On the day we were supposed to get married,my fiancé,Ethan Walker,went behind my back and legally married Claire Bennett. His friend tried to talk him out of it over the phone. “What about Erin?” “You’ve been together for seven years,and now you’re marrying someone else?” Ethan was silent for a long time before saying softly,“Erin will understand. “Claire’s father only has a few days left.We’re just signing some papers and having a ceremony.I’ll file for divorce after he’s gone.” His friend still hesitated.“But she’s waited seven years for you.” Ethan smiled. “That’s exactly why I know she won’t leave me just because I make her wait one more month.” I stood frozen around the corner,still clutching the wedding chocolates I had brought for the staff. I did not go in to confront him.I did not cry and beg him to come back. I simply canceled our appointment and walked away. He married another woman on the day he was supposed to marry me. Then I no longer wanted this marriage. … The clerk looked at me several times when I canceled. “Are you sure you want to withdraw the application?You waited almost six weeks for this appointment.” I nodded. My phone buzzed with a message from Ethan. [There’s an emergency at the construction site.We’ll have to postpone our wedding for a few days.Don’t be mad.I’ll explain tonight.] I stared at the message for a long time,then shoved the wedding chocolates into my bag and left the building. I still had classes that afternoon. I went back to school and taught my second graders as usual. During reading class,we read a story about a young bird leaving its nest for the first time.One of the children raised her hand. “Ms.Miller,did it finally fly away by itself?” I held the chalk and took several seconds to answer. “It did.” “Wasn’t it afraid of falling?” I smiled.“It was.But it still had to learn to spread its wings.” After class,several colleagues gathered around me in the teachers’lounge and laughingly asked why I had not taken the day off. “Weren’t you getting married today?Didn’t Ethan come pick you up?” “Where are the wedding chocolates?Don’t hide them from us.” I took the bag from my purse and passed it around. Some of the chocolates had melted and stuck to their wrappers. My colleagues teased me.“Looks like your marriage is going to be just like this chocolate—sweet enough to melt.” I laughed with them. None of them knew that the man I was supposed to marry had just become someone else’s husband. Ethan called that evening. “Erin,have you eaten?” I could hear hospital announcements in the background and a woman crying softly. I did not expose his lie. “No.” “I’m really sorry about today.Something happened with Claire.Her father’s condition is bad,and he’s confused.He keeps worrying that no one will take care of her.” I sat alone in the empty classroom,watching the lights come on across the playground. “So you married her today?” Silence filled the line. After a long time,Ethan lowered his voice.“You know?” “Yes.” He actually sounded relieved.“Erin,it’s only a formality.Professor Bennett paid for my education.Without him,I wouldn’t even have finished high school.This is his last wish.I couldn’t refuse him.” “So you used our marriage to repay a debt?” “Don’t put it like that.” His voice grew urgent.“You know who I love.There’s nothing between Claire and me.As soon as Professor Bennett passes away,I’ll have a lawyer handle the divorce.One month at most,and then you and I can get married.” One month at most. He spoke as if he had bought the wrong item and could simply return it before buying the right one. “Would it have been so hard to tell me beforehand?” “I was afraid you’d overthink it.” “You did it anyway.Why worry about what I’d think?” Ethan rubbed his brow wearily,his voice hoarse. “Erin,I already have enough to deal with today.Professor Bennett is still being resuscitated,and Claire can’t handle everything alone.I know you’ve been hurt.I’ll make it up to you later,okay?” He had married another woman,yet he believed being a little nicer to me afterward would make everything go away. But I had never wanted compensation. I hung up. Ten minutes later,a new post appeared on my feed. Claire had uploaded a photo. Beside the hospital bed,her slender hand rested over Ethan’s,the corner of their marriage certificate visible between her fingers. Her caption read:[Thank you for finally putting Dad’s mind at ease.] Our mutual friends flooded the comments. [Congratulations?Is this the official announcement?] [Claire finally has someone to take care of her.] [You’re a good man,Ethan.Professor Bennett was right about you.] Ethan liked the post too. Maybe he only meant to comfort Claire. But to every mutual friend who saw it,that like was as good as publicly acknowledging the marriage. I stared at the screen until my eyes ached.

That evening,I went to our new house. We had bought it the year before. I had used every cent I had saved from part-time jobs in college and from working after graduation for the down payment. While Ethan was busy at construction sites during the renovations,I went to home-improvement stores after work to choose the flooring and lights. But when I opened the door,Claire was sitting on the sofa in my slippers. Her eyes were red.She stood as soon as she saw me. “Erin,don’t misunderstand.Dad was transferred to a nearby hospital tonight.Ethan thought it would be too exhausting for me to travel back and forth,so he told me to rest here for a while.Don’t worry.I won’t touch your things.” She was holding my mug. It was one of a matching pair I had bought for Ethan and me to use after we got married. Ethan came out of the kitchen with a spatula in his hand. “Why are you here?” I looked at him.“This is my house.Am I not allowed to come?” His face stiffened.“That isn’t what I meant.Claire’s had a long day,and it wouldn’t be convenient for her to stay alone in a hotel.” Claire hurriedly put down the mug.“Erin,I’m sorry.This is all my fault.Please don’t fight with Ethan.He hasn’t eaten all day.” She reached for her bag. After two steps,she swayed. Ethan immediately caught her.“Why are you pushing yourself?” Tears slid down Claire’s cheeks. “I don’t want to upset Erin.” Ethan looked at me,torn. “Erin,her father is still in the ICU.Let her stay tonight.I’ll take her back to the hospital tomorrow.” I laughed. “You really need my permission?” He missed the meaning in my words and thought I had agreed. “Thank you.” That simple thank-you hurt more than any argument could have. Claire moved into the guest room that night. That room was supposed to become my study.I had imagined grading papers at the desk beside the window. My nightgown had been pushed onto the back of a chair.Claire’s lace underwear,skincare products,and perfume covered the desk,and even my jewelry box had been shoved into a corner. She explained carefully,“I thought my things might be in the way outside,so I put them here.I’ll clean everything up tomorrow.” Ethan ladled soup in the kitchen.“Erin,come eat.Your stomach is sensitive.Don’t stay hungry just because you’re angry.” He sounded so natural. As if we’d only had an ordinary argument. I sat at the dining table and looked at the two place settings. Ethan paused,then returned to the kitchen for a third. Claire spoke softly.“I’m not hungry.You two eat.I’ll go to my room.” Ethan frowned. “Your blood sugar is low.You need to eat.Sit down.” She glanced at me before slowly taking her seat. I did not touch a single bite of dinner.

When I did not pick up my fork,Ethan put some food on my plate. “You like the shrimp.” Claire was drinking her soup when her phone rang. “Ethan,Dad’s awake.He wants to see us on video.” Ethan’s chopsticks stopped in midair. I looked up too. Claire bit her lip,tears gathering in her eyes again. “I know I shouldn’t keep bothering you,but the doctor said he may not stay lucid for long.I’m afraid he’ll become confused again.” After a moment,Ethan wiped his hands. “Answer it.” The video connected.The old man on the screen wore an oxygen tube,and his voice was muddled. “Claire…where’s my son-in-law?” Claire turned the camera toward Ethan. He leaned closer and spoke gently.“I’m here.” The old man smiled,tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. “Good…good.I can rest easy knowing Claire is with you.” Ethan swallowed. “Just focus on getting well.” I sat beside them like an outsider who had no place there. Claire suddenly touched her bare hand in panic.“Dad,look.I’m wearing my ring.” There was nothing on her finger. The old man could not see clearly,but he still strained toward the screen. “A ring…yes.A marriage needs a ring.” Claire froze. Ethan instinctively looked at me. I looked back at him. The wedding rings we had chosen were in the nightstand in the master bedroom. I thought he would at least show some restraint.Instead,he got up and walked straight into the bedroom. I heard the drawer open. A moment later,he returned with the ring box. He took out the woman’s ring and held it toward Claire. “Just wear it for now.” I stared at him,unable to say a word. Claire shook her head in alarm.“No.That’s Erin’s.” Ethan did not look at me.He said gently,“It’s only to put Professor Bennett’s mind at ease.” He slid my ring onto Claire’s ring finger himself. It did not fit.Claire’s fingers were slimmer than mine,and the ring hung loosely. She smiled at the camera,then began to cry. “Dad,look.We really are married.” The old man finally smiled. Ethan relaxed too. I stood abruptly,the chair scraping harshly across the floor. Ethan turned. “Erin,where are you going?” I walked into the master bedroom,pulled my clothes from the closet,and started packing. Ethan followed and closed the door. “Don’t do this.Professor Bennett doesn’t have much time left.I can’t upset him now.” “So you upset me instead?” “You’re perfectly healthy.Do you really have to compete with a dying man?” I looked up at him. The room went cold the moment those words left his mouth. Ethan realized he had gone too far.He reached for me.“Erin,that isn’t what I meant.I’m just exhausted.” I stepped away. His hand froze in the air. Claire knocked softly outside.“Ethan,your mother is calling.I think she’s asking about the wedding.” His frown deepened. He answered on speaker,and his mother’s voice filled the room. “Ethan,what is going on with you and Erin?The hotel says the remaining balance hasn’t been confirmed.Your father’s colleagues have all been invited.Don’t embarrass us at the last minute.” Ethan glanced at me.“Mom,we may have to postpone the wedding.” “Why?” He said nothing. Claire stood in the doorway,her face pale. At last,Ethan said,“Erin hasn’t been in a good mood lately.We postponed the ceremony too.” The clothes slipped from my hands. His mother immediately grew agitated.“You’ve been together seven years.Why is she causing trouble now?Ethan is so busy,and she’s a teacher.Surely she has more time than he does.Can’t she be a little more understanding?” I stared at Ethan. He did not explain.He did not even say that it was not my fault. After the call ended,Claire looked at me with reddened eyes. “Erin,I’m sorry.Did Mrs.Walker misunderstand you?I’ll explain.” Ethan stopped her. “Don’t make things worse.” I tugged at the corner of my mouth,my chest hollow with grief.

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On the day of my mother’s sixtieth birthday banquet, Ethan Grant’s mistress slipped in. She put intimate photos of herself and Ethan on the banquet hall’s giant screen, then took the microphone and confronted me in front of everyone. “Mrs. Grant, please divorce Ethan.” “He says I’m better in bed than you ever were. I’m the one he loves.” My mother was so furious she had a heart attack and was rushed straight to the ICU. With that, Monica stripped away the last shred of dignity my marriage to Ethan had left. I became a complete laughingstock. The next day, I asked Monica Shaw to meet me and invited her to watch a livestream. In the room next to ours, more than a dozen women were taking turns with Ethan until his eyes lost focus. I smiled at Monica. “He seems to like them even more than he likes you. Still want him?” … “Vivian Hart, you’re even sicker than I thought.” Monica grabbed the water beside her and threw it in my face, screaming at me to let Ethan go. The two bodyguards behind me stepped forward at once. One pinned Monica down. The other handed me a towel, then poured another glass of water and set it in front of me. I wiped my face, picked up the glass, and poured it over her head. The water was still hot enough to make Monica scream. “Vivian, how dare you? Do you have any idea who my father…” Before she could finish, a voice crackled through the walkie-talkie. “Ms. Hart, he can’t hold out anymore.” I looked up. On the screen, Ethan had passed out. I checked the time and clicked my tongue. “Already? Have the doctor handle it.” The needle sank into Ethan’s skin. His eyes slowly opened. His mind had not fully come back, but the drugs had already dragged his body back into that ridiculous mess. Soon, the familiar panting came from the television again. The color drained from Monica’s face. “Vivian, you’re insane. This is a crime.” “Miss Shaw, that’s a bit dramatic. I’m only helping my husband take care of his needs.” I gave her a faint smile. My eyes were cold. Monica shivered, as if she had finally realized what I was capable of. She started to break down. “You still can’t do this to him, Vivian. No matter what Ethan has done, he’s still your husband. If you keep this up, he’ll die.” The woman’s voice continued on the screen, but Ethan had already started begging in pain. When Monica saw I would not budge, her tone softened. “Vivian, this is my fault. I shouldn’t have gotten involved in your marriage. I shouldn’t have provoked you at your mother’s birthday banquet and ruined your reputation.” “But this has nothing to do with Ethan. If you want revenge, take it out on me. Please let him go.” I looked at Monica and shook my head. “You really do love my husband, Miss Shaw.” “But don’t worry. I know who did what. What happened between him and me was his mistake. I won’t take it out on you.” Two hours later, the person on the walkie-talkie told me even the drugs were no longer working. I called it off, then took Monica to the room next door. The second the door opened, Monica rushed in. She threw her arms around Ethan and sobbed. “Ethan, are you okay? What happened to you?” Ethan no longer had the strength to answer. His eyes were empty, and he lay on the floor like a boneless heap. I walked over. “I’m still standing right here, Miss Shaw. Don’t you think you’re getting a little too comfortable with my husband?” Ethan finally lifted his head. The hatred in his eyes was unmistakable. “Vivian, you really are insane.” “Let’s get divorced.” Ethan had been with many women. Plenty of them had caused trouble in front of me. Whenever those women came to provoke me, I made sure Ethan paid for it in full. But this was the first time he had asked me for a divorce. “No.” I gave Monica another slow look. “Ethan, don’t forget I gave you your chance five years ago. Back then, you refused to divorce me, and you put my mother in the hospital with a heart attack.” “Now you want out so you can run off with someone else?” “Keep dreaming.”

Monica really was different from the others to Ethan. Before this, no matter how I hurt him, he had taken it in silence. This time, he reported me to the police. Monica handed over a video and accused me of unlawful detention and ordering others to sexually assault Ethan. She wanted the police to arrest me. She waved her arms around as she spoke. “Officer, she’s an attorney. She knows the law and still breaks it. Someone like that practicing law is terrifying. You have to arrest her.” The police asked me if what she said was true. I shook my head. “No. It’s slander. She was sleeping with my husband and wanted to replace me. I refused to divorce him, so the two of them set this up to frame me.” The way the officers looked at Monica changed at once, contempt written across their faces. Monica panicked. “There’s video, and you’re still calling it slander? I have a witness too.” With one call, she brought in one of the girls who had been in the room that day. The girl admitted that I had told her to do unspeakable things to Ethan, and she even produced the drugs. Monica looked smug at once. “Witness, physical evidence, all of it is here. Vivian, what else can you say?” I said nothing. I calmly laid out one piece of evidence after another. Chat records of Ethan arranging to meet several girls. Surveillance footage of Ethan opening the door for them. Proof that the drugs had been bought through Ethan’s own account. Even the room itself was one Ethan often booked. The evidence showed that Ethan had arranged the meeting himself, taken things too far, and then tried to pin it all on me. Monica’s face flushed with anger. “You forged all of this. Ethan would never do that.” “Why wouldn’t he?” I pressed a hand to my chest, pretending to be hurt. “Miss Shaw, you really don’t know my husband very well. This is exactly the kind of fun he likes. You’re still young. Leave the scumbag while you can.” Monica took my sincere advice as mockery. She kept insisting I had forged the evidence and demanded that the police investigate it properly. But after they looked into the matter, nothing proved I had done it. In the end, even that witness changed her statement. She produced transfer records and said Monica had paid her to lie. Monica went pale with rage. “That’s bullshit. That day, you were the one who worked him the hardest.” As she spoke, she moved to strike. I stopped her. “Miss Shaw, she was kind enough to testify for you, and now you’re hitting her? That’s not very reasonable.” Seeing how familiar I was with the other woman, Monica understood at once. “You two are working together.” No matter how much she raged, the police ultimately let the matter drop. They told Monica to come back when she had solid evidence, then sent us out of the station. I had just sent the witness away when Monica stormed over and slapped me. “Vivian, Ethan stopped loving you a long time ago. You keep clinging to him. Have you no shame?” I had always believed in an eye for an eye. So before she could finish, I grabbed her by the hair and slapped her twice. “Am I the shameless one? Or is it the mistress who showed her own intimate photos at someone else’s mother’s birthday party?” At that, Monica gave me a strange smile. “Ethan was right. Your mother really is your weak spot.” My stomach dropped. “Monica, I have always believed that when a man cheats, it means I failed to keep my own man in line. That’s why I punished Ethan and left you alone.” “But if you dare touch my mother, I’ll make sure both of you are finished.” “Oh? And how exactly are you going to finish us?” Monica smiled like she had already won. “Vivian, aren’t you curious why Ethan isn’t here today?” My pulse kicked up. I was about to grab her hair again and force the answer out of her when my phone rang. After I answered, I froze.

My mother had been thrown out of the hospital. When I arrived, she was lying in the hospital corridor. The caregiver told me that someone claiming to be my husband had come to arrange a transfer. But once the paperwork was done, he left my mother there and walked away. She had called me several times, but none of the calls had gone through. She tried to find a doctor and get my mother readmitted, but the hospital required a family member to handle it in person. There was no question. Ethan had done this. By then, my mother’s face had turned purple as she lay in the corridor. I had no time to confront Ethan. I rushed to find a doctor and get her admitted. But when I reached the office, I was stunned. The doctor told me my mother’s condition was too serious for them to take her. I exploded. “What did you just say? Last night you told me my mother’s condition had improved and she could have surgery. Now you’re telling me you can’t admit her?” The doctor backed away, frightened. “Ms. Hart, please calm down. A patient’s condition can change. She was stable last night. Today, it may have worsened.” I asked him: “If she’s so critical, why did you allow someone else to discharge her?” The doctor spread his hands. “Your husband insisted on the discharge. We respected the family’s wishes.” After a few exchanges, even a fool could tell someone had given orders behind the scenes. Otherwise, no doctor would have dared do this. I left the office and called Ethan, asking him why he had done it. “To teach you a lesson, of course.” Ethan did not bother to hide it. “Vivian, I think Monica was right. I’ve been too good to you, and that’s why you think you can walk all over me. It’s time I took back my pride.” I could not take it anymore. “Your pride means killing my mother? Ethan, don’t forget who picked you up when you were begging on the street.” I could not believe Ethan would go after my mother. When he was thirteen, his relatives threw him out. In the dead of winter, he almost froze to death on the street. My mother was the one who brought him home and fed him. At the mention of the past, Ethan wavered. He spoke. “Fine, then…” “Ethan, are you really going to let this go?” At the crucial moment, Monica’s voice cut in. “Don’t forget why we’re doing this.” Ethan stayed silent for a few seconds, then spoke coldly again. “Vivian, if you want your mother admitted, come sign the divorce agreement.” “Never.” I cursed him. “Ethan, don’t forget that five years ago, after you made my mother so angry she was hospitalized, you promised her there would only ever be widowhood between us, never divorce.” “If I divorce you now, even if my mother wakes up, she may die from the shock.” “What does that have to do with me?” Ethan’s words hit me like ice water. “Bottom line, if you refuse to divorce me, your mother can die waiting for a hospital bed.” He hung up. When I called again, his phone was off. I had no time to keep arguing with Ethan. I started arranging a transfer for my mother. Only after several hospitals in the city refused to admit her, and my assistant sent me Monica’s information, did I understand what Ethan meant by letting her die waiting. Monica’s father was chairman of the largest pharmaceutical company in the country, with ties to every hospital in the city. There was no doubt. Monica had spoken to all of them. Years as a lawyer had taught me that people like us did not stand a chance against that kind of money and influence. Even when people like them broke the law, even when evidence was found, someone would always be willing to take the fall. Just as despair closed in, the caregiver called out again. “Ms. Hart, hurry! Your mother isn’t breathing.”

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On the first day of summer break,my parents found me another job. “Handing out samples at a warehouse store.The hourly pay is decent,and it’ll teach you how to deal with people.” They had been feeding me the same line every year since I started college. The first summer,they sent me to a meat-packing plant on the edge of town,then took my sister to Washington,D.C.,to watch the Fourth of July fireworks. The second summer,they made me work night shifts at a gas station convenience store,then paid for Ellie’s expensive driving lessons. The third summer,they put me to work as a cleaner at a neighborhood daycare,then took the whole family to the Bahamas with Ellie. So where were they going this year? “Italy.” My brother Noah walked in with a smile and handed me a pair of black non-slip shoes. “I bought these especially for you.The soles are soft,so standing for ten hours shouldn’t be too bad.” “I’m paying for the trip this time.Ellie’s only twenty-three.This is the age when she should be seeing the world.” Ellie squealed and threw herself into his arms. “I knew you loved me best,Noah.” I looked at my parents.One lowered her head to organize the plane tickets,while the other turned to close the window.Neither of them looked at me. It was as if I were decades older than Ellie instead of just one year. I suddenly smiled and crouched down to put on the shoes. They were light. Light enough to carry me out of this house. … Mom was packing Ellie’s suitcase in the living room when she suddenly looked up at Noah. “She graduates next year.You know plenty of people,so make sure you find her something easy and respectable.College graduates are everywhere these days.Jobs with real benefits are hard to come by.” Halfway through,her voice abruptly died away,as if she had only just remembered that she had another daughter in the room who was about to graduate. Noah did not notice. “Don’t worry.I’ve already spoken to a friend.As soon as Ellie gets her degree,she can join their marketing department.” Only then did he remember me. “Do you need any help,Claire?” “No.” I had already accepted an offer for an overseas management trainee position with a multinational corporation. As soon as my graduation documents arrived in a few days,I would leave. Noah nodded without asking anything else. Dad sensed the awkwardness and tried to smooth things over with a laugh. “Claire has always been independent.We’ve never had to worry about her.” My hands paused on the laces. I was not independent by nature. I had simply learned early that if I did not take care of myself,no one else would. Noah was the firstborn and had six years of our parents’undivided attention.Ellie was the youngest,the little princess of the family. And me?I was their child too,but no one had ever truly cherished me. Ellie came over and linked her arm through mine. “What do you want?I can bring you something from Rome.” She sounded sincere,but her eyes flickered. So even she knew how much I had been wronged over the years. But she would soon forget that brief pang of guilt. Whenever she traveled,she remembered the scarves Mom liked,the team ties Dad collected,and the old film rolls Noah wanted. She just never remembered anything about me. I was used to it.I merely smiled. “Whatever you like.” Mom jumped in at once.“See?Ellie thinks of you wherever she goes.If your sister is being this thoughtful,shouldn’t you do something for her too?” Dad seemed to have been waiting for that opening. “Why don’t you give Ellie part of your first paycheck as spending money for the trip?” “Oh,I don’t need it,”Ellie said lightly,glancing at me. Noah stroked her hair. “Don’t worry about money.Just enjoy yourself.” In a few sentences,they had divided up money I had not even earned yet.Not one of them asked what I thought. It had been the same every summer for four years. Last year,after paying my tuition,I had only a few dollars left in my bank account.I borrowed ten dollars from Ellie so I could buy dinner.Less than five minutes after she sent it,both Mom and Noah called me. “You’re an adult.How can you still take money from your little sister?” “If you’re short on living expenses,ask Mom and Dad.Don’t take advantage of Ellie.” But I had messaged Mom an hour earlier. She had not replied. When Ellie spoke,however,Mom always answered instantly. My phone vibrated.I carried the new shoes back to my bedroom and found a message from the company. “Your onboarding paperwork is complete.Please report to the Chicago office next Monday.” I replied,“Received.” There was a knock at my door.Ellie walked in and headed straight for my suitcase. “Mine is an ugly color.Let me use yours.” “No.I need it.” “What could you possibly need it for?You’re spending the whole summer at the store.” She did not want my suitcase because it was prettier.She wanted it because she would not care if the baggage handlers damaged it. Every time I had lent it to her before,it had come back with a few more dents. I did not explain again. She stared at me for several seconds.When I still refused to give in,she turned and slammed the door behind her. I began counting down in my head. Five,four,three,two,one. The door flew open with a bang. “Claire Miller.” Just as expected,my parents stood there.Noah and a red-eyed Ellie were behind them.

“Ellie only wants to borrow it once.Why do you have to be so mean?” “What kind of family can’t even share a suitcase?” “I told you,I need it.” This time,I did not give in. “Forget it.”Ellie sniffled.“If she doesn’t want to lend it to me,then she doesn’t have to.” My parents immediately put their arms around her and comforted her. Noah stared at me for a moment,then went to his room and returned with a sky-blue suitcase. “Use mine.” My fingers tightened around the door handle. I had spent a long time choosing that suitcase at an outlet store before giving it to him for his birthday. Ellie knew that.She deliberately glanced at me. “Are you sure?Claire might be upset.” Noah’s expression remained calm.He wanted to hurt me.He wanted to force me to back down. Before he could speak,I said,“I gave it to you.You can let anyone you want use it.” The room went silent for a moment. Noah snapped his head toward me and frowned,but he said nothing.He took the suitcase and left with Ellie. No one called me for dinner. By the time I came out,they were gathered around the table in the middle of a lively conversation. “I like warm gray walls.They make a house look expensive,”Mom said. Noah replied,“Cream white would work better with an open floor plan.It would make the place brighter too.” Ellie speared a piece of roast meat with her fork and grinned.“You can do whatever you want with the common areas.I’m choosing everything in my own bedroom.” Dad was eating happily when he caught sight of me from the corner of his eye.He coughed at once. Every voice stopped. They had bought a new house. I was the only person in the family who had not known. I sat down and took a bite of the salad closest to me.I forced it down,but my throat ached with the effort. My parents exchanged a look. Mom forced a smile.“Claire,we bought a new house.The bedrooms have already been assigned.You can go see it when you have time.” “When did you buy it?” “Six months ago.We never found the right time to tell you.” It was not that they had lacked an opportunity.They had never intended to tell me. I nodded,then asked,“What’s the door code?” “617923.” Noah’s birthday and Ellie’s birthday. I looked at Mom. “When is my birthday?” She stared at me in confusion. “Did you forget your own birthday?” Dad laughed,thinking I genuinely had. “You were born in December.There was a blizzard that day.Your mom slipped on the porch,went into labor early,and nearly died.She always says you were causing her trouble before you were even born.” Mom coughed uncomfortably. “Why bring up something that happened so long ago?” I lowered my head,but the hand holding my fork would not stop trembling. Not long after that,Noah and Ellie finished eating,dropped their plates in the sink,and left.Dad walked away from the table too.Mom was the last to stand. “The rule in this house is that the last person to finish cleans the kitchen.” Then she left as well. Cold food and a pile of dirty dishes covered the table. I was always the last one to finish eating. Because no one told me when dinner was ready. Mom called Noah.Dad knocked on Ellie’s door.By the time I smelled the food and came out,half of it had already been picked over. That was why the kitchen always became my responsibility too. I was halfway through cleaning when my grandparents video-called us. “Noah said you’re taking Ellie to Italy?” “That’s right.Do you want any souvenirs?”Mom asked with a smile. Grandma waved her hand,then asked,“Isn’t Claire going?” Mom answered without hesitation. “She doesn’t want to.She’d rather work and get more experience.” “That girl…”Grandpa sighed,but he did not ask anything else. For four years,Mom had always answered for me. “Isn’t Claire going to the theme park?” “She doesn’t like those places.She wants to stay home and study.” “Isn’t Claire going skiing with you?” “She isn’t athletic.” “Why isn’t Claire in the family pictures?” “She doesn’t like having her picture taken.” According to them,I was a gloomy,antisocial girl who cared about nothing but work. By pretending their neglect was my choice,they made sure no one could object on my behalf.

The doorbell suddenly rang. I placed the plate in the drying rack,wiped the moisture from the corner of my eye,and went to open the door. “Claire Miller?I need your signature.” It was the graduation packet from my university. The moment I held the envelope,something inside me suddenly felt lighter. I could finally leave. “What is it?” Noah stood behind me holding a cup of coffee.He noticed the smile on my face. “My graduation documents.” He said,“Oh,”walked two steps away,then stopped. “What do you want as a graduation present?I promised I’d get you something.” I had not expected him to remember. But I had never truly expected a gift either. After thinking for a few seconds,I looked up at him. “Come with me to the travel clinic tomorrow.I need some vaccinations.” The company required employees assigned abroad to update their vaccinations so there would be no problems with immigration or insurance reviews. “That’s all?”He sounded surprised. “That’s all.” He agreed without giving it much thought. The next afternoon,I put the appointment papers in my bag and waited by the door. Noah came out wearing that familiar look of exasperation. “Ellie still needs a few outfits for the trip.I’ll take her to the outlet mall first,then come back and go with you.” “My appointment is already scheduled.” “Then reschedule it.She leaves tomorrow.Obviously,hers is more urgent.” I was about to respond when Ellie’s eyes turned red.She twisted the hem of her shirt and said softly,“Forget it.I won’t buy anything.Go with Claire.” Noah refused at once. “Don’t be ridiculous.It’s your first time in Rome.Of course you need a few nice outfits.” After saying that,he seemed to realize how openly biased he sounded,so he threw the decision at me. “What do you think,Claire?” He looked at me,his eyes urging me to give the right answer. They pretended the choice was mine. But we all knew I could only say what they wanted to hear. I was silent for a few seconds.Then I smiled. “Go with her.” Noah visibly relaxed. Ellie ran over and kissed my cheek. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” I took the bus to the clinic alone. After getting my shots,I booked a seat on a long-distance bus to Chicago for the next day. When I got home,Ellie was showing off the clothes she had bought.At the end,she held up two shopping bags containing gifts for our parents. Mom beamed.The moment she saw me from the corner of her eye,her smile faded. “Look how thoughtful Ellie is.Even when she goes shopping,she remembers us.When have you ever bought anything for this family?” “With what money?” Before Ellie left,Mom had put a thousand dollars on the authorized-user card tied to her account.Mom knew perfectly well that Ellie had used their money to buy those gifts,yet she still used them as a weapon against me. “What is that supposed to mean?”Mom froze,then raised her voice.“Are you blaming me for not giving you money?You’re twenty-four years old.Why are you still competing with your little sister?” “I’m twenty-four.She’s twenty-three.” “Enough!”Dad snapped.“You’re a grown woman.Do you really have to fight with your mother over a few gifts?” Noah frowned at me too. “Claire,why have you become so difficult lately?” With everyone on her side,Mom’s eyes immediately filled with tears. She covered her face and went to her bedroom as if she had been the one wronged all along.

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As an office drone who had fought her way from a small Midwestern town into a New York advertising agency,I envied rich people who never had to clock in. When the wealthy Walker family finally found me,I thought I could say goodbye to overtime for good. Instead,they refused to give me money or shares in the family company.All they wanted to give me was love.Lots and lots of love. So I had no choice but to keep suffering through endless workdays and late nights. One night,I came home late again after rushing to finish a project.Lillian,the Walkers’adopted daughter,was sitting in the living room in tears. “Erin,why are you always hiding at the office?Do you hate me so much that you can’t even stand being in this house?” Mr.and Mrs.Walker looked at me with disappointment. “Erin,do you have to treat Lillian like this?She waits up for you every night.She gets so anxious she can barely sleep.” My so-called brother,Kyle,stepped into my path.”This family hasn’t had a moment of peace since you came back.You owe Lillian an explanation.” I stared at the stale family drama playing out in front of me and felt nothing but exhaustion. “How long are you going to keep this act up?” “Can we speed it up?I have a pitch meeting tomorrow morning.” … All four of them fell silent. My phone buzzed again.The client sent over an eighteenth round of revisions,and I nearly blacked out. All I wanted was to go upstairs and collapse onto my bed. I had barely turned away when Kyle grabbed my arm. “What kind of attitude is that,Erin Walker?Is your job really more important than Lillian?” I rolled my eyes.”Obviously.If I don’t work,where am I supposed to get money?It’s not like any of you gave me shares in the company.” All four of their faces changed again. I had disappeared before I turned three.By the time the Walker family found me,I had already been working for two years. When I learned that I was the long-lost biological daughter of a wealthy family,I almost popped open a bottle of champagne on the spot. For Lillian’s eighteenth birthday,the Walkers had given her an eight-figure trust fund and ten percent of the family company. If their adopted daughter had received that much,surely their biological daughter would receive at least as much. But after I completed the identity paperwork,took back the Walker name,moved into the estate,and asked about my shares,they told me they had prepared nothing for me. “Why?”I asked. Mr.Walker gave me a solemn look.”A transfer of equity involves the board and the terms of the family trust.It isn’t as simple as you think.” Right. It had not been complicated when they gave shares to Lillian.It only became complicated when it was my turn. Fine.If shares were out of the question,they could at least give me an allowance. Mrs.Walker refused that too.”Erin,it isn’t that we don’t want to.Lillian hasn’t asked the family for money since she came of age.If we give money to you and not to her,she’ll think we don’t love her anymore.” I nearly laughed from sheer disbelief. Her trust fund could support an ordinary person for several lifetimes,and she collected dividends every year.Of course she never needed to ask for money. If I had all that,I could afford to act above it too. When I said nothing,Kyle spoke coldly.”Money.Shares.Trust funds.Is there anything else in your head,Erin?” “Mom makes cream of mushroom soup for you herself every day.Have you touched it once?Lillian waits for you every night.Have you ever thanked her?” “They’ve both tried to welcome you,but you walk around with a sour face every day.Besides,you were the one who wandered off back then.Who exactly are you blaming now?” He stood on his moral high ground,accusing me of being ungrateful and incapable of appreciating family. I laughed. Kyle’s face went livid.He raised his hand to hit me. “You have no manners at all,Erin.Today,I’m going to—” Before his hand could come down,Lillian rushed over and stopped him. “Kyle,don’t hit Erin!” She looked at me with reddened eyes.”Erin,this is all my fault.I took your place,and I received the shares that should have belonged to you.If you truly want them,I can give them back.” Kyle immediately panicked.”No!Those shares are part of your trust.They’re your security in the Walker family.If you give them to her—” “Great.”I cut him off and smiled at Lillian.”Since you’re so willing,have the lawyers prepare the transfer documents tomorrow.”

Lillian went quiet. Kyle’s expression darkened.“Erin,just because you’re the Walkers’biological daughter doesn’t mean you get to bully Lillian.Those shares belong to her.” I ignored him and kept my eyes on Lillian.”You weren’t just saying that,were you,Lillian?” Her face went pale for a few seconds,but she quickly recovered her usual gentle expression. “Of course not.I’d be more than happy to give them back to you.” “But the company isn’t a private shop.Any share transfer has to go through the board,and shareholders take on legal and financial liability.You don’t have any experience.I’m afraid the directors might make things difficult for you.” Mr.and Mrs.Walker joined in,explaining that the company was controlled by a family trust and any transfer required approval from a majority of the board. I might be their biological daughter,but I had lived away from the family for years and had never been trained as an heir.The board might not accept me. They were all excuses. The board was made up of relatives and Mr.Walker’s oldest friends.If he wanted the transfer approved,no one would oppose him. The four of them talked over one another,acting as if withholding money from me was some noble attempt to protect me.It made me sick. My phone buzzed again. My creative director informed me that even though tomorrow was Saturday,I still had to submit a revised proposal. My nose stung.Every argument I had wanted to make died in my throat. Forget it. Let the whole world burn. I went upstairs,took a shower,and crawled into bed.The moment my head touched the pillow,I finally felt human again. I was about to scroll through my phone when someone knocked on my door. “Erin,are you asleep?”Mrs.Walker called from the hallway.”I warmed up some milk for you.” “No,thanks,”I said automatically. After several seconds of silence,she spoke again.”I’m sorry.I didn’t know you were allergic to mushrooms.You loved them when you were little.When did you develop an allergy?” She sounded almost hurt. The truth was,I did remember a few things about this family. I remembered sitting with her beside the fireplace while she held me,patted my back,and sang me lullabies. At first,I really had hoped they would love me. But then I realized they had already given Lillian all the affection that might once have been meant for me.That was when I stopped wanting it. I still gave in.I opened the door,took the glass,and drank all the milk. I was about to say good night when Mrs.Walker produced another glass from behind her back. “I can’t drink another one.” “This isn’t for you.”She pressed the glass into my hands.”Would you take it to Lillian?What you said earlier hurt her,and she ran back to her room crying.Could you make the first move and give her a way to put this behind her?You are family,after all.” My hands stiffened.With every word she spoke,my heart sank a little further. Finally,I asked,”If I take this to her,will you leave me alone tonight?” She froze,then nodded anyway. I carried the milk to Lillian’s room. When she opened the door,I held out the glass.”Mom asked me to bring you this.She wants you to stop crying.” I clearly remembered waiting until her fingers had closed around the glass before I let go. But the next second,the glass crashed to the floor. Lillian screamed. The broken glass cut the top of her foot.

Her scream brought the other three running. Kyle went for the first-aid kit.Mr.Walker called the family doctor.Mrs.Walker stared at the blood on Lillian’s foot,then snapped her head up at me. “If you didn’t want to bring it to her,you could have said so,Erin.Why did you let go on purpose?” I had barely opened my mouth when Kyle shoved me aside. “Why else would she do it?Lillian refused to give her the shares,so she’s taking revenge!” Mr.Walker’s expression darkened too. Lillian spoke through her tears.”Don’t blame Erin.I was the one who didn’t hold on tightly enough.” The more she defended me,the more the three of them fussed over her. No one noticed the cut on my calf where a shard of glass had struck me. I watched them crowd around Lillian,said nothing,and left. There was nothing a good night’s sleep couldn’t fix. Besides,the next day was Saturday.I still had to work,but at least I could sleep two hours later than usual. I slept until nine before going downstairs. To my surprise,Mr.and Mrs.Walker were still waiting at the breakfast table. I assumed they wanted to question me about the night before.Instead,Mr.Walker said,”Erin,your mother and I have talked.We’ve decided to give you shares in the company.” My eyes lit up,but I immediately grew wary.”Are you serious?” Mrs.Walker nodded.”You didn’t grow up with us.It’s understandable that you don’t feel secure.We also spoke to a family counselor.Love can’t exist only in words.Real security is the clearest way to prove it.” Mr.Walker continued,”Before,we were worried that receiving so many assets at once might cause you to make reckless decisions.Lillian also warned us that people who come into sudden wealth can lose themselves.” I knew it. Lillian had been the one persuading them not to give me anything. Still,they had finally come to their senses,so I decided not to hold it against them for the moment. “How much are you giving me?” Mr.Walker raised two fingers.”Twenty percent.The same as Kyle.” I almost whistled. Now that was generous. A phone clattered to the floor behind me. Lillian stood at the foot of the stairs,her face rigid.Jealousy flashed across her eyes. Mrs.Walker immediately hurried over to support her.”Didn’t the doctor tell you to stay off that foot?If you need something,ring for the housekeeper.” Lillian forced a smile.”Mom,I thought I heard you say you were giving Erin shares.Is that true?” Mrs.Walker nodded. “That’s wonderful.”Lillian’s smile was barely holding together.”I’m only worried that the directors might take advantage of her.” Mrs.Walker waved the concern aside.”She’ll have to face them sooner or later.Once your father and I retire,the company will belong to her and Kyle.” Lillian’s face grew even paler. I was in such a good mood that after breakfast,I returned to my room with renewed energy to finish my design. Half an hour later— All right.The energy was gone. How did the client manage to come up with so many pointless revisions every single time? I cursed silently and kept working.Two hours later,the message I had been waiting for finally arrived. [Thanks for your hard work.We still think the first version was best.] In my head,I called them an idiot. I replied:[Of course.No problem.] After staring at the screen for so long,I went downstairs for a glass of water. When I returned,someone was in my room. Lillian stood beside my laptop with a malicious smile on her lips. “What are we going to do,Erin?” “I think I broke your computer.”

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In my fifth year of dating Ryan Cole, I brought up marriage three times. The first time, he said, “Lily fell at home. I need to take her to the hospital to get checked out. We’ll talk when I’m back.” The second time, he said, “That limited-edition figure Lily wants goes on sale in-store today. I have to go line up. Don’t rush me.” The third time, I asked him point-blank: “Ryan, do you actually want to get married, or do you want to break up?” He stared at me for a long time without speaking. Finally, he said, “Emma, stop. We’ll get married, just not right now. I promised Lily I wouldn’t get married until she finds a boyfriend.” I had my answer. I didn’t push it. I picked up my phone and called the jeweler I’d already been in contact with. “That custom men’s wedding band I ordered—cancel it.” “I don’t need it anymore.” Ryan didn’t know I’d given him three chances to choose me. After the third, I was done waiting. Once I confirmed the cancellation with the jeweler, I called a secondhand furniture and appliance buyer. They came quickly. The man followed where I pointed, saw the TV, the refrigerator, and the couch in the living room, and froze. “Miss, are you sure you want to sell all of this? The TV, the fridge, the couch—they’re practically brand new. Shouldn’t you talk to your boyfriend first?” I shook my head. “No need. Give me a price. Whatever you can haul out today, take it.” He didn’t ask again after that. He quoted me a number. Once we agreed, his face broke into a grin. “These are big pieces—I might not get them all in one trip. Mind if I come back a few times?” “That’s fine.” Ryan came home from work just as the buyer was directing his guys to carry the TV out the door. He stood in the entryway, his brow creasing instantly. “What’s going on? Where are they taking the TV?” “I sold it.” I didn’t hide it. “You sold it?” Ryan let out a disbelieving laugh, his eyes full of shock. “You sold the TV—what’s Lily supposed to watch when she comes over? You know she loves binge-watching her shows…” He trailed off, as if something occurred to him, and the tight crease in his brow softened. “Fine. The old one was too small anyway—bad for the eyes after a while. You sold it, I’ll just buy a bigger one.” When I’d first suggested buying a TV, he’d been completely against it. “We’re both busy with work. Who has time to watch TV? It’d just sit there collecting dust.” He’d forgotten—I was the one with no sense of security. On the nights he worked late and I was alone in this cold, silent apartment without a single sound, I was afraid. So I’d bought the TV despite his objections. I thought that when I was scared of being alone, it could keep me company in Ryan’s place. What I hadn’t expected was that, once the TV was there, the person who watched it most wasn’t me. It was his childhood friend, Lily Evans. I said nothing. Ryan pulled out his phone and started browsing for a new TV. After placing the order, he didn’t forget to look up and remind me: “Stop fighting Lily for the remote from now on. She’s still like a kid. Be the bigger person and let her have it.” Five years together, and I’d heard this line more times than I could count. Whenever Lily was around, nothing in this home belonged to me anymore. I had to give way to her in everything. In the past, every time I heard something like that, I’d blow up at Ryan. But this time, I just nodded calmly. “Got it. I’ll never fight her for it again.” Not just the remote. I wouldn’t fight her for him either. Ryan heard my promise, and something like relief flickered in his eyes. He sighed. “Emma, if only you’d been this reasonable all along.”

Before, the mere mention of Lily’s name from Ryan’s lips was enough to make me lose control. Like last year, when he took the birthday gift he’d bought for me and gave it to Lily instead. I’d broken down on the spot, pointing at him and screaming: “All you see is Lily! If you love her so much, why don’t you just make her your girlfriend?” That day, the look he gave me was ice-cold. In his eyes, I’d become some irrational, unhinged woman. He said with open disgust: “Emma Miller, I have always seen Lily as a sister. Stop talking nonsense.” After that, whenever I made a scene, all he’d say was: “People with dirty minds see dirt in everything.” But he didn’t understand. I made scenes because I cared about him. Now that I’d stopped—it wasn’t because I’d gotten “reasonable.” It was because I’d stopped loving him. “Oh, right.” Ryan seemed to remember something. “Lily’s going to her high school reunion tonight. Her old classmates always gang up on her, and she can’t handle them alone. I need to go with her. Don’t wait up for dinner.” He didn’t wait for my response. He walked straight to the bedroom to shower and change. The buyer texted me around the same time. “Miss Emma, I’ve transferred you the money for the TV. Each time I pick something up, I’ll send you a payment. Does that work?” I replied: “That works.” By the time Ryan emerged dressed and ready, I was packing the throw pillows, blankets, and little stuffed animals from the couch into a large bag. I said to him, “These are all Lily’s things. Do you want them in your room, or should you bring them back to her?” All of it—every last piece—Ryan had bought for her. Once, while watching TV, Lily had offhandedly complained that the couch looked too bare and boring. The very next day, Ryan bought her favorite throw pillows, a soft blanket, and plush toys. He’d even arranged a spot on the couch that was exclusively hers. If I accidentally sat there, he’d frown. “The couch is huge—can’t you sit somewhere else? Lily’s a little OCD. She can’t stand her stuff being messed up.” Then he’d make me move and carefully refold the blanket, repositioning each toy exactly where it had been. Now, he looked at the bag in my hands, and his expression went cold. “Emma, what are you doing now? Those things were perfectly fine on the couch. Why do you always have to stir up trouble?” His voice was low, barely containing his anger. I said, “I sold the couch. Someone’s coming to pick it up tomorrow. Do whatever you want with this stuff.” I set the bag by his bedroom door. I didn’t want to argue. I was about to go change and head out for dinner when I heard Ryan’s scornful laugh behind me. “When you bought that couch, I told you it wasn’t right. So you’ve finally come around to selling it and getting a new one?” “Don’t bother buying another one—I’ll pick it out. Lily has a bad back. A stiff leather couch isn’t good for her. I’ll find something she can lie on without getting sore.” When I’d chosen that firm leather couch, it was because Ryan had said that style put less strain on the spine. Every word he’d ever said to me—I’d held on to all of it. But he’d apparently never held on to a single word of mine. I pressed my lips together and said softly, “Do whatever you want.” It wouldn’t matter much longer. I’d be gone soon. Whatever he bought had nothing to do with me. Shortly after Ryan left, I changed and went out too. I found a restaurant with great reviews. But the moment I walked in and followed the hostess to my table, I heard a burst of teasing laughter from the other side of the partition.

“Lily, you’re something else—you actually landed the school heartthrob! How long have you two been together?” “Right? When’s the wedding? Don’t forget to invite us old classmates for a drink.” “I always knew you two would end up together. Back in school, Ryan was cold to everyone except Lily. When he looked at her, his eyes literally lit up.” The two familiar names made me pause mid-sit. I glanced over instinctively. Ryan and Lily had their backs to me. I couldn’t see their expressions, but I could clearly see Ryan deftly picking bones out of a piece of fish and placing the clean flesh into Lily’s bowl. A chorus of envious gasps erupted around them. “Oh my God, Lily, Ryan is so good to you. I’m so jealous. If my husband were half that thoughtful, I’d be thrilled.” “Seriously. If mine were that attentive, we wouldn’t fight every other day.” Lily was basking in the compliments, barely concealing the smugness in her eyes, deliberately suppressing a smile. “It’s not that big a deal. Ryan just understands me, that’s all.” Yeah. Ryan understood her perfectly. One look from her, and he knew exactly what she was thinking. She wanted to catch a midnight movie—even if he could barely keep his eyes open, he’d change and drive her to the theater. She wanted to go hiking—even though he was terrified of heights, he’d go along with her whims. And me? When I had a fever so bad it turned into pneumonia, and I begged him to take me to the hospital— He said: “Lily’s dog ran away. She’s at home crying her eyes out. I need to go help her look.” “You just have a fever. It’s not going to kill you. Go to the hospital yourself.” Thinking about that, I suddenly recalled what my mom had said to me at the beginning of the year. She said: “The day after your dad and I started dating, he was already itching to go to your grandma’s house and ask for my hand.” “You’ve been with Ryan five years. Has he ever once brought up marriage on his own?” “Emma, if you keep dragging this out, what are you going to do when you’re older and he throws you away?” Even after hearing that, I was still naive. I gave Ryan three chances to choose me. If he’d shown even a flicker of wanting to marry me, I would have kept waiting. That’s why I’d contacted the jeweler ahead of time and ordered a custom ring. But reality slapped me across the face. That day, he told me that as long as Lily didn’t have a boyfriend, he wouldn’t get married. I asked him: “What if she never finds another man she likes? What if it’s her whole life?” He was silent for a long moment, then said: “Marriage is just a piece of paper. As long as our relationship is stable, it doesn’t matter whether we have it or not.” I understood perfectly. What he meant was: as long as Lily was single, he would never marry me. In that moment, I finally saw the full picture. Five years of loving him—what an absolute joke. “Oh! Emma, what are you doing here?” A familiar yelp of surprise. I looked up and found Lily standing in the aisle—I had no idea when she’d gotten there. Ryan heard the voice and turned to look at me too. His gaze was complicated, his jaw subtly tight. Like he was afraid I’d say something I shouldn’t. “Ryan, Lily—you guys know this beauty?” someone asked with a laugh. Hearing that, I was suddenly curious. How would he answer? Ryan slowly looked away. His voice was cold and flat. “No. I don’t know her.” Those words landed on my heart like a sledgehammer. Crushing the last shred of hope I had left. I actually laughed. Then I turned to Lily and said, “That’s right. I don’t know you. You’ve got the wrong person.”

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One week before the wedding, I stumbled across a sex tape of my sister and my fiancé. On a porn site. The video already had over a hundred thousand likes. One of the comments read: *”Whoa! Brother-in-law screwing his sister-in-law? Incest is so hot! Does her sister know?”* The uploader had replied: *”Of course not! Her sister and I are getting married next week. Vivi just begged me for one last thrill before the wedding. I couldn’t bring myself to say no.”* *”Was she the one who wanted the video posted?”* *”Absolutely! Vivi said that with the video out there, she’d still have something to remember me by after I got married. What can I say—she loves me too much.”* I didn’t hold back. I downloaded the video and sent it straight to Ethan. …… I don’t know how much time passed before my phone lit up again. But it wasn’t Ethan. It was Vivi. *”Cassie, I made it—got to see my boyfriend. Slept with him right after his birthday. It was AMAZING!”* She’d attached a photo. A shot from bed. In it, her chest and shoulders were bare, and she was lying against the sheets. A man’s right hand had slipped into the frame beside her. I knew the ring on that man’s finger. I knew it well. Ethan had been sent to London for a year on assignment. Before he left, he’d proposed to me. He said we’d get married the moment he came back. But now, there was no point in waiting. There wasn’t going to be a wedding. I stared at my chat with Vivi. I didn’t reply. I didn’t know what to say. What was there to say? Demand to know why she was sleeping with her soon-to-be brother-in-law? I’d always known Vivi had someone she was in love with. I just never knew who. For a whole year, she’d flown abroad two or three times a month, saying she was chasing a chance at love. Even this trip—she’d flown out under the excuse of celebrating her boyfriend’s birthday. When I’d mentioned it to Ethan, he’d scoffed. *”Only someone as dumb as her would fly halfway across the world chasing a guy. Total lovesick idiot.”* He’d never had any patience for Vivi. So I’d never let my mind go anywhere else—like the fact that Vivi’s destination was always the same city Ethan lived in. Or that the man she was in love with just happened to share Ethan’s birthday. It never once occurred to me that he might be with Vivi. The screen lit up. A message from Ethan. *”Cassie, wait until I get back. I’ll explain everything.”* He was admitting it. Of course he was—with a video like that in my hands, there was no denying it. My eyes drifted to the calendar on my desk. The 26th was circled in red, marked with an exclamation point. That was the day Ethan came back. Two days from now. Another message: *”Don’t confront Vivi, okay? She’ll feel terrible.”* Every word of it a shield around her. My eyes burned. What did the two of them take me for? *”She’ll feel terrible? Terrible about screwing her own sister’s fiancé?!”*

Ethan was quiet for a long time before answering. *”Cassie, just wait until I get back. You’ll understand then. Let me explain.”* What was left to understand? They’d already been in the same bed. What explanation could possibly change that? I stopped responding to him and messaged my real estate agent instead: *”Please arrange showings. I don’t want the apartment anymore.”* After I finished with the agent, I noticed Vivi had updated her Instagram. This time it was a photo of the two of them—hands intertwined. Just the image. No caption. I noticed Ethan’s ring had been swapped out for a different style, and there was a new ring on Vivi’s hand too. A matching pair. In the comments, a mutual friend asked: *”Wait, when did you two get MARRIED?!”* Vivi answered quickly: *”Ha, not married! It’s a proposal! It was his birthday, and he proposed to me~”* I stared at the post for a long time. I didn’t confront Ethan again. Didn’t message Vivi. I just quietly tapped like. Five minutes later, Ethan sent me another message: *”She wanted to know what it felt like to be proposed to. It wasn’t a real proposal.”* *”Don’t take it to heart.”* I stared at those two lines. Then typed a single *”Okay”* and left it at that. I switched off my phone and dragged myself to the fridge for some water. When the door swung shut, I saw the magnet Ethan had made. *Remember to take your meds. —E.* I’d had chronic migraines for years. When they hit, the pain was unbearable, and I always forgot my medication. So Ethan had custom-ordered that magnet and stuck it on the fridge, so I’d see it every time I reached for water. I looked at it for a moment. Then peeled it off and dropped it into the trash without hesitation. …… Ethan came back with Vivi. “Cassie!” She ran up and threw her arms around me, beaming. “Ethan happened to be flying home today too, so I came back with him.” I gave a flat “Mm.” My eyes went to Vivi’s hand. The ring was still there. Then I looked at Ethan. The ring on his hand—the one that had matched Vivi’s—had already been switched back to my engagement ring. Vivi’s brow furrowed slightly. “Cassie, are you not feeling well?” She was looking at me with a completely normal expression. Not a trace of guilt on her face. As though she and Ethan had never happened. If not for the ring still on her finger. I took a step back. “I’m fine.” Vivi’s expression stiffened for a moment before smoothing over again. Ethan spoke suddenly. “Vivi’s just worried about you.” I laughed under my breath. Worried? How could he even say that with a straight face? “Really?” My voice was quiet, but the sarcasm cut through. “If she’s so worried, then why did she—” “Cassie!” Ethan cut me off. The words *become the other woman* lodged in my throat, unable to go either up or down. I met his warning glare, feeling completely hollow inside. He was that afraid I might even *mention* it. He turned to Vivi. His voice softened. “It’s late. Just stay here tonight.” Vivi glanced at me hesitantly. “Is it a bad time?” She shook her head. “Never mind, I’ll head home.” Ethan frowned. “It’s not safe to go back this late. Just go tomorrow.” Vivi stayed. No one asked me. Ethan made the decision. I didn’t say a word. I got up and went to my room. Ten minutes later, Ethan opened the door and came in. Neither of us spoke first. He poured himself a whiskey, downed it in one swallow, and finally said, hoarsely: “Don’t worry. It’s not what you think. You’re still the only one in my heart.” “Vivi’s never expected anything real from me.” “Cassie, she’s hurting too. She didn’t want any of this either.” I looked at Ethan. Said nothing. I didn’t know what to say. My own sister, the one I’d grown up with, had slept with him. And he was standing there telling me *she* was hurting. The truly laughable part—he was still insisting *I* was the only one in his heart. “Cassie,” Ethan went on, “just give us a little more time. I’ll sort things out with her soon, and then we can get married.” I asked, flatly, “When did it start?” His expression shifted. He answered honestly. “Seven months ago.” That would have been the fifth month after Ethan left for London. Around then, Vivi had been flying out two or three times a month, always coming back looking wrecked—then locking herself in her room for an entire day. Ethan closed his eyes, then opened them and looked straight at me. “At first, I said no. But then…” He trailed off, unwilling to continue. He only said, “Cassie, just wait one more month.” “At least, give her some time. Please?” I looked at him, and for the first time, I felt like I was staring at a stranger. A stranger so foreign I wasn’t sure I’d ever known him at all. “No.” My voice came out barely above a whisper. “Ethan, if she’s suffering that much, then be with her.” I slipped the ring off my finger and set it on the table. “Let’s break up.”

Ethan froze. The color drained from his face. “You want to break up?” I didn’t answer him. I just looked at him. “You and her won’t have to sneak around anymore. And that ring on your finger—you can switch it back to the matching one.” “Cassie, don’t talk nonsense,” Ethan said in a low voice. “Vivi never intended to take anything from you. Stop being ridiculous. I already told you—once this passes, everything will be fine!” I finally laughed. There was no visible wound, yet my heart was breaking. “Fine how?” I looked at him. “After you two break up, I’m supposed to pretend nothing happened, stay with you, and marry you?” “Ethan, I can’t do it.” “And I can’t pretend nothing happened either.” I couldn’t accept that my fiancé had gotten involved with my sister. And I couldn’t bring myself to *understand* them. Frustration crept across Ethan’s face. “Then what do you want? Vivi is already miserable. Cassie, can’t you have a little sympathy for her?” I almost laughed until I cried. How was I supposed to have sympathy? Sympathize with the fact that Vivi flew to London every month to see him? That they ate dinner together, went on dates, slept together? That he proposed to her? “Ethan, I can’t understand it,” I said. “My sister and my fiancé got involved behind my back. How exactly do you expect me to understand?” The more I said, the more it hurt. I closed my eyes. Opened them again. “Ethan, let’s just end it.” The words had barely left my mouth when the door was pushed open. Vivi stood in the doorway, her eyes red-rimmed. “Cassie, it’s my fault. It has nothing to do with Ethan. I’m the one who fell for him. I’m the one who kept pushing—” Tears rolled down her cheeks one after another. “But I swear I never meant to take him from you. I know it was wrong, but—but I couldn’t help myself.” “Every night I hate myself for what I did. I’ve been wanting to tell you.” Ethan walked over and pulled her into his arms. The image was almost unbearable. “Cassie, I promise you—I’ll break up with Ethan. I’ll never come near him again,” she said, voice trembling. “Please don’t break up with him…” Ethan cut her off. “Don’t talk nonsense. Look at yourself right now.” I looked at Vivi. For as long as I could remember, I’d given her everything. Been good to her. Any treat, any toy—she got it first. We’d never once fought. Never even raised our voices at each other. She loved to cling to me, to be spoiled by me. When she’d first met Ethan, she’d even mocked him with disdain: “Who do you think you are? *I’m* my sister’s little shadow. I take better care of her than you ever could.” Ethan hadn’t backed down either: “No one knows Cassie better than I do—not even you.” The two of them had competed to dote on me, arguing over who got to pour my water, pass me things, rub my shoulders. And those same two people had ended up together. Behind my back. “You two don’t need to break up,” I said quietly. “I’ll be the one to leave.” “Cassie, enough already!” Ethan snapped. “Can’t you see how upset she is? Can’t you be a little more understanding?” I said nothing. He seemed to realize how sharp his tone had been. His voice softened. “Once you’ve cooled off, we’ll talk properly.” “Get some rest tonight.” He didn’t spare me another glance. He wrapped his arm around Vivi and led her out of the room. The moment the door clicked shut, the tears came. The engagement ring lying on the table looked more like a joke than anything else. I picked it up and dropped it into the trash without a second thought. I didn’t want the ring anymore. And I didn’t want Ethan anymore either.

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On a full-moon night in my past life,my best friend and I found a badly injured wolf in the junkyard behind town. Chloe thought the wolf was filthy and refused to touch him. I couldn’t bear to leave him,so I carried him home. I spent all my savings to treat his wounds. Only later did I discover who he was. He was the Pureblood Alpha King,missing for years. Once he regained his senses,he put me on a pedestal. He gave me his claiming bite,blessing me with eternal youth,and made me queen of all the packs. We sealed our soul-bond before the Moon Goddess. Chloe chose an Alpha officer from the pack. He lost a power struggle and was cast out. She suffered with him in exile for half her life. She envied me for having everything. While the Alpha King was away,she killed me with a cup of poisoned wine. I was reborn. Before I could clock out of work,my best friend sprinted toward the junkyard. I knew. She remembered everything too. I clocked out,feeling only scorn. She didn’t know about the Pureblood King’s frenzy. He tore apart anything in sight. In my last life,I only survived because of my calming pheromones. Without them,he would have devoured me… Before she left,Chloe glanced back at me. Her delight and greed were impossible to miss. She looked terrified I’d beat her to it. That confirmed my suspicions. She was reborn,too. I didn’t follow her. I counted the stock on the shelves. My work uniform was folded and hung in my locker. Then I punched out. Memories of my death came back. Chloe tricked me into drinking the poisoned wine. The dizziness came quickly. She grabbed my hair and dragged me into the cold cellar. In the dark,she punched me in the nose. “Evelyn,I’ve always hated your stuck-up act!You smell like sewer water.Why should you have a better life?!” She kicked me in the stomach. I screamed as I felt my bones crack. “You found some mutt in a junkyard.And you’re the high and mighty queen?No way!All the luck,all the riches—they should have been mine!” The she-wolf lunged. Her teeth tore out my throat. That pain never left me. It was branded on my soul. Thinking of it made my body tremble. Hate tightened around my heart. Chloe thought stealing the Alpha King would give her my former glory. But she had no idea how terrifying a Pureblood Alpha’s rut was. Without a specific Omega’s calming pheromones,the Alpha King became a killing beast. Even I needed days to recover. Eventually,I couldn’t stand it. But the Alpha King locked me up and called it love. To outsiders,it looked like proof of his deep love for me. Chloe was an ordinary Beta. Getting close to him was a death wish. I pushed the thought away,pulled my coat tighter around me,and walked home through the snow. Four days later at dawn,the roar of engines shattered the town’s peace. A dozen armored vehicles rolled down the town’s main street. The doors flew open. Armed guards quickly fell into formation. A tall,stern-faced man stepped out of a vehicle. Holt.The Alpha King. Chloe,dressed in lavish furs,took his hand and stepped out. She held her chin high and looked over the crowd. Holt wrapped an arm around her waist and announced to the crowd, “From this day on,she is my fated mate.The future queen of the pack.” The crowd gasped. Chloe basked in their awe. Her eyes found me in the crowd. She walked over to me in her high heels. “Evelyn,we’re in two different worlds now.” She lowered her voice,her tone full of pride. “But the way you look at my mate makes me uncomfortable…” I looked at her and said nothing. Chloe gave a nasty smile. She raised her voice for everyone to hear. “You live in one of the pack’s high-end apartments,don’t you?As of today,Evelyn’s housing rights are revoked!Throw her out and dump her in the North District slums!” The North District slums had no heating. At night,the temperature dropped to twenty degrees below zero. The people around me fell silent. But no one dared to speak. Holt frowned but didn’t stop her. Two guards moved to restrain me. I didn’t resist. As I handed over my key,I said to Chloe, “Congratulations.You got what you wanted.” My words pleased her. She laughed. “Remember this.Next time you see me,you’d better be on your knees.” Holt stood by the car,checking his watch. “Sweetheart,it’s time to go.The pack elders are waiting.” Chloe’s face softened. She trotted over and threw herself into Holt’s arms. As the convoy sped off,snow spraying in its wake,the townspeople pointed and whispered. Pretending not to hear them,I dragged my suitcase toward the North District. The slums reeked of garbage and sewage. I pushed open the broken wooden door of my assigned room. There wasn’t even a bed inside. Just a pile of moldy hay. A cold wind howled through a hole in the window. I barely felt the cold. The fire inside me kept me warm. I closed my eyes. The corners of my mouth slowly curved into a smile. Chloe only smelled of cheap perfume. The moment Holt’s frenzy hit… She’ll learn what it means to wish she were dead.

I was stripped of my old post and sent to the servants’quarters at pack headquarters. It was the lowest kind of manual labor. My days were spent in a damp cellar,sorting thorny herbs. My fingertips were covered in bloody cuts. I didn’t even have the energy to complain. Every day,my coworkers talked about the same thing. The upcoming Moonlight Vow Ceremony. “Have you heard?The new queen really has her ways.She has the king mesmerized.” “Totally.I heard the king gave her the biggest ruby from the vault.” “She’s just lucky.It’s not for us to dream about.” The manager walked over. He kicked over the basket of herbs I had just stacked. “What are you dawdling for?The Queen herself asked for these calming herbs.If you’re late,it’s your head.” I bent down. I picked up the scattered herbs and put them back in the basket. Mocking laughter rose up all around me. I did the math. Holt’s rut was due within the next day or two. Chloe had been arrogant for so long. She was finally about to pay for it. The higher you climb,the harder you fall. She couldn’t seem to grasp that. But none of that had anything to do with me anymore. I lowered my head and kept working. That afternoon,the manager threw a heavy wooden box at me. “Take this to the queen’s suite on the top floor.And be quick about it!” I hoisted the box onto my shoulder and got into the service elevator. When the elevator opened on the top floor,the sharp smell of blood hit me. It was mixed with the low,restrained growl of a beast. I had just stepped out when I saw Holt stumbling out of Chloe’s room. His chest was bare,every muscle drawn tight,his eyes blazing red. Frantic Alpha pheromones filled the hallway. They were almost suffocating. He had gouged deep claw marks into the metal walls. Sparks flew. He was beyond reason. With a roar,he lunged for the isolation room at the end of the hall. I flattened myself against the wall and tried to mask my scent. The sound of Holt’s footsteps finally faded. Only then did I see her:Chloe,collapsed on the carpet. Her clothes were torn,her hair in disarray,and her body was covered in vicious bite marks. Blood stained the carpet red. She heard my footsteps and snapped her head up. The moment she saw me,fear turned to rage. “What are you doing here!Are you here to laugh at me?!” She scrambled up,screaming,and threw a vase at me. The vase shattered at my feet. A few guards heard the noise and rushed over. Chloe pointed at me and screamed. “It was her!There was something wrong with the herbs she delivered!They triggered the king’s frenzy!” “Throw her out!Make her pay for this!” The guards moved forward and dragged me roughly out of the building. Outside,it was ten degrees below zero. Snow was falling heavily. They pushed me into the snow and forced me to my knees. Chloe came out,wearing a thick mink coat and supported by a handmaid. She carried a bucket of water freshly drawn from a hole in the ice. “Evelyn,you’ve clearly forgotten your place.I’ll put you back in it!” She lifted the bucket and dumped it over my head. The cold stabbed into my veins. It took the last of my warmth. I shivered uncontrollably,my teeth chattering. Chloe leaned close to my ear. “Evelyn,for the rest of your life,you’ll be nothing but dirt under my shoe.I will always be above you,enjoying everything you can only dream of.” I raised my head and met her gaze. The bite on her neck was deep enough to show bone. Its edges were already festering and turning black. That was the venom that came with a Pureblood king’s frenzy. Without calming pheromones to neutralize it,the wound would never heal. It would only get deeper. I pulled my lips back into a mocking smile. “Is that so?You can barely survive one of his frenzies.Next month,what will you use to satisfy that beast?Queen?” Chloe’s face went pale. Her legs gave out.She collapsed in front of me. She was half a head shorter than me,even though I was kneeling. The surrounding attendants rushed to help her up. I saw some of them exchange glances. It was a look of scorn for their future queen. But Chloe didn’t see it. She clutched her battered body and ran off in a daze. She was close to breaking. What came next would be worth watching.

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Kyle’s favorite phrase was always“when the time is right.” When his position as Alpha was secure,he would place the Moonstone on me,making me his one and only Luna.I waited for two years. When his mother accepted my low birth,we would hold our formal bonding ceremony.I waited another three years. In the fifth year,at the victory banquet celebrating Kyle’s consolidation of all his territories,his mother,the proud former Luna,publicly unclasped the Moonstone from her neck. It was a relic passed down through generations of the pack,bestowed upon the future Luna as a sign of acceptance into the bloodline. This time,I thought,I wouldn’t have to wait anymore. “Come,child.” However,holding the softly glowing stone,she walked past me and placed it securely around the neck of Layla,who was sitting beside me. The entire long table of werewolves fell silent. The former Luna patted Layla’s hand.“Layla grew up with Kyle.Her parents died protecting the pack,so she is family to us.” My hand was still on the table,my claws digging into my palm,my fingertips ice-cold. Someone whispered,“Then what about Ila…” Kyle leaned in,his voice low enough for only me to hear.“My mother is just feeling sentimental about old friends.Don’t take it to heart.” “Next month,I’ll conquer the Black Rock tribe and bring you their chieftain’s skull as a wine cup.Be good,just wait a little longer.” Layla held up the Moonstone on her chest and smirked at me,her smile a taunt.“Isn’t it beautiful,sister Ila?The former Luna said it’s a sacred object that has absorbed a hundred years of moonlight.” I said it was beautiful. Just then,the communication crystal hidden in my leather armor vibrated. “Have you made up your mind?When are you coming to the Land of the Elders?” … “Why aren’t you talking?” In the off-road vehicle on the way back,Kyle,steering with one hand,glanced at me. The moonlight cast hard shadows on his statuesque profile. I pulled my gaze back from the forest outside the window.“There’s nothing to say.” Kyle sighed and stopped the car by a small stream. He freed his right hand and reached across the center console,habitually trying to stroke the back of my neck—a gesture of comfort among werewolves for their mates. I tilted my head slightly,avoiding his touch. His hand froze in mid-air for a moment. He then smoothly retracted it,placing it back on the steering wheel.“Still sulking about the Moonstone?” His tone held the weary condescension one uses with a misbehaving cub. “You know my mother’s temperament.She values ancient bloodlines above all else.” “Layla’s parents died in battle.She grew up in our home,and my mother has always felt indebted to her.” “It’s just a stone.So she gave it to her.Did you really have to give me a long face in front of the entire pack?” I hadn’t said a word.I had just quietly torn into my piece of roasted meat. But in his eyes,my failure to smile and flatter Layla’s gloating was a breach of decorum. “Kyle,”I said his name calmly. “Hm?” “You promised me that Moonstone five years ago.”

The car fell silent for a second. The howl of a lone wolf echoed in the distance,a reminder that he should be continuing his patrol of the territory. Kyle restarted the engine,the vehicle crunching over the gravel road. “I was just a challenger back then.It was just something I said to appease you.You actually took it seriously?” He let out a short,dismissive laugh. “Does the Howling Wind Pack now lack for a single,worthless stone?” “Next month,I’ll crush the Black Rock tribe.I’ll give you their chieftain’s skull as a wine cup.That’s way cooler than some stupid rock.” “Come on,don’t get hung up on such trivial things.” He was always like this. Using the most domineering tone to casually crush every hope I held. Five years ago,Kyle was still a challenger.In the forest,he had woven a bracelet for me from the fangs of some unknown beast. He put it on my wrist,his eyes red with emotion. “Ila,when I become Alpha,I will make my mother place the Moonstone around your neck with her own hands.” “I want every wolf pack in the Northern Reaches to know that you are my one and only Luna.” I still wore that fang bracelet. It had been imbued with my scent,becoming as smooth and warm as jade. The car pulled up to the wooden cabin in the woods. Kyle unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to look at me. “Tomorrow is the full moon.Want to go to Moonlight Falls?I’ll spend the whole day with you.” In the past,I would have eagerly prepared wine and food,looking forward to a whole night just for the two of us. But now,I just felt tired. “No,thanks.”I pushed open the car door. “I have to tend to my herb garden tomorrow.” Kyle got out,locked the car,and caught up to me in a few strides. He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind,resting his chin on my shoulder and nuzzling the side of my neck. “Are you really mad?”

His breath ghosted over my ear.“Layla is so excited about the Moonstone she can’t sleep.She wants me to go with her tomorrow to test its power.” “You know how she is,she can’t control her own strength well.She’s relied on me since we were kids.” “I’ll go with her in the morning and be back in the afternoon to be with you,okay?” “Okay,”I said softly. Kyle chuckled in satisfaction,pressing an uncomfortable kiss to my cheek. “I knew my Ila was the most understanding.” Back in the cabin,Kyle went straight to the bathroom to shower. I walked to the entrance and,from a leather pouch hanging there,took out a scroll made of a special tree bark. It was an acceptance letter for advanced studies in the Land of the Elders,specializing in the ancient art of Soul-Healing. On the bottom line was my name,which I had just signed this afternoon in wolf’s blood. I took it out and placed it in the hidden compartment of a bag I had already half-packed. The sound of rushing water came from the bathroom. I walked out to the balcony and sent a mental message to my senior in the Land of the Elders. [Silas,I’ll be leaving at dawn the day after tomorrow.] He replied instantly:[Finally saw the light?That’s more like it!Why suffer through that marathon of misery?Come to the Land of the Elders,and I’ll show you every kind of handsome wolf on the continent!] I looked at the faint light shimmering in the crystal and smiled faintly.

The next morning,I was awakened by the sound of Kyle’s deliberately hushed roar. He was standing on the balcony,holding his communication crystal. “A crack?Is it serious?” “It’s fine if the stone is cracked,as long as no one’s hurt.” “Don’t cry,it’s just a stone.I’m on my way.” His voice was laced with concern. I lay in bed,staring blankly at the wooden ceiling. Five minutes later,he pushed open the bedroom door. Seeing my eyes open,he paused,then quickly walked over. “Did I wake you?” He sat on the edge of the bed,reaching out to touch my face. I turned my head away and sat up. “Are you going out?”I asked. Kyle’s hand froze in mid-air and he awkwardly pulled it back. “Layla tried to test the Moonstone’s power this morning and accidentally knocked it against the altar.She’s crying her eyes out.” “I have to go check on her.She lives alone,I’m worried.” As he spoke,he quickly shed his pajamas and changed into his combat leathers. “I’ll skip breakfast.Just go into the woods and catch something for yourself.” I watched him expertly tighten his vambraces. “Kyle.” “What is it?”He didn’t turn around,fixing his messy hair in the reflection of a water basin. “I want to go see that plot of land in the southern valley today.” His hand stilled. The southern valley.We had talked about it six months ago. He had said it would be our future cubs’nursery,and that as soon as his position as Alpha was stable,he would designate it as our private territory. Kyle turned,his expression a little unnatural. “That land isn’t going anywhere.” “Layla is very unstable right now.I have to go comfort her first.” “Once this blows over,I’ll take you to pick an even better spot,one with more spiritual energy.The southern valley is too close to human territory anyway.” I looked at him,my gaze calm. “Okay.” Kyle visibly relaxed. He walked over and placed a hurried kiss on my forehead. “Be good.I’ll be back.”

He left.I got up and went to the kitchen. I opened the ice cellar;it was filled with all sorts of game. I took out two bird eggs and a pouch of milk-tree sap. As I fried the eggs,memories surfaced uncontrollably. Back then,we lived in a cave. Every day,Kyle would wake up before me and go into the forest to find the freshest honey and berries for me. Once,I casually mentioned wanting to eat the fire frogs from the western marshes. He ran for half the night through acid rain to catch them for me. When he returned,the fire frogs were still alive and hopping,but a large patch of his own fur had been corroded away by the rain. “If Ila wants to eat something,I’ll get it for her even if it’s raining knives,”Kyle had said then. And now? Even accompanying me to see the land he had promised had become an inconvenience he could casually dismiss. I plated the fried eggs. As I poured the sap,my hand slipped,and some spilled on the stone table. I grabbed some moss to wipe it up but accidentally knocked over a bottle next to it. It was a vial of high-concentration“wolfsbane”extract. The dark brown liquid oozed out,emitting a pungent smell. I stared at the puddle,my stomach churning. I’m severely allergic to high-concentration wolfsbane. Kyle had brought this vial back two days ago. Because Layla had said she felt vampires lurking around the territory,and wolfsbane could strengthen their defenses. Kyle had even forgotten that the strong scent of wolfsbane alone made it hard for me to breathe and left me feeling weak all over. I threw the moss into the fire,burning it to ash along with the plate of eggs and the vial of extract. Then,I went back to the bedroom and pulled out three large leather trunks from under the bed. I started to pack. There wasn’t much that was truly mine. A few healer’s robes,a few ancient medical texts,a stone mortar for grinding herbs. The rest were things Kyle had brought back for me from his hunts. Trophies that were powerful but ill-suited for me. He always armed me according to Layla’s tastes. “Layla says bear-skin cloaks are imposing.You should try one.” “Layla says this model of bone-splinter dagger is perfect for a girl’s self-defense.I made one for you too.” I gathered all those things and stacked them neatly in the deepest part of the storage room.

At three in the afternoon,Kyle returned. He pushed open the door and froze,seeing the three large leather trunks piled in the living room. “What are you doing?” He strode over,his brow furrowed. “Sorting furs for the winter?” I tied the last leather strap. “Getting rid of old things.” Kyle’s gaze fell on an unsealed trunk. Inside were the horn cups we drank from on our first date,and the white wolf doll he had given me. His face darkened. “Ila,are you ever going to let this go?” He snatched the horn cup out and slammed it onto the stone table. “You’ve been throwing a tantrum since last night over a stupid rock!” “Now you’re throwing this stuff out?What’s next?Are you going to tell me you’re leaving this home?” I straightened up and looked at him calmly. “Yes.” Kyle laughed,a sound laced with fury. “Fine.You’ve grown bold.” He yanked open the leather tie at his collar,sat down in a chair,and watched me coldly. “Where are you going to go?To your friend Kora’s cave?Or back to that birthplace of yours that never even sees the moonlight?” “Ila,you’re not a cub that needs protecting anymore.Can you stop acting like a little she-wolf,playing this’running away from home’game all the time?” “Do you really think I’ll come begging for you to come back if you’re gone for a few days?”

He was convinced I couldn’t leave him. Convinced I was just using this clumsy method to force him to bow his head to me. I offered no explanation. I just silently placed the horn cup back in the trunk and tied the leather strap. “Think whatever you want.” Kyle watched my actions,a flicker of irritation in his eyes. He stood up,walked over to me,and softened his tone. “Alright,stop it.” “Tomorrow is our five-year anniversary.” “I’ve booked the top-floor table at the Moonlight Restaurant.After dinner,we’ll go pick out a blood-diamond ring.” “As for the southern valley,I’ll have my Beta go plant our pack flag there tomorrow and write your name on the deed.” “Does that work for you?” He thought this was the greatest concession an Alpha could possibly make. I looked at his familiar yet alien face and smiled. “Okay.” I nodded. “See you tomorrow.” Kyle let out a sigh of relief and ruffled my hair. “That’s my good girl.” He didn’t know that in my bag,I already had a map for tomorrow’s journey. I had fourteen hours until my departure.

The next morning,Kyle left early for the pack council meeting.Before he left,he planted a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll pick you up at six tonight.” “Wear that white moonlight dress.It looks good on you.” The moment the door closed,I turned and walked into the closet. That white dress hung in the most prominent spot. It was the same style as Layla’s. I didn’t touch it. I changed into a simple linen shirt and leather pants. This was what I used to wear most often the year I met Kyle. I dragged the three sealed trunks outside and called the pack’s transport team. I had them sent to a friend who recycled old goods. “Ila,this stuff is still pretty new.Are you sure you don’t want it?”my friend asked through the communication crystal. “I don’t.Please get rid of it for me.” After ending the call,I looked around. This spacious wooden cabin,once filled to the brim by me. The cushions on the sofa,I had sewn by hand. The herbs on the balcony,I had nurtured one by one. The pottery in the kitchen,I had traded for at the human market. Now,they were all still in their places. But all personal traces of me were completely gone. As if I had never lived here at all. Just then,the communication crystal vibrated. It was a mental message from Kyle. [Ila,I’m sorry,but we might have to cancel dinner tonight.] [Layla got hit by a rampaging horned deer at the training grounds.Her ankle is sprained and swollen like a ball.] [I have to take her to see the High Priest.] [We’ll go look at blood-diamond rings in a few days,okay?]

I stared at the light on the crystal,not replying. A moment later,another message came through. [Are you mad?Don’t be.I promise I’ll make it up to you tomorrow.] Make it up to me.Again. I silenced the crystal and tossed it on the bed. I went to the kitchen and cooked myself a bowl of clear noodle soup. This was my last meal in this territory. Just as the noodles were ready,the lock clicked. Kyle pushed the door open,a hurried look on his face. Seeing me standing in the kitchen with a bowl of noodles,he froze. I placed the bowl on the dining table,pulled out a chair,and sat down. “Weren’t you at the High Priest’s with Layla?” Kyle walked over and poured himself a glass of water. “Layla said she was craving the pastries from that elven bakery in the west district.I came back to get the Raptor from the garage to go buy them for her.” The west district. The place where he had once braved acid rain to catch fire frogs for me. Now,he was about to cross half the Northern Reaches for Layla’s pastries. “Ila,are you being moody again?” Seeing my silence,Kyle’s brow furrowed again. “I already told you,Layla’s hurt.I can’t just leave her alone,can I?” “Can’t you be more considerate of the difficulties I face as an Alpha?” I lifted a chopstick full of noodles to my mouth. It was bland,tasteless. “I’m not being moody,”I said calmly. “Go buy them.Don’t keep her waiting.” Kyle gave me a suspicious look. He seemed surprised by my excessive calm today. But he was in a hurry to leave and didn’t press the matter. “I’m leaving then.I probably won’t be back tonight.Layla’s scared to be alone,so I have to stay the night at the Priest’s Tower.” “You go to bed early.” He grabbed his car keys and turned to leave. As he reached the door,he suddenly stopped.

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My sister Chloe was blind with love. She sat on a plane for thirty straight hours just to celebrate the birthday of the boyfriend she’d kept overseas for three years. She looked at me, a martyr’s glow in her eyes. “Elena, you don’t understand. Every year, the one who gets to spend his birthday with him is never me.” “This time, I want to stand beside him myself.” I sighed and let it go. When my fiancé, Don Julian, heard, he gave a cold little snort on the other end of the line. “She flew halfway around the world just to throw a man a birthday party? Has she lost her mind?” “A woman who throws herself at a man like that—let her do whatever she wants.” The night Chloe landed at Sheremetyevo International, I stumbled onto her post on Twitter. A photograph of a man from behind, with a caption of nothing but a curt *Happy Birthday*. But my breath froze in that instant. The ring on the man’s ring finger was the Ashford family ring, set with black diamonds. The perfect match to my engagement ring. That was when I understood. The boyfriend Chloe had been dating for three years. Was my fiancé. … I sat with that photograph all night. Two days earlier, when I’d told him I wanted to fly to the Moscow estate to celebrate with him, he’d answered in that steady, unruffled voice of his: “There’s no need, Elena. When I’m back in New York, we’ll do it privately, just the two of us.” But it wasn’t that he wasn’t celebrating. It was that he already had someone to celebrate with. And that someone was my own sister. I didn’t fall apart. I took a screenshot and sent it to Julian. Ten minutes passed. My phone lit up—but the message was from Chloe, cheerful as a bell. *Elena! We met up—finally! But I didn’t have time to get him a gift. Do you think if I tied a bow around my wrist and let him unwrap me, it would be too forward?* She’d attached a photo. A three-tier dark chocolate cake beside a champagne tower. A man’s right hand rested casually on the edge of the table. The black-diamond ring on his ring finger was now unmistakable. Three years ago, when Julian decided to expand into the Russian market, he’d promised in front of every elder that the moment he returned to New York, we would marry, and I would become the Donna of the Ashford family. But now, it seemed there was no need for that wedding at all. I didn’t reply to Chloe. What was I supposed to ask her? Why did you climb into your sister’s fiancé’s bed? I’d always known Chloe was carrying someone in her heart. Through college, she was forever off traveling in Russia, saying she was “making up for the regrets of her youth.” Whenever Julian and I made small talk about it, his face would twist with disgust. “Only a fool like her would chase all the way to Russia. Serves her right if the traffickers get her.” He had never shown Chloe a shred of patience, never a decent expression. Precisely because of that, it had never once crossed my mind that Chloe’s every trip led to the very Russia where Julian was doing his market research; never once did it strike me as strange that they shared a birthday. I had never once imagined that they’d been together for three years, right under my nose. The screen lit up again. Julian. *What’s the meaning of this?* He was denying it. I leaned against the rosewood desk for support, my fingers cold as I typed out a few words: *The one celebrating that birthday with her—isn’t that you?* A long silence, long enough for me to believe he’d thrown his phone into the Volga. Then the call came through. I picked up. His heavy breathing came through the receiver. “Elena. When I’m back in New York, I’ll explain it to you myself.” A confession, dressed up as something else. My eyes fell on the leather calendar on the desk. The 26th was circled thickly in red pen, the Ashford family seal stamped beside it. The day of his return. The day after tomorrow. Julian let out a heavy sigh. “Don’t make a scene in front of Chloe. Promise me.” His tone was thick with undisguised favor and protection. My eyes stung suddenly. My throat was so dry it felt full of grit. “Why, Julian?” “Elena, wait until I’ve landed.” Before the words had fully left his mouth, a soft, delicate voice drifted through. “…Was that Elena on the phone?” Julian’s voice dropped instantly to something so gentle I’d almost never heard it from him. “No.” “Just one of my subordinates.”

Ten years of knowing each other. Five years of shared profit and shared bloodshed. Three years of me in New York, waiting for him through the days and nights. And now, to keep Chloe from being startled, I had become “just one of his subordinates.” I hung up. A second later, Julian’s message came through. *Chloe feels awful about you. She doesn’t want me mentioning you in front of her.* Awful? A woman who climbs into her sister’s fiancé’s bed knows what awful means? Late into the night, sleepless, I refreshed the feed. Chloe had posted a new photo: two hands laced tightly together, the Ashford estate in Russia in the background. The black-diamond ring on Julian’s little finger had been swapped out. On Chloe’s ring finger sat a ring that matched his. Down in the comments, several Made Men in the know were exclaiming: *Chloe! When did you and the Don get secretly married?!* Chloe replied beneath: *Not married yet—engaged~ At last night’s birthday party, he officially made his vows to me~* I stared at those words for a long time. Julian had given the vows and the tokens he’d once given me to someone else. It was time for me, the future Godmother in name only, to exit the stage. I didn’t confront Julian. I didn’t tear the mask off Chloe. I simply, calmly, tapped a like beneath the photo. Five minutes later, Julian’s message came in: *She’s still a little girl—she can be vain sometimes. She only wanted to know what it felt like to be proposed to by a Don.* *As the future Godmother of the Ashford family, you’ll need to have a bigger heart.* I stared at those two lines and answered with a single word: *Fine.* Exhaustion crashed over me. I got up and went to the fridge for a drink to clear my head. When I opened the door, I saw the note taped to the bottle. *Less iced whiskey. Warm milk helps you sleep.* Whenever I’d stayed up too late reconciling accounts and it triggered my stomach pain, Julian had always torn the iced liquor out of my hand with a stern look and taped the note here as a reminder, ordering the housekeeper to keep fresh milk stocked every day. I looked at it for two seconds. Without hesitation, I peeled the note off, threw it into the trash along with the milk. Two days later, Julian returned to New York—with Chloe. “Elena!” Chloe ran over and wrapped her arms around me, laughing. “Julian just wrapped things up with the Russian market today. I hitched a ride back on his private jet.” I nodded coolly, my eyes drifting down to her hand. The ring—the one that had symbolized his vow—was still on her finger. I looked up at Julian. The ring on his hand that had matched Chloe’s had already been swapped back for the one he’d placed on my finger before the family council. Chloe’s brow furrowed slightly. “Elena, what’s the matter?” Her face was written all over with concern, without a shred of guilt anywhere in it—as if she’d never lain tangled up with my fiancé in that Moscow penthouse. I stepped back from her. “Nothing.” Chloe’s smile stiffened for a beat before returning. Julian shot me a look of disapproval. “Chloe’s worried about you.” “Is she?” A brittle laugh escaped me, my voice rising. “If she’s worried, then why did she—” “Elena!” Julian cut me off sharply. The words *become Julian’s mistress* choked in my throat. I met his furious eyes, and something in my chest was struck as if by a blunt weapon—a huge, hollow space opening up. I hadn’t even said it. And Julian could already look at me with a face that savage. He turned back to Chloe, his expression softening. “Stay here tonight. Don’t go.” Chloe glanced at me, hesitating. “Is that… really all right?” Julian frowned. “It’s not safe traveling this late. Go tomorrow.” And so Chloe stayed. Julian had decided, without asking me a thing. I turned and went back to the master bedroom. Ten minutes later, he pushed the door open and came in. Julian lit a Cuban cigar. The ember flared and dimmed in the shadowed room. Half of it was gone before he finally spoke, his voice rough. “Chloe has never dreamed of replacing you.” “Elena, love isn’t something people choose. She’s in pain too. Can’t you find it in you to understand?” I leaned back against the sofa and looked at him. The sister I’d grown up with, who’d shared every honor of this family with me, had gotten involved with the fiancé I’d loved for five years. And what was more absurd—Julian was actually asking me to have compassion for *her* pain. “And what about me?” I asked. Julian looked away. “Elena. Give us a little more time.” “When did it start?” I asked, blunt. His eyes flickered. In the end he answered honestly. “After that firefight with the arms dealers, three years ago.” For those months, Chloe had practically lived in Russia. She’d even called me to ask how to clean the necrotic tissue out of a wound. I’d wanted to go and take care of him too—but a traitor had led men into the Ashford compound, and while I was trying to protect Julian’s mother, two bullets had gone through my shoulder blade. While I was bleeding for his rule as Don, for his family, he had wavered. Julian closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he looked at me with the eyes of a man used to being in control of everything. “At the beginning, I refused her. But she saved me…” He paused, not going further. His tone turned to something like a plea. “Elena. Give me one more month.” “Give Chloe, at least, a little time to adjust.” I looked at this man, this man who ruled an enormous empire of the night, and for the first time I felt he was a stranger. “No.” “Julian Ashford. Since she’s in so much pain, just marry her.” I slipped the black-diamond ring—the token of my status as the future Donna—off my finger and set it gently on the rosewood table. “We’re calling off the engagement. This ends here.”

Julian froze. Disbelief flashed across his eyes. “You’re calling off the engagement?” I withdrew my hand. “That way she won’t have to sneak around showing off anymore. That ring of yours—you can go ahead and swap it for the one that matches hers.” “Elena, don’t talk like that when you’re angry.” Julian’s voice went cold. “Chloe has never once tried to steal your place as Godmother. You don’t need to put on this act. I told you—in a month, everything will go back to the way it was.” I couldn’t help laughing. But the place where my heart sat felt as if a blade were sawing back and forth through it, the pain almost enough to strangle me. “Back to what way?” I stared at this man who controlled half the underworld of North America. “After the two of you have had your fill of tangling in some foreign country, then I’m supposed to walk into St. Patrick’s Cathedral like a fool and swear that we will never betray each other?” “Julian, it makes me sick.” “I can’t pretend nothing happened.” I couldn’t accept that my fiancé had betrayed me, and I couldn’t begin to understand what role I was supposed to play as the stumbling block in their forbidden, agonized love. Julian looked exasperated. “Chloe is emotionally unstable right now! As her older sister, can’t you show a little consideration?” Consideration? For them? For Chloe flying to Russia every month for a date with him? For Julian proposing to her in front of the whole family? I drew a slow breath. “Julian Ashford. You slept with my sister, and you want *me* to be considerate?” The stabbing pain in my chest almost drowned me. I spoke slowly. “Let’s just end it here.” The bedroom door was suddenly pushed open. Chloe stood outside, her eyes red, her body trembling, tears falling one after another. “Elena… it’s my fault, none of it is Julian’s fault! I was the one who fell for him, I was the one who wouldn’t let him go…” “But I really never meant to replace you! I know it’s a betrayal of you and of the family, but I couldn’t control myself…” “It’s all my fault…” Julian moved on instinct, closing the distance in a single stride and pulling her into his arms. Chloe wept against his chest, pleading. “Elena, I promise—I’ll leave New York right now, I’ll never appear in front of him again!” Her voice was shaking violently. “I’m begging you… don’t call off your engagement…” Julian looked down at her, tenderness aching in his eyes. “Don’t talk nonsense. Silly girl.” I looked at Chloe, numb. From childhood onward, as the older sister, I had given in to her about everything. Fine food, couture gowns, family resources—the first thought I ever had was of her. We had never fought. In those first years after I met Julian, Chloe had even lifted her chin at him with all the imperiousness of a spoiled child: “Who do you think you are? *I* am Elena’s most loyal guard. I take better care of her than you ever will!” And back then, Julian would only ruffle my hair fondly and shoot back, “No one loves Elena more than I do. Not even you.” The two who had once quarreled over the right to look after me, who had sworn in front of me to protect me for a lifetime, had now, in the cruelest possible way, entangled themselves behind my back. “You don’t need to put on this scene. The engagement—I’m calling it off. It’s decided.” “Elena, enough!” Julian’s patience snapped. His voice was harsh. “Can’t you see what state Chloe is in right now?” I didn’t say another word. Something must have told him his tone had gone too far. Julian forced his emotions down. “When you’ve calmed down, we’ll talk. Get some rest first.” He didn’t look at me again. He put his arm around Chloe and walked out of the room. The heavy slam of the door rattled through the walls. I turned and looked at the black-diamond ring on the rosewood table. Once it had stood for absolute power and eternal favor. Now it looked like nothing but the punchline of a ridiculous joke. I walked to the window, drew the curtain back, and hurled the ring into the storm-battered dark of Lake Michigan. The token that marked me as Donna—I didn’t want it. And Julian Ashford—I didn’t want him either.

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My husband,Damian Blackwood,the King of Wall Street,treats me like ice. But today,he sent me a text. “Go to the pharmacy.Get the usual.” When I got back to our penthouse on Fifth Avenue,his so-called“best friend,”the socialite Chloe,was sitting in our bedroom,slowly pulling a pair of torn stockings back onto her legs. Seeing me,she feigned surprise.“Oh,Aurora,you’re back so soon?” She shook the empty box in her hand.“Damian texted the wrong person.Don’t take it personally.” Damian sat on the edge of the bed,a cigar between his fingers,smoke swirling around him. “I promise,this is the last time.Our open relationship ends now.”He didn’t even look at me,his voice devoid of apology.“She’s an old friend.Had to give her a taste of married life.” He had his assistant send me an encrypted file. “Here’s a list I picked out for you.You should try it,too.” In the ninety-eight times this has happened before,I broke down,screamed,and became hysterical. But this time,I calmly accepted the file. … The next morning at breakfast,Chloe was wearing Damian’s silk shirt,unbuttoned to show off the marks on her neck. She sighed dramatically.“Ugh,I told Damian not to be so rough.I won’t be able to cover these for the gala.” Damian didn’t look up from his steak.“You should go.I need to talk to Aurora.” Chloe pouted,then deliberately bumped into me as she stood up. My coffee cup tilted,and the hot liquid spilled onto the back of my hand,instantly raising two blisters. Damian just chuckled in his usual way.“Stop messing around.” It used to be that if anyone dared to treat me like that,Damian would grab them by the collar and intimidate them until they apologized to me. Chloe slammed the door shut. Damian then pulled a blue jewelry box from a nearby pile of luxury shopping bags. All these years,every time he brought another woman home,he would give me a piece of jewelry as“compensation.” I’ve never opened any of them.They fill an entire walk-in closet. “My dear Aurora,”he said,pulling me into his arms,enveloping me in the scent of his expensive cologne.“The title of Mrs.Blackwood will always be yours.With them,I’m just having fun.” I’ve heard that line hundreds of times. “Good girl.Don’t be angry.” His words were light,certain that I wouldn’t dare to resist again. After all,my previous attempts at resistance had cost me dearly.

The first time,he was with a new Hollywood starlet.I leaked the story to the*New York Post*.Publicly,Damian did nothing.Privately,he cut off all my credit cards and trust funds until I begged him to stop. The second time,he was involved with an Ivy League professor.I anonymously exposed their affair on an online forum.In return,“dirt”on me—exaggerated and fabricated details of my private life—was plastered all over the gossip sites. … “Oh,Aurora,”Chloe said,tossing a few pieces of lace lingerie at my feet.“These are couture.You’ll have to hand-wash them.” “A wild girl like me can’t handle such delicate things.Remember that New Year’s party in the Hamptons?Damian’s suit was covered in champagne,and you washed it clean,didn’t you?” I remembered the stain on that suit perfectly. I had asked Damian what it was. “Spilled something at the party,who remembers,”he’d said,completely unconcerned. He had insisted I hand-wash it with cold water and a specific detergent.The next day,the expensive suit was in the trash. This time,I calmly pressed the toe of my high heel onto the pile of clothes. “I’m not washing them.If you think they’re dirty,throw them out.” I saw a flash of anger in Damian’s eyes. I picked up my Hermès bag and turned to leave. Behind me,Damian’s voice was ice-cold. “Aurora Collins,if you walk out that door today,you’ll regret it.” I paused for a second,then slammed the door shut. On the road,I got a call from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “Miss Collins,Mr.Blackwood’s account has stopped all payments for your brother Leo’s medical expenses…” But. “My brother is already dead.”

I paused,then added. “My brother has been dead for a long time.You’ve been taking Damian’s money for an empty hospital bed for so long,it should be enough.” On the passenger seat was a bouquet of white roses,my brother’s favorite. Thirteen years ago,I found a half-dead Damian under an old tree in Central Park. He was just a penniless kid off the street.My brother and I took him back to our tiny apartment and saved his life. I remember the boy in oversized slippers,clumsily holding a cup of hot water.The steam blurred his face,but his eyes,when he looked at me,were full of conviction.“I swear,Aurora,I’ll spend my life protecting you!” “Leo,from now on,you’re my brother,too!” The Damian of the past would divert his private jet just because I mentioned wanting macarons from a small shop in Paris. He cared more about my brother’s health than I did. The sound of a siren broke my train of thought. I slammed on the brakes.A cop knocked on my window. “We have a report of you maliciously entering and damaging private property.Please come with us.”

I stared at them in disbelief. In a panic,I instinctively dialed Damian’s number. “Damian,I…” The loud party music on his end immediately went quiet. “Aurora,”his voice was as gentle as a poisoned knife,“I told you to learn how to be an obedient wife.” “Since you won’t behave,go where you need to go and learn some manners.” My hands were cuffed behind my back,and I was pushed into the police station. “Mr.Blackwood gave us special instructions to take good care of you.” Fists and feet rained down on me.My arms and legs were quickly covered in bruises. The pain nearly made me pass out.I vaguely heard someone making a call outside the door. “Miss Chloe,we’ve’taken care of her’just as you asked.” “Good.Damian’s money has already been transferred.” A sharp pain twisted in my stomach,making my heart tremble. After what felt like an eternity,someone opened the door. “The person who reported it said it was a misunderstanding.you can go.”

It was raining and cold outside.The wind was biting. Damian was leaning against his Rolls-Royce.At his feet were the white roses I’d bought,trampled and ruined. “Get in.” I quietly opened the back door. Damian gave me a strange look.“Why not sit in the front?” The car’s interior had been redone in pink,Chloe’s favorite color.On the passenger seat was the wrapper from a used condom. My phone buzzed nonstop. A news alert headline made my breath catch. “Famous Investigative Journalist Arrested Late at Night,Career Possibly Over…” My fingers trembled as I clicked on it.Below was an internal email notifying me of my three-month suspension. I snapped my head up. “Damian,did you leak this story?” He knew how much I had sacrificed to become a star reporter for the*New York Times*.He once held me and told me how proud he was of me. But now,he had just socially executed me with no effort at all. “Aurora,this is your punishment for hurting Chloe.” Punishment? I rolled up my sleeve,revealing my bruised arm.“Damian,isn’t getting beaten like this enough?!” Damian’s gaze froze. His expression shifted.“Aurora,how did you get those bruises?” “Someone…” I cut him off,my voice full of hate.“Damian,isn’t this what you ordered them to do?” “You and Chloe planned this together.Don’t play innocent now!”

He slammed on the brakes,the car screeching loudly. Damian stared at me,his eyes filled with disappointment. “Aurora,not only can you not tolerate my friends,but now you’ve learned to tell these kinds of lies?” He sneered. “This trick to get sympathy might have worked when you were younger.You’re really willing to hurt yourself just to make me feel bad!” He yanked open the car door,and a blast of cold,rainy wind rushed in. Damian dragged me out of the car. “The position of Mrs.Blackwood doesn’t need a hysterical woman!” He threw one last cold sentence at me. “Aurora,before you act out,you’d better think about your brother’s expensive medical bills!” The car sped away. Another phone in my pocket buzzed. It was a message from Julian Vance,with a picture of a ring. “When are you getting a divorce?I want to marry you.” I typed my reply. “Three days.”

When I went home to pack,I could hear disgusting sounds coming from our bedroom. This was the home I had meticulously decorated.In the past,Damian would complain if even a cleaner stepped too far inside. But now,he was in bed with another woman on the top-of-the-line mattress I had chosen. I clenched my fists,but my heart was surprisingly calm. I didn’t have much,just one suitcase. As I zipped it up,a lazy male voice spoke from behind me. “Where are you going?” His bare chest was covered in fresh scratches.The battle must have been fierce. I quickly looked away,my voice flat.“Out for a few days.” The red tip of Damian’s cigar glowed.He looked down at me,his tone certain. “You have nowhere to go.” The only property in my name was this penthouse.My company had dorms,but I had never applied for one.All my bank cards and trusts were under his control. He easily snatched my suitcase and tossed it on the floor. “Aurora,you’re not a little girl who can play the’running away from home’game anymore.” My heart trembled. He then softened his tone,as if soothing a pet. “Go apologize to Chloe,and I’ll let you see Leo tomorrow.” I laughed mockingly.“Damian,my brother is dead.”

He would spend a fortune on other women. But when the hospital called asking for payment,he thought it was a trick I was using to make him come home. He hung up with a cold laugh,saying,“If she wants money,have Aurora come beg me herself.” That day,New York was buried in a blizzard.I went to find him wearing nothing but a thin formal dress. My frozen body was shocked back to life by the wave of heat when I pushed open the door to his private club room.Damian was surrounded by a crowd of men and women. “One drink,ten thousand dollars,”a greasy man jeered. I can’t drink.Alcohol causes a severe allergic reaction. The few times I had,it was for Damian’s business. That night,the liquor burned my throat and stomach like fire.The pain was so bad I was close to convulsing,but I drank glass after glass. Until Damian threw a stack of cash at me. “Enough.Get out.” “Aurora,I hope you’ve learned your lesson.If you dare to act on impulse again,it won’t be this simple.” He was referring to the third time I had tried to expose one of his mistresses.

Chloe’s sneer shattered the silence. “Aurora,if you’re going to lie to Damian,at least come up with a better excuse.The payment for Leo’s medical bills was just transferred from Damian’s account this morning.” Damian snapped back to reality. For a moment,seeing the dead look in my eyes,he had almost believed me. He grabbed my chin,his grip so tight it felt like he would crush it. “If you spout any more nonsense,I’ll really cut off his medication.” He shoved me away.My forehead hit the corner of a cabinet,and blood started to flow. His eyes flickered,as if he wanted to come over. But Chloe grabbed his arm. “Damian,my stomach hurts a little.I think the baby’s kicking me~” Chloe whined,clutching her belly. Damian didn’t hesitate.He turned,scooped Chloe into his arms,and strode away. I was alone,cleaning my wound,when Damian’s call came.He told me to go to the“Stardust Club.” I had the divorce papers in my pocket.All they needed was his signature.

When I opened the door to the VIP room,Chloe was sitting next to Damian in a sexy bikini. I didn’t fight for the seat next to him like I used to. I walked straight over and handed him the file.“This is the company’s acquisition plan for the next quarter.” He signed it without a glance. He seemed surprised when I took the document and turned to leave. “Aurora,didn’t you used to always want to…” After all,I had once furiously bid three hundred thousand dollars at a charity auction just for the seat next to him. Before I could say anything,Chloe raised a remote control. “Everyone,let me show you the latest entertainment!” The giant screen on the wall lit up. A familiar voice exploded in my ears. “Damian…I want…” On the screen,I was kneeling before Damian,pleading with him. A chill ran down my spine.I couldn’t believe my eyes. “Damian,did you film this secretly?!” The man stubbed out his cigar.“You still wouldn’t apologize to Chloe.This is the apology gift I prepared for you.” It was like a lightning bolt to my ears. Chloe had already signaled her friends to surround me and hold me down. Chloe crossed her legs,her eyes seductive.“If you ask me,it was even more thrilling last time,when you sent this video to your brother Leo!” Leo…my brother. I stared at Damian in utter disbelief.

The man avoided my gaze but still spoke. “After all,you were the one who leaked my affair with Ellie to the media that day.” My voice was like a death rattle. “Damian Blackwood,you’re a monster!” Hearing this,Chloe pouted,her eyes full of provocation. She clutched her stomach,leaning pitifully against Damian. “Damian,my stomach hurts.The baby must be tired.Will you take me to the hospital?” Damian hesitated.“But Aurora is still here.” Chloe lowered her head to hide the venom in her eyes.When she looked up,her expression was innocent and cheerful again.“What are you worried about?My good buddies are here!We’re all family,they’ll take good care of her!” I felt a warm,sticky touch on my back.I didn’t know whose hand it was.In the dim light,the men around me had eyes glinting with…lust. Panic seized me.I tried to grab Damian’s sleeve. “Damian,take me with you!” But before I could finish,a hand clamped over my mouth. I whimpered,tears falling onto the expensive carpet. Chloe laughed.“See?They’re taking such good care of Aurora.” My limbs were pinned.I couldn’t move.

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