Walking out of the doctor’s office with the test results, my expression was grave. My husband glanced at the report and clearly saw the three words: ALS diagnosis. He didn’t say anything. When we got home, he cooked me an elaborate dinner. After we ate, he looked at me seriously. “Claire, we still have to pay for Jamie’s college. This disease is a bottomless pit, and there’s no cure. Maybe we shouldn’t treat it.” I stared at him in shock. He continued: “If I were the one who was sick, I definitely wouldn’t get treatment either. I couldn’t let myself drag down the whole family.” “Claire, I hope you understand.” Of course I understood him. So I nodded: “Okay, then we won’t treat it.” But he clearly hadn’t figured something out—I’m not the one who’s sick. 1 Marcus had been complaining lately about feeling weak all over. I wasn’t feeling well either, so we went to the hospital together for checkups. After the test results came back, the doctor called me into the office alone. “You’re Marcus’s wife, right? Based on his test results, he has ALS.” Those three letters exploded in my mind. I knew exactly what they meant. “Doctor, money isn’t an issue for us. We need to do everything possible to slow down my husband’s condition and give him a few more years of quality life. Where there’s life, there’s hope. I don’t care if we have to sell everything we own!” Coming out with the report, my whole body was shaking. I tried my best to control my expression, but Marcus still noticed something was wrong. He glanced at the test report in my hand. I quickly stuffed it into my bag. Marcus didn’t say anything. He just pulled me into his arms: “You must be hungry. Let’s go home and I’ll cook you something delicious!” He made a whole table of his specialties—all my favorite dishes. I couldn’t hold back. I started crying right in front of him. He gently wiped away my tears: “Let’s eat first. We can talk after.” I figured he must know. After dinner, we sat in silence for a long time. Marcus suddenly spoke: “Claire, maybe we shouldn’t treat it.” I cried harder: “No! The doctor said with proper treatment and disease management, we can still have several good years!” “But ALS treatment costs are too high. Hundreds of thousands a year. We’re already stretched thin!” I grabbed Marcus’s hand: “Don’t worry about the money. We both make good salaries. Even if only one of us keeps working, we can afford it. Worst case, we’ll just live more frugally.” “Claire, we still have to pay for Jamie’s college. This disease is a bottomless pit with no cure. We really shouldn’t treat it.” I froze. “What are you saying?” “If I were the one who was sick, I definitely wouldn’t get treatment. I couldn’t let myself drag down the whole family.” “Claire, I hope you understand.” Apparently he hadn’t looked closely at the name on the report. He thought I was the sick one. I pulled my hand away from his. My tears stopped instantly. Turns out it’s so easy to stop loving someone. “Fine. I understand. Then we won’t treat it.” 2 Marcus visibly relaxed. He grabbed my hand: “Claire, it’s not that I’m stingy with money. I’m just thinking about Jamie’s future.” “Our son needs to study abroad eventually, get married someday—everything costs money. If we drain our savings on medical treatment, what will Jamie do later?” “Most importantly, this disease has no cure. Why waste money on something that can’t be fixed?” I raised my hand: “Enough. Stop talking. If we’re not treating it, we’re not treating it. This disease really is a waste of money to treat. Besides, you already said if you had this disease you wouldn’t treat it either, so what reason do I have to insist?” “I’m glad you understand. With the money we save from treatment, we can travel abroad. See sights we’ve never seen, eat food we’ve never tried, experience different cultures. Wouldn’t that be great!” Suddenly I felt a bit guilty. Maybe I’d misunderstood Marcus. For his final days, I hoped Marcus could have a good time too. “Then book the tickets. Pick a place. The three of us will take a trip together, wherever you want to go.” “Okay, let me look up some travel guides first.” That night he was on his phone constantly. I thought he was researching destinations. But three days passed with no news. “Marcus, have you picked where we’re going? When are we leaving? I need to request time off from work.” Marcus’s eyes darted away: “I had everything booked, but then my dad suddenly got hospitalized. I need to go take care of him. I’m not comfortable with you and Jamie going alone.” “Let’s wait a bit. Once Dad’s better, we’ll go.” Marcus had this tell—whenever he lied, his eyes would shift around. “Then let me go visit Dad.” “You don’t need to. Hospitals aren’t good for your health if you go too often. Dad will understand.” “By the way, I won’t be coming home after work today. I’m going to the hospital to stay with Dad.” I didn’t call him out. I just nodded and said okay. At seven that evening, Marcus’s phone location showed he was at a bar. I immediately took a cab there. After checking with the front desk, I went straight to his private room. The door was slightly ajar. Before I even entered, I could hear Marcus inside boasting loudly. “Everyone here today is Vivian’s good friend. Don’t hold back! Order whatever you want to drink or eat. It’s on me!” Everyone cheered. “Marcus is so generous! We won’t worry about Vivian’s future with you.” Marcus had his arm around a woman I didn’t recognize, grinning from ear to ear. I pushed the door open. “Marcus, this is what you call taking care of your dad at the hospital?” The lively room instantly went silent. Marcus jerked his arm away from the woman’s shoulder like he’d been electrocuted. “Claire, what are you doing here?” “If I hadn’t come, how would I know you were having such a great time? Who was it I just heard saying they wanted to be with you?” “Vivian. She’s my new secretary.” “We just closed a big deal at the company, so I’m treating everyone to celebrate. There’s a nurse watching Dad. You don’t need to worry.” “I’ve been to your company many times. I’ve met your colleagues. Why don’t I recognize a single person here?” Vivian stood up, looking at me coldly: “They’re all my friends.” I smiled. “Mr. Marcus, you’re really generous—treating your new secretary’s friends to such an expensive place.” “Why don’t you introduce me to everyone?” Marcus stood frozen. I linked my arm through his and addressed the group: “Let me introduce myself. I’m Marcus’s wife. My name is Claire.” 3 The room fell completely silent. A girl next to Vivian said mockingly: “I know you. You’re Marcus’s wife with ALS.” “Marcus is such a good man—knowing you have this disease and still not divorcing you.” I looked at Marcus: “So even your new secretary’s friends know about this? You really don’t hold back, do you?” Marcus said nothing. I walked right up to Vivian. “Are you really in such a rush to take my place?” Vivian’s lip trembled and she started crying. Marcus stormed over, yanked me away, and slapped me across the face. “I organized this gathering. I asked Vivian to invite her friends. If you’re angry, take it out on me!” Looking at my husband getting furious over another woman, I felt like I didn’t even know him anymore. One illness had shown me exactly who my husband really was. Marcus was livid: “You’ve completely ruined the atmosphere.” He called over the server: “Check, please.” “We’ll end here for today. I’ll treat everyone again another time.” The server brought the bill. Total: $80,39

Marcus waved his hand and paid it without hesitation. I actually laughed. No money to treat his wife’s illness, but plenty to wine and dine his mistress. Marcus called a rideshare to take us home. The moment we walked through the door, he said: “Claire, let’s get divorced.” I paused: “Are you sure?” “I’m sure.” “Fine. Then let’s talk about how to divide our assets.” “We have $200,000 in savings. We each take $100,000. The house and Jamie both go to me. You have no objections to that, right?” Rage flooded through me: “Marcus, we’ve been married ten years. Our savings should be at least $3 million. Now there’s only $200,000 left? Are you kidding me?” “And this house—you bought it with a mortgage. We’ve been paying it off together. Why should it all go to you? And Jamie—I’m keeping him too!” “The savings really are only $200,000. Forgot to tell you—I used the money to start a small business. Lost it all.” “As for the house, even though we’ve both been paying the mortgage, the deed is in my parents’ names. It has nothing to do with you.” I slammed the table: “Marcus! When we got married, you clearly said this house was yours!” “It is my house. Just because it’s my house doesn’t mean I can’t put it in my parents’ names, right?” “Fine. You want to scheme against me like this? Then I won’t divorce you. Let’s see who outlasts who!” “Claire! Do you think you have many years left? If you won’t divorce me, then I’ll just wait to be widowed!” I sneered: “Then let’s just wait it out. See which one of us dies first.” Marcus violently smashed a glass on the table: “Marrying you was the worst luck of my life!” He slammed the door and left. This time I didn’t care where he went. I immediately contacted a lawyer to discuss divorce matters and asked her to help investigate Marcus’s transfer of marital assets, as well as how to fight for custody of Jamie. My eight-year-old son was trembling from our argument. He asked me: “Mom, are you going to divorce Dad?” I held him in my arms: “Sweetheart, if Mom and Dad separate, will you hate me?” My son shook his head: “It’s not your fault. Dad likes another lady now.” He pulled out the Polaroid camera I’d bought him: “I took pictures of Dad kissing that lady.”

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My pregnant wife was in excruciating pain, so I rushed her to the ER. After filling out the admission forms, the doctor gave me an earful: “Look, intercourse during pregnancy is generally safe, but you need to cut back! And when you do, take it easy on her.” Those words hit me like a bucket of ice water. I’d been on a business trip for two weeks and just got back today. I hadn’t even laid a hand on her. I asked the doctor in a low voice: “Could masturbation cause issues too?” The female doctor shot me a dirty look: “Don’t try to pin this on your wife! Whether you’re the one or not, you need to take proper precautions during pregnancy to lower miscarriage risks.” I nodded numbly. After a chaotic night, Cassandra had finally drifted off into a deep sleep in her hospital bed. She’d struggled with mild insomnia throughout her pregnancy. This was the first time she’d fallen asleep so fast. I went to tuck the blanket around her, when I caught a clear glimpse of the red marks all over her chest! Had she really cheated on me? Right before I came home? If I hadn’t texted her that I was landing soon, would I have walked in on them? The marks varied in color—some darker, some lighter. Clearly, they weren’t all from today. But remembering her past allergic reactions and skin rashes, I pulled out my phone to look it up. I found that some pregnant women do develop red rashes on their chests as their breasts grow during pregnancy. Once again, I pushed down the paranoid thoughts swirling in my head. To get back early to be with Cassandra, I’d pulled three all-nighters in a row at the office. Now, watching Cassandra breathing steadily in bed, I couldn’t sleep a wink. I stayed by her bedside all night long. When Cassandra woke up well-rested and energetic, she was shocked by the dark circles under my eyes: “Babe, you didn’t sleep at all last night?” She glanced at the empty bed next to hers, looking confused: “Didn’t the nurse tell you? You could’ve slept there.” I stared at her unblinking, looking kind of dazed. This face I’d cherished and protected was so beautiful. “Babe, is there something on my face?” I shook my head: “No, I was just too worried about you and the baby. I couldn’t fall asleep.” At that, Cassandra’s eyes immediately welled up. She affectionately looped her arm through mine and kissed my cheek: “Babe, I love you.” But the doctor’s words loomed over me like a dark cloud. When we got home, I found cigarette ashes while cleaning. Nobody in our house smoked. Cassandra definitely didn’t. Before she got pregnant, the smell of smoke would make her feel suffocated. After getting pregnant, she couldn’t stand it even more. So which guy had been to my house? And felt comfortable enough to smoke in the kitchen? Just then, Cassandra said to me: “Babe, your mom brought over a chicken the other day. Could you make me some chicken soup?” My mom had been here? That made sense then. After all, my mom was a smoker. I opened the fridge and sure enough, there was a fresh chicken, already cut up. After getting everything ready and putting the soup on to simmer, I called my mom: “Mom, thanks for looking after Cassandra!” “How’s her appetite been these past few days? Is the morning sickness any better?” My mom went on and on with advice about taking care of pregnant women, but then suddenly asked: “Liam, did you get a new car?”

My heart sank for no apparent reason: “I didn’t get a new car!” “Oh, I must have seen wrong then. Never mind.” My mom hung up before I could say anything else. After tidying up the house and bringing Cassandra a nice lunch at the hospital, I finally couldn’t hold out any longer and collapsed into bed. I forced myself not to overthink. But in my restless half-sleep, I kept feeling like someone was staring at me. The sleep was fitful because my mind was troubled. I even seemed to hear Cassandra calling me, but no matter how I struggled, I couldn’t wake up. In my semi-conscious state, I thought I heard familiar sounds of heavy breathing. I don’t know how much time passed before I finally woke up. Cassandra handed me some strawberries: “Try these, they’re so sweet!” Now that she mentioned it, my throat did feel dry. “You’re supposed to be resting. Why’d you go out to buy strawberries yourself?” “I didn’t go out. Delivery’s so easy these days.” I ate the strawberries, but my mind was weighed down with worry. Once suspicion takes root, you can’t control where your thoughts go. Unfortunately, even up until discharge, I couldn’t find any more evidence. But when I went to handle the discharge paperwork, the attending physician pointed at the ultrasound and said: “Your wife needs to watch her diet. She’s only in her second trimester, but the baby is already measuring large.” I blurted out: “How is that possible? She had severe morning sickness the first three months and couldn’t keep anything down. Her appetite only improved these past two months. How could the baby be measuring large?” “It’s related to metabolism. Maybe the baby just absorbs nutrients well, or maybe your wife’s last period date wasn’t accurate. Some variance is normal!” “At this rate, the baby is about a month ahead of other fetuses the same gestational age!” Hearing this, my vision went black! A month? How could there be so many coincidences? Dammit! Was the baby in Cassandra’s belly even mine? I’d dated Cassandra for three years, and her mother flat-out refused to let her marry me. But Cassandra proposed to me herself. A month later, she started having morning sickness. I’d never imagined Cassandra would betray me. Now my mind was completely blank. To catch the son of a bitch she was sleeping with, I secretly installed surveillance cameras at home. But even when the baby was almost due, I hadn’t found a single trace! After all, this was someone I’d loved for years. I still took meticulous care of Cassandra. But no matter how I controlled her diet, her belly kept growing like a balloon, way bigger than other women at the same stage. At 35 weeks, Cassandra went into premature labor. My heart dropped. When the doctor urged me to sign the surgery consent form, I signed with shaking hands. A premature baby weighing nine pounds? Who would believe that? My mom was grinning from ear to ear as she held the baby: “This little guy looks just like you did as a baby!” I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I also hoped this chubby boy was my biological son. I took some of the baby’s hair for a paternity test. The waiting process was torture. When I got the results, the hope I’d been clinging to finally died…

The child had no blood relation to me whatsoever! After the other shoe dropped, I wasn’t in a rush anymore. Since Cassandra had played me like this, I wasn’t going to be polite either. While she was busy with postpartum recovery, I wasn’t idle either. Channeling my inner Sherlock Holmes, I investigated every man connected to Cassandra. Unfortunately, except for discovering an innocent teenage crush from her youth, I found nothing. Until the day before the wedding, Cassandra told me: “Babe, I have class tonight, so I’ll be home late, okay?” I hung up the phone casually. I watched her get into an Uber. I followed all the way to the airport. Looks like the mystery was about to be solved. I stared intently at Cassandra waiting in the crowd at arrivals. A tall guy wearing a baseball cap appeared, and Cassandra ran over and wrapped herself around his waist like a koala. The two kissed passionately, oblivious to everyone around them. I clenched my fists, forcing myself not to rush over. I tailed them all the way to a luxury hotel and watched them go into a room. My heart ached uncontrollably. Over the past six months, I’d gone from initial suspicion to denial, shock, and anger, gradually becoming cold and disappointed. Now I should be completely done with her. My years of genuine feelings meant absolutely nothing! Defeated, I punched the wall several times in the stairwell! I kept telling myself to stay calm. The pain from my swollen, bleeding knuckles shot through to my heart, but couldn’t mask the grief rising up again. I pulled out my phone and suddenly realized there had been signs all along. At some point, she’d stopped pestering me with silly, pointless jokes like she used to. She no longer rambled on about celebrity gossip. There was a time when we used to have endless things to talk about. Did she ever have any genuine feelings for me at all? Was I too busy? So busy that I never noticed her changing. Looking through our old chat history, hatred surged in my heart. It was time to end this charade! Getting close to the door, I could hear sounds that made my face burn. Timing it right, I knocked on the door. The man who answered was him. Steam from his recent shower still clung to his hair. He was casually wrapped in a bathrobe, his broad shoulders and narrow waist alluring. His exposed chest had several bite marks and scratches. Looks like things had gotten heated. Rage burned in my chest, adrenaline rushing to my head. I clenched my fists tightly and got straight to the point: “I’m looking for Cassandra!” “Oh, she’s in the shower!” The man’s nonchalance made my flushed face look pathetic. The man was a good half-head taller than me, creating invisible pressure just from the height difference. When I saw his chiseled, strikingly handsome face, I actually felt a twinge of inferiority. Facing me, but still with his hand on the door, the man said: “I’m Cassandra’s college classmate, Adrian.” That’s when Cassandra came out of the bathroom. “Did someone come?” Her lazy tone conveyed utter contentment. I bit my lip hard and said nothing. I wanted to see how Cassandra would react when she saw her husband. She was casually drying her hair as she walked to the door. When she saw it was me, panic clearly flashed in her eyes. Then she recovered from her initial surprise and awkwardly pulled the wide collar of her bathrobe closed. Adrian sensibly moved his hand from the door: “Come in and talk.” His manner of acting like he owned the place made me furious: “What have you two been doing alone together?!” I shoved the door wide open! “Cassandra, is this what you call ‘going to class’?”

Faced with my anger, Adrian remained calm as a rock. Like the ones who got caught weren’t them, but me. “If you don’t tend to your garden, someone else will come along and plant in it!” Even though I was prepared, I hadn’t expected this guy to be so shameless. “Is that right? Then why don’t you guess why I’d rather leave this ‘fertile field’ alone than touch it?” Cassandra’s expression immediately changed, and she stamped her foot indignantly: “Liam, what are you trying to say!” “What am I trying to say? You don’t get it?” “Don’t you know how dirty you are?” The moment I saw the guy’s face, I knew the baby was his. No matter how desperate I was, I’d never touch a cheap woman who’d been cheating on me from the start! I threw down the paternity test: “Cassandra, how long were you planning to lie to me?” Seeing the paternity test, Cassandra dropped all pretense, her face twisting: “You didn’t have to lift a finger to become a father. What more could you want?” So she was done pretending now that I’d torn off the mask! Not only was she shameless, she actually thought I should be grateful to them! I believe a good man never hits a woman. But in that moment, my hand was itching to move. I’d been slaving away at the company every day to keep the promise I made her. And she repaid me like this! Making a fool out of me?! I made the money while she stayed beautiful and had another man’s baby? My chest tightened with pain. My hand didn’t hesitate anymore. I slapped her hard across her flushed face. Not expecting me to actually hit her, Cassandra stumbled backward from the force. Adrian caught her quickly and steadied her. Those slender hands held firmly on Cassandra’s waist. Like he’d done that movement countless times before. “Liam! You hit me? You bastard!” Adrian frowned in displeasure as he helped Cassandra up: “Grow up. Can’t you handle this?” I laughed bitterly. He calls this “can’t handle it”? This was a first for me! “Cassandra, you’ve been playing me this whole time, haven’t you?” “This guy is your dream man you kept pining for, right?” “You’re so pathetic. Let me guess – he’s already married, isn’t he!” “When I was on that business trip, it was him, wasn’t it? That’s why you almost miscarried?” Hearing my rapid-fire questions, Cassandra’s face turned pale: “No! I didn’t mean to deceive you!” “I genuinely wanted to marry you at first!” “The pregnancy was an accident. You’re the one who wouldn’t let me get an abortion!” I was stunned. She’d thrown that blame at me so unexpectedly. Before I could respond, Adrian said with a sneer: “If Cassandra had really married me, you never would’ve had a chance!” “If she hadn’t rejected me to get back at you, you wouldn’t have been good enough to be my son’s father!” “I guess fate works in mysterious ways.” Turns out, when Cassandra found out Adrian was getting married, she decided to marry me out of spite. Adrian came back to stop her, but she refused. The two of them had one last perfect goodbye to commemorate their past! The result of that goodbye was me becoming a dad. Then Adrian had a shotgun wedding. Cassandra gave up completely, and came to propose to me while carrying Adrian’s baby. No wonder Cassandra looked so terrible when she first had morning sickness! She was terrified! She never expected to get pregnant! But she knew from the very beginning that the baby wasn’t mine! That’s why she started having insomnia! With guilt on her conscience, how could she sleep peacefully? When she first found out she was pregnant, she was particularly insistent that I didn’t need to accompany her to prenatal appointments. She insisted she could handle it and told me to work hard and earn money for baby formula! When the morning sickness was severe, she mentioned abortion several times. But I talked her out of it every time: “Honey, we’ve been together three years, and this is the first time you’ve gotten pregnant. It must be fate bringing us this baby.” At the time, her face was pale as she hugged the toilet, throwing up nothing but bile: “Honey, I…” She trailed off, unable to continue.

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My husband, Marcus, brushed off my objections and donated his sperm to his childhood best friend, Camille—all because she had a terminal illness and wanted a child. Afterward, he dismissed my feelings with a casual shrug. “Camille doesn’t have much time left, Audrey. Why would you start trouble with someone so sick? I promise, once she has the baby, I’ll make sure the kid calls you Mom.” Everyone assumed I was head over heels for Marcus, completely devoted—convinced I’d never walk away. But this time, I signed the divorce papers without hesitation. The next day, I booked a flight and left the country. I ran into Marcus again two years later at our high school reunion. The second I walked into the private room, he thrust a toddler into my arms, his face oozing arrogance. “Audrey, you’ve been throwing a fit for two years. Don’t you think it’s time to get over it? If you apologize to me in front of everyone, I might just let you be a mother to my child!” The crowd snickered behind their hands, murmuring about how lucky I was—how I’d “landed a ready-made family” without lifting a finger. I just held up my left hand, flashing my wedding ring. “No thanks. I already have a child and a husband. I don’t need to raise someone else’s kid!”

The words barely left my mouth when the room went dead silent. Everyone gaped at me before erupting into laughter. “Oh come on, Audrey! Everyone knows you were obsessed with Marcus. When he had kidney failure, you gave him one of yours! Someone like you wouldn’t just marry someone else—would you?” “Seriously? Could you at least make your lies believable? That’s so far-fetched—who’d buy that?” I rolled my eyes at their gossip. I didn’t blame them for being shocked. The old Audrey really had been head over heels for Marcus. When he was diagnosed with kidney failure, I didn’t hesitate to donate one of mine. Even now, my left side still aches when it rains—a constant reminder of that sacrifice. I always gave him the sweetest parts of the watermelon and checked every dish meticulously because I knew about his seafood allergy. Because I loved him, I even put up with him going on dates with his childhood sweetheart, Camille, over and over. I tolerated him fixing her hair and plating her food right in front of me. As long as he came home and remembered he had a wife, that was enough for me. Everyone knew I was love-struck, so they naturally figured I was just venting. Snapping back to the present, Camille—who’d been standing nearby—grabbed a wine bottle from the table and walked over. Her tone was casual, but her words were cutting. “Audrey, I know you’re still upset about what happened two years ago.” “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t gotten sick, Marcus never would’ve donated his sperm so I could have something to remember me by.” “Since everyone’s here today, I’ll have this drink as a public apology to you!” She grabbed a glass and chugged it, the strong liquor making her cough hard. Marcus jumped up, handed Noah to a nearby friend, and rushed over, patting Camille’s back gently. His voice mixed anger with concern. “Camille, are you out of your mind? The doctor said no drinking! Even if your condition’s been stable all these years, you need to take it easy!” After calming Camille down, Marcus shot me a smug look, his voice icy. “Audrey, you’ve been acting out for two years. That’s more than enough!” “I just donated sperm—it wasn’t like I cheated. Why are you still holding this grudge over something so small? Is it really that big of a deal?” Everyone started murmuring again. “Audrey’s totally overreacting. She gets a ready-made kid—if anything, it’s easier for her.” “And Marcus has been looking for her this whole time. She left for two years, and he searched for two years. Time to let the past go.” So donating sperm to someone else without my consent—a decision that should’ve been made together in our marriage—was just a “small thing” to Marcus? What surprised me more, though, was this idea that Marcus had been looking for me all this time. Why? Lost in thought, I heard Marcus announce, like it was a done deal: “Look, Audrey, Noah needs someone to take care of him right now. Since you’re back, you should step up with the kid. Even if he’s not biologically yours, you’re his legal mom—you have a responsibility.” I actually laughed out loud. Two years later, Marcus was still this arrogant—ordering me around like he had every right. But I wasn’t the Audrey he could push around anymore. The second Marcus made that decision two years ago—completely ignoring how I felt—my heart turned to stone toward him. I left the country without looking back. And I wasn’t just posturing earlier—I really was married with a kid. After moving abroad, I got a new job, and soon after, I met my husband, Liam. He stuck with me through those dark days, and before long, we got married and had an adorable son. My heart warmed just thinking about Liam and Leo. Snapping back to the moment, I shut him down cold. “No thanks. I’ve got my own kid to take care of. As for yours? Maybe his biological mom should step up.” At that, Camille’s eyes filled with tears. “Audrey, I know you hate me—that’s why you won’t accept my child.” “I want to raise Noah myself, but my body just can’t handle it…” “I’m trusting you—that’s why I’m begging you to help. Noah’s a good boy, he won’t be any trouble. Please… just help a sick person out.” Camille put on a show of bowing her head like she was begging, but Marcus quickly rushed to prop her up and comfort her. Then he turned, shooting me a cold glance. “Plenty of people want to be around Noah, but I wouldn’t trust them. It’s a privilege for you to care for him—don’t be ungrateful!” His eyes raked over my outfit, and Marcus sneered. “Audrey, must’ve been rough living overseas these past two years, huh? You can’t even afford decent clothes for a reunion.” “Quit putting on a front. Take good care of Noah, and I’ll give you a nice monthly allowance—way more than whatever crummy job you’ve got.” Camille joined in, acting like she was the one in charge. “Exactly. Take good care of Noah, and we’ll treat you right. At least you won’t have to dress so… basic.” That’s when everyone noticed my simple, casual clothes. Whispers erupted immediately. “Audrey’s living such a… normal life? She doesn’t even have any designer stuff?” “She should’ve thought twice before acting out! I heard Marcus’s career blew up right after she left. If she hadn’t run off to another country throwing a fit, she’d probably be living the high life now.” I just quirked my lips into a small smile. They had no idea my clothes weren’t ordinary at all. They were subtly custom-made, pure silk—easily worth a fortune. Seeing my smile, Marcus assumed I’d agreed to take Noah. He pulled out his phone, ready to transfer money to me. “I’ll send you some upfront. Go buy yourself nice clothes later—don’t let Noah think you’re cheap.” But as soon as he hit send, his phone showed “Transaction Failed”!

Marcus’s eyes went wide. “Audrey, you blocked me?!” I had to laugh. I’d deleted all his contact info two years ago. Was he just figuring that out now? Marcus looked totally humiliated and demanded I add him back immediately. I shot back coldly, “An ex-husband? Why would I bother?” “Besides, my husband doesn’t like me having random people in my contacts. It bugs him.” Seeing me keep refusing to play along, Marcus finally lost his cool. “Audrey, are you done with this act? I’ve given you an out—if you keep dragging this out, we’re getting a divorce!” Back in the day, Marcus would always threaten divorce when things didn’t go his way, making me back down. He thought he could still push me around like before. But I just let out a bitter laugh. “Marcus, don’t you remember? We got divorced two years ago.” The room went dead silent at my words. Marcus froze. “Divorced? When did that happen?” Then it hit him, and he scoffed, “I get it! This is just another one of your games, isn’t it? Two years later, and you’re still pulling this manipulative crap!” I shook my head, exasperated. “Marcus, didn’t you see the papers I left you two years ago?” Marcus looked confused. “What papers?” Before I left the country, I’d left Marcus a package. Inside was my wedding ring, which I’d taken off, plus a signed divorce agreement. I’d made him sign that divorce agreement the very day he ignored me and signed those sperm donation papers. He’d always been careless with me—signed it without even glancing at it. He probably hadn’t bothered to look inside that package two years ago. That’s why he had no idea we were already divorced—still thought I was just throwing a fit. I let out a bitter laugh, pulled the divorce decree copy from my bag, and slammed it on the table in front of him. “Marcus, that package had a signed divorce agreement. I made two copies—this is mine. Take a good look. We’re divorced.” Marcus picked up the papers, stunned. But when he saw his signature and the date, his face went white. “I… I signed this? How could I have signed something like this…?” “You did. Remember that ‘important document’ I had you sign the day you scheduled your donation appointment?” My reminder finally hit Marcus—too late. He realized what he’d signed that day was the divorce papers. His face went pale. The rest of the room was shocked too. “Audrey actually divorced him? Did she finally snap out of it?” “If they’re divorced, why’d she come back? Bet she still can’t get over Marcus.” Hearing that, Marcus lifted his chin, sure I still had feelings for him. Little did he know, I was only back in the country to be with my husband and son. Liam had a big industry summit to attend here, and Leo wanted to visit the local amusement park during his vacation. I’d just arrived when I got the reunion invite, so I figured I’d stop by. I was about to burst his bubble when his phone rang. It was his assistant. “Mr. Miller, we just got word that Mr. Smith from Wenyan Group is back in the country with his wife and kid—they’ll be at tonight’s charity gala too. The board wants us to add seats and roll out the red carpet.” “They specifically said to treat his wife well. Apparently Mr. Smith values her opinion more than anything—winning her over could make or break our future partnership.” That’s when I realized Marcus’s company was one of the gala organizers. As soon as Marcus hung up, everyone started sucking up to him. “Marcus, Wenyan Group is an industry giant! Your company actually connected with them? You’re set for life!” “I heard only the top players from every field are going to this gala. Can you hook us old classmates up with introductions?” Marcus gave me a smug look, looking down his nose at me. “Audrey, you regretting divorcing me in that fit of yours now?” “If you agree to take care of Noah, I might think about remarrying you…” The irony hit me hard. Wenyan Group was my husband’s company, and I was the “Mrs. Smith” they were so desperate to impress. Before Marcus could finish, I cut him off sharply. “Wenyan Group might not even want this collaboration.” Camille, who’d been quiet, gave me a sneer. “How would you know anything about that?” I enunciated each word clearly: “Because I am Mrs. Smith.” Silence. Everyone stared, jaws dropping. Camille actually laughed. “If you’re Mrs. Smith, then I’m Mr. Smith’s sister!” “Everyone knows Mr. Smith spoils his wife rotten! He just bought her some crazy expensive jewel at an auction! Mrs. Smith is like royalty—you think you can just pretend to be her?” “Look at you! You don’t look anything like Mrs. Smith!” I stayed calm, pulling a necklace out from under my collar. The pendant was a flawless, deep blue gem. “You mean this one? The ‘Star of the Deep Sea’?”

Everyone’s jaws hit the floor. “They went viral with that story about Mr. Smith buying that insane gem necklace! That looks exactly like what Audrey’s wearing!” “Does that mean… Audrey really is Mrs. Smith?” Camille’s eyes went wide when she recognized the necklace, jealousy flashing across her face. Before I could react, she lunged forward and snatched it, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Audrey, you’re shameless—wearing fakes to trick people! How dare you pretend to be Mrs. Smith?” “I’ll admit, this knockoff is pretty good—but it’s still a fake.” “Marcus is about to close a deal with Mr. Smith. Are you trying to sabotage him by pulling this Mrs. Smith act?” I gave her a icy stare. “Who said it’s fake? Give it back—now!” I stepped forward to take it back, but she pulled away, clutching the necklace tightly. The sharp setting could scratch the gem. My chest tightened. Liam had picked that out specially for me. Marcus scowled. “Audrey, it’s just a necklace. If Camille likes it, can’t you be the bigger person? I’ll buy you a better one later.” “Don’t bother,” I said coldly, stepping closer again. But Camille suddenly stumbled back with a gasp, her eyes filling with tears as she looked at Marcus. “Marcus, I didn’t mean to! I was just curious… I thought Audrey might still be mad at me…” Marcus rushed to hold her, then turned his anger on me. “That’s enough, Audrey! Camille’s sick—can’t you cut her some slack?” “You started this by pretending to be Mrs. Smith! Are you trying to ruin our company’s chance? Two years later and you’re still this bitter!” I met Camille’s provocative look, and it all clicked. She wasn’t even that sick. Her “terminal diagnosis” had always been fishy—her medical records wouldn’t hold up to real scrutiny. I’d mentioned it to Marcus before, but he’d called me bitter. Said I was just being malicious. And now? He was still choosing to believe her. I didn’t have the energy to argue. I braced myself for more accusations, just like old times. But he took a deep breath, like he was forcing himself to stay calm. “Fine. If Camille likes the necklace, just give it to her as an apology.” “Let’s drop it. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that crazy talk earlier.” That necklace was from Liam. No way was I handing it over. When Camille looked away, I snatched it back quick but careful, my voice icy. “This was a gift from my husband. You have no right to it.” I moved too fast—Marcus reached for it, but missed. Marcus’s face darkened when I wouldn’t let him off the hook. “Audrey, it’s just a necklace. Are you for real?” “Camille, forget it. I’ll buy you something even better—something that’ll make certain people sorry they crossed us!” I tuned them out, tucked the necklace safely away, and headed for the door. Later, I went back to the hotel to rest. That evening, I changed into a formal gown and headed to the charity gala. Before I left, Liam texted—he and Leo had just finished the amusement park fireworks and were on their way. He told me to go in and wait for them. Knowing Liam and Leo have a sweet tooth, I grabbed some desserts on a china plate, planning to find a seat and wait for them. I turned and ran straight into Marcus and Camille, both dressed to the nines. When he saw it was me, Marcus scowled. “How’d you get in here? What, you tracked me down hoping to get back together?” “Weren’t you so high and mighty earlier? Turns out you’re not that tough after all!” Camille saw me holding the pastries and giggled, her voice dripping with mockery. “Audrey, don’t tell me you’re working here? I heard the pay’s decent, but it’s still serving people. You’d be better off coming back to take care of Noah.” Marcus looked down his nose at me. “Audrey, if you beg nicely, I might—for old times’ sake—let you come back.” I kept my voice steady. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not staff. I’m waiting for my husband and son.” Camille laughed like she’d heard the funniest thing ever. “Audrey, the only family attending tonight is Mr. Smith’s. You’re not still claiming to be Mrs. Smith, are you?” “I’ve been telling the truth all along.” Camille crossed her arms and sneered. “Audrey, you’re a compulsive liar! How dare you spout this garbage at an event like this—still wearing that fake necklace!” “If Mr. Smith finds out, you’ll ruin this for all of us!” Before I could stop her, Camille lunged again, trying to grab my necklace. I stepped out of the way, but her momentum made her stumble into a nearby server table. Wine glasses crashed to the floor, shattering loudly. Her nail scraped my wrist, sending a sharp pain through my arm. Before I could check the injury, Camille pointed at me and screamed to the gathering crowd. “She’s a fake! She’s pretending to be Mrs. Smith! Get her out!” The commotion by the champagne tower drew a crowd. Marcus watched coldly from the sidelines, not saying a word to defend me. Then someone in the crowd murmured, “Mr. Smith is here!” Heads turned toward the entrance. I tried to catch Liam’s eye. But Marcus grabbed my wrist, his voice low. “Audrey, calm down! I know you followed me here because you can’t let go.” “If you stop this now, after the gala, I might hear you out. We could even have another baby—our own this time…” He tried to pull me closer, but I wrenched my hand free. Liam had already noticed the chaos. He walked over holding Leo, his forehead creased. “What’s going on here?” Camille instantly put on a polite, wronged expression. “Mr. Smith, this woman is impersonating your wife and making a scene. I was just trying to ask her to leave…” Marcus jumped in, “Yes, Mr. Smith, just a little misunderstanding. Nothing to worry about.” Suddenly Leo squirmed out of Liam’s arms and ran to me. When he saw the red mark on my wrist, his little face fell. “Mommy, what happened to your hand? Who hurt you?”

The room went silent—everyone was stunned. “Wait, that kid just called her ‘Mommy’?” “So… she really is Mrs. Smith?” Marcus and Camille froze, their faces white with shock. “Audrey, how could you be married to Mr. Smith?” “No, that’s not possible!” Marcus knelt down, forcing a smile as he talked to my son. “Hey there, little guy—you must be confused. This lady… she’s my ex-wife. She can’t be your mommy.” Leo’s face scrunched up, his cheeks puffing out in anger. “I’m not confused! This is my Mommy! She’s never been your wife!” Leo ran to my side, gently taking my scratched wrist and blowing on it with his little lips. “Mommy, does it hurt?” “Who did this? I’ll tell Daddy to teach them a lesson!” Leo tugged Liam over, looking up at him to tattle. “Daddy, Mommy got hurt!” Liam took my hand gently. When he saw the red mark, his eyes turned cold. “Does it hurt?” I shook my head, glancing at the broken glasses. “I’m okay. Just hate ruining this dress… and I’m sorry if I caused a scene.” Liam put his arm around me, his stare cutting through Marcus and Camille. “Who’s in charge here?” “My wife is a guest here. Is this how you treat invited guests?” Liam’s words hit Marcus like a truck—he finally had to face the truth: I was Liam’s wife. His face twisted, but he forced a smile when he looked at Liam. “Mr. Smith, this is all just a mix-up. I had no idea Audrey was your wife—I thought she’d snuck in somehow…” Liam’s scowl deepened, his expression turning icy. Anyone who knew him could tell he was furious. And sure enough, his voice turned frigid. “So you just stood there while my wife was being harassed? Who do you think you are?” The crowd backed away, not wanting to get involved. Camille finally panicked, her face going white. She hid behind Marcus, tugging his sleeve. “Marcus, what are we gonna do?” Marcus stepped in front of her, still trying to weasel his way out. “Mr. Smith, we didn’t hurt… Mrs. Smith. She tripped, that’s all. Just a little misunderstanding with my friend here…” Camille nodded frantically. “Yes! I just wanted to talk to her. It was all a misunderstanding…” Their pathetic excuses made my blood boil. They were still trying to twist the story—just like old times. But not this time. Liam was known in business circles for being sharp as a tack. He didn’t buy it for a second. He turned to the banquet manager. “Get the security footage. Now.” “Let’s show everyone how my wife ‘tripped’ and got hurt.” Liam was about to have them pull the footage. Camille, already guilty as sin, panicked—terrified of being exposed, terrified of the consequences. Finally, she made a split-second decision, shoving Marcus forward and pointing at him. “Mr. Smith, no need for footage! It was Marcus! He was… mad Audrey wouldn’t take him back, so he held a grudge and told me… to mess with Mrs. Smith!” Marcus froze. He never thought Camille—who he’d always protected—would throw him under the bus like this. He stared at her, stunned, his voice rising with rage. “Camille, what the hell are you talking about? When did I ever tell you to do that?” Camille bit her lip, her eyes desperate. “Marcus, I’m sorry, but I can’t afford to cross Mr. Smith.” “You’ve always been good to me. Just take the blame this once? Your company’s big enough—Mr. Smith won’t do anything to you…” Marcus had always rambled about loyalty and friendship when he wanted me to take the fall for Camille. But now that it was his turn? He couldn’t handle it. Marcus shot daggers at Camille. “You deal with your own mess!” He snapped, turning to Liam with the truth. “Mr. Smith, Camille’s lying. I didn’t mess with Audrey—she did!” “Check the cameras if you don’t believe me! Everyone here saw it!” Before Marcus could finish, Camille shrieked at him. “Marcus, you asshole! How could you say that? You totally egged me on!” Marcus shouted back. “Only because you started lying first!” They bickered back and forth, making a total scene. With them pointing fingers, Liam tuned out their excuses. He called security and had Camille escorted out. He also told his assistant to cancel all deals with Marcus’s company—and said he’d be pursuing legal action for harassment. Now both Camille and Marcus really panicked. Camille tried to run to Liam, begging, but security held her back. “Mr. Smith, I’m sorry! I messed up! Please give me another chance…” Marcus turned to me, trying to play on old feelings. “Audrey, for old times’ sake, put in a good word. We can’t lose this deal…”

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My wife used to travel for work once a month, and she always brought me back a little something. On her 99th trip, she came home with a single flower from Savannah. Since you can’t check flowers as luggage, she carried it in her hands the whole time—through two connecting flights—just to bring it home. “Spring starts early down there,” Sophia murmured, “I couldn’t wait for you to see it.” But a minute before she walked through the door, a text popped up from an unknown number: “Your wife went to Savannah with her boyfriend this month.” The photo that came with it showed Sophia and Vincent kissing under those old oak trees. As soon as she went to shower, I threw the flower in the trash. Staring at my computer screen, I dialed a number I hadn’t called in three years: “Dad, I messed up. I’m leaving Sophia.” They say marriages without family support rarely work out. That wedding three years ago? Probably a mistake. Now it was time to cut my losses. “Babe, can you send that file to Alex for me? It’s on my phone.” “Sure.” Only after I answered did Sophia turn on the shower and step in. Her phone was on the table. Sophia never cared if I looked at her phone—she even told me to check it whenever I wanted. I typed in my birthday and unlocked the screen. After sending the file, my eyes drifted to Vincent’s name in the messages. The chat history was all business. Sophia was too careful to leave anything suspicious. I clicked on Vincent’s social media profile. His most recent post was a photo of two hands clasped together under an ancient oak tree. [She took me to Savannah, just like I always wanted.] This post was definitely hidden from coworkers and me. There was only one comment from a mutual friend: *Was that your beautiful mystery girl who took you? Vincent replied: Yep. Two weeks ago, an unknown number texted me, saying my so-called devoted wife was cheating. Since then, I’d been getting daily proof of Sophia’s affair. Turns out her monthly business trips were actually romantic getaways with Vincent. They’d seen oceans, snow, and the northern lights—kissing and cuddling all over the world. I had the photos authenticated; they weren’t faked. Sophia, Vincent, and I went to high school together, though I never really talked to Vincent much. Then one day, Sophia said Vincent was applying to be her assistant. Since he was an old classmate, I told her to hire him. Never thought I’d be letting the fox into the henhouse. Scrolling through more of Vincent’s social media, he posted travel photos every month—each caption hinting at his secret lover. [Life’s best adventures are half the journey, half you.] [Falling in love as the sun goes down.] [Checking off bucket list destinations with my person.] Every location matched Sophia’s “business trip” cities—and lined up perfectly with those anonymous texts. Some photos showed a woman’s silhouette. Her face was blurry, but I’d recognize Sophia anywhere. On top of that, Vincent was showing off jewelry, fancy watches, and designer stuff. Turns out the gifts Sophia gave me? He got similar ones too. Three years into our marriage, this perfect partner—so attentive, so admired by everyone—had really cheated on me. Memories of Sophia and me together flashed through my mind like a movie reel. All those sweet words and hugs now felt like thorns digging into my chest. I glanced at the project proposal next to me—I hadn’t slept well in two days because of it. Suddenly, I felt arms wrap around me from behind. Her hands locked tightly around my waist. Sophia nuzzled into my neck, her voice muffled: “What are you thinking about?” “Babe, I missed you so much while I was gone.” I didn’t say anything. Just thinking about her being with someone else made me sick to my stomach. “What’s wrong? Your eyes look red.” Sophia could tell I was off. She turned me around gently, looking worried. I shook my head, fanning my burning eyes: “Just stressed lately. Work’s been overwhelming.” Sophia knelt down, noticing the proposal by my hand. Her voice was soft and hopeful: “Once this project hits, we’ll go to Iceland to see the northern lights like we planned—really unwind.” She brushed her fingers over the file like it was something precious. Then she looked up at me, eyes shining: “Our hard work’s gonna pay off, right?” Sophia… How can you plan a future with me while traveling the world holding another man’s hand? I managed a weak nod. She stood up, her thumb brushing my lips. After a second, her voice got a little rough: “The doctor said… your stomach’s been acting up lately. You need more rest.” She leaned in to kiss me, but I couldn’t handle it. I spun around and ran to the bathroom, dry-heaving. Sophia followed, panicking. She rubbed my back, worried: “Once this project settles down, we’ll take a real vacation. You’re pushing yourself too hard.” She thought my stomach issues were flaring up again. She had no idea I was planning to walk away from this project we’d both poured our hearts into.

“You’re certain you want to terminate the ‘Daybreak’ project and start the equity split process?” The lawyer set down the papers, looking at me like I was crazy. I stared through the glass door. Sophia was on the phone, a soft smile on her face. Anger and sadness twisted in my chest. “Yep.” I looked back at him, steady. “Does Ms. Sophia know? She seems really invested in this project. Her company’s swamped, but she makes every key meeting.” Sophia built her company from nothing. By thirty, she was running an industry leader. She was in financial news all the time—even the lawyer recognized her. Everyone admired her, and everyone knew this brilliant CEO was head over heels for her husband. “It’s my call. Please don’t tell her yet.” The lawyer sighed and kept talking, but I tuned him out. A marriage built on lies, a business partnership built on deceit—it was all going to crash. Why keep dragging it out? That day, Sophia took the day off and got up early. She thought I was still asleep and tiptoed into the kitchen. Between work stress and everything else, I’d been sleeping poorly. When she left the room, I opened my eyes, watching the sky lighten through the window while listening to the quiet sounds from the kitchen. When she came back, I closed my eyes again. Sophia gently squeezed my cheek: “Rise and shine.” I hadn’t been eating well, so Sophia even signed up for cooking classes. I barely cooked after we married. She’d leave work half an hour early just to make me dinner. Her employees always joked she was whipped. “Still got it, right? Made all your favorites.” Sophia was wearing an apron, looking proud. Before I could answer, her phone rang on the table. She grabbed it fast, but I still saw “Vincent” on the caller ID. Sophia answered, all business: “Got it, I’ll be right there.” She hung up and turned to me, apologetic: “Work emergency. Sorry I can’t stay for breakfast. Take it easy after eating, and rest if you need to. I’ll probably miss lunch, but I’ll order you something. Call me if you need anything. I’ll pick you up tonight for the reunion.” I’d almost forgotten about the high school reunion tonight. Before leaving, Sophia came over, smoothed the crease between my brows, and kissed my forehead: “Don’t look so down.” See? She was a pro. Could lie straight to my face before running off to her other guy. The door clicked shut, and the breakfast in my mouth turned to ash. I got up and scraped it all into the trash. Spoiled things belong in the garbage. Trying to stomach them only makes you sick. People are no different. That evening, Sophia came to pick me up. She didn’t open the passenger door like usual. Instead, she told me to get in the back. When I saw Vincent in the front seat, I hesitated. Sophia cleared her throat, nervous: “Vincent’s going to the reunion too. Thought we’d carpool since we’re going the same way.” “He gets carsick… does better up front.” Vincent smiled, all innocence: “Liam, mind if I ride up front? You haven’t been feeling great, and the back’s roomier.” His watch glinted—the exact same model as mine. I nodded, got in, and quietly took off my watch. She leaned back to buckle my seatbelt. From this angle, I could see a faint mark under her collar. It hadn’t been there this morning. The whole ride, listening to them laugh and chat, my head started pounding.

“Well, well, look who showed up!” “If it isn’t our class’s power couple!” Sophia and I walked in holding hands, and our old classmates started teasing right away. Her pursuit of me back then was legendary—even teachers knew about it. But since we both got good grades, they mostly looked the other way. Sophia switched colleges just to be with me and started her business freshman year—all to prove she was good enough. It was high school lore. Right before graduation, I finally gave in to her persistence. I still remember the night I said yes—Sophia cried so hard, swearing: “Liam, I’ll only ever love you. Forever.” There were three empty seats in a row. At first, I sat to Sophia’s left, Vincent to her right. She frowned a little, then said softly: “Babe, let’s switch seats.” That got everyone teasing again: “Look at Sophia being careful—she knows Vincent’s single, so she won’t sit next to him.” “Liam, what’s your secret? After all these years, she’s still head over heels.” “They’re always posting couple stuff online—it’s sickeningly sweet!” Sophia laughed: “I just adore my husband!” She looked at me, eyes all gooey. Everyone bought it—hook, line, and sinker. Only I knew her love, like those gifts, was split right down the middle. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Vincent’s mouth twitch. He shot Sophia a look—half annoyed, half something else. “Vincent’s girl spoils him too! Check out that watch—she got it for him.” Someone pointed out, and the chatter started up again. Vincent touched his wrist, glanced at me, and ground out: “She treats me like a king. Takes me traveling every month, buys me more stuff than I know what to do with. The other day I mentioned wanting to retire in Miami someday, and she bought a house there on the spot. This watch? Limited edition—only ten in the whole world.” Ten in the world. Sophia bought two of them. “Whoa, Vincent’s girl’s keeping up with Sophia! When we gonna meet her?” “Oh, definitely soon.” Vincent gave Sophia this sappy look. She ignored him, just kept putting food on my plate. Halfway through dinner, Sophia stepped out for a call. A minute later, Vincent said he was going to the bathroom. I followed. By chance, I heard them talking in the stairwell. Vincent grabbed her by the neck, voice tight: “You just can’t quit him, can you? We’ve been hooking up for two years.” Sophia warned him: “As long as you don’t push Liam’s buttons, as long as he never finds out, I’ll keep you happy. You know if he leaves me, I’ll lose it.” “Fine.” Vincent stared at her, then grinned: “Good news though—I’m on the core team for the Daybreak project now.” My stomach dropped. I went cold all over, like someone dumped ice water on me. Sophia froze, then narrowed her eyes. She grabbed his chin: “He approved that? Then why the hell did you show up here today? You want him to find out and blow your new gig?” “Aw, come on—I just missed you.” Vincent nuzzled her neck. Sophia half-smiled and ran her hand through his hair. In the dim stairwell light, they kissed like they meant it. I watched, pressed against the wall, struggling to breathe. My hands shook. My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was the lawyer. [Docs ready. Sign Saturday.]

Saturday morning. I handed Sophia two papers: “Daybreak project addendums. Need both signatures.” Sophia took my hand, grinning: “Project’s not even launched and you’re already on the paperwork?” “Investor requirements. Terms look good.” I smiled. She stared at me, softening: “You’re so handsome when you smile. More of that.” She picked up the papers to read, but I stopped her: “I checked ’em. All good.” She ruffled my hair: “Gotta be careful. What if there’s a catch?” My heart raced as she flipped to the next page. Her phone rang. I heard Vincent’s voice through the line. Sophia walked to the balcony, listening. She came back, rushed: “Work emergency. Gotta go.” She signed without reading. “Sophia.” I called as she headed for the door. “Hmm?” “Remember what you said at our wedding?” “If I ever cheated, you’d leave me without looking back.” “That’s right.” I smiled. Sophia crossed her arms, smirking: “Testing me? I remember every word.” She grabbed the doorknob, hesitated, then hugged me tight: “I don’t know why I’m so on edge today. But I meant it—only you, forever. Wait up for me, okay?” I nodded. She exhaled and left. Once I heard her car start, I opened the folder. “Divorce Agreement” stared back at me. Ten years—from high school sweethearts to this. Our story was over. I packed my bags for the movers, then donated everything Sophia gave me—even the fancy gear for the Daybreak project. When we first planned Daybreak, Sophia dragged me to office tours and equipment shopping every free minute. She bought everything—startup to expansion. I told her she was overspending. She just laughed: “So? Our baby deserves the best.” We were both so excited. That project was supposed to be our future. Everything squared away. I left the divorce papers on the coffee table and walked out. On the way, that unknown number texted again—with a photo: [Wonder who Sophia really cares about—you or Vincent?] The photo showed Sophia and Vincent at some fancy restaurant terrace. She was dabbing his mouth with a napkin, same soft look she gave me earlier. Guess she didn’t notice her heart had already picked sides. [Sophia and I are divorced. I’m out of the project. Stop texting. Hope you two work well together.] I hit send and blocked the number. No one stays a secret forever. I knew it was Vincent from the first text. On my way to the lawyer’s, Dad texted—him and Mom were picking me up. Stepping into the elevator, I saw them through the glass—Sophia holding Vincent’s hand, walking out of that Michelin place next door. She saw me too. She dropped his hand and ran across the lobby. “Liam!”

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My husband always left little clues after cheating. One time, I found a lipstick under the passenger seat of his car. Another time, a pink thong under the bed. This time, I found a ripped black stocking under his pillow. They were all left by the same nurse who worked with him at the hospital. I always pretended not to see them. But my indifference seemed to piss off the nurse. She deliberately sent me explicit photos of them to provoke me. 【You’re just getting old, Dr. Miller is tired of you. You know how passionate he was when he pinned me down on your bed?】 I silently saved them. Finally, I put together a thirty-five-page presentation and uploaded it online. She likes to share, doesn’t she? Then let’s give her plenty to share. Ryan stood at the bedroom doorway, disgustedly pinching the black stocking. “Lily, we need to talk about this.” After pulling an all-nighter making that presentation, my eyelids felt too heavy to lift. I closed my laptop. “Nothing to talk about. You deal with it.” “No.” Ryan ignored my cold expression and started talking anyway. “Last week, you were on a business trip, and I had a major surgery. I gave the key to someone from my department to help me grab some fresh clothes from home.” “I didn’t expect it to be Chloe, and I certainly didn’t expect her to do something so disgusting…” “Lily, you have to believe me.” “Are you done?” He was stunned into silence. I tried to push past him into the bathroom. “Lily.” Ryan grabbed my wrist. “You don’t care at all?” I used to care. A year ago, the first time I found lipstick in his car, I smashed the dinnerware we bought on our honeymoon. Six months ago, when I saw their Ins post about going to the movies, I cut all his white shirts into pieces. Three months ago, when I saw the flirty emojis she sent him on his phone, I smashed our living room TV. I fought with him countless times, but we never broke up. Because we were childhood sweethearts. At three, we fought over the same building block in preschool. At ten, he took the scolding from the teacher for me. At seventeen, the night before the most important exams of our senior year, he climbed through my window onto my balcony. Just to say one thing. “Lily, wherever you go, I’ll go too.” Twenty-seven years of memories wrapped around me like a thick cocoon. “Ryan, I’m really tired.” I struggled to pull my wrist free, but couldn’t. “What do you mean?” He stared at me, not wanting to miss a single expression. “Let go.” “No! You have to explain yourself today!” Struggling was almost my instinct. In the frantic push and pull, something got knocked over. A sharp, shattering sound exploded in the dead of night. We both froze. A pile of scattered porcelain shards gleamed coldly under the light. It was a ceramic vase we’d made together. Over all these years, we’d moved several times, fought countless times. I’d smashed necklaces he’d given me, furniture we’d picked out together, but I’d never touched this vase. It had always sat there, holding dried baby’s breath. Now it was broken. Ryan flinched, suddenly loosening his grip. But I had no strength left, and I sank straight onto the broken porcelain shards. Instantly, blood stained the white porcelain, blurring it red. It also blurred all the time of my youth. Ryan’s face went instantly pale. “Lily…” His hands were trembling uncontrollably. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to, I—” More and more blood flowed, pooling into a small puddle on the floor. Strangely, I didn’t feel any pain, just a stinging in my eyes. He frantically scooped me up, and after a quick clean-up, He drove me to the hospital. His hands, clutching the steering wheel, wouldn’t stop shaking. He drove to the hospital at top speed. Went straight to the ER, but to my surprise, Chloe was the one on duty. He frowned and said. “Get someone else.” Chloe gave a playful shrug. “Oh, no, I’m the only one available right now.” Ryan was about to say something else, but I cut him off, pointing at Chloe. “You do it.” My opinion of Chloe had always been straightforward. Stupid and malicious. But I didn’t expect her to be so brazen, even in front of Ryan. When she deliberately poked my wound with the tweezers for the third time, Ryan shoved her away. “Can you even treat a wound, damn it? You can’t even do basic bandaging, how did you get into this hospital? Get out!” Chloe looked on the verge of tears, but Ryan ignored her. He immediately went to change into scrubs and performed surgery on me.

Ryan immediately got me a private room. “We need to observe you for a few days.” He handed me warm water, the pills resting in the bottle cap. “The wound might get infected, so be extra careful these next few days…” He spoke at length. I didn’t respond. His voice was very soft. “I’ll buy you your favorite macarons, okay?” Seeing I still didn’t react, he stood for a moment, then turned and left. When he returned, he was carrying macarons and a box of sliced fruit. Footsteps echoed in the hallway, and several doctors in white coats stopped at the doorway. The one leading peeked in and smiled. “Well, Dr. Miller, you’re here even earlier than us?” Ryan’s ears turned slightly red, and he pressed his lips together. “Heard you arranged an operating room for a family member in the middle of the night yesterday, that’s against regulations, isn’t it?” Another person winked at him. Even though he knew they were teasing, he explained seriously. “Everyone was busy yesterday, it was an urgent matter, so I used my discretion. But if the hospital decides to take action, I’ll cooperate fully.” Everyone burst into laughter, then, understanding the situation, left. He lowered his head, ears bright red, not daring to look at me. He was like this the first time he confessed his feelings to me. He was like this the first time he held my hand. He was like this when he said ‘I do’ at our wedding. How wonderful those times were. I closed my eyes, curling up in the blanket. He called my name a few times, but I ignored him. He just stayed by my side. As I drifted into a drowsy state, I heard someone push the door open. Their voice was cheerful. “Dr. Miller, I’m here to apologize to Lily. Yesterday really wasn’t on purpose, I was just so nervous. With you watching, Dr. Miller, my hands were shaking.” I cracked my eyes open, looking in the direction of the voice. I saw Ryan grabbing her arm, trying to push her out. “Who let you in?” “The door was open.” She took a step closer, almost pressing against his chest. “And I genuinely want to apologize… You snapped at me yesterday, I went home and cried all night.” As she spoke, she raised her hand, her fingertips subtly brushing against Ryan’s name tag on his chest. Under his white coat, he was wearing a thin, dark grey shirt today. “Chloe.” Ryan’s voice was deep and low, a warning. “Hmm?” She leaned in even closer, her lips almost touching his ear, whispering. “Dr. Miller, your heart is beating so fast…” I pushed myself up to a sitting position on the bed. “Why don’t you two go outside? Or perhaps I should leave and make the bed available for you.” Ryan abruptly pushed her away. Chloe stumbled back a couple of steps and landed hard on the floor. “Ryan, you—” Her eyes immediately welled up. “Get out.” Ryan’s voice was icy. Chloe scrambled up, shot me a furious glare, and ran out, covering her face. Ryan stood rooted to the spot, his back to me. His shoulders rose and fell a few times before he finally turned around. “Lily, I…” “My apologies for interrupting your little make-out session with your mistress.” I lay back down, turning my back to him. He stood there for a long time. Then his phone vibrated. He didn’t answer the first time. On the fourth ring, he picked it up. “Hello?” Crying came from the receiver, intermittent and starkly clear in the quiet hospital room. “I got hit, that old guy on the motorcycle, he won’t let me leave. Dr. Miller, I’m scared.” Ryan was silent. “Can you please come? Just by the hospital’s back entrance, please.” The crying grew louder, and there was a man’s angry shouting in the background. Ryan silently hung up the phone and glanced at me. He walked to the bedside and called out softly. “Lily? I’m going out for a bit, I’ll be right back. She’s my colleague, after all…” As he spoke, his phone rang again in his pocket. He hung up again. Then I heard the doorknob press down. Ten minutes later, I pulled out my IV needle and checked myself out. The wound on my knee hadn’t healed yet. But that pain, it didn’t matter anymore.

As I walked near the park lake, I saw them. Ryan was supporting Chloe, half her body leaning into his embrace. Her right hand was resting on Ryan’s shoulder, her left pressed against his waist. Her fingertips traced along the top edge of his belt buckle, stroking it repeatedly. Ryan’s free hand tried to pull away. But Chloe was quicker; her fingers slipped into his palm, lacing them together. He stiffened but didn’t pull away. I stopped dead in my tracks. Suddenly, Chloe seemed to sense something and turned her head. She whispered something into Ryan’s ear. Ryan nodded, released her hand, and turned to walk towards the outpatient building. Chloe stood there, waiting until he was far away before she walked towards me. “Oh, you’re out of the hospital? Why didn’t you ask Dr. Miller to take you home?” I ignored her. She followed me. I glanced at the ankle she had just pretended to twist. She shrugged fearlessly. “Do you know? He held me all the way here, and his hand never let go. How do you think a surgeon like him wouldn’t be able to tell if I was really sprained?” She tilted her head, her eyes curving into a smile. “But I also understand you.” She sighed, feigning sympathy. “After all, you two haven’t had any passion for so many years, just habit, right?” “Are you done talking?” I stopped walking. “Oh dear, are you angry?” She covered her mouth, letting out a delicate giggle. “There isn’t a man in the world who doesn’t cheat. You can’t expect him to stay faithful to you for life. But I do admire you, being able to turn a blind eye to all this…” “Chloe.” I cut her off. “Do you know what the most pathetic thing about you is?” Her smile froze. “You need to use such despicable methods to try and steal a man who doesn’t love you.” She suddenly grabbed my wrist. “What do you mean?” “Exactly what it sounds like.” I shook her off. “Let go.” I yanked my hand back forcefully, making her stumble. She instinctively shoved me. I fell backward towards the artificial lake. I desperately pulled her with me, and the inertia made us both tumble in. The water surface was covered with a layer of ice, and there was a loud crash when we fell in. It attracted a lot of attention. Including Ryan, who had just returned. He hadn’t seen Chloe push me. So from his perspective, I was trying to push Chloe in, but she pulled me in with her. Ryan quickly pulled her out. Chloe was drenched, her nurse’s uniform clinging to her body, shivering uncontrollably from the cold. She threw herself into Ryan’s arms, sobbing breathlessly. “Dr. Miller…” She desperately burrowed into Ryan’s embrace. Even his shirt buttons came undone. Ryan didn’t speak, his eyes fixed on me. I’d seen that look before. That’s how he looked at me every time I caused a scene over the past two years. Cold, disappointed, and a hint of impatience. “Lily.” His voice was heavy. “This is a human life. If you have any grievances, take them out on me, don’t take it out on someone else.” I couldn’t be bothered to argue, so I reached out, bracing myself on the muddy bank, trying to stand up. But Chloe suddenly ‘fainted,’ her foot slipped, and she deliberately kicked me hard on the side of my knee. Right on the wound. My hand slipped, and I fell backward into the lake again. But Ryan frantically picked up Chloe and strode towards the outpatient clinic. This fall was even worse. The back of my head hit the ice, and my vision went black for a few seconds. I inhaled the icy lake water, choking and unable to cough. I struggled to surface, but he never once looked back. The water wasn’t actually deep; standing up, it only reached my chest. But I tried twice, and my right leg completely gave out. Every movement made my vision go black from the pain. Finally, the cleaning lady found me. When she pulled me out with a mop handle, I was already too frozen to speak. My lips were purple, my fingers so stiff I couldn’t close them. The lady draped her jacket over me. “How did you fall in? Where’s your family?” I shook my head. The moment I stood up, a sudden, searing pain twisted in my lower abdomen. My vision went black, and I passed out.

When I woke up, I saw Ryan slumped beside my bed. I wiggled my fingers, and he immediately startled awake. “Lily…” His voice was terribly hoarse, and his eyes instantly reddened. “You’re awake… I’m sorry, it’s all my fault.” He reached to touch my face, but his hand hovered in mid-air before retracting, finally just pressing my hand against his cheek. Warm liquid dripped onto the back of my hand. “I’m sorry… once you recover, we can…” I slowly processed his words. “Are you saying…” My hand rested on my flat lower abdomen. A twisting pain seized my chest. Here, without my knowledge, a child had briefly resided. I clenched my hand tightly, my nails digging into my palm, trembling from the pain. He knelt by the bedside, apologizing incoherently, saying we could find the best doctors, saying we could do surrogacy, saying we could adopt. I just stared at him, as if he were a stranger. “Why would I need a surrogate?” He flinched, his gaze flickering, then he quickly explained. “The OB-GYN said you’re too thin, and pregnancy itself is hard. I don’t want you to suffer that hardship.” I stared at him. “Last physical, you said everything was normal, that I was perfectly fit for pregnancy. Ryan, what exactly are you hiding?” I vaguely guessed the possibility. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’m not… it’s just that your current condition isn’t suitable for carrying a pregnancy, and I only said that because I was afraid you’d be upset.” The air in the hospital room solidified. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. His phone rang then. Chloe. It kept ringing, again and again. I saw him actually let out a sigh of relief. “I’ll go take care of it, I’ll be right back.” The door closed. I stared at the ceiling until the door was pushed open again. “Lily, how are you feeling? It must hurt, right?” I closed my eyes. She chuckled softly. “Well, of course, it hurts. You had half your uterus removed.” I snapped my eyes open. “What?” She feigned surprise. “Didn’t Dr. Miller tell you?” She opened her phone and turned the screen towards me. It was a photo of the surgical consent form. Under the post-operative instructions, Ryan’s name was written. “Then he probably also didn’t tell you that you were eight weeks pregnant.” She leaned in, her voice dropping even lower. “What a shame, it was already a little formed thing, gone along with your uterus.” I clutched the bedsheet. “Oh, and while you were unconscious these past three days…” She sat on the edge of the bed, twirling a strand of her hair. “I was right there with Dr. Miller when he was on night duty. Right there in the bathroom, he covered my mouth and told me not to make a sound…” I was still reeling from the previous revelation, utterly numb to her words. She clicked her tongue, pulled a copy of a medical record from her pocket, and tossed it onto the bed. “No fun. Take a good look yourself.” I opened the medical record. On the diagnosis page, it said ‘threatened miscarriage’. Other than that, there was no other diagnosis. So why did they remove my uterus? I clutched the medical record, tears streaming down my face. Twenty-seven whole years. A person who had occupied almost my entire life. Never spoke a single truth to me. On the way home from the hospital, I was in a daze the whole time. I couldn’t understand how it had come to this. Even though I had decided to leave long ago. Back home, I pulled the signed divorce papers from my bag. I placed them on the table along with the medical record. Then I found an iron box in the study. Inside were twenty-seven years of our memories. The building blocks I’d assembled for him in elementary school, the concert tickets he’d stayed up all night to buy in college, the vows he’d written on our wedding day, and all the love letters he’d written to me since childhood… I took them out, one by one, and put them into the fire. The flames devoured the vows where he promised to love me forever. Devoured the wishes we’d made for the future in our youth. Devoured all the lies about ‘forever’. I slipped off my wedding ring and placed it next to the stack of documents. I put the organized USB drive into my bag and said softly, “Ryan, I have a big gift for you too.”

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Seven years into our marriage, my husband Dominic Vance personally switched off my younger brother’s life support. All because his idealized “first love” wanted that specific, life-saving medication. That day, I knelt on the cold hospital floor, begging him to spare my only family. He looked down at me, his voice a cruel caress. “You’re not being good again.” Later, my brother died, my baby was gone, and I was driven to madness by Dominic’s own hands. Everyone assumed I would forgive him, waiting for him to come back to me. They never knew the truth. The moment Liam took his last breath, I decided to disappear from this world. After that, Dominic turned the city inside out. All he found in the end was a divorce agreement and a name scrubbed from the world. He wanted me back with a desperate, frantic madness. But this time, I was the one who didn’t want him. Seraphina POV The winter wind was as sharp as a blade. I stood on the balcony all night, wearing nothing but a thin nightgown. Dominic sat on the sofa, his voice soft yet chilling. “What did you say to Aurora?” Aurora Sterling was the acclaimed sculptor, lauded as a genius. An hour ago, she’d deactivated all her social media accounts. And now, Dominic was punishing me for it. My body trembled uncontrollably. “I didn’t… I haven’t even seen her.” Dominic smiled, but there was no warmth in his eyes. “You’re not being good.” He spoke softly, gesturing to the bodyguard behind him. The bodyguard immediately handed him a tablet. The screen lit up. The surveillance footage showed my younger brother, Liam Hayes, lying critically ill in a hospital bed. Someone unplugged his life support. The heart monitor’s lines jumped wildly, and Liam convulsed from lack of oxygen, struggling in agony. “No!” My mind went blank, my blood felt like it had frozen. I lunged forward, falling at Dominic’s feet, clutching his leg tightly as tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes. “Dominic, I beg you! I truly don’t know anything!” “I didn’t do anything, please save Liam…” Dominic’s fingers traced my face, his touch light, yet it felt like he was examining an object. “The backup power only lasts for three minutes,” he said. “Now, there are two minutes and fifty seconds left.” Every second felt like a knife twisting in my heart. I looked at the man I had loved for seven years, in so much pain I could barely breathe. Three months ago, Dominic became obsessed with the aloof Aurora, beginning a very public pursuit of her. Everyone waited to watch me become a joke. Back then, he’d also stroked my face, saying, “Sera, it’s just a game. Men always have a desire to conquer a new prize.” “You just need to be obedient, and the title of my wife will always be yours.” I had no choice but to nod. “Thirty seconds left.” Dominic’s voice pulled me back to reality. The image of my brother struggling painfully flashed in my mind. I couldn’t lose him. In extreme fear and despair, I lied to Dominic for the first time. “It was me.” I closed my eyes, my voice trembling. “I forced Aurora away… I was jealous of her, so I sent someone to warn her to stay away from you…” Dominic finally smiled, satisfied. He leaned down, stroking my head like he was comforting a pet. “Wouldn’t it have been easier if you’d just done that from the start?” He warned me, “Don’t ever take matters into your own hands again. Remember your place.” A subordinate rushed over, respectfully reporting, “Mr. Vance, we’ve found Ms. Sterling. She said she wanted to go to the art museum to clear her head.” Dominic’s joy was undeniable. He immediately stood up and strode out, his voice filled with an urgency I’d never heard before. “Book every art museum in the city. Clear them out. No one is to disturb her.” “And, lock Seraphina Hayes in the wine cellar.” He didn’t spare me another glance from start to finish. I was dragged into the cold wine cellar and couldn’t help but curl into a ball, slowly losing consciousness. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my abdomen, and a warm liquid slowly trickled down my legs. I awoke to the searing pain. My baby… my child… I stumbled to the door, frantically pounding on the heavy wooden slab. “Open the door! Save my baby!” “Please, I beg you, take me to the hospital…” My throat grew hoarse from screaming, my nails scratching blood onto the door. From outside, the butler’s cold voice cut into my heart like a knife. “Mr. Vance said this child wasn’t part of the plan. You’ll just have to reflect on your actions here.” Total despair washed over me. I collapsed to the floor, the physical pain a fraction of the agony in my heart. Before my consciousness faded, I whispered. “Dominic, the baby is gone…” “And I don’t want you anymore.” 2. Seraphina POV The acrid smell of disinfectant in the hospital brought me back to consciousness. My lower abdomen was flat. The place that once nurtured life was now just an empty void. My baby was truly gone. My tears soaked the pillow. The ward door opened, and Dominic walked in, followed by Aurora, her eyes swollen and red. “Seraphina!” Aurora rushed to my bedside, her voice accusatory. “I just want to create in peace, why won’t you leave me alone? Wasn’t my leaving enough? Why did you have to send people to harass my family?!” Baseless accusations enveloped me like a net. I instinctively looked at Dominic, the man I once thought would protect me forever. But his eyes held only sympathy for Aurora, not even a glance for me. My heart felt like it was being torn apart. “Dominic,” I said. “Our child… why didn’t you save him?” Dominic finally turned his gaze to me, but his eyes were like those of a stranger. “What right do you have to bear my child?” He retorted, his tone full of mockery. “Didn’t I tell you to take your birth control? Who gave you permission to get pregnant?” I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. I remembered the birth control pills he’d forced me to take, remembered him constantly whispering, “Sera, it’s not the right time for a baby.” It wasn’t that the time wasn’t right; it was that he never wanted my child. “Dominic, don’t say any more,” Aurora gently interrupted him, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I don’t want to cause discord between you two, but you must give me an explanation for what happened today.” Dominic immediately turned to comfort her, his voice softening. “Don’t cry, Rory. I’ll handle this and then we’ll leave.” When he looked at me again, his eyes were utterly devoid of warmth. “Apologize.” Two words, weighing on my heart like mountains. “I didn’t do it.” I shook my head. Dominic’s patience ran out. He gave a look to the bodyguard by the door, his voice chilling. “Will you do it yourself, or should I have them help you?” The bodyguard’s towering figure loomed closer, full of oppressive menace. I looked at Dominic, still hoping to gamble on a shred of affection he might have left for me. I lost. “Do it.” With that cold command, the bodyguards no longer held back. I was violently pulled from the hospital bed, my head forced down towards Aurora’s feet. “I’m sorry.” Those words drained me of my last bit of strength and dignity. I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood, just to stop myself from crying out. Aurora’s lips curved into a smirk, then she quickly reverted to her elegant facade, turning to Dominic. “Dominic, I should still leave. I don’t want to ruin your family.” “Don’t go!” Dominic grabbed her hand. To keep her, he didn’t hesitate to pull out his phone and call his lawyer. “Prepare the divorce agreement immediately and send it to the hospital.” “Compensation… make it half a billion.” I looked up in disbelief at the man who had once defied his entire family to marry me. Now, for a new flame he’d known for less than three months, he was abandoning me like this. Soon after they left, the lawyer arrived with the divorce agreement. He pushed the agreement toward me, relaying Dominic’s words in a businesslike tone. “Mr. Vance said this is only temporary. Once his interest in Ms. Sterling fades, he’ll remarry you. Then you can have as many children as you like.” “He also said for you to take the money and go abroad for a change of scenery after your seventh wedding anniversary. He’ll come pick you up once everything is settled.” The lawyer’s words sounded like a sick joke. Did he think I couldn’t survive without him? Did he think money and empty promises would appease me? I laughed, tears welling in my eyes. I picked up the pen and, without hesitation, signed my name at the bottom of the agreement. Each stroke was decisive, etched with a force that felt like severing the painful entanglement of the past seven years. I took the half-billion dollar check, but my heart had already died. Dominic, I’m done playing. 3. Seraphina POV I lay in my hospital bed, scrolling through my phone. The screen was filled with news of Dominic and Aurora. “Business Titan Publicly Declares Love for Genius Sculptor” “Dominic Spends a Fortune to Win a Beauty’s Smile” I thought I had already given up all hope, but seeing these headlines still stung. I went to the hospital, and through the glass of the intensive care unit, I saw my brother lying in bed, unconscious. He was my only family left in this world. “Liam, your sister has to go.” My hand pressed against the glass. “Once I’m settled, I’ll take you with me. We’ll go somewhere no one knows us and start over.” From that day on, I began to prepare for my departure. The first stop was the identity registration office. I submitted an application to revoke my identity as Seraphina. The second stop was the auction house. The jewelry Dominic had given me was brought out one by one for appraisal. Those gifts, once symbols of love, were now just a string of numbers in my eyes. The third stop was the law firm. I returned the beachfront estate Dominic had gifted me before our marriage. After doing all that, I returned to that villa. The fire in the fireplace roared merrily. I found the jewelry box I’d treasured for seven years. Inside were the cufflinks and tie clips I’d made myself, each one he’d once treasured like gold. I tossed them into the fire, one by one. As the flames consumed them, my heart, too, turned to ash. I had just turned around when I froze. Dominic and Aurora stood behind me, I don’t know when they got there. “What are you burning?” Dominic asked, his face expressionless. I lowered my eyes, not answering. “Find that sapphire necklace and give it to Aurora.” A needle-sharp pain pierced my heart. That sapphire necklace was a family heirloom. He had once personally placed it on me, promising me a lifetime. Now he wanted me to give it to another woman with my own hands. I was no longer his wife. I nodded silently and turned to go upstairs. Aurora followed me into the walk-in closet. The moment she shut the door, her facade crumbled. “Seraphina, what are you still doing here? Waiting for Dominic to change his mind? Dream on!” I ignored her, took a box from the safe, and handed it over. Aurora took the necklace, admired it for a moment, and then a malicious smile curved her lips. She suddenly smashed the necklace to the ground, and the sapphire shattered into fragments. Before I could react, Aurora shoved me towards the top of the stairs! Caught completely off guard, I tumbled down the staircase. My forehead hit the sharp edge of a step, and blood streamed down, blurring my vision. Upstairs, Aurora picked up a shard of the sapphire and deliberately cut her own leg, then collapsed to the ground, letting out a terrified scream. Dominic rushed over at the sound. He saw me, bloody and disheveled, and Aurora, with a cut on her leg, looking utterly pitiful. He only glanced at me before rushing to Aurora, sweeping her into his arms. “Did she hurt you?” His eyes were cold and sharp, piercing me. Aurora trembled in his arms, her voice choked with sobs. “Dominic, I just wanted to look at the necklace. Seraphina wouldn’t give it to me, she’d rather destroy it. She even said she’d push me down the stairs. I was scared, so I fell, and then she rolled down too…” She was lying. “She pushed me!” I struggled to explain. “Look at the surveillance! The surveillance!” “Aurora wouldn’t lie to me.” Dominic cut me off, his eyes filled with disgust. He held Aurora, looking down at me sprawled on the floor. “It seems I’ve indulged you too much, making you forget your place.” He handed Aurora to a maid, then turned and took a whip from the wall. “Today, I’ll teach you what it means to obey.” The whip whistled through the air as it lashed across my back. I curled into a ball, in searing pain. I wanted to beg, to explain, but facing his emotionless eyes, I couldn’t say a word. In the throes of agonizing pain, I despairingly closed my eyes. I remembered when everyone opposed our relationship, his family especially, punishing him severely. Dominic had been beaten almost to death protecting me, yet he still held me tight, saying, “Unless I die, no one will ever touch her.” He also said I was more important than his own life. But now, the one wielding the whip against me was him. Love can vanish. Perhaps it was never love at all. Just a madman’s possessive obsession with his property. 4. Seraphina POV I woke up in my own bed. Dominic sat on the sofa beside the bed, a cigar between his fingers, smoke curling around him. Seeing me awake, he stubbed out the cigar and spoke in a commanding tone. “Aurora was upset by you and won’t eat. Go and coax her.” I looked at him silently, then finally spoke. “Mr. Vance, we’re divorced.” “Mr. Vance”-that address infuriated him. Dominic’s face darkened. He rose and walked to the bed, roughly caressing my lips with his ash-stained fingers. “Don’t throw a tantrum with me.” He leaned in, his eyes dangerously narrowed. “I don’t like it when you’re disobedient.” I smelled the familiar scent of tobacco on his fingers, and my stomach churned. I lowered my eyes and nodded. Dominic smiled, satisfied, stroking my head like rewarding a pet. “That’s better, now be a good girl.” He personally applied medicine to the wounds on my back. The ointment was cold, and I trembled with pain when it touched my injuries. But his touch made me feel even colder than the wounds. “Aurora has a party tonight. Prepare a cello solo to apologize to her.” I couldn’t refuse, so I could only nod. As night fell, the maid dressed me in a luxurious haute couture gown. The silk rubbed against the wounds on my back, throbbing with pain, but my heart ached even more. I was led into the ballroom and immediately became the center of attention and ridicule. Aurora was an artist, and the socialites, eager to curry favor, were all dressed simply and elegantly. My ornate attire made me look like a clown who’d stumbled into the wrong circus. “Isn’t that Mrs. Vance? Why is she dressed like some flashy parvenu?” “Not anymore, Mr. Vance’s woman now is Aurora.” The piercing whispers stung my ears. I remembered another time, at a party, when someone mocked me as nothing but eye candy by Dominic’s side. The next day, that person’s company went bankrupt. Back then, he sheltered me under his wing, forbidding anyone from speaking ill of me. Now, he had personally pushed me into an abyss of public ridicule. The lights in the ballroom dimmed, and a spotlight shone on the entrance. Dominic, escorting Aurora, resplendent in a flowing white gown, slowly entered, receiving everyone’s gaze. Aurora whispered something in his ear, and he snapped his fingers. A server brought a cello to me. “Begin.” Dominic’s voice came from across the crowd, cold and distant. Under everyone’s gaze, I took the incredibly familiar cello. Dominic had made it for me with his own hands; it was one of a kind in the entire world. I once loved the cello more than anything. But after marrying him, he said my music could only belong to him. Now, even that rule was broken for Aurora. I took a deep breath and placed the bow on the strings. As the bow fell, an impassioned, sorrowful melody poured out – Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata,’ third movement. Each note was like a blade, severing my past with Dominic. This piece was my final farewell to him. Never again would we meet. From then on, I would never love Dominic again. Aurora, displeased, interrupted the performance. She clung to Dominic’s arm, looking down at me with a mocking sneer. “Seraphina, I know you’ve been wronged, but there’s no need to fish for sympathy in an environment like this, is there?” “This piece hardly fits the mood of the evening.” I lowered my eyes, silently enduring the humiliation. Seeing that I didn’t retort, Aurora grew even more displeased, shaking Dominic’s arm playfully. “Did you bring her here just to humiliate me?” 5. Seraphina POV Dominic simply smiled at Aurora’s complaint. He wrapped an arm around her waist, leaned down, and kissed her forehead, gently coaxing, “Alright, don’t be angry. I’ll dance the first waltz with you, as an apology, how about that?” A graceful waltz melody began, and Dominic led Aurora onto the center of the dance floor. They naturally became the focus of the entire room. I watched their swirling figures, feeling no ripple of emotion. I quietly put away the cello, intending to turn and leave this place. I had only taken a few steps when several women dragged me into a corner of the terrace. “Seraphina, do you remember us?” The woman in the lead grabbed my chin, her gaze venomous. I recognized them. These women had once been prominent socialites, but because they had offended me, Dominic had retaliated against them with cruel methods. One’s father went bankrupt and committed suicide, another was publicly jilted and disfigured by her fiancé, and another had her entire family’s business uprooted. The extent of their fear of me in the past was now matched by the depth of their hatred. “Ms. Sterling told us to entertain you,” another woman sneered, picking up a bottle of red wine from a server’s tray. “Ms. Sterling said that whoever could make your life a living hell tonight, she would put in a good word for them with Mr. Vance, helping us get back what we lost.” “So, don’t blame us for being ruthless.” Cold wine drenched me from head to toe, soaking my gown. Then, a sharp slap rang out across my face. They took turns stepping forward, unleashing all their pent-up resentment on me. Someone smashed a wine bottle, using a sharp shard of glass to slice my arm, leaving streaks of blood. I wanted to scream from the pain, but my mouth was tightly covered. “Let me go…” I found an opening, pushed the crowd away, and stumbled towards the ballroom. I hadn’t run far when a towering champagne pyramid toppled directly in front of me. I fell awkwardly into the shattered glass, my palms and knees bleeding profusely from the cuts. “What game are you playing now?” Aurora appeared at some point, looking down at me with contempt. “Seraphina, even if you’ve fallen out of favor, there’s no need to harm yourself to gain sympathy, is there? That’s not a very clever trick.” “It was you!” I pointed at her, my voice trembling. “You sent people to hurt me!” Aurora covered her mouth and laughed exaggeratedly, as if she’d heard the funniest joke. “I sent people to hurt you? Seraphina, you overestimate yourself. The way you are now, are you even worth my effort?” The women who had attacked me on the terrace also came over, angrily testifying for Aurora. “Ms. Sterling, don’t let her fool you! She tried to bribe us to harm you, and when we refused, she got angry and is now feigning victimhood to frame you!” “That’s right! We can all testify!” At these words, the guests gathered around, pointing and whispering about me. “How vicious! Just because she’s out of favor, she can’t stand to see others happy!” “Women like this deserve to be scorned!” I don’t know who started it, but champagne, red wine, and cake came flying at me one after another. Amidst the insults and attacks, my gaze cut through the crowd, landing on the face of the man I had loved for seven years. Dominic stood not far away, calmly watching it all. His eyes were empty, devoid of pity, anger, or even the slightest ripple of emotion. That look seemed to be blaming me: Why are you always disobedient, always causing me trouble? In that moment, all the wounds on my body began to ache. The worst pain wasn’t my skin being sliced by glass, or my face being swollen from blows. It was his indifference. His coldness hurt more than any physical assault. I felt like everything was meaningless. Explain? Who would believe me? I gave up struggling, forcing myself to stand up from the chaotic mess on the floor. Every movement pulled at my wounds, making my vision blur with pain. I glanced at Dominic. Seeing no intention from him to intervene, I limped towards the door. With every step, the glass shards on the floor dug deeper, leaving a trail of blood behind me. But I didn’t stop, and I didn’t look back. Leave this place. Leave Dominic. Only this single thought remained in my mind. 6. Seraphina POV I woke up in the hospital again. After being discharged, I began preparing to take my brother away. I contacted a private recovery center on the outskirts of town, anonymously donating a large sum of money to ensure they would secretly admit my brother, Liam. Once my new identity was processed and the contracts were signed, I could leave this city for good. Harboring a final sliver of hope, I went to the hospital to visit my brother, but at the ward door, I saw the last people I wanted to. Aurora’s parents were struggling with a nurse, trying to snatch Liam’s life-saving imported medication. “We’re taking this medicine! Our son needs it too!” Aurora’s mother, Sophia, shrieked. “No! This is Mr. Hayes’s life-saving medicine!” The nurse desperately shielded the medicine box. “Let go!” I rushed forward, pushing Sophia away. “Who allowed you to touch my brother’s things?!” Sophia staggered back. Before she could throw a tantrum, Aurora walked from the end of the hallway, her smile beautiful and cruel. “I allowed it,” she said. “Seraphina, I’m taking this medication.” Behind her, Dominic’s bodyguards easily restrained the nurse and me. “Don’t go in!” I struggled desperately, only able to watch as Aurora’s parents rushed into the ward, lunging for the medicine box. I charged in without hesitation, spreading my arms to block the medicine box. “Don’t touch my brother! Get out!” Sophia’s eyes darted. She suddenly fell backward, pretending I had pushed her, letting out a piercing scream. When Dominic entered, he saw Sophia on the ground groaning, Aurora’s eyes red and looking utterly wronged, while I stood there like a madwoman. His face darkened. “You can’t even restrain one woman?” He coldly reprimanded the bodyguards, his displeased gaze implicitly permitting them to use any means necessary. The two bodyguards stopped being polite, brutally dragging me away, one on each side. “Let me go! Dominic!” I shrieked, my voice hoarse. Seeing the medicine box about to be taken, I desperately cried out to the man who had once sworn to protect me for life. “Dominic, no! That’s my brother’s life-saving medicine!” “Please! I beg you…” Dominic only looked at me with cold indifference, saying with dissatisfaction, “You’re not being good again.” Those three words were like a bucket of ice water, chilling me to the bone. I was violently pushed to the ground by the bodyguards, my forehead hitting the bed frame, my vision blurring. I could only watch as that life-saving medicine was carried away by Aurora’s family like a trophy. From start to finish, Dominic stood there, not moving an inch. “Liam…” Ignoring the pain, I scrambled on all fours to my brother’s bedside. I saw Liam’s body begin to convulse, his face turning purplish-blue. “Doctor! Someone, quickly!” I frantically pressed the emergency bell above his bed, but there was no response. I rushed out of the ward, screaming in the empty hallway, but no one answered. I ran to the elevator, pressing the down button frantically, but the elevator was locked on the first floor. It was Dominic’s warning to me! He’d cleared out the entire floor, locking down every escape route. He was using my brother’s life to punish my defiance. I rushed to the stairwell, tumbling and scrambling down the stairs. I fell countless times, my knees and elbows scraped raw, but I felt no pain. When I finally returned to the ward with doctors and nurses, it was too late. The searing flatline on the monitor announced Liam’s death. I looked at the young boy on the bed, his body lifeless, his face forever eighteen, unable to shed a single tear. The pain in my heart was so extreme it had turned to numbness. I regretted it. Not regretting loving Dominic, but regretting ever meeting him. If I could go back, I wished I had just watched him die in that alley, beaten to death before my very eyes.

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My husband’s mistress sent me her year-end performance review. She asked for a bonus. The day before New Year’s, a file landed in my inbox: My Annual Performance Review with Your Husband. Item One. Total times I had sex with your husband this year: 150. Exceeded KPI. Item Two. Got your husband to buy me a villa and a luxury car. Goal achieved. Item Three. Got your son to call me “Mom” every day. Goal achieved. Item Four. Bravely stood before you to fight for my happiness. Mission accomplished! Mrs. Thorne, I’ve taken care of your husband and your son. So, are you going to give me a year-end bonus, or just file for divorce? Attached was a photo. There, Marcus Thorne had his arm around her waist, and my seven-year-old son, Leo, stood in front of them. This woman was my son’s piano teacher. Marcus came home just in time to see that special year-end review. He looked nervous and told me, “Don’t you dare go after her! I was the one who fell for her first. She’s innocent. I can give you anything you want as compensation.” I just said, coldly, “I only want you to go back to how you were.” Back to the penniless, unloved nobody you were. He misunderstood, though, and visibly relaxed. “Since you know about Tiffany and me, why don’t we have her celebrate New Year’s Eve with us this year?” He said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I couldn’t believe this was the man I’d loved for fifteen years. How could he be so incredibly brazen? Marcus gently raised his hand, as if to lovingly ruffle my hair like he used to. I flinched, taking a step back, my eyes stinging. “Whatever you want. I have an important experiment to run anyway.” From now on, Marcus and Leo wouldn’t be in my life for any New Year’s Eve. I turned and went upstairs. Behind me, I heard Marcus grumbling, “You always put your experiments first. I’m always second to your lab work. Were you actually hoping I’d cheat?” I glanced back at him. “If I asked you to break up with her, would you?” The smile vanished from his face, replaced by a serious expression. “Do you want the truth or a lie?” “The truth.” He didn’t hesitate. “I won’t leave her, just like you’d never abandon your experiments.” He paused, a hint of regret in his eyes. “If you hadn’t poured all your energy and time into your research, neglecting my needs, Tiffany would never have come between us.” I scoffed. So, his cheating was my fault? I practically lived in that lab, developing new products for his pharmaceutical company, making him a titan in the industry. He wasn’t grateful? Instead, he blamed me? He’s forgotten the road he traveled to get here. Fine. I’ll personally send him right back down it! I immediately sent a message to my lawyer. “Prepare the divorce papers. Also, all my patents and research findings are off-limits to Thorne Pharmaceuticals.” Just then, his phone rang. He lowered his voice, but I could still tell it was Tiffany Hayes. He was soothing her. “It’s fine, she’s just mad. Her mind is always on her experiments anyway, she barely pays attention to me.” “Just don’t send anything like that again.” “Come over for New Year’s Eve. I’ll make sure you’re happy. Couch, bed…your pick.!”

My hands were shaking, but no matter how awful I felt, I didn’t cry. My lawyer messaged me back. “I’ll need seven business days.” Seven days. In the lab, seven days could change the course of a breakthrough. Now, every second dragged. I studied my bleached hands, my strained eyes, the tinnitus that never quite left. All that striving, all that giving-it all felt like a joke now. And I was the punchline. I suddenly remembered ten years ago, when his company was just starting. He couldn’t afford to buy patents, couldn’t produce medicines, and he was so anxious his hair was turning gray. I buried myself in the lab day and night, ensuring he had drugs to produce, which ultimately led to the pharmaceutical empire he had today. He told me I was the most precious gift heaven had given him! It made me laugh bitterly now. Later that night, I went to the lab and terminated all the ongoing projects for his company. Looking at the empty lab, I felt a mix of emotions. My phone buzzed with a provocative message from Tiffany. The photo showed her and Marcus, half-naked in bed, Marcus sound asleep. “Mrs. Thorne, I’m ‘taking care’ of your husband again.” “Marcus told me you’re okay with us being together. So, how about that year-end bonus?” “After all, taking care of him is really hard work. Marcus was so insatiable. We went at it three times tonight.” My blood boiled, but I used another phone to record the video and save it as evidence, sending it straight to my lawyer. My silence, in Tiffany’s eyes, was cowardice. Then, my son, Leo, suddenly came down with a fever and was hospitalized. When I rushed to the hospital, Tiffany was opening a steaming bowl of mushroom soup. She was telling Leo, “Good boy, Leo, eat a little, even if you don’t have an appetite. You’ll get better faster.” Marcus stood nearby, hands casually in his pockets, his gaze, full of doting affection, shifting from Tiffany to Leo. “See, your mommy loves you so much.” My heart felt like it was being twisted. We weren’t even divorced, and he was letting our son call another woman “Mommy.” “Yeah, Mommy loves me the most!” Leo’s joyful voice was a fatal blow, piercing my very soul. My blood ran cold. Hearing my son call Tiffany “Mommy” with my own ears stole the air from my lungs. Tiffany saw me. Her eyes flashed with defiance, then she put on a saccharine sweet smile. “Eleanor. You’re here. Why don’t you feed Leo?” Leo didn’t spare me a glance. He whined to Tiffany, “Tiffany, I want you to feed me! I like it when you feed me.” He then looked at me, a hint of disdain in his voice. “His mom just knows experiments; she doesn’t know how to take care of anyone. Dad and I both like you.” My face hardened. I stared at Leo. “What did you just call her?” Tiffany, feigning understanding, provoked me. “Eleanor, don’t be so hard on Leo. He’s just a six-year-old.”

Marcus stepped between Leo and me, trying to mediate. “Leo is sick, so don’t make him feel worse.” He reached for my back, guiding me out of the room. “Just go back to your lab. Tiffany’s got this. You don’t need to worry.” My stomach churned with disgust. I shoved Marcus’s arm away. “Don’t touch me!” Leo, startled by my outburst, burst into tears. Tiffany, feigning concern, said, “Eleanor, you scared Leo. If you’re angry, take it out on me, not him. The child is innocent, okay? Don’t hurt him.” I had only one thought, one obsession. I stared at the crying Leo and asked him, “Did you just call her Mommy?” I thought, if he said he wouldn’t call Tiffany “Mommy,” I would forgive him, and I would take him with me when I divorced. But what I heard was Leo crying and accusing me. “You’re my mom, but Tiffany is my mom too! I like her, she’s good to me, she takes care of me, she teaches me piano. You’re nothing like her, you only care about your experiments. She’s just better than you!” The words hit me like a lightning bolt, and tears streamed down my face, uncontrolled. Marcus dragged me outside, scolding, “Why are you taking your anger out on our son! You don’t need to worry about anything here. Go back to your lab!” With that, he turned and went back into the hospital room, locking the door to prevent me from going back in and making a scene. That night, Evelyn Thorne, my mother-in-law, came to talk to me. “Eleanor, you’re a good woman. I’ve always respected you.” She took my hand, patting it gently, her voice softening. “Men, they all stray a little, don’t they? Tiffany can help you with Marcus, and with Leo too.” “Honestly, if you just relax a little, you’ll see this is a blessing in disguise.” “You won’t have to ‘serve’ your husband, or bother with your son. You can just focus on your experiments. Isn’t that ideal?” My heart was colder than ice, devoid of any emotion. I quietly pulled my hand away. “Yes, I won’t interfere with them anymore.” Evelyn’s eyes lit up with delight, thinking she had convinced me. She smiled again. “Then I’ll have the staff prepare the bedroom right next to yours for Tiffany. That way, she can live at home, make it easier for Leo to learn piano, and help you take care of them both.” Seeing my silence, Evelyn assumed I agreed. She clapped my back, beaming. “I knew it! I said you were a sensible, good woman!” Delighted, she immediately told the housekeeper to clean the bedroom next to mine. She didn’t hesitate to call Tiffany. “Tiffany, you can move in tonight. The room’s all ready. Move in early so you can keep me company shopping and keep me entertained!”

When Marcus brought Tiffany back, I was about to leave. Seeing my glum face, Tiffany feigned embarrassment and a pitiful look. “Eleanor seems a little upset. Maybe I shouldn’t move in after all.” I said coldly, “This is the Thorne family home. You can stay as long as you want. I won’t interfere.” With that, I quickened my pace. Marcus caught up and grabbed my wrist. “Are you really okay with this? If you mind, Tiffany and I can stay somewhere else.” I pulled my hand away, my heart dead, my voice eerily calm. “I just have some work to take care of. I really don’t have an opinion about you and Tiffany.” He sighed in relief, his voice softening. “Okay, you go handle your work. Call me when you’re done, and I’ll come pick you up.” After leaving the Thorne house, I never went back. On December 31st, Marcus’s company held a gala. He informed everyone, except me. Coincidentally, I was passing by the hotel where they were hosting the event that day. I happened to see Marcus holding Tiffany’s hand, and Tiffany holding my son’s hand, as they went on stage to give a speech. In everyone’s eyes, they were a picture of a happy family of three. Marcus held the microphone, his voice cheerful and sincere. “This year, I’ve gained so much. I want to thank my wife, for all her support and warmth.” My eyes felt like they were being pricked by needles. The microphone was handed to Leo. He smiled innocently and happily at Tiffany. “The person I want to thank most is my mommy. Thank you, Mommy, for giving me so much love. I love you.” With that, Leo spontaneously hugged Tiffany. The audience erupted in applause. Tiffany, on stage, saw me. As I turned to leave the banquet hall, she rushed out alone, stopping in front of me to provoke me. “Eleanor, you’re incredibly patient, aren’t you? I know you’re scared to make a scene because you’re terrified of leaving the Thorne family and losing this opulent lifestyle. But do you really think you can keep your place as Mrs. Thorne just by enduring?” I sneered at her. “We’ll see about that.” She smiled scornfully, full of confidence. “We’ll see! Your son, your husband, they’ve both declared my place to the world! What do you have left to fight me with?” I ignored her, quickening my steps. She’d soon realize that what she’d so desperately fought for was nothing but a worthless pile of garbage! On New Year’s Eve, the Thorne house was decorated brightly, full of festive cheer. Every year, I personally prepared the New Year’s Eve dinner. Marcus finally remembered to call me, but he tried several times and no one picked up. He felt an inexplicable anxiety. Tiffany, ever so understanding, said, “Marcus, it’s my first New Year’s Eve at home. Let me make dinner. Eleanor is probably busy in the lab again. After I’m done, you can call her back for dinner.” Marcus’s expression remained normal, but he felt a strange panic in his heart. When Tiffany finished dinner, Marcus still hadn’t gotten through to me. Mr. Jenkins, the butler, brought him a package. “This is from Mrs. Thorne, sir.” Marcus opened the package. The words “DIVORCE AGREEMENT” blazed up at him, striking with the force of a physical blow. His phone rang. It was Jamie, his assistant, voice tight with panic. “Mr. Thorne, emergency! Mrs. Thorne has revoked all patent licenses. The company can’t operate!”

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Chloe, Noah’s childhood friend, used witchcraft to exchange ten years of her life for my Certified Senior Real Estate Broker Exam passing qualification. She quickly became a top-tier real estate broker, pulling in over a million dollars a year. Meanwhile, I was reported for cheating, blacklisted from the entire industry, and ended up homeless. I turned to Noah for help, but he looked at me with disbelief. “You’re useless and couldn’t pass on your own, and now you’re slandering Chloe? I never thought you’d be this kind of person!” I had no way to defend myself. Chloe sued me for defamation, and Noah even testified against me in court. I was ultimately sentenced to ten years. Noah and Chloe promptly announced their engagement on social media. They were just waiting for their honeymoon to end before starting their new jobs. In a daze, I fell into a river and drowned. When I opened my eyes again, I was back one week before the Certified Senior Real Estate Broker Exam. I tossed my admission ticket into the trash with a flick of my wrist, then signed up for the janitorial staff training test instead. If Chloe wants to trade ten years of her life for my Certified Senior Real Estate Broker qualification, then let her go for it!

“Today, I’m announcing my exam category to everyone! It’s the Certified Senior Real Estate Broker Exam! This is my 23rd day of studying, and the exam is just one week away!” My body tensed as those familiar words echoed from the live stream on my phone. I instantly realized: I’d been reborn. When Chloe revealed her exam choice, the live chat exploded. “OMG! Isn’t that exam notorious for its ridiculously low pass rate? Like, one percent?” “The streamer’s lost her mind! People who’ve prepped for years wouldn’t dare take that, and she thinks she’s ready after a month?” “Subscribed! Can’t wait for the meltdown when she posts her results.” Most of the comments were skeptical, mocking Chloe for being overconfident. “Seriously? What’s wrong with these people, hating on Chloe like this?” Noah, my boyfriend, was fuming, frantically reporting every single comment that trashed Chloe. “They just don’t know how smart Chloe is!” I couldn’t help but sneer. Anyone who’d ever studied for it knew. No matter how brilliant you were, passing the Certified Senior Real Estate Broker Exam with only 30 days of study was impossible. In my past life, Chloe was a travel blogger who never really took off. Riding the wave of the booming real estate market, she loudly declared online that she was determined to pass the lowest-pass-rate Certified Senior Real Estate Broker Exam after just 30 days of studying. It definitely drew a ton of attention, but just like now, it was almost all hate. But when the results came out, Chloe–who’d been traveling the whole time–actually passed the exam on her first try and got her license. It caused a sensation! She gained millions of followers. Meanwhile, I, the one whose qualification she’d swapped, ended up in prison for exam fraud. I pleaded my innocence everywhere, only to be met with sneers like, “You’re just desperate to pass!” Lost in thought, Chloe approached me after ending her stream, asking curiously about the exam category I’d signed up for. Before I could even speak, Noah jumped in to answer. Chloe feigned surprise. “Cassie, we actually signed up for the same Certified Senior Real Estate Broker Exam!” “You’ve been preparing for a year, and you even aced the mock tests. You’re definitely going to pass and land a great job earning a million a year!” Noah said, his face full of adoration. “That’s not necessarily true. Chloe, you’re naturally smart and pick things up fast. Who passes first is still up in the air.” Chloe covered her mouth, giggling delicately. I clenched my fists. In my last life, I was so stupid, I didn’t even notice their secret affair. Chloe pulled a set of practice questions from her bag and handed them to me. “Oh, Cassie, these are practice questions for the Certified Senior Real Estate Broker Exam. Study hard, and you’ll definitely be fine.” Noah’s eyes were filled with admiration. “Chloe, you’re seriously too kind! You’re rivals, yet you’re willing to share. Cassie, aren’t you going to thank Chloe properly? You’re getting such a good deal.” I was getting a good deal? Chloe just wanted to make sure I passed the exam smoothly, to ensure her plan went off without a hitch. I saw right through her. I sneered. “I don’t need them.” Chloe stood there awkwardly. Noah, unable to stand Chloe being upset, immediately snapped at me. “Chloe was kind enough to share her materials with you, and that’s your attitude?!” “Apologize to her right now!” Chloe’s eyes welled up as she explained. “Cassie, are you upset because Noah is going with me on a trip to another state tomorrow? It’s okay, I can go by myself.” Noah instinctively frowned and retorted. “No way! You’re a girl traveling alone; how could I be at ease?” I almost forgot about this. In my previous life, during the week leading up to the exam, Chloe didn’t study. Instead, she took advantage of her growing follower count to film videos everywhere. Noah, ever the ‘protector,’ insisted on accompanying her. Worried about affecting Noah’s study routine, I pulled out all the stops to stop him from going, making sure he focused on studying. In the end, Noah passed the exam and got his license, while I was left with nothing but resentment. Now, if he’s so determined to ruin himself, why should I stop him? “But…” Chloe hesitated, glancing at me, feigning difficulty. “Perfect, I’m actually planning to go out too,” I said calmly. Noah looked at me, annoyed. “You’re going to tag along with us? Cassie, don’t be so pathetic! Chloe and I have known each other for over a decade. If anything was going to happen between us, do you really think it would have waited for you?” I tore up my Certified Senior Real Estate Broker Exam admission ticket with a swift motion and tossed it into the trash, a smile playing on my lips. “Don’t get the wrong idea. Whatever you two do has nothing to do with me. I’m going out on my own.”

“No way!” Chloe shrieked instinctively. Realizing her reaction was too strong, Chloe forced a strained laugh. “The exam is in just one week. Cassie, you should really stay and study hard. How else will you pass?” I shot back, mercilessly. “Why are you so invested in my grades?” Noah frowned, looking at me. “Chloe was giving you kind advice, and that’s wrong?” I was completely speechless. “Who cares? You should worry about yourself.” I turned to leave. Chloe, her eyes red, grabbed my arm. “Cassie, it’s all my fault, please don’t be angry…” I instinctively pulled my hand away, and Chloe stumbled, collapsing onto the ground. Noah instantly exploded with rage, shoving me to the ground. I landed hard, a sharp pain shooting through my knees. For a moment, I couldn’t get back up. Noah looked flustered for a second, but then quickly recomposed himself, speaking coldly. “Consider that a lesson. You need to seriously reflect on your behavior!” “I’m laying it out now: if you don’t pass this exam, don’t even think about being my girlfriend anymore!” With that, Noah grabbed Chloe and stormed off. I stared intensely at their retreating backs. Go ahead, enjoy your smugness for a few more days. We’ll see who really needs to reflect. I went home, packed my things, and left. Having prepped for a year, I knew the immense pressure of the competition; I’d never relaxed for a moment. It was a rare chance to really let loose and have some fun. I lay on the beach, soaking up the sun, occasionally checking my phone. Chloe was always live-streaming. Every time I tuned in, Noah was right there by Chloe’s side. They were having a blast, squeezing in all sorts of couple challenges. Chloe spent her days filming travel videos and live-streaming. Only at 10 PM would she transform into a ‘study influencer,’ pretending to study for an hour, always on the same page of her textbook. I didn’t head home until the day before the exam. The next morning, I spotted them from a distance at the exam venue entrance. Both of them looked completely drained. Chloe was in flip-flops, yawning. Noah didn’t look much better, sporting massive dark circles under his eyes. I knew exactly why. Last night, Chloe had streamed about finding a balance between work and play, saying she needed to relax before the exam, and dragged Noah into an all-night gaming session. This time, I was just waiting to see what ‘miracle’ they’d pull off. After the exam, I blocked Noah and didn’t unblock him until the day the results were released. Noah stormed over to my place, furious. “Where the hell have you been?! I’ve been going crazy looking for you! Why wouldn’t you answer my calls?!” I brushed him off casually, and Noah immediately pressed me for my score. I pulled out the screenshot I’d already photoshopped and said blandly. “99.” The moment the words left my mouth, Chloe’s face lit up with barely contained excitement. Noah was ecstatic. He rushed over and hugged me, exclaiming excitedly. “That high?! You must be the top scorer on the Certified Senior Real Estate Broker Exam!” “I knew you could do it!” I instinctively took two steps back, making an excuse that I needed to prepare for upcoming company interviews before leaving. That evening, Chloe couldn’t resist going live. “Guess what score I got on the exam?” The chat immediately blew up with all sorts of guesses. Chloe shook her head mysteriously, a smile she couldn’t hide spreading across her face. “It’s a 99! The highest score on the Certified Senior Real Estate Broker Exam so far!” Netizens weren’t stupid. Aside from a few congratulatory messages, most people were skeptical. “No screenshot, no proof? Big talker!” “Every other high-scoring Certified Senior Real Estate Broker influencer studies ten hours a day! But I saw the streamer just playing around constantly.” “The streamer is seriously overselling herself! Do you even know what it means to pass with zero experience after 30 days? If it’s true, I’ll eat dirt on live stream.” Facing the skepticism, Chloe didn’t bother to argue much, full of confidence. “I achieved this score through my own genuine effort. Besides, what century are we in? Who still studies rigidly?” “My unique ‘happy learning’ method lets you pass exams while having fun. After I land that million-dollar-a-year real estate manager job at a top company, I’ll come back and share my joy with all of you.” The Certified Senior Real Estate Broker qualification was just the first hurdle; next came the company interviews. I raised an eyebrow. This time, I was eager to see how she’d pull it off!

In the days that followed, I set myself a rigorous schedule. I woke up at five in the morning and kept doing practice questions, studying until the early hours. On the very day my interviews concluded, Noah’s call came through impatiently, asking about them. After I gave him a positive answer, Noah’s barely contained excitement was palpable through the phone. Ten days later, the interview results from the industry-leading company were announced. At the same time, I received a text message on my phone, reporting for a temporary janitorial position. I immediately posted a social media update visible only to Chloe. “After a year of preparation, I finally passed the exam and company interviews. A new beginning.” The post included a picture of my score and the text message notifying me of my new job. The next day, as I went to my room to pack, Noah, with a grim face, blocked my way. Noah gnashed his teeth, seething with rage. “Cassie, do you have any shame?! You didn’t even attend the company interviews, so how dare you pretend you got a job?!” My heart tightened. How did he know? Just as I grew tense, Noah continued. “And don’t think I don’t know this: Chloe was the one who scored 99! How dare you pass off her achievement as your own?!” I quickly pulled out my phone to check. Sure enough, the job notification text I’d received yesterday was gone. It seemed Chloe had already used her dark ritual, exchanging ten years of her life to swap my janitorial position. I couldn’t help but curve my lips into a smile. Seeing this, Noah became even more enraged. “You dare smile? You’re absolutely shameless!” I sneered. “We’re breaking up right now! You can be with Chloe!” Noah hadn’t expected this reaction from me and panicked. “Fine! If you want to break up, then break up! Don’t come crying back!” I watched him leave with cold eyes. That evening, just as expected, Chloe eagerly announced her Certified Senior Real Estate Broker Exam pass on her live stream, even showing the acceptance text message from the industry-leading company. “Holy crap, she actually passed!” “OMG, please share your secret! I’d pay 9999 dollars for it!” The chat was filled with praise for Chloe. Her live stream’s popularity skyrocketed, hitting number one in trending. Chloe clearly perked up at the mention of money. She cleared her throat. “I’m not doing this for the money. I mainly want to help more students pass the exam. I’ll share my study methods with everyone when I get a chance.” “I’m starting my new job next week. I’ll do a live stream from there on my first day. No one can doubt me then, right?!” In a flash, it was my reporting day. I put on a suit, tied my hair into a high ponytail, and set off, feeling invigorated. Just as I reached the company entrance, I heard a furious shout. “You seriously don’t give up! You actually followed me here.”

I couldn’t even be bothered to lift an eyelid. “First, who’d be chasing you? I’m here to report for work.” “Second, did you pass the Certified Senior Real Estate Broker Exam and interview for this company?” This time around, without my supervision, Noah had been playing around with Chloe constantly, living carefree. Unsurprisingly, he scored the lowest possible mark and didn’t get his certificate. “You!” Annoyance flashed across Noah’s face. “Report for what?” “Are you delusional because you failed the exam?” Chloe apologized somewhat meekly. “Cassie, I’m sorry. I know you worked incredibly hard preparing for a year. I just sort of tried it out, and somehow, I passed everything…” Noah pulled Chloe into his arms, glaring at me. “Enough! You’re useless yourself, and you’re still trying to play dirty! What did Chloe do wrong? Was it her fault for being too smart?” I watched the two of them calmly. Chloe was taking this seriously, even bringing a dedicated assistant to help her live stream and edit videos. Chloe turned back and started explaining to her live audience. “Everyone, please don’t blame her. She studied for a year and didn’t pass, so she’s just a bit upset. She really did try her best.” Chloe said not to criticize me, all while subtly directing her live camera toward me. Noah scoffed. “Effort? You call studying for a year and getting 38 points ‘effort’? That’s a new one.” “And you only got that 38 by cheating!” 38 points? Exam fraud? That was Chloe’s score in my past life. It seemed Chloe had not only swapped my score but also dumped her own abysmal score on me, even pinning a cheating accusation on top of it. I bowed my head, desperately trying to suppress my laughter. The live chat exploded with frantic messages. “She cheated and only got 38 points?” “Studying for a year and getting that score? If that were me, I’d just walk into traffic. What’s the point of living?” “How can someone be such trash, and still have the nerve to claim this job is hers? She doesn’t even have half the brains the streamer does.” A flicker of triumph crossed Chloe’s eyes as she feigned regret. “It seems the Certified Senior Real Estate Broker Exam truly depends on natural talent. I never expected to pass after just 30 days. It’s a shame you studied for a year and got this result.” “But no matter what, you shouldn’t have cheated! That’s a permanent stain on your record!” I stared steadily at her. “You know in your heart, this score isn’t mine. I didn’t cheat.” Noah lost his temper completely. “No matter how much you try to argue, it’s useless! Once the investigation results are out, you’ll be permanently banned from taking any exams!” Just then, a staff member poked their head out of an office, asking curiously. “Who among you is here to report for duty today?” “Me!” Chloe and I answered simultaneously. The staff member glanced at the form in their hand, frowning as they spoke. “How are there two of you? The form only lists one person, named…” “Chloe.” Chloe answered loudly, her face beaming with triumph. As she passed me, she lowered her voice. “Truth is, what good was your year of hard work? I just had to pay the price to make it mine.” “You might as well just accept your 38-point score and the consequences of cheating.” I said calmly. “Admit what? That score isn’t mine.” Chloe looked at me with pity. “Even if you don’t admit it, who’s going to believe you? People will just think you’re making excuses…” I looked utterly innocent. “But I didn’t even take the exam!” “What?” Chloe’s eyes widened, and a bad feeling instantly washed over her. “No way, then this position…” A slight smirk played on my lips. “Congratulations, you finally paid a huge price to get this janitorial position that only lasts for three months.”

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My daughter was a jinx. The first word she ever spoke, as a toddler, was “die.” No one took it seriously at the time, but the very next day, her grandpa was hit by a truck and killed. When my daughter started kindergarten, her second sentence was: “The snow by the door is red.” Her grandma went downstairs for a walk and was instantly killed by a flowerpot falling from an upstairs window. Blood spilled everywhere, staining the white snow crimson. My husband was distraught; he wanted to get rid of our daughter. My daughter then uttered her third sentence: “Daddy, watch out for cars.” My husband was terrified, not daring to step out of the house. But he tripped on a toy car in the living room, suffered a brain hemorrhage, and died on the spot. I cried, begging my daughter to shut up, to stop cursing her own family. But her expression remained cold, devoid of any remorse. “Mommy, don’t go near fire.” I completely broke down. On Christmas Eve, I climbed onto the rooftop. I didn’t want to burn to death, so I chose my own way to die. But as I jumped, someone below was setting off fireworks. The brilliant fireworks exploded, hitting me, and I plummeted to my death amidst the shocked screams of onlookers. My daughter stood on the rooftop, watching me, her face utterly expressionless. Even in death, I couldn’t understand why the daughter I had cared for so meticulously would curse our entire family. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day my daughter first learned to speak. This time, I finally understood what was going on with my daughter’s jinx!

The moment I opened my eyes, I saw my one-year-old daughter pointing at her grandpa and saying, “Die.” At first, no one reacted. Grandpa was still affectionately teasing her: “What is my sweet little Lily saying? Call me Grandpa, and Grandpa will give you candy!” But Lily’s small face remained cold, and she repeated, “Die.” A wave of fear and anger surged through me. I quickly clapped my hand over her mouth. “Don’t say that word! How can you wish for Grandpa to die?” Lily struggled, muffled by my hand, and began to wail, her face turning red from holding her breath. My father-in-law, Arthur, quickly intervened, “She’s just learning to talk, Sarah. Why are you getting so upset?” I pressed my lips together, my body trembling uncontrollably. “She’s cursing you!” Arthur paused, then laughed. “What are you talking about? She’s so young, how could she possibly know what ‘die’ means?” I didn’t know how to explain, so I could only tell Arthur to be careful when he went out these days. Especially to watch out for cars on the road. Arthur said he understood, but he didn’t take it seriously at all. I repeated the warning to my husband, David, who also laughed at me, saying I was overreacting. He looked at Lily tenderly, saying our daughter was anything but a jinx. He even tried to comfort me: “Sarah, are you having postpartum anxiety? Maybe you should take a break, and let my parents take care of Lily for a while?” A sudden chill ran through me. I immediately shook my head. No, absolutely not. What if Lily cursed someone else when I wasn’t around? But a sliver of hope remained in my mind—what if the previous incidents were just accidents? I hadn’t let Arthur leave the house for days, and I’d even put away all the toy cars. I was terrified of a repeat of what happened to David in my previous memory. After a few days at home, Arthur got bored. “I’m just going for a walk in the garden downstairs, don’t you worry about it!” I warned him repeatedly not to go anywhere near cars. But Arthur still had an accident.

He missed a step while going down the stairs, tumbling all the way down. His head landed precisely on a protruding nail. Arthur died on the spot. When the ambulance arrived, they immediately called the funeral home. My mother-in-law, Martha, knelt beside Arthur, sobbing uncontrollably: “How could this happen!” But her usually kind husband was gone forever, unable to hear her cries. David rushed back from work, his eyes immediately red with tears. Yet, he calmly contacted relatives and friends, preparing Arthur’s funeral. I held my innocent daughter, overwhelmed by guilt and self-blame. But Lily remained perfectly innocent, as if nothing had happened. I pinched her cheek, making her look at me: “Lily, tell Mommy? Why did you say that word?” “Why did you have to curse Grandpa?” But my daughter couldn’t answer. She cried even harder, distressed by my grip on her face. David heard her cries and quickly took her from me. He frowned, glaring at me: “This was just an accident, it has nothing to do with Lily!” My nose stung. How I wished it had nothing to do with my daughter. But Arthur was dead! From then on, I stopped talking to my daughter, and forbade everyone else from speaking to her. David incomprehensibly asked if I was having a mental breakdown, and Martha held Lily, condemning me. “Sarah, Arthur’s death was just an accident. How can you blame a child?” Lily played with her plush toy, flashing me an innocent smile. But I couldn’t help but shiver. I didn’t know how to avoid my daughter’s curses, so I could only warn my family members again and again. For these past few years, things had been quiet, and I had almost forgotten about the curse. Until that day, my daughter watched TV and spoke her second sentence: “The snow by the door is red.” My heart pounded. I immediately rushed downstairs and swept the snow by the door clean. Now, let’s see how that curse can possibly come true! But David’s urgent call came through. His voice was choked with tears: “Get to the neighborhood entrance, my mom had an accident!” My hands trembled as I locked Lily inside the house. When I sprinted to the entrance, I found Martha lying on the ground, covered in blood. The bag of salt she’d just bought was scattered across the ground, glinting like fresh snow under the sun… My daughter’s curse had come true again! Martha had been hit and killed by a car that ran a red light. But I was beyond caring about the driver’s apologies. I couldn’t let my daughter curse any more family members. I clutched the item in my pocket and turned back home.

Lily sat like a statue watching TV. When she heard me call her name, she rigidly turned her head. “Your grandma is dead. Don’t you have anything to say?” My daughter shook her head, neither crying nor making a fuss. But all I felt was a chill. Martha had lovingly raised her, and now the old woman was dead, and Lily felt nothing! I furiously grabbed her shoulders and demanded, “What exactly do you want?” “Why do you have to curse your own family?” Lily pouted, then started to cry: “Mommy, you’re hurting me!” I froze for a moment, then released her. It was then that I felt a flicker of humanity from my daughter. Otherwise, I would have thought she truly was a demon come to claim our lives. “Lily, promise me you’ll never curse your family again, okay?” But Lily’s gaze went past me, looking behind me. David, his face pale and drawn from taking Martha to the funeral home, walked in. My daughter spoke again: “Daddy, you also need to watch out for cars.” I gasped, then became furious. I slapped her across the face. “Why do you have to curse our family? Are you trying to kill Daddy and Mommy?” Lily had never been hit by me before. She immediately covered her face and wailed uncontrollably. David was heartbroken. He scooped Lily up and roared at me, “Sarah, can you please make things easier for me? What can a small child possibly do?” A lump formed in my throat. “Fine. If you don’t believe me, then don’t take it seriously!” David grabbed a few clothes, preparing to drive out and buy a burial plot. But as he headed to the garage, I regretted it. Now that Arthur and Martha were gone, I didn’t want David to die too! David must still have been angry; he didn’t answer my calls at all. I called for half an hour before finally getting through. David’s terrified voice came from the other end: “I was wrong! Our daughter really is a jinx! My brakes failed, Sarah, hurry and save me!” By the time I rushed there and got David to the hospital, the doctor told me he needed an amputation to save his life. I immediately agreed. As long as he was alive, that’s all that mattered. But Lily showed no emotion when she saw her dad lying in the hospital bed. Her coldness even chilled David to the bone. I blamed her in my heart, thinking this child was selfish, only caring about herself, only crying for herself. I even secretly found a child psychologist for Lily. The doctor, however, said Lily was fine and that we should simply interact with her less. Even doctors couldn’t find anything wrong. So I thought of the occult. But all the psychics I consulted looked terrified of Lily, saying they couldn’t help. After much deliberation, I decided to put that thing into Lily’s water cup. That night, Lily indeed cried out in pain.

I listened from the next room, tears streaming down my face with heartache. But I knew I had to do this. Otherwise, next time, it might be me who died. The next morning, I opened the door to Lily’s room. The walls were covered with her scratch marks. She was scratching her own neck like a trapped animal, her eyes red, staring at me with hatred. I cried and hugged her: “Forgive Mommy, Mommy didn’t want to do this.” After I gave her the silencing concoction, my daughter became mute. We had gone from a happy family to this. But this was still much better than everyone dying, as in my previous memory. I worked diligently, wanting to take care of everyone in the family. But ever since David became disabled, his personality had grown strange. Every time I came home from work, I’d see his sullen face. If the food I cooked wasn’t to his liking, he’d suddenly throw the utensils. “Sarah, let’s get a divorce!” I was stunned for a long time, then frantically asked if I had done something wrong. He pointed at Lily and me, cursing, “If it weren’t for you two, my parents wouldn’t be dead, and I wouldn’t be a cripple!” I was consumed by guilt, begging him not to leave us, mother and daughter. I pulled Lily over, wanting her to apologize too. But Lily immediately shook off my hand and ran back to her room. I cried and hugged David, “I only have you, please don’t leave us, okay?” David was silent for a moment, then hugged me back, suppressing a low growl: “Why? What did we ever do to her?” I also didn’t know why my daughter would curse us. What had we done wrong? Lily treated David and me like enemies. But I had forgotten one thing: she couldn’t speak, but she could write. While cleaning Lily’s room, I found her writings in a diary. ‘Daddy and Mommy, don’t go near fire, watch out for burning to death!’

I clutched that piece of paper, feeling as if all my strength had drained away. I didn’t understand why my daughter would curse us. In my previous memory, even when she killed my whole family, I didn’t blame her. Was it really karma from my previous life? Was she here to take revenge on me? David wheeled himself in. When he saw the diary in my hand, his face immediately turned white. Lily came home from school. Seeing us looking at her diary, she angrily snatched it and tore it up. David’s face turned red with rage. He pointed at his legs and yelled, “Isn’t it enough that you crippled me? What else do you want to do, burn your own parents to death?” Lily looked at us with hatred, then pointed to her throat. My heart tightened, and I guiltily said, “Lily, Mommy did it for the family’s well-being, I had to…” “Why are you explaining to her? You’re right, she’s a demon sent from heaven to torment us!” “If I could choose, I’d rather not have this daughter!” Lily scoffed, turned, and walked out the door. I worriedly wanted to chase after her, but David called me back. His hands tightly gripped the armrests of his wheelchair as he snarled, “How long do you plan to indulge her? Will you only be satisfied when she kills us all?!” I stammered, lowering my head: “After all, she’s our child! What can I do?” A cruel glint flashed in David’s eyes. “Sarah, we can have other children, but this demon will kill us eventually!” For some reason, my heart felt empty, a sharp ache. David continued, “I’ve secretly asked a psychic, and there’s only one way to break the curse.” David swallowed hard: “That is to give the curse back to her!” I almost lost my balance, directly knocking over the glass of water on the table. The clatter startled me. I instinctively objected, “This is our daughter! How could I burn her alive?” David grabbed my hand, soothingly, “Sarah, do you want her to kill you? Even if she kills our whole family, fine, but what if she goes out into society and harms others?” This made me hesitate. I didn’t know if my daughter was truly a legendary sociopath. I didn’t even know how she was cursing us. But I didn’t want more innocent people to die because of her. Finally, I reluctantly agreed to David’s suggestion. After Lily returned, I gave her a sleeping pill. I quietly turned on the gas stove in the kitchen and sealed all the doors and windows. David was in the room packing suitcases, his face unable to hide his joy. “We finally don’t have to live in fear anymore!” I forced a smile and helped him pack. Until I saw a family photo. I froze on the spot, trembling violently. I understood. I finally understood why my daughter cursed our entire family!

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After my best friend, Ashley, got hooked on gambling, she suddenly got super excited and said she wanted to take me to a high-stakes casino city. “I just won big, I’m treating you to a luxury hotel stay!” But once the plane landed, she dragged me straight into a private room deep inside a casino. “Look, I actually lost fifty million dollars, and if I can’t pay it back, they’re going to sell me to human traffickers.” “But the casino owner is looking for a woman with a crescent moon birthmark, and if I can help him find her, all my debts will be wiped clean!” “I saw you had one on your stomach when you showered! I’m so sorry, Maya, but I really don’t want to die!” I was pinned to the sofa by four burly men when my eyes landed on a child’s drawing hanging on the wall. It was a doodle I’d made for my dad before I was kidnapped. He cherished it, saying he’d keep it forever. Turns out, this casino owner… was my long-lost father! By the time I realized something was terribly wrong and tried to leave, it was already too late. “Maya, fifty million dollars, I just can’t pay it back! I brought you here to help me clear my debt!” I sucked in a sharp breath, my throat tightening with fear, I even forgot how to breathe. “Ashley, you sold me out?” “We’ve known each other for over ten years, you’re my best friend, and you sold me for fifty million?!” My accusation made her stumble back, shaking her head. “Don’t look at me like that… This casino owner is insanely wealthy, and the only thing he really likes is women with a crescent moon birthmark. For a woman like that, he’d wipe away any amount of gambling debt…” “He has this unusual preference, and you happen to have that birthmark. So, me bringing you here… it’s for your own good, really. What if he picks you? You’d be his mistress, loaded for life!” The image of a creepy old man flashed through my mind. I shivered, pushing her away and trying to leave. “If you want to be his mistress, go ahead. I’m going home!” But before I could even touch the doorknob, a heavy blow landed on the back of my head. “Maya, you forced my hand!” My head reeled, stars burst behind my eyes, and I stumbled a few steps before collapsing to the floor. She leaned over, snatching the pink bead from my pocket. “Don’t think I don’t know. You came with me not for a vacation, but to find your biological parents.” “Now that you’re here, if you help me with this debt, I’ll help you find your parents. But if you dare to run… you can forget about a family reunion for the rest of your life.” The pain in the back of my head was excruciating. I struggled to move my lips, my heart sinking into despair. I was kidnapped when I was five. The traffickers, afraid of exposure, immediately changed my clothes, shaved my head, and threw away everything I had. Only this bead, carved with my childhood nickname, Lark, had been hidden under my tongue. For sixteen years, I’d forgotten the way home. My memories from before I was five had faded a lot. This bead was the only thing I had left that connected me to my parents. Now the bead was gone, and with it, all hope. “Smart move.” Ashley had just finished speaking when the private room door opened. Several fierce-looking men walked in. “Ashley, right? Heard you brought something to clear your debt?” Ashley quickly pointed at me and nodded. “Gage, isn’t the boss looking for a woman with a crescent moon birthmark? This is my best friend, Maya, and she has one on her stomach!” “You see, I brought her here, so my fifty million…” The man in charge didn’t even lift an eyelid. He pulled out a chair and sat down. “What’s the rush? Let’s verify the goods first.” His subordinates immediately pounced, dragging me and pressing me onto the sofa. In a flash, they stripped off my jacket. One man reached for my T-shirt, and I kicked his shin with all my might. “Get off me! Don’t touch me!” “You bitch, you dare to kick me?” The man spat, then raised his hand and slapped my face twice. Stars burst behind my eyes, and before I could speak, a terrifying gunshot echoed through the room. The man screamed, clutching his leg as he fell backward, a bullet wound blooming on his shin. Gage stood there, gun in hand, his face expressionless. “You lay hands on her before I’m done verifying? You got a death wish?” “Get him out of here. Don’t stain the boss’s carpet.” The others, still shaken, mumbled in agreement and quickly dragged the man away. I was no longer restrained, but I was stiff with terror, afraid to move a muscle. They had guns. If I struggled again, I’d be next to get shot. In the corner, Ashley was terrified too, but a flicker of determination hardened her eyes. “Gage, she really does have a crescent moon birthmark on her stomach, the exact kind the boss wants!” Gage shot her a cold glance, and she instantly trembled, lowering her head. “You guys, go on. Make it quick, don’t waste my time.” Four more men lunged at me. I struggled backward, shrinking into the sofa, when suddenly I saw a familiar crayon drawing on the wall. It depicted a family of three flying a kite, and on the head of the little girl with pigtails in the middle, was a name I could never forget, even in death. “Lark.” I’d drawn that just before I was kidnapped. My mom adored it, and my dad had smiled, saying he’d keep it forever. It’s Dad! All these years, he’d been looking for me too! Overwhelmed with emotion, I pushed myself up on the sofa. “Is your boss’s last name…?” “So many questions. Ten to one, she’s just trying something sneaky.” Gage impatiently cut me off, aiming his gun at my forehead. “You, shut up.” “You guys, take her clothes off. Verify the goods.”

A cold dread washed over me instantly. He’d shot his own man, let alone me! Ashley trembled, whispering, trying to persuade me. “Maya, just cooperate. Once they’re done verifying, I can leave. If you keep this up, I’ll end up dead too…” Even now, she was only thinking of herself! I looked at the drawing again, deciding to play it cool for now. If Dad came after the verification, we could reunite, and all these problems would be solved. Gritting my teeth, I endured the humiliation, letting them pull up my T-shirt. Below my navel, the crescent moon birthmark was clearly visible. “Gage, this one looks real!” Gage immediately strode over. A flicker of surprise crossed his face when he saw the birthmark, and he murmured softly. “It really is exactly like the one the boss drew…” Ashley knew things were settled, and she simpered, trying to please him. “Gage, now that the goods have been verified, about my fifty million…” Gage stared at my birthmark, waving his right hand. “Cleared. Now get lost.” “Okay, okay, I’m going right now!” Ashley nodded vigorously, turning to run. But my bead was still with her! I quickly jumped off the sofa, reaching out to grab her clothes. “Ashley, you can’t leave…” “Don’t let her run!” Gage barked, and the nearest subordinate kicked me in the stomach. I couldn’t dodge in time and fell backward, my head hitting the corner of a table. Gage exploded in anger. “You looking for trouble? How many times have I said not to touch her before confirmation!” The spot where Ashley had hit me still throbbed, and now something was oozing out. I leaned against the table, raising a hand to touch it. My hand came away covered in blood. My vision slowly blurred. I felt my consciousness slipping away, my limbs starting to disobey me. Can’t faint… I haven’t seen Dad yet… “Damn it, Gage, she’s bleeding!” Someone shouted, pointing at me in a panic. Gage’s brows furrowed. “You two, go find a doctor. You two, go find the boss. Tell him this birthmark looks very similar and have him come take a look.” “The rest of you, be careful. If she really is the woman the boss wants, if you upset her now, and she complains to the boss later, we’ll all be in deep trouble!” Several subordinates scattered, running into Ashley who was standing by the door. She looked stunned. After a while, she asked, trembling. “Gage… doesn’t the boss just want a mistress? Is a mistress that important?” Gage’s harsh gaze swept over her. “Of course. Otherwise, why would the boss be so generous? Anyone who brings her in gets their debt cleared?” “But not just anyone can clear their debt this way.” “Before, people brought women with crescent moon birthmarks, but they didn’t know exactly where the boss wanted the birthmark to be. They just tattooed one on randomly and brought them over.” “And they were all… dealt with by the boss.” Ashley shivered, hearing Gage’s final words. “You’re lucky, though. This woman’s crescent moon is exactly where the boss wants it, not an inch off.” “Just wait. If she really is the woman the boss wants, not only will your fifty million be waived, but your best friend will also treat you to the high life, and you’ll enjoy every luxury together.” Ashley’s eyes darted around, her expression changing. I had a bad feeling, and with my remaining consciousness, I opened my mouth. “I, I am…” “Gage, I’m sorry!” Ashley suddenly lunged at me, her sharp nails digging into my thigh. “Her birthmark is fake!” “I can’t lie to the boss. I’ll pay back the fifty million, I’m not clearing my debt this way!”

Gage immediately roared in anger. “Ashley, you’ve got a death wish!” “No! She forced me to come here!” The gun was aimed at her, and she dropped to her knees with a thud. “She found out where the birthmark should be from somewhere, went to a tattoo parlor, and forced me to bring her here.” “She said she wanted to hook up with the boss and live a life of luxury!” “It’s true, she threatened me! If I didn’t bring her, she’d kill my parents!” Ashley pleaded incessantly, tears streaming down her face. I gasped for air beside her, shaking my head vigorously. “I didn’t… I am…” “Maya, stop lying! You can fool him for a while, but not forever. If the boss finds out your birthmark is fake, you’ll die an even worse death!” Gage looked down at me, his sharp eyes scrutinizing my exposed crescent moon birthmark, as if trying to discern which of us was telling the truth. But he didn’t seem to know that my father was looking for his daughter, not a mistress. If he had looked at my face more closely, he might have noticed the resemblance between Dad and me… Suddenly, shouts came from outside. “Gage, those guys are causing trouble in the main hall again!” Gage grabbed his gun and headed out. “You guys, guard the door. Don’t let either of them leave. I’ll be right back.” The private room door closed, leaving only Ashley and me. Ashley lowered her voice. “I can’t believe the casino owner’s obsession is so intense. If the birthmark matches, you get to be the boss’s lady!” I struggled to stay conscious, but my body kept sliding down. The blood from the back of my head was increasing, and I probably couldn’t last much longer. “What… what do you want…?” A wild look flashed across her face, her chest heaving as she spoke. “I was wrong. I thought he just wanted a mistress to sleep with… No, I can’t let you become the boss’s lady.” “Otherwise, you’d never let me off the hook… just like I won’t let you off!” I gasped, shaking my head. “We’re best friends. If you let me go, I’ll let bygones be bygones.” “Impossible. You must hate my guts!” “Really… Think about it, without me, how will you pay back that fifty million? They’ll sell you to human traffickers, and that’s worse than death!” Ashley froze for a moment, then looked down, her eyes darting around rapidly. Seeing a glimmer of hope, I continued. “Let me go, I swear I won’t say anything. I’ll make sure you live the high life, and that fifty million… I’ll pay it for you.” Her expression finally shifted. She licked her dry lips. I secretly sighed in relief. But before I could exhale completely, she suddenly clenched her fist. “No, you’re so stubborn, you never gave up searching for your biological parents for over ten years. How could you let me off the hook?” “I can figure out another way for the fifty million, but you can’t be left alive!” With that, she found a small knife, and its tip plunged directly into my crescent moon birthmark! “Ah—” I shrieked in agony, only for her to clap a hand over my mouth. She traced a line along the crescent moon, then pulled out a small bottle of clear liquid, forcing it down my throat. A bitter taste seared my throat, and I immediately felt something was terribly wrong. “Don’t be scared. This anesthetic takes effect in twenty minutes. After that, you’ll pass out. No matter what happens, you won’t feel a thing.” She tossed the empty bottle and knife under the table, whispering frantically in my ear. “I’m sorry, Maya. If only one of us can survive, it has to be me!”

The anesthetic spread through my body. I felt all my strength drain away, and I slid to the floor, feeling as if I could pass out any second. Just then, Gage returned. Seeing the scene, his brows furrowed as he looked at Ashley. “What happened?” Ashley, tears streaming down her face, pointed at me. “Gage, she was afraid of the pain when she got the tattoo, and she ran off before the last part was colored in.” “Now the wound has reopened… she’s in too much pain, saying she’s dizzy…” Gage’s eyes dropped, and he saw a thin line, indeed bleeding, at the top of my crescent moon. “It really is fake…” “Go tell the boss not to waste his time coming over. This one’s fake too.” A shadow fell over me, and a cold touch pressed against my stomach. “You almost got me killed with your trick.” “You like crescent moons, don’t you? Then I’ll cut this piece of skin off and sew it onto your face!” What… The knife tip pierced deeper into the wound. My dying consciousness was jolted, and I struggled, trying to scream. “No—I’m the person the boss is looking for!” “He’s not looking for a mistress, he’s looking for his daughter! I’m his daughter!” A moment of dead silence fell over the private room. Gage gave a cold laugh. “No wonder you dared to get a tattoo and send yourself to your death, you’ve got guts. You’d say anything.” “Our boss doesn’t even have a wife. How dare you impersonate his daughter?” The knife tip deepened by another inch, and the anesthetic took full effect. I couldn’t feel the pain, but I couldn’t speak either. Through the haze, someone nearby reminded Gage. “Gage, this is the boss’s favorite carpet…” The knife was immediately pulled out. Gage stood up. “Take her away. Get someone to clean the carpet.” “Gage, should we just sell her to human traffickers?” My heart tightened. I watched him wipe the knife with a handkerchief, his eyes venomous. “Take her to the VIP section. Let the guests have their fun with her, then sell her when they’re tired.” “What about that woman…?” Ashley immediately fell to her knees, wringing her hands and begging. “Gage, just give me five more days! I promise I’ll pay back the fifty million. If I don’t, you can do whatever you want with me!” Gage frowned in thought for a moment, then held up three fingers. “Three days.” “Okay, three days it is! I’ll go raise the money right now!” I was lifted up, tried to struggle, but had no strength. I could only watch Ashley rush out of the room like a madwoman, without a single glance back. Two minutes later, I was thrown into the noisy VIP section. Countless men and women gathered around. Someone shouted. “Hey, isn’t that the crescent moon birthmark Mr. Thorne likes so much?” Everyone laughed. “Another one trying to gamble with Mr. Thorne.” “Normal, if you actually win that bet, you become the owner’s wife, living the ultimate high life.” “Too bad, this young girl lost her bet. Looks like she’ll have to find another country to live in.” Some pulled at my T-shirt, some grabbed my ankles, others, disgusted by my blood-soaked state, walked away, pinching their noses. I was like a discarded rag, unable to move or struggle. I could only stare up at the gilded ceiling, a deep sense of injustice churning inside me. I was just one step away from reuniting with Dad… Suddenly, the entire hall fell silent. A steady set of footsteps approached. “Boss, Gage said this one definitely isn’t it, so he told us to just toss her here.” “Hmm, you handle it.” It was Dad’s voice, just as I remembered! The footsteps turned, moving in the opposite direction. I panicked. I didn’t know where the strength came from, but I croaked out a desperate cry. “I’m Lark!” The footsteps abruptly stopped. That gaze, intense and piercing, turned directly towards me.

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