My Love, My Punishment My birthday. My childhood sweetheart, Liam, kissed his first love, Serena, during a game of Truth or Dare. Humiliated and furious, I stormed out of the house. Liam’s parents and my parents rushed to find me, worried sick. They died in a tragic car accident on the way. From that day on, Liam hated me. He forced me to drink until my stomach bled, made me kneel before his first love, and even abandoned me after a car crash to go comfort his first love’s sick puppy… When I died in that cold operating room, Liam was busy picking out a wedding ring for his new bride. It took him three days to find my body. He stared, eyes bloodshot, begging me to come back like a madman. “Riley, you still owe me. You’re not allowed to leave me.” But Liam, your family wasn’t the only one who died in that accident. “Ms. Hayes, are you really sure you want to leave all your assets to Mr. Harrison?” I clutched the stomach cancer diagnosis papers, feeling a massive weight lift from my chest. “Yes. It’s what I owe him.” The clerk looked at me with a hint of pity. “Perhaps if you underwent treatment, you could get better. You’re still so young.” I lowered my head, a bitter smile playing on my lips. “This is something I’ve longed for. I should have died ages ago.” Just then, Liam called. His voice was cold, indifferent, laced with a familiar hatred. “Did you take the day off to fool around?” Before I could explain, his tone grew even colder. “You killed my parents, Riley. You’re a sinner! You don’t deserve a single moment of peace.” My heart squeezed tight, as if a giant hand had grabbed it, the pain unbearable. “Liam, I’m…” dying. He didn’t care what I was about to say, cutting me off abruptly. “Bar 177. Serena wants cake from that fancy bakery downtown. Go buy it and bring it over.” “And walk there.” I agreed, plunging headfirst into the pouring rain. The bakery across town was on a remote street, but its business was booming. I stood in line for four hours in my soaking wet clothes. When I finally walked into the private room, the boisterous atmosphere instantly froze. One of Liam’s friends glared at me, shoving me hard onto the cold floor. A deliberately humiliating splash of wine poured from my hair all the way down my clothes. I shivered, bone-chilled. “How dare you show your face in front of Liam, you murderer!” The cake I’d brought lay splattered on the floor. I anxiously looked towards Liam, who was shrouded in the dim light. His first love, Serena, nestled against him, glanced at me like I was a joke. She whined softly into his ear, “Liam, my cake’s gone.” “Go buy another one,” his icy voice cut through the air, drilling into my ears. I stifled the throbbing pain from the blisters on my feet and forced a smile. “Alright.” “No need, Liam, my love, for being late, why don’t we make her drink all hundred glasses of wine on the table?” Serena’s smile was sickeningly sweet. I remembered my diagnosis from today. “Can I… can I do something else?” A gaze like a blade landed on me. Liam’s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. “What right do you have to bargain?” Even though I’d long known Liam no longer loved me, my heart still twisted with a sharp pang. I stopped protesting, grabbed a glass, and chugged it down. The burning sensation in my stomach made me dizzy. Around me, I heard their jeers and cheers. “Liam’s really protecting his lady, huh?” “Kiss her, Liam! Kiss her!” By the ninety-ninth glass, my face was pale, and my hands trembled uncontrollably from the pain. In my peripheral vision, I saw Liam shielding Serena from drinks, gently coaxing her. “Well, well, what do we have here? A wet T-shirt contest? I like it.” Brett, one of Liam’s sleazy acquaintances, walked in, his gaze greedily raking over me. His fat hand groped my shoulder, making me gag. “Come with me, pretty thing. I promise I’ll treat you right, hehe.” Liam watched me being harassed, watched my humiliation, with cold indifference the entire time. I dodged his hand as it tried to wander lower. “Brett, I belong to Liam.” Perhaps it was just my imagination, but his gaze seemed to turn even colder.

At three in the morning, the tormenting farce finally ended. I sighed in relief. Liam’s smile was casual, almost dismissive. “I don’t trust Serena to go home alone. I’ll take her. You can walk back.” I didn’t argue. I just turned and started to leave. A hand suddenly grabbed my neck, slamming me against the couch. The multicolored lights of the room flickered across Liam’s profile. The next second, he kissed me fiercely. It was a savage kiss, one that left me gasping for air. After a long moment, he pulled away, gently wiping a trace of blood from the corner of my mouth. He was the one tormenting me, yet his eyes were red-rimmed, his lashes trembling. “Riley, were you trying to die drinking all that? Don’t you know you have a stomach condition?! Are you trying to make me feel bad?” “Brett wanted you, why didn’t you just go with him?! Riley, what makes you think you can call yourself ‘mine’?!” I swallowed the bitter tears, turning my head away to calm myself. “I haven’t paid you back yet.” In that instant, his eyes filled with hatred. He slammed his fist into the sofa. His words were sharp, like razor blades, wishing to slice me apart instantly. “Why wasn’t it you who died?! Why?! Why don’t you just die?!” I smiled bitterly, watching him calmly. “If I died, would that be enough?” He answered without hesitation. “Yes. Only by dying in atonement will it be enough.” As you wish. I’m going to die very soon. My phone rang, shattering the atmosphere thick with hatred. It was Serena. “Liam, it’s thundering outside! I’m so scared!” Liam suppressed his rage. His voice instantly softened, like he was comforting a small child. “Don’t be scared, Serena. Liam’s coming right away.” Without a backward glance, he slammed the door shut and stormed out. It wasn’t until his figure disappeared that I finally broke, violently vomiting into a nearby trash can. It was all blood, mouthful after mouthful. The shocking red oddly brought a fleeting sense of relief. My body was burning hot. I tried to stand up, but my legs gave out, and I stumbled, hitting my head on the corner of a table before blacking out completely. I dreamt of the past. Liam and I were childhood sweethearts. From a young age, he only protected me. Liam’s parents treated me like their own daughter. I dreamt of them smiling, holding my hand, and slipping me some cash. “Riley, you’re truly our sweet girl.” Liam’s face beside them darkened slightly, and he leaned closer to me. “Mom, Dad! I don’t want to be Riley’s brother!” “Hahaha, Liam’s jealous! Alright, alright, you’re not her brother, you’re her sweetheart.” Liam and I exchanged glances, both blushing fiercely. Tears unconsciously streamed down my face. I dreamt of seventeen-year-old Liam, when nasty rumors about me started circulating. He’d single-handedly fought those thugs, coming back with a bruised face, whining in my arms. “It hurts so much, Riley.” My heart ached as I disinfected his wounds, sighing resignedly. “Don’t get into fights anymore.” But the young boy just smiled, tugging at my long face. “Riley, don’t be scared. Liam will always be here. No one will ever bully you!” Seeing my distress, he made a funny face to cheer me up. “Riley, it hurts here. I want a kiss.” Seventeen-year-old Riley and Liam shared a solemn kiss in the romantic sunset. What a beautiful youth it was. Until four years ago, on my birthday. I received a video. Liam had lost a game of Truth or Dare and had to passionately kiss his first love, Serena, for ten minutes. I couldn’t believe it was him, but he wouldn’t reply to my messages or answer my calls. I stormed out of the house, hoping he’d come after me and coax me back. Liam’s parents and my parents, worried something might happen to me outside, rushed to find me. They got into a car accident on the way. When I arrived, Mom and Dad had already passed. Liam’s mom, her face covered in blood, used her last ounce of strength to gently hug me. “Riley… don’t… don’t be scared… Mom and Dad are gone, but you still have Liam. He’ll always protect you.” “Your moms and dads love you…” “Don’t… blame yourself, Riley, be hap…” Liam’s mom, who had always been so good to me, took her last breath in my arms. I cried until my voice was hoarse. When Liam arrived, what he saw were the cold bodies of his parents. His eyes were bloodshot. He tightly clutched my hand, in too much agony and despair to speak. Tears streamed down my face like an endless river. I threw myself into his arms, repeatedly whispering, “I’m sorry.” “I’m so sorry, Liam. If I hadn’t been so stubborn, if I hadn’t run off in a fit of pique, our parents wouldn’t have died.” “I’m so sorry, I…” I choked on my sobs, hearing Liam’s desperate voice say, “Riley, you’re a sinner.” I knew. My sins were profound. That’s why every night, I would self-harm to find peace enough to sleep, staying by Liam’s side to suffer as my atonement, refusing medication to endure the stomach cancer pain. That day, I lost the people who loved me most, and I lost the person I loved most. Everything became an impossible dream. Thankfully, I’m dying soon. I can finally go be with Mom and Dad. And Liam can finally stop tormenting me, and I him.

“Mom, Dad, I won’t be stubborn anymore. Can you please come back?” I didn’t want to wake up, my tears soaking the pillowcase. Familiar footsteps approached the hospital room door. “Riley, you don’t have to make yourself look so pathetic. It won’t make me feel sorry for you.” Seeing the scar on my forehead, his voice inexplicably deepened a few shades. Serena, clinging to his arm, wore the smile of a victor. “Riley, if you’re sick, who’s going to design Liam’s and my wedding house?” “I’ve been sleeping in Liam’s room these past few days. You really do have good taste, the mattress you picked out is so soft.” I swallowed the bitterness in my heart, speaking calmly. “I’ll stay up all night to get your wedding house ready.” At my words, the triumph in Serena’s eyes became even more evident. Liam’s throat bobbed, his expression darkening slightly. “Take good care of yourself. Otherwise, how will you pay off your debt?” His eyes were devoid of any warmth, leaving me unsure if he was genuinely concerned or just wanted me to get better to suffer more. I smiled bitterly. It had to be the latter. He hated me so much. He stepped out to get some medication. Serena’s voice then grew smug. “What kind of man would sacrifice his pride to personally get period pain medication for a woman? Liam spoils me too much; he just can’t bear for me to be uncomfortable.” “He even has a notebook full of prescription formulas. Liam really does love me deeply.” I froze, remembering when I used to have period cramps. He’d drive to the pharmacy in the dead of night to get my meds, then warm my stomach with his hands all night, barely sleeping just so he could make me a hot drink as soon as I stirred. I’d once asked him if he felt embarrassed, a grown man personally going to the hospital for period meds. Liam’s tears had fallen onto my neck, searing me to the core. “Riley, don’t scare me. I thought you were seriously ill. I was so afraid, so afraid you’d leave me.” “I wish it were me who was hurting instead.” Only then did I realize that loving someone could make you shed tears before they did. Seeing my blank expression, a flicker of anger crossed Serena’s eyes. She approached me with a smirk, then covered her face and stumbled back a few steps, tearfully complaining to Liam as he entered. “Oh! Liam, Riley just hit me!” I instinctively retorted, “I have a fever, I’m so weak, I couldn’t possibly hit her…” “Riley, I know you don’t like me, but you can’t ruin my face!” Serena’s eyes welled up as she looked at Liam. “Liam, it’s okay, I can put up with a little hardship for you.” Liam’s gaze fell on my fever-flushed face. He watched me for what felt like an eternity before his voice deepened. “Don’t play the victim. Get down on your knees and apologize.” Her face was smooth and unblemished, yet Liam had directly condemned me. My pride made me stiffen my spine, looking up to meet his mocking eyes. In that single moment, I crumbled. “Riley, you claim you want to atone, but you won’t even do this small thing?” I glanced at the floor. There were thumbtacks Serena had just scattered. But I still knelt down without hesitation. The sharp thumbtacks dug deep into my knees. Every movement was like a knife twisting. Blood seeped from my numb legs. I almost couldn’t hold myself up, wanting to collapse. After a long while, Liam tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and left with Serena in his arms. “Stay kneeling all day. Come back and apologize to Serena when you understand your mistake.”

The last rays of the sun kissed my haggard face. I swayed, then slowly stood up. Without even putting on ointment for my wounds, I swallowed two fever reducers and went to buy an apology gift. When Serena saw the gift I humbly offered, her smile grew even more innocent, and she enthusiastically pulled me inside. “Riley, Liam cooked for me personally. You should join us.” With that, she darted into the kitchen, playfully wrapping her arms around Liam. Liam smiled indulgently, tapping her forehead. I pulled my gaze away, a sharp pang in my heart, and began to observe the home Liam and I once shared. All the pink decorations I loved were replaced with Serena’s preferred purple. Even the family photos in the living room had been swapped out for their wedding portraits. My bedroom was knocked down and turned into Serena’s walk-in closet. I lowered my head, afraid to look around any more, but then I noticed that every dish on the dining table contained ingredients I was allergic to. I shot a look at Liam. He treated me like I was invisible, meticulously attending to Serena, serving her food, pouring her drinks, getting her tissues. I’m highly allergic. Liam used to be so worried about me, often taking me for check-ups. He’d pull the doctor aside to take notes on all the things I was allergic to. But now, it seemed he had forgotten. Serena gave me a defiant look, then placed a chili pepper on my plate. “Riley, have you still not forgiven me?” Liam glanced at me, his voice chilling. “If you’re not eating, get out!” My body stiffened as I ate the dishes. Within minutes, a rash broke out on my face. “Oh no, Riley, you look terrible! You scared me!” Serena picked up a glass of water and splashed it on my face, then cowered into Liam’s arms, her eyes glinting with malice. I frantically covered my face, drenched and humiliated. “I’m sorry…” “Get out!” Liam’s voice seemed to hold a trace of heartbreak, yet it was as cold as winter snow. Outside the villa, there was no heating. Snow fell on my shoulders, and my teeth chattered from the cold. My stomach churned with agonizing pain. In a blur, I saw Mom and Dad. They were smiling at me. I was finally going to die. Was I finally going to be with Mom and Dad? I actually felt a flicker of happiness. I staggered towards them… A rough force yanked me back into an embrace. “Are you trying to die, Riley?!” Coming back to my senses, I realized I was standing in the middle of the road, a car speeding past just inches from me. The warmth of Liam’s embrace made me feel disoriented.

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Seven days before my daughter’s wedding, Evelyn, my wife, suddenly turned to me. 　　”Richard,” she said, “Chloe’s wedding day, maybe you shouldn’t go.” I was holding the speech I’d painstakingly copied from the internet, getting ready to practice it for the reception. Now, I was being told I couldn’t even attend my own daughter’s wedding. 　　”Why?” I asked, my voice laced with disbelief. 　　Evelyn replied, “Marcus is back in the States. He says he wants to walk his biological daughter down the aisle.” Just then, Chloe walked over, chiming in. “Uncle Richard, he *is* my biological father, after all. A blood relative. I want my dad to walk me down the aisle.” I looked at the mother and daughter before me. Fifteen years of my kindness had been thrown to the dogs. 　　A pair of ungrateful wretches. In my bitter disappointment, I picked up my phone and called the hotel. “Hello,” I said, “cancel the wedding banquet for seven days from now. Change it to my sixtieth birthday celebration instead.”

　　I was holding the speech I’d painstakingly copied from the internet, planning to memorize it for Chloe’s wedding day. Just then, Evelyn pushed open the door and sat beside me, a cup of tea in her hand. She hesitated, then finally spoke. 　　”Richard, it’s probably best if you don’t go to Chloe’s wedding. Maybe you should go somewhere else.” The speech slid from my trembling fingers. I stared at Evelyn, utterly bewildered. 　　”What did you say? Why?” Evelyn frowned, looking at me. “Marcus is back in the States. He said he wants to attend his biological daughter’s wedding. Chloe also said she wants her biological father to walk her down the aisle.” 　　*Biological*. That single word plunged me into an ice bath. My heart felt squeezed tight in a vice, stealing my breath. Seeing my hesitation, Chloe, who had been hiding at the doorway, pushed the door open and walked over, trying to persuade me. 　　”Uncle Richard, he *is* my biological father, after all. A blood relative. I want my dad to walk me down the aisle.” 　　*Uncle Richard?* Before Marcus came back, she always affectionately called me “Dad Richard.” 　　What, now that her biological father is back, I’m just “Uncle”? 　　It was utterly ironic. 　　I sat there on the bed, dazed. I remembered when Marcus abandoned them, mother and daughter, to go develop his business overseas. 　　If I hadn’t been soft-hearted enough to take them in, would they be where they are today? To make things official, I married Evelyn for my first marriage. For these fifteen years, I treated Chloe with absolute devotion, just like my own flesh and blood. 　　Fearing Chloe might feel neglected, Evelyn and I never had our own children all these years. 　　But what did I get for all my sacrifices? Just one phrase – “blood relative” – and all my fifteen years of effort were completely negated. My heart was filled with unbearable bitterness, like I’d swallowed pure gall. 　　As I fell deeper into thought, Evelyn’s next words instantly enveloped me in a bone-chilling cold that penetrated my skin and sank deep into my bones. 　　”Richard, what about that designer suit you bought for Chloe’s wedding? Why don’t you give it to Marcus? You won’t need it anyway, right?” 　　”He can wear it to Chloe’s wedding.” 　　Chloe, standing by, seemed to suddenly remember something. She rushed to my closet and began rummaging through it. 　　She carelessly tossed my clothes and shoes all over the floor. “Uncle Richard, what about those black leather shoes I gave you? Give them to my dad too. They’ll go perfectly with the black suit.” 　　”My dad will look so good in them. He’ll have some face at my wedding.” I stared at the mess on the floor, my clothes scattered and trampled underfoot by my daughter and wife. It felt like my fifteen years of effort were being crushed, carelessly discarded. Fifteen whole years, and I still hadn’t managed to warm the hearts of these two. My heart felt like it had been stabbed, then twisted violently, a gut-wrenching agony. 　　Fifteen years ago, Marcus abandoned them, mother and daughter, to venture into business, vanishing into thin air. 　　Now he was back, and I, their free ATM and laborer, was expected to step aside immediately. They really had it all figured out. 　　I picked up the crumpled speech from the floor, balled it up, and tossed it into the trash. 　　Smiling, I said to them, “Alright, I’ll leave when the time comes. Don’t worry.” 　　Seeing me agree, the mother and daughter beamed with joy and walked away. 　　But I wasn’t just leaving; I was abandoning them completely. 　　I pulled out my phone and called the hotel. “Cancel the wedding banquet for seven days from now,” I said. “Change it to my sixtieth birthday celebration instead.”

　　The next day, I woke up to a silent house. I pushed open my bedroom door; Chloe and Evelyn were already gone. 　　I tapped my phone screen, and it showed I’d been removed from the family SnapChat group. The last message read: “Welcome Marcus to the group.” 　　I opened SnapChat stories. Chloe and Evelyn were standing with Marcus, arms wrapped around him, the caption reading: 　　”Our family is finally reunited!” 　　For fifteen years, my face had never appeared in Evelyn or Chloe’s SnapChat stories. 　　But the moment Marcus returned, they couldn’t wait to make it public. 　　As if they were afraid everyone wouldn’t know they were a *real* family. 　　I used to think they just weren’t good at expressing their feelings. Now, I realized I just wasn’t worthy. 　　Smiling, I hit ‘like’ on Evelyn’s post. A few seconds later, the post was gone. 　　Suddenly, my phone rang. The moment I answered, Evelyn’s angry voice erupted. 　　”Richard, why did you like that post? What if Marcus sees it and gets mad?” 　　”You’d better not show your face around us until Chloe’s wedding, got it?” 　　”Can’t you even hold out for a few days?” 　　Before I could say a word, Evelyn hung up. 　　It was as if I’d committed some unforgivable crime. 　　Seething and hungry all morning, I went to a restaurant downstairs for lunch and unexpectedly ran into Chloe and Evelyn. 　　And, of course, that infuriating Marcus. 　　The moment they saw me, their faces were full of disdain. The silence was suffocating, even my breathing felt heavy. 　　When Evelyn and I locked eyes, I saw nothing but disgust in hers. 　　Chloe’s gaze, too, held a hint of impatience. 　　Then, Marcus approached me, holding a shot of whiskey, a provocative smirk on his face. 　　”You must be Richard,” he said. “Thanks for taking care of my wife and kid all these years.” 　　”This drink is for you, from me.” 　　He held the glass out to me. When I didn’t take it, he suddenly flashed a strange smile. 　　Then, he poured the entire drink onto his own chest. Since his back was to Evelyn and Chloe, they didn’t see it. Marcus then, the villain, played the victim first. 　　”Brother Richard, I offered you a drink out of goodwill to show my gratitude, and not only do you not appreciate it, but you throw a drink on me?” 　　Hearing that, Chloe and Evelyn rushed towards me almost simultaneously. 　　”Richard, I never thought you’d be so petty! What kind of trick is this?” Evelyn fumed. 　　Chloe glared at me, her face flushed with anger. “Uncle Richard, why are you acting like some common thug? Resorting to such low-class tactics!” 　　”Look what you did! You ruined the new shirt I bought for my dad!” 　　Marcus looked at me, a triumphant smirk plastered across his face, like the victor he saw himself as. 　　I watched the scene unfold, and it was nothing but pure irony. 　　Their words, at that moment, felt like slow torture, each one a knife twisting in my heart. I was truly experiencing an unprecedented torment. 　　They should have known what kind of person I was. Now, being falsely accused, all I could do was offer a self-deprecating smile. 　　A smile that mocked my inability to judge character. I had no intention of disturbing their happy family reunion and turned to leave. 　　But as I took my first step, Evelyn grabbed my left arm and Chloe grabbed my right, both holding me in place. They spoke in unison: 　　”Apologize to Marcus!” 　　”Apologize to my dad!”

　　My left arm was held by Evelyn, my right by Chloe. I couldn’t move. 　　It was clear they wouldn’t let me leave without an apology. 　　Behind me, Marcus looked on triumphantly. “It’s fine,” he said, emphasizing the words “our family.” “Let’s just get back to eating, our family.” 　　Only then did Evelyn and Chloe release me. The mother and daughter gave me a dirty look and followed Marcus back to their table. 　　As they walked away, I heard Evelyn mutter a sarcastic jab: “He really is getting more petty in his old age.” 　　Chloe chimed in, “Yeah, my dad’s so generous and big-hearted, unlike some people who are so narrow-minded.” 　　After I left the restaurant, I could hear their cheerful voices again: “Cheers to Dad, to my husband, for a successful return from overseas!” 　　And Marcus’s laughter: “To my daughter’s happy wedding!” 　　A cold smile touched my lips as I left. Happy wedding? I doubted if that wedding would even happen. 　　After all, I’d already prepared a surprise for their family. I just wondered if they could handle it. 　　While they were celebrating at the restaurant, I returned home and sorted through my belongings. I packed all my valuable items into a suitcase. 　　Before I knew it, night had fallen. 　　As I slid the packed suitcase under my bed, Evelyn and Chloe returned. 　　But there was an uninvited guest with them. 　　The mother and daughter were supporting a heavily intoxicated Marcus. 　　The moment they saw me, they ignored me like I was invisible. 　　They helped Marcus directly into my bedroom. 　　Chloe even thoughtfully brought a basin of water, took off Marcus’s shoes and socks, and began washing his feet. 　　Evelyn wasn’t idle either. She pulled out my brand-new pajamas from my closet and changed Marcus into them. 　　Watching the overly solicitous mother and daughter, a chill seeped into my bones, making me feel like I was in a freezer. 　　All these years, I’d worked myself to the bone, and I never received such treatment. 　　Once, when I heard Chloe was getting married, I got so happy and drank too much. They just left me at the front door. 　　That was in the dead of winter. I woke up with ice-cold hands and feet, only to realize I’d slept on the ground all night. 　　At that moment, Marcus, lying on the bed, suddenly sat up and vomited directly onto the floor. 　　Chloe quickly held the foot basin in front of him to catch his vomit. 　　Evelyn gently rubbed his back, her face full of tenderness. 　　I watched the scene unfold, and a wave of sorrow washed over me. I finally understood. 　　All this time, I had simply been unworthy. In their eyes, I was merely the lowest-ranking laborer in this household. 　　After they finished cleaning up, Evelyn turned to me, her face stern. 　　”You should stay at a hotel tonight,” she said. “Or, if you don’t mind, you can sleep on the living room sofa.” Chloe, carrying the basin, quickly added,”No, Mom! What if he snores and wakes up Dad?” 　　The moment she spoke, Marcus’s thunderous snoring echoed from the bedroom. 　　Chloe’s face flushed with a flicker of embarrassment. 　　”Fine,” she conceded. “Uncle Richard, you can sleep on the sofa.” 　　That night, I tossed and turned on the sofa until I heard the bedroom door open. 　　Marcus, sobered up, staggered out of the bedroom. Unable to find the bathroom, he simply peed directly onto the floor. 　　My blood boiled. 　　”Are you insane?” I yelled. “Throwing a drunken tantrum at your age? You can’t even control your bladder!” 　　Hearing the commotion, Evelyn was the first to turn on the lights. Chloe, in her pajamas, rushed out as well. 　　They saw the puddle on the floor, and a flicker of embarrassment crossed their faces, but it quickly vanished. 　　Evelyn helped Marcus back into the room, and Chloe grabbed a mop and cleaned up the urine without a single complaint. 　　I remembered how they used to scold me for ages just because a little cigarette ash accidentally fell on the floor. 　　Chloe and Evelyn were both germaphobes. Yet, when Marcus did something so outrageous, they didn’t say a word. Ultimately, their tolerance was born of love. At that moment, my heart completely despaired, as if an invisible noose tightened around my throat. The more I struggled, the more suffocated I felt. 　　But after seeing the true colors of these two, I finally let go. 　　In a few days, I wouldn’t have to endure this humiliation anymore. 　　What I didn’t know was how truly malicious they were, to scheme against me to this extent.

　　When I woke up on the sofa, their family of three had already left. 　　In their eyes, I had become invisible. 　　My phone buzzed. It was my special notification for Chloe; I knew the moment she posted anything. 　　Her SnapChat story showed wedding photos of Evelyn and Marcus. 　　For fifteen years, wedding photos had been a thorn in my side. We’d been in a hurry back then and never got around to taking any. 　　Every year after that, when I brought it up, Evelyn refused, saying we were too old for such “young people’s antics.” 　　But now, she was leaning into Marcus’s embrace like a young girl, a picture of pure bliss. 　　It wasn’t that she didn’t want to take them; she just didn’t want to take them with me. 　　When I swiped to the second photo, I froze in shock. It was Marcus and Evelyn’s marriage certificate. 　　Two bright red documents stung my eyes. The marriage date was two years ago. 　　Chloe had commented: “So fortunate to witness my parents’ love.” 　　For fifteen years, every anniversary, I had suggested we get a marriage certificate, but Evelyn had always gracefully declined. 　　Turns out, she and Marcus had already remarried, keeping me completely in the dark. 　　I had been a complete fool, a free laborer for the mother and daughter. 　　Now that Marcus was back, they planned to kick me out. 　　My rage exploded at that moment. The indignation in my heart couldn’t be quelled. I had to go demand an explanation. 　　I arrived at the bridal shop. Evelyn and Chloe were still inside, changing clothes. 　　Marcus sat in his car, a cigarette dangling from his lips. The moment he saw me, a flicker of malice appeared in his eyes. 　　He pressed the gas and charged toward me. Just as the car was about to hit me, in the nick of time, he slammed on the brakes. 　　He stuck his head out and sneered: 　　”Consider this a warning. I’m back. If you’re smart, you’ll leave them and vanish from their lives immediately.” 　　”Otherwise, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to stop the car next time.” 　　”And if you dare show up at Chloe’s wedding, I’ll make sure you regret it.” 　　With that, Marcus sped off, leaving a cloud of exhaust in his wake. 　　I was drenched in cold sweat, collapsing to the ground. 　　The moment I thought I was going to be hit, my blood pressure shot up, and my head swam. Now, I felt the relief of a narrow escape. I lay on the ground, gasping for breath. That was the closest I’d come to death. I quickly pulled out my emergency heart medication and swallowed it. 　　Marcus’s threats replayed in my mind, making my heart pound, refusing to calm down. 　　After that near-death experience, I had completely lost all last hope for that mother and daughter. 　　Back home, I pulled out the suitcase I’d already packed from under the bed and left that very night. 　　As the car drove towards the mansion, I finally pulled up to a large estate and knocked on the door. 　　The moment the door opened, a surprised cry rang out: “Dad, what are you doing here?” 　　”It’s a long story, son.” 　　Daniel took my suitcase and brought it inside, warmly inviting me into his home. 　　Seeing me looking weary from travel, he naturally knew I’d been wronged and gently comforted me:

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Julian, my husband, was ridiculously frugal. He’d kept his phone for five years and refused to get a new one. To surprise him, I secretly bought him a new phone. But while transferring data, I stumbled upon something horrifying: he had meticulously saved every single chat record with Celeste, the woman he’d lost, his first love. I intended to hide the chat thread, but my finger slipped, and I accidentally hit ‘delete.’ That’s when Julian walked in. He’d never shown a hint of anger before, but he snatched the phone back from me. When he realized the chat history was gone, unrecoverable, he shoved me, *hard*, then stormed out. My head slammed against the sharp edge of the table. As life drained from me, I frantically dialed his number, again and again. Every call was ruthlessly rejected. The last time I managed to dial, he finally picked up, his voice seething with irritation. “Vera, are you ever going to stop?” He didn’t know. He didn’t know that the moment he chose those chat records over my life, *I* was already stopped. Forever.

When I opened my eyes again, bleeding out, I found myself in the passenger seat of Julian’s car. He was just hanging up the phone, furious, then slammed his fist against the steering wheel in frustration. He didn’t even notice me there. That’s when it hit me: I was dead. My soul was now tethered to Julian. It was the first time I’d ever seen him so completely lose his composure. Julian, who’d remained calm even after his company was sabotaged and he was left bankrupt, was now red-eyed with rage because I’d accidentally deleted Celeste’s chat history. All because Celeste was the love of his life, his first love who’d died young. If Julian knew I died because of those chat records, would he still be this frantic? He sped through the streets, blowing past red lights, until he finally found a phone repair shop that was still open. “I accidentally deleted some really important chat records. Is there any way to get them back?” Julian carefully handed his phone to the young man behind the counter. The ‘guy’ took the phone, but didn’t say a word for a long time. “Well? Is it difficult? Name your price, I’ll pay whatever it takes to get them back.” Julian asked anxiously, but then he froze, staring at the repair ‘guy.’ The ‘guy’ awkwardly pulled their cap low, handing the phone back. “I can’t recover them here. You should try somewhere else.” “Celeste…?” Julian stared, dumbfounded, then his trembling hand reached out and yanked the cap off. Long hair cascaded down. The ‘guy’ turned their face away, burying it behind the curtain of hair, their voice muffled and cold. “Sir, you’ve got the wrong person.” But their trembling voice betrayed them. Julian couldn’t hold back anymore. He lunged over the counter and pulled Celeste tightly into his arms. “Celeste… it’s really you… This is amazing, you’re alive! Where have you been all these years?” Even though no one could see me, witnessing my husband embrace another woman as if she were the most precious treasure made my ethereal presence feel utterly pathetic. But I couldn’t move more than a foot and a half away from Julian. I was trapped, forced to watch this agonizing scene. A flicker of surprise crossed Celeste’s eyes. She didn’t answer, nor did she try to break free from Julian’s embrace. A moment later, she tentatively replied, “Mr. Lawson, you’re wearing a wedding ring. Does it really matter where I’ve been all these years? Did you accidentally delete your wife’s chat records? If her records are still there, they can be recovered.” At her words, Julian released Celeste. Celeste offered a knowing, bittersweet smile. The next second, Julian roughly yanked the wedding ring from his ring finger and, without a second thought, threw it out the door. Under Celeste’s stunned gaze, Julian gravely took her by the shoulders, looking into her eyes as he said slowly, every word punctuated with gravity: “Celeste, you’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted to marry. But back then, my project secrets were leaked, and I ended up in massive debt. Then I suddenly heard about your death. Vera was the one who came up with the money to help me through. She’d been secretly in love with me for years, and I had no way to repay her… Now, my company is thriving. If you’re willing, I can divorce Vera anytime. I don’t care if everyone curses me. I can’t lose you again!” My gaze followed the ring. My non-existent body instinctively chased after it, trying to catch it outside the door. But I had no physical form. I could only watch helplessly as the ring passed right through my hand, plunging directly into the street drain, instantly washed away by the sewage. I’d always known Julian had no real affection for me, that he was only with me for the money I’d provided. But seeing him toss that ring away with such utter indifference, my heart ached so intensely I could barely breathe. I sank to the ground, powerless. The next second, my body was forcibly pulled back, closer to Julian, as I had drifted too far. I was then forced to witness Julian, overcome with emotion, leaning in to kiss Celeste. “The chat records I want to restore today are also with you. Do you still have them on your phone?”

“I can’t believe you’re still using the phone I bought you.” Celeste connected her phone to the computer, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips. “Of course,” Julian said, wrapping his arms around Celeste from behind, resting his chin on her neck as he watched her work. “It was the first gift you ever gave me. Not long after that, you… how could I ever bring myself to replace it?” No wonder Julian refused to get a new phone. I curved my lips into a self-deprecating smile, but tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. That old phone often acted up, dying suddenly. Once, Julian was on a FaceTime call with me while driving, and it abruptly cut out. When I tried to call back, his phone was off. Julian never let his phone run out of battery. I immediately thought he’d been in an accident. My world crumbled. I trembled as I drove to his usual route to find him. In my panic, I rear-ended another car. My leg was broken, but I didn’t even care. I cried, crawling out of the car, desperate to find Julian. It was only when his assistant called to tell me he’d safely arrived at work that I finally calmed down. When he heard I’d been in an accident trying to find him, he didn’t even come to see me. He just said, “You’re overreacting.” That old phone had caused so many problems, yet Julian never once thought about replacing it. I thought it was because he’d gotten into the habit of being frugal over the years. I never imagined that the phone held such significant meaning for him. After all, his tolerance for that phone far exceeded his tolerance for me. Halfway through the data transfer, Celeste mumbled, “You still need to replace it. The memory is full. Transfer failed.” “How can that be?” Julian frowned. After a quick check, he simply deleted all his chat records with me. “There. Plenty of space now.” Celeste’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Is that okay? Aren’t you afraid your wife will be mad?” Julian shrugged indifferently. “They’re just unimportant messages anyway. Doesn’t matter.” Though it was only for a moment, I saw that Julian had set my messages to ‘Do Not Disturb.’ Unimportant messages, indeed. After all, the entire chat thread was just me harassing Julian with one-sided messages. He had never replied once. I used to think he just didn’t reply. Now I realized he hadn’t even looked. The message count on the right side of the chat box was a red half-ellipsis, indicating countless unread messages. The pain in my heart was no less agonizing than the fatal blow to my head. I crouched down, burying my head between my knees, unwilling to watch their intimacy any longer. Once the data transfer was complete, Julian carefully put away his phone, then spoke with a serious tone: “What exactly happened that year? Your brother told me you had a sudden heart attack. By the time I rushed back to your apartment, all your personal belongings had been taken by your family. They didn’t even let me attend your funeral, and I didn’t know where your hometown was…” Recalling the past, Julian shuddered, the memory still haunting him. He pulled Celeste into another tight embrace. “All these years, I’ve blamed myself for not becoming successful sooner, for letting you suffer so much, which led to you overworking and having a heart attack. Your family wouldn’t even let me see you one last time.” Celeste’s gaze darted away, and she lowered her head. “It doesn’t matter anymore, Julian. Since you’re already married to Ms. Vera, and your career is back on track with her help, you should focus on your life with her. Pretend you never saw me today. I won’t interfere with your life.” They were perfectly normal words, yet Julian’s face instantly darkened. “Vera threatened you, forced you to fake your death, didn’t she? She’d always wanted to be with me. I never imagined she’d resort to such despicable tactics to get me! My company’s bankruptcy back then was orchestrated by someone. I’ve been investigating who leaked the project’s confidential data, but I never once suspected her!” Celeste was stunned. I was stunned too. But she didn’t say a word in rebuttal, and I couldn’t say a word in rebuttal. Julian’s large hand gently caressed the back of Celeste’s head. “Celeste, it must have been so hard for you all these years. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Vera pays double for all the suffering you’ve endured!” I touched the back of my own head, thinking, *You’ve already made her pay. Celeste’s faked death has nothing to do with me, but I truly died because of her.*

Julian had been struggling with how to approach me about a divorce without me clinging to him. But with just one ambiguous sentence from Celeste, he immediately concluded that his bankruptcy and the death of his first love were all part of a scheme I orchestrated to get him. Julian instantly shed any moral burden. All he felt for me was an even more intense fury and disgust. He couldn’t wait to bring Celeste home, eager to expose “my” plot from years ago and force me to leave with nothing. I quietly sat in the back seat of the car, listening to Julian’s baseless accusations against me, my heart slowly growing numb. Back then, I’d selflessly transferred ninety percent of my parents’ inheritance into his name, all to help him get back on his feet. Turns out, in the eyes of someone who doesn’t love you, every sacrifice you make can be twisted into a selfish motive. Opening the door, Julian’s muscle memory made him hang his keys on the hook by the entryway. It was a heart-shaped key holder I’d specially bought, part of a set with our heart-shaped keychains. Julian’s was the left half of the heart, mine was the right. When we were both home, the keychains would connect to form a whole heart on the holder. Celeste glanced at it and gave a bitter laugh. “Looks like you and Vera were quite loving all these years I was gone.” Julian saw the complete heart on the wall and realized. He yanked his keys off, the force so strong that the plastic holder ripped right off the wall. The holder shattered on the floor. My keychain, with its right half of the heart, lay forlornly amidst the scattered pieces. Julian looked at it, annoyed. He kicked my keychain away. “Vera! Get out here!” I didn’t come out. Buddy, our beloved Bichon Frise, pattered out of the bedroom. Buddy saw Celeste and immediately bounded towards her, wagging his tail. Celeste delightedly picked Buddy up. “You’re still keeping Buddy? I thought he’d be long gone…” “He’s our little treasure, we adopted him together. He’s like half our son. How could I ever abandon him?” Julian said, a doting smile on his face. Buddy was a dog Julian and Celeste had shared. Years ago, when Julian brought him home, I took care of him every day, even taking allergy meds for my dog fur allergy. Back then, Buddy’s eyes were crusted over with discharge, his fur was a tangled mess of knots, and he’d even contracted parvo. He was wary of everyone, biting anyone who touched him. Even the pet store refused to bathe him. In the end, I put on several layers of rubber gloves, and my hands were bleeding from his bites by the time I finally cleaned him. His illness too was something I cured myself, after running to countless pet hospitals and researching tirelessly online until I was practically an expert. The Buddy I’d cared for, now fluffy and healthy, was a completely different dog from before. “Why are Buddy’s paws and fur covered in blood?” Celeste shrieked. My heart jumped. Only then did I notice the trail of bloody paw prints leading from the master bedroom to the front door. He must have stepped in the blood from the back of my head. Imagining Buddy whimpering around my corpse, tears streamed down my face again. Buddy barked twice at Julian, then tugged at his pants, whimpering, trying to lead him to the master bedroom. Julian didn’t understand what Buddy meant. He just picked the dog up to check for injuries on its fur. Buddy struggled to get down, but Julian mistakenly thought he’d touched a wound and hurt him. “That cruel woman, taking her anger out on the dog.” He cursed through clenched teeth. “Let’s take Buddy to the vet first. We’ll settle things with her later!”

The vet examined Buddy thoroughly, a worried expression on his face. “The dog isn’t hurt, and he’s perfectly healthy. The blood on him isn’t dog blood either. In fact, it looks like… human blood.” He carefully observed Julian’s reaction. “Did someone in your household get hurt? This amount of bleeding doesn’t look like a minor injury. You really need to get immediate medical attention.” Julian froze, and his face instantly darkened. “Crazy woman, trying to get me to give in by self-harming.” At the word “self-harm,” Celeste’s eyes flickered. “Does Vera have a history of self-harm?” As if recalling unpleasant memories, a flicker of disgust crossed Julian’s face. “History? She used to carve my name into her arm with a knife when she self-harmed!” I instinctively looked at my arm. I never thought the old wounds would leave a mark on my soul too. If Julian had cared about me just a little more, he would have noticed that his name was carved facing his direction. Meaning, his name wasn’t carved by me, for myself. It was carved by someone else, holding my arm down. That person was Celeste. Years ago, after my parents died unexpectedly, I transferred from a private school to a public high school to cut costs. On my first day, from the front of the classroom, I saw Julian, whom my parents and I had helped at the orphanage when I was a child. Julian didn’t recognize me. I had no intention of revealing myself. After all, no one wants their new classmate to know embarrassing childhood memories. But that one glance was enough. At lunchtime, when I returned to my dorm, I found myself locked inside. Celeste entered the room, shoved me to the ground, and I saw stars. I tried to get up, but she kicked me in the shoulder. “You slut, transferred here and eyeing my man already?” I quickly shook my head. “No, I just thought he looked familiar. Like I’d seen him somewhere before.” Clearly, Celeste was annoyed by more than just that. She lifted her chin, and the other two roommates rushed forward, roughly tearing open my suitcase. They started dividing my slightly more expensive clothes and jewelry like vultures dividing their spoils. When I saw them pull out the little white pipe cleaner dog Julian had twisted for me years ago, I couldn’t sit still. “Can you please not take that?” I pleaded, looking at Celeste. She just let out a malicious laugh. “This, or the photo? Which do you choose?” Celeste pulled out my family photo from my wallet’s hidden compartment. “Please, these aren’t valuable items. They’re useless to you.” I knelt, begging her. Celeste immediately made a motion to tear it. “The photo! The photo!” I shrieked. “Why are you suddenly so loud?!” Celeste tossed the photo back to me. I quickly pounced on it, carefully putting it away. “What’s the point of this stupid dog? Treating it like a treasure.” Celeste didn’t understand. She tucked the dog away and went to class. That morning, Julian hadn’t recognized me, but that afternoon, he immediately recognized the little dog. “Celeste, is this yours?” Julian tentatively stepped forward, asking, his gaze searching her face. Celeste’s face instantly flushed, and she became flustered and coy. “Y-yes, it is. Why?” Hearing Celeste’s answer, Julian’s gaze softened. “Do you remember how you got it?” Celeste panicked, clearly not expecting that question. “It’s okay, I was just asking.” Julian gently returned the little dog to Celeste, casually ruffling her hair. I stood by, watching it all unfold, saying nothing. That night, Celeste forced me to explain how I got the little dog. I remained silent, unwilling to reveal Julian’s past at the orphanage. “You’re still denying you’re trying to hook him!” Celeste raged, grabbing a utility knife and slashing at my arm. The other two roommates came forward and held me down tightly. “Since you like him so much, I’ll just carve his name onto you. Let him see how sick your obsession is!” Celeste viciously carved Julian’s name into my arm. Years later, Julian finally agreed to be with me. To remove the scars on my arm, the best way was to re-injure the wounds and give them a chance to heal anew. I couldn’t bring myself to go to the hospital, so I had to treat them myself at home. Just once, Julian walked in on me. I thought he’d be worried, concerned. Instead, he just frowned, a look of disgust on his face. “Why are you self-harming?”

Because of my blood, Julian completely lost interest in confronting me face-to-face. He decided to divorce me via SnapChat. Since he’d deleted my chat thread when transferring data, he typed my name into the SnapChat search bar, only to find “no user found.” It was then he realized he’d never even saved me as a contact. Julian froze, unable to recall what my SnapChat username was. He then opened his phone book, intending to search for my account by number, but discovered he hadn’t even saved my phone number. *Check recent calls, you idiot!* I wanted to sigh. *He probably forgot I called him so many times.* He opened his SnapChat contacts and started scrolling through, one by one. This was the first time he’d ever paid this much attention to me, all just to find my SnapChat so he could divorce me. I didn’t make him work too hard. My profile picture was Buddy, and my username was “Spring and Sunshine,” starting with ‘S’, so he found it quickly. He even noticed the clever touch in my username. “Gross,” he muttered. He drafted the message and, the moment he hit send, Julian let out a long, slow breath, then leaned back, casually draping an arm around Celeste’s shoulders, looking utterly relaxed. Celeste stroked Buddy, her face etched with lingering fear. “I was so scared earlier. Seeing Buddy’s fur covered in bright red blood almost made me faint.” Julian’s arm dropped. “You’re afraid of blood?” “Yeah, sometimes I even faint at the sight of red liquids that look like blood.” Noticing Julian’s darkening expression, Celeste cautiously asked, “What’s wrong?” “How can someone with red-green colorblindness be afraid of blood?” “I’m not red-green colorblind,” Celeste replied, utterly confused. “Why are you suddenly asking that?” Julian’s breathing quickened. “You’re not red-green colorblind? Then how did you get that little white pipe cleaner dog?”

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On New Year’s Eve, my girlfriend, Chloe, wanted me to go ice fishing on the lake, just because her childhood friend, Jake, said he wanted fresh fish soup. I accidentally fell into the icy lake. As I struggled, dying, I called her countless times. She finally picked up when I was about to drown. My heart was filled with hopeful anticipation, but then Jake’s voice came through: “Chloe said if you don’t catch any fish, don’t even bother coming back, you pathetic loser.” Amidst Jake’s mocking laughter, my phone sank to the bottom of the lake. The freezing water filled my nostrils. The moment my body was engulfed by the icy embrace, my heart seemed to stop. My hope died right then. Luckily, fate intervened, and a passing fisherman pulled me out. The first thing I did when I woke up was to make a call. “Mr. Sterling,” I asked, “is that remote development project still looking for people?” I was barely clinging to life when the kind fisherman rescued me. My body had already lost all sensation. The icy snow water clung to me, freezing instantly, making me shiver uncontrollably as if I were in an ice cellar. The good Samaritan called 911 and had me rushed to the hospital. My emergency contact on my phone was Chloe. The doctor called her, and her voice came through, dripping with indifference: “He’s a grown man, how could he fall into the lake fishing? It’s New Year’s Eve, I’m busy celebrating. I’ll see him in a couple of days. What a hassle.” After she hung up, the nurse looked at me with profound sympathy. Outside, families were celebrating together. The TV in the lounge was playing holiday specials, and I could smell people eating warm food down the hall. But I was alone in a hospital room, far from home. Last night, I thought Jake was deliberately blocking Chloe from answering my calls. But the nurse had put her on speaker just now, and I heard everything crystal clear. I almost died, and she was still so cold to me. If she hadn’t insisted on having fresh fish soup, and live fish at that, I wouldn’t have risked going ice fishing. It was at that moment I realized my life meant absolutely nothing to her. I pulled out my phone and dialed my boss’s number. “Mr. Sterling, is that remote development project still looking for people?” On the other end, I heard his relieved voice. “Of course! We’re short on technical talent like you. It would be a godsend.” “But this assignment is for five years. Aren’t you and your girlfriend getting married? Does she agree?” “I’m not getting married.” A silence fell on the other end of the line. After a moment, Mr. Sterling said, “Young man, it’s good to be able to move on.” “Alex, I’ll help you apply. There’s only one spot left, but time is tight – you’d need to leave in five days.” “Okay, thank you, Mr. Sterling.” I stayed alone in the hospital from New Year’s Eve until two days after New Year’s Day. Chloe and Jake finally showed up, fashionably late. As soon as she walked in, she looked at me with disdain. “You’re such a grown man, and you fall into a lake while fishing? So useless. I was supposed to play cards today, and you ruined it.” For the past few days, I’d been eating nothing but bread and instant noodles in the hospital, while she was out feasting on lavish meals and playing cards. My heart instantly turned cold. Jake, standing behind her, looked at me with feigned concern. “Alex, that night, I thought you just slipped. I didn’t realize you actually fell into the lake. I thought you were fine.” He then chuckled, openly mocking me. Chloe looked at me with a sneer. “You messed up our whole New Year’s. Hurry up and get discharged. Our whole family is waiting for you to cook for us.” So they only came to pick me up so I could go back and cook for them. Every New Year before this, I’d gone to Chloe’s hometown to wait on her entire family, old and young. I hadn’t seen my own parents even once during the holidays. This year, we’d agreed to spend New Year’s at my house, but on the day we were supposed to buy tickets, Chloe changed her mind. She said her mom, being her only daughter, couldn’t be left alone for the holidays. But I’m my mom’s only son too, and I hadn’t been home to see her in five years because of Chloe. Jake chimed in from beside her, “Yeah, hurry up and get out of here. There’s a ton of work waiting for you at home.” I looked at the two of them, feeling a strange sense of irony. So, the only reason they wanted me to come home with her was to make me work for their family. Seeing Chloe roll her eyes at me, Jake’s lips curled into an involuntary smirk, like a victor’s provocation. Chloe and I had a stable relationship for years, but everything changed after he appeared. Ever since Jake’s business failed and he moved back home, they hit it off instantly. Whenever Jake was around, Chloe would unconsciously side with him. If I showed even a hint of jealousy or anger, she’d bring up how they were just childhood friends and say I was overthinking things. She insisted their relationship was purely platonic. At first, I didn’t think much of it, until I accidentally overheard their conversation. “Chloe, you know I’ve never forgotten you.” “I specifically came back from the big city for you this time.” They were just using the excuse of friendship to openly carry on an affair. Chloe and I started dating after college. I even moved away from my parents and came to this unfamiliar city alone for her. My family and friends all warned me to think carefully, but I was willing to do anything for love. I thought we’d be together forever, but it was just wishful thinking on my part. Lying in bed, I replayed every little moment from the past. Chloe’s cold words suddenly echoed in my mind. “I’ve decided, we’ll have Jake be the best man at our wedding.” “And you can let Jake wear your suit first. You can buy a new one for yourself later.” Normally, if I heard those words, I’d be furious. But at that moment, my heart was perfectly calm. Once you’re utterly disappointed in someone, there’s no hope left. I replied calmly, “Okay.” She didn’t expect me to agree so readily. A flicker of confusion crossed Chloe’s face, but mostly, it was delight. “Good. At least you’re sensible.” With that, she left with Jake. Anyway, in five days, I’d be leaving this place for good. I wasn’t planning on getting married to her. Forget giving him my suit, I wouldn’t even mind giving him the groom’s spot.

I handled the discharge paperwork myself, because Chloe and Jake had already gone back to play cards. When I got home, the house was a mess. Chicken, duck, and fish were scattered everywhere in the kitchen. The moment Mrs. Miller saw me, her face fell. “Alex, you’re finally back. See the kitchen? Hurry up and clean it. Our whole family is waiting to eat tonight.” I turned and saw Jake and Chloe sitting at the card table, sipping tea and eating melon seeds. Resentment welled up inside me. “Mrs. Miller, how can I manage all these dishes by myself? Can you get a few people to help me?” My eyes were fixed on Jake, but Mrs. Miller said, “Didn’t you cook every year before? Why can’t you do it this year?” “Don’t look at Jake. He’s a guest in our home. How can we let him cook?” With that, she took the freshly brewed tea she was holding and handed it to him. “Jake, it’s rare for you to be back. Have some more tea.” The aftermath of falling into the icy water still lingered. Now, my hands would ache whenever they touched cold water. I picked up the kettle, planning to boil some hot water, but Jake snatched it away. “Such a crybaby. You need hot water just to wash vegetables?” Chloe watched everything with cold indifference, silently approving. The moment my frostbitten hands entered the water, a biting cold spread through my entire body, making me shiver. But Chloe just ignored it, pulling Jake back to play cards. I spent the entire afternoon alone, busy in the kitchen, finally finishing all the dishes by evening. My frostbitten hands, still not fully recovered, trembled after preparing such a feast. When I carried the last dish to the table, I found there was no seat for me. I finally managed to squeeze into a spot, only to find the dishes were almost all eaten, leaving only scraps. But before I could even pick up a few bites with my forks, Mrs. Miller’s complaining voice chimed in. “Eat quickly. The dishes in the kitchen are waiting for you to wash.” I looked at Jake and Chloe on the couch, peeling oranges and watching holiday specials, and a surge of anger flared up. They were perfectly fine, yet they expected me, an injured man, to wait on them. My eyes instantly turned cold. “I have something to do; I’m going out for a bit.” With that, I walked out without looking back. As I closed the door, I heard Mrs. Miller’s curses. Outside, heavy snow fell. Inside, there was warmth and harmony, but that warmth didn’t belong to me. My phone rang the moment I got into a taxi. “Alex, what’s with the tantrum on New Year’s? It’s just a few dishes to wash, is it really worth it?” “My mom already has high blood pressure, and you’ve made her so angry. Can you afford it if she gets sick?” I could faintly hear Jake’s voice in the background: “Mrs. Miller, take a deep breath. Don’t let someone irrelevant upset you.” I hung up immediately. Some people truly are two-faced. I, Chloe’s fiancé, was now “someone irrelevant” in his mouth. Before, I went out of my way to please her family for Chloe’s sake, but now, I didn’t want to anymore. Anyway, in a few days, I’d be gone for good, and these people would have nothing to do with me.

Having been out in the cold last night, coupled with the lingering effects of falling into the lake, I woke up with a high fever. In this unfamiliar place, I reluctantly called Chloe. Her voice came through, full of annoyance. “It’s the middle of the night, are you trying to kill me? Why are you calling?” My throat felt like I was swallowing razor blades. I managed to croak out in a hoarse voice, “Chloe, I think I have a fever. I’m too weak. Can you bring me some medicine?” The other end of the line was silent for a moment, then I heard her even breathing. I laughed bitterly at myself. Chloe didn’t care even when I almost drowned in the lake. It was just wishful thinking that she’d bring me medicine now. I felt ridiculous. I forced myself to the hotel lobby. With the help of the night staff, I managed to get some medicine. “It’s the holidays, your parents must be worried about you. Take care of yourself, young man,” one of the staff said. The staff even thoughtfully handed me a hot water bottle and a bowl of plain rice porridge. My cold heart found a sliver of warmth at that moment. Chloe, you couldn’t even compare to the kindness of strangers. All these years, I poured my heart out for nothing. After a night of tossing and turning, my fever finally broke. My phone vibrated, and Chloe’s voice came through when I answered. “Alex, what happened yesterday when you called? I was asleep.” I said coldly, “It’s nothing now.” Jake snatched the phone. “Alex, why aren’t you back yet? Chloe has a surprise for you.” Chloe immediately grabbed the phone back. “Alex, hurry back. I have good news for you.”

When I got home, the house was filled with Chloe’s relatives. Chloe, looking shy, handed me a small box and looked at me with expectant eyes. The moment I opened the box, I was utterly shocked. Inside, the pregnancy test clearly showed two lines. Chloe was pregnant. A soft spot in my heart slowly began to blossom. I looked at Chloe’s belly, where my own flesh and blood was now growing. Chloe’s entire family was overjoyed, and even Jake struggled to hide his smile. Dinner that night was exceptionally lively. Mrs. Miller even cooked personally, and Jake went over to help her. After a few rounds of drinks, I couldn’t resist everyone’s enthusiasm and went outside for some fresh air. I stared blankly at my phone, hesitating to make the call. Now that Chloe was pregnant, it seemed the wedding was definitely on. I quietly lit a cigarette. Just as I finally made up my mind to call Mr. Sterling, I saw Chloe sneaking into the backyard. I followed closely. Chloe entered the backyard shed and pushed open the door, and a dark figure immediately pulled her inside. Suspicious, I pressed my ear to the door. A familiar voice came from inside. “Chloe, I’m so happy you’re pregnant. Is the baby in your belly mine?” My grip on my phone tightened until my knuckles turned white. I held my breath, waiting for Chloe’s answer. “Jake, I counted the days. This baby must be yours because Alex wasn’t home during that time.” My suspended heart plummeted to the ground. My heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by a rope until I couldn’t breathe. This child wasn’t mine; it was Jake’s. They had been carrying on an affair behind my back all along. I slumped against the door, feeling all the strength drain from my body. Inside, I heard the sounds of passionate kissing. Chloe panted, “Jake, be careful. It’s still the first trimester, it’s not stable yet.” Jake laughed slyly. “Just thinking about Alex, that big idiot, being tricked into being a father makes me so happy.” Chloe quickly replied, “You need to stay calm and make sure no one finds out. Wait until I get the wedding money from him and marry him, okay?” “Chloe, you’re always so thoughtful. He’ll even cover the child’s future support.” I don’t know how I left the yard. At that moment, my heart felt more desperate than when I fell into the lake that day. Every word they uttered twisted a knife in my gut, like a thousand tiny cuts. Chloe, I treated you well these past few years. But you bit the hand that fed you, toying with me like this. I stood amidst the falling snow, behind me the scene of their family’s joyous reunion. Even I, a grown man, felt my eyes well up. At that moment, my phone vibrated. “Alex, your deployment papers came through. We leave tomorrow, remember to report on time.” I sniffled hard, trying to keep my emotions steady, and replied, “Understood, Mr. Sterling. I’ll be on time.” In the middle of the night, after Chloe’s family had fallen asleep, I took my pre-packed suitcase and headed downstairs. Snow was falling heavily as I got into a taxi and drove toward the station.

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I was secretly married for five years to a man known for his aloof, almost monastic discipline. After 99 failed attempts to win him over, I decided to let go. “Sis, I want to come home.” I hung up the phone. Passing by his meditation room, I heard hushed sounds. Through the crack in the door, I saw Alex. His clothes were disheveled, and his prayer beads hung loosely around his neck. One hand was discreetly hidden, the other clutching a photo of Chloe, the family’s adopted daughter. A muffled groan escaped him, and he whispered her name, his voice thick with tears. He kissed the photo with desperate reverence. It was only a month ago that I finally realized he wasn’t truly the pure, detached man he seemed. For the first few nights, I was stunned, unable to sleep. But after watching for 30 straight days, I felt nothing but numb. All his spiritual talk, his ascetic practices—they were just a smokescreen, an excuse to keep me at bay. The entire meditation room was plastered with Chloe’s photos. He was her nominal uncle, a forbidden love that could never see the light of day. So he chose me, to be his pathetic shield. 0

On the phone, Vivian, my sister, had sounded so happy: “Aubrey, you finally got it! I told you that boyfriend of yours was no good.” “Hiding for years, refusing to meet us… Sis here has a ton of great, reliable guys for you to choose from!” I murmured, “Yeah, I was wrong. Love shouldn’t be forced.” “Give me two weeks to sort things out. After that, I’ll be back home, helping you with the company.” I met Alex seven years ago at a party. In a room full of noise, he stood out like an ethereal lotus. Dressed in a high-collared white shirt, prayer beads in hand, his gaze was distant, cold, and utterly detached. My best friend, Maya, poked me, whispering, “That’s the ultimate ice king of our study abroad group. He’s been into spiritual practices since he was a kid, sworn off love, broken countless rich girls’ hearts.” “You can go for anyone else in this room, just not him. Stay far, far away.” But when Alex’s gaze swept over me, my heart hammered like a drum. My attraction to him was completely out of control. I’d always been bold, lively, and straightforward. Everyone liked me. So I didn’t believe anyone could truly be devoid of emotions. I was determined to win him over. I stuck to him every day, using every trick in the book. When he was writing, I’d climb into his lap, begging him to teach me. He’d back away, twenty feet, abandoning his paper and pen. He casually mentioned a pastry once; I scoured half the city to buy it, but he didn’t touch a bite, feeding it all to the stray dogs at school. I even lit an aphrodisiac incense, but he casually doused it with a cup of tea, saying it smelled awful. Finally, I decided to go all out. I slipped into his meditation room, wearing nothing but a loose robe. Kneeling beside him as he chanted, I whispered in his ear, “It’s so cold, Master. Please hold me.” He turned and left. The next day, he sent me a dozen down jackets, telling me not to wear inappropriate clothes and disrespect the divine. Maya poked my forehead, calling me pathetic. But I argued back, righteous, that she just didn’t understand how rare it was to find true love. I spent two whole years being a complete doormat, so obvious everyone knew it, but I never softened his heart, not one bit. Just as I was losing hope, wondering if I should give up, Alex suddenly took me to a church. Against the cool moonlight, he asked me: “Marry me?” “Who?” “Me.” Tears welled up instantly. I wrapped my arms around his waist, asking, “You do have feelings for me, don’t you?” He was silent for a very, very long time. So long that I looked up, confused. Finally, he said, “Yes.” Looking back now, I realize that long silence was his unspoken refusal. Five years into our marriage, Alex never once stepped into my bedroom. No matter how I tried to seduce or tease him, even if he momentarily lost his composure. He would always pull back, shutting himself inside his meditation room. A month ago, still unwilling to give up, I quietly tampered with the lock on his meditation room door. That’s how I witnessed his most hidden desires. He hadn’t sworn off love at all. He had poured all his passion into Chloe. His chanting, his prayers, his marriage to me – it was all just a facade. He was afraid of what society would say, afraid his shameful love would bring disaster to Chloe. So, was I just destined to be a sacrificial lamb for his affection? The Alex in that meditation room was a side of him I’d never seen. His eyes were red-rimmed, his expression both devout and deranged. He clutched Chloe’s photo to his chest, confessing in anguish: “Chloe, I truly love you so much.” Like a self-inflicted wound, I didn’t move. I just watched him break down and cry over another woman. This time, I was truly ready to let go. 0

I was up almost all night, preparing the documents I needed to finalize everything. At breakfast, Alex came downstairs, prayer beads in hand, back to his usual aloof, disciplined self. He walked past me, not even bothering to spare me a glance. “Alex.” He didn’t stop. I followed him, and he was just putting on his shoes. He naturally extended his arms, expecting me to help him with his jacket. When he turned his head and saw my hands were empty, he frowned. “I’ll be busy today.” His voice was tinged with annoyance. “Don’t cause trouble.” A sharp pang went through my heart. How much did he really despise me? I reached for his jacket and handed it to him. “I’m not going to the office today. I’m taking the afternoon meeting off.” Alex finally deigned to give me a look. “Something else going on?” I just hummed in response. He nodded dismissively. “Go have fun. It doesn’t matter if you come to the office or not.” I gave a self-deprecating laugh. “What if it’s not ‘fun’?” But he was already out the door. My answer wasn’t something he cared to hear. With Vivian’s connections, my relocation back home went incredibly smoothly. All that was left was to wait. It was still early, so I went straight to the office to pack up my belongings. As I was leaving, I ran into Alex and a group of his friends. Over the years, even though I hadn’t managed to charm Alex, I had gotten quite close to his circle. They practically dragged me into their gathering. When I was pushed close to Alex, he gave me a brief, indifferent glance. “So that’s your game plan.” He shifted away, casually brushing the sleeve I had touched. I was speechless. It seemed no matter what I did, he would always assume the worst. At the bar, I had just poured myself a full glass of whiskey when Leo, Alex’s assistant, quietly reminded me: “Mrs. Gray, didn’t you forget Mr. Gray hates it when women drink? You’ve been sober for years. What’s gotten into you today?” I gave a faint smile. “I’m just craving it.” The liquor slid down my throat, igniting a fire that warmed my frozen heart. Fueled by alcohol, I felt like I was finding some part of my old self again. I slipped into the dance floor with the crowd, swaying to the music. A few handsome guys approached me. I not only matched their moves but even hooked a finger under one of their chins. Maya, my best friend, who I’d called earlier, walked in just in time to see this. She gasped, rushed onto the dance floor, and dragged me out. “Aubrey Gray, are you out of your mind?! Alex is right there at the VIP table, watching!” “Dancing like that, flirting with guys—aren’t you worried he’ll give you hell when you get home?” How ridiculous. When had Alex ever given me a good look? From the VIP table behind us, a friend said to Alex, “Are the newlyweds fighting? Is Aubrey mad you won’t make your relationship public?” “Honestly, you two have been married for four or five years now. You really should give Aubrey a proper title when you go back home.” Alex took a sip of his drink. “She doesn’t care.” His words were like daggers, stabbing my heart. How could I not care? I’d forced myself to stay abroad all these years for him. My family had asked countless times who he was, but Alex never bothered, leaving me to face them alone. His friend chuckled again. “Aubrey’s got plenty of handsome guys around her. Aren’t you worried about getting cuckolded?” Alex answered casually, “She won’t.” He was so certain, I almost laughed out loud. Maybe Alex knew how much I loved him, how he thought I wouldn’t dare to cross the line. Or perhaps, he just didn’t care at all. Alex’s eyes scanned the room for something. Suddenly, he stood up. He quickly moved through the crowd, stopping in front of a girl. It was Chloe. Of course. That’s why he, who usually despised nightclubs, had agreed to this party. 0

He pulled Chloe back to the VIP table. I caught the jealousy in his eyes: “You’re too young for a place like this, and you let that man touch your hair? Why are you so careless with yourself?!” Chloe pouted. “Uncle Alex, why are you more controlling than my parents? I’m an adult, why can’t I come here?” “Anyway, you don’t even bother with me anymore, so what does it matter who I hang out with?” Alex’s face showed a rare flicker of emotion. “Your business, of course it matters to me!” Chloe looked wronged. “Then tell me, how long has it been since you came to see me?” “You used to care about me so much, but ever since you got married, you changed.” “You only have Aubrey Gray in your heart now, you’ve completely forgotten about me!” Seeing her cry, Alex visibly panicked. “No, that’s not true, how could I possibly…” He sighed, not daring to continue, but gently took out a handkerchief to wipe Chloe’s tears. He even helped her blow her nose, then casually put the handkerchief back in his pocket. It seemed his constant talk of being a germaphobe was selective. Chloe grew even more agitated. She stomped her foot, furiously pointing at me. “So what if you’re married? If it wasn’t for this woman, would you come back to me, Uncle Alex?” She grabbed a fruit knife from the table and, without a word, rushed at me, plunging the knife into my chest. The sudden pain drained all my strength. Screams and cries for help sounded distant. Before I lost consciousness, I saw Alex pulling Chloe tightly into his embrace. His lips formed the words: “Chloe, don’t be scared.” I woke up in a hospital room. “You’re awake?” A stranger, a nurse’s aide, rang the bell for me. “Next time, young lady, don’t go to nightclubs alone. It’s very dangerous.” “Luckily, the person wasn’t strong, and the knife wasn’t very sharp. But you’ll have a big scar on your chest after all those stitches.” I asked hoarsely, “Who brought me here?” The nurse’s aide blurted out, “Ms. Maya, of course. You two are good friends, aren’t you?” “She stayed by your side for a whole day and night. I finally convinced her to go rest for a bit.” And… Alex? I instinctively opened my phone. Chloe’s update popped up: “Uncle Alex was right, it doesn’t hurt when you blow on it.” She had a band-aid on her arm, and a man’s lips were restrained, hovering very close. Though only his mouth and below were visible, I easily recognized it as Alex. I swiped my finger, and a new update refreshed. “Hehe, it looks good on me too, doesn’t it?” Chloe was wearing Alex’s prayer beads on her wrist. My pupils contracted. My heart felt so sour, like I’d swallowed a truckload of lemons. I distinctly remembered: when I had tried to seduce him before, I’d accidentally brushed his prayer beads with my fingertip. Alex had been furious, forcing me to copy scriptures 100 times, burning them as punishment to the gods for my disrespect. All these years, because I loved him, I had completely turned myself into a joke. Hatred flared in my heart. I wanted them to pay. Not long after I called the police, Alex burst into my hospital room. “You called the police just to force me to see you?” I rolled my eyes. “I called the police because I was stabbed.” Alex frowned, then turned and walked out of the room. After a long moment, he returned. “I’ve already signed the settlement on your behalf. Stop making a fuss.” That’s when I realized he had gone out to intercept the police. I yelled, “How dare you!” Alex’s voice was as cold as ice. “Because I’m your husband.” “And because I have enough wealth.” I roared, “Chloe stabbed me! She deserves to be punished!” Alex was silent for a moment. “She’s still young, and she was hurt too.” I held up the photo Chloe had posted on her phone, then ripped open my hospital gown. “She has a small scratch on her hand, but my chest has eighteen stitches!” “Alex, your bias is unbelievable!” Alex lost his patience. “I already punished her. Can you just drop it?” I scoffed, “Punish her for what? Copying the Great Compassion Mantra once?” Alex’s expression flickered. I hadn’t expected to guess right. It was absolutely laughable! I laughed until tears streamed down my face, my voice filled with desolate helplessness. “Alex, you don’t love me. Why did you marry me?!” “You clearly hate me so much…” Alex looked up. “When did I ever hate you?” Seeing me trembling with agitation, he sighed and said, “Alright, when you’re discharged, I’ll agree to let you have my child. Happy now?” I froze. “What did you say?” Alex continued, “However, it can only be through IVF…” I completely broke down, slamming my phone onto him. “Get out!” 0

Alex didn’t leave. Instead, he stayed, saying he wanted to take care of me. It was the first time he’d ever softened, claiming he meant well but messed up, even buying a cake to apologize. If this had happened before, I don’t know how ecstatic I would have been. I would have said it was fine, and even taken some blame myself. I had loved him so humbly, I’d forgotten who I truly was. But now, I was awake. Whatever he did, my heart felt nothing. Perhaps the pain had been too intense before, making it easy to let go now. When I was discharged and returned home, I found Chloe sprawled on the couch, playing on her phone. Hearing us enter, she sprang up and threw herself into Alex’s arms. Her long legs wrapped around his waist, and her arms hooked his neck as she whined, “Uncle Alex, you’re finally home! I missed you so much.” Alex’s eyes softened. “Still acting like a child at your age.” Yet, his hands were firmly supporting Chloe’s thighs, with no intention of letting go. I walked past them expressionlessly. Only then did Alex put Chloe down. He whispered something softly to her. Chloe turned to me as I was heading upstairs. “Auntie, I’m sorry about the other day.” It was a perfunctory apology, but Alex seemed satisfied. He patted her head and said to me, “Chloe will be moving in with us.” “She’s old enough now, and it’s not safe for her to be out alone.” What wasn’t safe about a college dorm? He was just jealous that day and wanted to keep Chloe under his watchful eye. But I had no intention of exposing his twisted thoughts. I was leaving soon anyway; I didn’t want any more complications. But Chloe wasn’t quiet. She paraded around the house every day in tank tops and hot pants. Alex tried to endure it, but his eyes would inevitably latch onto her. The difference between love and not love was so obvious. As soon as Chloe beckoned, the aloof “monk” would immediately fall to earth, experiencing human joys and sorrows. One night, after Chloe had too much to drink, Alex dragged her home from a club. I was woken by the noise and went to the kitchen for water. That’s when I saw them, tightly embracing at the end of the hallway. Chloe was hazy with intoxication, calling Alex’s name: “Alex, don’t ignore me. Chloe’s been a good girl, hold me…” Her hands cupped Alex’s face. With every breath, Alex’s self-control completely shattered. He furiously kissed Chloe’s lips, his hand clutching the back of her head. Years of restraint were unleashed in that moment. I retreated back into my room, realizing my face was already streaked with cold tears. I thought I wouldn’t cry anymore, but remembering all the small moments from these years… I truly felt… so wronged. The next morning, I handed a stack of papers to Alex, who was peeling a boiled egg for Chloe. “Sign these.” Alex took the pen, asking, “What are they?” Chloe glanced at me and started whining, “Uncle Alex, I’m hungry.” I lowered my eyes, trying to sound natural. “Just some reimbursement forms. Nothing too important.” Alex didn’t suspect anything. He quickly signed, then went back to serving Chloe her breakfast. I took the documents and left the house, looking at the flourish of three words on the divorce papers. A sudden sense of immense relief washed over me. It was finally, truly over. 0

I had just finished calling Maya after arriving at the airport. Then I saw Alex and Chloe walking toward us, having just completed their boarding procedures. I was caught off guard, with no time to hide. Chloe spotted me first. “Oh, Auntie, did you put a tracker on Uncle Alex?” “Uncle Alex just decided to go to the auction an hour ago, how did you already know?” Alex looked at my small carry-on suitcase. “Later, okay? I promised to only bring Chloe this time.” “I’ll bring you some gifts as compensation when I get back.” Compensation, always compensation. I shook my head. “No need.” Chloe cried out anxiously, “You’re not trying to steal that pink diamond from me, are you? Aubrey Gray, you already stole Uncle Alex from me, how can you be so greedy?” I wasn’t angry. I calmly said, “Chloe, before I leave, let me give you a gift.” Even though I was leaving, I didn’t want Alex to have an easy time of it. Chloe’s face showed suspicion. I continued, “The person your uncle truly loves is you. He married me only because he was afraid of bringing scandal upon you.” “Don’t worry, no one can take him from you.” Alex’s breath hitched. He snapped, “Shut up!” But I didn’t stop, enjoying his exposed embarrassment. “If you get a chance, check out his meditation room. You’ll be surprised.” With that, I turned and walked away. Alex urgently tried to explain to Chloe, but she delightedly hooked her arm around his neck. The crowd quickly separated us. I wasn’t that kind. So, in my heart, I wished them: *May you never find happiness.* … Alex rejected Chloe’s attempt to kiss him. He called out Aubrey Gray’s name. But a senior tour group was passing by, and he was pushed to the other side of the crowd. From start to finish, Aubrey Gray never looked back. This had never happened before. In his memory, he seemed to have rarely seen Aubrey Gray’s back. Because he was always the one who left first. When she faced him, she always wore a smile, her devoted gaze tinged with a hint of eagerness to please. He always found that Aubrey Gray annoying. But he had also grown accustomed to her kindness. Even after they landed, he didn’t receive a message from Aubrey Gray. But he didn’t pay much attention, only stopping by a small street shop after the auction. Aubrey Gray was easy to appease; a small gift would make her happy. The shop owner eagerly showed him handmade rings. Alex’s heart stirred. He suddenly remembered that day at the church, after Aubrey Gray accepted his proposal, she had half-jokingly asked: “Alex, how can you propose without even a ring?” He didn’t answer, he thought. Later, she brought it up a few more times, always in a joking tone, but he either changed the subject or remained silent. He never gave her a response. And so, in the last two years, she had stopped asking. He picked up a rose-shaped ring, thinking of the day he first met Aubrey Gray. She was wearing a red shirt with high-waisted wide-leg pants, looking like a blooming rose. Later, she stood before him, eyes sparkling: “Alex, I like you. Can I try to win you over?” Her smile was direct and radiant. He had even been momentarily lost in it. A bell chimed at the door. Chloe came in and snatched the ring from his hand. “Ugh, why a rose? So cheesy…” She slipped it on and swung her hand back and forth, pouting, “Alex, do you really think this suits me?” After leaving their familiar surroundings, she had stopped calling him Uncle Alex. Alex felt a pang of guilt. Chloe immediately reacted. She yanked off the ring, her eyes red-rimmed. “You were going to give this to Aubrey Gray, weren’t you?” Alex spoke gently, trying to soothe her. “Chloe, I’m married. Aubrey is my wife.” But Chloe’s tears fell. “So what? A marriage without love means nothing!” She grabbed Alex’s shirt, stubbornly declaring, “I forbid it! I forbid you from buying rings for other women.” With this interlude, both their moods were sour for the rest of the trip. Alex unconsciously checked his phone every few minutes. But Aubrey Gray’s profile picture remained stubbornly silent. He made an excuse and called Leo separately, asking him to find out where Aubrey Gray had gone. But Leo was eerily silent for a moment. “Mr. Gray, Mrs. Gray resigned last week. Didn’t you know?” Alex froze. He heard Leo continue, “I heard Mrs. Gray returned home two days ago. Didn’t *you* know either?” 0 When Alex rushed home, Leo was already waiting at the door. Inside, he handed Alex a file, his expression grim. “Mr. Gray, this just arrived at the company.”

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After the Black-Widowed Wife Faked Her Death, My Husband Sent Away 108 Mistresses Even I, six months pregnant, and my five-year-old daughter were forced into the storage room. “Pregnant women have a strong body odor. She’s not allowed near Aaliyah.” “Lily’s five years old; she should learn to do chores. From now on, she’ll take care of Aaliyah’s daily needs.” I cried, saying my daughter had to go to school, and hiring a nanny to do these things would be the same. Chadwick said coldly: “Aaliyah prefers quiet. A mute makes the perfect servant.” On the Dragon Boat Festival, Aaliyah tasted a zongzi that my daughter had secretly brought back from school. Discovering it was filled with pork, which she disliked, she poured the boiling hot curry from the stove all over my daughter. Sitting in my wheelchair, I helplessly beat my numb legs, my heart-wrenching cries echoing throughout the villa. When Chadwick returned, she had already disposed of my daughter’s body. “That little girl was so stubborn; I only said a few words to her, and she ran away from home.” “With a mother like that spoiling her, what good could she become?” I approached the rooftop. Chadwick, I really don’t have the strength to love you anymore.

Inside the villa, I knelt on the floor, wiping Aaliyah’s shoes as she entered. She lifted her toe and tapped my chin. “Long time no see, sister-in-law. You’re becoming more capable.” Chadwick’s eyes were filled with mockery. “As the eldest sister-in-law, it’s what she should do.” From the day I married Chadwick, I was forced to take care of his numerous mistresses. Washing clothes, polishing shoes, cooking, cleaning – all the household chores were mine, even pushing myself around in a wheelchair. I had refused once, but Chadwick said with indifference, “These women are either celebrities, models, or noble daughters, accustomed to being pampered. I don’t trust anyone else to take care of them.” What could I do? A person paralyzed from the waist down, what could I possibly resist? And whenever I angered Chadwick, those 108 mistresses would take turns tormenting me. I lowered my head and said nothing, carefully cleaning Aaliyah’s feet as I had done countless times before. Chadwick, unusually, didn’t continue mocking me, nodding in satisfaction. “Behave, and you can keep your position as the eldest mistress of the Shen household.” I was about to pull myself up onto the wheelchair when Aaliyah’s foot suddenly slammed forward, hitting the footrest of the wheelchair hard. “Ah—!” she cried out, Chadwick forcefully pushing me aside and sweeping her up into his arms. Because my hands instinctively protected my six-month pregnant belly, my entire body fell backward. “Evelyn! What are you plotting!” I remembered last year when I was wiping the shoes of one of Chadwick’s celebrity mistresses and accidentally left some watermarks. He had me tied up in the living room, pouring dirty, icy water over me again and again for three days in the dead of winter. “You can’t clean them properly? Then you won’t be clean for three days.” I was sick for a whole month because of that. Thinking of that, I instinctively curled up, unable to feel my lower limbs, and could only lie on the ground in a strange position. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful next time.” “Don’t try to play tricks on me. I’m not some old woman; you can’t gain my sympathy with pitiful acts.” I continued to desperately protect my stomach, preventing him from kicking it like two months ago, when he suspected I was simply gaining weight from eating too many tonics and faking my pregnancy. Chadwick didn’t care how I crawled back into the wheelchair but immediately carried Aaliyah into the bedroom and summoned the top medical team. After a while, my daughter came home from school, thoughtfully helping me tidy up the messy entrance hall. Chadwick also pushed open the bedroom door. Walking up to me, he covered his nose and mouth with a handkerchief. Seeing him, my daughter hid behind the wheelchair, her little hand holding mine turning instantly cold. I squeezed her fingers to comfort her. Chadwick frowned as he looked at my daughter and me. “Pregnant women have a strong body odor. From now on, you’re not allowed within three meters of Aaliyah.” “Lily’s five years old; she should learn to do chores. From now on, she’ll take care of Aaliyah’s daily needs.” Hearing this, my face turned deathly pale. Lily was his own daughter! But I couldn’t anger him. I asked tremulously: “My daughter still has to go to school; maybe we could hire a nanny instead?” Chadwick’s eyes glinted coldly. “Aaliyah prefers quiet. A mute makes the perfect servant.” Because Chadwick had terrible habits, and my health wasn’t good after giving my kidney to his older brother, Chad, Lily was diagnosed with being a congenital mute when she was born and could only barely make a few sounds. My daughter could understand, and her little face was covered in tears. There was no use arguing with Chadwick, I could only think of another way. My daughter and I were thrown into the storage room. The entire villa was re-disinfected. The servants laughed and said Chadwick had ordered it to remove the filthy smell of the pregnant woman. Hearing this, I felt extremely ironic. At the dinner table, my daughter was called to serve Aaliyah soup. I couldn’t bear it. “Let me do it; children are clumsy.” Chadwick slammed the table with a “smack.” “Aaliyah is feeling sorry for you being heavily pregnant, so she is enduring the discomfort and letting you eat at the table. Are you trying to make her feel disgusted by going to serve her soup?”

My daughter and I had become accustomed to Chadwick’s rage. Lily clumsily ladled a bowl of soup and respectfully handed it to Aaliyah, but she didn’t take it. Aaliyah scooped a spoonful of curry for me. “Pregnant women should have more supplements. It’s also because I have rhinitis and can’t stand the smell on your body, that’s why Chad gets so angry.” Looking at the curry in front of me, my stomach churned. My morning sickness was already bad, and this month I couldn’t bear any heavy flavors. When I hesitated, Aaliyah stomped hard on my foot under the table, and glanced smugly at my daughter. Lily’s hand holding the soup was scalded red. I could only endure the discomfort and drink that spoonful of curry. Only then did Aaliyah take the bowl of soup with satisfaction. “As the eldest sister-in-law, you make Aaliyah serve you food, you really are a good daughter-in-law of our Shen household!” Chadwick snorted coldly at me. “Evelyn is pregnant, she should be taken care of.” “Aaliyah, you’re just too kind.” He stroked Aaliyah’s head dotingly. Then he pointed to several dishes of African cuisine on the table and instructed: “This is African royal cuisine made for you by Aaliyah herself. If you don’t know what’s good for you and deliberately don’t finish it, then don’t eat at all in the future!” … In the middle of the night, my daughter vomited and had diarrhea. “Ah… Mom… Mom, it hurts…” She mumbled a few words. Her uncomfortable appearance made my heart feel like it was being twisted into a ball. I wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. “Baby, be good, Mommy’s here.” To cater to Aaliyah’s eating habits, all the water in the house was replaced with a cooling system. I had no choice but to boil hot water myself. At this time, she was already burning hot. And because she was so uncomfortable, her mouth was bitten through. The sound of boiling water woke Aaliyah. She quickly stepped forward, grabbed her daughter’s ear and pulled her off the wheelchair. “No wonder she is a little bitch born from a slut, so many things, I can not even get my beauty sleep well.” “Don’t!” I leaned forward to stop her, but accidentally fell to the ground. My daughter was still curled up, hugging her abdomen. “I beg you Aaliyah, even if you just let Lily drink a mouthful of hot water, okay?” “I was wrong, I shouldn’t have offended you, I’m willing to do anything you want me to do.” Aaliyah showed a dangerous smile, “Really? Then kneel here and massage me until dawn.” She dragged our mother and daughter into the master bedroom, with red lace panties stained with traces hanging on the doorknob. I bit my lip and looked away. After drinking hot water, my daughter finally felt better, but Aaliyah still made her lie on the cold floor. Aaliyah suddenly became interested in looking at the daughter on the ground. “In our African country, children only need to drink the blood of nobles when they are sick, and they will be safe all their lives.” She cut open her wrist with a knife, and said condescendingly: “I will bestow it on her today.” But I clearly saw some red rashes on her legs and wrists just now, and some of them were broken. There was also a wound on the corner of her daughter’s mouth, and a terrible thought appeared in my mind. Without thinking, I hugged her leg, “Let me drink, let me drink, Lily is still young, I beg you…” “Hahaha!” Aaliyah laughed, “Rural uncivilized woman, ignorant and uncultured, fighting to drink human blood.” She pressed her bleeding wrist against my mouth. Suddenly, with a “bang,” Chadwick broke into the door.

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I died the year I loved him most. He said he could let go of his fortune, and he did. He stayed with me as we perished in the flames. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back ten years ago. We had just gotten married, and I despised him. I rushed to his company, saw him for the first time, and choked out, “Jasper, I’m sorry.” After a brief pause, he looked calm, “Tell me, how do you plan to hurt me this time?” 1 When the final explosion happened, I remember Jasper didn’t make it out. Always immaculate, he knelt by my side and said, “Lydia, don’t be afraid, I’ll stay with you.” He was 38 that year. A billionaire who just let it all go. He stayed with me as we perished in the flames. … On a midsummer evening, the sunset outside the window was like blood. A stifling hot breeze blew inside. I awoke from a dream, sitting dazed on the bed. The clock in the corner ticked, the calendar lay quietly on the table. “Madam, Mr. Jasper called earlier, said he won’t be coming home tonight.” Mrs. Taylor’s voice came from the living room, calm and peaceful. I looked down at the brand-new wedding ring on my finger. Closed my eyes. I had truly gone back ten years. The blazing fire before I died, and the warm, strong embrace, felt so real. In the last moment, Jasper was still telling me, “Lydia, don’t be afraid, I’ve waited too long for you in this life, in the next life, I’ll find you early.” Was this a dream, or reality? I pinched myself, a dull pain came from my thigh. The honking outside the window jolted my chaotic thoughts awake. After the shock, a continuous heartache and bitterness followed. An orchestrated misunderstanding made me hate Jasper for many years. During this time, his competitors did everything to suppress him. Making it hard for him to breathe. At home, I was cold to him, so he rarely came back. Jasper’s parents died early, and he had no relatives. Guarding a commercial empire alone, he spent half his life. Later, the misunderstanding was cleared up. We had half a year of happiness, and even had a child. But before I could tell him about the pregnancy, I died unexpectedly. … “Madam, the flowers have been delivered, are you leaving?” Mrs. Taylor came in to ask me. “What?” My mind was still in a state of chaos. “Flowers, aren’t you going to see Mr. Beckett?” Beckett… Hearing this name suddenly, I was stunned. A tangled mess suddenly had a thread. So it was this day. 2 Beckett was my childhood friend. Also a very talented actor. Unfortunately… an “accident” left him severely burned all over, requiring long-term hospitalization. In the previous life, on this day, I took a bouquet of flowers to the hospital. Spent Beckett’s birthday with him, came out of the hospital, saw Jasper sitting in the car, the cigarette in his fingers burned to the end, yet he was unaware. I didn’t want to explain anything, didn’t even want to see him. “Ning Ning.” Jasper noticed me, extinguished the cigarette, got out of the car, his tone desolate. “…Today is my birthday.” I stopped, looked back at him coldly, “So what?” His dark eyes looked at me, saying nothing. I said, “Today is also Beckett’s birthday. To marry me, you used unscrupulous means, ruined his face, broke his future, what more do you want from me?” Jasper opened his mouth, futilely said, “That was just an accident…” “If you hadn’t invited him that day, he wouldn’t still be lying in the hospital. How do you expect me to believe that was an accident?” Jasper was silent, finally said to me, “I’m sorry.” From that day on, my relationship with Jasper plummeted. We began a long and torturous cold war. Later, I found out, that “accident” even Jasper thought was one, was just a plot by some to drive a wedge between us. 3 “The things have already been loaded into the car for you, if you leave later, you’ll hit traffic.” Mrs. Taylor came back to remind me. Outside the window, the sun was half-set, the light dim. I snapped out of it, hastily put on a jacket, and got in the car. Because I suddenly realized, this was ten years ago, everything was still possible. The driver merged into traffic, “The road to the hospital is already blocked, should you call Mr. Beckett and let him wait…” “Not going to the hospital.” I watched the ever-changing traffic lights outside the window, changed my mind, “To the company.” … Actually, I don’t have much impression of Jasper’s company. When I was young, I hated him, never visited once. Later, when I loved him, he was targeted by enemies, surrounded by danger, I didn’t dare to find him. So now, standing at the foot of the towering office buildings, I felt a bit lost. Which one was his office building? Passersby curiously glanced at me: holding a huge bouquet, dressed exquisitely, with makeup on, like a girl ready to confess. Uncomfortably, I pulled out my phone, brought up Jasper’s number. His full name, not even an emergency contact. I pressed the call button, thinking I would have to wait long. But after two short rings, it was picked up. A cool, distant voice came from the receiver, “What’s up?” Hearing his voice again, my eyes suddenly felt hot, my voice choked involuntarily. “Jasper, where’s your office? I can’t find it…” Passersby looked at me even more strangely. A woman who couldn’t find her husband’s office, standing on the curb, wailing. Jasper seemed to be in a meeting, he paused slightly, said, “Let’s stop here for today.” Then he said to me, “Stand on the sidewalk, I’ll come down.” A few minutes later, Jasper walked out of the office building. His tall figure cut through the neon lights, impeccably dressed, dignified. In contrast, the reflection in the mirror showed my eyeliner running down with tears, like the protagonist in a horror movie. Damn, all ruined. “Why are you here?” His tone was very light, almost cold. I turned back. The tall, handsome man was looking at me coldly, his pupils reflecting my messy face, his expression slightly stiff. No matter when, Jasper was always impeccable. Like a flower blooming on a cliff, pure and untainted. “I’m sorry,” I lowered my head, not daring to look at him, “I disturbed you…” “Today…” he only said two words, didn’t continue. I knew what he wanted to say. Today I should be spending Beckett’s birthday with him, not appearing here. This did remind me. I shoved the flowers into his arms, mumbled, “Happy Birthday.” A long silence. I sneaked a glance at him, found him staring at the bouquet, not looking happy. After a long time, he curled a bitter smile, “Lydia, is it what he didn’t want?” “What?” I realized his mood was off, my gaze suddenly fell on the bouquet, my heart sank. Oh no! Frozen blue roses. The floral message is: giving you the stars and the sea. Beckett’s favorite, also the stars and the sea. When I woke up, my memory was too chaotic, I was just focused on finding Jasper, neglecting these details. “I’m sorry, I—” “Thank you for the birthday gift.” Jasper’s tone was almost stiff, “It’s late, let the driver take you home.” He turned and walked away. I quickly grabbed his coat hem, “Wait!” Jasper didn’t expect me to do this, didn’t stop his steps, pulling me to stumble, crashing hard into his back. The back of his tailored suit bloomed into colorful flowers. Jasper turned back, stared at my fingers, silent for a long time. I was stubborn, said, “Jasper, I’m not going back.” He looked serene, “Lydia, how do you plan to hurt me this time?” 4 This question was really hard to answer. In memory, at this time, Jasper and I had just gotten married, I was having a conflict with him. I was 23, he was 28. The quarrels were almost one-sided from me. I’d say the harshest things, even gifts on holidays were meant to stab his heart. I was like the boy who cried wolf, after crying wolf too many times, he didn’t believe me anymore. Remembering the last life, after the misunderstanding was cleared, my method was quite direct and crude, just pouncing on him was enough. This man, despite looking cold, was surprisingly easy to coax. But this method might not work now. Moreover, Jasper had suffered too much hurt and grievance, I wanted to make amends. Thinking it over, I said, “Let me treat you to a meal.” Jasper lowered his eyes, said coldly, “No need, I have work tonight.” “Then order takeout!” I thickened my face, followed him, “I’ll order you something special.” Jasper said nothing, didn’t even acknowledge me. That bouquet, he still held tightly in his hand. Passing by a trash can, I thought he’d throw it in without hesitation, but he didn’t. Followed him all the way, into his office. It was empty. A cold lunchbox was tossed on the desk. Untouched. Was he planning to get through tonight like this? An inexplicable heartache, I opened my phone, ordered him some food. Clear soup, less salt, no green onions. With tomato beef brisket and a few vegetarian dishes, all not spicy. Before, to accommodate me, Jasper would order very spicy food. Later I found out, he had a bad stomach, too spicy, oily, salty food wasn’t suitable. After ordering, I sat on the sofa, not knowing what to say. Anything seemed inappropriate. Jasper was unwrapping the flower’s packaging, intending to put it in a vase. The icy blue roses stung my eyes. Without thinking, I went over, snatched them, and threw them in the trash. Clear soup with less salt and no scallions. For the side dishes, I’d like tomato beef brisket and some mild vegetarian dishes. In the past, Jasper would always order bold-flavored dishes for me. I later found out he had a sensitive stomach and couldn’t handle spicy, oily, or salty foods. After ordering, I sat on the couch, not knowing what to say. It felt like anything I said wouldn’t be right. Jasper was unpacking the flowers, planning to put them in a vase. The icy blue roses stung my eyes. Without thinking, I walked over, grabbed them, and tossed them into the trash can. He paused, looking at the blood bead on his pricked thumb, and sighed wearily, “Lydia, haven’t you had enough?” “No.” I suppressed my frustration, annoyed at how he seemed so meek without any temper. “Forget it. If you don’t like them, I’ll buy you something else.” Jasper took out a tissue, pressed it to his wound, and with a slight droop of his eyes, said in resignation, “Never mind.” I ignored him, picked up the trash, and said, “Wait here.” Then hurried out. On a summer evening, the roadside was filled with vendors selling flowers. But compared to the florist’s expensive bouquets, the quality here was a bit lacking. I rushed around a few stalls, bought all the red roses, and bundled them together with simple wrapping paper. Just then, the Uber Eats arrived, and I carried the large and small bags upstairs. The 19th floor was even quieter than when I first came. Most of the employees working overtime had left. Only Jasper’s office had a small light on. I quietly pushed the door open and entered. He stood with his back to me, looking out the floor-to-ceiling window, his silhouette lonely. The heavy bouquet and takeout box made a thud against the door. Jasper’s back stiffened, and he turned around abruptly, seeing me almost crushed under the weight. “Hey, why are you just standing there? Give me a hand!” I panted. He seemed surprised that I had returned, but after a brief moment of shock, he quickly came over, took the bouquet and takeout box with one hand, and used the other to support me onto the couch. I took a breath, sweating, but still smiled, “For you, I bought all the roses on the street.” Jasper’s handsome face went blank for a moment. Great, now he seemed unable to adapt to the way I treated him. Does he need to be scolded to respond? Seeing him about to eat the cold takeout box again, I exclaimed. Jasper looked over immediately, and I caught a fleeting trace of nervousness in his eyes. I leaned back on the couch, raised my chin, and said impatiently, “Can’t you eat something warm? Watching you eat takeout annoys me.” Jasper: “…” For the next half hour, the office echoed with my complaints. “Do you even know how to eat?” “Can’t you see such a big piece of beef?” “Not eating vegetables? You’re too old to be picky!” “You just slurp the noodles, I didn’t buy them for decoration.” After my determined efforts, a steaming bowl of noodles was finished. I worried Jasper hadn’t eaten enough, so I added two small buns and even gave him the Osmanthus cake I had brought for myself. If I keep nagging like this every day, how am I supposed to live? I talked until my mouth was dry. Suddenly, a glass of water was handed to me. I looked up to see Jasper staring at me, “Moisten your throat before continuing to scold.” His expression softened a lot, though his eyes remained deep and dull, but at least they weren’t cold and guarded. I resisted the urge to hug him and said, “Jasper, let’s live well from now on.” Hearing this, he averted his gaze, silently tidied the dishes, and didn’t directly respond to my words. “Get dressed, I’ll have the driver take you home.” “But I just got here…” He quickly opened the door and went out, as if escaping something. After all, collecting trash isn’t something a CEO should do. To say I wasn’t disappointed would be a lie. Having been reborn, why did it feel that coaxing this man had become even more troublesome… I sat on the couch, planning the next step. Should I just pounce on him, or should we share our feelings first before doing so? A sudden ringtone interrupted my thoughts. Absentmindedly, I answered. On the other end was a distant yet familiar voice. “Ning Ning, where are you?” My originally cheerful mood plummeted, remembering this person still existed. “It’s you…” My tone wasn’t particularly enthusiastic. Beckett’s voice was gentle, “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time. Didn’t we agree to celebrate my birthday together?” Thinking of everything that happened in the past life, my fingers tightened little by little until my knuckles turned white. “Beckett, we’re… childhood friends, right?” Beckett sensed something was off and corrected me, “Ning Ning, we’re family.” “Family.” I repeated the word, then suddenly asked, “Don’t you have something to tell me?” He paused, sighed, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have eaten the cake without telling you.” See, why is it that the people you care about can lie and joke without a care? While Jasper has to stand behind, enduring everything? I felt cold all over, unable even to force a smile, “I have something to do today, so I won’t be coming. Happy Birthday.” After hanging up, I took a deep breath, feeling stifled. I remembered the call Beckett made before I was kidnapped, asking where I was. I fell into deep thought. He was the person I trusted the most, but what if, from the start, the explosion was a crime perpetrated by someone familiar? Looking up, I saw Jasper standing at the door, his profile hidden in the shadows, expression unreadable. I hesitated for a long time, then asked, “Did you… hear all that?” “Yeah.” “I—” “Let’s go.” His tone was calm, as if suppressing something, “The car is downstairs.” I opened my mouth, unsure of how to explain what would happen in the future. Afraid he’d think I’m crazy. I followed him out, guilt churning inside me. “Jasper.” He slowed his steps slightly but didn’t turn back. “That was Beckett calling,” I spoke quickly, “I did agree to celebrate his birthday yesterday, but today I’m different, I’m from the future—” Jasper suddenly stopped, turned, eyes icy, “Enough.” He closed his eyes for a moment, calming himself, “The meal was good today. I’m glad you could spend my birthday with me.” I stared at him, seeing the pain deep in his eyes. Jasper’s lips were pale, every word like it came from someone in deep agony, trembling as they spoke, “So in the end, you want to go to Beckett, I understand. Because that’s the price.” In the past life, Jasper once told me that every kindness I showed him required a greater pain in return, so he never dared to hope for anything and was always prepared for my departure. These words now felt like a knife, piercing my heart.

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The day I was taken into the operating room, my family and boyfriend were all with my adoptive sister, watching her competition. That day, my surgery had complications. The tumor in my brain was removed, but my nerves were damaged. I lost the ability to feel emotions like a normal person. I had a tumor in my brain. I initially wanted to tell my parents and boyfriend about it. But my parents were busy buying plane tickets to accompany my adoptive sister abroad for a dance competition. My boyfriend was also working overtime a lot lately. My finger hovered over the message for a long time before I chose to delete it. I knew that anything about me, even if I said it, wouldn’t matter to anyone. After all, in everyone’s eyes, my existence isn’t even a fraction as important as my adoptive sister’s.

My adoptive sister Daphne is the daughter of Dad’s comrade. When she was six, a car accident unexpectedly took her parents’ lives. Daphne was driven away and shunned by her relatives. She ended up dirty and wandering the streets until Dad, who came to pay his respects to an old friend, found her. From then on, she became the second daughter in our family. That year, I was ten, and Daphne was six. Dad and Mom told me, “Nora, you’re already a big kid. You need to learn to take care of your sister.” I wasn’t sure how to take care of a sister. All I knew was that Daphne always seemed so fragile. She didn’t have to do anything but stand there and look at me with her tear-reddened eyes. Everything of mine would become hers. At ten, I lost my bedroom and moved into the guest room. At twelve, my piano lessons were canceled, and the piano at home was sold. The empty music room became Daphne’s dance studio. After fifteen, I never wore new clothes again, always alternating between two school uniforms. My parents didn’t care. They dressed Daphne beautifully and praised her looks to everyone they met. From that time, I rarely went home. The year I was about to graduate from college, Daphne went to another city for university. My parents briefly remembered me. They often called to ask about my life, sometimes sending me job postings from my city. Raising a comrade’s orphan to college was Dad’s greatest achievement. He was in high spirits, saying he wanted to visit me in my city and help me see if my boyfriend of three years was reliable. I no longer had any expectations of them. But I still booked a hotel and restaurant for their visit, not expecting Daphne to show up with them. That day, her smile was as pure as when she first came to our home. She smiled at my boyfriend like that all evening. Later, I saw Daphne’s avatar pinned at the top of my boyfriend Declan’s Snapchat chat.

Before being taken into the operating room, I couldn’t hold back and called my parents. The call only lasted three seconds, with Mom and Dad’s anxious voices on the line: “Nora, we’re about to board. Your sister’s competition is important. Whatever it is, wait until we get back.” I didn’t even manage to say a word before the call was cut off. I stared at my phone screen, dazed. Just then, I saw a new post from my boyfriend Declan. He said he was off to chase his dreams, with a picture of a plane ticket showing the country where Daphne’s competition was. I stared at the screen until Aunt couldn’t stand it and took my phone away. ” Aunt has signed the consent form for you. Don’t worry, whatever happens, Aunt will take care of it,” she lovingly patted my head and sighed, “Brother has been foolish all these years, poor you… Go on, child, I’ll be waiting for you outside.” I was taken into the operating room as the anesthesia gradually took effect. Before losing consciousness, I couldn’t help but wonder if I died in this surgery, would my parents shed a tear for me? And Declan, I thought, once I come out, I must tell him. I knew he had changed his heart long ago. This time, I decided I don’t want him anymore.

The story of Declan and me wasn’t very dramatic, but back in college, it was well-regarded among teachers and classmates. The story started typically. The student council president, who had a great family background and looks, helped an exhausted logistics member who fainted from low blood sugar at an orientation event. The second time we met, he had two candies in his pocket just for me. From then on, keeping candies in his pocket for me became Declan’s habit. He saw me as fragile. He would always look at me worriedly and say, “Nora, I’ve never been so afraid of losing someone.” He said I meant something different to him than anyone else. There was always a special place for me by his side. Just like he always had candies ready for me in his coat pocket. But the last time, after pulling two all-nighters for meetings, I reached into Declan’s coat pocket. All I found was a strange lipstick, Chanel silver tube 116, Daphne’s favorite shade. Silently, I put the lipstick back in his pocket and learned to carry my own candies from then on.

My life changed drastically with ten as the dividing line. From ten, I was trying to get used to living without relying on anyone. I lowered my expectations of everyone. As long as I didn’t have expectations, I wouldn’t be disappointed, nor would I fall into despair when disappointments piled up. But after all, I’m human and can’t be as carefree as I imagined. Declan pursued me for a year and cared for me for the next three. In total, he spent four years gradually moving me, making me feel I had someone to rely on. But stories are always so cliché. Just when I thought I had found someone I could truly trust, he changed his heart. He fell for my adoptive sister. Initially, it was sympathy for her childhood background. Then it was her lively and charming personality, which deeply attracted his attention. Later, listening to Daphne talk about her passion for dance and witnessing her excellence on stage, he realized his true feelings. Declan said he had never seen someone so special, as sincere as a flame. Because of her, he discovered that love should burn passionately. With me, it was more of a familial attachment and a habit in life. This was Declan’s drunken confession. After that, he started preparing to pursue Daphne and break up with me. Of course, I was also preparing for the same thing. I would exit their world, just trying to do it as gracefully as possible. This was something I often did in the first twenty years of my life, getting used to being unnoticed and quietly stepping back. But these thoughts changed entirely the moment I opened my eyes after surgery. I realized it shouldn’t be me who steps back. Aunt was the first to notice my change. She sat by my hospital bed, peeling an apple and sharing stories to comfort me. Then she realized I didn’t seem to need comforting. In her eyes, I was always quiet and rarely expressed my needs. But she could always see from my eyes that I still longed for my parents’ attention, for the complete family affection that should have been mine. But now, that longing was gone.

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In my previous life, my mother-in-law secretly had a daughter with another man, unbeknownst to my father-in-law. She knelt down and pleaded with me to treat this child as if she were a twin sister to my own. I hesitated but eventually agreed. Later on, the child developed kidney failure. My husband was a compatible donor, but my mother-in-law refused to let him donate a kidney. The child passed away, and only after her death did I discover she was actually my child. When I confronted my mother-in-law upon learning the truth, she pushed me down the stairs, leading to my tragic demise. I opened my eyes to find myself back at the moment when my mother-in-law was begging me. I blinked, a bit disoriented. Sitting on my living room couch, I could almost feel the pain of the fall down the stairs. I couldn’t believe that I had been given another chance. Overwhelmed, tears streamed down my face. A familiar voice echoed in my ears. “Phoebe, please, can we say they’re twins?” My mother-in-law looked at me, imploring. I clenched my fists tightly, resisting the urge to lash out. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself. Feigning ignorance, I replied, “Mom, what are you talking about? Whether it’s twins or a single birth, we know from the start.” “Why would you want me to claim I had twins? Where would I find an extra child for your son at birth?” My mother-in-law looked flustered and stammered. “Well, I’m pregnant.” I feigned shock, raising my voice. “Mom, what are you saying? You’re pregnant? Father-in-law has been working abroad for over a year.” “You’ve got a love child?” She quickly moved to cover my mouth, visibly tense. I sidestepped her attempt. My mother-in-law spoke, displeased. “What love child? This is my child. Your father-in-law and I lost feelings for each other long ago.” “We only stayed together for Declan.” I looked at her with disdain. “No feelings, yet you cheated and got pregnant with a love child.” I emphasized “love child” intentionally. She was furious and wanted to scold me. But recalling her need for my help, she held back. “Phoebe, I’m begging you, your child and this one are about the same age. By then, we can hide it.” I raised my voice, “Mom, what are you saying? You want me to help raise it too?” She hurriedly explained, “No, just under your name. I’ll raise it myself, don’t worry.” I replied, “Mom, why are you being so soft-hearted? It’s early, just terminate it.” But my mother-in-law became agitated, “No, this is the child between me and Uncle Gary. I can’t terminate it.” I felt a wave of nausea. A love child, really? Ugly and audacious.

I pretended to be in a difficult position. “Mom, I can’t decide this. I’ll discuss it with Declan.” She looked embarrassed. I said, “Your belly will only grow. This can’t be hidden from him.” My mother-in-law could only nod. In my previous life, it was the same. I told my husband about her pregnancy. He didn’t agree with her having the child. He insisted on taking her to the hospital for an abortion. She refused and hid away. She only returned when she was about to give birth, making it too late for an abortion. She knelt on the ground, begging me and my husband. My husband had no choice but to agree to treat the child as a twin. When my husband came home, I told him about my mother-in-law’s pregnancy. He was so angry he shook all over. He immediately stormed into her room. “Mom, are you out of your mind? Cheating on Dad and getting pregnant?” Embarrassed by her son’s words, my mother-in-law felt ashamed. My husband was furious, “Go and abort it tomorrow.” “You might not care, but I do.” Hearing about the abortion, my mother-in-law panicked. She held her belly, “No, this child can’t be aborted.” My husband was livid, his eyes almost spewing fire. “Why not? You want to keep this abomination?” My mother-in-law was furious, “What abomination? This is your brother.” My husband retorted, “What kind of brother? It’s not Dad’s kid.” “Have you thought about how to explain to Dad after giving birth?” My mother-in-law looked at him with bright eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ve thought it through. This child and Phoebe’s are about the same age. We’ll pretend they’re twins.” “Your dad won’t know.” My husband pointed a trembling finger at her. “You’re insane. I’m telling you, I don’t agree. This child must be aborted.” My mother-in-law pointed at him, face twisted. “You don’t agree? I’m your mom. What right do you have to control me?” “I’m telling you, I’m keeping this child.” My husband was too angry to speak. It took him a while to say anything. “If you insist on having this child, handle it yourself.”

The conversation between my mother-in-law and my husband ended on a bad note. I lay in bed, memories of my past life flooding my mind. In my past life, after I went into labor, my mother-in-law insisted on a C-section. She claimed it was to save my husband from the hassle of taking care of two babies at different times. The newborns looked similar. My mother-in-law switched the babies while we slept at night. Due to her age, her child was not healthy and often sick. Whenever the child was ill, she was more anxious than I was. At the time, I was glad she cherished her granddaughter. In contrast, she neglected her own child after giving birth. The child often cried from hunger, but she refused to breastfeed. She insisted on formula, often leaving the child hungry or overfed. Sometimes, I couldn’t stand it and helped feed the child. As the child grew, my mother-in-law either hit or scolded her. The child always looked timid. In contrast, my daughter was spoiled by her. She became bratty and demanding. Whenever my husband and I tried to discipline her, my mother-in-law intervened. She even scolded us for being too harsh. The two children grew up as opposites. One was a little princess, the other a little servant. Thinking of the child’s last moments, I was heartbroken. A tiny person, lying quietly on the bed, almost skin and bones. At four years old, my mother-in-law’s child was diagnosed with uremia. My husband and I actively sought treatment. My mother-in-law was indifferent and blamed us for wasting money. Finally, a kidney transplant was necessary. My husband, feeling sorry for his sister’s plight, went for matching. He was a match. Upon learning this, my mother-in-law threw a fit and blocked the donation. In the end, seeing no other choice, she disappeared with the child. When my husband and I found them back in our hometown, the child was already lifeless on the bed. 5 My husband and mother-in-law had a huge fight over this. After the child’s passing, I came home early one day. I overheard my mother-in-law on the phone. That’s when I discovered the truth. I broke down on the spot. I lunged at her, hitting her with all my might. Then I ran out to report it to the police. Hearing my intention to call the police, she chased after me. The elevator was taking too long, so I wanted to use the stairs. Unexpectedly, she pushed me hard from behind. And with that, my life ended. Lying on the ground, close to death, I seemed to see something familiar flash by. And my daughter stood beside her. Later, under her influence, my daughter claimed I accidentally fell. My husband was devastated but didn’t suspect our four-year-old. The faint sounds outside my room interrupted my thoughts. I knew my mother-in-law must have sneaked out again, just like in the past life. If she insists on having this child, I’ll let her. After all, I have a big surprise waiting for her. When my husband realized she was gone, he was frantic and wanted to search. He called all our friends and family but found no leads. He even went back to our hometown but she wasn’t there. He wanted to report it to the police. I stopped him. “Honey, she’s deliberately avoiding you. You won’t find her.” He was anxious. “She’s so old and pregnant. What if something happens?” I thought, what could happen? She’s probably with her old lover. “She’s hiding because she’s afraid you’ll make her abort. Don’t worry, she’ll return when she’s further along.” “If you report it and everyone finds out, how will she face them?” He nodded weakly. 6 Soon, I reached late pregnancy. One day, I came home and found my mother-in-law had returned. My husband angrily confronted her. She suddenly knelt before me. Startled, I quickly stepped aside. He rushed to help her up. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at both of us. I said, “She was probably hiding because she feared you’d pressure her to end the pregnancy. Don’t worry, she’ll likely return when she’s further along.” “If you call the police and everyone finds out, how will mother-in-law maintain her reputation?” My husband nodded, looking helpless. 6 Soon, I was in the later stages of my pregnancy. One day, I came home to find my mother-in-law had returned. My husband angrily confronted her. Suddenly, she knelt down in front of me. Startled, I quickly stepped aside. My husband rushed to help her up. With tears in her eyes, she looked at both of us. “I’m begging you, please. Otherwise, I don’t know what else I can do but end my life.” My husband glared at her, breathing heavily. “Where were you when I told you to deal with it? You wouldn’t listen.” “Now you come to us? Figure it out yourself.” “I’m not handling this.” Hearing this, she began to cry softly. “Declan, I know I was wrong. If your father finds out, what will happen to us? This family will fall apart.” “Please, just help me this once.” My husband turned his head away, silent. She then turned to me. “Phoebe, if you don’t help me, I really can’t go on.” “If people find out, what will I do?” My husband said, “Now you’re worried about disgrace? Why didn’t you think of that before?” She became upset, “Fine, I’m ashamed. I’ll just go and end it. If you won’t help me, I can’t live anyway.” With that, she rushed towards the balcony. My husband wanted to stop her, but I held him back. She reached the balcony and realized no one was stopping her. She didn’t have the courage to climb onto the windowsill. So she just stood there awkwardly. My husband understood her intention. He just looked at her coldly, saying nothing. I almost wanted to laugh. If you’re going to pretend to do something drastic, at least make it convincing. You can’t even climb up. I feigned concern and went to stop her. “Mom, please don’t do anything reckless. What will you do with such a big belly?” “Your secret will come out anyway.” “Father-in-law will be furious.” She shot me an angry glare. My husband snorted. In the end, my husband agreed to her request. I also agreed, which made him feel very sorry for me. He was very considerate towards me. Without keeping the child, the pretense couldn’t continue. Soon, I went into labor. Just like before, my mother-in-law insisted on being with me. My husband hurriedly took us to the hospital. Once there, she was taken aback. 7 Aunt Lydia was waiting at the hospital. My husband was also shocked. I looked at her with a cold smile. I had secretly set up a small account long ago. As soon as I went into labor, I sent a photo of her large belly to Aunt Lydia. I even thoughtfully noted the hospital. Aunt Lydia stared intently at her belly. Suddenly, she rushed over and slapped her hard. She didn’t react in time and fell to the ground. Soon, cold sweat was beading on her forehead. She clutched her belly, curled up on the floor, and kept groaning in pain. Many onlookers gathered around Aunt Lydia, whispering among themselves. “How can you hit a pregnant woman?” “Is the baby her husband’s?” “She’s so old, yet still having kids—absolutely shameless.”

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I was in the third year of my arranged marriage when my parents found my twin brother, who was kidnapped at the age of five. He was also my wife’s first love. She rekindled her old feelings for him and even had his child. My parents wanted me to claim the child as my own. I decided to leave everything behind. My family regretted it later. But I will never return to that home. After work, I took an overnight flight home to celebrate our third wedding anniversary. But when I wearily pushed open the villa door, I found my parents and wife happily gathered around another man. “Why are you just standing there? Come meet your brother,” my father’s commanding voice echoed. “Brother? What brother?” “The brother you lost! You’ve been running the company for years and still have no discipline! No wonder performance has been stagnant!” My father frowned, his voice rising, clearly displeased with my response. “Ethan, you’ve endured so much over the years. Your younger brother is still as immature as ever. Don’t hold it against him,” my mother said, piling more food onto his already full plate. “Don’t worry, Mom, I won’t blame him,” the man I should call brother said with a seemingly generous smile. “Ah, I knew you were the best,” my mother lovingly tousled his hair. Don’t blame me? What did I do wrong? I did have a twin brother, but he was kidnapped when he was five. My parents searched for years with no news, and now they suddenly claim this stranger is my brother. Aside from his identical features, I can’t accept this stranger as my real brother. But my parents always favored him since childhood, and this family was never mine to control. I looked at the gift bag in my hand, containing a diamond necklace I had custom-ordered six months in advance, remembering I rushed back for Avery, my wife, to celebrate our anniversary. Yes, Avery, I still had a wife. I looked up, hoping for a lifeline, only to find her eyes fixed on my newly returned brother. There was joy, tenderness, and an uncontrollable passion in her gaze. “Honey?” I called tentatively. She frowned, as if displeased with the term, or perhaps just noticing me. Avery took the things from my hands, pulled out a chair for me, and said with some reproach, “Mom and Dad just found a family member. They’re excited. Be considerate and don’t dampen their mood.” Then she returned to the newly found family member, smiling brightly. “Yes, yes, come sit down,” my in-laws chimed in, eager to please their daughter. Previously, for some unknown reason, Avery was at odds with her parents, but today she invited them over for our anniversary, and they were elated. But Avery didn’t even look at them. Instead, the man I should call brother glanced over, a barely noticeable cold smile on his lips, meeting my gaze directly. I sat down and silently ate, trying to recall childhood memories of my brother. Although Ethan was only ten minutes older than me, we were completely different in personality since childhood. He was lively, smart, sweet-talking, always able to win our parents’ favor, while I was reserved, interested only in landscapes, often sitting alone with a drawing pad all day. After Ethan was kidnapped, my parents’ attitude towards me grew colder. I was forced to abandon my dream of painting and took over the company business, barely earning their approval. I thought my life would always be like this until Avery appeared in it. Although we married through an arrangement, her gentleness and kindness healed me after marriage. She would leave a table of food when I returned late from social events and cook me hangover soup when I drank too much. I gradually fell in love with her, finding various opportunities to prepare gifts to make her happy. Knowing she had a poor relationship with her parents, I noted down their hobbies to find chances to show filial piety. But why did everything change tonight? Her gaze no longer lingered on me, and my early return didn’t surprise her at all.

After dinner, my mother asked me to check if my brother needed anything in his room. Just as I was about to knock, I saw through the door gap my wife of three years, Avery, nestled on Ethan’s lap, letting him stroke her hair. “Ethan, why is fate so unfair to us?” She cried, her face tear-streaked, “When I had finally decided to forget you and live with someone else for life, you suddenly appeared. If you hadn’t been kidnapped to the mountains, we would’ve had kids by now. How did it come to this awkward situation?” “Don’t cry, you know I can’t stand seeing you cry,” I saw my brother bend down to cradle her face, wiping her tears away. Their eyes met, hers full of tenderness. I quietly left, pretending nothing happened, and returned to the master bedroom. I decided to give my wife a chance to confess, and also buy myself some time. When Avery came out after her bath, I presented the carefully prepared gift. I took out the custom diamond necklace from the velvet box and put it on her. The sparkling diamond, accented with a sapphire, highlighted her fair skin and long neck in the mirror. I tried to ask naturally, “Honey, did you know Ethan before?” She stiffened, then casually replied, “You caught that, huh? Ethan was my college classmate, quite the campus figure. We lost touch after graduation. Funny, isn’t it? Turns out he’s your long-lost brother. Mom and Dad said it’s really quite the coincidence, haha.” Deception is the first step to betrayal. The war between the current and the beloved past was lost before it even began. 2. Early the next morning, my father yelled at me to get up, saying we needed to introduce my brother to the company. Following his instructions, I gathered all employees in the lobby. As the doors opened and I was about to introduce him, my father stepped in, arm around my brother’s shoulder, full of pride and affection, saying, “This is Ethan, your new general manager.” Everyone immediately turned their gaze to me. I heard gasps and whispers. I also heard the sound of my heart shattering. Years of hard work, and today my own father publicly dismissed me with a single sentence. Ethan looked at everyone, calm and composed, as if the position was always his. I had to admit, despite our identical features, Ethan exuded confidence and charisma, naturally suited for business. “Welcome, Mr. Jiang!” “Welcome, welcome!” “A warm welcome!” Those who saw the situation clearly quickly aligned themselves, and applause soon erupted in the crowd. I sensibly left to pack up my things in the general manager’s office, but once I closed the door, I couldn’t hold back any longer and sat on the floor, crying. Years of grievances poured out at once. I remembered after my brother went missing, my parents forced me to study business against my will, using confinement and starvation to make me abandon my dream of painting. Later, I gritted my teeth through the tedious study of business management and marketing calculations, clinking glasses and playing nice with all sorts of people for the company’s growth. Just last month, I was hospitalized with a stomach ulcer from drinking to secure a major client deal. If they truly thought I was unsuitable, why did they clip my wings of freedom back then?

After clearing out the office for Ethan and handing over the documents, it was already dark outside, and we were the only ones left on the company’s top floor. He sat in a wheelchair, looking out at the night through the large floor-to-ceiling window, suddenly spoke, “Years of hard work only to make a wedding dress for someone else, it must hurt, right?” “What do you mean?” Of course, it hurt, but I didn’t understand what he was getting at. “Nothing, really. Yesterday, you saw Avery crying on my lap, didn’t you?” He smirked mockingly. “You didn’t dare come in. With your character, you must have tested her when you got back, right? So, did she tell you? I’m her first love, the one she dated for four years, until her parents forced us apart.” His tone was certain, hitting a nerve and almost making me lose my temper. Ethan, seeing the cracks in my strong facade, laughed, a sinister smile starkly different from the image he showed in front of our parents and Avery. His expression suddenly shifted to violent, “Does it hurt? No matter how much, it won’t hurt more than me. I was a poor student from a mountain village, and no decent company was willing to give me a chance. My first love girlfriend of four years, when she first met her parents, was kicked out like a stray dog. When I returned to the mountains, those old folks beat and scolded me daily, saying they wasted their money sending me to school! Cursing me for not being able to earn money for their biological son to marry! While I was beaten and eating stale food, what were you doing? Enjoying your pampered life as a young master! And you stole my girlfriend!” “Our marital matters are none of your business.” This is a madman. I can’t go mad with him. I forced myself to stay calm.

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