Three years into our marriage, my wife, Scarlett, had conned me into donating blood 47 times. Meanwhile, she was getting intimate with Jax, her gym trainer. “Every time I see that look on his face, so willing to donate blood to save someone, I just find it hilarious,” Scarlett scoffed, catching her breath. “Come on, don’t say that. Our dear Leo is such a saint. He genuinely believes his blood is saving lives, all for those ‘patients’ you’ve made up.” Jax chuckled, gently holding her waist. I watched through the crack in the door, my blood freezing instantly. “We’ll need another batch of blood next month. We can raise the price again this time; Leo’s blood type is so rare after all.” Scarlett adjusted her position and kissed him. My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms. Through the door crack, I saw her sitting on the office desk, her legs wrapped around the young man’s waist, locked in a fervent kiss. “$70,000 a bag, that’s indeed a good price,” Jax replied, satisfied. My fists tightened, the blood in my veins felt like it was burning.

The moment the needle was pulled from my arm, a wave of faint dizziness washed over me. This was the forty-seventh time. The nurse carefully pressed on the needle site, a hint of concern in her eyes. “Mr. Leo, this is your third donation this month. Are you really sure your body can handle it?” I managed a weak smile, waving my hand to signal I was fine. As someone with Rh-negative O-type blood, I’d long been used to this feeling of being needed. Especially when Scarlett told me there was another patient desperately in need of my blood, I never refused. “How’s the patient doing today?” I asked, rolling down my sleeve. The nurse hesitated, then simply said, “You should ask Dr. Scarlett. She’s in the VIP ward section.” I nodded and got up, heading towards the VIP wards. After so many donations, I was incredibly familiar with the hospital. Even more so than some newly hired nurses, I knew the exact location of every department. As I walked down the corridor of the VIP ward section, I spotted the door to Scarlett’s office from afar. The door wasn’t fully closed, leaving a narrow crack, and I could hear low voices inside. I was about to push the door open, but the voices from within froze me in my tracks the moment my hand touched the doorknob. “Every time I see that look on his face, so willing to donate blood to save someone, I just find it hilarious.” Scarlett’s voice carried a mocking tone I had never heard before. “Don’t say that, our dear Leo is such a saint.” “He genuinely believes his blood is saving lives, all for those ‘patients’ you’ve made up.” Another man’s voice chimed in, sounding young and flippant. My heart began to pound violently, and my palms grew sweaty. Through the crack, I saw Scarlett sitting on the office desk, a young man standing in front of her. The distance between them was intimate, almost scandalous. “Jax, what do you think his face would look like if he knew the real use of all that blood?” Scarlett reached out and hooked her arm around the man’s neck. “He’d probably crumble, right? After all, he trusts you so much, his little angel of mercy.” Jax’s hands began to roam over Scarlett’s body. I forced myself to stay calm and kept listening. “Mr. Henderson needs another batch of blood next month. We can raise the price again this time; Leo’s blood type is so rare after all.” Scarlett’s tone was as casual as if she were discussing an ordinary business transaction. “$70,000 a bag, that’s indeed a good price. But aren’t you worried he’ll find out?” Jax asked. “Find out what? He can’t even get into the blood bank, and I always concoct a perfect story.” “Acute leukemia, massive blood loss from a car accident, he falls for it every single time,” Scarlett said with a triumphant laugh. My entire world imploded in an instant. For three years, I thought I was saving lives, but it turned out I was just providing raw material for their filthy dealings. All those patients I thought I’d saved, all that blood I’d shed, it was all a lie. The two inside the room had started embracing, and Scarlett let out soft moans. I suppressed my nausea and quietly slipped away. Back home, I sat on the couch, lost in thought. The room was filled with Scarlett’s various medical awards and certificates of honor. Our wedding photo hung on the wall; in it, she smiled so purely and beautifully. I picked up my phone and scrolled through my blood donation records from over the years. Every single time, she would convince me with a different reason. Sometimes it was an urgent late-night call, sometimes tearful pleas, sometimes a righteous speech about a doctor’s compassion. And I, like a fool, extended my arm without hesitation every single time.

When Scarlett returned home that evening, I was in the kitchen preparing dinner. “Rough day? Was the patient okay?” I tried to make my voice sound normal. Scarlett walked over and hugged me from behind, resting her face against my back. “Thank you, Leo. Without your blood, that little girl might not have made it.” My hands paused mid-air, a bitter taste rising in my mouth. She was still spinning lies, and she said it so naturally, as if there really was a little girl who needed my blood to survive. “Glad I could help,” I mumbled. “You really are the kindest person in the world.” Scarlett whispered into my ear, “Sometimes I can’t believe I got to marry such a wonderful man.” Hearing that, I almost lost control of my emotions. She called me kind, yet she was using my kindness to earn dirty money. She said she couldn’t believe she married me, yet she was tangled up with another man in her office. “Scarlett, I want to ask you something,” I turned to face her. “What is it?” She blinked those eyes I once adored so deeply. “If one day, I couldn’t donate blood anymore, would you still love me like you do now?” Scarlett paused, then chuckled, “Why would you ask such a strange question?” “I don’t love you just because you can donate blood.” “Then why?” I pressed on. She seemed a bit uncomfortable with my serious tone, her smile becoming strained. “Of course, it’s because of you, your kindness, your thoughtfulness, everything about you.” I nodded, saying nothing more. But in my heart, I already had the answer: she didn’t love me for who I was, but for the priceless blood flowing in my veins. During dinner, I deliberately brought it up: “I haven’t been feeling well lately. I might need a full check-up.” Scarlett put down her forks, asking nervously, “What’s wrong? Where do you feel unwell?” “Just feeling a bit tired. Maybe I’ve been donating too frequently.” “The doctor suggested I stop donating blood for a while to let my body recover.” After I finished, I carefully watched her expression. Sure enough, her face instantly fell, and a flicker of panic crossed her eyes. “But, but there are so many patients in urgent need of blood at the hospital lately. If you stop donating now…” “Are lives more important, or is my health?” I countered. Scarlett was speechless, and after a moment, she said, “Of course, your health is more important. I’m just worried about those patients…” “Are there other blood sources that can replace mine for those patients?” I probed further. “Well…” She stammered. “Rh-negative blood types are already rare; it’s difficult to find a temporary substitute.” Seeing her anxiety, my suspicions grew stronger. If she truly loved me, she should have been concerned about my health first, not the blood donations. “How about this then? I’ll go to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow. If my body’s fine, I’ll continue donating,” I pretended to compromise. Scarlett finally let out a sigh of relief. “Okay, I’ll go with you for the check-up tomorrow.” That night, I tossed and turned in bed. Scarlett quickly fell asleep, her breathing even and peaceful, as if she had no burden on her conscience. I quietly got up and went to my study, opening the computer. After some searching, I found news reports about black market rare blood type transactions. The reports mentioned that Rh-negative blood commanded astonishingly high prices on the black market. Especially when used for certain illicit cosmetic procedures, the price would double. I thought about Scarlett’s sudden increase in income over the past two years. All that extra income she claimed was from hospital bonuses, those designer bags and expensive jewelry – it turned out they were all bought with my blood.

The next day, I went to the hospital for my check-up as planned. Scarlett stayed by my side, acting like a caring wife, but I could sense her inner anxiety. Whenever the doctor asked about my donation frequency, she would quickly jump in to answer, afraid I might say something incriminating. “Mr. Leo’s donation frequency is indeed quite high,” the examining doctor stated seriously. “We recommend reducing the frequency of donations for now, to allow your body to fully rest.” “How long do I need to rest?” Scarlett asked eagerly. “At least three months,” the doctor replied. I saw Scarlett’s face instantly turn pale. She forced a smile. “Okay, we’ll follow the doctor’s orders.” After leaving the consultation room, Scarlett remained distracted. I deliberately said, “Looks like I really can’t donate blood for a while. Those patients waiting for help will have to find other solutions.” “Yeah, it’s a pity,” she replied perfunctorily, her eyes darting around. Back home, I excused myself, claiming to be unwell, and went to rest early. In reality, I wanted to observe Scarlett’s reaction. Sure enough, once she thought I was asleep, she started making phone calls in the living room. I quietly crept to the door and eavesdropped. “Mr. Henderson, things are a bit complicated… Yes, the blood supply is temporarily cut off… What? You need the shipment next week? This…” Scarlett’s voice was clearly anxious. “It’s not that I’m not trying, it’s just that he developed a health issue. The doctor advised him to stop donating blood for three months…” “I know the consequences of breaching the contract, but there’s really nothing I can do right now…” Hearing this, my judgment was completely confirmed. Scarlett was indeed involved in some kind of blood trade using my blood, and a stable business chain had already been established. After she hung up, I heard Scarlett pacing in the living room, occasionally letting out anxious sighs. A while later, another call came in. “Jax? We have a problem… Yes, he can’t donate blood anymore… Do you have any ideas?” This call lasted a long time. I couldn’t make out the specific content, but I could feel Scarlett’s emotions growing increasingly agitated. The next morning, Scarlett seemed preoccupied. She hesitated several times, then finally spoke. “Leo, I thought about it all night, and I think that doctor might be a bit overly cautious.” “Look, you’re in such good spirits now. Do you really need to stop donating blood for three months?” I pretended to consider it: “But the doctor said…” “Doctors aren’t infallible. Sometimes they give overly conservative advice to avoid liability,” Scarlett interrupted me. “And right now, there really are a lot of patients waiting in the hospital. Their lives are hanging by a thread.” “Which patients?” I asked. Scarlett paused, then quickly said, “There’s an eight-year-old boy with leukemia who urgently needs Rh-negative blood for treatment.” “And a pregnant woman who had a massive hemorrhage after childbirth. Her situation is critical.” She spoke with such passion, if I didn’t know the truth, I would have been moved. But now, I just felt sick to my stomach. “In that case, I’ll go donate one more time,” I pretended to be persuaded. Scarlett’s eyes instantly lit up: “Really? You’re really willing?” “Of course, it’s a matter of life and death. How could I just stand by?” I said. She hugged me excitedly: “I knew you were the kindest person. Those patients are saved.” I was in her arms, but my heart felt ice cold.

When it was time to donate, I made an excuse to get the nurse out of the room and stayed in the donation cubicle alone for a while. I used this opportunity to secretly mark the blood bag, a small mark only I would recognize. After the donation, I told Scarlett I wanted to visit the blood bank to understand how the blood was stored. She seemed a bit nervous but still agreed. “The blood bank staff are all very professional, so you don’t need to worry,” she said as we walked. “I’m just curious. I want to see how my blood is preserved,” I replied. She couldn’t argue with me and had no choice but to take me there. At the blood bank, the administrator greeted us warmly. I pretended to browse casually, but I was actually looking for the bag of blood I had just donated. Soon, I found it in a special storage area. To my shock, the blood in this area was all labeled “special purposes.” And the price tags displayed numbers far exceeding the value of normal blood. “What are these blood units used for?” I asked the administrator, pointing to the area. The administrator glanced at Scarlett, seemingly seeking her approval. Scarlett subtly shook her head. The administrator then said, “These are for certain special medical projects. I’m not entirely clear on the specifics myself.” I nodded, not pressing further. But in my heart, I understood. This was Scarlett’s transit station for her blood transactions. After leaving the blood bank, I suggested to Scarlett that I wanted to see the patients who had received transfusions. Especially the eight-year-old boy and the pregnant woman she had mentioned earlier. “They’re not convenient for visits right now. The doctor said they need an absolutely quiet environment,” Scarlett refused my request. “Then I’ll just glance from afar, I won’t go into the room,” I insisted. Scarlett grew increasingly uncomfortable: “Leo, why are you asking so many questions today? Usually, you just go straight home after donating.” “I just want to confirm that my blood truly helped someone,” I said, looking into her eyes. Eventually, she led me to the pediatric ward. We walked around the corridor, but I didn’t see the eight-year-old leukemia patient she mentioned. “He might have been transferred to another department,” Scarlett explained. “What about the pregnant woman?” I pressed. “She’s already been discharged. She’s recovering well,” Scarlett’s answers became increasingly evasive. My anger simmered, but I kept my composure on the surface. On the way home, I decided to investigate this matter thoroughly. That evening, while Scarlett was showering, I secretly checked her phone. In her SnapChat chat history, I found numerous conversations between her and Jax, the contents of which left me reeling. “Made over a hundred grand this month again, thanks to my good husband, haha.” “He’s still so gullible, just make up a story and he buys it.” “What do you think he’d do if he found out his blood was being sold to rich old women for anti-aging treatments? He’d probably lose his mind, right?” “Who cares? As long as we’re making money.” Seeing these chat logs, my hands trembled. It turned out that all the blood I had donated over the years had been sold by her to wealthy individuals pursuing eternal youth, for what they called “rejuvenation transfusions.” What infuriated me even more was how they mocked me in their chats, treating my kindness as a weakness to be exploited. I continued to scroll down, finding even more outrageous content. They weren’t just selling my blood; they were planning how to extract even more value. “Next time, make him donate more. His body’s robust anyway.” “I think three times a month isn’t enough. Can we increase it to four?” “Be careful not to kill him, or we’ll lose our cash cow.” “Don’t worry, I’m a doctor. I know what I’m doing.” At this point, I could no longer control my emotions.

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Eight years married, twelve pregnancies, twelve heartbreaks. Each time, a mysterious miscarriage stole my babies away. Everyone whispered it was my fault, that my wild youth had ruined my body. I endured countless IVF treatments, swallowed mountains of pills. But no matter what, I could never hold onto a pregnancy. I couldn’t bear to see Liam so tormented. Tears blurring my vision, I nodded, agreeing to let his childhood sweetheart, Chloe, bear him a child. Chloe became pregnant, and the baby was perfectly healthy. He wrapped me in a tight embrace, his face alight with pure joy. “Now you won’t have to go through the pain of IVF anymore. This child, once born, will be the sole heir to the Davies fortune.” I truly believed the storm had passed, that we could finally settle into a loving, peaceful marriage. But then, I stumbled upon a conversation between Liam and Chloe that shattered my world. “I knew your heart was always mine. I told you, I made Avery believe it was her fault, by putting miscarriage-inducing drugs in her food.” Liam gently stroked her belly, a soft smile gracing his lips. “She’s so unbelievably stupid. She believes anything I tell her. If it wasn’t for making her get the hint and divorce me willingly, I wouldn’t have even bothered with the drugs. Once our baby is here, everything in the Davies family will be ours. And his parents? They won’t be able to do a damn thing.” I thought about the endless IVF cycles, the infections, the internal damage to my body, and a wave of ice-cold horror washed over me. Eight years of marriage. It was all a lie. And it was finally time for it to end.

My fists clenched, my eyes burning red, my whole body shaking with pure rage. The sounds from the room continued, sweet whispers turning into fervent kisses. “Liam, my love, I remember everything you’ve done for me. You’ve worked so hard. Let me show you my gratitude.” “Stop, darling, you’re pregnant.” The tenderness Liam showed her, a tenderness he had *never* shown me, made my entire body ache, numb with pain. For eight years, he’d often held me, comforting me about our lost children, making me feel eternally guilty. He had suggested, with feigned anguish, that Chloe help us have a child. I couldn’t bear to see him suffer, so I agreed. I never, *never* imagined that the twelve children in my womb had been murdered by his own hands, all so he could be with Chloe. I turned and walked away, immediately sending the video I’d just recorded to his mother, Mrs. Davies. Mrs. Davies arrived quickly. The sounds from the room hadn’t stopped. As she listened, her face turned a terrifying shade of dark. I wanted to stop her, but she kicked the door open, ignoring everything else. Liam and Chloe gasped in shock, scrambling to pull the covers over their naked bodies. “Mom? What are you doing here?” Mrs. Davies landed a resounding slap across Liam’s face. The sickeningly sweet scent of their betrayal still hung in the air. I stopped at the doorway, mortified. Mrs. Davies’ shoulders heaved with fury. She pulled out her phone and played the video I’d sent her. “You animal! Those were your own flesh and blood! How could you do such a thing?” Liam finally realized what was happening, his face contorting with anger. He glared at me, his eyes burning with hatred, his jaw clenched tight. “You disgust me, Avery! How dare you tattle on me?” My heart turned to ice. I just stared at him, utterly heartbroken. He seemed to realize there was no point in pretending anymore. He gently stroked Chloe’s belly, then tossed a vasectomy report onto the bed. “Mom, you want a grandchild, right? The baby in Chloe’s belly will be the only child I’ll ever have. I’ve had a vasectomy. I can’t have any other children.” Mrs. Davies looked utterly shattered, her face drained of color. She swayed, almost collapsing, but I managed to catch her just in time. The report clearly stated that Liam’s vasectomy was permanent, with no possibility of reversal. Chloe, tears welling in her eyes, nestled gratefully into Liam’s embrace. She met Mrs. Davies’ gaze, her expression defiant. “Auntie, you forced me away once. But now, I’m carrying the only Davies heir. Do you really want to send me away again, and let your family line die out?” Mrs. Davies’ face flushed with anger, then slowly softened. She looked at me, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. “Avery, this is the Davies family’s *only* child. Be the bigger person, darling. Don’t fight them on this. The Davies family has wronged you, I know, but I promise you, the Lady Davies title will always be yours.” My face went deathly pale. I instantly understood her true intention. She wanted me to swallow my pain, to endure it until the baby was born. Before I could even respond, Liam’s voice cut in, full of resentment. “Mom, I don’t understand why you’re so against Chloe and me being together. Is it just her family background? Avery is nothing but a down-on-her-luck heiress herself. If I stayed with her, imagine how many people in this city would mock me for marrying into a bankrupt family?” He looked at me with utter contempt, the disgust in his eyes a sharp stab to my heart. He gritted his teeth. “Avery, even if you *pretend* to be the bigger person, I will *never* love you.”

Mrs. Davies dragged me away, practically by force. Behind us, Liam’s furious accusations still echoed, but Mrs. Davies held herself upright, refusing to collapse. Her trembling hand clasped mine. “Avery, Liam is the only heir left in our family. Chloe’s baby simply *cannot* be harmed. For my sake, please, just let it go.” My heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice, a desolate pain settling over me. Liam and I weren’t just a business arrangement; we were childhood sweethearts. He was the one who chased me as a child, insisting he’d marry me someday, setting this whole engagement in stone. “What about my twelve lost children? Am I just supposed to pretend they never existed?” “Let bygones be bygones. We need to focus on the future. As a woman, you have to be more understanding.” Mrs. Davies’ tone grew impatient, as if I was being utterly unreasonable. The light in my eyes slowly faded. After the truth came out, Liam dropped all pretense and spent his days at the office. I couldn’t care less about seeing him. Since we still worked at the same company, bumping into Liam and Chloe was an everyday occurrence. Chloe suffered from severe morning sickness, but Liam didn’t have her stay home to rest. Instead, he made her his personal assistant at the office. Naturally, the whispers among the staff began. “Look at how careful Mr. Davies is with her. That baby the assistant’s carrying has got to be his, right?” “But I heard Mr. Davies and his wife were so in love?” Someone scoffed, cutting in. “In love? Please. Mrs. Davies went through IVF a dozen times and couldn’t keep a baby. Rumor has it her uterus was ruined from all her past wild partying. Look at Mr. Davies – one try with someone else, and the baby’s perfectly healthy.” Before the words even finished, everyone’s gazes flickered to me, filled with blatant contempt and mockery. I ignored them, walking straight into my office. “Ms. Shaw, your assets are deeply intertwined with Mr. Davies’. It’s very difficult to separate them without his signature. You’ll need to discuss this thoroughly with Mr. Davies.” I sighed, a wave of helplessness washing over me. Liam would never agree to this easily. I wanted to sort out the assets first before filing for divorce, just to avoid any further complications. “So, all I need is his signature?” “Sign what?” Liam pushed the door open, his entrance perfectly timed to my phone call. Before I could answer, his eyes landed on the contract on my desk, and he frowned, displeased. “You want to split our assets? Typical. Always putting profit first, terrified of losing a single thing.” I met his gaze, my expression chillingly calm, a faint smile playing on my lips. I softly called his name: “Liam.” My voice was so cold, it made him visibly flinch. He just stared at me, dumbfounded. “What do you *think* I should do? Hand over everything I own to my husband and the child he had with another woman? Do you honestly think I’m that stupid? Don’t forget, you’re the one who murdered my children. I haven’t sought revenge. You should count yourself lucky.” He had never seen me look at him with such intense hatred, as if I wanted to sever every last tie. His face darkened considerably. He stood there, forcing himself upright, his eyes sweeping over the contract on the desk. He let out a series of cold, hollow laughs. “Fine. If you want to cut ties, I’ll grant your wish. I don’t care about your paltry assets anyway. Just don’t come crying to me later.” Liam signed the contract, then flung it right at my face. He sneered, a superior smirk on his face. “What’s the point of just signing a property division agreement? If you’re so brave, divorce me outright! Deep down, you just want to use our marriage to control me. You don’t actually want a divorce.” He wore an expression that suggested he knew me inside out, then scoffed and turned to leave. I gave a self-deprecating smile, bending down to pick up the contract before handing it to my lawyer. “I’ve sent all the divorce-related details to your email. You can handle it from here.”

The moment Mrs. Davies found out Liam and I were estranged, she called me. Her voice, when she spoke, was laced with accusation: “Avery, what is going on with you? I hear you’ve moved out? How can a wife abandon her husband like that? Liam made a mistake, yes, but he’s learned his lesson. Chloe’s baby will be your child too, someday. You need to show some care. It’s done, Avery. Can’t you just be the bigger person?” Mrs. Davies didn’t give me a chance to speak, her accusations tumbling out one after another. She had no idea I’d already decided to divorce Liam. Whatever happened to Liam and Chloe, it had nothing to do with me anymore. Before anything else, I needed to go back to the family estate, to the old graveyard. I wanted to visit my twelve lost children. They were still buried in the Davies family plot. When I arrived home, I could hear Liam’s triumphant sneer from a distance. “Oh, look who decided to come back. I thought you’d be out running wild forever.” Chloe nestled into his arms, then leaned in provocatively and kissed the corner of his mouth. She raised an eyebrow at me. “Liam, darling, don’t blame Avery. She just doesn’t like me, that’s all, right? If she’s constantly around us, I’d worry about it affecting our baby.” I scoffed, ignoring them both, and headed towards the back hill of the estate. I had erected a tombstone for each of my twelve lost children, burying them in the Davies family graveyard. One after another, the cold, stark tombstones lined up before me. My eyes burned, and tears freely streamed down my face. If I hadn’t walked in on Liam and Chloe, I would have remained completely oblivious to the truth. After burning some offerings for my children – a tradition I’d maintained – I went back inside, packed the things I’d prepared for my unborn babies into a suitcase, and headed out. Liam saw me and, displeasure etched on his face, strode over to block my path. “Where are you going now?” He snatched my suitcase impatiently, opened it, and frowned. “Aren’t these things for *our* child? They’ll be perfect for Chloe’s baby. After all, it’s still *my* child. The agony of childbirth – you don’t have to suffer it now. Chloe’s doing it for you. Shouldn’t you be grateful? We’re not even asking you to thank her. Why the long face all the time? Who are you trying to impress?” Liam’s accusations rained down on me, one after another. Each word was a knife, twisting deeper into my heart. I looked up at him. “They were my flesh and blood! I yearned for them, dreamt of them coming into this world, giving them names, watching them grow. But in the end, they never even got a chance to live, their lives snuffed out by their own father. Now, there’s nothing but cold, desolate tombstones. You never even bothered to see them once! Just because they weren’t carried by someone you *loved*, does that make you so heartless, so cruel? Liam Davies, when you lie awake at night, don’t you ever worry that our children will come back to haunt you, demanding retribution?” My frenzied outburst clearly terrified Liam. His face went ashen, and he stumbled back, step after step. Finally, a faint flicker of guilt crossed his features. Seeing this, Chloe stepped forward, cradling her swollen belly, shielding Liam. She pointed an accusing finger at me, indignant. “It’s your own weak body that couldn’t hold onto those babies! What does that have to do with us? Besides, Liam never liked you from the start. He certainly wouldn’t have liked your babies. *Our* child is the crystallization of true love. Yours were nothing. Why should Liam feel sad for a bunch of embryos? They died in your womb. They deserved it.” I snapped. My hand shot out, delivering a stinging slap across her face. Chloe was stunned. Liam immediately stepped in front of her to shield her. I kicked him away, grabbed his shirt collar, and slapped him, hard, again and again. But the pain of my palms striking his face was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. I roared, “How dare your ‘true love’ be built on *my* suffering? If you didn’t want me to have those children, you could have just said so! Why did you have to murder them in secret? Your hands are stained with their blood! Both of you murdered them!” Liam was so startled, he forgot to fight back for a moment. Chloe reached out, clawing at my arm, trying to pull me away. But reason had abandoned me. All I wanted was for the people who’d destroyed my children to feel a fraction of my pain. I violently shook Chloe’s hand off, just as I was about to unleash more. Then, a pained shriek erupted from behind me. I froze, turning to look. Liam had shoved me, hard, sending me sprawling onto the floor. Chloe was curled on the ground, trembling with agony. Her white dress was rapidly blooming with scarlet. “Help! My baby! Someone, please, help my baby!”

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My husband, Jaxson, had lost everything in a terrible investment. He’d racked up massive debts, and the creditors had kidnapped him, threatening to sell his organs if I didn’t pay up. Over the phone, his voice choked with tears. “Forget about me, Harper. Maybe we’ll find each other in the next life…” To save him, I made the agonizing choice to abort my two-month-old baby. Then, I agreed to the creditors’ demands: I would become a surrogate. Four months later, I stumbled upon Jaxson and his widowed sister-in-law, Sera, sharing a dark secret. “Don’t worry, Sera,” Jaxson’s voice was smooth, reassuring. “The doctors say *our* triplets are perfectly healthy.” Sera’s voice, sugary sweet, followed. “Besides the title of Mrs. Hayes, I can give you everything. The fortune, the children—they’re all yours!” “Once Harper delivers, I’ll find an excuse. I’ll say she’s tainted, and I’ll never touch her again!” Jaxson promised. “I belong only to you!” I laughed. A hollow, bitter sound. My heart didn’t just break; it shattered into a million irreparable pieces. Fine. If that’s how it is, then the role of Mrs. Hayes? You two can have it.

“Mr. Hayes, your children with Ms. Blackwood are perfectly healthy. However, as they are triplets, there’s a risk of premature birth for the surrogate. Please be prepared.” I thought I’d simply overheard someone else’s private conversation. I was about to slip away quietly. But then, *his* familiar yet chillingly unfamiliar voice echoed from the room. “As long as the babies are fine. *She’s* not important.” My heart clenched. My steps froze at the doorway. “Oh, Jaxson,” Sera’s voice was a soft, helpless sob. “It’s all my fault for having a weak body, for not being able to carry a pregnancy. Otherwise, I’d truly want to bear your child myself.” “But isn’t this unfair to Harper? After all, she aborted *your* child just to…” A sharp, derisive laugh cut her off. “She had it coming!” Jaxson’s voice was so cold it sent a shiver down my spine. “If she hadn’t secretly messed with the condoms, how would she have gotten pregnant in the first place? But even if she tried to trick me, I’d never have let her keep that baby!” His voice softened, directed at Sera. “Sera, besides the title of Mrs. Hayes, my fortune and my children are *only* for you!” “Besides, you’re so fragile, so delicate. You deserve to be pampered. Dangerous things like carrying a child? Of course, *she* should handle that.” It felt like someone had violently smashed my chest. A silent, excruciating pain spread through me, and cold sweat drenched my back. Jaxson’s voice continued. “You’re just too kind, always thinking of her. Truth is, I haven’t wanted her for a long time… But since she insists on being Mrs. Hayes, then she’ll pay the price!” “Once she gives birth, I’ll just find some excuse, say she’s tainted, and never touch her again!” “Sera, relax. I belong only to you!” I stood outside the door, my body stiff, my heart a stone thrown into the deep ocean. I was suffocating, unable to make a sound. My prenatal check-up was supposed to be this weekend, but these past few days, I’d been plagued by a gnawing unease. I was terrified something might go wrong with the babies inside me, jeopardizing the ransom. That’s why I’d rushed to the fertility clinic today. But I never imagined I’d walk into *this*. No wonder! No wonder when I told Jaxson I was pregnant, he only stayed silent. And within days, he claimed his investments had failed, that he owed a massive debt. For months, I’d lived in constant fear because of him, plagued by sleepless nights. I even aborted my own child and risked my life with this high-risk surrogacy, all just to get him back safe and sound. Turns out, this entire charade, from beginning to end, was a calculated scheme against me! My fingers trembled, my legs felt like jelly, my breath came in ragged gasps. Tears, hot and unstoppable, flooded my eyes. I fought back the rising nausea, forcing myself to turn around. My steps faltered as I stumbled out of the clinic. With every step, the crack in my heart widened. I pulled out my phone, my fingers so cold they barely gripped it. Scrolling to a message buried deep in my inbox, I slowly typed a reply. “Damian, I’m in. I’ll do what we talked about.” “Please help me arrange the surgery again. This weekend.”

When I got home, the moment I pushed open the door, a flurry of hurried movement erupted in the living room. Jaxson’s lips still bore a tell-tale smudged lipstick mark, while Sera, head bowed, fumbled to straighten her skirt. Back then, when Sera offered to buy our house and let us continue living there, I was so grateful I almost wept. I thought she was so thoughtful, so kind-hearted. But now, I saw it for what it was: a convenient arrangement for her and Jaxson to meet. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to act as if I hadn’t seen anything. I turned to change my shoes. Jaxson approached me, his face plastered with that fake smile. “Harper, why are you out by yourself with your belly so big? You make me worry.” Once, I would have thought that was genuine concern. But now, I finally understood. He wasn’t worried about me. He was worried about *his* babies with *her*. I said flatly, “My stomach felt bloated. I went for a walk.” Sera’s eyes flashed with panic at my words. She reached out, attempting to touch my belly. “Are the babies okay? Have you been eating something you shouldn’t have?” Instinctively, I recoiled sharply, pushing her hand away, my voice cold. Her smile instantly froze, replaced by a wounded whine. “What are you doing? I was just trying to show concern!” I took another deep breath. “Sera, if you love children so much, why don’t you have your own?” Jaxson’s face darkened. He strode forward, his voice low and sharp. “Harper! Sera means well. How can you talk to her like that?” Then his gaze shifted to Sera. She stood with her head down, lips trembling, the very picture of pitiful vulnerability: “I know you look down on women like me who have health issues and can’t have children. But I simply love kids. Please don’t misunderstand, okay?” Jaxson’s brows furrowed. His voice was low and cold, but clearly biased. “See! What nonsense are you spouting? Apologize to Sera, now!” My chest felt as if it were being ripped open by a sharp blade, cut by cut. The pain was so intense I couldn’t even breathe. The gentle, caring husband I once knew now only showed impatience and anger. I bit my lip hard, my throat dry. Too exhausted to argue, I turned and went back to my room. After the house was sold to Sera, Jaxson had said with a smile: “It wouldn’t be right for us to stay in the master bedroom.” “Why don’t you just stay in the small guest room on the first floor? That way you don’t have to go upstairs. It’s safer.” Back then, I was foolishly grateful for his thoughtfulness, believing he had my best interests at heart. But now, it was clear. All of it was just to make it easier for him and Sera to enjoy their undisturbed life upstairs. He followed me in, sitting on the edge of the bed, putting on that mask of fake tenderness. “Harper, don’t overthink things. Once the babies are born and we’ve paid off the debt, we won’t have to live under anyone’s thumb anymore!” He reached out, gently stroking my hair, his voice as soft as it used to be. “Then, we’ll have a baby of our own, and we’ll be a family, forever!” For a fleeting second, I almost wavered. I wanted to ask him. Had he ever dreamed of the baby who never got to come into this world, like I had? If he loved Sera so much, why didn’t he just marry her a year ago after his brother’s accident? Why had he suddenly proposed to *me* then? But all the words caught in my throat. I watched him reach out, seemingly wanting to touch my belly, but his movement halted when he saw my swollen abdomen and the faint stretch marks already appearing. A flicker of instinctive revulsion crossed his eyes. In that instant, his fake tenderness couldn’t hide the coldness and disdain in his gaze. My heart felt like it had been carved out with an ice pick, completely shattered into pieces. I let out a cold laugh, the corners of my lips curving into a smile that was uglier than a cry. Looks like some questions don’t need asking anymore. Seeing my silence, his face darkened. “I know you’re hormonal during pregnancy, but you chose to be a surrogate to help me pay off my debts. So stop being so passive-aggressive and making things uncomfortable.” I lowered my head, my throat tight, my heart chilling to the core. Yes, I chose all of it. I brought this upon myself. Seeing my expression, he put on his “tender and caring” facade again, gently comforting me. “Alright, don’t be mad. I have to go out for a few days. Sera helped me get a new client.” “I’ll definitely be back to accompany you before your prenatal check-up this weekend. I’ll bring you a gift.” I looked at the extreme hypocrisy in his tender expression, a slow smile spreading on my lips. “Okay. I’ll have a gift for you too, then.”

At the hospital, the doctor frowned. “Ms. Stone, you got pregnant again so soon after your previous miscarriage, and now you’re carrying triplets… If you miscarry again this time, you might never be able to conceive.” I froze, my hand unconsciously stroking my swollen abdomen, my fingertips trembling slightly. “If… if I abort the babies now, what will happen to them?” I asked in a low voice, so hoarse it was almost inaudible. The doctor sighed, then slowly spoke. “Under normal circumstances, the hospital helps arrange cremation and a proper burial, as per family wishes.” “But if the family doesn’t request it, the babies are incinerated collectively.” He paused, a hint of anger in his voice. “However, the most outrageous thing is when some people promise their wives they’ll handle the burial properly, but then just throw the baby into the toilet.” “Later, the cleaning staff found the baby stuck in the toilet drain. They had to be forcibly flushed away. There was no proper send-off at all.” My head snapped up, my throat tight, my voice trembling. “What was the pregnant woman’s name? When did this happen?” The doctor flipped through his records. “I remember, it was about half a year ago. The pregnant woman’s name was…” “Mrs. Hayes.” BOOM— My head spun with a violent ringing, as if something had exploded in my ears. I slowly stood up, my hands clenched so tightly around my clothes that my knuckles turned white and my fingers trembled. That was *my* baby! From the moment I knew I was pregnant, I’d started fantasizing about our family of three after the birth. Imagining the baby growing up, calling me ‘Mommy’… But for Jaxson, I had no choice but to let go. He had held my hand that day, as I went into the operating room, promising me he would take care of our baby. He had even taken me to see that small grave mound after that day. But I never, ever imagined that little life, who never got to enter this world, would end up like *that*. Thrown away like trash by his own hands! I bit down hard on my lip, tears streaming down my face. My chest felt hollowed out, the pain so intense I could barely stand. I retreated inch by inch until my back hit the cold wall, a suppressed sob escaping my throat. The last shred of hesitation in my heart was utterly broken. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. I looked up at the doctor. “I’ve decided. I want the surgery immediately.” After the surgery, I lay on the hospital bed, gathering my strength. I dialed a number. “Damian, I’m ready. Come pick me up tonight.” That evening, Jaxson returned home, his face etched with impatience. The moment he pushed open the door, he roared. “Harper, why did the clinic call me today saying you missed your prenatal check-up?!” “Are you kidding me?! I already explained to you, Sera and I were meeting a client, that’s why we couldn’t make it back!” Sera followed behind him, clutching his arm, feigning comfort. “Harper, don’t be mad. Jaxson and I were working. Don’t think too much, okay?” I sat pale on the sofa, my gaze coldly fixed on her arm wrapped around Jaxson’s. A faint, scornful smile touched my lips. Sera’s smile stiffened. She shrank her hand back. Jaxson’s face instantly darkened, anger churning in his eyes. He threw his jacket violently onto the sofa. “What exactly do you want?! Don’t you dare act out just because you’re pregnant!” His voice suddenly rose, rage practically spewing from him. “Haven’t I been working this hard for *you*?! Are you trying to use the baby to vent your anger and threaten me now?!” With that, he kicked the sofa, with so much force that the cushion almost flew off. Just then, my phone buzzed. I slowly stood up and walked towards the door. Jaxson instinctively reached out to grab me, but I shifted, avoiding his hand. He turned livid, his voice laced with threat. “Fine, Harper. If you don’t explain yourself today, don’t expect me to tolerate you anymore!” I glanced back at him from the doorway, a cold smile slowly curving on my lips. “You’re right. Nothing can happen to the babies. I’m going to get checked right now.” Jaxson seemed to sense something different. His eyes froze on me for a moment. Then, his gaze dropped, landing on my slightly slimmer belly. His face changed instantly. Just as he was about to say something, I cut him off coldly. “Your gift is right by the sofa. Hope you both like it.” By now, Sera had already torn open the express box. A nauseating stench washed over us. She looked inside, her face instantly turning ashen. She shrieked, recoiling sharply, almost stumbling. Jaxson turned at her scream, his face stiffening. He froze, pupils wildly dilating, the shock and fear in his eyes instantly devouring all his anger.

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While expanding my business overseas, I unexpectedly stumbled upon my brother-in-law Mark’s SnapChat story. “Happy birthday to my wife today. Helping her become the CEO of Sterling Group.” My brows instantly furrowed. Because the woman in the photo, intimately close with my brother-in-law, wasn’t my sister. Yet, she was wearing my sister’s clothes and jewelry, sitting on my sister’s husband, and even living in our family’s mansion. Scrolling further down, I realized Mark had blocked my main account on SnapChat. “Today, we got a new pet at home. My wife doesn’t like it, so I can only let the dog stay outside.” In the photo, my sister Clara was covered in bruises, barely clothed, her hair completely shaved off. She was chained like a dog in a small doghouse by the entrance, looking utterly miserable. Rage burned through me. How dare that good-for-nothing leech who married into our family turn my sister into a dog?! … I rushed back home. My car pulled up to the Sterling family mansion, and the sight before me made my breath catch. The once meticulously maintained garden was now overgrown with weeds, the villa’s exterior walls were peeling, and the yard was littered with trash. What truly chilled me to the bone was the tiny figure chained next to the doghouse by the entrance. “Clara?” I rushed closer, unable to believe my eyes. The figure huddled by the doghouse was my sister, the one I had cherished and protected like a precious gem. She looked up, her eyes vacant and lifeless, her face covered in wounds. Even more terrifying, she didn’t show any surprise or joy at seeing me. Instead, she cowered back, a low whimper, like a dog’s bark, escaping her throat. “Clara, it’s me, your brother, Alex!” My voice trembled as I knelt before her. But she grew even more terrified, desperately trying to burrow into the doghouse, crawling with all fours. “Don’t hit me… please… I’ll be good…” She whimpered softly, her voice so hoarse it was barely recognizable. I saw her exposed arms and ankles were covered in bruises and scars. Some even looked like cigarette burns. My sanity instantly shattered, consumed by fury. “Who! Who did this!” I roared, standing up. Just then, the mansion door opened. My brother-in-law Mark and his mother, Brenda, stepped out. “Alex, you’re back?” Mark wore a smile, but his tone was nonchalant. I stared at them coldly: “What happened to my sister? Why is she chained out here?” Mark’s face changed, then twisted into a sorrowful expression: “Alex, Clara… she’s developed a mental illness.” Brenda chimed in, adding fuel to the fire: “Lately, Clara suddenly became unstable, going crazy all day, even trying to bite people! We had no choice but to…” “Shut up!” I cut her off. “Don’t you think I know what Clara is like? What exactly did you do to her?!” Seeing my fury, Mark’s expression immediately hardened: “Since you don’t believe me, then I’ll tell you the truth.” He pulled out his phone and played a video: “Take a look, this is what your sister is really like!” In the video, a figure resembling my sister was entangled with several men in a hotel room. “What is this?” I demanded, my voice icy. Mark sneered: “That’s your sister’s true face! A chaotic private life, seducing men everywhere!” “As her husband, I’ve been tolerant enough. Anyone else would have divorced her long ago!” “Ever since I found out about this and proposed a divorce, she couldn’t handle it herself and went insane.” Brenda, ever the instigator, added: “Our family is respectable! How can we tolerate a woman who tarnishes our good name?!” “Your family?” I scoffed. “Your son married into the Sterling family, he even changed his surname, and you’re still talking about your family’s good name here?” I knew my own sister. If Clara had ever done anything like that, I’d drop dead on the spot. Just then, Clara finally spoke. She cautiously tugged at my pants. Her voice was so weak it was almost inaudible: “Brother… they… they drugged me… it wasn’t willing…” “You little tramp, shut your mouth!” Mark lunged forward to hit her, but I blocked him instantly. “Dare to touch her? Just try me.” My eyes blazed with murderous intent. Mark recoiled, intimidated by my glare, but his words remained venomous: “Alex, don’t let her fool you! She acted just like this when I caught her red-handed at the hotel that day!” “Everyone at the company knows she’s mentally unstable. The board has already voted to remove her from her position!” I ignored him, kneeling to embrace my trembling sister, carefully examining her arms. A multitude of needle marks and old scars were clearly visible. “What are these?” I pointed to the needle marks. Mark stammered: “Those are… those are sedatives the doctor gave her…” “Doctor? Which doctor?” I pressed. “Just… the community clinic’s…” My rationality completely snapped. I waved my hand towards the car outside the mansion. A dozen black-clad bodyguards immediately stormed in, apprehending Mark and Brenda. “What are you doing! Let me go!” Mark struggled violently. Brenda shrieked: “Help! Someone’s attacking us!” “Search the place! Turn this house upside down and find all the evidence!” I commanded coldly. Mark thrashed: “How dare you! This is my house! Let me go!” I punched him in the face: “You married into the Sterling family, live in the Sterling family’s house, and abuse the Sterling family’s heiress, and you have the nerve to call this your house?!” Mark’s nose bled profusely, but he still yelled: “Alex Sterling, don’t go too far! Let me tell you, the Sterling Group isn’t yours to command anymore!” “The company has a new CEO, and your sister is nothing now!” I sneered: “Oh really? Then I’d like to see who’s audacious enough to snatch my sister’s position.” The bodyguards moved swiftly, thoroughly searching the entire mansion. I, meanwhile, held my sister, light as a scarecrow, and gently comforted her: “Clara, brother’s back. It’s okay now, everything will be alright.” Clara trembled in my arms: “Brother… they’ll kill me… they said… if I told you the truth…” “No one can hurt you, I promise.” I said firmly. I took clean clothes from the car and helped her change, my heart aching. Her body was covered in injuries, some scabbed over, others fresh. Even more terrifying, her eyes were filled with pure dread. Even my softest words made her tremble. “Clara, don’t be afraid. Brother will take you to the company and see who dared to bully you!” I whispered gently. A flicker of confusion crossed her eyes, then she nodded slightly. I instructed my head bodyguard: “Keep a close eye on them. I’ll deal with them when I get back!” The bodyguard nodded: “Don’t worry, Mr. Sterling, they won’t get away.” “Also, organize all the evidence you find, especially those drugs and surveillance footage.” Taking Clara to the Sterling Group headquarters building, I found the situation worse than I’d imagined. The receptionist looked at us with disdain: “Do you have an appointment? No appointment, no entry.” I scoffed: “I am Alex Sterling, and this is Clara Sterling, the CEO of Sterling Group.” The receptionist displayed a look of contempt: “I’m sorry, our company’s CEO is Ms. Victoria. I haven’t heard of anyone named Clara Sterling.” Ms. Victoria? My brows furrowed instantly. I could understand if Mark, that bastard, wanted to usurp power and become CEO himself. But who was this Ms. Victoria, and where did she come from? Several employees nearby were already whispering: “Look, isn’t that the boss’s husband’s mistress? I heard she’s a real party animal, went crazy from all the fun, and then her family locked her up.” “CEO? She’s really trying to flatter herself!” “Who’s that guy? Her brother? Daring to cause trouble?” “Oh, what do you even know? At the end of the day, isn’t being a mistress just for money? This might be just a new client she’s picked up.” I glared at those employees, “Are your mouths filled with absolute garbage?!” A security guard approached, blocking our way: “Sir, please don’t cause a disturbance here, or we’ll call the police.” I took a deep breath, suppressing my anger, and told the receptionist: “Take me to the CEO’s office.” The receptionist hesitated, perhaps seeing my strong aura, not daring to confront me directly. She made a phone call. “Ms. Victoria, two people claiming to be Alex Sterling and Clara Sterling want to see you… Alright, I’ll take them up now.” Upon receiving the instructions, she gave a strange smile: “Very well, please follow me.” The elevator went straight to the top floor. On what used to be my sister’s office door, a nameplate conspicuously displayed “CEO Victoria.” The office door opened, and a glamorous woman walked out, followed by a panting Mark, who must have escaped my bodyguards at home. Victoria sized us up, a sneer playing on her lips: “You must be Alex Sterling, right? I’ve heard so much about you.” I didn’t know how Mark had managed to get away from the bodyguards, but he now stood beside Victoria, looking utterly confident of victory. “Who are you? Why are you in my sister’s office?” I demanded coldly. Victoria’s smile grew more smug: “I am Victoria, the CEO of Sterling Group, and this is a legitimate appointment.” She pulled a stack of documents from a drawer: “This is the appointment letter, unanimously passed by the board of directors. Your sister was dismissed due to mental issues, and now I’m managing Sterling Group.” I scoffed: “Legitimate? Are you sure?” Victoria raised an eyebrow: “Of course, all procedures were legal and compliant.” “Clara Sterling became mentally unstable and couldn’t perform her CEO duties, so the board voted for me to take over.” “These are legally binding documents. You can have your lawyer verify them.” Clara hid behind me, trembling constantly, murmuring softly: “No… it’s not like that… they’re lying…” Mark sneered: “Clara, stop pretending. We have all your psychiatric diagnostic reports.” “Everyone in the company saw you having your fits.” Victoria chimed in too: “Mr. Sterling, I understand your feelings as a brother, but facts are facts.” “Your sister needs treatment, not to continue in a position she can’t handle.” I gently patted my sister’s hand, calming her, then pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Immediately gather all Sterling Group board members. They must be here within five minutes, not a single one missing!” Victoria and Mark exchanged a glance, their faces subtly changing. “Mr. Sterling, what is the meaning of this?” Victoria tried to maintain her composure. I sneered: “Meaning? You’ll find out soon enough.” Mark interjected: “Alex, don’t cause trouble. It will only make things more embarrassing for you.” “The board is all on our side. You can’t win.” I ignored him, just staring at him coldly: “Mark, do you really think that just because I wasn’t here for three years, you could do whatever you wanted?” “You overestimate yourself.” In less than five minutes, the board members arrived one by one. Seeing my sister and me, their eyes held clear hostility. Director Mr. Peterson was the first to speak: “Alex, you returned without warning. What’s the meaning of suddenly barging into the company?” Another director chimed in: “That’s right. Sterling Group is running very well now. We don’t need you telling us what to do.” I looked around the room. These people had all been my father’s trusted subordinates, yet now they had all betrayed us. “I want to know, why did you betray my sister? She is the legitimate heir of Sterling Group. By what right did you put this woman in the CEO’s position?” I demanded coldly. The board members exchanged glances, finally, the most senior, Director Mr. Miller, spoke: “Clara Sterling is mentally unstable and no longer suitable to be CEO. This was a unanimous decision by the board.” “We have hospital diagnostic certificates and video recordings of her fits.” “As the board, we have a responsibility to protect the company’s interests and cannot let a mentally ill person continue to lead Sterling Group.” Brenda, who had arrived at some point, stood by, fanning the flames: “See? Even the company staff know Clara’s gone crazy! It’s a fact, no one can change it!” Mark seized the opportunity to attack: “Alex, you don’t understand company rules, so don’t come here to cause trouble. Sterling Group is now controlled by the board and Director Victoria. Everything is legal and compliant.” Victoria pressed her advantage: “Mr. Sterling, I suggest you take your sister and leave. She needs proper rest, not to cause more disruption here.” “Look at her now, does she look like a normal person?” My sister, the CEO of the prestigious Sterling Group, was being humiliated by these people! Clara trembled behind me, her eyes filled with dread. “I’ll ask one last time: are you sure you want to side with them?” My voice was colder than ice. Director Mr. Peterson sneered: “Alex, who do you think you are? You’re just an expatriate who returned from overseas. Sterling Group has already changed hands. Do you really think you’re still the undisputed ruler around here?” “Sterling Group is ours to command now. You’d better be sensible and leave with your crazy sister.” “If that’s too hard, I can even send you a two-hundred-dollar PayPal payment. Get your crazy sister some more male escorts, isn’t she into that kind of thing?” Mr. Hayes also added: “Exactly. Don’t think that just because you had some success overseas, you can come back and boss us around.” “We’ve been working with your father for many years. How the company should operate is not for you to teach.” “I just never thought your father, such a respected figure, could raise two utterly disgraceful individuals like you.” Director Mr. Miller was even more direct: “Security, get these troublemakers out of here!” Just then, the conference room door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man walked in with several assistants. “Mr. Thompson!” The directors immediately stood up, their faces beaming with fawning smiles. Director Mr. Miller hastily introduced: “Alex, you probably haven’t met him, right? This is Mr. Thompson, the East Coast Regional President of Titan Enterprises. Thanks to Ms. Victoria, we’re discussing a major project with Titan.” “If your sister were still CEO, we probably wouldn’t have met Mr. Thompson in our lifetime.” “Mr. Thompson, I’m truly sorry you had to see this.” Mr. Thompson surveyed the scene, frowning slightly. Mark, seeing this, quickly stepped forward: “Mr. Thompson, this is my brother-in-law. He just returned from overseas, doesn’t understand the company situation, and is causing trouble here.” Victoria also chimed in: “That’s right, Mr. Thompson, he even wants to interfere with our cooperation with Titan. It’s truly outrageous.” Director Mr. Hayes added fuel to the fire: “Mr. Thompson, we hope you can help us uphold justice. If this kind of person continues to cause trouble, it will be detrimental to the entire business community.” “The contract we’re about to sign with you, it concerns hundreds of millions in profit.” Mr. Thompson’s gaze swept across the room, finally landing on me, his expression complex. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he walked directly up to me and bowed ninety degrees: “Mr. Sterling, you’re back! Titan Enterprises is at your disposal anytime!” The entire conference room fell silent. Everyone’s faces shifted from smugness to shock, then to utter dread. I scoffed softly: “Mr. Thompson, thank you for your hard work. It seems you’ve done a great job expanding Titan’s business in the East Coast region.” Mr. Thompson respectfully replied: “It’s all thanks to your guidance, Mr. Sterling. I only came to discuss this cooperation today because I knew Sterling Group was your family company.” At his words, the entire room was even more stunned. Mr. Hayes stammered: “Mr. Thompson, you… you know Alex Sterling?” Mr. Thompson gave him a contemptuous look: “Titan Enterprises is Mr. Sterling’s property. I’m just an employee.” “In the three years Mr. Sterling was overseas, he acquired seventeen multinational corporations, quadrupling his assets.” “Titan is just one of many subsidiaries Mr. Sterling owns.” This news dropped like a bomb, stunning everyone present. Titan Enterprises was a giant in the domestic business world, with a market value of hundreds of billions. And it belonged to Alex Sterling? They had thought Alex Sterling had lost real power after passing on Sterling Group to Clara. But who would have thought that he didn’t care about Sterling Group at all; it was just a place for his sister to work and have fun! Victoria’s face turned pale, her legs weak, barely able to stand. Mark was too terrified to speak, cold sweat beading on his forehead. The directors exchanged bewildered glances, finally realizing the immense trouble they had caused. I looked around, speaking calmly: “Today, I announce the termination of all of Victoria’s positions within Sterling Group and the freezing of all assets held by Mark and Victoria that are related to Sterling Group.” “All employees hired by Victoria and Mark will go through standard dismissal procedures!” “Furthermore, the board of directors is hereby dissolved and will be re-formed. Everyone involved in this incident will pay for their actions.” The directors snapped out of their daze, falling to their knees, begging for mercy: “Mr. Sterling, we were forced!” “Mark threatened us, saying he’d cut off our financial resources if we didn’t cooperate!” “He had videos of your sister and hospital certificates! We truly believed she had mental problems!” “We were also thinking about the company. Ms. Clara’s condition really wasn’t good…” Mr. Thompson scoffed: “What a bunch of spineless opportunists, just swaying whichever way the wind blows.” “Mr. Sterling was so good to you all. If he hadn’t protected you back then, you would have been purged from the board long ago.” “Now, you repay kindness with betrayal, and aided and abetted these wrongdoers!” I looked at those spineless opportunists with cold eyes, no longer bothering with them. Just then, several bodyguards entered the conference room with police officers and investigators. The investigators held a stack of documents and several USB drives: “Mr. Sterling, we found these in the mansion.” “Surveillance footage shows Mark and Brenda routinely abusing Ms. Sterling, injecting her with unknown drugs, and the original fake video files.” “This is the list of drugs they injected into Ms. Sterling; most are psychiatric medications and sedatives. Long-term use can lead to mental confusion and cognitive impairment.” “Additionally, we found extensive evidence of company asset embezzlement. Mark transferred most of Sterling Group’s funds into private accounts.” “These are the forged hospital diagnostic reports. We’ve already contacted the hospital and confirmed they are fake.” With overwhelming evidence, Mark, Victoria, and Brenda’s faces were beyond pale. Victoria was the first to break down. She knelt on the floor, crying out: “It’s not my fault! It’s all Mark! He was the one who promised me the CEO position! He was the one who said he’d marry me!” “He said as long as I cooperated with him, once he controlled Sterling Group, he’d divorce Clara and marry me!” “I just followed his instructions; all decisions were controlled by him behind the scenes!” Brenda, hearing this, immediately cursed: “You tramp! You vixen! Seducing my son wasn’t enough, now you want to blame him too?!” “Do you think I don’t know all the dirty things you two were doing behind our backs?” “My son wouldn’t have done such things if you hadn’t charmed him!” Mark’s face turned ashen as he faced accusations from both sides. Suddenly, he lunged at me: “Alex Sterling, don’t you get cocky! I’ll kill you!”

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In The Onyx Club, the most notorious venue in Veridian City, my younger sister lay sprawled on the central stage, disheveled, like a discarded toy. Below the stage, men clutched blood-stained sheets, arguing fiercely. “It was me last night! I was the one who took her virginity!” “Bullshit! I was clearly the first one in!” “Get lost! It was definitely me!” Lily’s face was ashen, like fragile paper, her eyes fixed in disbelief on her fiancé, Julian Thorne, who sat at the VIP table. “Julian, I’m your fiancée! How could you do this to me?” Julian leaned in and kissed the lips of the delicate woman in his arms, his gaze turning chillingly cold as he looked at Lily. “A woman who couldn’t even keep track of who she slept with last night actually has the nerve to question me?” The woman in his arms giggled, but her eyes held nothing but contempt as she looked at Lily. I sat in a secluded booth, my gaze as sharp and cold as a blade. Just three years since I was last in this city, and someone dared to scheme against the Hayes family?

My chief assistant, Marcus, wiped the cold sweat from his brow, his face a picture of deference. “Madam, I’ll call The Onyx Club’s owner right away and have him give you an explanation.” I let out a cold laugh. “No need. Have our people cordon off this entire club. Not a single soul leaves this place!” Marcus bowed, accepting my order, and retreated. Dare to touch my sister? Then you won’t leave here alive! Lily’s pale face was streaked with tears. “Last night, it was just you and me! How could other men be in the room?” Tiffany Vance snuggled closer into Julian Thorne’s embrace, covering her mouth as she giggled. “Oh, Lily, you’re such a joker. Julian was with me all of last night. How could he have been with you? Looks like you needed a thrill for your first time, Julian alone wasn’t enough, so you invited a whole party, huh?” Lily froze, muttering, “No way… The room key was given to me by Julian himself. We even had a candlelight dinner last night…” Mid-sentence, Lily suddenly looked up, staring intently at Julian, trembling with rage. “It was you? You drugged me, then you called them…” Julian merely raised an eyebrow, ignoring her. Then, a short video clip flashed on the large screen – Lily lying on a bed, barely clothed! Julian Thorne smirked, pulling a USB drive from his pocket and tossing it onto the table. “Alright, alright! For those who bet correctly on who took Lily’s virginity last night, you’ll also get a full video of the entire night!” All the men in the club instantly stared at the screen like hungry wolves, their eyes gleaming with lechery. “Even just this short clip is incredible! I can’t imagine how amazing the full video must be!” “High-class girls are just different. Her screams sound better than any other woman’s!” I watched the video on the big screen, shaking with fury. When Julian Thorne and my sister got engaged, the Thorne family was nothing compared to the Hayes. If Lily hadn’t liked him, my parents would never have agreed. But now, where did Julian Thorne get the audacity to treat my sister like this? I grimaced and sent a message to Marcus, instructing him to investigate everything. At that moment, the men in the club pulled out stacks of bills, slamming them onto the tables, yelling like rabid dogs as they placed their bets. Lily huddled in the corner, her eyes numbly watching it all. “Everyone placed their bets?” Julian Thorne leaned lazily on the sofa, stifling a yawn. “We have, but how are we going to figure out who took Ms. Hayes’ virginity last night?” Manager Davies, who had just finished tallying the bets on stage, asked with a confused frown. Julian Thorne chuckled. “How long ago was last night? There must still be traces inside her. We just need a doctor to check, right?” With that, he clapped his hands. “Bring them in!” A few medics in white coats approached the stage, immediately seizing Lily and moving to strip off her pants. The men in the club craned their necks, eagerly anticipating the depraved show. Terrified, Lily snatched a pair of forceps from one of the medics’ hands, pointing them and screaming, “Don’t come closer! Do you know who I am?! Dare to touch me, and you’ll all be dead today!” Lily looked serious, but to everyone else, it was just a pathetic struggle. Tiffany Vance led the laughter. “Oh, you still think you’re the high-and-mighty heiress of the Hayes family?” Tiffany stepped forward, pinching Lily’s face. Her slender nails dug into Lily’s delicate skin, causing faint streaks of blood to appear. “Your Hayes family’s power is long gone! Besides, this club is my brother, Victor Sterling’s territory. Here, you’re nothing.” Victor Sterling? Victor Sterling was my father’s trusted subordinate. If this club was truly his, would he dare to let my sister be humiliated here? And when did my Hayes family ever decline? Julian Thorne wrapped his arm around Tiffany Vance’s waist, soothing her gently. “Why argue with her about this? The priority is to find out who got to her first last night.” Then, he looked at the medics, his eyes sharp. “What are you waiting for? Get to it!” The medics pressed Lily onto the stage again, pulling down her outer pants. Just as they were about to pull down her underwear, the manager suddenly gasped in alarm. “Wait!”

Everyone froze, and the medics stopped their actions. Manager Davies quickly stepped forward, his hands trembling as he picked up a black card that had fallen from Lily’s pocket. Cold sweat immediately beaded on his forehead. “Is this… a Centurion Black Card?!” At his words, the entire club erupted in a clamor. “What? A Centurion Black Card?” “Only a handful of people in the country own this card! I heard she’s incredibly powerful and mysterious, capable of ruining a family with a snap of her fingers. How did it end up in Lily Hayes’ hands?!” Julian Thorne’s pupils contracted slightly as he stared at the black card, his face instantly darkening. Manager Davies, his forehead glistening with cold sweat, hurriedly dialed the club’s top floor. “Mr. Sterling, I have a guest here with a Centurion Black Card. I request your presence.” Not long after, a woman descended from the top floor. I recognized her – Jessica, Victor Sterling’s secretary. “Mr. Sterling is held up with some matters, so he sent me down to greet this esteemed guest.” Jessica wore a polite smile. She was about to take the black card from Manager Davies when Tiffany Vance interrupted her. “If I’d known this card was so important, I would have pulled mine out earlier.” Tiffany Vance pulled a black card from her bag, holding it between two fingers and waving it in front of Jessica. The moment everyone saw the black card in Tiffany Vance’s hand, they were shocked. Tiffany Vance also held a Centurion Black Card! “I’m the Centurion Black Card holder! How could she possibly have one? It’s probably a fake!” Tiffany Vance looked at Lily with disdain. Jessica stepped forward and took Tiffany Vance’s card. After examining it for a moment, her eyes held a hint of fawning as she looked at Tiffany Vance. “Ms. Vance’s black card is real!” Then, she looked at Lily, her eyes full of contempt. “Ms. Hayes, not just anyone can have a black card. You shouldn’t try to pass off a fake one, even if you’re trying to show off.” Lily shook her head, her voice frantic. “Impossible! This card was given to me by my sister; it can’t be fake!” “My sister is Seraphina Hayes!” Tiffany Vance scoffed. “Seraphina Hayes? Which prominent figure in this city don’t I know? I’ve never heard that name before.” Jessica crossed her arms, standing aside as if enjoying the show. “Since Ms. Vance is this club’s most esteemed guest, Ms. Hayes’ matter has nothing to do with Mr. Sterling. You may continue.” The quiet crowd instantly erupted into a roar again. “Hurry up and check! I bet millions!” “I’m adding another half a million! It’s definitely me!” The medics surrounded Lily again, their hands reaching for the last line of defense protecting her privacy. Marcus hadn’t returned yet, and I couldn’t wait any longer. “Stop right there!” I furiously stood up from the booth, striding quickly to Lily’s side. Taking advantage of the medics’ momentary愣神 hesitation, I pulled Lily off the stage and helped her put her clothes back on. Tiffany Vance stared at me in shock, her eyes full of fury. “Who are you?! Do you know the consequences of causing trouble on Mr. Sterling’s turf?!” I shielded Lily behind me, my lips parting coldly. “Seraphina Hayes, the eldest daughter of the Hayes family.”

When I finished speaking, the crowd erupted in laughter, as if they had heard the funniest joke. “Seraphina Hayes? Don’t make us laugh. That’s a legend in this city, a figure with immense power. But there’s been no news of her for years. We heard she died overseas. You’re not saying *you’re* her, are you?” “Well, now that you mention it, Seraphina has the same surname as the Hayes. Could she really be from the Hayes family?” “No way, the Hayes only have one daughter!” Tiffany Vance also covered her mouth, giggling. “Lily, where did you find this impostor? Her acting is terrible, daring to impersonate Seraphina Hayes.” I looked at her as if she were a dead woman walking. The Hayes family had indeed only publicly acknowledged Lily as a daughter. As the designated heir of the Hayes family, I was secretly trained from a young age for my safety, so very few people knew my true identity. “Lily, haven’t you caused enough embarrassment? Make this impostor get out!” Julian Thorne frowned, looking at my sister and me as if we were disgusting vermin. Lily clutched my sleeve tightly, her eyes filled with worry. I reassuringly patted Lily’s hand, my eyes turning sharp as I looked at Julian Thorne. “You’re not fit to speak to me! Where’s Victor Sterling? Tell him to get down here!” Tiffany Vance scrutinized me from head to toe, then sneered. “You’ve got some nerve acting so powerful. Too bad, if the real Ms. Hayes had returned, it would have rocked the entire city’s elite. How could there be no word of it?” My fury intensified. “I said, you have no right to speak to me. Get Victor Sterling down here, now!” Tiffany Vance rolled her eyes dismissively. “Mr. Sterling isn’t someone you can just summon! Since you’re talking such a big game, don’t blame me for teaching this impostor a lesson!” With that, she looked at the various men in the club. “Grab her too and teach her a good lesson! If I’m satisfied, there’ll be a generous reward!” “Don’t worry, Ms. Vance, we’ll make sure she knows what a man can do!” “Since she claims to be Lily’s sister, let’s make her experience what Lily went through last night!” The men in the club, their faces filled with greed, swarmed forward, vying for first dibs. “Who gave you the guts to touch me?!” My eyes were icy. The hidden blade in my sleeve slashed a deep gash across the lead man’s face. “Ah!” The man I had cut screamed, clutching his face, then roared, “Everyone, get her! Kill this filthy bitch!” Ten men rushed forward at once. One man seized the opportunity, his face contorted in a sneer as he grabbed my neck. “You bitch! How dare you hurt me? I’ll make you pay for that now!” The surrounding crowd pressed in, some even pulling out their phones to record. Lily lunged forward, trying to shield me, but Tiffany Vance yanked her hair. “Still playing devoted sisters with this impostor? Once I’m done with her, you won’t escape either!” Lily’s eyes welled with tears. She tugged at Tiffany Vance’s skirt, pleading in a low voice, “Don’t touch my sister! Let her go, and I’ll let you examine me!” Tiffany Vance kicked Lily to the ground, wrinkling her nose in disgust. “We want to examine you, and we want to deal with this impostor too! Unless…” Tiffany Vance smiled maliciously. “Unless you grovel on your knees for me, until I’m satisfied. Then maybe I’ll consider letting your fake sister go.” Lily turned her head, looking at Julian Thorne, who remained cold and observant. She gritted her teeth and yelled, “My sister is the powerful figure you’re talking about! If you hurt her…” Julian Thorne merely sneered, “Why all the useless talk? Hurry up and kneel! If you don’t, they’ll just deal with your sister right here!” Tiffany Vance looked down at Lily, as if she were an ant. Lily let out a bitter laugh. “Alright, I’ll kneel!” She dropped to her knees, bowing her head to Tiffany Vance, over and over. “Please, let my sister go…” Even as her forehead swelled and began to bleed, Tiffany Vance didn’t tell her to stop. My heart ached. I wanted to stand up and stop it all, but my hands and feet were restrained, unable to move. Every time Lily bowed, it felt like a needle piercing my heart. Lily had grown up under my endless doting. When had she ever suffered such humiliation? Marcus should have been back by now. Why was he taking so long? Tiffany Vance yawned idly. “Alright, alright, stop kneeling.” Lily’s pale face showed a flicker of joy. “So you agree to let my sister go?” Tiffany Vance scoffed, as if mocking Lily’s naivete. “I only said I’d *consider* letting your fake sister go. But now I’ve considered it clearly. Her? I’m not letting her go!” “You!” Lily instantly turned into a furious small beast, trying to lunge at Tiffany Vance, but Julian Thorne kicked her away. “Try touching my sister one more time!” My heart twisted with a sharp pain, and I roared. Tiffany Vance walked closer, a flicker of jealousy in her eyes as she looked at my face. She violently grabbed my neck. “Oh, I’ll touch you first, then!” “No! If you hurt my sister, when Victor Sterling gets here, he won’t let you off!” Lily cried out frantically. Tiffany Vance sneered. “You still think your Hayes family is what it used to be? What right do you have to threaten me?!” Tiffany Vance picked up the small knife I had dropped on the ground, pressing it viciously against my throat. Just as she was about to press down with force, the private elevator door to the top floor suddenly opened. Victor Sterling slowly stepped out of the elevator, followed by a group of men in black. The moment he saw Tiffany Vance holding the knife to my throat, with blood already seeping out, his face darkened to an extreme!

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Nights spent on baby duty. I glanced at Scarlett’s phone, the screen still glowing, revealing a distress post: “OMG, my fertility is out of control! My second baby isn’t even three months old, and I’m pregnant again…” My initial thought was, *Wow, how reckless can you be?* Then I looked closer. Wait, was this post… by my own wife? But ever since our child was born, she’d rejected my advances, claiming she hadn’t recovered yet. I kept my poker face, started digging, and the more I dug, the greener my head got. I was being cuckolded. Not only was the kid not mine, but even her parents were fakes! After feeding our son his night bottle and coaxing him to sleep, I was exhausted. The moment my head finally hit the pillow, my mind snapped wide awake. I turned to see Scarlett sleeping soundly beside me, letting out tiny snores like a little piglet. Smiling, I tried to gently move her phone from by her head. In the dark, the faint glow of the screen was blinding. As I went to lock it, my eyes snagged on the open app. It was a distress post: “OMG, my fertility is out of control! My second baby isn’t even three months old, and I’m pregnant again…” I mumbled to myself, *Wow, how careless could someone be?* Because I knew, since our kid was born, Scarlett and I hadn’t had any intimate moments. During her pregnancy, I’d been extra careful, terrified of hurting her or the baby, so I’d always taken care of things myself. Finally, Scarlett’s six-week postpartum check-up came back normal. But she kept saying she needed more time to recover, and I respected that. But then I looked closer. This wasn’t some random post Scarlett had scrolled past; she’d posted it herself! Below the post, the comments were brutal: “‘Fertility out of control’? More like no birth control!” “Then have it! Hope you have octuplets!” “Can’t you just use a shoe? Do you *have* to leave something inside?” “Everyone chill, the blogger’s husband drives a Cullinan! With that kind of money, she can have as many as she wants!” The insults were endless, each one nastier than the last. But for me, at that moment, nothing was more chilling than realizing the poster was my own wife, Scarlett. And we had two kids already. Looking at my sleeping wife, my whole body trembled uncontrollably. My phone almost slipped from my grasp. Right then, only one thought echoed in my mind: *My wife is pregnant.* Fighting down the panic, I forced myself to tap her profile picture and enter her page. What greeted me, besides a flood of ostentatious posts, was her constant bragging about her daily life. And a black Rolls-Royce Cullinan was another ultimate target of mockery in those posts. Given our current financial situation, a Cullinan was clearly more than just “a bit out of reach.” In one photo, Scarlett, in a short skirt and black stockings, had her long legs provocatively crossed in the back seat. The caption read: “A woman who is loved is the happiest.” Great. My cuckoldry even came with a Rolls-Royce Cullinan. I remembered how, to marry Scarlett, I’d built my life from scratch, working tirelessly for three years. For three years, I hadn’t taken a single day off. Every day, I was either at the office or meeting clients. That’s how I finally bought a car and a house, achieving a comfortable, middle-class life. And to earn her parents’ respect and prove I was worthy of their daughter, I’d poured most of my savings into the dowry, just so I could stand tall and propose at their home. After enduring numerous tests and challenges from her family for six months, I finally won her hand. Two kids in three years—that was my limit. Before this, I’d even been proud of my impeccable aim. But now, I had to wonder, *Are these kids even mine?*

The neighbor’s rooster crowed several times downstairs before I finally shook off the shock of the night. Scarlett seemed annoyed by my sluggishness this morning. She frowned and asked, “Liam, what are you thinking about? I’ve called you a few times already. The baby needs to eat; why aren’t you making his formula?” When I still didn’t get up, she shot me a disdainful look, her eyes practically overflowing with contempt: “Honestly, you’re good for nothing but making money.” The old me wouldn’t have even noticed the sarcasm hidden in her words. I would have naively thought she was complimenting my earning ability. No wonder my friends always said I’d changed completely after meeting Scarlett, that I’d become a complete idiot when it came to love. I never denied it, nor did I feel embarrassed or ashamed. In fact, I thought it was just the basic skill a man needed to have for the woman he loved. Turns out, it was all just wishful thinking on my part. Looking at the woman before me, both familiar and strange, I got up and expertly prepared the formula, then gently slipped the nipple into our second baby’s mouth. What exactly did she mean by “useless”? She said she wanted to maintain her figure and refused to breastfeed, and I supported that. She said she needed to recover quickly and couldn’t carry the baby, and I supported that too. Aside from the month she spent at the postpartum care center, whenever I was home, I handled everything for both kids, from feeding to changing diapers. You could even say I was a full-time stay-at-home dad. But now, the thought that these two children might not be mine weighed on me more heavily than the entire world. “I want those croissants from the bakery on Elm Street. Go get them.” Scarlett smiled sweetly, playing with her phone as she gave me orders. I agreed. Secretly, I collected hair samples from both kids. Then, pretending I had an errand, I found my childhood best friend, Leo, who lived not far from me. “Leo, I need a favor,” I said, getting straight to the point. Leo’s sleepy eyes widened instantly when he saw me. “Damn it, you’re actually out! I was wondering if you’d ever leave the house! Seriously, you’ve become unrecognizable, all because of a woman.” His rambling made me smile bitterly. “I think I’m being cuckolded,” I said, my voice hollow. Leo froze for a second, then burst into applause. “Congrats, congrats! You’re finally getting out of this mess!” “All of us guys told you, that woman was no good, but you were like under a spell, completely impervious to reason!” Back when Scarlett and I first met, none of my friends approved. Before we became official, I took Scarlett to meet my friends. Normally, she was impeccably dressed, but that day, she just threw on a wrinkled dress and flip-flops to meet my friends. That outfit, which clearly showed she didn’t care about making a good impression, was one thing. But she also lacked even basic politeness towards them. Back then, I was such a fool, thinking she was just nervous to meet my friends! Later, after Scarlett and I officially got together, she stopped me from hanging out with them. Whenever I said I wanted to meet friends, she’d pick a fight. At first, I resisted a little, but under her constant nagging, the frequency of my meet-ups with friends dwindled from two or three times a month to once every two or three months. Then, it became once every six months, or even a year. Even our wedding invitations didn’t reach them because of her interference; I had to deliver them in person, one by one. Thinking about all those past incidents, my heart grew even more bitter. “Here!” Leo must have seen my gloom; he offered me a cigarette. But I shook my head. “Can’t. Bad for the kids. I quit.” “Idiot,” Leo said, no longer trying to persuade me. He just puffed away at his own cigarette. I pulled out the small bag containing my and the kids’ hair. “Help me out. This is my hair and the two kids’ hair. Can you get them tested for me? And when the results come in, I need you to tell me immediately.” Leo held the “hot potato,” his voice trembling. He stammered, “No way, man, I thought you were joking. You’re serious about this?” “What happened to make things this big? Are both kids not yours?” At that, Leo seemed to remember something. He paused, then took a deep drag. “Could it be I wasn’t mistaken that day? Was that really Scarlett in that car?” “The Cullinan?” I blurted out. He instinctively nodded, then looked at me with sympathy, saying earnestly, “My condolences, buddy. Don’t worry, I’ll get it done for you. One day, I can get you the results in one day.”

After leaving Leo’s place, I returned home feeling hollow. Naturally, I hadn’t bought the croissants Scarlett wanted. For that, she threw a massive tantrum, then stormed into the bedroom, got dressed up, and clacked out the door on high heels, hips swaying. My in-laws once again played the peacemakers, urging me to be more understanding and forgiving. They also said, “That’s just Scarlett’s temper; they’ve always indulged her, and I just needed to put up with it.” I’d heard that countless times, almost brainwashing myself. I didn’t reply. I handed the two kids to them and retreated to my study. I pulled a few strings and looked up the owners of Rolls-Royce Cullinans in our area. And there it was, a name that wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to me: Tyler. Scarlett’s distant cousin. Tyler had struck it rich last year, and ever since, he’d shown up every now and then, always arriving smug and leaving even smugger. My in-laws also treated him with extra care. *Had I let the fox into the hen house?* Most importantly, I knew that Tyler and Scarlett weren’t actually blood-related; he was adopted. The thought that that lowlife might be the bastard cuckolding me sent a furious rage boiling inside me. My hand clenched around the mouse, almost crushing it before I slammed it down. The shattered mouse was a perfect symbol of our broken relationship. Kindness is often mistaken for weakness. Then I remembered Scarlett’s recent constant nagging: “Let’s find a way to get a sham divorce. You transfer the house to my name, and then in half a year, we can remarry, and you can put your name back on it.” “That way I can feel more secure. After all, I’ve given you two children; even if it’s not credit, it’s hard work. I should have something in my name to feel at ease.” “You act like you love me so much every day, but you won’t even give me a bit of your pre-marital property?” These words echoed in my mind, a barrage of endless mockery, slamming into me, one after another. This wasn’t her being娇羞; this was pure calculation. She was meticulously plotting to seize everything I’d worked for. Not to mention the smug look she had when she left, wasn’t that just trampling all over my dignity? I hid in the bathroom, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I finally couldn’t hold it in and turned on the faucet, then burst into tears. My gaze shifted, and I saw a pregnancy test stick showing two lines vaguely visible in the trash can. I felt a wave of nausea, dry heaving. One truth after another confirmed, and I felt a profound sense of disgust. That night, Scarlett sent me a text, saying she was meeting her friends, then directly turned off her phone. And I stayed in my study all night. The computer screen never went dark, and my keyboard never stopped clacking. If she didn’t cherish my love, then she would lose everything…

Just as I was drifting into a light sleep, I felt a pair of plump little hands gently patting my face, a soft voice murmuring: “Daddy! Wake up!” Opening my eyes, I looked at the little face that bore no resemblance to mine, and for the first time, I felt utterly powerless. “Did you eat?” The small face nodded eagerly, saying excitedly: “Uncle Tyler! He brought me McDonald’s!” I froze, instinctively clenching my fist. Tyler again. My eldest son, who still couldn’t speak clearly, adored Tyler. Whenever Tyler was at the house, he would cling to him. Before, I didn’t understand. Now, I just found it laughable. *Damn that twisted bloodline!* “Mom! Take the child! I have to work!” In a flash, I handed the crying child back to my mother-in-law. She frowned, looking reluctant, and shot me a disdainful look, muttering something under her breath as she carried the child back into the room. I suppressed my raging anger. I had no intention of tipping them off just yet. Leo’s email arrived right on time, like a lifeline. I took a deep breath, composed myself, and calmly clicked it open. The freshly printed paternity test report was a brutal punch to the gut. My phone rang. When I answered, Leo’s loud, exclamatory voice dragged my rationality back: “Damn it, Scarlett’s a total bitch! I—I really didn’t expect her to be so shameless! Neither of those kids are yours?!” “Liam, what are you going to do? I’m absolutely with you!” My friend’s support brought a flicker of warmth to my heart, which felt like an ice cave. I had already braced myself mentally, so now, it wasn’t as devastating.

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On a luxurious cruise ship, a notorious ex-crime lord, who’d gone straight, was marrying his beloved. 99 other women, stand-ins for his bride, were treated like mere playthings and distributed to his men. Only I remained, unwanted and alone, chilling on the deck, my heart set on dying. I had been thrust into this world, and I’d poured everything I had into saving four male leads, who’d been driven to madness by the story’s true heroine. But I failed. The System said I could return to my real world for three precious days to say goodbye to Grandma if I died here. Without a second thought, I plunged into the icy water. Release. It was finally here. But as consciousness faded, I saw someone swimming desperately towards me… Guests swarmed around the crime lord’s bride, their celebratory chatter meaningless to me. I easily found a secluded spot. My broken leg screamed in protest, each movement a tearing agony as I hoisted myself over the railing. What was a little pain, if it meant seeing Grandma? With a relieved smile, I resolutely jumped. In the frigid embrace of the ocean, I looked back on fifteen years of absurd existence. I had been thrust into this world with a mission: to save the male leads driven to madness by the heroine. If I could successfully save just one of them, I could escape a fatal car accident in my real world. But in the end, I failed all four. Every time Isabella, the world’s chosen heroine, reappeared, all my efforts at redemption were instantly erased. Seawater flooded my nose and mouth. I thought I could finally find release. But then, a strong arm clamped around me, holding me tight. Through the haze, I saw his frantically worried face. Then, I completely blacked out. When I woke up, my throat burned. Staring at the unfamiliar white ceiling, I knew I hadn’t died. Why was even dying so difficult?! I turned my head and saw an exceptionally handsome face. His gaze was downcast, his expression utterly blank. He looked like a marble statue, or an ancient deity stepped out of a forgotten legend. Wait, wasn’t this Julian? One of my targets. The Julian who once told me, “Without you, I would have already fallen into hell.” As if possessed, I reached out and touched the blessed wooden bracelet I’d gotten for him years ago, still on his wrist. His eyes snapped open, a sharp gaze piercing me. “Scarlett, what game are you playing now?” I pulled my hand back as if burned, my heart seizing in my chest. He thought I was trying to manipulate him again, to win his pity. But he’d forgotten. Fifteen years ago, it was Isabella, the woman he deeply loved, who framed him, destroying his family. He’d plunged into utter despair, retreating from the world. It was *I* who stayed by his side, day and night, tirelessly caring for him, shielding him from all the ruthless debt collectors, helping him rebuild his life bit by bit. He’d once held me tight and said he wouldn’t exist without me. But now, his eyes held nothing but disgust and contempt for me. All my sacrifices, in his eyes, were utterly worthless. Julian spoke with chilling indifference: “Isabella has always been frail.” “And she’s been busy all day. She’s not feeling well now and needs your blood.” The doctor nearby tried to interject, “Miss Scarlett just fell into the water, she’s very weak…” “She’s perfectly fine. She’s got a thick skin, a little blood is nothing,” He brutally cut off the doctor. “This is the only way she can help Isabella. She should be grateful.” I stared at Julian, a bitter taste spreading through my heart. “If you love her so much, why aren’t you by her side?” “Watching her marry Roman, becoming his hidden shadow… are you truly content with that?” The System said he was going to turn dark, that I needed to save him. But this pathetic, self-sacrificing devotion for love… how was this “turning dark”? “Isabella is different,” His features softened instantly. “Back in the orphanage, she was the only one who gave me warmth.” “That kindness, I’ll never forget it.”

The orphanage again. I looked at him, my mind a blank. Right, the System had said it. Isabella was the destined heroine of this world. She and the four male leads shared a supposedly beautiful childhood in that orphanage. Even if she later left them bruised and battered, all it took was her return, a few tears, and a few soft words, and everything anyone else had done for them seemed to reset to zero. After they were done draining my blood, my vision swam, threatening to black out completely. I was on the verge of losing consciousness, my mind drifting: If I just sleep now… Will I finally return to my world and see Grandma? Grandma, Scarlett misses you so much… Late that night, I woke up again, feeling a little stronger. Damn it, I still couldn’t die. Even death was this difficult. I looked around, recognizing this as Julian’s secluded retreat. Then I remembered the rumors: the remote trails behind the retreat were rumored to be infested with venomous snakes… Without hesitation, I stumbled towards the back trails. My broken leg made my steps agonizingly slow, but I pushed on, utterly resolute. Just as a venomous snake was about to strike, I was violently pulled back. “Scarlett! Are you insane?!” It was Julian! How was he here *again*?! He gripped my arm, his strength so immense I thought my bones would shatter. His face was contorted with a mixture of panic and fury I’d never seen before. “Are you trying to die, huh?!” He growled, complex emotions swirling in his eyes. “First jumping off the cruise, now provoking venomous snakes! Are you *that* desperate for my attention?!” “Attention?” I yanked my arm from his grasp, a cold laugh escaping my lips. “If I die, I won’t be in your way anymore, and I won’t threaten Isabella, the woman you hold so dear, will I?” “You should be happy!” I shoved him away, turning back towards the snake. Death. I *had* to die here today! He grabbed me again, and my arm scraped against a rock, a sharp sting. “Stop trying to play the victim!” He roughly seized my hand, his voice thick with impatience. “Go put some ointment on that wound!” As he forcibly dragged me back, I saw the bracelet on his wrist again. It reminded me of the lucky charm Grandma gave me. Good thing I hadn’t given *that* to this ungrateful bastard back then. I was going home to Grandma now, and I needed to take it with me. While they weren’t paying attention, I quietly slipped away. That lucky charm, Grandma had embroidered it herself. The stitches were meticulously neat, depicting beautifully embroidered lovebirds, a symbol of enduring happiness, imbued with her deepest blessings for me. Grandma had always hoped I’d find a good husband and live a life of peace and happiness. I used to naively think that if I could successfully save any of them, I’d give that lucky charm, imbued with Grandma’s heartfelt wishes, to him, letting her witness my happiness. But alas, none of them deserved it. I returned to my uncle Ryder’s house to get the charm. But I found him staring blankly at a portrait of Isabella. Ryder, a decorated veteran, who’d been confined to a wheelchair. He willingly served as Isabella’s personal security, only to be brutally humiliated by her. She even manipulated him, causing him to become permanently disabled. It was I who stayed by his side, day after day, helping him with his physical therapy, encouraging him to stand again. I cooked for him every day. He initially resented my presence, but later, he grew protective, doting on me, forbidding me from cooking. He lovingly prepared every single meal for me. But then Isabella came back, and with a sudden, casual mention of a dog fur allergy, He didn’t hesitate to throw the little dog we’d raised together for so long, who we treated like family, from a tall building. That little dog was a gift from him, bought after he finally accepted me. We had promised to rely on each other. It had accompanied us through so many happy times. But because of Isabella’s dismissive comment, he ended its life without a single blink. I used to fear such abandonment. Now, I craved it. I ignored my uncle and walked straight into my room. Only to find it completely empty. “Where are my things?”

I fought down my fury, asking Ryder in a cold voice. “Isabella didn’t want any of your things here, so I cleared them out,” Ryder said, his voice distant. “I’ll find you somewhere else to live.” Cleared out? He made it sound so simple. “Just like you got rid of that innocent little dog, are you trying to get rid of me?” I let out a cold, hollow laugh. From start to finish, I was always the extra one. “You…” I cut him off, my voice trembling with emotion. “You can do whatever you want with everything else, I don’t care. I just want that box!” Inside was Grandma’s lucky charm, my only connection to her! “What do you want it for?” Ryder’s face instantly darkened, his eyes turning wary and harsh. He thought I was going to use the contents of the box to stir up trouble with Roman again. “You’ll never be as kind and wonderful as Isabella!” “Roman would never like a manipulative, vile woman like you!” “I’m warning you, I will *never* let you ruin Isabella’s wedding!” Kind? In his eyes, only the heroine of this world was truly kind. I had once told Ryder about that box. Under the moonlight, he’d said, with a hint of jealousy, that he’d keep it safe for me until I found my true love. I’d also said that if I could ever be with him, I’d give him the box. Back then, his expression was serious and loving, filling me with hope. Now, he was warning me with the most vicious words: “You stay put! Don’t you dare try to cause any more trouble for Isabella!” “If you don’t tell me where the box is, I’ll go tell Isabella right now exactly what kind of filthy, hidden thoughts you have about her!” I intentionally provoked him. Ryder was indeed completely enraged. He retrieved the box from a corner and violently threw it to the ground. The box shattered, and the lucky charm fell out. He snatched up the charm and brutally tore it to shreds, the pieces scattering across the floor. “Scarlett, you’re so ungrateful! I’m going to teach you a lesson you’ll never forget today!” I looked at the shredded lucky charm, my heart twisting in agony. This was the man I had poured everything into caring for. His inherent ruthlessness had never disappeared! Good. His cruelty was exactly what I needed to end my life, to see Grandma sooner. I clutched the torn pieces of the charm tightly in my hand, looking at Ryder’s enraged face, and smiled. “We’re completely even now.” With that, before he could react, I lunged, smashing into his previously injured leg. The pain from my broken leg made me stumble, but I put all my remaining strength into the impact. Excruciating pain instantly flared, and I coughed up blood, my vision blurring. I knew it was his sore spot, the scar left by Isabella. I deliberately provoked him, wanting only to finish this quickly and leave this world. Ryder froze, stunned that I would do such a thing. His face flashed with shock, self-reproach, and pain, as he looked at me helplessly. But soon, these emotions were replaced by fury. “Scarlett! You couldn’t seduce Roman, so now you’re trying to seduce *me*?! You have no shame!” I was fading fast, my consciousness blurring, but I saw Julian had arrived too. When I woke again, I found myself in a dark, damp basement. “Didn’t Julian take me away? How did I end up here?” As I wondered, Isabella stood before me, a triumphant look on her face. “Scarlett, you’re in such a wretched state, and you still can’t leave them alone?” Isabella looked down at me from above, mocking, “Do you really think a pathetic wretch like you can compete with me?” Before I could even process what she was saying, she suddenly leaned close to my ear and whispered, “I’ll show you today.” “All your struggles and efforts are nothing but a futile joke.” “But, seeing how pitiful you are, I’ll give you a fair chance to compete.” I grew even more confused. Just as I was about to demand an explanation, I heard sounds of a struggle outside. Then, the door burst open, and Roman rushed in, yelling frantically: “Isabella, are you okay?!”

He immediately saw Isabella and me tied together, connected to a complex device, and his face instantly turned grave. I understood at once: this was Isabella’s self-orchestrated kidnapping! The device connected to two ropes, each tied to Isabella and me. The other end of the ropes connected to two syringes filled with venom. Once the device activated, both ropes would tighten simultaneously. One would snap, pulling its syringe into the person it was tied to. Meaning, Roman could only choose one of us to save. Isabella looked at Roman, feigning vulnerability. “Roman, save me…” I looked at Roman, my heart a desolate void. Roman, the formidable crime lord… he was once such a proud man. But Isabella had left him utterly broken. When he was at his lowest, before being acknowledged by his family in the underworld, Isabella brought people to humiliate him, forcing him to eat dog food and live in a dog kennel. He endured endless torment. When he finally returned to his family, his personality had warped, becoming ruthless, cruel, and unapproachable. I had placed my last hope in him, wanting to save him. As his exclusive sparring partner, I silently endured his relentless torment, staying by his side, never leaving. One day, he beat me black and blue. I turned to leave, utterly desperate. But he suddenly pulled me back from behind, holding me tightly in his arms. His deep voice rumbled in my ear: “Where are you going?” “Stay here.” My ear rested against his chest, listening to his powerful heartbeat, thinking my redemption efforts had finally paid off. I thought he, having been hurt the most, would be the most resistant to Isabella’s allure. But I was wrong, so terribly wrong. In the end, he was the one who remained devoted to Isabella, refusing to marry anyone else, even holding such a grand wedding for her. And all the suffering I’d endured by his side, helping him transition his empire into legitimate ventures, had become a colossal joke. To prevent Isabella from discovering our past, he found 99 other women, stand-ins for her. As if to prove I wasn’t special, wasn’t unique. He was just so desperate for Isabella that he found so many women who resembled her. To prove his loyalty to her, he even sacrificed me to his sworn enemy. I was tortured for a day and a night, and the tiny life growing inside me was lost. Roman looked at the intricate device, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. Seeing this, Isabella immediately feigned weakness again. “Roman, save her. She was with you for a long time when you weren’t around…” “I’m content marrying you now, I couldn’t ask for more.” She then brought up old memories from the orphanage, each word hitting Roman where it hurt the most. Roman’s heart ached. He turned to me, furious. “Scarlett, aren’t you satisfied? Must you cause such a scene! You saw Isabella and I were getting married, so you deliberately set up this scheme, only to be kidnapped yourself. Are you happy now?!” Just then, Julian and Ryder also rushed in. Seeing Isabella in danger, they both grew anxious, vehemently accusing me of being manipulative and bringing this on myself. I looked at them, their past gentleness and promises now turned into icy accusations and condemnations. I’d given everything, only to be met with their disgust and scorn. Why did it come to this? My heart felt as if it was being torn apart; I couldn’t breathe from the pain. I didn’t want to waste any more time. I scoffed directly: “You were all manipulated like puppets by Isabella, and now you’re fawning over her like desperate dogs! How pathetic! I must have been blind!” “You idiots! You were all played by that bitch Isabella, wrapped around her little finger!” “And now you’re still fawning over her like a bunch of tail-wagging dogs, completely devoted!” “It’s the most pathetic joke in the world!” “I, Scarlett, must have been blind to ever think of saving you ungrateful bastards!” Roman was indeed enraged. His eyes turned bloodshot, veins throbbing on his forehead. With the three men’s unspoken coordination, Ryder quickly subdued the kidnappers, and Julian immediately shielded Isabella. Roman, meanwhile, lunged at me, savagely plunging his dagger into my shoulder! Agony ripped through me, blood instantly staining my clothes. I looked at his bloodshot eyes, filled with madness and hatred. “I never wronged you. Why do you hate me so much?”

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My best friend got scammed out of seventy-five thousand dollars through an AI face-swap impersonating me. She dropped to her knees right there in the public square, a dramatic spectacle designed for virality. She cried that it was her entire life savings. She begged me to pay her back, claiming I was an influencer and made money easily. The entire internet rallied against me, guilt-tripping me into paying her. Even my own brother said Chloe was pathetic and blamed me for the whole mess. I just smirked. Trying to get rich off my back? Dream on! Chloe stood in the middle of the plaza, my photo glaring from the giant screen behind her. “Serena Hayes, you’re a beauty influencer with millions of followers. You make tens of thousands of dollars from a single video. But that seventy-five thousand dollars is all I have! Please, just give it back to me!” “If I hadn’t trusted you so much, if we weren’t best friends, how could I have possibly been scammed out of seventy-five thousand dollars?” “Serena, you spend thousands on an outfit. But this seventy-five thousand dollars? I slaved away for years to save it! My parents are counting on that money for their medical bills and retirement! I’ll do anything for you, be your slave, just give me my money back!” Chloe sobbed, tears streaming down her face, her forehead hitting the ground with loud thuds. Onlookers whipped out their phones, some snapping photos, others starting live streams. “What’s going on? Serena scammed her friend?” “Are all influencers this heartless? She makes thousands so easily, but she’ll still rip off her friend’s life savings?” “No one would beg like this in public unless they were truly desperate. Serena definitely stole the money.” “Influencers like her should be blacklisted! She’s a menace to society. I’m embarrassed to even say I live in the same city as her.” “She’s just standing there, watching her friend bow and scrape, not even a word of comfort. See? Only the shameless ones get rich these days.” Suddenly, a guy, a male fan, charged at me, pointing his finger right in my face. “Serena Hayes, you scammer, pay her back!” The scene erupted into chaos, many people shouting, “Pay her back!” I calmly pulled out my phone and dialed the police. At the same time, I raised my voice. “Chloe, I truly sympathize with you for falling victim to a deepfake scam. What you should be doing right now is reporting it to the police; maybe you can recover some of your losses. I’ve already called 911 for you.” Chloe shrieked, “That account *was* yours! It had your voice, your videos, even private details only you and I knew! You’re the one who scammed me! You just don’t want to pay me back, do you?” I turned to the police officers who had just arrived, shaking my head regretfully. “She’s very agitated right now. I’m worried she might be susceptible to further scams.” “You’re still lying!” Chloe suddenly lunged at me, slapping me across the face. “Serena, you must have scammed so many people! I have proof! It was you!” “You make so much money off your fans, why would you still steal my hard-earned cash? You’re shameless!” Chloe hurled insults, trying to hit me again. The police officers quickly intervened, restraining her. I touched my stinging cheek, tears welling in my eyes. I slowly turned, making sure every camera angle caught my vulnerable, pathetic expression. Just then, my brother, Caleb Hayes, rushed onto the scene. Caleb didn’t even glance at me, immediately launching into an accusation. “What is wrong with you? It’s just seventy-five thousand dollars! Just give it back to Chloe and this whole thing is over. Now everyone knows, have you even considered the impact on your image?” “Chloe lives so frugally, unlike you. You rake in tens of thousands from one ad deal.” “You make money so easily, you should be more understanding of your friend’s struggles. Don’t you agree?”

My eyes widened, staring at my brother in disbelief. A female officer stepped forward to explain. “Sir, please try to understand the situation first. Chloe was a victim of an AI deepfake scam; Serena is also a victim here.” “Caleb,” I said, my voice tinged with disappointment, “Chloe just slapped me. It really hurts.” Caleb glanced around, seeing the crowd holding up their phones, hungry for drama, and waved his hand impatiently. “Oh, please. Chloe was scammed out of seventy-five thousand. She’s way worse off than you are. How can you be so heartless?” I continued to numbly play the role of the internet celebrity betrayed by her own brother. “Caleb, am I your sister or your enemy?” He tried to grab my arm, but I pulled away. Noticing everyone around us was filming, I pretended to wipe my face, a subtle smirk playing on my lips. Caleb and I headed to the Cybercrime Investigation Center together. “Stop pouting,” Caleb grumbled loudly. “So what if Chloe was a little emotional? She lost seventy-five grand, it’s understandable. Can’t you just be the bigger person?” When there was no audience, I simply looked at Caleb, my expression cool and collected. He sheepishly shut his mouth. Caleb was my actual brother, and my fans all knew him as my valuable “assistant” in my career. After I blew up online, I started to pivot, creating couple-themed content, with Caleb playing my boyfriend. But in reality, he was nothing more than a convenient prop I’d carefully selected. Now, with Chloe’s little stunt, I figured it was time to cut him loose. As I quickly strategized how to sever ties with Caleb without hurting my account’s numbers, I asked the staff about Chloe’s situation. Soon, investigators confirmed that Chloe had indeed fallen victim to an AI deepfake scam. On a niche social media platform called “GlamMirror” with only about ten thousand users, someone had used AI technology to synthesize my photos and videos, mimicked my voice, and impersonated me. Chloe, thinking it was me, didn’t verify and simply believed the scammer’s request for money, transferring seventy-five thousand dollars to a specified account. But Chloe still insisted the account was mine, that the money was in my hands, and that I needed to pay her back. Caleb sighed after hearing the details. “Chloe was so good to you, lending you seventy-five thousand just like that. So loyal. And you? She’s on her knees begging you, and you won’t budge. You’re truly ruthless.” I ignored Caleb and raised a question. “Chloe was scammed at 5 PM yesterday. I was in my storage room selecting products at that exact time, and she lives right next door. Why didn’t she just ask me directly?” Chloe retorted, “Everyone knows you’re a big influencer, you’re so image-conscious. That’s why you didn’t want to ask me for a loan face-to-face, you just SnapChatted me. So I transferred the money.” “If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t have given you the money. Officer, I have proof, that account was definitely Serena’s,” Chloe said excitedly. A familiar female officer next to me shook her head helplessly. Caleb sighed again, “Chloe, you’re truly something. Don’t worry, Chloe, I’ll make sure Serena gives you an explanation.” I elbowed Caleb hard. Caleb winced. “Serena, you really are partly responsible for this. You’re a public figure, and you’ve even done anti-scam PSAs before. You should take more responsibility.” “If you had just registered an account on that platform earlier, you wouldn’t have been impersonated, and Chloe wouldn’t have fallen for it,” Caleb said, as if it were obvious. I threw my hands up, exasperated by my cluelessly naive brother’s comments. Chloe clung to her story, insisting the account was mine, crying endlessly about how important the money was to her. Caleb was even more indignant. “Don’t worry, Chloe, I’ll give you Serena’s debit card. You can use it to buy whatever you need these next few days.” In an unnoticed corner, Chloe suddenly turned to me. “Serena, who told you to be an influencer? It’s your fault you make money easily. I swear, I’ll make you pay me back for this.”

It clicked. Chloe was doing this on purpose. She knew perfectly well she’d been scammed, but she didn’t want to bear the loss herself, so she planned to make me pay for it. The only thing that puzzled me was why Chloe, knowing my personality, would think I’d ever ask someone for money. Even more, I was in my storage room selecting products at the time, my phone left in my room. There was no way I could have SnapChatted her for a loan. Chloe’s room faced the storage room; she couldn’t *not* have seen me. Yet she still transferred the seventy-five thousand. I was pondering the strange inconsistencies. Chloe started sobbing again. Caleb, who had just returned with a glass of water, quickly handed her a tissue and tried to comfort her. “Don’t worry, Chloe. Since this whole thing involves Serena, I’ll make sure she takes full responsibility. You won’t lose seventy-five thousand for nothing.” Chloe clutched Caleb’s arm tightly. “Really? I know you two run a million-follower account together, you don’t lack this kind of money. You’re such a good person, but Serena… can you guarantee she’ll pay me back?” “Caleb.” I frowned, my gaze like a knife. Caleb wriggled free from Chloe’s grasp. “Just stop crying, okay? We’ll figure it out when we get there.” Not getting a clear promise from Caleb, Chloe’s expression stiffened slightly. I pretended not to notice the silent exchange between them. I mused that this incident might be the perfect opportunity for my account’s transformation. And I could finally shed Caleb and operate the account independently. As I was leaving the police station, Officer Davis, who I knew well, called out to me. “Serena, you’ve always cooperated with us on anti-scam campaigns. I’ve seen all your hard work.” “But this situation with your friend has had a terrible impact. Your role as a Cyber Safety Ambassador might have to be put on hold for a while.” I froze. As a top beauty influencer, I’d seen too many peers lose followers and plummet in engagement due to various unforeseen events. I’d been planning for all possibilities for a long time. The Cyber Safety Ambassador role was a strategic move to diversify my presence. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t disappointed. I didn’t hide my feelings. “Officer Davis, Chloe is too emotional right now, and I can’t really reason with her.” “I know this money is important to her, but if I pay her back, it sets a bad precedent for anti-scam efforts.” In the future, anyone who encounters a similar situation might demand compensation. Officer Davis understood my point. “You’re right, you shouldn’t have to pay. Legally speaking, no one can force you to compensate her.” “Thanks, Officer Davis. Actually, I was thinking, if people are willing to start a fundraiser for Chloe, I’d contribute a significant amount myself to help her through this.” I voiced my true thoughts. Everyone wanted to guilt-trip me into paying seventy-five thousand. But when an actual fundraiser began, I wondered how generous these people would really be. Officer Davis looked surprised. “Serena, you’re really too kind.” I smiled, accepting her praise. Little did she know, the transformation from a small-town girl to a million-follower influencer had nothing to do with kindness; it was all about calculated moves for maximum gain. Back at my apartment, I finally had time to check the online chatter. Chloe’s public kneeling video was already attention-grabbing. My influencer status only added fuel to the fire. The comment section of my latest video was a warzone, flooded with angry netizens. They demanded to know why I wouldn’t pay her back, why I’d just stand there while my best friend knelt. I opened various beauty forums and social media platforms; everywhere, people were calling for a boycott against me: *This kind of unethical influencer should be blacklisted! Everyone unfollow her! Like if you agree!* Responses poured in. A few reasonable people said, “It was an AI deepfake scam! Go after the criminals! Why should a rich person pay just because someone got scammed?” Unfortunately, most people were selectively blind, continuing to hurl insults at me. Until the police released an official statement. Major beauty communities and influencer groups also put out alerts: *Ms. Yao, the best friend of a well-known beauty influencer, Ms. Fang, was scammed out of seventy-five thousand dollars through an “AI deepfake impersonation” on a social media app. At the time of the incident, Ms. Fang and Ms. Yao were living together in their shared apartment. Ms. Yao believed the AI-synthesized video call without verification and transferred the money, resulting in a loss. We hope all netizens learn from this and remain vigilant.* Both the police and social media platforms had made their statements. After the incident was officially classified, Chloe became even more frantic. She went straight to the apartment rooftop, claiming I had driven her to despair and she was going to commit suicide. She was eventually rescued by firefighters. She caused the scene, but I was the one getting dragged.

Chloe’s suicide attempt immediately trended online. My comment section was drowned in a flood of hateful messages: “Are all influencers this heartless? Serena’s face just screams bad news. She definitely set up the scam.” “A twenty-something girl kneeling in public and attempting suicide? That alone tells me she’s not faking it. There’s definitely a twist to this story; wait for the police investigation results.” “Even if the police investigated, everyone knows that money from AI scams is impossible to get back. Chloe fell for it because of Serena, so Serena should be responsible!” “Didn’t Serena always say she donated to charity every year? Now her own best friend is in trouble, and she’s playing dead?” “Can you trust an influencer’s persona? It’s probably just a scripted drama for views. Serena is so shameless, using her best friend for popularity.” “Haha, Serena finally crashed and burned, serves her right! Chloe used to appear in Serena’s videos, and Serena always used Chloe to make herself look better. Hope everyone sees Serena’s true colors soon.” I’d been in the social media game for so long, I knew exactly how many of those comments were from paid trolls. Clearly, Chloe didn’t just want my money; she wanted to destroy my career. An idea began to form in my mind. Because of this media storm, two major makeup brands had already said they were pausing their partnerships with me. My brother, Caleb, was furious when he found out. “How can you be so brainless? It’s just seventy-five grand! You should’ve just paid Chloe and been done with it. Now you’ve jeopardized the whole account. If you can’t handle this, maybe I should take over.” I scoffed. “Caleb, what the hell are you talking about?” I started my social media journey in my freshman year of college. Back then, when my followers first broke fifty thousand, I convinced Caleb to film some fake couple videos with me to attract more traffic. Those videos unexpectedly went viral because Caleb’s good looks attracted a ton of new followers. My account growth had hit a plateau, and simple beauty and fashion videos weren’t attracting new fans anymore. After much thought, I realized I could use the “sweet couple” persona with Caleb to pivot and attract more views. Even though my brother had plenty of flaws, for the sake of my career, I still convinced him to keep playing along. I meticulously planned every video, laying groundwork for when I’d eventually split the account. After this whole mess, I figured more and more fans would demand I go “solo.” I silently listened to Caleb’s unpleasant words. His current behavior was exactly what I needed for my next step in the rebrand. After parting ways with Caleb on bad terms, I contacted Officer Davis. “Officer Davis, this ten thousand dollars is my personal donation to Chloe. Could you please discreetly transfer it to her? I don’t want to hurt her pride.” The entire internet was calling me heartless. But as long as I occupied the moral high ground first, no one could guilt-trip me anymore. And Chloe? She was now leveraging her “victim” status, starting live streams to milk sympathy. Chloe began live streaming in the apartment living room, day and night. “Serena, I don’t even have money for food now. My parents passed away, so I can only rely on live streaming to make money. You don’t mind, do you?”

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My heart was ripped out and placed into the chest of Eleanor’s adopted daughter, Tiffany Thorne. On my birthday, Eleanor threw me out, cursing me, calling me a jinx, a curse on our family. My grandmother, Agnes, was murdered by Tiffany’s biological parents while searching for me. But Eleanor didn’t know the truth: I was her biological daughter. My body was discovered by Robert, my father. Only then did they realize they had been loving the wrong person all along. Even with a bitter resentment deep in her heart, Eleanor still couldn’t bring herself to let go of Tiffany. Finally, the truth came crashing down, and Eleanor herself ended Tiffany’s life. Eleanor chose to jump from the building, a desperate attempt to atone for her sins, but she never received my forgiveness. And I, a wandering spirit, watched their fates unfold. “Where is Anya Thorne? Never coming home, day after day. I should never have listened to Mother Agnes and adopted her!” “My Tiffany is so much better, she gives me no trouble at all.” My spirit hovered in mid-air, listening to Eleanor’s endless curses and complaints. Robert, my father, hung his head, not uttering a word, sighing silently. Tiffany Thorne, also an adopted daughter, lay in the hospital bed, her tiny, ashen face tugging at anyone’s heartstrings. She had just undergone heart surgery. That vibrant heart beating in her chest was mine. I looked down at my own empty chest, a wave of stunned realization washing over me. It was only on the verge of death that I truly learned I was Eleanor’s biological daughter. When Eleanor gave birth to me, there was a baby-snatching incident at the hospital, and I was the unfortunate victim. By a twist of fate, Agnes found me. She was the one who brought me home. She named me Anya, taught me how to read. Agnes always whispered in my ear, “Every time I see you, Anya, I feel such a strong connection. It seems we truly have a deep bond.” Agnes brought me to Eleanor, but I was met with no smile. Standing beside Eleanor was a little girl, roughly my age, sweet and adorable. Tiffany. I could tell Eleanor didn’t like me, but out of respect for Agnes, she kept me in the house. I tried my best to please Eleanor, but it never earned me any special attention. Instead, she said, “Don’t bother with thankless tasks. Tiffany is my only daughter. As for you, I’ll make sure you grow up with food and clothes, but don’t expect anything more.” Every word she uttered felt like a knife twisting in my gut, and I could only silently endure the pain. Tiffany suffered from a congenital heart condition. Eleanor had found her abandoned at the hospital. Eleanor couldn’t bear the pain of her own baby being stolen, so she brought the abandoned Tiffany home. Eleanor treated her like her own biological daughter, putting Tiffany first in everything. That’s why, even when I went missing, she didn’t even bother to care. The day I was kidnapped was also mine and Tiffany’s birthday. My heart full of hope, I pushed open the front door, only to realize they had forgotten my birthday. Eleanor was furious at my sudden appearance, her brows furrowed as she spoke. “You couldn’t come back earlier, couldn’t come back later, you just had to pick *today*. You’re nothing but bad luck.” Robert tried to pull Eleanor away, telling her to say less, but it only made her anger surge. “Was I wrong? Today is Tiffany’s birthday! Do you know how long I’ve been preparing for this? Why did she have to come back and mess everything up?!” A storm of insults crashed down on me. My heart ached with a dull, prickling pain, like a thousand tiny needles. I hadn’t planned on coming home today. Tiffany had sent me a message. She’d said, “Mom is really looking forward to us celebrating our birthday together. She keeps mentioning you.” Tiffany said a lot, and I genuinely yearned for Eleanor’s love. I refused to celebrate with Agnes and rushed home, hoping to make it in time. But what greeted me wasn’t Eleanor’s smile. I lifted my head, cautiously saying, “Eleanor, today is my birthday too.” She slapped me hard across the face. My cheek instantly swelled, burning with a searing pain. “An orphan like you, where do *you* get a birthday from?!” “I told you, don’t ever try to compete with Tiffany for anything! You’ll never surpass her place in my heart!” “Now, get out!” She screamed, her voice raw with fury. I turned my head and saw Tiffany’s sickeningly sweet smile. Second Chapter Outside, a torrential rain poured down, and in an instant, I was soaked to the bone. In a daze, I walked for a long time towards Agnes’s house. Carelessly, I was pulled into a car. The ones who kidnapped me were a middle-aged couple, dressed in tattered clothes. They looked at me, their eyes glinting with a hungry, predatory light. When I woke from my stupor, they were chattering to themselves. “Once Anya Thorne is gone, no one can shake our Tiffany’s position.” “That child’s fate was sealed. We had no money to cure her illness, you know.” Suddenly, I felt two pairs of eyes on me. They said with feigned regret, “Child, blame your bad luck. We can’t let you stand in the way of our Tiffany’s future.” Initially, they hadn’t planned on killing me. But then they heard Tiffany had a heart condition and desperately needed a heart transplant. Their greedy eyes locked onto my chest. Lying on the operating table, I wondered if Eleanor would feel any pain if she knew I had died. As I closed my eyes, a blur of images flashed before my eyes. I was Eleanor’s biological daughter, after all. I saw Eleanor’s joyful, expectant expression when she was pregnant with me. Every day, she sang lullabies, talked to me, and imagined our future life together. On the day of my birth, everything changed. It was Tiffany’s biological parents who secretly took me from the hospital and then abandoned Tiffany by Eleanor’s side. If Agnes hadn’t found me in a dumpster, I would have been a lost soul long ago. After so many twists and turns, my fate still ended in Tiffany’s hands. The moment my heart was torn out, my tears became a flood, unending. Slowly, I felt my body lighten, drifting up into the air. My chest was an empty, gaping hole, a gruesome sight. I followed them to the hospital and watched with my own eyes as my heart began to beat again in Tiffany’s chest. It was the vitality of life, the very life I had yearned for. Tiffany seemed to sense something, opening her eyes and flashing a disturbing smile in my direction. I understood her silent message then. This was all her doing. We were nothing but pawns in her game for survival. She lived, I died, and everyone was happy, except Agnes. When Agnes rushed to the hospital, Eleanor was coincidentally feeding Tiffany soup. Agnes couldn’t bear it. She knocked the soup bowl to the floor. The hot liquid splashed everywhere, scalding Tiffany’s tender skin. Tiffany only let out a small hiss, and immediately, Eleanor cooed in comfort. Eleanor turned to Agnes, her face contorted in anger. “What are you doing? Are you insane? Tiffany just had surgery, she’s extremely fragile!” “Whatever it is, it can wait a few days.” Agnes shook her head, seething, and pointed at Eleanor. “Where’s Anya? She hasn’t contacted me since she went there. Where is she?” Eleanor’s temper flared. Hands on her hips, she retorted, “How would I know? She’s an adult! She has legs, how could I stop her from going wherever she wants? If she hadn’t brought this bad luck on herself that day, I wouldn’t have thrown her out.” By the end, Eleanor’s voice softened guiltily, almost a whisper. After all, it was pouring rain when she threw me out. Agnes bit back her own temper and said in a low voice, “You threw Anya out? She never came back! She’s been gone for so many days, and you, as her mother, aren’t worried?” “Even if she’s adopted, if you had given Anya even a fraction of the genuine care you give Tiffany, things wouldn’t have come to this!” Eleanor remained silent, not answering Agnes. After they reached a standstill, Agnes sighed and left. Third Chapter Lying on the operating table, I wondered if Eleanor would feel any pain if she knew I had died. As I closed my eyes, a blur of images flashed before my eyes. I was Eleanor’s biological daughter, after all. I saw Eleanor’s joyful, expectant expression when she was pregnant with me. Every day, she sang lullabies, talked to me, and imagined our future life together. On the day of my birth, everything changed. It was Tiffany’s biological parents who secretly took me from the hospital and then abandoned Tiffany by Eleanor’s side. If Agnes hadn’t found me in a dumpster, I would have been a lost soul long ago. After so many twists and turns, my fate still ended in Tiffany’s hands. The moment my heart was torn out, my tears became a flood, unending. Slowly, I felt my body lighten, drifting up into the air. My chest was an empty, gaping hole, a gruesome sight. I followed them to the hospital and watched with my own eyes as my heart began to beat again in Tiffany’s chest. It was the vitality of life, the very life I had yearned for. Tiffany seemed to sense something, opening her eyes and flashing a disturbing smile in my direction. I understood her silent message then. This was all her doing. We were nothing but pawns in her game for survival. She lived, I died, and everyone was happy, except Agnes. When Agnes rushed to the hospital, Eleanor was coincidentally feeding Tiffany soup. Agnes couldn’t bear it. She knocked the soup bowl to the floor. The hot liquid splashed everywhere, scalding Tiffany’s tender skin. Tiffany only let out a small hiss, and immediately, Eleanor cooed in comfort. Eleanor turned to Agnes, her face contorted in anger. “What are you doing? Are you insane? Tiffany just had surgery, she’s extremely fragile!” “Whatever it is, it can wait a few days.” Agnes shook her head, seething, and pointed at Eleanor. “Where’s Anya? She hasn’t contacted me since she went there. Where is she?” Eleanor’s temper flared. Hands on her hips, she retorted, “How would I know? She’s an adult! She has legs, how could I stop her from going wherever she wants? If she hadn’t brought this bad luck on herself that day, I wouldn’t have thrown her out.” By the end, Eleanor’s voice softened guiltily, almost a whisper. After all, it was pouring rain when she threw me out. Agnes bit back her own temper and said in a low voice, “You threw Anya out? She never came back! She’s been gone for so many days, and you, as her mother, aren’t worried?” “Even if she’s adopted, if you had given Anya even a fraction of the genuine care you give Tiffany, things wouldn’t have come to this!” Eleanor remained silent, not answering Agnes. After they reached a standstill, Agnes sighed and left. I followed Agnes all the way to the police station. No one believed Agnes’s story; to them, she was just having a nightmare. Someone at the police station had a connection with Robert and promised to help Agnes search for me. That night, I followed Agnes back home and again encountered Tiffany’s biological parents, Brenda and Gary Miller. They said, “I know where your granddaughter is. Come with us.” Agnes, who was usually so wary, heard my name and, without a second thought, followed them. They led Agnes into the woods and pointed at a tree not far away. “See? Under this tree is your granddaughter’s head, and these are her legs, these are her hands.” “Don’t worry, she went peacefully. The rest of her usable parts, we sold.” They laughed maniacally, completely disregarding Agnes’s feelings. Agnes had no proper tool in her hands, so she started digging with her bare hands. She dug with immense strength. Blood filled her fingernails as she clawed at the earth, but she gritted her teeth, not making a sound. I cried out, “Grandma, stop digging, please stop!” But Agnes couldn’t hear me. Only after she had pieced me back together completely did all her strength leave her. A mournful wail tore through her chest, a guttural cry of despair. Her eyes were wide, staring blankly, as she completely broke down. The two culprits secretly discussed something, and they actually set their sights on Agnes. “She knows now. We can’t let this old woman ruin our plans!” “If she goes to the police, we’re finished. Tiffany will be affected too.” After much deliberation, they repeated the same method they used to kill me on Agnes. Agnes struggled for only a moment before her last breath left her. She, like me, became a spirit. Now, she could see me. “Anya, it’s all my fault. I should have kept you with me all along.” I reached out to wipe Agnes’s tears, wiping hard, for a long time. “Grandma, it’s not your fault. I was too foolish, I fell into their trap.” Agnes examined me closely, and then her spirit slowly began to fade. I cried, begging Agnes to take me with her, but it was useless. I watched helplessly as Agnes vanished before my eyes, leaving only her mutilated body behind with mine. Daylight broke, someone discovered Agnes, and the police were called. When Eleanor arrived, she nearly fainted. She saw Agnes, dead, and me, shattered… Fourth Chapter But she only saw Agnes, and her legs gave out, collapsing into unconsciousness. She remained in a coma for a long time. During that period, Tiffany, who was able to walk around, never once came to see her.

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Everyone knew I was Grandpa Davies’ personal choice for an arranged marriage, a union that would determine the sole heir to the entire Davies empire. At the engagement party, I was dressed in a custom-tailored suit, ready to announce the Davies-Thorne family alliance. But my fiancée, Serena Davies, had her fingers laced tightly with her adopted brother, Marcus Thorne, pulling him to the center of the crowd, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him. “Marcus and I are deeply in love; he’s the only man I’ll ever marry.” “Julian is far too impulsive. He’s simply not fit for the position of a Davies son-in-law.” My adopted brother had become Serena’s fiancé. Everyone’s eyes, filled with pity or mockery, turned to me. But what she didn’t know was that the only reason Grandpa Davies had chosen *me* to marry her was because my mother was the heir to the Sterling family – a reclusive, incredibly powerful dynasty. Someday, I would return to the Sterling family and inherit its vast fortune. Since Serena had already made her choice, it was time for the Davies heir to change.

Serena gripped Marcus’s hand tightly, pulling him to stand firmly before everyone. Marcus gasped, trying to pull his hand back. “Serena, you can’t do this. Your engagement to my brother was personally arranged by Grandpa Davies.” “You’re the one I love, Marcus. I won’t agree to marry anyone else.” She held Marcus’s hand firmly, her gaze fixed on Grandpa Davies, who sat on a raised platform. “Grandpa, Marcus has always been the one I love. I’ll only ever marry Marcus and make him my husband.” The guests in attendance watched, their eyes filled with pity and mockery. Everyone knew Serena and I had grown up together, practically destined for each other in Grandpa Davies’ eyes. But now, in front of everyone in this elite circle, Serena had just publicly humiliated me. Serena’s tone was absolute, leaving no room for doubt. “Even though Julian and I grew up together, I’ve always seen him as nothing more than a brother. I’ve never had any other feelings for him.” “Marcus and I are deeply in love; we’ve been together for a while now. In my heart, Marcus is the only man who can be my husband. No one else.” Mr. and Mrs. Davies’ faces instantly changed, their eyes nervously flicking towards Grandpa Davies’ expression on the main seat. Serena then linked her arm with Marcus’s and looked my way. Her eyes held a distinct glint of sarcasm. “Julian, you must know I don’t have any romantic feelings for you. Surely you don’t want to force a marriage with a woman who doesn’t love you, wasting your entire life, do you?” “Besides, Marcus and I are already together. You can’t possibly think that just because Grandpa favors you, you can butt in and break us up, can you?” I glanced at the two of them, then bowed deeply to Grandpa Davies. “Grandpa Davies, since they are so deeply in love, how could I possibly stand in the way of such profound love? Let them be together.” “I wish Ms. Davies and my brother eternal happiness and a lifetime of togetherness.” Serena’s face flickered with displeasure when she heard me say that, but Marcus cautiously took her arm. “Serena, your marriage to my brother was arranged by Grandpa. Won’t he be upset about this?” Serena patted Marcus’s hand reassuringly, soothing him softly. “Of course not. Grandpa spoils me rotten; he’d never be truly angry with me over *him*. Besides, you’re the *actual* Thorne heir, aren’t you? This alliance was always about our families, so why should anyone care about some outsider?” An outsider? Only my father and Grandpa Davies knew my true identity. My mother was the heir to the Sterling family. My father and mother’s marriage was initially a strategic alliance, and since I would inherit the Sterling family’s legacy, I took my mother’s surname. Moreover, she actually thought Marcus was my father’s biological son? Grandpa Davies frowned at Serena’s words. “Serena, don’t be ridiculous. Are you absolutely certain you want to marry Mr. Thorne?” Serena firmly slipped the ring onto Marcus’s finger, then had him press a solemn kiss to her forehead. “Grandpa, I’ve thought this through. I’m marrying Marcus, and no one else, in this lifetime.” Grandpa Davies looked at Serena with disappointment. If it were merely a change of fiancé, he wouldn’t have thought much of her. But her deliberate choice to humiliate me in front of so many people today proved that she was utterly unreliable. “Very well. As you wish.”

Once Grandpa Davies spoke, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. This family alliance had invited many prominent business figures to witness it, and everyone was eager to see how it would unfold. Amidst the whispers, Serena, holding Marcus’s hand, faced the guests who had come to celebrate and made her announcement. “Thank you all for coming today to celebrate my engagement to Mr. Marcus Thorne.” The guests’ faces showed varying expressions. No one had expected the Davies and Thorne families to pull such a last-minute switch. My father hadn’t anticipated this either; his face instantly darkened. My own expression wasn’t much better, but I forced myself to stand tall, back straight, and in the midst of the chatter, I raised my glass, offering a generous gift. “Ms. Davies actually swapped fiancés on the spot. She’s not giving Julian any face at all!” “Didn’t Grandpa Davies insist on Julian becoming his grandson-in-law? Why did he agree to the change?” “Switching fiancés on the day of the engagement party… it’s truly humiliating. I wonder what he did to make Ms. Davies take such a drastic step.” The guests’ whispers weren’t quiet. My father glared at Marcus and didn’t hold back with Serena. “What you’ve done will subject your brother to so much gossip!” “And you, Marcus! You’re not a child anymore. Don’t you ever think about the consequences? Are you trying to slap me in the face?” Marcus, chastised by my father, timidly tried to take off the ring to give it back to me. Grandpa Davies waved his hand, stopping Marcus. He gave my head a regretful pat and spoke in a deep voice. “Julian, don’t worry. Grandpa Davies will make this right for you. If you’re willing, the Davies family has several other excellent young women.” Mr. and Mrs. Davies, hearing Grandpa’s words, simply assumed he was comforting me and didn’t pay it much mind. To their shock, I pointed to Samantha Davies, the Davies family’s illegitimate daughter, who was watching the spectacle from the corner. “Actually, I’ve always had feelings for Samantha. I hope Grandpa can approve our union.” Their gazes fell on Samantha, darting back and forth between her and me. Samantha was Mr. Andrew Davies’ illegitimate daughter. After Mr. Andrew Davies passed away, she wasn’t well-regarded in the family and had a difficult life. But since she was still a Davies family child, Grandpa Davies didn’t want anyone to say the family mistreated children. So, he took her in and raised her himself. My father stared at me in shock, then leaned in, quietly trying to dissuade me. “Julian, I know you’re upset, but she’s an illegitimate daughter. The Davies family doesn’t value her.” I casually swirled my glass, raising it to Samantha as a gesture. “It’s not like she *chose* to be an illegitimate daughter. I think she’s quite remarkable, actually. I’m willing to give things a try with her.” Samantha’s eyes met mine, her expression relaxed. “If Mr. Blackwood is interested in me, then let’s give it a try.” Everyone’s gazes toward me became even more meaningful. News of the Davies family’s on-the-spot fiancée swap spread like wildfire through the circle. The moment the banquet ended, I received a text from my mother. In the private room, my mother held me close, her eyes glaring at my father. “David, how dare you let my son suffer such humiliation? I think you’re looking to get fired!” I squeezed my mother’s hand, redirecting the conversation to business. “Grandpa Davies set me up with a new fiancée. Her name is Samantha Davies, and I quite like her.” My father wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed again. “She’s just an illegitimate daughter, an outsider in the Davies family. Why would you choose her?” I looked at my parents’ confused expressions and slowly began to explain. “Grandpa Davies and Grandpa Sterling had an agreement about this alliance; I am definitely marrying a Davies woman.” “Samantha might be an illegitimate daughter, but she’s the most capable among the younger generation of Davies. She’s also the smartest and most composed. From a business perspective, she’s the most suitable partner for this alliance.”

“What’s more, she’s an illegitimate daughter. If I marry her, the Sterling family becomes her foundation for gaining a foothold in the Davies family. She’d never betray me.” Currently, Marcus Thorne was the toast of the town, flattered and courted by everyone. Countless people rushed to meet and connect with him. After all, a strong alliance between the Davies and Thorne families promised to elevate any industry they touched to new heights. I didn’t have time to bother with such matters. I was focused on completing the tasks my mother had given me abroad. One day, it was Grandpa Davies’ birthday. Marcus specifically sent me an invitation and called me several times, so I had no choice but to go. The moment I stepped through the Davies family’s front door, all eyes landed on me. I showed no trace of awkwardness, simply smiling as I handed my gift to the Davies family’s butler. “Why is Julian here? Didn’t the fiancée get swapped?” “You haven’t heard? Ms. Davies insisted on changing fiancés, and in a fit of pique, he chose to marry that illegitimate daughter from the Davies family.” “Even marrying an illegitimate daughter to get into the Davies family… Mr. Blackwood certainly is desperate.” Just as everyone was buzzing with speculation, Serena made a grand entrance, elegantly arm-in-arm with Marcus. Unlike her usual understated and gentle attire, today she wore a high-fashion couture gown, adorned with several sets of intricate and luxurious jewelry, making her appear dazzling but somewhat vulgar. As for Marcus, his suit alone was incredibly expensive, and the watch on his wrist was worth more than a luxury mansion. He spotted me there and came over, trying to sling his arm around my shoulder in a familiar gesture. “Little brother, it’s wonderful that both of us brothers can be Davies sons-in-law! For the sake of brotherhood, I’ll make sure Serena gives your wife a good boost.” I nearly burst out laughing at Marcus. Even now, he still believed I was desperate to marry into the Davies family. Serena clearly thought the same. In her eyes, I’d gone to any lengths to try and marry her. She looked at me as if I were something utterly disgusting. I couldn’t be bothered with either of them and turned to leave, but then I noticed a beautifully crafted jade pendant around Marcus’s neck. This was the Davies family’s ancestral jade pendant, always kept by Grandpa Davies. I never expected it to be on Marcus. The Davies family heir hadn’t even been formally decided yet. How could this jade pendant be with Marcus? I pointed to the jade pendant around Marcus’s neck, my gaze tinged with scrutiny. “Where did you get that pendant?” Serena showed a flicker of guilt, while Marcus stroked the jade pendant on his neck, his face showing a hint of grievance. “Little brother, this was meant for you originally, but now that I’m marrying Serena, this jade pendant naturally belongs to me.” Serena nodded righteously. After all, in her mind, she was already the undisputed heir, so there was no harm in letting her beloved wear the jade pendant a little early. “This is my Davies family’s ancestral jade pendant. I can let whoever I want wear it. What’s it to you?” After saying that, she looked me up and down with a disgusted expression and took a step back. “Don’t you dare think you can use this to cling to me. I will never like you. My heart belongs only to Marcus.” Serena’s voice wasn’t quiet, and several gazes around us landed on me. “Julian usually seems so dignified, but I never imagined he’d try to steal his brother’s fiancée just to get into the Davies family.” “They’re clearly in love. Why is he still clinging on?” Marcus, his face flushed, gently tugged on Serena’s arm. “Don’t be so harsh on my brother. Once he marries Samantha, we’ll still be family. You’ll have to help them out then.” Serena glanced at me, then affectionately tilted her head back and pinched Marcus’s cheek. “Fine, for Marcus’s sake, I won’t hold it against him. But if you have any improper thoughts about me, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” The two of them were still immersed in their sweet exchanges when a voice suddenly rang out from behind them. “Why would my husband have improper thoughts about you, Serena? You’re being incredibly rude to your future brother-in-law.” Samantha Davies entered, supporting Grandpa Davies. A smile played on her lips, and her gaze towards Serena held a hint of challenge. Grandpa Davies glanced at the jade pendant around Marcus’s neck, his expression darkening.

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