To save my husband, I sacrificed the leg I, a dancer, was most proud of, and the child in my womb. Liam worried I hadn’t fully recovered, so he never slept with me again. That was until I was on a FaceTime call with my best friend abroad and caught sight of him, intimate and affectionate, with the dance academy’s former belle. The girl asked, curious: “She’s lost a leg. Would you still sleep with her?” “Is she as soft as me?” He said, “The thought of her missing leg just kills my desire.” “You’re the softest. I only want to be with you.” My heart hammered with a desperate, sorrowful rhythm in my chest. A sharp sting radiated from my eyes, and tears, utterly defiant, streamed down my face, landing on my hand as I scrolled through the video again and again. “You’re the softest. I only want to be with you.” Listening to Liam’s distinctive, honeyed voice, I watched the recorded video over and over. On a Parisian street, Liam and a beautiful girl walked hand-in-hand under the dappled shade, looking every inch a couple deeply in love. Suddenly, Liam’s phone chimed. It was a text from a contact labeled ‘Transient,’ asking if he was there. I glanced at Liam. He was on the balcony, his back to me, smoking. He knew I hated the smell of smoke. So, he always went to the balcony to smoke. Picking up his phone, I opened the chat. The history was meticulously wiped clean. Only one message remained: “Liam, I miss you.” Just those five words, and my heart clenched painfully. I guessed Liam had, most likely, truly cheated. The hand holding the phone suddenly felt weak and numb. I wiped away the tears that had once again fallen onto the screen. I tapped into the girl’s Ins profile and saw it was indeed the woman from the video. Young and beautiful, with long, fair legs, she looked captivating as she danced gracefully. Seeing her face, I finally remembered. She was Brittany Taylor, a few years younger than me from my old dance academy. After losing my right leg three years ago, I occasionally followed my alma mater’s news when I had nothing to do. Brittany had been named the school belle, praised for her exquisite dance moves, and had represented the school in numerous competitions, winning many awards. I checked her Ins post from two days ago. It was a Chanel bag, captioned: “My Prince Charming just *gets* me. So happy!” I didn’t scrutinize it, just took a quick photo with my own phone. Brittany’s Ins feed had a lot of posts. I scrolled through them quickly, finally stopping on one that left my heart aching for a long time. She said, “I only want $11.99 for the transfer, not a cent more.” Below it was a screenshot of her chat with Liam. Labeled: My Knight In the screenshot, she asked Liam, “Can you transfer me $11.99?” Liam transferred $10,000. She declined it, sending it back. “I only want $11.99, not a cent more.” Liam didn’t say anything, just directly transferred $11.99. Brittany sent a cute emoji and said, “$11.99, because ‘1199’ sounds like ‘forever and ever’ in some online circles. It means I want us to be together for a long, long time, endlessly.” Perhaps my heart was numb from the pain, because at that moment, my face was blank. I simply added Brittany as a friend, then took Liam’s phone and checked his Amazon purchases. I found that over the past two years, he had bought dozens of women’s items. From clothes and shoes to luxury cosmetics and handbags, even women’s lingerie – everything was there. The default shipping address was my old dance academy, and the recipient was, naturally, Brittany. They say it takes a lifetime to find your true partner, to share a bed and a soul. But while I lay in his arms, he was wide awake, his eyes fixed on someone else. The sound of the shower stopped. Wiping away my tears, I took photos of every single order. Even as I exited, I remembered to mark her messages as unread. Then I started packing my luggage. As the bathroom door opened, I looked up. My eyes met Liam’s. SECOND CHAPTER “What’s wrong?” Liam asked, wiping his hair, a puzzled look on his face. Then he saw my half-packed suitcase, and his eyes widened. Snapping out of his shock, Liam quickly came to my side, a strange look on his face. “Scarlett, what are you doing?” “Going home.” He knelt down, taking my hand. “Is it because we haven’t gone to see your mom in a while? Are you upset about that?” “I’m sorry, babe. It’s my fault. I’ve been so busy lately, I completely overlooked it.” “I’ll call the office right away, sort out my schedule for the next few days, and then we can go see your mom together. How about that?” From dating to marriage, Liam had always been meticulously attentive to me, and incredibly devoted to my mom. My friends used to say I’d never find another man as good as him. So, hearing him say “your mom”—that familiar, warm term—my heart softened, and my hands instinctively paused from packing. But then I remembered him saying he was “too busy,” and the image of him strolling through Paris with Brittany flashed in my mind. Until today, I truly believed Liam was devoted only to me. Now, it seemed, it was just wishful thinking on my part. He reached for his phone, preparing to make the call. I didn’t expose his lie. I placed my hand over his. “No need. Your work is more important.” The air hung silent for two seconds. Liam suddenly seemed to remember something. He gently stroked my head, smiling. “I almost forgot something really important.” He stood up and pulled a pair of high heels from his suitcase. I paused, surprised. I’d loved those heels for ages, always wanted to buy them, but could never find a way to get my hands on them. Liam helped me sit on the edge of the bed, then knelt before me, placing my foot on his lap, and personally helped me put them on. My other leg was a prosthetic, and he patiently helped me put that shoe on too, without a trace of annoyance. “Do you like them?” He smiled, a satisfied expression on his face. “When I went abroad, the first thing I did was figure out how to buy these heels. Thankfully, persistence paid off; I finally got them.” I didn’t answer. Instead, I stared at him intently and asked, “Liam, do you remember how we lost our baby?” He froze instantly. His gaze slowly dropped, his eyes gradually turning red. When he looked up again, Liam gently embraced me, his voice thick with tears. “Scarlett, I’m so sorry. It was all my fault.” Three years ago, a truck barreled straight towards Liam. In that critical, heart-stopping moment, I, pregnant and terrified, instinctively lunged forward, shoving him out of harm’s way. When I regained consciousness, I gripped his hand, my first words being, “Liam, promise me, you’ll save our baby…” Liam looked at the stark, horrifying red staining the ground beneath my leg. He clutched his pants tightly, his eyes red-rimmed, bowing his head and sobbing uncontrollably. Just like that, my right leg, and the child Liam and I were going to have, were gone. Escaping from the painful memories, I broke free from Liam’s embrace, speaking in a pleading tone. “Liam, can we try for another baby? Please?” Liam gently wiped away the tears welling in my eyes. “Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. Let’s wait a little longer.” Though I had guessed this might be his answer, hearing him say it aloud still sent a fresh pang of pain through my chest. Lying on my side, my back to Liam, I was too heartbroken to close my eyes. My phone vibrated, and in the next second, Liam cut the call. But quickly, it vibrated again. Liam gently called out, “Scarlett, are you asleep?” THIRD CHAPTER I kept my eyes closed, not making a sound. Only then did he tiptoe out of bed, open the door, and leave. I opened my eyes, grabbed my phone, and checked the house’s security footage. Outside the front door, the rain was coming down in sheets. A girl stood in the downpour, drenched to the bone. Her delicate frame shivered violently, stimulated by the cold rain, looking utterly pathetic. It was Brittany Taylor? The front door opened. Brittany excitedly stepped forward, calling out joyfully, “Mr. Dawson!” On the monitor, Liam looked utterly shocked. He glanced behind him, his brow furrowed with a mix of anxiety and furious anger. “Who gave you permission to come to my house? Didn’t I tell you not to come here?” “Get out! Don’t let my wife see you. Go now!” His ruthless dismissal, like a bucket of ice water dumped over Brittany’s head, landed squarely on her face. But Brittany seemed completely unfazed. She lunged into Liam’s arms, desperate. “I… I missed you. I’d go crazy if I spent another moment without you.” Liam forcefully pushed her away. “What are you doing?” He said, instinctively glancing back towards the upstairs, his eyes wide with panic. Seeing that I hadn’t appeared, Liam again tried to drive Brittany away. “My wife could wake up any minute. Get out of here, or don’t blame me for getting rough!” Brittany clung to Liam again, then kissed him again. I clenched my teeth, my fingers digging into the comforter. My heart screamed. Liam! Push her away. Push her away. You have a wife! Liam grabbed Brittany’s arm, as if he wanted to push her away. But Brittany wrapped her arms around Liam’s neck, her legs clamping around his waist. She hung onto him, her movements incredibly skilled. Finally, Liam’s expression softened, losing its resistance. He closed his eyes, melting into her embrace, no longer refusing her. He even cradled Brittany’s face, passionately returning the kiss, actively taking control. He reached out and closed the door, then began to pull at her clothes, lifting her in his arms as they tumbled onto the sofa, entwining themselves shamelessly, like two pieces of sticky candy. My phone slipped from my grasp, falling onto the bed. I clapped my hands over my mouth, sobbing uncontrollably in the room. *Boom!* A low rumble of thunder echoed outside the window. Watching Liam take Brittany again and again, my heart felt like it was being repeatedly stabbed, again and again. A tidal wave of pain washed over me, engulfing my entire being. All his past care and tenderness towards me now transformed into blades of betrayal that meticulously shredded my heart into a thousand pieces, leaving me wishing I were dead. I don’t know how much time passed. Suddenly, Liam’s voice came from the phone, cold and distant. “You should go. Remember, don’t let this happen again. Don’t ever come to my house. Otherwise, everything I’ve given you, I can take it all back.” I picked up my phone and saw Liam getting dressed. Brittany was kneeling on the sofa, hugging Liam from behind, her face resting on his shoulder, her expression tender and affectionate. “I want to stay with you a little longer, can’t I?” Liam pulled her hands away, then turned and slapped her across the face. Brittany fell back onto the sofa, clutching her face, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at Liam. He pointed at Brittany, his voice sharp with anger. “I’m warning you, don’t you dare scheme any dirty tricks. Scarlett and I are childhood sweethearts; we’ve shared thick and thin for five years. She’s the woman I love most.” “Three years ago, she even lost her right leg and our child to save me. She’s still my wife, Liam Dawson’s only wife for life. No one will ever replace her!” “Not even you!” Seeing Brittany’s face filled with disbelief, I couldn’t help but let a bitter, mocking smile play on my lips. I looked at our wedding photo on the wall. The more I looked, the more ridiculous it seemed. Liam claimed I was his wife, the woman he loved most, yet he was entangled with Brittany right here in our home. What was I to him? What did our past mean to him? And what was this pathetic attempt to feign remorse after getting what he wanted? I exited the security footage, no longer wanting to watch them. Memories of our past flashed in my mind, keeping me awake all night. Around 4 AM, I finally drifted into a hazy sleep. In my dream, fireworks exploded one after another across the sky, showering it with glittering light. Liam walked towards me, holding a large bouquet of red roses, then knelt on one knee, gazing at me with deep affection. “Scarlett, thank you for being by my side all these years.” “Without your companionship and encouragement, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I swear, not just in this life, but in the next, and the one after that, I will love you endlessly, until death do us part.” “Will you marry me?” I covered my mouth, tears streaming down my face from emotion. Just as I was about to nod. A patch of black suddenly welled up from Liam’s chest. Ink-like liquid spread wildly, quickly staining his entire body black. The sincerity on Liam’s face remained unchanged, but the vibrant red roses in his hand visibly turned black, rapidly shriveling. The petals withered and fell to the ground, emitting a putrid, sickening smell. Liam was no longer the radiant boy he once was. His love for me had festered, turned rotten. From this moment on, I didn’t need it anymore. FOURTH CHAPTER Waking up, I found Liam sitting by my bedside, his face soft and gentle. “Sleepyhead, time to get up. I made you your favorite millet porridge.” He took my hand without a word, leading me downstairs. Helping me into a dining chair, Liam thoughtfully served me a small bowl. He gently blew on a spoonful, then brought it to my lips. I turned my head away. Liam didn’t get angry. He put the spoon down and asked considerately, “Scarlett, you’ve seemed a little down since last night. Can you tell me what happened?” He mused, “Is it because I said we should hold off on having a baby for now? Is that why you’re sad?” Before I could speak. He took my hand in his. “Your body is like this because of me. If I rushed to have a baby before your body was fully recovered, what kind of man would I be?” “Babe, you know I love kids the most. Once you’re fully recovered, and the doctors say it’s okay, we’ll try right away, alright?” Liam hugged me. He gently stroked the back of my head. “I’ll go get the car now. We’ll head to the hospital for your leg check-up in a bit. Wait here for me.” He got up to get the car. I also stood up, noticing that the cloud security footage had been deleted. Then I turned and poured the bowl of porridge into the trash. Liam took me to the hospital for my check-up. While he went to pay the bill, I sat alone on a bench. Suddenly, I saw Brittany Taylor walk past, heading straight for the OB-GYN department. A surge of curiosity washed over me, and I quickly followed. She was arm-in-arm with her friend, chatting about Liam. Her friend looked worried. “I heard Mr. Dawson really loves his wife. Now that you’re pregnant with his baby, are you okay?” Brittany chuckled mockingly. “Mr. Dawson has no love for Scarlett Hayes at all. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he want to touch her? Why wouldn’t he want her to have his child?” “I’m different. Mr. Dawson not only loves me, he comes to see me all the time. If he knew I was carrying his flesh and blood, he’d be thrilled.” Hearing that, I froze on the spot. I couldn’t believe Liam and Brittany already had a child?! Her friend seemed puzzled. “If Mr. Dawson and Scarlett Hayes don’t love each other anymore, why don’t they just get a divorce?” Brittany’s eyes flared with anger, yet also helplessness. “Because Mr. Dawson is still clinging to old memories, burdened by guilt. But those things will fade with time.” “Once the old flame dies and his patience wears thin, do you really think Mr. Dawson will stay with her? Mr. Dawson is so handsome, a multi-millionaire, and the esteemed CEO of a massive corporation. Why would he spend his life with a disabled woman?” She suddenly stopped, smiling as she turned to her friend. “Do you know how many times Liam and I have been together behind Scarlett Hayes’s back? Even on their own bed, Liam and I…” “Ew, you’re so… gross.” Her friend blushed, looking a little disgusted. But Brittany laughed happily. “You don’t understand. Liam loves that. Scarlett Hayes is just a stuffy, disabled old woman who knows nothing. How could she possibly win Liam’s heart?” “So, Liam will definitely abandon her and marry me!” Turning my back on Brittany, I walked away, a self-deprecating smile on my face. Brittany was still lost in her fantasy. How ridiculous. It seemed Liam’s slap hadn’t woken her up yet. I used to believe Liam was a responsible, good man, and I poured my whole heart into him. But what I got in return was ruthless betrayal. Thankfully, my dream was over now. I wouldn’t cling to him for another second. Because, we were done. FIFTH CHAPTER Returning home alone, I started packing my suitcase. The housekeeper, Brenda, saw me dragging my luggage and came over to help, smiling warmly. “Madam, are you going on a trip?”

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The day I was announced as the heir to the family empire, someone stormed the stage, brandishing fabricated leaked documents. They claimed I’d embezzled project funds and colluded with competitors. My father, right there on the spot, tore up the succession agreement and disowned me. On the grand hall’s screens, photos of Blair Sutton, the new heir, cycled endlessly. I stumbled out of the skyscraper, my vision blurring, when a black sedan suddenly lost control and slammed into me. The searing pain brought me to my knees as I collapsed into a pool of my own blood. While I lay unconscious, I overheard a conversation between Liam and his assistant. “Mr. Kincaid, Mrs. Monroe has been completely removed. Why go for the absolute kill?” “She’s too brilliant. Only by rendering her crippled can we ensure she’d never be a threat again.” “Blair saved me from a fire five years ago. She wants the inheritance, so naturally, I have to clear the path for her.” I stared at the burn scar beneath my collarbone, a mark left three years ago when I rushed into that burning building to save *her*. Later, clutching the Medal of Valor from the Fire Department, I burst into the Monroe Holdings press conference. My husband was there, adjusting Blair Sutton’s skirt, tending to his supposed “savior.” I ripped open my dress, exposing the jagged scar. My voice was hoarse, but every word cut through the air, clear as a bell. “Liam Kincaid, you said you’d spend your life with your savior once she recovered—” “But your savior is right here. And you? You’re the one who set the fire.”

Ms. Davies glanced at me, her voice laced with helplessness. “Mr. Kincaid, you already had someone hit Mrs. Monroe. The impact was enough to cripple her legs. Why did you then instruct the driver to repeatedly run over her? Now, her legs are just a mangled mess, requiring immediate amputation.” Liam Kincaid’s eyes were glacial, his tone chillingly indifferent. “I did it to ensure there were no loose ends. What if those guys hadn’t crippled her enough? Skylar Monroe has always been exceptionally capable; it’s not impossible for her to find top doctors across the country to fix those legs.” “If her legs are amputated, she’ll be a cripple forever. She’s headstrong and fiercely proud. Living a lifetime in the agony of her severed legs, she won’t even think about competing with Blair for the inheritance.” Ms. Davies’s pupils constricted, her gaze falling on my bandaged, amputated legs. “But what if Mrs. Monroe finds out? You were at the accident scene yourself. Who knows if she saw you. Even the ambulance was called by a bystander. What if she finds out and blames you for the rest of her life?” Liam took a step closer to me, his slender, well-defined fingers gently caressing the wound on my forehead. “Then we simply won’t let her remember what happened that night. Don’t some shady clinics have nerve inhibitors that can mess with a person’s memory?” “Use it on her. If she forgets, all the better. If not, increase the dosage. It would be best if she can’t even remember who she is.” Ms. Davies clearly felt a pang of conscience, her voice trembling. “Those drugs do exist, but this specific one hasn’t passed clinical trials. It could lead to permanent cognitive impairment, and in severe cases, even incontinence, rendering her completely helpless…” Liam’s impatience was palpable as he listened to his assistant. His eyes suddenly turned bloodshot. “So what? Sacrificing her means securing Blair’s future. It’s all worth it.” “From the moment Blair saved me from the fire five years ago, I haven’t been able to love anyone else. If it weren’t for an arranged marriage for our families’ benefit, why would I have married Skylar Monroe?” “If Blair hadn’t risked her life to save me back then, I might have died in that fire. Now, finally, I have the chance to repay her.” I clenched my wrists so tightly that my palms bled, yet I felt no pain. The man who had been my husband for five years felt like a complete stranger. Five years ago, I risked my life to save Liam Kincaid. The burn scar beneath my collarbone was still there. In five years of marriage, I had never once brought it up. I thought he knew I was the one who saved him. After all, when our families arranged the marriage, he agreed without a second thought. I never explicitly mentioned it, fearing I might trigger painful memories for him. I never imagined that, from start to finish, he had always believed Blair Sutton was his savior. Ms. Davies handed Liam a watch, her fingers trembling. “Mrs. Monroe was clutching this tightly during the accident. Her secretary said it was supposed to be your birthday gift.” Liam stared at the blood-stained watch, gazing blankly for a few seconds. I had specifically spent a fortune at an auction in Italy to buy it. Just because he’d mentioned he liked it, I spared no expense to get it for her, all to make him happy. In the instant of the accident, my mind was consumed only by him. He stroked the chain around his neck with one finger, while his other hand caressed my face. “As long as she’s obedient, not competing or fighting, I can spend my whole life with her. She’ll still be my Mrs. Kincaid, and I’ll still be her Mr. Kincaid.” “Oh, and Blair just took over as heir. We need to celebrate properly. Help me send her that family heirloom jade bracelet.” Ms. Davies’s eyes widened, her voice rising in intensity. “But that’s a Kincaid family heirloom! It should, by rights, go to your wife. After all, she’s your wife, how can you give it to…” Liam immediately cut her off. “Stop with the nonsense. Just go! Blair deserves something this exquisite.” His words sliced me to the bone. Five years, Liam Kincaid, did you have no love for me at all?

After Ms. Davies left, Liam stayed by my bedside. One moment, he was gently wiping my body, the next he was whispering stories of our past into my ear. Every gesture was so tender. If I hadn’t just overheard the cruel truth, I would have believed he loved me so deeply. A short while later, a male doctor, Dr. Alex Reed, whom I recognized as Liam’s close friend, walked in with two reports. Liam glanced at him coolly. “Well? Are the results in?” Dr. Reed handed one of the reports to Liam. He opened it, and his eyes instantly brightened. Even his voice suddenly became cheerful. “I knew it would work! They’re half-sisters, so their kidneys must be a match.” “Prepare for the surgery. The sooner, the better.” Dr. Reed’s face darkened, and he tremblingly grabbed Liam’s hand. “Liam, do you really have to do this? Look at Skylar, she’s already like this. And you still want to take her kidney? Besides, Blair’s kidney isn’t even that problematic. Last time you brought her in for a check-up, it was just a mild infection. A few medications would have fixed it.” Liam pried his hand away, his gaze fixed on my pale face. “You don’t understand. Blair has expended so much energy preparing for the heir position lately. She hasn’t eaten or slept well.” “I saw online that stressing your body like this can cause kidney problems. I can’t gamble with Blair’s health. Only this way can I ensure absolute certainty.” “No matter what, take advantage of this car accident to remove her kidney. When she wakes up, we’ll tell her the crash damaged her kidney and it had to be removed. She won’t suspect a thing.” Dr. Reed tried to reason with him, grabbing his hand again. “But Skylar’s current condition makes her completely unsuitable for this surgery. This car accident caused a blood clotting disorder. Forcibly removing one of her kidneys could lead to shock, even endangering her life.” Liam, however, turned his gaze squarely on Dr. Reed. “Alex, aren’t you the most professional doctor in your hospital? I’m sure you can handle this minor surgery.” Dr. Reed bit his lip, remaining silent, only a series of sighs escaping him. And my tears streamed down my face like a broken string of pearls. My legs had already been amputated, and now, unbelievably, my husband was going to take one of my kidneys for my half-sister. I wanted so badly to rise from the bed and fiercely demand to know why he was doing this to me. But my limbs felt as if they were encased in concrete, rooted to the spot. Dr. Reed handed Liam the other report. “Liam, your physical exam results from last week are also in. Your sperm count and quality are fine. You can try to have children now.” Liam froze, staring at those words on the report for a long time. But the only words I heard from him were a cold, dismissive sentence. “Help me schedule an appointment. I want a contraceptive injection.” Dr. Reed was visibly surprised, his voice laced with confusion. “Liam, you’ve been married for five years, and your family is pressuring you. Don’t you want children yet? Skylar is already like this; without children, she’ll truly lose all hope for living. And you’ve given her so many birth control pills already, her body is damaged. Now you’re getting a contraceptive injection yourself? Do you want to end your family’s legacy?” Liam’s cold hand again gripped mine. With the proximity, his voice pierced me even more. “I never intended to have children when I married her. You know I’ve always loved Blair. If there absolutely has to be a child, that child can only be born from Blair.” He suddenly leaned down and placed a kiss on my forehead, his voice laced with a tremor. “As for Skylar, I’ll compensate her in hundreds of ways.” All the moments of our past flashed through my mind like a movie. For five years of marriage, I had desperately wanted a child, a symbol of our love, but it never came true. I thought there was something wrong with me, so I sought doctors everywhere, drinking countless bitter herbal remedies. Liam had once consoled me, “No rush, we’ll have children eventually.” The truth was, he never wanted children at all.

Dr. Reed had barely left when a nurse walked into the room with a syringe. She inserted the needle into my skin. The little strength I had managed to regain drained away. Liam’s voice beside me was clear, soothing me. “Skylar, it’s okay. It’ll be over soon.” “I’ll wait for you outside. You just have to hold on.” Then, I felt as if I was being pushed into an operating room. Several people in white coats were working with cold surgical instruments. The sensation of my kidney being surgically removed from my body was agonizingly clear, yet I was powerless to stop it. Only bitter tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I don’t know how long I was in the operating room. When I woke again, Liam’s strikingly handsome face was there, right in front of me. Before, seeing his face would fill me with immense joy, but now, only an icy chill remained. Seeing me awake, he seemed to brighten, pulling me into a tight embrace. “Skylar, you’re finally awake! You don’t know how worried I’ve been about you.” “The heir status is gone, who cares. I just want you to be well forever.” Watching the red rimming his eyes, my heart ached. Liam, I could have been well, but now I’m like this, isn’t it all thanks to you? I instinctively looked down at my legs—amputated completely below the knee. The 20-centimeter-long incision on my abdomen still throbbed. I didn’t need to guess; this surgery was for the removal of my kidney. Liam, did you truly not care about me at all? How could you be so cruel? Seeing my indifferent expression, he tentatively asked, “Skylar, do you remember what happened?” I shook my head, saying nothing, but everything that happened that day was already seared into my bones. Hearing my response, he softened his voice, feigning comfort. “Skylar, that day, you were heartbroken after losing your heir status, so you drank too much and got into a severe car accident… your legs were amputated, and one of your kidneys ruptured, which is why it was removed.” “Don’t worry, no matter what you become, I’ll stay by your side. I don’t care about the inheritance or anything else. I only want you.” He dared to say this, probably because he thought the memory-altering drugs had worked, which is why he twisted the facts so brazenly. Listening to his lies, my heart felt squeezed by a giant hand, and even breathing became painful. He didn’t suspect my lack of enthusiasm at all. He just thought it was because I had just been through a car accident and hadn’t fully recovered. He bustled around my hospital bed, a picture of a perfect husband.

A short while later, someone delivered a wheelchair. He quickly put down the fruit he was cutting for me and diligently pushed the wheelchair in front of me. “Blair, try this. I had it custom-made for you. I’m sure it’ll make things much easier for you from now on.” His peach blossom eyes gazed at me, filled with innocence and expectation. Thinking of a lifetime spent in a wheelchair, I hated the woman before me. But I loved her so much that I couldn’t even bring myself to say a harsh word to her. I wanted to open my mouth and demand, *Liam Kincaid, why are you so cruel to me?* I even found myself trying to rationalize it, telling myself he still loved me. That what I’d heard was just an illusion. But the words caught in my throat, eventually reduced to a single word: “Okay.” Perhaps, I really needed to adapt. He pushed me outside to sunbathe, just like our old promises—that when we grew old, we’d push each other to stroll into the sunset. The early autumn breeze carried a chill, making me cough involuntarily. He immediately stopped, crouching down to ask, “What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere? Do you need me to call the doctor?” He quickly stood up, but I grabbed his hand. “No need. It’s just a seasonal cough, an old problem.” He stroked my head, then playfully kissed my forehead. “Skylar, you don’t have to pretend to be strong in front of me. I know everything that’s happened recently has hit you hard.” “You haven’t shed a single tear since it all began. If you want to cry, just cry. Keeping too much sadness inside will break you.” His words showed no hint of pretense; every syllable was concern. In five years together, I had never doubted him. But how could two people who supposedly loved each other so much end up with him becoming the devil who dragged me into the abyss? I tried my best to suppress the pain inside, simply stating, “I want to go home.” He paused, then began to reason with me. “Skylar, you’ve just had surgery. I’m really worried about your health if you go back now.” “How about we wait until you’re a little better before we go home?” Of course, I had to go back. The Monroe Holdings new product launch was in two days. I wanted to give them a big present. I forced a smile, the corners of my mouth tasting bitter. “Don’t worry. Didn’t you say you’d always be with me? You’re my best medicine; with you here, nothing will happen.” “Besides, I really can’t stand the smell of disinfectant in the hospital.” After my repeated insistence, Liam finally relented. Having reached an agreement, he pushed me back towards the ward. Suddenly, his phone rang in his pocket. Blair Sutton’s voice drifted from the receiver. He deliberately stepped away from me to take the call. A moment later, he rushed back to my side. “Skylar, I’m sorry, I have an urgent matter and need to leave. Can you get used to this wheelchair and make your way back to the ward by yourself, please?” He released his grip without hesitation, leaving me alone in the empty hallway. In that moment he turned away, my heart felt like it was bleeding. I suddenly remembered all the times over the years he’d suddenly taken a call and left. Now, it all clicked. Every single time he’d abruptly left, he had been going to see Blair Sutton.

After Liam left, I awkwardly maneuvered the wheelchair, hailed a cab, and went home. I carefully surveyed the house we had shared for five years. Traces of our love were everywhere, but now they seemed incredibly ironic. I went to the study, intending to retrieve the Medal of Valor I’d received for saving him. Instead, in a nearby drawer, I discovered a diary. I opened the cover, and it was filled with his cramped handwriting. “October 2020: Someone rushed into the fire to save me. She was a beacon of light in my life. She gave me my life. In the future, I will marry her.” “July 2016: I finally found my savior. She looks just as I remember, just as gentle and beautiful. I need to find the right opportunity to tell her how I feel.” “October 2016: I can only keep that love hidden in my heart. Because of the arranged marriage for our families’ benefit, I had no choice but to marry her older sister, but the person I truly love is still her.” The diary was filled with Blair Sutton’s photos, and every word expressed his profound love for her. I clutched the book, tears falling onto the pages. Liam Kincaid, I was the one who saved you that day. If you knew the truth, would you feel guilty or regretful? Just then, a message popped up on my phone. It was from Liam. “Skylar, I won’t be home for dinner tonight. Get some good rest.” “Oh, and tomorrow is the Monroe Holdings new product launch. I’d like you to attend. Someone will pick you up tomorrow.”

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The instant a five-million-dollar transfer hit my bank account, my mind went blank. The note on the transfer read: “Leave my husband.” I thought it was some kind of mistake, a wrong transfer, and my first instinct was to tell Landon. Just as I turned, a text message popped up on my phone: “Mia, this is Landon’s wife. Do the smart thing and take the money. Get away from my husband.” My world shattered, plummeting from heaven to hell. He had a wife? What did that make me? After everything blew up, our mess became public, known across the entire internet. Heartbroken and disillusioned, I left the city. But then, Landon, against all odds, chased me to this quiet, secluded town. He cornered me, tears dripping onto my collarbone, begging me to come back to him. After a passionate night, an endless emptiness gnawed at my stomach. I snuggled closer to Landon, teasing, “Can we grab some late-night takeout?” Landon lowered his head, licking my lips again, his voice husky, “Of course, sweetheart. Whatever you want, I’ll pay.” Gasping after a breathless kiss, I picked up my phone, ready to open the food delivery app, only to see a transfer notification pop up. I stared at the unexplained five million dollars in my account, utterly bewildered. Then, a text message followed. “Mia, hello. I’m Landon’s wife. I hope you’ll be sensible and take the money to leave Landon.” My fingers instantly went numb, a cold dread creeping down my spine. Landon and I started a business together. For six years, we worked side-by-side, day in and day out, pouring our blood, sweat, and tears into building it, turning him into a top-tier online personality. But he was married? And I had no idea when? What did that make me? Noticing my silence, Landon reached out and pulled me into his arms again. He turned his head to kiss me. “Mia, what’s wrong?” I twisted away from his embrace, pushing my phone into his view. “Your wife sent me five million dollars, telling me to leave you.” Landon frowned, took my phone, glanced at the text, and without a moment’s hesitation, he pushed me away, swinging himself out of bed. Then, in the dead of night, he just turned and walked away, disappearing into the darkness. I lay awake all night, tears streaming down my face, but I never got a single explanation from him. It used to be that no matter where he went, he’d text me, send me his location, even FaceTime me every half hour, checking in constantly. When Landon and I first met, he was a small-time streamer nobody had heard of. He had big dreams, and I stayed by his side, helping him. Eventually, he made it big, becoming a recognizable name in the influencer world. He hugged me, crying hysterically, sobbing that he finally had the courage to confess his feelings and ask if I would be with him. I was so touched, tears streaming down my face, and I responded with a kiss right then and there. As his fame and fortune grew, I became more and more anxious. Sometimes, I’d suddenly start crying, feeling insecure, like I didn’t deserve him. But he brought me into his streams, into the eyes of all his followers, right there beside him in the spotlight, showing me through his actions that I was his greatest love. I believed him completely. We were inseparable for six years, never once fighting. I even started making plans for us to get married. The love he gave me was so openly displayed, for the whole world to witness. That’s why, when he left without hesitation, it left me gasping for air, my heart aching. For six years, our lives and work were so intertwined. When did he get married? I never even noticed. A sleepless night later, I dragged myself to the office, feeling like a soulless shell. Landon placed a cup of coffee on my desk and casually reached to hug me. “Mia, look at those dark circles! Didn’t get any sleep last night?” I looked up, tears spilling from my eyes, and forcefully shoved him away, screaming, “Get lost! Go find your wife!” Landon smiled gently, completely ignoring my outburst, and pulled me into his arms. “Come on, Mia, she’s my wife, you’re *you*.” “Please, stop saying things that try to separate us, pushing me towards another woman.” With that, he leaned in to kiss me. I opened my mouth and bit him hard. The metallic taste of blood instantly filled my mouth. He finally dropped his carefree facade, his face darkening as he asked, “Mia! How long are you going to keep this up?” “Landon, are you serious?! You’re disgusting! If you’re done being a pathetic creep, then get lost!” Landon didn’t say anything. Instead, he grabbed my arm and dragged me outside. He pointed down at the street. “Mia, look. This whole building, all this height, we built it all from the ground up! This is *our* shared business. I can’t leave you, and you can’t leave me. Isn’t it great for us to just stay like this?” From up here, the people on the ground looked like tiny, indistinguishable specks. This was *our* business. But no one knew better than Landon how desperately I wanted a home of my own. Yet he ignored it, insisting I stay in this hidden, secret relationship with him. Tears streamed down my face. I violently shook off Landon’s hand, unable to stop myself from yelling, “What about me, then?! You have a warm home now, but what about *me*?!” Landon fell silent, then walked over and gently wiped away my tears. “Mia, you love me so much. I have a family now, and that’s like you having one too. And…” He leaned in close, whispering in my ear, “If you want to leave, don’t forget the one hundred million dollar penalty clause in our influencer contract.” In that moment, our eyes met. I saw pure manipulation in his gaze. In that moment, I felt a suffocating helplessness. My expression must have satisfied him. Landon shrugged, chuckling softly, and pulled me up. “Alright, just kidding. I love you too much to let you go, you know?” “Just be good, and we’ll be exactly like before. Whatever you want, I’ll give you.” Looking at Landon’s smile, countless sharp thorns pierced my heart, making me double over just to breathe. I finally couldn’t take it anymore and fled, running as fast as I could. Landon, he always knew how to control me, and he always knew exactly what to say to hurt me the most. Six years of ‘love,’ and finally, his true colors showed. The next few days were relatively calm. Landon didn’t appear. But then, one day as I walked into the company building, an unwelcome visitor stood in the lobby downstairs. Camilla stood in front of me, clutching her bag. “Mia, I told you to take the five million and leave.” Camilla showed up, asserting her status as the rightful wife. Her condescending smirk stung my eyes. “I’ve already broken up with him,” I said. But Camilla still wore that superior expression. “When I said ‘leave,’ I meant you need to leave this company, this city, and never come back.” I was speechless, my lips pressed into a tight line. “Ms. Camilla, I wouldn’t stay involved with Landon, knowing he was married. But I also have my own career.” Camilla looked at me, then suddenly laughed. “Ms. Mia, you’re smart, you know money’s great, but I’m not stupid. What I mean is, both the money *and* the man are mine.” She made no effort to hide her ambition. I pursed my lips, coldly refusing. “I told you, what’s mine, I won’t let go of.” “As for Landon, I’ll reduce our work interactions. I’m quite well-off, you know. I’m not so desperate as to cling to a two-timing jerk.” Camilla’s eyes widened, clearly shocked I’d talk about Landon like that. She bit her lip, a flash of malice flickering in her eyes. “Since you won’t leave, then just wait.” With that, she turned and walked away. At the time, I just thought she was making empty threats. I never imagined she’d be so utterly insane. In the early hours of the morning, my assistant, Chloe, blew up my phone. “Mia, check the trending topics!” I opened Ins, clicked on the trending list. Camilla had posted photos of Landon and me, along with our chat logs. Every single word accused me of seducing Landon. She was clever, alright. The photos she released included one of Landon and me when he was angry, his face cold, and me standing on tiptoes to kiss him. I didn’t even know who took that picture. I rushed to the company that night, where the senior management was already gathered. Their gazes all landed on me. “Mia, Landon isn’t just our company’s biggest shareholder, he’s also an incredibly influential top influencer. He can’t afford to have anything happen to him, do you understand?” I understood. Which meant I was the one who deserved to be sacrificed. A tidal wave of nasty accusations came crashing down on me from across the internet. Third Chapter Completely devastated, I returned home, only to find the front door blocked by countless media reporters. I covered my face, scared senseless, and fled. I ran to a twenty-four-hour drugstore, bought a mask, and then checked out of the hotel, feeling the judgment from the front desk. I’d barely laid down and sighed in relief when my phone rang, relentlessly ringing like a death knell. Unknown numbers—I ignored them all. Until I was added to a SnapChat group chat, and a video call started ringing. I hesitated, then answered. My parents, divorced for over ten years, appeared on the screen together for the first time in ages. It was a scene I’d always dreamed of, but they both glowered at me, then started tearing into each other. “Look at the daughter *you* raised! A homewrecker, seducing married men!” My mom immediately shot back, “She’s just like *you*, isn’t she? Cheating and keeping a mistress!” I just sat there, stunned, as they ripped each other apart, wave after wave of bitter ache swelling in my chest. Their insults grew nastier and nastier until I finally couldn’t take it anymore and roared, “What do you two even want?!” They finally looked at me. “Mia, it’s all because of you! My house is swarming with reporters!” “Mine too!” Then my mom decreed, imperiously, “You go clarify right now! Tell them you left with your dad years ago, that we cut ties, and nothing you do has anything to do with me!” My dad chimed in with the same demands. Just like the year they divorced, they both just wanted to shake off the ‘problem’ that was me. I hung up, feeling their eyes burn into me like I was their worst enemy. Instantly, tears streamed down my face like rain. I don’t know how long I cried. Trembling, I logged onto Ins and recorded a video, stating that I had long since cut ties with my parents, then posted it. It only brought on another wave of public condemnation. I thought if I just hid in the hotel for a few days, the whole thing would blow over. But to my surprise, a few days later, my parents, who had just claimed to cut ties with me, sought me out again. This time, their eyes weren’t filled with disgust anymore, but pure, unadulterated greed. “Mia, honey, we heard you got a huge sum of money after being kicked out of the company.” “It wasn’t easy raising you, your dad and I. You owe us something, right?” My dad nodded vigorously, giving me a look that said, ‘Your mom’s right, just listen to her.’ A wave of bitter sadness washed over me. They hadn’t gotten along in twenty years, yet here they were, peacefully discussing how to squeeze money out of their daughter. I forced a stiff smile. “Where did you hear I had money?” Their eyes darted nervously, and they mumbled evasively, “Oh, well… someone sent us a text, you know.” I pulled out Camilla’s phone number and read it aloud. “Was it her? Tell me the truth, and then I’ll give you the money.” As soon as they heard that, they both nodded emphatically. “Yes! It was her!” A bitter taste filled my mouth. I buried my head in my knees, quietly sobbing. My mom named a number, and then they hung up. It was the exact amount the company paid me for my shares, no more, no less. I wiped away my tears, transferred the money, and severed the already fragile ties between us. I pulled the covers completely over my head. The stale air under the covers suffocated me; each time I threw them off, it felt like being reborn. After a few times, I finally managed to calm myself. Just then, my phone started ringing relentlessly again. All unknown numbers. As soon as I blocked one, another would call right back. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and picked up. “I am NOT a homewrecker! Stop harassing me!” Landon chuckled on the other end, his voice soft and coaxing. “I know you’re not, honey. In a few days, no one will even care. Did you miss me?” All this mess was his wife’s doing. How did he even have the nerve to call me? I screamed into the phone, “You pathetic loser, get lost!” I hung up decisively. I organized all the major and minor details of my six years with Landon, complete with a timeline and photos, into a document. I made it into a presentation and gave it a catchy, attention-grabbing title. Without hesitation, I posted it online.

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I was the only biological sister of Ryan, the CEO of Sterling Corporation, yet I was also the person he despised the most. He had cursed me countless times in front of everyone, “She’s a menace! She doesn’t deserve to live! If she wants my forgiveness, she’d better go to hell and apologize to Lily!” I quietly listened to his venomous words, never uttering a sound. Only this time, my soul floated in the air, silently nodding. Okay, brother. As you wish. The day I died was a dreary, rainy day. Ms. Brenda, who had raised me, knelt by my bed, her face streaked with tears. “Anya, don’t be scared. I’ve already called Ryan. He’s coming, I promise.” I shook my head, my lips parting as I tried to speak. But before I could form a complete sentence, my body seemed to be liberated in that instant. My consciousness gradually faded, yet my lingering soul, before it could even touch the eaves, drifted gently back into the room. I watched Ms. Brenda sobbing hysterically over me, watched her frantically trying to open the door and rush out. But two bodyguards stood outside, holding her shoulders firmly, refusing to let her leave. “Ms. Vivian Hayes ordered that Mr. Sterling is very busy right now. No matter how big or small the matter, he is not to be disturbed.” Vivian Hayes, Lily’s distant cousin. Someone who had no relation whatsoever to the Sterling family, yet she effortlessly managed to keep me trapped within our own home. “I can’t hold on! Please, let me go find Ryan. Any later, and it might be too late…” Ms. Brenda collapsed onto the ground. She was over fifty, her hair streaked with gray. She mechanically kept bowing her head, her forehead nearly bleeding. I rushed over, wanting to stop the bodyguards, but I could only watch helplessly as they knocked her unconscious and moved her to another guest room. The tears I’d held back for so long finally broke free. I wiped my eyes. So, even when you’re dead, you can still cry… I turned back to look at the bedroom, which hadn’t seen sunlight in ages. On the cold, damp bed lay my emaciated corpse, covered in bruises. Bright red liquid stained my old clothes, my face was gaunt, and I looked utterly miserable. See? How unsightly I died. If Ryan saw this, would he finally be satisfied? … Ryan, the sole heir to Sterling Corporation, had everything handed to him since childhood. He displayed impressive business acumen at a young age, and within less than three years of taking over Blackwood Corp., he doubled its scale. But Ryan, despite his talent, good looks, and amiable demeanor, held an extreme aversion for his only sister—me. The outside world constantly speculated about our relationship, but it wasn’t always like this. When we were very young, we lost our parents. Sterling Corporation was seized by distant relatives, and we became unwanted baggage, almost kicked out of our own home. It was then that Lily, who had grown up as Ryan’s childhood sweetheart, convinced her father to adopt us. “Just stay at my place. One day, I’ll help you reclaim Sterling Corporation.” She said it, and she did it. Mr. Blackwood used his family’s influence to pressure our relatives, and Ryan worked tirelessly, getting into the country’s top university. He and Lily promised to get married as soon as they graduated. But when Ryan traveled abroad for a competition, taking Lily and me with him, an accident happened. Lily and I went out for dinner and got into an argument with customers at the next table. I was young and stubborn then, completely disregarding that we were on their turf. The other party, taking us by surprise, grabbed a glass bottle and aimed it at me. Seeing this, Lily quickly stepped in front of me, but she was struck. She collapsed instantly. Red liquid flowed from the back of her head. The scene erupted into chaos, and the culprits managed to escape… Ryan had just won his championship title. They had planned to get engaged once they returned home, but all he saw now was Lily’s lifeless body. Their beautiful dreams and future shattered in an instant. When Ryan arrived, he went berserk, clutching Lily’s body and refusing to let go. The police officers eventually had to forcefully pull him away. We returned home. The Blackwood family insisted on burying Lily in their family plot, but Ryan refused. His eyes bloodshot, he roared, “Lily is mine! Even in death, she must be laid to rest in my Sterling family cemetery!” But the Sterling family was not yet under his control. I cried, begging him to let Lily be laid to rest first. But he shoved me away, glaring at me with utter hatred. “If you hadn’t gotten into an argument with someone, how could Lily have died?” “Anya, you should have died with Lily!”

Ryan’s words were like venomous insects gnawing at my flesh, threatening to devour me whole. I stood frozen, staring blankly at his grief-stricken face, only able to mumble, “I’m sorry.” But no amount of regret, apology, or guilt could bring Lily back from the underworld. Ryan locked me in my room. It wasn’t until a month later that I learned he had bought a double plot. He decided to hold a symbolic wedding, welcoming Lily into our home as his wife… I was finally released after all the ceremonies were complete. That was also the first time I met Lily’s distant cousin, Vivian Hayes. She only bore a slight resemblance to Lily, but her eyes and demeanor were uncannily similar. I wasn’t sure why Ryan brought her home. Perhaps he intended to use her as a constant reminder of my mistake. Every time I slightly defied him, or if my behavior was in any way improper, He would say in that familiar tone, “Anya, when will you be as obedient as Vivian?” “Stop causing me trouble. Look at Vivian.” Days turned into weeks, then months. Ryan finally took full control of Sterling Corporation, and with each scolding, I became more and more like Vivian. But no matter how hard I tried, I still only ever received Ryan’s reprimands. It wasn’t until my graduation ceremony with Vivian that I realized Ryan had always wished I would die. Now, this wicked person—me—had finally disappeared from this world four years later, just as he wished. He must be satisfied now, I thought. Time ticked by, second by second, with no one discovering my lifeless body. The gloomy rain outside the window finally stopped, though the air remained damp and cold. I watched Ms. Brenda, trapped in the guest room, crying hysterically, and a wave of sorrow welled up inside me. Ever since returning to the Sterling residence, Ryan had hired many people to work, but everyone knew he didn’t care for me. So, aside from Ms. Brenda, neither the bodyguards nor the maids paid any attention to me. Vivian Hayes, on the other hand, was different. Because she was Lily’s cousin, and because she bore a slight resemblance to Lily, Ryan lavished her with affection. She was seen everywhere, at every event. Many even rumored that Ryan might marry her. Because of this, everyone in the Sterling household, besides obeying Ryan, only listened to Vivian Hayes. She deliberately assigned me to the darkest, dampest room in the entire mansion. Aside from Ms. Brenda, no one else was allowed to interact with me. Those bodyguards dared not lay a hand on Ms. Brenda, but if they didn’t let her out, who would ever discover my body and announce my death? Perhaps this was my retribution. I suddenly remembered when Lily died, Ryan had held her body, weeping uncontrollably. He told me over and over again that I would die a terrible death and come to no good end. When Lily died, everyone grieved for her, but I could only gasp my last breath alone in a cold, dark bedroom. I watched the last remaining leaf on a bare tree outside the window drift down, and my heart inexplicably ached. My soul and body were slowly separating, and our connection grew weaker. I could finally leave the room, wandering freely within the mansion grounds, though I still couldn’t leave entirely. … I floated into the yard, where several housekeepers were trimming branches. It was deep autumn, yet a few flower species in the garden were still visible, vying for beauty as if unaffected by the season. “Mr. Sterling is just too good to Ms. Vivian Hayes,” I heard one of the housekeepers remark. “Yes, Ms. Vivian Hayes only mentioned wanting to see flowers, and Mr. Sterling had people specially cultivate flowers that aren’t affected by the season.” “Sounds like it must have cost a fortune, right?” “Definitely. Worth millions, and they only bloom for two seasons. Mr. Sterling is so generous!” The gardener, who was calmly trimming branches nearby, chuckled. “For anything Ms. Vivian Hayes desires, what are a few millions?” “After all, everyone knows Ms. Vivian Hayes is the true mistress of Sterling Mansion.” The few women covered their mouths and laughed. Of course, I knew what they were laughing about. They were mocking me, the true daughter of the Sterling family, for being incomparable to Vivian Hayes, a relative who just appeared.

I looked at the fresh flowers and suddenly remembered a long time ago, Ryan had made me a similar promise. He was preparing for a math competition then, and I worried he’d strain his eyes staring at books all day. So I wanted to buy him an eye-care device with my own hands. I picked many flowers then, made them into dried flower bookmarks, and sold them at school. But I inadvertently affected the small vendors’ profits. They found some thugs to harass me, not only badmouthing me around the school, saying my dried flowers caused allergies, but also cornering me at the school’s side gate, threatening to teach me a lesson. At a crucial moment, Ryan saved me. He chased away the thugs. Seeing me still shaken, he comforted me, “Don’t worry, when I have money, I’ll buy you lots and lots of saplings.” “When the flowers bloom in spring, you can make a huge batch of dried flowers, and I’ll buy them all to give to all discerning individuals who appreciate them.” But that confident promise had long since vanished with the wind. Now, this entire garden of flowers belonged to Vivian Hayes. She even said, “Flowers are flowers. Turning them into dried flowers is ruining their beauty.” She forbade me from approaching the garden, even a little bit… Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but lower my head and give a self-deprecating laugh. Right, she was Lily’s cousin, and I was just the sinner who caused Lily’s death. How could I compare to her? As if hearing my thoughts, the sound of a car horn came from outside the gate. I couldn’t help but float to the courtyard entrance and immediately saw Ryan and Vivian Hayes stepping out of the car. Vivian Hayes wore a white business suit, a popular main style from a current luxury brand’s seasonal collection. It made her appear even more poised and transcendent, with an extraordinary aura. “I heard Ms. Vivian Hayes has a party today.” A housekeeper nearest to me looked at Vivian Hayes with envy. “No wonder. Mr. Sterling must have picked her up right after finishing work.” Another housekeeper chimed in. “Of course. No matter where Ms. Hayes goes, Mr. Sterling always personally drives her.” “Ms. Vivian Hayes is so beautiful. No wonder everyone likes her.” I stood inside the doorway, listening to the housekeepers’ praises for Vivian Hayes, and watched Ryan and Vivian Hayes enter the house together. Just inside the house, Vivian Hayes was still chattering to Ryan about the party when Ryan looked around and suddenly asked, “At the party just now, what was your impression of Brandon Miller, the young master of the Miller family?” Vivian Hayes looked surprised and couldn’t help but ask, “Ryan, why do you ask me that?” Then she lowered her head and murmured, “What good is it if *I* like him? He has to like *me*.” In terms of power and wealth, the Miller family was one of the top families in the entire capital city. Ryan had only recently taken over Sterling Corporation, and his foundation wasn’t stable. And no matter how favored Vivian Hayes was, she wasn’t a legitimate daughter of the Sterling family. A distant cousin of the Blackwood family, she was not a suitable match and could never marry into the Miller family. This was also why Vivian Hayes had secretly liked Brandon Miller for years but never confessed. I watched Ryan slowly lift his head, gazing at the countless flowers in the mansion’s courtyard, and he spoke softly, “Lily was my wife. Since you are her cousin, I should take good care of you, too.” “If you like him, why don’t I officially adopt you as my sister? Then you’ll be a daughter of the Sterling family, and it will be easier for you to discuss marriage with him.” I stared at Ryan blankly, never dreaming he would say such a thing. Although Ryan had proposed to Lily and even held a symbolic wedding, legally, they were not married. After Lily’s parents passed away last year, Vivian Hayes had hinted to Ryan that she wanted him to adopt her as his sister so she wouldn’t be looked down upon by the upper-class families in the capital. But Ryan had always insisted that he and Lily were already married and refused to agree to her request. Now, Ryan was actively bringing up this matter, all for the sake of fulfilling Vivian Hayes’s wish to marry the man she loved. I couldn’t help but take a few steps back, a strange panic stirring within me. Even though Ryan didn’t care for me, I was still a Sterling, still shared his blood. I still held a tiny hope that Ryan felt some familial affection for me. That’s why he had never suggested adopting Vivian Hayes as his sister. But now, he was willing to admit that he and Lily weren’t legally married, just to give Vivian Hayes a higher status and help her marry into the Miller family. I couldn’t help but shed tears. Ryan, was there no place for me in your heart anymore? All those promises made years ago couldn’t compare to the care you showed Vivian Hayes. Vivian Hayes’s face was filled with excitement and joy. She cautiously said, “Really? Does that mean I can openly call you brother from now on?” At that, a flicker of hesitation crossed Ryan’s face. “Let’s keep things as they were. Changing it would make me uncomfortable.” Before she could speak, Ryan glanced at a nearby housekeeper. “Where’s Anya?” “Is she still sulking because I confined her, refusing to come out?” Ryan walked towards the mansion. “Nonsense. I’ll go see her.” Hearing this, Vivian Hayes’s eyes flashed with a hint of panic. “Ryan, don’t go yet.”

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I was the last surviving member of the Immortal Kindred. But after 99 heartbreaks, my immortality would shatter completely, and I would die for good. Falling for Caleb Thorne, the brilliant archaeologist, was my last chance. He once promised we’d grow old together, our love eternal. But everything changed when Lila joined our excavation team. He mocked my immortal fate, sneering, “Don’t sicken me. When I’m gone, won’t you just move on to the next guy? How filthy.” Later, when I was captured for live research, I called him for help. He dismissed it as a pathetic act and hung up to be with Lila instead. My heart broke for the 99th time. I closed my eyes, and my life finally ended. But when he realized I was truly gone, he spiraled into madness. Wind whipped up sand, the sky darkened, and the ancient tomb felt eerily sinister. Our team carefully studied the murals on the walls. Suddenly, a deep rumble echoed from above, and the tomb passage began to shake violently. “Cave-in! Run!” one of the team members yelled. “Lila!” Caleb’s voice was filled with frantic urgency. In that critical moment, my boyfriend was calling out another woman’s name. I turned my head and saw a massive rock hurtling towards Lila. Before I could even react, a shove sent me forward, pushing Lila to safety. The colossal rock, instead, crashed down on me. Excruciating pain ripped through my body. Slowly, I lifted my gaze to the hands that had pushed me—Caleb Thorne’s. He was frantically rushing to Lila, pulling her into his arms, as if terrified she might even get a scratch. When the cave-in subsided, team members rushed to help move the rock off me. Caleb, meanwhile, was still meticulously tending to Lila’s slightly scraped knee. Only after he was done did he finally remember me. By then, I had already been moved onto a stretcher. Caleb’s eyes widened when he saw my state. He looked stunned. “Anya… I…” “Caleb! My foot hurts!” Lila called out from a distance. Caleb immediately rushed back to her. After a few steps, he turned back to me and said: “Anya, it was too dangerous just now. You know Lila’s always been delicate since childhood, she can’t handle any injury.” “Anyway, you won’t die. You won’t blame me, right?” I struggled to speak, but before I could utter a single word, Caleb was already helping Lila up. Right. I wouldn’t die. But I just wouldn’t die. I had all the same emotions and senses as any normal person… I was bedridden for three days. Caleb finally came to see me. He looked at me, lying in the hospital bed, his face full of guilt. “Anya, this is an ancient coin we found during the dig these past two days. It has great meaning, so I had it made into a necklace for you.” The last time Caleb gave me a gift was four years ago, when I hand-knitted him a scarf. The next day, he gifted me a bottle of perfume in return. Even though the top notes of the perfume were an overpowering rose scent, which I didn’t like, I still treasured it for years. Every year after that, he would say: “We’re old married couples now, no need for these extra things. I’ll always love you.” Though I accepted that notion, I was still excited and asked him to put the necklace on me. But after he did, he said, “Lila and I made it together. She said it’s her apology to you.” “She feels really bad about what happened the other day, and she’s been down. When you’re better, why don’t you go apologize to her?” The sudden surge of joy instantly drained away. My heart clenched with a sharp, agonizing pain. I stared at him, confused, and said, “Caleb, you two made it together, fine. But why do I have to apologize?” Caleb frowned, looking at me with dissatisfaction. “Anya, when did you become so petty? It’s just an apology, sweet-talk her a bit. You won’t lose a limb.” I turned away from him. “I won’t go.” Caleb said nothing, then turned and walked out. From start to finish, not a single word of comfort.

The next day, I woke up in a haze. I unexpectedly heard an argument outside my door. “Caleb, Miss Anya’s current condition isn’t suitable for blood drawing. You can’t do this.” Our team’s accompanying doctor said. “She’ll be fine, but Lila needs this blood to save her life! Hurry up and prepare, or you can say goodbye to your medical career.” Caleb’s family was seriously loaded. They pretty much owned half the city. But I never imagined he’d threaten someone like this for Lila. Before, in my mind, he was always kind and dedicated to his work. I stared silently at the door, my eyes hazy. Just then, Caleb walked in. He seemed startled to see me awake and said, “You heard everything?” I nodded weakly. “Anya, yesterday when Lila and I were out on the excavation, she got seriously injured and lost a lot of blood trying to protect me.” “She’s already anemic, I have to save her.” “Your blood never spoils, it’s perfect for a transfusion.” “You wouldn’t just stand by and let her die, would you?” Caleb said, his voice soft and gentle. He didn’t seem to realize that I, too, was a severely injured patient lying in a hospital bed. “What if I don’t?” At my words, Caleb’s expression instantly hardened. He stared at me coldly: “Anya, I don’t know when you became so stingy.” “Yesterday, I let it slide when you refused to apologize. What more do you want?” “You won’t die anyway, so why not save her?” “There’s no discussing this. You *will* donate blood.” With that, he called two people in to hold me down, afraid I’d resist. The doctor came to draw my blood. He looked at me with a pained expression and sighed. After he finished the first draw, Caleb stopped him. “That’s not enough. What if Lila’s afraid of pain and moves, spilling some?” “Keep drawing.” The doctor looked at Caleb in disbelief. “Caleb, if you draw any more from Miss Anya, she might die.” Caleb glanced at me, his voice firm. “Don’t worry, she won’t die.” The secret of me being an Immortal Kindred was known only to Caleb. If others found out, I’d surely be captured for live research. Two streams of tears silently ran down my face. The doctor, left with no choice, continued to draw my blood. Fortunately, he monitored my condition and didn’t take a lethal amount. After everyone left, Caleb saw my pale, bloodless face. He looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped himself. “You’ll heal quickly. It’s fine.” With that, he hurried out. Later, I overheard the little nurses chatting. “Mr. Thorne and Miss Lila are so sweet together.” “I know, right? He stays by Lila’s side day and night, afraid anything bad might happen to her.” “I saw Mr. Thorne at lunch today, he even blew on Lila’s food to cool it down and fed it to her, just in case she burned herself.” “Truly childhood sweethearts, they’re such a perfect match!” “Shh, don’t let Anya hear us. Let’s go talk over there.” I lay alone in the empty hospital room, staring at the ceiling. It had been almost a century. My heart hadn’t ached like this in so long.

The day I could finally get out of bed, I went home first. I mistakenly thought leaving early would grab Caleb’s attention. After all, I used to be the one he cherished most. But I was wrong. Our last contact was a month ago: a message from him informing me that Lila would be joining the archaeological team and asking me to look after her. The next day, I was woken by a commotion. I looked and saw Caleb had returned from the dig. No, Caleb *and* Lila had returned from the dig. Caleb was in the kitchen, making noodles for Lila, while Lila was in the living room, casually playing with Caleb’s most prized antique. I’d once accidentally touched that antique myself. At the time, Caleb had lost his temper with me for the first time: “Do you know how precious this is? It’s a Ming Dynasty antique, the only one in the world!” His voice was laced with suppressed rage, as if I’d almost destroyed his entire world. I stood rooted to the spot, feeling helpless, my heart pricked by something sharp. “I’m sorry…” I whispered. But he didn’t even look at me again, only carefully placed the porcelain vase back in its spot. After that, I never touched anything he loved again. Now, Lila casually balanced the porcelain vase on her lap, her fingertips gently tapping the body, making a clear, crisp sound. Caleb poked his head out from the kitchen, his gaze falling on the vase in her hands, yet there was no displeasure, only a smile as he asked, “Do you like it? If you do, it’s yours.” Lila looked up, blinked, and her voice held a touch of playful charm: “Really? But this is your most treasured possession.” Caleb chuckled, his voice doting: “When have I ever lied to you? Come, the noodles are ready.” I watched it all in silence. The warm scene before me was blindingly painful. Suddenly, Lila accidentally spilled some noodle soup on the table. She casually grabbed a piece of cloth and said, “This is a rag, right? I’ll just wipe it up.” I stared intently, realizing it was the scarf I had personally knitted for Caleb. Caleb probably didn’t remember. He didn’t stop her, only looked at Lila with concern. “Didn’t burn yourself, did you?” Lila shook her head, complimenting Caleb that his noodles were still as delicious as ever. “Caleb, do you remember?” “You couldn’t cook before, but you specifically learned to make tomato and egg noodles for me.” Caleb smiled faintly: “Of course, I remember.” I looked at him in surprise. Before, Caleb had discovered my fondness for tomato and egg noodles. Every morning he was home, he would make a steaming bowl for me. I thought he had learned and made it specifically for me. Turns out, from the very beginning, it was never for me. I gave a self-deprecating laugh, turned, and prepared to go back to my room. But then I heard Lila say: “Oh, right, Caleb, can you come perfume shopping with me this afternoon? Mine’s almost out.” “There’s a new one in the cabinet, just take it. It’s your favorite rose scent.” My steps faltered. Rose scent… Back in my room, I threw the bottle of perfume, treasured for years, into the trash.

Early the next morning, I was jolted awake by a nightmare. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had one. Feeling strange, I decided to go for a walk alone. When I got downstairs, I saw Lila hadn’t left yet. Caleb had actually let another woman stay over. I watched her fiddling with the flowers I’d planted, just about to warn her, when she spoke first: “Anya, you’re awake! Speaking of which, your name really suits an Immortal Kindred, doesn’t it? I never thought the legend was true.” I walked over, gripping her wrist tightly, and stared at her coldly: “Who told you?” “Caleb did, yesterday. He told me.” Lila looked at me smugly. “Be smart, Caleb doesn’t love you anymore. Just give up now.” “You’ve lived for so many years, you don’t need Caleb, do you? Wouldn’t it be better to just let me have him?” She leaned in close, whispering in my ear. I slapped her across the face. The sharp sound drew Caleb’s attention. Lila clutched her cheek, whimpering and looking down, feigning hurt. Caleb saw, rushed to Lila’s side, and then noticed the flower bed next to her. He glared at me.

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My ex-boyfriend was at his poorest when I broke up with him. Years later, he made a fortune, and used every trick in the book to marry me. Everyone said I was his ultimate love, the wife he cherished above all. But then, he started bringing different women home every night, shattering my heart, turning me into the biggest joke in our social circle. Yet, I never cried, never threw a fit. I just lived quietly in the study, never disturbing his little games. He’d get furious, kissing my lips savagely, whispering, “Aren’t you jealous?” He didn’t know I was sick. Every single day he was exacting his crazy revenge on me, I was silently counting down how many days I had left to live. It was the third year of my marriage to Alistair, and he’d taken on a young, beautiful college student as his mistress. Her name was Willow, pretty and pure, exactly Alistair’s type. He’d kept her around for over half a year. Aside from me, she was the woman Alistair kept by his side the longest. My friends warned me to be careful, saying he seemed to be genuinely falling for Willow. The first time I met Willow was on my birthday. I’d been having nosebleeds since morning. After a check-up at the hospital, the doctor told me I probably only had until next spring. I nodded gently, whispering, “It’s okay.” I wasn’t afraid of dying, just a little afraid of pain. I heard there was a really expensive medication that could make my final days more comfortable. My debit card didn’t have enough funds, so I went to Alistair’s office to find him. Coincidentally, Willow was there too. She’d just graduated and was working as Alistair’s secretary. Alistair was in a meeting, so I sat outside and waited. Willow kept staring at me, secretly whispering to her colleagues, “Is that the boss’s wife? She’s so ugly, stick-thin, looks like she’s about to drop dead.” “You all say I look like her, but where? I’m way prettier.” My reflection in the shiny glass showed my messy hair, a bulky puffer jacket. She was right. I didn’t look good. And I was dying. A colleague pulled Willow aside, whispering, “That’s because she’s not wearing makeup. If she put on makeup, ten of you combined wouldn’t be as pretty as her.” “And don’t you dare provoke her just because the boss favors you.” “You have no idea how much the boss loves her. If you make her unhappy, he’ll fire you, just watch.”

Willow scoffed, rolling her eyes at me, clearly not buying that Alistair loved me so much. She brought me a cup of tea, a challenging smirk on her face. “Elara, how could Alistair bear to keep you waiting so long?” “It’s so weird. Whenever I came to see him before, no matter how busy he was, he’d always come out to be with me first. He said I was the most important person.” “I thought he was that considerate with other women too…” Her lips curled into a triumphant smile. When she smiled, she was just like me when I was younger. I thought about it. Alistair *was* different with Willow. He’d had countless lovers, treating them like tools to spite me, bringing different women home every night, testing my reaction again and again. Alistair never got entangled with them for long. Maybe a day or two, maybe ten days or half a month. He’d always get bored quickly. Only Willow. Alistair kept her, took her out to dinner, shopping, to the movies. They were like a normal, loving couple. Alistair gave her money, but he also gave her affection. I looked at Willow and smiled gently. “If you’re so important, why would Alistair keep you hidden away as his mistress?” “You should really try to convince him to divorce me quickly and marry you.” Willow’s face instantly twisted. Infuriated and ashamed, she lowered her voice and snapped, “You’re the mistress! You’re the one who’s extra!” “You’re just banking on the fact you met Alistair a few years before me, right? But now you’re old and ugly. What makes you think you can compete with me…?” Her colleague, probably afraid I’d get angry, quickly grabbed her arm, trying to pull her away. Actually, I was fine. I’d told myself long ago not to get angry or sad over Alistair. And certainly not to fight with other women over him. He wasn’t worth it.

Willow was yanked back, lost her balance, and tumbled to the floor. The teacup in her hand shattered, cutting a deep gash in her palm. Blood pooled on the floor. Through the conference room glass, Alistair saw Willow injured. Everyone watched as he slammed down the files in his hand, pushed open the door, grabbed Willow’s hand, and frowned with concern. He asked in an icy tone, “Who hurt her?” The kind colleague recoiled, her face turning pale with fright. I sneered, “I did it. And she deserved it.” Willow gritted her teeth, glaring at me. “Yes, I deserved it! Who told me to fall in love with the wrong person, to be called a mistress and a slut!” “But Alistair, as long as you love me too, I’ll stay by your side forever. No one can separate us.” She gazed deeply into Alistair’s eyes, and even saying something so absurd sounded brave and determined. Alistair chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair, coaxing her, “Be good, don’t be mad. You’ll break my heart.” He really *was* different with her. I lowered my gaze, uninterested in watching any further. I simply said to Alistair, “For my birthday this year, I want half a million.” It was laughable. We were husband and wife, yet we didn’t even have each other’s contact information. Except when I needed money, I never sought him out. Before we got married, we’d had an understanding: he wanted me, and I wanted his money. Alistair always hated my materialism. But before, whenever I asked, no matter how much, he would always give it to me, never less. This time, however, he looked at me and smiled, a chilling smile. He slowly said, “Money? Sure.” “But, Elara, first lower your proud head and apologize to Willow.” Alistair wanted to buy my pride for two hundred thousand dollars, to buy an apology for Willow. This was the first time he’d used money to humiliate me for another woman. I slowly clenched my fists and gave a soft laugh. Fighting back a sudden surge of pain in my body, I turned and walked away. The money, I didn’t want it anymore. I was suddenly very curious, Alistair. If one day, you knew this money could have helped me live longer, if you knew how much I suffered before I died… What expression would be on your face? ***截断点***

I went home alone, curled up in bed, sweating cold from the pain. I took some sleeping pills, lying to myself. Once I fell asleep, it wouldn’t hurt anymore. In a hazy state, I had a dream. I dreamt of when I was twenty, and Alistair was poor, but he loved me so, so much. That year on my birthday, we passed a coffee shop. I saw a couple sitting by the glass window. The girl held a piece of pure white cake in her hand; it looked exquisite, delicious, and expensive. I still remember, it was snowing heavily that day. I scooped up a pile of snow, smiling at Alistair, asking him, “Alistair, doesn’t this pile of snow look like cake?” Alistair clenched his jaw, pulled me into a tight hug, hiding his reddened eyes from me. Three days later, he appeared outside my dorm building with a large cake. A whole cake cost $258. And he, standing in the windy, snowy street, could only earn $100 after distributing three thousand flyers. I looked at the frostbite on his fingers, my eyes welling up with pain. I gritted my teeth and told him, “Alistair, your hands are meant for reading, for writing. They shouldn’t be ruined just to make me happy.” I said I didn’t deserve such an expensive cake at all… Alistair frowned, immediately contradicting me. He said, “Elara, you’re the best girl in the world. You deserve all the good things in this world.” That day, I cried as I ate the entire cake. A long time has passed; I can no longer recall its taste. I only know that after that day, I never seemed to have eaten a cake better than it. I slept for a long time. Drowsily, I heard my phone ringing. I answered and heard Alistair calling my name from the other end. “Elara.” I smiled softly, gently calling him back, “Alistair, it’s snowing heavily. I want cake.” Without waiting for him to reply, I turned over and fell back into a deep sleep.

I slept until midnight, then woke up hungry. I went to the living room to find something to eat, only to discover Alistair was actually home. He had bought Willow a big house. They lived there together. Willow would cook for him, cheer him up, and wait for him to come home. Alistair was living well; he hadn’t been back in a long time. He leaned lazily against the floor-to-ceiling window, staring intently at me. I walked past him, eyes downcast, but he grabbed my arm. He frowned, quietly asking, “How did you get so thin?” His voice was gentle, as if he still loved me very much. I froze for a moment, then forcefully yanked my hand away, snapping, “Alistair, what the hell is wrong with you?” He looked at his empty palm, his face slowly turning cold. When I walked to the dining table, I saw a cake covered in candles. Only then did I realize that call wasn’t a dream. I’d said I wanted cake, and Alistair had bought it. What was this? An olive branch? But I was already dying. I didn’t need a cake anymore, and I certainly didn’t need Alistair. I grabbed the cake and tossed it into the trash can. Alistair frowned, then shoved me against the wall. He snarled, “Elara, are you effing playing me?” I smiled, admitting, “Alistair, yes, I am playing you. What’s wrong with that?” “I said I wanted cake, and you went and bought it. Are you still as pathetic as before?” I deliberately twisted the knife, watching Alistair’s face completely freeze over. He violently grabbed my collar, dragged me into the bedroom, and slammed me onto the bed. Alistair was probably insane with rage. He kissed my lips savagely, biting them until they bled. I pushed him away, my voice icy, “Alistair, don’t touch me! You’re disgusting!” He lunged back, burying his face in my neck, biting down hard. A sharp gasp of pain escaped me. He whispered in my ear, “Elara, would it kill you to just give in for once?” “Do you know how many years I’ve waited for you to comfort me?” “Do you know how happy I was when you told me you wanted cake?” “And then you treat me like a clown?” He lifted his head, tears in his eyes, staring at me. My eyes were red too, as I glared back. In the dim room, neither of us spoke, neither willing to surrender first. Alistair leaned closer, closer, about to kiss my lips when his phone suddenly rang. It was Willow. Alistair paused, then answered. I heard Willow crying, “Alistair, are you really going to abandon me for Elara? You clearly like me.” “I’m at a bar right now, I’ve had so much to drink, and some guy is hitting on me…” “I hate him so much. Please, come pick me up and take me home, okay?” Alistair didn’t say anything. He just stared at me, a cold smile on his face, and quietly commanded, “Elara, beg me.” “Beg me to stay. If you just beg me, I won’t leave.” He seemed to have forgotten. A long time ago, I too had swallowed my pride and begged him, “Alistair, can we just talk calmly for once?” “Can we stop fighting?” “Can we just be together, properly?” “Can you, just be a little kinder to me?” That day, Alistair had stared at me coldly, smiling as he said, “Elara, you’re not worthy.” Those three words had pierced my heart. Until today, when I could finally return them word for word. I grabbed his collar and said, every word dripping with ice, “Alistair, *you’re* not worthy.” Alistair fell silent for a moment, then suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh. He put the phone back to his ear and told Willow, “Wait for me. I’m coming to pick you up.” He didn’t spare me another glance. He got up, slammed the door, and left.

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“Nancy, are you really going to divorce Ryan and go abroad for further studies?” In the quiet living room, Nancy Xu looked at Mrs. Sullivan’s surprised face across from her and nodded. “Yes, Aunt Sullivan. And as you know, I wasn’t the one who was supposed to marry him in the first place. For Ryan, I was just an unexpected stand-in, a substitute when the real bride didn’t show up. Now that she’s back, he’s been very happy lately, so it’s time for me to go.” Outside, fine snow was falling gently, creating a beautiful winter scene. Nancy smiled lightly, “Going abroad to study has always been my dream anyway.” Mrs. Sullivan looked at the young woman before her, remembering three years ago when Fiona Quinn, who was supposed to be the bride, ran away abroad on Ryan’s wedding day. Just as Ryan was standing awkwardly at the altar, red-eyed and not knowing what to do, Nancy put on an ill-fitting wedding dress and slowly walked up to the stage. Full of apology, she picked up the microphone and apologized to all the guests: “I’m so sorry, there was traffic on the way, I’m late.” It was this act that saved Ryan’s face and the Sullivan family’s reputation. Mrs. Sullivan sighed deeply and asked uncertainly, “Will Ryan agree to the divorce?” Nancy shook her head with a smile, “I already have the divorce agreement.” After all, she had sent the divorce papers half a month ago. At that time, Ryan was in such a hurry to finish work and go see Fiona that he signed without even looking, and left. Now, she just had to wait seven more days to get the divorce certificate, and then she would be free. After all, the Sullivan family, for three generations, couldn’t go abroad due to the confidential nature of their work. So once she went abroad, she and Ryan would never have to see each other again. Just as Mrs. Sullivan was about to speak, a magnetic male voice suddenly came from behind the two of them. “Nancy, what are you chatting about with Mom?” Nancy turned around and saw Ryan, whom she hadn’t seen for days, in a black suit walking towards them. “…Ryan.” Seeing her son approach, Mrs. Sullivan was about to step forward to scold him. “Why are you here?” With three parts surprise and seven parts reassurance, Nancy stood up and gave Mrs. Sullivan a pleading look, interrupting her at the right moment. “I missed you, so I came to pick you up on the way.” Ryan’s eyes were a bit guilty. Actually, he had come on purpose after learning of Nancy’s whereabouts. After saying goodbye to the worried Mrs. Sullivan, the two took their bags and left the Sullivan family mansion. On the way back, heavy rain beat against the car windows, but inside it was completely silent. Ryan was silent for a long time before he finally spoke. “Nancy.” “Actually, Fiona and I are over. It’s just that she just came back to the country and had heart surgery a few years ago, so her health isn’t good. As an old… friend, I just went to help her settle in, so I hope you can understand.” Nancy looked out at the rain blurring her view through the window and nodded. If only she hadn’t seen how excited Ryan was when he dropped everything to run and meet Fiona the day she returned. If only she hadn’t seen Ryan sell the watch he had used for years and exchange it for a cheap bracelet Fiona had given him. If only… There were too many “if onlys”. Nancy no longer had any expectations or trust. The car was quiet for a moment before Ryan spoke again: “Nancy, what was that document you had me sign half a month ago?” As soon as he finished speaking, Nancy turned to look at Ryan, her eyes three parts surprised and seven parts bitter smile. He only remembered to ask now? But then again, since Fiona came back, how could he care about anything else? Nancy was about to speak when Ryan’s phone suddenly rang. Seeing the name displayed on the car screen, Ryan’s face suddenly became tense. “It’s okay, answer it. Maybe it’s something important?” Nancy looked out the window, appearing unconcerned, which made Ryan suddenly feel afraid. But in the end he still answered the call, with the car’s speakers automatically on. “Ryan, I miss you so much it hurts. Can we meet?” Hearing the coquettish tone on the other end, Ryan’s slender fingers gripping the steering wheel turned slightly white, and his expression suddenly turned cold. “Fiona, I’m married now. I’ve told you many times, don’t talk to me in that tone!” There was silence on the other end for a moment before Fiona said, “But Ryan, I was supposed to be the bride at that wedding back then.” The car suddenly screeched to a halt in the middle of the road, the tires making a huge sound as they skidded on the ground. In three years of marriage, this was the first time Nancy had seen Ryan lose control. He shouted at the screen: “But you left! You left me all alone!” The phone went silent for a moment. A moment later, the voice on the other end became a bit choked up: “I’m sorry. My health wasn’t good at the time and I didn’t want to worry you. I didn’t know it would have such serious consequences.” “Ah! Ryan! My heart hurts so much. It’s okay, just let me die like this. Then I won’t bother you anymore, and you can live happily with that substitute of mine.” Soon, there was no more sound from the other end of the phone. Ryan immediately panicked and looked at Nancy. Nancy spoke first: “It’s fine, I’ll take a taxi back. You go see her, don’t let anything really happen to her.” Ryan still felt somewhat guilty and said softly, “I’m not going to see her, I just remembered there’s an urgent matter at the company, so I’m going there for a bit.” “I’ll come back to be with you after I’m done.” Nancy nodded and opened the car door to get out. Watching his car speed away, Nancy stood in the rain holding an umbrella, her eyes dimming slightly. A moment later, she gave a bitter smile and started walking towards home, over ten miles away. Three years. It was time to end it. Three years ago, she had put on that ill-fitting wedding dress and married a man who couldn’t even remember her name. Relatives and friends privately said Nancy was pitiful, saying she was just a substitute for her husband’s true love. But in the three years since, the two of them had spent time together under the moonlight and stars, dreaming of the future. Nancy thought she was loved. But now, Nancy clearly knew she was wrong. Since that was the case, she chose to let Ryan go. It was also liberating herself. Thunder split the night sky, followed immediately by a downpour that swept over like a tidal wave, Also sweeping away Nancy’s last bit of affection for Ryan.

Nancy slept alone all night, and Ryan still hadn’t returned by noon the next day. When she woke up, it was still raining outside. Nancy stayed at home all day, calmly deleting all the posts about her married life on social media platforms. Just as she finished cleaning up, she saw Fiona, who had threatened to die yesterday, suddenly post on social media: “What’s it like to be pampered by your ex-boyfriend?” She included a grid of nine photos. In the first, the usually cold and indifferent Ryan was feeding her porridge. In the second, the normally aloof Ryan was sitting by her bedside, holding her hand tightly. In the third, the usually arrogant Ryan was kneeling before her, helping her take medicine with eyes full of distress. The fourth was a photo of a pile of luxury goods, each worth at least tens of millions. Fiona had written on it, “Thanks to Ryan’s connections, I’m not angry or upset anymore.” The beautiful woman in the photos smiled sweetly, looking like the happiest princess on a phone call. Many people in the comments section were extremely envious and posted sour remarks. “Left and experienced hardships, returned and still true love. Fiona, did you save the galaxy in your past life?” “Nonsense! This must be at least ten galaxies. Fiona, how did you do it? How can you make your ex still so devoted?” Besides the envy, there were naturally those who wanted to mock Nancy. Nancy just glanced over casually, and a few people’s comments caught her eye. “I wonder what Miss Xu would think if she saw this?” “What could a substitute think? Did she really think that by going up to save face and be the bride, she could truly win the heart of the great Mr. Sullivan? She’s probably dying of jealousy seeing this. How long do you bet before this lapdog shows up?” “I bet 10 minutes!” “I bet 5 minutes!” “I bet 1 minute! She’s probably already downstairs. I’ll bet my new Lamborghini!” Many people followed along excitedly, with the stakes getting higher and higher. But Nancy just smiled resignedly and quickly typed out a few words on her phone: “I bet she’ll never show up in her lifetime.” Her words stirred up a storm, with many people immediately messaging to ask if she was joking. Nancy simply turned off her phone and stopped looking at any messages. Instead, she turned to make herself a bowl of noodles. At that moment, her phone suddenly rang. Nancy didn’t answer, but the phone kept ringing incessantly for five or six minutes before finally stopping. But soon after, the housekeeper Mrs. Zhang came in looking troubled, holding her own phone. “Ma’am, the master wants you to answer the phone.” Only then did Nancy pick up the phone and answer. “Nancy, it’s all a misunderstanding. I’ve already had Fiona delete the post. Don’t overthink it. She wasn’t feeling well yesterday, that’s why I didn’t come back. Nothing happened between us.” Ryan’s anxious voice came through the phone. The moment he saw Nancy’s comment, he had panicked. Nancy looked at the noodles she had made and calmly said, “I made noodles. Are you coming back to eat?” Ryan was stunned on the other end before replying, “I’m glad you’re not angry. You can eat the noodles yourself. Fiona’s heart is hurting again, so I’m taking her to the hospital. Don’t worry, we’re really just frie-” Before he could finish, Fiona’s anxious voice came through from the other end. “Ryan, where are you? I can’t see you. Did I lose you again? My heart feels so uneasy.” The call was hurriedly hung up, leaving only Ryan’s very anxious voice to the other person. “Fiona, I’m here. You didn’t lose me.” Looking at the disconnected call, Nancy sent Ryan a message: “That document you asked about yesterday is in the glove compartment of your passenger seat.” “You can open it and see what it is.” It wasn’t until two hours later that Ryan finally replied with one sentence. “No need. Whatever you had me sign, I’m sure it’s not to harm me.” This meant he wouldn’t look at it. Yes, right now he just wanted to be by Fiona’s side. Why would he look at anything unrelated to Fiona? Even if that divorce agreement was right at his fingertips. In the afternoon, Nancy drove with a truck delivering supplies to the orphanage where she grew up. Nancy had been an orphan since childhood and grew up here. The children were very happy to see Nancy come, and all ran up to cling to her and share their experiences. After spending time with the children, she went to the director’s office to say goodbye. “Mom, I’m going abroad for further studies.” The director was very happy. Nancy had been a top student in physics at Tsinghua University, but had suddenly given up going abroad to get married. The director had regretted it for a long time. “Nancy, that’s wonderful.” The director held Nancy’s hand, smiling with satisfaction. But then she thought of something and looked worried, “But… you going abroad for further studies, doesn’t that mean you and Ryan will be in a long-distance relationship? Long-distance relationships are very difficult.” Nancy looked out the window at a few children playing and running, shaking her head with a light smile. “It’s not a long-distance relationship. I divorced him.” “Because… Fiona came back.” The director was stunned for a moment, then let out a long sigh, feeling both regretful and relieved. “Sure enough, I wasn’t wrong in my initial assessment. Your marriage couldn’t last long. You know, once a person still has someone else in their heart, no matter how loving they seem on the surface, it’s all fake. As soon as that person comes back, the marriage is over! So it’s good that you divorced.” She held Nancy’s hand gently, comforting her softly. Nancy smiled back and hugged the director. Yes, it was good that they divorced.

After returning from the orphanage, Nancy went to a church before going home to pack her luggage. It was then that she realized her clothes filled several closets. Inside were also various expensive bags, sports car keys and other priceless gifts from Ryan. In fact, during their three years of marriage, Ryan had always been good to her, constantly giving her black cards, houses, cars and other gifts. But Nancy had never touched any of them. Because every time Ryan gave her gifts, Nancy could see the shadow of another person in his reddened eyes. To be precise, Ryan’s kindness to her was all stolen from Fiona, who had temporarily left the scene. She used to think that with time, Ryan would be able to see her true heart, but reality proved that what didn’t belong to her would eventually have to be returned. Nancy sorted out some things that belonged to her, and then took all the gifts she had given Ryan over the years to sell as junk. Over the years, in order to make him like her, she had carefully prepared many gifts for him, but he had never even glanced at them. Only that one watch he wore, which had also been replaced by the cheap bracelet Fiona gave him after she returned. Seeing all these gifts thrown aside with a thick layer of dust on them, Nancy smiled bitterly again. If Ryan truly loved her, where did all this dust come from? Watching the junk truck drive away, she was about to return to the villa when a horn sounded behind her. Nancy turned around to see a flashy Ferrari stop in front of her. A girl in a red dress got out of the car – it was Ryan’s sister, Sophie. Sophie frowned at the departing junk truck, then coldly snorted in disdain. “Sure enough, an orphan with no parents, even cardboard boxes have to be sold for money. Making it seem like our Sullivan family is about to go bankrupt.” Nancy didn’t even look at her and turned to leave. Sophie’s mocking smile turned to anger, and she rushed forward to grab Nancy. “Nancy Xu!” Ever since Nancy entered their Sullivan family, she had always been very humble in her attitude, trying to please everyone. She had never given Sophie the cold shoulder like this before. Today she actually dared to turn her back on her, and anger immediately rushed to Sophie’s head. “Xu! Are you deaf? I’m talking to you and you dare to just walk away.” Nancy turned around and pulled Sophie’s hand off her, her eyes flashing with annoyance. Sophie had always disliked her, thinking she came from a poor background. So for three years after the wedding, she had been constantly targeting Nancy, either saying the breakfast she made wasn’t cooked properly, or dirtying the clothes she had washed. But now that she was leaving, she didn’t want to accommodate Sophie anymore. Sophie was about to continue taking advantage of the situation to lash out, but seemed to think of something and the corners of her mouth curled up into a sneer. “People like you should sell more junk. After all, my brother’s true love, Sister Fiona, is back. You, the so-called substitute, can get lost now.” As soon as she finished speaking, another woman in a white dress, looking quite exquisite, stepped out from behind her. This was the first time Nancy had seen Fiona in person. A pair of almond eyes brimming with watery charm, long black hair flowing down, porcelain white skin – just standing there exuded an air of nobility. No wonder Ryan had been unable to forget her for so many years. But this dress, the accessories on it – Nancy found it somewhat familiar. Wasn’t this style of outfit exactly the same as the ones in her own closet? At this moment, Nancy finally understood that she really was just a substitute. Fiona looked Nancy up and down, as if seeing a cheap version of herself, full of disdain and mockery. However, this expression was quickly hidden away when Ryan’s car drove in behind them. She immediately put on a pitiful face and said, “Sophie, don’t talk about Miss Xu like that. She’s your sister-in-law now. What if she gets angry and kicks me out?” As soon as she finished speaking, Ryan’s panicked voice came from behind. “What’s going on? Who’s kicking who out?!”

Ryan hurried over. His gaze fell on Fiona, who was standing there fine, and he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief before turning to speak to Nancy on the other side. “Nancy, Fiona’s house hasn’t been lived in for many years and needs to be renovated, so can she stay with us for a few days during this time?” Nancy looked at Ryan without speaking. In the silence, Fiona’s expression became full of unease and a bit of grievance. “Ryan, maybe I should just leave. After all, it’s my fault for not showing up at the wedding. Now you have a new wife, and it seems Miss Xu doesn’t welcome me.” Ryan looked at Nancy, his face hesitating for a moment. Fiona let out a long sigh, her expression dejected as she turned to leave. Sophie immediately reached out to stop her. “Sister Fiona! Why are you leaving?! If anyone should leave, it’s her. The real mistress of this villa should be…” “Shut up! Sophie!” Ryan glared at her angrily and shouted, “Who told you to talk to Nancy like that? She’s my wife, your sister-in-law. Apologize to her right now, or get out!” Sophie’s eyes immediately turned red. Seeing this scene, Nancy finally spoke up, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile. “It’s fine, you don’t need to scold Sophie. I didn’t say I wouldn’t agree. Miss Quinn, please stay here.” With that, Nancy turned and walked into the villa. This was the eighth year she had loved Ryan. She still remembered the first time she saw him on the basketball court and fell in love at first sight. Ryan didn’t know. Until later, when Nancy, as an orphan, saw Ryan red-eyed and at a loss standing at the altar during the wedding, she instinctively went up. That heart had nothing to do with status or interests. She just didn’t want to see the person she liked cry. Seemingly afraid Fiona would still leave, Ryan immediately instructed the servants to move her luggage into the largest guest room. Sophie immediately walked smugly in front of Nancy, her nose in the air: “What are you standing here for? Go make dinner. Oh, and Sister Fiona can’t eat spicy food, so make it bland.” Hearing this, Fiona’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she looked Nancy up and down again. “I’ve always heard that Miss Xu’s cooking skills are quite good. So today…” Before she could finish, Ryan came down from the guest room upstairs: “Sophie, that’s enough! How many times have I told you, we have servants in the house. Why do you always make Nancy cook for you?” Fiona’s face fell, and the glance she cast at Nancy was full of jealousy and hatred. But when Ryan walked over, Fiona immediately changed her expression and smiled. “I’ll cook today. I’ve learned a lot of skills abroad these past few years and have always wanted to make something for you all to try.” As she said this, Fiona was looking at Ryan. Ryan’s eyes suddenly had a moment of daze, but when he saw Nancy standing quietly to the side, he still shook his head and said, “No need, your health isn’t good either. Just let the serv-” Sophie clung to him, grabbing Ryan’s hand and saying, “Brother, just let Sister Fiona cook. She worked so hard to learn.” Ryan seemed to think of something and finally nodded. “Alright, but don’t tire yourself out.” Nancy watched all of this without saying a word, just standing by the floor-to-ceiling window looking out at the garden. Ryan looked at Nancy standing so quietly and suddenly felt more and more uneasy. After a long silence, he walked to Nancy’s side, his red lips moving slightly. “Nancy, if you don’t like Fiona staying here, I’ll send her back after we finish this meal.” “No need. Let her stay if she wants.” Nancy turned to look at Ryan: “That document, have you looked at it?” Mentioning the document again, Ryan frowned slightly: “I haven’t looked yet. Didn’t I say I trust you? Do I really need to look at it?” Does he need to or not? Nancy didn’t know. The signature was already there anyway, but thinking of their three years living together day and night. Nancy was about to speak when Fiona suddenly brought over a pot of hot soup. She glanced at Nancy standing beside Ryan like a stranger, her eyes flashing with intense jealousy. Then, she pretended to lose her grip and not hold the pot steady, rushing forward towards Nancy in a panic, spilling the entire pot of hot soup. “Watch out!”

“Watch out!” Seeing the hot soup splashing towards her! Nancy instinctively shielded Ryan in her arms. Then she watched helplessly as a large pot of scalding chicken soup poured all over her. “Ah!” In an instant, Nancy’s body was covered in chicken soup, her skin immediately turning bright red from the scalding. The searing pain almost made her faint. “Nancy!” Ryan pushed Nancy away, his eyes full of panic. “Don’t be afraid, I’ll take you to the hospital right away!” She looked up at him, the pain spreading throughout her body, using all her strength but unable to say a word. Then she looked at Fiona. “I’m so sorry, Miss Xu. Are you alright? Ryan, thank goodness Miss Xu protected you.” Seeing her pretend to be flustered, but unable to hide the satisfaction in her eyes, Nancy immediately realized and said in a trembling voice: “You did this on purpose?” Hearing this, Fiona was stunned for a moment, then tears started falling immediately. “Miss Xu, what are you saying? How could I do this on purpose? I know you feel insecure and have prejudices against me, and it’s my fault for not believing you’d get scalded! But you can’t slander me like this.” Seeing Fiona cry, Sophie resolutely stood in front of her and angrily said: “Nancy Xu! That’s enough! So what if you got scalded a little? Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Sister Fiona worked hard to cook for us, she’s already very tired! Besides…” Sophie looked at Ryan, whose eyes were already filled with doubt and anger, and lifted her chin to continue, “Besides, my brother was right there. Even if Sister Fiona wanted to hurt someone, she wouldn’t hurt my brother, right?” As soon as she finished speaking, the doubt in Ryan’s eyes immediately disappeared. He looked at Nancy with furrowed brows and said disappointedly, “That’s right. Nancy, Fiona wouldn’t hurt anyone, least of all me. Please don’t overthink it, okay?” Hearing these words, Nancy felt countless emotions gather at the top of her head, tears immediately welling up in her eyes. Ryan sighed, his voice becoming calm: “Nancy, let’s go to the hospital first, alright?” Nancy knew that no matter what else she said, Ryan wouldn’t believe her now. Just as she was about to nod. “Oh no, Sister Fiona, you’re hurt so badly!” Ryan heard this and immediately rushed to Fiona’s side in a panic. He saw that her snow-white arm had some small blisters, which did indeed look quite “serious”. Fiona put her hand behind her back, her eyes rimmed with tears as she shook her head. “I’m fine. Miss Xu looks much worse. You should take her to the hospital first.” As soon as she finished speaking, just as Ryan was about to look at Nancy again, Fiona immediately put on a pained expression. She clutched her chest and said, “Ah! Ryan! My heart hurts so much. It’s okay, just let me die like this. Then I won’t bother you anymore, and you can live happily with that substitute of yours.” Fiona collapsed, grabbing Ryan’s hand as he tried to support her. She said weakly, “Ryan, am I going to die? Will I never see you again?” Sophie stomped her foot anxiously: “Brother! Sister Fiona’s heart isn’t good. Let’s hurry and take her to the hospital!” “I, I’m fine…” Fiona looked pitiful and delicate. But this appearance undoubtedly made Ryan’s heart ache. He could no longer care about the disheveled Nancy. He helped Fiona up and headed out. Before leaving, he seemed to remember something and looked at Nancy with guilt. “Fiona’s heart isn’t good. I’m afraid something will happen to her. The hospital isn’t far from here.” “…Nancy, you can take a taxi to the hospital yourself.”

At the hospital, the doctor used cotton swabs to flatten the blistered areas while asking Nancy with concern why she was so badly scalded and had no family accompanying her. Nancy inhaled sharply from the pain. Two doctors passed by the doorway. “Mr. Sullivan really cares for his wife. Just a few small blisters and he booked the entire floor, having all the dermatology experts come for a consultation.” “I know, right? These few blisters would have almost healed if she came a bit later. If only I could have such a caring man who loves me.” “Haha, dream on. Men like that are one in a million.” One in a million? Nancy smiled wryly. Abandoning his seriously injured wife to go take care of someone with minor injuries – he truly was a one-in-a-million good man. Nancy’s injuries were too severe and she needed to stay in the hospital for a few days. It wasn’t until three days later that Nancy, wrapped in bandages, was finally discharged. As soon as she turned on her phone, countless missed calls and messages popped up, filling the screen. They were all from Ryan. This had never happened since Fiona returned. Just as she was in a daze, Sophie’s call came through. As soon as Nancy answered, a harsh voice came from the other end. “Nancy Xu, you’ve got some nerve! Where have you been for three days? This is deliberate, isn’t it?! Can’t compete with Sister Fiona so you’re playing these tricks? Do you know how crazy my brother’s been looking for you?! Don’t think this will get my brother’s attention. Dream on. The position of the Sullivan family’s daughter-in-law will always belong to Sister Fiona!” After finishing her rant, Sophie hung up the phone. Nancy frowned slightly. Ryan had been frantically searching for her? How was that possible? Wasn’t he busy taking care of Fiona? Why would he look for her? But when Nancy looked at the 999 missed calls on her phone, it did indeed show Ryan’s urgency in finding her. With this confusion, Nancy returned home. As soon as she entered the gate, the servants, their faces full of relief after a near-disaster, came to greet her. Several of them were almost crying as they spoke. “Ma’am, you’re finally back. The master has been going crazy looking for you…” As soon as they finished speaking, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. “Nancy!” Ryan anxiously jogged over. After not seeing each other for three days, the usually dapper man looked quite haggard, especially the dark circles under his eyes which were particularly obvious. “I went to the hospital. The same one where you were taking care of Fiona.” Hearing this, Ryan sighed, “About last time, I didn’t mean to abandon you. It’s just that after Fiona’s surgery, the doctor said she needed to stay calm and not get excited, or something could happen. I grew up with her since we were kids, so I’m used to taking care of her. That’s why I took her to the hospital first.” “And you didn’t object at the time either. Since you were at the hospital, why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you answer my calls? You’re my wife, don’t you know I’d be worried? Can you not do this again next time?” By the end, there was a hint of reproach in his tone. But Nancy still looked at him calmly, without answering. Because in two more days, she would be leaving. So there wouldn’t be a next time. For some reason, seeing Nancy’s calmness, Ryan suddenly thought of how Nancy had been these past few days and felt a bit panicked. He stepped forward and took Nancy’s hand, sighing, “Actually, Fiona really didn’t mean to do it last time. Since you don’t want her staying here, I’ve already had her move out. Don’t be upset over this little thing anymore in the future.” After finishing, Ryan looked straight at Nancy, wanting to see a hint of being moved in her eyes. But Nancy had no reaction at all. She removed Ryan’s hand and turned to go upstairs. But as soon as she entered the room, she saw a set of expensive bags placed on the bed. She raised her eyebrows and looked at Ryan questioningly as he followed behind her. Ryan sighed, “Nancy, this is my apology to you. You won’t be angry anymore with these, right?” Nancy looked at the bags in the box, each worth tens of millions, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. Three years. A full three years. They had shared a bed, had happy times together. In his eyes, was she really the kind of person who would pretend to be angry and upset just to get compensation? Suddenly, she thought of the gifts Ryan had carefully prepared for Fiona in his social media posts, and a wave of mockery welled up, but she quickly suppressed it. Forget it. Since he didn’t understand, there was no need to explain anymore. Seeing that Nancy’s face still showed no smile, Ryan didn’t think much of it, just assuming she didn’t like them. “Nancy, if you don’t like these, after I’m done with Fiona’s matters, I’ll take you to an auction to pick out the most expensive one to give you…” Ryan hadn’t finished speaking when Sophie and Fiona’s voices came in from outside the door. “Sister Fiona, I told you, my brother likes you so much, he couldn’t possibly really make you move out. It’s all that Nancy Xu’s fault. I’ll scold her for you in a bit. Why don’t you come back and stay, okay?” As they spoke, the two walked right into Nancy and Ryan’s bedroom. Then upon seeing the set of bags on the bed, Sophie exclaimed excitedly: “Oh my god, brother! Sister Fiona just mentioned to me that she really liked these few bags. I can’t believe you actually bought them!” After saying this, she looked at Fiona beside her, her eyes full of envy. Hearing this, Fiona’s face immediately turned red, then she looked at Nancy smugly. Seeing that Ryan didn’t immediately refute it, but instead showed hesitation in his eyes, Nancy didn’t even think before directly picking up the box and handing it to Fiona. “Since it’s a gift for you, please take it.” With one sentence, she made the choice for Ryan, resolving his dilemma. At this moment, Ryan looked at Nancy in shock. Seeing how generous she was, the discomfort in Ryan’s heart grew stronger and stronger. He wanted to object, but seeing how happy Fiona looked, he still closed his mouth. He was thinking, it’s okay, next week is our wedding anniversary. He could make it up to Nancy then. He must be overthinking things. She was just jealous and throwing a tantrum. Nancy loved Ryan so much. How could she possibly leave?

Another day passed. There was one day left before the divorce cooling-off period ended, and Nancy would receive the divorce certificate. Thinking that she could finally leave, she began mailing her luggage abroad. Halfway through packing, Ryan called from the company, asking her to attend a banquet at the Sullivan family mansion. Nancy wanted to refuse, because in one more day, their legal marriage would be dissolved. But thinking of how Mrs. Sullivan had taken care of her all these years, Plus, it was the last day after all. Nancy wanted to find an opportunity to be alone with Ryan and explain things clearly. Although it was a hasty marriage, Nancy wanted to end it with clarity. In the bustling Sullivan family estate, lights were shining brightly everywhere, with socialites gathered, clinking glasses. But as soon as she went in, Nancy didn’t see Ryan. After asking around, she learned from an old Sullivan family servant that Ryan was in a house on the north side. Nancy immediately walked in that direction. The door of the house was slightly ajar, with some suggestive sounds coming from inside. Nancy suddenly felt a wave of unease. Her body trembling, she slowly peeked through the door crack. Immediately, a shocking scene entered her eyes. On the sofa, Ryan was roughly and urgently undressing Fiona’s evening gown while pinning her tightly to the couch. His large hands gripped Fiona’s waist as he trailed kisses from her collarbone downwards. Fiona arched her head to meet Ryan, saying passionately, “Ryan! Promise me you won’t leave me.” Fiona whispered. Ryan suddenly pushed her away forcefully. “Fiona! Are you crazy?! I’m married! Why have you come back now? What exactly do you take me for? Something you can throw away and pick up again as you please? Do you know how afraid I am of being alone again?!” Ryan was very angry, but Fiona wouldn’t listen. She stubbornly moved forward to hug his waist again, their bodies pressed together. “Ryan! I was wrong!” “Fiona! Get out!” Again and again, endlessly. Finally, Ryan gave in and surrendered. This time he didn’t let Fiona come hug him. He forcefully pulled Fiona close and bit down hard on her lips, then their mouths entangled, inseparable. Several moments later, the two finally moments later, the two finally parted. Fiona wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and smiled smugly, then hooked Ryan’s chin. “So, do you still love me?” Nancy watched from outside, feeling as if countless knives were stabbing her heart over and over. Ryan stood frozen in place. After a moment, he looked up at her with eyes full of restrained love, his tone one of surrender. The next moment, his red lips moved: “I do!” At this, Fiona’s eyes were full of triumph. She kissed him again, then asked, “So, are you willing to divorce that Nancy Xu and marry me?” Ryan’s whole body suddenly stiffened. Abruptly, he remembered that wedding from years ago that he couldn’t bear to recall, remembered the figure who resolutely stood up and walked firmly to his side amidst a crowd of strange looks. “…I.” Ryan turned his head, about to answer. But at that instant, he saw a pair of eyes full of sorrow watching him through the slowly opening door. All of a sudden, darkness appeared in Ryan’s mind. Nancy stood outside, calmly looking at him, tears streaming down her face. “—Nancy!”

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After My Brother Stole My Girlfriend Again, I Fell into the Arms of the Woman He’d Loved for Five Years. He Got Serious. At the dinner table, I dropped my fork. As I bent down to pick it up, I saw my brother’s foot stretched out between my girlfriend’s legs. He said, “Your current girlfriend has pretty slim legs. I approve.” Later, he got together with my girlfriend and told me, “What can I do, Adrian? It seems like none of the women around you can resist me.” I laughed and immediately fell into the arms of the woman he’d loved for five years. My brother Brandon broke up with my ex-girlfriend. “We only dated for a month. Isn’t it normal to break up?” Brandon said casually, as if he was discussing what to have for lunch. “But when you sent me those bedroom photos, you said it was true love and hoped I’d give you my blessing,” I said, taking a sip of coffee. I glanced at Emma, who was still waiting outside in the scorching heat, and clicked my tongue. Emma was the beauty queen of our department. Not only was she gorgeous, but she also excelled in her studies. Her family seemed quite wealthy too. Add to that her cool and aloof demeanor, and she was the quintessential campus goddess. Many guys at our college had fallen for her, including me. Emma was technically my ex-girlfriend, but not really. After all, I was just her fake boyfriend to ward off unwanted suitors. The day after we publicly announced our relationship, Brandon stole her away. That night, Brandon sent me several explicit bedroom photos. “I’m interested in her because you’re interested in her,” Brandon had said. “But your taste is truly garbage. For your first girlfriend, you chose such mediocre goods.” I knew Brandon wasn’t actually into Emma. He just wanted to steal everything I liked, even if he’d discard it later. He didn’t want me to have anything. Since childhood, he’d been jealous that my arrival stole all our parents’ love. So anything I liked, he’d find a way to take it for himself. It was like that with toys when we were little, with nice clothes, and now with the girls I dated. “My taste wasn’t great before, but this time, I’m dating someone high quality,” I said, my eyes filled with infatuation. Brandon looked intrigued by my expression. “Oh really? I find it hard to believe your definition of ‘high quality.’ When can you introduce us?” “She’s coming to meet me soon.” Just as I finished speaking, I saw Olivia appear at the café entrance. I smiled and said, “There, that’s my girlfriend.” She wore a white blouse and had a slender figure. A silver necklace adorned her neck, and she exuded a lazy, carefree aura. Compared to Emma, this kind of woman gave off an uncontrollable vibe. I was obsessed with women like her, and so was Brandon. He loved making all sorts of women fall for him, and he especially loved stealing my girlfriends. I saw Brandon’s eyes noticeably brighten. He looked Olivia up and down several times before finally curling his lips meaningfully. I was all too familiar with that expression of his. It meant he had his sights set on his prey. The more carefree and unrestrained a woman was, the more she aroused a man’s desire to conquer her. When Brandon saw that from the moment Olivia entered, her eyes were only on me, he got even more excited. I frowned in displeasure. The reason I dared to bring Olivia to meet Brandon was because I trusted her character. I’d known her for two years, and she was never the type to be seduced by good looks. Emotionally, she was a very loyal woman. But looking at Brandon’s flirtatious eyes and demeanor, I felt a bit uncertain. Brandon knew exactly how to manipulate women. Take Emma for example – she was so cool and aloof at school, but she became wild and flushed with desire when she was with Brandon. I held Olivia’s hand, and she smiled at me tenderly. I firmly believed I hadn’t misjudged her. Before leaving, Brandon kept his eyes fixed intently on Olivia. I observed Olivia’s expression. She seemed completely oblivious to Brandon, her attention fully focused on me. After we left the café, I accompanied Olivia to the sports field. She had plans to play badminton with some friends, while I sat on the sidelines holding her jacket and watching. Olivia exuded a uniquely feminine charm. Her aura was completely different from Emma’s – she was bold and uninhibited, like the June sun, bringing joy to those around her. Being with Olivia was actually the result of my careful planning. On the first day of college, I had noticed Olivia. At the time, she saw a guy taking advantage of the crowded hallway to grope a girl. Olivia immediately pinned the guy to the ground and beat him up. I still remember she was wearing a black t-shirt that day, with a silver necklace around her neck. She had her jacket slung casually over one shoulder as she walked past me with an indifferent expression. My first impression was that she was carefree and rebellious, with an innate bad girl vibe that deeply attracted me. Brandon had taught me that women like her were usually harder to pursue. Pestering them didn’t work – the key was using the right approach. Throughout freshman year, I didn’t make any aggressive moves. I just tried to become a familiar face to her. Sophomore year, I started messaging her frequently and occasionally asking her to hang out. To understand her likes and interests, I did a lot of research. Gradually, we started chatting more and more, eventually progressing to daily good morning and goodnight texts. The flirting intensified to the extreme, and we were just one step away from a relationship. My agreement to be Emma’s fake boyfriend to ward off other guys was what finally broke through that last barrier. That night when Olivia called me out with red-rimmed eyes, demanding to know why I was with another girl, I knew my strategy of playing hard to get had worked. When Emma was stolen by Brandon, it was the perfect opportunity for Olivia and me to get together. She was an excellent girlfriend. In the month we’d been dating, she fulfilled the role to the utmost. Even my roommates said they never imagined a girl like Olivia could be so devoted when she fell in love. Of course, I believed in Olivia’s feelings for me. But I didn’t know if she could resist the temptation of a mature man like Brandon. A cheer erupted from the crowd – Olivia had scored another winning shot. After spiking the final point, she walked towards me. The sunlight shone on her, giving her smile a golden glow. Olivia grinned and said, “Bored of waiting? I’ll treat you to something delicious later.” I smiled brightly back. “Sounds good.” We held hands as we walked along the edge of the sports field. The warm light shone on us, and I could feel the gentle pressure of her hand in mine. I wished this moment could last forever. As I had expected, Brandon finally made his move. Recently, Brandon had been coming to campus to see me much more frequently than before. Olivia would come to my dorm every day to walk me to breakfast, attend classes together, and go on dates. But lately, several times when I went downstairs, I saw Brandon waiting with Olivia. From a distance, Brandon was smiling brightly. Though Olivia’s expression remained neutral, she occasionally responded to him. Brandon seemed oblivious to his third wheel status, forcibly inserting himself into Olivia and my world. One day, Brandon suddenly invited me to dinner and specifically asked me to bring Olivia. I knew what he was up to, but I still asked Olivia to come with me. When Olivia and I arrived, Brandon was already waiting in the private room. He looked like he had dressed up carefully. Was his intention really that obvious? I brought Olivia because I had my own agenda. I wanted to see if she could resist the temptation of a man like Brandon. “Olivia, I heard you’re amazing at badminton. Could you teach me sometime?” Brandon asked in his magnetic voice. Olivia replied flatly, “If you really want to learn, you should find a coach.” Brandon was clearly dissatisfied with Olivia’s attitude, but it seemed to excite him even more. “Finding a coach is such a hassle. You’re my brother’s girlfriend, so why can’t I just ask you?” I stirred my soup with a spoon, listening to Olivia’s cold voice beside me. “You know very well I’m your brother’s girlfriend. It’s inappropriate.” Seeing Brandon’s visibly paled expression, I could barely hold back my laughter. Brandon rarely struck out with women. Aside from that one time five years ago, this was probably only the second time. I must have been smiling too obviously, because Brandon shot me an annoyed glare. My hand slipped and I said, “Oops, I dropped my fork.” With that, I immediately bent down to pick it up. They clearly didn’t have time to react. In the split second I lowered my head, I still saw Brandon’s foot that he hadn’t managed to pull back in time. Yes, just moments ago when I wasn’t paying attention, Brandon had stretched his foot towards Olivia, even between her legs… Olivia hadn’t refused. Was it because she didn’t have time to, or because she didn’t want to refuse?

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My husband’s mistress set a trap for me, and we both tumbled into the water. Derek didn’t twist the story or blame me. Instead, his fury exploded, and he aggressively pulled off Chloe’s designer jacket, practically forcing her to grovel at my feet. “So, you wanted to cool off because it was too hot, huh? Fine. I’ll make sure you get *really* cool.” But I didn’t feel a shred of gratitude. My heart was aching so much I curled into myself. Derek had long forgotten how he’d sacrificed half of his own heart to save me, years ago. Because of that, his every joy and sorrow vibrated through me. And right now, he was suffering deeply over Chloe’s pitiful state. “It’s fine, I’m just going to take a shower.” I quietly slipped away, leaving them space. I hadn’t gone far when I heard Derek’s tender, soothing voice. “Don’t be mad, babe. I knew you could swim, that’s why I didn’t pull you out. How else could I get Stella off my back and have you all to myself?” “Come here, baby, let me kiss you. Seeing you all wet like that just now, my pants were practically bursting.” I waited for the dull ache in my chest to subside, slowly morphing into a cold excitement. Then, I went up the mountain to find Sage Elias. “Master, is my Ethereal Heart ready?” “Have you thought this through? Once you replace your heart with the Ethereal Heart, you’ll be severed from the mortal world, with no turning back.” “Yes. After all, mortals and immortals are destined to walk different paths.” “Then you must retrieve a strand of hair from his beloved, a tear from their eye, and a drop of blood from their heart. Only then can you return his heart and create space for your own.” I nodded, swearing under my breath: Derek, I don’t want your heart anymore.

“Stella, where were you? Do you know how frantic I was searching for you for ages?” Derek was working on his laptop in bed, his leg injured from pulling me out of the water earlier that morning. The moment he saw me, he immediately dropped everything. He muted his microphone and turned off his camera on the video conference, then spun to face me, stretching out his arms like a child begging for a hug. “Can I have a hug? Tell me, am I sick? A few hours without you and I can barely stand it.” “I should claim workers’ comp! Come here and compensate me!” He completely ignored the screen where “Mr. Thorne” was being urgently called. If I hadn’t felt Derek’s heart thrumming wildly in my chest, I might have actually fallen for his sweet words. This feeling was all too familiar, the kind Derek only had when we were lost in passion. My gaze instinctively flickered to the strange bulge beneath his blanket. Suddenly, I understood his reaction. It was the middle of a scorching June day, and sweat beaded on Derek’s forehead, yet he’d pulled the blanket up to his waist, tucking it in tightly. Noticing my gaze, he gave a pitiful, wounded smile. “It’s a little chilly in the room. Don’t think I’m being delicate.” But Derek’s slightly ragged breathing, his continuously rising and falling chest, and his slightly hoarse voice betrayed him. If I wasn’t mistaken, his mistress, Chloe, was having her “meal” right under that blanket. He’d always been insatiable in bed, a true glutton for pleasure. Doing this right in front of me was just for the thrill of it. I suppressed a wave of nausea rising in my stomach, forced a smile, and a wicked thought formed. “Of course not. Want me to help you work up a sweat?” My uncharacteristic attitude left him momentarily speechless. Before, he’d been glued to my side, wanting to carry me in his pocket even when I just stepped out. Now, my forwardness visibly flustered him. The closer I got, the tighter his heart clenched. Under such violent fluctuations, it felt like I’d been punched in the chest. I let out a muffled groan of pain, finally stopping. Derek gazed at me, full of concern, but made no move to get out of bed. “What’s wrong?” Suddenly, it felt like all the strength had been drained from me. I didn’t want to make things hard for him, or for myself. “Never mind. It’s… dirty. It smells.” Derek didn’t grasp the deeper meaning of my words, thinking I was talking about myself. He subtly let out a sigh of relief. “What? My darling always smells wonderful.” I turned and walked straight out of the room, not looking back. He only managed to call out a perfunctory concern to my retreating back. “Stella, are you really okay? I’ll come be with you as soon as I finish this meeting!”

I hid in the study, gasping for a few breaths to recover, then looked at our wedding photo hanging on the wall and felt a sudden pang of ridiculousness. Memories flooded back, and I seemed to see Derek back then, holding me, his gaze fixed on my face, beaming with pure happiness. As if nothing else in the world mattered to him but me. Even the photographer had been amused by his intense devotion, teasing him, “I’ve been a wedding photographer for years and never seen a groom like this. Relax, your wife isn’t going anywhere. Don’t be like this when you take her out, or you’ll lose your money and not even notice.” Derek, utterly unashamed, boasted, “What could possibly be more precious than my wife? Forget a little money; I wouldn’t trade her for my life. I have to watch her. If she ran off, where would I cry?” Everyone laughed, calling him a soft-hearted wife-slave. Watching Derek come home every day with handfuls of cupcakes, never forgetting to lift his shirt to warm my feet, I also felt it was a bit much. I gently advised him, “You’re acting like a big CEO, you know. You won’t have any credibility. Be careful, all your subordinates might leave.” But he didn’t care. He rubbed against my neck, complaining playfully, “I’m so wronged! I don’t treat anyone else like this, only you. This lifetime, only you.” Derek’s solemn promises back then gave me such a sense of security, filling me with an indescribable satisfaction, the joy of a gamble won. Years ago, I came down from the mountain for training and happened to save Derek when his house caught fire. He escaped the blaze, his parents gone, and followed me every day. Calling me “Immortal Sister,” he launched an intense pursuit. I only saw him as a child, lacking love. Until later, during an accident, I was severely injured, nearly on the verge of fading away completely. It was Derek who, without hesitation, offered half his heart to me. Initially, after becoming linked with Derek, to avoid my own discomfort, I stopped resisting his pursuit. But a young man’s love is sincere and fervent, each tremor unforgettable, slowly swaying my resolve. My Master, learning of my injury, had forged an Ethereal Heart for me, which could restore my divine body, free me from desires, and return my powers. Yet, the thought of forgetting him, of a separation like death, was unbearable. Derek had already quietly drifted into my heart amidst the gentle winds and rain. Master, seeing my thoughts, earnestly advised me, “All things in the world change in an instant. The deep blue sea can turn into mulberry fields; what then of the ethereal human heart?” “If you truly insist on not retrieving your Ethereal Heart, you will only become a mortal.” “The Ethereal Heart can only be preserved for ten years. I can keep it for you. If you change your mind, come find me anytime.” Although Derek gradually lost his memories of that time due to his heaven-defying act of sacrificing his heart, and my powers were stripped away, making my body increasingly frail from the impact, what did it matter? I couldn’t use inner energy to dry my hair; Derek dried it for me. My cold feet, unable to maintain warmth with magic; Derek warmed them for me. I worked alongside him, building from nothing to becoming a rising star in the business world. We survived the seven-year itch. But I never expected that a month before our tenth anniversary, I’d find women’s underwear in the back seat of his car.

I waited until the sun set before the “battle” ended there. Once I was sure Derek had gone to the bathroom to shower, I returned to the bedroom to find the first item Sage Elias had requested: Chloe’s hair. The bed was neatly made, not a single wrinkle. The air freshener scent wafting through the room was my favorite sandalwood. Even the trash cans around the room held no trace of a secret tryst. After all, he’d used the same meticulous care when picking fish bones out for me back then. Only now, that patience was being used to clean up the aftermath of his affair. I was still feeling a pang of regret when I was suddenly embraced from behind by a hot body. “Babe, what are you doing? Come on, dinner’s ready.” Under Derek’s gentle pushing and pulling, I had to put it aside for a moment and follow him to the dining room. He scooped a wonton, blowing on it thoughtfully to test the temperature before bringing it to my lips. “My Queen, please grace me with your acceptance. I just learned to make these today. They might not look perfect, but I promise I’ll do better next time.” All these years, no matter how busy Derek was, he always made me three meals a day. From scrubbing vegetables to mastering gourmet dishes, he always did it all himself. It was only because I’d become mortal and had to bear dual emotions that my body grew exceptionally weak. To keep him from worrying, I lied and said I had a sensitive stomach. So he became extra diligent about my diet, cooking for nearly ten years. Initially, the food lacked color, aroma, and taste, but I still ate contentedly. Now, his cooking skills had improved so much he’d even earned various chef and nutritionist certifications. But I gradually couldn’t taste anything anymore. It was his heart that had changed. I stared into Derek’s eyes, saying nothing. I took the wonton from his spoon and chewed it roughly. However, just as I was about to swallow, I suddenly felt something long and coiled wrap around my tongue. The moment I realized what it was, I sprang up, rushed into the bathroom, and locked the door. Looking in the mirror, I indeed pulled out a tangled strand of long hair from my mouth. It was exactly what I’d been looking for—Chloe’s hair. The belated surge of revulsion made me almost throw up my guts. Derek, locked outside, hammered on the door. “Stella, what’s wrong? Are you okay? Don’t scare me, let me in to see you!” I ignored him. With shaky hands, I finally managed to pull out my phone and open the kitchen surveillance feed. I’d installed it years ago, worried about my pets getting onto the counters and knocking things over. Now, it was serving a different purpose. I pressed play, and the shocking scene on the screen instantly made my head spin.

In the dining room, Derek lifted Chloe by her butt and placed her on the long prep table. Their breathing was ragged, and they entangled themselves passionately, in no time at all, squashing the perfectly round, snowy-white wontons on the table into a crooked mess. “Why did you go to all that trouble, pretending these wontons were homemade when you clearly ordered takeout? What’s the point?” “You don’t understand, babe. Women fall for the effort. I want to make her happy, so Stella doesn’t keep suspecting I don’t love her anymore.” Chloe frowned, then turned her head, refusing his kiss. “She gets to be pampered, and I don’t?” Derek tried to peck her lips several times but failed. Growing impatient, he pulled a black card from his pocket. “Here, baby, take this card. Caviar, foie gras, black truffles – swipe it for whatever you want. Why would you bother with cheap takeout when you have this?” “Besides, I’m doing this so we can spend more time together, you know? You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to try it in the kitchen.” Chloe took the black card with her teeth, finally satisfied. She stopped resisting and instead reached for a jar of peanut butter, smiling meaningfully. “Alright, tit for tat. My turn to treat you. I remember you love peanut butter. I bought this specially for you on the way here.” Then, she generously scooped out a large spoonful and suggestively dabbed it on her intimate areas. Derek instantly became like a hungry wolf, his eyes turning red. He lunged and bit deeply into Chloe’s neck. Under his intense assault, Chloe squirmed uncontrollably. The two of them left various marks all over the food on the table. They were completely oblivious to when hair got mixed into the food. Was this how all the meals I’d eaten all these years were made? With a loud crash, Derek burst through the door, his face going pale the moment he saw my phone screen. “Stella…” “Where does it hurt? Is it serious?!” A second before he burst in, I had already switched the monitor screen to my dialing interface. My nails dug deep into my palms as I forced a smile, despite the discomfort.

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On the day of Skylar Thorne’s and my third anniversary, I waited for her in an icy cable car all night, freezing solid. I called her countless times, but she never picked up. Finally, just as my phone’s battery blinked its last bar, she answered. My heart swelled with hope, but instead of her voice, it was her male assistant, Devin Shaw, who spoke: “Mr. Hayes, we’re at the hot springs. Ms. Thorne said she doesn’t want to be disturbed.” Amidst Devin’s mocking laughter, my phone died completely. It hit me then: I was the only one who remembered our three-year promise. She had forgotten it long ago. As night fell, the temperature in the cable car plummeted. The cold seeped into every bone, and with it, despair clawed at my heart. Memories flashed like a frantic montage, as if these were my last moments on Earth. But fate, it seemed, had a shred of pity. I endured the agonizing cold and didn’t freeze to death. The moment I woke up, the first thing I did was make a call. I dialed that long-uncalled number: “Dad, I’m ready to come home and take over the family business. On one condition: acquire all of Thorne Enterprises.”

When they found me, my limbs were stiff with cold. My body had long gone numb, and I lay in the cable car, barely clinging to life. With the staff’s help, I was rushed to the emergency room. Skylar was listed as my emergency contact. When the doctor called her, her languid voice filled the phone. “So what if he froze all night? He’s not dead. Tell him I’ll come after I’ve had my sleep.” After she hung up, the nurse looked at me with profound pity. I lay silently on the bed, my thoughts replaying. Last night, I’d foolishly thought Devin was deliberately blocking Skylar’s calls. But hearing Skylar’s callous indifference to my near-death experience, my heart hardened. There was nothing left to give her. My life, it seemed, meant so little to her. I pulled out my phone and dialed that long-uncalled number again: “Dad, I’m ready to come home and take over the family business. On one condition: acquire all of Thorne Enterprises.” My father’s relieved voice came through the line. “Son, you’ve finally come to your senses. Three days, max. I’ll personally come pick you up.” It wasn’t until the afternoon that Skylar finally showed up, with Devin in tow. The moment she stepped through the door, she wrinkled her nose in disgust. “What is that awful smell?” I’d been unconscious from the cold all night, and I’d had an accident. I hadn’t had a chance to change my clothes after waking up. Devin, standing behind her, looked at me with feigned concern. “Mr. Hayes, we were indeed with a crucial client at the hot springs last night. That contract was extremely important, which is why we couldn’t answer your calls.” Skylar looked at me with blatant disdain. “Why bother explaining to him? Thanks to you, we secured that big deal last night.” So, in Skylar’s eyes, I was worth less than a contract. That contract, the very one they were celebrating, was only secured because of my connections. If I hadn’t specifically brokered the partnership with Mr. Stone, how else would they have landed such a massive deal? Yet, at this moment, Skylar was crediting all the success to Devin. The irony was sickening. Devin, hearing Skylar’s praise, shot me a triumphant look. Before Devin joined the company, Skylar and I always treated each other with respect, like a perfectly polite couple. But ever since he appeared, everything changed. Skylar had no patience for incompetence. If an employee made a mistake, she’d never give them a second chance. Even I, when I made errors, faced her harsh criticism. But Devin? Every time he made a rookie mistake, she’d just laugh it off, always finding excuses for him. She’d claim it was “to give new hires more opportunities to learn from their mistakes.” Initially, I didn’t think much of it, until I accidentally overheard their conversation one day. “Devin, it’s great to be young and full of vitality. Not like Owen, so lifeless these days.” “He just walks around with a long face all the time.” It turned out Skylar was just bored with me and had found someone new. Her heart had already shifted towards Devin. Skylar and I built this company from the ground up right after college. I even gave up my family’s inheritance for her. In the early days, it was my connections and background that got the company off the ground. I thought we’d walk this path together until the end, but I never imagined I was planning for a future that only included me. Skylar had already kicked me out of the game. Just as I was lost in thought, Skylar’s cold words sharply cut through my reverie. “When we get back to the office, I plan to give Devin ten percent of the shares.” “And your Vice President position? That’s going to Devin too. Consider it a reward for securing that big deal.” If I’d heard these words before, I would have erupted in a furious rage. But now, my heart was eerily calm. When you’ve been disappointed beyond measure, there’s no hope left to crush. I simply replied, my voice flat, “Fine.” She didn’t expect me to agree so readily. A flicker of surprise crossed Skylar’s face, but it was quickly overshadowed by glee. “Smart move.” With that, she took Devin and left. In three days, I’d be gone for good. Nothing here mattered to me anymore.

The day I was discharged from the hospital, I was alone. Skylar had already left with Devin, a step ahead of me. When I received the SnapChat group message, I saw Skylar had thrown a huge celebration for Devin. She even ordered a special banner to hang on the wall, emblazoned with golden letters: “CONGRATULATIONS, DEVIN SHAW, ON YOUR PROMOTION TO VICE PRESIDENT!” I remembered the early days when Skylar and I first started the company. When we secured our first big order, we celebrated with just a bowl of instant ramen. Skylar ate the noodles, and I had the broth. Those times were tough, but our hearts were full. Now, we had plenty of money, but our spirits were empty. We had long grown apart, together in name only. My phone suddenly rang, pulling me from my thoughts. I answered to Skylar’s furious voice: “Owen Hayes, why aren’t you here yet? What airs are you putting on?” “If it weren’t for needing your signature on the company share transfer agreement, I wouldn’t bother calling you.” “Get over here now. We’re waiting only for you.” She didn’t give me a chance to say a single word before she hung up. When I pushed open the private room door, everyone was gathered around Devin, showering him with sycophantic praise. The moment they saw me, the cheerful atmosphere instantly died. It was as if I was an unwelcome intruder. Devin walked towards me, holding a bottle of red wine, his eyes glinting with challenge. “Mr. Hayes… Oh, no, I mean, Mr. Hayes, you’re just a team leader now.” “You’re late. You owe us three drinks.” He handed me the bottle of red wine. I glanced at Skylar, who stood behind Devin. Her face was impassive, silently endorsing everything. Yet, she knew perfectly well I was on medication and couldn’t drink. Seeing my lack of response, Devin directly shoved the entire bottle into my arms. In an instant, the red wine splattered all over me. My bespoke white suit was immediately stained crimson. That suit was a reward from Skylar when I secured our first major deal. Devin put on a show of apology, “My bad, Mr. Hayes, I didn’t mean to do that.” I was about to erupt, but Skylar walked up behind me. “It’s just a suit, why apologize to him? That white thing is yellowed anyway; it should have been thrown out ages ago.” I scoffed internally. She was right, it should have been thrown out. Not just the suit, but the person wearing it, too.

I turned to leave; I shouldn’t have come to this event in the first place. Before I could step out the door, Skylar’s voice stopped me. “Wait, Owen. Sign this share transfer agreement before you go.” Skylar rushed towards me, holding a contract and a pen. Devin followed closely, as if afraid I might escape. I picked up the pen and signed my name on the contract without even glancing at it. As surprise flashed across their faces, I asked, “Can I go now?” Devin looked at the contract, his excitement barely contained, and nodded at Skylar. They seemed shocked by how easily I’d agreed. The process was far simpler than they’d imagined. After I left, the sound of joyous laughter erupted from the private room once more. “Congratulations, Devin Shaw, on your promotion to Vice President!” A cold smirk played on my lips as I walked away. Devin, your tenure as Vice President will be the shortest in history. Because you won’t last more than three days. While they were celebrating in the private room, I returned to the office and meticulously organized all my client lists, preparing for what was to come. Before I knew it, night had fallen. When I arrived home with my laptop, Skylar was already back. But there was also another unwelcome guest in the house. Devin was busily preparing a hangover remedy for Skylar in the kitchen. He didn’t show an ounce of panic when he saw me, remaining perfectly composed. It was as if this was his own home. He was wearing my house slippers, and I was standing barefoot on the cold floor. The chill crept up from my feet, reaching deep into my heart. Skylar, sprawled on the sofa, was completely drunk, slurring, “Devin, let’s keep drinking. We won’t stop until we’re wasted!” “To your promotion to Vice President!” Devin then solicitously brought a bowl of the hangover remedy to Skylar. They treated me as if I didn’t exist, as if I were thin air. Devin intimately helped Skylar up from the sofa and carefully placed a cushion behind her. His actions were so practiced, so tender, it was as if he were Skylar’s legitimate boyfriend. After feeding Skylar the remedy, Devin finally seemed to notice me. He approached, a cold sneer on his face. “Owen, Ms. Thorne just wouldn’t let me leave. She insisted I escort her home. What could I do?” At this point, calling Devin manipulative wouldn’t be an exaggeration. His petty triumph was sickeningly evident. Before, every time he came to our house under the pretense of delivering documents, I’d get jealous and angry, even having huge fights with Skylar. But now, I felt absolutely nothing. He tried to provoke me, searching for an outburst or a flicker of jealousy on my face. But I didn’t give him the satisfaction this time. I simply turned and walked towards my study, laptop in hand. I closed the study door, shutting them out. I thought Devin would leave after Skylar finished her hangover remedy. But to my shock, he was bold enough to stay the night.

Late at night, as I was organizing files in my study, I heard some utterly sickening sounds from the living room. At first, I thought it was Skylar, throwing up from being drunk. But the moment I opened my study door, I witnessed the full extent of their shamelessness. Two naked figures, illuminated by the moonlight, were intertwined on the sofa. My blood ran cold, freezing in my veins. My clenched fists dug my nails deep into my palms. Staring at the two of them in the living room, a surge of rage coursed through me, with nowhere to go. Skylar, emboldened by the alcohol, mockingly taunted me, shamelessly trampling my dignity as a man. “Devin, it’s great to be young! So many tricks, unlike Owen. He’s so rigid, only knows one position.” Devin’s voice dropped, a playful whine. “So, who’s better? Me, or that old stick-in-the-mud?” Skylar hooked her arm around Devin’s neck, laughing sensuously. “What do you even need to ask? Of course, you’re better.” Their entangled forms moved from the sofa to the floor. Lurid sounds filled the air. They seemed to have completely forgotten I was still in the study. Their audacity was astounding. I forced myself to suppress my rage and dialed the police. I would ruin them completely. As the living room lights flickered on, their naked bodies were exposed from the darkness. In their panic, Skylar grabbed a throw pillow from the sofa, trying to cover herself, her face contorted with terror as she stared at me. “Owen, what are you doing here?” I spoke coldly, “This is my home. Why shouldn’t I be here?” Devin quickly pulled on his boxers, then walked towards me, a sneer on his face. “Ms. Thorne, don’t be afraid of him. He’s just a lowly team leader now anyway.” “You’re the CEO of this company. And with my ten percent shares, we run this company, not him.” Skylar, who had been panicking, suddenly regained her composure after hearing Devin’s words. She picked up her clothes, dressed, and then glared at me. “That’s right, Owen. I run this company now. Get out, immediately!” For three years, through thick and thin, I had poured my heart and soul into this company. All my efforts, all my contributions, were dismissed with a single, dismissive sentence from Skylar. I pulled out the resignation letter I’d prepared earlier and tossed it onto the floor. “Perfect. I’ve wanted to resign for a long time.” Devin picked up the letter, confirming its contents with a glance. Then he laughed. “Owen, since you’re voluntarily resigning, all the shares under your name will now belong to us.” “You’re such a fool, handing over the company like this!” With that, Devin mocked me to my face, his laughter sharp and cruel. The moment I caught them in their betrayal, my heart had completely withered. Skylar, I ask you, honestly, in these past three years, from building this company from scratch to achieving some success, when did I not help you overcome every company crisis? When did I not provide the connections and background for every major deal? Even that time the company faced a financial crisis, it was my father’s assets that served as collateral for the bank loan. And you, for a male assistant, fired me and told me to get lost. You didn’t hesitate to become my enemy. Not only did you negate three years of my effort and dedication, but you also shattered three years of my genuine love for you. I wanted to see how this company would function without me. I sneered at Skylar: “You want the company’s shares? That’s a pipe dream. I’ll make sure you walk away penniless.” Just then, a frantic knock echoed from the door. The moment it opened, two police officers rushed in. “We received a report of suspected solicitation here.” The moment the police burst through the door, Devin was wearing only his boxers, his upper body bare. Skylar’s dress barely covered her private parts.

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