On our fifth wedding anniversary, my normally aloof professor husband, Alistair, actually cooked for me for the first time. He pulled me close, his eyes full of tenderness. “I’ve neglected you before, Sera. I promise to make it up to you, tenfold.” For the next week, he showered me with daily homemade desserts and candlelight dinners. I genuinely believed my efforts had finally paid off, that I’d melted this ice-cold heartthrob. Even if I was stuffed to the gills every day, I refused to waste a single gesture of his affection. Just as I was lost in this blissful fantasy, a mocking pop-up notification flashed before my eyes: “Professor Alistair Finch is secretly signing his wife up for a life-or-death gamble so he can be with his thirty-years-older ‘true love’!” “He’s even sneaking fattening agents into Sera Thorne’s food, just to be safe. What a devoted man!” That’s when it hit me. My husband was utterly obsessed with Anya, the campus facility manager, who was in her fifties! The “life-swap system” would steal my vitality and restore her youth if I weighed more than Anya in a month. Then, Alistair could finally be with her, just as he wished! I stared at my husband, who was now holding out another pitcher of milk tea to me. Without a second thought, I ordered five pounds of specialized livestock growth enhancer, ready to give him a taste of his own medicine. A month later, seeing Anya’s weight double, Alistair’s eyes blazed with fury. … “Darling, this is the first pitcher of milk tea I’ve made just for you this summer.” Alistair placed the huge pitcher of milk tea in front of me. “Drink it while it’s warm, quickly. It won’t taste as good when it’s cold.” Recalling the pop-up notification, a flicker of suspicion crossed my eyes. I tentatively raised a hand to stop him. “Honey, I don’t really want to drink it.” “I stepped on the scale today and found I’d gained thirty pounds! If I keep drinking like this, I’m afraid I’ll be a two-hundred-pound胖 blob in less than a month…” I hadn’t even finished speaking when Alistair blurted out, “That’s fantastic!” Seeing the genuine delight in his eyes, I finally knew the notification hadn’t lied. My husband was deliberately trying to fatten me up, all to make me lose the life-or-death gamble next month, to hand over my youth and vitality to Anya! I was furious at his heartless betrayal, and a wave of raw disgust surged through me. I’d met Anya. She was the campus facility manager at the university where Alistair taught. She was over fifty, and easily weighed over two hundred pounds! And she wasn’t just heavy; she was short, so her weight seemed to pile up horizontally. At first glance, she looked like a moving mountain of flesh! And *she* was the object of my husband’s obsession? To be with her, he was willing to sacrifice my life without a second thought! “Sera, I didn’t mean it’s good that you’re gaining weight.” Alistair realized his blunder and quickly tried to compensate, adopting a tender expression. “I meant, even if you gained two hundred pounds, you’d still be my precious wife. I’d never dislike you!” But as soon as he finished his sweet talk, he impatiently put a straw into the milk tea pitcher and held it to my lips. “So, let’s drink this, okay? Come on, darling, open wide…” He still hadn’t given up, but I absolutely refused to drink this deadly tea. So, I just raised my hand and knocked it over. Alistair was caught off guard, splashed with milk tea. His usually cold face contorted with anger. “Sera Thorne, what the hell is wrong with you?” “I went to all that trouble to cook for you, and this is how you treat my thoughtfulness?” Hearing his accusation, a storm of hurt churned inside me. My eyes immediately welled up. “Alistair Finch, so you *do* realize it was a ‘trouble’ to treat me well for once?” Alistair and I met in college. He was known as the ice-cold heartthrob, with his brilliant academic record and aloof demeanor. I came from a privileged family and was the beautiful campus queen, yet I willingly sacrificed all my pride, obsessively pursued him for four years, just to finally make him acknowledge my existence. Even after five years of marriage, he rarely touched me. Even our occasional moments of intimacy were brief and unsatisfying. I just assumed he was naturally cold and not into that sort of thing. I even convinced myself that as long as I was with him, enduring a life devoid of passion and excitement was fine. So, a week ago, on our wedding anniversary, when he personally cooked a candlelight dinner and remorsefully told me he’d love me forever, I was overjoyed. I thought he’d finally seen my devotion, that I’d melted this iceberg. I never imagined it was all just an act of deep affection, a scheme to take my life for another woman! I stared fixedly at Alistair, hoping to see guilt or remorse on his face. But there was nothing. Alistair looked as if I’d hit a raw nerve, and he threatened angrily, “If you don’t eat it, don’t even think about getting another one of my homemade lunches!” 2 Not only had he not abandoned his malicious plan to take my life, but he hadn’t hesitated for a second. My seven years of devotion had been all for nothing! My heart completely died for him. I swore I would never let his scheme succeed. To avoid tipping him off, I deliberately lowered my gaze, feigning disappointment. “Honey, I was wrong.” “You’re so busy, yet you worked so hard to cook for me and improve our meals. I shouldn’t have thrown a tantrum and spilled your sweet milk tea…” My feigned submission made Alistair sigh in relief. He, too, put on a loving facade, embracing me reassuringly. “It’s okay. It’s normal for girls to have weight anxiety. I don’t blame you.” “Oh, by the way, darling, haven’t you always loved soufflés? I’ll make you one tomorrow. This time, you *must* eat it all, don’t waste a single bite.” He sounded so patient. Who wouldn’t praise him as a perfect husband? However, the moment I pretended to go shower and left the living room, he immediately revealed his malicious true colors. “Alistair, she didn’t drink the milk tea. Do you think she figured out you were doing it on purpose…?” The person on his video call had a face so wide it practically filled the entire screen, and even a ten-level beauty filter couldn’t hide her age spots and wrinkles. Yet, my husband seemed utterly blind to them, his eyes filled with adoration as he called her “honey” over and over! “So what if she found out? Sera Thorne has been obsessively pursuing me for years. Do you really think she’d be willing to refuse anything good from me?” “Anya, I thought we were destined to be apart because of our thirty-year age difference, but then you suddenly got bound to a life-gambling system that can steal vitality and youth!” “This must be the heavens moved by our true love, granting us a chance to grow old together! I won’t let us miss this opportunity for anything!” Alistair Finch, a mathematics professor, was a staunch materialist, yet he was now devoutly thanking heaven just to be with Anya… Even though I saw his malicious true colors, my heart still ached. But Alistair seemed determined to hurt me more, to make sure I couldn’t soften. He twisted the knife deeper into my heart. He spoke my name with utter disdain: “If it weren’t for needing a good background and connections for my tenure review, and Sera Thorne coming from a prominent family with a CEO for a father, I would never have married her.” “I suppose I fulfilled Sera Thorne’s delusional fantasy, so it’s only right that her vitality should be transferred to you.” “Not to mention, I didn’t directly inject her with fattening agents. I even pretended to be deeply in love, cooked her one lavish meal after another, letting her presumptuously enjoy the kind of treatment that should rightfully belong only to you, Anya.” He comforted Anya. “So even if Sera Thorne finds out the truth, she should die without regrets. Don’t feel any pressure about it.” Alistair Finch’s shamelessness utterly shattered my worldview! Die without regrets? How thick could his skin be to say something like that with a clear conscience?! After enjoying my devotion during our marriage, then shamelessly demanding my father’s help to become the youngest university professor, not only did he show no gratitude, but he wanted to steal my life and drain my last bit of value! How could such a good thing exist in this world?! At that moment, Alistair’s instructions to Anya reached my ears: “However, to be safe, Anya, I’ll make you slimming salads during this period…” Originally, I’d planned to expose his attempt to drug me with fattening agents and cut ties with him then and there. But now, I changed my mind. Simply letting him suffer the consequences wasn’t enough. I needed to give him a taste of his own medicine! I wouldn’t be satisfied until his reputation was utterly ruined! 3 I called my dad’s company: “Didn’t you develop a specialized growth enhancer for livestock a while ago? How does its effect compare to the regular one?” Alistair only knew my family owned a big company but had no idea our main business was animal feed. Giving me fattening agents – he was practically begging for death! The R&D lead respectfully replied, “It’s night and day, Ms. Thorne!” “Just ten milliliters injected into livestock can make them gain ten pounds rapidly in a short amount of time!” Hearing that, I was instantly satisfied. “Prepare three large barrels and send them over.” Alistair loves to mess with food, does he? I’d love to see who fattens whom into a pig first! Early the next morning, I saw Alistair carrying cooked dishes out of the kitchen. “Sera, you’re awake! Perfect, wash up and let’s eat.” Usually, at this hour, he’d still be asleep. It seemed my refusal of the milk tea yesterday had given him a sense of urgency. To quickly get me to two hundred pounds and ensure his ‘true love’ would win, he wasn’t even sparing breakfast! How diligent of him! My counter-attack plan was already in motion. Since he was actively walking into it, I wouldn’t hold back. I feigned delight, grabbed my forks, and immediately sat down. “Honey, you’re so sweet! But why are there vegetables today? I remember you usually only make meat dishes.” Alistair smiled and explained, “A balance of meat and vegetables is healthier.” “Oh, I see. You’re so thoughtful, honey.” I pretended not to notice his faint guilt, complimented him, and then picked up a forkful and put it in my mouth. “Delicious.” Alistair watched me clean my entire bowl, then smiled with relief. He then casually prompted me to step on the scale to check my weight. “Huh? How did I gain another five pounds? I barely ate anything!” Hearing my exclamation, my husband quickly came forward to comfort me. “Maybe the scale is broken? How could you gain five pounds from one meal, right, Sera?” I nodded, playing along with his words. “Then, honey, remember to buy a new one!” “Of course.” I changed my clothes, ready to go out, and glanced into the kitchen. Alistair was busy again, but this time, he was making a vegetable salad. Noticing my gaze on the lunchbox, a flicker of guilt crossed Alistair’s eyes, and he over-explained, “Darling, I’m taking lunch to school.” But that very afternoon, I scrolled through my TikTok feed and saw an identical lunchbox and salad. The caption read: *He said this was just a small token of his affection, with an even bigger surprise waiting for me…* How incredibly lucky, to meet someone much younger who truly loves me. That lunchbox, that caption… could the person who posted this video be Anya? My interest was instantly piqued. I clicked on her profile and found that every post flaunted various expensive gifts. I was all too familiar with those designs. I’d seen them all in Alistair’s Amazon shopping cart. Since they were women’s styles, I naturally assumed they were for me. Every time I saw them, I’d get excited for ages, looking forward to receiving his surprise one day, only to be disappointed every time. It wasn’t that the timing wasn’t right; it was that the recipient was wrong. I clicked on Anya’s videos and noticed she never showed her face. Every caption boasted about the affectionate “toy boy” who gifted her these things. She’d amassed a large following of middle-aged women in their thirties and forties. Every time Anya posted, they’d flock to the comments, praising her luck for finding such a loving toy boy. Little did they know, this wasn’t their “sister” she was talking about—it was her daughter! I found it absolutely sickening. Just as I was about to close the comments, I sharply noticed a very familiar ID. *FinchV*: Something beautiful is about to happen. 4 In the blink of an eye, Anya replied below: *I can’t wait! ❤️* They weren’t even trying to hide it anymore! I gripped my phone, forcing myself to calm down. There was only one week left until the life-gambling game’s weigh-in. I wondered if Alistair would still be smiling then! But what I hadn’t expected was that, despite my efforts to keep a low profile, Alistair had other plans. That very evening, he actually brought Anya home with him. Alistair seemed oblivious to my tightly furrowed brows, enthusiastically introducing her to me: “Sera, this is a highly respected senior colleague from my university. She’s been a great help to me in my work, and I truly admire her.” A campus facility manager with “great prestige”? You’re just blind for falling for this ugly thing and trying to boost her status. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and gestured for Alistair to continue. “Well, she’s thinking of changing jobs, and I remember you once mentioned the company needed a VP. So, I thought she could take the position.” At that, I couldn’t hold back. “Alistair Finch, have you lost your mind?” “Otherwise, why would you even suggest something so ridiculous? Can any random person off the street become a company VP?” “Oh, wait, no. Given this ‘senior colleague’s’ size, she’s more like a pig!” Both their faces instantly changed. Alistair, especially, roared at me, “Sera Thorne, how can you insult a senior colleague like that! She takes such good care of me!” “How did your parents raise you? Where’s your upbringing! Apologize to her, now!” Taking care of him in bed, perhaps? I suppressed the urge to completely lose it and retorted angrily, “Saying no to idiots—that’s exactly what my parents taught me!” Alistair was about to speak again, but Anya pulled his hand, consoling him. “Alistair, you’re just trying to help me out of kindness. If it’s not possible, then let it be.” “You two shouldn’t argue because of me.” Her understanding demeanor moved Alistair deeply. His usual aloofness was forgotten. After shooting me a harsh glare, he doted on Anya, asking about her comfort as he saw her out. He didn’t return until the next day, but he was back to being his ‘good husband’ self, apologizing and sweet-talking me. However, the double-dosed meals the next day told me he wanted to tear me limb from limb. And wasn’t that exactly what I wanted to do to him? We continued our charade, sleeping in the same bed yet worlds apart, for several more days. Then, on the evening of the seventh day, as I feigned sleep, I heard a voice in my mind say, “Life-gambling game weigh-in, officially starting!” I opened my eyes again to find myself standing on a massive circular platform. A sinister voice came from behind me. “Sera Thorne, confused, aren’t you?” I turned at the sound and saw another platform not far away, with Anya standing on it, hands on her hips, laughing wildly. “This is the Scales of Fate! Whoever weighs more will surrender their life force to the other!” “You didn’t know, did you? All these days, Alistair Finch has been secretly giving you fattening agents, all to make you heavier than me, so he can swap your youth for mine!” The life-swap system, with its twisted sense of humor, split a screen to Alistair. He looked at me and said, “Sera Thorne, if you had just been obedient and given Anya that VP position, I would have considered giving you a dignified end!” “But you’re ungrateful and asked for trouble, so I won’t hold back!” “Anya, once you win, just suck her dry!” “Sera Thorne, you’re finished!” Seeing them so sure of their victory, I sneered, “Oh really? I don’t think so!” “Weigh-in complete! I announce that the winner of this competition is—” Anya strode forward, chest puffed out, ready to claim her prize, when the System’s voice echoed eerily, “Sera Thorne!”

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Caleb Thompson and I had been in love for ten years. Then, right before our wedding, he suddenly vanished without a trace. The next time I saw him, he was sweetly holding hands with another woman. He told me he was on an undercover mission, that the woman was just his target, and I was the only true love of his life. Later, when the mission ended, he blocked her everywhere and came home to marry me. For six years, our life together was blissful. I had long forgotten about the past, until I went to file some official paperwork. “Ms. Hayes, our records indicate you are still unmarried.” Those words sent a shockwave through me. “That’s impossible. My husband, Caleb Thompson, and I have been married for six years.” “The system shows Mr. Thompson is indeed married, but you are not.” “Then who is his wife?” “Alexa Monroe.” The very woman who was Caleb’s undercover target all those years ago. The clerk handed me all the processed documents. The name “Alexa Monroe” pierced my heart. A whirlwind of memories flashed before my eyes, all the moments of these past years. Six years ago, Caleb and I had a grand wedding ceremony. To make it up to me, he gave up his dream and quit his job, just to be by my side. He had a fortune in flowers flown in, simply because I’d once said I liked them. He even personally traveled to South Africa to pick out gemstones and crafted our wedding rings with his own hands. For six years, we were sweet and devoted. All our relatives and friends called us the perfect couple. It was all a lie. I walked like a zombie back to our doorstep. Before I even stepped inside, I heard Caleb talking on the phone. “Be a good boy, sweetheart. Daddy will come see you tonight, okay?” “Make sure you listen to Mommy. Daddy will bring you a gift.” Caleb was cooing softly, using that syrupy sweet voice a tough guy like him usually despised. “You’re doing great, babe. Just a little longer, and we’ll finally be a family…” That last sentence exploded in my mind like a bomb. My blood ran cold. He had a child already. When we first got married, he’d traveled frequently for a year. For the last four months of that period, he’d been completely incommunicado. Now, it seemed, that must have been when the baby was born. When he returned from those trips, he always smelled faintly of baby formula. I even teased him, saying he’d suddenly turned into a big softie, a total daddy, at his age. Now, it all made sense. “I love you both. You’re the ones I love most in this world.” I listened as Caleb kept pouring out his love to the person on the other end. He hadn’t said those words to me in six years. He always said old married couples didn’t need to say mushy things like that. Turns out, he was saving them for someone else. For six whole years, I had lived in a fake dream, completely oblivious that his heart had changed long ago. I tried to escape but tripped. Caleb heard the commotion and immediately hung up. Seeing me on the ground, he rushed over and scooped me into his arms. I fought back the surge of disgust, tearing myself away from his embrace. Seeing my reaction, he looked guilty, hesitant as he spoke: “Riley, what’s wrong?” I stared at him, trying to find a flicker of genuine concern in his eyes. “It’s nothing, just wasn’t watching where I was going and took a tumble.” He helped me to the sofa, got out the first-aid kit, and carefully cleaned my wound. That serious look always made me mistakenly believe he still loved me. Caleb nervously darted his eyes up. “Riley, I have to go out of town soon. There’s a crucial project that’s run into some trouble. I’ll be gone for a few days.” My heart sank into a frozen abyss. I forced a smile. “Okay. Have a safe trip.” After he left, I made a call. “I’m willing to accept the company’s assignment to work in France.”

“Excellent. Prepare your paperwork, and you can depart next week.” “Perfect, right after the design competition finishes, we’ll be ready to go.” Hanging up, I looked around. This place, which had held six years of our supposed happiness, now seemed utterly ridiculous. I packed my bags, tossing everything that represented ‘us’ into the trash: the photos we’d taken together, the matching custom mugs, the good luck charm he’d sought for me with such devotion… From high school sweethearts to my wedding day, from fifteen to twenty-five, all the love from those years went straight into the garbage. As soon as I finished packing, my phone rang. It was a colleague. “Riley, there’s a document here at the office that needs your signature at the client’s office.” I left for work immediately. As I exited the client’s building, I saw a familiar figure. “Daddy, take me to the amusement park!” Caleb scooped up the child, his voice soft with affection. “Alright, Daddy will take you.” Then he saw me. Caleb set the child down. Before I could even speak, he grabbed my arm and explained, “It was just so sad for the kid to not have a dad around… so I brought him out to play.” I no longer believed a word he said. This whole scene just felt pathetic. Suddenly, the child picked up a rock from the ground and threw it straight at my head. *Thud!* Blood streamed down my face. Alexa’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. She grabbed my hand and said, “Oh, dear, he’s just a child. Please don’t blame him!” “That’s right, he’s just a kid! Don’t do anything rash!” The couple played off each other, pretending to be terrified, like I was about to commit murder on the street. I glared at Caleb. “Didn’t you say you’d blocked all her contact information? How do you already have a child this old with her?” Caleb instantly panicked, his eyes darting nervously. “I… we just happened to run into each other on the street.” “Yes, and then I saw this child who looked so much like me…” It was a pathetic excuse, but I no longer cared. Caleb waited nervously for my reaction. Alexa stood beside him, her face filled with obvious jealousy and resentment. Suddenly, the child charged at me like a little cannonball. I was knocked to the ground, my stomach hitting the curb of the flower bed. “Leo, are you okay?” Caleb anxiously checked on his energetic son. The frantic look on his face made it seem as if the child was the true victim. Their happiness, as a family of three, burned my eyes. Beneath me, I felt a warm, wet sensation. “Blood? Why are you bleeding?” Before I lost consciousness, I vaguely saw Caleb’s worried face. When I woke up again, Caleb was sitting by the hospital bed. “Sign this!” He frowned slightly, handing me a document. “Some busybody passersby called the police earlier. This is a statement saying you won’t press charges.” “Get up and sign it quickly. I’ll explain everything about Alexa later.” I couldn’t be bothered to watch Caleb’s act. I turned to the nurse beside me. “Excuse me, what happened to me?” The nurse’s curious, almost nosy eyes darted between us. “You were pregnant, and you lost the baby. But you’re still young. Take good care of yourself, and you can have more children later.” Her voice held a hint of pity. She offered a few simple words of comfort before leaving. Caleb cleared his throat awkwardly. “You can have more children later, don’t worry about it. Just sign this.” I raised my hand and swatted the document away. Was my baby worth less than a piece of paper? Seeing this, Alexa, who had been eavesdropping outside the door, walked in. “Please, dear, just sign it. Leo is still so young, he didn’t mean it.” “If you have any anger, you can take it out on me. Hit me, curse me, anything.” Tears streamed down her face the moment she entered, as if someone had tormented her. “That’s right,” Caleb added, “and to get you to the hospital, Alexa got hurt too.” He gently blew on her barely-scraped skin, his face full of concern. Alexa raised an eyebrow at me, a blatant taunt in her eyes. I let out a self-mocking laugh. My baby dying was a minor detail, but her scraped knee was a huge deal. I stood up, ready to go home. Caleb tried to stop me, but then Alexa cried out from behind him: “Honey, my scratch hurts so much!” Hearing her, Caleb’s steps faltered. I scoffed, my resolve to break up with Caleb hardening even further. I had lost everything — my baby, my husband. All I had left was my career. I needed to focus on the design competition tomorrow. Before bed, I double-checked all the necessary materials, making sure everything was perfect. The next day, as soon as I entered the venue, security personnel approached me. “Ms. Hayes, your entry has been accused of plagiarism. You are disqualified from entering the venue. Please leave!” The loud voice echoed through every corner of the hall. Everyone looked over, curious. “No way, isn’t that Riley Hayes, the genius designer in our industry? She plagiarized?” “She won a national award at eighteen! Could all her past works be copied too?” This design was my life’s work for the past three years; there was no way it was plagiarism. Just as I was about to question the organizers, I saw two familiar figures in the crowd.

I stared hard at Caleb, trying to figure out what he was up to. “I announce that the first-place winner of this design competition is – Alexa Monroe!” Alexa Monroe’s design was identical to mine! My rage completely consumed me. I pushed through the crowd, intending to confront that conniving couple. I hadn’t walked two steps before Sarah Jenkins, a colleague I knew well, stopped me. She pulled me aside. “Riley, I just asked for you.” “The organizers said that when they received two identical design entries, they already questioned Alexa.” “But Alexa provided all her design sketches to prove her originality.” Her expression towards me was sympathetic. “And… Thompson Industries had pulled strings. They promised the organizers unconditional funding for the next ten years if they acknowledged Alexa as the original designer.” Every word was a dagger to my heart. My mind went blank. I couldn’t understand why Alexa would steal my work. Watching Alexa and Caleb mingle and work the room, I charged forward. Before I could even speak, Caleb clapped a hand over my mouth and dragged me outside the hall. “Why?” I demanded, my eyes red. His gaze flickered nervously, and he stammered, “Alexa has nothing. I just wanted to make her happy.” “And you think you have the right to use *my* hard work to make her happy?!” He frowned, looking agitated as he loosened his tie. “I’ll divorce her later and marry you. It’s just… it’s not easy for her, raising a child alone…” I felt a surge of nausea. I didn’t want to argue with him anymore. I quickly walked back into the hall, where my boss was standing on stage, making an announcement. “Alexa Monroe is our company’s newly appointed Design Director!” “And in the future, she will also serve as the General Manager of our French branch!” “How could this be?!” I cried out, my voice hoarse. Alexa walked towards me with a triumphant smirk, leaning close and whispering in my ear: “Now, both your husband and your job are mine.” “Oh, and by the way, while you were in the hospital yesterday, I had your parents’ ashes relocated. A little *rearrangement*, you know?” I trembled with fury, unable to stop myself from slapping her across the face. As I raised my hand for a second slap, Caleb shoved me hard to the ground. “Security!” he bellowed. At his command, several burly men immediately pinned me to the floor. A man’s large hand pressed painfully against my face. Alexa ran over, feigning distress, and said to everyone, “It’s all a misunderstanding! It’s my fault! Please, don’t hit her!” Caleb tenderly stroked her cheek. When he looked at me, his expression had shifted from gentle affection to pure disgust. “Look at Alexa, so sensible, so composed, unlike you! You’re always causing a scene!” “Get on your knees and beg her forgiveness, and we can put this whole thing behind us.” I scoffed, staring at them with intense hatred. The man I had loved for ten years… now I finally saw his true colors. I closed my eyes, unable to look at them anymore. Caleb grew angry. He gestured to his bodyguards. “Take her home. Starve her for a few days. Let’s see if she still dares to disobey!” My hands were bound, and the bodyguards forcibly dragged me into a car. Inside the car was an unexpected passenger – Caleb’s son. I was trapped in the car by the bodyguards, and the child was like a savage. “You hurt my mom! I’ll kill you!” A knife plunged into my abdomen. Blood stained the car seats. Outside the car, Caleb simply waved a hand, telling someone to send me to the hospital, while he rushed to comfort Alexa. When he had finally calmed Alexa down, he remembered me. He searched frantically throughout the hospital, but couldn’t find my room. “Hello, can you tell me which room Riley Hayes is in?” The nurse looked up, confused. “Riley Hayes? We don’t have a patient by that name here.” She spoke while flipping through records. “Who are you to her?” “I’m her husband.” “My condolences, sir. Ms. Hayes was brought in very late, and due to severe blood loss, she has already passed away.”

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My son, Arthur, was critically ill, desperately needing a liver transplant. My wife, Vivian Hayes, was the only perfect match. I pleaded with her for twenty days. Finally, she agreed to come back and donate. I waited outside the operating room all day, but she never showed. That same day, Vivian’s childhood best friend, Julian Thorne, posted photos on his Ins of their round-the-world trip. “Sending love from day 20 of our global adventure! Dr. Hayes gave up her fellowship to help my son realize his dream of traveling the world.” It was then I realized: the very first day I begged Vivian, she had already left for a trip with Julian and his son. That evening, Vivian called me: “Liam, Noah aced his finals, and his wish is for his mom and dad to travel the world with him.” “You know, he doesn’t have a mom…” “I couldn’t bear to see his wish go unfulfilled. We’ll be back in three days.” “And then, I’ll donate my liver to our son.” Three days later, when Vivian arrived at the hospital, all she saw was Arthur’s death certificate. … In the hospital morgue, I gazed at my son Arthur’s serene face, a crushing pain in my heart that stole my breath. Arthur had always been such a good kid, never giving me much to worry about. But I couldn’t even guarantee his health or his life. My son had suffered sudden liver failure, requiring an urgent transplant. The only person in our entire family who was a match was my wife, Vivian Hayes. But the day after the matching results came in, her company sent her abroad for a prestigious fellowship. On her first day away, I begged Vivian to come back and donate her liver to Arthur. She said the overseas fellowship was a rare opportunity, and she didn’t want to give it up. In the middle of her trip, I pleaded with her for another eighteen days. She still refused, cold and unfeeling. On her nineteenth day abroad, the doctor said Arthur’s condition had worsened, and he needed a transplant as soon as possible. I begged her again to come back, to save our son first. But she claimed if she left mid-program, her entire career would be ruined. She told me to transfer Arthur to a major medical center and find more people to match. The specialist hospital was completely full; they refused to admit us. Helpless, we had no choice but to return to the city hospital. Arthur was ravaged by his illness, his face ghostly pale. He looked at me with eyes full of hope: “Dad, why isn’t Mom back to see Arthur yet?” “Is Arthur being bad? Did I make Mom angry?” I didn’t know how to comfort him. I just thought maybe I hadn’t explained clearly enough, that Vivian might have misunderstood how serious Arthur’s condition was. So, I reached out to Vivian again, bringing Arthur’s lead doctor with me, begging her to rush back and save our son. With the doctor’s confirmation, Vivian finally relented. She agreed to take two days off to come back and donate her liver to Arthur. But on the day of the surgery, I sat outside the operating room, waiting all day. What I got was the news that my son couldn’t be saved and had passed away. Vivian still hadn’t shown up. I pulled out my phone, wanting to ask Vivian why she wasn’t there. Instead, I saw a photo Julian Thorne had sent me. In the picture, Vivian, holding Noah’s hand, was leaning into Julian’s embrace, smiling radiantly. My hand trembled as I opened Julian’s Ins feed, and the glaring content hit me. “Sending love from day 20 of our global adventure! Dr. Hayes gave up her fellowship to help my son realize his dream of traveling the world.” If Julian hadn’t posted that on Ins, I wouldn’t have known that the wife my son and I desperately waited for was actually traveling the world with another man’s child. I clutched my son’s already cold hand, my heart twisting into a knot, suffocating me. Just then, Vivian called: “Liam, Noah aced his finals, and his wish is for his mom and dad to travel the world with him.” “You know, he doesn’t have a mom…” “I couldn’t bear to see his wish go unfulfilled. We’ll be back in three days.” “In three days, I’ll donate my liver to our son.” My mind went blank. Just one day ago, I would have jumped for joy. But now, I couldn’t feel happy at all. My son’s life, in her eyes, wasn’t as important as a stranger’s wish. Vivian must have sensed something, because she asked anxiously, “Liam, why aren’t you saying anything?” I snapped back to reality and asked what was on my mind: “Vivian Hayes, do you know how sick our son was?” Vivian froze. It seemed only then she realized Arthur’s condition couldn’t be delayed any longer. “Liam, don’t worry, I’ll buy a ticket and come back right away.” From the other end of the phone, Noah’s innocent voice chimed in, “Mommy, for the last stop, Noah wants to go to romantic Paris. Will you take Noah?” Vivian paused for a moment, then spoke to me: “Liam, my friend at the major medical center said Arthur isn’t a critical case. Three days later for treatment is still fine. Just be the bigger person and wait for me to come back.” I should have known this would be the outcome. Ever since Julian Thorne got divorced and returned, Vivian’s entire world revolved around him and Noah. She promised to celebrate Arthur’s birthday with us, but she stood us up because Noah had a cold. She always said Noah didn’t have a mom and she had to take care of him, telling my son and I to be more understanding. She gave Arthur’s birthday gift to Noah, telling us to be more understanding. She canceled family gatherings to take Noah to the amusement park, telling us to be more understanding. She knew Arthur and I would forgive her, that we’d wait for her, right where we were. That’s why she acted with impunity, ignoring us, hurting us. But this time, I couldn’t be understanding. Because my son had no future. And my marriage with Vivian Hayes had reached its end. 2 Hanging up the phone, I prepared Arthur’s body for viewing. Before he went into surgery, Arthur had asked me, full of hope, “Dad, will I see Mom when I wake up?” I answered firmly, “Yes, Arthur. You’ll be all better after you sleep.” But I let Arthur down. Until his dying breath, Vivian never came back to see him. Perhaps she had a gut feeling, because Vivian kept sending me messages, asking about Arthur’s condition. I just watched her messages, neither replying nor blocking her. The next day, I arrived at the hospital early to handle Arthur’s funeral arrangements. To my surprise, I ran into Vivian. Julian Thorne rushed into the hospital, carrying Noah. Vivian was running beside him, shouting at the nurses, “Hurry! Save him!” People quickly moved out of her way. I couldn’t dodge in time and found myself blocking her path. She skidded to a halt: “Liam, Noah suddenly fainted. I need to get him checked first.” I nodded, stepping back two paces to clear her way. Vivian looked at me, bewildered. She couldn’t understand why I had become so understanding. Before, when she favored Noah, I would always try to stop her, I would complain. Now, I was silent, proactively moving aside for her. “Liam, don’t be mad. I’m going to donate my liver to Arthur right now.” Saying this, she let go of Noah’s hand and reached for mine. Julian caught up from behind, grabbing Vivian’s hand. “Vivian, please don’t go.” “Liam, I know you hate Noah for taking Vivian’s affection, but Noah is just a child. Please, let him go.” Under Julian’s emotional plea, Vivian chose to stay with him, leaving without a backward glance. A young nurse nearby comforted Julian: “Don’t worry, brother-in-law. Dr. Hayes is known for being fiercely devoted to her husband. If you ask, there’s nothing she can’t do.” “Unlike those shameless homewreckers who don’t know their place.” The people around us, like sharks smelling blood, began to whisper and gossip furiously. “So, he’s the other man? A grown man being a homewrecker, not even bothering to hide it in front of the actual spouse. How thick-skinned!” “Exactly! When his son was admitted earlier, he even claimed to be Dr. Hayes’ husband and wanted us to arrange a retired professor for his son’s surgery.” “What a shameless homewrecker. It’s karma that his illegitimate child died.” Vivian had always insisted on keeping her work and personal life separate, so she never brought Arthur or me to any hospital events. She didn’t want her colleagues to know about us. After Julian returned, she claimed he was new to the area, so she took him to hospital events, openly introducing him to her colleagues. When her colleagues chuckled and said her “brother-in-law” was handsome, Vivian just smiled and implicitly agreed. All her colleagues at the hospital believed Julian and Noah were her husband and son. On the contrary, Arthur and I were considered the shameless other man and illegitimate child. In the hallway, Vivian stopped me. She took a step forward, trying to kiss me, but I turned my head, avoiding her. “Vivian Hayes, this is your workplace.” Vivian’s hand froze in mid-air. She pouted, trying to be cute. “Liam, stop being mad, okay?” “I’ll go donate my liver to Arthur in a bit.” I lowered my head, hiding my emotions: “It’s not needed anymore.” Because Arthur was gone. And a mother who broke her promise had no right to see him again. If Arthur knew his longed-for mother had been traveling the world with someone else’s son, how heartbroken would he be? Vivian sensed my sadness. She pulled two boxes from her bag: “These are gifts for you and Arthur.” The box for Arthur contained a Transformers action figure. I stared at the toy, lost in thought for a moment. Last year, for Arthur’s birthday, Vivian was on a business trip abroad. Arthur wanted a genuine Transformers figure, and Vivian video-called him to let him pick one. But when she returned, that genuine Transformers toy was already clutched in Noah’s arms. Arthur cried, wanting the toy, but Vivian coldly criticized him for being petty and fighting with his “brother” over toys. Now she had bought the Transformers toy Arthur had always wanted, but it was too late. Arthur was gone. Seeing my lack of reaction, Vivian grew anxious. She grabbed my hand, just about to say something, when Julian walked in. “Vivian, the doctor said Noah has leukemia and needs a kidney transplant.” Vivian’s eyes were filled with urgency. “Don’t worry, I’ll go get tested for a match right away. I won’t let anything happen to Noah.” She dropped my hand and followed Julian away. I called out to her: “Vivian Hayes, aren’t you going to see Arthur?” 3 Vivian paused: “I…” Julian quickly interjected: “Liam, please don’t compete with me. Noah is waiting for Vivian to save his life.” Vivian let out a sigh of relief: “Liam, don’t be angry. I’m a doctor; my duty is to save lives and help those in need.” “Wait for me, I’ll be there in a moment.” With that, Vivian hurried away with Julian. I watched their retreating backs and murmured, “No need, Vivian Hayes.” I heard nurses discussing that Vivian had successfully matched for a kidney transplant and had already signed the donation agreement. She could have the transplant after a week of recovery. Even though I already knew the outcome, my heart still twisted with a sharp, piercing pain. After running around all day, I found an empty office to rest. As I entered, I walked in on Vivian and Julian, passionately kissing, completely lost in each other. Seeing me, Vivian quickly pulled away from Julian and rushed to explain: “Liam, Noah is sick, I was just comforting Julian.” I couldn’t help but sneer: “Comforting requires kissing each other?” Vivian tried to explain further, but Julian, eyes red, pulled her back. “Liam, don’t blame Vivian. I was the one who kissed her first.” I scoffed mercilessly: “You must be starving to eat anything put in front of you.” With that, I turned to leave. Vivian followed me out. “Liam, please let me explain. I only see Julian as a brother.” Julian’s hoarse voice came from behind: “Vivian, the doctor said Noah’s condition is very dangerous. He needs a transplant immediately.” Vivian hesitated for a moment, then explained to me: “I’ll donate my kidney to Noah first.” She still left without a backward glance. It was truly ironic. Her own son needed a liver transplant, and Vivian stayed far away. Her childhood friend’s son needed a kidney transplant, and Vivian immediately volunteered to donate her kidney. It was so clear then. Love and indifference, so starkly visible. If only I had realized sooner, if only I hadn’t placed all my hope in Vivian, Arthur might still be alive. In that moment, I completely gave up hope. I went home to pack my bags. All of Arthur’s and my belongings, I packed them all away. If this was the end, then it had to be a clean break. After packing everything and printing out the divorce papers, a faint glow appeared on the horizon. The sun was rising. A new day had begun. I walked into the first rays of morning light, leaving the home where Vivian and I had supposedly shared a decade of love. As I hailed a cab, I opened my phone. Vivian’s messages flooded in, one after another. “I’m donating my kidney to Noah tomorrow at 9 AM. Come early to take care of me.” “Noah can’t drink or eat after surgery. Prepare some cotton swabs to moisten his throat later.” “Don’t worry, once I recover, I’ll donate my liver to Arthur.” “Once Arthur is better, let’s go on that world trip together. We’ll go to Switzerland to see the Northern Lights, ski in the Alps, experience all the breathtaking scenery across the globe.” I closed the messages, letting out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. Vivian Hayes, we have no future. At eight o’clock, I took Arthur’s body to the funeral home, but at the corner, I ran into Vivian. “Liam, is this…?” I looked at her coldly: “Vivian Hayes, Arthur passed away. His cremation is at noon. Do you want to come with me to say goodbye?” Vivian stumbled back two steps. “Impossible. How could that be?” Julian steadied Vivian: “Liam, why do you keep cursing Arthur? Arthur is perfectly fine.” Julian kept spouting nonsense, provoking me. I couldn’t help but slap him across the face. Julian licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, looking at me defiantly: “Exposed, huh? Is Liam getting upset and resorting to violence?” “Enough!” Vivian snapped, and the noisy environment suddenly fell silent. Vivian walked closer, step by step, staring at me fiercely: “Liam Walker, I just didn’t donate my liver to Arthur the way you demanded. Do you really need to lie to me?” She abruptly overturned the gurney transporting Arthur’s body. With a crash, Arthur’s small, frail body fell to the floor right in front of us.

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I was cycling to my high school reunion when a speeding Cullinan slammed into me, sending me flying. I picked myself up, wincing in pain, ready to confront the driver. But then, my girlfriend stepped out of the car, glaring at me. “Alex, I told you to stay home! Why are you here, making a scene with that old bike of yours?!” Liam Davies, leaning out of the driver’s seat, sneered. “Well, well, if it isn’t our old class president! My bad, I thought it was just some clueless delivery guy.” He casually pulled a wad of cash from his wallet and tossed it at my feet. “Here, that should buy you a new one. Oh, and keep the change. Go rent a decent car. “I know you can’t afford a Cullinan, but seriously, don’t show up to the reunion on that beat-up piece of junk.” I glanced at my bike, sprawled on the ground, and a cold smile slowly curved my lips. This wasn’t just any ordinary bike. Its name was the Trek Butterfly. … I sank to the ground, my palms stinging, a dull ache throbbing in my right knee. An hour earlier, my girlfriend, Chloe, had called me. “Alex, don’t bother coming to the reunion today. I’ll just catch a ride home later.” “Everyone else’s partner is either a senior executive or a rich kid. I don’t want them to know you’re still just a low-level employee who can’t even afford a car.” But I was worried about Chloe, so I rode my bike to follow her. I was approaching the hotel intersection when a black Cullinan ran a red light, speeding straight into me. The car door opened, revealing a familiar face: Liam Davies, my old high school classmate. What made my chest tighten even more was seeing Chloe, my girlfriend, clinging to him, a sweet smile on her face. “Well, well, if it isn’t Alex, our straight-A class president!” Liam’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Haven’t seen you in years since graduation. How’d you end up like this? Showing up to the reunion on a bike?” Chloe frowned, her perfectly made-up eyebrows furrowed, her voice laced with impatience. “Alex, I specifically told you to stay home. Why are you aimlessly riding that old bike of yours around?” I swallowed my anger and reached out to Chloe. “Come here. You’re my girlfriend. Stay away from him!” To my surprise, Chloe instantly bristled like a cornered cat. “Alex, what’s that supposed to mean?! He and I are just friends! Are you just so twisted inside that you see everything as dirty?!” “Liam’s driving a Cullinan at such a young age, and he was my first love! You’re just jealous of him!” She pointed disdainfully at my bike lying on the ground. “If Liam hadn’t specifically driven his Cullinan to pick me up today, did you expect me to sit on the back of your pathetic bike and be laughed at by the entire class?” Liam chimed in, feigning concern, “Class president, I’m really sorry about your bike. Just name your price. Chloe was my first love, after all. I can’t stand to see her living a hard life with you.” “If we hadn’t broken up back then, Chloe, you wouldn’t have…” He trailed off, and Chloe bit her lip, her gaze at me filled with even more resentment. My thoughts drifted away. Chloe was our class beauty. In high school, Liam skipped class all the time and his grades were a mess, yet Chloe always seemed to gravitate towards him. Later, because of his abysmal grades, Liam’s family paid to send him abroad. The day they broke up, Chloe cried her eyes out. I stayed with her on the rooftop all night. She leaned on my shoulder, sobbing, “Alex, you’re the best to me. Will you stay with me forever?” For that sentence, I gave up better opportunities and went to the same university as her. We naturally became a couple. I thought everything would head in a good direction, but then Liam suddenly returned to the country, making a grand show of it. Chloe often showed me his Ins posts, where Liam flaunted his luxury cars and mansions. Her complaints about me grew more and more frequent. I slowly stood up, brushing the dust from my clothes, my voice calm. “Liam Davies, my bike? I don’t think you can afford to replace it.” The two of them looked like they’d heard the funniest joke in the world. Liam even exaggeratedly covered his mouth. “Class president, did you hit your head? My Cullinan cost five million on the lot. You think I can’t afford your junk bike?” “Alex, what are you talking about?!” Chloe shot me a fierce glare, then turned to Liam, flashing a fawning smile. “Don’t mind him. He’s just a low-level employee now, hasn’t seen much of the world. Not like you, Liam, doing incredibly well! I heard your dad is the CEO of Meridian Holdings, right?” I watched them in silence, feeling a bit speechless. Meridian Holdings? Wasn’t that one of my family’s companies? Looks like the CEO of Meridian Holdings might need a change. I looked at the bike on the ground. Though it looked ordinary, I’d bid an insane amount for it at an auction last month. It was the only one of its kind in the world. I’d planned to give it to Chloe when I proposed and reveal my true identity, but it seemed… “Alright, take this money and buy a new car.” Liam pulled a stack of hundred-dollar bills from his wallet and tossed them on the ground. “Consider the extra a gift.” Chloe looked at me like I was a piece of trash. “Alex, hurry up and take your junk and leave! Don’t embarrass me!” With that, she linked her arm through Liam’s and got into the Cullinan without a backward glance. I pulled out my phone and dialed my lawyer. “Mr. Thompson, cancel all gifts in Chloe’s name. Yes, including that villa and the company shares.” After hanging up, I gently picked up the bike and shook my head. This was the one and only Trek Butterfly in the world. It was worth a hundred Cullinans. If Chloe couldn’t appreciate it, then so be it. 2 There was no need for me to go to the reunion anymore. I turned to leave, but then I heard exaggerated calls from behind me. “Hey! Class president! Don’t go!” A black Audi pulled up beside me, and a few familiar faces stepped out. “Old friends, it’s been too long! Let’s hang out.” I politely declined, but Jake threw an arm around my shoulder, squeezing so hard it hurt. “How can a reunion be complete without our class president? Come on, get in our car!” “No need.” I coolly pulled his hand away. “Don’t be shy!” On the other side, Ben had already taken the liberty of lifting my bike, which was still on the ground. “Your bike’s broken. We’ll help you put it in the trunk.” I frowned, about to refuse, but then I noticed them exchange a knowing look, a malicious smile playing on their lips. It suddenly dawned on me that these guys used to be Liam’s flunkies in high school. Clearly, Liam had put them up to this. I scoffed inwardly and decided to play along. “Alright, then. I appreciate your help.” I was curious to see what game Liam was really playing. Inside the hotel’s VIP room, I pushed the door open just as I heard a burst of exaggerated laughter. “Chloe is our class beauty, and she and Liam are a match made in heaven!” Mia, the former literature club president, raised her wine glass. “If only some loser hadn’t swooped in back then…” “Exactly!” Ryan, the former sports captain, chimed in. “Liam’s the young master of Meridian Holdings now. Some people aren’t even fit to tie his shoelaces!” The room suddenly fell silent—everyone had seen me. Chloe’s face instantly soured. She instinctively tightened her grip on Liam’s arm. Liam, on the other hand, flashed a smug, triumphant smile and raised his glass in a toast to me. “Well, well, if it isn’t our class president? Welcome, welcome!” “Alex,” Chloe’s voice was icy. “Who let you in?” “Your lovely classmates, of course,” I swept my gaze around the room, letting my eyes linger on Jake and the others. “Hard to refuse such a warm invitation.” Before I could say another word, Jake suddenly spoke up loudly, “There’s no reason you can’t come to a reunion! Since you’re here, join us!” He pushed me into a seat. “Come on, sit down! Everyone was just talking about you and Chloe!” Then, a snide voice piped up, “I say, Class President, Chloe and Liam only broke up because you took advantage of the situation. Now that the real guy’s back, shouldn’t you be smart enough to step aside?” Laughter erupted through the room. Someone even whistled. Jake stifled a laugh and patted my shoulder. “It’s just a joke, Class President. Don’t take it seriously.” Everyone was staring at me with mocking expressions, waiting to see how I’d react. I simply smiled faintly and clapped. “You’re right. They truly are a perfect match.” I looked directly at Chloe. “I wish you both a fresh start and a happy future together.” Chloe abruptly stood up, her face flushed crimson with fury. “Alex! What do you mean by that?! You shamelessly chased after me just to say something disgusting like that?!” “Don’t be mad, Chloe.” Liam gently put his arm around her shoulder, then turned to me with a cold smirk. “If your own life’s a mess, don’t blame people for speaking their minds.” Another round of grating laughter. “So what if he got good grades? He still has to work for others.” “Liam could just drop a few dollars, and it’d be enough for Alex to live a lifetime.” I stared coldly at these former classmates. “Since I’m not welcome here, I’ll take my leave.” Liam gave a subtle nod, and Ben stepped forward to block my path. “Class president, don’t be in such a hurry. Wasn’t your bike accidentally damaged?” He deliberately emphasized “bike.” Jake also feigned concern, stepping closer. “Yeah, how will you get back so late? Or maybe…” He pulled out a fifty-dollar bill. “How about we all chip in for your taxi fare?” I looked at these pathetic clowns, suddenly feeling utterly bored. So, they called me here just to watch their pathetic performance again. “This kind of boring reunion,” I straightened my collar, “don’t bother inviting me anymore.” Just as I was about to leave, two burly security guards suddenly blocked the doorway. Liam’s voice came from behind me, carrying a dangerous undertone. “Alex, are you… disrespecting me?” 3 The room instantly fell silent. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the show to begin. I slowly turned around, seeing Liam’s malicious grin. “Alright, here’s the deal. What you just said hurt Chloe’s feelings. If you get on your knees and bark like a dog three times in front of Chloe, then crawl between my legs, I’ll let you go. How about it?” Chloe averted her gaze but said nothing to object. All eyes in the room were fixed on me, some mocking, some pitying, but most were filled with schadenfreude. The security guards grabbed my shoulders, their grip so tight it sent a fresh wave of searing pain through my injuries. I stared coldly at Liam. “We were classmates. Do you really need to humiliate me like this?” Liam slowly swirled his wine glass, a victorious smile on his face. “Alex, do you remember high school? You, flaunting your class president status, always meddling, even reporting me to the teacher for being a few minutes late.” “And in the end, you even dared to touch *my* woman!” He suddenly smashed his wine glass on the floor. Glass shards scattered, making the surrounding classmates flinch. “Now, *I* call the shots here!” He stood up, looking down at me. “I booked this entire hotel. My dad is the CEO of Meridian Holdings. Here, who dares to disrespect me?” I scoffed. “So? Are you going to illegally detain me?” “Illegally detain?” Liam exaggeratedly spread his hands. “Classmates, did any of you see me detaining him?” Jake and the others immediately chimed in, “No! He’s clearly just refusing to leave!” I pulled out my phone. “Fine, then I’ll call the police.” Liam’s eyes hardened, and he signaled the security guards. “Teach him a lesson!” A guard’s fist slammed into my freshly injured knee. The sharp pain made me grunt, and cold sweat instantly drenched my back. I looked up at Chloe. She stood beside Liam, her eyes flickering, but in the end, she closed her mouth and remained silent. “Chloe,” I questioned her, my voice hoarse, “Are you just going to stand there and watch?” She bit her lip, finally speaking in a cold tone. “Alex, you’re the one who acted like an idiot first. Don’t blame Liam for getting angry.” The surrounding classmates also started chiming in, urging me to back down. “Alex, just swallow your pride!” “You’re just an ordinary guy. Liam’s family has massive wealth. You can’t win against him!” “Yeah, riding a bike, why are you still putting on airs?” I looked at the faces of these people and suddenly found it utterly laughable. Slowly, I straightened my body. Though my knee trembled with pain, my eyes were chillingly cold. “Liam Davies, I’m warning you for the last time. I’m not someone you want to mess with!” The room erupted in laughter. “Hahahaha! Did you hear that?!” Liam laughed, doubling over. “Riding a beat-up bike, and still talking like that?!” He clapped his hands, and two waiters brought my bicycle in. It still had scratches on it. “You said my Cullinan couldn’t afford your bike, didn’t you?” Liam sneered, kicking the wheel. “My car could lose a speck of paint, and it’d be enough to buy ten of these pieces of junk!” I almost laughed out of sheer anger. This Trek Butterfly was the only one of its kind in the world. Its frame was studded with Swarovski diamonds, and the custom craftsmanship alone took two years. When I used to ride it, discerning rich folks would respectfully ask specialists to handle it, terrified of damaging even a single diamond. But now, these people were treating it like some bargain-bin item? I looked at Chloe, deciding to give her one last chance. “Chloe, if you come back to me now, I can pretend none of this happened today.” I pointed to the bicycle. “This bike, I originally intended it as your engagement gift.” Chloe froze for a moment, then looked at me like I was insane. “Alex, are you trying to humiliate me? In your eyes, I’m only worth a pathetic bicycle?!” She clutched Liam’s arm. “Alex, let me tell you, I’d rather cry in Liam’s Cullinan than laugh on your pathetic bike!” Liam smugly pulled her closer. “Hear that? Give up now, alright?” Just then, my phone rang. It was my parents. They’d already heard what happened from Mr. Thompson. “We always thought that girl was ill-intentioned, son. It’s good you cut your losses now! We heard you were hurt. Where are you now? Do you want us to send someone to pick you up?” I thought for a moment, then spoke. “Actually, I do need your help with something.” I looked up, directly into Liam Davies’ bewildered face, and said, word by word. “Dad, can you tell that David Davies to come to the Meridian Hotel now? Yes, the CEO of Meridian Holdings.”

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My wife had left a box of oddly shaped meat in the fridge, and for over half a year, she hadn’t touched it. Curious about this precious meat, I secretly took it for testing. The result? It was a two-month-old embryo. Back home, I tore through drawers and cabinets until I found it: an abortion record. On the record, my wife’s name was signed, alongside another man’s. My wife had secretly aborted someone else’s child, right under my nose. Five years of a perfect, inseparable marriage – it all became a cruel joke in that single moment. When Chloe returned, the box of meat in the fridge was gone. She rushed into my study, her voice laced with panic. “Adam, have you seen that box of meat I put in the fridge?” I looked up at her, my fists clenched so tight my knuckles turned white. I wanted to scream, to demand why she had betrayed me. But in the end, I just lowered the book in my hands, feigning a casual nonchalance. “Oh, that weird-looking stuff? I fried it with some chili for lunch. Surprisingly, it tasted pretty good.” “What?! You ate it?!” Chloe’s eyes widened in horror. “Adam, are you out of your mind?!” I sneered. “It’s just meat. Why are you making such a fuss?” Her eyes instantly welled up, her voice trembling as she accused me. “How could you eat it?! That was mine! You ate my stuff without permission! Have you become so disrespectful of me?!” “Eating a piece of meat is being disrespectful?” “It wasn’t just a piece of meat!” Chloe’s face flushed crimson, her chest heaving with rage. I just found it hilarious. “Then what was it?” She bit her lower lip hard, a flash of grief crossing her face. She looked like she wanted to say more but held back her tears. Finally, she choked out, “Nothing… I’m not feeling well tonight. I’ll sleep in the guest room.” With that, she turned and disappeared into the guest room. Five years of marriage, and this was the first time she had ever yelled at me. It was also the first time we’d slept apart. I found it utterly ironic. If she cared so much about that box of meat, why had she aborted it in the first place? For five years, Chloe had always been the perfect wife in my eyes. She was gentle and considerate, meticulously taking care of my every need, managing every household detail. I had stomach issues, and she’d meticulously research special recipes for me. When I had business dinners and drank too much, she’d always thoughtfully prepare a hangover cure. In public and private, she was the ideal partner. But how could such a wonderful woman get pregnant with another man’s child? I couldn’t believe it, couldn’t accept it. My heart felt like it had been viciously stung, the pain piercing me to the bone. I recognized the name on the abortion record: Liam Scott. He was a guy who’d pursued Chloe relentlessly back in college. Liam had chased Chloe for years. Even after Chloe and I got married, he still shamelessly clung to her for several more years. For her, he’d cried, begged, even jumped into a river and cut his wrists, trying every desperate stunt imaginable. But Chloe always claimed she found his advances repulsive. She’d constantly complain to me about how annoying Liam was, how his pursuit bothered her, how she didn’t like him at all and got irritated just seeing him. Later, I took a few of my buddies and went to find Liam. Under the cover of darkness, my friends and I ambushed Liam on his way home. We beat him senseless, leaving him with a bloody, swollen face. I warned him to stay away from my wife. After that night, Chloe never mentioned Liam again. I thought he’d finally heeded my warning and stopped bothering her. I never imagined that a year later, his name would appear in the “partner” column of her abortion record.

That night, Chloe and I parted ways on bad terms. The next day, she made plans to go shopping with her friends. I dropped everything I was doing and secretly followed her. I trailed them all the way to a bar. Through the crack in the door of a dimly lit private room, I caught a glimpse of Chloe intimately settling into a man’s lap. The man had his arm around her waist, leaning back on the sofa, a look of doting affection on his face. Even in the low light, I instantly recognized him: it was Liam Scott! If I had any doubts before, they were completely erased now. That aborted embryo had to be Liam’s! A surge of white-hot fury instantly shot through me. My fists clenched tight. Just as I was about to burst in, I heard Chloe’s friend, Maya, speak up. “Chloe, Liam chased you for years, and you never budged. What finally made you give in?” I froze. Chloe tilted her head, glancing at Liam, and chuckled shyly. “I wasn’t going to accept him, but then… that time, my husband had someone beat him up. He was left bloody and bruised, but he still came to my office, crying and saying he’d rather die than give up on me. I don’t know why, but in that moment, I suddenly softened.” After she finished speaking, they exchanged a knowing smile and kissed passionately right there in front of everyone. The private room erupted with cheers and jeers. And I stood outside the door, stunned, as if struck by lightning. So, all that time, I was furious, defending her honor, only to accidentally create the perfect opportunity for them to get together? A sharp, piercing pain spread across my chest, like a thousand needles, making it hard to breathe. As my heart ached, Chloe and Liam reluctantly pulled apart. Liam cupped Chloe’s face, declaring his love deeply. “Chloe, besides you, I’ll never love anyone else in this life. Only death can separate us.” Tears welled up in Chloe’s eyes, her face filled with emotion. “Liam, if I’d known being with you would be this wonderful, I would have accepted you sooner. Don’t worry, for the rest of my life, I’ll give you everything, except for my official status.” I stared blankly at the intensely affectionate scene before me, my heart aching to its very core. Suddenly, all the strength to confront them drained out of me. I turned around and walked away, feeling utterly lost. I felt like a wandering ghost, making my way to the bar, where I ordered several strong drinks and drank myself into a stupor. Five years of marriage. Eight years of dating. From college until now, Chloe and I had been together for a full eight years. Back then, to marry her, I gave up a chance to move abroad and even swallowed my pride, agreeing to live with her family and effectively put their needs before my own. After we married, I was always good to Chloe. I handed over my paycheck, always attentive to her every need. She didn’t want kids, so I even made up a story about my own fertility issues, just to keep both our families from pressuring us. But in the end, she got pregnant with another man’s child, all behind my back. Eight years of a relationship, undone by one shamelessly persistent man. How pathetic.

I stumbled out of the bar, completely drunk. Night was falling, heavy and dark. Suddenly, bright fireworks burst across the sky, dazzling and mesmerizing. As I passed by the riverbank, I saw Chloe and Liam again. This time, no friends, just the two of them, passionately embracing and kissing under the brilliant fireworks. They looked like a pair of star-crossed lovers. In that instant, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. A colossal rage erupted inside me. I swung my fist, charging hysterically towards Liam. “You bastard!” Liam was caught off guard by my punch, stumbling back a few steps before losing his balance and falling to the ground. The back of his head hit a rock, splitting open and bleeding. Chloe gasped in horror and immediately rushed to his side. “Liam, are you okay?!” Her eyes blazed with fury as she turned and snapped at me. “Adam, what are you doing?! Are you insane?!” Me? Insane? “Chloe, that’s what *I* should be asking *you*!” I pointed at Liam on the ground, my voice rising in a furious demand. “Tell me, what were you doing with him just now?!” Chloe showed no remorse, instead wrinkling her nose in disgust. “Are you drunk again? How many times have I told you to drink less! You always go crazy when you drink, acting like some barbaric brute!” I’m the brute? I let out a bitter laugh. Chloe ignored my rage, her face filled with tenderness as she wiped the blood from Liam’s head. Her eyes turned red, and her voice choked. “Liam, get up quickly. I’ll help you to the hospital.” This scene stabbed at my eyes once again. My wife, her eyes red with concern for another man. I furiously raised my fist, charging at Liam again. But Chloe stepped in front of Liam, and slapped me hard. “Adam, have you caused enough trouble?! Can you stop being such a drunken maniac?!” Her gaze was cold, like ice. Five years of marriage, and this was the first time she had looked at me with such eyes. I stared blankly at the woman before me, suddenly feeling like she was a complete stranger. A piercing, bone-deep pain flared in my chest again. Chloe tenderly helped Liam away, and as she did, she gave me a harsh shove. My foot slipped, and I stumbled precariously, falling into the frigid river beside us. *Splash!* A bone-chilling cold engulfed my entire body, making me shiver violently. Chloe didn’t bat an eye. Liam called out to her. “Chloe, your husband…” “Forget him!” Chloe was as indifferent as a stranger, not even glancing at me in the water. Her voice was utterly devoid of warmth. “He can swim. A little dip might help him sober up!” With that, she helped Liam and walked away without looking back. I tried to swim to shore, but my leg suddenly cramped, leaving me powerless. In the end, I could only despair as I sank into the river, letting the icy water flood my lungs. A fierce sense of suffocation, like a beast, brutally consumed me. My heart was dead. … When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. A kind passerby had rescued me. Chloe made no effort to check on me. It wasn’t until the next afternoon that she finally called. Her voice on the phone was tired, laced with a hint of complaint. “Adam, Liam’s out of danger, but you went way too far this time! You hit the back of his head, and he almost got a concussion! Luckily, Liam is generous and isn’t holding it against you. But from now on, you absolutely cannot be so reckless!” My heart felt utterly dead. Her only concern was Liam’s injury, completely unaware that her own husband had almost drowned in the river yesterday. After a brief silence, Chloe lowered her voice, trying to explain. “Adam, you misunderstood yesterday. Liam and I are just good friends; it’s not as complicated as you think.” “Friends?” I scoffed. “Do friends kiss?” Chloe’s voice instantly turned cold. “You were drunk last night; you must have imagined it! Liam and I didn’t kiss at all! It was Liam’s birthday yesterday, and I was just with him setting off fireworks by the river. Can you stop overthinking everything? I’ve given you so much over the years; am I not allowed to have other friends?” I hung up immediately. I was physically and mentally exhausted. I had no strength left to argue with her.

After being discharged from the hospital, I made an excuse about a business trip and didn’t go home for two weeks. Chloe seemed busy taking care of the injured Liam, and she didn’t press me much. It was my mother-in-law, Mrs. Davies, who suddenly called me. It was the same old, tired conversation. “Adam, when are you finally going to give me a grandchild?” In that moment, I found it incredibly ironic. She probably had no idea that she *could* have had a grandchild, but her own daughter had personally destroyed it. “I don’t plan on having children.” “Don’t want them?” Mrs. Davies shrieked, her voice sharp and loud. “If you’re not going to have kids, what good are you to our family? Your background is ordinary, your job isn’t great, and you can’t even produce a child. What’s the difference between you and a good-for-nothing? I never should have agreed to Chloe marrying you!” I knew. For five years of our marriage, my in-laws had always looked down on me. Before, for Chloe’s sake, I had always chosen to endure it. But now, I had no reason to swallow my anger. “Anyway, let’s not talk about that,” Mrs. Davies paused, then suddenly lowered her voice. “Next week is your father-in-law’s sixtieth birthday. You and Chloe both need to come home. Remember to prepare a big gift for your father-in-law. Don’t you dare embarrass my daughter!” I froze for a moment. Then, I chuckled. “Alright.” When the time comes, I’ll definitely give you all a *big* gift. … In the blink of an eye, it was my father-in-law’s sixtieth birthday banquet. When I arrived at the Davies’ family home, the grand hall was already packed with relatives and friends, drinks clinking, buzzing with lively chatter. To my surprise, Liam was there too. Chloe made no attempt to hide him, introducing him to every relative and friend one by one. I walked towards them, my face set in a dark scowl, and coldly demanded, “Chloe, it’s your dad’s birthday today. What are you doing bringing this pesky leech, Liam, here?” Before Chloe could reply, Mr. Davies rushed over. “Adam, what kind of talk is that? Liam is my godson. We met fishing. You have no right to be rude to him!” “Godson?” I was stunned. I had no idea that not only had Chloe’s heart wandered, but even my father-in-law was gradually falling under Liam’s spell. I, on the other hand, had become a complete outsider. Liam suddenly extended his wine glass towards me, a fake smile plastered across his face. “Brother-in-law, you’re just in time. I’d like to propose a toast! You actually misunderstood last time; Chloe was just celebrating my birthday. Nothing more. Even though you almost gave me a concussion last time, thanks to Chloe’s careful nursing, my injuries are almost healed.” “What?!” Mr. Davies stared at me in shock, his nostrils flaring in anger. “Adam, *you* caused Liam’s head injury last time? Liam has no grudge against you. Are you insane or something?!” “Godfather, please don’t be angry. My injuries are fine, and I’ve already forgiven brother-in-law.” Liam forcefully shoved the wine glass into my hand, feigning a polite smile. “Brother-in-law, drink this glass, and we’ll let bygones be bygones.” With that, he raised his own glass and drained it. I glared at him, clutching the wine glass in my hand. Then, I suddenly flipped it, splashing all the contents directly onto his face. “Liam, who the hell wants to let bygones be bygones with you?!”

“Adam, what are you doing?!” Mr. Davies’s eyes widened in outrage. “Liam was being kind enough to toast you! What is wrong with your attitude?!” Mrs. Davies’s face also darkened as she scolded me. “Adam, it’s your father-in-law’s birthday today! Are you deliberately trying to ruin the party?!” Liam wiped the wine from his face, his shoulders slumping slightly as he feigned a wronged expression. “Brother-in-law, do you have some misunderstanding about me? If I’ve done something wrong, please tell me. I’ll apologize, okay?” “Liam, you know exactly what you’ve done. Stop playing innocent!” As soon as the words left my mouth, Chloe stepped forward and slapped me hard. Her eyes were wide and blazing, her face terrifyingly dark. “Adam, don’t go too far! Liam was kind enough to toast you, and he even humbled himself to apologize! Why are you still targeting him?! What do you mean by this?!” “What do *I* mean?!” I laughed, enraged. “I’d like to ask *you* and *him* what you mean!” Liam quickly stepped in to mediate. “Sister Chloe, please don’t argue with brother-in-law. It’s Godfather’s birthday today; let’s not make him unhappy because of me!” With that, he pulled a gift box from his pocket and presented it to Mr. Davies like a treasure. “Godfather, this is the gift I prepared for you. Do you like it?” Mr. Davies’s anger instantly vanished when he saw the gift in Liam’s hands. “Top-grade red jade!” Mr. Davies beamed, unable to close his mouth. “Liam, you’re so thoughtful. You truly are my good son!” “This jade must be worth hundreds of thousands, right?” Mrs. Davies’s eyes lit up too. “Liam, I didn’t realize you were so wealthy!” Liam gave a bashful smile. “Just a small token of my appreciation. I hope Godfather likes it.” Then, he turned to me, a provocative smirk on his lips. “Brother-in-law, what grand gift did *you* prepare for Godfather? Why don’t you bring it out for everyone to see?” “Yeah, let’s see it!” The relatives chimed in. Watching Liam’s smug expression, I felt a mocking urge to laugh. I knew he wanted to publicly humiliate me. But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction! “A grand gift? Of course!” In front of all our relatives and friends, I slowly pulled out a sealed, clear plastic box. My lips parted slightly. “This is the grand gift I’m giving my father-in-law!” Liam froze. Chloe’s pupils contracted sharply, staring intently at the box in my hand, her face instantly turning ghostly pale. Mr. Davies frowned, asking doubtfully, “What is that? A box of meat?” Mrs. Davies bristled with anger, scolding me. “Adam, Liam bought your father-in-law jade worth hundreds of thousands! And you? What kind of shameful thing have you prepared?!” The relatives and friends gathered around began to whisper, scoffing at my cheapness and calling me an embarrassment. Unfazed, I stared at Chloe and Liam, and spoke in a low, chilling voice: “Mother-in-law, Father-in-law, haven’t you always wanted a grandchild? What I’m holding in my hand… is the grandchild you’ve been eagerly awaiting!”

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Eight years ago, I dropped out of college and worked tirelessly to pay for Valerie’s tuition. She clung to me, tears streaming, swearing she’d never betray me, not ever. Years later, she built her own empire, becoming a multi-millionaire CEO. But the night I was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I saw her, under a streetlamp, kissing someone else. That same night, she broke up with me. My heart turned to ash. “Valerie, what about our eight years?” She looked at me, her voice icy. “Eight years? That’s not long at all. Not to me.” “Your eight years might have been all about me, but my eight years? They were about so much more than just you.” Yet, when she learned of my death, she completely lost her mind. “I’m sorry, Mr. Alex. The diagnosis is in. It’s late-stage stomach cancer.” The doctor handed me the report, his eyes filled with pity. I felt like I’d been struck by a lightning bolt. It was just a stomach ache, how could it be a terminal illness? A million questions flooded my mind, but a lump formed in my throat, and I couldn’t make a sound. I opened my mouth, and after a long moment, finally managed to ask, “How much longer… do I have?” The doctor adjusted his glasses. “Three months, at most.” I let out a bitter laugh, took the diagnosis, and stood up to leave. It wasn’t until I was outside, sitting in my car, that I covered my eyes and broke down, sobbing. My cries were muffled, a raw, hoarse sound tearing from deep in my throat. Only three months left to live. What about Valerie? How would she survive, alone, after I was gone? The night breeze carried a chilling bite as I stood on the balcony, waiting for Valerie to return. I’d shredded the diagnosis, tearing it into tiny pieces, then watched them swirl down the drain. I waited from day until night. In those dozen or so hours, I finally understood. I couldn’t tell Valerie. Everyone says it’s better to cut ties cleanly, better a quick, sharp pain than a lingering one. But I… I didn’t want her to hurt at all. A familiar silhouette gradually appeared under the streetlamp. I was just wondering why Valerie hadn’t driven home today when, the next second, I saw her pulled into someone else’s embrace and kissed. In an instant, the blood in my veins seemed to freeze. The two figures under the streetlamp looked exactly like a pair of lovers. Valerie didn’t pull away. She let him kiss her on the side of her lips, then watched him leave. The villa’s front door opened, let in by the housekeeper. I waited on the second floor, my mind a blank slate. Soon after, she walked into the room and gently hugged me from behind. “Alex, I’m so tired today.” My body stiffened. I subtly pulled away from her embrace. Valerie looked at me, a hint of complaint in her voice. “What’s wrong?” I reached up and plucked a rose petal from her hair. It was from when she and that other person stood under the roses, kissing. My fingers trembled slightly. I looked up at her, my voice low as I demanded, “Who was that person?” Valerie’s face instantly changed. “You saw?” I waited silently for her explanation, but she just calmly told me, “Alex, there’s nothing between us. You know I only love you.” “You’re the only one I’m truly sincere about.” My heart was practically numb with pain. I let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Oh, really? Valerie, then your ‘sincerity’ comes cheap.” Perhaps stung by my words, Valerie’s expression gradually darkened. “I don’t want to argue with you.” I repeated her words. “I don’t want to argue either. I want an explanation.” “Tell me, who was he?” Valerie’s expression grew impatient. “You can’t stand it, can you?” She coldly tossed out, “Then let’s break up.” I barely reacted, just stared at her, stunned. “You… what did you say?” Valerie’s eyes darted away, but she still told me, word for word, “I said, if you can’t stand it, then let’s break up.” Suddenly, my nose stung. My voice choked in my throat. “Break up?” My lips trembled slightly as I asked her, “Valerie, what about our eight years?” She looked at me, her gaze icy. “Eight years? That’s not long at all. Not to me.” “Your eight years might have been all about me, but my eight years? They were about so much more than just you.” A sudden, violent pain erupted in my stomach, spreading to my heart. I could barely stand. Valerie ran a frustrated hand through her hair. “I’ll meet many more people. Alex, if you don’t trust me, then what’s the point of dragging this on?” I forced myself to maintain a calm facade, my nails digging into my palms. A coppery taste filled my mouth. I gritted my teeth and said, “Valerie, say ‘break up’ one more time, and I’ll never appear before you again.” She opened her mouth, but in the end, she just slammed the door shut. “I’m staying at the apartment tonight.” It wasn’t until her voice completely faded that I collapsed weakly to the ground. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. I covered my mouth with my hand, but the next second, I violently vomited a large mouthful of fresh blood.

My consciousness gradually blurred, my vision hazy, and I collapsed to the floor. The second before I blacked out, I suddenly remembered the year Valerie and I first met. She was only eighteen. “Stop pretending! You think you can hide?!” A group of girls had cornered someone. The leader viciously slapped the girl, her face contorted with hatred. She grabbed the girl’s hair, cursing and venting, “You slut, trying to seduce men!” I didn’t hear a single sound of resistance. The girl silently endured the violence, so quiet it was as if she felt no pain. “Enough.” I pressed my cigarette against the wall to extinguish it, then turned and walked to the alley entrance, watching them coldly. The girls turned to look at me, their expressions dismissive. “I suggest you mind your own business.” Through a gap, the girl’s eyes fixed on me, her gaze vacant. I picked up a wooden stick leaning against the wall and slammed it against the corner. It snapped with a crack. I threw the remaining half in front of them. “I said, *enough*.” The girls exchanged glances. After a few seconds of silence, they reluctantly walked away from me. Only the girl remained, a clear handprint still on her cheek. I watched for a few seconds, then looked away, turning to leave. Footsteps followed behind me, not too close, almost matching mine. After the second street corner, I finally stopped. The footsteps ceased as well. I turned around. The girl was indeed about a yard behind me. “Why are you following me?” She looked at me in a panic, and tears suddenly streamed down her face, tracing a path over the handprint, making it seem even more stark. I was suddenly lost in thought, realizing, *she hurts too*. “Come on.” Perhaps she thought I was chasing her away. She clutched the corner of her shirt, flustered, but refused to move a single step. I paused for a few seconds, then finished my sentence. “I’ll take you home.” She trusted me without a second thought, and actually led me to her home. In the long, dark alley, she spoke for the first time. “My name is Valerie.” I curved my lips into a slight smile, though it was hidden in the darkness. “Alex.” Valerie lived in the slums, her house surrounded by piles of scavenged junk. She pushed open the yard gate, and a partially-blind old woman emerged from the small doorway. “Valerie, you’re back.” Valerie smiled and called out, “Grandma.” She introduced me to the old woman. “This is Alex. He’s my… good friend.” I paused, slightly stunned. Perhaps afraid I’d contradict her, Valerie quickly ducked into the kitchen. The old woman warmly pulled me into the house, then took out some treasured candies and offered them to me. “Good boy. Valerie has never brought a friend home before.” “You’re the first one.” I gave a bitter smile as I peeled the wrapper, putting the milky candy in my mouth. This elderly, partially-sighted woman would never know what her granddaughter suffered at school, let alone that she had no friends. She held my hand and talked for a long time. When emotions ran deep, she wiped tears from the corners of her eyes. “My Valerie has had a very hard life. She was abandoned by her parents by the river when she was just born, and I, a poor, old, almost-blind woman, found her and brought her home.” The old woman took out her sewing kit, dug out a few crumpled bills from the bottom, then tremblingly pressed the largest bill into my hand. “It’s a blessing she met a friend like you. Please, help me look after my Valerie from now on.” My nose stung, my lips parted, but no sound came out. Finally, I just mumbled, “Okay.” From that day on, I started watching over Valerie, becoming almost her constant shadow. “Alex, where’s your family?” The sunset settled on the lake, quickly sinking and taking the last light with it. Valerie asked me this for the first time. I paused for a few seconds, then told her, short and direct, “My mom died. My dad’s in prison. He killed my mom.” The air suddenly grew quiet. Valerie must have realized she’d spoken out of turn, so she immediately fell silent. After a long silence, she took my right hand. In the darkness, I heard her choked voice. “Alex, from now on… I’ll be your family.” She made that promise to me, and I believed her.

My face suddenly felt wet. I slowly opened my eyes. The white furball in front of me was licking my cheek. Seeing me awake, Buddy snuggled into my arms. I reached out and stroked his head, then staggered to the bathroom, turning on the shower to wash away the blood. The person who drove Valerie home that night was quickly identified—Brandon, Valerie’s secretary. He was young, a prestigious university graduate, and strikingly handsome. I wasn’t surprised that someone like him could attract Valerie. Valerie didn’t come home for several nights. I waited in the villa, calm as if insane. Late at night, my stomach pain grew severe. I tremblingly took out my painkillers, poured out a few pills, and dry-swallowed them. In the darkness, I curled up, letting the cold sweat soak the sheets. Just as the pain began to subside, the sound of the door lock clicked. Someone walked into the room, then quietly lay down beside me. She reached out and hugged me from behind, not saying a word. The smell of alcohol drifted into my nostrils, pungent and stinging. I pulled away from her, turning on the bedside lamp. “Have you been drinking?” Valerie’s eyes were red, but she didn’t answer. After a long moment, she finally cried, “Alex, you can’t leave me.” “You’re all I have. If even you leave me, what will I do?” I looked at her, smiling faintly, and gently wiped her tears with my fingertips. A sudden, intense bitterness welled up inside me. “Valerie, it’s not me leaving you…” I trembled as I closed my eyes. “It’s you leaving me.” Valerie gripped my hand, apologizing over and over. “I was wrong. Please forgive me.” “You know I can’t live without you.” Her tears dripped onto the back of my hand, and all my defenses crumbled instantly. “Valerie, tell me, between him and me… who do you choose?” She wrapped her arms around my neck, tilted her head back, and kissed my lips, her voice choked with tears, speaking the most devastating love words. “I choose you, Alex. Only you.” Valerie kissed my Adam’s apple, her passion evident. I cupped the back of her neck, deepening the kiss. My body gradually grew hot. The moment I took off Valerie’s shirt, I suddenly saw the dense scars on her arm. The string in my mind suddenly snapped. *That’s right*, how could Valerie possibly leave me? Everyone only saw Valerie’s dazzling success, but no one knew that she had once suffered from severe depression. The first time I found her, the bathtub water was already stained crimson. She lay there, unconscious, her fate uncertain. But even after being rescued, Valerie didn’t give up on suicide. When I broke into the locked room, her left arm was covered in countless cuts. Valerie sat on the floor, her face blank. I skillfully took out gauze to bandage her. Valerie didn’t pull away, she just looked at me and smiled. “Alex, please don’t save me.” She expressed her pain so calmly. I looked at her vacant stare and remained silent for a long time. “Does it hurt?” Valerie’s right hand still gripped a fruit knife. I took her hand, used its force, and slashed deeply across my own arm. It took her a few seconds to react. Then she screamed and threw the knife away. “Alex! Alex…” Valerie finally burst into tears. She frantically tried to cover my wound, but the blood soaked her palm, seeping through her fingers. “Valerie, it hurts so much.” I pulled her into my embrace, begging her over and over. “Please, don’t die.” “Valerie, let me be your medicine.”

The memories gradually faded, and my gaze refocused on the present. A voice reached my ears. “Sir, Ms. Valerie said you don’t need to wait for her tonight.” Mr. Davies, the butler, spoke and then quietly withdrew. The dinner on the table had grown cold. I quietly listened to the clock strike midnight. This was the third day. The third day I hadn’t seen Valerie. Just as I was lost in thought, the white furball suddenly darted into my arms. It knocked the bowls and chopsticks off the table, making a sharp clattering sound. “Buddy, cut it out.” Buddy’s tongue lolled out, like a grin. I helplessly stroked his head, then bent down to pick up the broken pieces from the floor. A sharp shard of porcelain cut my fingertip, and blood quickly seeped out. I knelt on the floor, looking at the scattered fragments around me. For a moment, I felt a strange sense of unreality. A bitter smile touched my lips. Go back to how things were… as if that were even possible. The room at night carried a chill. Ever since I fell ill, I’d become sensitive to the cold. The heat from the AC gradually filled the room, but even curled up under the blankets, I still shivered violently. Valerie appeared at some point. She gently wrapped her arms around me. “Alex, I’m home.” I strained to press closer to her, desperate for a bit of warmth, but I still shivered uncontrollably. “Valerie, I’m cold.” She gently stroked my back, then hummed a familiar lullaby to lull me to sleep. “Don’t be scared.” I called her name. “Valerie?” She said, “I’m here.” I called her name again and again, and she answered every time. Suddenly, I wanted to cry so badly. Tears welled up in my eyes. My voice choked with sobs as I told her, “Valerie, I’m dying.” Her movements suddenly stilled. “Oh? Well, that’s…” I couldn’t quite hear her voice, so I looked up at her. Valerie’s expression suddenly twisted, her eyes filled with extreme, deranged madness, her smile grotesque. “Well, that’s wonderful.” My heart jolted. I reached out a disbelieving hand toward her. “Valerie—!” When I opened my eyes again, the sky outside was bright. My back was soaked with cold sweat. I sat up, still shaken, unable to fully recover my senses. It had just been… a dream. I closed my eyes, calmed myself, then got up and walked out of the room. A housekeeper walked by in the hallway. I looked at the shirt she was holding and said, “Did Ms. Valerie come back last night?” The housekeeper respectfully nodded. “Yes, Ms. Valerie returned very late last night. She was afraid of disturbing you, so she slept in the guest room.” I took the shirt, glanced at it, then handed it back. “You can go now.” It wasn’t until I was alone that I lifted my fingers to my nose and inhaled. A familiar woody fragrance. I almost wanted to laugh. It was the birthday gift Valerie gave me when she turned twenty. The same scent. On whose body had she picked it up this time? My stomach began to cramp again. I took two painkillers, just barely managing to suppress the pain. A wave of dizziness washed over me. I lifted my hand, trying to grab onto something, but ultimately collapsed weakly onto the bed and passed out again. When I next woke, the window was pitch black. A knock sounded at the door. I reached out, gripping the edge of the table to steady myself. “Come in.” Mr. Davies slowly walked up to me. “Sir, Ms. Valerie sent someone to pick you up.” I paused, slightly confused, then nodded. It wasn’t until I was in the car that I belatedly asked, “Where are we going?” The driver’s voice held a hint of a smile. “You’ll find out when you get there.” A flicker of emotion stirred in my heart. Unease, or perhaps, expectation.

The entire floor of the riverside rooftop restaurant was empty. A waiter pushed open the glass door for me. A cascade of roses bloomed profusely, and amidst them, stood Valerie, dressed in a white gown. She walked toward me, a dazzling smile on her face. “Happy Birthday, Alex.” I was slightly stunned. It was my birthday today? I’d even forgotten myself… She explained that she had deliberately been distant these past few days to prepare this surprise for me. Valerie took a necklace from a box in her hand and fastened it around my neck. As our skin brushed, I felt her breath near my ear. “Alex, this is our ninth year.” She wrapped her arms around my waist, leaning gently against me. “And we’ll have many, many more nine years together.” I almost froze, unable to move for a long time. A sudden, intense bitterness welled up inside me. *But Valerie… we don’t have a future anymore.* She took my hand and led me to the table. A waiter poured our wine. Valerie raised her glass to me. “Alex…” She suddenly smiled shyly. For a moment, I saw the ghost of her eighteen-year-old self. “Have I ever told you?” I frowned, asking, “What?” Valerie’s expression grew serious. “I love you.” My heart lurched, then pounded in my chest with endless echoes. Valerie’s affection had always been quiet, almost shy. Never had she expressed it with such passionate, direct honesty. This was the first time. Her cheeks flushed. She took a sip of her wine, using it to hide her nervousness. I hesitated for a moment, then drained my glass. My stomach cramped painfully. I forced a smile, enduring the discomfort. “I’m very happy.” She was about to say something else when a heated argument suddenly erupted nearby. “Sir! You can’t go in!” By the time I looked up, the man had already walked in front of us. He looked utterly distraught, but his handsome face was still undeniable. His clothes were impeccably neat, yet he reeked of alcohol. “Why did you fire me?” The man’s voice was cold, yet broken, with a hint of a sob. He was fragile, like a wet, abandoned puppy, easily eliciting a protective instinct from others. I instantly knew who he was—Valerie’s secretary, Brandon. Brandon continued to demand, over and over, “What exactly did I do wrong? Was my presence a problem for you?” “But you didn’t reject me then. I thought you felt something for me…” He acted as if I wasn’t even there, passionately pouring out his heart. Valerie’s expression gradually darkened. “Shut up.” Only then did Brandon turn his gaze to me. He stared for a long moment, then gave a bitter laugh. “I see.” He turned and walked away, a look of grim determination on his face. Valerie instinctively rose to stop him. I looked up at her. “Valerie.” My eyes suddenly stung. I asked, almost pleading, “Are you leaving?” She faltered. I gripped her fingertips, forcing a difficult smile as tears traced paths down my cheeks. “Please, don’t go.” Valerie’s eyes flickered with struggle. After a few seconds, it turned to apology. “I’m sorry.” She chased after him. In that vast restaurant, I was the only one left, the only ‘star’ of her show. I stood there for a long time, then covered my eyes with my hand, letting the tears soak my palm, before a low, bitter laugh escaped me. If you’d known this was the last birthday you’d spend with me, would you regret it? Valerie, I almost fell for it. Almost.

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The wedding countdown stood at twenty-two days when I walked in on Liam Hayes and his secretary, Chloe, tangled together, stark naked, in my own bed. My fury erupted, and I demanded to break up right there, cancelling our long-planned wedding. Liam fell to his knees, begging me, claiming it was just one drunken mistake with Chloe. He swore I was the only one he ever loved, that I shouldn’t negate our ten years together over a single error. My heart softened at his desperate pleas and tear-soaked face, and I decided to give him one more chance. But three weeks later, he came to me, hand-in-hand with Chloe, clutching a positive pregnancy test. “Chloe is pregnant, and it’s mine. This pregnancy is incredibly difficult for her. If she were to terminate it, she might never be able to conceive again.” “She’s still so young, I can’t let her carry the stigma of being a home-wrecker. For the wedding, she should be the bride first, just until the baby is born and officially part of the family. Then, we can have an even grander wedding for us.” What he didn’t know was that since the night he cheated, Julian Hayes, the scion of a powerful family, had already approached me. He told me he wanted to marry me. But I, swayed by Liam’s sweet talk and manipulative pleas, had rejected Julian. Julian had proposed a bet to me: whether Liam would actually marry me. If I lost the bet, the price was marrying him instead.

Watching their fingers intertwined, I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. I tossed the wedding gift I’d prepared into the trash can. “Well then, I wish you both a lifetime of sweetness and happiness.” I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, leaving painful crescent marks. Liam didn’t seem to catch my implied meaning. His entire demeanor brightened. He let go of Chloe’s hand and walked towards me. “Aurora, I knew you’d be the most understanding and mature one, you always are. You’d definitely get it.” “Chloe is only twenty, and she’s carrying a Hayes heir. We can’t let the baby be born without a mother, right?” As soon as he finished speaking, he gave a subtle gesture to Alfred, our butler. Alfred quickly moved Chloe’s luggage into *our* bedroom. Liam offered me a strained smile. “Aurora, the guest room is too small, and Chloe is pregnant, so it’s not convenient for her in there. She’ll stay in the master bedroom for now, and you can move into the guest room.” I scoffed, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “So, you’ll be staying in the master bedroom too?” His words faltered, and he weakly tried to find an excuse. “Chloe is in her early stages of pregnancy, so there are many things to be extra careful about. Staying in the master bedroom will naturally allow me to look after her better.” “But don’t worry, I won’t sleep in the bed. I’ll have Alfred bring in a sofa, and I’ll sleep on that.” A bitter laugh bubbled up inside me. They’d already slept together, and now he was putting on this act? He pulled Chloe in front of me, gently instructing her. “Quick, thank your sister-in-law! If it weren’t for her acceptance, our child wouldn’t receive such treatment.” Chloe, who moments ago had seemed so innocent in Liam’s arms, was now bursting into tears, faking distress. I hadn’t said a word, yet she immediately looked as if she’d suffered a great injustice. “Sister-in-law, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin your relationship with Liam. We just got drunk…” Tears streamed down her face as she spoke. Liam saw them, and his face was etched with concern. He gently wiped away her tears. “Chloe, don’t blame yourself too much. We were just swept up in the moment, our feelings were too intense to control.” “Don’t worry, your sister-in-law is a sensible person; she already forgave us, didn’t she? Getting too upset isn’t good for the baby. You’re carrying a Hayes heir now, I can’t let you suffer out here.” But Chloe still looked terrified of me, her gaze darting between Liam and me. She looked at me timidly. “But Liam, sister-in-law doesn’t seem very happy. Her face looks quite displeased.” The next second, Liam grabbed my arm and pulled me in front of Chloe. “Aurora, it’s no use me explaining things to Chloe. Why don’t you explain it to her? Chloe is sensitive; without your permission, she’ll just overthink everything, and too much stress isn’t good for the baby.”

I watched them, a perfect duet, my gaze turning icy. I didn’t know if he was truly clueless or just pretending. My heart was seething with resentment, and he was still trying to slap me in the face like this. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I yanked my hand free from his grasp. My eyes, red with suppressed rage, fixed on him. “Liam Hayes, are you saying that you got another woman pregnant, and now I’m supposed to rush over and comfort the home-wrecker you brought back? How dare you have such audacity?” Liam’s eyes, which had been upturned in smugness, instantly darkened when he heard my words. His voice deepened several octaves. “Aurora, how could you think that? Chloe is only 20! She’s still so young. Do you have any idea how much physical harm it would cause her if we forced her to have an abortion?” “I already took her virginity; I’ve already wronged her enough. And you can’t even tolerate *this* small thing?” The way he twisted his infidelity into such a grand, righteous excuse, it felt as if I’d never truly known him. Had he forgotten? I wasn’t even twenty when we started dating. And didn’t I give him my first time too? He turned away, no longer wanting to meet my gaze. But the words he spoke were like daggers, each one drawing blood. “Besides, we’ve been together for so long, and your womb has always been silent. Now, Chloe can give our family an heir. You should be on your knees, thanking her!” I let out a cold snort, responding flatly. “So, if I went and slept with someone else, got pregnant with their child, would you still kneel and thank me?” He spun around abruptly, his furious gaze almost devouring me. “Enough, Aurora! Don’t you think your words are truly disgusting?” “I always thought you were kind and sensible, that you’d understand everything I did. I never imagined you’d be no different from those jealous women.” He gritted his teeth, looking utterly exasperated. Perhaps in his mind, I was just as he described. All that talk of me being gentle, kind, and sensible was just an excuse for him to bring Chloe home. I let out a bitter laugh. “My apologies for disappointing you.” Chloe suddenly dropped to her knees, sobbing hysterically. “Sister-in-law, I’m so sorry, it’s my fault. I ruined your relationship with Liam.” “This baby shouldn’t be in my belly. I promise you, I’ll leave right now. I’ll get rid of the baby immediately and never appear before you again.”

With that, Chloe, still crying, rushed towards the door. With a “thud,” she fell directly to the ground. Liam’s eyes filled with panic. He rushed over without hesitation. Chloe clutched her stomach, whimpering. “Liam, help me! My baby, this is our first baby, I don’t want anything to happen to this baby…” Seeing Chloe’s pained expression, Liam’s eyes instantly reddened. He quickly scooped up the whimpering Chloe from the ground. His panic was visible, his lips trembling. “No, Chloe, I won’t let anything happen to our baby, don’t worry.” “You’re still young, we’ll have many more children, as many as you want, I’ll give them to you, okay?” Listening to his touching declaration, tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes. Five years ago, I too was pregnant with his child. But back then, he claimed it was his career’s crucial period and told me to terminate the pregnancy. We were both young then, and I didn’t think much of it, so I went through with the abortion. The moment I was wheeled into the operating room, I suffered a hemorrhage and almost died on the table. That surgery severely damaged my uterus, making it difficult to conceive afterward. Liam knelt by my hospital bed, clutching my hand, sobbing uncontrollably as he repented. “Aurora, I’m so sorry, I truly didn’t know that abortion would cause such severe damage to your body. Don’t worry, I promise I’ll never fail you again. From now on, if we have a child, we’ll keep it, okay?” “If we really can’t have children, that’s okay too. I’ll be child-free with you.” What were once such moving and heartfelt vows now felt like a sharp blade piercing my heart. I turned, wanting to leave, but he, still holding Chloe, rushed up from behind me. Suddenly, he kicked me hard in the back. I lost my balance and stumbled, falling backward. I knocked over a nearby vase, and glass shards pierced my palm. “What are you standing around for?! Get the car ready! If something happens, can you take responsibility?!” “Chloe is pure-hearted; she thinks of everything for you, yet you say such vicious things to upset her. You’re so much older than her, can’t you be more mature?!” The crushing pain in my chest made it hard to breathe. I slowly got to my feet, pulling the glass shards from my palm. Blood instantly welled up. To avoid giving him any more leverage, I forced myself to endure the pain and went to get the car for him. Perhaps, as he said, there was a life in her belly. Blood dripped onto the steering wheel, while in the backseat, Liam and Chloe’s fingers were intertwined. After dropping them off at the hospital, I felt my task was complete. Trembling, I called Julian. “What you said last time, I agree.”

Julian didn’t seem surprised to hear from me. He told me to send him my address. After I sent it, he replied with a text. “Wait for me. Ten minutes.” For some reason, receiving Julian’s message filled me with a strange sense of calm. I took a closer look at myself; I was a mess, my hand still oozing blood. I decided to head to the doctor’s office first to get some medicine and a simple bandage. As I passed Chloe’s hospital room, through the half-open door, Liam was spoon-feeding her swallow’s nest porridge, blowing on each spoonful carefully. He gently wiped the porridge from her lips. “Eat slowly, little glutton, don’t choke.” Their eyes met in the air, and Chloe couldn’t help but lean in and kiss his lips. Liam didn’t refuse; he even closed his eyes. Watching this scene firsthand, my heart twisted painfully. As I pulled away, Chloe seemed to notice me. A hint of challenge appeared in the corner of her mouth, and she wrapped her slender arms around Liam’s neck. “Liam, don’t you think it’s all my fault? It’s because I’m pregnant with your baby that sister-in-law is so unhappy.” “You don’t know how scared I was when I saw the way sister-in-law looked at me. I know she hates me, but I really don’t want to ruin your relationship, and I don’t want her to hurt our baby. Maybe I should just leave.” Liam suddenly cupped her face, gently stroking her cheek with the same hand that had once caressed mine. “Silly girl, how can you say that? It’s Aurora who’s being childish. You’re having such a difficult pregnancy, and she keeps doing things to upset you. When I get back, I’ll teach her a good lesson.” “You’re carrying a Hayes heir now; I’ll naturally give you a proper status.” Chloe said, teary-eyed and full of feigned grievance, her tears coming on cue. “But what if Aurora really gets angry and leaves? Then I’ll truly be a sinner.” Liam placed the swallow’s nest porridge aside and sneered. “She won’t leave me. Everyone knows she’s been with me for 10 years; no one would want a ‘damaged good’ who’s cohabited with another man for a decade.” “She loves me to death, she’s like a persistent shadow, impossible to get rid of. This wedding, she was the one begging me to marry her.” So, in his eyes, all my efforts were just one-sided devotion. Hearing this, my stomach churned, and I rushed to the bathroom, dry-heaving. But there was nothing in my stomach, only bitter acid. Ten years. Memories flooded my mind like a torrent. All those solemn vows played out like a movie in my head. Liam Hayes, you were the one who pursued me back then. To be with you, I even risked cutting ties with my parents. And now, all I got was a dismissive “desperate fool chasing after me.” I dragged my battered body, slowly walking towards the hospital exit.

Liam, who had come out to get water for Chloe, spotted me and called out. “Aurora Hayes!” I instinctively stopped. He walked towards me, holding the kettle, and started to speak but then noticed my hands, wrapped in bandages. He frowned, a rare flicker of concern in his eyes. “Aurora, what happened to your hands?” He reached out to touch them, but I instinctively pulled away. “It’s nothing. You should go back and care for your little darling in the hospital room, Liam.” Hearing my deliberately distant tone, his outstretched hand froze in the air, and a rare hint of disappointment crossed his features. “Aurora, stop playing games, okay? Chloe is pregnant and her emotions are unstable right now. As her sister-in-law, you should be more generous.” “Didn’t you always want to travel? After the baby is born, we can go together, okay?” Watching his self-righteous demeanor, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. In the past, whatever I did or said, he would agree without question. But ever since Chloe joined the company, he’d stood me up countless times. His promises, I no longer dared to hope for. As he spoke, his fingers were still busy replying to Chloe’s messages. I clenched my fists and looked up, meeting his cold eyes. “Liam Hayes, let’s get a divorce.” He was still engrossed in his chat with Chloe. When he finally registered my words, he froze. He lifted his eyelids, looking at me. “Aurora, what did you just say?” I repeated myself, word for word, enunciating even more clearly than before. “I said, Liam Hayes, let’s get a divorce.” Upon hearing this, he slammed the kettle to the ground. He paced wildly like a madman, hands on his hips, his bloodshot eyes fixed on me. “Aurora, do you even know what you’re saying?” “You’re overdoing this hard-to-get act, aren’t you? So what if Chloe got pregnant? Why are you sulking so much?” “You always said you loved me, but now, when our love is truly tested, you’re backing down? Do you think I’d still be a man if I let Chloe go and terminate the pregnancy? Do you want Chloe to end up like you, unable to bear children?” …He practically tore his throat screaming. Passing patients stopped to watch the spectacle of his madness. So, in his eyes, I had always been useless, a woman who couldn’t bear children. I bit my lip, trying my best to keep the salty tears from falling. My throat aching, I looked at him. “I’m not making her get rid of the baby, Liam. Listen carefully: this time, *I’m* leaving *you*.” A message popped up on my phone from Julian: “I’m in the parking lot. Come over.” I turned to leave, Liam’s furious voice echoing behind me. He ripped his throat screaming, “Aurora Hayes, go! If you leave, don’t ever come back!” “Divorce then, divorce! See how everyone will mock you, how you’ll become an abandoned woman everyone can whisper about behind your back in our social circle.” “Don’t come crying back to me for charity later.” No, Liam. From the moment you hurt me again and again for Chloe, I should have known I needed to leave. The hospital layout was unfamiliar, and I searched for a while but couldn’t find the parking lot Julian mentioned. Just as I spotted a parking sign and started walking towards it, a large hand suddenly grabbed me. A furious face appeared before me.

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I was the perfect corporate wife in our elite circles. When Blake Sterling got a model pregnant, I stepped in to make it all disappear. When Blake was caught sneaking into hotels with an A-list actress, I greased palms and made scandalous photos and videos vanish. Everyone in our elite circles said Blake Sterling had the perfect wife. Their knowing smiles were laced with ridicule, but I didn’t give a damn. After cleaning up his final mess, I simply vanished. Since then, Blake Sterling has been trying to find me, even across the ocean. Blake Sterling’s latest arm candy was a fresh face, Skylar Vance. Naturally, Blake was the lead investor in her debut film. Among Blake’s endless string of conquests, Skylar was the youngest, and by far, the boldest. She flooded my inbox with provocative photos, each one a blatant taunt. “Mrs. Sterling, everyone says you’re so magnanimous. Can you tell me if these photos are flattering?” I closed my email without replying, until Blake’s call came through. “How did those photos get out? Aria Hayes, are you done with your act?” His cutting tone sliced through the phone, and my heart ached for a few seconds before settling back into stillness. “I don’t know.” I spoke flatly. The next second, he hung up. My phone buzzed relentlessly with notifications from all my social media apps. #SterlingCEOCaughtInAnotherPhotoScandal The headlines screamed, the photos pixelated, but it wasn’t hard to tell they were identical to the ones Skylar had sent me. She was young, and her tactics were just as amateur. Editors from major media outlets flooded my SnapChat with messages. “Mrs. Sterling, seven figures should do it this time.” “Mrs. Sterling, we still have time for damage control.” I replied, “Not interested,” to each of them. The offers stopped coming. But then, screenshots of my replies to the editors exploded online. “Guess she’s finally given up.” “No kidding. Who could keep cleaning up their husband’s messes, time and again?” “How long until they divorce, do you think?” I took a deep breath, gazing at the empty mansion around me, a chilling emptiness settling in my chest. Blake Sterling, consider this my divorce gift to you. Soon enough, the scandalous photos evaporated as quickly as they’d appeared. The ‘screenshots’ of my replies were debunked as AI-generated fakes, and major media outlets started dumping dirt on other celebrities to divert attention.

The scandal was suppressed, and Blake sent me a SnapChat message. “Aria Hayes, you never cease to amaze me. You can put up with anything, can’t you? You’d do anything for money.” “How much do you want this time? What expensive meds does your father’s pathetic life need this time?” I replied flatly, “Nothing.” Silence stretched on his end for a long time before I put down my phone. Blake didn’t know that my father had passed away yesterday. While he and Skylar were enjoying a lavish spa day, my father had succumbed to acute kidney failure. I’d called him countless times, only to hear the answering machine. After crying for ten hours in the hospital room, Skylar’s message popped up. I got up, wiped my tears, and began to arrange my father’s funeral. Once everything was settled, I returned to the mansion Blake and I shared. It was only when those photos went viral that Blake finally called me. His first words were cutting accusations. But, it didn’t matter anymore. My most important task now was to divorce Blake. Our marriage had been nothing more than a business arrangement between the Hayes and Sterling families. A financial blunder by my father led to our company’s bankruptcy, and he’d collapsed from the shock. When Mr. Sterling Sr. was still alive, Blake treated me reasonably well. We weren’t madly in love, but we were respectful, almost like polite strangers. In those quiet days, my feelings for Blake grew. His transformation began after his grandfather’s death. That night, the rain poured down. Blake was in our master bedroom, getting intimate with a strange woman. I went wild, tearing at the woman, but Blake shielded her. It was also the first time he’d ever threatened me. “Aria Hayes, your father’s medical bills still depend on me.” Helplessness washed over me. That night, the strange woman stayed. After that, Blake began to indulge himself without restraint. I started cleaning up all sorts of scandals for him. In Blake’s eyes, I was just a woman pretending to be a virtuous wife for money. “Aria Hayes, you have no idea what my life was like before. Now, with no one to control me, it’s just so… comfortable.” Blake’s eyes were hazy as he said it. I just stared at him blankly.

Blake had indeed been tightly controlled before, even watching his grandfather’s every expression before speaking. A rustle of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. Blake walked towards me, tugging at his tie, his expensive cologne heavy in the air. “Aria Hayes, not asking for money again? What new trick have you learned this time?” I looked at him, confused. “Don’t pretend. Skylar told me she saw you signing up for those ‘Win Back Your Husband’ workshops. What did you learn there?” “Suddenly not wanting money, what’s this move called? Playing hard to get?” Blake’s laugh was mocking. He sat next to me, pulling me into his embrace. I could hear his heartbeat clearly against my chest. “Aria Hayes, I’m giving you a chance. Start your performance.” He laughed again as he said it. I looked up at him. He was leaning back on the couch. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been this close to Blake. I raised my hand and touched his chest, feeling a tremor. “Aria Hayes, is that all you’ve got?” With that, Blake roughly pushed me away. His gaze was filled with utter contempt, as if I were something vile, a piece of trash. “Blake Sterling, let’s get a divorce.” I spoke calmly. Blake, who had been standing, froze. This was the second time I’d mentioned divorce to him. The first was the night I caught him cheating. My father had left me a substantial inheritance, and no one else knew about it. But Blake had refused to divorce, saying he wouldn’t let me have half his assets. He also didn’t believe I’d ever be willing to leave him. “Oh, really? When?” Blake smirked carelessly, pulling off his tie and throwing it at my face. A surge of surprise went through me; I hadn’t expected him to agree so easily. But then he suddenly pinched my chin. His handsome eyes scrutinized my face. After a long moment, he spoke flippantly. “Aria Hayes, you’re a terrible student. Find a different workshop.”

After saying that, Blake went back to the bedroom. I was left alone in the living room, the closed bedroom door a barrier between Blake and me. Thinking back to our days of polite respect, it felt like yesterday. Blake had changed so fast. Suddenly, Maria led a few men in. I knew them all—Blake’s closest friends. They didn’t greet me with the same deference as before, merely glancing at me briefly. Blake emerged from the master bedroom quickly, having changed into loungewear. The last one to enter the study turned back, his eyes full of pity, and looked at me. The study door was ajar, and muffled conversations drifted out. “Not many people for a proposal here, security’s good.” “Use all roses, girls always love custom diamond rings.” “Blake, are you sure about this? Your wife, she…” “I can’t give Skylar a proper title, but I can give her a grand gesture to compensate. Just don’t let this get out.” Blake’s voice cut off the conversation. So, he was going to propose to Skylar Vance. I turned and walked away from the study door. Blake had been back for so long, yet he hadn’t noticed my packed luggage. Hearing the sound of him seeing his friends out downstairs, I stepped out of the master bedroom. Looking down, I saw Blake humming a cheerful tune. Soon, dusk fell, and Blake changed into a tailored suit before heading out. I didn’t follow him, busy instead arranging my emigration. All these years, I’d been using my own money to clean up his dirty laundry. Blake automatically assumed I was using the supplementary card he’d given me, making him believe he controlled my finances. Looking at the decent balance in my bank account, I felt a calming sense of security. After confirming the house, the agent sent me the contract. Before I could even look at it, a message from Skylar Vance popped up. It was a ten-minute video. Blake’s declaration of love lasted six minutes, his gaze on Skylar full of adoration. I had to admit, out of all his women over the years, Skylar was truly the most favored.

“Pretty, isn’t it, Mrs. Sterling?” “I heard your wedding was just at a five-star hotel, no proposal, very rushed and perfunctory. Blake never gave you such a grand proposal, did he?” “Blake’s friends all say I’m the only girl he’s ever truly cared about.” Skylar’s voice message sounded utterly smug. She thought her words would drive me crazy. But my heart was eerily calm. For Blake Sterling, I figured there was only a sliver of love left. “Congratulations.” I simply replied with those four words. Her end went silent. The summer wind rustled the leaves, a dry, whispering sound. I slipped off my wedding ring and placed it on the dresser. That night, I dreamt of my father. When I woke up, my pillow was soaked with tears. One hundred and ten missed calls blared on my screen. Before I could even check them, Blake’s call came in again. The moment I answered, his barely concealed rage erupted. “Aria Hayes, I truly underestimated you. All these years, you’ve played the innocent, virtuous wife, but behind my back, you’re more devious than anyone!” “What?” I instinctively retorted. He hung up, and then I received a screenshot from Blake. That proposal video had already soared to the top of every major media platform’s trending topics. Editors from various media outlets had already sent me their prices. While I was asleep, Sterling Enterprises’ stock had plummeted because of the video. People were already speculating how much Blake would have to pay out in a divorce settlement. I looked at the screen full of notifications and felt utterly drained. Just then, the bedroom door burst open. Blake stood there, eyes bloodshot, gripping my collar. His eyes blazed with fury. If looks could kill, I would have died a thousand times over.

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My half-sister was reborn. She predicted a zombie outbreak, the end of the world, in two months. My husband and his whole family believed her. They went crazy hoarding supplies, even spending a fortune to turn their out-of-town estate into an impregnable fortress. My husband blew through all his savings and then borrowed from loan sharks. I clutched at his leg, begging him to stop, but he just kicked me out with nothing but a signed divorce agreement. Two months later, my husband called, scoffing, “The first infected person is about to appear. If you don’t want to die, come kneel at the mansion gates. Vivian is kind, she might just let you in.” But on the predicted day, the apocalypse never came. That’s when they finally panicked. **Chapter 1** I jolted awake from a nightmare, my phone ringing. “Ms. Harper, today is the deadline for your mother’s burial plot renewal. If you don’t renew it, her ashes will have to be removed.” I was on a business trip out of town. My hand trembling, I called my husband, Zane, urging him to renew it quickly, to not let anyone disturb my mother’s peace. Still shaken, I leaned back in my chair, the dream’s images still swirling in my mind. Two months later, a zombie crisis, erupting from City A, would sweep across the globe, turning the entire world into a living hell. During the outbreak, my family was trapped in our remote mansion. We waited two months, and just as we were completely out of supplies, the army finally arrived for rescue. Tears of joy streamed down my face. I urged my family to hurry and drive away with the army, but my sister, Vivian, insisted on putting on her makeup before she’d leave. As the army’s departure time drew closer, I wanted to drag her out, but Zane blocked my way. “What’s wrong with Vivian, a girl, wanting to look pretty before she leaves? It’s the army’s job to serve the people, so what if they wait a bit?” My father, Arthur, and stepmother, Martha, nodded in agreement, calmly sitting back down. I was in disbelief, but I didn’t have time to waste on them. I turned to leave, but Zane grabbed me, saying a family should stay together. He snatched my car keys. Finally, as Vivian leisurely applied her eyeliner, the zombie horde suddenly attacked. We couldn’t retreat in time and were all torn apart by zombies. The phantom pain of being bitten by zombies still lingered on my skin. Now that I had a chance to do it all over again, I absolutely wouldn’t make the same mistake twice! When my plane landed, I felt a faint unease. I changed direction halfway and headed to the cemetery. To my shock, a brand new tombstone, engraved with an unfamiliar name, stood on my mother’s plot. The staff looked bewildered. “After we called you last time, no one renewed the plot. To avoid any mistakes, we even notified your father. He specifically said not to renew it and that we could dispose of the ashes however we pleased.” A chill ran through me. My heart ached painfully. I went crazy, searching through countless unclaimed urns in the warehouse until midnight, finally returning home clutching a small, cold urn. I hadn’t been home for half a month, and the sight that greeted me in the entryway left me stunned, unable to recover for a long time. My cozy home, which I’d meticulously decorated, now looked like a frozen cave. All the appliances and furniture were gone. The beige curtains I’d carefully chosen were half-torn down, draped over the dirty floor. My husband, Zane, was directing the housekeepers to take down our wedding photo, which had hung on the wall for three years, and casually throw it in a corner. “What are you doing?” The scene before me made me feel like I was dreaming. After a long moment, I managed to squeeze out a question. A flicker of panic crossed Zane’s eyes. “Harper, why are you back so suddenly…?” I stared at him, my fingers trembling as I clutched the urn. “If I hadn’t come back early, how would I have known my mother’s grave had been dug up?” Zane’s usually gentle face showed a hint of helplessness, as if he were looking at an unreasonable child. “You don’t understand, Vivian was reborn from the future! The world ends in two months, and every penny in this house needs to be spent wisely. Wouldn’t it be better to buy more food with the money for the cemetery renewal? Why are you still being so difficult at a time like this?” **Chapter 2** It clicked then; Vivian had been reborn too. But I didn’t let it show on my face. I clenched my fists, my voice filled with anger and disbelief. “You actually believe Vivian’s talk about the end of the world? You’ve all gone insane!” “Dad’s company landed several big projects thanks to my predictions!” Vivian strutted down the stairs, looking cocky. “All the money earned from that was used by Dad to buy an entire warehouse of common medicines. Those will be more valuable than gold in the apocalypse.” Her eyes held a sneer. She moved close to Zane, delicately caressing his flat stomach. “I might as well tell you the truth, I’m already carrying Zane’s baby. If you’re smart, you’ll serve me well. In the apocalypse, I might even spare you a bowl of food.” My icy gaze flickered between their faces. It looked like they’d been having an affair long before the apocalypse was supposed to hit. Zane suddenly felt a chill run through him. “Harper, we’ve been married for three years and you haven’t had a child. I’m an only son, you need to consider carrying on my family name.” Only son, my foot. This nobody from nowhere acting like he had a royal lineage to pass down. I scoffed, pulling the plain silver ring off my finger and tossing it at Zane’s feet. “Since you put it that way, I definitely need to consider your family’s royal lineage. Since Vivian says there are two months left, let’s hurry and finalize our divorce before the end of the world.” Zane stared intently at the wedding ring I’d just discarded like trash, his brows furrowed. Our family backgrounds were vastly different. After he graduated college, I willingly gave up everything to help him start his business. We huddled together in a cramped, damp basement, finding warmth in each other. To make money, I worked five jobs a day, my hands raw and aching from washing dishes in freezing water, even in the dead of winter. He used the first money he earned to buy me this ring, a simple silver band with just a tiny chip of diamond embedded in it. Later, his business took off, and I, with my impressive qualifications, successfully joined a prestigious medical research institute. Yet, I still cherished that ring like a precious treasure. My reaction clearly caught him off guard. Zane could no longer keep up his gentle facade, looking utterly incensed. “Harper, stop throwing a tantrum! At a time like this, our family needs to unite to overcome this difficulty. Perfect, tomorrow, you should go around and borrow money from all your friends and colleagues. You’re well-liked, borrowing a few million shouldn’t be a problem!” I sneered, too lazy to bother with such absurd talk, and walked straight upstairs to rest. But when I woke up the next day, I was shocked to find my room door wide open, and my entire wardrobe, filled with all my gold, silver jewelry, and designer bags, was gone. I bit down hard on my lower lip, sharply demanding Zane where my things had gone. He acted completely unconcerned. “You were sleeping soundly, I didn’t want to wake you. Those jewelry and bags are useless anyway. Selling them means we can buy a few more bags of rice.” I could barely contain the rage bubbling within me. “What about the gold ring under my pillow? That was my mother’s only keepsake!” Zane’s voice faltered, then he sighed. “Harper, your mother passed away so many years ago. But you still have your father, Vivian is your blood relative, and I’m your family too. Why can’t you make some sacrifices for your own family?” His casual, entitled tone shredded what little sanity I had left. I suddenly burst out laughing, but big tears rolled down my cheeks. His breathing hitched. He wanted to say more, but I pushed him out of the room. I collapsed amidst the chaos on the floor, tears streaming uncontrollably, yet a helpless smile curved on my lips. **Chapter 3** Luckily, to be safe, I had secretly sold my most valuable jewelry under the cover of night, leaving only the cheap trinkets Zane had bought me and a few eye-catching designer bags. When Zane had to personally move the wardrobe so as not to wake me, a full ten million dollars had already landed in my bank account. But I never imagined he would stoop so low as to steal my mother’s keepsake to sell for money. The hatred from the previous life, where he had personally dragged me into a dead end, surged within me. I silently wiped away my tears, a plan slowly forming in my mind. Since your whole family is united in preparing for the apocalypse, how could I not lend a hand? After some time, my phone rang again, the caller ID showing one of my father’s company shareholders. “Harper, get to the company quickly! Your father’s gone mad! He’s going to sell all his shares!” My heart tightened. I rushed over, only to find my father, Arthur, and Vivian confronting a group of shareholders. This company was founded by my parents together. For it to become an industry giant today, my mother had poured her heart and soul into it. I couldn’t let him ruin it like this. My father saw me, his eyes lighting up. “You’re just in time! Hurry and transfer your shares too, and give me the money to reinforce the mansion.” Vivian lifted her head proudly, looking at me as if I were already dead. In her eyes, I had neither the good fortune of being reborn nor the willingness to humble myself, so I was doomed. Her family would stay in their impenetrable fortress, laughing at my miserable end. The shareholders were all company veterans, caught completely off guard by my father’s sudden move. Fearing he was being scammed, they clamored to dissuade him from doing something foolish. “If you don’t want the company to have problems, there’s another solution.” Zane walked quickly towards me, a polished smile playing on his lips. “You just need to buy out your father’s shares.” My fingers clenched so tightly my nails almost pierced my palm, my knuckles white. Zane’s expression was as calm as if he were discussing tomorrow’s weather, yet his words were like a dull knife, slowly carving into my heart. Vivian scoffed. “Her? Want to buy out Dad’s shares? Does she even have that kind of money?” Cold sweat trickled down my back. I couldn’t believe my former husband had schemed to this extent. My father had set the price very low for a quick sale, and all my liquid and illiquid assets barely amounted to enough. “So, even if it means spending your entire fortune, you want to keep this company, right?” Zane whispered softly in my ear. His voice was gentle as always, yet it felt like steel blades piercing me. He watched me with keen interest, like he was sizing up prey he was sure to capture. In two months, companies and shares would be nothing but garbage. And now, he wanted to squeeze every last bit of value from me using this garbage. After the apocalypse, if I wanted to survive, I’d have to swallow every humiliation and humbly bow at his feet. My gaze fixed on Zane’s utterly hypocritical face, my own pale and bloodless. “It’s a deal!” The paperwork was quickly done. My father, smugly thinking he’d offloaded a huge burden, had no idea he was giving up their last lifeline. Ever since my father remarried, the company shares had been tightly clutched by my stepmother. She never imagined there would be a day she’d hand them over to me on a silver platter. Vivian triumphantly announced that they had sold all their properties, and the whole family had moved into the out-of-town estate. The cash from selling all their assets was transformed into bags of rice and instant noodles in the warehouse, and long-lasting potatoes, winter melons, and cabbages in the cold storage. Construction crews were working feverishly at the mansion, building various illegal structures. Vivian smiled proudly, “When the zombies attack, these watchtowers will be the best observation points.” I snorted, about to leave, but Zane wouldn’t let me go. He forcibly dragged me away. A burly man with a scarred face looked me up and down, his lecherous gaze making me incredibly uncomfortable. “This is Mrs. Zane, quite the looker.” The man rubbed his hands together and placed a contract in front of me. “Mr. Zane is in a hurry to borrow fifty million. We don’t exactly distrust him. But we’d appreciate Mrs. Zane signing too. If something unexpected happens, a wife should naturally help pay it back, right?” **Chapter 4** Before I could even speak, Zane pulled me aside. “In two months, who’s going to care about these debts! Just sign it quickly! The things we’re hoarding can save lives! By then, even the government will be begging us to sell supplies. What’s this small amount of money compared to that?” He was already this insane, even borrowing from loan sharks. He was truly seeking his own destruction. I scoffed internally, but put on a heartbroken expression. I clutched his leg, pleading repeatedly, “You’ve taken all our money and gambled it away! Please, I beg you, come to your senses! You won’t be able to pay back a loan shark!” The man instantly became wary. Fifty million wasn’t a small sum. If Zane really gambled it all away, even dismembering him wouldn’t help. Seeing the money about to slip away, Zane was furious. He kicked me away. “Bitch, what nonsense are you spewing!” Vivian gracefully stood by Zane’s side, smiling with pursed lips. “Zane, Harper said she wants a divorce, so she’s hardly Mrs. Zane anymore, is she? I’ll sign it.” Zane glared at me, immediately scribbled a divorce agreement, and threw it in my face. I was almost laughing from pure rage. Every clause stated that all marital property was unrelated to me, meaning I was to leave with nothing. Though, given the current situation, there wasn’t much left of our marital property anyway. I added a clause at the end of the agreement. Zane scoffed, agreeing without a second thought. A month later, clutching my freshly issued divorce certificate, I felt a sense of immense relief, completely unfazed by Zane’s grim, thunderous expression. Time trickled by, drawing closer to the date Vivian constantly chattered about. Zane and the Arthur family believed they had made all the necessary preparations, and their actions became increasingly reckless.

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Just because she lost a game of Truth or Dare, my wife was passionately kissing her assistant in my car. The moisture even soaked my son’s car seat. The male assistant sent me the video, and I immediately forwarded it to my wife. “Going broke, Seraphina? Cheating in *my* car now?” She sent a voice message back, her tone laced with drunken charm. “This was an arranged marriage, Julian. Did you actually think I was *your* wife? It was just a dare! Are you seriously that petty?!” I scoffed. It was time to make her understand. You do something you shouldn’t, you pay the price. I immediately halted the Miller Group’s major overseas deal, scheduled for signing next week. The next moment, my wife, Seraphina Miller, started bombarding my phone. But my secretary, Sarah, blocked every call. “I’m sorry, Ms. Miller, Mr. Thorne is currently in a meeting.” Playing the silent game? I could play too. Not long after, Seraphina stormed into my office, heels clicking furiously, and slammed her palm onto my desk. “Julian, have you lost your mind? That was a $300 million deal! You’re going to destroy my company over a stupid dare?!” Seraphina, who always carried herself with such elegance and composure, was now acting like a raging lunatic, all for another man. I put down my report and looked at her enraged, contorted face. “You have fifteen minutes, starting now.” Ten minutes later, Seraphina sent a photo. The Maybach’s interior was back to pristine condition, undergoing a professional cleaning. I immediately notified my overseas department, “Proceed with the signing as planned.” Then, I sent Seraphina a photo. Her cherished designer gown was trampled on the floor, and her beloved custom-made shoes were soaking in a filthy mop bucket. “Seraphina Miller, this was also a dare. Remember my bottom line. This is just a warning. Cross me again, and the consequences will be beyond what you can handle!” Silence from Seraphina’s end. I knew she was furious, probably boiling with rage. But I was even angrier. Our family alliance had been orchestrated by her back then, and it was *her* who rejected the option of us leading separate lives after marriage. For six years, we went from a formal, polite relationship to one where we truly supported each other. Especially after our son was born, I poured all my energy into our family, ensuring both the Thorne and Miller families flourished and prospered. I thought we would stand by each other until we were old and retired. But she shattered our happy, stable life. That brief pause on the $300 million deal? It was just a warning shot.

That day, Seraphina didn’t come home for the first time. The next morning, I walked straight into the Miller Group, taking the internal elevator directly to the executive floor. It was completely empty outside. Our assistants should have been on duty. I hadn’t brought mine today, but where was *her* assistant? Loud laughter drifted from her office, seeping through the blinds. I caught a glimpse of her assistant, Kai, holding a hairdryer, solicitously drying her hair. Seraphina lounged casually in her office chair, chatting and smiling with him. Seraphina used to be very strict about personal space. No one, except me, was allowed to linger in her office for long. But her tenderness towards Kai now felt like a sharp blade piercing my heart. Even more glaring was the cold glint of the high-end watch on Kai’s wrist. That was clearly the watch she had carefully chosen and bought abroad as my birthday gift! Kai was just an intern assistant; he couldn’t afford a single screw on that watch even if he sold everything he owned! I pushed the door open. Kai dropped the hairdryer as if electrocuted, forcing out a sycophantic grin. “Mr. Thorne, what brings you to the Miller Group offices?” I looked at him coldly. “I’m a director and general manager of the Miller Group. It’s not for an intern to tell me where I can be!” “Go fetch HR. I want to ask her if the company’s hiring standards have fallen this low.” Kai looked to Seraphina for help, and she gestured for him to step out and let things blow over. Just as Kai was about to leave, I spoke, my voice chilling. “Take off the watch!” He froze, his hand covering the watch, looking pitifully at Seraphina. I stared intensely into Seraphina’s eyes. “Explain this. Why is my birthday gift on *his* wrist?” “The order receipt for that watch is still in my drawer!” Seraphina’s expression turned impatient. “He’s my assistant. He reflects on me.” “Just because you insisted on cleaning the car he sat in, making him look bad, what’s wrong with me giving him a watch to keep up appearances?” “Your assistant’s wardrobe, wasn’t that also bespoke that you shelled out for?” I scoffed. “My assistant is a man who earns his pay through his own merit. That good-for-nothing, why does *he* deserve it?” I pointed a finger at Kai. “Is it because he knows how to ‘serve’ you?!” Seraphina’s face instantly turned ashen, and fury boiled in her eyes. “It’s just a watch! Consider it compensation for his ‘suffering’!” “I’ll get you a better one for your birthday, alright?!”

I sneered. “A limited-edition watch? Who is *he* to even be seen with something like that?” “Seraphina Miller, people should act in accordance with their standing.” I took a step closer, my voice icy. “Mrs. Thorne wears limited-edition jewelry, custom-made gowns, and global limited-edition heels. That’s only natural.” “But for Ms. Miller to enter the exclusive world of haute luxury… money alone won’t get you in.” Seraphina exploded in rage. “Julian Thorne, we have important work to discuss! Assistant Kai has put in tremendous effort for this deal, please leave immediately!” She actually dared to yell at me for that useless piece of trash. I chuckled coldly. “Then let me see Assistant Kai’s *real* capabilities!” In a fit of pique, Seraphina hurled her bag at Kai and stomped out. Kai shot me a smug, sleazy grin, then scurried after her. Before the sound of her heels completely faded, I made a call. “As planned, have Mr. Thompson give them a proper welcome.” Then I ordered a coffee and sat by the floor-to-ceiling window. I’d only taken a couple sips when Seraphina called. Her voice was so shrill I had to pull the phone away from my ear. “Julian Thorne, you despicable schemer!” “Mr. Thompson publicly ripped up the contract, calling Kai a gold-digger who ‘sucks up’ to rich women!” “He even mocked me, saying I slept my way to the top, always wanting more and more!” “You orchestrated this! I must have been out of my mind to marry you!” I calmly set my cup down. “People will say what they want. How can I control that?” “If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.” Before I could finish, Seraphina screamed hysterically. “The deal’s off, Kai ran off humiliated—are you satisfied?!” My lips curved upward. “Satisfied? I’m just putting things back where they belong.” Seraphina, seething, hung up. I called Ms. Davies from HR and had every trace of Kai purged from the company records. At this point, I felt I had given Seraphina enough dignity and leeway. As long as she behaved herself and returned to being Mrs. Thorne, we could continue. But I never imagined she wouldn’t cherish the chance I gave her.

That day, Leo had a fever of 101.3°F and was particularly clingy. I stayed home, giving him IV fluids and playing with him. Seraphina, in her heels, was about to leave again when Leo called out in his tiny, milky voice. “Mommy, don’t go!” She hesitated for a moment, then finally sat down. Seeing Leo’s contented smile, I felt confident that giving her that chance earlier had been the right decision. But her jarring ringtone tore through the tender moment. Kai’s voice, laced with tears, rang out. “Ms. Miller, someone’s following me! Everyone online is calling me a sugar baby, a bootlicker, and a home-wrecker!” “Is Mr. Thorne trying to drive me to my death? Ms. Miller, please tell Mr. Thorne I won’t go near you again. Please beg him to let me go!” I didn’t even lift an eyelid, continuing to play with Leo. Kai being harassed was expected, but it wasn’t as bad as he claimed. Seraphina, however, reacted as if she’d been stepped on, slamming her phone onto the coffee table. Leo, startled, burst into tears. Instead of comforting our son, she pointed a finger at me, ranting like a wild banshee. “Julian Thorne, that’s enough! I’m sick of your smug, manipulative face!” “Kai’s already gone, why won’t you leave him alone?” “I married you, Julian Thorne, I didn’t sell myself to you! What right do you have to control everything I do?!” My patience snapped. I pointed outside. “If you want to argue, get out! Don’t scare our son!” She scoffed. “Julian Thorne, you want to hurt him? Well, I’m going to protect him!” With that, she ignored Leo’s cries and stormed out, slamming the door shut! I watched her retreating back, my gaze darkening. She’s truly lost her mind! After putting Leo to sleep, I opened my laptop. The scandal of Kai’s illicit affair and sudden promotion, which had been all over the internet that morning, had mysteriously vanished by afternoon. For that useless piece of trash, Seraphina had actually used the company’s PR team! Utterly pathetic! I tried to ignore it, but then I noticed Seraphina had issued an official company statement. The statement lauded Kai’s exceptional professional abilities, sternly rebuking malicious rumors and threatening legal action. A message from Ms. Davies from HR simultaneously landed on my phone: Seraphina had officially appointed Kai as Operations Manager, granting him an independent office on the executive floor and副总经理 (Vice President) level privileges. My assistant also sent me photos from Kai’s SnapChat, snaps of him looking ridiculously smug about his newfound ‘success.’ He was decked out in custom-tailored suits, proudly displaying that gleaming watch. I looked at the messages on my phone and let out a cold laugh. Seraphina Miller, if you insist on promoting this parasite, don’t blame me for showing no mercy! After dealing with everything concerning the Miller Group, I rushed home, only to find Leo gone! I anxiously questioned Maria, the nanny, who stammered, “Ms. Miller came back… and took the young master with her…” The rage in my heart could no longer be suppressed. After learning from my assistant that Seraphina was at the amusement park, I rushed there without delay. But I saw Seraphina and Kai whispering intimately ahead, completely unaware of Leo stumbling and struggling to keep up behind them. His little face, flushed with fever, was slick with sweat, and he pleaded in a teary voice. “Mommy… slow down… it hurts… wait for me…” Kai’s lips curved into a malicious smirk, and he casually extended his foot. *Thump!* Leo fell heavily to the ground, stunned for a moment, then burst into uncontrollable wails. Seraphina instinctively reached out to help, but Kai suddenly spoke, feigning hurt. “Ms. Miller, is the little master perhaps annoyed with me? Did he intentionally fall to fake cry?” Hearing this, Seraphina abruptly withdrew her hand and looked at Leo with a scolding expression. “Uncle Kai was kind enough to play with you, and you’re faking a fall? Why are you so naughty?” I lunged forward like an arrow released from a bow, scooping up Leo, who was now sobbing uncontrollably. Rage threatened to consume me. Seraphina’s expression flickered, and she rushed to explain, “Kai said I shouldn’t have left Leo when he was sick, so he suggested I bring him to the amusement park to make it up to him…” I looked at her coldly. “What can a two-year-old child do at an amusement park?” “Watch you two pathetic excuses for a couple put on a show? Or get deliberately tripped by him?” The air was dead silent. Kai’s smug smile froze on his face. Seraphina’s pupils constricted abruptly, and then her face hardened with anger. “Julian Thorne, you’re so ungrateful! We were…” I held my shaken son and cut her off. “Seraphina Miller, we’re getting a divorce!”

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