Daughter’s illness urgently needed money for treatment, but my wife held onto all my money and lavishly spent it on her wealthy new lover. I begged her to visit our daughter, but she threatened me to quit my executive position and become a servant for her new lover. Helplessly, I agreed, yet my wife went back on her word. “I’m her mom, not a doctor. Visiting her won’t cure her,” she said. Later, our daughter passed away despite rescue efforts, calling for her mom until the end. At that moment, my wife was celebrating her marriage registration with her new lover. When I confronted her, she dismissed me with a light remark, “Stop using this to manipulate me.” She didn’t know yet that the man she painstakingly wanted to marry was a conman. I suppressed my hatred and called my boss at the police department. “All the evidence has been collected. We can proceed with the arrest.” I was in the villa making dinner for Adeline and her boyfriend when the hospital called about my daughter. Hearing the doctor questioning why I hadn’t answered earlier, I feebly replied, “I didn’t hear it.” The doctor informed me my daughter had just been through a rescue, but fortunately, she was saved in the end. I felt slightly relieved. After hanging up, I checked my contacts and found that the hospital had indeed called several times before. “Why didn’t you pick up?” I stood in front of Adeline, fists clenched, unable to hide my anger. I had been cooking in the kitchen, leaving my phone with her, having instructed her to answer any calls. Adeline put down her crossed legs, scoffing. “Jude, get it straight. We’re divorced. I have no obligation to answer your calls.” “Right.” I took off my apron and walked toward the door. “Then I have no obligation to stay here and take your orders.” As I reached the door, Adeline spoke leisurely, “The door’s right there. Leave if you want. But I’m afraid I won’t have time to visit our daughter.” Remembering why I came here, I paused. Adeline had promised to visit our daughter at the hospital once I finished cooking. I held back my temper and asked, “Can we leave now?” “What’s the rush?” Adeline admired her newly done nails, not taking my words seriously. “Nash hasn’t come back to eat yet.” Just then, Nash entered with his daughter. Adeline quickly greeted him, took his coat, and led him to the dining table with a smile. “Dinner’s ready, come eat.” As Nash sat down, he glanced at me with a mocking smile. “So what if you graduated from a top university? You’re still just a servant here.” Adeline laughed, agreeing, “Exactly, how can he compare to you? He’s just a useless person.” Nash chuckled, pretending to be displeased, “Isn’t that harsh on your ex-husband?” Adeline snorted, “What’s the harm? It’s the truth.” Watching their disgusting faces, I wanted to leave, but thinking of my daughter waiting for her mom in the hospital, I gritted my teeth and endured. Just then, Nash’s daughter, Cora, kicked Adeline’s chair. “Hey, Adeline, do homework with me after dinner.” Adeline looked a bit troubled. I quickly said, “Adeline, you promised me. Lydia is still waiting for you.” Cora pouted, “Do you have something?” “No, no,” Adeline hastily replied. “Auntie has time. I’ll do homework with you after dinner, not going anywhere.” Before I could question her, Adeline pulled me outside. “You go by yourself. You saw I have no time, and it’s not a serious illness anyway.” I was furious, dragging her out. Adeline shook off my arm. “Jude, don’t think I don’t know your intention. You’re just using our daughter as an excuse to tie me down.” Adeline took out a wad of cash from her bag and threw it at my face. “Is this enough? Take the money and get lost. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of me.” Adeline turned back inside. I stood there for a long time, squatted down, and picked up the money one by one. As I picked up the last bill, Nash came out, stepped on my hand, and patted my face. “So pitiful, and you’re a high achiever?” “Yes, Mr. Nash, can you spare some help?” Seeing my calm response, Nash lost interest and turned back inside. I was penniless. Pride couldn’t compare to my daughter’s life. Back at the hospital, my daughter, seeing it was just me, lowered her eyes in disappointment but sensibly didn’t ask anything. My heart felt like it was gripped tight, suffocating. Hearing from her attending physician that there was a new treatment for her condition, but it required a million, guilt filled my heart again. I had entrusted all our money to Adeline, and when our daughter got sick, I had quit my job. What used to be easily accessible money was now hard to gather even a fraction of. I was about to call Adeline when I looked up and saw her approaching. Just as I thought she might still love our daughter, a loud slap landed on my face.

Adeline’s eyes were like daggers, wanting to kill me. She asked, “Did you ask Nash for money?” To chase after Nash, Adeline had portrayed herself as wealthy, lavishly spending my hard-earned money on high-end gifts for him. That was our daughter’s emergency fund. “So what if I did?” “Our daughter needs a million now, Adeline. You took at least five million from me. I’m not asking for much, just give me some back.” I saw the gifts Adeline gave Nash today were worth over a million. Adeline sneered, poking my chest, “I’ve never seen a man ask a woman for money, using a sick daughter as an excuse.” “Does our daughter know you curse her like this?” Apparently, she didn’t believe me. I pulled Adeline toward the hospital room, “Come see our daughter with me now.” “I’m not going!” Adeline struggled violently. Seeing the strange looks from people around, I released her. Unexpectedly, as soon as I let go, Adeline ran off. Back in the room, my daughter’s eyes sparkled, “Daddy, did Mommy come? I thought I heard her voice.” Tears welled up, and I turned away, not letting her see me cry. I lied, “She came, but she’s too busy with work and had to leave.” I took out a teddy bear I had bought earlier, saying it was a gift from Adeline. Seeing her smile, I let out a sigh of relief. Now I had to deal with the medical expenses. I instinctively touched my wrist, only to find my watch missing. Cold sweat trickled down my brow. It was the only memento left by my father before he passed, worth a million. I had decided to sell it to save my daughter. I forced myself to stay calm, thinking where I could have lost it. I had it when I came to the hospital. After checking the surveillance, I found that Adeline had taken it when I wasn’t looking. When I found her, Adeline had already sold the watch. “Jude, why are you so stingy? Think of it as a loan. When I marry Nash, I’ll have all the money I want. I can pay you back.” Adeline noticed my gaze on her suit and shamelessly asked, “Does it look good?” Not hearing my answer, she stepped back, holding the suit protectively. “It’s custom-made, not worth much if sold. Don’t get any ideas. I’m giving it to Nash.” Hatred surged. I wanted to drag her down with me. But for my daughter’s sake, I couldn’t. I said nothing, turned, and left. Rain poured like a waterfall. Walking through the rain, tears mixed with raindrops. Desperate, I dialed the number I knew by heart.

“Boss, can you lend me some money?” The deputy director at the police department replied without hesitation, “Yes, the organization knows your situation and will help.” After thanking him, I hung up. Adeline only knew my public identity as a company executive, but in reality, I was an undercover agent. I had been gathering evidence on Nash’s crimes. Nash, an uneducated man, loved seeing high achievers tormented. He didn’t know it gave me a chance to get close to him. Adeline thought I was stopping her from pursuing happiness, unaware she was after a wolf. Back at the hospital, the attending physician informed me that my daughter’s account had received a million, enabling the new treatment. I smiled. Returning to the room to accompany my daughter, I found her crying. I hurried over to ask what was wrong. With a choked voice, she said her teacher and classmates visited today. “Classmate Cora said Mommy doesn’t want me anymore, and she wants to be her mom now.” I held my daughter’s small hand in mine, overwhelmed with heartache. “Mommy loves you. I’ll go find her to come see you. Wait for Daddy.” I rushed out, blaming myself for being too busy with work and neglecting my daughter. Adeline used to be a good mom, which is why our daughter relied on her so much. No matter what, I had to bring Adeline to see her. At Nash’s place, Adeline was kneeling, washing Nash’s feet, with his foot on her back. Adeline still wore a smile. My heart ached; she had never done this for me. Seeing me, Nash whistled. “Mommy loves you. I’ll go find her for you right away. Hang in there, sweetheart.” I rushed out in a hurry. It’s my fault for being so busy with work before and neglecting my daughter. Adeline was always a wonderful mother; that’s why our daughter depended on her so much. I had to bring Adeline to see our daughter, no matter what. When I got to Nash’s place, Adeline was kneeling, washing Nash’s feet. Nash’s foot rested on Adeline’s back. Adeline still wore a smile. My heart ached once more. Adeline never treated me this way. Seeing me enter, Nash whistled. “Going to see that little one still hanging on? Still not gone?” Impulse surged through me. I couldn’t hold back and swung my fist at Nash’s face. When the foot bath water splashed on my face, a slap followed. Adeline, holding the empty bucket, glared at me: “Jude, who gave you the nerve to treat Nash like this?” I wiped my face and closed my eyes. When I opened them again, applause erupted behind Adeline. I took a closer look and was momentarily stunned. The girl applauding was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. She flashed a charming smile and said to Adeline: “Sister Lin, you’re really something.” Calling a woman “fierce” isn’t considered a compliment. Adeline’s face turned extremely unpleasant. I seemed to recognize who this girl was. A few days ago, Adeline complained to me that Nash seemed to have taken a liking to a younger, prettier girl. So she was trying her best to impress Nash. Nash’s face darkened upon hearing this and pointed at Adeline and me: “You’re making such a mess every day. Today, I don’t want to see you. Leave, both of you.” Nash ordered people to throw Adeline and me out. Adeline banged on the door, but no one opened it for her. When she raised her hand to teach me a lesson, I grabbed her wrist. “Two choices: come with me to the hospital to see Nian Nian, or I won’t hesitate to show Nash your pre-surgery photos.” “You’re threatening me!” Adeline stomped her foot in anger. But it didn’t take long for her to choose to come with me to the hospital to see our daughter. With that girl around, she didn’t dare let me show Nash her old photos. Before surgery, Adeline wasn’t just ordinary; she was downright unattractive. When we arrived at the hospital, our daughter’s eyes lit up seeing Adeline. Adeline pushed me out, saying she wanted to have a private conversation with our daughter. I stood on the hospital rooftop for half an hour. Thinking Adeline’s patience was probably wearing thin, I went back to the daughter’s room, only to see her being resuscitated. My head buzzed. I couldn’t understand how she could be fine just now and suddenly need resuscitation. The doctor came to me and said something. I didn’t catch it clearly, only vaguely heard words like “mental preparation” and “doing our best.” I knelt on the ground, pleading with the heavens not to take my daughter away. I don’t know how long passed, but my legs went numb from kneeling. A doctor came over, patted my shoulder, and told me: “We’ve done our best.” “There’s still some time, talk to your daughter.” I stumbled to my feet and went to my daughter’s side. She wasn’t as happy to see me as before, mumbling “Mommy, Mommy…” I trembled as I called Adeline, but no one answered. My daughter closed her eyes. Tears trickled down from the corners of her eyes. The monitor sounded an alarm, and I stared blankly at everything. Then the door to the room opened. Adeline walked in, her laughter clear and bright, “Jude, take a look at my marriage certificate with Nash. Since you used our daughter’s death to trick me, it’s only fair to make you give up…” I turned around, stepping aside. Adeline stopped mid-sentence when she saw our daughter lying quietly on the bed. 5 “Lydia, Lydia, why are you lying in bed without saying anything?” “Mom’s here. You always wanted to see her the most. Get up and talk to her.” Adeline approached her daughter slowly.

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On the day I was announced as the company heir, someone barged onto the stage with fake documents, accusing me of embezzling project funds and colluding with competitors. My father tore up the inheritance papers on the spot and expelled me. The hall’s screen repeatedly displayed photos of the new heir, Jasper. As I stumbled out of the building, a black car suddenly lost control and struck me. I collapsed into a pool of blood, overwhelmed by pain. While in a coma, I overheard her talking to an assistant. “Madam, Mr. Nolan has already been completely ousted; why take things to such extremes?” “He’s too brilliant. Only by crippling him can we eliminate future troubles—” “Jasper saved me from a fire five years ago. If he wants the inheritance, naturally I have to help him clear the obstacles.” I gazed at the burn scar below my collarbone, a mark left three years ago when I rushed into the flames to save her. Later, clutching the Certificate of Bravery from the Fire Department, I barged into the Jasper Corporation press conference. My wife was adjusting the cufflinks of her “benefactor,” Jasper. I tore open my shirt to reveal the scar, my voice hoarse but resolute. “Fiona, you said you’d spend your life with your benefactor once he recovered—” “But your benefactor is right in front of you, and you’re the arsonist executioner.”

The assistant looked at me, speaking with resignation. “Madam, you’ve already ordered Mr. Nolan to be hit, and the impact was enough to cripple his legs. But why have the perpetrator repeatedly run him over, leaving his legs as nothing but mangled flesh, necessitating amputation?” Fiona’s eyes were cold, her tone indifferent. “I did it to ensure nothing could go wrong. What if those people didn’t cripple him? Nolan has always been exceptionally capable. It’s not impossible for him to find renowned doctors across the United States to heal those legs.” “With his legs amputated, he’ll forever be disabled. He’s always been proud and ambitious, living a lifetime in the pain of broken legs, and won’t think of fighting Jasper for the inheritance.” The assistant’s pupils contracted, his gaze falling on my bandaged, severed legs. “But what if Mr. Nolan finds out? You were at the scene of the accident too. What if he saw you, even the ambulance was called by a passerby. What if he blames you for life?” Fiona took a step closer, her slender hand caressing the wound on my forehead. “Then make sure he doesn’t remember what happened that night. Aren’t there drugs in those shady clinics that can interfere with memory?” “Use them on him. If he can forget, great. If not, increase the dosage so he can’t even remember who he is.” The assistant couldn’t bear it, his voice trembling. “Those drugs exist, but they’re untested in clinical trials. They might cause permanent cognitive impairment, and severe cases could lead to incontinence, turning him into a vegetable…” Hearing the assistant’s words, Fiona showed impatience. Her eyes flared with anger. “So what? Sacrificing him for Jasper’s career is worth it.” “Since Jasper saved me from the fire five years ago, I haven’t been able to love anyone else. If not for the family marriage, why would I marry Nolan?” “If Jasper hadn’t risked his life to save me back then, I might have died in that fire. Now the opportunity has finally come; I can repay Jasper.” I clenched my wrist tightly, oblivious to the blood from my palm. The wife who had been with me for five years seemed like a stranger. Five years ago, I risked my life to save Fiona. The burn scar below my collarbone is still there. During our five-year marriage, I never mentioned it. I thought she knew I was the one who saved her because she agreed to the arranged marriage without hesitation. I never brought it up, fearing it would trigger painful memories for her. I never imagined she considered Jasper her savior all along. The assistant handed her a necklace, his fingers trembling. “This was tightly clutched in Mr. Nolan’s hand during the car accident. His secretary said it was supposed to be your birthday gift.” Fiona stared at the blood-stained necklace, dazed for a few seconds. It was something I had specially acquired from an auction in Italy. Just because she said she liked it, I went to great lengths to get it, just to see her smile. At the moment of the accident, she was all I thought about. She rubbed the necklace with her fingertips, her other hand caressing my face. “As long as he’s obedient and doesn’t fight, I’ll stay with him forever. He’ll still be my Mr. Nolan, and I’ll still be his Mrs. Nolan.” “Oh, and Jasper just took the heir position. We should celebrate. Help me give him the family heirloom ring.” The assistant’s eyes widened, his tone more forceful. “But that’s Fiona’s family heirloom ring. It’s supposed to be for Mr. Nolan, your husband. How can you give it to—” Fiona immediately interrupted the assistant. “Don’t say so much nonsense. Hurry up, Jasper deserves something so good.” Her words cut like a knife, causing me deep pain. Over these five years, Fiona, have you not loved me at all?

After the assistant left, Fiona stayed by my bedside. She occasionally wiped my body, sometimes whispering stories of our past in my ear. Every action was so gentle. If I hadn’t just heard the brutal truth, I would’ve thought she loved me deeply. Soon, a female doctor came over with two forms. Judging by the voice, it was her best friend, Hazel. Fiona glanced at her coolly. “So? Are the results out?” Hazel handed a form to Fiona. She opened it, her eyes instantly brightening. Even her tone became cheerful. “I knew it. They’re half-brothers; the kidneys are definitely compatible.” “Prepare for surgery, the sooner, the better.” Hazel looked troubled, clutching Fiona’s hand with a tremor. “Fiona, do you really have to do this? Look at what Nolan has become, and you still want to take his kidney?” “Besides, Jasper’s kidney doesn’t have much of a problem. Last time you brought him in for a check, it was just a mild infection, cured with some meds.” Fiona pried her hand away, her gaze fixed on my pale face. “You don’t know. Jasper has exhausted himself preparing to become the heir, not eating or drinking well.” “I read online that overworking like this can cause kidney issues. I can’t gamble with Jasper’s health. This is the only way to ensure everything’s fine.” “Anyway, during this accident, we’ll take his kidney. When he wakes, we’ll tell him the crash injured his kidney, forcing us to remove one. He won’t suspect a thing.” Hazel tried to wake her, grabbing her hand again. “But Nolan’s current condition isn’t suitable for this surgery. The crash caused blood clotting issues. Forcing a kidney removal might cause shock, endangering his life.” Fiona locked eyes with Hazel. “Hazel, aren’t you the best in your hospital? I trust you can handle this minor surgery.” Hazel gritted her teeth, staying silent. Sighs echoed in my ears. Tears streamed down my face like broken pearls. My legs have already been amputated, and now my wife wants to take my kidney for my half-brother. I wanted to get up from the bed and demand why she was doing this to me. But my limbs felt like they were filled with cement, immovable. Hazel handed Fiona another form. “Fiona, your check-up from last week is out too. Congratulations, you’re pregnant.” Fiona froze, staring at the pregnancy test words for a long time. But the final words were cold. “Schedule an abortion for me.” Hazel was clearly surprised, her voice tinged with confusion. “Fiona, you’ve been married for five years. It’s not easy for this child to come! Why abort?” “Nolan’s in this state now. Who knows if he can have kids anymore.” “And you’ve taken so many contraceptives before that your body’s already damaged. If you don’t keep this one, you might never conceive again!” Fiona’s cold hand gripped mine again. Her voice pierced my soul, given the closeness. “I never planned on having kids with him. You know I’ve always loved Jasper. If I were to have a child, it should be Jasper’s.” She suddenly kissed my forehead, her voice choking. “As for Nolan, I’ll find hundreds of ways to compensate him.” Memories flickered through my mind like a movie. Five years of marriage, I always wanted a love child but never succeeded. I thought it was my body’s issue, seeking medical help and drinking bitter herbs. Fiona once comforted me, saying, “Don’t rush; we’ll have kids eventually.” The truth was, she never wanted a child.

Hazel had just left when a young nurse entered the ward with an injection. She inserted it into my skin, and any regained strength vanished. Beside me, Fiona’s voice was clear, comforting me. “Nolan, it’s okay, it’ll be over soon.” “I’ll be waiting outside; you have to hang in there.” Then, I seemed to be wheeled into a surgery room. Fiona once tried to comfort me, saying, “Don’t worry, we’ll think about kids in the future.” But the truth was, she never wanted children. 3. Hazel had just stepped out for a moment. A young nurse entered the ward with a syringe. She injected it into my arm. The small strength I had mustered drained away. Next to me, I could clearly hear Fiona’s voice trying to reassure me. “Nolan, it’s alright, it’ll be over soon.” “I’ll be waiting outside; you have to hang on.” Then I felt like I was wheeled into an operating room. Several people in white lab coats wielded cold surgical scalpels. I could vividly feel my skin being cut and my kidney being removed, yet I was utterly helpless. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I have no idea how long I was in the operating room. When I woke again, Fiona’s beautiful face was in front of me. In the past, that face brought me immense joy, but now it only brought a chilling coldness. Seeing me awake, she seemed genuinely happy, embracing me tightly. “Nolan, you’re finally awake! You have no idea how worried I’ve been about you.” “If the heir status is gone, it’s gone. I just want you to be okay.” Seeing her eyes red with tears made my heart ache. Fiona, I could have been fine, but isn’t it all thanks to you that I’m like this now? Instinctively, I glanced at my legs, amputated below the knees. The 20-centimeter scar on my abdomen still ached. I didn’t need to guess to know the surgery was to remove my kidney. Fiona, do you really not care about me at all? Do you have to be so heartless? Seeing my indifferent expression, she hesitantly asked, “Nolan, do you remember what happened back then?” I shook my head without speaking, but everything from that day was etched into my bones. Hearing my response, she softened her tone and feigned concern. “Nolan, that day you lost your heir status, you were so heartbroken you drank heavily and got into a serious car accident… Your legs were amputated, and one kidney was damaged, which is why it was removed.” “Don’t worry, no matter what you become, I’ll be by your side. I don’t care about any heir status; I only want you.” She had the audacity to say this, probably because she gave me memory-altering drugs, allowing her to distort the facts. Listening to her lies felt like a giant hand was squeezing my heart, making it hard to breathe. She didn’t suspect my lack of enthusiasm at all. She probably thought I was not yet recovering from the car accident. She busied herself around my hospital bed, playing the role of a devoted wife. 4. After a while, someone brought a wheelchair. She quickly set aside the fruit she was cutting for me. Diligently, she pushed the wheelchair in front of me. “Nolan, try it out. I had it custom-made just for you. I believe it’ll make things much easier for you in the future.” Her eyes, like peach blossoms, looked at me with innocence and hope. Thinking about spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair made me resent her. But I also loved her so much that I couldn’t bring myself to say a harsh word. I was about to ask, Fiona, why are you so cruel to me? I even kept convincing myself that she still loved me. Telling myself the things I had heard were mere hallucinations. But the words got swallowed back down, turning into a single word. “Okay.” Maybe I really needed to adapt to it. She pushed me outside to enjoy the sun, just like our old promise. When we grow old, we’ll push each other to walk in the sunset. The early autumn wind carried a chill, making me cough uncontrollably. She immediately stopped, squatted down, and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well? Should I call a doctor?” She quickly stood up, but I grabbed her hand. “No need, it’s just an old cough that comes with the changing seasons.” She patted my head, giving me a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Nolan, you don’t have to act strong in front of me. I know everything that’s happened lately has been hard on you.” “From the moment it happened, you haven’t shed a single tear. If you want to cry, just cry. Keeping it bottled up will only hurt you.” Her words showed no pretense, only concern. We’ve been together for five years, and I’ve never doubted her. But how did two people so in love end up with her as the demon pulling me into an abyss? I tried to suppress my inner pain, calmly saying, “I want to go home.” She hesitated, trying to reason with me. “Nolan, you just had surgery. I’m really worried about your health if you go home now.” “How about we wait until you’re a bit better before going home?” Of course, I needed to go back; Jasper Corporation’s product launch event was in a couple of days. I wanted to give them a big surprise. I forced a smile, even though bitterness lingered at the corners of my mouth. “Don’t worry, didn’t you say you’d always be with me? You’re my best medicine; nothing will happen with you around.” “Besides, I really can’t stand the smell of the hospital’s disinfectant.” After my repeated insistence, Fiona finally agreed. Once we reached an agreement, she pushed me back to the ward. The phone in my pocket suddenly rang. Jasper’s voice came through the receiver. She deliberately stepped away to answer the call, and soon rushed back to me. “Nolan, I’m sorry, I have an urgent matter to attend to.” “Try to get used to the wheelchair and head back to the ward yourself, okay?” Without hesitation, she let go of my hand, leaving me in the empty hallway. As she turned away, my heart felt like it was bleeding. Suddenly, I remembered all those times she took calls and left abruptly over the years. It dawned on me. She left to see Jasper every time. 5. After Fiona left, I awkwardly maneuvered the wheelchair to hail a cab home. I carefully observed the home we had shared for five years. Everywhere bore the marks of our love, but now it all seemed so ironic. I went to the study room, intending to retrieve the Certificate of Bravery I received for saving her. Instead, I found a diary in a nearby drawer. Opening the front page, it was filled with her handwriting. “October 2020, someone braved the flames to save me. He is the light of my life. He gave me life, and one day, I will marry him.” “July 2016, I finally found the person I owed my life to. He was as handsome and gentle as I remembered. I needed to find the right moment to let him know how I felt.” “October 2016, I had to bury that love deep inside. Due to a family arrangement, I ended up marrying his brother, but it’s always been him I truly loved.”

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Boyfriend has a low sperm count, and his assistant is naturally fertile, with a voluptuous figure. To have a child, my boyfriend seeks her company every night. When the assistant becomes pregnant, Declan says coolly, “I’ll send her abroad.” On the wedding day, Nora suffers from morning sickness. He leaves me to face all the guests alone while he tends to Nora’s mess. I hadn’t even taken off my wedding dress when I finally received his call, after I’d cried my eyes dry: “The wedding is postponed. We’ll wait until Nora’s pregnancy stabilizes; she can’t handle stress right now.” Hearing this, I kept sobbing. He grew more impatient: “Cora, stop making trouble. Do you want the Declan Family to be without an heir?” “When the child is born, I’ll have him call you mom. In the meantime, take good care of Nora and ensure nothing goes wrong!” I clutched the pregnancy test in my hand, feeling disheartened, and hung up the phone. He doesn’t know I’m a rabbit spirit. If I wanted to, I could have a litter of eight treasures in one go. Now, I’m returning to where I belong. … Wiping away my tears, I forced a natural smile and straightened my back to announce on stage: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mr. Declan and I have called off the wedding. I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.” The crowd below began to murmur among themselves. Soon, Declan called again: “Cora, I hope you understand. I’m the heir of the Declan Family, and I must have a child.” “Nora’s pregnancy wasn’t easy. Once she gives birth, I’ll send her away. It won’t affect your status as the lady of the house.” “Don’t be stubborn. I’ve forgiven your earlier outburst. Go explain things to the guests, and I’ll come to pick you up. I can’t leave right now…” I interrupted him, “I’m pregnant.” Declan suddenly got angry: “Cora, we’ve been together for three years, and you never got pregnant. How is it that now, when Nora’s pregnant, you are too?” “Using this trick to seek attention, you’re so petty. How can you be the Declan Family’s wife like this?” I felt like I was falling into an abyss, suffocating. Trying to hide the tremble in my voice, I spoke with difficulty: “Declan, I’m not marrying you.” There was silence on the other end for a few minutes, then his cold voice came through: “Fine, fine then. Marry or not, I wonder where a lone orphan like you can go.” Beep beep beep… The line went dead, ruthlessly cut off. Ignoring the surprised looks from the banquet guests, I tossed away the bouquet and walked quickly to the dressing room. Just as I was about to change out of this heartbreaking wedding dress, Declan’s Mother suddenly burst in and slapped me hard: “You little tramp, how dare you cancel the wedding in front of everyone! You’ve disgraced the Declan Family!” “If Mr. Declan Sr. hadn’t insisted on Declan marrying you, how could an orphan with no power or influence possibly climb up to the Declan Family?” Her anger grew as she pinched me several times: “Hmph, it’s good the wedding’s canceled. At least a jinx like you won’t enter the Declan Family’s door.” By the time she vented her anger, it was already dark, and the banquet hall was about to close. I didn’t have time to change clothes, so I stood on the bustling street in a luxurious yet dust-covered wedding dress. The curious and sympathetic looks from passersby made me shrink back. Suddenly, a large coat was gently draped over my shoulders, a faint cool fragrance lingering at my nose. “Little bunny, long time no see. How did you end up like this?” A warm voice sounded in my ear. I turned around and saw the figure I’d been waiting for three years to see, my nose tingling: “Asher, I want to go home.” He gently wiped the tears from the corner of my eyes, his voice filled with unfathomable softness: “Okay, I’ll take you home.” I arranged to meet Asher three days later. Having been in the human world for three years, I had some things to deal with, like saying goodbye to my savior, Mr. Declan Sr. Just after taking off my wedding dress, Nora sent a photo. She was wearing a pearl necklace. The white pearls made her look as elegant and graceful as a swan. “The pearl necklace sister gave to Declan looks great. He made it into a necklace for me.” The bright color stung my eyes; these pearls were condensed from my inner energy. To treat Declan’s low sperm count, I trained day and night, fainting from exhaustion several times, nearly going mad. It took three years to condense these few pearls. As long as he carried my inner energy with him, he could regain normal fertility. I still remember Declan’s surprise when he received this gift. “A gift from Cora, I’ll definitely treasure it.” He carefully placed the pearls close to his heart: “Keeping them here is like having you by my side.” His gentle smile seemed like yesterday, yet today he trampled on my feelings. I stared at the screen, suddenly unable to breathe. Since I’ve decided to leave, I must take back my inner energy. I immediately went to the Declan Family villa. As soon as I opened the door, I felt like I was in an ice cave. “Ouch, Declan, you’re hurting me…” A whimper came from inside, the voice rising and falling as if she couldn’t catch her breath. “Little seductress, who told you to be so alluring? How about giving me another child?” A low, deep laugh from Declan. “No… If sister comes back and sees, she’ll be mad…” Nora’s intermittent pleading. Declan coldly snorted, “So what if she sees?” “We’ve been together for three years, and her stomach hasn’t shown any signs. Should I let the Declan Family have no heir for her?” “If she hadn’t been so cunning and sucked up to Mr. Declan Sr., insisting I marry her, I would’ve broken up with her long ago.” “A woman full of schemes. Once her tricks fail, she’ll come crawling back to me.” I stood silently by the door, tears falling silently. It turns out his love was fake. He was marrying me only because of Mr. Declan Sr.’s orders. I clenched my palm tightly, listening to their breath grow heavier, growing more intense, not knowing how long it had been… The door opened. Declan’s clothes were disheveled. Seeing my tear-streaked face, he was first stunned, then a mocking smile appeared: “Regretting it? I thought you could stay tough until New Year.” My fingertips unconsciously clenched: “Declan, where’s the pearl I gave you? Give it back to me.” He frowned, looking indifferent: “It’s just a string of pearls. Is it that important?” My grievance exploded: “Yes, it’s important! It represents my hard work, and you ruined it. I want to take it back!” Just then, Nora suddenly pushed open the door: “Sister, don’t make things difficult for Declan. It was me who insisted on having your pearls. Declan had no choice but to give them to me.” Her eyes were red, the pearl necklace on her neck shining brightly, making me look like a huge joke. Seeing Nora’s tears, Declan lost control. He suddenly grabbed my shoulders, his fingers almost digging into my flesh. “Cora, are you done yet? It’s just a lousy necklace. So what if I gave it to her? You’ve been in the Declan Family for three years, haven’t you seen enough good things? Why make a fuss over a necklace?” With that, he walked into the bedroom, grabbed a handful of cash from a drawer, and threw it in my face. “Is this enough? If not, have the butler swipe the card. Now get out!” Nora hurriedly clung to Declan’s arm: “Declan, don’t fight over me.” “If the necklace is that important to sister, I’ll give it back.” She took off the necklace and handed it to me, but just as I reached out to take it. Suddenly, she stumbled and fell heavily to the ground. “Ah! My child… My stomach hurts!” “I didn’t push her!” Surprised by Nora’s acting, I quickly explained. Declan ignored me and nervously held Nora in his arms, carefully asking her: “Nora, how do you feel? I’ll take you to the hospital.” “It’s nothing, I just lost my balance…” With tears glistening at the corners of her eyes, Nora looked at me pitifully: “Sister, I didn’t mean to take your place as Declan’s wife, but Declan treats me so well, I can’t bear to see him without an heir.” With that, she struggled to get up and kowtowed to me, continuously muttering: “I’m sorry… I’m sorry. I really didn’t want to ruin your relationship.” Declan’s forehead veins bulged, his eyes filled with disgust as he looked at me: “Are you satisfied now?” I looked indifferent; it was all her own performance. What did it have to do with me? Not wanting to argue further, I turned to leave. Who knew Declan would be provoked by my action? He suddenly shoved me. I fell heavily to the ground, my belongings scattering everywhere. Sharp pain spread through my body. Without the inner energy, my body was as weak as a human’s, and I couldn’t stand up from the pain. “What are you whining about? Get up.” Declan made no move to help, standing over me and scolding. Nora suddenly exclaimed, picking up the pregnancy test that had fallen: “Sister, when did you get depression?” Then she covered her face and sobbed: “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t gotten pregnant, sister wouldn’t have depression. I’ll leave now.” She cried as if she were about to faint, pretending to leave. Declan felt sorry for her, looking at me with loathing, as if I were a terrible person: “Cora, are you done yet?” “It’s just depression, it’s everywhere now. You think having depression will make me forgive you?” “Stop making a fuss!” “Big sister, when did you become depressed?” After saying this, she covered her face and sobbed, “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t gotten pregnant, you wouldn’t have become depressed. I’ll leave now.” She cried so hard she nearly passed out, pretending to leave. Declan was overwhelmed with emotion and looked at me with disgust, as if I were unforgivable: “Cora, are you done yet?” “It’s just depression, isn’t it? Everyone’s dealing with it these days. Do you think having depression will make me forgive you?” “Even being unreasonable has its limits!” He snatched the pregnancy test from Nora’s hand and tore it up without even looking at it. He judged me so harshly, and I looked at Declan in disappointment, as if I never knew him. Afraid of revealing my tear-streaked face, I turned to leave. Declan suddenly grabbed me, a flash of panic in his eyes, but it quickly turned cold again: “Ha, trying to get my attention again?” “Do you think I’ll fall for your trick?” “If you want to leave, then go. Just don’t come back. Seeing you cry is annoying.” The pearl necklace fell to the ground, now covered in dust. In an unnoticed corner, these pearls, along with my once sincere heart, were trampled into the mud. I broke free from his grip and left without looking back. Back home, I lay on the bed, allowing my energy to slowly dissipate, and this body gradually stopped breathing. Declan didn’t want this child, but the debt to the Declan Family is repaid, and my task is complete… I transformed into my true form, feeling a bit lost, having lived here for over three years. Suddenly, my phone rang, and Asher’s cool voice came through: “Are you ready? I’m coming to get you.” At Asher’s Family, I was stunned by the sight before me. Everywhere there were exotic plants and tall trees, like a fairytale realm. “Do you like it?” Asher held my hand, his palm dry and warm. “This will be your home from now on. Feel free to be yourself.” “Okay,” I replied softly. After I left, without my interference, Declan and Nora became even more reckless. They indulged themselves in the villa, oblivious to the world. Until the butler urgently knocked on the door. Annoyed by the interruption, Declan was furious. He grabbed a glass from the bedside and smashed it against the door: “Get lost!” “Mr. Declan, it’s really urgent!” The butler was anxious outside, knocking more urgently. Unable to ignore it, Declan grabbed a towel and opened the door. “What is it?” Seeing Declan’s barely contained anger, the butler shrank back, his voice trembling: “Miss Chen… Miss Chen is dead…” Declan froze at the words, his body involuntarily leaning forward as if afraid he’d misheard. “Say that again…” The butler’s voice grew quieter: “The cleaning staff, who regularly cleans, smelled something strange in the villa, thinking a rat had died inside…” “She didn’t pay attention until she cleaned the master bedroom and saw Miss Chen lying motionless on the bed, her body already decomposing.” Declan’s knuckles cracked as he grabbed the butler’s collar: “I don’t believe Cora is dead. Are you and she conspiring to deceive me?” “She was fine a few days ago, how could she possibly be dead!” Nora, standing quietly beside, gently held Declan’s arm: “Big sister is strong-willed, maybe she’s joking.” Declan felt a sudden surge of anger. Yes, Cora had caused a scene a few days ago and he sent her away. Perhaps she was unwilling and used this trick to get his attention. Thinking this, Declan’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Tell Cora to stop playing these petty tricks. I won’t fall for it.” “If you join Cora in her antics again, don’t bother coming to work.” Without waiting for the butler to speak, he closed the door. The butler sighed helplessly and could only have the body taken to the morgue for freezing. After ignoring Cora for two months, Declan figured she wouldn’t dare cause trouble again. Today was Mr. Declan Sr.’s return day. He had to take Cora to the family banquet; otherwise, Mr. Declan Sr. would be angry. Having ignored her for so long, Declan felt a bit guilty. He thought of bringing a gift back; Cora loved him so much, she would surely forgive him. Thinking this, Declan called the butler: “Notify Cora that I’m coming to pick her up today.” The butler looked up sharply: “Mr. Declan, but Miss Chen is already dead!” Declan furrowed his brow: “Butler, I’ve warned you before. If you keep playing along with Cora, you’ll…” Before he could finish, the butler quickly interrupted: “Mr. Declan, I’ve already sent Miss Chen’s body to the largest funeral home in the city.”

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On the tenth anniversary of my marriage to my childhood friend, Finn, he was killed in a car accident. While going through his things, I stumbled upon a beautiful red velvet box in his study. Inside was a diamond hairpin, placed with such care and reverence. I recognized it immediately. In high school, my twin sister, Eloise, wore it all the time. 1. I couldn’t tell if the ten years we spent together were genuine or just a facade, and soon after, I died due to a gas leak. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back in my second year of high school. I lay in bed, feverish and weak, unable to move even a finger. The house was empty. My parents had taken Eloise on a trip abroad to celebrate her top-three ranking in exams, while I stayed home to study due to my poor results. I struggled to reach for my phone on the bedside table, nearly collapsing from exhaustion. It happened the same way in my previous life, but someone came to save me, stirring my lifeless heart and leading to ten years of deception. Half-awake from the pounding headache, someone was carrying me. He anxiously called my name, and I leaned against his strong, lean back, feeling secure and surrounded by the scent of his laundry detergent. Finn, our ten-year marriage was a sham, but why were you the only one to save me in my despair? A hot tear rolled down my cheek and onto his collar. When I woke up, I was in the hospital. A nurse came by to remove my IV and smiled. “Your classmate went to get you some food. You can wait here for a while.” I looked at the bruised needle marks on my hand and shook my head. “I want to go home. Could you please let him know, nurse?” Dragging my recovering body home, I opened the door to find the house filled with laughter. My arrival silenced everything, leaving an eerie stillness. Griffin frowned. “It’s so late, why are you just getting back? You did poorly on this exam and still had the nerve to go out. Can’t you learn from your sister? I’d be thanking my lucky stars if you were half as considerate as she is.” Tension filled the air, ready to ignite. Eloise silently retreated to her room with her gift bag. Beatrix went to the master bedroom, came back with a metal hanger, and said coldly, “Kneel.” Suppressing my exhaustion, I just wanted the farce to end quickly. I knelt obediently. The sound of the hanger slicing through the air was sharp, and it hit my back hard. I stifled my painful groan, cold sweat dripping from my forehead. I didn’t know how long it took before Beatrix put the hanger away, saying coldly, “Go away.” I gritted my teeth and stood up. As I did, my vision went dark, and I almost fell. Supporting myself against the wall, I walked step by step back to my room, hearing Beatrix’s voice behind me. “I don’t know what you’re pretending for.” I pretended not to hear, closed the door, and after a while, it opened again. Eloise tiptoed in with a small shopping bag. She grabbed my hand, checking the treated needle marks, her body trembling, her fingertips cold. “Are you sick? Why didn’t you say anything?” I pulled back my hand and said indifferently, “What’s the difference? Whether it’s for going out or talking back, I’d still be beaten.” Holding her cold hand, I smiled, “I’m the one getting hit, not you. What are you afraid of?” Eloise was silent for a moment, “Will they treat me like this one day?” Surprised, I reassured her with a smile, “No, they love you so much.” Eloise seemed to ponder something, shook her head, and handed me the shopping bag. “Open it, I got you a gift from abroad. Do you like it?” I didn’t need to look to know what it was. Inside was the diamond hairpin Finn had cherished for ten years. In the previous life, Eloise had given it to me too. But it was like Cinderella wearing glass slippers before her transformation, a mismatch. I wore it only once before returning it to Eloise. The sparkling diamond hairpin suited her, dressed beautifully and expensively every day, much more than it did plain and shabby me. “It’s not for me.” I refused Eloise without even opening the bag. She didn’t insist, after all, she liked the hairpin very much. 2. Having not slept all night, I got up early. In this situation, it’s hard to sleep, unexpectedly returning to the nightmare of my youth. “Eloise, hurry up, Finn is waiting downstairs.” I slowly packed my books. Finn was our neighbor across the door. Except for high school, the three of us were always classmates from childhood. In the past life, I thought it was a childhood friend’s fate. Now, knowing the truth, it seems the childhood sweetheart wasn’t me. Eloise suddenly opened my door, clinging to my arm, acting coy. “Can you find an excuse to leave early after school?” Looking at the shy girl before me, I understood. I was in the way. I nodded. “From today, you don’t have to wait for me to go to and from school.” “Great!” Eloise cheered, not finding anything wrong. On the way to school, they walked side by side. I followed a few steps behind, watching them. The refined boy and the pretty girl seemed like a perfect match. And I was just someone deeply insecure and sensitive, wishing to disappear from everyone’s view on the road. I sneered inside, wondering how I believed Finn truly liked me in the past life. Seeing Finn’s figure, thoughts of the ten-year deceitful marriage filled me with uncontainable resentment. Up ahead, Finn suddenly stopped, turning back to meet my resentful gaze. His steps faltered, hesitated for a moment, and asked, “Sage, how are you feeling? Has your fever gone down? The nurse told me you left the hospital.” I shook my head, saying nothing. Finn’s concern now overlapped with the past life’s deceit, leaving me unable to discern if he genuinely cared or had other motives. Seeing my cold attitude, Finn didn’t push further, just slowed his pace to walk with me. But I distanced myself, walking even slower. After tugging back and forth, Finn finally fell a few steps behind me. His eyes were cold, lingering on my neck. Returning to class, the noisy room fell silent instantly. Some girls sneered at me again. “The ugly duckling is here to escort the prince and princess to school.” Ignoring their harsh words, I cleaned the trash from my desk and approached them. “No matter how much you ridicule me, Finn won’t look at you.” “And stop stuffing your trash in my desk. This isn’t a dump.” The girl was stunned, not expecting the usually timid and quiet me to retort. Realizing it, she was furious, smacking the trash bag from my hand. “What makes you think you can talk to me like that!” Some boys who liked her glared at me, and others just watched, offering no help. But it’s okay. I learned this truth long ago. “If you’re upset, we can go to the teacher. I can tell them how you’ve been stuffing trash and mice in my desk since the start of school.” My sudden toughness caught the girl off guard. She stammered, “Fine, you’ll pay for this.” I knew she wouldn’t let it go, but I didn’t expect her to lock me in the bathroom. “You dare mess with me? This bathroom has some mice. You deserve to stay with them.” The squeaking echoed through the bathroom, and I saw a few rats, the length of an adult’s forearm, near the corner pipe, slick and shiny, their eyes darting at me. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell the teacher?” Saying that made me want to laugh. It sounded so much like a child’s tattletale. A boy’s voice answered, “There are no cameras here. If we don’t admit it, who will believe you?” Things were getting tricky. I promised Eloise I wouldn’t walk home with them tonight, and now this. No one would come looking for me. I sighed, finding a clean corner to crouch down. In class, I was always quiet, my grades average, practically invisible. But Eloise was my sister, outspoken, direct, with low emotional intelligence, offending many people. Compared to pretty, smart Eloise, I was the easy target for those she’d upset. 3. Night deepened, the damp, stinking bathroom growing restless, rats occasionally brushing against my legs, making my skin crawl. Suppressing my fear and frustration, I waited for the long night to pass. “Sage? Are you in there?” “Finn?” Hearing my voice, Finn grew more urgent. “Step away from the door!” The bathroom door was violently kicked open, and Finn stood there, catching his breath, meeting my eyes. The door had been locked, and Finn had pounded on it so hard his arm was bleeding, blood trickling down. I had prepared myself to stay here all night, not expecting him to find me. Why was it always him, appearing when I was desperate? Why him? My heart was in turmoil, resentment replaced by an indescribable emotion, filling me, bringing tears to my eyes. The lights in the school building were already off, and Finn stood shrouded in darkness, his emotions unreadable. His voice was low. The bathroom door was kicked open harshly, and the young man, out of breath, looked at me with his eyes lowered. The door had been locked, and Finn hit it so hard that blood started to slowly drip down his arm. I was ready to stay here all night, not expecting it would be him who found me. Why does he always show up when I’m in trouble? Why is it always him? My heart was a whirlwind of emotions, with resentment replaced by an inexplicable feeling that made my eyes well up with tears. The school building’s lights had long been turned off, and Finn was hidden in the darkness, his emotions unreadable. His voice was low. “Weren’t we supposed to go to and from school together? I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.” I nodded, unsure of what to say. Finn suddenly spoke up. “Sage, why don’t you want to go to and from school with me anymore? Do you really dislike me?” I was taken aback. In my past experiences, Finn and I didn’t interact much before graduating from college, and now things seem to be following that same path. How could there be any talk of dislike? “Eloise said you really dislike me, and my parents always compare my grades to yours. I’m sorry.” “I can help you with your studies. Can you stop disliking me then?” Finn turned his head away, not daring to look at me, his fair earlobes turning red. I thought I was hearing things. Seeing I didn’t respond, Finn spoke again. “Let’s go to school together again tomorrow. I’ll wait for you.” With that, Finn disappeared, leaving me standing there in a daze. When I finally stumbled back home, Griffin, who had been waiting for a long time, kicked me over. “It’s so late, where have you been? What kind of girl comes home this late after school? If you were as self-respecting as your sister, I wouldn’t have to worry so much!” I lay in pain on the ground, unable to get up for a long time. Beatrix sat on the sofa, holding a clothes hanger. “You need a beating to remember. Look at you, what’s the difference between you and animals out there?” She pulled Eloise, who was standing beside her, down to squat. Eloise’s body was stiff, but she obediently crouched down. Beatrix patted her head with satisfaction. “That’s how to be good. Don’t be like your sister and make me worry.” She lovingly caressed Eloise’s cheek, not seeing her instant pale face and slightly trembling hands. Just when I thought I was out of options tonight, desperately trying to think of a way out. “Auntie.” Finn returned and, seeing me on the ground, quickly helped me up. “Sage didn’t do well on this exam, so I tutored her longer than expected. I lost track of time. Auntie, don’t blame her.” Beatrix put the hanger behind her and smiled. “No problem, it’s late. Hurry home.” Finn was sent away, and Beatrix, losing interest, tossed the hanger aside. “Go back to your room.” I was a bit surprised. I didn’t expect a casual word from Finn would make Beatrix let me off. I was also surprised Finn appeared when I was in danger. In the room, Eloise appeared at some point, looking at me with a somewhat resentful gaze. “You did it on purpose, didn’t you?” I frowned, not knowing what Eloise was talking about. “You promised me you wouldn’t go to and from school with Finn anymore, and then you turn around and play this trick. Sage, are you playing games with me?” I didn’t expect Eloise to like Finn. I patiently explained. “It was an unexpected situation today.” Eloise’s expression twisted a bit, and then she smiled. “You like Finn? Sage, do you think you deserve him?” “Do you even look at yourself? You dare to compete with me?” I was stunned. The sister who would cry when I was beaten, who always bought me nice things when we went out, actually thought I was someone who could be trampled on. Thinking of Finn and my sister’s closeness, Eloise couldn’t bear it anymore. Her sharp nails dug into her palms as she tore off the facade of sisterly harmony. “I’m really fed up! You’re not better than me in any way. Why do our parents always compare me to you?” Eloise fiercely wiped away her tears, her gaze fierce. “When I was young, I didn’t understand why our parents always hit you. I felt sorry for you but didn’t dare to resist them, fearing they’d treat me the same way one day.” “Later, I realized it. The one favored isn’t important, nor is the one ignored. What’s important is that the family needs a scapegoat.” “Sage, do you know? Every time they treated you like that, I couldn’t sleep at night from fear, and my heart ached! I studied desperately, trying to improve myself to have more value in their eyes, so they’d continue choosing you as the scapegoat.” Eloise covered her face in pain, her body trembling. “They love me because I have value. You love me hoping I’d speak for you. Only Finn loves me because he would protect me with his life.” “When I was bullied as a child, he was the only one who, despite having no relation to me, would do anything to protect me.” Eloise’s beautiful face was full of tears, her eyes red. “I won’t let anyone take him away!” No one knew how scared she was inside. Every time Sage was beaten, the connection between the twins made her feel Sage’s pain. She knew that if she lost her value, their parents would treat her like Sage. Only Finn could offer her a moment of relief from the fear and suffocation. But why, why take Finn away, why leave her in complete darkness? I’m unable to proceed with the translation as it appears there is no text provided. Could you please supply the Chinese text that needs translating? 4. I recall what Eloise mentioned. There was a group of boys in our neighborhood who enjoyed picking on others. Back then, Eloise was pretty but shy, making her an easy target for their antics. Whenever I tried to defend my sister, I’d end up getting bullied too.

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In the fifth year of our marriage, I helped my wife’s family business, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, go public. At the celebration party, my wife showed up with a pair of twins and her much-admired ex-boyfriend. She remarked, “Jack is a top student, and you should appreciate him for bringing in some fresh genes to improve the family line.” “You’ll still stay with my family, and as a token gesture, one of the kids can take your last name.” She wanted me to step down from my Vice President position. “The company’s success has nothing to do with you. Even a pig can fly when there’s a strong enough wind!” “Replace you with Jack, and he’ll do even better!” Everyone was mocking me, and my father-in-law and mother-in-law, who always claimed to value me, silently agreed with everything. Watching this shameless family, I sneered, “Fine, let the Anderson Group go bankrupt then!” “Declan, what kind of joke is this? Everything you have now was given to you by our family!” “If the Anderson Group goes bankrupt, you’ll have nothing left!” My wife Fiona didn’t believe a word I said and continued to mock me: “I even thought about letting you manage the company as a formality after you step down as VP.” “But now it seems someone as lowly as you, with ambitions beyond reach, is unworthy of managing our Anderson Group!” “I want a divorce. Get out of the Anderson Group!” I looked at Fiona’s disgusted, perfectly made-up face and gritted my teeth: “Fine, let’s divorce!” Fiona sneered and handed me a divorce agreement. The terms demanded that I leave with nothing! “When you married into our family, we signed an agreement. If we divorce, you can’t take a penny, and you have no right to refuse!” Instinctively, I looked at my in-laws. Fiona might not understand my contributions to the company since she doesn’t work, but they should know better. But my in-laws, who praised me at lunch, now avoided eye contact, their stance clear! Amid the guests’ laughter, I heard some whispers. “No matter how capable Declan is, he’s just a son-in-law living with them. If his wife says to dump him, she can dump him!” “He’s just brought in billions in revenue for the company, acting all superior in front of us. But at home, he’s still just a pushover for his wife.” I knew these people always looked down on me. Even though I poured my heart into Anderson Group and took it public in five years, expanding into overseas markets. I looked at my wife and the man behind her, and the last glimmer of hope in my heart extinguished. The person I once shared a bed with used me as a stepping stone, secretly plotting with that man to replace me entirely! “Alright!” I choked out. Before I finished speaking, Jack eagerly put his arm around Uma’s shoulder: “Oh dear Una, rest assured. With my help, the company will develop even faster!” Uma returned his embrace, her radiant smile dazzling, stinging my eyes! It was a smile she never showed me! Even though I married into her family and endured countless humiliations! Even though I turned myself into a vassal of the Anderson family! With those thoughts, I hesitated no more. I signed the divorce papers and left without looking back!

As soon as I left, the employees who never respected me started to gossip. “With that son-in-law gone, our days will be much better.” “Yeah, the Andersons are wealthy and kind. With Declan gone, company benefits will surely improve!” “I heard from a friend in the secretarial department that the Andersons wanted to increase employee benefits several times, but that son-in-law always vetoed it. After climbing from the bottom, he looked down on us!” Not far from them, I heard their words and couldn’t help but chuckle. Did they really think I could veto decisions made by the top leadership? In fact, during my years in charge, I constantly applied for benefits for the company, only to be blocked by my in-laws, who didn’t want to give any benefits, wishing employees would work for free. Now, hearing them praise my in-laws as kind-hearted, I almost laughed! If I hadn’t always spoken up for the employees, they wouldn’t be so eager to kick me out. To them, I was just a VP. Kicking me out was no big deal! I left the venue and called a number that had been in my phone for five years. “I’m done with Fiona.” The person on the other end chuckled coldly: “You should have ended it sooner! Since I found out Fiona was seeing other men, I’ve been telling you to leave. Now you’ve finally come to your senses! Since that’s the case, come home.” “For years, you stopped me from taking action against the Andersons, but I won’t hold back anymore.” I said, “Got it, sis. I’ll come home soon.” Fiona didn’t know I was actually from a wealthy family. Years ago, due to family changes, my sister had to exile me to protect me. Two years ago, she finally avenged us against the Li family, allowing us to live peacefully again. She reconnected and showed evidence of Fiona’s affairs. Unfortunately, I was still in love with Fiona then, thinking she hid it because she loved me. Why else would she do it, right? Despite knowing my unreliable in-laws, I started planning for any unforeseen changes, hoping to have leverage against the Andersons. But I never thought I’d need to use it. After losing hope, I agreed to go home. My sister immediately wanted to send someone to fetch me. I smiled and said, “No need. I should handle these things myself.” My sister agreed but couldn’t help but nag: “I’ve always told you to come home. I’m getting married, and the family business will be yours. There’s no need to marry into another family. Who needs a small, shabby company like that?” “For your next marriage, I’ll find you a suitable heiress.”

The next morning, Fiona was at the registry before I was for the first time. Throughout our seven years of dating and marriage, she always made me wait, whether for a small meal or a whole day of plans. She’d rather pay to replay a movie than arrive early. For her, it was a game to tame me. Making me wait at least half an hour each time showed I loved her. Seeing me, she stood there arrogantly, waiting for me to approach. I coldly looked at her and said, “If you don’t come over, there won’t be a divorce.” That hit a nerve, and only then did Fiona walk over. After getting the papers, she smugly said. “Look at you now, older than Jack and less capable.” “Did you know? Yesterday, Jack took over the company and immediately signed a big contract with Carter Corporation! You couldn’t close that deal after a month, but he did it right away. Haha, without you, my future is smooth sailing!” I coldly watched her, not bothering to respond. Carter Corporation’s contract was always picky, and they were rushing us lately. I didn’t take it because I suspected issues with the deal. I didn’t expect Jack to take it right away. He didn’t even consider if it would impact them. It seems this so-called top student might be overhyped. Anyone with a brain wouldn’t make such a blunder. I sneered, too lazy to deal with these fools, and turned to leave. As I stepped outside, I saw an eye-catching Rolls Royce my sister sent. The woman in the car took off her sunglasses, revealing a stunningly beautiful face. It was my sister’s longtime friend, Phoebe. Seeing me looking, Fiona sneered: “Don’t bother looking. No matter how much you look, she won’t be yours!” I ignored her and walked over. The woman got out, smiling as she tossed me the keys, saying: “Young Master, the car returns to its rightful owner.” I got in the car, and as I did, Fiona’s disdainful voice rang out: “You brought out a domestic limited edition car, Declan. I didn’t know you loved me this much. Too bad, do you think I can’t tell you’re putting on a show, trying to make me think you’re a super-rich second generation so I’d grovel and beg?” I found her amusing. Fiona, spoiled since childhood, always carried an unwarranted confidence. Seeing my silence, she added. “Don’t forget, the only one available for rent is with my friend. Do you believe I can call her now, and she’ll revoke your rental rights, ensuring you never rent a luxury car for show again?” I ignored her foolishness, hit the gas, and sped away. The phone rang, and Phoebe put it on speaker. I heard Fiona’s furious voice: “Without you, my life will get better and better! And you, you’ll always be the trash beneath my feet!” “If you’re smart, come back and apologize on your knees. I might consider giving you a way out. Otherwise, let’s see how long your little stash can keep you alive!” I disregarded that foolish woman, stepped on the gas, and quickly drove away. My phone rang, and Phoebe put it on speakerphone for me. I heard Fiona yelling, “Without you, my life will only get better! And you, you’ll always be beneath me!” “If you have any sense, come back and beg for forgiveness. I might consider giving you a way out. Otherwise, let’s see how long your little stash of money can keep you afloat!” I replied, “Fiona, after the divorce, you have no right to involve yourself with me, understand?” With that, I hung up and threw the phone out of the car, deciding to sever all ties with her completely. Phoebe taunted me, “You and your sister fought over this woman for years?” I was at a loss for words. “Wanna grab a bite at my place?” She replied, “Of course, after all, I am your future fiancée.” I paused, a bit taken aback. I hadn’t expected my sister to have plans for us. Phoebe just smiled and asked, “What, you don’t like me?” I thought, it’s not about liking or disliking. After all, no matter how promising the beginning, the end is always the same.

Back home, my sister looked at me for a long time, snorted, yet didn’t say anything. She directly arranged for me to join the company and handed over all her responsibilities to me, showing complete trust. It warmed my heart. In the Anderson Family for years, I never earned this kind of trust. They either criticized me for not being a top university graduate or complained that a project I handled lost them a million dollars. No matter how much I explained about relationships, long-term benefits, or concessions, they didn’t care. When their precious daughter brought home an unknown man, they immediately arranged for me to divorce her. I don’t know how much my in-laws despised me over the years. Even when they smiled at me, they were always thinking about how to get rid of me. Thinking back now, I was foolish. But not anymore. My sister placed Phoebe by my side, supposedly to help me take over the company. I looked at the woman in front of me, speechless. She stretched out her leg wrapped in black stockings and teasingly asked, “What, afraid of me?” Afraid of her? I snorted. But it led us to start working together on company matters. Soon, we were handling the first deal after I returned to the company. Just after the project was discussed, I got a call from Fiona. “Things haven’t been going well for you, right? Here’s a chance. If you lower your head and apologize to me, I’ll let you come back to work at the company. How about that?” I knew right away that Fiona must have run into some trouble with a project. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so generous. I said, “No thanks.” I was about to hang up when she suddenly yelled, “Declan!” “I’m giving you a chance because we were married for years. Otherwise, believe it or not, I’ll blacklist you online, and you’ll never find a decent job again!” I laughed, more in disbelief than anger. “No need. Without you, I’m doing just fine.” I hung up. A minute later, she called back, unable to contain her frustration. “Do you know there’s a problem with the project you signed before? The company is expected to lose fifty million! If you don’t come back and fix it, I’ll sue you and make you pay!” 5 Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh. Her inexplicable confidence was both amusing and puzzling. “Go ahead then, do as you please. I’ve already left the company, so whatever happens there is no longer my concern. If you insist on blaming me, I have nothing to say.”

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Jasper’s childhood friend insisted on climbing a rugged mountain on her birthday, despite the bad weather. And I, three months pregnant, was the only one experienced enough to lead the climb. Ignoring my desperate pleas, he casually remarked, “Adeline, take Fiona to the summit for her birthday, and I’ll allow you to stay by my side.” I stood frozen, silent for a long time, then replied, “Okay.” Suddenly, a storm hit the mountain. I got drenched while saving Jasper, who slipped off a cliff, and was struck by falling rocks that broke my arm, causing severe bleeding and excruciating pain. Jasper, however, took the only survival blanket and wrapped it around Fiona, who remained dry and comfortable in the cave. “Fiona has never climbed a mountain and is weak. You have rescue experience, so don’t compete with her!” I lay in the mud, developing a high fever, clutching my painfully aching abdomen, my throat too hoarse to utter a word. Even so, Jasper didn’t spare me a glance. On the brink of death, I shakily took out a yellowing photo from my pocket. The person in it smiled gently, resembling Jasper by seventy percent. I softly pressed the photo to my cold lips and closed my eyes. Seven years ago, Asher died from exposure during a storm trying to save me on a wild mountain, leaving no remains behind. His dying wish was for me to take care of his only brother. Now, a life for a life, the debt is repaid, and it’s time for me to go.

Waking up in the hospital, I was wrapped in bandages, with nowhere that didn’t hurt. My intact hand instinctively moved to my abdomen, only to feel cold emptiness. —The child I had longed for was gone. Tears rolled down my cheeks, cutting into my heart like knives. Suddenly, my phone rang with Jasper’s special ringtone. I pushed through the pain to answer the call. “Hello…” “Why are you only answering now? How many times have I called you?” Jasper’s voice was extremely impatient, with faint sobbing in the background. “What nonsense have you been feeding my parents? Fiona just came and got scolded, and now she’s crying.” “Isn’t it just losing a child? You keep pulling these stunts that can’t be shown in public, do you really think I’m blind?” “I’ll give you ten minutes to call my parents and clear things up, or don’t blame me for being unsympathetic!” The next second, the call ended with a “snap,” not allowing me a word. How many times has this happened? I stared at the white ceiling, feeling a sting in my eyes, finding it absurd. Despite my diligent care and cautious efforts, no matter how much I gave, in Jasper’s eyes, it was all just a way to marry into the family, an unworthy trick. My child, bonded by blood, couldn’t even compare to a single tear from Fiona. The clock’s hands circled again and again. When the ninth lap was halfway through, I finally picked up the phone and dialed Jasper’s mother’s number. She answered almost immediately. “Adeline, you’re finally awake, your dad and I were worried sick. That brat Jasper…” “Aunt.” I softly interrupted her. “I don’t want to be with Jasper anymore.” The “mom” and “dad” I had called for seven years needed to change. Jasper’s mother understood my meaning, her voice choked with emotion. “Adeline, I know you’re heartbroken about losing the child, it’s our family’s fault.” “But you know Jasper, he’s a good kid, just blinded by that woman’s lies. Can you… can you give him another chance…” Jasper’s mother had a weak heart, prone to fainting from too much joy or sorrow. I was silent for a long time, then said: “If he can fold a thousand rainbow origami cranes for me, I’ll forgive him.” Jasper’s mother cried tears of joy. “Okay, okay, I’ll have him start folding right away, you’ll see them when you’re discharged.” She hung up hurriedly, just like countless times before, off to pester Jasper with chatter and reminders. But each time, Jasper never looked back. I reached into my pocket close to my heart, only to find it empty. The origami crane that had been with Asher’s photo had long been lost along the bumpy mountain path. The year after Asher died, Jasper folded a thousand origami cranes for me. Rainbow paper, page by page, densely filled with the intense affection of a young man. He didn’t know his brother once promised me a lifetime. Nor did he know that in the corner of my study, there was a half-filled jar of origami cranes folded by Asher himself. Both brothers used the same method to win over a girl. Looking at the origami cranes and his features resembling Asher’s, my heart skipped a beat, and I nodded. Later, when Fiona returned from abroad, she cried and made a fuss over those cranes. To appease her, Jasper burned them all. I rushed into the fire with red eyes, ignoring the scorching pain, and desperately saved the last crane. At that time, Jasper looked at my hands covered in blisters with disgust: “It’s just some origami cranes, you can get someone to fold more.” But he didn’t know that the company producing rainbow paper had closed years ago. Now, the last rainbow origami crane was lost in the stormy mire. I opened my contacts and found the mountain climbing team’s number. But before I could press dial, the hospital room door was kicked open. Jasper stormed in with bodyguards, throwing a stack of cheap colored paper at my face. “Adeline! How long are you going to keep this up!”

The thin paper’s sharp edges cut my cheek painfully. “Do you think you can pressure me into changing my mind by using my mom?” “This kind of shamelessly using my family to climb up to the Jasper family only makes me despise you more!” Jasper sneered, commanding the bodyguards to throw out all the decorations, furnishings, and fruit trays in the room, leaving only a barren, cold, white space. “From today on, you’re only allowed one meal a day. You can leave this room once you’ve folded a thousand origami cranes!” “In ten days, for Fiona’s birthday party, you’ll be tied up with the cranes and brought there!” My plastered right hand still throbbed with pain. My heart felt icy cold as I bit my lip hard, my voice hoarse. “…Why?” Jasper, why? What did I do wrong to make you treat me like this? Suppressed screams crashed around in my chest. I looked at Jasper, my eyes involuntarily turning red. Jasper met my reddened eyes, his breath hitched. He subconsciously reached out to me, almost like an embrace. The next second, he jerked his hand back, his face cold. “You know what you did!” “If it weren’t for Fiona’s kindness, still thinking of inviting you to the birthday party, I wouldn’t even bother looking at a woman as fickle as you!” My mind exploded. Confusion and grievance surged within me. I searched my memories for clues but found none. Emotions suppressed for so long suddenly surged and tore at me. I stubbornly looked at Jasper, my throat aching. “…What are you talking about?” Jasper’s lips pressed tightly together as he stared at me, then sneered. “With acting skills that good, it’s a pity you aren’t aiming for an Oscar.” “Do you really think you can hide it from me? On April 21st, five years ago, at 3 p.m., Fiona saw you on West Street…” I froze in place. April 21st, five years ago. —It was the sixth month of my relationship with Jasper and the third day since Fiona returned from abroad. I received a call. “When will you pick up the item Mr. Asher left at our club?” I couldn’t let go of Asher’s belongings, and I was afraid Jasper would overthink if he knew about our relationship, so I pretended it was a girls’ gathering and went alone. But when I arrived, I found that the club was a luxury club Asher would never have stepped into; the so-called belongings were a thick stack of white paper in an envelope. That club bore the name of the Aiden family. My heart sank bit by bit. I opened my mouth to explain: “Jasper, I…” A “ding” from the phone interrupted me. Jasper’s brows furrowed slightly, but relaxed as he saw the caller. It was Fiona. “Jasper, I’m worried Adeline might not have a nice dress for the birthday party, so I ordered her one. She shouldn’t mind, right—” “It’s a style that’s really popular among girls lately.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the screen and froze. —The dress in the photo was tight-fitting, with a neckline plunging nearly to the navel, barely covered by lace on the sides. The hem was so short it could hardly cover anything. I instinctively grabbed Jasper’s sleeve, my eyes pleading. Jasper paused, then glanced at me with a smirk, easily shaking off my hand: “She doesn’t mind, she loves it. She’ll definitely wear it.” My hand fell limply, and I closed my eyes, feeling dead inside. The call ended, and Jasper turned to leave, leaving two solidly built bodyguards behind. As the door was about to close, I called out to him. “Jasper.” He stopped in his tracks. “What if I told you… Fiona lied to you?” I croaked, my voice so faint it was almost inaudible. Jasper turned back, staring at me, his gaze icy and disdainful. “Fiona and I grew up together. She’s never lied to me, and I’ll always trust her unconditionally.” “Trying to sow discord between us? Do you think you’re worthy?” The door slammed shut with a loud bang, shattering my last hope. I picked up the phone again and dialed the mountain climbing team’s number. “Senior, is there still a position available in this year’s International Mountain Rescue Team?” “Yes, I’ve decided.”

The hospital didn’t dare defy Jasper’s orders. To make me fold origami cranes, they removed the cast they had just put on and replaced it with a simple splint. Jasper turned back, his gaze cold and filled with disdain. “I’ve known Fiona since we were kids. She’s never lied to me, and I’ll always trust her without question.” “Trying to come between us? Who do you think you are?” The door slammed shut with a loud bang, shattering my last hope. I picked up my phone again and dialed the number for the mountain climbing team. “Senior brother, is there still a spot on the International Mountain Rescue Team this year?” “Yes, I’ve made up my mind.” — The hospital, under Jasper’s orders, took off my cast and replaced it with a simple splint, all to make me fold origami cranes. My broken bone kept dislocating, and the pain was excruciating, with no relief in sight. Despite this, by the time the birthday party arrived, I had only managed to fold fewer than a hundred cranes. My fractured arm was numb with pain, I was so hungry I had lost weight, and my lips were pale and colorless. When Jasper found out, he simply dismissed me as “useless.” Even the bodyguards looked at me with sympathy. On the day of the birthday party, I couldn’t dress myself because my fracture hadn’t healed. After begging repeatedly, even kneeling at Jasper’s feet, sobbing and crying, he finally had two female bodyguards roughly squeeze me into a makeshift “gown.” They then tossed me, trembling and curled up in pain, into the back seat of the car. “Roll down the window, take down the partition. Since you like being watched so much, let them have a good look!” Jasper’s voice was icy. It was then I realized, as I was hunched over in pain, that the short dress I wore was indecently revealing. Desperately, I straightened my body, enduring the excruciating pain to pull down the hem of my dress, turning my head in embarrassment. He sneered and finally told the driver to close the window. Maintaining this stiff posture until we arrived at the venue, my forehead was already covered in sweat. Jasper remained indifferent. He opened the car door and glanced at me coldly. “Get out by yourself. Don’t make me do it.” I gritted my teeth, protecting my fractured arm as I struggled to get out of the car, only to stumble from hunger— In an instant, I instinctively leaned toward the car, avoiding Jasper’s outstretched hand. My arm hit the car door, and my face turned pale. Jasper’s face darkened. “Even learned how to play hard to get, did you? I underestimated you.” Before I could respond, he turned and walked into the hall, not giving me a chance to explain. But fortunately, I didn’t need to explain anymore. My phone showed a message from my senior brother from the rescue team, sent half an hour ago. [I’ve entered the country. The mentor has already arranged the rehabilitation hospital, I’m coming to get you.] [The rescue team is thrilled you’re joining. The welcome party is ready, just waiting for you to arrive.] I lowered my eyes and followed Jasper into the banquet hall. Countless strange and curious gazes pierced into me like needles, making me tense up. “Oh, isn’t this Jasper’s person? Dressed like this… tsk tsk.” The malicious voice was unmistakably from Fiona’s toxic friends. I pressed my lips together, not wanting to engage. “Hey, Adeline is here.” The star of the party, in a pure white gown, approached with a bright smile. Jasper stood behind her in a white suit, holding her dress. Like a wedding scene, how fitting. I curled my lips into a sarcastic smile. In a tone as calm as water: “Happy birthday, Fiona.” “And, congratulations on your union.” Fiona’s smile froze, then she tearfully clung to Jasper’s arm, large tears falling. “I’m sorry, Jasper. I shouldn’t have worn this dress to make Adeline misunderstand, I’ll go change right away…” “Change what? You’re not changing a thing!” Jasper pulled Fiona into his arms, his eyes locked on me with disdain. “Inviting you was more than enough.” “Following me around shamelessly and still wanting to dictate terms, don’t even think about it!” “Don’t even mention misunderstandings. Even if I got engaged to her now, you have no right to intervene!” The surrounding jeers drowned me, making me feel like a complete joke. Seven years of companionship, and all I got was “no right to intervene.” Pain, shame, embarrassment, despair… When emotions hit their peak, all that’s left is endless numbness. “So can I leave now?” I looked calmly at Jasper, waiting silently in his cold gaze for three seconds, then turned to leave. The next moment, a foot suddenly stuck out from the crowd. Caught off guard, I lost my balance and fell forward. Simultaneously, the champagne tower beside me suddenly collapsed! Ninety-nine tiers of glasses crashed down with a piercing “crash,” shattering into a sea of glass shards. The thin dress soaked with wine, the broken glass cutting through fabric and skin, the wounds mixed with alcohol, spreading a pool of crimson blood. Everyone, including Jasper, was stunned. “Adeline! You…” “Jasper, I’m scared…” He instinctively wanted to step forward but was held back by Fiona. I couldn’t bear it any longer, standing up amidst the glass shards, dragging my tattered gown as I staggered outside. A modest sedan was parked at the entrance, my senior brother rushing out of it towards me anxiously. Behind me was Jasper’s shouting voice. “Adeline! There are doctors here, come back and sit down!” “Adeline! Come back!” I clenched my trembling hands, palms covered in cuts, blood dripping. I didn’t look back, nor did I glance at Jasper again. Until I was admitted to the hospital, I couldn’t stop trembling. “Your fractured arm has been repeatedly injured. Even when it heals, you’ll only be able to do normal activities. Strenuous exercise is out of the question.”

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I was five months pregnant when I found out I was carrying a child that belonged to Nolan and his true love. Back then, my father had groomed two childhood friends as potential suitors for me. I bypassed the one he favored and chose Nolan, who seemed uninterested and unambitious. Then one day, as my pregnancy progressed, I overheard a conversation between Nolan and his beloved: “Adeline’s uterine wall is thin, and she risks a miscarriage at any time.” “Nolan, are you really willing to let her risk her life to carry our child?” Nolan remained unmoved. “I’ll compensate Adeline later, but right now, your uterine cancer is the priority.” “Even if it means risking Adeline’s health, I want you to have a child that’s ours.” “You’ve suffered enough. I don’t want you to have any regrets.” “Besides, Adeline only bears 80% of the risk; there’s a 20% chance everything will be fine. Just endure the next five months.” I wiped away my tears and dialed a number I hadn’t called in years. “If I say I regret it, would you still want me?” …

I stood outside the door, feeling like I’d been struck by lightning, cold to the bone. On the other side, a woman’s screams rang out, then gradually subsided. Phoebe’s voice was still laced with seduction: “You didn’t touch her, did you? You promised me, in these last days, you’re mine alone, only crazy for me!” Nolan let out a satisfied laugh. “Such a little temptress, who was just begging for mercy?” Before I could make sense of it, the door opened before me. Nolan’s hair was disheveled, and there was a faint lipstick mark on his collarbone. The man standing before me carried a distinct scent. Nausea hit me hard, my stomach churning with morning sickness. Nolan, still looking pleased, was visibly startled to see me. His expression turned awkward as he noticed my pale face. In a voice still husky with desire, he asked cautiously: “Adeline? How long have you been standing there?” His Adam’s apple bobbed—a sign of his unease. I dug my fingers into my palm, forcing a strained smile. “I was just about to knock.” My throat tightened, and I looked away to control my trembling. “Nolan, I came to ask where you put my calcium tablets. Are you meeting with a guest?” Now was not the time for confrontation. Nolan visibly relaxed, clearing his throat. Before he could answer, Phoebe peeked out from behind him, playfully sticking out her tongue: “Adeline, I have some here.” She pulled out a bottle of calcium tablets, giggling as she handed it to me. “Nolan knows I hate drinking milk, so he’s been stuffing my bag with these since we were kids.” She stomped her foot happily: “He’s so annoying! The house is full of them, and I can’t finish them.” Phoebe, the daughter of Nolan’s family maid, grew up with him. Seeing the familiar pink bottle, I was at a loss. Nolan had once leaned against my belly, proudly handing me this bottle. “I had these calcium tablets specially made for you. Be sure to take them.” He’d said they were precious, only one bottle a month. I chuckled to myself. Inside, I felt barren. What moved me was merely someone else’s leftover. Seeing I didn’t take it, Nolan looked displeased. “What’s your problem now? Who are you giving attitude to?” “Am I giving you too much leeway? You’re making things hard for Phoebe.” In public, Nolan was always accommodating to me, but I was never to upset Phoebe. I used to think it was childhood friendship. Now, I realize I was naive. Five years of marriage, and my husband had his heart elsewhere. Five months pregnant, I was just a vessel. The illusion of happiness from a minute ago was now ashes. I looked at the man before me, who was clearly biased, feeling only disappointment. I gently caressed my slightly swollen belly, speaking in a low voice: “Nolan, it really hurts.” My shoulders shook, tears rolling uncontrollably. “It hurts so much.” Maybe my face looked really bad. Nolan’s dissatisfaction faded, replaced by nervousness. He warmed his hands, cautiously placing them on my belly. I felt no warmth from his palm. A wave of sorrow engulfed me, leaving me sobbing and breathless. Nolan, helpless, helped me sit down, wiping my tears with concern. He squatted in front of me, looking up: “Is it hurting badly?” My tears fell like rain, and I choked out: “Nolan, the doctor said my eggs weren’t good. How did I get pregnant with IVF this time?” For a child of ours, I’d been to the hospital countless times, my hands covered in needle marks. Hormone pills were my meals, and my hair fell out in clumps. The large egg retrieval needle made my whole body tremble with pain. Now I’m told this hard-won embryo is my husband’s and someone else’s.

Even if he could just tell me the whole truth right now… Nolan’s expression stiffened, panic flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained composure. “Don’t overthink it, maybe heaven saw our sincerity.” The faint hope was snuffed out. I lowered my gaze, hiding my turbulent emotions. The life inside me seemed to empathize, contracting suddenly. I placed a hand on my belly, feeling a stab of pain. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a red string on Phoebe’s hand. My gaze lingered; it was what I had prayed for at the Blue Mountain Temple, wishing for Nolan’s safety. Inside, woven with strands of my own hair. Sincerity? More like a joke. Neither of them noticed my change. Nolan handed me a glass of water, intending to feed me, a faint hint of guilt in his eyes. I shook my head, taking it and drinking it all in one go. Steeling myself, I took out my phone and messaged someone, scheduling a surgery. Nolan, feeling inexplicably uneasy, leaned over to look. “Adeline, who are you messaging?” His tone was displeased, tinged with jealousy. After confirming the surgery time, I turned off the screen emotionlessly. “Work stuff.” When Nolan asked, I didn’t miss the malice in Phoebe’s eyes. His unease grew, but Phoebe interrupted, clinging to his arm provocatively. “Nolan, you promised to take me for wedding photos today.” I ignored her. Compared to the child not being mine, nothing else mattered. Nolan licked his dry lips, awkwardly explaining. “Phoebe’s just childish, she wants to take some bridal photos and dragged me to be the groom for fun.” “Don’t mind it.” So the wedding photos were just a casual photo shoot. In five years of marriage with Nolan, we never even had wedding photos, just the one on our marriage certificate. My heart shattered, settling into silence. I gave a faint, indifferent smile, brushing away his hand on my belly. “If you promised her, go ahead.” Nolan sensed something was off, opened his mouth to explain more, but Phoebe tugged him away. He hurried out, reminding me: “Adeline, remember to take the calcium tablets Phoebe gave you. I’ll be back after the photos.” Once they left, I went straight to the hospital. Lying on the operating table, I felt a slight movement in my belly. Sorrow overwhelmed me instantly. I stared at the ceiling, letting tears soak into my hair. “Let’s begin.” Just as the anesthesia started to take effect, my phone rang. Nolan’s apologetic voice came through. “Adeline, the flowers are gone.” With just those words, I staggered off the operating table, rushing back. But I was too late; the blue and pink field of lily of the valley was already charred black. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground. Those flowers were my labor of love. I had traveled the world to find the seeds, planting them one by one on my knees. Even with a big belly, I squatted to weed, nurturing them carefully. Lily of the valley takes five years to bloom, and after five years, this was the year they finally blossomed. Before I could even rejoice, they were destroyed in the fire. I dug through the ashes, my hands trembling, finding even the seeds burned soft. Phoebe shrieked. “How are these still alive!” Her words caught my attention, and I leapt up, cradling the surviving flowers with blackened leaves. Thankfully, there was still hope for a new beginning. Phoebe’s eyes glinted with malice, and I sensed danger. Before I could react, she pretended to trip, pouring boiling water over me. Instinctively, I shielded the flowers, the scalding water cascading down my shoulder. The burn made me flinch, my skin blistering and swelling instantly. The popped blisters clung to my clothes, the friction making the pain unbearable. I looked at the intact seeds and sighed in relief. Failing once, Phoebe changed her face, ruthlessly kicking me aside. “Adeline, what’s your problem? Trying to make Nolan blame me?” She then smashed the hot kettle onto the remaining flower seeds. Lily of the valley is delicate, and the surviving seedlings were all scalded. Nolan looked at me coldly, his words full of disdain. I jerked from the burn, and the skin blistered and reddened immediately. The broken blisters stuck to my clothes, and the friction was so painful that I shuddered uncontrollably. I looked at the intact seeds below and let out a sigh of relief. But my relief was short-lived as Phoebe’s expression shifted dramatically. She kicked me aside without hesitation. “Adeline, what’s wrong with you? Are you trying to make Nolan blame me on purpose?” she snapped, then threw the kettle onto the flower seeds. The delicate lily of the valley seedlings were all withered by the scalding water. Nolan looked at me with disdain in his eyes. “Adeline, you’re about to become a mother, yet you still play these games.” “Phoebe is younger than you, and she should be calling you sister-in-law. Can’t you be a bit more accommodating?” Never have I seen a woman call someone sister-in-law while trying to steal her husband. My heart felt like it had turned to ice.

All I could see was a field of charred lily of the valley. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant hand, the pain making it hard to breathe. Tears fell uncontrollably, leaving trails in the sooty mess. My research, my family, my life’s work was destroyed like trash. What did I gain in the end? I helplessly held the lifeless lilies, feeling lost. Yet I couldn’t help but think of Nolan from six years ago. He stood excitedly in the front row, catching the bouquet at his best friend’s wedding. He rushed toward me, his face alight with excitement, kneeling before me with tears of sincerity in his eyes: “Adeline, will you marry me? I’ll treat you well for a lifetime.” I was moved by his sincerity and, against my better judgment, took the bouquet. The passionate youth was something that could never be regained. The vibrant lilies from the bouquet years ago had gradually turned into the charred land before me. There’s no going back. Never going back. I covered my tears and cried softly. Phoebe was still adding fuel to the fire, arms crossed and watching like a spectator: “Adeline, I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to set up an outdoor barbecue for Nolan. Who knew these flowers would catch fire so easily?” “Nolan, I’m really too clumsy.” Nolan didn’t see Phoebe’s malice, even gently coaxing her. My anger flared up, and I used all my strength to slap Phoebe hard. She was stunned, covering her face and looking at me in shock. Nolan’s eyes widened; he hadn’t expected the usually obedient and tolerant me to dare to confront Phoebe in front of him. He shoved me hard, burning with anger. “Phoebe already said it wasn’t on purpose. Why are you being unreasonable and even daring to hit her?” The force of his push made me fall to the ground, small stones embedding into my palm. He stood in front of another woman, completely forgetting who his wife was. The extreme pain turned into numbness. I no longer hoped for his return, looking at him with exhausted eyes. Nolan’s eyes flickered at my expression, a huge panic almost unstoppable inside him. But he stood there silently for a few seconds, hoarsely offering a truce: “Adeline, let it go, okay? We can plant flowers again later.” After speaking, he bent down to pull me up, but I gently shook off his hand. I shook my head, smiling bitterly. “No more. They can’t be replanted.” Just like my brave heart that once rushed towards him, it will never come back. Nolan’s Adam’s apple moved, thinking he had come up with a compromise. “I’ll have Phoebe drink three glasses of milk as an apology, okay? She’s always hated drinking milk; it’s the biggest punishment for her.” Is this a reward or a punishment? I looked at the man before me, feeling like I was seeing him for the first time. Phoebe pouted and whined. “Nolan, I don’t want to drink milk.” Nolan turned to negotiate with me. “Adeline, how about two glasses?” The scene before me was so absurd it was laughable. I couldn’t hold back and laughed like a madwoman, tears in my eyes. Pain hit me belatedly from where my back hit the stone, followed by a severe ache in my stomach. Warm liquid gushed between my legs. My face turned pale, the smile frozen. I forgot about the child’s existence, overwhelmed by panic. I clutched my stomach nervously, calling out in distress, looking at the man pleadingly. “Nolan, my child! The child!” Nolan instinctively moved to help me, but Phoebe called out and stopped him. Phoebe let out a scream, clutching her calf as she sat on the ground, tears welling up in her eyes. “Brother Nolan, I was just bitten by a snake! I’m so scared. Will I die?” Following her pointing finger, I saw a small green snake, no bigger than a thumb. It bites but is non-venomous and not deadly. Nolan gritted his teeth, glanced at me, and decisively turned to pick up Phoebe. She clung to his collar, her lips pale, deliberately acting like a victim. “Adeline, stop being childish. The doctor said a five-month fetus is stable. It’s not that fragile.” But my body wasn’t suited for pregnancy from the start. My condition is different from most. In the intense pain, I couldn’t speak, biting my lip until it bled. Cold sweat dripped down, and tears blurred my vision. The hesitation in Nolan’s eyes disappeared as he held Phoebe and looked at me coldly. “Adeline, you’ll do anything to bully Phoebe. I’ll deal with you later!” With that, he quickly got into the prepared car and left. The pain in my abdomen drained all my strength, and large beads of sweat formed on my forehead. Blood pooled beneath me. At this critical moment, my mind went blank. I only remembered the child I had carried for five months and hoped for years. Driven by a powerful will to survive, I shakily dialed a number. I felt the life inside me slipping away. The sensation of two hearts beating in unison was gone. My consciousness was blurry, but tears flowed uncontrollably. “Nolan, it really hurts,” I murmured, feeling the grip on my hand tighten suddenly. Then I fell into darkness. In my dream, I saw a petite girl in a purple dress I had embroidered. She waved at me from a field of lilies, her smile radiant. I moved beside her, crouched down, and inexplicably started to cry. A deep sorrow engulfed me. The little girl reached out, wiped my tears, kissed my face softly, and spoke gently, “Mom, don’t be sad.” Tears streamed down my face as I choked, wanting to embrace her small body, only to wake up suddenly, my arms empty. I clutched my now flat abdomen and finally broke down in tears. The man stood silently beside me for a long time, his eyes red with pain. I stayed in the hospital for a week. Nolan called countless times but never visited. On the day I was discharged, the man peeled open a candy and put it in my mouth. “Adeline, it’s all over. It won’t be bitter anymore.” The sweet grapefruit flavor exploded in my mouth, and I smiled. Sunlight filtered through my fingers, shining on my face, and I finally felt reborn.

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At the dining table, I dropped my chopsticks. When I bent down to pick them up, I saw my sister’s foot stretched between my boyfriend’s legs. She remarked, “Your current boyfriend is quite impressive. I’m satisfied.” Later, she got involved with my boyfriend and said to me, “What can I do, Celeste Parker? It seems no man around you can resist me.” I laughed and turned to embrace the man she had loved for five years. My sister broke up with my ex-boyfriend. “We’ve been dating for a month; isn’t breaking up normal?” Genevieve Parker said casually, as if she were merely deciding what to have for lunch. “But when you sent me those intimate photos, you said it was true love and hoped I’d step aside for you.” I sipped my coffee and glanced at Asher Bennett, who was still waiting outside in the heat, and sighed. Asher was the heartthrob of our department. Not only was he handsome, but he also excelled academically, and his family seemed quite affluent. His cool demeanor made him the ultimate campus idol. Many girls at our school were captivated by him, myself included. Though Asher was called my ex-boyfriend, technically he wasn’t. I was just a placeholder to fend off other girls, and our relationship was publicly acknowledged only a day before Genevieve took him away. That night, Genevieve sent me several explicit photos. “I was interested in him because you were, but your choice in men is really poor. Your first boyfriend, and you picked this loser.” Genevieve’s tone was full of regret. I knew Genevieve wasn’t truly interested in Asher; she just wanted to take everything I liked. Even if she eventually discarded it, she wouldn’t let me have it. Since childhood, she was jealous that my presence took away our parents’ love. So, anything I liked, she would find a way to take it. Toys I liked as a child, pretty dresses, and later, my boyfriends. “My taste wasn’t great before, but this time, I’ve found someone truly exceptional.” My eyes sparkled with admiration. Genevieve looked intrigued. “Really? I don’t quite believe this ‘high quality’ you’re talking about. When are you going to introduce him?” “He’ll come to pick me up soon.” As I spoke, I saw Milo Everett’s figure at the entrance of the café. I smiled, “There, that’s my boyfriend.” He wore a black T-shirt, tall and handsome, with a silver necklace around his neck. One hand was in his pocket, exuding a relaxed, carefree attitude. Compared to Asher, this kind of man seemed hard to control. I was enamored with such men, and Genevieve was too. She loved making all kinds of men fall for her, especially taking my men. I saw Genevieve’s eyes light up as she sized Milo up with a knowing smirk. I knew that expression too well. She had found her target. The more nonchalant a man is, the more it ignites a woman’s desire to conquer. Seeing Milo’s eyes fixed solely on me since he entered, Genevieve became even more excited. I frowned in displeasure. The reason I dared to bring Milo to Genevieve was that I trusted him. I’ve known him for two years, and he’s never been the type to be swayed by beauty. In terms of emotions, he’s a very devoted man. But looking at Genevieve’s alluring eyes, I felt unsure. Genevieve knew how to handle men, like Asher, who was so cool at school but lost himself with her. I held Milo’s hand, and he smiled at me warmly. I was confident I wouldn’t misjudge him.

Before leaving, Genevieve’s eyes were fixed on Milo. I watched Milo’s expression; he acted as if Genevieve wasn’t even there, fully focused on me. After leaving the café, I accompanied Milo to the playground. He had plans to play basketball with friends, and I held his jacket, sitting on the sidelines. Milo had a unique masculine charm, distinct from Asher’s. He was spirited and carefree like the sun in June, delightful to be around. Being with Milo was something I had deliberately planned. On the first day of school, I noticed him. He had seen a guy take advantage of a girl in the crowd and pinned him to the ground, beating him up. I still remember him in a black tank top, a silver necklace around his neck, a jacket draped over one shoulder, walking past me indifferently. My first impression of him was that he was carefree, with a roguish charm that deeply attracted me. Genevieve taught me that such men are harder to pursue. Persistence doesn’t work; it’s all about the method. Throughout freshman year, I didn’t make aggressive moves but tried to make myself familiar to him. In sophomore year, I began messaging him more, occasionally asking him out. To understand his likes, I did a lot of research. Gradually, our chats increased, almost becoming a daily good morning and good night, full of flirtation, just a step away from a relationship. Agreeing to be Asher’s fake girlfriend as a shield broke through that barrier. That night, Milo, eyes red, pinned me against a wall, asking why I was with another man. I knew my strategy of playing hard to get worked. After Genevieve swiped Asher away, I naturally got together with Milo. He was an excellent boyfriend. Over the past month, he perfected the boyfriend role. Even my roommates said they never expected someone like Milo to love so deeply. I trusted Milo’s feelings for me, but I didn’t know if he could resist Genevieve’s seductive and mature allure. Cheers erupted around us as Milo scored another basket. After the final shot, he walked toward me, the sun casting a golden glow around his smile. Milo ruffled my hair and asked, “Bored from waiting? I’ll take you out for something tasty.” I looked up and smiled brightly at him. “Sure.” He held my hand as we walked along the track’s edge, warm light enveloping us. I could feel the gentle pressure of his hand holding mine. I wished this moment could last forever.

As I anticipated, Genevieve eventually made her move. Recently, Genevieve’s visits to our school increased noticeably. Milo always picked me up at the dorm, and we had breakfast, attended classes, and went on dates together. But several times, I found Genevieve waiting with Milo downstairs. From a distance, Genevieve smiled brightly, and though Milo seemed indifferent, he’d occasionally respond to her. Genevieve acted like she belonged, inserting herself into our world. One day, Genevieve invited me to dinner, specifically asking me to bring Milo. I knew her intentions, but I still brought Milo along. When we arrived, Genevieve was already waiting in a private room. She seemed dressed to impress, with exquisite makeup. Her wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she wore a tight red mini-skirt. Her long, white legs were eye-catching, and the low neckline revealed her ample cleavage. Such obvious intentions? I brought Milo with a hidden agenda. I wanted to see if he could withstand Genevieve’s allure. “Milo, I heard you’re great at basketball. Can you teach me sometime?” Genevieve’s voice was soft and sweet. Milo replied indifferently, “If you really want to learn, you can hire a coach.” Genevieve wasn’t pleased with Milo’s attitude but seemed even more intrigued. “Why bother with a coach? You’re my sister’s boyfriend; I can just ask you.” I stirred my soup and heard Milo’s cold voice beside me. “You know I’m your sister’s boyfriend, so let’s avoid any misunderstandings.” Watching Genevieve’s face pale slightly, I almost burst out laughing. Genevieve rarely fails with men. This was probably her second time, the first being five years ago. Perhaps I was too obvious in my amusement, as Genevieve rolled her eyes at me. I let go of my spoon and said, “Oops, I dropped my chopsticks.” As I bent down to pick them up, they didn’t have time to react, and I saw Genevieve’s foot hadn’t been retracted. Yes, just now, without my knowledge, Genevieve had extended her foot towards Milo, even between his legs… Milo didn’t refuse. Was it because he didn’t have time, or did he not want to? I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. We finished dinner with mixed emotions. Milo Everett stepped out to take a call, and I waited for her at the door. Genevieve Parker came out after paying the bill and looked at me.

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Nolan experienced his tenth memory lapse, which unfortunately coincided with the night before our wedding. Just as I had done the previous nine times, I climbed to the thirty-third floor, attempting to call back his spirit. To my dismay, I overheard him talking to his friend, Griffin. It turned out the memory loss was a ruse, and he was planning to bolt from the wedding. Griffin asked, “Aren’t you worried Lydia will be hurt?” Nolan lazily replied after exhaling smoke, “She won’t know.” “Even if she finds out, she won’t leave me.” “Do you think she could make it without me?” “Do you think everyone can be as independent as Aurelia?” Aurelia. Nolan’s girlfriend during his ninth supposed memory loss. They still kept in touch. I felt tears as I touched my face. Instead of taking the elevator down, I walked from the thirty-third floor to the first and back up again. I did this repeatedly through the night until 3 a.m., when the makeup artist bombarded my phone with calls and dragged me back. She informed Nolan that I had a fever and couldn’t walk. Ten minutes later, Griffin messaged me. “Nolan’s memory problem isn’t solved yet.” “But I’ll ensure he picks you up on time.” I sat in a daze as the makeup artist worked on me, clutching my phone. From 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., 8 a.m., and then 9 a.m. The bridesmaids I had hired started to grow impatient, whispering among themselves: “The groom isn’t coming, is he?” “You mean… a runaway groom?” “Impossible.” One bridesmaid firmly refuted. “I was personally chosen by Mr. Nolan. I’ve seen how he cares for Fiona.” “I’d rather believe it’s… an accident on the way.” Perhaps it was an accident on the way. When Nolan first lost his memory, I thought the same. It was my 23rd birthday, and Nolan had just received his first paycheck after graduating college. We planned to have a buffet. I waited at the restaurant entrance, but he never showed up. I called Nolan, but he didn’t answer. He didn’t reply to my messages either. I called all his friends and searched the entire city. I finally found him at an unknown bar. He held a glass, looking at me with a confused expression, and asked, “Who are you?” I could only cry. The hospital couldn’t determine why Nolan lost his memory. A fortune teller claimed it was a lost soul. A close relative needed to climb high and call his name all night; there was a good chance he’d recover. Despite my fear of heights, I climbed to the thirty-third floor, closed my eyes, and called out with trembling legs: “Nolan.” “Come home.” I shouted all night, cried all night. My eyes swelled like walnuts. I couldn’t see clearly and accidentally fell from the thirty-third floor. There was a large platform on the thirty-second floor, and I fell onto it, breaking a leg. Luckily, Nolan remembered me. Later, he lost his memory a second, third, fourth… ninth time. I gained experience and was forced to overcome my fear of heights. But the duration of Nolan’s memory loss grew longer each time. During the ninth time, he even met a new girl. They had a fresh romance. That girl was Aurelia. I was treated as the other woman and got doused in red paint. Aurelia threatened, “If you keep bothering my boyfriend, next time it’ll be worse.” She also posted my embarrassing photos online everywhere. I was cyberbullied, overwhelmed with insults. I didn’t give up. I showed Nolan our wedding photos. “We’re almost getting married.” He only said—dream girl. “Even daring to Photoshop wedding photos.” Aurelia slapped me several times, cut off my long hair, took photos of me naked, and almost posted them online. Nolan’s memory returned just in time. He took me home, held me while I was terrified, and said, “Let’s get married.” I closed my eyes, avoiding the mirror showing my messy hedgehog hair. I wiped away my tears and nodded. It was the fifth time I forgave him. A tear was about to fall but vanished from my eye. I stood up. My overworked legs, after a brief rest, felt even more swollen and sore. I almost lost my balance. I gritted my teeth and persevered. I took off my veil, pulled off my wig, revealing my messy short hair. I told the bridesmaids, “Your task is over early.” For the tenth time, I wasn’t going to forgive Nolan. During Nolan’s fourth memory loss, I knew he was lying. I couldn’t find a reason. I repeatedly told myself, “Just forgive him one last time.” I convinced myself five times. Until last night, when I heard Nolan and Griffin’s conversation. “She’s not as good as Aurelia.” “She’s too boring.” “Only knows how to crochet.” “Tease her.” Until this morning, I waited and waited, but he never appeared. I staggered to find my suitcase and took out two crocheted dolls. They were of an eight-year-old Nolan and me. When I was six, my dad was a long-haul trucker and rarely came home. My mom, unable to bear the loneliness, cheated, and my dad caught her in the act. I watched them fall from a high building, both dying. After a year in an orphanage, Nolan’s parents adopted me. Another year later, Nolan’s parents went mountain climbing with friends. They died from hypothermia in an accident. On the day of the funeral, people surrounded me, looking down. They said, “Jinx.” “Killed your biological parents, and now your adoptive parents.” Hundreds of fingers poked my forehead. I stood there helplessly. Nolan’s eyes were red, silent, staring at me. I instinctively wanted to say sorry. But he took my hand. We passed a photo booth and took a picture together. He stared at the photo for a long time and said, “I’ll take care of you from now on.” That ‘from now on’ lasted until I was twenty-seven. I cut up the dolls. Packed all the crochet needles and yarn into my suitcase. As I was leaving, the bridesmaid who defended Nolan stopped me. “Maybe you should give Mr. Nolan more time.” “He really loves you.” I ignored her, but she persistently blocked me. “I’ve seen the wedding venue Mr. Nolan arranged for you, romantic and luxurious.” “He even custom-made a wedding dress for you.” “Even we bridesmaids were personally chosen by him.” “He said you’re slow to warm up, shy, and reserved, and asked us to take good care of you.” “He’s done so much for you, how could he not want you?” I was silent for a long time. Finally, I raised my eyes and curiously asked, “Why is it that he doesn’t want me?” “And not that I don’t want him?” I took off the custom-made traditional wedding dress. Handed it to the talkative bridesmaid. Left the place and hailed a cab. The driver kept asking where I was going. “Anywhere.” I leaned back against the seat with my eyes closed. My phone kept vibrating. The affluent lady, who frequently ordered crochet dolls from me, transferred money at 4 a.m. At 9 a.m., she inexplicably sent an apology. Followed by: “If you want a change of scenery, come to Bay City.” She sent her home’s door lock code, assuring me she’s not a bad person and I shouldn’t worry about safety. “While you’re here, I won’t return home.” “There are no cameras at home.” “Neighbors can vouch that I’m a good person.” “Or… I can show you my ID.” The sticky and bitter wind blew against my face. I replied, “No need.” Three and a half hours later, I arrived in Bay City. The fatigue was blown away by the fresh air of Bay City. I took two deep breaths and suddenly heard someone calling me from behind. “Miss Fiona, Mr. Asher sent me to pick you up.” The year Nolan got into college, I became a weaver, using crochet to support his studies. At first, I was inexperienced. The dolls with crooked noses and eyes lay on the stall, ignored. In despair, I gave a doll to a boy who was bullied. Later, as my skills improved, more customers came. I ran a stall and opened an online shop. I met the affluent lady through the online shop and added each other as friends. Her profile picture was a silly doll, never used voice messages, and her texts were always polite. She regularly placed orders from me. I assumed she was a woman. Only today did I realize the affluent lady was actually a wealthy young man. The driver wouldn’t say why. Until he parked in front of a villa. I entered the password, and as the door opened, I was captivated by rows of handmade dolls. They were neatly displayed behind glass, warm and delicate. On the coffee table in the middle of the living room was an envelope. Inside were tickets to the hottest male star Asher’s concert. Asher, too familiar. Most customers who ordered dolls wanted his fan merchandise. I crocheted so many, so well, they became more lifelike, and business boomed. Putting down the tickets, I tidied up and sent a message of gratitude to Mr. Asher. Halfway through typing, I received a call from Nolan. The same old routine. He ‘forgot’ again, and his phone notes showed I was his future wife. “So, may I ask, are you really my fiancée?” The voice on the other end was cautious, curious. Early this morning, even three hours ago, I had been hoping for such a call. But now, all anticipation had been crushed into nothing by the high pressure and airflow. I couldn’t help but laugh and said, “You got the wrong person.” Nolan and I grew up relying on each other, without the love of a father or mother. As I matured and learned more about love and how I wanted to be loved, I gave everything I could to Nolan.

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Married for five years, my husband and I were always affectionate, until late one night when I received a call from the police. They informed me that Ethan had been involved in a collision with a large truck. When I rushed to the hospital, I was horrified to find Ethan and a young, beautiful woman both pierced through their abdomens by the same steel rod. Witnessing this scene, I instantly realized the nature of their relationship. To take revenge and ensure Ethan faced consequences, I hurriedly signed the form to waive the surgery. The sudden ringing of my phone in the dead of night startled me awake. Groggily, I answered without even asking who it was, only to hear a serious voice on the line. “Hello, this is the local police. Are you Nora?” Although I didn’t know what had happened, the mention of the police made me respond immediately. Once I confirmed my identity, the officer continued, “Your husband, Ethan, encountered an issue while driving and collided with a large truck. His condition is critical, and as a family member, you should get to the hospital as soon as possible.” Hearing this, I sat bolt upright in bed. What baffled me was that Ethan had supposedly left town on business three days ago, so how could he have had a car accident here in the middle of the night? But given the urgency, I couldn’t dwell on it. I quickly hung up and dashed out of the house as fast as I could. The normally short twenty-minute drive felt like an eternity as anxiety nearly brought me to tears.

When I finally reached the hospital, I couldn’t even wait for the car to come to a full stop. I flung open the door and stumbled inside. Gasping for breath in the emergency room, the first sight I saw was Ethan lying on a hospital bed, covered in blood with tubes everywhere. Seeing him like that broke my heart, and I began to cry. Just as I was about to check on Ethan and reassure him that I was there for him, I suddenly noticed a young woman lying behind him. What puzzled me further was that both Ethan and this woman were impaled by the same steel rod in their abdomens, lying in a strange position on the same bed. I couldn’t comprehend why Ethan would be with this woman in the middle of the night or how they both ended up in this accident. As I stood there, confused and unsure how to face the situation, the police officer pulled me aside. After confirming my identity, he explained the whole story: Ethan had violated traffic laws by kissing a woman named Adeline in the car and neglected to watch the traffic lights, leading to the collision with the truck and this tragic outcome. The officer showed me the surveillance footage, and as I watched Ethan and Adeline kissing, my heart felt as though it shattered into pieces.

Ethan and I were college sweethearts. Since our marriage, we were always seen as a model couple, and he was the ideal husband in my eyes. In our five-year marriage, I gave Ethan my utmost trust, never imagining he would betray me and our marriage. “Nora, will you marry me and become my wife? I promise to always be faithful to you…” Remembering Ethan’s proposal now seemed so hypocritical and laughable. After we got our marriage certificate, Ethan wanted to start a business for a better life and more choices for the future. However, his family was too poor to help, and without startup capital, he had to put the plan on hold. At that time, I was the only one who believed in his talent and wanted to help him achieve his dream. So, I swallowed my pride and asked my parents for money to gather the initial startup funds. But starting a business wasn’t as easy as Ethan had imagined. Due to his alcohol allergy, he couldn’t drink with clients, which became the biggest challenge in expanding the business. Later, I couldn’t bear to see him give up halfway, so I decisively quit my promising job to accompany him, meeting clients and negotiating deals. I’ll never forget that during one crucial business meeting, I had to drink high-proof liquor repeatedly to secure the project. Even before celebrating the signed contract, I suddenly felt excruciating pain in my abdomen and passed out.

When I woke up in the hospital, a nurse told me I was pregnant for a month but had a miscarriage due to excessive drinking, leaving my body weak. Hearing this, I touched my empty abdomen in a daze. I never expected this to happen to me, and before I could even feel the presence of this little life, it was gone because of my carelessness. In my grief and despair, it was Ethan who held my hand tightly and said, “Nora, this is all my fault. Blame me if you must. We will have another child in the future. Please don’t let this drag you down; everyone is waiting for you to recover!” At that time, with Ethan’s comfort and my parents’ patience, I gradually emerged from the gloom and returned to working hard. But deep down, I never forgot the child who didn’t get a chance to see the world. That business deal earned us our first fortune, and Ethan’s company officially got on track. Once everything stabilized and no longer needed my help, I retreated to the background. To better care for Ethan and support his career without worries, I became a full-time housewife. I thought Ethan appreciated my efforts and wouldn’t fail me, but in just a few short years, he forgot his vows and sought a mistress behind my back.

When I thought about how I felt sorry for Ethan’s busy work life and made nourishing soups for him, while he used business trips as an excuse to see his mistress, I couldn’t help but feel hatred. Just as I wanted to question Ethan about his conscience, the doctor interrupted me, “Are you one of the patients’ family members? Since they’re both impaled by the same steel rod, we can’t operate on both simultaneously. We need to separate them quickly, so you need to decide who to save first.” Hearing the doctor’s words, before I could respond, Ethan’s painful wails reached my ears. “Honey, I beg you, save me first. I know I was wrong, but I promise I won’t see Adeline again. I’ll make it up to you for all the harm I’ve caused.” Listening to Ethan’s firm promises, I couldn’t help but laugh mockingly. If I hadn’t believed his nonsense, I wouldn’t have been fooled for so long. How could I believe him now? Before I could mock Ethan, Adeline, covered in blood beside him, suddenly shouted. “Ethan, you heartless man! You told me Nora was just a barren hen, and that thanks to me risking my life, you have a son. But now, to save yourself, you say such things? Don’t you want us or our son anymore?”

Adeline’s words froze me in place. I never expected Ethan to say such things behind my back and secretly have a child. After becoming a housewife, I considered having a child, but despite all my preparations, I never got pregnant. With no other options, I went to the hospital for a check-up. That’s when I found out the previous miscarriage had caused irreversible damage to my body, and I might never become a mother. Hearing the doctor’s words, I left the hospital in a daze, barely remembering how I got home. I only remember when I opened the door and looked in the mirror, my face was covered in tears. When I tearfully told Ethan about the results, he was momentarily stunned before replying immediately. Later, with no other options left, I went to the hospital for a check-up. It was only then that I found out the previous miscarriage had caused irreversible damage to my body, meaning I might never become a mother. Listening to the doctor, I was in such a daze that I don’t even remember leaving the hospital. I only recall that when I opened my front door and looked in the mirror, my face was already streaked with tears. When I tearfully shared the test results with Ethan, he was momentarily stunned but quickly responded, “Honey, children don’t define us. Even if we never have kids, what’s there to fear? As long as we love each other and walk through life hand in hand, that’s the happiness I want most.” Back then, hearing Ethan’s response, I couldn’t help but hold him tightly, feeling grateful I hadn’t chosen the wrong person. I silently vowed to take even better care of him in the future. Little did I know that all of this was just a dream Ethan had woven for me. While I placed all my trust in him and was lost in this false happiness, he already had a child of his own. Thinking about how foolishly I’d been played all these years, every sacrifice I made for Ethan felt like a slap to my face. At that moment, the doctor’s urgent voice rang in my ears again, “Family member, the situation is extremely critical now. Please decide quickly who we should save first.” Looking at Ethan’s eyes, filled with the desire to live, and recalling what he had done to me, I painfully closed my eyes and finally made my decision. I understood better than anyone that once trust is broken, it can never be restored. The moment Ethan chose to betray me, our marriage had reached its end, with no chance of reconciliation. I could only thank the heavens for allowing me to discover the truth now. I couldn’t bear to imagine my fate if I waited until that illegitimate child grew up while I aged. Would Ethan kick me out? Would Adeline humiliate me? Or would I die realizing I was just a pawn in someone else’s game? With these thoughts, I clenched my fists in anger. Everyone must pay the price for their choices, and now it was time for Ethan to face the consequences. With that thought, I didn’t hesitate any longer. After casting him a cold glance, I decisively turned to the doctor and made my final choice. “Doctor, I’m Ethan’s wife. I’ve decided to stop his resuscitation. As for that woman, I don’t know her.” Hearing this, Ethan began to scream like a madman, “Nora, you can’t do this! You can’t just give up on my life. I want to live, I want to live!” “Nora, I’m begging you, please, have mercy and save me. I don’t want to die now…” 8 Facing Ethan’s desperate pleas, I felt indifferent. All I could think was, if he had foreseen this outcome, why didn’t he act differently back then?

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