacy. Take care of Lily.” He kept the FaceTime call active, rushing out the door without looking back. For the past three years, he spent every single evening like this—talking to Hailey. I ordered the medicine on DoorDash instead. I wasn’t going to wait for him. Half an hour later, a sweating delivery guy knocked on the door. “Sorry, ma’am. The elevator in your building is broken. I had to run up the stairs.” “I hope I didn’t delay your kid’s medicine.” I thanked him profusely and handed him a bottle of cold water. “Not at all. Thank you so much.” He chugged the water, waved, and left. Three hours later, Austin finally returned with a bottle of cough syrup. “Sorry, babe. The elevator was broken, so I had to take the stairs. And Hailey had a minor emergency…” It was laughable. Even a random DoorDash driver knew the urgency of delivering medicine, yet Austin let his sick five-year-old daughter wait three hours. I didn’t even look at him. “No need. She’s already asleep.” He fell silent, mumbling a guilty “sorry.” That was his default reaction to us for the past three years. I went to Lily’s room to sleep. Now that I had decided to let him go, every second spent near him felt like torture. The next morning, Lily ran up to Austin, full of excitement. “Daddy, next Tuesday is my school’s Field Day! Will you come play with me?” Kids have short memories. She still wanted to be close to her father. Austin, wanting to redeem himself, nodded instantly. “Of course! Daddy will definitely be there and win first place for you!” Lily happily got onto the school bus, waving goodbye. Austin lowered his hand, turned to me, and said, “Hey, can you let Hailey look at your new fall fashion drafts?” “She’s hit a creative block. I helped her look at her drafts all night, but I couldn’t help much.” My footsteps paused. I studied fashion design, and so did Hailey. Whenever I was stressed about my designs, losing sleep over fabric and cuts, Austin would only scoff. “Nobody’s job is easy. Either deal with it or quit.” So I stopped sharing my struggles with him. But when Hailey came back, he suddenly forgot his own words. Not only did he spend every night helping her find inspiration, but he even started learning about fashion design just to help her.

I rejected him coldly. “No. The new collection is confidential. I can’t share it.” He frowned. “It’s just a draft. It’s not like she’s stealing the actual product. Don’t be so petty, Chloe.” I looked at him with a mocking smile. “When I wanted to buy a specific fabric from Hailey’s company years ago, what did you say to me?” Back then, he said I was malicious, trying to copy Hailey’s source materials under the guise of buying them. Austin’s face darkened. “Just help her this once. If you do, we’ll go to City Hall next month.” “Otherwise, I’m way too busy. The wedding will have to wait until next year.” I stared at the man threatening me. Once, he held me and said he couldn’t wait to make me his wife. Now, he was weaponizing our marriage to help the woman who had abandoned him. I let out a bitter laugh. “Then let’s not get married.” “I don’t want to marry you anymore.” I started my car and drove off, leaving him standing there in shock. I started a silent treatment. Or rather, I simply checked out of the relationship. I stopped waiting for him to come home, stopped cooking his dinners, and stopped leaving the porch light on. Every night, I slept in Lily’s room. I used to think leaving Austin would leave a massive void in my life. Instead, I felt incredibly light. Austin didn’t even notice. He was still FaceTiming Hailey every night, playing dad to Mason. I thought we would just drift apart quietly. But that weekend, my mother, Audrey, was rushed to the ER. The hospital issued three critical condition notices. I sobbed by her bedside. My mother weakly gripped my hand. “Don’t cry, sweetie. Everyone has to go eventually.” “Is Austin still busy? Is he not coming?” I looked at my phone. Austin had declined all my calls. I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. I had called him over a hundred times. He ignored every single one, eventually blocking my number. I slapped myself in pure regret and despair. My mother sighed deeply, placing a vintage jade pendant in my hand. “Keep this, my child. If you meet someone who truly loves you in the future, give it to him.” She knew Austin was not a good man for me. She closed her eyes, and the heart monitor went flat. My mother hated noisy crowds, so I handled her funeral completely alone. When I finally walked back into our apartment, Austin was on a video call with Hailey. “The campus changed so much! I actually found our old engraved initials on the bench. We were so lucky today.” I froze in the doorway. My already dead heart was ripped open once again, bleeding profusely. He didn’t decline my calls because of work. He was busy strolling down memory lane on his college campus with Hailey. Austin saw me and said casually, “Where have you been? I have news.” “I took your new fall design drafts and gave them to Hailey. She needs a solid debut to establish herself in her new company.” “Consider it a favor. She said she’ll thank you later.” I stared at him, unable to believe my ears. “That draft was my mother’s final masterpiece left to me! It is the only copy! How dare you give it away?!” Austin scoffed impatiently, “Just ask her to sketch a few more. ‘Only copy’? You make it sound like she passed away or something.” The final string of sanity in my brain snapped. *Slap!* I slapped him across the face with everything I had. Years ago, my mother had saved Austin from drowning, sustaining a severe head injury that ended her own design career. And now, she had just passed away, and her final legacy was stolen by the very man she saved. The man who had ignored my emergency calls, leaving my mother to die with regret. Austin clutched his burning cheek, outraged. “It’s just a dress! Who cares whose name is on it?” “Fine! I already scheduled our marriage appointment for next month! Consider it your compensation. Are you happy now?” I stared at his face. When did the passionate, responsible man I once loved turn into this disgusting monster? I raised my hand and slapped him again. “Get out! We are over!”

Austin stood there, completely dumbfounded, holding his face. Hailey’s panicked voice came through the phone speaker. “Austin! Are you okay? Do you need me to bring you some ice?” “Chloe, how can you be so violent?!” “If you didn’t want to share the drafts, you could have just said so! Why did you have to hit him?” Under her gentle, caring tone, I was framed as the crazy, ungrateful villain. Austin finally snapped out of it, letting out a cold sneer. “I see. You don’t want to get married at all.” “Break up? Fine! Let’s see who else would want a single mother like you!” He slammed the door and stormed out. Shortly after, my lead assistant called, sounding frantic. “Chloe! Our new fall design was just posted by another fashion brand! What is going on?” My heart sank. I clicked the link. Hailey’s company had just released a sneak peek of their new collection. It was my mother’s design, copied pixel for pixel. She claimed she would never steal, yet she immediately plagiarized my mother’s final work. Without a word, I opened my home security app to check the footage. Only Austin had access to the physical drafts in my study. To give them to Hailey, he had to have taken them from my desk. But the security footage for the past three days was completely wiped clean. I called Austin, my voice shaking with rage. “You deleted the security footage? This is blatant plagiarism! How dare you enable her?!” Austin was silent for a long moment before speaking. “I gave her the drafts, but I didn’t think she would copy them exactly.” “But this collection is crucial for her career. We can’t expose her now.” “Chloe, can you just let this go? I promise I won’t do it again.” “I’ll buy that retirement cottage your mom wanted so badly as an apology.” I felt my heart being torn to shreds. “It’s too late, Austin. She passed away. Last night.” “While you only cared about your precious Hailey.” “What? Your mom… she was fine last month…” I didn’t want to hear another word. I hung up, letting the tears fall freely. I immediately began searching online for a new apartment to rent, wanting to move Lily out as soon as possible. On Tuesday afternoon, just as I was about to meet a real estate agent, Lily came running into the house. She was crying so hard she could barely breathe, her knees scraped and bleeding. “Daddy… Daddy didn’t play with me at Field Day. He played with Mason instead.” “I fell down, and he just held Mason and laughed at me. He said I was clumsy!” “Mommy… I don’t want Daddy anymore!” My heart broke into a million pieces. I hugged Lily, cleaning and bandaging her scraped knees. “Okay, baby. If you don’t want him, I don’t want him either. It’ll just be you and me from now on, okay?” Lily sobbed, nodding. “Okay…” Suddenly, the front door was pushed open. Mason ran in, his dirty sneakers leaving mud tracks all over the hardwood floor. “Wow! This apartment is so big and cool! I love it!” Hailey walked in slowly, a massive smug smile on her face. “Nice decor. I love the sunroom. Austin, you really have great taste.” I stood up, holding Lily, staring coldly at Hailey. “This is my home. Get the hell out.” When Austin first brought Hailey back, my only rule was that she was never allowed in our home. Hailey didn’t say a word, her smirk only widening. Austin walked in behind her, looking at me with a heavy, cold gaze. Then, he spoke. “I gave this apartment to Hailey.” “It’s her home now.” Hailey raised her chin. “I won the Rookie Designer Award. Austin said he’d reward me with an apartment. I chose this one.” “I’ll give you three days to pack up your kid and get out of my apartment.” Austin took Hailey and her son to a five-star steakhouse to celebrate. After checking them into a luxury suite at the Ritz-Carlton, Austin drove back to our old apartment. Even though he gave the apartment to Hailey, he had secretly bought a luxury Tudor-style villa for Chloe—the exact European style she had always dreamed of. He was sure she would cry tears of joy when she found out. But when he unlocked the door, the apartment was completely empty. The only thing left behind was the diamond engagement ring Chloe had worn for years, tossed carelessly into the trash can.

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On the day I tried on my bridal robe, I had just stepped out from behind the silver mirror in Hera’s Temple of Vows when I saw Daphne adjusting the obsidian clasp on my fiancé’s cloak. Theron Erebius was heir to the Stygian royal house, chosen and ennobled by Hades himself, Lord of the Underworld. I was about to say, “Let me,” when the priestess beside us smiled and went straight to Daphne. “This way, my lady. We still need to fit the bridal crown.” I stopped short. Theron only curved his lips and offered no explanation. Daphne smiled shyly and leaned into his side as if she belonged there. “Don’t move. This angle is perfect.” Meles, who had grown up with me, lifted an image crystal and caught their likeness in a flash of white light. The crystal preserved the image of Theron and Daphne standing shoulder to shoulder. And I, the true bride, stood beside the silver mirror like an outsider who had wandered into the wrong ceremony. Daphne turned to me. “Selene, bring me that bouquet of white lilies.” She said it so naturally, as if she were the one entering the marriage covenant today. I did not move. When I did not answer, Theron walked over and took the white lilies from my hands. “Selene, why are you daydreaming again?” He said, “Go look at the designs for the vow scroll. Daphne can try the robe on in your place. The one she’s wearing suits her well enough.” I looked at him, and the cold in my chest sank deeper, inch by inch. Theron did not hear the hurt beneath my silence. He had already handed the white lilies to Daphne. Meles frowned slightly, still holding the image crystal. “Selene, move aside a little. You’re blocking the sacred light.” I silently retreated into the corner. Moonlight poured from the temple dome and fell over Daphne, making her look like the bride Hera herself had blessed. And I stood in the shadows, finally understanding how unnecessary I was. I turned back behind the silver mirror, removed the bridal robe, and folded it neatly on the stone platform. When I came out again, Daphne was turning in front of the mirror. Theron stood behind her, adjusting the golden thread at her waist. Meles laughed. “Yes, that’s the angle.” I stood at the doorway and looked at them one last time. At that moment, I finally understood how unnecessary I was. If this marriage covenant did not need me, then I would not be there. I turned and walked out of the Hera’s Temple of Vows. … On the carriage ride back to Whitecliff House, one of Hermes’ messengers delivered a glowing parchment scroll. It was the shared scroll for the wedding rites. Lady Selene, have you chosen the design for the marriage vow scroll? My fingertips hovered above the parchment. Soon, another line of golden writing appeared. Or Lady Daphne may choose on your behalf. She has already selected two designs and asked that you review them. Two golden patterns lit upon the scroll. Again. Let Daphne choose for me. My fingers tightened around the scroll. I loved the sea. I had once told Theron that I hoped our marriage rites could be held at the Tidal Altar by the shore. But Daphne had taken one look at the plan and wrinkled her nose. “What’s so good about the seaside? The wind is strong, and the waves are noisy. Theron is the heir to the Stygian royal house. Of course his wedding rites should be held in the High Temple, among roses and obsidian.” Theron had barely hesitated. “Daphne is right. We’ll use the High Temple.” I wrote three words on the scroll. As you wish. In the end, Theron would listen to her anyway. After I returned to Whitecliff House, golden words appeared one after another on the Hermes message scroll. Meles had already set the images from the fitting into the shared wedding scroll. I opened the first one. In the image, Theron wore a black divine robe, while Daphne stood beside him in a white bridal robe. They looked at each other and smiled. Like a pair of newlyweds truly blessed by the gods. I looked through them one by one. Almost every image was of them. Daphne trying on the bridal crown. Daphne holding the white lilies. Theron adjusting Daphne’s cloak. As for me, the true bride, only the edge of my sleeve appeared in a corner. On the cold-stone cabinet in Whitecliff House, there was still a piece of parchment written by Daphne’s own hand. Seven days until the wedding covenant. I stared at those words and suddenly found them unbearable. I reached out, tore the parchment down, crumpled it, and threw it into the brazier.

The moment the flames swallowed the parchment, the Hermes message scroll lit again. It was a sending from Theron. His voice carried displeasure. “Selene, where did you go? Didn’t I tell you to choose the pattern for the vow scroll?” I leaned against the window, looking at my pale reflection in the crystal pane, and spoke softly. “I’m a little tired. I came back first.” From the other end of the scroll, Daphne’s bright voice cut in. “Then rest well. I already helped you choose the robe and the vow scroll.” Then came Theron’s low voice. “See how considerate Daphne is? She’s handled everything for you. Once the wedding rites are over, you should thank her properly.” Holding the scroll, I suddenly smiled. Was she truly being considerate? Or was she ignoring my wishes and deciding everything for me? I said nothing more and extinguished the sending. Early the next morning, when I woke, the shared wedding scroll was already filled with three whole pages of golden writing. I opened the only voice-sending Daphne had left me. Her sweet, syrupy voice drifted from the scroll. “Selene, I changed the wedding hymn for you. The one you chose was too solemn. The ceremony should be lighter.” In the next moment, Theron’s reply appeared. Yes. The original one doesn’t suit the occasion. The gods and the heads of the divine houses will all be present. Change it to something lighter. I stared at that line, my fingertips slowly turning cold. I had spent a month choosing the original hymn. It was the song that had played when my parents entered their marriage covenant. They had died too early. I had once imagined that, during my own wedding rites, when that melody sounded, they might accompany me across the altar in another way. But now, everyone was saying the new hymn was better. No one asked me even once. Selene, do you want this? I turned the scroll face down on the table, and the room fell instantly quiet. Beside the bed, my leather trunk was already open. One by one, I placed inside my spare gowns, my sea-passage permit, a few gold drachmas, and the old necklace my parents had left me. Deep in the wardrobe hung the bridal robe I had never truly had the chance to wear. On the table lay the draft of the marriage vow scroll. The names embossed in gold on its cover stung my eyes. Theron Erebius and Selene Leukaia Soul-Bonded Marriage Covenant I had once thought this ceremony would belong to me at least once. But in the end, even the robe, the hymn, the vow scroll, and the temple had all been chosen for me by someone else. The message scroll lit again. Daphne wrote in the shared wedding scroll: Selene has never liked making decisions. We can decide these things for her. Theron replied with a single word. Good. I lowered my head and looked at the trunk. Suddenly, it all seemed laughable. Meles had known me the longest, yet he always stood on Daphne’s side. When Theron pursued me, he said I was quiet and gentle, someone who made him want to protect me. But after Daphne appeared, he began saying girls should be livelier, more opinionated. I wanted to be cherished too. I wanted someone to hold a bouquet of flowers and ask me, “Do you like these?” But no one ever asked. Even this wedding covenant, which I had thought would finally allow me to be the center of my own life, had still become someone else’s backdrop. I closed the trunk. The click of the bronze latch was especially clear in the silent room. Then I summoned the steward of Whitecliff House. “I won’t be staying in this palace anymore.” The steward froze. “Lady Selene, aren’t you moving into the Erebius palace soon?” I looked out at the gray-blue sky beyond the window and said calmly, “No. I’m leaving Olympus.”

The steward was visibly stunned. “Leaving Olympus?” I nodded. “Yes.” He opened his mouth as if he wanted to ask something, but in the end, he only lowered his head. “Then please leave the palace key and the Whitecliff sigil here.” After packing the last of my things, I had just stepped out of the room when the palace doors were pushed open. Theron and Daphne walked in together, laughing and talking. “It’s settled, then, Theron.” Daphne tugged at his sleeve, her voice soft and coy. “After your marriage covenant, I’ll stay in the Erebius palace for a few weeks. I want the room near the garden, and the curtains must be changed to my favorite rose pink.” Theron did not object. Instead, he smiled with indulgent warmth. “As long as Selene has no objections.” Daphne immediately looked at me and blinked. “My sister has always taken care of me. How could she object?” She said it so naturally. As if my future marriage palace had always been meant to have a place for her too. A dull ache pressed against my chest. “And if I say I don’t want that?” The smile on Daphne’s face froze. The next second, her eyes reddened. “Selene, I only wanted to be closer to you. If you don’t want me there, then forget it. I won’t move in.” Theron frowned. “Selene, what’s wrong with you?” I looked at him. “That is our marriage palace. It is the place meant for the future consort. Who exactly are you entering this covenant with?” Theron was choked into silence by my words. Daphne immediately lowered her head and whispered, “Sister, I really didn’t mean anything else.” Disappointment showed in Theron’s eyes. “Selene, you’re making a fuss over one room?” I smiled faintly. “I’m not making a fuss.” “Then what do you mean?” His voice darkened. “She’s your sister, not an outsider. The palace is so large. What’s wrong with letting one more person live there?” “She wanted to enter my palace, and you agreed.” I looked at him and said, word by word, “She wanted to change my robe, and you agreed. She wanted to change my hymn, and you agreed too.” “Theron, in this wedding covenant, what is still mine?” Theron’s brows lowered in displeasure. “Enough!” The air fell still. Daphne’s tears fell. “I was only trying to help you…” His voice turned cold. “Daphne stayed among the divine houses because of you. I take care of her for your sake. Do you have to be so petty?” Petty. That word again. Suddenly, I no longer had the strength to explain. Daphne tugged at his sleeve and said softly, “Theron, don’t say that. Sister is probably just in a bad mood.” Theron’s tone softened, but it remained unquestionable. “I’ve already decided. If you two sisters live closer together, you can look after each other. Selene, stop making trouble.” I looked at him and slowly nodded. “Fine.” Fine. I would be leaving soon anyway. Whoever wanted the Erebius palace could have it.

That afternoon, I went to the Temple of the Styx. It was where Theron handled underworld affairs and covenants among the divine houses. Outside the temple, obsidian pillars rose into the clouds, and the waters of the Styx flowed slowly along the side of the hall, gleaming with cold silver light. I placed the access sigil to the Erebius palace, the key to his private study, and the secondary seal of the family covenant into a black silk pouch. The messenger in the front hall bowed respectfully when he saw me. “Lady Selene, you are here. I will inform His Highness at once.” “No need.” I handed him the pouch. “Just give this to him for me.” The messenger froze for a moment, then lowered his head and accepted it. “Yes.” I turned to leave. At the end of the carpeted corridor, I suddenly heard Theron’s voice. “You want me to accompany you tomorrow to try on the golden bridal crown?” My steps stopped. From behind the half-open door came Daphne’s light laughter. “I just want to look beautiful at your wedding rites. But Selene is so petty, she’ll definitely misunderstand.” Theron’s voice carried amusement. “All right. I’ll go with you. I’ll explain things to Selene.” My fingers tightened around the strap of my pouch. The wind from the Styx was cold enough to pierce bone. But my heart was colder. I had already decided to let go. What was I still hoping for? I shook my head lightly. At that moment, the message scroll suddenly flared with divine light. Inside the hall, Theron’s voice became instantly alert. “Who’s at the door?” I did not stay. I left quickly. By the time Theron stepped out to check, the corridor was already empty. He passed through the front hall with Daphne. The messenger carefully spoke. “Your Highness, these are the things Lady Selene left behind…” But Theron was lowering his head, listening to Daphne talk about the pattern for the crown. He did not even slow his steps. The two of them walked past the messenger just like that. The messenger stood awkwardly in place, holding the silk pouch filled with keys and sigils. By then, I had already boarded a carriage, left the main city of Olympus, and returned to the seaside town of Leukakti. There was an old house there that my parents had left me. It was also the last place I wanted to clean before leaving the divine realm. Leukakti stood by the sea. At dusk, sea wind swept across the white cliffs, carrying the damp scent of salt. Dragging my trunk behind me, I pushed open the door to the old house. A thin layer of dust covered the rooms. On the windowsill still sat the empty flowerpots my mother had once kept. Aunt Kleia and Uncle Rhodion, who lived nearby, came to help me. As she wiped the table, Kleia asked, “Selene, why didn’t Theron come back with you?” I shook my head. “I don’t know. He’s probably busy.” She frowned, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent. That evening, the pre-wedding family feast began. Three obsidian royal chariots stopped outside the courtyard. Stygian guards stood at the gate, their cloaks snapping in the sea wind. Theron stepped down from the lead chariot. Daphne held his arm and stood beside him like the lady of the house. When they saw me, the smiles on both their faces stiffened. “Selene?” Theron frowned. “Why are you here?” I looked at him and suddenly found it ridiculous. “The pre-wedding family feast was always arranged at my uncle’s house. Is it strange for me to be here?” “Besides, this is where I grew up. Am I not allowed to come?” The air fell silent. Rhodion’s face darkened. “You don’t even know where your own bride is. What exactly have you been busy with?” Daphne immediately smiled and took my arm. “Selene, we meant to bring you with us, but you didn’t answer the sending.” I glanced down at the Hermes message scroll. There were no unanswered summons. Not one. I pulled my hand back and did not expose her. During the feast, Daphne poured wine for Theron and answered the elders’ questions for him, skilled and easy as if she were the future mistress of this family. I sat to the side like an unnecessary guest. After the meal, Rhodion instructed Theron, “For the next few days before the wedding rites, you two should not see each other. Let there be some anticipation. Tonight, take Selene back to the Hera’s Temple of Vows and let her prepare properly there.” Theron nodded. “I understand.” I turned back to my room to fetch my trunk, confirming that my sea-passage permit, gold drachmae, my parents’ necklace, and my divine travel permit were all inside. But when I dragged the trunk to the door, only the fading glow of torches remained outside the courtyard. Theron’s chariot had already left. I stood in the doorway, frozen. The message scroll lit. Theron had sent a line of text. Daphne was in a hurry to return to the High Temple to check the guards and arrangements for the ceremony, so I took her there first. I forgot you were here for a moment. Go back to the temple by yourself. Forgot. Again, he forgot. How many times had he forgotten me? I stared at that line, so tired I no longer had the strength to feel hurt. The next moment, the silver seal of a sea-passage writ appeared on the scroll. Sea-passage writ sealed: Whitecliff Harbor to the Aegean Isles. One-way. Departure: tomorrow night, third watch after moonrise. Hermes’ Silver Gull Seal affixed. I stared at the words one-way for a very long time. Then I erased Theron’s message and closed the scroll. I was not going back to the Hera’s Temple of Vows. I was going to the harbor.

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Heart pounding, I emerged in the wedding gown, only to find my sister Sienna’s tail coiled around my fiancé Reid’s. The tail ring—meant for me, symbol of our bond for no one else—was already on Sienna’s. I parted my lips to demand an explanation, the stylist swept past me with my bridal hairpin crown. “This way, please, bride,” she said, gesturing toward Sienna. Sienna smiled—a shy, victorious tilt of her lips—and followed. And Reid? My fiancé. He didn’t deny it, not even a blink. “Gale, bring the bouquet over,” Sienna turned to me and said, as if she were the bride walking down the aisle days later. I didn’t move. Then Reid walked over, frowning. He pulled the bouquet from my stiff finger. The lily of the valley—I’d spent two hours choosing each stem—swung once in his grip. Petals scattered across the floor. “Move, Gale. Go check the invitations or something. I’ll find you when Sienna and I finish the shoot.” I watched him walk toward Sienna, and Cole—my childhood friend—raised his camera and pressed the shutter, sealing their betrayal. Ninety-nine previews lit up the screen. Every single frame held Sienna and Reid. Not one of me. “Gale…” Cole squinted through the viewfinder. “Just step back two feet. You’re blocking the key light.” Was I？ I stepped back. Two feet. Then three. Until my shoulder blades met the wall. The wall was cold. In that moment, I finally saw how utterly extraneous I was. If this wedding didn’t need me in it—I wouldn’t be at it. … After changing, I picked up my leather bag from the wooden bench near the door. I pushed open the heavy door. The brass latch clicked. No one looked up. Outside, the wind carried the scent of wet pine and distant asphalt. I turned. Through the glass of the storefront, I saw them. Sienna twirled before the mirror, Reid at her back, his paw cinching the harness at her waist. Cole’s shutter clicked five times. I walked out to my truck, starting the engine. A messenger from the Hall of Council found me. “Hi, Gale. The matebond scroll—have you settled on the pattern?” “Or we can let Sienna choose. She has an excellent eye for design.” My breath fogged the windshield. I answered. “Let her.” “Perfect. Will do.” He left. I exhaled slowly, opening my phone for directions. The group chat started flooding in. Cole was uploading the photos. I tapped the first image. The golden light hit the side of Sienna’s red-furred face, illuminating the tips of Reid’s wolf collar. They looked like a true pair of mates. A bitter laugh escaped my throat. I drove back to my den. On the pantry shelf, a scrap of hide read: Wedding—7 Days. I peeled the scrap off the shelf, rolled it tight, and tossed it into the trash.

I didn’t open my phone until the next afternoon. The group chat was past a hundred unread messages. I tapped Sienna’s audio note. Her voice was light, accompanied by the rustle of her tail. “Gale, I changed the mating chant for the entrance. The one you chose was too heavy. A mating ceremony should have some rhythm.” Right below it, Reid’s text: Agreed. The old one didn’t fit. But the old chant was the one my parents had shared before they went cold. It was the only trace of their scent they had left me. Reid knew that. Sienna did too. Sienna’s text followed: Gale doesn’t really care about these details anyway. She doesn’t understand them. We’ll handle it. Reid: Right. I stared at the screen. Nobody in the chat asked why my icon remained silent. … I opened my direct messages with Reid. The last text was from the night before the fitting. I had written: The ceremony date is too close. I felt kind of nervous. He had sent a head-pat sticker. Nothing else. No follow-up after I walked out of the store yesterday. In the group chat, he had sent one message: What happened, Gale? Too nervous, so you went home early? No one answered. I didn’t expect them to. Sienna had quickly posted a picture of herself in the gown with the tail ring glinting: Fitting went great! Gown is locked in! The thread immediately moved on to the floral arrangements and the feast menu. My phone screen lit up with a video call from Sienna. I swiped to answer. She was sitting in a high-backed chair, a stylist brushing out her copper ruff. “Gale, you’re taking too long with the stylist,” she said, squinting at the camera. “I went ahead and booked the lynx team. And I’m testing the look for you now.” I opened my mouth to speak. I told you two weeks ago my friend from the northern ridge was doing my grooming. Did you ever ask if I wanted a lynx to touch my fur? But I said none of it. I knew what Cole would say. “You’re the eldest. Let your sister have her way.” Cole was my childhood friend, but his ears always twitched toward Sienna’s voice. When Reid first began courting me, he said he liked my quiet nature. He called me steady. But after he met Sienna, he started talking different. He started saying a she-wolf should be sharp, lively, and quick to show her teeth. I remembered the night we were standing by the river boundary. “Don’t stand so close to her,” I had said. He laughed, rubbing the space behind my ears. “She’s your sister, Gale. You want me to treat her like a stray?” And that was that. No one brought it up again. I looked out the window of my den. The sun was hitting the bare floorboards. I remembered playing “Den and Territory” when we were cubs. Every time they ran off to find a new clearing, they left the scattered pine needles behind. I would gather them alone, packing them back into the basket. No one ever looked back. They just left me alone. They always did.

I called my landlord. “You’re really leaving, Gale?” his voice came through the receiver. “It’s been four years.” Four years. When Reid and I first started dating, he had suggested moving in together. Sienna said a pre-mating cohabitation was bad luck, and I had wanted to keep my own boundary anyway. So I rented this den near his home, hoping to catch his scent more often. He had agreed, staying over once in a while. “Yes,” I said. “I’m leaving today.” “Leave the key in the mailbox,” the landlord said. Not long after I hung up, the front door swung open. Reid and Sienna walked in, their shoulders brushing. Sienna looked back at him, her tail flicking with a light, rhythmic tap against his leg. “So it’s settled. The room with the sun-ledge in the new house is mine. But we have to change the drapes to pink.” I stood in the center of the kitchen. “If I say no?” I asked. Sienna paused. Her ears twitched back, then drooped. She looked down at her paws. Reid frowned. “What is wrong with you, Gale? You’ve shared your territory with her your whole life. Now you’re keeping count of a single room?” “I’m not keeping count,” I said. “Then what does this mean?” he huffed. “She’s your sister. It’s a big house. Why let a good room sit empty?” “It’s a mating house,” I said. “Is she mating you?” Reid stared at me, his jaw tightening. Sienna tucked her tail close, her head bowing. “Gale, I just wanted to be near you… It’s fine. I won’t move in.” Reid looked at her, his voice softening before he turned back to me. “Look at what you’ve done. You make her back down with one word. She’s your sister, Gale. Can’t you think of her for once?” “Then Who thinks of me?” I asked. “I got her the record-keeper spot at your clan’s hall. I made sure she had a steady share of the hunt. And I—” “Enough,” Reid cut me off. He stepped closer, his shadow falling over me. “You’re keeping score. She’s your sister. I only look out for her because of you. Don’t be petty.” “Petty?” I repeated the word. Then I laughed—and it sounded nothing like me. I didn’t say anything else. Sienna pulled lightly at his sleeve. “Reid, don’t. Gale is just having a rough cycle.” Reid patted her paw. “I’ve made the decision, Gale. Sienna is moving in. It’s better if you two stay together.” I nodded once. Then I went back to packing my trunk. Behind me, Sienna’s voice was small, but clear. “Can I really have the pink drapes, Reid?” “Whatever you want,” Reid said. … In the afternoon, I drove to Vance Logistics. My bag held Reid’s building pass, office keys, and the client ledger he had asked me to sort out. The receptionist at the front desk smiled. “Hi Gale. Let me buzz Reid’s office.” “No need,” I said, putting the bag on the counter. “Just give him this.” I turned toward the exit. As I passed the glass corridor, Reid’s voice drifted through a half-open door. “I’ll take you to get your claws polished on Saturday?” He laughed, a low, rumbling sound. “I know. You want to look perfect for the ceremony. I’ll take care of it. I’ll tell Gale.” My fingers went stiff against my purse. We had agreed to do the one thing we never got around to during our courtship—a run to the ridge to watch the sunrise. We had postponed it from winter to spring, and finally set it for this Saturday. Now it was gone again. I didn’t wait to hear the rest. I walked down the concrete stairs, got into my truck. And I took the highway north toward Blackwood Valley.

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“My father didn’t flinch when he pushed me out of the sanctuary gates to die. While I was being torn apart by monsters in the frozen wasteland, the imposter who stole my life was wearing my diamond tiara. But death gave me a second chance—and a “”Truth System”” that forces my enemies to speak their darkest secrets. Suddenly, I was back on the day I first returned to the Ridge. Madison, the girl who had been raised in my place, greeted me with a fake, sweet smile. She tried to say, “”Welcome home, sister,”” but the system kicked in. “”God, why did they drag this trash back?”” she blurted out instead, her eyes widening in horror. “”I need to get her killed as soon as possible!”” The room went dead silent. Good luck acting your way out of this one, Madison. 1. My parents—Richard and Eleanor, the Governors of the Ridge—stared at her in stunned silence. “”Madison! What on earth has gotten into you? You don’t speak like that!”” “”We raised you to be a lady of the Ridge,”” Richard barked. “”How can you curse like a common scavenger?”” My chest tightened. The core of what she’d said was a confession of her intent to manipulate them into abandoning me. Yet, they completely ignored the malice. They didn’t care that she wanted me gone, or that she’d called me trash. They only cared that their “”perfect daughter”” had slipped up on her etiquette. Looking back at my past life, at how easily they’d swallowed every lie she ever told… I realized something. They weren’t just blind. They simply didn’t care about me at all. Madison pivoted instantly, donning her signature “”wounded fawn”” expression. “”I… I don’t know what happened…”” “”It was like I couldn’t control my mouth. Those aren’t my thoughts…”” “”Dad, Mom… I don’t know if I should say this, but the moment Sienna stepped inside, I felt this dark, heavy energy…”” My parents turned to me, their gazes sharpening into immediate disgust. “”Sienna, what kind of dark-zone witchcraft did you pick up out there? You dare use it on your sister?”” “”Listen to me. If you’re going to live in the Ridge, you follow our rules. Throw those low-life tricks in the gutter where they belong!”” “”We brought you back to keep the peace, not to have you embarrass this family!”” My older brother, Grant, the Captain of the Guard, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “”Madison started acting out the second Sienna arrived. She must have brought something tainted into the compound.”” “”We need a cleansing ritual. Otherwise, I won’t feel safe sleeping under the same roof.”” I shook my head frantically. “”I didn’t bring anything! Madison just accidentally said what she was thinking!”” They ignored me. Richard immediately called for the family’s “”spiritual advisor,”” a man named Brother Thomas. Thomas was a seasoned grifter who knew exactly who signed his checks. He exchanged a subtle, knowing look with Madison before assuming a mask of solemnity. “”Miss Sienna is indeed carrying a dark attachment. This kind of filth cannot be purged by prayer alone. It requires a physical rejection.”” “”Since this force is targeting Miss Madison, she must be the one to wield the instrument of purification. She must strike Miss Sienna eighty-one times with a sanctified leather strap to drive the evil out.”” Richard and Eleanor didn’t hesitate. They ordered the guards to bind my hands. Madison picked up the strap. Her eyes shimmered with a sadistic heat. “”I’m so sorry, Sienna. I’m doing this for your own good.”” She let out a soft giggle—the sound of a victor—and swung her arm back, bringing the leather down with a crack. But as the blow landed, her mouth betrayed her again: “”Look at this. Mom and Dad are always on my side. All I have to do is say you’re cursed, and they let me beat you. In this house, you’re nothing but a dog to me!”” Hearing this, my parents merely frowned. “”Madison, hit harder! Drive the devil out of her!”” Madison put her entire weight into it. The leather tore through my old clothes, biting deep into my skin. When the eighty-one strokes finally ended, they cut the ropes. I slumped to the floor, my body a map of fire, unable to move. I expected a servant to help me upstairs, but Brother Thomas raised a hand. “”Wait. Miss Sienna should not stay in a comfortable room. Dark energy thrives on comfort; it will only return. A narrow, sunless space is most appropriate.”” My parents considered this for a moment. “”The supply closet on the first floor is small and windowless. There isn’t even room for a bed…”” Thomas nodded sagely. “”Perfect. If Miss Sienna suffers a little, the darkness won’t want to come back.”” 2. I was tossed into the damp, cold storage room. I curled into a ball in the corner, my body trembling with pain, a bitter despair clawing at my throat. I thought having the “”Truth System”” would make life easier. I hadn’t realized this life would start even harder than the last. The door creaked open. Madison walked in, looking down at me as if I were a roach she’d missed under her heel. “”You did something, didn’t you? Made me say the truth.”” “”You’re so naive, Sienna. Even if I say it out loud, so what? Mom and Dad will always choose me.”” “”Who cares about DNA? You’re just a piece of waste-bin scrap. You really think you can compete with me?”” “”Do yourself a favor and crawl back to whatever mud hole you came from…”” Footsteps echoed in the hallway. Madison’s face transformed instantly into a mask of terror. “”Sister, what are you doing? Please, don’t hurt me!”” She grabbed a letter opener from a nearby shelf and plunged it into her own arm. At her scream, my parents burst in, pushing me aside to catch her. “”Sienna! What have you done to Madison?!”” I looked at them coldly. “”I didn’t do anything. I just watched her put on a one-woman show.”” “”You think we’d believe Madison would hurt herself? Are you insane?”” Madison gasped weakly, leaning into Eleanor’s arms. “”I only… I only came to ask her if she was scared to sleep alone, if she wanted me to stay with her… and then she… she stabbed me…”” Richard and Grant stared at me with pure loathing. “”Sienna, how can you be this vicious? How did the Harrison bloodline produce something so heartless?”” My father raised his hand, ready to strike me. But Madison’s voice rang out again. “”I came in here to provoke this bitch, to tell her there’s no place for her here, and then I stabbed myself to frame her!”” She clapped her hand over her mouth. My father’s hand froze mid-air. The room went deathly quiet. I looked at my parents. “”Did you hear that? That was the truth.”” Grant let out a scoff, breaking the tension. “”Clearly, the cleansing wasn’t thorough enough. The devil is still manipulating her, forcing her to say crazy things to frame Madison.”” My parents didn’t argue. They let Grant take Madison away to get bandaged. They gave me one last, indifferent look before turning to leave. “”Why?”” I asked the question to their retreating backs. “”You know she’s telling the truth. You know she did it to herself. Why do you still take her side?”” Eleanor turned around, her lip curling in a sneer. “”Sienna, love is built over time. It doesn’t just appear because of a lab result.”” “”For over a decade, Madison has been our daughter. We poured everything into her.”” “”Emotions aside—look at her. Her grace, her speech, her elite education. That is what a daughter of the Ridge looks like.”” “”You? You’re just a stray from the wastes. You can’t even compare.”” “”A daughter represents the family’s face to the world. Look at yourself. You’re an embarrassment.”” “”Then why bring me back?”” “”You think we wanted to? The Security Bureau made a spectacle out of finding you!”” “”If we didn’t bring you back, the media would have torn us apart. The Harrison family won’t let you starve, but don’t you dare think you’ll ever replace Madison.”” They walked away. In that moment, my heart went completely cold. I remembered the secret the Arbiter had told me about Madison. I smiled. I no longer wanted their cheap charity. I was going to make them see the truth. And then, I was going to make them lose everything they actually cared about. 3. I went to see Dominic Blackwood. The Harrisons and the Blackwood Compound had arranged a marriage years ago. Dominic hated the arrangement, but he couldn’t defy his family’s strategic interests. When I was brought back, my face was all over the regional news. Dominic recognized me immediately. He looked at me with a dull, icy indifference. “”What? Are the Harrisons looking to swap brides at the last minute?”” I shook my head. “”I’m here to talk business.”” Dominic arched an eyebrow. “”What kind of business?”” “”I know you don’t want to marry that woman. It’s just pressure for resource exchange.”” “”If the Ridge were to suddenly go bankrupt, your parents wouldn’t force you to honor the contract, would they?”” “”I have a way to make their assets evaporate overnight.”” Dominic sat up straighter. He laughed—a sharp, cynical sound. “”It seems the long-lost daughter has realized that blood isn’t worth much around here.”” “”So? Do we have a deal, Commander Blackwood?”” “”If your family falls, you go down with them. You’re willing to lose everything?”” “”I told you. This is a business deal.”” “”I help you dismantle the Harrison legacy. In return, you give me ten million credits. And when the bank auctions off the central Ridge compound, you buy it and transfer it to me.”” “”That’s it?”” “”That’s it.”” Ten million was enough for a comfortable life. As for that compound… In my last life, they threw me out to die. In this one, I was going to throw them out. Dominic nodded slowly. “”Taking down the Ridge isn’t a small task. What do you need from me?”” “”First, the credits. Now. I don’t trust you not to back out.”” Dominic took the slip of paper with my account details and handed it to his secretary. Five minutes later, the funds arrived. I smiled. “”You’re not worried I’m scamming you?”” “”It’s only ten million. I can afford the gamble. Besides, in this world, no one is stupid enough to scam Dominic Blackwood.”” “”What’s the second part?”” “”Next week, the Blackwood Compound is hosting its anniversary gala. I need you to add a segment to the program…”” When I finished explaining, Dominic looked confused. “”That’s it? That’ll do it?”” I nodded. “”Just watch. You’ll see the Harrison empire collapse in real-time.”” A week later, the most elite social event in the region—the anniversary gala—arrived. When the invitation reached the Ridge, Madison noticed the new addition to the schedule. “”All heirs will take the stage to share a story of their upbringing.”” Madison squealed with delight. “”This must be Dominic’s idea! He wants to know me better but he’s too shy to ask, so he set this up.”” “”It’s so romantic! It’s like ‘I embraced the whole world just to find you’ vibes!”” “”I have to write the perfect speech!”” She glanced at me, her eyes narrowing. “”Dad, Mom… is Sienna going to speak too?”” “”I’m so curious what a waste-girl could share. Scavenging for mutated rats in trash heaps? Is that what you did all day, sister?”” 4. My parents looked at me with unconcealed loathing. “”This is a high-society gala. What could she possibly share that wouldn’t make us vomit on the spot?”” “”Sienna, listen. Everyone knows you’re back, so we have to take you. But you are to keep your mouth shut.”” “”Smile a lot, talk a little. Don’t show off your lack of breeding. We can’t afford the embarrassment.”” “”Also, I heard you met Dominic privately the other day? You think being the biological daughter means you can steal Madison’s fiancé?”” “”Look in the mirror. Even if Dominic lost his mind, he wouldn’t look at you.”” “”From now on, you don’t see anyone without permission. Don’t shame us again.”” Madison glowed with triumph, savoring my humiliation. “”I’m going to go work on my speech. Don’t worry, Mom and Dad. I’ll make the Harrison name shine tonight!”” Watching her skip away, a cold smile crept onto my face. Yes, Madison. Prepare that speech. Make it perfect. Weigh every word. It’s all a waste of time anyway. Because when you open your mouth, not a single one of those hypocritical words will come out. Dad, Mom… I can’t wait to see your faces when the truth finally comes out. The night of the gala arrived. The Blackwood ballroom was a sea of crystal chandeliers and pre-collapse style gowns. Madison walked in on Grant’s arm, my parents following proudly behind. I followed at the very end like an unwanted shadow. Guests recognized me as the returned daughter, their eyes scanning me with judgment. Eleanor gave the hem of my dress a sharp tug, pulling me forward rudely. “”Yes, she’s the one from the wastes. She has no worldliness. If she acts awkward, please forgive her.”” “”We give her food and clothes, we try to teach her, but she’s just… hopelessly unrefined.”” The guests offered polite, empty platitudes. “”It’s good she’s back. Don’t push her too hard. You already have such a wonderful daughter in Madison.”” Not far off, Madison was batting her eyelashes at Dominic. “”Dominic, you have to listen closely when I give my speech later.”” The event began. Heirs took to the stage one by one. Soon, it was Madison’s turn. She glided to the microphone, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear and picking up her speech cards. “”Good evening, everyone. I am Madison Harrison. As you know, I was once an orphan taken in by my wonderful parents.”” “”They gave me the best of everything…”” She didn’t finish the sentence. Her tongue twisted violently. Then, the bombshell dropped. “”In fact, I wasn’t an orphan at all. My entry into the Harrison family was…”””

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The day before my wedding, I was kidnapped. My eyes were blindfolded, but I could smell the sharp scent of fresh roses mixed with the salty tang of the ocean breeze. I knew this smell. It was the coastal estate where I was supposed to get married tomorrow! As a top-tier private investigator, I quickly ran through every client and enemy I had ever made in my head. I couldn’t think of anyone who would do this. The captor didn’t just torture me; they used a voice changer to ask me incredibly bizarre questions. “Can you describe, in detail, what it feels like to be touched right now?” “If you had to choose again, would you prefer an ice bath or a boiling sauna?” “Do you think the kidnapping from ten years ago was more fun, or is this one better?” The mention of ten years ago triggered a massive panic attack. I shook so hard I couldn’t breathe, let alone speak. But as I struggled, my hand accidentally brushed against the rope tied behind my back. My fingers traced the knot. It was a very specific, unique knot. One that I had invented myself. I had never taught it to anyone. Except for one person. My fiancé, Ethan.

“Cut!” “Let’s wrap it up for today. Amber is getting hungry.” My blindfold was violently ripped off. The estate hall was filled with cameras and crew members. And there they were, sitting behind the monitors—my fiancé, Ethan, and Amber. I felt like my soul had been sucked out. Even though the ropes were undone, I sat frozen in the chair, unable to move. Ethan looked at Amber with absolute adoration, then turned to me with a casual smile. “Chloe, you know Amber is a sociology major. Her senior thesis is about the real-time psychological reactions of kidnap victims.” “You have past experience with this, so you were the perfect fit. Plus, our wedding is tomorrow, so I figured this was a good chance to bring you over and get you familiar with the venue.” Amber turned off her voice changer, bouncing over from behind him. “Chloe, thank you so much! My thesis is saved! Your crying and begging face just now was so incredibly realistic!” The memories of when I was eighteen rushed back like a tidal wave. Back then, I had cried and begged just like this. Actually, it was much worse. My body was still shivering from being drenched in ice water. I clenched my teeth, trying to stop them from chattering, and stared at Ethan. “So, for the sake of her college project, you were willing to drag me back to hell?” A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. He quickly draped a dry towel over my shoulders and handed me a mug of hot cocoa. “I know it was hard on you today, but try to understand the pressure Amber is under to graduate. You’re about to be my bride tomorrow. Just think of it as helping out a little sister.” Amber chimed in with a sweet, pouty voice. “Chloe, the person who touched your leg just now was actually a female crew member. We just had a professional male voice actor speak near your ear. Please don’t be mad at Ethan.” “And besides, when you were kidnapped back then, didn’t Ethan risk his life to save you? Ethan is the hottest luxury designer right now. It’s fine if you don’t wear his designs, but you don’t have to keep picking fights with him…” Looking at my cold, expressionless face, the guilt in Ethan’s eyes faded, replaced by annoyance. He snatched the hot cocoa I hadn’t touched and threw it into the trash can. “Ethan,” I asked, my voice deadly quiet. “Do you honestly think we still need to get married tomorrow?” He frowned, looking down at me. “Chloe, don’t be so dramatic. Didn’t you practically force me into this proposal anyway?” “Enough is enough. Amber’s blood sugar is dropping. Go home by yourself.” He tossed my phone onto the table and led the entire crew out. The massive estate was suddenly dead quiet. I was left all alone. Then, I noticed a laptop left open on the table. I walked over. On the screen was a document titled: Chloe’s Kidnapping Simulation Details. Keep the temperature at 32°F. She is extremely sensitive to the cold. The voice actor’s voice must be disgusting and raspy. That is her biggest trigger. Use a hand model with rough skin to touch her, to make it feel real. I stared at the screen for a long, long time. Tears finally spilled over my cheeks. Ten years ago, Ethan and I were eighteen. My father, Arthur, who was also a detective back then, had pissed off a dangerous man named Marcus. Marcus kidnapped me. I was missing for three days and three nights, and no one could find me. It was Ethan, who I knew from my part-time job, who found me. He had climbed over the wall into the freezer of an abandoned food factory. While waiting for rescue, he wrapped all of his clothes around me. It was below zero. His eyelashes were covered in frost. I was hallucinating, hearing Marcus’s disgusting, raspy voice in my ears. Ethan gently sang to me. His teeth were chattering so hard he could barely get the words out. When Marcus returned, Ethan hid me. Ethan was whipped with a salt-water drenched lash until his back was raw and bleeding, but he never gave up my location. The memory of the bloody wounds on Ethan’s back slowly merged with the Chloe’s Kidnapping Simulation Details on the screen. Since we had survived life and death together, of course he knew exactly where to stab me to make me bleed the most. I picked up my phone from the floor and dialed a number. “Dad, cancel the wedding tomorrow.”

The moment the words left my mouth, my phone died. Feeling utterly humiliated, I began the long walk back to the city. The long dress I was wearing had been shredded into a miniskirt by the “kidnappers,” and the neckline was ripped low. I suddenly remembered the dress. It was the one Ethan gave me the year he won his first major design award. Back then, he skyrocketed to fame with a bold, avant-garde little black dress. That exclusive dress, which countless girls dreamed of, was custom-made for me. But the moment I put it on, I couldn’t stop thinking about the torn clothes Marcus had forced me to wear during those three days. So, I had only worn it three times. I felt guilty for wasting his hard work, but he had smiled and told me: “If you don’t like it, then it’s not a good dress. I’ll work harder to design something Chloe actually wants to wear!” But now, every new seasonal piece he designed was worn by Amber before it even hit the runway. After walking for three hours, I finally made it back to my apartment complex. Suddenly, a heavy, greasy hand clapped down on my shoulder. I whipped around, cold with fear, and pushed his hand away. A heavy-set man smiled, revealing a row of yellow teeth. “How much for a night?” “What?” “I asked how much. You’re wearing that trashy, ripped dress. Who are you trying to play innocent for?” I didn’t answer. I clutched my torn collar tightly and ran. The man yelled after me, “Bitch! Dressing like a whore and pretending to be pure!” I ran up the stairs and pushed open my door. Ethan was there, wearing an apron, roasting the herb chicken I loved. He acted as if today’s “kidnapping” had never happened. His tone was perfectly casual. “Go wash your hands. Dinner’s ready.” Looking at the beautiful spread of food, I felt a wave of nausea. People always said Ethan’s hands were worth millions because they designed the most elegant dresses in the world. But nobody knew those same hands happily cooked for me at home. He set a bowl of soup in front of me. This was his way of apologizing. “I brought the wedding dress back from the studio. I adjusted a few details. Why don’t you try it on later?” I turned my head to look at the gorgeous wedding dress hanging in the living room. He had designed it before he was even famous. Once, a luxury brand offered him three million dollars for the design. Ethan was broke back then, but he rejected the offer without a second thought. He had knelt before me with the sketch and said: “What are fame and fortune compared to you? Marrying you is my ultimate jackpot.” When did we start to drift apart? It seemed to start when Amber joined his studio as a fit model. Ethan started forgetting my preferences. He began criticizing my conservative style. And he grew to despise my job as an investigator. The steam from the soup stung my eyes. Treating this as our final meal, I forced myself to finish the bowl. After dinner, Ethan drew a warm bath for me. I hesitated for a few minutes before finally putting on the wedding dress. The way he looked at me was still intense and passionate. But I knew he wasn’t the same Ethan who had knelt on one knee and told me marrying me was his ultimate jackpot. He brought out a strawberry cake from behind his back. “Happy birthday, Chloe.” “And happy tenth anniversary.” Under the candlelight, his eyes were mesmerizing. For a split second, I found myself wishing we could just start over. The next second, Amber’s custom ringtone broke the silence. Ethan answered it right in front of me, his expression instantly changing to one of concern. I don’t know what she said, but he hurriedly grabbed his car keys. The candles weren’t even blown out yet, and wax began dripping onto the cake. It was a perfect metaphor for my life. Ethan said as he put on his shoes, “Amber’s power went out, and she’s terrified of the dark. I’ll go over, change the lightbulb, and come right back. Eat the cake without me.”

I calmly took off the gorgeous wedding dress and hung it back up, exactly where it had been. Then, I pulled out my suitcase and packed every single thing I owned. Just as I was zipping it shut, Ethan called. “Amber has a fever. I have to stay and take care of her. Tomorrow’s wedding… let’s postpone it. Otherwise, Amber won’t be able to make it.” I didn’t yell. I didn’t scream. I just said, “Okay.” There was a pause on the other line, sounding confused. “You’re not mad this time?” I placed my house key on the coffee table. My voice was dead calm. “There’s nothing to be mad about.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “Great. Don’t get upset if you see some videos online. I promise I’ll give you an unforgettable wedding next month to make up for it.” After we hung up, I went online and found the video he was talking about. It was the footage from the “kidnapping.” In the sauna, I was heat-stroked and vomiting bile. They tore my dress, while a voice actor whispered disgusting lines in my ear. The cleaning lady’s rough hand was on my thigh, pretending to be a man’s. I was having a breakdown, kneeling and begging on the floor. And there was Ethan, holding Amber’s shoulder, sipping champagne as they watched. Halfway through the video, I ran to the bathroom and threw up my entire dinner. Ignoring my aching body, I dragged my suitcase out into the night. I had just hailed a cab when a sharp, stabbing pain in my abdomen made the world spin. When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed. The doctor looked at me with a sympathetic sigh. “I’m so sorry, but you were seven weeks pregnant. We couldn’t save the baby.” I stared blankly at the IV drip, unable to shed a single tear. The good Samaritan who had brought me in had used my phone to call Ethan. Soon, Ethan and Amber appeared in the ER. Ethan looked incredibly annoyed. “Chloe, I actually believed you were going to behave tonight. It’s the middle of the night, and Amber has a fever, yet she insisted on coming to see you. What is it this time?” My hand rested on my empty stomach. “Ethan, our…” Amber looked pale, leaning heavily against Ethan. “Chloe! There’s a terrible flu going around. Look at how crowded the ER is. People are literally waiting in the hallways for a bed. It’s not right for you to occupy a bed when you’re perfectly fine.” “I know you’re mad that Ethan was with me. Cough, cough. But I didn’t want to get sick. It’s all my fault…” The ER was indeed packed, and patients were starting to look over at us with angry glares. “What is wrong with her? Take your domestic drama home! We’re actually sick here!” “She looks so young, how can she be so selfish?” “If you can’t keep your man, don’t take it out on hospital patients. Get out!” Ethan quickly apologized to the crowd. “I’m so sorry, everyone. My fiancé is just being immature. I’ll take her home right now and free up the bed.” He grabbed my arm and ripped the IV needle straight out of my skin. As blood welled up on the back of my hand, I actually felt relieved. Relieved that my baby would never have to open its eyes to this world. Otherwise, they would grow up and blame me for choosing such a monster of a father. Outside the hospital, Ethan shoved me into his car. “Chloe, Amber’s thesis deadline is tomorrow, and there are still a few shots missing. You need to come back to the estate and do a quick interview video.” The car doors clicked, locking me in. I banged on the window. “No! I’m not doing it! Let me out!” Amber wiped a tear. “If Chloe doesn’t want to, let’s not force her. It’s fine if I fail. The worst that happens is I don’t graduate…” Ethan unlocked the doors, his voice cold as ice. “Fine, Chloe. You can leave.” “But don’t expect me to introduce the heart surgeon for your grandmother anymore.”

The top heart specialist in the country was someone only Ethan’s high-society connections could reach. I let out a bitter laugh and stopped resisting. At the estate, the wedding decorations were halfway set up. The pearl satin drapes and the iris-rose archway that I had once loved now felt like a sick joke. Ethan tied me to the chair again and turned on the camera. Amber walked up, a microphone in her hand. “Ten years ago, when you were kidnapped, didn’t you feel a tiny bit of excitement? A little thrill?” “That man only played with you for three days. Don’t you think it’s unfair that he had to go to prison for so many years?” “Maybe he just liked you too much and couldn’t help himself. Why didn’t you give him a chance?” Amber’s words sliced right into my deepest trauma. Ethan didn’t seem to find anything wrong with her questions. He was busy slicing fresh fruit for her nearby. Suddenly, his phone rang. After a quick call, he turned to Amber excitedly. “Amber, I finally got a lead on my mother’s case. I have to go check it out right now. I’ll be back to pick you up soon.” Ethan had always believed his mother was murdered by his father’s business rivals, and he had been searching for the truth for years. But Arthur’s agency had recently discovered the truth: Ethan’s mother had committed suicide after years of horrific domestic abuse by Ethan’s father. I was still trying to figure out how to break the news to him gently. Once Ethan left, Amber walked over and shut off the camera. She pulled on a pair of latex gloves and drew a surgical scalpel from her bag. “You know how Ethan’s mother really died, don’t you?” “Too bad he doesn’t. I told him that your detective father leaked his mother’s location to her abusers. And the idiot actually believed me. Hahaha…” So that was why Ethan’s attitude toward me had completely flipped. A decade of love was completely destroyed by a single lie from a stranger. I stared at Amber’s twisted, smiling face. Suddenly, her face overlapped with the face of the monster from ten years ago. “Amber…” Every single pore on my body screamed in terror. “You’re… you’re Marcus’s daughter!” Amber slapped me hard across the face, her nails leaving bloody scratches on my cheek. “Chloe, you put my father in prison for ten years, and you’re only realizing who I am now? Too slow!” This year was the tenth year! At the other end of the estate hall, the heavy oak doors slowly creaked open. A set of heavy, dragging footsteps echoed through the room—the exact sound from my nightmares. I was tied to the chair, my pupils dilating in pure horror. I watched Marcus walk out of the shadows, step by step. He looked like a demon crawling out of hell, his face covered in scars and fat. He pinched my chin, his greasy breath hot on my face. “Chloe, baby, it’s been so long. You’ve grown up so beautiful…” The terror of the past and the present crashed over me, shattering my sanity. I shut my eyes, praying that death would take me quickly. Amber handed the scalpel and a cheap, revealing dress to Marcus. “Dad, I’ll leave the rest to you. I’m going to call Ethan and make sure he doesn’t come back here.” Once Amber left, Marcus began unbuttoning his shirt. “Chloe, look at this pretty dress I bought for you. Let’s put it on, and then we can play. You have to be a good girl, just like before…” “So this is where you were going to get married? How exciting…” “Tomorrow, I’m going to hang you high from the ceiling in this dress, so your detective daddy can get a great view of his precious daughter! Hahaha!” Marcus reached for my collar. I closed my eyes in absolute despair. The greasy touch of his hands on my skin made me want to die. Right when I was about to give up, the heavy doors of the estate were kicked open with a thunderous crash. “Chloe!”

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I shared the exact same face with my twin sister, Vivian, but our personalities were worlds apart. Everyone always said Vivian was the sweet, gentle angel who deserved the best of everything. And me? I was the competitive, loud attention-seeker who didn’t have a single polite bone in her body. I beat Vivian to become the Varsity Cheer Captain. I was the one who stole the spotlight at our 18th birthday bash. But the harder I tried to prove myself, the more Mom despised me. “You’re too selfish, Valerie. No one is ever going to love you. Why can’t you be more like Vivian?” Of course, I didn’t back down. I earned every single bit of that glory. Until college graduation, when Vivian and I fell for the same man—Ethan. Vivian, always so sweet, finally showed her teeth: “Valerie, please. I really, truly love Ethan.” Mom chimed in, pleading with me: “Don’t you always brag about how many guys are chasing you? Just let Vivian have Ethan this once.” I didn’t want to give him up. But then I saw Ethan. The same Ethan who was tangled in my bedsheets just yesterday, kissing Vivian’s lips today as if nothing had happened. This time, I didn’t want to fight anymore. There was no point.

When I finally nodded in agreement, Vivian’s face lit up. She grabbed my arm, shaking it with excitement. “Really? Valerie, you’re really letting him go?” She shook me so hard that a metallic, metallic taste rushed up my throat. I forced myself to swallow the blood back down. Mom shot me a sideways glance, her voice sharp. “At least you have some self-awareness. Ethan is gentle and stable. He’s a much better fit for Vivian anyway.” “Didn’t the local grocery store owner ask you out last week? He’s loaded. You should just say yes to him.” I thought of the grocery store owner who had sent 999 roses to our doorstep last week. He was a bald, chubby guy seventeen years older than me. In Mom’s eyes, that was the only kind of man I deserved. Vivian tugged at Mom’s sleeve, playing the saint again. “Mom, don’t say that to Valerie. I’m sure she can find someone much better.” Mom’s harsh expression softened. She turned around, wrapped her arm around my shoulder, and playfully tapped my nose. “I’m just teasing you.” “You wouldn’t get mad over a little joke, right?” I leaned into Mom’s embrace, greedily soaking in the tiny bit of warmth. Like every other time she held me, it felt brief, like something I had stolen. Actually, Mom was right. I wasn’t mad. Her words, whether sweet or cruel, were a prize to me. Even if they were wrapped in thorns, I swallowed them gladly. I had known since I was a little girl that Mom loved Vivian more. Probably because Vivian was just like her. I was born wild, loud, always getting into trouble. I never fit the mold of a “good girl.” Once, Mom bought Vivian a beautiful dress. Vivian didn’t like the color and threw it on the couch. So, I took it and put it on. The moment Mom saw me, she practically ripped the fabric off my body. I lost count of how many times things like that happened. Mom shook my arm, pulling me back to reality. “What are you spacing out for?” She frowned, her usual impatience returning. “I tested Ethan yesterday. He can’t tell you two apart at all.” “As long as you keep your mouth shut, Vivian can take your place and marry him.” “Don’t worry. I’ll help you find a better boyfriend later.” I looked down, not wanting to watch Vivian walk toward Ethan. Could he really not tell us apart? We were college sweethearts. We spent four years together, dated for three. We slept in each other’s arms for countless nights. Even if Vivian and I were identical twins, he should have known. Unless… he just didn’t care.

Vivian took a deep breath, smoothed her dress, and walked up to Ethan, taking his hand. “Ethan…” Ethan smiled, kissing Vivian’s forehead gently. “Valerie, your dress is different today. It’s beautiful.” My heart felt like it was being stabbed by a thousand needles. He didn’t recognize me. He thought Vivian was me. Mom was all smiles. “Ethan, Valerie made your favorite clam chowder today!” She turned to me, her voice suddenly warm and performative. “Vivian, dear, go open a bottle of Cabernet.” I didn’t expose the lie. I just smiled and did what I was told. It wasn’t just because I was utterly disappointed in Ethan. It was because I had terminal brain cancer. This time, I couldn’t win against anyone. At the dinner table, Ethan tenderly cut the steak for my sister, even blowing on the soup to cool it down before handing it to her. Mom clapped her hands in delight. “Ethan, their dad passed away early. Raising twin girls all by myself wasn’t easy.” “Since you’ve chosen our Valerie, you two should get married soon.” Ethan stared at Vivian, his eyes filled with deep affection. “Don’t worry, Eleanor. It was love at first sight for me.” Vivian and Mom both froze for a fraction of a second. My fork clattered to the floor. I stared blankly at Ethan. Ethan was a year ahead of me in college. I chased him for an entire year before he finally agreed to go out with me. What “love at first sight”? Under the table, Mom pinched my thigh hard. The sharp pain made me bolt upright. Ethan instantly looked over. “What’s wrong?” Mom smoothly pushed me back down into my seat, laughing it off. “Nothing, nothing. This girl is just clumsy. Ignore her.” I sat back down, staring at Ethan. He used to say the same thing to me: “Are you hyperactive or something? Why are you always so restless?” But even now, he still didn’t realize who I was. Mom leaned over to put some food on Vivian’s plate. “Eat up, Valerie. You look so thin.” She stared at Vivian’s face, then suddenly said, “Actually, the name Valerie doesn’t suit you well. I’ll take you to get it legally changed to something prettier soon.” I let out a bitter, silent laugh. They had already thought of a way to erase me completely. By taking away my very name. Tears splashed onto my plate, one by one. I stuffed the food into my mouth, swallowing fast. My throat felt like it was blocked by burning coal. Suddenly, a violent cough tore through my chest. I coughed up a mouthful of blood, splashing bright, shocking red across the white tiled floor.

Ethan bolted upright, knocking his chair back as he rushed to my side. He grabbed my shoulders, panic written all over his face. “What’s wrong? Why are you coughing up blood?” He reached out, his thumb gently wiping the blood from the corner of my lips. “I’m taking you to the hospital.” Ethan tried to pull me up. I pushed his hands away, shrinking back into my chair. “No, I’m fine.” “My gums are just bleeding.” He stared down at me, his eyes searching mine. “Gums bleeding? This much?” I forced a small smile. “Really. I know my own body. No hospital.” He stared at me for a few long seconds before slowly letting go. Vivian and Mom were staring at him, their expressions identical in their shock. Vivian recovered first. She smiled, wrapping her arms around Ethan’s and pulling him back to his seat. “Ethan is just too kind.” “He stops to feed every stray cat and dog he sees on the street.” “He just can’t stand seeing anyone suffer.” Mom joined in, putting more food on my plate. “And you, what’s wrong with you? Eating like a starving ghost.” “Slow down. No one is stealing your food.” I kept my head down, silent. Vivian leaned her head on Ethan’s shoulder, her voice sweet. “Ethan, we’ve been together for so long. When are we getting married?” Ethan looked down at her, a soft smile playing on his lips. “Whenever you want. Anytime.” Vivian playfully nudged him with her finger. Then, she looked at me with a sweet smile. “Vivian, you’ll be my maid of honor, right?” I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms, forcing myself to nod. “Sure.” I had asked him about marriage so many times. On our first Valentine’s Day after graduation, I asked him when we would tie the knot. He said there was no rush, we had just graduated, and we should wait two years. The next year, I asked again. He said his career wasn’t stable yet. The third year, I stopped asking. This was the fourth year. I had brought Ethan home to meet my family just because I wanted him to see where I grew up before I left this world. The doctor told me that once I started coughing up blood, it meant the tumor was already pressing against my vital organs. It could be three days, or maybe a week. And this was the third day since I started coughing up blood. I knew my time was running out. Vivian dragged Ethan into her room, saying they needed to look at wedding venues online. I sat alone at the dining table, picking at the remaining rice in my bowl. Mom glanced at me, a flicker of guilt crossing her face. She went into the kitchen and brought out a bowl of hot soup, placing it in front of me. “Drink something warm.” I took a sip, the warmth spreading from my throat straight to my eyes, making them sting. Mom’s voice softened, a rare occurrence. “Are you still feeling bad?” “Do you want me to take you to the clinic tomorrow?” I shook my head, forcing a smile. “I’m fine, Mom.” It felt so nice. To finally have a bowl of soup made just for me. Mom was quiet for a moment before she spoke softly. “Stop hurting yourself just to get attention from now on.” “There are plenty of guys out there. Since you promised to let your sister have Ethan, don’t try to win him back.” “Vivian isn’t as tough as you. She never fights you for anything. If she asked for Ethan, it means she truly loves him.” I held the warm bowl, but the warmth inside me died instantly. Right. Vivian never fought me for anything. Because the winner doesn’t need to fight. Vivian just had to stand there, and everyone would love her, offering her the world on a silver platter. And the things I spent my entire life fighting for were just the scraps that fell through her fingers.

In the middle of the night, I woke up suffocating. I reached up and touched my face—it was covered in wet, sticky blood. I stumbled into the bathroom to wash it off. As I walked back to my room, I heard Ethan’s voice coming from Vivian’s bedroom. His words froze me in my tracks. “Vivian, to be honest… you were the one I liked first.” My heart squeezed violently. I held my breath, standing frozen outside the door. Vivian’s voice was shaky, filled with tears. “Then why did you end up with Valerie?” Ethan sighed. “I tried to find you after we first met, but I got nothing for a whole year.” “Then Valerie showed up.” “I thought… even if she was just a substitute, as long as I could see this face every day, it would be enough.” His words were like physical needles, piercing straight through my eardrums. The pain spread to every nerve in my body. Vivian’s voice trembled. “But what about Valerie?” “You’ve been with her for four years. How does this end?” Ethan was silent for a long time. “I’ll make it up to her.” “We were together for four years, and I did love her. I’ll give her a lump sum of money, buy her a condo, and help her secure a good job. I’ll make sure she lives comfortably.” He sounded so reasonable, so incredibly generous. As if his compensation was more than enough. The relationship I cherished more than my own life was nothing but a massive misunderstanding from start to finish. I thought I had finally found someone who chose me. But in the end, he was just a stolen shadow of my sister. Four years of love, devotion, and companionship. In his mind, I was just someone holding a fake ticket, sitting in a seat that never belonged to me. I dragged myself back to my room, curling my body into a tight ball of agony. I bit my lip so hard it bled, forcing the throat-tearing sobs back down. I didn’t sleep at all that night. The next morning, Vivian pushed my door open. Seeing my ghost-white face, she gasped. “Oh my god, what’s wrong with you? You look awful.” I shook my head, forcing a weak smile. “Nothing. Just insomnia.” Mom glanced at me, her brow furrowing with irritation. “What drama are you pulling now?” “Today is the day your sister tries on wedding dresses. Don’t you dare ruin it.” Vivian smiled and threw herself into Ethan’s arms, affectionately rubbing her cheek against his chest. After pouring their hearts out last night, the intimacy between them was undeniable. At the bridal boutique, rows of white gowns looked like a beautiful, cruel dream. Vivian picked a mermaid gown and twirled in front of the mirror. I stared at her, my heart aching with envy. Ethan suddenly turned to look at me. “Do you want to try one on too?” I froze, then shook my head, looking away. Vivian walked over with a laugh, smoothly drawing his attention back to her. The store clerk kept gushing. “You two look absolutely perfect together. What a stunning couple!” Looking at their matching silhouettes, a sharp, suffocating tickle rose in my throat. I bent over, coughing violently. I covered my mouth, feeling my palm grow wet and warm. I stumbled toward the restroom. Mom glanced in my direction, her voice cold and annoyed. “Just ignore her. She’s just trying to get attention again.” I collapsed against the bathroom stall door, too weak to even stand. With trembling hands, I dumped all my pain medication out. I shoved them into my mouth, swallowing them dry. But the pain came crashing in like a tidal wave anyway, drowning me. I fell to the floor, curling into a ball. Blood and half-dissolved pills spilled from the corner of my mouth. As my consciousness began to slip away, I suddenly wanted to call out for Mom. I wanted to ask her if she had ever loved me, even just a little, in this lifetime. She must have loved me, right? How could a mother not love her own daughter? But my voice was too weak. No one could hear me. With the last ounce of my strength, I dialed Mom’s number. It rang twice before she declined the call. A text message from Mom popped up on my screen: “Valerie, can you stop being so dramatic for once?” “Your sister is trying on her wedding dress. Stop causing trouble.” I stared at the words for a long, long time. Tears slipped from the corners of my eyes. I let out my very last breath and softly closed my eyes. … I don’t know how much time passed before a boutique clerk opened the door. The moment she saw my pale, stiff face, she screamed. “Help! Someone help! There’s a dead body in here!” Mom and Ethan rushed over at the sound of the scream. Mom pushed through the crowd, and her eyes fell on my cold, blue-tinged body. She froze, all the color draining from her face in an instant. “Valerie? Valerie!”

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After seven years of dating, my fiancé, Ethan, finally agreed to give me the grand wedding of my dreams. He even managed to book Susan, Taylor Swift’s personal celebrity stylist, for my big day. But on the morning of the wedding, Susan called me directly, her voice dripping with apology. “I’m so sorry, Pearl. Mr. Vance called and told me to style Miss Lily Miller first.” My blood ran cold. I immediately called Ethan, demanding to know what the hell was going on. But his voice on the other end was completely dismissive. “Lily just won the national contemporary dance championship, Pearl. Her award ceremony is today. She needs to look absolutely perfect for the cameras.” “Besides, we’ve been together for seven years. The wedding is just a formality anyway.” I stared into space. The wedding I had anticipated, planned, and practically begged for over the last seven years… was nothing but an “unimportant formality” to him. Seeing my silence on the phone, Ethan tried to soothe me in his usual placating tone. “How about this? I’ll call another agency and have them send a backup stylist to your place right now, okay?” I forced down the rising panic and anger in my chest. “The ceremony starts in less than two hours, Ethan! How is anyone going to make it here on time through the morning traffic?!” Ethan sighed. “Can’t you just do your own makeup? You’re great at it.” “And honestly, baby, you’re the most beautiful girl in the world to me, even without any makeup.” “Look, I’ve got to handle a few things here before the groomsmen arrive. I have to hang up.” The line went dead. I gripped my phone so hard my knuckles turned white. My chest felt so tight I could barely breathe. Seven years of love. Seven years of devotion. And this was what it was worth? Was this wedding even worth saving? My two bridesmaids, Chloe and Serena, had heard the entire conversation. They looked at each other, stunned. Chloe, always the fiery one, slammed down the rehearsal itinerary she had been studying all night. She exploded first. “What the hell is wrong with Ethan?! Does he not know that the bride is the center of the universe on her wedding day?” “And more importantly, even if he made the call, you paid the hundred-thousand-dollar deposit for Susan! Why on earth should that gold-digging bitch get to use her?” “If you ask me, Lily behaves more like his damn bride than you do!” Serena, always the gentle peacemaker, pulled Chloe’s sleeve. “Chloe, stop. That’s not helping. Right now, we need to find a solution.” My mom, who had been smiling all morning, lost her cheerful glow. Her face hardened, but she held my hand gently. “Don’t panic, Pearl,” Mom said decisively. “I’ll call Susan myself. I’ll demand she get over here right this second.” I stared out the window at the dark, pre-dawn sky, nodding numbly. A sudden, sickening realization hit me. Yesterday, Ethan—who had barely lifted a finger for any of the wedding planning—had suddenly asked me if Susan was really that good of a stylist. At the time, I thought he was just being sweet, finally showing some interest in my happiness. I had proudly bragged to him: “Of course she is! Just wait until you see me tomorrow. I’m going to take your breath away.” What a joke. He wasn’t asking for me. He was asking for his precious childhood best friend, Lily. My mom’s phone rang for a long time before someone finally picked up. But it wasn’t Susan. It was Lily’s mother, Mrs. Miller. Her loud, grating voice boomed through the speaker. “Oh, Susan is in the middle of doing Lily’s hair. She’s too busy to take calls right now.” My mom suppressed her rage, keeping her voice as steady and cold as steel. “Mrs. Miller, that is a celebrity stylist my daughter booked and paid for. If she doesn’t get to my daughter’s house in ten minutes, it will ruin the wedding timeline!” “If she doesn’t show up, you will owe me the hundred-thousand-dollar non-refundable deposit. In cash. Today.” Hearing the mention of money, Mrs. Miller instantly lost her smug attitude and got defensive. “Look, Ethan and Lily grew up together. They’re like soulmates! Ethan was the one who insisted Susan style Lily first. We didn’t ask for this! If you want your money, go ask Ethan. What does this have to do with me?” My mom hung up, her face pale. “They have no intention of letting Susan leave,” Mom said quietly.

Chloe paced the room, practically fuming. “I have been to dozens of weddings, and I have never, in my entire life, heard of someone hijacking the bride’s stylist! This is psycho behavior!” The clock on the wall kept ticking. Only two and a half hours left until the guests started arriving at the venue. The photographer we hired, looking incredibly uncomfortable, cleared his throat. “Um… we really need to start the bridal prep photos soon, or we won’t have enough time before the ceremony.” The videographer also whispered, “Should we keep rolling, or…?” I was so angry that I actually laughed out loud. I dug my nails into my palms. “Keep rolling,” I told the videographer. “Record everything. I’m calling Ethan again.” As soon as he picked up, I let out all my fury and heartbreak in one breath. “Ethan, I paid for Susan with my own money.” “This is my wedding. The most important day of my life. I am supposed to be the most beautiful version of myself today. You know how much this day means to me!” “Do you know your precious little ‘sister’ is refusing to let Susan leave? Tell them to send her to my house right now, and maybe we can still save this wedding!” For this wedding, I had spent an entire year planning every single detail. My wedding gown was a custom designer piece that took six months to hand-stitch. I hired a top-tier media team to document it. Even the guest favors took me weeks of comparing ten different options to find the perfect ones. Ethan’s voice came through, sounding exhaustingly calm. “Okay, okay, baby, please don’t get worked up. I’m calling Lily right now to tell her to hurry up, okay? Just give her a few more minutes.” My voice cracked, tears finally spilling over. “No! I want her here now! Do you understand me? Send Susan to my house this instant! Not a single minute later!” Ethan let out a long, heavy sigh. “Pearl, be reasonable. Lily is almost done. I’m doing the best I can, okay?” A wave of utter powerlessness washed over me. I felt like I was screaming into a void. I slammed the phone down. Fat tears splashed onto the back of my hand. Because Lily was his “little sister,” Ethan always expected me to compromise. When we went out to dinner, I had to let Lily order first. When we went on trips, I had to let Lily choose the activities. But now, on my once-in-a-lifetime wedding day, I was expected to hand over my own stylist to her too! Seven years of a long-distance and local romance. This was the man I chose. And on the most important day of my life, in front of my best friends, my parents, and my relatives, he took my dignity and dragged it through the dirt. I finally broke down, sobbing against Serena’s shoulder. Chloe and Serena started crying too, hugging me tightly and whispering that the bride shouldn’t cry on her wedding day. My dad, who had been up all night helping with the wedding logistics, heard my crying. He dropped the customized welcome signs he was adjusting and ran into the room. “Pearl, sweetheart, don’t cry,” Dad said, pulling me into a warm embrace. “Daddy’s here. No one is allowed to hurt my little girl.” Just then, my mom’s phone rang. It was Susan. Her voice sounded deeply confused over the speaker. “Mrs. Vance? I’ve finished styling Miss Lily. But they won’t let me leave.” “They’re saying that since I’m already here, I should style Lily’s mother as well.” “Your original contract only paid for two slots—you and your mother. Do you want me to give your slot to Mrs. Miller?” “No!” My mom snapped instantly. “Susan, please pack up your things and head to our address immediately. You are not to style anyone else. We are waiting for you.” “Understood,” Susan replied. But she didn’t hang up. She must have put her phone in her pocket, because we could hear everything on speaker. We heard a commotion on her end, followed by Lily’s soft, whiny voice. “Ethan, really, it’s fine. Susan can go style Pearl now. I don’t want her to be mad at me.” “But… my mom practically raised you. She cares so much about your wedding, and she just wanted to look elegant and respectable for your big day…” She was clearly talking to Ethan. Before I could hear his response, the call was abruptly disconnected.

The news that Susan was finally on her way lifted the heavy tension in the room. My mom smoothed out the wrinkles on my bridal robe, trying to keep her composure as she took charge. “Pearl, you wait for Susan. Chloe, Serena, I am so sorry, but I’m going to call a local salon right now to get two backup stylists here for you guys.” Chloe immediately replied, “Don’t worry about us, Mrs. Vance! We’re fine. Today is all about Pearl. We will make sure she looks like a queen, no matter what.” Serena squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. My dad didn’t say a word. He just clenched his fists, his eyes filled with pure heartache as he looked at me. My tears started falling again. He had named me Pearl because I was his most precious treasure. He had protected me and loved me for twenty-seven years. “I want everyone to know just by hearing her name,” he used to say proudly to his friends, “that my daughter is the pearl of my eye. My little princess.” But his little princess, who had never faced a day of cruelty in her life, was being humiliated on her wedding day by the man who was supposed to protect her. And yet, to save my reputation, my dad couldn’t even make a scene right now. He had to swallow his anger and keep quiet. The clock ticked. Another fifteen minutes passed. The sky outside was turning a pale grey. My mom’s connections worked, and two local makeup artists arrived to start working on my bridesmaids. The suffocating atmosphere in the room finally began to soften. Then, Ethan called again. One of my aunts, trying to lighten the mood, said, “Answer it, sweetie. He’s probably calling to apologize. Maybe Susan is almost here.” I bit my lip, still holding onto a tiny sliver of hope, and answered. “Pearl, baby, listen to me. Don’t be mad. Susan is going to be late if she drives over to your place now anyway. It makes more sense for her to just stay there and style Lily’s mom.” “I’ve already booked a high-end local salon just five minutes from your house. They’re sending someone over right now. It’s much faster, and it won’t delay the ceremony.” It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head. My ears rang so loudly I could barely process his words. The chatter in the room died instantly. Everyone froze. Chloe and Serena immediately rushed to my side, supporting my arms. My voice was dead and hollow. “Ethan… do you even want to marry me?” Ethan’s voice carried a hint of annoyance now. “Pearl, of course I do! It’s just a stylist. Anyone can do your makeup, it doesn’t have to be Susan. Be mature about this. I’m just trying to solve the problem quickly so we can get married.” I lost it. I screamed into the phone. “Even now, you think this is just about a stylist?!” “It’s about my dignity! It’s about them throwing my self-respect on the ground and stomping on it! It’s my wedding! I paid for the stylist, but instead of styling the bride, you gave her to Lily! Who the hell are you marrying today, Ethan? Me or Lily?” “We’ve been together for seven years. I let you give away everything else to her. But my own wedding? I have to give that away too?!” Hearing my hysterical, heartbroken screams, Ethan seemed to hesitate for a second. But then, he remembered what his mother had told him a week ago: “Pearl’s family has money, Ethan. If you don’t show her who’s boss before the wedding, she will control you for the rest of your life. You have to establish your authority.” He hardened his heart. “The ceremony starts in less than an hour, Pearl! You don’t want our wedding to become a laughingstock, do you?” “Stop throwing a tantrum. Just get your makeup done by the local stylist. Once the wedding is over, I’ll buy you whatever you want to make it up to you. I promise.”

My parents were now standing right beside me. My mom, who had run a multi-million dollar business for decades, was a fierce, decisive woman who never let her emotions show on her face. But today, she had reached her limit. She quietly took my hand, squeezing it to comfort me. My dad’s face was flushed with anger, veins bulging on his forehead. He snatched the phone from my hand and spoke into it with chilling, quiet rage. “Ethan. Pearl is our only daughter. No one gets to humiliate her while I am still breathing.” “You dated my daughter for seven years before reaching this step. We wanted this wedding to be a happy, smooth day. We don’t blame you for having a different perspective. But I need to see one thing from you right now. Send the stylist to my house. Show me that you actually respect my daughter enough to marry her.” There was a long, suffocating silence on the other end. “Sir… let’s think about the bigger picture first,” Ethan stammered. “Please help me convince Pearl to just get her makeup done. I’m on my way. The guests are already arriving at the venue. We can’t let outsiders laugh at us.” “Once the ceremony is over, you can hit me, yell at me, whatever you want. I’ll take full responsibility!” “Don’t call me ‘Sir,’ and don’t you dare call me ‘Dad,’” my father said, his voice dripping with disappointment. He hung up. I took my phone back and opened the Snapchat group chat with our wedding planners. “Cancel the bridal prep photo shoot,” I texted. The head planner replied almost instantly: “What about the rest of the schedule? Are we proceeding with the ceremony?” I thought about it for a second, then typed: “Keep the videographer on standby. Pause everything else.” I lifted my head and looked at my parents. “Mom, Dad… I don’t want to do this anymore.” My parents exchanged a look. My dad stepped forward, gently wiping the tears from my face. “Don’t be afraid, Pearl.” I had heard those words for twenty-seven years. As long as he was there, I knew I didn’t have to fear anything in this world. “I’m going to call your uncles and cousins. All of them.” I was an only child, but my father had three brothers. After they had had about a dozen boys, I was born—the only girl in the Vance family. I was the undisputed princess of the entire clan. My mom gave me a soft hug. “Whatever you decide to do next, Pearl, your father and I are behind you one hundred percent.” She then turned to the local makeup artists. “Could you please style my daughter? No need for an elaborate bridal look. Just make her look sharp, fresh, and elegant.” Then she dialed Susan’s number. “Susan, it’s fine. You don’t need to come to our house anymore. And do not style anyone else at that house. We will pay your contract in full. Thank you.” Chloe was quietly cursing Ethan under her breath, while Serena gently rubbed my back. My aunt, who had witnessed the entire drama, said fiercely, “I’ll go talk to our relatives. No one treats our girl like this.” The videographer gave me an ‘OK’ sign, indicating he had recorded every single second of the phone calls. Ethan tried calling me again and again, but I blocked his number. I took off my expensive silk bridal robe and changed into a simple, elegant white sundress. I sat in front of the vanity mirror, watching Ethan’s texts pop up on my iPad. “Baby, I’ll be there in an hour and a half to pick you up. Be good.” I let out a cold laugh. As the makeup artist’s brushes moved across my face, a strange calm washed over me. The anxiety that had consumed me since finding out about the stylist vanished. My mind began to replay the last seven years with Ethan like a movie. We met in college. He fell for me at first sight and pursued me relentlessly. He was tall, handsome, athletic, and popular. Being a year older than me, he had that charming “senior” aura. Naturally, I fell hard. For four years, we had a beautiful, sweet relationship. We studied together, traveled together, and loved each other deeply. But after I graduated and we moved back to the city to start our careers, Lily began to bleed into every corner of our lives.

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