On our fifth anniversary, I dressed up for our date, thinking Ethan was going to propose to me. Instead, he showed up with his first love, Luna, and asked me to plan their entire engagement party. “You didn’t actually think that after warming my bed for a few years, you’d get to be a billionaire’s wife, did you?” He humiliated me in public, threatened me with my family’s livelihood, and even put the wedding dress I’d spent three years designing on Luna. In the villa we’d shared for five years, all my personal belongings were thrown out like garbage. He said my taste was cheap, that my feelings were shameful, that I was nothing more than a tool in a mutually beneficial arrangement. At the banquet, Luna spilled red wine all over me, and he publicly scolded me for being in the way. Not a single apology. From that moment on, I stopped defending myself, stopped resisting, and became completely obedient to him. Ethan thought I’d finally learned my place and become the compliant secretary again. He didn’t know I’d already gotten engaged to his mortal enemy.

Stella POV In the fifth year of keeping my relationship with Ethan Carter a secret, I thought I could finally be with him. At eight PM, the most upscale revolving restaurant in downtown New York was reserved entirely. I wore a carefully selected black velvet gown, sitting by the window, watching the dazzling neon lights through the floor-to-ceiling glass. In my purse was a copy of Ethan’s schedule. Three days ago, as his chief secretary, I’d accidentally seen a massive transaction from his private account. It was for a pink diamond ring worth ten million dollars. Five years of secret companionship. Five years of being on call. At the company, I was billionaire Ethan’s most capable right hand. In bed, I was his perfectly compatible lover. We weren’t public. Ethan said it was a critical period for the power transition at Carter Group, and he couldn’t have any weaknesses. I believed him and waited without complaint for five years. Today was the fifth anniversary of us being together. When the clock struck eight-thirty, the heavy wooden door of the private room finally opened. I looked up with hopeful anticipation, but the smile on my lips froze completely the moment I saw who entered. Ethan wore an impeccably tailored custom suit, his posture upright, his handsome face showing a gentle smile I’d never seen before. And on his arm was a woman in a white dress with an innocent, delicate aura. Luna Sullivan. Ethan’s first love, the girl he couldn’t forget, who’d been overseas for years. My breathing stopped abruptly, my mind going completely blank. I stared at their intertwined arms, feeling all the blood in my body flowing backward, my fingertips instantly ice-cold. “Ethan, is this the secretary you often mention?” Luna spoke first, her voice sweet and girlish, with a hint of innocent curiosity. Ethan walked to the table with Luna, looking down at me from his superior position, his tone casual like he was discussing the weather. “Yeah, she’s my chief secretary, Stella Forrester.” He didn’t even ask me to sit down, didn’t explain why he’d brought another woman on our fifth anniversary. I forced down the violent trembling in my heart, my voice dry and tight. “Ethan, today is our…” “Stella, you’ve always been reliable in your work, and your taste is good too.” Ethan cut me off without mercy. He pulled out a chair for Luna to sit, then turned to look at me, his eyes cold and matter-of-fact. “Luna just returned to New York and isn’t familiar with the local environment yet. Next month’s engagement party for her and me will be completely under your supervision. Don’t let Luna suffer even the slightest grievance.” Word by word, like ice-cold knives, stabbing precisely into my heart. Engagement party? I stared at Ethan’s familiar face, trying to find any trace of joking in his eyes. But there was nothing. His eyes only held affection for Luna and the emotionless professionalism he showed toward me, his “secretary.” “You’re getting engaged to her?” My voice trembled uncontrollably as I stood up abruptly, my eyes red. “Ethan, then what am I? What were these five years to us?” Hearing this, Luna seemed startled, shrinking back and looking innocently at Ethan. “Ethan, what’s wrong with Miss Forrester? You two…” Ethan’s expression instantly darkened. He glanced at me coldly, his lips curling into a mocking arc. “Stella, watch your identity. You didn’t actually think that after warming my bed for a few years, you’d get to be a billionaire’s wife, did you?”

Stella POV Those words were like a resounding slap across my face. All the strength seemed to drain from my body instantly, my face pale as paper. “Between us, it was nothing more than mutual benefit. You got a generous salary and bonuses, I got an obedient bed partner and a useful secretary.” Ethan’s tone was cruel to the extreme, carrying the arrogance of someone in power. “Now that Luna’s back, those shameful games should end.” So it turned out that five years of youth, five years of giving everything I had, were just “shameful games” in his eyes. That pink diamond wasn’t a proposal ring for me at all, but his sincerity in marrying his first love. Looking at this man I’d loved for five years, I suddenly felt he was completely unfamiliar. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible to breathe, but I bit my lower lip hard, refusing to let the tears fall. “Fine. I understand.” I took a deep breath and grabbed my purse from the table, my spine straight. I didn’t scream or make a scene. I used every ounce of self-control I had to maintain my last shred of dignity. “Since the game is over, Mr. Carter, you’d better find someone else to handle the engagement party. I find it disgusting.” With that, I turned without hesitation and strode out of the restaurant in my heels. Behind me came Ethan’s voice, suppressing his fury. “Stella, try walking out that door!” I didn’t look back. The moment the door closed, I leaned against the cold wall, gasping for air, and tears finally broke through like a dam. Five years of wasted devotion, shattered to pieces in this moment. The next morning, Carter Group CEO’s office. I’d applied elaborate makeup to hide the dark circles under my eyes. Like always, I arrived at the company half an hour early and placed a cup of perfectly heated black coffee on Ethan’s desk. Except this time, there was a white envelope beside the coffee. When Ethan entered the office, he still had that superior, aloof demeanor. He glanced at the envelope on the desk, his brow furrowing slightly. “What’s this?” “My resignation letter.” I stood in front of the desk, my voice so calm it had no inflection. “Mr. Carter, since you’re about to get engaged, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, I should avoid suspicion. I’ll complete the work handover within a week.” Ethan’s movements stopped abruptly. He picked up the resignation letter, his eyes instantly darkening. “Stella, you’ve grown bold, haven’t you?” He laughed coldly, his slender fingers tearing the envelope in half and tossing it in the trash. “Trying to play mind games with your resignation? That trick is too old.” “I’m serious.” I looked at him, my eyes no longer holding any of the adoration and compliance from before, only a deathly stillness. He impatiently loosened his tie, his tone forceful. “I haven’t approved it, so you’re still a Carter Group employee. Put away your ridiculous tantrums. I don’t have time to indulge you. This afternoon, cancel all meetings and accompany Luna to try on wedding dresses.” I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging into my palms. “Mr. Carter, accompanying your fiancée to try on wedding dresses isn’t within my job responsibilities.” “At Carter Group, my word is your responsibility.” Ethan stood up, closing in step by step, his eyes full of oppression. “Stella, don’t forget your brother is still at an Ivy League school, and your mother’s care facility costs a significant amount every month. Angering me won’t benefit you in any way.” He was threatening me with my family. My whole body went cold as I looked at this man in disbelief. After sharing a bed for five years, he knew my weaknesses better than anyone. And now he was mercilessly pointing the blade at my most vulnerable spots. “Fine. I’ll go.” I closed my eyes and swallowed the bloody taste in my throat.

Stella POV That afternoon, at New York’s most exclusive private bridal boutique. Luna was like a proud swan, selecting wedding dresses surrounded by staff. I stood expressionlessly to the side like a soulless puppet. “Miss Forrester, what do you think of this one?” Luna suddenly turned around, pointing to a gown in the center display case. I followed her finger and my pupils contracted sharply. It was a strapless gown with a starry gradient pattern, the skirt encrusted with tens of thousands of tiny South African diamonds. I had drawn the design for this wedding dress three years ago with my own hands. At the time, I’d shown it to Ethan with such joy, asking if I could wear it when we got married. What did Ethan say then? He said, “It’s beautiful. I’ll definitely have it made in the future and put it on you myself.” Now the dress was made, but the person wearing it wasn’t me. “Very beautiful.” I heard my mechanical voice. Luna smiled with satisfaction and turned to enter the fitting room. Soon after, Ethan pushed the door open. He walked straight to the sofa and sat down, not giving me a single extra glance. The curtain of the fitting room opened, and Luna walked out in that starry wedding dress, like a fairy descended to earth. She held up her skirt and walked shyly to Ethan. “Ethan, does it look good?” A flash of amazement crossed Ethan’s eyes. He stood up and gently adjusted her veil, his voice so tender it could drip water. “Beautiful. This dress looks like it was custom-made for you.” Luna leaned shyly into his embrace, but her eyes glanced provocatively at me. “I heard this dress was designed by some unknown designer. I was worried it wouldn’t be worthy of a billionaire’s status.” Ethan laughed lightly, his tone full of disdain. “Who cares who designed it? As long as you like it. Wearing it on you elevates that designer’s cheap taste.” Cheap taste. Those words were like a dull knife, slowly cutting back and forth across my heart. I watched the embracing couple and suddenly felt it was all absurd. The promise I’d treasured was just a casual lie to him. The design I’d poured all my love into had become cheap garbage in his mouth. I didn’t refute or cry. I just stood quietly in the corner, watching Ethan lower his head to kiss Luna’s forehead. In that moment, I clearly heard the sound of my heart dying. No heart-wrenching cries of pain, only a barren silence. On the weekend, I went to Ethan’s private villa in Long Island, New York. This was where we’d lived together for five years. Although Ethan never allowed me to leave too many personal items, five years of accumulation meant there were still traces of me everywhere. Since I’d decided to leave, I didn’t want to leave anything behind to disgust myself. I entered the password and pushed open the door, only to be frozen by the scene before me. The living room was in chaos. Several servants were holding large black garbage bags, tossing things in one by one. The matching coffee mugs I’d bought. The cushions I’d embroidered with our initials. My bunny slippers by the entrance. Even my luxury skincare products from the bathroom. Everything was being thrown away like trash. “What are you doing?” I demanded sharply. The servants stopped and looked at each other. Then someone came down the stairs from the second floor. Ethan wore gray loungewear, looking at me coldly. “I had them clean up. Luna’s moving in next week. She has a cleanliness obsession and can’t stand the smell of other women.” I looked at the coffee mug shattered in the trash. We’d made it together during a pottery class on a business trip to Paris. Though he’d looked impatient, he still stayed with me until we finished. Now it was broken into pieces on the ground.

Stella POV “Ethan, even if you want to make room for Luna, these are my personal belongings. What right do you have to throw them away like garbage without my permission?” I trembled with anger. Ethan walked down the stairs, looking down at me with contempt. “Your things? Stella, name one thing you have that I didn’t buy? Keeping all this cheap junk around. Do you want Luna to have to look at it and be bothered?” He walked to the garbage bag and kicked the clothes inside with his toe, his tone mocking. “Since you’re here today, take this garbage with you yourself. Don’t dirty my carpet.” I stared at him, my eyes so sore they hurt, but I held it in desperately. I walked to the garbage bag. I didn’t pick up those expensive clothes and jewelry. Instead, I bent down and dug through the pile of items to find a wooden music box. It was a trinket he’d casually tossed to me five years ago when I first became his secretary. But I’d treasured it like a precious object for five years. Seeing the music box, Ethan’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, but he quickly returned to cold indifference. “Just taking that?” He laughed coldly. “Stella, you really are pathetically poor.” I held the music box and slowly stood up. I looked at Ethan, my eyes as calm as if looking at a stranger. “Ethan, these five years, I’ve done right by every cent you paid me, and done right by every bit of sincerity I gave.” My voice was soft but abnormally clear. “You treated my sincerity like garbage. That’s fine. Because from today on, in my eyes, you’re worth less than garbage.” With that, right in front of Ethan, I used both hands to smash that music box hard against the marble floor. With a crisp crack, the wooden box shattered into pieces, the spring inside popped out, making a few off-key wails before going completely silent. Ethan’s face instantly turned iron-blue, the veins on his forehead throbbing visibly. “Stella, what the hell are you doing!” I ignored his rage. I pulled out the spare key that symbolized the villa’s mistress status from my bag and casually tossed it onto that pile of garbage. “Here’s your key. I wish you and Miss Sullivan eternal happiness.” I turned around and walked out of the villa without looking back. It had started pouring rain outside. I didn’t carry an umbrella, letting the cold rainwater soak me through. Rainwater slid down my cheeks. Impossible to tell if it was tears or rain. I didn’t feel sad, only an unprecedented sense of relief. The shackles of five years were finally broken by my own hands in this moment. Carter Group’s 60th anniversary gala. As chief secretary, I was still forcibly kept in this position by Ethan, responsible for coordinating the entire event. I wore a low-key black business suit, weaving through the well-dressed guests, calm, efficient, and flawless. When Ethan entered with Luna on his arm, it caused a sensation throughout the venue. Luna wore a modified evening gown version of that starry wedding dress, adorned with that ten-million-dollar pink diamond, already carrying herself like the future mistress of the Carter family. “Thank you all for coming tonight.” Ethan stood on stage, gazing tenderly at Luna beside him. “I’d also like to take this opportunity to announce some good news. Next month, I will officially get engaged to Miss Luna.” Thunderous applause erupted below. I stood in a dark corner of the ballroom, walkie-talkie in hand, expressionlessly watching that dazzling couple on stage.

Stella POV After announcing the good news, Luna smiled and walked toward the crystal piano in the center of the hall. “Today is a special day. I’d like to play a piece dedicated to my fiancé.” The piano music began. My fingertips dug sharply into my palm, nails breaking the skin. This piece was one I’d taught Ethan hand-by-hand three years ago on his birthday. Back then, Ethan had held my hand and said he’d only play this piece for me in the future. Now, the same melody had become Luna’s tool to declare her claim to the world. When the piece ended, applause thundered through the hall. Luna walked toward Ethan amidst the crowd’s praise. As she passed by me, she suddenly stumbled, and the wine glass in her hand tilted directly, the crimson liquid instantly spilling all over me. “Ah! I’m so sorry, Miss Forrester! I didn’t mean to!” Luna cried out, her face full of panic as she apologized, her eyes instantly reddening as if she were the one wronged. Ethan immediately strode over, pulling Luna protectively into his arms, nervously looking her up and down. “Luna, did you twist your ankle? Are you hurt anywhere?” From start to finish, he didn’t spare a single glance at me, drenched in wine and utterly disheveled. “I’m fine, but Miss Forrester’s clothes…” Luna bit her lip aggrievedly, her eyes secretly glancing at me. Only then did Ethan turn to look at me. His gaze was cold and disgusted, as if looking at a troublemaker deliberately causing problems. “Stella, are you blind? What are you doing standing here in the way?” Ethan scolded harshly, his voice loud enough that surrounding guests all looked over. I looked down at my white shirt stained red. This shirt was bought for me by my mother with her first month’s retirement pension. I’d been too reluctant to wear it and only put it on specially for tonight’s gala. Now it was completely ruined. “Luna bumped into me.” I raised my head, looking directly into Ethan’s eyes, my voice unflinching. “You dare talk back?” Ethan’s eyes grew even darker. “Luna is so kind, how could she deliberately bump into you? You’ve ruined her mood. Can you afford to compensate? Hurry up and get to the restroom to change. Stop being an eyesore here!” Mocking whispers came from the surrounding guests. “How can this secretary have no manners at all, daring to bump into the future lady boss?” “I heard she used to be pretty arrogant based on Mr. Carter’s trust. Now that the real deal is back, she’s got to take the heat, right?” Every sentence was like a resounding slap across my face. I watched Ethan carefully protect Luna as they walked away, and suddenly felt it was absurd. I once thought that if I worked hard enough, was sincere enough, one day I could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. But now I understood that in front of his first love, nothing I did was right. Even breathing was wrong. I turned and walked toward the restroom. Standing in front of the mirror, looking at that woman covered in wine stains with a pale face, I didn’t shed a single tear. When the heart is already dead, it can’t feel pain anymore. I turned on the faucet, cold water washing over my hands as I slowly cleaned the wine stains from my skin. When the heart is dead, there’s no more pain.

Stella POV After the gala ended, I didn’t return to my own apartment but went back to my parents’ home. In the old apartment complex in the suburbs, there was a comforting atmosphere of everyday life. When my parents saw me return late at night, though surprised, they immediately went to the kitchen to heat up food. “Stella, no matter how busy work is, you need to take care of your health. Look how thin you’ve gotten lately.” Mom lovingly brought me a steak. I ate with my head down, my eyes welling up. After enduring all that coldness and humiliation at Ethan’s, only here with my parents was I a treasured child. After dinner, Dad hesitated before speaking. “Stella, we’ve been discussing something. My friend settled in Vancouver and says the environment there is perfect for retirement. Your mother and I have worked hard our whole lives and want to go out and see the world. We’re thinking of settling in Vancouver.” I froze. My parents had mentioned wanting to retire overseas before, but I’d found various excuses to delay because I couldn’t bear to leave Ethan. My parents, feeling sorry for me, had shelved the plan. “Stella, we know you’re busy with work and developing well here. We’re not forcing you to come with us, we just wanted your opinion.” Mom held my hand, her eyes full of love. Looking at my parents’ graying temples, my heart ached sharply. For a man who didn’t love me, I’d wasted five years of my youth and even neglected the parents who loved me most. What exactly was I holding onto? “Dad, Mom.” I gripped Mom’s hand back, raising my head with unprecedented determination in my eyes. “I’ll go with you. The sooner the better.” Dad and Mom looked at each other, both seeing delight in the other’s eyes. “Good, good! Then I’ll contact the agency tomorrow to process the passport. Our whole family will go together!” Over the next few days, I began secret preparations. I contacted headhunters, handled my assets, and cooperated with my parents in processing overseas visas and moving arrangements. At the company, I remained that perfect chief secretary. I no longer argued with Ethan, no longer reacted to Luna’s provocations. Like a precision machine, I efficiently handled all work, including the procedures for Ethan and Luna’s engagement party. Ethan keenly noticed the change in me. I’d become too compliant. No matter how he mocked and ridiculed, no matter how Luna ordered me around, I accepted everything without even frowning. This compliance didn’t satisfy Ethan. Instead, it stirred an inexplicable irritation in his heart. “For the engagement party favors, Luna wants macarons flown in. Go arrange it.” Ethan threw a document in front of me, his gaze fixed on my face, trying to find any trace of jealousy or pain. “Yes, Mr. Carter. I’ll contact the supplier immediately.” My tone was emotionlessly professional, even thoughtfully adding, “Luna is allergic to nuts. I’ll specifically instruct the supplier to avoid nut ingredients.” Ethan looked at my completely calm eyes, feeling like his punch had landed on cotton. Suffocatingly frustrating. “Stella, you’ve finally learned your place.” Ethan snorted coldly, trying to hurt me with words. I smiled slightly. A flawless, impeccable smile. “Mr. Carter taught me well. As a secretary, solving my boss’s problems is my duty.” Ethan stared at me intently. After a long moment, he waved his hand irritably. “Get out.” I turned to leave. The moment I closed the office door, the smile dropped from my face. Only icy coldness remained. Lean my place? Yes, I knew my place. And I was ready to flip the whole game over.

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The hunt ended early, so I grabbed my prey and took a shortcut back to the cabin. Suddenly, muffled panting came from deep in the grass. I pushed aside the bushes. My husband Gideon was pressing his sister-in-law Sera against that old birch tree. Sera’s silk dress was half-pulled down, bunched at the pale roots of her thighs. She moaned and wrapped her legs tightly around his muscular waist. Gideon’s hands gripped her hips, the sounds coming from his throat low and hoarse. Nothing like the mild-mannered act he put on in front of me. I sneered and raised my wrist, recording the whole thing on my phone. With one click, I sent the package to Sera’s husband, Black Pack’s Alpha Killian. “Your brother who’s been faking impotence at home for three years is having a wild workout with your wife. Sent you the location.” “Honey, you’re really putting in effort with this outdoor workout.” I stepped out from behind the bushes, tossed the deer I’d just hunted onto a tree stump, my tone as light as if I were discussing what to have for dinner. The two people under the birch tree froze instantly. Gideon let go of Sera’s legs and stared at me like he’d seen a ghost, stuttering for ages without managing a complete sentence. My dear best friend Sera didn’t even have time to pull down her dress. She just collapsed in the pile of fallen leaves with her legs spread, fresh marks my husband had just sucked all over her skin below the collarbone. “Elara, how did you—” “Don’t rush.” I pulled out my phone and waved it. “Let me take a couple more shots. Three years of marriage, first time I’ve seen my husband with this much stamina. Worth commemorating.” Gideon suddenly snapped to his senses and lunged at me, trying to grab my phone. I sidestepped to the left. He missed and nearly tumbled into the bushes. I looked at him and sneered. As the only daughter of White Pack’s Alpha, I’d been receiving combat training since childhood. Dealing with trash like Gideon who only knew how to hide under his brother’s wing was more than easy. “Take it easy.” I held my phone up high. “You always told me you couldn’t perform, wouldn’t even change clothes in front of me. Three years, turns out you were saving yourself for my best friend.” Sera’s cheeks instantly flushed red. Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke with a sob in her voice: “Elara, let me explain. This was just an accident.” “Explain what?” I lowered my head and swiped open my phone screen, pulling up the video I’d just shot to the best part, then turned it to show her. In the footage, she was riding on Gideon’s waist, the sounds squeezing from her throat sluttier than a she-wolf in heat. “Explain how you ran to my husband in the middle of the night to practice squats?” Her face went completely white. She was Black Pack’s Luna, and also my best friend since childhood. I’d thought it was the most perfect arrangement—we married the two brothers of Black Pack, two packs with generations of good relations. Turns out she occupied the Luna position and still wanted to drag her brother-in-law to the northern slope grass to roll around. Two brothers, and she didn’t want to let either one go. “Elara!” Gideon roared. Birds in the forest scattered in fright. Someone else might not be able to withstand Gideon’s dominant pressure, but I’d been trained by my father since childhood. This level of intimidation couldn’t suppress me. I stared at him. “What are you yelling about? You dared to pin your sister-in-law against a tree, but I can’t stand here and watch?” Sera stumbled and crawled over from the pile of leaves, grabbing my legs. Tears splattered on my boots: “Elara, please, don’t tell Killian. I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong.” I looked down at her, this best friend who’d been with me for twenty years. “Get up first.” I crouched down and patted her shoulder. “Your legs will go numb if you stay down too long.” She lifted her head, teardrops hanging from her eyelashes, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. I continued, “Look how hard you’re crying. My husband must feel so bad for you.” I stood up, shook off her hand, and turned to leave. Gideon grabbed my arm from behind, his knuckles digging into the crook of my elbow. “Where do you think you’re going? You want to expose this? You want to destroy the alliance between our two packs?” I looked back at him, almost laughing out loud. Now he remembered the alliance. When he was pulling his sister-in-law’s pants down, why didn’t he think of it then? “Already exposed.” His fingers tightened, his breathing suddenly heavy. “What do you mean?” I pried his hand off and turned to face him. “Your brother should be on his way by now. I just sent him the video, with live location tracking.” Gideon’s pupils contracted sharply. Those eyes that always carried a mild smile were now full of shock: “What did you say? You sent it to Killian?!” “Is there a problem?” I tilted my head at him. “As Alpha, he naturally has the right to know what’s happening in his Pack.” “You’re crazy!” “No.” I stepped back, landing precisely on a dead leaf that crunched softly. “I think you’re the ones who are finished.” A sound that didn’t belong to this hunting ground came from the distance. That deep, resonant howl tore through the silence of the northern slope night sky, carrying an Alpha’s unique oppression, rapidly approaching the cabin. Sera collapsed to the ground, her face deathly pale. When the massive brown-black wolf burst through the tree line, I was leaning against the hunter’s cabin doorpost drinking beer. Killian shifted to human form and walked toward me. He scanned the two people slumped by the grass without expression, then turned to me and said, “Nice video work. Good lighting and composition.”

“Bro…” Gideon’s calves were trembling as he shrank back. That fierce, vicious energy he’d had on top of Sera had completely disappeared. Killian ignored him and turned to look at me. “How much did you record?” I pulled out my phone and waved it. “From start to finish. Didn’t miss a single moment of the best parts.” Sera jerked her head up, eyes swollen, wanting to say something. Killian glanced at her. “Shut up and get dressed.” The half-sob caught in her throat choked back down. She frantically started putting on her clothes. I leaned against the pine tree, watching this scene with an inexplicable sense of relief. My husband and my best friend rolling around together—I should be the one suffering most, but here I was watching like it was a show, even wanting to munch on sunflower seeds. Once the two had barely gotten themselves together, Killian walked up to Gideon and punched him in the face. Gideon flew backward, the back of his head hitting the birch trunk. Killian grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up, driving his knee upward. Gideon clutched his lower abdomen and curled up like a shrimp, his lips white as paper. Faked impotence for three years—this time it might become real. I hadn’t expected Killian to only look refined. When he beat someone up, he was ruthlessly fierce. Once Gideon was flat on the ground, Killian straightened up and looked at Sera. “How long has this been going on?” No one dared answer. “I asked you how long this has been going on!” He suddenly roared. Sera cried and trembled. “Three years.” Three years. My marriage to Gideon had been exactly three years, give or take. From the day he married me, he never planned to treat me properly. All those excuses were lies. “So you two started before the wedding?” I spoke, my voice so soft it surprised even me. Gideon lay on the ground without making a sound. “Lift your head up!” Killian roared again. Gideon slowly propped up his upper body. Half his face was swollen, his eyes only daring to stare at the ground. “Bro—” “Don’t call me bro! I don’t have a beast for a brother. You had your wife grab medicine for you for three years, then turned around and rode my wife. You really live up to my expectations.” Sera stumbled to Killian’s feet, her knees hitting the gravel ground with a crunching sound: “Honey, I’m sorry, I really know I was wrong.” I leaned against the pine tree and added: “Do you know you were wrong, or are you afraid he’ll take back your Luna position?” She whipped her head around to look at me. I continued in a casual tone: “You two weren’t like this under the tree just now. She was riding on top of you, biting your ear telling you to hurry up. I’ve got it all on video. Want me to play it to set the mood?” Gideon glared at me viciously, his lips trembling for ages without managing a single word. “So Gideon isn’t impotent—he’s only impotent with me. Your wife touches him and all his problems disappear. She’s practically a miracle healer.” Killian was silent for a few seconds, the muscle beneath his cheekbone twitching twice. “Put on your shoes. Back to the main house. The Council of Elders convenes tonight.” Sera jerked her head up. “You’re going to—” “Divorce.” Killian turned and walked toward me. Sera grabbed Killian’s boot and was kicked away, her whole body falling into the ferns. I waited for him to approach, and we walked side by side toward the cabin. “This place reeks too much. I’ll come back for my deer tomorrow.”

The day after the drama ended, I was teaching my students when the back door of the classroom suddenly erupted in commotion. My hand writing on the blackboard paused. I nearly snapped the chalk. This plot development was getting pretty melodramatic. “Elara Voss! You shameless vixen, seducing my son-in-law, destroying my daughter’s family—have you no conscience!” Sera’s mother, the current head of the Hale family, the matriarch of an old-line werewolf family, stood at the classroom’s back door and began her performance, completely disregarding her own dignity. My teaching assistant rushed over: “Professor Elara, Sera’s mother says you seduced her daughter’s husband Mr. Killian. Should we call campus security?” I slowly put down the chalk. “Oh, let me go see.” As soon as I stepped outside the classroom, I saw a crowd surrounding Sera’s mother as she wiped tears and denounced my evil deeds. “Everyone judge for yourselves—Elara is jealous that my daughter married better than her, so she had to interfere and deliberately destroy my daughter’s family.” I leaned against the window, smiling as I watched this good show. Someone in the crowd spoke up. “Mrs. Hale, Professor Elara is here.” Sera’s mother turned around. Seeing my relaxed demeanor made her even angrier. “Good, you still dare show your face!” “Otherwise what?” I raised an eyebrow. “Should I hide like certain people who’ve done shameful things?” Sera’s mother’s face flushed red with anger. “Stop your nonsense. My daughter and son-in-law are fine. You’re the one destroying their family.” I gave a contemptuous smile. “Sera still loves lying to you? I thought she’d outgrown that childhood habit.” Sera’s mother froze. “What are you talking about?” “You don’t know? Your daughter Sera is Killian’s wife, but she wasn’t faithful during marriage. She seduced Gideon, Killian’s brother—also known as my husband.” The surrounding students all gasped. Sera’s mother’s expression shifted. “You’re talking nonsense!” I pulled out my phone. “Want to see the video? I recorded your daughter’s spectacular performance with my husband.” Sera’s mother panicked. “Don’t you dare!” I continued: “If you really care about your daughter, go home and tell her to control herself. The divorce papers have already been filed. What’s the point of making a scene here now?” Sera’s mother became frantic. “My daughter can’t get divorced!” I laughed. “What, can’t bear to lose Killian’s status? Or do you think Gideon the impotent one isn’t good enough? Don’t worry, Sera’s already cured Gideon’s impotence.” “You!” Sera’s mother pointed at my nose. “How can you be so vulgar!” After saying this, she stamped her feet in anger, but knowing she couldn’t gain anything here, she could only leave resentfully. The students all looked at me with admiration. My assistant came over. “Professor Elara, you were so cool!” I smiled. “Cool? This is nothing.” Back in my office, I sent Killian a message: Your Sera’s mom just made a scene at my school. Killian quickly replied: Need me to have someone handle it? Me: No need, I already dealt with it. Killian: Thanks for the trouble. Looking at my phone screen, I just felt that life really was full of surprises. Me: But I want Sera and Gideon, that pair of cheating scum, to pay the price.

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After seven years of marriage to Alpha Caius, he never marked me. During those seven years, he kept twenty-nine mistresses. Looking at the thirtieth young girl, Raven, wrapped in a bathrobe and lounging on our bed. I turned to look at him. “Isn’t playing around outside enough? You have to bring them home?” But Raven deliberately pulled her bathrobe lower. “Luna Alicia, Alpha Caius says you’re like a dead fish during sex! Let me teach you how to really please a man!” That night, I was forced to watch the intensity of their lovemaking. The next morning, Caius was furious at my indifference. But he forgot that our marriage was an agreement to begin with. One week until the agreement expires. “Alicia, go get Raven some clothes.” Caius sat bare-chested on the bed, lighting a cigarette as he ordered me around. Clothes were scattered all over the floor, as if narrating last night’s intensity. I stood still, glancing at him. Raven, wrapped in the sheets, smiled sweetly at me. “Alpha Caius, that’s not very appropriate. After all, she’s Luna Alicia.” She said “Luna Alicia” with her mouth, but her tone carried not a trace of guilt. Instead, it was full of pride and provocation. The sheets slipped down slightly with her movements, revealing skin covered in red marks. “Besides, I have a hot, sexy figure. Luna Alicia probably doesn’t have anything suitable for me!” I kept my expression blank and walked toward the door. “Alicia! I’m talking to you!” His voice came from behind me, tinged with displeasure. I paused but didn’t turn around. “If you want clothes, get them yourself. I have things to do.” In seven years, I’d rarely defied him. Whether his instructions were direct or implied, I’d almost never refused anything he asked me to do. Today was the first time I broke that understanding. “What did you say?” Caius clearly wasn’t used to my cold attitude, and anger crept into his voice. “You have things to do?! What could you possibly have to do? You stay home all day, don’t participate in pack affairs, don’t work!” “Alicia, don’t forget—if I hadn’t married you, where would you be now? You’d never have this status on your own!” He was right. Without marrying him, I wouldn’t be living such a wealthy, comfortable life. But he forgot that this kind of life wasn’t what I wanted. Back then, I had just graduated from the wolf academy with a degree in pup training. The director of the orphanage that raised me told me that because of land acquisition, the orphanage would soon be demolished. Without someone to sponsor it, those young wolf pups would be homeless. That’s when Caius appeared. He made me an offer—marry him, and he’d fund the orphanage. I hesitated. After all, we weren’t from the same world. He was the Alpha of Stormheart pack, and I was just an ordinary wolf, an orphan. He saw my hesitation and added in a tone that left no room for refusal. “Let’s add a time limit. Seven years. After seven years, you can leave freely and choose whatever you want. During these seven years of marriage, I won’t mark you.” After we married, I never expected any unnecessary emotions. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before I discovered that he’d chosen me only because I resembled his white moonlight—a wolf girl named Aisling. Aisling was Caius’s fated mate. She died shortly after they started dating, and since then, Caius had been searching for her replacement. Caius once said, “Out of all those women, you look the most like Aisling. That’s why I chose you.” Just then, Raven walked out of the dressing room wearing a white dress, her long, silky hair cascading down. I froze. In that moment, she looked exactly like Aisling. It seemed she’d heard the rumors and came prepared. Caius’s gaze immediately fixed on her. Perhaps because of that familiar shadow, he didn’t show his usual cold indifference. He actually froze for a moment before slowly speaking, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness. “Very nice. Dress like this from now on.” Raven’s smile became even more radiant. “Really? Then Alpha Caius, you’ll have to take me shopping for a few more dresses like this.” Caius nodded. “I’ll take you in a bit.” She smiled triumphantly, then turned her gaze to me, deliberately provoking me. “Luna Alicia should come too, right?” I understood. She just wanted to provoke me, to deliberately humiliate me. “No thanks. I have things to do.” But Caius suddenly frowned and spoke coldly. “You’re coming too. I don’t want to say it twice.” I knew this wasn’t the time to defy him again. I stopped arguing and agreed quietly. Just seven more days. This would all be over.

Caius rented out an entire high-end clothing store. Only the three of us remained inside. He stood beside Raven, his gaze constantly on her. In a gentle tone I’d never heard before, he said, “This one’s nice. Try it on.” Raven took the clothes with a coy smile and a slightly flirtatious tone. “How did you know I wear a 36E~” Then she lifted her eyes and glanced at me with deliberate provocation. The store clerk hurried over with flattery. “You’re so lucky to have such a thoughtful boyfriend rent out the whole store to shop with you. It’s really rare.” Caius had never publicly announced his marriage. In everyone’s eyes, he was still that playboy Alpha who frequently changed girlfriends. Even though I, his wife, was standing right there, Caius didn’t correct the clerk’s form of address, as if tacitly agreeing. Raven’s smile deepened, though she said modestly, “Not really.” Just then, the clerk turned to look at me. “And who are you, miss?” Caius seemed to only now remember my existence. “She came with us. Alicia, pick out a couple things for yourself too.” Before I could speak, the clerk exclaimed, “Alpha Caius is so generous, even treating the household staff so well!” After those words, the store fell silent. But I didn’t even furrow my brow. I just continued replying to unfinished emails on my phone. From the day we decided to marry, he wouldn’t let me participate in any pack affairs, saying I didn’t need to show my face in public. But I was used to being independent and never wanted to be completely dependent on anyone. So over the years, I’d never given up my pup training skills. I’d been uploading tutorials anonymously on wolf professional forums. I was doing well—so well that many packs reached out to me directly, wanting to hire me to help train their pups. But because of this seven-year agreement, I’d never accepted any pack’s offer, choosing to wait. Now, it was time. Before Caius could walk over to me, I quickly closed my phone. “I’ll take that one.” I casually pointed to an inconspicuous dress hanging nearby. “Then I’ll try that one too.” Raven grabbed the dress and walked toward my fitting room. I frowned slightly. “Use the one next door.” “Oh come on, it’s just trying on clothes!” She suddenly pushed me hard into the fitting room. I stumbled backward, and with a “crack,” my arm hit the mirror. Glass shattered everywhere. Hearing the noise, Caius rushed into the fitting room. Seeing the scene, his face immediately darkened. Raven was sitting on the floor, covering her hand and crying. “Is it because I can’t try on the same clothes as Luna Alicia? Luna Alicia, if you’re unhappy, I won’t wear it. Why did you have to push me?” As she spoke, she extended her hand, revealing a tiny scratch. Caius’s expression changed. He quickly crouched down, holding her hand, his face full of concern. “How did you get hurt this badly? Does it hurt?” Then he turned to look at me, his eyes full of anger. “Alicia, are you really this petty? Over a piece of clothing? Seriously?” I opened my mouth. “I didn’t. It wasn’t me…” “Still making excuses?” He cut me off directly, as if he couldn’t see that I was sitting in a pile of broken glass, both my arms covered in deep and shallow cuts from the glass, blood flowing freely. He scooped Raven up in his arms, softly comforting her. “Don’t be scared. I’ll take you to the hospital.” Raven leaned against him, crying pitifully. “Will it scar? How will I face people after this?” “It won’t. I’ll take you to see the best wolf doctor right away.” He coaxed her softly and left without looking back, leaving me alone in the mess.

I endured the pain and went to the private clinic I usually visited. The doctor was preparing to clean my wounds when Caius rushed in and pulled away my anesthesiologist. “Hurry, Raven’s in a lot of pain. Give her anesthesia right away!” “But this lady…” Caius seemed to only now notice me, frowning as he was about to speak. “It’s fine. You can go.” The doctor hesitated, but still followed him out. I turned to the assistant beside me. “Just pick out the glass shards directly.” The assistant froze. “But without anesthesia, it’ll be really painful. Can you handle it?” “It’s fine. Let’s start.” Throughout the entire process, I gritted my teeth and didn’t make a sound. By the end, even the assistant couldn’t help but remark, “You really can endure pain.” I said nothing. Yes, if I couldn’t endure, I would have broken down countless times over these years. After treating the wounds, I returned home. When I opened the door, the faint aroma of soup came from the kitchen. The maid heard the noise and turned around. Seeing me, she looked slightly awkward. “Luna Alicia, Alpha Caius told me to take this soup to Miss Raven after it’s done. Her hand is injured, so Alpha Caius wants me to stay there and take care of her for the next few days.” When her gaze swept over my bandage-wrapped arms, she hesitated. “Should I… save you a bowl too?” I smiled, though the smile didn’t reach my eyes. “No need.” Even a maid knew to show concern for me. But the Alpha who’d shared my bed for seven years couldn’t spare a single word of care. Just then, my phone vibrated. I opened it to see a formal job offer from Frosthowl pack, whom I’d interviewed with online—they were inviting me to work as a trainer at their pup training school. I replied to the email without hesitation, confirming my start date with them. Then I quickly opened the travel booking page and selected a departure date seven days from now. With no one home, it would make my departure easier. Although my hands weren’t fully functional yet, I quickly packed my luggage. After packing, I stood in the room and looked around. I’d lived here for seven years. It was impossible to say I had no regrets, but more than anything, I felt the lightness of liberation. I dialed his number one last time. When he answered, his voice was full of impatience. “Alicia, you still have the nerve to call?” “I’m telling you, if Raven has any lasting effects from this, you better watch out!” I opened my mouth, but realized there was nothing left to say. Wolves heal extremely quickly. Besides, Raven only had a tiny scratch—it might have already healed by now. How could there possibly be any lasting effects? But I knew saying any of this would be pointless. Caius simply couldn’t stand me. In the end, he didn’t wait for my answer and hung up directly. I stood there, slowly lowering my phone, a self-mocking smile curling at the corner of my lips. I pulled out the original marriage agreement and signed my name on the attached divorce agreement, placing it on the desk in the study. I left no note, no message. I trusted he would understand. As I left, I couldn’t help but feel grateful that he’d never marked me. Now that I was leaving, all I needed was divorce paperwork. Dragging my suitcase, I left the house and checked into a quiet little hotel. During those seven days at the hotel, I rested quietly. He didn’t send a single message or make a single call during that time. Seven days later, I sat in the airport waiting area, waiting to board. My phone suddenly rang. His name appeared on the screen. I glanced at it and turned off my phone without hesitation. The name on the screen disappeared in a flash, just like this marriage—completely over. Then I boarded the flight to my new life, without looking back.

After leaving the airport, I pushed my suitcase to the exit. An enthusiastic, handsome man was standing at the pickup area holding a sign, smiling brightly. “Alicia, I’m here to pick you up from Frosthowl pack. I’m Ethan, the principal of the pup training school.” He quickly took my suitcase, looking me over with slight curiosity. “I didn’t expect you to be so young! I thought experts in pup training would be, you know, older.” I smiled without explaining further. I also hadn’t expected the principal of the pup training school to be so young and energetic. At the parking lot, my phone finally got signal. As soon as I turned it on, it vibrated nonstop. I looked down to see it was all messages from Caius, nearly filling the screen. I didn’t open them. I calmly deleted them all with one tap. Ethan put the luggage in the trunk, turned back to glance at me, and asked with a smile, “Alicia, you’ve got a lot of calls. Do you want me to wait while you reply?” “No need. Nothing important.” I answered casually, my tone indifferent. In the car, he drove while making casual conversation. “Alicia, this is your first time at our Frosthowl pack, right? Is there anywhere you want to go? You don’t officially start work until the day after tomorrow. I can show you around first.” “Yes, first time.” I looked at the scenery passing by outside the window. My phone rang again. The ringtone was particularly jarring in the car. He glanced at me and said kindly, “Maybe you should answer? What if it really is urgent?” I thought for a moment, then answered the call. Sure enough, it was Caius. His voice came directly through the receiver, barely suppressing his anger. “Alicia! Where are you? What the hell are you doing? Why aren’t you answering your phone?!” He bombarded me with questions, his tone aggressive, as if I’d committed some terrible crime. Listening to his baseless anger, I smiled coldly and said calmly, “Caius, there’s no need for us to stay in contact anymore.” He was clearly stunned, then shouted even more angrily, “No need? Alicia, you’re my wife! Where are you now? Come back immediately!” I lowered my eyes and answered calmly, “The seven-year term is over. The agreement has ended. You never marked me. There’s no mate bond between us. I’m no longer your wife.” After saying this, I decisively hung up and blocked his number. Ethan seemed to sense the uncomfortable atmosphere. He turned and smiled, trying to ease the tension. “Alicia, you’re here to start a new life in a new territory. Don’t let these things affect your mood.” He winked. “I helped you choose your place to stay. We’ll be there soon. I’m sure you’ll love it.” I looked out the window. The clouds on the horizon were dyed golden by the sunset, and something inside me finally seemed to shed its burden. I nodded gently. “Okay. I’m looking forward to starting my new life too.”

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I’m just an ordinary human. But I’m the fated mate of Alpha Sebastian, a werewolf. For five years, I thought he truly loved me. Then the day I found out I was pregnant, I overheard a secret. In the werewolf world, only those who complete the Mark ceremony are considered true mates. “Alpha Sebastian marking Diana is for the good of the pack. She has the bloodline of powerful werewolf warriors. She’s more suited to be Luna.” “As for Miss Elaine… she’s just a pet the Alpha keeps around. Humor her, keep her happy.” I didn’t cry. I didn’t make a scene. I just silently packed my things. They would never know that in half a month, I would disappear from Sebastian’s world completely. Elaine POV Five years. I had finally been blessed with this child. I waited in the hospital corridor for my prenatal checkup, my mind planning how to surprise Sebastian. As I turned the corner, a hushed conversation drifted into my ears, making me stop in my tracks involuntarily. “So you’re saying Alpha Sebastian still hasn’t Marked that human?” “Of course not. She’s just a human. Even if she is his fated mate, she’s too weak, can’t compare to Diana. Diana’s father was once the most powerful werewolf warrior in the pack.” “But didn’t he have a grand wedding with Miss Elaine?” “That was just a human ceremony. Only those Marked by the alpha are truly Luna, so the one to inherit the Alpha’s position and territory will only be Diana’s child.” “Poor Miss Elaine, she still thinks she’s…” “Shh, keep your voice down. The Alpha warned us not to let her know. After all, she is the Alpha’s ‘Fated Mate,’ and the Alpha does have feelings for her.” “Feelings are one thing, but what power can a human bring to the Pack? Alpha choosing to Mark Diana is the most beneficial decision for the Pack. As for Miss Elaine… she’s just a pet the Alpha keeps by his side. Just humor her.” When I left the hospital, my whole body was ice cold. The joy of becoming a mother for the first time was crushed to pieces. Those words hit me like a frozen hammer, pounding away at everything I believed. Our five-year marriage… in the werewolf world, it meant nothing?! Sebastian and I met when we were eighteen. I was still in school at the time. Sebastian pursued me for a whole month, and on prom night he formally confessed to me and told me his true identity. He was the Alpha of Moonclaw Pack. He gave me a grand wedding and brought me back to Moonclaw Pack. Everyone said Sebastian loved me, loved me enough to pluck the stars from the sky for me. But why would he, where I couldn’t see, give the Mark that represents eternity to another woman? I barely hesitated before immediately driving to that private club where Sebastian and his circle often gathered. I had to ask him about this face to face. When I found the most secluded VIP room in the club, laughter and the clinking of glasses came from inside. I stood outside the half-open door, and through the gap, I saw the man surrounded by everyone. He wore a finely tailored casual suit, his figure tall and handsome. His face radiated a happiness I had never seen before, like a weight had been lifted, and the wine glass in his hand reflected amber light in the dim lighting. That was my husband of five years, Sebastian. “Congratulations, Sebastian, you finally got what you wanted!” “Honestly, Sebastian, this was a brilliant move. Marking Diana in the Pack, giving Elaine a dream wedding in the human world to keep her satisfied. You’ve managed both sides perfectly.” “So what is Elaine to you? These five years… weren’t you afraid of being found out?” “You don’t get it.” Someone laughed. “Sebastian feels guilt toward Diana. More than that, responsibility. If Diana hadn’t saved Elaine back then, Elaine would’ve been the one splashed with poison. Sebastian said he owes Diana a lifetime. Marking her, making her Luna. It’s compensation and also him choosing a suitable Luna for the Pack.” “What a brilliant strategy!” I froze outside the door, like someone had pushed me into the deep sea, where even breathing became a luxury. I even wondered if I was hearing things. But the next second, Sebastian’s own words threw me completely into an icy abyss. “I’m serious about Diana.” His tone was calm and steady, each word carrying undeniable determination. “She sacrificed her dream of becoming a werewolf warrior to save Elaine, and now she can never shift again. All she wants is a definite status and a secure future. I can give them to her.” So that’s how it was. My eyes instantly welled up. So that conversation I accidentally overheard wasn’t baseless rumor, but a carefully laid plan of his. Five years ago, during an outing, we unfortunately encountered an attack by a crazed Rogue. At that critical moment, Diana rushed forward without hesitation, pushing me aside and blocking the attack. She was splashed with poison from the Rogue. Though she survived, no one could cure the poison, so Diana permanently lost her ability to shift. She had been one of the most agile and skilled warriors in the Pack. To repay her life-saving grace, Sebastian and I took care of everything for her, seeking the best treatment and providing all the resources she needed. Sebastian said at the time that Diana saving me was saving his life. He was willing to give everything to make it up to her. I just never imagined that his way of making it up to her would be to become Diana’s true mate. The ridiculous thing is, for five whole years, I had no idea. Sebastian’s friend asked another question. “What about Elaine? If she finds out…” I watched him lower his eyes, his slender fingers tapping lightly on his phone screen, his tone carrying the confidence of someone in complete control. “She’s just human, she can’t smell our scents. As long as I continue treating Elaine well, she’ll never find out. All of you keep your mouths shut and don’t let anything slip in front of her.” The next second, my phone buzzed. I looked down at the message Sebastian sent, my heart feeling like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, cold spreading from my fingertips all the way to my bones. “Sweetheart, I miss you. Tonight is just a boring business dinner, every second without you is torture. On our anniversary, I’ll make sure to spend quality time with you. Love, Sebastian.” I gripped my phone tightly, looking up at him in the distance, laughing and talking among the crowd, my heart throbbing with wave after wave of dense, stabbing pain. My vision gradually blurred as hot tears spilled uncontrollably. This wasn’t my Sebastian. My Sebastian was the boy who would pick snow velvet flowers from cliffs for me. He was the man who rented out an entire observatory on my birthday just to show me a star named after me. He was the man who, on my parents’ death anniversary, would put aside everything to quietly stay with me all day. He was the man who, after marriage, pampered me into a princess who knew nothing of worldly suffering, spending nights endlessly entwined with me… Not this liar before me, who said he loved me while carving another woman into his soul. My heart felt like it was being cut with knives. I bit my lip hard. My phone vibrated again. It was his call. I took a deep breath, retreated to a quieter corner of the hallway, hesitated for a second, then answered. “Elaine, where are you? Have you eaten dinner? It sounds like… there’s an echo where you are?” His voice was as gentle as always, tender and affectionate, with vague music in the background. “Sebastian, what are you doing?” I instinctively clenched my fist, my nails digging deep into my palm. I thought, as long as he was willing to confess, I would give him a chance to explain. “I’m discussing some business with a few partners, it’s giving me a headache.” His tone carried deliberately manufactured fatigue. “These kinds of occasions, you know, boring as hell.” I suddenly laughed, though the light in my eyes extinguished inch by inch. After a moment of silence, I said softly, “Okay.” He immediately sensed something was wrong. “Sweetheart, are you unhappy? Who upset you?” “It’s crowded, I’ll hang up now.” The moment I hung up, I heard the sound of the private room door opening. I instinctively ducked behind a decorative column in the hallway and saw a girl in a dress walk out of the room. It was Diana. She seemed to have come out to take a call, but soon Sebastian followed her out. “Sebastian, my foot hurts a little, it’s too stuffy inside.” Diana’s voice carried a pampered tone. “Let me see.” His tone held a precious carefulness I’d never heard before. He just naturally knelt down, carefully rubbing her ankle, his eyes full of heartache. “It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have made you stand so long, shouldn’t have had you wear these shoes.” That tenderness, compared to his dismissive “boring business dinner” on the phone with me, stabbed painfully at my eyes. So his love could be divided, his heartache could be replicated. Even the lie about it being “boring as hell” came so naturally. Sebastian, how can your heart hold two people? I fled in panic, hiding in the shadows of the fire escape, curling up and hugging myself, letting tears fall silently. I cried until I was nearly exhausted before slowly standing up. The light in my eyes died. What was left was pure resolve. This five-year fake marriage. I didn’t want it anymore. This man, Sebastian. I didn’t want him either. Since Diana was the one he was willing to Mark as his true mate, I’d give them what they wanted. In half a month, it would be my parents’ death anniversary. After I said goodbye to them, I’d leave. And never come back.

Elaine POV After leaving the bar, my mind was in chaos, not knowing what to do. So I returned to the hospital to continue my unfinished prenatal checkup, wanting to calm myself down through this process. The doctor told me, “Miss Elaine, that accident five years ago injured your uterus. Being able to conceive is already a miracle. You need to rest well and avoid stress and risks.” My fingertips went ice cold, my heart hit with another unexpected sharp pain. Sebastian had never told me about this. All these years, when people urged me to give the alpha an heir soon, Sebastian always took the responsibility himself, saying he wanted a few more years of just the two of us. In that moment, my eyes welled up. He used to consider me in everything, afraid I would be sad. But no matter how well he treated me, it couldn’t change the fact that he had deceived me. “Thank you, doctor. I’ll be careful.” I heard myself say. I walked out of the examination room in a daze, my steps unsteady, but at the end of the corridor, I saw Sebastian and Diana. Sebastian was carefully helping Diana out of an examination room, undisguised joy and tension in his expression. His gentle gaze was glued to her face, unwilling to look away for even a moment. “Sebastian, don’t be so nervous. I’m just having some early pregnancy reactions, I’m not sick.” Diana’s eyes crinkled with a girlish charm. Sebastian showed a rare smile, but his tone was incredibly tense. “This is our first child, we can’t have any mistakes.” I gripped the examination report in my hand tightly, feeling the temperature drain from my body bit by bit. In that moment, I seemed to clearly hear the sound of my heart shattering inch by inch. So pain at its extreme doesn’t bring tears. Sebastian helped Diana into the elevator. I silently tore the examination report in my hand into pieces. Sebastian had no need, and no right, to know about this child’s existence. After throwing the pieces in the trash, I took the elevator to the underground parking garage. As if fate was playing a cruel trick, I encountered them again. In that moment, possessed by some impulse, I started my car and followed them from a distance. Sebastian brought Diana to the restaurant within the Pack that had been specially built for me. My heart completely sank to the bottom. That restaurant had been renovated for me on my birthday last year. It sat on the best scenic spot in the territory, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the starry sky above the entire valley. Every decoration inside, even every specialty dish on the menu, was designed according to my preferences. Compared to werewolves’ rough eating habits, it better suited my human tastes. He had personally told me this was our exclusive corner. But now, he had personally brought another woman inside. In the restaurant, Diana stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window with the most magnificent starry view. Sebastian pushed over a cart covered with white cloth, topped with exquisite desserts. He elegantly took a velvet box from the cart and opened it. Inside was a dazzling constellation necklace. “Congratulations to my Luna on becoming a mother-to-be.” In that instant, I could barely stand. “Sebastian… thank you.” Diana’s eyes reddened with tears. “And you personally made desserts for me.” “Try them.” Sebastian’s voice was unbearably tender. “After you eat, go back and rest. You’ve been with me too long, now it’s my turn to go back and keep Elaine company.” Diana blinked understandingly, deliberately squeezing out a few tears. But Sebastian was full of heartache, pulling her into his embrace. “Silly girl, I’m not going anywhere today, I’m staying with you. Don’t forget, we’re the true mates.” I hid around the corner, slowly backing away, my back against the cold wall, the chill spreading along my spine, freezing my whole body until I shook. Yes. Diana was Sebastian’s true mate, recognized by the werewolf world. And I was just a ridiculous human who had been deceived and remained oblivious for five whole years. I remembered when Sebastian first brought me here, he had also prepared an identical necklace for me. To make that dessert for me, he secretly studied with a Michelin chef for a whole month. “Elaine, try my cooking. From now on, I’ll take care of all your meals.” “In this lifetime, I’ll only love you.” As he put the necklace on me, he made that vow in my ear. But now, this love and affection that was supposed to be uniquely mine had been completely and precisely replicated for Diana. My chest felt tight and painful. So Sebastian’s lifetime was this short. I fled in panic, tears already streaming down my face when I left the restaurant. Immediately after, I began liquidating all the assets under my name, separating everything connected to Sebastian. The inheritance my parents left me was enough to live on for the rest of my life. And I just wanted one thing. To completely cut ties with him.

Elaine POV I didn’t return home until dusk. The enormous villa was empty and hollow, with only a single lonely lamp lit in the entrance hall. I practically dragged myself onto the sofa, my gaze sweeping over the art pieces and books we’d chosen together throughout the house. My heart felt crushed by a giant boulder, each beat pulling out clear and sharp pain. I raised my hand to rub my temples, forcing myself to get up and walk to the bookshelf. That first out-of-print art book we found together. He had laughed and praised my impeccable taste. The art history book full of our notes. He’d held my waist and promised we’d visit every museum in the world. And the poetry collection he’d hunted everywhere for me. On the title page, in his elegant script: “To my beloved Elaine, my one and only.” … I pulled out one of the books and opened it. Then, I tore out every word he had written, page by page, until it was shredded. The sound of tearing paper was especially clear in the empty living room. All through the night, I mechanically repeated the same motion, bit by bit completely severing the thoughts, passions, and souls we once shared. By dawn, my arms were numb, my fingertips had lost all feeling. And Sebastian never came home. Today was supposed to be our wedding anniversary. At midnight on our anniversary, Sebastian’s social media updated right on schedule. It was a video he had personally edited, recording all the moments of our five years together, with a deeply emotional caption. The comments were full of envious voices. The outdoor screen in the pack territory plaza was also playing that video on loop. The lawn outside the villa had been transformed into a sea of roses at some point. In the center of the rose garden sat a drone, carrying a huge gift box containing a set of limited edition art supplies I’d been wanting forever. Through the speaker system, his deep magnetic voice played on repeat. “Elaine, happy anniversary. I love you, just as I did in the beginning.” I expressionlessly pulled the curtains shut, burying myself under the covers, shutting out the world’s noise. Before long, his call came through, his tone full of apology. “Sweetheart, I need to discuss some cooperation with another pack’s alpha, I can’t make it back today. When I return, I’ll make it up to you with an even grander anniversary celebration.” Listening to his flawless lies, I suddenly laughed, though my laughter trembled slightly. “It’s fine, you’re busy.” “Sweetheart, you’re upset.” He keenly sensed my emotions. “You don’t like the surprise I prepared? Don’t be angry, I’ll make it up to you double in a few days.” “No, work is important.” My tone was calm. “I’m a bit tired, I want to sleep.” I hung up the phone and curled up, desperately suppressing the pain in my chest. I don’t know how much time passed before the bedroom door was suddenly thrown open, a blinding beam of light flooding in. Backlit, I saw Sebastian standing in the doorway, panic all over his face. His hair was disheveled, his face pale, those deep eyes filled with fear and relief. Perhaps because he sensed something wrong with my emotions and couldn’t reach me no matter what, he had actually used his private jet to rush back. The moment he saw me, he practically rushed over, pulling me tightly into his arms, his voice hoarse and choked. “Thank god you’re alright! Sweetheart, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” His eyes were red, his body trembling uncontrollably. “I’ll never leave you alone again. When you didn’t answer my calls, my whole world collapsed.” “Nothing is more important than you. I came back to be with you.” I said nothing. He assumed I was still angry, kneeling on one knee by the bed, coaxing me in a low voice. “Elaine, promise me, never ignore my calls again, never ignore me. I’ll truly go insane.” His nervousness and fear didn’t seem fake. He did love me. But was this love from possessiveness over his fated mate, or was it genuine? “You came back so quickly.” I forced a smile, speaking softly. His expression changed slightly, a flash of guilt in his eyes, and he immediately changed the subject. “Sweetheart, you haven’t eaten all day, have you? I’ll take you to the restaurant, I made your favorites.” “I’m not going.” I shook my head. He was clearly flustered. “Then rest, I’ll go downstairs and cook.” “Okay.” I nodded coldly, turning over with my back to him. He thought I was still sulking, took a deep breath, and left the room. The moment the door closed, I lay with my eyes open, staring into the darkness, my heart a wasteland.

Elaine POV About ten minutes later, a commotion suddenly came from downstairs. I went down and saw Sebastian’s friends filling the living room. They were frantically gluing together the torn book pages one by one, trying to put them back on the shelf, as if reconstructing those paper fragments could bring everything back to how it was. Seeing me appear, several people spoke at once. “Elaine, Alpha Sebastian nearly turned all of Europe upside down looking for you, don’t scare him like this.” “Next time you’re angry, tell us, we’ll help you beat him up, just don’t turn off your phone again. Sebastian will really go crazy.” “Yeah, when Sebastian saw all those shredded papers on the floor, his face went white. He almost fainted on the spot, and he insisted on going through the trash, saying he had to glue every single piece back together.” “Stop talking.” Sebastian stood to the side, his face full of remorse. “It’s all my fault for making Elaine feel wronged. However she treats me, I’ll accept it.” “Sebastian truly loves Elaine to the extreme. He has no pride at all in front of her. She’s so blessed.” I looked in the direction of the voice and realized Diana had also arrived at some point, standing in the crowd with an envious expression. Sebastian looked perfectly natural, a gentle smile on his lips. “Of course I’ll spoil the woman who’s mine.” My stomach suddenly churned with violent nausea. I spoke flatly. “Don’t bother putting the books back, I want to change the style.” Sebastian immediately came to my side, reaching out to put his arm around my waist, his tone gentle and firm. “Alright, everyone stop. Listen to me.” He helped me sit on the sofa, then turned back to the kitchen. Soon, the dining table was filled with dishes I used to love. But I had no appetite. With one hand, he thoughtfully served me food, coaxing me in a low voice to eat more; but under the table, his other hand was tightly clasped with Diana’s. In that moment, I suddenly found all of this absurd to the extreme. I just wanted to escape. After dinner, Sebastian took me away from the pack to the seaside. There he had prepared a fireworks show over the ocean for me, and hired my favorite jazz band. Halfway through the performance, he excused himself to go to the restroom. Possessed by some impulse, I followed him. In the yacht’s VIP lounge, I saw Diana actively throw herself into Sebastian’s arms, standing on her toes to kiss his lips. “Sebastian, I missed you so much, just for a moment.” Sebastian wrapped one arm around her waist, one hand pressing the back of her head, deepening the kiss as the room’s temperature suddenly rose. After a long while, Diana pushed him away with a flushed face, breathing heavily. “That’s enough, you should go back and keep Elaine company.” “Can you bear to let me go?” Sebastian’s eyes were tinged with desire, his fingertips caressing her red lips. Diana lowered her eyes. “I can’t, but Elaine wouldn’t even answer your calls because of me. I don’t want her to be sad anymore. I can wait, wait until you’re done keeping her company before coming to find me.” “Your understanding always breaks my heart. Good girl, don’t think about anyone else right now, just enjoy.” Sebastian kissed her lips, trailing downward… Pleasured moans escaped from Diana’s lips. “Sebastian, don’t…” I felt like I’d been plunged into ice water. I bit down hard on the back of my hand to stop myself from crying out. I thought my heart was already dead. But seeing it with my own eyes still shredded me. My stomach seized. I covered my mouth and ran to the bathroom, heaving until nothing was left. A dull ache spread through my belly. I pressed my hand to my stomach, tears blurring my vision. Baby, I’m sorry.

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At the party, my boyfriend Lucas’s friend Kyle suddenly mind-linked him. “Lucas, when are you and Isabella planning to complete the alliance marriage?” Lucas looked completely casual as he mind-linked back. “My parents have already set the date. Two weeks from now.” Kyle glanced at me teasingly. “Then what are you going to do with this poor thing who doesn’t even have a wolf?” My boyfriend put his arm around me. “I’ll give Isabella the Luna position and keep my love for Ellie.” My fingers gripping the glass turned white. Lucas thought the mind link was private. Since I didn’t have my own wolf, he assumed I couldn’t hear anything. He didn’t know I was the Alpha King’s only daughter. I carried the most ancient Lycan bloodline. I wouldn’t have my own wolf until I turned 22. A few days ago, my wolf finally awakened. So I heard everything they said. I took a deep breath and called my father. “I’ve awakened. The trial is over.” Eleanor POV After the party ended, I walked behind everyone else back to the pack. I hadn’t walked far when I heard an unfamiliar voice behind me. “The Alpha King’s daughter?” I turned around. The one calling out to me was an Alpha who had been begging to meet the Alpha King. I didn’t want to expose my identity and was thinking about how to deal with him when one of the brothers following my boyfriend Lucas Vance looked me up and down and let out a scornful laugh. “The Alpha King’s daughter? With that barely detectable scent of hers, she doesn’t even have her own wolf. How could she be of the Alpha King’s bloodline? What a joke.” As soon as he said this, it immediately triggered a wave of mockery. They didn’t use mind link, but said it out loud directly. I heard their ridicule but showed no expression on my face. Instead, Lucas got angry and coldly shot the person a warning look. The person found it rather boring and restrained himself a bit, no longer mocking so brazenly. After the others received the warning look, their voices gradually died down. When the voices quieted and that person didn’t follow us, I followed behind Lucas as we silently made our way back to our residence. After we got home, he took off his coat and hung it on the rack before suddenly speaking. “Honey, I won’t bring you to these kinds of internal Pack gatherings anymore.” My expression remained calm as I simply asked, “Do you think I embarrassed you?” He couldn’t help but laugh, reaching out to ruffle my hair, but I dodged. He could only helplessly explain. “What are you thinking? I just don’t want you to feel hurt.” “But there’s a gap between our statuses. We’ll always face this kind of situation eventually. Hasn’t your Pack been pressuring you to enter an alliance marriage?” I looked at him, trying to see a trace of guilt in his expression. But even hearing the words “alliance marriage,” Lucas’s expression only stiffened for a moment before quickly returning to its usual state. “Ellie, you just need to know that I’m your fated mate. As for other issues, I’ll find a way to resolve them. Our Mate bond is undeniable.” If I hadn’t been observing carefully, I really wouldn’t have seen anything unusual. After speaking, Lucas went to the bathroom to wash up. Watching his departing figure, I didn’t say anything, but couldn’t help thinking. Was his so-called solution to marry another Alpha’s daughter while keeping me, his fated mate, hidden? In the distance, a notification sound came from the direction of the nightstand. It was Lucas’s phone. He had never hidden his password from me, so I easily unlocked his phone and clicked into the messages. It was from Isabella. “Lucas, I know she’s your fated Mate, but our packs are finalizing the alliance tomorrow. Can you stay at my place tonight?” Though her words seemed humble, I saw through her intention. She started by using the two Packs as an excuse, begging him to stay together. After this, she would continue using this excuse, step by step, escalating further. But none of this mattered to me anymore. I had already decided to leave. I set the message back to unread and put the phone back. Before long, Lucas came out after washing up, casually picked up his phone to glance at it, and the next second looked at me apologetically. “Ellie, something urgent came up at the Pack. I won’t be back tonight. Rest well by yourself.” He left in a hurry. He didn’t notice my reaction. He didn’t notice that I didn’t try to stop him this time. Usually, I would have whined and begged him to stay longer, clinging to him as he walked out. But not tonight. I just watched his figure disappear. Lucas had barely left when my phone also received a message. “With just one word from me, Lucas still came to find me. Tomorrow we’ll officially finalize the alliance. Once we complete the ceremony, what will you be? Just a lover who warms his bed?” Isabella had already added me as a friend and had been sending me all kinds of provocative photos these past few days. Photos of Lucas embracing Isabella, photos of them decorating their new home together… But strangely, I never felt any pain from betrayal. Perhaps because they hadn’t slept together yet, the Moon Goddess hadn’t deemed it his betrayal? But what was Lucas thinking? Did he try to hide his alliance marriage through this method? He should know he couldn’t possibly keep it hidden. That night, Lucas didn’t come back, and I didn’t care at all. After waking up the next day, I simply washed up and went straight to my workplace to submit my resignation. Unlike Lucas who owned an entire company, without a wolf, I only had a job as a bartender. But I didn’t feel sad. As a child of the Alpha King, this was a process I had to go through. Our rule was that all children of the Alpha King must live as ordinary werewolves before awakening their bloodline. Only one could successfully awaken the Lycan bloodline, and only that one could become the Alpha King’s heir. My parents only had me as their child, which meant I would inevitably shift successfully and become the next Alpha King. I was much luckier than my father. Before shifting, he was nearly killed by his own brother. The resignation process went smoothly. The store manager, who had pitied me for not having a wolf and was willing to give me a job, hugged me and wished me a better future. When I got home, Lucas happened to be there. I told him I’d quit, then continued carrying my box toward the bedroom.

Eleanor POV Lucas didn’t ask much, only saying, “I told you before that you didn’t need to keep working. That place has all kinds of trash showing up every day. Ellie, you should know I can provide for you.” He was always like this, thinking I should depend on him for survival rather than finding ways to live on my own. I shook my head and said word by word, “I’m not anyone’s appendage. Especially not an appendage hidden in the shadows.” Lucas paused. “I didn’t mean it that way. I mean, we’re Mates. You should rely on me.” I didn’t want to listen anymore and interrupted him. “Why are you back so early today? All your work handled already?” As I mentioned before, Lucas owned a company. And he was a qualified alpha heir. Not only excellent at combat, but also very good at handling business matters. I had to admit, I learned a lot from him. But not including how to cheat. “I’ve been too busy lately to spend time with you, so today I wanted to make time to be with you.” His brow relaxed as he returned to being that considerate boyfriend. “What do you want to do? Have lunch or watch a movie? Today, whatever you want to do, I’ll accompany you.” If it were the old me hearing this, I would probably be deeply moved. After all, he was the Alpha heir of Sunward Pack and truly had many matters to handle every day. So his willingness to make time to do what I wanted to do could at least prove I occupied a large part of his heart. But now, looking at him, I couldn’t help thinking. Was he really too busy with work, or too busy preparing the Mark ceremony with another woman? How could he prepare a ceremony with another woman while also coming to coax me, saying the only one he loved was me? In the end, I still didn’t expose his lies. After all, there were only a few days left. I would naturally disappear completely from his life by then. Perhaps distance could offset the pain of the Mate Bond, or perhaps there would be another way. I shook my head, declining his proposal, then thought for a moment and said, “Help me do a deep clean. A lot of things in the apartment are old. There’s no point keeping them.” Lucas agreed and helped me clean together. But by the end of the cleaning, everything I had sorted out were matching couple items we had bought together. From water bottles to accessories, from clothes to slippers. I threw them all into the trash without hesitation. The smile on his face gradually stiffened as I threw away more and more couple items. When the last one went into the trash, the panic in his heart could no longer be hidden. “Ellie, did you… find out something?” “What could I find out? Is there something you’re hiding from me?” I raised an eyebrow, looking at Lucas, deflecting his question with one of my own. He averted his gaze, as if not daring to look me in the eye. After a moment of silence, he still didn’t answer directly, only gripping my hand and saying, “Ellie, no matter what happens, just remember that I love you.” I pulled at my lips and said nothing more. After finishing the deep clean, Lucas still insisted on taking me out on a date. Afraid he’d notice something unusual, I didn’t refuse again. We had dinner, watched a movie, and the car finally stopped at an upscale venue. A small auction was being held here, with mostly artwork and antiques on sale. Just as we were about to enter, I saw a woman with exquisite makeup slowly walking toward us. She was confident and eye-catching, her aura full of aggression. This probably meant her wolf was equally healthy. Lucas’s expression showed a moment of unnaturalness. “What’s wrong? Someone you know?” As my words fell, the woman stopped in front of us with a beaming smile and greeted us. Lucas’s introduction came right on cue. “She’s my father’s friend, the Alpha daughter of Moonclaw Pack, Isabella Anderson.” After a pause, he introduced me. “This is my girlfriend, Eleanor.” The smile on Isabella’s face immediately stiffened. A moment later, she raised an eyebrow at me. “Hello. You smell kind of weak.” I knew what she meant. My wolf hadn’t fully awakened yet, and even Lucas hadn’t noticed my change. Isabella naturally also believed I was a useless person without a wolf. I immediately understood that this encounter wasn’t coincidental. Isabella had deliberately come to provoke me. Was it because she found that provoking me with photos didn’t work, so she planned to get close to Lucas to stimulate me instead? At the auction, Isabella’s seat was right next to Lucas. Unlike her provocations in text messages, in person she was gentle and well-mannered, knowledgeable and cultured. Learning that Lucas was interested in some ancient artwork, she engaged him in conversation about it. Lucas also shifted from initial resistance to gradually leaning toward her. It wasn’t until I coughed that Lucas seemed to suddenly realize he’d been neglecting me, his girlfriend, for too long. He quickly took off his coat and draped it over me, his tone gentle. “Ellie, I know you’re not interested in these things. If you see anything you like, just bid on it directly.” Before I could respond, whispers from his brothers behind us came through. Though they deliberately lowered their voices, since they were only one row of seats away, I could still hear them clearly. “Lucas is really good at saving face for her. Even if she were interested, so what? She doesn’t understand anything. She probably doesn’t even know the history of these things.” “Exactly. This kind of occasion, she’s definitely here for the first time.” I knew they were deliberately saying it for me to hear. I didn’t mind. After all, the next time we met, they’d have to stand before me respectfully. Just then, the previous item’s transaction ended, and the next item was brought up. It was a wolf fang. The host introduced it, saying this wolf fang came from the first Alpha King hundreds of years ago. That was a powerful alpha who existed in legend, an object of worship and longing for all alphas. Hearing this introduction, Isabella immediately got excited, raising her bidding paddle. “Lucas, I’ll buy this and give it to Alpha Kieran as a New Moon Festival gift!” When I heard this was the Alpha King’s fang, I instinctively looked up at the item on stage. With just one glance, I withdrew my gaze, my voice flat and calm. “This is fake.” The smile on Isabella’s face could barely stay up. “How can Miss Eleanor tell?” “Because the real one hangs around my father’s neck and will be passed down to me next.” I meant well, but as soon as I said this, Isabella suddenly laughed out loud, and even the brothers behind Lucas started mocking brazenly. “Eleanor, if you don’t understand, stop pretending. How embarrassing.” “Exactly. Hanging around her father’s neck? Does she think that just because she has the last name Windsor, she’s related to the Alpha King?” The group’s mocking voices grew louder. Finally, Lucas stopped their ridicule with a cold expression. He looked at me and held my hand. “Ellie, I know you’ve been reading some history books lately, but you don’t have your own wolf, so naturally you can’t sense the werewolf aura. Bella is different. She’s very powerful and understands more than you.” He didn’t say anything too harsh, but the meaning was clear. He thought I was talking nonsense. I laughed lightly and said nothing. In the end, Isabella spent a full hundred million to buy that wolf fang at a high price. Watching her go to pay, I smiled. I wondered what Sunward Pack’s Alpha would think knowing she spent a hundred million to buy back someone’s random tooth. I didn’t stop her or care. I got up and went to the restroom. Just after washing my hands, a familiar voice came from behind me. “I thought I made myself clear enough. You still won’t leave? Do you want to be the mistress that badly?” So that’s it. She came to personally drive me away. I didn’t understand why an alpha’s daughter would be willing to have an alliance marriage with Lucas knowing he had a mate. Did she love Lucas to such a humble degree? I calmly raised my eyes and turned to look at her. “Miss Anderson, I hope you understand clearly. The one who’s been with him for four years and is his fated mate is me. The term ‘mistress’ is not my turn no matter what, is it?” Saying this, I prepared to walk past her and leave, but she still wouldn’t let me go, continuing to mock coldly. “Yes, fated mate. But after four years he still hasn’t publicly acknowledged your identity. Haven’t you wondered why?” “I’m the Alpha daughter of Moonclaw Pack, he’s the Alpha heir of Sunward Pack. Our union benefits both Packs. But you? A werewolf without even a wolf, kicked out by her own father. What about you is worthy of him, worthy of being his future Luna?” My steps halted. The backstory of being kicked out by my father was something I made up myself, but I really hadn’t expected Lucas would tell Isabella this too. I couldn’t help but laugh self-deprecatingly. If that really were my background, I probably would have been pierced through the heart by this mockery right now. And the one who handed over this knife was the man who said he would only ever love me. “Indeed, I’m not worthy.” My heart ached, and I looked back at Isabella, the depression in my heart suddenly dissipating. “You two are the perfect match. I wish you’ll be together forever.” After speaking, I stepped away and left. I hadn’t walked far when my phone rang. It was my mother calling. “Ellie, come home quickly. Everyone’s waiting for you, and we’ve prepared a bunch of gifts for you.” “I made you a crystal crown, and your father has already selected your beta for you.” Listening to my mother go on and on about how many gifts the family prepared for my return, I couldn’t help but feel helpless. “Mom, I’m coming back to fulfill my duties as heir, not to receive gifts.” As soon as I finished speaking, a familiar voice came from behind me. “What duties as heir?”

Eleanor POV My body stiffened. I instinctively hung up the phone, but couldn’t help sighing internally. Why did these people all like standing behind others and suddenly speaking up? I turned around and immediately saw Lucas’s not-so-pleasant expression. After hesitating for a moment, I explained, “It’s nothing. Just a former coworker asking what I planned to do after quitting. I joked with them about going home to inherit the family business.” Lucas frowned. Just as he was about to speak, I had already walked several steps away and called back to him. “Aren’t you coming? There are still a few items that haven’t been displayed yet.” Hearing this, Lucas stopped and nodded, following me. After returning to the auction venue, Lucas bid high prices on all the remaining jewelry items, had them wrapped, and sent them to my hands. I looked at the boxes in my hands and said softly, “I don’t wear this jewelry.” Lucas smiled and ruffled my hair. “Get used to it gradually. Don’t worry about wasting money. I’ll buy you diamonds for a lifetime.” I moved my lips but in the end didn’t say the rest. I didn’t wear these tens-of-millions jewelry pieces. Because I didn’t need to use them to display my value. Moreover, my parents had already prepared enough precious jewelry for me. The auction had ended, and people were gradually leaving. Lucas and our group didn’t linger either. Everyone had driven their own cars, so normally we’d just each go home. But just as we got in the car and before it even started, someone knocked on the passenger window. The window slowly lowered, revealing Isabella’s shy face. Her voice was equally coquettish, completely different from her sharp and mean appearance in the bathroom earlier. “Lucas, my car broke down. Can you give me a ride home?” Lucas frowned, about to refuse, but she spoke again. “Alpha Kieran and my father told you to take care of me. You haven’t forgotten, right?” Lucas thought of something, his expression darkening slightly, but he finally agreed. Seeing him nod directly, her smile became more obvious, and she became even more demanding, looking at me. “But what if I don’t want to sit in the back seat?” Lucas looked at me. Before he could speak, I had already pushed open the car door and got out, directly switching to the back seat. My movements were so quick that Lucas didn’t even react before I was already seated in the back. His words got stuck in his throat. He seemed to want to say something but stopped, wanting to say it was just a seat and not to mind it that much. When his gaze swept to the back seat through the rearview mirror, I had already closed my eyes, looking like I wanted to rest. Just then, Isabella had also gotten in the car. After closing the door and seeing me in the back seat with my eyes closed, a smug smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. She could use a pinched voice to speak in an extremely gentle tone. “Is Eleanor tired? Then let her rest for a while.” Perhaps sensing my unusual behavior, Lucas didn’t talk much with Isabella, only nodding before silently starting the car. I don’t know when I actually fell asleep. When I woke up again, the car had already stopped in the garage, and Isabella had long since left. Lucas touched my face. “You’re awake? You were sleeping so soundly I didn’t have the heart to wake you.” My consciousness was still a bit unclear. I nodded and opened the car door to get out, not waiting for Lucas as I walked straight toward the front door. When Lucas got out of the car, I had already reached the entrance. He caught up in a few steps and blocked me at the door. “Are you angry? Isabella is really just my father’s friend’s daughter. Don’t mind it.” I hummed in acknowledgment. Lucas thought I was still angry and pulled me toward him, helplessly coaxing, “Really just my father’s friend’s daughter. Honey, I only love you. You know that.” After speaking, smelling the rose scent on my body, his Adam’s apple moved. He lowered his head to kiss me but was pushed away by me. Looking at his surprised expression, I went straight through the door. “I’m not feeling well. I’ll rest in my room first.” After speaking, I locked the door directly, completely cutting off Lucas’s chance to enter. The next morning, in the first-floor dining room, I was eating breakfast with Lucas when my phone on the side suddenly rang. It was a timed alarm I had set some time ago, labeled “Day of Revelation.” Lucas also saw those words. Before, I had planned to be honest with him about my identity, so I suggested he come home with me to meet my parents. He had agreed. The two of us looked at each other. I was thinking about how to cancel this meeting when, the next second, his phone also rang. It was Isabella calling. I don’t know what was said on the other end, but his expression changed slightly. When he approached me again, he apologetically canceled the meeting. “Ellie, something suddenly came up that I need to handle. Next time I’ll accompany you to meet your parents, okay?” I nodded calmly. “Actually, I also have something to do today.” Not long after Lucas left, I also went out. I went shopping at the mall and prepared a gift for each of the friends I was about to meet. They had all helped me when I was hiding my identity and being discriminated against for not having my own wolf. Some were even human. When we met at the designated place and everyone opened their packages, they immediately cried out in surprise upon seeing that each box contained a brand new luxury item. “Ellie, where did you get so many knockoffs? They look so real!” “They’re all real.” Seeing their delighted expressions, I couldn’t help but laugh and explain. Seeing they all looked unconvinced, I revealed my true identity. “Actually, what I told you before about my father hating me and kicking me out was fake. My real identity is the Alpha King’s daughter. This time I’m saying goodbye to you because I’m going home to fulfill my responsibilities as heir.” Hearing me say this, everyone was first stunned, then shocked, and finally overjoyed. They exclaimed that I was actually the Alpha King’s mysterious heir, their screams almost lifting the ceiling of the entire restaurant. After celebrating, someone remembered Lucas and quickly asked, “But if you go back, what about Lucas? Does he know your real identity?” Mentioning Lucas, the smile on my face faded. “He’s planning to enter an alliance marriage with someone else.” “How is that possible!” Hearing this, my friends were full of disbelief. “In our eyes, he’s a rare devoted rich man. And aren’t you two Mates?” “Three years ago, you mentioned night-blooming cereus. He bought all of it. Just for you.” “Two years ago, you were sick. He dropped a hundred-million-dollar deal. Flew back that night. Stayed awake by your bed until dawn.” “Last year, rogues took you. He took a poisoned blade in your place. Coma for three days. Nearly died.” “Now he’s getting married. How could the bride not be you?” Hearing my friends mention those past events, my heart still felt deeply moved. Back then, Lucas truly loved me to the point where he could give up his life, but now… I shook my head and smiled lightly. “He does love me, perhaps also influenced by the Mate Bond. But his Pack thinks my status doesn’t match his and is forcing him into an alliance marriage. From what I gather, after the marriage, he probably wants me to be his mistress.” Upon hearing this, my friends went off. “What? A mistress?!” “Making the Alpha King’s heir a mistress? He’s insane!” “Good! He’ll regret this!” “Exactly. If he found out you left. If he found out your real identity. Wouldn’t he lose his mind?” Just then, Lucas and Isabella walked in from outside. Hearing our conversation, he frowned. “What real identity?” Seeing them walk in together, my friends were furious. Before they could say anything, I stopped them. I looked at the two newcomers, my expression cold. “What are you doing here?” Lucas shifted uncomfortably, guilt flickering across his face. His eyes darted away. “Sunward and Moonclaw Packs have a collaboration. We’re just here to talk about it.” I laughed. Of course I knew about their “collaboration.” An alliance marriage. Because they needed to discuss their “collaboration,” Lucas and Isabella didn’t sit with us. Instead, they sat at a separate table nearby. Not far, just close enough for me to see the intimate interactions between them. For instance, him cutting her steak, her sharing food she liked with him, him handing her napkins, her wiping the corner of his lips… The two of them went back and forth, making my friends extremely angry. And I sat in my seat, personally witnessing the pain of my mate’s betrayal spreading through my body, to the point where I didn’t even have the strength to eat. But I still tried hard to maintain a calm expression.

Eleanor POV After we finished eating and my group dispersed, Lucas suggested driving both me and Isabella home. Perhaps having learned from the passenger seat dispute last time, Lucas was smarter this time. He simply drove the family’s extended Rolls-Royce with a driver, so naturally there would be no more fighting over the front seat. The drive to the Anderson house was smooth. No traffic. No warning. Then a truck came out of nowhere. Speeding. Out of control. Racing toward them. The driver instinctively jerked the steering wheel. The two vehicles inevitably crashed together! As the car windows shattered and I fell toward the other side from the impact, I happened to see Lucas tightly protecting Isabella in his arms. I was about to dodge when their physical contact made me feel that uncontrollable pain again. My whole body went limp. In the end, I could only face the flying glass shards directly. I suddenly remembered the accident my friends had mentioned earlier. That was in our third year together, when his feelings for me were still at their most intense. That night I had just finished work and wanted to take a shortcut home. But when I walked into the alley, I was knocked unconscious. When I woke up, I had already been tied up in an abandoned warehouse. Those rogues who kidnapped me wanted to use me to threaten Lucas. They ordered Lucas to come alone. For my safety, Lucas agreed. It was also in that battle that Lucas, to protect me, turned his back toward the knife coated with wolf poison. The poison worked quickly. When he was sent to the pack hospital, he was already losing consciousness, his whole body burning hot, his wound festering and turning black. The doctors tried everything. He struggled on the edge of life and death for three full days. Several times his heartbeat was so weak it nearly stopped. Everyone said he might not make it. But even so, when he finally escaped death’s embrace and weakly opened his eyes, the first words he struggled to ask were: “Is Ellie okay?” He had almost died that day, all because he wanted to protect me. Now, the woman he was shielding with his body. Wasn’t me. The rear of the extended Rolls-Royce was damaged beyond recognition. It wasn’t until everyone got out of the car that Lucas, who had been comforting Isabella’s emotions, finally noticed me, who had remained silent the whole time. My head had been cut by the shattered glass and was bleeding heavily. Although my healing ability had become powerful after awakening, I still needed to go to the hospital to have the glass shards removed first. Then, to hide the fact that I had already awakened, I still wrapped my head in bandages. Lucas looked at the bandages on my head, his face full of guilt. “Ellie, I’m sorry. I was only thinking that Isabella couldn’t get hurt, so I protected her. You can hit me, yell at me, I’ll accept it all. Just don’t ignore me, okay?” His attitude of admitting fault was quite sincere. Only his reason was ridiculous. In his heart, did Isabella, this alpha’s daughter, really get hurt more easily than me, a weak person without a wolf? I lowered my eyes and said nothing. I didn’t say I forgave him, nor did I say I didn’t. From start to finish, I maintained that expression without any ripples. Lucas’s apologies still didn’t stop. He kept saying sorry, then suddenly seemed to remember something, hope flashing in his eyes. “Your birthday is in a few days. Let me give you your gift early, okay? What birthday gift do you want? I’ll buy you anything.” Hearing this, I finally raised my eyes to look at him, but my gaze showed no emotion. “Then buy me a plane ticket. To Denver, three days from now.” “What are you going to Denver for?” He was a bit surprised, but soon he provided his own answer. “Want to go mountain climbing and skiing in Colorado? The season seems a bit early still.” I didn’t explain, just nodded and hummed in acknowledgment. Lucas didn’t ask further questions. Right in front of me, he pulled out his phone and bought a plane ticket to Denver. After buying the ticket, he said, “I’m busy with some things during this time and won’t have time to accompany you. You go to Denver and have fun first. When I’m free, I’ll go with you to Aspen or see Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Buying a plane ticket is too small a birthday gift. Later I’ll give you a big surprise.” I shook my head and smiled lightly. “It’s not small. Not small at all.” After all, the estate belonging to the Alpha King was in the mountains of the Colorado Plateau. That was my real home. Lucas, thank you for your gift. Personally sending me home.

Eleanor POV During the two days I was hospitalized, Lucas seemed to have returned to how he was when we first started dating, caring for me attentively. But the good times didn’t last. His attentiveness ended on the day I was discharged. He said first that the Pack had business and would have the driver take me home. Right after, I received a provocative text from Isabella. “Sorry, Lucas and I are about to complete the ceremony. He’s accompanying me to dinner today, so I’m afraid he doesn’t have time to pick you up from the hospital.” I didn’t care about this message. I just silently went home and started packing my luggage. On the day I was leaving, I got up very early. Seven hours before takeoff, I moved my suitcases out the door one by one, only to run right into Lucas coming back. Seeing several suitcases piled up at the apartment door, his expression panicked, and an uneasy feeling suddenly rose in his heart. “What’s going on?” “Didn’t I say I was going to Denver to have fun? You even bought me the ticket. Did you forget?” My expression was calm, as if I really was just preparing to go on a short trip. But my explanation didn’t convince him. “Aren’t you just going for a day or two? Do you need this much luggage?” I pulled at my lips. “Bringing a few extra outfits. I want to take lots of photos. Plus, I don’t have a wolf. I’m not as physically strong as you all, so of course I need to prepare more things.” My words carried sarcasm, but he didn’t seem to hear it. “But you’ve never been that into taking photos before. When we traveled together, you never brought this much stuff!” Lucas showed a very uneasy expression. “No! I need to open your suitcases and check properly to see if you’re telling the truth!” Just as he was about to move, he was interrupted by an urgent phone ringtone. It was Isabella calling. After he answered, I don’t know what was said on the other end, but Lucas fell silent for a moment. In the end, he gave up checking my luggage and left first. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to remind me again. “Ellie, don’t stay too long. Send me your return flight details and I’ll pick you up.” I didn’t answer. Because I knew I would never come back. This meeting was goodbye forever. Five hours before takeoff, I changed the apartment’s door code. From my birthday to Isabella’s birthday. Then I stuck a sticky note on the door. “After all, this will be Miss Anderson’s home from now on. The password should be set to Miss Anderson’s birthday.” Three hours before takeoff, I found all the photos of Lucas and me in the apartment, piled them together, and lit them on fire. Him holding me, kissing under fireworks all over the sky, saying over and over that I was his. Him proposing to me under the sunset and starry river, vowing to love me for life. We walked through spring, summer, autumn, and winter together. All four seasons. Now the memories burned away bit by bit. We were completely over too. Two hours before takeoff, my body suddenly felt a sharp pain. I couldn’t breathe. My phone dropped to the floor. After a while, when I finally felt a bit better, I picked up my phone and saw Isabella had sent me a video. The video seemed to be at a banquet. There were Lucas’s brothers, Isabella’s friends, and the Alphas of both Packs. Many people surrounded Lucas and Isabella, these two people of interest, with jeering voices rising one after another. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” “I’m telling you, Lucas, it’s only a few days until the ceremony. What are you embarrassed about kissing for! You can’t make Miss Anderson make the first move.” Amid the jeering, Isabella closed her eyes with flushed cheeks and leaned toward him. The crowd’s screams grew louder, egging Lucas on to kiss her. Lucas stared intently at the person in front of him. Finally, he closed his eyes, raised his hand to cup the back of her head, and gave her a deep French kiss. So that’s how it was. The video played over and over. When it played for the seventh time, Isabella’s message came through. “See, Eleanor? Sunward Pack already sees me as their future Luna. A nobody like you without even a wolf. Why would they ever accept you? A Rogue is all you deserve.” “So what if Lucas loves you? I’m getting to him. Slowly. First he met my parents. My friends. Then we moved in together. Today he kissed me. Tell me, if I wanted him in my bed, do you think he’d refuse?” I didn’t reply. I just printed out every nasty message she’d sent over the past few days. Then I stacked them neatly in the empty living room. One hour before takeoff, I left one final message on that stack of printed papers. “Lucas, happy wedding. We’re over.” Then I dragged my suitcase out of the apartment and took a cab speeding toward the airport. Lucas, from now on, I’m going back to being the Alpha King’s heir. We’re done!

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After being reborn, I burned every photo I had with Ethan Rivers. I also tore up the love letters Lucas Knight had written for three years. Because in my previous life, I became a complete joke between these two men. Ethan said he loved me, but after I gave up my study abroad opportunity for him, he left the country with Willow Hayes. Before leaving, he left me a letter: “She needs me more than you do.” I cried for three months. Lucas stayed by my side and said, “I’ve waited eight years for you.” After marrying him, he came home on time every night and never got involved with any other women. I thought I’d finally made the right bet. Until that winter when I got into a car accident. I was unconscious in the ICU for seven days, and he never came once. But I heard the nurses talking: “Her husband comes every day, but he goes to the room next door to take care of a patient named Willow Hayes.” Later I learned that Ethan took Willow abroad to treat her illness, and Lucas paid for everything. In this life, I sold my house early and took my grandmother abroad to study.

“The patient in Room 12 is so pitiful. Her husband comes every day but never goes in to see her.” “Yeah, he goes straight to the next room to visit that patient named Willow Hayes.” The nurses’ voices drifted in from outside the door. After the car accident, I had multiple fractures and had been lying in the ICU for seven days. Though unconscious, my mind was clear. I heard the nurses call Lucas Knight over and over. But he never came to see me. He was with someone more important. The salvation I thought I’d found was just another lie. I used all my strength trying to open my eyes, but my vision filled only with a flat line on the heart monitor. When I opened my eyes again, the sunlight was blinding. I sat at my familiar desk. The calendar showed three months before I would give up my study abroad spot for Ethan Rivers. This time, I answered the call from the school’s international exchange office: “Professor, I confirm I’m participating in this year’s exchange program. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.” The professor’s voice was pleased: “I’m glad you’ve thought it through. It would be such a waste to give up such a good opportunity.” Yes, such a waste. Giving up my own life for a man was the stupidest thing I’d ever done. After hanging up, I contacted a real estate agent and listed the house my parents left me. I had only one requirement: full payment, as soon as possible. Once that was done, Ethan called. His voice was cold: “Anna, Willow’s graduation project hit a snag. You’re good at this stuff, go help her.” Willow again. Her business always came between us. In my previous life, I stayed up three nights straight because of that one sentence, revising her design from rough draft to final product. The award-winning work bore only her name. Ethan’s explanation was: “Willow’s health is poor. She needs this award for her resume.” I actually believed him back then. I gripped my phone and said softly, “Okay, send me the materials.” Ethan’s voice came through the phone: “Good girl.” One word, and he thought he could dismiss me. I looked out the window, thinking back to my past life, and felt nothing but absurdity. Before long, Lucas Knight knocked on my door carrying macarons from my favorite shop. His tone was gentle: “I know you’ve been stressed about Ethan and Willow. Don’t wear yourself out.” He always appeared when Ethan hurt me, coming to care for me. Then he would casually mention: “That project is pretty important for Willow. Ethan doesn’t have much choice. That girl’s been frail since childhood, can’t handle it alone.” See, they always had a thousand reasons. Willow’s health was poor, so everything she did was justified. I bit into a macaron and smiled at him: “I know. I won’t make things difficult for Ethan.” Lucas smiled with relief. They all thought I was still that Anna Sullivan who would compromise endlessly for Ethan Rivers. The next day, I took my laptop to the library to prepare my study abroad application materials. I was searching for references in the materials section when I looked up and saw Ethan and Willow not far away. Willow was leaning against Ethan, her face rosy, looking nothing like someone with poor health. She was laughing, saying to Ethan: “Ethan, thank goodness for you. I really wouldn’t know what to do otherwise.” Ethan looked down at her with a tenderness I’d never heard in his voice: “Silly girl.” Ethan turned to buy water, and when he looked back, he saw me. His expression froze for a moment, then quickly turned to a frown. My presence disturbed them. I didn’t rush up to confront them like in my previous life. I just gave him a slight smile from afar. Then I turned back to continue searching for my books on the shelf. The gaze from behind made me uncomfortable all over. I didn’t care. Anyway, these days would be over soon.

I didn’t touch a single word of Willow’s graduation project. Two days later, Ethan found me in the library. He yanked the book from my hands and slammed it on the table with a bang. Students around us all looked over. “Anna Sullivan, I told you to help Willow, and you’re here reading boring books?” I looked up at him, and at Willow standing behind him with an innocent expression. “I was just researching some materials,” I answered. “What research could be more important than Willow’s graduation project?” Ethan demanded, pulling Willow in front of him. “She hasn’t slept well for days because of this design, and you don’t care at all.” Willow tugged at his sleeve right on cue, saying softly: “Ethan, don’t be like this. Anna must have her own things to deal with. I’ll figure something out myself.” Her words made Ethan think I was even more unreasonable. “Listen to that!” He pointed at Willow. “Willow is more sensible than you! Anna Sullivan, I’m saying this one last time: within a week, I want to see a complete proposal.” I watched them perform their duet and looked away. I nodded: “Got it.” Ethan thought I’d given in. His expression softened slightly as he pulled Willow away. I took in all the strange looks from the surrounding students. It didn’t matter. This was the last time anyway. Ethan finally couldn’t hold back. His voice was sharp on the phone: “Anna Sullivan, what are you playing at? It’s due in a week and you haven’t done anything?” “I’m sorry, my grandmother hasn’t been feeling well lately. I’ve been at the hospital taking care of her, so I fell behind,” I lied. “Willow’s graduation project is very important to her. Put your family stuff aside and finish her work first.” Listen to how entitled he sounded. My grandmother meant less to him than Willow’s homework. “But…” I pretended to hesitate. “No buts.” Ethan cut me off. “Anna Sullivan, don’t be childish. If Willow can’t graduate, you’ll regret it.” He hung up forcefully. I turned off the faucet and looked at myself in the mirror, unable to understand how I’d been so desperate over such a man in my previous life. Fortunately, I could start over in this life. The agent called at just the right time to tell me the house had found a buyer who agreed to full payment and could sign the contract today. I replied with a simple “okay.” To make the house sale more convincing, I needed to move out some of the old furniture my parents left behind. Those things were heavy. I couldn’t move them alone. The first person I thought of was Lucas Knight, who had always played the role of reliable friend. I called him: “Lucas, are you free? I have some old furniture at home I want to get rid of. Could you help me?” There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, then Lucas’s voice came through: “Anna, really bad timing. I can’t get away right now.” In the background, I clearly heard Willow’s delicate coughing. “Willow has a bit of a fever. I need to stay here and look after her,” Lucas explained. “Try to figure something out yourself, or call a moving company? I’ll transfer you some money later.” Willow again. I laughed softly: “No need. Take good care of her. I can manage.” After hanging up, I didn’t hesitate for a second and immediately found a paid moving service online. Why beg people for help when money could solve the problem? After hanging up, I clutched my stomach and called Lucas in a weak voice: “I have terrible stomach pain. I’m at City Central Hospital right now.” Lucas immediately answered: “Don’t move, I’ll be right there!” I sat on the cold bench in the hospital emergency hall, watching people come and go. Half an hour later, I saw Lucas. He was running fast, looking hurried, but didn’t glance in my direction at all. Lucas ran right past me, heading straight for the orthopedic clinic on the other side. I stood up and followed. Outside the clinic, Willow sat in a wheelchair with her ankle wrapped in bandages, crying. Lucas crouched in front of her, coaxing her in a soft voice: “Come on, don’t cry. The doctor said it’s just a minor sprain, right? It’ll heal in a few days.” “But it hurts so much…” Willow whined coquettishly. Lucas frowned, reaching out to touch her ankle but afraid of hurting her, his movements cautious. That look was more genuine than any performance he’d put on at my bedside in my previous life. I stood behind them watching. So the rumors I’d heard in the ICU in my previous life had started even earlier. My appearance changed the atmosphere between them. Lucas suddenly turned and saw me, freezing completely. “Anna… what are you doing here?” His eyes were panicked. Willow saw me too. The tears in her eyes instantly disappeared, replaced by a challenging look. “I have stomach pain. I came to get some medicine,” I pointed at myself. “Are you… how are you?” Lucas stood up, looking flustered. “Nothing serious, just an old problem.” “You go ahead with what you’re doing. I’ll head home after I get my prescription.” I didn’t give him any chance to explain and turned to leave. I knew my unhesitating departure would make them even more convinced that I was still that jealous but helpless Anna Sullivan.

The day I signed the house sale contract and received the full payment, the weather was beautiful. I transferred the money to a bank card, then went to school to complete my leave of absence and study abroad procedures. That weekend, a mutual friend organized a bar gathering and invited me. I knew Ethan and the others would be there. To avoid raising suspicion, I agreed. In the private room, everyone started playing Truth or Dare. After a few rounds, Willow suddenly shook the dice in her hand and suggested with a smile: “Let’s play King’s Game! Whoever draws the king can order any two people to do anything!” The suggestion immediately got everyone’s approval, including Ethan and Lucas. Sure enough, in the first round, Willow became the king. She announced her command: “I order Number 2 and Number 5 to recreate the classic bow embrace from Titanic!” After she spoke, everyone started checking their cards. I opened my palm. Number 2. And Ethan, frowning, revealed his Number 5 card. The room erupted immediately with whistles and cheering. “Anna, this is your chance!” “Ethan, don’t just stand there, give her a hug!” I was pushed by the crowd onto the coffee table, not knowing what to do with my hands and feet. Ethan was pushed in front of me, his face full of unwillingness. Lucas was still laughing nearby: “Ethan, hurry up, don’t keep everyone waiting. Anna, spread your arms.” I stiffly spread my arms and closed my eyes, not daring to look at Ethan’s expression. I didn’t wait for an embrace. Instead, a strong force came from behind. It was Willow. She hugged me from behind with a laugh, shouting to Ethan: “Ethan, look, isn’t this the same?” The moment she grabbed me, my foot slipped and I fell backward uncontrollably. A loud bang. I crashed heavily to the ground, the back of my head hitting the hard corner of the coffee table. The pain made my vision go dark. Drinks and fruit on the table tipped over from the impact, pouring ice-cold liquid all over me. The world went silent for a second. Then I heard Ethan’s undisguised mocking laugh. Ethan didn’t even glance at me. He just said to someone nearby: “What a buzzkill.” Lucas only frowned slightly. “Anna, how could you be so careless? It’s just a game.” Not one person came to help me up. All their attention was focused on Willow, who had pushed me and now had red-rimmed eyes. Ethan immediately pulled her to his side, comforting her gently: “It’s okay, it’s not your fault. She just didn’t stand steady.” The sharp pain from the back of my head spread through me as I lay on the cold floor, soaking wet and utterly disheveled. Without a word, I got up from the floor and walked out of that noisy room. In that moment, I was only grateful I’d already sold the house and completed my study abroad procedures. Only three days left until I could leave. The third day was my birthday. Perhaps because of the bar incident, Lucas sent a text: “Anna, happy birthday. Tonight at 7 PM, Cloud Summit Restaurant. I booked the best table for you. See you there.” Soon after, Ethan also sent a text: “Happy birthday. Willow didn’t mean it last time, don’t take it to heart. We’ll celebrate together tonight.” Looking at these two messages, I felt nothing. Consider it a final goodbye. I replied “okay” to both. That evening, I took a cab to the restaurant. Still that window seat with a view overlooking half the city’s nightscape. This scene was identical to my previous life. On this day in my previous life, at this very place, wearing the dress he gave me, they left before we even ordered, called away by Willow’s phone call. I waited from seven o’clock until the restaurant was about to close. They never came back. Calls went unanswered. Messages unreturned. The pitying looks from other diners, the hesitant inquiries from waiters, made me uncomfortable all over. Until I saw a photo on a friend’s social media. In the photo, she wore a princess dress, holding a cake and smiling. Ethan and Lucas stood on either side of her, looking at her adoringly. The caption read: “Grabbed two knights last minute to eat cake. Sure, it’s not my birthday, but who says you can only eat cake on birthdays!” So my birthday meant less than her impromptu celebration.

“Anna? What are you thinking about?” Lucas’s voice pulled me from my memories. Lucas and Ethan had arrived and sat across from me. The food was quickly served. No one spoke. The atmosphere was stiff. Lucas raised his glass first: “Anna, I was wrong the other day. I’ll punish myself with a drink. Happy birthday.” Ethan also rarely dropped his stern expression, though his eyes remained complicated. Just then, Lucas’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller and immediately answered, his voice changing: “What? How could she suddenly faint? Which hospital?” He hung up and looked at me apologetically: “Anna, I’m sorry. Willow… she fainted from acute hypoglycemia. She’s at the hospital now. I need to go check on her.” Before I could speak, Ethan had already stood up, coat in hand, saying to Lucas: “Let’s go together. One person might not be enough.” Just like in my previous life, they abandoned me for Willow once again. Lucas assured me: “Anna, you eat first. We’ll come back as soon as we settle her in. Very quickly!” They hurried out. The door to the private room closed, shutting out the noise outside. The world instantly quieted. I looked at the table full of food and didn’t wait a single second longer. I grabbed my coat and called the waiter. “Check, please.” Walking out of the restaurant, the night wind hit my face. It was cold, but I felt more clearheaded than ever. I took out my phone and blocked and deleted both Ethan and Lucas’s contacts. This time, I wouldn’t wait anymore. I hailed a taxi and went straight home. When I opened the door, the house was empty. Except for a few suitcases for my grandmother and me, there was no trace of life lived here. I took off that dirty dress and threw it straight into the trash without thinking. Along with that dress, I threw away the last bit of feeling I had for Ethan Rivers. I walked into my grandmother’s room. She was already asleep, breathing steadily. I tucked in her blanket and kissed her forehead. Grandma, this time I’ll take you away from this place that broke your heart. In the latter half of the night, I barely slept. I checked and rechecked the documents and luggage, making sure everything was perfect. At dawn, I woke my grandmother. “Grandma, we’re going to a faraway, wonderful place. Okay?” Though my grandmother’s memory was a bit fuzzy, she loved me most. She looked at me and nodded with a smile: “Okay. Wherever Anna goes, Grandma goes.” The morning light at the airport shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows. It was warm. I held my grandmother’s hand, walking step by step toward the boarding gate. Goodbye, Ethan Rivers. Goodbye, Lucas Knight. And Willow Hayes. May your love last forever.

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On our tenth wedding anniversary, my husband took me to see the ocean. We were caught in a maritime disaster. In my dying moments, he used his last bit of strength to hold my hand. “Thank you. I’m so lucky to have you.” Through tears, I squeezed back the hand of my dying husband. A few breaths later, I followed him into death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my junior year of high school, studying day and night. All so I could go to Harvard with him and make up for the regrets of my past life. At the post-SAT party, he walked toward me holding roses, just like in my previous life. “I want to tell you—I like you.” My heart swelled with sweetness as I stood up, about to say: I like you too. But he walked past me and handed the roses to Mia, who stood beside me. Suddenly, I understood. He had been reborn too. He had always loved Mia. In this life, he wanted a different future. I decided to grant him that wish. When applying to colleges, I chose Stanford University, three thousand miles away from him, to pursue my own dreams.

Everyone in the private room was looking at me. I forced my voice to sound light and natural. “I was just about to say—you came so late, I almost couldn’t help but tell Mia early.” The atmosphere relaxed instantly. Everyone started cheering. “Kiss! Kiss!” Ethan lowered his head, gazing at Mia with tender seriousness. “May I, Mia?” Mia nodded, her joy overflowing. I turned my face away, retreating to a corner, slowly drinking my iced Coke, trying to keep my breathing steady. Someone from the table in front leaned over. “Don’t you like Ethan? You two walk to and from school together every day. Everyone thought you’d end up together.” I forced a smile, acting as naturally as possible. “We’re neighbors, of course we walk together. He’s like my brother.” Even though this “brother” had hooked pinkies with me just yesterday, promising to go to Crystal Lake together. He wanted to make eternal vows under the witness of snow-capped mountains and sacred lakes—promises for this life and the next. I could feel an oppressive gaze falling on me. He wasn’t the eighteen-year-old Ethan whose eyes held only me. He was the forty-eight-year-old Ethan, also reborn. So I instinctively applied the social rules of forty-eight-year-old Rebecca Lynn. As the wife of the CEO of Wright Corporation, no matter how humiliating the situation, I had to maintain dignity first and not affect the company’s stock price. My hand gripping the cup suddenly tightened. I snapped back to reality. Damn it. I’m broke right now. What Wright Corporation stock price? The person in front was about to say more when Ethan walked over with his arm around Mia. He smiled brightly, but his eyes held no warmth when he looked at me. “Becca, from now on, when you see Mia, remember to call her Mia.” “Mia wants to go to Alaska for her graduation trip. I have to go with her. You’ll have to go to the plateau by yourself.” I stared at the rose pinned in Mia’s hair, saying nothing. Mia playfully swatted him, her eyes full of disdain and triumph as she looked at me. “Aren’t you worried about Becca going so far alone?” “How about I introduce her to some of my childhood friends as boyfriends? They’re all rich kids.” Of course she was triumphant. A year ago, she cornered Ethan to confess, but he publicly rejected her, citing his studies. She could see that he and I were always together. She’d planned to come tonight to ruin Ethan’s confession to me. She never expected the confession would suddenly be directed at her instead. What she didn’t know was that in my past life, tonight, she had burned the roses Ethan gave me. If I hadn’t stopped him, the furious Ethan would have nearly slapped her across the face. Later, she pursued Ethan for eight years, only to be coldly rejected each time. I once nestled in his arms and asked: “Mia is so beautiful, and her dad is a major shareholder in your company. Aren’t you even a little tempted?” He snorted. “I can’t afford to mess with that kind of princess.”

Later, he went to Germany on a business trip. The next day, Mia followed him there and was caught in a plane crash. When I heard the news, my heart tightened. I instinctively looked at Ethan. His face was pale. He said nothing. But that night, he cried in his sleep. “If I had said yes to you, you would have flown with me and wouldn’t have died. It’s my fault…” After waking, he never mentioned it again. I thought it was just guilt. Until now. Looking at the pain and tenderness he couldn’t hide in his eyes, I finally realized belatedly that it wasn’t guilt that night—it was love. Ethan tucked a strand of hair behind Mia’s ear, not even glancing at me. “What’s there to worry about? She’s an adult. She won’t get lost.” “If your friends like her, Mia, that’s her good fortune. Just send them her Snapchat.” He turned to me, his tone commanding as if it were obvious. “Mia and I are going to Harvard together. With your grades, just apply to a community college nearby.” Mia and the others looked at him in surprise, but he remained oblivious, still arrogant. “You’re a good cook and attentive. Help me take care of Mia, and later she’ll introduce you to a good boyfriend.” I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to tell him things had changed. Then I heard him add casually: “Come to think of it, you took good care of your dad’s health. You do have experience in that area.” I looked at him in disbelief. In my past life, my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis five years later, surviving each day on expensive imported medication. All my salary went to medical bills. He accompanied me between home and the hospital, never complaining even when important clients were stolen by colleagues. Everyone said I was dragging him down. He held me as I cried and broke down, gently patting my back. “He’s my dad too. Without them raising me all those years, there would be no Ethan today.” His parents had gone to work elsewhere and started new families. His grandmother died when he was twelve. My parents raised their neighbor as their own son, always cutting him the biggest piece of steak. But now, he was using my dad’s illness as leverage, forcing me—his wife from a previous life—to care for his new love. My throat tightened. Looking at his familiar yet strange face, I suddenly found it absurd. Was he really the Ethan who had shared my bed for thirty years? Meeting his cold eyes, I took a deep breath. “My mom wants me home early. I’m leaving.” As I passed him, I turned my head slightly to look at him. “By the way, that thing you asked me to hold for you last time—come get it sometime.” There was no such thing. It was just the usual social phrase for “let’s talk privately.” If he really was the forty-eight-year-old Ethan, with years of marital understanding, he would get my meaning. When I got home, Dad frowned seeing only me. “Why didn’t Ethan walk you back?” I stared at him. “Did you go for your physical today?” He waved his hand. “What’s the point? It’s a waste of money. I ranked 48th in the state on the SAT. The school gave me a hundred thousand dollars. I have money.” He was silent for a moment, his rough hand touching my head. “Alright. Our Rebecca has grown up. I’ll go tomorrow.” I leaned against Dad watching TV, so happy I nearly cried. 2 In my past life, he ultimately suffocated to death. His last words were that with Ethan taking care of me, he could rest in peace. Back then, Ethan and I were known as a loving couple. Childhood sweethearts, from school uniforms to wedding dress. In the morning, he needed a hug from me before leaving for work. After work, he always brought me a rose. When it was hot and we took walks, he fanned me. When it was cold and I was weak, he warmed my feet. After his business grew, beauties swarmed around him, but he never gave them a glance. “My wife is waiting for me at home.” He was afraid childbirth would hurt me, so he suggested we not have children. “Just the two of us, living our whole lives together. Is that okay?” But why, after being reborn, did he cast me aside like trash? The more I thought about it, the less I understood. Did Mia say something? Remembering the truth about Mia’s death that I’d uncovered in my past life, I decided to wait for Ethan to return and have it out with him. At midnight, I finally heard the sound of keys turning next door, then my phone vibrated. [Ethan: Come over.] I closed my eyes. He really was the reborn Ethan. I went next door and got straight to the point. “Why?” He was silent for a moment. “I think of you as family.” I laughed through my tears. “You slept with me for thirty years and now you call me a sister? Are you crazy? What are you yelling about? Mom and Dad are sleeping next door.” He released his hand, stepped back, and looked me up and down with disgust. “Let me be honest. I’ve slept with you for thirty years. I’m really sick of it! Kissing you is like kissing myself.” “Look at you. Average intelligence, no ambition, going to community college.” “After I became successful, you did nothing but beauty treatments with the other wives and stayed home like a parasite. You can’t do anything.” His eyes suddenly lit up, filled with ambition and longing. “But Mia is different. You know who her dad is. With her, I can cut ten years off my struggle!” “I’m choosing her not because you’re bad, but because—” He paused, his eyes shifting away for a moment as if he couldn’t bear it, then immediately returning to casual arrogance. “You’re not good enough. You can’t help me. It’s not your fault, but it’s the truth.” He grabbed my hand, his expression sincere. “I know you love me and can’t leave me. I love you too.” “But not right now. Let’s be just friends for now.” “You obediently take care of Mia, and when I succeed, I’ll give you a better life than the last one.” “You help my future now, and I’ll secure yours. Okay, Becca?” Shock, anger, humiliation, disgust… Even though I’d been reborn for a year, I felt like I was suddenly plunged back into the day of the maritime disaster. Countless emotions surged at me. I struggled desperately, but could only let myself be swallowed. His hand gripping mine was as cold as it had been on the day of the disaster. I quietly heard my own heartbeat pounding frantically, then gradually weakening, falling into deathly silence. He didn’t love me anymore, but he didn’t want to let me go either. Those promises of eternal devotion in the next life were just my one-sided joke. Rebecca Lynn, you’re such a fool! I swallowed the truth about Mia’s death and laughed coldly as I slammed the door on my way out. “Fine. I wish you both a hundred years of happiness and good health.” When filling out college applications, I directly chose Stanford University. It had the best game design program—my dream that I’d discovered at age forty-five in my past life. And it was a full three thousand miles away from Ethan. As soon as I finished, Ethan’s message came. [Did you finish filling it out?] [Yeah.] [Good job.] 4 He immediately followed up with several instructions. [Mia said you ignored her friends. Good job.] [But you’re not Mrs. Wright anymore, your grades are mediocre, and your background is ordinary.] [When you meet those rich boys, don’t give them attitude. Be polite to them and don’t make me worry.] I sneered. Seems like his precious Mia never mentioned my grades to him. 48th in the state on the SAT—my phone had just been bombarded with calls from admissions offices, promising scholarships up to five hundred thousand dollars. Where would I have time to deal with those shady friends? Exiting the chat, I opened my friend requests. [Heard from Mia that you’re obedient? I happen to need an obedient follower. Let’s chat.] [Your boyfriend’s sister? What kind of sister?] [You look decent in your photos. Want to have some fun with me? I’ll make it worth your while.] I frowned in disgust. Ethan’s message popped up again. [Mia and I are going to Alaska in a few days. Those cookies you brought back last time were delicious. Where did you buy them? I’ll get you some.] Get them for me, or take Mia to eat them? [Mrs. Lynn’s exclusive recipe. Not for sale.] After a while, he replied: [Okay, I trust you.] I gripped my phone, anger rushing to the top of my head. [Believe whatever you want!] Before sending, I deleted it. Forget it. Talking to a deaf person is just a waste of time. I got up and started packing the things he’d given me over the years. Pens, bookmarks, notebooks, snow globes… Odds and ends filled an entire box—childish and cheap. But it was a box full of what was once sincerity. Ethan, how did you become so unrecognizable? I carried the box next door and threw it in a corner of the storage room, turning to leave. Draft papers on the desk were blown everywhere by the wind. I sighed and picked them up one by one to put back. But on the open notebook, I saw a few words pressed hard into the paper: [Whisper Bay, Sacrifice True Heart, Start Over] All the blood in my body instantly turned cold. Whisper Bay was where we encountered the maritime disaster. Sacrifice—what did that mean? Was our rebirth his arrangement? My hair stood on end. I carefully restored the room to its original state and took the box back, pretending I’d never been there. During the five days of college application submissions, Ethan and I didn’t see each other. He was busy dating Mia, fantasizing about traveling around the country together during their four years of college. I was busy searching online and at the library… looking everywhere for legends about Whisper Bay. Every day he shared dating stories with me, subtly mocking my dullness, and ordered me to plan their travel itinerary. Unwilling to alert him, I did everything he asked. He grew increasingly entitled. July 7, 4:54 PM. I finally saw a post on an obscure forum. [Want to restart your life? Welcome to my hometown. We have a sea called Reincarnation Sea.] [It swallows several people every year, but my grandma says they don’t die—they’re reborn.] [Long ago, there was a fisherwoman whose husband went to sea and never returned. She waited thirty years.] [Then one full moon night, she rowed out alone and never came back.] [After that, people passing by that sea at night heard a woman crying and a man answering.] [My grandma said that as long as you truly love someone and are willing to die for them, Reincarnation Sea will send you both back to the past.] The replies below were all mocking: [I love money above all else. Let me memorize lottery numbers and I’ll find the poster.] [Too cliche. Why not say going there together lets you cycle through ten lives together? Better for tricking people in love to travel, right?] I stared at the screen, trembling uncontrollably.

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After my roommates found out I was the daughter of the richest man in the country, their attitudes toward me changed. Every month when my dad transferred me a hundred thousand dollars for living expenses, my roommate would make snide remarks. “Why does a girl need so much money?” “The company will end up in your brother’s hands anyway. With how recklessly you spend now, don’t be surprised when they kick you out of the family!” As everyone knew, my dad only had one daughter—me. When she demanded I hand over my allowance yet again, I finally snapped: “Are you insane? I’ll spend my money however I want. It’s none of your business!” Who knew my roommate would smirk with contempt. “Of course I can tell you what to do. After all, I’m pregnant with your dad’s child. By family standing, you should obey me!” But my dad had a testicular removal surgery two years ago. How could she possibly be pregnant with his child?! The hundred thousand dollars in living expenses had just hit my account, and I went straight to the boutique to buy their limited edition handbag. I was in a pretty good mood until I got back to the dorm and heard my roommate Yasmin’s sarcastic voice. “Oh, Sophia’s back. What nice things did you buy today?” Ever since finding out I was the daughter of the richest man in the country, Yasmin’s attitude toward me had completely changed. She constantly took the lead in isolating and ostracizing me. When I went to the cafeteria to eat, she would deliberately start trouble. “How can the daughter of the richest man sit and eat with us commoners!” When I returned to the dorm to rest, she would force the other roommates to act like servants. “Don’t you guys have any sense? The princess is back. Everyone better serve her carefully!” At first, I would try to explain, but every time Yasmin would jump out to sabotage me. Over time, everyone avoided me like the plague. Only Yasmin, the instigator of it all, put on the act of being my savior. “See? I’m the only one who can tolerate your bad temper.” But I couldn’t stand her petty behavior. I ignored her and walked straight past. To my surprise, Yasmin snatched the bag from my hand and examined it carefully. “So this is what a designer bag looks like. The texture really is different.” Seeing the greedy look on her face, I said irritably, “Give it back!” “You already have so many bags. You don’t need this one. Why don’t you just give it to me?” Before, I just thought Yasmin had no sense of boundaries. Now I realized she not only had no boundaries, but was also incredibly shameless. “If you want one, buy it yourself. Why should I give you my stuff!” I snatched it back from her hands. Yasmin’s expression darkened frighteningly. She glared at me. “Does having money make you so great? Don’t think that just because you have some money you can insult people however you want!” Her eyes suddenly reddened, and she collapsed on the desk crying. I was completely bewildered when my roommates came back from outside. They must have heard what was just said, because they looked at me disapprovingly. “Sophia, we know your family is rich, but you can’t use your wealth to trample on others’ dignity.” I almost laughed from anger. “She didn’t want to pay a cent and tried to take my bag. What, should I have gotten on my knees to thank her?” I pulled out the recording from earlier and exposed Yasmin’s true face. The roommates realized they’d been deceived and immediately distanced themselves from her. After being set up by her so many times, I’d finally won one back. Seeing her lie exposed, Yasmin dropped the act. “Was I wrong? Can you even use all those bags? I was helping you lighten your load!” “No need to worry about me. If I can’t use them all, I can sell them for charity. Either way, I’m not giving them to you!” Yasmin’s face turned livid with rage. She couldn’t say a word. After suffering in silence for so long, it felt great to finally see her lose. After this incident, I figured she wouldn’t dare provoke me again!

Yasmin seemed frightened by the recording incident. She stopped making sarcastic remarks and even deliberately kept her distance from me. Without her interference, the air felt much fresher. I gradually let my guard down, thinking she had finally learned about boundaries and stopped looking for trouble. The month passed peacefully. Until the day of the holiday, I packed my suitcase and walked out of school to find William’s black Bentley already parked at the school gate. He wore a pressed dark suit, his posture upright. He looked nothing like a driver. “Sophia, let me take that for you.” William smiled as he took the suitcase from my hand and expertly placed it in the trunk. Just as I pulled open the car door to get in, Yasmin’s voice suddenly called from behind. “Sophia, wait!” I turned around to see Yasmin pulling her suitcase, jogging toward me. Her eyes glanced at William and the car, and she was still catching her breath. “My parents are working overtime on a construction project and can’t pick me up. Plus, I bought a lot of study materials this month, so I don’t have enough money for a cab.” “Sophia, could you give me a ride?” She looked at me expectantly, her tone cautious. I frowned. Honestly, I didn’t want any more entanglement with her, but seeing those yellowed canvas shoes on her feet, and considering she really hadn’t bothered me this past month. I couldn’t help but relent. “Get in.” “Thank you so much! Sophia, you’re the best!” Before I could react, she had already walked to the passenger side, opened the door, and got in. Her movements were so natural, as if it were her designated seat. I froze for a moment, frowning. Usually when William picked me up, I put my bag or files in the passenger seat. No one else ever sat there. But then I thought, it was just a seat. No need to make a big deal out of it. So I opened the back door. As soon as the car started moving, Yasmin began chatting with William. “Sir, this car is so comfortable. It must be expensive, right?” Her voice was sickeningly sweet, completely different from her sharp and bitter tone in the dorm. William smiled politely. “It’s alright. Just for transportation.” “You look so young, sir. You must take really good care of yourself, right?” Yasmin rested her chin on one hand, staring straight at William. “Do you focus a lot on health maintenance? My mom always says men need to take care of themselves as they get older, or they’ll age fast…” She babbled on and on, every topic somehow circling back to William, every word dripping with deliberate flattery. One moment she’d praise his suit fabric, the next she’d say his voice was magnetic, and she even meaningfully mentioned: “My dad works construction year-round. His hands are covered in calluses. Not like you, sir. You look like someone who does important things. Even your fingers are so long and elegant.” I got goosebumps listening to her and couldn’t help glancing at her. But she acted as if she didn’t notice my gaze and continued chatting animatedly with William. William clearly sensed something was off and his responses became increasingly perfunctory, mostly just “Mm” and “I suppose” to brush her off. But not only did Yasmin not hold back, she intensified her efforts. As we passed a dessert shop, she suddenly exclaimed, “Oh! This place has such famous mousse cake! I’ve always wanted to try it, but it’s too expensive…” As she spoke, her eyes drifted toward William, her tone taking on a wheedling quality. “Sir, have you tried it? I heard rich people have personal pastry chefs at home. Is that true?” “I’m not rich…” “You’re too modest, sir. If you don’t count as rich, then what are we? Beggars?” Yasmin chattered nonstop the entire way. It was incredibly annoying. I tried to interrupt her several times, telling her to stop. But she’d stay quiet for less than a minute before finding another topic to discuss with William. Thoroughly irritated, I simply put in my Bluetooth earbuds to block out her voice. It was just a short ride anyway. Once we dropped her at the subway station, we’d never cross paths again. No point getting into another conflict over such a small thing. However, when the car approached the subway station, Yasmin suddenly said: “Sir, actually my home isn’t near the subway station. It’s in the suburbs. Could you drive me a bit further?” Then she turned to wink at me. “Sophia, you don’t mind, right?”

Before I could answer, she had already turned back to William. “My parents are working overtime today. I’m a girl carrying luggage and walking alone at night—it’s kind of scary…” William didn’t respond this time. He looked at me through the rearview mirror, waiting for my decision. Looking at Yasmin’s entitled expression, that uncomfortable feeling finally crystallized into clear disgust. Give her an inch and she’ll take a mile—that was her true nature! My patience finally ran out. When she emphasized taking her home yet again, I refused sharply. “No! We agreed on the subway station, so it’s only to the subway station.” The smile on Yasmin’s face instantly froze. She hadn’t expected me to reject her so firmly. She paused for two seconds, then her eyes suddenly reddened and her voice became choked with sobs. “Sophia, I shouldn’t be so demanding, but my home really is far away. Even after getting off the subway, I still have to walk for over two hours. By the time I get home, it’ll be dark.” “My parents work so hard to save money. They haul bricks during the day and watch warehouses at night. They won’t even buy themselves decent clothes. I really don’t want to trouble them to pick me up.” She cried while wiping her tears. “I’m not afraid of walking alone at night for any other reason, just afraid of running into bad people… If something happens to me, how will my parents survive…” The atmosphere in the car grew heavy. William glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his eyes showing some sympathy. “The suburbs aren’t that far by car. Maybe we should…” I cut him off. “This isn’t about distance.” But Yasmin grabbed onto it like a lifeline. “Sir, you’re such a good person! Sophia, I know you’re still angry about before. I’ll apologize, okay?” “I promise, this is the last time I’ll trouble you. After this, I’ll stay far away from you!” “She’s just a young girl. It really isn’t easy for her. Let me take her.” Seeing the sincerity in William’s eyes, and glancing at Yasmin’s pitiful tear-streaked face, I finally closed my eyes. “Take me home first, then you can drive her.” Yasmin immediately broke into a smile through her tears. “Thank you, Sophia! Thank you, sir! You’re both such good people!” For the rest of the drive, she was much more subdued, only occasionally glancing at William with a smile she couldn’t quite hide. When we arrived at my villa, William was about to get out to help with my luggage, but Yasmin had already jumped out first and eagerly opened the trunk. “Let me, let me! Sophia, you live here? This house is gorgeous!” Her eyes were filled with undisguised envy, and her attitude became much more fawning. I ignored her and took the bag William handed me. “Drive safely.” “Don’t worry.” As the car started up again, I looked back. Yasmin was sitting in the passenger seat, saying something to William that made her face flush with shyness. I felt an uneasy feeling, but quickly dismissed the thought. I must be overthinking it. After all, William was old enough to be her father. Yasmin had such high standards. How could she possibly be interested in William?

After the holiday ended, Yasmin had visibly changed. She no longer wore faded T-shirts, but had switched to designer clothes. Within a few days, she’d gotten the latest iPhone. Someone who used to be too stingy to even buy a cup of iced latte was now treating the other roommates to upscale Japanese restaurants averaging over a hundred dollars per person every few days. Roommate Lily couldn’t help asking curiously, “Yasmin, did you win the lottery? You’ve been so generous lately.” Yasmin smiled with pursed lips. “It’s nothing. Just my boyfriend’s gifts. He’s worried I won’t eat well at school, so he gave me some spending money.” “Your boyfriend must be rich! He’s so generous.” When asked about her boyfriend’s identity, Yasmin became evasive. “I’ll introduce you to him when there’s a chance.” I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination, but when Yasmin said this, her eyes seemed to deliberately glance at me. I had no interest in other people’s private lives, especially Yasmin’s. Where her money came from, who she was dating—none of it concerned me. My phone suddenly vibrated. It was the hundred thousand dollars in living expenses my dad had transferred. I had just opened my phone to look when Yasmin immediately leaned over. “Did your dad transfer your living expenses? He’s really generous.” I turned my phone face-down on the desk and gave a noncommittal hum. “Sophia, don’t you think it’s unsafe for a girl to keep so much money on hand?” I frowned. “What do you mean?” Yasmin smiled very sincerely. “Look, this hundred thousand dollars—you’ll spend it all in no time. Why don’t you let me hold onto it for you? I’ll save it.” “If you want to buy something, just tell me. I’ll check it for you, so you don’t waste money.” This was absolutely absurd. I couldn’t help but snap. “Yasmin, who do you think you are? My money is none of your business!” The smile on her face froze, and a flash of resentment appeared in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. “Sophia, how can you say that? I’m doing this for your own good.” “Do I need you to teach me?” I cut her off. “My dad is happy to give me money to spend. I’ll spend it however I want. You have no right to tell me what to do!” Yasmin’s face turned red and white. Just when I thought she’d explode with anger, she suddenly showed a strange smile. “Sophia, you’re so arrogant now just because you’re the only child of the Sterling family. But have you ever thought about what happens if your dad has a son?” I frowned, completely unable to follow her logic. “What nonsense are you talking about? My dad only has one daughter—me. Where would a son come from!” “Why not?” Yasmin raised an eyebrow. “Men, you know, they always have that old-fashioned thinking. No matter how big the family business, there has to be a son to inherit it. Your dad treats you well now because he has no other choice.” She paused, then continued, “Once your dad has a son, do you think you’ll still get a hundred thousand dollars a month in allowance?” This made me furious. Forget that my dad couldn’t have more children. Even if he could, why shouldn’t I inherit my family’s business? “Yasmin, have you been watching too many TV dramas? My dad’s company will definitely be left to me in the future. Stop worrying about things that don’t concern you!”

I’d said as much, and I thought Yasmin would finally know to back off and stop bothering me. But that evening, I was studying in the dorm when Yasmin suddenly ran up to me and opened with: “Sophia, where’s your living expenses?” I looked up at her. “How is my living expenses any of your business?” Yasmin raised her voice. “Of course it’s my business. Didn’t I tell you last time? From now on, hand all your living expenses to me. When you need to spend money, submit an application. Once it’s approved, I’ll transfer it to you.” “Of course, if you behave well, I’ll give you an extra five hundred dollars each month as a reward.” Watching her get more and more excited, I almost thought there was something wrong with my ears. My fingers tightened slightly around my phone. I looked up at her, my eyes cold enough to freeze: “Yasmin, what did you just say? I didn’t hear you clearly.” “I said, hand over the hundred thousand your dad gave you. I’ll manage it. If you behave well, I’ll reward you with an extra five hundred each month.” I laughed coldly. “Yasmin, who do you think you are to demand my money over and over again!” Yasmin’s voice suddenly rose. “Of course I’m qualified.” She gently caressed her abdomen. “Because I’m pregnant with your dad’s child. Once I marry into the Sterling family on the strength of my child, by family standing, you’ll have to obey me.” At those words, the dorm fell instantly silent. The roommates’ gazes bounced between me and Yasmin, too shocked to speak. Yasmin looked at me triumphantly, as if certain I would break down over this. But I just looked at her calmly. Yasmin pregnant with my dad’s child? That had to be the most ridiculous joke I’d ever heard. Two years ago, Dad was diagnosed with a testicular tumor. For complete treatment, he’d already had testicular removal surgery. The doctor had explicitly stated that he had zero chance of having children after the procedure. This was kept strictly confidential within the family. Almost no one besides Dad and me knew about it. If Yasmin had really investigated my family, she would never have fabricated such a flawed lie. I could guess what Yasmin was thinking. After finding out I was the daughter of the richest man, she’d gotten greedy ideas, even trying to use pregnancy to latch onto a wealthy family, and wanted to manipulate me in the process. How stupid and greedy! “Sophia, be smart and hand over the money.” Yasmin threatened in a low voice. “Otherwise, once I marry into the family, you’ll regret it. By then, forget a hundred thousand in living expenses—whether you can even stay in the Sterling family will be questionable!” Watching her spittle fly everywhere, I suddenly had a new idea. Since she wanted to put on a show, I’d play along!

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My husband’s mistress is pregnant. My mother-in-law Mrs. Gibson urged me to be understanding: “Men will be men. It’s normal for them to stray.” My husband Calvin even ordered me to vacate the master bedroom to welcome his mistress: “If you dare hurt her or my son, I’ll kill you!” I didn’t make a scene. Instead, I smiled gently: “Sure, I even bought her new sheets.” The next day, they came home excitedly after shopping for baby supplies, only to find a pregnant stranger sitting on the sofa. Mrs. Gibson froze: “Who is this woman?” I smiled as I introduced her: “Mom, this is Dad Anderson’s mistress. You might not know this, but she’s the one who’s pregnant.” While cleaning under the master bedroom bed, I swept out a positive pregnancy test. Looking at the two red lines, I fell into deep thought. Calvin and I hadn’t had sex in over half a year. This pregnancy test wasn’t mine. Before I could throw this cursed thing into the trash, Mrs. Gibson pushed the door open. She spotted the pregnancy test immediately. First she froze, then she lunged forward and snatched it from my hand, her presbyopic eyes bulging wider than saucers: “Oh my goodness, someone’s pregnant?” I was about to explain when she shot me a look of utter disdain: “What are you looking at? I know it’s not yours. You’re a hen that hasn’t laid an egg in three years. You’d never be so lucky!” I laughed in anger: “If it’s not mine, then why are you so excited?” “Don’t be stupid! If it’s not yours, then it must belong to Calvin’s mistress!” Mrs. Gibson beamed with joy. “Men will be men. Which one doesn’t stray? As long as she can bear an heir for the Peters family, she’s done us a great service!” Just then, Calvin pushed the door open. Mrs. Gibson immediately rushed to him, holding up the pregnancy test like a treasure: “Calvin, be honest with me. Is your mistress Margaret pregnant?” Calvin glanced at me guiltily. But when he saw I wasn’t making a scene and Mrs. Gibson looked overjoyed, his spine suddenly stiffened. He nodded confidently: “Mom, since you already know, I won’t hide it. Margaret is indeed pregnant. We just found out.” Standing to the side, I almost laughed out loud. “Well done, you make me so proud!” Mrs. Gibson slapped her thigh excitedly. “Since Margaret is carrying a child, we must bring her home to enjoy her rightful status!” Calvin’s eyes reddened with emotion: “Mom, you’re so understanding! Margaret said she doesn’t need a title, she just wants the baby to be healthy.” “The poor girl.” Mrs. Gibson turned to look at me, her expression instantly changing. “Elliot, since you can’t give birth yourself, don’t be jealous of Margaret. Clear out the master bedroom right now. We’re bringing her home tomorrow to rest during her pregnancy!” Calvin chimed in: “That’s right, Elliot. Move to the guest room. The master bedroom gets better sunlight. Let Margaret have it. She’s pregnant and needs the calcium from sunshine.” He paused, then warned me viciously: “You better behave yourself. If you dare lay a finger on Margaret or touch a single hair on my son’s head, I’ll kill you!” I stared expressionlessly at this pair of despicable mother and son, hands in my pockets, quietly pressing the record button on my phone. “So what you’re saying is, as long as a mistress is pregnant with a Peters family child, she must be brought home and taken care of, never left to fend for herself?” Mrs. Gibson lifted her chin: “Naturally!” I continued: “And this child, even if illegitimate, must enjoy exactly the same inheritance rights as a legitimate child?” Calvin stated firmly: “Obviously! He’s Peters family blood. Who dares mistreat him?” “Alright, I understand.” I nodded, the corners of my mouth curving into a gentle smile. “Of course. Since she’s carrying a Peters heir, naturally we must treat her well with good food and drink.”

Mrs. Gibson snorted coldly: “Good that you know your place. Hurry up and pack your things, move all your junk out. Don’t bring us bad luck!” For the next two hours, I leaned against the doorframe like an idle bystander, watching Calvin and Mrs. Gibson gleefully throw my belongings out. “Change these sheets. Margaret likes pink!” “Move this vanity too. Make room for the baby crib!” Calvin was all smiles. “Mom, let’s go to the mall tomorrow and buy Margaret the best bird’s nest soup!” Mrs. Gibson grinned from ear to ear: “Yes, I’ll pay! As long as her belly delivers, I’ll buy her anything!” I watched their busy backs, nearly laughing myself to tears. Oh Calvin, since you’re so happy, I won’t show you the azoospermia diagnosis report I just picked up from the hospital. Let you enjoy yourselves for a couple more days. Early the next morning, Mrs. Gibson and Calvin left the house in high spirits. They said they were going to upscale baby boutiques to stock up, preparing to welcome the “great contributor” Margaret home. Before leaving, Calvin didn’t forget to warn me viciously to clear out the last bits of trash from the master bedroom so it wouldn’t offend Margaret’s eyes. After the door closed, I unhurriedly took out my phone and dialed a number. “Hello? Is this Ms. Hill? Yes, I’m Calvin’s wife, Elliot. I saw the pregnancy test you left under our master bedroom bed yesterday.” There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end. I laughed lightly, my tone gentle. “Don’t be afraid. Mrs. Gibson and Calvin have spoken. Since you’re carrying Peters family blood, you absolutely cannot be left to fend for yourself. Pack your bags. I’m sending a car to bring you to the villa to rest during your pregnancy.”

At three in the afternoon, the villa gates opened. Mrs. Gibson and Calvin walked in carrying bags of imported bird’s nest, luxury baby cribs, and a mountain of other baby supplies, their faces beaming. “Margaret said she’s suffering from morning sickness today and needs to wait a couple more days before moving in. I feel so bad for her.” Mrs. Gibson muttered as she changed her shoes. Calvin agreed: “Mom, Margaret is carrying a boy. It’s normal for him to be demanding. Please take extra care of her, and I’ll make sure she treats you well later.” The two were chatting and laughing as they turned into the living room, then the smiles on their faces instantly froze. On the leather sofa sat a woman in her thirties, still attractive and well-maintained. She wore loose maternity clothes and was using a toothpick to eat the strawberries I had just washed. Seeing the mother and son laden with packages, the woman also froze, somewhat awkwardly putting down the fruit plate. “Who, who is this?” Mrs. Gibson’s eyes widened as she looked the woman on the sofa up and down. “Elliot, what are you playing at? Why are strangers coming into the house? Is this some poor relative of yours?” Calvin also frowned: “Elliot, are you sick? I told you to make room for Margaret, and you invite your relatives over? Get her out of here now!” I walked out of the kitchen carrying a glass of warm milk, handed it to the woman on the sofa, then turned around with a beaming smile. “Please don’t be angry. If you get upset, how will you take care of the pregnant woman?” I walked to the woman’s side and patted her shoulder affectionately, introducing her with great ceremony: “This is definitely not my poor relative. What’s in her belly is genuine Peters family blood.” Mrs. Gibson’s mind hadn’t caught up yet. She thought it was another of Calvin’s affairs. “Calvin, besides Margaret you got another woman pregnant? This woman looks well into her thirties. You could actually bring yourself to sleep with her?” Calvin’s face turned green, frantically waving his hands: “Mom, I don’t know her! I swear I’ve never touched even a finger of hers! Why would I have a lover this old?” I pretended to be shocked, covering my mouth. “Calvin, that’s not right. How can you shout at your elders like that?” I looked at the two confused people with a smile. “Oh my, did I forget to tell you? The pregnancy test swept out yesterday really wasn’t mine, but it wasn’t Calvin’s mistress’s either.” “Mrs. Gibson, let me formally introduce you. This is Ms. Hill, the mistress Anderson keeps on the side. Yesterday, while you were out, Anderson brought her home to get something and accidentally dropped the pregnancy test under the bed.” “Originally, I wanted to pretend nothing happened. But yesterday, you swore that Peters family blood couldn’t be left outside, that illegitimate children must also enjoy inheritance rights. So I brought Ms. Hill home.” “You won’t mind, will you?”

The air froze in that instant. Mrs. Gibson’s face, which had been glowing with health just moments ago, visibly turned the color of liver. Her lips trembled as she pointed at the woman on the sofa, unable to squeeze out a word for a long time: “You, what did you say?” I blinked innocently and took out my phone, pressing play on yesterday’s saved recording. Mrs. Gibson and Calvin’s full-throated voices immediately rang out: “As long as she’s carrying Peters seed, she absolutely cannot be left outside!” “Even if it’s an illegitimate child, they must enjoy exactly the same inheritance rights!” “We must bring her home and treat her well! If you dare touch a hair on their head, I’ll kill you!” After the recording finished, I spread my hands, smiling virtuously. “Mom, Calvin, your words yesterday really opened my eyes. Our Peters family values bloodline. Since Ms. Hill is carrying Anderson’s child, that makes it Calvin’s little brother or sister!” “Such precious Peters family offspring, how could they be left outside? So I immediately brought her home to take good care of her.” I pointed at the pile of upscale baby supplies on the floor, full of admiration: “You two were so thoughtful, even buying bird’s nest and maternity clothes. Ms. Hill, see how much they care about you!” Mrs. Gibson stood stunned for a full half minute before suddenly erupting in a piercing shriek. “That’s bullshit! Elliot, you bitch, stop trying to drive a wedge between us!” She pointed at the woman on the sofa, trembling all over. “Her? Anderson is well into his fifties. How could he do something so disgusting outside! Anderson would never be that kind of person!” “That’s such an ugly thing to say.” Ms. Hill, who had been silent until now, timidly put down the cherries in her hand, her eyes watery and full of grievance: “Anderson said he’s most annoyed by the old woman at home nagging about everything. He said I’m gentle and understanding, that I know his heart best. If he hadn’t insisted on dragging me to the bedroom yesterday for some excitement, the pregnancy test wouldn’t have fallen under the bed.”

“Ahh! You shameless slut, I’ll tear you apart!” Mrs. Gibson completely lost it. The woman who had been putting on airs as a wealthy matriarch just moments ago now lunged at the woman with her teeth bared and claws out. I reacted quickly, grabbing her and pushing her back into Calvin’s arms. “Mrs. Gibson, please calm down!” I urged her. “Didn’t you just teach me yesterday that men will be men. Which one doesn’t stray? Anderson is in his prime. It’s perfectly normal for him to have affairs. This shows Anderson has charisma. You should be more understanding!” “Shut your mouth. How is that the same?” Mrs. Gibson’s chest heaved violently, nearly coughing up blood. “How is it different?” I widened my eyes in feigned confusion. “Oh right, you also said yesterday that as long as it’s a Peters child, they absolutely cannot be left outside. Look, I’m just following your orders, bringing Anderson’s true love home to treat her well with good food and drink.” I turned to look at Calvin, who was still in a daze: “Calvin, you personally made a vow yesterday. If anyone dared touch a pregnant woman’s hair, you’d kill me. Now your mom wants to attack her. Are you going to do something about it?” Calvin finally snapped back to reality. But what concerned him wasn’t Anderson’s affair, but something far more critical. “Wait!” Calvin’s face turned deathly pale as he stared at Ms. Hill’s belly, his voice cracking. “The baby in your belly is my dad’s? Then, then won’t he have to split our family fortune?” I nearly laughed out loud. This scumbag’s thought process was truly refreshingly unique, always fixated on money. I clapped my hands in loud praise: “Calvin, you’re so smart! Yesterday you said emphatically that even illegitimate children must enjoy exactly the same inheritance rights!” I walked to Ms. Hill’s side and raised an eyebrow at Calvin: “Since your mistress’s child can split your fortune, naturally Anderson’s mistress’s child should also split Anderson’s fortune. By calculation, whether Ms. Hill’s baby is a boy or girl, they can split away exactly half the family assets!” “No way! Absolutely not!” Calvin completely broke down, stamping his feet and cursing. “My dad’s money is all mine. Why should it go to this bastard child from who knows where! Elliot, get her out of here right now!” I crossed my arms, took a step back, and watched coldly as this mother-son pair jumped around anxiously. “Get her out? Too late.” I spread my hands. “When Ms. Hill came in, I already sent Anderson a message saying I brought his sweetheart home to rest during her pregnancy. By my calculation, he should be arriving home any minute now.” As soon as I finished speaking, the sound of urgent car brakes came from outside the villa. Then the front door was pushed open. Anderson, usually stern and rigid, rushed in breathlessly. As soon as he entered, his gaze fell on the woman on the sofa. His usually stern face instantly softened with tenderness: “How did you end up here? Did anything happen to the baby?” In the living room, Mrs. Gibson’s face finally changed from liver-colored to deathly pale. And Calvin looked like he had swallowed a live fly.

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Caldwell crushed his cigarette butt on my dining table, looking at me with a lecherous grin. “Juliet, rent’s going up 50% starting next month. Unless you don’t want it to go up.” He leaned close to my ear, his hand landing on my shoulder. “Come to my place this weekend. We’ll have a nice little chat.” I pushed him away and grabbed my phone. “What did you just say? I didn’t catch that. Say it again?” He sneered and pointed at my nose. “What are you acting so high and mighty for? I’ve seen plenty of people like you from poor countries.” “Spend one night with me, and I’ll waive a year’s rent. That’s not a bad deal, is it?” I held up my phone. “Mr. Caldwell, say that again.” Caldwell slapped my phone out of my hand. He stepped on my phone. “Record this, bitch.” He grabbed my collar and shoved me against the wall. The back of my head hit the tile, making my ears ring. “Juliet, let me tell you something. I control the rent in this area. You’re just an immigrant working in America, making pennies a month. Without me looking out for you, you would’ve been kicked out of the country ages ago.” I stared hard at him. “Mr. Caldwell, the contract says a one-year lease. It’s only been four months. You can’t unilaterally raise the rent by 50%. That’s illegal.” “Illegal?” Caldwell laughed. He released me and pulled a stack of cash from his bag, throwing it in my face. “Here’s your deposit. Take it and get lost. If you don’t move out by tomorrow, I’ll have people help you move.” Bills scattered across the floor. I crouched down and picked them up one by one. “Fine. I’ll move.” I folded the money and put it in my pocket. Caldwell patted my face. “That’s more like it. Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. If you change your mind, come to my place this weekend. I’ll treat you to dinner.” He turned and left. I closed the door and slid down to the floor. There was a knock on the next door. “Juliet, are you okay?” It was my roommate, Mary, who worked as a programmer at an internet company. She saw the red marks on my neck and her eyes went wide. “That old bastard came again?” “Yeah.” “Call the police!” “It won’t help. He didn’t hit me. There are no cameras, and audio recordings can’t directly convict him.” I grabbed her hand. “Mary, how long have you lived in this complex?” “Two years.” “Has Caldwell ever harassed you?” Mary lowered her head and clenched her fists. “Once. He said he wouldn’t raise my rent if I came to his place for dinner on the weekend. I bought pepper spray the next day.” “Anyone else?” “The nurse on the third floor, Niles. She moved out crying last month. I heard Caldwell knocked on her door in the middle of the night saying he was checking the water meter.” I went back to my room, opened my computer, and created a new WhatsApp group chat. Group name: Victims of Caldwell Alliance. I pulled Mary in, then added several other girls who rented from Caldwell. My phone buzzed. It was Caldwell. “Juliet, don’t take what happened earlier to heart. I was just joking with you. Come over for dinner tomorrow. I’ll make you something delicious.” I took a screenshot, then replied: “Okay.” The next evening at seven, I stood outside Caldwell’s door. I took a deep breath and knocked. Caldwell opened the door wearing a robe, reeking of alcohol. “Oh, Juliet’s here. Come in, come in.” His hand went to my waist, guiding me inside. I didn’t dodge. “Mr. Caldwell, I’ve thought it over. About the rent, can we talk about it some more?” “Talk? Of course we can talk.”

He closed the door and locked it. “Let’s eat first. We’ll chat while we eat.” The living room table was set with dinner and an open bottle of red wine. He poured me a glass, then poured one for himself. “Come on, cheers.” I clinked glasses but didn’t drink. He took a big gulp. “Juliet, you’re so pretty. You could’ve married a rich guy back home. Why come to New York to suffer?” “Mr. Caldwell, about the rent increase…” “What’s the rush?” He sat down on the sofa and patted the seat next to him. “Come, sit here. Uncle will have a good talk with you.” I didn’t move. His expression darkened. “What? Not giving me face?” “Mr. Caldwell, I have a boyfriend.” “A boyfriend?” He laughed, stood up, and walked toward me. “How much does your boyfriend make a month? Can he buy you a house? Can he get you a green card?” He reached me and lifted my chin with his finger. “I’m different. If you’re with me, you can live in this house however you want, rent-free. I’ll give you five thousand a month for spending money.” I took a step back. He followed. “Don’t run away. You came all the way to my place just for this, didn’t you? Stop pretending.” I reached into my pocket and pressed the record button on my phone. “Mr. Caldwell, you’ve had too much to drink.” “I haven’t had too much.” He suddenly grabbed me, his mouth coming toward mine. I couldn’t hold back. I slapped him across the face. “Smack…” He froze, then flew into a rage. “How dare you hit me?!” He grabbed my hair and slammed me against the wall. “Ungrateful bitch! You should be honored that I want you!” The back of my head hit the wall. Everything went dark. “Caldwell, let me go.” “No! You’re not leaving this place tonight unless you sleep with me!” He tore at my clothes. Buttons scattered everywhere. Just then, the door was pounded. “Open up! Police!” Caldwell froze. I pushed him away and ran to the door, unlocking it. Two police officers stood outside, along with Mary and the other girls. They held up their phones, recording everything. The officer saw the bruises on my neck and my torn clothes. His expression changed. “What happened here?” I took a deep breath. Finally, tears fell. “He tried to rape me.” Caldwell panicked. “No! She seduced me! She came to my place on her own!” I pulled out my phone and played the recording. After listening, the officer looked at Caldwell. “Come with us.” “No! Let me explain!” “You can explain at the station.” As Caldwell was being taken away, he looked back at me with pure hatred in his eyes. “Juliet, just you wait. When I get out, I’ll kill you.” I leaned against the wall, trembling all over. Mary hugged me. “It’s okay now. It’s okay.” I shook my head. “No. This is just the beginning.” My phone buzzed. It was the “Victims of Caldwell Alliance” group. Someone with the name “Niles” sent a message. “I just saw Caldwell being taken away downstairs. Do you know? This building of his is illegal.” “Every room’s fire safety doesn’t meet code at all. I took photos before.” She sent over a dozen photos. Partition walls, illegally wired electricity, sealed fire exits. Looking at these photos, a thought flashed through my mind. It wasn’t about sending him to jail. It was about bankrupting him.

Caldwell was released from the police station after just one night. The reason: “Insufficient evidence, does not constitute rape.” “Insufficient evidence.” Mary slammed the table in fury. “He almost raped you! And that’s insufficient evidence?!” I said nothing, because I knew this would happen. No surveillance, no witnesses. He insisted it was “consensual.” The police could only classify it as a “civil dispute.” The first thing Caldwell did after getting out was come curse at my door. “Juliet! You bitch! How dare you call the police on me?!” He kicked the door three times. The security door dented inward. “I’m telling you, you can forget about living in this place! Get out tomorrow!” “Deposit? Not refunding a penny! Go ahead and sue me! Let’s see who wins!” A neighbor opened their door, took one look, and quickly shut it again. No one dared speak. I sat inside, listening to his cursing, my hands shaking. My phone rang. My mom was calling. “Juliet, did that Caldwell come after you again?” “Mom, it’s fine.” “What do you mean fine! I saw the bruises on your neck in our video call! Just wait, I’m coming to New York next week.” “Mom, you don’t need to come. I can handle it myself.” “How will you handle it? You’re a twenty-four-year-old girl fighting against a property owner?” I was silent for three seconds. “Mom, didn’t you teach me? When you strike a snake, strike at its vital point.” “Where’s his vital point?” “His building.” My mom’s a lawyer. She’s handled many property dispute cases. She knows these property owners’ weak spots better than anyone. “Juliet, have you checked the property rights for his building?” “I’m checking now.” “After you finish, call me. I’ll help you contact a lawyer.” I hung up and opened my computer, logging into the New York City planning and natural resources website. I searched for records on Caldwell’s building. Ten minutes later, I found it. This building had no rental registration at all. Not only that, its designated use was “commercial,” not “residential.” Converting a commercial building into partitioned rentals was illegal in itself. I screenshotted the page and saved it to a folder. My phone buzzed again. Mary sent a message. “Juliet, I just saw in the tenants’ group that Caldwell’s looking for a renovation crew to tear down all the partitions on the third floor.” “Why?” “Someone said Immigration has been checking illegal immigrants and illegal rentals lately. He might have gotten word.” A lightbulb went off in my head. This meant he knew his building had problems. I opened the “Victims Alliance” group. There were seventeen people now, all tenants screwed over by Caldwell. Girls and guys. Some had their deposits withheld, some had their rent raised, some were harassed. I sent a message in the group. “I found a way to send Caldwell to prison and make him pay up.” “What way?” “Report him for illegal rentals. Fire code violations, no rental registration.” “Then what?” “Then we collectively sue him. Those who didn’t get deposits back, those who were overcharged rent, those who were harassed—everyone can get back what’s rightfully theirs.” The group went silent for ten seconds, then exploded. “Count me in!” “I’m suing him too!” “I have evidence of him taking cash without giving receipts!” “I have chat records of his sexual harassment!” Messages came one after another, flooding the screen.

I typed the last line. “Tomorrow at 2 PM, Starbucks on Highway 1. Let’s meet and talk.” Everyone replied: “Got it.” I shut off my phone and looked out the window. Caldwell’s car was still parked downstairs. He sat in it, staring at my window. I pulled the curtains closed. Tomorrow would be the real beginning. The next day at 2 PM, Starbucks on Highway 1. Seventeen people sat in a corner on the second floor. The entire “Victims of Caldwell Alliance” was present. I stood up and looked at them. Programmers, nurses, delivery drivers, salespeople, receptionists, designers… All immigrants working in America who’d been screwed over by Caldwell. “My name is Juliet. I live in 302…” “I’m Mary, 303…” One by one, they shared their experiences. I opened my computer and projected the evidence of Caldwell’s building violations onto the screen for everyone to see. I held up three fingers. “First, everyone organize your evidence—transfer records, chat screenshots, audio and video recordings. The more detailed, the better.” “Second, collectively report to Immigration and the fire department. The more people, the more seriously they’ll take it.” “Third, find a lawyer and collectively sue Caldwell, demanding deposit refunds and compensation for damages.” Niles raised her hand. “Are lawyer fees expensive?” “My mom’s a lawyer. She helped us contact a firm that does public interest litigation. They don’t charge upfront. If we win, they take fifteen percent of the compensation.” Wallace said, “I agree. Even if we don’t get money back, I want to make him miserable.” Everyone raised their hands in agreement. After the meeting, I returned to the complex. As soon as I entered the hallway, I smelled paint. On the door to 302, someone had spray-painted “BITCH” in red. I took out my phone to photograph it, then went to property management to check the surveillance. The property manager said, “The cameras are broken.” “When did they break?” “Yesterday.” Yesterday, the day Caldwell got out of the police station. I smiled. “Right. The cameras are broken. I’ll fix them myself.” I called Mary. “Mary, do you know how to install cameras?” “Yeah. I took an elective in electronic engineering in college.” “Do me a favor.” Half an hour later, I installed a pinhole camera in the hallway fire exit. The angle was aimed right at my door. That night, Caldwell came again. He stood outside my door and cursed for ten minutes. Then he pulled out a key from his pocket. He opened the door and went inside. I was next door at Mary’s place, watching the surveillance footage on my phone. My hands were shaking, but I didn’t move. Five minutes later, he came out holding my laptop. That was my work computer. It had all my social media accounts, client information, and unpublished articles. I held back. Didn’t go out. Didn’t call the police. After Caldwell left, I returned to my room. Drawers had been rifled through, closets opened, cigarette ash on the bedsheets. My underwear was thrown on the floor. I crouched down and picked them up one by one. Mary stood in the doorway, her eyes red. “Juliet, let’s call the police.” “Not yet.” “What do you mean not yet? He took your computer! Your work is on there!” I looked at Mary and smiled. “That computer—I just replaced the hard drive yesterday. The current hard drive only has one thing on it.” “What?” “Full video footage of Caldwell breaking into my place and stealing things.” I pulled out a USB drive from my pocket. “The pinhole camera is connected to this. Him opening the door, entering, taking the computer—it’s all recorded.”

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