Before Jackson’s grandmother passed away, she left one last wish: that Jackson would marry me. So, even when he fell for Chloe, the woman he’d always considered his true love, Jackson still insisted on marrying me. That was, until Chloe deliberately ran over the puppy I’d raised since I was little. Jackson, once again, chose to protect Chloe. This time, I didn’t argue or yell. I simply contacted Professor Davies at a highly classified desert research facility, ready to become a research scientist there. Before I left, I gave myself seven days to tie up loose ends. Day one, I took off the engagement ring that symbolized “forever.” Day three, I handed in my resignation at work. On the day I left, Jackson suddenly remembered the puppy. He actually offered to buy me a new one the next day. Then, he added, “Chloe’s going to the company’s charity gala. Make sure her gown is ready for her.” I smiled and agreed, then vanished from his world forever. Later, every time he heard news about me, Jackson would stare blankly at our engagement ring. It was the love he couldn’t get back, and the puppy he couldn’t give…

I looked at the non-disclosure agreement in my hand and signed my name without hesitation. “Professor, I’m ready to join the rocket development program.” Professor Davies looked at me with a hint of regret. “You know this mission is top-secret. Once you join, you’ll be off-grid for ten years. No one will be able to find you.” “Aren’t you getting married? You should at least discuss it with your fiancé.” Thinking of Jackson’s cold, unyielding face, I gave a bitter laugh and shook my head. “No need.” Professor Davies was silent for a moment, then spoke. “Alright, go prepare yourself. You leave in seven days.” It was raining when I left Professor Davies’s office. I walked home, soaked to the bone. As expected, Jackson still wasn’t back. Chloe had taken my puppy, Lucky, the one I’d raised since childhood, and then he was run over. My arguments with Jackson got nowhere, and he even blamed me. He hadn’t been home in three days since. I took off the ring on my finger and tossed it into a drawer. It was the “forever” ring Jackson had made for me himself, symbolizing our lifelong love, meant to be worn even in the grave. I used to believe, so naively, that we’d grow old together. But everything changed the moment Chloe returned to the country. Jackson stopped remembering my birthday. He stopped caring about my joys or sorrows. I became practically invisible in our own home. I was about to take off my soaking wet clothes when the front door chimed. I opened it, and Chloe stood there, her eyes full of mockery. She kicked something on the ground with disdain. “This stupid animal was disobedient and got hit by a car. It’s dead.” My eyes widened in disbelief as I looked at what lay by Chloe’s feet. Lucky’s tiny body was there, matted with mud and blood. My heart clenched, and tears immediately blurred my vision. Seeing my reaction, Chloe’s mockery intensified. She shrugged dismissively. “It’s just a dog. Do you really have to cry like your mom died?” I couldn’t hold back anymore. I lunged forward and shoved Chloe hard. She shrieked, stumbling backward directly into Jackson’s arms. He’d rushed over, hearing the commotion. Instantly, tears streamed down her face. “Jackson, the dog ran out on its own and got hit. Why are you blaming me?” Before I could say a word, her sobs grew even louder. “I’m so sorry, Vicky… I didn’t mean for this to happen…” I stroked Lucky’s lifeless body, my chest aching so badly I could barely breathe. I couldn’t help but yell at her, “What good is ‘sorry’ now?!” She immediately looked incredibly wronged. “Jackson, I was just trying to be kind, bringing the dog’s body here for her. How could she say such things to me…?” Jackson’s expression grew even more annoyed as he looked at me. “It’s just an animal. It’s dead, so what? What’s the big deal?” “My grandma gave you so much money! You could buy tons of new dogs with that!” With Jackson defending her, Chloe cried even harder, soaking a large patch of his shirt. Perhaps feeling it wasn’t enough, he continued, “Victoria, when did you become so petty and unreasonable? What happened to you?” An animal? I looked at him, my heart aching to the point where I could barely breathe. He knew how important Lucky was to me. It was the only gift my mom left me before she died. He used to sit by my mom’s bedside, promising repeatedly that he’d take care of both me and Lucky. But now, for Chloe, he called my dog an “animal.” It was clear Jackson’s heart had completely turned. I was tired, too tired to argue anymore. Thinking of my decision to leave soon, a sense of calm washed over me. Jackson patted Chloe’s back, glaring fiercely at me. “Are you happy now?!” Then, he gently patted Chloe’s head, his voice filled with affection. “It’s raining outside. Want me to take you home?” Chloe sniffled, tucked into his arm. From an angle he couldn’t see, she smirked at me, a taunting curl of her lips. Watching him hurry away with her, a bitter laugh escaped me. Turns out, the Jackson who’d fallen for me at first sight and pursued me so passionately didn’t actually love me. I was just a distraction for his lonely moments. Chloe was his true love, the one who truly held his heart. Now that his real love was back, of course, I, the stand-in, should just step aside. But none of it mattered anymore. I put the ring and the unsigned pre-nuptial agreement into the drawer. Jackson would never guess that the agreement his grandmother had forced him to sign, giving me half of his assets, was never notarized. I hadn’t even signed it. Chapter

After I had Lucky cremated, I buried him next to my mom’s tombstone. Early on the third day, Professor Davies sent me the exact departure time. I replied with an ‘okay’ and then walked into the HR office. I officially submitted my resignation. They must have always had it out for me, because the entire process was incredibly smooth. As soon as I closed the HR office door, I heard them gathered inside, gossiping. “Just like that, she quit. Must be nice to be the CEO’s wife. I heard Mr. Jackson’s grandma left her half his fortune before she died!” “CEO’s wife? They’re not even close to being married. I bet she quit because Mr. Jackson gave her project to Miss Chloe.” “But wasn’t that *her* project? It’s almost finished! Giving it to Miss Chloe now is just letting her take all the credit!” “So what? Miss Chloe is Mr. Jackson’s sweetheart!” It wasn’t surprising they thought that. As soon as Chloe returned, Jackson gave her a General Manager position. Even though Chloe knew nothing, Jackson would personally hand her projects. He even made me work overtime to revise Chloe’s proposals and attend dinners with Chloe’s clients, drinking until I ended up hospitalized with a bleeding stomach. Yet, he would only say it was something I owed Chloe. Listening to the mocking whispers that occasionally drifted out, my heart was utterly calm. Nothing stirred within me. I just hoped the remaining days would pass quickly. All the paperwork was done. It was time to go home and pack my things. I carried my belongings back to the house, only to see Jackson and Chloe laughing and chatting over breakfast in the dining room. Watching them feed each other bites, my hands trembled uncontrollably. Once, I accidentally used Jackson’s water glass. That very day, he hired a dozen housekeepers to disinfect the entire house, and warned me not to have any physical contact with him. It turned out Jackson wasn’t a germaphobe. He just didn’t want to be intimate with me. Seeing me return, Chloe deliberately tugged on Jackson’s finger, feigning innocence. “Jackson, you gave Vicky’s position to me. Will she be upset?” Jackson scoffed. “I’m the CEO of this company. Does she really need to approve my decisions?” “But Vicky hasn’t been home for days now.” “She’s waiting for me to go coax her. Just ignore her.” Hearing that, Chloe’s eyes gleamed with triumphant satisfaction. She leaned into Jackson’s embrace, pouting as she wrapped her arms around his neck. I said nothing, turning to walk upstairs. Jackson finally noticed me. A flicker of guilt crossed his face, then he angrily threw his knife and fork onto his plate, barking orders at me. “Stop right there!” I kept walking. He rushed over in a few strides and grabbed my arm. “Victoria, what’s your problem? Do you even remember you have a home?” He reached for the box in my arms, but I sidestepped him. “No need. You’re busy!” Jackson’s impatience flared. He was about to speak when Chloe called out to him. “Jackson, I want another fried egg. Can you make it for me?” “Of course.” Jackson immediately turned and walked toward the kitchen. I started to move, wanting to go back to my room, but Chloe blocked my way. “What do you want?” Chloe glanced towards the kitchen. The sweetness vanished from her face, replaced by pure jealousy and malice. “Victoria! You heard it all, didn’t you? Jackson only cares about me. If his old hag of a grandma hadn’t forced him, he never would have married you.” “I heard his grandma left you half his fortune? Don’t be shameless and think that money is yours!” “I advise you to be smart about this. Hand over the property agreement. After all, one word from me, and he’ll kick you to the curb.” She paused, looking at me, then pretended to cover her mouth and laughed. “Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot. Your family’s all dead. You’re like an unwanted stray dog now.” “No wonder you’re sticking to Jackson like glue.” Her tone was contemptuous, her eyes and lips full of amusement. No matter how she insulted me, I wouldn’t care. But she shouldn’t have mocked my family. My blood ran cold instantly. I couldn’t help but snap at her, “Chloe! Say one more word, and I’ll rip your mouth off!” “Victoria! What are you doing?!” Jackson overheard me. He must have feared I’d hurt Chloe, because he immediately barked at me to stop. I froze. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chloe raise an eyebrow, then exert pressure on my hand. The next second, I was falling backward. My vision spun, and before I knew it, I was tumbling down the stairs, every inch of my body screaming in pain. “Victoria!” Jackson dropped what he was holding and ran over in two steps, trying to help me up. Chloe leaned into Jackson, her eyes glistening with tears. “Jackson, I didn’t mean to… “It’s all my fault, Vicky. I’m so clumsy. I’ve caused trouble again. What should I do…?” Her panic was perfectly timed. Jackson couldn’t bring himself to blame her. He frowned, looking at me. “Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital? Chloe didn’t do it on purpose, don’t blame her.” I shook my head, turning my face away bitterly. I saw my scattered belongings. My resignation letter and the classified documents were clearly visible on top. Chapter

Afraid he’d discover them, I ignored the pain in my body and frantically tried to gather my things. “Let me help.” Jackson knelt down, frowning as he picked up the resignation letter. I stared at the classified documents underneath, holding my breath, terrified he’d notice. Luckily, Jackson’s attention was entirely on the resignation letter. I quickly buried the documents among my other belongings. “You quit?” Jackson’s tone was surprised. “Yeah.” I crammed everything into the box. He looked displeased. “Why didn’t you say anything sooner? I asked you to hand over the project before, and you kept refusing. What changed your mind now?” Perhaps my face looked too bad, because he hesitated, then softened his tone for a rare moment. “It’s fine if you quit. It saves me the trouble anyway. Grandma gave you so much money, you should be content.” “You can just relax and be my wife from now on. Stop competing with Chloe. “She’s kind-hearted, she doesn’t understand your manipulative games.” I bit my lip, forcing back tears, my heart feeling as if countless needles were pricking it. I struggled to get up, wincing from the pain. He reached out to steady me. “Victoria, can you explain the project to Chloe, so those investors don’t give her a hard time?” “She’s not as good at charming people as you are, to the point of getting half the assets.” Not wanting to waste any more time dealing with them, I nodded at Jackson. “Okay.” Jackson seemed very pleased with my obedience. He even offered a rare smile. “That’s better. I haven’t had time to be with you lately, and you’ve been wronged. Once Chloe fully takes over your work, I’ll make it up to you.” “After Grandma’s mourning period is over, we’ll get married. That way, she can rest easy.” I bit my lip so hard it hurt, my heart throbbing with a dull ache. That day would never come. Over the next few days, I quietly packed my bags, wrote out the project proposal for Chloe, and found time to visit Jackson’s grandmother’s grave. I told her my decision. She had loved me dearly when she was alive, and I knew she wouldn’t want to see me suffer Jackson’s abuse like this. On the last day, Jackson didn’t go to work. I felt a little anxious, trying to come up with a reason to leave smoothly. Unexpectedly, Jackson pulled out the old telescope that hadn’t been used in ages. “Chloe wants to go stargazing, so I’m taking her camping today.” “Okay.” I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This was perfect. If I left early, I could avoid running into him. He then added, “There’s also a charity gala tonight. Get Chloe’s gown ready for her.” I thought about it. By that time, I would already be on my way to the desert research facility. Chloe walked over, linked her arm through Jackson’s, and whined with feigned vulnerability. “How could Vicky prepare my gown? Last time, the project proposal she gave me was all wrong, and it caused me so much trouble with the investors.” “Jackson, I can wear anything. I don’t want…” She even shed two theatrical tears. Jackson’s brows furrowed, and he glared at me. “Victoria, if you don’t want to do something, you can just say so! How can you do something like this?! You’ve truly disappointed me!” I was about to leave anyway, and I didn’t want any more conflict with them. I calmly apologized to Chloe. “I’m sorry. My mistake. It won’t happen again.” Then I looked at Jackson. “Don’t worry, I’ll prepare the gown properly.” A flicker of shame crossed Jackson’s face. He hesitated for a long moment before slowly speaking. “Victoria, tomorrow, I’ll take you to buy a new puppy, I promise it’ll be just like the old one.” Before Professor Davies’s car came to pick me up, I ironed Chloe’s gown and delivered it to her. Then, I placed the ring, the one symbolizing “forever,” and the pre-nuptial agreement on the table. I walked downstairs with my luggage. Professor Davies looked at my blank expression and sighed, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. “Since you’ve decided to go, work hard there and strive for results as soon as possible!” “I will!” I got into the car, watching Jackson’s mansion grow smaller and smaller, gradually disappearing from view. In the early hours of the morning, Jackson returned home with a slightly tipsy Chloe. The house was quiet, the lights off. Jackson subconsciously felt annoyed. After all, no matter how late it was, I used to always wait for him on the sofa. “Victoria! Come out and make some hangover soup!” But the empty house offered no reply, only silence. Jackson impatiently switched on the lights, only to suddenly see the documents and the ring on the table. He roared, “Victoria! Who gave you permission to take off the ring?!” Chapter But the empty house offered no reply, only silence. Jackson stood in the center of the living room, unaware that his own heart was trembling.

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My so-called best friend got pregnant out of wedlock, and I, being the kind-hearted fool, let her stay in my spare apartment. Only to find out the baby in her belly belonged to my mama’s boy husband. My mother-in-law, who was obsessed with male heirs, told me I was useless, worse than a stray dog. The day after I desperately refused to divorce, the deep freeze apocalypse hit. They threw me out, watching with cold eyes as I froze to death, turning into an ice sculpture. But fate gave me a second chance, along with one wish. “I just wish my best friend gets pregnant with six babies.” The moment I heard my best friend, Seraphina, had her prenatal check-up and discovered she was carrying six babies, I knew. I knew I had been reborn, and Seraphina’s wish for a blessed pregnancy had also come true. “Chloe, thank you so much for letting me stay in your apartment for free, and for coming with me to my appointments.” Seraphina hadn’t revealed her true colors yet, looking genuinely grateful as she gazed at me. I forced back the rising nausea and hatred, managing a seemingly natural smile. “We’re sisters, your problems are my problems.” Back home, my mother-in-law, Eleanor, and my husband, Brandon, were beyond thrilled to hear about Seraphina’s six-baby pregnancy. Eleanor clapped her hands, cackling with glee: “Seraphina is truly amazing! More children are wonderful, aren’t they? Carrying on the family name, ensuring a booming household!” Then, she shot me a venomous glare. “Unlike some people, who’ve been married for two years with no sign of a baby. Just freeloading off us for so long, you’re not even as useful as a dog. At least a dog can get pregnant and have puppies!” Brandon, my pathetic mama’s boy husband, scoffed, “Why are you just standing there like an idiot? Mom gets annoyed just looking at you. If you can’t have kids, can’t you at least cook?!” I bit back my anger, adopting the pleading tone I’d used in my past life. “I was thinking… what if Seraphina stayed in the empty apartment next door? What do you think, Mom?” Eleanor’s expression softened, feigning reluctance. “Fine, I guess. There’s an old superstition back in our hometown that if you take care of a pregnant woman, some of her fertility luck might rub off on you. From now on, you can go take care of Seraphina and catch some of her good fortune!”

In my previous life, my pregnant-out-of-wedlock best friend had cried to me, claiming her baby daddy abandoned her and she was suicidal. I pitied her, decided to help her out, and let her live next door to lend a hand. I was confused by my mother-in-law and mama’s boy husband’s unusual excitement but didn’t think deeply about it. Not until I saw Brandon, Seraphina, and my mother-in-law had formed a three-person group chat. The group name? “Our Loving Family.” That’s when I finally understood. The father of the child in my best friend’s belly was Brandon. They had been seeing each other behind my back for half a year. I confronted the three of them. My mother-in-law, obsessed with male heirs, yanked my hair and started screaming obscenities: “You useless hen! How dare you ask when you can’t even have a child! Do you want the [Family Name] legacy to die out because of you, you pathetic excuse for a wife?!” I tried to get Brandon to help, but he just sided with his mom, pinning me to the floor. “My mom said I need a woman to bear my children. If you can’t, I’ll find your best friend to do it. It’s all the same. Show my mom some respect; it wasn’t easy for her to raise me.” My back was injured, leaving me unable to move in bed. I planned to call the police, but due to extreme blizzard conditions, they never arrived. The next day, the deep freeze apocalypse began. The entire apartment complex started emergency heating early. The roads outside were already covered in heavy snow, and the news announced that the extreme weather would last for a long time. Residents were warned to stay indoors and conserve food and water. Eleanor and Brandon conspired together. “Son, one more person means one more mouth to feed. We can’t let my grandchild go without. Chloe is useless, let’s just kick her out and let her fend for herself.” “Mom, I’ll do whatever you say!” It was below negative thirty degrees Fahrenheit outside; going out meant certain death. No matter how much I begged Brandon, he just repeated: “My mom said you’re just one more mouth to feed!” Within ten minutes, I was hypothermic, frozen solid into an ice statue. But God had eyes. I was reborn. And I was given a wish. My wish was for my best friend, Seraphina, to be blessed with a continuous stream of pregnancies, six at a time. Just wait. My revenge had only just begun.

I immediately had Seraphina move into Brandon’s house instead of the apartment next door. My mother-in-law, as expected, was overjoyed. She warmly held Seraphina’s hand. “Oh, just look at that big backside of yours, definitely the type to bear sons! If all six babies are boys, I’ll be over the moon every single day!” I didn’t show any suspicion, pretending to be completely clueless. Whatever Seraphina craved, I cooked, acting like a complete idiot, even eagerly offering to be the children’s godmother. No matter how much Seraphina and Brandon flirted and put on a show in private, Every night after they fell asleep, I’d get up to scout for a shelter. Counting down the days, the deep freeze apocalypse was only two weeks away. I looked at the one million dollars my father had left me as a dowry and decided to use it to build a comfortable, warm shelter. First, I chose my old family’s abandoned air-raid shelter as my survival spot. It was currently derelict, but in its prime, it had saved the lives of the entire village. This air-raid shelter had been built by a renowned architect who had returned from abroad. I just needed to spend money to renovate it into a secure bunker. I contacted my cousin, Liam, who was still in the village, and asked him to help me with it. Liam was puzzled: “You’re living so well in the city, why suddenly think of that old air-raid shelter in the village? That place is a real dump now.” Seeing I wasn’t willing to reveal too much, Liam didn’t press further, just adding with concern, “If things aren’t going well in the city, coming back to the village is fine too. If you’re ever feeling wronged, remember to tell your big brother.” My eyes welled up a bit. In my past life, my mother-in-law often looked down on me for having relatives in the countryside. She’d mock me, saying I was a country bumpkin trying to act like royalty. But my family background wasn’t bad at all. My father was the first person in our village to get into a top university, and after graduating, he landed a respectable job before meeting my mother. Sadly, a car accident took them both. As I grew up, I made a terrible mistake, failing to see Brandon’s true nature as a mama’s boy. After we married, my mother-in-law constantly checked my phone, terrified I’d use her family’s money to help my own. What she didn’t know was that our village had become quite prosperous long ago. Our living conditions were perfectly fine. “Still sneaking around on the phone? Is it another one of your poor relatives trying to leech off us?!” Eleanor stood behind me, her face dark. Brandon grumbled, “My mom said we’re not allowed to use our money to subsidize poor relatives. Do you even care about my mom anymore?!” I lowered myself, offering a placating smile and apology. “No, no, I was just asking another family’s nanny for advice on how to make special pregnancy soup for Seraphina.” They seemed half-convinced, and I managed to smooth things over. Inside, I sneered. The [Family Name] family did have some cash, but it was all from rental properties. That’s why Seraphina hooked up with Brandon. Willingly bearing his children. But soon, their pathetic pile of money wouldn’t mean anything. In the deep freeze apocalypse, only food and water would be truly valuable. Money would just be a pile of worthless paper. I wouldn’t forget the hatred from my past life. I would meticulously set my plans, making sure those three got what they deserved. Soon, I’d be living comfortably in my renovated bunker, eating well and enjoying life. And they? They could just tear each other apart!

Liam was incredibly dedicated to my cause. In just ten days, he completed the bunker renovation. Next up was stocking the bunker with equipment. In the deep freeze apocalypse, most areas would experience power outages. I bought three generators: a diesel generator – portable, providing stable power, but requiring regular maintenance and fuel; a solar generator – converting sunlight into electricity, no harmful emissions, no diesel consumption, but with obvious drawbacks like being weather-dependent and unusable at night. And a pedal-powered generator – its advantage was needing only human power, but it generated minimal electricity. So, the diesel generator was the most crucial. I purchased a massive amount of diesel, enough for three months. The bunker was the best place to store it. With the power issue resolved, the remaining concerns were food and water. I started by buying essential appliances like a stir-fry pan and an electric rice cooker, trying to minimize electricity-consuming products to avoid excessive power usage. I stocked a hundred pounds of grains, flour, and cooking oil, and hundreds of boxes of instant ramen in various flavors. As for water, I decided to buy a water purifier. In the deep freeze apocalypse, the outside would be a vast frozen wasteland, so water itself wouldn’t be scarce. Firstly, pure water bottles took up too much space. Secondly, the saved space could be used for a hydroponic vegetable growing area. Self-sufficiency, no need for refrigerator space, no wasted electricity. I bought seeds for cabbage, spinach, coriander, tomatoes, and bok choy. For meat, I could only buy large quantities of military-grade MREs, enough to last me three months. Other items included my favorite snacks and daily necessities. The food problem for the deep freeze apocalypse was solved; next, clothing. I purchased down jackets and snow boots costing over ten thousand dollars, advertised as being suitable for the South Pole. Then, medicine. Especially vitamin tablets. In an apocalypse, if people don’t eat fruit for extended periods, they’ll lack vitamins and develop scurvy. If left untreated, it could lead to fever, swelling, paralysis, and death. Living alone in the bunker, I absolutely couldn’t afford to get sick. After all this, the weather grew increasingly cold. My mother-in-law often nagged me. “Running out all day, who’s going to take care of your best friend with her big belly? Are you expecting me, an old woman, to do it?!” I bit my tongue, quietly cooking for the three of them. Seraphina sat on the couch watching TV, acting more like the lady of the house than I did. “I want some fruit. Can you make me a pretty fruit platter? I’ll only feel better if it looks nice.” My gaze turned cold. “The apples on the table are already washed. You can eat them directly.” Seraphina glanced at Brandon, seeming eager to reveal their secret. Last night, I’d secretly checked Brandon’s phone and saw the advice he’d given her. *“My mom said not to tell her about us yet. Just treat her like a free maid. If she ever refuses to work, just use emotional blackmail.”* Seraphina immediately looked tearful and wronged. “Chloe, you’re the one who asked me to live here. Are you regretting it now? It’s normal for a pregnant woman to crave things.” At this, my mother-in-law also stepped forward. “Exactly! You were the one who said you wanted Seraphina to move in. My son and I, the homeowners, have no complaints, so why are you suddenly getting emotional?” Hah, I had said she could live next door. Moving her in here was *your* idea. If I had known the baby in Seraphina’s belly was Brandon’s, I wouldn’t have cared if she lived or died. I smiled. “Alright, please wait. I’ll go make the fruit platter now.” The temperature dropped lower and lower. Everyone thought this year’s cold snap came earlier than usual. Before a disaster, there’s always an eerie calm. Humans don’t feel it.

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My best friend showed up begging me, saying her ex-boyfriend was harassing her and her parents were pressuring her insanely to get married. She wanted to fake-marry my husband. I never thought Ryan, my husband, would actually agree! And he even let her move into our home. Listening to the unsettling noises coming from Ryan and Ashley in the living room every night, I completely shattered… My husband, Ryan, and I had been married for three years. He was thriving in his career, and I was stunning at home. Our relationship was full of love and harmony. But three days ago, something happened that turned my world upside down. My best friend, Ashley, forced a check for one hundred thousand dollars into my hand, saying she needed to “borrow” Ryan to marry him. Her excuse? She was being harassed by her ex-boyfriend and was under relentless pressure from her parents to tie the knot. She desperately needed a man to protect her for a while and give her parents some peace. She promised that once this period was over, she’d step aside, and I’d have Ryan back. This was utterly outrageous! Even if she was my best friend, there was no way I’d agree. One hundred thousand dollars? I had countless amounts of that. But just as I was about to transfer the money back to Ashley, Ryan came home. He sighed at me, “Honey.” “Why the long face? Rough day at work?” “No.” He opened his Snapchat stories. “Honey. Look how pathetic Ashley is. A girl harassed by a guy all day long, she’s going to crack.” I saw photos of Ashley covered in bruises, and my heart ached a little. It made me hesitate, wondering if I should actually help her. For the next few days, Ashley kept calling me, sending me desperate voice messages, crying as if her life depended on it. “Please, Chloe, you’re my only friend, my best friend. You have to help me! My parents said if I don’t get married soon, they’ll jump off a building!” “Once this is over, I’ll file for divorce with your husband, and he’ll be yours again, always.” Against my better judgment, I agreed. The moment I saw the divorce papers with Ryan’s name and mine, and then his marriage certificate with Ashley, my mind still raced like a frantic drum. It all felt like a bizarre dream. The day they got their marriage license, Ryan came home and presented me with a bouquet of roses. “My dearest, most beautiful goddess, you’ve been working so hard lately.” Looking at my loving and tender husband, a strange calm washed over me. All those awful thoughts just seemed to vanish into thin air. Being born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I was actually pretty easy to win over. That night, Ryan and I got intimate, just like old times. Midway, Ryan held my wrists with both his hands, leaning close to my ear, whispering. “Honey, I heard Ashley is still being harassed. Should we invite her to stay with us for a while?” My brow furrowed slightly. Why was he bringing up Ashley now, of all times? “Would she even want to? It’s just a fake marriage, let’s not make things awkward for her. It’s not right.” “Let’s just try.” I didn’t think Ashley would actually come to my house, so I made a casual, half-hearted invitation. “Really?! Thank you, Chloe! I’m so incredibly happy! I’ll be over tomorrow!” Me: “…” I felt a pang of discomfort. On Ashley’s very first night, Ryan took us out for a nice dinner at a trendy restaurant, claiming it was to celebrate Ashley staying with us. I felt a stab of jealousy. Was my husband being *too* good to Ashley? That night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Ryan held me close and whispered, “Don’t worry, it’s just a fake marriage with her. We talked about this, remember? After a while, we’ll divorce, and then I’ll remarry you. It’s not real with her.” I tried to tell myself I was overthinking, but my mind just wouldn’t cooperate. Then I noticed Ashley was incredibly diligent around the house. She loved talking to Ryan, always being overly attentive to him. It was like she was the lady of the house. And every time Ryan came home, Ashley would find a way to wear something alluring. One day, I just couldn’t take it anymore and confronted Ashley. “Ashley, Ryan is my husband. Could you please dress more appropriately?” Ashley looked at me with pleading eyes and apologized, “I know I was wrong. I promise I won’t dress like that again.” Seeing her humble apology, I didn’t want to ruin our rare friendship. After that, Ashley started dressing normally, but her other behaviors were anything but. For instance, while Ryan and I were being intimate, Ashley would suddenly shriek and knock on the door, interrupting our mood. I’d ask her what was wrong. She’d sniffle and say, “I had a nightmare.”

Then she’d look at Ryan with pitiful, sweet eyes and a delicate voice, “Ryan, I’m so scared. Can you stay with me?” I felt a surge of irritation, but Ryan immediately calmed me. “It’s fine, don’t worry.” His gaze was steady, and my frustrated heart gradually settled. I could only force myself to say, “Then go ahead and stay with her.” So, Ryan led Ashley to our guest room. Soon after, strange noises started coming from the guest room. I faintly heard Ashley saying, “I’m so scared, Ryan.” And Ryan would reply, “It’s okay, don’t be afraid. You’re safe here with me.” I immediately pulled the duvet over my head, afraid of what I might imagine if I listened too long. Yet, I still believed in Ryan’s character. The next day, after much thought, I handed the one hundred thousand dollars back to Ashley. “Please leave my house, Ashley. And divorce my husband, okay?” Ashley’s tears spilled out in three seconds. She grabbed my arm, gently nudging me like a timid kitten. “Chloe, I swore before! I’d divorce him as soon as this period is over and I’ve given my parents the news about my marriage. You might not trust me, but don’t you trust Ryan? If you do this, won’t he feel like you don’t believe in him?” A knot formed in my stomach. I *did* trust Ryan. But trusting someone doesn’t mean you can stop overthinking things. I was still anxious. But then Ashley told me she needed to take Ryan back to her hometown to introduce him to her parents. She promised they’d get a divorce as soon as they returned. I was overjoyed. As long as she filed for divorce with Ryan, that’s all that mattered. As I helped Ryan straighten his tie, I couldn’t help but remind him, “Try to act natural in front of Ashley’s parents, okay?” “Don’t worry, my sweet wife.” “Such a charmer,” I chuckled. I dressed Ryan impeccably and personally sent them off at the airport. After Ryan left, I missed him terribly, so I kept sending him messages. He always replied with a flower emoji, a smiley face, and a string of photos. But a few times, it felt off. I noticed he was posting a lot of Ashley’s pictures on his social media. Some friends even teased him, asking if he’d found *another* girlfriend… Soon enough, they returned. As soon as they were home, I asked Ashley, “Can you two get divorced now?” Ashley suddenly covered her face, sobbing uncontrollably. “No, Chloe, I can’t yet.” I snapped instantly. “Why not?” “Because… I’m pregnant.” “What?” Had I heard that right? Ryan walked over and put his arm around my shoulder. “The baby she’s carrying is her ex-boyfriend’s. She’s pregnant now, she can’t divorce me.” I couldn’t even describe how I felt. On one hand, I was relieved the baby wasn’t Ryan’s. On the other, I was disgusted that she was still clinging to my husband, and Ryan wasn’t even bothered by it. From then on, I kept my distance from Ashley, finding her constant presence in my house headache-inducing. One time, Ashley took my hand and said, “Chloe, I know you’re hurting, but I swear, once the baby is born, I’ll definitely divorce Ryan. I had no choice; I needed a man to protect me. Ryan has always loved you. He just sees me as a friend.”

She always spoke to me so sweetly and demurely, making me feel like the bad guy. Watching her tears stream down, I eventually couldn’t bring myself to kick her out. I decided to let bygones be bygones. I even cooked for her myself, preparing nutritious meals. During this time, she did indeed maintain a distance from Ryan that made me feel more at ease. That’s why I worked even harder to take care of her. Ashley gained weight during her pregnancy and was incredibly healthy. Ten months later, Ashley went into labor. That day, Ryan suddenly took time off work and came with me to the hospital. “Didn’t you say you had a multi-million-dollar project going on? Why are you here at the hospital?” I didn’t understand Ryan’s behavior. Ryan didn’t even look at me. His gaze was fixed anxiously on the delivery room door. He gave a dismissive answer, “It’s fine, it won’t affect anything.” In that moment, Ryan felt like a complete stranger to me. Just as my suspicions flared, Ashley’s healthy eight-pound son was born. When the doctor opened the delivery room door and asked who Ashley’s husband was, Ryan shot forward like a rocket. “That’s me, that’s me! I’m her husband!” “Congratulations, this is your son.” The doctor placed the baby in Ryan’s arms for him to hold first. Me: “…” Who could possibly describe how I felt then? It felt like I’d been punched in the gut. Soon after, Ashley was wheeled out by the nurse. Even though she’d just given birth, she was young and recovering remarkably well. Ashley was quickly settled into a private room. Looking at the delicate, adorable baby, I genuinely congratulated Ashley, “Congratulations, this baby looks so much like you!” Ashley gazed at the child, her eyes warm, her voice filled with maternal affection. “He not only looks like me, but he looks even more like his father.” As she spoke, she glanced sideways at Ryan. She was implying the baby looked like Ryan? And Ryan didn’t even protest! Instead, he looked even more excited than Ashley as he gazed at the baby. I felt a surge of anger. The atmosphere felt suffocating, so I stepped out for some air. But as soon as I walked out, I realized I hadn’t grabbed my bag. When I turned back to get it. I heard Ryan and Ashley talking from inside the room. “My love, this is *our* son. Your wife couldn’t give you one, but I could. Aren’t you happy?” “Ashley, you worked so hard. Our son is truly adorable.” “He is, isn’t he? So cute! We have a son!” “…” Their conversation cut into me like razor blades. One was my best friend, the other my husband. I remembered Ashley giving me one hundred thousand dollars to “borrow” my husband, and I actually let her. But now, this insane drama felt like it was splattered all over my face. I wanted to storm in, scream, and tear them both apart. But I held back. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Honestly, I should have seen it coming—there’s no such thing as a “proper” fake relationship like that. But I had believed in Ryan’s integrity. Yet reality always delivers such a brutal slap to the face. Ryan was tainted. Ashley was a traitor. I regulated my emotions, pretending nothing was wrong as I walked in, grabbed my bag, and left. That night, I went out and drank myself into oblivion. I drank and threw up, then drank and threw up again. No one knew how miserable I was at that moment, it felt like I was being torn apart and chopped into mincemeat. Ryan, the man I loved most, who constantly told me to trust his character. And now, they had a baby together. His “integrity” was a joke. He was trash. That very night, I betrayed Ryan. I hooked up with a younger guy. Then, I waited, pretending nothing happened, for Ashley and their new little family to come home. I watched Ryan personally prepare special recovery meals for Ashley. “Ashley, the baby’s here now. Can you divorce my husband?” Hearing my words, Ashley held her son, looking wronged and pitiful. “But the baby is still so young; he can’t be without a father…” “Ryan isn’t your baby’s father. You two are only fake-married,” I said, acting as if I knew nothing. Ashley started crying, holding her baby, looking fragile and helpless. Hearing the commotion, Ryan burst in, his voice sharp with anger. “Chloe, what is the meaning of this? Ashley is still recovering postpartum. Do you know how bad it is for her to cry right now? What if she gets postpartum complications later?” I sneered. “You’re *my* husband, yet you threw away a multi-million-dollar project just to wait on *her* during her recovery. What about me? What am I to you? Did you even consider my feelings, Ryan? If you two don’t divorce, I’m leaving you.” Seeing me threaten to leave, he immediately panicked.

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I was in the late stages of a terminal illness, with only days left to live. The doctors told me to notify my family and make arrangements for my funeral. But my brother, Liam, had believed Seraphina’s lies, convinced I had bullied her for three years in high school. He’d blocked me ages ago. While I was fighting for my life in the emergency room, Seraphina merely had a low-grade flu fever. Yet, Liam waited outside her film set all night, his face, usually so indifferent, etched with frantic worry. “Please, go see a doctor, okay? Even a small cold can be serious if you push yourself.” His fans on Ins gushed about his overwhelming devotion. As I was fading, barely clinging to life, I called the cemetery salesperson. “Everything’s arranged, right? No funeral, just cremate me directly.” “And the music sheets Liam wrote for me… burn them too.” I died on my twentieth birthday. Liam never knew. He never knew it was Seraphina who had bullied me for three years, and that she’d even swapped my terminal diagnosis records.

Dr. Miller sighed softly as he covered me with a white sheet. The piercing beeps of the monitor reminded me that, yes, I was indeed dead. A flash of white light, and I found myself outside Seraphina’s film set. Liam held her close, his heart aching, as she snuggled into his chest, a cooling patch on her forehead. She murmured playfully, “It’s just a little cold, you didn’t have to cancel work to be with me.” “No matter where you are, I’ll wait patiently for you. I’ll take good care of myself.” She nestled completely into his arms, her smile saccharine sweet. Liam repeatedly checked her temperature, finally relaxing when he saw she was truly fine. Seraphina took his hand, her voice tinged with feigned regret. “I prepared a special surprise for you, but I didn’t expect you to arrive even earlier than the gift.” Liam ruffled her hair, his voice dripping with affection. “Forget the surprise, I just want you healthy and happy, always by my side.” Seraphina’s fans excitedly captured their sweet interaction on their phones. They raved about Liam’s profound love. They felt so bad for Seraphina, who was sick but still had to work through the night. A bolder fan spoke up first, “Mr. Hayes, did you really give up a nine-figure deal for Seraphina? Just to be with her while she’s sick?” Liam held Seraphina close, his voice calm. “I was following up on a spiritual premonition from a renowned mystic. Heeding his warning brought me back. Seraphina will always be my top priority.” Seraphina blushed, saying, “He worries too much about me. The mystic told him he might suffer a painful loss, and he insisted on seeing me immediately.” “I won’t let Liam or my fans down. I’ll take better care of myself and work harder from now on. The flu is going around, everyone, please take care of yourselves too!” With that, she smiled and waved at each fan. Liam stated earnestly, “Even if the mystic hadn’t warned me, I would have rushed back the moment I heard Seraphina had a cold.” The fans burst into a chorus of admiration. “Seraphina is beautiful and hardworking, she’s definitely going to be huge!” “Mr. Hayes is handsome and powerful, and so selfless! Seriously envious!” “When are you two getting engaged? We’re all waiting for your good news!” Fans aimed their phones at the couple, snapping photos. “Mr. Hayes, giving up such a huge project, do you really not regret it?” Liam usually hated being posted online, but this time he stood calmly beside Seraphina. “I never regret my choices. Besides, my motivation for working is to give Seraphina a better life.” Someone in the crowd muttered with a frown, “Liam Hayes? I thought he had a sister, too. I saw her at the hospital today. Maybe I was mistaken.” His whisper was swallowed by the crowd’s noise. Just like me, I was always the overlooked one. Chapter Two Perhaps it was the bond of blood, but my soul was trapped beside my brother. After Liam carefully helped Seraphina into the car, his assistant, Sarah, hesitated. “Are you still planning to celebrate Mia’s birthday today, sir?” Liam’s movements froze, then his brows subtly furrowed. Today was my twentieth birthday. He’d rushed back to the city, but it was for Seraphina. He casually scrolled through my social media. I always posted my birthday wishes right at midnight, but this year, there was nothing. A flicker of irritation crossed his eyes. Seraphina peered over curiously. “You rushed back from abroad, working non-stop, and she didn’t even send a single message asking if you’re okay? What a terrible sister.” Liam irritably clicked off his phone. “She’s just used to being spoiled and throwing fits. Who knows what she’s mad about this year. I’m not celebrating her birthday anymore. First, we’re going to the hospital to get you checked out.” With that, he thoughtfully adjusted the AC higher and gently covered Seraphina with a blanket. Seraphina lowered her voice, feigning hurt. “Liam, she must be upset because she saw the news about you coming to be with me.” “After all, it’s her birthday today. I should apologize to her… I don’t want you two to be unhappy because of me.” Liam’s fist clenched and then relaxed. After a long moment, he gave a repressed “Hmm.” A flash of resentment crossed Seraphina’s face, but she quickly composed herself, forcing a smile as she pulled out her phone. After seeing a text from her assistant, a cruel glint flashed in her eyes. She then called my phone. She called many times, but the call never connected. When the phone finally announced it was off, Liam said coldly, “Don’t bother. If she wants to act out, let her. You don’t need to humble yourself for her.” With that, he urged the driver to speed up. I watched Liam calmly. Aside from a faint annoyance, there was no concern on his face. I should have faced reality long ago. Liam hated me so much because of Seraphina, how could he possibly care about me? Even if he was in the city, he wouldn’t celebrate my birthday, too proud, too cold, or too annoyed to even utter a simple greeting. Ever since Seraphina barged into his world, I was forced to get used to his favoritism and targeted hostility. He always said I was difficult and willful, always making trouble for Seraphina. He said I was petty and jealous of Seraphina’s success. My piano room, once mine, became Seraphina’s exclusive domain. The custom gifts meant for me were engraved with Seraphina’s name. Even when I was sick and bedridden, he only believed Seraphina’s words, convinced I was scheming and faking my illness for sympathy. I always silently wished, foolishly hoping he could go back to how he used to be. But I was wrong. Because of Seraphina, his misunderstanding of me grew deeper and deeper, to the point he didn’t even want to acknowledge me as his sister anymore. I would never get his apology. I was dead. We would never see each other again in this life. Chapter Three Liam took Seraphina to the best private hospital. Even the hospital room was decorated to her liking in advance. Because, in Liam’s eyes, Seraphina was the person he owed the most. In high school, everyone mocked me for being an orphan with no parents. And the one who led the bullying against me for three whole years was Seraphina herself. After high school graduation, I left the city, thinking I had finally escaped. But I never expected that in just three short years, when I saw Seraphina again, she was already my brother’s girlfriend. I tried to let go of the past, to stay out of their way. But Seraphina wouldn’t let me. She twisted the truth in front of Liam, claiming I used my position to bully her for three years in high school. From then on, Liam never gave me a kind look. He kept saying I had to pay for what I’d done. So he arbitrarily cut off all my funds, and even tried to strip my right to study abroad. In Liam’s eyes, I had become a barbaric, wicked person. While Seraphina, in his eyes, was a rare and precious gem. He pitied Seraphina’s past, and out of guilt, he became even better to her, practically spoiling her to the moon and back. Which was why he was still by Seraphina’s side, dark circles under his eyes. Even though the doctor repeatedly stressed that Seraphina just had a common cold. Seraphina was about to say something when the door to the room suddenly burst open. It was Caleb, Liam’s old friend, who was also an investor in Seraphina’s new show. “Unbelievable, your social media buzz is even higher than my new show.” “Why don’t you let me piggyback on your traffic? This show will definitely be a hit.” “Mr. Hayes, sacrificing a nine-figure project for your beloved, tsk-tsk…” Liam shot him a displeased look, motioning him into the hallway with his eyes. “My feelings for Seraphina don’t need media hype to prove.” “Seraphina doesn’t need that kind of buzz. If she wants it, I’ll pour money into promoting her, not put her under public pressure.” “I, on the other hand, want to ask you, why are you putting so much work pressure on Seraphina?” Caleb looked at him incredulously. “Out of respect for you, everyone on set has been treating Seraphina like she was royalty, waiting on her hand and foot. The overtime was even her idea.” “I was wondering, she was perfectly fine all day, why did she suddenly fall apart right after midnight?” Liam scoffed, “Seraphina always tries to be strong. She never complains when she’s upset.” “It must be your set’s grueling schedule that wore her out.” Caleb shrugged, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Mr. Hayes, you’re truly a devoted man. I’m almost envious of Seraphina.” “You’ve never cared this much for Mia.” Seeing Liam’s face instantly darken, Caleb wisely stopped talking, hesitating for a long moment before finally speaking. “Today is Mia’s birthday, you know. I verified the on-site audio, and she was indeed at the hospital today.” After Liam watched the hospital surveillance video on Caleb’s phone, the anger in his eyes intensified. The Mia in the video looked terribly frail, blood stained her sleeves, her eyes lifeless, leaning weakly against the wall. Liam didn’t even finish watching before he impatiently closed the video. “So what if I didn’t celebrate her birthday? She even resorted to faking self-harm!” It wasn’t like that! The video had been maliciously edited! I hadn’t harmed myself. The blood on my sleeves was from the fresh blood I’d coughed up during an attack. I spun around in distress, but Liam couldn’t hear my voice at all. Caleb was still trying to reason with Liam. “No matter what, Mia is still your biological sister. Seraphina will be family once she marries in. There’s no need to make things so tense.” Liam looked at my disheveled figure in the video, his expression complex, his throat subtly bobbing. My heart ached beyond words. Even outsiders cared about me, but Liam instinctively suspected the worst. Chapter Four Liam’s face remained impassive. After Caleb left in a hurry, he began pacing back and forth in the hallway. He pulled a small velvet jewelry box from his coat pocket. Inside was a sapphire necklace. So, he had prepared a birthday gift for me. Once, Seraphina had stolen my mother’s heirloom, which was also a sapphire necklace. But Liam had scolded me, saying it was just a necklace, and that my bullying had driven Seraphina to depression and almost suicide, and I owed her for the rest of my life. Now, the sapphire in his hand was even larger and brighter than the one I had lost. Unfortunately, items imbued with meaning are uniquely irreplaceable. He repeatedly caressed the gem, carefully putting it away. Only then did his emotions completely calm. He went back into the room, grabbed his car keys, and was about to head home to find me when the sleeping Seraphina woke up. “Liam, where are you going?” Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m scared being alone in the hospital. Can you stay with me, please?” Liam stepped forward, holding her in his arms to comfort her. “Just get your IV first. I’ll be back soon, I won’t abandon you.” Seraphina’s hand, gripping his sleeve, refused to let go. She cautiously probed, “Is it because of Mia?” Liam nodded. “She’s the only person in this world I’m related to by blood. I can’t fail Mom and Dad’s last wishes.” Seraphina lowered her head, looking wronged. “It’s fine, I understand. I’ll wait for you to come back.” Liam still left. The moment he closed the door, I clearly saw Seraphina clench her fists in resentment, her eyes filled with venom. I followed Liam back to the empty house. Seeing no shoes by the entrance, he impatiently burst into my room. The room had been tidied meticulously. Even the sheet music he’d personally written for me, which I used to cherish the most, was gone. Liam sat dejectedly at the piano, staring at the stickers we’d put on the keys together. Through the moonlight, I seemed to see the Liam from years ago. Back then, he taught me to play piano, wrote music for me. As long as he was there, my face always held a content smile. After Seraphina appeared, I never played the piano again. Liam’s fingertips brushed the keys. He looked at his dust-covered fingers and murmured, “Mia… why did we end up like this?” His figure looked especially forlorn in the moonlight. He stood up, took one last look at my room, and fled as if escaping. From childhood, Liam never initiated an apology to me. When he made mistakes, he would always avoid and gloss over them. I used to think he was just too proud, and as his sister, I shouldn’t hold it against him. Seeing Liam scroll through my Ins again, I scoffed at his terrible memory. He probably forgot he couldn’t see my updates, not because I wasn’t contacting him, but because he had blocked me. I sat in the corner of the sofa, calmly watching his panicked expression. What if he knew I was dead? What if he knew that Seraphina was the one who bullied me, that she had swapped my terminal diagnosis records, indirectly causing my death? Would he still stubbornly believe he was right, and run away like before? Unfortunately, he would never have the chance to apologize to me. It wasn’t until dawn that a sudden ringtone startled Liam awake. I leaned closer. It was Kyle, the cemetery salesperson. “Are you Mia Hayes’s brother?” The voice on the other end sounded uncertain. Liam frowned impatiently. “Yes, I am. What dramatic stunt is she pulling now?” “I’m Mia Hayes’s agent. Cremation requires a family member’s signature. Do you have time to come over?” Liam’s expression froze. He gripped his phone, suppressing his anger. “Tell me the truth, how much money did Mia give you to go along with her act?” Before the other side could speak, Liam frantically hung up. He took a few deep breaths. “Mia is so afraid of dying, how could she ever actually die? Right! It must be another one of her pathetic attempts to get me to celebrate her birthday!” He hastily grabbed his coat. “Seraphina is still waiting for me at the hospital. I need to go be with her…” “I won’t fall for it again.” My heart turned cold. It seemed in his mind, Seraphina was always the most important. But his panicked retreating figure betrayed him. Maybe, just maybe, he’d be moved by our blood relation. I was a little curious about the day the truth would finally come out. Chapter Five The moment Liam opened the hospital room door, Seraphina threw herself into his arms. “Liam, I waited for you all night! What took you so long?”

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I had just been released after serving three years in prison for my wife. To my shock, Olivia had given my position as vice president to Ryan, her old flame. When I confronted her about it, Olivia’s expression was cold. “You’ve been to prison. I should have fired you, but Ryan pleaded on your behalf, so I kept a position for you,” she said dismissively. “Do your job well and don’t cause any more trouble for him.” The “position” she referred to was as a janitor cleaning toilets in the company. That night, I knelt at my parents’ graves. During those three years, my father had passed away from a stroke, and my mother followed soon after. I never got to see them one last time, and now the company had been taken from me as well. As I was repenting for my mistakes, I discovered a phone hidden near the tombstone. The videos on it contained evidence that Olivia had conspired with Ryan to frame me and send me to jail, and then caused my parents’ deaths. Leaving the cemetery, I numbly dialed a number. “Mr. Thompson, I’ve made up my mind. I agree to transfer my shares to you to help you take control of the company.”

“That’s wonderful news, my boy! With your help, we’ll certainly be able to set the company straight and fulfill your parents’ wishes,” Mr. Thompson replied enthusiastically. I kept my voice steady. “Good. Pleasure doing business with you.” Just as I hung up, Olivia opened the car door and approached me. “Who were you talking to?” she asked suspiciously. “Nothing important, just a telemarketer,” I lied smoothly. Olivia didn’t seem to care about my response. Her gaze was fixed on the cemetery behind me. “Why did you come here?” she asked. “I came to visit my parents,” I explained. “Their passing was so sudden. I never got to say goodbye, so I wanted to pay my respects.” Olivia visibly relaxed, no longer concerned. She simply said “Oh” and urged me to leave quickly. As we got in the car, I studied Olivia. Since my release, she had been cold towards me. Yet today, after I’d only been at the cemetery for a short while, she had rushed over, even driving here herself to pick me up. Her unusual attentiveness only confirmed my suspicions about the video’s authenticity. On the drive back, Olivia probed to see what I knew. Once satisfied that I had simply come to visit my parents and knew nothing else, she dropped her facade of warmth. “Jack, I know you used to be the company’s vice president when your parents were alive. But they’re gone now, and you’ve been to prison. The company decided to appoint Ryan as VP,” she said coldly. “Don’t take out your frustrations on Ryan. Go apologize to him right away.” Earlier that afternoon, at the company’s year-end party, Ryan and I had both fallen into the swimming pool. Olivia immediately accused me of pushing Ryan in out of resentment for taking my position. I tried to explain that Ryan had actually pushed me, and asked them to check the security cameras to prove my innocence. But Olivia just frowned. “That won’t be necessary.” “Jack, I can’t believe you’re still so petty, deliberately pushing Ryan into the pool and then trying to frame him!” she scolded. Olivia was about to say more, but Ryan grabbed her wrist. “It’s okay, I’m fine,” he said smoothly. “Jack was probably just upset. He might have seen wrong – I actually slipped and fell into the pool accidentally, and Jack got pulled in with me.” Ryan’s false generosity only further condemned me. Olivia’s indulgence of Ryan nailed me to a pillar of shame. And now, she was demanding I apologize to Ryan. I turned to look out the window. “Did you check the security footage?” I asked quietly. Olivia slammed on the brakes, pulling over to the side of the road. She glared at me in disgust. “Jack, you really never learn, do you?” “Get out! Walk the rest of the way home and think about what you’ve done.” Olivia sped off, leaving me standing there. I watched the car disappear, then took out my phone to call Mr. Thompson again. “I can sign the share transfer contract today,” I said decisively.

Mr. Thompson offered me a lump sum of $300 million for my shares. As I stared at the transfer contract, my mind went blank. These shares were the last thing my parents had left me. Thinking I was having second thoughts, Mr. Thompson tried to persuade me. “Jack, my boy, I’ve known you since you were little. You don’t know what that woman Olivia has done to the company in the three years you were… away,” he said gravely. “After your father passed, she’s driven away almost all of us old-timers from the company.” “I’m not trying to cause trouble between you and your wife. I’ve just seen too much in my life. All I can say is, be careful of Olivia. She’s not a simple character.” My parents had warned me about her too. But back then, I was madly in love with Olivia and didn’t take their words to heart. Now I was paying the price, and it had cost my parents their lives. I let out a bitter laugh. “I understand, Uncle. But Thompson. Don’t worry, I won’t make the same mistakes again.” Mr. Thompson said we should wait until the shareholders’ meeting next week to reveal the share transfer. For this week, I needed to keep it secret from Olivia to prevent her from interfering with our plans if she found out about the shares. After setting the time, I returned home. It was already night. Olivia assumed I had actually walked all the way back, and looked at me with disgust when she saw me. She was still angry, waiting for me to apologize and make amends. But I was too exhausted. After learning my parents had been killed by her, I didn’t want to see her at all. Olivia waited and waited, but I didn’t bow my head to her. As I was about to enter the bedroom, she angrily threw clothes and bedding at my face. “You can come back when you’ve apologized to Ryan!” she snapped. “Take your things and get out. I don’t want to see you!” Clothes and blankets rained down on me as Olivia slammed the bedroom door shut in frustration. I stood there for a moment, then turned and went to the guest room without hesitation. Before going to sleep, I opened my phone and saw Ryan’s SnapChat post from that afternoon. “When you’re sick and someone brings you care and medicine, that’s the one to marry.” The photo showed Olivia’s back. Olivia had commented with a shy emoji. In the comments, many familiar names were cheering them on – our mutual friends, college classmates, former coworkers… Everyone seemed to have forgotten my existence, tacitly expressing their blessings for this new “couple.” I hit the like button and turned off my phone to sleep. The next morning, Olivia had the housekeeper buy breakfast from a famous old restaurant. Seeing me sit down, she proudly placed a crab roe bun in front of me. She cleared her throat, her expression haughty. “I bought this specially for you. Didn’t you like these? Eat up.” I didn’t touch it, only sipping the plain porridge the housekeeper had made. Olivia rarely lowered her head to me, but I wasn’t playing along as she had imagined. Her expression changed slightly as she tossed her chopsticks on the table. “I’ve already let the incident with Ryan go, and I’m taking the initiative to make peace. What more do you want?” she said icily. I looked at her face, angry yet tinged with grievance, and replied expressionlessly: “I’m allergic to seafood. I’ve never eaten crab roe buns.” Olivia’s expression turned awkward as she finally remembered it was Ryan who liked crab roe buns, not me. “Well… the housekeeper must have bought the wrong thing. But I’m already extending an olive branch. Do you have to fixate on this?” she said defensively. I put down my spoon, unable to hold back asking, “What are you in such a rush about?” “Yes, I went to prison for a few years. I can’t be VP anymore after getting out, but I can still like a SnapChat post, can’t I? Why are you acting so strange?” “What are you talking about? What do you mean you went to prison for me? That was your own doing. Don’t try to drag me into it,” Olivia snapped, suddenly standing up. She glanced nervously at the housekeeper’s questioning look and hurriedly sent her out.

Once we were alone, Olivia frowned and berated me: “That’s all in the past now. Why bring it up when there are others around?” “Why can’t I bring it up?” I countered. “Back then, you begged me. You said the police were framing you, that the company accounts were definitely clean. You said I just needed to go to the station for a few days and I’d be back soon.” “To make me believe you, you even married me.” “But you didn’t tell me I’d have to stay in prison for three years.” Three years. When I got out, everything had changed. My parents were gone. Olivia had taken over the company. I was stripped of my position and could only work as a janitor cleaning toilets. Olivia opened her mouth, seeming about to explain something. But I didn’t want to hear it. I turned and went to the bedroom, taking out a box with only one condom left inside. “There’s a whole drawer full in the guest room. I don’t know which of you bought them, but remember to put them away,” I said, tossing the box in front of Olivia. Olivia’s face flashed with shock. She angrily threw the box in the trash. “Jack! I was wrong about what happened back then. But do you have to dig all this up just because you’re jealous?” she snapped. “There’s nothing between Ryan and me. Even yesterday, I only went to see him because you pushed him in the water and made him sick. I was checking on him for your sake.” “As for these… things, I have no idea where they came from!” Olivia watched my cold expression, unsure if I believed her or not. She suggested we go to work together. Although Olivia had taken over the company using her status as my wife, after I got out of prison, she refused to go to work with me. At the company, she made no effort to hide her rapport and intimacy with Ryan. Now, few people in the company took my marriage to Olivia seriously. Everyone thought I should divorce Olivia and let her be with Ryan. Thinking of this, my face darkened. Perhaps it was time to put divorce on the agenda. “Olivia, we should—” I began. Before I could finish, Olivia’s phone rang. She answered it and walked away without a backward glance. “There’s an emergency at the company. I have to go. We’ll go to work together another day,” she called over her shoulder. Olivia had broken her word and left again. But I was no longer hurt by her every move like before. Thinking about divorce, I let out a sigh. Never mind. There were still five days until the shareholders’ meeting. I’d bring up divorce then. Half an hour later, I drove myself to the company. The person Ryan had arranged was waiting for me. As soon as he saw me, he deliberately spilled coffee on the floor. “Oops, so sorry about that. Jack, could you clean this up? And the meeting room needs to be tidied quickly too – we’ll be using it for a meeting soon.” With that, he sauntered off smugly. I finished mopping the floor and pushed open the meeting room door with my broom and mop, only to find the room full of people. Seeing me in such a sorry state, Olivia frowned in disgust and gestured for her assistant to get rid of me. As the door closed, I caught Ryan’s undisguised smirk. I finally understood this was a trap he had deliberately set for me. Sure enough, after the meeting Olivia immediately summoned me to her office. “Jack, can’t you do your job properly? Didn’t anyone tell you that during meetings, non-essential personnel aren’t allowed in?” she scolded. “Did you turn stupid in prison? Can’t you remember such a simple thing?” The office fell silent. Olivia belatedly realized she had mentioned something she shouldn’t have. She stumbled over her words, “I… I didn’t mean… I meant…” “I understand,” I cut her off. “Do you have any other instructions? If not, I’ll get back to work.” Watching me turn to leave, Olivia called out hesitantly, “Don’t you have anything to explain?” “No,” I replied simply. It’s not like anyone would believe me anyway.

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Ten years after marriage, I, once diagnosed as infertile, became pregnant. The day after I found out about my pregnancy, Alexander Wilson brazenly brought home his female secretary. When my father learned of this, he flew into a rage and sent her to Poland, urging Alexander to come to his senses. Alexander said nothing. Instead, he turned around and bankrupted my family’s company, forcing my father to commit suicide by jumping off a building. My mother, unable to bear the shock, was admitted to the ICU. Then he forced me to take abortion pills and coldly said: “Olivia Johnson, I must have been too good to you before, making you take me for granted.” “Consider this child a lesson for driving Isabelle away.” I lay in a pool of blood, looking up at the man beside me. After ten years of marriage, for the first time, I saw clearly what kind of demon was in front of me. Alexander leaned down and gripped my chin, questioning me again: “I’ll ask you one last time, where did you hide Isabelle?” “Your mother is still in the ICU. Think carefully before you answer.” The tearing pain in my lower body had already made me delirious. Hearing the word “mother”, I finally came to my senses. “You have to promise to spare my mom.” He laughed coldly: “Do you think you’re in any position to negotiate?” “If you don’t tell me, I’ll stop paying for the ICU.” After saying this, he stood up straight, disgustedly wiping the hand that had gripped my chin with a handkerchief. Tears blurred my vision, just as they had all these years looking at Alexander. Before this, I could never have imagined. That Alexander could be so cruel to me. Forcing my father to death. Killing our child. Using my mother to threaten me into revealing his mistress’s whereabouts. All the past seemed like a dream. Now that I’ve woken up, I finally face the cruel reality. He coldly watched as I bled profusely, as I cried uncontrollably. No longer daring to gamble with my mother’s life, I still gave him the answer. “She’s in Poland.” After getting my answer, Alexander immediately strode out of the bedroom without looking at me again. At the moment he left, I saw Alexander’s upturned lips. His wife was dying, yet he was delighted to know his mistress’s whereabouts. I laughed miserably, gradually losing consciousness. When I woke up, I saw a pure white ceiling above me. Did someone send me to the hospital? I thought hazily. Just now, the doctor informed me of the news of my miscarriage. He said my body was too damaged, and I would never be able to have children again. I gently stroked my belly, which was still flat, with no sign that there had once been a life inside. The child I had longed for for so long was now gone, taken away by its own father. It wasn’t until Mrs. Wang, the housekeeper, came to see me that I learned it was she who found me unconscious and sent me to the hospital. Mrs. Wang said I had been in a coma for three whole days. She wiped her tears: “The master has been away and hasn’t come to see you.” I laughed coldly inside. Where else could Alexander be? Of course, he must have rushed off to pick up his dear Isabelle. After Mrs. Wang left, I ran out to find my mother’s ICU, ignoring the pain in my body. In the intensive care unit, my mother lay pale and weak, with tubes all over her body. After my father’s suicide, my mother’s hair had turned white overnight. Looking at my mother before me, I collapsed to the ground, crying. It was my poor judgment that caused them to end up like this. When my mother gets better, I want to divorce Alexander. The Wilson family and my family were originally upper-class families that would never have crossed paths. But when I met Alexander, I had no idea of his identity. Later, when my parents found out, they worried that the gap between our families was too great, and I might be bullied if I married him. If things really went wrong, they wouldn’t even be able to stand up for me. At that time, I was absolutely certain of Alexander’s love for me. I said Alexander loved me like his life, and would never let me suffer even the slightest grievance. He would remember every anniversary, spending two months making handmade gifts for me. He introduced me to all his close family and friends, telling them that meeting me was the greatest blessing of his life. Every date hadn’t even ended before he started saying he missed me. He would tell me he loved me every morning, noon, and night, never tiring of it after so many years of marriage. Whenever we were out, if someone looked at me for too long, he would be jealous for half the day. Back then he said: “Olivia, I must have done a lot of good deeds in my past life to deserve your love in this life.” Even though I was by his side every day, he would still ask me to say I loved him over and over again. I once thought I had married the right person and would grow old with my beloved. But Isabelle’s arrival shattered this illusory bubble.

Isabelle Taylor, a graduate from a prestigious university, showed exceptional work ability as soon as she joined Alexander’s company, despite being new to the workplace. So when Alexander first mentioned her, I was happy for him that he had found such a talent. I never imagined that in just three months, she would become Alexander’s personal secretary. Alexander took her to the Sky Garden, took her on his private yacht. He took her hiking on Wugong Mountain, took her to see Zhangjiajie. All the places he had and hadn’t been with me, he took Isabelle to every single one. When Isabelle was forced to drink by a business partner, Alexander lost his temper for the first time and cut off all business ties between the two companies. I finally realized something was wrong and hired a private investigator to look into it. By then, they were no longer hiding it, kissing in public. With the photos and videos sent by the detective, I slapped Alexander for the first time. But Alexander just looked at me coldly and said I was ungrateful. “Olivia Johnson, what are you fighting for against a 20-year-old girl?” “You’ve been married into the Wilson family for so many years, when will you grow up a little?” I never thought there would be a day when I would hear such words from Alexander’s mouth. No wonder Isabelle looked so much like me. It turns out all his love, all his devotion, was only for a 20-year-old girl. And my twenties had passed ten years ago. Just as I had made up my mind to divorce, I found out I was pregnant. Over the years, I had made many efforts to have a child but to no avail. This sudden child gave me new hope. I thought, even if he didn’t love me anymore, Alexander would surely love his own child. I should try again for the sake of the child, to save my family. But before I could do anything, Alexander brought Isabelle home. When my father found out, he sent people to drive her to Poland. He said he would give Alexander one last chance, otherwise we would divorce. No one could have imagined that Alexander would go so crazy for Isabelle. My more than ten years of feelings with Alexander couldn’t compare to one of Isabelle’s fingers. He didn’t even care about his own child. After my body recovered for two days, I went to a law firm. But as soon as they heard Alexander Wilson’s name, no one dared to take on this commission. “Mrs. Johnson, it’s not that we want to refuse the commission.” “It’s just that Mr. Wilson’s company has a top-notch legal team, we have no chance of winning.” I hadn’t thought of this aspect. But there was no use troubling the lawyers, I could only leave helplessly. After marriage, Alexander said he couldn’t bear to see me work hard, that I only needed to be the pampered Mrs. Wilson. I believed his lies and was a housewife for ten years. And all my social circles came from him, I couldn’t find anyone to help. Alexander now loves Isabelle, and after bringing her back, he should be eager to give her status. Perhaps I just need to wait for him to speak first. Back at the villa, I started packing the things I wanted to take away. After packing for half a day, I found that the things that only related to me were pitifully few. The gifts Alexander gave me almost filled my room. In the end, I only put clothes and documents in my suitcase. My body was already weak, and before the sun had set, I had collapsed on the sofa.

I don’t know when I fell asleep. When I was awakened by the sound of the door opening, my head was still groggy. But the next second I woke up. Alexander had come back, holding hands tightly with Isabelle. Compared to the last time I saw her, the woman looked even more beautiful, as if she had been well-nourished. The clothes she wore were of the same quality as mine, obviously from the same master’s hand. And on her neck, she wore the auction piece from a while ago – the diamond necklace called “Heart of the Deep Sea”, said to be the only one in the world. It seems Alexander has been treating her well these past few days. I just didn’t expect them to come back so soon. I suddenly felt my throat go dry. Facing Alexander again, what rose in my heart was actually hatred. Before I could react, Alexander had already brought Isabelle in front of me. He naturally brushed away the stray hairs on Isabelle’s forehead, his eyes full of tenderness. When he turned his face, his expression had already cooled: “Olivia Johnson, apologize to Isabelle.” He cut off my escape route, forced my father to death, forcibly aborted my child, and caused my mother to be admitted to the ICU. Now, he wanted me to apologize to his mistress. I couldn’t understand, really couldn’t understand. Why could Alexander be so cruel to me, to this wife who had loved him for thirteen years? Seeing no reaction from me, Alexander yanked me up from the sofa, forcing my head to face Isabelle. “I said, apologize to Isabelle.” “Don’t make me say it a third time.” Alexander’s tone became impatient. He was a successful businessman with many tactics for dealing with opponents. I just never thought these tactics would one day be used on me. Isabelle bit her lower lip, lowering her eyes. Seeing that I still wouldn’t speak after a long time, she timidly glanced at me and spoke with a grieved tone: “Alexander, don’t be like this.” “It’s right for Sister Olivia to despise me, it’s my fault, I shouldn’t have fallen in love with you.” She said this, but I clearly saw the challenge in her eyes. Alexander became even more pitying towards her, lightly patting her hand to comfort her. When he looked at me again, his eyes had already become dangerous. Thinking of my mother still in the ICU, I still lowered my head. Bending my body to a 90-degree angle, I sincerely apologized to Isabelle: “I’m sorry, Miss Taylor, my family shouldn’t have treated you like that.” “Please forgive me.” Isabelle pretended to be surprised, covering her mouth and waving her hands saying it was okay. After saying this, she turned to Alexander and pouted: “Alexander, I want to rest for a bit, can I?”

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In my previous life, I chose the leopard-man, while my cousin got the merman. The leopard-man fell deeply in love with my cousin. He watched coldly as I was torn to pieces, then used the crystal earned from my life to curry favor with her. In my last life, I stayed away from the leopard-man and chose the merman instead. Little did I know that the merman would also be attracted to my cousin. He conspired with her to drown me, then threw himself into her arms. Now I’ve been reborn again. Faced with these two beast-men that my mother strongly recommends, I don’t want to choose either of them. Just as I’m struggling with how to choose, a black shadow flashes by my side. Overjoyed, I catch it and declare on the spot: “I want this one!” Then without waiting for anyone’s reaction, I quickly form a contract with it. “Damn it!” As the silver light symbolizing the completed contract flashes, a voice simultaneously echoes in my mind. “Contracting with me, are you trying to die again?” My cousin Lily is a year younger than me. She should have chosen her beast-man a year later, but she was so favored by the family elders that she persuaded them to let her choose a year early. To choose at the same time as me. Of the two beast-men my mother had carefully selected for me, one would now have to go to my cousin. “Aria, just choose whichever one you want,” my mother said. That’s exactly what I did two lives ago. I chose the leopard-man, who had the strongest speed and power in the family, while my cousin got the merman. But after contracting with me, the leopard-man was always in poor condition. I thought he just needed time to adjust, so I wanted to give him some time. But I never expected that after watching me be torn to pieces by other beast-men, the leopard-man would leap up and quickly kill them with a strength I had never seen before. He looked at my corpse without any remorse: “The biggest mistake you made was choosing me, making me miss out on Lily.” It turned out the leopard-man had always liked my cousin, and even resented me for it. So in my last life, after being reborn, I chose the merman without hesitation. The merman had a gentle personality, surely he couldn’t do anything to me. But I never imagined that the merman would also fall in love with Lily. For her sake, the supposedly gentle merman tricked me to the waters where he grew up and conspired with his people to drown me. After my death, he sat by the water, eyes downcast. “I’m sorry, but I really like Lily. I like her to the point of madness.” This time, I’ve been reborn again. Directly reborn to the moment of choosing a beast-man. Right now, the family elders are impatiently urging me: “Aria, how long are you going to dawdle? Lily is still waiting behind you!” I looked at the fierce-looking leopard-man, then glanced at the merman who was secretly looking at Lily, and my head started to ache. I quietly asked my mother if I could not choose. Mother firmly said: “No.” “Aria, are you worried about their strength? These are the ones I personally selected. This leopard-man is the most talented genius in history in terms of speed and strength, while the merman is the prince of their clan, with a high chance of becoming the Merman King in the future.” The situation was urgent, and I had no way to explain to my mother what had happened to me. “Aria, just choose. Lily can only have the one you don’t pick.” Mother’s eyes swept around, her words full of intimidation. “I know many people in the family look down on me, but they don’t have the power to make decisions over me yet.” But even though mother said this, I couldn’t not choose a beast-man. This was a long-standing rule in our magical family. Every member needed to choose a beast-man at the contract ceremony. If I just left without following the rules, my mother would definitely be harassed by those old geezers using this as an excuse. But these two beast-men wouldn’t stay with me wholeheartedly. As long as they fell in love with Lily, my life would still be in danger. Just as I was struggling with which beast-man would be easier to deal with. A black shadow flashed by. Long and thin, extremely fast, no one noticed it except me. A small snake of unknown species that couldn’t shapeshift, but with the unique magical fluctuations of a beast-man. Overjoyed, I caught it and announced on the spot: “I want this one!” Then without waiting for anyone’s reaction, I quickly formed a contract with it. “Damn it!” As the silver light symbolizing the completed contract flashed, a voice simultaneously echoed in my mind. “Contracting with me, are you trying to die again?” When I opened my eyes, everyone was looking at me with various expressions. Lily couldn’t contain her excitement and said loudly: “Cousin, after all that fuss, you just chose a little broken snake?” An elder shouted in dissatisfaction: “Aria, this is the contract ceremony, are you mocking us?” I raised my hand to show them the faint silver mark on my wrist. them “How am I mocking you? Didn’t I contract a beast-man?” Seeing I mocking you? the unique imprint symbolizing the contract between our family and beast-men, they finally believed that the little snake in my hand was really a beast-man. They reluctantly shut up. Next it was Lily’s turn to choose a beast-man. Only then did I have time to pick up the little snake in an unnoticed place. “Just now you said ‘die again’, what did you mean by that?” “You have the nerve to ask?” The snake didn’t open its mouth, but its voice sounded directly in my mind. A magnetic, deep male voice, gritting his teeth. “My powers have plummeted, and I’m forcibly bound to you, unable to leave a single step.” “In your last life, and the life before that, you died twice, and I died with you twice!” “Each time, it was just when I was about to regain my peak power!” “This time I didn’t want to be manipulated by you anymore and was about to leave first, but you actually caught me and contracted with me?!” 2. “I see, so we have such a deep connection.” Thinking about how someone had been reborn with me twice, it was quite an amazing feeling. “Heh,” the little snake laughed dryly, “I don’t want this kind of connection.” “From now on, we’ll have to fight side by side, you must protect me.” “I’ll be lucky if I don’t kill you.” I looked towards Lily in the distance, who was looking back and forth between the leopard-man and the merman. “What do you think, who will she choose?” “How would I know?” “Then in your opinion, who is stronger?” The weak snake body twisted in my hand, but his commentary was ruthless. “They’re both weak.” I didn’t bother trying to get an answer from the little snake anymore and focused on Lily’s situation. But unexpectedly, she turned her head and looked at me. “Cousin, who do you think I should choose?” With these words, everyone in the scene fell silent, waiting for my answer. Whether Lily followed my advice or not, the one who wasn’t chosen would inevitably hate me to the bone. She was using me to draw hatred. I laughed coldly: “Why don’t you take both, cousin?” “These two beast-men are both so excellent, I’m sure you’d be willing to split your spirit power for them.” Actually, each member of our family could contract more than one beast-man. But contracting a beast-man required occupying spirit power in the mind sea. If one wanted to contract multiple beast-men, they would need to split off a new piece of spirit power from their original mind sea for each contract. Spirit power was similar to mental energy. Even a tiny bit of damage would make one feel their soul trembling, extremely painful. Not to mention forcibly splitting the originally whole spirit power into several pieces. Sure enough, as soon as I finished speaking, Lily’s face changed. She forcibly suppressed the unwillingness on her face and smiled: “I was just joking. Actually, I’ve already made my choice.” She walked towards the taller and stronger leopard-man, cut her fingertip, and dripped blood onto his lowered forehead. Silver light appeared, and the contract was formed. The leopard-man looked smugly at the dissatisfied merman prince, then knelt on one knee the next second. “I am Zack. I will protect you, forever and ever.” I sighed, couldn’t help but think of the past. He watched indifferently as I stood in front of him, single-handedly resisting the attacks of other beast-men. At that time, he wasn’t as devoted as he is now. “What a stupid woman,” the little snake said venomously. “If you couldn’t beat them, why didn’t you run?” “And didn’t you know he didn’t care about you and couldn’t wait for you to die?” “How was I supposed to know then!” I angrily retorted. “And once we formed a contract, isn’t it natural to trust your partner with your back?” The little snake fell silent. After a long while, he reluctantly spoke: “I’m called Kieran.” The contract ceremony was over, and I was about to leave. I wanted to explain to my mother why I didn’t choose the beast-men she had prepared for me. But things weren’t over yet. The merman’s face was pale as he held Lily’s hand, giving her a pleading look. “You really don’t want me?” “I can use sound attacks, I can make people within a mile drop dead instantly.” “I can heal, as long as they’re not dead, I can save them.” Kieran laughed lightly: “That’s not all he’s best at.” I asked him what the merman was best at, but he clammed up again. But no matter how the merman begged, Lily still heartlessly let go of his hand. “I already have Zack.” “But you can contract two beast-men!” the merman said urgently. Lily shot me a hateful glance, blaming me for reminding the merman of this. How could she bear to go through the pain of splitting her spirit power? She violently shook off the merman’s hand, but still had to maintain her gentle and lovable image: “I’m sorry, I have enough with just Zack.” I was planning to make up a reason to explain to my mother why I didn’t choose the beast-men she had prepared for me. After all, rebirth wasn’t something that could be explained clearly in a short time. Not to mention being reborn twice. But she said: “If there’s something difficult to say, then you don’t need to explain. No matter what, I believe in my daughter.” In two rebirths, the only constant was that my mother always believed in me like this. I died inexplicably twice, I can’t imagine how painful it was for her. If only for my mother’s sake, I had to become stronger. Thinking of this, I looked firmly at Kieran. “Now that we’ve contracted, the next step is to train together.” Kieran was still as venomous as ever: “You think I need to train with you?” An incense stick later, he dragged his limp body and, under my coercion, said the words “I’m willing.” I bid farewell to my mother and took Kieran with me into the Trial Spirit Realm. 3. The Trial Spirit Realm was created in ancient times, forming its own small space with many rare magical beasts and treasures. I entered from the outer edges, starting by slaying the first magical beast, gradually moving inward. From initially being chased by magical beasts, to later being able to fight back, and finally being able to take on ten at once. Although Kieran was also busy improving his own cultivation, he didn’t stay with me, going out early and returning late every day, coming and going alone. But after two past lives, my bottom line for contracted beast-men had already dropped very low. As long as he didn’t kill me, it was fine if we weren’t together. Moreover, Kieran’s power increase also greatly benefited me as his contractor. Kieran transformed into human form in the third month. That night he came back earlier than usual. Seeing him appear, I dismissed the magical beasts that were massaging my legs and back, and took out the spirit fruit I had specially picked for him. “Come quickly, this Feather Spirit Fruit is most suitable for your snake clan to cultivate.” As I said this, I tried to stuff the Feather Spirit Fruit into his mouth. But before my hand could reach his mouth, a strange scene suddenly appeared before my eyes. A white mist spread out from nowhere. A hand with distinct knuckles reached out from the mist and grabbed my wrist. “Who told you I’m from the snake clan?” It was still Kieran’s magnetic voice. The difference was that he was now in human form. Dressed in black robes, tall and handsome features. He looked quite good-looking… “Fine, if you don’t want it, I’ll eat it myself.” I ignored the slight flutter in my heart and threw the Feather Spirit Fruit into my mouth. But unexpectedly, Kieran intercepted it halfway and stuffed it into his own mouth. What a fickle snake clan. After that, Kieran changed his attitude and always followed behind me, even when I wanted to use the bathroom… This was not good, because Kieran wouldn’t help me fight against magical beasts together. Under his powerful pressure, no magical beasts would even come near me. I helplessly protested to him. He thought for a moment and agreed to my request. After that, it became Kieran forcing a group of magical beasts to chase me, while I had to fight hard against a large group for self-preservation. In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed. All the magical beasts in the Trial Spirit Realm had been beaten by me and now bowed to me as their master. It was time to leave. On the day we left, I saw my mother’s figure at the entrance of the spirit realm from afar. “Mother!” I ran over excitedly. Mother looked me up and down, a smile of admiration on her lips: “Aria, you’ve improved a lot.” I leaned affectionately on my mother’s shoulder: “Of course, I am mother’s child after all.” The moment was peaceful, but suddenly an unpleasant voice sounded. It was Lily. “Cousin has indeed improved so quickly, you must have obtained many treasures in the Trial Spirit Realm.” Her eyes were evasive: “But cousin is the daughter of Aunt, the family leader, so these things are rightfully yours.” With Lily’s words, the eyes of the family members who came to greet me changed. As if my power increase was really due to my mother abusing her authority and giving me many benefits. I shook my head: “It seems cousin really doesn’t understand the Trial Spirit Realm.” “I stayed in the Trial Spirit Realm for half a year, creating the longest record in our family’s history, yet you still think my power increase was due to external objects.” Lily was used to pretending to be weak and innocent. In the past, I had never embarrassed her in public. Now her face looked very unpleasant, but I wasn’t finished. “Oh, I just remembered, cousin hasn’t entered the Trial Spirit Realm for training yet, right?” “Although our family has always had the rule of going for trials after completing the contract with a beast-man, you contracted your beast-man early, which was already an exception.” “Understandable.” Lily just wanted to say that I had a family leader as a mother and received preferential treatment. But I wanted to tell everyone that she, Lily, was the one who was the exception again and again. “Yeah, Lily has already contracted a beast-man, why hasn’t she participated in the trials?” Some dissatisfied peers began to speak loudly, “We all went through life and death to come out of the Trial Spirit Realm, why does she get to be so special?” Lily also heard these words and became a bit guilty. “My beast-man and I are of one heart and mind, we don’t need to cultivate our rapport anymore.” As soon as these words came out, many people laughed. “You don’t think the trials are just to hone the rapport between you and your beast-man, do you? The trials are also a way to improve your strength!” Just as Lily didn’t know how to answer. Suddenly a figure appeared in the distance, flashing past the blocking crowd in the blink of an eye, arriving at Lily’s side. This terrifying speed made most people present exclaim in admiration. This was Zack, Lily’s leopard-man. He held Lily tightly in his arms, raising his head slightly: “Do you think my strength is not enough, and Lily needs to suffer extra hardships?” No one spoke, all acknowledging Zack’s strength. “Lily’s special treatment is backed by me.” Zack made such a statement, then left with Lily in his arms. Before leaving, he glanced in our direction. But he seemed to not notice Kieran behind me at all, only looking at me. A sinister glance, full of warning. 4. I frowned imperceptibly. It seemed that no matter what, Zack was very hostile towards me. I still couldn’t let my guard down. Soon came the day of the family’s grand competition. According to family rules, every young member who had a contracted beast-man needed to participate in the family’s grand competition. The winner would receive rewards of top-grade magical tools and pills. They could also exchange this opportunity to obtain magical tools and pills for a wish. If it wasn’t too excessive, the family elders would allow and help fulfill it. Lily came specially to tell me that she was also going to participate in this competition. “Cousin, I drew you as my opponent. But my beast-man is very powerful, you don’t mind, do you?” “I do mind.” Two lives ago, I was called away by Zack on the eve of the competition, and encountered a group of out-of-control beast-men on the way back. After I died, Zack dealt with these beast-men and offered the crystals from their bodies to Lily. Lily’s cultivation increased greatly because of this, and she became the winner of the competition. And the wish she made was to receive Zack, this beast-man who had lost his contracted master. With the help of the elders and magical tools, Lily didn’t suffer any pain from splitting her spirit power, and got two beast-men. And my soul was completely scattered, reborn into my last life… Not expecting me to actually answer that I minded, Lily’s face froze. “Cousin, winning this competition, I have something very important to do. So, I must participate.” I smiled faintly: “Then why are you asking why?” “I…” Lily stammered until Zack came and held her in his arms. “Aria Frost.” He narrowed his eyes at me, “If you had been a little nicer to Lily, I might have considered letting you lose gracefully.” “But with you treating her like this, I have no choice.” At this time, Kieran silently exerted his pressure beside me. Zack was caught off guard and instantly fell to his knees. “Someone as weak as you,” Kieran slowly walked in front of Zack and squatted down: “Tell me specifically, how were you planning to make her lose?” Zack used all his strength but still couldn’t break free from Kieran’s pressure. In the end, it was Lily who actively apologized to me before Kieran let them go. As they left, their conversation clearly reached Kieran’s and my ears. “Lily, I’m sorry…” “No, Zack, you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s my fault, I’m too weak.” “Lily, I will definitely protect you, I will!” From that day on, Lily and Zack never appeared in front of me again. Until the day of the family competition. Lily stood opposite me, but showed no panic at all. I took the initiative to attack, and Lily was injured after just a few moves. Now it was time for our respective beast-men to take the stage. “Aria Frost, I hate that arrogant look of yours the most. Just because you have a family leader as a mother, what’s there to be so proud of.” Lily smiled strangely: “Everything you possess, from today onwards, will be taken by me.” As soon as I saw Zack appear, I roughly understood what was going on. Zack had taken a forbidden drug.

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On my engagement day, I discovered that my father’s affair partner was actually my best friend. Seeing the two of them embracing in the distance, I nearly collapsed. Instinctively, I reached for my fiancé Parker’s hand, seeking comfort. But I touched only the cold, tense back of a clenched fist. Confused, I looked at Parker. His eyes were bloodshot, his face contorted with jealousy and madness. Before I could react, he charged forward and punched my father square in the face. “Henry, you dare touch my woman? I’ll kill you!” Parker roared. I stood on a busy street corner in my engagement dress, feeling as if I’d been plunged into an icy abyss. My fiancé and my father were brawling on my engagement day, all because of my best friend. I couldn’t imagine anything more scandalous and absurd than this. All the guests stared in shock at the unfolding scene, their expressions a mix of concern and schadenfreude barely concealed by hushed whispers. Yasmin, my so-called best friend, sauntered over to me with a smug grin, looking me up and down. She didn’t seem the least bit flustered, just utterly pleased with herself. “Oh Hazel, why should you have everything handed to you on a silver platter while I had nothing? It wasn’t fair. But now, one way or another, it’s all mine.” Dazed, I turned to look at my mother, desperately seeking even a shred of comfort despite knowing she was another innocent victim in all this. To my surprise, Mom watched the chaos unfold with cold detachment. My heart plummeted. In disbelief, I walked towards her. “You knew about this all along, didn’t you?” Tears streamed down my face unbidden, ruining my carefully applied makeup and painting an ugly, messy portrait of my life. Mom sighed, her expression devoid of the warmth she’d shown earlier at the engagement party when she’d held my hand and told everyone I was her precious darling. “Yes, I’ve known for a while,” she admitted flatly. “Why didn’t you tell me?!” I shouted, feeling like the world’s biggest fool. “What good would that have done? It would have only caused you pain. The merger between our family and the Parkers was never going to be called off. Did you have a better option?” I laughed bitterly, the sound hollow and despairing. “So in your eyes, I’m just a pawn for this merger? My happiness doesn’t matter, loyalty doesn’t matter, and honesty from my own family matters least of all?” Mom averted her gaze, looking towards my father and Parker, who were being pulled apart by their assistants. “Hazel, what do you have to complain about? In this family, none of us have it easy.” I stumbled backwards, shaking my head vehemently through tear-blurred vision. “How wonderful. On my engagement day, one of the most important days of my life, my father, mother, fiancé, and best friend all betrayed me at once. What a pathetic excuse for a human being I must be.” With that, I turned and ran, ignoring the voices calling my name behind me. It was all too sickening. Every single person here disgusted me to my core.

When Parker returned, I had already smashed everything in our shared apartment. The servants cowered in corners, watching me fearfully, too afraid to intervene. I finally collapsed on the floor, utterly spent. Parker casually unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. The injuries on his face were stark. He looked down at me imperiously, his expression devoid of any guilt for his actions. “Are you done with your tantrum?” he asked coldly. I remained silent, glaring up at him with as much venom as I could muster through my tears. “Hazel, ours is just an arranged marriage. I thought we had an understanding. Who I’m with or what women I play with is none of your business.” Parker’s voice was weary, the injuries marring his once-handsome face making him look grotesque. I grabbed a half-broken vase near me and hurled it at his head. He dodged easily, letting it shatter against the wall behind him. Parker sneered, stepping back and gesturing to a servant. “Bring a mirror!” All the mirrors in the apartment had been smashed in my rampage. A servant timidly brought over a small shard that was barely usable. Parker grabbed it carelessly by the jagged edge and thrust it in front of my face. “Look at yourself, princess. Look what you’ve become. Disgusting. You’re nothing like the refined lady you’re supposed to be – just a shrew! How can you even compare to Yasmin?” I gazed at my reflection in the mirror shard. My ruined makeup mingled with sweat and tears, matting my hair to my face. Black tear tracks streaked down from raccoon eyes. I looked worse than a ghost. “You’re right, I can’t compare to Yasmin anymore. She’s taken everything from me. Congratulations Parker, you get to share a woman with your future father-in-law!” SLAP! Parker’s hand connected hard with my cheek. The force sent my head snapping to the side, slamming into the nearby coffee table. Blood trickled down from my temple, mixing with the colorful mess already adorning my face. “Shut your mouth, you bitch,” Parker snarled. “I’m sick of your holier-than-thou attitude. Say one more word about Yasmin and I’ll end you.” “As for your dad, how dare he try to steal my woman? I’ll make him pay. The family business isn’t in his hands yet anyway. Marrying you was already me doing your family a favor.” Parker shook out his hand and straightened up. His gaze raked over me, brimming with disgust. Just then, his phone rang. The speed at which his expression transformed was truly impressive. Parker’s voice turned soft and sweet as he cooed into the phone, his demeanor suddenly loving. Even though the person on the other end had just publicly humiliated him in front of dozens of people. A wave of nausea washed over me. I struggled to my feet and lunged at Parker, pummeling him wildly wherever I could reach. “You bastard! You said you loved me, that’s the only reason I agreed to this marriage! Otherwise, how could I have ever consented to this arrangement?!” Liars, all of them. Consummate actors who had staged an elaborate farce, playing me for a fool. Parker snapped. In a rage, he kicked me away forcefully. My back slammed into the already shattered glass, the impact sending waves of agony through me and leaving me immobilized. He stepped forward and viciously ground his foot into one of my hands, crushing my palm into the glass shards on the floor. “That’s your own damn fault for being so gullible. I said I loved you and you believed it? Don’t blame others for your own stupidity.”

I returned to my family’s house like a soulless zombie. The servants were nowhere to be found, leaving the massive mansion eerily quiet. My parents were in a standoff in the living room. “Henry, I can smooth over this engagement fiasco, but I want 10% of the company shares in return,” Mom said calmly, sipping her tea as she negotiated with Dad. Dad leapt up from the sofa, eyes blazing. “Mia, don’t push your luck!” Mom scoffed. “I’m pushing it? You’re the one who couldn’t keep it in your pants. At least have the decency to be discreet and not let Hazel find out. You’re relying on her marriage to the Parkers to gain leverage in the company. You could have any woman you wanted, why go after Yasmin of all people? Talk about poor taste.” Dad settled back down, casually smoothing his hair. “Hazel and Yasmin were such good friends. I was just… strengthening family ties,” he said with a smirk. Mom rolled her eyes. “You’re truly shameless. Enough talk – are you giving me the shares or not?” I stood silently in the foyer, tears rolling down my cheeks. So in their eyes, I wasn’t a daughter or even a person. Just a tool to be used for their benefit. All these years of pampering me were just an investment, like fattening up livestock. And now it was time to cash in on their investment. I slowly walked out to face my parents, my expression dead and hopeless. “So why even have me in the first place? If you just wanted a pawn, wouldn’t adopting have been more cost-effective?” Dad’s expression instantly reverted to normal when he saw me. He casually picked up an ornate ruler from a side table, weighing it in his hand as he fixed me with a stern look. “Hazel, is that any way to speak to your father?” Mom watched coldly, even moving to leave. I ignored Dad’s intimidating aura and turned to Mom. “You never loved me either, did you?” So all that maternal affection was fake. All that gentle guidance had ulterior motives. All those choices forced on me in the name of love were just cold calculations. Mom looked me over and sighed. “Hazel, coming home looking like this… it’s embarrassing.” The pain that lanced through me was even worse than when Parker had slapped me. “Embarrassing? Ha! Is there anyone in this city more embarrassing than Henry and Parker right now?” Dad slowly stood and approached me, disappointment etched on his face. “Hazel, you seem to have forgotten your place. We didn’t invest all these years raising you just for you to act so recklessly.” I laughed bitterly, staring at him through my tears. Even his fatherly concern looked twisted and grotesque now. “Of course. How foolish of me to seek genuine family love. I forgot – in the deep waters of high society, there are always monsters waiting to devour you.” Dad nodded, utterly unmoved. “Since you insist on being obstinate, you need to be taught a lesson. Go kneel in the ancestral hall. Have Chen bring the red cushion.” I looked up at him in horror. The “red cushion” was something Dad used to punish disobedient employees. It was covered in hard, sharp spikes that would shred your knees to a bloody pulp within minutes. Seeing my reaction, Dad smiled. “Hazel, Daddy’s in a very bad mood today. You’ve misbehaved – did you think there’d be no consequences?” I tried to flee this hell, but the guards outside instantly restrained me. At Dad’s command, they dragged me kicking and screaming to the ancestral hall and forced me onto the red cushion. The pain was excruciating, tearing through me. I fixed my parents with a crazed, bloodshot glare as they stood watching impassively in the doorway. Through gritted teeth, I spat out: “I will never marry Parker or stay in this family again. As long as I’m alive, I’ll stay far away from all of you and never look back!”

The guards had to drag me back to my room. Late that night, I heard the roar of a sports car speeding away outside. Soon after, someone entered my room. I couldn’t open my eyes, but I sensed them bend down to examine me closely. The familiar scent instantly revealed the visitor’s identity. It was Yasmin. She chuckled softly. “No need to pretend, Hazel. I know you’re awake. Your mom left the mansion, so I came to check on my dear best friend.” I slowly opened my eyes to look at her. That beautiful face was twisted with mockery and disdain. “Why are you doing this to me?” I asked weakly. Yasmin clicked her tongue. “Your memory really is terrible. Didn’t I already tell you? I want everything you have.” She paused, then added with feigned regret: “But I didn’t expect you to be fool’s gold – shiny on the outside, worthless within. Not a single person truly loves you. How disappointing, Hazel. You’re so pathetic.” “But now they all genuinely love me. They’ll do anything for me, forgive any mistake. From that perspective, I suppose I’ve won something real after all.” Just then, my father walked in and wrapped an arm around Yasmin’s waist. Right in front of me, they began kissing shamelessly before leaving together, wrapped in each other’s arms. A hatred deeper than the ocean consumed me, drowning out even the physical pain. I grabbed my phone and sent Parker a message, then waited silently for round two of tonight’s battle royale to begin. Soon enough, the sounds of fighting and yelling erupted outside. Things being smashed echoed through the night. I knew this was my only chance to escape. Ignoring the blood still flowing from my legs, I crawled and stumbled out of the mansion. The mountain road down was pitch black and terrifying. Not a glimmer of light to be seen. Yet it filled me with hope and relief. The frantic escape left my pants completely soaked with blood, leaving a trail on the asphalt behind me. But I couldn’t stop. Just as my energy was about to give out, a pair of headlights appeared on the opposite mountain road. Someone got out of the car and walked towards me. My vision went black as I collapsed into a broad, warm embrace. Then I lost consciousness completely.

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I have a twin sister. She’s tall, slender, and stunning. I’m short, a little chubby, and, well, plain. I was born one minute before her. I spent my entire life stepping aside for her. Until my wedding night, when I saw my groom pressing down on my sister, And heard her soft, breathless moans, as my sister flashed me a triumphant smile… I jumped to my death. Reborn, I found myself back at that moment, seeing my sister and my fiancé tangled together. This time, I calmly pulled out my phone and started recording. In my past life, whenever we had a family dinner, my parents would always scoop all the meat onto Tiffany’s plate. I’d be left with just a few leafy greens. Every time Tiffany claimed she had a stomachache, she’d come back from the ‘doctor’s visit’ sporting a brand-new outfit. Meanwhile, I was stuck wearing her old, unwanted clothes. At first, I felt hurt, upset that Mom and Dad were so unfair. But they always told me, “We’re the twins everyone envies in the neighborhood. As the older sister, born a minute earlier, you should always make allowances for Tiffany.” Slowly, I just got used to it. But then came college applications. Despite my excellent grades, Mom and Dad meddled with my applications, Forcing me into a teaching college – tuition-free and with a living stipend. Tiffany, who always barely passed, went into expensive prep courses for another shot at college, then got into film school after another year. I was resentful, but I thought I could just work hard, get into grad school, and reapply for the major I actually wanted. But when Tiffany was just a sophomore in college, she decided she wanted plastic surgery. Mom cried, begging me, her older sister, for help. My heart just melted, and I ended up working part-time while studying. A year later, I handed over $10,000 I’d saved up from my jobs to Tiffany. I had no idea that $10,000 was just the warm-up act. Tiffany dropped out of college before graduating, after hooking up with some rich socialite’s son and ending up pregnant. I, who should have been studying for my grad school entrance exams, was called in by Mom and Dad to basically be her personal servant – cooking, cleaning, and catering to her every whim. By the time Tiffany had ‘recovered,’ I had missed out on precious study time. Finally, I scraped through my undergrad degree, thinking I was finally free. But then Tiffany, who’d managed to worm her way into the entertainment industry, announced she needed a car, saying it was too inconvenient for traveling to film sets. Mom and Dad had limited savings, so they came to me again. I had just started working and was living in a tiny, dingy apartment in a sketchy part of the city. I truly had no money to give. Just as I was about to complain, my mom sat on the floor and started wailing, “You two shared a placenta… Tiffany barely made it, she’s been frail since birth. How could you be so cold, Audrey? Your sister practically sacrificed her life for you, and you’re going to haggle over a few dollars?” I’d been “educated” this way for years. And Tiffany was genuinely sickly as a child. That familiar wave of guilt washed over me again. So I gritted my teeth and took out a loan for a brand new luxury car worth $150,000, just so Tiffany could make a ‘statement.’ On top of my main job, I picked up a night shift part-time gig and spent my weekends cleaning bathrooms for strangers.

Two years passed like that. I was suffocating under the crushing financial pressure. That’s when Mom and Dad introduced me to Blake, a man with a disability, but with excellent financial standing. I hesitated for only a moment before I agreed to the discounted deal. There was only one reason I agreed to marry him: he’d promised my parents an astronomical sum for our marriage. That exact amount was just enough for my parents to buy Tiffany an apartment in the city. If Tiffany’s apartment was settled, maybe, just maybe, my parents would finally leave me alone. Even though I despised his disability, I kept thinking about how I could finally live freely, So, urged on by my parents, I set a wedding date. But on the day of the reception, when I went back to the hotel room to touch up my makeup, I saw Blake pressing down on Tiffany. My sister’s face was flushed, and she was smiling媚地 from beneath him. Tiffany saw me push open the door but didn’t panic. Instead, her moans grew louder. “What… what are you two doing?” I was trembling so hard I couldn’t speak. Blake stopped moving when he heard my voice, turning his head to glare at me with disgust, as if my appearance had ruined their fun. “What, can’t you recognize a man and a woman enjoying themselves?” Blake stopped and stared at me provocatively. I felt all the blood in my body roar. I grabbed a fruit knife from a nearby table and lunged at them like a madwoman. But how can a woman fight a man? Even a disabled one? As Blake easily twisted me to the floor, He viciously pressed his foot down on my face, snarling each word: “You ugly bitch, you actually have a sister that hot? Why didn’t you say anything earlier? I would’ve just paid Tiffany to be my mistress. Why would I ever marry a hag like you? Sleeping next to you makes me sick!” And my own sister, at that moment, didn’t help me. Instead, she just stood there, sneering: “Audrey, I didn’t seduce him, okay? He came on to me! But it’s nothing new, really. The world has always revolved around me since we were little, haha! What can I say? You’re just so ugly, hahahaha…” That night, I threw myself from the fifty-second floor of the hotel. After I died, my mom held up an insurance policy, joyfully telling Tiffany: “Oh, your sister finally died! Twenty years of insurance premiums, not wasted after all! This payout will get you everything you need to break into Hollywood!” Tiffany barely even looked at the insurance papers, just gave them a casual side-eye, then leaned sweetly against my mom’s shoulder. My mom took Tiffany’s hand and said affectionately, “Mommy believes in you. My darling girl is so beautiful, she’s definitely going to be a huge celebrity someday!” At that moment, my dad chimed in, “Honey, with our amazing looks, how did we end up with such an ugly duckling for our firstborn?” Tiffany smirked, replying flippantly, “Is she really my twin sister? It’s so embarrassing. Hahahaha!” Dead, I watched all this in silence. My heart turned to ice.

I woke up again to the pop of fireworks outside my window. New Year’s. New Year’s Eve. Mom and Dad were preparing our big family dinner, and Tiffany was curled up on the couch watching TV. “Dinner’s ready! Dinner’s ready!” I lay in bed for five seconds, then realized – I was reborn! I quickly took my seat, grabbed a fork, and started shoveling all the meat from the pot onto my plate. “SMACK!” A sharp slap landed on my face. I turned to see my dad, his hand still suspended in the air, looking stunned himself. “Oh, Audrey, it’s not that Dad doesn’t want you to eat meat, it’s just… leave some for your sister.” In my past life, whenever they said that, I’d dutifully only take vegetables. But round two, and I wasn’t backing down. I put down my fork, clutching my cheek, and ran into the hallway, wailing at the top of my lungs: “Dad, I just want some meat! Tiffany always gets all the meat! Just let me have one bite on New Year’s Eve…” It was New Year’s Eve, and everyone in the apartment complex was home celebrating. When they heard my wailing, doors started popping open, and concerned neighbors poked their heads out. Mr. Henderson, from the apartment across the hall, pulled my dad aside. “Listen, Mr. Miller, when raising kids, you have to treat them fairly. They’re both your own flesh and blood. You can’t hurt your older daughter’s feelings just because the younger one is prettier…” “Mr. Henderson, what are you implying? No, no, we’ve always treated both our daughters exactly the same!” I scoffed internally: *Dad, do you even understand what ‘treated equally’ means?* After the ‘meat incident,’ Mom and Dad did stop neglecting my meals, probably afraid I’d spread more rumors. But they didn’t realize that I was about to unlock another perplexing mystery from my past life. In my previous life, Tiffany was always sickly as a child. Mom said it was ‘born with it.’ And the culprit who supposedly made Tiffany so frail? Of course, it was me, her ugly, sturdy older sister. According to Mom’s theory, I’d ‘stolen’ all of Tiffany’s nutrients in the womb, which led to her inherently delicate constitution. But what confused me was that every time Tiffany would ‘get’ a stomachache, and Mom took her to the doctor, she’d return in a brand-new, stylish outfit. Then I’d look at myself, wearing Tiffany’s old, unwanted clothes, and it suddenly clicked. That day, Mom gave Tiffany a knowing look, and Tiffany, without missing a beat, crumpled to the floor. “Ohhh, Mom! My stomach hurts so bad! My stomach bug is acting up again! Mom… I can’t take it anymore!” Just as Mom was about to rush over and help Tiffany up, I dashed forward and scooped my sister into my arms. “Are you okay, Tiff? Come on, big sis will carry you to the hospital!” Mom and Tiffany were stunned, staring at my wide, ready stance. “Mom, Tiffany’s in so much pain, what are you waiting for? If you think I’m too slow, maybe I should go shout for Dad’s friends from work to come help in the apartment complex!” As soon as Mom heard I was about to make another public scene, she quickly agreed, letting me carry Tiffany to the hospital. After the doctor confirmed nothing was wrong with various tests, Mom insisted the doctor check again. The doctor grew impatient: “Are you nuts? I’ve never seen someone insist on being sick when they’re perfectly fine!” Finally, the three of us were practically kicked out of the hospital. And my thoughtless sister, thinking that leaving the hospital meant it was time for the next step – mall shopping for new clothes – kept tugging at Mom’s arm, demanding to go. “SMACK!” Mom landed a slap right across Tiffany’s face. Tiffany burst into tears. *Well, look at that!* Mom would rather smack Tiffany than let her go shopping, just in case a stray dollar might end up in my pocket! Fine, fine, no shopping then. Living this life again, I didn’t care for such petty advantages. No, a real payback needs a plan.

Time flew to the eve of college applications again. To avoid my vicious parents meddling with my choices, I studied like a madwoman, chaining myself to my books for the past few years. I earned a full scholarship and early admission to the program I’d always dreamed of. Tiffany, of course, still flunked out and had to reapply. And when she was a sophomore in film school, she declared she wanted plastic surgery. That night, Mom called, telling me I needed to financially ‘support’ Tiffany’s cosmetic surgery. I agreed on the surface, then, without hesitation, leaked Tiffany’s plastic surgery plans onto her film school’s most popular gossip page. Tiffany had always been entitled, vicious, and a total bully since childhood. She had no real friends, only enemies. As expected, once the news broke, the floodgates opened, and everyone started piling on, adding their own dirt. “Even with a full makeover, she’d still be D-list at best!” “That evil girl tried to poison her roommate!” “She hooked up with the city’s wealthiest heir in her freshman year!” “She was secretly buying knock-offs but parading them as designer to look rich…” An overwhelming tide of negative public opinion crashed down on Tiffany. She couldn’t take it, directly withdrawing for a year and hiding back home. Because I’d changed Tiffany’s life trajectory this time, she stayed cooped up at home during her graduating year. The incident from my past life, where she hooked up with a rich kid and got pregnant, never happened. I was spared the trouble of caring for her post-procedure. Using this period of quiet at home, I studied relentlessly, securing an integrated Master’s/Ph.D. program. On my very first day of grad school, Mom’s call, asking me to buy Tiffany a car, came right on schedule. “Oh, Audrey, you two shared a placenta…” Just as Mom was about to launch into her usual rant about how I, the supposedly ‘strong’ and ‘ugly’ sister, had ‘stolen’ all of Tiffany’s nutrients in the womb, I cut her off sharply. “Mom, if you don’t have medical common sense, go schedule an appointment with a doctor. Tiffany and I shared a placenta, but the only impact of insufficient blood supply is fetal deformity. Tiffany’s hands and feet are all there, her organs are perfectly fine. She’s thin because she’s a picky eater!” Mom froze on the other end of the line: “You… you ungrateful wretch! You’re her older sister! How can you treat your own sister like this?” “Mom, I need to write my dissertation. I’m hanging up now.” After shutting Mom down, a wave of pure satisfaction washed over me. So this is what it feels like to be strong. It’s amazing. I thought about my past life, where I meekly faced my parents’ harshness and Tiffany’s arrogance. And now, in this life, I could handle injustice so easily. Amidst the thrill, a hint of sadness lingered. Six months into grad school, I started dating a classmate. We were on the same level, had similar tastes, and shared common goals… For the first time, I tasted love, and it was beautiful. But I never imagined that this time, my parents would set their sights on my boyfriend. One day, I got a call from Tiffany. Even though we were fraternal twins, I just couldn’t stand her fake, sugary sweet voice. “Audrey! I heard you have a boyfriend! You didn’t even tell me this amazing news!” “No need, really,” I replied dryly. “Oh, but Mom and Dad love you so much! You’re the pride of our family! So, Mom, Dad, and I are planning to come visit you!” “You don’t have to…” “Great! Then we’ll be there tomorrow!” Tiffany finished her little monologue and hung up, leaving me with a strong, ominous feeling.

The next day, Tiffany, dressed to the nines, arrived at my university with Mom and Dad. Liam, oblivious to what was going on, warmly greeted them. But in the way Tiffany looked at Liam, I saw the same shamelessness and scheming I’d seen in her with Blake in my past life. *Hmph, that manipulative bitch, she’s definitely up to no good!* I stayed on high alert, constantly watching Tiffany’s every move and word. At lunch, Tiffany insisted I go with her to buy a milkshake. In front of Liam, I couldn’t appear too cold, so I reluctantly went with her. Once we left the restaurant, Tiffany dragged me all over the place. After the milkshake, she wanted BBQ, then a makeup store… Having been tricked countless times in my past life, I snapped to attention with her barrage of demands: *This is a diversion!* With that thought, I shoved the things in my hands into Tiffany’s arms and sprinted back to the restaurant like an Olympic runner. But by the time I got back, Liam was already gone. Only my parents remained, giggling and whispering conspiratorially. “Oh, with her looks, that guy must be blind!” “Isn’t that right? This young man is too stubborn. How great would it have been if he ended up with our Tiffany, with all her advantages! Can you believe he said he didn’t like our Tiffany?!” Furious, I walked up and demanded, “What did you say to my boyfriend?” “Uh… well…” Mom stammered, then smiled. “Oh, Audrey, that boy’s just average! Mom and Dad will find you someone much better!” A leopard never changes its spots. Ever since I was a child, they’d always found ways to snatch away everything good I had and give it to Tiffany. In their hearts, I simply wasn’t worthy of any happiness. I ran out of the restaurant, crying, calling Liam’s phone as I ran. But after a long ring, a cold voice answered: “Let’s break up. I don’t want to be with someone so manipulative.” “Please, let me explain…” When I tried to call again, I was blocked. My first love, destroyed by my parents and sister, working together… And just a week later, my parents pushed Blake, that same man with the disability from my past life, onto me again. “Good girl, you have an education, he has money, you two are a powerful union!” “Daughter, listen to Dad. If you just give his family a son or a daughter, what more could you want in life? Endless wealth and glory!” I scoffed internally. *A ‘powerful union’? More like a freak show!* *Wealth and glory? More like selling me off to fund Tiffany’s career in the entertainment industry!* In this new life, despite my best efforts to fight back, my parents’ true faces hadn’t become any less ugly, just less blatant. Beneath their phony mask, they were still so vile! Perhaps no matter how hard I tried, even with education, status, and money, In their eyes, I would always be their embarrassing, ugly daughter, Always a cheap pawn, a bargaining chip to secure Tiffany’s bright future! But reborn, even consumed by fury, I still acted compliant when faced with this marriage. From the blind date to the wedding reception, it took only a short month. On the night of the reception, I specifically invited all the classmates Tiffany had offended, Pleading with them to grace my wedding with their presence, as if I were apologizing on Tiffany’s behalf. Then I timed it perfectly, waiting until I figured Blake and Tiffany were in the thick of it, And with Tiffany’s classmates gathered around, I beeped open the hotel’s bridal suite door with the key card. “Well, Blake, you might be challenged, but you’ve certainly got some… unique talents, huh?” The moment the door opened, Tiffany’s sweet, breathless moans and their sickening flirting shocked everyone. They all crept closer, trying to get a better look. And I calmly opened my phone, recording the whole scandalous scene, every single detail. Just as Tiffany shrieked and tugged at the blanket to cover herself, I had already uploaded the video online. The title: “My Sister on My Wedding Night, Climbing Into My Husband’s Bed.”

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The third time I underwent chemotherapy, Asher Vance was at the airport, picking up Willow Sterling from her return. The side effects of chemo were pure torture, making me feel like I was living death. Even my doctor had gently hinted that late-stage treatment probably wouldn’t do much good. “You’ll be in immense pain, and it won’t prolong your life.” He was urging me to consider a dignified exit. I thought about it too. But I couldn’t. My daughter, Stella, was only four years old. I couldn’t let her grow up without a mother, just like I did. Asher Vance and I grew up together in the same upscale neighborhood. Our families were equally well-off, we were close in age, and even our parents had been close friends for years. Mrs. Vance used to tease me more times than I could count. “Harper, darling, when you were still just a bump in your mom’s belly, I already decided you’d be my daughter-in-law!” It was a long-standing family joke. As a kid, I didn’t quite get it, but I knew I really, really liked Asher. In high school and college, he was the most popular guy on campus, the star athlete, the one everyone looked up to. And I was the most beloved girl, the one everyone seemed to adore. When it came to being likable, I was definitely Asher’s equal. But I wasn’t likable to *him*. In college, he plunged into a whirlwind campus romance. Not with me, but with his classmate, Willow Sterling. They did everything every campus couple does: grand romantic gestures with flowers, sharing intimate moments over a single drink, kissing, and eventually, spending nights together. I only met Willow once. Asher brought her back to the Vance family mansion, declaring he wanted to marry her. Mrs. Vance, furious, threw Willow out, Asher right along with her. It was the height of a hurricane. The rain was so heavy it felt like it could knock you down. I saw Asher tumble onto the wet ground. Without a second thought, I grabbed an umbrella and rushed out. The wet pavement was treacherous. I slipped, and the sharp gravel tore into my knee. Blood mixed with the rain, streaming down my leg. But in that moment, I felt no pain. My eyes were fixed solely on Asher, slumped on the ground in the pouring rain. “Ash…” As I got closer, I finally saw Willow. She was drenched, her developed figure clearly outlined beneath her wet clothes. Her beautiful long hair plastered to her face, and her right hand was clutched tightly in Asher’s. “This is because of you, isn’t it? My mom disapproves because of you?” Asher looked at the umbrella I was holding over his head, but those were the only words he spoke to me. I stood there, stunned, watching him snatch the umbrella from my hand and, with Willow, slowly walk away. The hurricane raged. That day, Asher never once looked back. A year later, Asher and I got married. Three years into our marriage, I gave birth to our daughter, Stella. Seven years later, I was diagnosed with cancer. And Willow Sterling, who had vanished for seven years, returned to the country. In a SnapChat message from Willow, she called it karma. She was the only one who knew about my illness, besides my doctor. Because I begged her. “Just fifteen more days. After fifteen days, I’ll give Asher back to you, completely. Can you just…” “Can you let Stella think you’re her mother?”

The first thing I did after every chemo session was adjust my wig. It was too painful; lying in that hospital bed, I was far from presentable. But to the outside world, I was Mrs. Vance. Within my family, I was the sole heiress of the Reid fortune. Everything I learned from childhood was about maintaining composure and dignity. It was no different now. After fixing my wig and clothes, I didn’t look like a patient at all. I looked like a wealthy socialite just popping in for a routine check-up. “I just want a little more time. Time where I can still be myself.” “Mrs. Vance… Ms. Reid, based on human willpower, I’d say you have about fifteen days before you’ll need to be admitted. The pain management medication can only be administered in a special ward.” I knew exactly what he meant by “special medication”—something illegal outside of a hospital. Expensive, dangerous, and a way to lessen the agonizing pain at the very end. “Alright, I’ll be there.” Dr. Evans was a scholarship student my family had sponsored. He always treated me differently than he would a regular patient. “Ms. Reid, are you really not going to tell Mr. Vance? For this illness, family involvement…” “He’s not a doctor. What good would it do for him to know?” I forced a smile, the corners of my mouth stretching the skin on my face, bringing a faint sting, like a tiny blood vessel had burst. I instinctively touched my cheek. My phone buzzed just then. It was Asher. “Where are you?” “At the spa. Why?” I adjusted my voice, trying to make my lie sound more convincing. I heard Asher’s cold snort from the other end. “What kind of mother are you?! The nanny is calling *me*? Do I have to come home and deal with our kid?!” “Is there a problem with you handling our child?” I felt nothing, just answered him mechanically. “You know what’s going on with that child, deep down!” Asher hung up, tossing that line out like trash. I heard the roar of a plane engine and a cacophony of voices on his end. He was at the airport. Because right after he hung up, a SnapChat message from Willow popped up on my phone. The picture showed her and Asher intimately cuddled together, fingers intertwined, like they were already husband and wife. “Ms. Reid, I’ve arrived.” Where would Asher take her today? To the penthouse suite of a luxurious five-star hotel? A carefully arranged suburban villa? Or perhaps that cozy little cabin where they once found ecstasy? I imagined them tangled together, and a wave of nausea surged through me. *Ugh*. When I got out of the car, I couldn’t help but gag at the front door. The door swung open, and a tiny ball of fluff, my little Stella, rushed out and hugged my leg. “Mommy! Stella missed you so much! Boo hoo hoo!” Her adorable little face was streaked with tears and snot, wiping all over my dress. I forced down the discomfort in my body and picked her up. “My poor little Stella, why are you crying so sadly? Mommy will wipe it away.” My munchkin clung to my back, whimpering miserably. “Stella woke up and didn’t see Mommy! I called Daddy, and Daddy was mean to Stella! Mommy, I’m scared.” “Don’t be scared, Mommy went to buy Stella a present.” I pulled out the Frozen Queen hair clip I’d prepared earlier and tucked it into her hand. Little girls are easily pleased; she stopped crying instantly. “Mommy, look! Stella looks pretty!” “Yes, Stella looks beautiful.” A four-year-old wasn’t heavy, but for my current state, it was still a struggle. Before I even made it through the front door, a cold sweat had broken out on my forehead. My little girl noticed immediately and panicked, clumsily trying to wipe the sweat from my brow, clamoring to be put down. I was overjoyed when Stella was born. Besides being Asher’s and my child, her eyes and brows resembled Asher so much. But as she grew, I realized she was more like me. Good. She was more like me. My munchkin ordered dinner, and I, for a rare change, managed to get into the kitchen. As the scent of apples steamed through the air, the villa door opened. Asher Vance. Willow Sterling. And a boy. The boy’s hand was clasped in Asher’s.

“Why are *you* cooking?” Asher walked into the kitchen, first glaring at Maria, then letting his gaze fall on my hands. I didn’t stop stirring with the spatula, but he grabbed my hand abruptly. “Needle marks? I thought you went to the spa?” They were needle marks from IVs. My veins were difficult to find, and nurses often had to try several spots, leaving behind some noticeable traces. “Yeah, new treatment.” I tugged my sleeve down, lowering my gaze to the steaming pot. Asher’s mind was always so sharp. That’s what I used to love most about him. He could spot the subtle unhappiness in my childhood when classmates bullied me, and he could find hidden traps in complex business contracts. “You’d better not be messing with anything illegal.” Asher walked out of the kitchen. “After all, your parents…” “Enough.” I cut him off, my voice laced with sarcasm. “Are you going to bring up my parents in front of your mistress and her child?” I had never spoken to Asher like that before. His surprise was plastered all over his face, that handsome face I’d been obsessed with for years, shifting from shock to pure fury. He slammed the kitchen door shut and stared at me, his eyes burning. “How can you talk about Willow like that?!” “Oh? I didn’t realize I wasn’t supposed to call her that. Isn’t that what she is?” I scooped the apple pork chops onto a plate. This used to be Asher’s favorite dish. To perfectly suit his taste, I spent an entire summer cooped up in the kitchen, replacing my perfume scent with the smell of cooking oil. He used to say he didn’t like pampered rich girls, so I learned to do everything. My only moments of true indulgence were when I was with my parents. He always believed that even after marrying him, I remained willful and innocent. That’s why, before they died, my parents entrusted everything to Asher. They only asked one promise from him: never to divorce me, and to take care of me for life. And Asher kept his word. That was the most agonizing part. He wasn’t a complete monster. He had just enough decency, just that tiny bit of sincerity, to string me along year after year, day after day. Stringing me along as I watched him fly to the States again and again, watching him have a son with Willow. But we wouldn’t get a divorce. “Is that Harper cooking? It smells so good!” Willow invited herself in, breaking the tense silence between Asher and me. “I just got back with my son, Asher. I really didn’t know where else to stay, so I just followed him back to crash for a couple of days. I didn’t have your contact info, so I couldn’t tell you beforehand. So sorry about that!” Didn’t have my contact info? I remembered those scandalous photos she’d sent me and just found it amusing. I carried the plate out. Stella sat at the dining table, looking at me with a puzzled expression. “Mommy, who are this lady and this boy?” “This is… Daddy’s friend.” I wanted to use something truly vicious to describe her, but a sharp pain shot through my arm at that exact moment, like a clock chiming, jolting me awake from any illusion of happiness. Just like Willow’s uninvited presence, the pain reminded me. I only had fifteen days left.

Asher settled Willow and her son in the guest bedroom, which was very close to the master suite—the room he used to sleep in. After Stella was born, Asher and I started sleeping separately. When we first got married, I tried so hard to make him love me. We’d grown up together; I thought I knew his preferences. But day after day, I started to understand. I was just the villainess in some rich-girl-loves-the-wrong-guy novel, and Willow was his true love, his ‘white moonlight’. Nothing I did mattered. Asher said it himself. When he was drunk, he’d stare at me with bloodshot eyes and demand, “Do you really think I’ll love you just because you drove her away?” “Never. Don’t even dream of it!” I stopped dreaming. For the next seven years, I didn’t dream anymore. I just clung to that fifteen-year-old Asher, curled up, slowly living my own life. Too bad fate wasn’t on my side. I had just tucked Stella into bed when I found Willow waiting. She had dropped the humble act she put on for Asher and stood proudly in front of me. I heard she hadn’t left her career in these years and had become quite successful. She certainly exuded a sharp, professional edge that I lacked. When I was very young, I once imagined becoming someone like that. “How’s your health?” Willow asked, which made me raise an eyebrow. “Not good.” “I can tell.” A faint smile played on her lips. “You know, when Asher was making my bed earlier, he mentioned you. He said you’ve lost a lot of weight these past six months.” I was somewhat bewildered, wondering why Asher would say such a thing, and even more so why Willow was telling me this. Willow grabbed the hand with the needle marks and pressed down hard. The sharp pain snapped me back to reality. She leaned in close, almost whispering in my ear. “Your daughter… she’s too much like you. What you asked me to do, I need to think about it.” “What do you want?” “I’m not a bad person, and I have no interest in tormenting a child. The Vance family has a ridiculous amount of money; they can certainly afford one child. But, for the time you have left, you need to prove something to me.” “Prove that Asher doesn’t love you.” I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing. The laughter grew, turning into a roaring, tear-inducing fit, so loud it even drew Asher out of the guest room. He stood in the doorway, watching me from a distance. This was something that needed to be proven? And *I* had to prove it? “Alright, Ms. Sterling, I’ll prove it to you.” With that, I raised my hand and swung, delivering a resounding slap across Willow’s face. The blow was so hard and crisp that her frameless glasses fell to the floor. I used almost all my strength. After the slap, I could barely stand. Willow was clearly stunned, looking at me with disbelief. And Asher, who had been standing at the guest room doorway, instinctively lunged forward, returning the slap to me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296758”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic