Seven days before the wedding, my fiancé, my childhood sweetheart, proposed to the impoverished student he’d been sponsoring. I didn’t cry, didn’t make a scene. I simply stood there, in front of everyone, and wished them eternal happiness. His buddies tried to persuade me to be generous, to fulfill Chloe Miller’s long-held wish. He, Ryan Sullivan, was furious, accusing me of blowing things totally out of proportion. He glared, his eyes ice cold, practically daring me to beg for forgiveness. He looked down at me, condescendingly, and said, “I told you I’d come back and marry you after I helped Chloe finish everything on her wish list. You haven’t been good.” I knew. That was the last wish. I deleted those thirty-three wishes from my notes, my heart finally dead. Then, I dialed a number. “I’m willing to marry you.” The man on the other end of the line chuckled. “Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.” The cold wind cut right through me, and a dull, twisting ache tightened in my chest. From the upstairs private room, bursts of cheering drifted down to my ears, wave after wave. My fists were clenched tight, trembling uncontrollably. I hadn’t walked more than a few steps when Chloe Miller came running after me. “Alice, I never meant to ruin your relationship. Please don’t be mad at me, okay? I’ll give Ryan back to you! I… I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” Her eyes were teary, and her nose was red, like a startled bunny. I scoffed, watching her performance unfold. “I don’t need him. You two deserve each other, you utterly disgusting pair.” Chloe kept apologizing. “Alice, just hit me! Kill me! I shouldn’t have ever shown up here!” She dropped to her knees with a thud, then grabbed my hand, trying to force it to slap her face. But before I could even touch her, Ryan’s grip tightened fiercely around my wrist. A sharp, stinging slap echoed in my ears. I was stunned. A burning sensation spread across my cheek. He was shaking with rage, pulling Chloe protectively into his arms, wrapping his jacket around her. His voice was impatient, laced with irritation. “Alice, didn’t I warn you not to mess with me? You’ve changed. When did you become so obsessed with tearing other women down? Making me lose face in front of everyone like this.” “I only see Chloe as a little sister. Besides, this is my last night with her. After this, I’m all yours, understand?” Ryan’s eyes, those beautiful, familiar eyes I once loved, were now filled with nothing but disappointment. My own eyes burned. Ryan and I grew up together. When I was younger, I was in my ‘main character’ phase, a bit cringey, honestly, always calling myself a princess. He’d play all sorts of goofy characters, or my brave knight, carrying me on his back and boasting to other kids that I was his one and only little princess. He never wanted me to shed a single tear, or suffer even the slightest injury. Once, when I was hospitalized with a high fever, he stayed by my side for two days straight, not eating or drinking. He said he wished he could die for me, that he’d go to hell and beg the King of the Underworld to grant me a lifetime free of illness and misfortune. The privileged son of the Sullivan family even learned to do laundry and cook, all to take better care of me. I looked at Ryan’s face, feeling increasingly like he was a stranger. Had I changed? Perhaps Ryan himself hadn’t even realized it, but ever since Chloe appeared, his heart had already sailed across the ocean for her. Seven years ago, when Ryan and I first started dating, we decided to do something meaningful to celebrate. Chloe Miller was someone I spotted right away – a brilliant student, but with a tragic background. We brought her into our lives, helped her get into the best high school in the city, and promised to sponsor her all the way through college. At first, Ryan would complain about her to me. He’d say she was slow, clumsy, and had no common sense. He swore he’d never be interested in her kind. He predicted she’d have a tough time in the real world. The same girl he despised back then, he now cherished more than anything. I used to tell him to quit smoking, but he’d just grin and say he’d naturally quit when we were ready for kids. Then he’d light up one cigarette after another right beside me. Until the smoke made Chloe cough a few times. He quietly put it out, and from that day on, I never saw him smoke again. “Ryan, let’s cancel our wedding.” One week. That was enough time for me to pack my things and leave him. And to find a new groom.

“Alice, why are you being like this? Ryan just wants to fulfill Chloe’s dreams, that’s all.” “Yeah, Chloe’s had it rough all these years. It’s just a few wishes, you’re being so petty.” Ryan’s cronies, who had followed him out, chimed in, talking over each other. Even Blake Sullivan, Ryan’s younger brother, whom I had always had a soft spot for, spoke up. “Sis-in-law, my brother isn’t even married to you yet, you’re acting way too entitled.” “Don’t you believe my brother could drop you in a second? You’re just yesterday’s news, who’s going to pick you up now?” He finished speaking, and a few of them exchanged glances, then burst into snickers. Ryan, still holding Chloe close, scoffed mockingly. “Are you really sure about this? Don’t come crying and begging for my forgiveness later.” I was genuinely exhausted. I didn’t want to argue with them anymore. Just then, a familiar Maybach pulled up nearby. Without a word, I opened the passenger door and got in. Ryan’s face instantly crumpled like he was constipated. He roared, “Alice! Get out of there right now! We can still talk this through!” Julian Blackwood let out a soft chuckle, then leaned over to help me fasten my seatbelt. “Take me home first. I need to pack some things.” “Okay. Pack everything clean.” After so many years together, Ryan had given me a lot of expensive things. I called a luxury consignment store and arranged for them to pick up all my bags and jewelry. There was so much that they could only take a portion, promising to return for the rest tomorrow. I rubbed my throbbing temples, ordered some takeout, and started scrolling through Ins while I ate. My eyes landed on a kissing photo. Ryan was tenderly cupping Chloe Miller’s face, his gaze full of deep affection. Then, there were videos his friends had posted in their SnapChat group. The two of them were passionately kissing amidst cheers and whistles, the sickening sound of their kissing making my stomach churn. I felt like I was going to throw up. I immediately left the group. The next second, Ryan’s call came through. “Alice, we were just kidding around, how many times have I told you? These are my best friends, and you just left the group without a word. Are you planning to never speak to us again?” I just hummed softly. “What do you mean by that?” Blake’s voice cut in. “Don’t worry, bro, she won’t. She’s too dependent. She’ll be begging you to add her back in a couple of days.” I hung up the phone and let out a light, cynical chuckle. In the past, I really would have swallowed my pride and begged them, but not anymore. I needed to get far, far away from them. That night, as I tried to sleep, the wedding photos on my bedside table and dressing table felt like burning eyesores. I immediately took them down and replaced them with a photo of Ryan and Chloe that I found in his study. Ryan should probably thank me for that. The next morning, Ryan came back, looking surprisingly refreshed. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and he lifted his chin, looking at me confidently. “I knew you’d be waiting for me here at home, Alice.” “Alice, I really should have come back to you yesterday. It was all Chloe’s fault, she said she was afraid of the dark, so I stayed. It won’t happen again, I promise…” His expression froze when he saw the luxury consignment people carrying my bags away. He looked at me, a tense worry in his eyes. “Alice, why are you selling the things I gave you?” I replied calmly, “They were taking up too much space. I’m making room for new things.” He happily took my hand. “Good. I’ll get you new ones.” I frowned and pulled my hand away. He seemed to have completely misunderstood my meaning. I was talking about making room for Chloe’s things. I was moving out.

Ryan claimed he’d played games all night and hadn’t slept well, so he wanted to catch up on some sleep. He tried to pull me towards the bedroom. If I hadn’t caught a glimpse of the hickey on his collarbone, I might have almost believed his pathetic lies. “Alice?! What is this?” “Are you doing this just to piss me off? Where are our wedding photos?” He pointed furiously at the empty spot on the wall, his eyes bloodshot. “Threw them out.” Ryan’s body stiffened for a moment, his fingers trembling. “I’m already so tired, why do you keep making trouble? I’m sorry, I’ll apologize, okay? Just put the photos back.” “I don’t have feelings for her. I’m just purely helping her complete her wish list.” In the beginning, I, too, naively believed that Ryan was just doing Chloe Miller a favor. When she had a stomach ache, he personally cooked porridge and fed it to her. When the power went out, he stayed with her all night. He took her to the amusement park that *I* had always wanted to go to. He even went to the lingerie store with her and personally helped her pick out her underwear. Every single one of these things was on Chloe’s thirty-three-item wish list. She had personally sent it to me, neatly arranged, one scandalous wish after another. She sent it to me, then quickly unsent it. Claiming she had accidentally tapped the wrong person. That was the moment I finally understood how utterly stupid I had been. There was nothing innocent about their relationship anymore. “The cleaning lady took them away to dispose of them.” Ryan’s expression instantly shattered. I chuckled again. “We can take new ones later.” With Chloe. His warm hand gently placed itself on my shoulder. “Good. We’ll take even better ones in the future.” Just then, a sudden phone ring broke the awkward silence. It was the real estate agent for secondhand homes. She was asking if I was truly serious about selling the house. Because I was putting it on the market for almost half its value. All these properties Ryan had transferred to my name when he proposed. A large riverside penthouse, a suburban villa, and two four-bedroom apartments in prime downtown locations. “Yes, I’m really selling. The contract’s already signed. Please find a buyer as soon as possible; I need the money urgently.” Realizing something was terribly wrong, Ryan’s grip tightened on my wrist. I gasped, sucking in a sharp breath of pain. He seemed not to notice, his voice urgent as he questioned me. “Who was that on the phone?” “The agent.” “You’re selling houses? Which ones?” Seeing the panic on his face, I felt a secret thrill. I had originally intended to tell him, but now I just wanted to watch Ryan squirm, completely in the dark. “Someone asked me to inquire about them.” A faint trace of color returned to his pale lips. “That’s good.” “Alice, all my time belongs to you now. I won’t let Chloe bother us again.” I raised an eyebrow, but before I could voice my doubts, Ryan took another call. A few minutes later, he rushed out the door in a panic, not even bothering to change his slippers. I waved dismissively. And continued to pack my luggage. It wasn’t until I was almost done that Ryan called, attempting to explain himself. “Alice, Chloe’s depression has flared up again. I’m afraid she’ll do something stupid, you know she has suicidal tendencies.” I scoffed. “You don’t need to tell me. I don’t want to know.” From the other end of the line, Chloe’s sobbing voice drifted through. “Alice, I’m so sorry, I can’t control myself. I just want to end it all…” “That way, you can be with Ryan forever…” “Yeah, then die. Honestly, nobody really cares.” I held the phone, marveling at how well Chloe could act. My psychologist had clearly told me that Chloe was perfectly healthy. A sudden burst of noise came from the other end. Then, Chloe’s heart-wrenching sobs mingled with Ryan’s enraged roar. “Alice, you are truly evil! I wish I could rip you open and see if your heart is made of iron!” “You are the root cause of Chloe’s depression!” “If you hadn’t constantly misunderstood her, why would she have become like this?! Do you only find happiness by driving her to her death?!” I said, “Yes.” “You’re amazing,” he said through gritted teeth. *Slam!* The phone went dead. Ryan had probably thrown his phone. But that wasn’t my concern. There were still four days until our wedding, and I had finished packing all my belongings. Only a few minor things were left to handle. Soon, I would say goodbye to Ryan completely. I had moved some of my luggage out, waiting for the moving company to arrive. But Ryan got there even faster. His face was ashen, contorted into a terrifying mask of rage. He looked at my luggage, then scanned the empty, echoing room, his voice trembling. “Where are you going? Alice, tell me you’re not leaving me, right?”

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Damien Thorne, the ruthless underworld kingpin, confessed his love for the ninety-ninth time. And for the ninety-ninth time, I rejected him. That very night, he drugged me and held me captive. Damien’s eyes were wild, possessive. He held me close, whispering his love over and over, a chilling litany. I scoffed, my heart burning with hatred for him. I managed to escape, barely, only to be kidnapped by his enemies. To save me, Damien took three bullets. The first shot crippled his arm. The second blinded an eye. The third stole his life. As he lay dying, covered in his own blood, Damien stared at me, his gaze stubborn, yet heartbreakingly fragile. “Evelyn, why couldn’t you just love me, just once?” I opened my eyes again, and I was back. Back to the day Damien Thorne first confessed his love. This time, I took his hand. I thought we’d grow old together. But Damien, the man who died for me, betrayed me three times instead. On our wedding night, he deliberately ‘mistook’ rooms and slept with someone else. I swallowed the bitter pain and forgave him. Another time, a two AM call from someone else, and he left me stranded in the pouring rain in the middle of nowhere while I was three months pregnant. I miscarried. I wiped my tears, letting it go. But the third time? He threw my elderly mother off a sheer cliff, hundreds of feet above the crashing ocean.

The ocean wind howled, whipping my tears away before I could even try to stop them. Just a few steps away, my mother was brought forward, a burlap sack over her head. Her frail, elderly frame trembled violently. Even though I couldn’t see her face, I knew the utter despair consuming her. Damien’s face was a mask of cold indifference. A cigarette dangled from his lips, and in his right hand, he idly twirled a sleek, black handgun. Behind them, hundreds of feet below, stretched the vast, endless ocean. It hit me in an instant what he was about to do. My legs buckled. I fell to my knees, trembling, before him. “She’s my mom… my only family left in this world. Please, just spare her. Do whatever you want to me, but don’t hurt her…” Damien glanced at me, a casual, dismissive look. He lifted my chin with his hand, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Did you ever think about Tiffany’s feelings when you recklessly hurt what she cherished? Now that the stick is hitting your own back, does it finally sting?” I stared at him, my heart heavy with a profound sadness. Just hours ago, Tiffany’s dog accidentally fell into a mud pit. Tiffany, feigning illness, had subtly ordered me to take on the ‘burden’ of bathing her pet. All because I accidentally got a little water in its nose while bathing it, Tiffany had cried hysterically, claiming I was trying to drown her dog. For years, Damien had treated her like a precious gem, so of course, he was utterly heartbroken for her. Damien gently comforted her, his smile easy and unbothered. I thought that would be the end of it. I never imagined that after comforting Tiffany, he would bring my mother here. I knew Damien’s methods all too well. I wouldn’t dare gamble with my mother’s life. So, I could only lower myself and beg him. “Damien, I truly didn’t mean to. Please believe me? My mom is old and her health isn’t good. Don’t scare her…” Damien scoffed. “You wanted to drown Tiffany’s dog, didn’t you? Then I’ll just have to let you taste what it’s like to have someone close to you drowned, Evelyn. When you do something wrong, there’s always a price to pay.” He looked into my eyes, a cruel smile twisting his lips. “Wouldn’t you agree?” A chill shot through me. I clutched desperately at his pants leg, pleading with him over and over again. But Damien was dead set on getting revenge for Tiffany. The next second, he slowly raised his hand, and his men immediately understood. “No! Don’t!” It was too late. My mother was thrown over the edge, like a rag doll— She plummeted downwards. *Splash!* The calm ocean surface erupted with a violent spray. My heart ripped into a million pieces. I lunged forward like a madwoman, only to be roughly held back by Damien’s men, pinned to the ground. Tears blurred my vision. In a daze, Damien’s blood-stained face from my past life, and his desperate, fragile eyes, flashed before me. Because of that look, I had made a solemn vow. If I ever got another chance, another life, I would love him truly. Fate, it seemed, had heard my plea. But tragically, in this second chance, the man from my memories had become utterly unrecognizable. Facing his repeated cruelty, I chose to bite my tongue and swallow the pain. I kept brainwashing myself: he didn’t mean it, if I just treated him well enough, he’d eventually remember his feelings for me. But reality slapped me hard across the face. My stubborn delusion had cost me an unbearable price. I had lost the only person in this world who truly cared about me: my mom. My tears became a torrent, and despair threatened to swallow me whole. Damien watched me for a long time, seemingly quite pleased with my reaction. He walked over, his fingertips tracing my face, gently wiping away my tears. Then he slowly pulled me into his embrace. “Sweetheart, do you finally understand your mistake?” His face held none of the loving warmth he once showed. Only cold indifference remained. The man who once died for me was long gone. Wrong. Of course, I knew I was wrong. I was wrong to keep softening my heart for him. Wrong to not walk away the first time he crossed my line. Wrong to bring the grievances of my past life into this one. I was terribly, utterly wrong. Time seemed to stretch endlessly. Eventually, Damien’s men retrieved my mother’s body from the water. Suddenly, I found a surge of strength from somewhere deep inside. I shoved him away, scrambling, trembling, to my mother’s side. Just as I reached out to open the burlap sack, Damien’s voice cut through the air again. “Alright, alright, I’m just messing with you. It’s just a dummy in there, not your mother.” I froze. Damien continued, “Sweetheart, if you ever dare to ‘misbehave’ again, what’s placed before you truly *will* be your mother’s body.” “Tiffany took a bullet for me. She’s my savior. Don’t provoke her again, understand? Be a good girl. Don’t make things difficult for me.” I stared blankly at him until his figure vanished from my sight. Only then did I wipe away my tears, my hand trembling as I dialed a number. “I’ve made up my mind,” I choked out. “I’m leaving Damien Thorne.”

After hanging up, as I dragged my numb, lifeless legs, ready to leave, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Tiffany. “Ms. Price, I assume the dummy has been retrieved. Why don’t you open the bag and take a look? There’s a little surprise for you.” My eyes involuntarily darted to the burlap sack containing the ‘dummy’ a short distance away. My entire body stiffened, a chilling dread blossoming in my chest. I was shaking uncontrollably, my feet heavy as lead. I couldn’t even move my legs. Suddenly, the burlap sack shifted. A muffled cry of pain seemed to come from within. I couldn’t take it anymore. I stumbled, half-ran, half-fell towards it. My hands trembled violently as I desperately clawed at the sack, tearing it open… Tiffany’s second text followed immediately. “I had someone switch your mother with the dummy, Ms. Price. This is the price of provoking me. I hope you can afford it.” My mother’s face was ashen, blood stark against her skin. She lay bound, soaked, barely clinging to life. At the sight, I nearly fainted. When I finally managed to get her to the hospital, practically dragging her, I was told all medical resources had been diverted to save a dog that had merely choked on some water. The nurse pursed her lips, sighing helplessly. “Just a dog, yet it’s worth more than a human life! I swear, my life isn’t even worth as much as that dog’s!” “Exactly. If a dog has issues, take it to the vet, right? Why waste all these medical resources on it? Besides, that dog looks perfectly fine, jumping around. People are making a fuss over nothing!” “Shhh! Keep your voice down! That dog belongs to Damien Thorne’s beloved! You want to talk trash about the Kingpin’s favorite, you’ve got a death wish!” My mother was barely breathing. Any more delay and it would be too late. There was no time to think. I had to find Damien. I found him in a VIP room upstairs. The moment I walked in, I saw Tiffany sitting on his lap, their bodies pressed intimately together as they passionately kissed. Normally, seeing such a scene would tear me apart with jealousy. But now, I didn’t even have the energy for it. I rushed over, grabbing Damien’s hand. “My mom… something’s happened to her. She’s in critical condition. Please, will you save her?” Damien impatiently shook off my hand, looking annoyed, as if I’d interrupted something important. “I threw a dummy into the ocean, Evelyn, not her. What could possibly happen to her in such a short time? Stop this drama. I don’t have time for your games.” As every second ticked by, helpless tears streamed down my face. “I’m not lying… My mom is really hurt. Tiffany swapped her with the dummy. She hit her head on a rock when she was thrown down, and she’s barely clinging to life. She’s right here in the hospital. Please, tell the doctors to go see her!” At my words, a flicker of uncertainty crossed Damien’s eyes. “Ms. Price, what are you implying? How could I possibly harm your mother? I haven’t even brought up you trying to drown my dog, and now you’re trying to frame me?” Tiffany started to cry as she spoke. Seeing her tears, Damien’s expression instantly darkened. He stared at me, a cold fury in his gaze. “Apologize.” My mother was teetering on the brink of death. For her sake, I had no choice but to endure. “I’m sorry, Ms. Reed. I was wrong. Please, for my elderly mother’s sake, save her!” A flash of triumph crossed Tiffany’s eyes, but before she could speak, Damien cut in again. “Good. Now, it’s its turn.” Damien pointed at the dog behind me, a sneer on his face. “You almost drowned it. Is it really too much to ask for you to apologize to it?” Even after enduring so much humiliation, I still couldn’t believe my ears. Damien Thorne was actually telling me to apologize to a dog. All color drained from my face. I stared at him, utterly incredulous. “You want me to apologize to a dog?” Damien chuckled, “What? Feeling wronged? Don’t you want me to send someone to save your mother? Just apologize to it, and I’ll agree.” I looked into his eyes, biting down hard on my teeth. The humiliation was so profound, I wished I could just die. But then I thought of my mother’s ashen face, and I realized I didn’t even have the luxury of death.

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Sixteen years of chasing him, yet his heart remained untouched. Then, one drunken night, I unexpectedly ended up in bed with my sworn enemy. My rival, tracing the marks I’d left on him, cornered me. “Alex, are you really going to keep running from me for that coward?” My childhood friend’s eyes were red, his voice raw with desperation. “I messed up. Just give me one more chance.” I stood outside the private room at the club. Clutching the carefully chosen gift, my heart hammered, threatening to burst out of my chest. It was Liam’s birthday today. My childhood friend. I’d planned this for an entire month, just to confess my feelings to him on this special day. My hand had barely touched the doorknob when I heard Liam’s voice from inside. “Alex? Don’t joke around. I’ve always thought of him like a little brother.” My fingers froze instantly, glued to the doorknob. “Really? But the way he looks at you is totally different.” Liam chuckled lightly: “Just a fleeting crush, nothing serious. He’ll get over it eventually. Besides, we’re practically siblings; dating would be weird.” I took two steps back. It felt like my heart shattered into a million pieces inside my chest. So, all the careful feelings I’d cherished for so many years were just a “fleeting crush” in his eyes? … Stepping out of the club, the cold wind hit me, and I realized my face was wet. My phone vibrated. Liam had sent a message: “Alex, where are you? Everyone’s waiting for you.” I stared at the screen for a few seconds, then just switched my phone off. Right then, all I wanted was to find a place to get blackout drunk.

“Another one…” I lay slumped on the bar, my vision blurry. The bartender looked troubled. “Sir, you’ve had too much…” *Slam!* I fumbled for my wallet and slapped it onto the bar. “Worried I don’t have money? I’m loaded!” Just then, a familiar figure sat down next to me. Tall, with broad shoulders and a lean waist. I squinted, a surge of wild joy rushing through me. “Liam? Did you change your mind?” The person seemed to say something, but I couldn’t hear it anymore. The alcohol had completely drowned out my reason. I lunged and hugged him, burying my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply. “You smell so good…” It wasn’t Liam’s usual cologne, but it somehow made me feel strangely at ease. “Alex, you’re drunk.” The person’s voice was deep and magnetic, tinged with a hint of helplessness. I looked up at him. *Damn, he’s hot.* I leaned in and kissed him directly. The moment our lips met, he stiffened. I gnawed and bit at his lips like a puppy, my hands restlessly trying to slip inside his clothes. He grabbed my wandering hands, his voice hoarse. “Alex…” I giggled stupidly. “Don’t be shy… I know you like me too…” After that, my memories were fragmented. I remember him half-carrying, half-dragging me out of the bar, and my restless body rubbing against his in the taxi. Back at my place, he pinned me against the wall, warning, “Don’t move.” But I only got worse, biting his Adam’s apple… And then, a blank.

The sunlight stung my eyes. I groaned, struggling to open them, and found myself lying in a strange bed. “Awake?” My body stiffened. I followed the sound. And saw my sworn enemy. Ryder. He was leaning against the bedroom doorway, shirtless, watching me with a smirk. My gaze dropped, landing on his toned chest. There were several clear scratch marks there. “I… we…” My voice trembled. I pulled back the covers and saw I was only wearing my boxers. Ryder slowly walked over, looking down at me from above. “What, don’t remember what you did to me last night?” My mind went blank. Last night, while drunk, I seemed to have mistaken someone for Liam, kissing and touching them… “No way! How could I possibly—” Ryder raised an eyebrow. He pointed to a red mark on his collarbone. “You kissed and gnawed on me, then tore off my clothes?” My face went white. Flashes of last night flickered through my mind. I really did kiss someone, and said some… unspeakable things… “I’m sorry! I was drunk, I got the wrong person! I thought you were Liam—” Ryder’s eyes turned cold. “So all that passion was for Liam?” “Uh, it’s a misunderstanding. I’ll pay for your dry cleaning. Let’s just pretend nothing happened…” “Alex, you’re just going to sleep with me and not take responsibility?” He pressed me onto the bed. Up close, his handsome face made my heart pound uncontrollably. Ryder’s looks were truly flawless. A high nose bridge, thin lips, and those alluring, mocking eyes… *Wait, what am I even thinking?!* I struggled. “Nothing happened between us! I, I blacked out, there’s no way…” He frowned. “Do I need to describe in detail how you clung to me last night, kissing me while whispering, ‘I like you so much’?” My whole body burned. I was so mortified I wanted to crawl into a hole. “Those were just drunken words! Ryder, let’s just pretend this never happened!!” I abruptly pushed him away. Grabbed the clothes scattered on the floor and haphazardly pulled them on. Then, I fled.

It wasn’t until I ran out of the apartment complex that I dared to stop and catch my breath. I also switched my phone back on. There were dozens of unread messages and missed calls. All from Liam. “Alex, where are you? I’m so worried.” I stared at the message for a few seconds, a pang of bitterness in my chest. Just yesterday, this kind of concern would have made my heart race. But now, it only felt ironic. My finger hovered over the screen for a long time, but I didn’t reply.

Back at my apartment, as I stepped out of the elevator, I saw a familiar figure. Liam. His eyes lit up when he saw me. “Alex!” “Where were you last night? I looked for you all night, and you didn’t even come to the birthday party.” “…Something came up.” Avoiding his gaze, I pulled out my keys to open the door. But he grabbed my wrist. “You’ve been drinking? You still smell like alcohol—” His voice cut off. His gaze fell on my neck, and his pupils constricted. I pulled away. “I’m tired, I want to rest.” “Is that a hickey? Who were you with last night?” “None of your business! You said you only see me as a brother, right? My private life doesn’t need to be reported to you, does it?” Liam’s face turned ashen. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. I took the opportunity to open the door and quickly slipped inside. I tried to close the door, but Liam blocked it with his arm. “Move!” “Who was it? Ryder?” My heart skipped a beat, and the force in my hand loosened slightly. Catching my reaction, Liam’s eyes darkened. “It really was him? You were with Ryder last night?” I turned my face away. “I told you, it’s none of your business.” Liam grabbed my chin, forcing me to look him in the eye. “Alex, Ryder is known for being a player—” “So what? At least he doesn’t treat me like a child!” I slapped his hand away.

Ignoring his hurt expression, I firmly closed the door. Leaning against the door, I slowly slid to the floor, burying my face in my knees. My phone vibrated. Ryder: [You ran fast. Did you know your shirt was on inside out?] I looked down at my T-shirt. Infuriated, I threw my phone onto the couch. But a few seconds later, I couldn’t resist picking it up to reply: “Nothing happened last night, right?” [Typing…] This status lasted for a long time. Finally, he sent a photo. On a messy bed. My shirt and Ryder’s tie were tangled together, looking incredibly intimate. [What do you think?] “You took advantage of me!” [Who was it clinging to me, saying ‘You’re so hot, big brother’?] “No way! I never said anything like that!” Ryder sent a voice note directly. It was my own sticky, drunken voice: “Big brother… you’re so hot… way hotter than Liam…” I was so mortified my toes curled, almost crushing my phone. “Delete it! Delete it now!” [Beg me. Or, come to my place tonight and beg me in person.] “In your dreams!”

I tossed my phone aside and rushed into the bathroom for a quick, hot shower. As I was drying my hair, the doorbell rang. I thought it was Liam, back again, so I quickly threw on my pajamas and opened the door. “Did you forget anything—” The words caught in my throat. Standing outside was Ryder, holding a paper bag. “Your clothes.” “How did you know where I live?” “Hardly. Star debater for the Law School. Just had to ask around a bit.” I reached for the paper bag, but he suddenly raised his arm, using the momentum to slip inside. “What are you doing! You delivered the stuff, now leave!” Ryder closed the door behind him and took a step closer. “Alex, did you forget something?” “W-what?” He backed me against the wall, one hand braced beside my head. “Last night, you promised to go on a date with me today.” “…Do drunken promises count?” Before I could finish, Ryder pinched my chin, rubbing my lower lip. “This place… it was very enthusiastic in responding to me last night.” I was both mortified and angry, and pushed him away hard. “Ryder! What do you want?” His eyes darkened, and he dropped his playful expression. “Simple. Give me a chance.” “A chance for what?” “A chance to pursue you. I know you’ve liked Liam for years, but since he doesn’t appreciate it…” My heart jolted. “You… how did you know?” “Alex, did you really think Liam was the only one paying attention to you?” Before I could fully process the meaning of his words, He suddenly leaned in and kissed my forehead lightly. “Get some rest.” By the time I came to my senses, he was gone. At the same moment, my phone vibrated. Liam had sent a long message. I hesitated for a moment, then opened it: “Alex, we need to talk. About what I said last night… that wasn’t what I truly meant. Can you give me a chance to explain?” I stared at the message for a long time, my fingertip hovering above the screen, but ultimately, I didn’t reply.

Three in the afternoon. I sat down at a desk in the Law School library, dark circles under my eyes. The senior student across from me, Chloe, immediately winked. “Alex, you really missed out yesterday. Ryder completely crushed the Economics Department’s debate team. It was epic.” I was stunned. “He had a debate yesterday?” Chloe shot me a knowing, amused grin. “Yeah, in the lecture hall. Packed house. Speaking of… that thing on your neck, could it be…” I quickly covered my neck, my ears burning. “A mosquito bite!” Chloe’s smile deepened. “Oh, a very *big* mosquito~” I was so embarrassed, I wanted to crawl into a hole. Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind me. “Excuse me.” My body stiffened. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was. “What a coincidence?” Ryder sat across from me, taking his laptop out of his bag. Chloe’s eyes darted between us, and then she wisely packed up her things. “I just remembered I have a date. Gotta go.” Once Chloe was gone, I lowered my voice. “Are you stalking me?” “The Law School library is a public space.” “Then why did you specifically sit across from me?” He quirked his lips. “Because the lighting is good here… makes it easier to see your expression.” I ground my teeth in frustration, but there was nothing I could do. I buried my head in my case files. But his presence was simply too strong. Even without speaking, he made it impossible for me to concentrate. Ten minutes later, he suddenly spoke. “You keep staring at me.” “I do not!” “You’ve looked at me seven times since you sat down. If you want to look, just look openly. I don’t charge.” I flared up, mortified. “Ryder! Can you just—” “Shh, library. Quiet.” That’s when I noticed a few other students nearby were looking at us curiously. Suddenly, my phone vibrated. Liam: [I’m downstairs at the library, waiting for you.] Ryder glanced at my phone screen. His eyes immediately turned cold. “He wants to see you?” “None of your business.” I instinctively locked my phone. “That day, you hugged me and said, ‘I never want to like Liam again.’ You’re going back on that so soon?” “Those were drunken words!” “Then what’s the truth?” He clasped my wrist. “Alex, do you dare admit you feel something for me?” I shot up, my chair scraping loudly. Students around us all turned, but I didn’t care anymore. “Ryder, nothing will ever happen between us. That day was a mistake. Just let it go.” With that, I fled the library as if my life depended on it. iam leaned against a ginkgo tree nearby. When he saw me, he immediately straightened up. “Alex, Ryder didn’t bother you, did he?”

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The night before my wedding, Asher’s first love was betrothed to Veridia City’s most notorious, ruthless heir. He felt so sorry for her, supposedly crying her eyes out every single day. So, he ditched me to save her. At the wedding venue, he and Ivy were locked in a passionate kiss, their embrace lingering in a hotel room throughout the night. I was about to become the laughingstock of the city’s elite. But then, unexpectedly, Adrian Vance suddenly appeared at the wedding the next day. He cornered me against a wall, gripping my chin as he asked, “Asher took my fiancée. What he owes me, shouldn’t it be you who repays my loss, Mrs. Vance?” “I agree.” My answer seemed to catch him off guard, given how unfair his proposition was to me. Adrian stared at me, stunned for a good while, before he finally spoke again. “Good. As expected of the eldest daughter of the Sullivan family.” “I’ll marry you in a week. Don’t you dare back out.” With that, he released me, turning to leave. Before he walked away, he slipped a business card into my hand. I stood there for a long time, unable to process what had just happened. This Adrian was very different from what I’d imagined. Rumors painted him as ugly and ill-tempered. Soon after Adrian left, Asher finally arrived. My face darkened, and I couldn’t even stand to look at him. “Mr. Thompson, what are you doing here? Fresh from a romantic night with your new wife, and now you’re here to gloat?” A flicker of guilt, quickly masked, crossed Asher’s eyes. He tried to take my hand. “Chloe, can’t you understand me?” “Ivy’s health has always been delicate. How could she marry that kind of playboy? Her whole life would be ruined!” So, to protect Ivy, he was willing to break off our engagement and let me become the joke of all Veridia City? The moment I found out he went to Ivy’s place the night before, I decided to sever all ties with him. “Mr. Thompson, please leave. The wedding is canceled. I’ll return all the wedding expenses.” Asher wouldn’t let go, stepping forward, trying to hug me. “Chloe, I was wrong. Even though I signed the marriage license with her, my heart still belongs only to you.” “Ivy even said she’d be okay with sharing me, with us living together as a… trio.” I almost doubted my own ears. What era was this? Asher was actually dreaming about some archaic, polyamorous fantasy. As the eldest daughter of the Sullivan family, what kind of men hadn’t I seen? This was a complete insult. I scoffed, pushing him away. “Asher, you’re delusional. Get help.” Seeing my hostile attitude, Asher got annoyed. “Why are you talking like that? You can’t seriously expect me to go divorce Ivy right now? Can’t you consider my feelings for once?” Consider his feelings? Who did he think he was? I’d been too lenient with him, letting him say such outrageous things. Who ran off to cheat the night before their wedding? I, Chloe Sullivan, a prominent heiress, was stood up at the altar and became the laughingstock of Veridia City. How dare he ask me to consider *his* feelings? I was utterly disillusioned with him. My gaze firm, I repeated, “Didn’t you understand me? If you’re sick, go get therapy.” Seeing I wasn’t giving him an easy out, Asher finally lost his temper. His face darkened, a dangerous warning in his eyes. “Chloe Sullivan, you’re truly disappointing! So what if you’re the Sullivan family’s eldest daughter? You’re just some used-up trash I’ve played with for years. Who else would ever want you besides me!” He scoffed, turning on his heel and walking away, as if he hadn’t just insulted me to my core. I stared at his retreating back, tears blurring my vision from anger. The man who, just this morning, held me and whispered words of love, spent the night entangled with another woman. Now, he was Ivy’s husband. I should have seen it coming. Whenever it came down to a choice between me and Ivy, he always, without hesitation, chose Ivy. Six years of shared moments couldn’t compare to his two-month-old ‘first love’ infatuation. I should have let go ages ago.

I thought Adrian was just joking. It wasn’t until I was woken up the next day by the procession of cars outside the villa that I realized he was serious. There were three entire cars packed with luxury goods alone. A man who introduced himself as Mr. Jenkins, Adrian’s butler, handed me a black card, saying it was a small token of Adrian’s appreciation. My parents, concerned by the bad rumors, were unsure about Adrian and urged me to reconsider. But I had lost love, so I was no longer indulging in fantasies. Even if Adrian was known for being a playboy, the Vance family’s standing in Veridia City’s business world was unparalleled. I decided to treat this as a strategic marriage for our family business. I would make sure to utterly crush Asher and Ivy. The Miller family’s business had only recently grown from a small, privately-owned business into a minor company. Marrying Ivy off to Adrian was mostly for money. I instructed the house staff to bring the luxury items into the villa, just as Asher and Ivy were about to leave. They both walked in, looking confused. Asher sneered, scanning the cars full of luxury items. Ivy’s face twisted with jealousy, her teeth practically grinding. “Chloe, what is all this?” Looking at Ivy’s hypocritical face, I nearly threw up right there. The daughter of a small, barely-registered business, didn’t she know her place? Even the wedding gifts Asher’s family gave her didn’t amount to ten thousand dollars. I casually glared at her. “Does it concern you?” Asher snorted, mocking me. “Chloe Sullivan, you move on fast! I just married Ivy, and you’re already running off to find some other man.” “Oh, come on, honey. We should be happy for Chloe.” “Honey, didn’t you get a gift for Chloe? Go on, give it to her.” Ivy poked Asher’s arm. Inadvertently, my gaze snagged on the pink diamond ring glinting on Ivy’s finger. I involuntarily gasped, my heart aching anew. I couldn’t mistake that pink diamond ring. Even if the Thompson family wasn’t top-tier, they still had a recognizable name in the city’s business elite. Asking Asher for a forty-five thousand dollar diamond ring wasn’t unreasonable. But he’d made every excuse, unwilling to buy it for me. Now, it was on Ivy’s hand. As if noticing my gaze, Ivy deliberately held her hand up in front of me. Asher scoffed, pulling a sealed bag from his pocket. Inside was a plain, thin band, which he casually tossed to me. “For you.” When I saw what it was, I almost burst out laughing from sheer exasperation. I picked it up and dangled it in front of Ivy. Then I tossed it back to her. “You actually dare to bring out this trash? Ivy, my dear, seems to love it so much, so I won’t spoil your fun.” Humiliated on the spot, Asher’s face darkened. He pulled Ivy behind him and shouted at me. “Don’t push your luck! If you don’t want it, just throw it away.” Ivy, ever the drama queen, chimed in again. “Chloe, my husband picked this out specially for you.” “I know you like my husband. I’m even willing to let you share him with me.” “Consider this my welcoming gift.” “Bringing out something so shameful? My pets’ leashes cost thousands of dollars each.” Was Asher even worth sharing? Disgusting. I looked Asher straight in the eye, mercilessly. “You two truly deserve each other. Both of you are insane!” “Get out of my house!” They still thought I was joking. Ivy, holding the ring, grabbed my hand and tried to slip it on. “Chloe, you’re just upset right now.” “See how perfect this ring looks on you.” My patience snapped. “Get away from me! You’re disgusting.” I didn’t even lay a hand on her, but Ivy dramatically collapsed to the floor right in front of everyone, letting out a little whimper before putting on a wounded expression. “Chloe, I know you hate me, but how could you hit me, sob sob…” Asher immediately flew into a rage. He couldn’t stand Ivy being upset. “Chloe Sullivan, if you don’t want it, then don’t take it. What was the meaning of laying hands on Ivy?” With that, he scooped Ivy into his arms and walked away. Ivy gave me a provocative look over Asher’s shoulder. That look… it was strangely familiar.

Back then, the Miller family’s company had just started, and Ivy had pulled every string to attend a single business gathering. At the party, among all the heiresses, Ivy seemed completely out of place. She was even being picked on by Tiffany Hayes, the eldest daughter of the Hayes family. If I hadn’t stepped in to help, she would have been kicked out of the party on the spot. Later, I found out she was Asher’s first love. Every time Ivy faced trouble, Asher would defend her without a second thought, even secretly sending her many things behind my back. We had countless arguments because of this. Asher kept brainwashing me: “Ivy and I are long over. I just feel sorry for her.” At first, I even wondered if I was being petty, unfairly accusing Asher of ill intentions. It wasn’t until the night before my wedding, when Ivy was betrothed to Adrian Vance – the same man Asher tried to save her from. Asher ran off to crash *her* wedding. He offered me no explanation, no remorse, and spent the entire night entwined with Ivy in a hotel. That’s when I finally realized how important Ivy was to him. I had silently condoned his ‘kindness,’ and he repaid me by cheating? Today was my birthday, usually one of the most important days of my year, but this year, I couldn’t muster any enthusiasm. Every previous birthday, Asher had spent with me. My parents had offered to throw a birthday party for me, but I flat-out refused. This year, I would celebrate my birthday alone. I drove aimlessly, and without realizing it, I arrived at my favorite restaurant. Oddly, there was no one inside. Then I noticed a stand placed next to the restaurant entrance. **[THIS ESTABLISHMENT HAS BEEN BOOKED TONIGHT BY MR. ASHER THOMPSON. CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. ASHER THOMPSON AND MISS IVY MILLER ON THEIR WEDDING!]** **[THIS ESTABLISHMENT WILL NOT ACCEPT OUTSIDE GUESTS AFTER 10 PM TONIGHT.]** Exaggerated wedding photos of Asher and Ivy were plastered all over it. No wonder the place was empty. Asher was behind this. I sneered, about to turn and leave, when I bumped right into Ivy and Asher, who had just stepped out of their car. “Chloe? What a coincidence.” I rolled my eyes at her. How were these two so persistently annoying? Asher, with his arm wrapped around Ivy’s waist, seemed to understand something when he saw me, lifting his head arrogantly. “Oh dear! I’m so sorry, Chloe. I completely forgot this was your favorite restaurant. Asher, darling, insisted our first post-wedding dinner should be special.” “Sorry, I don’t frequent establishments that cater to trash.” I shot back immediately. This fake b*tch, playing innocent. Asher’s expression was priceless. He glared at me and retaliated. “Looks like someone’s got sour grapes, Chloe Sullivan. No need to stoop to her level, right, honey? Are you hungry, Ivy?” With that, they grandly walked past me and entered the restaurant. As soon as they left, Adrian’s car pulled up. Mr. Jenkins, the butler, stepped out. “Miss Sullivan, happy birthday. This is a birthday gift from Adrian.”

I stared at the transfer contract in my hand, speechless. Because this contract was for the very restaurant behind me. The moment I signed it, I would be the new owner of this establishment. This was the most thoughtful birthday gift I had ever received. My wedding to Adrian was tomorrow. I immediately signed the document and put the contract away. I wouldn’t hesitate at a moment like this. I didn’t sleep a wink. The next day, the entire Sullivan mansion was filled with joyous anticipation. I put on my pristine white wedding gown. I stared at myself in the mirror, feeling as if nothing was real. I was getting married. My husband-to-be wasn’t Asher, my boyfriend of many years, but Adrian Vance, Veridia City’s notorious playboy. The complex emotions were hard to describe. I patted my chest. Well, here I was. No turning back now. Whatever the future held, I would accept it. This was my choice, after all. Several cars pulled up in front of the villa. And out of them stepped… Asher Thompson. They weren’t fancy cars at all. Then I noticed the scratches on the lead car, and everything clicked. Asher truly didn’t listen. Not a single word I said yesterday sank in. With the pathetic display his family put on, he thought he could marry me? In his wildest dreams. Before I could even speak, Asher, seeing me in my flowing wedding gown, holding my bouquet, sneered. “Chloe Sullivan, can’t keep up the act anymore, can you?” “Who was it that didn’t want to share me with Ivy before? Now you’re so eager to put on a wedding dress.” He leisurely scanned me from head to toe, a look of absolute certainty on his face. How could anyone be so arrogantly delusional? “Asher, you’re really trying to pat yourself on the back, aren’t you? Who said I was marrying you? The man I’m marrying is Adrian Vance.” “My husband will be here soon. Now move these pathetic cars out of the way!” Asher didn’t get angry; instead, he laughed. He pointed at me. “Still playing tough, huh? You’ll regret this!” “If Ivy hadn’t begged me to give you another chance, I wouldn’t even be here today! I advise you to be smart, or you’ll really miss your chance to share me with Ivy!” Asher genuinely thought he was some kind of treasure. He and Ivy were like a trash can and a trash bag – who would want them? Suddenly, a long procession of cars approached. Asher’s eyes lit up when he saw them. “Whose heiress is getting married today?” Just as he spoke, Adrian Vance, impeccably dressed in a suit, stepped out of the lead car. He walked straight to me and intimately wrapped his arm around my waist. Adrian looked at Asher provocatively, his tone light. “Well, well, Mr. Thompson.” “Trying to steal my wife again?” Asher didn’t react immediately. After a few seconds of confusion, he realized the implication.

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I got into a car crash, slamming into the guardrail on my way to deliver medicine to my firefighter husband. The car doors were jammed, and smoke billowed from outside. I called Leo for help, but he was out on a mission. To keep him from worrying, I swallowed my fear and tried to free myself. The moment fire erupted, I pushed the car door open with all my might, but my leg was trapped, unable to move. Just as despair set in, Leo’s supervisor, Ben Carter, arrived with his team. Unintentionally, I overheard Ben Carter questioning Leo. “Skylar is pregnant! How could you choose Chloe’s kid over saving your own wife?” “Lily has pneumonia, and Chloe can’t manage her alone. I trust you guys to handle it here… ” Disappointed, I decided to join a remote teaching program in a mountain village. But the husband who had defended Chloe, tirelessly searched for me after I left. “Besides, if Chloe’s husband hadn’t saved Skylar back then, I would have been the one to suffer the pain of separation.” “Helping Chloe and Lily now is my way of atoning for Skylar.” Ben Carter ran a hand across his forehead, clearly exasperated, his voice laced with accusation. “No one truly knows what happened at that fire. Are you really willing to risk your future based on just a single word from Chloe? Is it worth it?” “Yes, it is. If the baby was gone today, or Skylar was seriously hurt, my guilt would be even less…” The water glass slipped from my trembling hand and shattered on the floor. Tears instantly welled up, and I clamped a hand over my mouth, desperate to stifle the sobs escaping me. I couldn’t believe this was my husband, the father of my child. I lunged forward, wanting to snatch his phone and demand an answer from Leo: which was more important, his wife and child, or his childhood friend? I forced myself up, bracing against the pain, but a sharp agony in my abdomen made me gasp. In moments, blood had soaked through my white dress. Ben Carter heard the commotion and rushed over to me. His face turned grim the moment he saw blood dripping onto the ground. He scooped me up and hurried towards the arriving ambulance. After examining me, the doctor shook her head with a helpless expression. “The patient is injured and highly emotional, with severe bleeding. It’s very difficult to save the baby. Please contact her family as soon as possible.” My gaze was filled with a deep sorrow, and my hands slowly caressed my swollen belly. This child was a blessing I had waited three long years for. Before I left home, I had just ordered his crib and clothes online for when he was born. Now, barely an hour later, they were telling me my baby was in danger. “Doctor, I’m not afraid of pain. Please, just help me. My… my baby is already over seven months. Even if you can just save him for one more month…” I pleaded with the doctor, my voice breaking into a sob. The doctor only gave me a fleeting glance, continuing her work. No one spoke in the ambulance. The only sounds were the medical instruments beeping and Ben Carter’s phone ringing. Watching his tightly furrowed brows, I knew Leo wasn’t answering. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and spoke, my voice tinged with disappointment. “Use my phone. My baby and I need him.” I wouldn’t give up. Even if Chloe’s husband had been the one to save me, at a critical moment like this, Leo should have been by my side. Besides, it wasn’t Chloe’s husband who saved me, it was Ben Carter. We had explained this to Leo countless times, but he only ever believed Chloe. The phone rang for a long time before Leo finally picked up. His voice, though, was laced with impatience. “Skylar, you’re not seriously hurt. Lily is scared right now and wants me here. I’ll come back to take care of you tonight.” Ben Carter shot me a glance, his voice involuntarily rising a few decibels. “Your wife is hemorrhaging right now, and the baby is in danger! You need to get to City Hospital immediately!” Leo didn’t respond directly, but I heard Chloe’s soft voice in the background. “Officer Carter just said she had minor injuries. Now, all of a sudden, she’s in danger? Is Skylar just upset that you’re here, and she’s faking it?” “No, it doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, you should still go see her.” Leo’s anger flared, and he sharply told Ben Carter to hand me the phone. I didn’t care whether Leo was coming or not; I just desperately needed someone to lean on. My voice choked as I began, “Honey, I’m in so much pain, I just want…” “Uncle, Lily wants strawberries!” My words were cut short by the little girl’s whining voice from the other end. My heart plummeted into a chasm of despair. I knew Leo wasn’t coming. The next second, he impatiently brushed me off. “Skylar, I know you’re scared after the accident, but you can’t take it out on the baby. Chloe lost her husband and it’s so hard for her to raise Lily alone. I’ll come back to be with you once Lily feels better.” I thought if I just humbled myself, Leo would find an excuse to come. But now I understood. When it came to Chloe, all his reason vanished. My plea was a fragile whisper, begging him to come be with me. The only reply was the click of a hung-up phone. My eyes, brimming with agony, searched for Ben Carter’s gaze, and I asked the question burning in my mind. “Has Leo been staying with Chloe and Lily for the past five days, not returning to the unit?” He saw he couldn’t hide it from me and simply nodded. I laughed, tears spilling from my eyes. Five days ago, Leo had wanted to bring Chloe and Lily home to live with us. I had refused, and we’d had a huge fight. He hadn’t come home since that day. Today, he called to say he ran out of stomach medicine. I thought it was an olive branch, a sign he wanted to reconcile, but instead, he had just pushed me further into the abyss. A scorching anxiety consumed me, and I kept pinching my arm, trying to numb the pain. The resentment festering inside me finally buckled under the weight of my weakening body, and I slipped into darkness. Faintly, I heard the doctors working to save me. I also heard Ben Carter’s furious shouts after calling Leo. Then, gradually, silence. But I still felt something leave my body. When I woke up, looking at my slightly deflated abdomen, I burst into heart-wrenching sobs.

I couldn’t save the baby. The doctor said that due to my emotional distress and the impact causing a third of my placenta to detach, I had lost him. When I heard the news, I nodded numbly. The searing pain in my heart had already spread to my limbs, making even breathing an agonizing chore. “You’ll have other children, you need to take care of yourself…” “Where’s Leo?” I interrupted Ben Carter’s comforting words, my voice hoarse. His face hardened, and his eyes darted away, avoiding my gaze. I knew then. It had been two full days since the accident, and Leo still hadn’t shown up. I let out a bitter laugh, tears falling freely. “He’s still with Chloe and Lily, so what am I? What was our baby?” Unwilling to tolerate it any longer, I called Leo. The moment the call connected, I heard a call bell ring on his end. My voice tinged with displeasure, I asked, “Are you at the hospital?” “Yeah, Lily’s still not feeling great, so we came to City Hospital to get her checked. I’ll head home once they’re settled.” My heart immediately ached, but I still managed to tell him I was hospitalized in the obstetrics and gynecology department. The words had barely left my lips when Leo exploded. “First you’re hemorrhaging, now you’re in OB-GYN? Skylar, what exactly are you and Ben Carter trying to pull?” “I already called the dealership. The car’s badly damaged, but there’s no blood. You’re spinning such lies just to stop me from helping Chloe!” “Skylar, remember this: you owe Chloe and Lily. I’m atoning for your sins.” My heart sank to rock bottom. He could call the car dealership to verify, but he couldn’t be bothered to come to the hospital and see if I was okay. I threw off the covers, enduring the sharp ache in my abdomen, and walked towards the pediatrics department. Seeing the word “Pediatrics,” I couldn’t help but let out a bitter chuckle. The furthest distance was just one floor, yet he couldn’t bring himself to take a single step up. I followed the sounds and walked towards the infusion room. Leo was dotingly coaxing a red-faced Lily, who was crying. Chloe, meanwhile, leaned on his shoulder, her eyes closed in repose. The sight was a dagger to my eyes. When I first found out I was pregnant, Leo had looked at my belly with that same doting expression. His eyes had been filled with longing for a happy life as a family of three. But now, my baby was gone, and he was reveling in the joy of being a family of three with them. With a broken heart, I pushed down the doorknob. My eyes met Chloe’s as she opened hers. She hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Leo. “Leo, Lily’s stable now. You should go home and be with Skylar tonight. I’m worried about her…” “Worried about what? Ever since she got pregnant, she’s been so paranoid, always thinking something’s going on between us. Now she’s even ganging up with Ben Carter to lie to me. She deserves to be left alone for a few days until her emotions stabilize, then I’ll go back.” His dismissive tone made my hand tremble, and tears immediately streamed down my face. I had thought that after five years of love and three years of marriage, we were inseparable partners. But now I realized this love was only my unwavering devotion. He was merely an actor playing a role. Leo placed the sleeping Lily on the bed, then reached out and pulled Chloe into his arms. He looked down at her with an apologetic gaze: “While she hasn’t given birth yet, I have time to take care of you and Lily. Otherwise, I’d feel too guilty.” Chloe got the answer she wanted, and her eyes, filled with triumph, challenged mine. My heart utterly died. The urge to demand “why” had completely vanished. I let go of the door and slowly walked upstairs. As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, I saw Ben Carter frantically searching for me. “Did you see Leo?” “I did, but I don’t want him anymore.” With those words, I closed my eyes. My mind began to map out my future path. Before marrying Leo, I was a high school teacher. To take care of him, I had resolutely quit my job and moved to his city. Now that I was sure he didn’t truly love me, I wouldn’t waste my heart on the wrong person any longer. Firm in my decision, I pulled out my phone and applied for a remote teaching program. I would set off with the new graduates in half a month.

A week later, I was discharged from the hospital. Looking at our familiar apartment complex, memories of Leo and me flooded my mind. Leo and I met during a fire drill at school. As a freshman, I was a bit reckless. I shoved aside a student guarding the path, thinking I could take a shortcut. Instead of a shortcut, I pushed myself straight towards the railing. Just as I was about to fall, Leo grabbed my arm. His single phrase, “You’ve got me, don’t be scared,” instantly captured my floating heart. From that moment, I embarked on a three-year journey to pursue him. Fortunately, my perseverance paid off, and he actually proposed. I had thought we would live happily ever after like any normal couple, but then, in our second year of marriage, an accident happened. I was at a shopping mall getting a massage when a fire broke out. Coincidentally, Chloe and her husband were there too, though I didn’t know who she was at the time. I simply followed Leo’s safety advice and found a relatively safe spot. Chloe’s husband disagreed with my assessment and tugged at her, insisting they leave. Just then, a signpost next to us toppled over. I pulled Chloe out of the way, but I wasn’t quick enough to save her husband. Chloe watched her husband fall into a pool of blood and blamed me for the accident. She believed I was responsible for his death. Seeing her spiral into hysteria, I didn’t want to engage; I just wanted to escape that terrifying place. When we met again, Chloe twisted the truth. She told Leo that her husband had died trying to save *me*. From then on, I became Chloe’s personal scapegoat. Anytime Chloe felt wronged, Leo would bring up that incident to confront me. No matter how many times I explained, Leo refused to believe me. Just then, a flicker of light sparked in my mind, and a mocking smile touched my lips. It wasn’t that Leo didn’t believe me; it was that he *didn’t want* to admit Chloe was lying. I should have understood this long ago, but to maintain our marriage, I chose to turn a blind eye. He wasn’t the only one acting. With renewed resolve, I walked towards our apartment. After packing my things, I seized a moment while drinking water to print out the divorce papers. I glanced at them, then signed my name. Just then, I heard the front door open. Leo walked in, holding Lily in his arms. Chloe followed behind, pushing a suitcase, her left hand draped over Leo’s jacket. They looked like a family returning from a trip abroad. Leo stared at me, frozen, then spoke, his voice low. “Clear out the master bedroom. Lily just recovered from being sick and needs more sunlight. You’ll have to make do for a few days.” I didn’t speak, didn’t move. I watched Leo meticulously arrange things for Chloe and Lily, like watching a pathetic clown show. Chloe, not getting a response from me, looked a bit awkward. She then took Lily from Leo’s arms. “Leo, Lily and I should just go home. It’s not convenient.” She said, glancing at me. Leo immediately caught the unease in her eyes and turned, sharply barking at me. “Skylar, what exactly are you trying to pull? Chloe was worried you wouldn’t be safe during late pregnancy and offered to take care of you. Who are you putting on this lifeless act for?” His words made me laugh out loud, my eyes brimming with tears. *For my good*? He walked in and didn’t even notice my abdomen was flat. *For my good*? He’d let someone who destroyed our relationship move into our master bedroom. If this was what he called love, I’d rather not have it. Leo’s face darkened at my hysterical laughter. He stepped forward and firmly gripped my shoulders. “Skylar, there’s a limit to your tantrums. This unreasonable behavior is making me look bad.” “Your embarrassment has nothing to do with me. Who are you to me anyway?” I shoved him away with force, wiping the tears from my face. Leo was infuriated by my actions. His face flushed, he glanced at Chloe, then leaned in close to my ear, his voice low. “I’m your husband, and the father of your child. I’ll send them away once Lily is better, then I’ll hire a nanny to take care of you and the baby…” Leo’s voice instantly stopped. He stared disbelievingly at my stomach, where his hand had touched. He stood there stunned for a long moment, then tentatively touched it again. It was still flat. His voice trembling, he looked at me. “The baby? Why is it flat? Did that day…” Chloe, hearing Leo’s distraught mumbling, gasped, covering her mouth. “Oh my goodness, Skylar, I know you’re upset Leo wasn’t with you during the car crash, but you couldn’t have just aborted the baby, could you? This was the child Leo longed for…” Leo glared at me, his eyes bloodshot and filled with resentment. “Skylar, are you crazy? If it wasn’t to atone for *your* sins, would I be running myself ragged between two places? And now you’ve gotten rid of my child? You’re absolutely too much!” Leo’s accusation made me laugh out loud. He didn’t believe anything Ben Carter and I said, but Chloe’s fabricated story became his excuse to blame me. Any last shred of love I had for him completely vanished. I placed the divorce papers directly in front of him. “You only hear what you want to hear. There’s nothing I can do to change that. So, Leo, let’s get a divorce.” Without waiting for his reply, I pushed my suitcase and turned to leave.

As soon as I closed the door, I heard Chloe’s voice, trying to persuade him. “Leo, no matter who’s right or wrong, it’s not safe this late. You should go find Skylar and bring her back.” “Let her go. Let’s see how much backbone she has. Someone with no family to fall back on, I don’t believe she’d dare divorce…” I let out a cold scoff, taking long strides towards the elevator. I had once seen him as my only salvation, sharing with him my childhood story of being raised by the community. I never imagined it would become his leverage against me. Eight years of my youth wasted on such a man. It truly wasn’t worth it. After calming myself, I hailed a cab and headed towards a secluded retreat. I had waited three years for my baby, and now he was gone. I wanted to pray for him. And to completely free myself from this relationship. The first thing I did upon arriving was turn off my phone, cutting myself off from the outside world. For seven whole days, my heart felt purified, emerging from the dark cloud that had hung over me. It wasn’t until the morning before I was due to leave for the teaching program that I turned my phone back on. Hundreds of messages and missed calls flooded in. Some from Ben Carter, some from Leo. I went straight to Ben Carter’s messages. [Skylar, I know you’ve been through a lot this time. The higher-ups will give you an explanation.] [Skylar, no matter what, you need to take care of yourself. Don’t hurt yourself because of certain people or things.] [Skylar, where exactly did you go? Are you safe?] … Every message was filled with concern, bringing a fleeting warmth to my wounded heart. Since meeting Leo, Ben Carter and I had become close friends, able to talk about anything. Over time, I learned that whenever he unexpectedly appeared, it was always at Leo’s request. Leo wanted to help Chloe but didn’t want me to know, so he used “being busy” as an excuse. To make it more convincing, he used Ben Carter as a shield, making me believe he was genuinely busy. At first, Ben Carter worried it would affect our relationship. He tried to stay away whenever possible. When I was pregnant, Leo took Lily to the zoo, leaving me to brave the snow and go for my prenatal check-up alone. We ran into each other halfway there, and he drove me to the hospital, which is how we exchanged contact info. This simple act, however, brought me an unexpected source of concern. Unwilling to let Ben Carter worry, I quickly sent him a message. After letting him know I was fine, I headed towards the train station. All the messages Leo sent me were deleted; I didn’t even open them. From now on, he and I were strangers. As soon as I sat down on the train, my phone rang. It was Ben Carter. The moment I answered, I saw his face was flushed, sweat beading on his forehead. He must have just finished training and called as soon as he saw my message. Seeing my vibrant spirits, he shook his head and chuckled helplessly. “You, you really scared Leo half to death this time. He’ll probably be obedient from now on.” The teasing in Ben Carter’s voice made me confused. I asked him why, and then I learned that Leo was searching for me everywhere. When I first left, Leo thought I was just throwing a tantrum. My angry phases usually only lasted two days, and he expected me to come back and apologize afterward.

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This Assassin Thinks I Can’t See Him, But He Always Undresses In Front of Me He hears me swallowing repeatedly. Assassin: “Are you hungry?” I nod: “Mm-hmm.” He came back reeking of blood. Although the scent was faint, I could still smell it. The assassin took off his dirty clothes and headed towards the bathroom. “I’ll make dinner after I shower.” I feigned shyness and asked coyly: “Want to shower together?” His body suddenly froze. He turned back to look at me. I quickly added, “I can’t see anything anyway.” “But I can!” he snapped, then turned and entered the bathroom.

My name is Olivia. I’m an orphan. Three years ago, I was adopted by a wealthy family, but none of their children liked me. Especially the youngest son. He pushed me down the stairs when I wasn’t paying attention. I hit my head on the steps, causing me to go blind. Actually, I’m not completely blind. My vision is just very blurry. To stay alive, I insisted I couldn’t see anything at all. After I was discharged from the hospital, the family sent me to a villa in the suburbs along with a huge sum of money, leaving me to fend for myself. I couldn’t be bothered to seek revenge. I lived comfortably every day, ordering takeout and opening packages. But two weeks ago, on a night I’ll never forget, an assassin suddenly broke in. He held a knife to my throat, ready to kill me, but when he realized I was blind, he hesitated. He only threatened me not to tell anyone. And so began our strange cohabitation. His whereabouts were unpredictable. Occasionally he would help cook meals. But a few meals were far from enough to satisfy me. As the landlord, I had to show him who’s boss. That night, I crouched outside the bathroom door, imagining his tantalizing body. The water stopped. The assassin walked out wrapped in a towel. Steam billowed around him. Even with my blurry vision, I could make out his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Tsk tsk, he smelled so good up close. The assassin saw me. “What are you doing here?” I faced his chest and cleared my throat. “Let me feel those abs, big boy.” He: “…”

The assassin stopped drying his hair and was silent for a long time before speaking. “Do you have a death wish?” “I’ll die happy after I feel them.” “…” He ignored me and turned to leave. I hurried to follow him, forgetting to grab my cane. My leg hit the corner of a table. With a thud, I fell to the ground. “Ow, it hurts…” I propped myself up, tears welling in my eyes from the pain. The assassin sighed and crouched down in front of me. Water droplets from his hair dripped onto my thigh. His face was very close to mine, but I still couldn’t see clearly. Judging by the outline, he was probably handsome. Come closer! Just a little closer and I’ll be able to see your face! I didn’t dare look too intently, afraid he would notice. The assassin looked down at my knee, his warm fingers brushing over the wound. “You’re bleeding. Do you have any iodine?” I answered irrelevantly, “I want to feel your abs.” “…” He was speechless again. I’m not joking, this little injury is nothing. I used to get hurt all the time. I had to act fast before he got dressed. The assassin sighed resignedly: “You just want to feel them?” “Actually, I want to kiss them too.” “…Don’t push your luck!”

Just when I thought he would angrily walk away, he grabbed my wrist and placed my hand on his waist. Me: “?” The assassin turned his face away and spoke with difficulty. “Go ahead.” I groped wildly, afraid he would change his mind. The skin under my hands was smooth yet firm, his muscles clearly defined. When I touched his side, the assassin’s body trembled slightly. His voice was hoarse: “Slower, it tickles.” I nearly got a nosebleed.

I was just feeling his abs… My movements slowed down. He also stopped trembling. I’m not sure if it was because I moved too vigorously or if the towel had a mind of its own. It fell to the floor. The assassin quickly tossed the towel from his shoulders onto my face, then hurriedly picked up the fallen towel. I pretended not to know what happened. “What’s wrong?” He replied somewhat awkwardly: “Nothing…” Hehehe. What an unexpected bonus.

When I woke up in the morning, the assassin had already left. I took out the phone I had hidden and held it close to my face, preparing to order some takeout. Suddenly, the front door of the villa was violently kicked open. Then someone shouted— “Olivia, get out here!” I’d recognize that grating voice anywhere, even if it was autotuned. Tyler. The bastard who pushed me down the stairs. I tapped my cane and slowly walked out. When he saw me, he started mocking me like he used to: “Well well, still alive I see.” “I thought you’d kicked the bucket by now. I even brought a hearse.” I couldn’t be bothered to respond. “What are you doing here?” Tyler rushed up to me, shoved me to the ground, and kicked away my cane. “This is my house, I’ll come whenever I want!” Tyler strutted around the living room with his hands in his pockets. “I’m taking back this house. You have until the end of the day to get out.” “Don’t bother cleaning, I’m going to throw out everything you’ve touched anyway.” I kept my eyes lowered to the floor and said: “Dad and Mom gave me this house. You have no right to take it back.” Tyler snorted coldly and spat on the floor, yelling: “They’re MY parents! You’re nothing but trash. Get the hell out of here!” With that, he stormed out without looking back.

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Three Years After My Boyfriend’s Death I picked up a man from the black market who looked exactly like him. Day after day, I carefully trained him. Hoping he could become a perfect substitute. To replace the deceased Jack. To become my lover. “Don’t eat tomatoes anymore. He didn’t like them,” I instructed. “Don’t call me ‘bro’. He never called me that,” I corrected. “Be good, okay? You look so much like him… I won’t abandon you,” I promised. I always treated him as just a suitable replacement. Until one night. In the hazy darkness. The person who should have been sleeping beside me suddenly reached out and forcefully gripped my neck. “You liar,” he growled. “Didn’t you say you’d only love me for life?” “Yet I’ve barely been dead three years and you’re already looking for a substitute.” “No matter how similar someone else is, they’re not me…” “Liar!!” In the seventh year of my relationship with Jack. He suddenly died. There was no body, not even ashes. Just his subordinate stopping his car in front of me. With a solemn expression, handing me a pocket watch Jack had left behind. Along with the words: “Mr. Shen, please accept our condolences.” I took the watch with an expressionless face. Suddenly remembering the day Jack left. He had already walked to the entryway. Then abruptly turned back. Cupping my face in his hands, he gently kissed my forehead. “I’m really leaving,” he said, his dark pupils reflecting a glint of light. He slowly stroked my hair: “Will you miss me?” I’ve always been difficult with expressing emotions. Except for those uncontrollable moments at night in bed, I could rarely say words like “love”, “like”, or “miss”. So I turned my face away. Coldly telling him: “I won’t.” “What’s there to miss about you?” It was just a business trip, he’d be back in a few days. We’re adults, there’s no need to be so clingy. “…So heartless.” Jack smiled and sighed, his eyes showing a mix of real and feigned disappointment. “Alright, it’s okay.” He didn’t press further, leaning in to brush his soft, cool lips very lightly against the corner of my mouth. “It’s fine if you don’t miss me.” “I’ll miss you.” “Be good and wait for me at home. I’ll be back soon.”

“I’ll be back soon.” But he never came back. I stared at the watch lying silently in my palm. It was the birthday gift I had given Jack last year. He seemed very happy when he received it that day. He hugged me from behind with one arm around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder, using his free hand to play with the pocket watch. After a while, he suddenly bit my neck like a puppy and said to me: “It’s beautiful.” “I love it.” “And I love you. You’re even more beautiful.” I didn’t turn around. His hand moved up, skillfully and swiftly starting to unbutton my shirt collar. … Who would have thought, less than a year later. This pocket watch would return to my hands in this way. As Jack’s posthumous belonging. My heart felt like it was being pricked by countless needles, a dense pain spreading. I unconsciously bit my lower lip hard, tasting blood. A moment later, I suddenly looked up and smiled at Jack’s subordinate. “Condolences? What do I have to grieve about?” “He’s dead, so he’s dead,” I paused, as if genuinely puzzled. “Is that something worth being sad over?” Probably no one expected my words could be so harsh. No one managed to see anything resembling sadness on my face after Jack’s death. I had long been accustomed to disguising myself. Those few subordinates seemed slightly taken aback. But in the end, they said nothing, bowed to me, and drove away.

After that, I sealed away the pocket watch and never looked at it again. Three more hazy years passed. In between, when gathering or socializing with those fair-weather friends and business partners, people would repeatedly bring up Jack while raising their glasses in front of me: “I have to say, Mr. Shen, you really are cold-hearted.” “Although I don’t quite understand that kind of relationship between two men. But you and Jack were together for what, seven years?” “He died just like that in a car accident, and you don’t seem the least bit upset these past few years.” What nonsense. How could I not be upset? Every time I opened and closed my eyes I could see Jack. Even in my dreams, it was still him. But on the surface, I remained unmoved. I took a sip from the glass in front of me and casually said, “What do I have to be upset about?” “Jack and I… were only together for business reasons.” “It’s good that he’s dead… clean,” I said. As soon as the words left my mouth, several people around seemed stunned. I smiled carelessly, clinked my glass with the person opposite me. Then threw back the last bit of liquor left in the glass. “Think about it, with no one to control me anymore, how free am I now, right?” “No more of this clingy guy by my side every day getting jealous over nothing, upset for hours if I so much as glanced at another handsome man. The way I am now, how carefree, don’t you think?” I lowered my head and smiled: “Besides, he left behind quite a large inheritance.” “If I just focused on grieving, it would be quite a waste of all that money. Don’t you agree?” The air grew increasingly tense. I looked around. Guessing that though these people were silent now, as soon as they left they would surely spread rumors. Saying I had long grown tired of Jack, that I had only been with him those years for his money and power. Now that he died unexpectedly, it suited me perfectly. They didn’t know how happy I must be inside. It seemed like a very long time passed. Finally someone slapped their thigh, breaking the awkward atmosphere: “Right, exactly! Whether it was true love or not, the person’s already gone, it’s all in the past, why keep bringing it up?” “If you ask me,” the person turned back to look at me, “Mr. Shen. I happen to be going to the C3 district tomorrow, there are quite a few handsome young men there. Why don’t you come along and take a look, if you fancy anyone, just bring one back?” I glanced at him, not taking the bait. I picked up another glass of alcohol from the table in front of me.

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I knew Rachel had also come back to the first day of senior year when she tore up our couple’s notebook in front of the entire class and handed it back to me before sitting next to Tyler, the new transfer student everyone was crushing on. I calmly picked up the torn notebook and gave my spot on the math competition team to Emily, the scholarship student from the class next door who I often ran into at the library. In our previous life, Rachel and I had promised to attend the same college and spend our lives together. It wasn’t until the night before her wedding, when she drunkenly pulled out the love letter she had given Tyler years ago and called me crying about how she couldn’t marry the man she truly loved, that I realized she never really loved me. Given a second chance at life, I chose to let us both go. While Rachel was busy skipping class and having fun with Tyler, I was leading our competition team to dominate the national finals. On the day the SAT scores were released, Rachel, who had gotten pregnant and dropped out, saw a video of me being interviewed as the state’s top scorer. She completely lost it!

The moment I saw the tattered couple’s notebook carelessly tossed onto my desk, I knew Rachel had also come back. For the past ten years in our previous life, we had leaned on each other and worked hard together. I pulled all-nighters to build my startup, while she stayed in our tiny apartment making hangover soup to keep me going. Two kids from a small town, constantly encouraging each other. After ten years of perseverance and countless nights of drinking until I got ulcers, we finally put down roots in a big city, with a decent income and a fully paid-off house. Back then, standing in front of my own company building and holding Rachel’s hand, I felt overwhelmed with emotion. Without her support, I wouldn’t have made it this far. At that point, I finally felt confident enough to propose and start planning our wedding. To make up for all the years she had stood by me, I secretly prepared a $200,000 engagement ring and a fully paid house as a surprise. Everything seemed to be heading in the right direction. I even started fantasizing about having a child after we got married. It didn’t matter if she didn’t like doing housework or taking care of kids. In the past, when I didn’t have money, I had to take care of her myself. But now that things were better, I could hire not just one, but two nannies to take care of her and the baby. But fate seemed to be playing a cruel joke on me. The night before our wedding, Rachel said she wanted to have drinks with some friends for her bachelorette party. I agreed, of course, and promised to pick her up at midnight. But when I drove to the bar, I found her sobbing in a private room, bitterly regretting her life choices. She said she regretted more than once giving up her high school crush for a boring guy like me. “I was too young back then, too afraid to confess to the guy I liked because I didn’t want to ruin my reputation as a good student,” she cried. “But look what happened? This boring, studious boyfriend ended up wasting my most precious ten years!” “He tricked me into studying hard for three years, and then tricked me for another ten years, saying he’d give me a good life.” “Now I’m thirty, and no other man would want me. I have no choice but to marry him.” “You guys might envy me for finally getting my happy ending, but have you ever thought about how I’ve wasted my entire life with someone I don’t even love?!” I stood frozen at the doorway, my blood running cold. For the past ten years, even though I couldn’t give her a more luxurious life, I had given her all my salary and bonuses, and taken care of all the housework. Whether it was her freeloading parents or anything she wanted, I always tried my best to fulfill her wishes. She told me she wanted a unique wedding. I wanted to give her the grand wedding of her dreams once we were more financially stable, but in her eyes, I was just deliberately holding her back. Just as I was reeling from the shock, a girl passing by couldn’t resist the drama and posted a video online: “After seeing this, would you still choose to give up true love and marry a boring guy? Look at this poor man standing outside like a loyal dog while his drunk fiancée rants inside.” In an instant, we became a trending topic online. Everyone sympathized with Rachel and criticized me for ruining her youth. Some people even made memes out of my expression, calling me “the most pathetic simp of the new era.” Ten years of devotion, and I was left with nothing. My so-called friends who saw the post pretended to care while actually mocking me: “Are you still going through with the wedding? What if the bride runs away?” “Wow, you really outdid yourself, man. Trapping your high school crush for ten years? Are you some kind of yandere or what? Hahaha!” I became the target of everyone’s ridicule and mockery. But Rachel only panicked for a moment when she first found out about the video. Then she became righteously indignant. “It’s all your fault anyway. Even strangers online think you’ve held me back. Everything is your fault.” I leaned back on the sofa, looking at her tiredly. “We’re only legally married, we haven’t had the ceremony yet.” “In that case, let’s forget about the wedding and just get divorced.” Hearing this, Rachel suddenly started screaming. “I’ve wasted ten years on you! If we divorce now, I’ll lose half of everything! No way!” “If you want to dump me, you better pay up first!” I looked at the woman I had loved for ten years in disbelief, immediately getting up to find our marriage certificate. I can’t believe I misjudged her so badly! But just as I turned to look for the documents, Rachel, seeing that I was determined to divorce her, somehow crept up behind me. In a moment of madness, she pulled out a sharp knife from somewhere and stabbed it into my body. “How dare you even mention divorce when I’ve put up with you for so long?” “Only if you die can I have both money and freedom!” Her face was twisted with malice as she spoke the last words I heard before falling into darkness.

“What’s going on with you two? Did you have a fight?” Seeing me lost in thought, my buddy Mike nudged me with his elbow. He pointed at Rachel, who was now leaning close to Tyler, the new transfer student, and asked curiously. I finally snapped back to reality, my eyes cold as ice. Since high school, Rachel and I had been known as childhood sweethearts. In everyone’s minds, including my own until recently, we were destined to be together forever. So when they saw Rachel suddenly acting cold towards me and clinging to Tyler instead, everyone was shocked. I shook my head. “We didn’t fight. We just realized we’re not compatible and decided to split up.” Mike nodded. “That’s good, fighting would only hurt your relationship. See, I told you… Wait, what?! Split up?!” His voice wasn’t exactly quiet, and the entire classroom turned to look at us. I calmly nodded. “That’s right. From today on, Rachel and I are just regular classmates.” Everyone gasped and turned to look at Rachel. She was still staring at Tyler with undisguised adoration in her eyes. “Is it because of that guy?” Mike asked. “Not really. We just suddenly realized we’re not right for each other,” I said with a shrug, pretending not to care. Hearing this, Rachel suddenly turned to look at me with a strange expression. She looked at me as if I had done something to wrong her. I found it somewhat amusing. She was the one who stabbed me, yet she had the audacity to look at me like that? In the end, I didn’t say anything and just looked down at the form on my desk. It was a registration form for the state math competition. Normally, this year’s competition wouldn’t have much to do with me. I had already participated and won a gold medal in junior year, basically securing my college admission. But that year, Rachel had fallen ill and couldn’t compete with me. I knew she was lazy and stressed about the SATs, so I wanted to help ease her burden. At the same time, I subconsciously thought we should go to the same college. That’s why I agreed to lead the team for another competition in senior year. The main goal was to help Rachel win a medal too, so even if she couldn’t get a full scholarship, she could at least get some bonus points for college admissions. But that was all in our previous life. Now that things had come to this point between Rachel and me, the original plan was obsolete. However, since I had promised the teacher, I felt obligated to see it through. I looked at the registration form in front of me, thought for a moment, and then stood up. “Anyone interested in the math or biology competitions can come sign up with me. For the next year, I’ll be leading the team to prepare for the competitions as captain.”

In our small town, we didn’t have many educational resources, let alone specialized training for academic competitions. Even when I participated in the competition in junior year, I had to mostly self-study. I had to find all the practice problems on my own and figure out the solutions through countless sleepless nights. The school teachers only realized there was such a path to college admission after I had already won and secured my spot. Fortunately, our class was considered the top one in our school, and most of my classmates were ambitious and eager to get into good colleges. They were naturally interested in this opportunity, so they all rushed over to sign up. I asked Mike to help me record the list of names first, and then I would screen them later to decide who to include in the competition team. Mike agreed without hesitation. But soon, he looked at me with some hesitation. “Actually, I think Emily would be a great fit. You know how good she is at math. If she could get into college through this competition route, she’d probably end up at a much better school than she could through regular admissions.” I knew Emily Parker, the class president from the neighboring class. I had a strong impression of her – throughout freshman and sophomore years, I never saw her score below 98 on a math test, and her physics and chemistry grades were also top-notch. But oddly enough, her English and literature scores were terrible, barely passing. Someone like her would indeed be more suited for the competition route. I thought for a moment and nodded. “If she’s interested, go ahead and put her name down. But keep in mind that these competitions are quite different from regular math classes. We’ll need to test her first to see if she’s really up for it.” “But…” Mike still hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back. I looked at him, puzzled. “What’s wrong? She doesn’t want to participate? If that’s the case, forget it. It should be voluntary. There’s no point in forcing anyone, it’ll just make things harder to manage later.” “No, no, that’s not it,” Mike quickly said when he saw I was about to drop the subject. “It’s just that… Rachel doesn’t like you interacting with other girls, right? If you end up preparing for the competition with Emily, I’m worried it might cause problems for you.”

I sighed, feeling a bit exasperated. I had to emphasize once again: “I’ve already said this – Rachel and I are completely over. This isn’t just empty words; we really won’t have any contact anymore.” Mike still looked skeptical, but he didn’t say anything more. He just sat down and wrote Emily’s name on the paper. Just then, I suddenly felt uneasy, as if someone was watching me. I turned my head and caught Rachel hurriedly looking away. Seeing me look at her, she quickly put on an air of indifference. Mike finished recording the names quickly and handed me two sheets of paper. “Here are the lists of students interested in the math and biology competitions.” I nodded. “Great. Thanks! I’ll treat you to barbecue tonight.” Mike hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up. “Why don’t you ask Rachel? Weren’t you planning to have her join the math team all along?” Rachel turned her head at the right moment, deliberately lifting her chin and not looking at me as she said coldly: “If you want me to participate, that’s fine, but I demand that Tyler joins too. Otherwise, I won’t do it.” “No need. We have enough people already, and we still need to screen them. I’m going to submit the list to the teacher now,” I said, ignoring her words and just organizing the forms. Rachel froze, seemingly not expecting me to disregard her like that. She looked like a rooster suddenly choked, abruptly falling silent and staring at me in disbelief. But I didn’t meet her gaze again. I just walked out of the classroom, minding my own business.

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To please his new girlfriend, Alex made me run three laps around the city barefoot. “Is this your 90th demand?” I asked. He scoffed. “You’re such a doormat anyway. Perfect for entertaining Serena.” I insisted, “Is it the 90th demand?” He grew impatient. “Fine, I’ll combine it with the 91st. After you finish the three laps, go fish out my son’s toy from the lake.” I didn’t hesitate. I just left to run. All because I’d promised to do a hundred things for him, to repay his kindness. Once the debt was settled, I could finally leave. **One.** It took me five agonizing days to complete the three laps. Without wasting a second, I rushed to Alex’s mansion, and amidst everyone’s snickers, I plunged into the lake. I searched for three hours, but Leo’s toy was nowhere to be found. When I finally stood dripping wet before Alex, he paused for a moment. His usual crew burst into laughter, patting him on the back. “Alex, you’re amazing! How do you train such an obedient lapdog?” “Chloe running around the city even made the news! I swear… I’ve never seen a woman so pathetic.” “Dude, how do you do it? Teach us! We want a lapdog like that too!” Alex’s dark eyes lingered on me, but he said nothing. Serena, nestled in his arms, leaned in and kissed him. “Oh, Alex, you’re the best! Serena is all yours tonight.” She reached out, playfully poking his chest, her eyes narrowing alluringly. “Alex, please don’t go easy on me tonight…” “Chloe’s still here, shouldn’t you guys tone it down? What if she gets upset and cries?” “Hahaha… Chloe’s just Alex’s pet, right? Even if he ordered her to serve us tonight, she’d probably agree in a heartbeat.” My hands clenched anxiously. I stared at Alex, terrified he’d agree. It wasn’t like it hadn’t happened before. His 50th and 79th demands were for me to watch him sleep with different women. They went on all night, and I was forced to watch all night too. That’s how my feelings for Alex were brutally severed. “What are you waiting for? Do you really want to serve us?” “Get back to Leo, now!” I let out a sigh of relief and quickly turned to head back to the mansion. I hastily changed out of my wet clothes, but just as I stepped out, I slipped on a glass marble. My body hit the floor hard, the glass marble digging into my skin. The pain brought tears to my eyes. A ten-year-old boy sneered, appearing from around the corner of the stairs. “You pathetic woman, you’re so lucky you didn’t fall down the stairs.” My heart sank. Leo actually hated me this much. The little boy who used to cling to my leg, his eyes red, begging me to tell him stories, seemed like a ghost now. “You have the nerve to cry? My dad told you to take care of me. Where were you having fun these past five days?” The pain in my body made me speechless, and my reaction was even a beat too slow. I watched, helpless, as Leo picked up the glass marbles from the floor and furiously hurled them at me. “Don’t think playing pathetic will replace my mom!” “I’ll hate you forever!” “I’m telling you, get out of my house, or I swear I’ll make you regret it!” Leo left with a defiant huff, swaggering away. The maids walking by ignored me, long accustomed to seeing me sprawled on the floor. **Two.** Ten years ago, my mom had a medical emergency on the street, and Alex, who was passing by, took her to the hospital. By the time I rushed back from overseas, my mom was gone. Alex then helped me arrange the funeral. To repay his kindness, I promised to do a hundred things for him. At first, Alex didn’t take it seriously, but one day he suddenly came to me. His first demand was for me to be his wife, but without a marriage certificate or a wedding ceremony. The second demand was for me to take care of his ten-month-old son. I devoted myself to caring for them, father and son, for ten years. Inevitably, I developed feelings, but I could never truly enter their hearts. Now, all I wanted was to complete those hundred demands, and then leave. … After I recovered, I picked myself up from the floor. A passing maid rolled her eyes at me. “Thinks she’s Mrs. Alex, huh? Get up and clean up those marbles before someone trips!” “Honestly, Chloe, I can’t believe her. She knew the little master was after her, why didn’t she just get out of the way? Now she’s just adding to our workload.” “Lying there like she’s some delicate flower. She’s not even as good as the poodle!” “At least the poodle barks. Chloe just makes Mr. Alex and the young master unhappy.” The maid finished speaking and quickly joined another maid. They discussed me loudly and carelessly, as if I wasn’t even there. Right. My status in this mansion was lower than a dog’s. Swallowing the bitterness in my heart, I resignedly got up from the floor. I picked up each glass marble, then went downstairs to put them away. Suddenly, a figure slammed into me. *Bang!* I was knocked down again. Glass shards, thrown by who-knows-who, were scattered on the floor and immediately pierced my palm. Blood gushed out, staining the glass and the floor. “Good! Hope it hurts you to death! Who told you to try and take my mom’s place!” “What a pity, why didn’t the glass get stuck in your neck?” Leo wouldn’t let anyone help me, nor would he allow the family doctor to treat me. He also wouldn’t let the household driver take me to a clinic. I walked three hours alone to reach the nearest clinic to treat my wound. When I returned that evening, a single lamp lit the living room. Alex was sitting on the sofa, reading. “Is your hand okay?” I looked at my hand, thickly wrapped in gauze, and stayed silent. Because I knew, even if I said it wasn’t okay, Alex wouldn’t punish Leo. That was his deceased beloved wife’s only child. He practically held him in the palm of his hand; how could he ever bring himself to scold him? “Leo’s still young, and it wasn’t intentional.” “You’re an adult, don’t fuss with a kid. He just can’t forget Eden, that’s why…” I cut him off. “I know. I won’t blame him. Can you just get your demands over with?” These ten years, I was exhausted. I wished I could fly out of here right away. But Alex had helped me, and I had to repay him. “Chloe, can’t I ever give you a kind look?” Alex snapped his book shut, his brows furrowed. “You’re that eager to finish these hundred demands?” I nodded. “Yes.” As soon as I said it, I could feel the atmosphere around Alex change. “You really have a way with words!” He stormed off, but halfway there, he turned back and switched off the lights. “You’ll sleep right where you’re standing tonight. That’s the 92nd demand!” “You want to leave so badly? I’ll satisfy you right away!” Hearing his retreating footsteps, I sighed. Just a little longer. I’d make it through this soon. **Three.** Leo woke up early. Seeing me sleeping on the floor, he ruthlessly kicked me awake. “Chloe, stop playing dead! Get up and eat!” The ten-year-old boy had quite a bit of strength, and he deliberately put his full weight into it. His foot landed hard on my stomach. I almost lost my breath. Clutching my stomach, I slowly got up. In the mirror, my face was terrifyingly pale. I held my breath and staggered to the dining table. Gently, I tugged on Alex’s sleeve, pleading, “Can you ask the driver to take me to the hospital?” My stomach hurt so much I couldn’t straighten up. Alex disdainfully slapped my hand away. “Chloe, what game are you playing now?” Leo rolled his eyes. “Dad, don’t pay attention to her! Chloe’s just trying to play pathetic! She’s strong as an ox, a little kick won’t kill her.” “Even if… I really am as strong as an ox, I can’t take this kind of torment.” “You dare talk back! I bet Chloe’s just faking it, trying to get sympathy because Serena is here.” I reached out and gripped the empty chair beside me. By now, I was too nauseous to speak, only able to plead with my eyes to Alex. It really hurt so much! More than my hand, which was cut by glass yesterday! Alex’s brows furrowed, carefully observing my expression. In his mind, I was always full of lies. “Alex, I made blueberry toast! You guys should try some!” “Chloe, you’re not very convincing. If your stomach hurt, you wouldn’t be able to even stand up. Stop acting and come try my blueberry toast!” As the scene froze, Serena came out with a plate. After placing a portion in front of Alex and Leo, she brought a plate with the most blueberries to me. She smiled sweetly at me. “Chloe, try my baking, tell me what you think!” She was smiling, but it sent shivers down my spine. Instinctively, I reached for Alex beside me, but I grabbed empty air—he’d moved away. “Alex… is my blueberry toast not good?” Serena looked about eighty percent like Alex’s deceased ex-wife. The moment she pouted, Alex and Leo instantly grew anxious. “Hey, woman, did you hear that? Go try Serena’s toast!” “Chloe, just one bite, don’t let Serena down.” My heart plummeted. Unbidden tears stung my eyes and fell. At that moment, I was only glad I no longer loved Alex. “Is this your 93rd demand?” After saying that, I gasped for several breaths. Alex’s breath hitched. He turned his head away, no longer looking at me. “Yes, this is my 93rd demand.” I nodded, no longer hesitating, and quickly stuffed the toast into my mouth. Serena clapped her hands. “See? Isn’t it delicious?” Then she happily snuggled into Alex’s arms. “Alex, you’re the best to me.” Watching Serena act coy, my head grew heavier and heavier. My vision blurred. In the last second before I collapsed, I heard Leo shout, “Chloe, is she dead?” Serena feigned innocence. “But people who faint usually just fall straight down. Why is Chloe looking around?” Alex frowned. “Chloe, get up now, stop faking it.” **Four.** I was jolted awake by the smell of disinfectant. Leo put down the spray bottle, crossed his arms, and glowered at me. “Chloe, what are you doing?” “Who do you think you are, so delicate? Do you know you’ve been lying here for three days and three nights?”

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I broke off our engagement without hesitation the day my fiancée’s family went bankrupt. Later, she rebuilt her fortune with the help of a mysterious benefactor, while I struggled to save my family’s failing business. After she snatched away my 88th life-saving contract, I silently used the last of my money to pay my employees’ final wages, then vanished without a trace. Three years later, my secretary accidentally found an old phone. Inside were my late-stage cancer diagnosis reports and a receipt for an anonymous billion-dollar donation. The recipient’s name on the form was my ex-fiancée’s. When the red wine splashed across my face, my first thought was—I won’t be getting the deposit back on this rented shirt. “Ethan, have you no shame?” Olivia’s voice cut into my eardrums like a knife. “How dare you show your face at this high-class event?” The cold liquid dripped from my chin onto the floor. I could hear the muffled snickers around me without even looking. I knew exactly what expressions those former business associates who once fawned over me were wearing now. Three years ago, I was the heir to the Thompson Group. Now I couldn’t even afford my own shirt. “I’m just here to discuss business,” I said, wiping my face. Even the expensive wine stung my eyes. Olivia let out a cold laugh. She was wearing a Dior haute couture dress I’d seen in a magazine last year. Her earrings must be new—I hadn’t seen her wear them the last time we met. Good for her. It seemed Olivia had been taking very good care of herself these past few years. “Discuss business?” Olivia raised her voice, making sure everyone could hear. “You mean beg me for scraps, just like that divorce settlement you so generously handed my family three years ago?” A sudden stabbing pain gripped my stomach, the familiar burning sensation crawling up my esophagus. The doctor had warned me last month that the cancer cells had spread to my digestive system, but how could I afford chemotherapy? It was already a miracle the company had survived this long. “Ms. Foster, you must be joking,” I said, bending down to pick up the broken wine glass. The sharp edge cut my finger. “I apologize for the disturbance. I’ll leave now.” As I turned to go, I heard Olivia’s assistant whisper: “Ms. Foster, Mr. Wang is waiting to discuss the East City project…” My heart clenched painfully. That was my last hope—next month’s wages for the company’s remaining 20 employees depended on that project. “Olivia!” I instinctively called out her first name, turning back. “The East City project—” “Has already been signed over to me,” Olivia cut me off, waving her phone to show the contract photo she’d just received. “Three minutes before you walked in, actually.” “By the way, this is the 88th contract I’ve snatched from you. What an auspicious number.” you. What I stood frozen, letting the blade twist in my heart. Looking at Olivia now, I found her face both familiar and foreign.

Olivia and I had been betrothed since childhood—childhood sweethearts, two peas in a pod. From a young age, my parents told me Olivia would be my future wife and that I should treat her well. Of course, that’s exactly what I did. Before high school, I saw Olivia as a little sister. Until one ordinary day, when Olivia came running towards me in her plain school uniform, ponytail swinging. She stood in the sunlight, and crashed right into my heart. Back then, Olivia’s skin glowed so brightly. As she ran towards me, she also ran straight into my heart. Olivia had always been clingy with me, sharing all her girlish secrets. As she put it: “Whether we end up as husband and wife or just friends, we’ll always be soulmates. You understand me, and I understand you.” At the time, I knew we didn’t have some grand, sweeping romance. Even if I liked her, I couldn’t say it out loud. My father had taught me from a young age that a man’s duty was to build his career. I had to keep my emotions in check—even if I liked someone, I couldn’t show it too much. My main task was to expand the family business. In our social circles, everyone talked about how the Thompson and Foster families would make a powerful alliance. Three years ago, the Foster family suddenly went bankrupt without any warning. My father told me to cancel the engagement. He said the Thompson family couldn’t be dragged down by anyone. It was the first time I’d ever defied my father. I rushed out in the pouring rain to find Olivia, but got into a car accident on the way. The good news was, I wasn’t seriously injured. The bad news was, I was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. Terminal. I cried for a long, long time that day. I don’t know if it was because I couldn’t control the fate of Olivia’s family, or because I was facing my own imminent death. Perhaps it was both. I followed my father’s orders and went to break off the engagement with Olivia. As luck would have it, the Foster family was in the middle of liquidating assets for auction, with many people waiting to watch the spectacle. I knew that even if I had to end the engagement, I shouldn’t humiliate Olivia and her family in front of so many people. Even if I couldn’t offer help in their time of need, I shouldn’t be throwing stones. Unfortunately, my father kept pressuring me, telling me this was the perfect opportunity. I gritted my teeth, unable to look Olivia in the eye. There was a watery sheen in Olivia’s eyes—helplessness, despair. She looked at me like I was her last lifeline. My voice shook as I spoke. Each word was agony. Sadly, there was no turning back for me, or for the Foster family. Olivia was wrong—she didn’t understand me at all. Otherwise, how could she not see my struggle at that moment? That’s when I knew for certain that I loved Olivia. It wasn’t habit or childhood indoctrination. It was that gut-wrenching pain of loss. Once news of the broken engagement got out, Olivia became a laughingstock. I agonized and wrestled with myself, wanting to tell Olivia the truth. But I couldn’t be that selfish—at the very least, I couldn’t make things even worse for her. Later, rumors spread in our social circles that Olivia had found a rich benefactor. This mysterious person had invested in her, allowing her to rebuild her fortune. Seeing her today, the dark clouds that had hung over Olivia had dispersed. She still shone brightly, standing in the spotlight.

It was raining when I left the hotel. I stood under the awning, counting the cash in my wallet: $327. Not enough to pay for the shirt. My phone buzzed with a notification from the hospital. “Mr. Thompson, your test results are ready. Please come in for a follow-up as soon as possible.” I didn’t reply, shoving the phone back in my pocket. The screen had a crack in it, just like my heart. It was late when I got back to the office. The entire floor was dark except for the light still on in the finance room. When I pushed open the door, Emma the secretary was hunched over her computer reviewing accounts. She jerked her head up at the sound, eyes bloodshot behind her glasses. “Mr. Thompson… the East City project…?” I shook my head, tossing my suit jacket onto the couch. The wine-stained shirt had dried, clinging to my body in wrinkles like a layer of skin I couldn’t shed. Emma’s pen clattered onto the desk. She opened her mouth, but in the end just silently took out some stomach medicine from her drawer, pouring a glass of warm water and pushing it towards me. “Pay out the wages tomorrow and then let everyone go,” I said. The pill stuck in my throat, its bitterness spreading. “How much is left in the accounts?” “Including the transfer from your personal account, just enough for three months’ severance pay,” Emma said, her voice shaking slightly. “But sir, R&D’s new product launch is next month…” I held up a hand to cut Emma off. I believe there’s karma in this world. My father died in an accident shortly after my diagnosis. The Thompson family’s former glory left with him. Outside the window, neon lights flickered. The LED screen on the opposite building was playing Foster Group’s latest advertisement, Olivia’s delicate profile especially eye-catching in the night. Three years ago on that rainy night, I had stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hospital, looking at the last message Olivia had sent me on my phone. “Ethan, the biggest regret of my life is ever loving you.” I had just received my stomach cancer diagnosis. The doctor’s words still echoed in my ears. “Late stage. Three years at most.” My phone suddenly vibrated—a notification from the auction house that the payment had gone through. I stared at that string of numbers for a long time before finally opening my banking app and transferring the entire amount to a long-dormant account. The memo field was blank. The cursor blinked on and off, as if mocking my cowardice.

The farewell dinner for the employees was set at our usual hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Over 20 people crammed into the greasy plastic tent. The young guys from R&D brought two cases of beer, while the marketing girls strung up kebabs with teary eyes. No one mentioned the company’s closure—it was as if this was just a regular team dinner. “Try this, sir,” Emma said, putting a grilled chicken wing on my plate. “You’re too thin.” I forced myself to take a bite, but my stomach immediately revolted. As I rushed to the restroom, I heard someone whisper behind me: “The boss has been throwing up more and more frequently these past six months…” The man in the mirror was deathly pale, with traces of blood at the corners of his mouth. I splashed cold water on my face, suddenly remembering my 20th birthday. Olivia had snuck into my office to make longevity noodles, but ended up setting off the smoke alarm. Her face had been smeared with flour as she frantically tried to turn off the stove—so much more adorable than the polished business executive on the LED screen now. When I returned to the table, everyone was already drunk. The HR director, Old Wang, swayed to his feet, raising his glass. “When Thompson Group went bankrupt, it was the boss who shouldered all the debts alone, not letting us end up on the streets… This toast is to Mr. Thompson!” The clinking of glasses rose in waves. Someone started crying. I tilted my head back and downed my beer. The icy liquid burned my ulcerated esophagus, making my fingertips tremble with pain. Emma was the last to leave. She insisted on helping me clean out my office, but I knew she was just worried about me. “This is for you,” she said, handing me a manila envelope. “Your medical report from the hospital last month… I took the liberty of picking it up.” The envelope was light, but it felt like it was crushing my chest. The shadows on the CT scan had spread much further than six months ago, like a net slowly tightening. “Thank you,” I said, feeding the documents into the shredder. “Starting tomorrow, report to Foster Group.” Emma’s head snapped up. “What did you say?” “I recommended you as Olivia’s new assistant,” I said. The shredder’s noise covered my coughing. “She needs someone reliable by her side.” “I won’t go!” Emma’s usually gentle voice suddenly rose. “You know how she’s been targeting you all these years! Those projects, those clients… 88 times now! She’s trying to drive you to your death!” The shredder stopped with a click. The office fell deathly silent. I gazed out at the night sky and said softly: “88 is a good number.”

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