After summer break kicked off, my twin sister, Brooke, announced she was heading out to sea with some “hot shot” she’d met at a club, working as a yacht girl. I scrolled through my Ins feed and found a post from that exact girl, Cassie. “Tomorrow, an 18-year-old, fresh-out-of-high-school girl is joining me for a yacht trip. Dark-skinned gentlemen, reserve your spots now!” In my previous life, I was so worried about Brooke going down the wrong path that I tried everything to stop her. But she just laughed at me, calling me an old fossil, saying I deserved to be broke my whole life. I couldn’t control her, so I secretly told our parents. Brooke was grounded for the entire summer. But Cassie, that yacht girl, ended up pregnant with the CEO’s child during her gig. She transformed into a rich socialite overnight, even coming to brag in front of Brooke. Brooke went absolutely insane with jealousy, convinced I had ruined her chance. Our parents also came to hate me for losing out on a CEO as a son-in-law. They stripped me naked, tied me up, and left me on our outdoor balcony, exposed to a scorching 104-degree heat all day. I died from severe heatstroke, my organs cooked alive inside me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day Brooke said she was going for that gig. I looked at Brooke, her eyes holding that look of pure, unadulterated stupidity, and I smiled. This time, I’ll watch you fall, becoming a toy for those “dark-skinned gentlemen” with my own eyes.

“Skylar! I was only born three minutes after you, can you stop trying to control my life?!” Brooke’s furious, humiliated voice made me flinch violently. My consciousness snapped back. One second ago, I was on that scorching metal balcony where you could fry an egg. Now, I was in a club, every pore radiating a sense of cool comfort. I’d actually been reborn! In my previous life, after seeing Cassie’s post on Ins, I dug through her profile. That’s when I realized she operated in the gray area as a “yacht girl,” often taking on different groups of clients. And this time, it was a bunch of rough, dark-skinned men with… specific tastes. For Brooke’s safety, I tried everything to stop her from getting on that yacht. For that, she verbally abused me for two months straight. That hatred reached its peak when Cassie became the CEO’s wife. Brooke stubbornly believed she was younger and prettier than Cassie, And if she had taken that yacht girl gig, the CEO would surely have noticed her instead. She was confused, but my parents were even more clueless. To punish me, they stripped my clothes and locked me on that metal-plated balcony. It was 104 degrees Fahrenheit outside, and I was exposed to the sun all day. My internal organs were cooked through. The agony before my death sent shivers down my spine, making me tremble. “Brooke, your sister here is a straight-A student, practically drowning in scholarship funds. Of course, she wouldn’t stoop to earning money herself.” “Let me tell you, if you ditch me this time, finding another gig won’t be so easy.” Cassie’s words, half sarcastic, half threatening, rang out above my head. Brooke stamped her foot in anger. She was already jealous that I got into a top-tier university and received so many scholarships. Hearing that, she panicked. “Cassie said one yacht gig pays at least ten thousand dollars! You wouldn’t buy me a designer bag, so I’ll earn the money myself, what’s wrong with that?!” I chuckled as if I’d heard the funniest joke. Brooke wanted me to give her twenty thousand dollars from my scholarship money to buy a designer bag. But Mom and Dad had already declared that after college, Brooke would get five thousand a month for living expenses, but I wouldn’t get a single dime. That twenty thousand in scholarships was my tuition and living expenses. How could I possibly give it to her for a bag? My parents had always favored Brooke since we were little, which is why she grew up so vain, superficial, malicious, and selfish. Now that I had a second chance at life, I wouldn’t interfere with anyone else’s fate again. Thinking this, I offered Brooke a small smile. “You’re right, I was too narrow-minded. Go ahead. If you want to earn your own spending money, I really shouldn’t stop you.”

Brooke froze for a moment, then her face lit up with wild joy. The music in the club was pounding, giving me a headache, so I frowned, wanting to leave. But as soon as I stood up, Brooke and her little posse of friends pushed me back down onto the booth seat. A sharp pain shot through my shoulder as she yanked my bag off, pulling out my phone. Seeing the phone still on the recording interface, her face instantly changed. “I knew you weren’t that nice! You act all sweet in front of me, but you’re secretly recording me, planning to run home and tell Mom and Dad, aren’t you?!” I sighed. “You can delete the recording. I promise I won’t tell Mom and Dad.” In my previous life, I had indeed used that recording to convince Mom and Dad that this job wasn’t legitimate. That’s why they locked Brooke at home. But this time, I was determined to just observe, so the recording no longer mattered. Brooke quickly deleted the recording and was about to hand my phone back when Cassie snatched it away. “Your sister is so smart. They say a cunning rabbit has three burrows, she probably doesn’t just have one recording device, does she?” Brooke suddenly understood, pointing at me and cursing, demanding I hand over all recordings. I was pinned to the seat, trying my best to calmly explain to her. Brooke turned my bag inside out but didn’t find any other devices. Cassie smirked, a cold smile playing on her lips. “We have quite a few clients on the yacht who hide tiny cameras on themselves. Could it be…?” Brooke’s face instantly darkened. She pounced on me, tearing off my dress. The little tough girls nearby cheered, pulling out their phones to take pictures. “Whoa, Brooke, your sister has a banging body!” Humiliated, I desperately covered myself, an overwhelming sense of shame washing over me. It wasn’t until I was completely naked that Brooke finally snorted and let me go. “Brooke, you came to the club to meddle with me, so you brought this humiliation upon yourself!” I huddled under the table, trying to cover myself with the dress, begging them to let me leave. Cassie’s gaze lingered on my body, full of meaning, and she suddenly suggested I come along for the yacht gig too. She hesitated for a rare moment. “But… wouldn’t that be a bit much?” Cassie flashed a wide smile. “Twin yacht girls as gorgeous as you two? The price would be at least five times higher, you know.” “Besides, if she comes with us, we can make sure she won’t run back and tell tales, right?” Brooke was instantly convinced. Then, under Cassie’s direction, the tough girls force-fed me a large amount of alcohol. My limbs felt weak from the drunkenness. Cassie had Brooke and me pose for a set of sexy twin photos. “If you don’t want your family, friends, or even your future college classmates to see these photos, You’d better behave tomorrow and perform well, understand?” That idiot Brooke even seemed a little displeased. “Cassie! You said I’d be the main attraction tomorrow!” Cassie casually brushed her off, a hint of disdain in her eyes. By the time I fully sobered up, it was already late into the night. Everyone lay sprawled across the sofas, deeply asleep. Thinking of the consequences of being taken onto that yacht, I gritted my teeth and knocked over the drinks and scented candles on the table. The club room was filled with highly flammable items, and the flames quickly turned into billowing smoke. Security guards rushed in frantically with fire extinguishers. The moment the room door burst open, I crouched low and dashed out. Ignoring the roars and piercing screams behind me, I ran like mad, tearing out of the club. After running for what felt like ages, I finally reached home. Before my tensed nerves could relax, the living room lights suddenly flickered on. “Why are you back alone?! Where’s your sister?!” They seemed oblivious to my disheveled appearance, relentlessly hounding me about Brooke’s whereabouts. I was just about to speak. Dad raised his hand and viciously slapped me across the face. “Don’t tell me your sister met bad people out there! I’m telling you, Brooke *has* to go out to sea! She’s going to be the CEO’s wife…” In that instant, I confirmed that Mom and Dad had also been reborn. They showed no remorse for having caused my death. All they wanted was to send Brooke off to sea. Mom quickly nudged Dad’s arm, signaling him not to let slip. A mix of bitterness and resentment swelled in my heart. I took a deep breath and insisted I had no idea where Brooke went. They exchanged confused glances. The next second, the phone rang. A strong sense of unease rose within me. While Dad was on the phone, I quietly began to retreat towards the door. “What! You’re taking your sister to the gig tomorrow?!” “No, you can’t take her! You go alone… Dad means that kind of good fortune isn’t for your sister…” I immediately turned to run. Unexpectedly, Mom mercilessly kicked me hard in the lower back. I cried out in pain, clutching my waist as I collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down my face. After Dad hung up, he whispered a few words to Mom. Mom immediately turned and fetched a plate of peanuts. Alarm bells screamed in my head.

“Brooke says if you two sisters go out to sea together, you can make at least fifty thousand dollars.” “This is such a rare opportunity, you wouldn’t intentionally steal your sister’s thunder, would you?” Mom’s voice was gentle as she approached me, while Dad flanked me from the other side. One of them held my body down, the other pried open my mouth, frantically stuffing peanuts into it. I struggled with all my might. “No! I… I’m allergic to peanuts… I’ll die…!” By the time I swallowed the last peanut, the final shred of kinship in my heart vanished. They knew I was deathly allergic to peanuts, which could cause anything from full-body rashes to death. The allergic reaction hit fast; I could barely breathe. I desperately clawed at Mom’s pants leg, struggling to speak: “Why… I’m your daughter too…” Mom forcefully kicked my leg away, the flash of disgust in her eyes piercing me deeply. They locked me in the room, refusing to give me medicine or water, no matter how much I begged. Only when dawn broke did Mom open the door and make me change into a swimsuit. It wasn’t until I was shoved into the back seat of the car, and Mom and Dad squeezed in after me, that I realized they actually intended to come out to sea with us. Watching them excitedly fantasize about becoming the CEO’s in-laws, I couldn’t help but turn my head, a cold sneer playing on my lips. They still didn’t know that in my past life, Cassie wasn’t actually chosen by the CEO. She got pregnant after this particular yacht trip, which attracted a group of men with peculiar tastes. She took on jobs day and night, earning a lot of money, but her body simply couldn’t handle it. So, she set her sights on Brooke, trying to trick her into working with her again. My parents and Brooke were so blinded by wealth that they couldn’t even see through such a clumsy lie. They were still dreaming of becoming the CEO’s wife. When we got out of the car, Cassie saw me covered in red rashes and frowned deeply. She furiously slapped Mom. “Who told you to mess her up like this?!” “If this ghastly appearance scares off the clients, can you afford to pay for it?!” “Either fix her, or give me back my money!” Mom and Dad were stunned by the sudden turn of events. They stammered for a long time, repeatedly promising that if I took allergy medicine, I’d recover in half an hour. After much pleading, Cassie finally agreed to let me board the extremely luxurious super yacht. Dad glanced back at me, saying haughtily, “You better behave. Once your sister marries the CEO, all this will be ours!” “Then you can drop out of college and become the CEO’s wife’s nanny. It won’t be that bad for you.” I nodded, feigning obedience. About ten minutes later, Cassie walked into the guest cabin to select the first batch of yacht girls. She looked at my still not fully subsided rashes with disgust and clicked her tongue. Ultimately, she only took Brooke and eight other young girls. After they left, only Mom, Dad, and I remained in the guest cabin. I feigned surprise, pointing at the red wine in the wine cabinet. “Oh my god, each bottle of red wine in this cabinet is at least five hundred thousand dollars!” They half-believed me, half-doubted, and spent a long time searching online. When they discovered I was telling the truth, they excitedly opened the most expensive bottles and chugged them straight from the bottle. Not long after, both of them were dead drunk. I quickly got up and left. I hadn’t gone far when Brooke’s heart-wrenching scream suddenly echoed. “No! Let me go! Waaah…!” “It’s too big… it’ll tear…!” “Cassie, save me! Ahh…!” Then came a few extremely miserable shrieks. Followed by Cassie’s nonchalant warning. “Keep it down, don’t disturb the VIPs upstairs.” The screams from inside the room instantly died down, replaced by muffled sobs. Fearing I’d be discovered, I didn’t pause and continued quietly walking towards the upper deck. In my previous life, I had seen some incredibly revealing comments under Cassie’s Ins post. “Hope this batch is more durable; they sent a lot of people to the hospital last time.” “Some guys are kinky, they like older women, can you arrange that too?” “Treat these dark-skinned bodyguards well, and you’ll be rewarded handsomely.” Unfortunately, she deleted that post just a few minutes after posting it. When we boarded, Cassie specifically instructed us to only move around on the yacht’s lower deck and not go to the third floor or higher. After that, over a dozen dark-skinned men dressed as bodyguards entered the lower deck. These yacht girls were just “appetizers” to distract the bodyguards. The real VIPs were on the top deck of the yacht. Just as I was about to step onto the third floor, I heard Mom’s incoherent cries for help from below, along with the lewd laughter of men with exaggerated accents. I didn’t look back and continued upward. I just wanted to find a safe place to hide until the ship docked, then leave. But the moment I stepped onto the third deck, the scene before me nearly scared me out of my wits: A tall man raised a pistol at another person. “Bang,” the suppressed gunshot was barely a whisper, and the man dropped. “Bang,” a second shot, and a bullet whizzed past my arm. I instantly froze, my limbs rigid with terror. The man who fired the gun was none other than Julian Harrison, the CEO! The true owner of this yacht! Oh no, am I about to be silenced…? But when Julian Harrison saw my face clearly, his pupils instantly dilated. He staggered and lunged towards me. I was already rigid with fear, so he just turned my head, revealing the red mole behind my ear. After a long moment, he embraced me, tears streaming down his face. “I’m so sorry, daughter, Dad scared you…”

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The day I took our daughter, Lily, for her check-up, Damon, my husband, who had been away on a business trip for days, drove to pick us up. The moment he saw us, he pulled both me and Lily into a tight hug. My nose twitched. A faint, unfamiliar scent hit me. Lily snuggled into him, giggling. I stood by, smiling, watching them play-fight. It wasn’t until we settled into the car that I noticed another woman in the back seat… The woman had a small, round face and wore a crisp business suit. She smiled sweetly. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Thorne. I’m Chloe, the new assistant from Damon’s office.” I glanced at Damon. He said calmly, “She was on my way, so I offered her a ride home.” But since when did Damon, the CEO of Thorne Enterprises, personally pick up an employee? Especially when he was on his way to get *us*. Chloe explained earnestly, “Please don’t misunderstand, Mrs. Thorne. I just wanted a chance to apologize to you.” She handed me a gift bag containing a tube of my favorite hand cream. “When I was on the business trip with Mr. Thorne, I forgot my hand cream. You happened to have some in the car, and I… accidentally used it all up.” “This is a new one I bought. I hope you’ll accept it.” I didn’t reach out for it immediately. A hint of nervousness flickered across her face, and she couldn’t help but glance at Damon beside her. “Take it,” Damon said, his voice soft but firm. I took the bag and tossed it onto the seat beside me. Lily, strapped into her car seat, stared curiously at this new lady. Her eyes lit up when she spotted candy in Chloe’s hand. Just as Chloe prepared to unwrap a piece of candy for Lily, I couldn’t hold back anymore. “She just saw the dentist. No candy.” “But this is imported! Not just any cheap brand. You can rest assured—” “So imported candy isn’t candy?” Damon, who had been focused on driving, frowned. “Elara, she’s just trying to be nice.” I fell silent. But Lily, ever the sensible one, nodded. “Lily will listen to Mommy. No candy.” Chloe had no choice but to withdraw her hand, her expression stiff. The car soon pulled up smoothly outside an older apartment complex. She got out, apologizing profusely once more. I just nodded slightly in acknowledgment. On the way home, Damon’s tone softened. “Don’t be mad at her. She’s a young woman, fresh out of college, too much of a perfectionist. Sometimes when she’s stubborn, even I can’t talk her out of it.” A faint smile played on his lips. “Quite strong-willed, actually.” As the car pulled up to our house, he suddenly leaned over and kissed my cheek. I didn’t pull away. From the back seat, Lily suddenly piped up, “Mommy, the lady’s scent smells like Daddy’s.” Damon’s smile froze for a moment. I pretended not to notice, laughing lightly. “That’s because Daddy’s car should naturally smell like Daddy. It has nothing to do with anyone else.” “Oh,” Lily said, sounding half-convinced, half-confused. I got out and lifted her from the car. Looking up at Damon beside me, he spoke calmly. “If taking care of Lily makes you feel tired, I can hire a professional.” His voice was even. “She’s a Thorne, our little princess. She shouldn’t be neglected or anything less than perfectly cared for because *you’re* tired.”

From the moment I married into the Thorne family, I knew I’d have to put up with Damon’s wandering eye. He’d had casual flings, even scandals. The year Lily was born, I had a huge fight with him. It was the first time I’d ever seen him truly angry. His eyes turned icy, making the air around us freeze. He said, “You need to remember, Elara, the status I gave you, I can take away just as easily.” For Lily’s future, I didn’t argue anymore. That storm ended quietly, without even a ripple. Later, I learned my lesson. Because no matter how many women he brought into his life, he always knew this home existed. Sometimes I even felt a genuine attachment in his gaze when he looked at me. After all, I was his wife, and I held a different place in his heart. He drew an invisible line between his family and his girlfriends. I pretended to be oblivious inside that line. They, outside the line, played out one romantic escapade after another with him. Until Chloe appeared, that balance was shattered— She brazenly climbed over that wall and stood right in front of me. After putting Lily to sleep, I returned to our bedroom. Damon stood by the balcony, flipping through documents, a slight smile on his lips. “You’ve had a long week. Get some rest.” He rarely spoke so gently to anyone. A flash of Chloe’s delicate face from earlier that day flickered in my mind. I didn’t respond, walking straight into the bathroom. The water was barely running when a warm, strong body pressed against me from behind. His husky voice whispered from above, “Did you miss me these past few days?” I gently turned, grabbing a towel and wrapping myself tightly. “I’m a bit tired. Not tonight.” As I turned to leave, my wrist was suddenly yanked back. He raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of playful mischief. “I’ve been saving myself for you. If you won’t take it, should I give it to someone else?” He loved to make lewd jokes like that in bed. No matter how I reacted, he always seemed so sure I wouldn’t truly push back. When I pushed him away again, the smile in his eyes only deepened. “Jealous?” “There’s nothing going on between me and her. It’s just that she looks a lot like you…” “If you don’t like it, I won’t do it again. Alright, just for you.” As he spoke, he kissed my neck. What should have been a burning touch sent a chill through me. “Damon, please, don’t touch me.” The bathroom filled with steam, and his expression instantly darkened. “Don’t be difficult, Elara. Not while my patience is wearing thin.” I froze, my fingers slowly turning white. Seeing that I wouldn’t soften, he simply scooped me up, tossing me onto the bed. In the dark, he gritted his teeth and said, his voice quiet but chilling, “If you want things to go smoothly, just behave.” My entire body stiffened. I couldn’t utter a word. Much later, tears silently streamed down my face. The next morning, Lily burrowed into my bed, kissing my face. “Mommy, Daddy’s taking me to the park today!” I was surprised. Damon never liked taking her to places like that, let alone personally. Damon leaned against the doorframe, a gentle smile on his face. “Come on, my little princess. Time to get up.” The moment they left, I went to the hospital. Last night’s events still felt off. When I received the test results, I was stunned myself. The doctor said calmly, “You’re four weeks pregnant. The first few months are unstable, so try to avoid intercourse. If you don’t plan on keeping the baby, decide soon. Waiting too long can have a significant impact on your body.” I clutched the diagnostic report tightly, sobbing uncontrollably in the car.

In the two years I was most infatuated with Damon, I once thought of using a child to keep him. So I got pregnant with Lily. He did start coming home more often, and his care and thoughtfulness slowly returned. It felt like we were back in college, during that period when he was actively pursuing me. But everything changed completely the day Lily was born. I was alone in the delivery room, in pain and terrified, while he suddenly went unreachable. I later found out that on that very night, he had finally succeeded in winning her over. He was with that woman, enjoying a night of passion in the penthouse suite of the city’s tallest skyscraper. In that moment, I truly hated him. Five years were enough to completely erode any expectations I had of Damon. During this time, there were many who urged me to have another child. “The more powerful a man is, the more women he’ll have around him. Especially in that kind of circle. Damon’s actually not bad.” “You should just have a few more kids. No matter what he does outside, as long as you’re firmly in place as the primary wife, that’s what matters.” The Thorne family had only ever had one male heir for generations. If I could have another child, boy or girl—even if Damon intended to make things difficult for me, his parents wouldn’t allow it. Right. No one would act against their own interests. Besides, I had Lily. She was almost the entire meaning of my life. I carefully put away my pregnancy report, drove home, and started a pot of slow-simmered soup, waiting for Lily to return. As dusk settled. After failing to reach Damon for the tenth time, I felt increasingly anxious. I couldn’t wait any longer. Grabbing my car keys, I decided to go look for them myself. I went to his office first, but he wasn’t there. The amusement park was closed. Just as I was about to turn toward the Thorne family estate, our housekeeper, Maria, called. “Mrs. Thorne, Lily just got back. Mr. Evans dropped her off. She’s fast asleep now.” I leaned back in the driver’s seat, closed my eyes, and felt my entire body relax. Maria added, “Mr. Evans also asked me to tell you that Mr. Thorne won’t be home tonight.” I responded with a quiet “Okay.” Hanging up, I started the car and drove back. Just as I turned onto another street, I saw Damon’s car.

Damon’s figure cast a long shadow under the dim streetlights. A tiny red glow flickered between his fingers, and several cigarette butts lay scattered on the ground. This place—I’d been here just yesterday. It was Chloe’s apartment building. He looked up at a lit window, his gaze fixed, unblinking. Following his line of sight, a slender silhouette appeared vaguely through the curtains, like soft gauze fluttering in the wind. He looked like a man from a movie, utterly consumed by love, just standing there, watching her silently from a distance. Something inside me was slowly crumbling. I sat in my car all night. It wasn’t until the sky began to lighten that Chloe emerged from the building. She looked well-rested, and a startled expression crossed her face when she saw Damon. The man, who had been looking so dejected, seemed to get a jolt of excitement. He smiled, said a few words, and then stepped closer—she retreated slightly, but her cheeks flushed. Then, they got into the car together. I remained seated, feeling a thin thread wrapped around my heart, tightening until I could barely breathe. When Damon pursued me years ago, he was just like this—a smile on his lips, approaching step by step, giving no chance to escape. That aloof, arrogant rich boy act, when he was chasing someone… it was impossible to resist. Only this time, the leading lady in his eyes wasn’t me. I followed them to the company building. From a distance, I watched them walk to the entrance, instinctively putting a little space between them. Damon walked ahead, acknowledging greetings from colleagues, then nonchalantly waved to Chloe a short distance away. Drawing envious stares from everyone around, she stepped into his exclusive elevator. In that moment, it was as if she was telling everyone: *she* was special, treated differently. The scene stung my eyes. I sat in my car, trying to calm my emotions, until Maria called. Lily had woken up and was looking for me everywhere. I rushed home. The moment I walked in, Lily lunged at me, wrapping her arms around my neck, and my nose burned with unshed tears. She sat on my lap, swinging her legs, chattering away about the fun she’d had last night. “I even saw Aunt Chloe yesterday! She dressed up as a little bunny and played with me for a long time.” My breath hitched. So that’s why he suddenly decided to take Lily to that place that day—it was to be with Chloe. It was surprisingly easy to find out about Chloe. Her university, her humble family background, her job application process, her past part-time job at an amusement park… even her Ins account. When I clicked on her Ins, I saw a familiar sight—a photo of Lily and Chloe, faces pressed together. The string that had been tightly wound in my heart finally snapped. The reflection in the photo faintly showed Damon’s tall, strong silhouette; he was crouching nearby, diligently taking their picture. It was as if *they* were the truly happy family of three. Scrolling through her Ins posts, it was clear Chloe was genuinely infatuated. The warm brown sugar water Damon sent her when she was on her period; the image of him spending the night in her hospital room when she was sick on a business trip; even small trinkets she’d accidentally lost, he carefully kept them all… For some reason, a strong wave of nausea suddenly washed over me. Tears blurred my makeup, and the mirror showed a disheveled, haggard face. I looked pathetic. All this time, I’d believed that as long as I pretended not to care about other women, this superficial happiness could last forever. But in reality, someone who puts themselves in such a humble position in a relationship can never truly be happy.

In the evening, Maria brought me a bowl of soup, and it reminded me of my weekly habit of sending soup to Damon. Thinking of Lily, I decided I should talk to him directly. So I drove to his company. Night slowly fell. The lights in his office were on, the entire top floor glaringly bright. The door was ajar. The moment I reached out to push it open, the voices from inside made me stop. “…What do I have to do to make you stay with me?” Damon’s voice was low, filled with earnest pleading. “Stay and then what? Be your mistress?” Chloe’s eyes were red as she spoke softly. “Don’t I have any self-respect? Yes, I fell head over heels in love with you. I couldn’t stop myself from getting close to you, from depending on you.” “But every time I see another woman sitting next to you, I know you can’t give me the kind of relationship I want.” “I want a love that’s seen.” “So, we’re over.” Her voice choked with what sounded like deep grievance. Damon, however, sighed and pulled her into his embrace. My hand tightened on the doorknob. Just as I was about to leave, I heard his voice again: “What if I divorce her?” My heart plummeted into a bottomless pit. Falling, falling endlessly. When I came to, I was already in my car. My hands trembled uncontrollably on the steering wheel, and tears streamed down my face. I cried and laughed at the same time, like a pathetic fool. He said he wanted a divorce, and my first thought was to run. That night, Damon didn’t come home. Watching the sky slowly lighten, I suddenly wanted to go find him and make things clear. Was he really going to divorce me? At the very least, I had to protect Lily from being hurt. Having not slept for two days, my head was heavy as I did my makeup. Then I drove to Damon’s company building. His exclusive elevator went straight to the top floor. I heard he was in a meeting. I sat in his office, and unexpectedly, I saw Chloe. She politely brought me a cup of tea. The moment she bent over, I caught a familiar scent: cedarwood mixed with smoke. Just as Lily had said, it was Damon’s scent. “Don’t you have anything to say to me?” I suddenly asked. Her hand visibly twitched, and hot water splashed onto her hand, immediately turning it red. Her eyes darted around, looking terrified. She frantically squatted down to wipe up the spilled water. But she avoided my question. I watched the top of her head coldly. Suddenly, a man’s hand grabbed her, gently pulling her up. He spoke, his tone unkind. “Elara, did you come here this early just to show off?” “She’s my employee, not your servant.” “Mr. Thorne, Mrs. Thorne didn’t mean to…” I suddenly laughed. Perhaps he had forgotten that during my time as his wife, I was never someone to be easily manipulated. “Mrs. Thorne? I don’t recall when you became his sister.” “I just…” Chloe’s eyes were terribly red. “I just wanted to get closer to you. Perhaps you don’t know, but as a secretary, you have to be thoughtful about everything—” “And how exactly were you trying to get closer to me? By having the boss’s family drive you home? Did you feed your ‘thoughtfulness’ to the pigs?” He stood in front of her, his eyes chilling. “Apologize to her.” The people who had just emerged from the meeting room, whispering, all fell silent. I steadied myself and said calmly, “Damon, I have no reason to apologize.” His voice hardened further. “What did you say? Apologize.” It felt like a cold snake slithered down my spine, sending shivers through me. Yes, this was Damon. Once he made up his mind, no one could change it. Just like when he insisted on marrying me. Now, he was stubbornly infatuated with this new secretary. I had been slow to realize that leaving him was an inevitable outcome. I smiled faintly. “Damon, let’s get a divorce.” A flicker of surprise crossed his face. But it quickly morphed into a sarcastic smile. “Are you trying to use divorce to force me to compromise?”

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When I was 20, Caleb’s first love, Seraphina, was gravely ill. He begged me to donate a kidney. To finally marry him, I made a deal. “I’ll donate my kidney. In return, you give me the rest of your life!” He agreed. I got what I wanted and walked down the aisle with him. After we married, I helped him build an empire from scratch, turning him into a rising star in the business world. On our wedding anniversary, Seraphina tossed the five million dollars Caleb and I had earned right in my face. “Caleb gave me five million. I’m buying you out of this marriage.” It was then I finally understood. Caleb had agreed to marry me, but he’d never really cut ties with her. I took the card, my eyes burning. “Give me a hundred million, and I’ll leave Caleb willingly in seven days.” A delighted smile spread across her face. “Deal!” But she had no idea. Without me, Caleb wouldn’t be where he was today! I grabbed my phone and made a call. “Pull all investments from Caleb’s company. Now!” … After Seraphina showed her true colors, she stopped pretending. She moved right into my home. She clung to Caleb, looking frail and delicate, utterly unlike the woman who’d arrogantly thrown money at me just days before. “Maya, I’m so sorry to intrude on you two…” Before she could even finish, Caleb wrapped his arms protectively around her, his voice chilling. “Seraphina had to leave the city because of you, and she didn’t get top-tier medical care. Now, her condition risks a relapse. To be safe, she needs to come back to the city for treatment.” “I know you’ve always had an issue with her, but this time, I hope you won’t make a scene!” I slowly looked up at him, a wave of bitter sadness washing over me. I hadn’t said a single word, yet he’d already judged me. “She has no friends in the city, so she can only stay here for now. Don’t make things difficult for her during this time. Once the hospital confirms her condition is stable, I’ll personally send her away.” He’d said the exact same thing when he knelt before me, begging me to donate a kidney to save her. But he’d secretly kept in touch with Seraphina for four long years, hiding it all from me. I pressed my lips together, my voice catching. “So, was the million dollars last night to buy the right to use a room?” Last night, Caleb had been unusually gentle with me. He’d even, for once, prepared a Valentine’s Day gift for me. Even though it was just a bank card that required no thought, it had kept me awake with joy all night. But the moment I saw Seraphina, that bank card felt tainted. Now, it sat quietly in my bag, yet it seemed to burn my palm, making me tremble uncontrollably. He frowned, his face tight with displeasure as he retorted, “What kind of talk is that?!” “You’ve been a wealthy wife for so many years, yet all you talk about is money? Are you some insatiable pet I picked up?” I froze, unable to move. Caleb’s gaze on me was filled with utter disgust, as if he were looking at some ugly beggar. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I’d thought that four years of living together, experiencing ups and downs side-by-side, would have gradually warmed his feelings for me. But now, I finally understood. No matter what I did, I could never melt his heart, a heart that would never love me. Seeing my silence, he sneered. “Don’t worry. What happened between Seraphina and me is in the past. I can assure you, for now, no one can threaten your position!” “So, be a good girl. Go prepare a bedroom for Seraphina. She’ll need someone by her side once she moves in, and you’re idle all day, so you can take good care of her.” And in that instant, a flicker of triumph gleamed in Seraphina’s eyes, stinging mine. I bit down hard, slowly speaking. “What if I say no?” He hadn’t expected me to refuse. Caleb’s face turned as dark as thunder. “You’d rather do this the hard way, wouldn’t you?” “Since you’re so ungrateful, why should I show you any more mercy!” He barked an order. “Brenda, pack up all of Mrs. Maya’s things and move them to the storage room. Clear out the master bedroom for Miss Seraphina!” Seraphina’s appearance crushed my dignity instantly. I curled up on the small bed in the cramped storage room, tears streaming down my face. Remembering Caleb’s kindness during this time, I realized it was all just to pave the way for Seraphina. Suddenly, my phone rang. My brother, Jax’s, furious voice came through. “I heard the mistress has moved in, and you’re still not divorcing him? We let you indulge that jerk and his little company for years, but not to see you suffer like this!” “Seven days from now, if I don’t see you home, I swear I won’t let Caleb off the hook!” Jax always knew Caleb was my weakness, but soon, we’d have no connection at all.

Just as dawn broke, frantic knocks pounded on the storage room door. My eyes were swollen and red, but I painfully got up and opened the door to see Seraphina’s irritating face. She tilted her head slightly, glaring at me, her eyes full of displeasure. “Caleb’s already gone to the office. You’re still asleep? Are you really treating him like a complete fool, just keeping you around?” “Get up! I’m hungry. I want breakfast!” The storage room was too small. I hadn’t slept well at all, so I had no energy to deal with her. I frowned, raising my eyes sharply. “We have a housekeeper.” With that, I tried to close the door to shut out her incessant chatter. But she blocked the door with her foot. “Caleb told you to take care of me. If you don’t listen, I’ll tell him right away and have him come back and teach you a lesson, you little bitch!” Yesterday, Seraphina had been so timid and demure. Today, she was a total witch, like she’d had a double shot of espresso and a side of rage. Her nagging had completely ruined my sleep. I didn’t want to argue with her, so I started walking towards the kitchen. As I moved, she flashed a triumphant smirk. “First, pour me a glass of warm water. I’m thirsty!” I turned back, expressionless, poured the water, and handed it to her. “Here.” She took the glass and, without a moment’s hesitation, dumped the warm water all over my head. The warm liquid streamed down my face and dripped onto the floor. I gasped for air, my muddled brain suddenly crystal clear. She hooked a finger under my chin, forcing me to look at her. “You’ve occupied Mrs. Caleb’s position for so many years. I’m a little annoyed, so this is just a tiny punishment for you.” She chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll gather the hundred million within seven days. I promise you’ll leave smoothly!” “But you need to remember this: because of you, I was robbed of my right to be by Caleb’s side. So now, even if I want you dead, you’ll have to accept it!” I slapped her hand away without mercy, sighing at her stupidity. “You’re pathetically foolish. If I’d known you were this stupid, even if Caleb had died right in front of me back then, I wouldn’t have uselessly given up my kidney to save you!” Even now, she still believed everything Caleb had was solely due to his own efforts. But how could she know that without me, his biggest shareholder, backing him from behind, he would never have become a rising star in business! The next second, a stinging slap landed unexpectedly on my face. Caleb’s disgusted voice pierced the air. “Maya, how can you be such a malicious person!” I was stunned, my head ringing. In four years of marriage, Caleb’s concern for me had been rare, but he had never laid a hand on me. “Caleb, Maya didn’t mean it.” “She’s just upset that I’m in her master bedroom, that’s why she said those things. It’s okay…” Seraphina’s cloying voice drifted over, her eyes red as she feigned trying to stop Caleb. I instinctively spoke, my eyes blurred. “That’s not how it was…” Before I could finish, Caleb’s cold voice cut me off. “I heard it with my own ears! What more do you have to say? I can’t believe you’re so wicked you wished Seraphina dead!” “If I hadn’t come back in time, would you have put a knife to her throat?!” In Caleb’s eyes, Seraphina was always good and kind, and I was always malicious. He never listened to my explanations. Every word I spoke seemed to disgust him. I stood rooted to the spot, touching my burning cheek, silent. As long as Seraphina was around, he would never see my disheveled state, my humiliation. Perhaps realizing his attitude toward me was too extreme, he actually softened his expression and explained. “I already told you Seraphina wouldn’t threaten your position. Why do you still make things so difficult for her?” “When did you become so unreasonable?” Suddenly, he chuckled, meeting my eyes with a scornful look. “Oh, I forgot. You’ve always been like this.” With that, Caleb picked up Seraphina and turned, leaving me alone, bewildered. It was only then that I understood. For him, this marriage was just a transaction, a means to keep Seraphina alive. If there had been no Seraphina, if a kidney match hadn’t been found… Would I not have become a sacrifice between them?

Exhausted, I returned to the small storage room and saw the photo I’d worked so hard to get. My eyes blurred. In the picture, I smiled brightly. Caleb, though expressionless, still went through all the motions with me. It was one of the rare times he’d shown me a shred of patience. It was then I remembered the text message I’d seen on his phone that day: “I had the most amazing takeout today! Come home quickly, let’s try it together!” A simple takeout meal had brightened his mood. Yet, the meals I painstakingly cooked, even burning my fingers for, were met with his sneers. A thousand tiny ants seemed to gnaw at my chest, a searing, throbbing pain ripped through me. No matter how much effort I put in, I could never truly enter Caleb’s heart. I wearily looked around, realizing how few things I had that were truly mine. Everything in the villa had been arranged according to Caleb’s preferences. Now, it felt utterly ironic. My phone chimed. A text from Jax: “Don’t make me fly back and find you.” Just a few simple words, but they filled me with an inexplicable sense of security. I wiped away my tears, gathered my things, and left. Now, to leave, the only thing I needed was a visa to Country A. After my interview, I only had to wait five more days before I could leave this place. I could leave Caleb forever. On the way back, I saw a jewelry store and decided to pawn all the gold jewelry Caleb had given me. Each piece was laid out on the counter. I remembered the exact moment Caleb had given me every single one. Every piece, I had treasured like precious gems. I carefully ran my fingers over each engraving, my eyes welling up. Under the staff’s urging, I reluctantly let go. But the next moment, the staff member frowned, and his words plunged me into an abyss. “These are all fake. Only this necklace can be bought back.” How was that possible? I picked up the jewelry, disbelief written all over my face, inspecting them repeatedly. Still not convinced, I handed him the ring on my finger. “What about this one?” He took it, burned it with a flame, and after a moment, glanced at me sideways, sighing and shaking his head. The staff next to him looked surprised. Seeing my distraught expression, he tried to comfort me. “Perhaps your husband accidentally bought fakes. It’s common these days for people to be scammed into buying fake gold. It’s understandable.” “Please don’t overthink it…” By the end, he seemed to lose conviction in his own words, his voice trailing off. But even the ring we used for our wedding was fake. What, then, could possibly be real? Four years of genuine devotion, and I had been completely oblivious. I took the only genuine gold necklace, a bitter ache in my heart. I never would have thought that the only real gold among them was something I had practically begged Caleb for! “I’ll sell this one.” “You can dispose of the rest for me.” After the payment went through, I left the jewelry store, my expression numb. I looked up and saw Caleb and Seraphina walking into another jewelry store together. They were holding hands, smiling, looking so intimate, as if *they* were the real couple. I lowered my eyes and quickly walked away, my heart sinking as if a stone had been tied to it.

For the next four days, Caleb and Seraphina were nowhere to be seen. Perfect. It made it easier for me to bring people to view the villa. I was leaving anyway; there was nothing left to keep. When we first bought it, I had insisted on adding Caleb’s name to the deed. But Caleb, his face filled with disgust, pushed me away. “Your name doesn’t deserve to be written next to mine!” Thankfully, he refused. At the time, I hadn’t thought much of it. I even naively believed I could slowly melt his heart. Now, I saw it was just my wishful thinking. While showing the house to a client, my phone pinged. A text message. I clicked on it, my brows furrowing in surprise. Caleb had fired me from the company. The next moment, my phone rang. Caleb’s icy voice cut through the air. “Maya, you’ve been absent from work for five days without authorization. Starting today, you are officially terminated from the company.” “And, I’ll be reclaiming all the shares I gifted you.” I hadn’t even opened my mouth before the call abruptly ended, leaving me stunned. “Ms. Maya, I’m very satisfied with this house. When can we finalize everything?” “Don’t worry, the full payment will be deposited into your account one week after the process is complete.” The client’s voice pulled me back to reality. I forced a bitter smile. “I’ll arrange for an expedited process. Everything will be completed within 15 days.” I paused, looked around, and spoke again. “Do you need me to handle the interior renovations beforehand?” This villa was the first house Caleb and I bought since starting our business, so I treasured it immensely. Even during the renovation, to make Caleb happy, I had volunteered to oversee the project, waking early and sleeping late every day, putting my heart and soul into the design. But all I got in return was his sarcasm: “Is this the result of all your painstaking efforts?” My memories abruptly stopped. I suddenly realized that for four years, I had constantly chased after Caleb, almost losing myself in the process. The client, seeing my willingness to help with the demolition, looked delighted. “Of course! If you’re willing to help, Ms. Maya, I’ll gladly add an extra one hundred thousand dollars to the original price!” I waved a hand. “I’ve disliked these renovations for a long time, so I’ll handle them for free.” Soon, I arranged for a demolition team, and by that afternoon, all the interior renovations in the villa were completely stripped away. I gazed at the ruins before me, tears involuntarily streaming down my face. It was all over. Caleb, this is truly goodbye. [PayPal: One hundred million dollars received.] The next second, my phone rang abruptly. Seraphina’s haughty voice came through. “Maya, the hundred million you asked for has been transferred to your account. I hope you’ll keep your promise. Caleb and I don’t want to see any trace of you when we return tomorrow!” I spoke coldly. “Don’t you worry.” The villa was sold, the renovations were stripped, and Seraphina had transferred the hundred million she promised. Now, all Caleb owed me was this company. But soon, he would have nothing at all. How could he know that even if he reclaimed the few shares he gifted me, I was still the company’s largest investor? The moment I left, news of my withdrawal of funds would spread throughout the entire company. Pushing my suitcase, I stood at the villa’s entrance one last time. I wasn’t waiting for Caleb, but for a delivery guy. “Please deliver this document to XX Company.” Inside were divorce papers and a lawyer’s letter. Watching the delivery guy’s retreating back, I let out a quiet sigh. Caleb, goodbye forever.

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On our fifth anniversary, Serena’s lover showed up at our door with their secret son. Julian cried, looking innocent as hell, “Caleb, I’m not here to break you two up.” Serena looked guilty. “Caleb, don’t overthink this. The baby was just an accident. Besides, Julian has a terminal illness, only a month left to live. Once he’s gone, you can raise the child.” I stared at the five-year-old in front of me, my heart twisting in agony. Five years of marriage. I’d been severely injured protecting her, and our own child was lost in that car crash. Yet she already had a child outside, and now she expected me to raise *their* son! I didn’t say a word. I just quietly drafted the divorce papers, then dialed that long-dormant number. “You once said you’d marry me if I divorced. Does that still stand?” The person on the other end immediately burst into a smile. “It does!” Signing the last stroke on the divorce papers, my eyes burned. I quickly squeezed them shut to hold back the tears. It was supposed to be our fifth anniversary. I’d booked this restaurant a month in advance, wanting to celebrate with Serena. Now, it was pointless. But then the manager called me. “Mr. Stone, your wife, Mrs. Stone, has already been seated with two guests. She said you’d be covering the rest of the bill.” My fingers tightened around my phone. She didn’t just take her lover to the restaurant I booked; she expected *me* to pay for it? “Alright, I’ll be right there.” Twenty minutes later, I stood outside the restaurant. Through the glass, I saw Serena gently serving Julian food, carefully wiping Noah’s mouth. A happy family of three. It made my heart ache. We’d celebrated our first anniversary at this very restaurant. Back then, Serena had booked my favorite window seat in advance and ordered a table full of my favorite dishes. She’d meticulously served me, gently wiping sauce from my lips. But now, same scene, all that tenderness, all that care, was for another man. I pushed down the storm of emotions inside me and walked into the restaurant. Serena saw me and spoke coldly. “You’re here, good. Settle the bill.” “The restaurant’s pretty good. Julian likes the food here.” Serena didn’t even bother to look up at me. Julian, on the other hand, had a gleam of pure defiance in his eyes. “Caleb, don’t just stand there, why don’t you join us?” He turned to Serena, feigning innocence. “Serena, I really want their signature dessert. Could you ask if they still have it?” Serena smiled indulgently. “Alright, wait for me. I’ll be right back.” As soon as Serena left, Julian’s smile vanished. “Caleb Stone, it’s been five years, and you still lost to me.” He slowly wiped his mouth. “She’s always loved me, from the very beginning.” I looked at him calmly. “Are you done?” Julian seemed surprised by my composure. “You know what? I don’t have a terminal illness at all. It was all an act!” My heart fluttered slightly, and I gave a bitter twist to my lips. Five years of marriage, shattered so easily by a single lie. Did Serena know? Before I could even process it, Julian’s face suddenly changed. He grabbed the soup bowl in front of him and splashed it all over himself. He cried out in pain. “Caleb, I know you don’t like me, but how could you throw hot soup on me? I’m a patient, my body’s so weak…” Before I could react, Serena’s scream came from behind me. “Caleb! What are you doing?!” She rushed forward, pulling Julian protectively behind her, checking his injuries. “Serena, my hand hurts so much.” Julian’s eyes were red-rimmed, and he held out his scalded hand. Serena saw the red mark on his hand, and her fury surged. She picked up the cup of hot tea that had just been poured for me and, without hesitation, splashed it all over me! The scalding liquid hit my arm, instantly turning it red and swollen. A fiery, sharp pain instantly spread, making me almost lose my footing. Serena saw my reddened arm, but she just said coldly, “That’s your lesson!” “Julian can’t be left alone! I was even planning to spend two days a week at home with you, but I can’t believe how petty you’re acting for a grown man!” I looked at her and suddenly felt utterly pointless. “Serena, don’t bother. Divorce me, and you can be with him every day.” Serena snapped her head up, her expression complicated, but her impatience was practically spilling from her eyes. “How old are you, acting so jealous and throwing threats? I told you Julian’s sick, I’m just looking after him. Your mind is just twisted, you see everything in a dirty way!” With that, she stopped looking at me, shielded Julian and Noah, and walked away, leaving me standing alone amidst the mess.

“Need help?” A voice sounded behind me as I walked out of the restaurant. I turned around and met Harper’s deep eyes. I hadn’t expected her to arrive so quickly. Seeing the unhesitating worry and heartache in her gaze, my eyes finally welled up. I spoke, as if seeking solace, “Harper, I want a grand wedding.” “Okay, Caleb. As soon as your divorce is final, I’ll marry you. How about we set the wedding for four days from now?” “Caleb Stone!” Serena had returned at some point. Seeing me with Harper, her face twisted into a terrible expression. She rushed at us like a madwoman, raising her hand to slap Harper’s face. Harper, quick as lightning, caught her wrist. “Harper! You b*tch! You snake! Taking advantage of my misery!” Serena shrieked, her eyes bloodshot. “Caleb Stone, you’re already hooking up with your old flame? You couldn’t wait, could you?” “Serena, what right do you have to talk about Caleb like that?” Harper stepped in front of me, her voice colder than I’d ever heard it. “I gave you five years, but you failed to take care of him! Now it’s my turn!” That sentence completely choked Serena. She looked at me with a complex gaze, then at Harper. She was probably remembering the past. Harper and I were childhood sweethearts. Serena came later. Both pursued me, but in the end, I chose Serena. For five years of marriage, I poured my heart out for Serena, believing she did the same for me. I never imagined she still held a grudge about my past with Harper. “Let’s go!” Serena glared at us fiercely, dragging Julian away in a rage. I looked at Harper, my thoughts drifting back years ago. We grew up together, almost inseparable from kindergarten to high school. Everyone thought we’d naturally end up together. After I went public with Serena, everyone joked, “The childhood sweetheart never wins against destiny’s pick.” Back then, I just smiled and said nothing. Serena, to me, truly felt like a gift from heaven. If not for what happened later, if I hadn’t chosen Serena… Harper spoke softly, pulling me from my thoughts. “Caleb, let’s get your arm treated first.” I nodded and followed her. The next day, Serena’s father asked to see me. I hesitated, then agreed. If there was one person from the Stone family I was reluctant to let go of, it was this elder who treated me like his own son. At the coffee shop, Mr. Harrison pushed an ornate keepsake box across the table, his eyes brimming with tears. “This was for the baby,” he choked out. “I’ve kept it all this time.” I opened the box. Inside was a pure gold longevity locket, intricately carved. It had the traditional wishes for ‘Peace, Joy, and Long Life’ inscribed on it. My eyes welled up too. That child I never met was the deepest pain in my heart. When Serena was three months pregnant, Mr. Harrison excitedly dragged me to a jewelry store, saying he wanted to buy a gift for his future grandson. We spent an entire afternoon picking it out, finally settling on this locket. “Dad, actually…” I wanted to tell him I was getting divorced, but the words caught in my throat. “Serena let you down,” Mr. Harrison gripped my hand. “I never liked that Julian from the first moment I saw him. You’re the son-in-law I always wanted!” My tears finally fell. After that miscarriage, the doctors said Serena’s body was damaged, and it would be very difficult for her to have children again. Though she outwardly comforted me, I clearly saw the blame in her eyes. She believed it was my poor driving that caused the car crash. Only Mr. Harrison patted my shoulder, saying the accident was something no one could have foreseen, and told me to focus on my recovery. He still treated me like his own son. “Dad, I have to go,” I said, putting away the locket and forcing a smile. “Thank you for always taking care of me.” Mr. Harrison held my hand, his eyes filled with reluctance. He wanted to say more, but in the end, he just patted my hand. After leaving the coffee shop, I suddenly remembered the pair of baby bracelets still in the safe at home. They were my only keepsake. I had to get them back.

As I reached the front door, I heard Julian’s voice from inside. “Serena, remember that time? My cat went missing during a huge rainstorm. I called you, and you were in the middle of surgery. But you didn’t hesitate, you just got off the operating table and rushed back to help me find him.” My steps froze. “Of course, I remember,” Serena’s voice was indulgent. “Good thing we found the kitten in the end.” “What happened to that patient?” Julian asked. “Died,” Serena said, her voice eerily casual. “Their family raised hell, but the hospital shut them down.” My blood ran cold. At the time, Serena’s explanation was that she felt unwell and couldn’t continue the surgery, resulting in the patient’s death due to delayed treatment. The patient’s family was furious, rushing into the hospital with a knife, wanting to get to Serena. To protect her, then pregnant, I rushed in to block them. In the chaos, I took a knife intended for her. And it was because of that very chaos that she accidentally fell, losing our three-month-old baby. I couldn’t take it anymore. I violently pushed open the door. They were embracing on the couch. Seeing me, a flicker of panic crossed Serena’s eyes, and her voice unnaturally rose. “Caleb Stone, what are you doing here again?!” I stared at her, my voice trembling. “That surgery… you weren’t feeling unwell?” Serena was momentarily stunned by my question. “You heard all that?” Then her impatience returned. “That family was being completely unreasonable anyway, but you just had to get involved, making things worse!” “But you lost our child that time!” I screamed. Perhaps she remembered that child too, as a hint of emotion crossed her face. At that moment, Julian cautiously spoke up. “Caleb, don’t blame Serena so much. She certainly didn’t want to lose the baby.” As soon as Julian spoke, Serena’s softened expression vanished, her face hardening. “And you have the nerve to question me? It’s your own fault you’re useless! You couldn’t even protect your own wife and child!” I couldn’t believe my ears. She was blaming *me* for everything! This was the woman I had loved for five years! My heart died completely. “Sign it,” I said, handing her the divorce papers. Serena frowned. “Caleb Stone, I don’t have time for your drama! I’m already exhausted taking care of Julian these days. Are you trying to cause more trouble?!” “I’m not causing drama. Signing this is good for everyone. You’ll have more time to take care of him, and I can marry someone else in peace.” Serena scoffed, “Marry someone else? What woman would want a divorced man? Don’t tell me you’re trying to play hard to get now.” I felt a bitter irony. So, Serena was also capable of being so utterly repulsive. “I’m marrying Harper. I only just realized today, she’s a million times better than you!” “Enough!” Serena suddenly roared. “Divorce, you say? Fine! Let’s do it! Just don’t come crying back to me later!”

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I bravely saved someone but hit my head. My girlfriend of eight years came to visit me in the hospital. I pretended to have amnesia and jokingly asked her who she was. She paused, then her voice calm, she said, “We’re classmates.” Classmates… I stared at Chloe’s face, my girlfriend of eight years, trying to find a hint of a joke, but there was none. She was serious, and so… calm. I forced a strained smile. The words “Just kidding!” got stuck in my throat. Classmates? Not even close friends. I wondered if she would’ve even come if the doctor hadn’t called her. But I didn’t question her. I just put on a normal smile. Watching her glued to her phone the entire time, my eyes darkened. I replied, “If you’re busy, you don’t have to…” “I actually am quite busy. Since you’re fine, I’ll head out.” She cut me off before I could even finish, grabbed her bag, and walked out. Maybe I still held a tiny bit of importance in her heart. After she pulled the door open, she turned back and looked at me, cautioning, “Get some good rest.” A faint smile lingered on my face, and I politely nodded. But that smile didn’t last long. The moment she left, it vanished from my face. Chloe and I had been together for eight years, ever since university. But no one at the company knew about our relationship. At first, we just felt workplace romance was a bit awkward. Later, we both became directors, each leading our own departments, competing for sales. At that point, it was even harder to go public. But the company didn’t forbid dating. Sometimes I’d ask her about going public, but she’d always just smile it off. Sometimes, I even doubted if our relationship was just a shell of what it once was. Now, I didn’t have to doubt anymore. She’d wanted to break up for a long time, hadn’t she? The doctor told Chloe I was fine. But when my condition didn’t match what the doctor said—when it was contradictory—she didn’t question it. She even flatly stated we were just classmates. Maybe she didn’t care if I had real amnesia or was faking it. Or more accurately, she just wanted to use those words to make her stance clear. After all, if we broke up, she could be with Leo.

It wasn’t like I hadn’t noticed her changes. We’d been together for eight years, over two thousand nine hundred days and nights. We knew each other inside out, so close we were practically one person. I could spot her abnormal reactions instantly. Back then, a new employee, a pretty handsome guy named Leo, joined her team. Only our Chairman shared the surname “Eleanor” in the entire company. And coincidentally, when Leo filled out his personal information, he listed Eleanor as his mother, Eleanor Smith. At first, Chloe would explain to me that she was taking care of Leo because he was young, just graduated, and the Chairman’s son, so she had to look after him carefully. She even told me not to worry, saying she wasn’t into that puppy-dog type. But Chloe didn’t know that the “puppy-dog” she claimed was young and just graduated was actually three years older than me. Later, I needed a video for work. My laptop wasn’t handy, so I borrowed Chloe’s. But to my surprise, her password had changed. I called her to get it, and that’s when I found out her password was Leo’s birthday. Just as I was naively thinking it was a coincidence, her wallpaper had changed too. It was a photo of a bar, and the main subject in the picture was clearly the hand of some guy making a heart shape. I remembered, she used to be super bossy, telling me not to change my wallpaper, and she promised she wouldn’t change hers either. So for years, my computer wallpaper was her photo, and her computer wallpaper was my photo. I also remembered she hated places like bars. Perhaps Chloe belatedly remembered this, because just after I opened her laptop, she immediately called me back. “Alex, that wallpaper? An old employee accidentally changed it for me.” She told me not to overthink it. I believed her, but after that, she never let me touch her computer again. I don’t know if she changed it back. But she also didn’t know that I actually knew who that man was the whole time, because his hand was too distinctive. There were many similar incidents after that, like the celebration dinner the company held when she landed a big deal. I was working on another project at the time, so I didn’t go to that party. That day I was so busy I couldn’t even eat, but I still called Chloe right away to congratulate her. I even had a surprise planned for her. But she didn’t answer the phone. Maybe she was busy. I sent her a text, but she didn’t reply to that either. Until I saw her post on Ins: she was holding a bouquet of roses, smiling so sweetly. I’d sent her Lisianthus, her favorite. Leo also posted on Ins that day, and he too was holding a bouquet of roses, grinning widely. Their photo location and poses were identical. At first glance, it looked like they were about to go public. Chloe even left a comment on his post: *Don’t forget to grab dinner.* I can’t remember how I felt then, only that the day after that happened, I saw the flowers I’d sent her in the trash can outside the company. And in her office, there was that bouquet of roses. She once told me she hated roses, calling them tacky. But it turns out, people eventually become tacky.

I stayed in the hospital for two days. After my last check-up confirmed I was fine, I was discharged. Chloe hadn’t contacted me at all during these two days, not even a message about me being discharged. But thankfully, she did buy me my favorite cake. So I decided to give her one more chance. I placed the cake on a chair and called Chloe, my voice gentle. “Chloe, I’m discharged today. Could you come pick me up?” We silently agreed not to mention my amnesia stunt. There was a moment of silence on the other end. After a while, she finally spoke: “I’m a bit busy over here. How about you come back on your own?” She asked tentatively, and it was my turn to fall silent. Then she offered to call a car for me. I just shot back, “How busy could you possibly be?” My words clearly caught her off guard, because I’d never been so sarcastic with her before. And I knew the company was currently in a restructuring phase; it shouldn’t have been that busy. Yet she was telling me she was busy. I could even hear faint, noisy singing in the background. She didn’t answer, maybe still processing, but I just hung up, laughing at myself a little bitterly. Love or not love, it’s always so obvious. I remembered that summer when I was working out of town. I suddenly came down with a high fever. Drowsily, I called Chloe. Then I fell asleep—actually, I passed out from the fever. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, and she was tiredly watching over me, her eyes bloodshot. She said she sensed something was wrong with me and rushed over from another city overnight. She hadn’t even had time to change out of her pajamas and slippers. “Alex, you have no idea how scared I was when I was banging on your door and you weren’t answering me.” “When I saw you lying unconscious in bed, I nearly lost my mind!” “Thank goodness, you’re awake now.” She buried her head in my chest, my shirt soaked with her tears. Back then, she really cared about me. But now, all I could say was, things change, people change. I expressionlessly tossed the cake into the trash can. Suddenly, a girl walked up to me and softly asked, “You don’t like it?” I was stunned. She immediately explained, “I’m the little girl you saved back then! I just got out for summer break these past few days, so I’m sorry I’m late.” “I heard you were getting discharged today, so, this is a small gift for you. If you don’t like it… then if there’s anything else you need, I… I’ll do my best to help you.” So, the cake was from someone else. I apologized to the girl, explaining the misunderstanding. Inside, I was laughing bitterly at myself. This time, Chloe and I were truly over.

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I woke up in a delivery room, intense contractions making me see stars. Somehow, I had become the protagonist of a tragic romance novel, currently giving birth while my cheating husband plotted against me. I knew I was destined to die from complications if I didn’t act fast. Gritting my teeth through the pain, I tried to climb off the bed to save myself. But Quinn coldly shut the door, trapping me inside. “Zoe, stop being dramatic,” he said dismissively. Just as despair started to set in, the door burst open with a bang. A beautiful older woman stormed in and slapped Quinn hard across the face. “You bastard! How dare you mistreat the heroine while I’m around!” she yelled. Looking at her familiar features, so similar to my best friend’s, I realized I might have an unexpected ally in this story world. 0I had somehow woken up in the middle of giving birth, wracked by agonizing contractions. Unfamiliar voices drifted to my ears: “Mr. Quinn, are you sure you don’t want us to perform a C-section? Your wife has a high fever and the amniotic fluid is cloudy. If we wait much longer, we risk losing both mother and child!” Quinn’s icy reply sent chills down my spine: “Wait a bit longer. Once she’s delirious from the pain, have her sign the divorce papers before you operate. And as for the baby…get rid of it. Remove her uterus while you’re at it, to prevent any future complications.” As I listened in horror, I realized I had somehow been transported into the plot of a novel. The man trying to kill me was the cheating husband from the story. My character, Zoe, had married into the wealthy Quinn family five years ago to repay a debt between their families. Though initially happy, everything changed when Quinn’s older brother died in a plane crash. Quinn took in his sister-in-law Megan and nephew Felix, claiming it was to care for them. In reality, he had been having an affair with Megan all along, showering her with money and affection while neglecting Zoe. Once Zoe became pregnant, Megan felt threatened. She began sabotaging Zoe at every turn, even convincing Quinn to divorce Zoe and get rid of the baby. But Zoe loved Quinn desperately and refused to let go, believing he would come back to her. In the original story, she died in childbirth after Quinn and Megan delayed her treatment. Determined to avoid that fate, I summoned every ounce of strength to crawl off the bed towards the door. “Help! Someone help me! They’re trying to kill me!” I screamed hoarsely. But Quinn coldly shut the door, blocking my escape. “Zoe, stop making a scene,” he said coldly. I clutched desperately at his clothes, trying to stop him from closing the door. I felt liquid gushing between my legs as my strength faded. Just as I was about to give up hope, the door flew open with a bang. A well-dressed older woman rushed in and slapped Quinn hard across the face. “You bastard! How dare you mistreat the heroine while I’m around!” I looked at her in shock, noticing how similar she looked to my best friend Summer from the real world. Could it be…? “Summer?” I asked hesitantly. Her eyes lit up with recognition. “Rachel? Is that you?” I let out a huge sigh of relief. My best friend had somehow been transported into this world too – as my mother-in-law no less! With her here, I finally had a chance at survival. 01 Quinn held his reddening cheek, looking bewildered. “Mom? What are you doing here? Why are you hitting me over her?” I suddenly realized my friend had been transported here as well, incarnating as my mother-in-law! This was the best news I could have hoped for. I grabbed Summer’s hand tightly, my voice shaking. “Summer, it hurts so much. Please help me!” Summer snapped into action, shoving the stunned Quinn out of the way. “Get out of here, you’re in the way!” she yelled at him before turning to the doctor. “Give her an epidural immediately and prep for surgery!” “And get your best surgeons in here for my friend. If anything happens to her, your whole hospital will pay!” she threatened. “Offending my best friend means offending the entire Quinn Corporation!” The medical staff scrambled to follow her orders, quickly administering pain medication. As the agony started to fade, I drifted into a dreamlike state. Memories from the original Zoe’s life flashed through my mind, filling in the backstory. I saw how Quinn had slowly turned cold towards her, believing Megan’s lies about Zoe mistreating Felix. Despite Zoe’s desperate pleas and attempts to prove her innocence, Quinn chose to trust Megan time and time again. In my dream, I watched the tragic end of the original story play out – Zoe dying alone and in agony on the operating table while Quinn and Megan delayed her treatment. Just before the dream faded, I saw Zoe’s spirit cradling a baby, whispering in my ear: “Please, you must make Quinn regret his actions. In return, you’ll inherit all my wealth in this world and be able to return to your own. I’m counting on you.” I clenched my fists, silently vowing not just to make Quinn regret his choices, but to make him pay dearly for his cruelty. When I opened my eyes again, Summer was by my side. The cry of a newborn filled the air. Though I knew intellectually it wasn’t truly my child, I felt an inexplicable surge of protectiveness and love. Perhaps some of the original Zoe’s emotions were bleeding through. Summer gently wiped my brow, murmuring soothingly. “You did great, sweetheart. Don’t worry, I’m in charge now. I’ve taken control of 60% of Quinn Corp’s shares. This baby is as good as my own grandchild. I’ll make sure that bastard Quinn never hurts either of you again, even if I have to ruin him to do it.” I nodded gratefully through my tears, overwhelmed by everything that had happened. “God, I can’t believe this. All I did was leave one snarky comment on a trashy novel, and now I’ve been transported inside the story as the tragic heroine! If you hadn’t shown up, I don’t know what I would have done.” “Don’t worry, I’ve got your back,” Summer reassured me, patting my shoulder. “We’ll get through this together.” In the original novel, the heroine was supposed to die today along with her baby. The infant’s organs would then be harvested for Megan’s son Felix. Now that I had survived, who knew what Quinn and Megan might try next? I remembered how in the book, after marrying Megan, Quinn was mauled by vicious dogs she set on him for merely glancing at his secretary. As I fretted over how to avoid their schemes and make Quinn regret his actions, the man himself walked in with Megan in tow. He looked down his nose at me imperiously. “Zoe, how could you be so inconsiderate? Running around during labor and worrying everyone like that? And childbirth isn’t such a big deal – why on earth did you call my mother back? So immature.” He turned to look at the baby, his expression cold. “Since you’re clearly too irresponsible to care for a child properly, I’ll be taking the baby home with me. No need to trouble Mother with it.” I nearly laughed at the sheer audacity of his words. How could he say such blatantly awful things with a straight face? But my main concern was keeping the baby safe – in the book, this child was literally torn apart for organs. I clutched the infant protectively, my face pale with fear and anger. I locked eyes with Summer, silently communicating. “Fine, I’ll sign the divorce papers,” I told Quinn. “But this child will take my surname and have nothing to do with you. We’re going our separate ways from here on out.” Summer immediately caught on to my plan. I had always joked about finding a handsome sperm donor to have kids someday – this situation was oddly perfect. Meanwhile, Megan’s eyes glittered with poorly concealed excitement, though she put on a show of concern. “Oh Zoe, what are you saying? Blood is thicker than water – how could Quinn possibly have nothing to do with his own child?” “Actually, if you hadn’t pushed Felix into the pool that time, Quinn wouldn’t have gotten so angry and wanted a divorce in the first place,” she added slyly. “Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider the divorce?” Before I could respond, Quinn’s cold voice cut in: “There’s nothing to reconsider. We’re signing those divorce papers right now.” 0

“Mom, please don’t try to stop me. I’ve made up my mind to marry Megan. She and Felix need me!” Summer’s hand lashed out, slapping Quinn again. “How dare you make a scene in front of a woman who just gave birth! If you want a divorce so badly, fine – but you’ll leave with nothing but the clothes on your back.” Quinn held his reddening cheek, looking betrayed. “Mom, do you really love her so much that you’d choose her over your own son?” Without hesitation, Summer replied, “Yes, that’s exactly right.” Quinn glared at me venomously. “I see how it is, Zoe. You called my mother back just to force me to stay married to you? How devious.” He threw a stack of divorce papers onto the bed. “Sign them. I don’t care if I lose everything, I’m divorcing you today no matter what.” I had to suppress a surge of excitement. “Are you sure? No taking it back now!” According to the book, the Quinn family’s assets were worth billions. And since our families had been close, Quinn hadn’t signed a prenup. Most of his current wealth counted as marital property – if he really left with nothing, I’d be entitled to a divorce settlement worth hundreds of millions at least. Though Summer controlled the company now, Quinn’s personal assets were still substantial. This would definitely hit him where it hurt. I couldn’t help but smile slightly. Money, a baby, and no cheating husband – wasn’t that many women’s dream? Seeing my calm demeanor seemed to infuriate Quinn further. “What are you plotting now, Zoe? You used to beg me not to leave you, insisting on having this baby. Weren’t you just after the Quinn family fortune, hoping your son would be the heir? Now you’re acting all nonchalant – is this some reverse psychology tactic? It won’t work!” He pulled out another document, waving it in my face. “Whether you sign the divorce papers or not, I’ve already changed my will. I only recognize Megan’s child as my heir. Your son means nothing to me!” “Give up your little schemes. Clinging to the Quinn family won’t do you any good. Just sign the papers and get out of our lives!” I was about to happily agree when a sharp pain lanced through my chest. The original Zoe must be heartbroken right now. After all, she had just given birth to this man’s child, only for him to immediately demand a divorce and disown the baby. If I were truly her, I’d probably be in tears. But the woman who inhabited this body now wasn’t Zoe – it was Rachel Lin, a complete stranger to Quinn. I nodded, wiping away a single tear that had unconsciously fallen. “Alright, we’ll do things your way. I’ll sign the papers. The baby will take my surname and have nothing to do with you.” Quinn nodded in satisfaction. “Good, you’re finally being sensible.” Megan clung to Quinn’s arm, putting on a show of compassion. “I tried to talk Quinn out of making you leave right away. A woman is most vulnerable right after childbirth, you know? He wanted you out of the Quinn mansion today, but I convinced him to let you stay until you’ve recovered. Aren’t I considerate?” My friend Summer – now the Quinn Corporation’s major shareholder – rolled her eyes dramatically at this display. “Oh please, spare us the act. Like I can’t afford to take care of my bestie?” she scoffed. She pulled out her phone, barking orders to her assistant. “Book the best postpartum care center in the city. What, only $5 million a month? Too cheap, upgrade to the $10 million package. And book it for 6 months to start.” Megan’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Mom! What are you saying? When I had Felix, you didn’t book me anything nearly that nice. You have to be fair!” Summer laughed coldly. “You think you can compare yourself to my best friend? Get out of here with your fake nice act. Can’t survive without latching onto a man, huh? The minute big brother was gone you started seducing his little brother. Disgusting.” She turned to Quinn and Megan, her voice hard. “From now on, neither of you are allowed to bother Zoe at the hospital. If you try, you’ll regret it.” “As for you,” she said to Quinn, “I couldn’t care less what you do after the divorce. Go to the moon for all I care. Just stay away from us – you’re nothing but an eyesore now.” “And since you’ve chosen to leave with nothing, you three can pack up and get out of the Quinn mansion. I don’t need an ungrateful son like you around.” Quinn’s face turned ashen. He lunged towards Summer, sputtering in rage. “Mom, how can you kick me and Megan out? And Felix is your grandson! How could you-” “Zoe? What lies have you been telling my mother?” he demanded, rounding on me. I just rolled my eyes, not bothering to engage. At that moment, two huge, muscular men flanking Summer cracked their knuckles menacingly. “Mrs. Quinn said to leave. Now,” one of them growled. I tossed the signed divorce papers back at Quinn, flashing a victorious smile. “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!” 0

At last, peace and quiet descended. Summer bustled around, quickly arranging my baby’s birth certificate and household registration. As the mother, I was able to handle all the paperwork myself. The name and other details were entirely up to me. Even the ID bracelet on the baby’s wrist simply read “Son of Zoe Chen.” I thought of the poor woman whose body I now inhabited – the original Zoe who had suffered so much. In her memory, I named the baby Chen An, meaning “peace.” I knew that was likely her greatest wish for her child. Summer handed me the freshly printed documents. “There you go – just like you always wanted. A baby with no pesky husband attached! Even if we never make it back to our world, I promise I’ll make sure that scumbag never treats you like his punching bag again.” Seeing I had gone quiet, she worried I might be upset. She produced another file with a flourish. “Check this out – I’ve officially stripped Quinn and Megan of all inheritance rights. The entire Quinn empire belongs to you and the baby now. And that divorce settlement you squeezed out of that jerk? Just consider it pocket money.” “Even if we’re stuck here forever, the three of us will live like queens,” she declared confidently. Hearing her words, I finally broke down sobbing. Back in our world, I was an orphan with a congenital heart condition. My parents had abandoned me as a baby. Summer was the only one who befriended me in school, never treating me differently. Now here we were in this strange book world, and once again it was Summer coming to my rescue. Through my tears, I told her about the dream I’d had – how the original Zoe’s spirit had spoken to me. I sniffled, wiping my nose. “It’s all my fault, Summer. I left some nasty comment on this stupid novel and shared it with you. That’s how we both ended up transported into the story.” “It wasn’t until I took over Zoe’s body that I realized how much she suffered. Quinn is even more of a monster than I imagined.” “But Zoe’s ghost told me that if I can make Quinn truly regret his actions, we’ll inherit all her wealth in this world. And we might even be able to go back home.” Summer’s eyes lit up at this news. “Really? That’s amazing! I’ve been throwing money around like crazy, but it still doesn’t feel real. Like I’m spending someone else’s cash, you know?” “And I really miss my parents,” she admitted, her own eyes growing misty. I squeezed her hand tightly. “Don’t worry, I’ve read this whole book. After Zoe dies in the original story, Quinn finally realizes how good she was to him. He starts obsessively seeking out women who look like her to be his mistresses. It ruins his relationship with Megan too.” “Eventually he and Megan end up fighting over the inheritance. Oh, and get this – the real reason Quinn got together with Megan is because they had an affair while his brother was still alive. Quinn always thought Felix was his son.” My mind raced as I formulated a plan. “So I think the fastest way to trigger the plot is for me to fake my death with the baby. Then you can reveal the paternity test results to Quinn and watch him implode.” “Once Quinn truly regrets losing ‘the woman who loved him most in the world,’ we should be able to go home. God, I miss your mom’s lotus root and pork rib soup so much.” Summer’s eyes sparkled with excitement at my scheme. Just then, her phone pinged with a new message. It was a wedding invitation from Quinn. The ink on our divorce papers was barely dry, but he and Megan were already rushing to the altar. A sharp pain lanced through my chest again. The original Zoe’s lingering emotions, no doubt. Quinn had refused to hold a wedding when he married Zoe, claiming he disliked flashy events. In reality, he had been sulking because the woman he truly loved – Megan – had just married his older brother. As a result, though Quinn and Zoe were married for five years, the outside world never knew of Zoe’s existence as the Quinn family’s daughter-in-law. I stared at the photo of Quinn beaming as he embraced a white-gowned Megan, my mind made up. After a long moment, I looked up at Summer with steely determination. “Their wedding is in a week. That’s when I’ll stage my ‘suicide’ by jumping into the sea with the baby.” “Can you get my travel documents in order? We’ll flee the country after I fake my death.” “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to record all of that scumbag’s reactions for you,” Summer promised with a wicked grin. She nodded solemnly. Over the next few days, she worked tirelessly to prepare for my staged demise.

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My Vengeance, His Redemption I woke up in a shifter romance novel. Not as the heroine, but as the sickly, wicked villainess, married off to the Lion King himself, a brute known for his violent rages. The System told me: Bear him an heir. Use my super-fertile body to stabilize his royal bloodline, and I’d live. Simple as that. And he did. He grew gentler by the day. He’d awkwardly try to soothe my morning sickness, fiercely fend off all the scheming rivals who eyed his throne, and even cast aside the original heroine for me. I genuinely believed I’d softened his heart with love, bending the story to my will. But he had no idea. The very day I gave birth, the System’s cold, metallic voice echoed in my mind: [Congratulations, Host! Breeding mission complete. Energy full. Initiating sacrifice protocol. Your flesh and blood will reconstruct Queen Lyra’s body.] It hit me then. All his tenderness, all his supposed love… it was all a ploy. He needed me to willingly become a human sacrifice for his true love, Lyra – his ‘White Moonlight.’ On the brink of death, I gathered my last ounce of strength and forged a symbiotic pact with my newborn, divine bloodline cub. “My darling husband, you want my life for her rebirth? Why don’t you ask your own son if he agrees first!”

I held my newborn cub, and Rhys’s kiss brushed my forehead. “My Queen, you’ve been through so much.” His voice was gentle, his eyes overflowing with affection. The cub slept peacefully in my arms, his tiny face flushed, his breathing even. This was the happiest I’d been since I woke up in this cursed book. [Ding! Congratulations, Host! Breeding mission complete. Energy full. Initiating sacrifice protocol. Your flesh and blood will reconstruct Queen Lyra’s body.] The System’s cold, metallic voice rang in my ears. My blood ran cold. Rhys’s eyes turned to ice. All tenderness vanished without a trace. He roughly snatched the crying cub from my arms. “Rhys? What are you doing? Give him back!” I reached out to reclaim my child, but he pushed me away. “Time to fulfill your final purpose.” I was forcibly dragged from the bed, my legs so weak I could barely stand. Post-birth weakness left me utterly defenseless. The altar was ready, bathed in silver moonlight pouring through the high dome. At the altar’s center, Lyra’s ‘perfect doll’ lay still. Her face was identical to mine, yet somehow more exquisite, flawless. Her soul drifted out from a shimmering prayer crystal, clad in a Queen’s gown that should have been mine. Golden embroidery gleamed on the hem of her dress in the moonlight. “Well done, my little breeding tool.” She contemptuously ran a finger down my cheek. “Thank you for bearing such a perfect vessel and bloodline for me.” “Now, it’s my turn to be reborn.” Her smile was beautiful and venomous. Rhys forcibly shoved the wailing cub into Lyra’s arms. The cub, sensing a stranger, cried even harder. “Look closely, this is your true mother.” Rhys pointed at me, his eyes filled with disgust and disdain. “She? She’s just a stain, a filthy vessel that polluted your pure bloodline.” The cub struggled desperately in Lyra’s arms, tiny hands reaching frantically for me, tears blurring his golden eyes. “Mommy… Mommy…” It was his first word. It might be his last. My heart tore into a million pieces. Rhys raised the sacrificial blade, its edge glinting coldly in the moonlight. “Don’t be afraid. Sacrificing your life for Lyra’s rebirth is the greatest honor you could ever achieve.” “You should be proud.” The blade point hovered over my heart. Gazing at his alien, cruel face, everything clicked into place. From start to finish, I was nothing but a tool. A tool to bear their child, to provide the very flesh they needed. The instant the blade was about to plunge into my heart, I bit down hard on my tongue. My heart’s blood surged out, arcing a crimson line through the air. “By my blood, I bind thee! By my soul, I swear!” I screamed the ancient symbiotic pact, pouring every ounce of my spiritual energy into it. “In life and death, we are one! Blood to blood, heart to heart! Harm me, harm my son!” The crimson pact transformed into golden chains, swirling and dancing in the air. One end bound to me, the other searing itself onto the cub’s brow. Golden light flared. The pact was sealed. Rhys’s blade plunged into my shoulder without hesitation. Excruciating pain flared, but I bit back a scream, gritting my teeth. Blood streamed down the blade, dripping onto the altar. At the same moment, the cub in Lyra’s arms let out a shrill wail. An identical wound appeared on his tiny shoulder! Blood stained his swaddling clothes, and his little face instantly went pale. “What’s happening? Why is the Royal Heir injured?” Rhys stared, horrified, at his bleeding son. The blade in his hand trembled, unable to plunge deeper. “A symbiotic pact! It’s a symbiotic pact!” Archon Gabriel rushed in, face ashen. “My King, you cannot kill her! If she dies, the Royal Heir dies too!” Rhys’s hand trembled violently. He frantically poured his power into me, desperate to stop our bleeding. Warm healing energy flooded my body. The sacrifice was halted, and Lyra’s scream ripped through the entire altar. “No! My rebirth! My perfect body!” Her soul-form trembled violently, on the verge of dissipation. “It’s all your fault! You cursed wretch!” “I’ll kill you! I’ll tear you apart!” I collapsed into the blood, holding my child close. His wound was already healing, his breathing steadying again. At least we were alive. And I still had a chance to protect him.

I was imprisoned in the deepest chambers of the royal palace. My body was weak, clinging to life only through the power Rhys forcibly infused into me daily. They stripped me of the right to see my son. “You are the source of the curse, the carrier of this plague.” Rhys stood at the door, his eyes as cold as ancient ice. “Do not approach the Royal Heir, and never defile his pure bloodline again.” The heavy iron doors clanged shut before me, sealing me within this gloomy cage. Lyra, under the guise of ‘purifying the Royal Heir,’ monopolized the nursery day and night. She deliberately had a magic scrying mirror transmit everything for me to see. To make me watch her seize everything that was mine. In the mirror, she wore my clothes, sat at my vanity. Using my lipstick, styling her hair like mine, even mimicking my tone of voice. “See this, my dear ‘sister’?” She smirked at the scrying mirror, her eyes venomous and triumphant. “Your husband, your clothes, everything you have, will be mine.” “And you? You’re just a trapped mouse in a cage.” She walked to the cradle and clumsily picked up Jasper. Jasper, sensing a foreign touch, immediately started wailing. “My Jasper, say ‘Mommy’.” Lyra forced his gaze onto her face. “I am your true mother. Forget that woman.” The cub cried harder, his little face flushed crimson. He struggled desperately, trying to escape Lyra’s embrace. “He doesn’t like me. It’s all that woman’s fault.” Lyra’s face darkened, becoming truly frightening. “Her tainted bloodline has corrupted my child.” She glared venomously at my image in the scrying mirror. “Burn everything she prepared for this bastard child!” She ordered the handmaidens to dispose of all the clothes I had prepared for my child. Those tiny clothes I’d hand-stitched, the swaddling embroidered with gold thread. “Burn them all, every last one! They reek of her lowly presence!” Flames soared, turning my heart’s effort into ashes. Rhys entered the nursery, his face grim. Seeing the cub’s persistent cries of discomfort. Instead of soothing him, he turned his anger on me. He warned coldly through the scrying mirror: “Your bloodline is rebelling. It’s causing chaos.” “It seems a more thorough purification is needed!” “If he continues to wail, I’ll sever your connection completely.” Late that night, I bore the agony, sensing my son’s faint cries of hunger and fear through our bond. That heartbreaking pain, ripping through me, was transmitted via our pact. I could only weep silently in the darkness. Lyra deliberately brought the cub to my door. Letting the child cry out for me, but refusing to let me near. “Did you hear that?” She chuckled triumphantly, her eyes brimming with malice. “He’s begging *me*, his ‘mother,’ not you, the ‘sinner’.” “You filthy vessel, you’ll never be worthy of being his mother.” The cub’s tiny hand reached through the bars towards me, his golden eyes filled with longing and sorrow. “Mommy… Mommy…” His voice was hoarse from crying, as weak as a kitten’s whimper. I reached out to touch him, but an invisible barrier blocked me. Rhys issued a final command, setting up a powerful barrier outside my chambers, completely severing all connection between me and the cub. “From this moment on, you will have no ties.” His voice was cold and merciless. “He is the Royal Heir of the Lion Clan, and you are nothing but a criminal.” I was confined in darkness, unable to hear or feel my child. All I could do was silently pray that my Jasper would survive each day. Pray that he would remember, somewhere in this world, there was someone who truly loved him.

By the third day, the cub’s cries grew weaker and weaker. Lyra’s inept care was rapidly draining his life. High fever, refusing to eat, his life hanging by a thread. She knew nothing of infant care, only roughly shaking him, trying to make him stop crying. Archon Gabriel burst into the nursery, his face etched with horror. “My King, the Royal Heir is failing!” “His temperature is too high, his breathing shallow. He could die at any moment!” Rhys’s face turned ashen, rage burning in his eyes. “How can this be? Wasn’t Lyra taking care of him?” “The Royal Heir needs his mother’s essence. Only his true mother’s essence can save him.” Archon Gabriel pointed, trembling, towards my prison. “The Queen must come here. Otherwise, the Royal Heir won’t survive the night.” “She’s the source of the curse! Letting her near will only worsen things!” Rhys’s fists clenched, veins bulging. “There must be another way!” “My King, bloodlines do not lie.” Archon Gabriel’s voice was stern and urgent. “The Royal Heir’s body is instinctively rejecting everything but his true mother.” “He cannot wait. Any more delay and it will be too late.” Rhys gritted his teeth, finally giving in. He had no choice but to bring me from my chambers to the nursery. My clothes were disheveled, and I was dragged along like a prisoner, heavy shackles clanking on my wrists. Lyra stood nearby, her eyes burning with hatred. “Hurry up. Don’t waste time.” Her voice dripped with disgust and impatience. “Once he’s recovered, you can crawl back into your cage.” The moment the cub was back in my arms, I nearly broke down in tears. His little face was pale, his breathing ragged. But sensing my presence, he instantly calmed, greedily suckling. His tiny hands clutched my clothes tightly, as if afraid I’d disappear again. “My precious, Mommy’s here.” I gently stroked his little face, tears streaming down my own. “Mommy will always love you, and I will never abandon you.” It was my only comfort in days. Feeling his strong suckling, hearing his satisfied murmurs, my heart finally found a moment of peace. The cub’s temperature slowly returned to normal. His little face regained its color, his breathing steadied. He slept contentedly in my arms, his tiny mouth still softly moving. Just then, Rhys abruptly snatched him from my embrace, handing him back to Lyra, who had been waiting impatiently. “Enough. Your purpose is served.” His voice was icy and devoid of gratitude. “Your use is at an end.” Lyra took the child, flashing me a cold, triumphant smirk. “Thank you for the ‘nourishment,’ my good milch cow.” She deliberately emphasized the words ‘milch cow’. She turned to Rhys, malicious glints in her eyes. “My King, since her purpose has been fulfilled…” “It’s time for the ‘Severance Ritual’.” “To completely eradicate this curse and restore the Royal Heir’s pure bloodline.” Rhys looked at me, his gaze utterly devoid of warmth. As if I were a tool, used up and ready to be discarded. “Tomorrow, at the Hundred Clans Homage Ceremony.” “I will, before all assembled…” “Drain every last drop of your tainted blood from my son’s life.” “Drain it all, until nothing remains!” “Let everyone witness the consequence of defying the royal will!” I was roughly dragged back to my chambers, my shackles scraping a harsh sound across the floor. I stared at my fingers, where my child had suckled. Feeling the ancient power stirring within me, awakened by the Sacred Fruit. A plan, for mutual destruction, began to form in my mind. If you want my blood, then I’ll give you a ‘gift’ you’ll never forget. Let you pay the price for your greed and cruelty. The Hundred Clans Homage Ceremony began as scheduled. The entire royal palace was adorned with colorful banners and flowing flags. I was chained like a sacrificial offering, dragged to the foot of the hundred-step staircase leading to the throne. All the tribal chiefs were present, observing the ritual. The Tiger Clan, the Eagle Clan, the Wolf Clan… hundreds of nobles gathered. Their gazes held curiosity, indifference, and cruel excitement. Rhys, in his golden royal robes, stood majestically on the throne. Crown on his head, scepter in hand, he seemed sacred and inviolable. “Fellow kin!”

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After I got pregnant, my husband, a notorious playboy, utterly transformed. He not only cut off all his flirtations but also showered me with affection. Until one day before my due date, I accidentally overheard him talking to his buddy, Jake. “Marcus, that young woman you’ve been sponsoring, is she still bothering you? She’s younger and prettier than your wife. Don’t you feel anything for her?” Marcus scoffed, a sneer twisting his face. “What is she? She’s not even fit to shine my wife’s shoes. I’m just doing something good to earn some good karma for my wife. The sooner she’s gone, the better.” A wave of sweetness swelled in my heart. I thought I’d finally found true happiness. But who would’ve thought? The very next day, as I was on my way to the hospital, that girl drove her car straight into us. She held a terminal diagnosis in her hand, tears streaming down her face, unable to stop them. “Marcus, I don’t have much time left. If you won’t have me, are you forcing me to die to finally feel at peace?!” I was already bleeding, kneeling in the car, begging Marcus to rush me to the hospital. But he ruthlessly kicked me away and locked the car doors. “Get out! If Vanessa gets hurt, neither you nor the baby in your belly will live!” I was trapped in the car for an entire day and night. By the time someone found me and pulled me out, my baby’s heartbeat was gone. At my lowest, Marcus actually called. “Let’s get divorced first. Vanessa’s condition can’t wait. I need to take her abroad for treatment as her husband.” Tears streaming down my face, I agreed to his demand. I clutched my baby’s ashes and left that heartbreaking place. Five years later, I was living in a remote fishing village, scavenging for junk to survive. I never expected to see Marcus again. His gaze fell on my three-year-old daughter in my arms, and his eyes actually reddened. “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me at home? And what do you do? You’re out here picking up trash with my daughter! Look how thin she is! Are you even fit to be a mother?”

“A five-year-old kid is so thin. Aurora Hayes, how exactly do you take care of her as a mother?” “I thought you were so principled, not contacting me for five years. Turns out you’re just out here picking up trash with the kid, huh? Don’t tell me you knew I was coming for an inspection today and decided to put on this show for me?” My little daughter was in my arms, and my mind went blank, being yelled at by the man who’d suddenly appeared. It took me a while to realize who he was. It was Marcus Sterling, my ex-husband from five years ago. And the woman clinging to his arm, dressed in designer clothes, was none other than Vanessa Bell, the young woman he’d sponsored back then. Seeing them so intimate, I instinctively hugged my daughter tighter. My mind spun, memories dragging me back five years. Back then, I’d just gotten pregnant. Marcus, who was always cold and distant, suddenly started sponsoring a high school girl from an orphanage and even let her move into our home. The first time I saw Vanessa, pale and in worn-out clothes, my heart softened. Even with my baby bump, I cooked her nutritious meals. I’d stay up late, helping her with her studies, tutoring her often. Under my care, Vanessa brightened up significantly, smiling more often. Her grades skyrocketed from last in class to first in her grade, and she eventually got into a prestigious university. But I never imagined that the first thing she’d do after turning eighteen was to hook up with Marcus, betraying me! Seeing that I hadn’t spoken, Marcus’s eyes fell on my daughter. His brows furrowed, and he said with clear dissatisfaction, “Why is it a girl? My mother has been hoping for a grandson for years, and she was already unhappy with you. Now you have another daughter? How am I supposed to explain this to her?” Only then did I realize he thought the child in my arms was his. I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. He had the nerve to bring that up? That child, our child, had died five years ago, suffocated to death inside me. And the one responsible for the baby’s death was *him*, the biological father! Anger churned in my chest. I took a deep breath and stepped back, hugging my daughter tightly. “You’re mistaken. This child isn’t yours…”

My clarification was cut short. Vanessa suddenly interrupted me, shaking Marcus’s arm as she purred, “Marcus, I can give you children! My illness is long gone. I can have as many as you want.” Marcus affectionately pinched her nose, smiling. “You’ve just recovered, sweetheart. I can’t bear for you to go through that right now. You just need to be my little princess.” Then, he turned to me, looking utterly disdainful. “Aurora Hayes, for the past five years, Vanessa has suffered so much abroad, endured so much pain. And you? All you know is to compete with her, throwing tantrums all day, not even a single word of comfort. Someone as cold and heartless as you truly doesn’t deserve her kindness.” I rolled my eyes at his words, completely speechless. For the past five years, my email had been flooded with photos and videos Vanessa sent from all over the world. In those pictures, she looked rosy-cheeked and full of life. Where was the sick patient? I had no interest in saying more. I picked up the garbage tongs beside me and waved them in front of him. This gesture instantly scared Vanessa, and she started crying. Marcus looked me up and down, pinching his nose and frowning as he took a step back. “Look at you now, a complete mess! You reek of garbage. What’s the difference between you and a homeless person? So you pretended to be dignified for five years? In the end, you still came crawling back to me, didn’t you?” “Don’t think bringing a child here will make me take you back or start over. We ended things the moment you impulsively blocked me.” My daughter in my arms was startled by his tone and burst into tears. Marcus’s expression softened slightly, and he reached out to her. “Shh, don’t cry, sweetie. Daddy will take you home. Don’t stay with this crazy woman.” What he got in return was Lily’s even more heartbroken scream: “I don’t want you to hug me! You’re not fit to be my daddy! You’re a meanie who bullies Mommy! I hate you the most!” Publicly humiliated, Marcus’s face instantly darkened. He glared at me and said coldly, “Is this how you raise her? She has no manners whatsoever! I lived with you for five years, no wonder you’re full of flaws! My family won’t acknowledge such an ill-mannered child. Don’t show your face to me again until you’ve sorted yourself out.” No one can tolerate someone speaking ill of their child like that. I clenched my fists and spoke coldly, “You’re wrong. This isn’t your daughter. She has nothing to do with you.” Marcus froze for a moment. Then he scoffed, completely uncaring. “Aurora Hayes, always so quick with your words, aren’t you? I hate that fake innocent act of yours. It’s disgusting.” “Still pretending at a time like this? If you don’t get down on your knees and beg me, then just get lost and spare me the sight of you!” With that, he pulled a few bills from his pocket and slapped them against my face. “Look at how poor you two look. Take this and buy yourselves some decent clothes. Don’t go around embarrassing yourselves.” Then, he put his arm around Vanessa and walked away. I looked down at my old, orange work uniform and couldn’t help but curse his ancestors in my mind. Marcus, of course, had no idea that the T-shirt I was wearing underneath was a limited-edition design by world-renowned designer Krena, priced at a staggering one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. My daughter’s cartoon jacket was also a high-end luxury brand. As for me, I had remarried four years ago and had another child. How could I ever go back to the past? My special ringtone rang. I collected myself and answered. A gentle, deep voice came from the other end: “My dearest wife, you must be tired from your business trip. I’ve arranged the lounge for you. Take the baby in and get some good rest.” “I really want to see you right now. I’ll come over right after my meeting this afternoon.” My usually reserved husband was actually whining like a big kid, and my heart warmed. After hanging up, I led my daughter to the lounge door. From inside, I heard faint, intimate sounds of heavy breathing…

Pushing the door open, I saw Marcus and Vanessa entangled on the sofa, in a very intimate embrace. I quickly covered my daughter’s eyes and ears. Marcus angrily picked up a nearby water glass and threw it at me. “Get out! Who let you in? Is this a place for a beggar like you?!” The glass hit my forehead, and the pain made my vision swim. Before I could even recover, Several project managers rushed in, politely apologizing to Marcus. “We’re truly sorry, Mr. Sterling. We were negligent. We’ll take her out immediately.” Furious, I shook off the person holding me and shouted, “This is *my* lounge! What right do you have to kick me out?” The scene fell into a sudden silence. Then, a few people started laughing. Seeing they didn’t believe me, I was about to pull out my phone to prove myself. But Marcus rushed over, snatched my phone, and violently smashed it on the floor. The screen shattered into several pieces. Before I could speak, He sneered coldly, “Have you been dreaming for too long? Is your mind not clear? This lounge is exclusively for Caleb Hayes, one of the wealthiest men in the country. Even I can only sit here to discuss business. Who do you think you are, spouting such nonsense?” “You’ve gone this far to seduce me. You really have no shame.” A few stout middle-aged men eyed me with strange looks. “Mr. Sterling, who is this woman?” Marcus chuckled coldly, casually saying, “Don’t know her. But looking at her, she’s probably selling herself, isn’t she?” Vanessa leaned against him, giggling, her fingers tracing circles on his chest. “Marcus, you’re so mean to my sister.” After hearing Marcus ruthlessly humiliate me, The project managers’ faces immediately twisted with disgust. A barrage of nasty comments followed. “This kind of woman actually dares to come here and seduce Mr. Sterling, and with a child! She has no shame. Be careful not to catch anything.” “With your pathetic appearance, you can’t do anything else. You might as well go beg for food.” “We’ve seen plenty of women like you. They’re full of tricks, willing to do anything for money. If Mr. Sterling doesn’t want her, you can give her to me to play with. I haven’t seen a piece of trash like this in ages.” I kept my daughter tightly hugged, not letting her hear those vulgar words. “Don’t go too far! There’s a child here!” But it still scared Lily. The little girl cried out. Marcus seemed to think it had gone a bit too far. His face darkened, and he roared, “Who told you to talk like that? Are you looking to die?!” The men exchanged glances and quickly shut up. I ignored him, focusing on comforting my daughter in my arms. Just as I finally managed to calm her down, I looked up and saw Marcus staring at me thoughtfully, a hint of complexity in his eyes. He seemed about to say something, but Vanessa spoke first, putting on a generous and gentle facade: “Sister Aurora, it must have been hard for you raising a child alone all these years. My body is still recovering, and I just happen to need a nanny. Why don’t you come and take care of me? I’ll pay you two thousand five hundred a month. It’s much better than picking up trash outside.” As soon as she finished speaking, Marcus pulled her close and kissed her deeply on the lips. “Vanessa, you’re so considerate. You really break my heart.” Vanessa blushed and buried her head in his chest. Watching them being so sickeningly sweet, I felt goosebumps all over my body. Suppressing my disgust, I refused: “Thank you for your kind offer, but I really like my current job.” With that, I ignored Marcus’s grim face, hugged my daughter, and walked straight out. These two lunatics. If I can’t deal with them, I can at least avoid them, right? Behind me, I heard the sound of things smashing, mixed with Marcus’s furious roar: “Aurora Hayes, are you really that useless? You’re still a complete failure, aren’t you? And you still think you can remarry me? No way!” I slammed the door shut.

My phone was shattered, so I had no choice but to find a shady spot to rest with my daughter. The little one leaned softly against me, asking in her tender voice, “Mommy, who were those people just now? Why were they saying mean things? When is Daddy coming to pick us up?” I gently kissed her forehead, softly telling her, “Those were bad people, Lily. Don’t mind them. Daddy will be here soon to pick us up. Let’s wait patiently, okay?” She nodded vigorously, and her expression made me kiss her little cheek again. The weather was getting hotter. I told my daughter to sit quietly here and wait while I went to get some water. But when I came back with the water, I suddenly heard my daughter crying loudly, “Mommy, help me! Let go of me!” The sight before my eyes broke my heart. Vanessa was clutching my daughter by the neck, slamming her onto the ground. Seeing this, my rage erupted. All reason vanished. I lunged forward and slapped Vanessa hard across the face. Just as I snatched Lily from her grasp, Marcus rushed over. Vanessa was already crying uncontrollably, snot and tears running down her face as she threw herself into his arms. “Marcus, I saw her alone there and just wanted to be nice and keep her company. But then this child suddenly bit me! I only said a few words to her, and Sister Aurora rushed over and hit me!” Marcus looked at the red mark on her face and the teeth marks on her hand. His face instantly turned cold, his eyes blazing with fury. “Aurora Hayes, how dare you lay a hand on my woman?! You truly don’t respect me!” He grabbed my hair and ruthlessly kicked me in the chest. The kick was so heavy that I coughed up blood. My chest throbbed with excruciating pain, as if my whole body was falling apart. “Mommy! Mommy!” My daughter’s heartbreaking screams came from behind me. Marcus didn’t seem satisfied. He turned and slapped my daughter, sending her sprawling onto the ground. “You little brute! If your mom can’t control you, I’ll teach you a lesson!” Hearing my child’s cries, my heart twisted with pain. I struggled to crawl towards her, but Marcus stepped on my head, pinning me to the ground. Vanessa walked over, hugged my crying daughter, and clamped her hand over Lily’s mouth, forcibly muffling her cries. Lily’s face turned bright red from holding her breath. “Sister Aurora, since you don’t know how to raise a child, making her suffer so much, why don’t you let me take her?” Marcus looked down at me with a cold sneer. “Stop talking nonsense. This woman doesn’t deserve to be a mother. The child belongs to me today. You’ll never see her again.” His leather shoe pressed down heavily on my back, and he continued with his cruel words: “She can’t even control a child. If this keeps up, this little brat will grow up to be just like you, causing trouble. Might as well get rid of her now.” “Marcus!” I shrieked, suddenly grabbing his ankle, my nails digging into his flesh. I screamed the truth hysterically— “She’s only three! She’s not your child at all! She’s Caleb Hayes’s child! And I’m Caleb Hayes’s wife, the current Mrs. Hayes!”

As my voice echoed. Everyone’s faces instantly changed. Then, piercing laughter erupted. “Hahaha, Mr. Sterling, what is this woman spouting? If she’s Mrs. Hayes, then I must be the richest person in the world! Are you serious? Is she out of her mind?!” “What nonsense! Everyone knows Mr. Hayes’s wife is a beautiful, elegant woman. This tramp, picking up garbage, thinks she can compare?” “Yeah, and the Hayes family only has one young master. That little girl beside her isn’t even fit to carry Mr. Hayes’s son’s shoes.” Amidst the noisy laughter, Marcus grabbed me and yanked me off the ground. “Aurora Hayes, you really don’t prepare your lies, do you? Someone as high-and-mighty as Caleb Hayes, do you think he’d even glance at a woman like you, a woman I tossed aside?” Marcus’s eyes were full of contempt, as if I were a piece of dirt on the ground. “I was actually wondering if you were genuinely remorseful, if I could take you back. But it turns out you’re not only unrepentant, you’re also trying to cling to Mr. Hayes. Aurora Hayes, your very essence is worse than this trash. No matter how much you wash, you’re still garbage.” Before he finished speaking, Marcus picked up a nearby garbage can and dumped it over my head. The putrid smell quickly enveloped me, making me gag. The surrounding managers pinched their noses and laughed. “Well done! That’s how you teach people like her a lesson.” One man offered a suggestion. “Mr. Sterling, rumor has it that Mr. Hayes is extremely protective of his wife. If he knew someone was impersonating his wife, he certainly wouldn’t let her off easily. I know there’s a cold storage nearby. Let’s lock her in there and let Mr. Hayes deal with her personally when he arrives. Then our collaboration project will surely be a go.” Looking at this group of ugly-faced people, my heart filled with hatred. Marcus stared at me and sighed. “Aurora Hayes, I’m giving you one last chance to apologize. Just kneel down and apologize to Vanessa in public, and I’ll let you go. Otherwise…” “You wish!” Seeing my defiance, Marcus’s expression turned completely cold. He gave a look, and several burly men immediately swarmed me, binding my hands and feet before tossing me into the cold storage. In the freezing cold storage, below ten degrees Celsius, my entire body quickly became covered in frost. A strong will to survive made me incessantly bang on the door, desperately scratching at the metal with all my might. My nails were ripped off, exposing raw, bloody flesh. My daughter cried out for Mommy from outside, only to be slapped several times. “Who do you call ‘Mommy’? From now on, *I’m* your only mommy! You little thing!” Seeing Lily continue to cry uncontrollably, Vanessa simply stuffed a foul-smelling rag into her mouth. Suddenly, a roaring sound came from a distance. A black Maybach screeched to a halt beside them. A pair of perfectly tailored long legs stepped onto the ground, and a custom suit outlined the cold, handsome figure of the newcomer. He was holding a cute little boy in his arms. In the split second before my consciousness faded, I heard someone shriek: “Mr. Hayes and the young master are here!” Caleb Hayes stepped out of the car, holding his son. He looked around, but couldn’t spot the familiar figure he was searching for.

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The apocalypse struck, unleashing a deadly virus. My all-powerful husband called, his voice softer than I’d ever heard it. “Don’t be afraid, my helicopter will be there soon. I’m bringing you to Safe Zone One.” Faintly, from the other end of the line, I heard his ‘true love,’ Eleanor Vance’s sickly sweet voice. “Darling, why waste time on that mobile blood bag? My purification pod is ready. Hurry up and get her over here to donate!” In my previous life, I believed his promise. But what arrived was a squad of soldiers. They tied me to an experimental table, draining my special, virus-resistant blood. All to save his frail Eleanor. Finally, they discarded me like trash into the horde of infected. Only after my death did I realize: he married me simply because my unique blood type matched his beloved’s, making me her perfect “living source of medicine.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the apocalypse broke out. Listening to his hollow reassurances over the phone, I smiled. He didn’t know that the virus antidote I was developing didn’t rely on blood at all. It needed my living cells for its final activation. And the highest authority key to Safe Zone One, the very fortress I’d personally built, was my heartbeat. Want to live? Fine. But first, watch your Eleanor Vance take her last breath right in front of me. **1** Not long after the call ended, I heard the approaching roar of a helicopter outside my window. Did Dorian Blackwood really think I was still that fool he could twist around his little finger? I hadn’t stayed home waiting to die. I’d long since moved to my true sanctuary—the ‘Heart’ lab beneath the villa. This was my personal creation, a secret base even Dorian Blackwood knew nothing about. The roaring grew closer. Through the surveillance monitors, I saw the familiar black helicopter. Inside the cabin, Dorian Blackwood’s hypocritical face peered down through the window. Pathetic. *Bang!* The villa’s front gate was violently breached. It was Dorian Blackwood’s special forces. Leading them was Captain Ryder, his fiercely loyal commander. They stormed into the living room, only to find the house empty. Just then, I activated the projection system. My image instantly appeared on the living room wall, at least ten feet tall. “Hard at work, gentlemen?” My voice echoed throughout the villa via the sound system. Captain Ryder’s head snapped up, his gun instantly aimed at my projection. “Seraphina Jiang? Where are you?” “No need to be nervous, Captain Ryder. I’m right beneath your feet.” Captain Ryder’s face changed. Realizing something, he immediately contacted Dorian Blackwood via his comms: “Boss, target isn’t on site. Suspected to be in the basement.” Soon, Dorian Blackwood’s furious voice came through the comms: “Find her! Now!” I switched channels, connecting directly to Dorian Blackwood’s private line: “Mr. Blackwood, if you want to invite your ‘mobile blood bag,’ you should at least come in person, shouldn’t you? Hiding in a helicopter, what kind of power is that?” “Seraphina! What exactly do you want?” Dorian Blackwood’s voice was laced with suppressed rage. “What do I want?” My laugh turned sharper. “I want to live. But your Eleanor Vance can’t wait, can she?” From his end, Eleanor Vance’s sickly sweet voice chimed in impatiently: “Darling, hurry up, my purification pod is ready…” Hearing that voice, my heart gave a sharp, painful lurch. In my previous life, it was that same voice that had accompanied my last moments. But this time, things were different. I cut off Dorian Blackwood’s channel, connecting solely to Captain Ryder’s comms. “Captain Ryder, want to hear an interesting story?” Captain Ryder frowned. “Ms. Jiang, please cooperate.” “Cooperate?” I sneered. “Like last time, when I cooperated by letting you tie me to an experimental table?” Captain Ryder froze. He had no idea what I was talking about, because that had happened in my previous life. But I had proof. “Listen to this.” I played an audio recording—encrypted files I’d hacked from Dorian Blackwood’s phone. Dorian Blackwood’s voice came through clearly: “Once you get the blood, dispose of Seraphina Jiang. And Captain Ryder’s entire squad, leave no one. Too many people know; it’s bad for Eleanor.” The recording cut off abruptly. Captain Ryder’s face instantly twisted. His squad members behind him exchanged glances, their eyes wide with shock and disbelief. “This… this isn’t possible…” Captain Ryder murmured. “Impossible?” My voice dripped with mockery. “You’ve risked your lives for him for years, and he wants to silence you all. Captain Ryder, does that still seem impossible?” I watched Captain Ryder’s wavering expression on the monitor, a surge of satisfaction rising within me. Loyalty was crumbling. Just then, Dorian Blackwood’s voice came through the comms again: “Ryder! What are you doing? Get her out of there, now!” Captain Ryder stared blankly at his comm unit. I struck while the iron was hot: “If you want to live, listen to me.” As soon as I finished speaking, I activated the villa’s defense system. *Rumble—* Heavy alloy gates slammed down from the ceiling, sealing the entire villa shut. Captain Ryder and his squad were trapped inside. **2** Dorian Blackwood indeed came in person. The cabin door opened, and Dorian Blackwood emerged, cradling a dying Eleanor Vance. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow, looking as if she could expire at any moment. Dorian Blackwood’s expression was strained and anxious, completely devoid of his usual composure. “Seraphina! Come out!” he shouted at the villa. “Eleanor’s fading fast!” I activated the hidden passage in the ground. A metal door, just wide enough for one person, opened beneath their feet, revealing stairs leading underground. “Come down,” my voice echoed from the loudspeaker. Dorian Blackwood didn’t hesitate, carrying Eleanor Vance inside. As soon as they stepped into the observation room, the alloy door behind them slammed shut. It was a fully transparent, reinforced glass room, with clear views in all directions. I sat at the control panel, watching them through the glass wall. Eleanor Vance leaned weakly in Dorian Blackwood’s arms, yet her eyes still held a defiant glint: “Seraphina Jiang, you can’t win against him. Hurry up and give your blood, and I might spare your life.” I ignored her. “Want to save her? It’s simple. Transfer all the highest authorities of your corporation to my name.” Dorian Blackwood paused, then burst out laughing: “Seraphina Jiang, are you insane? For a dying woman, you want my entire business empire?” “Do you think I’m joking?” I lightly pressed a button. The room’s air purification system activated, but I secretly lowered the oxygen concentration. From 21% down to 19%. Eleanor Vance’s breathing immediately became more labored. Already weak, she now gasped for air. “You… what did you do?” Dorian Blackwood noticed the anomaly. “For every minute you hesitate, the oxygen concentration drops by 1%. How long do you think she can last?” Eleanor Vance’s face grew even paler, and she desperately clutched Dorian Blackwood’s clothes: “Dorian… I… I can’t breathe…” Dorian Blackwood’s expression instantly transformed. Anger, shock, and a hint of panic. “Seraphina! You’re insane! Let us out!” He frantically pounded on the glass wall. The glass didn’t budge. I watched his frantic state, an unprecedented thrill surging through me. In my previous life, they had trapped me on that experimental table, forcing me to watch my own blood drain away. Now, it was their turn to experience this despair. Time ticked by, minute by minute. The oxygen concentration dropped to 18%. Eleanor Vance began to cough violently, her face turning purple. She weakly lifted her head, her eyes filled with venom: “Seraphina Jiang… you bitch… Dorian won’t let you get away with this…” “Really? Then let’s see what price he’s willing to pay for you.” Sweat began to bead on Dorian Blackwood’s forehead. He looked at the dying Eleanor Vance in his arms. “Seraphina Jiang, what exactly do you want?” “I told you. Your corporation, all its authorities.” “Impossible!” Oxygen concentration dropped to 17%. Eleanor Vance was completely unable to speak, only gasping for breath with her mouth open. Her fingers began to turn purple, her eyes unfocused. Dorian Blackwood finally panicked: “Wait! Wait! We can talk!” “Now you want to talk?” My finger hovered above the button. “Too late.” “Seraphina Jiang!” His voice trembled. “You can have anything you want! Money? Status? I’ll give it all to you! Just spare Eleanor!” I paused my hand. Not out of softness, but because I saw genuine fear in his eyes. This man, once so arrogant, who had treated me as a tool, finally had a weakness. “Money? Status?” I laughed. “Dorian Blackwood, do you think I lack these things?” He froze. Yes, I, Seraphina Jiang, the youngest virologist with multiple patents before the apocalypse, had already amassed a fortune in the hundreds of millions. I never lacked money. What I lacked was his life. The oxygen concentration continued to drop. 16%. Eleanor Vance’s eyes began to roll back, her body convulsing. Dorian Blackwood completely broke down: “I’ll transfer it! I’ll transfer everything to you! Please, save her!” I watched him kneel on the ground, but the rage in my heart showed no signs of calming. In my previous life, I had knelt like that, begging them to spare me. But how did they respond? “Why waste time? The purification pod is ready, hurry up and donate blood.” Now, it was their turn to taste despair. I slowly stood up and walked to the glass wall. “Dorian Blackwood, do you know? In my previous life, when you killed me, I begged you like this too.” He snapped his head up, his eyes filled with confusion. But soon, he would understand everything. Because the real game had just begun. **3** Oxygen concentration dropped to 15%. Eleanor Vance had completely lost consciousness. Dorian Blackwood knelt on the ground, repeatedly banging his head: “I’ll transfer it! I’ll transfer everything to you!” I pushed a special terminal towards him. His fingers frantically tapped on the screen, stock transfer agreements flashing by one after another. All corporate authorities were transferred to my name. The moment the transfer was complete, oxygen levels returned to normal. Dorian Blackwood gasped for air, holding Eleanor Vance tightly: “Quick! Save her!” I stood up and walked to the glass wall. Behind me, a giant screen lit up. Complex gene sequence diagrams densely covered the entire wall. “You thought the antidote was in the blood?” My voice was chillingly calm. “Idiot.” Dorian Blackwood froze. “The virus antidote requires my living cells as a culture medium. The final activation and proliferation must occur inside my body.” Data scrolled across the screen. Lines of technical jargon flashed by. “Draining my blood would only get you useless plasma.” His face instantly turned ashen. “Impossible… The doctor said…” “Doctor? Which doctor?” I sneered. “Only I, in this entire world, could decipher this virus. Who do you think understands it better than me?” “Furthermore.” “The activation process is irreversible. It will drain all my life force.” “Saving her means my death.” I activated another projection. An AI simulation appeared on the screen. Images of me, in my previous life, tied to the experimental table. Blood being drawn, drop by drop. My agonizing struggles. My pleas for mercy. My tears. Until the very last moment of my life. Then, I was thrown into the horde of infected. Torn apart. Devoured. Eleanor Vance woke up. She looked at the images on the screen, and to my surprise, she smiled. “Hahahaha… I really hope you died that horribly…” **4** Although Eleanor Vance had resumed normal breathing, the brief oxygen deprivation had reactivated the virus within her. Eleanor Vance lay in Dorian Blackwood’s arms, her breath growing weaker. Black vascular patterns began to appear on her skin, signs of the virus’s spread. Dorian Blackwood completely broke down. He knelt before the glass wall, frantically pounding on the transparent barrier: “Seraphina! I was wrong! Please, save Eleanor! The virus is taking her life!” “I’ll give you anything! The corporation, the fortune, the power! Just save her!” I looked at his pathetic state, a slight smile playing on my lips: “For the sake of what we once were, I’ll give you a chance.” As soon as I spoke, the lab’s automated equipment activated. A mechanical arm slowly extended to my arm, precisely extracting cell tissue. Culture dishes began to churn, complex biochemical reactions unfolding in transparent containers. A progress bar appeared on the large screen. Antidote synthesis: 1%… 5%… 12%… Dorian Blackwood and Eleanor Vance’s eyes instantly lit up with wild joy. “Seraphina! I knew you still cared for me!” Dorian Blackwood’s voice trembled with excitement. Eleanor Vance, though weak, her eyes sparkled with a desperate will to live: “Dorian… I’m saved…” The progress bar steadily climbed: 35%… 58%… 74%… They watched the screen intently, seeing the hope of survival. 89%… 95%… 98%… Just as the progress bar was about to reach 100%, I pressed the pause button. *Ding—* With a crisp chime, the entire synthesis process stopped. Dorian Blackwood froze: “Seraphina? Why did it stop?” I turned around, the smile completely gone from my face: “Oh, I forgot something.” “The key to initiating the final synthesis is my heartbeat.” “And right now, I’m-not-in-the-mood.” Eleanor Vance’s eyes widened, staring at me in disbelief: “You… you’re joking, right?” “Joking? Like you two joked with my life?” The immense chasm between hope and despair instantly shattered Eleanor Vance. She opened her mouth, trying to say something, but couldn’t draw another breath. Her eyes wide, she simply breathed her last. “Eleanor! Eleanor!” Dorian Blackwood clutched her lifeless body, letting out a raw scream. Consumed by loss and rage, he violently ripped open his collar, revealing a miniature bomb detonator: “Seraphina! I’ll make you die with her!” “Let’s die together!” The moment he pressed the button— All the lights and power in the entire base flickered out. Darkness consumed everything. Only a soft blue light, emanating from my chest, illuminated my face. It was the glow from my heart rate monitor. “Forgot to tell you,” my voice echoed in the darkness. “The lab’s highest authority isn’t electricity, it’s not software.” “Your detonator signal can’t get out.” “It’s my heartbeat.” “Here, I am a god.”

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On my girlfriend’s birthday, her guy best friend held her close and kissed her passionately. For a moment, everyone in the room held their breath, their eyes fixed on me. I simply smiled faintly. A few moments later, I broke the silence. “Go on, don’t ruin the game.” * It was Chloe’s birthday, and the private room was packed with our college friends. I sat on the sofa, feeling sharp in my suit. My girlfriend, Chloe, was currently singing a love song with her male best friend. “Noah, when are you finally going to marry our Chloe?” Maya, one of Chloe’s friends, teased from the side. I was about to speak when I witnessed a scene I would never forget. My girlfriend and her male best friend embraced tightly. “Kiss! Kiss!” All our college friends cheered in unison. Their attention was completely drawn to another matter – a game Chloe and Noah were playing. Chloe had lost, and the loser had to kiss the other person. Of course, Noah had come up with that rule. Noah was Chloe’s ex, and her ultimate crush. In recent years, he’d suddenly reappeared as her “male best friend,” but it was clear he had an ulterior motive. “Oh… I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Chloe said, feigning shyness, but her eyes were full of longing as she looked at Noah. Noah returned her gaze with the same intensity. Their eyes met, brimming with affection. “Come on, everyone, don’t you see her boyfriend is right here?” Maya tried to intervene. Noah looked at me, a victorious smirk playing on his lips. Everyone else in the room held their breath, their eyes on me. I kept my smile in place and broke the silence: “Go on, don’t ruin the game.” “Look at Liam, he’s so cool about it! That’s the kind of boyfriend you need!” Chloe’s friends, clearly eager for more drama, egged them on again. I couldn’t be bothered to watch them, so I just drank my drink alone. “He said he doesn’t mind, so let’s continue,” Noah said, looking incredibly smug. Chloe, though, seemed a little taken aback, as if she couldn’t believe I’d said that. Then a flicker of anger crossed her face, and she glared at me: “Liam, I’m coming for you when we get back!” In the end, they kissed passionately. “Whoa!” The people around them immediately erupted in cheers. My heart was a mess, my mind replaying everything that had happened between Chloe and me. The nervousness of my first confession to her, the joy when she accepted me, the careful way I treated her. Her smiles, her tears. In the end, none of it belonged to me. Something stolen eventually has to be returned. It was just a pity for my two years of devotion. I sighed, disappointment clouding my eyes. I knew Chloe had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Chloe, you must be so happy right now. Getting what you’ve always wanted must feel good. Just like how I felt when I successfully won Chloe over. But sadly, it was all in the past now. A woman who doesn’t love me isn’t worth keeping. From that moment on, I made a decision deep in my heart. I would take back all my love. “Liam, what’s wrong with you today?!” After the party, Chloe feigned a pouty anger. Of course, she was still such a good actress. She’d crossed the line, yet she still pushed the blame onto me. The truth was, she didn’t care about me anymore, even if she once had. I’d known it for a long time, I just hadn’t wanted to believe it. In college, Chloe was delicately beautiful and full of charm, lively and cheerful. One faint smile from her was enough to make anyone fall for her. She was incredibly talented, excelling in everything from music and dance to academics, and she was the president of the dance club. Her figure was perfect, and her grades were consistently at the top of her class. A girl like her was practically flawless. She was proud, beautiful, and gifted, untouchable. Suitors lined up from one end of campus to the other, and I was one of them. From the first moment I saw her in freshman year, I was instantly captivated and fell deeply in love. To make her notice me, I studied hard and improved my grades. I learned calligraphy and dancing, just to have common topics with her. I constantly followed Chloe’s news, showing her affection again and again. Bubble tea, pastries, fruit—they never stopped. I sent countless designer bags and necklaces. I just hoped she would spare me a glance. But she returned every single gift. Right, how could the campus queen, recognized by everyone, change her mind for a few gifts? She was so proud, and her pride was exactly what I loved about her. But she ignored me completely. Back then, she was confident and radiant, devoted to only one person. That person was the campus heartthrob, recognized by everyone – Noah. In college, Noah was handsome, with outstanding grades, and he represented the school in many competitions. He could sing and dance, and played a mean guitar. Whenever the school held an event, his appearance would inevitably draw screams from countless girls. He even had his own fan club called the “Wind Chasers.” Noah had many admirers and was definitely a popular figure on campus. No wonder Chloe was so infatuated with him. One was the campus king, the other a recognized talent – truly a perfect match. Chloe relentlessly pursued her crush. When Noah broke up with his girlfriend, Chloe seized the moment and made her move. Finally, on the first Valentine’s Day of sophomore year, Noah accepted Chloe’s confession. This golden couple, famous throughout the school, officially started dating. And I, holding a bouquet of flowers, ready to confess my feelings to Chloe, could only watch, disheartened, a mere bystander. The news of campus king Noah and dance club talent Chloe dating quickly spread to every corner of the campus, becoming a romantic legend. Unfortunately, good times don’t last. Though Noah was handsome, he was a massive playboy. He was flirting around constantly, and Chloe soon found out. On her birthday, Chloe cried her eyes out. She took her cake to the rooftop and happened to run into me, who was studying for an exam. I showed her every bit of concern, comforting her endlessly. Every day, I tirelessly brought her tea and water. Finally, I won the goddess’s approval. Chloe became my girlfriend. At first, she was indifferent to me, and wouldn’t let me make any intimate gestures; I didn’t force it. At the time, I felt incredibly happy just to be the boyfriend of the goddess Chloe. I cherished her like a priceless gem, loving her immensely. I gave her meticulous care, took her traveling to relax, took her out for meals and shopping. Even when work was busy, I’d always update her. I’d come home on time every day to cook, treating her like the most precious thing. Slowly, she started to accept me. She asked about my joys and sorrows, smiled at me, and even began to care about my preferences. I believed that during that time, she did love me. But love that has to be begged for is ultimately hard to sustain. Nourished by love, I became more ambitious. I worked hard, striving to improve my performance. I wanted to work hard enough to buy our own marital home, to truly give her a warm home. I even fantasized countless times about having a child with her. A family of three, sharing meals, living happily together. Everything back then was so beautiful. I felt like I was dreaming, and then one day, the dream ended. Her Prince Charming had returned. Noah inexplicably reappeared in our city, in Chloe’s life. On the street, their eyes met. Just that one glance, and I knew Chloe’s heart no longer belonged to me. But I still couldn’t let her go, couldn’t let go of these years we’d spent together. I chose to deceive myself, maintaining this hollow relationship by feigning ignorance. Gradually, she started coming home early and leaving late, sending flirtatious texts with Noah, growing annoyed by my concern, and meticulously dressing herself up. I looked at Chloe in the mirror and knew I had lost. We had been together for two years, and to please her, I’d bought her countless expensive pieces of jewelry, clothes, and bags. But she had never really dressed up for me. She told me we were family, no need to care so much. Now it seemed she just thought I wasn’t worth the effort. A woman dresses up for the one she wants to please, and clearly, I wasn’t that person for her. All she cared about was Noah. I struggled, unwilling to give up, telling myself she was just wavering, and if I was good enough, she would come back to me. Until that birthday party, when she kissed Noah. I knew my dream had to end. That day, when I got home, I ignored Chloe. I walked straight to the living room and slept on the sofa. *Bang!* A loud slam of the door echoed through the apartment. Chloe was clearly angry. She didn’t understand why her number one worshipper suddenly stopped worshipping. Actually, it was just that I no longer loved her. Love is like that: when I love you, you are a flower, a sea, the wind, the clouds, all the beauty in the world. When I don’t love you, you are just you, and you have nothing to do with me. I had a wonderful sleep. Without the burden of love, my mind suddenly felt much clearer. It was the most peaceful sleep I’d had. No worrying about Chloe being unhappy, no enduring her bad temper, no fearing Noah would steal her away. All I had to think about was whether *I* was happy. The next morning, Chloe had made breakfast. At the dining table, she kept staring at me. I quietly ate. Her cooking was still as bad as ever. Only because she said housework made you age faster, I’d pretty much handled all the chores over the years. She was only responsible for eating, playing, and looking beautiful. Back then, I thought life was perfect. Now, thinking about it, it just felt ridiculous. “Liam, don’t you have anything to say to me?” Chloe broke my train of thought. She finally couldn’t hold back. She was the goddess; in her eyes, her personally making me breakfast was a huge gift. I should naturally be delighted, walk down her pre-set steps, Answer her questions, and beg for her affection. I knew she wanted to ask why I hadn’t cared yesterday. But it didn’t matter anymore. I didn’t want to waste words. “The food’s a bit salty.” I dropped those four words, turned, and walked out the door, leaving Chloe stunned. The weather today was exceptionally good, just like my mood.

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