National Day, I went home, and Chloe took over my room. My mom said, “Guests are guests,” and asked me to sleep on the balcony. But when the family went to the zoo, Chloe pushed me into the python enclosure. I was partially swallowed by a python. I was rescued but ended up paralyzed from the waist down, confined to a wheelchair. Chloe showed no remorse; instead, she blamed me for being careless and falling in. Feeling depressed, I fell down the stairs and died. Chloe inherited my family’s property and even praised my death. It turned out she had poured canola oil on the stairs, intending to kill me all along. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I returned home for National Day. The clock on the wall showed the date, and I realized I had been reborn. “Adeline, go wake up your cousin,” my mom urged me. It was the National Day seven-day holiday, with many college students taking the high-speed train back home. I had bought a ticket early to celebrate with my family. Last time, I told my mom in advance to help me change the sheets. She agreed, but when I got home, I found Chloe, Daphne, sleeping in my room. Chloe used my cup and toothbrush, and even wrote on my certificates of merit from my childhood. I angrily told her to get out, but she called me petty. “It’s just a broken cup and some old certificates. I have those too, and they’re worthless at home. If you’re that upset, I’ll just print you some new ones. Why make a fuss?” “So noisy!” Those certificates were proof of my hard work from elementary through high school, not just wastepaper. But her dismissive tone made it seem like she had more right to be angry than I did. My mom, stirring up trouble, said Chloe rarely visited, so I should be hospitable and let her draw on more of my certificates. “Adeline, I’ve been wanting to throw these away. If you want to deal with them, go ahead and do it.” Laughing, she pulled me out of the room, made a makeshift bed with a cardboard on the balcony, and told me to manage for a few days. “It’s not cold yet. You can manage until Daphne leaves and you can return to your room.” “You won’t suffer much.” This cousin of mine, Chloe, was spoiled, always acting like a princess and playing the victim. I couldn’t stand her. Having to sleep on the cold floor for her made me even more upset. But I didn’t expect this National Day to be the start of my nightmare. I sat up from the floor, taking in this unusual morning. After speaking, my mom went to the kitchen, happily making Chloe’s favorite food while Chloe lounged in my room. Seeing me not up yet, my mom urged me to hurry before the food got cold. “So annoying! Why get up so early? Skipping a meal won’t kill you!” Chloe, unhappy, threw a ceramic doll from my bedside at my feet. My mom didn’t scold her; she just smiled and patted her head. “Daphne, sweetie, Auntie made your favorite smoked pork sticky rice. You’ll love it!” Chloe glared at me, telling me to clean up the doll pieces, or they’d hurt her feet later. Humming, she washed up at the sink. When I looked, she’d already opened all my brand-new skincare products, squeezing out half and leaving them on the sink. “Why are you looking? You dare keep such cheap stuff?” “I thought it was some imported good, but I had to wash my face again after using it.” She took out samples from her bag, each costing thousands, flaunting them at me. “Stop using those bad things that ruin your face. Use mine.” “But you’re so ugly, it doesn’t matter what you use.” Chapter 2 In my past life, I broke down crying from all the grievances. Even though I tolerated her, she kept targeting me. Looking at her now, I smiled and slapped her hard. “Oh, your precious face still swells with five finger marks from my slap.” I used all my strength, and Daphne fell to the ground. The sink’s bottles and containers fell, hitting her face and body. Her face swelled with blood vessels popping, looking hideous. “You hit me? How dare you?” She held her face, stunned. I sneered. “You sleep in my bed, use my stuff, and talk without a filter. I could spare you, but remember, I’m not a pushover!” My mom rushed over, helping Daphne up, scolding me for hitting my cousin. In my past life, she always manipulated me like this. “Be nice to your sister. Be more cultured. She’s family, how much harm can it do?” When I became disabled, she didn’t even say a harsh word. “Riches are fate, life and death are destiny.” “It was meant to be. Don’t blame others.” With one dismissive sentence, she excused all of Daphne’s wrongdoings. This time, I won’t be so foolish. Coldly, I responded. “Are you deaf or blind? Didn’t you see her messing with my skincare products?” “I saved those for my teacher. If her actions affect my graduate school recommendation, I won’t let her off!” My mom realized this could impact my recommendation and went silent. Daphne, furious, pointed at me. “Kick her out, Auntie! Slap her and make her leave!” I crossed my arms and pinched her chin hard. “This is my house; if anyone leaves, it’s you! Did the mountain confuse you about who’s the host?” My mom brought ice to soothe her face, coaxing. “Daphne, sweetie, your cousin is stressed about her recommendation, acting crazy. Let’s not stoop to her level.” Since that slap, Daphne nagged me daily, and out of guilt, my mom gave her thousands in red envelopes. She took her to local restaurants for authentic cuisine. Daphne flaunted the gifts at me. “What do you think? You don’t have them, right?” “Auntie said I’m pretty and sensible, deserving new clothes. You, the useless kid, get the old ones.” She then showed the zoo tickets featuring a golden python. Her eyes narrowed meaningfully. “Let’s visit the zoo tomorrow. They say there’s a golden python there.” Having lived through this before, I knew her plan. I was ready this time. Due to the National Day holiday, the zoo was packed. The zoo’s main attraction was the “Golden Python Mountain.” The mountain housed over 20 golden pythons, each seven to eight meters long and 20-30 centimeters wide. Each ate at least 20 pounds of meat daily. They’re known for their gentle nature, so the zoo hired handlers, creating feeding and photo zones. Brave visitors could feed them and take photos with the 100-pound pythons wrapped around them. In my past life, Daphne pushed me into the python pool during a photo session. The startled pythons swarmed and attacked me, leaving me disabled. Daphne bought several pounds of raw meat and two golden python hairbands, sticking one on my head. “Adeline, let’s queue for a photo session. It’s cool to take photos with these pythons.” Chapter 3 She even dragged my mom along. But my mom, afraid of such things, quickly refused. “No, Daphne, Auntie really can’t handle this.” “If you don’t come with me, no one will,” Daphne pouted, playing cute. Of course, my mom pushed me to her side, patting my back. “Let your sister accompany you. She has experience taking pictures with pythons.” I shrugged, feigning fear. “No, I’m scared now.” “It’s okay, sister, I can protect you.” Daphne had no intention of protecting me; she just wanted to repeat her trick. We queued for half an hour before it was our turn for photos. In the large python pool, dozens of golden pythons writhed, resembling a giant multi-headed monster. The python handler placed a small python’s tail on Daphne’s lap, letting her hold a chicken leg near its mouth for a photo. Then it was my turn. As the handler brought the python for my photo, Daphne suggested loudly, “Brother, my sister wants a big one.” The handler searched for a large one, warning us not to step forward and disturb the pythons. Daphne agreed but subtly moved behind me, whispering. “Sister, are you really afraid of pythons now, or are you lying?” I looked at her coldly. “What are you implying?” Daphne shook her head innocently, smirking. “Nothing, just curious. You took photos with pythons as a kid, why the sudden fear?” I replied calmly. “People change as they grow.” “You were kind and gentle as a baby. How did you grow into a villain?” Daphne agreed verbally but quietly moved behind me. She spoke softly. “Sis, are you really afraid of pythons now? Or are you just joking?” I shot her a cold glance. “What’s your point?” Daphne shook her head innocently, a playful smile on her lips. “Oh, nothing. Just curious. You used to have photos taken with all sorts of pythons as a kid. How come you’re suddenly scared now?” I replied calmly, “People change as they grow up.” “You were kind and gentle when you were little. How did you become so nasty?” Her smile vanished instantly. She stared at me like an enemy, gritting her teeth. “Since you put it that way, I’ll show you what being nasty really means.” “You slapped my face! Just drop dead already!” Suddenly, she pushed me hard from behind, trying to shove me into the Python Pool. But I was prepared. I hooked her wrist with my fingers and yanked her down beneath me. We both fell into the Python Pool, with me on top. The pythons, startled, made low hissing noises and slithered towards us. I grabbed Daphne by the throat, propping myself up with one arm, and looked at her coldly. “I heard that because there are so many visitors, the zoo didn’t feed them yesterday so everyone could enjoy feeding the pythons.” “These cute snakes must be starving now.” “What… what are you going to do? You evil woman!” Realizing something was wrong, Daphne’s face turned fearful. She tried to push me off and get up. In the next second, I slammed my elbow hard into her arm joints. With two snaps, both her arms dislocated, and she couldn’t get up anymore. “You wicked woman! You dog! Are you trying to kill me? Shameless woman!” Daphne cursed me furiously, but I ignored her. I got out of the Python Pool before the pythons could reach us. “Ah! Someone save me! Help!” Just as she finished yelling, a python opened its mouth wide, drooling, and wrapped its thick body tightly around her. She couldn’t make another sound. ### Chapter 4 The incident caught everyone off guard, plunging the entire zoo into chaos. Many people pulled out their phones to record the scene. My mom was frantic, desperate to rush in and save Chloe herself. Unfortunately, the staff who had come to assist stopped her.

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I am a legendary racing driver with seven consecutive championships. However, my navigator boyfriend’s wrong directions caused me to crash during a race. While semi-conscious, I overheard a conversation between him and my best friend. “Finn, even if you’re worried she’ll win the championship and outshine my debut, this is too dangerous.” “What if you get hurt too?” “I’m willing to take that risk for you. Besides, I’ve had enough over these years.” “So what if I lost to her a few times before? Why should I only be a navigator?” “This time her hand is ruined, and I want to seize the chance to completely destroy her!” Hearing the truth felt like a stab in the heart. One was the partner I trusted with my life, and the other was a friend I secretly supported in pursuit of her dreams. I thought I was blameless, yet I was repaid with vile schemes. Since that’s the case, I don’t need to hold onto old feelings. Finn Beckett’s prestige as a top navigator and Eloise’s long-cherished dream of stardom—I once helped build those paths, and I can just as easily take them away.

When I opened my eyes, only Finn Beckett was sitting by the hospital bed. Seeing me awake, he appeared sorrowful, but there was a gleam of glee in his eyes he couldn’t hide. “Nora, your wrist is broken. Even if it heals, it might never be as flexible as before.” “So your racing career might…” I looked at his insincere face, feeling a bitter taste in my heart. To protect him, I let my side of the car take the brunt of the crash with the cliff. That’s why I was severely injured and had broken bones, while he only had minor injuries. But at that moment, I wished he had been smashed to bits. As I was brooding over this, Eloise suddenly burst in with a group of reporters. “Nora, you scared me to death!” She threw herself beside the bed, sobbing dramatically as if she might faint. The reporters played along with her act of deep sisterly affection. “Miss Eloise didn’t even attend the celebration party and rushed over. Truly a good friend!” Eloise seized the opportunity to speak, her voice choked with tears. “I’ve been friends with Nora for seven years. Forget the celebration party; I’d give up my debut stage for her!” I didn’t want to watch her hypocritical performance and slowly opened my mouth. “You must be thrilled I had a car accident, right?” “After all, if I won the championship, your debut stage would be overshadowed.” Eloise had a moment of panic but quickly put on a wronged expression. “I know you’re upset about losing the competition.” “If my successful debut makes you feel unbalanced, I’m willing to exit the industry for you…” Her acting was impressive, painting me as someone who can’t stand seeing a friend succeed with just a few words. The reporters were at a loss due to this sudden change, and the entire ward went silent enough to hear a pin drop. At this moment, Finn Beckett, who had been silent for a long time, scolded me. “If you can’t be happy for Eloise’s good fortune, fine! But why take it out on her because you’re in a bad mood?” I sharply looked at him, holding back the urge to tear his mouth apart. “You, as a navigator, gave wrong instructions and got me injured. What right do you have to criticize me?” Finn Beckett was guilty of deliberately hurting me. Seeing me expose his negligence, he became angry out of shame. “Why don’t you win without a navigator, huh? Aren’t you so great?” “Oh, I forgot! Now with your hand ruined, you can’t win a competition with or without a navigator!” “What legendary racing driver! Nora Quinn, you’re just a has-been now!” His venomous words made me tremble with anger, and I couldn’t help but retort. “So what?” “People will remember a fallen champion, but they won’t remember you as the eternal second place!” Finn Beckett was hit where it hurt, his eyes nearly popping out. “Just because I couldn’t beat you before doesn’t mean I can’t now!” “If you have the guts, race me one more time! The loser will leave the racing world forever!” Looking at the man in front of me, my whole heart was wrapped in pain and hatred. For four years, he had been my confidant and the other half of my soul on the track. Now, to destroy me, he was forcing me while I was injured. “Fine, I’ll race you.” Seeing me agree, Finn Beckett snorted and walked out. Eloise also dropped the act and left with the reporters, smugly. I watched the swaying hospital room door and had an idea. I want to watch them fall from their own webs of deceit, from great heights to heavy falls! But a month later, when I was discharged, I received a call from a teammate. “Sister Nora, something’s wrong! You’ve been kicked out of the racing team!”

Furious, I rushed to the training ground. “Finn Beckett! On what grounds did you kick me out of the racing team?” “I am the team captain you personally appointed, so I can decide who stays or leaves.” His smug look made me sick. “Have you forgotten how desperate you used to be?” “Losing to me five years in a row, terminated by your former racing team, it was I who took you in…” “Smack!” Finn Beckett, enraged, slapped me down and stomped on my wrist. “You witch! How dare you talk!” “Weren’t you just afraid I’d win one day, that’s why you made me a stupid navigator!” Other team members couldn’t bear it and criticized Finn Beckett for being ungrateful. “Say one more word, and you’ll be kicked out of the team with her!” Finn Beckett shouted, pressing harder. My face turned pale with pain, but I gritted my teeth and sneered. “Do you think the team can exist without me?” Finn Beckett sneered and slapped my face. “Trying to threaten me with sponsors?” With those words, Eloise came up beside him. She looked down at me, saying she signed many endorsements after debuting. “With me here, your sponsors are nothing!” Their eyes looked at me like I was an ant. But they didn’t know, the so-called sponsors were just icing on the cake. The real backer of this racing team was the Quinn family. If I wanted, I could dissolve the team with a word. As for Eloise’s endorsements, I helped her get them. “Your hand is ruined, the team is gone, let’s see how you win against me!” With that, Finn Beckett kicked me aside and left with Eloise in his arms. The team members helped me up, all saying they’d follow me. I looked in the direction Finn Beckett left and spoke coldly. “Don’t rush, the time isn’t right yet.” I want him to lose everything at the peak of his complacency. However, news of me being kicked out of the team and the “harsh words” I said to Eloise at the hospital quickly spread. Netizens eagerly awaited my exit from the industry, while also harshly criticizing me as a petty frenemy. I didn’t say a word in defense and instead reached out to Lachlan. He was the racing driver whose skills were only second to mine in recent years. Knowing I wanted to join, he agreed without hesitation. Returning to the track a few days later, I realized the severity of the problem. My wrist injury made it difficult to return to my peak. Just as I was troubled by this, an even worse situation arose. Finn Beckett not only poached all of Lachlan’s team members but came with Eloise to provoke. It turned out they wanted Lachlan to kick me out, but he refused. So in anger, they emptied his team. Finn Beckett looked at me with resentment, and his words were meaningful. “What did you offer this guy to make him protect you so much?” Eloise chimed in at the right moment. “What else could it be? Her hand is ruined, but her body can still be used, right?” I couldn’t endure it any longer and slapped her. “Don’t think everyone is as despicable as you two scumbags!” Seeing his sweetheart get hit, Finn Beckett raised his fist to defend her. But Lachlan, who was half a head taller, stopped him. In the end, he could only throw a vicious “just you wait” and leave in embarrassment. I looked at Lachlan standing in front of me, feeling very guilty. “Sorry for dragging you into this.” He glanced back at me, shrugged indifferently as if he didn’t care at all. I was full of doubts but didn’t feel right to ask. To solve the current predicament, I immediately contacted the Quinn family-sponsored racing teams from various countries.

After some communication, a French team’s coach agreed to help me assemble a top-notch team. I was going to share this good news with Lachlan. But when I arrived at the training ground, I found the garage engulfed in flames. I checked Lachlan, who was blocked outside the police line, from top to bottom. Fortunately, aside from being a bit disheveled, he was unharmed. “What happened?” “I don’t know. I was fixing the car in the garage when I heard a noise from the back door.” “But when I went to check, I only saw a figure running away, and then the garage caught fire.” Lachlan’s face was smeared black from the smoke, looking lost. But I knew in my heart, this was most likely Finn Beckett’s doing. After Lachlan was taken by the police to give a statement, I decided to demand an explanation. However, I was stopped at the gate by the manager of the former team’s training ground. He shoved me hard, completely lacking the previous respect and flattery. I was about to argue with him when Finn Beckett swaggered over. “Oh, here to beg for mercy?” He was smug, his eyes full of ridicule. Thinking of how he almost got the innocent Lachlan killed, I was furious. “If you have a grudge, come at me! Why target Lachlan? Does human life mean nothing to you?” “What evidence do you have to say I harmed anyone? Be careful, I might sue you for defamation!” Finn Beckett poked my shoulder hard, his face full of a sleazy smile. “How about this, come back and be my racing assistant, then I won’t…” “You think trash like you deserves to keep working with me?” I cut him off, and his eyes turned vicious. “I see, you’re just asking for it!” “I’m just waiting for you to exit the industry and crawl back begging me!” I looked at his back, thinking, let’s see who begs who then. On the way back, I contacted the sponsors. Lachlan’s car was destroyed in the fire, and we needed new racing cars. “You got any proof I harmed someone? Watch out, or I might just sue you for defamation!” Finn Beckett jabbed me hard in the shoulder, flashing a sleazy grin. “How about this, come back and be my race assistant, and then I won’t…” “You think trash like you deserves to work with me?” I cut him off, and his eyes immediately glinted with malice. “You’re really asking for it!” “Just wait till you’re begging me to help you when you leave the industry!” Watching him walk away, I thought to myself, who’s going to be begging whom? On my way back, I contacted the sponsors. Lachlan’s car had been destroyed in a fire, and we needed a new racing car. Fortunately, all the sponsors are brands invested in by the Quinn family and are always ready to assist me. Besides, I devised a brand-new plan. Three days later, I picked up Lachlan and headed to the Quinn family’s expansive private training ground on the outskirts. It not only had professional tracks but also various rally simulation terrains. Lachlan’s jaw dropped when he saw the training ground, the team from France, and the brand-new top-tier racing car. “Did you arrange all this?” I nodded and then announced my new plan in front of the entire team. “Lachlan, you and I will compete in the race a month from now.” “You’ll be the driver, and I’ll be your navigator.” “Aren’t you afraid I’ll lose? If I lose, you’ll have to leave the industry.” Lachlan asked, surprised. I just smiled and reassured him. “No one knows you better than your opponent. After competing against you for the championship for so many years, who else is more suited to be your navigator?” After hearing this, Lachlan also smiled. “Then I’m counting on you, my navigator.” Training commenced quickly. Lachlan’s driving skills didn’t disappoint me, and I was indeed well-suited to be his navigator. Turning, accelerating, braking—every move he made affecting the car was just as I expected. After a few days of working together, Lachlan even said my instructions were far better than his previous navigator’s. Training proceeded smoothly. Until, half a month later, we were invited to participate in a charity race. When we showed up on the track without any team members, all the media thought I had really hit rock bottom. “Nora Quinn used to be so glamorous, now she doesn’t even have a team?” “Not only no team, but she’s also teamed up with her former defeated opponent, how embarrassing!” Reporters loudly discussed my “downfall” for everyone to hear. Finn Beckett and Eloise approached, surrounded by a crowd. He started with sharp and sarcastic remarks, clapping mockingly. “I heard your cars got burned, no cars, and you still have the gall to come?” “Afraid you’ll never get another chance to race, so you don’t care about your reputation anymore?” “What a piece of junk to show up with?” He pointed at the old racing car we borrowed temporarily. Lachlan’s former team members jeered along with him. “Luckily we joined Finn! Otherwise, we might have ended up in a fatal car accident!” My former teammates stood by, their faces dark with anger. I gave them a reassuring look, signaling them to hold on a little longer. As we prepared to enter the track, Lachlan stopped me. “Your hand isn’t healed yet, let me do it.” Before I could respond, he was already in the car with his helmet on. The race began under the expectant gaze of the crowd. But at the first turn, Finn maliciously cut in front of Lachlan’s car. The two cars scraped closely, sparking a series of sparks. He repeated the same tricks at several more turns. What was supposed to be a charity race turned highly competitive under his provocation. After winning first place, Finn deliberately walked to the stands, shaking sweat from his hair in front of me. Like a dog just out of water. “Teaming up with such a second-rate driver, Nora Quinn, how do you expect to beat me?” Finishing his words, he snatched the reporter’s microphone in a self-assumed suave manner. “I’m sure everyone knows about the bet between me and Nora Quinn, but for old time’s sake, I don’t want to bully her too much!” “So I’ve decided to let my new girlfriend, also a popular actress, Miss Eloise, be my navigator!” In a rally race, a navigator is like the driver’s eyes. Choosing someone who knows nothing as a navigator is like driving blind. He’s trying to tell everyone that no matter what, I can’t possibly win against him. Looking at his smug face, I couldn’t help but laugh coldly inside. “Those who act unjustly will bring about their own downfall.” After that day, all the media rushed to report on the sensational romance between Finn Beckett and Eloise. Their shipper fans quickly grew in number. As for me, I was said to be unsuccessful on the track and in love. With support from various forces, the bet between me and Finn Beckett received unprecedented attention. However, no one expected that on the day the bet was fulfilled, I showed up alone at the track. In stark contrast to Finn Beckett and Eloise, surrounded by admiration, I looked like a solitary, pitiful figure. Even the reporters looked at me with a hint of pity. I ignored it and calmly tapped the microphone. “Finn Beckett, how about we raise the stakes on our bet?” “If I win, both you and Eloise leave the industry.” Finn Beckett reacted like he’d heard the funniest joke in the world. “A racing driver without a navigator, still dreaming?” I curled my lips into a mocking smile. “Navigator? Are you blind? I’m standing right here.” I stepped forward, staring into his eyes. “Do you believe it, the legendary racing driver was me before, and the top navigator will be me in the future. “As for you, as long as I’m here, you’ll always be number two.” Finn Beckett’s eyes widened with rage, raising his hand to hit me. But suddenly, his gaze shifted to the entrance behind me. Then, the scene erupted in exclamations. My racing team had arrived! 5 Three top-tier racing cars entered one after another, followed by my team. Everyone present was stunned.

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Fire struck, and my wife, who was giving me the cold shoulder, refused to leave. I had no choice but to knock her unconscious and carry her out. Once outside, she was still in shock, clinging to me and crying, saying she wanted to be with me for the rest of her life. Yet later, she had someone take me to the suburbs and burn me alive. “Asher, if you hadn’t knocked me out, I wouldn’t have missed Finn!” I was stunned, finally realizing she didn’t want to leave that day, not because she was mad at me, but because she was waiting for her lover. I angrily asked, “If I hadn’t saved you, you’d be dead by now, do you know that?” “So what if I died? As long as I could be with Finn, even death would be worth it!” My heart ached. I never imagined that when I opened my eyes again, I would be back on the day the fire happened. This time, I decided to let her die for love. Let her and her lover be a pair of tragic lovers! “Fire! Everyone, run!” As soon as I opened my eyes, I heard chaos around me. Before I could process what was happening, I was pushed backward, falling to the ground and hitting my back against a cabinet. The sharp pain jolted me into clarity, allowing me to see the scene before me. Then I heard a familiar voice yelling at me: “Asher, stop pretending to be kind here; I don’t need you to save me! Get lost! Disappear from my sight!” The acrid smell of smoke triggered my memory. I remembered that after Adeline said this, I didn’t hesitate—I knocked her out. Her words angered me, but escaping was the most important thing at that moment. Fortunately, we both survived unharmed. The relief of surviving made me reconsider our marriage. But before I could speak, she hugged me tightly, her eyes red, apologizing, “I’m sorry, baby, I’ll never fight with you again. I was so scared just now, I thought we were going to die together.” I thought adversity had revealed true feelings and that she finally realized she loved me. But to my surprise, she only did this to make me lower my guard. Then, when I wasn’t paying attention, she had someone tie me up in the suburbs. I looked at her confused, asking, “Adeline, what do you want to do?” Hearing my words, she suddenly laughed, her face showing a sinister expression. “What do I want to do? Since you want to know so badly, I’ll let you die knowing!” She played with a lighter in her hand, her eyes fixed on me. Yet, she spoke of her love for another man. Only then did I realize she didn’t want to leave with me that day because it was the day her lover was returning from abroad, and they had planned to meet. No matter the difficulty or danger, she couldn’t miss it. So, even when the fire struck, she stubbornly refused to leave with me. Foolishly, I thought she was just being difficult because we argued. The humiliation of betrayal and deceit immediately brought tears to my eyes. With my hands tied, I couldn’t move, so I screamed at her: “If I hadn’t saved you, you’d be dead by now, do you know that?” I tried to awaken a bit of conscience in her. But she only laughed maniacally, saying indifferently, “So what if I died? As long as I could be with Finn, even death would be worth it!” “Asher, if you hadn’t knocked me out, I wouldn’t have missed Finn!” “He died inside looking for me, and you owe him this life!” After saying the last sentence, she threw the lit lighter at me. The oil-soaked grass immediately ignited into a raging fire. I was burned alive. Returning to my senses, I felt something hit me. It was because I hadn’t left. Adeline urged: “I told you to get lost! Get lost!” “No matter what you do, today I will definitely…” Before she could finish, I turned around without hesitation. The fire was getting bigger, and I had already wasted too much time because of Adeline. I couldn’t delay any longer. As for Adeline, before leaving, I subconsciously glanced at her, not missing the momentary shock on her face. Since she’s willing to give up her life for true love, I naturally choose to let it be!

After barely making it out, I collapsed to the ground. The burns on my back made me feel intense pain all over. But more than the pain, I felt relieved. Compared to the tragic end last time, now it’s just a few injuries, which is nothing at all! I followed the ambulance to the hospital. There were quite a few injured people today, and my injuries weren’t serious. After a simple bandage, I was ready to leave. But to my surprise, as I passed a certain ward, I faintly heard Adeline’s voice. By now, Adeline should have been burned to ashes, right? I must be hearing things. I shook my head. But then, the voice sounded again. I moved a step to the side and quietly opened the door to the ward. Sure enough, I saw Adeline inside. I frowned, feeling a bit disappointed. Adeline really had a strong life. Thanks to me in the previous life, she survived, and now she didn’t die either. I only needed to deal with widowhood, but now I have to prepare for divorce too, what a hassle! I cursed silently in my heart and was about to leave. Just then, Adeline turned her head and saw me. At the same time, I saw her left side, her face red and blackened. I was stunned for two seconds before realizing Adeline was disfigured! “Asher! Are you here to enjoy my misfortune on purpose?” I ignored her and shifted my gaze to the man in a wheelchair by the hospital bed. Then I realized that the Finn she mentioned was indeed her first love. After I fell in love with Adeline at first sight, I found out she already had a boyfriend. I had to hide my feelings but couldn’t help paying attention to her. Until I heard from a friend that Adeline’s boyfriend, Finn, not only betrayed her but also went abroad. Seeing her crying and drinking, I felt heartbroken. I thought of my friend’s advice to take advantage of the situation. Six months later, Adeline confessed to me, and we got together. I promised her that I would always cherish her and treat her like a treasure. I wanted to tell her I wouldn’t be like Finn. But I never expected she would betray me for someone like Finn. I smirked sarcastically, looking at these two despicable people in front of me, and opened the ward door to go inside. Adeline immediately looked at me warily, threatening: “Asher, I’m warning you! If you dare hurt Finn, I won’t let you off!” Even in this new life, with only hatred in my heart for her, I couldn’t help but feel hurt by her actions. Her blatant favoritism made our three-year marriage feel like a joke. I sneered, with a mocking smile on my face: “Don’t worry, I have no interest in bullying a cripple!” At that, Finn’s face turned ugly. Adeline immediately defended, “Asher, stop looking down on people. Finn got hurt because he was saving me!” “He’s nothing like someone as selfish as you!” She had said everything. My reason for entering the ward was just to get a closer look at her miserable state. After all, she had harmed me so badly in the last life. Although it’s just disfigurement now, it counts as her just desserts. Without a house, I had many things to consider and no time to chat with them here. After admiring the scene, I was ready to turn and leave. But Adeline suddenly reached out to stop me. She commanded, “You’re just in time. From now on, you’re responsible for taking care of Finn!” “He hasn’t eaten yet. Go get him some food right now!”

I laughed in exasperation. I knew she was shameless, but I didn’t expect her to be this shameless. I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, Finn said, “Forget it, Dandan. If Mr. Liang isn’t willing, don’t force him.” Hearing this, Adeline immediately exploded. “Why are you unwilling?” “Asher, I’m your wife. Finn got hurt saving me, so you have a responsibility to take care of him!” Someone on the nearby hospital bed accidentally dropped something, making a sound. Only then did I notice everyone in the ward was staring at us. Adeline realized this too and spoke even more passionately: “You all, judge this!” “He’s my husband, but in the most critical moment, he abandoned me and ran away!” “If my friend hadn’t risked his life to save me, I’d be dead today.” “He was cowardly, and I didn’t hold it against him. But now he’s not even injured, so what’s wrong with taking care of my friend?” Her words quickly gained their support. Everyone was persuading me to properly thank Finn. “Since he got hurt saving you, take good care of him!” I knew the truth, and that was enough. I didn’t need to explain to these bystanders, and their opinions and judgments wouldn’t affect me. “If my friend hadn’t risked his life to save me, I wouldn’t be here today.” “He’s a bit cowardly and afraid of death, but I won’t hold that against him. But now that he’s unharmed, what’s wrong with showing some care for my friend?” People quickly sided with Adeline’s perspective. Everyone was insisting that I should properly thank Finn. “If he got hurt saving you, then you should really take care of him!” I know the truth in my heart, and that’s enough for me. I don’t need to explain to these bystanders; their opinions and judgments don’t affect me. However, if she’s trying to make things difficult for me, I ought to return the favor. So, I gave Finn a disdainful glance. Casually, I remarked, “Speaking of which, he’s willing to risk losing his legs to save you. That’s true love, no doubt.” “Just wonder if…” I purposely paused for two seconds before finishing my thought. “Now that he’s disabled, I wonder if anyone would still want to marry him!” These words were undeniably humiliating for Finn. But even if he was angry, he still said, “As long as Dandan is safe, that’s all that matters.” “Dandan, Mr. Liang must be jealous. You should leave with him. He’s right, I’m just a cripple now. Don’t argue with him because of me.” Adeline looked heartbroken hearing him say that. She anxiously held his hand and said, “Finn, I want you!” “Didn’t we agree? Once you return to the country, we’ll be together.” Adeline didn’t realize that after she said this, everyone else was looking at her differently. I watched expressionlessly as the two gazed at each other lovingly. Finn raised his hand as if to touch Adeline’s face. But he stopped a centimeter away from her face. He withdrew his hand, trembling, and pushed her back. Looking hurt, he said, “Dandan, Mr. Liang likes you so much, he definitely won’t divorce you.” “Rest assured, I will wish you happiness.” I smirked, immediately understanding Finn’s plan. What puzzled me was: If he’s willing to risk everything to be with Adeline now, why did he abandon her in the first place? I felt there was something I didn’t know. Before I could think further, Adeline shouted, “Asher! I want a divorce!” “After experiencing life and death, I realized Finn is the one I should cherish.” I had deliberately provoked Finn for this very reason. Now it seemed to work. I sneered and mocked, “Really? You two do make quite the pair!” One with crippled legs, the other with a ruined appearance, how could they not be a match? Unfortunately, Adeline didn’t catch my underlying meaning. She even smugly said, “Of course, didn’t you know? When I was with Finn, everyone said we were a perfect match!” “When I was with you, they called you my lapdog!” She laughed a few times after saying that. So, she always saw me that way in her heart. I was furious. “Fine, let’s divorce!” “Tomorrow morning at ten, at the County Clerk’s Office. Whoever doesn’t show up is a coward!” After saying that, I angrily walked out the door, barely suppressing a smirk. Divorcing her is the only way to completely break free, to have nothing to do with her anymore. After everything that happened during the day, I just wanted to rest. After a good night’s sleep, I put on a clean outfit and went to the local County Clerk’s Office. But to my surprise, the woman who was clamoring for a divorce yesterday to be with Finn didn’t show up. 4 As the clock ticked from ten to ten-thirty, an uneasy feeling started to build inside me. I tried calling, but no one picked up. Just as I was considering whether to leave, she finally appeared.

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Boyfriend was cuddled up with his long-lost love, who had recently returned from abroad. Everyone at the table looked at me with disdain as they laughed at my expense. In a sudden burst of emotion, I overturned the table. Later, Gideon stood by my hospital bed, eyes red from crying, pleading for me to take him back. When I received Gideon’s call, I was in the middle of packing my bags. “Phoebe, come over and apologize to Cora. The glass you broke cut her.” His voice was simmering with controlled anger. Cora, the woman he’d always yearned for but could never have—his long-lost love. I let out a derisive laugh. “Gideon, have you lost your mind? You can’t win her over, so you want me to do it for you? I made it clear tonight, we’re done. Don’t bother me again.” There was a brief silence on the other end. He probably didn’t expect me, who always tolerated everything, to defy him. Then I faintly heard Cora’s gentle, pitiful voice. “Gideon, it’s okay. I can go to the hospital myself.” “You and Phoebe shouldn’t fight because of me…” Then Gideon’s voice turned cold and commanding: “Phoebe, stop being childish.” “Come over and apologize to Cora properly, and I’ll pretend today never happened. We can move on with our lives.” Hearing this, I was so angry I laughed. Laughed until my stomach hurt. I cursed him: “Who in their right mind would want to go on with you? Even if I die, I’ll curse you from the afterlife to never find happiness!” No choice, a person nearing death speaks harsh truths.

That’s right, I’m dying soon. I’ve had stomach pains and nausea for days. It wasn’t until I vomited blood that I realized something was seriously wrong. Went to the hospital for a check-up, and it was late-stage cancer. I asked the doctor how much time I have left. The doctor advised me to watch my diet, get out more, and not leave any regrets. So, not much time left. After returning from the hospital, I messaged Gideon. [Come home for dinner tonight, I have something to tell you.] Not long after, he replied with a single word: okay. I prepared a whole table of dishes and waited quietly. I didn’t know how long I waited and then messaged him to check what’s up. No reply. The food went cold, the sky turned dark. My stomach started to hurt again. Ever since Gideon’s long-lost love, Cora, went abroad, he’s been frequenting bars every day. I was always there to clean up his mess, helping him down drink after drink of strong liquor. Maybe the irregular eating and excessive alcohol over time led to stomach cancer. I was on the couch, drenched in cold sweat from the pain, my whole body weak. I called Gideon. The call connected, but a woman’s gentle voice came through. “Phoebe? Are you looking for Gideon? He just finished some hangover soup and is sleeping now.” The voice was unfamiliar yet familiar. A voice I could never forget in this lifetime. “Cora? You’re back?” The woman chuckled softly. “Yeah, suddenly remembered someone here was waiting for me, so I came back.” “Got to thank you, Phoebe, for taking care of Gideon these past four years.” At that moment, the calmness I had maintained since my late-stage cancer diagnosis crumbled like sand. My face was pale, and my voice hoarse: “No need to thank me.” I hung up the phone. The taste of blood rose in my throat. I spat out a mouthful of blood. Wiped it away carelessly. Took out the doctor-prescribed meds and swallowed a few pills. The stomach pain eased a bit. I dumped all the food. Threw the late-stage cancer diagnosis report in the trash. Looked at this lifeless house. I felt as calm as a dead sea inside. Suddenly, it all felt meaningless. Time to end it.

I moved back to the apartment I previously rented. Woke up to find dozens of messages from Daphne. Someone had posted about me flipping the table and splashing drinks at last night’s gathering on the college online forum. Even though I graduated three years ago. During college, my reputation for chasing after Gideon and being a doormat was known all over campus. I clicked on the link Daphne sent. The post was popular, pinned to the top. Basically said Phoebe played the doormat for years and finally got promoted, but once the real one, Cora, returned, Phoebe, the impostor, had to step aside. It included two pictures: one of me sitting alone at the table looking a bit lonely, and the other of Gideon sweetly comforting Cora. His face showed a tenderness and care I had never seen in the past four years. I suppressed my nausea and scrolled quickly. The comments below were naturally unbearable. I logged into my main account to leave a comment. But as soon as I posted it, the thread was deleted by the admin. I looked through the forum, didn’t know the admin. Confused, Daphne called. “What’s really going on with you and Gideon?” I got up, went to the bathroom to freshen up. “We’re exes now.” Daphne: “Don’t believe it.” I kept brushing my teeth and washing my face. After a while, she suspiciously asked, “Are you serious?” “Gideon wanted to break up with you a few times before, yet you still clung to him, this time…” I don’t blame Daphne for thinking that way. Because I was indeed a complete doormat before. Gideon dated others. I bought the bubble tea and movie tickets for him. Gideon slept with others. I booked the hotel rooms for him. Gideon’s long-lost love went abroad, he drank day and night. I took care of him day and night. For four years. Call me a doormat, I admit it. But say I loved him deeply, I don’t. It was just a debt I had to repay. But now I’m about to die. Who cares if he’s happy or not. “Daphne, this time it’s real.” I packed up my things, chatted with her for a bit, and hung up. Got ready to go to work. Just opened the door, and there was Gideon at the door.

His face was cold, a low-pressure vibe all over him. His tone held a deliberately suppressed anger: “Phoebe, how long are you going to keep causing trouble?” I looked at him, finding it amusing. “We don’t have any relationship now, where do you get the nerve to say that?” Gideon was momentarily at a loss for words. He frowned, “What do you mean?” “I mean don’t show up in front of me again.” I closed the door, walked towards the elevator. From behind came his furious shout: “Phoebe, you better never regret this!” I turned and rolled my eyes at him. Walked into the elevator with big strides. What a crappy way to start the day. At the office, I headed straight for the CEO’s office. The receptionist girl saw me, sweetly called out “Secretary Phoebe,” I nodded. Took a deep breath before knocking and entering. The man behind the desk didn’t even look up, busy with documents. “Mr. Asher, I want to resign.” My heart was pounding. Asher looked up at those words. His sharp, deep gaze was piercing. He frowned, “Resign? Phoebe, are you serious?” I was silent for a moment. “I… I was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer not long ago, time is running out.” The office was silent for a while. I sneaked a glance at him. His expression didn’t look quite right. Afraid I might leave suddenly without finding someone to take over my work? I quickly explained: “Mr. Asher, don’t worry about no one handling my job after I leave, the admin department has someone more capable—” Bang— Asher slammed the file shut. I immediately went silent. His voice was a bit hoarse, “We’ll talk about resignation later.” “You, go to the hospital for a check-up right now.” I shrugged, “I don’t want to treat it, honestly, I feel fine now.” Asher: “Phoebe, listen.” His volume suddenly increased. The veins on the back of his hand bulged. I looked up to see his face slightly darkened, his deep eyes filled with unfathomable emotions. I was a bit surprised. Didn’t expect Mr. Asher to react so strongly to my resignation. Shouldn’t be like this. Even more unexpected, Asher came with me to the hospital for the check-up. Maybe because we were classmates and desk mates in high school. Mr. Asher had been looking out for me, an old classmate. Makes sense. On the way, my stomach started to ache. In the hospital lobby, the pain made me break out in cold sweat. My legs gave way, nearly collapsing. The expected fall didn’t happen. A large hand caught my waist in time. I was pulled into an embrace. The fresh, woody scent of cedar filled my nose. The stomach cramps seemed to ease a bit. “Phoebe, are you okay?” Asher’s brows furrowed, worry in his eyes I’d never seen before. My heart stirred slightly. An indescribable feeling spread in my chest. I shook my head, about to say I’m fine. But then a mocking voice came from behind: “Oh Phoebe, so you’ve found another man to be a doormat for.”

“Thought you were so devoted, turns out you’re just a fickle woman.” I looked over, it was Hugo. One of Gideon’s bad company from the bars. He was the one who started the bet at last night’s gathering. Bet that I’d be a doormat for Gideon for life. Too bad, it was his quickest loss. Because right after the bet, I flipped the table, splashed the drinks, and dumped him. I glanced at him with disgust, about to speak. Asher placed me behind him, shielding me completely. He coldly warned: “Sir, watch your mouth.” Hugo saw his face and was shocked. “Why is Mr. Asher here?” I remembered the Hugo family had a project hoping to collaborate with Asher’s company. Hugo extended his hand to shake. Asher didn’t even spare a glance. “Tell Mr. Hugo, there’s no need to seek collaboration with Asher’s group anymore.” He said, leading me inside. I turned back, seeing Hugo’s face turn from green to white. It felt amazing. I looked at him with disgust, just about to say something. Asher stepped in front of me, completely shielding me. He warned coldly, “Sir, watch your words.” Hugo was taken aback upon seeing Asher’s face. “Why is Mr. Gu here?” I remembered the Xue family was seeking a collaboration with Gu Corporation. Hugo extended a hand for a handshake, but Asher didn’t even look at him. “Go back and tell Mr. Xue there’s no need to pursue a partnership with Gu Corporation anymore.” With that, Asher put his arm around my waist and led me inside. I turned my head to see Hugo’s face turn pale, then flush with anger. It was immensely satisfying. After a blood test and gastroscopy, I sat on a bench in the corridor. Asher was discussing the details with the doctor. As the sunlight streamed in, I felt drowsy. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when he came out of the office. “How is it? How many more days do I have left?” I asked. Asher frowned, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. “Let’s go eat.” Still a bit dazed, I was led to a restaurant. It only felt real once I sat at the table. Asher casually ordered the food and even arranged the utensils for me. I had always done such things for Gideon. No one had ever treated me like this before. And Asher didn’t owe me anything. It was then I realized that kindness and goodwill don’t require debts. After eating, he drove me back to my apartment complex. “Thank you, Mr. Gu.” He sat in the car, turning to look at me with those deep, mesmerizing dark eyes. His lips curved slightly as he nodded, “Message me every day after you take your medicine.” Startled for a moment, I nodded with a smile. “As long as Mr. Gu doesn’t find me troublesome.” He watched me silently, emotions deep in his eyes. “I won’t.” A slight warmth filled my heart. Suddenly, the idea of continuing to live didn’t seem so bad. After saying goodbye to Asher, I turned to walk toward my building. A figure emerged from behind the wall, grabbing my wrist and slamming me against the wall. The familiar smell of alcohol overwhelmed me, making me nauseous. I pushed hard, but he wouldn’t budge. I kicked him. “Gideon, are you out of your mind?!” His face was cold, eyes bloodshot. He spoke through clenched teeth, “Phoebe, how can you get involved with other men?” “Are you that desperate and shameless? Am I not enough for you? Huh?!” As he said this, he gripped my jaw, trying to lower his head to kiss me. A wave of revulsion and nausea hit me. I kicked him hard, then slapped him across the face.

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In the first year of our relationship, he was passionate and promised me an everlasting love. In the second year, his vanity grew, and he began to make endless demands. By the third year, he brought his childhood sweetheart to our engagement party. “Nora, if you want to marry me, fine! But you’ll have to settle for being the second wife!” “Not only that, you must transfer all your shares in Quinn Enterprises to Beatrix!” “Otherwise, there’s no way I’d marry someone like you!” After a moment of silence, I picked up my phone and dialed. “Grandpa, this guy isn’t working out. Find me someone obedient and sensible.” My words shocked everyone. They all stared at me in disbelief. Declan’s face turned beet red. “Nora! Do you even know what you’re saying?!” “Letting you be the second wife is a favor!” “Apologize to Beatrix right now, or don’t even think about seeing me again!” Declan roared, veins popping in his neck, like an angry lion. But as I watched his hysterical display, I suddenly laughed. Three years ago. Declan was just a college student who had just moved to Manhattan. At that time, the battle for Quinn Enterprises was in its final stages. To ensure I wouldn’t be eliminated early, I had to hide my ambitions and pretend to be a lovesick sycophant. And Declan, new to society and clueless, became my perfect target. Back then, he was a diligent young man, working late nights for corporate projects. He would take a two-hour subway ride from South Brooklyn to North Bronx just to buy my favorite cake. At that time, I even thought, if he was really that good, I would manage Quinn Enterprises with him once I gained control. But I was too young to understand the concept of fearlessness. In the second year of our relationship. He became vain. After learning about my monthly allowance of over a million dollars, he asked me to open a joint account for him. Then he used my money to buy all sorts of luxury items. He became a rising star in the Manhattan Elite Circle. The object of countless women’s admiration. He began to drift. Ultimately, he brought his childhood sweetheart from the countryside to the upper-class circles and moved her into my mansion. I still remember the first time I met his childhood sweetheart. “Beatrix will be living at my place from now on. It’s better if you don’t come around often.” I couldn’t believe it. But to maintain the persona, I endured. Little did I know, my tolerance only emboldened him further. I shook my head, dismissing those disgusting memories. Looking at the two at the front, I waved my hand. “A promise is a promise! Don’t even think about going back on your word.”

Since I just took over the corporation, I wasn’t familiar with many things. After saying that, I turned and left the engagement scene, heading toward the corporation. On the way, I called my assistant to handle the apartment Declan and I used to live in. The assistant quickly got to work after receiving the task. By noon, the down payment had been transferred to my account. Just as I was about to go downstairs for lunch, I saw Declan and Beatrix angrily blocking the office door. The moment Declan saw me, he yelled. “Nora! How dare you sell my apartment?!” His question stunned me. Before I could respond, Beatrix spoke up. “Nora, I know you’re upset with me, but that was supposed to be our future marital home. Even if you’re short on cash, you can’t just sell it!” She spoke pitifully, causing concern among the employees. A few bolder ones even stood up to criticize me. “Miss Quinn, you don’t need the money. How can you sell someone else’s home for your gain?” “Exactly! That’s their marital home! Even if you want to make money, you should have some decency.” “Miss Quinn, you better return the money. If this blows up, it won’t just be your reputation at stake!” They all acted like Declan and Beatrix were victims. But that was my apartment. When did it become theirs? “Nora, you’ve never wanted for anything, but Beatrix is different. She’s from the countryside!” “You, an heiress, wouldn’t understand her attachment to a home!” “Buy the apartment back and put it in Beatrix’s name before I get angry.” “Otherwise, don’t expect to see me again!” The familiar threat again. I had no patience left for his antics. “Assistant Liu, see them out!” Following my order, the assistant summoned two security guards who quickly approached Declan. Seeing I was serious, a rare panic appeared on Declan’s face. “What are you doing?! I’m telling you! Nora won’t marry anyone but me! She’s just messing around!” “If you go against me, once I inherit the Quinn Enterprises, I’ll fire you all first!” He spoke with confidence, even affecting Beatrix, who stood up straighter. “Nora is just Declan’s sycophant!” “If you dare treat Declan this way, once Nora realizes her mistake, she’ll definitely fire you!” The assistant couldn’t bear it anymore, signaling the security to escort them out. The two were yelling as they were taken out of the building. Once their voices faded, I breathed a sigh of relief. Over the past three years, to play the sycophant role well, I indulged him countless times. When he went on dates with his childhood sweetheart, I planned their itineraries, bought tickets, and booked hotels. Once, he called me from abroad, and I flew to Paris just to bring him a pack of domestic brand condoms. I’ll never forget how disgusted he looked when he held my face. “Nora, how can an heiress like you become such a disgrace?” His words were harsh. But at that time, I was at a critical point in acquiring shares of Quinn Enterprises. To avoid alerting anyone, I had to pretend ignorance. I giggled foolishly. “Because I love you. I’ll do anything to make you happy!”

Grandpa’s call interrupted my thoughts. As soon as I answered, his voice came through. “Nora, the family has chosen a marriage partner for you. He’s returned to the country, and tonight we’ll announce your engagement to everyone in the circle.” “When is the engagement?” “The day after tomorrow.” “Alright.” Not long after hanging up, Grandpa spread the news of my engagement throughout the Manhattan Elite Circle. A few friends called as soon as they heard. “Nora, are you crazy?! After everything he’s done, you’re still going to marry him? How long are you going to be infatuated?” “Nora, if you still consider me a friend, break up with him! You can’t find another man with two legs?” “Nora, I beg you! Stop being a sycophant!” Their scolding made me chuckle. But to avoid misunderstandings, I explained. “The groom isn’t Declan.” “Really?” “Yeah, it’s a family-arranged marriage. Declan doesn’t deserve it.” “That’s more like it! Nora, if you really married him, I’d laugh at you forever!” After chatting with my friends, I hung up. Maybe I angered him. Or for some other reason. During the two days of preparing for the engagement, Declan surprisingly didn’t show up. Until the engagement day. When I arrived at the designated five-star hotel in my formal attire, I immediately saw Declan in a suit and tie. He stood at the entrance like when we first met. The only difference was the presence of Beatrix by his side. Seeing them at my engagement entrance, I frowned. “What are you doing here?” “Why pretend? You’ve told everyone about our engagement. How could I not come?” His words amused me. “I’m engaging with you?” “Nora, you’re getting more shameless!” “You insist on taking Beatrix’s place, and now you won’t admit it! Don’t you have any sense of shame?” Beatrix, on the side, gently rubbed Declan’s shoulder. “Declan, Nora just loves you too much. She didn’t mean to act without your consent.” “Besides, even if you two get married, Nora won’t mind us being together, right?” She looked at me pitifully. Her shamelessness made me laugh. “Beatrix, if you have problems, go deal with them. Don’t cause a scene at my engagement, alright?” My words infuriated Declan. “Nora! What nonsense are you spouting?!” “Apologize to Beatrix immediately! Or you’ll never marry me today!” “Declan, Nora acted without your permission because her feelings for you are overwhelming.” “Besides, even if you two were to marry, Nora wouldn’t object to us being together, right?” As she said this, she looked at me with an expression of feigned vulnerability. I couldn’t help but laugh at her audacity. “Beatrix, if there’s something wrong with your thinking, get it checked. Don’t create a scene at my engagement party, alright?” As soon as I said that, Declan’s temper flared. “Nora! What nonsense are you spouting?!” “Apologize to Beatrix immediately! Otherwise, there will be no engagement today!” Declan’s voice was loud, drawing the attention of everyone around us. Yet, he seemed unaware of the crowd. He glared at me intensely. “Nora! Apologize!” “Declan, please don’t blame Nora. Her words come from her strong feelings for you!” Beatrix said, turning her gaze to me again. “Nora, just concede and avoid making Declan any angrier.” “Beatrix, someone like her doesn’t deserve your defense!” “And you, Nora! Don’t push me to the point where I have to slap you in front of everyone!” I wasn’t intimidated, meeting his eyes directly. “Oh, really? Go ahead and try!” Just as I finished speaking, Declan raised his hand to strike me. A gust of air passed by, and I instinctively closed my eyes. But just as the slap was about to land, a pair of strong hands caught Declan’s arm. “Trying to slap my fiancée in front of everyone? Are you looking for trouble?” The unexpected voice caused Declan to momentarily freeze.

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Boyfriend planned for us to get our marriage certificate on 5/20, but I waited all day from morning till night, and he never showed up. I called him dozens of times, but it was always busy. Half an hour before City Hall closed, I received a photo from Phoebe. In the photo, Jasper was holding a pregnancy test report in one hand and caressing her not-yet-showing belly with the other, looking utterly doting. The message was quickly deleted. A moment later, Jasper called me. “Adeline, I was drugged a month ago and made a mistake, but the child is innocent. I have to take responsibility.” “Don’t worry, once she has the baby, I’ll send her abroad. It won’t affect your position as my wife.” “Don’t you like kids? Once the baby is born, I’ll have them under your name, and you’ll be their only mom.” When I didn’t say anything, he added, sounding a bit guilty. “Phoebe is very emotional because of her pregnancy and needs constant care. You should go home first. We’ll talk about the certificate after she has the baby.” I clenched my phone, smiling bitterly. Jasper, why would you think I, the heiress of New York’s Johnson family, would want a man with a tarnished reputation? I took a picture of the scene and sent it to his arch-enemy. “Does your offer still stand?” 0

Over the phone, I heard the doctor’s reprimand. “Phoebe’s family, she’s been pregnant for over a month. How could you sleep together? What kind of husband are you, so irresponsible?” Jasper instinctively wanted to explain but was distracted by Phoebe’s weak cough, so his explanation turned into an apology. “Sorry, I’ll be more careful.” My fingers tightened as I took a deep breath and made a decision. “Jasper, let’s break up.” Hearing my words, the initial guilt evaporated, replaced by a flood of blame. “Cora, what are you throwing a fit about? Is it fun to compete with a pregnant woman for attention?” “Every time there’s a problem, all you do is threaten to break up. Have you ever really left? After eight years, who else would want you? Do you dare to really break up?” His words were like sharp knives, stabbing straight into my heart. This was the 99th time Jasper stood me up for Phoebe. The previous 98 times, Phoebe always had some excuse to call him away whenever we were about to get our certificate. The first time, she had just returned to the country and needed a pick-up. The second time, she twisted her ankle in high heels, and Jasper rushed to take her to the hospital. … The 98th time, she got drunk and was being followed by some men. She called Jasper crying, and without hesitation, he left me on the roadside and sped off. That night, without my phone, I walked over ten kilometers to get home. When I opened the door, I saw him holding Phoebe on the sofa. Seeing me, Phoebe sat up first, tears in her eyes, pitifully explaining. “Adeline, I’m sorry, it’s not what you think. I was just so scared, and Jasper was just comforting me.” I looked at her, my words sharp with sarcasm. “What kind of comfort needs you to be in each other’s arms?” Jasper shielded her behind him, reprimanding me. “She was just frightened and couldn’t sleep. I just lent her my shoulder for security. She’s just my junior. Cora, can’t you be more generous? Stop being jealous over everything, you seem so bitter and mean.” That night, we had a huge fight. And just like now, I suggested breaking up. But back then, the breakup was mixed with sadness and grievance, wanting comfort, wanting someone to coax me. Every time it was the same. Every time he stood me up for Phoebe, I’d get angry and suggest breaking up. But within a couple of days, I’d fall for his sweet talk and forgive him. Never thinking that this would become a weapon he could use to stab at my heart. Not hearing my answer, Jasper realized he was too harsh and softened his tone. “Alright, Adeline, stop being petty. I didn’t mean it. I just made a mistake every man makes, and it was planned. You know, in our line of work, these things happen often. I really couldn’t prevent it.” “I promise you, I won’t let her threaten your place as my wife. Once the baby is born, we’ll get married, and I’ll give you a grand wedding. Don’t be sad, okay?” “Where are you now? Still at City Hall? I’ll come pick you up.” Before I could speak, he was drawn away by Phoebe’s groans of pain. “Phoebe’s not feeling well, she can’t be left alone. You take a cab back first, and later, I’ll buy you your favorite crawfish.” The call ended, and I stared at the black screen of my phone, laughing until tears came to my eyes. Jasper, why do you think I, the heiress of New York’s Johnson family, would want a man with a tarnished reputation? And why do you think someone like me, a beauty queen of Southwest F4, would be unwanted? Watching the crowd disperse at City Hall, I snapped a picture and sent it to his arch-enemy, Lachlan, the playboy of New York. Captioned: “Does what you said about the certificate still count?” 0

As Lachlan was entering the airport, he saw the message and didn’t think twice. He delayed his flight, jumped on a helicopter, and rushed over, afraid he’d miss his chance. When I saw him, he was breathless, drenched in sweat, clearly having run over from the helicopter. Without a word, he grabbed my hand and headed to the counter. Just in time, the staff stamped the papers, and I could hear his sigh of relief. Outside City Hall, he waved the red certificate in my face, looking smug. “Now you’re really mine, don’t even think of escaping.” Watching him, as happy as a child, I was in a daze. Was this the same Lachlan I knew? I remember once when Jasper left me in the pouring rain because of Phoebe, Lachlan drove by and splashed water all over me. Already soaked, I broke down in tears right in front of him. The usually rebellious Lachlan suddenly panicked. He took off his jacket, draped it over me, awkwardly pulled me into a hug, and half-jokingly said. “What’s the big deal about getting married? Does it have to be Jasper? What about me?” “He loves competing with me over business, so I’ll steal his wife. Marry me? I promise no cheating, no divorce, just till death do us part.” Back then, when my heart was all about Jasper, I pushed him away and slapped him. He didn’t get mad; instead, he was more serious than ever. “I’m serious. Think about it.” The sincerity that night and the innocence now seemed nothing like the playboy rumored to be all about partying. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you regretting it?” Lachlan’s voice pulled me back, and I shook my head at him. “No.” He then relaxed, taking my hand and saying. “Come on, I’ll take you home.” Thinking about how he rushed here breathlessly, he must have something urgent, so I said understandingly. “If you have business, you can go ahead. Don’t worry about me.” As soon as I said that, his assistant, who had been waiting for a chance to speak, finally interjected. “CEO, the lady has spoken. We need to hurry, or we’ll miss it.” Lachlan then explained that he was supposed to fly to the Middle East for a big project today but delayed it to rush over when he saw my message. This reminded me of a time when Jasper, as a core researcher of airplane parts, was invited for international exchange. It was right when I was having surgery for a cervical tumor, and I reluctantly asked if he could leave a day later. He held my hand and comforted me helplessly. “I’m going for work, it’s an organizational arrangement, not for fun. Stop fussing, I’ll come back as soon as it’s over, okay?” But that night, just out of surgery, I saw on Facebook someone sharing a photo of him passionately kissing Phoebe abroad. Turns out, love and not-love were already clear. Feeling moved, I patted Lachlan’s shoulder, signaling for him to go. He instructed the driver to take me home and then left reluctantly. As we parted, I noticed a familiar Porsche Cayenne parked at 12 o’clock in the distance, with Jasper getting out of the car. 0

Jasper approached, looking at Lachlan’s departing figure, and asked. “Who was that?” Caught off guard, thinking about whether to come clean, he suddenly looked at me, unconcerned, and started berating me. “Why are you still here and not answering your phone? How long are you going to keep this up? Do I have to come pick you up personally every time? When will you change your spoiled heiress attitude?” “Our Jasper family has always been kind and gentle. If you don’t tone down your drama, how will you marry into our family?” Looking at him like this, my earlier worries seemed unnecessary. I smiled bitterly. Just as I was starting to feel anxious, considering whether to reveal everything, he suddenly looked at me. Unconcerned, he immediately began a stream of criticisms. “Why haven’t you returned after all this time? You don’t answer calls either. How long are you going to keep this up? Do I have to come and get you myself before you’ll stop your spoiled behavior?” “Our Meng family has always been kind and gentle. If you don’t curb this dramatic attitude, how will you marry into our family in the future?” Seeing him like this, my earlier worries seemed unnecessary, and I gave a bitter smile. “Jasper, we’ve already broken up. I’m not going to marry you. What you’re worried about won’t happen. You can leave.” He froze, then tried to soothe me as he used to. “Adeline, I made a mistake, but I explained everything over the phone. Once she has the baby, I’ll send her abroad. She won’t be in your way.” He stepped forward to grab me, but I subtly dodged. He paused awkwardly, his hand dropping to his side, his temper flaring up again. “I’ve explained so many times and even came to get you. What more do you want? Do I have to pay forever for one mistake?” I wasn’t feeling wronged, yet he was acting like he was. It was amusing. “You did nothing wrong, and there’s no need to apologize. I’m just tired. Let’s end things amicably without making it ugly.” Seeing my determination, he got a bit panicked, grabbing me with a voice desperate and humble. “Adeline, please, my dear, I really messed up. There’s nothing between me and Phoebe. She’s just a junior colleague. That incident was an accident. I love you, only you. Please, let’s not fight. Come home with me, okay?” I stepped back to avoid his touch and bluntly exposed him. “Last month was an accident, but what about last night?” “When I was excitedly waiting at the City Hall to marry you, where were you? At the office, a hotel, or in Phoebe’s bed?” He staggered back, clearly flustered, and after a moment, apologized sincerely. “I’m sorry, I drank too much last night.” As he spoke, he tried to grab me again, attempting to sweet-talk like before. But Phoebe’s call interrupted him, and hearing the familiar ringtone, he hesitated, looking at my expressionless face. I knew it was a ringtone he set specifically for Phoebe. I mocked him. “Go ahead, answer it. She might get emotional and affect her pregnancy.” He didn’t catch the underlying meaning, genuinely released me, and answered the call. As he stepped away, he even complimented me. “You’re so understanding, thank you.” Watching him pace back and forth, getting increasingly anxious, I found it amusing. At that moment, eight years of relationship felt like a joke. Silently declaring my foolishness. As the call wrapped up, he turned towards me, looking conflicted. When I looked back, there stood a man marked by time, respectfully addressing me. “Madam, Mr. Lachlan sent me to pick you up.” Jasper returned just in time to see this, his eyes filled with unease. “Who is he, and why did he call you madam?” I had the driver Lachlan sent wait aside before explaining. “He’s my family’s driver, Uncle Zack.” “When did your family change drivers?” Jasper was preoccupied with the situation at home involving Phoebe, thinking it was a personnel change in my family, and had already dismissed his earlier curiosity about why the driver called me madam. Even asking when the driver changed was more of an afterthought, with no intention of delving into the truth. So, after asking, he ignored my resistance and dragged me into his car. On the way back, he didn’t forget to scold and warn me. “It’s your attitude that’s causing the problem. Phoebe was worried and insisted I come find you. Now look, she tried to make something to eat and ended up falling.” “When we get back, control your temper. Phoebe is also a victim in this. Don’t be so malicious.” As he endlessly criticized me, he seemed to forget that just minutes ago, he was apologizing and asking for forgiveness for cheating last night. I didn’t respond, just glanced in the rearview mirror to see the concerned Uncle Zack. I waved him off, signaling him to go back. Back at the house, the first thing I saw was Phoebe struggling to get up. Jasper quickly released my hand and rushed to pick her up. In his arms, Phoebe wore a smug smile. Jasper anxiously carried her to the sofa, thoroughly checking for injuries. Only when he found none did he relax. He didn’t notice that when he passed me, he bumped me aside, causing me to hit the corner of the dining table with a sharp intake of breath. Looking at me leaning against the table, he ordered unhappily. “What are you standing there for? Phoebe got hurt because of you. Go make some light dishes and apologize to her!” His cold demeanor felt unfamiliar. Seeing me motionless, he got annoyed and, surprisingly, put on a cartoon apron. As he headed to the kitchen, his grumbling continued. “I know I made a mistake, but I’ve apologized. What more do you want? Holding onto this endlessly, is it fun?” “I’ll make this meal for you. Use this time to think clearly. I hope when we eat, you won’t sulk like everyone owes you.” Watching his skilled cooking, I felt a sense of disorientation. In our eight years together, he never cooked. Every time I cooked, he never hesitated to praise me. “Adeline, you’re wonderful. Having you is happiness.” But when I asked to try his cooking, he always said his hands were for research, not cooking. Yet now, this skillful scene, who is it for? The answer was clear. Watching his adept cooking, emotions surged, and tears silently fell. I turned away and went to the bedroom to pack my things. Upon entering, I found all my belongings replaced by Phoebe’s items. Even my custom wardrobe was filled with her various outfits. I rushed to the bedroom, opened the nightstand, and found my important documents replaced by a box of glaring condoms. Overwhelmed with anger, I stormed out to confront Phoebe. “Where are my things?” Unexpectedly, Phoebe, who was leisurely eating watermelon, suddenly acted like she was facing a formidable enemy. She answered timidly. “Adeline, I’m sorry. Your things were moved to the storage room by the maid.” I grabbed her hand, my anger palpable. “Who gave you permission to touch my things?” Hearing this, she dropped her pretense, gazing past me with a smirk. “What do you think?” The watermelon in my other hand slipped away. She grabbed my hand, and in the commotion, she deliberately stepped on the watermelon rind and fell hard.

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She quietly supported her husband’s career, while he kept up the facade of being single to flirt with fans and move money. It wasn’t until “Silent Snow” reached the top spot and called him out in a live stream: “Mr. Lewis, your freeloading is really disgraceful.” 0 Daphne massaged her aching shoulders and saved the last streaming data report. The blue glow from the computer screen was particularly harsh against the 2 a.m. darkness, casting shadows under her eyes. The clock on the wall ticked softly, juxtaposed with the noise of her husband and his team celebrating in the living room—tonight, Asher Lewis’s stream hit over 500,000 viewers, marking a new milestone. She stretched her stiff neck, hearing the crack of overworked joints. After working sixteen hours straight, her vision was starting to blur. Daphne took off her glasses and pressed her fingers to her temples where a pulse throbbed in sync with her heartbeat. “Daphne, come out! We ordered some late-night snacks!” Asher Lewis’s voice carried through the door, full of excitement and that familiar, upbeat tone he used while streaming. His carefully adjusted voice could naturally endear listeners. Over the past three years, she had seen her husband grow from a streamer with only a few hundred followers to a major influencer on the platform. Daphne tidied her disheveled hair in front of the vanity mirror. The woman in the mirror was twenty-eight, with fine lines already forming at the corners of her eyes—a consequence of three years of late nights managing Asher’s data. She picked up a comb and noticed that her wedding ring was missing from her right ring finger—likely removed to avoid scratching the keyboard. The simple platinum band lay quietly beside the keyboard, gleaming coldly under the desk lamp. She hesitated for a moment but ultimately left it off. After applying a bit of lipstick to brighten her complexion, she took a deep breath and opened the door with a practiced, gentle smile. “Congratulations, another record broken,” she said, approaching Asher and naturally taking the half-empty beer can from his hand. “Drink less, you have an early stream tomorrow.” Asher smelled faintly of cologne, a birthday gift from her last year. He wore a white turtleneck sweater reserved for the Streaming Room, making his skin appear even fresher. At thirty-two, he looked much younger than his age, with barely any wrinkles at the corners of his eyes—after all, he never had to stare at a computer screen for long hours like she did. “With you supporting me, I’m not afraid of anything.” His voice was as smooth as silk, matching the “charming and single guy” persona he had for his audience. Daphne could feel envious glances from a few young interns. Jack, the assistant, joked, “Asher is so good to Daphne! We’re all jealous.” For a fleeting moment, Asher’s expression faltered. Daphne noticed his gaze briefly flick over the interns holding up their phones to take pictures, then he casually laughed it off: “Daphne is my most important partner. Without her, there would be no me today.” 0

He had said this countless times—during interviews, while accepting awards, at every occasion requiring a show of affection. Daphne lowered her head to pretend to straighten her clothes, hiding her suddenly reddened eyes. She was used to being the person behind the scenes, used to being overshadowed by Asher’s success. No one knew this woman, dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans, bare-faced, was actually the largest individual shareholder of StarTech Innovations, with dividends enough to live lavishly for several lifetimes. “Daphne, Asher’s followers increased by another 200,000!” Liam, an intern, squeezed over excitedly, holding up his phone. “The comment section is full of people asking what kind of girls Asher likes! So many people say they want to be Mrs. Lewis!” Daphne’s smile froze. She reached for the phone, and on the screen under Asher’s latest video, the top comment read: [Asher said he’s waiting for true love. Is he hinting we still have a chance?] Asher’s official account had replied with a winking emoji. “It’s all part of the job.” Asher quickly snatched the phone from her hand and whispered in her ear, his breath warm against her skin, “You know, the single persona draws in more fans. Once we’re stable, I’ll introduce you, okay?” His voice was so low only she could hear it. Daphne nodded, just like she had countless times before. Three years ago, after her father suddenly passed away from a heart attack and her mother later succumbed to depression, she was left with shares enough for a carefree life and a broken heart. That’s when Asher appeared, like a light in her dark life. She sold the house her parents left her without hesitation, invested in his streaming career, and even quit her job as a designer to fully manage his operations. “I’ll tidy up the Streaming Room,” Daphne said softly, escaping the noisy living room. In Asher’s exclusive Streaming Room, Daphne mechanically organized the equipment. She had designed the less than 20-square-meter space herself—the soft ring light made the skin look flawless, the cameras were angled perfectly to highlight Asher’s strong jawline, and even the pale blue background wall was carefully chosen to complement his aura without stealing the spotlight. She touched the ergonomic chair Asher often sat in, the leather surface still warm with his body heat and faint cologne scent. His script for today’s stream lay on the table. Daphne flipped it open and saw a line highlighted with a marker: “Hinting at being single can increase fan interaction rates.” The phone suddenly vibrated—it was Asher’s phone, which he always forgot to take. Daphne intended to bring it to him but saw a message pop up on the screen: [Asher, were you hinting at me when you said you’re ‘waiting for the right person’ today? [Heart]] Daphne’s fingers hovered above the screen, her heartbeat suddenly racing. She shouldn’t look; it’s private. But some intuition compelled her to open the message. 0

The chat history showed that the contact, noted as “Samantha – XX University,” had been chatting with Asher for nearly two months. Above the latest message, Asher’s avatar showed a reply: [Been single too long, finally met someone who understands me.] Scrolling further revealed more explicit conversations: [You said during streaming you like girls with long hair, so I grew mine out [Photo]] [So obedient? Next time we meet, I’ll have to check the length [Kiss emoji]] Daphne felt the world spinning. With trembling fingers, she scrolled up, seeing that last Wednesday—when Asher claimed he was attending a “Platform business meeting”—he had sent this girl a hotel location. “Found my phone?” Asher walked in, still flushed from the alcohol. When he saw the phone in Daphne’s hand, his expression froze. “Yeah, someone just messaged…” Daphne handed over the phone, her voice eerily calm, “What was today’s stream about? It seemed popular.” Asher glanced at the phone, showing no emotion, then naturally locked the screen and pocketed it. “The usual, talked about life, sang some songs. Just script stuff, don’t overthink it.” He kissed her forehead, the gesture now seeming so deliberate. “I’ll go see them off; you should rest early.” Daphne stood still, watching her husband’s departing figure. She realized she hadn’t watched Asher’s streams as a viewer for a long time. She was always busy with backend work, and Asher never actively encouraged her to watch his content. Back in the bedroom, Daphne opened her tablet and searched for Asher’s stream replay. The latest episode was titled “A Thirty-Year-Old Single Man’s Views on Dating.” In the video, Asher flashed his trademark gentle smile at the camera: “I’ve always been waiting for someone who truly understands me, not caring about appearance, just the connection of souls…” Daphne turned off the video and went to the innermost part of the closet. There, in a locked drawer, she entered her birthdate as the password and took out a folder. Inside was the equity certificate of StarTech Innovations—the inheritance from her parents, accounting for 27% of the company’s total shares, valued at approximately 380 million yuan. Over the years, she had never touched this wealth, choosing instead to support her husband’s “career” from the shadows. Outside, Asher was bidding farewell to team members, his laughter clearly reaching up. Daphne stood behind the curtains, watching him embrace a young female assistant, his hand lingering on her waist for an unusually long time. A decision took shape in her heart. She needed to see with her own eyes who her husband really was beyond the camera. 0

The next day Daphne stood in front of the bathroom mirror, the cold marble countertop sending chills through her pajamas. She stared at herself in the mirror—her twenty-eight-year-old face had lost its youthful innocence, with a few faint lines at the corners of her eyes. She gently traced these marks of time with her fingers, remembering what Asher said during last night’s stream: “I really like girls in their early twenties, with that youthful vibe…” The faucet suddenly made a harsh noise, snapping her back to reality. From the living room came the sound of Asher and his team discussing their next “Single Male God” themed stream. Daphne took a deep breath, hung the towel back on the rack, and the metal hook clinked against the tiles with a crisp “ding.” “Daphne, can you help me look over this script?” Liam poked his head in, holding up a tablet. The abrupt squeak of the faucet jolted me back to reality. From the living room, I could hear Asher Lewis and his team discussing plans for the next live stream centered around the “Single Idol” theme. I took a deep breath, hung the towel back on the rack, and the metal hook made a sharp sound as it hit the tile. “Daphne, could you take a look at this draft?” Intern Liam peeked in, holding up a tablet. I took the tablet and saw a promo draft for a live stream on the screen: [Exclusive Scoop! Asher’s First Public Reveal of His Ideal Partner—Do You Qualify?] Below was a photo of Asher Lewis in a slightly unbuttoned white shirt, looking gently at the camera. “It looks good.” My voice was calm but seemed distant. “But ‘ideal partner’ might be too direct. Perhaps ‘the type he admires’ would work better.” “Wow! Daphne, you always have the best insights!” Liam excitedly took back the tablet. “Asher mentioned he wanted to thank a fan tonight who sent ten Rockets in a row, someone named ‘Sweetheart’ or something…” My fingers unconsciously tightened on the hem of my pajamas. I knew who “Sweetheart” was—last week, when Asher was showering, I saw a message pop up on his phone: [Thanks, Brother Asher, for the Necklace, I wear it every day 💖]. Asher had explained then that “it’s for work, to maintain fan relationships.” “Daphne? Are you okay? You look a bit pale…” “I’m fine, maybe just low blood sugar.” I forced a smile. “I’ll go get some water.” In the kitchen, cold water flowed from the faucet, soaking my sleeve. I turned off the tap, watching the droplets slide down my wrist. I dried my hands with a towel, my knuckles turning white from the pressure. Suddenly, laughter erupted from the living room. I peeked in to see Asher Lewis smiling brightly at his phone screen, surrounded by a few team members. “Wow! ‘Kitty’ just sent three more Yachts!” Assistant Jack exclaimed. “Asher, this one is a true fan!” Asher winked at the camera: “Thanks for the support, ‘Kitty.’ Remember to DM me your address, and I’ll send you a special gift~” His tone had the familiar intimacy of live streaming, with a slight upward lilt—a flirtatious technique I knew all too well. I retreated to the kitchen, my fingers swiftly tapping on my phone screen. Five minutes later, a new account named “Silent Snow” was successfully registered, with a profile picture of pure white. “`plaintext 55 At ten o’clock that night, Daphne sat in the study wearing headphones, with a tablet in front of her showing Asher Lewis’s live stream. The man on the screen seemed even more striking than in person—his meticulously styled hair, eyes gentle and smiling, and a white turtleneck sweater accentuating his chiseled jawline.

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Sixth wedding anniversary. My husband, Liam, promised me a big surprise. That night, he brought home his foster sister, Ava. “Ava is unexpectedly pregnant with my child.” “You can’t have children. This child will be adopted under your name, so we can have a child.” Ava strutted into the house confidently. “After all, the Johnson Family was originally my home! You’re the outsider!” Liam quickly tried to console me. “Ava is my sister, she’s spoiled. Don’t mind her.” But he seemed to forget, I once saved her life. If I wanted, I could take it back at any time. … When Liam brought Ava home, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were right behind him. I thought they were coming to celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary, so I welcomed them with a smile until Liam spoke coldly. “Ava is pregnant with my child, and I’ve decided to keep it.” The smile on my face froze instantly. I stared at Liam in shock, unable to believe what I was hearing. Liam gently helped Ava to the sofa and turned to me. “Nora, you can’t have children. This child will be adopted under your name.” What shocked me wasn’t that he let his foster sister get pregnant but that he knew why I couldn’t have children, yet still chose to bring Ava home. Before I could respond, Ava sat on the sofa as if claiming her territory. “Bro, I helped you pick out this villa when you turned eighteen, right?” “I even said I wanted to move in with you. You said it was your wedding house. But hey, now I’m living here anyway.” Mr. Johnson took the central seat, looking at Ava with affection. “Ava, your brother’s house is your house. You could always come and go as you please.” Mrs. Johnson chimed in, “Exactly! We’re family! We can’t become distant just because Nora came in!” I remained silent. Mrs. Johnson’s words implied I was ruining their family harmony. Liam saw my silence and pulled me aside to comfort me softly. “Honey, I’ve talked to Ava. She’ll move out once the baby is born.” “Can you get along during this time? For my sake.” Before I could refuse, Ava started pretending. “Oh! My stomach hurts! Bro, where did you go?!” Liam immediately let go of me and rushed to Ava. “What’s wrong, Ava? Where does it hurt? Let me massage it for you.” Not only Liam, but even Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were fussing over her, massaging her legs and back. Ava looked at me with eyes full of provocation. “The baby is kicking me. It only stops when you touch my belly, Bro.” Liam looked at her indulgently and said, “You’re talking nonsense! The baby is too small to kick. I think you just want me to touch you!” Mr. and Mrs. Johnson looked at them happily and joked. “A bit of fuss is good! Must be a boy!” “Ava, work hard to give the Johnson Family a son. We can’t let someone end our lineage!” They glanced at me as if I couldn’t understand the sarcasm. Ava laughed heartily. “I think a daughter is great too. I’ll have a daughter this time and a son next. The son will have a sister to care for him!” The couple was amused, clapping happily. “Sis-in-law, I’m a bit thirsty. Can you pour me a glass of milk?” “It’s not me who wants to drink, it’s the baby.” Ava looked at me smugly, as if she hadn’t humiliated me enough. I stood still, coldly staring at Liam, surprised he allowed Ava’s behavior. “Honey, could you please get Ava a glass of milk?” I didn’t move or speak, just stared at Liam, showing my dissatisfaction. We stood like this until Liam finally gave in, sighed, and stood up. “I’ll get Ava the milk.” He turned and headed to the kitchen. Ava began her mocking again. “Sis-in-law is really the spoiled princess, can’t even pour a glass of water.” “Seems like my brother does all the housework.” I watched her coldly, not bothering to refute. Knowing there were servants, she still spoke such nonsense. Not wanting to see their fake family harmony anymore, I decided to take a bath to calm down. But the scene I saw after coming out of the bath, made it impossible to stay calm. Ava was lying openly on my and Liam’s bed!

I was so shocked I forgot to dry my hair, glaring at Ava with anger. “What are you doing in my bed?” Ava turned over, propping her chin with her hand, smiling at me. “My brother said I could choose any room. I chose this one. Is there a problem?” “If there is, tell my brother, don’t give me attitude.” Clenching my fists, ready to explode, Liam came in and pulled me to the guest room. “Honey, Ava is pregnant, don’t be angry with her.” I sneered, looking at him with hatred. “Is getting your foster sister pregnant something to brag about?” “Liam, how do you have the face to see me?” Liam hugged me tightly, filled with regret. “I’m sorry, honey.” “Three months ago, at the family gathering, you didn’t go because of work. I got drunk.” “The next morning, Ava was beside me. I was too drunk and thought she was you…” “Today, Ava told me she’s three months pregnant. I had no choice but to bring her here.” I pushed Liam away, finding his excuses ridiculous! “You got drunk? Then what about Ava? Was she drunk too?” “You mistook her for me. Who did she mistake you for?” “And why tell us on our anniversary? Isn’t it on purpose?!” Liam’s face looked awkward, not knowing how to respond. Seeing my dripping hair, he quickly grabbed a towel to dry it, speaking softly. “Honey, let me dry your hair. Don’t catch a cold.” Liam always dried my hair after I washed it. It was a little ritual between us, because he heard as a child that drying your wife’s hair means lifelong love. I softened, excusing Liam in my heart. Maybe he really mistook Ava for me. Once she gives birth, everything will go back to normal. Suddenly, Ava’s voice came from the next room. “Bro! Where did you go?!” Liam’s hand paused, replying from a distance. “I’m drying my wife’s hair. Talk later!” Ava wouldn’t let it go, still calling out. “I want, no, the baby wants you to touch!” “Bro, come quickly, or I’ll get mad!” Liam immediately put down my hair, hurriedly throwing a sentence before leaving. “I’ll go check on her.” And just like that, Liam didn’t return all night. And all night, I sat in the chair, waiting for Liam. I didn’t know when my hair dried. I didn’t know when my heart gave up.

The next morning, Ava left the master bedroom door slightly open. Passing by, I glimpsed her sitting on the bed having breakfast, with Liam feeding her. Seeing me, she spoke in a mocking tone. “Awake, sis-in-law? You sleep well. Do you always sleep till noon?” “I’m so jealous. You have such a good life, unlike me, woken up by the baby early.” She even patted her flat belly. Liam quickly tried to mediate, shoving a spoonful of porridge into Ava’s mouth. “Just eat your breakfast. Why so much talking?” “Hurry up. I have to go to the office. No time to feed you.” Ava pretended to get upset, bantering with Liam. “Brother favors sis-in-law! You were so patient feeding me earlier!” “Why act serious when she wakes up!” I had no energy to keep up with their act, finding it absurd. Liam had a serious cleanliness obsession. I couldn’t even bring coffee to drink in the bedroom, “Food isn’t allowed upstairs!” I had to eat my vitamins downstairs before coming up. Yet Ava was having breakfast in bed. Downstairs, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson glanced at me and started. “Finally up? In two hours, it’s lunchtime. Why not sleep till then?” Mrs. Johnson pretended to defend me mockingly. “She has your son spoiling her! He even dries her hair!” “Getting up late is fine. Not making your son carry her down is already good!” I didn’t let Liam carry me down, but someone else did. On the stairs, Liam was carrying Ava, step by step. “Sis-in-law, I’m pregnant with swollen feet. Bro carried me down. You don’t mind, right?” In the living room, the Johnsons barely glanced at me before launching into their comments. “Oh, you’re up now? Lunch is in two hours. Why not just wait until then to wake up?” Mrs. Johnson tried to defend me, but her tone was dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, she’s got your son wrapped around her finger! He even dries her hair for her!” “So what if she’s up late? At least she didn’t ask your son to carry her downstairs!” I hadn’t asked Liam to carry me; that was someone else’s doing. On the stairs, Liam was carrying Ava carefully in his arms, descending step by step. “Sister-in-law, I’m pregnant and my feet are swollen. I hope you don’t mind my brother carrying me down?” “Brother says I’m much heavier than you! It’s because you have such a good figure. I’ve gained seven or eight pounds with this baby!” Once he set her down on the sofa, Liam came over and kissed me on the cheek. “Honey, I’ve reserved a private room at the Sky Restaurant tonight to make up for missing our anniversary last night.” “I’m off to the office now. See you tonight.” With that, Liam hurried out the door. Not wanting to remain in this tense atmosphere, I went upstairs to the master bedroom to grab a change of clothes, intending to head out. As I turned around, Ava followed me inside and closed the door. “Sister-in-law, do you dislike me?” “After all… I’ve taken so much of my brother’s attention away from you.” I dismissed her words as childish provocation and didn’t want to engage. “No, as long as you’re happy.” Ava wasn’t ready to let it go. She walked over to the safe, watching me. “Sister-in-law, is that really true?” “As long as I’m happy, it’s okay?” I wasn’t sure what she was planning, so I just watched her with a cold expression. She opened the safe and took out the wedding ring that Liam and I shared, slipping mine onto her finger. Because the wedding ring was so valuable, Liam and I only wore it on special occasions, opting for simple matching rings the rest of the time. “Sister-in-law, do you know how I figured out the safe’s combination?” “Oh, let me just tell you, the code is my birthday. Surprised?” She admired the diamond ring on her finger repeatedly, taunting me. “Do you think if I ask my brother for this ring, he’d give it to me?” I didn’t expect to be provoked into anger. This ring held a special meaning for me. Back when I was saved from the brink of death, Liam took out this ring and said to me, “Nora, I’ll be responsible for you for the rest of my life.” “Marry me, and I won’t let you be in danger again.” Seeing the ring on Ava’s hand, I lost my senses and wanted to take it back. Before I could act, Ava suddenly fell to the ground on her own. “Oh no! Sister-in-law! Why did you push me? My stomach hurts!” “I’m sorry! I’ll move out right away! Please don’t hate me!” The Johnsons heard the commotion and burst in, seeing Ava on the floor and me standing to the side. They immediately assumed a fierce fight had occurred. Mr. Johnson quickly helped Ava up while Mrs. Johnson pointed at me and shouted. “You vile woman! You can’t stand seeing Ava pregnant, so you pushed her down!” “If I knew you were this vicious, I wouldn’t have let my son marry you!” Suddenly, Mr. Johnson shouted. Looking towards the sound, I saw blood all over Ava’s lower body! Outside the hospital room, Liam rushed over. Ava lay on the hospital bed, breathing steadily. The doctor hurried over to us with a report, asking, “Who is Ava’s family?” Liam was the first to respond, nervously asking the doctor. “I-I’m the father. Is there something wrong with the baby?” The doctor adjusted his glasses and said seriously. “The baby is currently fine, but the patient’s body has defects. If it continues, it might affect the child’s development.” Ava had a genetic defect since childhood, something we all knew. At twelve, she suddenly had an episode, fainting and convulsing at school. It was only after being sent to the hospital that her immunodeficiency and genetic defects were discovered. Presumably, her biological parents abandoned her at the orphanage after seeing she carried so many underlying conditions. She was adopted by the Johnson Family at eight. At twelve, when she was on the brink of death, she needed a healthy and matching bone marrow to survive. No one in the Johnson Family was a match, so Liam found me, begging on his knees for me to get tested, to save his sister. I went to the hospital with a try-it-and-see attitude, but surprisingly, I was a match! Back then, I was only sixteen and needed my parents’ consent to donate bone marrow. “Little girl, are you sure? Donating bone marrow isn’t as easy as you think.” “The most obvious is your health will decline, and it will take a decade to slowly recover, with countless other side effects.” “You’re not related to the patient. As a doctor, I want to save her, but I must tell you the risks.” Despite my family’s objections, I saw Liam’s pleading face and gritted my teeth to donate bone marrow to Ava. Already frail, I fell into a coma after the donation, and only after resuscitation was I pulled back from death’s door. Then Liam, at my bedside, took out that ring and made his promise. But I was left with a lifelong consequence of being unable to conceive. I didn’t expect that ten years later, Ava would relapse. Liam’s eyes suddenly lit up after hearing the doctor, gripping my hand tightly, saying to the doctor. “She can donate bone marrow! She’s a match for Ava!” I tried to pull my hand back, refusing Liam’s request. Unexpectedly, he turned and looked me in the eyes with anger, saying, “You did this to Ava! You owe it to her, even if it costs your life!” I ultimately didn’t resist and obediently followed the doctor into the operating room. After basic checks, the doctor found my health was also poor, and went out to tell Liam. “Mr. Johnson, are you sure? Miss James’s health is already bad. If we extract a large amount of bone marrow, I can’t guarantee her survival.” “Maybe we can check the national bone marrow registry for other matching volunteers?” Liam, almost hysterical, grabbed the doctor and shouted, “Now! Immediately! Perform the bone marrow transplant!” “If Ava gets hurt, I’ll hold the hospital responsible!” The doctor sighed and went into the room, piercing needles into my veins. I instantly felt dizzy, as if my soul was being drained, and my whole body began to convulse. The doctor stopped immediately, “Miss James, are you alright? Can you still handle it?” I gritted my teeth and nodded, urging the doctor to hurry so I could finally leave him behind. After it was over, I lay paralyzed on the hospital bed, unable to move, feeling numb all over. I even felt like I was floating, this near-death feeling was something I’d experienced ten years ago. Suddenly, a familiar figure rushed in, picking me up. “Nora James, you promised me you’d take care of yourself. You broke your word.” As he carried me out of the hospital, I heard Liam’s angry shouts echoing from the building. “Where’s Nora James!” “Even if you have to level the hospital, find her for me!” 5 When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a strange but cozy room. Sitting beside me was an old friend I hadn’t seen in six years—Jasper. He was holding a bowl of ginger and brown sugar tea, gently blowing on it to cool it down.

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I used to think I was the luckiest person in the world. Even though I have breast cancer, and my daughter was born blind in her right eye. But fortunately, I have a gentle doctor husband who never gave up on me. On the day of my surgery to remove one of my breasts due to worsening cancer, I accidentally overheard a conversation with my husband, Declan. “What if your wife finds out she isn’t sick at all, and you were just deceiving her to make Celeste happy? What would she do?” “What could she do? After today, she’ll be left with one breast and a blind daughter. It would be too late to beg me not to leave!” Laughter came from the consultation room. “Her daughter wasn’t blind to begin with, wasn’t it you who took one of her corneas at birth to give to Celeste’s daughter? Why only take one? You should have blinded both of her eyes!” “Don’t rush, this is just to see if Celeste’s daughter has any rejection reaction. I’ll arrange for the other eye’s surgery next week.” Next week? That will be Declan’s downfall. 01 If I hadn’t left my patient wristband in my husband’s office, And went back to hear all of this, I would already be on the operating table, having one of my breasts removed! Hearing the laughter from the office, I suddenly felt a wave of nausea. Am I just a pawn to Declan, someone he can manipulate and destroy just to please Celeste? “Dr. Declan, your wife’s surgery is about to start, aren’t you going to check on her?” Declan’s assistant’s voice came from inside. “What’s there to see? Even if she dies on the operating table, I wouldn’t care. She’s not even a complete woman anymore, just thinking about it makes me more disgusted!” Declan replied impatiently, and I could imagine his disdainful expression behind the door. “Sigh, aren’t you going too far? Her body is perfectly fine…” The assistant’s voice sounded hesitant, perhaps battling with the last bit of conscience. Suddenly, there was a sound of something being smashed on the ground, followed by Declan’s slightly angry voice. “Who told her to have a better figure than Celeste! It’s normal for Celeste to dislike her! Besides, it’s just one breast, there’s still the other one!” “And her blind daughter, too, leaving her with one cornea was already a grace! Letting her enjoy these four years of light!” “Next week, I’ll take her left cornea for Celeste’s daughter!” Listening to Declan’s angry voice, the assistant dared not say another word. I quietly left the office and went into the operating room to tell the attending physician, Gideon. “I suddenly have an urgent matter today, can we cancel the surgery?” Gideon actually looked relieved, “I always said you didn’t need the surgery, it’s great to hear you say this…” Gideon was my senior in university, and six months ago, he transferred to this hospital as the chief oncologist. When he first took over my case, Gideon showed a puzzled expression. “Maeve, which hospital diagnosed you with breast cancer? I looked at your CT report, and everything seems normal.” “It’s just some mild breast nodules, caused by long-term anxiety, it’ll go away when you’re in a better mood.” But under Declan’s influence, I was more willing to believe my own husband. I still remember the first time Declan told me I had breast cancer, I felt like the sky was falling. Declan held me tightly, looking at me with deep affection and said, “Honey, we’ll actively treat this, I won’t leave you.” So under his guidance, I underwent chemotherapy again and again, soon after losing hair and losing weight rapidly. I became as withered as a tree. “Honey, the side effects of chemotherapy are quite severe, I’ll stay with you through it.” Just like that, under Declan’s manipulation, I was convinced I had cancer. Even though Gideon raised objections multiple times, I only refuted him with Declan’s words. “My husband said, cancer isn’t something you look at on the surface, you have to look at it in the long term!” “I still need to watch my daughter grow up, I must eliminate any factors that could cause cancer in the future!” I had my doubts too, why would Gideon, an ophthalmologist, know so much about oncology? It was full of loopholes, but for love, I chose to deceive myself. Seeing Gideon in the operating room breathe a sigh of relief, I said apologetically, “I’m sorry, Dr. Gideon, I trusted the wrong person before.” Gideon waved his hand, looking relaxed and said, “It’s not too late now, if you underwent this surgery today, there really would be no turning back.” I looked up, staring directly at Gideon, a plan for revenge forming in my heart. “Dr. Gideon, I want to ask you to help me put on a show.” 02 When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed, my upper body wrapped in bandages. It took a while before Declan came into the room, with Celeste following behind! He walked to the bedside, gently held my hand, and said affectionately, “Dr. Gideon said the surgery was a success, but the bandages can’t be removed yet.” I nodded weakly, not saying a word. Celeste, however, sat on the couch and started eating the snacks on the table. “Maeve! You really had one of your breasts removed! Tsk tsk, what a pity.” “Remember in high school, the boys were all after you because of those two pieces of meat!” Celeste has been my best friend since childhood, and since puberty, she’s consciously competed with me. Whether it’s grades, looks, or love, she must always be first. I developed better than her, so she would join with the boys to ridicule my physical features, making me only dare to wear loose clothes for years. In high school, when a boy and I had a mutual affection, Celeste found out and confessed to him first. After getting together with the boy, she quickly dumped him, as if just to prove to me that she got him first. As for grades, she often sabotaged me the night before exams. Either by setting up prank calls in the middle of the night to wake me, or by calling some hooligans to shout outside my building at night. And today I found out, She had already been involved with my husband! Watching her smug look on the couch, I wanted to tear her face apart. “Celeste, it was you the boys were after.” “Weren’t you with almost every one of them?” I said quietly from the hospital bed. Celeste froze for a moment, clearly not expecting me to say that. She suddenly stood up, pointing at me. “I think you’re just jealous! Trying every way to grab their attention with tight clothes!” “Didn’t expect they preferred me! It’s only Declan you managed to fool! If you don’t believe me, ask him!” “Declan, I’ll give you another chance, who do you choose, me or Maeve?” She said, throwing a flirtatious glance at Declan, which I caught. Declan coughed awkwardly, then slowly said, “Do you want the truth or a lie?” Celeste looked down at me, smugly saying, “Go ahead and tell the truth, Maeve doesn’t like hearing lies, right?” Declan didn’t look at me, instead, he looked at Celeste with amusement. “It should…be you, Celeste. I’ve been with my wife too long, it’s not about liking or disliking anymore.” “It’s more of a family responsibility.” Celeste laughed triumphantly, looking at me with a winner’s posture. But I stared at Declan, asking him, “Honey, are you sure you want to say you prefer Celeste right after my surgery?” Declan, annoyed by my question, answered with a hint of anger. “This is just hypothetical! See, you’re taking it seriously again.” “You take things too seriously, that’s why I find Celeste more interesting.” Watching the two of them acting in sync, I couldn’t help but smirk internally, Enjoy it while it lasts, your good days are numbered. 03 Early the next morning, I went through the discharge procedures, Normally, I should stay in the hospital for 3 days. But I didn’t actually have surgery, and Gideon approved my discharge backstage. As soon as I got home, my daughter ran to me, jumping up and down and hugging me, “Mom! Dad said you were having surgery in the hospital! Are you okay!” “Lark missed you a lot, but she was very good about eating and sleeping on time.” I kissed my daughter’s little cheeks twice, “Mom’s fine! From today on, Mom won’t leave you for a single day!” My daughter twirled around happily, then excitedly told me, “Mom, tomorrow there’s a play at school! I’m going to perform on stage!” “The teacher said I can invite my mom and dad! Will you and dad come to watch me?” Seeing the hopeful look in her eyes, of course, I wanted to go, but I wasn’t sure if Declan would have time. “Sweet Lark, of course, Mom will go. I’ll call Dad right now.” With that, I took out my phone to call Declan. It rang for a long time before his impatient voice came through. “Didn’t I say no calling during work unless it’s important!” Afraid my daughter would hear Declan’s impatient tone, I went to the balcony before replying. “I saw it’s lunchtime…so I called.” “Our daughter has a school play tomorrow, let’s go watch together?” Looking into my daughter’s hopeful eyes, I wanted to say yes, but I wasn’t sure if Declan was available. “Sweetheart, Lark, of course, I’ll go. Let me call your dad right now.” With that, I took out my phone and dialed Declan. The phone rang for a long time before he answered, sounding impatient. “Haven’t I told you not to bother me at work unless it’s an emergency?” Worried that my daughter might hear Declan’s impatience, I stepped out onto the balcony before responding. “I noticed it was your lunch break, so I figured it was a good time to call.” “There’s a play at our daughter’s school tomorrow. Do you think we can watch it together?” To my surprise, Declan got angry on the other end of the line. “Don’t I deserve a break during lunch too? My life doesn’t revolve around you!” “I’ve already promised Celeste that I’d be at her daughter’s performance. Lark and her daughter go to the same school. Just let her know I’ll be there.” “I’ll be there anyway. Kids don’t understand much.” Before hanging up, I heard Celeste’s teasing voice in the background. “Who’s bothering us during lunch~” I ended the call and returned to the room, putting on a smile for my daughter. “Dad said he’ll come! But he’s too busy to leave with us.” “But he’ll be there watching Lark perform!” My daughter jumped with joy and ran back to her room to practice her lines for the play. The next day, I arrived at my daughter’s school early with a camera to capture the precious moments. I quietly made my way backstage, planning to film my daughter getting ready, when laughter erupted from the dressing room. “Lark Jiang, you’re a one-eyed pirate! A little blind girl, hahaha!” “My mom said you can’t see with one eye! You’re a one-eyed pirate!” Peeking through the crack in the door, I saw my daughter dressed as a pirate, her blind eye covered with an eye patch. Suddenly, Celeste and her daughter appeared. Celeste looked at Lark with disdain. “Lark Jiang, this role suits you perfectly. You’re missing an eye, and your mom’s missing a breast. What a pair of incomplete mother and daughter.” The kids didn’t understand Celeste’s words, but they found them funny. So, they all laughed, pointing at my daughter and calling her a one-eyed pirate! I rushed in and picked up my daughter, whose eyes were red with hurt, but she didn’t cry until I came in. Then, she clung to my neck and sobbed. “Mommy, I don’t want to perform anymore. I want to go home…” I gently patted Lark’s back to comfort her. “It’s okay, Lark. If you don’t want to perform, we won’t. Let’s go home.” But Celeste wasn’t done, smiling wickedly at me. “Maeve, kids are just playing around. They don’t know any better. You’re taking it too seriously.” “Declan will scold you again when he sees this.” Seeing her brazenly hurting Lark, I made up my mind. With a slight smile, I looked at Celeste and said, “If I remember correctly, your daughter also can’t see out of one eye?” Celeste got defensive upon hearing my words. “What nonsense are you talking about! It’s fine if your daughter is one-eyed, but why drag my daughter into it?” Her daughter mimicked her, arrogantly glaring at Lark. “Yeah! I’m playing the princess, and you’re a pirate! My mommy said pirates are thieves of the sea!” “Lark Jiang, you’re a thief!” My daughter, who had just calmed down, began to sob again, muttering softly. “I’m not a thief…” Seeing my daughter’s hurt expression broke my heart! “Kids, it turns out someone who can’t see out of one eye can be a princess! So our Lark is a princess too!” “Nora can’t see out of one eye either! If you don’t believe me, cover her right eye, and she won’t see a thing!” The kids, hearing this, rushed over playfully, covering one of Nora’s eyes. Sure enough, she immediately couldn’t see, stumbling around. Celeste hurriedly pushed the kids away and held Nora tightly in her arms. She glared at me, saying, “Maeve! You used the kids to harm my daughter! How can you do this to a child!” I scoffed, questioning her back. “Didn’t you teach them? If you hadn’t brought it up, would the kids have been so malicious?” Celeste opened her mouth to retort, but the teacher and other parents walked in, and she had to stop. I picked up my daughter and was about to leave, but she insisted on staying. “Mommy, Nora can’t see out of one eye, but she can be a princess. Why can’t I?” I crouched down, stroking my daughter’s head, and gently explained. “Lark, do you know why pirates wear an eye patch?” “It’s not because they can’t see out of one eye. It’s to quickly adapt to darkness and defeat their enemies.” “Our Lark is the same. Wait for the enemy’s weakest moment in the dark, and take them down.” Lark suddenly looked up, her eyes shining brightly. “Mommy, I want to continue performing!” The performance that day went smoothly. Lark’s portrayal of the little pirate overshadowed the lead, drawing applause from the audience.

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When I was crushed by the panicked horse at the zoo, it dawned on me why Asher had brought me there—he wanted to kill me again! This marked his 99th attempt to take my life. Yet again, his plan would fail. I asked the system, “Is the villain’s malice level about to max out?” The system replied, “Yes, it’s at 99%. Just one more incident, and you can release yourself from being the villain’s little wife and choose a new identity.” “Available identities are: A. Villain’s stepmother; B. Swap identities with the villain; C. Return to your own body as the corpse sister.” “Help!” “Ah!” “Run!” The horse’s high hooves and Asher’s indifferent back descended together, one tearing at my body, the other shattering my heart. I lay on the ground, trampled repeatedly by the frenzied horse, blood surging from my broken organs, pouring from my mouth, ears, and nose. The cries and screams of the crowd mixed with the horse’s frantic neighs, pounding in my ears, making me dizzy. Despite the pain and despair, I suddenly wanted to laugh at my own foolishness. Yesterday, when Asher suddenly invited me to the zoo, I foolishly thought… He finally wanted to accept me. But it was just a crueler way to die, trampled by a mad horse! Asher, this is truly a painful enough death to make me give up!

The sharp smell of disinfectant pulled me back from endless darkness. Although the system wouldn’t let me die, each death felt real. From the pain of the first death to the later ones, I was left with only numbness and despair. The fear of death, with its body and soul pain and boundless loneliness, was still vivid. I curled up, hugging myself, tears like a broken kite falling one by one: “Asher, it hurts.” “Asher, I’m scared.” “Asher, save me.” …I cried and cried, on and off for a month. But the Asher who descended like a god in the alley at 18 to save me never came. Worse, the one who saved me became the source of all my pain.

At 18, I was cornered in an alley by a gang of thugs. Their laughter was piercing, making lewd jokes, their sticky, disgusting gazes seemed to strip me bare. Dirty hands roamed my body, filling me with nausea and despair. I struggled and called for help, but a foul mouth came to gag me, leaving me helpless. “What are you doing?!” At my most desperate moment, Asher appeared. He pushed me aside, “Run!” He held them off alone, no matter how bloodied, he kept them at bay. Later, when everyone called me shameless, or even when I thought I was dirty, he firmly told me, “You’re not wrong, the wrong ones are those who did it.” He was the light in the darkness, my last straw before dying. So, even though the system gave me four identity choices, in my eyes, there was only ever the choice of being Asher’s wife.

“Asher.” In my daze, I seemed to hear Asher’s voice. I got up in joy and followed it. In the next room, I saw him and also… Beatrix. Asher’s adopted sister, the cherished white moonlight he didn’t dare to touch. He was reading her a story with a tenderness I had never seen. Before marrying Asher, our relationship wasn’t this horrible Once, I got stabbed 18 times saving Asher, feeling my blood drain futilely on a rainy night until death. Since then, I feared every rainy night, often crying and begging him to stay with me for a while, but he always refused. Let alone reading a story so gently. The voice stopped, and Asher looked at the sleeping Beatrix, suppressing his feelings for a long time, but he couldn’t help leaning in, leaving a kiss on her lips: “Beatrix, wait for me.” “I’ll soon make Adeline repay you with her heart.”

Heart…?! I hid back in my room, burying myself in the blankets. But no matter how unwilling, Asher still came. Before he arrived, his voice preceded him, “Adeline, even this didn’t kill you.” Asher disdainfully threw a stack of papers at my face, “Sign it.” It was an organ donation agreement. Donor: Adeline. Recipient: Beatrix. Organ: Heart.

My nails dug into my palm. I looked at this man I’ve loved and hated for seven years . My throat tightened, and despite opening my mouth several times, no sound came out. Until the tenth time, I finally spoke, my voice trembling and choking, “Asher, that’s my heart! I’ll die.” “Then just die.” Asher didn’t even bother to look at me, casually throwing out his words: “Stop pretending.” “You won’t die, and this heart is what you owe Beatrix.” “If you hadn’t focused on saving me and not saved Beatrix,” “She wouldn’t have stayed in the rain so long and gotten sick.” “If you hadn’t used the fact you saved me to force me to marry you,” “How would Beatrix have gotten so agitated and triggered a heart condition?!” But to save you, I was bled dry, to death! How could I save Beatrix? Marrying me was your own idea to show your grandfather you valued emotions to fight for inheritance! How is it all my fault?

Bitter tears seeped into my heart, leaving me powerless. I could only shake my head, “It’s not me, it’s not me.” Asher remained focused on his phone, a smile I’ve never seen on his lips. He played a voice message, and a soft voice on the other end cooed, “Brother, where are you? Beatrix misses you.” He replied gently, “Beatrix, be good, brother is coming back soon.” Then, he turned off his phone, his face cold towards me, “Adeline, are you refusing a toast only to be forced to drink?” “Come, pin her down and make her sign.” At his command, the bodyguards swarmed in, forcibly holding my hand to sign the donation agreement. In the chaos, inappropriate hands even slipped under my clothes, touching my chest, reaching between my legs. The disgusting, sticky sensation of so many hands made me want to vomit. I struggled desperately, “What are you doing?!” “Let me go!” “Let me go, no!” I was back in that alley from seven years ago, a crack opened in my heart, tearing wider. Desperate, I reached out: “Asher, Asher, save me!” But Asher just stood there coldly watching, suddenly kicking the bed, cursing, “Slut.” “Can you not be without a man for even a moment?!” He turned away in disgust, “Hurry up, and give me the donation agreement later.”

To ensure I could provide Beatrix a healthy heart, Asher had my room heavily guarded. Knowing I was from Southern Carolina, where I couldn’t live without spicy food, he changed my diet, forcing me to eat low-salt meals every day. Everything was boiled, without any seasoning. I endured a day, two days… I finally couldn’t hold it anymore and vomited until I was dizzy. The bodyguards reported to Asher, whose voice was icy, “Drama queen!” “If she won’t eat, can’t you force-feed her?” The bodyguards pinned my hands, held my feet, pried open my mouth, and poured food down my throat. The bland liquid spilled all over me, sticky and disgusting. I was like cattle waiting to be slaughtered, force-fed to fatten me up so the greedy diners could have another bite at the table later. Soon, an itch crept up. I looked at the bowl in disbelief, familiar yellow specks—egg. And I’m allergic to eggs. I tried to speak, but the constant stream of food blocked my voice. My whole body itched, my throat swelled rapidly, and I twisted and turned in pain, trying to escape. Even if my limbs bled, twisted, or broke, triggering the wounds from the horse trampling that hadn’t healed, I couldn’t break free. Instead, I was pinned down more forcefully on the bed.

I was pinned down like a dog or pig, while Asher was telling jokes to make Beatrix laugh. Beatrix giggled cutely, then said, “By the way, brother.” “Is Adeline really willing to give me her heart?” “She won’t pretend to agree and then run away on the surgery day, will she?!” Beatrix sobbed a bit, “Brother, if Adeline runs, won’t I die on the operating table?” “I’m scared!” Asher hugged her gently, “She won’t.” So, he ordered his men, “Seal Adeline’s room completely with iron.” “Give her a shot every day.” “Before the surgery, let her lie on the bed like a vegetable.”

The room was turned into an iron cage, and I was drugged daily, muddled, waiting for death on the bed. “Adeline, now you know how it feels.” “Don’t blame me for being ruthless, blame yourself for being cheap! For taking my brother away.” This voice was Beatrix! “I can’t leave brother, I’ll die without him.” “So… I can only let you die.” Beatrix laughed softly, then added, “Actually, I don’t have a heart condition at all.” “Inject her with drugs every day.” “Before the surgery, let her stay in bed in a vegetative state.” The hospital room felt like an iron cage. Every day, I was drugged, lying there, waiting for death. “Adeline, it’s your turn now.” “Don’t blame me for being cruel. Blame yourself for foolishly taking my Brother.” It was Beatrix’s voice! “I can’t live without Brother. Without him, I’ll die.” “So… I have no choice but to let you die.” Beatrix chuckled, “Actually, I don’t have a heart condition.” “I bribed the doctor to say I did, just so Brother would give me your heart, leading to your death!” My breathing quickened. She never had a heart condition! It was all a lie to deceive Asher! I must tell Asher!!! “You’re awake?!” Beatrix noticed my reaction, exclaiming in surprise. I tried to control my emotions, pretending to know nothing. Beatrix examined me closely, “Is she… not awake?” “Hmph.” Beatrix’s eyes darkened, “Whether you’re awake or not, as long as you die, that’s what matters.” “You’re going to die anyway, whether sooner or later makes no difference.” “Let me help you leave this world a bit earlier.” She laughed, “An early death means an early rebirth!” The room’s temperature began to rise. She intended to burn me! I suddenly realized her plan. I wanted to run, to scream, but the drugs left me paralyzed. The heat intensified, scorching my body. I rolled off the bed; the door was only ten meters away, but it felt like an unreachable distance. I clawed toward it with all my might, leaving scratch marks on the iron. Bloodstains crisscrossed the floor, accompanied by the smell of burning flesh. My skin peeled off as I crawled, my dying cries echoing—someone, save me, help me! The pain was unbearable! Save me! Save me!!! In my final moments, I heard Asher’s voice: “Quick! Save her!!!” He sounded frantic. Was it for me? “Brother.” “My heart hurts.” Beatrix frowned, clutching her chest. “What?!” Asher panicked, immediately scooping up Beatrix, “Everyone, clear the route to the nearest hospital!” “What about Mrs.?” He turned sharply, our eyes meeting across the hospital room. “Brother!” Beatrix clung to his hand, crying, “It hurts so much!” Asher hesitated no more, carrying Beatrix out: “Forget her, she won’t die!” Beatrix clutched her chest, crying, “Brother, I actually caused Sister Adeline’s accident.” She lowered her head, voice choked, “I wanted to have a candlelight dinner with Brother, but accidentally knocked over the candle.” “Brother, am I stupid?” “You can scold me, hit me.” She clung to Asher’s sleeve, pleading, “Just don’t leave me!” No, she did it on purpose to burn me! Asher comforted her, “It’s okay, don’t be afraid, Beatrix.” “It’s not your fault; maybe it’s Adeline’s karma.” …… Their voices faded away, leaving me to be consumed by the fire. Karma? I wanted to laugh but had no strength to move. I wanted to cry, but tears had long run dry for Asher. David said a person dies three times in life. I had died seven times for Asher. I should let go. Memories flashed through my mind, those unforgettable moments fading away. Asher, I don’t love you anymore. System: “Calculating the male lead’s malice value…” With that, I fell into nothingness. On the first day of Adeline’s death, Asher was busy consoling the frightened Beatrix. On the second day, Asher took Beatrix on a Ferris wheel ride. On the third day, Asher frowned. Adeline used to return to him within three days. On the fourth day, Asher carved a bunny out of an apple for Beatrix, remembering how he used to cheer up Adeline with it. On the fifth day, Asher felt a void in his heart. He told himself, she loved you too much to leave! On the sixth day, Asher saw Adeline’s figure everywhere in a daze. Asher panicked. He kept asking his subordinates, “Has Adeline been here?” Asher kicked over everything in front of him, “Where is Adeline?!” “Where is she?” “Hurry, find her for me!” “But… Mr. He, Mrs. already died in that fire!” Asher froze in shock. Adeline, dead?! “Shut up!!!” He glared at the speaker, “Impossible! She can’t be dead!” “She can’t be dead!!!” Asher went mad. He started searching for me everywhere, turning over every inch of land. But it was too late. Asher searched for an entire month but never found me. After drinking a whole case of liquor, he returned once more to the place where I was burned to death. The sight of charred ruins struck Asher’s heart. “Adeline!” He stumbled inside, frantically digging through the rubble, “Adeline, I didn’t allow you to die!” “You’re not allowed to die!” He searched all night until dawn finally unearthed a decayed corpse. The rotting body had been burnt to a crisp, covered in dark red blood stains. The stench was overwhelming, but Asher felt nothing. He held the corpse tightly, tears streaming down his face, “Adeline, Adeline, I was wrong.” “I’m sorry, please come back?!” “I’m begging you, if you come back,” “I’ll do anything.” “Really? What if I want you all dead?” As a corpse, I grinned. One minute earlier. System: “Male lead’s malice value calculation complete, reaching 100%” “You may unbind from the CEO’s trophy wife status and select a new identity.” “Available identities: A CEO’s stepmother; B switch identities to become CEO; C return to your body as the corpse queen.” “Please choose.” Remembering the agony of my blood being drained in the rain, The pain of being tortured to death, The agony of being trampled to death by horses, …… And being burned to death in the fire, I want Asher, Beatrix, and everyone who hurt me, To face retribution! With a plan in mind, I smiled and said, “I want them all.” 16 Watching Asher’s terrified eyes, I chuckled, “Just a little joke.” Asher looked at me, resembling a dried corpse, in disbelief. “Adeline?!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296611”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #狼人Werewolf #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic