Everyone in the city knew Julian was utterly obsessed with Eleanor. They’d been married for eight years, but Eleanor still faced constant criticism from Julian’s family elders for not having children. Julian’s grandma, in particular, had tried to force him to divorce and remarry countless times. He stood his ground, defying her and enduring her wrath, even when it meant pushing himself to the brink of collapse. He wouldn’t give in. “Eleanor, she’s the only one for me, this lifetime.” Then, Julian’s grandma brought a girl from her hometown and practically shoved her at Julian. Her name was Brooke. With her ruddy cheeks and a thick country accent, she looked completely out of place. Julian’s disdain for her was obvious. “She’s a complete country bumpkin, not even worthy of a single strand of Eleanor’s hair.” Eleanor never even bothered to look at her. How could some naive country girl ever compare to a sophisticated heiress like her? Until two months later, Eleanor overheard the house staff gossiping: “That country girl has some tricks up her sleeve. She’s pregnant already! Julian’s grandma must be relieved now, right?” “It’s strange, though. She got pregnant on the first try.” “Mr. Julian never even looked at her properly. That little sparrow really hit the jackpot, didn’t she? From rags to riches, just like that.” **Chapter 1** Eleanor’s nails dug into her palms as she clenched her fists, her mind a blank. When she suggested divorce, Julian had knelt in the pouring rain for a full day and night. He’d said, “Eleanor, I’m so sorry. I was drunk that night, I mistook her for you…” “Don’t worry, I’ll send her away immediately!” Eleanor looked at him, shivering, his lips blue from the cold. Her heart softened. But six months later, Eleanor saw him at the hospital, accompanying Brooke for a prenatal check-up. Julian’s eyes were red as he explained, “Grandma found out she was pregnant and threatened to take her own life. I had no choice but to hide her in the suburban villa.” “As soon as she has the baby, I’ll give it to Grandma and be done with it. It won’t affect our lives, I promise.” She gave him another chance. Until three days ago, ruthless kidnappers mistakenly identified Brooke as Eleanor and snatched her. Julian, who always claimed he didn’t care about Brooke, panicked the moment he received the kidnappers’ call. “Any amount of money! Just don’t hurt Brooke!” But what the kidnappers wanted wasn’t money. It was “Mrs. Julian’s” life. Julian’s eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed Eleanor’s shoulders, begging. “Eleanor, please, you go rescue Brooke. She’s timid and pregnant, I’m scared… I promise I’ll come save you as soon as she’s safe, okay?” Eleanor snapped back to reality. His address for Brooke had changed from “country bumpkin” to “Brooke” and now “Brookie.” Without realizing it, Brooke had carved out a place in Julian’s heart. Eleanor gave a bitter laugh. “What if I don’t go?” A cold glint flashed in Julian’s eyes. “Eleanor, Brooke is carrying the heir to the Julian family. This would be your contribution to our family legacy.” “Don’t worry, I promise I’ll save you.” She sniffled, her voice trembling and breaking in two. “What if… I don’t make it back?” Julian frowned. “Eleanor! Lives are at stake! Can’t you be more understanding?” Watching his resolute expression, her heart shattered into a million pieces. Eleanor closed her eyes in despair the moment Julian pushed her towards the kidnappers. At the same time, Brooke, clutching her belly, lunged towards Julian. “Brooke!” Julian’s expression changed instantly, his voice laced with a tremor. “It’s good you’re safe…” She leaned weakly into Julian’s embrace, reaching out. “I’m so scared I won’t be able to keep your baby…” Julian’s eyes reddened instantly. He scooped her up and rushed out. “I won’t let anything happen to you! I absolutely won’t!” He ran so fast, he didn’t even glance at Eleanor, who was being shoved by the kidnappers. She stumbled and fell onto the hard concrete ground, but felt no pain. In a daze, she remembered the day Julian confessed his love to her. He’d held her close, repeating, “Eleanor, in this life, I’ll never let anyone hurt you.” Now, thinking back, how ridiculous it all seemed. Eleanor was bound at the feet and thrown into the ocean. As she sank deeper and deeper, she gradually lost consciousness. **Chapter 2** When Eleanor woke up, she saw Julian by her side. “Eleanor, you’re finally awake!” She thought he was relieved by her safe return, but his next sentence was: “Now Brooke can rest easy. You don’t know how guilty she felt.” … Eleanor pulled her hand away. “Guilty? I’m sure that’s not the only thing she should feel guilty about, is it? Like climbing into the master’s bed and getting pre—” Julian’s face instantly darkened. “Didn’t we agree not to bring that up again? I explained why we kept the baby.” Meeting her gaze, Julian softened his tone. “Brooke kept saying she wanted to apologize to you in person, but I made her keep it a secret. I was afraid you’d leave me if you found out.” Eleanor: ??? “Besides, you’re back safe and sound now. Do you really have to dwell on this?” Eleanor paused, then said with a hint of sarcasm, “Have you ever thought that if the kidnappers hadn’t chosen to drown me, but to use a knife, I might already be dead?” Julian scowled and clicked his tongue. Brooke suddenly rushed in, kneeling at Eleanor’s bedside, sobbing. “It’s all my fault… I shouldn’t have brought Mr. Julian hangover soup when he was drunk, and I definitely shouldn’t have kept his baby!” Julian immediately helped her up and sat her gently beside him, coaxing her in a soft voice. “I was the one who couldn’t control myself. How could this be your fault?” “Besides, Grandma made you keep the baby. You’re just a country girl, it’s not like you could make your own decisions.” Julian dotingly rubbed her swollen belly. “Don’t overthink things anymore. It’s not good for the baby.” Brooke’s tears turned into a smile, and she pouted, blushing, “Mr. Julian, I want to eat the roasted chestnuts from that shop on the east side of town.” Julian didn’t hesitate for a second. He got up and started to leave. “Wait patiently, I’ll go buy them for you right now.” Eleanor watched him with cold eyes, her chest aching as if a thousand-pound stone was pressing down on it. Only the two of them remained in the room. Brooke, clutching her waist, feigned to kneel again. “Mr. Julian is being so kind to me now just to ensure a smooth delivery. He only has you in his heart, I know I don’t deserve to stay by his side.” Eleanor wasn’t in the mood for her act. “Julian’s gone. You can drop the charade now.” “Julian offered you a hundred million back then to leave, but you’d rather work as a maid just to stay, and you even schemed to get pregnant with his child. I know exactly what kind of person you are.” Brooke’s expression instantly froze. Eleanor lowered her gaze. “Rotten love is like a rotten apple. I won’t take another bite.” “I’ll finalize the divorce papers as soon as possible. If you want to be the legitimate Mrs. Julian, it’s up to you to get him to sign them.” Brooke’s eyebrows twitched. “Mrs. Julian, you misunderstand. I never thought of becoming Mrs. Julian…” “I’m only giving you one chance. It’s your decision.” A moment later, Brooke bowed ninety degrees. “On behalf of the Julian family’s eldest grandson in my belly, thank you for making this possible, Mrs. Julian.” Julian family’s eldest grandson? Eleanor gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Then I wish your family of three a life of happiness.” After Brooke left, Eleanor signed the discharge papers and checked out. Returning to the house she’d lived in for eight years, she saw the photo wall in the living room, adorned with thousands of photos. There was Julian’s flushed face on the day he successfully confessed his love, and Eleanor’s tear-streaked face of joy when he proposed in Bali. Everywhere she looked were beautiful memories of her and Julian. She called the maids to take all the photos down and piled them in the yard, burning them clean. She’d once thought she would grow old with Julian, but she never imagined that an unassuming country girl could so easily shatter the vows Julian had made. From now on, she and Julian would go their separate ways. Chapter 3 Perhaps out of guilt for Eleanor, Julian had his secretary send her an invitation to the Paris Fashion Week. Going to Paris Fashion Week had been an annual ritual for her and Julian. Along with it came a red velvet slip dress and a Cartier jewelry set. While she was lost in thought, Julian hugged her from behind, his voice soft. “Eleanor, are you still mad at me?” Eleanor’s voice trembled as she replied, “No,” her eyes immediately welling up. Julian kissed her earlobe. “I knew you wouldn’t really stay mad at me. Once Brooke gives birth, everything will go back to how it was.” Eleanor wanted to ask him, could they really go back? Brooke was already a barrier between them, an uncrossable chasm. Julian’s breath against her ear grew ragged, and one hand gripped her waist, pressing her forward. Eleanor thought of him treating Brooke the same way, and a bitter taste filled her mouth. She subtly moved away. “The flight’s tonight. I’ll go pack my luggage.” Julian was left wanting more but didn’t press her. He suddenly remembered the empty photo wall upstairs and casually asked, “Eleanor, where did all the photos on the wall go?” Eleanor’s eyelashes fluttered. “They were old. I wanted to take some new ones to hang up.” Julian didn’t suspect a thing. “Sounds good. We’ll take plenty of new ones when we go to Paris.” At dawn, Julian’s car pulled up to the villa. When the driver took Eleanor’s suitcase, his eyes darted away, as if he wanted to say something but held back. She immediately had a bad feeling. Sure enough, the rear car door opened, and Brooke was sitting next to Julian. She was wearing a linen maternity dress, her ruddy cheeks giving her a rustic yet natural look. She nervously rubbed her hands, her voice humble and ingratiating. “Mrs. Julian, I… I pestered Mr. Julian to let me come. Please don’t blame him…” Before Eleanor could speak, Julian anxiously shielded Brooke behind him. “I wasn’t comfortable leaving her alone in the country. Brooke even said she was afraid you’d think she was intruding on our private time.” Eleanor’s lips curled into a smile. His gesture of protecting Brooke was so familiar. For the past eight years, whenever the Julian family elders had reprimanded her, he had always protected her the same way. The two of them, singing in unison, made it sound as if Eleanor was some sort of fearsome monster. To Julian’s surprise, Eleanor merely said, “Whatever,” and sat in the back. Her unusual behavior caught Julian off guard. He observed Eleanor through the rearview mirror. She seemed too calm, which made him uneasy. Brooke gently tugged his sleeve. “Mr. Julian, I’m thirsty…” Julian frowned. “Water’s in the drawer to your right.” Brooke froze. Ever since she’d been pregnant, Julian had taken meticulous care of her, doing everything himself. When she heard he was going to Paris with Eleanor, she’d started complaining about stomach pains early on. Julian had been very nervous, almost canceling the trip. It was she who “sensibly” consoled him, “Mr. Julian, I’m fine, don’t worry about me. Go with Mrs. Julian.” How could Julian agree? He frowned in thought for a moment. “Brooke, why don’t you come with us? It’ll be easier for me to look after you.” Only then did she reluctantly agree to join them. Eleanor hadn’t cried or made a fuss, and had simply agreed. She was originally relieved, but Julian’s expression clearly showed he still cared about Eleanor. Brooke resented it inwardly, but her face remained serene. She deliberately exposed her bulging belly as she reached for the water, tiny beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Julian’s attention was indeed drawn back to her. He quickly helped her sit properly. “You’re pregnant, how can you move around so much while the car’s moving?” He then leaned over and attentively buckled her seatbelt, adjusting the tension. Brooke seized the opportunity to kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Mr. Julian.” Julian’s body stiffened, and his eyes darted to Eleanor in the back. Seeing that she was looking out the window and hadn’t noticed, he let out a slight sigh of relief. Chapter 4 The car came to a stop, and Eleanor got out first, walking ahead. Julian carefully helped Brooke, following behind her. They walked from the entrance to the VIP lounge, attracting countless gazes. “Wow, that man is so handsome and attentive, constantly supporting his pregnant wife.” “His wife looks pretty plain, but the woman in sunglasses in front of them is a top-tier beauty!” “What’s the point of being pretty? She’s still all alone, no one loves her.” Brooke proudly glanced at the gossiping bystanders, holding her head high, acting every bit the wealthy lady. These words fell into Eleanor’s ears, every single one of them. After settling Brooke, Julian sat in the seat next to Eleanor. “Eleanor, don’t be mad at Brooke. She’s from the countryside, everything is new and exciting to her.” Eleanor ignored him. He awkwardly covered her with a blanket. “Ouch!” Brooke’s gasp came from behind. She clutched her belly, her face pale as she leaned back in her seat. “I tried to get up to grab a blanket, but I twisted my ankle… It hurts so much…” Julian’s face changed instantly. He forcefully pushed Eleanor aside. He half-knelt, gently massaging Brooke’s ankle, his movements as tender as if he were handling a fragile piece of art. Eleanor’s heart ached, remembering last year when she fell off a swing and sprained her wrist. Julian had been so heartbroken he’d cried, staying by her side almost constantly until she recovered. At that moment, she finally believed that love doesn’t die; it simply migrates. For the next dozen hours, Julian stayed by Brooke’s side. “Mr. Julian, can you tell the baby a story? He loves listening to them.” “Okay, little one, Daddy is going to tell you the story of *The Little Prince* today.” “On a distant planet, lived a little prince… In the end, he decided to return to his beloved rose.” Only when a tear fell onto her hand did Eleanor realize she was already in tears. She put on her earphones, swallowed a few sleeping pills indiscriminately, and drifted into a groggy sleep. She didn’t know how long she slept, but her throat felt like it was on fire. She struggled to get up and pour herself a glass of water, hearing laughter from the back. “Mr. Julian, who do you think the baby will look like? I hope he looks like you, handsome and dashing… not like me, a country bumpkin.” Brooke’s voice was soft and boneless. Julian raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I actually hope he looks like you—kind, soft-hearted, and pure…” Eleanor glanced at them out of the corner of her eye. Brooke, blushing, leaned against Julian. They looked like a real couple, eagerly anticipating their unborn child. The glass of water in Eleanor’s hand *clattered* to the floor, shattering into pieces. She stooped down to pick it up, but her vision went black, and she fell directly. Her palm was cut and bleeding from the shards, and the pain made her whole body tremble. “Eleanor! What’s wrong with you?” Julian picked her up by the waist and gently placed her in her seat. Jealousy flashed in Brooke’s eyes. “It’s all my fault for monopolizing Mr. Julian, but Mrs. Julian, you shouldn’t hurt yourself to get his attention.” At her words, a flicker of doubt entered Julian’s eyes. He pulled out a tissue and pressed it to Eleanor’s bleeding palm, but his words were accusatory. “If you wanted something, you could have just told me. Why pull a stunt like this?” “I came with you to the Paris Fashion Show, and I bought you the jewelry you liked. What else are you not satisfied with?” Eleanor looked over his shoulder at Brooke, who was watching her with cold eyes, not a trace of the country woman’s simplicity left. Julian followed her gaze to Brooke, who immediately put on an innocent, bewildered expression. Julian frowned. “You fell and hurt your hand. Are you blaming Brooke for that too?” Eleanor pulled back her still-bleeding hand, her words crumbling into a choked sob on her tongue. “Julian, do you really think I’m such a despicable person?” Chapter 5 Julian’s hand hung in mid-air. He realized he’d spoken too harshly. “Eleanor, that’s not what I meant, I was saying…” Eleanor shook her head, interrupting him. “We’re landing soon. Please call a doctor for me. Thank you.” The plane inevitably experienced some turbulence during landing, and Brooke shrieked, hiding in Julian’s embrace. Julian patiently soothed her, “I’m here, nothing will happen to you.” Eleanor’s heart tightened. He had said the same words to her once. That year, Julian was 22, and he rushed in front of a group of thugs who had surrounded Eleanor. He was clearly scared himself, yet he stretched out his arms to shield her behind him. “Don’t be scared, Eleanor. I’m here, nothing will happen to you.” The plane landed smoothly. A private doctor bandaged her hand. “The wound is a bit deep. It might leave a scar.” Eleanor whispered her thanks, and a flicker of distress crossed Julian’s eyes. Brooke pulled his arm, murmuring, “Mr. Julian, will I have an ugly scar on my stomach after I have the baby?” Julian chuckled softly. “I’ll find the best doctors in the world. I promise it won’t leave any mark.” Brooke smiled sweetly, “Thank you, Mr. Julian!” Upon arriving at the hotel, Brooke pestered Julian to take her sightseeing. “I’ve lived in the village my whole life, I’ve never seen such beautiful streets.” Julian immediately took her on a shopping spree in Paris, bags of luxury goods piling up at the hotel. Hermes, Chanel, diamond jewelry… Brooke linked Julian’s arm, her face innocent. “Mr. Julian, how much do these cost? Is it enough to build a house in my hometown?” Julian looked at her tenderly. “Silly girl, if you like it, I’ll buy it for you. You don’t need to worry about money. You’re the Julian family’s biggest hero, after all.” As soon as he spoke, he saw Eleanor standing around the corner. His expression stiffened. “Eleanor, why don’t you come pick something you like too?” Eleanor turned and returned to her room. Brooke’s voice drifted from behind her. “Mr. Julian, give all these to Mrs. Julian. How could a country woman like me deserve such nice things…” Julian frowned. “Don’t belittle yourself. Who says you don’t deserve them? Eleanor has plenty at home. I’ll take her shopping next time.” As night fell, Julian, citing Brooke’s discomfort with the foreign environment, spent the entire night by her side. The next day, when Eleanor arrived at the show, Julian and Brooke were already seated in the reserved spots. Julian pointed to the cramped seat next to him. “Brooke’s back hurts from sitting too long. Let her have this chair.” Eleanor acted indifferent. “I’m just here to see the show, not a public display of affection.” Julian was speechless. Eleanor had been eagerly awaiting this spring/summer show, as it featured her favorite designer. As the wedding dress collection began its walk, Brooke’s eyes widened. “Is this a wedding dress? It’s so beautiful!” Julian looked at her with soft eyes. “Do you like it?” Brooke lowered her head with a look of regret. “I do, but I’ll probably never get a chance to wear such a beautiful wedding dress in my life.” Julian seemed moved. “Who says you won’t? Which one do you like? I’ll buy it for you. After you have the baby, we can do a wedding photoshoot.” Brooke looked at him with admiration. “Really, Mr. Julian?” “But I don’t have a groom…” Eleanor cleared her throat. “Mr. Julian has already been a one-night groom, what’s a wedding photoshoot with you?” Julian’s face turned ashen. He opened his mouth and called out, “Eleanor.” Suddenly, the chandelier directly above his head *clicked* and then crashed down. Chapter 6 “Mr. Julian, watch out!” Brooke shrieked, throwing herself selflessly towards Julian. The heavy chandelier crashed onto her back, sending crystal shards scattering. Julian’s face instantly drained of color. “Brooke!” Brooke slightly lifted her chin. “You’re okay. That’s good.” After saying that, she fainted in his arms. Julian’s lips trembled slightly. He scooped her up and rushed out. “Everyone, get out of the way!” His shoulder slammed hard into Eleanor – *Thud!* She was knocked to the ground, her forehead hitting the corner of the catwalk. Blood immediately flowed. She lay on the ground, staring blankly at Julian’s receding back. Pregnant, selflessly saving someone. Brooke would never be erased from Julian’s heart now. Eleanor, helped by those around her, stood up and stumbled towards the hospital alone. Just as she reached the emergency room entrance, she ran straight into Julian. A nurse rushed over. “The pregnant woman needs a blood transfusion, but the blood bank doesn’t have RH-negative blood right now. Are there any family members who can donate?” Julian turned and grabbed her wrist. “Eleanor, you’re RH-negative. Save Brooke!” She looked at him in disbelief. He knew she was anemic. Because her anemia had been so severe once, he’d invested in building a private hospital. There was an entire medical team on standby for her 24 hours a day. But now? Julian’s voice was urgent and brooked no refusal. “Brooke was hurt trying to save me. You can’t be so selfish!” Without waiting for Eleanor to speak, he forcefully pushed her into the blood donation room. The thick needle pierced her vein, and Eleanor couldn’t help but press her hand to her chest. Her heart felt as if an invisible giant hand was squeezing it, hurting so much she couldn’t breathe. Six hundred cc’s of blood were drawn. Julian’s gaze was anxiously fixed on Brooke’s direction, completely oblivious to Eleanor’s pale face. After the blood draw, Julian finally came to his senses. “How did your forehead get hurt?” “I’m so sorry, Eleanor. I’ll have a doctor give you a full check-up and then bandage it for you.” Eleanor curled her lips in a self-deprecating smile, letting him push her into the examination room. Soon, the doctor walked out with the examination report. Julian rushed forward to ask, “How is my wife?” The doctor shook his head. “Why did you let her donate blood? Don’t you know she’s already pregna…” A nurse suddenly ran out. “Brooke’s family? She woke up and has been calling for ‘Mr. Julian’.” Julian turned and left without hesitation, not hearing the rest of the doctor’s words. “Ms. Eleanor, you’re already anemic, and you’re eight weeks pregnant! Donating blood is extremely dangerous!” Eleanor took the report in surprise. “I’m pregnant?” Her mind went blank. The next second, a warm gush flowed from her lower abdomen. She slowly looked down. Fresh blood was streaming down her inner thigh, dripping onto the floor. Before she passed out, she saw Julian gently stroking Brooke’s face. When she woke up, Eleanor was lying alone in the hospital bed. The doctor regretfully informed her, “You donated too much blood. We couldn’t save the baby.” Tears streamed from her eyes. She fiercely pounded the bed, soft whimpers escaping her throat. Eleanor insisted on being discharged, despite the doctor’s objections. She dragged her weak body back to the hotel, standing in front of the bathroom mirror, laughing and crying. She looked down at the wedding ring stuck on her ring finger, and with a harsh tug. The diamond ring *clinked* as it rolled into the drain.

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Blakely Corp.’s new diamond mine in Africa was officially launching, and my wife, Chloe Blakely, bought me a first-class ticket to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony. But here I was, tied up in a chair, bound hand and foot. Before me, a massive stage. Our business partner, Benjamin, pulled back a red cloth, revealing a huge, colorful spinning wheel. It was marked with twelve numbers, like a clock, and my wife was tied naked right in the middle. “This is our tribe’s celebration ritual,” Benjamin declared. The men, each wearing a number tag, roared with laughter. With every spin of the wheel, my wife would be subjected to whatever twisted ‘game’ the man assigned to that number had in mind. I heard Chloe scream, “It hurts! No, stop it!” I struggled desperately in the chair, trying to break free and rescue my wife. But the ropes had barely loosened when a jolt of electricity surged through my body. I realized I was sitting in an electric chair. The remote control was in Benjamin’s hand! My eyes turned bloodshot. The more I struggled to break free, the more Benjamin cranked up the current. “Benjamin! What are you doing?!” I roared. Benjamin, black as charcoal and strong as an ox, chuckled. “Why, completing our tribal ceremony, of course! Only this way will our partnership with Blakely Corp. go smoothly!” As he finished speaking, one of his men stuffed a foul-smelling rag into my mouth. The stench of the rag, the burning pain of the electric shocks, and the horrifying sight of my wife being humiliated before my eyes, made my vision blur with tears and my heart ache with unbearable agony! Benjamin watched my struggles, laughing maniacally. “Keep struggling! Use more force if you’re not afraid of being electrocuted to death!” “Take a good look at our tribe’s customs. Let us teach you pathetic outsiders how to pleasure a woman!” My throat was choked with blood, the pain immense, but with my mouth gagged, I couldn’t make a sound! I closed my eyes, unable to watch my wife being tormented further, but two men forcibly pried my eyelids open. I watched, helpless, as a huge brute of a man intimately engaged with her, violating her. “No!” “It hurts!” “Ah…” Chloe’s screams seemed to be an aphrodisiac for these men. They laughed even louder! My blood felt like it was freezing solid, my insides twisted in agony! My heart felt like it was being ripped apart, burning as if acid had been poured into it! Benjamin, in his excitement, flung the remote control from his hand. I seized the chance, tore free from the ropes, and dashed onto the stage, heedless of the danger. But what could my 5’11” frame do against a group of 6’6″ brutes?! I had just ambushed one from behind when the big man, a literal black mountain, elbowed me, sending me flying. I spat out blood, cursing from my corner. “This is illegal!” Benjamin sneered. “Don’t think just because I’m not from your country that I don’t understand your ways. I’ve mastered your language, even studied under your Professor Davies! You have a saying, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do!’ Mr. Davies, have you forgotten your own customs?” I spat back, “To hell with your damn customs!” He strode over to my corner and kicked me in the chest with his leather shoe. “You’re on our turf now! What can you do to us?!” He dragged me back to the electric chair, tied me up again, and ordered his men to force my eyes open once more. I watched as Chloe’s body began to bruise and swell, my heart twisting in agony! I wished I could bear it all for her. I struggled frantically in the electric chair, and my phone slipped from my inner pocket. The screen displayed an email from the Chief, written in French, offering me thirty of his daughters as brides. The men couldn’t understand French. They snatched my phone, threw it to the ground, and stomped on it wildly until it was a pile of shattered fragments! I was almost insane. I lurched forward, electric chair still strapped to my back, charging onto the stage, shouting, “Chloe! I’m sorry I’m late!”

Chloe, her face flushed, paused for a moment, taking a breath mid-long, wet kiss with one of the men. “What are you doing up here?!” “You’re the audience for today!” I was utterly dumbfounded. If my wife wasn’t alive before my eyes, I would’ve sworn she was possessed. “I came to save you, my love! I’ll make these beasts pay for this, I swear!” Her body was covered in hickeys and unspeakable fluids. I had the heavy electric chair strapped to my back, and tears streamed down my face. The next second, Chloe opened her mouth and spat in my face. “You save me?” “Liam Davies, this is their tribe’s custom. What do you know?!” “Only this way can the diamond mine business monopolize the global market and make our stock prices soar!” I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. I couldn’t believe this was the woman I had loved for so many years. But seeing her surrounded by a dozen men towering over six feet, I guessed she was saying crazy things to protect me from harm. I stammered, “Chloe, don’t be afraid, I’ll find a way to save you right now!” To my shock, Chloe lifted a leg, now free of its restraints, and kicked me in the chest. “Liam Davies, do you have a death wish? Are you trying to ruin Blakely Corp.’s diamond mine business?” “This is a massive monopoly deal. Can you afford to ruin it?” “Get back to the audience! Be a good spectator!” Seeing her spout such insane remarks, I finally completely broke. “Chloe Blakely, are you out of your mind? What kind of business deal involves a gang orgy?” “You’re publicly cheating on me with a dozen men! What am I to you? A fool?” “You’re Lily’s mother! Aren’t you afraid that if this gets out, she’ll never be able to hold her head up again?!” “Liam Davies!” she roared. “This is a business rule, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do,’ what do you know? Don’t you dare slander me and my business partners!” “Lily will understand someday. She’ll know her mother did this for the corporation, for her!” “As for you, you’re just jealous of your wife, who’s a successful businesswoman. Is that appropriate?” she demanded, her eyes red-rimmed and her voice filled with feigned hurt. I looked at her, like a used plaything, hung disgracefully on that wheel, still spewing her shameless nonsense, and I instantly burst into bitter laughter. Benjamin, right in front of me, violated her again! I couldn’t take it anymore. I swung the electric chair strapped to my back, trying to hit them, but the big brute kicked me flying again. Chloe, panting heavily, glared at me. “Liam Davies! If you dare ruin my transnational business, I’ll divorce you!” “Ah… Benjamin, I want more. Benjamin, tie him up tighter! Let’s continue!” My heart died. I was like a slab of meat, allowing them to drag me back to the audience. Benjamin picked up the remote control from the ground and turned the electric chair to its highest setting. He sneered, “Learn how to be a good audience member!” I was cold all over, a chill running down my spine. My eyes were vacant as I said, “Chloe Blakely, let’s get a divorce.” “I don’t want to be an audience member. I don’t want to continue this ribbon-cutting ceremony. Let me go back home.” “I want to go back to Lily! This place sickens me!” **截断点** Benjamin held the remote control for the electric chair, flipping it on and off, the current shocking my body repeatedly until I felt I was about to die. I heard the beast say slowly, “Mr. Davies, since you’ve come to our tribe, you must ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’ Otherwise, it will negatively impact Blakely Corp.’s business.”

“Don’t your people have a saying about fate?!” “Your talk of divorcing Mrs. Blakely right now is breaking her heart. She’s doing this for the corporation!” “Since you’ve betrayed such a good woman, and the child can’t be without a father! We’ll have to be less polite! Electrocute you? That’s the easy part!” I said coldly, “You’ll pay for your actions!” Benjamin sneered, slapping my face. “Are you dreaming?” His dark face leaned in close. “Who the hell are you? A pampered pretty boy?” “Do you know who the Chief is? I work for him! Do you know who you’re threatening?! If you dare offend me, I’ll make sure you never leave this country alive?!” I scoffed. “The Chief?” “Back when the Chief was studying abroad, he practically begged my Professor Davies for his diploma. Now he’s practically begging me to take thirty of his daughters as wives!” Benjamin gnashed his teeth in anger. “How dare you insult our Chief!” He swung a punch that landed on my face. Blood gushed from my mouth and nose, and one of my molars flew out, accompanied by a violent ringing in my ears. “Beat him! Beat this cocky outsider to death!” “How dare he speak of the Chief like that?” “He’s making our tribe a laughingstock!” Fists rained down on my face, and massive size 13 boots slammed into my chest. I ached all over. “Don’t kill him!” “I don’t want to be a widow! My child can’t lose their father!” Chloe, barely clad on the stage, cooed. Only then did Benjamin reluctantly stop. She strode up to me, pinching my chin. “Liam, are you crazy? How dare you slander the Chief! This is South Africa, not back home!” “Control your mouth. I don’t want to clean up your messes!” “Do you know why they partnered with Blakely Corp. instead of the Shen Group? Because I’m better at dealing with people, better at doing business!” “You have to make it through tonight if you want to be my man, Chloe Blakely!” I stood stunned, watching everyone return to the stage and resume playing with the spinning wheel. Chloe was re-tied to the center. Benjamin continued to spin the wheel. The men with number tags stripped off their clothes, pulled out props, and put on… raincoats. Chloe’s moans and throaty cries filled the air. “Benjamin, you guys are amazing!” “I’m going to…” My eyelids were held open, forcing me to watch the repulsive scene. My heart had been run over by a tractor a hundred times. Seven years ago, I was a college student. When I chose Chloe, my billionaire mother kicked me out. She said the Blakely family was insignificant, and that I was useless and unmotivated! Yes, my mother was right! I am so damn useless! After a night of depravity, the miserable ribbon-cutting ceremony finally ended. Chloe was discarded on the stage like a used rag, drenched in sweat, moaning all night. She draped Benjamin’s suit over herself and slithered towards me like a venomous snake. I almost vomited from disgust. I said viciously, “Chloe Blakely, let’s get a divorce!” Her eyes red-rimmed, she looked at me. “Liam Davies, do you know what you’re saying?” “You want Lily to grow up in a single-parent home? Are you insane?” She picked up the electric chair remote and shocked me repeatedly, cursing, “You ungrateful wretch! I’m doing this for the corporation and for this family! How dare you disregard everything just for petty jealousy!” “It seems I’ve been too good to you, letting you get carried away!” Then, she looked coquettishly at Benjamin. “Benjamin, my husband still hasn’t learned to ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’ after a whole night. You guys need to teach him some more!”

I struggled frantically in the electric chair, resisting with all my might. The next second, Benjamin kicked me and the electric chair to the ground, then stepped on my face with his leather shoe. “Mrs. Blakely gave the order!” “Brothers, we can’t shame the tribe!” Fists rained down on my face like hail, and foul-smelling leather shoes kicked me repeatedly. Along with the constant electric shocks, I was in so much pain I nearly died. A flicker of distress finally crossed Chloe’s eyes. “Liam, as long as you apologize to them and cooperate with the smooth launch of the diamond mine, I’ll forgive you.” “Dream on! I’d die before I apologize!” I roared weakly. “Chloe Blakely, not only will I not apologize, but I’m also divorcing you!” Chloe pushed the men away, her high heel stomping on my head. “You were the one who shamelessly pursued me, willing to be my dog. Now you don’t want to be? I won’t allow it!” Benjamin fawned, “Mrs. Blakely, he doesn’t appreciate you, but we do!” “We’ll continue to teach him the rules! We’ll make sure he learns to ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’!” “I’ll make him learn from scratch!” The phrase “from scratch” was chillingly ambiguous. The men nearby began to snicker, covering their mouths. My heart sank. What were they going to do? What did “from scratch” mean? As I wondered, all my clothes were ripped off. Benjamin took a fruit knife from a huge brute. “Are you going to kill me?” Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. Benjamin sneered. “Why would we?” “You’re a VIP!” “We’re just letting you experience a unique African circumcision ritual! To help you ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’!” I struggled wildly, trying to find somewhere to hide. “You wouldn’t dare!” Benjamin scoffed. “Why not?!” With that, the men dragged me onto the stage and held me down firmly. Just as they were about to act, a voice echoed through the hall, “Stop!” I looked up and saw several of my Professor Davies’s former international students! They had received careful guidance and care from my Professor Davies when they studied his language back home. Benjamin sat arrogantly in a chair, like an NBA star. “What’s up?” One of the students said, “I saw your live stream and came right over.” “Benjamin, let this man go. I’ll give you money.” “How much do you want?” My heart warmed. Though my Professor Davies had been overshadowed by my mother his whole life, he truly had students everywhere! I used the confusion to break free from my ropes again, scrambling desperately towards the exit. The students shielded me, but Benjamin and his towering men were too formidable. We were at a stalemate. “Are you even part of this tribe? Why are you helping outsiders?” Benjamin, a large lump on his forehead from a blow, roared. Chloe suddenly walked up to me, furious. “Liam Davies, you’re determined to ruin me and Blakely Corp., aren’t you?” “Your actions are seriously jeopardizing international relations! Don’t you realize that?” I scoffed, boiling with rage. “They violated my wife, and beat me to this extent. Who’s jeopardizing international relations?!” She slapped my face, her long nails drawing blood. “That’s because you don’t respect their customs, and you’re hell-bent on ruining our business!” “And you want a divorce from me. Benjamin and the others are just feeling sorry for a poor woman like me!” “They don’t want Lily to be without a father! They’re just being helpful!” She feigned a sob, wiping away tears. “Can’t I just go back home with you? Stop being so disgusting here!” “Tell these students of your Professor Davies to leave immediately! They’re annoying!” “The private mine business in South Africa cannot go wrong! This is the result of years of my hard work! Don’t mess things up for me!” With that, she tugged at my sleeve, trying to pull me away. I shook her off. “Chloe Blakely! I said I’m divorcing you!” “Can’t you understand human language? Have the men played with you so much you forgot English?”

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Julian hated me. He hated me for usurping Blair’s life for eighteen years – Blair, the true daughter of the prominent Hamilton family. Then I died. It was a month after he forced me into an arranged marriage with Gary, a domestic abuser, just to protect Blair. The night before the wedding, I begged him on my knees, “If I marry him, will you finally forgive me?” He sneered, “Cut the pathetic act. You’re only fit to atone for your sins, for the rest of your life!” A month later, the police found my body floating in a rooftop water tank. The killer had severed my tendons, ripped out all my fingernails, and broken my leg and arm bones before tossing me into the water. But Julian, the man who had always wished me dead, went completely insane the moment he saw my corpse… “Julian, still no word from Willow? It’s been days since the wedding.” My adoptive mother, Susan, kept mumbling. “Is she still mad at us for making her marry him?” “Mom, she’s nothing but a thankless wretch! The Hamiltons raised her for so many years, and she complains about every little thing she has to give back! She might as well be dead for all I care!” Julian sounded annoyed. “Blair just called, said she had too much to drink. I’m going to pick her up.” I floated in the air, watching his retreating back with a self-deprecating smile. Of course. He still wanted me dead more than anything. He used to be the kindest brother, my protector. But ever since I turned eighteen and they discovered I’d been swapped at birth, he became convinced that I had stolen Blair’s eighteen years of life. He even believed that I, worse than an animal, wasn’t worth even Blair’s little finger. “Julian, if Willow calls, tell her I miss her. Tell her to come back and see me.” Susan sounded anxious, pleading softly. “Mom… I’m so sorry.” My voice caught in my throat. I wanted to hug her, but I couldn’t touch her. “She’s a thankless wretch, I tell you. If she doesn’t call, just assume she’s dead somewhere!” Julian’s voice was filled with pure disgust. I remembered when we were eighteen. Business rivals had hired thugs to kidnap us. He’d risked his life to draw them away, just so I could live. I still remembered him telling me before he passed out, “Willow, you’re my sister. I’ll be good to you for life.” It was during that kidnapping incident, when I was severely injured, that they discovered I wasn’t the Hamiltons’ real daughter. Now, no matter how much I tried to atone, I was still the ungrateful wretch he spoke of. My nose burned. “As you wish. I’m truly dead now. Are you happy, finally?” “Julian, I know you hate Willow, but it wasn’t Willow’s fault that she was swapped at birth back then…” Julian’s face darkened. “If her parents hadn’t deliberately swapped those two babies, Blair wouldn’t have been out there, struggling for eighteen years! Her whole family are kidnappers!” I trembled uncontrollably. “No, that’s not how it happened! Blair lied! My parents weren’t kidnappers!” The day after Blair was found, my biological parents died in a car crash on the freeway. Afterward, Blair swore up and down that my parents were kidnappers, and that they had intentionally swapped the babies back then. For eighteen years, she claimed she had suffered endless abuse in the Miller family. From that day on, Julian punished me, making me atone…

Julian left, and my spirit was forced to follow him to Blair’s birthday party. “Blair, I’m so jealous of you. Your brother is so handsome and thoughtful.” Julian smiled dotingly, and amidst everyone’s admiring glances, he pulled out a gift for Blair. “Bro, any news on Willow?” Blair whispered. “Is she still upset with me?” I scoffed. “Don’t pretend to be innocent. Didn’t you cause my death?!” Julian frowned. “She deserved to marry him. She has no right to be upset with you.” “Bro, she’s still your sister, even if her parents back then…” “Sister?” He scoffed. “Her whole family messed up our lives for eighteen years, and you’re still defending her? You’re just too kind.” Blair hugged Julian, pouting playfully. “It’s all in the past.” I stood in front of Julian, frantically trying to explain. “I really didn’t hurt you! I’ve found evidence that my parents weren’t kidnappers!” “Julian! It was her! She killed me!” But Julian couldn’t hear me. I shouted desperately, explaining over and over, until suddenly, I was just too tired. Julian had never trusted me. “Did you hear? The guy Willow married is a domestic abuser. His last wife almost lost half her life from his beatings.” “No wonder. I tell you, I saw Willow downstairs in her apartment building a few days ago. She was covered in bruises! Tsk… Serves her right. A kidnapper’s kid with an abuser, hahahaha!” “Exactly! That kind of person shamelessly tried to hook up with Blair’s brother. She used to be such a pathetic simp, clinging to Julian all day. And then she marries a guy just like that? What a cold-blooded opportunist.” “I think she should be here today, groveling and celebrating Blair’s birthday.” “Enough! Why even bring her up?” Julian was clearly annoyed. He lit a cigarette, but his gaze kept darting towards the door. Then, his phone rang. “Hello?” “Hello, this is the Coastal City Police Department. What is your relation to Willow Miller?” Julian’s heart clenched. “My sister. What’s wrong?” I looked at him and suddenly laughed. He still acknowledged me as his sister. “We received a report of a break-in at Willow Miller’s residence. We found some items at the scene and need you to come down.” Julian’s face was grim. I floated in front of him, pleading desperately, “Please, don’t go. Don’t go to my apartment.” After a long pause, Julian spoke. “I’ll be there soon.” Even though I was extremely reluctant, I still followed Julian all the way to Tangyu Manor. “Mr. Hamilton, we suspect Ms. Miller has been illegally abused.” The police led Julian to identify whips, handcuffs, ropes, and gag balls—unidentified tools of torture—at the scene. There was also a long trail of blood on the floor leading to the bathroom. The moment I saw those tools, I shrunk into a corner, trembling uncontrollably. It was a fear etched into my soul. Every single one of those tools had been used on me by that abuser. Back then, I was tied with ropes, my mouth gagged with a towel, and beaten bloody and bruised in despair. Julian’s face was dark. After a long silence, he finally spoke. “Where is she?” “We apologize, Mr. Hamilton. We haven’t been able to contact Ms. Miller or her husband yet. We suspect Ms. Miller may have been killed.” “No need to investigate further. Maybe she likes being abused.” Julian sneered. “That kind of low-life, she’d crawl all over any man she sees. These things are probably just props she set up to get our attention.” Julian simply didn’t believe I could be a victim. In his eyes, I was just a promiscuous simp, and he wished I’d drop dead.

“Mr. Hamilton, this is a human life!” “So?” Julian’s voice was cold. “This is a Hamilton family matter. I’ll find her myself and make her apologize to you for her little prank.” Julian’s eyes were dark and heavy. I knew he was truly angry. Angry that my “act” had gone too far. Suddenly, I wanted to laugh. See? Even with the torture devices laid out before him, he still firmly believed I was playing tricks, trying to deceive everyone. Even though the night before the wedding, I had knelt, begging him not to force this marriage. Even though it was Blair who had been involved with Gary, I was the one cleaning up her mess. Even though the Hamiltons had other solutions, this marriage wasn’t necessary. But what did he do? He lifted my chin with a cold laugh. “This is your chance to atone.” So many obvious truths, yet he steadfastly believed I was deceiving everyone… Even on the night I died, my last phone call was to him, but he just irritably snapped, “Then just let yourself get beaten to death. The world will be a quieter place when you’re gone.” Despairingly, I watched Gary burst into the bedroom, tie me up, beat me, abuse me, and eventually, kill me. “Riley, where’s Willow? Tell her to get back to the Hamiltons!” Riley was my only friend. For all these years, she was the only one who had ever protected me. Now, I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye to her. “Julian, what the hell is wrong with you?! I should be asking you! Where’s Willow?! I haven’t seen her in days!” “You tell her! Tell her to get her butt back to the Hamiltons! Trying to play dead to escape her sins? No way!” Julian sounded agitated, his voice trembling slightly. He suddenly turned and looked in my direction. My body tensed. I thought he could see me. Then, he bolted out the door as if escaping. I stood there numbly, a self-deprecating smile on my face. It seemed only death would truly be atonement. It was a strange mix of luck and misfortune that I was really dead. When I caught up to Julian, Riley was still furiously yelling into her phone. “Julian, are you and your whole family insane?! Forcing Willow to marry an abuser! If anything happens to her, I swear I’ll never forgive you!” Julian let out a sarcastic laugh. “She put you up to this, didn’t she? Be careful, she’s a master at using others.” “You’re sick!” Riley cursed and hung up. In that moment, my heart felt like it had been hung and died too.

Outside, it was pouring rain. I sat beside Julian, staring out the car window. The heavy rain outside was exactly like the day something terrible happened to Blair. Julian had pinned me against the wall, his eyes cold and filled with murderous intent. “Willow, why did you get Blair drunk and make her sleep with Gary Jenkins? Are you really so malicious that you wanted to ruin Blair?!” “I didn’t! It wasn’t me, truly it wasn’t… Bro.” “Shut up! Blair tried to kill herself because of this, and she’s still in the hospital. Go kneel and apologize to her!” “No! I won’t! I told you, it really wasn’t me!” Julian didn’t listen to my explanations at all. He grabbed my arm and dragged me all the way to the hospital. At the hospital, Blair was still making a scene in her room. The moment she saw me, she rushed forward and slapped me, trembling hysterically. “Why, Willow?! I was so good to you, why would you hurt me?!” In my anger, I tried to strike back, but Julian violently shoved me to the ground. “It wasn’t me! When I arrived yesterday, you were already drunk.” I looked at them in a panic, trying desperately to explain. “It really wasn’t me.” Blair had called me to pick her up. When I arrived, only a disheveled Gary Jenkins and Blair were in the VIP room. A lace bra was even hanging on the door. Before I could react, a passing server shrieked, attracting a crowd. “But Mom, what do we do now? Everyone knows I shamelessly got drunk and hooked up with Gary. And now Gary is forcing me to marry him, or he’ll post the video online!” Blair’s eyes welled up with tears. She turned and rushed toward the corner of the table. “Don’t!” Julian rushed forward, bracing his lower back against the table corner, wincing in pain as Blair slammed into him. “I have a solution.” Everyone present froze for a moment, then heard Julian personally deliver my death sentence. “Announce to the public that it was Willow who was with Gary that day. Make Willow marry Gary Jenkins.” “No! Why me?!” I looked at Julian in a panic, hoping to hear him say that what he’d just said was all out of anger. He knew Gary was an abuser. He had beaten his previous wife into a triple-disability, and the court had only issued a flimsy domestic violence order,

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On Valentine’s Day, my husband took his ex-girlfriend and her daughter out to dinner. And I, like an idiot, waited all night in a rundown shack with no electricity in the middle of nowhere. What I got instead was the joyous news of him inheriting billions! I took my daughter, Stella, to his celebration, hoping to get some answers, but the security guards treated me like a lunatic and nearly beat me to death. His ex-girlfriend, Celeste, had been upgraded to the ‘official’ Mrs. Sterling. A doctored drink claimed my life and Stella’s. Before my last breath, I swore: Blake Sterling, you’ll pay for this! Heaven must have opened its eyes, because I was reborn with all my memories! This time, I sold off the dilapidated house and headed straight for my family’s sprawling 20,000 square foot villa estate. Just you wait, Blake Sterling! The debt from my past life, I’ll make you repay a hundredfold! “Dad, I was wrong! I want to divorce Blake!” I knelt at the entrance of Sterling Industries, dragging Stella with me, drawing countless onlookers. Thinking back to my past life, I must have been out of my mind! For a total social climber, I cut ties with my billionaire father, clinging stubbornly to him, marrying into a village, living on scraps and barely scraping by. And what did I get? He soared to success, then treated me like dirt, used me up, and then tossed me aside! Not far off, several uniformed security guards pointed at us, their faces etched with disdain. “Who are these hicks, daring to cause a scene at Sterling Industries? Security! Get them out of here!” “Exactly, look at their clothes. They look like beggars. How dare they call themselves the boss’s daughter?” I took a deep breath, ignoring their harsh comments, my eyes fixed on the revolving door in front of me. Oh, Dad, your daughter has finally seen the light! Because what’s better than love? Money, that’s what! “Stella, don’t be scared, Mom’s here!” I squeezed my daughter’s tiny hand, giving her a reassuring look. Stella nodded obediently. Though only four, she already showed signs of inheriting my and Dad’s excellent genes. She’d grow into a stunning beauty, destined to be a heartbreaker. In my previous life, this little beauty suffered far too much with me. This time, I’d make sure she became the happiest little princess! “Well, well, which heiress has fallen so low?” A snide, syrupy voice drifted over. I looked up to see Marcus, Dad’s Executive Assistant. That man, relying on being Dad’s confidant, always made sure to give me a hard time. “Marcus, long time no see.” I forced a smile, cursing inwardly: Just you wait, the moment I’m back on top, you’ll be the first I fire! “Heiress? Oh, I wouldn’t dare.” Marcus pursed his lips, looking me up and down with a disdainful gaze. “Miss Sterling, the CEO said he doesn’t have a daughter like you. Please stop disturbing him!” “Shut up!” I cut Marcus off. “I’m here to admit my mistake! I promise, I’ll listen to him from now on, no more being reckless!” Marcus paused, seemingly surprised that I would be so meek and humble. “Hmph, if only you’d thought of that sooner.” He scoffed, his tone softening slightly. “Alright, I’ll reluctantly go inform him for you, but I can’t guarantee the CEO will see you.” With that, Marcus turned and walked into the revolving door. A biting wind howled, making Stella and me shiver. But this was my crucial step to changing my destiny! Blake Sterling, Celeste, just you wait! What’s mine, I’ll take back, one piece at a time! What you owe me, I’ll make you repay twofold!

Good thing I wasn’t stupid enough to sign a prenuptial agreement back then. This time, I had to fight for Stella’s and my own survival. Stella and I stood outside the imposing gate of Blake’s mansion. The security guards eyed us like thieves, scanning us several times, confirming we were wearing cheap clothes, and growing even more impatient. “What do you want? This is private property, get out of here!” I took a deep breath, telling myself to stay calm, not to stoop to their level. “Please tell Blake Sterling that his ex-wife is here with his daughter to see him.” The guard sneered, “You say you’re Mr. Sterling’s ex-wife? There are plenty of women claiming to be his wife these days! Mr. Sterling is very busy now, he doesn’t have time for your kind. Beat it!” I had expected this. After all, the current Blake Sterling was a high and mighty heir to a fortune. How could he remember the ‘rags-to-riches’ wife he conveniently forgot? I stepped back a few paces, pulling Stella with me, and yelled at the top of my lungs: “Everyone, come see! Blake Sterling swore undying love to me back then! He promised to be good to me forever, but now that he’s rich, he throws me and his daughter aside! Is there any justice left in this world?” Blake’s mansion was in a wealthy neighborhood, surrounded by affluent residents. Hearing my shouts, people immediately gathered, curious. “Oh dear, these days, there are too many women who tried to hook a rich guy and failed, aren’t there?” “Look how shabbily dressed the mother and daughter are. They must be trying to extort money.” “Mr. Sterling is known as a good man; he dotes on his wife and children. How could he abandon them?” Listening to the whispers around me, I smirked inwardly. Blake Sterling, you acted all high and mighty, but today, I’m going to rip off your mask! I pulled out a copy from my canvas bag and held it over my head. ***截断点***

“Everyone, look closely! This is a guarantee letter Blake Sterling personally wrote years ago, all here, in black and white! If he denies it, I’ll go to the media and publicly disgrace him!” Inside the surveillance room, the butler’s face changed drastically when he saw the contents of the guarantee letter. He quickly ordered the guards, “Stay here. I’ll go inform Mr. Sterling.” Sure enough, not long after. Blake Sterling walked out of the villa, his face dark. Behind him trailed Celeste, dressed in a Chanel suit. The butler pointed at me and said to Blake: “Mr. Sterling, it’s this woman. She claims to be your ex-wife. I think she’s crazy. Should I kick her out?” Blake’s eyes were dark and menacing as he stared at me. “Look up.” I curled my lips into a smile and slowly raised my head. The moment he saw me, Blake’s face went pale. “Scarlett? Is that really you? How did you get here?” He quickly walked up to me, lowering his voice. “Didn’t I make it clear on the phone? I’ve already called the police. This won’t end well for you if you keep this up!” Five years had passed, and Blake was even more mature, more charismatic. He wore a tailored designer suit, exuding the aura of a successful man. Stella and I, on the other hand, wore cheap clothes, looking utterly miserable. “Blake Sterling, what did you promise me back then? You said you’d be good to me forever, that you’d give me and Stella a happy life! And now? You live in a mansion, drive fancy cars, yet you discard me and Stella like trash. Where’s your conscience?” Blake’s face turned ashen, but a flicker of panic flashed in his eyes. “Scarlett, it’s not what you think. Please take Stella and leave. We can settle this privately.” As he spoke, he secretly slipped a check into my hand. He gestured for me to take the money and leave, to stop making a scene. I sneered, and in front of everyone, I tore the check into tiny pieces. “Blake Sterling, do you think a few measly dollars can buy me off? I’m telling you, no way! I came here today to reclaim everything that belongs to Stella and me!” My voice was loud enough for everyone around to hear clearly, and Blake’s face grew even uglier. He gritted his teeth and threatened me: “Scarlett, what exactly do you want? I said I’d compensate you. Can’t you just calm down?” I gave a cold smile, pulling Stella towards the villa entrance. “My daughter hasn’t had a decent meal in a long time. I’m afraid she can’t wait.” “Mr. Sterling, why are you so reluctant to let your ex-wife in? Is there something you’re trying to hide?”

Of course, I knew why Blake didn’t want me inside. The mansion wasn’t just home to him now. It also housed Celeste, his late brother’s widow, whom he now publicly claimed as his wife, along with her two children. Everyone comfortably seated on the living room sofa knew Celeste was the ‘official’ Mrs. Sterling, the one Blake presented to the world as his wife. As for me, his suddenly reappearing ‘ex-wife,’ Blake naturally had no idea how to explain me. After all, he was the one who cried and begged to marry me, and now he wished he could erase me from his life. But I was here today to make him lose face. Blake stared at me with a twisted expression, probably cursing me eight hundred times in his head. Celeste’s eyes darted around, and then she suddenly walked over, taking my hand with a forced warmth. “Oh, dear sister, what are you saying? Since you’re Blake’s… friend, you’re certainly a guest here. It’s normal for him to be caught off guard when you bring your child. Don’t misunderstand, please come in and sit down.” With that, she tried to pull me towards the nearby lounge area. I coldly pulled my hand away. “You must be Celeste, right?” Celeste’s face stiffened, but she forced a smile and nodded. In my past life, I was foolish. I always thought she was so pitiful, having lost her husband at such a young age. I had no guard against her, believing everything she said. And what happened? My daughter died instantly, spitting blood, after eating a cake Celeste had given her! “No need for the lounge area. Didn’t Mr. Sterling just say guests were visiting? My daughter and I are hungry, we’ll just eat something here. And perhaps Mr. Sterling can introduce us to everyone?” “Scarlett!” Blake growled, “Are you deliberately trying to embarrass the Sterling family, dressed like that to see guests? At least change your clothes. Celeste, take her to change…” Blake froze mid-sentence, realizing what he’d said. Seeing my silence, he quickly explained. “Scarlett, don’t misunderstand. Celeste is my only relative in this family. I treat her like a sister, that’s why I call her that.” “There’s absolutely nothing improper between us!” Blake’s desperate explanation only made me sick to my stomach. The scene before my death in the last life, I could never forget it. Celeste sobbing, lying. She claimed my daughter was greedy, accidentally ate the expired cake she’d left on the dining table because she was going to throw it away. She swore that wretched child stole it, which was why she died from the poison. Blake didn’t shed a single tear for us. Instead, he tenderly embraced Celeste, his face full of affection. He gently wiped away her tears, holding her close to comfort her. He said, “If she’s dead, she’s dead. Even if she hadn’t died, I was going to marry you anyway.” “All these years, my eyes have only been on you and the two kids. There’s no room for anyone else, and I won’t allow anyone to disturb our life.” From that moment, I completely gave up. Celeste led me into a room and tossed me an old dress she’d worn, telling me to change. Blake was squatting in front of Stella. “Don’t you remember Daddy?”

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Two years ago, Jessica threw a fit and tried to end her life. That’s why my adoptive brother sent me deep into the remote mountains. Two years later, I was finally allowed to come home. And I had completely gotten over Liam. But no one believed me. Their eyes were full of suspicion. “That’s your sister’s fiancé. Do you want to harm your sister and make her try to kill herself again? How could you be so vicious?” “The Carters kindly adopted you, but they raised an ungrateful monster. Why didn’t you just die in those mountains?” “Alice, you don’t deserve to live!” Listening to their barrage of insults, I clutched Pippin to my chest and said nothing. But later, Pippin, who had been with me all this time, suddenly went missing. My already frayed nerves finally snapped. I collapsed to my knees, begging them to give my dog back. “Please, I won’t fight with my sister. I don’t like Liam anymore. Can you please give me my dog back?” My frantic, deranged state didn’t seem like an act, and finally, no one doubted me anymore. Liam pulled me into a tight, heartbroken embrace, his voice trembling: “Alice, don’t cry.” “From now on, I’ll be your Pippin, okay?” But Liam, I don’t need you anymore. I just want my Pippin. … As soon as I came down from the mountains, reporters swarmed me. Their eyes were filled with scorn, as if I had committed some unforgivable crime. “How dare that ungrateful wretch even show her face?” “Weren’t there any widowers in those mountains? Why didn’t one marry her and beat her to death? Or let her die in childbirth?” “At the very least, a car crash on the way back would have been a public service!”

The insults pounded in my ears, but I tuned them all out. I just clutched Pippin, gently comforting him: “Pippin, we’re home now. No one can bully us anymore.” Pippin whimpered softly in my arms, a tiny response. I hugged him tight as I got into the car waiting to take me home. Stepping out, I stared blankly at what used to be my home. A woman draped in jewels and luxury came out to meet me, but I instinctively recoiled, clutching Pippin closer. Her welcoming steps faltered. Her face crumpled in hurt: “Alice, what’s wrong? It’s Mom!” “M-mom…” A dry, raspy sound clawed its way out of my throat, grating and ugly. Mrs. Carter instinctively frowned. Her displeased face merged with the twisted, menacing one from the mountains. I collapsed to my knees in a frantic mess, slapping myself repeatedly, desperately: “I’m sorry, I was wrong. It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have upset you. I’m sorry… so sorry…” I was lost in my own private hell until Pippin’s little head nuzzled me, bringing me back to reality. Mom was sobbing uncontrollably, covering her face as she left. A servant shakily led me into the house. I heard a furious roar: “What right does she have to blame us?” “Jessica was out there for years because of her, almost ripped away from us forever. And she actually has the gall to come back? If she had even an ounce of gratitude for our years of raising her, she should have just died out there!” “Keep your voice down.” Mrs. Carter tried to soothe him. “Once Jessica and Liam are engaged, and everything settles down, maybe Alice won’t have those inappropriate thoughts anymore.” “After all, we raised her since she was little. I can’t bear to marry her off to some widower.” I hugged Pippin, my body trembling, desperately trying to hold back my tears. The moment they agreed to let Liam send me to those mountains, I shouldn’t have held onto any hope, should I? Pippin’s little tail swept against my chin. I exhaled softly and followed the servant to my room.

At the welcome home dinner, my plate and forks were placed at the very end of the table. I quietly picked them up and went to crouch in a corner. Mrs. Carter frowned at me: “What are you doing?” “Two years in the mountains and you’ve forgotten basic etiquette?” I buried my head in the bowl, gripping the forks tightly: “I haven’t forgotten.” Mrs. Carter sighed, about to pull me up, when Jessica suddenly cleared her throat and announced: “Dad, Mom, Liam and I are planning our engagement ceremony for next week.” Her gaze then shifted to me, a meaningful look in her eyes: “Oh, and Alice, I hope you’ll bless your sister’s engagement. You’ll definitely love the ceremony, it’s outdoors.” Outdoors? A lawn wedding? My spoon paused mid-air. Flashes of memory flickered through my mind, of me blushing shyly in Liam’s arms. “Liam, when we get engaged, I want green grass, a blue sky, and birds in the trees, celebrating with us, okay?” In that memory, Liam’s face was etched with impatience. “Alice, can you be a bit more sensible?” “Can’t you see I’m busy?” I hastily shut up, quickly lowering my head in submission. “I’m sorry. You go ahead and work then.” That topic died before it even began. Later, Liam never asked again, and I never dared to bring it up. Until Jessica came back. My fork clattered against the bowl, a sharp sound that jolted me awake. I quickly grabbed my food and started wolfing it down. When I was done, I presented the sparkling clean bowl to them. “I licked the bowl clean,” I pleaded, trying to please them. “Can I go now?” Mrs. Carter’s smile froze. “Alice, where are you going?” “Tell Mom what you want, and Mom will have someone buy it for you.” She subtly gestured to the maids, telling them to stop me. Watching the maids surround me, my eyes widened in terror. I instinctively fell to my knees, clutching my head, begging desperately: “Don’t hit me, please don’t hit me! I’m sorry… I’m so sorry. Take whatever you want… I’ll never dare again, never again…” “Alice…” Mrs. Carter choked out, rushing to hug me, but I recoiled even more violently. “Mom… Mom will protect me? No… Mom is bad, Mom doesn’t love me…” I mumbled incoherently, my body pressed tightly against the corner of the wall. Everyone at the dinner table had different expressions, but no one spoke. They exchanged glances, then scoffed at me with thinly veiled contempt. She even tried to steal her sister’s fiancé; faking madness to gain sympathy wasn’t really that strange. On the day of Jessica’s engagement, she specifically asked me to be there. She announced to everyone that I was her sister, and no matter how much I hurt her, she would forgive me. So, in the eyes of outsiders, Jessica was the generous, kind sister, and I was the wicked, ungrateful adopted daughter. Stealing her sister’s fiancé, forcing her sister to attempt suicide—it was unforgivable. The old stories resurfaced, and my ears were filled with all sorts of vile remarks. Some cursed me to die a terrible death, others sympathized with Jessica for having such a malicious sister. And some whispered gleefully behind their hands: “I heard she was sent to the mountains for two years. I wonder if she hooked up with any men?” “I heard the men in the remote mountains work the land daily, they’re strong and robust, probably a real treat. She couldn’t have resisted the temptation, could she?” “Who knows? If she hadn’t finally given up on her sister’s fiancé, why would Liam have bothered to bring her back?” These formerly distinguished socialites now spat venom like gossiping hags. I listened to every word, clutching Pippin tighter. Pippin growled restlessly in my arms. I gently stroked his head: “Hush, boy. Don’t cause trouble, Pippin. Causing trouble gets you beaten.” After calming Pippin, I looked up and met Liam’s eyes. Memories washed over me like a tidal wave. My scalp crawled, and my body began to tremble uncontrollably. By the time I reacted, I was already on my knees.

Mr. Carter’s face was grim as he yanked me up. Mrs. Carter blocked the other guests’ view. “Alice, we’ve given you a good life, good food, and good care, and you’re still playing the victim to tarnish your sister’s reputation? How can you be so thoughtless!” Mrs. Carter’s harsh voice startled me. I pulled away from Mr. Carter’s hand and knelt on the floor, trembling uncontrollably: “I’m sorry, I won’t dare again, never again…” Seeing my breakdown, Mrs. Carter softened her tone and held me, soothing me. I finally calmed down. The engagement ceremony continued. The engaged couple went around to toast. When they reached our table, after my parents offered their blessings, Jessica and Liam’s eyes fell on me: “Miss Alice, don’t you have any blessings for your sister and her fiancé?” Liam’s familiar voice echoed above my head. My fingers were tangled in Pippin’s leash, and I dared not move. After a long moment, Liam sneered. “Forget it. Your blessings disgust me.” “Woof woof…” Pippin barked a couple of times, as if comforting me. I whimpered back, then grabbed Liam as he was about to leave. “Mr. Hayes…” “Miss Alice, did I give you permission to speak?” Liam shook off my hand, his face etched with impatience. My parents also looked tense. I mustered every ounce of courage, pulled an aluminum can ring from my bag. “The ring you gave me, returning what’s yours.” Liam and I were childhood sweethearts. Everyone once thought we were a match made in heaven. They all assumed we would naturally end up together. We thought so too. On my eighteenth birthday, Liam, blushing fiercely, handed me an aluminum can ring. He said it was a token of our love, and his early wedding ring for me. He told me not to like anyone else. I listened to him. I never imagined Liam would be the first to betray me. Jessica’s appearance completely stole Liam’s heart. From that day on, all our vows and promises were nothing but a fragile bubble, scattered by the wind. I cried, I threw tantrums. Finally, I understood it was all a cruel, empty dream. Love was a luxury I couldn’t afford. “Alice…” Mrs. Carter awkwardly pulled me back. Liam, however, chuckled softly and took the aluminum can ring. As I watched, he casually tossed it to the ground. “It was just a childish joke. Such a cheap trinket. I never thought Miss Alice would actually take it seriously and keep it for so long?” His words made me feel like a complete joke. My cheeks burned instantly. “Woof woof…” Pippin barked a couple of times, making me quickly lower my head, so I didn’t have to scramble blindly under Liam’s knowing, mocking gaze. After the ceremony, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. I also returned to my old job. To my surprise, my first client was Jessica. She ignored Pippin’s warning growls and stood too close to me. “Little sister, it seems two years in the mountains have made you much more obedient. You actually watched Liam and me get engaged without a fuss.” Jessica’s taunt left me expressionless. Two years in the mountains had taught me that love came at a price. Liam’s love had too high a price; I couldn’t afford it. Seeing no reaction from me, her frustration flared into anger: “Alice, don’t think playing the victim at the engagement party will earn you sympathy. I’m telling you, Dad and Mom will marry you off to some faraway place sooner or later!” “You’d better keep up this act!” I didn’t reply, my gaze fixed on her wrist. There was a faint scar from her suicide attempt. It was because of that scar that I was thrown into the mountains for two years, enduring unspeakable torment. I still remembered Jessica’s suicide note: “Little sister, please don’t torment me anymore. I’m giving Dad, Mom, and Liam to you. From now on, I hope you’ll take good care of them.” By the time I snapped back, Pippin had actually chased Jessica out of the room. As I rushed out, I heard Jessica shriek, collapsing to the ground, clutching her blood-soaked leg.

“Jessica, what happened to you?!” Before I could reach Jessica, Liam rushed in from outside, his face etched with frantic concern, his eyes smoldering with rage. It was the exact same expression he’d had the day Jessica attempted suicide. Back then, I desperately tried to explain, but Liam kicked me away. My head slammed against the coffee table, blood gushing. He didn’t even seem to see it, cradling Jessica in a helpless panic as he rushed her to the hospital. As he left, he warned me: “Alice, if anything happens to Jessica, I’ll make you pay with your life.” When Liam returned, haggard and worn, there was no emotion in his eyes. “Alice, we’ve spoiled you rotten all these years, letting you lose all sense of proportion.” “From today on, you’ll go to the place where Jessica lived, experience the hardships she endured, and hopefully, you’ll become a little kinder.” But Jessica had lived in a village not far from the city. I, on the other hand, was sent to the mountains, thousands of miles away. Thinking of that pain, I bolted. But Liam called out to me: “Alice, don’t you have anything to say?” “Woof woof woof… Woof woof…” I shook my head, retreating in a panicked mess. But Pippin was still next to Jessica. I had no choice but to force myself to call him. “Pippin, come back.” Knowing Liam’s personality, if he found out Pippin had bitten Jessica, he’d surely kill him. I was terrified. I was pulling Pippin away when Liam clamped his hand around my throat, pinning me to the ground. “Still playing innocent?” “It seems two years in the mountains haven’t taught you anything.” “Alice, Jessica is kind and gentle; she’s always spoken highly of you to me. What more could you possibly be dissatisfied with her about?” I’m not dissatisfied with her! It was Jessica who wouldn’t let me go. I frantically pounded on Liam. But he not only didn’t let go, he also had someone restrain Pippin. Furious, I screamed with a sudden burst of courage. “You never believed me!” “I never did anything, but you never believed me!” “Liam, just kill me, please let Pippin go, I beg you!” I was sobbing hysterically. I couldn’t imagine the cost of losing Pippin. Liam, however, put Pippin in a cage and told me with a smile: “If you chase after me, I’ll let him go.” He drove Jessica to the hospital. I ran wildly behind them. Eventually, my strength gave out, and I fainted. When I woke up again, I was locked in a dog cage by Liam. Pippin was perfectly fine, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I knelt, begging Liam to let us go, but he refused. “You’ve hurt Jessica again and again. Do you really think you can get away with it so easily?” Liam was going to punish me again. But Pippin was also trapped, and no one could save me. My heart turned to ash. I couldn’t fight off sleep any longer. In my dream, I was back in the mountains. During the day, I was treated like livestock. Plowing fields, cutting hay, herding sheep—endless heavy, exhausting work. The slightest hesitation earned me a lashing. At night, I was chained up like a dog, guarding doors house to house. The owners would feed me stale, rotten food. The food was impossible to swallow, but I couldn’t complain, or I’d be beaten again. And then there were… some masked men. They would show up when I was resting. “Get away!” “Let go of me, don’t touch me!” “Please, I beg you!” “Don’t hit me!” Outside, dogs barked incessantly. I couldn’t help but whimper, thrashing around. I felt an icy hand on my forehead. My body seemed to feel a little better. Those hateful people also disappeared. Drowsily, I heard someone shout. “If anything happens to Alice, I’ll make you pay with your lives!” Liam also said he’d make me pay with my life. I shivered in fear: “Don’t make me pay with my life!” The voices instantly softened to a gentle murmur, and I relaxed slightly. “How is she? Is she okay?” “This particular illness is mostly gone now.” “But…” The conversation trailed off. “But the old wounds, and the sickness in her heart, are likely hard to heal.” “Mr. Hayes, you’ve been with Miss Jessica for so long, didn’t you see the scars all over her body?” That’s right. My wrists and ankles couldn’t hide them. I instinctively flinched. But then I heard a voice very much like Liam’s, speaking huskily: “These… how were these caused?” The conversation continued, but it seemed to drift further away. I could only faintly hear: “Imprisonment… whippings… burns… chains…” I was terrified. I curled into a tight ball, covering my ears and screaming: “Stop talking! Stop talking!”

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The maid’s daughter in our house somehow got her hands on three magic chickens that could swap things. The first one, she used to swap my perfectly healthy baby for her own deformed one. The second, she swapped her identity as the maid’s daughter for my identity as the true heiress. The third, she swapped for my husband, the scion of a powerful elite family. Later, I ended up homeless, kidnapped with my deformed child, trafficked overseas, and eventually died a horrific death. When I opened my eyes again, my sister was bringing me chicken soup. I was still recovering from childbirth. I took it with a cold smirk. Once she left, I poured it out for the cook’s dog, who had just had puppies. “Cassie, this is a special free-range chicken I got from my hometown. It’s been stewing for hours. You just had your baby, you’re weak, so you need to replenish your strength.” I looked at Serena, her face full of fawning sincerity, and scoffed internally. In my last life, I misjudged her. I felt pity for her because her father had died young, and she and her mother came to work as maids in our house. I was exceptionally good to her. I let her and her mom live with us, and we even went to school together. Later, I found her and Julian, my childhood sweetheart, in bed together. I even fought tooth and nail to make sure the pregnant Serena married Julian, abandoning my long-standing affection for him just to right what I thought was a wrong. I never imagined that my pity would cost me everything, leading to unimaginable torment and a brutal death in a foreign land. Heaven must have had eyes for me, granting me this chance to be reborn. How could I ever let you steal my life again? I kept the coldness in my eyes hidden, smiling at her. “Just leave it. I finished my postpartum meal. I’ll drink it later.” Serena hesitated. “Okay, but remember to drink it later.” Finally, she left the room, turning back three times. She didn’t doubt my words; after all, we’d been close for so many years. She just wasn’t entirely at ease not seeing me drink it herself. Once she left and closed the door, I picked up the chicken soup and poured most of it into a cup, leaving only about a third at the bottom of the bowl. Sure enough, Serena came back in shortly after. After I nodded my permission, she pushed the door open, casually glancing at the bowl on my nightstand. Seeing the bowl mostly empty, she visibly relaxed, her mood brightening considerably. “Cassie, rest well. I’m heading off.” She finished, then gave a meaningful look at my baby sleeping soundly in the bassinet next to me. A flicker of triumphant glee flashed in her eyes. In my last life, the first thing she stole was my healthy, safe baby. After she got her wish and married into the Lin family, the child she gave birth to was deformed. Julian’s parents already disliked her because she’d used such a dirty trick to marry into their family. With the deformed baby, her position in the Lin family became even more precarious. Almost no one treated her like a legitimate daughter-in-law. Word spread like wildfire in our social circles. No one wanted anything to do with her; they all ostracized her. She had no one to blame but herself. You can’t force your way into a world that isn’t yours, especially when you’re just looking to steal from others. In the end, you’ll reap what you sow. After she left, I got up and put on my robe. I carried the cup of chicken soup to the backyard and poured it into the dog’s bowl. The dog, who had just delivered puppies, sniffed it out immediately. It eagerly lapped it up, and once it tasted the rich flavor, it quickly licked the bowl clean. Back home, Serena stared excitedly at the deformed child in the bassinet. She was waiting for that baby to magically transform into a healthy one without anyone knowing. But time ticked by, minute by minute, and not only did the baby not change, black fuzz began to grow all over its body. Serena gasped in horror, her eyes wide as she watched the baby sprouting fur. The fur grew more and more, thicker and denser, quickly turning the baby into a dark, shadowy figure that looked truly monstrous. In sheer terror, she let out a piercing scream: “Ah—”

The house staff rushed in, saw the baby, and were equally terrified, quickly rushing out to call for help. Serena snapped back to reality, trying to stop them, but it was too late. Her legs gave out, and she fell heavily to the floor. Julian’s parents arrived, and the sight scared them out of their wits. Julian’s mother fainted on the spot. Suddenly, the Lin household was in utter chaos. I was getting a foot massage when I heard about it. My best friend, Chloe, vividly described the scene to me: panicked parents, a shattered and bewildered Julian, and a hysterical, collapsing Serena. Chloe said with some pity, “That poor child, having a mother like that.” Even though the child was born deformed, Julian’s parents and Julian himself were still very good to the baby. They hired a professional team of postpartum nurses and a medical team to care for the child and assess its condition, planning surgery once its health indicators stabilized. It was Serena, the mother, who, despite appearing decent on the surface, ignored the child behind closed doors, unwilling to even glance at it. The house staff weren’t blind; everyone in the family knew. So their poor impression and attitude towards Serena had a reason. Unfortunately, Serena, fueled by jealousy and imbalance, chose a crooked path. She tried to swap my healthy child for a deformed one, so she shouldn’t blame me for giving her a taste of her own medicine. This incident created quite a buzz in our circles for a while. Everyone said Serena was getting her just deserts. The next time I saw Serena was at my son’s hundred-day banquet. He was the first grandson of the Thorne family, so my in-laws placed great importance on it, hosting a lavish banquet at a prestigious venue in the city’s most exclusive district. They invited all our relatives and friends from the city’s elite circles. Serena followed behind Julian. In two months, she seemed to have aged significantly. Even dressed up, her憔悴 (weariness) was evident. When she saw me, a flash of hatred crossed her eyes, quickly concealed. She followed Julian to my front. Julian, ever since his marriage, had barely met with me outside of major public events to avoid any awkwardness. Seeing me now, the complex emotions in his eyes were undeniable. He spoke with some difficulty, “Cassie, I wish you and the baby health and peace.” As he spoke, he handed over an exquisite box. I smiled, took it, but didn’t open it directly, instead handing it to my assistant, Maya, who stood nearby. Serena’s gaze at me was full of envy and resentment. I ignored it, greeted them, and then continued to entertain other guests. Julian walked directly to the garden perimeter, leaving Serena standing alone. A few ladies gathered around me, showering me with congratulations and compliments. As we chatted, the topic of Serena’s child came up. “Mrs. Thorne, you wouldn’t believe it, that child is covered in fur, it doesn’t look human at all.” A woman lowered her voice slightly. “More like an animal.” “I heard about it too. How could a perfectly normal child suddenly grow fur? It was already deformed, and now it mysteriously sprouted fur all over. It’s so bizarre.” “If you ask me, it must be something the mother did. Retribution on the child.” The woman glanced at Serena not far away. “Don’t forget how she used such dirty tricks to climb into the Lin family.”

Our conversation wasn’t quiet, or rather, there was no need to avoid Serena. So, Serena heard everything clearly, but she couldn’t react. In a setting like this, she had to swallow her pride, no matter how much it burned. She hung her head, trembling with rage, the hatred in her eyes almost materializing, threatening to pierce us. Too bad. If she had that kind of power, she wouldn’t have been forced to endure this humiliation until now. As the banquet was about to end, Serena stepped out for a while. When she returned, she was carrying a thermal container. I smiled faintly, glanced at my assistant, Maya, and calmly waited for her next move. This time, she disregarded everyone’s stares and walked up to me, a gentle smile on her face. “Cassie, you’ve been so busy taking care of guests, you haven’t eaten anything. This is chicken soup my mom specially made for you. Drink it while it’s hot.” “Don’t think everything’s fine just because you’re out of postpartum recovery. A woman needs to take care of herself for a year or two after having a baby…” She chattered on, smiling, her words full of concern for me and her supposed sincerity. Her earnestness almost made me believe her. Everyone watched Serena showering me with care, personally serving me soup, their expressions varied, their minds buzzing with speculation. Serena didn’t care in the slightest now. She handed me the soup bowl. “Drink it while it’s hot.” “That’s very thoughtful of you,” I said, smiling as I took it, but didn’t drink. I looked at Serena, whose eyes were alight with barely suppressed anticipation, and offered an apologetic smile. “I forgot to tell you last time…” “I can’t drink any more, but as you know, I don’t eat reheated leftovers. So I poured it out for the cook’s dog.” Watching Serena’s expression instantly freeze, I smiled again. “She just had puppies, and she drank it all in one go, not a drop wasted.” Serena nearly lost control of her facade. The hatred and breakdown in her eyes were about to spill over. The people around us were enjoying the show. None of them would think there was anything wrong with me giving the chicken soup to a dog. They just found it hilarious how Serena tried so hard to please me, only to have her efforts literally fed to a dog. Serena knew this too. She was both furious and humiliated, forcing a smile that was uglier than a cry. “It’s fine, if she drank it, she drank it. This time, you really should taste it yourself, it’s truly delicious.” I nodded, slowly bringing the bowl to my lips. My assistant, Maya, was quicker than thought. She snatched the bowl from my hand, steady as a rock, not spilling a single drop, and then drank more than half the bowl in one go. Serena gasped in shock, hastily trying to stop her, only managing to knock over the last bit of soup. Maya saw her reaction and pinned her to the ground. “You really *are* up to something!” A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd. Their gazes at Serena grew increasingly playful. Serena’s face was pressed to the ground, right into the sticky chicken soup. She knew she had failed again, and she had no idea who Maya truly was. She was close to breaking point. My in-laws and Darian saw the commotion and were displeased. They gestured to their staff, who quickly briefed them. After hearing the summary, my in-laws’ faces darkened further. They immediately ordered the chicken soup to be preserved for laboratory testing and had security restrain Serena. The chicken soup itself wouldn’t be the issue. Serena’s problem, however, was huge. She had caused such a scene, not only humiliating the Lin family but also offending the powerful Thorne family. Already a laughingstock, she had now maxed out all her negative stats.

Julian’s parents, rushing over, exclaimed as if the sky had fallen. Their disgust for Serena reached its peak. While placating my in-laws with polite apologies, they desperately wished they could disown Serena on the spot. At the same time, Serena’s identity subtly shifted in everyone’s minds. A daughter of a maid in a prominent household, no matter what, had seen some of the world and held a somewhat better standing than ordinary people. But she had chosen *my* assistant. To be honest, I specifically sought out Maya for this purpose. My recruitment criterion was: someone with a truly miserable backstory. Serena was now portrayed as a woman from a rural area, completely unremarkable, who had manipulated her way into Julian’s bed at a party and leveraged her pregnancy to marry into the Lin family. Everyone’s eyes filled with even more scorn and disdain when they looked at her. They even started openly criticizing her, right in front of Julian’s parents. Serena wept uncontrollably, becoming the ultimate laughingstock. A tidal wave of humiliation and hatred swept over her. She forced herself to look up at me, seeing the playful smirk on my lips. She seemed to understand something. Disbelief flickered in her eyes, and something inside her shattered. Julian, who had just arrived, had a grim expression. After apologizing to my in-laws, he looked at me with deep regret. “Cassie, I’m truly sorry.” “It’s fine by me,” I shrugged. “But I can’t say the same for others.” At my words, Julian’s parents’ faces grew even more sullen. The test results came back: the chicken soup was perfectly harmless. But that didn’t change the fact that this banquet had utterly humiliated the Lin family. Serena’s life was about to get much harder. Serena was effectively placed under house arrest by the Lin family, forbidden from leaving to avoid further trouble. She was smart, too. After admitting her wrongdoing, she genuinely stayed put for two or three months, quiet and compliant. Later, without anyone noticing, she was left largely unsupervised. Soon, she found me. She arranged to meet me using Julian’s name. I arrived on time. The restaurant was empty; she had booked the entire place. I wasn’t surprised to see her, just noted that she looked visibly older. I sat across from her and smiled. “Long time no see.” Compared to my calm, she seemed agitated. “You knew all along, didn’t you!” I smiled, offering no reply, silently confirming her words. “Cassandra Thorne! You are so cunning!” Serena glared at me fiercely. “You pretended to know nothing! And you ruined me like this!” “Wrong!” I interrupted her. “You brought this upon yourself!” Serena slammed her hand on the table, standing up, agitated. “Nonsense! What are you pretending to be so high and mighty about?! You just rely on your family’s status to lord over everyone! Why?! We’re all human! Is it wrong for me to fight for a better life for myself?!” I stood up and slapped her across the face. “This is stealing! I was good to you because I’m kind, not because I’m a pushover you can stomp on.” “You want to steal what’s mine,” I squeezed her chin, then violently shoved her away, “you should have asked for my permission first!” Serena laughed, a little crazed. “I will take what’s yours! What can you do about it? Do you think I’m out of options, hahaha—” Serena looked at me meaningfully and slowly said, “I want to swap partners with Cassandra Thorne.”

A memory, not my own, flooded my mind. It was of Julian and me. We were childhood sweethearts, and when we reached marrying age, we got married. And Serena? She became Mrs. Thorne, the young matriarch of the powerful Thorne family. Only Serena and I knew the real truth. Serena, sensing the shift in identities, was ecstatic. While the Lin family was prominent, compared to the Thorne family, they were worlds apart. That’s why she had gone to such lengths, finding a witch and now using her last chance, sacrificing ten years of her life to swap places with me. Now, she was Mrs. Thorne. She had finally surpassed me. But she hadn’t considered what her situation would be like, given her true identity and past actions, even as Mrs. Thorne. And I had no obligation to warn her. I smiled, genuinely congratulating her. “Congratulations, Mrs. Thorne.” Welcome, Serena, to the Thorne family’s hell. Yes, I call the Thorne family’s mansion hell. I was merely a tool my father used to secure a marriage alliance for the Thorne family. They had searched for a long time and finally settled on me.

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The SAT Showdown: They Called Me Wretched The SATs were just around the corner when they finally brought me home – the real daughter. On SAT day, I was the first one to hand in my paper and walk out of the exam hall. A reporter asked how I felt I did, and I frankly told him the questions were super easy. The reporter gasped, “Are you, by any chance, Ashley Montgomery, the genius academic star?” Just then, the fake daughter, Ashley, also finished her exam and came out. My parents, Richard and Eleanor, and my brother, Blake, immediately surrounded her, showering her with affection and declaring that *she* was the real genius. Ashley pretended to speak up for me, but her words were laced with mockery. “Sister, it’s okay if you didn’t do well. But you shouldn’t lie, you know? I heard your scores are barely enough to get into a community college. You can always retake them!” My parents and Blake glared at me, their faces dark, as if I had brought shame upon them. I just crossed my arms and smiled confidently. I was the first person to walk out of every single SAT subject test. When I confidently declared that Harvard was a sure thing after the last exam, the live stream chat absolutely exploded. My mother, Eleanor, was so furious she practically shrieked, “We don’t have such a delusional daughter!” My father, Richard, proclaimed, “If she can get into Harvard, I’ll give her my entire fortune!” People in the live stream had already dug up my previous scores, frantically spamming the chat: “If she gets into Harvard – no, even just undergrad – I’ll eat my own socks on live stream!” I looked at my father and shook my head. “Dad, your fortune? I wouldn’t even touch it!”

The words had barely left my lips when my parents’ faces grew even darker. Blake looked utterly livid. ““*Jian-nü*,” I think you’ve lost your mind. We should send you to a mental hospital right now.” Eleanor looked disgusted. “I don’t know what on earth you told your grandmother to make her bring you back, but now you’ve completely disgraced the Montgomery family.” “If it weren’t for the DNA test, I’d never believe you were my daughter.” The next second, her gaze softened, falling on Ashley. “Our Ashley is so sensible, so graceful and poised. She doesn’t pull these attention-seeking stunts.” Ashley let out a soft “Oh dear.” “Sister, are you short on cash or something? Is that why you’re trying to go for a controversial route, then just go into live streaming sales? If you need money, just ask Mom and Dad! They wouldn’t deny you. Making such a spectacle of yourself outside, people might think Mom and Dad are abusing you.” She finished, leaning sweetly against Eleanor’s shoulder, her eyes fixed on me with disdain and mockery. Richard, who always prioritized appearances, snapped, “Nonsense!” “When we get home, confiscate all her electronics. Lock her up! She’s not coming out until she apologizes!” I watched them – a picture of a united, harmonious family of four, all against me. My heart didn’t stir an inch. I even smiled. Blake’s face was grim. ““*Jian-nü*,” what are you smiling at?” I shrugged. “SAT scores will be out soon. Why are you all in such a hurry?” “Anyway, you’ve never cared about me, have you?” Blake had zero patience. “Who doesn’t know you used to score two, three hundred? Don’t blame others for not caring if your grades are trash!” I was the real Montgomery heiress, swapped by the Roberts family. From childhood, my grades were absolutely terrible. They only brought me back two months before the SATs. My last mock exam before the SATs was just as bad as before. They completely gave up on me. They simply ignored that I was also taking the SATs, showering Ashley with attention and care every single day. On SAT day, my father, Richard, who was always swamped with work, canceled everything. My mother, Eleanor, who had daily appointments with socialites, canceled all her engagements. My brother, Blake, who was busy with various university activities, also cleared his schedule. All for Ashley’s SATs. Not only that, they thought I was bad luck, fearing I would jinx Ashley’s performance. They only dropped her off at the exam hall. Every time they saw me walking out of the exam, they’d look at me as if I were some unlucky charm, and when we got home, they’d even try to ward off bad luck around me, as if I were contaminated. Ashley stepped forward, playing the good person. “Mom, Dad, *Jian-nü* probably just hasn’t experienced this much attention before. It’s probably just vanity acting up.” “Besides, the SAT scores will be out soon. Just let her have her little moment for a couple of days.” ““*Jian-nü*,” just apologize to Mom and Dad. We can let this go.”

The live stream chat was scrolling furiously: “Now THIS is a true genius, so graceful!” “But what’s with *Jian-nü*? What kind of parents give their daughter such a name in this day and age?” “To the commenter above, word on the street is *Jian-nü* is the Montgomery family’s real daughter who was swapped at birth. They just found her, but she looks like a lost cause.” “She looks so provocative, just begging for a punch! Whoever named her that is a genius!” I ignored the immense malice directed at me in the live stream and spoke directly: “Please, everyone, be my witness. I hope my parents keep their word when the scores come out.” “Oh, and everyone in the live stream too.” The live stream chat collectively spammed: “I think she’s truly lost it.” The day the SAT scores were released. The reporter who interviewed me before showed up again. He had become an overnight sensation because of me. Unwilling to let go of this massive buzz, he had privately contacted me, worried I wouldn’t make outrageous claims like I did on SAT days. He insisted I maintain that persona. He even offered me a cut of the profits. Not just him, many big PR firms also sought me out, ready to tailor a public image for me. The moment the SAT scores were out, they wanted me to go live and simply announce I was the SAT top scorer. No one believed a word I said. While waiting for the scores, the reporter interviewed my parents, asking why I was so extreme. Eleanor forced out two tears. “Today, after she faces reality, we’ll send her to a mental hospital. After all, she’s still my daughter.” Richard, meanwhile, put his arm around her, said a couple of comforting words, then immediately diverted the conversation to his company’s new product. I watched them coolly from the side. If they truly considered me their daughter, they wouldn’t have only brought me back right before the SATs. Ten minutes before the scores were released, they put on a show of caring. Richard said, ““*Jian-nü*,” apologize in the live stream now, it’s not too late. Afterwards, we can just say you had a mental breakdown.” Eleanor added, ““*Jian-nü*,” must you bring shame to the Montgomery family? I swear, you’re nothing but trouble since you came back. I wish I had never given birth to you.” Blake was as impatient as ever. “Are you really going to be a complete clown today? Have we been too good to you?” I spoke up, genuinely surprised. “Good to me? With your words? I haven’t felt it. Being good to me means making me live in the storage room, not giving me pocket money or even a ride, making me walk ten miles to school? And ignoring me when I was bullied?” A flicker of awkwardness and discomfort crossed their faces. Because after they brought me back, they literally never cared for me. The staff were quick to follow their lead; if the Montgomerys didn’t say anything, the staff wouldn’t do anything. Ashley, however, had red eyes. ““*Jian-nü*,” don’t blame Mom and Dad. After the SAT scores come out, I’ll give Mom and Dad back to you. I’ll leave the Montgomery family.” The live stream chat exploded again: “Is *Jian-nü* really having such a hard time? The Montgomery family didn’t handle that well.” “Heh, serves her right! If I had a daughter like that, I wouldn’t even bring her home!” Richard, Eleanor, and Blake immediately rushed to comfort Ashley. “Ashley, don’t apologize to her. She’s not worthy!” “If you leave the Montgomery family, you’d be killing us!” “Ashley, I’m not someone who values blood ties. I only recognize you as my sister.” I spoke lazily. “You keep calling me ‘“*Jian-nü*”’ – ‘Wretched Girl.’ But that name was truly meant for Ashley. It’s what *her* birth parents, the Roberts, named her.” My parents and Blake immediately glared at me. Ashley’s tears fell even faster. ““*Jian*”… Sister, I know you’re upset with me…” I had no patience for it. I cut her off directly. “Ashley, let’s make a bet. If you score worse than me, how about you take the name ‘“*Jian-nü*”’?” “If I score worse than you, I’ll get out of the Montgomery family.”

No sooner had I spoken than someone shouted: “Time’s up!” Ashley, however, glanced at me, barely concealing the triumph in her eyes. “Sister, so you don’t upset Mom and Dad any further, I accept your bet.” Everyone crowded behind Ashley, impatiently waiting for her to check her scores. The viewers on the live stream also stopped spamming, waiting in silent anticipation for the results. However, Ashley’s score kept loading, loading, loading. Suddenly, the entire house went dark. Only the glow from Ashley’s computer screen remained. “A power outage? No wonder the internet’s so bad!” Blake’s angry voice boomed, “What’s going on? Why is the power out? Send someone to check the lines now!” Ashley’s computer, without internet, continued to spin its loading circle. In the darkness, someone muttered, “The Montgomery villa has never had a power outage before. Could it be *her* doing?” “Now that you mention it, it makes sense! If you’re scared, don’t talk big!” I pursed my lips. I told them before that the circuit had issues, but they didn’t believe me. Now they were blaming me. Soon, someone reported, “Sir, Madam, there’s a slight issue with the wiring.” Blake became agitated again. “If there’s a problem, fix it! How many minutes will it take?” The person stammered, “Five minutes.” Blake barked, “You have three minutes!” Even in the dark, I could feel impatient stares on me. ““*Jian-nü*,” do you really have to pull so many stunts?” “Are you that desperate for attention that you’d resort to this?” It was Blake’s voice. I rolled my eyes. “We could just check on our phones! You’re the ones who insisted on using the computer!” “This is so you’ll admit defeat, and so the live stream viewers know not everyone in the Montgomery family is as shameless as you!” “You have no proof, so why are you barking like a dog?” I retorted, annoyed. Blake was about to speak again when the power suddenly came back on. Ashley’s page was still lagging. “Scores are out! English 121, Math 104, History 130, Physics 79, Chemistry 80, Biology 83, Total 597!” Those who hadn’t seen it yet gasped. Because, given Ashley’s usual genius persona, she couldn’t possibly score so low. “Not Miss Ashley, it’s just someone in the live stream whose scores came out. I just read it aloud.” The next second, the reporter quickly apologized. “My apologies, it’s an old habit, reading the comments!” Everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Ashley’s hand, clutching the mouse, began to tremble. The next second, the page refreshed! Everyone stared at Ashley’s computer. “The scores are out! This time, it’s really Miss Ashley’s scores!” someone shouted. *That’s it?* I thought to myself. I’d expected Ashley’s scores to be invisible or something. Someone read out her scores: “English 132, Math 140, History 141, Physics 80, Chemistry 85, Biology 86, Total 664!” Ashley’s face instantly turned ugly. She refreshed repeatedly, unwilling to believe those were her scores. The Montgomerys were initially in disbelief too, but quickly adjusted, comforting her: “Ashley, you did great! We heard this year’s exam was really tough.” Blake, meanwhile, blamed everything on me. ““*Jian-nü*,” if you hadn’t come back, Ashley wouldn’t have been distracted and scored poorly.” The live stream also began to doubt. “Didn’t they say she was a genius girl? While that score is high for me, it’s not exactly ‘genius’ material, is it?” “If even the genius girl scored this low, then *Jian-nü* must have done even worse, right?” The moment Ashley looked up, her eyes were red, brimming with tears. “Mom, Dad, Blake, I didn’t do well. I disappointed you. I’ll go pack my things and move out of this house.” No sooner had she spoken than a perfectly timed, sparkling tear rolled down her cheek, making her look utterly pitiful. Richard comforted her, “Ashley, what are you talking about? Even if you scored zero, you’d still be my daughter, a Montgomery!” “Your scores are already excellent. Getting into a good university won’t be a problem.” “It’s Dad’s fault. I shouldn’t have brought that wretched girl back. She affected your performance! How about this, Dad will buy you that island you’ve been eyeing, and you can go relax there with your friends.” Eleanor quickly added, “Ashley, Mom already bought you a twenty-million-dollar diamond necklace. It’ll be delivered soon.” Blake wasn’t to be outdone. “Ashley, I’ll buy you a villa and luxury cars. Don’t be sad!” Thankfully, I’d seen my adoptive parents, the Roberts, play favorites since I was little, so facing this moment, the slight pang of bitterness I felt quickly vanished. Richard’s gaze at me was like looking at a plague. He frowned. ““*Jian-nü*,” before you came back, Ashley always scored over seven hundred!” I pursed my lips. “She’s just not that good.” “You!” Richard exploded in fury. “Even now, you show no remorse! I will not allow you to destroy our family. I see nothing of the Montgomery family’s fine qualities in you. From today, I’m sending you out of this family!” I looked utterly composed. “Why the rush? My scores haven’t been checked yet.” Mocking laughter erupted from the crowd again. “The exam was so hard this time, even Miss Ashley didn’t do well. She must have done even worse!” Blake, as usual, was impatient. “Then check your scores quickly!” I pouted. “Isn’t Ashley checking them already?”

Ashley’s face changed, and she quickly explained, “I was just checking how you did, so I could help you figure out which university you could get into.” I retorted mercilessly, “Caring enough to memorize my exam ID number?” She was choked speechless. The next second, someone burst out laughing: “Zero? How can anyone get a zero? Even if you threw the answer sheet on the ground and stepped on it, you’d get a higher score!” A flash of triumphant smile quickly crossed Ashley’s face. She glanced at the computer, confirmed it, then looked up at me provocatively. “Sister, if you had scored two or three hundred, Mom and Dad might still have thrown money to get you into a university. But you scored zero. Mom and Dad can’t even pay for you to get in.” Too bad she didn’t look closely. My parents’ faces were incredibly grim. “Disgraceful.” Blake seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, watching me with cold eyes. “Send her to a mental hospital.” The live stream chat erupted in cheers. It was as if a farce had finally ended. I understood instantly. So, Blake Montgomery had never scored in the top fifty either. Richard fully agreed with Blake. “Yes, send her to a mental hospital. Don’t let her out until she’s cured.” As he spoke, people quickly moved to my side, ready to take me away. I frowned and spoke up. “Don’t you know that the top fifty scores are initially blocked?” Everyone seemed to freeze for a moment. Then, a chorus of laughter erupted. As if they had never heard anything so funny, they laughed until tears streamed down their faces. “Top fifty? Her? Someone who scored a big fat zero claiming top fifty! Young Master Blake is right, she’s truly lost her mind!” Only my parents and Blake had ashen faces. Ashley’s hostile gaze, which had been fixed on me since I arrived at the Montgomery home, softened into a hint of pity, but mostly the triumph of a victor. She also thought I was crazy. She even thoughtfully comforted my parents. “Mom, Dad, Blake, Sister might have a mental problem. While she’s recovering, I’ll take her place and be even more filial to you.” Richard seemed unable to bear it another second and roared, “Get that ‘“*Jian-nü*”’ to the mental hospital immediately!” “Who dares!” Everyone turned towards the source of the voice. And when I heard that voice, my eyes finally welled up. I, who had never felt wronged until now, suddenly began to feel a belated sense of grievance. And it grew stronger and stronger. “Mom, why are you here?” Richard’s voice even held a hint of fear. Eleanor and Blake, initially flustered, quickly calmed down, their approving gazes falling on Ashley. Eleanor said, “Mom, I was going to have someone inform you of Ashley’s scores. You shouldn’t have had to come yourself.” “But this child certainly didn’t disappoint us.” Ashley looked somewhat overwhelmed but flattered, sweetly calling out, “Grandma, I just checked my scores, 664 points.” There was even a hint of pride in her tone. Grandma Margaret Montgomery coolly swept her gaze over them. She sat down on the sofa and beckoned me to her side. I immediately ran over. “Who are you sending to a mental hospital?” Her voice, though not angry, held an undeniable authority. My parents chuckled awkwardly. “Mom, it’s one thing that *Jian-nü*’s scores are terrible, but she’s spouting nonsense, not a single truthful word. We suspect she’s gone mad, so we thought of sending her to a mental hospital for treatment.” ““*Jian-nü*?”” Grandma Margaret looked directly at Richard, repeating the name. Richard opened his mouth, then belatedly realized, unable to speak, fine beads of sweat already appearing on his forehead. Blake stepped forward, appearing to champion justice. “Grandma, it’s not Dad’s fault for not changing *Jian*… my sister’s name. It’s just that it was so close to the SATs, and we were busy worrying about Ashley, we didn’t have time to change it.” My parents quickly chimed in, “Yes.” Grandma Margaret looked at Ashley, then at my parents, a look of disappointment in her eyes. She caressed my hand, but I shook my head, indicating I was fine. Before, only my high school homeroom teacher cared for me. Now, with Grandma Margaret, it was my good fortune. “Excuse me, is this the Montgomery residence?” A few people walked in, asking. After confirming, those individuals immediately locked onto my parents, and after saying, “Congratulations on your daughter becoming the top scorer in the state,” they eagerly introduced themselves:

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My Eight-Year Marriage: A Scapegoat No More! I’d been with my husband for eight years. He was the perfect husband, attentive to my every need. Until the news broke that my best friend was back in the country and had been hurt. At the grand opening, he ditched me and ran to the one who truly held his heart. The next day, I received the divorce papers. Eight years of devotion, and it all meant nothing the moment his ex came back. I finally got it. I’d loved Julian Thorne for a full decade. But he, he never knew. The day he married me, I didn’t sleep a wink. I’d longed for this day for so, so long. The day Julian Thorne and I got married, it poured outside. Originally, the one Julian was supposed to marry was Blair Thompson. But on their wedding day, Blair took the wedding funds and ran, abandoning the ceremony. Blair, she was my best friend. Back in university, she was incredibly introverted, barely spoke, and came from no significant background. Nobody wanted to hang out with her. Our university was an elite one, full of students from old money and powerful families. Later, I learned Blair had forced her parents to borrow money from everywhere just to get into the school because she was determined to bag a wealthy husband. The lazy afternoon sun spilled onto the garden path. I was heading to the office to go over a paper with a professor when I heard a commotion around the corner. A few entitled brats had cornered a young girl. They were spewing all sorts of filthy language. The girl had a large backpack, her body curled into a ball, eyes filled with tears, staring timidly at the aggressive faces surrounding her. Liam Hayes ripped off the girl’s hat, threw it to the ground, and stomped on it. Lucas Thorne snatched her phone, fiddling with it, letting out strange cackles now and then. The girl pleaded, her voice trembling, “Please, give me my things back, I’m begging you…” But they ignored her, continuing their torment. “Cole Hayes, is bullying part of the Hayes family’s values?” I said, my voice cold, staring at Cole. Cole Hayes, the sole heir to the Hayes family, their future successor. In this city, the Hayes family ranked first, the Millers ranked second. “Maybe Miss Miller should mind her own business first?” Lucas glared at me, annoyed. “You know the consequences if you don’t leave now.” I twirled my pen, speaking casually. Cole gave me a deep look, then slightly raised his chin, signaling them to leave. “Since when did Miss Miller start being so nosy?” they muttered as they walked away. It was true, I was known in our circles for being aloof and reserved, yet that day, I stepped forward anyway. My parents were always busy with business abroad, maybe I was just lonely too. “My name is Blair Thompson, thank you for saving me just now.” Blair extended her hand to me. “Seraphina Miller. Don’t be such a coward in the future.” I glanced at her. But she just grinned and hugged me. “From now on, you’re my best friend!” I didn’t like unfamiliar people getting too close, but that day, I don’t know what possessed me, but I didn’t push her away. From then on, Blair followed me everywhere, every single day. She chattered constantly, incredibly noisy. But I never once cut her off. Julian Thorne, he was utterly, madly in love with Blair. At the most luxurious private club in the city, it was covered in Ecuadorian Royal Roses and Japanese Alpine Peonies. A globally renowned wedding dress designer had custom-made a dream gown for Blair—gossamer-thin French lace, dazzling Swarovski crystals, every stitch radiating luxury. The lavish wedding he gave Blair was the talk of the entire city. That day, everyone who was anyone was there. I watched it all in a daze. Ten years of unrequited love, maybe it was finally time to end it. Like a shell of myself, I escaped into the lounge. Afraid that in the next second, I’d just completely break down. “Sera, could you do me a favor?” Blair had followed me in, I hadn’t even noticed. I looked at her, gesturing for her to continue. Blair ran over, shaking my arm. “Could you help me elope? I don’t want to marry Julian.” “Why?”

Julian and Blair had been together for five years. In those five years, his doting and favoritism towards Blair drove me insane with jealousy. I had never seen Julian like that. I forced myself to bury those feelings deep inside. “I don’t want to marry someone I don’t love, please, Sera,” she pleaded, whining. “Stop messing around, the wedding’s about to start.” I said, a little annoyed. “Alright, fine, I’ll go get ready then.” Blair skipped off. My thoughts drifted back to the past. I absolutely hated horseback riding. But I heard he loved equestrianism, so I signed up for riding lessons too. On my first lesson, I was nervous and clumsy, trying to approach the restless horse, but I couldn’t calm it down. Just as I was at a loss, Julian, wearing a dashing riding helmet, walked over with a confident stride. He gently patted the horse’s neck, whispered a few words, and the horse immediately settled down. Then he turned and looked at me, a smile in his eyes. He patiently taught me how to properly hold the reins and mount the horse. As he guided me hand-in-hand, I caught a faint scent of his cologne. His proximity made my cheeks burn. “Thank you, Julian,” I said, blushing. I’d liked him since childhood, but this was the first time I’d ever called him by name to his face. The reason I liked him was simple: he was incredibly handsome. “It’s nothing, Sera. Feel free to ask me anything you don’t understand.” When he looked at me, his eyes seemed to sparkle. I nodded. In that instant, my heart felt like it burst with fireworks. Maybe he liked me a little too. Was I really Julian and Blair’s matchmaker? I asked myself countless times. At a lavish private yacht party, I didn’t like crowds, so I stood alone on the deck, enjoying the breeze. The sea wind gently lifted my hair. As I was lost in thought, a magnetic voice suddenly came from behind me: “Standing out here in the wind, aren’t you cold?” I turned, and Julian Thorne, dressed in a white casual suit, appeared before me. He stood tall, his presence extraordinary, the limited edition Rolex on his wrist glinting dazzlingly in the sunlight. “It’s alright, the view here is beautiful,” I replied calmly. He smiled, walking to the railing and standing beside me. “Indeed, this sea always lifts one’s spirits.” “I remember you don’t really like attending parties.” “I came with a friend.” I glanced at Blair, who was flitting between various wealthy young men. “Your friend? She’s quite beautiful.” Julian followed my gaze. Blair that day was in a custom gown, its train spilling like a river of stars, her exquisite makeup highlighting her striking features. Yes, I bought it for her. “Sera, I’ve never been to a yacht party!” she looked at me pitifully. “Please, please, take me!” My heart suddenly softened, I gave her a makeover and brought her along. “So, Mr. Thorne, is she your type?” I asked him boldly, secretly testing the waters. “Do you want me to introduce you?” I waited for a long time, so long I thought Julian wouldn’t answer. “No.” He waved his hand at me. “Let’s go, Miss Miller. Get back inside, it’s cold.” He said he didn’t like her, Yet his eyes never left Blair. The next day, he began his relentless pursuit. He pursued her relentlessly and patiently for almost a year, making sure everyone knew it.

“Sera, I said yes to Julian’s proposal!” Blair smiled, as innocent and charming as a child. “Hm, congratulations.” I unconsciously tightened my grip on the book in my hand, my fingertips turning white, but I didn’t even notice. Back then, I naively thought Blair truly loved Julian. I refused to be the villain who tore them apart. I’d consider my feelings for him just a long, beautiful dream. Now that I was awake, I’d pay the price for indulging in it. But in the end, Blair still ran away from the wedding. And, she even took the wedding funds with her. At the wedding venue, guests filled the seats, flowers and crystal chandeliers shimmered, everything arranged to the most luxurious specifications. Julian, in his Italian custom suit, stood tall, but as he waited for Blair, he received the news of her elopement instead. In an instant, his eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the empty end of the red carpet. The composure on his face vanished, replaced by anger and panic. “Where is she?!” Julian roared, his voice echoing through the entire hall, making the surrounding staff tremble. Julian tore off his tie and flung it at the elegant dessert table, scattering pastries everywhere. Then he stormed into the bride’s dressing room, and seeing the empty space, he became even more enraged. He clenched his fists, veins throbbing on his forehead, muttering through gritted teeth, “How dare she!” Julian rushed out the door, completely abandoning his usual image, his uncontrolled appearance a stark contrast to his usual self. A few hours later, Julian returned, defeated. He walked straight to me. “Sera, will you marry me?” Julian clutched my hand, as if afraid I’d refuse. I knew he needed a bride today. Whether it was to get back at Blair or save face. “I…” “Seraphina Miller, are you crazy? Can’t you see he’s just using you to clean up his mess?” Cole Hayes interrupted me. “Miss Miller, so desperate to get married? You’re so desperate to get married you’ll take anyone, even a hand-me-down? Why not consider me instead?” Cole said casually, a cigarette between his fingers. “What do you mean by that, Mr. Hayes? Are you openly opposing me?” Julian stared at him intently. “Exactly what it sounds like.” Cole didn’t even spare him a glance, smiling. “So, Miss Miller, what do you say?” “Yes, Julian.” I completely ignored Cole. “Damn it! Seraphina Miller, you’re just determined to suffer, aren’t you?!” Cole smashed the champagne bar and the flower arch. Then he turned and left. Suddenly, a heavy rain began to fall. The wedding venue was ruined. And just like that, in such a miserable state, I married the man I’d loved my entire youth. That wedding night, I didn’t sleep at all. I was overjoyed, after all, I had waited for this day for so, so long. I knew why Julian chose me. His first love ran away, so naturally, he chose the next best option—the one who could help him the most. He needed me to help him save face. I didn’t care about any of that. I just wanted him. My parents were exasperated, but they spoiled me rotten and let me do as I pleased. After all, we had the means, so what was there to fear?

Actually, during our eight years of marriage, Julian was very good to me. In hazy moments, it felt as though Blair had never even existed. He became known in our circles as a total doting husband. I even started to believe he had fallen in love with me. Julian frequently took me to various galas, openly marking his territory. It was as if he couldn’t bear to be apart from me for a second. Every time, he’d prepare a gorgeous gown for me in advance. Watching me put it on, his eyes would be filled with tenderness and adoration, and he’d softly say, “My Sera is truly beautiful.” At banquets, when others toasted, he would subtly shield me, take the glass, and drink it all down, whispering, “I’m here.” When I stumbled accidentally, he’d quickly catch me, his concerned gaze fixed. “Sera, are you hurt?” His anxious look made the other rich kids tease, “Julian, you’re still so sweet on Sera after all these years.” When Julian wasn’t busy, he’d take me on vacations to a private island. In the island villa, he’d personally cook breakfast for me, the apron softening his usual sharp business edge. Sunlight streamed into the kitchen as he served the fried eggs onto a plate, smiling as he called out, “Come, try it. I hope it’s to your taste.” Walking on the beach, I spotted a seashell. Me, Miss Miller, the heiress to such a powerful family, what expensive trinket haven’t I seen? Suddenly, a playful thought sparked in my mind. “Julian, I like this shell.” Julian didn’t care for his expensive suit getting soaked by the seawater. He stepped into the shallows, picked it up, wiped it clean, and handed it to me. “You’re like a little kid.” But who wouldn’t turn into a child when they feel loved? At night, when nightmares startled me awake, he’d immediately pull me gently into his arms, murmuring like he was soothing a child, “It’s okay, Sera, I’m right here.” Once, a project I was in charge of ran into trouble, leaving me frowning with worry. I didn’t want to tell my parents; I wanted to prove my own capabilities. When Julian found out, he immediately used his connections and even personally got involved in the planning. He gently stroked my hair, coaxing, “Don’t worry, Sera, I’m here.” In that moment, tears welled up in my eyes, brimming with gratitude. I knew that from the moment I agreed to marry him, I’d been burdened by the heavy shackles of being a “stand-in.” Whenever night fell, those doubting voices echoed in my heart, yet I stubbornly searched for a flicker of love in the darkness. Perhaps, Julian’s intentions weren’t pure at first. But in the years of our marriage, every little moment was real. Eight years had accumulated, perhaps he had long forgotten Blair. I immersed myself in Julian’s favoritism towards me. This exception was real and tangible. I tried to break free from the constant cycle of searching for evidence of his love for me in every detail, every day. I gradually stopped thinking about the past. Their past. It would get better. Everything was slowly getting better. But then, Blair came back. And my love story came crashing down. Turns out, my proud marriage was so fragile, so easily shattered.

The next day, the art exhibition opened grandly. I wore a floor-length gown, its tailored cut highlighting my slender waist, the diamond necklace around my neck dazzling brightly. Every movement exuded nobility, captivating the entire room. I saw the awe in Julian’s eyes. And pride. But just then, a sudden car accident shocked the entire city. The moment Julian glimpsed the injured person on someone’s phone, He trembled all over, his eyes bloodshot. He didn’t care that we were at the exhibition, he abandoned me and rushed off. After excusing myself to the organizers, I drove to follow him. Julian was holding Blair, leaving without a backward glance. I was completely blindsided. Blair? When did she come back? Right, only she could make Julian act so recklessly, so utterly without a care. Blair was critically injured, in a coma, her life hanging by a thread. When Julian saw me arrive, his face was filled with rage. He grabbed my collar, roaring, “Was it you? When did you know she was back?!” My eyes widened in shock, tears streaming down my face. “Julian, we’ve been married for eight years. Do you really not know me at all?” Julian was blinded by fury, not listening to any explanation, and he violently flung me away. The next day, I received the divorce papers. I was sitting on the living room sofa, still holding a freshly brewed cup of hot tea. When the assistant handed me the divorce papers, my hand shook uncontrollably, splashing hot tea that scalded my skin, but I didn’t even feel it. My gaze fell on the agreement, my lips trembled, tears streamed down my face. My heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, our past affection shattered to pieces. After steadying myself, I signed without hesitation. Let it be. No more fear, no more anxiety. It was time to return what didn’t belong to me. What wasn’t mine had no need for entanglement. It was pouring outside, and I took nothing with me. I sat by the door all night long. Julian never came home. “Let’s meet, my dearest best friend.” Blair’s provocative message came through. I thought it over and over, then decided to go. Some things, I needed to get clear.

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The year I loved Julian Thorne the most, I was forced to personally attend to his pregnant mistress. When his mistress faked an illness, Julian was convinced I’d tampered with her soup. He condemned me to three days and three nights kneeling in the freezing snow. While he was inside the mansion, doting on his mistress. I could hear them, for three days and three nights, their passionate sounds echoing. At one point, I heard Melody Hayes say: “Julian, if you treat Aubrey like this, what if Aubrey stops loving you?” Julian scoffed, a cold sneer on his lips: “Impossible. She loves me so much she’d throw her life away for me.” He was right, I did love him desperately. But what he didn’t know. This love had an expiration date. The doctor said I had ten days before I would completely lose my memory. Julian Thorne slapped me across the face, leaving my left cheek burning. “You jealous witch! If you can’t have children yourself, fine!” “But now Melody’s pregnant, and you’re trying to harm her!” Behind Julian, Melody Hayes wore a triumphant smile. “Julian, what if I told you she did it to herself? Would you believe me?” I pressed a hand to my cheek, my voice barely a whisper. Julian’s cold eyes narrowed, his anger mounting, as he let out a harsh snort. “Are you saying she harmed herself?” “Do you even believe that nonsense coming out of your own mouth?” “Aubrey Sinclair, when did you become this kind of person?” Melody stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Julian’s arm, her voice deliberately sweet: “Julian, it’s my own weak body, don’t blame Aubrey.” Julian sighed in exasperation, then tenderly stroked her head. “My little Melody is always so kind.” Then his voice hardened. “But that doesn’t mean I am.” “Aubrey Sinclair, you should be grateful Melody is unharmed. If anything had happened to her, I’d have made you pay with your life!” “But since you made a mistake, you must accept your punishment.” “I’ll sentence you to kneel in the snow for three days and three nights. No standing.” Melody gasped at his words, feigning concern. “Julian, that’s too harsh! Our wombs are so delicate, what if…?” Julian sneered. “She doesn’t even *have* a womb, what’s there to fear?” At his words, my hand instinctively went to my flat abdomen. Yes, I didn’t have a womb. And I couldn’t bear children. But Julian seemed to have forgotten that if I hadn’t been stabbed in the abdomen while saving him years ago, forcing a hysterectomy, I wouldn’t be without a womb now. “What are you waiting for? Guards!” At his command, two bodyguards grabbed me and dragged me out into the snow. Following Julian’s unspoken signal, they used electric batons to brutally strike the back of my knees. I cried out in pain, forced to my knees in the biting snow. Julian simply uttered, “You reflect on your actions here,” before wrapping his arm around Melody and leading her into the mansion. Soon after, passionate sounds began to emanate from within. Night fell quickly, but the sounds from inside showed no sign of stopping. The sub-zero temperatures, dropping to minus ten degrees, froze me until I was numb. Every time I tried to stand, the guards watching on the security cameras would spot me and strike my knees again. After a while, I lost all strength to even attempt to stand. I shivered uncontrollably, a thick layer of frost coating my face. Inside the warm mansion, Julian ceaselessly took Melody, again and again. At one point, I heard Melody Hayes say: “Julian, if you treat Aubrey like this, what if Aubrey stops loving you?” Julian scoffed at her words. “Impossible. She loves me so much she’d throw her life away for me.” He was right. It was common knowledge among our set: I was utterly, hopelessly devoted to Julian Thorne. Three years ago, when he was attacked at a gala, I didn’t hesitate to shield him from a fatal blow, leading to the removal of my uterus. Two years ago, when his car plunged from a bridge into a lake, I rushed into the freezing water without a second thought to find him, leaving me with a chronic illness that makes my entire body ache every winter. Five months ago, when Melody Hayes discovered she was pregnant, Julian brought her back to the mansion, and I was expected to cater to her every whim, on call 24/7. I even had to go out in the middle of a storm-lashed night to buy their condoms. But what no one knew was that this love had an expiration date. Due to the complications from my hysterectomy, my doctor had told me I had only ten days before I would completely lose my memory.

I knelt in the snow for as long as Julian and Melody were together. Three days and three nights passed, and I had completely lost all sensation. When the staff carried me into the mansion, Julian was getting out of Melody’s bed, looking utterly satisfied. Seeing me, his brow furrowed, and a rare flicker of worry and unease crossed his usually indifferent eyes. He lost control, shouting at Mr. Charles, the butler: “Where’s the doctor?! Get the doctor here now!” By the time the family doctor, Dr. Miller, arrived, I was on the brink of death. Just then, a loud crash came from Melody Hayes’s room. Followed by her cry of pain: “Julian, I accidentally fell! It hurts so much!” Julian instantly panicked. “Dr. Miller, come with me, quickly, to help Melody!” Dr. Miller hesitated for a moment. My skin had taken on a waxy, grayish-white pallor. If I wasn’t treated immediately, I would surely die. He explained my critical condition to Julian, but Julian simply brushed it off. “Her life’s a tough one.” I fought to remain conscious until Dr. Miller returned, though by then, my awareness was fading. Julian and Melody came in with him. Melody looked at my frostbitten body, a flash of surprise in her eyes. Then she abruptly pushed Dr. Miller aside and began rubbing my hands together. Dr. Miller frantically called out to stop her, but it was too late. A large patch of skin had already been rubbed off my left hand. With severe frostbite, rubbing the skin is strictly forbidden; it only causes secondary damage. I found it hard to believe Melody didn’t know this basic first aid. Excruciating pain shot through my left hand, and I bit down hard, clenching my teeth. Dr. Miller immediately rebuked Melody. “Ms. Hayes, what are you doing?! This will only make her condition worse!” Julian watched my tormented expression, his brow furrowing, and for once, he even criticized her. “Melody, couldn’t you have waited for the doctor?” Melody’s eyes instantly welled up. “But I didn’t know it would be like this! I just wanted to help Aubrey!” Hearing her, Julian’s heart immediately softened. He pulled the crying Melody into his embrace, comforting her. “Don’t cry, Melody. It’s not your fault. Did it scare you?” Then he turned to me, his voice dismissive. “I’ll get you the best medicine and resources to save you. Just forgive Melody; she meant well.” “Anyway, you survived the pain of having your uterus removed. This is nothing.” With that, his warm fingers wiped away Melody’s tears. Melody, fresh from crying, looked utterly pathetic and adorable. Julian’s voice was a little husky, teasingly caressing Melody’s nose. “Such a cute little crybaby, is someone getting a little… aroused?” Melody’s face flushed crimson, and she clenched her fists, playfully punching Julian’s chest. “Someone’s here, Julian, don’t be like that!” “This mansion, I call the shots.” When the ambulance Dr. Miller called arrived, Julian swept Melody into his arms and hurried into the master bedroom.

When I woke up in the hospital, Julian was beside me, engrossed in paperwork. “You’re awake?” Julian looked at my weak state, a flicker of tenderness in his eyes, and his voice softened in a way I’d never heard before. “What do you want to eat? I’ll go get it for you.” “Tiramisu.” The word slipped out instinctively. Julian paused for a moment, then said, “Okay, I’ll go buy it for you right now.” I shook my head. “I want the one you make.” That single sentence pulled us back three years. Those were the days I was hospitalized after shielding Julian from that knife. Julian was constantly by my side, tending to my needs. He even learned to make tiramisu himself, just because I loved it. Back then, he’d replay a single cooking tutorial video a hundred times, meticulously researching different ingredients and combinations. He was a quick learner; within days, he’d mastered it. The tiramisu he made was perfect, even better than anything from a bakery. But ever since Melody appeared, he’d never made it for me again. Julian hesitated, then finally agreed. “Alright, I’ll go back and make it immediately. You wait here, okay?” I forced a smile through the pain, replying, “Okay.” For some reason, my smile seemed to freeze him, leaving him stunned for a long moment. After he left, I finally stopped pretending. The pain made me weep. Especially during the dressing change. My left hand was almost completely raw. I had deliberately sent Julian away. My heart had died completely for him; I no longer cared for his sympathy. Wanting tiramisu was a lie; I just wanted to smash the one he made right in front of him. But it was a chance I was destined not to have. About thirty minutes after Julian left, I received a call. It was Melody Hayes. Over the phone, I heard the woman’s unbearable moans and the man’s heavy grunts. I knew then that Julian wouldn’t be making me any tiramisu. Julian pushed open the hospital room door, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. But he quickly composed himself, his voice carefully neutral. “Aubrey, I made this myself. Taste it, is it still the same?” I knew perfectly well, but I took a bite. I feigned a smile. “Mmm, it’s delicious.” Julian’s voice still held a hint of post-intimacy raspiness. “Good, glad you like it.” Just then, my attending physician came in for rounds. He asked if I wanted to take Torrusin. I knew he was referring to the memory recovery drug. They had recently developed a new medication to prevent memory loss. We had discussed it on SnapChat. I observed Julian; he showed no reaction. If only he’d bothered to ask what medication I was taking, he would have known everything. But he didn’t. I decisively refused the doctor. The doctor asked me one last time: “Ms. Sinclair, are you sure? You only have five days until you completely lose…” I gave him a look, and the doctor immediately fell silent. Julian finally frowned, raising his eyes, and asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice: “Lose what?” I suddenly spoke up. “Melody just Snapchatted me saying her stomach hurts, and she couldn’t reach you by phone.” At my words, he immediately grabbed my hand, anxiously saying: “What did you say?!” “How could she not reach me?” I couldn’t help but cry out in pain, and only then did he realize he was gripping my freshly operated-on left hand. Blood soaked through the bandage, staining it crimson. Julian gave me a apologetic look, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. But in the end, he grabbed his documents and hurried out of the hospital room, rushing towards the mansion. The next day, Julian came to visit me again. This time, he brought another tiramisu. I opened the box, about to scoop a spoonful, but he stopped me. “You just had surgery, you can’t eat too much sweet stuff. You need to moderate.” “You definitely won’t stick to it yourself.” “Let me feed you.” I was suddenly reminded of when we first got married. I loved ice cream, and our fridge was always stocked with several tubs. But whenever my period approached, Julian would eat all the ice cream in the fridge. He’d only buy more after my period was over. Because we had an agreement that I wouldn’t eat cold things during my period, but I never stuck to it. As he said this, his expression was a little distant, as if he was thinking of something, and his eyes softened for a rare moment. He scooped a spoonful and held it to my mouth. But I didn’t open it. “Are you upset with me?” Seeing my silence, he wore an “I knew it” expression. “I know you’ve been feeling suffocated lately.” “But Melody is pregnant with our child, can’t you just make allowances for her?” “Melody is only twenty-two, and you’re a thirty-year-old woman. Why are you always bickering with a young girl? Melody even sees you as a sister.” “Anyway, you can’t have children, can you? Just let Melody give birth to my child. For my sake, Melody will let you be the child’s godmother.” I scoffed. “No thanks, I find that repulsive.” Julian instantly became enraged, slamming the spoon onto me. “You truly are stubborn!” Just then, Melody Hayes pushed open the hospital room door and entered. Seeing the scene before her, she immediately rushed forward and grabbed Julian. Feigning anger, she said: “Julian, what are you doing? Aubrey just had surgery!” Julian frowned. “She’s an ungrateful wretch.” “Forget her, Melody, why are you here? Didn’t I tell you to rest?” Melody pouted, looking remorseful. “Aubrey’s skin peeled off because of me. It’s only right that I come to take care of her.” Julian’s face darkened, his eyes like ice. “Nonsense! This is entirely her own fault!” “Not to mention she didn’t take proper care of you, she almost caused you to miscarry! I haven’t even settled that score with her yet!” “Now she’s using her surgery as an excuse to make you wait on her?” With that, he pulled Melody away and left. 5 Melody Hayes sent me a few more explicit pictures. I felt a surge of disgust. My gaze inadvertently fell upon Julian’s left ring finger and I noticed the diamond ring wasn’t his original wedding band. It was a matched set with the one Melody wore. A ring from a brand famed for its ‘one love, one life’ promise. I closed my eyes and turned off my phone. A short while later, another call came in. Mr. Charles, the butler, said Julian wanted a simple wedding for Melody, and Julian had specifically asked me to be the chief planner, claiming I had experience. The reason was Melody’s prenatal depression; she was constantly terrified Julian would abandon her, and he wanted to prove his love for her. They were taking their wedding photos at the beach.

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On my wedding day, a sex tape of Julian Hayes and my cousin, Sera Reed, suddenly flashed across the big screen. Every friend in the industry, every media reporter, spun around to stare at me, camera flashes going off like crazy. The air froze. Everyone waited for my reaction, expecting me to go ballistic right there. But I just curled my lip into a cold, contemptuous smile and motioned for the staff to cut the video. “Let them enjoy themselves. We wouldn’t want to interrupt.” The big screen went black, cutting off the sickening images. Looking at the timestamp and location, the video was taken just last night, at Julian’s hotel. My industry friends and staff who had come to the wedding with me held their breath, cautiously watching my every move. I fought to contain the agony twisting inside me, desperately trying to maintain the composure of a true professional. “My apologies, everyone. Today’s wedding is canceled.” I said it as calmly as I could, but my voice still trembled slightly. The words barely left my lips when Julian burst from the back room, his face a mask of disbelief. “Cancel the wedding? Aurora, what do you mean by that?!” I turned and looked at him, noticing a disheveled woman following close behind him—Sera Reed. “Yes, Aurora, are you perhaps misunderstanding something?” Sera asked, feigning innocence, her eyes, however, glinting with a defiant challenge. “It’s all my fault. Last night was Julian’s bachelor party. We, a bunch of girls, got a little too wild and pushed him to have a few extra drinks. We did lie on the same bed, but nothing happened. This video is fake.” Watching the scene unfold before me, my heart felt like it was being twisted and torn, yet I was powerless. Julian always had a soft spot for Sera, and her words instantly turned his grim expression into a furious snarl. He pointed a furious finger at my face, “Aurora Vance, I can tolerate your jealousy on normal days, but today is our wedding! How can you be so unreasonable? You’re canceling the wedding over *this* little thing?!” Before I could even open my mouth, they just kept piling on the accusations. My hands clenched into fists, my heart felt like it was being sliced open, and my voice turned ice-cold. “Julian Hayes, you know it’s our wedding today? Then tell me, what kind of groom lies in the same bed as his fiancée’s cousin the night before his wedding?” “My husband would never be that kind of man. And he never will be!” I looked at him and Sera. Standing together, their faces and necks were covered in matching hickeys! “I get it. After all these years, she’s always been first in your heart. Since you two are so deeply entwined, then I’ll make it happen for you right now! From today on, you two can openly sleep together. May you both grow old together!” With those words, I left Julian and Sera stunned, turning and walking away. Julian had never seen me so resolute. For a moment, he froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. He even forgot to stop me or the guests leaving behind me. After leaving the hotel, I apologized to my accompanying staff and friends, then called my agent to explain the situation. When Ms. Albright heard I’d canceled the wedding on the spot, she was first shocked, then let out a deep sigh. “You’re a public figure, you have to be responsible for your decisions. I’ll respect your choice.” Ms. Albright said solemnly. I fought back tears, choking out an apology to my agent, assuring her I’d handle all the follow-up PR matters. Only after I’d dealt with everything did I hide away in the dressing room, carefully wiping the makeup from my face. The woman in the mirror, Her eyes were filled with exhaustion and disappointment, Yet she still maintained the dignity expected of a celebrity. My reflection in the makeup mirror showed a smudged face, vacant eyes. Once a dazzling award-winning actress, I now looked like a discarded extra. So pathetic. There was nothing left of the celebrity I was supposed to be. It was just like the past few years of my relationship with Julian. Julian and I met at an award ceremony. Back then, his acting was brilliant, he was dedicated, professional, and kind to everyone. I secretly admired him for a long time and confessed my feelings multiple times. It wasn’t until the fourth movie we worked on together wrapped filming that he finally accepted my pursuit. I knew he grew up in foster care and lacked a sense of security, so I was completely open about my finances and shared all my financial details and assets, and I was completely transparent about my schedule, giving him all the trust and security he needed. In the beginning, our relationship was sweet and happy. We often attended events together, hailed by the media as the model couple of the entertainment industry. But after Sera returned from abroad, our conflicts grew daily. Sera is my cousin; she and Julian attended the same performing arts academy and grew from green newcomers into popular stars. Later, Sera got the chance to develop her career in Hollywood and abandoned Julian without hesitation. Julian was heartbroken then and, during his career low point, accepted my invitation to work on a film. He used to say gratefully that my encouragement helped him rediscover his passion for acting. But as soon as Sera reappeared, he forgot all my sacrifices. On our three-year anniversary, I booked a Michelin three-star restaurant. He, however, brushed me off, claiming he had to film, only to turn around and take Sera to that very restaurant. They later posted romantic candlelit dinner photos on social media. I was so furious I confronted him. “How could you have dinner with another woman? That was the place I specifically booked for *us*!” He looked utterly annoyed at the time and snapped, “Why are you so petty? It’s just dinner, why are you making such a big deal out of it?!” Sera also feigned innocence, mediating between us, “Aurora, Julian and I just have a professional working relationship. We were just practicing a scene that day. If it caused a misunderstanding, I’ll keep my distance from him in the future.” Julian immediately flew into a rage, “Why should I cater to her? She’s such a high-maintenance drama queen, always making a scene!” I was shaking with anger, but Julian’s fury was even greater than mine; he caused a huge commotion on set. In the end, under pressure from the director, and to avoid affecting the filming schedule, I was the one who backed down first, going to his dressing room to apologize. I pleaded and coaxed, and even agreed to take on some less desirable projects for him, before he finally calmed down. Another time, Julian told me he was injured and asked me to bring some nourishing food. I thought he was badly hurt, so I specifically consulted a holistic practitioner and brewed a nutritious stew for four hours. Braving a heavy downpour, I drove to the studio complex where he was. To save time, I ran a red light on the way and almost got hit by a big truck. Although I managed to brake in time and avoided a crash, my car still skidded and hit the guardrail on the side of the road. When passersby took me to the hospital, I was still clutching that insulated container tightly. The doctor said I had a mild concussion, but I insisted on being discharged. When I arrived on set, I saw Julian and Sera laughing and going over the script together. His “injury” was just special effects makeup, purely for the shoot. Seeing my disheveled state, Julian showed no reaction, nonchalantly taking the insulated container. Sera, however, gave me a meaningful look, a faint smile playing on her lips. She complained, “What took you so long? Julian was practically starving by the time you arrived!” “Oh, forget her. Come on, let’s eat…” All these years, he repeatedly ignored me for Sera. I tolerated and compromised again and again, until finally, I was utterly exhausted by love. But our wedding date was set, and after so many years of dating, my love for him had become a habit. To maintain the relationship, I gave up many good roles, even turning down invitations from international acclaimed directors. But Julian didn’t seem to appreciate it. He always used work as an excuse to get involved in rumors with other actresses. Every time I confronted him, he would put on an innocent act, saying it was all just publicity, for the buzz. I chose to believe him because I didn’t want to admit that all my efforts were in vain. So I always fantasized that maybe our relationship would improve after marriage. After we were married, Julian would perhaps realize my importance and curb his womanizing tendencies, and we would rediscover the feeling of when we first fell in love. But I failed. He not only didn’t settle down, he even escalated, Sleeping in the same bed with my cousin, Sera Reed, the night before our wedding! It had come to this. I had no more illusions about him. I had naively thought marriage would settle him down, but reality slapped me hard in the face. The man who once made my heart pound now left me with nothing but disappointment and a sense of strangeness. Looking at my exhausted reflection in the mirror, I decided I wouldn’t waste another tear on someone undeserving. I wiped away the tear stains with a cotton pad, adjusted my makeup in the mirror, making sure I still looked radiant. Taking a deep breath, I stepped into my luxurious apartment. However, I never expected Julian to already be waiting for me there. He was sitting on my favorite leather sofa, looking at me apologetically, holding a large bouquet of roses. The company had found a wedding home for us last year, but Julian had been unwilling to move in because the apartment was too far from Sera’s studio. And the place we rented before was only a fifteen-minute drive from Sera’s studio. So, even though the new house had been renovated for over a year, it remained empty. We had planned to move into the new house after the wedding, but now that the wedding was canceled, this place had no purpose. So when I stepped into the living room and found Julian already there, my first question was: “What are you doing here?” Julian’s expression instantly stiffened, but he quickly forced a smile and walked towards me. “Aurora Vance, can we talk?” he said softly, a hint of plea in his eyes. “I just had my assistant order all your favorite dishes.” The dining table behind him was laden with exquisite food, the aroma wafting through the air. “Even though you misunderstood me, I forgive you. I won’t hold it against you for canceling the wedding. Let’s just eat.” If it were before, seeing Julian so humble, I would have softened and agreed, then we would have reconciled. But now, looking at him, I felt my heart growing colder and colder. The man who once made my heart race now seemed nothing but hypocritical and ridiculous in my eyes. “Julian Hayes, I made myself very clear today. We are broken up.” I said icily. His smile faltered, and his voice took on a hint of impatience. “I already apologized to you, what more do you want?” For years, I had always been the one to coax him, so he couldn’t accept my cold words. His expression crumpled into one of self-pity. “I even had my assistant prepare a table full of your favorite dishes. See, I rushed here so fast, I even left the company without–” “Julian Hayes.” I cut him off. “Do you remember that I’m allergic to seafood?” *** That table, besides the steamed lobster, also had abalone rice. I’m allergic to seafood; I can’t eat a single bite. But Sera’s favorite food is seafood! Julian didn’t remember my preferences or allergies at all, but he knew all of Sera’s quirks inside and out. Or rather, it wasn’t that he didn’t remember; he just didn’t care about me.

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