After our first time together, Ethan gently wiped the sweat from my forehead. He spoke softly, “Baby, let’s give our school’s Stanford acceptance to Sienna.” I looked at him in disbelief. “What did you say?” “Sienna was having sex with me when I got carried away and agreed. I just said yes in the heat of the moment.” My blood ran cold. “What if I don’t agree?” He chuckled and gently took my hand, then opened a video on his phone. The video showed us in our intimate moments just now. “Baby, you sound so sweet in my arms. I don’t really want to share that with anyone else.” ” Apply to other Ivy League schools next year. I’m sure you’ll get into one again. I promise, we’ll get married after you graduate from college.” I held back my tears. Ethan didn’t know that my mom had already arranged for me to go to Oxford University. I would never believe in his promised future again. “Baby, you know I hate threatening people. Especially you.” He brushed away the damp hair stuck to my forehead with sweat, kissing me tenderly over and over. But his words cut like sharp knives. “You have to understand my position though. Sienna stripped naked and climbed into my bed. I couldn’t just take advantage for free.” “And it’s because you were too afraid of pain. I couldn’t bear to hurt you, so I practiced enough on her first before using my best technique on you.” I stared at him in disbelief. My chest felt like it had been sliced open by a blade, grinding out unbearable pain. “Why? If you really loved me, why would you betray me?” My voice was terribly hoarse. Ethan acted as if nothing was wrong, gently caressing my bloodless cheek. “No reason. Sienna has a nice body and she’s clean. When meat is delivered to your door, why wouldn’t you eat it?” After saying that, he smiled suggestively. “You seemed to enjoy the technique I practiced pretty well just now, didn’t you?” I instantly felt like I’d swallowed a fly, desperately suppressing the nausea churning in my stomach. Seeing my face turn frighteningly pale, Ethan frowned and pulled me close with pity. “Little fool, don’t overthink it. Sienna is just a tool I use to satisfy my physical needs. She can’t compare to you at all.” “Besides, she’s your best friend. You know her inside and out. While I wait for you this year at Cambridge, sleeping with her means I won’t have to find dirty women outside. Doesn’t that put your mind at ease?” “Sienna is very kind. She doesn’t ask for status. She just hopes that after we get married, she can still hook up with me once or twice occasionally.” My whole body felt electrified, frozen stiff. I understood every word, but strung together, they made my entire body turn ice cold. One was my childhood sweetheart of ten years who kept saying he couldn’t live without me. The other was my friend whom I’d supported for three years, who said she’d spend her life repaying my kindness and whom I’d treated like a sister. I never would have thought that just an hour ago, I was full of hope for the future, blessed with both love and friendship. In a flash, I’d been betrayed by the two most important people in my life and left with nothing. I kept taking deep breaths to suppress the nausea and bitter pain that threatened to explode in my chest. “Ethan, I can give you up to Sienna, but I won’t give up my Cambridge acceptance.” As soon as I finished speaking, Ethan couldn’t help but laugh. “Stop playing around.” “You swore at eight years old that you’d marry no one but me. You’ve been following me around all these years like a puppy. Everyone knows you love me like life itself.” “Without me, could you even survive?” I felt like a fish thrown onto shore, suffocating and gasping for air. The year I turned eight, my parents divorced, and I was left with my frequently traveling father. The nanny taking care of me embezzled all the living expenses my dad left behind and tried to sell me to human traffickers. It was Ethan who was dragged for over a hundred meters by a black car, risking his life to save me. Though barely alive, before losing consciousness, he still remembered to cover my trembling, terrified eyes. “Luna, don’t look. I won’t die. I still have to protect you for the rest of your life.” That beam of light I’d taken as my salvation had become the sword piercing through my chest ten years later. Seeing my silence, Ethan pulled a document from the nightstand drawer. He shoved a pen into my hand, smiling as he hugged me from behind. “The waiver form for the acceptance. Be good and sign it.” The obscene sounds from my phone kept looping. Ethan watched with great interest. “Baby, you have such a nice body and sweet voice.” My whole body trembled. I bit my lip until it bled, unable to tell if it was from anger or hate. After a long while, I finally swallowed the tears bitter as salt and spoke hoarsely, “I’ll sign if you delete the video.” “Of course. Whatever baby doesn’t like, your husband promises to delete completely.” A phone ringtone sounded. The screen showed a contact saved as “My Little Sweetheart.” Ethan didn’t answer. He put on his pants, grabbed the signed document, and before leaving, kissed my forehead. “That’s my good girl.” Watching his retreating figure, I sat in a daze for a long time. Only after my tears flowed until I felt numb did I dial a familiar number. “Mom, I’ll listen to you. I’m coming to you.”

That evening, Ethan came to pick me up for a celebration party. A party celebrating Sienna stealing my Stanford acceptance. Just as I was about to open the passenger door, the car window rolled down first. Revealing Sienna’s carefully made-up face. She smiled sweetly. “Luna, Ethan says the passenger seat is only for the most important person. You don’t mind, do you?” I had gone with Ethan to pick out this car together. As a gift for both of us going to Cambridge. When we first bought it, he decorated all the interior to match my preferences. He put a label on the passenger seat that said “Wife’s Seat Only,” vowing he’d never let any other woman sit in the position that belonged exclusively to me. Now, the plush toy charm I loved had been removed and thrown at Sienna’s feet, its white fur bearing a clear footprint. Sitting on the seat labeled “Wife’s Seat Only” was the person Ethan called his most important. And Ethan acted like nothing was wrong, smiling as he pinched Sienna’s cheek. “Stop slandering my girlfriend. My Luna wouldn’t mind such a small thing.” I said nothing as he pushed me into the back seat. Throughout the ride, the two of them flirted shamelessly as if no one else existed. Sienna practically had half her body draped over Ethan. Seeing my pale face, she turned around with a giggle. “Luna, Ethan told me everything. Since you know now, I don’t have to work so hard to hide it from you anymore.” She deliberately loosened her collar, revealing the dense marks on her collarbone. The look she gave me was full of undisguised provocation and triumph. “You don’t know how wild Ethan is in bed. He made me cry until my voice went hoarse and still didn’t stop. Is he that rough with you too?” I looked at her, my eyelid twitching uncontrollably. It was like I was meeting this woman who used to follow me around for the first time. When we first met, she was timid. Because of me, she would work up the courage to warn Ethan not to bully me, and especially not to wrong me. But in just three years, she’d become the person who bullied me most, who wronged me most. She could even treat her shamelessness as casual conversation like it was nothing. A flash of discomfort crossed Ethan’s face. He scolded her quietly. “Sienna, stop it.” Sienna rolled her eyes. “What’s wrong with talking about it? Luna’s not an outsider.” She smiled as if it was perfectly natural. “I’ve already planned it out. After you two get married, I get you on weekdays, and you’re hers on weekends. How’s that?” When you’re speechless to the extreme, you actually want to laugh. Perhaps I’d already witnessed her shamelessness enough. At this moment, I didn’t even feel the slightest twinge of pain. My head felt wooden, my heart hollow and cold as if it had been carved out. It wasn’t until the car stopped and Ethan took my ice-cold hand that I realized my whole body had been tense to the breaking point. He rubbed my fingertips with heartache written all over his face. “Luna, don’t listen to Sienna’s nonsense. The person I love most will always be you.” I pulled my hand away and laughed mockingly. When we entered the private room, several of Ethan’s friends were already there. Watching how familiar they all were with each other, I suddenly realized that everyone knew Ethan and Sienna had been entangled for a long time. Only I had been like a fool, lost in their calls of “Luna.” After several rounds of drinks, Sienna collapsed into Ethan’s arms, crying that she’d finally made something of herself. I couldn’t stand listening anymore. I got up to leave, but she turned red-eyed. “Luna, why won’t you congratulate me? I worked so hard to get into Cambridge. Why do you still look down on me?” Got in? Even if I gave up my acceptance, Sienna’s grades weren’t good enough for the spot to go to her. The words ” special connections” might as well have been written on her face, yet she had the nerve to say she got in. I was angry enough to laugh, but before I could say anything, Ethan’s cold voice rang out. “Luna, today is Sienna’s big day. Don’t ruin the mood.”

I looked at Ethan’s darkened expression, thinking of the plane ticket information my mom had just sent me. I took a deep breath and sat back down. Sienna smugly curved her lips and gave someone a look. Immediately, someone suggested playing Truth or Dare. I was about to refuse when people had already started drawing cards. The first person chosen for Truth was Ethan. Amid the teasing, everyone laughed with knowing looks. “Ethan, tell us about your best experience?” Ethan crossed his legs and leaned back. His fingers were still drawing circles in my palm, but his hazy gaze fell on Sienna. With a half-smile, he said, “My place, bathroom, great water pressure.” As soon as he finished speaking, the cheering in the room nearly lifted the roof. Sienna blushed and raised her fist to lightly punch his chest twice. “You’re terrible.” Ethan grabbed her hand and used the momentum to pull her onto his lap. Their eyes met, and Sienna wrapped her arms around his neck. Amid everyone’s cheering, the two began kissing passionately as if no one else existed. I sat less than six feet away. The air conditioning in the room was warm, but I only felt the temperature in my blood dropping bit by bit. I don’t know how long passed before Sienna finally emerged from Ethan’s embrace, gasping for breath. The smile on her face carried thick malice. “Luna, I kissed your boyfriend. You’re not angry, are you?” Ethan indulgently picked up where she left off. “Enjoy being smug now. After I graduate and get married, my body and soul will belong only to Luna.” Hearing his condescending tone, cold laughter rose in my heart. Ethan had never asked me. He was even smugly confident that I had already digested their limitless disgustingness on my own. Obediently waiting until after college graduation, standing in place waiting for him to finish playing around before coming to marry me. But he didn’t know that I would never want someone who’d been dirtied. A flash of vicious resentment and unwillingness crossed Sienna’s eyes. Soon, she pouted and pointed at the crescent moon necklace around my neck, acting coy. “Since we’re going to separate eventually, can I have this necklace you gave Luna as a keepsake?” I instinctively covered my neck. Looking at Ethan. He knew this necklace was our token of love, that he’d personally apprenticed himself to craft it for me bit by bit. When he put it on me, the affection reflected in his eyes was vivid. “Luna, you’re the one I’ve marked as mine. As long as the moon doesn’t fall, my love for you will never change.” The moon won’t fall, but true hearts had already changed. “Luna, give it to Sienna.” As soon as he finished, he seemed to realize he’d gone too far and added, “We still have a long future ahead. It’s just one necklace. Your husband will buy you several more later.” It was the expected outcome, but my heart still couldn’t help but be wrung with pain. I lowered my eyes, forcing back the moisture in them, took off the necklace and placed it on the table. “You all have fun. I’m leaving first.” Ethan stared at my retreating back. His chest suddenly surged with an unsettling anxiety. As if once I walked out that door, we would head toward an irreversible ending. He instinctively stood up to chase after me, but Sienna suddenly grabbed his arm and pressed against him, whispering suggestively, “Ethan, today is my celebration party. I’ve prepared a second round for tonight. Black lace, your favorite.” Ethan’s gaze fell on her slightly open collar. His Adam’s apple bobbed. He struggled for a moment, but his steps ultimately retreated. It would be fine. After being together for so many years, he was my entire support and faith. I loved him so much, how could I bear to truly leave him? As if convincing himself, Ethan pulled Sienna close and sat back down with a clear conscience. No one saw the crescent moon necklace being casually tossed by Sienna into the trash can.

Early the next morning, I was still asleep when my door was suddenly slammed open with a crash. Before I could recover from being startled awake, a rough force violently dragged me off the bed. The moment I looked up, I met Ethan’s face burning with barely suppressed fury. “I already said things with Sienna were just for fun. Why did you still do this?” “Are you satisfied now that you’ve driven her to death?” I stared wide-eyed in confusion, having no idea what he was talking about. Then my phone was violently hurled at me. On the lit screen were Sienna’s indecent photos. Though the important areas were censored, her body’s contours were fully visible. Her address and phone number were even posted below. The title was crude and vicious: “Ungrateful scholarship student climbs into sponsor’s boyfriend’s bed, free slut, first come first served.” The comment section had already exploded with tens of thousands of floors of abuse. “Poor mountains and bad water breed loose women. Poverty doesn’t limit imagination, and it certainly doesn’t limit spread legs.” “This shameless trash plays around so much, any man can probably have her.” “Ungrateful wolf who bites the hand that feeds her should be eliminated from humanity. Living is just wasting air.” “Already on my way. Any brothers want to form a group?” “…” Ethan’s face was livid. “You drove Sienna to slit her wrists. She almost didn’t make it.” “I’ve already contacted the media. You’re going to the hospital to apologize on your knees and publicly clarify that you maliciously photoshopped these images out of jealousy.” I looked at him like he was a stranger. “I didn’t do it. I’m not going!” Sienna suddenly ran in wearing a pitiful hospital gown, crying until she could barely breathe. “Ethan, forget it. Don’t make things difficult for Luna because of me. It’s my fault for shamelessly falling in love with you. I don’t blame Luna for hating me. I only blame myself for not being able to control my feelings for you.” Ethan looked at her swaying, fragile figure and pulled her into his arms, his heart nearly breaking with pain. “You’re not the one who did wrong. Why should you blame yourself!” He looked up at me, the tenderness in his eyes completely replaced by ice. “Luna, I’m giving you one last chance. Post a statement now. Publicly clarify and apologize to Sienna online.” Sienna suddenly broke free from his embrace and quickly grabbed my hand, hitting herself in the face with it. “Luna, I just got accepted to Cambridge. I don’t want my future ruined. Just hit me. I’m begging you. If you’re angry, hit me. You can even beat me to death if you want. Just please let me leave with my reputation intact.” She used great force, pulling me stumbling toward the sharp corner of the coffee table. The pain made my vision go black. But she suddenly let out a shrill scream and fell backward. “Ah, Luna, don’t kick me…” Ethan quickly helped her up, his eyes practically shooting fire. “Luna Williams, have you lost your mind? You dare hit someone right in front of me? Is there anything you wouldn’t do?” He took a deep breath and pulled out his phone from his pocket, quickly tapping it several times. When the familiar obscene sounds started playing, my whole body froze, plunging into an icy abyss. “You promised me that if I signed the waiver, you’d delete the video. You lied to me?” I yelled with red eyes, every inch of my heart feeling crushed by heavy machinery. Ethan showed no guilt, his gaze ice-cold to the point of cruelty. “I gave you a chance. An eye for an eye. It’s fair.” His finger hovered over the send button, about to press down. “No!” I squeezed my eyes shut, humiliated tears hitting the floor. “I’ll apologize. I’ll clarify.” I opened my social media account and admitted to crimes I never committed, saying I was jealous of Sienna and maliciously photoshopped images to slander her, and publicly apologized to her. In less than two minutes, public opinion across the internet reversed. The dirty water redirected, flooding toward me. Ethan smiled with satisfaction. “I’ll let it go this time. Consider it a lesson. You’re going to marry me eventually. I don’t want my future wife to be a vicious woman.” After finishing his speech, looking at me sitting motionless on the floor with unfocused eyes, his heart suddenly tightened, as if something was about to slip through his fingers. He said somewhat guiltily, “I’ll delete the video now.” Just as he was about to do it, Sienna beside him turned pale and collapsed into his arms. “Ethan, I’m dizzy, I feel terrible…” He had to pick her up. Before leaving, he threw out, “Reflect on yourself properly. I’ll take Sienna to the hospital first and come check on you later.” The door opened and closed, falling into dead silence. Ten minutes later, my phone suddenly lit up. On the other end, Ethan had just sent Sienna to the hospital. After a thorough examination confirming she was fine, he finally pulled out his phone to call me. But as soon as he unlocked the screen, he was struck as if by lightning. Popping up across every platform online was the uncensored high-definition video from his phone.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “392098”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

The night before the marking ceremony, I found another woman’s underwear in my home. To find out who this woman was, I went to check the security footage at home. But I accidentally overheard my fiancé Isaac say: “I have no intention of marking her. I’m just doing this to piss Floyd off.” “On the day of the ceremony, I’ll announce that the game is over.” Floyd was the fated mate who rejected me, and also Alpha Isaac’s sworn enemy. I immediately bought a plane ticket out of the country. Four years later, Isaac found me and begged me to go back with him. I just laughed and replied: “I stopped loving you a long time ago.” He didn’t know that I was now a werewolf’s mate. Caroline POV Ten minutes ago, I found women’s underwear on my living room couch. Isaac’s scent completely masked that woman’s scent though. To find out who this woman was, I went to check the estate’s security footage. I quickly found the video. It was Bethany, that woman Isaac said was his sister! I angrily wanted to rush out and rip that woman’s throat apart, but suddenly heard a mocking laugh coming from the video. “Isaac, you and I are having sex in your home. If Caroline finds out, won’t she be angry?” My hand on the mouse froze. I thought I would hear Isaac defend me. “Angry?” Isaac’s voice was cold, accompanied by the hoarseness after passion. “Right now her head is full of how to be the most beautiful bride. She doesn’t have time to be angry.” My smile froze on my face. The conversation in the car continued, each word cutting like a knife. “To piss Floyd off, spending so much on this ceremony—is it worth it? What if Caroline actually clings to you? Are you really going to become mates with her? But you haven’t marked her in four years, so you probably don’t plan to, right?” On the screen, Isaac exhaled a smoke ring, blurring his handsome profile. But it didn’t blur the coldness in his eyes. “This small price to see Alpha Floyd’s shitty expression of displeasure? That’s a good deal.” He chuckled lightly, as if discussing some worthless object. “On the day of the ceremony, I’ll announce in front of everyone that the game is over. Alpha Floyd’s face will definitely be spectacular. After all, no matter what, she’s still his fated mate. And he hasn’t found a second one yet.” Bethany laughed wickedly, then turned over to straddle Isaac. “What about Caroline after that? She was abandoned by her fated mate, and then publicly rejected by you. Won’t she go insane and die?” Isaac flicked his ash, casual and indifferent: “Adult games. She’s the stupid one. Who else can she blame?” The video stopped abruptly. The study fell deathly silent. I sat frozen in my chair, my blood turning to ice. So these four years of devotion were just an elaborate, calculated lie. All because his sworn enemy, Alpha Floyd, was my fated mate. Though he rejected me, until he marked someone else or I was marked by someone else, we would be bound together by this cursed fate. I could feel his pain. Likewise, if I suffered, Floyd would suffer unbearably too. But Isaac knew full well that publicly rejecting me at the marking ceremony would turn the moonlight that symbolized blessings into a curse. It would cause my wolf to go insane, and I might even die on the spot. My stomach churned violently. I rushed to the bathroom and dry heaved over the toilet, but nothing came up. Tears splashed onto the floor. I wiped them away viciously. Caroline, don’t cry. This scum isn’t worth it. My wolf, already quite weak since Floyd’s rejection, reminded me calmly. I splashed cold water on my face, looking at my pale reflection in the mirror. Since you want to play games, I’ll give you what you want. I returned to the computer, hands still shaking, but my eyes had gone cold. I clipped the segment of Isaac and his lover Bethany having sex and backed it up to the cloud. Just then, my phone lit up. A message from Isaac popped up: “Date tonight? Remember to wear that black lingerie. It looks beautiful on you.” I looked at that familiar profile picture, at his familiar flirtatious words. My fingertips went white from the pressure. Finally, I replied: “Okay.” I put down my phone and walked into the closet. I found that set of black lace lingerie. He’d had it custom-made last week by a private designer in Paris, then flown back on a private jet. He said only my curves could carry such pure yet dangerous black. He said he enjoyed the feeling of having sex with me, yet he always held back from marking me. The memory flashed back instantly to that rainy night four years ago. Floyd suddenly rejected me, which broke my heart, but I loved him, so I wanted to win his heart back. But when I went to give him his birthday gift, I happened to see him kissing a woman I didn’t know. I wanted to confront him, but he threw my birthday gift into the trash and mocked me in front of everyone: “Caroline, can’t you understand what I’m saying? Just looking at you makes me sick.” The whole room laughed. I was as humiliated as a clown. It was Isaac who stepped out from the corner, draped his coat over me, and shielded me from those humiliating stares. He also soothed the pain that my wolf and I endured. “Come with me,” he said. “I’ll take you home.” That night, I thought he was my salvation. Now I know it was all fake.

Caroline POV At seven in the evening, Isaac came to pick me up right on time. He wore a black suit with a white shirt underneath. On the collar was a red lipstick mark. The lipstick color was exactly the same as the one I’d found in the car. If this were before, I would have angrily confronted him. But now, I pretended not to see it and didn’t ask a single question. As soon as I got in the car, he leaned over and planted a kiss on my forehead. “Good evening, darling. You don’t look well.” He held my hand, his brow furrowed slightly, his eyes full of concern. “What happened?” If I hadn’t heard that recording. I would definitely think I was the happiest woman in the world right now. I withdrew my hand, pretending to smooth my dress: “Maybe just a bit tired.” Isaac didn’t suspect anything. He smiled and started the car: “Then let’s go. I’ll take you somewhere to relax tonight.” The location was the observation deck bar at the highest point in the city. You could overlook the entire city’s night view. The waiter arranged a quiet corner for us. When the appetizers were served, I spoke as if casually: “Isaac.” “Hmm?” He naturally pushed a specially made non-alcoholic cocktail in front of me, the movement smooth and practiced. “I ran into Bethany today.” I stared into his eyes, not missing a single flicker of expression on his face. “She asked me if I was nervous. She said you prepared a gift for me at the ceremony venue.” Isaac’s hand reaching for his glass paused. Just for a second, too fast to catch. Then he looked up, his smile flawless: “I wanted to surprise you. Didn’t expect you’d find out early.” “By the way…” I gripped the cold glass, my fingertips pressing hard. “Floyd came back to the country recently. Will you…” “Caroline.” Isaac put down his glass and placed his hand over mine. His palm was warm, but his tone carried an indisputable firmness. “Why bring him up? I’ve told you, I love you. He abandoned you—that’s his fault, not yours.” He looked at me, his gaze so affectionate it could drown someone: “I would never do something like that.” “Okay, let’s drop it.” I lowered my head and took a sip of the sweet and sour liquid in my glass. It was clearly a carefully crafted flavor, but sliding down my throat, it left only bitterness. “Oh, right.” Isaac seemed to remember something. He took out an exquisite velvet box and pushed it in front of me. “Almost forgot. This is a gift for you.” I opened it. It was a string of lustrous white pearls, each one gleaming with warm light, worth a fortune. “Do you like it?” He looked at me expectantly. I looked at that serene pearl luster and suddenly remembered an Instagram story Bethany posted last month. In the photo, she was holding an antique jewelry catalog, her fingertip pointing at an illustration of a pearl necklace. The caption read: [I love this kind of classic, understated luster. Too bad Isaac says pearls are too dignified and don’t suit my style.] I suddenly felt it was ironic. He doted on Bethany so much, yet said she wasn’t suited for such dignified jewelry. Instead, he gave this necklace to me? “I love it.” I closed the lid and curved my lips at him. “It must have been expensive?” “Spending money on you is worth any price.” Isaac ruffled my hair, his eyes full of affection. I excused myself to the restroom to touch up my makeup. Standing at the sink, I looked at the woman with perfect makeup in the mirror and pulled a smile uglier than crying. Since you want to play the devoted lover. Then I’ll help you along. I took out my phone and called my father’s beta, Harlan. He picked up quickly. “Ms. Caroline, have you reconsidered the Alpha’s proposal?” I looked at myself in the mirror, my voice terrifyingly calm: “I won’t become alpha. I’ve said this before—my brother is more suited for that role. But I need you to do something for me.” Over the years, I’d rarely leveraged my alpha father’s power. After all, my brother was deeply insecure about his position as heir. He always felt that I, his sister who’d been more battle-hungry than him since childhood, would take his place. Too bad I never had such intentions. But to avoid unnecessary conflicts, I tried not to do things that could be misunderstood. Another factor was that neither Floyd’s Frostveil Pack nor Isaac’s Ironridge Pack were ones we could afford to provoke. Even if I asked for help, my father wouldn’t be able to rescue me. Only now, I wasn’t asking them to rescue me. “What do you need me to do?” “Tell my family they don’t need to come for my marking ceremony. Also, book me a plane ticket for the day of the ceremony. I’ll go back and explain to them in person.” If I bought the ticket myself, it would be discovered quickly. So I had to ask Harlan for this favor. After hanging up, I reapplied my lipstick, looking at that crimson color. My heart hardened bit by bit. Isaac. I’ll remember this last date well. When I returned to my seat, Isaac was replying to a message. Seeing me, he quickly turned off his screen and stood up with a smile: “Let’s go home.” I took his arm, feeling his muscles stiffen for a moment. “Okay, home.”

Caroline POV Five days before the marking ceremony, Bethany came again. Under the pretense of helping with preparations, she brazenly moved into the room next to Gerald’s. She was the daughter of the previous beta. Though she only inherited her mother’s Omega bloodline, she’d grown up with Isaac. She was also widely recognized in the pack as Isaac’s true love. If Isaac’s elders hadn’t strongly opposed him bonding with an Omega, the Luna position would have been hers long ago. “Caroline, this evening gown is so beautiful.” Bethany stood in front of the fitting mirror, wearing my burgundy evening gown. The waist had been altered extremely tight, outlining her graceful figure. It also exposed the kiss marks on her neck. She spun in a circle and sat in Isaac’s lap: “Isaac, don’t I look better in this dress than Caroline?” Isaac pushed her away somewhat awkwardly: “Stop it. Take it off. That’s for Caroline.” His tone was reproachful, but there was no trace of anger in it. Bethany pouted and reluctantly went to the dressing room: “Stingy. I’m just trying it on.” I sat to the side, holding my tea, watching quietly. Before, I would get angry and argue with Isaac. Then Isaac would helplessly coax me, saying I was petty, saying Bethany was just like a sister to him. Looking back now, I really was quite the joke back then. “Caroline, don’t take it personally. I’ve spoiled Bethany.” Isaac put down his magazine and reached for my hand. “If you don’t like it, I’ll ask her to move out.” “It’s fine.” I avoided his hand and poured him a cup of tea. “More people make it livelier. We have plenty of rooms anyway.” Isaac froze. He clearly didn’t expect me to be so generous. Before, whenever Bethany appeared, all my defenses would go up. “You’re not angry?” He looked at me tentatively. “Why would I be angry?” I smiled back. “She’s a friend and will be a regular guest. Besides, it’s just clothes. If she likes wearing them, let her.” After all, I wasn’t planning to wear that dress anyway. A flash of surprise crossed Isaac’s eyes, which then turned to relief. “Caroline, you’ve really changed. You’ve become more mature.” Mature? You people forced me to mature. Just then, a crisp sound came from the dressing room. Followed by Bethany’s cry: “Oh no!” Isaac’s expression changed. He threw down his magazine and rushed over at hunting speed. At the dressing room entrance, Bethany sat on the floor with shattered glass from a picture frame scattered at her feet. It was a custom crystal frame holding our anniversary photo from last year. Isaac had personally selected that photo and spent a fortune to have a master craftsman make the frame by hand, saying he wanted to “put it in the most prominent place in the house, symbolizing our diamond-like eternal love.” And now, that photo was being trampled under Isaac’s feet. “Isaac, I didn’t mean to…” Bethany’s eyes reddened, looking pitiful. “I tripped just now and tried to grab the frame, but…” Isaac didn’t even glance at those shattered pieces that carried “eternal love.” He squatted down directly and grabbed Bethany’s hand to check: “Did you cut your hand? How could you be so careless?” “It hurts…” Bethany whimpered sweetly. I stood a few meters away, watching this painfully obvious scene. That frame, which Isaac had once treasured, saying it symbolized diamond-like eternal love. Now the photo was torn, the frame shattered on the floor, and he didn’t even lift an eyelid. “Caroline!” Isaac turned his head, his tone urgent. “Get the first aid kit. Bethany cut her hand.” I looked at him without moving. “What’s wrong?” He frowned, seeming dissatisfied with my slow reaction. “Nothing.” I turned toward the cabinet, my voice calm. “If it’s broken, it’s broken. The frame was old anyway, and the photo was outdated.” Isaac’s body stiffened. He seemed to hear something in my words, yet seemed to hear nothing at all. He just focused entirely on Bethany’s wound that hadn’t even drawn blood. As if he’d forgotten that although Bethany was just a delicate Omega, she wasn’t that fragile. I brought back the first aid kit and set it on the table. “You two take your time. I’m tired. I’ll go upstairs to rest.” As I turned to go upstairs, I heard Bethany whisper: “Isaac, is Caroline angry?” Isaac’s voice sounded irritated: “Don’t worry about her. I’ve never seen her be so hard-hearted before.” My steps didn’t pause. When I reached the second-floor landing, I took out my phone and sent Harlan a message: [Add one pet transport ticket. I’m taking my dog Buddy with me.]

Caroline POV Three days before the marking ceremony, the jewelry company delivered the rings. I was about to go to the study to show Isaac. Just as I reached the door, I heard voices inside—Bethany’s distinctive tone with a touch of coquettishness. “…Really for me?” Her voice came through the crack in the door, painfully clear. My steps halted. I stopped in the shadows outside the door. I was still holding the velvet box with the ring I’d just signed for. “What else?” Isaac’s voice responded with that familiar, carelessly lazy laugh. “I already told you it was made for you all along.” “But…” Bethany’s voice lowered, but couldn’t hide her excitement. “What about Caroline… Isn’t she supposed to use this tomorrow…” “Her?” Isaac chuckled lightly, the laugh dripping with undisguised contempt. “Does it matter what she uses tomorrow? She’s just a prop. This ring’s size and style were designed for your preferences from the beginning.” A brief silence. I could imagine Bethany trying on the ring. “Look,” her voice came again, full of smugness. “It fits perfectly. Isaac, you even remember my ring size…” “What about you don’t I remember clearly?” His voice softened with a warmth he’d never given me. “Alright, take it off. Tomorrow… there’ll be an even better show to watch.” “You’re so bad…” The rest became muffled, perhaps a kiss, perhaps something else. But I didn’t need to hear anymore. I stood outside the door, the exquisite box in my hand suddenly so heavy my arm ached. Made for you all along. Just seven words, sharper and more complete than any elaborate conspiracy. I didn’t push open that door. I quietly walked back to the bedroom. I went to my vanity and placed that unopened ring box squarely in the center of the surface. Then I sat down and looked at myself in the mirror. My face was a bit pale, but my eyes were dry, calm as a frozen lake. So when your heart dies completely, even anger and sorrow freeze along with it. That’s fine. It saves energy. I took out my phone and sent Harlan a brief message: [Final confirmation on the flight and pet transport.] Almost immediately, he replied: [Everything ready. You can leave anytime.] I put down my phone. My gaze fell on the calendar on the nightstand. Under today’s date was a small circle drawn in red pen. Next to it were three smaller circles, one overlapping another, like a countdown. Three more days.

Caroline POV Next, I began sorting through my belongings. The house was filled with gifts Isaac had given me over these four years. Hermès bags, Cartier sets, limited edition heels. Once, these were all proof of his love. I divided them into two piles. One pile consisted of brand-new luxury items with price tags still attached, showing no signs of use. I contacted a reseller. The other pile held cheap accessories he’d casually said “suit you,” souvenirs from trips, and custom items printed with ridiculous love phrases. I packed them into a cardboard box and carried them to the back patio. Then I lit a fire. Flames leapt up, devouring those crude materials and false vows, making soft crackling sounds, illuminating my expressionless face. The heat waves distorted the air, as if burning a cheap and ridiculous past. When Isaac came home, he happened to run into workers carrying boxes of items for resale. The house was half empty, appearing somewhat cold. “What’s going on?” He frowned, looking at the nearly empty closet. “I want to redecorate.” I walked over and helped him loosen his tie. “Clear out the past and replace everything new after the wedding. I want every corner of our home to be a fresh start.” Isaac froze. Then amusement appeared in his eyes. He probably thought I was desperately in love with him, wanting to completely leave the past behind and wholeheartedly become his mate. “Good.” He gripped my hand, his teeth nipping my fingertip. “Whatever you want. As long as you’re happy.” “Oh, right.” I pointed to the dog bed in the corner. “I sent Buddy to a pet hotel for boarding. The house is too chaotic these days. I was worried about disturbing him.” “Whatever you think is best.” He didn’t suspect a thing, even seemed moved. “Caroline, you’re so thoughtful about this home.” After he went into the bathroom to shower, my phone vibrated with a bank notification. The amount was substantial—the price of those brand-new luxury items. I deleted the message and looked out at the deep night. From the direction of the back patio came only the faint smell of cold ashes. Isaac might have smelled it, but he didn’t care. I copied the video from my cloud storage. Then I considered whether to buy some disinfectant to remove all traces of my scent. Just then, the sound of running water stopped. Isaac came out wrapped in a towel, gently embracing my waist from behind. His arms tensed slightly, then turned me around to face him. He kissed me, his voice a bit hoarse: “The marking ceremony is the day after tomorrow. Are you nervous?” His palm cradled the back of my neck, a gesture full of possessiveness. I closed my eyes, didn’t resist, even obediently tilted my head back—just like countless times over the past four years. “Not nervous.” I said. “I’m looking forward to it.” I was looking forward to seeing how shocked you’d be when you saw the gift I prepared for you.

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My sister Olivia owed three million dollars and then died in an accident. At the funeral, my parents cried and said to me, “Even though Olivia is dead, the debt still needs to be repaid! Jenna, please help her pay it back! Otherwise, she won’t be able to enter heaven!” Just because of those words, I gave them all my savings. Starting the next day, I worked three jobs every day to earn money and repay the debt. Even after my second pregnancy ended in miscarriage, I kept working. Later, because I was working overtime, I didn’t pick up my daughter from school, and she was killed by kidnappers. My husband River collapsed from a heart attack when he learned the news. Before he died, he refused to see me even once. “After all these years, my daughter and I together still couldn’t compare to Olivia! Jenna White, if there’s a next life, I’d rather never have met you!” The night my daughter was buried, I finished repaying all the debts and jumped from a high-rise building in guilt. Before dying, I saw Olivia, radiant and glamorous, leaning into her creditor Marcus Wilson’s arms. “Useless. It took her ten years to repay three million. We had to wait all this time before we could finally be together as husband and wife.” Marcus comforted her, “Forget it, at least she earned us three million. Without this money, how could we live so well?” “Now that her whole family’s dead—such bad luck! Let’s go, let’s go. Tomorrow we’ll take this money to the Maldives!” I died with my eyes wide open. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of Olivia’s burial…

“Olivia, how could you leave us so early? You’ve ripped out your parents’ hearts!” “Leaving behind such a huge debt—how are your mother and I supposed to repay it!” Familiar shrill cries pierced my ears. Before I could process what was happening, I saw Marcus Wilson swagger into the living room and slap a debt notice onto the table. “Don’t rush to cry just yet.” He had a cigarette dangling from his mouth and grinned. “Your daughter owed me three million before she died. Now she’s dead—what about the debt?” He was tall and burly, full of thug energy, with seven or eight muscle-bound men behind him. The entire room full of relatives fell instantly silent with fear. I shuddered and realized I had been reborn. Reborn on the very day of Olivia’s burial! My mother Karen’s face was streaked with tears, her graying hair disheveled on her shoulders. She looked at the account statement and cried so hard she nearly fainted. “I know about this money. Olivia mentioned it—she wanted to buy us retirement insurance, but didn’t have enough money, so she borrowed it. Who knew she’d end up owing this much…” My father George wrapped his arm around her shoulder. As soon as he opened his mouth, tears flowed down the deep furrows at the corners of his eyes. “Olivia was such a good girl since childhood. At ten years old, she cooked for her mother and me. Who would have thought she’d suddenly be gone…” He looked at the IOU, and his gaze gradually became resolute. “No matter what, the White family doesn’t wrong others or betray our conscience. Just because she’s dead doesn’t mean the debt can rot away!” “We’ll repay this debt!” He turned his head, his aged eyes finding me precisely in the crowd. “Jenna, from now on we’ll repay this three million together and overcome this hardship, okay?” “If we can’t repay it, your sister won’t be able to reincarnate even in the afterlife!” With that, the old couple held each other and wept. Relatives surrounded them, all with reddened eyes.

“Don’t worry, with Jenna helping you, this money can definitely be repaid.” “Stop crying. You still have another daughter, don’t you? You can’t collapse now.” “Exactly. Olivia would be so sad seeing this from beyond!” But I noticed that Marcus Wilson’s gaze had been fixed on the coffin the whole time. I squatted down pretending to tie my shoelace and moved closer to observe, following his line of sight. The mahogany coffin had several air holes drilled in the side, through which I could vaguely see fabric moving inside. Just as I thought! Olivia wasn’t dead at all. From the very beginning, this funeral was a setup orchestrated by her and Marcus! I stood up. River was watching me from not far away. After glancing at me once, he immediately turned and left. In my previous life, moved by Karen and George’s tears, I had impulsively agreed to take on this debt. For ten years I didn’t buy a single new piece of clothing, and in the end, my whole family died tragically. In this life, I announced loudly, enunciating each word: “My sister incurred this debt herself. Why should I be the one to repay it?” The moment those words fell, Karen and George’s crying stopped abruptly. Everyone stared at me in shock. Karen rose from George’s embrace and pointed at me, cursing viciously. “You bitch! Your sister died protecting you! How dare you say such things!” George’s eyes were bloodshot. “That’s your sister! Her body isn’t even cold yet, and you’re already rushing to distance yourself?” They glanced imperceptibly at Marcus Wilson. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes as he slammed his palm on the table like a fan. “Debts must be repaid—it’s only natural!” “If you don’t pay, I’ll pry open the coffin and whip the corpse!” With that, he grinned menacingly and moved toward the coffin, making as if to push it. “Don’t you dare!” George lunged forward like a madman to block him, refusing to let Marcus Wilson get close. Karen pounded and hit me, crying so hard she could barely breathe. “You’re inhuman! Your sister loved you so much. For this little bit of money, you’d let her remain restless even in death?” “From childhood, we loved you most. We made sure you went to college, put the house in your name—and in the end we raised a heartless ingrate!” The relatives couldn’t stand it anymore. “Jenna, your parents spent so much money on you. Just help them out if you can.” “She’s already gone. What’s the use of clutching all that money?” “Your sister treated you so well, even going out of her way to drive you to work every day. Don’t be so mercenary!” They had no idea of the truth. Olivia drove me to work because the car was originally mine. She said she’d be my driver, but once she got the car, she never returned it. She even made me pay for gas cards. The idea that they supported my education was even more laughable. The truth was Olivia took the entrance exam twice and still only scored two hundred points, while I got into a prestigious university. Karen and George usually boasted about their eldest daughter’s good grades, but when the scores came out, they were dumbfounded. They could only announce publicly that the family could only support one child and that Olivia had voluntarily given up her opportunity for higher education. They even gave her all the money collected at my college celebration party and made me work summer jobs myself. “Your sister doesn’t have much education. It’s not easy for her working outside. You’re going to fight with her over this little bit of money?” “We’ve always been fair. We supported you to get a higher education, so naturally we need to give your sister more money.” As for the house in my name, it was actually bought for Olivia, and it used up my first-time homebuyer status… They claimed to treat us equally, but everything clearly favored Olivia! Otherwise, Olivia wouldn’t have been audacious enough to fake her death to scam money! I blurted out: “That car was originally mine. She never even—” Before I could finish, Karen slapped me across the face. Then crying, she pulled out her phone and transferred seventy thousand dollars to Marcus Wilson on the spot! “This seventy thousand is for you first! The White family never defaults on debts. No matter what, our backbone won’t bend!” “If Jenna White won’t acknowledge it, we will!” At the same moment, my phone dinged, showing a balance of zero. My brain exploded with a buzz. I suddenly remembered that a few days ago Karen said she didn’t have money for online shopping and insisted on linking my card. That seventy thousand was clearly all the savings in my account! “That’s my money!” I screamed and lunged forward to stop them. But George flung me back, and my forehead smashed against the vermillion coffin with a bang. “You’re money-obsessed! That was transferred from your mother’s phone! It’s money we’re paying back for your sister!” “You’ve been calculating since childhood. Now even your mother’s and my money you assume is yours?” “Wolf-hearted and dog-lunged! You caused us to lose our jobs back then, and now you’ve killed Olivia! I’d rather not have a daughter like you!” My forehead hurt so much my brain went blank. But I heard barely audible soft laughter coming from inside the coffin. Olivia was laughing too—from childhood to now, this family had never welcomed me! With reddened eyes, I raised my head, wanting nothing more than to expose Olivia’s fake death on the spot. But my gaze suddenly fixed on George’s wrist. There was a bracelet there, with jade-green beads carved with Olivia’s initials. Exactly the same as the one on Marcus Wilson’s wrist. In my previous life, Marcus had admitted personally that he’d given one to his father-in-law! Boom— Like thunder splitting through dense fog, everything suddenly made sense. Karen and George had known the truth from the very beginning. They deliberately put on an act, trying to squeeze every last drop of blood from me!

Thinking of my daughter who died miserably in that alley in my previous life, and River who was enraged to the point of coughing up blood. And Olivia and Marcus Wilson’s triumphant faces before my death. A surge of rage rushed straight to my temples, my throat making cracking sounds. When hatred reached its peak, my rationality became unprecedentedly calm. Karen, George, and Olivia were hypocritical and ruthless, wanting my money while maintaining their good reputation. Exposing them directly would be too easy. I wanted them to lose everything and be utterly disgraced! Trembling, I forcibly suppressed the surging emotions and made a phone call. I looked up at the coffin and suddenly asked softly: “How exactly did my sister die? Which hospital? Do you have a death certificate?” “What do you mean?” George immediately questioned, a flash of wariness in his eyes. “Wasn’t it because you were lazy and late, and your sister was driving you when she had the car accident?” “Before she died, your sister threw herself over you to protect you! She was protecting you until her last breath!” “Is that so?” I looked at them. “But I suddenly fell into a deep sleep that day. When I woke up, I just saw you all crying. I didn’t even see her one last time. Isn’t that strange?” The relatives in the room froze, only now realizing. “Right, I didn’t see her either.” “They brought her back from the hospital and put her straight into the coffin.” “Wasn’t it a bit too rushed?” Marcus Wilson’s eyes flashed with malice as he stared at me intently. George raised his voice. “That’s because your sister’s body was completely shattered. I was afraid of scaring everyone!” “She’s right there in the coffin—how could this be fake?!” The relatives agreed one after another. “True, who would joke about a dead person?” “I helped close the coffin lid. There was definitely someone inside.” I laughed coldly. I remember reading that if you don’t place a token in the deceased’s hand, their spirit can’t cross over！ “So now—I’m going to put something in Olivia’s mouth!” With that, I immediately turned around and reached to open the coffin! “Don’t!” Karen screamed, her eyes nearly splitting. George grabbed me just in time and swung his hand, slapping me hard across the face. “Don’t you dare open it!” The corner of my mouth stung with pain. The relatives were also shocked by George’s outburst. George immediately found an excuse. “Don’t delay your sister’s burial!” The next instant, several thugs pushed and shoved, forcing River, who had just left, back into the mourning hall. In his arms, Emily was wearing a princess dress and crying hysterically. “Don’t touch me! Mommy—Mommy save me!” “What are you doing! Let go of Emily!” River held the child tightly, refusing to let go. But Marcus Wilson waved his hand, and his subordinates gripped his shoulders hard, pressing him down so he couldn’t move. They forcibly snatched Emily away and gripped her neck tightly. “Let go of my daughter! What are you going to do to her—again!” River’s eyes were nearly splitting, his gums almost bleeding from biting down. Again? What “again”? My brain felt like it was exploding. Trembling, I met River’s bloodshot eyes. That complex, furious expression was exactly the same as in my previous life! He had also come back! After our daughter’s tragic death, just like me, he was reborn to this moment! So just now, his first reaction was to leave to protect Emily, but he was still blocked. “So what? Sign the contract!” Marcus Wilson swaggered forward and threw a debt contract directly at me. “If you owe money and don’t pay, I’m justified in doing anything!” “Jenna White! Are you really not going to care about your own daughter? Sign it now!” George shouted at me with reddened eyes. Karen clutched her chest and rushed forward crying, pounding on a thug’s chest, only to be flung aside. She sprawled on the ground, slapping the floor and wailing. “My poor Emily, Grandma is useless, Grandma can’t save you!!” Then she desperately pulled at my pant leg. “That’s your biological daughter! What are you hesitating for? If anything happens to Emily, I’ll never forgive you!” Several relatives nearby also cried and urged, “Jenna! Stop worrying about the money!” “If something happens to the child, you’ll regret it forever!” “This is a matter of life and death! Those loan sharks will do anything!” I looked at that familiar debt notice, my pupils contracting sharply, my jaw chattering. Marcus Wilson grinned wickedly. He pulled out a knife from his chest and turned to press it directly against Emily. “Mommy—!” The blade pressed inward, and a line of blood instantly appeared. Images of Emily’s death in my previous life flashed uncontrollably through my mind. “Are you signing or not!” Marcus Wilson pushed the knife in another fraction. “Jenna White!” Karen’s voice cracked! George rushed over and slammed me to my knees with a bang. He snatched the debt notice and forced my fingers down onto it. “I’m fucking telling you to sign—sign it!” Just then, River suddenly erupted. His wrist dislocated as he escaped from between the two thugs and snatched Emily into his arms. “You fucking dare to snatch—” Marcus Wilson’s expression changed dramatically as he raised the knife. “Bang”—the living room door was kicked open. Several police officers surveyed the scene, their voices cold and stern. “Hands up! Everyone freeze!” The entire room fell into instant silence. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I rushed to the door and grabbed the quick-dry cement I had prepared earlier. “What are you doing!” George’s eyes nearly popped out. I desperately poured all the cement onto the coffin with a splash, laughing through tears, shouting at the top of my lungs. “I’m giving my sister her final send-off! Seal the coffin for burial!”

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I’ve had severe eye problems since childhood. I couldn’t even see people’s faces clearly. My husband Ethan Bennett, an ophthalmologist, worked himself until his hair turned white trying to formulate special medication for me. Everyone envied me for finding such a good man, saying he was my salvation. Until his birthday party, when I returned from the restroom and overheard him talking to the people around him. “You think I actually want to cure her?” “That little eye problem of hers is nothing serious at all. Any random medication could relieve it.” “I just want to keep her from seeing clearly, make her dependent on me, make it so she can’t live without me.” The people around him burst into laughter. Someone teased him. “Dr. Bennett, that’s pretty ruthless. But I have to say, she’s really obedient—like a dog.” My blood seemed to freeze instantly. All these years, because I couldn’t see clearly, I kept tripping while walking and being laughed at by strangers. Because I couldn’t see clearly, I couldn’t find work and could only depend on him to survive. Because I couldn’t see clearly, I missed out on so much, and couldn’t even remember what I looked like. I thought it was fate being cruel to me. But I never imagined that all of this was personally orchestrated by the man I loved so deeply. I didn’t go back into the private room. I turned around and sent an email. “Professor Lewis, book me a plane ticket. I agree to go to France for the experimental eye treatment.”

I gripped my phone and turned to fumble my way out. But the next second, someone called out from behind me. It was Ethan. “Where are you going? The guests are still waiting for you. How can you just leave without telling me?” I couldn’t see his face clearly. I could only identify the direction by his familiar voice. My whole body trembled uncontrollably. “I… I’m not feeling well. I want to go home first.” “Not feeling well?” Ethan’s tone instantly turned cold. “Today is my birthday. As my wife, how can you leave without permission? Come inside with me and greet the senior colleagues.” I instinctively shrank back, resisting strongly. I couldn’t see the wine glasses clearly, couldn’t see the faces of the people across from me, and was terrified of dropping the glass and embarrassing myself, being laughed at, being despised by him. Over all these years, I’d embarrassed myself enough because of my eye condition. I begged in a low voice, my tone carrying a sob. “I can’t do it. I can’t see clearly. I’ll mess it up. Please don’t force me…” These words seemed to completely ignite his anger. Curious glances from nearby guests were already being cast our way, and whispers could faintly be heard. Ethan felt like I was trampling his dignity underfoot. His grip on my wrist suddenly tightened. “I said go, so you go. What? Are you refusing to listen to me now?” During the struggle, someone grabbed Ethan’s arm. “Dr. Bennett, don’t be angry. Nora has vision problems, so mistakes are inevitable. Don’t hold it against her.” It was Vivian, a new intern nurse at the hospital. As soon as she finished speaking, she deliberately leaned close to my ear and provoked me in a voice only we could hear. “Nora, you’re so useless. You can’t even walk steadily or toast properly.” “You should let go sooner rather than later. Don’t hold Dr. Bennett back.” My whole body stiffened. Not only did Ethan not push her away, he reached up and ruffled her hair, then turned to look at me. “Look at Vivian—thoughtful and capable. She’s so much better than you.” Familiar words, familiar tactics. I instantly recalled the past. He was always like this, deliberately being nice to other women in front of me, deliberately saying things to provoke me. All just to see me get jealous, panicked, crying and begging him not to leave. To see me become even more dependent on him, more obedient to him, like a dog tied to his side. In the past, I was afraid he would really abandon me, afraid of falling back into endless darkness. Every time I would obediently lower my head and beg for mercy, tightly clutching the corner of his clothes, following his every command. But now, I only found it laughable, and felt a bone-chilling cold. My heart was already dead. No matter how much he provoked me, it couldn’t stir the slightest ripple. I kept my eyes lowered. I didn’t cry, didn’t make a scene, and didn’t beg for mercy as I usually would. My composure completely enraged Ethan. He couldn’t stand me ignoring him like this, breaking free from his control. Irritation instantly swept through his entire body. He snatched a glass of red wine from a nearby server’s tray. Without allowing any argument, he pinched my chin and forcefully brought the wine glass to my lips. “Drink it.” I turned my head to dodge, but he roughly gripped my chin and forcibly poured it in. The harsh alcohol choked into my windpipe. I suddenly coughed violently, my whole body trembling. Tears streamed down uncontrollably, and even breathing became difficult. In the chaos, I vaguely felt his fingertips pause slightly, and a trace of extremely faint panic seemed to flash through his eyes. But that bit of panic wasn’t out of heartache—it was just his obsessive possessiveness at work. He never cared whether I was in pain, only whether I was still obedient enough, still dependent enough on him. The coughing gradually subsided. I slowly straightened up, with only one thought in my mind— I need to leave this place.

The birthday party didn’t continue. Ethan dragged me home. The burning pain in my throat hadn’t subsided, and my wrist ached and throbbed where he’d gripped it. I curled up in the passenger seat, not daring to make a sound. I just hoped to get home quickly and stay away from him. As soon as we entered the house, he let go of my hand and walked straight to the study. I supported myself against the wall and slowly made my way to the living room. Everything before my eyes was a blur—I couldn’t even see the outline of the sofa clearly. Darkness wrapped around me with a chill, swallowing me whole. In the past, I would always fearfully chase after him, softly coaxing him, begging him not to ignore me. But now, all that remained was a heart full of deathly silence. I didn’t sleep all night. The next morning, I fumbled my way out of bed. My vision was filled with blurry overlapping shadows. Unsteady on my feet, I crashed hard into the corner of the dining table. A sharp pain shot through my forehead, and warm liquid seemed to seep down along my skin. I gasped in pain and supported myself on the table for a long time before fumbling toward the drawer to get medicine. Just as I reached out my hand, my wrist was pressed down by someone. Ethan was standing in front of me at some point, holding a medicine bottle in his hand. “You didn’t obey last night, so you deserve to get hurt.” He held the medicine bottle high. “Remember, without my permission, you don’t even have the right to take medicine.” I covered my dizzy forehead, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. Years of submission were carved into my bones. Even though my heart was dead, my body still remembered fear. I bit my lip and squeezed out a sentence in a low voice. “I’m sorry. I was wrong.” Only then did he snort coldly and casually toss the medicine bottle aside. The glass bottle hit the floor and rolled somewhere unknown. “Pick it up yourself.” I knelt on the floor, fumbling randomly across the floor, my fingertips brushing through dust, utterly disheveled. And Ethan just stood there, watching me crawl on the ground like a dog. Not until I found the medicine and took it could I barely see things. Ethan knelt down and hugged me. “Nora, I didn’t mean to. I’m just afraid you’ll leave me. I just love you too much.” He held me tightly, but I only felt chilled to the bone. Before long, the doorbell rang. Vivian walked in carrying a bag. “Is Dr. Bennett not home? I came to ask about some work matters.” I moved aside to let her in and gestured for her to come in. But the next second, she poured the coffee she was holding all over me from above. My hand immediately swelled and turned red, with blisters visibly forming. Vivian immediately put on an innocent expression. “I’m so sorry, Nora. I didn’t mean to. You have vision problems, so you really shouldn’t walk around randomly.” “Otherwise you might hurt yourself again. Dr. Bennett cares about you so much—he definitely wouldn’t want to see you get hurt.” Every word she said was highlighting my uselessness, highlighting her importance in his heart. As soon as she finished speaking, Ethan walked out of the study. Seeing the mess on the floor and my red, scalded hand, he frowned. But it wasn’t directed at Vivian—he was angry at me. “Who told you to walk around? I told you, just stay put obediently and you don’t need to do anything. But you wouldn’t listen.” “Now you’re hurt. Are you trying to make me feel sorry for you again?” I was sweating all over from the pain and couldn’t say a word. But he quickly walked over and carefully examined Vivian’s hand. “Did you get burned? Are you okay?” From beginning to end, he didn’t look at me once. But when he turned to pour water for Vivian, in my blurry vision, I caught him quickly glancing at my wound. I just found it laughable. Late at night, after he fell asleep, I fumbled in the dark to the nightstand and quietly took out my backup phone. With trembling fingers, I messaged Professor Lewis in France, confirming the flight time and details of the eye experiment. Just as the message was about to send, the bedroom light suddenly turned on. Ethan was standing by the bed at some point, his eyes frighteningly sinister. He snatched my phone away. Just glimpsing the words “plane ticket” and “France,” his face instantly turned ashen. “Nora Sullivan, you want to escape?”

He suddenly smashed the phone hard on the floor. The screen shattered instantly. Then he reached out and gripped my throat tightly, with so much force I couldn’t breathe. “Let me tell you, you’ll never escape me in this lifetime!” “Even if you’re blind for life, you have to stay by my side. You can only die in front of me!” The suffocating feeling engulfed me like a tide. In my ears was his crazy roar. My vision was turning black. My hands flailed at his arm, but I couldn’t muster any strength. The fear of death seized me instantly. I jolted awake. I can’t die like this. I haven’t cured my eyes yet. I haven’t completely escaped from him. I used my last bit of strength to squeeze words from my throat. “I… I won’t run anymore…” Ethan’s hand suddenly loosened. I fell back onto the bed, gasping for air. “Really won’t run?” His eyes were sinister, still disbelieving. I nodded forcefully. “Really. I won’t leave you. I can’t live without you…” I had to stabilize him first. Only then would I have a chance. But he didn’t believe my submission at all, only taking it as false compliance. The next second, he roughly pulled me up and dragged me toward the door. I couldn’t see the way and stumbled, being forcibly dragged by him downstairs to the apartment complex. There weren’t many people in the evening, but there were still quite a few people walking around, their gazes all turning toward us. Ethan pushed me into the middle of the crowd, his voice as cold as ice. “Say it loudly: I can’t live without Ethan Bennett. I’m a worthless person who can’t live without him.” I stood frozen in place, my blood running cold. Years of inferiority, humiliation, and scenes of being laughed at by others all flooded back in an instant. I bit my lip hard, refusing to speak. “Won’t say it?” He suddenly gripped my wrist tightly. “Say it!” The surrounding chatter grew louder. Curious, contemptuous, and spectating gazes densely pierced into me. Just like all those gazes that had mocked me for my eye condition in the past—glaring and scorching. I practically shouted it out through tears, shame and humiliation completely drowning me. My whole body went limp. I could barely stand. I just wanted to escape from here as quickly as possible. “I can’t live without Ethan Bennett… I’m a worthless person who can’t live without him…” Passersby pointed and whispered, laughing, shaking their heads, talking amongst themselves. I felt like I was standing naked in front of everyone, my dignity trampled and ground to dust beneath his feet. Only then did Ethan let go with satisfaction, watching my disheveled, tear-stained appearance with pathological satisfaction in his eyes. When we got home, I was like someone whose soul had been extracted, sitting blankly on the sofa all night. In a daze, I recalled the past—how I knocked over shelves in the supermarket because I couldn’t see clearly, and was cursed at by staff who called me blind. How children in the neighborhood surrounded me, threw pebbles at me, and laughed at my crooked walk. Even distant relatives, when they saw me, would privately say I was a burden, a useless invalid. Back then, I always thought my eye condition had ruined everything. That Ethan was kind enough to take me in and care for me. He wouldn’t let me go out, so I obediently stayed home. He wouldn’t let me interact with outsiders, so I cut off all social contact. He said to take medicine on time, so I never dared miss a dose. He would watch me being mocked by others, then hold me in his arms. Saying “Don’t be afraid, I’m here,” making me increasingly dependent on him, obedient to him. He gradually cut off all my social connections and confiscated my documents. I became his possession, without self, without dignity, with only him filling my heart. But now I understand—his protection wasn’t love, it was to cage me into being more obedient. His gentleness wasn’t tenderness, it was to make me more devoted in my dependence.

From that day on, I stopped resisting him and obeyed his every command as before. When he asked me to toast at gatherings again, I no longer declined or cried and begged. People around praised how well Dr. Bennett had trained his wife. Ethan looked at me with eyes full of satisfaction at controlling everything. When he told me to stay in the room and not come out, I sat quietly by the bed, not fussing or making noise, not touching anything. When Vivian came to the house again to provoke me, deliberately dropping things at my feet and making cutting remarks. I didn’t get angry either. I just silently bent down to pick them up and even got up to pour her a cup of hot tea. “Vivian, have some tea.” Vivian was stunned for a moment and actually lost interest in continuing to make things difficult for me. Ethan saw all of this and was extremely satisfied. He felt I had finally been completely tamed, completely dependent on him, and his tense nerves gradually relaxed. He began to no longer watch me every second. Sometimes he would bring Vivian to the hospital. He would casually mention it on the phone, wanting to see me panic with jealousy. I deliberately said jealous things, and he would be overjoyed. Gradually, he returned to his previous temperament and no longer watched me constantly. Late at night, after he fell asleep, I pulled out the backup phone I’d hidden in the pillowcase. The one he’d smashed before was just a decoy. This was the one I’d secretly prepared long ago. My fingertips trembled as I fumbled across the screen, confirming tomorrow morning’s flight, the gate number, and the person who would meet me at the airport. The moment the message was successfully sent, my tense heart finally relaxed a bit. I packed the simplest luggage in the dark and hid the few documents and cash I had close to my body. Then I felt for his usual medicine bottle and emptied all the pills inside. I replaced them with identical-looking vitamin tablets and gently put it back in place. Ethan probably hadn’t seen me so obedient in so long that a trace of unease stirred in his heart. Before bed the next day, he suddenly pinched my chin, his tone probing. “Tomorrow I’ll take you to the hospital to check your eyes and see if there’s any improvement.” He wasn’t concerned about my eyes—he just wanted to check if I had any rebellious intentions. I raised my head. My vision was still blurry, but I actively reached out to hold his arm. “Okay, I’ll do whatever you say.” He completely let down his guard and pulled me into his arms, his chin resting on top of my head, his tone rarely gentle. “Nora, when I’m done with work, I’ll take you to see the ocean. You’ve always wanted to see what the sea looks like clearly, haven’t you?” I leaned against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. There wasn’t a ripple in my heart. I just nodded lightly. “Okay, I’ll do whatever you say.” He closed his eyes wearily and soon fell into a deep sleep, but his brow was still slightly furrowed, as if even in his dreams he feared I would escape. After confirming his breathing was even and he was sleeping deeply. Only then did I dare to carefully push his hand away bit by bit. Following the route I’d memorized over countless days and nights. I fumbled my way out of bed, avoiding the bed frame, chairs, and TV cabinet, moving step by step to the bedroom door and gently closing it. Without turning on lights, without making a sound. Like a shadow, I crossed the living room alone in the darkness and opened the front door. This was the first time in so many years I’d walked out of this cage alone without his support. My vision was still blurry, but my steps had never been so determined. At the entrance to the complex, the lights of a rideshare car glowed in the night. The driver called out my name. I slowly got into the car following the sound. “To the airport.” The car started and slowly drove away, leaving that suffocating house far behind. In the bedroom, Ethan jolted awake from his dream. He reached out—the bedding beside him was ice cold and empty. His heart suddenly tightened. In a panic, he turned on the light. The glaring light illuminated the empty room. There was no sign of me anywhere. “Nora Sullivan!” He roared like a madman, rushing out barefoot, turning the bedroom, living room, and balcony upside down, leaving every corner in chaos. Finally, he saw a note on the table with my blurry, crooked handwriting. Just one line: “Ethan Bennett, I’m leaving and never coming back.”

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During my shift, a woman suddenly burst in, insisting on having an abortion. I looked at her medical history and frowned. Nora Yuvette, 42 years old, 6 abortions in the past 6 months. “Have you really thought this through? Your body has been severely damaged. If you go through with this, it’ll be very difficult for you to conceive again in the future.” The woman didn’t hesitate for a second. She was even smiling. “I don’t like children, and I never planned to have any. It’s just that my boyfriend has such a high sex drive and refuses to wear condoms. Since he knows how to please me in bed, I guess I’ll put up with it.” This was a patient’s private matter. I didn’t push further. I only reminded her after the surgery to stay in the hospital for observation for a while. But she quickly threw on her coat. “I need to get back to my boyfriend. He just won first place in the annual Teacher of the Year award today. I should reward him properly.” At those words, I froze completely. My boyfriend’s message was still sitting unread on my phone. “Honey, I won first place today! My colleagues are insisting on celebrating together, so I won’t be coming home tonight. Don’t wait up for me.”

In that instant, my mind went completely blank. I couldn’t process what was happening. Nora kept chattering away. It sounded like complaining. But her face couldn’t hide her smile. “He has severe sleep disorder. He needs to hold me every time to fall asleep. Says my scent calms him down, especially down there.” “Just now he texted me, told me not to shower. He likes me all natural.” When our eyes met, I could only smile awkwardly. Kieran Smith also had severe insomnia. I couldn’t accept this for a moment. Before my brain could catch up, my hand reached for the bracelet Nora had left on the desk. While she wasn’t paying attention, I slipped it into my pocket. An hour later, I called her. “Miss Yuvette, you left your bracelet in my office.” “I just got off work. If you give me your address, I can drop it off for you.” My voice trembled as I spoke. One hand gripped the phone while the other dug into my arm, trying to keep myself calm. Nora agreed without thinking twice and sent me her address. I gasped. A luxury villa in the city center, less than 2 kilometers from Kieran Smith’s school. As I walked, my heart felt like someone was squeezing it. Even breathing became difficult. I kept reassuring myself. Maybe it was just someone with the same name. Kieran wasn’t the only one who won first place. But an uneasy feeling kept gnawing at me. Even standing at the door, I couldn’t find the courage to knock. Then voices drifted from inside the room. “Nora, what took you so long to come back? I’ve been missing you.” “You can’t leave early today. You have to keep me company.” Instantly, I froze completely. That was Kieran Smith’s voice. But it sounded nothing like what I usually heard from him. It was so sweet it could drip honey. I couldn’t imagine Kieran acting cute. In an instant, my stomach churned violently. Bitterness surged up my throat. My legs went weak. I could only lean against the wall and slide to the ground. Before long, disgusting moans reached my ears. “Stop it, someone’s coming over soon.” “Oh, doesn’t that make it more exciting?” Kieran’s voice was like invisible hands tearing my heart into pieces. Kieran and I had met through a blind date. The first time we met, he wore a white shirt. He was well-spoken and never crossed any boundaries. My first impression of him was that he was clean. Later, he proved to be just that. His bag always held tissues, an umbrella, and hair ties. When I worked overtime, he’d bring me a hot meal. He’d wait 6 hours without a single complaint. He had boundaries. Six months into our relationship, we shared our first kiss. He was so careful, like he was holding a piece of jade. After 2 years together, we had our first time. His movements were gentle. When he saw me frown, he’d stop and ask if it hurt. My friends all thought I’d found a normal person and was in a healthy relationship. I thought so too. He was a teacher, I was a doctor. Everything seemed perfect. A month ago, on our 6th anniversary, we got engaged. But now, my fiancé was on the other side of this wall. Holding another woman. They were being rough. They knocked over a vase. “Another new position? Do you ever think about how old I am?” Kieran was breathing heavily, showing no signs of stopping. “But it feels so good like this.” In my memory, Kieran only ever used one position. Back then, I had even asked him about it. He just smiled. Said he didn’t like all those new tricks. Thinking about this, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. So it wasn’t that he didn’t like them. He just didn’t want to with me. Inside, they continued. My phone rang at that moment. “Dr. Johnson, how much longer until you arrive?” I stared at my phone for a long time, typing and deleting messages. Tears dripped onto my phone screen. Everything blurred. 6 years of feelings turned to nothing. I couldn’t accept it. I couldn’t bear it. Listening to the sounds from inside, I finally made up my mind. I dialed a number. “I want to report something.”

I left in a daze. I almost got into a car accident on the way. Even that couldn’t pull me back to reality. Not until I returned home, to the wedding home that belonged to Kieran Smith and me. I had designed this room myself, taking time out of my schedule. I’d put thought into every detail. I deliberately kept the room with the best sunlight for Kieran’s study. Just because he once said he loved watching sunlight fall on book pages. The wall directly across was empty. It was meant for our wedding photo. I’d been torn between 2 wedding dresses. Kieran just said to follow my heart. But soon after, he booked both styles. “Do you like it? I specially prepared a surprise for you.” “I know you’ve been torn. We can afford it. If you like them, we can do 10 more sets!” To look good in the wedding photos, I’d started dieting early. But he disagreed. He thought dieting was too unhealthy. So he started making me healthy homemade meals that were both delicious and healthy. No matter how busy Kieran was, he never half-assed things for me. Even today was no exception. The food on the table was still warm. A note lay beside it. “Just reheat it yourself if it gets cold.” “Be good, I’ll be back soon.” Kieran’s love for me was always obvious. I only had to reach out to feel it. Didn’t he love me? Didn’t he want to marry me? Then why was he with Nora Yuvette? What did that make me? I couldn’t figure it out. In my mind, memories of Kieran and Nora’s face all tangled together. For a moment, my head throbbed painfully. I collapsed completely, slumping to the floor. Tears broke through the dam. I couldn’t hold back anymore. Until my phone rang. It was from the report hotline I’d called that afternoon. I immediately broke out in a cold sweat. I didn’t dare face it, but still instinctively answered. The voice on the other end was cold, even carrying a hint of anger. “Ms. Johnson, we’ve sent people to investigate. There was no illegal activity.” “Mr. Kieran Smith and Ms. Nora Yuvette are legally married.” Instantly, my mind buzzed. The next second, my phone crashed to the floor. How could this be? My whole body began trembling uncontrollably. I replayed that person’s words in my mind over and over. Each time I recalled it, it was like pouring salt on a wound. It hurt so much. Everything spun before my eyes. In the empty room, only my heavy breathing remained. Just then, the door was pushed open. I turned around and met Kieran Smith’s cold gaze. He looked down at me. Seeing me collapsed on the floor, there wasn’t a trace of pity in his eyes. “It hurts, doesn’t it?” “Then don’t do things like that again.”

It was as if nothing had happened. He took off his coat and changed into slippers. Kieran calmly walked into the bathroom to wash his hands. After tidying up, he walked over to me. “Actually, I’ve wanted to tell you for a while. I just couldn’t find the right opportunity.” “Nora and I have been together for 4 years. We got married last year.” He spoke lightly. Like he was talking about something completely ordinary. We’d been together for 6 years, and he’d been cheating for 4 of them. I had so much to say. But it all stuck in my throat. They were married. Protected by law. Did that make me the mistress? I started vomiting uncontrollably. Kieran smelled exactly like Nora. The flush on his cheeks hadn’t completely faded. I stared at him, forcing myself to stay calm. “Then what am I? You fell in love with someone else, so why didn’t you say anything?” With every word I spoke, my heart bled. But Kieran’s face showed no emotion. He even seemed to be reminiscing. “Gianna Johnson, you don’t need to talk to me like that.” “You think that necklace around your neck and those designer bags in your closet fell from the sky? I’m just an ordinary person who wants a better life. What’s wrong with that?” “Even if I cheated, I never treated you poorly, did I? I took you on trips abroad. I served you like a princess every day. Isn’t that enough?” As he spoke, he suddenly bent down and helped me up. A playful glint appeared in his eyes. His hand gently brushed across my forehead, straightening my messy hair. “Gianna, actually, I’ve already prepared a parting gift for you.” “Nora’s family is really wealthy, and they treat their employees well. Her driver, Wade Davis, makes over 10,000 a month.” “I’ve arranged everything. In a couple of days, you’ll marry Wade. At least you’ll have a good life from now on.” Kieran’s voice was especially gentle. Just listening to his tone, you’d really think he had my best interests at heart. How ridiculous. I wasn’t his property. Why should I follow his arrangements? “Kieran Smith, you’re truly despicable.” Those words completely killed any desire I had to argue with him. He had become a completely different person. The good man in my memory gradually blurred. Or rather, this was who he’d always been. He’d just hidden it too well. 6 years, wasted on a jerk. Looking at his shameless face, my blood boiled. I spat right in his face. The next second, Kieran’s expression changed completely. When he turned back, his face had turned vicious. “Who are you trying to act pure for?” “When you were with Wade Davis, weren’t you moaning loud enough?” As he spoke, he actually pulled out surveillance footage. He laughed wildly. “I knew you’d say that.” “So on our engagement day, the person in bed with you wasn’t me at all.”

I didn’t listen to the rest of Kieran’s words. I ran out just before throwing up again. Scenes from our engagement day kept flashing through my mind. Kieran had been especially excited. He drank glass after glass and kept pouring wine into my cup. I couldn’t stop him. I drank until I was completely out of it. The last thing I remembered before passing out was Kieran carrying me into the room. Turns out, he personally delivered me to another man’s bed. Realizing I’d spent an entire night with a stranger, I threw up. My whole body shook uncontrollably. I leaned against a flower bed, crying until I couldn’t breathe. Too absorbed in my pain, I didn’t even notice someone quietly approaching from behind. Not until that shrill laugh reached my ears. I turned around and met Nora Yuvette’s eyes. She was covering her mouth, laughing. Her eyes couldn’t hide her smugness. “So you’re his little girlfriend. What a coincidence.” “No wonder your face looked so awful this afternoon when you heard me talking. Kieran’s never treated you that way, has he!” I figured she’d come to pick a fight too. But the anger on her face completely disappeared when she saw me. I didn’t want her to see me like this. So I forced myself to stand up and face her. My brain told me I should curse her out, vent properly. But when the words reached my lips, I couldn’t say them. “When you got together with him, did you know he had a girlfriend?” I tried to appear strong, but my voice trembled as soon as I spoke. Even in this moment, I still wanted to find excuses for this relationship. But seeing Nora’s arrogant face, I understood. “Of course I knew. So what?” “Young guys throw themselves at me every day. They don’t care about their girlfriends, so why should I care?” “I suggest you stop dwelling on this. He and I are already married anyway.” “Just go along with Wade. He’s a bit older, sure, but he’s more than good enough for you.” She laughed wildly. Her tone carried an undeniable authority. As soon as she finished speaking, she actually reached out and grabbed me. Without another word, she tried to shove me into the car. “The first time you didn’t even see his face. How boring.” “I’m calling Wade right now. Let you two lovebirds enjoy yourselves properly.” In that moment, I completely snapped out of it. Seeing her raise her phone, I actually laughed. Did she really think I was some pushover? Dream on. I grabbed a wooden stick from the bushes and swung it at her face with all my strength. The stick even had thorns on it. In an instant, it left a mark on her cheek. Blood fell, staining the wild grass. “Are you crazy? Believe it or not, one phone call and I’ll make sure you never work again!” Nora didn’t even have time to cry out in pain before dialing a number. “Mr. Johnson, someone bullied me!”

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I was diagnosed with breast cancer during my premarital checkup. My fiancé Daniel tried to persuade me: “Elliot, just get it removed. I won’t think less of you. Georgina specially applied for this surgery slot for you. She’s been interning in oncology for a year now, and it wasn’t easy for her to get this practical opportunity.” So he was pushing me to accept the surgery just so his childhood friend could practice on me. I endured the churning pain in my chest and firmly refused: “No!” “But Georgina needs this surgery!” he said angrily. I looked at him in disbelief. Daniel realized his tone was too harsh and softened his attitude: “If something’s broken, it has to be removed. Worst case… you can just get implants later. If you don’t have the surgery, how can we still get married?” Then let’s not get married! He didn’t know I’d already booked my flight abroad. I had a childhood friend who happened to be a world-renowned oncology expert. Seeing me silent, Daniel took advantage of the red light to grab my hand and persuade me. “Would I really harm you?” “Georgina already analyzed the pros and cons with me. If you don’t get this surgery soon, it could be life-threatening!” “Who do you think I’m doing this for?” The more he spoke, the more panicked he became. I coldly pulled my hand away from Daniel’s. “Daniel, don’t treat people like fools.” “You know perfectly well who you’re doing this for!” The atmosphere in the car dropped several degrees. Daniel’s proud jawline tensed. He glanced back at me with a glare. “Here you go again, getting jealous and making a scene over Georgina, right?” “I’ve told you hundreds of times—Georgina and I are completely innocent. It’s not as dirty as you think!” “If you really think that way, I guess there’s really no need for us to get married.” Whenever Georgina was mentioned, Daniel would use marriage to pressure me. Whenever it concerned Georgina, it was always me overthinking, me being petty. “Fine. Let’s not get married then.” The car suddenly screeched to a halt by the roadside. Daniel hadn’t expected me to agree. Disbelief flickered in his eyes. “Elliot, you really don’t know what’s good for you.” “Do you know how long Georgina fought with the hospital for this surgery slot for you? Do you know how many times I’ve gone to the hospital for your condition?” I let out a cold laugh. “Well, thank you both so much for your hard work.” “But I already said—I’m not doing this surgery.” “Whether as family or as a doctor, shouldn’t you respect the patient’s own wishes?” It had been a month since the premarital checkup diagnosed my breast cancer. During this month, Daniel had indeed been running back and forth to the hospital. But it wasn’t for my condition—it was to pick up and drop off Georgina from work. Daniel and I had been together for eight years. Forget picking me up from work—he didn’t even know which direction my office door faced. But Georgina had only been back for six months, and he’d already become a hospital regular. “Elliot, this isn’t up to you.” “I’ve already filled out the admission form for you, and I’ll sign the surgery consent form as your spouse when the time comes.” “This surgery is important for both you and Georgina!” Not important for me. Important for Georgina. Who didn’t know that Georgina, despite being back for six months, kept making mistakes in the operating room and might get fired? She needed my surgery to prove her abilities. “No way…” My unfinished words were interrupted by urgent ringing. Georgina’s name flashed on the screen. I stared at the custom sticker on the passenger side dashboard—”Georgina’s Seat Only”—the words burning into my eyes. I’d fought with him countless times over this sticker, but Daniel always said the same thing: “She’s younger than you, more immature than you. Can’t you just be understanding?” “It’s just a sticker. What’s the big deal?” Whenever it concerned Georgina, in Daniel’s eyes I was being unreasonable and jealous. Over the past six months, I’d swallowed more grievances than I could count. I rolled my eyes and said nothing, watching him answer the call. “What’s wrong, Georgina?” Completely different from his confrontational tone with me moments ago, his voice was immediately gentle and concerned. Whatever she sobbed about on the other end, Daniel tensed up nervously. “Okay, I’ll be right there.” After hanging up, Daniel unlocked the doors. “Georgina’s apartment is flooding. I need to get over there.” “Take a cab home yourself.” Daniel turned the steering wheel and made a U-turn. “The surgery is decided. Stop putting on a show.” “That thing—once it’s gone, it’s gone. Let’s be real, women’s breasts are basically just there for men anyway, right?” “I’m not even bothered that you won’t have them. Why are you making such a fuss?” My mind exploded with a buzzing sound. Before I could respond, Daniel unbuckled my seatbelt and pushed me out of the car.

The car drove off in a cloud of dust, leaving me standing there in a daze for a long time. Eight years—it felt like I was seeing Daniel clearly for the first time. Even the heavens seemed to be mocking me. I’d only walked a few steps when the rain began pouring down. Daniel’s car was still at the traffic light. One second, two seconds, three seconds—the car started up and sped away without a moment’s hesitation. He claimed to be worried about my illness, yet he could still abandon his sick fiancée in the rain for a single word from Georgina. When he left, he didn’t even think to leave me an umbrella. The journey home felt endless. I don’t know how I made it back. All I knew was that Daniel and I were truly over. When I reached the door of what was supposed to be our marital home, I heard a man and woman laughing inside through the half-open door. As I pushed the door open, Daniel and Georgina both turned around simultaneously. Daniel said nothing, just frowned at my drenched appearance. Georgina exclaimed, “Elliot, what happened to you?” “You can’t get caught in the rain with your condition! If you get a fever, you won’t be able to have the surgery the day after tomorrow…” So the surgery was scheduled for the day after tomorrow. Coincidentally, my flight was also the day after tomorrow. Hearing this, Daniel panicked. He hurriedly grabbed a towel and hairdryer, pulled me over, and pressed me down onto the sofa. “What are you doing!” “Didn’t I tell you to take a cab home?” “If you delay Georgina’s surgery, I’m telling you—I won’t marry you!” The hairdryer roared. Daniel’s words pierced my heart like needles. It hurt. My health wasn’t important. What mattered was Georgina’s surgery. In Daniel’s eyes, my breast was Georgina’s ticket to stay at State Hospital, her only chance. “Go take a hot shower quickly. Don’t catch a cold.” “These next few days, take care of yourself. No colds, no fevers.” Daniel gave me a push. Georgina smiled beside him, adding quite a few pre-surgery precautions. “Daniel, I’m hungry…” “I want to eat your red wine steak.” Georgina’s coquettish voice came from behind me, along with Daniel’s indulgent response. My feet felt like they were filled with lead. In our eight years together, I’d only learned that Daniel could cook after Georgina came back. The day Georgina returned to the country, Daniel brought her to our home. I’d thoughtfully made restaurant reservations, but Georgina said she wanted to eat Daniel’s home cooking, so he immediately went into the kitchen. He spent three hours making eight dishes. The last dish was red wine steak. “I’ve missed your cooking all these years abroad.” “Daniel, you haven’t forgotten what you promised me, have you?” Daniel took off his apron and wiped his hands. “How would I dare forget what the princess said? I’ve never cooked for anyone else. If you don’t believe me, ask Elliot—she didn’t even know I could cook!” The two of them laughed. Daniel gently ruffled Georgina’s hair. At the dining table, I sat across from Georgina, so embarrassed I wanted to crawl into a hole. That day they chatted happily while I couldn’t get a word in. When I came out after my shower, the greasy smell of food hit me. “Elliot, come over here.” Georgina was sitting next to Daniel, calling me over to eat. I glanced at their shoulders pressed together and gave a slight smile. Where was there a place for me at that table?

“No thanks. I’m not hungry.” I turned and went back to the bedroom, only to find it filled with someone else’s belongings. “What’s going on?” Daniel didn’t even look up. “Oh, Georgina’s apartment flooded.” “She’s moving in temporarily.” “After you finish your surgery and recover, she’ll move out.” My hand holding the towel trembled uncontrollably. When I spoke, my voice carried a hint of tears. “Daniel, this is our marital home.” Each word was heavy with grief. But Daniel didn’t understand. He frowned and looked over, his eyes carrying a trace of reproach. “We’re not married yet, are we? Whether it’s a marital home is debatable! Elliot, stop making trouble out of nothing.” Georgina didn’t say a word, keeping her head down as she ate, but her trembling shoulders showed she was laughing. I said nothing, just took my things and went to the guest room. Just a few more days. I could endure this. The flight was the day after tomorrow. Once I left, I’d like to see who Georgina could practice her surgery on! Just as I sat down, my phone rang. It was Williams. “My queen, don’t forget next Monday’s flight.” Williams’s mischievous voice came through the phone. I’d always said I found him annoying, but now his voice felt like a lifeline. “I haven’t forgotten.” “Williams, what if my situation is really bad enough to require surgery?” There was silence on the other end for a moment. “Elliot, don’t be scared.” “I’ve seen the scans you sent me. It’s not as terrible as it seems. Our equipment here is more precise. Do another scan here—what if it’s a misdiagnosis?” “Even if it is confirmed, there are many treatment options. Surgery isn’t the only one.” Williams had always been like an unreliable kid who never grew up. But hearing this string of comforting words, I suddenly realized the boy on the other end was no longer the Williams I remembered. Williams’s words soothed my wounded heart. Not long after I hung up, there was a knock on the door. It was Georgina. She was wearing my pajamas, her eyes carrying a hint of provocation. “Elliot, you don’t mind me wearing your pajamas, do you?” I glanced at her coldly. “No problem. I’ll just throw them out later.” Georgina’s red lips curved up slightly as she smiled and walked in. “Elliot, do you know why Daniel didn’t show up to get our marriage license last time?” Daniel and I had scheduled our license appointment six months ago, for the third day after Georgina’s return. On the day we were supposed to register, Daniel was late. By the time he arrived, everyone at city hall had already left. He pulled me aside apologetically. “Elliot, I really didn’t mean to. My car got rear-ended on the way.” “My phone broke too…” Daniel pitifully pulled out his shattered phone from his pocket as proof it was really an accident. I believed him. “Because that day was the anniversary of the first time we slept together. He went with me to revisit the place where it happened.” “Do you know where?” “His bedroom, when I was eighteen…” Georgina leaned close to me. The hickey at the neckline of her pajamas was very conspicuous. This was Daniel’s “nothing’s going on with Georgina.” No wonder after Georgina came back, Daniel never mentioned getting our license again. The only time he brought it up was for this premarital checkup. He mentioned it on the day of our eight-year anniversary. “Elliot, let’s do a premarital checkup. Georgina said she’d arrange it for us.” Daniel and I had our biggest fight ever. “Daniel, if you don’t want to get married, just say so. No need to keep dragging this out. I’m not someone who can’t live without you!”

That wasn’t just talk. In the six months since Georgina came back, Daniel put her first in everything. Various dinners, picking her up and dropping her off from work—every single time we’d fight because of her. But nothing ever got resolved. We’d make up in a muddle, then start fighting about Georgina again. Every time we fought, Daniel would threaten not to marry me. The constant back and forth had long since exhausted all my expectations. But people are like that—they don’t turn back until they hit a wall. I couldn’t completely let go of my eight years with Daniel. So I agreed to the checkup, and that’s when the breast cancer was discovered. “Elliot, tell me—if a woman doesn’t have breasts, what’s the difference between her and a man?” Georgina’s words interrupted my memories. She covered her mouth as she laughed, triumph in her smiling eyes. “If I were you, I wouldn’t even want to live… Daniel even said…” I clenched my fists. “Get out!” I didn’t want to hear another word from Georgina. After pushing her out, I slid down against the door and sat on the floor. That powerless, painful feeling spread through my chest like vines, as if someone was strangling my neck. I could barely breathe. Eight years. I’d wasted eight years. Perhaps because of my excessive grief, I developed a high fever that night. I pressed ice packs to my body and head, but nothing worked. With no other choice, I knocked on Daniel’s door. “I think I have a fever…” Before I could finish, I collapsed into Daniel’s arms. Daniel panicked and tried to call for an ambulance, but Georgina stopped him. “Don’t call!” “If she goes to the hospital now, they’ll definitely give her an IV. Once she’s on medication, the surgery the day after tomorrow will be ruined!” Daniel was caught in a dilemma. “Then what do we do? We can’t just let her burn up!” Georgina took a deep breath. “Put her in the bathtub. Soaking overnight will bring down the fever.” I struggled to maintain consciousness, begging Daniel to take me to the hospital. “Daniel… I need… to go to the hospital… Please, take me to the hospital…” Georgina shook her head at him. “No.” Daniel glanced at Georgina, bit his lip, and said to her, “Okay, go run the water.” Whatever faint hope I’d been harboring died completely in that moment. For the sake of Georgina completing her surgery, my life meant nothing to Daniel. Fortunately, my fever broke the next day. Daniel seemed somewhat guilty. He specially made porridge for breakfast. “Elliot, I made this especially for you.” “Georgina said to eat something light today so you’ll be ready for surgery tomorrow.” I glanced at it indifferently, then tossed it straight into the trash. All day, I didn’t say a single word to Daniel. Not until I got up in the middle of the night for water and heard Daniel’s voice coming through the door crack. “I know, I know.” “After her surgery is done, I’ll definitely talk to her about breaking up.” “I’m only keeping her happy now so you can do the surgery, aren’t I? Okay, okay, don’t be angry…” I wasn’t surprised by what Daniel said. Instead, I felt strangely relieved. That night, I sat in the living room until dawn. When Daniel discovered me, he took a surprised step back. “Why are you up so early?” I stood up. “Waiting for you two, to go to the hospital for surgery.” “Didn’t you say once the surgery’s done, we can get our license?” “Daniel, I’ve thought it through.” Daniel seemed surprised, unable to hide his happiness. Last night he’d been worried I’d make a scene at the hospital and the surgery couldn’t proceed smoothly. Now it seemed everything was going perfectly. Daniel took Georgina and me to the hospital. Georgina busied herself with pre-surgery preparations while Daniel waited outside my hospital room. “I’m going to change clothes first.” Daniel was very reassured and didn’t follow. I followed the medical staff to the changing room, and taking advantage of the crowd, turned around and walked out. Following the flow of people, I took the elevator out of the inpatient building. “To the airport.” I got in a car and left the hospital. Meanwhile, Daniel sat in the hospital room waiting for a long time without seeing anyone return. Worried, he got up to look. “Where’s Elliot? Wasn’t she changing clothes?” The medical staff frowned. “She changed and came out ages ago.” Daniel broke out in a cold sweat. He searched the entire inpatient building without finding any trace of me. All his calls were rejected. Daniel completely panicked. Just then, his phone rang. When Daniel saw who it was, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Elliot, did you get lost?” “Where are you? I’ll come get you…” “I’m at the airport. Daniel, let’s break up.”

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The day my mother died, I watched helplessly as my father brought his mistress and her daughter Rose into our home. So on my wedding day with Alexander, when I saw Alexander and Rose rolling around in bed together, I wasn’t surprised. I just thought to myself—the daughter of a homewrecker is destined to be a homewrecker too. Then I used the Swiss Army knife Alexander gave me and slashed Rose’s face. Alexander immediately had me thrown in prison. After I was imprisoned, Alexander divorced me and gave Rose a grand wedding. Three years later, I was released. Alexander hired twenty security guards, terrified I would hurt Rose again. He even set traps, trying to send me back to prison. But he was overthinking it. I disappeared from his life like a drop of water merging into the ocean. We met again at my auto repair shop. I spat out the toothpick I’d been chewing on, lifted the hood with my grease-stained fingers, and asked calmly: “How old is this car?” He suddenly clenched his jaw and spoke through gritted teeth: “Scarlett, this car was the first gift you ever gave me.” My hand holding the wrench paused. “Oh, then it’s got some years on it. Needs a major overhaul.” My tone was too flat. Alexander froze slightly, opening his mouth several times but unable to speak. I tapped each bolt with my wrench, checking them carefully and thoroughly. As if the dazzling yellow sports car in front of me was no different from the thousands of other cars I’d repaired. Perhaps finding the metallic clanging too grating, Alexander’s expression changed several times before he finally pulled out a mocking smile: “Scarlett, if you need money, you can just call me.” “There’s no need to scatter nails on the road and lure me to this godforsaken place to watch you perform.” I smiled and made conversation, as if chatting casually with an ordinary customer: “If I could act, I’d be a movie star.” “You came from Route 3, right? The news this morning said a truck carrying steel nails overturned there yesterday. Better be careful.” As I spoke, I casually grabbed a towel nearby and wiped the grease off my hands. Alexander’s eyes fixed on that towel. Originally pink, it had been washed until it faded to white, with frayed edges. He seemed to finally lose his patience and raised his voice: “Scarlett, you used to be proud as a swan.” “Claustrophobia, OCD, germaphobia—you had every spoiled rich girl ailment. You’d wipe a single speck of dust off your heels for ages, fire the maid over one grease spot on the table…” “And now you…” “Scarlett, take a look at my car! The AC isn’t cooling anymore!” With a booming female voice, the shop door was pushed open again. A woman in a floral shirt walked in and shoved her car keys into my hand. “Sure thing, Bella. Leave it here, I’ll check it out in a bit.” I took the keys. “Probably just needs a recharge. Small problem.” “Alright, you’re busy.” Bella cheerfully patted my shoulder, then glanced at Alexander and lowered her voice. “Got a customer? I’ll head out then. Talk later.” After seeing Bella off, I remembered there was still a customer in the shop and gave Alexander a polite smile. “So, Mr. Alexander, your car’s fixed. Thanks for your business. Twenty dollars.” “You…” Alexander stared at me blankly. It took him a long time to get out one word, but he had no strength to say the rest. Instead, he quickly pulled out his phone and scanned the payment code. Seeing the five hundred dollars that came through, I waved my hands repeatedly: “Mr. Alexander, you overpaid. Let me transfer the difference back.” As I spoke, I instinctively tried to find Alexander’s contact. Then I suddenly remembered—after I went to prison, he’d blocked me. Helplessly, I scratched my head. “This is awkward. Mr. Alexander, could you give me your payment code?” “You… didn’t you say the car needed a major overhaul?” Alexander’s expression was complicated. “Check the other parts too. Is this enough?” I was quite pleased. “More than enough! Plenty to spare. Just wait right here then.” I grabbed the stool nearby and pushed it toward Alexander. Seeing his crisp suit, I found a cleaner rag to place on it for him. Alexander was silent for a long time before sitting down somewhat stiffly, posture elegant, palms resting on his knees. The next second, he was startled by the creaking of the glass door. “Scarlett, still fixing cars during lunch? Business must be good. No wonder you ordered two burgers today. Turns out you’ve got a luxury car customer.” It was the delivery guy who brought me food every day. I chatted and joked with him for a bit, taking the takeout from his hands. Meanwhile, Alexander seemed uncomfortable being called a “customer,” turning his face slightly and letting out a soft breath. But there was no helping it—the whole neighborhood was like this. Mitch from the nail salon next door came over asking if I wanted to go to the bar tonight. The office worker from upstairs came down with a big suitcase, asking to store it and pick it up tonight. A passing female student rushed in asking if I had a power bank she could borrow. Their gazes—curious or appraising—lingered on Alexander more or less. Finally, he shifted uncomfortably and crossed his legs: “Scarlett, is this how you’ve degraded yourself, mixing with… these poor people?” His eyes seemed a bit red, though maybe I was mistaken. After three years in prison, my eyesight had gotten worse. “The car doesn’t have any major problems.” I straightened up, wiping the sweat from my forehead with my elbow. “Just some brake pad wear. Best to replace them, but this is a small shop—I don’t have original parts. You’ll need to go to a bigger place for that.” I pointed out the location of another repair shop, then eagerly opened my takeout.

But Alexander showed no signs of leaving. I was a bit confused. After thinking for a moment, I pushed the fries toward him: “Are you hungry, Mr. Alexander? If you don’t mind, have some.” Alexander’s gaze wandered, passing over the grease in my nail beds that wouldn’t wash clean, then sweeping over my burger and fries. When he spoke again, his voice was a bit hoarse: “That’s all fast food, unhealthy… you didn’t used to eat that.” In his memory, I was picky, had a selective diet, loved Japanese and French cuisine. If food was even slightly off, it could have me hugging the toilet and vomiting until I was dizzy. I smiled: “In prison, I wanted to eat this stuff but couldn’t. Now I do physical labor all day—it cured all my fussy habits.” “The fries here are really good. Try some, Mr. Alexander.” “Oh, they even gave an extra ketchup packet today! Score!” I happily pulled out the ketchup packet and tossed it into the storage box behind me. Inside were already quite a few complimentary condiment packets—buy one pack of bread and I could make do for a meal. Alexander suddenly stood up, his voice thick with emotion: “Enough!” I was startled. The next second, he threw a black card at me. “This is my secondary card. Take it.” His movement was too abrupt—he not only knocked over the little stool but almost spilled my takeout. Fortunately, my reflexes were quick. I dodged to the side, barely protecting my burger. “Mr. Alexander,” I said somewhat helplessly, “if you’re not going to eat, I’ll start…” “Scarlett!” Alexander couldn’t take it anymore and roared in a low voice. “I’m serious!” “This secondary card is linked to one of my platinum cards. Five million dollar limit. Spend whatever you want.” “Buy a better storefront, do some proper business, be your own boss. Don’t stay cooped up in this kind of place being a dirty, exhausting auto mechanic anymore!” “You used to be a well-off ski athlete. Have you forgotten?!” His roar was deafening, immediately dragging me into memories. My birth family was indeed well-off—one of Utah’s largest investment firms. I was an only child in a wealthy family until age seven, when my mom became pregnant with twin sisters. But just as we were joyfully anticipating their arrival, Dad’s affair arrived right on schedule. He fell for a mixed-race starlet, loved her with earth-shattering passion. So much so that the mistress came right to my mother’s face and forced her to divorce. My mother was a fierce woman. She quickly got into an argument with the mistress. In the chaos, I watched with my own eyes as that woman extended her long red nails, grabbed my mother’s neck, and pushed her down the stairs. Three lives lost in one fall. She died with her eyes open. Afterward, to force me to change my testimony, my dad strung me up and beat me for a full day and night, finally securing the mistress’s release. They got married. The mistress even brought her daughter from her previous marriage—my stepsister, Rose. My nightmare began then. Beatings, verbal abuse, false accusations, constant bullying. To survive, I had to escape to Switzerland. I practiced desperately and became a ski athlete who made a splash. At that time, Alexander was at a business school in Switzerland. A fleeting glimpse during a race broadcast, and he became my passionate fan. Every time I reached the finish line in a competition, he’d be holding up a sign with my name, shouting with all his might. When a corrupt referee deliberately misjudged me, he led all his classmates to the streets of Switzerland just to get me justice. He stayed with me through injuries, encouraged me through my low points. Finally, when I steadily crossed the finish line in first place, I took off my skis and rushed toward him in the stands. In the fluttering confetti and audience cheers, I embraced him tightly before countless witnesses. The abnormal relationship between idol and fan ended there. He became my public boyfriend. But I never imagined that on the night of my championship, as we strolled through the streets of Switzerland, two armed thugs rushed at us! They wanted to rob us. Alexander immediately fought them to protect me. I was terrified he’d get hurt. I rushed up to help him without thinking. In my panicked rush forward, a bullet hit my chest. This shot didn’t kill me, but it punctured my lung and grazed my heart. From then on, I could never do strenuous exercise again. Like skiing. But I never regretted it. Alexander was the love of my life. His importance far exceeded any competition. I might win a hundred championships, but I only had one Alexander. As I lay in the hospital bed, weakly holding Alexander’s hand and telling him all this, he cried and threw himself into my arms. “Scarlett, let’s go home. My family has connections in both politics and business. Whatever you want to do, I’ll support you all the way!” That’s the kind of person Alexander was. He wasn’t good at sweet talk—he just did concrete things. I returned home with him, full of joy. At the airport, we saw Rose who’d come to pick us up. When she saw the heir to Alexander’s family standing beside me, her pupils dilated in shock. But she quickly smiled brilliantly. I thought of her mistress mother. When she stood beside my father, her smile had the exact same curve. And this ominous premonition soon became reality. I don’t know when it started, but Alexander began mentioning Rose frequently. At first, he said she was cute and sweet. Then he said she was pitiful living under someone else’s roof. Later still, he said, “Scarlett, stop bullying Rose all the time.” I wanted to have a good talk with Alexander, but it happened to be the anniversary of my mother and sisters’ deaths. I had to visit the cemetery first. When I came home after laying flowers, I witnessed a scene I’d never forget. Alexander and Rose, that pair of dogs, were lying naked on the white sheets. “Alexander, why didn’t you go pay respects to your future mother-in-law today?” Rose asked. “How could her mother be my mother-in-law… if I had to choose a mother-in-law, it’d be your mother…” My ears rang. I completely lost my mind, rushed into the room like a madwoman, and struck with my knife. The blade sliced across Rose’s beautiful face. Her scream—I still remember it. So satisfying. Afterward, the judge considered that I was the victim in the marriage and wanted to give a light sentence with probation. It was Alexander who hired the best legal team, even bribed witnesses to give false testimony, and finally got me sentenced to three years in prison. I let out a breath and quietly studied Alexander standing before me. Money is wonderful. Time hadn’t left a single trace on this handsome man. But it had given me cracked hands, hair cut short to my ears for convenience, and nail beds that would never be clean. I gently pushed the secondary card back. “Not necessary, Mr. Alexander. I’m living pretty well now.” “Food and clothing aren’t worries. I’m free and easy, don’t steal or rob, earn money with my own hands.”

But Alexander stubbornly extended his hand. “Just consider it… compensation from me. You take the money, let go of the resentment, and we’ll be even from now on.” I looked at him with some surprise. The proud Alexander had actually learned to compensate others. He never used to lower his head. “Then it’s even less necessary. I saved you because you were my boyfriend at the time. I deliberately hurt someone and went to prison—that was as it should be. Neither of us owes the other anything.” Alexander clenched his fists, eyes fixed on me. As if confirming over and over that the person standing before him was indeed Scarlett herself. Finally, he slowly lowered his head, tears seeming to glisten in the corners of his eyes. “Scarlett… you make me feel like such a stranger.” I looked at the clock on the wall. “We haven’t seen each other in years. Of course we’re strangers.” “Back then… I lost control for a moment.” He paused, his voice choking slightly. “All these years, I’ve been thinking—if you hadn’t committed that impulsive crime, out of guilt, I definitely would have married you and treated you doubly well…” I said nothing for a long time, letting the clock’s ticking be stretched infinitely long by the silence. “Everyone has their own fate.” I fished a lollipop from my pocket, peeled off the wrapper and stuck it in my mouth. “Don’t regret what you did, and don’t look back.” “You—” Alexander was rendered speechless by this ordinary statement. After a long while, he said irritably: “You haven’t changed in one way—you’re still a stone in the toilet, smelly and hard!” I nodded readily. “The neighbors all say I’ve got a stubborn streak.” “Scarlett!” Alexander clenched his fists. After holding it in for ages, he suddenly called my nickname. I was momentarily dazed. The tone he used for those two syllables was just like before. Seeing my distraction, he softened his voice: “If you won’t accept my compensation, I can act as mediator between you and your father. You don’t know yet, do you? Your father has late-stage pancreatic cancer. He won’t live much longer.” “If you get his forgiveness now, you can still get a share of the inheritance—enough to last you a lifetime…” “Is that so?” I was quite pleased. “He’s finally getting what he deserves.” After I’d deflected the conversation three or four times, Alexander lost his patience. He suddenly grabbed my arm, trying to pull me to his car. “Scarlett, how long are you going to keep up this stubborn act!” “Look at yourself! Just look at what you’ve become!” “Renting a tiny, dark self-built house, doing dirty, exhausting repair work!” “Eating junk food—do you think this appearance is cool, special, touching?” “You’re just a bottom-tier mechanic! The very bottom!” I looked down at myself—my work clothes covered in grease, hair carelessly tied in a ponytail, face probably smudged with dirt too. I honestly rebutted: “It’s not that bad, is it? At least I still have a clean face, unlike certain people…” Alexander jumped up like someone had stepped on his foot, his face flushed: “Rose has had surgery and is completely restored! Although there are scars, makeup can cover them!” “And you—you smell like motor oil, your hands are rough as sandpaper. What man could stand that!” Getting emotional, he swung his Hermès bag at me haphazardly, like someone disappointed in me for not living up to potential. Just then, the glass door creaked and was pushed open again. Two children, a boy and a girl, shot in like rockets…

“Mommy!” The children competed to throw themselves into my arms, giggling nonstop. In that bell-like laughter, the expression on Alexander’s face froze abruptly. “Scarlett, these two children are…” He stared wide-eyed at the children’s faces, as if trying to find something about them that didn’t resemble me. “Did you adopt them from somewhere?” The children didn’t like hearing that. My son puffed out his chest: “You’re the adopted one! Your whole family is adopted!” My daughter pouted and hugged my neck tight: “Mommy, who is he?” Children speak without thinking. The color gradually drained from Alexander’s face. Even his lips trembled. “You… got married and had children?” I smiled and confirmed it, smoothing back my daughter’s disheveled hair: “Yes, twins. The twin gene my mother passed down to me.” “The children’s father is…” “None of your business.” I was brief and to the point, then pulled over the two children clinging to me: “He’s someone Mommy… used to know.” “Hello!” Though reluctant, the children still obediently and sweetly greeted Alexander. Alexander instinctively reached for something on himself, probably wanting to find some kind of greeting gift. But he discovered his perfectly tailored suit didn’t even have pockets. Not knowing how to interact with children, he could only stare blankly as the children surrounded me, competing for attention. “Mommy, I learned to fold my blanket by myself today! The teacher praised me!” “I helped the teacher erase the blackboard! I’m better than my sister!” “Mommy, what are we eating tonight?” “Roast chicken! Daddy promised to take us for roast chicken!” I good-naturedly agreed to each request, the fine lines at the corners of my eyes and brows smoothing out with their laughter. Alexander lowered his eyes. His long lashes cast shadows, as if this domestic bliss hurt his eyes. “Scarlett,” he took a deep breath, “you used to have nervous breakdowns and hated noise.” “Remember? To keep you comfortable, I once promised you we’d never have children in our home.” The children were competing to stuff leftover candy from their lunch into my mouth. My cheeks bulging, I looked up blankly and thought for a moment. “Did that happen? I don’t really remember.” “My husband and I both love kids. If I didn’t think giving birth was too hard, he’d want a third child.” As I spoke, I happily kissed each child on the face. Alexander’s body swayed slightly. He seemed about to say something, but was interrupted by his phone ringing. His phone was a foldable model, quite large. With a quick glance, I saw the caller ID. [Baby Wife] On the phone, Rose’s urgent voice came through, seemingly complaining about something. Alexander’s brow furrowed slightly, his tone showing some impatience: “I know, I know, I’ll come back now. You’re a grown woman, how can you not handle even this…” He said he was going home, but his feet didn’t move. I was the one who smiled and urged him: “Mr. Alexander, it looks like rain soon. Better head home quickly.” “Remember to replace the brake pads on that sports car as soon as possible.” Alexander gave a short hum, looked at me deeply once more, and finally strode quickly to his car. I breathed a sigh of relief and was about to send the children to the back room to play with blocks. But I discovered that Alexander had still quietly left that secondary card on the counter. I scratched my head in distress. No choice. I had to run to the police station after work that day with the card. “A customer named Alexander left his card at my shop. Can you help return it? After all, I don’t have his contact information.”

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My old wrist injury flared up at the French Open finals. But Lucas sent the medical team to Serena. She’d only sprained her ankle. After seven years together, his constant favoritism finally killed our relationship. He had sex with her in our bed. Then came the acid. A thug threw it at us. He didn’t hesitate. He shoved me aside to protect her. I was done. I posted about calling off our engagement. My longtime rival Griffin called. “Want to switch fiancés? How about me?” Stella’s POV France, Roland-Garros Stadium. On the clay court, I was drenched in sweat, my right hand trembling uncontrollably as I gripped the racket. A Grand Slam final. Match point. My old wrist injury had flared up. Piercing pain shot through my nerves, making it nearly impossible to hold the racket. During the mid-match break, I looked toward the family viewing section, my face pale. It was empty. My boyfriend of seven years, Lucas Luton, hadn’t come. Not only had he not come. The top-tier medical team he’d promised to accompany me hadn’t shown up either. “Your wrist needs immediate ice and physical therapy. Where’s your medical team?” My foreign coach asked anxiously. I lowered my eyes, pulled out my phone, and dialed the number I knew by heart. The phone rang for a long time before being answered. Lucas’s characteristically cold voice came through. “Is the match over?” “Lucas, my old wrist injury flared up.” My voice trembled slightly. “Why didn’t the medical team come to France?” A pause. Then he answered, his tone almost casual. “Serena sprained her ankle skiing the day before yesterday and has been very emotionally unstable. I wasn’t comfortable leaving her alone in the country, so I had the medical team stay to take care of her.” I felt like I’d plunged into an ice cave. Serena, Lucas’s mentor’s daughter. “She just sprained her ankle, and I’m playing in a Grand Slam final!” I bit my lip hard. “Lucas, you promised me that if I won this championship, we’d get engaged.” “Stella, can you not be so selfish?” Lucas’s voice turned cold. “Serena has been frail since childhood and can’t handle shocks. You’re in great physical condition. What’s the big deal about getting through one match without the medical team? We’ll talk about the engagement later. I need to accompany Serena for her checkup. I’m hanging up.” The dial tone cut through me like a dull knife. I took a deep breath, forced myself through the excruciating wrist pain, and walked back onto the court. But no miracle occurred. The severe injury caused me to make frequent mistakes. I ultimately lost 0-2, missing the most important championship of my professional career. At the awards ceremony, I held the runner-up plate in silence for a long time. Back in the locker room, my phone vibrated. It was a message from Serena. A photo. In the photo, Lucas was bending down, gently putting ice on Serena’s swollen ankle. His profile was impossibly gentle. A tenderness I’d rarely seen in seven years. The caption read: “My ankle hurts so much, but with Lucas here, it doesn’t seem to hurt anymore.” I stared at that photo for a long time, until my eyes felt dry and sore. I didn’t cry. I used to get angry. I used to argue. Every time I saw Lucas’s special care for Serena. But now? I just felt a deep sense of powerlessness. Seven years. I fell in love with Lucas at first sight when I was eighteen. To pursue him, I gave up the opportunity to study at a top tennis academy abroad and stayed in his city. Lucas was famously aloof in our circle. Cold and noble. Everyone said he had no heart, but like a little sun, I pestered him relentlessly until I finally warmed this block of ice. I thought I was special. Until Serena returned to the country. With just one phone call from Serena, Lucas could abandon me when I had a high fever. With just one word about being scared, Lucas could miss my birthday party. Now, even the most important final of my professional career, even the medical team I desperately needed. He could strip it all away without hesitation, just to treat Serena’s sprained ankle. I closed my eyes and turned my phone face-down on the table. So in Lucas’s heart, my dreams, my pain, my seven years of youth. None of it compared to one cry of pain from Serena. I stood up and carelessly stuffed the runner-up plate into my tennis bag. The pain in my wrist continued, but what hurt more was a heart that had gone completely cold.

Stella’s POV After more than ten hours of flying, I dragged my luggage back to the city alone. The moment I pushed open the villa door, deafening music hit me. The spacious living room had been transformed into a luxurious party. Champagne towers. Balloons. Streamers. A crowd of elegantly dressed guests. At the center of the crowd, Lucas stood in a haute couture suit, holding a wine glass, looking tenderly at Serena beside him. Serena wore a white designer gown like a proud little princess, holding a golden trophy. It was a championship from an amateur tennis club’s friendly match. “Lucas, thank you for throwing this party for me!” Serena smiled radiantly. Lucas reached out and ruffled her hair, his tone indulgent. “You deserve it.” Standing in the entryway, I watched this scene and found it utterly absurd. For my Grand Slam final, he wouldn’t even provide a medical team. For Serena’s amateur competition, he threw an extravagant party. My appearance instantly silenced the noisy living room. Lucas turned around. Seeing my face and the tennis bag in my hand, he instinctively frowned. “Why did you come back early? Didn’t you say you were staying in France for rehabilitation?” His tone held no concern, only displeasure at being disturbed. I didn’t answer, just looked at him quietly. Seeing this, Serena immediately walked over and spoke up. “Stella, you’re back! I watched your match. What a shame. you were so close. Don’t be too upset. Lucas said your psychological resilience is just too weak. You’ll do better next time!” Psychological resilience too weak? I laughed coldly. If not for the excruciating wrist pain without medical intervention, how would I have lost? “My business isn’t yours to comment on.” I gave Serena a cold glance. Serena’s eyes immediately reddened as she shrank behind Lucas, looking aggrieved. “Lucas, did I say something wrong and upset Stella?” Lucas’s face darkened. He pulled Serena behind him and scolded me harshly. “Stella, why are you taking it out on Serena? You lost the match because you weren’t good enough. Coming back here with that attitude. Who are you trying to impress?” Not good enough. Those four words coming from Lucas’s mouth felt like a resounding slap across my face. I took a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness in my heart. “Lucas, come upstairs with me.” Without waiting for a response, I headed straight to the second floor. A few minutes later, Lucas pushed open the bedroom door. He tugged at his tie, looking somewhat impatient. “What are you making a fuss about now? Serena finally won a championship, and you have to spoil it at this moment?” “When are you planning to arrange our engagement?” I looked directly into his eyes, not beating around the bush. Lucas’s movements paused. His eyes shifted away briefly before his face turned cold. “Didn’t I tell you on the phone? We’ll discuss it later.” “How much later is ‘later’?” “Stella, can you be reasonable?” Lucas’s voice rose several notches. “Serena’s depression has relapsed recently. The doctor said she can’t handle any stress. If we make a big deal about getting engaged right now, she won’t be able to handle it. My mentor entrusted her to me before he died. I can’t ignore her.” I laughed until tears nearly came. “She can’t handle stress, so I deserve to be mistreated? Deserve to have no official status?” “It’s just postponed, not canceled.” Lucas frowned, seeming to find me unreasonable. “When did you become so calculating? What happened to the understanding Stella from before?” Looking at this man before me, I suddenly felt he was completely unfamiliar. That understanding Stella had been killed long ago by his repeated favoritism and coldness. “Fine. I understand.” I looked away. Lucas, thinking I’d yielded, nodded with satisfaction. “Get some rest. I’m going downstairs to help Serena cut the cake.” The door closed, shutting out the laughter and joy from downstairs. I stood in the empty room, looking down at my slightly swollen right wrist, my heart growing cold.

Stella’s POV The next day, I went to the downtown hospital to have my wrist checked. The doctor looked at the scans with a grave expression. “Stella, your wrist has severe soft tissue damage. Because it wasn’t iced and treated immediately, chronic inflammation has now formed. You need at least three months of rest, or it will affect your professional career.” I listened silently, got my prescription, and left the hospital. Passing by a luxury residential complex downtown, I stopped the car. This was where Lucas had bought a large flat six months ago, saying it would be our future marital home. At the time, Lucas gave me the keys and let me handle all the renovations. I put a lot of thought into it, decorating the place in my favorite minimalist wood style. I took the elevator upstairs and pulled out my key to open the door. However, the lock made a “beep beep” error sound. The password had been changed. I froze for a moment, about to call property management, when the door opened from inside. Serena stood inside wearing silk pajamas. Seeing me, she also froze, then revealed a triumphant smile. “Stella? What are you doing here?” I looked at the pink slippers by the entrance and the pink sofa and curtains that had replaced my carefully chosen furniture in the living room. Blood rushed to my head. “Why are you here?” I stared at her intently. Serena blinked innocently. “Lucas didn’t tell you? My old apartment had poor security. Lucas was worried about me, so he let me stay in this place. Oh my, Stella, don’t mind. I’m just staying temporarily.” Temporary? They changed the password. They replaced all my furniture. And called it temporary? I ignored Serena and called Lucas. “Lucas, what’s going on with the Cloudwater Bay property?” On the other end, Lucas’s voice carried a hint of impatience. “Serena is all alone in the country with no one to rely on, and something happened at her previous apartment. I let her stay at Cloudwater Bay for a few days. What’s the problem?” “That’s our marital home!” I gripped my phone tightly. “It’s just a property. Do you need to make such a big deal out of it?” Lucas’s tone was self-righteous. “Serena has trouble sleeping and prefers warm tones, so I had the soft furnishings changed a bit. If you really don’t like it, we’ll just buy another place later.” Just a property. With one casual phrase, he erased six months of my effort and completely crushed my last bit of hope for this relationship. “Lucas, do you think that as long as it’s for Serena, I should yield no matter what?” I said calmly. “What are you making a fuss about now? I told you, I only see her as a sister!” Lucas impatiently cut me off. “I have a meeting soon. I don’t have time to listen to your unreasonable complaints.” The call ended. I looked at the screen. A sense of relief washed over me. Seven years of obsession. Gone in an instant. I didn’t spare Serena another glance and turned to enter the elevator. Back in my car, I pulled out my phone, opened Ins, and edited a post. “Engagement canceled. Seven years fed to the dogs. Now looking for a new fiancé. Any takers?” I clicked send and blocked Lucas. I thought this was just an emotional vent post that no one would take seriously. However, just three minutes later, an unfamiliar yet familiar number called. Griffin. Seeing that name, I froze. Griffin and I grew up together. We were also lifelong rivals. We fought from kindergarten all the way through high school, until college when I gave up studying abroad at a top tennis academy to stay in Lucas’s city, while Griffin went overseas. That’s when we lost contact. I’d heard he now ran the family business and had become the head of the country’s largest sports conglomerate. I answered the call. Before I could speak, a deep, magnetic male voice came through, with a hint of barely detectable nervousness. “Stella, if you want to switch fiancés, how about me?”

Stella’s POV The car interior fell deathly silent. I held the phone, taking a long time to find my voice. “Griffin, what kind of joke is this?” “I’m not joking.” The voice on the other end became utterly serious. “Stella, since Lucas doesn’t treasure you, let me. We grew up together. I absolutely won’t let you suffer even the slightest grievance.” I lowered my eyes, looking at my bandaged wrist. Seven years of love. I’d lost completely and utterly. But I, Stella, was never someone who would wallow in the mud. Since I’d decided to cut ties, I would cut them completely clean. “Okay.” I took a deep breath. “Give me half a month to handle things here, then I’ll come find you.” “You don’t need to come back.” Griffin laughed lightly, his tone carrying unquestionable authority. “I’m flying there tomorrow to pick you up. Your wrist needs the best doctors. I’ve already made arrangements.” After hanging up, a long-absent warmth surged in my heart. So this was what it felt like to be firmly chosen and properly taken care of. The next morning, I arrived on time at the “Starshine” tennis club where I was based. Just as I reached the manager’s office door, I heard Lucas’s voice. “Give the US Open wildcard to Serena.” Lucas’s tone was a command that brooked no refusal. I froze mid-reach for the door handle. Lucas’s Luton Corporation was Starshine Club’s biggest sponsor. The manager looked troubled. “Mr. Luton, this isn’t right. Stella earned that wildcard. Serena is an amateur. This…” “Stella’s wrist is injured. She needs to rest.” Lucas coldly interrupted him. “Serena’s been emotionally low lately. She needs a high-profile competition to rebuild her confidence. This is decided.” “Not only that,” Lucas paused, then continued, “Have Stella serve as Serena’s practice partner during this time and coach her technique.” Standing outside the door, I was so angry I had to laugh. Make a Grand Slam runner-up serve as practice partner for an amateur? And hand over the US Open wildcard I’d fought for with my life? Lucas, just how shameless could you be? I pushed open the door and walked straight in. Seeing me, Lucas showed no embarrassment at being caught. Instead, he spoke matter-of-factly. “Perfect timing. You heard what I just said, right? Your wrist can’t handle high-intensity matches anyway, so give the wildcard to Serena. The practice partner arrangement is for your own good too. Keep your touch.” I looked at this well-dressed, handsome man and felt my stomach churn. “Lucas, what makes you think I’d agree to such an absurd demand?” I looked at him coldly. Lucas frowned. “Stella, can you not be so selfish? Serena needs this opportunity!” “She needs it, so I must give it to her?” I walked to the desk, pulled a document from my bag, and slammed it down heavily. “This is my contract termination application.” I looked at the manager. “I’ll pay the penalty. Every cent.” The manager was shocked. “Stella, don’t be impulsive!” Lucas’s face instantly darkened. “Stella, you’re threatening me with termination?” “Threaten?” I smiled mockingly. “Lucas, you think too highly of yourself. I just feel that staying in a club that can’t even guarantee basic athlete dignity is disgusting.” “You!” Lucas shot to his feet, his eyes sharp. “Fine, very good! Stella, you’ve grown bold! Let me see which club dares sign a defective product with a ruined wrist!” “No need to trouble yourself, Mr. Luton.” I turned around, spine straight, and walked out of the office without a backward glance. Lucas watched my retreating figure and laughed coldly. I didn’t need to look back to know he must be thinking I was just throwing a tantrum and would come crying back to him within three days. After all, he thought I loved him that much.

Stella’s POV The termination was handled smoothly. Though the penalty was a huge sum, my prize money and endorsements over the years were enough to cover it. That afternoon, I returned to the villa and started packing my belongings. I packed clothes, rackets, and trophies into boxes one by one, my movements efficient and resolute. Just then, the doorbell rang. I opened the door to find Serena standing outside with several shopping bags, smiling innocently. “Stella, Lucas said you were resting at home today, so I came specially to see you.” Serena spoke while walking right in uninvited. She placed the shopping bags on the sofa, deliberately revealing a dazzling diamond bracelet on her wrist. “Stella, do you think this bracelet is beautiful? Lucas specially accompanied me to the mall today to pick it out. He said I wear it better than you ever could.” I glanced at the bracelet. It was the one I’d chosen last month, planning to use as an engagement gift. “Done showing off? Then get out.” I couldn’t even be bothered to give her an extra glance and continued packing. Seeing my reaction, Serena bit her lip, malice flashing in her eyes. “Stella, actually you packing up and leaving is the right thing to do. Lucas doesn’t love you at all. He’s just used to you throwing yourself at him. Now that I’m back, you should have known to make way.” I stopped what I was doing and looked at her coldly. “Serena, do you think picking up garbage I threw away is something to be proud of?” “You!” Serena was livid. Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the villa. Several extreme fans wearing masks and carrying banners broke through the residential security and rushed toward the main gate. “Stella! You match-fixing fraud! Give us back our hard-earned money!” It turned out my loss in the French Open finals had caused some underground gambling extremists to lose money, and they’d come for revenge. The situation instantly spiraled out of control. At that moment, Lucas’s car pulled up at the villa entrance. He’d just gotten out when he saw the chaotic scene. “Lucas! Help!” Serena screamed in terror, stumbling as she ran outside. An extreme fan holding a glass bottle filled with unknown liquid aimed viciously at Serena and me. “Go to hell!” In that critical moment, Lucas rushed over. I was closer to him. I thought he’d pull me aside. But Lucas walked right past me. He pulled Serena into his arms and shoved me out of the way. “Serena, watch out!” I was shoved off balance and fell hard onto the gravel driveway. The bottle of unknown liquid splashed onto the wall beside us, releasing a pungent acidic smell and instantly corroding the paint. It was sulfuric acid! If I hadn’t reacted quickly and rolled to the side, that sulfuric acid would have splashed directly on my face. But my right wrist slammed hard against the sharp corner of a step when I fell. Piercing pain instantly engulfed my entire body. I broke out in cold sweat and nearly passed out from the agony. Security finally arrived and subdued the extreme fans. Lucas nervously checked over Serena in his arms. “Serena, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?” Serena cried, her face covered in tears. “Lucas, I was so scared.” After confirming Serena was unharmed, Lucas finally turned to look at me, sitting collapsed on the ground. I saw a flicker of panic in his eyes. “Stella, are you okay?” Lucas walked over, looking down at me from above, his tone carrying irritated explanation. “You react fast and have good physical conditioning. Serena’s body is weak. She couldn’t dodge. I could only protect her first.” I raised my head, looking at this man I’d loved for seven years. The excruciating wrist pain reminded me that my professional career might truly be finished because of that push he just gave me. No anger. No hysteria. “I understand.” I steadied myself against the wall and struggled to my feet, not sparing Lucas another glance as I limped back into the villa. In that moment, I didn’t know if panic surged in his heart. I only knew that something was completely leaving me.

Stella’s POV The villa was terrifyingly quiet that evening. After Lucas calmed Serena down, he finally came home. I didn’t need to guess to know he expected my accusations and arguments. He’d already prepared his explanations. But the living room was empty. He went upstairs to the bedroom and pushed open the door. I sat at the vanity, clumsily rewrapping the bandage on my right wrist with my left hand. Lucas cleared his throat and spoke. “Today was an accident. To make it up to you, I booked your favorite restaurant. I’ll take you for a good meal.” I paused my movements but didn’t refuse. “Okay.” Half an hour later, we arrived at the restaurant. Pushing open the private room door, my steps halted. Serena sat inside. Seeing us, she smiled sweetly. “Stella, Lucas said you were frightened today, so he specially brought me to apologize to you.” I said nothing and pulled out a chair to sit down. Lucas called over a waiter and ordered a whole table of dishes without even looking at the menu. “Lobster, king crab, oysters…” All seafood. After the dishes arrived, Lucas pushed almost all the seafood in front of Serena. “You were scared today. Eat more to recover.” Serena thanked him shyly, then looked at me with only a glass of lemon water. “Stella, why aren’t you eating? This seafood is expensive. You probably can’t usually afford it, right?” I looked at the table full of seafood and smiled. Seven years. Lucas didn’t even know I was severely allergic to seafood. Or maybe he knew. He just didn’t care. His mind was full of only what Serena liked to eat. “I’m not hungry.” I stood up. “You two take your time. I’m heading back.” “Stella, what’s wrong with you now?” Lucas slammed the table, furious. “I take you out to eat, and you give me that attitude. Who’s that supposed to be for?” I looked at his angry expression and almost laughed. “Enjoy your food, Lucas. Don’t let it go cold.” With that, I walked out of the private room without looking back. Returning to the villa, I pulled out several large black trash bags. I swept it all into trash bags. The matching outfits Lucas bought. The necklaces. Even the matching toothbrush cups. Then I took down our photos from the wall and fed them into the shredder without a second thought. Finally, I took off the engagement ring I’d worn for three years. Lucas had bought it on a whim three years ago, after my first tour championship win, just to keep me happy. But I’d treated it like treasure. I set the ring on the living room table, using it to hold down a sticky note. The note had only one line. “Lucas, we’re done. I’m going home to marry someone else.” Then I dragged two suitcases out of the villa. The place that had trapped me for seven years.

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