On our seventh wedding anniversary, my husband Ethan brought his pregnant subordinate home. After I caught the two of them in bed together, Ethan said disdainfully: “Unlike you, a dead fish, I have needs. Vivian is younger than you. She understands what I want.” Right in front of me, he put Vivian’s feet on his lap and massaged them. I didn’t cry or make a scene. I just packed a few old clothes in front of them. I tore up the terminal illness diagnosis I’d been hiding and flushed the pieces down the toilet. Ethan’s friends were all betting in their group chat that I’d be back on my knees begging to reconcile by morning. After all, I’d been a stay-at-home wife for seven years. I even had to watch his face just to buy groceries. But half a month passed, and I vanished completely. Ethan panicked. He called, his voice seething: “Jane, if you don’t get your ass back here, we’re getting divorced!” But a deep, cold male voice answered the phone. The billionaire tycoon Adrian replied icily: “Jane just had surgery. She’s sleeping. My lawyers will send the divorce papers.”

On our seventh wedding anniversary, Ethan brought his pregnant subordinate home. “Jane, come pour Vivian some water.” His tone was casual, as if he were ordering around a maid. The woman called Vivian, her belly showing just a hint of pregnancy, leaned delicately against Ethan. Her eyes held undisguised provocation. I was holding a plate of freshly made pasta, my hands frozen in mid-air. The steam from the pasta blurred my vision. “What else can you do besides cook?” Ethan frowned, his face full of impatience. “Vivian can help me land the big project with Skyline Corp. She understands me better than you do.” Right in front of me, he put Vivian’s feet on his lap and massaged them carefully. His movements were so gentle, as if he were handling a priceless treasure. Seven years. He had never been this tender with me. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant hand. Even breathing hurt. But I didn’t cry or make a scene. I just calmly untied my apron. Under their sticky gazes, I walked into the bedroom and packed a few old clothes. The wheels of my suitcase scraped across the floor with a harsh noise. Ethan finally looked up, his eyes mocking: “Jane, playing the runaway game again? Where can you even go?” I ignored him and walked into the bathroom. From the deepest part of the drawer, I pulled out the terminal illness diagnosis I’d hidden for a month. Stomach cancer. Stage four. I’d imagined countless times what his reaction might be when I showed him this paper. Maybe a hint of shock. A bit of guilt. Now I saw how naive I’d been. I calmly tore it into pieces and threw them into the toilet. I pressed the flush button and watched those fragments swirl into the vortex and disappear. Just like my seven years of ridiculous marriage, and what little remained of my life. Walking out of the bathroom, I dragged my suitcase without a shred of attachment. Ethan’s voice came from behind me, carrying a condescending sense of charity. “Come back when you’re done with your tantrum. Don’t be ungrateful.” Vivian giggled, leaning close to his ear: “Ethan, don’t be angry. Jane’s probably just upset. Women are like that. Just humor her a bit.” I heard Ethan laugh. “Where can she go? A waste of space who’s been a stay-at-home wife for seven years. She has to watch my face just to buy groceries. I bet by tomorrow morning, she’ll be crawling back on her knees begging me.” I opened the door and walked out. The night wind was cold against my face, but it made me feel more clear-headed than I’d been in years.

Ethan posted a new update on social media. He changed our wedding photo to an intimate shot of him and Vivian. The caption read: “The beginning of a new life.” His group chat with his like-minded friends was even more lively. “Holy shit! Ethan, you brought your mistress home to provoke your wife?” “That Jane should’ve been replaced ages ago. She’s lifeless all the time. Vivian’s way more understanding.” “Let me open a betting pool on how many days before Jane comes back. I bet three days max!” “Three days? I bet one day! She’ll be kneeling at the door by tomorrow morning.” Ethan sent a smug emoji. “I bet she won’t last past midnight tonight.” They discussed me without restraint, as if I weren’t a person but just a ridiculous wager. They were certain I couldn’t survive without Ethan. After all, for him, I’d given up my career, my friends, everything. From a promising research scientist, I’d become a housewife who only revolved around the kitchen and her husband. But one day passed. Three days passed. A week passed. I didn’t go back. I vanished like I’d evaporated from the world, leaving no trace. Ethan started getting anxious. He began calling me, progressing from impatience to furious rage. “Jane, how long are you going to keep this up?” “Who the hell do you think you are? I’m telling you, my patience has limits!” “If you don’t come back, I’m cutting off your card!” Finally, after half a month, all his patience ran out. The moment the call connected, he practically roared. “Jane, this is your last chance! If you don’t get your ass back here, we’re getting divorced!” I had no strength to speak. The stabbing pain in my stomach nearly made me pass out. My phone slipped from my powerless hand. A well-defined hand caught it steadily. On the other end, Ethan was still shouting: “Say something! Are you mute?!” A deep, cold male voice came through the receiver clearly. “She just had surgery. She’s sleeping.” The other end went silent instantly. The man paused, his voice carrying no warmth. “Also, about the divorce, you don’t need to wait.” “My lawyers will personally deliver the divorce papers.”

Ethan was stunned. “Who are you? What gives you the right to make decisions for Jane?” “I’m her current guardian.” After saying this, the man hung up. When Ethan called again, he only heard the cold busy tone. He was so angry he nearly smashed his phone. A woman who’d been his maid for seven years, a waste who couldn’t survive without him, dared not answer his calls? And found some wild man? He immediately used all his connections to trace that number. The result made his heart skip a beat. No information found. That number was a top-level encrypted line, completely untraceable. For the first time, an indescribable panic rose in Ethan’s chest. At that moment, in the top-floor VIP hospital room, I slowly opened my eyes. I saw a pure white ceiling and smelled the sharp scent of disinfectant. The wound in my stomach still throbbed faintly. “You’re awake?” A familiar yet strange voice sounded in my ear. I turned my head and saw the man sitting by the bed. Adrian. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, his manner cool and elegant, though the dark circles under his eyes disrupted that composure. We hadn’t seen each other in eight years. He looked more mature than in college, and even more unreachable. “You…” My voice was hoarse. I couldn’t form a complete sentence. “You collapsed on the street. A passerby called emergency services,” he explained concisely. “In your phone’s contacts, there was only Ethan.” “I called him. He didn’t answer.” Adrian’s tone was flat, revealing no emotion. But I heard what he didn’t say. When I needed him most, my husband was with another woman. “Later, I had my assistant check your medical records.” Adrian looked at me, his gaze deep. “Stage four stomach cancer. Jane, why didn’t you tell me?” I avoided his eyes and forced a smile. “What good would telling you do? We’re not connected anymore.” “Not connected?” Adrian repeated the phrase, his tone rising slightly at the end. “Jane, you left with Ethan without a word years ago. You didn’t even say goodbye. And now you tell me we’re not connected?” His proximity made me feel suffocated. What happened back then was my debt to him. It was my weakness, my betrayal of our promise. “I’m sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say besides this. “I don’t need your apology.” Adrian stood up, looking down at me from above. “I’m only asking you one thing. Are you divorcing Ethan or not?” I looked at him and suddenly smiled. “Yes.” “Not only that, I want him to lose everything.” The next day, Ethan met Adrian’s lawyer in his office. “Mr. Harris, this is the divorce agreement drafted by Ms. Jane.” The lawyer pushed a document toward him. “Ms. Jane requests that marital assets be split fifty-fifty. Additionally, the villa you currently reside in is Ms. Jane’s premarital property. Please vacate within three days.” Ethan looked at the lawyer like he was looking at a lunatic. “On what grounds? I built that company from scratch! The villa is in her name, but I paid the down payment and the mortgage!” “Mr. Harris, your company’s startup capital came from the inheritance Ms. Jane received from her parents. As for the villa, we have evidence proving all payments came from Ms. Jane’s personal account.” The lawyer produced another document. “This is evidence of your extramarital affair and your child with a third party. If this goes to court, you may not get a single cent.” Ethan’s face turned deathly pale.

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I’m the long-lost biological daughter of a wealthy family. After returning home, I did only three things. First, I installed surveillance cameras throughout the house — no blind spots, 360 degrees. Second, I dumped a whole bag of “true vs. fake heiress” stories on them and told them to learn how to handle the relationship between a biological daughter and an adopted one. Third, I stayed ready to go completely unhinged at any moment. It turns out, the first two didn’t work on a family that’s both blind and willfully ignorant. Only by going full-on crazy and taking everyone down with me could I reclaim what rightfully belongs to me. “I’m the one who stole eighteen years of Vanessa’s life.” “Now that she’s back, I should leave.” The fake heiress stood there in an expensive white designer dress, crying like a wilting flower. Just as Mom, Dad, and my brothers were about to comfort her, I took the initiative and threw two large canvas bags off my shoulder onto the expensive floor. “Wait a second, everyone.” “The security here is terrible.” “Let me install some surveillance cameras first.” To survive, I’d worked countless part-time jobs. Installing surveillance cameras was nothing difficult for me. I had to admit, wealthy estates were huge — but also truly contradictory. They didn’t even have a single security camera. I casually wiped the sweat from my face and flashed an honest smile at the family members with their varying expressions. “Dad, Mom, Vanessa, Ethan, Lucas — you don’t need to thank me too much.” “Sure, buying all this stuff drained my entire savings, but at least it’ll keep everyone safe.” “Plus, now other wealthy families won’t laugh at us for not being able to afford surveillance cameras.” Seeing their suddenly stifled expressions, I quickly bent down to open the other bag and pulled out several novels with flashy covers. Without waiting for a response, I stuffed them into their stiff hands. “This is my first time being a real heiress, so I don’t have much experience.” “But I figured reading more books can’t hurt.” I rubbed my rough fingers together, my eyes sincere. “Let’s study and learn together.” Vanessa clutched the book in her hands so tightly her knuckles went white. Tears instantly streamed down her face. “Vanessa, are you doing all this because you’re guarding against me?” “I should just leave.” I quickly moved aside from the doorway and gave her a thumbs-up. “You want to go back to your biological parents?” “I knew you were beautiful inside and out.” “All that wealth didn’t make you forget your real mom and dad.” “Sure, your dad loves drinking, gambling, and beating people.” “And your mom is cruel and vicious — eighteen years ago, she deliberately switched you and me while working as a maid for the Hayes family.” “But at the end of the day, you share the same blood as them.” “There’s a saying, isn’t there?” “A child doesn’t despise their mother’s ugliness, and a dog doesn’t despise its family’s poverty.” “No matter how awful they are, they’re still the ones who brought you into this world.” With every word I spoke, Vanessa’s face grew paler. By the end, her whole body was swaying. Ethan quickly pulled her into his arms protectively. “Vanessa, shut up.” “Pearl was just a baby who didn’t understand anything back then.” “What fault could she possibly have?” I nodded eagerly. “Ethan, you’re New York’s best lawyer.” “Since you’ve determined that switching children isn’t a crime, then this whole thing must be perfectly legal.” Watching Ethan’s expression darken progressively, I slapped my thigh hard. “I’m such an idiot!” “Pearl is so kind — how could I say she has dirty blood flowing through her veins?” “Three years ago, when her adoptive parents secretly came to the Hayes residence looking for her, she even gave them a large sum of money.” My eldest brother’s handsome face turned completely dark at this point. Pearl, leaning against him, rolled her eyes back and fainted. “Lucas, go get the family doctor quickly.” Lucas was my second brother. Ethan carried Pearl upstairs in a rush. I anxiously followed behind them. “Wait, so when you’re sick you’re supposed to see a doctor?” “But my adoptive parents always said I just needed to tough it out.” Mom and Dad, who had been about to follow them upstairs, involuntarily stopped in their tracks. The two exchanged glances and thoughtfully opened the “true versus fake heiress” novel in their hands.

Pearl now felt dizzy and nauseous whenever she saw me. Ethan ordered me not to go anywhere near the second floor and made me stay in the servants’ quarters on the first floor. I hugged my patched-up little blanket, my face full of gratitude. “Thank you, Lucas.” “At my adoptive parents’ house, I was only allowed to sleep in the dog kennel and the cattle shed.” “You’re actually letting me stay inside the house — you’re so good to me.” “I must express my sincere gratitude.” I immediately knelt down. This whole performance left everyone in the hall completely stunned. Mom pulled me up with trembling hands. “Vanessa, is this really how Daniel and his family treated you?” I nodded, then shook my head. “Mom, actually my adoptive parents were pretty good to me.” “As long as I worked hard enough, they’d share a bite or two of the leftovers from the dog’s bowl with me.” I proudly rolled up my sleeves. “Look, I may be skin and bones, but I’m really strong.” “I did all the housework, big and small.” Mom’s gaze fell on the crisscrossing scars — old and new — on my arms. She couldn’t hold it in anymore and broke down crying. I clumsily tried to wipe the tears from her face. “Mom, don’t cry.” “My adoptive parents said I was just a little bastard, and that letting me live this long was already an enormous blessing.” The word “bastard” completely enraged Dad, who had been playing the invisible man until now. He roared at Lucas, “Go investigate this for me! How dare Daniel have the audacity to abuse my daughter like this?” Lucas clenched his fists tightly. He was torn. He really didn’t like me, this sister who had suddenly barged into their lives, but I did carry Hayes family blood after all. The way Daniel and his wife treated me was essentially trampling on the Hayes family’s dignity. “Lucas, please don’t investigate.” “I’m begging you on my knees.” Pearl appeared at the top of the stairs, looking so fragile a gust of wind could knock her over. The family members who had just started feeling sympathy for me all rushed upstairs to comfort her. I was so worried about Pearl that I shouted anxiously from behind. “Dad, Lucas — Daniel and his wife are Pearl’s biological parents, after all.” “They’ve done so many illegal things.” “If you really investigate them, they’ll definitely be arrested.” “Pearl shares their blood — won’t it break her heart?” Mom and Dad’s hands, reaching out to touch Pearl, froze in midair. Pearl stood on the second floor looking down at me, grinding her teeth in hatred. I smiled and waved at her. “You don’t need to thank me.” “We’re such good sisters, even if we don’t share the same parents.” Pearl’s eyes rolled back again and she fainted. This time, she probably wasn’t faking it. Dad looked at Pearl being carried horizontally in Ethan’s arms. His usually loving eyes held a trace of scrutiny. “Pearl’s body is weak.” “Take her back to her room.” “As for Vanessa — she’s your real sister.” “You can’t be too biased.” Then he instructed the butler, “Go prepare the room next to Pearl’s for Vanessa.” Lucas instinctively objected. “Dad, no.” “Pearl has a lot of things.” “All the rooms on the second floor are prepared for her.” Mom raised her hand and slapped Lucas across the face. “Lucas, do you have any humanity left?” “When we were spoiling Pearl like a princess, your real sister was sleeping in a dog kennel at the Harper house, fighting dogs for food.” “Just because Vanessa is sensible and doesn’t fight for things doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve them.” “Mom, I know Vanessa suffered, but none of this is Pearl’s fault.” “Why should she be neglected just because Vanessa came back?” “In my heart, I only recognize Pearl as my sister.” Lucas argued stubbornly. Afraid the two would damage their mother-son relationship because of me, I quickly explained. “Mom, don’t blame Lucas.” “He’s right.” “All the family’s love belongs to Pearl.” “I don’t want anything.” “I’ll go back to where I belong right now.” I hugged my tattered blanket and ran out of the mansion in a flash, heading straight for the dog kennel.

That very night, I moved into the room next to Pearl’s. According to the servants’ gossip, both Ethan and Lucas had been scolded by Mom and Dad, who even ordered them to read those “true versus fake heiress” novels I’d brought back. I locked my door from the inside and pulled out a diary with a cartoon cover. My fingertips traced the cold pages, and finally I used a red pen to make a checkmark. Early the next morning, Pearl and I appeared at the staircase landing at the same time. She suddenly grabbed my hand and positioned herself to fall and roll down the stairs. I quickly grabbed the staircase railing. “Pearl, I installed surveillance cameras all throughout the mansion — 360-degree coverage with no blind spots.” “Please don’t do anything rash.” She reluctantly let go of me and went downstairs resentfully. I followed her to the dining room. Mom, Dad, and my brothers were already there. All four of them had heavy dark circles under their eyes — clearly they’d stayed up late. Mom beckoned me to sit beside her. “Vanessa, we’ve all read those ‘true versus fake heiress’ novels you brought.” “Don’t worry — we’re not like those brainless parents in the books.” “You’re my flesh and blood.” “I would never mistreat you.” Lucas awkwardly chimed in. “I’ve already had people investigate your life at the Harper house.” “You really did suffer all these years.” “But your suffering wasn’t caused by Pearl.” “Don’t keep targeting her.” Ethan agreed. “When Daniel and his wife switched you and Pearl all those years ago, they were just trying to give their own daughter a better life.” “The law doesn’t go beyond human compassion.” “Be magnanimous and don’t pursue their legal responsibility.” Pearl grabbed my hand and pressed it against her face. “Three years ago when I secretly gave them money, it was actually to help you live a better life.” “But ultimately I was too selfish.” “I didn’t tell Mom and Dad the truth right away.” “Hit me if it makes you feel better, okay?” The crisp sound of slapping instantly rang out. Everyone stared at me in shock. Lucas instinctively swallowed. “Vanessa, you actually hit her?” I looked bewildered, like a child who’d made a mistake, scratching at my hair. “Lucas, I thought Pearl really wanted me to hit her.” “I’m sorry — I’m just too straightforward.” “I won’t do it again.” “Pearl, you’re so kind — you won’t blame me, will you?” Pearl shook her head through her tears. “Vanessa, as long as you’re happy, you can torment me however you want.” I looked helplessly at the two people in the head seats. “Mom, Dad — did those ‘true versus fake heiress’ novels mention how to handle this kind of situation?” “I think Pearl is mad at me.” The two of them had just started feeling dissatisfied with me, but hearing me mention those novels immediately sobered them up. Mom set her knife and fork down on the table with a clatter, her voice stern. “Enough.” “You’re the one who told your sister to hit you, and now you’re crying for everyone to see?” “If your parents hadn’t had such vile intentions back then, you’d be the one living that subhuman existence.” “Not sending them to prison is already us showing you consideration.” Pearl hadn’t expected Mom and Dad to take my side this time. She panicked and even forgot to cry. Mom didn’t spare Pearl another glance. Instead, she held my hand and brought up the subject of school. “Vanessa, your brothers both graduated from prestigious foreign universities.” “Even though Pearl is an art student, she got into a decent college too.” “As a child of the Hayes family, academic credentials may not represent everything, but they can’t be too poor either.” Ethan applied ointment to Pearl’s face while not forgetting to mock me. “With your 150-point score, you’re really embarrassing our family.” “Even though Pearl doesn’t have Hayes blood, she’s just as excellent as Lucas and me.” “She’s more like our family’s child.” Pearl modestly shook her head. “Don’t praise me like that.” “Vanessa’s thought process may be a bit unusual, but she’s excellent too.” “Pearl really has a good eye.” “Ethan, the reason I scored only 800 on the SAT is because I only took the math exam.” As soon as I said this, Mom and Dad stared at me in shock. “Vanessa, you actually scored perfect on math?” “Then why did you only take one subject?”

I looked at Lucas in confusion. “Aren’t you supposed to be a business tycoon — the kind who can find out everything about a person in minutes?” “Didn’t you investigate why?” Lucas coughed lightly and avoided my gaze guiltily. “That was my oversight.” Pearl looked at me apologetically. “Vanessa, don’t blame Lucas.” “It’s my fault for being sickly.” “He was busy taking care of me, so he didn’t finish reading your information.” “If you want to hate someone, hate me.” “I’m the one who took away your chance to go to college.” I reached my hand toward Pearl. She instinctively backed away. I smiled and stood up, pressing down on her head and patting it firmly. “How could I hate you?” “I’m extremely grateful now that you and I were switched.” “The Hayes family is such a wealthy household and they still couldn’t keep you healthy.” “If you’d been at the Harper house, you’d have died long ago.” Pearl looked at Mom and Dad’s faces turning cold and went deathly pale, not daring to talk back anymore. Mom touched my face lovingly. “Vanessa, tell Mom — who exactly stopped you from taking the SAT?” I sighed sorrowfully. “Mom, my adoptive parents locked me up.” “They were afraid if I got into college, they’d never be able to control me again.” Dad slammed his hand on the table. “Damn that Daniel!” “Ethan, I order you to send that couple to prison as quickly as possible.” Mom’s eyes reddened with heartache. “Vanessa, you’ve suffered so much.” “It’s okay that you didn’t do well this time.” “We’ll take it again next year.” I frowned in distress. “Mom, do I have to repeat senior year?” “But I’ve already been accepted to Harvard through early admission because of my awards in math and physics competitions.” Time seemed to stop for an instant. Everyone stared at me with their mouths slightly open. Mom was the first to recover. She excitedly pulled me into her embrace. “Vanessa, you’re Mom’s pride and joy.” Dad nodded as well. “Truly worthy of being my daughter.” Though Ethan and Lucas didn’t say anything, their expressions showed they now recognized me. Pearl never imagined that someone who’d been trampled into the abyss could have a chance to rise up and shine brilliantly. No. She couldn’t let Vanessa take away her identity as the wealthy family’s heiress. After Mom and Dad learned of my astonishing talent in physics and mathematics, they immediately decided to hold a grand homecoming banquet for me. To ensure I appeared before the upper-class elite in the best possible condition, Mom hired professionals to care for and style me. By the day of the banquet, I had completely transformed. The black gown and exquisite hair and makeup made me look even more refined and elegant. As I descended the spiral staircase step by step, my bearing was like that of an heir who had risen from the ashes, determined to reclaim everything that belonged to her. “Wow, she’s beautiful!” “Is this the Hayes family’s real daughter?” “Didn’t they say she grew up in the countryside?” “She doesn’t look like it at all.” “This real heiress is truly remarkable!” “She won first place in both the National High School Mathematics and Physics competitions, and has already been accepted to Harvard.” “With her talent, entering a scientific research institution for further study is just a matter of time!” “I used to think Pearl was pretty outstanding, but compared to the real heiress, she falls far short.” “What’s fake can never become real.” “Even if a pheasant flies up into a tree, it still can’t become a phoenix.” Parents love intelligent children. Amidst everyone’s praise, the eighteen-year gap between me and my parents seemed to slowly disappear. Just then, Pearl rushed up to me and my parents, holding a diary with a cartoon cover. “Mom, Dad, don’t let Vanessa fool you.” “She hates all of us.” “She wants to destroy the Hayes family.” “This diary records every step of her plan in detail.” I lunged at her in panic. “How could you read my private diary?” “Give it back!” My guilty reaction made Mom and Dad suspicious. Ethan grabbed the diary first and strode up to the speaking platform, about to place it on the video display stand so all the guests at today’s event could view my diary together. I fell to my knees at Mom’s feet, crying and hugging her legs. “Mom, Dad, I’m begging you — please don’t look at it, okay?” Mom forcefully pulled her leg away, looking at me with disgust. “Vanessa, you’ve disappointed me so much.”

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When my birth mother drugged me and dragged me onto tech mogul Mr. Holt’s yacht, I couldn’t help but laugh at the cabin door: “This boat is still as ugly as ever.” The fake heiress, Vivian Jones, thought I’d lost my mind. She pinched my thigh hard and clipped a micro camera to my chest. “Skyler, Mr. Holt has a violent temper and sadistic tendencies. You better scream loud later.” My birth mother, Martha Jones, coldly tied my hands beside her, her tone impatient. “We raised you all these years. Now it’s time to repay us.” “As long as Mr. Holt ruins you here, your sister will get exclusive rights and become an influencer worth millions.” “Sacrificing you to make your sister successful — you owe her that much!” As the drugs took effect, Martha stripped off my coat and threw me into the dark lower cabin like trash. No one noticed that in the dim light, I couldn’t help but smile. And no one knew that the “violent and unpredictable tech mogul” they spoke of had clung to my legs three years ago, crying and begging me to take him in. Today, they’d personally delivered me right back to his territory.

When I woke up, my head was still foggy. My hands were bound behind me with rough rope that dug painfully into my wrists. The yacht’s engine rumbled low, meaning we’d already left port. Outside the door came Vivian’s voice, barely suppressing her wild excitement. “Martha! Mr. Holt’s people said he’s heading to the lower deck now!” “Once the camera catches footage of Mr. Holt torturing Skyler, my livestream will blow up!” “Then Mr. Holt’s exclusive interview will be mine too, and the Jones family will be saved!” Martha’s voice followed, dripping with disgusting flattery. “Don’t worry, Vivian. I gave her enough drugs — she doesn’t even have the strength to bite her tongue off.” “Once Mr. Holt gets tired of her, we’ll use the video to blackmail her into giving up all her shares.” “This bitch grew up in the countryside. She’s trash in her bones. Serving Mr. Holt is the luckiest thing that could happen to her in several lifetimes.” Trash. Lucky. I leaned against the cold iron wall and smiled coldly. Five years ago, the Jones family brought me back from the countryside. I thought it was family calling me home. Turned out they needed bone marrow for Vivian, who had leukemia. After they drained my marrow, they threw me in the basement to eat leftovers. Meanwhile, Vivian took my design drafts and transformed herself into New York’s darling talent. Now the Jones family’s capital chain had broken. They were about to go bankrupt. They’d heard that the all-powerful tech mogul Mr. Holt was hosting a private party on his yacht tonight. Rumor had it Mr. Holt was violent and cruel, loved torturing disobedient women. So Martha, without hesitation, drugged my water. Packaged me up and sent me here to secure Vivian’s bright future. The drug’s effects were slowly fading. My fingers could already move. I turned my wrist slightly, and the micro blade hidden in my sleeve slid into my palm. Three seconds. The rough rope snapped. I rubbed my reddened wrists and stood up. I could draw this yacht’s lower cabin structure with my eyes closed. Because three years ago, I’d written every line of code for this boat’s smart control system. Back then, Ethan Holt wasn’t any Mr. Holt. He was just a stray dog, covered in blood, collapsed in a rainy alley. I picked him up, taught him to code, taught him business, taught him how to crush the people who’d stepped on him. He knelt before me and said his life belonged to me. Later, his ambition grew too large. To climb higher, he’d use any means — even wanted to lock me in a cage. I kicked him away, erased all traces of myself, and disappeared completely. Three years. I heard he went crazy looking for me, turned New York upside down. Never expected Martha would deliver me to him today. The micro camera on my chest blinked with a faint red light. Vivian’s livestream had already started. I reached up and pinched the button-sized camera between my fingers. But I didn’t crush it. If she wanted a livestream, I’d give her a real show. I walked to the cabin door and raised my foot. “Bang!” The heavy iron door flew open with my kick. In the corridor outside stood two bodyguards in black suits. Hearing the noise, they whipped around, faces full of shock. “You… how did you get free?!” I ignored them and walked straight out. “Stop! Mr. Holt’s prey dares to run!” One bodyguard pulled out his baton and charged at me viciously. I sidestepped, grabbed his wrist, and twisted hard. “Crack!” The sound of breaking bone echoed crisply in the corridor. The bodyguard screamed. His baton clattered to the floor. I kicked him behind the knee. He dropped to the ground with a thud. The other bodyguard backed away in terror, reaching for his radio. “Calling captain! The cargo escaped! She knows how to fight!” Cargo. They called me cargo too. I picked up the baton from the floor and walked toward him step by step. “This boat’s security system is the old version from three years ago.” I looked at him, my tone calm. “You didn’t even upgrade the system, and you dare try to stop me?” The bodyguard froze, clearly not understanding what I meant. I swung the baton hard at the side of his neck. His eyes rolled back and he collapsed limply. I stepped over their bodies and headed to the control panel at the end of the corridor. My fingers tapped rapidly across the screen. “Beep — ” System access unlocked. I took direct control of the yacht’s internal surveillance network. And while I was at it, I switched Vivian’s livestream signal to the yacht’s big screens. The show was about to begin.

In the yacht’s luxurious top-floor hall, dim lights set a scene of indulgent decadence. Vivian wore a haute couture gown, holding champagne, smiling sweetly at her phone camera. “Tonight I’m taking you all to see New York’s most exclusive party.” “I heard Mr. Holt will appear soon. Hit that follow button so you don’t miss the exciting moments.” Martha stood beside her, face full of smiles as she schmoozed with the wealthy merchants and socialites around them. “Yes, yes, our Vivian was personally invited by Mr. Holt himself.” “Soon the Jones family and Mr. Holt will practically be family.” The giant screen in the center of the hall had been playing soothing music. Suddenly, the image flickered. The music stopped. The screen showed surveillance footage from the lower cabin corridor. In the frame, I wore a torn dress, held a bloodied baton, and stood over two bodyguards lying motionless at my feet. The hall fell instantly silent. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at the screen in shock. Vivian’s smile froze on her face. Martha’s champagne glass slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor. “What… what’s going on?!” Vivian looked frantically between the screen and her phone. Her livestream chat had exploded. [Holy shit! Isn’t that the girl who was tied up earlier?] [Those fighting skills are insane! She took down two guys!] [Didn’t Vivian say her sister volunteered to serve Mr. Holt? Why are they fighting?] [What the hell is happening? Is this kidnapping?] Vivian broke out in a cold sweat and tried to shut down the livestream. “Network error! This is behind-the-scenes footage from a movie! Yes, just footage!” Useless. I’d already locked her livestream backend. Unless I released it, she couldn’t even turn off her phone. I looked at the surveillance camera in the corridor and slowly smiled. “Vivian, didn’t you want me to scream louder?” My voice transmitted clearly through the yacht’s PA system to every corner. “I’m out now. How exactly do you plan to make me scream?” The hall erupted in chaos. All eyes turned to Vivian and Martha. “Mrs. Jones, what’s going on? Isn’t that your family’s real daughter you just found?” “You tied up your biological daughter and sent her to Mr. Holt? And livestreamed it?” “The Jones family will do anything for money — such despicable tactics!” Martha’s face alternated between green and white as she pointed at the screen and cursed. “Skyler! You little bitch! What are you doing!” “Get back down there now! If you anger Mr. Holt, our whole family will pay with our lives!” I laughed softly. “Pay with our lives?” “Mrs. Jones, you’ve got something wrong.” “The only ones dying here today will be you.” I gripped the baton and turned toward the elevator to the top floor. The elevator doors opened and five fully armed bodyguards charged out. Leading them was a scarred man — Ethan’s head of security. “Take her down! Dead or alive!” Scarface roared and all five rushed at me. I sidestepped the first one’s baton, chopped the side of his neck with my hand. Seized his baton and smashed it into the second man’s jaw. Blood sprayed. My movements never paused, like a precision killing machine. Three years ago in the back alleys, I’d fought my way through an entire street of thugs to protect that useless Ethan. These greenhouse-raised bodyguards moved like they were in slow motion to me. Less than a minute. All five bodyguards lay on the ground groaning. Scarface clutched his broken ribs, staring at me in terror like he’d seen a ghost. “Who… who are you?” I lifted his chin with the bloody baton. “Go tell Ethan.” “His dogs are blocking my path.” Scarface trembled and scrambled away. I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor. The elevator rose slowly. I knew a group of clowns was waiting for me above. And one lunatic I hadn’t seen in three years.

The elevator dinged open. The air in the hall seemed to freeze. Everyone stared at me in horror, like watching a demon crawl out of hell. I walked out of the elevator step by step, gripping the still-dripping baton. The hem of my red dress was torn, exposing my pale, slender legs speckled with blood. “Skyler! You maniac!” Martha screamed and rushed at me, raising her hand to slap me. “Do you know what you’ve done! You beat Mr. Holt’s bodyguards! You’re going to destroy the Jones family!” My eyes turned cold. I grabbed her wrist. Applied slight pressure. “Ahhh — it hurts! Let go!” Martha’s features twisted in pain. Her knees buckled and she dropped right in front of me. “When you hit me, did you worry about my pain?” I looked down at her, my voice devoid of warmth. “When you drained my bone marrow, did you worry I’d die?” “Now you’re scared?” Seeing this, Vivian immediately put on a pitiful expression. She faced the livestream camera, tears falling on command. “Skyler, why are you treating Martha like this? Even if you’re jealous of me, you can’t hit people!” “Mr. Holt will be here soon. Apologize to Martha quickly. Mr. Holt is such a good person, he’ll definitely forgive you.” She was still trying to maintain her kind rich-girl persona. I shoved Martha aside and walked straight up to Vivian. She backed up a step in fear, but still tried to act tough. “What… what do you want? This is Mr. Holt’s territory!” “Slap!” I backhanded her across the face. Vivian spun half a circle and crashed to the floor. Half her face swelled immediately, blood seeping from her mouth. “You… you dare hit me?” She covered her face, staring at me in disbelief. “Hit you? So what?” I crouched down, grabbed her hair, and forced her to look up at the camera. “You love livestreaming, right? Come on, tell everyone.” “Those talent design drafts you’re so proud of — who drew them?” “That bone marrow that saved your life — who gave it?” “And the confidence you have to stand here now — who gave you that?” Vivian struggled desperately, eyes darting away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! Let me go! Help! Mr. Holt, help!” Just then, the carved doors at the end of the hall burst open. An extremely cold, oppressive aura instantly swept through the entire hall. Everyone held their breath, unconsciously clearing a path. A man in a black haute couture suit, surrounded by a dozen bodyguards in black, walked slowly forward. His features were deep and striking, his nose bridge high, his jawline sharp as a blade. Those pitch-black eyes radiated a chilling murderous intent. New York billionaire, tech mogul, Ethan Holt. Vivian crawled toward him like she’d found her savior. “Mr. Holt! Mr. Holt, save me! This crazy woman hit me, and she beat your men!” “She doesn’t deserve to serve you at all! Mr. Holt, throw her in the ocean to feed the sharks!” Martha also hurried over, kowtowing obsequiously. “Mr. Holt, please calm down! This girl is mentally ill. The Jones family will deal with her immediately. We won’t dirty your eyes with her presence!” Ethan didn’t acknowledge them. His gaze cut through the crowd and locked onto my face. He saw my torn dress. Saw the marks on my wrists. Saw the bloodied baton in my hand. The temperature of the air around him instantly dropped to freezing. Scarface followed behind him, pointing at me and shouting: “Mr. Holt! It’s her! She’s the one who injured our men! You must…” “Shut up.” Ethan’s voice was soft but carried undeniable killing intent. Scarface immediately went silent, breaking into a cold sweat. Vivian kept fanning the flames, oblivious. “Mr. Holt, look how arrogant she is. She doesn’t respect you at all…” Ethan suddenly moved. He strode forward step by step toward me. His leather shoes struck the marble floor with dull thuds, like footsteps on everyone’s hearts. Vivian and Martha exchanged glances, wild joy flashing in their eyes. They thought Ethan was going to kill me himself. The other people in the hall shook their heads, certain I was done for. Ethan walked up to me and stopped. He stood a full head taller than me. His massive shadow completely enveloped me. I met his eyes without flinching. Three seconds later. Under the shocked, stunned gazes of everyone present. The all-powerful, ruthless Mr. Holt of New York. Suddenly bent his knees. “Thud.” He dropped straight to his knees before me. His hands clutched desperately at my waist, burying his face in my dress. His broad shoulders trembled violently. A low, hoarse, aggrieved voice thick with tears echoed through the hall. “Baby…” “You’re finally willing to keep me…”

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I had been dating Ethan for five years. The day before our wedding, I discovered over ten thousand photos of the same girl saved in his cloud storage. There were photos of her sleeping, smiling… even intimate photos. And thousands of flight tickets to the same foreign city. Without a word, I packed my bags and left on our wedding day. The bride had successfully escaped the wedding, but he lost his mind. I stared at the countless photos and flight ticket screenshots on the screen, my pupils trembling, my heart pounding as if it would burst from my chest. “You’re really getting married? Not waiting for Luna to come back? I thought you’d wait for her forever.” His friend’s slip-up when he heard we were getting married echoed in my ears. That was the first time I learned Ethan’s first love’s name. Too bad I only understood what his friend meant now. The cloud storage was updated every month. Our photos together from five years didn’t add up to a single upload batch. Every time we went on a date and I wanted to take photos to remember it, he always had excuses to refuse. He said we were together every day, there would be plenty of opportunities later, no need to take photos. Only now did I understand — it wasn’t that there was no need, just that I wasn’t necessary to him. Staring at the different timestamps on the photo watermarks, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through our chat history from those corresponding times. I discovered that Ethan had either said he was on a business trip or had to go out of town for training. What disappeared from home along with him was his camera. The increasingly smooth lies in our records made my heart tremble. I abruptly shut down his computer, rushed into the bedroom to pack my bags and leave. But the moment I opened the closet, a familiar feeling washed over me, nearly suffocating me. Every piece of clothing inside had appeared on Luna in those photos. And these clothes were all gifts Ethan had given me. I slammed the cabinet door shut and crouched on the floor, helpless. Tears blurred my vision as I shakily sent a message to my boss. I told him I wanted to apply for the position at the overseas branch. After listening, he was silent for a long time before replying, “Young people being cautious is good. Marriage shouldn’t be impulsive. I’ll submit your information, and you should rest well while waiting for the results.” His tone held satisfaction and reflection, but notably no surprise. It seemed that Ethan and I not making it to the end was already an expected outcome in everyone’s eyes. I hung up the phone and opened the ticket booking app, preparing to buy a flight abroad for the next day, when I heard the sound of the door closing outside. Bracing my hands on my knees, I stood up and walked to the living room. The love I once had in my eyes when looking at him was gone. As usual, he gently kissed my forehead when he got home. But today he had a cake in his hands. “Got off work early today, specially brought this for you. Try it. I have a classmate reunion in a bit, need to head out.” I glanced at the chocolate mousse stuck to the outer box. Mockery flashed in my eyes. “No thanks, I don’t have an appetite, and… I’m allergic to chocolate.” His expression went blank for a moment before he remembered this was something I told him every year. But he never remembered it. Seeing my expression indifferent with no sign of anger, he reached out and gently ruffled my hair. “Sorry, work’s been too busy lately. I’ll buy you a new one after the wedding ends tomorrow.” Before I knew the truth, I believed whatever he explained. But after seeing the photos, I finally understood why he loved chocolate. Because Luna liked it. “Work’s been too busy” was his go-to excuse.

The last update to the cloud storage was three days ago. I looked at his emotionless eyes and slowly nodded, not exposing his lie. I wanted to leave us both with some final dignity. Seeing that I didn’t argue with him like before, he smiled and pulled out a necklace from his pocket, presenting it before my eyes. The diamond-studded moon pendant made my eyes sting. I accepted it expressionlessly and turned to walk into the bedroom. I tossed the necklace into the nightstand drawer. Then I removed the ring engraved with a moon pattern and placed it inside as well. Besides the necklace with the moon pendant, there were bracelets, bangles, earrings… I used to not understand why he liked moon patterns. Now that I knew Luna’s name… I couldn’t help but connect everything. Closing the drawer, his somewhat excited and expectant voice came from the living room: “Wear the jewelry I gave you at the wedding, okay? A whole set with moon patterns, it’ll definitely look beautiful…” “Just stay home obediently, I’m heading out to the reunion now. Last time before the wedding, might come back a bit late, don’t wait up.” I didn’t respond, hiding in the bedroom like a snail. Silently thinking to myself that we would never have a wedding. As the sound of the closing door echoed, I walked out and threw the cake in the trash. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the cabinet nearby. Inside lay all the labels I’d torn off from cake boxes over five years. Like a silent mockery of my one-woman show. What I treasured so much I couldn’t bear to throw away the wrapping was garbage another person could discard without a thought. I opened the cabinet and threw everything inside away. Then I started packing for going abroad. Besides clothes and jewelry, all I could take were simple daily necessities. While rummaging through boxes and cabinets, I discovered quite a few more things. Over these five years, the gifts I’d given Ethan were all randomly stuffed in various corners of the house. Many had even expired, their packaging never opened. No wonder when I asked him about them, he was always evasive, saying he couldn’t bear to use them. Thinking about it now, he probably just left them too carelessly and couldn’t find them. His daily necessities all came from the same foreign source. The country where Luna lived. I threw them into the trash one by one, along with my love for him and my past humble self. The moment I zipped up my suitcase, Ethan’s friend called me. “Sophia, Ethan’s had too much to drink. Can you come pick him up? I’ll send you the address.” Through the receiver, Ethan’s hoarse voice called out “Luna.” With pleading, with devotion, with the joy of regaining something lost. But no trace of drunkenness. My breath hitched, my heart stopped instantly. The other person quickly covered the phone and hung up. I placed the suitcase by the wall, hesitated for two seconds, but still called a cab according to the address Ethan’s friend sent. One last time. Since I’d decided to leave, I didn’t want to leave with regrets. When I reached the private room door, the teasing and laughter inside filtered through the gap to my ears. “How come Luna came back today? Could it be she heard some news about our Ethan? Tonight we definitely won’t let you come for nothing!” Through the glass, I clearly saw an unrestrained and wild expression on Ethan’s face I’d never seen before. His expectant gaze was firmly locked on another woman’s face. And that woman’s face — I had just seen it countless times on his computer.

The diamond-studded necklace around her neck was identical to the one Ethan had just given me. Except hers was brighter, more eye-catching. I took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the private room. The commotion inside came to an abrupt halt. Ethan seemed not to have expected me to come, his eyes full of confusion, his brows furrowed. His friend was the first to stand up and introduce me. “This is our college classmate Luna. She went abroad five years ago and just came back today, catching our reunion. What a coincidence, right?” His ambiguous gaze swept back and forth between Ethan and Luna. Calling me here was clearly deliberate. If it were before, I might have lost control on the spot and confronted them. Knowing Ethan had her in his heart, why did they let her appear when we were about to get married? Why didn’t they stop them from meeting? But now I just smiled faintly. When his friend began introducing me and mentioned the words “fiancée,” Ethan coughed non-stop, covering his mouth. Luna beside him handed him tissues with perfect understanding. Naturally reaching out to wipe the corner of his mouth. After a while, his face completely red, he spoke: “Just a friend I’m pretty close with.” My eyelashes trembled slightly as everyone watched like spectators. I nodded along with his words. My palm hurt from my nails digging in. I forced myself not to let tears spill out. He didn’t want to reveal my identity — I was used to it. After all, even our wedding was just a group message. No photos together, no bride’s name. I always made excuses for his behavior, unwilling to gamble one last time with five years of feelings. But time after time, I remained the loser. I forced a smile and greeted Luna. “You’re even prettier in person than in photos. The necklace… is very beautiful too.” After that sentence, the private room fell completely silent. Perhaps afraid I’d make things difficult for her, Ethan quickly grabbed a drink and placed it in front of me. Looking at the black chocolate cocktail on the table, my smile froze on my face. I spoke word by word: “I can’t drink anything with chocolate…” I’d just told him before going out, and he’d forgotten it immediately. Embarrassment flashed in Ethan’s eyes. Just as he was about to change my drink, Luna reached out and took the glass from in front of me. “Give it to me. I’m not picky.” A flash of urgency crossed Ethan’s face: “There’s lemon juice in it. Don’t you dislike that flavor?” In an instant, something seemed to explode in my heart. The fragments pierced my chest, even breathing hurt and trembled. So he didn’t forget — he just didn’t bother wasting time on me. Luna giggled and playfully tapped his nose. “I drink it often abroad. Got used to it. It’s fine.” She placed the glass in front of herself and went to the restroom. Only then did Ethan sit beside me, explaining in a low voice: “I’m sorry, I really forgot just now. I’ll definitely pay attention next time. Everyone’s here, one drink won’t hurt, right? Worst case, I’ll go out and buy you allergy medicine later.” “Don’t overthink it. She’s just a friend I haven’t seen in a long time. She doesn’t know we’re getting married. Explaining would be too complicated so I just—” Before he could finish, I simply nodded. He never knew that for our wedding day, to be in good condition, I’d been off sugar for a long time. As for allergens that would make me break out in hives all over, I stayed far away. The tears accumulated in my eyes spilled out from the momentum. He thought I didn’t know his first love, thought he’d hidden it well. Then I’d go along with his wishes. Pretending to be oblivious was what I was best at anyway. “Yeah, I know. No need to explain.” He visibly relaxed. After the earlier awkwardness, his friend spoke first, trying to ease the atmosphere. He suggested playing a game. When Luna entered the room, the bottle mouth seemed to have GPS, stopping right in front of Ethan.

His friends around him were all jeering, wanting him to show his phone gallery. Their spectating gazes swept back and forth between the three of us. Ethan looked troubled. The person next to him spoke up, sounding rather bored: “Don’t you guys know Ethan’s getting married soon? His gallery must be full of his wife. What’s there to see? Social media would be more exciting!” Another person joked: “Why didn’t you say that earlier? Next round, next round.” Ethan’s face flushed from the teasing. His probing gaze quickly swept across Luna’s face. Then he took out his phone, preparing to unlock it. Perhaps the lighting in the room was too dim — his face recognition failed several times. Just as his phone was about to lock, he could only helplessly input the numeric password under everyone’s gaze. After entering six digits, Luna’s eyes flickered. Teasing laughter came from the side: “That looks a bit familiar. Whose birthday is that? Luna’s?” Ethan cleared his throat lightly. “Don’t know. Got used to using it, forgot to change it.” His friend was impatient and snatched his phone away. The next second, Ethan’s gallery was displayed before everyone. Disappointment flashed across everyone’s faces in unison. No photos of me, no work materials, no gossip they wanted. Only countless moons. Five years. Nineteen hundred photos. Ethan and Luna’s gazes met. The air filled with their unique understanding and romance. His friends and I seemed isolated in a separate space from them. My heart gradually sank to the bottom. I could almost hear my own heavy heartbeat in my ears. Soon, his friend spoke disappointedly: “What’s wrong with you? Why’d you take so many photos of the moon? Want to be a photographer?” “Isn’t this hobby way classier than gaming? I really appreciate it.” Luna’s face lit up with a sweet smile, her eyes so tender they could melt. As if among all these people in the room, only she understood Ethan. The first round passed just like that. But in the second round, Ethan lost again. This time the condition was to choose an opposite-sex person present and kiss them. The one who made this request was still Ethan’s friend who kept trying to set them up. There were only two women in the room — Luna and me. The noisy jeering rose and fell. Ethan gritted his teeth and glared at him for a long while. Finally speaking slowly: “I’m drunk. I’m leaving.” After saying that, he tilted his head back and downed a bottle of alcohol, getting up to leave the room. Seeing no show to watch, his friends also left one after another. The three of us walked outside together to hail cabs. A car suddenly sped past from the side. Ethan’s first instinct was to pull Luna into his arms. I was knocked down by that car and fell to the ground. The spot on my palm where my nails had scratched earlier broke open. Blood instantly seeped from the wound. I bit down hard on my jaw from the pain. Tears of grievance squeezed from the corners of my eyes. On the last night before leaving, I didn’t want to show weakness in front of him. Ethan’s gaze fell on me, his eyes filled with apology. He helped me up, just about to apologize, when I shook my head stubbornly: “I’m fine. Just didn’t stand steady. Don’t worry about me.” “Your classmate just got back. She’s probably not too familiar with things here. You should take her home. I can manage on my own.”

When I said this, I could feel my heart bleeding in pain. Perhaps my understanding attitude made him feel guilty. Ethan rarely took the initiative to hail a cab for me. He even pretended to write down the license plate number. After seeing me off, he got into another car with Luna. Back home, I cleaned the wound on my palm with hydrogen peroxide myself. Looking in the mirror at how my features contorted in pain, the tears I’d been holding back couldn’t be contained anymore and gushed from my eyes. I cried until my whole body trembled and my throat lost its voice, my body collapsing weakly on the floor. In the early morning, when I’d finished washing up and lay in bed, Ethan finally pushed the door open. I closed my eyes pretending to be asleep. I heard him hesitantly speak: “Don’t overthink it. Today was just my classmate coming back for a reunion, nothing else.” As he spoke, he walked to the bed and realized my eyes were tightly shut. Relieved, he tossed his phone on the bed. Turned and went into the bathroom to wash up. The light turned on. I slowly opened my eyes. His phone wasn’t locked. Possessed by some impulse, I picked it up and glanced at it. The screen was still on the interface where he was replying to Luna’s messages. The last sentence was: [Sophia is my friend. My family pressured me into marriage. This time I had her play along with me. Didn’t expect you’d actually believe it and come back specially for this. What, haven’t gotten over me after five years? Want to consider getting back together?] My heart was instantly gripped by an enormous force. Even my breathing trembled. In front of me, Ethan had always been a perfect boyfriend. Gifts for every anniversary. Little cakes on every ordinary day. Every new fashion item that appeared in my closet right after launch. But only I knew he was loving another person through me. What he did during our relationship was just what he considered a boyfriend’s duty. It never had anything to do with me personally. His heart and soul only beat wildly for Luna. Even the wedding I’d anticipated for five years was a scheme to win Luna back. With the facts laid before me, I could no longer deceive myself. I covered my mouth with my hand so I wouldn’t cry out loud. When I put down the phone, I accidentally returned to the home screen. His friend’s chat showed an unread message. [Bro, that’s all I can help you with. When things work out with Luna, don’t forget to treat me to dinner!] I immediately locked the screen. Taking several deep breaths, I opened the email I’d just received on my own phone. It was a success notification from the overseas branch. After reading it, I directly bought a flight abroad for the next morning. After the payment succeeded, Ethan’s phone suddenly rang. He hurriedly walked out of the bathroom. I pretended I’d just woken up. He hung up the call and glanced at a message. Meeting my sleepy eyes, he spoke: “My friend’s light at home broke. I’m going to take a look. You sleep first. I’ll be right back.” Dropping that line, he leaned down and kissed my forehead. Then turned and strode out of the room. The door closing sound echoed. The last teardrop rolled down my cheek. I desperately wiped my forehead with my uninjured hand. Ethan, oh Ethan, you weren’t even willing to put effort into lying to me once. I lay in bed with my eyes open until dawn. I got up and simply washed up, then dragged my luggage to the airport. On the way, Ethan finally deigned to send me a message. [Sorry about last night. By the time we fixed the light it was almost dawn. I was afraid of disturbing your sleep, so I didn’t come back. Luna’s going today too. Save a seat for her. She wants to watch.] I turned off my phone. Only at the last moment before boarding did I reply to him. [I saved a seat, but it’s the bride’s seat.] [Ethan, let’s break up.]

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My childhood sweetheart had his heart broken by me. Seven years after he left to study abroad, he finally came back with his new girlfriend to meet the parents. And I had finally been told by the hospital that after seven years of fighting cancer, I had failed. I could go home and wait for death. Seeing me being helped by my mom as I sat in a wheelchair, my childhood sweetheart’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Seven years, and look how pathetic you’ve become. You can’t even walk anymore.” Hearing his voice filled with disgust, I simply pulled down my sleeve calmly, covering the countless needle marks that dotted the back of my hand. “It’s nothing. I just fell while walking. Just a broken bone.” My childhood sweetheart sneered again. “Well then, since that’s the case — I’m getting married soon. How about you be my fiancée’s bridesmaid?” I remained calm, only smiling faintly. “I can’t. I’m about to go somewhere very far away.” After saying that, I patted the back of my mom’s hand, signaling her to quickly wheel me back home.

As soon as we got home and Mom had helped me lie down in bed, Ethan’s mother came looking for me. The moment she entered, she looked at me hesitantly, as if wanting to say something but stopping herself. “Jenny, I… I have a request.” Looking at her flushed face, even though she hadn’t said the rest, I already knew her purpose was probably the same as seven years ago. After all, seven years ago, the moment she learned I had cancer, she had done exactly this — bursting into my hospital room urgently, with a hint of guilt. Before I could even accept that I had cancer, while I was still crying hysterically from fear, she had knelt before me. “Jenny, I’m begging you, don’t drag Ethan down. He just got accepted to a school abroad. If he finds out you have cancer, he definitely won’t want to go study overseas.” “You and Ethan grew up together and have been dating for so many years. I’m begging you — please don’t hold Ethan back. Break up with him, okay?” “I’ve already thought of a solution for you. I’ve arranged for you to meet a guy. You just need to pretend to kiss that guy downstairs, pretend Ethan catches you, then pretend to break up with him.” Because of her words, when I was first diagnosed with cancer, my first priority wasn’t going to the hospital for examination and treatment. Instead, I coldly pretended to cheat, coldly forced Ethan to break up with me, and ruthlessly drove Ethan out of the country. Sure enough, in just a moment, Ethan’s mother said to me guiltily: “Jenny, don’t blame me. I have no choice. Ethan’s current girlfriend was his classmate during his graduate and doctoral studies abroad. They match in every way. I really… really don’t want to ruin such a good marriage.” “You know Ethan has cared about you since childhood. If… if he finds out the truth from back then, I’m afraid… I’m afraid…” “So can you please not meet with Ethan for a while? You… you’re about to die anyway, right? It’s not suitable for you to go out. Don’t you think?” Hearing Ethan’s mother mention “die,” my mom angrily threw my adult diaper onto the bed. Seeing that she was about to explode, I quickly acted cute and shook my mom’s arm, then looked calmly at Ethan’s mother. “I can agree not to tell Ethan about what happened seven years ago, but I can’t promise not to see him.” Yes, I couldn’t promise not to see Ethan. After all, during these seven years of fighting cancer, there wasn’t a moment when I didn’t think about Ethan. When I couldn’t endure chemotherapy anymore, it was because I clutched the photos Ethan and I had taken together that I could continue holding on. I went through dozens of surgeries, large and small. Several times I was sent to the emergency room and couldn’t wake up. It was my mom standing by my bed, shouting at me hoarsely: “Jenny, have you forgotten? You said you wanted to live, to go abroad and personally clear up the misunderstanding with Ethan.” “You said that once you recovered, you’d have me take you abroad to bring Ethan back. If you die, you’ll never see Ethan again.” It was because of my mom’s shouts, one after another mentioning Ethan, that pulled me back from death’s door time and time again. But in the end, I still failed to beat cancer. And Ethan had his new life, his new girlfriend, and was about to get married. But in my final days, being able to spend a simple bit of time with Ethan would be good too. That’s why, after learning Ethan had returned to the country, even when the doctor said that leaving the hospital meant death, I still chose to force myself to check out.

But I didn’t expect that right after sending Ethan’s mother away, when I woke up from an exhausted sleep, I would hear Ethan’s voice outside. Hearing his voice, I was somewhat surprised. You have to understand, seven years ago, Ethan hated me to the core. He had once stood outside my house for three days and three nights, just to grab my neck and demand to know why I betrayed him. After I cried and said I didn’t love him, he punched through the glass in the hallway. That day, although he didn’t lay a hand on me, he was thoroughly disgusted by me. When we ran into each other in the hallway, he would turn around and go back the way he came. Even passing by my front door, he would furrow his brows in disgust. He even stopped going to the convenience store we used to frequent together. He was so disgusted that whenever he heard my name, he would scold whoever mentioned it with a cold face. “Why bring up Jenny? If you don’t find it disgusting, I do.” Even the day he left for the airport to go abroad, I braved heavy rain wanting to see him one last time. When he saw me appear, he only disgustedly smashed the couple’s ring we had bought together and the phone filled with all our photos together at my feet with a mocking laugh, then left without looking at me once. But I didn’t expect that seven years later, he would voluntarily come to my home. However, in just a moment, through the open door crack, I understood the whole situation. Ethan was tightly holding his fiancée’s hand. “Are you bothered by what happened seven years ago? Is that why you won’t let Jenny take us to choose a wedding planning company and pick out rings?” “I stopped liking Jenny a long time ago, and I’ve already let it go. We grew up together after all — if we can’t be lovers, we can still be friends.” As soon as Ethan finished speaking, the girl standing beside him also chimed in: “Mrs. Hayes, Ethan already told me about him and Jenny. Seven years ago, Jenny was the one who cheated, but they were young back then. It takes two to tango — our Ethan must have had problems too.” “Besides, I should be thanking Jenny. If she hadn’t given up on Ethan, I wouldn’t have met such a good man.” “So Mrs. Hayes, there’s really no need to still hold onto what happened seven years ago. And it was my idea to have Jenny help us choose the wedding planning company. After all, Ethan and I haven’t been back to the country for seven years and really aren’t familiar with things here. Having older people make decisions — their aesthetic is honestly a bit hard for me to handle.” Seven years ago, when I was first diagnosed with cancer, my greatest wish was for Ethan to be able to forget me, to let me go. But now, hearing Ethan mention seven years ago so calmly, mention me so calmly, and even tell his current girlfriend about me without any concealment — my heart still ached densely. And my mom, hearing Sophia’s repeated mentions of cheating and her passive-aggressive words, instantly turned red with anger. Her lips trembled several times before she finally shouted at Ethan: “You and your mother are both the same — shameless.” Hearing my mom’s words, my heart tightened sharply. I propped myself up to sit up and called toward the door: “Mom, come into the room and help me into the wheelchair. I’ll talk to Ethan myself.”

My mom came into the room. Seeing me sit up, her expression was still very unpleasant. But I directly hugged her. “Mom, please help me fulfill this regret before I die, okay?” Mom’s eyes immediately reddened, but as someone who always doted on me, she still went to the vanity to get lipstick and a wig for me, and helped me put on a down jacket. As soon as she wheeled me out the door, Ethan furrowed his brows. “What’s wrong with you? You were delicate as a child, and now as an adult, you’re still so delicate. You just have a lame leg, and your mom is so old, yet you still need her to take care of you personally.” Looking at his disgusted expression, I only smiled calmly. “The doctor said my fracture is quite serious and told me not to get out of bed for a while.” As soon as I finished speaking, Sophia, standing beside Ethan, said to me: “Jenny, don’t take it personally with Ethan. He’s just gotten used to being abroad.” “Except for me, he has this sour face with everyone.” My heart felt sour again. Ethan indeed had a sour face with everyone, but before, with me… I quickly suppressed the strange feeling in my heart, then looked calmly at Sophia. “Do you really want me to go with you to choose a wedding planning company?” “If you really need me, I’ll go with you.” Sophia immediately nodded. “Of course, of course.” After that, I exchanged a few more pleasantries with them before sending them out. That evening, Ethan called me. He said to have me accompany him to the wedding planning company tomorrow. My fingers holding the phone were clenched tight. First, because I was greedy for his voice. Second, because I was nervous. After all, it had been seven years since I had heard his voice alone on the phone like this. You know, seven years ago, I would hide under my blanket every night and fall asleep listening to his deep, mellow voice. But just as I was immersed in memories, a female voice rang out: “Ethan, come help me dry my hair…” I suddenly snapped back to reality and quickly hummed in acknowledgment. And the moment Ethan heard my response, he hung up the phone. Listening to the dial tone, tears suddenly spilled out. Although I had prepared myself, seeing and hearing firsthand that Ethan now belonged to another girl still made my heart ache sourly.

Because Ethan had scheduled our meeting for 10 a.m. last night, I was so nervous that I had my mom wheel me downstairs to wait at 9:30. But I waited until noon at 12 o’clock, and Ethan still hadn’t come. Even the calls I made to him, he hung up. Mom called me several times to go back home, but I refused. After all, this outing had cost me too much energy. After this time, I might never be able to go out again. Fortunately, at 1 p.m., I received a call from Ethan saying they were coming downstairs. My mom was very unhappy. I did a lot of emotional work on her before she didn’t show any reaction. As soon as I got in the car, Sophia smiled sweetly at me. “Sorry, Jenny. Last night, Ethan kept me up too late, so I couldn’t get up this morning.” My palms tightened slightly. And Ethan, who had put away my wheelchair and gotten into the driver’s seat, glanced at me through the rearview mirror, then said coldly to Sophia: “Why are you explaining so much to her?” My heart felt a bit sour, but I still calmly waved at my mom outside the car window. Ethan drove very fast, even shaking me so much that I wanted to vomit. But I still silently endured it. This also reminded me of seven years ago. Back then, after Ethan got his driver’s license, he would always drive his dad’s car to take me out. Because he knew I got carsick, he always drove smoothly and steadily. Before, I would always get carsick on taxis and buses, but I never once got carsick in Ethan’s car. So when Ethan hit the brakes hard again and I couldn’t support my body, slamming heavily into the back seat, with my stomach churning and about to vomit, I finally couldn’t help whimpering. Hearing my sound, Ethan sneered again. “Jenny, you don’t think I’ll still accommodate you like seven years ago, do you? Trying not to change speed or brake?” I silently wiped away the tears at the corners of my eyes, then said calmly: “No. You should accommodate Sophia now. She’s your girlfriend.” Ethan sneered and laughed again. “You’re right.” After that, he pressed the accelerator hard again. And my body slammed heavily into the back seat again. My back hurt terribly. But a smile appeared at the corners of my mouth. It’s good that he hates me. At least while I’m alive, in Ethan’s heart, I still have at least a tiny bit of space.

After that, I didn’t feel uncomfortable for long before we arrived at our destination. When getting out of the car, it was Ethan who carried me. Being in his arms again, for a moment, I almost couldn’t hold back my tears. But fortunately, after Ethan quickly carried me out of the car, he quickly put me back in the wheelchair. He was even so disgusted by me that after putting me in the wheelchair, he urgently had Sophia hand him two wet wipes and desperately wiped his hands. And Sophia awkwardly explained to me on the side: “Sorry, Jenny. Ethan has a cleanliness obsession. Except for me, if any other woman touches him, he feels disgusted.” Watching Ethan’s movements, I lowered my head and pressed my lips together, pretending not to see his actions or hear Sophia’s words. After that, I let Ethan and Sophia hold hands and push me into a Spanish restaurant. As soon as we sat down at the table, Ethan proactively picked up the menu and ordered several spicy dishes. Hearing the dish names he called out, my heart felt sour. In the past, I never ate spicy food, and Ethan didn’t eat spicy food either. Who he was ordering for was self-evident. And I didn’t make things difficult for myself. Right now, even eating was difficult for me, let alone eating such strongly flavored food. So I had the waiter add a light vegetable soup for me. But for some reason, Ethan suddenly lost his temper. “Skinny as a ghost, and you’re still trying to diet.” My heart felt densely sour from Ethan’s sudden concern, but in just a moment, I smiled and said: “Blake likes me thinner.” Blake was the guy Ethan’s mother had made up as my affair partner back then. Since Ethan had been angered into going abroad by me, I had never seen him again. And after hearing my words, Ethan’s face instantly turned ashen. And Sophia, sitting beside Ethan, immediately smiled at me: “Jenny, don’t misunderstand. Ethan is a doctor now, so whenever he sees someone dieting, he gets angry. When I was abroad before and insisted on dieting, Ethan scolded me many times too.” Speaking, Sophia smiled and looked at Ethan. “Ethan, am I right?” But Ethan didn’t look at Sophia. He only angrily stood up and pushed back his chair. “I’m going to the restroom.” After that, without another glance at me or Sophia, Ethan turned and walked toward the restroom. And watching his retreating figure, my heart felt sourly painful again. So had I messed up again? Messed up Ethan’s new life, messed up Ethan’s new love. Guilt rose in my heart. And Sophia, sitting across the table from me, directly picked up a cup of hot water and suddenly “splashed” it onto my face. “You fake bitch, do you think I’m stupid? You keep playing pitiful to seduce my fiancé.” The hot water Sophia splashed burned my face painfully. But I only clenched my palms tightly, then said guiltily: “Sorry, if I made you misunderstand, I apologize.” Sophia only sneered and stood up. Then she walked over and slapped me across the face. “You think that by pretending to be crippled, you’ll make Ethan change his mind?” “Let me tell you, Ethan is mine for life. Don’t think that just because you’re Ethan’s first love, you can steal him away.” The cheek Sophia slapped was painful and numb. I could endure her splashing water on me — after all, I was shamelessly coveting Ethan’s tenderness. But she couldn’t slap me. So without thinking, I pushed her away. “Sophia, if you dare lay a hand on me again, I’ll call the police.” But as soon as I finished speaking, Sophia somehow suddenly fell to the ground. She suddenly started wailing. “Oh my belly! Help! Someone is assaulting a pregnant woman!” I looked at her figure lying on the ground, looking at my own hands in disbelief. You have to know I’d been sick for seven years. Even putting on clothes made me tired. Sometimes I couldn’t even hold a water glass steady. I didn’t have the strength to push Sophia down. When I pushed her, it was only to make her stop hitting me. But who knew Sophia would suddenly lie on the ground. And just as I didn’t know what to do, Ethan suddenly appeared in the lobby. Seeing Sophia lying on the ground, he urgently ran toward her. “Sophia, Sophia, are you okay?” Sophia immediately started crying, crying and desperately clutching Ethan’s collar. “Ethan, save me! Save the baby in my belly! Jenny — Jenny tried to kill me!” “Just now, as soon as you left, she started cursing at me, saying you were trash she didn’t want, and that whenever she wanted you, you’d come crawling back to beg her. I couldn’t help it — I couldn’t help splashing her with water.” “But who knew she’d get even angrier and start cursing me, calling me a vicious fake bitch, saying I was a slut who picked up men she didn’t want.” “I couldn’t help it, so I slapped her. After that, she angrily pushed me away.” “You know I’m pregnant and my health isn’t good. I can’t handle even the slightest collision.” Hearing Sophia’s words, I was completely shocked in place. My lips trembled several times before I could speak. “Ethan, listen to me. It’s not like that.” “I… I really didn’t.” But who knew Ethan would erupt in a huge roar. “Jenny, how can you be so vicious? Seven years ago, you shamelessly had an affair with another man.” “Seven years later, I’m about to get married, and you think I’m good again. You even assaulted my fiancée!” “You dare to hit my woman? Today I’ll let you taste what it’s like to hit my woman.” Speaking, he walked over and angrily kicked my wheelchair several times. He even violently pushed my wheelchair backward hard, pushing it toward the dining table. The wheelchair crashed into the table. The bowls on the table fell to the floor, and the table flipped over. And my wheelchair flipped too. My head slammed heavily into the corner of the table, instantly bulging and bleeding. My head was buzzing, and even my body was trembling and shaking. But Ethan didn’t look at me once. He only urgently picked up Sophia, urgently kissing Sophia’s lips as she cried in pain. “Be good, be good, don’t cry. I’ll take you to the hospital right away.” After that, without another glance at me, he turned and carried Sophia toward the door. And watching Sophia’s provocative smile and Ethan’s retreating figure, I suddenly smiled. Smiled until tears flowed. This reminded me of when I was eighteen, when I was groped on a bus by a man who touched my butt. Back then, Ethan was still a hot-headed youth. Furious, he grabbed that man who was a head taller and much stronger than him, and like an enraged beast, punched the man in the face again and again. “You garbage scum, how dare you touch my woman! I’ll beat you to death!” At that time, all the passengers on the bus were frightened. Only I cried and desperately grabbed Ethan’s arm, begging him, crying and telling him to stop, and only then did Ethan stop. In the past, I was Ethan’s woman, so he would desperately protect me. Now the person in Ethan’s heart had become another girl, so he would desperately protect her, even if the person he was hitting was me. My heart trembled with pain. The surrounding waiters gradually gathered around. After that, the police came. The moment I saw the police appear, my strength suddenly drained. I desperately grabbed the police officer’s hand and said: “Tell my mom not to pursue this. Tell my mom this was all my own choice.” “Tell my mom I’m sorry. I… I can’t accompany her anymore.” My heart felt sour, but somehow I had no regrets. After all, I had fought cancer for seven years, waited for seven years. My greatest dream was just to see Ethan once. I saw him. My dream came true. It was enough.

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Because of an accidental fire, my husband Ethan’s stepsister Lily suffered severe burns all over her body. But he was convinced that I, out of jealousy, had deliberately locked the storage room door. In his rage, he imprisoned me in the basement of the villa. Every day, he had a black-market doctor inject me with corrosive serum. “Only when I watch your skin rot away layer by layer will you understand even one ten-thousandth of Lily’s pain.” He coldly sentenced me to death. He didn’t know that when the fire broke out, I had desperately crashed through the door and used my own back to shield Lily from the falling beam. He knew even less that the miniature camera I had hidden in the ventilation duct was flashing its cold red light. And my older brother, the mafia boss, had received my distress signal. “Clara, after this injection today, your right hand will rot away completely.” Ethan looked down at me from above. In his hand was a syringe filled with an eerie blue liquid. I lay on the basement’s cold cement floor like a dying fish. Not a single inch of my body was uninjured. “Ethan, that’s enough.” The sound of wheelchair wheels rolling echoed. Lily was pushed in by a bodyguard. Her face was wrapped in thick gauze, leaving only a pair of reddened eyes visible. “Clara definitely didn’t lock me in the fire on purpose.” “She just loves you too much and lost her head for a moment.” “I’m already disfigured. Please don’t let Clara suffer anymore.” Lily’s voice choked with emotion. Tears dripped down steadily. Ethan’s gaze instantly became incredibly gentle. He strode quickly to the wheelchair. Tenderly wiping away Lily’s tears. “Lily, you’re just too kind.” “This vicious woman nearly burned you alive!” “She’s not only jealous of you but completely without morals. I must make her pay!” With that, Ethan whirled around. The look he gave me was like looking at a disgusting piece of trash. “Hold her down!” Two burly bodyguards immediately stepped forward. They pinned my shoulders down on both sides. I struggled desperately. Only hoarse, ugly sounds came from my throat. “Ethan… I didn’t…” “I didn’t… start the fire…” My vocal cords had been severely burned by thick smoke in the fire. Every word felt like swallowing razor blades. “Shut up!” Ethan kicked me viciously in the stomach. Searing pain instantly tore through my internal organs. I curled up like a shrimp. Cold sweat soaked through my tattered clothes. “Clara, you disgust me.” “Even now, you still dare to argue?” “The surveillance footage from the fire scene showed everything clearly. Besides you, no one else went near that storage room!” “If you hadn’t locked the door, how could Lily have been unable to escape?” I gasped in agony. Staring at him intently. The surveillance had been tampered with. But I knew that no matter what I said now, he wouldn’t believe me. “Ethan, stop hitting her. Clara will die.” Lily cried out in alarm. Covering her mouth with both hands. But the flash of satisfaction in her eyes didn’t escape my notice. Ethan took a deep breath. Suppressing his rage. “Lily, don’t look. Don’t dirty your eyes.” He turned to look at the black-clothed doctor beside him. “Do it.” The black-market doctor walked over expressionlessly. Roughly rolling up my sleeve. The cold needle pierced my skin. The eerie blue liquid was slowly pushed into my vein. The sensation was like a rusty saw. Slowly sawing through my bones bit by bit. “Ahhh!” I finally couldn’t hold back. A piercing scream escaped me. My entire body’s muscles spasmed uncontrollably. Ethan watched coldly. “This is called corrosive serum.” “After injection, you’ll consciously feel your flesh being dissolved bit by bit.” “The suffering Lily endured in that fire — I’ll make you pay it back a thousand times over.” The pain made even breathing stop. My fingers clawed desperately at the cement floor. My nails bent back and broke. Blood everywhere. Why? Ethan, why won’t you even investigate? Three years as husband and wife. In your eyes, it’s not even worth one of Lily’s tears. “Ethan, I’m a little scared.” Lily shrank into Ethan’s embrace. Ethan immediately pushed the wheelchair. “Let’s go upstairs. The air down here is too filthy.” At the doorway, he stopped. Without even turning his head. “Clara, enjoy yourself.” “This is only the first injection. Tomorrow I’ll try a new drug.” The iron door slammed shut with a bang. The basement plunged back into deathly darkness. I lay in a pool of blood. Gasping violently. My right hand had completely lost all feeling. Only excruciating pain raced madly through my nerves. I struggled to turn my eyes. Looking toward the ventilation duct high in the corner. There, an extremely faint red light flickered. That was my trump card. I bit through my lip. Swallowing the mouthful of blood. “Ethan, I’m waiting for the day you kneel and beg me.”

Early the next morning. The iron door was pushed open again. Blinding light flooded into the basement. I instinctively closed my eyes. Ethan strode in. Holding a leash in his hand. At the other end of the leash was my golden retriever, Pudding. Seeing me, Pudding immediately wagged his tail excitedly. He whimpered, trying to run toward me. But Ethan yanked the leash hard. “Pudding…” I called out hoarsely. Tears instantly welled up. This was the dog I’d raised for five years. My only comfort in this cold villa. “Ethan, this dog is so vicious. It barked at me yesterday.” Lily followed behind. Timidly hiding behind Ethan. “Does it resent me for taking Clara’s place?” Ethan sneered. “A beast is just a beast, taking after its owner’s vicious nature.” He yanked the leash violently. Pudding was choked and let out a pitiful yelp. Falling heavily to the ground. “Ethan! What are you doing!” I found strength from somewhere. Struggling to get up from the floor. Trying to lunge forward to protect Pudding. “Bang!” Ethan lifted his leg. Kicking me back down with one foot. My head hit the cement floor hard. My vision went black. “Clara, you still have the energy to care about a dog?” Ethan looked down at me from above. His eyes cruel to the extreme. “Lily gets scared now whenever she sees fire or furry animals.” “This is all your doing.” “Since you love this dog so much, I’ll let you watch how it atones for your sins.” He turned to look at the bodyguard behind him. His tone cold and emotionless. “Break this beast’s legs.” “Then throw it into the septic tank in the backyard.” My eyes widened in shock. Looking at him in disbelief. “No! Ethan, you’re insane!” “Pudding is innocent! He didn’t do anything!” I crawled forward desperately. Clutching Ethan’s leather shoes with both hands. “Please… don’t hurt him…” “Beat me, yell at me if you want…” “Let Pudding go… please…” I cried my heart out. My forehead banging against the floor. Blood streaming down my cheeks. Blurring my vision. Ethan kicked me away in disgust. “When you set that fire to burn Lily, why didn’t you think about how she was innocent too?” “Do it!” The bodyguard raised the iron rod in his hand. Without hesitation, he smashed it down on Pudding’s hind leg. “Crack!” The sound of breaking bones echoed clearly in the basement. Pudding let out an extremely shrill scream. He rolled on the ground in agony. But his eyes remained fixed on me. As if begging me for help. “Pudding!” I screamed in despair. My heart felt like it was being crushed by a giant hand. The bodyguard dragged Pudding by his hind leg. Dragging him out of the basement like garbage. A long trail of blood remained on the floor. Lily covered her eyes in fear. “Ethan, this is too cruel…” Ethan pulled her gently into his arms. “Don’t be afraid. Evil people deserve evil retribution.” He turned his head, looking at me coldly. “Clara, does it hurt?” “Can’t take it already?” “Let me tell you, this is far from enough.” He pulled a small transparent vial from his pocket. Tossing it in front of me. “This is today’s medicine.” “Drink it yourself.” “Otherwise, I’ll have someone skin that dog and make it into a carpet for your cell.” I stared at the vial on the ground. Trembling like a leaf. Ethan, you’re not human. You’re a complete demon. I extended my still-functioning left hand, trembling. Picking up the vial from the ground. Pulling out the stopper. Tilting my head back, I drank the bitter liquid in one gulp. Ethan smiled with satisfaction. “So obedient.” “Lily, let’s go.” The iron door closed again. I lay on the ground. My stomach felt like I’d swallowed a burning coal. The intense cramping left me without even the strength to scream. Pudding’s blood trail was right before my eyes. I reached out, gently touching that trail of blood. Tears fell heavily onto the ground. “Pudding, I’m sorry.” “Mommy will definitely avenge you.”

Day three. Ethan didn’t bring a doctor. He held a document in his hand. Throwing it directly at my face. The paper’s edge cut my cheek. Fine beads of blood seeped out. “Sign it.” Ethan’s voice was ice cold. I struggled to open my eyes. Making out the large characters on the document. Divorce Agreement. “You want me… to leave with nothing?” I looked at the terms listed. Not only would I get no money. I also had to transfer the property I’d purchased before marriage to Lily as mental compensation. “You still have the nerve to ask for money?” Ethan acted as if he’d heard the biggest joke. “You harmed Lily like this, and I’m being merciful by not demanding your life!” “Sign it and get out of the house.” “Then go to the police station and turn yourself in.” I gripped the agreement tightly. My knuckles white from the pressure. “I won’t sign.” I raised my head, looking directly into his eyes. “I didn’t start the fire.” “I’m not guilty. Why should I turn myself in?” “Slap!” Ethan backhanded me with a resounding slap. Sending me flying. The corner of my mouth split instantly. I spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with a tooth. “Clara, you really won’t cry until you see your coffin.” Ethan pulled out his phone. Opening a video. On the screen was my grandmother, whom I depended on. She lay in a hospital bed. Wearing an oxygen mask. Her face deathly pale. “What did you do?!” I lunged forward like a madwoman. Trying to snatch the phone. Ethan stepped on the back of my hand. Grinding down hard. “I didn’t do anything.” “I just sent someone to the hospital to show the old lady this surveillance video.” “And told her that her precious granddaughter is a murderer with a heart like a snake.” “The old lady got so worked up, her heart condition flared up.” Ethan’s smile was incredibly cruel. “The doctor said if we can’t raise the five hundred thousand for surgery by tonight.” “We can start preparing for her funeral.” I was struck as if by lightning. Frozen in place. All the blood in my body seemed to flow backward in that moment. “Ethan… you’re an animal!” I roared hysterically. Tears bursting forth like a dam breaking. “Grandma is innocent! You know she has a heart condition!” “How could you do this to her!” Ethan remained unmoved. “That depends on you.” He kicked the pen on the floor with his toe. “Sign it and admit everything was your doing.” “I’ll have someone transfer the surgery fee immediately.” “Otherwise, just wait to collect that old hag’s corpse.” My whole body trembled. Looking at Ethan’s familiar face. It felt unbearably strange and terrifying. Three years. I cooked and kept house for him. I concealed my identity for him, restrained my brilliance. And this is what I got — him threatening me with my loved one’s life. “Fine…” “I’ll sign.” I picked up the pen with shaking hands. Signing my name on the agreement. Each stroke felt like carving out my heart. Ethan collected the agreement with satisfaction. “That’s better from the start.” He turned to leave. At the doorway, he suddenly stopped. “Oh, I forgot to tell you.” “Even though you signed, I never intended to give the money.” “That old hag died half an hour ago.” What?! I jerked my head up. My mind went completely blank. Only a sharp ringing remained in my ears. “You… what did you say?” Ethan didn’t even bother looking at me. “I said your grandmother is dead.” “Your murderer granddaughter scared her to death.” The iron door slammed shut heavily. I sat on the ground in a daze. Unable even to cry. Grandma was dead. My only family in this world was dead. A tearing pain came from my chest. I suddenly spat out a large mouthful of blood. My vision plunged completely into darkness. “Ethan, I’ll make you pay in blood.”

I don’t know how long passed. I was awakened by a splash of ice-cold water. The bone-chilling cold made me shiver violently. The basement lights were on. Lily stood before me. She wasn’t in a wheelchair. She stood steadily. Most of the gauze on her face had been removed. The exposed skin was somewhat red and swollen, but definitely not disfigured. “Your… your legs…” I spoke hoarsely. Lily laughed triumphantly. She even twirled in place. “How’s that? Clara, did I play the part well?” She crouched down. Grabbing my hair in one fist. Forcing me to lift my head. “Actually, I wasn’t badly burned at all.” “I set the storage room fire myself.” She leaned close to my ear. Her voice soft as a snake’s hiss. “Only this way would Ethan completely detest you.” “Only then would he sweep you out like garbage.” I stared at her intently. The rage in my chest nearly burning me alive. “You’re insane…” “To frame me, you’d even gamble with your own life?” Lily laughed mockingly. “So what?” “I’m the one who won in the end anyway.” She stood up. Pulling a syringe from her pocket. The liquid inside was a murky black. “Ethan went to handle your grandmother’s funeral arrangements.” “He gave me the key to this place.” “Clara, your existence is too much of an eyesore.” “This injection will kill you through heart failure.” “The medical examiner will only conclude you couldn’t bear your guilty conscience and committed suicide.” She held the syringe, approaching me step by step. “Don’t be afraid. It’ll be over quickly.” I retreated desperately. But behind me was only the cold wall. Nowhere to go. “Lily, aren’t you afraid of retribution!” I shouted angrily. Lily laughed loudly. “Retribution?” “In this house, Ethan is God!” “He believes me, so I’m innocent!” “You’re just an orphan with no power or influence. When you die, who will stand up for you?” She pressed down on my arm. The needle stabbed viciously into my vein. The cold liquid was pushed in instantly. I closed my eyes in despair. Was I really going to die here? At this critical moment. “BOOM!” An earth-shattering explosion. The basement’s sturdy iron door. Along with half the wall. Was blown wide open! Through the rolling smoke. A team of fully armed black-clad bodyguards flooded in like a tide. Instantly pinning Lily to the ground. “Let me go! Who are you!” Lily screamed in terror. The sound of leather shoes on rubble echoed. A tall, upright figure emerged from the smoke. The man’s face was cold and stern, his eyes carrying a towering killing intent. He strode to me. Seeing my blood-covered, barely alive state. His eyes instantly reddened. He knelt on one knee. Taking off his custom-tailored coat, carefully wrapping my broken body. His voice trembling uncontrollably. “Clara, I’m sorry…” “I’m late.” I looked at this familiar face before me. He was my older brother who once doted on me most, mafia boss. Finally, tears flowed freely. “You finally came.” “I want them dead.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “390161”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

I lived as a mute for three years for Ethan Lancaster. I didn’t dare speak loudly. I didn’t dare touch my cello. I even kept my breathing quiet. All because my “hypersensitive” husband couldn’t stand the slightest noise. Then I saw him at a noisy Livehouse, another woman in his arms. They kissed passionately in the chaos. It turned out his condition only applied to me. My voice was noise, but her rock music was his cure. That night, I signed the divorce papers, dragged my suitcase out, and left without looking back. Three years later, at Vienna’s Musikverein, I took the stage as principal cellist. And he knelt backstage, clutching the ring I once wore, begging me to come back. Right in front of him, I threw the ring into the trash. “Trash belongs in the trash.” Stella Sterling POV I spent three years being a “mute” in the Lancaster household. Not because I couldn’t speak, but because of my husband, Ethan Lancaster. He suffered from severe neurasthenia and hyperacusis. Everyone in San Diego knew that Ethan Lancaster, the head of Lancaster Corporation, loved silence and hated noise. He couldn’t tolerate the slightest commotion. High-decibel sounds would give him splitting headaches and even trigger severe physical nausea. Because of his condition, I lived like a ghost in these three years. I carpeted the entire mansion with the thickest rugs. I wrapped every table corner and door hinge in soundproof foam. I fired all the staff and took care of him myself, just because their footsteps might bother him. I even gave up my cello. The one I loved more than life itself. I locked it in the basement and never touched it again. In front of Ethan, I barely even breathed loudly. I spoke in soft whispers, never daring to raise my voice. I thought it was his weakness. A physical defect he couldn’t overcome beneath that cold, noble exterior. I willingly dimmed my shine and silenced my energy for him. I became his quietest, most obedient wife in this tomb-like mansion. Until tonight. A friend sent me a video. The background was San Diego’s most famous, and loudest, underground Livehouse. Heavy metal drums pounded. Lights flashed. The crowd screamed. Their voices nearly lifted the roof. And right in the center of the video, sitting in the front row of the VIP section without even frowning, was the man who “got physically sick from noise.” My husband, Ethan Lancaster. Through the screen, I could clearly see that Ethan wasn’t wearing any noise-canceling earplugs. Instead, he lounged lazily on the sofa, his gaze piercing through the chaotic crowd, focused tenderly on the woman performing on stage. That woman was Miranda Lynn. She was the love Ethan had hidden in his heart for seven years, the first love he had once defied everyone, even risking a break with his family, to be with. At the end of the video, cold sparks suddenly shot from the stage with a massive explosion. Ethan almost instinctively stood up, strode quickly to the stage edge, and pulled Miranda into his protective embrace. He gave Miranda all his tenderness and protection, completely forgetting that he himself was supposed to be a severe neurasthenia patient who “couldn’t tolerate any noise.” I don’t know how I walked out of the mansion or how I took a cab to that Livehouse. When I pushed open the door, the deafening music hit me like a tsunami. My eardrums ached from the assault, my heart pounded violently in my chest, and I nearly vomited. I hadn’t heard sounds this loud in three years. For Ethan, I had grown accustomed to deathly silence, to soundlessness. My hearing had even become abnormally fragile from years of overprotection. But now, forcing down my discomfort, I pushed through the wild, packed crowd step by step until I reached the front. Less than thirty feet away, Ethan was looking down, saying something to Miranda. Miranda’s eyes were slightly red, as if she’d been wronged somehow. Ethan sighed softly, reached up to tousle her hair, his eyes filled with an indulgence and tenderness I had never seen in three years. Was this really the same Ethan who would coldly tell me to get out if I accidentally knocked over a water glass? I stared at them, tears streaming down my face. I remembered the New Year’s Eve of our first year married, when fireworks suddenly went off outside. The loud noise left Ethan pale-faced. He locked himself in his study and didn’t speak to me for three whole days. After that, I never celebrated another holiday, never listened to music again. I thought he was seriously ill. I thought he was simply cold by nature, unable to tolerate external noise. But only now did I suddenly understand. Lofty angels aren’t incapable of descending to earth. His hyperacusis could have exceptions too. He couldn’t tolerate noise. He just couldn’t tolerate sounds I made. Miranda’s rock music was medicine that healed him, while my cello was merely noise that disgusted him. How ridiculous. I had once been the most brilliant young cellist at Vienna’s Musikverein. Proud, radiant, supremely confident. Yet for a man who never loved me, I clipped my wings. I silenced my voice. I spent three years in humble suffering. A widow’s marriage. Since his condition had long been cured, since he’d already found his medicine. Then it was time for this dispensable “mute” to exit the stage.

Stella Sterling POV The atmosphere in the Livehouse reached its peak as the band began their encore, and the crowd below descended into complete frenzy. The mass of people surged forward like a tide, and my body swayed precariously among the frenzied fans. I was shoved by those around me, stumbled, and fell hard less than ten feet from Ethan’s VIP booth. My knee slammed into the edge of a hard step, and searing pain shot through me. The commotion caught the bodyguards’ attention. Several black-suited security guards rushed forward, forcibly separating the surging crowd and roughly shoving me, who had fallen to the ground, back. “Stand back! Don’t disturb Mr. Lancaster and Miss Lynn!” The bodyguard’s cold voice cut clearly through the noisy music. My palm scraped across the rough floor, tearing away a large patch of skin and drawing blood. I didn’t cry out in pain. I just raised my head and looked directly at Ethan across the short distance between us. Ethan had clearly noticed the disturbance. He frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over coldly. When he saw it was me, a flash of shock crossed his deep eyes, but it vanished instantly, replaced by undisguised annoyance and ice. He didn’t come forward to help me up. He didn’t even stop the bodyguards’ rough treatment. He simply turned aside instinctively, completely shielding the startled Miranda behind him, as if I were some dangerous beast that might bring harm. “What are you doing here?” Ethan looked down at me from his superior position, his voice cold as ice. “Stella, have you sunk to stalking now?” Stalking. Sunk to. Those words were like sharp knives, stabbing precisely into my heart. Pain wracked my entire body, but I stubbornly refused to look away. I gazed at Ethan’s devastatingly handsome face and suddenly found it utterly unfamiliar. “I was just passing by.” I forced myself to stand up from the ground, my voice hoarse and dry from not speaking loudly in so long. “I apologize for disturbing Mr. Lancaster and Miss Lynn.” Miranda peeked out from behind Ethan. Seeing the blood on my hand, she immediately covered her mouth with a gasp. “Oh my God, Stella, you’re bleeding! Ethan, you should have someone take her to the hospital. There are too many people here, it’s too dangerous.” Her concern sounded so sincere, as if she were the legitimate Mrs. Lancaster, while I was just a stranger who’d accidentally wandered into their world. But Ethan didn’t even glance at the wound on my hand, his tone utterly flat. “Don’t worry about her. She has legs, she can go to the hospital herself.” Then he turned to the bodyguards with a cold order. “Clear out the irrelevant people. Don’t let them frighten Miranda again.” Irrelevant people. I silently chewed on those words in my mind and let out a low laugh. Three years of marriage, over a thousand days and nights of companionship and compromise. In his eyes, I was just an “irrelevant person.” Following their orders, the bodyguards immediately stepped forward and gestured dismissively. “Miss, please leave immediately.” I didn’t look at Ethan again. I straightened my back, turned around, and walked out that door step by step without looking back. Outside, a cold autumn rain had started falling at some point. Icy raindrops pelted my face and body, instantly soaking me to the bone. I didn’t open an umbrella or call a car. I just walked aimlessly along the empty street. Flashing through my mind were the absurd five years I’d spent. At twenty, I fell in love with Ethan Lancaster at first sight at a Sterling family banquet. Back then, he was the brightest rising star, cold, ascetic, utterly unattainable. Like a fool, I set aside all my pride to pursue him. I learned to cook for him, tempered my personality for him, and even during the six months after his car accident from family power struggles when he was temporarily blind, I stayed by his hospital bed for the entire half year. Later, he finally agreed to marry me. I thought I’d finally moved his heart. Our wedding night. He coldly tossed me a prenuptial agreement and laid down that “absolute silence” rule. That’s when I finally understood. He married me for the Sterling family’s influence. And because I was obedient. Quiet. Easy to keep in line. And now, Miranda had returned. The woman who could make him break all his rules, who could make him willingly endure noise, had returned. I stopped walking, tilted my head back, and let the icy rain wash over the tears on my face. Enough. Really, enough. Though I’d loved him humbly, the pride in my bones hadn’t completely died. Since he didn’t love me, since his heart would forever hold only another woman, then I was done serving him. These three years. I’d just consider them wasted on a dog. I wiped the rain from my face. I pulled out my phone and called my lawyer. “Mr. Williams, draft a divorce agreement for me. As soon as possible.”

Stella Sterling POV When I returned to the mansion, it was already two in the morning. I didn’t change out of my soaked clothes or treat the now-congealed wound on my palm. Instead, I went straight to the basement. At the far end of the basement sat a large temperature-controlled case. I entered the password and opened it. Inside lay a deep brown cello. It was my eighteenth birthday gift from my grandfather, and my “comrade-in-arms” through countless international competitions. Since marrying Ethan, this cello had never seen daylight. I reached out with trembling hands and gently caressed the cold wood grain of the instrument’s body. I carefully packed the cello and carried it back to the master bedroom. Over the next several hours, I methodically packed my belongings. I actually didn’t own much. Over these three years, to match Ethan’s minimalist, cold aesthetic, I’d thrown away all my brightly colored clothes. My jewelry box contained only a few plain accessories. I stuffed the few items of clothing and documents that belonged to me into my suitcase. Finally, I placed the divorce agreement that Mr. Williams had sent over and printed overnight squarely on the massive black-and-white marble coffee table in the living room. After finishing everything, dawn had broken. At eight in the morning, the sound of fingerprint unlocking came from the mansion’s main door. Ethan walked in carrying a chill and the faint scent of tobacco. His suit jacket was draped over his arm, his tie slightly loose, his brows showing traces of exhaustion from staying up all night. When he saw me sitting on the sofa with a suitcase at my feet, his steps paused briefly, and his brows immediately furrowed. “What are you making a fuss about now?” Ethan’s voice dripped with impatience. “Wasn’t making a scene at the Livehouse last night enough? Now you’re staging a runaway drama at home?” I looked up at him. No hysterical questioning, no tears of grievance and compromise. “I’m not making a fuss.” My voice was soft. “Ethan, let’s get divorced.” Ethan’s movements froze abruptly. As if hearing some absurd joke, he laughed coldly, casually tossed his suit jacket on the sofa, and walked over to look down at me from above. “Stella, do you think you can force me to yield to you this way?” Ethan’s eyes filled with mockery. “Miranda spent seven years abroad and developed severe depression and claustrophobia. Her therapist suggested she visit crowded, lively places for exposure therapy. I was only there last night as a friend accompanying her for treatment. As Mrs. Lancaster, with perfect health and everything you could want, must you compete with a sick person?” A sick person. A friend. Listening to these high-sounding excuses, I felt nothing but churning nausea in my stomach. “What about your neurasthenia?” I looked into his eyes and asked word by word. “Weren’t you supposed to get headaches and nausea from sounds over fifty decibels? The sound system at the Livehouse last night was deafening. Why didn’t your condition flare up?” Ethan’s expression darkened instantly, anger at being exposed flashing in his eyes. “I took medication.” He looked away coldly, his tone forceful. “Stella, my patience has limits. Don’t push it.” “Right, you took medication.” I smiled. “For her, you can take medication to endure the noise you hate most. But for you, I didn’t touch my cello for three years and even walked on tiptoe. Ethan, don’t you think you’re a hypocrite?” “What exactly are you trying to say?” Ethan’s patience completely ran out, his voice rising. “I’m saying I’m done.” I stood up and pushed the document on the coffee table toward him. “I’ve already signed the divorce papers. I’ll leave with nothing. I don’t want a cent of the Lancaster fortune. Just sign your name, and we can divorce tomorrow. From now on, you can accompany your beloved for her treatment, and we’ll owe each other nothing.” Ethan looked down, his gaze falling on that black-and-white document. He stared hard at my face. “Stella, you’ve grown quite bold.” Ethan laughed in fury, grabbed the agreement, tore it to shreds right in front of me, and threw the pieces violently on the floor. “Think you can threaten me into cutting ties with Miranda through divorce? You’ve chosen the wrong method.” He closed in on me, his eyes menacing. “Let me tell you. I won’t agree to this divorce. You’d better put that suitcase back right now and be the obedient Mrs. Lancaster you’re supposed to be. Otherwise, I guarantee that once you walk out that door, you won’t get anywhere in this city!” With that, he turned without hesitation, strode out of the mansion, and slammed the door. I looked at the scattered paper fragments on the floor. No anger, no sorrow. I simply bent down, picked up my suitcase, shouldered my cello, and walked out of this prison that had trapped me for three years without looking back. If he wouldn’t sign, fine. I’d just file for divorce in court. Either way, I was never coming back.

Stella Sterling POV After leaving the Lancaster house, I moved into an apartment in the city center. It was a property I’d bought outright before marriage. Ethan didn’t know about it. After settling in, the first thing I did was call my former professor, Leonard Wright, principal conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra. “Stella? Is it really you?” On the other end, Leonard’s voice trembled with excitement. “Three years! You finally decided to contact me, girl! I thought you’d really decided to spend your whole life as that invisible wife for the Lancaster family!” My eyes grew hot. I took a deep breath, forcing down the bitterness in my throat. “I’m sorry for disappointing you. I want to come back. Does the orchestra… still have a place for me?” “Yes! Of course!” Leonard answered without hesitation. “Early next month, the orchestra is holding a major charity symphony concert at the theater. Our original principal cellist withdrew due to tendonitis. If you’re willing, come to the orchestra tomorrow for an audition! As long as your foundation hasn’t deteriorated, the position is yours!” After hanging up, I looked at the cello standing quietly in the corner, and light finally rekindled in my heart. Early the next morning, I brought my cello to the National Symphony Orchestra’s rehearsal hall. After three years without touching the instrument, my fingers were initially stiff. But when bow met string and produced the first note, the muscle memory carved into my bones instantly awakened. When I finished a difficult piece, Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor, the entire rehearsal hall fell silent. Then it erupted in thunderous applause. Leonard excitedly patted my shoulder. “Wonderful! Marvelous! Stella, not only haven’t you regressed, you’ve gained a depth and explosive power you didn’t have three years ago! The principal position is definitely yours!” I was genuinely happy. However, this joy didn’t last long. That afternoon, while I was alone in a practice room familiarizing myself with the score, the door was suddenly pushed open roughly. Ethan’s chief assistant, Marcus, walked in with several workers wearing moving company uniforms. “Mrs. Lancaster.” Marcus saw me and bowed his head slightly, though his tone carried undeniable firmness. “Mr. Lancaster has instructed us to take the antique cello you have here.” I stood up and blocked the cello. “What did you say? This is my cello. What right does he have to take it?” Marcus explained expressionlessly. “Miss Lynn is also participating in next month’s charity concert as a guest violinist for her comeback performance. However, her violin was damaged during air transport back to the country. Mr. Lancaster said your cello has excellent tone quality, and though they’re different instruments, it can be used by Miss Lynn’s accompaniment team to ensure a perfect performance.” I couldn’t believe my ears. “Has he lost his mind?” I trembled with rage. “This was my grandfather’s legacy to me! It’s something I value more than life! He wants to take my cello just to support Miranda’s performance?” “Mrs. Lancaster, please don’t make this difficult for us.” Marcus waved his hand, and several workers immediately stepped forward, attempting to forcibly remove the cello. “Don’t touch it!” I desperately protected the case. Just then, my phone rang. “Ethan Lancaster” flashed on the screen. I answered, my voice shaking with anger. “Ethan, what the hell are you trying to do?!” On the other end, Ethan’s voice remained coldly indifferent, as if discussing some trivial matter. “Marcus should have explained it to you clearly. Miranda needs a good instrument. That cello of yours will just gather dust in your hands anyway. Better to lend it to her.” “I told you, that’s my cello! I’m performing next month too. I need it!” I spoke through gritted teeth. “Performing?” Ethan scoffed, his tone full of contempt. “Stella, you haven’t touched a cello in three years. What are you doing running to the orchestra to make trouble? You think a concert is kids playing house? Don’t embarrass yourself on stage.” “Whether I embarrass myself or not is none of your business!” “Enough, stop making a scene.” Ethan cut me off impatiently. “It’s just a cello. I’ll have Marcus order ten of the latest models for you tomorrow. Miranda’s emotional state is very unstable right now. This performance is important for restoring her confidence. As Mrs. Lancaster, can’t you be a little more generous?” Generous? Hearing those words, I found them utterly absurd. For another woman’s confidence, he would ruthlessly trample my pride and seize my most precious faith. “Ethan, I’m saying this one last time. I won’t lend it.” I spoke each word deliberately. “If you dare let anyone touch my cello, I’ll call the police immediately.” The line went silent for two seconds, then Ethan’s ice-cold warning came through. “Stella, must you make this so ugly? Believe me or not. You won’t just lose that cello, you won’t even be able to get through the doors of the National Symphony Orchestra!” My heart plunged into an ice cellar at that moment. Looking at the advancing workers and Marcus’s expressionless face, I released my protective grip on the case. “Fine. Take it.” “Ethan Lancaster, remember this. I’m giving you this cello as charity today. From now on, between us, all debts are settled.” I hung up and watched as the workers carried away the cello that held all my dreams and memories. The moment the door closed, I didn’t cry. My heart had already died. It died in Ethan’s casual remark about “don’t embarrass yourself on stage.”

Stella Sterling POV Two weeks later, at the theater. This charity symphony concert, jointly hosted by several top financial conglomerates, not only gathered the nation’s finest musicians but also attracted countless celebrities and dignitaries. I didn’t attend as Mrs. Lancaster. After all, we’d kept our marriage secret for three years. The outside world had no idea Ethan was married. I came as a guest cellist with the National Symphony Orchestra. Though the antique cello had been seized, Professor Wright had worked through the night to borrow an equally prestigious instrument for me, preserving my performance opportunity. At seven p.m., the red carpet ceremony officially began. I wore a well-tailored black velvet gown, my hair swept up elegantly. Free from the oppressive rules of the Lancaster household, I felt much more relaxed. I had just walked to the signature board when the crowd suddenly erupted in violent commotion and flashbulbs went wild. “It’s Mr. Lancaster! Ethan Lancaster is here!” “Oh my God, who’s that woman with him? She’s gorgeous! Mr. Lancaster is actually helping her out of the car himself!” My hand holding the signing pen paused slightly. I turned to look. At the end of the red carpet, Ethan wore a custom black suit, his posture upright, coldly noble. And on his arm was Miranda in a custom white starlight gown. One in black, one in white, they walked slowly forward surrounded by countless cameras. Miranda seemed somewhat uncomfortable with such blinding flashbulbs and shrank back slightly. Ethan immediately turned aside, using his tall frame to shield her from some of the cameras, leaning down to whisper comfort in her ear, his eyes so tender they could drip water. Reporters frantically pressed their shutters, someone shouting questions. “Mr. Lancaster, is this beautiful lady your girlfriend? Did you come tonight specifically to support her?” Ethan stopped, his gaze sweeping the entire venue before settling on the cameras. “This is Miranda, tonight’s guest violinist.” Ethan’s voice carried through the microphone across the entire plaza, low and firm. “She’s also… a very important person to me. I hope everyone will support her performance tonight.” The entire venue erupted. This was clearly Ethan announcing Miranda’s status to the entire city. Standing in the shadows not far away, I quietly watched this scene. My heart was strangely calm. No jealousy, no anger, only indifference. I turned and walked straight into the theater without another glance at them. The first half of the concert went extremely smoothly. My solo performance stunned the audience. With flawless technique and abundant emotion, I announced to everyone the powerful return of the former cello prodigy. During intermission came the charity auction segment. I sat in the orchestra section, watching the auction items sell one by one on stage. Until the final featured item was wheeled onto the stage. It was a pair of rare nineteenth-century European royal antique matching rings, called “Eternal Vow.” The instant I saw those rings, I took a sharp breath. Before our wedding, I had seen this pair of rings at a private exhibition and loved them beyond measure. Full of joy, I’d pulled Ethan along, hoping he would bid on them as their wedding rings. But Ethan had only glanced at them coldly, shaken off my hand, his tone mocking. “Stella, marriage is just a transaction of interests. Buying such impractical things, don’t you find that ridiculous?” In the end, our wedding rings were just ordinary plain bands, and Ethan, citing “inconvenience at work,” never wore his once in three years. And now, the auctioneer enthusiastically introduced the rings’ significance on stage. “‘Eternal Vow,’ representing love that transcends time until death. Starting bid, twenty million!” As soon as the words left his mouth, from the front VIP section, Ethan raised his paddle without hesitation. “Fifty million.” The entire venue gasped. Jumping straight to thirty million more. This wasn’t just a display of wealth but a determination to win. No one dared compete with Ethan. The auctioneer excitedly brought down the gavel. “Fifty million, sold! Congratulations, Mr. Lancaster!” The host joked with a smile. “Mr. Lancaster spent a fortune on this pair of couple’s rings. Which lucky lady are you planning to give them to?” The spotlight instantly focused on Ethan and Miranda sitting beside him. Ethan stood up and accepted the velvet box containing the rings from the staff. He turned his head, looking at Miranda beside him, her face full of shy delight, his voice carrying through the microphone to every corner of the theater. “These past years, I lost something very precious and left behind a great regret.” Ethan’s gaze was deep and devoted. “These rings are to make up for that regret. I want to give them to the person who is most important to me.” The venue erupted in thunderous applause and cheers. Miranda covered her mouth, tears of emotion streaming down her face. And sitting in the corner, I silently raised my phone and recorded the entire scene. I opened my email and sent the video to Mr. Williams with a message. “Mr. Williams, this is the latest evidence of Ethan Lancaster’s extramarital affair and transfer of marital assets. Please add it to the divorce litigation file.” After sending it, I darkened the screen. Ethan Lancaster, since you love such public displays of affection, I’ll grant your wish and let you love to your heart’s content. In court.

Stella Sterling POV After the auction segment ended, it was time to prepare for the second half of the performance. I stood up and headed toward the backstage restroom. Just as I reached the corridor corner, I heard a familiar light laugh.”Ethan, these rings are too expensive. I really can’t accept them.” Miranda’s delicate voice carried a hint of shyness. “As long as you like them, any price is worth it.” Ethan’s voice was low and tender. “You deserve this.” I paused mid-step, intending to turn and leave, but accidentally kicked a decorative planter by the wall, making a soft sound. The two people in the corridor turned their heads simultaneously. The moment he saw me, the tenderness on Ethan’s face vanished instantly, replaced by his usual coldness and wariness. He instinctively pulled Miranda behind him, his brows furrowed. “What are you doing here? Eavesdropping again?” I almost laughed at his persecution complex. I smoothed my dress and walked forward to face them both. “Mr. Lancaster thinks too highly of himself. This is the only way to the restroom. I’m not bored enough to eavesdrop on other people’s declarations of love.” Miranda stepped out from behind Ethan, her gaze falling on me, a flash of barely concealed jealousy in her eyes. “Stella, don’t misunderstand.” Miranda bit her lip, putting on a pitiful expression. “Ethan only bid on the rings to cheer me up because I’ve been under so much stress lately. Oh, and I need to thank you for lending that antique cello to my team. The tone is really wonderful. Ethan said you didn’t need it anymore. You’re not angry with me, are you?” These words, seemingly grateful, were actually flaunting Ethan’s favoritism toward her with every sentence while twisting the knife in my heart. Looking at her hypocritical face, I laughed coldly. “Miss Lynn is too kind.” I lifted my chin slightly. “Since that cello has already been touched by others and tainted, I don’t want it anymore. Consider it a donation to those in need. After all, someone has to deal with the garbage.” “You!” Miranda’s face went pale, her eyes instantly reddening as she looked at Ethan with grievance. “Ethan, I didn’t mean anything by it. How can Stella say such things…” “Stella Sterling!” Ethan shouted harshly, his face terrifyingly dark. “Watch your mouth! Miranda thanked you out of kindness, and you have to act like a lunatic making a scene? Apologize to her right now!” “Apologize?” I met his angry gaze fearlessly and smiled slightly. “Ethan, have you forgotten you’re supposed to be a severe neurasthenia patient? You could handle that noisy auction earlier, and now to protect her, you’re even raising your voice. You two really are a perfect match. One with depression who can play violin in front of thousands, another with hyperacusis who can chat and laugh at a Livehouse. Truly two medical miracles.” My words struck Ethan’s face, turning it iron blue. For three years, I had always been docile and silent, not even daring to breathe loudly. But now, each of my sentences hit precisely where it hurt. “Stella Sterling, you’re completely unreasonable!” Burning with rage, Ethan suddenly reached out, trying to grab my wrist. “Don’t touch me!” I reacted quickly, retreating a step sharply. “Ethan Lancaster, you disgust me.” His hand froze in midair, his pupils contracting violently. He stared into my eyes. “Say that again.” He spoke through gritted teeth, the words barely squeezing out. “I don’t repeat myself.” I glanced at him coldly. “Please control your people, Mr. Lancaster, and stop bothering me. Otherwise, I don’t mind letting the whole city know that Mr. Lancaster is not only a hypocrite but also a cheating scumbag.” With that, I turned without hesitation and walked away from the corridor without looking back. Leaving Ethan standing there alone.

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Everyone in my family thinks I’m a frail, introverted good girl. But no one knows I’ve been lusting after my stepbrother Ethan for a long time. I’ve even secretly written a dark romance novel with him as the protagonist. In the book, I imprison him in a dark room, touch him as I please, make him cry and beg for my mercy. The colder he is to me in reality, the more cruelly I torment him in my novel. Until yesterday, when my stepbrother brought home a beautiful blind date. I went crazy with jealousy and returned to my room to torture him mercilessly in my novel all night long. In a daze, I discovered the novel’s plot bleeding into reality. Someone blindfolded me and tied my hands behind my back to a chair. Warm breath sprayed against my neck as a pair of hands methodically unbuttoned my collar. That familiar yet cold voice chuckled softly in my ear: “Last night’s update was quite well written. But Chloe, you got one thing wrong—I don’t like to beg. With my vision stripped away, my other senses amplified infinitely. Ethan’s fingertips carried a scorching heat as they traced across my skin inch by inch. I shuddered violently. This couldn’t be possible. He was always so proper, someone who buttoned his shirts all the way to the top. How could he speak to me in such an intimate tone? “Not going to say anything?” His finger flicked open my last button. The cool air touched my skin, and I trembled uncontrollably. “Ethan… I was wrong…” My voice quavered. I couldn’t tell if it was fear or hidden excitement. “Scared now?” He laughed lowly and untied one of my hands. But before my newly freed hand could move, he forcefully pressed it down. He pulled my hand downward. Through the thin fabric, that shocking heat made my scalp tingle instantly. I tried to pull my hand back, but he gripped it tightly. “Why are you running away?” He leaned against my ear, his teeth gently biting my earlobe. “Didn’t Chloe write in her book that I was tormented by aphrodisiacs until I lost my mind, crying and begging for your mercy?” I was so ashamed I could explode. Tears soaked through the blindfold. “I’ve taken the drug now.” He guided my movements, each one carrying irresistible force. “How do you want to see me beg?” I gasped heavily, my senses infinitely magnified in the darkness. The sensation in my palm was too vivid—hard and burning hot. Ethan’s voice was hoarse beyond recognition, heavy with panting. He rested his chin in the hollow of my neck, teeth lightly grinding against my throat. “Chloe, help me. Please.” He was actually begging me… using a tone tortured to the extreme, almost broken, begging me. The intense contrast made me both afraid and gave birth to a secret pleasure. My brain exploded with a boom, my rationality completely burned away. Following his force, my five fingers slowly tightened. Sweat dripped from his temple onto the side of my neck, so hot it made my whole body tremble. “Faster.” He urged in a low voice, his tone carrying not a hint of pleading but rather a commanding tone from on high. I could only be forced to follow his rhythm. The temperature in the air climbed steadily. The ambiguous sounds of panting were especially clear in the silent room. The intense sensory stimulation and mental tension made my head spin. I was already physically weak. My vision went black and I lost consciousness. When I woke again, sunlight streamed through the curtain gaps into the room. I bolted upright and found myself lying on my bedroom’s large bed, my pajamas neatly arranged. I let out a long breath. My back was already soaked with cold sweat. So it was just a dream. My palm seemed to still retain that shocking heat and sensation. I collapsed back into the pillows, my heart still pounding wildly in my chest. I must have become obsessed with writing my novel lately. What you think about during the day, you dream about at night. To actually have such an absurd erotic dream. Taking several deep breaths, I forcefully suppressed the twisted flutter in my heart and got up to wash. The girl in the mirror had faint dark circles under her eyes, looking like a sickly invalid who couldn’t withstand a gust of wind. But her cheeks were flushed, tear tracks still visible at the corners of her eyes—the appearance of someone who’d been bullied. Chloe Harper, you’ve really lost your mind. I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face. But the dream’s sensations were too real. That shocking heat, that hoarse panting, and the trembling sensation when he bit my earlobe. I leaned against the sink, my fingertips uncontrollably gripping the hem of my pajamas. My mind was filled with Ethan’s cold, ascetic face. In front of others, he always maintained a lofty appearance, but in my dreams, in my novel… He belonged to me. I closed my eyes, my breathing gradually becoming rapid. “Ethan…” I bit my lip, letting out a suppressed whimper.

Until my mother’s knocking came from outside the door. “Chloe, are you up? We’re having guests today, come downstairs for breakfast.” I snapped my eyes open. Guests? Could it be another blind date for Ethan? I took a deep breath, straightened my clothes, and pushed the door open. In the dining room, my stepfather and mom were chatting warmly. Ethan wore a well-fitted suit, his collar buttoned meticulously. He was looking down at the morning paper. The morning light outlined his cold, ascetic profile. Even his hair carried an inviolable sense of distance. This was the real Ethan. Lofty and untainted by worldly dust. I lowered my head, pulled out the chair next to him and sat down, calling out softly: “Dad, Mom, Ethan.” Ethan’s movements paused slightly. He gave a faint “Mm.” That voice was clear and clean, completely different from the hoarse, panting man in my dream. I bit my spoon, my gaze involuntarily drifting downward to his long legs. Imagining what kind of burning body was wrapped beneath that suit. Just then, the doorbell rang. A servant led a young woman inside. As expected, another blind date for Ethan. She wore exquisite makeup, every movement revealing the elegance of a high-society lady. “Ethan, Uncle, Auntie, good morning.” She greeted them with a smile and naturally walked to sit on Ethan’s other side. Ethan gave a slight nod in acknowledgment and stood to pour her a glass of warm water. “Thank you.” When their eyes met, there was an understanding that outsiders couldn’t intrude upon. My hand gripping the spoon tightened suddenly. Crazy jealousy threatened to drown me. Why could she sit beside him so openly? Why did she get such gentle treatment from him? I stared at that glass of water, wishing I could poison it. “Coming over so early, what’s the occasion?” Ethan’s tone remained cool, but held a bit more familiarity than when he spoke to me. Mia chuckled lightly, reaching up to play with her curled hair. “Didn’t we agree you’d accompany me today to choose a venue for the engagement party? Did you forget?” Engagement party. Those three words drove into my eardrums like nails. I lowered my head abruptly, biting my teeth hard. How long had they even known each other? And they were already getting engaged? Mom laughed beside them, unable to contain her joy. “Ethan’s busy with work, Mia. Please be understanding. If this boy dares bully you, tell me and I’ll deal with him for you.” “Don’t worry, Auntie. Ethan treats me very well.” Mia’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Ethan with adoring eyes. I watched them like a match made in heaven, my nails digging deep into my palms. I wanted so badly to gouge out those eyes of hers. I wanted so badly to tie Ethan up and lock him in a place where only I existed. Make him only look at me, only become aroused for me. I suddenly covered my mouth, coughing violently. This trick never failed me. As long as I showed signs of illness, everyone’s attention would immediately shift to me. Sure enough, Mom immediately rushed over nervously to pat my back. “Chloe! What’s wrong? Did you catch a cold?” I coughed until I couldn’t catch my breath, my eyes rimmed with pitiful red as I secretly observed Ethan from the corner of my eye. He frowned and stood to pour me a glass of water too. “Drink some water.” He brought the glass to my lips. I tremblingly reached out to take it, my fingertips covering the back of his hand. My heartbeat skipped, greedily savoring that brief moment of contact. Ethan didn’t pull back. He let me half-hold his wrist as he tilted the glass. The warm water moistened my dry throat. I finally stopped coughing. “Thank you.” I looked up at him with tearful eyes. From this angle, I could see his prominent Adam’s apple. So sexy. I wanted to bite it. “If you’re not feeling well, go back to your room and rest.” Ethan withdrew his hand calmly, his voice indifferent. He pulled out a disinfectant wipe and methodically wiped the back of his hand where I’d touched him. He actually found me dirty? Mia watched from the side, a flash of contempt in her eyes. “With Chloe’s poor health, she should probably stay home more. Ethan, let’s go. We’re almost late for our appointment.” She hooked her arm through Ethan’s. Ethan didn’t push her away. I watched their departing figures, the obedience in my eyes fading, leaving only gloom. After returning to my room, I immediately locked the door. I opened my computer and stared at the words on the screen. Anger and jealousy grew wildly. If only everything in the book were real. How wonderful that would be.

In the evening, when Ethan returned, he carried a faint scent of alcohol. Seeing him enter the study, I brewed a cup of tea and walked in. “Ethan.” Ethan was leaning back in his chair, rubbing his temples. His tie was loosened, the top two buttons of his collar undone, revealing a kind of decadent sexiness. Hearing my voice, he paused and looked over. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?” “I heard you come back, so I made you your favorite black tea.” I walked closer carrying the tray, deliberately stumbling. Ah! I cried out, my whole body falling straight toward him. Ethan caught me steadily as expected. I tumbled into his lap, enveloped by his intense masculine scent mixed with a faint alcohol smell. My breathing became chaotic. My heart pounded wildly, almost bursting through my chest. If I just tilted my head slightly, my lips could brush against his jawline. “Did you burn yourself?” Ethan’s voice came from above my head, deeper than usual, slightly hoarse. He didn’t immediately push me away. Those long-fingered hands even lingered at my waist for a moment. My whole body stiffened. I didn’t dare move, even slowing my breathing. “No… no.” I stammered in response, my eyes rimming red. “I’m sorry, I’m too clumsy.” I tried to stand, but my legs were weak and I fell back into his embrace. This time, my hand braced against his chest. Beneath my palm was his steady, powerful heartbeat. Through his shirt, it burned my fingertips. Ethan’s eyes darkened. He finally reached out to grip my shoulders, pulling me from his lap and steadily placing me to the side. His movements were restrained and distant. “So careless. What have I taught you?” He pulled out a tissue and methodically wiped the suit pants where I’d pressed against them. His tone returned to its lofty coldness. I lowered my head, staring at the water stains on the carpet, the dark flame in my heart burning hotter and hotter. “How did it go today with Miss Thompson choosing the venue?” I asked with feigned casualness, my fingers twisting my skirt hem tightly. Ethan’s wiping motion paused slightly. He looked up at me, his eyes unfathomable. “Adult matters. Children shouldn’t pry.” He stood up, looking down at me. “It’s late. Go to bed.” What kind of answer was that? Was he protecting Mia? I bit my lip, tears welling in my eyes, stubbornly sitting on the sofa without moving. “Do you think I’m annoying? After you get married, I won’t be able to come to you like this anymore, will I?” Ethan looked at me silently. After a long moment, he sighed. He walked in front of me, bent down slightly, and gently wiped the corner of my eye. “Don’t overthink it.” His voice softened a bit, carrying a seductive quality. “As long as Chloe is good, I’ll always be your brother.” Always be your brother. Who the hell wants you as a brother! What I want is you panting beneath me, those eyes seeing only me! I suddenly grabbed his hand, recklessly pressing my cheek against his palm, greedily absorbing his warmth. “I’ll be good.” I looked up at him, my gaze nearly obsessive. “I always listen to you.” Ethan let me nuzzle his palm, his gaze resting on my face. Then slowly withdrew his hand. “Go to sleep.”

Wednesday afternoon, my parents went on a business trip. Only Ethan and I remained at home. I carried a plate of freshly cut fruit and carefully pushed open the study door. Ethan was leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, breathing evenly, seemingly already asleep. His tie was loosened slightly, revealing a large expanse of delicate collarbone. I stared at his thin lips, my mind filled with scenes from my novel of him being kissed until red and swollen, panting. My hand reached out uncontrollably, inching closer to his cheek. Just one touch would be enough. His phone on the desk suddenly vibrated. I jerked my hand back like I’d been shocked, my heart nearly leaping from my throat. The screen displayed a message from Mia. “Darling, I came back early. Let’s have dinner together tonight.” Darling. Those three words stabbed my eyes. Ethan was awakened by the vibration. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze hazy for a moment before returning to clear indifference. Seeing me standing nearby, he sat up straight and casually adjusted his collar. “What is it?” “Nothing… I brought you some fruit.” I pointed frantically at the fruit plate on the desk. Ethan’s gaze fell on the lit screen. A trace of extremely faint smile actually rippled in his eyes. It was a warmth I’d never seen before. He picked up his phone to reply to the message, not even sparing me a glance. “Leave it there. I’ll eat it later.” I don’t know how I walked out of the study. Back in my room, I swept everything on the desk to the floor. Why! Why should he give all his tenderness to that woman! Ethan was mine. Could only be mine! Since he wanted to fly away with someone else, I’d break his wings and drag him into hell with me. I pulled open the drawer and took out a small white bottle from the very back. This was something I’d obtained from the black market. Originally just an impulse purchase, but now it finally had a use. In the afternoon, Ethan went out for a while. When he returned in the evening, he carried a faint perfume scent. Mia’s scent. I forcefully suppressed the violence in my heart, lowering my eyes as I brought a cup of calming tea to the living room. “Ethan, you’ve been working overtime so much lately. Drink some calming tea and get some rest early.” Ethan removed his suit jacket and casually accepted the teacup without any wariness, tilting his head back to drain it in one go. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. The swallowing motion was inexplicably sexy. After drinking, he handed me the empty cup, his gaze lingering on my face for a moment. “You don’t look well today either. Get some sleep early.” The rare concern in his tone made me waver for an instant. But thinking of how he was about to get engaged to another woman, that wavering instantly turned to ash. I clutched the cup and obediently nodded, returning to my room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I stared at the time on my phone. One hour later. I soundlessly opened my door and walked out. Ethan’s door wasn’t locked. I gently opened it. The room was pitch black. He lay on the large bed, his breathing long and deep. I crouched beside the bed, my gaze tracing his features. This absolute sense of control made my whole body tremble. Worldly ethics and morality were completely cast aside in this moment. He was a responsible person. Even if he hated me, he could only be bound to my side. I climbed onto the bed, straddling his lean waist and abdomen. Trembling, I reached out to undo the first button of his pajamas. Then the second, the third. A large expanse of firm chest was exposed to the air. I leaned down, my nose nearly touching his skin, greedily inhaling his unique pine scent. “Ethan, you’re about to be mine.” I murmured obsessively, closing my eyes and kissing toward his thin lips. Just then, a hand suddenly gripped the back of my neck, pinning me in place. My whole body stiffened. My blood nearly froze. Ethan, who should have been in deep unconsciousness, slowly opened his eyes. Those black eyes, usually cool and ascetic, now churned with unfathomable dark currents. The world spun. He flipped me onto the bed. He turned over and pinned me beneath him. His cool fingertips brushed across my skin, stirring up tremors. He laughed lowly, his voice carrying a heart-bewitching hoarseness in the silent night. “Chloe, the dosage wasn’t enough.”

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The day my fiancée cheated, I proposed without hesitation. The night before the wedding, I knelt on the floor of my rental apartment, organizing six manila envelopes. Each one contained evidence of my fiancée’s affairs over the past three years. Chat screenshots, transfer records, hotel receipts, intimate conversations with five different men. One hundred and seventy-three pages. Soon, these six envelopes would appear at the wedding banquet. One for her parents, one for her boss, one for her best friend, one for her relatives, one for my parents. The last one would go to the five men she’d been sleeping with. At this dream wedding she’d spent half a year meticulously planning, I would give her a surprise the whole world would witness. “Ethan, Lucas is going to be your groomsman tomorrow.” Sophia fiddled with the veil she’d wear the next day. Lucas stood right beside her, wearing a perfectly tailored white suit. That was the custom suit Sophia had spent twenty thousand dollars on for him yesterday. Meanwhile, the suit I’d wear tomorrow was a three-thousand-dollar rental. Lucas raised his eyebrows at me, a blatant smirk of provocation on his face. “Ethan, Sophia says I get car sick. If I sit in the back car, I might throw up and ruin tomorrow.” He took a step forward, reaching out to adjust Sophia’s veil. “If you have a problem with it, I just won’t come tomorrow. No point in causing trouble between you two because of me.” Sophia grabbed his wrist, her brow furrowing instantly. “What are you talking about? Without you, what’s the point of this wedding?” She turned to glare at me, her eyes full of warning. “Ethan, Lucas is my best guy friend. If it weren’t for him helping me these past three years, do you think I would’ve said yes to your proposal?” “Tomorrow is my once-in-a-lifetime big day. What’s wrong with letting him ride in the lead car?” I looked at this pair standing before me like conjoined twins, nausea rising in my stomach. If this were three months ago, I would’ve gotten into a huge fight with her over this. I would’ve been like a jealous madman, demanding to know who the real groom was. But now, my heart was utterly calm. I almost wanted to laugh. My gaze fell on the diamond ring on Sophia’s ring finger. That ring cost me a hundred and twenty thousand dollars. She complained it wasn’t big enough, then immediately whined on SnapChat to Lucas about how cheap I was. Lucas’s reply at the time was: “Baby, once we trick him into signing over that downtown apartment tomorrow, I’ll buy you a huge diamond.” Those chat records were quietly stored in my backup phone right now. I pulled over a chair and sat down, looking at her calmly. “Fine. He can have the lead car tomorrow.” Sophia froze, clearly not expecting me to agree so readily. She looked me up and down suspiciously. After confirming I showed no signs of anger, her expression softened. “At least you’re being sensible. Stop acting like a bitter housewife watching Lucas all the time. We’re all adults. Have some perspective.” Lucas laughed too. He walked up to me and patted my shoulder. “Ethan’s being cool about it. You better prepare good gifts for tomorrow’s wedding games.” “Don’t worry, I’ve had the gifts ready for a while.” I brushed his hand off and stood up, walking toward the closet. Sophia suddenly called out to me again. “Oh, one more thing.” She pulled out a red velvet box from her bag — the one storing my mother’s belongings. Inside was a pair of old-fashioned antique gold rings. My mother had given them to me on her deathbed, making me promise to put one on my future wife at the wedding. Sophia opened the box and picked up one of the rings with two fingers, her face full of disgust. “This ring is way too tacky to wear tomorrow. It doesn’t match my custom wedding dress at all.” She turned to look at Lucas, her eyes lighting up instantly. “Lucas, didn’t you say you needed a ring to match your outfit? Why don’t you wear this one for fun?” My breathing caught. My fingers clenched tight. Lucas made a show of declining. “That’s not appropriate. This is a family heirloom from Ethan’s mother. What would it mean for me to wear it?” “What’s inappropriate about it? Ethan’s stuff is my stuff. What’s wrong with me giving it to my friend?” Sophia forcefully pushed the antique gold rings into Lucas’s hand, then turned to look at me. “Ethan, surely you’re not so petty you can’t even part with a ring? I’m marrying you tomorrow. Can you not be so cheap?” I stared at the ring in Lucas’s hand. My mother had worn it her entire life. Now these two were using it as a prop for their flirtation. Rage churned in my chest, but I forced it down. Tomorrow. Just get through tonight. Tomorrow I’d make them pay back everything with interest. I took a deep breath and forced out a smile devoid of warmth. “I’m not being cheap. Since you think it doesn’t match, let Lucas wear it.” I watched Lucas slip the ring onto his pinky finger, my gaze growing colder. “Just don’t regret it tomorrow.” Sophia rolled her eyes and pulled Lucas toward the door. “What do I have to regret? We’re going to try on his groomsman suit now. Get some sleep early and don’t show up tomorrow with dark circles embarrassing me.” At the door, she stopped and looked back at me. “Ethan, you’re such a good-tempered husband. I’m definitely going to be the most beautiful bride tomorrow.” I watched their backs disappear through the door, then pulled out my phone and opened a chat group named “Special Guests.” “Of course. Tomorrow everyone will remember you.”

At ten PM, the bridal suite was so quiet I could only hear the ticking of the wall clock. I sat on the sofa, checking the number of USB drives in tomorrow’s wedding favors. One hundred and twenty drives. Each one contained Sophia’s “highlight reel” from the past three years. My phone suddenly vibrated. It was Sophia’s mother, Margaret, calling. I pressed answer and put it on speaker. “Ethan, are you asleep yet?” Her voice carried the calculating shrewdness of a penny-pincher. “Not yet. What’s up?” “Here’s the thing — I was just thinking, three hundred thousand isn’t going to be enough.” My fingers stopped typing on the keyboard. “Didn’t we agree the wedding would cost three hundred thousand?” Margaret snorted coldly on the other end. “That was before. Prices are rising so fast now, and Sophia’s brother is getting married next year. He needs to buy a car worth five hundred thousand. If you don’t have the five hundred thousand ready tomorrow as a wedding gift to our family, don’t even think about marrying my daughter!” I heard Sophia’s voice on the other end. She was clearly standing next to her mother. “Margaret, why are you explaining so much to him? If he can’t come up with this money, we’re calling off the wedding.” She came closer to the phone, her tone dripping with manipulation. “Ethan, let me tell you — men chasing after me could line up from one end of the street to the other.” “Benjamin offered to buy me a Porsche yesterday. If I wasn’t being loyal to you, do you think you’d have a chance to marry me?” I listened to this mother-daughter duo’s performance, mockery flickering in my eyes. That Benjamin — forty-five years old, balding with a beer belly, owner of a building materials company. The only reason Sophia didn’t marry Benjamin was because he had a wife. She could only be his mistress in the shadows. And me? I was the honest sucker she’d carefully selected. “Five hundred thousand is a bit difficult.” I deliberately slowed my speech, pretending to be troubled. “I don’t have that much cash on hand.” Margaret immediately panicked, her voice rising an octave. “What do you mean you don’t have it? You still haven’t transferred that downtown apartment to Sophia, have you?” “Just go get a mortgage loan! I don’t care how you do it — if I don’t see five hundred thousand tomorrow, there’s no wedding!” I looked at the hotel records of Sophia and Benjamin on my computer screen, a cold smile tugging at my lips. “Margaret, there’s no way I can get a loan processed in time.” I paused, then dangled the bait. “How about this — tomorrow, in front of all the relatives, I’ll write you an IOU for five hundred thousand with my personal signature. It’ll have legal validity. Would that work?” Silence on the other end for a few seconds. Margaret seemed to be discussing it with Sophia. A moment later, her voice came back, tinged with satisfaction. “At least you know what’s good for you. An IOU works, but it has to state payment within one month, or I’ll make a scene at your company!” “No problem.” I agreed unusually readily. “But Margaret, tomorrow’s wedding is Sophia’s big day. You and her brother need to arrive early, right? And you’ve notified all the relatives and friends?” “You think I need you to tell me that? Our family’s relatives are taking two charter buses tomorrow. It’s going to be lively.” Afraid I’d back out, Margaret added a few more reminders before hanging up. I looked at the darkened phone screen and saved the call recording, renaming it “Extortion Evidence — Backup.” Just then, a SnapChat message from Sophia came through. It was a voice message. I clicked it. What came out wasn’t Sophia’s voice, but a middle-aged man’s greasy panting. “Baby, tomorrow’s your wedding day. Won’t you come out and have one last wild night with me tonight?” Then came Sophia’s coquettish laughter. “Oh stop it, Benjamin~ I have to get up early tomorrow for makeup. After I get back from the honeymoon, I’ll make it up to you properly~” The voice message existed for only two seconds before being quickly recalled. Immediately after, Sophia sent a text message. “Honey, I accidentally sent the wrong message. That was a client from my work group joking around. Don’t overthink it.” I stared at those words, almost able to see her smug face on the other end. She knew I was “honest.” She knew I was “head over heels for her.” So even her lies were this perfunctory. I didn’t call her out. Instead, I played along. “It’s okay. Work is important. Get some rest early.” “By the way, is Benjamin coming to the wedding tomorrow?” Sophia replied quickly. “Yeah, he’s one of my big clients. I specially reserved a VIP table seat for him.” I looked at the VIP table seating chart and closed my laptop with satisfaction. At that table sat not only Benjamin, but also Lucas, the gym trainer Ryan, and the company intern Liam. An entire table of ex-boyfriends. They’d definitely get along great tomorrow. “Ethan, my mother worked hard to raise me. What’s wrong with you writing an IOU?” Sophia sent another voice message, her tone dripping with condescension. I held down the record button, my voice gentle as stagnant water. “Fine. I’ll write it. I’ll hand it to her in front of all the relatives tomorrow.”

At six AM, the wedding convoy stopped outside Sophia’s apartment complex. I stood outside her security door wearing that three-thousand-dollar rental suit, holding a bouquet of red roses. The hallway was packed with Sophia’s relatives, all whispering and looking at me like I was a circus monkey. “If you haven’t prepared a cash gift of ninety-nine thousand dollars for me, I’m not opening the door for you.” A flippant voice came from inside. It was Lucas. I looked at him through the iron bars of the security door. He wore the custom suit I’d paid for, with a boutonniere that should’ve belonged to a groomsman pinned to his chest. Meanwhile, my actual groomsmen were being blocked at the stairwell landing by several of Sophia’s relatives. “Lucas, the custom is to give gifts at the door. The car gift is given when we arrive at the hotel.” I stated the facts calmly. Lucas snorted and blew a smoke ring through the door at me. “Ethan, rules are dead but people are alive. Sophia says today, I make the rules.” He turned and picked up a basin from a nearby table filled with murky yellow liquid. “If you want to take Sophia, sing a love song in front of everyone, then do ten push-ups. Then I’ll open the door.” The surrounding relatives immediately burst into laughter. “Why’s the groom just standing there? Getting married and can’t even show this much sincerity?” “Exactly. Our Sophia is a beauty. This little test is nothing.” My gaze moved past Lucas to Sophia sitting on the living room sofa. She wore an elaborate wedding dress, holding a fan partially covering her face, laughing hysterically with a bridesmaid beside her. She had no intention of stopping this. She was even recording it on her phone. “Sophia, is this what you want too?” I stared into her eyes, my voice not loud but loud enough for everyone in the living room to hear. Sophia lowered her fan and rolled her eyes. “Ethan, if you can’t take a joke, don’t play along. Everyone’s just having fun. Lucas is joking with you. Who are you making faces at?” She stood up and walked to the door, looking down at me. “If you don’t want to drink it or crawl, then take your people and get lost. I’m calling off this wedding!” She was certain I wouldn’t dare make a scene at this point. After all, in everyone’s eyes, I was the pathetic simp who’d thrown away everything just to marry her. I looked at the hickey on the side of her neck, deliberately covered with foundation. That definitely wasn’t a mosquito bite. The shape and color were clearly from last night. And Lucas’s lips still had traces of lipstick he hadn’t wiped off completely. My hands slowly clenched at my sides, nails nearly digging into my flesh. “Fine. I prepared gifts for you.” I grabbed the gift bag full of items from behind me and shoved it through the door. Lucas’s eyes lit up. He immediately squatted down to grab them. The moment he lowered his head, I kicked the security door hard. The old lock made a brittle crack under the strain. The door swung open. Lucas was knocked backward by the door, landing on his butt with gifts scattering everywhere. “What are you doing!” Sophia shrieked, pointing at my nose and cursing. “Ethan, are you crazy! You dare hit Lucas?” I ignored her and walked straight to the sofa, casually tossing the roses onto the coffee table. “We’re running out of time. Let’s go.” Sophia’s mother, Margaret, rushed out of the bedroom at that moment, holding a piece of paper and a pen. “Go where! You haven’t written the IOU yet!” She slammed the paper and pen onto the coffee table, glaring at me furiously. “Write that five-hundred-thousand-dollar IOU in front of everyone, or nobody’s leaving this apartment today!” The living room fell silent. All the relatives’ eyes focused on me. They were all waiting to see this sucker make a fool of himself. I picked up the pen and without hesitation, quickly wrote out a five-hundred-thousand-dollar IOU and signed my name. “Margaret, keep it safe.” I handed the IOU to Sophia’s mother, my lips curling into an imperceptible cold smile. Margaret carefully inspected it, then tucked it away satisfied. “At least you know what’s good for you. Sophia, I’ll help you downstairs.” “No need.” Sophia looked coquettishly at Lucas, who had just gotten up from the floor. “Let Lucas carry me down. He’s stronger.” Lucas immediately dusted himself off and gave me a smug look before walking over to scoop Sophia up in his arms. Sophia wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling sweetly. Everyone present thought this scene was perfectly natural. Not one person thought there was anything wrong with another man carrying the bride downstairs. I followed behind them, watching Lucas’s hand — wearing my mother’s antique gold rings — pressed tightly against Sophia’s waist. “Ethan, who are you pulling that face for today? If you don’t want to get married, get lost right now.” Sophia glared back at me from Lucas’s arms. I pulled out my phone and sent a text to my lawyer: “Proceed as planned.” Then I looked up at her. “Get married? Of course we’re getting married. The guests are all waiting.”

There were forty minutes left before the wedding ceremony officially began. In the hotel’s luxury lounge, Sophia sat before the vanity touching up her makeup. Lucas leaned against the dresser holding a glass of champagne, occasionally leaning close to Sophia’s ear to whisper something that made her giggle. When I pushed the door open and walked in, the laughter stopped abruptly. Several bridesmaids exchanged glances, their eyes full of unconcealed contempt and mockery. “Why were you glaring at Lucas earlier?” Sophia glanced at me through the mirror, her tone cold and hard. “He’s been running around for our wedding and hasn’t even eaten breakfast. Do you have no conscience?” I walked to the sofa and sat down, my gaze sweeping over the scattered invitations on the table. On one of the covers was clearly written “Benjamin Thompson.” That was Benjamin’s full name. “I wasn’t glaring at him.” I replied flatly, casually picking up a glass of water from the table. “If you weren’t glaring at him, why would he feel so wronged?” Sophia spun around abruptly, slamming her powder puff on the table. “Ethan, don’t think just because we’re getting married today you can boss me around.” “Let me tell you — Lucas is the most important person in my life. If you can’t accept him, we don’t need to continue this marriage!” Lucas immediately put on a wronged expression and tugged at Sophia’s sleeve. “Sophia, don’t fight with Ethan because of me. It’s such a happy day. I can take a little mistreatment as long as you’re happy.” This manipulative speech immediately won the bridesmaids’ sympathy. “Exactly, Ethan, you’re being way too petty.” “Sophia choosing you is a blessing you earned over eight lifetimes. Hurry up and apologize to Lucas!” “Lucas studied abroad. He’s more than good enough for your wife. What are you jealous about?” I listened to these cutting remarks, my gaze falling on the trash can. Inside lay several crumpled pieces of letter paper. That was my wedding vow that I’d stayed up three nights revising over a dozen times. I walked over, bent down, and picked up the crumpled paper. “What are you doing?” Sophia wrinkled her nose in disgust. “I threw that away. What sappy garbage. So tacky I felt sick reading it.” “I’m reading my own vows later. I don’t need your corny words.” She stood up and walked in front of me, jabbing her finger hard into my chest. “Now, immediately, apologize to Lucas. Otherwise, during the ring exchange, you can stand on stage and embarrass yourself alone!” She was certain I wouldn’t dare resist. After all, in everyone’s eyes, I’d already invested so much sunk cost — eight hundred and eighty thousand in wedding expenses, a five-hundred-thousand-dollar IOU, and a hall full of guests. I’d been pushed to the edge of a cliff. One step back would be an abyss. I looked at her exquisite yet mean face and suddenly felt somewhat tragic. What kind of trash had I fallen in love with these past three years? “Apologize?” I smoothed out the crumpled paper bit by bit, folded it neatly, and put it in my suit pocket. “Sure.” I turned to look at Lucas, my lips curling into an eerie smile. “Lucas, I’m truly sorry. You’ve worked so hard today.” Lucas froze for a moment, clearly not expecting me to be this spineless, then broke into a smug smile. “Ethan’s too kind. We’re all family from now on. Sophia’s business is my business.” Only then did Sophia hum with satisfaction and return to her vanity. “At least you know what’s good for you. Go outside and check — make sure Benjamin’s table is arranged properly. Don’t neglect the VIP guests.” I turned and walked out of the lounge, closing the door behind me. At the end of the hallway, my several groomsmen were waiting. They weren’t my friends, but professional bodyguards and a legal team I’d hired at a high price. “Mr. Ethan, all evidence has been synced to the control room. We can cut to the big screen at any time.” The lead bodyguard reported quietly. “Have all the people at the ‘special guest table’ arrived?” I adjusted my tie. “All present. Benjamin Thompson, trainer Ryan, and that intern Liam — eight people total, all at the front row VIP table.” I nodded, listening to the wedding march playing in the banquet hall. That cheerful rhythm now sounded like a death knell counting down. “It’s time. The bride and groom are requested to enter.” The emcee’s voice came through the walkie-talkie. The lounge door opened. Sophia walked out on her father Robert’s arm like a noble princess. Lucas followed behind her, holding the tray with the rings. As Sophia passed me, she whispered a warning. “Ethan, hold onto the ring properly. Don’t embarrass yourself later.” I looked at her, a smile reaching my eyes for the first time. “Don’t worry. Today will definitely be the most unforgettable moment of your life.”

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During our vacation trip, my water broke on the way to the airport. Someone helped flag down a taxi, and just as they were about to help me in, my husband rushed over and blocked them. “My wife has a history of fraud. The last person who helped her ended up paying five hundred thousand dollars.” The bystander jerked their hand back in fear, and the taxi driver refused to take me. I had no strength to explain. I could only dial emergency services with trembling hands. But when the ambulance arrived, Ethan just sneered coldly. “My wife is in her third trimester and often leaks urine. Every time, she thinks her water broke.” “She has serious mental problems. No matter what the test results show, she’ll accuse the hospital of scamming her.” “If you take her to the hospital, not only won’t you get paid, but she’ll also call the police and sue you.” The paramedics cursed and left. I was drowning in despair when Ethan looked at me with complete calm. “Your sister Sophia is pregnant. The baby is mine.” “Her due date is today. I promised her I’d make sure her child is born first.” “Just hold on a bit longer. As soon as she delivers, I’ll arrange your surgery immediately.”

Seeing tears pooling in my eyes, he patted my face as if to comfort me. “You only have yourself to blame. Back then, I just drunkenly kissed her, and you made it everyone’s business.” “She married some random guy out of spite against you, never expecting he’d be abusive and beat her until she miscarried.” “You owe her a life. Making you hold it in and deliver later is just helping you atone for your sins.” I looked at his indifferent eyes, a bitter smile forming on my lips. Ethan, since you say I’m guilty, I wonder if repaying you with two lives for the price of one will be enough. Another wave of excruciating pain tore through my lower abdomen. I knelt on the ground, unable to suppress my anguished screams. Ethan looked down at me, his eyes holding reluctance and heartache, but not a trace of guilt. The crowd around us had long dispersed. I looked up helplessly, my voice trembling. “Ethan, please, take me to the hospital first.” The pain made me desperately clutch at his pant leg with blood-stained fingers. Ethan kicked my hand away, stepping back with disgust written all over his face. “I promised Sophia I’d personally accompany her during delivery. There’s a professional team recording it for us. If my pants get dirty, she won’t be happy.” Blood pooled between my legs, and amniotic fluid soaked the ground. Ethan saw none of it. His mind was only concerned with whether he looked presentable enough while accompanying Sophia during childbirth. He didn’t care about me, nor about the baby in my belly. Then what were those ten years I spent with him, building his empire from nothing and tasting every hardship life had to offer? My whole body trembled as I tried to question him, but the torture of contractions made me writhe on the ground. Ethan glanced at his watch, a smile playing on his lips. “Sophia should be delivering soon. You go home first. Once I’m done, I’ll come get you.” My consciousness was beginning to blur from the pain as I pleaded with a trembling voice. “Ethan, my water broke. If I don’t go to the hospital now, the baby will die.” He bent down, stroking my head with something like pity. The gesture was so casual, like petting a stray dog. “Don’t worry, I won’t abandon you. After all, you’re the real Mrs. Morrison, and you’re the one I love most.” “But debts must be repaid. Atoning this way—knowing the pain will teach you a lesson, so you won’t bully young girls just because of your status anymore.” “I’ve already instructed the family doctor to wait for you at the villa. You and the baby will be fine. At most, you’ll just hurt for a while.”

“Mia, don’t be so dramatic. Same childbirth, but Sophia isn’t making a fuss. She’s just waiting quietly for me at the hospital. In this regard, she’s much more sensible than you.” As soon as he finished speaking, Ethan’s phone rang abruptly. Through the speaker came a woman’s coquettish voice. “Ethan, the doctor says I’m fully dilated and needs me in the delivery room now.” “Are you still with that old hag? Oh right, she’s the one you officially married, Mrs. Morrison. The one in my belly is just a bastard.” “Ethan, if you don’t come right now, I’m not giving birth.” The usually calm and composed Mr. Morrison’s expression changed instantly. His eyes filled with anxious panic, even his tone becoming humble. “What are you talking about? I told you, only the one in your belly will be the Morrison family’s firstborn.” “Mia’s water broke and she’s rolling around on the ground in pain right now. If you don’t believe me, I’ll take a video to show you.” He bent down, shoving the camera in my face. Only after seeing my wretched state did Sophia laugh with satisfaction. I forced down the bone-deep pain and looked up at him. “Why? Why does it have to be her?” “Ethan, have you forgotten? She was the one who drunk-drove and nearly killed you. She was also the one who pushed your mother off a cliff, leaving her body unfound.” What answered me was a cold, mocking laugh. “What happened back then was just my bad luck. As for my mother, there were no surveillance cameras on the mountain. Even the police said it could have been an accidental fall. How can we blame Sophia?” I collapsed on the ground, laughing until tears came. Sophia, my half-sister from my mother’s second marriage. Spoiled and willful since childhood, she bullied me relentlessly. After the SATs ended, she partied all night with friends, and despite everyone’s warnings, insisted on drunk driving. She accidentally hit Ethan, who had just finished his night shift. With no one around, Sophia left Ethan bleeding on the ground and drove away. Later, she pinned all the blame on me. I was taken in for questioning. She was afraid the victim would press charges and the truth would come out. Under the pretense of apologizing on my behalf, she lured Ethan’s mother to the mountaintop and pushed her off the cliff when she wasn’t paying attention. I served three years for a crime I didn’t commit. After my release, I accidentally learned that Ethan’s legs were disabled, and doctors said he’d spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. I found him and confessed everything. When Ethan was in complete despair, wanting to end it all— It was me who knelt before his wheelchair and swore I’d help him stand again. I took care of him for two full years, accompanying him through rehabilitation. The day he successfully stood up, Ethan knelt on one knee and slipped a simple silver ring on my finger. His eyes then were full of deep affection. “Mia, you gave me a second life. Could I ask you to give me a chance to take care of you for the rest of yours?” I believed him. Even though he was so poor he couldn’t even afford a proper wedding, I still married him without hesitation. He said I bullied Sophia. But he clearly knew that she had forced me to drink urine and kneel in a cage barking like a dog. Those ten years of living hell were my lifelong nightmare. After marriage, I woke countless times from nightmares, crying as I told him about dreaming of being beaten by Sophia. His hands trembled as he held me, his eyes red as he promised he would rise up and seek justice for me and his mother. To crush the family business, he threw himself completely into the corporate world. But I never expected that the first thing he’d do after achieving success was to get entangled with Sophia.

When I caught them disheveled and kissing in my marital bed, I nearly lost my mind. I slapped Sophia twice hard and posted photos of her half-exposed chest all over the internet. Ethan’s eyes turned red. He knelt before me and swore he was drunk and mistook her for me. In front of me, he threw her out, saying he’d never see her again for the rest of his life. I never imagined— He talked about seeking justice for me and his mother, but behind my back, he got Sophia pregnant. My unwavering devotion earned me his cold indifference, saying he’d use my life and our child’s life to apologize to Sophia. I bit my mouth raw and spoke in a trembling voice. “Ethan, why? Why are you doing this to me?” No response. He was so anxious he didn’t even spare me a glance before leaving decisively. The blood beneath me flowed more and more. I hurt so much my consciousness started to blur. But for the sake of my child, I still gritted my teeth and got up, stumbling toward the hospital. By the time I reached the emergency room entrance, my entire lower body was soaked in blood. After an examination, I was rushed to the operating room. But unexpectedly, just as I reached the door, someone blocked my way. I forced myself to lift my head, only to meet Ethan’s cold eyes. “Mia, didn’t I tell you to go home and wait?” “Stop playing weak. If you can’t handle this little pain, why didn’t you think about how much it hurt when you caused Sophia to be beaten until she miscarried?” “I’m warning you, Sophia isn’t fully dilated yet. Until her baby is born, no matter how much it hurts, you hold it in.” His face was full of impatience, but I didn’t even have the strength to defend myself. The doctor looked anxiously at him, trying to push him aside. “The patient’s water broke, causing massive hemorrhaging. She needs surgery immediately, or both mother and child will die.” Ethan kicked over the hospital bed, his eyes full of vicious mockery. “How much did Mia pay you to play along with her act?” “To make sure her child is born first, she’ll do anything.” “So what if her water broke? Delivering a bit later won’t kill her. Stop being so dramatic.” I lay sprawled on the ground in disgrace, unable to laugh or cry. Ten years of life and death together. But my unbearable agony was just dramatic pretense in his eyes. My scalp went numb with pain. I couldn’t hold back anymore and clutched my belly, screaming. The doctor’s expression changed as well. “Sir, the pregnant woman’s condition is truly critical. If we delay treatment and she dies, her family will hold you accountable.” The doctor bent down to help me up, but Ethan spoke coldly again. “Family? She has no family.” “Mia is my mistress. She knew today was my wife’s due date and deliberately put on this act to compete for my attention.” “If she delays my wife’s delivery, you can forget about keeping this hospital open.” The hands supporting me suddenly let go. I fell heavily back to the ground. Blood spread beneath me. I lay on the cold floor, barely conscious, every organ trembling with pain. A smile appeared on Ethan’s lips. He bent close to my ear, his tone tinged with rare heartache. “Does it hurt? Good. Only by remembering today’s pain will you stop using your status as Mrs. Morrison to make things difficult for Sophia.” “Be good, Mia. Stop making a scene. Only by being obedient can you suffer less.” “Just hold on a bit longer. Once Sophia delivers, I’ll arrange for you to enter the operating room immediately.”

“Although your child won’t be the firstborn, I won’t play favorites. I promise, whatever Sophia’s child has, yours will have too.” “I told you, the person I love most is you. For this lifetime, you’ll always be my Mrs. Morrison.” I bit through my lip, my smile mixed with blood. Ethan, your love is too heavy a burden. I don’t want it. And I don’t want you anymore. The next moment, someone lifted me up. Ethan carried me all the way back to the hospital room, personally watching as the doctor administered the suppressant before leaving satisfied. I lay in the hospital bed all night. I’d pass out, then be jolted awake by the pain. I couldn’t live, and I couldn’t die. The nurse who changed my dressing looked at me with disgust, deliberately pinching my leg hard. Her unconcealed gossip cut into my heart. “Mistresses deserve it. In so much pain and no one cares. She might as well die.” “Who told her to be so arrogant? The wife is giving birth, and this homewrecker has the nerve to show up and compete for attention, thinking spreading her legs makes her the man’s true love.” “The wife really knows how to handle people. Fully dilated, got the epidural, but just won’t push. As long as she doesn’t deliver, the mistress can die in pain for all she cares and still won’t be allowed in the delivery room. So satisfying.” I pulled at my lips, the smile bitter. Satisfying? But I was Ethan’s wife. I couldn’t understand how someone who once would have risked his life for me could now be so cruel. Another contraction hit. Before I could scream, the hospital room door was pushed open. Sophia walked in holding her newborn baby, supported by someone. I never expected my mother, whom I hadn’t seen in years, would accompany her. Sophia looked at me with triumphant eyes. “Mia, knowing you’re suffering, I specially brought your nephew to see you.” “Both mother and baby are safe. When the baby was born, Ethan was so moved he cried.” I suppressed my anger and looked at her. “He’s not my nephew. Take your bastard and get out.” Sophia gave a cold laugh and slapped me hard across the face. “What right do you have to tell me to leave?” “Last night when you were screaming, Ethan was right next door in the delivery room with me. But he didn’t care at all, only focused on comforting me.” “So what if you’re Mrs. Morrison? The unloved one is the mistress. The one in your belly is the bastard.” Blood mixed with tears from my split eye. But Sophia wasn’t planning to let me off. She bent close to me, malice unconcealed in her eyes. “You really are lucky to be alive. After suffering all night and you’re still fine. How about I help you out and send you and your bastard on your way together.” She grabbed the thermos from the floor and swung it hard at my belly. I pushed her away desperately and stumbled toward the door. As soon as I ran out of the room, I crashed into a familiar embrace. After seeing Ethan’s concerned face clearly, I gripped his sleeve tightly, my voice trembling. “Ethan, save me. Sophia’s gone crazy—she’s trying to kill our baby.” Ethan’s expression changed. Just as he was about to speak, a baby’s shrill cry came from the hospital room. He shoved me aside hard and kicked the door open, rushing in. The next moment, someone grabbed my hair and dragged me back into the room. The scene before me made me tremble uncontrollably. Sophia knelt in the middle of the room, holding the blood-covered baby. “Ethan, I just wanted Mia to share in my joy so she could deliver smoothly, so I brought the baby to see her.”

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