I am the son of the crime boss of Harbor City. I was supposed to reveal my identity at my wedding. But my sister said I was being targeted and couldn’t expose myself. My fiancée took off my suit and dressed the driver in it, while my bodyguard stole my family heirloom. I trusted them completely, but when the wedding began, I saw the driver with one arm around my fiancée and the other caressing my sister and female bodyguard’s waists. When I questioned them, the driver smiled viciously and ordered his men to break my limbs. They locked me in the basement, forcing me to watch as they had sex, before finally flaying me alive and throwing my barely breathing body to be devoured by wild animals. Recalling the horrific experience of my past life, I punched the driver, breaking his ribs. “You can have my fiancée, but you’re not worthy of my family heirloom.” Charles screamed in pain from my punches. My fiancée Chloe turned pale and slapped me hard across the face. “Jack, how dare you assault Charles!” My sister Emma’s eyes reddened with concern as she raised her fist at me. “How dare you attack the heir of the Blue Gang at the wedding! You’ll be punished according to family law!” My bodyguard Bella immediately started fighting me, but I kicked her away after just two moves. She coughed up blood, looking at me in shock. “Jack, you dare use such force against me?!” I brushed the dust off my clothes and sat down in a chair center stage. “So you still remember my name is Jack?” “Then surely you haven’t forgotten that I, Jack, am Robert’s only son and the sole heir to the Blue Gang.” “And more importantly, I’m the groom at this wedding!” My words caused an uproar among the guests. “What’s going on? He’s the groom? Then who was the previous groom?” All eyes turned to Charles, who was still coughing up blood. I laughed coldly. In my past life, I had pitied Charles’s tragic background and kept him on as my driver at my sister’s urging. Before long, Charles had used his good looks to bewitch my sister, bodyguard and fiancée. After my father was gravely injured, I was supposed to announce my identity at the wedding and take over the Blue Gang. But the three women convinced me that the gang had too many enemies. They feared I would meet the same fate as my father and insisted I hide my identity. They had Charles change his name to Jack and take my place at the wedding to prevent assassination attempts. After I agreed, the three of them slept with Charles on my wedding night. I caught them in the act. Once exposed, they simply threw me into an underground fighting cage, using me as Charles’s punching bag. They even performed sex acts in front of me, torturing me day and night! Remembering the agony of being eaten alive by wild dogs, I didn’t hesitate to stomp hard on Charles’s broken ribs. “Tell me, who are you? And who am I?” Charles howled in pain, desperately calling out to my fiancée Chloe. “Honey, get this madman out of here! Sis, save me!” Chloe was frightened by my murderous aura, but hearing Charles’s pleas, she still resolutely spread her arms to block me. “Jack, so what if your last name is Jiang? I can prove Charles is the next leader of the Blue Gang!” My sister coldly scolded me while tenderly helping Charles up. “Stop this nonsense. We’re doing this for your own good. Apologize to Charles now, then go back and accept your punishment!” My bodyguard Bella also stood up, pulling out a baton and pointing it at me. “No need to go back. Kneel down right now! How dare a servant like you disrupt the young master’s wedding. I’ll personally punish you!” I looked at the three women closest to me, clenching my fists so hard my knuckles turned white. “Since you’re all siding with this driver, don’t blame me for what happens next.” With that, I lifted Charles up and smashed him onto the floor below the stage. “Sorry for the scene, everyone.” “The arranged marriage is over. This wedding will now become my succession ceremony.”

The wedding guests were all dumbfounded. “We’ve heard the Blue Gang has serious infighting, but isn’t the heir Robert’s only son? There’s no dispute about that, right?” “Yeah, everyone knows Robert’s only son is named Charles. The wedding invitation said Jack Charles too. Who does this Jack think he is?” “Daring to cause trouble and hurt Young Master Charles at the wedding, this Jack is dead for sure.” My fiancée and the other two women looked uncertain, but hearing the guests’ comments, they finally relaxed. “Jack, what’s wrong with you today? Get down from there now!” “I am Charles’s wife Chloe. I can testify that Charles is the groom and the heir to the Blue Gang!” “I’m Emma, Charles’s sister. I watched Charles grow up, how could I be mistaken!” “I’m Bella, Charles’s personal bodyguard. Charles is the true heir of the Blue Gang. As for Jack, I don’t know him!” The three women stood in a row, fiercely protecting Charles and glaring at me. The guests burst into laughter. “This poor boy must have gone mad. The Jiang family may have many beauties, but they’re not for him to covet.” “The heir’s identity has been kept secret all these years, but we all know Emma is the eldest Jiang daughter, Chloe is the daughter-in-law, and Bella is the heir’s bodyguard. They can’t be wrong.” “That’s right. Jack, why don’t you kneel and apologize?!” I held my head high, looking past the women in front of me to the woman hurrying over. “Aunt Yvonne, you’ve been with my dad for so many years. Surely you know who his son is?” Everyone followed my gaze, whispering amongst themselves. “Isn’t that Robert’s mistress Yvonne? Why is she here?” “With such a big commotion at the wedding, and Robert on his deathbed, of course someone had to be sent to take charge.” Yvonne said nothing, rushing over in her high heels. She helped Charles up first before turning to me. “You little bastard, who gave a servant like you the guts to fight with Charles!” “Someone tie Jack up. I’ll take him back for the old master to deal with personally!” My heart skipped a beat in shock. In my past life, I only knew my fiancée and the other two women had been bewitched by Charles. I never realized even my dad’s mistress Yvonne had become Charles’s ally! With Yvonne’s order, people immediately came forward to grab me. I stood my ground, using only the Jiang family’s secret martial arts to defeat everyone who came at me. Seeing their injured comrades on the ground, some people finally sensed something was amiss. “Jack is using the Jiang family’s secret fighting techniques. Throughout history, only the direct heirs were allowed to learn it.” “If he’s really just an insignificant servant, how could he possibly know how to use it!” I coldly looked at the group of women, waiting for their lies to be exposed. But just then, the badly injured Charles struggled to his feet with their support and performed a full set of Jiang family martial arts! Taking advantage of the stunned silence from the audience, Charles wiped the blood from his mouth and spoke loudly. “Jack, I pitied your background in the past and let you fetch water while I practiced. But you’ve gone too far, daring to steal my techniques!” I glared hatefully at my sister Emma. Apart from my father Robert, only she and I knew these martial arts. How dare she personally teach our family’s secret techniques to an outsider! She had no respect for rules at all! I was so furious my qi surged, and I grabbed Emma by the collar. “How dare you!” Emma wasn’t flustered at all, looking towards Charles instead. Charles seized the opportunity to pull something from his pocket, holding it high. “Father already passed the Blue Gang’s heirloom to me. Jack, your farce ends now.”

Seeing the ancient heirloom in his hand, everyone was shocked. “It seems Robert’s health really is in bad shape if he’s handed over the Blue Gang heirloom to Charles.” “Jack, with both testimony and physical evidence, you’re just a servant. Get lost now!” I gritted my teeth so hard I tasted blood. In my past life, I didn’t stop them, so I had no idea they had already hollowed out the Jiang family behind my back! Consumed by hatred, I leapt forward to snatch the heirloom from Charles’s hand. Bella had completely turned against me by now. With one shout, countless loyal followers blocked my path and attacked. Although I was skilled in martial arts, I was still only human. I couldn’t fight off so many opponents, and soon someone struck the back of my head with a blunt object. The blow nearly split my skull open. My vision blurred and I staggered. Bella looked at me with disdain and kicked me hard in the chest, sending me flying off the stage. Charles got cocky and came over, raising his foot as if to stomp on my face! Hatred surged through me. I punched the sole of his foot, and Charles, who was all show, fell over. Robert’s mistress Yvonne was so angry her nose almost twisted. “You little beast, you still dare to hurt people. Break his hand!” Bella immediately pulled out a switchblade. She had people hold down my right arm and stabbed down hard! “Jack, today I’m not only going to cripple your hand, I’m going to cut your tendons too. I’ll throw you in the underground fighting pit and make you a complete cripple, forever under Charles’s feet!” The pain spread, and some people looked away, unable to watch. I spat a mouthful of bloody saliva in the women’s faces and shouted hoarsely. “Go ahead and kill me if you have the guts. Otherwise, when my father arrives, you’ll all be dead!” A flash of panic crossed my sister Emma’s face, and she quickly looked at Yvonne. Yvonne snorted coldly, her face full of disdain. She leaned in close to my ear and whispered. “I’ll tell you the truth. Your dad’s never waking up.” “Jack, don’t dream about someone swooping in to prove your identity. The entire Blue Gang, including your women, will all belong to Charles in the future.” A wicked smile curved her lips, and my heart sank. No wonder in my past life, after I was thrown in the fighting cage, no one from my family came to save me. It turns out they had already secretly conspired to harm my father! Seeing the panic on my face, the women laughed raucously. I took the chance to break free from the people holding me down and bit Yvonne’s ear, ripping off a chunk of flesh with a shake of my head! Yvonne screamed in pain. Charles looked heartbroken. My sister Emma cursed furiously. Not satisfied, she grabbed a wine bottle and smashed it down on my head. “Do you know what you’ve done! How dare you hurt her!” My head was ringing from the blow, but I suddenly noticed something odd. Emma had always despised Yvonne, calling her a vulgar slut with no class who stole our mother’s place. But now, why was she so protective of this mistress?! My fiancée Chloe also looked worried, rushing to help Yvonne treat her wound. Bella’s knife flashed coldly as she pressed it against my throat. “Jack, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to take your life.” “But you’ve hurt the people I care about again and again. I can’t let you live!” I was injured all over, with my limbs crippled. I was no match for Bella now. In the stands, some people covered their eyes, waiting for my blood to spill. Just then, a thunderous shout came from the entrance of the hall. “What’s going on at Jack’s wedding? Everyone stop right now!”

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After my wife Olivia tortured me for the 98th time because of Liam, I was completely heartbroken and accepted the pursuit of her best friend, Scarlett. After a night of passion with Scarlett, she promised to help me fake my death and marry her abroad with a brand new identity. After taking the fake death pill Scarlett gave me, I woke up prematurely in the coffin. I couldn’t move my body at all, but I could hear Scarlett talking to someone outside the coffin. “Ms. Shen, you’ve made Olivia torture Lucas and then pretended to save him. You’ve completely gained his trust. Why do you still need to arrange for him to fake his death and be buried?” “Only by doing this will the Wilson family believe he’s dead. Then Liam’s position as the heir will be secure, and no one will ever mention that he’s an illegitimate child again.” The other person hesitantly asked, “Won’t it be too long to dig him out after seven days when you and Liam hold your wedding?” “The fake death pill’s effect can last for five days. I’ve already had people put water, food, and an oxygen tank in the coffin. He won’t die.”

In the darkness, a sense of suffocation overwhelmed me. My heart was gripped with pain. So, it was Scarlett who made my wife torture me, and then she came to pursue me, making me agree to fake my death and give up everything to be with her. This woman who said she would marry me was going to hold a wedding with Liam after burying me alive. But now I’ve woken up early, and there’s no water or food in the coffin at all! The cramped space made it hard to breathe. Through the wooden board, Scarlett’s voice sounded muffled but pierced through me like a sword, pinning me to the coffin. “When Liam’s identity as an illegitimate child was exposed years ago, his engagement to Olivia became his brother Lucas’s. Liam lost love, so I want to help him gain power and status. I promised Liam I would be his backbone.” “As for Lucas, to punish him all these years, I had Olivia torture him physically. Now letting him leave is a kind of relief. He loves me so much; he’ll forever be immersed in the beautiful dream I’ve woven for him.” The person beside her hesitated and said reluctantly: “But Lucas doesn’t know that faking death requires actually being buried. Burying a living person underground for seven whole days is too risky. And Mr. Wilson is so afraid of the dark and has claustrophobia. What if something happens in the coffin…” “It won’t!” Scarlett’s words left no room for argument: “The Wilson family is very cautious; we must make it look completely real. It’s only seven days, and he’ll actually only be conscious for two days. What could happen? Besides, Olivia agreed to lock him in a closet after every beating. He should be used to it by now.” “Liam has waited five years for this opportunity. We must ensure everything goes perfectly. After everything is settled and I marry Liam, we’ll get a fake marriage certificate abroad to fool Lucas. We’ll treat him well and make sure he can never return to the country.” As the footsteps faded away, I couldn’t make a sound no matter how hard I tried. The fake death pill kept my mind clear, but I couldn’t move my body or speak. My claustrophobia kicked in. I bit my tongue to force myself to stay calm, but my back was already soaked with sweat. In the pitch-black darkness, I was reminded of the five years I’ve been married to Olivia. Every time she tortured me, she would lock me in the closet. Painful memories flooded back like a tidal wave, and my stomach kept contracting. Two years ago, when I was locked in the closet again, it was Scarlett who saved me. The moment she opened the closet door, I felt like I saw an angel. Someone who could dispel all the darkness in my life. Since then, Scarlett has pursued me relentlessly. She took care of my battered body, comforted my broken heart, and told me to bravely resist Olivia’s abuse. How foolish I was to think I had found my salvation. Little did I know that all the torture I endured was instigated by Scarlett! She made Olivia hurt me while pretending to be the good person who healed me. And all of this was for my brother, Liam. I bit my lip hard, trying to make my body move. Suddenly, I heard the sound of a door opening outside. The sound of a man’s leather shoes was accompanied by Liam’s voice. “Scarlett, are you sure burying Lucas underground for seven days won’t cause any problems? He’s going to be buried today. He is my brother after all. I still feel it’s too cruel.” I felt like I had grabbed onto a lifeline, helplessly screaming in my heart: Save me! Please, just open the coffin and look. One glance and you’ll see I’m already awake. I don’t want to be buried alive. I don’t want to experience the pain of suffocating in darkness!

But no one could hear my inner cries. The only response was Scarlett’s cold voice. “Liam, you’re still too soft-hearted. We’ve planned this for so long, all for this day. We can’t ruin everything at this point.” “Have you forgotten how Lucas took everything from you? If it weren’t for his mother, your identity as an illegitimate child wouldn’t have been exposed, your mother wouldn’t have died, you would have married the woman you loved, and you wouldn’t have been kicked out of the Wilson family!” “Don’t worry, when this is all over, I’ll make it up to Lucas.” My whole body trembled, my limbs numb and convulsing, as if a thousand needles were piercing my body. The taste of blood filled my mouth, and I had to swallow the metallic sweetness in my throat. Scarlett, I don’t want your compensation! If you just let me out, I’ll willingly give up my position as heir, run far away, and never bother you again! Liam seemed to be crying, choking out: “Scarlett, you’re so good to me. Every time I was sad and upset, you deliberately provoked Olivia to torture Lucas, and had her send photos and videos.” “Seeing Lucas beaten black and blue, kneeling on the ground begging for mercy, and him locked in the closet for three days and nights until he was dehydrated, it always made me feel better.” Scarlett held Liam tightly in her arms, sighing: “As long as you’re happy, hurting Lucas a thousand or ten thousand times is worth it. This is what he owes you.” In the coffin, my tears gushed out. My heart felt as if it had been heavily hammered, caving in. Scarlett, is this how you’ve always seen me? How can people be so cruel? So every time I was abused, it was your doing. You were extremely gentle to my face, but behind my back, you took videos and photos of me being tortured to please another man. I laughed silently, tears sliding down the corners of my eyes, instantly absorbed by the wooden board. Perhaps it was because of the extreme pain, but my body suddenly burst forth with unprecedented strength. My fingers could move! No matter how much I hated this despicable couple, I just wanted to live now! My nails scratched several marks on the coffin board beneath me, making a faint scraping sound. I hoped they could hear the movement inside the coffin. The next second, my hope was shattered. I heard the sound of passionate kissing outside. I could feel the man being pressed against the coffin, his back tightly against the wooden board. I desperately tapped on the wooden board with my fingers. But the two outside were lost in the heat of the moment and couldn’t hear anything. The man and woman’s heavy breathing intertwined, the two of them bumping against the coffin, making it creak incessantly. My desperate cries for help were easily drowned out. The woman moved her body while professing her love: “Liam, do you know how long I’ve waited for this day? I’ve finally waited for you to give up Olivia and agree to marry me.” “For you, I endured the disgust of seducing Lucas. That night with him, all I could think of was your face.” I closed my eyes, gritted my teeth, and forced myself not to listen to those nauseating sounds outside. I thought my desire to live would outweigh my hatred for them. I was wrong. I hate them so much. As much as I once loved Scarlett, I now hate her just as intensely. I hate myself even more for falling in love with two women who hurt me without restraint. After what seemed like an eternity, it finally quieted down outside. Just as I was despairing and waiting for death, the coffin suddenly opened a crack.

The sudden white light was blinding. What came into view was Liam’s handsome but slightly gloomy face. The man’s cheeks were flushed, his clothes disheveled, clearly having just experienced that act. I looked at him with pleading eyes, hoping he would save me. But Liam didn’t seem surprised that I was awake. He looked at me with disdain. “Tsk tsk, how pitiful. You’re about to be buried alive. Scarlett went to handle the funeral arrangements. Good little brother, let me keep you company for a while.” “Five years ago, your mother uncovered my identity. To clear the obstacles for you, she drove my mother to death and made Dad remove me from the Wilson family! Not only that, you also stole my wedding. The one who should have married Olivia was me!” “For five years of marriage, you’ve been tortured by Olivia for five years. I didn’t expect you to be so patient, refusing to divorce. I had no choice but to let Scarlett seduce you. You were so stupid, actually falling in love with Scarlett. Didn’t you fantasize about going abroad to marry Scarlett? You stole my marriage, so I’m going to steal yours too!” “I’ve been waiting for your mother to die. I also tampered with your fake death pill. Once you’re buried, you’ll watch yourself die with your eyes wide open. Your death day will be my and Scarlett’s wedding day.” Liam spoke the cruelest words one by one, and my heart grew colder and colder. The hope that had just been rekindled was extinguished once again. Liam curled his lips, extremely pleased. He took out the water and food prepared in the coffin, saying carelessly: “Since you’re going to die anyway, you won’t be able to eat these things. But I’ll leave the oxygen tank for you, to let you live a few more days. Too bad you won’t be able to see my and Scarlett’s wedding.” The coffin was closed again, and the last bit of light disappeared. My fingers dug deep into the wooden board, my nails almost breaking. My eyelids grew heavier, and I passed out from exhaustion. When I woke up again, I could only hear the hustle and bustle outside. My funeral had begun. Guests exchanged greetings and laughter, no one mourning my “death”. “The Wilson family’s second young master has finally been tortured to death. Olivia beat him until he was unrecognizable, but for the sake of the family, he refused to divorce no matter what.” “He deserved it! Who told him to steal his brother’s woman? His brother is more handsome and capable than him. If it weren’t for being exposed as an illegitimate child, how could it have been Lucas’s turn to take over?” “Exactly. To marry Olivia, he even drugged her. How shameless. As a result, right after they got married, Olivia miscarried their child. Serves him right. Now that he’s dead, Olivia won’t even attend the funeral.” “Liam is the lucky one. Although he suffered five years ago, now that his brother is dead, he’s the only heir to the Wilson family. In a week, he’s even going to marry the only daughter of the Shen Group. Who would dare call him an illegitimate child now?” … People discussed my family and my marriage, freely belittling and mocking me. Yet they didn’t know that lying in the coffin was a living person, desperately waiting for death. The priest finished the prayer, and it was time for the burial. I struggled bitterly, feeling time ticking away second by second, yet no one could save me. I was carried to the cemetery. Before being lowered into the grave, I heard Scarlett leaning against my coffin. I desperately forced three words out of my throat: “Save… save me.”

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I was born with cursed words. Everything I said seemed to come true in the worst way possible, so I stopped speaking entirely since I was old enough to understand. When our six-year-old son accidentally bumped into my pregnant sister-in-law, my husband sent him to a brutal dog training facility. Our son had been bitten by a dog before and was terrified of them. I desperately tried to stop it, begging on my knees until my forehead was bleeding. Gabriel helped Lily up, gently caressing her swollen belly. His voice was cold and unfeeling when he spoke to me: “Don’t think I can’t see through you. He did this because you told him to. You’re a conniving mute, and he has your tainted blood running through his veins. If we don’t teach him now, he’ll grow up to be just as rotten as you.” “We’re sending him to learn some manners, to understand respect and hierarchy. It’ll teach you a lesson too – don’t meddle in things that aren’t your business!” When I finally found our son, he was locked in a cage with five vicious dogs, his small body torn to pieces. I pieced together my son’s tiny body, and for the first time in over twenty years, I spoke: “Gabriel Curtis, I swear you’ll pay for this in blood. Your family will be ruined.”

When I returned to the Curtis mansion carrying my son’s incomplete remains, Gabriel was in the garden, personally planting roses for Lily. Blood-red roses, blooming lusciously. Gabriel’s eyes were tender when looking at Lily, but they turned to disgust when he saw me: “Aria Stone, look at yourself. You look like death warmed over. Has the Curtis family gone bankrupt that we can’t afford to feed you? You look like a beggar with your messy hair and dirty face.” “Don’t think I’ll feel sorry for you. You can’t even raise a child properly, always scheming. Why can’t you learn from Lily?” Lily gave me a smug look, then said softly, “Aria must be worried about Jack. If only I had stayed away from Jack, he wouldn’t have bumped into me. Aria must be blaming me. Gabriel, please bring Jack back soon.” Gabriel frowned, “Jack’s been spoiled by this wretched woman. I sent him to the dog training facility to teach him manners. It’s for his own good, and it’s not your fault.” He turned to me and said, “Go clean yourself up. You’re an eyesore.” I held Jack’s body, staring at Gabriel expressionlessly. I was born with cursed words. Everything I said seemed to come true in the worst way possible, so I stopped speaking entirely since I was old enough to understand. I used to hate why I was cursed with such a power, but now I only hoped my words would come true quickly, punishing them for what they’d done. My voice was hoarse from years of disuse: “Gabriel, you’re right. The Curtis family is about to go bankrupt.” Gabriel was shocked to hear me speak: “Aria Stone, you can talk!” His shock quickly turned to anger: “You’re really something, aren’t you? Pretending to be mute all these years to gain my sympathy! What a deep game you’ve been playing!” “Why speak up now? Let me tell you, the Curtis heir will only be Lily’s child. Don’t even think about it. If you dare to harm her or the baby, I won’t let you off easy.” He didn’t spare me another glance: “Looking at you makes me sick. Throw away that filthy thing in your arms and get out of my sight.” My hands trembled as I held Jack’s body. He was dead, yet his own father called him filthy. I remembered how every night, he would look up at me with his innocent face and ask, “Mommy, if I’m a little better behaved, will Daddy read me a bedtime story?” “On my birthday, will Daddy take me to the amusement park? He promised me before.” My heart ached terribly. My hands shook as I held Jack’s body, tears streaming down my face. I choked out: “Gabriel Curtis, this isn’t filthy. This is the body of your son Jack. He’s dead, just as you wanted!” Gabriel paused, then sneered, “Aria Stone, so this is why you’re not pretending to be mute anymore? You needed your voice for this performance? You’d even curse your own son. You’re truly terrifying.” He snatched Jack’s body from my arms, glanced at it carelessly, and said with cruel intent: “Since you claim this mess of flesh is Jack, let’s have the dogs identify it. We’ll see if it’s human flesh or some animal meat you’ve brought to act out your little drama.”

Soon, the butler brought two large black dogs. Gabriel threw the bundle in front of them. They smelled the blood and excitedly dragged out the remaining limbs, starting to devour them. I went mad, rushing forward to snatch Jack back, but the butler held me tightly. I screamed at Gabriel, my heart breaking: “Gabriel Curtis, that’s your son! He was killed by dogs, how can you feed him to dogs again? Are you even human?!” Gabriel carefully shielded Lily, worried the bloody smell might frighten her. He looked at me mockingly: “Aria Stone, you’re quite the actress. You’ve really put a lot of thought into this scheme, but use your brain for once. Jack is learning manners at the dog training facility. He’s fine.” “In a week, I’ll bring him back myself. No matter how you act now, I won’t give in to you.” I hated him so much my teeth bled from biting down. I fought like a wild animal against those holding me back, finally managing to grab back the remaining body parts. The black dogs, enjoying their meal, bared their teeth at me when I took away their food. Gabriel frowned and quickly had the dogs taken away. He had lost all patience with me and didn’t want to look at me anymore. He turned to leave with Lily. I spat out hatefully at their backs: “My child is dead. Her child won’t live either!” Ever since Gabriel’s older brother died, he had been taking care of his sister-in-law Lily, even to the point of sharing a bed. At first, Gabriel tried to keep the affair secret, doing his best to hide it from me. Until one day, Gabriel brought back a badly injured Lily. His eyes were cold and unfamiliar when he looked at me. He slapped me hard: “Aria Stone, I never thought you could be so vicious. If I hadn’t arrived in time, Lily would have been violated and killed. She’s pregnant, for God’s sake.” That was the first time Gabriel had ever hit me. I was confused, not knowing what had happened, and tried to ask using sign language. But he no longer had the patience to wait for me to finish signing. He warned me: “Stop acting all pitiful. I won’t fall for it anymore.” “If you can’t accept Lily, I don’t mind divorcing you and marrying her.” From then on, Gabriel and Lily’s relationship was out in the open. Even his mother, Mrs. Curtis, couldn’t do anything about it. I had thought about divorcing him countless times, but I couldn’t because I wouldn’t get custody of Jack. In the end, it cost Jack his life. I held Jack’s body and cried until I passed out. When I woke up again, Gabriel was dragging me by my hair to Lily’s bedside. Lily’s face was pale. She looked at me with tears in her eyes: “Aria, I know you don’t like me. You think I stole Gabriel from you. But the baby is innocent. How could you be so cruel as to exchange my baby’s life for your ability to speak?” The cursed words had come true. Her child was gone. I smiled coldly. Seeing my reaction, Gabriel became even more furious. He kicked me in the chest, making me cough up blood. “You bitch! I knew there was a reason you suddenly started talking. You must have used some evil method to exchange Lily’s child for your voice!” “I’ve always been too soft on you, letting you forget your place. Now that Lily’s lost her baby, you must pay the price!” “You want to talk? Wait for your next life!” Gabriel picked up a bowl of medicine and grabbed my neck, trying to force it down my throat. I tightly closed my mouth, struggling desperately. He pried open my teeth, and just as the medicine was about to pour in, I was too exhausted to resist anymore. If I drank this medicine, I would become truly mute. Gabriel Curtis, how could you be so cruel!

“Stop! Stop this instant! This is a sin!” Mrs. Curtis’s arrival interrupted Gabriel’s actions. I fell from his grasp onto the floor, coughing violently, my mouth full of a bloody taste. Mrs. Curtis looked at the scene before her and sighed deeply. She helped me up. “Aria, are you alright?” I managed to say a few words with difficulty: “I’m fine.” Mrs. Curtis’s whole body shook. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing: “Aria, you… you can speak?” She suddenly seemed to age a decade, too weak to stand. Tears streamed down her face as she muttered, “It’s over, it’s all over…” Gabriel looked at her strangely and asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?” Mrs. Curtis’s voice was heavy with age and sorrow: “Years ago, when the Curtis family was in crisis, your father paid a great price to have our fortunes read. The fortune-teller said that if you married a mute woman with a matching birth chart, it would protect the Curtis family’s fortunes from decline.” “But when the mute woman speaks, the Curtis family… will be ruined!” The fortune was correct, but it didn’t account for the fact that I was pretending to be mute because of my cursed words. Gabriel didn’t believe it, scoffing at the idea: “That’s all superstition to trick old people like you. Our Curtis family’s wealth is what we’ve earned ourselves. What does it have to do with Aria Stone?” “If she really had such power, how come she couldn’t even raise her own son properly?” Mrs. Curtis wanted to say more but held back. She had doubted it too, but the Curtis family’s business had rapidly improved after Gabriel married Aria. Mr. Curtis had died just two years after getting the fortune read. Part of her had to believe it, while another part hoped it wasn’t true. Hearing about Jack, she perked up a bit. She doted on Jack the most. “Where’s Jack? I haven’t seen him.” Gabriel looked at me coldly: “Aria Stone couldn’t teach him properly, so I sent him to a dog training facility to learn some manners.” I looked at Mrs. Curtis and said hoarsely: “Jack is dead.” Gabriel couldn’t tolerate me repeating the same lie. He impatiently said: “How long are you going to keep this up? Are you going to say that pile of rotten meat is Jack again? Someone, burn that mess to ashes and use it as fertilizer for the roses.” Watching Jack’s body being thrown into the fire, this time I didn’t struggle. Jack was gone. Keeping his body had no meaning. It was better to burn it and let him leave this world clean. In his next life, he could be born into a good family and live a happy, peaceful life. Mrs. Curtis looked from Gabriel to me, not knowing who to believe. She hurriedly left for the dog training facility. After Mrs. Curtis left, Lily said tearfully: “My poor baby, you didn’t even get to see the world. You would have grown up to be as big as Jack, calling us Mommy and Daddy.” “Gabriel, do you think we’ll have children in the future?” Gabriel kissed her forehead tenderly, comforting her: “We will, in the future.” His gaze turned even more hateful when he looked at me: “Aria Stone, I let you off easy earlier because my mother was here, but I must teach you a lesson.” “Since Lily’s child is gone, the child in your belly will have to make up for it.” Watching Gabriel approach me step by step, I fearfully backed away until I fell to the ground with nowhere else to retreat. I said with a trembling voice: “Gabriel Curtis, you’ve already killed Jack. Are you going to kill my other child too? It’s your child as well!” Gabriel paused. Seeing his hesitation, Lily spoke up: “Gabriel, you don’t need to do this for me. My position in this family is already awkward. How can my child compare to Aria’s? Even though you said the Curtis heir would be my child, no one really believes it.” Gabriel said solemnly: “I make the decisions in this house. What I say goes, and everyone will take it seriously. Aria Stone isn’t worth a single hair on your head.” He hesitated no longer, raising his foot to stomp hard on my stomach.

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Just because I accidentally broke the dried flower arrangement made by my wife’s childhood friend, she sent me to a “men’s etiquette school” for reformation. Facing inhuman torture at the school, I desperately screamed, struggled, and begged on my knees. But no one paid any attention to me. After forty-nine days of brutal body modification, my limbs were removed and I was molded into a vase. When Sophia received an invitation to a private auction, she whispered to the boy beside her: “Jake, I’ll bid on this vase. It would be perfect to display your new dried flower arrangement.” At the moment of my last breath, a commotion broke out in the crowd. With just one glance, Sophia’s eyes widened in shock as she frantically raised her bidding paddle. With a crisp slap, Sophia’s hand struck my face. “Ryan! You useless good-for-nothing!” she snarled, her face dark with anger as she jabbed a finger at my nose. “I didn’t marry you so you could live a life of luxury! You can’t even handle this simple task! How dare you carelessly ruin Jake’s heartfelt gift?” Jake rushed over, looking very apologetic. “Sophia, please don’t blame Ryan. It wasn’t intentional,” he pleaded. “These dried flowers weren’t anything special – just a small gift I stayed up late for a week to make for you,” Jake continued. “It’s a shame you liked them so much, but I didn’t even get a chance to give them to you before Ryan broke them…” He crouched down and carefully gathered up the remains of the dried flowers. I hurriedly tried to explain: “It was an accident! I was being careful, but he-” “Enough!” Sophia cut me off impatiently. “Look at yourself, then look at Jake!” “Jake always puts me first and considers my feelings. But you? All you do is cause trouble for me!” “I’ve told you before not to mess with Jake. Did it all go in one ear and out the other?” She looked at me with disdain and disappointment in her eyes. “Apologize to Jake right now and learn from him how to be a proper husband!” I held my stinging cheek, my heart bitter. After five years of marriage to Sophia, I took care of the household chores, shielded her from drinking at social events, and gave up my own career and hobbies for her. Yet in her eyes, I couldn’t compare to a simple dried flower arrangement from Jake. An immense sense of loss washed over me as I forced myself to apologize through gritted teeth. But Jake still wasn’t satisfied. Sophia declared she would “punish” me to teach me a lesson. Jake approached and patted my shoulder. “Ryan, don’t be upset with Sophia. She just wants you to improve,” he said smoothly. “You’re so handsome and strong. You just need some refinement in your manners.” His tone suddenly shifted. “I heard about a top-notch men’s etiquette school that recently opened downtown. Not only does it cultivate proper behavior, but it also offers physical training.” “Why don’t we send Ryan there to study? It’ll be like returning him to his prime at age 20. What do you think?” This wasn’t a suggestion – it was a poisoned trap! Fear gripped me like an invisible hand. By the time I realized what was happening, I was already restrained by security guards, unable to move. “No! Sophia! I won’t go! You can’t do this to me! Jake has ulterior motives!” I couldn’t help but scream, struggling desperately and crawling to clutch at her legs. But Sophia turned a deaf ear, her eyes cold and impatient. She ignored my pleas and protests. A guard chopped the back of my neck. Darkness instantly swallowed me.

I was awakened by the glare of surgical lights above me. The scent of antiseptic mixed with crisp cedar cologne filled my nostrils. My hands and feet were bound, leaving me completely immobile. I used all my strength to shout: “This is illegal detention! It’s a crime! I’m calling the police!” But the room was empty – no one responded to my cries for help. Overwhelming panic seized me like a tidal wave. They had taken my phone, cutting off all contact with the outside world. I realized with horror that no one was coming to save me. Despair coiled around my heart like vines, making it hard to breathe. After a while, the heavy door opened. A man in a white coat entered, his face expressionless. Without a word, he gestured to the men behind him. Two large men came forward and held me down as a syringe was forcibly injected into my arm. My body gradually went numb, but my mind remained terrifyingly alert. The man in the coat approached and firmly pinched my now-insensate arm. “Ah!” I couldn’t help but cry out in pain, my body shaking violently. He smiled eerily. “Good, the pain receptors are still active. This will make our ‘artistic creation’ much more soulful.” The familiar scent of cedar cologne wafted into my nose. I forced my eyes open wide, finally recognizing the face hidden behind the surgical mask. It was Jake! That bottle of cedar cologne was a gift Sophia had given him just yesterday to welcome him. Now he was discussing my “vase modification plan” with two doctors. “Jake! Let me go right now! Sophia won’t let you get away with this!” I shouted. He didn’t even glance my way. Sophia, you fool! She had no idea that Jake, her dear childhood friend, wasn’t sending me for simple fitness training. He intended to humiliate me, to turn me into a living… vase for people to admire! With the last bit of strength left in my body, my survival instinct exploded. I desperately struggled to roll off the operating table. I had to crawl away! I had to escape! I had barely crawled half a meter when a shiny leather shoe stomped down hard on my right hand! “Ahhhhh!” An agonized scream erupted from my throat. “Trying to escape? Where do you think you can go? Ryan, you need to learn to submit,” Jake said. As he spoke, he deliberately twisted his shoe, grinding it into my fingers. I was in so much pain I nearly passed out. The sound of bones crunching was sickeningly clear. I no longer cared about dignity: “I was wrong, please, I’m begging you, let me go please…” Just then, Jake’s phone rang. He casually answered and put it on speaker. Sophia’s voice came through. “Jake, how is… Ryan doing? Is he still causing trouble?” I thought I detected a hint of concern in her voice, but quickly dismissed the notion. How naive of me – even at this point, what was I still hoping for? Jake glanced at me and smiled smugly. “Don’t worry, Sophia. Ryan is undergoing a body modification treatment. He’ll be completely obedient to you soon.” As he spoke, he ground the toe of his shoe into my hand again. I let out an even more piercing scream. I used my last ounce of strength to beg Sophia for help. But not only did she show no mercy, she laughed coldly: “Ryan, don’t be so ungrateful! Jake is helping you – you should be thankful! Stop trying to play the victim and gain sympathy. I’ve seen through your act!” “Behave yourself and don’t embarrass me!” I thought back to five years ago at our wedding, when she vowed to love me for life and support each other forever. Those promises now seemed utterly ironic and laughable. Immense disappointment and betrayal washed over me. I stopped calling for help and closed my eyes, my heart dying in that moment. Jake hung up the phone and directed the men to move me back onto the operating table. He gripped my jaw, forcing me to look at him. “Ryan, what I hate most is that pretentious face of yours,” he sneered. “And you’re too noisy. It would be better if you were quiet.” Before I could react, a cold scalpel slashed viciously at my tongue! Excruciating pain shot through me as blood gushed out. The agony was so intense I couldn’t even scream. My vision went black as I passed out completely.

When I regained consciousness, I discovered I had truly been turned into a “vase”! And before me was an auction hall. I was trapped inside the vase mold, completely immobilized. Every inch of skin, every bone in my body, screamed with unbearable pain. In a daze, flashes of the operating table came back to me. That devil Jake had personally broken my bones, forcibly molding my body into the shape he desired with clay. Countless tiny needles repeatedly pierced my skin, carving out bizarre patterns. I kept waking from the extreme torture only to pass out again, unable to bear it. That feeling of wishing for death was so intense, I almost forgot I was still alive. The more my body hurt, the deeper my hatred for Sophia and Jake grew. But I was utterly helpless, like a fish on a chopping board, at their mercy. The crowd stared at me intently as the auctioneer spoke passionately. “Ladies and gentlemen, look at this human vase! It took exactly forty-nine days to create the crackle glaze effect!” “Real human blood was used for the red glaze. The more pain the subject felt, the more beautiful the patterns became!” Whispers spread through the audience. Apparently I had been sent to an auction. “This is so artistic! I’ve never seen a vase made from a real person before. It would be quite a conversation piece!” “New patterns are still forming – how fascinating! Truly a rare treasure!” “This auction was well worth attending!” I could feel my life force slowly draining away, barely clinging to existence. Looking closer, I saw Sophia seated in the front row. Her gaze paused on me briefly as it swept across the room. She didn’t recognize me, instead turning to complain to her assistant. “Why hasn’t Ryan made any contact recently?” Jake immediately reassured her, his voice low but just loud enough for me to hear. “Sophia, Ryan is probably focusing on his training. Don’t be angry with him. Maybe he’s planning a surprise for you.” Sophia scoffed after hearing this. “Speaking of vases, why is he so special? I prefer the one on stage.” I had no energy to argue. Let her think what she wants. I was already at their mercy. The crowd below had gone into a frenzy, emotions running high as they bid astronomical sums to acquire me. My gaze met Sophia’s again. From not far away, she seemed to finally recognize me. A look of disbelief flashed in her eyes. “This vase… why does it look like… Ryan? What’s he doing here?” “Putting a person… inside a vase? Is that safe?” She stood up, perhaps wanting a closer look, but Jake grabbed her arm. “Sophia, don’t worry. This must be Ryan’s way of pursuing an artistic effect – he made himself into a vase shape.” “Besides, isn’t he more special this way?” “He can’t go anywhere or cause any more trouble for you now.” Sophia nodded thoughtfully at his words and sat back down calmly. Watching them chat intimately, the physical pain paled in comparison to the despair and hatred in my heart. Sophia! Jake! I truly hate you both so much!

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To support my husband’s scientific pursuits, I sent him overseas for advanced studies. But two years later, he walked out of the airport with a young girl. “Seraphina, a junior researcher under me, got seriously ill from radiation exposure during an experiment while trying to protect me. I need to take care of her.” He insisted on bringing her home, converting my study into a lab. Day in and day out, they were ‘doing research’ in there. Until, well, they ‘researched’ a baby into existence. And he still claimed it was just a drunken accident. “Seraphina’s parents are both gone; this child will be her only family. I *have* to keep it.” “Be the bigger person, Harper. Let her have this house so she can focus on her pregnancy in peace.” “You’re so busy with work anyway, no time for kids of your own. This baby could even call you ‘godmother’ later.” I scoffed. That night, I cleared out everything from the house and pulled all funding from his research project. Sorry, but I’m not exactly short on houses. Or kids, for that matter.

“Ms. Harper, are you really going to cut off all funding immediately? Without any buffer time, their project will practically…” “Confirmed. Pull it all. Every last cent.” I didn’t hesitate for a second. The call with my assistant, Kai, had just ended when another call came in. “Harper Reed, what do you mean by ‘do you want to marry me’? You…” “Exactly what it sounds like. What, you don’t want to? Should I ask someone else?” “Who said I don’t want to! You’re not allowed to ask anyone else!” Declan’s voice shot up, then he slowly asked, “So you’re divorced now?” “Almost. Don’t worry, I won’t let you feel grossed out.” “That’s not what I meant. I meant, if you’re in trouble, I can help you.” I paused, then politely declined his offer, but a warmth slowly spread through my chest. He chased me for six years and never gave up. Guess he’s finally getting what he wished for. Only me, chasing after someone unworthy, ending up completely shattered. Not long after I hung up, I heard Julian and Seraphina’s voices behind me. They walked in, arm in arm, Julian carrying a large bag of baby supplies. “Julian’s never been a dad, but he’s already so good at this stuff,” Seraphina cooed. “If I don’t understand, I need to learn. Otherwise, how can I take good care of you… Harper?” Julian froze slightly when he saw me. Seraphina immediately hid behind him, timidly saying, “Ms. Harper, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you’d be back today.” “Don’t worry, I’ll go abroad after the baby is born. I won’t stay here and be an eyesore for you anymore.” Eyesore? I chuckled. Been an eyesore for this long, a little longer won’t hurt. Besides, soon enough, out of sight, out of mind. Just like in the past, the more pathetic Seraphina acted, the more Julian’s heart ached for her. He wrapped his arm around her, comforting her. “What kind of person do you take me for? You have no parents, no family. How could you live alone with a child?” The next second, he looked at me, his tone utterly natural: “Seraphina is pregnant and needs a new bedroom with a more comfortable environment.” “She can have ours. You rarely come back here to stay anyway, with all your overtime.” I stared directly into his eyes, simply replied “Okay,” and walked straight out. Julian, who had prepared himself for my “tantrum,” stood rooted to the spot. Before, when he wanted to convert my study into Seraphina’s lab, I fought him for a whole week, exhausting him completely. But this time… “Harper, what kind of attitude is that? What are you trying to pull now?” Julian chased after me and grabbed my arm. I looked at him impatiently and asked, “Julian, I should be asking *you* that.” “When I made a fuss, you said I was narrow-minded. Now I’m planning to give the entire house to Seraphina, and you think I have ulterior motives?” Julian’s expression flickered, then he let out an awkward cough, pulling my hand. “I’m sorry. I misunderstood you.” I was momentarily stunned. In our six years of marriage, to keep him focused on his research, I was always the one who gave in first. He’d always been so stingy with his words to me, and now he was actually apologizing. “Since you’re willing to change, then stay. Seraphina and I aren’t unwelcoming.” “Tonight, you can make Seraphina your signature sour fish soup.” “She’s had terrible morning sickness lately and craves something sour.” In that instant, I wanted to throw up too. Sure enough, it was all my imagination. “What *is* she, that she deserves me cooking for her?” I snapped back, unable to stand his face, but he immediately scowled and said, “Hmph, I knew you were faking it.” “You’re still that heartless, ungrateful businesswoman with nothing but filthy money in your eyes, no different from six years ago.”

Years ago, because of my mother’s rare illness, I met Julian, who was researching drugs in that very field. I was quickly drawn to his talent and personality and began to pursue him. To have common topics with him, I forced myself to read obscure biology books. To show my determination, after we married, I didn’t hesitate to agree to his continued studies abroad, even investing heavily in his lab and leveraging my connections behind his back. But what I finally got was him returning with another woman. “You’re right. I’m a businesswoman, so a businesswoman’s hands are only for making money, not for cooking.” Before, when he accused me of reeking of money, I’d feel sad. But now, I only felt lucky. Lucky that even though my judgment was poor, at least I had money. “On the other hand, you, you claim to love her so much, but you can’t even bear to cook for her?” “I’ve told you, I only feel gratitude towards her. I just want to take care of her. That child was an accident!” As always, he explained impatiently, then looked at me with disappointment, as if I had committed some grave error. I was too tired to listen anymore, so I shook my hand free and walked out. I didn’t expect that after an all-nighter at the office, I’d open the door to my apartment and see Julian in the kitchen, making breakfast. That was a ‘miracle’ that had never occurred in our six years of marriage. For the sake of his hands, which he needed for experiments, I had always done the cooking at home. I remember even when my hand was bleeding non-stop from a knife cut, he’d avoid me like the plague just to hand me a band-aid, terrified my blood would taint his hands. And now, he held a knife, meticulously slicing bread for Seraphina. “Julian, your hands shouldn’t be doing such things! Put that knife down!” Seraphina ran into the kitchen, and Julian immediately hugged her back, saying tenderly, “You stayed with that radiation source for so long to protect me, and now you’re still willing to have my child. This little thing is nothing.” Seraphina, touched, threw herself into his arms, and a flicker of triumph crossed her eyes as she looked at me standing outside the door. I watched them with cold eyes, then waved my hand, directly instructing the movers to start clearing things out. Julian looked at everything, confused, shielding Seraphina firmly behind him, demanding to know what I was doing. “Nothing much. I’m just divorcing you, so we’re separating first.” “What did you say?” Julian’s face went blank for a second, as if he couldn’t grasp what I was saying. “Divorce… me?” He again showed that ‘I knew it’ expression, full of disgust. “Here we go again. Harper, I’m not falling for your games anymore.” “Tell them to get out. Seraphina is pregnant and needs quiet rest. Don’t you understand that?” I sighed wearily. Before I could speak, a worker rushed down and asked me, “Ms. Harper, the safe you insisted we take—it’s in Ms. Seraphina’s room, and… it’s open. It’s empty.” My heart sank. I spun around to look at Seraphina. She blinked, saying, “Julian gave me that box. I saw it only had some old papers, nothing useful.” She curved her lips at me, her smile sweet and malicious. “So, I burned them all.” *Slap!* I lunged forward and slapped Seraphina across the face. “Those were my mother’s musical scores, her last precious relics! How *dare* you…” My heart ached so much I could barely breathe. But the next instant, Julian actually raised his hand at me— “Harper Reed, for some dead woman’s junk, you dare hit her!”

As the force of his palm rushed toward me, he met my red-rimmed eyes. He seemed to finally snap back to reality for a second, intending to lower his hand. But because of his strength, his wedding ring still grazed my cheek, leaving a thin cut. “Dead woman’s junk.” I stood frozen, my heart turning to ash as I repeated his words. “Fine, I get it.” I turned around and instructed the movers to take the things and leave immediately. But he chased after me. “Harper!” He grabbed my hand, a rare look of guilt on his face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know Seraphina would burn your mother’s things.” “But she’s pregnant, it might be hormones, her emotions are unstable.” “You’ve never been a mother, can’t you be more understanding of her? I’ll go get new copies of your mother’s things…” I sharply pulled my hand away, looking at his face, which was already regaining its ‘rational analysis’ look. “Julian, I’ll hire the best lawyers to expedite our divorce proceedings.” “You!” Julian was about to chase after me again, but Seraphina cried out in pain, and he immediately turned and ran back into the villa. After settling my things, I blocked all of Julian’s contact information. I didn’t see him again until a week later at a banquet. This banquet invited many CEOs from biopharmaceutical companies. Julian never used to come to such ‘corrupting’ places, but now, because of the sudden withdrawal of crucial funds, he had no choice but to seek help here. He still had no idea that the person behind that money was me. “Oh my, Ms. Harper, why are you here?” Seraphina covered her mouth, seemingly very surprised. “This place is full of professionals in biomedicine. The discussions aren’t about stocks or funds.” “Someone like Ms. Harper, do you even understand?” Her voice was clear, as if she wanted everyone around to mock my out-of-place presence. But everyone simply gave her a strange look and turned away. “I’m standing here because this banquet is *my* event. Every glass of wine Ms. Seraphina is drinking right now is paid for with *my* money.” “Without me, how do you think these bigwigs would grace us with their presence?” The resentment and jealousy in Seraphina’s eyes instantly overflowed. The next second, Julian actually dismissed her and stood next to me, holding a wine glass. I knew he had networked around, found no one willing to invest in his project, and so he came to me. “Harper, even if you want a divorce, our joint assets are half yours, half mine…” Even he struggled to say such shameless words. I chuckled, then slowly said, “Mr. Julian, did you forget the prenuptial agreement we signed?” “To prove your integrity, didn’t you personally sign an agreement for separate property, terrified to taint yourself with my ‘dirty money’?” Julian’s face immediately turned ugly, secretly regretting it. But he wanted to use our past relationship to make me soften, but I was utterly unmoved. I only spoke of “divorce.” “No, I’m afraid my money would dirty your experiments.” “Harper, are you really going to take it this far?” He gasped, all traces of his refined demeanor were gone. He thrust the wine glass towards me. “Fine then, if you have the guts, drink this, and we go our separate ways, and it’s over for good!” I took the glass without hesitation and drank it all. But after I finished, I noticed that Julian’s eyes, besides anger, held a hint of panic. No, this drink… A wave of dizziness hit me. My vision went black, and I collapsed.

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After I died, my parents signed the organ donation consent form, transplanting my retinas into their most cherished adopted daughter, Felicity. Without me, they finally became a real family. My whole life, I’d fought with Felicity, only to end up with nothing but a bleak, desolate fate. Reborn, I decided to live my own life, and unexpectedly, I found a happy ending. I was reborn, back to the very day Felicity came to our home. If I’d been reborn just a little earlier, maybe I could have prevented Felicity’s biological parents from dying, or perhaps I could have threatened to kill myself to stop my parents from adopting her. But now, she was already home. It was too late for any drama. Felicity was the daughter of my father’s respected mentor, a renowned artist who had her late in life, and she was cherished like a precious gem. She showed extraordinary artistic talent but suffered from an unknown eye condition, with her sight fluctuating and the constant risk of blindness. Her parents had taken Felicity everywhere seeking treatment, but they died in an accident, leaving young Felicity orphaned. Felicity’s childhood was truly tragic, which is why my parents, at first sight, decided to treat her as their own, even valuing her more than me, their biological daughter. “Chloe, haven’t you always wanted an older sister? From now on, Felicity will be your sister. Aren’t you happy?” My parents looked at me with loving eyes, hoping I would genuinely accept this adopted sister. My seven-year-old self, in my previous life, was indeed happy. I thought the world had given me a warm new family member, and I was eager to share my love with this gentle-looking sister. I never imagined Felicity was a thief, not wanting to share my parents’ love, but to steal it all for herself. “Chloe, Dad knows you’re a sensible girl. Felicity’s health isn’t good. Even though you’re the younger sister, we need you to help Mom and Dad take care of her. Can you do that?” Before I could even open my mouth, tears were already welling in Felicity’s eyes. “I know my sister will have a hard time accepting me. Who wants to share their family’s love? Sister, don’t worry, I’ll just go to an orphanage.” Sometimes I truly suspected Felicity had also been reborn. How could an eight-year-old girl be so manipulative? I hadn’t even expressed any opposition, and she was already branding me as a jealous, difficult child. Mom gently wiped Felicity’s tears. “Don’t cry, Felicity, it’s bad for your eyes.” “Why are you still calling us ‘Uncle’ and ‘Auntie’? We told you, from today on, we’re your Mom and Dad.” Felicity lifted her small, innocent face, clear tears still clinging to her lashes. She looked so overwhelmed and grateful, anyone would feel sorry for her. “Waaah, I have a Mom and Dad now!” At that moment, the three of them hugged, crying together, and no one remembered to ask for my opinion. Felicity just had that kind of power.

That night, my parents made Felicity and me share a room. I lay quietly, unable to sleep, my mind racing with how to become independent and leave this family as soon as possible. After everything in my previous life, I understood: from the moment Felicity entered this home, my Mom, Dad, and even my brother, all became her sole possessions. Late in the night, Felicity quietly got out of bed beside me. I squinted, pretending to be asleep, and watched her head straight for my parents’ room. “Waaah, Mom, Dad, it’s so dark, my eyes hurt so much, I’m so scared!” My overly compassionate parents, blinded by sympathy, didn’t even stop to think how Felicity, in such an unfamiliar environment, could have found their room so easily in the middle of a sudden “eye attack.” They just hugged Felicity tightly, their eyes welling up with tears in distress. “Don’t be afraid, Felicity, Mom and Dad are here.” Felicity trembled, burying herself in Mom’s arms, looking utterly terrified. “Mom, Dad, can I really stay in this home? Waaah, just now my sister…” Overhearing this, my heart sank. The next second, Dad stormed into my room without a word, pulling me out of bed while I was still pretending to sleep. “What did you say to Felicity?! How can you be so insensitive? Felicity has been sick since she was little, and her background is so tragic. Can’t you just give in to her?!” “Don’t be like that, Chloe is still young. Just teach her, she’ll understand!” Mom said she was trying to calm Dad down, but she was still holding Felicity tightly, not even attempting to come over and shield me. In the end, they took Felicity back to their room, leaving me, dressed only in thin pajamas, shut outside my own door. Before, Mom used to check on me in the middle of the night, tucking me in before she left. They seemed to have forgotten I was just a seven-year-old child. I also feared the dark, the cold, and I was at an age when I needed my parents’ love the most. In my previous life, Felicity often did this. She would fake an eye flare-up, then, while my bleeding-heart parents were overwhelmed with sympathy, she’d invent baseless lies to badmouth me. As a young child, I gradually realized the danger. Ever since she arrived, I, their sweet and adorable little daughter, had turned into a “bad girl” in my parents’ eyes. So, I began to secretly compete with Felicity, always trying to outdo her. Anything Felicity had, I had to have too. But Felicity was skilled at playing innocent in front of people, appearing gentle, timid, and always deferring. My parents felt even more indebted to her. I fought with Felicity my entire life, but I could never win against her. Even my brother, who used to dote on me, fell under Felicity’s spell. Everyone in the art world knew that the Davidsons had a pitiful, talented adopted daughter, Felicity, and a rude, jealous, good-for-nothing biological daughter, Chloe. This time, I decided not to compete with Felicity anymore. I would live the life I truly wanted.

The next morning, Felicity and my parents’ joyful laughter drifted from the dining room. I quietly walked downstairs and saw Felicity sitting in *my* seat, using my favorite tableware. When they saw me, the previously harmonious atmosphere suddenly shattered, as if *I* were the outsider who had intruded on their family. A flicker of awkwardness crossed Mom’s face. “Chloe, why are you up so early today? Felicity doesn’t have her own tableware yet, so she’s using yours. Can you use Liam’s set, please?” “No, thanks. I don’t like taking other people’s things.” The moment those words left my mouth, everyone understood I was mocking Felicity. Dad seemed to still be upset about me “bullying” Felicity yesterday; his usually kind expression turned incredibly sour. I glanced at the milk, sandwich, and bacon and eggs on the table—all things Felicity liked to eat. I was lactose intolerant and usually had porridge for breakfast. “Oh dear, I forgot! You can’t drink milk. I’ll make you some soy milk in a bit,” Mom quickly interjected, trying to smooth things over, desperate to hide the fact that she paid more attention to her adopted daughter than to me. *Slam!* Dad slammed his cup on the table, scolding me with displeasure in his voice. “Why so particular? You spoil her too much! At such a young age, you’ve indulged her into being so wild! We need to take Felicity to transfer schools, no time to waste!” The old me would have been heartbroken by those words, throwing a tantrum without a second thought. But now, my heart was numb. I silently sat at a corner of the table, watching Felicity, who was eating with her head down, a hint of a triumphant smile playing on her lips. But when she looked up again, her small face was filled with sorrow. “Dad, don’t talk about my sister like that. My sister isn’t like me; she was pampered with love since she was little, so it’s natural for her to be a bit willful. It just shows how much you love her.” My overly compassionate parents were once again moved to tears. How could there be such an angelic little girl in the world? In comparison, I, who had everything since childhood yet was so headstrong, seemed utterly insensitive. The disappointment in their eyes when they looked at me deepened. But I didn’t care. In my previous life, I had practically cut ties with my parents, and I no longer cared what they thought of me. I could have easily charmed Felicity, acting as a brainless, easily controlled younger sister. Then I would still be my parents’ good daughter, picking up whatever scraps of affection they left over from Felicity. But I would make Felicity understand that the family love and affection she so painstakingly gained were worthless in my eyes.

By the time “the family of three” returned home after handling the school transfer, I had already voluntarily cleared out my original room, moving all my belongings into the unoccupied guest room. It wasn’t that I was giving way to Felicity on purpose; it was simply to preserve my own personal space. Dad gently patted my head and said, “Chloe is so sensible, truly Dad’s good daughter.” A young child might have gloated over those words, but reborn, I understood the unspoken meaning: I had to sympathize with Felicity at every turn, sacrificing my own happiness for hers, to be worthy of being his “good daughter.” Felicity burst into my room without asking, wanting to look around. When she saw the complete set of art supplies my parents had bought for me earlier, her small face suddenly turned pale, and she weakly collapsed into Mom’s arms, sobbing. “Waaah, I wish I could paint carefree like my sister!” Mom looked at me uneasily, hesitating for a long time before finally speaking. “I’m sorry, Chloe, but to consider Felicity’s feelings, could you put away your painting things for now?” Here we go again. Ever since Felicity appeared, my living space had been constantly squeezed, to the point where I wasn’t even allowed to have my own hobbies and dreams. It was the same in my previous life. Felicity’s eyes weren’t good, so she couldn’t paint for long periods, which meant I was also forced to drastically cut down my painting time. I was a painter’s daughter, yet I couldn’t buy art supplies freely or attend art classes, simply because seeing them would upset Felicity. But Felicity could cuddle in Dad’s arms, learning to paint hand-in-hand. Every one of her works was exquisitely framed, while my paintings had to be hidden at the very bottom of my art box. It even came to the crucial moment of our art school entrance exams. Felicity’s vision suddenly flared up during the exam, preventing her from completing her test, and she swapped our names on the canvases when submitting them. When the admission results came out, I immediately recognized that the excellent artwork labeled with Felicity’s name was actually mine. I begged my parents to intervene for me, but they just held a sobbing Felicity, urging me to be more generous. “Chloe, you can always retake the exam next year, but Felicity doesn’t have much time left! You know she could go blind at any moment!” “Felicity has been so pitiful since she was little, just let her have this! You’ll definitely get in next year!” It was easy for them to say. They had no idea how much time I, with less natural talent than Felicity, had secretly spent practicing, painting in the dark every night, nearly ruining my own eyes. I broke down, screaming: “She stole my Mom and Dad, and now she wants to steal my life too?! Give me my spot back, or I’m leaving this house forever!” My resistance didn’t bring my parents any remorse, only a furious slap from my father. “If it weren’t for Felicity’s eyes, do you think you could have beaten her? You have no talent for painting at all, you’d just be bottom of the class at an art school!” I clutched my stinging cheek, unable to believe those words came from my own father. In the end, Felicity still took my place at art school. I, meanwhile, was mocked by everyone in the art world for losing to an adopted daughter with poor eyesight. My artistic dreams shattered, and I lived a mediocre life. Reborn, I had lost all passion for painting. So, in front of my parents, I threw that set of painting tools into the trash. Dad’s face immediately darkened, but they knew they were in the wrong and just awkwardly left with Felicity.

When summer arrived, my older brother, Liam, who usually studied abroad, returned home for a reunion, mainly to meet the legendary new sister, Felicity. Just like in my previous life, Liam was utterly captivated by Felicity the first time he saw her. Felicity had wrapped a cloth around her face, stumbling around the living room like a blind person, then “accidentally” fell into Liam’s arms during their first meeting. Felicity blushed, saying in a delicate voice, “Because I don’t know when I’ll go blind, I want to learn to live in darkness first, so I won’t be a burden to Mom, Dad, and my brother later.” Felicity was so good with words. She subtly excluded me, her sister, and hinted to Liam that I didn’t get along with her. The passionate young Liam was too stunned to speak. The girl before him was as endearing as a delicate, innocent-looking heroine from a K-drama. He instantly vowed in his heart to take care of Felicity for the rest of his life. My parents suggested we all go out and have a fun day to welcome Liam home. I didn’t want to go. They were a harmonious family of four; what did I, their willful, jealous, spoiled, unloved younger daughter, have to do with it? But Felicity just had to stir up trouble, shrinking into a corner and letting tears roll down her face. “Mom, Dad, you should just take my brother and sister. It would be so depressing if I were there when you all have your family reunion.” Liam panicked, gently wiping Felicity’s tears. “Why would you say that? We’re already a family!” Felicity feigned shyness, trying to evade Liam’s hand, while casting a timid glance at me, as if making a silent accusation. Liam immediately glared at me. “Chloe! Why are you bullying Felicity? How did you become this kind of person? You weren’t like this before!” What kind of person did I become? The ones who changed were clearly *you*. Mom, who once thought of me in every way; Dad, who was strict but gentle; and my brother, who always protected me—they had all become strangers. I simply gave a cold laugh, looking Liam directly in the eyes. “Why don’t you let Felicity answer? How did I bully her? I even gave her my room; what else isn’t she satisfied with?” Felicity, guilty, instinctively avoided my gaze. Her frightened look only fueled Liam’s protective instincts, and he shouted at me without restraint, “It’s that condescending attitude of yours that hurt her! Felicity just arrived at our house, it’s only right for you to give in to her!” Suddenly, I felt like an enemy who needed to be vanquished, and he, Liam, was the prince protecting his princess. My overly compassionate parents only took sides. “Chloe, your brother is rarely home; don’t make him angry. Go apologize to your brother and Felicity.” I scanned this family, whose favoritism extended all the way to Antarctica, and answered firmly, word by word, “Anything Felicity wants, I can give it up, because I don’t care. But make me apologize? No way!” After throwing out those words, I locked myself in my room, shutting out Liam’s enraged shouts. Afterward, the family of four happily spent the entire day out. No one remembered to call to check on me, and no one remembered to bring me back any food. If it were the me from my previous life, I would have been incredibly wronged, starving myself or even running away from home to make my parents feel guilty. But now, I knew such actions were futile and would only torment my own body. I cooked myself a rich bowl of instant noodles, and while eating, I laid out the study guides I had secretly bought. Since being reborn, I had diligently studied and improved myself, not daring to slack off for a single day. This time, I wanted to forge my own path through my own efforts. After careful consideration, I decided to study medicine.

My seven-year-old self retained the intellect of my twenty-something self from my previous life, which meant I far surpassed Felicity academically. Felicity’s ‘white lotus’ acts worked on my overly compassionate family, but they were useless against school teachers. Failing an exam meant failing an exam. At the end of the semester, I ranked first in my grade, while Felicity was at the bottom. Every time she was called in for a parent-teacher meeting due to her poor grades, Felicity would cry, claiming she was too stressed and her eye condition flared up. Yet, she stubbornly refused to transfer to a special needs school. Every exam week, she would disrupt the peace of our home. To accommodate Felicity’s feelings and prevent her from being looked down upon by classmates due for being an adopted child, my overly compassionate parents decided both of them would attend Felicity’s parent-teacher conference, even though our grade levels had parent-teacher conferences on the same day. My bleeding-heart parents couldn’t possibly have been unaware that I was being mocked and bullied by my classmates because of their favoritism, being called a child who was born but not loved. Every time they needed to inconvenience me for Felicity, they pulled out the same old, tired, brainwashing rhetoric I’d heard countless times: “Felicity isn’t well, and her background is so sad. Just give in to her.” But I didn’t care, because knowledge gave me the greatest power. I used my after-school hours to study ahead, and at twelve, I skipped grades, becoming the youngest high school student in our city’s history. Overnight, my name became famous. Everyone knew the Davidsons had a child prodigy daughter. Dad’s phone rang off the hook daily with calls from people in high society, wanting me to befriend or even get engaged to their children. But again, to cater to Felicity’s feelings, Dad turned down all those invitations. He never considered how beneficial connecting with high society could be for my future. Of course, how could I compare to his precious darling, Felicity? The day my acceptance letter arrived, the Principal and newspaper reporters personally came to our house to deliver it. But they were met only by the fleeting backs of my parents rushing out. How could Felicity allow me to draw my parents’ attention? She simply claimed she had a headache, and my parents, without a second thought, whisked her off to the hospital, not even taking the time to greet the Principal. Even though I had long given up hope on my overly compassionate parents, at that moment, I still felt a touch of injustice and powerlessness. The Principal looked at me deeply and said earnestly, “Our school doesn’t have boarding students, but if you want to stay in the dorms, you can apply in advance, and I’ll arrange it for you.” The Principal’s hand, as she gently stroked my head, was so warm. I hadn’t felt such care and concern from an elder in a long time. I couldn’t help but shed tears in front of her. It was because of that tear that I gained the two truly important people in my life.

As the school year approached, I couldn’t wait to move out of that loveless home and into the school dorms. The day I left, my parents were once again dispatched to the hospital by Felicity. Liam, though home for the holidays, showed no inclination to help me pack. He just watched me busy myself, then finally tossed out, “This house will finally be quiet.” I hoisted the last bag of luggage into the taxi, not even sparing Liam a glance. The room Principal Thompson had prepared for me was excellent, seemingly converted from an unused faculty dorm, a comfortable studio apartment. I spent a day cleaning the dorm until it was neat and cozy, then went to a bookstore and bought a huge stack of study guides. High school coursework would be heavier; I had to work even harder to outcompete everyone. On the first day of school, as expected, I was ostracized by the other students. They heard the Principal had made an exception to arrange a dorm for me, and immediately labeled me as someone with connections. “Oh, look, here comes the 12-year-old genius!” “Is the prodigy scared to live alone in the dorm? Will she cry for her mom at night?” “Let the prodigy sit by the water cooler. Maybe she’ll need to mix some baby formula during breaks.”

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My half-sister was reborn, prophesying a zombie outbreak and the end of the world in two months. My husband and entire family believed her. They frantically hoarded supplies, even spending a fortune to transform our suburban villa into an impenetrable fortress. Julian squandered all our savings and even took out high-interest loans. I begged him, clinging to his leg, but a divorce agreement stripped me of everything. Two months later, Julian called, scoffing, “The first infected person is about to appear. If you don’t want to die, come kneel at the villa gates. Blair is kind-hearted, she might let you in.” But on the prophesied day, the apocalypse never came. They finally panicked. **Chapter 1** Waking from a nightmare, I answered a call. “Ms. Cassandra, today is the deadline for your mother’s grave renewal. If you don’t renew, her ashes will have to be moved.” I was on a business trip out of town. My hands trembled as I called my husband, Julian, urging him to renew the lease quickly, to keep those people from disturbing my mother’s eternal rest. Still shaken, I leaned back in my chair, the dream’s images still swirling in my mind. Two months later, a zombie crisis, erupting from City A, was set to sweep the globe, turning the whole world into a living hell. When the crisis hit, our entire family was trapped in the suburban villa. After two months, just as our supplies were running out, the army finally arrived. Overjoyed, I urged my family to get in the car and evacuate with the troops. But my sister, Blair, insisted on finishing her makeup before leaving. As the army’s departure time drew closer, I wanted to drag her out myself. Julian, though, blocked my way. “Blair’s a young woman. What’s wrong with wanting to look pretty before leaving? It’s the army’s job to serve the public; what’s wrong with them waiting a bit?” My dad, Mr. Davies, and my stepmother, Eleanor, also nodded in agreement, sitting back as if they had all the time in the world. I couldn’t believe it, but I had no time to waste with their nonsense. I turned to leave, but Julian grabbed me, saying, “We’re a family, we stick together.” He snatched my car keys. Finally, while Blair was meticulously drawing her eyeliner, the zombie horde suddenly attacked. We couldn’t retreat in time and all died, torn apart by the zombies. The searing pain of zombie bites still seemed to linger on my skin. Now that I had a chance to do it all over again, I absolutely wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes! When my plane landed, a subtle unease gnawed at me. Halfway to my destination, I changed course and headed for the cemetery. To my shock, a brand-new tombstone stood on what should have been my mother’s grave, engraved with an unfamiliar name. The staff member looked bewildered. “After we called you last time, no one renewed the lease. To avoid mistakes, we even notified your father. He explicitly said not to renew and that we could dispose of the ashes however we pleased.” A chill ran through me, my heart aching violently. I frantically searched through every jar and container in the unclaimed storage room until past midnight. Finally, clutching a small urn, I returned home. I hadn’t been home for half a month, and the sight that greeted me in the entryway left me stunned, unable to collect myself. My cozy little home, which I had painstakingly decorated, now looked like a frozen cave. All the appliances and furniture had vanished. My carefully chosen beige curtains were half-torn down, drooping on the dirty floor. My husband, Julian, was directing the maids to take down our wedding photo, which had hung on the wall for three years, and casually tossed it into a corner. “What are you doing?” The scene before me made me wonder if I was dreaming. After a long moment, I finally managed to squeeze out the words. A flicker of panic crossed Julian’s eyes. “Cassie, why are you suddenly back…?” I stared at him, my fingers trembling as I clutched the urn. “If I hadn’t come back early, how would I have known my mom’s grave had been desecrated?” Julian’s usually gentle face showed a hint of exasperation, as if he were looking at a childishly unreasonable person. “You don’t understand, Blair came back reborn from the future! The world is ending in two months, every cent we have needs to be spent wisely. Wouldn’t it be better to use the money for the grave renewal to buy more food? Why are you being so unreasonable at a time like this?” **Chapter 2** It dawned on me then. Blair had also been reborn. But I didn’t let any emotion show on my face. I clenched my fists, my voice filled with anger and disbelief. “You actually believe Blair’s nonsense about the end of the world? You’ve all gone mad!” “Dad’s company landed several big projects thanks to my foresight!” Blair sauntered down the stairs, head held high. “All the money we earned, Dad used to buy an entire warehouse of common medicines. These will be more valuable than gold in the apocalypse.” Her eyes were scornful. She glided into Julian’s arms, her fingers tracing his flat stomach. “I might as well tell you the truth: I’m carrying Julian’s child. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll serve me well. In the apocalypse, I might even spare you a bowl of rice.” My cold gaze flickered between their faces. It seemed they had been illicitly involved long before the supposed apocalypse. Julian suddenly felt a prickle on his skin. “Cassie, we’ve been married for three years, and you haven’t given me a child. I’m an only son; you have to consider carrying on my family name.” Only son? Please. This backwoods bumpkin acts like he’s heir to a kingdom. I scoffed, pulling off the simple band from my finger and dropping it at Julian’s feet. “Since you put it that way, I certainly need to consider your royal lineage. And since Blair says it’s only two months, we should hurry and finalize our divorce before the world ends.” Julian stared intently at the wedding ring I had discarded so carelessly, his brows deeply furrowed. Our family backgrounds were vastly different. After he graduated from college, I willingly gave up everything to help him start his business. We huddled together in a cramped, damp basement for warmth. To earn money, I worked five jobs a day, my hands in icy water washing dishes during the bitter winter, my fingers aching and itching. He used the first money he ever earned to buy me that ring—a simple silver band with only a tiny chip of a diamond embedded in it. Later, he succeeded in his venture, and I, with my top-tier qualifications, secured a position at a leading medical research institute. Yet, I still cherished that ring as if it were priceless. My reaction clearly caught him off guard. Julian could no longer maintain his gentle facade, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. “Cassandra, don’t throw a tantrum! At a time like this, we need to stick together as a family to get through this hardship. In fact, tomorrow, hurry up and ask all your friends and colleagues to lend you some money. You’re well-connected; borrowing a few million shouldn’t be an issue!” I sneered, too disgusted to entertain his absurd words, and walked straight upstairs to rest. To my shock, when I woke up the next day, my room door was wide open, and the entire wardrobe, which held all my gold and silver jewelry and designer bags, was gone. I bit down hard on my lower lip, my voice sharp as I demanded to know where my things had gone. He acted completely unconcerned. “You were sleeping soundly, I didn’t want to wake you. Those jewels and bags were useless anyway. Selling them meant we could buy a few more sacks of rice.” I could barely contain my rage. “What about the gold ring under my pillow? That was my mother’s only keepsake!” Julian’s voice faltered, then he sighed. “Cassandra, your mother passed away so many years ago. But you still have your father, Blair is your blood, and I’m your family too. Can’t you make a sacrifice for your loved ones?” His entitled tone tore through what little sanity I had left. I suddenly burst out laughing, but large tears streamed down my face. His breath hitched. He wanted to say something more, but I pushed him out of the room. I collapsed amidst the chaos, tears flowing uncontrollably, a helpless smile playing on my lips. **Chapter 3** Fortunately, just to be safe, I had secretly sold my most valuable jewelry under the cover of night, leaving behind only the cheap trinkets Julian had bought me and a few flashy designer bags. By the time Julian, wanting not to wake me, personally moved the wardrobe, a full ten million had already been transferred into my bank account. But I never imagined he would be shameless enough to steal my mother’s keepsake and sell it for cash. The hatred from the previous life, when he had personally dragged me into that death trap, surged through me. I silently wiped away my tears, a plan slowly brewing in my mind. Since your whole family is so united in preparing for the apocalypse, how could I not lend a hand? I don’t know how much time passed before my phone rang again. The caller ID showed it was a shareholder from Dad’s company. “Cassie, get to the company immediately! Your father has gone mad! He’s selling all his shares!” My heart tightened. I rushed over, only to find Dad and Blair confronting a group of shareholders. This company was founded by my parents, and its current status as an industry giant was partly due to my mother’s tireless dedication. I wouldn’t let him ruin it like this. Dad’s eyes lit up when he saw me. “You’re here at a good time. Hurry up and transfer your shares too, give me the money so I can reinforce the villa.” Blair arrogantly held her head high, looking at me as if I were already dead. In her eyes, I had neither the good fortune of being reborn nor the willingness to be subservient, destined for a dead end. Their family would stay safe in their impenetrable fortress, laughing at my miserable fate. The shareholders, all long-time company veterans, were caught off guard by Dad’s sudden actions. Fearing he was being scammed, they clamored to dissuade him from doing something foolish. “If you don’t want the company to have problems, there’s another solution,” Julian quickly approached, a refined smile playing on his lips. “You just need to acquire Dad’s shares.” My fingers clenched tight, nails almost piercing my palm, my knuckles white. Julian’s expression was as calm as if he were discussing tomorrow’s weather, but his words were like dull knives, carving into my heart, slice by slice. Blair scoffed, “Her? Want to buy Dad’s shares? Does she even have that kind of money?” Cold sweat trickled down my back. I couldn’t believe my former husband would scheme to such an extent. Dad, desperate for a quick sale, had lowered the price significantly. All my liquid and illiquid assets combined barely scraped by. “Well, Cassandra, even if it means spending every last cent you have, you want to keep this company, don’t you?” Julian whispered gently in my ear, his voice as soft as ever, yet it felt like steel knives piercing right through me. He watched me with keen interest, like a predator sizing up its destined prey. In two months, companies and shares would be nothing but garbage. But now, he wanted to use that garbage to squeeze every last bit of value out of me. Once the apocalypse came, I would have to swallow all humiliation, humbly bowing at his feet just to survive. My gaze was fixed on Julian’s utterly hypocritical face, my own pale and bloodless. “It’s a deal!” The paperwork was processed quickly. My dad, thinking he’d rid himself of a hot potato, had no idea he was abandoning their last lifeline. Ever since my dad remarried, the company shares had been firmly clutched in my stepmother’s hands. She never imagined there’d be a day she’d hand them over to me. Blair triumphantly announced that they had sold all their properties and the entire family had moved into the suburban villa. The cash obtained from selling all their assets was transformed into sacks of rice and instant ramen in the warehouse, and long-lasting potatoes, winter melons, and cabbages in the cold storage. The construction crew was working feverishly at the villa, erecting various illegal structures. Blair smiled proudly. “When the zombies attack, these watchtowers will be the best observation points.” I snorted, about to leave, but Julian wouldn’t let me go. He forcibly dragged me away. A hulking man with a menacing face eyed me up and down, his lewd gaze making me intensely uncomfortable. “This is Mrs. Julian, isn’t she? Quite an alluring woman.” The man rubbed his hands together, placing a contract in front of me. “Mr. Julian is in a hurry to borrow fifty million. We don’t exactly distrust him. But we’d appreciate it if Mrs. Julian could sign too. If anything goes wrong, a wife should naturally help repay the debt, right?” **Chapter 4** Before I could even speak, Julian pulled me aside. “Who’s going to care about these debts in two months?! Just sign it quickly! The stuff we’re hoarding could save lives! When the time comes, even the government will be begging us to sell supplies. What’s this little bit of money compared to that?” He had gone completely insane, even resorting to loan sharks. He was truly courting disaster. I sneered inwardly, but on my face, I put on a pitiful expression, clutching his leg and pleading desperately. “You’ve gambled away all our family’s money! Please, snap out of it! You won’t be able to pay back these high-interest loans!” The loan shark, Vinnie, immediately grew wary. Fifty million wasn’t a small sum. If Julian truly gambled it all away, even tearing him to pieces wouldn’t help. Seeing the money about to slip through his fingers, Julian was enraged. He kicked me away. “Bitch! What nonsense are you spouting?!” Blair nonchalantly stood beside Julian, smiling with pursed lips. “Julian, isn’t Cassandra going to divorce you? How can she still be ‘Mrs. Julian’? I can sign it instead.” Julian glared at me, then immediately scribbled a divorce agreement and tossed it at my face. I could almost laugh from sheer anger. All the clauses stated that all marital assets were unrelated to me – clearly meaning he wanted to strip me of everything. Though, given the current situation, our marital assets were already almost nonexistent. I added a line at the end of the agreement. Julian scoffed, agreeing without a second thought. A month later, clutching my freshly issued divorce certificate, I felt a sense of immense relief, completely disregarding Julian’s furious, dripping-wet face. As time ticked by, the date Blair had been constantly babbling about drew nearer and nearer. Julian and the Davies family, confident they were fully prepared, grew increasingly reckless in their actions. As I browsed the supermarket, several colleagues messaged me, reassuring me to stay calm and that divorce wasn’t such a big deal. It wasn’t until I saw the top story on Ins that I realized what was happening: Julian and Blair had announced their relationship.

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I was thrown by an out-of-control car when I was seven months pregnant, lying in a pool of blood. James rushed me to the hospital with red eyes, spending a fortune to bring in the best obstetrics team, desperately trying to save the baby. When I woke up, the ward was empty. Ignoring the excruciating pain, I got out of bed and stumbled around looking for my child. But outside the ICU, I overheard James talking to the doctor. “Mr. Wilson, the baby still has vital signs. Why are we giving up on resuscitation?” “A bastard child would only be a burden even if it lived.” “Sophie just gave birth to my son. I can’t let anyone threaten his inheritance rights.” So beneath his gentle and caring facade, he was hiding a poisonous heart. The marriage I treasured was nothing but an elaborately designed scam. Since he ruined everything with his own hands, he can’t blame me for leaving him with nothing. I stood outside the ICU, my hands gripping the wall so tightly my nails almost dug into the surface. James’ voice came from inside, each word like a knife carving into my heart: “Change the time of death to during the resuscitation process. Just say we did our best, but couldn’t save it.” The doctor hesitated: “But the baby still has a heartbeat.” “I said, this child cannot live,” James’ voice was cold as ice. “Sophie’s newborn son is the only heir to the Wilson family.” “This doesn’t seem right…” The doctor’s voice was shaking. “One million dollars. This is the down payment. You’ll get another million when it’s done.” The sound of rustling bills was piercing to my ears. My child, the baby I desperately protected, was only worth this much in his eyes? Through the glass window, I saw the doctor’s trembling hands pull the oxygen tube from the incubator. The tiny body began to struggle, twisting painfully like a fish out of water. I wanted to rush in and stop it, but my legs felt nailed to the ground, unable to take a single step. The heartbeat line on the monitor began to fluctuate erratically, finally flattening into a straight line. “Time of death, 10:47 AM,” the doctor’s voice seemed to come from far away. My whole body went cold as James’ past vows echoed in my mind: “Honey, when the baby is born, I promise I’ll be a good father.” “Our child will be the happiest baby in the world.” How laughable, how utterly laughable. Every word of love he spoke was just laying the groundwork for today’s betrayal. I leaned against the wall, inching my way back to the ward. Not long after I lay down, James pushed open the door. His eyes were still red, his face etched with grief: “Honey, I’m so sorry. We did everything we could, but…” I looked at his perfect emotional management and suddenly felt sick. This man could kill his own flesh and blood for someone else’s child. He leaned down to hug me, but I dodged him. “What’s wrong, baby? I know you’re devastated, but we’re still young, we can try again…” “No need,” I cut off his false sympathy. “I’m tired. I want to sleep for a while.” James gently tucked me in: “Alright, get some rest. I’ll be right outside with you.” As he turned away, a hint of a triumphant smile flashed in his eyes. But he would never imagine that the woman he had just destroyed would make him pay a thousand times over. The moment the hospital room door closed, I took out my phone and called my best friend Kate: “Help me investigate Emily’s relationship with James.” “And the birth date of their child.” After hanging up, I closed my eyes, tears silently falling. Baby, I’m sorry. Mommy couldn’t protect you. But Mommy will definitely make those who hurt you pay the price they deserve. Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, shining on my pale face. That night, my heart died. Along with the naive, innocent self who had been full of joy and hope for the future. From now on, I’m just a walking corpse. Until James kneels on the ground, begging me for a quick death. 2. I lay in the hospital bed, watching James busy himself taking care of me. His movements were gentle, his gaze focused, occasionally using the back of his hand to test the temperature of the food. This tenderness was like a knife, carving into my heart bit by bit. “Hungry?” He leaned forward slightly, a doting smile on his lips. “I had the chef make bird’s nest soup, your favorite.” He sat down by the bed holding the bowl, his long fingers gripping the silver spoon. Carefully blowing on a spoonful to cool it, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on me as he brought the spoon to my lips. I turned my head away, my hair lightly brushing his fingertips. “I don’t want to eat.” “Come on,” he sighed, his free hand gently stroking my hair, his voice full of concern. “You just lost the baby, your body needs nourishment. I’m worried about you, please don’t make me more anxious, okay?” What a perfect performance. His brows furrowed slightly, the corners of his eyes tinged red, even the trembling of his fingers was just right. If I hadn’t heard his words with my own ears, I might have believed him. Just then, his phone rang. His eyes flickered for a moment, glancing at the caller ID, his frown deepening: “There’s something at the company. I’ll take this call outside.” I nodded, watching him leave. He deliberately lightened his footsteps as he walked, even closing the door gently. The moment the door closed, his voice came through the crack. His previously gentle tone instantly became light and joyful: “Emily, don’t worry, everything’s taken care of.” His voice carried undisguised affection, completely different from moments ago. “Our child will be the Wilson family’s only heir. No one can threaten him anymore.” As he said this, there was even a hint of pride in his voice. “You just focus on the pregnancy. Once you’re out of postpartum care, I’ll bring you home.” So while I was lying on the operating table fighting for my life, his true love was resting comfortably elsewhere. I touched my empty belly, my fingertips trembling slightly. A small life had once been growing there. But now, there was nothing left. A nurse came in to change my dressing. Her gaze lingered on my face for a few seconds, her eyes full of sympathy: “Mrs. Wilson, my condolences.” I forced a smile, the curve of my lips just right: “Thank you.” She bit her lip, fidgeting with the hem of her uniform, hesitating before finally speaking in a low voice: “Actually… the baby could have been saved at first.” I gripped the blanket tightly, my knuckles turning white, the fabric crumpling deeply in my palm. “I know.” My voice was so calm it scared even me. The nurse was taken aback, her eyes widening slightly, seemingly surprised by my calmness. She glanced around, as if making sure no one was nearby, before leaning closer to my bed. “That Emily, she’s Mr. Wilson’s first love.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, “I heard they broke up years ago because his family opposed it.” Her hands shook slightly as she arranged the medicines on the bedside table: “She came in for a prenatal check-up a few days ago. I attended to her myself.” “She’s six months pregnant.” Six months. I counted on my fingers, my nails unconsciously digging into my palm. It was right when I had just gotten pregnant. No wonder during that time, James was always making excuses about business trips, occasionally coming home with unfamiliar perfume on his suit. So he had been with her all along. I laughed, laughing so hard tears came to my eyes. The nurse nearly dropped the medicine bottle she was holding. “Mrs. Wilson…” She looked at me worriedly, awkwardly offering a tissue. “I’m fine, you can go,” I took the tissue, elegantly wiping away my tears. After she left, I took out my phone, my fingertips lightly tapping the screen, dialing a number. “Hello, Kate.” My voice was frighteningly calm. “Help me investigate Emily’s whereabouts over the past few years.” My fingers unconsciously fiddled with the edge of the blanket. “And every meeting record between her and James.” Hanging up the phone, I wiped away my tears, a cold smile curling at my lips. James Wilson, isn’t the Wilson family’s reputation what you care about most? Then I’ll let the whole world know. That the mighty CEO of Wilson Group is a scumbag who killed his own flesh and blood for his mistress. You love Emily the most, don’t you? I’ll make you watch her crumble under everyone’s contempt. You took away my child, so I’ll leave you with nothing. Outside the ward, the sun was setting. The blood-red twilight dyed half the sky, just like that day, when blood stained my skirt. James pushed open the door, a bouquet of roses in his hand. His steps were light, a gentle smile on his face, as if the phone call earlier had never happened. “Honey, don’t be too sad.” He gently placed the flowers by the bed, his long fingers lightly arranging the petals. “When you’re better, we can try for another one, okay?” I looked at his concerned gaze, at the fine laugh lines at the corners of his eyes, and suddenly wanted to laugh. Unfortunately, you’ll never have that chance again. Because from today on, I won’t give you any opportunity to get close to me. For every bit of pain you’ve given me, I’ll make you pay back tenfold. 3. I scrolled through the surveillance footage on my phone, each frame cutting into my heart like a knife. So while I was struggling alone through morning sickness, James was in another private residence, personally making soup for Emily. His movements were as gentle as if handling a treasure, even testing the temperature of the soup spoon three times. In the footage, he wore a custom apron, smiling at the corners of his eyes: “Drink more, it’s good for the baby.” Emily snuggled into his arms coquettishly: “Your soup is always the best.” Meanwhile, my nutritional meals were always ordered from outside by his assistant. Memories rewound like a movie playing backwards. That day I suddenly craved sour plums and sent him a message. Three hours later he finally replied: ‘In an important meeting, I’ll have my assistant send some over.’ Now looking at the surveillance, I realized he was accompanying Emily to a luxury store to pick out baby items. He crouched down, gently caressing her slightly swollen belly: “This little dress is so cute. If it’s a girl, it would be perfect.” Emily smiled radiantly: “I think it’ll be a boy, handsome like you.” “Boy or girl,” he dotingly tapped her nose, “as long as it’s our child, it’s the best.” My fingers unconsciously dug into my palm. I remembered going to the hospital alone for a check-up, the nurse asking: “Where’s your family?” I smiled and replied: “He’s busy with work.” When the results came out, I excitedly took a photo and sent it to him: ‘It’s a boy!’ He only replied with a simple emoji. So all his tenderness was given to someone else. I opened another surveillance clip. He accompanied Emily for a prenatal check-up, never leaving her side. “Baby, don’t be afraid, I’m here,” he gripped her hand tightly. “If it hurts, just squeeze my hand.” Emily nodded with tears in her eyes: “With you by my side, I’m not afraid of anything.” While during my check-ups, I could only ever hear the cold sound of machines. The most ironic was the day of the gender reveal. He said he was on a business trip out of town, telling me not to worry. But in the surveillance footage, he was lying next to Emily in the examination room, eyes fixed on the ultrasound screen. “It’s a boy!” The moment the doctor spoke, he excitedly kissed Emily’s forehead. “That’s wonderful,” his eyes reddened with emotion. “We have a son.” Emily wiped away tears with a smile: “Do you think he’ll look like you?” “Of course he will,” he gently caressed her belly. “He’s our child after all.” I turned off my phone, looking out the window. The sky was gloomy, as if it might rain. Just like my mood right now. So from the very beginning, I was just an outsider. Every bit of tenderness he gave Emily came from his heart. While what he gave me was nothing but a perfunctory facade. The nurse came in to change my dressing, seeing my expression, she hesitated to speak. “Mrs. Wilson…” “Just call me Sophia,” I forced a smile. From today on, I don’t want to be Mrs. Wilson anymore. She hesitated for a moment before speaking: “Mr. Wilson and that Miss Emily were just in the cafe downstairs…” “I know,” I cut her off. “No need to say more.” I know what they’re doing. No doubt discussing what name to give that unborn child. James will certainly put a lot of thought into it. Just like he once promised me. Too bad those promises were meant for someone else’s ears. I took out my phone and sent Kate a message: ‘Prepare divorce papers for me.’ ‘Also, check their transfer records over the past few years.’ Since he loves Emily so much, let’s see if his true love is as pure as he imagines. Putting down the phone, I touched my flat belly. I’m sorry, baby. Mommy couldn’t protect you. But Mommy will definitely make those who hurt you pay the price.

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I fell in love with Lucas Gray, the heir to our company’s biggest rival. We were fierce competitors in the boardroom, and just as passionate in the bedroom. Our trysts left traces in his office, his car, the shower, the balcony – everywhere we could steal a moment together. My birthday was coming up in a week. I decided I would officially announce our relationship at my birthday party. But then I overheard him talking with his friends by accident. “Damn, three condoms? Lucas, you animal. I thought you said this was just for fun? No need to put in so much effort.” “Man, imagine how that old Sinclair geezer would react if he knew his precious daughter was getting it on all over Lucas’ office. Think he’d have a heart attack when he sees the video?” “You’re not going to chicken out of releasing the video, are you bro?” Lucas exhaled a cloud of smoke, pausing before he slowly replied. “Don’t worry, I’m just playing with her. You know Emma’s my fiancée. I’m only with Olivia to humiliate the Sinclair family. That bitch had the nerve to steal my deal – she deserves this.” I clutched the contract in my hand – the $100 million deal I had spent over a month convincing my father to agree to as our first partnership with Gray Corp. Well, it seems the Grays don’t need the Sinclairs’ goodwill after all. I dialed Ethan Morgan’s number. “I have a business proposition for you. And if you’re interested, I have a marriage proposal as well.” 0

My heart turned to ice as I listened to their conversation. Just this morning, Lucas had bent me over his desk and taken me three times. “We can’t, there are cameras in your office,” I had protested. “Don’t worry, I disabled them all. I can’t let anyone else see how beautiful you are, my darling.” I had scanned the room carefully, only agreeing after triple-checking there were no cameras. Now my shoulders still bore the marks of his passion. So he had been lying to me all along. The contract papers scattered across the floor. Their conversation continued in the office. “Lucas, you sly dog. Setting up that incident at the bar, having your guys harass her so you could swoop in and play hero. No wonder she fell for you hook, line and sinker.” “The Sinclairs and Grays have been rivals for years. When Olivia first joined the board and snatched that million-dollar deal from you, you became the laughingstock of the whole city.” “Now once you release that video at her birthday party, Olivia and the whole Sinclair family will be the new joke in town. You’ll have crushed them completely.” “Who’d want to do business with that slut Olivia after that?” … I couldn’t bear to hear any more. So the love I thought was real was just an elaborate scheme. But Lucas, you’ve underestimated me. I may have loved the wrong man, but I can take the loss. If you don’t love me, there’s a line of men waiting to love me instead. Ethan’s voice came through the phone: “Really? You’re finally willing?” “But I thought you said you were announcing your engagement next week? That you loved him…” “That man will be you,” I said firmly. “What?” I repeated with conviction: “That man is you.” I hung up and returned to my own company. I called my assistant in. “Remember that contract I had you working on this month? I need you to draft a new proposal, but change the partner to Morgan Corp.” My assistant hesitated. “But weren’t you and Mr. Gray very close? This deal would give them at least 30% profit. Why give it to the Morgans instead?” “You’ve been working overtime for a month to make this happen. Why…” “That’s enough,” I cut her off. “Personal feelings have no place in business. Besides, Morgan’s offer is lower and they’ve been a trusted partner for 10 years. They deserve it.” “And remember, from now on Lucas Gray and I have no relationship whatsoever. Don’t mention him to me again.” After dismissing my assistant, their conversation echoed in my mind. I scrawled “VIDEO” on a piece of paper in frustration. Video. I needed to delete any compromising footage before I left. Just then, Lucas burst through the door. His assistant followed, carrying gift boxes. Lucas took out a cake. “I picked four flavors I think you’ll love. Try them! Whichever you like best, I’ll have them cater your birthday dessert bar.” I forced a polite smile. “Aren’t you very busy lately? Why bother with little things like this?” He fed me a spoonful. “Olivia, everything about you is important to me. No detail is too small. Oh, and your birthday is in a week – I’ve decided to plan the whole thing myself.” His gaze suddenly fell on the paper with “VIDEO” written on it. My heart skipped a beat in panic. He smiled, pointing at the word. “We should prepare a special video for your birthday party. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it’s a surprise you’ll love.” Hearing this, my heart plummeted. The cake in my mouth turned bitter. I spoke hoarsely: “It’s just a birthday. We don’t need a video, right?” He stroked my hair affectionately. “No way, how else will your parents see how in love we are? How can they feel comfortable entrusting you to me?” The last shred of hope in my heart was crushed by Lucas’ own hand. I nodded helplessly, my chest aching. “Whatever you say.” 0

Just then, Lucas’ phone chimed. He glanced at the screen, a faint smile appearing. I tilted my head to look, pouting playfully. “Who’s messaging you?” He hastily hid his phone. “It’s nothing, just my assistant reminding me about a meeting.” My eyes darkened. He never used to hide things from me before. I had clearly seen a pink cartoon avatar. Lucas had replaced all his assistants with men to avoid making me jealous. Which woman was making him smile like that? Was it his fiancée Emma? I hid my disappointment, watching him carefully. Noticing my gaze, he broke into a sweat. The phone rang again. He declined the call. He gave me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry Olivia, I have to go. I’ll come see you tonight after I’m done with work.” After Lucas left, I borrowed my assistant’s car and discreetly followed him. My heart raced. I wasn’t sure what exactly I was trying to confirm. At the airport, I donned sunglasses and a hat, trailing about 100 meters behind Lucas. I saw him take out a large bouquet of pink and white flowers, looking around anxiously. Soon I spotted a slender young woman in a white pleated skirt bouncing over. She took the flowers and kissed him passionately right there in the airport. I turned away abruptly, my nails digging into my palms. I told myself: “Olivia, stop hoping. Your true love was just a game. It’s time to quit.” Late that night, Lucas finally came home. When we first moved in together, I wasn’t used to Lucas getting home late from business dinners. I always went to bed at 10pm sharp and woke up at 5:30am to work out for an hour before heading to the office, like clockwork. He’d come home late and try to fool around, leaving me exhausted for my morning meetings. After I complained repeatedly, he promised to always be home by 9pm. Tonight was the first time he had broken that promise. Seeming to sense my mood, he was especially gentle tonight. He silently took my hand from under the covers and clasped a diamond bracelet around my wrist. Then he bent to kiss my fingertips. “Look, do you like the new gift I chose for you?” “I didn’t mean to be late, I swear. We had an important client today. I knew you’d be upset so I had my assistant go to the auction to get this bracelet you loved.” “Will you forgive me just this once?” The diamond bracelet sparkled dazzlingly in the dim light, impossible to look away from. But I felt somewhat weary of it all. I looked at him and said flatly: “You smell like iris perfume. Were you meeting a client or seeing a woman?” He blanched in shock, quickly sniffing his jacket. “The client today was a woman, but she was over 40. No one as beautiful as you.” “Olivia, you’re overthinking again.” Whenever he did something wrong and was trying to appease me, he’d call me “Liv” and pepper light kisses on my nose, collarbone, and stomach until I lost all resistance and surrendered to passion. This time I pulled away. “But my employee saw you at the airport picking up a young, beautiful woman. You even kissed.” His expression cycled through several emotions in the lamplight, more colorful than a painter’s palette. He swore to the heavens: “We didn’t kiss, it was just a cheek greeting. The client just got back from France, it’s a local custom there. Don’t overthink it.” “We’re announcing our relationship in a week, what are you worried about?” “Honey, are you having some pre-wedding jitters? You never used to be so insecure.” I looked at the man before me, still so composed even when caught in a lie. I gritted my teeth. How lovely! I stared at the phone in his pocket. “I don’t believe you. Tell me your phone password, I want to check myself.” He calmly handed me his phone. Then he entered the password in front of me. I checked his messages, social media, photos – nothing suspicious. I couldn’t even find that pink cartoon avatar. For a moment I wondered if I had imagined the whole airport scene. I handed the phone back, my voice choked. “I’m sorry, I must be oversensitive.” He smiled and took the phone back, his warm hand sliding up my calf. I pulled my leg away, clutching the covers. “I was going to say, my period came early. The mood swings are probably from PMS.” He immediately placed a concerned hand on my belly and went downstairs to make me herbal tea. I used to get bad cramps during my period. He took me to see a Chinese doctor who recommended an herbal tea. Ever since, he’d brew it himself each time, watching me drink it and giving me a sweet date to chase away the bitterness. I watched his busy figure, unsure what was real and what was fake about this man anymore. 0

That night, I watched his sleeping face and quietly took his phone. I had once heard a married friend describe how she caught her husband cheating. I learned that some phones have two separate interfaces, requiring a special method to switch between them. I entered the password and successfully found the hidden interface using my friend’s technique. But opening the private space required another password. I tried the phone’s unlock code – no luck. I thought about using his fingerprint, but Lucas was very sensitive to touch. I didn’t dare risk it. As a last attempt, I entered my birthday. I had no real hope, but to my shock it worked. Lucas, if you don’t love me, why use my birthday as your password? I wiped away tears and opened the hidden space like Pandora’s box. I found the pink cartoon avatar in the messaging app, and 1.5GB of videos of me stored in the cloud drive. All our intimate moments that I thought were precious now felt like knives stabbing into me. My trembling fingers checked the camera angle of one video. It seemed to be from a hidden camera on his body. I quickly and permanently deleted all the videos, triple checking I hadn’t missed any. I put down the phone and found the diamond pin Lucas always wore. On the back of the pin, I truly did find a tiny hidden camera. I covered my mouth and collapsed to the floor, muffling my sobs. Crying, I flushed the camera down the toilet. The next day I packed all my things into a suitcase. Lucas looked at me in confusion. “What’s wrong? Where are you going?” I smiled and replied: “I have a business trip in a few days. I’m packing early so I’m not rushed later.” Lucas came over and hugged me. “What’s the hurry? I’ll help you pack when it’s time.” “Are you going to the office today? I’ll drive you.” I pushed Lucas away. “I have a client meeting. I’ll go myself.” Before I left, there was one last thing to take care of – handing over my work at the company. My parents had wanted me to return to headquarters last year, but I had made excuses to stay with Lucas until now. When I called yesterday saying I was ready to go back, they immediately sent a new manager to take over for me. I had just finished briefing him on all the tasks when my assistant burst in. “Ms. Sinclair, there’s trouble! A Miss Lee is making a huge scene, demanding to see you. She’s saying…” She hesitated, looking at me uncertainly. “She’s saying you’re the other woman who stole her fiancé. Of course we don’t believe her, but she won’t leave. What should we do?” I took a deep breath. So Emma Lee couldn’t wait and came looking for me herself. I walked out and heard the commotion by reception. “Olivia Sinclair, come out! If you have the guts to steal someone’s man, have the guts to face me!” Everyone was staring and whispering. I stood in front of her. “You’re looking for me? Let’s talk in my office.” She strutted after me in her Chanel heels, bristling with anger. She looked around my office, eyeing my nameplate. “So the homewrecker even made it to CEO. Did you sleep your way to the top?” I leaned against my desk, turning the nameplate. “Miss Lee, you’ve been out of the country for over a decade and seem unfamiliar with things here. If you had bothered to look into the Sinclair family at all, you’d know exactly who I am.” Her eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re Olivia Sinclair, the Sinclair heiress? Impossible. Lucas said the Sinclair daughter was his most hated rival – a shrew always meddling in men’s business.” She narrowed her eyes, looking triumphant. “Oh, I get it. Lucas must be pretending to date you just to humiliate you.” “Take my advice and stop chasing after Lucas if you know what’s good for you. We’ve been engaged since childhood. You don’t stand a chance!” I struggled to contain my anger, feigning nonchalance. “Oh? Why don’t you ask your dear Lucas whether I’m chasing him, or he’s chasing me.” When we first got together, he had pursued me relentlessly. Now I’m the other woman? Lucas, you’ve really outdone yourself! Just then, she flew into a rage and grabbed a nearby vase, hurling it at me. “You’re lying! Lucas would never like an old hag like you!” I couldn’t dodge in time. Blood spilled across the floor. By the time Lucas rushed to the hospital, Emma had long since fled. He stood by my hospital bed, looking guilty. “I’m so sorry. Emma is my sister – she’s been spoiled by our family. It’s my fault for not explaining things clearly. Don’t worry, I’ve already scolded her.” I turned away, not wanting to look at him. He grabbed a water glass and smashed it against his own head. Blood streamed down his face as he gazed at me with devotion. “See? Now we match. If you hurt, I’ll hurt with you.” Seeing my silence, he raised the glass to strike himself again. “If you’re still not satisfied, I can do it again. Two times, three times, four times – as many as it takes until you forgive me.” I quickly stopped him. “Enough. Don’t hurt yourself anymore.” He knelt down, reverently kissing my fingertips. “You’ve finally forgiven me?” I nodded. Lucas, I’ll believe you one last time.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296830”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf

I had been caring for my husband Marcus for over forty years after he was paralyzed in a car accident shortly after our wedding. It wasn’t until he passed away that I discovered he had left a will, bequeathing all our assets to Olivia, a younger woman he knew from college. I was evicted from the house we had lived in for decades. Leaning on my cane, I shakily made my way to a law firm, hoping to reclaim the property as his wife. To my shock, I was informed that Marcus had secretly divorced me years ago. Before I could process this betrayal, Olivia sought me out, taunting me with cruel words. “You didn’t know, did he? He was worried about my well-being, so he’s been sending me your salary and his pension all these years.” “When you were younger, he didn’t want children with you because we already had a child together. Come to think of it, I should thank you for paying to raise our kid.” I was devastated and enraged. But before I could react, Olivia shoved me into a muddy puddle. Later, her daughter and a group of delinquents beat me to death after trapping me in a sack. When I opened my eyes again, I saw my young, newly paralyzed husband Marcus crying pitifully before me. “Rachel, the doctor says I’ll never walk again. How will I find work now?” he sobbed. I quietly put away the credit card I had prepared to give him and sneered, “What can we do? I guess I’ll just have to throw you a grand funeral when you starve to death.”

“What did you say?” Marcus asked, perhaps not hearing me clearly, looking at me with puppy dog eyes. Those deep, soulful eyes had fooled me in my previous life. I believed he only loved me, but in the end, he had deceived me for an entire lifetime. “Marcus, Rachel earns a good salary. She can definitely support you. Plus, she’s still young. She can just work two jobs,” Olivia, a sunny-looking young woman, patiently comforted him. “Don’t worry about these things. The most important thing now is to keep your spirits up. That’s the key to a quick recovery.” Marcus had said Olivia saved him during the accident and was his savior. In my previous life, I was so focused on the devastating news of Marcus’s paralysis that I didn’t notice how familiar their interactions were, as if they had known each other for a long time. Perhaps seeing no reaction from me, Marcus’s tear-filled eyes secretly glanced at Olivia. She immediately understood his meaning and decided to speak to me directly: “Rachel, let me be frank. Men’s hearts are fragile, especially now that he’s in this condition because of you. He’s bound to have some insecurities. As his wife, you should give him a sense of security. For example, you could put your savings in his name. It would be good for the stability of your family.” It was the exact same words as in my previous life. On the day of Marcus’s accident, I had just returned from a business trip abroad. I had finished my work early and wanted to surprise him, so I only told him I was at the airport after I had already arrived. Marcus rushed to pick me up and got into an accident on the way. Because of this, I spent my entire life drowning in guilt and pain, trying everything I could to make it up to him. It wasn’t until just before I died that I learned Marcus had been in Olivia’s car that day, and they weren’t even on their way to pick me up. But he never told me the truth, allowing me to be consumed by guilt day after day. Coming back to my senses, this time I didn’t anxiously hand over my credit card to him like I did in my previous life, apologizing and swearing my loyalty. Seeing that I still hadn’t moved, Marcus became angry: “Rachel, I’ve become like this, and this is your attitude? What does this mean?” Olivia also seemed anxious but still tried to persuade him: “Maybe Rachel is still in shock from hearing this terrible news and hasn’t recovered yet.” My salary was quite high, and I had always been generous with him. Whenever he asked for money, as long as it wasn’t excessive, I would give it to him. Perhaps he also felt that handing over my credit card wasn’t a small matter, so he didn’t become suspicious. He sighed and said, “No matter what, Olivia is my savior. She saved my life, so you should at least show some appreciation, right?” “You probably haven’t prepared a gift, so why don’t you give Olivia a check for $2,000 as a thank you?” “Oh, I couldn’t possibly accept that!” Olivia immediately refused. Marcus insisted: “No, you must. When I give it to you, you have to take it.” The scene was playing out just like before. In my previous life, after Marcus said this, I immediately wrote a check for $3,000, even adding an extra thousand because I believed that a life was priceless. Later, I sent her many more gifts to express my gratitude. At the time, the look in her eyes was strange, but I thought she was just shy. Now I understood that it was clearly mockery at my stupidity. This time, I didn’t move. Seeing this, Marcus, annoyed at my hesitation, reached for my phone himself. He knew my bank account password and had secretly transferred money to Olivia many times before. Whenever I asked about it, he would use the “life-saving debt” to silence me. This time, I moved away from Marcus’s hand and walked to the side: “It’s fine to give money as thanks, but I have a few questions first.” Marcus was clearly surprised that I, who had always been quick to give money, would suddenly challenge him. He looked puzzled. Olivia also froze for a moment, glancing at Marcus before saying, “What questions?” I looked at Olivia: “I heard that the car doors were all jammed shut. How did you manage to pry them open?” This was Marcus’s version of events, but many details in his story had holes. In my previous life, whenever I questioned these details, Marcus would get angry. He would eventually explode, accusing me of being heartless, saying he was almost dead and I was focusing on such trivial matters. Later, I gradually stopped daring to ask. To avoid bringing up painful memories, I even avoided mentioning the accident altogether. Olivia’s eyes darted around: “I’ll tell you about this in private later. Let’s not talk about the accident in front of Marcus. He’s already very upset, and I’m afraid it might cause him further trauma.” I laughed and asked, “Are you really afraid of hurting him, or are you just looking for a chance to get your stories straight?” Olivia and Marcus’s faces darkened. They spoke in unison: “What do you mean by that?” Their synchronization was impressive. No wonder they had been able to fool me for an entire lifetime, leaving me penniless and alone in the end. Swallowing my hatred, I smiled coldly and said, “Olivia doesn’t look like she has the strength to force open a car door. How did she manage it?” “Besides, if you had to use force to open the door, your hands should have been badly injured. But the injuries on your hands don’t look like they came from prying open a car door. They look more like self-inflicted cuts.” “Also, the accident happened two days ago. Why didn’t you come then, and why are you only showing up now? I heard you were in a car accident yourself a couple of days ago? What a coincidence, isn’t it?” “…” “Enough!” Marcus angrily interrupted me before I could finish. Olivia was clearly flustered by now. She said pitifully, “Marcus, I never thought Rachel would be so suspicious of me. If that’s the case, then forget it. I’ll leave now.” Marcus grabbed her wrist, refusing to let her go. Then he turned to me with angry eyes: “Rachel, what’s wrong with you? Is this how you interrogate someone who saved my life?” “I order you to transfer the money to her account right now and apologize to Olivia!” It was clear that he was truly furious. I chuckled lightly and asked innocently, “What is there to apologize for? These are perfectly normal questions. If she’s not lying, why is she so flustered?” “Besides, she’s your savior, not mine. If anyone should be transferring money, it should be you.” But I knew that over the years, he had secretly transferred all his money to Olivia behind my back. He couldn’t possibly come up with any money now. Sure enough, Marcus flew into a rage. He grabbed the fruit knife from the bedside table and threw it at me forcefully. I dodged just in time; the blade barely grazed my face as it flew past. He acted as if he hadn’t seen how close it came to hitting me and pointed at me, shouting, “Is this how you treat me? Fine! Why are we even staying together? As soon as I’m discharged, we’re going to file for divorce!” “Divorce?” I repeated these two words questioningly. Marcus thought I was scared and a flash of satisfaction crossed his eyes. He was about to say something, but I calmly interrupted him and asked: “Aren’t we already divorced?”

In my previous life, when I painfully walked into the law firm, hoping to claim a share of the property as Marcus’s wife, they told me we had divorced just days before the car accident. Later, when I wanted to have children, Marcus kept refusing. I guess he was afraid I would discover this fact. Clearly struck by my words, Marcus’s face turned pale for a moment. But he was certain I couldn’t produce any evidence right now, so he continued to deny it: “What nonsense are you talking about? Rachel, is it because you see that my legs are injured, so you want to abandon me?” “How can you be so heartless? Have you forgotten all I’ve done for you? We’ve been married for six years. During this time, I’ve brought you lunch every day because I was worried about your stomach. Three years ago, when your health was poor, I went to the temple to pray for you for three months, reciting scriptures and eating vegetarian food every day…” Marcus choked up, tears streaming down his face. We had met through a matchmaker and got together because our views aligned. It wasn’t a passionate love, but after spending time together, feelings naturally developed. Over the years, I had taken on the responsibilities of our family, and he had indeed taken good care of me. But later I found out about Olivia’s existence. When he brought me lunch, he would first deliver a portion to Olivia. The gifts he bought for me, he would inflate the price, then use the extra money to buy something better for Olivia. As for going to the temple to pray for three months… I sneered inwardly, guessing that was probably when Olivia gave birth to their child. Unfortunately, all these years, in order to provide the luxurious life he wanted – the mansion, the luxury cars – I had been so busy earning money that I had left this opening for them to exploit. Olivia also tried to smooth things over for Marcus: “Rachel, don’t let this situation escalate because of me. I know you might be worried about the future expenses, so you’re a bit reluctant to part with the money. It’s okay, I didn’t save Marcus for money anyway. Actually, I don’t need the money…” She pretended to be generous. I knew she was trying to provoke me, but I didn’t fall for it. Instead, I said to Marcus, “See? She says she doesn’t need the money. Why are you insisting on giving it to her? Is the money burning a hole in your pocket?” Marcus’s face turned purple with rage. Olivia also glared at me resentfully. Just then, the doctor came in, urging us to pay the continued hospitalization fees. Actually, Marcus had already met the standards for discharge, but he had been reluctant to leave. In my previous life, he had me pay for two more months of hospitalization. A week’s stay in a private room at this top-tier hospital cost $7,000, just for the room. He said he wanted a better treatment environment, and I supported him, struggling to earn money to give him the best conditions. But later I found out that he stayed in the hospital just to make it easier to meet Olivia. Hearing about the hospital fees, the two exchanged a glance, and Marcus coldly said to me, “Rachel, I don’t know why you’ve become so stingy, but we can’t delay the treatment. Aren’t you always busy? Just transfer the hospital fees to my card, and I’ll pay it myself.” Asking for money so brazenly? I laughed bitterly and asked the doctor, “I remember he’s already met the discharge standards. Let’s cancel this room and process the discharge today.” Marcus’s eyes widened: “Rachel, are you trying to kill me? What if my legs get worse at home?” Before I could speak, the doctor interjected, “That won’t happen. The critical period has passed. Staying at home now is the same as staying in the hospital.” Marcus’s face turned ashen. Olivia was about to say something, but I spoke to Marcus first: “I don’t have money for you to stay in the hospital anymore. If you insist on staying, either pay for it yourself or borrow from her.” I pointed at Olivia: “Didn’t she just say she has money?” Their faces looked as if they had eaten something bitter, but I didn’t bother with them anymore. I turned and walked out of the room. I didn’t have time to argue with them. Right now, I urgently needed to get evidence that Marcus’s car accident had nothing to do with me, as well as proof that he and Olivia had been together for a long time. This would help me keep all my assets if we ever ended up in court. After all these years of hard work, I could let the past go. But now, even if Marcus took a single cent, I would feel disgusted. After leaving the hospital, I immediately called a lawyer and asked him to investigate the accident vehicle from when Marcus had the accident. In my previous life, I had noticed some suspicious details, but because I was taking care of Marcus, it was a long time before I had someone investigate. By then, the scene inside the car had been destroyed, and the dash cam was missing. After a car accident, this kind of situation was quite normal. Later, because I was busy earning money to pay for Marcus’s medical expenses, working three jobs a day, I simply didn’t have the energy to think about these things anymore. This time, Olivia hadn’t been discharged yet, so she shouldn’t have had time to destroy the evidence. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the lawyer called back. The first accident scene hadn’t been tampered with. He had already collected fingerprints and obtained some hair and blood samples. Finally, he sent me the video from the dash cam. At the time of the accident, Marcus was sitting in the passenger seat, anxiously asking Olivia, “I’ve already divorced Rachel. When are you planning to marry me?” Olivia was stunned for a moment, then carelessly said, “There’s no rush. Let’s talk about this after you’ve transferred all the assets to your name. Otherwise, what if your wife finds out?” Marcus looked at her anxiously: “But you always say that. I’ve given you a car, and I’ve given you all the savings my wife entrusted to me for you to invest, which you lost completely. Every time you say you’ll marry me to thank me. You’re not… lying to me, not wanting to marry me, are you?” “How could that be?” Olivia said, and as if to prove it, she leaned over to kiss Marcus. With that one action, Marcus’s doubts were dispelled. At this point, I also understood why Marcus had divorced me so early but had delayed marrying Olivia. Olivia was clearly deceiving him, but he didn’t know. Or perhaps he did know, but was willingly deceived. The lawyer added, “The DNA test will take some time. It should be ready in about three days.” I nodded and was about to hang up when I remembered another matter: “Also, help me find a child.” By my calculations, their child should have been born by now, about three or four years old. Every weekend for the past couple of years, Marcus would find various excuses to go out alone in his wheelchair, probably to see the child. I told the lawyer about the places Marcus frequently visited, then went to the hospital for a physical examination and froze all the assets in my name. In this life, everything was just beginning. My body hadn’t suffered from heart failure caused by working three jobs non-stop, and not too many assets had been transferred away. That night, for the first time, I “irresponsibly” went home alone. Perhaps sensing something was wrong, Marcus called me on his own initiative. Seeing the incoming call, I hung up directly. As a result, not long after, I saw a post he made on Facebook. It was a series of accusations against me, ending with how he had sacrificed so much for me, but now that he was injured for my sake, I was abandoning him. To garner sympathy, he even posted the doctor’s diagnosis and a pitiful photo of himself sitting in a wheelchair, looking haggard. But he didn’t notice that in the smooth metal armrest of the wheelchair, Olivia’s reflection was visible. Perhaps to provoke me, in one of the photos, if you looked carefully, you could see that Olivia was kissing him in the reflection. On one hand, he was asking me for money and cursing me, on the other hand, he was giving his love and money to another woman. Marcus was playing everyone for fools. The comment section was full of spectators, not one person noticing the cat in the picture. Everyone was comforting him and using the vilest words to curse me as a scumbag. I pretended not to see it and blocked Marcus. The next two days went on as usual, but Marcus seemed to have gone crazy, cursing me every day and posting screenshots of me deleting him, accusing me of having a guilty conscience. Friends who didn’t know the whole story all spoke up for him, urging me to come back. I didn’t explain, just waited until the third day when the test results came out. To my delight, the lawyer had also helped me find their child.

Before I could go find Marcus, on the third day, perhaps because he had no money to stay in the hospital, or perhaps because he sensed something was wrong, Marcus returned home early in the morning. Behind him were his angry parents, Robert and Linda, as well as my parents, John and Mary. Unlike Robert and Linda’s imperious manner, my parents followed behind them looking somewhat guilty. “In-laws, judge for yourselves! Is this how she should treat my son?” Linda began as soon as she saw me. “What’s even more unbelievable is that she secretly divorced my son without telling him, unilaterally dumping him!” Linda’s spit flew as she yelled. I realized what was happening and laughed bitterly. Marcus had really turned things upside down. But the civil affairs bureau records weren’t open to the public, so they had no way of knowing the truth and could only listen to what Marcus said. My parents, feeling guilty, allowed themselves to be scolded. Finally, they said in a low voice, “We shouldn’t interfere in the children’s affairs, but since things have come to this, we can compensate.” “Compensate?” Linda became even more agitated when she heard about compensation: “No matter how much you compensate, can you compensate for my son’s legs?” I interrupted her: “Your son’s leg injury has nothing to do with me.” Hearing this, my parents hurriedly pulled me aside, advising me not to argue with them. Linda had a fiery temper and had given my parents a lot of grief over the years. Especially after learning that Marcus’s legs were injured because of me, they would come to my mom every few days demanding compensation and money for nutritional supplements. My parents were worried I would get angry, so they didn’t dare tell me about this. I only found out about it by accident later. Seeing that Linda was about to lose her temper again, I took out the dash cam recording and test results and handed them over. After watching the video, Linda’s previously haughty face finally weakened, but she still said angrily, “How do I know you didn’t fake these?” “You can check,” I looked at Marcus, whose face was pale with shock: “Or we can go to court.” “Forget it, let’s not air our dirty laundry in public,” Robert, who had been silent until now, said. “Both children are at fault in this matter, but divorcing without a word is still wrong. Let’s talk about compensation.” My parents were about to speak, but I stopped them: “We won’t pay a single cent in compensation.” “What do you mean? My son married you for so many years, is this how you treat him?” Linda yelled. I sneered: “I was also married to your son for so many years and supported him for so long. Isn’t this how he treated me?” Linda’s face turned red with anger: “Just based on one video, you can’t prove my son had an affair.” Seeing that I didn’t respond, Linda became more agitated. She stood up and went to open the door: “I’m not talking to this girl anymore. Let the neighbors judge.” Her high-pitched voice had already attracted many neighbors to gather outside the door. Seeing her open the door, they all looked a bit embarrassed. But Linda didn’t care. She recounted what had just happened, embellishing it with exaggerations, glossing over the evidence with a couple of dismissive sentences. The neighbors listened and tried to mediate, saying to me, “It’s really not that serious, just a small matter. Marcus surely still cares for you in his heart.” “Yeah, you’ve been husband and wife, there’s still affection there. Leaving him with nothing seems a bit harsh.” “…” Seeing me being pointed at and criticized, my mom felt uncomfortable and said, “In-laws, let’s discuss this in private.” “Now you want to talk in private? Where were you earlier?” Linda suddenly pushed my mom. My mom wasn’t prepared and stumbled, almost falling. I hurriedly supported her. Just as I was about to get angry, a chubby little girl suddenly pushed through the crowd of onlookers and ran over. She hugged Marcus’s legs in the wheelchair and shouted loudly, “Daddy, you haven’t come to see me for so long. I’m going to punish you by making you buy me a Barbie doll.”

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