My wife was a well-respected pharmacologist. To spend what she thought were the last days with her first love, who had been diagnosed with cancer, she deceived me into taking a drug that wiped out my memory. During that time, she left her job to become his caretaker and even held a lavish wedding with him. Six months later, the hospital revealed that the cancer diagnosis was incorrect. But by then, I couldn’t remember her at all. In a panic and filled with regret, she confessed, “He was just a part of my youthful past; you are the only husband in my heart!” The door opened, and a young woman dressed in simple white entered. Upon seeing me on the sofa, her brow furrowed with impatience, “Didn’t I tell you not to wait up for me?” I responded with a faint smile, “You’re back so late; were you at the hospital with him?” Although phrased as a question, my tone was certain. Adeline’s first love had cancer and was not expected to live much longer. So, she had been leaving early and returning late to be with him. She even began cooking for his health, something she had never done before. But she seemed to forget, “Today is my birthday. I’ve been waiting for you.” Following my gaze, Adeline noticed the spread on the table. Her eyes briefly showed guilt, quickly replaced by anger, “Why are you being so petty! Asher is my first love, and he’s dying. What’s wrong with spending more time with him? Don’t forget, if I hadn’t broken up with him, I wouldn’t have married someone like you!” Indeed, I had been the one to push for our marriage. Adeline didn’t love me; she married me only because Caspian chose to go abroad. Unable to handle a long-distance relationship, she married me out of spite. Thinking of this, my heart felt tight, as if gripped by an invisible hand. Before I could say anything more, Adeline angrily slammed the bedroom door shut. In the darkness, I let out a bitter smile, picking up the “divorce agreement” from the coffee table to look at it again. Perhaps it was time to end this twisted marriage. … 10 PM. Before sleeping, Adeline knocked on my door—we had reached the point of sleeping in separate rooms after three years of marriage. She stood at the door in pajamas, still the vision that haunted my dreams, holding a glass of milk. “It’s late. Drink the milk and get some rest.” “Declan, I was wrong about earlier. I promise, after I accompany Asher through this, we’ll live well together. Just two months, two months…” I was surprised by her sudden change in attitude, moved by her words about living well, and didn’t notice the complex emotions in her eyes. As I finished the milk, I felt more and more dizzy. Adeline helped me to bed and tucked me in. Before I closed my eyes, I heard her say, “Forget me for now, just for two months…” Forget her? What did that mean? Soon, her actions answered my doubts. She took a pill from her pajama pocket, unwrapped it, and put it in my mouth. I wanted to stop her, but my body was too weak to resist, forcing me to swallow the bitter pill. As my consciousness blurred, a tear fell on my face. It was hers, and I keenly sensed it wasn’t shed for me. Indeed, “This is the latest drug from my lab. It can make someone temporarily lose memories of specific people, with no side effects. Declan, don’t blame me. I just want to fulfill a youthful dream. With you is life.” Living with me meant that Caspian was her love? I wanted to ask her, but I couldn’t utter a word, only letting the memories of her gradually erase from my mind. Chapter 2: Adeline’s Wedding The next morning, I was woken by an urgent phone call: “Son, open the door. Mom is outside.” I opened the door to see Mrs. Vaughn looking displeased, “I heard you had another fight with Addie?” “Who’s Addie?” She gave me a big eye roll, “You two always argue and then make up. Pretending not to know her isn’t funny. Let me tell you, Addie’s job keeps her busy. It’s just a birthday; what’s the difference with whom you spend it?” She waved a lunch bag, “I made lunch for you and Addie. Eat yours and take hers to her at work.” My mom kept nagging, but I was baffled—I’ve been single forever. How could I have a wife suddenly? Maybe my mom was getting senile? And if I was married, why didn’t my house show any signs of a woman’s presence? The bedroom was empty except for a bed, the wardrobe had only my clothes. Even the bathroom had only one toothbrush and toothpaste. I wandered around the house, finding no evidence of another resident. Just then, my mom pushed me in frustration, “Fine, I’ll call your wife myself.” Middle-aged Mrs. Vaughn pulled out her phone and quickly dialed my so-called “wife”: “Addie, it’s me.” “Hello, Auntie,” a cold and unfamiliar voice answered. Before my confused mom could ask, she explained, “I already divorced Declan, just yesterday. If you don’t believe me, the divorce papers on the coffee table will prove it.” I suppressed my shock, took the phone, and asked directly, “Since you say we’re divorced, when did it happen, and why?” So many questions weighed on my mind, but I picked the two most important. She was silent for a long time before speaking coldly, “Because of differences. I’m busy and career-oriented, and you want a housewife to serve you. Naturally, we parted ways—” “Nonsense!” My mom threw down the lunch box, angrily interrupting, “Adeline, you can say anything about my son, but don’t accuse him of wanting a maid. Have you ever cooked, done laundry, or cleaned the house in three years of marriage? If anything, he’s been the househusband!” I raised an eyebrow. Were we really married? Adeline seemed stung by my mom’s words and hurriedly ended the call with “I have things to do.” But my mom wasn’t done, rolling up her sleeves determinedly, “Something’s off with Addie. She’s hiding something from us. Son, I’ll find out and let you know.” A few days later, she dragged me from work to the city’s largest church. It seemed a wedding was happening there, beautifully decorated with many cars outside. As I looked around, I asked, “Mom, whose wedding is this? It’s pretty romantic.” I didn’t notice Mrs. Vaughn’s face darken. She gave me another eye roll. “Your ex-wife is marrying her new lover. That man doesn’t have long to live, and she wants to be with him in his final days. I brought you here to see her true colors, so you won’t foolishly pine for her again!” The wedding soon began. Chapter 3: He’s Just Your Lapdog I watched as a woman in a white wedding dress, guided by the priest, solemnly vowed, “I do. Rich or poor, in life or death, I will face hardships with him.” The man, Caspian, tearfully placed the ring on her finger. The crowd erupted in applause, celebrating the couple. But I was lost in thought. Adeline’s words were typical wedding vows, yet they stirred an old memory in me— In my memory, it was also a church scene. But Adeline’s expression lacked today’s shyness and joy. Her gaze at me was cold, as if looking at someone insignificant. If Mrs. Vaughn said we were once married, then the divorce must have been because she didn’t love me, right? If I didn’t love her, why would my heart ache like this? During intermission, I went to the restroom and saw Adeline and Caspian, now in reception attire. Adeline seemed surprised to see me, her guilt turning to anger. She let go of Caspian’s hand, ” Declan, didn’t I warn you that we’re divorced? Why are you following me? Your actions only make me hate you more!” Her voice was loud, drawing curious glances from passersby. “Addie, ignore him,” Caspian said soothingly, “He’s just your lapdog, struggling to accept your marriage to me.” I was stunned by their audacity, but I shot back, “Seriously, how can you be so shameless? I haven’t even accused you of cheating during our marriage or seducing a married woman, and you’re accusing me? The most important thing in life is a conscience.” I prolonged the last sentence, watching their faces darken. Eventually, Adeline pulled Caspian away angrily, tossing a parting shot at me, “Declan, don’t even think about getting me back!” “I wouldn’t want to.” Returning to my seat, I lost interest in the spectacle and left with my mom. Just as I was about to drive home, my phone rang.

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In the third year of our marriage, my wife sent me to a remote island. This was all because her idealized love claimed I had caused his blindness. My wife was furious with me and insisted I spend time on the island to reflect on my actions. Instead, I was bitten by a poisonous snake, which left my legs permanently damaged. When I finally left the island, my wife arrived with her idealized love. As she cursed me, I felt nothing. To my surprise, when I asked for a divorce, she lost her composure. She cried and knelt, begging me not to leave… “Mr. Evan, Ms. Harper sent us to fetch you. You can leave here now.” Seeing a group of bodyguards arrive on the island, my first instinct was to tremble. Even after they explained their purpose, I remained curled in a corner, trying to cover the festering wound on my ankle with my hands, desperately trying to make myself unseen. I had been trapped on this island for three years. For three long years, Harper never once came to see me. Whenever I closed my eyes, I could recall all that I had endured during those years. With no food on the island, I had to beg and endure suffering just to get a little sustenance. Not long ago, I was bitten by a poisonous snake, which left my legs useless. Noticing my prolonged silence, the lead bodyguard frowned, “Mr. Evan, you can come with us now.” I blinked in a daze and pointed at my swollen, discolored ankle, “I can’t walk.” There was a moment of silence. The bodyguards seemed unprepared for this and hastily called for a wheelchair, placing me in it. Once I was seated, I silently let them take me away. When I was wheeled to the front of Harper’s villa, I couldn’t stop trembling once more. A few seconds later, I saw Harper as expected. She was in a high-end outfit, holding onto Ezra’s arm, looking starkly different from my pitiful state. Seeing me in the wheelchair, Harper seemed slightly displeased. “Why so delicate? After all these years of reflection, and you can’t even walk?” Her tone was dripping with sarcasm. Over the years, Harper hadn’t bothered to ask about my situation, so she naturally didn’t know that my legs were crippled. As the bodyguards moved forward to explain, I remained emotionless in the wheelchair. Harper seemed surprised by my condition and frowned as she approached me. As she got closer, I recoiled sharply! “Please… please! I was wrong, I was wrong, I deserve to die…” It was almost an instinctive reaction. I hunched over, beginning to apologize frantically. Harper was taken aback. She stopped, seemingly puzzled as to how the once-proud me had become like this.

Harper appeared as though she wanted to approach me, but Ezra, standing beside her, held her arm more tightly. “Yanyan, my eyes hurt.” I lifted my head slightly, noticing Ezra’s unfocused gaze. Harper’s expression changed instantly. Ignoring me, she instructed the bodyguards to lock me inside the villa first, as she needed to accompany Ezra to the hospital. As they passed me, Harper didn’t spare me a glance, while Ezra smirked mockingly, as if laughing at my helplessness. My hands, gripping the wheelchair, trembled incessantly. Years ago, it was because of Ezra that Harper banished me to the remote island. I was an eye surgeon, and Ezra was my patient. During surgery, his eyes inexplicably lost sight. Despite numerous doctors testifying that it wasn’t the surgery’s fault, Harper insisted I was a villain trying to harm Ezra and exiled me to the island for reflection. Years apart, Harper and Ezra were closer than ever. There seemed no place for me here. The bodyguards seemed ready to push me into the villa, but I quickly stopped them, quietly begging for some food. The bodyguard hesitated; perhaps I looked too frail, so he complied. When I was wheeled into a nearby convenience store, I heard a surprised voice. “Dr. Evan? How are you here?” I hunched over, trying hard to minimize my presence. No one had called me a doctor in a long time. On the island, those who brought me food would humiliate me daily, saying I wasn’t worthy of being a doctor. Now, hearing the word doctor made me tremble. How could I ever pick up a scalpel again? “Dr. Evan?” She called a few more times. Maybe seeing no response, she walked toward me. But I could only keep my head down, constantly denying. “You’ve got the wrong person. I’m not Dr. Evan. I’m worthless. I shouldn’t harm people. I’m not worthy of being a doctor…” Hearing my words, she was stunned. The next second, she suddenly held my shoulder: “Calm down, Evan. I’m your former patient. Do you remember me?” She repeated it several times before I slowly looked up. Seeing this familiar face, I finally remembered. It was Stella. She had an eye infection before and nearly went blind. I saved her eyes after a day of emergency treatment. Chapter 2 After that, Stella was always very grateful to me. Sweat still beaded on my forehead, but my heartbeat finally calmed down. Stella looked at me in shock, seemingly unable to believe how much I’d changed. I breathed heavily, unable to utter a single word. There were still bodyguards around. Stella glanced around, as if realizing something, and whispered if I wanted to leave with her. Once I finished eating, I’d be taken back to Harper’s villa. What awaited me could be more humiliating punishment. She always treated me like a criminal, and there was no way she’d let me off easily. I clutched Stella’s wrist tightly, nodding with tears in my eyes. Taking advantage of the moment when the bodyguards were buying food, Stella abruptly pushed my wheelchair and took me out of the convenience store. Footsteps immediately sounded behind us! Stella calmly hid me in a nearby alley. After they split up to search, she took me to her car. She currently lived in a high-rise apartment. Once at Stella’s home, my numb nerves finally relaxed a bit. She warmed up some food for me and asked what had happened. I just shook my head, unable to say a word. On the island, I endured inhuman torment. But what was the point of speaking about it? Everyone thought I was the sinner who caused Ezra’s blindness. Harper was eager for my death. What was the point of saying anything? Seeing I wouldn’t talk, Stella didn’t press. She just gave me a key, telling me I could stay as long as I wanted. “Just stay. I can afford to support you. We can talk when you’re ready to leave.” She playfully patted my shoulder. I was somewhat grateful. Judging by my appearance, I must have gone through something awful, but Stella didn’t pry since I wasn’t willing to share. So, I stayed at Stella’s place. But I knew it was only a matter of time before Harper found me. She was incredibly powerful. What couldn’t she do? Sure enough, within a few days, Harper broke down Stella’s door and dragged me out.

That day, I was on the balcony watching the clouds outside. Suddenly, there was a loud banging on the door. I got startled and instinctively hid to the side. In a few seconds, the door collapsed. Harper, in high heels, immediately spotted where I was hiding and came over to grab my hand. “Evan, you are still my husband. Who gave you permission to hide here?” Faced with Harper’s scolding, my face turned pale as if drained of blood. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m worthless… I’m wrong…” Her grip on my wrist was so strong, it felt like she was pulling me back into those dark days. I closed my eyes, replaying the scenes of others tormenting me in my mind. Harper was startled by my reaction and stepped aside: “Evan, what’s wrong with you?” I said nothing, so she assumed I was angry and frowned, telling me not to throw a tantrum. “You harmed Ezra. I didn’t send you to prison, just punished you a bit. And you act like this? Do you know how much Ezra suffered because of you? He’s an artist, but his eyes can’t see now! I know you hate him, but how can you be so cruel!” “I honestly wish it was you who went blind. You’re as useless as a cripple anyway.” I kept my head down, silently enduring Harper’s insults. Eventually, Harper got tired of cursing and rolled her eyes, forcibly dragging me up and handing me to two bodyguards. I was dragged to the ground floor and into Harper’s car. Afraid of angering Harper, I tried my best to shrink into a corner to diminish my presence. I didn’t speak the entire way. Harper didn’t start any conversation either. Occasionally, when she looked at me, her eyes were full of impatience. When I was pushed out of the car and saw our destination, I collapsed, kneeling before Harper, begging her not to take me inside. She was taking me to the hospital where I used to work. Why go there? To show my colleagues what I had become? In the past, I was the most famous doctor in ophthalmology, performing countless complex surgeries, and received numerous honorary banners. Now, I was like a dog. Harper mercilessly ordered the bodyguards to place me in a wheelchair. I continued sobbing uncontrollably. A few seconds later, Harper frowned again: “Evan, what’s wrong with you now? I’m just bringing you to the hospital to treat your legs. You are my husband. I can’t just leave your legs crippled.” Here we go again. She always claimed I was her husband. So she had the right to discipline and punish me on behalf of Ezra, to bully and control me in the name of being a wife, to strip away everything from me. Once inside the hospital, several young nurses recognized me, looking at me with a mix of disbelief and pity. Harper brusquely ordered the bodyguard to put me in a wheelchair. I was still crying uncontrollably. Seconds later, Harper frowned, “Evan, what’s wrong with you now? I just brought you to the hospital to treat your leg. You’re my husband, and I can’t just ignore your injury.” Here we go again. She always calls me her husband, as if that justifies her disciplining me, retaliating on Ezra’s behalf, and controlling every aspect of my life. As I was wheeled into the hospital, a few young nurses recognized me, their eyes filled with disbelief and pity. I avoided their gaze. Their pity felt worse than death. As Harper was about to take me upstairs, I spoke up. “Harper.” She looked annoyed when she heard her name, “What do you want now? Can you stop being dramatic for a moment?” I took a deep breath. After a moment, I finally gathered the courage to say what I’d been wanting to say. “Harper, let’s get a divorce.” The hallway fell silent. Harper suddenly looked down at me, “What’s your problem?! Are you trying to act pitiful now?” I really wanted a divorce, but she thought I was playing some psychological game. Harper then hurriedly wheeled me into the department. A few orthopedic specialists were already waiting inside. After taking X-rays and running a series of tests, a specialist who seemed about sixty hesitated before speaking, “Ms. Harper, Mr. Evans’ injury… there’s nothing we can do.” I numbly lifted my head. It meant I was beyond saving. I should have seen it coming. “If it had been caught in time, we could have done something… but it’s been too long, and Mr. Evans didn’t treat the wound at all… the infection is too severe,” the specialist sighed, looking at me with deep regret. After being bitten by a venomous snake, there was no medical kit on the deserted island. I begged the guards for help, but they ignored me. I could only endure for several days, suffering high fevers, until I somehow improved, but the injury left me unable to walk. Harper’s face looked terrible. She waved her hand and brought in another batch of doctors, but the diagnosis was the same—they couldn’t restore my leg. Suddenly, Harper slammed her hand on the table! She pointed at me, speaking slowly, “I’ll figure something out for your leg. As for the divorce, don’t even think about it. You’ll stay in the hospital for now.” Harper gave her order as if it were nothing. A nurse then knocked on the door, informing Harper that a woman named Stella was looking for me and threatened to call the police if she couldn’t see me. Hearing that name, Harper slapped me across the face. “Evan, I can’t believe you’re still fooling around even with a broken leg!” Looking at Harper’s furious face, I covered my injured cheek and lifted my head. “Stella is not like you. Don’t think everyone’s like you.” At this point, I was completely disillusioned with Harper. She wanted to say something, but I continued, “You know very well what your feelings for Ezra are.” Perhaps feeling a bit guilty, Harper didn’t say anything further and just had someone take me to an adjacent room. Probably because I was too tired, I fell asleep as soon as I lay on the bed. There were guards outside the room, but I heard footsteps. I opened my eyes and saw Ezra’s face. It was like muscle memory; seeing him made me tremble involuntarily. He just chuckled calmly, waving his right hand in front of me, “Awake?” I saw the wedding ring on his ring finger. Harper had originally spent millions to customize it for me, but after I was abandoned on the deserted island, she took it back. I thought she had thrown it away, but she had given it to Ezra. Sensing my fear, Ezra chuckled, “Look how obedient you are now, huh? I should have let Harper leave you there a bit longer. Weren’t you always so proud? How does it feel to be broken?” He knew everything. I pointed to the door, telling him to leave. As soon as I finished speaking, Harper appeared at the doorway. “Evan, how can you talk to Ezra like that?” Ezra didn’t have a cane but stumbled towards Harper’s voice, standing by her side. Harper’s eyes were filled with such deep affection for Ezra it was almost tangible. Facing me, Harper’s tone turned cold again, “I should have left you there for another year.” Hearing this, I rolled off the bed with a thud, crawled to Harper’s feet, and kept begging, even as my forehead was covered in blood, “Don’t send me back there… please…” Harper was shocked, quickly telling Ezra to leave, saying she needed to talk to me. But I was too traumatized, only knowing to keep pleading. Just as Harper was about to help me up, a doctor walked in. He looked seriously at Harper, “After conducting an investigation over the past few days, we’ve found something odd. The snake that bit Mr. Evans shouldn’t have been on that deserted island, and it was too coincidental that it only bit Mr. Evans’ ankle… so we believe…” “Mr. Evans being bitten was likely due to human intervention…” Harper’s face turned pale, seemingly in disbelief. She took the investigation report from the doctor’s hand. My numbed nerves finally had a bit of reaction. Human intervention? Meaning someone deliberately hurt me… It seems the text you wish to translate is missing. Could you please provide it? ### Chapter 4 Harper suddenly turned to me. “Evan, tell me everything that happened to you during those years on the deserted island.”

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On our fifth wedding anniversary, Emily went hiking and didn’t return all night. It was pouring rain, and I was frantic with worry. After alerting the police, I organized a search party. We discovered her sharing a sleeping bag with her childhood friend, Alex, both enveloped in a close embrace and a kiss. When she saw me, she had an explanation ready. “He has a congenital heart condition, and I was afraid he’d get hypothermia, so I stayed with him!” Alex clutched his chest, feigning distress. “Don’t be angry with her; she was just concerned for me…” I noticed her clothes, including intimate wear, scattered beside the sleeping bag. With a sardonic smile, I taunted them. “You two have been friends since childhood, so is sharing a sleeping bag a big deal? Mind if I join?” When I said this, my friends who had come to search with me couldn’t help but snicker. Despite being soaked by the rain and anxious over Fiona’s disappearance, witnessing their kiss left me feeling hollow. Fiona glared at me, her face flushed with anger, a silver thread at the corner of her mouth from their hasty separation. “Jude, what do you mean by that? Are you doubting me?” I applauded her performance with a cold smile. “How could I doubt you? Why not consider my suggestion?” Beyond witnessing their kiss, I saw Fiona’s underwear among the clothes. Before Fiona could respond, someone came to her defense. “Jude, you can’t talk like that. Fiona is a doctor. She must be worried about Gideon.” It was Fiona’s best friend, speaking as if I were the one being unreasonable. I glanced at her, then stepped forward to pick up Fiona’s bra from the pile, waving it around. Her expression froze, wanting to speak but remaining silent. “I never knew that not wearing clothes is the best way to stay warm.” “Having just me isn’t enough for a woman like you, apparently.” I said coldly, mocking her. Fiona was furious and shouted back. “Shut up! I’m your wife; how dare you speak to me like that?!” She trembled, trying to snatch the underwear from me but failing. Fiona looked at me in disbelief, as if seeing me for the first time. I used to be completely under her control, doing everything she asked because I loved her. But this incident shattered everything, leaving nothing to ignore. “Fiona, don’t be mad.” At this point, Gideon coughed a few times, holding his chest. He emerged from the sleeping bag in his underwear, handing her a jacket. Fiona was all about Gideon, heartbroken by his cough. “Gideon, I’m fine. It’s your health we should be worried about…” Then she rebuked me, “See, I was really worried about Gideon’s health, and you still doubt me!” I felt exhausted, not even wanting to argue anymore. Gideon coughed, and she was heartbroken, but I searched for her for hours in soaked clothes, ignored by her. I used to overlook this double standard, but now I’m curious how I endured it. “Never mind. After we divorce, you’ll have all the time to care for Gideon. How you care for him then is none of my business.” The word “divorce” made Fiona pause and frown at me. “It’s just a small thing; why talk about divorce?” I chuckled, mocking her. “Of course, to make it easier for you to care for Gideon. If he’s a doctor’s family member, it’s more convenient, right?” “By the way, after that kiss, check for STDs.” “Don’t involve me in that mess.” Gideon turned pale and fainted at my words. Fiona ignored everything else, got up, and grabbed the clothes from me to put on. She glared at me, full of hatred, and slapped me. “Jude, if something happens to Gideon, I won’t let you off!” “You’ll be a murderer!” Fiona called 911 and took Gideon to the hospital. I stood there, the sting from her slap making me painfully aware. I laughed bitterly. When we first got together, I had checked on Gideon. He doesn’t have a heart condition; it was all an act. Yet even an act could fool Fiona completely. When I returned home, dawn was breaking. The rain left me dizzy, so I took medicine and slept. Half-asleep, I heard the door open.

Fiona approached the bed, reeking of alcohol. The smell made me wrinkle my nose. Didn’t she take Gideon to the hospital? Why is she back drunk? Before I could figure it out, she pulled me up forcefully. “Jude, what’s gotten into you today? Why did you say those things in front of everyone?” “Why argue with a patient? Don’t you have any empathy?” Fiona’s face was flushed, acting all wronged. She questioned me as if she hadn’t been in a sleeping bag with Gideon. Being yanked from sleep, I naturally wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries. Besides, I was done with her, not planning to have any more ties. She was always so proud, thinking I was her loyal dog, no matter how she hurt me, I’d stick around. But seeing her kiss Gideon, my blood froze. I dared not imagine what I’d see if I had come later. Seeing my silence, she angrily pointed at me and shouted. “You almost gave Gideon a heart attack, and you’re playing silent?!” I looked at Fiona and coldly replied. “Aren’t I just helping you two out? You even went hiking and slept together.” “Didn’t you say if he hadn’t left, you would’ve married him? We divorce, I give him the spot, isn’t that good?” Fiona hesitated, not expecting me to bring up the past. “What nonsense! Gideon and I grew up together, there’s nothing like that!” “We slept together as kids, why can’t you let it go!” She angrily threw a gift box at my face. “Even bought you a gift to make up!” The box hit my nose, blood dripping, staining the tie that fell out. I looked at the tie and sighed. I’ve received seven or eight identical ties. Seeing my nosebleed, Fiona panicked, trying to wipe it but I stopped her. Seeing me hurt, she softened her tone. “Jude, I don’t want to fight. Let’s each take a step back and move on.” “I promise, once Gideon is well, I’ll leave him alone.” This was the first time she lowered herself, at the cost of my injury. Hearing her say she’d leave Gideon, I chuckled. “Stop giving him those prescription drugs, and he’ll be fine.” Fiona, as a doctor, secretly gave Gideon illegal prescription drugs with strong side effects and addiction. She knew, but she’d do anything for her childhood friend. I felt utterly drained, unwilling to talk more, packed and headed to work. Before leaving, Fiona quietly pleaded for me to stay. Seeing my resolve, she glared at me. “Jude, you’re so ungrateful! Don’t come back if you leave!” I turned away without regret. She still thought showing weakness would mean I’d forgive her endlessly. But that was based on love. Now there’s none, it’s all empty.

“Mr. Jude, your wife is here.” My assistant rushed into my office. I’ve been staying at the office, but I’d told my assistant not to let Fiona in. I was exhausted, having focused solely on her, I’d neglected work. Taking the reins now, I felt overwhelmed. Before I could respond, Fiona barged in with a cake. Her eyes lit up seeing me, putting the cake down and crossing her arms. “Jude, I missed our anniversary, and you missed my birthday.” “We’re even.” She didn’t wait for my reply, saying it all herself. I was speechless. I’d been so busy I forgot Fiona’s birthday. Since being with her, her birthday was my top priority. I’d always prepare in advance to surprise her. When she saw me, her eyes brightened as she placed the cake on my desk and crossed her arms, looking at me with a sense of superiority. “Jude, I missed our anniversary, and you missed my birthday. So, we’re even now.” She didn’t wait for my response and continued talking on her own. I was left speechless. I’ve been so caught up with work that Fiona’s birthday slipped my mind. Ever since we started dating, her birthday was a day I never failed to plan for, always trying to surprise her. Yet, no matter what I did, she never seemed to care. Meanwhile, Gideon could do the smallest thing, and she’d be touched for days. Last year, I went all out, taking her to her favorite place, buying expensive front-row concert tickets for her favorite singer, and even spending half a month at a temple praying for a peace charm. But none of this made her as happy as the roadside flower Gideon gave her, which is ironic since she’s allergic to pollen. Forgetting her birthday this time felt like a weight off my shoulders, a sign that I was finally moving on. I looked at Fiona’s haughty demeanor, my expression icy. “Do you really think we’re even?” “Maybe I should spend a night with my ex, then.” Predictably, Fiona was furious. She lashed out at me. “Jude, how did you become like this?” “You’re my husband, and you forgot my birthday. Only Gideon remembered!” Her accusation was laughable because she forgot that I had never missed her birthday before. “Fiona, I think I’ve made myself clear. There’s nothing between us anymore.” “We’re getting a divorce, and I’ll make room for Gideon. It’s that simple.” Gideon always enjoyed Fiona’s favoritism, while I naively believed that time would eventually win her over. I was so wrong. Fiona’s expression wavered, as if she couldn’t believe I was serious. She lit the candles on the cake and said, “Didn’t you promise to grant my birthday wish every year?” I frowned, sensing something. “This year, my wish is for you to forgive me.” “Okay?” Unexpectedly, I saw a hint of vulnerability on her face, but I quickly realized it was just a façade. I shook my head and said bluntly, “If you really wanted to be with me, you wouldn’t keep falling for Gideon’s lies.” I looked at her, and all the past emotions were gone. “You’re a doctor and his childhood friend. Don’t you know if he has a congenital heart condition?” That statement ignited the awkward tension between us. Fiona threw the cake at me, nearly hitting my eye with the candle. “You’re still slandering Gideon!” Her chest heaved with anger, her eyes filled with hatred. “I misjudged you. You’re a company owner, so why do you have to be against Gideon?” “How could I not know if he has a heart condition? You’re just ignorant of his suffering to say such disgusting things!” With that, she turned and left, leaving only her determined back. I signaled to my stunned assistant. “Draft a divorce agreement for me.” I thought everything was settled, just waiting for the papers to be signed. But that night, Fiona called, her voice tearful. “Jude, come quickly. Daphne is in trouble!” Daphne is our daughter, spending her summer vacation with my mother. Hearing something happened to her, I rushed home. The only thing holding me back from divorcing Fiona was Daphne. I didn’t want her to grow up in a broken family. Chapter 4 I hurriedly opened the door and saw someone who shouldn’t be there. Gideon was there, holding a sobbing Fiona, comforting her. “It’s okay, it’s okay. We’ve done this so many times, and nothing happened, right?” Their clothes were disheveled, Fiona’s bra hanging loosely. I didn’t understand their cryptic talk and rushed to push them aside, looking at Daphne on the couch. She was foaming at the mouth, unconscious. Panic overwhelmed me, and I went to call 911, but Fiona stopped me. “No, you can’t.” I looked at her awkward expression and shouted. “Are you crazy? Daphne is your daughter too, how can you just let her die?!” Fiona couldn’t hide it anymore and confessed everything. It turns out they found Daphne noisy, so they gave her too many prescription meds. It wasn’t the first time, but this time Gideon gave the wrong medicine, causing an allergic reaction. Fiona grabbed my hand, gritting her teeth. “If anyone finds out I stole prescription meds, I’ll lose my job, and Gideon will go to jail.” She almost begged. “I’m a doctor. I know Daphne’s condition, she just needs some meds.” “You’re the boss, you have money, can’t you find a shady clinic for her? Don’t let anyone know.” I looked at Fiona in silence. She knew she was a doctor. Daphne is only four, and many prescription drugs have strong side effects even for adults, let alone a four-year-old. My heart turned cold, and any last bit of love for Fiona vanished with her words. Even in the wild, animals protect their young, yet she would risk Daphne’s life to save herself and Gideon. Compared to the panicked Fiona, Gideon was calm. He seemed sure I would help Fiona. “Jude, stop wasting time. Hurry and find a hospital to take her.” “Don’t let her die here, it’s bad luck.” He looked at Daphne with disgust, as if she was a piece of garbage he could toss anytime. I couldn’t take it anymore and punched Gideon to the ground. Then pointed at Fiona, speaking clearly. “Fiona, we’re completely over.” I’m sorry, but the input text for translation seems to be missing. Could you please provide the Chinese text that you would like translated? Chapter 5 I called emergency services and reported the situation. Click. I locked the door and gave a steely glare to the two anxious people in the room. “You’re not going anywhere with me here.” The police and ambulance arrived almost simultaneously.

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At Finn’s birthday party, Daphne burst in with no clothes on. “My sister cut up my clothes and said I’m nothing but an adopted stray in the Carter family, unworthy of attending Finn’s birthday…” Finn believed I was being spiteful and sent me off to Mermaid Island to reflect on my actions. The next time we met, I was holding raw fish in my hand. “Sister, don’t you love raw fish? I’ll make sure you get your fill.” Finn tossed me into an aquarium, thinking I’d plead for mercy. Little did they know, I had already transformed into a mermaid; this was my realm. 01 Six months later, Declan Carter arrived on a lavish yacht with our parents and a host of friends to bring me back. They dressed me in a pure white gown. As I faced the crowd’s amazed and inquisitive stares, I blinked blankly, my pupils reflecting a peculiar blue-green hue in the sunlight. Declan scrutinized me with a probing gaze: “Nora Carter, I hope this time you’ll have learned your lesson and won’t let me down again.” I slightly tilted my head, instinctively licking my dry lips with curiosity. Declan paused at my gesture, then showed a hint of satisfaction: “It seems the island has indeed washed away your hostility. I’ve prepared a welcome party for you on the cruise ship to celebrate your return to the family.” He reached out to take my hand, but the instant his fingertips touched my skin, he quickly pulled back. “Why is your body so cold?” His words were complex, and I struggled to comprehend them. Cora Bennett came over and took Declan’s arm: “Declan, sister has been at sea for six months and has gotten used to the seaside climate, so her body temperature is naturally different from ours.” A warning alarm went off in my head, an instinctual sense of threat making me tense up. I instinctively backed away, a low, strange, dolphin-like sound escaping my throat, and my feet unconsciously came together. Cora covered her face, almost crying: “Sister… do you still hate me? I… I only wanted to care for you…” Declan immediately shielded Cora behind him, angrily scolding me: “Nora Carter! Cora is kind and pure, always thinking of you. Why can’t you learn from her tolerance and generosity?” Our parents also came over, looking at me with disappointment and heartache. “Nora, the Carter family doesn’t lack another mouth to feed. Cora just wants to fit into this family. Can’t you tolerate her? Don’t be so narrow-minded!” “Your brother sent you here for your own good. Why haven’t you made any progress at all?” The accusations and misunderstandings swarmed me like a tide. I felt extremely uneasy and scared, wanting only to find a place to hide. I saw a large decorative glass aquarium not far away. The clear water and swaying aquatic plants gave me an inexplicable sense of closeness and safety. Ignoring everything, I ran toward the aquarium, wanting to climb inside. “Nora Carter! What madness are you up to now!” Declan roared as he rushed over, grabbing my arm to pull me back. He pulled too forcefully, and with a rip, a patch of skin on my arm came off, revealing newly grown, pearl-like scales beneath! The intense pain made me cry out in a dolphin-like wail. I curled up on the ground in pain, rubbing my arm against the cold deck to ease the burning pain, then shrank in horror into a corner, my body curling up. Declan stared at the piece of skin in his hand, with bloodstains and strange scales, his pupils contracting as if struck by lightning. Disregarding his image, he squatted down: “Nora… what’s happened to your skin? What’s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?” Cora immediately interjected: “Brother! The UV rays on the island are so strong, sister’s skin is delicate, she must have gotten sunburned and peeled! It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, brother wouldn’t have been angry and sent sister to the island…” “Sunburn?” 02 Mom came over, looking at the small, neatly arranged scales exposed on my arm, which, though tiny, reflected a strange luster in the sunlight, definitely not the appearance of sunburn. Her face turned pale, lips trembling, as if she wanted to say something but was choked by overwhelming shock. Dad also gasped, pointing at my arm, his voice trembling, “What… what is this?” Declan’s face instantly turned exceedingly grim. He grabbed my shoulders abruptly, forcibly dragging me out from the corner and exposing me to everyone. “Nora Carter! Are you playing the sympathy card again to make us feel guilty, even at the cost of hurting yourself?” The scales I had just grown were painfully abraded by the rough deck, even seeping with blood droplets. Declan remained indifferent, his eyes coldly fixed on me: “I just sent you to the island for six months to enjoy the natural scenery. Do you have to resort to self-harm to get back at me?” I didn’t understand his anger, and the weakness from blood loss and pain made me desperately need to replenish my energy. On the banquet table was a platter of fresh fish for sashimi, one of which, probably due to lack of oxygen, jumped onto the floor. The fresh, ocean-scented vitality instantly captured all my attention. A glimmer of desire flashed in my eyes, and almost on instinct, I lunged forward without hesitation. Under everyone’s horrified gaze, I bit into the struggling fish, tearing it apart in a few bites, then swallowing it with satisfaction, even leaving traces of blood and scales at the corner of my mouth. Mom let out a shrill scream, almost fainting, “Is this still my daughter? What did you go through on the island? How… how did you end up like this?” Declan’s face turned as white as paper, “Nora… I know you’re afraid of water. But apart from being remote, it’s just an ordinary island! Even if you’re mad at me, you don’t have to degrade yourself like this.” Before he finished speaking, Cora suddenly knelt on the ground with a “thud,” crying and slapping her own face. “It’s all my fault! I ruined sister! If it weren’t for me, sister wouldn’t have become like this! Brother, Mom, Dad, take sister back. Let me stay on the island, redeeming sister’s sins!” Mom’s cries stopped abruptly. She pointed at me, her voice sharp and scolding: “Nora Carter! Look at what you’ve become! To drive Cora away, you degrade yourself to this extent! Eating raw fish! Aren’t you disgusted? How could the Carter family raise a daughter like you?” Declan’s eyes were bloodshot, staring at me as if he wanted to pierce through me. He suddenly let out a low laugh, but it carried a chilling coldness: “Sister, don’t you like eating raw fish? Then I’ll make sure you eat your fill.” He snapped his fingers, and immediately, a servant brought over a large tank filled with ice and live fish, placing it heavily in front of me. His cold gaze cut through me like a knife: “Either apologize to Cora and promise never to bully her again, or I’ll throw you into this tank!” Seeing I had no reaction, only warily eyeing the tank, a fleeting hesitation crossed Declan’s eyes but was quickly masked by anger. “Throw her in! Let her out when she admits her mistake!” 03 The bodyguards ignored my struggle, lifting me up and throwing me into the icy water tank! The ice-cold water enveloped me, its biting chill making me shiver violently. However, as the water flowed over my skin, especially touching the more pronounced mutations on my legs hidden by the long dress, a strange comfort and sense of belonging emerged. Water… I really liked it. The fish in the tank, startled, scattered everywhere, their bodies brushing against my skin and bringing waves of tingling itchiness. Declan and everyone else stood outside the tank, waiting to see me scream in terror and beg for mercy. Cora nestled beside Declan, her eyes gleaming with pleasure. Once, I was indeed terrified of water, scared to death. But the six months of transformation on the island had long stripped fear from my bones. The research institute people, to enhance my underwater survival ability, had thrown me into deep seas filled with various aggressive marine creatures. Fish, in my eyes, were no longer things to fear but rather… kin, or food. In the stunned gaze of everyone, instead of screaming, I slowly relaxed my body, stretching out my limbs. The cold water brought me an unprecedented calm. I reached out and gently caught a small fish swimming to my mouth. Declan’s certainty and anger gradually turned into disbelief and shock. He didn’t know a small fish couldn’t satisfy my body’s energy needs. And this tank of lively fish was an unexpected gift for me. Under the almost tearing gaze of Declan and my parents, I suddenly opened my mouth and bit down hard on the fish in my hand! Blood spread through the clear water. “Nora! Stop it.” Declan roared, ignoring the icy seawater, reaching into the tank and pulling me out, snatching the struggling fish from my hand and throwing it away. He held me tightly, his voice trembling uncontrollably, “Nora, let’s not do this, okay? Stop hurting yourself like this!” I looked at him blankly, not understanding why he took away my food. Under the piercing eyes of Declan Carter and my parents, I suddenly sank my teeth into the fish I was holding. Blood swirled in the clear water. “Nora! Stop.” Declan Carter shouted and, ignoring the frigid seawater, plunged his hand into the tank, yanking me out and tossing the struggling fish aside. He hugged me tightly, his voice shaking with emotion, “Nora, let’s not do this anymore, okay? Don’t hurt yourself like this!” I stared at him blankly, not understanding why he took my food away. At the research institute, they conducted all kinds of horrifying experiments on me to secure more funding, even trying to train me to lure certain targets with my “singing” for the entertainment of sponsors with peculiar tastes. I knew I had to meet their demands to survive. Maybe… he needed me to please him? So, I lifted my arms, slick and scaly, and wrapped them around Finn’s neck. I tilted my head slightly, emitting a low, melodious sound from my throat, like a dolphin’s song, as a signal to please. I nuzzled my cheek against his neck like a creature seeking solace. Declan Carter stiffened suddenly, gripping my shoulders and pushing me away, his eyes locked onto mine, his voice trembling with intensity: “Nora Carter! What did you learn on that island for six months?! Don’t you remember you’re the eldest daughter of the Carter family?” His face was filled with pain and disbelief: “How could you do something so shameless?!” He gripped my shoulders painfully, and I didn’t understand why he was angry. He had sent me to that island, where my body was altered to resemble a fish and my mind was twisted and trained. To survive, every part of me was forced to “please” others against my will. But now, he was blaming me for having no shame. As I looked at him in confusion, Declan Carter seemed unable to meet my gaze. He closed his eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and his voice trembled uncontrollably: “Investigate! Now! Find out what happened to Miss Carter during those six months on the island!!” The wait for the investigation results felt interminable. Declan Carter had someone wrap me in a clean blanket, holding me in his arms, trying to warm my cold body with his own. But he didn’t know, my circulatory system had been altered; no matter what he did, I couldn’t regain a normal body temperature. Half an hour later, two bodyguards dragged the woman responsible for my care in front of Declan Carter. “I entrusted Miss Carter’s daily life to you; now, don’t you think you owe me an explanation? How did she turn out like this in just six months?” Declan Carter’s voice was icy, carrying a weight of looming anger. The old woman trembled, kneeling on the ground, repeatedly pleading for mercy. “Mr. Carter, please have mercy! Have mercy!” “Speak! What happened exactly?” “It’s… it’s Miss Carter… she couldn’t handle the isolation on the island, her mind snapped… she kept running to the sea, saying she wanted to become a fish… then her behavior became more and more bizarre…” The old woman’s eyes flickered, clearly lying. Declan Carter’s gaze sharpened, and the bodyguards stepped forward. Terrified, the woman screamed, “I’ll tell! I’ll tell! It was Cora Bennett! She bribed me! She gave me a lot of money to hand… to hand Miss Carter over to those madmen at the island’s research institute!” It seems there is no text available for translation at the moment. Could you please provide the specific content you would like translated? “Research institute? What research institute?” Declan Carter’s voice was tense, each word forced out through gritted teeth. “The old abandoned marine biology research institute! There are still people secretly conducting experiments there… They’ve been trying to combine human and marine creature genes… Cora Bennett told them that Nora Carter was alone, and even if something happened to her on Mermaid Island, no one would come looking. She allowed those researchers to use Nora as a test subject—if they succeeded, she’d take the credit, and if they failed… they’d just get rid of her…” The elderly woman revealed everything, including how Cora Bennett contacted her, transferred money to her, and instructed her to cooperate with the researchers. She even presented threatening messages from Cora as evidence.

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In my previous life, when I was gravely ill and hospitalized, my wife cut off all contact and vanished for two years. From the moment I fell sick until I passed away, it was my sister who took care of me. But after my death, my absent wife returned to claim my inheritance. In the end, she took away 90% of my estate and went on to live a happy life with her first love. Meanwhile, my sister had to mortgage our family home to pay for my treatment and ended up homeless. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself on the day I was diagnosed with my terminal illness. In this life, I still couldn’t change the fact that I would die. But I was determined not to let my sister suffer the same fate as before, and I certainly wouldn’t let my deceitful wife get a penny! When I opened my eyes, the woman beside me couldn’t contain her tears of joy. “Thank goodness, brother, you’re finally awake!” I was momentarily stunned. The scene before me was all too familiar, and I realized I had been given a second chance at life. My sister, Josephine Parker, held my hand and reassured me, “Don’t be afraid, brother. Even if I have to sell everything we own, I’ll make sure you get treated! You won’t die…” Seeing my sister with her eyes red from crying, my heart ached. In my previous life, my wife, Fiona Brooks, had severed all ties and disappeared without a trace after I became seriously ill. But my sister, Josephine Parker, had mortgaged our only home to ensure I received treatment, ultimately losing everything and ending up homeless. After my death, Fiona returned with a lawyer, and as my “legal wife,” claimed nearly 90% of my estate. She then used the money to live a lavish life with her first love, Ezra Bennett. The hospital room door suddenly opened, pulling me out of my memories. It was Fiona! She walked into the room in high heels, clutching a medical report, her eyes slightly red as if she had just cried. But I noticed a distinct pinch mark on her wrist—she had deliberately hurt herself to aid in her dramatic display of tears. “Honey…” Fiona rushed to my bedside, holding my hand and crying, “Honey, the doctor said you… you have cancer! Boohoo…” She cried convincingly, but the tears never really fell, like a performer failing their role. I ignored her sobs and focused on her carefully applied makeup, reflecting on everything from my previous life. I sighed, realizing how deceptive appearances could be. Who would have thought that such a pretty and gentle wife would leave me after I fell ill? According to the previous life’s events, we’d argue soon, and Fiona would leave, cutting off all contact until I died, only to return and fight for my inheritance. As I pondered, I noticed a dark red mark peeking from her collar. I reached out to reveal it, my face darkening, “What does the tattoo ‘TH&WL’ under your collarbone mean?” Fiona was startled, quickly brushing my hand away and readjusting her top, “Are you hallucinating because you’re so sick? There’s no tattoo.” I sneered inside, playing dumb. “Must have been a hallucination, then.” She still carried the lingering scent of Ezra Bennett. “What’s that smell on you?” I asked, pretending not to know. “What smell? Nolan Parker, you’re sick now; I don’t want to argue with you!” Fiona’s face was displeased. Josephine shot Fiona a disapproving look, “At a time like this, you still want to argue with my brother? Are you trying to make things worse for him?” “Fiona, you should go back to work. I’ll take care of Nolan.” My sister wanted to send Fiona away to avoid any arguments between us. In my previous life, I had caused a huge scene at this point. In this life, I found it unnecessary. So I didn’t have a direct conflict with Fiona. After Fiona left, I finally calmed down to consider my strategy. I needed to transfer all my assets to my sister before I died.

Three days after being discharged, I immediately contacted my classmate Gideon Carter, a highly skilled private lawyer who had handled many difficult cases. “You’re in the late stage of liver cancer? No way?” Gideon was shocked to hear about my cancer diagnosis, but after seeing my diagnosis report, he sighed deeply, “I’m sorry, I didn’t expect…” I shook my head with a smile, “I called you today to draft a will. I want to transfer all my money to my sister.” After reviewing the documents I provided, Gideon shook his head, “That might be difficult. Fiona is your legal wife, and by law, she has rights to half of your assets.” I pushed a thick stack of envelopes toward Gideon, “Don’t tell me about the process; I just want results. Also, here’s a lead: Fiona’s having an affair, and it’s with our college classmate, Ezra Bennett.” “Ezra Bennett??” Gideon was shocked, his mouth agape, “That guy seemed honest… who would’ve thought?” “That’s why I’m asking an old classmate to help me find evidence of Fiona’s affair.” “Alright…” After leaving the law firm, I returned home and was surprised to find Fiona there! “You, why are you home?” I was surprised. Maybe because I didn’t insist on exposing the tattoo under Fiona’s collarbone, the butterfly effect led to her not cutting me off or leaving in this life. Fiona was excited, “Honey, I asked a doctor friend. They said, while domestically they can only prolong life, there have been successful treatments abroad!” I was taken aback, “Terminal liver cancer can be treated?” “Yes, yes, yes! Of course, it can! But the surgery is very expensive…” “How much?” I suddenly became interested. Not because I naively believed the terminal illness could be cured, but because I wanted to know her real intentions. Fiona told me, “The surgery costs about $50,000.” $50,000, which is roughly over 350,000 dollars. Fiona really had a good plan! 350,000 is almost the total of all my assets! She wanted to trick all my money out and then live a happy life with Ezra Bennett! “Forget it. Losing everything for a treatment that might not work isn’t worth it.” Bang! Fiona slammed the chopsticks on the table, anxiously saying, “How can you say that? If there’s a chance to be cured, even if it means losing everything, I’ll do it!” Ha! If I hadn’t lived through two lifetimes, I might have believed your nonsense! “Alright then, you make the arrangements, I want to rest for a while.” Fiona suddenly realized, “Wait, honey, you’re so sick, why aren’t you in the hospital and back home?” Her expression turned sour, as if she thought of something, and quickly came over to pull me, “No, you must go back to the hospital with me now! You need to be hospitalized!” I thought, go to the hospital so you and Ezra can have your secret meetings? But… it wouldn’t be impossible. “I’m just grabbing something, then I’ll head back. The doctor prescribed medicine, and I’m not bedridden yet.” Just as I was about to leave, I heard the sound of the door code being entered, and then Ezra Bennett burst in. “Sweetheart! I’m here! I missed you so much!”

Ezra rushed in and hugged Fiona, completely unaware that I was in the corner. Fiona was terrified, “Let go of me! Don’t touch me!” Ezra looked puzzled, “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” The next second, he could no longer call her sweetheart because he saw me. His face turned pale, “Nolan Parker? Weren’t you in the hospital?” “If I were in the hospital, I wouldn’t have seen such a marvelous scene. Fiona, do you have an explanation for this?” I was so angry I could curse! Not because Fiona and Ezra hugged, but because of Ezra’s stupidity! He didn’t even check the room before hugging my wife! Now I couldn’t pretend not to know about their affair! I didn’t even have the chance to act dumb! So I had to question him, “Ezra Bennett! We’re classmates, right? You just walked in and hugged my wife, what’s up with that? And how do you know my house code?” Ezra was extremely embarrassed, scratching his head, “Well… I, actually I…” He couldn’t get a word out. Fiona was quick to react, explaining to me, “Honey, don’t misunderstand. Didn’t I just tell you about the surgery abroad? Ezra was the one who helped introduce it. He must have some good news, so he got excited and forgot about the boundaries and hugged me!” Fiona’s explanation made Ezra quickly chime in, “Yes, yes, yes! That’s exactly what happened! I was just too excited, and then I was startled to see you, so I got a bit flustered. Old classmate, you don’t mind, right? I’m doing this for your good.” Ha… Of course, I don’t mind. Not only do I not mind, but I also hope you two get together quickly, so I have the chance to carry out my plan! Thinking this, I couldn’t say it out loud: “But you can’t do that, right? Hugging my wife in front of me? Don’t you know you shouldn’t mess with a friend’s wife?” Fortunately, Ezra knew about Fiona’s inheritance transfer plan, so he sat beside me, “Buddy, I’m sorry about your condition, but there’s still hope! The doctor I know abroad is really good in the field of liver surgery!” Heh… Of course, I don’t mind. In fact, I hope you two get together soon so I can finally put my plan into action! That’s what I thought, but I couldn’t say it out loud: “Isn’t this a bit much? Hugging my wife right in front of me? Haven’t you heard you shouldn’t mess with a friend’s wife?” Luckily, Ezra Bennett knew about Fiona Brooks’ plan to transfer her inheritance. He came over and sat next to me. “Hey buddy, I’m really sorry about your illness, but there’s still hope! I know a doctor overseas who’s excellent with liver surgeries!” “Sure, the surgery is expensive, but you only live once. Once you save your life, you can earn back the money!” Seeing Ezra act so concerned made me inwardly seethe with anger. Sell everything to scrape together money, send it abroad, and then let you and Fiona live it up? “Just talk to Fiona about it. I trust her! I’m a bit tired and just grabbing some stuff before heading back to the hospital.” “You guys chat.” I got up and went into the room. The first thing I did was grab the property deed. Then I stuffed it deep into my backpack, along with a few clothes to make it look casual. “I’m off. You guys talk. It’s best if you give me a plan soon. I’m young and don’t want to die.” Standing at the door, I shook Ezra’s hand, pretending as if I couldn’t live without him. Downstairs, into the car. The first thing I did was turn on my phone’s surveillance. The house had cameras originally for watching our pet dog. I never thought I’d use them to keep an eye on my wife now. On the couch, the two sat side by side. Ezra’s hand was getting a bit too familiar, and Fiona slapped it away. “Don’t mess around. This is still Nolan Parker’s home. Don’t go overboard!” Ezra, rubbing his slapped hand, looked a bit upset. “How’s that overboard? It’s not like we haven’t done things here before.” “Nolan’s about to die soon. What are you afraid of? Once we transfer his money abroad, we’ll be free to be together!” “True. Let’s find a place to hide for two years. I don’t want to take care of him every day. We can come back to claim the inheritance once he’s dead.” I’d love to see what she does when she finds out I’m not dead in two years. Fiona Brooks has a strong sixth sense! She actually gave up the plan to take all my assets and decided to take part first, then come back for the inheritance after squandering it and when I’m dead. I tapped the steering wheel, trying hard to come up with a counter-plan. Suddenly, a bright idea struck me—a very feasible plan. In my past life, after being blocked by my wife, I let myself go and didn’t cooperate with the hospital for chemotherapy, so I died within two years. But this time, I’m going to defy her wishes and live as long as I can. And not just live longer, but find a way to fake my death and trick her into coming back for the inheritance! On the third day of my hospital stay, Fiona and Ezra came to see me. “Honey, Ezra and I just discussed, and he’s planning to take me abroad to see that expert doctor.” I frowned, acting like I didn’t know: “You’re going abroad?” Fiona nodded, “Of course, I need to check if that doctor is really skilled. Only then can I trust him to perform surgery on you! Honey, I’m doing this for your own good!” I’ve heard “for your own good” so many times, I’m sick of it. “Alright, then you guys go.” Fiona hesitated and rubbed her thumb and forefinger together: “But honey, I need funds.” I pulled out an international card and handed it to her: “All the funds you need are on this card. There’s definitely enough money for you. Go ahead, I’ll be waiting at home for good news.” This international card was something I arranged through a lawyer friend, spending quite a bit to have a professional set it up. No matter how much is spent, I’ll receive cross-border text messages on my phone. “There’s a million on the card, use it as you wish.” There’s indeed a million on the card, but 900,000 of it is frozen and unusable. Once she spends the ten thousand, and the rest can’t be accessed, she’ll naturally come back. And what I need is her international spending notifications. Then, I’ll hire a private investigator to capture evidence of her and Ezra’s affair abroad. Fiona couldn’t hide her delight when she heard I prepared a million for her. “That’s great, honey~” She hugged me, leaving a kiss on my cheek with a crisp “mwah” sound. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ezra’s lips turn into an unhappy frown. “Come on, you two are practically an old married couple, can you not show off your love in front of me?” Ezra said, pulling Fiona out of my arms. I frowned at Ezra, “What? My wife is going abroad, and I don’t know when she’ll be back. You even have an issue with me kissing her?” Ezra was clearly upset, feeling like his own wife was being encroached upon. But he didn’t dare to get angry, only managing to say coldly, “Once we contact the doctor and cure your illness, you two can get as cozy as you want. The flight will be missed soon, Fiona, we should leave early.” Fiona, after hearing this, reluctantly said goodbye to me, uttered a few polite words, and then left the ward with Ezra. As soon as they left, I called the private investigator: “They’ve left, follow them, don’t lose track.” “Don’t worry, boss. You get what you pay for. Trust me, keep an eye on your phone for updates.” Shortly after Detective Wang hung up, I received real-time tracking short videos on Snapchat. Watching the videos, I couldn’t help but admire Detective Wang’s skills. In the video, although Detective Wang was filming from 20 meters away, Fiona and Ezra’s conversation was clearly captured in the short video. After asking, I learned that Detective Wang had purchased a directional listening device abroad, with a coverage range of nearly 300 meters! I was genuinely impressed. You get what you pay for. Such professional listening devices aren’t something an average private investigator can afford. Or even if they could, they might not have the means to get them. The first place Fiona and Ezra went after leaving the hospital was the nearest international bank. Confirming there was indeed a million in the account, Ezra couldn’t help but say happily: “Nolan Parker really gave you a million? He’s so generous. If he knew you were taking this million not to find a doctor for him but to have fun abroad with me, I wonder how he’d react. I’m so looking forward to it.” Fiona couldn’t help but give him a playful glare, “You’re so bad!” Though it seemed like a complaint, her tone was full of affection. I felt deeply hurt. Fiona had never shown such playful affection towards me. I always thought she wasn’t someone who’d act coy, but it turned out I wasn’t worthy of her tenderness. While I was lost in thought, Fiona took out a watch from her bag, “Ezra, a man needs to have some style abroad. You should wear this watch.” Ezra’s eyes nearly popped out when he saw the watch. “Patek Philippe? This thing starts at 300,000 at the lowest! Let me see this model… Holy crap? A platinum vintage model? This thing starts at a million!” Fiona was stunned, “What? It’s that expensive? This watch was left to Nolan by his father. I saw him take it out occasionally but never wear it, so I snuck it out.” Ezra extended his wrist, and Fiona affectionately helped him put it on, “It’s just a million-dollar watch! To me, you’re the most precious in the world! This watch suits you best!” Listening to their unabashed display of affection made me feel utterly nauseated. Especially that platinum watch, it deeply pierced my heart.

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Before the wedding, Gideon suffered a relapse of an old injury, resulting in temporary blindness, which made him irritable. He frequently went out late at night to drink with friends and only returned at dawn. On the night of the blizzard, I went to pick him up with my prenatal check-up report, only to find him at the bar entrance, discarding his sunglasses and white cane. “Pretending to be blind is exhausting. I even have to use a special phone to fool Nora… But it’s the only way to spend more time with my sweet Daphne before the wedding.” He wrapped his arm around the girl beside him and kissed her without a care. “Listen, after the wedding, I plan to be a good husband and father. Daphne is getting married abroad, so don’t tell Nora about this. If you ruin my happiness, I’ll hold you accountable!” But he was unaware of his impending leukemia diagnosis. I entered this story world five years ago with the purpose of saving Gideon, and I was pregnant with the child that could save his life. The snowy roads were treacherous, and on my way home, I had an accident, risking a miscarriage.

When I was brought to the emergency room, I was already unconscious. The doctor administered epinephrine. “Ma’am, can you hear me?” a worried voice asked near my ear. “You were in a car accident with severe bleeding. We’re urgently sourcing Type P blood. Without an immediate transfusion, the fetus might not survive.” I weakly nodded. “Do you need to call a family member?” I slowly opened my eyes, my mind replaying the scene at the bar. I had been in this book’s world for five years, just to save Gideon, the tragic second male lead. He was young, successful, and ambitious but was abandoned by his childhood sweetheart, the heroine. He worked tirelessly to create a designer brand, only to be diagnosed with leukemia a few years later. He eventually died because a matching bone marrow donor could not be found. When I arrived in the story, it was near the end. I fell in love with him and tried hard to conceive, hoping to give birth to the child that could save him. When I saw the blood test report showing the fetus had the same blood type as Gideon, I was overjoyed. Especially after Gideon “lost his sight,” I was extra cautious, fearing anything might trigger his leukemia. I bought him an accessible smartphone, which he used to meet women. He threw tantrums and went out drinking at night, while I stayed up waiting for him to return. Keeping this child alive was the only way Gideon could survive; otherwise, he would surely die. Thinking about this, I dialed the phone. Before I could speak, Gideon’s voice came through, indifferent, “I’ll be home later. You don’t need to wait up. Just go to sleep.” “By the way, there’s a blizzard tonight. Remember to lock the windows and turn on the heat. You just recovered from a cold, don’t catch another one.” “I’m at the hospital,” I replied. There was a pause on the other end, “What?” I heard the rustling of clothes and a woman’s soft moan. Gideon groaned, suppressing his desire, “What’s wrong? Do you need me to come now… but the roads are slippery, and I can’t see. If something happens on the way, you’ll have to take care of me…” My heart sank, “It’s nothing, just heavy bleeding from my period. I came to get it checked.” Gideon sighed with relief. “Nora, I don’t want to affect next week’s wedding… Rest well in the hospital, and I’ll pick you up tomorrow…” I swallowed my reply, and the call ended abruptly. Fortunately, the nearby hospital had a few bags of Type P blood left, just enough to save the pregnancy. Unfortunately, the OB-GYN ward was full, so I had to stay in the ER temporarily. “It’s okay,” the nurse reassured me gently, “We’ll do our best to save the fetus. As long as we get these few bags of blood in…” Before she could finish, a man’s voice shouted outside the ER. “What? No Type P blood?” I immediately recognized it was Gideon. “My friend got cut by glass and needs a transfusion… What do you mean it’s already used? Where’s the person? I’ll negotiate…” The ER curtain was suddenly pulled open. I struggled to lift my head, and Gideon stared blankly at the blood-stained white cloth beneath me. “It’s you?” Worry flickered in his eyes, “How did you end up in the ER?” “Aren’t you blind? How do you know it’s me?” Gideon shrugged, “We’ve been together for so long, I can recognize your scent… The blood smell here is strong, are you okay?” I was about to tell him the truth. Then his next words hit me like a brick. “If you’re okay, can you let my friend have the Type P blood? She seems to need it more than you.”

The nurse was about to speak, but Gideon left. I didn’t know if he was afraid of exposing his fake blindness or if he couldn’t stand the strong smell of blood. The nurse wanted to speak but I stopped her. Through the transparent curtain, I could see Gideon’s concern for Daphne. Daphne sat in a wheelchair, her bare leg bleeding from a glass cut—no need to imagine the scene. Gideon comforted her while urging me to give up the blood bags. “What if I said I’d die without these blood bags?” Gideon paused outside the curtain, then his face darkened. “Don’t joke around. You naturally have a cold constitution, a heavy period is no big deal. At worst, I’ll make you black sugar red date tea for a month.” “I’m joking,” I lowered my eyes and chuckled, “You take them to save your friend.” Daphne was his first love. They separated due to a misunderstanding, and now both are about to get married, enjoying their last fling. The nurse looked troubled, “But your baby…” I smiled bitterly, watching the blood keep flowing from me, and before I passed out, I left one last instruction. “Save the mother.” When I woke up again, I couldn’t feel the baby’s heartbeat anymore. The extracted fetal tissue was sealed in a box, and the nurse was preparing to transfer me to the OB-GYN ward that had just opened up. When I first confirmed the pregnancy, I signed an agreement. If the fetus couldn’t be saved, the cord blood and stem cells would be extracted as a precaution. I gave everything to save Gideon’s life. “The equipment can’t be moved, we need to get to the OB-GYN ward immediately.” Two nurses pushed me out of the ER. Under the cover of the white cloth, the sealed box held the blood mass. Gideon suddenly pushed Daphne in front of me. “Nora, the hospital is out of beds everywhere. Can you let Daphne have your bed?” I stared at him. Finally, the nurse couldn’t hold back, “You’re Nora’s family, shouldn’t you care more about your girlfriend? Why does she have to make all the sacrifices?” “Gideon, I really need to get into the OB-GYN ward right away. If this is delayed…” Daphne moaned in pain, clutching her bandaged wound. Gideon frowned, looking conflicted, “I’m begging you, okay?” “I accidentally broke a bottle at the bar, and Daphne got hurt because of me. You wouldn’t want me to feel guilty, right?” “Nora…” He put on his sunglasses, reaching to grab my hand, “She’s about to get married, and you’re going to be a bride soon too. Wouldn’t you be upset with a big scar on your leg?” I quietly watched his lips move, the scent of women’s perfume making my head spin. “Okay,” I compromised once more. Gideon was overjoyed, giving me a deep kiss on the forehead. Watching him leave, I wiped the nausea off my forehead. He had cut off the last path to life with his own hands. “What about the embryo…” I closed my eyes, “Burn it.” If Gideon doesn’t want to live, then let him be.

It wasn’t long before another room opened up. The nurses moved me next to Daphne’s room. Lying in bed, I idly browsed my phone, seeing friends’ wedding congratulations, feeling a mix of emotions. A year ago, Gideon proposed to me. He spent half a year preparing the wedding, handling everything from the bouquet to the wedding dress and ring selection. Even the invitations sent to guests were designed and handwritten by him, delivered in person. Everyone envied me for marrying a man like Gideon, successful and loving. Before Daphne returned to visit, I believed in it completely. But since her return, my relationship with Gideon subtly changed. He was always called away for various reasons when we were together. Later, he even had an old injury relapse, going blind. Suddenly, I saw a question on a social platform. “Did you marry your first love?” “The first love is to relive old dreams. The one you marry may not be the one you love most, but is the most suitable.” The answer was from Gideon’s profile picture. I smiled and turned off the screen. Outside the room, I heard the tap of a white cane. Gideon feared the medical staff would notice his act. The footsteps stopped at the door. From the next room, I heard a playful reprimand. Moments later, Gideon entered with a bag. “I specially bought you some blood-replenishing soup. Drink it while it’s hot.” He fumbled to place it on the bedside table. I noticed the plastic bag’s store name was from miles away. “Went that far?” Gideon’s breathing hitched, “I took a cab. It’s near our old place. You know that store’s soup works best…” Yes, every time I had my period, Gideon would buy it to nourish me. But now, the plastic lid had been opened, clearly meant for someone else, not me. “Leave it, I’m not hungry.” I looked up indifferently, “Why not give it to Daphne? She bled too, didn’t she?” “She won’t drink it…” Before he could finish, Gideon noticed my scrutinizing gaze with a smile, hastily closing his mouth. “I mean…” “It’s okay,” I interrupted, “Daphne is your friend. It’s only right I give way to her. All good.” Yes, every time I was on my period, Gideon made sure to get me something nourishing. But now, the plastic box is already open, and I can tell it wasn’t for me—he must have taken a cab to get it for someone else. “Just leave it there, I’m not hungry,” I said, glancing up nonchalantly. “Why not give it to Daphne? She’s bleeding too, isn’t she?” “She doesn’t drink it…” Gideon trailed off, catching the amused look in my eyes and quickly clamming up. “What I mean is…” “It’s okay,” I cut him off, “Daphne’s your friend, it’s only fair I step aside. It’s all fine.” Gideon froze, a wave of unease washing over him. He thought Nora was eerily calm today, a kind of calm that was unsettling. It seemed like she was slipping away from him. “What do you want to eat? I’ll order something in.” I shook my head, staying silent. “That won’t do…” Gideon sat on the bed, gently caressing my cheek. “You’ve lost weight. How will you fit into the wedding dress next week… and I don’t want the engagement ring slipping off your finger during the ceremony…” Thinking of the wedding dress and ring Gideon had personally designed and helped create, the bitterness in my heart wasn’t as intense as I’d imagined. Just a pity. Five years of love and effort couldn’t change his fate of dying young. “I don’t know if it’s pre-wedding jitters or what, but I’ve been feeling dizzy and anemic these past few days, my body feels hot…” Anemia and fever are early signs of leukemia. According to the timeline, Gideon would be diagnosed in just over half a year. “Gideon.” I suddenly spoke seriously, “How about we cancel the wedding next week?” He was startled, almost forgetting he was pretending to be blind. “What’s wrong? Don’t scare me… Did I do something to upset you?” “No,” I pouted, “Didn’t you suddenly go blind? I’m worried about how that’ll affect the wedding…” “No way, I will definitely get better.” Gideon stammered anxiously, “Even if I have to crawl, I’ll make it to the stage… Lately, I’ve been irritable because of the blindness, spending days away from home drinking with friends, I know it makes you uncomfortable…” “But you have to understand me, Nora… I promise I won’t do it again after we get married, so please stop worrying, okay?” I nodded and agreed, “Alright.” Gideon coaxed me to sleep, thoughtfully tucking me in. Thinking I was asleep, he got up and went to the next room to be with Daphne. A nurse came in holding a small bottle. “This is the embryo’s ashes, we return it to the family as per regulations.” I tucked the bottle into the drawer, “If my boyfriend asks, please tell him the truth.” “And then, please help me with the discharge procedures.”

I went home. Placing the prenatal check-up report on the bedroom vanity, I started packing to move out. This was the first villa Gideon bought after his startup success. It was also our home. Since his old injury relapse led to “blindness”, I called in renovation workers to lay down tactile tiles. Hung wind chimes in places prone to bumps, ensuring safety measures. Every day, I made different dishes to improve Gideon’s vision, hoping he’d recover soon with massage therapy. In the end, everything I did seemed like a joke. I took down the wind chimes and threw them away with last night’s cold meal. Gideon’s call suddenly came through. “Nora, you’re discharged?” “Yeah, I don’t like the hospital smell,” I replied coldly, “After all, it’s just my period. You must be exhausted running back and forth taking care of Daphne.” “Actually, I…” Gideon hesitated, “Don’t misunderstand, since Daphne’s husband is overseas, it’s only right for me, as a friend, to take care of her…” “You don’t need to explain, I understand.” “Okay…” He was at a loss for words, “Then take care, I’ll have food delivered to your home, eat more.” “Don’t worry about the wedding, everything is arranged, just eat well, sleep well, and get ready to be a beautiful bride!” After hanging up, I dragged my suitcase and locked the door. I took the next ferry to Nora-Gideon Island. This was where Gideon and I solidified our relationship. He bought it for me at a high price and named it after us. Right now, the island staff was doing the final cleanup, preparing to set up the wedding venue. Gideon kept it a secret, intending to surprise me. But I guessed it right away; he planned the wedding venue on the island. The person in charge recognized me from the wedding dress poster. “Miss Qin, you…” “Go about your business, don’t mind me. I’m just here to check things out… Don’t worry, Gideon doesn’t know I’m here, and I won’t make things difficult for you.” Only then did the person in charge leave at ease. Following the sound of the waves, I walked to the beach, where the tide had receded, exposing the rocks. I bent down, brushing off the sand. I saw the heart-shaped stone with Gideon’s and my names carved on it, now eroded beyond recognition. On another stone, Daphne’s crooked name appeared. The staff was preparing to clear the used tents and hammocks. Tangled in the corners were strands of gray-brown hair and the strong perfume unique to Daphne. “Where’s the ring?” I asked the person in charge, “I want to see it.” “It just arrived today, locked in the glass case!” The person in charge led me over, teaching me how to unlock it with my fingerprint. The three-carat heart-shaped engagement ring, I’m the only one who can unlock it and has the right to wear it. But unfortunately, this sea and Gideon’s heart are no longer pure. I held the ring in my palm, examining it closely, then suddenly ran to the sea and threw it with all my might. The person in charge was shocked and quickly called for someone to retrieve it. “No need,” I shouted, “Tell Gideon the wedding is canceled, and you don’t need to continue with the preparations.” Before the person in charge could catch up, I turned and boarded the ship to leave. Gideon’s call came through. His voice was trembling, sounding extremely anxious. “Nora, what’s in that bottle… they said it was our child?” “It’s my child,” I coldly corrected him, “We haven’t married, and we won’t.” “Stop joking, Nora, you’re just emotional because of your period. There’s no need to joke about this…” It was clear Gideon didn’t quite believe the nurse’s words.

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All my friends say Nolan loves me as if his life depended on it. And it’s true. He once took a knife for me. He chose to marry me even after learning I couldn’t have children, despite his family’s disapproval. I thought he would love me forever. Until just now, when I saw him at the hospital, gently carrying a woman into the maternity ward. “Be careful, this is our first child.” 0 I pulled out my phone and called him, my voice trembling. He answered quickly. “Nolan, where are you?” His voice was as gentle as ever. “Lydia, I’m at the office in a meeting, very busy. I’ll call you back later.” The call ended, and Nolan spent a long time soothing the upset woman he was with. I hid nearby, watching them. I was flooded with memories of the day Nolan found out I couldn’t have children. He cried until his eyes were red and knelt before me. “Lydia, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.” Yes, he should be sorry. Back then, I was pregnant, but he was so busy with work that he forgot to check in with me. A snowstorm blanketed the city, and worried about him, I went out to find him. I was hit by a car that ran a red light. I lost the baby. The doctor said I could never be pregnant again. Nolan said, “Lydia, I love you, and that includes the love I had for the child.” “It doesn’t matter if we don’t have kids. I just want you.” Young love is intense. So intense that it made me forget my pain. But young love is also fleeting. In just five years, he had a child. With another woman. 0

I sat in silence all night. At dawn, I heard the door. Nolan was the same as always. The first thing he did was hug me. “Why are you up so early?” “Sorry, I was so busy yesterday that I couldn’t come home.” “When this project ends, I’ll spend more time with you.” I felt the warmth from his body and suddenly hugged him tight. But I smelled another woman’s perfume. I felt sick. I leaned over the bed and retched. His expression changed. He quickly patted my back. “Lydia, what’s wrong?” “Are you feeling unwell? Let me take you to the hospital.” I shook my head. “I ate something bad last night.” I closed my eyes. My mind was in chaos. Should I confront him? Could I let go? This relationship of nearly ten years. It’s become part of me. I suddenly opened my eyes and stared at Nolan. “Nolan, if you ever get tired of me, please tell me.” “I’ll let you go.” “You know, I only hate lies.” I tried to find any proof on his face. But Nolan is an excellent actor. He quickly held my hand, placing it over his heart. “Lydia, don’t overthink. It’s my fault for being too busy and neglecting you, but my love for you won’t change.” “Really? Do you still love me?” He answered without hesitation: “Of course.” “Only me?” He hesitated for just a moment. But I already knew the answer. “You probably haven’t eaten. I’ll make you something.” He smiled and put the breakfast he bought in front of me. It was still my favorite. Dumplings from the Westside shop, and my favorite red date soy milk. It was the affordable breakfast we had when we lived in a small twenty-square-meter rental. I was dazed. I began to wonder why a heart could be divided into so many pieces. Why could Nolan be as gentle and considerate as before, yet give that same gentleness to someone else? Nolan only relaxed and slept beside me after I finished breakfast. Soon, his breathing was even and calm. He was obviously exhausted. I started looking through his phone. The password was still my birthday, unchanged. SnapChat was the same, nothing there. Everything I saw at the hospital last night seemed like a dream. But I knew it was just a façade. I started searching his car. Finally, I found another phone in a hidden compartment. I tried the password many times without success. I had to use Nolan’s fingerprint to unlock it. The content inside pierced my heart. It was full of their photos together. He saved her contact as “Sweetheart.” The only contact on SnapChat was her. Going back to the beginning, the chat history started three years ago. An intern asking a senior for advice. Six months later, she confessed to him. Nolan rejected her without hesitation. “I’m married, and I love my wife very much.” “Don’t say things that could be misunderstood.” But he didn’t delete her from SnapChat. He let her slowly infiltrate. “It’s snowing today, guess who I thought of.” “I’m on a business trip, and I encountered a creepy guy. I was so scared, but I really miss you.” “Today’s my birthday, I’m so lonely. Can you talk to me, please?” “Is it wrong to love someone? I was just a few years late. But I love you too.” Finally, on her birthday the following year. “If you still hate me, just delete me. I’m tired of sending messages into the void. I want to let you go and myself too.” Nolan initiated a message: “Happy Birthday.” Reading this, I vomited up the breakfast I had just eaten. I stood up, looking in the bathroom mirror at the pale, disheveled woman with dark circles under her eyes. So old and ugly. No wonder Nolan fell for someone else. 0

I thought about the past. Nolan was an orphan. When he was a baby, he was almost frozen to death by a garbage dump. Luckily, a kind old man collecting trash found him, saving his life. Unfortunately, the old man passed away when Nolan was in elementary school. So, Nolan was often bullied in the alley. It was my mom and I who provided him shelter. Mom always said he was a poor child, with no parents, and that I should treat him well. Back then, Nolan was not as mild-mannered as he is now. He was fierce to everyone. His eyes were like a cub eyeing a hunter. The first time I approached him, he pushed me down, scraping my elbow. “Go away, I hate all of you.” I heard the last person who tried to befriend him spread the word at school that he was an orphan. So, he despised the word “friend.” It took me a long time to barely become his friend. To let him come to my house for meals without hesitation. To let him walk proudly by my side. To let the light return to the boy’s eyes. Rumors spread in the alley, saying that Nolan the orphan liked me. They also said I, a fatherless child, was well-matched with him, who had no parents. When Nolan found out, he beat the culprit to a pulp. I had to stop him. His fists were bloody. But his eyes were clear when he looked at me. “They can insult me, but not you.” That’s how Nolan was, openly good to me. After the exams in ninth grade, Nolan asked where I was going for high school. The boy blushed. By then, he was already over six feet tall, towering over me. I looked up at him but was blinded by the sun. “Not telling you.” He panicked, “Are you leaving me?” He sounded like a wronged wife. I chuckled. “Do you like me, Nolan?” He lowered his head. His tears were like a mist after spring rain, barely there, tugging at my heart. “Sorry, I know I’m not worthy of liking you.” I laughed and took his hand. It was the first time I held Nolan’s hand. It wasn’t smooth or fair, but solid and warm. “Nolan, if you like someone, you like them. There’s no ‘worthy’ or ‘unworthy.’” Nolan wasn’t good at academics. He went to a much worse high school than I did. But he still worked hard to move to the provincial capital with me. We promised to go to the same university. On his eighteenth birthday, I told him, “Nolan, if we go to the same university, I’ll be your girlfriend.” Nolan’s eyes were full of me. “Really, Lydia?” “Really.” Later, before my college entrance exams, someone stalked me and almost attacked me. Nolan found out. He went crazy and beat the guy until he ended up in the hospital. Even though he got timely treatment, he was left disabled. His family was rich. When he woke up, he vowed to ruin Nolan and me. Nolan and I were cornered in an alley. Nolan somehow found the strength to hold them off and told me to run. “Run and don’t look back.” I ran out and the first thing I did was call the police. But when I got back with them, Nolan was already lying in a pool of blood. He almost died.

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Ever since I became pregnant, my health hasn’t been the best. Once my mother-in-law found out, she moved into our marital home, under the guise of taking care of me, along with my younger brother-in-law’s wife. Her demeanor changed drastically from her usual kindness, and she started saying absurd things: “My son is the eldest, so he has the duty to support his younger brother and sister-in-law.” “Besides, he’s a high achiever, so he should be in charge. Always listening to women won’t get him anywhere.” “Declan is no longer with us, and it’s Jasper’s responsibility to continue the family line. Since you’re pregnant and can’t look after him properly, let Declan’s wife do it.” My anger rose to my throat, but just then, Jasper came in and refused her. “I’ve already promised Nora that she is the only one for me, no exceptions.” Seeing my husband stand firmly by my side, I felt reassured that I had chosen the right partner. I gritted my teeth, working overtime to save for baby supplies, while drinking the special nourishing soup Jasper made for me. However, I discovered that the soup was drugged, and my husband was having an affair with his sister-in-law right under my nose.

I’m 37 this year, and it took two years of marriage with Jasper Thompson before I got pregnant. As soon as we confirmed the pregnancy, Jasper shared the good news widely. When my mother-in-law heard about it, she moved in with my younger brother-in-law Declan Thompson’s wife and child, under the pretense of taking care of me. Declan was a son-in-law my father found for me, but he had a strong sense of pride, and I never refused any of his harmless requests. The marital home, a spacious 300 square meters, was bought by my father, so there was no sense of overcrowding with them living there. Seeing Jasper trying to please everyone, I eventually softened and allowed them to stay. I never expected my mother-in-law, who appeared so kind before the wedding, to change so drastically, forgetting her son was a live-in son-in-law, and started acting domineering in my home. On their first night, I symbolically had the housekeeper prepare a table full of dishes. But I didn’t expect my mother-in-law to say something utterly absurd at the dinner table. “Jasper, Declan died young, so I arranged a posthumous marriage for him. This is your sister-in-law, Adeline Carter.” “Adeline is divorced and has a child, making it difficult for her to remarry. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have agreed to a posthumous marriage with Declan.” “You married into the Thompson family, and your children won’t carry the Thompson name. Why don’t you and Adeline have a child, as if it were Declan’s, to continue the Thompson lineage?” “This won’t affect your marriage; it’s a win-win.” Hearing this, the cup in my hand fell to the ground with a “crack.” I knew my mother-in-law was uneducated, but I didn’t expect her to be so absurd. Not only did she arrange a posthumous marriage for my deceased brother-in-law, but she also wanted my husband to father children for both families. I, Nora Thompson, the only daughter of the Thompson Corporation, cannot accept sharing my husband with another woman. With displeasure, I tapped the dining table with my hand. “Jasper, what do you think?” He hesitated for a long time, “Mom, I can’t do that.” I breathed a sigh of relief, not noticing the flirtatious glances between him and that woman. “Why not? You’re the eldest son of the Thompson family, and you have a responsibility to continue the family line.” “Besides, you’re a high achiever. Your children will be smart and bring honor to the Thompson family.” “If you hadn’t married into the Thompson family, why would I have to beg her?” She tried to persuade Jasper with bitter words and lectured me. “Nora, you should be more generous. You’re an only child, aren’t you lonely? When you and Adeline’s child are born, they’ll be siblings, and it’ll be lively.” “Also, I think this house is nice, big, and well-located. Adeline can stay here and keep you company.” “What?” I felt a surge of anger, raising my voice. Seeing me upset, Jasper quickly tried to smooth things over. “Mom, what are you talking about? Nora just got pregnant, and the baby isn’t stable. She can’t get upset.” Jasper signaled Declan to pull the excited mother-in-law aside and held my hand to comfort me. “I’ve always said, I only love Nora in this lifetime. I can’t agree to this.” Some of my anger dissipated, thankful that even Jasper couldn’t accept such a ridiculous idea. Otherwise, the Thompson Corporation wouldn’t stand for it. I left a note saying, “It better be that way.” Slamming the door shut. Jasper still followed me, explaining nonstop. “Mom is just like that, uneducated, doesn’t understand anything. Don’t take it to heart.” “You’re pregnant, getting angry affects our baby, it’s not worth it.” “I absolutely won’t agree to mom’s idea of fathering children for both families.”

For the sake of giving the child a complete family, I eventually softened my stance. I didn’t delve into their wrongdoings, focusing on my work instead. In the two years of marriage with Jasper, my mother-in-law never urged us to have children, so I thought she was understanding and cared for her deeply. I never thought that once I got pregnant, she’d show such a different side, making it unbearable. Fortunately, Jasper was still clear-headed, always standing by me. But I didn’t expect that I was still wrong. Pregnant women get hungry easily, so Jasper learned a few of my favorite dishes from a chef and made nourishing soup for me every day. One night, after dinner, I got hungry again. Jasper brought a bowl of soup to the bedroom as usual. I drank it without suspecting anything. Soon after, I felt sleepy and went to bed early. In the middle of the night, I woke up thirsty. The other side of the bed was empty. Jasper still wasn’t sleeping this late? I put on my shoes, planning to go to the kitchen for water. Unexpectedly, as soon as I stepped out of the bedroom, the sounds from the sister-in-law’s room stopped me in my tracks. Their door was wide open, and I saw Jasper and the sister-in-law in a compromising embrace. I swayed, ready to confront them, when I overheard their malicious conversation. “Jasper, I thought you had forgotten about me.” “How could I? You were my first. Nora Thompson can’t compare to you.” “Stop it. Don’t forget about us, Little Rain still doesn’t have a father. If not for you, why would I agree to a posthumous marriage with your deceased brother?” “I feel for you, Adeline. Little Rain is my son, I won’t mistreat him.” “Who believes you? That woman is pregnant with your child.” “Don’t worry about that. Her child won’t be born. At the hospital, I’m her husband. If I don’t sign, who dares to deliver her baby? Childbirth is like walking through death’s door. One wrong move, and it’s all over…” “Then, won’t her house, car, and savings all be mine?” These words struck me like a lightning bolt, destroying any hope I had left. Jasper, how dare he!? I wanted to barge in and expose their scheme, but I held back. Now wasn’t the time; there was no evidence. I clenched my fists, desperately suppressing my emotions. I don’t know how I got back to the bedroom last night. When I woke up the next day, the bed was still empty. I got up and went to the kitchen, finding Jasper there. Watching him busily preparing breakfast, I couldn’t help but gag. “What’s wrong, Nora? Feeling unwell? Are you too tired?” “Why not take a break from work today, rest for a few days.” His caring words came one after another, leaving me unable to distinguish which was the real him. Was the man in the sister-in-law’s room last night really this seemingly devoted man? The vile plots and sickening sweet talk were warning me not to be deceived by the high-acting man before me.

I looked at him, saying nothing. He tried to reach out and support me, but I sidestepped away. “Oh, sister-in-law is back.” My mother-in-law and Adeline Carter were already up, sitting at the table ready to eat. That woman wore an emerald green dress and an expensive jade necklace, giving her an air of elegance. “Who told you to wear my clothes, to go through my jewelry box?” I was furious, slapping her across the face. This was my favorite dress before I got pregnant. That jade necklace was a birthday gift from my dad, truly priceless. “Take it off immediately, or I’ll call the police for theft!” I’ve never flaunted my status as the Thompson Corporation’s heiress in front of them, letting them think I’m easy to bully. Adeline was startled, hiding behind Jasper, explaining pitifully. “I came in a rush, didn’t bring clothes. Just borrowing yours, I’ll return them…” Her pitiful look made it seem like I was the one at fault. When she moved in, she brought plenty of things, so it’s impossible she didn’t bring clothes. She just wanted to disgust me. My mother-in-law came over upon hearing the commotion, seeing Adeline looking like I’d bullied her terribly. “It’s just a dress, why make such a fuss?” “Your clothes and jewelry could open a store. One more or less doesn’t matter.” “Just pity her, let her wear it.” “Besides, she’s your sister-in-law, don’t be so petty.” Before, to respect his pride, I would always compromise on what he said. Now I realize I’ve been too accommodating. Just trying to make me sick. My mother-in-law rushed over when she heard the commotion, seeing Adeline Carter putting on an act as if I had severely bullied her. “It’s just a piece of clothing, why make a fuss?” “You have enough clothes and jewelry to fill a store. One more or less doesn’t make a difference.” “Show some compassion and let her wear it.” “Besides, she’s your sister-in-law. Don’t be so stingy.” In the past, to save his pride, I would always give in a little. Looking back now, I realize I was letting him walk all over me. I ignored his words and turned to him, saying, “I’ve been sleeping deeply these days, but last night I didn’t sleep well. I woke up and didn’t see you in the bedroom. Today, you’re defending her so generously. Did you actually do something behind my back, like your mom suggested?” My words clearly rattled the three of them. My mother-in-law, who’s not accustomed to such situations, couldn’t hide her panic. Adeline Carter, who acts high and mighty thanks to my mother-in-law, even wrinkled my expensive dress. Jasper Thompson was the quickest to recover. He was only caught off-guard for a moment before he replied smoothly. “That’s ridiculous, Nora. How could I do anything against you?” “Last night, Mom had terrible back pain. I was giving her a massage for a while. You seemed to be sleeping soundly, so I didn’t wake you.” “Isn’t that right, Mom?” Jasper even shot a glance at his mother to back him up. “Yes, yes, maybe I’ve been too tired from taking care of you lately. My back has been hurting.” What a joke. During their stay, the housekeeper has been preparing meals for their entire family, truly wearing herself out. As for my mother-in-law, she wouldn’t lift a finger if she saw a bottle of oil toppled over. I coldly watched their poor performance, feeling a wave of disgust rising up. I quickly walked to the bathroom, unwilling to see their hypocritical faces any longer. I had just finished a project and was ordered by my dad to rest at home. As lunchtime approached, my mother-in-law insisted on going out to eat. “Nora, eating this bland food with you every day is making me sick. Today, we’re going out to eat.” “Jasper, take me and Adeline shopping at the mall. Buy more clothes and jewelry so others won’t think we’re poor.” She even made a point to look my way as she said this. I really didn’t want to stay with them, seeing their ugly faces. Jasper looked at me, then at them, and finally spoke up. “Nora, rest well at home. With the housekeeper taking care of you, I’m at ease.” Jasper ultimately chose them. “Go if you want. Stop pretending here.” “Buy a few more clothes to change into. Don’t keep taking others’ clothes. That’s what thieves do.” I retorted mercilessly. My mother-in-law and Adeline Carter looked humiliated at my words, leaving with Little Rain without looking back. Jasper raised his hand, but before he could speak, my mother-in-law pulled him out the door. I watched them from the window. Jasper was sandwiched between two women, holding a child’s hand, chatting warmly, as if they were the real family. Ever since I got pregnant, everything seemed to change. Did Jasper think that just because I was pregnant, he could easily control me? He’s sorely mistaken. Since he dared to provoke me, the entire Thompson family shouldn’t expect an easy time! Since marrying Jasper Thompson, he had always treated me well. Pregnant women are naturally sensitive. I easily noticed even the slightest change. Today was supposed to be my prenatal check-up day. I waited all morning for Jasper to bring it up. As expected yet unexpected, he forgot. Watching their car drive away, I called the housekeeper to go to the hospital. The hospital wasn’t far. My primary doctor was a student of my dad’s, and also my old friend, Finn.

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When I was young, I lost a leg saving Jasper. Later, because of that leg, I was bullied and lost my hearing. Jasper rushed back from thousands of miles away and promised with tears in his eyes to take care of me for life. But ten years later, the first words I heard after regaining my hearing were from Jasper’s friend asking him. “Hey, between Nora and Celeste, who do you prefer?” Jasper laughed softly, “Of course, it’s Celeste. Nora’s missing a leg, such a downer.” He seemed to forget that Celeste was the one who caused my hearing loss. “Nora’s missing a leg, such a downer.” When I heard this, I was holding carefully baked desserts, eager to share the good news with Jasper about my regained hearing. But in that moment, I froze, unable to believe what he said. “Nora?” Jasper turned and saw me, quickly taking the plate from my hands, communicating gently in sign language: “Why are you standing there? Come sit.” He always made sure I didn’t stand too long, worried that the prosthetic leg might cause me pain. But the next moment, with the same gentle look, he spoke to his friend in an irritated tone: “If she stands for too long, her leg hurts at night, and I have to massage it. Ugh, sometimes I still can’t get used to seeing her leg.” It was the first time I heard him speak with such disdain, and I almost couldn’t hold back my tears. “I have something to do, you guys chat.” Holding back tears, I returned to my room as calmly as usual. But as I entered the room, I heard Jasper say, “She can’t hear, what are you afraid of?” Tears suddenly flowed, and I wiped my face hard. My eyes fell on the photo on the bedside table. It was a picture of seventeen-year-old me and eighteen-year-old Jasper. Before the accident that year, we took this photo, full of unspoken feelings and hopes for a bright future together. But two months after the photo was taken, during a chain car accident on an overpass, I threw myself on Jasper to save him, losing my left leg, the one I danced with. Eighteen-year-old Jasper knelt by my hospital bed, choked with emotion, promising to take care of me for a lifetime. At twenty-eight, Jasper and I were seen by friends as the epitome of a loving couple. But it turned out, aside from me, everyone knew Jasper was disgusted by my leg and tired of it. He even cheated with the woman who bullied me. When I came out of the room, Jasper’s friend was gone, and I heard Jasper talking on the phone by the window. “Celeste, don’t be afraid, I’m coming home.” A charming female voice gently came through from the other end, and my body stiffened instantly. That voice haunted many of my nightmares. Jasper, with a warm expression, noticed me and calmly hung up the phone. “Nora, there’s something at the company, I need to go. Don’t wait for me for dinner.” I thought of the “home” he mentioned just now. After marrying Jasper, he bought this spacious penthouse, telling me it was our home. Now, which home was he going to? “Okay,” I said with difficulty, trying to remain calm, “You go ahead.” With my agreement, Jasper hugged me and then instructed Mrs. Jenkins, “Don’t forget to make pigeon soup for the lady.” Mrs. Jenkins acknowledged. After he left, Mrs. Jenkins typed on her phone to ask about my dinner preference. After answering, she glanced at the door, then at me, with a hint of sympathy in her eyes, muttering, “Poor lady…” Am I pitiful? I took the health tea she handed me and returned to the room. Sitting quietly by the window for over an hour, I impulsively opened my phone and logged into my long-unused Twitter. I found a few new bot followers. But when I clicked on one of their profiles, I saw a tweet posted just ten minutes ago. “A cockroach appeared at home, luckily my brother came in time, scared me to death — my brother also gave me a new ring, telling me that our love is as eternal and sincere as the ring’s meaning —” The photo showed a slender hand wearing a six-carat pink diamond ring, and when I saw the butterfly tattoo on the thumb, my eyes narrowed. It was Celeste… I’ll never forget the vivid black butterfly on her hand when she burned me with a curling iron.

Jasper didn’t come home all night. When he returned the next evening, he had changed clothes. He walked to me with a bouquet of jasmine, arranging them in a vase one by one. “Jasper,” I called his name, “Have you gathered all the evidence? About Celeste.” Hearing Celeste’s name, Jasper’s hand paused, a hint of guilt in his eyes, but he quickly said, “Not yet. Those people took hush money from the Liang family and are tight-lipped, afraid of retaliation.” At seventeen, Jasper went to study in the U.S., and I stayed home to accompany my grandmother. Because I helped a classmate, Celeste and her group targeted me. Dirty water poured over my head, centipedes in my water cup, dead mice in my pencil case… shards of glass in my knee, cigarette burns on my shoulder, and a curling iron burn on my arm. I sought help, but the Liang family had connections, and no one assisted me. Until one time, I stumbled upon Celeste dating some thugs, and she called me, “Hey, cripple.” She had the thugs drag me away, and I fought hard, biting a piece of flesh off her arm. She went mad, slapped me dozens of times, and slammed my head into the wall. When I woke up, I saw Jasper, who had rushed back to the country, holding my hand, his eyes red, repeating the same sentence. I could only understand through lip-reading, he was saying: “I’ll kill them.” To my horror, I realized I couldn’t hear. The thugs and those who bullied me ended up in jail thanks to the Shen family’s influence, except Celeste, who was sent out of the province the next day. Five years ago, the Liang family had a scandal involving a real and fake daughter, and Celeste, the fake, was kicked out. Two years ago, I saw her again, kneeling on glass, apologizing with tears: “I’m sorry.” But I wanted more than an apology; I wanted legal justice. “I want to see her tomorrow,” I told Jasper. Jasper agreed. Celeste seemed to have something on Jasper, and he made her apologize to me on her knees every month. She complied, month after month. He said it would continue until she atoned for her sins, and I forgave her. But as I returned to the room, he made a call, seemingly instructing someone, “Give those people more money, keep them quiet.” “Ugh, it’s because Nora somehow brought up Celeste again. It’s been so long, and she still can’t let it go, so troublesome.” The tone was clear annoyance, and I clutched the doorframe, heading back to my room. At that moment, my heart shattered into pieces. It wasn’t that Jasper hadn’t gathered evidence; he didn’t want to hurt Celeste, so he pretended he hadn’t. When did Jasper change? I leaned against the door, hearing him make another call, this time speaking softly and intimately to the other end: “Go back to where you were, Nora wants to see you. Don’t be scared, she won’t do anything to you.”

After being kicked out by the Liang family, Celeste lived in a rundown neighborhood. When I arrived, she came shortly after. She wore a cheap, worn-out coat, and her manicures in the photos were gone, even her complexion looked poor. But I didn’t miss her smooth, well-maintained hair, her well-cared-for skin, and the possessive hickeys on her neck. I clenched my fingers, looking at her meek demeanor but harsh words, and said, “Celeste, I’ve found a lawyer. You will go to jail.” Celeste looked up, a sneer flashing quickly in her eyes, then she lowered her head, kneeling before me. But her mouth was full of malice, “I won’t go to jail, you’ll never see that day.” She muttered softly, “Cripple.” Just then, Jasper arrived, passing Celeste like a stranger, sitting next to me, asking, “It’s getting cold, Mrs. Jenkins made you soup, go home and drink it?” He glanced at Celeste as he spoke. I bit my lip; it was only ten minutes, and Jasper couldn’t wait to rescue her. “She just said something to me, I recorded it.” I struggled to keep my emotions in check, took out a recorder from my bag, and handed it to Jasper. For a moment, Celeste’s face turned pale. Jasper frowned slightly, playing the recording, and when it reached the “cripple” part, his brows furrowed, glaring at Celeste. “What did she say?” I looked at him, eyes hopeful. Jasper put away the recorder, his Adam’s apple moved—a sign he was about to lie. Then he signed, “She said she knows her mistake, sorry.” I stood up, my gaze lingering on Celeste, then unexpectedly slapped her across the face! Celeste’s head was knocked to the side, I used so much force that my palm tingled. “What’s the use of knowing your mistake? Going to prison is how you atone.” I said coldly. Celeste’s tears fell instantly, she looked at Jasper with grievance, but Jasper ignored her. “What did she say?” I asked him eagerly, my eyes full of anticipation. Jasper put the recorder away, swallowing hard—a subtle sign that he might not be telling the truth. In sign language, he replied, “She said she realized her mistake and apologized.” I stood up, my gaze lingering on Celeste before I suddenly slapped her across the face. The force of the slap made her head snap to the side. My hand stung from the impact. “Realizing your mistake is pointless. You need to pay for it in prison,” I said icily. Celeste’s tears fell immediately. She glanced at Jasper, seeking some sympathy, but he ignored her. Instead, he took my hand, gently massaging it, and signed, “Don’t get your hands dirty.” Jasper led me out of Celeste’s place, put me in the car, and then seemed to remember something. “I have a meeting with a client around noon. Can you head back first?” The driver was already in the seat. I nodded, and Jasper kissed my cheek before seeing me off. Once home, I put on my headphones and opened the surveillance app on my phone. The sounds of intimacy filled my ears. “She started it. Besides, she can’t hear, so what’s wrong with me saying a few things about her…” Celeste sat stubbornly on the couch in a suggestive maid outfit, her eyes red and on the verge of tears. “I know you’re in love with her. So, don’t come to me anymore. I shouldn’t be alive; dying would be better!” “Why don’t you just send me to prison then?” Jasper had already taken off his shirt and kissed Celeste hard, trying to act tough. “Two years ago, your life was mine. I won’t let you die, so don’t even think about it.” Seeing Celeste about to cry, he quickly wiped her tears away and sighed, “Don’t cry, sweetheart. Why say such things? How could I bear to send you to prison?” Jasper always believed I would eventually forgive Celeste. But that’s impossible. After I finished speaking with the private investigator, Jasper came home. I noticed the Twitter account following me had posted something new. A maid hiding her face, with a Rococo wallpaper background, clearly not the decor of that inner-city neighborhood.

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Just as I was about to smash the ashtray over my sister’s head, a string of comments flashed before my eyes. [Seriously? Plot-induced stupidity? Why would anyone treat a fake sister better than their real one?] [Right? And isn’t she supposed to be a badass CEO? Can’t even spot this basic setup?] [There’s literally surveillance footage. Just pull it up.] My hand slowly loosened around the ashtray. It was like a veil in my brain had been ripped away, and everything suddenly clicked into place. Of course. The girl in front of me, Christie Ferguson, was my real sister. She had been switched at birth and raised in hardship. And yet, not once had she blamed anyone. Ever since she came home, she’d gone out of her way to treat everyone with kindness. And what had we done? Showered a fake heiress with love while treating the real one like dirt. “Don’t be mad, sis,” the imposter sniffled prettily, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Christie didn’t mean to steal my designs…” I slapped her hard, and the room fell silent in shock. “Well, I didn’t mean for my hand to land on your face either,” I said calmly.

“Tania, have you lost your mind?” Lionel Ferguson’s voice was sharp, his expression darker than ever. He was the eldest son and the golden child, the one I used to measure myself against. “What the hell was that for?” he snapped. “Why’d you hit Betty?” I pointed to the security camera above us. “You’re all accusing Christie of stealing the designs, right? So why don’t we check the footage and find out?” Silence filled the room in an instant. Betty Ferguson was the first to panic. “It’s just a misunderstanding! I swear I never thought Christie took them!” Lionel tried to sweep it under the rug, his voice stiff with authority. “Enough. We’re not making a scene over something so trivial. No one brings this up again. Got it?” Then he turned to Christie, all condescension and control. “You should be thanking Betty. Without her, you wouldn’t be back in this house.” Christie stood her ground, though her voice trembled. “Shouldn’t she be thanking me? She stole twenty years of my life. “She’s living a life that was supposed to be mine.” Lionel wasn’t used to being challenged. He saw Christie’s defiance as insolence. Even though she was right, Lionel still believed she was unreasonable. Thus, he became furious. “You’re out of line. Typical backwater mentality. Tonight, no dinner. You’ll stay in the basement until you’ve reflected properly.” Christie went pale. She stumbled back in terror. “No, please! I’m sorry! I’ll apologize to Betty! Just don’t send me there!” She dropped to her knees, trembling, forehead to the floor. I looked at her, feeling heartbroken. It hit me then: whatever had happened in that basement, it had broken her. And now, she would beg for mercy even at the mention of the basement. Just then, I thought of the stories I had once read. This felt like one of those “break the heroine until she’s obedient” torture arcs. In the end, the heroine, who had once tried her best to resist and seek freedom, turned into something without a soul. I hated Lionel in that moment, but I hated the old me even more. If I’d opened my eyes sooner, maybe I could’ve saved her from all those nightmares. “Punishment fits the crime,” Lionel said coldly. “This isn’t something a few tears can fix. Guards!” At his command, the Ferguson family’s bodyguards lined up, well-trained and ruthless. “Take Christie to the basement. No one lets her out without my say-so.” Lionel was always domineering and tough, and his words were law.

“No, please!” Christie scrambled to his feet and grabbed Lionel’s pant leg. “I’ll bark like a dog, Lionel! Just don’t send me down there!” She lifted a leg, mimicking a dog marking its territory. My chest seized. I could barely breathe. Every bit of air came into my lungs with unbearable pain, as if someone was squeezing my heart. “Don’t touch her!” My voice cracked through the room. I rushed to her side, helping her up. “If anyone lays a hand on her, they’ll have to go through me first.” The room froze. [Queen move! Tania is finally standing up for Christie!] [Lionel is disgusting. He can hear Betty’s inner thoughts! He knows Betty framed her and still sides with the fake.] [I really don’t get him. Is he trying to wife his fake sister?] That last one made me choke. I thought Lionel was just as blind and stupid as I was. However, he was trying to marry Betty? “Then punish me too,” Betty said softly, stepping between us. She trembled slightly, tears in her eyes. Clearly afraid, she was still playing the victim to the hilt. As expected, Lionel softened immediately. He pulled her over, cupped her face, and wiped her tears. “You’re too kind, sweetheart. My little fool.” I wanted to throw up. Betty whimpered. I clenched my fists. “This is over. We’re leaving,” I said, patting Christie’s hand. “Come on.” She was still in shock, barely moving. I didn’t wait for Lionel; I just pulled her out of there. This house was a nightmare. I wasn’t letting her stay here another night. I’d take her to my place in the city. When I told her, she looked stunned. “Tania… are you okay?” she asked, touching my forehead. I batted her hand away, awkward. “Don’t get used to it. I messed up, okay? I always sided with Betty without thinking. “But you’re my sister, Christie. My real one.” She burst into tears and threw her arms around me. I held her tightly, gently rubbing her back. After she finally cried herself to sleep, I started digging. I spoke with the housekeeper and the staff responsible for Christie’s daily care. Soon, I learned about the basement’s secrets. Lionel, that monster! He’d forced her to watch videos of herself being harassed by thugs, made her set her own screams as her alarm tone, and pasted their faces all over her room so they were the first and last thing she saw every day. He turned that basement into her personal hell, torturing Christie for eternity. It had only been two weeks since she returned. No wonder she looked like a ghost: gaunt, fragile, hollow beneath her clothes. And standing next to Betty, who always looked pampered and radiant, Christie looked like she’d been dragged out of a war zone. No trace of the heiress she was born to be.

“No, don’t hit me! I’ll be good. I’ll take it off…” Christie was crying in her sleep, whimpering like a frightened animal. Hearing her muttered dream-talk felt like someone had carved a hole straight through my chest. I still remember the day Mom told me I was going to have a little sister named Christie. From that moment on, I couldn’t stop imagining her. Every morning before school, I’d whisper to Mom’s belly. And after school, while other kids ran off to play, I always rushed home, hoping to feel her kick. I waited ten long months. And when I finally held her, I made a silent vow: I would be the best big sister in the world. Anything she wanted, I’d make it happen, no matter what it cost me. But I never got the chance. She was swapped before I could watch her grow. And the one I protected, pampered, and loved for over twenty years was a fake. Worse, after Christie came back, I still helped that imposter bully her. The more I thought about it, the sicker I felt. I slapped myself hard a few times. [Wait, is Tania’s character breaking? What’s with the sudden switch?] [No, this isn’t a breakdown. It’s a breakthrough.] [Breakthrough or not, a few slaps won’t make up for years of abuse.] The comments rolled in like Judgment Day. My face burned as I read them. They were right. What mattered now was figuring out how to make it right. If the bullet points were anything to go by, Betty wasn’t done scheming. And with Lionel still firmly on her side, even my help might not be enough to keep Christie safe. She needed to protect herself. I spent the night weighing my options. And finally, I made a decision: I’d help her train to build her strength, confidence, and independence. When I explained it to her, she didn’t hesitate for a second. “You know it’s going to be hard, right? Like, really hard,” I warned. “You sure you’re ready?” Christie nodded, eyes blazing with something I’d never seen in her before. “I’ve never been more sure of anything. I’ve learned the hard way; no one’s coming to save me. I have to save myself. “I’ve always wanted to learn many things. My adoptive parents tried their best. “But they could barely afford my schooling, let alone anything extra. I never dared ask for more. “Now that I finally have a chance, I’ll take it. Even if it kills me.”

After hearing that, I didn’t hold back. The first step was securing her peace. I used a carefully laid trap to get Lionel out of the country on business. It was risky, but after years of working behind the scenes in the family company, I knew how to cover my tracks. Even if he got suspicious, he wouldn’t act against me easily. With him out of the way, operation Rebuild Christie began. I hired a top-tier martial arts master, sparing no expense. Whenever I had free time, I trained with her. And she didn’t disappoint me. Christie was a natural: resilient, fast, laser-focused. The master even joked that if she’d started earlier, she could’ve swept national tournaments and brought home gold for the country. I brought in private tutors, too. While Betty paraded herself at charity balls and flirted her way through cocktail parties, Christie soaked up knowledge like a sponge. Languages, finance, etiquette, tech…she dove into it all. And slowly, as the fake bathed in shallow applause, the real heiress began to rise. Betty stayed busy collecting admirers. One day, two heirs of powerful families brawled over her. Next, she was orchestrating a public showdown between a chart-topping idol and a Grammy-winning singer, both of whom were fighting for a dinner date with her. And she was proud of it. Time passed. Lionel eventually returned. For reasons I couldn’t comprehend, he suddenly decided to host a party for Christie. The moment I heard, I took Christie to get dolled up. She was nervous. Of course, she was. This was her very first banquet. “Hey,” I said, gently squeezing her hand, “I’ll be right there the whole time.” She smiled, flashing those tiny tiger teeth I’d missed so much. I’d managed to put some weight back on her; her skin looked healthier, and her eyes brighter. Even without makeup, there was a quiet beauty forming in her face, one that outshone the fake by miles. Now, with grace, knowledge, and steel beneath her softness, Christie didn’t just look like an heiress. She was one. “I’m not scared anymore,” she said, squeezing back. We entered the party together. Of course, Betty came rushing over with her usual entourage. “Tania! Christie!” she chirped, overly sweet. I didn’t even hesitate and shoved her back. “Not interested. Back off.” Betty stumbled, clearly not expecting that. Her eyes welled with tears on command. “Tania, weren’t you always so kind to Betty?” one of her lapdogs piped up. “If your brother sees you make Betty cry, he won’t be happy.” I narrowed my eyes. Before I could speak, Christie stepped forward. “She’s crying, and no one even touched her. Can we please stop pretending she’s anything but a walking green flag parade?” Her voice trembled, but her words landed. One of the girls sneered, “Look who thinks she’s a real debutante now.” Another leaned in and sniffed dramatically. “You guys smell that? Smells like… bumpkin.” “Hahaha…” Laughter exploded around them like fireworks. They sounded like chickens squawking in a gold-plated coop, and they thought they were royalty. “I don’t argue with idiots,” I said coldly, pulling Christie behind me.

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